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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Solar power generator Azure Power today said it has bagged a 50 MW project which was recently put up for auction by SECI under the National Solar Mission (NSM).

Azure Power secured 50 MW of the total 100 MW capacity auctioned by Solar Energy Corp (SECI) and will supply power to SECI for 25 years, it said in a statement.

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The project will be built in the Ananthapuramu Solar Park, which is being developed by the Solar Park Implementation Agency (SPIA), Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Limited (APSPCL).

The tariff will be Rs 4.43 per unit (USD 0.067) with an additional support of Rs 12.7 million per MW (USD 0.19 million) from the Government of India in terms of Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

This makes the levelised tariff of this project significantly higher than the levelised tariff of the lowest bid, including VGF, under SECI auctions in NSM Phase II Batch III.

Azure Powers Founder and Chief Executive Officer Inderpreet Wadhwa said, "With this win, we have once again demonstrated our strong project development capabilities."

With a portfolio of over 1,000 MW, Azure Power has developed, constructed and operated solar projects of varying sizes, from utility scale to rooftop, since its inception in 2008. PTI KKS ABM

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Griffin Capital Corporation (Griffin Capital) announced today, on behalf of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II, Inc. (the REIT), the acquisition of a Class A, three-story, 125,735 square-foot office facility (the Property) fully leased to Zoetis Services LLC (Tenant) and guaranteed by the Tenants parent company, Zoetis Inc. (the Company) (NYSE:ZTS) from Normandy Real Estate Partners and Partners Group (Seller). The Property was originally constructed in 1984, but the Seller commenced a complete demolition and renovation after signing a lease in July 2015 with the Tenant for its global headquarters. The REIT purchased the Property for $44.0 million from Normandy Real Estate Partners and Partners Group.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eaec5fa8-cedd-4274-8cbc-fba9faee57a8

Commenting on the acquisition, Louis Sohn, Griffin Capitals Director of Acquisitions said, We are pleased to further expand our footprint in the growing New Jersey market and acquire this Class A property located in the premier Mack-Cali Business Campus. The addition of this property to our growing portfolio of high quality assets further positions the REIT to create shareholder value over the long term.

Michael Escalante, Griffin Capital's Chief Investment Officer and President of the REIT, added, With the business essential nature of the operations on-site, investment grade tenancy, annual rental rate escalations, institutional quality asset, and long-term lease duration, this transaction captures the majority of the salient acquisition criteria that we target for the REIT. This acquisition also marks a significant milestone for Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II, Inc., elevating the REITs total capitalization above $1 billion.

The Property is located within the Mack-Cali Business Campus near Interstate 80 and Interstate 287, which are two of New Jerseys main highways.

Jose Cruz and Kevin OHearn of HFF represented the Seller of the Property.

About Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II

Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II, Inc. is a publicly registered non-traded REIT focused on acquiring a portfolio consisting primarily of single tenant business essential properties throughout the United States, diversified by corporate credit, physical geography, product type and lease duration. As of December 16, 2016, Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II, Inc. has acquired 31 office and industrial buildings totaling approximately 6.5 million rentable square feet and asset value of approximately $947.2 million.

About Griffin Capital Corporation

Led by senior executives with more than two decades of real estate experience collectively encompassing over $22 billion of transaction value and more than 650 transactions, Griffin Capital and its affiliates have acquired or constructed approximately 55.4 million square feet of space since 1995. Griffin Capital and its affiliates own, manage, sponsor and/or co-sponsor a portfolio consisting of approximately 38 million square feet of space, located in 30 states and the United Kingdom, representing approximately $6.9 billion* in asset value, based on purchase price, as of September 30, 2016. Additional information about Griffin Capital is available at www.griffincapital.com.

*Includes the property information related to interests held in certain joint ventures.

This press release may contain certain 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. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, intend, anticipate, estimate, believe, continue, or other similar words. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to: uncertainties relating to changes in general economic and real estate conditions; uncertainties relating to the implementation of our real estate investment strategy; uncertainties relating to financing availability and capital proceeds; uncertainties relating to the closing of property acquisitions; uncertainties relating to the public offering of our common stock; uncertainties related to the timing and availability of distributions; and other risk factors as outlined in the REITs prospectus, as amended from time to time. This is neither an offer nor a solicitation to purchase securities.
French English

JCDecaux announces the merger of its activities with Top Media and becomes the N1 outdoor advertising company in Central America

Paris, 23 December 2016 - JCDecaux SA (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, and Top Media, leader in the outdoor advertising sector in Central America, announce they have signed an agreement to merge their activities. The new venture, JCDecaux-Top Media, of which 71% of the capital is owned by JCDecaux and 29% owned by Top Media, operates in Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Top Media, established in November 1999 as Publitop de Panama, began with the advertising concession for large format displays on the Corredor Sur in Panama City. The Group expanded through organic growth and acquisitions (Panamerican Outdoor Advertising in 2009 and Colite in 2014), and became the leader on the Central American market in 2014. Top Media has a portfolio of large format assets in six countries (Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua), and manages the Metrobus and airport concessions for Panama, representing a total of more than 3,000 advertising panels.

JCDecaux, the number one outdoor advertising company in Latin America, began operating in Central America in 2014, following the acquisition of an 85% stake in Eumex. The Group holds long-term advertising street furniture concessions in four countries in the region: Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica, representing a total of more than 12,700 advertising panels.

This merger reinforces JCDecaux's presence in Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador, adding new assets in the large format and transport sectors that complement its street furniture and hoarding activities, as well as introducing the Group to Honduras and Nicaragua. With 15,700 advertising panels and a presence in 6 Central American countries, JCDecaux-Top Media will offer advertisers a full and diversified regional presence coupled with unrivalled visibility in Panama.

JCDecaux is once again demonstrating its capacity to consolidate the outdoor advertising sector in strong-growth regions: with a population of 44 million and stable currencies, Central America was the most dynamic region of Latin America in 2016 and it represents the region's third largest advertising market behind Brazil and Mexico, but ahead of Argentina.

Alfredo Aleman, Francisco Alonso and Arturo Zarate, Founding Shareholders of Top Media, said: "We are very proud to partner with JCDecaux, the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, whose standards of quality have always served as an example for Top Media. With the new venture we can continue consolidating the Central American market which holds considerable opportunities in the coming years, to the benefit primarily of its varied countries and their inhabitants".

Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Executive Board and Co-CEO of JCDecaux, said: "We are delighted to have signed this merger agreement with Top Media, the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit and success of which are exemplary. This transforming operation in Central America, where the advertising market is growing fast, gives JCDecaux a foothold in two new countries and further strengthens its position as the number one outdoor advertising company in Latin America. We are delighted to make our expertise and innovative capacity available for the benefit of local authorities and citizens of Central America and to offer advertisers and their brands exceptional visibility on the continent."

Key Figures for JCDecaux

2015 revenue: 3,208m, H1 2016 revenue: 1,617m

JCDecaux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris and is part of the Euronext 100 index

JCDecaux is part of the FTSE4Good and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe indexes

N1 worldwide in street furniture (524,580 advertising panels)

N1 worldwide in transport advertising with more than 230 airports and 280 contracts in metros, buses, trains and tramways (395,770 advertising panels)

N1 in Europe for billboards (177,760 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Europe (731,390 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Asia-Pacific (236,760 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Latin America (62,860 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Africa (32,840 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in the Middle-East (16,280 advertising panels)

N1 worldwide for self-service bicycle hire: pioneer in eco-friendly mobility

1,129,410 advertising panels in more than 75 countries

Present in 4,435 cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants

Daily audience: more than 390 million people

12,850 employees
Washington, DC, Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Israel Project today expressed extreme disappointment at the passage of today's United Nations Security Council Resolution that unfairly singles out the Jewish State and undermines the cause of peace for all people of the Middle East, and Israel in particular.

The resolution suggests that the location of the Jews most holy site, the Western Wall, is not in Israel, and that the Old City of Jerusalem is a "settlement."

Over the years, the United Nations has come to be known as an arena for bashing Israel, misrepresenting Israel, and jeopardizing the security of Israeli civilians through bias and feckless policies, said Joshua Block, CEO of The Israel Project. But the passage of todays anti-Israel resolution has reached absurd new lows. Where is the worlds moral outrage at this blatant attempt to delegitimize the State of Israel, the only true democracy in a terror-plagued Middle East?

The Israel Project also voiced disappointment with the United States decision to abstain from such an important vote.

The United States abstention on this vital resolution is puzzling, especially since the key elements of this resolution are far more hostile toward Israel and even more toxic to the future prospects of peace than the settlements-related resolution that the United States vetoed in 2011, said Block. It has been the United States longstanding policy to insist on negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians as the only means to reaching a peaceful agreement, and this move deals a real blow to the prospects for the peace process.

The creation of a Palestinian state through such diplomatic side-stepping is counter-productive to achieving a real and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The irony is that the creation of a Palestinian state through unilateral means, without holding Palestinian Authority elections and with the West Banks dependence upon international aid, would lead to a failed state. Not only would the Palestinian state lack political and economic institutions, but there would be no clear sovereignty over claimed territory, and a divided government between Fatah and Hamas would ensue, said Block.

As Aaron David Miller, longtime and respected Middle East peace negotiator and expert, correctly noted in a recent op-ed, the implications of this move by the United Nations are largely insignificant. As hard as it may be to accept right now, a unilateral move might make matters worse. And the reality is that any initiative the United States proposes -- especially recognition of Palestinian statehood -- would anyway have a very real chance of being overturned or undermined by the next administration, which would leave the Obama legacy in tatters, while diminishing US credibility in the process, said Miller.

Block added: Instead of serving as a diplomatic force of unity, the United Nations continues its divisive reign. The systemic anti-Israel bias at the United Nations reared its ugly head just two months ago with UNESCOs move to pass a resolution that denies Judeo-Christian connections to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel. Both of these resolutions are an embarrassment, and erode the United Nations moral credibility.

About The Israel Project:

The Israel Project (TIP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization that provides factual information about Israel and the Middle East to the press, policymakers and the public. Founded in 2003, TIP works in multiple languages to provide real-time background information, images, maps, audio, video, graphics and direct access to newsmakers. To learn more about TIP, visit http://www.theisraelproject.org.




By PTI: Mumbai, Dec 22 (PTI) Background dancer Bulbul, who had performed in the original track "Laila O Laila" from the movie "Qurbani", has also performed in the remake version of the track which features Sunny Leone in Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Raees".

The one common factor between Zeenat Amans "Laila O Laila" and Sunny Leones "Laila Main Laila" is the background dancer Bulbul, a media release issued here said today.

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For Bulbul, it was almost reliving the same moments that he experienced when the song was originally filmed, said the release.

Dancing to the tunes of Zeenat Amans Laila O Laila Sunny recreates the iconic song in her own style.

Starring Shah Rukh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan "Raees" directed by Rahul Dholakia is set to release on January 25. PTI KKP NRB BAS

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Six elephants used for begging, showcased at farmhouses, weddings and temples, may finally be rescued and transported to Central Zoo Authority - approved elephant rehabilitation centres in Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states.

By Baishali Adak: The city's last six begging elephants - which are taken all around the Capital seeking alms and showcased at farmhouses, opulent weddings and temple pujas - may finally be rescued.

Delhi's forest department is planning to confiscate and transport them to Central Zoo Authority (CZA)- approved elephant rehabilitation centres in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other neighbouring states. The move comes in response to a damning report from members of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and veterinary scientists who inspected the pachyderms in July 2016.

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SEVERE TORTURE

It details malnutrition, overwork and abuse meted out to the large mammals, including a blind female. Their tusks have been cut without seeking permission from authorities when ivory is a valuable poaching article in the black market.

Their ears are torn from excessive use of ankus (an iron stick used for taming) and feet pads are thin and cracked from standing on concrete floors and walking on hot metal roads. Also, the enclosures they are kept in at south Delhi's Sangam Vihar area are tiny dingy and unhygienic rooms with no proper drinking water or pool facility, the report says.

Also read: Tortured elephant rescued after 50 years in Uttar Pradesh

LIVES IN HELL

The two bull elephants - Hiragaj and Gangaram - and the four females - Moti, Chandni, Dhonmati and Yeon - can often be seen parked under the ITO bridge.

Two bull elephants and four females can often be seen parked under the ITO bridge.

The inspection was commissioned by chief wildlife warden AK Shukla. Titled "Welfare Assessment and Legal Compliance of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephant Maximus) in New Delhi", the report has been submitted to him recently.

The animals have been kept on the banks of the Yamuna in the Capital for centuries. However, the changing environment of the city and mounting pressure from activists culminated in a Supreme Court judgement last year banning the exploitation of the pachyderms.

Shukla told Mail Today, "We are going to send show-cause notices to the elephant owners first. If their response is non-satisfactory, we will seize the animals. However till then, we are being careful that they do not sell off the elephants while the lawful process is on."

BRIEF HISTORY

The national Capital had a large number of domesticated elephants before and after Independence, mostly for providing royal rides, aiding construction and lifting heavy loads. Even till year 2003, there were at least 22 pachyderms in private hands in the city. These are believed to have been acquired from the Sonpur fair in Bihar, which receives poached elephants from the forests of Assam.

While earlier they were much in demand for various purposes, their utility in urban Delhi has considerably reduced now.

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"The overall welfare of six captive elephants inspected in Delhi was found to be very poor. Moti is completely blind by right eye cause of which she is nervous, easily frightened and resists commands of her mahouts," said animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, who was part of the inspection committee.

"A bull elephant, Hiragaj, was found to be in musth (aggressive state) but there was no bull pen at Sangam Vihar where his master keeps him, to restrain it from causing damage to public property or lives. The same bull had been reportedly involved in attacks on people and property during musth on at least two instances."

The ownership certificates found on three elephant owners were also illegitimate, the report states. They were issued in years not corresponding to when the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had allowed for the declaration of captive pachyderms.

The elephant is a wild animal included in Schedule 1 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. Section 42 of the Act provides for certificate of ownership and requires ensuring that the owners have adequate facilities for housing, maintenance and their upkeep. Guidelines issued by Project Elephant of Government of India include ban on entry of elephants in municipal limits of cities.

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One of the elephant owners Mail Today met at ITO bridge, Abdul Hasan, said, "We have been in possession of these elephants since our forefathers' time. We earn a meagre income from these elephants; they are our shauk (passion) and we take good care of them. It is unfair of the government to want to take them away."

REPORT TAKEAWAYS

Malnutrition, overwork, abuse and illkeep are common. Tusks cut without seeking permission from authorities. Ears torn (in pic) from excessive use of ankush; feet pads cracked from standing on concrete floors and walking on metalled road.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Eminent modern Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh has been chosen for the prestigious Jnanpith Award for 2016, the literary organisation has announced.

"The Jnanpith Selection Board has announced the recipient of the 52nd Jnanpith Award today in a meeting. It went to eminent modern Bengali poet Shri Shankha Ghosh," an official statement said today.

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His nomination was decided at a meeting of the Jnanpith selection board chaired by writer and scholar Namwar Singh.

Instituted in 1961, the award by Bharatiya Jnanpith recognises Indian literatteurs who write in one of the 22 Indian languages listed in Schedule Eight of the Indian Constitution.

A prolific poet, critic and academician, Ghosh is an authority on Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. His poetic idiom and experiments with various poetic forms mark his greatness as a creative talent.

He is a poet with an eye to social milieu and his poems record both his time and space in a rare poetic style. His poems are often laden with messages, but are free from polemics.

Born in 1932, Ghosh has penned several poems including Adim lata-gulmomay, Murkha baro, samajik nay, Kabir abhipray, Mukh dheke jay bigyapane and Babarer prarthana, that went on to become classic creations.

It is his unique form and feeling, particularly in Dinguli Raatguli and Nihita Patalchaya, that have inspired a whole generation of modern poetry.

His works have also been translated widely into several Indian languages including Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Punjabi and Malayalam, as well as into some foreign languages.

He has a style that is lyrical and reflective, often portraying a sense of anguish towards the superficiality of the society and existence.

Ghosh has also been the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, Narsingh Das Puraskar, Saraswati Samman, and Rabindra Puraskar among others.

Last year the Jnanpith award was given to Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhary.

The recipients of the award are given a cash prize, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Goddess Saraswati. PTI TRS TRS

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By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The developments leading up to last week's arrest of alleged Islamic State recruit Abid Khan read like a Bollywood movie script. The terror suspect falls in bad company, the cops come calling, but he has a narrow escape from arrest, goes underground, converts to Christianity to remain hidden, believes he is in love with an Indonesian woman he calls his girlfriend, and finally gets caught. Sources said the 23-year-old Bengaluru native was living in a church in Banjar town of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district for the past six months before he was arrested in a joint operation of the NIA and local police.

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Sources said the 23-year-old Bengaluru native was living in a church in Banjar town of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district for the past six months before he was arrested in a joint operation of the NIA and local police.

Also read: After ISIS video showing Turkish soldiers being burned alive, Turkey blocks Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, reports say

Khan was allegedly planning to reach Syria via Indonesia and had recently visited Sri Lanka. He also told investigators that he referred to a woman, an Indonesian national, as his girlfriend, because of whom he wanted to visit that country. But investigators are yet to verify this. A mobile phone and a laptop recovered from him could lead to crucial clues into Abid's life while he was at large.

How Khan, a Bengaluru man, reached Kullu is another story in itself. While the NIA launched a nationwide swoop on ISIS terror suspects in January, arresting two dozen people, Khan remained out of reach. His three associates from Bengaluru - Asif Ali, Mohammed Afzal and Syed Mujahid - were arrested.

India has the world's thirdlargest Muslim population at nearly 170 million but only a handful of them have joined the West Asian group.Abid has told NIA sleuths and Kullu police that he converted to Christianity in a Methodist church in Bengaluru to stay out of the radar of the agencies. The NIA will corroborate this aspect since it is yet to formally take over the case.

Also read: Jihadi parents kiss daughters goodbye sending them on suicide mission

After conversion, he went to Sri Lanka allegedly on a fake passport with his phoney identity of "Paul". Sources told Mail Today that Khan went to Sri Lanka in March-April this year for a month, and has alleged to have gone on missionary work.

The accused will remain in police custody till December 26. The NIA only plans to seek his custody in a fortnight.

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A man believed to be the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a shoot-out in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan today.

By Reuters: A man believed to be the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a shoot-out in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday, a security source told Reuters.

Italy's interior minister was to hold a news conference at 10.45 am (0945 GMT), the ministry said.

A short video posted on the website of Italian magazine Panorama suggested the shooting happened before dawn, with police gathered around a cordoned-off area in the dark.

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The report was one of several conflicting accounts on the whereabouts of the 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri.

A man matching his description was seen in Aalborg in northern Denmark, the Danish police tweeted on Friday, saying people should keep away from the area as it had an ongoing operation there.

Amri was also was caught on camera by police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit district early on Tuesday a few hours after the attack, Germany's rbb public broadcaster reported.

Amri was not a suspect at that time, and on Thursday morning, when police raided the mosque, they could not find him, rbb said.

German investigators had said they believed Amri was still lying low in Berlin because he is probably wounded and would not want to attract attention, Der Tagesspiegel, reported citing security sources.

In the early hours of Friday morning, special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, police said in a statement.

The men - two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31 - were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, they said.

A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case, which has been claimed by Islamic State.

Amri had been identified by security agencies as a potential threat and had had his application for asylum rejected, but authorities had not managed to deport him because of missing identity documents.

READ: Berlin attack suspect is a 23-year-old from Pakistan

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By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Dec 23 (PTI) Alleging that the Odisha government is shielding Bhubaneswar Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena in the sex clip scandal and the death of an engineering student, BJP today sought intervention of Governor S C Jamir.

"We urge you to intervene and ensure removal of the mayor of Bhubaneswar city for a clean and transparent probe into the crime," the BJP memorandum to the governor said.

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A delegation of the party led by its state president Basant Panda met Jamir at the Raj Bhavan here.

"We have drawn attention of the governor on the Odisha governments inaction on the cold blooded murder of an engineering student which is directly linked to a sex video circulated in the media," Panda said.

The BJP in the memorandum claimed that there were allegations that engineering student Ashutosh Mohanty alias Rishi Mohanty, who was in possession of the sex video, was murdered in a planned manner.

There were several clinching evidences to establish that the engineering student did not die an unnatural death, the party said adding, "it was most probably the result of a planned execution of murder of the student. Since the mayor is close to the chief minister, the police is not doing proper investigation".

The the link between the sex video and the "planned murder" must be investigated and the guilty should be punished, it said.

"We are apprehensive about proper investigation as the case involves a person with capacity to influence the investigation due to closeness with the chief minister and the government," BJP said.

The party had earlier in the week organised a Bhubaneswar bandh, a statewide two-hour chakka jam and demonstration before the DGPs office in Cuttack.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress held a dharna in front of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation office demanding the mayors resignation.

"The police cannot undertake an impartial probe into the matter till the mayor continues in his post. Therefore, we demand a CBI probe," state Congress chief Prasad Harichandan said. PTI AAM KK ASV

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Smartwatches may not be massively popular devices, but Google isnt giving up on them just yet. In fact, the company is working with a manufacturer to launch two new smartwatches in 2017.

Up until now, Googles smartwatch strategy has been to develop Android Wear software and work with watch makers to get it on as many third-party devices as possible.

But weve been hearing rumors that Google was working on its own smartwatch hardware for months. It turns out thats not exactly whats happening. Instead, Google is working with an unnamed manufacturer to build the first two watches that will ship with Android Wear 2.0 software.

The Verge spoke with Googles Android Wear product manager, who says the new watches are a collaboration between Google and a hardware maker, much like the companys Nexus smartphones were until Google dropped the Nexus line and started making its own Pixel phones.

Two key new features coming to Android Wear 2.0 are support for Google Assistant and Android Pay.

You dont necessarily need one of the new watches to get Android Wear 2.0 though. The software update will be rolling out to a number of current Android Wear watches including the Huawei Watch,. LG G Watch Urbane, 2nd-gen Moto 360, and Asus ZenWatch 2 and 3 although not all new features will be available on every one of those watches, due to hardware requirements.

Google isnt the only company still betting on smartwatches. Apple CEO Tim Cook claims the Apple Watch saw record sales at the start of the holiday season, and Samsung continues to push its own smartwatch platform with the Gear S line of watches running Tizen-based software.
Xiaomi launched its first two laptops this summer, and like the companys smartphones, the Mi Notebook Air laptops offer high-end specs at reasonably affordable prices.

Now Xiaomi is expanding the lineup with two new models, both featuring 4G LTE modems with support for the China Mobile wireless network.

The new models are a bit pricier than their WiFi-only predecessors. But the mobile broadband support isnt the only thing thats new.

Customers in China who buy one of the new laptops will get 4GB of mobile data per month from China Mobile for a year. That could help make the 4,699 yuan/$680 price for the 12.5 inch model and 6,999 yuan/$1007 price for the 13.3 inch version a bit more palatable.

Of course, you only get that perk if youre in China. I suspect it wont take long for resellers to start shipping these laptops overseas, where youll be on your own paying for cellular data if you can find a compatible wireless network.

While the specs for the 12.5 inch Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G are pretty much the same as for its non-LTE counterpart, the company has upgraded the CPU in the larger model. Instead of a Core i5 Skylake CPU, it now has a Core i7 Skylake chip.

So heres an overview of the specs for each model:

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G 12.5 inch

12.5 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display

Intel Core M3-6Y30 CPU

4GB DDR3-1866 memory

128GB SATA SSD

USB Type-C, USB 3.0, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio jacks

1 watt stereo speakers

802.11ac WiFi

Bluetooth 4.1

37 Wh battery

0.51 inches thick

2.4 pounds



Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G 13.3 inch

13.3 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display

Intel Core i7-6500U CPU

NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics

8GB DDR4-2133 RAM

256GB PCIe SSD

2 USB 3.0 ports, USB Type-C port, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio jacks

2 watt stereo speakers

802.11ac WiFi

Bluetooth 4.1

40 Wh battery

0.59 inches thick

2.8 pounds

via fonearena, TechTablets, and GizmoChina
Ford South Africa said Kugas powered by its 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine may be catching fire due to engine overheating. This is according to a report by Wheels24.

The report stated that Ford has asked local owners of the Kuga which has the 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine to contact their Ford dealer to request a further check of the maintenance items.

This includes the coolant system condition and integrity.

Ford is currently investigating reports of engine fires in Kugas equipped with the 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine in South Africa. While our investigations into the incidents are not complete at this time, we have found that the fires may be a result of engine overheating, said Ford.

We are advising affected customers to contact their Ford dealer to request a further check.

Dealers will check the coolant concentration level and for any leaks or damage to the cooling system, plus conduct static and dynamic cooling system pressure tests. This service is free of charge and will take approximately one hour.

Kugas with 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre engines are not affected, said Ford.

The report follows multiple incidents of Ford Kuga vehicles allegedly catching fire and burning  including an incident which resulted in the death of Reshall Jimmy in 2015.
STEPANAKERT.  The adversary violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces around 65 times, from late Thursday night to early Friday morning.

During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired more than 1,200 shots toward the Armenian military positions, and by way of different-caliber shooting and mortar weapons, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) Defense Army informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

More intense ceasefire violations were recorded in the eastern (Akn) and southeastern (Martuni) defensive sectors.

To quell this activeness by the adversary, however, the NKR Defense Army vanguard units took retaliatory actionsprimarily in the Martuni direction, and forced it to refrain from taking further provocative actions.

The Armenian military divisions continued confidently carrying out the military task set before them, and imposed their will upon the Azerbaijani armed forces.

At present, the situation is relatively calm along the entire frontline.
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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

Investigative Committee: 10 officers charged in Armenia

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
By Disha Roy Choudhury: Needless to mention, Bollywood celebrities have ceased to be mere entertainers on screen and are now emerging as branded entities. And when it comes to travel, their unique indulgences do set new travel goals for every tourist who are ticking off destinations for their bucket list.

So if you are still upset about not having travelled enough so far or are looking for more travel experiences, here goes our catalogue of the favourite Bolly-holiday destinations that can liven you up for the New Year.

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1. Maldives

Social media has gone crazy over holiday snapshots of celebrities and by now you know, Maldives has been a hot favourite this year! From Asin, Katrina Kaif to Alia Bhatt, Bollywood has picked up this destination every time they wanted a brief, cosy vacation. And why won't they? This destination, with a dream-like weather, away from all hustle-bustle offers you a plethora of opportunities for a perfect, exotic holiday. Be it a nice swim in the crystal clear waters, a brief moment of solitude in the white sandy beaches, adventure, luxurious resorts or even a good dose of wellness activities. Plus, it is an ideal family destination too! If you are still not convinced, check out Alia's latest yoga pictures at Maldives right now!

Alia Bhatt in Maldives. Photo:Instagram/Alia Bhatt

Asin enjoying a holiday in Maldives.Photo:Twitter/Simply.Asin

Katrina Kaif in Maldives. Photo:Katrina.Kaif_

2. Australia

Well, as they say, "Australia isn't just a place you see, it's a place you feel." This destination gives you the most amazing coastal experience, coupled with some lip-smacking cuisine and wine. Looking for aquatic adventures? An exquisite view of the coral reef? A visit to the 'Surfer's paradise'- the Gold Coast? A solo drive across Queensland? Or the Great Ocean Walk in Victoria? Parineeti Chopra has the answer to all of your questions.

Parineeti Chopra holidaying in Australia. Photo:Twitter/DesiObsession_ Parineeti Chopra holidaying in Australia. Photo:Twitter/DesiObsession_

3. Switzerland

You could definitely not keep your eyes off those holiday pictures of the Befikre Ranveer Singh from Switzerland who went all melodramatic in the most stereotypical Yash Raj style to shower his love upon the destination. Switzerland has always been the IT place for all 'Mohabbatein' that Bollywood romanticised. Switzerland is about both action and relaxation and has every potential of fulfilling the wildest winter fantasies you can dream of.

Ranveer Singh in Switzerland. Photo:Twitter/BunkChunkTweet

4. New Zealand

New Zealand just hit it right when it roped in Siddharth Malhotra as its tourism brand ambassador. This highly-spirited individual has been an absolute sport every time it came to promoting this destination. The actor recently went for an adventurous vacation to the destination, calling it the best place for an adrenaline junkie. Baar Baar Dekho is clearly what his message was for this amazing getaway.

Siddharth Malhotra in Switzerland. Photo:Facebook/CricketAddictor Siddharth Malhotra in Switzerland. Photo:Facebook/CricketAddictor

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5. Singapore

Singapore has almost been a next-door holiday destination for travellers. And Christmas will be the most opportune moment for taking a short holiday to the destination. This melting pot of cultures can be a traveller's paradise with year-round shopping,delicious local food, charming neighbourhoods with hipster hideaways, theme parks, museums and other architecture and a host of other experiences to satisfy your wanderlust. Karisma Kapoor is here telling you why you must visit this place!

Karisma Kapoor holidaying in Singapore. Photo: Twitter/Showbiz

6. London

If you are a fan of Bollywood, you are a fan of London by default. Attractions in London are hardly unknown and if you have forgotten, pictures from PeeCee;'s travel diary will bring back all your memories.

Priyanka Chopra in London. Photo:vfilmiofficial

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YEREVAN.  The National Assembly of Armenia ratified three loan agreements, during its special session on Friday.

Accordingly, the loan agreement between the Armenian government and the French Development Agency was approved by a vote of 78 for, 24 against, and 2 abstentions.

The loan agreement between Armenia and the Asian Development Bank was endorsed by a vote of 78 for, 24 against, and 2 abstentions.

And the loan agreement between Armenia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development was authorized by a vote of 78 for, 23 against, and 2 abstentions.

Pursuant to these agreements, the Armenian authorities will get an around US$190million loan for budgetary expenditure.
YEREVAN.  Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, on Friday received a delegation, led by chairman Leonid Kalashnikov of the Russian State Duma Committee for the CIS, Eurasian integration and Communications with Compatriots.

Nalbandian underscored the continued strengthening of close Armenia-Russia allied cooperation and, in this connection, he highly evaluated interparliamentary collaboration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The State Duma deputies, for their part, stressed that their visit to Armenia is symbolic because this is the aforementioned Duma committees first foreign visit, ever since the parliamentary election in Russia.

The interlocutors highlighted the mutually beneficial cooperation between the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, and the State Duma of Russia.

Kalashnikov presented the initiatives by the new Dumaand its above-said committeeto develop relations with Armenia, and the results of this committees joint meeting with the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, which was convened in Armenias capital city of Yerevan.

The parties also reflected on collaboration within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

In addition, the foreign minister of Armenia briefed the guests on the efforts to surmount the consequences of the military aggression which Azerbaijan had unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), in early April.
YEREVAN.  Within the framework of his visit to Estonia, Armenias new ambassador to this country, Tigran Mkrtchyanwhose diplomatic residence is in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius, on Thursday met with Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser.

The parties reflected on the prospects for further expanding and deepening Armenian-Estonian relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. They also stressed the need for and importance of high-level mutual visits.

Speaking on the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, Ambassador Mkrtchyan briefed his interlocutor on Azerbaijans continued destructive conduct, anti-Armenian propaganda, and frequent ceasefire violations at the line of contact.

FM Mikser of Estonia, in turn, reaffirmed his countrys position in this conflict. He expressed support to the efforts by the co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, and aimed at achieving a pacific resolution to this conflict. The Estonian FM added, however, that the clashes in the border zone and at the line of contact can have no positive impact on the settlement of this conflict.

The interlocutors also discussed the ongoing negotiations around a new Armenia-European Union Framework Agreement.

Separately, Sven Mikser noted that Estonia stands ready to share with Armenia its track-record in the IT sector.

In addition, the Armenian ambassador and the Estonian FM conferred on several regional and international matters.
Rumours are doing the rounds that Brad Pitt has already moved on from his estranged wife Angelina Jolie and begun a hot affair with Kate Hudson.

By India Today Web Desk: Fans received a major jolt when news broke that Hollywood's most loved couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have decided to part ways. Even more shocking were reports that Brad has moved on already and was "seeing another famous actress."

ALSO READ: Brad Pitt is 'sleeping with an actress almost as big as Angelina Jolie'

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ALSO READ: Does Brad Pitt have tapes that will prevent Angelina Jolie from getting custody?

Recently, Star magazine carried news of Kate Hudson reportedly carrying Brad's child on its cover. The tabloid said, "Friends are wondering whether Brad Pitt's brand-new (but red hot) romance with Kate Hudson is already on the verge of paying an unexpected dividend." Reportedly, the rumours of Kate's pregnancy began when she was snapped in Los Angeles wearing a crop top which showed "what appears to be the beginning of a baby bump."

A source is quoted revealing Angie's alleged reaction, "She's livid about the rumors that Kate is already pregnant. I don't know what Brad and Kate have planned for the holidays. But if it does turn out that she's pregnant, it would be one heck of a New Year's surprise!"

However, if a report in Gossip Cop is to be believed, news of Kade Hudson's pregnancy is false. Gossip Cop reports a representative of the actor dismissing the cover story of Star.

Last month, Kris Herzog, a bodyguard who works for both the family and Jolie's father Jon Voight, was quoted as saying, "He's started seeing another famous actress. She is a personal friend of mine and has told me they are sleeping together. I can't disclose who it is, but she is almost as big as Angelina."

ALSO WATCH: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt call it quits

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN. - President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Friday held a reception at the President's Palace for the representatives of mass media on the occasion of New Year and Christmas.

The President congratulated them on the upcoming holidays, wishing good luck to the reporters attending the reception, as well as their families.

Referring to year 2016, Sargsyan noted that it was a symbolic one, since Armenia celebrated 25th anniversary of its statehood.

''I find it necessary to stress that our country positively excels many others in ensuring freedom of speech and press. Even at the most tense moments of the war, there was no military censorship in the Republic if Armenia. The military condition can always serve as an occasion for certain people to engage in such temptation. Nevertheless, there is a national accord in Armenia on that restrictions on the freedom of speech are unacceptable. This is one of our most important institutional achievements, which we should all together protect and nourish,'' he noted.

According to the President, this year Armenia faced two challenges: an internal and external one.

''The first one was definitely the four-day April war. Many remain unsettled about the victory of the Armenian people in the fight forced on us. We regularly heard their grinding of teeth, this turning into an attempt of revenge this year. The sons of the Armenian people prevented the spiteful plans of the adversary.

Here I can't but praise the united spirit of the Armenian people, which significantly reflected itself in your work during those days. Despite possible ideological or other contentions, our people turned into a single united fist on those days.

There are issues, which refer to the area of national accord, the future of our heroic Artsakh being indeed the first one in that row. We have very few controversies on this issue. I don't think that even one percent of our people think otherwise. We all wish that Artsakh residents themselves decide their future and their final status,'' Sarsgyan said.

Touching on the internal challenge, the President pointed the July standoff of the Yerevan police station by an armed group, which also took hostages. ''I have already expressed my precise assessment on these events. I have also precisely assessed the violence against the journalists and their work. Nevertheless, certain people are trying to find something in this, saying that the President told to forget: But I think, it is clear to at least 95 percent what meaning that word was used in.

I strongly believe that issues are not solved by violence in Armenia, this being a provision on which we should reach national accord,'' he stressed.

Sargsyan also noted that the Armenian mass media is looking for effective forms of self-regulation to refer to that issue. Offense, labeling and fraud are merely impermissible tools.

''Today we see that false news have become a challenge even for the mist democratic societies. It is simply impossible to control the diverse and decentralized media sphere of our times.

I never expect control over our medial sphere. I expect free, independent and responsible work,'' he stressed.
Barclays (BCS) said Friday it would fight a U.S. Department of Justice complaint against the bank in relation to its mortgage-backed securities business in the run up to the global financial crisis.

The DoJ filed a suit against the British bank in federal court Thursday, alleging it engaged in fraudulent schemes to sell residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) that authorities said were backed by "defective and misrepresented loans." The DoJ said the scheme involved 36 deals backed by $31 billion in sub-prime and so-called 'Alt-A' mortgage loans.

"Barclays rejects the claims made in the complaint," the bank said in a statement Friday. "Barclays considers that the claims made in the complaint are disconnected from the facts." The bank added that it will vigorously defend itself and intends to seek its dismissal at the earliest opportunity.

The DoJ suit also names two Barclays executivesPaul Menefee and John Carrollin the suit, both of whom authorities said worked in Barclays's subprime lending and securitizatiions unit.

"Financial institutions like Barclays occupy a position of vital public trust," said Attorney General Loretta Lynch. "Ordinary Americans depend on their assurances of transparency and legitimacy, and entrust these banks with their valuable savings. As alleged in this complaint, Barclays jeopardized billions of dollars of wealth through practices that were plainly irresponsible and dishonest. With this filing, we are sending a clear message that the Department of Justice will not tolerate the defrauding of investors and the American people."

The filing comes amid two significant settlement agreements for the DoJ with European lenders over claims that mortgage bonds were mis-sold in the 2005 to 2007 time period in the United States.

Deutsche Bank (DB) agreed a $7.2 billion settlement that includes $3.1 billion in civil penalties while Credit Suisse (CS) agreed to pay $5.3 billion to cover both civil penalties and customer relief.

Barclays shares closed at 227.41 pence each in London Thursday, up 0.18% on the session, extending their three-month gain past 31.3%.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) CBI has asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat to appear before it on December 26 in connection with a probe into the purported sting operation involving him.

This is the second time that Rawat has been summoned by the CBI on a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) registered by it in last seven months. He had earlier appeared before the agency on May 24 during which he was questioned for nearly five hours.

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The agency had registered a preliminary enquiry in connection with the alleged sting operation on April 29 purportedly showing Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress lawmakers to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly.

This may be a unique case where a sitting Chief Minister has been summoned by the CBI during its probe of a PE.

The PE is the first step during which the agency verifies the facts in the complaint received by it. During a PE, the agency usually only "requests" a person "to join the probe" and does not summon him, carry out searches or make any arrests.

If verification of facts shows need of further probe, it may register an FIR or else close the PE.

The CBI probe focuses on Rawats relations with the owner of a news channel, alleged bribe proposal made to one dissident MLA by him and a minister in his previous cabinet, besides his claims on the purported sting video.

The reason for summoning him against, according to the sources, was because Rawat had not furnished full and complete details on many issues.

The case was registered on the reference received from the state government (during Presidents rule) and subsequent notification from BJP-led central government.

Rawat has denied the allegation and called the video fake after it was released by the rebel Congress legislators but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation.

After Rawats victory in the floor test, the state cabinet had met on May 15 and withdrawn the notification recommending a CBI probe into the sting operation involving him.

Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject.

CBI had said the notification was rejected after taking legal opinion, which said there was no ground for its withdrawal and it was "not legally tenable".

The Chief Minister had failed to get a reprieve from Uttarakhand High Court also which had refused to quash the ongoing CBI probe into the sting operation. PTI SKL RT

--- ENDS ---
Canada Offers Drone Incident Reporting Tool

"In the past few years, the use of drones in Canada has increased tremendously, and it's a good time to be working with this industry. Transport Canada is taking a number of steps to improve safety and innovation in this sector, including engaging retailers so new drone users are aware of the rules from the start; introducing an efficient tool for Canadians to report safety issues; and helping drone users test new technology," said Minister of Transport Marc Garneau.

Transport Canada announced some additional safety initiatives for drones on Dec. 21, with Kate Young, member of Parliament for London West and Parliamentary Secretary to the minister of Transport, saying the new measures for one of Canada's fastest-growing industries include a new incident reporting tool and new exemptions for non-recreational operators.

She made the announcement on behalf of Minister Marc Garneau. "Transport Canada is proud of the work thats been done over the past year to improve safety for Canadians and support innovation for the drone industry. Many Canadians will receive or purchase drones over the holidays this year and we encourage all new operators to learn the rules and help us keep the skies safe," Young said.

Transport Canada is focused on these key areas:

Helping Canadians report safety concerns through a new online tool

Improving regulations for drone operators

Simplifying rules for commercial operators with two new exemptions

Supporting innovation for commercial operators at a new drone test site in Alberta

Partnering with retailers to provide safety information at the point of sale

Launching a No Drone Zone public awareness campaign

Canadians are encouraged to visit www.canada.ca/drone-safety for updates on the department's progress on drones. "In the past few years, the use of drones in Canada has increased tremendously, and it's a good time to be working with this industry. Transport Canada is taking a number of steps to improve safety and innovation in this sector, including engaging retailers so new drone users are aware of the rules from the start; introducing an efficient tool for Canadians to report safety issues; and helping drone users test new technology," said Garneau.
How retailers are delivering a personalized holiday shopping experience

The holiday season is always the most important time of the year for retailers, and this year is no exception. Consumer confidence has wavered over the past year because of uncertainties surrounding issues such as the election and Brexit, creating concern that 2016 sales growth would continue on the downward trend that began last year. However, that has not been the case. Sales growth has increased throughout most of the year, including a strong Cyber Monday which has set the pace for the holiday shopping season. Add in the low costs of fuel, decreasing unemployment and moderate wage gains, and the retail industry is poised for a healthy holiday season.

Retailers are using a variety of personalization tactics to capitalize on as much as possible of the estimated $884 billion in holiday spending.

Personalization initiatives

Target has introduced its Wonderlist Gift Guide, a digital product finder that helps consumers select personalized gifts. As shoppers navigate through a selection of 400 tailored gift ideas, the tool presents customized recommendations based on personality types, interests and shopping history. Also new this year, Target is providing shoppers with a curated assortment of 2,000 holiday-related items. This seasonal shop-within-a-shop, called Wondershop, is designed to help consumers find the holiday products that best fit their preferences.

1-800-Flowers is also deploying a new product finder tool that guides consumers through a personalized shopping experience. This feature, which is called GWYN (Gifts When You Need), utilizes IBMs Watson artificial intelligence software to better learn consumer preferences and shape personalized recommendations. This is a smart move, not only to cater to holiday shoppers, but also because the company is evolving from a niche floral website to a multi-branded gifting business. Expanding the product inventory can be a beneficial strategy for retailers, but only if they can continue delivering a seamless and personalized shopping experience.

Retailers holiday initiatives go far beyond gift finders, too.

Motocross and dirt bike retailer MotoSport has partnered with Certona to improve its site performance and enable the real-time transfer of product data and inventory. This ensures MotoSport provides online visitors with updated inventory, offers and personalized product recommendations, while eliminating the risk of suggesting out-of-stock items or offers that dont reflect shoppers recent activity. The partnership has already generated increases in engagement with personalized recommendations (42 percent), average order value (20 percent) and units per transaction (16 percent).

eBay has also stepped up its personalization strategy in time for the holidays. In mid-October the company launched the eBay Collective, which provides a curated inventory of furniture, antiques, contemporary design and fine art. eBay tailors the products to its consumers. The initiative represents eBays efforts to branch out from its traditional auction style in favor of appealing to shoppers as individuals.

Omnichannel fulfillment

Omnichannel fulfillment is an increasingly popular method for providing a shopping experience that accommodates consumer preferences. According to eMarketer, 42 percent of retailers now offer the option to buy in-store and ship to home, versus 14 percent last year. Additionally, 44 percent of retailers now enable consumers to buy online and pick up in-store (21 percent last year) and 61 percent allow in-store returns of online purchases (18 percent last year). This demonstrates how retailers are focusing on being flexible so they can provide the shopping experience thats ideal and most convenient for each individual visitor.

With more than 40 percent of online orders picked up in-store, Home Depot is continuing the growth of its omnichannel strategy. The giant retailer is expanding its omnichannel program to include buy online, deliver from store. This new concept allows shoppers to buy items online and schedule a delivery from a local store. The option is now available at about 1,600 stores, a figure that has more than doubled since Q2. With its innovative approach to omnichannel fulfillment, Home Depot has seen a steady double-digit growth of online sales in 2016. Online sales were up 19 percent during the second quarter and 21.5 percent during the first quarter.

Toys R Us, which last Christmas had to halt some online orders due to overloaded e-commerce fulfillment centers, also added seasonal employees to help with omnichannel fulfillment. The retailer is offering bonuses and higher wages to attract more seasonal warehouse workers. Furthermore, Toys R Us equipped almost all of its 870 stores to help ship online orders during the holidays, and it began stocking those stores with products weeks earlier than last year. So far so good for the retailer: Its website, fulfillment centers and stores handled record levels of online traffic in the days around Thanksgiving.

Walmart has also optimized its omnichannel fulfillment capabilities for the holidays. The retail giant reported that online sales for Thanksgiving weekend were available for in-store pickup in 30 percent less time than the previous year.

Whether its personalized gift finders, real-time personalization or omnichannel fulfillment, retailers are pulling out all the stops to optimize and personalize the shopping experience in time for the influx of holiday shoppers. As retailers continue to make omnichannel fulfillment and personalization a priority, the industry should prepare to celebrate impressive sales records.

About Meyar Sheik

Meyar Sheik is a seasoned software industry executive with 25 years of experience. Since 2000, Meyar has been a web analytics pioneer working with some of the largest sites on the Internet such as Staples, ESPN, Fox, Sony, Best Buy, Disney, CBS and many other leading brands, in the areas of web analytics, personalization and real-time content optimization. Prior to Certona, Meyar was the CMO and COO of web analytics leader, WebSideStory (now part of Omniture/Adobe).

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Hearts On Fire Announces 2016 Retailer of the Year Award Winners

BOSTON, Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/  Hearts On Fire, The Worlds Most Perfectly Cut Diamond, today announced its top honors for its independent retail partners  the 2016 Retailer of the Year winners. This year, the brand announced a new criteria and set of awards for these prestigious recognitions, which now consists of five specific categories  Bridal, Strongest Increased Retail Sales, Brand Advocate, Rookie of the Year, and, the top honor of Global Hearts On Fire Retailer of the Year.

With more than 750 locations in 32 countries, Hearts On Fire retailers are a rapidly growing, passionate group of partners. However, unlike past years, where awards were given based on region, the 2016 honors were given to retail partners who best aligned themselves with Hearts On Fires specific business goals. All of these teams are recognized for dedication to growing their Hearts On Fire business, providing an unforgettable brand experience, maximizing marketing initiatives and in store environments, and most importantly, an immersion into the Hearts On Fire culture of exceptional training and brand values designed to drive sell through at the counter. The winners for this year are as follows:

Global Retailer of the Year- James & Sons with locations in Chicago and Orland Park, IL and Schereville, IN

James & Sons with locations in Chicago and Orland Park, IL and Schereville, IN Rookie of the Year  The Diamond Galleria  Evansville, IN

 The Diamond Galleria  Evansville, IN Bridal Retailer of the Year  Wedding Ring Shop, Honolulu, HI

 Wedding Ring Shop, Honolulu, HI Increased Sell-Through Retailer of the Year  Koser Jewelers  Mount Joy, PA

 Koser Jewelers  Mount Joy, PA Brand Advocate Retailer of the Year  MG Joyeros  Panama City, Panama

2016 was a year of laser focus for Hearts On Fire, as we took huge strides in building the brand and continuing to strengthen our independent retail partnerships. Our primary objective and the foundation of our programs was to drive sell through success at retail and support our partners to achieve a ROI above industry standards, said Caryl Capeci, President of Hearts On Fire. As a result, our brand is stronger than ever, and we are positioned for huge momentum as we head into the New Year. We sincerely thank our partners worldwide, and hope that they are all as excited as we are to see what comes next during this exciting time.
Purchase, N.Y.  December 22, 2016  Mastercard today announced that Shamina Singh [1] , president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, will assume oversight of the companys sustainability efforts in addition to her current responsibilities, effective immediately.

In this newly created role, Singh will lead the creation and execution of a sustainability strategy, taking into consideration how the company operates in the current social, cultural and economic context.

We have built a world-class reputation for not only advancing the global discussion on the importance of inclusive growth, but also the development and delivery of practical solutions in markets across the world, said Tim Murphy, general counsel, Mastercard. With Shaminas leadership, we look to take a similar approach and role in addressing critical sustainability issues related to our organization.

Singh originally joined Mastercard in 2013 to lead the companys efforts to digitize social subsidies programs in more than 40 countries. She was named executive director of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in December 2013, a role she held until being appointed to her current role this past July.

Prior to joining Mastercard, Singh drove public affairs and community development efforts for Nike and Citigroup. During a 15-year career in the public sector, she held senior positions in the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2015, she was appointed to a six-year term on the Board of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency responsible for engaging more than five million citizens in community service.

Singh is an alumna of the World Economic Forums Young Global Leaders program and currently serves on its Council on Economic Growth and Social Inclusion. She currently serves on the board of Global Health Corps and the advisory boards of Data & Society and the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University. She is a Henry Crown Fellow with the Aspen Institute.

Singh holds an M.P.A. from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin and a B.S. from Old Dominion University. Read more

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By PTI: Kochi, Dec 23 (PTI) Holding his ground on the solar panel scam, which had rocked Kerala during the Congress-led UDF rule, former chief minister Oommen Chandy today said that he had not committed any crime.

"I have already rejected all the charges. I am fully confident that I have not committed any crime," he said while deposing before a judicial commission probing charges in the solar panel scam, allegedly linked to his staff. In his second deposition before the commission, headed by retired High Court judge Justice Sivarajan, the senior Congress leader claimed that all the charges levelled against him were legally proved wrong. "Many things which had been said targeting me (in the solar scam) have already been proved wrong legally as also in the minds of the public," he said during the cross-examination. The commission had directed Chandy to be present for the cross-examination today. He was cross-examined by the commission in January last in Thiruvananthapuram, when he was the Chief Minister.

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During his deposition today, Chandy maintained that he had not interfered in the police probe into the case when he was Chief Minister.

Noting that no changes were made in the police team probing the case by the newly formed LDF government, which came to power seven months ago, Chandy said this suggested that police had been carrying out a free and fair probe even during UDF rule. "The new government has not expressed any doubts about the approach of the probe team (appointed by the then UDF government)," the former Chief Minister said. "I have not interfered in any stage of the investigation. In this case and other cases also. I have never done so. Free and fair investigation should be carried out in all investigations," he said. On being asked whether he had received telephone calls from a lawyer representing main accused (in solar scam) Saritha S Nair during the peak of the controversy, Chandy said he had not attended any of his calls. The state government had appointed Justice Sivarajan to head the one-man commission on October 23, 2013, to probe the scam pertaining to alleged duping of investors by one Biju Radhakrishnan and his partner Saritha S Nair, who allegedly collected crores of rupees for a solar power project. The two had allegedly canvassed the business by using top-level names, including that of Chandy. While Saritha was granted bail after remaining behind bars for about nine months, Radhakrishnan is still in jail in connection with the alleged murder of his wife. PTI TGB APR SRY

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Egypt said Friday it agreed to delay a vote on a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements during a phone call between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President-elect Donald Trump. Egypt on Thursday requested that the vote be postponed a day after it submitted the draft text to the council, which prompted Israel to reach out to Trump to block a resolution. Israel had asked Trump to intervene after learning that Washington, in a reversal of its policy under President Barack Obama, would not veto the resolution, an Israeli official said. Trump, who issued a statement demanding that Washington exercise a veto, called Sisi. In a statement on Friday, the Egyptian presidency said the phone call "touched on the draft resolution... on Israeli settlements". "The two leaders agreed on the importance of giving the new administration a chance to deal comprehensively with all the aspects of the Palestinian cause to achieve a comprehensive settlement," it said. The Egyptian turnaround surprised many but follows repeated expressions of admiration for Trump from Sisi, a former military chief who overthrew his Islamist predecessor in 2013 leading Obama to temporarily suspend military aid. Israel had launched a frantic lobbying effort to pressure Egypt to drop the bid and reached out to its supporters in the United States and at the Security Council for support. "After becoming aware that the (US) would not veto the anti-Israel resolution, Israeli officials reached out to Trump's transition team to ask for the president-elect's help to avert the resolution," an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity. - Buried indefinitely - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Washington to block the draft, pointing to years of US willingness "to stand up in the UN and veto anti-Israel resolutions." Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon described the draft as "disgraceful" and said his government was deploying "diplomatic efforts on all fronts." Trump's intervention and the Egyptian decision to postpone the vote appeared to have caught Washington offguard, with US Secretary of State John Kerry cancelling plans for a speech laying out a vision for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Kerry spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday and then, after the Egyptian decision, to Netanyahu on Thursday. Obama's administration has expressed mounting anger over the continued expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, and speculation has grown that he could launch another initiative before leaving office next month. A senior Security Council diplomat suggested the motion could be buried indefinitely. "There was a window of opportunity. Whether that window is still there is really not clear," said a Western diplomat. - Stalled peace efforts - Trump, who campaigned on a promise to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, had bluntly said Washington should use its veto to block the resolution. "The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed," he said in a statement. "As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations." Trump has chosen as ambassador to Israel the hardliner David Friedman, who has said Washington will not pressure Israel to curtail settlement building in the occupied West Bank. Arab ambassadors held an emergency meeting at the United Nations to press Egypt to move ahead with a vote but an Arab League committee decided after meeting in Cairo to continue talks on the motion. Palestinian envoy Jamal al-Shobaki told reporters in Cairo that Egypt asked for more time and that there would be discussions over the next two days on the next step. Israeli settlements are seen as a major stumbling block to peace efforts, as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state. The United Nations maintains that settlements are illegal, but UN officials have reported a surge in construction over the past months. The draft resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem." It states that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-state solution" that would see an independent Palestine co-exist alongside Israel. The Middle East peace process has been comatose since a US initiative to re-launch peace talks collapsed in April 2014. France has announced plans to host an international conference on January 15 to try to restart talks based on the two-state solution.
These three websites host a variety of content, from lifestyle to cooking

Leading Malaysia-based digital media group REV Asia (which has well-known Malaysian entrepreneurs such as 500 Startupss Khaliee Ng, Catcha Groups Patrick Grove and KFits Joel Neoh on its board of directors) has announced it has acquired three popular Malay content portals, Siraplimau, Myresipi, and Kongsiresepi.

The acquisition was made through a Sale and Purchase agreement between its 70 per cent-owned subsidiary, Rev Lifestyle Sdn Bhd and the holding company that owns the portals, Dua Marhalah Sdn Bhd.

Siraplimau is a lifestyle portal where Malaysian women can discuss on a variety of lifestyle and family issues such as pregnancy, parenting, beauty and health.

Myresipi and Kongsiresepi are platforms to share food and cooking tips. Users and bloggers submit their recipes which get aggregated onto the websites.

Bringing these three new portals into its fold will help REV Asia broaden its reach into the Malay speaking online community  and in turn, significantly boost its user base. It will also be focussing on driving up revenue by introducing sponsored content as well as other SME content offerings to these portals.

Also Read: After the deal: How one-year-old KFit managed to acquire O2O behemoth Groupons Malaysian business

According to Internet analytics provider, Comscore, Dua Marhalahs network of websites are consistently placed in the top 10 Malay websites visited by Malaysian Internet users. Google Analytics reported a total of 5.6 million page views and 1.7 million unique visitors across Siraplimau.com, Myresipi.com and Kongsiresepi.com for the month of November 2016.

The acquisition will add to the constantly growing audience that REV Asia Group has, put us in a strategic position to widen our distribution channel to better serve our advertisers and customers, and deliver growth rates that correspond to the size of Malaysias growing revenue in sponsored content, said Voon Tze Khay (Tze Khay), General Manager of REV Asia.

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As the content marketing pioneer in Malaysia, we are very excited with these new prospects, which will enable us to cement our position as the No. 1 Digital Media Group in Malaysia.

Earlier this year, REV Asia made inroads into Malaysias Chinese online community through the acquisition of Chinese social news and content websites, Viralcham and Rojaklah.

The post Malaysias REV Asia acquires 3 popular Malay content portals: Siraplimau, Myresipi, and Kongsiresep appeared first on e27.
FILE - In this Monday, April 11, 2016, file photo, a radiation warning sign stands near a checkpoint in an exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, southeast of Minsk, Belarus. A Belarus court on Thursday Dec. 22, 2016 ruled against an Associated Press correspondent in a lawsuit by a dairy company that claimed an AP article about farming on fallout-damaged land hurt its reputation. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)

MOSCOW (AP)  A court in the former Soviet republic of Belarus has ruled against an Associated Press correspondent in a lawsuit by a dairy company that claimed an AP article damaged its reputation. AP said it stands by his reporting and will seek to overturn the ruling on appeal.

The lawsuit stems from an April article about farmers using land contaminated by fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The article said tests by a Belarusian state laboratory on a sample of milk from a dairy farm showed 10 times the accepted level of a radioactive isotope.

Milkavita, the company that the dairy farm supplies, sued Minsk-based Yuras Karmanau, who wrote the article, saying he had damaged its reputation. The company makes cheese, primarily for export to Russia.

Judge Tatyana Sapega ruled in Milkavita's favor Thursday and ordered Karmanau to pay court costs and to tell AP about the ruling. She accepted the testimony of a laboratory representative who confirmed the test results but said Karmanau did not have specialist scientific knowledge needed to interpret them.

Ian Phillips, AP's vice president for international news, said the AP stands by Karmanau's reporting.

"The AP strongly disagrees with the court's decision and unreservedly stands behind journalist Yuras Karmanau," Phillips said in a statement. "Mr. Karmanau's reporting is a fair and accurate account of the lingering effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on Belarus 30 years after the accident. The court's refusal to consider key evidence in support of Mr. Karmanau raises serious concerns, and AP looks forward to vindication on appeal."

The independent Belarusian Association of Journalists expressed concern.

"The verdict in this trial substantially pushes the boundaries of freedom of speech in this country since it puts into jeopardy the very possibility of conducting important journalistic investigations in Belarus," the group said in a statement.

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During the trial, which began in October, Sapega turned down Karmanau's key motions. He was not allowed to introduce as evidence the results from the laboratory test, or evidence showing how the milk sample was collected and tested. He also was not allowed to call some witnesses including an engineer from the dairy company and a scholar quoted in the article.

Karmanau's lawyers also argued that Article 52 of Belarus' media law holds that a journalist cannot be held responsible for publishing findings or information provided by a government agency, which the laboratory is. The judge did not address that argument in her ruling.

Chernobyl, a nuclear power plant in Ukraine near the Belarusian border, suffered an explosion in 1986 often described as the world's worst nuclear accident. The fallout contaminated a large swath of northern Ukraine and southeastern Belarus.
A prototype vaccine for Ebola may be "up to 100 percent effective" in protecting against the deadly virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday. If all goes well, the vaccine could become available in 2018 under a fast-track approval process, it said. In a major clinical trial, nearly 6,000 people in Guinea were given the test vaccine last year, at the tail end of a lethal epidemic of Ebola. Not one of the 6,000 contracted the disease. But in a control group of volunteers that did not receive the vaccine, 23 Ebola cases occurred, researchers reported in The Lancet medical journal. "If we compare zero to 23, this strongly suggests that the vaccine is very effective, that it could be up to 100 percent effective," Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO's assistant director-general and lead author of the study, told AFP. Her team of three dozen researchers calculated a 90-percent likelihood during a full-fledged epidemic that the vaccine, dubbed rVSV-ZEBOV, would work in more than 80 percent of cases. "After 40 years, we appear to now have an effective vaccine for Ebola virus disease to build upon," Thomas Geisbert, a scientist at Galveston National Laboratory in Texas who did not take part in the study, wrote in a commentary, also in The Lancet. - 'Compassionate use' - First identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola virus erupted periodically in outbreaks of up to a couple hundred cases, mainly across west and east Africa. In early 2014, however, a handful of infections in southern Guinea mushroomed rapidly into an epidemic. Over the next two years, more than 28,000 people fell ill, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Some 11,300 died. With a mortality rate above 40 percent, the disease -- one of a category of so-called haemorrhagic fevers -- has an incubation period of up to three weeks. It causes violent and painful symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, organ failure and internal bleeding. The new vaccine was initially developed in Canada by public health authorities before being taken over by pharmaceutical giant Merck. It is slated to be submitted by Merck to health authorities in the United States and Europe sometime next year under a fast-track approval process. "We may have a vaccine which is registered in 2018," Kieny told journalists at a press conference Thursday, noting that the standard approval process for a new drug takes a decade, if not more. In the meantime, Merck has committed to ensuring that 300,000 doses of the vaccine are available for emergencies under a protocol called "compassionate use". "They will be able to produce a million in very short period of time," Kieny noted. - Unanswered questions - There are still questions to be resolved concerning the vaccine, including side effects. Initial tests last year did not include children, while the most recent trials covered those over six years old. Of the more than 6,000 people injected with the Ebola vaccine only two showed serious adverse effects, the study reported. Both recovered fully. But it is still unknown if the vaccine is safe for children six and under, pregnant women, or people with the AIDS virus -- all groups that were excluded from the most recent trials. Another unknown is how long innoculation lasts. "With the Canadian Merck vaccine, you have a protection very early after vaccination, but we don't know if it will last after six months," Kieny said. Other Ebola vaccines under development -- some of which have been tested in humans -- could prove more effective over a longer period. British firm Glaxosmithkline and Johnson & Johnson, based in the United States, each have experimental products in the pipeline. China and Russia have also developed vaccines, with the Russian one having just finished the second phase of three-step clinical trials. Some of these vaccines require two doses three weeks apart, and may confer a longer immunity. "That might be better suited to immunise health workers in advance of an outbreak," Kieny said. Health officials also point to the fact that other strains of the virus -- including one in Sudan -- will require the development of separate vaccines.
By Tom Allard and Kanupriya Kapoor JAKARTA (Reuters) - As the world battles a spike in assaults and plots by Islamist militants, Indonesia's anti-terrorism unit is drawing praise for stemming a wave of bloody attacks in the sprawling Muslim-majority nation. Indonesia has foiled at least 14 attacks this year alone and made more than 150 arrests, disrupting plots ranging from suicide attacks in Jakarta to a rocket attack from Indonesia's Batam island targeting Singapore. Going back to 2010, a Reuters analysis of data shows the elite unit, Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88), has prevented at last 54 plots or attacks in the nation of 250 million people, the world's fourth largest. "Densus 88 has become better than pretty well any other counter-terrorism group in the world," said Greg Barton, a terrorism export and research professor in Global Islamic Politics at Alfred Deakin Institute in Melbourne. "They have had an incredible workload and they have become remarkably good at what they do." In the last six years, there has been only one major attack in Indonesia that caused civilian deaths, when assailants hit a Jakarta mall and police post with gunfire and bombs, resulting in the deaths of three Indonesians and a dual Algerian-Canadian national. All four attackers were also killed in the January 2016 attack. Between 2002 to 2009, there were nine major attacks by militants, leaving 295 dead and hundreds of others wounded. Since its formation in 2002, the unit has put a premium on clandestine intelligence gathering. Now much of that intelligence work is done online, by infiltrating and monitoring chat rooms, social media and messaging apps popular with militants. SELF-SUFFICIENT Few details about Densus 88 are publicly available. "We built our organization to learn from the enemy," said a senior counter-terrorism officer who provided some insight into the working of the unit but spoke on condition of anonymity. Created in the aftermath of the deadly 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people, Densus 88 has about 400 to 500 members, state-of-the-art weaponry and training, said another official. It has received more than $200 million of funding from Western allies such as Australia and the United States. The unit is headed by a task force, a core of 30 or so senior members, said the Indonesian law enforcement source. "Many of them possess doctorates and have specialties like psychology and social behaviour," the source added. "They are not like regular police." The black clad, heavily armed members of Densus 88 sometimes seen during raids on suspected militant hideouts make up a small proportion of the unit, officials say. Far more personnel are dedicated to gathering intelligence in the field and monitoring communications and online activity. There is also a large team of investigators analysing that intelligence and forensically examining explosives and other evidence. Sidney Jones, the director of Institute for Policy Aanalysis of Conflict (IPAC), said the key to Densus 88's success lies in its intelligence gathering. "They know the radical networks and have a good set of informers," she said. "It is unparalleled in terms of its ability to understand the sources of possible threats." STRATEGIC INTERROGATION Densus 88 has long been accused by human rights groups of abuses, including beatings of alleged separatists and Islamist suspects. Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission has identified 121 terrorism suspects who have died in custody since 2007 but the police routinely deny using torture or inappropriate force in interrogation. Amnesty International said earlier this year there was an "endemic culture of impunity" in Indonesia's police service and a need for an investigation into the "torture" of suspects by Densus 88. However, Barton said the unit has adopted a unique, "strategic" approach to interrogations that aids intelligence gathering. Suspects were kept at police stations rather than in jails and allowed to meet their families. "They sit down and listen to their story," Barton said. "They get them talking and that's an effective way of getting intelligence." Despite Densus 88's recent successes, the worry is that the militant threat to Indonesia is mounting as Islamic State fighters return battle-hardened from Syria and Iraq. The ultra-radical group also commands support from some Indonesians who have stayed at home. About 800 Indonesians have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State and 169 have been stopped en route and deported, according to Indonesia's national counter-terrorism agency. In the past two months alone, there have been 38 arrests, and at least five attacks foiled, according to the Reuters study, which collated data with the assistance of IPAC staff. These plots have been linked to Islamic State, with police alleging they were inspired, if not directed, by Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian militant who fled to Syria about two years ago. "These new homegrown terrorists and the local jihadists have never gone abroad. But with the advent of the Internet age and technologies like social media, it's easier to make bombs and explosives to do operations," said the law enforcement source. Authorities remain deeply worried about an attack during the holiday season. In the longer term, the worry is the possible return of hardened Islamic State fighters like Naim to the region. "They will be a different type of terrorist and the police are going to have a lot more problems," said Indonesian analyst Rakyan Adibrata. (Editing by Ed Davies and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Reuters

MUMBAI (Reuters) -India's central bank will not immediately release details of a report to the government explaining why it has failed to meet its targets for inflation, Governor Shaktikanta Das said. The Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy committee (MPC) will meet on Thursday to discuss its first ever inflation target miss, which has come amid an upsurge in inflation globally due to fallout from the war in Ukraine. Das said on Wednesday that a letter to be sent to the government after the Nov. 3 special meeting will not be made public because the bank does not have the authority to release it.
By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - The Baltic state of Lithuania, on the frontline of growing tensions between the West and Russia, says the Kremlin is responsible for cyber attacks that have hit government computers over the last two years. The head of cyber security told Reuters three cases of Russian spyware on its government computers had been discovered since 2015, and there had been 20 attempts to infect them this year. "The spyware we found was operating for at least half a year before it was detected  similar to how it was in the USA," Rimtautas Cerniauskas, head of the Lithuanian Cyber Security Centre said. When presented with the allegations, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters they were "laughable" and unsubstantiated. "Did it (the spyware) have 'Made in Russia' written on it?" quipped Peskov. "We absolutely refute this nonsense." He said Russia itself was targeted in cyber attacks "round the clock," but said it would be stupid to accuse foreign governments. Fears of Russian cyber attacks have come to the fore since the U.S. election campaign when hacking of Democratic Party emails led to allegations from U.S. intelligence that Moscow was involved. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, all ruled by Moscow in communist times, have been alarmed by Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. In what Baltic officials say was a wake-up call, Estonia was hit by cyber attacks on extensive private and government Internet sites in 2007. State websites were brought to a crawl and an online banking site was closed. Lithuanian intelligence services, in their annual report, say cyber attacks have moved from being mainly targeted at financial crimes to more political spying on state institutions. Russian spyware was transferring all documents it could find, as well as all passwords entered on websites such as GMail or Facebook, to an internet address commonly used by Russian spy agencies, Cerniaukas said. "This only confirms that attempts are made to infiltrate our political sphere," said Cerniaukas. PREPARATIONS Germany's domestic intelligence agency reported earlier this month a striking increase in Russian targeted cyber attacks against political parties and propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing German society. The domestic intelligence chief said Russia may seek to interfere in its national elections next year. Although no Russian cyber meddling was detected in the run up or during the Lithuanian general election in October, Cerniauskas said his country needs to understand it is vulnerable to such meddling. "Russians are really quite good in this area. They have been using information warfare since the old times. Cyberspace is part of that, only more frowned upon by law than simple propaganda", he said. "They have capacity, they have the attitude, they are interested, and they will get to it  so we need to prepare for it and we need to apply countermeasures." Lithuanian officials targeted by the Russian spyware held mid-to-low ranking positions at the government, but their computers contained a stream of drafts for government decisions of its positions on various matters, said Cerniauskas. The head of the Lithuanian counter-intelligence agency Darius Jauniskis said Russia tried to sow chaos in Lithuania by orchestrating a cyber attack in 2012 against the Lithuanian central bank and its top online news website. "It is all part of psychological warfare," he told Reuters earlier this month. (Additional reporting by Peter Hobson in Moscow; Editing by Alistair Scrutton/Andrew Osborn)
FILE - This Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, file photo provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office shows Jeronimo Yanez. Attorneys for Yanez, who shot and killed Philando Castile, have filed documents Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, to remove the judge from the case. (Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Attorneys for the Minnesota police officer who faces a manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile are removing the judge who was assigned to the case.

Lawyers for St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez filed a notice Thursday to remove Ramsey County District Court Judge Edward Wilson. Under rules of criminal procedure in Minnesota, defense attorneys and prosecutors can each strike one assigned judge from a case without giving a reason. The requests are automatically granted.

Wilson, who is black, was initially assigned to the case because of his experience  he's been on the bench since 1987 and is the second most senior judge in the district.

Defense attorney Earl Gray said they filed the notice to remove Wilson based on research. He did not elaborate further.

"We felt that we had to remove him. Simple as that," said Gray, who has previously tried a case before Wilson.

Castile, who was black, was killed July 6 during a traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The shooting's gruesome aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend, who was with him in the car at the time. Prosecutors have said the 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker was shot at seven times after telling Yanez he was armed and had a permit to carry.

Yanez, who is Latino, has claimed in court documents that Castile didn't say he had a permit. His attorneys are asking that the case be dismissed, saying Castile was negligent in his own death because he was high on marijuana and didn't obey Yanez's commands.

Ramsey County Chief Judge John Guthmann said Monday that he assigned Wilson to the case because of the judge's availability and experience. He said Wilson's race didn't play a role.

Gray said he expects Guthmann to assign a new judge within a week. Then, he said, the defense team can begin laying out its strategy.

"Obviously, this is a case that is going to have a lot of motions filed, and this is obviously a case that is going to go to trial, so we will find out from the judge we get what his schedule will be and then go from there," Gray said.
By James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - As hundreds of thousands of South Koreans poured into the streets every weekend for two months to call for President Park Geun-hye to resign, the opposition's leading contender to replace her appeared reluctant to seize the moment. That is changing as Moon Jae-in, a 63-year-old human rights lawyer who lost the 2012 election to Park by more than a million votes, has in recent days taken a higher public profile as he seeks to lead the liberal Democratic Party into the next election and end eight years of conservative rule. Like many on the left, he calls for sweeping reform of the chaebol - the big conglomerates that dominate the economy and have been at the heart of the current political crisis - calling them a "source of unfairness" in South Korea. He promises to move the presidential office into a multi-purpose government building and turn the palace-like Blue House, where Park remains while a court decides her fate after she was impeached by parliament, into a public museum. He has also said that, if elected, he would visit rival North Korea before making a trip to South Korea's main ally, the United States. Just two North-South summits have been held since the 1950-53 Korean war that divided the peninsula. "The people who are angry in Korea want regime change, and the most realistic option and most probable person to do that is Moon Jae-in," Yang Jung-chul, a close aide to Moon, told Reuters. Moon had led opinion polls in recent weeks, although a survey released on Thursday by Realmeter showed he had fallen just behind United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, by 23.1 percent to 22.2 percent. Ban has yet to declare his candidacy or party affiliation, but has been expected to join a conservative grouping. Moon's popularity among liberals stems from his time as chief of staff to South Korea's last liberal president, Roh Moo-hyun, a figure revered by the left for his experimental and anti-establishment politics that sought chaebol reform. "Moon is a symbol of that experiment," said Yang. But Roh, derided by conservatives for his pursuit of engagement with North Korea that they say failed to change Pyongyang's behaviour, could also be Moon's undoing, especially among South Korea's elderly. The majority of people aged over 60, most of whom are conservative, have turned out to vote in the last three presidential elections, according to National Election Commission data. In 2012, 85.9 percent of over-60s voted. By contrast, the least-avid voting group is people in their 20s or 30s, many of whom took to the streets for the first time during recent candle-lit protests in Seoul. At the last election their turnout levels were below 65 percent. That was high, by recent standards, for the demographic, but Moon will need to convince an even bigger share of them to turn out and vote for him in the upcoming election, which is no sure thing. "He has a tendency to make ambiguous comments and be overly-cautious of crossing lines," said Moon Ji-hyun, a student activist at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. "He wasn't in the frontlines at the early stages of the protests." The Constitutional Court must decide whether to uphold parliament's Dec. 9 motion to impeach Park, which could take up to 180 days and, if successful, trigger an election two months later. SWEET POTATO Moon's parents fled North Korea during the Korean War and resettled in Busan, at the south of the peninsula, where Moon grew up in a shanty town. He was jailed in 1975 for protesting against the dictatorship of Park Chung Hee, President Park's father, whose rule lasted 18 years. After leaving mandatory military service, where he served in the special forces, Moon became a lawyer. As leader of the opposition last year, Moon adopted a more centrist stance to win over sceptics. But just 8 percent of those polled at the time said they thought Moon's party was best on economic issues, compared with 44 percent for the ruling Saenuri Party. "To win undecided voters, Moon needs to address security, diplomacy and unification, where many are distrustful of him," said Lee Chung-hee, a politics professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. Moon came under fire earlier this year for revelations in a former foreign minister's memoir that he had backed a motion to abstain from a United Nations vote against North Korea's human rights record. While Moon leads the race to represent his party in the election, new stars have risen. One is Lee Jae-myung, the mayor of Seongnam, just south of Seoul, who has gone from rank outsider to third place in polls, riding the crisis with populist speeches. By contrast, Moon's caution and deliberate speaking style has earned him the nickname "sweet potato" - slow to cook, slow to eat, and a little difficult to swallow. Lee, meanwhile, has been dubbed "soda" for his refreshing new take on politics. In a recent radio interview, Moon said the Seongnam mayor was indeed like soda - refreshing but, unlike his own nickname, lacking substance. (Additional reporting by Yun Hwan Chae; Editing by Tony Munroe and Alex Richardson)
Panama's government on Thursday warned of punishment for public employees who took any of the more than $59 million in bribes paid by Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in return for contracts. The declaration by President Juan Carlos Varela's administration came a day after US officials said Odebrecht and its petrochemical affiliate Braskem had agreed to pay $3.5 billion in "the largest-ever global foreign bribery resolution." The Odebrecht conglomerate pleaded guilty to bribing government officials and political parties to the tune of $788 million to secure business on three continents -- mostly in Brazil, but also in 11 other countries in Latin America and Africa. Under the plea agreement, Brazil will receive 80 percent of Odebrecht's fines, while the United States and Switzerland will garner 10 percent each. Varela's office said it "fully backed" investigations by prosecutors in Panama to prosecute and sanction "companies and persons involved in these acts." A high-ranking Panamanian government official involved in infrastructure works was allegedly involved in the bribery, but the documents released so far have not named names. Odebrecht received more than $175 million in profits from contracts obtained in Panama, many of which were awarded under the government of former president Ricardo Martinelli, who is living in exile in the United States. Varela's government has asked for Martinelli's extradition to face charges that he spied on opponents, and of graft. Several of Martinelli's ministers have been imprisoned.
The two authors are poles apart, and we don't know whether to feel happy or sad about their rankings on the Forbes list.

While Chetan Bhagat is on the 40th spot, Devdutt Pattanaik features on the 93rd.

By Somya Abrol:

Chetan Bhagat is climbing up the Forbes ladder real quick. This year's Forbes India Celebrity 100 list has the 42-year-old author featuring on the 40th spot--and on the 46th spot for Fame Rank. This was the year Bhagat released the largely bashed book, One Indian Girl. The book, however, was published outside Forbes' consideration period, which was October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016.

When you reach real India. #oneindiangirl being sold at magazine stall in Kanpur, that normally doesn't sell books.Pic via @richard_devarda pic.twitter.com/ZGa3EsRXv8 Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 11, 2016

Last year, the year he released his second non-fiction book--Making India Awesome--he featured on the 66th spot on the list. And the year before that, the year of Half Girlfriend, he figured on the 58th spot. Clearly, Bhagat has become a pro at playing hopscotch on the Forbes list.

Another author's name, however, appeared on the list this year--that of Devdutt Pattanaik. Yes, the same Devdutt Pattanaik who's famous for demystifying Hindu mythology; he's made his debut on the Forbes list this year, on the 93rd spot. With 30 books already on shelves, Pattanaik made it to the list with the release of three books this year--Devlok: Food of The Gods, Girl Who Chose: A New Way of Narrating the Ramayana and Ganesha: The Elephant God.

Now, for the other side of the coin--from authors to readers.

A report published by Huffington Post India on December 22 stated that Delhi is the most "well read" city of the country, fourth time in a row. But what was Delhi reading? You guessed it right--Chetan Bhagat.

According to the Annual Reading Trends Report for 2016 conducted by Amazon.in, Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl was the highest-selling book of 2016, followed by JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I and II.

Now, reading a Chetan Bhagat novel giving a boost to India making a hobby out of reading is the perfect example of "mixed feelings". While we know that young India is taking to reading rather well, what's REALLY worrying us is if we're reading just for the sake of reading, because of peer pressure or just because reading has become somewhat "cool" of late.

Well, as long as we're reading, right?

--- ENDS ---

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By Tuvan Gumrukcu SOKE, Turkey (Reuters) - Those in the small Turkish town of Soke who knew Mevlut Altintas, the smartly dressed, clean-shaven young man who shot dead Russia's ambassador this week, recall a lonely taciturn boy twice rejected by university before leaving home and joining the police. Altintas was 22 when he shot Andrei Karlov in the back at an Ankara art gallery before being himself gunned down by police. Few in Soke would have recognised the figure in black suit and tie who stood over the diplomat's body screaming jihadi slogans. For his family, as for Karlov's, it was a tragedy. "I have always admired their son," said a next-door neighbour, who spoke to Reuters from behind her closed door and from time to time broke down in tears. "He was respectful and calm, a very nice young man. "When the police arrived at the door, we assumed he had been killed on duty and they were here to tell the family of his martyrdom. The mother was devastated when she heard," the neighbour said. The killing, for many, illustrated the turmoil in a country that has been transformed under Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has to contend with conflicts across the border in Syria and Iraq, and Kurdish insurrection and attacks by Islamic State at home. The police force Altintas served, as a member of the riot squad, is also in some tumult, its command and rank-and-file purged of what Erdogan calls traitors and terrorists after a failed coup against him in July. The Turkish police has long had secret networks and allegiances in its ranks, both Islamist and nationalist. Although constitutionally secular, the Turkish state has long relied on the "twin pillars" of Sunni Islam and nationalism, said Halil Karaveli, managing editor of The Turkey Analyst, a policy journal. "The religious element was always very important in the recruitment and the formation of the cadres of the Turkish state, especially in the security services - not in the army - but in the police." EXILED CLERIC Erdogan said the assassin was a follower of exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally, who had built a wide network in the police. Gulen denies this. Soke is in one of the most secular regions of Turkey, in the south-west. But Celtikci, the Soke neighbourhood where the Altintas family live, is filled with run-down buildings, where the paint is peeling and the walls are scarred by graffiti, often nationalist or religious. "Islam is the only way," reads one, "God should be bestowed upon Turks," says another. Altintas' family lives on the fourth floor and laundry could still be seen hanging out on the balcony, two days after police detained them for questioning. Media said they were later released. His father, Israfil Altintas, said he had spoken to his son by phone on the day of the attack. The young man's behaviour started changing after he became friends at police academy with a man identified as Sercan B. "As far as I know, he was not a member of any terrorist organisation, religious network or group," Israfil Altintas told police, according to Turkish broadcaster Haberturk. "However, he started becoming focused on his prayers, more introverted and silent after he became a policeman." Israfil said his son had ignored his suggestion that he should remain in Izmir and had gone with Sercan to Ankara, where they lived in the same house. His mother, Hamidiye Altintas, said she had also called her son on the day of the attack. "He asked, 'What are you doing, Mom?', and I told him I was on a visit and would call him when I was available. He then hung up, saying 'Alright Mom, be in God's care, give me your blessing'. "My son was an introverted and silent boy," she said. Former acquaintances of Altintas recall a distant figure who spent much of his time with his step-sister and grandmother. No-one seemed to know of any open allegiance to Gulen in young adulthood. "He was always in need of help," said Bahri Gokciyel, who was from the same neighbourhood and now works at a teahouse in Soke, a lower middle-class town of 117,000 overshadowed by the upscale resorts that dot the Aegean coast. "He was a silent kid who had no friends all through school," he said, adding that Altintas twice failed to get a place at university. Whatever his academic shortcomings, Altintas planned the killing meticulously, scouting out the gallery in advance, calling in sick on the day of the attack and using his police ID to bypass security checks and get into the venue with a gun. While the slogans Altintas shouted suggest he was sympathetic to radical Islamist ideology, Gulen preaches interfaith dialogue. Whatever the motive, the killing capped a violent year for Turkey that includes a string of deadly bombings blamed on both Kurdish militants and Islamic State. Since the attempted coup, authorities have dismissed or suspended more than 100,000 people suspected of links to the cleric, and fired 40,000. NEIGHBOURS Although Altintas lived in Ankara, he came home from time to time and was seen by neighbours. "Mert stayed with his grandmother a lot, and we used to see him on the street when we played games," said 22-year-old Tolga Tosun, who grew up with Altintas, and now is involved in local politics for the main secular opposition party, the CHP, the dominant party in Soke. "He never joined, and he never spoke to anyone. He was always alone and silent," Tosun added. National feeling also runs strong in Soke, with the nationalist opposition also boasting a solid presence. Tosun said Altintas' family were affiliated with the nationalist party and relatively pious. However, other neighbours could not confirm that and the local head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said the family were not members. SPILLOVER Altintas' actions have also raised questions about the potential spillover from the Syrian crisis to Turkey. Some pious Turks, who for years have listened to Erdogan talk about the need to save Syria from President Bashar al-Assad, are now puzzled by his closer ties with Russia, Assad's main backer. "Since 2011, the high-pitched government rhetoric on Syria has shaped a Turkish constituency that is very sensitive to the tragedies unfolding in Syria," said Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat and analyst at Carnegie Europe. "That constituency is becoming very uncertain and almost disillusioned." But in Soke, some of the locals see the dark hand of Gulen, which the government refers to as the "Gulenist Terror Organisation". Gokciyel, the former neighbour, said he believed that Altintas used Gulenist connections to enter the police academy. The government has long said Gulen's followers have used their affiliated schools to infiltrate the civil service and police. Whatever happens next, the people of Soke, like many Turks, feel things have been irreparably changed by the assassination. "Killing an ambassador is shameful. Not just for the killer, but also for our country," said Yurdakos Elgun, an official at the local office of the CHP, the secular opposition. "Our ancestors have always said that no cruelty can be done to guests." (Additional reporting by Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Giles Elgood)
BEIRUT (AP)  Hundreds of people returned to eastern Aleppo neighborhoods on Friday to check on their homes after the last opposition fighters left the city, picking through debris and wreckage for personal belongings blasted by years of fighting.

In a sign of the immense challenges that still lie ahead for President Bashar Assad, rebels outside the city shelled a neighborhood in the city, killing three people in the first bombardment since government forces took full control of Syria's largest city a day earlier, state TV reported.

The rebel surrender in Aleppo ended a brutal chapter in Syria's nearly six-year civil war, and marked Assad's most significant victory since an uprising against his family's four-decade rule began in 2011. But large parts of the war-ravaged country remain outside his control, including rural areas in Aleppo province south and west of the city where opposition fighters still operate.

Assad has said that the most important priority after securing Aleppo will be fortifying the countryside around it before moving on to other strongholds outside his control, including the nearby province of Idlib, west of Aleppo, and the city of Raqqa controlled by the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

Syrian TV said Friday's rockets which hit the southwestern neighborhood of Hamadaniyeh were fired by insurgents based southwest of Aleppo.

Associated Press footage from inside neighborhoods in eastern Aleppo taken over by the army after the last rebels were bused out a day earlier captured the staggering destruction: Row after row of destroyed buildings, many with blown out doors and windows, and toppled floors, along debris-strewn streets lined with charred vehicles. Not a single building appeared intact.

In the Sukkari, Ansari and Amiriyeh neighborhoods, army experts were dismantling explosives and booby-traps left behind by rebels before they left.

Hundreds of people walked through the Bustan al-Qasr crossing, a passageway that separated rebel-controlled eastern Aleppo from the government-controlled al-Masharqa district, which was closed years ago, cutting off links between the two sides of the divided city.

Story continues

Ahmad Khayata was among those who returned to see what remains of his home in Sukkari, one of the last neighborhoods to be evacuated by opposition fighters Thursday. He was told by soldiers he needed to wait until they finish de-mining the area.

"It's been five years since I left my home," he said. "Thank God now we are back... They (soldiers) told us maybe in the afternoon or tomorrow it will be possible" to go in, he said.

The Syrian government's recapture of Aleppo after a prolonged and punishing air assault leaves Assad in control of almost all major urban areas  and poised to play a role in the world community's broader war against jihadis clinging to parts of Syria. It is a devastating a blow for the opposition, whose main backer, Turkey, is now heavily engaged with Moscow in searching for a settlement to the six-year war in Syria.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin, one of Assad's key backers, said it's necessary to establish a cease-fire across the entire territory of Syria, to be followed by peace talks.

"In the next stage, an agreement on a cease-fire on the entire territory of Syria should be reached and practical talks on a political settlement should start immediately after," Putin said at his annual news conference.

He said the leaders of Turkey and Iran, which have helped broker the withdrawal of the remaining civilians and militants from Aleppo, have agreed that Syria peace talks should be held in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana. He added that Assad has agreed to that proposal.

The Kremlin later said that Putin called Assad to congratulate him on the capture of Aleppo.

"This success was possibly only thanks to joint efforts of everyone who rallied together against international terrorism in Syria," Putin was quoted as saying.

The Kremlin also said Putin told Assad that "the main goal now is to focus efforts on issues of advancing a peace settlement including hammering out an agreement on a comprehensive settlement for the Syria crisis."

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a meeting with Putin that a military police battalion had been deployed to eastern Aleppo the previous evening to "ensure order." He didn't specify how many troops had been deployed.

Shoigu told Putin that the Russian military is helping restore water and energy supplies to eastern districts of Aleppo and clearing them from mines. Shoigu said that an agreement on a "complete cease-fire" in Syria is very close, didn't offer details.

Syrian state TV said the Russian force aims to protect explosive experts in the Russian base of Hemeimeem on the coast.

The ancient city had been divided into rebel and government parts since 2012, when rebels from the countryside swept in and took hold of eastern districts. That set the stage for more than four years of brutal fighting and government bombardment that laid waste to those neighborhoods.

The rebel evacuations were set in motion after a months-long siege and Russian-backed military campaign. Years of resistance were stamped out in a relentless campaign over the past month that saw hospitals bombed, bodies left unburied and civilians killed by shells as they fled for safety.

Under a deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, tens of thousands of residents and fighters began evacuating to opposition-controlled areas in the surrounding countryside, a process that took a week and ended Thursday night.

Pro-government TV stations reported that rebels killed dozens of prisoners they were holding before they evacuated the city. Syrian rebels denied the reports in an exchange monitored by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, saying the prisoners were released.

A Syrian military official told The Associated Press that the gunmen carried out "criminal acts" before the left east Aleppo, adding that he will not go into details until a military investigation is over. He spoke by telephone from Syria on condition of anonymity in line with army regulations.

____

Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report.
By Lisa Barrington and Angus McDowall BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo and air strikes resumed around the city on Friday as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents' withdrawal from the city could pave the way towards a political solution for the country. A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district. The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed. State television said at least three people died. Insurgents seeking to oust Assad have shelled government controlled areas of Aleppo throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in eastern districts rebels held until this month. Air strikes resumed in rebel-held areas of the countryside near Aleppo on Friday for the first time since the end of the evacuation operation. Strikes hit to the west, south-west and south of the city, areas which had not been hit for at least a week. The Britain-based Observatory had no information on casualties yet. After months of bombardment and a final few weeks of intense air strikes and Syrian army advances on the besieged, rebel-held part of Aleppo, a local ceasefire was reached on Dec. 15 which allowed thousand of civilians and then fighters to leave. The last left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west. The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed. Many of those who left are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed. On Friday, the army and its allies, including Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels, to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported. State television showed empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes in the al-Ansari district. DAMASCUS WATER CUT In the capital Damascus, the water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use reserves instead after rebels polluted the water with diesel, it said on Friday. The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley northwest of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border. The government controls much of the surrounding territory and on Friday carried out aerial attacks and shelled the rebel-held area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. A military news outlet run by Hezbollah said the rebels in the valley had refused to leave the area and the Syrian Arab Army began an offensive against them on Friday morning. Through a series of so-called settlement agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition around the capital. PEACE TALKS? During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad's forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah. On Friday, Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria's main partner in the battle, and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process. Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution. Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State. United Nations-backed peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year as violence escalated, particularly around Aleppo. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut and Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman; editing by John Stonestreet and David Clarke)
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Not all entrepreneurs need to start a business from scratch. Buying a business can give you a head start on things like brand recognition and operations. So where can you find a business for sale if youre interested in going this route?

From California to North Carolina, there are plenty of places for potential business buyers to find a business for sale in the United States. Your choice depends on factors like price, business category, and location. So understand all the options before browsing for small businesses for sale.

Best Ways to Find a Small Business for Sale

From websites to personal contacts and beyond, there are many places an entrepreneur can find a business to buy. Here are a few of the best places to look for a business to buy both online and off.

Business Brokers

A business broker is an intermediary who helps buyers and sellers facilitate the sale of a business. Some business brokers work with businesses in a specific area or industry. So find one experienced in the category of business youre interested in purchasing. Contact the business broker of your choice directly to find out if theyre working with any sellers with businesses relevant to your chosen categories. If youre looking for a broker to help you find a business to buy, try the Find a Business Broker feature on BizBuySell.

Other Small Business Owners

Business owners you know may refer you to someone in their circle looking to sell a business. Some may even be interested in selling their own businesses. A quick message to a contact on LinkedIn or a conversation with a business owner at a networking event may open up new opportunities you didnt even know existed. To connect with more business contacts in your area, consider joining a local chamber of commerce or finding online groups for businesses.

Your Larger Network

Your larger network of connections may also be a source of information on potential businesses for sale. This network may include business associates, co-workers, and even social media connections. Discuss your goals with these individuals or post about the type of business youre looking for. Some may have suggestions or contacts that could be helpful.

Ads in Local Media or On Websites

Your local newspaper, online publications, and even message boards can be perfect places to find hyper local business listings. Business owners looking to sell may place classified ads looking for a qualified buyer or broker. So browse these listings or search relevant local sites by keyword. You might even place your own ads to see if any local business owners are interested in selling but just havent taken the first step yet.

Online Business For Sale Listings

Another place online to find businesses for sale is on a variety of sites specifically designed for this purpose. Here are some sites you may wish to visit while starting your entrepreneurial journey.

1. BizBuySell

BizBuySell is the largest online marketplace for businesses for sale. You can find franchise opportunities, independent businesses, and brokers. And there are a huge number of options for all price ranges and industries.

The marketplace has a Business for Sale feature to help you search for businesses to buy in your area. You can also download a free ebook called the BizBuySell Guide to Buying a Small Business. If youre a seller, you can also the BizBuySell Guide to Selling Your Small Business.

2. BusinessesForSale.com

BusinessesForSale.com offers a marketplace of more than 58,000 businesses for sale. You can search by state, city, and keyword to find the most relevant opportunities.

Popular categories on BusinessesForSale.com range from gas stations to coffee shops to pet grooming services, all with different price ranges and revenue potentials. And there are even international opportunities available around the world.

3. BusinessMart.com

BusinessMart.com offers a place for buyers and sellers to connect. You can search businesses and franchise opportunities by industry, location, and amount youre willing to invest.

The site also offers resources like a vendor search function and links to relevant brokers and funding options. So you can use the website as a hub for information as well as a place to find businesses for sale.

4. BizQuest.com

BizQuest.com provides access to franchises and businesses for sale, along with information on local brokers. You can search businesses for sale by keyword or even browse by city, state, industry, or brand. The site also offers specific options for buying franchises, assets, startups, and real estate.

Once you conduct a search to find a business for sale, you can review the list of results and even save the ones you are most interested in. Read the brief description and then click through for more details. BizQuest provides a simple form that then allows you to contact the seller directly.

5.BusinessBroker.net

Though the name can be misleading, BusinessBroker.net allows you to search for much more than a business broker. You can search the website for a business for sale by customizing the type of business you are interested in as well as your minimum and maximum budget. You also get to choose the location by state.

After completing your search, you can browse the results. Listings include asking price, cash flow and revenue numbers. You can read a brief description of each business before deciding whether or not to add it to your request info basket for more information.

6. Loopnet

Loopnet stands out because it does not just provide the opportunity to buy a business but also the chance to buy or lease commercial property. Enter the type of property you are seeking. Categories include office, industrial, retail, restaurant, specialty, healthcare and more. There are also listings for multifamily units for sale so this offers a chance for those who are in the apartment rental business too.

Once youve chosen the property type and location, you receive listings including a photo, square footage and pricing. There are even maps of the location of each property and demographics information about potential area customers including household income, absolute population and local consumer spending.

7. Exchange

Exchange is a website specializing in helping buyers find an online business for sale. Exchange allows you to search existing business websites. Business listings include online businesses in gifts and collectibles, fashion and apparel, services and consulting, home and furniture, health and beauty and many other categories.

Browse the business websites by category and then view the website listings you find most interesting. Listings include the URL, the asking price, average revenue, average profit and average sessions per month.

How much money do you need to buy a small business?

Prices for purchasing a small business for sale can vary widely depending on the industry, location, and brand. Listings on popular business buying websites can range from about $1,000 to $1 million. Businesses with lots of expensive equipment and a physical location, like restaurants and gas stations, are often on the high end. Online businesses that can be run from home fall on the lower end. Service businesses often fall somewhere in the middle.

What are the steps to buy an existing business?

If youre ready to purchase an existing business, here are the steps you need to follow:

Find the right business. As explained above, finding the right business to buy may be the most challenging part of this process. You first need to identify a business for sale that meets your criteria.

Negotiate the price. You can then contact the seller or work through a business broker to negotiate a price. Though the business owner doubtless has an amount he or she would like to get for the business, you need to consider other factors like your budget and any challenges the business may face and give a counter offer.

Sign a letter of intent. The next step would likely be your expression in written form about your intention to buy the business at an agreed upon price. But dont get too excited. Youve still got a few steps before the sale goes through.

Do research and due diligence. You need to do some research to figure out if the business for sale is a good investment or too good to be true. Look at cash flow, reputation, location and other factors. You should also look at an assessment of the businesss assets and liability.

Secure financing. If you dont have the cash on hand to buy the business out right  and not many small business owners or potential small business owners do  you may need to secure financing from a bank or other financial institution. Some small business owners may offer owner financing and thats something you will need to look into while researching the deal.

Close the deal. Once the price has been negotiated, the due diligence and research done and the finance secured, its finally time to close the deal and buy your business. Here again you may want to hire a business broker or sales agent to help out.

For a deeper dive into the specifics of buying a business for sale, read How to Buy a Business.
Competition is an essential part of running a business  but not for some pharmaceutical companies.

The Senate Aging Committee just released a report where it looked at the practices of several drug companies that bought the rights to prescription medications and then increased the price by hundreds of dollars per dose  just because they could. They managed to do this because those particular drugs were for rare conditions and had only one manufacturer. So they didnt have any competition in the market. And there werent enough patients to effectively complain when prices went up.

For small businesses, entering the pharmaceutical game can be a difficult and complicated process. The application fees alone can be cost-prohibitive for many small companies. And this is one of the factors that has led to a lack of competition in certain parts of the market.

Patients Reap the Benefits of Competition in the Pharmaceutical Industry

But because of those recent findings about certain companies jacking up prices, that could change. Sen. Susan Collins recently proposed legislation that would waive application fees for small companies that want to manufacture certain types of drugs in an effort to spur more companies to compete. It would enable patients to reap the benefits of competition in the pharmaceutical industry. So its possible that it could soon be a bit easier for small businesses to break into an industry they were effectively priced out of due to fees and regulations.
Hi, Im standing up for election to the Software Carpentry Steering Committee 2017.

Me & Carpentries

My background is life science. I currently work at the Netherlands eScience Center in Amsterdam. Apart from being a developer on various research software projects, Im involved in Centers training activities and software development best practices.

I got sucked into in Software Carpentry world through Elixir Data Carpentry Pilot organised by Aleksandra Pawlik. During hackathon in Helsinki, together with Francois Michonneau and few other people we kickstarted ggplot2 part in R-ecology-lesson . From day one I learned a lot about the mechanics of SC, lesson development and logistics of the workshops.

Instructor

At the end of 2015, I attended instructor training in Manchester and became certified instructor shortly after. Since then I instructed at 7 SC and DC workshops around Europe and few more eScience Center workshops based on Software or Data Carpentry materials. Currently, Im learning towards becoming an instructor trainer.

Mentoring

Recently I started joining instructor discussions as an observer and Im planning on becoming host next year. I also joined recently announced mentorship program.

Library Carpentry

With small group of people in Amsterdam we hosted site for Mozilla Science Global Sprint and joined groups around the world in the effort to migrate Data Carpentry lessons to Library Carpentry. I have been contributing to LC materials since then.

Netherlands and Europe

I see how powerful Carpentries training model is and how important it is to establish Carpentries communities in the Netherlands and Europe. I have been relentlessly promoting SC, from local Research Software Engineers meetings (DTL programmers meetings) to conferences (BioSB). I helped establish eScience Center and Software Carpentry Partnership and work together with SURF (the collaborative ICT organisation for Dutch education and Research) on wider partnerships within the Netherlands.

ELIXIR is very close to finalising the partnership with SC/DC and next year multiple SC and DC workshops will be organised for life science researchers in ELIXIR nodes. It has become apparent that there is a need for bioinformatics lesson. Together with other people from other ELIXIR nodes, we are planning to test drive and contribute to Data Carpentry Genomics Workshop through series of hackathons in the Netherlands, Portugal and UK.

Plans for Steering Committee

I think its very important that there is someone on the committee to give the European perspective. The culture differs here from North America. The scale is different too, it easier to connect / partner with other countries and European Union projects. I plan to help establishing the partnership with SURF in the Netherlands and multiple smaller partnerships around the Netherlands. I will also continue connecting various European projects with Carpentries initiative. One example is establishing SC workshops as part of H2020 European Training Programs (ETPs). eScience Center is currently contributing to two of those. I know how important it is to build sustainable local instructor community and realise how low is the instructor certification rate. I hope to contribute to improving it through mentorship program but also local study groups.
By PTI: From K J M Varma

Beijing, Dec 23 (PTI) China today said it was "concerned" over US President-elect Donald Trumps call to "greatly strengthen" Americas nuclear capability, saying the country should instead take the lead in reducing the arsenal in order to facilitate disarmament.

"We are concerned. I reemphasise Chinas position on disarmament. We stand for and advocate full prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons. The country with (the) largest nuclear arsenal should take special and prior responsibility in nuclear disarmament," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters here.

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"China stands and advocates the full prohibition and destruction of the nuclear weapons," Hua said.

She was reacting to Trumps tweet yesterday in which he said "the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes", without explaining what he meant.

Asked whether Trumps remarks would spark nuclear arms race between the US, Russia and China, she said the country with largest nuclear arsenal should take on special responsibility for nuclear disarmament and take lead in dramatically reducing the nuclear arsenal to create conditions for it.

With more than 7,000 warheads, the US currently has the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons, followed by Russia, the UK, France and China.

Trumps statement on nuclear weapons came a day after he met top generals from the Pentagon, including Air Force Lt Gen Jack Weinstein, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration.

Current plans already call for spending USD one trillion over the next three decades to modernise and maintain the US nuclear arsenal.

In a statement, Trumps spokesman Jason Miller clarified that the President-elect was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it ? particularly to and among terrorist organisations and unstable and rogue regimes. PTI KJV CPS SAI CPS

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Global Poker Index: David Peters Takes Over Player of the Year Lead

December 23 2016 Martin Harris

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes into account a player's results over six half-year periods. For a look at the entire list, visit the official GPI website. Here's a look at the rankings as of Dec. 21.

2016 GPI Player of the Year

Rank Player GPI Score Change 1 David Peters 3666.31 +2 2 Fedor Holz 3644.80 -1 3 Justin Bonomo 3513.79 -1 4 Chance Kornuth 3336.54 - 5 Adrian Mateos 3269.00 +2 6 Ari Engel 3255.23 -1 7 Paul Volpe 3192.88 -1 8 Nick Petrangelo 3176.03 +3 9 Ankush Mandavia 3138.97 - 10 Samuel Panzica 3114.66 -2

Over the last couple of weeks in this space we've highlighted how a few different challengers were starting to close in on Fedor Holz who had occupied the top spot in the 2016 Global Poker Index Player of the Year race for more than six months.

Two weeks ago it was Ari Engel whom we spoke of gaining ground on Holz, then last week it was Justin Bonomo who'd moved up into second position to narrow the gap.

But rushing past all of those players and Holz, too, as the finish line nears is David Peters who thanks to his third-place finish in the European Poker Tour Prague Main Event won by Jasper Meijer van Putten accumulated enough points to edge just barely ahead of Holz with less than two weeks to go in December.

The race isn't over, of course, and there are still a few chances for players to accumulate points before the year ends. But Peters is now the betting favourite to win 2016 GPI POY heading into the holidays.

GPI 300 Top 10

Rank Player GPI Score Change 1 Fedor Holz 4722.60 - 2 David Peters 4435.53 +1 3 Nick Petrangelo 4329.12 -1 4 Justin Bonomo 4232.44 - 5 Dan Smith 4212.68 - 6 Steve O'Dwyer 4141.78 +10 7 Tom Marchese 4081.59 - 8 Jake Schindler 3974.69 - 9 Adrian Mateos 3944.03 +5 10 Connor Drinan 3925.63 -

Holz remained atop the overall GPI rankings where he's enjoyed a large lead over the chase pack for some time. This marks his 28th week atop the list, the longest-streak of any GPI No. 1 since the rankings began in 2011.

Peters moved up a spot to No. 2 in the overall rankings, his highest career ranking to date. Meanwhile former No. 1 Steve O'Dwyer jumped from No. 16 to No. 6 this week after making three final tables in three separate 25,500 High Roller events at EPT Prague, taking sixth, fifth, and third in them.

Falling from the top 10 this week was another former No. 1, Jason Mercier, who slipped from No. 6 to No. 13. It's the first time Mercier has been out of the overall top 10 since June 2015.

Welcome to the GPI Top 300

Rank Player Total Score 198 Jesse Yaginuma 2176.08 208 Andreas Freund 2139.31 218 Louis Salter 2086.08 237 Matthew Stout 2027.64 253 Pavel Plesuv 1993.35 258 Vincent Delgado 1984.56 262 Timothy Burt 1977.39 273 Rumen Nunev 1948.97 276 Jean-Noel Thorel 1945.74 280 Patrick Mahoney 1938.47 283 Wael Sarkis 1930.68 284 Dan O'Brien 1928.65 285 Josip Simunic 1927.62 288 Daniel Colman 1914.67 290 John Monnette 1910.43 291 Jesse Alexis Cohen 1909.68 292 Jonathan Abdellatif 1907.80 293 Matas Cimbolas 1907.69 294 Javier Zarco 1903.44 300 Alex Difelice 1883.76

A big group of 20 newcomers joined the overall GPI top 300 this week, many of whom collected cashes at EPT Prague in order to make their upward moves.

The highest-ranked of the bunch, Jesse Yaginuma, was an exception to that trend, having made his move from No. 306 to No. 198 on the strength of recent cashes in the World Series of Poker Circuit Los Angeles festival at the Bicycle Casino, including a victory in the $3,250 High Roller event.

Biggest Gains

Rank Player Total GPI Score Change 276 Jean-Noel Thorel 1945.74 +363 283 Wael Sarkis 1930.68 +244 218 Louis Salter 2086.08 +183 292 Jonathan Abdellatif 1907.80 +178 92 Julian Stuer 2640.29 +140

Heading the list of "Biggest Gains"  looking only at players ranked in this week's top 300  is Jean-Noel Thorel who catapulted from No. 639 to No. 276 this week. Thorel moved up after making three final tables in Prague, finishing second one of the 25,500 Single-Day High Roller events, fifth in another one, and seventh in the 5,200 Hyper-Turbo NL event.

Biggest Drops

Rank Player Total GPI Score Change 295 David Malka 1903.41 -98 238 Roland Israelashivilli 2024.81 -95 277 Ben Yu 1942.86 -89 234 Iliodoros Kamatakis 2033.68 -73 279 Govert Metaal 1940.71 -70

Finally, again only looking at players ranked in the top 300, David Malka endured the steepest decline this week after falling from No. 197 to No. 295.

What to Expect Next Week

Things are quieting down with the holidays approaching, although the Dutch Open Poker Series is currently ongoing in Breda, Netherlands where Ari Engel is among the participants. There will also be another $100,000 Super High Roller at the ARIA Resort & Casino on Dec. 30-31 to give high-stakes players a last chance to cash (and collect GPI points).

To view the GPI overall rankings in their entirety, visit the official GPI website. While you're at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page.

Sharelines Fedor Holz led the @GPI 2016 POY race for 27 straight weeks, but David Peters is currently on top.

Fedor Holz still leads overall @GPI, but David Peters moved in front for 2016 POY near the finish.
Hippodrome Casino Gears Up For the PokerStars Festival London

December 23 2016 Matthew Pitt Editor

The Hippodrome Casino is gearing up for the first PokerStars Festival London event of 2017 where nine tournaments are set, including a 400,000 guaranteed Main Event that is sure to attract some of the best players from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe and beyond.

Previously the home to the London leg of the UK & Ireland Poker Tour, the Hippodrome Casino is a luxurious venue featuring five distinct bars, live music and cabaret performances, a shisha terrace, three floors of gaming choice, a top restaurant and a lavish poker room.

It is in the poker room where the attention of the regions top grinders is fixated between Jan. 23 and Jan. 29, when the PokerStars Festival London runs. Kicking off the festival is the 275 Super Deep tournament followed by the 2,200 High Roller and the 990 Main Event, the latter coming with a guaranteed prize pool of 400,000.

2017 PokerStars Festival London Schedule

Dates Tournament Buy-in Jan. 23-25 PokerStars Super Deep 275 Jan. 24-25 PokerStars Festival High Roller 2,200 Jan. 25-29 PokerStars Festival Main Event 990 Jan. 26 StarsFun Roulette Tournament 120 January 27 StarsFun Blackjack Tournament 120 Jan. 28 StarsFun Craps Tournament 120 Jan. 28-29 PokerStars Cup 330 Jan. 29 NL Holdem Ladies Event 170 Jan. 29 Turbo Deepstack UKIPT Edition 220

As you can see in the table above, PokerStars is hosting a trio of casino game tournaments under the StarsFun banner, which will take place in Lolas Underground Casino inside the Hippodrome Casino.

There will also be cash games running throughout the festival, either 1/3 no-limit holdem with a 150 minimum sit down and a 1,000 maximum or 2/5 no-limit holdem Deep Stack with a 500 minimum buy-in and no maximum.

Cash game players are also invited to a special Cash Race on Jan. 11 that awards 4,000 in PokerStars Festival London tournament credits.

Hippodrome Announces New PokerStars London Series

The Hippodrome used to host the popular UKIPT Series and Hippodrome Classics in its prime West End location, but these are being replaced by the PokerStars London Series.

There will be five such series throughout 2017, each with a 275 buy-in, with the first event scheduled for March 3-5. Each of the 275 buy in PokerStars London Series events see players sit down with 25,000 chips and play to 30-minute levels on Day 1 and 40-minute levels on Day 2.

PokerStars London Series Key Dates

March 3-5

April 7-9

May 26-28

Oct. 6-8

Nov. 10-12

There will also be a PokerStars London Super Series held between Aug. 30 and Sept. 4, and once more information becomes available, PokerNews will pass it onto you.

Online qualifiers for the PokerStars London Festival are now running online at PokerStars and are available via your computer or mobile device. If you dont have a PokerStars account, download PokerStars via PokerNews, enter the marketing code PNEWS32 and use the bonus code STARS600 when making your first deposit to be rewarded with a 100 percent up to $600 first deposit bonus.
Head to King's Casino for the German Poker Tour Over the Holidays

December 23 2016 Jason Glatzer

Celebrate the time between Christmas and New Year's Eve by heading to the biggest poker room in Europe, King's Casino, in Rozvadov, Czech Republic for some fantastic poker action with the return of the German Poker Tour.

The German Poker Tour Main Event at King's Casino is one of the best deepstack events in all of Europe. This is not only due to the format, but also the lower buy-in of 299 along with a very generous 200,000 guaranteed prize pool!

If you have some family time planned, we are not asking you to cancel it, but you can work around your schedule. There are three opening days in this event on Dec. 26, 27 and 28. Each day also allows for one reentry, giving you plenty of ways to build a stack.

However, if you are busy all three of these days, you can also choose to skip this step and just register right before Day 2. You will still get the same 50,000 opening chips, which is plenty in this deepstacked affair. Blind levels on the first two days are long at 45 minutes per level. On the final day, they get even longer with 60 minutes per level.

Additionally, you can enjoy the plethora of side events that by themselves feature guaranteed prize pools of almost 100,000 and are likely to be much bigger than that.

If you have been to King's Casino before, you likely already know that cash games are running around the clock. These games are typically softer than you will find just about anywhere else and start with buy-ins of just 100 for both 1/3 no-limit hold'em and 2/2 pot-limit Omaha. King's Casino won't even be taking a break over Christmas and New Years Eve as games will be running all day and all night long on the holidays.

Celebrate your holidays on the felts and join the hot action at King's Casino for the German Poker Tour.

Sharelines Win big between Christmas and New Year's Eve in the German Poker Tour at King's Casino.
BRUSSELS  The European Unions executive refrained Wednesday from calling for heavy fines against Spain and Portugal for breaching budget rules and sought instead to set new fiscal paths for the two countries.

It gave both nations until Oct. 15 to find new measures to curb their budget deficits over the coming months and years, a deadline that could be tough for Spain considering its political paralysis following inconclusive elections.

Even though it said it was within its rights to call for heavy fines, EU Commissioner Pierre Moscovici cited the current anti-EU mood in parts of the 28-nation bloc as a reason to hold back.

To sanction would not have corrected the past and would have been counterproductive at a time when people doubt Europe, Moscovici said. Our decision is politically and economically the most appropriate.

The EU Commission could have called on member states to sanction the two nations  which would have been a first  for allowing their budgets to be above the EU limit of 3 percent of GDP for years. Fines could have gone as high as 0.2 percent of each countrys annual GDP and EU funding could have been blocked from the start of next year.

Instead, it said there were attenuating circumstances. The Commission said that considering the challenging economic environment, both countries reform efforts and their commitments to comply with the rules, it suggested there be no fines. Instead, the countries should take steps to lower their deficits, it said.

The Commission wants to give Spain until 2018 to bring its deficit within 3 percent of GDP while Portugal should be given until the end of this year to lower its deficit to 2.5 percent.

The Commission only recommends what member states should do, but it is unlikely that countries would fundamentally go against the EU executive.

Spain and Portugal have come a long way. The two countries experienced severe economic and financial crises, said EU Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis. They have managed to restore financial stability thanks to major fiscal adjustment. And they have turned their economies around through structural reforms to regain competitiveness. These efforts should not be underestimated.

Spains acting deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria welcomed the decision, saying the decision showed a recognition of the reforms carried out and the effort made to control the deficit in seriously difficult times.

Portugal in particular had feared fines and Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said the decision was very good news. The government had sent a request for leniency and Santos Silva told a news conference in Lisbon We are in the right.

He said the Portuguese had made huge sacrifices  which deserve understanding and support to reduce its debt load after needing a 78-billion euro ($86 billion) bailout in 2011. The Portuguese budget deficit has been on a downward trend, he noted.

The Portuguese government had vowed to fight any fines at the European Court of Justice. The government forecasts the deficit will fall from 4.4 percent of GDP last year to 2.2 percent this year and 1.4 percent in 2017.

Spains deficit last year was 5.1 percent, well above their target of 4.2 percent.

___

Barry Hatton in Lisbon and Ciaran Giles in Madrid contributed to this report.
Judging by the name and the chile logo, you might assume Las Ristras, tucked away in an inconspicuous Corrales corner, would be a no-doubt-about-it New Mexican restaurant.

While Las Ristras does indeed serve red and green chile hot enough to bring tears to your eyes and tasty enough to compel you to take another bite, this cozy hideaway breaks out of its branding by bringing to the table some of the finest steaks to be found anywhere. In addition to a full menu of chile rellenos, tamales, burritos, fajitas and Frito pie, Las Ristras offers an in-depth steakhouse menu.

Youd never know it from driving by on Corrales Road, but proprietor and Corrales native Jude Sanchez solves the continual problem of where to find a decent steak by loading platters with magnificently grilled, 2-inch-thick, grass-fed, northern-New Mexico ranch-raised rib-eyes in two cuts  the Bad Boy, 16-ounce bone-in cut ($25), and a 14-ounce version ($19.99), both juicy and bursting with flavor. They are as impressive as any you might encounter at more upscale establishments; however, they are served at Las Ristras with a bargain price tag and without pretension. Those and the hand-carved sirloin ($16), marinated pork rib-eye ($18), half-rack green chile-rubbed ribs ($19), and sweet bourbon salmon ($17) make up the core of the charbroiled flame-kissed bliss section of the menu.

Due to extra caution required for proper cooking of lower-fat, grass-fed beef, steaks tend to arrive on the rare side, but Mr. Sanchez has no problem giving them another turn on the grill at your request. If you are unaccustomed to eating grass-fed beef, please note that it is a bit chewier than the supermarket variety; however, what it may lack in tenderness it more than compensates for in flavor.

Entrees are accompanied with a side salad and choice of smoked gouda green chile potatoes blanketed in melted cheese, pancetta, vegetable of the day or cilantro lime rice.

For a comfort food supper, try green chile meatloaf ($9.50) with vegetable and papas to get your chile fix. Las Ristras serves tortilla burgers ($7.95) that can be smothered with chile for a dollar more. Steaming bowls of posole, green chile stew and chile with beans ($4.99-$7.99) will make you glad its cold outside, because it feels so good to to warm up with these flavors.

Omelets, breakfast burritos, pancakes and huevos rancheros are satisfying either at breakfast or for weekend brunch.

Las Ristras has a way with avocados  in particular, the grilled avocado salad ($13), a lightly crisped quartered avocado spiced with fresh pico de gallo, as well as the guacamole prepared tableside ($8.99). Sanchezs cooking is inspired by produce he sources from neighboring farmers.

Attracting a local crowd, Sanchez, who has managed the place for about a year, has created popular family-friendly events, including Taco Tuesdays, with $1.50 tacos, and Prime Rib Thursdays, featuring a three-course prime rib dinner of New Mexico ranch-raised beef, starting as $17.99  reservations a must.

The jovial Jude Sanchez is the sort of restaurateur who enjoys visiting with diners in the front of the house. Intimate and warm, Las Ristras has a sense of the effortless, offhand, artful decor that is the essence of Corrales chic. And service could not be better.

3 1/2 stars

Las Ristras de Corrales



LOCATION: 4540 Corrales Road, Corrales; 433-1567

HOURS: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday

BEER AND WINE
Theres been tons of work.

Lots of logistics.

Sleepless nights.

But its all worth it for David Pinter and Samuel Dalton.

What started off as a dream has quickly become a reality.

At times, the duo cant believe it.

They are the masterminds behind the animated comic Indigo Ignited.

And the next step of turning it into an anime series is on its way.

We finished pre-production on the pilot, Pinter says. Were moving forward on production, which is being done in Japan.

Pinter says the series is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy anime/comic book.

The series follows Kieran, who along with his comrades is forced to embark on a journey to explore a destroyed world that is engulfed in fear and bloodshed.

It takes the audience on a psychological journey that prompts difficult societal questions and leaves a lasting impact on viewers, having them questioning the dichotomy of right and wrong.

Pinter is the writer of the series, while Dalton draws the comic.

The two have worked for more than two years on the project, and when they thought about turning the comic into an anime series, they wanted it done right.

Japan is the place for anime, Dalton says. We searched for a way to break into the industry there. Luckily, we found some Americans who were living in Japan and they had some connections. We wanted it to be very traditional in the anime style.

Anime is Japanese hand-drawn animation.

It is known for its colorful, very stylized graphics.

Dalton says the process in getting the attention for a Japanese artist to draw the series was quite an undertaking.

In America, were not known for anime at all, he says. Especially traditional. We want to become the first American anime project. Its a joint effort between us and the Japanese artists.

A few months ago, the pair traveled to Japan to tie up the remaining details.

While in Japan, they thought about the eight months of negotiating.

Pinter also says the pair got 38 nos before getting one yes.

The pilot is going to get done for under $100,000.

It was all worth it, and wed do it again, Pinter says. We found some investors who believe in our project and the potential.

Creatively, the pair remain in control but also give some room for artistry.

There are times we have to pull back a little and look at the big picture, Pinter says.

The pair have hired voice actors but are going to unveil them when they appear at the Albuquerque Comic Con in January.

Indigo Ignited is going to have a presence, and Pinter and Dalton hope to have a piece ready for people to see.

More information on the series can be found at indigoignited.com.

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@abqjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.
The newly drafted secretary of the Interior Department, Ryan Zinke, takes pride in comparing his conservation principles to those of Theodore Roosevelt. After all, Roosevelts handiwork looms dramatically over Zinkes hometown of Whitefish, Mont., even more than Mount Rushmore looms over the plains of South Dakota.

Look north from downtown Whitefish and you will see the ski runs of Big Mountain, an increasingly posh ski resort. Look to the east, and theres the Great Northern Mountain, one of the highest peaks of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

The ski hill and wilderness areas are both on the Flathead National Forest, which Theodore Roosevelt created with the stroke of a presidential pen in 1908. A bit farther upstream is Glacier National Park. This year, a record 2.8 million people visited Glacier Park, showering gateway towns with money along the way. Glacier was created in 1910 after a long fight led by Roosevelts disciple, George B. Grinnell, and Roosevelts outdoorsy clique, the Boone and Crockett Club.

Ryan Zinke, who has served fewer than two terms in Congress, remains a relatively unknown figure in the world of natural resource politics. Whenever he has entered a national debate on cable news, it has been to make hawkish remarks on national security issues, touting his credentials as a former Navy SEAL.

But the Department of Interiors responsibilities lie within Americas boundaries, and especially in the West. Of the 640 million acres of federal public land in the United States, 500 million acres are under the purview of Interior. Its a heady portfolio that includes national parks, national wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management lands and some national monuments. Interior also includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Zinkes record on natural resources issues appears to be somewhat contradictory. When he issued a news release accepting the nomination to lead the Department of the Interior, he vowed to follow in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt. Indeed, since his first run at the state Legislature in Montana, he has often invoked the memory of that conservation icon.

Yet many environmental groups greeted his nomination for Interior boss with dismay, citing his congressional approval rating of only 3 percent from the national League of Conservation Voters. Theres also his tight connection to the coal and fossil fuel industries.

Sportsmens groups were warmer, noting that Zinke hunts and fishes and has at times stood up against some Republican leaders. He is against the sale of public lands and supports the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Understanding a few key facts about Zinke may provide context as to how he will run the Interior Department:

Zinke is a coal-promoting politician from a coal-producing state.

He waxes nostalgic about the good old days of the Western timber industry and pushes for more logging in national forests.

At the same time, Zinke appears to understand how protected wild lands such as Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness contribute both to the economic vitality and the quality of life in small communities.

You can count on Zinke to push for the delisting of species under the Endangered Species Act, particularly the grizzly bear. In Whitefish, grizzlies act like super-size raccoons and routinely raid garbage cans.

But heres the dilemma: Trump, and now by extension, Zinke, made a lot of promises to rural voters. Those voters expect to see jobs coming back to loggers, sawmills and coal fields in rural America. Once regulations get purged, they were assured, America will be great again  at least according to their idea of greatness.

Trouble is, those jobs are gone for reasons that are a lot more complicated than overbearing regulations. Its magical thinking to imagine that Trump or his Interior secretary can or will bring them back. You dont get very far driving into the future when youre looking in the rear-view mirror.

Zinke is setting a high standard for himself. Theodore Roosevelt loved science and constantly embraced new ideas. He spoke out vigorously against industries that, in his words, were out to skin the American landscape.

Yes, he loved the vigorous outdoor life and he delighted in his battleships, but he was also a scholar with a vision for America. TR paid a devastating political price for his principles in his lifetime. He was abandoned by the Republican Party, though his face later was carved on a mountain, a few decades after his death.

If Secretary Zinke truly wants to follow in the conservation footsteps of Roosevelt, he has his work cut out for him.

Ben Long is a contributor to Writers on the Range, the opinion service of High Country News (www.hcn.org). He writes in Montana.
SAN ANTONIO  A San Antonio police officer has been hurt when his motorcycle was struck by a car that had been part of the funeral procession he was escorting.

Authorities say the driver of the car that hit him got out, apologized to the fallen officer and then fled. Police say the collision late Thursday morning occurred when the motorist apparently pulled out of the procession and hit the officer who was driving parallel to it.

The driver now could face felony charges.

The officer, who was working the assignment off-duty, is hospitalized in stable condition. Hes been on the force for 27 years.
President-elect Donald Trump warned the Obama administration Thursday against a possible abstention in a key U.N. Security Council vote that would declare illegal all Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory in the West Bank and the mostly Arab East Jerusalem.

The resolution, initially scheduled for a 3 p.m. vote, urges Israelis and Palestinians to commit to negotiations toward a two-state solution  a possible centerpiece for now-stalled peace efforts.

Word of the resolution  and the possibility of an abstention that would upend decades of U.S. policy  brought a flurry of activity in Israel and beyond. In a Twitter post, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the U.S. should veto the anti-Israel resolution.

That was followed by a near-identical, pre-dawn tweet from Trump and a statement by his transition office. The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed, he said.

As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations.

This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis, Trump said.

Within hours of the swelling criticism, the government of Egypt, which drafted the resolution and placed it on the Security Council agenda, asked for the vote to be postponed, at least until Friday, according to a spokesman for the Spanish U.N. mission, which currently holds the Security Council chair.

Trump has been highly critical of the Obama administrations reproach of the government of President Abdel Fatah al-Sissis crackdowns on Egyptian civil society and said his administration would view Egypt as a close security ally.

Asked what communication the president-elect had with the White House before his statement Thursday morning, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said, I dont think itd be appropriate to try to qualify one way or the other, other than to say we gave them a heads-up in advance. The White House, Miller said, has been unbelievably gracious with their time, advice and opinions to the president-elect and his senior staff so far in making this transition as smooth as possible.

In a statement issued after the postponement, Netanyahu said, Israelis deeply appreciate one of the great pillars of the US-Israel alliance: the willingness over many years of the US to stand up in the UN and veto anti-Israel resolutions.

I hope the US wont abandon this policy; I hope it will abide by the principles set by President Obama himself in his speech in the UN in 2011: That peace will come not through UN resolutions, but only through direct negotiations between the parties.

And thats why this proposed resolution is bad. Its bad for Israel; its bad for the United States; and its bad for peace.

The resolution, promoted by liberal Jewish groups in the United States, has been the subject of intense debate in recent days within the Obama administration. Secretary of State John F. Kerry has pushed for a clear statement of position before the administration leaves office.

A Kerry speech outlining the U.S. stance that was tentatively scheduled for Thursday morning appeared to have been canceled within two hours of its planned delivery, according to U.S. officials, who said the matter remained unsettled within the administration.

In a speech this month at the Brookings Institutions Saban Forum, Kerry outlined what he called a basic choice that has to be made by Israelis. . . . Are there going to be continued settlements? Is there going to be a continued implementation of settlement policy, or is there going to be separation and the creation of two states?

Kerry noted that the United States has repeatedly described settlements as an obstacle to peace but that the Israelis havent listened. At the same time, successive U.S. administrations have blocked U.N. resolutions declaring the settlements illegal and calling for international action against them.

As settlement activity has spread at a rapid pace over the past six months  and right-wing members of the Israeli government have spoken out against a two-state solution  U.S. dismay has grown. That has led to the current discussion of whether the administration should take advantage of its final month in office to make the kind of strong statement outlined in the resolution.

If its biased and unfair and a resolution calculated to delegitimize Israel, well oppose it. Obviously, we will, Kerry said at the forum. We always have. But its getting more complicated now because there is a building sense of what Ive been saying to you today, which some people can shake their heads, say, well, its unfair.

We have been adamant to the Palestinians about their need to deal with their education system and to change the things kids are taught and to try to lead by example with respect to the nonviolence and so forth, he said. But I do believe that Israel, because of decisions that are being made on a daily basis quietly and without a lot of people seeing them or fully processing the consequences, is heading to a place of danger.

Trump met with Netanyahu in September and spoke with him the day after the Republicans election last month, inviting the Israeli leader to visit again at his earliest opportunity. At the time, Trump stated his intention to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a highly symbolic act that successive U.S. presidents have refused to make. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital.

Last week, Trump named his New York bankruptcy attorney, Daniel Friedman, as his nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Israel. Friedman, a strong supporter and financial backer of West Bank settlements, has said that they are legal and that Israel should annex Palestinian territory.

Israeli cabinet ministers held an emergency meeting Thursday to discuss strategy if Washington decided not to use its veto powers in the Security Council.

We expect our greatest ally not to allow this one-sided and anti-Israel resolution to be adopted by the Council, tweeted Danny Danon, Israels ambassador to the United Nations.

Other Israeli minister and political leaders also released statements calling on the United States to stand by its longtime ally.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett from the hard-line Jewish Home party released a video clip calling the Security Council hypocritical for condemning Israel, while a genocide is happening in Aleppo, Syria.

Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for 3,000 years but later today the U.N. Security Council will gather to condemn and hurt Israel for living here in our capital. This is a Guinness world record in hypocrisy, he said. Hundreds of men, women and children are being killed in Aleppo and this is the number one issue from the Security Councils perspective.

Frances ambassador to Israel, Helene Le Gal, told an Israeli radio station that she believed her country would vote in favor of the resolution.

She said it would make it clear to all the sides, particularly Israel, that the Security Council was worried about the situation.

The draft resolution condemns all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, including . . . the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions.

The settlements, it says, have no legal validity and are a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.

It further demands that Israel immediately cease all settlement activities and calls on all states to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.

The resolution calls for the U.N. secretary general to report on implementation of the resolution within three months. Assuming the resolution passes with a U.S. abstention, that would allow the Trump administration to veto any subsequent action to impose its terms.



Carol Morello in Washington and Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

usisrael-1stld-writethru
President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday called for the United States to expand its nuclear arsenal, after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his countrys nuclear potential needs fortifying, raising the specter of a new arms race that would reverse decades of efforts to reduce the number and size of the two countries nuclear weapons.

In a tweet that offered no details, Trump said, The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

Trumps position represents a radical shift in thinking. Russia and the United States have worked for decades at first limiting, and then reducing, the number and strength of nuclear arms they produced and maintained under a Cold War strategy of deterrence known as mutually assured destruction. Republican and Democratic presidents have pursued a policy of nuclear arms reduction.

Trumps tweet came shortly after Putin, during a defense ministry meeting, talked tough on Russias stockpile of nuclear weapons. Putin said that Russia is the strongest nation in the world but that it cannot rest.

We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems, Putin said in an apparent reference to a planned NATO troop buildup in Eastern Europe.

The Trump camp offered only slightly more explanation of the president-elects comment later in the day, when communications director Jason Miller said in a statement that Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes.

Miller added that Trump believes in the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength.

Trumps tweet was in keeping with earlier comments he has made. During an October debate, he criticized this country for lagging behind Russia in its nuclear program. We are old, were tired, were exhausted in terms of nuclear, he said. A very bad thing.

He also suggested that South Korea and Japan develop nuclear weapons to protect themselves from the threat posed by North Korea.

The United States has just under 5,000 warheads in its active arsenal and more than 1,550 deployed strategic warheads, a number that fluctuates, according to Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association. In an October assessment by the State Department Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Russia has about 400 more nuclear warheads than the United States does. But the United States has about 170 more delivery systems than Russia.

Under the New START Treaty, the main strategic arms treaty in place, the United States and Russia must deploy no more than 1,550 strategic weapons by February 2018. Kimball said both countries appear to be on track to meet that limit, which will remain in force until 2021, when they could decide to extend the agreement for another five years.

Since President George H.W. Bushs administration, it has been U.S. policy not to build new nuclear warheads. Under President Barack Obama, the policy has been not to pursue warheads with new military capabilities.

The U.S. military is in the beginning stages of updating its nuclear triad, which covers the delivery systems  bombers, submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Last year, the Pentagon estimated that it must spend an average of $18 billion a year over 15 years, starting in 2021, to replace weapons that already have been refurbished and upgraded beyond their original shelf lives.

But independent experts have estimated that the cost of modernizing the aging nuclear arsenal could reach $1 trillion over 30 years, according to the Arms Control Association.

If Donald Trump is concerned about the rising costs of the F-35, he will be shocked by the skyrocketing costs of the current plan to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, Kimball said. Trump and his people need to explain the basis of his cryptic tweet. What does he mean by expand, and at what cost?

But others say that nuclear weapons and the principle of deterrence are essential components of national security and that the Obama administrations efforts to further reduce its nuclear weapons have been wishful thinking.

Michaela Dodge, a Heritage Foundation policy analyst specializing in nuclear weapons and missile defense policy, said the White House in its 2010 Nuclear Posture Review made the erroneous assessment that there was little likelihood of conflict with Russia. Yet Moscow is in the midst of a large-scale nuclear weapons modernization program and has violated many arms control treaties that it signed, she said.

There is already an ongoing nuclear arms race, except now the United States isnt racing, she said in a telephone interview. Its mostly Russia and China.

Dodge has called for the incoming Trump administration to spend more on its nuclear weapons program. She also said that the United States should withdraw from nonproliferation treaties that have not worked and consider resuming nuclear test explosions, the last of which was conducted in 1992.

Nuclear weapons present an existential threat to the United States, she said. So to continue to have strong deterrence is a national priority.

Robert Jervis, a national security policy professor at Columbia University, said the remarks by Putin and Trump do not necessarily mean a new arms race is on the horizon.

Not yet, but were seeing the sorts of dynamics that could lead to one, he said. But were umpteen steps away from that.

trump-nuclear-3rdld-writethru
Senior Congress leader PL Punia said, "If the public is giving information to the PMO, it is a good thing and the IT department conducting raids is also a good thing but it has nothing to do with demonetisation. This gathering of information and carrying out raids could have been done without demonetisation."

By Mausami Singh: Senior Congress leader PL Punia has accused the government of planting stories. The Congress MP said the government is hiding behind different stories to cover up their failure in implementing demonetisation.

BLACK MONEY CRACKDOWN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEMONETISATION

"If the public is giving information to the PMO, it is a good thing and the IT department conducting raids is also a good thing but it has nothing to do with demonetisation. This gathering of information and carrying out raids could have been done without demonetisation " he added.

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Hitting out at the U-turns by the RBI and the subsequent confusion as a result of it, he said the fact is that there has been immense hardship caused to the common man and the housewives, the farmers, etc are suffering . Government has failed to solve their problems . Our leader Rahul Gandhi ji and other Congress leaders have raised this but the government has taken no action . Frankly I feel demonetisation is the total failure.

HERE'S HOW PL PUNIA REACTED TO INDIA TODAY'S QUESTIONS:

Q) Do you think the fact that people are calling to provide information on potential black money hoarders means that they have faith in the Prime Minister?

A) I don't think that is the correct interpretation. See, you are inviting people to call saying that action will be taken. So naturally people will come forward. But demonetisation is a complete failure. They are trying to prove that demonetisation is a success by planting such stories .

Q) In a tit-for-tat move, the BJP has accused the UPA government of cosying up to Industrialists?

A) Yes we do take credit for industrialisation. Our policies helped create the finance industry and businesses like Reliance, Mittal or Adani and they have been given financial assistance by banks . We are proud of it , we have to help in the industrialisation of this country but that doesn't mean we have provided any personal favour to specific industrialists.

The fact is that farmers have a loan of Rs 50,000 crore and it is an imperative requirement that this loan should be waived but that hasn't happened. Instead the NDA waved off around Rs 1,24,000 crore worth of loans to big businesses. The NDA government is sending out the message that if you don't pay anything, we will wave of your loan.

ALSO READ:

Demonetisation is economic robbery: Rahul Gandhi in poll-bound Uttarakhand

--- ENDS ---
WASHINGTON  In 2001, Roskana Mun was a 16-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant living in one of New York Citys most diverse neighborhoods. After 9/11, the U.S. government started tracking foreign Muslim men and boys, and Muns neighborhood changed as men were detained and in some cases deported.

Women had to juggle raising a whole family and face the threat of detention, Mun said. Girls had to step up, and young people who were 13 or 14 years old had to quit school to work.

Mun now works for DRUM, a New York-based advocacy group for South Asian immigrants. She said the U.S. governments tracking of men from Muslim-majority countries for a decade had disrupted daily life, causing shops to close in neighborhoods like Midwood, Brooklyn, after hundreds of men were deported.

The tracking program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, required males 16 and older from 25 countries to undergo additional vetting in the interest of national security.

After 10 years and 13,000 deportations, President Barack Obama stopped enforcing the program in 2011. It hadnt caught a single terrorist.

On Thursday, the DHS announced that the regulatory framework for the system has been dismantled, effectively gutting a quasi-Muslim registry just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump enters the White House. The move prevents the dormant program from being quickly restarted to track the movements of certain Muslim men living in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security is removing outdated regulations pertaining to the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System program, with an immediate effective date, DHS spokesman Neema Hakim said in a statement. DHS ceased use of NSEERS more than five years ago, after it was determined the program was redundant, inefficient and provided no increase in security. The intervening years have shown that NSEERS is not only obsolete, but that its use would divert limited personnel and resources from more effective measures.

The dissolution of the system comes just days after an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin rekindled Trumps interest in barring Muslim immigrants from entering the United States.

You know my plans. All along, Ive been proven to be right, Trump said to reporters when asked about the market attack and the Muslim registry. Whats happening is disgraceful.

If Trump wants to create a Muslim registry within the DHS, hell have to start from scratch and present the proposal for public comment, a process that takes time and opens the agency to additional scrutiny.

When NSEERS was suspended it wasnt removed from the books, said Arab American Institute executive director Maya Berry, head of an advocacy group that has opposed the registry. Before Thursdays move, she said, Trump would only have had to name the countries affected to put the registry back to work.

Berry said the program was effectively a Muslim registry because 24 of the 25 countries involved were majority Muslim. The lone exception was North Korea.

Despite Thursdays news, Berry said Trump probably would try to implement a Muslim registry of some sort by requiring immigrants from Muslim-majority countries to undergo additional vetting.

Regrettably, Im not hopeful about programs like this not coming back, Berry said.

Trump met with Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in recent weeks, an immigration hard-liner who presented documents to the president-elect that included plans to ensure all aliens from high-risk areas are tracked and to use extreme vetting for immigrants from countries considered high risk.

That proposal has been echoed by House Homeland Security Committee Chair Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who has called for immediate suspension of all immigration from high-risk areas such as Iraq, Syria and Yemen. McCaul was not available for comment Thursday, but earlier this month he told the conservative Heritage Foundation in a speech that We should immediately suspend immigration from high-risk countries where we cannot confidently weed out terror suspects.

Trump recently nominated retired Gen. John Kelly as DHS secretary. Kelly was once in charge of the U.S. Southern Command and oversaw the detention center for terrorism suspects at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.



2016 McClatchy Washington Bureau

Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at www.mcclatchydc.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
These long winter nights have been the traditional time in many cultures for families to gather around the hearth and tell the traditional tales that have been handed down over generations.

But storyteller and author Joe Hayes most often has been seen in Santa Fe through the long light of summer, telling tall tales and Hispanic folk stories on the grounds of the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian  this coming season will mark 35 years that he has been entertaining audiences there.

Hes also spent a lot of time in New Mexico schools bending the ear of young people with tales of tortillas and rattlesnakes and much more, all grounded in the Southwest  but schools are on break these days.

You dont have to do without, though. Cinco Puntos Press recently released Grandpas Hal-la-loo-ya Hambone! the latest in more than 20 books Hayes has produced for kids. This one brings us to lean days of few crops and even less money, reminiscent of the Great Depression, when a hambone, used sparingly and repeatedly, might be the only way to flavor a familys meal of beans.

When Grandpas false teeth fall down the well, the hambone plays a key role in retrieving them.

If reading the book aloud doesnt do the trick for you or the kids, you can always go to YouTube. Hayes spent all last summer recording more than 100 of his stories on video and posting them at www.youtube.com/user/joehayesstoryteller.

How did it all get started? I just blundered into it, Hayes, now 71, said of his storytelling. I began by telling stories to my children.

He actually got his start in the job market as a teacher (he majored in English in college), but also worked in mineral exploration.

Both of my brothers are scientists, Hayes said. There was an emphasis on science in my family. But language also fascinated me.

Born in Pennsylvania, but with a good portion of his time growing up in Benson, Ariz., Hayes said he completely identifies himself as a son of the Southwest.

I was fascinated by the Hispanic culture  well, we called it Mexican then, he said. I hung around a lot of guys who were Mexican. I was interested in their traditions.

After hunting minerals around Tucson, he decided he needed a degree in geology. But when he went to the University of Arizona placement office, he saw a lot of teaching jobs, and the Los Alamos superintendent was recruiting. So 40 years ago, Hayes came to Los Alamos to teach, but also sometimes told stories in his English class and went across the street to tell stories to the elementary school kids.

People began calling him up and asking him to tell tales to various groups, until Hayes began to think that, just maybe, he might be able to make a living at it.

It really helped that I came to New Mexico, he said. It had a really strong traditional culture  although it was pretty diluted by the 70s  I always liked folklore and, like so many people of my generation, I was influenced by folk music, people like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.

So he thumbed through the library card catalogs to find some books about storytelling and learned about the tradition, and he discovered many Hispanic folk tales that were gathered and published by Aurelio Espinosa and Juan Rael, both working in academia.

Almost 100 percent of those tales had their roots in Spain, Hayes said, although some details may have been adapted to suit specific circumstances in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado  a coyote substituted for a fox or a tortilla for an omelet, for example.

One interesting detail, he added, is that while Pueblo people adopted many of the Spanish tales into their repertoire, the exchange didnt go both ways  Spanish settlers didnt appear to incorporate Pueblo tales into their storytelling.

Those Spanish folktales were his initial specialty, although about 10 years ago he expanded into tall tales, such as one told in his latest book.

Tall tales are the classic American story, Hayes said, explaining that they popped up all across the frontier as the Europeans headed West. It was an important part of the humor, especially if you told a made-up experience about yourself.

Whether it was people traveling in wagon trains or cowboys on roundups or residents in isolated areas, people had to find a way to entertain themselves in the evening after the chores were done, he noted.

Will the traditional stories last?

Hayes notes that social media is leading to people talking a lot about themselves, with even verbal storytelling often focused on people describing their actual experiences to others. I dont like it myself, he said. It doesnt go as deep  It doesnt have as much universality.

But he often finds teachers and parents telling him that they heard his stories when they were kids and wanted to have their students or children share that experience in turn. That to me is very satisfying, Hayes said.

And sometimes he hears from people who say they tell stories they picked up from him.

I love that, he said with a warm smile.
SANTA FE  Another of the Arizona behavioral health companies brought in three years ago after the Martinez administration ousted local providers says it will leave New Mexico.

Valle del Sol gave notice to state officials in a letter dated Wednesday that it is terminating its agreements and wants to pull out as soon as possible.

It will be the fourth of five Arizona companies to leave.

The firms provided services to the mentally ill and addicted after Gov. Susana Martinez abruptly shut down Medicaid funding to 15 New Mexico nonprofits, accusing them of overbilling and mismanagement and referring them to the attorney general for possible fraud.

A dozen of those providers were replaced by the five Arizona firms.

The Office of the Attorney General cleared all the nonprofits of fraud following investigations, but many were driven out of the behavioral health business.

Valle del Sol cited financial losses stemming from high rates of claim denial and continuing deterioration of rates paid for services.

Its parent entity has subsidized its New Mexico operations by more than $4 million but wont continue to do so, according to the letter from a Phoenix law firm representing the company.

Valle del Sol intends to provide services for the next 120 days or whatever shorter transition period can be coordinated, the letter said.

But it added that the loss of employees that will likely happen following announcement of this termination and the continued revenue shortfalls may cause the provider to close its doors sooner.

Expediting payment of claims could help the company continue to offer services during the transition period, the letter said.

Valle del Sol has sites in Bernalillo, Espanola, Grants, Los Lunas, Moriarty, Raton, Santa Rosa and Taos.

A spokesman for the Human Services Department said Thursday that behavioral health agencies were largely exempted from the Medicaid provider rate cuts mandated in the current years budget.

We will work with Valle del Sol, one of dozens of behavioral health agencies in New Mexico, and hope they maintain their operations here, which account for less than 2 percent of behavioral health services, Kyler Nerison said in a statement.

If there is a transition, he said, the department will coordinate with the managed care organizations that contract with the providers to ensure access to care is not interrupted.

Critics of the 2013 shake-up said it was unfounded and that it disrupted services to a vulnerable population.

Agave Health Inc., La Frontera, and Turquoise Health and Wellness ceased their New Mexico operations earlier.
As restaurant and business owners in Albuquerque for over 45 years we would like to state the reasons we oppose Albuquerque Rapid Transit.

Construction is currently cutting traffic to one lane in each direction on Central. The business at our Golden Pride on West Central is down as much as 30 percent, but averages 15 percent to 20 percent a day due to the bottleneck. As a result, employees that have quit are not being replaced.

Even the business at our Frontier Restaurant is down due to the destruction of Route 66 to the east and west. As a result, we have had to shorten employees hours.

As bad as the loss of business due to construction is, what concerns us the most is the permanent, long-term damage ART will cause.

The ART project will permanently reduce Central to one lane through Nob Hill as well as west of University to I-25. This will negatively affect accessibility to the businesses along Central.

People do not have time to sit in traffic. The inconvenience will cause them to take their business elsewhere. Two lanes of traffic east and west are necessary for businesses to survive and grow on Central.

The elimination of two lanes will permanently devastate the businesses on Central.

What has happened to Mayor Richard Berrys philosophy of supporting small businesses when so many small businesses are being hurt?

The city has not been honest with the citizens of Albuquerque about the long-term consequences of ART. As early as February 2014 the city knew it did not need a center-median bus line to qualify for federal funding. The city knew it could still apply for the Small Starts grant with a bus going in traffic and picking up passengers along the curb.

The city knew destroying the medians-including the trees was not necessary. The city also knew but did not point out to the citizens that the Route 66 bus will continue to operate in the one lane in each direction that is left for vehicles on Central. This will only add to the congestion.

The 99 spaces at Expo New Mexico the city is giving businesses to replace the lost parking spaces as a result of ART will be of little help to us.

Many customers drop in for a fast breakfast on their way to work or a quick lunch. They do not have time to park at Expo and ride the bus both ways.

The city is less than honest to suggest otherwise.

From the very beginning the city misstated the need for ART. In its request for federal funding, the city told the Federal Transit Administration that the Route 66 and Rapid Ride buses that currently operate on Central are at 80 percent capacity. We know this is absolutely not true.

We see the buses every day and the majority of the time they are at maybe 20 percent capacity. Often there are only two to three passengers on board.

The exception is on weekday mornings when students ride the bus to UNM.

Most dishonest of all is the fact that the city rushed to sign the contract to allow the destruction of Historic Route 66 to begin before the federal government had committed money to the project. The city assured the citizens the federal government will give the city $80 million and the Albuquerque taxpayers will only pay $40 million for the project. As we all know neither of these statements is true.

The city should never have allowed the destruction of Route 66 to begin.

The city also stated to the FTA that there was no opposition from the voters. However, in November 76 percent of Albuquerque voters demanded the right to vote on ART. Still, the city refuses to listen to its citizens who want the poorly-designed plans changed.

Dont we still live in a democracy in Albuquerque?
When you are staring down the barrel of a $369 million budget deficit, it makes sense to sound the alarm early and often  and come up with a solvency plan ASAP.

Thats been the modus operandi of Sen. John Arthur Smith, Deming Democrat, chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, and state budget pragmatist since 1989. Smith said this month that weve got to save money fast. If we cant get a consensus and find some corners that still have money in them, were going to have to take drastic action.

Drastic as in furloughs for teachers and canceled school days.

A spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez is calling Smiths warning absurd and counterproductive. At least two lawmakers appear oblivious to the crisis and are instead renewing the call to expand governments already expanded early childhood programs (and thus recurring expenses) with another raid on the permanent fund that helps run public schools and hospitals.

But heres the thing: unfortunately, it appears Smith is right. The lowest-hanging savings fruit has already been plucked  remember just this past October lawmakers met in special session to scrape up $371 million via one-time fixes and spending cuts. That left an estimated $69 million deficit for the current fiscal year, even with all cash reserves used, and a $300 million shortfall for the budget year that kicks in July 1.

K-12 public education and higher education alone take up 57 percent of the budget. Its unlikely lawmakers can keep that, Medicaid (15 percent) and public safety (7 percent) safe from cuts and still balance the budget as required by the Constitution.

The state is in this fiscal nightmare because state revenues are down, in part because the government-dependent economy has never bounced back from the recession and sequestration and because oil and gas prices have plummeted. And that latter isnt just royalty money the state is out  previously high-performing sectors of the economy have been slammed by the fall.

With less money coming in, the governor has stuck to her vow of no new taxes  and shes right in the respect that the state certainly does not want to do anything to discourage employers from opening up shop/expanding, prospective employees from seeking a job and current employees from advancing. But there are judicious tax increases that could be debated. Raising the tax on liquor (last increased in 1993); on tobacco (the tax on cigarettes was increased in 2010 but, for other tobacco products, it has not changed in three decades); on food (the state repealed the tax on food in 2004, pushing local governments that relied on the income to increase taxes on other goods); and on gasoline (last increased in 1993) should be on the list.

Meanwhile, those declining oil and gas revenues are the same stream that feeds the Land Grant Permanent Fund. New Mexico already takes 5 percent of the funds value annually  a distribution rate that until recently had been an imprudent 5.5 percent. The State Investment Council has said as much, pointing out Wyomings permanent fund distribution, as well as the Yale and Texas A&M endowments, are at 5 percent; Columbia is at 4.5 percent.

Yet Albuquerque House Democrats Antonio Maestas and Javier Martinez have prefiled an amendment to increase the annual distributions to 6 percent by 2022 for things like home visits by counselors to ward off neglect for children age 0 to 5 years. The proposal ignores the facts that not only does that place the corpus of the fund  which accounts for around 15 percent of the states operating budget  at risk as revenues dwindle, but New Mexico has recently ramped up spending in this area and allocates around $200 million annually to early childhood programs. Smith, who sponsored the legislation that appropriated nearly $10 million from the tobacco settlement fund for in-home visiting and preschool programs, has said throwing money at it is not exactly the right thing to do with any program.

New Mexico is $369 million short, and anyone who has had too much month at the end of the money knows responsible adults do not look around for more things to buy; they quickly figure out what they can afford, what they can economize on, what they can cut and how they might increase their take-home pay  before the late fees and shut-off penalties make a big debt a crushing one. That appears to be Smiths goal, and legislative leaders have already taken his lead. The two budget-writing committees  Senate Finance and House Appropriations and Finance  have been authorized to meet the week before the session starts on Jan. 17, with any luck paving the way for a quick vote on an emergency solvency package for the current budget year when the full Legislature convenes. That would leave the balance of the 60-day session to come to grips with the $300 million shortfall.

New Mexico is facing a multibillion-dollar budget crisis, and its Dec. 23. Its too late to sound the alarm early, but Smith and legislative leaders are right to meet early and often to devise a budget plan before the 2017 session starts.

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.
When you start reading about the history of Santa Fe during the first half of the 20th century  maybe stretching into the second half when you consider the hippie invasion  it sounds like a wilder and crazier place to hang out than it has been in recent decades.

At least it seemed that way for nonconformist Anglos sweeping in with money and/or lack of care about money.

Consider the White sisters and their costume parties at El Delirio, now the home of the low-key and serious School for Advanced Research. Or the Cinco Pintores paying off their bar bills at El Farol with paintings on its adobe walls.

And now we have the stories from La Fonda, gathered in a book put together with essays by a number of contributors, including some who have overseen the latest set of renovations at that former Harvey House.

According to recollections gathered by Cyndy Tanner, some visitors rode their horses directly into the lobby and up to the bar. Bill Field says his sister Marsha Meeker did it in the 1930s, and painter Jerry West said his Uncle Gene did the same after the Fiestas parade in the 1950s  as did architect John Midyette in the 1960s.

Motorcycles apparently also roared into the lobby.

All this makes one wonder  entrances at the time must have skipped the stairs now found at many doorways, or the horses and machines at the time were awfully nimble.

Imagine the same thing happening today, and somehow flashing squad car lights come to mind.

Social center

You never met anybody anywhere except at La Fonda  Life among the upper crust is centered (there), said Ernie Pyle, famed war correspondent and Albuquerque resident, according to a quote included in Stephen Frieds section of the book.

Fried also quotes writer Simone de Beauvoir saying in 1947: The La Fonda is the most beautiful hotel in America, perhaps the most beautiful Ive ever seen in my life.

And that French intellectual and feminist had been around.

The 1940s also was the time when workers for the Manhattan Project stayed, ate and drank in the hotel before their trip up The Hill, or during visits back to Santa Fe  and undercover federal agents took jobs as bartenders and servers to quietly listen for any loose lips leaking secrets.

The book also mentions some quick thinking by La Fonda staff to break up a fight at the time between Army and Navy men: The band was told to play The Star Spangled Banner, bringing those brawlers to attention.

The stars werent just in the flag. Many celebrities from stage and screen found their way to La Fonda over the years. Tanner reported that Ethel Merman would pull up in a black limousine, emerge in a full-length black mink coat, and belt out, Im heeeeeere!

Also, according to Tanner, in Room 500, Zsa Zsa Gabor married Conrad Hilton. That was No. 2 of nine husbands. (And why didnt they choose one of his hotels?)

Constant change

With Santa Fes passion for preserving its heritage, it is remarkable to consider the scope of change that La Fondas corner has seen.

Of course, a lot can happen in 400 years.

Some sort of overnight accommodations are believed to have been on that corner since the 1600s.

But more recently, the Exchange Hotel was demolished in 1919, with flush residents putting up $100 for war bonds in return for a turn at knocking down a wall, according to Fried.

The hotel was rebuilt after the city put rules in place requiring buildings to suit the Santa Fe style, and the new hotel was bought and remodeled by Fred Harvey in 1926.

It was expanded in the 1940s with five floors of new hotel rooms added on Water Street, and then  horror of horrors!  street-front retail spaces were added in the 1960s and the inner patio was enclosed and climate-controlled for a dining room in 1976.

In the early 1950s, Meredith Davidson reports in her section, La Fonda built the first hotel swimming pool in Santa Fe, using land once owned by the Catholic archdiocese that included a fish and lily pond. It doesnt say if people rose in protest over the change.

But some Santa Feans, as suits the citys nature, have been grumbling about some of the alterations in the most recent renovation at La Fonda, which took 10 years over the 300,000 square feet of the hotel, according to architect Barbara Felix, writing in the book.

The bar has been the target of the most muttering, with its new sleekness marking a departure from the thick wooden furniture and larger dance floor featured in its previous iteration.

Yet Felix stresses respect for the past that was incorporated into the renovations, explaining how she visited a Lamy quarry to see original stone used in the central courtyard, how carvings in wood transoms were echoed in yellow triangles skirting doorways in guest rooms, and how La Fondas rabbit mascot, Harvey, was incorporated into designs.

Some changes might be welcome. John Vollertsen (otherwise known as chef Johnny Vee) writes that early enchiladas were made from flour, lard and Cream of Wheat, because, strangely enough, masa (perhaps its cornmeal ingredient?) was not widely available at the time.

And while we might not have Billy Palous Mexican Orchestra playing any more, two-steppers seem happy with the Bill Hearne Trio.

(The book says its illegal to dance wearing a sombrero in New Mexico, but cowboy hats must be OK, judging by the recent dance scene in La Fondas bar.)

Resisters of change can be comforted by one piece of history mentioned in La Fonda: Then and Now, available for purchase ($55) in the hotels gift shop:

In the 1960s, before Sam Ballen bought the hotel, the city of Santa Fe reportedly was talking about demolishing La Fonda and making it a parking lot.
On the face of it, getting a Real ID drivers license seems easy to many.

One reader emails as much. I have come to the conclusion that if folks cant figure out the requirements, maybe theyre not literate enough to drive. I just renewed my drivers license and brought my passport, a 1099 with my Social (Security number) on it and two utility bills (with my name and address). Duh. If you dont have a passport, a birth certificate will do. Its not that tough.

Oh, but it can be. Especially if you have changed your name, like many married folks have.

Count Frances Avery among the New Mexico residents who have a different name from the one on their birth certificate. Avery turned 93 recently and wanted to get a Real ID license when she renewed, so she went through the list of required documents put out by the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division and published in the Journal.

I had it all out, she says. I checked and made sure I had everything because her renewal was coming due quickly.

Avery says that in addition to her current drivers license, she took her Social Security card to prove her ID number, her birth certificate to prove her identity, and two current utility bills to prove residency. She says she also grabbed her military ID just to be safe. And she headed to an MVD Express contract office in Albuquerques Northeast Heights to renew because, as she puts it, shes 93, and to drive to a state office, park in a large lot far from the front door, walk all the way in, then wait hours to be called and renew is a big task.

She waited two hours anyway.

And she didnt get a Real ID license.

Thats because Avery did not have her marriage license to show why the name on her birth certificate was different from the name on her Social Security card and utility bills. Shes right that the requirement to provide that linking document is not on the official list MVD put out last month when it started issuing Real IDs in compliance with the federal 2005 Real ID Act. (It is mentioned on the MVDs home page, mvd.newmexico.gov. A red box includes the warning: If your proof of identity document does not contain your current full legal name, you must present documentation of any name change(s). This may include a marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption records or court order.)

Avery wasnt alone in her predicament. She says she watched two other women leave the contract office to go home and find their marriage certificates.

And other readers have reported the same.

Donna Wright emailed that my aunt was just sent home to get her marriage license because her name on her birth certificate didnt match her other forms of ID. That isnt on the list of things we need to get our new licenses.

And Martha Swinney emailed she was told since your birth certificate has a different name than all the rest of your documents, you will need to provide your marriage license to show the source of the name change. Swinney says she retrieved her marriage license from her safe deposit box, but when she went back to the Los Lunas MVD, I decided to do an experiment and provided her passport instead of her birth certificate  because her passport has her married name, same as her Social Security Card and residency documents (in her case, property tax and bank statements).

Swinney says she was given my temporary license without any problem. She points out, It seems to be an added burden for married women, dont you think?

In the end, Avery says, she was glad she had taken her military ID, because she just wasnt up for a trip home and back. Under the federal requirements, a military ID can be used to prove identity for a non-Real ID driver authorization card, or DAC. While the DAC will not be accepted for federal purposes, such as boarding a commercial airline or entering certain federal installations, it is all you need to drive legally.

And because Avery is over age 79 and has to renew her drivers license annually, she says that next year shell be sure to take her marriage license along with the other documents so she can finally get a Real ID.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to assistant editorial page editor DVal Westphal at 823-3858 or road@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.
WASHINGTON  A U.S. House panel investigating fetal tissue research this week asked the New Mexico attorney general again to launch a criminal inquiry into the University of New Mexico and an Albuquerque abortion provider.

This time, the panel is alleging that UNM and Southwestern Womens Options failed to properly inform pregnant women of what would happen to fetuses after they were voluntarily aborted.

The Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives contends that the UNM Health Sciences Center and Southwestern Womens Options failed to ensure that informed consent was provided to pregnant women prior to the use of tissue from their abortions for medical research at the university.

We have seen consent forms misrepresenting to women that cures for still uncured diseases have resulted from fetal tissue, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican who chairs the panel, said in a statement. It is disturbing to see so many cases where there is barely the pretense of consent or no consent at all before the remains of a baby are taken by researchers.

The congressional panel said it based its second criminal referral to New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas on information contained in documents it subpoenaed from UNMHSC and Southwestern Womens Options, as well as a complaint and affidavit with supporting documents submitted by a former patient at SWWO.

Jessica Duran of Albuquerque, who had an abortion at Southwestern Womens Options four years ago, filed a lawsuit against the clinic last month, seeking attorney fees, unspecified damages and the temporary cessation of the clinics donation of fetal tissues.

Her attorney, Michael Seibel, contends the clinic failed to give Duran proper notice under law that her fetal body parts could be used in medical research and that she should have been given a separate consent for donation. UNMHSC is not named as a defendant in Durans suit.

Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for Southwestern Womens Option, told the Journal this month that the clinic has provided quality care in accordance with state regulations for more than 40 years.

In June, the GOP-led congressional committee asked Balderas to investigate whether UNM and the Albuquerque abortion provider broke a state law when they transferred aborted fetuses.

A spokesman for the Attorney Generals Office said Thursday that both requests from the House Select Investigative Panel on Infants Lives are still under review.

Billy Sparks, a spokesman for UNMHSC, said the school would not comment on specifics of Durans lawsuit but voiced support for Southwestern Womens Options.

It is UNMs understanding that Southwestern Womens Options sees that any women who agree to donate tissue do so only after being appropriately advised about their options and give their consent for any donation of tissue to the university, Sparks said. The tissue donated to the University for research is, in all cases, de-identified prior to its receipt.

Therefore, UNM has no way of knowing whether Ms. Duran was a patient at Southwestern or if there was tissue from Ms. Durans pregnancy termination procedure or if it was ever donated to the University for research.

The New Mexico Alliance for Life  an anti-abortion group  called on Balderas to act.

New Mexico leaders and Attorney General Hector Balderas can no longer ignore these serious, multiple violations of law and womens rights, cited by Congress  they must uphold their duty to hold both Southwestern Womens Options and the University of New Mexico accountable to the law, said Elisa Martinez, the groups executive director.

Sparks noted that this weeks criminal referral from House Republicans on the committee was issued unilaterally without allowing minority Democrats to vote on the matter.

Democrats on the Select Investigative Panel called the GOPs criminal referrals long on inflammatory allegations and short on actual evidence.
Jane Levy never thought she would follow in her mothers footsteps.

You spend your childhood saying, Im not going to be just like my parents,  she said. It just sort of seeps in.

The 38-year-old was appointed to a vacant judgeship in the 2nd Judicial Districts Family Court division late last month by Gov. Susana Martinez. Her mother, Susan Conway, was the same age when she became a Family Court judge here.

Conway met her husband, Robert Levy, in the South Valley legal aid office. The two went on to open a practice focused on child advocacy. Jane Levy grew up with family dinner discussions about politics, family crises and child poverty.

Levy went to law school with plans to be a child advocate and spent the last seven years working primarily as a guardian ad litem, an attorney appointed by the court to represent the best interests of children caught in the center of contested custody cases.

Levy once wanted to be a teacher and went to school for education. She also went on to work in an investment management firm before deciding to go to law school.

When she settled on law, though, there was never much debate. Shes ventured into civil law, but family law always has been her focus. She gets to help people through what is usually the darkest time that they have as a family, she said.

You could actually create remedies that were much better at helping that family bounce up from there, Levy said, so that they would never be that low again.

In addition to her juris doctorate from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Ore., Levy has a masters degree in counseling psychology, which Conway points out is tremendously helpful to a family attorney.

You understand the family dynamics and the psychological underpinnings, she said.

As a guardian ad litem, Levy gets to investigate the families she works with  she interviews them, she visits their homes, she gets to know the kids. She works to find solutions and make recommendations that are best for the childs well-being.

She says shes going to miss that work.

Being able to have that access to people, she said, Im going to miss that. You get to have real contact with people.

But shes optimistic about her future as a judge. Shes looking forward to administering outreach programs, and she wants to consolidate hearings so that people dont constantly have to appear in court as their cases are pending.

Levy will be informally sworn in Jan. 1 and takes office Jan. 3. A formal swearing in ceremony is set for Feb. 3.

As the daughter of a judge, Levy said she feels like she has a leg up in some ways because her mother ran the home like a courtroom.

If arguments would happen, she would say, Ive heard you. Ive heard your objection to this,' she said.

But Levy also regularly encounters the kids whose custody cases were handled by her mom, and she knows what a lasting impact a judge can have. She once ran into a woman who, as a child, came through Conways courtroom, stuck in the center of a high-conflict divorce.

She described having a parent on each side, both of them pulling her arms in an attempt to show they had brought her to the courthouse. Conway told both parents that she needed to meet with their daughter alone and then she let the girl sing pop songs on the courtroom microphone.

She said, I knew I was there to tell the judge what I felt. I didnt feel anything, I just wanted to sing Tiffany,' Levy said.

To be fair, Conway never thought she was going to be a judge, either. She was going to be a playwright.

But after graduating from Barnard College in New York City, she learned that playwright jobs were hard to come by, and she started waitressing. She worked as an office manager before moving to a womens commune and beginning law school at Northeastern University in Boston.

Conway said she and Robert Levy were ecstatic when they learned of their daughters appointment.

Shes the light of our lives, Conway said.

She describes her daughter as an old soul and her own personal psychotherapist.

As she watches her daughter prepare for her judicial career, shes able to see the ways in which the Family Court has evolved since her own appointment. Conway joined the Family Court in June 1985, just months after it was created.

We basically made it up as we went along, she said.

But the division has matured since then, thanks in part to studies that examined the impact of divorce on kids. Conway said there was so much that the Family Court didnt know then.

I just am so pleased, she said, and Im really so glad that it has grown not just older but wiser.
The cause of an October 2015 British helicopter crash in Afghanistan that killed U.S. Air Force Maj. Phyllis Pelky, a former Rio Rancho teacher, has been attributed in part to a loss of situational awareness by the two pilots.

Thats according to a story in the military and corporate affairs magazine Janes Defence Weekly in summarizing a just-released report from the United Kingdoms Military Aviation Authority.

The report said the two pilots and rear crewman of the Royal Air Force Puma HC2 helicopter failed to see a security balloon tethered to the ground over Camp Resolute Support near Kabul. The camp is the headquarters for NATOs training and support mission.

According to the report, the pilots were fixed on looking toward their left after losing sight of their lead aircraft as they were preparing to land, and didnt see the danger of the hovering balloon.

The helicopters tail rotor struck the tether, causing a catastrophic failure of the tail-rotor drive shaft, Janes said in quoting from the report.

The resulting crash led to the deaths of five people on the aircraft, including Pelky. Four others were injured but survived.

The Puma HC2 is a four-bladed, twin-engine utility and transport helicopter.

Pelky, 45, was a former German and humanities teacher at Rio Rancho High School. She had been serving as an aide-de-camp to the superintendent of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was assigned to the Academys headquarters staff.

Academy spokesman Ray Bowden told the Journal on Thursday that Pelky was deployed to Afghanistan, where she managed personnel support teams for hundreds of service members and civilians, and local gender integration efforts for the Afghan air force.

Born in Evergreen Park, Ill., Pelky attended the University of New Mexico, where she received a bachelors degree in education and then taught at Rio Rancho High School. The 9/11 terrorist attacks motivated her to enroll in Officer Training School, Bowden said. Upon completion, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant and headed the Equal Opportunity Office at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

After pursuing her masters degree at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, she was assigned to the Air Force Academy as an assistant professor of German. There, she came to the attention of the Academys leadership, which led to her selection as aide-de-camp to the Academy superintendent. Bowden said.

Pelky was buried at Academy Cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Dave Pelky, sons Zach and Alex, and six siblings, he said.
All missions and projects formulated under the Congress' rule were left unfinished as there was no will under its governments to bring these projects to fruition, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said.

By Siraj Qureshi: Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched a scathing attack on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the Congress' policies since independence had been instrumental in the destruction of this country.

1. Talking to India Today, Radha Mohan Singh said that Rahul Gandhi's allegations against PM Modi were completely baseless and that the Congress and Rahul would have to pay dearly in the future for making such allegations against the prime minister.

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2. He said that even Congress leaders did not take Rahul's statements seriously. Singh added that Rahul, who was himself out on bail, had no right to make allegations of corruption against Modi.

3. Radha Mohan Singh went on to say that all missions and projects formulated under the Congress rule never left any paper they were drafted on as there was no will in the Congress governments to bring these projects to fruition. On the other hand, projects being planned by the Modi government were witnessing immediate implementation.

4. The minister said that the Congress turned a deaf ear to the issues of farmers during its ten-year rule. "Those who never did anything for farmers' uplift are now crying farmer-farmer", Singh said.

5. Attacking the Uttar Pradesh government, he said that the Centre distributed about 4.5 crore cards to farmers all over the country under the Soil Health Management scheme. Our target is to distribute 14 crore such cards, out of which 2.63 crore are to be distributed in UP itself. But till date, merely 40 lakh cards have been distributed in the state.

6. Radha Mohan Singh claimed that only 14 states out of 29 were being given assistance under the Food Security Mission during the tenure of the UPA government, but since PM Modi took charge, all states and their districts had been added to the Food Security Mission. In the financial year 2015-16, 434 agricultural science centers were formed to offer direct training to farmers at their farms and in financial year 2016-17, this number has been increased to 534.

7. About 15 lakh quintal seeds have been distributed to farmers, which has resulted in a 15 per cent rise in the production of pulses, while the increase in production of pulses in Uttar Pradesh has been an unprecedented 55 per cent.

8. He said that in the 11th five-year plan, the production target of pulses had been fixed at 2 million tonnes, while in the 12th five-year plan this target had been raised to 4 million tonnes. Severe droughts during the last few years had made it difficult to meet this target. But in the final year, it is expected that this target will be met.

--- ENDS ---
Two private investigators  one a retired U.S. Secret Service agent and the grandfather of a teenager once charged with murder  allege an Albuquerque police homicide detective misled a grand jury and possibly committed perjury while working to indict two young men in a high-profile murder case.

Dennis Maez, Donovan Maezs grandfather, and Maurice Montoya, who is also a private investigator, filed a complaint with the local Civilian Police Oversight Agency on Monday against Albuquerque police Detective Jodi Gonterman and her supervisors.

Gonterman is the lead detective in the fatal shooting of Jaydon Chavez-Silver, a 17-year-old Manzano High School athlete who had been accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was sitting in a kitchen with friends when he was fatally shot in the neck.

A couple of months after the shooting, police arrested Donovan Maez and Christopher Cruz, who were 17 and 21, respectively, and charged them with Chavez-Silvers murder.

Both men spent 10 months in jail awaiting trial before District Attorney Kari Brandenburg dismissed the case. She said in a statement that prosecutors didnt believe it was appropriate to pursue charges against the two men.

Our department met with the DAs Office on several occasions regarding how to proceed with this very complicated case, said Celina Espinoza, a police spokeswoman. We will continue to meet with the DAs Office if and when new information develops.

The police still have charges pending against other suspects in Chavez-Silvers death. Nicholas Gonzales pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of shooting at an occupied dwelling, and murder charges are pending against Esias Frank Madrid, who goes to trial in February, and Dominic Conyers, who goes to trial in May.

Both Maez and Cruz have filed notices of their intent to sue the city over their arrests.

John Day, Maezs attorney, said the complaint with the civilian oversight system was a way for his client to find out where police made errors in their investigation.

Were essentially trying to get the black box of this train wreck of a case, Day said. Youd think (APD would) want to investigate and find out where mistakes were made.

The complaint accuses Gonterman of bullying and intimidating witnesses throughout the investigation, misleading the grand jury and getting tunnel vision while trying to bring charges against Maez and Cruz.

Donovan Maezs mother, Stephanie Maez, was a member of the state House of Representatives, but she resigned after her sons arrest.

Nicole Chavez-Lucero, Chavez-Silvers mom, championed several tough-on-crime bills that were written in response to several high-profile crimes, including her sons death. Chavez-Lucero now works for Albuquerque police in public relations and community engagement.

She said she continues to struggle with her sons death and the long time its taken her and her family to get justice in the case.

I will continue to trust in the judicial process and believe that we will get justice in the end, she said. I pray daily that all individuals responsible for my sons death will be held accountable and serve time in prison.

Edward Harness, the executive director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency, said he assigned an investigator to the case Tuesday. He said a preliminary investigation will be done to determine if theres a possibility that police officers committed crimes.

The CPOA is only allowed to investigate policy violations, not criminal acts by officers.

The complaint will work its way through the CPOA process, and we will fully cooperate with their agency, Espinoza said.
Cathy Colvin takes her many responsibilities on local, regional and national levels extremely seriously. Its one of the reasons the former president of the REALTORS Association of New Mexico (RANM) was named the organizations REALTOR of the Year.

I was very surprised because I received the award for REALTOR of the year for the Greater Albuquerque Association of REALTORS (GAAR) in 2008 and getting one for the state is a whole lot more difficult, Colvin said. Youre competing against everyone around the state so its a real honor. Its huge honor because I wasnt expecting it. In reality, the surprise is that Colvin had not received the honor even sooner, but theres a lot of other worthy candidates, she said. The competition is stiff. There are a lot of REALTORS that do a lot for organizations.

A life in real estate

But few carry the cachet that Colvin hoists. Her lengthy resume includes stints not only as the RANM president, but also serving as the organizations treasurer, central district vice president, and also an REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC) trustee. On the national level, Colvin has been a member of the board of the directors for the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) for numerous years, as well as the research committee and the organizations risk management committee  for which she was the chairperson in 2015.

And in 2018, she will be the Region XI vice president for the NAR, representing some 150,000 REALTORS across six Rocky Mountain states. Its that latter role that really has Colvin  already a bubbly cauldron of enthusiasm  particularly fired up. I had a very formidable opponent from Arizona, she said. Arizona has 45,000 REALTORS and New Mexico has 7,000. So it was quite an honor to be chosen. Ill sit on the executive committee of NAR. Im very excited. Im just giddy with excitement for that. I feel very privileged for that.

It gets in your blood

Being involved is something a couple of her original mentors recommended when she got into the real estate business in 1993. Doyle Pargin encouraged me to give real estate six months, Colvin said. He said I would like it and do well. I hit the ground running and I havent stopped since. Both him and Tom Schiffer, an old-timey REALTOR, took me under their wing and told me to get involved in my local board. So right away I volunteered for a committee. Back then it was the Albuquerque Metro Board of REALTORS . And it just gets in your blood, to be involved and be in the know. Its just snowballed.

Considering real estate wasnt even something Colvin had originally considered doing with her life, her involvement has been more like an avalanche. I had a family business, she said. I sold electronic components to major defense contractors for years. My father sold the business and I had to figure out what I was going to do next. I went to look to sell insurance. I knew I wanted to go into some sort of sales. Instead, I got pilots license and then I went and got my real estate license, Colvin said. I knew I needed to pick something so I could make some money.

Breaking down barriers

Its certainly worked out as she now works as associate broker under qualifying broker Kurstin Johnson at Vista Encantada Realtors. Shes been very encouraging and supportive of my leadership roles, Colvin said of Johnson. She was on the real estate commission and also was a past president of the (GAAR) board. The support shes gotten over the years has made her mindful of some of the challenges REALTORS and the local boards have faced, Colvin said, causing her to help try to break down some of the barriers between the smaller and larger associations in the state.

When I was president of the state association, I did reach out to the rural areas and the other communities and I was a little more inclusive and Im hoping that had something to do with it, she said. When youre a member of a big board, you can sometimes take for granted some of the benefits that your board can offer you because they are financially sound. Some of the smaller boards dont have the resources or finances to do the things that we take for granted here in Albuquerque.

Helping local customers, large and small

Simply helping those boards remain intact as entities was a big goal during her tenure. The year that I was president of the state association, the national association put forth some changes the local boards had to comply with to be considered a board, Colvin said. We have 19 local boards in New Mexico, which is a lot. I knew that it was going to be very difficult to be able comply with all the guidelines and standards the national association put forth. I reached out to get their input.

All 19, however, met the standards. Im very happy about that, Colvin said. I think its a struggle for the the really small ones. What theyve done is gone to the other, larger boards in their area, like Los Alamos and Espanola have asked Santa Fe to help with some of the services so they can comply.

Simply being a REALTOR has similar rewards when it comes to helping people, said Colvin, who is also backed by her husband, Brian Colvin, a remodeling contractor.Helping clients meet or find the American dream is amazing, she said. The whole process. One of my most favorite closings was first-time buyers, they were young. Their little boy was maybe two-three years old. When we went to the walk through on the day of closing, he runs up to me and hugs my legs and said, Thank you for giving me a backyard to play in. Just being a part of the process of helping people find their home is just an amazing feeling.
LONDON  An hours-long hostage drama at an airport on the Mediterranean island of Malta ended peacefully Friday with two hijackers who had threatened to blow up a Libyan passenger jet choosing instead to surrender to authorities.

Their arrest brought to a close a tense international confrontation that began when the two hijackers  apparently armed with a hand grenade and handguns  commandeered the plane over Libyan skies, then diverted it 300 miles north to Malta.

For hours, Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 sat on the runway with 117 people on board while authorities negotiated and camouflage-clad troops lay in wait.

The hijackers surrender came after all of the flights passengers had been safely released. In the final moments of the crisis, the flights crew walked down the stairs, with at least one hijacker calmly following.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the men had a hand grenade and a pistol. Another pistol was later found on the aircraft.

It was not clear how the weapons were smuggled aboard in Libya. But Muscat said authorities had managed to steer events away from violence once the plane landed in Malta.

It was a very good day  no casualties, and people are safe, a smiling Muscat told reporters.

Muscat said that Maltese authorities had refused to negotiate with the hijackers and insisted that they release their hostages. He said the men had not made specific demands, and their motives were unclear.

In an interview during the standoff with a Libyan broadcaster, Libya Channel, the flights captain said the two hijackers were in their 30s and were asking for political asylum and for the establishment of a new Libyan party, al-Fateh al-Jadeed. The captain identified the men as Ahmed Ali and Mousa Shaha.

In a separate interview with the broadcaster, Shaha confirmed those demands and said he was in the custody of Maltese authorities. The interview was cut off before he could say more.

Maltese television showed one of the men  well-dressed in a gray suit jacket  waving the green flag of the former regime of Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi as he exited the plane.

The Times of Malta reported that the hijackers claimed to be from a little-known Libyan faction called Fatah al-Gadida, and were backers of the late dictator in a country that has been wracked by internal unrest since Gadhafis downfall in 2011. Gadhafi loyalists in Libya, however, insisted that the men were unknown to them.

Fridays Afriqiyah flight had been scheduled to land in Libyas capital, Tripoli, and had originated in the southwestern Libyan city of Sabha. The plane was carrying 111 passengers, including 82 men, 28 women and an infant, Muscat said.

The Sabha region is known as a hub for arms smuggling and traffickers taking migrants from Libya and other points in Africa on the journey to the Mediterranean for clandestine ships bound for Europe.

The first signs of a peaceful resolution to Fridays standoff came just over two hours after the flight landed, when women and children were permitted to disembark. Later, male passengers were also allowed to leave the plane.

Many of the passengers appeared relaxed as they came off the flight. A crew member stood at the top of the stairs, occasionally smiling and laughing.

The hijacking brought, for a few hours at least, another security crisis to the European Union just days after an attack on a Berlin Christmas market killed 12 people. The main suspect in the Berlin attack, a Tunisian, was killed in a shootout with Italian police Friday.

Malta, a tiny nation of less than half a million people that lies south of Sicily, is an E.U. member.



Mahfouz reported from Cairo. The Washington Posts Karla Adam in London and Sudarsan Raghavan in Cairo contributed to this report.

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In an effort to quell complaints from rig operators over long wait times for drilling permits the Bureau of Land Management is working to digitize the process and provide increased well data online.

The BLM announced on Tuesday that all applications for permits to drill would be processed online instead of by paper as the default method of approval.

The upgrade will also aim to digitally provide history and data on the approximately 100,000 wells and 30,000 annual inspections managed by the bureau nationwide.

But energy industry advocates are not convinced.

Spokesperson for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association Wally Drangmeister said the number of approved permits in New Mexico has continued to drop since the new system was put in place.

He said of 180 applications for drilling permits submitted in New Mexico since May, only eight were approved.

Thats a dramatically low number and a big concern for us, Drangmeister said. Anything that slows down new wells is a problem.

Drangmeister said the association supports digitizing the system, but not at the expense of efficiently opening new wells.

The idea is a good one, Drangmeister said. But right now it doesnt appear to be functioning. Its barely functioning. The BLM appears to be really struggling.

Sheila Mallory, deputy state director for minerals at the New Mexico BLM said the organization has heard numerous complaints from operators about the digital system, and is working locally to attempt to solve the problem.

She wouldnt say what the specific concerns were, but that many operators are struggling to use the upgraded system.

Theyre really concerned with the bugs in the system, Mallory said. We have heard those concerns and try to address them on the local level. We are working with the industry to address those challenges.

The Carlsbad BLM declined to comment on complaints from local operators or if the new system will be beneficial to the areas energy industry.

We have been criticized in the past

Spokesperson for the national BLM Beverly Winston said the organization has long been disparaged for leasing wait times. She said the new system will hopefully address complaints.

Its no secret in this industry that we have been criticized in the past for the length of time it takes to get a permit, Winston said. This will provide more certainty for the operators.

The bureau received feedback from about 500 operators from 70 companies to develop the new program and provide training, according to a Tuesday press release.

About 200 permits have been reviewed and approved nationally using the new system, and another 1,300 are being processed.

The new system will allow operators to receive real-time feedback on their permits, and could reduce processing times by almost 50 percent for a majority of permit applications, the release read.

Having a better exchange of data will make the potential developments better, Winston said. Its a use on public land and we want it to be safe.

She said the entire process of modernizing the BLMs system would take many years, but once it is fully operational operators will be able to gather data and history on the wells.

Within the next year, Winston said, a module will be added to provide inspection data.

This administration has updated a number of business processes in the oil and gas program that will result in a better and more efficient experience for both industry and the BLM, BLM Director Neil Kornze said in a the same news release.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.



2016 the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.)

Visit the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) at www.currentargus.com

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WASHINGTON  Donald Trumps sudden embrace this week of a nuclear arms race  and his staffs scramble to minimize the fallout  underscored an emerging modus operandi for the president-elect: governance by chaos.

Since winning the election, Trump has seemed to revel in tossing firecrackers in all directions, often using Twitter to offer brief but provocative pronouncements on foreign and domestic policies alike  and leaving it to others to flesh out his true intentions.

In the past week alone, Trump has publicly pitted two military contractors against one another, sowed confusion about the scope of his proposed ban on foreign Muslims and needled China following its seizure of a U.S. underwater drone.

But nothing has created more consternation for many foreign policy experts than Trumps assertion on Twitter on Thursday that the country should greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.

On Friday, after his staff had tried to temper his comments, Trump doubled down  telling a television talk show host that in an arms race against any competitor, the United States would outmatch them at every pass.

Trump has pledged to shake up both Washington and the world order, and boosters argue that a degree of unpredictability can be useful, particularly when it comes to foreign policy. But the mixed messages and erratic nature of his pronouncements have alarmed even some Republicans, who say its important to know how seriously to take the leader of the free world.

Were just operating in this world where you cannot believe the things he says, said Eliot Cohen, a foreign policy expert and former George W. Bush administration official at the State Department. It will have large consequences for our allies and our adversaries, and its going to greatly magnify the danger of miscalculation by all kinds of people.

Trumps team has struggled with the new resonance that becoming president-elect has given Trumps Twitter habit. They have repeatedly said that his statements on social media do not necessarily reflect his official policy and have at times sought to play down the import of his actions.

But Trump supporters say the rest of Washington is going to have to get used to his more freewheeling style.

People who expect the past are going to be shocked that theres a new way of doing things, said Barry Bennett, a Republican strategist who served as an adviser to Trump during the general election campaign. This is a glimpse of where hes headed, and in a way, its highly transparent, but just not the way Washington has done business for the past 40 or 50 years.

But others warn that Democrats and Republicans alike on Capitol Hill could have a hard time reading Trump and discerning his true priorities if he continues to operate as he has during the transition.

Its difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff  what comes out that he really wants and whats just said at the spur of the moment, said Jim Manley, a former longtime aide to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. In the past, a president-elect doing something like this would have been unfathomable.

The imbroglio over nuclear arms began Thursday with a tweet from Trump in which he said the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

Trump made no mention of what spurred his thoughts, but the tweet followed an address by Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he said his countrys nuclear stockpile needs fortifying.

Trumps tweet seemed to signal a break with four decades of policy charted by presidents of both parties  and it sent his staff scrambling to explain his thinking.

In a television interview Thursday night, Kellyanne Conway  named counselor to the president earlier in the day  downplayed its sweep.

Hes not trying to change a policy through Twitter, Conway told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. What hes merely saying is that he wants us to be ready to defend ourselves.

Conway said Trumps tweet was not necessarily aimed at Russia but directed at a regime that would do us harm or a rogue nation.

Trump was not backing down Friday morning, however. On MSNBCs Morning Joe, co-host Mika Brzezinski relayed a conversation she had with Trump in which he reportedly said, Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass.

As they discussed Trumps nuclear vow, Brzezinski and host Joe Scarborough, a former congressman from Florida, were both dressed in pajamas as they sat in front of a fireplace on their final show before Christmas.

Shortly after the segment aired, Sean Spicer, who was named Trumps White House press secretary on Thursday, suggested Trump was describing a hypothetical situation and speaking about what would happen if other countries dont come to their senses.

If another country wants to expand their nuclear capability, the U.S. is not going to sit back and idly by, Spicer said on NBCs Today show. But just to be clear: The president isnt saying were going to do this. He said unless they come to their senses. Its a warning to them that this presidents going to take action.

Democrats, meanwhile, chided Trump for being cavalier about a topic as sensitive as nuclear weapons.

Taking to Twitter himself, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wrote Friday afternoon that Congress must not allow the Tweeter in Chief to unleash a dangerous and costly nuclear arms race.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., tweeted: Dear Donald Trump. Youre new to this so heres a list of things to tweet about instead of nuclear weapons. 1.) Literally anything.

In an interview, Schiff said that in his view, this just isnt a way to conduct business, certainly not as president of president-elect. Its dangerous.

Doug Wilson, a former assistant secretary of defense for public affairs in President Barack Obamas administration, said it remained unclear to him and many others in the national security establishment what Trump was trying to convey.

Im not sure if hes talking about expanding the nuclear arsenal or hes mistaken that for modernizing the nuclear force, Wilson said.

Wilson said there can be foreign policy advantages to being unpredictable, but that there is a difference in being strategically unpredictable and foolishly unpredictable. He said its too early to know in which camp to place Trump.

On a range of other issues during the campaign and in recent weeks, Trump has made statements that his aides have immediately walked back or softened.

In a brief appearance before reporters this week, he seemed to suggest that two of his most controversial campaign proposals  to ban foreign Muslims from entering the United States and to register those who are here  had been vindicated by recent terror attacks in Europe.

Later, Conway insisted that a ban on Muslims was no longer Trumps plan.

After meeting this week with the CEOs of two of the largest defense contractors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Trump announced on Twitter that he had asked Boeing to price out the cost of a F-18 fighter jet  which could replace the F-35 jet developed by Lockheed Martin due to cost overruns.

The tweet sent Boeings stock up and Lockheed Martins stock plummeting  shaving some $1.2 billion off of the companys value.

Some conservatives praised Trump for using his platform to pursue cost savings for taxpayers.

But on foreign affairs in particular, experts warned that Twitter is not the best venue to pursue new policy  even if the aim is disruption.

Thomas Nichols, a U.S. Naval War College professor who is currently writing a book on U.S. nuclear policy, noted that Trump and his staff have now offered multiple explanations for what he meant in his nuclear weapons tweet.

Its worse than not having one explanation, said Nichols, who said he was speaking in his personal capacity. If youre going to change policy, then that requires a kind of steely consistency and a lot of disciplined messaging.

Were all spending a lot of time, he added, trying to devise the future of Americas nuclear policy out of 140 characters.

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PHOENIX  A 3-year-old Arizonas boy celebration of his adoption is a hit on social media.

Dezhianna Dae Browns Twitter post of photos of her adoptive brother Michael had over 55,000 retweets and nearly 140,000 likes by Friday morning.

The little boy is now a member of a family living in Phoenixs Peoria suburb.

He gives a fist pump in one photo taken at court. Another has him posing with Brown and another adoptive sister.

Brown says Michael was super-shy when placed with family as a foster child in early 2015 but has since opened up and bonded with her family.

Brown told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that her mother, Tara Montgomery, adopted Michael on Tuesday.

Court spokesman Vincent Funari said he could not discuss a child dependency case.
Editors note: This story has been updated to make clear that the proposal concerns federally owned mineral rights beneath privately owned land.

New Mexico Tech is about to play a big role in a proposed new fund for early childhood education in the state.

The Socorro university, under an agreement signed with the State Land Office this month, will assess the commercial potential of untapped subsurface mineral deposits held by the federal government in New Mexico.

The Land Office believes those deposits could generate new funds for early childhood education, but it wants Tech to analyze their commercial worth before it stakes any legal claims and seeks a federal transfer.

The results, to be delivered in March, will be used to support the offices efforts to get legislative approval for a new Early Childhood Education Land Grant Permanent Fund.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the university will identify the most promising sites statewide and evaluate their revenue-generating capacity, said Patrick Padilla, Land Office assistant commissioner of mineral resources.

Theres a lot of overhead associated with managing that land, so we want to make sure were not taking on an undue burden, he said. We want to make sure its economically feasible, and not just a lot of unproductive land that we end up managing through this initiative.

Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn proposed legislative approval of a bill in August creating the permanent fund and using income generated for early childhood education.

Congress would first have to approve the mineral rights transfer, which the Land Office is still discussing with the states congressional delegation. But Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., is expected to push it forward at the federal level, said Dunn spokeswoman Emily Strickler.

The Land Office says about 6.6 million acres of unleased federal subsurface deposits could be tapped around the state. The deposits in question are located under private land in what is known as a split estate, meaning private owners control the surface but the federal government has rights to what lies beneath.

The Land Office believes the proposal could generate about $210 million a year for the fund through mining over those mineral deposits. That estimate is based on revenue generated from the 13 million subsurface acres the state currently manages in New Mexico, about 20 percent of which is in production, Padilla said.

Dunns office will pay about $47,000 for the Tech study.

It will give us a broad-stroke overview of the good areas, the bad areas, and why, Padilla said.

Techs Petroleum Recovery Research Center and the state Bureau of Geology and Mineral resources will work together, said Martha Cather, geologist and principal investigator on the project.

Those entities will comb through existing surveys and studies to pinpoint the most likely places for commercial deposits within the targeted acreage, Cather said. That includes potential for everything from oil and gas, helium, and precious minerals to potash, copper and industrial metals like gypsum and limestone.

Its a high-level evaluation that wont look at specific land parcels, Cather said. Theres no field work involved. Its strictly a synthesis of existing research at this point.
Attention those interested in the film industry!

Two major casting directors in New Mexico are holding an open casting call on Wednesday, Dec. 28, for people interested in working as background actors in TV and major feature film productions currently shooting in New Mexico.

The call will be held from 10 a.m.-3: p.m. at Far Horizon Studio, 304 Washington SE.

Lorrie Latham, who is casting the new NBC series Midnight, Texas joins with Elizabeth Gabel currently casting Soldado with Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, for the call.

Soldado is looking for military for featured roles.

The film is the follow-up to the 2015 film Sicario, the even more volatile Soldado follows the character of Alejandro (Del Toro) as he makes a deadly alliance with Matt (Josh Brolin) to take on the new crown jewel of Mexicos cartels: human trafficking.

Midnight, Texas, an NBC drama where Twin Peaks meets True Blood in a remote town where your neighbor could be a vampire, a witch, a werewolf, or even an angel, stars Francois Arnaud, Sarah Ramos, Peter Mensah and others.

The productions are looking for military, men, women, and children of all ages.

These are paid positions.

Interested people can stop by to get their photo taken and meet with the extras casting directors.
LOS ANGELES  Carrie Fisher is in stable condition after suffering a medical emergency aboard a flight Friday.

Her brother, Todd Fisher, told The Associated Press that she was out of emergency and stabilized at a Los Angeles hospital Friday afternoon. He said he could not discuss any other details about what happened.

The Star Wars star suffered medical trouble during a flight from London and was treated by paramedics immediately upon landing in Los Angeles around noon Friday, according to reports citing anonymous sources. Celebrity website TMZ, which first reported the incident, said anonymous sources told them the actress suffered a heart attack.

Fishers publicists and representatives for her mother, Debbie Reynolds, and her daughter, Billie Lourd, did not immediately return calls from the AP.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 23.12.2016 - In view of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Switzerland is reaffirming its commitment to help the destitute civilian population by making an additional CHF 3 million available to the Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) over the next 12 months. The money will be used to fund water, hygiene and nutrition projects.

Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East. The food security of 14.1 million people has been undermined and 7 million are suffering from acute malnutrition, many of them children. Basic healthcare provision is insufficient. 20 million people have no access to clean water. Yemen has taken in more than 280,000 refugees from the Horn of Africa in recent years and is a transit country for migrants heading to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Armed conflicts have internally displaced over 3 million people.

With every passing day of war, the suffering of the population increases. According to UN figures, around 19 million people  more than 70% of the population  are now reliant on humanitarian aid. This man-made humanitarian disaster is compounding the suffering of the Yemeni people, many of whom lived in poverty even before the conflict.

To alleviate the population's most urgent and acute humanitarian needs, Switzerland is making an additional CHF 3 million available to the Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund managed by OCHA over the next 12 months. The fund primarily supports emergency relief projects in the areas of healthcare, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and food aid. Switzerland also sent a cholera expert to Yemen for two weeks to train the UN and local authorities in how best to contain the disease.

A political solution to the situation in Yemen is needed to ensure a lasting peace. Switzerland is therefore supporting the work of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Only with an immediate ceasefire together with the resumption of the UN-facilitated peace talks can the loss of human life in Yemen be stopped.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs calls on all parties to the Yemen conflict to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and to protect the civilian population. With the country threatened by famine, the civilian population in all occupied and difficult-to-reach areas must be supplied with humanitarian aid quickly and bottlenecks affecting food imports must be eliminated.

Switzerland has been active in Yemen since 2007. Its humanitarian programme currently focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene projects as well as projects to protect the civilian population. The overall budget for projects implemented by Switzerland in Yemen is around CHF 9 million per year. Switzerland is working with multilateral partners such as the ICRC, WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR, and carries out projects with bilateral partners including Oxfam, Save the Children and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




By PTI: textbooks

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has removed from its textbooks a controversial reference to the Nadar community.

The Board issued a circular, about section "4.1 about Caste Conflict and Dress Change under the theme 8 - Clothing: A Social History? given at page no 168 in the textbook -India and the Contemporary World-I for Class IX published by NCERT."

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The Board said the portion in the textbook of Social Science for Class IX published by NCERT, stands omitted from the curriculum and no questions from this section should be asked in 2017.

This may be brought to the notice of all teachers and students in class IX, the CBSE circular said. PTI ADS AKK

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"We still need time to remonetise the banks and hence need controlled cash disbursal from the banks", said a senior Finance Ministry official.

By Devina Gupta: As the 50-day demonetisation window of the Prime Minister is set to close soon, your cash woes will continue well into the new year.

1. Top sources in the Finance Ministry have told India Today that the new currency is yet to fully compensate for the notes withdrawn from the market. So the curb on cash withdrawal from your banks and ATMs is likely to stay.

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2. "It is not possible to remove the withdrawal limit from the banks for now. We still need time to remonetise the banks and hence need controlled cash disbursal from the banks", said a senior Finance Ministry official.

3. But there is a silver lining, a hike on how much cash you can withdraw is on the cards. The current cash withdrawal limit stands at Rs 24,000 per week from banks and Rs 2,500 from ATMs.

4. Finance Ministry sources have told India Today that there could be a marginal increase in the limit of cash withdrawal.

5. "There may be a hike in withdrawal limit from banks and ATMs", a senior Finance Ministry official has told India Today.

6. Interestingly, as per the last RBI official data, 11.8 lakh crores of old notes have been deposited in banks, while 4 lakh crore new currency has been pumped in the system. But even then, banks are not able to meet the weekly withdrawal limit due to short supply of new notes.

7. While the government has made it clear that all of the old cash will not be remonetised in the coming months, SBI Chief Arundhati Bhattacharya while speaking to India Today claimed that cash crisis was likely to continue till February next year.

WATCH VIDEO

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Sarat Barik carried his father Narayan Barik's body, after he succumbed to jaundice at the local community health centre.

The centre refused to help Barik as he had no money to arrange for conveyance.

The body was kept in the hospital verandah for over two hours.

Officer-in-charge of the community health centre ironically denied his knowledge of the incident.

This incident puts into scrutiny the long drawn slogans of development by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik even after 20 years of his tenure.
Modified On Feb 21, 2017 05:03 PM By Rachit Shad for Honda City 4th Generation

It is one of the most eagerly awaited sedans in the coming year

Update - February 14, 2017: The 2017 Honda City has been launched, with prices starting at Rs 8.50 lakh

Japanese carmaker Honda has just released a set of teaser images of the highly-anticipated City Facelift, which is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2017 in India. This facelift which will be launched in Thailand in January 2017 comes nearly four years after the current-gen City was introduced in 2013.

What we can decipher from the images released is that the facelift will receive a more new-gen Civic-like front. Styling of the headlamp units have been subtly redone and is expected to carry LED daytime running lights, like the ones found on the recently launched Honda Accord. The front bumper will get some cosmetic tweaks as well, housing a bigger air dam. At the back, the taillight units are expected to remain the same. The rear-bumper will most-likely be restyled to come in tune with Hondas latest design language.

Inside the cabin, the Honda City facelift will, in all probability, feature Hondas latest touchscreen infotainment system that will boast both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Moreover, it is expected to boast capacitive touch tech instead of the resistive one found on the outgoing model. This inclusion is a must for the City as we expect Hyundai to equip its latest generation of the Verna, also expected to launch in 2017, with a similarly high-tech infotainment setup.

Since it is just a facelift, the engines on offer are expected to remain untouched. That means customers can opt for either a 1.5-litre petrol engine or a diesel engine with the same cubic capacity. However, the petrol variant will most likely be mated to the six-speed manual transmission that made its India debut with the BR-V.

Honda has already announced that from January 1, 2017, it will hike prices of its offerings in India by up to 3 per cent. Hence, once launched, all the variants of the Honda City facelift will have slightly inflated price-tags.

Read More on : Honda City
Modified On Dec 26, 2016 12:14 PM By Raunak

The Japanese automaker is in talks with Googles parent company Alphabets Waymo to outfit its cars with the latters self-driving tech.

Ever since Waymo  a company born out of the Google self-driving car project  came into being, automakers have been vying to collaborate with the tech giant for its automated driving technology. Honda recently announced that its R&D subsidiary has entered into formal discussion with Waymo to integrate its self-driving tech into Honda vehicles. Also, the Japanese automaker has previously announced that it wants to put production vehicles with automated driving capabilities on highways sometime around 2020.

Check Out: Say Hello To Waymo: Googles Self-Driving Car Company

A few days ago, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) revealed its Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid that was outfitted with Waymos self-driving tech. FCA has manufactured 100 Pacifica Hybrids, which will add to Waymos self-driving fleet early next year.

If both the companies agree on entering into a formal agreement, Hondas boffins based in America and Japan would work closely with Waymo engineers. Like in Chrysler's case, if everything goes as per plan, Honda could provide uniquely built vehicles which can accommodate Waymo's self-driving technology, and would join Waymo's existing fleet which is currently being tested across four cities in the US.

Recommended Read: Honda Hits 10 Crore Worldwide Cars Production Milestone
Published On Dec 23, 2016 01:09 PM By Rachit Shad

Another step towards decongesting roads

According to a PTI report, the government is contemplating a plan wherein a car buyer will have to produce a valid parking space certificate in order to get his/her car legally registered. Venkaiah Naidu, union urban development minister, reiterated that he is very keen to put this proposal in place and that discussions are on with the surface transport ministry.

Naidu also said that, in future, permission would not be given for any construction unless it has provision for toilets. In his words, "In future, it would be mandated that no permission would be given to any construction without a toilet. No car or vehicle should be registered without adequate parking space availability certificate."

Naidu added that discussions are on with Nitin Gadkari, who is the minister for road transport and highways. Earlier, Naidu also launched the Google Toilet Locator to help residents of Delhi-NCR and two cities of Madhya Pradesh  Bhopal and Indore  search for toilets in the vicinity. The service offers locations of 6,200 public toilets, which include the ones in shopping malls, hospitals, bus/train stations, petrol pumps and metro stations.

The objective of enabling our towns and cities to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status is a welcome one. However, as far as producing a parking space certificate is concerned, the implementation is bound to face some resistance from people all over the country, though it will have the much-need long-term advantage of decongesting our cities. However defining the prerequisites for a space to be worthy of a parking spot will be extremely tricky for the government.

Most cities and towns in the country arent very well planned. Carving out a suitable and safe parking space might be feasible for some, but not for everyone. The government needs to have a detailed plan for the idea to become more acceptable across the nation.
The Big Lottery Fund has awarded 200,000 to the Third Sector Research Centre to create a new website that signposts visitors to various research reports that have been written about the voluntary sector.

The Third Sector Knowledge Portal has been built in partnership with the British Library and is billed as a "one-stop knowledge resource" containing evidence and links to others' evidence on a range of subjects relevant to the sector.

These include academic research, reports from charities themselves, government publications and training materials. Material will be freely downloadable if in electronic format and provided access is not restricted by the publisher.



The site, which launched on Friday, will also enable third parties to share and preserve their research and the Centre is encouraging organisations to deposit their work on the Portal. Pete Alcock, director of the Centre, said: "This Portal will make it easier for people to find and use the wide range of research resources on the sector."

Thr Big Lottery Fund has funded the Knowledge Portal as part of the learning strand of Replication and Innovation, a new UK-wide funding programme that aims to target deep-rooted social problems.

Big Lottery Fund CEO Peter Wanless added: "The sector is not short of evidence reviews, research or information but it is often fragmented and difficult to access.

"BIG is convinced that many of the solutions to deep-rooted social problems can be found in sharing and building on existing effective practice. A resource such as this is key to bringing about long-lasting positive changes to those most in need."

The Portal is the second sector-facing website that BIG has funded recently. Three years ago it ploughed 2.2m into KnowHow NonProfit, which described itself as "a useful, practical resource with links to other sources of information and help. It was subsumed within the NCVO in July after its funding ran out.
By PTI: Jharkhand: Sahay

Jamshedpur, Dec 23 (PTI) Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay today said the Raghubar Das-led government has created more problems in the state rather than solving any during its two-year tenure.

"The state government has failed to deliver on all fronts. We shall appreciate if the Das-headed government could highlight a single achievement during its two-year regime," the former Union Minister of State for Home told a press conference here.

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Describing the Chief Minister as "arrogant and Copycat ofPrime Minister Narendra Modi", Sahay said the Das government failed to tackle the deteriorating law and order and the situation was worse in the state capital, where loot and murder became a common feature.

Three murders including the brutal rape and murder of anengineering student had taken place on a day in the Hinoo locality of Ranchi, from where the Chief Minister passed through everyday, but the government failed to arrest the culprits, who are roaming around, he claimed.

Asked to comment on Jharkhand governments efforts to woo iestors, Sahay said had the government been serious about industrial growth in Jharkhand, it should have revived those sick or closed industries in the state rather than touring abroad.

Sahay dubbed as "misuse of public money" the ongoing tourby state officials to Singapore to lure investors to participate in Global Investors Summit to be hosted by the state government in February 2017.

He claimed that the chief minister and his team could noteven lure a bicycle puncture repairer to invest in the stateduring his Singapore visit.

"Everybody knows that the world including European and Asian nations celebrate Christmas for a fortnight and no one will be interested to talk business during this period," he said questioning the objective behind Chief Ministers visit now.

Das was following the footsteps of Modi and repeating thesame things in the state which the Prime Minister had been attempting at the Centre, he alleged. PTI BS SUS IKA KKB

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Your bank or credit union brand does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, it scrambles to survive amongst a cacophony of other voices vying for consumer attention, from other banks and credit unions to non-traditional new players in the financial marketplace.

The most powerful way for your financial institution can stand out amongst this crowd comes in creating a powerful brand. That brand, however, is driven not by massive amounts of direct mail postcards, online videos, social media posts or billboards. It is primarily driven by the story it tells and whether or not that story resonates with consumers.

In other words, generating more ad clutter does not equate to brand equity. Relatable storytelling does a much better job creating that.
When the people helping people philosophy of credit unions collides with the holiday spirit of giving, it is a beautiful thing. As an active member of the credit union community, I have the privilege of hearing stories of the credit unions I work with and serve going above and beyond for their members, particularly around the holidays. I wanted to share some of those stories today, in hopes that as we make our way through the hustle and bustle of the end of the year, youll remember why we all work so hardto truly make a positive difference in the lives of our members.

For her entire adult life, a single mother with three children has been raising her kids working at Burger King. As it often does, life happened and she was forced to take scores of unpaid time off to care for a terminal family member. She went into her credit union to do her normal banking and mentioned that she was having a rough time this year because of the work she has missed. The mother is upset because there wouldnt be any presents for the kids this year. The Member Service Representative who helped her asked the credit union president if he knew of anyone that would help. The credit union just so happens to sponsor the local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Shop with a Cop childrens charity that donates toys for children in need during the holiday season. The president called the F.O.P., and even though their annual event had already taken place, they made arrangements to take the single mother shopping to ensure her children experienced the joy of opening on presents on Christmas morning.
Account-based marketingoften abbreviated as ABM or referred to simply as account marketingstands to be a vital business marketing method for the next era of credit union promotion. Account marketing is already making an impression  according to a 2015 study conducted by Demandbase, 92% of companies across industry verticals recognize the value of ABM. The same survey found that 60% of respondents had immediate plans to invest in new technology that would take their account marketing strategies to the next level.

What is ABM, and how can you use ABM to benefit your credit union? In this article, we have compiled a list of the top four things that credit unions need to know about account-based marketing. With this information in your back pocket, you will be able to serve your members more effectively, improve member satisfaction, inspire referrals and positive word of mouth, and prepare your credit union for the next stage of its development.

Account-based marketing focuses on the individual

Many marketing endeavors are broad in scope, with the goal of hitting as many potential leads as possible. Brands and enterprises plan their marketing efforts based on demographics, locations, industries, or other factors that loop in as many consumers or businesses as possible that have commonalities. Account-based marketing is unique in that it emphasizes a very individualized focus.

ABM is primarily a B2B marketing strategy. It allows companies to tailor their marketing efforts to suit the specific wants, needs, and pain points of a single account holder. SaaS companies like SAP, Adobe and Marketo are recognized for their ABM models, using personalized landing pages, targeted ads and local sponsorships to target their top accounts individually as noted by Danny Zecevic in Skuras blog. In the B2B environment, one account represents an entire business, though the focus is still more concentrated in comparison to other marketing strategies.

In the context of a credit union, account-based marketing means something different. A credit union marketing plan is primarily about the members themselves. Using ABM, you can put your focus on marketing to these individuals rather than approaching your marketing strategy as a one-size-fits-all endeavor.

The first step to implementing an ABM campaign is leveraging data to learn about your customers likes, dislikes, wants, and needs. As a banking institution, your members needs will change as their financial situations shift. Luckily, as a banking institution, you have a wealth of customer data at your fingertips that can help you determine what your members want in terms of financial services. Harness data from account history, social media, support center information, email communications, and other sources to gain insights and start tailoring your marketing to suit distinct individual needs.

As Steve Francis posted on CUInsight, member personalization has to start with big data, but doesnt need to be intimidating. Rather than getting lost in your big data though, we advise you to start by building member personas, which is actually easier than it sounds  and a lot of fun. Jeff Kjollers post on CUInsight here is a great example of how to get started. Building personas will allow you to start developing your base profiles on which to build ABM campaigns. By developing your content and products for real personas  like Young and Free initiatives for millennials  youre taking the first steps toward having better segmented content libraries useful for designing ABM content funnels.

Account-based marketing can help you think in a B2B frame of mind

Account marketing has risen to prominence primarily in B2B spheres. Although ABMs emphasis on personalization can benefit your credit union as you deal with individual consumers, you can also gain from adopting ABMs B2B ties. Writing for The Digital Hyve about account-based marketing for credit unions, Kylie Joyner recommended that credit unions try marketing to businesses as a logical first stepping stone.

As Joyner notes, your credit union probably may not yet be winning over huge corporate clients. However, your targeted accounts are likely a list of local stores and businesses that also require high-quality banking solutions. Approach these companies and give your best sales pitch. Tell these small businesses what they have to gain from signing up with your credit union. Small, local businesses are predisposed to appreciate other small, local businesses, and local credit unions can fit nicely into that category. In other words, you already have an in, so take advantage of it!

This B2B ABM strategy can also be implemented to win over more individual consumers. After your ABM methods convert a few local businesses, Joyner recommends dropping a line or two about the benefits of employees and employers banking at the same place. With a cooperative client and a little luck, this methodology introduces you to a new captive audience for your membership services.

Account-based marketing is all about approaching the right people at the right time

Earlier, we framed account marketing as a more focused and individualized marketing strategy than other more traditional methods. In the context of a credit union, this individualized focus means that you will be communicating directly with your individual members (or prospective members). However, because ABM has its roots in B2B marketing, your marketing approach doesnt necessarily need to target one particular person.

On the contrary, most ABM technologies are developed so that users can target very specific groups of individuals with a shared tailored marketing message. These groups of people arent chosen based on locations, demographics, or personal preferences. Instead, the selection is based on where they work. B2B companies know that in most cases, there isnt one decision maker calling all the shots. Instead, big decisionslike what to buy or what software to useare made by multiple people, all of whom have to be aware of and knowledgeable about the product or service at hand.

So, how can companies get their messaging to the people that most need to see it? Writing for Click Z, Mathew Sweezey described the methods behind this type of ABM as a combination of real-time ad buying and IP-based identification. By using these technologies, companies can present tailored ads directly to the staff members and key decision makers at the office they are targeting. The highly customized nature of these ads means that only a few people receive them, which means that costs stay low. The people who do see the ads however, are the right people, which means that B2B account-based marketing can be effective despite the limited investment.

Sweezeys conclusion about ABM strategies is that they finally give companies the power to serve advertisements to the right people at the right time. For a credit union, it can be difficult to see how this particular point is directly applicable. After all, doesnt just about everyone need banking services? How can you determine a right person, right time in such a scenario? In her article for The Hyve Mind, Kylie Joyner had at least one tip on the subject for credit unions: target recent high school grads and college students. These individuals are starting to develop their own financial freedom, starting to earn paychecks, and needing a place to put their money. Hitting local students with marketing about your credit union could prove to be a perfectly-timed pitch.

If your credit union is like most financial institutions, then youre facing the challenge of reaching and engaging with millennials. Younger peopleincluding students, young professionals, and twentysomethings in the midst of marrying, starting families, and buying housescould all have something to gain from being a part of your credit union. The biggest hurdle is figuring out how to reach them.

To connect with the millennial generation, a financial institution must figure out what channels young people in their area are using and target their marketing efforts accordingly. In most cases, this means embracing digital channels, including ones you might already be using (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and ones that might be out of your purview (like Reddit or Instagram). Hosting offline events or membership incentives are also proven to influence young peoples banking decisions. For further reading, Dean Ara addresses how to use the right channels to target younger generations with relevant messaging in a RewardStream article.

The benefits of the ABM approach can extend to your current members

So far, weve talked mostly about how you can use account-based marketing to target and attract new members to your credit union. What we havent addressed is how ABM might have the most substantial impact if you choose to focus it toward your current members.

What is the number one key to member retention for a credit union? Customer service is certainly near the top of the list. By serving your members effectively and making sure they are getting valuable perks out of being a part of your credit union, you minimize the likelihood of them departing for greener pastures.

How can you serve your members more effectively? With an account-based marketing approach, of course. A Silvercloud blog post on ways to improve customer service highlights eight ways for credit unions to serve their members more satisfactorily. One of the key tips was to create personalized customer experiences. Instead of hitting all your members with the same messaging all the time, target long-time or high-value members with personalized messaging, unique upsell offers, or other custom communications.

By using what you know about your members to prepare individualized offers, you are applying ABM strategies to interact with your existing customers. Naturally, if you can upsell your members and convince them to buy additional services, you will reap the benefits. This style of account-based marketing is fundamentally about how it makes your members feel valued. Personalized offers and direct communications make your members feel like they are appreciated and respected, providing a big boost for customer satisfaction. Satisfied members, in turn, are more likely to encourage their friends or family members to join your credit union, or to sign up for a referral program if you decide to start one.

Conclusion

The personal, customized nature of account-based marketing is its most important attribute. While ABM was devised initially as a method for inspiring B2B sales, the personalized aspect of it can deliver benefits universallyno matter the business or industry. Are you trying to figure out how you might use account marketing strategies to build your credit union? Wed love to hear your story as you start implementing some of the insight provided throughout this piece. Feel free to comment below or contact us directly if you have any stories to share or questions about how ABM might work for you.
The law is now widely seen as not fit for purpose

Abortion care in the UK is "heading towards a crisis" and reform of the law is just one of the many obstacles that needs to be overcome, argues an expert in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.

Among the challenges women seeking abortion face include inequitable access, a lack of trained staff, stigmatisation, and a culture of exceptionalism, explains Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood, editor in chief of the journal, and clinical lead for abortion services at Cambridge University Hospitals.

She argues that "problems of access and stigma, familiar worldwide, are compounded in the UK by an abortion law that is now widely seen as not fit for purpose" which is considered to be "out of step with technical advances in safe medical abortion and current UK social values."

Most women believe they have a right to make their own decision about abortion, but British law still requires the identification of serious physical or mental health risk by two doctors not necessarily qualified, and who may not know the woman personally.

The law is, therefore, widely seen by clinicians as "hypocritical andanachronistic," explains Dr Goldbeck-Wood.

Another problem is that abortion care has become artificially separated from the rest of reproductive health care, she adds. In the UK, a high proportion of abortion care is provided in specialist organisations outside the NHS.

Trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology - among them the potential service providers of the future - have too little opportunity to benefit from the learning environment that abortion care offers.

"As well as reinforcing stigma, this deprives trainees of valuable learning opportunities," she says

Organisations calling for the law to be reformed include the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives and other women's health organisations.

And if the law is to be reformed, says Dr Goldbeck-Wood, there will be a strong need for debate which is respectful and acknowledges the ethical complexity in this sensitive area of health care.

"Abortion care remains a high-volume, under-researched and under-integrated area of women's healthcare," she writes. "2017 is an excellent time for practitioners to be challenging hypocrisy and exceptionalism in UK abortion care, and leading respectful debate centred on women's needs, with complexity acknowledged."

A study led by Dr Louise Keogh, from the University of Melbourne, assessed the decriminalisation of abortion in the Victoria state of Australia in 2008.

It found that a change in the law has empowered women, and increased clarity and safety for clinicians, but has failed to address stigma, access to services and workforce sustainability.

Commenting on the study, Sally Sheldon, professor of law at Kent University, says that the abortion law reform in Victoria has vital lessons for the UK.

She says that removal of specific criminal prohibitions against abortion "should not be seen as a panacea", even though it is important to remove criminal law prohibitions and to establish abortion care as a health issue.

Much more work is needed to remove stigma, encourage doctors to provide terminations, and improve "equitable access to excellent, modern abortion services," she concludes.

###

Editorial: Reforming abortion services in the UK: less hypocrisy, more acknowledgment of complexity

http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2016/11/30/jfprhc-2016-101696

Commentary: Abortion law reform in Victoria: lessons for the UK

http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2016/43/1/jfprhc-2016-101676

Research: Intended and unintended consequences of abortion law reform: perspectives of abortion experts in Victoria, Australia

http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2016/12/02/jfprhc-2016-101541.full

About the journal:

The Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care is one of 60 specialist journals published by BMJ. For more information, visit: http://jfprhc.bmj.com
The CISF detected Rs 53.78 lakh in new currency and Rs 4.29 lakh in old currency with a Nigerian passenger named Tochukwo Chijioke.

By Indo-Asian News Service: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) today detected a foreign national carrying a huge amount of cash in new currency notes at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on his way to Coimbatore, officials said.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

We detected Rs 53.78 lakh in new currency and Rs 4.29 lakh in old currency with a Nigerian passenger named Tochukwo Chijioke, an official of the CISF, which looks after the security at the IGI said. We have informed the Airport Intelligence Unit (AIU) and the Custom department. He was travelling by an Indigo flight," the official added. The AIU and the Custom department would question Chijioke on his arrival at the Coimbatore International Airport about the source of the money. Since the government's November 8 move of spiking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, huge cash in old and new currency have been seized across the country.

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Also read: Black money crackdown: Rs 60 crore cash, 245 kg gold seized from 10 airports since demonetisation

--- ENDS ---
A newly discovered virus infecting the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats could help scientists and wildlife agencies track the spread of the disease that is decimating bat populations in the United States, a new study suggests.

Regional variations in this virus could provide clues that would help researchers better understand the epidemiology of white-nose syndrome, according to Marilyn Roossinck, professor of plant pathology and environmental microbiology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State.

White-nose syndrome is a particularly lethal wildlife disease, killing an estimated 6 million bats in North America since it was identified in 2006. The disease, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, first was found in New York and now has spread to 29 states and four Canadian provinces.

Although several species of bats have been affected, some of the most prevalent species in the Northeast -- such as little brown bats -- have suffered estimated mortality as high as 99 percent. These losses have serious ecological implications. For instance, bats have a voracious appetite for insects and are credited with helping to control populations of mosquitoes and some agricultural pests.

The researchers examined 62 isolates of the fungus, including 35 from the United States, 10 from Canada and 17 from Europe, with the virus infection found only in North American samples.

P. destructans is clonal, meaning it is essentially identical everywhere it has been found in North America, making it difficult to determine how it is moving, said Roossinck, who also is affiliated with Penn State's Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics.

"But the virus it harbors has quite a bit of variation," she said. "For example, in all the fungal isolates from Pennsylvania we analyzed, the viruses are similar. But those viruses differ from the ones we found in isolates from Canada, New York and so forth."

Roossinck explained that fungal viruses are not readily transmitted among fungi, so the variation in the viral genome probably is occurring as the virus evolves within each fungal isolate, providing a marker.

"So we believe the differences in the viruses reflect the movement of the fungus, and this viral variability should enable us to get a better handle on how the disease is spreading," she said.

The virus is not thought to cause disease, but researchers don't yet know whether it influences the virulence of the fungus, Roossinck noted.

"It's very difficult to study virulence in terms of infection in the bats in part because there are almost no bats left to study, and we don't have an experimental system that works."

The researchers, who reported their results today (Dec 23) online in PLOS Pathogens, were able to eliminate the virus from one fungal isolate, which provided a virus-free isolate that they could compare to wild isolates that harbor the virus to look for biochemical changes.

"Although we didn't look directly at the role of the virus in white-nose syndrome, there is evidence of a close biological relationship between the fungus and the virus," Roossinck said. "We found that the virus-free isolate makes many fewer spores than an isolate with the virus, suggesting that the virus may be beneficial to the fungus in reproduction.

"We don't know whether the fungus spreads through spores or through direct contact between bats," she said. "But if it spreads via spores, the virus actually could be enhancing the spread of white-nose syndrome as a result of this increased spore production."

Roossinck said the study has important implications in the search for ways to save the bats of North America. "There's a lot we don't know about white-nose syndrome, and before we can develop control strategies, we have to better understand the biology of the system. We now have a tool that can be used in broader studies to examine the epidemiology of the disease."

###

Other Penn State researchers on this project were Vaskar Thapa, postdoctoral fellow in plant pathology and environmental microbiology, and Susan Hafenstein, assistant professor of medicine. Other researchers were Gregory G. Turner, Pennsylvania Game Commission; Barrie E. Overton, biology professor, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, and Karen J. Vanderwolf, formerly at New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, Canada, and now at University of Wisconsin, Madison.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State supported this research.
What provides the wonderful aromas is a long neuro-physico-chemical process that results in bubbles fizzing at the surface of champagne

Ever wondered how the fate of champagne bubbles from their birth to their death with a pop enhances our perception of aromas? These concerns, which are relevant to champagne producers, are the focus of a special issue of EPJ Special Topics, due to be published in early January 2017--celebrating the 10th anniversary of the publication. Thanks to scientists, champagne producers are now aware of the many neuro-physico-chemical mechanisms responsible for aroma release and flavour perception. The taste results from the complex interplay between the level of CO2 and the agents responsible for the aroma--known as volatile organic compounds--dispersed in champagne bubbles, as well as temperature, glass shape, and bubbling rate.

In the first part of the Special Topic issue, Gerard Liger-Belair from CNRS in Reims, France, has created a model to describe, in minute detail, the journey of the gas contained in each bubble. It starts from the yeast-based fermentation process in grapes, which creates CO2, and goes all the way to the nucleation and rise of gaseous CO2 bubbles in the champagne flute. It also includes how the CO2 within the sealed bottle is kept in a form of finely tuned equilibrium and then goes into the fascinating cork-popping process.

The second part of this Special Issue is a tutorial review demystifying the process behind the collapse of bubbles. It is mainly based on recent investigations conducted by a team of fluid physicists from Pierre and Marie Curie University, in Paris, France, led by Thomas Seon. When a champagne bubble reaches an air-liquid interface, it bursts, projecting a multitude of tiny droplets into the air, creating an aerosol containing a concentration of wine aromas.

###

References

G. Liger-Belair and T. Seon (2017), Bubble Dynamics in Champagne and Sparkling Wines: Recent Advances and Future Prospects, European Physical Journal ST, DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2017-02677-8

G. Liger-Belair (2017), Effervescence in champagne and sparkling wines: From grape harvest to bubble rise, European Physical Journal ST, DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2017-02678-7

T. Seon and G. Liger-Belair (2017), Effervescence in champagne and sparkling wines: From bubble bursting to droplet evaporation, European Physical Journal ST, DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2017-02679-6

PDFs of articles and images are available to journalists in "Reporter's Only Section."
Portland, Oregon, Dec. 21, 2016 - The addition of bortezomib to a standard two-drug regimen for multiple myeloma patients significantly lengthened the time before their cancer returned, and significantly lengthened their lives, according to clinical trial results in The Lancet.

Investigators from SWOG, the international cancer clinical trials network funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), compared the effectiveness of two drug regimens in newly diagnosed patients undergoing their first round of treatment for multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. One regimen used in the study was lenalidomide with dexamethasone, a standard first-line treatment. The other drug regimen also included bortezomib, a second-line drug typically given to myeloma patients whose cancer progresses after initial therapy.

SWOG researchers found that the addition of bortezomib made a significant difference for myeloma patients, giving them about another year of remission and another year of life.

Patients receiving bortezomib, along with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, in their first six months of treatment had a median remission time of 43 months compared to a median remission of 30 months for patients who received lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone. Researchers also found that patients who received bortezomib lived a median of 75 months, or about six years, after their initial treatment. Patients who received the standard two-drug treatment lived a median of 64 months, or about five years, after initial treatment.

"There's a lot of excitement about these research findings and this treatment option, which helps myeloma patients stay healthier longer and gives them more time to spend with people they love," said SWOG study principal investigator Brian G.M. Durie, M.D., a physician at Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center in Los Angeles and chairman of the board at the International Myeloma Foundation. "Because the research was so solid, and the findings so strong, we're looking at a potential new standard of care."

Results of the SWOG study, S0777, first gained attention in December 2015 at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) held in Orlando, Florida. Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the world. According to NCI statistics, in 2016 an estimated 30,330 new cases of myeloma will be diagnosed and 12,650 people will die of the disease in the U.S. In recent years, new drugs have brought new hope, and life expectancy for people diagnosed with multiple myeloma is slowly rising.

SWOG researchers enrolled 471 eligible and consented adult patients in S0777 between February 2008 and February 2012 at 139 institutions throughout the National Cancer Trials Network (NCTN), the nation's oldest and largest publicly funded cancer research network. The NCTN includes SWOG, the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and NRG Oncology, which all enrolled patients to S0777, as well as the Children's Oncology Group, which focuses on pediatric cancers.

S0777 patients ranged in age from 28 to 87, had active myeloma, and had not had a stem-cell transplant or any prior treatment for their disease. Patients were randomized into two groups. One group received the standard two-drug treatment for six cycles over six months. That includes lenalidomide, an immunomodulating therapy marketed as Revlimid by Celegene Corporation. The other group received a three-drug combination that included bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor marketed as Velcade by Millennium Pharmaceuticals. These patients received the triple combination therapy for eight cycles over six months.

Despite the increased remission and longevity, the three-drug combination did have a drawback: Patients who received bortezomib were much more likely to experience sensory neuropathy, or tingling, pain, numbness or weakness in their hands and feet.

###

The NCI provided primary grant funding for S0777 and was the sponsor of the study. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., The Takeda Oncology Company, and Celgene Corporation provided the study drugs under their respective Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with the NCI.

A national team of SWOG researchers led S0777. Along with Durie, they include: Antje Hoering, Ph.D, of Cancer Research And Biostatistics; S. Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., of Mayo Clinic; Muneer H. Abidi, M.D., of Spectrum Health and Michigan State University; Joshua Epstein, DS.c, of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Stephen P. Kahanic, M.D., of Souixland Regional Cancer Center; Mohan C. Thakuri, M.D., of Southeast Clinical Oncology Research Consortium NCORP; Frederic J. Reu, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic; Christopher M. Reynolds, M.D., of Michigan Cancer Research Consortium NCORP; Rachael Sexton, M.S., of Cancer Research And Biostatistics; Robert Z. Orlowski, M.D., Ph.D, of MD Anderson Cancer Center; Bart Barlogie, M.D., Ph.D, of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and Angela Dispenzieri, M.D., of Mayo Clinic.

SWOG is a global network of researchers that design and conduct cancer clinical trials, and, as part of the Nation Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network, is a major part of the cancer research infrastructure in the U.S. and the world. The group's goal is to change medical practice so it improves the lives of people with cancer. Founded in 1956, SWOG's 1,300 trials have led to the approval of 14 cancer drugs, changed the standard of cancer care more than 100 times, and saved more than 2 million years of human life. Learn more at swog.org.
A wedding is already the most special occasion in ones life, but, believe it or not, it can be even more special if you join it with another spectacular experience  travelling. Destination wedding has numerous other perks, such as sharing the day with a selected few, having unbelievable photos, getting an instant honeymoon, and using the setting as the decor. In not so distant past, destination wedding meant a quick trip to Las Vegas, but today you have the chance to say your vows in almost any place in the world. Since the number of options is so overwhelming, well help you narrow it down to a selected few.

1. Venice, Italy

Venice is the city where one of the worlds most desirable (and most persistent) bachelor, George Clooney said I do to his then fiance Amal Alamuddin, so you see how this is a true sanctuary of love. And really, whats there not to love  gondolas, history, beautiful buildings, world class hotels and restaurants one word  Italy.

2. Sicily, Italy

Lets stick around in Italy, where every corner of every city is the perfect place to be wed. Still, a little different scenario than the Italian peninsula offers can be found in the amazing vineyards and olive groves dappled Sicily. Ancient palaces, cities made of stone, monuments, old churches and temples can be found everywhere.

3. Paris, France

As Audrey Hepburn once said Paris is always a good idea, especially for a wedding. It is considered to be the most romantic city on the planet, for millions of good reasons. You can say your vows at some of the luxury hotels, while cruising the Seine, or in some romantic tiny bistro.

4. Frankfurt Airport, Germany

Some couples just dont want to stick around at one place for too long. Thats why Frankfurt Airport service offers them a chance to tie the knot and hold the reception in the hotel at the airport. Its a wedding like no other, you must agree.

5. Greece

Greece is the country of unparalleled history and beauty  wide open skies, sun-bleached ancient ruins, miles of splendid coastline You cant go wrong if you decide to get married in Athens rich with famous archaeological treasures, Crete filled with dramatic coastlines and breathtaking beaches, or Santorini with its picturesque houses and sceneries.

6. New South Wales, Australia

Australia is a large vastness, and it is hard to pinpoint the most perfect destination to get married there. Lets narrow it down to NSW, where the lions share of the countrys population lives. From Sydneys glitz bars, across the misty rainforests of Washpool National Park, to the spectacular ballrooms of Conca Doro in Riverwood  it doesnt get any better.

7. Colorado, USA

Looking for a romantic place to get married in the U.S.? Look no further. Colorado has everything you need  aisles padded with wildflowers, scenic mountaintops, fabulous ranches, historic hotels, and soaring sand dunes. State parks, such as Ridgway and Golden Gate Canyon are just some of the possible destinations.

8. Puerto Rico

Getting married in an Old Spanish Fort at sunset? Say no more. The only minor nuisance about a wedding in Puerto Rico is that it requires getting a blood test in order to receive a marriage license. But who cares about the blood test? Look at that beach!

9. Costa Rica

Very close to Puerto Rico, but without similar legal requirements, Costa Rica is an extraordinary exotic location that includes breathtaking stretches of sand, romantic rain forests and interesting volcanoes. The country is bursting with activities, fun, and delicious local fruits.

10. South Africa

South Africa is much more than a safari destination. The diverse culture, powdery beaches, lush mountains, star-studded desert sky, Kalahari dunes, vibrant Cape Town, exciting Johannesburg  it is everything an adventurous couple could wish for, for their special day. The license to get married is relatively easy to get. Besides the usual stuff like passport and witnesses, you need to have a letter from your Embassy stating that you are free to marry.

Read Also: 7 Extremely Strange And Weird Wedding Traditions From Around The World

Conclusion

The world is a very large place, wouldnt you say? There are so many amazing destinations you can choose to tie the knot at and get your happily ever after, and none of them is unavailable. Just grab the person you love by the hand, and go and say I do, Si, Oui

Related Posts




Haiti - Elections : Verifications at the CTV, the tone rises, nothing advances or almost...





Wednesday, the second day of verification at the Votes Tabulation Centre (CTV), the situation is increasingly tense and the tone is rising and lack of restraint between the lawyers and representatives of the protesters and the Electoral Court on the one hand and the lawyers and representatives of the PHTK on the other hand...



The protesting parties multiply the demands for verification and control, lingering to the slightest detail, interrupted by repeated objections and accusations, causing a form of obstruction and considerable delay. So of the 360 minutes submitted by LAPEH barely a fortnight were checked at 6 p.m. after having started in the morning... at this rate it will take many days to check the PV of LAPEH, before starting to check more than 1,000 PV randomly... while it only remains 8 days before the publication of the final results...



The representatives of the PHTK accuse the complaining parties of wanting to deliberately delay the process while the 3 protesting parties camp on their position until provoking a strong irritation of the judge Jean Simon St Hubert, which has been subjected to numerous verbal attacks, including some veiled threats, notably from former Senator Yvon Feuille, one of the representatives of Famni Lavalas. A judge exasperated by the intransigence of Famni Lavalas who makes no compromise but just the opposite...



As for the conclusions of the verifications they are totally different depending if we listening to the complainants or the PHTK. Thus on the 27 PV submitted Tuesday by Moise Jean-Charles of "Pitit Dessalin" the PHTK sees only 6 of incorrect while "Ptiti Dessalin" sees 18...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19579-haiti-elections-the-verification-of-the-pv-has-begun-not-near-to-be-finished.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping politics...





Me Andre Michel, ready to congratulate Jovenel Moise...

Me Andre Michel, lawyer of candidate Jude Celestin (LAPEH), said he is ready to congratulate Jovenel Moise (PHTK). "If Jovenel Moise won the elections well, we will congratulate him, but if it is proven that indeed there are frauds, tricks, manipulations, we will have to necessary to seek the author of these tricks, frauds while applying the electoral law."



Fanmi Lavalas dissatisfied

The Nippes Senator Nenel Cassy (Fanmi Lavalas) considers insufficient, the sample of 12% of the minutes to be randomly chosen to the CTV, specifying that such an approach will not allow Fanmi Lavalas to shed light on The electoral process, because there were more frauds and irregularities in the elections on 20 November than in 2015.



Escape of Gonaives, recklessness and negligence

Wednesday in press conference, Commissioner Marc Wilkens Jean, spokesperson of the General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti (IHPNH) acknowledged that the escape from the prison of Gonaives https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19572-haiti-flash-7-detainees-escape-from-prison-of-gonaives.html was due to the recklessness and negligence of the guards and confirmed that an administrative investigation had been opened at the IGPNH.



The Deputy Bodeau calls for negotiation

"[...] it is time to acknowledge the victory of the candidate elected in the first round. The ruling team can not afford the luxury of not passing power to the President-elect on February 7, 2017 [...] The sleight-of-hand in CTV can not under any circumstances alter or invalidate the popular vote. It is no longer a time for protest. True negotiations on public policies and the formation of an inclusive government aimed at improving the living conditions of the people must begin without delay," declared Deputy Gary Bodeau in an opinion note.



Day of traditional music to BNE

This Thursday, the National Bureau of Ethnology (BNE) organizes a day of reflection on the economy of traditional music together with Caracoli, Wallonia-Brussels Internationale (WBI) and the house of Creation. This activity will be held in the BNE Multi-Purpose Room throughout the day.



New President for CCIHC

At its 14th Ordinary General Assembly, the Haitian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIHC) elected a new Board of Directors. Claude Martin Jr, was elected President of the Board and President of the CCIHC.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Flaten Art Museum (FAM) in St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minnesota), run by Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is showcasing drawings exploring Hindu temple of Angkor Wat (Cambodia), built in the first half of 12th century dedicated to Shri Vishnu.

These drawings are part of exhibition titled Anastylosis Project, which will continue till January 22.

The expansive drawings by Art Professor Mary Griep examine Angkor Wat, said to be the largest religious monument in the world. Anastylosis, according to Museum release, refers to the practice of restoring a monument by dismantling and rebuilding the structure using the original methods and materials as closely as possible.

Commending FAM for exhibiting renowned Hindu temple drawings, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that art had a long and rich tradition in Hinduism and ancient Sanskrit literature talked about religious paintings of deities on wood or cloth.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged major art museums of the world, including Musee du Louvre and Musee dOrsay of Paris, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Los Angeles Getty Center, Uffizi Gallery of Florence (Italy), Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Modern of London, Prado Museum of Madrid, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, etc., to frequently organize Hindu art focused exhibitions, thus sharing the rich Hindu art heritage with the rest of the world.

St. Olaf College with a 300-acre campus, claimed to be one of the nations leading liberal arts colleges and founded in 1874 by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants, offers majors in 39 disciplines. With students from 50 US states and 80 foreign countries, its Mission Statement includes examine faith and values. Flaten Art Museum has over 4,000 artifacts from around the world. Larry Stranghoener, David R. Anderson and Jane Becker Nelson are Board of Regents Chair, President and Museum Director respectively.

Source : From Our Correspondent
The Christmas revelry will conclude with Midnight Mass on December 25, 2016.

Thousands of devotees will be congregating at various Churches for prayers.

Major concentrations of devotes will be in New Delhi District.

The main churches are Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gol Dak Khana, Free Church, 10 Sansad Marg, The Cathedral Church of the Redemption, Church Road of New Delhi District witnessing heavy congregation of devotees.

Traffic will remain heavy around Gol Dak Khana at following locations from 11:00 PM on December 24 till 6:00 AM on December 25 and mid-night of December 25.

People are advised to avoid the following stretches from 11:00 PM of December 24 to December 25 Midnight.

Traffic coming from Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) to Gol Dak Khana from round about RML.

From Bhai Veer Singh Marg to Kali Bari T Point towards Gol Dak Khana.

From Patel Chowk on Ashoka road towards Gol Dak Khana.

Traffic coming from Outer Circle Connaught Place towards Gol Dak Khana on Baba Kharak Singh Marg.

Parking of vehicles for Christmas celebrations will be at the following places. They are- Pandit Pant Marg single lane both sides, Jai Singh Road single lane both sides, Church Road single lane.

All other roads leading towards New Delhi Railway Station and adjoining areas will remain open for general public.

People are advised to use metro and public transport to reach Connaught Place and the above mentioned areas.
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The ratings agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the Bahamas' debt to 'junk' status.

The agency cited weakened economic growth due to hurricanes and high debt levels. The downgrade makes borrowing more expensive for the Bahaman government."Caribbean islands are at the forefront of an escalating global debt crisis," said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development coalition Jubilee USA. LeCompte works with religious leaders to solve debt crises on several Caribbean islands, including Grenada and Puerto Rico. "Frequent hurricanes, unpredictable tourism revenues, high poverty levels and unsustainable debt levels make up a recipe for financial crisis."Although many Caribbean nations are at high risk of debt crisis, only Haiti is classified as "low-income" and thus eligible for traditional debt relief initiatives from international financial institutions. Grenada's debt is 94% of the size of its economy and its poverty rate is 37%. Grenada's religious leaders, Jubilee USA and regional partners won over $100 million in debt relief in 2015 restructuring agreements between Grenada's government and its creditors. The agreements additionally included a "hurricane clause" to delay debt payments in the event of a major storm. Consecutive hurricanes in 2004-2005 caused damage equal to twice the size of Grenada's economy. The Bahamas' public debt rose 30% in the past four years and its poverty rate rose by one third over the past fifteen years."The Bahamas is another Caribbean example for why we need processes to resolve financial crisis," noted LeCompte, who serves on UN expert groups on debt and finance. "The Bahamas is the latest small island to face these challenges, but it won't be the last."Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 75 US organizations and 650 faith communities working with 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee USA builds an economy that serves, protects and promotes the participation of the most vulnerable. Jubilee USA wins critical global financial reforms and won more than $130 billion in debt relief to benefit the world's poorest people. http://www.jubileeusa.org
European banks struggled to make gains on Thursday as investors digested the prospect of a state bailout for struggling Italian lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS).

The FTSE 100 was trading lower by 0.1% at around 7,034 points, dragged down by the likes of Barclays, which was down 0.6%, and Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC which were each down 0.3%.

The banking sector was feeling the knock-on effects of a rollercoaster ride in BMPS shares, which were suspended after plunging 6% following the market opening, but were trading higher by 2.5% hours later.

The world's oldest bank saw its shares plunge 17% a day earlier after warning it could run out of cash within four months if it failed to secure fresh capital.

But Italian legislators have since approved a 20 billion euro (16.9 billion) rescue plan for some of the country's weakest banks, including BMPS

Connor Campbell, a financial analyst at SpreadEx, said the bank was "rapidly running out of time" to raise the 5 billion euros (4.2 billion) it "desperately needs".

"It's only managed 2 billion euros so far, with a key Qatari investor choosing not to invest a 1 billion euro chunk - it looks like MPS will be forced into a government bailout."

Italy's FTSE MIB was higher by 0.5%, while the French Cac 40 was up 0.1%, and the German Dax was flat.

Sterling dipped 0.35% to a two-week low against the euro at 1.180, and dropped 0.1% against the US dollar to 1.233.

That is despite slightly better-than-expected UK consumer confidence figures, with the GfK index coming in at minus 7 for December despite expectations for minus 9.

Meanwhile, the latest survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) showed that private sector growth hit a one-year high thanks to a pick-up in manufacturing activity, but warned of a "significant" slowdown in the year ahead.

In oil markets, Brent crude was down 0.2% at 54.30 US dollars (44.01) per barrel after data showed that US crude inventories rose more than expected last week.

In UK stocks, London-listed Indian online fashion retailer Koovs fell 7.6% as the company reported a 9.1 million half-year loss compared with 5.7 million last year.

Koovs said the loss was expected as it continues to increase investment in marketing and technology.

Shares in HSS Hire rose 0.9% after the tool supplier said it would raise 13 million through a share sale to strengthen its balance sheet and fund investment.

The firm, which was forced to issue a profit warning last month, is in the middle of a transformation programme which will see the integration of a new national distribution and engineering centre.
A court in Argentina has indicted pop star Justin Bieber for allegedly sending his bodyguards to beat up a photographer in Buenos Aires three years ago.

Court clerk Soledad Nieto confirmed the decision, saying Judge Alberto Banos did not issue an arrest warrant.
Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty has put her position in jeopardy by saying she will back anti-pylon protesters in any civil disobedience measures taken to prevent the new north-south electricity inter-connector, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith, Irish Examiner Political Correspondent.

The Fine Gael TD made the claim yesterday after opposition party anger over An Bord Pleanalas approval of EirGrids plans to build the pylons on the border and her own constituency.

The long-stated plans are now set to become reality, and over the coming months EirGrid will build up to 300 pylons in Meath, Cavan, and Monaghan as part of a system that will run from Batterstown in Meath to Turleenan, Co Tyrone.

The system is said to be needed in order to improve Irelands electricity system and save the State money.

It was objected to by more than 200 local farmers and landowners, with many raising serious but disputed concerns over the impact the constructions will have on the health of people nearby  mirroring previous concerns raised by communities in other parts of the country.

In response to the An Bord Pleanala decision, Ms Doherty, a TD for Meath East, said she is deeply opposed to the move.

Despite her high-profile position as the Governments de-facto rule enforcer on coalition TDs, she said she will support any anti-pylon protesters who breach the law and take part in civil disobedience in order to prevent the constructions from being built.

I am deeply disappointed but not surprised by the An Bord Pleanala decision. I am particularly disappointed by the treatment by EirGrid of the people of Cavan, Meath, and Monaghan.

We are about to enter into a phase of civil disobedience to hamper the decision made by An Bord Pleanala and I fully support the landowners and farmers in that action.

In terms of my decision in government, I have one last chance to work to get this decision overturned and I am going to remain in government to use that chance,  she said in a statement to RTE Radios Morning Ireland programme.

While the comments are likely to lead to a sustaining of local support in her constituency  an area which is also represented by Fianna Fails Thomas Byrne and Sinn Feins Peadar Toibin, both of whom are strongly opposed to pylons  it is expected to damage wider government attempts to insist coalition TDs are not putting parish pump politics before national needs.

They are also expected to put fresh pressure on Ms Doherty over whether she can remain as the Governments chief whip.

Fine Gael senator Ray Butler yesterday defended Ms Dohertys comments, saying at least she hasnt backed down.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny noted that while the An Bord Pleanala decision is independent, it must still undergo a judicial review.

This story first appeared in the Read More: Irish Examiner.
It comes as the UK yesterday announced a further multimillion-pound spend to ensure rural areas in Britain tap into high-speed broadband.

Negotiations are ongoing as to who wins the contract to be the National Broadband Plan provider with three bidders in the running: Eir, enet, and Siro, a joint venture between Vodafone and the ESB.

It was thought that a provider may be chosen by mid-2017, but those close to the bidding process say that timeline may now be ambitious.

The National Broadband Plan is a Government policy which aims to deliver high-speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland within five years of being rolled out.

As far back as 2011, a broadband commitment was included in the programme for government, with the aim of having 90% of homes and businesses equipped with broadband by the end of last year.

Fianna Fail communications spokesman Timmy Dooley slammed the delay. Full rollout was supposed to be completed by 2015. That deadline has come and gone, and delay after delay has ensured that public confidence in the plan is at an incredibly low level, he said.

A spokesman for Eir said the company would plough on with plans to equip rural homes with 300,000 fibre-to-the-home services, mostly in rural areas, even as negotiations continued.

He said: The process means we are precluded from talking about specifics but we do want to get going as soon as possible if selected. However, the National Broadband Plan is not stopping us investing in rural communities immediately.

A department spokesperson said it was the intention to identify the preferred bidder by the end of 2017.

Meanwhile, Britain will spend 440m (474m) to roll out superfast broadband to 600,000 extra homes and businesses in rural areas that suffer from poor coverage.

In a bid to boost the economy during Britains negotiations to leave the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has targeted faster broadband networks, particularly in rural areas.

The new cash will come from funds returned by BT after strong take-up in the first phase of a programme to improve connections, said the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport.

The UK has provided 1.7bn to help boost broadband speeds in remote parts of the country where it is not profitable for commercial providers to invest alone.

It said more than 1.5m homes and businesses had signed up for superfast broadband under the scheme, enabling it to claw back 292m of funding from BT.

Extra money would come from savings across the 44 projects in the first phase of the rollout.

Culture secretary Karen Bradley said people in rural areas need to sign-up to the scheme to unlock extra funding.

Consumers get a better service, it encourages providers to invest, and when more people sign up in broadband delivery UK areas, money is clawed back to pay for more connections, she said.
A senior counsel lawyer acting on behalf of some of the people sleeping at the former Department of Social Protection building made the call for action yesterday, despite Department of Finance officials noting that any Apollo House issues remain a matter for the receiver, Mazars.

Speaking on RTE Radios Morning Ireland programme 24 hours after the High Court said up to 40 homeless people illegally occupying Apollo House in Dublins city centre can remain at the site until noon on January 11, Ross Maguire, a senior counsel acting on behalf of four of the individuals, said that while the reprieve is welcome, it does not go far enough.

Calling for immediate intervention by the Government, Mr Maguire said Mr Noonan should use powers under the Nama Act to instruct the State property group to make buildings available to fight the ongoing homelessness crisis.

Michael Noonan

In a bid to force through the high-profile move, he said the Home Sweet Home campaign, fronted by musicians Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey, and which also includes Right2Water member Brendan Ogle, would be writing to Mr Noonan by last night to call for the move to take place.

The request will be made to the minister to instruct Nama to contribute direct assistance, said Mr Maguire.

This has to be more than providing a space on the floor.

Mr Maguire added that the Nama act specifically allows for Mr Noonan to issue such a demand.

Asked about previous Nama suggestions that local councils, and not the State property group, have delayed buildings being used as homeless shelters in the past, Mr Maguire said that this was because theres never been a direction by the minister.

When you actually look at what they are providing, its not good enough, he said. When you look at what they plan to replace [Apollo House] with, its a big glass tower with Dolce & Gabbana shops. Beautiful, but thats strange when you juxtapose it with people with nowhere to go. It has to be more than a mat on the floor.

While the Department of Finance had yet to receive any correspondence from the Home Sweet Home campaign by last night, it is understood the department believes any Apollo House issues should be directed to the receiver, Mazars, which is looking after the case.

Apollo House

Meanwhile, the deputy chief executive of Dublin City Council has said that while he admires the Home Sweet Home campaign, the reality is that Apollo House is not acceptable accommodation for people in need.

Despite campaigners stressing that public liability insurance will not run out on the building until January 16  meaning there will be no financial risk posed by accidents or fires  senior council official Brendan Kenny said doubts remain about the safety of people at the site.

He said the council and Government are very, very close to breaking the back of the homelessness crisis, and stressed that he remains concerned if people are left there [Apollo House] over Christmas.
The Fine Gael TD made the claim yesterday after opposition party anger over An Bord Pleanalas approval of EirGrids plans to build the pylons on the border and her own constituency.

The long-stated plans are now set to become reality, and over the coming months EirGrid will build up to 300 pylons in Meath, Cavan, and Monaghan as part of a system that will run from Batterstown in Meath to Turleenan, Co Tyrone.

The system is said to be needed in order to improve Irelands electricity system and save the State money.

It was objected to by more than 200 local farmers and landowners, with many raising serious but disputed concerns over the impact the constructions will have on the health of people nearby  mirroring previous concerns raised by communities in other parts of the country.

In response to the An Bord Pleanala decision, Ms Doherty, a TD for Meath East, said she is deeply opposed to the move.

Despite her high-profile position as the Governments de-facto rule enforcer on coalition TDs, she said she will support any anti-pylon protesters who breach the law and take part in civil disobedience in order to prevent the constructions from being built.

Regina Doherty

I am deeply disappointed but not surprised by the An Bord Pleanala decision. I am particularly disappointed by the treatment by EirGrid of the people of Cavan, Meath, and Monaghan.

We are about to enter into a phase of civil disobedience to hamper the decision made by An Bord Pleanala and I fully support the landowners and farmers in that action.

In terms of my decision in government, I have one last chance to work to get this decision overturned and I am going to remain in government to use that chance,  she said in a statement to RTE Radios Morning Ireland programme.

While the comments are likely to lead to a sustaining of local support in her constituency  an area which is also represented by Fianna Fails Thomas Byrne and Sinn Feins Peadar Toibin, both of whom are strongly opposed to pylons  it is expected to damage wider government attempts to insist coalition TDs are not putting parish pump politics before national needs.

They are also expected to put fresh pressure on Ms Doherty over whether she can remain as the Governments chief whip.

Fine Gael senator Ray Butler yesterday defended Ms Dohertys comments, saying at least she hasnt backed down.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny noted that while the An Bord Pleanala decision is independent, it must still undergo a judicial review.
By Oh Young-jin





The ongoing Choi Soon-sil scandal is a typical Korean saga but with a star cast  President Park Geun-hye, her friend Choi and chaebol.

One common thread that ties them together is family or, more exactly an attempt to preserve or promote their family interests or traditions at whatever cost. In a way, it is close to a DNA-controlled survival instinct.

In Park's case, being unmarried with no children was part of her appeal to voters during her campaign four-plus years ago.

Back then, choosing her was looked upon as a wise decision based on time-honored, painful lessons.

With few exceptions, Korean presidents have been tainted with corruption and influence-peddling involving family members one way or another.

Lee Myung-bak, Park's immediate predecessor, lost much of his political capital from irregularities involving his older brother, Lee Sang-deuk. The latter was thrown into jail in 2012 for receiving illegal political funds, the first time for a brother of the incumbent head of state to be arrested and imprisoned. He served out a 14-month prison term and paid a significant fine.

Late former President Roh Moo-hyun was hit by a series of escapades by his elder brother Roh Geon-pyeong, who was for one convicted of receiving 30 million won from Nam Sang-guk to help him retain his job as CEO of Daewoo Construction and Engineering. Roh criticized Nam for cajoling his brother during a televised news conference, prompting him to kill himself. Then, Geon-pyeong got a suspended term but later was jailed for another bribery conviction on a larger scale influence-peddling conviction.

The bad news for the late President Kim Dae-jung, known by his initials DJ, was his three sons. Especially, Kim had to apologize repeatedly for his third son, Hong-gul, who he had from his second marriage to Lee Hoi-ho, his political comrade for life. Hong-gul received a suspended two-year sentence for receiving millions of dollars in an influence-peddling case.

DJ's political rival and predecessor, Kim Young-sam or YS, also had a problem child  his second son, Hyun-chul, who was sentenced to two years for influence peddling and tax evasion. At the time it was said that people would have to talk to him to get a job done in the YS administration.

Chun Doo-hwan had a trouble bother who also peddled influence extensively. But for Chun and his coup mate, Roh Tae-woo, they themselves were big illegal crime enterprises  extorting money from chaebol and filling important posts with their favorites.

In that sense, they resembled Park Chung-hee  the father of the incumbent  whose path they followed more or less.

Then Army Major General Park Chung-hee staged the May 16, 1961, coup, and controlled the nation for the next 20 years, channeling all the scarce national resources to a few businesses who grew to be chaebol in an example of crony capitalism.

Electing Park Geun-hye, the people wanted to avoid the family trouble that befell DJ and YS and by extension Lee and Roh, considering she was not on good terms with her siblings. The irony is that few expected her to be a case of political atavism  bucking the trend, going back on the family tree and imitating her father.

Choi, a co-protagonist in the scandal, is often talked about as a Rasputin-like evil influence or faithful girl eunuch with the focus being her father, Choi Tae-min, who was said to have put the young Park under his spell. But the real deal for Choi is her doting affection for Chung Yoo-ra who she gave birth to at the age of 40. Allegations have it that Choi pressed Samsung Group to buy the 20-year-old equestrian dressage rider a horse worth 3 billion won with the entire package amounting to 22 billion won. Samsung claimed that this was for the equestrian team including Chung. Choi reportedly sought the help of her friend, the President, to sack officials for giving Chung low marks in a competition and pressed Ewha Womans University to admit her.

Maybe, Choi wanted to secure her daughter a life free from the strain she had as the daughter of a charlatan father who transformed from a shaman to a monk to a reverend. Alas, her misguided devotion backfired  her daughter had a shotgun marriage after she got pregnant by a man who she thought to be undesirable. Efforts are under way to extradite Chung from Germany where she is believed to be staying.

Finally, chaebol heads including Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong; Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-ku, LG Chairman Koo Bon-moo and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won were paraded before a nationally televised National Assembly hearing. They "donated" millions of dollars to two foundations that were run by Choi. As descendants of Korea Inc.'s founding fathers who collaborated with the incumbent President's father, they are programmed to succeed their fathers, uphold their businesses and pass them down to the next generations.

Does breaking down family ties heal the Korean illness, captured by the Choi scandal, that the nation remains corrupt to its core despite so many changes in appearance?

The family ties go opposite directions  the positive side providing a rallying point to achieve a common goal, while the negative being from the remnants of old Confucian tribalism that identifies an individual's interest with the family or a certain group with their flaws often looked away from.

The two are comparable to a conjoined twin so an attempt to separate the good from the bad carries fatal risks. Would we as a nation be willing to go for it? It may take a repetition of the Choi-gate scandal before becoming desperate enough.

Oh Young-jin is The Korea Times' chief editorial writer. Contact foolsdie5@ktimes.com or foolsdie@gmail.com.
Income Tax officials have found several suspicious transactions running into crores of rupees from about 10 bank accounts maintained at New Delhi's Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

By Shivendra Srivastava: In a clean-up drive, the Income Tax officials have found several fake accounts at a Kotak Mahindra Bank branch in New Delhi.

The IT officials carried out a search at the Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch of the Kotak Mahindra Bank on Friday while working on the leads exacted from some of the Axis Bank accounts that were under the scanner.

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Earlier, the IT officials found several Axis Bank accounts indulging in suspicious transactions.

READ| Axis Bank branch raided in Ahmedabad, Rs 89 crore transactions under scanner

How it unfolded The Income Tax officials found a connection between some of the Axis Bank accounts, currently under examination on the suspicion of illegal transactions or malpractices, and Kotak Mahindra Bank accounts. The Kotak Mahindra Bank accounts are being operated from the Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch. During the search, IT officials discovered several fake bank accounts at the Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch of Kotak Mahindra Bank. In one case, Rs 36.4 crore was deposited in the bank account of one Radhika James' company. This money was, later, transferred to the bank account of NC Jewellers in the Axis Bank. Upon investigation, IT department found that the bank account of the NC Jewellers was fake. The IT officials found eight more suspicious account at the Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch of the Kotak Mahindra Bank. A total of Rs 32.25 crore was deposited in these accounts, maintained by two persons, identified as Raj Kumar and Ramesh Chand. All the eight bank accounts were opened in the name of fake companies. In order to transfer money to other accounts, the operators of the suspicious bank accounts got demand draft issued against fake or fictitious names. IT department has got those demand drafts frozen. Kotak Mahindra Bank's spokesperson Rohit Rao has confirmed the IT search on the Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch. "IT department visited Kotak Bank's branch at KG Marg in connection with survey on two of its customers and related accounts. No adverse report has been submitted to bank so far," Rohit Rao said. The bank has denied that the searched accounts were fake. "We are extending full co-operation to investigating agencies," Rohit maintained.

ALSO READ:

Axis Bank fake a/c scam: ED asks Mumbai jeweller how did he manage Rs 100 crore sales in 4 hours

WATCH THE VIDEO

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Providence, RI A Rhode Island man who received recalled abdominal mesh just prior to a product recall in 2005, will see his A Rhode Island man who received recalled abdominal mesh just prior to a product recall in 2005, will see his surgical mesh lawsuit go forward after a Rhode Island judge refused to dismiss the case.

According to court documents Wayne Smith received the Composix Kugel Hernia patch abdominal mesh for repair of a ventral hernia. Not long after surgery, according to documents, the plaintiff began experiencing severe abdominal pain, together with tenderness at the surgical site.As it turned out, the manufacturer of the abdominal mesh product, Davol Inc. (a subsidiary of C.R. Bard), triggered a series of recalls for its Composix Kugel mesh due to problems with the so-called memory ring used to deploy the patch inside the body by way of minimally-invasive surgery. Following several reports of the memory ring, which was made of plastic, splintering and migrating away from the surgical site  along with reports of intestinal fistulae, bowel perforation and in some cases, death  Davol recalled the mesh.The recall was classified, in December 2005 as a Class 1 recall, the highest level of recall observed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), given the risk of serious surgical mesh complications.Plaintiff Wayne Smith consulted his surgeon, who recommended the abdominal patch be removed. The explantation would have involved a second surgical procedure, within close proximity to the first.Smith subsequently filed a surgical mesh lawsuit against defendants Davol and C.R. Bard in Providence Superior Court citing violation of the Rhode Island Deceptive Trade Practices Act, strict product liability, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of warranty and failure to warn.Smiths mesh lawsuit further asserted that the abdominal mesh was defective at the point when it left Davols immediate control, as well as a claim that the mesh posed a serious threat to the consumer.Davol and C.R. Bard attempted to have the abdominal mesh lawsuit dismissed, asserting that Smiths claims failed to satisfy Rhode Island law. The judge in the case, Alice B. Gibney disagreed with the defendants, noting that in her view the plaintiffs claims satisfied Rhode Island law, and that there were sufficient grounds to support an allegation that a defect was the proximate cause of the mans injury.Judge Gibney issued her surgical mesh complications ruling November 28.The lawsuit is., Case No. PC-08-8307, in, Providence.
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Were excited to announce that metalbulletin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com.

A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving metals market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets.

Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials.

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Without understanding the very basics in economics this government announced that everything is black money. Black money is not a stock it's a flow. A note is exchanged atleast 10 times a day, Chidambaram said.

By India Today Web Desk: In a scathing remark, former finance minister P Chidambaram has said that the Modi government is confused about black money.

Chidamabaram said, "People who don't know the difference between black and white money are ruling the country. All white money is now labelled as black money."

"Without understanding the very basics in economics this government announced that everything is black money. Black money is not a stock it's a flow. A note is exchanged atleast 10 times a day," Chidambaram said.

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'MODI, JAITLEY SILENT ON FARMERS' LOSS'

Addressing a press conference, P Chidambaram said that farmers had suffered heavy losses post-demonetisation.

"Farmers lost crores of rupees because of this demonetisation and the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have not opened their mouth on this loss so far," Chidambaram said.

He further said that demonetisation "pushed India in the club of unstable economies like Zimbabwe, Libya and Venezuela."

'LOSS OF JOBS IN INDUSTRIES'

Chidambaram said that demonetisation has adversely affected industrial production leading to loss of jobs.

"All the industrial cities have shrunk to nothing because of this particular decision. Daily wage workers were left with nothing for 48 days without work," Chidambaram said.

"All the daily wage labourers are now dependent on Gurudwaras for their food. These people were forced to beg and this credit goes to this government," the former finance minister charged.

Also read | New restrictions are 'desperate' steps of 'desperate' govt, says Chidambaram

He said about 15 crore people are employed in unorganized sector and about 30 crore are self-employed in India. All of them have been left in lurch for 48 days by demonetisation decision of the government, Chidambaram said.

Eleven crore people have stood in the queues so far leaving daily jobs and just calculate the losses it made, the Congress leader said.

QUESTIONS RBI ON U-TURNS

Chidamabaram also hit out at the Reserve Bank of India, saying that the banking regulator made too many U-turns adding to the chaos after demonetisation.

"On November 8, Prime Minister Modi said that cash could be deposited till December 30. But, it was overturned by the RBI and, then the Finance Minister jumps in and says that you can deposit cash as usual," Chidambaram said adding, "It's a shame for RBI to take reverse steps on their own decisions."

Chidambaram said that the previous UPA government worked on providing cash to people across the length and breadth of the country while the present dispensation did the reverse.

Also read | Also read | Demonetisation a case of khoda pahaad, nikli chuhiya: 10 not-to-be-missed P Chidambaram quotes

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"Before 2005 there were 17,000 ATMs in the country and in 2014 when we left, there were 2 lakh ATMs. Now, more than half of them doesn't have cash," said Chidambaram.

Chidambaram further said, "How come Prime Minister and Finance Minister lying shamelessly that they have enough cash in the banks and ATMs and everything will be back to normalcy from 30th December?"

There are banners with Modi everywhere saying "Aapka Paisa surakshit hai", but "this pain will not get over even after 8 months," Chidamabram said.

Chidamabram further claimed that PM Modi did not consult the RBI or the council of ministers before announcing demonetisation of high value currency notes.

"It's bad and bogus argument by the government stating that the RBI was duly consulted. All cabinet ministers were held hostage inside the parliament till Modi made the announcement," Chidambaram said.

Also read | Chidambaram to India Today: Demonisation of cash, not demonetisation of currency

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Lawyer, TV Personality and Philanthropist, Sandra Ankobiah has donated various items to the SOS Children's Village in Tema.

The items range from beverages, to confectionaries, to toiletries.

Sandra who was accompanied to the facility by her mother, said the spirit of giving during Christmas encouraged her to make the donation.

The fashion icon made a similar donation to the facility in December of 2013.

Ahead of Ghana's general on December 7, the ex-host of Fashion 101 also embarked on a nationwide civic education campaign dubbed First Time Voters Project to educate young people who were voting for the first time as part of efforts to impact to society.
This years edition of the Calabar Carnival in Nigeria, the biggest street carnival in the West African sub-region, is set to attract millions of people from over 30 countries across the globe.

Countries expected to participate include Ghana, Brazil, Ukraine, China, Italy, Spain, Kenya, among others.

Ghanas contingent to the carnival will be from the tourism sector and some media personnel are also expected to attend the event to give coverage.

This year's carnival which is on the theme 'Climate Change' is also expected to attract 30 beauty queens from African countries.

Some of the activities to take place include Calabar's got talent, Christmas carnival, youth carnival, international carnival segment, international artist performance, Tinapa family Christmas, street party, cultural parade and African food digest.

A host of Nigerian and international musicians are billed to perform at this years event as well.

History

In 2004, former governor of Cross River, Donald Duke, proposed to make his state the hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria.

To this effect, Calabar Carnival Festival'Africa's Biggest Street Party'was initiated.

The vision was envisaged to make the state the number one tourism destination for Nigerians and tourists all over the world.

BY Cephas Larbi

[email protected]


Turning Point Pictures has scheduled a Ghana release of its critically acclaimed film, 'Like Cotton Twines' on December 25 at Ho in the Volta Region.

The film which won Best Picture at the 2016 Ghana Movie Awards shines light on Trokosi, a religious form that enslaves women in a shrine, practised in the Volta Region.

According to the director Leila Djansi, premiering in the Volta Region will allow the message of the film get to the intended persons; leaders and women of the Volta Region.

It is loaning my voice to women, not only in the Volta Region but all over Ghana and the world. We want to tell ourselves that education is a powerful tool for advancement and change. Education in a four walled classroom is essential, not everyone has that, so skill acquisition which also provides income, financial independence. An independent woman is a powerful woman, a woman who can stand up for herself and her children, Leila Djansi said.

'Like Cotton Twines' tells the story of Micah, an American volunteer who takes a teaching job in a remote town of the Volta Region. He encounters Tuigi, his 14-year-old student who is to become Trokosi to atone for her father's crime. Micah begins the arduous task of fighting church and state to free Tuigi from this cruel fate.

Luckie Lawson who plays Tuigi's mother in the film added that if the mother had a voice, social and financial independence, she could have saved her daughter- a poignant reason why women should not be trapped by rules of culture and society.

The film will premiere at the GNAT Hall, Ho on December 25, 2016 at 6:00pm prompt.

Tickets are on sale for GH10 and stars expected to attend the event are Luckie Lawson, David Dontoh, Adjetey Annang, Mawuli Semevo, among others.

'Like Cotton Twines' stars Jay Ellis, Ophelia Dzidzornu, Miranda Bailey, Yvonne Okoro, David Dontoh, Luckie Lawson and Mawuli Semevo.

The very successful film has travelled industry festivals around the world and won the Best Narrative Feature at the Savannah Film Festival.

The film supports international needs, a religious organisation that frees women from Trokosi and enrols them in institutions for skill acquisition in Adidome in the Volta Region.
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United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council will vote Friday on whether to impose an arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan, but diplomats said they expected the measure to fail.

The council will meet at 9:30 am (1430 GMT) to decide on the US-drafted resolution calling for a one-year ban on weapons sales to the war-torn country.

The United States, backed by Britain and France, has argued that cutting off the arms flow was urgently needed following UN warnings that the country faced the risk of mass atrocities.

Diplomats however said the measure fell short of the nine votes needed for adoption in the 15-member council.

Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and more importantly the three African council members -- Angola, Egypt and Senegal-- have all expressed serious reservations.

Under the proposed resolution, South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei would be put on a sanctions blacklist, subjected to an assets freeze and a global travel ban.

Japan, which has some 350 troops serving in the UN mission in South Sudan, has argued that the measures, if adopted, would antagonize President Salva Kiir's government and put peacekeepers' lives at risk.

Opponents of the sanctions point to the Kiir's call earlier this month for a national dialogue to restore peace, saying that initiative must be given a chance.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is backing 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," Ban told the council on Monday.

The draft resolution provides for a one-year ban on the "supply, sale or transfer" of "arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment" as well as spare parts.

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.
Kinshasa (AFP) - Hopes rose Thursday for a deal aimed at ending a dangerous crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a source with the Catholic church, which is overseeing the talks in the capital Kinshasa.

"We are going to wrap up tonight," the source said.

The talks are being presided by the Congo National Episcopal Conference, CENCO, which has previously urged a conclusion by Christmas.

"The agreement has to be signed tomorrow because the bishops have to be in their dioceses by Saturday at the latest," the source said, referring to Christmas Eve.

The central African country of 70 million people has been thrust into a potentially explosive crisis over the future of President Joseph Kabila.

Kabila, 45, has been been in office since his father Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001.

He was elected in 2006, and again in 2011, and his term in office officially ended on December 20.

In November, he cut a power-sharing deal, appointing fringe opposition politician Samy Badibanga as prime minister -- a move that would effectively extend his term to at least late 2017.

A working document being used at the talks, seen by AFP, sets out a plan for a "political transition" and the holding of presidential elections -- which should have been held this year -- in "late 2017."

A so-called national transition council would be set up to ensure the agreement is carried out.

Vast and resource-rich but poor and chronically unstable, DR Congo has never witnessed a democratic transfer of power following polls since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Two decades ago, the country collapsed into the deadliest conflict in modern African history.

Its two wars in the late 1990s and early 2000s dragged in at least six African armies and left more than three million dead. Its restive east remains a battleground for rival ethnic militia.

The deadline for Kabila's official departure from office unleashed clashes that have left between 56 and 104 people dead, according to divergent tolls.

Those figures do not include an attack that took place Tuesday in the central town of Kananga, for which the toll remains unclear.
By Priscilla S. Djentuh/ Theophania Dzadza, GNA

Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - Traders in jewellery and hair products at the Makola Market have expressed satisfaction with the increase in sales this festive season compared to that of previous years.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Madam Charlotte Quaye, a trader in jewellery, said business was booming and she was happy customers were patronising her products despite complaints about financial challenges.

Mr Thomas Asante, another jewellery dealer, said sales had increased rapidly this festive season as most men came to the shop with their wives and children to buy for them.

He expressed optimism that business would continue to blossom in the coming years.

The GNA also observed that customers were buying more of hair products during its market survey.

According to Abena Osei, a trader in hair products, some of the customers bought in bulk or retail according to their needs and expressed optimism of making a fortune from her sales this season.

Meanwhile Mr Larwe King of T. Chandirams and Company Ghana Limited, who deals in plastics materials including chairs, laundry baskets, hair rollers, ice cooler and bowls also expressed content about the sales.

Traders in shoes, bags and children's clothes also expressed fulfillment about better sales this season.

However, food stuff sellers especially in tomato were disappointed with the sales in the market saying though there were many people in the market they were not patronising the food stuffs.

Fredrick Abubakar, who deals in livestock, said business was better last year than this year because customers only asked for the price of the animals and moved on without buying.

'Others are asking for a far cheaper price which may reduce my capital base if granted,'' he added.

Mr Kwamena Kusi, a dealer in men's African wear, complained of low sales this year as compared to satisfactory sales in previous years.

GNA
22.12.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has instituted robust measures to fight the importation of fire crackers popularly known as 'knockout' which distract pubic peace during Christmas.

This was revealed by Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Director- General of Operations of the Ghana Police during the official launch of the force's security initiative dubbed: 'Operation Father Christmas 2016'.

He said the Police has observed that, despite the numerous initiatives championed to clear the products from the Ghanaian market, some traders were still importing and selling them.

'The police administration views this development with serious concern and will clamp down on any individual or group of persons who import and sell such fire crackers,' Mr Tetteh Yohuno said.

The initiative which was launched in Accra on Wednesday aims at ensuring public safety throughout the Christmas season.

GNA
By Alex Agyekum, GNA

Naswam (E/R), Dec 22, GNA - The GH800,000.00 Nsawam lorry terminal rehabilitation project to provide comfort for transport operators and travelers has been completed.

It was undertaken by the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly with funding from the World Bank.

Mr. Ben Ohene-Ayeh, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who performed the inaugural ceremony said there was now adequate space for the over 2,000 drivers and traders, operating at the terminal.

He spoke of plans to build offices for the transport associations and additional stores to accommodate more traders.

He applauded the contractors for completing the job ahead of schedule and the quality of job done.

Nana Otieku Baah II, Chairman of the Nsawam/Adoagyiri branch of Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), said the project was a dream come true and pledged to keep the place neat at all times.

GNA
By Daniel Akwasi Ashietey/Christopher Tetteh, GNA

Sunyani, Dec 22, GNA - Two men standing trial at the Sunyani District Court 'A' for setting the Fiapre toll booth on fire have been ordered to make their next appearance on January 09.

Mark Tetteh and Bismark Baafi have been charged with causing unlawful damage to state property and they both pleaded not guilty.

Tetteh, an assembly member, who is alleged to have led a mob to burn the booth immediately after the declaration of the presidential election results is on a GH100,000.00 bail with two sureties.

As part of his bail conditions, he was made to deposit an amount of GH10,000.00 with the court.

Baafi, on his part, has been granted bail in the sum of GH3,000.00 with two sureties by the court, presided over by Mr. Jojo Amoah Hagan.

Police Sergeant Seth Setorglo told the court that the complainant is a cashier of the Ghana Highways Authority.

On the day of the incident - December 09, at about 2100 hours, the accused together with other persons, now on the run, attacked the toll booth.

They brought with them three lorry tyres and a gallon of petrol with which they set the booth ablaze.

The prosecution said firefighters had to be called in to put out the fire and that Tetteh, voluntarily reported himself to the police, on hearing that he was being sought to assist in investigations.

GNA
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Drug firm Divis Laboratories plummeted over 21 per cent on bourses today following media reports on critical observations made by the US heath regulator about the companys Visakhapatnam plant.

On BSE, the stock ended the day at Rs 866.10, down 21.87 per cent from its previous close. After opening at Rs 1,101.05, it had nose-dived 25.91 per cent to hit 52-week low of Rs 821.35.

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Following decline in the counter, market capitalisation of the company fell by Rs 6,437.62 crore to Rs 22,992.23 crore.

On similar lines, the share plunged 20.80 per cent to settle at Rs 877.70 on NSE. It had opened at Rs 1,100.50 and dropped 27.71 per cent to its 52-week low of Rs 801.10.

On the volume front, over 1.45 crore shares of the company changed hands on the bourses.

Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) had made five observations after inspecting the manufacturing plant of Divis Laboratories at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

According to media reports, USFDA observed that proper control was not being exercised over the computer system at Divis Laboratories Visakhapatnam plant.

Besides, facility equipments were not maintained to ensure purity, quality and strength. The health regulator further observed that the documentation and records were not maintained or inaccurately falsified, media reports said.

In a response, Divis Laboratories said that it is not aware of any information that has not been announced to the exchanges which could explain the movement in trading. PTI VRN BAL

--- ENDS ---
22.12.2016 LISTEN

By Belinda Ayamgha

Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) would in 2017 take over the operations of the African Mining Legislation Atlas (AMLA,) a World Bank initiated project.

The project was initiated by the World Bank in collaboration with the African Legal Support Facility, the African Union, and partner universities, including the University of Ghana (UG) School of Law.

Ms Nneoma Veronica Nwogu, a Senior Counsel at the World Bank's Legal Vice Presidency, Africa and Middle East Practice Group, told the GNA at the close of the third Annual AMLA Workshop that the project was designed to be handed over to an African entity to ensure sustainability.

The ALSF would set up an AMLA Secretariat to work together with the Project Implementing Committee; an advisory body of African and global institutions with the technical skills to help guide the project to achieve its vision.

Ms. Nwogu said the transition, which began in June 2016, is expected to lead to a final handover of the project in June 2017.

She emphasised the importance of the project, which aims to build local legal capacity in Africa, especially for specialised areas of the mining sector, saying it was important to have cohort of skilled lawyers who could take on the challenge as experts in areas such as governance, rule of law, monitoring and implementation of contracts, as well as drafting of mining laws.

The 10-day intensive-training, brought together young lawyers from various countries on the continent.

Participants went through theoretical training, covering issues - from human rights to overview of mining laws - and stages to fiscal regimes, climate change issues, as well as practical exercises.

Best performers from the workshops would be selected to join the Legal Research Team to host all of Africa's mining laws in an easily accessible way to enable countries to compare their mining laws with others.

'We want to create a continental cohort, we want to create people who understand not just their laws but also the laws of other countries so that it can influence how they are able to solve national problems, by understanding the continental context,' she stated.

Mrs Fatima Haram Acyl, the African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry, said the AU was interested in ensuring the availability of a reliable database on African resources, thus its collaboration with the World Bank on the AMLA project.

She said the database development by the Legal Research Team would allow African countries to compare their data, such as performance of fiscal regimes, with those of other countries, in order to curb the problem of the 'race to the bottom', which is a competition among African countries that leads to them giving out tax incentives.

She added that the project was also important to the AU, as it built the capacity of Africa's human resource, through the training workshops. 'It's a very programme and we need to make that we move ahead with it and multiply it,' she said.

Mr. Thierno Olory-Togbe, a Senior Legal Counsel with the ALSF, said the ALSF would ensure the successful implementation of the project to the next level, using the project's five-year action plan.

'We will continue to concentrate on the students and building capacity of future legal experts in Africa, but we will also raise awareness of the programme around Africa for legal and non-legal experts,' he said.

Dr. Abdul-Baasit Aziz Bamba, a Lecturer in Law at the UG School of Law, said the School was happy to be selected to host this year's workshop.

He said Ghana's mining sector would benefit from the database by sharing in the knowledge in order to develop tailored solutions to mining problems.

'For me, the key thing is building the capacity of our students to become experts in mining; that is what has been lacking as a country,' she said.

'We need young students to be interested in issues of mining because they are our future generation who will ensure the country benefits from our mineral resources.'

GNA
Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - The Parent-Teacher Association of Christ the King International School is providing a multi-purpose wash room at the cost of GHE500,000.00 to give the school a new facelift.

The project which is expected to be completed by next year, is being financed through voluntary contributions and fundraising activities.

Mr Godwin Asianab, President of the association disclosed this at the Association's Annual Get-Together in Accra.

He said the Association had been able to complete many projects including the provision of the Girls' washroom.

Mr Asianab said the association would also construct a two-storey building for the school to enable it run a three-stream and the upgrading of the Kindergarten Department.

He appealed to the members to contribute meaningfully to enable the association to complete the project on time.

Mrs Veronica Laryea, Headmistress of the school commended the Association for providing the facilities and appealed to them to provide the school with a sick bay.

Mrs Laryea also appealed to parents to take active interest in the education of their children so that they would grow to become useful citizens.

She charged the students to be discipline and take their studies seriously to enable them to achieve their aims. GNA
By Joyce Danso, GNA

Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - A 56-year old prophet, David Holland, accused of having sex with a 24-year old imbecile on two occasions at Mataheko in Accra, on Thursday, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Holland has pleaded not guilty to the charge of having carnal knowledge of a mentally challenged female.

He was, however, admitted to bail in the sum of GHE30,000.00 with four sureties to reappear on January 19.

Holland's counsel, Mr Andy Vortia, prayed the Court to admit his client to bail as an accused person was presumed innocent until he had been proven guilty by the Court.

Prosecuting Detective Inspector Kofi Atimbire did not raise an objection to the request but left the issue to the Court's discretion.

The fact as narrated by the prosecutor was that the complainant was the victim's mother, who lived with the victim at Latebiokoshie, while the accused lived at a suburb of Mataheko, known as 'One plus One'.

According to the prosecutor, the victim was an apprentice, and she usually passed in front of the house of Holland to work.

On December 5, this year, at about 0700 hours, he said, the accused person saw the victim on her usual routine so he invited her into his room to offer her a parcel.

The Prosecution said Holland took advantage of the victim and had sex with her and warned her not tell anyone.

The following day, the prosecution said, in the evening after the close of work, the accused again lured the victim into his room and had sex with her.

The Prosecution said after the act, the accused person told the victim not to inform anyone else he would kill her.

Inspector Atimbire said the complainant got wind of the incident through a Good Samaritan so she reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Odorkor Police Station.

The victim was given a Police medical form to seek medical attention and when the medical report was issued it confirmed that the victim had been abused sexually, he said.

GNA
By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA

Kumasi, Dec 22, GNA - The Ashanti Young Business Executives Association (ASHYBEC-GH) has congratulated Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo on his election as the President.

This was contained in a statement issued in Kumasi and signed by its Secretary, Mr. Mustapha Ntim.

It said it was the prayer of the Association that 'God will grant you the wisdom to govern the nation successfully'.

The statement recognized the capabilities of the President-elect and his Vice, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and pledged to solidly behind their government.

It invited all Ghanaians to support the Akufo-Addo-led Administration, to push through its development agenda - build a robust economy to transform and make things better for everybody.

GNA
By Charles Tawiah, GNA

Juaben (Ash), Dec 22, GNA - A 58-year man caught with 6, 494.38 grams of marijuana, has been ordered by the Juaben Circuit Court to be held in prison custody.

Kwaku Adu, a native of Seikwa in the Brong-Ahafo Region, pleaded not guilty to the offence and would make his next appearance on January 09.

Police Chief Inspector Godwin Amudzi told the court, presided over by Mr Yussif Osei Asibey, that the accused was arrested on August 15, at Besease in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.

He indicated that the dried leaves had been packed in eight parcels and concealed in a bag.

The prosecution said the alertness of the police at Ejisu led to its seizure.

He said the accused in his caution statement admitted ownership of the drug adding that, sample sent for forensic laboratory examination proved that it was indeed marijuana.

GNA
22.12.2016 LISTEN

By Benjamin Akoto, GNA

Akyem-Masse (E/R), Dec 22, GNA - The United States (US) Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Robert Jackson, has given high marks to the Peace Corps for the immeasurable service to humanity and urged them to continue to work diligently to touch more lives.

They should positively impact the lives of the people in areas they had volunteered to serve.

He was addressing 26 American volunteers in the country to provide free service in support of the growth of the agricultural sector.

They would be working with farmers in the areas of food crop and cashew farming, shea-butter and soap making, snail and animal rearing.

They would additionally expose the farmers to best business practices and record keeping.

Mr. Jackson reminded them to go the extra mile to build strong relationships and motivate the communities to accept change - new ideas to become more productive.

The expectation, he said, was that they would become effective agents of change to aid people in the communities to make optimal use of their resources.

Miss Carla Ellis, the Peace Corps Country Director, said their goal was to commit young American citizens to contribute to the development of the world.

She asked the volunteers to respect the culture and values of the host communities.

GNA
Accra, Dec 22, GNA - Groupe Ideal, a business group that manages a diverse portfolio of businesses, has held its Carols Service for staff of its subsidiaries to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and to reflect on God's goodness.

The service saw a tasty rendition of Christmas Carols from the Winneba Youth Choir, the Groupe Ideal Melodies and Harmonic Choir from TV Africa.

In an address by the Groupe President, Dr. Nii Kotei Djani, said good customer service would be the focus of operations next year.

He said the Groupe would want to see more value added to customers through seminars and education.

Dr Djani said the Groupe would also concentrate on capacity development and urged staff to take advantage of the opportunities that would be offered to upgrade themselves.

He thanked the staff for their contribution to the growth of the Company, despite the challenging economic environment and assured them of plans to enhance their welfare through a housing scheme and car policy to enable them to acquire their own homes and vehicles.

'Groupe Ideal has become stronger over the past year with 13 subsidiaries and counting, operating in diverse sectors making us better placed to serve our customers,' he said.

On the just ended election, Dr Djani urged Ghanaians to exercise patience for the new Government to implement its policies.

Rev. Dr Lawrence Tetteh, who gave words of exhortation, urged Ghanaians to seek the grace of God in all their actions because it was only through that would all things be made possible.

Groupe Ideal has a long-term vision of becoming a world class company. It operates in the areas of Investment Banking, Business Finance, Trade, Asset Management, Mining and Offshore Consultancy Services, Media, and Security Services.

The carols service was graced by some number dignitaries, including Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng, the President of the UT Group.

The subsidiaries under Groupe Ideal include Ideal Finance, FirstTrust Savings and Loans, and the newly rebranded TV Africa.

GNA
By Albert Futukpor

Tamale, Dec 22, GNA - A four-year project has begun to contribute towards the reduction in Maternal and Child mortality in the Savelugu Municipality, Nanumba North and Saboba Districts of the Northern Region.

The project focuses on three areas, including improving delivery of essential health services to mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five and the utilisation of essential health services by mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five.

The Promoting Maternal, Newborn, Infant and Child Sustainable Health Efforts (PROMISE) project is being implemented by the Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC), an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), with funding from Global Affairs Canada.

Madam Esenam Kavi, the Project Manager in-charge of PROMISE at CCFC, who gave details of the project at a media encounter in Tamale, said CCFC would work with health facilities in the beneficiary districts to ensure improved delivery of essential health services to mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

Madam Kavi said the Project would also focus on increasing consumption of nutritious foods and supplements by mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five.

She said the key strategies of the PROMISE project were 'Strengthening of the health system to improve the quality of care, coupled with the improvement of district and community level structures through capacity building and behaviour change communication'.

She added: 'PROMISE will directly and indirectly impact the lives of over 150,000 beneficiaries including children, women and men'.

Officials of CCFC later took journalists on a tour to visit one of its support projects, which is a health facility, being built to replace the old Wantugu Health Centre in the Tolon District.

However, work on the new health facility has stalled because of lack of funds.

Mr Yussif Issah Techie, a nurse at Wantugu Health Centre, appealed to authorities to the authorities to support the NGO to complete the new health centre on time to ensure improved health care delivery to residents.

Mr George Baiden, the Country Director of CCFC, spoke about some of CCFC's interventions this year, which included supporting seriously sick children to seek medical care; rescuing children from children labour and putting them back to school; skills training for some boys and girls to empower them economically to avoid child marriages, amongst others.

The project would end in 2020.

GNA
Gomoa Dawurampong, (C/R), Dec 22, GNA - Shareholders of the Akyempim Rural Bank have resolved unanimously to merge with the Gomoaman Community Bank as a result of bankruptcy.

Mr Alex Coffie, Interim Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, announced this at the 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the shareholders of the Bank at Gomoa Dawurampong.

He appealed to the shareholders to accept the resolution to join Gomoaman Community Bank with its headquarters at Apam to avoid facing consequences of withdrawing operational license by the Bank of Ghana(BOG).

According to the Interim Chairman, the hard decision was taken by the Board of Directors to merge with other sister banks following an emergency meeting convened by ARB APEX Bank with distressed banks in the Central region early this year.

He said it would attract investors also be able to meet the new capital requirement set out by the Bank of Ghana (BOG) by the end of 2017. The Board Chairman stated that one million Ghana Cedis Share capital required by BOG for every Rural and Community banks cannot by met due to current situation of the Bank.

It would be recalled that the old board Akyempim Rural Bank resigned en bloc per the directives from the ARB Apex Bank in August, 2015, for poor performance and negligent as directors of the Bank.

The Interim Chairman said the Bank of Ghana has warned that those Banks that were unable to meet the capital requirements shall have their licenses revoked.

Mr Coffie lamented that Akyempim Rural Bank could not boost of 50,000 Ghana Cedis share capital and it would be extremely difficult for shareholders to mobilize one million Ghana Cedis by end of the period given by Bank of Ghana.

He said the board was waiting for the completion of the merger processes initiated for the three banks Gomoa Rural Bank at Apam, Gomoa Ajumako Rural Bank at Gomoa Afransi and Eastern Gomoa Assin Rural Bank at Gomoa Dominase due to liquidity crisis.

The Interim Chairman said as reflected in 2015 accounts, the Bank's liquidity situation is so critical that it was unable to meet even 50 Ghana Cedis withdrawal demanded by a customer.

Mr Coffie said there was an urgent need for fresh injection of funds to resuscitate the bank so that depositors whose monies are locked up in the bank could be paid gradually to build confidence.

GNA
Worawora, Dec 22, GNA - A team of urologists from Germany and Ghana would from January 9 to January 28, 2017, attend to patients with urinary problems at the Worawora Government Hospital in the Biakoye District for a minimal fee.

The outreach, under the auspices of the Ghana Health Service and the Royal House Chapel, aims at bringing relief to patients with such conditions.

Dr Isaac Secorm, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, told the Ghana News Agency that the outreach was necessitated by the increasing number of patients who reported at the facility with such conditions, but were unable to pay for those services.

He said the token to be paid for at the outreach was for prescribed drugs.

Dr Secorm said the team would conduct urological operations on hernia, undescended testicles, prostate cancer and treat men with infertility problems and erectile malfunction.

He said patients with National Health Insurance cards could go with it to mitigate the cost of some tests and drugs.

GNA
US President-elect Donald Trump, in a tweet, called for US' nuclear expansion, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia needed to 'strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces.'

By Reuters: President-elect Donald Trump called for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities on Thursday, in a tweet that alarmed non-proliferation experts who said that a boost to the US arsenal could fuel global tensions.

In his Twitter post, Trump said, "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," but gave no further details.

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It was not clear what prompted his comment.

The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 22 December 2016

However, earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia needed to "strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces." Asked about the tweet, Trump spokesman Jason Miller later said Trump was "referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it - particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes."

ALSO READ | Donald Trump's mental stability questioned by top US psychiatrists

EXPERTS WORRIED, DOES TRUMP WANT TO BREACH LIMITS ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS?

Trump, who takes office on January 20, also has "emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength," spokesman Jason Miller said.

Miller told Reuters that Trump was not advocating the use of nuclear weapons, and said Trump's comments were not meant to be read as a new policy proposal.

Experts wondered whether Trump's brief tweet meant he wanted to breach limits imposed on US strategic weapons and delivery systems by the 2011 New START treaty with Russia - or planned to expand the non-deployed stockpile.

"It is completely irresponsible for the president-elect or the president to make changes to US nuclear policy in 140 characters and without understanding the implications of statements like 'expand the capacity,'" said Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, a leading proponent of arms control based in Washington.

"He must have leaders around the world trying to guess what he means," Kimball said in an interview. "This is bush league."

BEGINNING OF AN ARMS RACE? BOTH TRUMP, PUTIN WANT TO EXPAND NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Putin, who has said that Trump has confirmed to him that he is willing to mend ties between the two countries, also spoke on Thursday of the need to enhance Russia's nuclear arsenal.

"We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems," he said in a speech in Moscow.

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If Trump and Putin both want to expand nuclear weapons, that would effectively end arms control efforts underway since the Nixon administration, said Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a foundation that works to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons.

"This is how arms races begin - with a battle of words," Cirincione said, urging Trump, a real estate mogul, to "make the biggest deal of his life" and negotiate cuts to the nuclear arsenal with Russia.

"Neither side needs to be spending hundreds of billions of dollars on nuclear weapons we don't need," Cirincione said.

Also read: Donald Trump calls White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest a 'foolish guy'

'DONALD TRUMP'S TWEET FARCICAL'

The United States is one of five nuclear weapons states allowed to keep a nuclear arsenal under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The others are Russia, Britain, France and China.

Trump's "farcical" tweet failed to communicate a "rational deterrence policy" and risks fueling arms race dynamics with Russia and China, said Miles Pomper, senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Non-proliferation Studies.

The United States needs to do more to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands, rather than creating more materials, Pomper told Reuters.

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"Expanding our nuclear arsenal will do nothing to prevent nuclear proliferation or prevent nuclear terrorism. We have more than enough nuclear weapons as it is," Pomper said.

Also read: US President-elect Donald Trump accuses China of 'unpresidented' act, Twitterati trolls him for 'Freudian slip'

US' NUCLEAR ARSENAL

Trump, who was elected on November 8, campaigned on a platform of building up the US military but also pledged to cut taxes and control federal spending.

Most of the US arsenal was built between 25 and 62 years ago during the arms race with the former Soviet Union, and has been patched and otherwise refashioned many times to extend its lifespan.

During the next decade, US ballistic missile submarines, bombers, and land-based missiles - the three legs of the nuclear triad - are expected to reach the end of their useful lives. Maintaining and modernizing the arsenal is expected to cost at about $1 trillion over 30 years, according to independent estimates.

Trump's tweet came the day after meeting with a dozen Pentagon officials involved with defense acquisition programs.

He also met with the chief executives of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co, the country's two largest defense contractors, about high-profile projects he said cost too much.

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Late on Thursday, Trump said on Twitter that he had asked Boeing to "price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet" because of the "tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35."

Also Read:

Killing of Russia's ambassador a ploy to wreck Syrian peace process: Putin

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov dies after being shot in Ankara

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22.12.2016 LISTEN

By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Bolgatanga, Dec 22, GNA - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has been urged to put in the necessary mechanisms to resuscitate the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which has been malfunctioning for about half a decade now.

A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Upper East Region, which made the call as part of this year's third World Universal Health Coverage Day celebration indicated that an effective and efficient health insurance scheme would be more viable and make health care accessible and appealing to subscribers.

The occasion is organized annually and globally to drum home the need for Governments to help improve upon Universal Access to Health Care particularly marginalized groups in society.

The CSOs including the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR), ISODEC, SEND Ghana, the Coalition of NGOs in Health, and Mission of Hope which have shouldered the responsibility to champion Universal Access to Health Care Campaigns, made the call in a communiquA issued to the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council in Bolgatanga and copied to the press on Monday.

According to the CSOs, the NHIS is panacea to Universal Health Care in Ghana and when resuscitated through adequate resourcing could help Ghana attain Universal Access to Health Care in earnest and urged the government to put in place pragmatic measures to make the NHIS more efficient and attractive.

The communiquA which was read by the Regional Campaign Coordinator, Mr Abagmbire Adua, further suggested to the government to implement a progressive and equitable tax reform to financially sustain the Scheme as well as identify other creative ways of generating funds to support the Scheme to effectively operate.

Whilst expressing concerns in the delay by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to release funds for the payment of NHIS providers, it called on the Ministry of Health to liaise with the Ministry of Finance to work towards ensuring timely and early release of funds to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for its smooth operations.

The CommuniquA further stressed the need for the government particularly the Ministry of Health to ensure equitable distribution of health professionals, especially doctors across all districts and regions in the country as well as improve upon the working conditions of health professionals, particularly those posted to rural communities.

It urged NHIA to strengthen its monitoring and evaluation systems to flash out any health facility charging illegal fees or providing poor healthcare services to NHIS subscribers and also liaise with the Ministry of Transport to substantially invest in the regional and district transportation and power sectors to increase access to primary healthcare through growth.

The occasion which was preceded by route match throughout the Municipal streets of Bolgatanga had the celebrants wielding placards some of which read; 'National Health Insurance is panacea to Universal Health Care in Ghana', 'Ministry of Finance release funds for early payment of NHIS claims', 'Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service provide equitable health personnel and resources to all the districts and the regions across the country', 'Universal Health Coverage is the key to the improvement of maternal and infant care', among others.

The Chief Director at the Regional Coordinating Council, Alhaji Abdulai Abubkar, who received the communiquA on behalf of the government pledged to forward it to the appropriate quarters for redress.

GNA
A member of Ghana's Parliament on the ticket of the outgoing National Democratic Congress has challenged members of the New Patriotic Party in Parliament to reject their end of service benefits if they think President Mahama should not be to passing last minute agreements.

The NPP have expressed concerns about President Mahama's approval of fresh contracts and appointments despite having less than a month to vacate office and hand over power to president-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo in January 2017.

Though the NDC have argued that there is nothing wrong with such actions, the NPP think otherwise.

Parliament is currently deliberating on end of service benefits, salaries and emoluments of Article 71 office holders which includes the president.

Per Ghana's laws, Parliament and the Executive have the mandate to review each other's ex-gratia.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, Sampson Ahi who is the MP for the Bodi constituency dared the NPP MPs to turn down their ex-gratia if it's finally approved.

If they are arguing that we are doing last minute loans or programmes what do they say to the fact that we are now working on approving our ex-gratia. The ex-gratia of parliamentarians must be approved by the executive and Parliament will also approve that of the executive. As we speak we haven't done it. So why are they not saying that because there is a new government we shouldn't allow the outgoing president to approve the ex-gratia for the parliamentarians?

Why are we behaving as if, if NDC does anything, it is criminal but the NPP will do it and nobody can say anything about it, he quizzed.

We'll boycott last minute agreements

Mr. Ahis remark comes on the back of the Minoritys notice of a possible boycott to avoid approving governments last minute agreements which they claimed were being pushed to parliament illegally.

Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu

According to the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the sheer disregard of the house in relation to handover notes in the ongoing transition process as a guide to business in the house and the tabling of new loans are unfortunate.

 As I speak to you now handover notes have not been submitted to Parliament. Parliament has not been presented with handover notes from the Administrator General covering the activities of the presidency, neither has Parliament been given any report relating to the projections of developments that government envisages.

Parliament cannot say that it is on its own and decide on which business to transact including the approval of new loans. In the absence of such accurate handover notes and reports to Parliament, one would expect that in the spirit of consensus building, the current administration would clear any undertakings especially new engagements with the presidential transition team. The President John Dramani Mahama administration has elected not to avail itself of this vehicle. In the circumstance, we the NPP minority caucus wants to register our deepest disgust at unilateral decisions being taken to have Parliament approve of loans, suppliers credit agreements and project implementation agreements. The latter of which process is unknown to the rules of procedure, that is our standing orders in this Parliament, he said.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
Cairo (AFP) - Egypt agreed to postpone a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements when US president-elect Donald Trump called President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the presidency said Friday.

Egypt had requested on Thursday that the resolution demanding Israel halt settlements be postponed after Israel launched a frantic lobbying effort.

The presidency said the two leaders had agreed to allow Trump's incoming administration a chance to tackle the issue.
Peaceful presidential transitions are difficult to execute, particularly when they involve a defeated incumbent.

As usual, the Americans have the most documentation of transitions. While, for the most part, they have gone well, there have been memorable hiccups.

In 1800, after the bitterly contested election between Adams and Jefferson, President Adams made some midnight appointments, including a judgeship for Marbury, before leaving office. When Jefferson's Secretary of State and future President , James Madison refused to deliver the commisions/ appointments, Marbury and others went to court. In 1803, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Marshall ruled that it was the province of the Judiciary to say what the law was and to determine whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional.

In 1828, after Andrew Jackson won a rematch with John Quincy Adams, the transition was rocky. In 1861, between the election of Lincoln and his accession, a number states seceded from the Union, thus handing Lincoln the unenviable task of saving the Union, through the civil war.

In recent times, the most challenging transitions were between Hoover/FDR, LBJ--Nixon and Reagan--Carter.

The campaign of 1932 had left bitter feelings between the defeated Hoover and the victorious FDR and it hampered the transition.

In 1968, after LBJ dropped out of the Presidential contest, he believed the victorious Richard Nixon had reached out to the North Vietnamese and encouraged them not to agree to a ceasefire before the election. This naturally made for a rocky transition.

In 1980, the defeated Jimmy Carter did not think highly of the victorious Reagan and was scandalized that Reagan took no notes during their meeting.

Africa has come late to the tradition of peaceful transitions. Our transitions had only been peaceful when held between outgoing military and elected civilian governments. Recently, though, we are seeing more elected to elected government transitions. When Kaunda handed over to Chiluba, it was rare. Since, then we have seen more, in places that have included Senegal , Ghana and Nigeria.

Last year, Nigeria had a transition, between the defeated Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Buhari. Ironically, Goodluck Jonathan's concession to Buhari, did more to cement his reputation as a statesman and patriot than almost anything he did as President.

Ghana and Gambia too, are in the midst of transitions. The Ghanaian transition, despite some hiccups, is on course. The Gambian transition, is poised delicately, on a knife's edge.

The Ghanaian transition has been roiled by last minute appointments and policy initiatives by the outgoing government. While appointments are certainly legal till the incumbent President hands over, they may not be in good spirit. If appointments are problematic, policy initiatives are downright wrong. As a matter of principle and patriotism, a government should not initiate, just before it leaves office, a policy it had been unwilling to initiate in the prime of its own mandate.

Transitions though, are not just about handing over. They are about standing up a new government that can deliver on the mandates of the elections that precede them.

Lincoln famously put all his known rivals in his cabinet in what has been famously chronicled as the "TEAM OF RIVALS". By the time of his death, Secretary of State William Seward, who had been one of his most implacable rivals, was his closest advisor. Shortly after his election in 1960, John Kennedy had a conversation, at the suggestion of his father, with a respected veteran of government. In the end, the new President asked, "Who are the good people here-- those who can get things done?". That conversation led to the appointment of Robert McNamara, a man he did not know as Defence Secretary.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan left most of the screening of his appointments to others and ended up with a cabinet, most of whose members were personally unknown to him. Aisha Buhari lamented not knowing most of her husband's appointees recently. She added pointedly that her husband too, did not know most of his apointees. However, for Reagan, it would help him lead what is the most successful US government since FDR in 1933.

After naming Bibi Netanyahu to his cabinet, an interviewer asked Ariel Sharon why, after Bibi, "stabbed you in the back once, he is in your government?". He responded, "He actually stabbed me in the back twice-- for the record. But he is my son and more important, he is good, very good." There is a difference between campaigning and governance and successful Presidents recognize that. That is why it was encouraging for Ghana's President-elect, HE, Nana Akufo-Addo to thank Kojo Tsikata and former President Rawlings. It bodes well for his openness.

Finally, the public too has a role to play in a successful transition. Victors must be humble while losers must be gracious. When someone mockingly and tauntingly danced in front of President Mahama in church, it was inappropriate and he should have been called on it. We should, in this period, stop thinking of party and think of country.

Nkrumah once declared that we needed to show the rest of the world that the black man was capable of managing his own affairs. Since Nkrumah's declaration, Africa has been known, more for failed than for successful governments. Let these transitions, in Gambia and Ghana, just like Nigeria, usher in a period of successful governments that will lift Africa and make us all proud.

Arthur K
The President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, has reaffirmed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments commitment to completing projects started by the out-going John Mahama government.

Nana Akufo-Addo made these remarks when he paid a courtesy call on the Bawku Naba, Naba Asigiri Abugrago Azoka II as part of his 2-day thank you tour to traditional leaders for their support in the 7th December polls.

Nana Akufo-Addo assured the Bawku Naba of his commitment to completing all projects started by President John Mahama.

The projects that the John Mahama government has started we are going to do our best to make sure that they come to a conclusion. In our manifesto we have a whole chapter dealing with suspended projects in one region or the other, it is not good for Ghana and I am not going to add to that story. I am coming to complete whatever work that is in-progress and am going to complete them, so Ghanaians should have no fears at all.

Chieftaincy issues

Nana Akufo-Addo also pledged not to interfere in the chieftaincy issues of Bawku but remain resolve in ensuring sustainable peace in the area adding that, Naba Abugrago Azoka II is the only legally recognized paramount chief of Bawku traditional area.

I do not know any other Bawku Naba except Naba Abugrago Azoka II, I am not a Kusaul or a Mamprusi . I am not interested in the chieftaincy issues of Bawku that is not my plan. My issue is the peace and unity of Ghana that is what concerns me

He counted on the Bawku Naba for his support in any form to support his governments quest to better the lives of people Bawku and Ghana as a whole.

On his part, Naba Asigiri Abugrago Azoka II appealed to Nana Addo to fast truck the construction of the Bolgatanga-Bawku road and the Tamne dam in Garu started by the out-going John Mahamas government to boost the socio-economic prospects of the area.

Nana Azoka pledged to work assiduously with all key stakeholders to ensure everlasting peace in Bawku.

Nana Addo also visited the Regent of the Mamprusis in Bawku, Ibrahim Adam Zangbeogo and his elders for their support and prayers during the December polls.



By: Frederick Awuni/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
Belarus is one of the few countries across the world that Ghanaians can go to without a visa. In fact you only get to have a visa upon your arrival at their airport for a small fee. With a rich culture and respect for the art, the country can boast of lovely people with a population of 1.9Million.

An Eastern European country with a rich traditional folk and religious music just like Ghana but with a key interest in spreading their type of music. The countries folk music tradition goes as far back as the 20th Century during the days of Grand Duchy of Lithuania even though the soviets control somewhat limited musical development because it was considered subversive and dangerous to the authority of the Soviet. Belarus and his people continued to spread its traditional music across countries like Russia, United States, Ukraine, Latvia, Canada and Kazakhstan.

Most people in Belarus can play at least one musical instrument a lesson Ghana can really learn with the increase of interest among the youth when it comes to music. Music in Belarus today can boast of a mixture of styles and influences with Classical music performances still having big audiences. The Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus, National Concert Orchestra of Belarus led by Mikhail Finberg, Syabry band and the Chisty Golos Vocal Band among some notable classical bands.

Music festivals are very popular in Belarus with state sponsored Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, an annual pop and folk music festival. Bassovisca the biggest festival of Belarusian rock music organized by the Belarusian Union of Students (BUS) in Poland, Grodek northeastern a small town. So having a state sponsored music festivals is possible in Ghana if only we are ready to promote our folk music.

In 2002, Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree requiring 50% of all FM broadcast music to be Belarusian in Origin, a step Ghana has been struggling with for years to take. And since 1st January, 2005 the rule was even made stricter (75% of music broadcast each day must be Belarusian).

Modern pop music is increasingly popular in Belarus with an enthusiastic participation in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2004. Meet kesinia Degelko aka The Nicki Minaj of Belarus a 13year old Belarusian schoolgirl from Oktyabrsky, who is trending on twitter with her song Im from a Village. While she may have a rap skill going for her, she has also got a well cut out subject matter going for her. In interview she once said music is just a hobby, that she doesnt have any formal training in music and not so a big fan of hip pop. Going through the lyrics of the song I came across words like these:

I care about what will happen to my Homeland.

Im ready to support my country in anything

And glorify my country with my work.

The Big question here is, Are we ready to do same as Ghanaians?
THE Leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students has stated that even though it appreciates the recent 60 percent increase in allowance of national service personnel, it would be very prudent that the incoming Nana Akufo-Addo-led government took a very critical look into it and seek wider consultation and advice before its implementation.

While commending the outgoing government for the increments, the students nonetheless have indicated their willingness to wait for official declaration from the incoming government since they will be the ones to implement them

Yiadom Boakye Emmanuel, Coordinating Secretary of the NUGS at a press conference yesterday, also appealed to national service personnel not to jump in ecstasy with the huge increment of their allowances; instead, they must prepare to work closely with the incoming New Patriotic Party administration, to ensure the proper thing is done for the benefit of all.

The outgoing government of President John Dramani Mahama, early this week made a last-minute approval of a request from the National Service Secretariat to increase the allowance of service personnel by about 60%.

This increment means service personnel will from January 2017 be paid a monthly allowance of GH559 from the GH350 they currently receive.

A section of Ghanaians have described the government's action as "arrogance and show of lack of respect". They believe that what NDC government has done is a deliberate attempt to frustrate and sabotage the incoming Nana Akufo-Addo government, with huge debt.

The students are hoping that the brouhaha surrounding the increments would be put to rest, once the incoming government speaks on the matter.

About 70,407 service personnel are currently serving in various institutions in the public and private sectors.

The acting Executive Director of the National Service Secretariat, Michael Kpessah Whyte, said the increment followed series of complaints from service personnel who said the current allowance was woefully inadequate considering their expenses and cost of living.

In a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, Ambrose Entsiwah Jnr., the secretariat said the government had already released funds for the payment of all personnel till the end of December 2016, and had also approved its budget for the year 2017.
President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo has called for better adherence to safety regulations in the country following a gas explosion at Labadi in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday.

The explosion, which occurred between the Labadi Cemetery and Trade Fair Centre, left at least seven people dead.

There also at least 39 injured according to the Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Victor Bampoe, who toured some health facilities administering medical care to the injured after the explosion.

In a series of statements on Twitter, Nana Akufo-Addo said it was about time the country took a second look at the citing of gas stations.

It is about time we take a second look at the citing of gas stations in our country, and ensure the strict enforcement of  1/2

 Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) December 22, 2016

 and adherence to safety regulations, so as to forestall the occurrence of any more of such avoidable incidents. 2/2

 Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) December 22, 2016

He also called for the strict enforcement of and adherence to safety regulations, so as to forestall the occurrence of any more of such avoidable incidents.

Nana Akufo-Addo was on a thank you tour of the three northernmost regions when the news of the explosion broke. He extended his condolences to the bereaved and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Ive learnt with sadness of the news of a gas explosion near the Trade Fair Centre, resulting in the loss of 6 lives, and injuries to others. My deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery, the President-elect said.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Emmanuel Bombande has admonished people who are speculating on which people will serve as ministers in President-elect, Nana Addo's government to stop.

He condemned such acts as self-servicing and the fuel behind of some of the post-election disturbances perpetuated by political party foot soldiers.

In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Bombande said it was unfair to put pressure on the President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo, who has himself urged the National Executive Committee of his New Patriotic Party to give him more time to announce his proposed ministers.

He further stressed that selflessness must be seen to be the calling card of all persons engaged in politics.

We must see politics and leadership for public service, selflessness and not that one is in politics because one wants to participate in the election and immediately after the election is thinking about who he is going to be in government.

No wonder at the foot soldier level, there is so much violence because, in their minds, it is about what they are going to get. So let me take over the motorway toll booth, let me create pandemonium so I can draw attention to myself, Mr. Bombande added.

Nana Addos ministers, what we know so far

The only minister that Nana Akufo-Addo has confirmed for his incoming administration is Alan Kyeremanten as the Minister of Trade and Industry.

Alan Kyerematen (left) and Nana Akufo-Addo (right)

Multiple sources within the NPP have also disclosed to Citi News that co-founder of Databank, Ken Ofori-Atta; Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul and a former deputy Attorney General, Ambrose Dery will also be ministers.

Mr. Ofori-Atta has been pegged as the Finance Minister whilst Dominic Nitiwul and Ambrose Dery will head the Defense and Interior ministries respectively.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Cairo (AFP) - Egypt said Friday it agreed to delay a vote on a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements during a phone call between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President-elect Donald Trump.

Egypt on Thursday requested that the vote be postponed a day after it submitted the draft text to the council, which prompted Israel to reach out to Trump to block a resolution.

Israel had asked Trump to intervene after learning that Washington, in a reversal of its policy under President Barack Obama, would not veto the resolution, an Israeli official said.

Trump, who issued a statement demanding that Washington exercise a veto, called Sisi.

In a statement on Friday, the Egyptian presidency said the phone call "touched on the draft resolution... on Israeli settlements".

Donald Trump addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington on March 21, 2016

"The two leaders agreed on the importance of giving the new administration a chance to deal comprehensively with all the aspects of the Palestinian cause to achieve a comprehensive settlement," it said.

The Egyptian turnaround surprised many but follows repeated expressions of admiration for Trump from Sisi, a former military chief who overthrew his Islamist predecessor in 2013 leading Obama to temporarily suspend military aid.

Israel had launched a frantic lobbying effort to pressure Egypt to drop the bid and reached out to its supporters in the United States and at the Security Council for support.

"After becoming aware that the (US) would not veto the anti-Israel resolution, Israeli officials reached out to Trump's transition team to ask for the president-elect's help to avert the resolution," an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity.

Buried indefinitely

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2016

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Washington to block the draft, pointing to years of US willingness "to stand up in the UN and veto anti-Israel resolutions."

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon described the draft as "disgraceful" and said his government was deploying "diplomatic efforts on all fronts."

Trump's intervention and the Egyptian decision to postpone the vote appeared to have caught Washington offguard, with US Secretary of State John Kerry cancelling plans for a speech laying out a vision for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

A poster reading "Trump, Make Israel Great Again!" photographed in Tel Aviv on November 15, 2016

Kerry spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday and then, after the Egyptian decision, to Netanyahu on Thursday.

Obama's administration has expressed mounting anger over the continued expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, and speculation has grown that he could launch another initiative before leaving office next month.

A senior Security Council diplomat suggested the motion could be buried indefinitely.

"There was a window of opportunity. Whether that window is still there is really not clear," said a Western diplomat.

Stalled peace efforts

Trump, who campaigned on a promise to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, had bluntly said Washington should use its veto to block the resolution.

"The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed," he said in a statement.

"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations."

An Israeli settler prays in the settlement outpost of Amona in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on December 18, 2016

Trump has chosen as ambassador to Israel the hardliner David Friedman, who has said Washington will not pressure Israel to curtail settlement building in the occupied West Bank.

Arab ambassadors held an emergency meeting at the United Nations to press Egypt to move ahead with a vote but an Arab League committee decided after meeting in Cairo to continue talks on the motion.

Palestinian envoy Jamal al-Shobaki told reporters in Cairo that Egypt asked for more time and that there would be discussions over the next two days on the next step.

Israeli settlements are seen as a major stumbling block to peace efforts, as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

The United Nations maintains that settlements are illegal, but UN officials have reported a surge in construction over the past months.

The draft resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem."

It states that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-state solution" that would see an independent Palestine co-exist alongside Israel.

The Middle East peace process has been comatose since a US initiative to re-launch peace talks collapsed in April 2014.

France has announced plans to host an international conference on January 15 to try to restart talks based on the two-state solution.
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has summoned Elvis Gomes and former minister Nilkant Halankar in connection with a 2011 land case.

By India Today Web Desk: The Aam Aadmi Party's Goa chief ministerial candidate Elvis Gomes alongwith former minister Nilkant Halankar have been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in connection with a housing scam. Both the leaders have been asked to appear before the agency by December 27.

ACB officials said that Gomes had implemented orders to sell land to a private builder in 2011.

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From India Today magazine: The audacity of AAP

Gomes has served as Goa's Inspector General of Prison in the past.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

"In 2011, Elvis Gomes as managing director of the Goa Housing Board chairman allegedly implemented orders to sell 30.256 lakh sq. meter land to a builder in Margao. Nilkant Halankar was the board's chairman at that time," ACB official said.

While announcing Gomes' name as his party's CM candidate AAP's National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had called him a 'gem'.

"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," Kejriwal had said 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.

AAP has already announced that it will be fielding Gomes from Cuncolim constituency which is currently represented by BJP.

ALSO READ:

India Today-Axis Opinion Poll: BJP's surgical surge to retain Goa

--- ENDS ---
Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are President-Elect and Vice President-Elect respectively and should be treated as such by all means.

We have taken note of how the security around them built up rather slowly after the winner of the Presidential election was announced. Eventually though, the law enforcement agents took full control of the President-Elect's personal and residential security but rather chaotically in the initial days. Cops from outside Nima sought to pitch camp there without coordination when it was the Nima Police Command which moved in first to provide security.

As for the Vice President-Elect's residence it took longer for him to have a full complement of law enforcement personnel.

We have especially taken note of how the Nima Divisional and District Commanders, not forgetting the Chief Superintendent Kwesi Ofori, have continued to keep an eye over the security arrangements around the First and Second Gentlemen-Elect as the days elapsed.

We are unhappy, however, about how the line between the campaign season and the period after the declaration of the winner is not properly defined for the sake of security. The result has been people jostling rather recklessly to shake hands with the two personalities and their residences almost taken over by so many well wishers in a manner that could compromise security.

It is a challenging subject. Politicians who suddenly get power having being voted by the people would not want to offend supporters eager to shake hands with them. They must be protected against possible security threats by law enforcement agents who must apply the basic rules of managing the security of VVIPs.

Those who are charged with managing the security of such top personalities must be both gentle and tough with those who come too close to the persons they are required to protect.

Unfortunately there are many who would not understand the task bestowed upon such security persons as they surge forward to catch the glimpse of the President-Elect and the Vice President-Elect.

We have suddenly witnessed the arrival of unknown persons at residences of the President-elect and the Vice-President-Elect in their bid to establish contacts at this stage. These are persons unknown to the campaign machinery: their motive being opportunistic.

It would be necessary for the internal security personnel of the two personalities to join hands with the state-provided law enforcement agents to avoid consequences.

We must not take the security of the two persons and their families for granted. Our society does not share the traits of countries in the other hemisphere where law enforcement agents are totally apolitical.

That is why law enforcement agents who are deployed to such persons must have their backgrounds checked sufficiently.

Some law enforcement agents, we are aware, could not conceal their partisanship before the elections. Some of them, it has been said, donned the ruling party T-shirts and cannot be counted upon to discharge their duties without breaches and possible consequences.

The picture of uniformed persons descending upon the NPP headquarters and carrying out their mission is still fresh in our memories. Nothing has come out of the so-called probe into the case.

Let's be wary about the security lapses as these could be dangerous.
Nana Akufo-Addo conferring with Dr Bawumia at Nayiries Palace. Hajia Alima Mahama (right) speaking at the meeting

The president-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has named Hajia Alima Mahama as a minister in the next New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration when he takes office on January 7, 2017.

Nana Akufo-Addo dropped the hint when together with his vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, paid a visit to the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri, Naa Bohogu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga at Nalerigu as part of the 'thank you' tour of northern Ghana.

She is the second person to be named after Alan Kyerematen was introduced to captains of industry on Wednesday as the next Trade and Industry Minister following DAILY GUIDE's prediction that the two people had been penciled down with a number of people as would-be ministers.

Hajia Alima Mahama, who was a deputy minister and later Women and Children's Affairs Minister in the Kufuor administration, is said to be heading straight to the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry as the boss.

Nana Akufo-Addo said, The people of Nalerigu not only voted for me, but also voted for their daughter, Hajia Alima Mahama, to represent them in parliament. It is a very good choice, and I want you, Nayiri, to know that she's going to be a part of the Akufo-Addo government from 2017. So you have a double burden. Two of your children are going to play a big role in my government. So we're going to need your wisdom and guidance to succeed.

Dr Bawumia is also a native of Mamprugu in the Northern Region.

It will be recalled that after the declaration of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP as winners of the December 7 elections, the first delegation of any traditional ruler in Ghana to pay a courtesy call on the president-elect was sent by the Nayiri, which was made up of prominent chiefs of Mamprugu.

It is for this reason Nana Akufo-Addo explained, I have come here today, on my part, to also say 'thank you' for the support and prayers that you gave me. God listened to your prayers and that is the basis for our victory.

Nana Akufo-Addo indicated, I am counting on you for your continued support, prayers and advice to make sure that we walk in the right direction, and do the right things for our country.

The president-elect also requested prayers for the vice president-elect, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, son of the Nayiri, explaining that he is going to be the key figure in the reconstruction of the economy of our country.

According to Nana, He (Dr Bawumia) is going to be the Chairman of the Economic Management Committee, so he is going to need your special prayers to make sure that he acts with wisdom and be successful in the discharge of his duties.

He also assured Naa Abdulai Sheriga that All the promises that I made to the people of Ghana, and the specific ones I made to the people of the northern regions of our country, God is going to give me the power and energy to fulfill those promises.

New SADA

Nana Addo announced his intention to restructure the Northern Development Authority, re-christened SADA by the current administration, so that it becomes a genuine instrument of prosperity of the northern regions of our country.

The other commitments he made during the course of the campaign  irrigating the farmlands of the northern regions, bringing in basic amenities and infrastructural developments to the constituencies, amongst others  he said, will be fulfilled.

I want it to be said, when the history of our country is being written, that it was in Akufo-Addo's time that Ghanaians began to enjoy widespread prosperity across the length and breadth of the country. And for that to happen, I am taking your advice that I have to bring everybody together, all the peoples of Ghana, without discrimination, as one united body to go forward and make Ghana the country of the dreams of our ancestors.

It is possible and we can do it; with unity, courage and circumspection, we can do it. I pray to Almighty God that he gives me the opportunity to make this happen.

'Remain Focused'

The Nayiri urged Nana Akufo-Addo to remain focused during his tenure of office, and help improve the standards of living of Ghanaians.

According to the traditional ruler, Nana Akufo-Addo's victory in the December 7 election came by dint of hard work and focus. So please remain focused and continue to work hard, and I am confident the good Lord will grant you success.

He noted that Nana Akufo-Addo's visit to him is unique in the sense that you have come here so many times. In those days you came here, simply, as Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Today, you are coming here as president-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Moreso, you have come here with my son to introduce yourselves to me.

The Nayiri wished the president-elect and his incoming government a successful tenure of office.
A Land Court in Accra has ordered the government to resume the payment of compensation to claimants in the Volta Basin Flooded Areas of the Volta Region.

The court, presided over by Justice Anthony Oppong, held that it was unlawful for the government to halt the payments in 2013 merely based on recommendations made by then Sole Commissioner Justice Yaw Apau  now with the Supreme Court  who investigated judgement debts and other frivolous payments under C.I. 79.

Between 2009 and 2012, about GH71 million was paid to the various claimants by the government after a negotiated settlement, but the disbursement of the remaining GH67 million was put on hold on the instructions of the Sole-Commissioner; and the government announced later that it was dealing with discrepancies in the payments.

Mahama Adamant

However, since 2013 the Mahama administration refused to resume the payments, compelling the claimants to go to court to force the government to honour its obligation under the negotiated settlement.

Cabinet in July 2008 had approved a consolidated amount totaling GH138 million for various stools/families in Pai, Apaaso, Makango, Ahmandi and Kete Krachi Traditional Areas, and about 57 groups were said to have benefited from the amount.

As a result, the claimants, including chiefs and people from Krachi, Pai, Tapa, Afram Plains, Nkomi-Sene, Makango and Apaaso, sued the Attorney General and the Lands Commission to trigger the resumption of the compensation payments.

Misconceived Action

When the case started, the Lands Commission, which is the body overseeing the payments, raised preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case at all, but the action was dismissed as 'misconceived.'

The case then went to full trial where the plaintiffs, led by Messrs Kwasi Owusu Yeboa and Daniel Owusu Nyampong, insisted that the government breached the terms of the negotiated settlement and urged the court to reverse the decision to suspend payment.

They also argued that it was unlawful for the Sole-Commissioner to recommend that the payments be halted without following properly laid down provisions.

Defendants' Position

Both the AG and Lands Commission (as defendants) had argued among other things that once adverse findings had been made against some of the people involved in the claims, they needed to seek redress at the Court of Appeal before they could continue to file for the rest of the claims.

They insisted that the plaintiff's cause of action was premature, even though the defendants admitted the existence of a negotiated settlement and part of the amount already disbursed.

The commission further held that those the adverse findings were made against should have gone to the Court of Appeal to seek redress instead of the High Court.

Court's Decision

In his judgement, Justice Oppong said that the government White Paper covering the Sole-Commissioner's report had no binding power on the court in its current state.

He said all the findings leading to the recommendation of the suspension of the rest of the payments assumed the character of a High Court judgement after six months of the release of the report, and said the recommendation could not be binding on the court to decide whether the payment should be resumed.

The court also held that the terms of reference of the Judgement Debt Commission also made reference to inordinate payments, but the category under which the claimants' case fell could not be said to be inordinate payment of public funds since it was a negotiated settlement at the instance of the government.

Negotiated Settlement

How can a negotiated settlement between the government and a powerless claimant be said to be inordinate to the extent that the Sole-Commissioner can recommend that it should be stopped? the judge queried, adding the negotiated settlement represents a valid contract between the government and the claimants.

The court therefore ordered that the negotiated settlement concluded in 2008 between the government and the plaintiffs under E.I. 98 of 1974 as amended by E.I. 67 of 1975 in pursuance of certain tranches of compensation payment which were made by the government to them was still valid and legally binding.

Apart from a cost of GH40,000 awarded in favour of the claimants, the court also slapped the plaintiffs with GH10,000 compensatory damages.

By William Yaw Owusu


Milan (AFP) - Italian police on Friday shot dead the prime suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack, ending a frantic four-day hunt for Europe's most wanted man.

But just as German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed relief that suspected attacker Anis Amri no longer posed a threat, she pledged a "comprehensive" analysis of how he was slipped through the net in the first place.

Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, is believed to have hijacked a lorry and used it to mow down holiday revellers at the market on Monday, killing 12 and wounding dozens more.

"We can be relieved at the end of this week that the acute danger is over," Merkel told reporters.

Berlin attack suspect killed

"However the danger of terrorism in general endures, as it has for several years. We all know that."

The Islamic State jihadist group has claimed responsibility and released a video Friday in which Amri is shown pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

He had been missing since escaping immediately after the attack, but his time on the run was cut short thanks to a combination of luck and the quick reflexes of rookie Italian police officer Luca Scata.

The 29-year-old, still officially a trainee, shot the Tunisian twice after he had fired on his patrol partner, Christian Movio, 36.

Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016

The officers had stopped Amri in the early hours of Friday, near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni train station. They had no idea of who they were dealing with.

"He was completely calm, they asked him to empty his backpack and with a sudden movement he pulled out the pistol, which was loaded and ready to use," said Roberto Guida, the neighbourhood police head.

Police said Amri had initially tried to pass himself off as being from southern Italy and had shouted "bastard police" in Italian before opening fire.

Amri's death came as German police arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack a shopping mall, while authorities in both Australia and Indonesia reported that Christmas terror plots had been foiled.

'Raises questions'

Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016

German authorities are investigating whether Amri was part of a "network" with accomplices still at large.

While Merkel hailed the cooperation of the European security services in neutralising him, she admitted a need for reform.

"The Amri case raises questions -- questions that are not only tied to this crime but also to the time before, since he came to Germany in July 2015" from Italy," she said.

The brother of Anis Amri -- the prime suspect in Berlin's deadly truck attack, poses with a portrait of his sibling in Oueslatia, Tunisia, on December 23, 2016

"We will now intensively examine to what extent official procedures need to be changed."

Germany's anti-migration AfD party, which has blamed Merkel's liberal asylum policy for the attack, surged to a year high of more than 15 percent in a poll, ahead of a general election expected next September.

Amri's port of entry to Europe was Italy, arriving on a migrant boat in 2011, and spending four years in prison there afterwards.

The truck that crashed into a Christmas market near Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, pictured on December 20, 2016

Convicted for starting a fire in a refugee centre, he served out his sentence until 2015, then made his way to Germany, taking advantage of continental Europe's Schengen system of open borders -- as he did on his return to Italy this week.

Milan police chief Antonio De Iesu said Amri had arrived in Italy from Germany via France. He had no telephone on him and only a few hundred euros.

German police said they found his fingerprints and his temporary residence permit in the cab of the truck used in the Berlin attack, next to the body of its registered Polish driver, who was killed with a gunshot to the head.

A 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward had been offered for information leading to Amri's arrest.

'Lot went wrong'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin on December 23, 2016 after Tunisian Anis Amri was killed when he opened fire on Italian police in Milan

But prominent politicians in Germany and Italy warned that lessons had to be learned from mistakes that might have contributed to Amri being able to carry out his attack.

The Tunisian had been on the radar of anti-terrorism agencies in both countries following his apparent radicalisation in prison.

Amri had been monitored since March, suspected of planning break-ins to raise cash for automatic weapons to carry out an attack -- but the surveillance was stopped in September because Amri was seen primarily as a small-time drug dealer.

Beppe Grillo, leader of Italy's biggest opposition party, the Five Star Movement, said the Schengen open borders system should have been suspended after the attack and needed an overhaul.

"Italy is becoming a crossroads for terrorists that we are not able to identify and alert people about, and they are able to spread all over Europe thanks to Schengen," he said.

"Those entitled to asylum in Italy can stay, but all the other illegals need to be repatriated immediately, starting from today."

Meanwhile Movio, the officer shot by Amri, underwent successful surgery later Friday to repair the damage to his shoulder and was able to joke with visitors at his hospital bed.

"I'm happy to have been useful," he said.

In Berlin, hundreds flocked to a memorial concert at the Brandenburg Gate under the banner "Together Berlin", as Christmas markets in the capital reported brisk business, many under tighter security.
23.12.2016 LISTEN

The Police service and the Armed Forces are two great security services that are very indispensable to the other when it comes to constitutional functions of maintaining law and as well as defence. The police particularly cannot carry out it constitutionally mandated duties maintaining law and order per the dictates of article 200(3) without the support from our comrades in the military especially in these times that crime combat is becoming more sophisticated and dangerous. We need them and they also need us all in the interest of mother Ghana who is bigger than both and police and the military as well as any other security service.

Constitutionally, it is expected that the Armed Forces which comprises the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are to be equipped and maintained to perform the role of defence of Ghana as well as such other functions for the development of Ghana as the president may determine. The Armed Forces is crucial in our interest as Ghanaian people thus the very reasons why at times we see joint patrols of the police and military. Their contributions to the nation's development can never be quantified in any economic term and so is the police.

In making Ghana peaceful, stable and prosperous, the constitutional mandate given to these two security institutions as well as all other security institutions complement one another and for that matter every steps must be taken by the heads of these security institutions to ensure that there is a maintained cordiality among them. Frictions in the police and military relations can result in crisis if we do not take the pragmatic measures to resolve them once and for all.

The peace and stability Ghanaians are enjoying today is borne out by roles played by both the military and the police since Ghana became a sovereign nation. Both the military and the police have been involved in unlawful and unjustifiable force unleashed on Ghanaians during the revolutionary days and also attacked each other at times but in these times, there is new dispensation so we should always try to avoid those needles attacks which has potency to put into crisis someday. The idea of 1966 coup was in fact, believed to have have been hatched by Hailey the then IGP in Kwame Nkrumah's government and executed by the military with Emmanuel Kotoka spearheading it.

Successive military takeovers received endorsement and participation from the police though the military ends up claiming glories of all the rights and wrongs that came with the coups. Whatever that happened in times past, all happened to shape the future of this country and the end result is the peace and stability we are all enjoying today. People sacrificed their lives this hence the reasons why the police and military in particular should guard the peace and stability we are enjoying as country and people jealously than launching attacks on themselves.

People from all diverse of life sacrificed their lives to make this country Ghana as it is today. Those that were justifiably and unjustifiably killed by both the police and military should be counted as part of people whose blood were poured to make our motherland Ghana great and strong together with the blessings of God Almighty.

We should not forget our forebearers in both the police and military as well as members of other security institutions who sacrificed their lives in line of duties and for that matter took the lead to the land of the dead before their time. We should never forget and disappoints them particularly we the younger generation of soldiers and police officers who seem to carry the a pride bigger than Ghana. Many have walked where we are walking now and for some, no one knows they even existed because time has gathered heaps of dust on them. They are forgotten but their efforts remain whether recognised or not. They must all be appreciated.

There is a new Ghana going forward under a new dispensation called democracy which comes with it own orientations. In as much as we would want to maintain certain standards and status quo in the police and military, they will be challenged by upcoming generations especially if they are inconsistent with the provisions in the constitution and for that matter the police and military should be abreast with developments and effects of democracy in order not to unjustifiably assault civilians and let alone assaulting fellow security officer as it happened in Kwesimintsim.

Whether a police officer or soldier, we should be mindful enough that we are not the first to wear the police or the military uniforms. People have worn it before us and left and so shall we. In as much as we should be proud of our respective security services that we individually belong to, we should remember that at all times we are working for mother Ghana and not for ourselves. Anything that is not in the interest of mother Ghana in the course of discharging our duties is a slap in the face of democracy and the rule of law and that is why we must condemned what happened at Kwesimintsim in no uncertain terms. We should find more proactive ways and means to resolve this issue so that we will have precedent to deter others in the future.

We the current crop of police officers and our compatriots in the military should know that we carrying on what others sacrificed their lives for and bequeath to us to also pass it on to others who will take the baton from us so that we can sit back someday to see a better Police Service, Armed Forces as well as other security services.

The police and the military are Siamese twins and any attempt to separate them can be fatal.

Let us still call for justice for Kwesimintsim police by prosecuting those who soldiers who criminally assaulted our compatriots. It's assault on us all.

Merry Christmas in advance to all gallant soldiers and police as well our comrades in other security services.

Ahanta Apemenyimheneba Kwofie III

[email protected]

#Ahantadiaries2016_12_23
Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - Africa's largest airline group, Ethiopian Airlines, will start services to Jakarta, Indonesia, in June 2017 using the ultra-modern Boeing 787-800.

Jakarta is Indonesia's economic, cultural and political center.

A statement issued in Accra by Mrs Hanna Atnafu, Manager Corporate Communications, Ethiopian Airlines said Indonesia was the fourth most populous country in the world, and with this new service Ethiopian would have service to all five of the most populous countries on earth.

It said the country was made up of more than 13,000 islands.

The flights will make a stop in Bangkok.

Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, commenting on the new route said: 'As the fastest growing airline in Africa, Ethiopian is pleased to offer the opportunity to business people as well as tourists to explore Jakarta's potential both for investment and leisure.'

It said the move would further increase the presence of the Airlines in Asia, connecting Africa to the Region and in turn strengthening the tourism and trade ties between the peoples of Africa and Asia.

Moreover, pilgrims and the West African community residing in Indonesia would be enjoying hassle-free connections to Ethiopian's vast African network via its hub at Addis Ababa.

The statement said Ethiopian Airlines was working very hard to connect Africa with the major trading centres of the world and Jakarta; Indonesia is one of them.

It said passengers to and from Jakarta would enjoy the unparalleled comforts of the 787 with less noise, the biggest windows in the sky, a higher ceiling, unique lighting, and higher humidity.

Ethiopian is a global carrier that operates the youngest and the most modern fleet on the African continent, with an average aircraft age of less than five years, serving more than 90 international destinations across five continents with more than 240 daily departures.

GNA
23.12.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - Standard Chartered Bank has announced the appointment of Kweku Nimfah-Essuman as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited, effective October 1.

Nimfah-Essuman joined the Bank in 2005 and has held senior roles spanning Regulatory Reporting, Controls and more recently Financial Controller in Ghana.

In his most recent role; Mr Nimfah-Essuman has provided leadership and played a critical role in the delivery of financial controls and maintenance of high standards in financial and regulatory reporting in addition to tax risk management.

Mr Nimfah-Essuman has also undertaken a short term assignment with Group Finance in the UK.

Prior to joining Standard Chartered Ghana Limited, he worked with the Banking Supervision Department of The Bank of Ghana as a Bank Examiner where he led teams to review and examine most of the banks in Ghana.

He also worked with Deloitte and TouchA, Ghana as an Auditor.

With more than 18 years' experience in finance, accounting and auditing, Kweku brings considerable wealth of experience and depth to this role and will be expected to lead the strategic business agenda for Finance in Ghana.

GNA
23.12.2016 LISTEN

Honest labour is a long uncertain road often appropriately described as serpentine. It is winding with acute corners that are treacherous, least accommodating, and highly uncomfortable, in many instances. However, in the case of Zoomlion, the road was short with two laps to the finishing line. Since the CEO began with this initative, he manoeuvered the corridors of power under different administrations; a political charlatan, well cushioned by his versatile disposition of wooing, enticing, and greasing hands at all levels.

It is no longer a hidden secret that in the last few days, government signed an 18 million dollar e-waste contract with a waste company. After all, how many waste companies do we have in this country capable of handling such a gargantuan task? Unless Ibrahim Mahama and his cohorts or the others in the sinister alleys of corruption have become borla (refuse) collectors, then we can safely say that it was Zoomlion that had zoomed in on this deal.

Yet Joseph Agyapong had the audacity to attempt visiting the President elect until he was advised by his associates to recoil into the niche that he came from. What kind of cosmetic baloney is that at all?

What did Zoomlion have to do with the bus procurement scandal? Why did those buses cost $200,000 USD (two hundred thousand US Dollars) per unit when the cost at the factory was about $50,000 (fifty thousand US Dollars) each? Why were countless fake websites created to mislead researchers into thinking that one unit was going for approx. $120,000 USD (one hundred and twenty US Dollars)? Granted that those prices were correct, where did the excess of $80,000 (eighty thousand US Dollars) per bus go to?

You see, you can fool some people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time, so here you stand, Mr CEO of Zoomlion, pants down caught in the act of doing the nation in.

The instances of wilful negligence and financial pillage of the State is obscene, offending, and profane! What happened to the housing project awarded Zoomlion, which never took off in spite of the fact that moneys were paid to the company by the direct intervention of the big boy(s) at the top? I shall not add more scandals to this particular article, because the next one that lands will carry contract numbers, dates, content material, and names of signatories.

But there was an inquiry addressed to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, dated 17th August 2015 referenced YEA/IKP/Vol.I.029/15 captioned, Request for Information on Payments to Zoomlion Ghana Limited, and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA). In the reconciliation statement on page 2, six huge payments totaling GHs237,783,927.80 (two hundred and thirty seven million, seven hundred and eighty three million, nine hundred and twenty seven Ghana Cedis and eighty pesewas) were disbursed to you between 16/07/2014 and 10/04/2015. I ask you Mr Joseph Agyapong, what work did your company do to warrant these suspicious payments?

Then a head-bashing amount of GHs448 150 762 (four hundred and forty eight million one hundred and fifty thousand seven hundred and sixty two Ghana Cedis) was indicated as outstanding to be paid, so, again, what work did you do to warrant all that money, especially that the economic situation in Ghana has been the worst that it ever was since independence under the create, loot and share brigade of the NDC that you happily joined?

While you live the lifestyle of debauchery with the full complement of police, pickup and personnel, in front of your house, children are left begging on the streets to fend for themselves as they starve. I dont want to hear stories that you supplied 275 constituencies with T-shirts in the run-up to the elections because that one too was a horrendous lie. According to my checks, no one received any.

You allowed yourself to be used as a conduit for mightier people at the very top to loot the nations money. Let it be told that once upon a time, there was a Zoomlion of national shame that an incorruptible NPP government expunged from existence, and shelved in the annals of history where it will continue to nauseate historians with its putrid stories.

Stand by for more
By Parmita Uniyal: Ananya Agarwal at 12 has close to 7 years of experience in television industry and an enviable body of work to boast of. One of the most talented child artist right now, Ananya's most memorable work so far is her role of little Sita in Siya Ke Raam. She made her debut with Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna as Prerna (Babli's daughter). TV buffs would also remember her cute presence in soaps like Kya Huaa Tera Vaada and Amrit Manthan.

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The little one is coming up with a new Star Plus show called Meri Durga, in which she will play the titular role. She will portray the role of daughter of a peon who has realised the importance of education and wants his daughter to study hard and reach the stars.

Ananya is a sharp contrast to her father's character (played by Vicky Ahuja). She is more interested in flying kites and roaming around with her friends. Will the father-daughter duo ever reach a consensus? The child star in an exclusive conversation to India Today Online talks about her character, her hobbies and her bonding with her on-screen father Vicky Ahuja.

Who's Durga?"It's the story of a father and a daughter. Father wants that her daughter becomes a highly-educated and successful person, while Durga has one problem. She wants to study, put can't concentrate. When she tries to study Maths, numbers start dancing and run away mocking her. (laughs). She, however, has a great friendship with kites. She talks to them, she loves to fly them. She gets bored of studying and likes to roam around a lot."

And here's how Durga is similar to Ananya"I am a lot like Durga in real life. I don't like to study. I like to play and roam around with my friends. Personally, I like drawing and swimming. I even draw on the sets but never show it to others.

Even while shooting, I can't spend too much time at one spot. I give my shot quickly and then run away to play."

Ananya's equation with her on-screen father Vicky Ahuja: I love to scold him"I love to scold him. He is scared of me and I love scaring him."

Ananya's daily routine: I play from 8:30pm to 10pm"Despite my shooting schedule, I take out time to play outside. The working hours range between 8-12 hrs depending on the work. I don't get tired. I love to shoot. I play with my friends from 8:30 pm to 10pm. Then I have my dinner while watching TV and go to sleep by 11:30pm."

'Not interested in acting once I grow up'"Though I enjoy acting a lot but I would like to pursue something different when I grow up. I want to take up as many projects as I can now, and will explore some other career later on. I don't know what I will do as an adult but will definitely not become an actor, a doctor or an engineer."

--- ENDS ---

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The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) wants the National Service Scheme (NSS) to explain how it arrived at the 40 percent salary increment for National Service Personnel.

According to Isaac Bampoe-Addo, Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, all public sector institutions agreed on a 12.5% salary increment.

He wondered why NSS had been given an increment which is far beyond that figure.

On the sidelines of a thanksgiving service organized for CLOGSAG staff in Accra yesterday, Executive Secretary said, To the best of our knowledge, a 12.5% has been agreed by all public institutions so they have to explain how they came by that 40% for the personnel.

A memo released on December 14 from the Ministry of Finance put the new monthly allowance at GH559.04 from GH350.

The decision has set tongues wagging since many believe the outgoing NDC government which has barely three weeks to leave office, is not acting in bad faith while others have suggested that such decisions should have been left with the incoming Akufo-Addo-led NPP government.

Addressing the members, Mr. Bampoe-Addo said that the 5% salary deductions towards the 2nd Tier Pension for September and October, 2016 had been transferred to the nominated custodian banks.

He said a technical team comprising representatives from the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA), the public sector unions/associations had been constituted to ensure that all issues relating to pensions are resolved by June 2017.

He also said that CLOGSAG would not allow the incoming government to intimidate civil servants over perceive political allegiance, saying the association would come to the aid of any member who finds himself in such a situation.

Let us also be cautious of our utterances and deeds that may undermine our colleagues in our anxiety to court the attention of the new administration. Such perpetrators would be exposed and shamed for indulging in this bad practice, he said.

He said CLOGSAG has filed a suit at the Supreme Court, challenging the exclusion of civil and local government staff from participating in the processes leading to the selection of MPs under Article 94 (36) of the constitution.

By William Yaw Owusu




Marketing Support Consultancy Limited (MSC), a research institute, has donated over GH3,000 worth of items to Echoing Hills Village, an orphanage at Madina, Accra.

The items included toiletries, bags of rice, gallons, of oil and soft drinks.

A GH1,000 cheque was also given to the orphanage to help it to pay its bills and cater for the kids during the Christmas season.

Seth Odiko, Country Manager at Marketing Support Consultancy Limited (MSC), told BUSINESS GUIDE that the donation was part of its corporate social responsibility.

He said, We deem it right to give back to society what it has given us by supporting the needy ones through our donations.

We do this at the end of every year and many orphanages have benefited from our support and we intend to continue.

The less privileged are part of society and they need our help to survive.

Mr. Odiko called on other corporate institutions in the country to offer support to the needy in society, especially those in orphanages and mental homes.

Pastor Anthony Ampofo, one of the coordinators of the Orphanage, who received the items, expressed appreciation to MS, calling on others to emulate their shining example.

They called for more support to help run the home, explaining that the orphanage does not get any support from the government.

Echoing Hills Village, which was established in 1994, seeks to provide foster care, shelter, healthcare, education and training to the underprivileged children to prepare them for the challenges in future.

They also offer rehabilitation for special children.

The orphanage currently has about 80 inmates, consisting orphans, abandoned and needy children and children suffering from cerebral palsy.

A Business Desk report


Mr. Kojo Wilmot, National Project Officer, Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA), IOM

23.12.2016 LISTEN

Migrants deaths and various fatalities associated with the dangers of irregular migration might increase in 2017 if the United Nations and various governmental bodies fail to manage the situation, the National Project Officer of the Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA) of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mr. Kojo Wilmot, has revealed.

Updated statistics from his outfit shows that there has been an increase in the deaths of migrants recorded on the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. For instance, from 1st January, 2015 to 31st December, 2015, 1,007,494 migrants entered Europe through the Mediterranean routes and 3,777 migrants died during the journey. From 1st January, 2016 to 19 December, 2016, the number of migrants entering Europe reduced drastically to 358,156 but this did not factor into the fatalities as a whopping 4,901 deaths were recorded.

The Mission Migrants Project and the Global Migration Data Analyses Centre has compiled the number of migrants deaths worldwide. In 2014 5,267 deaths were recorded, rising to 5,740 deaths in 2015, and 7,259 deaths in 2016 with deaths from the Mediterranean routes (Eastern, Central and Western) accounting for about 60% of the recorded deaths.

He noted that these recent developments were shocking and entreated the world bodies especially the United Nations to be up and doing. Many of such fatalities occur to migrants from the Sub-Saharan countries such Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and many others who use the Nigerien-Libyan routes to Italy through the Islands of Lampedusa and Sicily or to the east through Mauritania, Morocco through to the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta then to mainland Spain.

The Central Mediterranean (Libya to Italy) plays a critical role in these fatalities. According to Mr. Wilmot, the current situation in Libya is very favourable for traffickers.

Libya is in a state of anarchy, things are not well coordinated and that traffickers usually have a free day. However, because Moroccan and Spanish officials are ruthless, many people do not usually use the western Mediterranean route, he added.

One of the home grown strategies the IOM has put in place to curtail these fatalities is the establishment of migration centres which would give migrants accurate and reliable information on migration.

IOM through the Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA) has established a Migration Information Centre in Sunyani (one of the high migrants areas in the country). This centre is a one stop shop where potential migrants can go for accurate and reliable information for them to really make an informed decision before they migrate, Mr. Wilmot stated, adding that a similar centre called the Migration Information Bureau will be opened in Accra within the first quarter of 2017 to serve the same purpose as the Migration Information Centre.

In addition, the centre is also actively engaged in community sensitisation, noting that officials of the centre have visited some communities within the Brong Ahafo region to sensitize the people especially the youth on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to travel safely. Some of the strategies used, included broadcasting documentaries of such journeys and also bringing some returnees to share their own stories. According to him, this project has seen a greater level of response as some people within the area have expressed gaining a better understanding of the dangers of irregular migration and had expressed satisfaction towards the project.

Perhaps, one critical area to this global problem is behavioural change. In addressing this through a scientific method by providing empirical evidence to address this, the centre has carried out a study where findings of the study will be implemented and would be used for the information campaign activities. You would realise that in as much as we continue to sensitise the people about the dangers of irregular migration, the issue is still prevalentWe wanted a behavioural change kind of strategy that would help us to make the necessary impact that we expect. IOM through the GIMMA project has been partnering with the Ghana Immigration Service in this regard, Mr. Wilmot said.

In fighting behavioural change, Project Assistant of GIMMA Victoria Serwaa Kankam said by putting hands on deck to build the economy to get people jobs, not necessarily white collar jobs but something that is sustainable that people can live with, is one way that will help fight behavioural change.

We cannot do it all alone as IOM, but its something that all civil society organisations and every policy maker should be looking at doing. If we can do something about improving the economic challenges that we have as a nation, it is one best way of keeping our human resource that we have and not getting them to move out in that quantum of numbers that we have been experiencing she noted.

A returnees story

A 46 year old Mohammed Awal Yusif, a resident of New Town, in Accra, is one of the many returnees who emptied his savings to go to Europe through illegal means, but was unsuccessful. According to him, he is happy to be home after spending 13 years of his youthful life in Libya trying to enter Europe. He owned a barbering shop then and said that business was really good but was led to believe that there were greener pastures in Europe.

As he recounts his story, he stated emphatically that he would not go back through illegal means, but upon carefully examining his thoughts, it appeared that should the opportunity avail itself, he might consider going as the economic situation does not seem to be favourable to him.

I dont regret returning to Ghana but I regret because I dont see any improvement in my life. But I feel I can make it. Even if I want to travel, I would go by regular means. I have suffered a lot through illegal migration and I must say that the suffering in Ghana is even more than what I went through in Libya. Everything I get is just hand to mouth. Sometimes I starve just to save something little, he lamented.

Mohammed was influenced by his colleagues in Makaranta (an Islamic School) as some of them had travelled to Europe through Libya and they were making it. He left Ghana on 11th November, 1994 with US$300 in hand together with three of his colleagues. My money was enough to the extent that I was able to assist some my colleagues during the journey, he said. They passed through Kumasi, Bawku, Burkina Faso before getting to Niger where the dangerous journey began. They stayed in the Nigerien city of Agadez for two months before continuing the journey. This he said was because they wanted to pass through the safer side of the journey. Mohammed stated that there are two routes leading to the Libyan Desert. The eastern side leads to Dirkou  which is much safer, whiles the western route leads to Arilit, through Mount Hogar.

Passing through Arilit through Mount Hogar means that one must walk for at least four days, carrying gallons of water mixed with paracetamol, food, and the ability to withstand the scorching sun before entering the Libyan Desert territory. This path is much economical for migrants, but very tough.

This was the reason Mohammed and his colleagues spent two months in Agadez because using this route could be challenging. Dirkou route is much safer but economical. Vehicles ply the route but it takes a while before the vehicles arrive. When the vehicles finally came, the number of migrants making the journey far exceeded the vehicles. It was then that they had to make their way into them by struggling to get a place to sit.

He and his colleagues separated as they boarded separate vehicles. However, Mohammed had to spend four of the one week journey starving because the food they were carrying was in another car with his colleagues. He lamented it was a very difficult journey.

However, more sufferings were yet to come. When they finally arrived in the Libyan Desert territory, Mohammed was part of the migrants who was arrested and subsequently had his passport seized by Libyan security patrolling the desert. In prison, you dont fight for your passport, but your life, he narrated. He spent three months in prison. He was later released after he had paid $100 but his passport was not given to him. He made his way into Benghazi, Libyas second largest city and spent two years as a barber. According to him, business flourished and he was able to send money home. He later moved to the capital city of Tripoli and spent one year and two months. There he did menial jobs such as plastering, houseboy, construction and others to save in order to pursue his vision of travelling to Europe.

Teary-eyed while narrating his ordeal, he said that in Tripoli he and his colleagues from other West African countries met a middle man who arraigned for a boat to take them through the Central Mediterranean to Italy. But the $1,200 they paid for the trip was wasted as the Libyan Navy patrolling the Mediterranean arrested them. We were on our way to Italy but still in Libyan zone when we were arrested. All the 17 migrants on board paid $300 before we were released.

After this unfortunate incident, he made his way to the village of Murzuk. He spent six months working in a gas project desert field. He returned to Tripoli to continue his menial jobs. It was in 2005 when he was informed of the sudden death of his father. He decided to return home and subsequently did in 2007.

Two of my colleagues I began the journey with made it, but not to Europe. One is in Japan and the other is in Thailand. Though I have been receiving something from them but life here in Ghana has been difficult. I cannot lay my hand on a permanent job, Mohammed, who has lost one of his ears during a scuffle on his way to work as a security, stated.

Agenda 2030

Migration is incorporated in the SDGs  the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is to facilitate orderly, safe regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well managed migration policies (IOM).

IOM is an inter-governmental agency that partners governments in dealing with migration issues. This is the reason the Project Assistant of GIMMA Victoria Serwaa Kankam said that by putting hands on deck to build the economy is the right way to go because IOM as an agency cannot do that alone.

Mr. Wilmot noted that the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has also supervised some decoration of Ghana Private Employment Association (GHAPEA). This association also seeks to enhance the operations of the recruitment agencies (those engaged in foreign placement) so that the unlicensed recruitment agencies are clamped on.

He added that some countries have signed bilateral labour agreements with Ghana. Jordan is one of the countries. So if there are standing bilateral labour agreements, this would be initiated between countries. (Should) there be abuse of rights, the countries can come in to fight for its nationals to ensure that the rights of their nationals are upheld, Mr. Wilmot emphasised.

As countries in the sub-Saharan region such as Benin, Nigeria, Gambia and Ghana have elected new governments, it is their responsibility to build a strong and resilient economy to harness the potential of its human resource.

This article was brought to you by the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) and Panos Institute West Africa, two non-profit and nonpartisan organisations in Ghana and Senegal respectively, with support from the European Union.
Peter Kwesi Kodjie, Secretary General elect of AASU

23.12.2016 LISTEN

The leadership of Coalition of Ghana Students Leaders Alliance, COGSLA wish to extend a heartfelt congratulatory message to Peter Kwesi Kodjie for being elected into the highest office as the SECRETARY GENERAL of the All Africa Students Union (AASU) at its 12 Elective Congress held at Khartoum in Sudan.

Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, a Ghanaian succeeds from another Ghanaian H.E Fred Awah who has been serving in the same capacity for the past four years.

COGSLA is of much conviction that Mr Kodjie with his in depth experience as a former NUGS President will operate a leadership style with focus that will empower and create a new path for the African Students where the African Students and teeming youth will take charge of the Continent and lead the discussion on Job opportunities and Climate change on the Continent.

We further urge Mr. Kodjie's administration to assist the African Students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities and to also advance the struggle towards achieving genuine economic Independence for the African states and the Continent as a whole and to take charge to lead the struggle towards eradication of rampant Political, tribal and religious conflicts on the continent as well as the fight towards eradication of hunger and poverty.

Having monitored closely your experience and Competence in the canals of students activism for the past eleven years,

COGSLA believes you will build on the good legacies achieved by the outgoing Secretary General, H.E Fred Awah. Permit us at this juncture to say congratulations to Mr. Kodjie for his victory and making Ghana proud once more. We pray for God's guidance and unflinching protection in your four year tenure as Secretary General of AASU.

Long live AASU

Long live COGSLA

Long live Ghana

..signed

Maxwell Dampare Sakyi

(Public Affairs Manager)

0246529094

Ivy-Vera Arhin

(General Secretary )

0241616422

Matasa K. Blay

(Director General )

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The Ghana Fire Service has revealed there was no water running through the fire hydrants around the site of the Labadi gas explosion on Thursday evening.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Director of Public Affairs, Billy Anaglate said this forced the fire trucks to move all the way to Makola in Accra to refill the fire trucks to put the fire out.

It ultimately took the fire service about four hours to bring the fire under control after arriving on the scene a few minute before 6pm.

The scene of the Labadi gas explosion

Mr. Anaglate hailed the fire firefighters effectiveness in keeping the fire under control despite the challenge with the hydrants and water supply.

Because of the contingency plan we put in place, even with the biggest challenge of not having water readily available passing through the hydrant for firefighting, meaning we even needed to move our vehicles when they were exhausted with water to travel all the way Makola to replenish we were able to fight the fire to extinguish it at that shortest possible time of even four hours or five hours.

There were fire hydrants within the Trade Faire and around the area but water was not passing through, if you have a hydrant and water company has not released water to pass through it, there is no way you will be able to access it.

He added that the Fire Service had a hydrant recovery team doing its best to keep track and inspect and make sure they [the hydrants] are available but the next thing is for the water company to release water to them.

No need for blame game

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) however accused the fire service of playing a blame game and picking on water providers as an easy target in the wake of the incident.

Also speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Public Relations Office of the GWCL, Stanley Martey said it is not proper at this time to be laying blame and I think that it is high time the fire service stopped blaming the Ghana water company limited anytime they fail in their responsibilities.

The softest area to blame is the Ghana Water Company limited and I think it is wrong. I think it is very bad. We have discussed this issue several times and the Fire Service is always quick to lay blame on water not being in the hydrant.

Mr. Martey also questioned why service resorted to a hydrant in Makola when it had a hydrant at headquarters closer to the scene of the fire.

The Ghana National fire service has a hydrant in this head office at the ring road and they are supposed to be fetching water on there all the time. Why are they saying they had to go all the way to Makola?

So I don't think they are justified in giving that excuse and it is the easy way for them to do that all the time and I think it is very wrong, Mr. Martey asserted.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
We cannot build an economy where corruption is the working capital

 Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria

Democracies can no longer tolerate bribery, fraud and dishonesty; especially as such practices disproportionately hurt the poor.

 Jimmy Carter, former President of the USA

So the criminal gang made up of greedy bastards, old evil dwarfs, babies with sharp teeth, thieves, stealers, leeches, liars, propagandists, team B players; the people who created well-oiled corruption machineries to loot and share the nation's wealth to the discomfort of the entire nation and to their own advantage have been booted out of political office? Majority of the people in this country could not believe that it would happen. Not that the people of this country had any faith that the NDC, formed by capitalists of socialist pretences out of the rampaging mob of the PNDC could genuinely win any free and fair elections. But the NDC held all the aces close to its chest in the December 7, 2016. Looking at its history, the NDC had been formed out of the PNDC using stolen national resources, the first political party in this country to be so formed. For a political party which could not pay its rent while in opposition, and within two years of gaining power, it was able to put up an ultra-modern national headquarters reputedly worth 20 million United States dollars in a prime area in Accra tells a story of fraud, corruption and evil mechanisation.

As if that was not enough, the NDC has always used stolen national resources to finance its political campaigns. It uses stolen national resources not only to purchase pickups which are distributed liberally among all its parliamentary candidates to aid them in their electioneering campaigning backed by sizable unaccountable monetary imprest to boot. The party erects clearly out of sight offensive billboards at vantage points and also buys items ranging from mundane household items like chamber pots and head pans to expensive four wheel vehicles and estate houses all from state resources for distribution to the electorates all in the quest to influence their voting. During the 2012 elections alone, the corrupt, incompetent, ethnocentric, nepotistic, greedy John Dramani Mahama NDC administration squandered over nine billon cedis of the nation's resources to finance its electioneering campaign. The nation is still counting the cost of the money stolen this time around during this year's elections. No doubt the amount will far exceed the figures for 2012 judging from the obscene manner in which frivolous but expensive freebies were tossed around in a distribution campaign led by the lady of the house.

There were other extenuating factors which made most Ghanaians develop goose pimples and had fright that the NDC was going to win the elections, albeit, through illegal and dubious means and that only spiritual and heavenly intervention and eternal vigilance on the part of the citizens could prevent that from happening. In the first place, the Electoral Commission, which is meant to be an independent objective referee, in actual fact, by all its acts of commission and omission leading to the elections and during the elections, portrayed itself as an organisation with a leadership populated by a batch of golliwogs and stringed puppets dancing to the tune of the NDC in a manner as if possessed by the devil. The Electoral Commissioners turned deaf ears to all meaningful suggestions coming from outside the NDC camp. As if the divisive stand of the Electoral Commission was not enough, the state security services which were expected to provide security to all manner of persons rather behaved as if the leadership formed part of the apron strings of the NDC providing selective injustice, protecting NDC crime perpetrators and picking up non-NDC supporters for no just causes. Thus, when the leadership of the security services visited Nana Akufo Addo, after he had won the presidential election, I thought they went there with copies of their resignation letters. I was surely disappointed by the hypocritical and the U-turn attitude and a dog in a manger behavior.

Again, the Peace Council which was supposed to calm waters and provide a soothing balm for flayed nerves of the worried citizens rather chose to behave like the proverbial ostrich. It completely either turned blind eyes to the atrocities which were committed by the rampaging apparatchiks of the NDC or issued meaningless innocuous statements whenever evil was perpetrated by NDC members and sympathisers and only woke up when persons belonging to the non-NDC party appeared to be at fault. Is it not interesting and very intuitive that it was only on the day when the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission faced the TV cameras to announce the result of the presidential elections that Ghanaians first got to know the faceless operators behind the Electoral Commission. I heard somebody exclaim in amazement that he did not know that five of the seven Commissioners were women with all the seven with unknown fixed addresses. How could the nation leave the most sensitive institution of the state in the hands of persons who do not appear to have known addresses?

Again how come only a retired Head of the Methodist Church is the only visible face of the Peace Council when we still harbor the idea of the gallant refusal of the former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church to accept bribes of V8 vehicle, a house at Trassacco Valley and US$100,000 to join the evil and satanic camp of the NDC? Today if the NDC is licking its wounds, it is not because the party lost the elections but because the leadership is still at sea as to how after all the massive rigging machinery the party put in place, the system could not guarantee the party election victory. A fool once said in his heart there is no God. So is it a fact that the rainbow coalition of the greedy bastards, the old evil dwarfs, the babies with sharp teeth, the liars, the propagandist, the thieves, the stealers, the people who created well-oiled corruption machineries to loot and share the nation's wealth have been booted out of political office? Yes it is true, no matter how unbelievable it might sound. That was the battle. The war to be fought is to install zero tolerance for impunity and corruption in our body politics and society, something which we lost during the 27 years of atrocious poetical adventure under the PNDC?NDC evil political conglomerate.

E  mail: [email protected]

BY Kwame Gyasi
The late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, will be buried in the night of Thursday, January 19, 2017.

The queen mother, who died at an advanced age of 111, would be buried at the Breman Mausoleum.

This would take place after she had been laid in state, starting from Monday, January 16, 2017, at her palace, a press release authored by Kofi Badu, Chief of Staff at the Manhyia Palace, has stated.

The sympathizers would pay homage to Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who would sit in state each day during the period, according to the release.

A burial service for the late queen mother would take place at the St Cyprian's Anglican Church on January 19 before her interment.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
The Paramount Chief of Sempe Nii Adote Otintor has finally restored peace to communities under his jurisdiction in the Greater Accra Region.

The protracted chieftaincy disputes among people of Oduman, Nsakinaa, Obom resulted in the destruction of lives and property in the affected towns.

The protracted disputes hampered the provision of potable drinking water, roads, schools, among others in the area.

Speaking at a ceremony recently at Sempe-James Town in Accra to announce the amicably resolution of the disputes in the communities, Nii Otintor said he was delighted to restore peace to the area after several failed attempts.

The quest to bring my people together was never a personal thing, but a journey to ensure that my subjects live in an atmosphere of peace and harmony, so they could go about their daily activities without any interference from any quarters, he added.

According to him, persons who live in fear in a community cannot contribute positively to the socio-economic development of the country.

As part of the ceremony, the chief reshuffled some of the royals and tasked other committed leaders to steer the affairs of the people.

After the announcement was made, traditional rites were performed from Obom to the beach and then to the Sempe Palace for final ceremony.

In attendance were the youth who Nii Adote Otintor has special interest in.

He argued that the youth are the future of the stool and that their efforts to make the Sempe great and powerful cannot be underestimated.

The chief thanked his subjects and everyone who played a role in the resolution of the disputes to promote peace.

Head of the Obom Family, Weku Onukpa Daniel Quarcoopome, who burst into tears owing to the resolution of all land disputes said, If I knew our great warrior could solve the long-standing dispute, I wouldnt have wasted lots of money going to places where mediation proved futile.
British ambassador to Somalia Harriet Mathews led a cross-embassy team of security, stabilisation, humanitarian and political colleagues on a visit to Baidoa, Kismayo and Garowe. During the visits to the regions, Ambassador Mathews held discussions with key regional stakeholders on a range of political, security, humanitarian and development matters.

In Baidoa, Ambassador Mathews met with South West President Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan and South West Ministers. The UK delegation also met security leaders in the region to discuss the security priorities in a meeting led by General Yarow, Chief of Defence Staff of the Somali National Army (SNA) and African Union Mission in Somalia sector Commander General Gebre. Ambassador Mathews visited the site where the SNA Headquarters is being built and officially opened the newly finished transport hub  both of which the UK is supporting.

In Kismayo, Ambassador Mathews met with President of Jubbaland Sheikh Ahmed Islam Madobe, representatives of the Jubbaland Government and members of civil society groups. The delegation also met with AMISOM Sector commander to discuss security plans and ongoing challenges for the sector.

In Garowe, the UK delegation convened a meeting with humanitarian and development partners to discuss the growing urgency of the drought and its humanitarian challenges. The delegation also met with key Puntland security actors, including Puntland Minister for Interior, Deputy Minister for Security, and Police Commissioner.
Kinshasa (AFP) - The signing of a deal aimed at ending DR Congo's political crisis was being held up on Friday due to "complications", a source close to the negotiations said, dampening hopes of a breakthrough.

The unstable, mineral-rich nation has been thrust into political limbo by President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down after his second and final term, which officially ended on December 20.

At least 40 people have been killed during anti-Kabila protests around the Democratic Republic of Congo since Monday, the UN human rights office said in Geneva Friday.

"Some 107 people have been injured or ill-treated and there have been at least 460 arrests," it added.

The influential Catholic Church has been brokering talks between the government and opposition in a bid to exit the crisis, and negotiators wrapped up talks on Thursday night in an optimistic mood, leaving legal experts to finalise the text of the deal based on a working document.

DR Congo faces a political crisis

"It's certain -- we will finish tomorrow," CENCO vice-president Fridolin Ambongo had said, while an opposition source told AFP: "We've got everything we could have wanted."

Lumanu Mulenda, a negotiator on the government side, had said: "The president has made enough concessions, the deal will be signed tomorrow."

But on Friday morning a source in the Congo National Episcopal Conference (CENCO), which is presiding over the negotiations, told AFP tersely: "There have been complications."

The working document for the deal, seen by AFP, envisages a "political transition" with fresh presidential elections to be held at the end of 2017.

Supporters of DR Congo President Joseph Kabila parade his photograph in Kinshasa in November 2006

The vote was supposed to be organised this year, and the government had previously said it was impossible for it to be held before April 2018.

The deal also guarantees that Kabila will not seek a third mandate -- as is banned under the constitution -- and lays the groundwork for a "national transition council" charged with carrying out the agreement.

In return, the opposition headed by 84-year-old Etienne Tshisekedi, accepts that Kabila would stay in power until he hands over to an elected successor, having previously demanded an immediate departure from public life.

Risk further conflict

Kabila, 45, has been in power since his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001.

The younger Kabila was confirmed as head of state of the vast nation of 70 million people in DR Congo's first free post-independence elections in 2006, and re-elected in 2011 in a vote marred by allegations of massive fraud.

The UN said those killed In clashes with security forces were "mainly" people protesting Kabila's refusal to step down.

UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement the high casualty figures suggested DR Congo's security forces had shown "a serious disregard" for the need for restraint.

"Violent repression of dissenting voices and a heavy-handed and irresponsible response to demonstrations risk provoking violence in return by demonstrators and possibly even tipping the constitutional crisis over the president's future into further conflict across the country," the rights chief said

Despite being constitutionally banned from seeking a third term, a controversial order by the constitutional court in May said Kabila could stay on until a successor was chosen.

DR Congo has never witnessed a democratic transfer of power following polls since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Two decades ago, the country collapsed into the deadliest conflict in modern African history. Its two wars in the late 1990s and early 2000s dragged in at least six African armies and left more than three million dead.
Calling it a theft of people's property, Forbes has compared demonetisation with forced-sterilisation drive undertaken by the then Indira Gandhi government during her Emergency regime of 1975-77.

A notice is hung outside a bank as it ran out of cash in Delhi. (Photo: AP)

By Indo-Asian News Service: Calling India's demonetisation drive as immoral, Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, said it also amounted to theft of people's property.

The November 8 move to spike the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had damaged the Indian economy, future investment and was also an assault on the privacy of common man life by inflicting more state control.

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"India's government perpetrated an unprecedented act that is not only damaging its economy and threatening destitution to countless millions of its already poor citizens but also breathtaking in its immorality," the respected magazine said.

READ| Demonetisation is economic robbery: Rahul Gandhi

The demonetisation has triggered an unprecedented cash crunch across the country, forcing millions to stand for long hours in queues at banks and ATMs to withdraw money.

'MASSIVE THEFT OF PEOPLE'S PROPERTY'

"Without any warning India abruptly scrapped 85 per cent of its currency. That's right: Most of the country's cash ceased to be legal tender. Shocked citizens were given only a few weeks' notice to take their cash and turn it in at a bank for new bills," the magazine said.

Forbes pointed out that governments do not create resources, people do.

Rush for cash (Photo: AP)

"What India has done is commit a massive theft of people's property without even the pretence of due process -- a shocking move for a democratically elected government.

"Not surprisingly, the government is downplaying the fact that this move will give India a one-time windfall of perhaps tens of billions of dollars."

WATCH:

'IT'S LIKE FORCED-STERILISATION'

Forbes compared the demonetisation with the forced-sterilisation drive undertaken by the then Indira Gandhi government during her Emergency regime of 1975-77.

"Not since India's short-lived forced-sterilization programme in the 1970s -- this bout of Nazi-like eugenics was instituted to deal with the country's 'overpopulation' -- has the government engaged in something so immoral.

People are still struggling to get cash from banks and ATMs. (Photo: AP)

"It claims the move will fight corruption and tax evasion by allegedly flushing out illegal cash, crippling criminal enterprises and terrorists and force-marching India into a digitized credit system.

"India is the most extreme and destructive example of the anti-cash fad currently sweeping governments and the economics profession.

'ATTACK ON PRIVACY'

"Countries are moving to ban high-denomination bills, citing the rationales trotted out by New Delhi. But there's no misunderstanding what this is truly about: attacking your privacy and inflicting more government control over your life.

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"By stealing property, further impoverishing the least fortunate among its population and undermining social trust, thereby poisoning politics and hurting future investment, India has immorally and unnecessarily harmed its people, while setting a dreadful example for the rest of the world."

Demonetisation has slowed down many businesses. (Photo: AP)

The magazine said the economic turmoil in India had been compounded by the fact that the government "didn't print a sufficient amount of the new bills, lest word leak out as to what was about to take place.

"The new bills are also a different size than the old ones, creating a huge problem with ATMs. Even though India is a high-tech powerhouse, hundreds of millions of its people live in dire poverty."

READ| Note ban pushed cashless transactions for petroleum products to 25 per cent

FORBES SLAMS TAXATION POLICY

Saying India's economy was based mostly on cash, Forbes condemned the stringent rules and taxation policies of India.

"Moreover, much of it operates informally because of excessive rules and taxes. The government bureaucracy is notorious for its red tape, lethargy and corruption, forcing people to get by on their wits."

Coming down heavily on the reasons cited by the Modi government for the note ban, the magazine said: "Human nature hasn't changed since we began roaming this planet.

Queue outside an ATM to withdraw money in Hyderabad. (Photo: AP)

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"People will always find ways to engage in wrongdoing. Terrorists aren't about to quit their evil acts because of a currency change."As for the digitisation of money, it will happen in its own good time if free markets are permitted.

THE FORBES REMEDY

"And the best cure for tax evasion is a flat tax or, at the least, a simple, low-rate tax system that renders tax evasion hardly worth the effort. Make it easy to do business legally and most people will do just that," the magazine commented.

As a remedy, the magazine suggested: "What India must do to fulfill its desire to become a global powerhouse is clear: slash income and business tax rates and simplify the whole tax structure; make the rupee as powerful as the Swiss franc; hack away at regulations, so that setting up a business can be done with no cost and in only a few minutes; and take a supersize buzz saw to all the rules that make each infrastructure project a 100-year undertaking."

--- ENDS ---

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Berlin (AFP) - Anis Amri, the Tunisian suspect in the Berlin truck attack who was shot dead in Milan on Friday, followed the well-trodden path of petty criminal turned jihadist killer.

Security sources believe the rejected asylum seeker was radicalised during a four-year stint in an Italian prison before he murdered 12 people in Monday's attack on a Christmas market in the German capital.

Amri, who turned 24 years old while on the run Thursday, was hailed as a "soldier of the Islamic State" by the IS-linked Amaq news agency after the bloody assault.

When he pulled his gun on the Italian police early Friday before they shot him dead, Amri reportedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

In a growing security scandal in Germany, Amri had long been watched as a potentially dangerous jihadist but managed to avoid both arrest and deportation.

Radicalised in jail

Berlin attack suspect killed

Amri's journey began in Oueslatia, a poor desert town in central Tunisia. The youngest of nine siblings, he was known to police as a juvenile delinquent who drank and took drugs.

He was 18 when the Tunisian revolution erupted in early 2011 and overthrew long-time dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Amri took advantage of the turmoil to flee the country, escaping a four-year jail term handed down in absentia for robbery and burglary.

He also "left to get away from misery", his brother Abdelkader told AFP this week.

"He had no future in Tunisia and wanted at all costs to improve the family's financial situation. We live below the poverty line, like most families in Oueslatia."

Like thousands of other migrants, Amri made the dangerous Mediterranean crossing and landed in March on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, where he lied about his age and was taken as an unaccompanied minor to Sicily.

Soon after, Amri was arrested on arson charges for burning a school building which had been converted into a refugee shelter. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Not a model prisoner, he received no early release. It was behind bars that he was radicalised as an Islamic extremist, a classic phenomenon in Europe, local media reported.

Upon his release, Italy ordered him to leave the country, while Tunisia refused to take him back.

Small-time drug dealer

In July 2015 he headed to Germany, as tens of thousands of Middle Eastern and African migrants flocked to Europe's biggest economy.

His brother said Amri "worked as an agricultural labourer and things like that".

"He'd contact us on Facebook, saying he wanted to come back to Tunisia but that he had to earn some money to buy his own car and start his own business."

German security agencies say he quickly mingled in radical Islamist circles but evaded authorities by changing location frequently and using up to six different identities.

Amri repeatedly contacted Islamist "hate preachers" including the Iraqi Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A. alias Abu Walaa, who has since been arrested accused of seeking to recruit fighters for IS.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Counter-terror agencies were surveilling Amri and suspected he was preparing "a serious act of violence against the state," said Ralf Jaeger, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state.

Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016

Berlin prosecutors, who were in charge of the case, said Amri had been suspected of planning a burglary meant to raise cash to buy automatic weapons, "possibly to carry out an attack".

Surveillance had then however shown that Amri was working as a small-time drug dealer in Berlin and once had a bar fight with another dealer. The surveillance ceased in September.

Germany had meanwhile rejected his asylum request in June but was unable to deport him as Amri claimed to have no travel documents.

His deportation then got caught up in red tape with Tunisia, which long denied he was a citizen. The documents only arrived on Wednesday, two days after the Berlin attack, said Jaeger.

Amri's asylum-office papers for a stay of deportation were found in the cab of the 40-tonne lorry that cut a swathe of death and destruction through the festive crowd.

His shocked sister Najoua later told AFP that "he never made us feel there was anything wrong. We were in touch through Facebook and he was always smiling and cheerful."
Valletta (AFP) - A man who said he was armed with a grenade hijacked a Libyan plane which landed on Malta Friday with 118 people on board, Malta's prime minister and government sources on the Mediterranean island said.

After more than an hour on the tarmac, the plane's door opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending a mobile staircase.

"First group of passengers, consisting of women and children, being released now," Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter, adding in a later tweet that 50 passengers in all were being let off the plane.

The Airbus A320 had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

"The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations," Muscat said on his official Twitter account.

Libyan plane hijacked

"It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board: 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant," he said. There are also seven crew members.

Muscat later spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's fledgling unity government.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac surrounded by military vehicles and all flights in and out of the airport were initially either delayed or diverted to destinations in Italy.

'Negotiations under way'

There were conflicting reports about the number of hijackers.

Maltese government sources told AFP that there was a single hijacker on board who had told the crew that he had a grenade and would release the passengers only if his as yet unspecified demands were met.

A source from Libya's unity government spoke of "hijackers" on board.

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says he has been alerted to a "potential hijack" of a Libyan plane reported to be headed for the Mediterranean island

"Negotiations are under way to guarantee the security of all the passengers," the source said, without specifying who was negotiating.

An Afriqiyah Airways source said two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade.

Malta International Airport tweeted that there had been "an unlawful interference" but that operations had now resumed.

Flights from Brussels, London and Paris had been due to land at the airport on Friday and were delayed.

The flight from Paris has since been able to land, according to the airport's online arrivals board.

All outgoing flights were shown as delayed.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines -- banned from European airspace -- operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.
Following the revelation that there was no water in the hydrants around the scene of the Labadi gas explosion, particularly the Trade International Trade Fair Centre, Ghana Water Company Limited has indicated it had disconnected water to the area.

The Head of Corporate Communications at the GWCL, Stanley Martey, explained that this was because the Trade Fair had not paid outstanding water bills.

The Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, Accra

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Martey said the disconnection has been for more than a year because they haven't paid their bills. They have defaulted in payments for a very long time so we disconnected them.

He also indicated that the Fire Service should have been well aware of the water situation because the Trade Fair had opted to sink a borehole instead of paying their outstanding bills.

Instead of them paying their bills so that we would have them reconnected, they sunk a borehole in the Trade Fair. Now that the Trade Fair is using a borehole, is the fire service not aware that the borehole is not enough to combat fire anytime there is a fire outbreak?

The explosion, which occurred between the Labadi Cemetery and Trade Fair Centre, left six people dead and at least 39 injured.

Stop the blame game

Mr. Martey also expressed his frustration at what he deemed as a blame game the Ghana Fire Service is indulging in.

After the Fire Services Director of Public Affairs, Billy Anaglate, revealed that the absence of water in the hydrants forced the Service to move all the way to Makola in Accra to refill the fire trucks to put the fire out, Mr. Martey said the Fire Service was only using GWCL as a soft target.

Prince Billy Anaglatey

It is not proper at this time to be laying blame and I think that it is high time the fire service stopped blaming the Ghana water company limited anytime they fail in their responsibilities.

The softest area to blame is the Ghana Water Company limited and I think it is wrong. I think it is very bad. We have discussed this issue several times and the Fire Service is always quick to lay blame on water not being in the hydrant, he said.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Kinshasa (AFP) - Talks to end DR Congo's dangerous political crisis were suspended on Saturday until after Christmas after a fruitless 48 hours of negotiations over President Joseph Kabila's refusal to quit power.

Kabila's second and final five-year term ended on December 20, but he has shown no intention of leaving office soon, sparking violent protests that have left at least 40 people dead, according to the United Nations.

The informal talks, mediated by the influential Catholic Church since December 8, are now expected to resume after a Christmas break with hopes of a deal by December 30.

"We think that Friday will be the day... during which an agreement will be adopted and signed," said Marcel Utembi, president of the Congo National Episcopal Conference (CENCO), who had pushed for a deal before Christmas.

The talks between the government and opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo had raised hopes this week of an imminent deal, with a draft seen by AFP outlining plans for fresh elections at the end of next year, when Kabila would step down.

But that optimism has been slipping, and negotiators from the two camps left church offices in Kinshasa just before 5:30 am (0430 GMT) without a deal to prevent a fresh descent into conflict in a country that has suffered two horrific wars since 1996.

A man is arrested by a member of the military police after people attempted to block a road with rocks in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on December 19, 2016

After an all-night discussion "we reached the end of the tunnel," said Utembi, the archbishop of Kinshasa, who also stressed that "95 percent of the differences over the management of the transitional period have been ironed out."

But others indicated there was still a long way to go.

"Everything is still blocked on how (public affairs) will be managed during the transition period," said opposition delegate Francois Muamba.

'Serious mediocrity'

A frustrated CENCO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, had blasted DR Congo's political class for "serious mediocrity" in their inability to reach a deal during the marathon talks.

"They have called into question everything we arranged the day before," the official said.

Tensions are running high, with security forces spraying live ammunition at a string of anti-Kabila protests in Kinshasa and other towns this week, killing at least 40 civilians, according to the UN.

Congolese police put the toll at 20 dead, saying they had largely been killed in "looting" or by "stray bullets".

Other sources say somewhere between 56 and 125 people have been killed in a week of clashes, not counting the unknown toll from fighting between security forces and an anti-government militia in the central town of Kananga.

People gather to protest President Joseph Kabila's refusal to quit power in the neighbourhood of Yolo in Kinshasa on December 20, 2016

Kabila, 45, has been in power since the 2001 assassination of his father Laurent at the height of the Second Congo War.

He was confirmed as leader of the mineral-rich nation in 2006 during the first free elections since independence from Belgium in 1960, and re-elected for a second term in 2011 in a vote marred by allegations of massive fraud.

Constitutionally banned from seeking a third term, he obtained a controversial court ruling in May stating that he could remain in power until a successor was chosen.

DR Congo has never seen a democratic transfer of power following polls since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Two decades ago, the country collapsed into the deadliest conflict in modern African history. Its two wars in the late 1990s and early 2000s pulled in at least six African armies and left more than three million dead.
In the eyes of the operators of Jubilee oil field, it was a record time of development from discovery to first oil in December 15, 2010. To the government of Ghana, getting the Petroleum Revenue Management Act 815 in March 2011, 3 months after first oil, was good decision to guide how oil revenues were going to be spent. To some Ghanaians, it was a do or die affair at getting oil jobs. To the already employed staff of some oil companies, there was fire on the mountain!

Our faith was hanging in the balance when you were all jubilating over the new found oil. At that time I asked myself if we were going to be treated same as our colleagues with equal competence in Algeria, Kenya and others? Were we going to be given similar or same conditions of work? These were the issues that went through my mind. Charles Acheampong, Union member, Schlumberger-Takoradi.

In the beginning of the boom, expatriates were largely at the forefront. Along the line, many Ghanaians got on. Today, it is reported that there are some 7,000 persons working in the oil industry in Ghana, made up of over 70 percent Ghanaians. [Petroleum Commission, 2016].

While the Petroleum Commission is excited about the numbers, truth is, the 7,000 or so are habouring a lot pain. The expectations in the area of payoffs are shattering. Many of the staffs working in this highly skilled field are paid GH7.00 a day, the minimum wage, and the Labour Act 651 of 2003 agrees with it. The result is the accounts below.

Fruits of failure?

In November 2011, Workers of Weatherford Services Limited, a Scottish oil service company based in Takoradi, demonstrated at the company's premises to express their displeasure over intimidation and poor working conditions.

On 7th March 2014, workers of Schlumbeger in Takoradi protested against salary disparities between locals and expatriates. The attempt to seek redress ended up in a deadlock.

On October 29th 2014, 25 workers of MODEC, operators of the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah on the Jubilee Fields embarked on industrial action in protest for better conditions of work.

On January 22nd 2015, 9 workers of SKARM Construction and Engineering Services Limited in Takoradi were sacked for joining union. The nine were believed to be executives of the company's local union.

It couldnt have gotten any better if Ghanaian Oil Companies had not behaved similarly. This time, it was workers of the state's own gas facility, Ghana Gas. In August 26, 2016, workers at the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo in the Ellembelle district of the western region also demonstrated, demanding better-working conditions. The result was sacking leading members of the protest.

Baker Hughes and co were also on redundancy spree to the dismay of workers. At one point, a worker is declared redundant but within days, the same worker is called back on contract basis for the same post he was declared redundant.

In truth, while appellations are said of the industry by the Ghana government and the big guys, the Ghanaian oil and gas labour front is seeing traumatic developments six years down the line.

Two key issues we have found as NGO to be worrying the labour front in the oil and gas sector are the never ending salary disparities between expatriates and locals, and the denial of workers in the industry from joining labour unions. Solomon Kusi Ampofo; Communications and Advocacy Coordinator at Friends of the Nation, a socio-economic advocacy NGO in the Western Region.

Policy flaws

But a critical examination of why the oil front is experiencing these setbacks reveals flaws in the policy formulations leading up to oil production.

Consider this: Ghana had regulations for spending state funds before oil discovery in 2007. However when oil was discovered, the nature of the new resource called for the development and enactment of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act 815. Prior to that, a team of experts were flown to Norway to study best practices that made their oil industry a blessing. That gave birth to the famous Heritage Fund and others.

Shockingly, Ghana was consumed at finding how to spend oil revenues only than who helps it get the revenues and their welfare. Seriously, why didn't Ghana inquire and implement how to handle labour issues in the industry since we were also new to it?

Again, the Ghana Revenue Authority has had series of capacity building support since the oil era. This too is geared at getting the money.

But what is happening to PIAC? Yea! That's it.

On the labour front, there was the labour law. Why did we not amend portions of it to meet industry standards? Why it is that oil and gas workers in Ghana are treated just like my colleagues at the Regional Coordinating Council? Why will workers in the field be paid according to the minimum wage? If we had laws on public spending but yet we developed the PRMA, why couldn't we revise the labour laws for those in the oil and gas sector?

The resentment

We have been left to our fate. Our people did absolutely nothing on labour issues when we discovered oil. Their focus was on money, revenues money! It was as if the oil industry is like any other industry. But, this is a high risk area with serious specific consequences when there is a mistake. All over the world, oil industry and its staff are treated exceptionally. But here in Ghana, it's anything else. [A local union member at Weatherford, December 2016]

Our local content law was simply quite on labour issues. Local content policy that only focused on companies is simply an incomplete document. What is local content when it does not talk about the people who work for these local companies? What is shocking is that, under the current circumstances, oilfield workers are treated like any ordinary profession. That Labour Act, 2003, Act 651 came into force 8th October, 2003, way before oil was find. Does that sound OK to you? [A redundant employee of Baker Hughes, Andrew Agyiri. December 2016]

We had to demonstrate on the FPSO before the world could hear us. That problem wasn't created by us. Leadership at the forefront of the oil industry failed from the beginning. Unfortunately, some of us had to pay for their inability. Today, I've been sacked for standing up to our right. [Former employee of MODEC sacked for protesting salary disparities]

Yes! At the national level, the oil is a blessing. But a blessing on the sweats of persons who feel left to their fate.



By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo

[[email protected]]
Valletta (AFP) - Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said a total of 109 passengers had been released from the hijacked Libyan plane which landed in Malta on Friday.

Muscat said an initial group of 25 women and children released from the plane were quickly followed by nearly all of the 118 people on board the Airbus A320 jet.
Valletta (AFP) - Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane and diverted it to Malta Friday, before releasing almost all the passengers onboard, the prime minister of the Mediterranean island said.

After more than an hour on the tarmac, the door of the Airbus A320 opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending a mobile staircase.

Dozens more passengers were released minutes later.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in all 109 passengers had been released, which would leave only two passengers, possibly the hijackers themselves.

Seven crew members were also on board the flight.

"Crew members being released," Muscat said on Twitter, adding: "Potentially 2 hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft".

Maltese government sources had earlier said only a single hijacker was believed to be on the plane.

Libyan plane hijacked

The aircraft had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

"The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations," Muscat tweeted earlier.

"It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board: 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant," he said.

Muscat later spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's fledgling unity government, the Maltese prime minister's office said.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac surrounded by military vehicles and all flights in and out of the airport were initially either delayed or diverted to destinations in Italy, though some later landed.

'Negotiations under way'

A source from Libya's unity government spoke of "hijackers" on board the plane.

A hijacked Airbus A320 operated by Afriqiyah Airways after it landed at Luqa Airport in Malta on December 23, 2016

"Negotiations are under way to guarantee the security of all the passengers," the source said, without specifying who was negotiating.

An Afriqiyah Airways source said two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade.

Malta International Airport tweeted that there had been "an unlawful interference" but that operations had now resumed.

Flights from Brussels, London and Paris had been due to land at the airport on Friday and were delayed.

The flight from Paris has since been able to land, according to the airport's online arrivals board.

Outgoing flights were also shown resuming.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (pictured) said in all 109 passengers had been released, which would leave only two passengers, possibly the hijackers themselves

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines -- banned from European airspace -- operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.
Valletta (AFP) - Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane Friday and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone onboard and surrendering to authorities, officials said.

"Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter.

Minutes later he added: "Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody".

Libyan plane hijacked

Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala said the two hijackers were supporters of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi and had requested political asylum in Malta.

Siala, from Libya's internationally backed Government of National Accord, said the hijackers have also said they want to set up a pro-Kadhafi political party.

The plane landed at 11:32 am (1032 GMT) in Malta.

After more than an hour on the tarmac, the door of the Airbus A320 opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending a mobile staircase.

Dozens more passengers were released minutes later following negotiations that Maltese government sources said were led by the head of Malta's military.

In all there were 111 passengers, including 28 women and a baby, on board, as well as seven crew members.

A hijacked Airbus A320 operated by Afriqiyah Airways after it landed at Luqa Airport in Malta on December 23, 2016

Maltese government sources had earlier said only a single hijacker was believed to be on the plane.

The aircraft had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

"The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations," Muscat tweeted earlier.

Libyan airlines banned in Europe

Muscat later spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's fledgling unity government, the Maltese prime minister's office said.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (pictured) said in all 109 passengers had been released, which would leave only two passengers, possibly the hijackers themselves

The plane could be seen on the tarmac of a secondary runway surrounded by military vehicles.

All flights in and out of the airport were initially either delayed or diverted to destinations in Italy, though some later took off and landed.

Malta International Airport said there had been "an unlawful interference" but operations had now resumed.

An Afriqiyah Airways source said the two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade, forcing them to continue to Malta instead of landing at Tripoli's Mitiga airport.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines -- banned from European airspace -- operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.
On December 13, a message was circulated on various social media sites and messaging app Whatsapp, stating that the famous Hyderabadi Biryani restaurant was serving dog meat instead of mutton in its biryani.

By Ashish Pandey: The cyber crime police of Cyberabad on Friday arrested a student pursuing his MBA for spreading false, defamatory messages and pictures about a famous Biryani chain of Hyderabad.

1. On the 13th of this month, a message was circulated on various social media sites and messaging app Whatsapp, stating that the famous Hyderabadi Biryani restaurant was serving dog meat instead of mutton in its biryani.

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2. The messages went so viral that food safety officials of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation conducted raids and collected samples, and later sent the same to the laboratory for examination.

3. Later, the restaurant owner knocked at the door of the police and filed an official complaint seeking justice.

4. Taking the complaint quite seriously, the cyber crime department sent a requisition to WhatsApp authorities and asked them to furnish the details of the registered mobile number and the IP address along with date and time of the person, who initially generated the message on the mobile app.

5. Simultaneously, cops also started investigating where did the message first come from.

6. After concerted efforts in the form of a one-person-after-another interrogation, the cops finally identified the person who had first started this rumour.

7. The accused, identified as 22-year-old Valaboju Chandra Mohan, had started sending these false, defamatory messages and also spread three pictures of dog-slaughter and dog meat along with that.

8. Mohan, who is pursuing his MBA, was arrested under Sections 290 and 500 of the IPC and and Section 66 (D) of the IT Act.

9. Meanwhile, police has requested people to pay no heed to rumours and not spread false messages on social media without verifying the genuineness of the same.

Also read | Kerala: 5 students held for graffiti work on college walls

--- ENDS ---
23.12.2016 LISTEN

(From Kester Kenn Klomegah, Moscow Bureau Chief)

Moscow (Russia), Dec. 23, GNA - Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has praised Ghanaian authorities for efforts at conducting another successful presidential and parliamentary elections, and hailed the electorate for showing maturity at the polls held on 7 December 2016.

In an official statement posted Tuesday, the Ministry noted that 'observers from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States have recognised the election results as credible, as no serious violations that could have affected the expression of the people's will were reported.'

It concluded that 'Moscow considers the national election in Ghana an important step by Ghana's society on the path toward stable social and political development.'

The Electoral Commission has declared Nana Akufo-Addo as elected President whose New Patriotic Party (NPP) earned about 54 per cent of votes, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) got 44 per cent. The NPP is a liberal democratic party and is one of the dominant parties in the national politics of the Republic of Ghana.

In the 7 December 2008 presidential election, Akufo-Addo received more votes than John Atta-Mills amassing 4,159,439 votes representing 49.13% of the total votes cast, placing him first, but not enough for the 50 per cent plus one needed for an outright victory.

It was the best-ever performance for a first-time presidential candidate since the beginning of Ghana's 4th republic in 1992. In the run-off elections however, Mills ultimately received 4,521,032 votes, representing 50.23%, thus beating Nana Akufo-Addo.

Russian authorities have known the NPP for about a decade and have interacted with leading party officials previously. John Kufuor, a leading NPP member and then President of the Republic of Ghana met with President Vladimir Putin at the 33rd Group of Eight (G8) summit held 6-8 June, 2007 at Kempinski Grand Hotel in Moscow.

That was followed by an official working visit to Moscow by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, on 12 July 2007 on the invitation by Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lavrov.

During their diplomatic discussion, both Ministers reached an understanding to raise trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. They further agreed on developing direct business contacts between Russia and Ghana.

Towards realising this goal, Nana Akufo-Addo and Lavrov agreed to facilitate direct contacts between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of both countries. Akufo-Addo said that the Ghanaian side was preparing proposals concerning new projects which may become the object of joint development by companies in Ghana.

Currently, the United Russia Party, Federation Council (Upper House) and State Duma (Lower Chamber) told GNA in separate interviews in Moscow that they were ready to establish political and parliamentary relations with the new government and the New Patriotic Party.

Russia and Ghana have accumulated a valuable experience of mutual respect and trust from nearly 60 years of cooperation in their diplomatic relations that have been described as very friendly and close.

The relations here refers to the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Russia has an embassy in Accra and Ghana has an embassy in Moscow. Russia and Ghana will celebrate 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2017.

GNA
By Gifty Amofa, GNA

Kumasi, Dec 23, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has scaled up the effort to increase family planning (FP) acceptance to roll back growing abortion cases among adolescents.

Dr. Kwesi Yeboah Awudzi, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Health Director, said this was being done together with the National Population Council, Marie Stopes and Ipas-Ghana.

Addressing a press conference in Kumasi, he said 18 health facilities had now been designated to provide FP services.

These include the Kumasi Children's Hospital, Abuakwa Health Centre, Konongo and Nyinahin Government Hospitals, Afrancho, Mamponteng and Fumso Health Centres.

People could now pay as low as GHE1.00 to access any of the FP methods - contraceptives.

Dr. Awudzi expressed worry about the high rate of termination of unwanted pregnancies, particularly among adolescents, and said, that was unhelpful to the fight to prevent maternal deaths.

They constituted 44 per cent of the total of 3,951 officially reported cases in the region, last year.

Out of the year 2014 figure of 3,550, they formed 39 per cent.

Dr. Awudzi described the situation as disturbing, considering the fact that abortion was one of the major causes of maternal deaths.

He encouraged young people to abstain from pre-marital sex, telling, those who were unable to control their strong sexual desires to use contraceptives to avoid getting pregnant, when they were not ready for a baby.

He reminded them that FP methods were far cheaper than abortion.

Madam Rita Anafo, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, complained about the low acceptance of FP in the region and said that needed to radically change.

She put the coverage at just 22 per cent and asked that more was done to expand the coverage.

GNA
By Stephen Asante, GNA

Kumasi, Dec 23, GNA - Mr. Andrews Kwasi Boateng has been appointed as the new Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Governing Council held in Kumasi.

He succeeds the late Mr. Kobby Yebo-Okrah and a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Relations Office, Mr. Kwame Yeboah Junior, said he would serve for a five-year term.

Mr. Boateng, 51, until his appointment, was the Registrar of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani.

He began his career as University Administrator at the KNUST, in 1999, a position he held for 13 years - working in various schedules and offices including the Vice-Chancellor's Office, College of Science - KNUST Accra Office, the General Administration and the Human Resources Division of the Registrar's Office.

In year 2010, he served as Secretary to the Presidential Committee on Emoluments, a Committee appointed to determine the salaries and emoluments of Article 71 Office Holders.

He has been a member of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) since 1999.

GNA
By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA

Accra Dec 23, GNA - Assistant Commissioner of Police Afia Tenge, the Greater Accra Regional Public Relations Officer, on Friday, confirmed that five persons had died, while 42 sustained various degrees of injuries in the inferno caused by Gas Explosion at La, on Thursday evening.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the site of the explosion at the Louis Gas Station, behind the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre in La-Accra, ASP Tenge explained: 'We have 27 injured people at the 37 Military Hospital, three at the Police Hospital, six at La Polyclinic and six at Korle Bu, and the bodies of the five who passed on have been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue.'

ASP Tenge appealed to families, friends and well-wishers not to visit the site as it was unsafe but to look for their relatives involved in the accident at the identified hospitals.

'The place is still unsafe to come; now the Police, military, officials from the Fire Service and the Environmental Protection Agency are ensuring that the place becomes safe for inhabitors.

'From yesterday till now, the process has been underway to finish up to make the place safe.'

Chief Superintendent, Joseph Owusu Bempah, the La District Commander, advised motorists not to access the road from La to the Zenith College, saying, 'If they want to access the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, they should rather use the by-pass from the Labadi Beach Hotel through to the front of Zenith College to La DadeKotopon

'But this road would be closed for some time until the Fire Service advise otherwise,' he said.

Meanwhile the cause of the incident is still under investigations.

GNA
23.12.2016 LISTEN

Half-Assini(W/R), Dec 23,GNA - The Half Assini Government Hospital has so far recorded a total of 119 HIV cases as against 36 cases last year.

Mr Kwame Koomson, HIV Data Officer at the Hospital, made this known at Half Assini during a free blood screen exercise organized by Western Regional Network of Association of People Living with HIV (NAP+Ghana).

He said the situation was worrying and that in 2014 only 22 cases were recorded in the area only for it to go up to 119 cases this year.

Ms Patience Kwofie, In-charge of HIV Testing and Counselling of the Hospital, advised the public to check their HIV status at least every three months and urged them to adhere to HIV counselling to either avoid getting re-infected or spreading the menace.

Mr Thomas Kwamenlah, Chairman of NAP+Ghana, said the network has embarked on a Community Services Strengthening (CSS) in Half Assini area, to reach out to communities with medical services and to educate them on the need to check their HIV status.

Mr Thomson Kwamenlah said the Network in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission and with funds from GlobalAID normally conducted free blood screening exercise for the people and those who tested positive are referred to the hospital for the necessary assistance.

He explained that the programme dubbed 'Operation 90,90,90' started early this year and has so far covered Ahanta East and West, Sekondi /Takoradi, Tarkwa, Enchi, Wassa Akropong and Ellembele Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

He said under the programme the Ghana Aids Commission was targeting to put 90 Percent of people who tested positive for HIV on anti-retroviral drugs so as reduce the rate of infection in future.

Mr Kwamenlah said the programme was being organised in selected regions across the country including Ashanti, Central, Greater Accra and Western.

He said a similar programme had already been held at Tikobo No.1 in the Jomoro District but expressed concerned about the low turn-out at the Programme at Half-Assini despite adequate publicity on it.

The Regional Chairman announced that enough anti-retroviral drugs have been made available to Half-Assini Government Hospital and hinted that the Commission would soon train CHPS Compound attendants to handle HIV/AIDS cases.

In all About 150 people including children were screened.

GNA
23.12.2016 LISTEN

By Regina Benneh, GNA

Sunyani, Dec 23, GNA - The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned shop owners against taking advantage of the Christmas to sell unwholesome goods to unsuspecting consumers.

Mr. Matthew Gyang Nkum, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Authority, said they would act firmly to protect the health and safety of the people.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, he stated that any breaches of the Public Health Act would not be tolerated.

The warning comes amid the usually high patronage of goods during such festivities.

Mr. Nkum said officers of the FDA had taken steps to ensure that products put on sale met quality and safety standards,

He urged consumers to take the trouble to look at the labels and expiry date on all products before buying them.

He called for an end to the practice where goods were displayed in the open - exposed to excessive heat from the sun.

Mr. Nkum said the regional office of the Authority had already seized and destroyed large quantity of assorted unwholesome products, and vowed that, this was going to continue.

GNA
By Edmund Quaynor, GNA

Koforidua, Dec 23, GNA - A 116-page book to inspire hope, confidence and strengthen the faith of the people in God has been launched in Koforidua.

Titled 'God has not finished with you, the need to slow down', it was authored by the Reverend Father Charles Lawrence Amankwah of the Anglican Church.

It is the 13th publication by the priest, a prolific writer.

On hand to perform the launch were the Venerable Felix Anancy, Dean of the Koforidua Saint Peter's Anglican Cathedral and Mr. Michael Aidoo of the Ghana National Senior High School (SHS).

The first copy was auctioned for US$ 200 with the second and third going for GH 700.00 and GH 500.00, respectively.

In a forward to the book, the Right Rev Francis Benjamin Quashie, the Anglican Bishop of Koforidua, described it as 'a must read piece' for people who had lost hope in life.

He said the book was also a call on all not to measure their success by the achievement of others.

The author, who is currently the Parish Priest of Abetifi Ascension Anglican Church of Abetifi, holds a Masters' Degree in Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry from the Catholic University College of Ghana, Sunyani, Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast and Diploma in Theology from the University of Ghana, Legon.

GNA
By Boakye-Baafi, GNA

Abankro (Ash), Dec 23, GNA - The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to politicians to allow officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) the free hand to operate.

They should stop meddling - interfering with the work of the education authorities.

The acting National President of the Association, Ms. Philippa Larsen, was delivering a goodwill message at a festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held at the GNAT Village in Abankro in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.

She used the occasion to remind teachers to continue to give it their all to raise the quality of education.

They should uphold professional ethics, show strong commitment and passion for the job, she added.

GNA
By Eric K. Amoh, GNA

Tongo (U/E), Dec 23, GNA - The President Elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has promised to continue with all the unfinished projects legitimately commenced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government when he officially assumes office.

In addition, Nana Akufo-Addo pledged to endeavour to fulfill all other campaign promises made during the electioneering with particular emphasis on re-engineering the private sector as an engine of growth to push the economy to take its proper shape.

Nana Akufo Addo made the pledge when he visited the Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area, Tongo Rana Kubilsong Nalebtang who known in private life as Mr Robert Doameng Mosore, and is a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tongo Central Constituency.

Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the task ahead in the management of the country's economy, its politics and the resuscitation of social life could be herculean and daunting, however, with prayer support, and the renewal of will by all Ghanaians, irrespective of their social, ethnicity, and political backgrounds, the challenge could be surmounted.

He, therefore, urged the citizenry, especially the faithful, to pray with him for God's guidance and direction to lead the country to the utmost satisfaction of all for a more robust economy to better the life of every Ghanaian.

Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his promise and assurance to operate an open door system of administration in his government and said what Ghana needed at this crucial moment of her history was to get the people united and bring all on board to strive to bring the needed development.

The Tongo Rana, for his part, congratulated the President-elect and reminded him of the huge task ahead of him by the promises tabled in his campaign, saying the people of the Tongo Traditional Area had high hopes in him as the incoming President of Ghana, and were, therefore, waiting to see the Pwalugu Tomato Factory back into operations.

He also reminded him not to renege on the promises made to build a dam each in village in the area, adding that when these were done it would create employment for many of the idle youth and stem the migration to bigger cities in the region and beyond.

The President Elect was accompanied by the Vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Mr Kofi Adda, Member of Parliament (MP) Elect-for the Navrongo Central Constituency, Mr Frank Fuseini Adongo, MP-elect for the Zebilla Constituency, Mr Boniface Gambila, MP for Nabdam among other high ranking regional executives of the NPP.

Nana Akufo-Addo and his team have left the Upper East Region for the Northern Region and would continue to the Upper West Region to close the appreciation tour of the three regions.

GNA
By Deborah Apetorgbor, GNA

Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - The Standard Chartered Bank, Ghana, has donated $ 7,500 to the Komla Dumor Foundation to support its project on cardiovascular diseases.

The Foundation was established by the family of the renowned broadcaster, Komla Dumor, to sustain his legacy, following his sudden demise in 2014 from a cardiovascular condition.

The Foundation seeks to pursue the ideals Komla had, stood for and worked for; and to promote high journalistic standards and ethics.

Presenting the donation, Mr Kweku Bedu-Addo, the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, lauded the project by Komla's family as 'a brave initiative, a good idea and a worthy cause to support.'

He paid tribute to Komla, saying he was a 'very dedicated professional' and 'an icon in the field of journalism' in Ghana and found his death both a shock and a surprise.

On the project, Mr Bedu-Addo recalled a BBC report that had indicated that Africans were not healthy because their lifestyles were exposing them to a lot of cardiovascular diseases, blindness and diabetes.

The situation, he said, was mainly due to lifestyle choices, ignorance or lack of knowledge.

The goal of the Foundation to deal with cardiovascular diseases, he said, was therefore, in the right direction.

"It is good to make the up and coming generation aware; and to have institutions such as this to educate the younger generation about some of the lifestyle choices they make," Mr Bedu-Addo said.

He said the Bank would be closely observing the progress of the efforts by the Foundation and wished them well.

Professor Ernest Dumor, the prime initiator of the Foundation, said it was a platform intended to draw to the attention of Ghanaians to not "sit idly and allow the next generation to pass away quietly."

He said the situation had worsened as statistics indicated that cardiovascular incidences tended to occur between ages 35 and 55, with more of the victims being women.

Prof Dumor stated that the Project had been endorsed by the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and other Associations, including the Ghana Bankers Association, as a viable one.

Moreover, he was in discussions with other partners, including the Ghana Armed Forces, to make it a national movement for maintaining the health of Ghanaians, he said.

Prof Dumor was accompanied by Mrs Mawuena Adzo Trebarh, the CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council and Mrs Abla Dzifa Gomashie, a Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

GNA
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said India will provide help on the request of the mother of the boy, who has been taken away by the Norway authorities even as Norwegian embassy here asked for "restraint" in the case, assuring that it is being handled with "complete sensitivity and awareness".

Swarajs reaction came a day after she had asked the Indian Ambassador in Oslo to send a report on the allegations made by the couple that the Norwegian authorities took away their five-year-old child on frivolous complaint of abuse. While father and son are Norwegian nationals, the mother is an Indian citizen.

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"I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national," Swaraj tweeted.

Reacting to the case, the Spokesperson in Norwegian Embassy said the mission is aware and understands "the concerns on the ongoing child welfare case involving an Norwegian/Indian family in Norway".

"The Embassy would like to reiterate that child welfare cases are handled in accordance to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act, which includes directions from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"The Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their background, residential status or citizenship. The basic principle of the Act is that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

"Since child welfare cases are highly sensitive, the cases are therefore subject to a strict duty of confidentiality. The Embassy, therefore, requests restraint and assures that the Norwegian authorities are dealing with the case with complete sensitivity and awareness. When available and permissible, updates on the case will be provided to the media and the general public."

This is the third case since 2011 when children have been taken away from their Indian-origin parents by the authorities in Norway on the grounds of abuse.

In 2011, a three-year-old and a one-year-old were separated from their parents, prompting the then UPA government to take up the issue with Norway. The Norwegian court later allowed the children to be reunited with their parents.

In December 2012, an Indian couple was jailed on charges of ill treatment of their children, 7 and 2 years. Later, they were were sent to their grandparents in Hyderabad. PTI PYK SC

--- ENDS ---
Milan (AFP) - Italian police on Friday shot dead the prime suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack, ending a frantic four-day hunt for Europe's most-wanted man.

Tunisian Anis Amri, 24, is believed to have hijacked a truck and used it to mow down holiday revellers at the market on Monday, killing 12 and wounding dozens more.

Berlin attack suspect killed

The Islamic State jihadist group has claimed responsibility and released a video Friday in which Amri is shown pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

He had been missing since escaping after the attack Monday, but his time on the run was cut short thanks to a combination of luck and the quick reflexes of rookie police officer Luca Scata.

The 29-year-old, still officially a trainee, shot the Tunisian twice after he had fired on his patrol partner, Christian Movio, 36.

Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016

The officers had stopped Amri in the early hours of Friday, near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni train station. They had no idea of who they were dealing with.

"He was completely calm, they asked him to empty his backpack and with a sudden movement he pulled out the pistol, which was loaded and ready to use," said Roberto Guida, the neighbourhood police head.

Police said Amri had initially tried to pass himself off as being from southern Italy and had shouted "bastard police" in Italian before opening fire.

German authorities are investigating whether Amri was part of a "network" with accomplices still at large.

The brother of Anis Amri -- the prime suspect in Berlin's deadly truck attack, poses with a portrait of his sibling in Oueslatia, Tunisia, on December 23, 2016

Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the news, saying: "We can be relieved at the end of this week that the acute danger is over.

"However the danger of terrorism in general endures, as it has for several years. We all know that."

Amri's death came as German police arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack a shopping mall, while authorities in both Australia and Indonesia reported that Christmas terror plots had been foiled.

Open borders

Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016

Amri's port of entry to Europe was Italy, arriving on a migrant boat in 2011, and spending four years in prison there afterwards.

Convicted for starting a fire in a refugee centre, he served out his sentence until 2015, then made his way to Germany, taking advantage of continental Europe's Schengen system of open borders -- as he did on his return to Italy this week.

Milan police chief Antonio De Iesu said Amri had arrived in Italy from Germany via France. He had no telephone on him and only a few hundred euros.

The Christmas market near Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, pictured on December 22, 2016

German police said they found his finger prints in the truck, next to the body of its registered Polish driver, who was killed with a gunshot to the head.

A 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward had been offered for information leading to Amri's arrest.

'Lot went wrong'

Prominent politicians in Germany and Italy warned that lessons had to be learned from mistakes that might have contributed to Amri being able to carry out his attack.

The Tunisian was a rejected asylum seeker and had been on the radar of anti-terrorism agencies in both countries following his apparent radicalisation in prison.

The truck that crashed into a Christmas market near Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, pictured on December 20, 2016

German news weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Amri had been monitored since March, suspected of planning break-ins to raise cash for automatic weapons to carry out an attack -- but the surveillance was stopped in September because Amri was seen primarily as a small-time drug dealer.

German police patrol near Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on December 21, 2016

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel's liberal stance on refugees, said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy that brought almost 900,000 asylum seekers to Europe's top economy last year.

"It's clear that a lot went wrong... it was a systemic failure," said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King's College London.

Beppe Grillo, leader of Italy's biggest opposition party, the Five Star Movement, said the Schengen open borders system should have been suspended after the attack and needed an overhaul.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni addresses a press conference in Rome on December 23, 2016

"Italy is becoming a crossroads for terrorists that we are not able to identify and alert people about, and they are able to spread all over Europe thanks to Schengen," he said.

"Those entitled to asylum in Italy can stay, but all the other illegals need to be repatriated immediately, starting from today."

Germany's government has urged its citizens not to give in to fear, and Berliners flocked back to the Breitscheid square market after its reopening on Thursday.

On Friday, a memorial concert was planned at the iconic Brandenburg gate under the theme of "Together Berlin".

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni praised the police duo whose overnight patrol ended an international manhunt.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said: "Italy can be really proud of these two officers.

"We remain on maximum alert, we will not underestimate the threat but what happened overnight shows citizens that the state is there for them."

Movio, the officer shot by Amri, underwent successful surgery to repair the damage to his shoulder later Friday and was able to joke with visitors to his hospital bed. "I'm happy to have been useful," he told one.
In 2008 whilst I was still in secondary school and my interest in politics had just began to show, one person who I looked up to greatly was then Hon. Nana Akufo Addo who had been nominated as flagbearer for the NPP for the first time to contest against professor Atta Mills (Late). My interest in politics encouraged me to contest for the senior school prefect position in my school which later resulted in me being first assistant senior prefect. I didnt take part in student politics at the university because I detested the kind of student politics which was going on there. It pains me to say this, but most student politicians in the universities these days do so for self-aggrandizement and not because they have identified some ill in the school which must be confronted and solved.

I was in my early formative years then and anything I saw about politics I took interest in, which led me to read Nana Addos speech at the second series of the Ferdinand Ayim memorial lectures, on the topic Why We Must Believe in Ghana. The speech had been printed in the form of a booklet and was shared at an NPP campaign rally, so someone who attended (I guess it was my elder sister) got a copy and left it in our hall.

I took keen interest in the speech for no apparent reason, probably because I like the NPP party, but I am glad I read that speech because afterwards, I became awe struck by the thought process of the gentlemen who was seeking to be president of Ghana at the time. I held a notion at the time like most Ghanaians that, the majority of people who seek political office in Ghana do so for personal benefit and party benefit. However, this was a man who unlike his compatriots was talking patriotism and the need to modernise Ghana for everyones benefit. I read that speech over 15 times before I finally lost that booklet and the part that struck me most was subtitled Why Some Toil and Die for Ghana.

In that section, Nana Akufo Addo recounts the many challenges that we as a people have encountered such as colonialism and military rule and talks about the sacrifices that many such as Kwame Nkrumah and J. B. Danquah made to ensure that we are where we are as a nation today and argues that the quest of Ghanaians to see modernisation and development is what motivates people to put in selfless efforts for Ghana.

I will urge all readers to google Why we must believe in Ghana to understand the kind of person the next president of Ghana actually is. His selflessly is in built and I was not surprised by his composure even after the election petition hearing. He encourages us to be willing to work for Ghana for free without expecting anything back.

I write this piece to congratulate my hero and distant mentor President Elect Nana Akufo Addo.

If there is one man in Ghana who inspires me to be a politician, then it is President elect Nana AKufo Addo. I know he is going to be one of the best presidents Ghana will ever have and I have already been encouraged by his utterances post-election 2016 especially at Nalerigu where he said he wants it to be said when history is written that it was under an Akufo Addo presidency that prosperity was created for all Ghanaians. Also at the NPPs national thanksgiving he called for reconciliation and forgiveness which signifies he will be a unifying president.

I wish you all the best President Elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

The Author Albert Opare is a political science graduate from the University of Ghana and a social commentator as well as a social & political activist.

You can contact the author by mail on [email protected]

Comments and Criticisms are welcome
23.12.2016 LISTEN

The 37 Military Hospital has begun a search for families of two boys who suffered burns in a gas explosion at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra on Thursday.

The boys  William Bansah, 8, and Micheal Addy, 6  were caught up in the inferno which took fire fighters many hours to bring under control.

Both boys, as reported by Joy News Matilda Wemegah are, responding to treatment.

Out of a total of 28 victims brought to the Hospital, one died, four have been treated and discharged and 23 are currently receiving treatment.

So far, six persons have been confirmed dead, with 42 others suffering varying degrees of burns.

The La General and Police Hospitals are also in search of relatives of victims receiving treatment at their facilities.

Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia has toured all three hospitals and has promised that government will foot the bills of the victims.

The president has indicated clearly that all the cost of all the burnt victims from this incident will be covered by the state so we have made it clear to management that they should quickly put together all the logistics and the cost of caring for these patients.

As you know, with burns victims, there is the need to constantly wash, change dressing and put them on antibiotics and very strong pain killers, so there is for each patient a cost and this has been doneand all these patients are being cared for in the best possible manner, Mr Segbefia said.

He expressed appreciation with the level of professionalism exhibited by the doctors and staff of the hospitals in caring for the victims.

The Minister urged the public to assist in identifying the guardians of the two boys.

Part of the treatment process is to have loved ones around you and to be in isolation at that age without you feeling that someone cares for you can dampen your spirit even more, he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | NSA
Valletta (AFP) - Two men armed with a grenade and at least one gun hijacked a Libyan plane with 117 people on board Friday and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone and surrendering, officials said.

The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 was en route from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli when it was taken over and forced to fly to Malta, sparking a four-hour runway standoff.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the pair, probably of Libyan nationality, had given up a grenade and a pistol when they were arrested and a second pistol was found on the plane.

Libyan plane hijacked

Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala from Libya's fledgling national unity government said the two were supporters of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, whose death in 2011 has plunged Libya into chaos.

Siala said they wanted to set up a pro-Kadhafi political party and would ask for political asylum in Malta, although Muscat said they had not done so.

The plane landed at Malta International Airport at 11:34 am (1034 GMT), with 109 passengers, six crew and the two hijackers on board.

All flights in and out of the island were initially shut down while the Maltese military conducted negotiations.

It stood immobile for around an hour on a secondary runway surrounded by military vehicles, before a door opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending from a mobile staircase.

Dozens more passengers followed minutes later.

A hijacked Airbus A320 operated by Afriqiyah Airways after it landed at Luqa Airport in Malta on December 23, 2016

Muscat said the hijackers were told there would be no negotiations unless all passengers were released.

After the release of all passengers and two of the crew members, the hijackers were holding only the four remaining staff "for a period of time," he said.

Following further negotiations "the hijackers agreed to free the remaining members of the crew and to surrender," he continued, adding that "the hijackers did not make any requests".

Armed Maltese military personnel were later seen storming the plane.

All passengers and crew members would be interrogated before a charter flight takes them back to Libya, Muscat said.

Hijackings have become relatively rare since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States led to increased security on flights.

Other recent hijackings have been carried out by individuals for reasons ranging from personal to political, and almost all ended swiftly and safely.

In the most recent incident in March, a man hijacked an Egyptair flight from Alexandria to Cairo and forced it to land in Cyprus so he could see his ex-wife.

Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa was described as "psychologically unstable" and claimed to have explosives strapped to his waist, but gave himself up after releasing fellow travellers.

In February 2014, an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome with 202 people on board was diverted by its unarmed copilot to Geneva where he asked for asylum.

Libyan planes banned in Europe

During the crisis, Muscat spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's unity government.

Flights into Malta were diverted to different airports in Italy and outgoing ones were delayed.

Services later resumed after what Malta International Airport called "an unlawful interference".

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines -- banned from European airspace -- operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.
Paris (AFP) - Hijackings like the one on Friday of a Libyan plane have become relatively rare since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States led to increased security.

The hijackers who diverted the plane on Friday to Malta released everyone onboard and surrendered. A Libyan official claimed the men had sought asylum, but Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said they had not.

Other recent hijackings have been carried out by individuals for reasons ranging from personal to political, and almost all ended swiftly and safely.

Here are examples from the past 10 years:

Wanted to see ex-wife

Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa, an Egytpian man who hijacked an EgyptAir passenger plane and forced it to divert to Cyprus in March 2016

A man hijacks an EgyptAir flight on March 29, 2016 from Alexandria to Cairo with 55 passengers and crew onboard, and forces it to land in Cyprus so he can see his ex-wife.

Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa, 58, is described as "psychologically unstable" and claims to have explosives strapped to his waist, but gives himself up after releasing fellow travellers.

Asylum seeker

An Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome with 202 people on board is diverted on February 17, 2014 by its unarmed copilot to Geneva where he asks for asylum.

Hailemedehin Abera Tagegn is arrested, but Switzerland refuses an Ethiopian request for his extradition.

Drunk hijacker

A man (C) who attempted to hijack an airliner from Ukraine is escorted by police after the plane was forced down on Febuary 7, 2014 at Sabiha Goksen airport in Istanbul

A reportedly drunk man hijacks a flight on February 7, 2014 with 110 people on board from Ukraine's second city Kharkov to Istanbul.

He brandishes what he claims is a detonator and shouts "Let's go to Sochi," Russia, where the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is under way.

The plane is escorted by Turkish F-16 jets to Istanbul where anti-terrorist commandos end the incident without any casualties.

Divine mission to warn Mexico

Bolivian priest Jose Mar Flores Pereira (C), hijacker of an Aeromexico airliner, is taken under arrest in Mexico City on September 9, 2009

A Bolivian preacher and former drug addict hijacks on September 9, 2009 an Aeromexico airliner from Cancun to Mexico City with 104 people on board, saying he is on a divine mission.

Presenting sand-filled juice cans with coloured lights as a bomb, Jose Marc Flores Pereira surrenders after the plane lands, with most passengers unaware they had been taken hostage.

The hijacker says he had to warn Mexico it was threatened by an earthquake.

Low on fuel

A Sun Air flight carrying 95 people from Nyala in Sudan to Khartoum is hijacked on August 26, 2008 by two men and lands in Kufra, southern Libya after running low on fuel. Almost a day later, the men surrender and the passengers are freed.

Escape out the back

An Egyptian and a Turk who claim to be Al-Qaeda members hijack on August 18, 2007 an Istanbul-bound Atlasjet flight from the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with 142 people on board and demand to fly to Iran or Syria.

The pilots land in Antalya, Turkey to refuel, and while women and children are being freed by the front door, most of the other passengers escape through the rear. The rest are released several hours later when the hijackers surrender.

Message to the pope

An unarmed Turkish army deserter, Hakan Ekinci, seizes on October 3, 2006 a Turkish Airlines flight carrying 113 people from Tirana to Istanbul. The plane is forced by Greek and Italian jets to land in Brindisi, Italy.

Ekinci had forced his way into the cockpit with a parcel that he said was a bomb, and wanted to send a message to Pope Benedict XVI.

He claimed to be a Christian convert and a conscientious objector, and sought to avoid Turkey's compulsory military service.
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Mr Daniel Domelovo as the new Auditor-General.

A letter sighted by citifmonline.com, signed by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, said the appointment took effect from 23rd December, 2016.

The letter said Mr Domelovo had to confirm his acceptance of the appointment by Wednesday, 28th December, 2016.

His Excellency the President, John Dramani Mahama, acting in consultation with the Council of State, accordance with Article 70 of the 1992 Constitution, has appointed you as Auditor-General with effect from 23rd December, 2016.

Until the approval of the Report of the Prof. Boandoh Committee on Emoluments, the salary and allowances payable to the facilities and privileges available to you shall be indicated in the Prof. Ewurama Addy Committee Report

The provisions of the Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution relating to the removal of from Office of a Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature Shall apply to you.

Mr Domelovo's appointment comes after President Mahama's appointment of a new Commissioner for the Commission of Human Right and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) as well as the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

The President, who will be leaving office in about two weeks has come under heavy criticisms for his appointments which many say are deliberate attempts to sabotage the incoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by Nana Akufo-Addo.

Anti-corruption crusader, Martin Amidu haS described the appointments as a midnight appointments that goes to confirm his belief that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a looter government that do not deserve to remain in office.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @jnyabor
Traveling with top American documentary filmmakers and local journalists, we uncover massive abuse of power by a member of the Ghana Police highway patrol team.

Fresh investigations by the New Crusading Guide has revealed that some police officers have resorted to using highway patrol duties for their personal benefit, intimidating civilians at will, flexing their guns and threatening to beat up and kill those who question their authority.

In a series of ongoing exposes by this newspaper and its readers, we begin with the story of police officer Justice Nunekpe of the Ghana Police service. Over the course of two weeks, this police officer has been observed mounting random checks and stopping cars between Nsawam and Anyinam on the main Accra to Kumasi road. In a day, police officer Justice Nunukpe together with some colleagues park their police car at over seven points within the short stretch to intimidate, extort money or abuse drivers and road users who question their authority. Brandishing AK 47 assault rifles and dressed in helmets and heavy police gear, these officers do not just check cars, they end up assaulting some passengers.

In Ghana, police highway patrols are meant to protect civilians, check road safety and ultimately ensure the security of all Ghanaians.

In the past, the efforts of police highway patrol teams have led to the seizure of illegally acquired weapons or helped stalled comes on our major highways. As such, there is the need for both civilians and police officers to give each other respect to achieve this positive aim of public safety and security. Yet, the behavior of Police officer Justice Nunekpe, as captured by our cameras is anything but professional.

On one ride with some top American documentary filmmakers from Accra to Kumasi, we encountered Police officer Justice Nunekpe and his colleagues a few minutes after Nsawam. As usual, he stopped the vehicle and ordered our driver to open the boot. Knowing him for his bullying tactics which we observed over the course of two weeks, the driver dutifully obeyed and opened his boot. Brandishing his AK 47 assault rifle, the officer then asked him to open about 7 bags that contained camera and filming equipment. The driver started unpacking.

Just then, the officer called another one of his colleagues who joined him and then they rushed from the boot towards one of the filmmakers inside the car who was the whole incident on him phone's camera. Showing his gun, the officer asked the filmmaker to hand over his camera. The filmmaker refused by saying no to the police officer. In an angry exchange of words between the two, the police officer pushed the filmmaker in his seat, which blocking the car door and holding on to his gun.

Sticking with this intimidation tactic, the officer held on to the passenger door with one hand while holding his gun with the other, leaving no room for the filmmaker to step out or turn around. This continued for long, until one of the local journalists called another police officer on phone to intervene.

"You're lucky it's because of my boss, otherwise you'll be crying by now," the police officer said to another filmmaker in the car.

Although Ghana enjoys relative peace and has been lauded by the international community and the world at large, actions such as that exhibited by this police officer go a long way to tarnish the image of the country. According to one of the American documentary filmmakers who witnessed the scene, officers like this should be checked to prevent police brutality. He cited examples of police mishandling and killing citizens in the U.S., which has led to several unrests and the black lives matter movement. "Just look at the way he was holding that gun. It can just go off on anybody and then he'll say it's an accident," the filmmaker observed. "Ghanaians should make sure such things don't happen in such a peaceful country".

Check out photos captured of this police officer and look out for videos on social media. Share and capture police abuse on our roads too. Be part of the change.
23.12.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - The Registrar-General's Department has called on business owners, companies and partnerships to file their annual returns and update their records for the year 2016.

A statement signed by Mrs Jemima M. Oware, the acting Registrar-General and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday said companies, partnerships and business are to utilize this opportunity offered them by department to file their annual returns.

The filings are expected to be paid at the Department's offices in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale as well as online at www.rgd.gov.gh or www.rgdeservices.com as the department plans full enforcement of the penalty regime from Wednesday, February 1, next year.

The statement said: 'Companies and partnerships who have not yet updated their records as well as filed their annual returns would have to pay a penalty of GHa 300.00 for each month that the company or partnership is in default in addition to the statutory fees for which they are required to pay.'

It further stated that the Department extended the deadline for penalty regime from October 3 this to January 31 next year so as to ensure that businesses, companies, partnerships fulfilled their obligations to the state.

The statement mentioned that the filing of annual returns was mandatory as stated in section 122 (1&2) of the Companies Act, 1963, (Act 179), 'that a company shall file its annual returns 18 months after incorporation and once, at least in every year thereafter.

'Under section 6(1) of the Incorporated Private Partnership Act, 1962, once every year the Partners shall deliver to the Registrar for registration a statement in the prescribed form renewing the registration'

Mrs Oware said although notices were published in both electronic and print media for companies and partnerships to file their annual returns, many more were yet to do so, while some have complied.

Meanwhile, the statement warned that business names of sole proprietors would be rendered inactive in the Department's database from February 1, next year after failure to renew their businesses.

'When this happens, sole proprietors/business names would not be able to make any changes or update any records on their business names in that inactive state.'

In order to be restored into our electronic database, sole proprietors/business names would have to pay for the number of years they have not renewed up to date'

GNA
By Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA

Wa, Dec. 23, GNA - Bliss Eye Care, has provided free eye care services to 296 students from both basic and second cycle schools in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region.

Under its project dubbed: "Blissful Sight for Kids," (BS4Ks) 6,040 students, comprising 3,590 students from nine basic schools in the District and 2,450 second cycle schools including St Francis Girls, Jirapa and Ullo Senior High School students were screened for various eye conditions.

Out of the 296 found to have various eye problems, 86 of them were giving spectacles to correct their challenges while the rest of the 210 were provided with various medications.

Dr Zakarea Al-hassan Balure, Optometrist and the Manager of Bliss Eye Care made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday in Wa.

Dr Balure said there were a lot of people out there with various eye problems who lacked the ability to seek professional services, hence his motivation to partner Pro Visus organisation in Switzerland to aid such persons.

He said the BS4Ks project sought to complement the National Eye Health Programme to realise its aim of eliminating avoidable blindness by 2020 through effective management of refractive disorders, using children as an entry point.

"The project will vigorously pursue a sustained education to break the negative myth surrounding the use of spectacles as only the reserve of the elites and the rich and affluent in society," he noted.

The Manager of Bliss Eye Care added that the project would contribute to a large population especially children to become aware of refractive errors and seeking professional care and using the optical devices and the advice given them.

Dr Balure said that was done using various approaches including provision of outreach optometric services, awareness creation and advocacy on childhood blindness, provision of free sample spectacles to needy school children, organisation of special eye camps for school children and school health visits.

He said the project would collaborate with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Education Service to advocate and implement an action plan to promote healthy eyes among children to prevent blindness.

Dr Balure also expressed appreciation to Vision 2020 and Christopher Vodin and Gerhard Heidenreich of Switzerland for being the driving force behind the establishment of the Bliss Eye Care facility.

GNA
By Rhema D. Bansah, GNA

Accra, 23 Dec, GNA - The traffic situation at the Tema motorway roundabout has been compounded due to the festive season.

Traders, workers, and the travelling public's plight have been worsened by students from the second cycle institutions returning for the holidays.

Miss Eunice Dzandu, an employee at Energy Bank, Accra Branch in a dialogue with the GNA, said 'I live at Michel Camp and I always leave the house between 3am-4am in order to dodge traffic at the roundabout, it has always worked for me, but as for this festive seasons, it has worsened'.

The situation is no different at the close of the day. Passengers coming from Accra at 5pm and beyond are likely to experience heavy traffic not only in Accra central but at the roundabout as well.

Speaking to the GNA, Miss Sandra Lotsu, an employee of Vivo Energy Ghana, said 'it took me the whole day to get out of Accra on my way to Aflao last week Friday. Just when I thought the traffic was over, I was met with a heavy one at the Tema Motorway roundabout. It seems the festivities have provoked the traffic situation'.

Meanwhile, the motorway roundabout which is the converging point of the roads that lead to Aflao, the Ashaiman roundabout, the Tema motorway and the Tema Township has been noted for heavy traffic and people who travel on these roads spend a lot of time in traffic.

To alleviate this situation, the outgoing President John Dramani Mahama had cut a sword for the construction of an interchange at the roundabout and work had already begun before the elections.

GNA
Indian citizen accused of fondling fellow woman passenger wrote notes to the victim to apologise.

By AP: Authorities say an Indian citizen living in New Jersey who's accused of fondling a passenger on a flight from India to Newark wrote notes to the victim apologizing for a "moment's stupidity."

Federal prosecutors say 40-year-old Ganesh Parkar, of Robbinsville, moved from his ticketed seat in business class Wednesday and sat next to a woman in economy class on an Air India flight from Mumbai. They say he touched one of her breasts after she fell asleep.

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Also read: Air India mismanagement again! Flight to New York leaves behind passengers' luggage

Investigators say he apologized in two short notes written while on the flight.

Parkar was charged Thursday with abusive sexual contact. He was released on a $50,000 bond, put under home electronic monitoring and ordered to relinquish his passport.

The charge carries a maximum two-year prison sentence.

Parkar's attorney says his client "asserts his innocence."

--- ENDS ---
Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - The Revenue Intelligence (RI), anti-revenue and economic fraud organisation, says it has intelligence that some importers doing business in Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, are smuggling in goods mostly cosmetics, thus invading tax.

This followed the complaints of some traders, who use the legitimate means to bring in the goods to the country but noticed that they cannot sell their products at the expected prices because the smugglers flood the market with the same merchandise and sell them at cheap prices.

Mr Anas Mohammed, Director, Monitoring of the RI told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that this compelled the RI to monitor the smuggling routes to discover the modus operandi.

He said during the monitoring it was revealed that the smuggling of products were on a large scale than anticipated including large quantities of soap, oil and provisions.

Mr Mohammed said it would make the full report available to the security organisations to take action because the act was undermining the national economy and the interest of the State

GNA
Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - As part of celebrations for the festive season, Tigo, is offering free nightlong YouTube browsing for its customers from December 25 to December 31.

The offer starts from 1200 hours to 0400 hours for the seven -day Christmas and New Year's Day promotion.

Speaking on the rationale for the offer, the Chief Commercial Officer, Tara Squire, explained that Christmas was particularly an exciting time for people as both parents and children were on break from work and school.

They therefore spend a lot of time with friends and families or stay at home to relax.

'This is a fantastic time for our customers to stream and watch anything they want, right from Christmas carols to their favourite holiday movies. In 2016, Tigo did several major network improvement projects to ensure a reliable and resilient network; that is able to particularly support the data needs of our customers.

'We are happy about the impact of these projects and wantto share in the excitement with our customers,' he revealed.

He added that for high data traffic areas such as Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, Tigo had increased the cell sites in such areas to meet their demands and also ease congestion.

Tara Squire assured Tigo customers that 2017 will be fantastic as Tigo plans to further strengthen its network for data users and will introduce more integrated products that will drive heavy data usage including streaming and downloading on YouTube and social media.

Customers can unlock the exciting freebie by spending GHa2 on Tigo daily. They can stream anything on YouTube at no extra charges.

GNA
Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - Mr Stephen Ashietey Adjei, Leader of the former employees of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has expressed dissatisfaction about the payment of ex- gratia to members of the Executive and Legislators.

He said the more than 3, 000 workers of the GPHA, who were laid off 14 years ago, have not been paid since 2002 and had since appealed to the Executive including President John Dramani Mahama over their plight.

The sixth Parliament of the 4th Republic resumed sitting on Tuesday, December 20, to consider among other things, emoluments to be paid to the Article 71 office holders led by the President.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra Mr Ashietey Adjei said that was unfair to the ex- workers.

He said so far only five of their colleagues have been paid their full severance benefits.

Mr Ashietey Adjei said the ex-workers petitioned the former President John Evans Atta Mills over their plight, who ordered that the ex-workers should be paid.

GNA
By Godwill Arthur-Mensah/Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA

Takoradi, Dec. 23, GNA - The Takoradi Port has signed a joint venture agreement with a private investor, Ibistek Crowley, for the construction of an off-dock container terminal with a capacity of 7,500TU to improve the handling of containers at the port.

The terminal, located at the Old Prime Wood Site in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, would create sufficient space within the precincts of the port for other activities that would generate revenue.

Captain Ebenezer Afadzi, the Director of the Port, said this at a press soiree in Takoradi on Friday to take stock of its activities and fraternize with the media.

He said 97,000 square metres of land had been reclaimed for the terminal adding that it would construct a floating dock to enable ships and supply vessels that berthed at the port to repair any fault they may encounter.

Capt. Afadzi said the port was partnering Ghana Cement Manufacturing Company to construct a spacious car park at the Old Slaughter House at New Takoradi to ease traffic congestion.

He said the port had completed a 1.08 kilometre breakwater with a 16 metre depth that would enable larger vessels from the West African Sub-region to berth without any difficulty, thus achieving its vision of becoming a one-stop -shop for oil and gas services.

Capt. Afadzi said the ongoing expansion works would enable a single large vessel to load 120,000 metric tonnes of cargo at a time as against 40,000 handled by a vessel in the past.

He said the completion of the port expansion works would improve the turnaround time and eliminate double handling of cargo and drastically reduce the cost of doing business at the facility.

It would also create employment for the youth in the metropolis, accommodate larger vessels and become the preferred destination for shipping companies in the West African sub-region.

Capt. Afadzi said the port was collaborating with the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) to construct an oil tank farm with a 13,500 litre capacity for marine diesel oil so that vessels that berthed at the port could refill their tanks.

Capt. Afadzi said Sub-Sea Seven Company, which was awarded the contract to construct fabrication yard at the port, had so far undertaken fabrication works and welded vital oil and gas equipment for some oil companies operating on the oilfield.

He said for instance the 'Shed Four' had been demolished and in its place constructed a storage facility for ENI's equipment therefore making the port a one-stop for oil and gas services.

He noted that the desalination plant which processed seawater into potable water had ensured regular supply of water to the oil companies and workers at the port.

The port, constructed in 1928, had been witnessing major expansion works to render modern services to its clients and become the preferred destination for vessels in the sub-region.

He said the management and staff of the port would continue to co-operate and strengthen its relationship with the media for improved service delivery.

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the Government secured an initial loan facility of 197 million Euros from the Belgian Government for expansion of the Takoradi Port.

Parliament in January this year also approved another loan facility of 160 million Euros for the second phase of the expansion works which would be completed in the next two to three years.

GNA
By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA

Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - Zenith Bank Limited, in partnership with MasterCard International, has issued the Zenith MasterCards in Accra comprising debit, credit and prepaid cards to be used locally and internationally for payment of goods and services.

Mr Henry Oroh, the Managing Director of Zenith Bank, said the Ghanaian banking landscape was constantly evolving and the main driver of this evolution remained technology.

He said it also provided the gateway for endless opportunities to create unique platforms that made banking transactions more convenient and easily accessible.

He said the increasing competitive environment, coupled with the high expectations of customers, had made it expedient for the bank to continue to improve and enhance the quality of products and services.

The Managing Director said with MasterCard coming on board, the bank could now provide its customers with a wider array of card options that would make their everyday transactional activities easy, efficient and secure.

'This is another reassurance of our commitment to provide innovative banking products and services that cater for the needs of our customers,' he added.

He said the partnership between the two institutions had presented them with the opportunity to increase the usage of cards in Ghana by issuing MasterCard with chip enabled technology to all customers.

Mr Oroh said the cards would provide customers with an efficient way of accessing their funds, a way for merchants to efficiently receive client's payment for their goods and services and have access to over 120 million ATMs worldwide.

He said the bank's ability to issue these cards consolidate its quest to have a larger fraction of the population, both the banked and unbanked, to use the cards.

'It further attests to the bank's commitment to the nation's cash-lite agenda,' he said.

Apart from MasterCard partnership, Zenith Bank has introduced other electronic platforms such as GlobalPAY, a secured web-based collection gateway that enables merchants to accept real-time cards payments from customers worldwide.

Dr Settor Amediku, the Head of Payment Systems, Bank of Ghana, commended management of the bank for the initiative.

He assured stakeholders in the digital financial space of its continuous efforts to support innovative solution that promote electronic payments and inclusive finance.

He said BOG was reviewing the payment systems Act, 2003, Act 662 to reflect the development in the payment system and to take advantage of technological changes.

Mr Obi Okwuegbunam, the Country Manager-Ghana, Mastercard International, commended the management team of the bank for the opportunity adding that MasterCard was committed to working with Zenith Bank.

He said the partnership with the bank was a form of consolidating the relationship that existed between the two institutions

GNA
23.12.2016 LISTEN

Benso (W/R), Dec. 23, GNA - Mr Samuel Avaala, the General Manager of Benso Oil Palm Plantation Limited (BOPP), has called on Government and policy makers to review policies on oil palm production to create a favourable business environment.

This, according him, would enable the private sector and the Government to collaborate to make the oil palm industry stand shoulder-to-shoulder with cocoa industry in creating wealth for rural communities and also boost the economy.

Mr Avaala made the call at a durbar during which 34 workers, 13 independent palm fruit suppliers and communities, and eight smallholder farmers received various awards in recognition of their meritorious services to the company.

Giving instances of some bottlenecks in the industry, he said the company paid GHC1 million for domestic energy alone this year whereas the company's direct cost of processing a tonne of fresh fruit bunch was about seven dollars, the corresponding indirect cost was about 10 dollars.

To this end, the company would, from the next production year, begin to pay a 12.5 per cent corporate tax as and when there was no such tax previously, he said, quizzing: 'is this not high cost of doing business in Ghana?'

Mr Avaala said though Ghana was a net importer of crude palm oil with a climatic condition suitable for cultivation of oil palm, there were challenges with land acquisition coupled with non-existence of suitable long term and patent capital for agriculture, particularly tree crops.

He, therefore appealed to traditional rulers, district assemblies, development partners and other stakeholders to address this problem so that investors through BOPP could expand nucleus estate and smaller holders and out grower schemes.

He said for the past three years, the company has paid a total of GHC26.3 million in purchasing fruits from small holders and out growers and transporters in the Western and Central Regions and this could be significantly increased if more land was made available for development.

On successes chalked, he said between January and November, this year, the Company processed 100,936 metric tonnes of fresh fruit bunches compared to 89,681 metric tonnes processed in the same period last year, representing a 12.5 per cent.

For corporate social responsibilities, Mr. Avaala said the Company has awarded scholarships to a total of 44 students in the catchment area and children of employees at the second cycle and tertiary levels bringing to 246 beneficiaries since the inception of a scholarship scheme in 2007.

He announced that the Company, which was 40 years this year, was adjudged leader in agriculture and agribusiness in Ghana at this year's Ghana Investment Promotion Centre's

Club 100 awards and paid tribute to chief of Adum Banso, Nana Kwandoh Brempong III, for his foresight towards the establishment of the company.

GNA
Editor's Note: The 2015-(2016 updated) Maternal Mortality Rate report by the World Health Organisation and other local and international MMR indices have rated Nigeria as the second country after India with the highest cases of maternal deaths globally. Legit.ng's Bayo Olupohunda spoke to families who have been victims of maternal deaths and examines why many more Nigerian women are dying during childbirth.

According to UNICEF, a woman dies every ten minutes on account of pregnancy or childbirth in Nigeria. File photo. Credit: Jacaranda Health

'Till death do us part'

"I watched my wife as she breathed her last a few days after she had gone through a gruesome Cesarean section. She never recovered from the complications that resulted from the surgery as she died at a public hospital in Lagos," a grief-stricken Mr Lanre Fadehan whose wife died during childbirth told me in the Lagos apartment he once shared with his wife of eight years.

As darkness falls, the room darkens and the pall of grief in the household morphed into eerie silence punctured occasionally by the gentle sobs and sighs of sympathizers. On the wall hung the wedding picture of the smiling couple who had some years ago sworn to the marital vow of till death do us part.

But on this day, as mourners sat in the shadow wearing grim faces, the irony of the vow suddenly assumed a macabre meaning. Mr Fadehan and other victims of maternal death represent a new and increasing generation of Nigerians who have lost a wife, daughter, sister, niece, aunt and mother during childbirth.

They are devastated and too traumatized to be consoled.

According to the WHO and UNICEF data, Nigeria has the highest global maternal deaths second only to India with a woman dying every ten minutes on account of pregnancy and childbirth

They feel the corruption, negligence and injustice of the Nigerian broken health care system but are too poor and vulnerable to fight for justice under the Nigerian constitution and various international treaties on women's right to childbearing Nigeria has ratified.

Victims of maternal death seem to have sworn to a self-imposed oath of silence because they fear official backlash as they are faced with no choice but to return to the death chambers called public hospitals and their glorified private counterparts that are not more than mere 'consulting clinics' with many of them run by charlatans and quacks who thrive in Nigeria's broken health care system.

READ ALSO: Senate President's wife decries alarming rate of women dying at childbirth

According to a 2010 Pricewaterhouse Coopers report, the Nigerian elite class spends $1 billion on medical tourism and their childbearing needs, while the majority bottom poor are left to die in public hospitals or endure the uncertainties of delivering through traditional birth attendants which often end in fatalities.

The Nigerian elite spends hugely on medical tourism while the bottom poor are made to endure the poor healthcare system. Source: Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Many have also endured abuse from health workers and hostile nurses who hurl invective at pregnant women during ante-natal sessions and in labour rooms. across the country. So the victims of Nigeria's dysfunctional health system suffer twice over in silence carrying the scars for a life time.

But many victims of maternal deaths are narrating agonizing tales of pains and trauma of losing their loved ones. But many are also victims of their own poverty and ignorance - two major factors that fuel high rate of maternal deaths in Nigeria.

These tales of death told by victims and families of women lost in childbirth paint the picture of why Nigeria has the second highest incidence of maternal and infant mortality rate in the world.

Chronicles of a human tragedy: victims' families speak to Legit.ng

Mr Fadehan narrates shocking details leading to wife's death

Mr Tamara Thankgod's wife bled to death

I blame the hospital for my wife's death. They shouldnt have forcefully removed the leaves used in stopping my wife's bleeding by the birth attendant. I know it sounds strange. Truly, we were told at the hospital that my wife could only deliver through cesarean operation because her placenta was blocking the entrance of the uterus.

But because we were told that the position of the placenta could be changed by a traditional birth attendant, we registered with one at Ese Odo local government area of Ondo state, and she was treated. But on her delivery day, the placenta came first before the baby. After the baby came, she started bleeding. The traditional birth attendant attempted to stop the bleeding with dry leaves. We told them this at the General Hospital but instead of the doctor to take necessary precaution, he removed the leaves with force and my wife bled to death.

Gone too soon: Mrs Fadehan died during child birth. Source: Mr. Fadehan

For Mr Wale Olumekun, it was faith gone wrong

The doctor asked us to prepare for blood transfusion but we used faith and decided to patronize a church maternity. We first registered at the Okitipupa General Hospital. At the hospital, we were told that my wife needed blood transfusion for delivery. But we believed that God can do it so we went to a church maternity (name withheld) center here for delivery. During the delivery, things became complicated and my wife was eventually rushed to the General hospital but unfortunately after delivery, she couldnt make it. But my baby made it. Ever since then, I have been wallowing in self-regret. Honestly, I didnt know what came over me by ignoring the doctors advice.

Mrs Adeola lives to tell the story but lost her baby

Two days before I went into labour, scan revealed that the baby was doing fine but on delivery date, the baby had decayed in my womb. I registered with the General hospital here in Okitipupa and with a church maternity and this year June, all government hospitals in Ondo State were on strike so I started having my regular check-up at the church maternity.

Two days before I went into labour, I did a scan and it revealed that there was no problem with the baby but strangely, on my delivery day, it was discovered that the baby had decayed. It was very strange. I went into labour but when it became prolonged, a doctor was called upon. But when it became complicated for him, he had to forcefully dip his hand into my womb and brought the baby out. The babys body has even started peeling.

A typical TBA home known locally as 'Olugbebi' in Okitipupa Ondo state where births often end in fatalities refused to speak to Legit.ng during a visit.

Mr Sola Adenikinju's wife lost too much blood

My wife died of bleeding after a successful delivery. Sometime around August, my pregnant wife had a successful delivery at the residence of a traditional birth attendant here in Ikotun, but unfortunately, her placenta did not follow. We rushed her to Isolo General Hospital, but she bled to death on getting there.

Mr Adekunle Ololade lost both his wife and baby

My wife died on getting to the hospital after three days of labour at Iya Agbebis place. Late last year, I took my wife to Iya Saida, a traditional mid-wife here in Agric, Ikorodu but after three days of labour, I eventually took her to Ikorodu General Hospital. The nurses reluctantly admitted her and after some hours, she was taken to the theatre to be operated on. Unfortunately, she didnt survive the surgery. Another painful aspect of it was that the baby was brought out successfully but he didnt make it eventually. I was told that the baby had exerted himself too much and was too weak to stay alive.

Statistics show that among several factors, severe bleeding during childbirth is a major cause of maternal deaths in Nigerian women and in Sub-Saharan Africa. Credit: UNICEF data

READ ALSO: Nigeria has the highest cancer death rate in Africa - WHO

The true story how Mrs Bimbo Adekola lost her sister

The traditional midwife used her hand to press my sisters bump to aid her delivery but instead, the baby and her womb came out together. It was early this year, precisely on the third of February, I received a phone call from my sisters husband around 11am that she was in labour. I hurried over from my place at Ogijo and we took my elder sister to one Mama Agbebi (traditional birth attendant) at Ogolonto, Ikorodu area of Lagos state. I cant even recollect the name of the street but on getting there, she checked her over and told us that the baby is still far from coming. She asked us to wait till five in the evening.

Around three in the afternoon, my sister started wailing and the women checked her again. This time, she asked the husband and Sade, my sisters daughter to leave the room. I was with her and she asked me to help her. She did all the motions and eventually, tried to help my sister aid the delivery by gently pressing the upper end of the bump. Suddenly, there was a gush and before me were my sisters womb and the baby inside it.

Expert reacts on the causes of high maternal death rate in Nigeria

I screamed and the husband and daughter rushed in. At that instant, we forgot the baby, making all efforts to save her life but before we could rush her to Ikorodu General Hospital, my sister gave up and the baby, a girl was lost too. We never reported the case to the police.

Editor's Note: The second part provides grim statistics into maternal and child mortality rate in Nigeria.

Read the second part HERE

Source: Legit.ng
- The Nigerian Army calls on members of the public to be security conscious of strange movements or persons in the society

- The army urges the public to report any suspicious person or group of persons to the security agencies for prompt action

Nigerian Army has urged the public to vigilant of suspicious persons.

The Nigerian Army has warned the public to be weary of some Boko Haram terrorist who could be fleeing from the northeast to other parts of the country to escape military operation in Sambisa forest.

READ ALSO: Troops arrest 504 insurgents, rescue1,880 in Sambisa forest

The acting director army public relations Brig Gen SK Usman gave the warning in a statement on Thursday, December 22.

Usman, called on members of the public especially residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to be extra vigilant and security conscious of strange movements or persons in the society.

He urged the public to report any suspicious person or group of persons to the security agencies for prompt action.

READ ALSO: Soldiers receive cows from army chief

"We wish to reiterate our commitment of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in all their suspected hideouts by the end of this year. We therefore solicit for more public support and cooperation to achieve that," he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has started the construction of road network to Sambisa forest to ease troops operations in mopping up Boko Haram insurgents.

This was revealed by Major-General Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole.

Irabor made the disclosure during a press conference at the Maimalari cantonment in Maiduguri on Thursday, December 21.

Source: Legit.ng
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) The inter-ministerial task force, set up by Modi government to look into strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, discussed ways to fast-track hydropower projects of 8500 MW-capacity in Jammu and Kashmir during its first meeting held here today.

Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modis principal secretary Nripendra Mishra, the meet was attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar as well chief secretaries of Punjab and J&K.

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"The issues of fast-tracking implementation of hydroelectricity projects in Jammu and Kashmir were discussed during the meeting. We discussed what will be the ways of financing and structuring of the projects," top sources said.

These projects including Tulbul Navigation, intended at developing Indias rights over both eastern and western rivers, will require consent of government of Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to get back to the task force next month on the issues discussed, they said.

"We will take it forward only when there is consent of the Jammu and Kashmir government. The states representative did not have mandate. So, the representative will speak to their Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) and after that we can take the implementation forward," they added.

India has identified setting up hydroelectricity projects of a total of 18,000 MW capacity. Of these, 3000 MW have already been established.

The Centre now intends at further development of 1800 MW capacity projects including Ratle (850 MW) in the first phase. In the second phase, 5500 MW capacity projects are expected to be developed.

"These projects are on both the Eastern (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) and Western rivers (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum). We will develop capacities in accordance with our rights under the water distribution pact," the sources added.

Meanwhile, on asked about the governments meeting with World Bank expert to discuss Pakistans objection over Kishenganga (330 MW capacity) and Ratle projects being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said a communique to this regard is "awaited". MORE PTI ENM PYK RG

--- ENDS ---
- Deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu says that Igbos are being marginalised in Nigeria and there would be no peace if that continues

- Ekweremadu also called for Nnamdi Kanu's release because courts have ordered it and the IPOB leader should breath the air of freedom

Ekweremadu says Nnamdi Kanu should be released because the courts have ordered it.

Deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu has called on the federal government to release detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

READ ALSO: How former president Olusegun Obasanjo plans to help Buhari appease South-East region

Vanguard reports that Ekweremadu made the call on Thursday, December 22 during the South East Economic and Security Summit at Government House in Enugu.

Ekweremadu said the government should release Kanu since a competent court had ordered an end to his detention.

Ekweremadu noted that the continued detention of Kanu and the absence of an Igbo man from the security council of Nigeria are evidences of the marginalisation of the Igbos in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Massive Biafra protest hits Enugu over Buharis visit (photos/video)

He therefore implored that the Ndigbo should be included in the governance of Nigeria for peace to reign because according to him, there is no way there will be peace in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari was conspicuously absent from the summit at which he was supposed to be the guest of honour.

The president also did not send a representative nor were any of his ministers present at the event which was attended by former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Source: Legit.ng
- Onotuku Joseph Onyemali, the traditional ruler of Umuachi-Ogo community of Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta state, has died after drinking substance believed to be herbicide

- Onyemali killed himself just after being accused of witchcraft by some of his subjects in the community

The late monarch committed suicide in Governor Okowa's Delta state

HRM Onotuku Joseph Onyemali, a traditional ruler of Umuachi-Ogo community of Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta state has committed suicide.

READ ALSO: James Ibori built a STRONG political family in Delta  Governor Ifeanyi Okowa

The Punch reports that the monarch was found dead in the palace after reportedly drinking herbicide content of a container found near his lifeless body.

Sources in the community said the monarchs death followed allegations against him by some of his subjects that he practised witchcraft.

A source said:

While others were celebrating the release of ex-governor James Ibori, it was all tears here as our monarch was found dead in his room in a case we suspect is a suicide. The monarch was said to have been accused of witchcraft by subjects.

It was not clear who those subjects are but the traditional ruler drank what was considered to be a poisonous chemical, whose container was found near his lifeless body. There is apprehension in Umuachi-Ogo since yesterday (Wednesday).

The monarch has since been buried in front of his palace in accordance with the peoples traditional rites.

Meanwhile, the overwhelming jubilation and celebration that followed the release of James Ibori from a London prison on Wednesday, December 21 has claimed the life of one in Oghara, Delta state.

A kinsman of the ex-governor was involved in a ghastly auto crash that led to his death.

Source: Legit.ng
Another scheme known as Get Help Worldwide is taking over Nigeria following the dormancy of a similar scheme, Mavrodi Mundial Movement (MMM).

Get Help Worldwide also promises participants a 30% increase on investment after a month.

Recall that MMM on Tuesday, December 12, froze accounts of its participants in Nigeria for one month sending panic among members who were due to be paid after having provided help (PH) to other persons.

READ ALSO: MMM crash  Groom who drank insecticide opens up

All members woke up with the shock message displayed on the screen as soon as they logged into their accounts.

Giving reasons for freezing the Mavros, the scheme said it is experiencing heavy workload and want to deal with the attacks coming from the countrys mass media.

However, the inactivity of MMM has created room for a similar scheme, Get Help Worldwide to thrive as Nigerians are claiming that the new scheme has more checks and balances that makes it safe to partake in.

Get Help Worldwide also promises participants a 30% increase on investment after a month, but the scheme boasts of being free of some deficiencies which plagued MMM, such as uploading of fake prove of payment (POP) and the freezing of confirmed bonuses. The scheme also enjoys constant inflow of cash as its rule mandates that participants make a pledge to provide help within three days of getting help.

Some participants of the scheme told Legit.ng that Get Help would beat MMM to the number one spot soon because of its rules which ensure its sustainability.

Get Help Worldwide has been in Nigeria since 2015, the scheme has lasted as long as MMM and has been moving smoothly without hitches. I have been participating in the scheme for white a while and it has become a source of my monthly income, a source who doesnt want to be named told our reporter.

Another participant who works in an oil company said he has been running accounts in Get Help Worldwide and MMM simultaneously, he said the Get Help scheme is still paying unlike MMM which is now dormant.

READ ALSO: Legit.ng writes open letter to MMM founder Mavrodi

Similarly, a civil servant who is a participant of MMM told our reporter that he was planning to open an account with Get Help Worldwide, when asked told the risk involved in taking part in Ponzi schemes following what happened to MMM he said:

"Which risk, there is no difference between these schemes and the Banks, they are all Ponzi schemes who take from one person to pay the other.

Even the government is the biggest Ponzi scheme because they tax the masses and share the money among themselves.

Meanwhile, Sergey Mavrodi, the founder of Mavrodi Mundial Movement (MMM) has written an open letter to Nigerian journalists whom he claimed are causing unnecessary tension in the country.

According to him, MMM will be back by January as earlier stated, hence the rumour about the scheme collapse should stop.

Mavrodi described articles from Nigerians journalists and bloggers as "provocative and worthless articles."

Source: Legit.ng
By PTI: Mumbai, Dec 23 (PTI) Filmmaker Karan Johar thinks its ridiculous to raise objections on the choice of the name given to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoors new born child.

Kareena delivered a baby boy on December 20 at the Breach Candy Hospital here following which the royal couple christened their son as Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi.

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Soon after the name of the baby was announced, people on social media started questioning the name, irking many in the film fraternity.

"Its such a proud moment for the wonderful family...Saif, Kareena and the entire family. Its their prerogative what they name their son. And it is their decision to what name they want," Karan told reporters here at the press conference of Jio Filmfare Awards.

"Name is special to the parents, grandparents and the entire family. I completely support the decision to name their son (Taimur) how dare anybody have an opinion about it. Its a name," he said.

As per reports, Taimur was a founder of the Timurid Empire in Persia and Central Asia and had invaded India in 1398.

The "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" helmer thinks people should be happy as the star couple have turned parents.

"You (referring to people) should have spread love at the moment and felt happy for the couple who have had a blue eyed beautiful baby boy. Its really ridiculous (controversy around the name). Its their (Saif and Kareena) decision of naming their child and no one elses prerogative to say anything," he said.

The filmmaker was however quick to add "having said that Internet is a place where everybody is entitled to have their opinion."

Kareenas actor uncle Rishi Kapoor too had blasted out on Twitter for this hue and cry over the name of the baby boy.

Taimur is Kareenas first child from Saif. The junior Nawab already has two kids Sara and Ibrahim with ex-wife Amrita Singh. PTI KKP DK DK SDM

--- ENDS ---
-Two of the escaped Chibok girls who studied in the US during their visit to the White House

-They were the first set of Chibok girls to visit the White House during Christmas celebration

-According to reports, they have also been acknowledged as top performers in their academic pursuits

Two of the escaped Chibok girls during their visit to the White house

In this report, two of the escaped Chibok school who studied on scholarship in the United States, were pictured during their visit to the White House.

The school girls who escaped from the Boko Haram insurgents went there on tour of the White House Christmas decorations, according to reports.

They are the first set of Chibok girls to visit the White House during Christmas celebration

READ ALSO: PDP plotting to hijack 9th National Assembly - APC senators-elect allege

Recall that 276 female students of government secondary school, were kidnapped in the town of Chibok, Borno state, on April 14 2014 by the Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern part of the country.

Consequently, the girls, who enjoyed sponsored scholarship by Education Must Continue Initiative (EMCI) became the first set of Chibok girls to visit the white house during the Christmas celebration period.

The 2 girls, who have also been celebrated as top performers in their academic pursuits in the US also became the fourth set of Chibok girls to visit the White House since 2015.

The Chibok school girls have also been acknowledged as top performers in their academic pursuits

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US Congress woman Frederica Wilson of Florida was instrumental in facilitating Chibok girls visits to the White House in all known occasion.

In her remarks, one of two elated girls who is a high school senior enthused after the visit It was good! The house looks amazing. Theyve decorated the whole house and also, there are different choir groups performing.

Chibok school girls during their visit to the White House

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had in this report compiled 11 facts about you should know about abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

Recall that the country was thrown into great mourning when 276 school girls were kidnapped from their school in Chibok, a local government area in Borno state, five years ago by the Boko Haram insurgent group.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: We have upgraded to serve you better

Exclusive: Freed Dapchi Girl Recounts Her Ordeal with Boko Haram (Nigeria Breaking News) Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
A passenger was removed from a flight about to depart New York City after confronting Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of US President-elect Donald Trump.

"Your father is ruining the country," the passenger allegedly said to Ivanka Trump before being removed from the plane. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: A JetBlue airline passenger, who media outlets and a witness described as making angry remarks at the sight of Ivanka Trump on his flight, was removed from the plane on Thursday by the airline.

JetBlue Airways Corp confirmed in a statement that a passenger had been removed from a flight set to depart from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, but provided no information on the incident.

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Also read: Trump's daughter Ivanka raises issues her dad rarely mentions: Gender pay gap, labour laws

Another passenger on the flight, Marc Scheff, said that when the man saw President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, he "did a double take and said 'Oh my God. This is a nightmare!'"

"The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly," JetBlue said in a written statement. "In this instance, our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight."

Reuters was not able to identify the passenger who was removed. A Twitter user cited by TMZ, Matthew Lasner, said his husband was going to confront Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, at the airport.

"Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial," wrote Matthew Lasner (@mattlasner) in the since-deleted tweet. "My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil."

WATCH: Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka to celebrate Diwali at Hindu temple

Lasner, a professor at New York's Hunter College, did not respond to requests for comment directed to his Twitter account, which has since been taken offline, or to messages left at his office or sent to his Facebook account.

Scheff, who told Reuters he was sitting in the row in front of Ivanka Trump on the flight, which was set to take off for San Francisco, said of the passenger who was later removed from the flight, "He started shaking."

Scheff, 40, added that after JetBlue staff approached the man to "make sure he was calm," the passenger said, "They ruin our country, now try (to) ruin our flight!"

Scheff said the passenger was "clearly agitated" but did not "scream or yell."

Ivanka Trump was en route to Hawaii for a vacation with her family, according to an ABC News report on the incident.

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Donald Trump and his family are spending the Christmas holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Also Read:

Donald Trump pledges better times for US, says save the nation from Hillary Clinton How Donald Trump made 100 women strip and pose naked

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2016 had plenty of new products and services with the iPhone 7 and Google Pixel stealing the lions share of praise but this was also a year of departures with several products coming to their end, often prematurely, and older companies throwing in the towel.

Here weve gathered ten of 2016s biggest curtain calls.

Twitters earnings call on October 27 left people with a lot to feel grim about, namely that the beleaguered social media company would be shedding jobs globally. What also grabbed headlines was that it was calling time on Vine. The six second video sharing app has been wildly popular and a conduit for many a meme.

But it struggled to make money and thats exactly what Jack Dorsey and co are feeling the pressure of now. Plus Vine had been slowly but surely falling behind the likes of Snapchat and Instagram, especially when the latter added video. Vine may be dead but the memes memories live on.

Surely this is 2016s biggest product screw-up? The Galaxy Note 7 was supposed to be a big score for Samsung. Released just before the iPhone 7, it was meant to steal some of the spotlight. Instead it blew up. Literally. A serious malfunction in the battery led to several reported cases of the phone catching fire.

Airlines were quick to ban the phone on-board and the Korean company was forced into a global recall. This month the company announced a software update that would permanently disable the use of the phone. Samsung Galaxy Note 7, 2016-2016, we hardly knew ye.

Not so much a death but Pebble was acquired by Fitbit, which is leading to the end of the brand. The Kickstarter darlings IP will be absorbed into Fitbit along with whatever its future products are. For the loyal fans of watches like the Time and Time 2, it will be a hard pill to swallow (though its expected that Pebble will maintain support for at least a year or so).

But in a market where smartwatches just havent taken off in the way their creators hoped, will Pebble be the only company to endure such a fate?

Long rumored, it actually happened with Apple having the, well, courage to do away with the headphone jack on the iPhone 7. As much as Apple tried to dress it up as a bold new move towards a totally wire-free world, the dissatisfaction from customers was palpable.

If it aint broke, right? Nevertheless AirPods are here (after delays of course) and the market is shifting to say goodbye to the headphone jack for good.

Meerkat was once the belle of the ball for a fleeting moment. The livestreaming app made its debut at SXSW in 2015 and was the subject of much hype but it was short-lived. Twitter soon acquired and re-launched Periscope and used its much bigger user base to make short work of Meerkat and since then Facebook Live has truly become to go-to live streaming option.

The writing was on the walls for Meerkat, which shut its doors in October. Its founders are now working on Houseparty, a fresh attempt at livestreaming and have pulled in more than $50 million in funding. Lets see if things pan out differently this time.

Blackberry is a shell of its former self. While once a pillar of the cell phone industry, the arrival of the smartphone sounded its death knell. Its tried to salvage things like the Blackberry Classic, a phone that was a call back to former glories. After just 18 months, it was discontinued this summer.

Maybe people truly are done with buttons for good? The move also signals the companys move deeper and deeper into enterprise and government software, leaving phones in the trash pile once and for all.

In May Mozilla stopped supporting its Firefox operating system for smartphones. It didnt come as much of a surprise. Mozillas smartphone aspirations always struggled. While taking on Android and iOS was ambitious and even admirable, in hindsight it was doomed from the get-go. And so, the smartphone OS world remains dominated by two players and thats not changing any time soon.

Dell made Android tablets. Didnt you know? They were actually some of our favorite Android tablets of last year, most notably the Dell Venue 8 7000 and Dell Venue 10 7000. The Venue line of tablets was discontinued in June and current owners wont receive any more updates.

Dell cited an oversaturated tablet market where demand is dying as reason for the move and said it was focusing on 2-in-1 devices moving forward. It wasnt the surprising move for Dell. The Venue line of tablets never set the world on fire and was hindered by the occasional hiccup like the many delays in pushing out Android Lollipop to devices.

Toshiba pulled the plug on its consumer laptops this year. After years of failing to turn a profit on consumer laptops, the company has opted to end its offerings in this space and shift more focus on B2B in North America and Europe where it may stand a better chance.

The news came around the same time in March when Toshiba was also forced to recall laptops sold between 2011 and 2016 thanks to faulty battery packs that were overheating.

No, seriously. The VCR died in 2016. Funai Electric, a Japanese company that manufactured VCRs for more than 30 years, was the last big hold out when it came to the medium of VHSuntil 2016. Once upon a time it was selling 15 million machines a year. Last year that figure was down to 750,000, which is still quite surprising.

750,000 people felt the need to buy a VCR last year? Funais decision to cease manufacturing wont be noticed, most retail stores stopped selling VCRs over a year decade ago but its still the end of the era.
Vaccinating polio, putting a man on the moon, the Segway  few countries can match the scientific influence of the United States. Because of this, we decided to pit state against state to see which single scientific contributionCalifornia cant claim the Internet and the expansion of the universe, for exampleis the greatest of them all.

50. New Hampshire: Does the Segway count?

Photo: Steven Lilley

Eh, itll have to do.

49. Indiana: Thanks, Indiana, for the breathalyzer

For a state where selling alcohol on Sunday is illegal, this is surprising.

48. West Virginia: The only house in the world made of coal

Its contribution to science? Theyre not burning said coal.

47. South Dakota: Raptors, big-ass raptors

If you thought South Dakotas only contribution to the science world was whatever breed of human that participates at the supposedly world famous Mashed Potato Wrestling Contest, youd be wrong! The state also had insanely large raptors some 66 million years ago. So theres that, too.

46. Idaho: A farmer found an assortment of late Pliocene fossils

The most exciting part of this contribution is that the farmers name was Elmer Cook.

45. Colorado: The abominable Snowmastodon.

Photo: Lara Eakins

Imagine finding a Land Before Time-esque graveyard at work one day. Thats what happened to some construction workers near Snowmass Village, Colorado. The team unearthed a haul of 4,826 bones from 26 different Ice Age vertebrates, the most notable of which was a 50,000-year-old mastodon.

44. Nebraska: CliffNotes

Saving procrastinating students since 1958.

43. Oklahoma: The Ditch Witch

Though its name sounds like the villain in a German fairytale, the Ditch Witch had farmers rejoicing because it meant the end of hand tools when preparing the ground for crops.

42. North Dakota: Gave the world The Chicken from Hell.

Since we cant consider Cream of Wheat a scientific contribution, we settled with the Chicken from Hell because nothing is more simultaneously terrifying and appetizing as an 11-foot, 500-pound chicken.

41. Wyoming: The Dental Gauge

A.k.a. Headgear.

40. Utah: Atari

Atari is a video game. Developing a video game requires some background knowledge in computer science; thus, by the transitive property, this counts as some sort of scientific achievement.

39. Kansas: Helium loves the Great Plains

Drilling for natural gas in 1903, drillers stumbled upon a bizarre discovery: helium. Dexter gas as it was called contained 15 percent methane, 72% nitrogen and nearly 2 percent helium, which indicated that, despite the elements overall rarity on Earth, helium was concentrated under the Great Plains.

38. Oregon: A 14,000-year-old colony

Photo: Bureu of Land Management Oregon

The first known North American colony seems have existed in Oregons Paisley Caves. Researchers have found stone projectile points, fossilized excrement, and, of course, bones. Perhaps more relevant, this discovery also probably means that these cave dwellers are the original hipsters, having lived in Portland 14,000 years before it was cool.

37. Vermont: Photographing snowflakes

Wilson Bentley is probably the reason mothers call their children special snowflakes. The Vermont farmer captured the first images of single snowflakes on camera. In his collection of thousands of prints, no two are alike.

36. Arizona: Found Pluto

... which was probably more exciting thirty years ago. Discovered by Clyde Tombaugh at Flagstaffs Lowell Observatory in 1930, the new-found quickly become the ninth in our solar system. Of course, since then, Plutos been demoted to dwarf statusthe minor leagues of solar system planets.

35. Arkansas: Synced sound and picture when filming

Photo: dailyinvention

This ultimately lead to the advancement of talkies, which, of course, lead to The Godfather and Casablanca. But it also lead to Adam Sandler and The Black Gestapo.

34. Ohio: The world of synthetic rubber

If youve ever wondered why Akron, Ohio, smells like rubber (not a joke), its because Charles Goodyear manufactured the first synthetic rubber, later used for tires, in this Rust Belt town.

33. Kentucky: Moonshine? Nah, the tri-colored traffic light

Tommy Guns, Moonshine, and the traffic lightthats Kentucky innovation. Paris, Kentucky native Garrett Morgan invented the first tri-colored traffic light in 1923, and its that rendition that can be seen all over American roads today.

32. Maryland: Discovered the jacket to our DNA

Telomeres, as theyre called, are like the wax tips on our shoelaces. Without these tips, the laces fray. Telomeres provide the same protection to our chromosomes, without which DNA would spatter.

31. Louisiana: The first practical binocular microscope

Almost every researchable disease, doctoral analysis, or even middle school cork cell experiment can trace its roots to John Riddells creation of the binocular microscope. That said, other, non-binocular microscopes work just fine.

30. Minnesota: Keeps hearts beating with the battery-powered pacemaker

Prior to the Earl Bakkens tweaking, pacemakers were massive machines carted next to patients. There was no way you could fly, go for a run, or, really, lead an active life, in general.

29. Florida: Let there be artificial air

Photo: Jan Tik

Air conditioning may not be the most noteworthy scientific achievement coming out of Florida, a state that helped create the cancer medication Taxol, the home to NASAs Kennedy Space Center, and birthplace of Sunny Delight, but its impossible not to acknowledge the importance of air conditioning in a place like Floridaor anywhere south of the Mason Dixon Line. Aint nobody want to spend a day literally stuck to their leather sofa.

28. Delaware: DuPont invented nylonand possibly Jeff Gordonbut mostly nylon

DuPonts given the world wonderful new polymers like neoprene, tyvek, kevlar, corian, and Jeff Gordon. But none have made an impact quite like nylon, which is used in everything from clothing to packaging to toothbrushes to sausage casings. Odds are high that, at this moment, youre using some form of the synthetic material.

27. Wisconsin: Started the stem cells debate

Should stem cells be used for research? The question began when, in 1998, at the University of Wisconsin, James Thomson isolated and grew stem cells from human embryos for the first time. Though scientifically miraculous and full of research possibilities, the procedure set off one of the biggest ethical debates in the history of science. Thankfully, nine years later in 2007, the lab lulled naysayers when it extracted stem cells from normal human cells.

26. Missouri: Microchips

Next time you see a smartphone, tablet, computer, or some cheesy CBS drama, thank Missouris own Jack Kirby for microchip technology.

25. South Carolina: The submarine

Photo: Mariano Mantel

H.L. Hunley may not have been a Sandlapper, but his invention, the submarine, certainly is. Developed and launched in 1863, the first submarine was used as a Confederate weapon during the Civil War. Today, Hunley should be happy to know his invention further technologized warfare, opened the doors for marine biology, and kickstarted Naval stereotypes.

24. Mississippi: The worlds first lung transplant

The state known for creating the Soft Toilet Seat and fungal creams also performed the worlds first human lung transplant, which was performed by Dr. James Hardy at the University of Mississippi in 1963.

23. New Jersey: Taught us the Earth is made of ever-shifting plates

W. Jason Morgan, a geoscience professor at Princeton, noticed something off about the Earths crust. At the time (mid 1960s), scientists assumed the crust deformed during instances of earthquakes. Morgan saw something else. He proposed the crust consisted of a dozen rigid plates, which moved relative to each other, and this proposal in plate tectonic theory has since revolutionized our understanding of the geological forces that control the earths crust.

22. Maine: Transatlantic television signals

A collaboration between U.S., French, and British broadcasting agencies, Telstar was launched as the first active communication satellite, enabling TV programs to be broadcast across the Atlantic. The three-foot tall satellite brought the BBC to America and, in return, America gave Europe The Beverly Hillbillies.

21. Nevada: Solar cells and, with that, the foundation of solar power

By the turn of the 19th century, the U.S. could have had a functional solar grid if it had followed the lead of Charles Fritts, creator of the first working Selenium Cell. Solar power today could look quite differentmore notably, exist.

20. Alaska: Leads the way in climate-change research

Most Alaskan contributions have a decidedly northern focus. For example, few people outside of the Arctic are interested in helmet lights for snowmobilers or tubes that make it easier to bury the dead in permafrost. But scientists in Alaska are using this northern focus on tracking global climate patterns like the melting of polar caps and the subsequent changes in sea level.

19. Iowa: Quasicrystals are cool, right?

Photo: Aranda/Lasch

The secret of a quasicrystal is that its patterns never repeat. Whys that important in the world of chemistry? It revealed a completely new principle for the packing of atoms and moleculespatterns, order didnt matter. Shechtmans discovery created one of the biggest paradigm shifts in the field, and, still today, more than thirty years later, physicists struggle to understand why quasicrystals have these properties.

18. Virginia: The pursuit of science as an American ideal

Virginia has given us the grain harvester, connected the lymphatic system to the brain, and the swivel chair. Moreover, though, Virginia gave America Thomas Jefferson, founding father of science. Though his inventionslike the folding chairare unremarkable, Jefferson popularized science as an American ideal, Science has liberated the ideas of those who read and reflect, and the American example has kindled feelings of right in the people.

17. Rhode Island: The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

Brown University research instructor Lars Onsagers contribution to thermodynamics was so important that they named the fourth law of thermodynamics as the Zeroth Law, which states, If two thermodynamic systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other, basically meaning if A=B and C=B then A=C. Simple enough, right? Not so. Without this law, temperature couldnt be defined. Thermometers couldnt be built. Youd probably never know when to wear a sweater.

16. Hawaii: Dark Matter

Dark energy, black holes, exoplanets  Hawaiis Keck Observatory is largely responsible for the continued advancement of astronomy and probably the progression of Sci Fi.

15. Massachusetts: Made the first phone call

Mr. Watson, come here. I need you, were the first words Alexander Graham Bell spoke to his assistant the day he made the first ever phone call in Boston in 1876.

14. Michigan: The moving assembly line

Photo: Ford Europe

Developed for the Ford Model T, the assembly line, driven by conveyor belts, saw the production time for a Model T reduced to a mere 93 minutesfaster than the paint could dry. At its peak, the line produced 10,000 Model T cylinder blocks per day.

13. Illinois: The University of Chicago set off the first nuclear reaction

The University of Chicago alone probably deserves a top-ten list of scientific contributions but none seem more important than the creation of the first nuclear chain reaction in 1942. Thus began the atomic agewhich has yet to end.

12. North Carolina: First in flight

Twelve seconds in Kitty Hawk changed the world. After four years in developmentand innumerable crashesOrville and Wilbur Wright took their flying machine to test on the hills of Kitty Hawk. Their first flight lasted twelve seconds, but, by days end, the plane managed a trip of 852 feet with nearly a minute of air time.

11. Washington: Windows 95 redefined home computing

1995: Gangstas Paradise topped the charts; Seinfeld the TV screens; and Nic Cage was an Oscar winner. It was also in 1995 that Microsoft redefined home computing with the launch of Windows 95, a move that saw the Start Menu, software that worked with almost all hardware on the market, and Internet Explorerthe first web browser for many. Computers transformed into something beyond spreadsheets.

10. Georgia: Surgeons began using ether as an anesthetic

Prior to ether, surgeons thought everything from cocaine to the old chloroform trick were the best forms of anesthesia. Thats when Crawford Long, after noticing his friends felt no pain while under the influence of ether, administered the drug to patients going under the knife.

9. Montana: Made a bunch of vaccines

Miles City microbiologist Maurice Hilleman is credited with saving more lives than any other medical scientist of the 20th century. Why? His forty vaccines includes those for measles, mumps, hepatitis A and B, chickenpox, meningitis, pneumonia, and influenza.

8. Connecticut: Pretty much the entire works of Josiah Willard Gibbs

The greatest mind in American history, according to Einstein. Josiah Willard Gibbs, a mathematical physicist at Yale, discovered chemical potential and introduced the concept of free energy, the foundation of thermodynamics and vector analysis. This discovery also lead to the thousands of students who, like this author, drop out of introductory Physics programs.

7. Alabama: Launched America to the moon

Photo: Carlos Ayala

Alabama has made a surprising amount of scientific contributionsvinyl, airbags, the Super Soakerfor a state thats largely brought us people of Walmart, but none seem more important, particularly in the context of America, than the Saturn V rocket. The rocket and lunar roving vehicle, used during the final three Apollo missions, are the mother and father of American space travel and both can call Alabama home.

6. Texas: Put America on the moon

The rockets may have been made in Alabama but the mission was led in Texas. NASAs Johnson Center is Mission Control. Its Houston, we have a problem. And, more importantly, its Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.

5. New York: Formed the basis for genetics

Before 1933, genetics as a scientific discipline didnt exist. It wasnt until Thomas Hunt Morgan and his colleagues, after painstakingly examining the chromosomes tens-of-thousands of fruit flies, confirmed that some genes are linkedmeaning those genes located on the same chromosome are inherited together.

4. Pennsylvania: Vaccinated Polio

In 1952, 22,000 Americans had Polio. Today, that numbers down to 96, thanks to Jonas Salk who developed the vaccine at the University of Pittsburgh in 1955. The vaccine has been so effective that the World Health Organization thinks the disease can be eradicated by April 2017.

3. New Mexico: Brought us the nuclear age

On July 16, 1945, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Whether good or bad, the impact of that drop has gone on to influence not only the science community but, more importantly, global politics.

2. Tennessee: The garbage truck and garbage collection

If a Congress stays home for a week, its business as usual. If garbagemen stay home for a week, its a state of emergency. At least thats what happened three days into a NYC trash collectors strike. The sanitation system isnt a pretty innovation, but its perhaps the most necessary function in nearly every city.

1. California: Edwin Hubble observed that the universe expanding

Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

If any discovery has changed how we view the world, its Hubbles analysis that the Milky Way is just one of many, many galaxies. In 1929, the astronomer expounded on that observation, noting that the universe is expanding, based on observations of starlight from distant galaxies. This theory lead to the conception of The Big Bang.

Top photo: TimothyJ CC-BY-2.0

Tom is a travel writer, part-time hitchhiker, and hes currently trying to imitate Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? but with more sunscreen and jorts.
After Aditya Pancholi's family slapped a contempt case on Jiah Khan's mother Rabia Khan for continuing to defame them despite agreeing to refrain in court.

By Vidya : Actor Aditya pancholi and his wife Zarina Wahab along with their 27-year-old daughter Sana, who works as a yoga instructor, have filed a contempt petition against deceased actor Jiah Khan's mother Rabia Khan for continuing to defame them inspite of promising not to do so in court.

ALSO READ | Jiah Khan suicide: Sooraj Pancholi extricated Jiah's foetus with own hands?

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ALSO READ | Jiah Khan suicide case: This is what Jiah Khan's letter to Sooraj Pancholi read

ALSO READ | Jiah Khan's death not suicide? Hanging was staged, says British forensic expert

Since Jiah's death in 2013, her mother Rabia had levelled allegations against the investigating agencies for not investigating properly. First, the Juhu police and then, the CBI had booked actor Sooraj Pancholi for abetting Jiah Khan's suicide. However, Rabia believes that it was a case of murder.

The Pancholis say in their petition that Rabia uses a Twitter account @RABYAK, which is followed by more than 3500 people globally. The petition alleges that Rabia "has been indulging in passing lewd remarks and using foul and abusing language against the Petitioners and their entire family upon various social media sites along with electronic and print media defaming the reputation and good will of the Petitioners by such libelous and slanderous remarks (sic)."

The petition cites a few tweets from Rabia's account in 2015 and an interview that she had given to a website. The Pancholis have appealed that Rabia "be punished in accordance with law" and be directed to withdraw the mentioned defamatory statements from the internet and make "a personal as well as a public apology on social, print and television media."

The Pancholis' lawyer Prashant Patil said, "In 2015, Rabia had told the court that she would not indulge in defamatory statement making, however she still continues to do so. Therefore, there was no other option but to file the contempt petition. This petition should come up for hearing in January."

The Pancholis had also filed a defamation suit against Rabia in 2014 which had claimed damages worth Rs 100 crore. However, this case will come up for hearing only years later.

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Last week in North Carolina, Republican state legislators, drunk on power and angry their governor lost reelection, executed a sweeping legislative coup. And on Wednesday, the same lawmakers failed to repeal their widely criticized anti-LGBT law, which, among other things, prevents transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity and prohibits local governments from enacting LGBT nondiscrimination protections.

From last weeks special legislative session called to provide financial relief to regions hit by Hurricane Matthew and wildfires, another surprise special session was born. On Dec. 14, lawmakers introduced 28 new bills. The next day, they passed legislation that severely limits the power of the next governor, Democrat Roy Cooper.

After a month of failed voter fraud allegations lodged by outgoing GOP Gov. Pat McCrory and his surrogates, the lame-duck governor almost instantly signed a bill that restructures state and county elections boards so they are no longer controlled by the governors party. Many of these boards rejected McCrorys unsubstantiated claims that dead people, felons and out-of-state individuals had voted in the November election. Another component of the law hampers the chances that constitutional challenges to laws passed by the legislature will reach the state Supreme Court, which flipped to liberal control after African-American Judge Mike Morgan beat a Republican incumbent. Instead, it gives more authority to the Republican-dominated Court of Appeals.

On Monday evening, McCrory signed another bill, which makes Coopers cabinet appointments subject to approval from the senate, dramatically limits the number of state employees Cooper may hire or fire, and shifts power away from the State Board of Education and into the hands of the newly elected Republican state superintendent.

In a deceitful display of raw power, Republican leaders of the NC General Assembly changed from smiling helpers of hurricane victims to greedy manipulators determined to expand their power, even as the federal courts said their legislative districts (and election) were illegitimate, wrote Bob Hall, executive director of elections watchdog Democracy North Carolina.

Hall brings up an important detail thats often left out of the story. This unprecedented power grab by North Carolina Republicans, in addition to anti-LGBT laws and numerous others ruled unconstitutional in court, were only possible because of racially discriminatory policies they have enacted over several years. To track how this happened, we have to go back to 2011.

After the Tea Party wave and outside political spending helped North Carolina Republicans win majorities in the state House and Senate in 2010, they set out to gerrymander state legislative (and congressionial) districts in a way that would ensure majority-expanding victories for years. With the help of the Washington, D.C.-based Republican State Leadership Committee and GOP mega-donor Art Pope, the legislature packed black voters, who vote overwhelmingly for Democrats, into a small number of districts in order to dilute their influence in the surrounding districts.

Then in 2013, after the US Supreme Court gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, state legislators passed possibly the nations most suppressive voting law, mostly aimed at African Americans. The law established a voter ID requirement; cut early voting hours, including Sunday souls to the polls early voting; and banned same-day registration, preregistration for 16- and 17-year olds and out-of-precinct, provisional voting, among other measures. A federal appeals court struck down the law this summer, writing that NC Republicans targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision;

Parts of the law were in effect during the 2016 primaries, and even after it was struck down, election boards did a poor job of communicating to voters that IDs were no longer required. To make matters worse, Republican-controlled elections boards reduced the number of voting sites during the first week of early voting; for example, officials in 518,000-person Guilford County cut polling sites from 16 to one, and the county saw a huge decrease in turnout during that period as compared with 2012. GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse had actually sent out a memo to elections officials urging them to make party line changes to early voting.

Advocates even had to go to court to get the voter registration deadline extended for areas hit by Hurricane Matthew, something the State Board of Elections had refused to do. And efforts by Republicans to purge voter rolls in three counties were thrown out in court days before the election.

This year, North Carolina had an unpopular governor running for reelection and the state was a national battleground in the presidential and U.S. Senate races, but black early voting turnout was down 9 percent from 2012, something that the NC Republican Party publicly celebrated. The most recent tally from Nate Cohn of The New York Times shows that turnout by black registered voters was down close to 6 percent from 2012, with white turnout 3 percent higher.

Federal courts have rejected both congressional and state legislative districts in North Carolina this year, ruling that they are unconstitutional racial gerrymanders, but the 2016 legislative elections were allowed to take place under the illegitimate districts. An analysis by Paul Blest of Indy Week found that due to gerrymandering, Republican state senators got 48 percent of the total votes cast this year but won 70 percent of the Senate seats.

A court ordered NC legislators to redraw 28 racially gerrymandered districts and any affected surrounding districts  possibly 100 in total  by mid-March of 2017, with a special election to fill them in the fall. Of the 28 legislators currently serving in those districts, 25 appear to be black. Only eight additional black lawmakers serve in the legislature, and not one is Republican.

Its likely that uncertainty over the GOPs legitimacy and supermajorities next year was part of party leaders rationale for staging an eleventh-hour power grab.

Despite supermajorites in both legislative chambers, Republicans couldnt find the votes to repeal their discriminatory anti-LGBT law, House Bill 2, on Wednesday. Governor-elect Cooper brokered a deal with the Charlotte City Council, whose nondiscrimination ordinance was the impetus for Republican legislators passing House Bill 2, and legislative leaders that entailed Charlotte repealing its ordinance in exchange for the General Assembly repealing its law. The council didnt initially repeal its ordinance in full, but after it did so Wednesday morning, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger refused to repeal House Bill 2 without tacking on a months-long moratorium on local governments passing nondiscrimination and other ordinances  essentially, a fake repeal. Democrats didnt go for it, and without full Republican support, the repeal effort failed.

For three elections in a row, the GOP has been able to expand its grip on the legislature despite North Carolina becoming an increasingly purple state. And intoxicated by their illegitimate power, Republican legislators have passed at least 14 laws that courts have overturned, most recently a decision over water system control in liberal Asheville. Aside from unconstitutional redistricting, these laws include abortion restrictions, a ban on same-sex marriage, and crackdowns on a teachers organization.

Republicans recent power grab, along with the secretive legislative procedure that enabled it, will see several legal challenges by advocacy organizations and Cooper. The provision altering elections boards may violate the Voting Rights Act, according to voting law expert Rick Hasen.

This special session was planned in illegal, secret meetings that excluded every African-American member of both the House and Senate, wrote Rev. Dr. William Barber, head of the NC NAACP and leader of the Forward Together Moral Movement, which has led an effective grassroots movement opposing the legislature and governor since 2013. The North Carolina NAACP and the Moral Movement see what is happening, and we  prepare to fight it in the courts.

The anti-LGBT law is already in the courts, as the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal sued McCrory and the University of North Carolina in federal court last spring.

In a move symbolizing Republicans greater discriminatory strategy, the legislature failed to hear a certain bill during its surprise special session. While they had time to address the 27-page Senate Bill 4 and the 20-page House Bill 17, they couldnt accommodate this one proposed by Democrats: House Bill 8, to ban racial profiling by police.
Police have arrested seven people in Melbourne in relation to an alleged planned terrorist attack on Christmas Day.

In a press conference, police chief Graham Ashton said that police had foiled the attack, which was intended to take place in Federation Square and St. Pauls Cathedral on Christmas Day. The raid found evidence that an improvised explosive device was at some stage of construction.

According to Ashton, though the community has cause for concern, the plan had been neutralised.

The attack had the potential to cause significant community harm, he said. The community should be concerned but should be reassured that we have got on top of this particular issue.

Premier Daniel Andrews backed up that claim, saying that the threat was contained. Victorians should go about their business, Andrews said. There will be an increased police presence.

According to Ashton, four of the five men arrested across Melbourne were men in their 20s of Lebanese descent, and one was an Egyptian-born Australian citizen. Several of the men had been known to police for some time.

Well keep you posted.

Source: The Age.

Photo: Getty Images.
By: Willis Programs

Contact

Christina Brown

christina.brown@ willis.com Christina Brown

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-- Willis Programs' (www.willisprograms.com)dairy farm insurance program, "DairyProtector,"was developed specifically to meet the unique exposures of the dairy industry. The program is designed for dairy farms with cows producing raw milk for bulk sale and offers the ability to provide blanketed livestock and farm package coverage under one program, thereby optimizing loss experience, and striving to keep rates stable over time.Written through an admitted carrier rated "A+" by A.M. Best, this dairy farm insurance program is a customized insurance solution developed to cover a broad spectrum of exposures that face dairy clients. The program is available in all states, but currently has exclusive distribution agreements in place for Idaho, and Nebraska. If you represent a dairy operation outside those states, please contact us.The DairyProtector insurance program includes, but is not limited to coverages such as blanketed livestock coverage, automobile, crime, property, inland marine, and employee benefits.For additional information on Willis Programs' dairy farm insurance program,DairyProtector, please visitwww.dairyprotector.comor contact James Kelley at (603) 334-3084 or at james.kelley@willistowerswatson.com.About Willis ProgramsWillis Programs serves commercial insurance brokers throughout the United States with over 30 unique insurance programs serving a range of businesses, from auto dealers to well drillers.Headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Willis Programs has a staff of 200 dedicated professionals.Additional Willis Programs locations include Salt Lake City, Utah; Hartford, Connecticut;Tampa, Florida; Southfield, Michigan; Denver, Colorado (Freberg Environmental, Inc.); and Burlington, Vermont (Smith, Bell & Thompson, Inc.).Willis Programs is committed to providing first class client service with a sense of urgency, professionalism and integrity. The company can assemble a full range of coverage including Property, Inland Marine, General Liability, Workers' Compensation, D&O, Professional Liability, Auto, and Umbrella Liability. Willis Programs is an active member of the Target Markets Program Administrators Association and has been a proud recipient of the Target Markets Best Practices Designation since 2008.A complete list of program offerings can be found at http://www.willisprograms.com
Doral Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Proteccion Plenitud Inc. as a Gold Member

lplenitud- miami- doral- chamber- member

Contact

Doral Chamber of Commerce

***@nmx2.com Doral Chamber of Commerce

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-- The Doral Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomes Proteccion Plenitud Inc as a gold Member. The Doral Chamber of Commerce in partnership with businesses such as Proteccion Plenitud Inc will continue to work together towards a common goal building a healthy economy and continuing to improve the quality of life in the City of Doral.They are a company that provides assistance to families through a Funeral Prevision Plan in the United States and Latin America.Their vision has been to take our regional leadership to the United States to assist families and employers to better the quality of life of their love ones wherever they are. We are endorsed by solid companies from Latin America with many years of experience in the funeral industry with the desire to give the very best to families when they needed the most.The Doral Chamber of Commerce is a 501 (c)(6) non-profit, community professional service organization, founded in January 2008 by Manny Sarmiento and Carmen Lopez. The Chamber's focus since its founding has always been to educate its members with seminars, workshops, networking and other educational events becoming "Your Marketing Right Hand".The Doral Chamber of Commerce was created to meet the needs of a thriving business community of small to medium sized companies in Doral and surrounding areas that needed assistance and support in growing their business. After examining their member's needs and the current economic environment, we have found that the new "e-World", Internet communities, online social relationships and education via the web are the "new" and best ways to market your business. We provide our members and the business community in general, with networking and educational opportunities in traditional learning and online environments that together enhance the operational, marketing, and business development skills needed for success in today's business world.sandra.chica@plenitudusa.comwww.penitudusa.com ( http://english.plenitudusa.com/
JLL's Hotels & Hospitality group has advised Blackstone on the sale of the Hilton Prague Old Town and the adjacent 6,900 sq m mixed use commercial building  Gestin Centrum  to Singapore based M&L Hospitality Trust. The Hilton Prague Old Town is a well-established 5 star, 303-bedroom freehold property,

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Launched in India last year, the new Mahindra Mojo 300 is now available across 26 Indian cities. It competes with the likes of Bajaj Dominar 400.

The Mojo caters to a niche compact tourer segment. In February 2016, the flagship Mahindra managed to outsell the CBR250R (both sales figures were in double digits). Mahindra is expecting a significant rise in sale volumes due to the addition of new markets.

# Cities Mojo Mojo Tourer Edition 1 Vijawada 175900 194880 2 Vizag 175900 194880 3 Guwahati 179800 198780 4 Chandigarh 172300 191280 5 Delhi 169870 188850 6 Goa 171800 190780 7 Ahmedabad 178100 197080 8 Gurgaon 172400 191380 9 Jammu 176300 195280 10 Bengaluru 174800 193780 11 Calicut 181300 200280 12 Cochin 181300 200280 13 Indore 181420 200400 14 Nagpur 173330 192310 15 Pune 173330 192310 16 Shillong 181900 200880 17 Pondicherry 174900 193880 18 Punjab 172950 191930 19 Jaipur 176200 195180 20 Madurai 177900 196880 21 Coimbatore 177900 196880 22 Chennai 177900 196880 23 Hyderabad 175900 194880 24 Lucknow 175500 194480 25 Siliguri 177900 196880 26 Kolkata 177900 196880

All Prices are ex-showroom.

As a part of the Mojos brand building exercise, the company has started local chapters of Mojo Tribe, a riders group, at each of the 26 new cities. The company has also announced a new season of the Trails of Mojo Tribe 2016  17 which comprises 4 trails of varying terrain and experiences. The idea is to promote touring among Mojo owners.

Mahindra is expected to introduce new color options for the Mojo in the coming months.

Also read  Mahindra Mojo loses one silencer, EFI and USD fork  Spied

The Mahindra Mojo is powered by a 300 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled fuel-injected engine which is mated to a 6-speed gearbox to pump out 28 PS and 30 Nm of torque. The motorcycle makes for a comfortable long distance tourer. Mahindra is currently working on an ABS version of the motorcycle which is expected to be ready for the market sometime towards the end of this year.
The new generation KTM Duke 390 made its global debut at the 2016 EICMA show last year. A few weeks back, it was launched in India at a starting price of INR 2.25 lakh, ex-showroom.

At the time of launch, KTM India had stated that the Duke 390 will only be offered in Orange colour option, and the white colour KTM Duke 390 will not be sold in India. This was probably done so as to give the flagship some Orange advantage in the eyes of their buyers.

But, within a few days, a dealer in Mumbai was selling white colour variant of KTM Duke 390. How was this happening as white colour was not supposed to be on sale in India? When we contacted KTM India for clarification, they told Rushlane that this was because the company had decided to launch the white colour option as a limited edition.

Some readers had questioned this decision of the company. Why would you abruptly decide to launch a variant which you had clearly stated was not meant for India. Well, the readers are right. The company had not decided to launch the white colour variant, but it happened by mistake.

Our sources tell us that the white colour Duke 390 was launched in India because of a goof-up in dispatch from the manufacturing plant. By mistake, export-spec white coloured new Duke 390s were loaded in a trailer which was meant to be distributed among dealers in India. And thus, some lucky customers in India own export-spec variants of the new Duke 390.

Sharper and more responsive than before, the new KTM Duke 390s engine delivers more torque than before (37 Nm). In addition to that, it also gets a completely new exhaust system to meet BSIV norms in India and EUROIV norms in Europe.

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Apart from a new exhaust system, other changes include, a revised headlamp cluster with LED lights, LED side indicators, LED tail light, larger fuel tank, extensions on the tank, new digital instrument cluster, new exhaust system, and more efficient brakes. What will be carried forward from current Dukes  upside down forks in the front, monoshock at the rear.

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Below are the highlights of the new generation Duke 390.

 New trellis frame that features a bolt-on rear subframe

 Larger fuel tank of 13.4 litres (old had 11 liters)

 Side-mounted exhaust system

 Wheelbase reduced by 10 mm to 1,357 mm

 Ground clearance increased by 15 mm to 185 mm

 Seat height increased by 30 mm to 830 mm

 Dry weight increased by 10 kg to 149 kg

 Power 44 hp (same as before)

 Torque 37 Nm (2 Nm increased)

 Ride-by-wire, LED DRL, LED headlight, LED taillight

 Colour TFT instrument panel

 KTM MY RIDE for smartphone tethering

KTM Duke 390  White Colour
The extra pounds you gain during the holidays will not only show up on your hips but will also affect your DNA. This is the result of a large-scale international study coordinated by Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, a partner in the German Center for Diabetes Research, which has now been published in Nature. The study shows that a high BMI leads to epigenetic changes at nearly 200 loci of the genome -- with effects on gene expression.

While our genes do not change in the course of life, our lifestyle can directly influence their surroundings. Scientists speak here of the epigenome (Greek epi: over, outside of, around), which refers to everything that happens on or around the genes. Up to now there has not been much research on how the epigenome is altered as a result of being overweight. "This issue is particularly relevant because an estimated one and a half billion people throughout the world are overweight," said first author Dr. Simone Wahl of the Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology (AME) at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, "especially considering that being overweight can have adverse consequences and lead to diabetes and diseases of the cardiovascular and metabolic systems."

World's largest study on BMI and epigenetics

For this reason, the international research team led by Dr. Christian Gieger and Dr. Harald Grallert of the AME (as well as Jaspal Kooner and John Chambers of Imperial College London) examined possible correlations between body mass index (BMI) and epigenetic changes. Using state-of-the-art technology, the team carried out the world's largest study so far on the subject.

The scientists examined the blood samples of over 10,000 women and men from Europe. A large proportion of these were inhabitants of London of Indian ancestry, who according to the authors are at high risk for obesity and metabolic diseases. In a first step with 5,387 samples, the research team identified 207 gene loci that were epigenetically altered dependent on the BMI. They then tested these candidate loci in blood samples of an additional 4,874 subjects and were able to confirm 187 of these. Further studies and long-term observations also indicated that the changes were predominantly a consequence of being overweight -- not the cause.

Significant changes also in the expression of inflammatory genes

"In particular, significant changes were found in the expression of genes responsible for lipid metabolism and substrate transport, but inflammation-related gene loci were also affected," said group leader Harald Grallert. From the data, the team was also able to identify epigenetic markers that could predict the risk of type 2 diabetes.

"Our results allow new insights into which signaling pathways are influenced by obesity," said Christian Gieger, head of the AME. "We hope that this will lead to new strategies for predicting and possibly preventing type 2 diabetes and other consequences of being overweight." Next, within the framework of translational research in the German Center for Diabetes Research, the researchers want to investigate in detail how the epigenetic changes affect the expression of the underlying genes.
Female fireflies have long known that the best romances are with a male firefly who offers the most nourishing and largest "nuptial gift" -- a protein-packed capsule of sperm that is rich with egg-producing and life-extending nutrients for the female.

However, the molecular composition of nuptial gifts has remained unknown even though the gifts offer benefits that keep a female firefly coming back for more.

Now, new research at Tufts University, in collaboration with MIT scientists, reveals the mystery of this special package, offers the first peek into the content of firefly gifts, and sheds new light on post-mating sexual selection. The findings were published today in Scientific Reports.

Focusing on the common Eastern firefly, Photinus pyralis, also known as the Big Dipper, researchers found more than 200 identifiable proteins within the nuptial gifts. The proteins' diverse functions can be inferred based on their resemblance to proteins known from other insects. Some are structural proteins that make up the fabric of the nuptial gift, while others are enzymes that may help unpackage the gift, allowing its contents to be released. Still other enzymes appear to be a biochemical way of nudging the female to lay more eggs. The researchers also identified enzymes that might enhance a male's paternity success by expediting sperm storage or by increasing the ability of male sperm to fertilize the female's eggs.

Corresponding author Sara Lewis, Ph.D., professor of biology in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University, said new technologies enabled the research group to decipher exactly what's inside these amorous bundles. Among the new advances used were studies of gene expression within the reproductive glands of male fireflies and proteomic analysis to identify specific proteins that get transferred to females during mating.

"We found that firefly nuptial gifts are complex, elegant structures manufactured by a bevy of male glands," said Nooria Al-Wathiqui, who earned her Ph.D. at Tufts in 2016 and is co-first author of the study. "In fact, if you look inside a male firefly, you'll find them jam-packed with gift-making machinery."

Although gene expression and proteomic studies give insight into gift protein composition, different approaches were needed to reveal other ingredients that might be contained within male gifts. So researchers conducted a high-resolution metabolomic exploration that found that firefly nuptial gifts also contain lucibufagin, a bitter-tasting toxin shown in previous work to protect firefly eggs and adults. Females might use these male-donated toxins to help defend themselves or their offspring against predators.

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"We knew a lot about firefly courtship, but we were still in the dark about firefly sex," said Lewis. "I think it's safe to say that adult fireflies are obsessed with sex."

The Lewis Lab at Tufts has been researching firefly sex for more than two decades. The lab's previous field and laboratory studies have shown that females choose their mates based on the timing of males' bioluminescent courtship flashes and that firefly females mate with several different males across successive nights.

The lab also discovered that female fireflies benefit from male nuptial gifts with higher lifetime egg production and increased longevity, while also finding that males who provide larger gifts are able to sire more of the females' offspring.

Deciphering what makes certain males more successful after mating has proven to be very challenging because post-mating events transpire within the hidden recesses of the female reproductive tract. Future studies will investigate the roles played by specific components of the male gift in promoting female egg production and improving male reproductive success. More studies also are needed to determine how the anti-predator toxins donated by male fireflies contribute to protecting females and their offspring.

"This study opens up so many exciting avenues for future sexual selection research in fireflies and in other gift-giving insects," said Lewis who appeared in TED2014Talks.

In addition to Lewis and Al-Wathiqui, authors include: co-first author Timothy R. Fallon, a Ph.D. student at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; co-corresponding author Jing-Ke Weng, a member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and associate professor of biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Adam South, who earned his Ph.D. at Tufts in 2012 and is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University.
Imagine you're navigating a city like New York, or any other that's laid out on a grid. Suppose you run into a roadblock as you're heading north. How do you know that you can turn to your left, say, and then take a right at the next intersection to continue in your original direction? According to research from the University of California San Diego, it may be thanks to some newly identified neurons in an area of your brain called the subiculum.

In a paper published by Nature Neuroscience, the researchers say they have found neurons that help an animal align itself within a cognitive map of its environment. Working with rats, the researchers observe that cells in the subiculum seem to encode an animal's current axis of travel. The neurons signal "I'm on this line, in this orientation."

"We're describing an entirely new and unexpected form of neural activity," said senior author Douglas Nitz, a professor of cognitive science in the UC San Diego Division of Social Sciences. "The cells fire when the animal travels in either direction along a single axis."

The rats ran on six interconnected routes much like a city grid, and the researchers took recordings from single neurons in the subiculum. Neurons that the researchers have dubbed "axis-tuned" fired when the animal traveled in either direction on a particular line -- one of these firing, for example, when the animal moved north to south or south to north, but staying quiet for east-west. Others were activated for other lines of travel.

"The novel representation here is that the rat is mentally grouping these different locations," said first author and UC San Diego Department of Cognitive Science Ph.D. student Jacob Olson. "Functionally, the routes are all the same, and what the axis-tuned neuron appears to do is encode the functional similarity among different paths. It encodes how multiple pathways are oriented to each other and connected."

Like humans, Nitz said, rats tend to create and travel on pathways. But the researchers also checked if these neurons worked during open-field foraging. They did not. They fired only when the rats were traveling on paths.

The neurons appear to be distinct from head direction cells discovered earlier, the researchers write, for two reasons: Head direction neurons fire when an animal's head is pointed a certain way but not in the opposite direction. They also fire in an open field.

The axis-tuned cells account for about 10 percent of the subiculum neurons, the researchers estimate.

The subiculum is one of the primary outputs of the hippocampus, they note, a region of the brain known to be involved in orientation, location and episodic memory. But what kind of signal the subiculum produces has been a bit of mystery.

"This neural activity is a brand new kid on the block in a rich field of literature," said Nitz. The axis-tuned cell adds to what we already know about orientation encoding in the brain, he said, and takes its place among other cells important to navigation and orientation: place cells, grid cells and head direction cells.

Next steps for the research include studies on how much experience a rat needs with a path before the axis-tuned cells begin functioning, and on whether the representations show up in humans as well.
By PTI: report: Maken

New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken today claimed Najeeb Jung had to resign because he had planned to make public the Shunglu Committee report and alleged there was a "deal" between BJP and AAP on the matter.

He alleged BJP does not want Congress to form governments in Goa and Punjab, and if the Shunglu Committee report were made public, AAP would have suffered great jolts in the two states, benefiting his party.

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The report was not made public as it would have exposed AAP and hence as per the "deal", Jung, who wanted to release it, was made to resign.

The two BJP-ruled states go to poll next year and the AAP has launched intensive election campaigns.

"It seems the deal was struck between the BJP and AAP not to make public the Shunglu Committee report as it would have exposed irregularities in 200 files of Delhi government," Maken told a press conference.

"Dr Najeeb Jung was to make public the Shunglu Committee report on Monday, thats why he had to resign," Maken said quoting "reliable source".

The two states go to poll next year and the AAP has launched intensive election campaigns.

"BJP does not want the Congress party to form governments in Goa and Punjab at any cost. However, the Congress is coming to power in both the states," he claimed.

Earlier, Maken had demanded the Modi government to explain the reason behind sudden resignation by Najeeb Jung from the post of Lt Governor.

He had charged the reason behind Jungs "unceremonious exit" could be a "deal" between Narendra Modi and Kejriwal, or he was punished for poor performance of BJP in MCD bypolls, or the government wanted to place a representative of RSS on his post.

Jung had formed the Committee to examine over 400 files on the AAP government decisions. PTI VIT TIR

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"Algae for a Healthy World" is born, a consortium to produce biocompounds with food applications from microalgae. The seven bodies of which it is comprised -- AINIA, the Centre for Biological Research (CSIC-CIB), Endesa, Mar Cristal Marilum, Neoalgae Micro Seaweed Products, Novatec and the University of Cadiz -- have met to formalise the commencement of the project, whose aim encompasses the development of the necessary biotechnological tools to improve and to optimise the production of biomass of marine origin.

The consortium, led by Endesa and with the University of Cadiz as technical coordinator, is formed by seven partners from very different backgrounds (each one of them a leader in their field of research), who provide a complementary, multi-disciplinary viewpoint. At the inaugural meeting, the instigators of the project highlighted the aim of the study, this being "to generate new products and to increase the profitability of microalgae cultivation technology on an industrial scale, and to establish Spain as a leader in the production of these bioproducts." The microalgae biomass market currently generates almost 10,000 tons of dry material yearly, producing a turnover of approximately 1,500 million euros per year on a worldwide level.

The "Algae for a Healthy World" (A4HW) project has a budget of one million euros for a term of two years, and is co-financed by the European Union via the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) within the "Cooperation Challenges" programme by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (specifically, the "Food Safety and Quality Challenge: Productive, Sustainable Farming, Natural Resources, Marine and Maritime Research").

Furthermore, its aim is also to develop the necessary biotechnological tools for the improvement and optimisation of biomass production, and to further the study of pigments -- principally antioxidants -- and other value added fractions from various microalgae, concentrating their development on different strains of Spirulina, Nannochloropsis gaditana and Pyrocistis. The results of the project will be validated at the microalgae pilot facility for the sequestration and fixing of CO 2 of over 1,500 m2 owned by Endesa since 2006 in Carboneras (Almeria) to demonstrate the uses of microalgae and extracts of interest therefrom in the food sector. In spite of the extensive use of Spirulina as a foodstuff, it is paradoxical that the molecular tools required for its improvement have not yet been developed, which provides the consortium with a significant opportunity for scientific and technological positioning.

The Algae for a Healthy World (A4HW) project also aims to move forward in the knowledge of bioluminescence. What we see as a mere light in the sea is a phenomenon occurring in nearly all the organisms living in the seas and oceans, from bacteria to large fish, and which impacts the behaviour and dynamics of the entire system. The research tested by the company Mar Cristal Marilum, championed by the chef from Cadiz Angel Leon. Over the past years, the University of Cadiz, headquarters of the International Campus of Excellence of the Sea, has carried out research on the bioluminescent capability of various microalgae, making possible something that until now was as unconceivable as "bringing light to a dish."

The Centre for Biological Research (CSIC-CIB) will contribute its knowledge in the field of the development of microbiology- and molecular and systems biology-based tools, AINIA will participate as a technological centre specialising in cutting-edge technologies in the food sector, Neoalgae and Novatec as industrial partners, the first being an expert in filling the gap existing between laboratory scale and industrial processes in the field of application of microalgae, and the second, as an engineering and development company, will execute the designs of the photobioreactors, the harvesting systems and the control systems to optimise microalgae production.

Two thousand years since the first culinary use of algae

The first use of microalgae by humans dates from about 2,000 years ago, in China, where the cyanobacteria Nostoc was used as food in times of famine. There is also evidence of their use as human food in the Phoenician, Egyptian, Mayan and Aztec cultures. However, microalgal biotechnology really began to develop in the middle of the last century, it being cultivated at first as a source of high-value compounds.

Currently, the algae products marketed are few and far between, and the microalgae cultivated for these purposes are likewise scarce. However, microalgae naturally accumulate compounds of commercial value in the food industry and even the fuel industry, although along the latter pathway the results achieved in prior projects have not been as expected. According to officials at the University of Cadiz, the technical coordinator of the project, making the microalgae accumulate one type or another of biomolecule lies essentially in the exhaustive knowledge of the biochemical synthesis pathways of the compounds of interest and of the factors which regulate them. The chemical composition of the microalgae is not an intrinsically constant factor, but varies over a wide range in accordance with the different cultivation factors such as temperature, light (intensity, wavelength and photoperiod), pH of the medium, supply of CO 2 , concentration and type of nutrients, source and concentration of nitrogen, salinity and growth phase.

Variations in these factors, according to the species of microalgae used, has an impact both on the gross biochemical composition of a species and on the amino acid structure and concentration, likewise on the disposition of lipids, the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acids or the vitamin content. Furthermore, variations in the process for obtaining the biomass and the time of harvest can also modify their structure and composition.
The high quality genome sequence of the dry jujube, along with sequences from trees throughout its range, have illuminated the domestication history of this ancient fruit tree, which humans have grown for more than 7,000 years.

Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) collaborated with a group led by Xingang Li of Northwest A&F University in Yangling, China to sequence the dry jujube, or "Chinese date." The study, published in PLOS Genetics, identifies the genomic region underlying the sugar and acid content of the fruits, a key factor in jujube domestication. The researchers also identified genes involved in fruit texture and breeding compatibility. Breeders who are involved in the slow process of creating improved jujube varieties can use the sequences to help guide future breeding decisions.

Jujube is a popular dried fruit in China and other parts of Asia and the Caribbean. Chinese people alone produce more than four million tons of jujubes each year, with dry jujubes accounting for 80 percent of total production. The jujube varieties that are eaten fresh have a crisper texture, while dried ones tend to have flesh that is more coarse.

The researchers constructed a genome sequence for the dry jujube and compared it to sequences from 31 wild and cultivated trees. When researchers compared the genome of the dry jujube to the fresh one, sequenced by another group in 2014, they found several differences in genes related to cell structure.

"A lot of genes involved in cell wall metabolism were changed between the two species," said BTI Associate Professor Zhangjun Fei. "Between the dried and fresh, the cell wall structure was totally different."

They also identified regions of the genome responsible for higher sugar content and reduced acid levels in fruits that is similar across all cultivated varieties. These "selective sweeps" underlie the sweeter and less sour fruit uniformly selected by humans during domestication of the tree.

The genome can serve as a foundation for jujube breeders who want to improve jujube fruits or trees, and introduce new traits into the cultivars.

"Tree breeding and domestication is much harder than vegetables because it's a long process," said Fei. "One generation from seeds to fruit sometimes takes several years."

Another issue is compatibility. Not all varieties can successfully interbreed. To assist with this problem, the researchers identified the genome region involved with self-compatibility, called the S-locus. They investigated sequence patterns in this region in the different jujube lines, to provide guidelines for parent selection for crossbreeding, the first step in traditional breeding.

The study's finding may also be useful for breeding other fruit varieties, such as apples, where breeding cycles are long, and getting just the right mix of sugar, acid and fruit texture is vital to creating a delicious and marketable fruit.
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A Rotorua school has been singled out by the Office of the Auditor-General for spending almost $700,000 on a school trip to Hawaii.

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata spent $695,511 on last years trip, of which only $37,667 came from those attending.

In total, the kura funded a trip to Hawaii for all 139 students, 21 teachers, and 73 caregivers.

The Office of the Auditor-General considered it unusual for a school to spend this amount of money on a trip of this nature.

School principal Cathy Dewes says a greater proportion of the money was raised by the school than merely the figure mentioned in the report.

That figure is somewhat misleading, because weve been planning and fundraising by various means for about 10 years now. So that $37,000 was just one years contributions.

Weve met with the ministry and showed them evidence of how the funds were accumulated. They seemed satisfied with the evidence we provided.

However, a proportion of the funds did come from the government, although the school would not specify how much.

Cathy says the school has made savings over the years by using volunteers to performing duties such as cleaning.

The savings are then channelled into other ventures, such as the Hawaii trip.

In regards to the educational value of such a trip, Cathy says its part of researching the heritage of their students, who are predominately Maori.

Its part of our policy to provide an overseas experience for our students. Its an essential part of our curriculum to retrace the footsteps of our ancestors.

The Office of the Auditor-General also questioned a loan of $311,000 made to a trust (of which the principal is a trustee) in breach of section 73 of the Education Act 1989.

Cathy says legal advice has been sought over that matter.

A loan was made to our parent body to get them through a financial hump. It was all transparent and above board, and approved by our whanau and governance procedures. The loan will be repaid.

We still have a healthy cash reserve of somewhere in excess $500,000. It was raised by our auditor as a post-year event worth noting. The Education Act doesnt contemplate this kind of action, which was why the auditor raised it.
WB Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi summoned the DGP to inquire about the law and order situation in Howrah.

By Manogya Loiwal : West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi summoned the Director General of Police of state Surajit Kar Purkayastha to ensure law and order is maintained in the state.

Dhulagarh in Howrah district of west bengal has been simmering with tension from past few days post clashes between two communities.

Governor called Surajit Kar Purkayastha, Director General of Police, West Bengal to Rajbhavan in Kolkata to inquire about the law and order situation in Howrah district and particularly Dhulagarh incidents.

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DGP briefed him in the matter.

Governor has asked the DGP to ensure peace and law & order in the area and to take strict action against the culprits. Situation has been flaring out of control in Dhulagarh with many forced to relocate themselves for the threat to there lives.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the area and all political delegations of BJP or Congress have been stopped by the police force. Additional deployment of police too has not ensured much relief to the trouble torn zone.

On the other hand BJP National President, Amit Shah has constituted a three member Parliamentary delegation which will visit communally disturbed Dhulagarh on December 24, 2016.

The three member committee constitutes of Jagdambika Pal, MP (Lok Sabha), Satyapal Singh, MP (Lok Sabha) & Former Mumbai Police Commissioner and recently nominated Rajya Sabha MP Rupa Ganguly.

State BJP President Dilip Ghosh will join the delegation as a member.

We can only wait and watch now with Mamata Banerjee vehemently attacking the Modi government for demonetisation drive and BJP government at the Centre leaving no opportunity to tighten the noose around TMC government in Bengal.

--- ENDS ---
The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.

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WEX Inc. provides financial technology services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Fleet Solutions, Travel and Corporate Solutions, and Health and Employee Benefit Solutions. The Fleet Solutions segment offers fleet vehicle payment processing services. Its services include customer, account activation, and account retention services; authorization and billing inquiries, and account maintenance services; credit and collections services; merchant services; analytics solutions with access to web-based data analytics platform that offers insights to fleet managers; and ancillary services and tools to fleets to manage expenses and capital requirements. This segment markets its products directly and indirectly to commercial and government vehicle fleet customers with small, medium, and large fleets, as well as with over-the-road and long haul fleets; and indirectly through co-branded and private label relationships. The Travel and Corporate Solutions segment provides payment solutions, including embedded payments; and accounts payable automation and spend management solutions. Its products include virtual cards that are used for transactions where no card is presented. This segment markets its products directly and indirectly to commercial and government organizations. The Health and Employee Benefit Solutions segment offers healthcare payment products and software-as-a-service consumer directed platforms for healthcare market, as well as payroll related and employee benefit products in Brazil. This segment markets its products through health plans, third-party administrators, financial institutions, payroll companies benefits consultants, software providers, and individuals. The company was formerly known as Wright Express Corporation and changed its name to WEX Inc. in October 2012. WEX Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Portland, Maine.
Everest Re Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Insurance Operations segment writes property and casualty insurance directly, as well as through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents in Bermuda, Canada, Europe, South America, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company also provides treaty and facultative reinsurance products; admitted and non-admitted insurance products; and property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability, directors' and officers' liability, medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health, and workers' compensation products. In addition, it offers commercial property and casualty insurance products through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers, and program administrators. Everest Re Group, Ltd. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in North America. It holds 100% interests in the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine covering an area of 71,868 hectares located in Durango and Sinaloa states; the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine covering an area of 102,244 hectares located in Sonora; Jerritt Canyon gold mine that covers an area of approximately of 30,821 hectares located in Elko County, Nevada; and the La Encantada Silver Mine covering an area of 4,076 hectares situated in Coahuila, as well as surface land ownership of 1,343 hectares. The company also holds 100% interests in the La Parrilla Silver Mine that covers an area of 69,478 hectares located in Durango; the Del Toro Silver Mine consisting of 3,815 hectares of mining concessions and 219 hectares of surface rights located in Zacatecas; the San Martin Silver Mine includes 33 mining concessions covering an area of 12,795 hectares located in Jalisco; and the La Guitarra Silver Mine that covers an area of 39,714 hectares located in Mexico. In addition, it holds interest in the Springpole project, a gold and silver project covering an area of approximately 41,913 hectares in Ontario, Canada. The company was formerly known as First Majestic Resource Corp. and changed its name to First Majestic Silver Corp. in November 2006. First Majestic Silver Corp. was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
A man who was a tea vendor 30 years ago, now owns property worth Rs 250 crore. Here's how he became 'Kaliyug ka Kuber' which he is better known as.

By Saurabh Vaktania: We have heard a lot about Surat's Kishor Bhajiyawala alias chaiwala alias 'Kaliyug Ka Kuber' before our journey to find him and learn about his incredible rags-to-riches journey, a journey he started from Udhna railway station in Gujarat.

We investigated hoping to figure out his total wealth and why people fear him. Local police claimed to know nothing about his existence but it was, of course, hard to believe.

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Photo: Aajtak

When Kishor, along with his family, reached Udhna railway station over 30 years ago, he was a nobody. Neither did he have money, nor a job, but what he had was a dream to become rich someday.

Seeing many labourers buying tea at the station, Kishor borrowed some money from a friend and set up a tea stall. This is where his journey truly began. Kishor began lending money to labourers on high interest. In case labourers failed to repay the amount, he used to confiscate whatever they had kept in pawn.

Kishor and family were then living in a small rented apartment. Within a few months, he was able to buy the property in his name. His growth was quick. He then started lending money to the working class and even big businessmen, and by then, became a full-time moneylender with an office behind his house.

Kishor was the first one to own a Kinetic scooter in Surat. People gathered to see the vehicle when he sped on it. Today, Kishor Bhajiyawala has over 27 bank accounts, some in his name, and some in the name of his family members.

We went to Jalaram Baba temple, owned by Bhajiyawala and the trust owned by his wife Kamalben. The temple is made some ten years back by Kishor. Interestingly only Bhajiyawala family members go to temple and none of the locals goes to this temple.

Photo: Aajtak/Saurabh Vaktania

A devout follower of Jalaram Baba, Kishor ensures he has Jai Jalaram written on all his properties, be it an office or a car. In fact, in Udhna, Jai Jalaram could be a sign to know it's Kishor's property.

Photo: Aajtak/Saurabh Vaktania

A few locals we spoke to near the temple, said, "Kishor used to visit the temple daily but we haven't seen him since last ten days. But his only son Jignesh has been coming. We learned from the news that Kishor is rich, but he has never done anything for the locals, has never helped any poor."

When we went to his under-construction bungalow in Vesu, we saw a couple of building models there. We couldn't help but wonder whether Kishor has turned a builder. Late in that night, we got the address to one of his houses. We decided to go, despite being warned by the locals about his ruthless bouncers.

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There were four cars parked, and each one of them with "Jai Jalaram" written on the front and "Bhajiyawala" in Gujarati on the back. We turned the sting camera on. It was a grand five-storey bungalow. There was a Mercedes and an imported car in the basement.

Photo: Aajtak/Saurabh Vaktania

We managed to speak to Jignesh. He said his family was being framed and that all allegations against them were baseless. In some time, Bhajiyawala spoke to us in person and said the same. He left after saying "Jai Jalaram" with folded hands.

The next day, we met the priest in the temple, who told us he's planning to discontinue working there because Income Tax department officials regularly visit for investigation and questioning. We met Jignesh again there, and he told us he is on his way to the IT office.

Local policemen told us that they came to know about Bhajiyawala from the newspapers and that they didn't know anything about him. IT investigation is ongoing. Officials are yet to open four more bank lockers that belong to Bhajiyawala. Kishor and Jignesh are called often for questioning.

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Photo: Aajtak/Saurabh Vaktania

IT officials told us they don't have the power to arrest Kishor. All they can do is to prepare an investigation report and hand it over. Concerned agencies will file cases against Kishor and his son, if found guilty.

We can wait and see how law will take its call in Kishore's case.

--- ENDS ---
Blitzen was just 37 pounds when the perfect person showed up at a cattle auction and decided to rescue him. The baby cow was weak and just days old. And the people who were at the stockyard, auctioning off him and other unwanted animals, were laughing at him because he was so tiny.

"They called him trash and joked about ... no one bidding on him," Susie Coston, national shelter director for Farm Sanctuary, wrote. She was already rescuing two other very sick calves that day, who had come in with scores of others from massive dairy farms in Pennsylvania and New York. The calves who show up at the stockyard are often just a day or two old.

"Calves often arrive at the stockyard too weak to stand, dehydrated and without having received vital colostrum from their mothers," Coston explained. "This leaves them vulnerable to infection and disease, which quickly sets in." It seemed like the scrawny calf hardly stood a chance.

But the auctioneer looked at Coston and said, "Do you want him too?"

Dodo Shows Cat Crazy Fluffy Cat Wants To Sit On His Dad At All Times

"Of course, I said yes," Coston recalled.

Blitzen - along with the two other calves, Lawrence and Alexander - was rushed to Nemo Farm Animal Hospital at Cornell University. Lawrence, especially, was at death's door.

At the hospital, Blitzen watched over the other calves as veterinarians tried to save them.

This was back in December 2010. And all three dying calves survived.

Blitzen was the healthiest of the three, but he still had pneumonia and needed a blood transfusion.

But soon the three calves were running and playing together.

They were brought to Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York, where they could grow up together.

Blitzen especially bonded with Lawrence. The two animals, who now weigh a couple thousand pounds , continue to be best friends.

After five long and happy years at the sanctuary, Alexander passed away from complications stemming from his rough start in life. But Blitzen and Lawrence are still going strong.

And now Farm Sanctuary still loves to celebrate Blitzen's birthday, just a few days before Christmas, which was very nearly the day he and his friends died.

But that stockyard is a distant memory now.
Fat Pat couldn't catch a break. The zaftig feline landed herself in an Illinois shelter about a year ago. Her previous owner told staff at the McDonough County Animal Shelter (MCAS) that Fat Pat wasn't getting along with the family's dog. Fat Pat is "a shy, quiet gal," Bonnie Billhymer, assistant animal control officer at MCAS, tells The Dodo, and also "kind of picky," in terms of the people (and animals) she warms up to.

Which means the big girl spent a lot of time hiding in the back of her kennel, giving the kind of unfriendly stare that left potential adopters with the impression she was definitely not interested in going home with them. One family failed to take the hint, and did adopt Fat Pat - but she was soon brought back to the shelter when the family moved to a place where the cat wasn't permitted. And so it was that Far Pat became a longtime shelter resident. She allowed staff to "pet her and love on her," Billhymer says, but anyone else - "No thanks." That is, until Lynda Kruzan came along.

Dodo Shows Pittie Nation The Sweetest Pittie Was Living Under A Jeep

A friend of Kruzan's had been at the shelter looking to adopt a dog. That friend happened upon Fat Pat and, thinking Kruzan might like her, texted her a photo. That was basically that for Fat Pat the cat. "I just kind of fell in love," Kruzan tells The Dodo. "Her little face, and how lonely she looked." When Kruzan came in to meet her new beloved, Fat Pat was similarly smitten. Folks from the shelter could see right away that the tragically unlucky cat had finally caught her big break. "When I picked her up, she just put her arm around me and hugged me," says Kruzan. "We knew she'd gotten the right one," says Billhymer.

Elsa is still not wild about having her photo taken. | Lynda Kruzan
Little kids love going to visit Santa when the holiday season rolls around - and as it turns out, so do dogs. Edel O'Meara and her partner Thomas Malone, owners of The Doggie Lodge, a dog daycare in Wicklow, Ireland, wanted to do something special for the dogs they care for this year. Instead of getting them all individual presents, they decided to get them the ultimate present: a visit from Santa.

The sneaky Malone dressed up as Santa and surprised the 45 dogs, who were all thrilled to see him, even if some weren't exactly sure what was happening.

Dodo Shows Foster Diaries Guy Falls In Love With His Little Meatball Of A Foster Dog

"They all reacted well to Santa although they were a little confused," O'Meara told The Dodo. Even the dogs who weren't exactly sure who Santa was were still overjoyed to receive presents and holiday cheer ...

... and all of the dogs got a chance to take a picture with Santa ...

... which, honestly, is the best gift any of us could have asked for. Just look at those faces.

Along with Santa's visit, the lucky dogs got to attend a doggie Christmas party, too, because they've all been such good boys and girls this year. We're sure they're all getting exactly what they want for Christmas this year!
Two weeks ago, 18 dogs arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City after traveling more than 11,000 miles from South Korea. Some of the dogs had been rescued from South Korean meat farms; others were saved from puppy mills, or even the streets. Whatever their backgrounds were, these dogs were all getting a fresh start in the U.S.

Free Korean Dogs

While many people helped to get these dogs here, one person played a particularly important role - a South Korean woman who goes by the name "Ms. Jung."

Free Korean Dogs

Ms. Jung is one of South Korea's unsung heroes, according to EK Park, founder of Free Korean Dogs. "She's been rescuing dogs her whole life, but 20 years ago she got heavily involved," Park told The Dodo.

Free Korean Dogs

Ms. Jung runs a private refuge for rescued dogs called Chungdo Shelter from her home near Daegu, South Korea. But Chungdo Shelter is no ordinary shelter. Instead of keeping dogs in cages or enclosures, Ms. Jung allows them to live inside her house.

Free Korean Dogs

"There are always between 150 to 200 dogs living at her house," Park said. "It's a two-story building - just a regular house. Dogs are sleeping in the kitchen, sleeping in the washroom, everywhere."

Dodo Shows Odd Couples Dog Is So Gentle And Patient With Her Foster Kittens

Free Korean Dogs

Ms. Jung is in her mid-60s, and she has health problems, Park said. But instead of taking care of herself, Ms. Jung spends all of her time and money taking care of dogs. She opens her home to any dog - young or old, healthy or sick. "There are many dogs who are old - seniors who are sick," Park said. "She simply has no time to play with the younger dogs because she's just way too busy taking care of the seniors."

Free Korean Dogs

Besides being short on time, Ms. Jung struggles to pay for the dogs' care, especially when it comes to vet bills. But she never skimps, according to Park - if a dog needs medical attention, Ms. Jung makes sure the dog gets it. Perhaps the bigger problem Ms. Jung faces is rehoming the dogs.

Free Korean Dogs

There are hundreds upon thousands of dogs who need help in South Korea, and Ms. Jung can only care for so many at one time. So Ms. Jung tries to rehome as many dogs as possible, so she can help more dogs in need. In South Korea, dogs face many challenges, the biggest being dog meat farming. There are around 17,000 dog meat farms in South Korea, and an estimated 2 million dogs are slaughtered for human consumption each and every year.

Dog meat farm in Chungcheongnamo, South Korea | Manchul Kim/HSI

Dog meat farm in Chungcheongnamo, South Korea | Manchul Kim/HSI

Then there's the problem of strays. When people don't want their pets anymore, they may take them to a shelter, where they're usually euthanized - sometimes immediately. Or people abandon their unwanted pets on the streets. "When dogs get sick or make trouble, people just throw them out," Park said.

Stray dogs living in garbage | Free Korean Dogs

Any stray who doesn't end up at a shelter usually becomes dog meat, Park explained. "That's the reality in Korea," Park said. "It doesn't really matter where they come from - in the end, they usually end up on somebody's table. It's a very brutal situation there." While there are some South Korean rescue groups who help dogs, as well as individuals like Ms. Jung, there are more dogs in South Korea than people who want to adopt them.

Dog meat farm in Chungcheongnamo, South Korea | Manchul Kim/HSI

There's also a stigma in South Korea around dogs rescued from meat farms. "People just don't like to adopt dogs from meat farms," Park said. "In general, people in Korea see 'pet' dogs as dogs [who are] small, cute and pretty. But most dogs rescued from a dog meat farm or markets are big dogs." Park, who is originally from South Korea herself, has seen this kind of discrimination firsthand. "When I organized a protest last summer at a dog meat market, I saw a young woman holding a Pomeranian puppy in her arms, and bought dog meat with her husband at the dog market," she said. "I was pretty shocked."

Free Korean Dogs

A solution has been to transport South Korean dogs to other countries. In 2015, Park founded Free Korean Dogs to rescue and transport South Korean dogs and rehome them in the U.S. and Canada. It was during one of these rescue operations that Park got to know Ms. Jung.

Free Korean Dogs

"We rescued a lot of dogs from a dog meat farm last summer, and we needed a space, a shelter to keep these dogs for two months for medical treatment," Park said. "So we contacted a lot of people, and Ms. Jung was one of them - she was one of my colleague's friends. She took some of my dogs, and that's how our relationship started. Since then, we've just been helping each other."

Free Korean Dogs

Over the past year, Park has worked with Ms. Jung to rescue and transport more than 200 dogs to North America. In preparation for the dogs' departure, Ms. Jung will get each dog spayed and neutered, vaccinated and even groomed.

Free Korean Dogs

Ms. Jung also dresses each dog in an adorable doggy jacket.

Ruff House Rescue

But Park doesn't just work with Ms. Jung - she also works with rescue groups like Ruff House Rescue in New York. "There are many volunteers working with this whole thing," Park said.

Ruff House Rescue

Most senior dogs remain in Ms. Jung's care, but the younger, more socialized dogs are good candidates for adoption in North America.

Ruff House Rescue

The 18 dogs who recently arrived have already been adopted.

Ruff House Rescue

"They were adopted so quickly," Diane Indelicato, founder of Ruff House Rescue, told The Dodo. "Everyone went off within the same week. All the Korean dogs that we brought were adopted to very good homes were all adopted."

Ruff House Rescue

"Some people have a concern about the homeless dogs we already have here," Indelicato said. "But there are homes for the [South Korean] dogs, and there are homes for our dogs too, and I think it's important what we're doing."

Ruff House Rescue

To help Ms. Jung care for hundreds of rescued and abandoned dogs in South Korea, you can make a donation here. If you are interested in adopting a dog rescued from South Korea, you can contact Ruff House Rescue or Free Korean Dogs.
If Albert the Super Cow shares anything in common with the Man of Steel from comic book lore, it's that they both began their lives amid desperate circumstances. Albert was just a day old - and he was already being sold off at an auction house in New York state. When the bids came in for Albert, they were in the smallest increments. $40? Do I hear $40? After all, who wanted to pay a premium for a day-old animal who was constantly crying for the mother he had been torn away from? Albert could scarcely stand on his own.

Nonetheless, some people thought Albert's life was worth any price. Tracy Murphy wanted to take him home to Asha Sanctuary - the animal refuge she had just founded in New York. "I ran across Albert in a pen," Murphy tells The Dodo. "He was only one day old. He was sick. He was so thin. He was mooing for his mother. And he was falling down." $45. Do I hear $50? Others at the auction just wanted the baby steer for his meat. $50. Do I hear $55?

"When he came up for auction, I started bidding like crazy," Murphy recalls. "I was so scared because there were others bidding for him." Sold for $60 - to freedom. And so Albert defied the earliest odds, and instead of being sold for the sum of his parts, he went to Asha Sanctuary - where he would be cherished for all that he is.

Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Wild Horse Loves To Play With A Little Donkey

But at first, this little calf didn't seem long for this world. He was feverish and couldn't even lift his head. Murphy piled blankets on him, trying to keep him warm. And tried to replace the mother's milk he had been missing - the milk all babies need to build their immune system. When the veterinarian arrived, her diagnosis was devastating "The first thing she asked was, 'Are you going to eat him?'" Murphy says. "No. We're going to save him," she replied. "We're a sanctuary." The veterinarian left, after expressing grave doubts about Albert's chances. But then Albert, so desperate for a miracle, got a kind of bovine intervention. "I got down on my knees," Murphy recalls, her voice breaking. "And I prayed for a miracle." Then she turned to Albert and whispered in his ear: "You know, Albert. I just want to see you as a great big bull one day. I know you can do it, baby. I know you can do it. Because, one day, people from all over this community are going to know about you. "You're going to touch so, so many lives."

The next morning, this wobbly calf, for the first time, raised his head. The Cow of Steel, indeed. "After that, he just started growing stronger." And also more comfortable with his new life.

In fact, today, so much about Albert's new life is about play. Even his name. "Albert is actually a steer," Murphy says. "He's a male, but we refer to him as a cow because most people know about cows. They know more about cows than steers. And he doesn't mind."

What Albert does mind is if you don't play hide-and-seek with him in the woods at the sanctuary. "He gets a kick out of it when I join him in the woods," Murphy says. "Just like my dog would."

Murphy recently recorded a frolic in the woods with Albert the Super Playful Cow. "He was actually trying to get me and I was hiding behind trees. It's kind of like a hide-and-seek game that we play together." Look over there! Behind that tree. It's a bird. It's a dog. It's Super Cow.
Its Sunday afternoon and Torontos Centre for Social Innovation is packed full of marijuana enthusiasts perusing tables of goods.

Everything from marijuana-infused barbecue sauce to medicated body rubs is available at Green Market, where artisans peddle their various craft cannabis products.

Such events, which sell to patients and casual users alike, operate within a foggy regulatory environment. Selling marijuana is illegal unless you are a large-scale producer licensed under Health Canadas medical marijuana regime.

However, licensed producers are only permitted to sell dried cannabis flower and oils, in spite of a Supreme Court ruling last year that said Canadians have a right to access medical marijuana in all of its forms.

We only carry products that are inaccessible in the current legal medical program, says Lisa Campbell, Green Market co-founder and a marijuana consultant at Mobile Revolutions.

So for patients we are the only place they can find edibles  its not available from any licensed producer.

The year ahead is expected to be a pivotal one for Canadas burgeoning marijuana industry, as the federal government is planning to table legislation in the spring that will lay out the ground rules for a legal, recreational market.

Canada will be the first G7 nation, in 2017, to legalize, regulate and restrict access to recreational cannabis, Brendan Kennedy, president of B.C.-based marijuana producer Tilray, says.

The eyes of the world are on Canada, and its extremely important for Canada to get this right.

Theres also a lot of money to be made in marijuana.

A report published by consultancy firm Deloitte in October estimates that legalizing recreational use of the drug could ignite a $22.6 billion industry in Canada. That figure includes sales of marijuana products as well as ancillaries such as security, transportation and testing labs.

The real money is in recreational marijuana, says Jay Currie, author of the book Start & Run a Marijuana Dispensary or Pot Shop: Wherever it is Legal.

So these guys whove got millions and millions of bucks invested in candy factories that have been turned into grow-ops really want to make sure that they have a big bite on the recreational side.

Currie is referring to Tweed, which is housed in a former Hershey Chocolate factory in Smiths Falls, Ont., southwest of Ottawa. The marijuana production company is a subsidiary of Canopy Growth (TSX:CGC), and with a market value of roughly $1 billion, it is the largest publicly traded marijuana company in the country.

While licensed producers ramp up their production facilities in preparation for an anticipated surge in demand, boutique cannabis companies are also eager for a slice of the pot pie.

I personally would like to see something like what theyve done in California, where they have 17 different types of licences you can get, including microprocessing, which is probably the category that most small businesses would fall under, Christa Schadt says.

Schadt founded Bliss, a company that makes marijuana-infused lubricants, while dealing with the symptoms of menopause.

Virginia Vidal, who sells teas that contain marijuana under the brand Marys Wellness, says the boutique industry provides consumers with far greater choice in terms of available products.

I cant see my 80-year-old grandma wanting to go and roll up a joint for the first time, Vidal says. But shed be interested in trying the tea.

Another matter that has yet to be settled is how cannabis would be distributed for recreational use. Under the medical program, licensed producers ship the product to patients via mail.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has mused about the possibility of having the LCBO play a role in selling recreational marijuana. But a federally appointed task force is recommending storefront and mail-order sales.

Its unclear what that would mean for the hundreds of illegal marijuana dispensaries operating across the country, Currie says.

One possibility is that the licensed producers could sell their products through dispensaries, rather than setting up their own networks of stores, he says.

To build out a set of dispensaries is not a cheap thing to do.

While companies big and small prepare for the advent of a recreational market, consumers shouldnt hold their breath. Expectations are people wont be able to legally buy marijuana until 2018, at the earliest.

Theres going to be some filibustering, I can only assume, from the Conservatives, because they were never in favour of this, says Vic Neufeld, the CEO of Leamington, Ont.-based medical marijuana producer Aphria.

Once the federal rules are enacted, then the provinces really have to take the federal rules and overlay that with their particular provincial rules, like where and how. Thats a long process.

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OTTAWAWhen the Liberals made the bid for a seat at the United Nations Security Council one of their top international priorities, they probably didnt foresee the wave of isolationism and populism ready to sweep over the United States and Europe in 2016.

But theres still value in winning access to the UNs premier forum for international politics, experts say, even in a time of mistrust in multilateral institutions.

The Liberals will announce early next year where in Africa they intend to send a new peacekeeping force of up to 600 Canadian Forces members and 150 police officers. The mission  or missions  will cost upwards of $450 million and could expose Canadian soldiers to the most direct risk theyve seen since the war in Afghanistan.

The move is seen, at least in part, as a way to bolster Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus goal of getting Canada back to the Security Council for a two-year term beginning in 2021. But Roland Paris, an international relations professor at the University of Ottawa and former adviser to the Liberal government, warned against that interpretation.

There are good reasons for Canada to reengage in peace operations that are separate from Canadas campaign for a Security Council seat, Paris said in an interview.

Obviously, re-engaging in peace operations would enhance our Security Council campaign, but you need to look at these things separately.

Canada has held a non-permanent seat on the Security Council six times since the 1940s  once every decade since the UN was formed, except for the 2000s. Under the previous Conservative government, Canada lost its bid to rejoin the council in 2010 to Portugal. The loss was seen as a rebuke to the Conservatives foreign policy agenda, including their full-throated support for Israel and stepping back from foreign aid programs.

The Liberals, for their part, have committed to a rethink of the countrys foreign aid, as well as a wide-ranging review into Canadas defence policy. Marc-Andre Blanchard, Canadas ambassador to the UN, told The Canadian Press in June that both policy reviews are directly connected to the Liberals Security Council ambitions.

The rise of xenophobia, the rise of division, the rise of mistrust  we think that the Canadian experience is very valuable to bring a very positive, inclusive solution to these challenges, Blanchard said at the time.

The ambassador was not available for an interview for this article.

But in the face of that rise of xenophobia and division, along with politicians promising isolationism in the United States and Britain, is a seat at the Security Council still worth it? Stephanie Carvin, a national security researcher at Carleton University, said it depends on what foreign policy goals Canada is hoping to advance.

This is part of the problem. The government has yet to articulate why it wants a seat, Carvin said.

Is the UN still a valuable institution in the face of all the global problems that were seeing? Absolutely. It's the UN Security Council going to be able to act in ways that effectively solve a lot of the problems were seeing? Probably not.

Paris dismissed the idea that animosity between permanent members like Russia, China and the U.S. diminishes the importance of gaining a seat at the table.

The bottom line is that the Security Council remains the most important forum for international politics in the world  That was true during the Cold War, that was true after the Cold War, and it remains true today, Paris said.

The fact that some countries are pursuing their own interests is nothing new  And the shifting character of the domestic politics and foreign policy priorities of the permanent members of the Security Council doesnt change the fact that they will continue to be interacting at the council, and they will continue to conduct their foreign policies.

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The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for state-owned airline Afriqiyah Airways with 118 people aboard.

By Reuters: Passengers walked down the steps from a hijacked plane at Malta International Airport on Friday.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac to carry passengers away, and more releases were expected, with more than 100 passengers and crew reported to have been on board. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

The aircraft had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a hijacker told crew he had a hand grenade.

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Initial reports said the hijacker had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

#WATCH: 109 passengers disembark after being released from hijacked Libyan plane, in Malta pic.twitter.com/GAOWYYof17 ANI (@ANI_news) December 23, 2016

It was unclear what the demands were. Some media reports said there was more than one hijacker. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

Troops took up positions a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM".

LATEST UPDATES:

Hijackers leave the plane in malta along with the crew

All passengers released, crew being released now

Potentially two hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft

65 passengers released so far from hijacked Libyan plane

Potentially 2 hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft. Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016 First 25 of the 118 passengers on board the Afriqiyah Airways flight have been released.

It was unclear what the demands were or whether the hijacker was acting alone. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

Troops took up positions a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac and no one was seen boarding or leaving it. The aircraft's engines were still running 45 minutes after it landed in late morning, the Times of Malta said.

All other flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused," he added.

Large numbers of security officials could be seen at Mitiga airport after news of the hijacking.

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

BREAKING Afriqiyah Airways Flight #8U209 from Sebha to Tripoli, Libya reportedly hijacked to Malta. pic.twitter.com/VnRHeqb14u

Air Disasters (@AirCrashMayday) December 23, 2016

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A Toronto Fire captain has been charged with two counts of sex assault and assault with a weapon.

This comes after allegations made by a former female Toronto firefighter of a historical sexual assault case over 10 years ago, Toronto Professional Firefighters Association President Frank Ramagnano told the Star.

Toronto police Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu said police began their investigation in August of this year.

Court documents show that Kevin Hughes, 59, has been charged with assault with a porcelain plate sometime between Oct. 2 and Oct. 31 in 2006.

In the same year, Hughes is charged with two counts of sexual assault that occurred between Nov. 1 and 30.

According to a city spokesperson, Hughes was employed as captain of Toronto Fires Training Unit since 1985. He has been out of the workplace since 2012, the spokesperson said.

Hughes hasnt been in custody following the charges, police say.

Documents show that Hughes now resides in Nova Scotia.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 20.

With files from Alyshah Hasham and Brennan Doherty

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Bright shafts of sunlight flood through stained glass windows, splashing a golden hue on the rose-coloured walls of St. Cecilias Catholic Church.

Parishioners are filing in from the Sunday morning cold as the choir sings gospel-tinged oldies from up in the second-floor balcony.

Father Joseph Tap Tran takes the pulpit, leads the church in its prayers.

He came to Canada in 1982, a refugee from post-war Vietnam, one of the so-called boat people.

Hes delivering mass in English now.

In two hours, hell start over again, but in Vietnamese, with Vietnamese prayers, and a Vietnamese choir, singing traditional Vietnamese hymns.

St. Cecilias, wedged between High Park and the Junction in west Toronto, is home to separate English and Vietnamese parishes.

For over 11 years, Tran has delivered masses to each one, each weekend.

Each pew has one English bible, one Vietnamese.

Thats Canada, I think, Tran says. Our diversity.

More than 70,000 Torontonians say they have Vietnamese heritage. More than 45,000 of them list Vietnamese as their mother tongue.

St. Cecilias has become a major hub for the GTAs Vietnamese-speaking Catholic population.

Its the main church for the Vietnamese community, says Michael Huynh, a Vietnamese-born parishioner who has attended St. Cecilias for more than 18 years.

He and his family live in Mississauga, a 40-minute drive from the church.

Other Vietnamese-speaking parishioners come in from Barrie, Orillia, Milton, to worship in their native language.

Ive seen four generations there, says Huynh. (Refugees) that came here by boat, and Canadian-Vietnamese that are born here. The heritage is there.

The services at St. Cecilias help preserve Vietnamese heritage for younger generations, says Huynh.

His young children attend Vietnamese mass each week and take Vietnamese classes at the church on Saturdays.

To keep your mother tongue is very important and the mass in Vietnamese and the Vietnamese school keeps (kids) in line with the language, Huynh says. Along with that, they learn Vietnamese culture, even though some of them have never seen Vietnam.

St. Cecilias has stood for over a century and, for generations, was primarily an Irish Catholic church, led by priests with names such as Gallagher, Cullinane, McGrath.

In the late 1970s and 80s, in the wake of the Vietnam War, tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees arrived in Canada, many of them sponsored by churches and religious groups of all denominations in the GTA.

A Vietnamese parish was set up nearby, and, in 1993, it moved to St. Cecilias.

Having the Vietnamese parish really helped save the church, says Luke Stocking, a St. Cecilias parishioner since 2010 and chair of the English parishs pastoral council.

It was an influx of a very strong, vibrant community into the building, at a time when the English parish was dwindling.

St. Cecilias three English masses typically see a combined 500 to 600 attendees, says Tran. The three Vietnamese services can get up to 2,000.

The two parishes worship separately, but they come together often.

You get these insights into the particularities of Vietnamese Catholic culture, says Stocking. I find that I have a better appreciation of the beauty of the diversity of the Catholic Church.

Mass is now delivered in at least 35 languages each week, in churches across the GTA, says Neil McCarthy, spokesperson for the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto

We have a lot of immigrants who come to Canada who are active in their faith, says. Theyre the ones who are really involved in the churches, too.

At St. Cecilias, the English and Vietnamese communities put up the churchs holiday decorations together. They share in each others special events.

The English-speaking parishioners invite the Vietnamese to their St. Patricks Day celebrations. The Vietnamese invite the English-speakers to Tet, Vietnamese New Year.

By communication, by working together, by inviting each other to the celebrations, they learn what we are, and, in return, we know what they are, says Huynh. We get to know each other and we can talk.

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In a change that anti-poverty activists are calling long overdue, Toronto Public Health will work with about 200 community agencies to confirm the deaths of homeless people that occur across the city.

Beginning Jan. 1, the initiative will expand reporting to include homeless deaths outside of Torontos shelter system. Currently, the city records only shelter-related deaths  people who die in city-administered shelters or shortly after leaving one. There have been 247 such deaths since 2007.

Bolstering the efforts of Toronto Public Health and participating agencies, the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario says it will confirm the death of a homeless person if it is aware of that detail, although a notification process has not been finalized.

The start date for the project comes 10 months after a Star investigation found the province and most Ontario municipalities do not track homeless deaths fully, or at all.

In April, prompted by the Stars findings, city council passed a motion directing staff to collect all data related to homeless deaths and for this information to be shared with public agencies and the provincial government.

I am happy to finally see progress being made on this initiative, said Scarborough East Councillor Paul Ainslie, who tabled the motion at Toronto council. It has been too long coming into existence.

The expanded monitoring system will provide information everyone can use to raise awareness of these tragic deaths and respond with appropriate strategies.

As part of the tracking system, Toronto Public Health has asked roughly 200 community partners, such as drop-in centres, churches, needle exchanges, Toronto police and hospitals, to submit data on deaths they are aware of. The data could include date and time of death, location and cause, according to Paul Fleiszer, manager of the surveillance and epidemiology unit at Toronto Public Health.

The new initiative will capture deaths that occur to homeless people who are not in city-run shelters, Fleiszer wrote in an email They may have been living at shelters run by agencies other than the city, at a friends place, or on the street.

The research will be summarized and publicly reported, he noted.

This kind of evidence can help us measure how well we are responding to the problem and to identify whether additional efforts are needed to reduce what is an important health inequity in Toronto, Fleiszer said. At the same time, this data will help to acknowledge those individuals who have died after living in what are, for most of us, unimaginable and dire circumstances.

Calls to comprehensively track homeless deaths in Toronto and across Ontario go back 30 years. The recommendation has been made by Toronto city councillors, social workers, affordable housing advocates and a coroners inquest jury, among others.

In 1999, the City of Toronto worked with the Ontario coroners office to count homeless deaths in the GTA in the TIDE (Toronto Indigent Death Enquiry) program. It lasted until 2005, ending due to a lack of resources.

The coroners office used to record whether people who died were homeless or had no fixed address, but the practice stopped in 2007 because such labels were considered unreliable.

The Stars investigation, published in February, also found that the coroner has no mandate to track all homeless deaths in the province, and there is no central provincial registry to which hospitals, social agencies and shelters can report such deaths.

Toronto street nurse Cathy Crowe, who has long called for an official tracking of homeless deaths, says she is relieved the city has stepped up to take on the task that is long overdue.

Crowe is one of several outreach workers who voluntarily maintain the Toronto Homeless Memorial, an unofficial list of homeless people in the GTA who have died. The memorial, posted outside the Church of the Holy Trinity just west of the Eaton Centre, dates back to the mid-1980s and has more than 800 people on it.

For many of us its been a morbid experience tracking homeless deaths, she said. I began it as a very young street nurse, when sitting on a pew at a funeral, I realized I was going to way too many funerals for a community nurse.

My death files became my largest file folder  larger than diabetes or tuberculosis or bedbugs.

Last month, in another development stemming from the Stars investigation, the coroners office announced it will hold an inquest into the deaths of two men, Brad Chapman and Grant Faulkner. The Star wrote about Chapman, who died in hospital of a drug overdose in August 2015 after collapsing in a doorway near Yonge and Gerrard Sts. The coroner is aiming to begin its inquest by the end of 2017.

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Christmas tree sales have apparently been brisk in Ottawas Byward Market this season, with an interesting twist on consumer demand.

By last weekend, according to the tree salesman, two types of trees were in danger of selling out: the smallest ones, under a metre tall, and the largest ones, stretching over two metres high.

The Christmas tree market, at least at this particular outlet this year, seems to have fallen into the disappearing-middle trend that weve been seeing in politics and the shopping centres.

Just a block from that Christmas tree stall is Ottawas major downtown mall, the Rideau Centre, which has also been experiencing this market divide. A little over a year ago, the general manager of the mall was explaining in a CBC interview how shoppers were flocking to either high-end, luxury stores, or deep-discount, bargain outlets. As for the middle, well, not so much.

Its called high-low or consumer fragmentation, Cindy VanBuskirk said in the 2015 interview. I think there is definitely an audience and frankly our sales results bear that out.

Consumer-industry analysts have been linking this trend to the shrinking middle class, which also corresponds to the increasing polarization and fragmentation in politics.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals believe theyve bucked the trend with their solid occupation of the middle ground in Canadian politics, tilting left and right, depending on the issue or circumstances. They argue that the middle class can only be revived with a party in the middle.

Whether the Liberals can continue to dominate the political middle will be a big question in 2017  not just for the government, but for the opposition parties too.

In fact, this may be the main question of the two big political leadership contests next year: the Conservatives, choosing Stephen Harpers replacement in May, and the New Democrats, picking a successor to Thomas Mulcair in the fall.

Not so long ago, these two parties had good reason to believe they were going to profit from the polarizing trend that seemed to be creeping into Canadian politics, and that the 2015 election was going to boil down to a clear choice between New Democrats on the left and Conservatives on the right. The Liberals, with their mushy middle, were supposed to be relegated to the history books.

The 2015 election, well remember, started that way, but ended rather differently.

So now, heading into 2017, both parties are grappling with whether to move farther to the left or right, or whether to hover closer to the middle of the political spectrum.

In the Conservative leadership race, its Kellie Leitch who is most vocally playing on partisans temptation to dig in on the right  the reactionary right, with all this talk of Canadian-values tests. Donald Trumps success in the United States is also feeding into some Conservatives convictions that the path to victory in 2019 is to embrace the hard right.

Most of the other contenders are veering toward more moderate middle-ground conservatism. (Id like to list them all, but there are too many to name. And who knows, someone else may have entered the contest between the time I write this and when its published.)

The NDP leadership race has the opposite problem  too few contenders. But it too is trying to reckon with how far it wants to wander to the edges of the political spectrum.

The Leap Manifesto, championed by Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein at the convention last spring, is a clear call for the NDP to be more unapologetically left. Others in the NDP argue, with some justification, that major gains have been made in recent history only when the party buffed some of the socialist edge off its policies.

Whenever that NDP race does heat up, expect to hear a lot of this existential debate playing out among the contenders.

Last weekend, as we were buying our decidedly mid-height tree, I asked the salesman how he explained the surging demand for either very small or very large trees this Christmas. This being Ottawa, he of course had a political answer. He said that the Trump victory and an unstable world economy may have made people less willing to travel over the holidays  so apartment-dwellers were staying in their own place with their tiny trees, while wealthier people were choosing to go big at home.

Its as good an explanation as any, though the travel aversion could also have something to do with the unpredictable weather. In the past week, temperatures in Ontario have been swinging between extremely frigid to unseasonably above zero. Even the weather, it seems, is having a hard time staying in the moderate middle.

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PHILADELPHIAA Jewish family has fled Lancaster County, Pa., after the cancellation of a fifth-grade production of A Christmas Carol was partially blamed on them by conservative news outlets.

A story on PennLive, a local news website, said the Hempfield School District cited the extra time the non-curricular event required as the cause of for cancellation. The district denied that the production was cancelled because of a complaint about the line God bless us, every one!

The play has been a holiday tradition at Centerville Elementary School for more than three decades. In September, the Jewish parents asked if their child could be excused from the play, and were told yes. After the decision to cancel the play in November, their child was harassed at school, according to a story on LancasterOnline.

When news stories, which portray the schools move as part of a war on Christmas, broke on Fox and Breitbart News Network, the school received more than 200 complaints.

When the parents saw the reader comments to the Breitbart story suggesting their address should be published, they pulled their child from school and temporarily left the area, the LancasterOnline story said.

Theres no way were going to take a chance after the pizza incident, they told the website.

On Dec. 5, Edgar M. Welch of Salisbury, N.C., was arrested after he fired an assault rifle in a pizza restaurant in northwest Washington, D.C., after reading a fake news story that said suggested Hillary Clinton was running a child sex ring out of the location.

Deputy managing editor Ezra Dulis of Breitbart News stated that nothing the website reported or linked to gave any information to lead readers to discover the identity of this family.

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIAPolice in Australia have detained five men suspected of planning a series of Christmas Day bomb attacks in the heart of the countrys second-largest city, officials said Friday.

The suspects had been inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbournes Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square and St. Pauls Cathedral, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said.

The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people. A manhunt is underway for the person behind that attack, which prompted increases in security around the world.

Two of seven people initially arrested in raids Thursday night and Friday morning in Melbourne  a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman  were released without being charged, police said.

Five men between the ages 21 and 26 remained in custody and would be charged later Friday with preparing a terrorist attack. They were not identified but police said four were born in Australia and the fifth was Egyptian-born with Egyptian and Australian citizenship.

Police had been watching the alleged plotters for some time, and believed they were preparing to use explosives, knives and a gun, Ashton said.

Police believed the threat had been neutralized through the raids on five Melbourne premises, he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that have been disrupted over the last several years.

Islamist terrorism is a global challenge that affects us all. But we must not be cowed by the terrorists, Turnbull told reporter.

We will continue to go about our lives as we always have. What these criminals seek to do is to kill. But they also seek to frighten us, to cow us into abandoning our Australian way of life. They want to frighten Australians. They want to divide Australians. They want us to turn on each other. We will not let them succeed, he added.

Since Australias terrorist threat level was elevated in September 2014, the government says there have been four extremist attacks and 12 plots foiled by police.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the plotters had moved very quickly from a plan to develop a capability to attack.

In terms of events that we have seen over the past few years in Australia, this certainly concerns me more than any other event that Ive seen, Colvin said.

We believe that we have removed the bulk of this particular cell, this group, he said.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said there will be extra police on the streets of Melbourne on Christmas Day to make the public feel safe.

About 400 police officers were involved in the raids.

Ashton described those arrested as self-radicalized and inspired by Islamic State propaganda.

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JACKSON, MISS.The arrest of a black man on a charge of burning a black Mississippi church that was spray-painted with the words Vote Trump has sparked bickering online and consternation in the community surrounding the church.

Andrew McClinton, 45, made an initial court appearance Thursday in Greenville, a day after he was arrested and charged with a felony: first-degree arson of a place of worship. He requested a public defender and remained in jail with bond set at $250,000.

McClinton, who lives in the Greenville suburb of Leland, spent several years in prison in Mississippi on convictions of armed robbery and other crimes. He is a member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Greenville, which burned Nov. 1, a week before the presidential election.

In the days after the church fire, Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons  an African-American who took office several months ago on a pledge of racial unity  urged officials to investigate it as a possible hate crime. The FBI said it would do so, but no hate crimes charges have been filed.

Chris Orr, a Greenville resident and former police officer for the city, expressed frustration over the mayors early words about the fire.

I have a lot of respect for the mayor, Orr, who is white, said Thursday. But, classifying this as a hate crime of a historically black church in a black community before the investigation even got going good was basically profiling the suspect as a white person, whether he directly said it or not.

Simmons did not return a call to The Associated Press on Thursday, but his twin brother, Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville, said the mayor had the right approach.

There is a dark past in America and in the Deep South regarding the burning of African-American churches, Derrick Simmons said. The way law enforcement authorities initially investigated this matter as a hate crime I believe was warranted, considering the past and the history.

Many people on Facebook and other social media sites have voiced opinions similar to Orrs, while some African-Americans expressed skepticism about a black man being charged. Derrick Simmons said he has spoken to Greenville residents who were surprised an African-American is accused in the church burning.

I think people across racial lines just generally do not expect the person charged with such an act to have the racial makeup of Mr. McClinton, Derrick Simmons said.

Officials havent revealed what led to McClintons arrest. Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, who is also the state fire marshal, said investigators dont believe the fire and vandalism were politically motivated, despite happening a week before the contentious presidential election.

Greenville is a Mississippi River port city and hub of commerce in the cotton-growing delta. About 78 per cent of its 32,100 residents are African-American.

Hopewell was founded in 1905 in the heart of an African-American neighbourhood, and the congregation now has about 200 members. Some walls of the beige brick church survived the fire but the remains of the structure were recently torn down. Rebuilding could take months.

Since the fire, Hopewell members have been worshipping in the chapel at First Baptist Church of Greenville, a predominantly white congregation that says Hopewell can stay as long as it needs a home.

James Nichols, senior pastor at First Baptist, said Thursday that hes been trying to get in touch with Hopewell Bishop Clarence Green since McClintons arrest. The two clergymen say they consider themselves brothers in Christ, and Nichols said its important that people not engage in divisive speculation about why someone would have burned Hopewell. He said the justice system will determine whether McClinton was responsible.

A church is deeply hurt and wounded, Nichols said of the arrest. This is just going to peel that scab right off and make it raw again. He called for prayer for everyone concerned.

Greenville is in Washington County, a traditional Democratic stronghold in a solidly Republican state. In the Nov. 8 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump easily carried Mississippi, but Democrat Hillary Clinton received more than twice the vote of Trump in Washington County.

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WASHINGTONThe ads started popping up about a decade ago on social media. Instead of selling alcohol with sex and romance, these ads had an edgier theme: Harried mothers chugging wine to cope with everyday stress. Women embracing quart-sized bottles of whiskey, and bellying up to bars to knock back vodka shots with men.

In this new strain of advertising, womens liberation equalled heavy drinking, and alcohol researchers say it both heralded and promoted a profound cultural shift: Women in the U.S. are drinking far more, and far more frequently, than their mothers or grandmothers did, and alcohol consumption is killing them in record numbers.

White women are particularly likely to drink dangerously, with more than a quarter drinking multiple times a week and the share of binge drinking up 40 per cent since 1999, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal health data. In 2013, more than a million women of all races wound up in emergency rooms as a result of heavy drinking, with women in middle age most likely to suffer severe intoxication.

This behaviour has contributed to a startling increase in early mortality. The rate of alcohol-related deaths for white women ages 35 to 54 has more than doubled since 1999, accounting for 8 per cent of deaths in this age group in 2015.

It is a looming health crisis, said Katherine M. Keyes, an alcohol researcher at Columbia University.

Although independent researchers are increasingly convinced that any amount of alcohol poses serious health risks, American women are still receiving mixed messages. Parts of the U.S. government continue to advance the idea that moderate drinking may be good for you. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a division of the National Institutes of Health, is overseeing a new $100 million study, largely funded by the alcohol industry, that seeks to test the possible health benefits of moderate drinking.

Meanwhile, many ads for alcohol  particularly on social media  appear to promote excessive drinking, which is universally recognized as potentially deadly. These ads also appear to violate the industrys code of ethics, according to a Post analysis of alcohol marketing.

For example, when girl-power heroine Amy Schumer guzzled Bandit boxed wine in the movie Trainwreck, Bandits producer, Trinchero Family Estates, promoted the scene on social media. Young women responded with photos of themselves chugging Bandit. Within months, Trinchero said, sales of boxed wines  sometimes called binge in a box  jumped 22 per cent.

We saw it first with tobacco, marketing it to women as their right to smoke. Then we saw lung cancer deaths surpass deaths from breast cancer, said Rear Adm. Susan Blumenthal, a former U.S. assistant surgeon general and an expert on womens health issues. Now its happening with alcohol, and its become an equal rights tragedy.

Alcohol marketing is regulated primarily by industry trade groups, but dozens of studies have found lapses in their record of enforcing the rules. As a result, an international group of public health experts convened by the World Health Organizations regional office in Washington, D.C., plans to call in January for governments worldwide to consider legislation similar to laws adopted a decade ago to sharply curtail tobacco advertising.

The industrys system of self-regulation is broken, said Thomas F. Babor, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine who is aiding the effort. The alternatives are clear: Either you have to take their system and put it into independent hands, or you have to go with a partial or full legal ban on alcohol marketing.

Officials with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), one of the largest U.S. trade groups, defend their record of oversight, saying it has received high marks from federal regulators.

The Councils Code of Responsible Practices sets more stringent standards than those mandated by law or regulation, or that might be imposed by government due to First Amendment constraints, council Senior Vice President Frank Coleman said.

DISCUS tells members that ads should not in any way suggest that intoxication is socially acceptable conduct. The Beer Institute tells members that their marketing materials should not depict situations where beer is being consumed rapidly, excessively. And the Wine Institute prohibits ads that make any suggestion that excessive drinking or loss of control is amusing or a proper subject for amusement or that directly associate use of wine with social, physical or personal problem solving.

But these rules appear regularly to be flouted, particularly on alcohol companies websites and social-media feeds, which are soaking up a growing share of the more than $2 billion the industry is expected to spend on advertising this year. And the trade groups acknowledge that they do not investigate or act on possible violations unless they receive a formal complaint.

Normalizing drinking

Some of the edgiest ads appear on social media  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram  where they can be narrowly targeted toward the inboxes of the most eager consumers.

They can be very specific, Facebook spokeswoman Annie Demarest said. The ads could go to married women ages 21 to 60 who read about wine and leisure. They can also target the ads based on location, interests, demographics, behaviours and connections.

Jokes about becoming inebriated are common. One Twitter ad features a woman with a bottle the size of a refrigerator tilted toward her lips. Its contents: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

Women also are frequently shown drinking to cope with daily stress. In one image that appeared on a company website, two white women wearing prim, narrow-brimmed hats, button earrings and wash-and-set hair confer side by side. How much do you spend on a bottle of wine? one asks. The other answers, I would guess about half an hour ... At the bottom is the name of the wine: Mommys Time Out.

Another ad on a company website features a white woman wearing pearls and an apron. The most expensive part of having kids is all the wine you have to drink, it says above the name of the wine: Mad Housewife.

This spring, Mad Housewife offered a Mothers Day promotion: a six-pack of wine called Mommys Little Helper.

The trend extends to wine-related housewares. A flask promoted on the Mad Housewife site features two women from the Mad Men era asking, Who is this Moderation were supposed to be drinking with?

An ad on the Etsy marketplace website promotes a stemmed glass big enough to hold an entire bottle of wine with the line: She will be telling the truth when she says I only had 1 glass. And Urban Outfitters  a retailer that markets to 18- to 28-year-olds  stocks whole-bottle wineglasses that say: Drink until your dreams come true and This is how you adult. Urban Outfitters did not respond to calls and emailed messages.

Alcohol marketing experts see a feedback loop between alcohol advertising and popular culture. They cite Trincheros repurposing of Schumers scene in Trainwreck as a prominent example.

The rise in hazardous drinking among women is not all due to the ads. But the ads have played a role in creating a cultural climate that says its funny when women drink heavily, said Jean Kilbourne, who has produced several films and books about alcohol marketing to women. Most importantly, theyve played a role in normalizing it.

Multiple experts on alcohol marketing said Trincheros use of the scene to promote its wine violated industry standards.

Wendy Nyberg, Trincheros marketing vice president, defended the companys behaviour, saying Trinchero officials had no role in the production of Trainwreck, and no control over how their wine was portrayed. Its easier when you control the messaging, she said, adding: We have to promote moderation in everything that we do. We stick to the code of ethics.

The owner of Mommys Time Out did not respond to requests for comment, and marketing promotions sent to the company for a response have been removed from the companys public Facebook page.

Damian Davis, the owner of the Seattle-based Rainier Wine, which produces Mad Housewife, said he does not think his ads crossed a line.

We treat wine like a lifestyle product. I grew up in a big Catholic family, and having it with dinner was a way of life, Davis said. I certainly dont encourage binge drinking. It certainly is a drug, and it can be dangerous.

Even responsible drinking campaigns can send conflicting messages. A Facebook ad for Smirnoff Ice  ranked among the five most popular beverages by young female drinkers  shows a stack of caps from four pint-size bottles. The tag line: Know Your Limit.

Thats binge drinking, said David Jernigan, who runs the Center for Alcohol Marketing and Youth at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Jernigan, who advocates limits on alcohol marketing and has come under frequent attack from the alcohol industry, uses the Smirnoff ad in a presentation he calls Virginia Slims in a Bottle.

Not only is that not responsible drinking, he said. Thats hazardous drinking.

In a statement, Diageo, the maker of Smirnoff Ice, defended the ad, saying that by saving the bottle caps, you keep track of how much you have had. Each individual has their own individual limits and for each individual these limits can vary based on time period of consumption, food intake and many other factors.

Officials with Fireball Whisky declined to comment.

No gender equity

As it happens, drinking can be especially hazardous for women.

Women tend to have smaller bodies than men, and differences in physiology that make blood-alcohol levels climb faster and stay elevated longer. Some studies have found that women have lower levels of the stomach enzymes needed to process the toxins in alcoholic beverages.

As a result, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women are more prone to suffer brain atrophy, heart disease and liver damage. Even if a woman stops drinking, liver disease continues to progress in ways it does not in men, said Gyongyi Szabo, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. And research definitively shows that women who drink have an increased risk of breast cancer.

There is no gender equity when it comes to the effects of alcohol on men versus women, Szabo said. Females are more susceptible to the unwanted biological effects of alcohol when they consume the same amount of alcohol and at the same frequency  even when you adjust for weight.

Many women dont know this  nor do they understand what constitutes excessive drinking, said Robert D. Brewer, leader of the CDCs alcohol program. For women in the United States, anything more than one drink a day is considered excessive. Thats one ounce of distilled spirits, 12 ounces of beer or five ounces of wine.

Four drinks consumed within two hours is considered binge drinking. Thats about two-thirds of a bottle of wine.

Most people do not understand what binge drinking looks like, and they dont yet recognize how dangerous it is, Brewer said. Smoking, eating unhealthy foods, not exercising  people get what that can do to your health. But we are in a way different stage with binge drinking.

The alcohol industry and some government agencies continue to promote the idea that moderate drinking provides some health benefits. But new research is beginning to call even that long-standing claim into question.

This year, Jennie Connor, a professor at the University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine in New Zealand, published a paper that found strong evidence that drinking as little as two servings of alcohol a day can cause cancer at seven sites in the body  mostly in areas where human cells come in direct contact with alcohol. Connors research included a survey of dozens of studies of the issue by prominent organizations, including the World Cancer Research Fund, the American Institute for Cancer Research and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

In an earlier paper examining alcohol and cancer in the New Zealand population, Connor found that about a third of alcohol-related cancer deaths among women were associated with less than two standard drinks per day.

About the time this work was appearing, DISCUS chief scientist Samir Zakhari produced research casting doubt on its validity.

Zakhari also wrote an opinion piece directly attacking Connors study, using earlier research to dispute her findings.

Connor fired back at Zakhari in an op-ed published in a New Zealand newspaper, noting that Zakhari relied on  and misrepresented  her own earlier research. The author cites Health Promotion Agency research showing how wrong I am, she wrote. If he had opened the report, he would have discovered that I wrote it.

Zakhari scheduled and then cancelled an interview with The Post to discuss his criticism of Connor and other alcohol researchers.

I occasionally write op-eds or letters to the editor, most often in response to news coverage that contains flawed science, he ultimately said in a statement.

The CDCs Brewer, however, said that Connors research  and other recent work highlighting the health risks of drinking  is persuasive.

The current and emerging science does not support the purported benefits of moderate drinking, Brewer said. The risk of death from cancer appears to go up with any level of alcohol consumption.

The guidelines talk about low-risk consumption, but there is no such thing.

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NEW YORKThe Mormon Tabernacle Choir has agreed to perform at President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration ceremony.

The church announced on its website Thursday that the 360-member volunteer choir will sing at Trumps swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20.

The group has performed at a handful of other presidential inaugurals, including those of presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

The choirs president Ron Jarrett says the group is honoured to be able to serve our country by providing music for the inauguration of our next president. Trump had trouble during the Republican primary campaign winning over Mormon voters, who voiced skepticism about his candidacy.

The Beach Boys also confirmed Thursday that theyve been asked to perform at the inauguration. A spokesman said the group, which has a busy January schedule, has not decided yet.

On Thursday evening, Trump tweeted that several stars had requested to attend his inauguration.

The so-called A list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE! Trump wrote without naming any stars seeking inauguration access.

Earlier this month, Trumps inaugural committee announced that Americas Got Talent star Jackie Evancho will be singing the national anthem at the ceremony.

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I hated myself for loving The Crown  the Netflix series  so ardently that I devoured the first 10 hours as soon as they went online. Ive always been revolted in a morally smug way by anything in popular culture that suggests some lives count more than others. That goes particularly for celebrity coverage. It leads people to undervalue their own lives and overestimate the merits of being famous. There are people who sound more intimate with media figures than with their own family  as if they know them better.

Besides, what Dickens said about the endless law suit in Bleak House shouldve applied to The Crown: It is a slow, expensive, British, constitutional kind of thing.

It shouldnt have worked. We already know whats going to happen. (Id have been pacified if it were counterfactual, like Inglourious Basterds: the royals get voted off the island, as it were, and wind up working  or on welfare.)

Instead it was like Neil Diamond. You recognize the cheap manipulation but  such high quality cheap manipulation! Its a pleasure. Who can stop from bellowing BA, BA, BA, to Sweet Caroline, in the car or at the Leafs game?

Its disgusting to be as good at culture as the English are. Its mildly less depressing that, by now, its all theyre good at. Brexit showed they have no knack for anything political or economic, much less defining and pursuing their self-interest. But The Crown proves they havent lost it culturally. When did that pattern start? End of the Second World War probably. By Thatchers time, in the 1980s, the late Brian Shein wrote that her only accomplishment was turning England into a theme park called Englandland.

Everything else declines there except culture. Their resources in actors are jaw-dropping. A fairly typical actor, like Charles Dance, has been acing supporting roles in series from The Jewel in the Crown in 1984 to Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones. It didnt have to be him. Hundreds of others wouldve done. I thought Matt Smith had shot his bolt competently as the eleventh Doctor Who. Then he turns up riveting in The Crown as Prince Philip! Philip, for godssake, who youre utterly certain must be a real life nonentity.

Theres a mesmerizing minor character in The Crown called Professor Hogg, probably invented, who(m) the queen engages to jack up her education. She confides to him that she lacks confidence for arguing against powerful men, such as Churchill and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Hogg, whos rumply and adorable, says she has a decisive advantage. Why? They are upper class, English, and men. All they want is a good dressing down from nanny.

Great writing, even better delivery. I wondered what other roles Id seen so I looked him up. Alan Williams! He migrated to Canada for 15 years in the 1980s and 90s, bringing along his own show called The Cockroach Trilogy. He haunted our little theatres and lived down the street from me. The trove is bottomless.

England used to be the heart of the worlds ruling empire. It imposed its self-serving version of peace everywhere. Nothings left now but culture. Its 2012 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies will forever go unmatched.

Is the U.S. on the same trajectory? Maybe theyll end up as USworld, an alternate destination to Englandland. Trump cant even be bothered to take briefings on how to keep control of the planet  something that tends to require ongoing attention. Its his saving (lets hope) grace: disinterest in actual power, fascination with images, mainly his own. Hes basically a cultural artifact.

Its especially this time of year that were reminded of English cultural dominance. They own Christmas. Love Actually is the greatest Hollywood Christmas movie ever  except it could only be English. Christmas Day brings the latest Doctor Who and New Years, the next Sherlock.

The English think they invented Christmas and no one else has a clue. I once spent a Christmas in the countryside there in . . . Wessex? Essex? We trekked across a field for dinner. We enjoyed the queens Christmas speech. A doughty woman who came in and took off her wellies sat beside me. I really admire how you do Christmas, I said. She sighed and said with false English modesty, We try to keep it going. Spoken like the travelling theatre troupe theyve always been, and will be.

Rick Salutins column appears every Friday.

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Curfew has been relaxed in parts of Imphal East district till 9 pm today, except in areas from Lamlong Bazar to Yaingangpokpi.

By India Today Web Desk: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today asked the Manipur government to bring back normalcy in the state by removing the economic blockade imposed by a Naga group on its highway as he embarks on a day-long visit to Manipur.

Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs, on Friday met Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh over the economic blockade in the state imposed by Nagas. He will also visit the areas worst-hit by the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council to denounce the creation of seven new districts from areas inhabited by Nagas in Manipur.

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Rijiju said the ground situation in Manipur continues to be worrisome and the Central government wants that law and order prevail in the state.

Imphal: MoS Home Kiren Rijiju meets Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh pic.twitter.com/d8gZKuINnl&; ANI (@ANI_news) December 23, 2016

ALSO READ | Home Minister Rajnath Singh slams Manipur chief minister for failing to lift Nagas economic blockade

Meanwhile, curfew has been relaxed in parts of Imphal East district till 9 pm today, except in areas from Lamlong Bazar to Yaingangpokpi.

HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

"I'm going to Manipur along with my senior officers to take stock of situation caused due to the economic blockade," Rijiju said. "There is a constitutional duty of the state government to bring back normalcy and they should ensure that there is no blockade along the highway," he added. Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh slammed Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for failing to lift Nagas economic blockade. Rajnath told Manipur chief minister that there has been extremely distressing situation caused by the continuous blockade of National Highway-2, which has caused an acute shortage of essential and other goods in Manipur and breakdown of law and order. A blockade has been called by the Nagas to oppose the decision to create Sadar Hills (Kangpokpi) and Jiribam as full-fledged districts. 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 Imphal Valley has been simmering due to violence since the Congress-led government declared the creation of seven new districts -- Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Tengoupal, Pharzol, Kakching, Noney and Kamjongin.

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With a 91% year-to-date gain on the books as of Wednesday, Bitcoin has emphatically shown this year that rumors of its death are widely exaggerated. But the factors behind the gains show why the cryptocurrency remains a highly speculative play, albeit one with a big potential payoff.

After trading as low as $358 early in the year, Bitcoin more than doubled over the next five months, with a big portion of the gains coming through a parabolic rise occurring between late May and mid-June. Bitcoin retreated over the following six weeks, but has been steadily rallying since, and on Wednesday topped $800 for the first time since February 2014. It now trades at $823.

The gains have been attributed to several different factors. The Brexit vote -- both in terms of the financial volatility it caused for the U.K., and the fears it induced about the Eurozone's stability -- certainly ranks high on the list. That said, it's worth keeping in mind that Bitcoin's giant mid-year surge happened before the June 23 Brexit vote (admittedly amid rising fears of a "Leave" vote) rather than after it.

Donald Trump's election, and the fears it stoked about a Trump administration potentially pursuing destabilizing economic and fiscal policies, is also considered a factor. Bitcoin is up 16% since Nov. 8, though as with Brexit, some Trump-related Bitcoin buying appears to have happened before the election.

Then there's India's decision last month to remove all 500 and 1,000 rupee notes out of circulation in an attempt to crack down on "black money." Local Bitcoin purchases have surged since the move, and have often involved sizable premiums to standard market prices. And more recently, Bitcoin demand in neighboring Pakistan has jumped after the country's Senate recommended banning its 5,000-rupee note.

It's also hard to overlook the role Chinese Bitcoin buying has played, as locals worried about government capital controls and anti-corruption efforts use Bitcoin as a vehicle to move money out of the country. And with Bitcoin having a long history of witnessing big price swings, speculators betting one or more of the aforementioned trends will propel Bitcoin even higher appear to have jump in.

The obvious common thread between all of the ascribed culprits outside of the last one: Bitcoin is seen as a hedge against financial volatility and instability among those holding substantial amounts of traditional cash. In a lot of these cases, it seems as if purchases were made merely due to the fear that things could go haywire down the line, rather than any real certainty that they would do so. And if such fears prove unfounded, Bitcoin enthusiasm among such buyers might quickly wane.

It's also worth keeping in mind what isn't seen as a big factor behind this year's gains: Strong demand for using Bitcoins to buy actual goods and services. Though Bitcoin bulls have long argued the cryptocurrency's ability to enable transactions with far lower processing fees than credit cards would help it gain a following, and though online merchants such as Newegg, Overstock (OSTK) and Expedia (EXPE) began accepting it, all signs point to Bitcoin usage for real-world transactions being limited. Indeed, some of the merchants who once supported Bitcoin now no longer do so.

And Bitcoin, of course, is by no means the only option for hedging against monetary uncertainty. Precious metals, for example, have long performed this role.

At the same time, Bitcoin's security and privacy, along with its ability to be easily accessed anywhere on the planet via digital wallets, clearly has an appeal among some safe-haven seekers.

Moreover, even after this year's gains, the total value of all Bitcoins in existence is still less than $13 billion. That's equal to less than 0.1% of the U.S.'s M2 money supply, and could spell big further gains if Bitcoin is embraced as a hedge/safe haven in a large way.

But those looking to bet on Bitcoin should have a good understanding of what they're getting into. The factors that move Bitcoin prices are in many ways quite different from those that move traditional currencies, and bring with them a fair amount of risk.
Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMDPY) , the world's oldest bank, bowed to the inevitable in the early hours of Friday, requesting a government bail out after the markets turned their backs on its efforts to raise 5 billion ($5.22 billion) needed to bolster a balance sheet depleted by bad loans.

Italy's No.3 lender made the announcement minutes after Italy's cabinet approved the emergency creation of a 20 billion fund to help distressed lenders, raising the prospect that the bank will be nationalized.

Monte dei Paschi had until the end of the year to put its finances in order after it came bottom amongst 51 European banks in European Central Bank stress tests conducted earlier this year. Concerns over the banks future have led to significant withdrawals of funds, prompting the lender to warn Wednesday that it could run out of cash early next year.

"This will secure the capital needs of MPS and allow the bank to pursue its industrial plan," Italy's finance minister Pier Carlo Padoan told journalists. "Italy's third-largest bank will finally return with force to operate in support of the Italian economy."

Monte dei Paschi shares closed Thursday at 15.08, down 8% as it became clear that a government bail out was likely. The bank's stock has lost 88% of its value over the past year.

Monte dei Paschi had sought to raise cash from institutional investors and earlier this week announced that it had secured a 2 billion debt for equity swap. The Siena-based lender fell short of finding the remaining 3 billion, in part due to political turmoil in Italy. Italian voters, on Dec. 4, rejected constitutional reform, effectively forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who had been one of the driving forces behind Italian bank restructuring.

The new caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, said Friday that the bail out of Monte die Paschi would comply with European Union rules, and that bondholders would have to accept some losses to lighten the burden on Italy's tax payers.

Holders of so-called Tier 1 bonds, which are mainly institutions, will have their debt converted into shares at a rate of 75 cents on the euro. The losses won't extend to about 40,000 junior bond holders, many of them retail savers, who bought their debt in an earlier recapitalization and have claimed they were not made aware of the risks. Their loans will be swapped for senior debt of the same value.

The state said that no fees will be paid to the banks, including JPMorgan and Mediobanca, that advised Monte dei Paschi on its fund raising efforts.
Activist investor Alden Global Capital has revealed a nearly 25% stake in retail pharmacy Fred'sundefined , sending the company's share price skyrocketing in pre-market trading Friday.

Fred's saw shares increase 6.2% ahead of market's open Friday, hitting $20.65 apiece.

According to the 13D form filed by Alden Global, the firm made its investment "based on their belief that the shares are undervalued and represent an attractive investment opportunity."

The news comes just days after Fred's announced it would acquire the 865 stores divested through Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) acquisition of Rite Aid (RAD) for $950 million. It's unclear whether this divestiture will be enough to pass antitrust muster before the Federal Trade Commission.

The deal doubles Fred's 650-store footprint, mainly across the southeastern states. The purchase would presumably give Fred's, which has a mainly rural presence, a larger footprint in urban areas.

Although Fred's had been considered to be a possible buyer for some of the stores Walgreens and Rite Aid would have to spin off, that Walgreens plans for it to be the sole buyer for so many stores caught the market off guard Wednesday.

Fred's fell 4.7% Thursday. Its share price, though, is up 25% for the year.

The disclosure was a large one on Alden Global's end. Activist investors typically take on a stake worth less than 10% before building up shares. According to the Wall St. Journal Alden began buying Fred shares prior to Wednesday's announcement that the upstart drug chain intends to be the buyer for all of the stores the FTC will be required divested in order to give antitrust approval for the Walgreens-Rite Aid deal. Alden continued to buy shares after Fred's plans were announced.

Alden recently invested in Digital First Media Inc., which runs MediaNews Group and Journal Register Co.
Other than scheduling six brief stops to Cuba, Carnival (CCL) does not expect to open any major cruise lines from the U.S. to Havana as quickly as its competitors have.

On Thursday, Carnival's Fathom line gained approval to make nine-hour stops to Santiago de Cuba on six voyages making their way to the Dominican Republic, the company said in a statement.

Carnival said in Thursday's statement that Cuba is "one of the world's most in-demand destinations" but the company may not be offering direct cruise lines to the country as soon as competitors Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) have. Norwegian opened bookings for its Cuba trips on Tuesday and Royal Caribbean opened certain bookings on Dec. 9.

"Along with everyone else, we submitted our requests for additional sailings through the beginning of the June period and thereafter," Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said on the company's recent earnings call. "It's just a planning cycle in Cuba and we're in the process of receiving the authorizations from Cuba."

Donald said he hopes Carnival can get approval for more than just one brand - Fathom - to sail to Cuba but the country's authorities "have constraints in number of berths, and the size of the berths and what size ships you can get in and so on."

"So, Cuba's a longer term play but you have to build it today and that's what we're doing," Donald said.

In April, Fathom's Adonia was temporarily approved to sail to Cuba on the condition that U.S. guests would participate in educational and volunteer activities and not just go for the tourism aspect. The cruise expires in May 2017, and Carnival has yet to announce any definitive trips to Cuba for the summer.

The seven-day voyages to the Dominican Republic start at $599 per person and will take place during the weeks of Feb. 26, March 12 and 26, April 9 and 23 and May 7.

On Dec. 7, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean were approved by the Cuban government to begin sailing to Cuba in 2017, with trips beginning as early as March.

On Tuesday, Carnival reported 2016 full-year adjusted earnings of $3.45 a share on $16.4 billion in revenue, crushing analysts' expectations of earnings of $2.67 a share on $12.9 billion in revenue.

The company also posted fourth-quarter earnings of 83 cents per diluted share on $3.9 billion in revenue, compared to Wall Street's estimates of earnings of 59 cents a share on $3.9 billion in revenue. The results came after Carnival's Princess Cruise Lines was hit with a record $40 million in fines on Dec. 1 by the Department of Justice for intentionally dumping oil-contaminated waste into the ocean.

Shares of Carnival are up by 44 cents to $52.87 Friday afternoon.
Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable generation, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. It also engages in the wholesale of electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities. This segment serves approximately 8.2 million customers in 6 states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States covering a service territory of approximately 91,000 square miles; and owns approximately 50,259 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers; and owns, operates, and invests in pipeline transmission and natural gas storage facilities. It has approximately 1.6 million customers, including 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as 550,000 customers in southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment acquires, owns, develops, builds, and operates wind and solar renewable generation projects, including nonregulated renewable energy and energy storage services to utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and corporate customers. It has 23 wind, 178 solar, and 2 battery storage facilities, as well as 71 fuel cell locations with a capacity of 3,554 MW across 22 states. The company was formerly known as Duke Energy Holding Corp. and changed its name to Duke Energy Corporation in April 2005. The company was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The following companies are subsidiares of Cummins: Anvl, Apollo FC Holdings Ltd., Atlantis Acquisitionco Canada Corporation, Atlantis Holdco UK Limited, Brammo, CIFC Worldwide Partner C.V., CMI Africa Holdings BV, CMI CGT Holdings LLC, CMI Canada Financing Ltd., CMI Canada LP, CMI Foreign Holdings B.V., CMI Global Equity Holdings B.V., CMI Global Equity Holdings C.V., CMI Global Holdings B.V., CMI Global Partner 2 C.V., CMI Global Partners B.V., CMI Group Holdings B.V., CMI Group Holdings Cooperatief U.A., CMI International Finance Partner 1 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 2 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 3 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 4 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 5 LLC, CMI Mexico LLC, CMI Netherlands Holdings B.V., CMI PGI Holdings LLC, CMI PGI International Holdings LLC, CMI Turkish Holdings B.V., CMI UK Finance LP, CMI UK Financing LP, Cherry Island Renewable Energy LLC, Consolidated Diesel Company, Consolidated Diesel Inc., Consolidated Diesel of North Carolina Inc., Cummins (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Cummins (Xiangyang) Machining Co. Ltd., Cummins Africa Middle East (Pty) Ltd., Cummins Afrique de l'Ouest, Cummins Americas Inc., Cummins Angola Lda., Cummins Argentina-Servicios Mineros S.A., Cummins Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Cummins Aust Technologies Pty. Ltd., Cummins BLR LLC, Cummins Battery Systems North America LLC, Cummins Belgium N.V., Cummins Botswana (Pty.) Ltd., Cummins Brasil Ltda., Cummins Burkina Faso SARL, Cummins CDC Holding Inc., Cummins CV Member LLC, Cummins Canada ULC, Cummins Caribbean LLC, Cummins Center of Excellence Singapore Pte. Ltd., Cummins Centroamerica Holding S.de R.L., Cummins Child Development Center Inc., Cummins Colombia S.A.S., Cummins Comercializadora S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Corporation, Cummins Cote d'Ivoire SARL, Cummins Czech Republic s.r.o., Cummins Deutschland GmbH, Cummins Diesel International Ltd., Cummins Distribution Holdco Inc., Cummins EMEA Holdings Limited, Cummins East Asia Research & Development Co. Ltd., Cummins Eastern Marine Inc., Cummins Electrified Power Europe Ltd., Cummins Electrified Power NA Inc., Cummins Emission Solutions (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Emission Solutions Inc., Cummins Empresas Filantropicas, Cummins Energetica Ltda., Cummins Engine (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine (Shanghai) Trading & Services Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine Holding Company Inc., Cummins Engine IP Inc., Cummins Engine Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Cummins Engine Venture Corporation, Cummins Enterprise LLC, Cummins Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Filtration GmbH, Cummins Filtration IP Inc., Cummins Filtration Inc., Cummins Filtration International Corp., Cummins Filtration Ltd., Cummins Filtration SARL, Cummins Filtration Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Filtros Ltda., Cummins Franchise Holdco LLC, Cummins Fuel Systems (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies Americas Inc., Cummins Generator Technologies Germany GmbH, Cummins Generator Technologies India Private Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies Italy SRL, Cummins Generator Technologies Limited, Cummins Generator Technologies Romania S.A., Cummins Generator Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd., Cummins Ghana Limited, Cummins Ghana Mining Limited, Cummins Global Financing LP, Cummins Global Technologies LLP, Cummins Grupo Comercial Y. de Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Grupo Industrial S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Holland B.V., Cummins Hong Kong Ltd., Cummins India Ltd., Cummins Intellectual Property Inc., Cummins International Finance LLC, Cummins International Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Cummins International Holdings LLC, Cummins Italia S.P.A., Cummins Japan Ltd., Cummins Korea Co. Ltd., Cummins LLC Member Inc., Cummins Ltd., Cummins Maroc SARL, Cummins Middle East FZE, Cummins Mining Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Mobility Services Inc., Cummins Mongolia Investment LLC, Cummins Mozambique Ltda., Cummins NV, Cummins Namibia Engine Sales and Service PTY LTD, Cummins Natural Gas Engines Inc., Cummins New Zealand Limited, Cummins Nigeria Ltd., Cummins Norte de Colombia S.A.S., Cummins North Africa Regional Office SARL, Cummins Norway AS, Cummins PGI Holdings Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (S) Pte. Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (U.K.) Limited, Cummins Power Generation Deutschland GmbH, Cummins Power Generation Inc., Cummins Power Generation Limited, Cummins PowerGen IP Inc., Cummins Research and Technology India Private Ltd., Cummins Romania Srl, Cummins S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Sales and Service Korea Co. Ltd., Cummins Sales and Service Philippines Inc., Cummins Sales and Service Private Limited, Cummins Sales and Service Sdn. Bhd., Cummins Sales and Service Singapore Pte. Ltd., Cummins Sinai ve Otomotiv Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Cummins South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Cummins South Pacific Pty. Limited, Cummins Southern Plains LLC, Cummins Spain S.L., Cummins Sweden AB, Cummins Technologies India, Cummins Trade Receivables LLC, Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited, Cummins Turkey Motor Guc Sistemleri Sats Servis Limited Sirketi, Cummins U.K. Holdings Ltd., Cummins U.K. Pension Plan Trustee Ltd., Cummins UK Global Holdings Ltd., Cummins UK Holdings LLC, Cummins Vendas e Servicos de Motores e Geradores Ltda., Cummins Venture Corporation, Cummins West Africa Limited, Cummins West Balkans d.o.o. Nova Pasova, Cummins XBorder Operations (Pty) Ltd, Cummins Zambia Ltd., Cummins Zimbabwe Pvt. Ltd., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Costa Rica S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica El Salvador S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Guatemala Ltda., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Honduras S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins S.A., Distribuidora Cummins Sucursal Paraguay SRL, Distribuidora Cummins de Panama S. de R.L., Dynamo Insurance Company Inc., Efficient Drivetrains, Efficient Drivetrains (Beijing) New Power Technology Co. Ltd., Efficient Drivetrains (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hilite International, Hydrogenics, Hydrogenics Corporation, Hydrogenics Europe N.V., Hydrogenics GmbH, Hydrogenics Holding GmbH, Hydrogenics USA Inc., Markon Engineering Company Ltd., Nelson Burgess Ltd., Nelson Industries, Newage Engineers GmbH, Newage Ltd. (U.K.), Newage Machine Tools Ltd., OOO Cummins, Petbow Limited, Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) B.V., Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) Ltd., Power Group International Ltd., Quickstart Energy Projects SpA, Shanghai Cummins Trade Co. Ltd., TOO Cummins, Taiwan Cummins Sales & Services Co. Ltd., Worldwide Partner CV Member LLC, Wuxi Cummins Turbo Technologies Co. Ltd., Wuxi New Energy Automotive Technologies Co. Ltd., and ZED Connect Inc..

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The Chief Minister was stranded in the air for at least 45 minutes after his helicopter failed to land on time at the helipad prepared for his visit in Kotpad town.

By Indrajit Kundu: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's chopper had a mid-air scare during his visit to Koraput district on Thursday. The Chief Minister was stranded in the air for at least 45 minutes after his helicopter failed to land on time at the helipad prepared for his visit in Kotpad town.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Patnaik was scheduled to land at the Kotpad town helipad at 12.55 pm on Thursday afternoon but remained airborne for atleast 45 minutes before finally landing at 13.35 pm.

Apparently, the state Public Works Department, which had prepared the helipad ground did not provide correct information about its location and altitude to the pilot.

Unaware of the technical details, the pilot kept hovering in mid-air searching for a suitable ground to land.

Finally, after being provided with the required details the pilot successfully landed at the Koraput helipad.

"We have ordered an inquiry over the delay in the CM's arrival. A probe is underway to ascertain why it happened," Koraput Superintendent of Police Charan Singh Meena said.

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Following the incident, Odisha government has suspended the executive engineer of the state Public Works Department for gross dereliction of duty.

According to state PWD Secretary Nalinikanta Pradhan, the incident resulted because of wrong information being provided to the pilot about the helipad.

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Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The following companies are subsidiares of Arrow Electronics: A.E. Petsche Belgium BVBA, A.E. Petsche Canada Inc., A.E. Petsche Company, A.E. Petsche Company Inc., A.E. Petsche Company S De RL, A.E. Petsche SAS, A.E. Petsche UK Limited, ACI Technology, AKS Group Nordic AB, ARROWECS Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal, ARROWECS Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, ARW Electronics Ltd., ARW Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., ARW Portugal Unipessoal LDA, ASI Dedicated Services LLC, ASI Electrical Services LLC, ASI Managed Services LLC, ATM Electronic, ATM Electronic Corp., ATM Electronic Corporation (HK) Limited, ATM Electronics Hong Kong Limited, ATM Electronics Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Addex Distribution AS, Adilam Pty. Ltd, Aiqi Xinxing (Beijing) Information Technology Co. Ltd., Altimate Belgium BVBA, Altimate Group, Altimate ND Belgium BVBA, Altimate Netherlands B.V., Annuity Systems Pty Ltd, Arrow (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Altech Distribution (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Altech Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Argentina S.A., Arrow Asia Distribution Limited, Arrow Asia Pac Ltd., Arrow Brasil S.A., Arrow Capital Solution BVBA, Arrow Capital Solutions Inc., Arrow Capital Solutions Nederlands BV, Arrow Capital Solutions SAS, Arrow Capital Solutions UK Ltd, Arrow Central Europe GmbH, Arrow Central Europe Holding Munich GmbH, Arrow Chip One Stop Holdings GK, Arrow Componentes ACCR S.R.L., Arrow Components (M) Sdn Bhd, Arrow Components (NZ), Arrow Components Mexico S.A. de C.V., Arrow Components Sweden AB, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow ECS (Ireland) Limited, Arrow ECS (NI) Limited, Arrow ECS AG, Arrow ECS ANZ Limited, Arrow ECS ANZ Pty Ltd, Arrow ECS Asia PTE. Ltd, Arrow ECS Australia, Arrow ECS B.V., Arrow ECS Baltic OU, Arrow ECS Brasil Distribuidora Ltda., Arrow ECS Canada Ltd., Arrow ECS Central GmbH, Arrow ECS Denmark A/S, Arrow ECS FZCO, Arrow ECS Finland OY, Arrow ECS GmbH, Arrow ECS Internet Security AG, Arrow ECS Internet Security S.L., Arrow ECS Kft., Arrow ECS Ltd., Arrow ECS New Zealand Limited, Arrow ECS Nordic A/S, Arrow ECS Norway AS, Arrow ECS Pty Ltd., Arrow ECS SA/NV, Arrow ECS SAS, Arrow ECS SPA, Arrow ECS Sarl, Arrow ECS Services Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Singapore Pte. Limited, Arrow ECS Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Support Center Ltd., Arrow ECS Support Center Morocco S.A.R.L.A.U, Arrow ECS Sweden AB, Arrow ECS a.s., Arrow ECS d.o.o., Arrow Eastern Europe GmbH, Arrow Electronice S.R.L., Arrow Electronics (CI) Ltd., Arrow Electronics (China) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Jersey) Limited, Arrow Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Sweden) KB, Arrow Electronics (Thailand) Limited, Arrow Electronics (U.K.) Inc., Arrow Electronics (UK) Ltd., Arrow Electronics ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia (S) Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia Limited, Arrow Electronics Australia Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics B.V., Arrow Electronics Canada Ltd., Arrow Electronics China Ltd., Arrow Electronics Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics Czech Republic s.r.o., Arrow Electronics D.O.O., Arrow Electronics Danish Holdings ApS, Arrow Electronics EMEA Group GmbH, Arrow Electronics EMEASA S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Estonia OU, Arrow Electronics FC B.V., Arrow Electronics Funding Corporation, Arrow Electronics GmbH & Co. KG, Arrow Electronics Hellas S.A., Arrow Electronics Holdings Vagyonkezelo Kft, Arrow Electronics Hungary Kereskedelmi Bt, Arrow Electronics India Ltd., Arrow Electronics India Private Limited, Arrow Electronics International Holdings LLC, Arrow Electronics International Inc., Arrow Electronics Italia S.r.l, Arrow Electronics Japan GK, Arrow Electronics Korea Limited, Arrow Electronics Labuan Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ltd., Arrow Electronics Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Arrow Electronics Norwegian Holdings AS, Arrow Electronics Poland Sp.z.o.o., Arrow Electronics Russ OOO, Arrow Electronics Services S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Slovakia s.r.o., Arrow Electronics South Africa LLP, Arrow Electronics Taiwan Ltd., Arrow Electronics UK Holding Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ukraine LLC, Arrow Elektronik Ticaret A.S., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Inc., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions India Private Limited, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Ltd., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., Arrow Finland OY, Arrow France S.A., Arrow Global Asset Disposition Inc., Arrow Global Supply Chain Services Inc., Arrow Holdings (Delaware) LLC, Arrow Iberia Electronica Lda., Arrow Iberia Electronica S.L.U., Arrow International Holdings L.P., Arrow International Holdings Limited, Arrow Nordic Components AB, Arrow Norway A/S, Arrow S-Tech Norway AS, Arrow SEED (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow Systems Integration Inc., Arrow UEC Japan KK, Arrow United Holdings LLC, Arrow United International Holdings LP, Arrow Value Recovery ApS (fka Greentech Denmark ApS), Arrow Value Recovery Belgium BVBA, Arrow Value Recovery Czech Republic sro, Arrow Value Recovery Denmark ApS, Arrow Value Recovery EMEA BV, Arrow Value Recovery Finland Oy (fka Greentech Finland OY), Arrow Value Recovery France SAS, Arrow Value Recovery Germany GmbH, Arrow Value Recovery Netherlands BV, Arrow Value Recovery Norway AS (fka Greentech AS), Arrow Value Recovery Sweden AB (fka Greentech Sweden AB), Arrow Value Recovery UK LTD, Arrow eCommerce B.V., Arrow/Artlink Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow/Components (Agent) Ltd., Arrow/Rapac Ltd., Artlink Technology Co. Ltd., Aspen Labs LLC, Aspencore China Investment LLC, Aspencore LLC, Aspencore Media GmbH, Aspencore/IDG China Investment LLC, Asplenium SA, Asset Recovery Corporation, B.V. Arrow Electronics DLC, Beijing AIQI Technology, Beijing Arrow SEED Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing Canon Advertising Co. Ltd., Broomco (4184) Limited, COMPUTERLINKS, COMPUTERLINKS (UK) Ltd., COMPUTERLINKS Belgium BVBA, COMPUTERLINKS Denmark A/S, COMPUTERLINKS Nederland B.V., COMPUTERLINKS S.A., CSS Computer Security Solutions Erwerbs GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Holding GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Ltd., CT3 Europe Limited, Centia Group Ltd, Centia Ltd., Channel Support Pty Ltd, ChiWan Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Chip One Stop, Chip One Stop (Hong Kong) Ltd., Chip One Stop (Shenzhen) Ltd., Chip One Stop Inc., Commtech Solutions (UK) Limited, Components Agent (Cayman) Limited, Components Agent Asia Holdings Ltd., Components Distribution Business - Achieva, Conrac Asia Display Products Pte. Ltd., Conrac MENA FZE, Converge, Converge (Shanghai) International Trading Co. Ltd., Converge Asia Pte Ltd., Converge Electronics Trading (India) Private Ltd., Converge France SAS, Converge Netherlands BV, Converge Scandinavia AB, Cross Telecom, Data Modul, Data Modul AG, Data Modul Electronics Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Data Modul FZE, Data Modul France S.a r.l, Data Modul Hong Kong Ltd., Data Modul Iberia S.L., Data Modul Inc., Data Modul Italia S.r.l., Data Modul Ltd., Data Modul Shanghai Ltd., Data Modul Suisse GmbH, Data Modul Weikersheim GmbH, Diasa Informatica, Dicopel Inc., Distribution Business - Seed International, Distribution Central (MY) Sdn. Bhd., Distribution Central HK Pty Limited, Distribution Central Limited (NZ), Distribution Central Pte Limited (SG), Distribution Central Pty Limited, E-InfoChips KK, EC America, EDN Asia Advertising Pte Ltd., ETEQ Components Pte Ltd., Electronics Products Technology Co. Ltd., Embedded Developer LLC, Erf 211 Hughes (Pty) Limited, Eshel Technology Group Inc., Eurocomponentes S.A., Excel Tech, Excel Tech Inc., Firewall Systems Pty Limited, Fusion Distribution FZCO, Gates - Arrow Distributing, Gates - FA Distributing, Global Link Technology, Greentech Holding AS, Gross Telecom, ICC Global Media GmbH, IP Vista A/S, IPVista A/S, ITM USA Enterprises Inc., Intechra Holdings, Intex-semi Ltd., KeyLink Systems Group, LED Franchise LLC, LED Source Holdco LLC, LED Source LLC, LOGIX S.A., License Central Pty Ltd, Lite-On Korea Ltd., Marubun Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun Arrow (Thailand) Co Limited, Marubun Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun Arrow Europe Kft., Marubun Corporation, Marubun USA Corporation, Marubun-Arrow Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Marubun/Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun/Arrow (M) Sdn. Bhd (Malaysia), Marubun/Arrow (Philippines) Inc., Marubun/Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shenzhen) Electronic Product Consulting Company Limited, Marubun/Arrow (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun/Arrow USA II LLC, Marubun/Arrow USA LLC, NIC Components Asia PTE Ltd., NIC Components Corp., NIC Components Europe Limited, NIC Eurotech Limited, NUH Electronics India Private Limted, Networld Systems Pty Ltd, Nextworth Solutions Inc., Nu Horizons Electronics, Nu Horizons Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Asia PTE Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Hong Kong Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Malaysia SDN BHD, NuHo Singapore Holdings LLC, Observatory Crest, Openway Group SA, Openway SAS, PCG Parent Corp., PCG Trading LLC, PT Marubun Arrow Indonesia, Pansystem S.r.l., Pax8 Inc., Power and Signal Group GmbH, R.D. Trading Limited, RDC, RF Wireless & Power - Richardson Electronics, Rack Systems Pty Ltd, Red Education Pty Ltd, Redemtech, Renewal Systems Pty Ltd, Richardson RFPD (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Richardson RFPD (Thailand) Limited, Richardson RFPD Australia Pty. Ltd., Richardson RFPD Canada Inc., Richardson RFPD Electronics Trading (China) Co. Ltd., Richardson RFPD France SAS, Richardson RFPD Germany GmbH, Richardson RFPD Hong Kong, Richardson RFPD Inc., Richardson RFPD Israel Ltd., Richardson RFPD Italy Srl, Richardson RFPD Japan KK, Richardson RFPD Korea Ltd., Richardson RFPD Netherlands BV, Richardson RFPD Singapore, Richardson RFPD Spain SL, Richardson RFPD Sweden AB, Richardson RFPD Taiwan, Richardson RFPD UK Ltd., Richey Electronics, San Systems Pty Ltd, Schuylkill Metals of Plant City Inc., Seneca Data, Seneca Data Distributors Inc., Shared Technologies, Silicon Frameworks LLC, SiliconEgypt Technologies LLC, SiliconExpert Holdings LLC, SiliconExpert Technologies, SiliconExpert Technologies Inc., Sphinx CST Limited, Sphinx CST Networks Limited, Sphinx Group, Sphinx Group Limited, Sphinx Professional Services Limited, Spoerle Hungary Kereskedelmi Kft, Sun Chain Technology Corp., TLW Electronics Ltd., TechTurn, Titan Supply Chain Services Limited, Titan Supply Chain Services Pte Ltd., Trafomo AB, Trafomo ApS, Transim Technology, Transim Technology Corporation, U.S. Micro Operating Company LLC, UBM Tech Electronics Network, Ultra Source Electronics (SZ) Co LTD, Ultra Source Technology Corp., Ultra Source Trading Hong Kong Limited, United Technical Publishing Division - Hearst Business Media, Universe Electron Corporation, Verical, Verwaltungsgesellschaft Arrow Electronics GmbH, Wireless and Infrastructure Business Unit - Waching Company, Yongming Xincheng (Beijing) Technology Co., e-InfoChips, e-Infochips Private Limited, eInfochips, eMedia Asia Limited, immixGovernment Inc., immixGroup, immixGroup Inc., immixSolutions Inc., and immixTechnology.

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Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, Offshore, Canadian Manufacturing, U.S. Manufacturing, and Retail segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen and heavy oil in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. This segments Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Sunrise, and Tucker oil sands projects, as well as Lloydminster thermal and conventional heavy oil assets The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, Clearwater, and Rainbow Lake operating in Alberta and British Columbia, as well as interests in various natural gas processing facilities. The offshore segment engages in the exploration and development activities. The Canadian Manufacturing segment includes the owned and operated Lloydminster upgrading and asphalt refining complex, which upgrades heavy oil and bitumen into synthetic crude oil, diesel fuel, asphalt, and other ancillary products, as well as owns and operates the Bruderheim crude-by-rail terminal and two ethanol plants. The U.S. Manufacturing segment comprises the refining of crude oil to produce diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, and other products. The Retail segment consists of marketing of its own and third-party refined petroleum products through retail, commercial, and bulk petroleum outlets, as well as wholesale channels. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
Matson, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides ocean transportation and logistics services. The company's Ocean Transportation segment offers ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, as well as to other island economies in Micronesia. It primarily transports dry containers of mixed commodities, refrigerated commodities, packaged foods and beverages, building materials, automobiles, and household goods; livestock; seafood; general sustenance cargo; and garments, footwear, e-commerce, and other retail merchandise. This segment also operates an expedited service from China to Long Beach, California, and various islands in the South Pacific, as well as Okinawa, Japan; and provides container stevedoring, refrigerated cargo services, inland transportation, container equipment maintenance, and other terminal services to ocean carriers on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, as well as in the Alaska locations of Anchorage, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor. In addition, the company offers vessel management and container transshipment services. Its Logistics segment provides multimodal transportation brokerage services, including domestic and international rail intermodal, long-haul and regional highway trucking, specialized hauling, flat-bed and project, less-than-truckload, and expedited freight services; less-than-container load consolidation and freight forwarding services; warehousing and distribution services; supply chain management services, and non-vessel operating common carrier freight forwarding services. The company serves the U.S. military, freight forwarders, retailers, consumer goods, automobile manufacturers, and other customers. The company was formerly known as Alexander & Baldwin Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Matson, Inc. in June 2012. Matson, Inc. was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Deaths and scarcity of new notes among other inconveniences faced by people were reported following the demonetisation move. After 50 days of note ban, what will become of India is what we all have been thinking about.

REUTERS PHOTO/Himanshu Sharma: A man with his monkey holds a 500 Indian rupee banknote given by a tourist while performing at Pushkar

By Mohak Gupta: The hands of the clock ticking showed it was 8 in the evening. The stage was set and people were glued to their television sets, reminding a scene from the past when Chitrahaar on Doordarshan vacated roads.

Instead of old Bollywood songs, Prime Minister Modi appeared and made an announcement. In five minutes, the world's largest democracy was running blind. Once a legal tender, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, which made up 86 per cent of India's cash economy, were rendered impotent. Cutting the long story short, the Prime Minister of India asked for 50 days to transform our nation into a corruption-free economy.

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Along with a bureaucrat -- Hasmukh Adhia -- who served as Modi's principal secretary when Narendra Modi was Gujarat's chief minister, and with a special team of trusted researchers, Modi came out with a plan to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to bring out black money from the 'shadow economy' of the country.

REUTERS PHOTO/Himanshu Sharma: A notice is displayed outside an ATM counter in Ajmer

Before the demonetisation drive kicked off, Modi was substantially forthright by asking people under the Income Declaration Scheme, to show up on the department's door and declare the wealth they hadn't yet. On September 30, 2016, the scheme ended.

The move drew global attention. The demonetisation drive was cherished by many and condemned by even more. Banks started to slog, cash counters and ATM queues clogged up with people, all reaching for an epilogue, which was to come after 50 days since November 8, 2016, when Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive was put in the first gear.

Amid countless media reports -- reports of people losing their lives standing in long queues, bank employees dying due to work overload, income tax raids seizing close to Rs 230 crore in new currency, the boon and the bane -- was a question. 'What happens after 50 days?'

REUTERS PHOTO/Danish Siddiqui: A woman cleans an ATM which is out of service in Mumbai REUTERS PHOTO/Danish Siddiqui: A woman cleans an ATM which is out of service in Mumbai

A CLOSE ESTIMATE OF CASH IN THE ECONOMY

Government under note ban ordered a withdrawal of more than 2,200 crore notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations, as per estimates.

Out of Rs 16 lakh crore, which was part of our cash-based economy, a staggering 86 per cent of the cash in India, which is Rs 14.18 lakh crore worth of notes, was discontinued. This cash includes both the legitimate money of taxpayers, and cash with black money hoarders.

The residual currency amounted to Rs 2.2 lakh crore, which was the remaining 14 per cent of the cash-based economy out of 86 per cent.

REUTERS PHOTO/Amit Dave/File Photo: A money lender counts Indian rupee currency notes

After the withdrawal of old notes from the country, RBI started to print new notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. An amount equal to Rs 1.5 lakh crore worth of new notes was printed which supplemented the Rs 2.2 lakh crore of the residual currency (other than Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes) already in circulation.

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A November 25, 2016 research report by Credit Suisse suggests that new notes worth only Rs 1.5 lakh crore have come into circulation so far.

According to another media report, for RBI, it could take several months to fill the hole left behind, by the withdrawal of notes worth Rs 14.18 lakh crore.

"To meet the new currency demand, industry estimates indicate that the RBI has already been able to print Rs 3 lakh crore worth of new currency. However, these notes being high value and with remaining currency which is less that 15 per cent of the total currency, they are unable to provide enough liquidity to transact," an Indian Express said.

IndiaToday

According to an IndiaToday business expert, to fill the gap in the economy, 3.5 billion notes of Rs 2,000 were to be printed, for which it takes close to three months. Out of that, 1.5 billion Rs 2,000 notes have been printed.

For Rs 500 notes, 16 billion pieces were to be printed for the hole in the economy to be filled, and out of that, 7 billion notes worth Rs 500 have been printed.

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Taking into consideration the withdrawal limits till December 30, once the limitations receive relaxation, the demand for new currency will go up.

"The requirement of notes could be higher if normal demand for currency picks up as and when the government relaxes withdrawal limits and more ATMs become operational," the Credit Suisse report said.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 50 DAYS - HAPPY NEW YEAR

Experts are of the view that the pace at which Reserve Bank of India is working, the situation can continue to be the same, up until March or April of 2017.

"It is possible that the circulation normalises before January 2017 but for that the presses would need to operate at more than 150 per cent capacity utilisation, which might be physically improbable," the Credit Suisse report said.

According to an Indian Express report, ICICI Securities estimates, that the cash crunch might go on for longer than promised, even if the government works at its 100 per cent capacity to fill the void, and the same report also suggests that 'normalcy might not be restored until March of 2017'.

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DEMONETISATION HURTING WHERE IT HURTS THE MOST

In the past, countless reports have stated the misery of farmers in India. With prices in a free-fall due to demonetisation, small farmers have seen their produce suffer, as many failed to get a legitimate price for the same.

The cash crunch compelled many farmers and farm traders to experience the scarcity of cash, which led to a chaos in the business and trade.

In December 2016, Chhattisgarh farmers crushed their produce under trucks after getting 50 paise a kilo for their yield. In another IndiaToday report, onion farmers dumped their produce when they received a mere 50 paise a kilo for their onions.

Left Up - Twitter: @Devinder_Sharma

Something similarly drastic happened in the state of Maharashtra when after a four-year long battle with droughts, Marathwada farmers felt the sting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive.

WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE FOR REPUBLIC OF INDIA

Prime Minister's demonetisation drive started with crackdown against black money hoarders, which soon turned into action against terrorism, which later was termed an initiative towards making India a cashless economy.

This particular move gave e-commerce a spike in their business.

On the other hand, many have been speculating that India is not yet ready for a cashless future where poor internet penetration and networking infrastructure will hold India back, as a majority of the people still don't posses debit cards or credits cards in the country.

India's cyber security is a big issue as in the past we have witnessed Twitter handles of Congress and Rahul Gandhi getting hacked. And that's just social media under threat and not how big the impact of rogue hacking will be, if it comes to online transactions, especially in a nation where rural population has no clue of online payments whatsoever.

Read - Notes recall: Cashless is nice but 5 reasons why India is not ready for it

IndiaToday

The stats and figures in the story give a close idea of what has been up with the economy of India post Modi's demonetisation drive. There have been several incidents which prove that India's currency-ban decision has made people suffer.

While many still support the decision, the move has received serious criticism with the latest coming from Chief Executive of Forbes who called Modi's demonetisation drive an 'immoral theft of people's property'.

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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.
No Ukrainian soldiers were killed, but eleven servicemen were wounded in the anti-terrorist operation area in eastern Ukraine over the last day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO Colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk said this at a press briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"No Ukrainian soldiers were killed, but eleven servicemen were wounded as a result of active hostilities in the area of Svitlodarsk in Donetsk region in last day," Motuzianyk said.

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Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and three servicemen were wounded in the anti-terrorist operation area in eastern Ukraine over the last day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a press briefing in Kyiv on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and three servicemen were wounded as a result of active hostilities in the area of Avdiyivka and Luhanske in last day," he said.

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The National Bank of Ukraine has managed this year to buy $1.7 billion in gold and foreign currency reserves.

Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Oleh Churiy said this in an interview with Ukrinform and UA|TV.

"The National Bank of Ukraine bought $1.7 billion in reserves. The sum is larger than it was stipulated the IMF program. We have the means to maintain the foreign exchange market in case if situation changes," Churiy said, adding that the international reserves amounted to USD 5.5 billion in February 2014.

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Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) completes the year with a net profit of over UAH 1.2 billion.

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelian said this during Government Question Hour meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Boryspil International Airport completes the year with a profit of over UAH 1.2 billion, and it has entered a list of the largest taxpayers in Ukraine, said Omelian.

He also added that currently new regional airports have started to actively operate, namely in Lviv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Chernivtsi, Rivne, Kryvyi Rih, and Zhytomyr.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought his own lunch to a public meeting that he addressed on Thursday at his constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where elections will be held soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought his own lunch to a public meeting that he addressed on Thursday at his constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where elections will be held soon. (Photo: Twitter@BJP4India)

By India Today Web Desk:

PM Modi interacted and had lunch with more than 26,000 booth workers belonging to over 1700 booths in Varanasi. (Photo: Twitter@BJP4India)

Modi also laid the foundation stone for Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Hospital and a Centenary Super Specialty Hospital at the Banaras Hindu University campus. (Photo: Twitter@BJP4India)

Modi spent some time at the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, a week-long event organised by the Ministry for Culture and being attended by artistes of international repute. (Photo: Twitter@BJP4India)

During his speech Modi mocked Rahul Gandhi, a day after the Congress vice president hurled corruption charges at him, asking where was the

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Background:

Kliuchevskoi is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. Kliuchevskoi rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred at Kliuchevskoi during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of its 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

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Source: Klyuchevsky information by the GVP (Smithsonian Institution)
One of our best volcano expeditions! Stay 3 full days / nights at the active lava lake of Erta Ale, explore the wonders of Dallol and the Danakil desert in northern Ethiopia. 14 days expedition during Nov-March, small groups, guided by geologist.
Barack Obamas watershed 2008 election and the presidency that followed profoundly altered the aesthetics of American democracy, transforming the Founding Fathers narrow vision of politics and citizenship into something more expansive and more elegant. The American presidency suddenly looked very different, and for a moment America felt different, too.

The Obama victory helped fulfill one of the great ambitions of the civil rights struggle by showcasing the ability of extraordinarily talented black Americans to lead and excel in all facets of American life. First lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia, extended this reimagining of black American life by providing a conspicuous vision of a healthy, loving and thriving African American family that defies still-prevalent racist stereotypes.

But some interpreted Obamas triumph as much more.



Members of the crowd in Gary, Ind., seek to shake the candidate's hand or touch his head as he thanks them for their support in October 2008. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

The victory was heralded as the arrival of a post-racial America, one in which the nations original sin of racial slavery and post-Reconstruction Jim Crow discrimination had finally been absolved by the election of a black man as commander in chief. For a while, the nation basked in a racially harmonious afterglow.

A black president would influence generations of young children to embrace a new vision of American citizenship. The Obama Coalition of African American, white, Latino, Asian American and Native American voters had helped usher in an era in which institutional racism and pervasive inequality would fade as Americans embraced the nations multicultural promise.

From the archives Obama makes history Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was elected the nations 44th president yesterday, riding a message of hope and change to become the first African American to ascend to the White House.

Seven years later, such profound optimism seems misplaced. Almost immediately, the Obama presidency unleashed racial furies that have only multiplied over time. From the tea partys racially tinged attacks on the presidents policy agenda to the birther movements more overtly racist fantasies asserting that Obama was not even an American citizen, the national racial climate grew more, and not less, fraught.



President Obama is feted in Chicago on Nov. 6, 2012, the night he is elected to his second term as commander in chief. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

If racial conflict, in the form of birthers, tea partyers and gnawing resentments, implicitly shadowed Obamas first term, it erupted into open warfare during much of his second. The Supreme Courts 2013 decision in the Shelby v. Holder case gutted Voting Rights Act enforcement, throwing into question the signal achievement of the civil rights movements heroic period.

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Beginning with the 2012 shooting death of black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida, the nation reopened an intense debate on the continued horror of institutional racism evidenced by a string of high-profile deaths of black men, women, boys and girls at the hands of law enforcement.

The organized demonstrations, protests and outrage of a new generation of civil rights activists turned the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter into the clarion call for a new social justice movement. Black Lives Matter activists have forcefully argued that the U.S. criminal justice system represents a gateway to racial oppression, one marked by a drug war that disproportionately targets, punishes and warehouses young men and women of color. In her bestselling book The New Jim Crow, legal scholar Michelle Alexander argued that mass incarceration represents a racial caste system that echoes the pervasive, structural inequality of a system of racial apartheid that persists.



A supporter hugs President Obama as he works the rope line following a rally in Denver in October 2012. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Obamas first-term caution on race matters was punctured by his controversial remarks that police acted stupidly in the mistaken identity arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr., Harvard Universitys prominent African American studies professor, in 2009. Four years later he entered the breach once more by proclaiming that if he had a son, hed look like Trayvon.

In the aftermath of racial unrest in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore, and a racially motivated massacre in Charleston, S.C., Obama went further. In 2015, Obama found his voice in a series of stirring speeches in Selma, Ala., and Charleston, where he acknowledged Americas long and continuous history of racial injustice.

Policy-wise Obama has launched a private philanthropic effort, My Brothers Keeper, designed to assist low-income black boys, and became the first president to visit a federal prison in a call for prison reform that foreshadowed the administrations efforts to release federal inmates facing long sentences on relatively minor drug charges.

Despite these efforts, many of Obamas African American supporters have expressed profound disappointment over the presidents refusal to forcefully pursue racial and economic justice policies for his most loyal political constituency.

From this perspective, the Obama presidency has played out as a cruel joke on members of the African American community who, despite providing indispensable votes, critical support and unstinting loyalty, find themselves largely shut out from the nations post-Great Recession economic recovery. Blacks have, critics suggested, traded away substantive policy demands for the largely symbolic psychological and emotional victory of having a black president and first family in the White House for eight years.

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From the archives Obama struggles to balance African Americans hopes with countrys as a whole Well before he became the nations first black president, he was already weighing that identity in his mind.

Others find that assessment harsh, noting that Obamas most impressive policy achievements have received scant promotion from the White House or acknowledgment in the mainstream media.

History will decide the full measure of the importance, success, failures and shortcomings of the Obama presidency. With regard to race, Obamas historical significance is ensured; only his impact and legacy are up for debate. In retrospect, the burden of transforming Americas tortured racial history in two four-year presidential terms proved impossible, even as its promise helped to catapult Obama to the nations highest office.



President Obama wraps up his campaign with a final stop in downtown Des Moines on Nov. 5, 2012. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Obamas presidency elides important aspects of the civil rights struggle, especially the teachings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. King, for a time, served as the racial justice consciousness for two presidents  John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Many who hoped Obama might be able to serve both roles  as president and racial justice advocate  have been disappointed. Yet there is a revelatory clarity in that disappointment, proving that Obama is not King or Frederick Douglass, but Abraham Lincoln, Kennedy and Johnson. Even a black president, perhaps especially a black president, could not untangle racisms Gordian knot on the body politic. Yet in acknowledging the limitations of Obamas presidency on healing racial divisions and the shortcomings of his policies in uplifting black America, we may reach a newfound political maturity that recognizes that no one person  no matter how powerful  can single-handedly rectify structures of inequality constructed over centuries.

Peniel Joseph is professor of history and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.
A few weeks after the elections, in a much-needed gesture of goodwill, I apologized to millions of Americans for having mispronounced pecan. No, it wasnt easy to eat a piece of my own humble pie. Both blunder and apology came during guest spots on the radio show All Things Considered. A year ago, in response to the innocuous question Whats your favorite holiday pie? I had answered pecan, despite the fact it has nearly twice as many calories as pumpkin or sweet potato. I emphatically pronounced it puh-KAHN.

No sooner had I uttered the word than friends, farmers and pie makers where I live in North Carolina started haranguing me. The correct pronunciation, they insisted, was PEE-can. To be honest, I always thought a PEE-can is what you put under a bed, but I bowed to the arm-twisting. Still, you would have thought Id just said I am joining the NRA on NPR.

Fortunately, I did get credit from fellow Tar Heels for noting that pecan pie is not just for Thanksgiving, as most Yankees believe. Alex Willson, a fourth-generation pecan farmer, agreed. He explained on the phone from Sunnyland Farms in Albany, Ga., that pecan pie is a great dessert at any Southern table, all fall  including Hanukkah and Christmas. Hanukkah? That was news to this Jew.

But back to my apology. Once it was given, I found I still needed to find the phonetic truth about how to pronounce pecan. To do so I queried 200 real-life friends, 30,000-plus online followers and a handful of experts. What exactly determines our pronunciation of pecan? Race? Gender? Religion? Geography? One thing I quickly learned is that the answer is as sticky as the Karo syrup used in my pie recipe.



A dialect expert has cracked the case: In North Carolina, your pronunciation of the word is likely to depend on whether youre a city slicker or a country dweller. (LM Otero/Associated Press)

Many think how we pronounce the nut in question is determined by the Mason-Dixon Line. Not so fast. A poll conducted by the National Pecan Shellers Association asked Americans how they say it: A whopping 45 percent of Southerners say PEE-can, while nearly 70 percent of those living in the Northeast do, too. Thats heresy to many in the South, including my Hillsborough neighbor and Georgia native Frances Mayes (author of Under the Tuscan Sun), who insists on puh-KAHN.

My own investigation corroborated the pecan pickers poll. Jimmy Holcomb, who grew up in eastern North Carolina, defiantly says PEE-can, while the Mississippi-born wife of a colleague says puh-KAHN . . . and if you say PEE-can, watch out. Kathleen Purvis, author of the 2012 cookbook Pecans, wrote in a North Carolina magazine: Conventional wisdom holds that the difference is regional, one more thing separated by the Mason-Dixon Line. Sorry, but thats just not so. Ive listened to people from all over. And in my experience, this pronunciation isnt North versus South.

Okay, then what is it? Josh Katz, author of Speaking American: How Yall, Youse, and You Guys Talk, has studied dialects far and wide, including  no surprise  the pronunciation of pecan. His book and a corresponding map actually detail four ways to say it, since the emphasis can be on one syllable or the other, though for the life of me Ive never heard anybody say pee-CAN. Katz says the urban-rural fault line is a big part of a lot of dialect variation, in particular pronunciation. With that distinction in mind, urban dwellers in North Carolina are more likely to say PEE-can, while country folk generally say pih-KAHN (his take on puh-KAHN). Purvis agrees, Its urban versus rural.



Sweet potato pecan pie with bourbon from Red Truck Bakery in Marshall, Va., where the employee who answered the phone pronounced it pih-KAHN. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)

Now were onto something, I thought. That is, until I bumped into Sandra Davidson, a podcast host from Buies Creek, N.C. (thats rural!), who said with no apparent irony, Its PEE-can pie but praline puh-KAHN ice cream. How can that be? I replied, forcing her into retreat  for the moment  saying she was going to ask her mother. Another friend made another crazy distinction: I live in Massachusetts, and I say puh-KAHN pie. Sounds snooty. But referring to the nuts, I say, PEE-cans. In other words, it takes PEE-cans to make puh-KAHN pie. This is nuts! I said to her. I agree, she answered.

Exhausted and getting hungry for some pie, I decided it was time to use my phone-a-friend lifeline and called William Ferris, one of the countrys greatest folklorists and an expert on all things Southern. (His official title: senior associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC Chapel Hill.) Ferris grew up on a farm outside Vicksburg, Miss., and shocked me  and no doubt some of my well-schooled friends  when he claimed that how you pronounce pecan is connected to class and education. Ill skip his aural distinction because, as my educated friend Amy Barr told me, shed be angry if I fell on the dumb end of the spectrum.

Before giving up on finding the right answer, I had two more phone calls to make: that is, to North Carolinas top elected officials. Governor-elect Roy Cooper told me (through his press aide) that he definitely says PEE-can. The states top Republican, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, says puh-KAHN. Well, that says it all, doesnt it? Its not about Karo vs. maple syrup, bourbon or chocolate as the secret ingredient in pie. No, the pecan wars are political: Blue State versus Red State!

By the end of my quest, Id discovered two things to be true: No matter how you say it or slice it, any pecan pie tastes better with a shot of Gentleman Jack. Second, we should just eat our pie and not talk about it.

How do you pronounce "pecan"? Voting is closed on this poll User Poll Results: How do you pronounce the word "pecan"? Goran Kosanovic for The Washington Post "puh-KAHN," obviously. Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post "PEE-can," of course. Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post Some other way. Pardon the interruption! We need to verify that you are an actual person. "puh-KAHN," obviously. "PEE-can," of course. Some other way. View Results This is a non-scientific user poll. Results are not statistically valid and cannot be assumed to reflect the views of Washington Post users as a group or the general population.

Petrow writes the Civilities column for The Post. Follow him on Twitter @stevenpetrow.
A diorama at the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History. Many of the dead animals that are given to museums in large numbers are unsolicited donations. (Donald Hurlbert/ Smithsonian Institution)

David Skelly returned to his desk one day to find a two-headed snapping turtle in a mayonnaise jar. I still dont know where that came from, says Skelly, director of Yale Universitys Peabody Museum of Natural History.

For years, Skelly brought the turtle to elementary schools as a teaching tool, but then a colleague borrowed it  and lost it. There is nothing like a two-headed turtle to get everyones attention, he says. It is a great conversation starter.

Walking through taxidermy mount halls at natural history museums, visitors are likely to hear a lot of conversations start. Incredulous children often ask parents or teachers, Is it real? But one aspect of the stuffed animals that isnt much discussed is how they arrive and end up so pristinely preserved.

Some mounts have labels that explain it. Theodore Roosevelt shot the northern white rhinoceros installed in the Kenneth Behring Family Hall of Mammals at the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History. The iconic display of two fighting African elephants at Chicagos Field Museum was created by the museums chief taxidermist from 1896 to 1909, Carl Akeley, the father of modern taxidermy, per the Field Museum website.

But most taxidermy mounts were brought in through the front door, often in shoeboxes. Most of the animals that pour in on a regular stream are unsolicited donations.

The fighting elephants at the Chicago's Field Museum were created by the museum's chief taxidermist, Carl Akeley. (Chicago's Field Museum)

I dont know if it is every day, but I bet it is close, Skelly says. We get lots of dead birds and mammals that have fallen into pools or hit windows.

Visitors bring taxidermied mounts they no longer want, archaeological or ethnographic artifacts and other undesired collections after the passing of a relative or a familys downsizing.

In many cases, these are not objects that the museum will want, but often there are significant objects in the care of people who may not realize the importance of what they have, Skelly says.

In Pittsburgh, thats also been the experience of Sue McLaren, the Carnegies mammals collection manager. In the old days, that fox squirrel got mowed over, and people would say, Ill just take it to the museum. They wouldnt even question it, she says. Security would call to say someone brought us a squirrel.

If the bloodied roadkill was something museum mammalogists wanted and needed, taxidermists would work their magic, and the animals would emerge, transformed, as taxidermied fodder for dioramas or other scientific displays.

The scope of taxidermy work at museums is difficult to pin down. Neither the American Alliance of Museums nor the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections tracks its members who work with taxidermy, although 123 American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) members say they work with natural science objects, according to Eryl Wentworth, AICs executive director. A query shared on SPNHCs listserv yielded a list of about a dozen conservators at U.S. museums who work with taxidermy.

Mostly museums dont employ full-time taxidermists any more, or conservators, who work specifically on taxidermy. Mostly, they are contracted from the outside, says Tom Gnoske, the Field Museums assistant collection manager and chief preparator in birds. But there is a growing need for that expertise in museums, since taxidermy is now getting older and has been degrading over time.

Most taxidermied species cant be replaced, and many are rare or endangered, or sometimes even extinct, Gnoske says. The number of taxidermy mounts at U.S. museums is also tough to pin down. At Yale, the Peabody has 1,601 mounted vertebrate zoology specimens, Skelly says.

John Janelli, a taxidermist in Union City, N.J., and a past National Taxidermists Association president, estimates that hundreds of taxidermy consultants work with thousands of mounts at U.S. museums.

As far as I know, museums today that are having any taxidermy being done hire vendors, says Janelli, who knows of just one paid taxidermist on staff at a museum. There are no more laboratories on [museum] premises, where taxidermists come in, punch a clock and go to work mounting animals.

At the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where Timothy Matson has worked since 1974, the staff is kept busy by members of the community who bring lots of dead animals to the museum, largely birds, but also mammals and a few amphibians and reptiles. The amateur collectors often bring roadkill or animals that their cats killed, says Matson, the museums curator of and head of vertebrate zoology.

Some hope to have them taxidermied [mounted], and others really dont care how they are used, but they do hope we can use them, Matson says. Often, the specimens are skeletonized, and in some cases just the skulls are prepared and used for research or teaching collections.

During some seasons, especially during migrations, multiple species come in on many days, Matson says. The museums security office has a freezer that can accommodate small- and medium-size animals until a curator or collections manager is able to retrieve it, he said.

Those who live in or near high-rises often find birds that flew into the buildings at night, and two birds  a peregrine falcon and a common gallinule  were among the most noteworthy donations.

But although animals that make a curators cuts serve a variety of teaching and scientific purposes, not everyone is convinced that the scientific ends necessarily justify the collecting means. The Carnegie discourages people from picking up animals that might be rabid, McLaren says. And at Yale, Skelly and his staff do the same.

You certainly discourage people, but people still show up with all kinds of stuff, he says. When the museum lets people down, it has to be thoughtful and careful about how it rejects donations of would-be taxidermies.

You dont want to treat these encounters in any kind of way thats going to discourage someone, because this is someone who is interested enough to make an effort, Skelly says. There are not too many of those people on this planet.

The Peabody has enough interest that it hosts an annual ID day, during which it encourages people to bring in things that they found or own. It is amazing what comes in the door, Skelly says.

At the Smithsonian, staff members turn down nearly 99 percent of submissions, says Pam Henson, director of the institutional history division. The only reason wed be interested in roadkill is if that specimen had never been seen in that area before, she says.

Still, curators field submissions from all over. People still think of us as the nations attic, not that we encourage it, she says. We built our collection with amateur collectors.


Comedian Sam Hyde, whose Adult Swim series World Peace was canceled in the wake of Donald Trumps victory. (Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist/For The Washington Post)

Every Thursday, the actor, comedian and producer Tim Heidecker hosts open-line office hours. Fans of his absurdist comedy, most of which runs on Time Warners Adult Swim network, call in to talk. On most days, they run the gamut from fans to superfans.

But on Dec. 8, Heidecker took a call from Sam Hyde, the face of the comedy troupe Million Dollar Extreme. Its own Adult Swim series, World Peace, had been scrapped after a six-episode run.

Didnt you want the show canceled? Hyde asked. Didnt you campaign against our show?

For 12 minutes, live on Facebook, Hyde mocked Heideckers views and accused him of leading a lynch mob, including the actor Brett Gelman and director Judd Apatow, against him.

Half of your audience tells me that Im irrelevant, that Im finished, that Im worthless, then in the next breath they tell me Im pulling strings, Heidecker said. Its coordinated, consistent, nasty, violent, nasty . . . death threats coming at me.

The coordinated attacks against you are a result of you expressing anti-Trump sentiments, Hyde said, pointing out that theyd begun after Heidecker released a parody song (I Am a Cuck) from the perspective of a weak, bullied liberal.

It was the first time Hyde had commented on the end of his show, and the start of MDEs martyrdom  the first victim of a perceived Trump-era culture war. Every recap of the events surrounding the cancellation took on the same theme: liberal culture cops portrayed World Peace as a Trojan horse for the alt-right, a small, far-right movement that seeks a whites-only state. If a show was endorsed by the mens rights website Return of Kings, if its star appeared in photos flashing a Nazi salute, it had no place on TV.

MDEs following reveled in comedy that mocked political correctness, the traditional media and liberals who expected to be sheltered by both. One sketch, The Wall Show, had Hyde and co-star Nick Rochefort grilling women about what they would settle for before they turned 30  i.e., hit the wall. Another was set at a wine party, where Rochefort tripped Hydes field hockey wife into a glass table and quickly convinced him that the woman was to blame.

The cancellation gave those sorts of sketches new meaning. They were not simply transgressive  they were banished. A comedian like Sarah Silverman could joke about 9/11 but wash her sins away by campaigning for Bernie Sanders. A comedian like Hyde, if he celebrated Trumps victory, could never wash the stains off.

Hyde, 31, still busily recording comedy videos and YouTube monologues, was optimistic that MDE could get another buyer. We have offers from a bunch of networks since this happened, he said in an email. But before the election, his show seemed to have the full support of Time Warner-owned Adult Swim; it was after the election, according to Hyde, that he learned that a planned second season would never happen.

After the Heidecker call, Hyde co-wrote a story for conservative website Daily Caller titled Adult Swim Fired Me For Supporting Donald Trump  Heres How It Went Down. He recorded a YouTube message about the effort to kill World Peace, then appeared on the Web show hosted by Vice co-founder Gavin McInnes, whose mainstream media career ended after he published an essay defending transphobia. Fans of the show, including McInnes, condemned Adult Swim for buckling. The Nazis are the ones calling us Nazis, McInnes wrote.



Sam Hyde, the face of the comedy troupe Million Dollar Extreme, when he crashed a TedX event in Philadelphia and delivered a speech. (Million Dollar Extreme)

MDE, a loose comic collective based in New England, never positioned itself as political. Its sketches, released on YouTube and backed by crowdfunders, were loud and absurd, the latest fruit from the tree of HBOs mid-90s cult favorite Mr. Show.

It was fairly obscure until Hyde  and the troupes fan base  began playing with the medias gullibility. In 2013, he got perhaps his best media coverage when he crashed a TedX event in Philadelphia and delivered a speech that was half parody and half futurist gibberish, claiming at one point that the 9/11 attacks proved that sometimes great ideas are actually horrible ideas.

In 2014, he performed a piece that lived on YouTube as Privileged White Male Triggers Oppressed Victims, in which he read loosely collected facts about the dangers of gay life and sex, heckling a New York audience as its members headed for the door. In 2015, he put on a KKK-styled robe and sarcastically challenged a liberal audience to accept more Syrian refugees, even if they thought some might be terrorists.

If you see a picture of a dead toddler, you have to do anything youre asked politically, because its sad, you guys, said Hyde. His family was in Turkey, but his father heard there was free dental in Germany, so he put them on a life raft, and now hes dead. Thats your fault, white man.

All of that material was easily found online when Adult Swim picked up World Peace. When World Peace premiered, the network seemed to revel in its transgressiveness.

The troupes aesthetics, scrambled and surreal, felt a lot like Heideckers Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job, which ran for five seasons. In August, World Peace was slotted into a Friday night block with The Eric Andre Show, a stomach-churning satire of late-night TV. More than a million people watched the World Peace premiere, featuring Hyde as a TV reporter covering a schools successful experiment with bullying.

The six-episode run of World Peace received steady ratings and aired the sort of sketches that, in the parlance of the alt-right, dropped red pills. One sketch cast Hyde as a pickup artist training a wheelchair-bound man in his ways, which included buying sweatpants from the black person mall and bestowing the secret name David Duke.

That was a secret signal to the KKK, which is actually where a lot of my YouTube ad revenue comes from, Hyde explained in an email to The Washington Post, insisting that he wasnt being sarcastic. It was a secret but now I can openly talk about the KKK.

That same episode included a sequence in which Charls Carroll, the third main cast member, threw together a series of nauseating ingredients to make fresh tap water in the style of Flint, Mich.

I like to emulate that sentiment of paying really high taxes and getting nothing in return, said Carroll as pictures of men kissing and fondling each other played in the corners of the screen.

(Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist/For The Washington Post)

In the run-up to the Nov. 8 election, MDE was the comedy  the only comedy  of Americans who were about to lose the election. On MDEs YouTube channel on Nov. 4, Hyde released a video recapping his heckles at a Chelsea Clinton rally in New Hampshire.

Their grandmas going to jail if she loses! Hyde said after Clinton talked about her daughter. Youre ugly!

According to Hyde, Adult Swim said nothing about the extracurricular politics. Then, six days after the election, Brett Gelman announced that he was severing ties with Adult Swim after appearing on a series of shows and hosting a low-profile comedy special.

The reason, he said, was the revelation  contained in an article published by BuzzFeed  that Adult Swims president, Mike Lazzo, had dismissed complaints about the lack of women producing shows for the network. He said another reason was the forum the network had given MDE.

Three weeks later, World Peace was canceled. The scale of Adult Swims reversal isnt clear. In an interview with alt-right writer Mike Cernovich, Hyde said the channel had nine months to decide the shows future. In interviews since the cancellation, Hyde has said that the network had once greenlighted a second season and was ready for 100 episodes.

Adult Swim has declined to rebut him. Since the cancellation and the Heidecker call-in, World Peace critics have gone quiet. Time Warner did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did Heidecker, neither did Apatow, and neither did Gelman, who recently suspended his Twitter account after a torrent of mockery. Hyde had been among the mockers, agreeing with McInnes that Gelman was using his marriage to a black woman to deflect critics of his work.

We call that El Classico, when you get a black wife to ward off the bad juju, said Hyde.

That interview was part of a mini-media blitz by Hyde  the most attention that the show had gotten, more than when it had aired. Fox News covered the end of World Peace as a clear-cut censorship story. The Federalist and Takis Magazine, conservative outlets that had ignored the show when it aired, held up Hyde and MDE as victims of political correctness.

This month, a student attending a speech by the Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos asked what he thought of the cancellation. Yiannopoulos said that MDE was targeted because of its politics, and the market, he promised, would make amends.

Trump won, and these people arent stupid, said Yiannopoulos. They ultimately care about money.

That had been Hydes theory, too. I knew that when Trump won, the show would get more views because of it, he said. But before the election, jokes about social justice were transgressive. After the election, they were in line with the president-elect. Pop culture had nuzzled up to the White House in the Obama years. If anyone was situated to speak for Trumps America, it was Sam Hyde.

In the sketch that opened the final episode of World Peace, Hyde played the ludicrous leader of a new social movement called the toss-it project, in which people wrote the worst insults theyd ever received on Styrofoam cups, then threw them out as litter.

My race is done, youre inheriting the Earth, along with some other undesirables, said Hydes character, pointing at a small Asian boy. And thats cool, bro. High-five. But check it out  just remember who built this place, all right? Remember to pay homage to the white man. Thank you, whitey!

The sketch faded out as Hyde delivered one more lesson.

We can all be victims!
You dont really need to make it an official resolution, do you? That in 2017 you will travel  a lot? But maybe you will resolve to be smarter about booking airfare and snagging those low prices. Here are some developments that could help make that promise stick.

More bare-bones fares

Next year, George Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.com, predicts that more airlines will start offering budget fares. United recently announced its new basic economy category, a rock-bottom fare that comes with some sacrifices. For example, you can only bring on board a personal item (no overhead bag), and you cant choose your seat (the airline plays fairy godmother, or wicked witch, at check-in). Deltas basic fare has similar restrictions on seat selection and also requires passengers to board in the last zone. I expect American Airlines to follow suit on competing routes, Hobica said.

Flights are cheaper overall

According to Expedias New Heights for Air Travel study, ticket prices are falling. Average air ticket prices continue to drop around the world, making now a stellar time to fly, said the study, which is based on 2016 data from Airlines Reporting and other partners. Economy-class prices have reached their lowest point in three years. In North America, ticket prices decreased by about 5 percent. For a $472 flight, that means you save $23  the price of a solid lunch or several silly souvenirs.

Who should we thank for this most wonderful trend? Low-fare carriers such as Frontier and Spirit, which put pressure on the bigger birds to compete in the bottom bracket, as well as foreign airlines, which are expanding stateside. Hobica also expects prices will decline on highly competitive routes, such as New York to Los Angeles and Chicago to Atlanta.

The day you book matters

Fares are like frogs; they hop all over the place. But you can improve your chances of snagging a low fare by following a few guidelines, based on Expedias findings.

Book on a Sunday, when fares can be 16 percent cheaper. (Conversely, dont book on a Friday, even if the martini told you to.)

Reserve more than 21 days in advance. Sample savings: Book early, and you could pay $1,462 for a European holiday; wait too long, and the price spikes to $2,226.

 Include a Saturday-night stay in your itinerary. (Exceptions to the rule: China and North Asia.)

 Travel during low season: Expedia says to visit Africa, North America and the Caribbean in January; the Middle East in February; and the Asia-Pacific region in June. The companys data also discovered the best months to nab a low economy fare: January for trips to Southeast Asia, February for Australia and September for Europe.

The year 2017 isnt just the Year of the Rooster. According to an Enterprise survey, it might also be the End of the Staycation. Your resolution just let out a cheer.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Amid snowballing row, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh today defended the decision of Jammu and Kashmir government to issue domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees and slammed those opposing the move to address the matter which has been lingering for 70 years.

Singh, a senior BJP leader from Jammu, said the country owes it to them since they have been living in the state for last 70 years and have been languishing without jobs and proper livelihood since Independence.

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Kashmiri separatists have criticised the move by the Jammu and Kashmir government to give domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees, saying it was an attempt to change the demography of the state.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with citizenship right per se...those who are trying to make an issue out of it or oppose this should first address the issue of some foreign nationals who have settled down in the suburbs of Jammu," Singh said.

"They (refugees) dont have the citizenship right and State Subject certificate in absence of any identity proof as a result they can not apply jobs. Therefore, the state government in consultation with Union Home Ministry devised a mechanism where each of them could be provided proof of identity to ensure them a dignified means of livelihood," the minister said.

Singh noted that the counterparts of such refugees like I K Gujral and Manmohan Singh, who settled in other parts of the India, rose to occupy the office of Prime Minister.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik attempted to stage a protest demonstration in Srinagar today against the move, saying it was a bid to change Muslim-majority character of the state.

An Independent MLA of the state Sheikh Rasheed also launched a 48-hour protest outside the residence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today against the decision. PTI JTR AKK AKK

--- ENDS ---
A special Maryland legislative panel will investigate recent payroll mistakes that shortchanged state corrections workers for several weeks leading up to the holiday season.

State Senate Finance Committee Chairman Thomas Middleton (D-Charles) and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore) on Friday announced plans to form the work group, accusing Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and his administration of irresponsible oversight.

What has happened here under this administration is unconscionable, Middleton said, adding that the administration had been warned about potential problems with a new payroll system installed this year.

Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said the administration will cooperate with the review panel.

Ensuring that every state employee is paid correctly for every single hour they work is incredibly important and is something taken very seriously by this administration, she said.

The state issued more than $81,000 in paper checks last month to help rectify the errors affecting corrections workers, whose pay is complicated because of overtime, night shifts and special assignments. Officials with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services say the mistakes occurred when timekeepers manually transferred information from employee time sheets into the states payroll system.

Nearly every Maryland agency uses a new online payroll program chosen by the administration of former governor Martin OMalley (D), but corrections employees still use paper time sheets because of a security policy that prohibits Internet access in prisons.

Because of the recent problems, the state has begun testing and installing a new swipe-card timekeeping system for corrections officers that automatically transmits their hours into the payroll program.

The administration has also set up an office to quickly resolve paycheck errors, and it has hired dozens of temporary employees to help process payroll information.

Dina Holden, 25, a corrections officer in Somerset County, said several of her last few paychecks were missing overtime and regular pay, forcing her to scale back holiday shopping. This is the worst time of year for this to be happening, she said.

Earlier this year, the Hogan administration announced that the state had been shortchanging thousands of its employees for years, possibly decades, because of human error. That issue, discovered while implementing the new online system, occurred with an older, paper-based process that required manual calculations.

The administration has promised to work with state-employee unions to determine the full scope of the problem and provide back pay. The errors have affected less than 1 percent of the states nearly 9,900 Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services employees, said Amelia Chase, deputy communications director for the governors office.

[For workers who may have been shortchanged, a hotline and many questions]

Union officials say the number is worse, asserting that hundreds more workers have not filed formal complaints and are instead waiting for the state to resolve the problem.

The administration says the errors are isolated, noting that the amount of money that employees were shortchanged in November represents only 0.04 percent of the total state payroll for that period.

Middleton and McIntosh said they would announce members of the bipartisan investigative committee next week.
D.C. police have identified a suspect in a shooting last week, after which the wounded victim ran inside an elementary school in Northeast Washington just as classes had started.

Ronnell Holmes, 44, of Northwest, has been charged in a warrant with assault with intent to kill. Police released a photo of the suspect and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The shooting occurred about 8:30 a.m. Dec. 12 outside of Harmony D.C. Public Charter Schools in the 100 block of T Street NE, in Eckington. Police said the suspected gunman, in a gold Lexus, shot at a man who was sitting in another car parked on the street. The victim was struck in the leg and abdomen.

[Mayor, police chief visit elementary school after man shot outside]

Police said the victim had just helped his girlfriend drop her child off at the school. The mother was inside the building when the shooting occurred, and when the victim ran inside for help. A police report identifies the suspect as the former boyfriend of the childs mother.

Ronnell Holmes. (Courtesy of D.C. Police)

The police report says the childs mother told detectives that her ex-boyfriend had recently threatened her, saying that he cannot accept the fact that she has moved on and also made a comment to her that If I cant have you, no one else can. 

After the shooting, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham visited with students at the school.
Elton Cansler remembers being scared and confused. He remembers turning to a police officer for help. Instead, the officer fired a Taser into his back.

Police in Fairfax, Va., investigated the 2015 incident, which was caught on video, and give a different picture of events. They said Cansler carried a knife and resisted arrest, and concluded that Officer Alan Hanks acted appropriately. Cansler disagrees; he is suing Hanks and Fairfax Police Chief Edwin Roessler in federal court in Alexandria.

[Police: Officer was right to use Taser on suspected sunglasses thief]

The man knows his actions were wrong, Cansler said of the officer in an interview Thursday after the suit was filed. I dont think that someone should be targeted in the back. Its just a violation.

Cansler, 37, has cerebral palsy and associated cognitive and physical issues. He walks with a slight limp and his speech is occasionally slurred. But he said he has never before or since had an anxiety attack like the one that came over him as he walked through Rose Hill Shopping Center on Sept. 24, 2015.

It started to feel like people were coming toward me, or after me, he recalled. He walked into a SunTrust bank, and into an employee break room; he left and took a pair of sunglasses off a counter on his way out.

What was going on in my mind was, Get the pair of shades and a person will come to me for help,  he said.

Cansler walked outside and did not know where he was, although he has lived in nearby Mount Vernon his whole life. He saw a sign for the Fairfax Connector bus and headed toward it.

Canslers actions, attorneys Victor Glasberg and Maxwelle Sokol say in the lawsuit, were manifestations of mental aberrations, unwarranted and irrational.

Meanwhile, bank security contractors called police and said that a large black man had gone into an employee break room and closed the door behind him. He then came out and put on the bank managers sunglasses. Ignoring a call to put the glasses back, he walked out and began wandering the parking lot.

When Hanks approached him, Cansler says he thought it was the help he had been seeking. He asked for some water. Hanks asked about the sunglasses. Cansler says he handed them over immediately. Then, Cansler says, the officer pulled out his Taser. Cansler said he raised his arms and stepped back. He said Hanks asked him to turn around and put his hands on a police car. When he did, Cansler said, Hanks fired the Taser into his back.

Police say the use of the Taser  a device that sends an immobilizing electric current into a persons body and can be lethal  was provoked. According to the police account, while talking to Hanks, Cansler repeatedly put his hands in his front pants pockets, one of which had a knife clipped to it. When Hanks tried to arrest Cansler, according to police, Cansler put his hands on the cruiser but refused to move his arms behind his back. He allegedly pushed Hanks back with his body when the officer tried to tug on his arms. Police said Hanks stepped back, and that when Cansler responded to another command to put his hands behind his back by moving his arms forward, fired the Taser.

The video, shot by a bystander, begins a few seconds before Cansler falls to the ground. Cansler is standing and facing the officer with his arms in the air, leaning his back on the police car. Hanks is pointing the Taser at him. He then brings his arm down, turns around and puts his hands on the hood of the car, briefly moving out of the frame as he does so. A couple of seconds later, Cansler is hit with the Taser and crumples to the ground.

A second video released by police shows that when he was on the ground after being struck with the Taser, Cansler put his hands behind his back but moved them to his sides when Hanks attempted to handcuff him. Another officer arrives and appears to quickly handcuff Cansler.

Canslers lawyers say Hanks lied when he claimed he felt threatened by Cansler.

Mr. Canslers impaired speech, movements, and gait suggested that he was disabled, if not in need of assistance, as he himself told Officer Hanks, the complaint argues.

In a recording made by police, according to the complaint, several officers are heard saying that although the bank manager did not want to press charges, Cansler would have to be charged with something because Hanks had used the Taser. One suggests assault on a law enforcement officer.

Cansler was charged with assault and petty larceny. The former charge was dropped; he pleaded guilty to the latter.

Its on camera  the only person who was assaulted was I, Cansler said. He is suing Hanks for using unreasonable force and Roessler for failing to train officers properly or investigate officer misconduct.

Fairfax police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cansler said the altercation had a more profound impact, giving him nightmares and making his world feel smaller.

Its like all my four corners were cut off, he said. Im in my own bubble now, Im in my own circle.

Cansler has a 6-year-old son, who asked him why this happened.

It wasnt a question I was ready for, Cansler said. He wants his son to call 911 if he needs to and be respectful of police, yet cautious.

Heres what he told him: Keep your hands up, keep your mouth shut, keep your brain thinking. Do whats right. But dont turn your back.
Charles Severance, who was found guilty last year of murdering three people in Alexandria, will be able to appeal his convictions in a higher Virginia court.

The Virginia Court of Appeals has agreed to look at three issues that defense attorneys raised regarding Severances trial, as first reported by WJLA (Channel 7).

First, the court will decide whether Severance should have faced trial for the murder of Nancy Dunning in 2003 separately from the 2014 slaying of Ruthanne Lodato and the 2013 shooting of Ronald Kirby. If the appeals court decides that the cases should have been separate, Severance will be granted a new trial.

Second, the court will look at whether the evidence was sufficient to convict Severance in any of the three murders. His convictions in any or all three of the killings could be dismissed if the court finds the evidence lacking.

Third, the appeals court will rule on whether Severance was properly convicted on two counts of capital murder rather than one. To be found guilty of capital murder in Virginia, one must kill two or more people within three years. The defense argues that to use the same two deaths for two such counts violates the double jeopardy prohibition against punishing a person multiple times for the same crime. If the Court of Appeals agrees, one of the two capital murder convictions would be reduced to a first-degree murder conviction.

Capital murder may be punishable by death in Virginia, but Severance was sentenced to life in prison.

Eight other errors that defense attorneys claim occurred during Severances 2015 trial were rejected by the appeals court.

A date for an oral argument before the Court of Appeals has not been set, the attorneys said.
Christmas dinner at the National Shrine: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception will sponsor dinner for those alone or in need on Christmas Day. Volunteers are needed to assist in preparing, serving and delivering meals and assisting with other tasks. Volunteers can sign up at nationalshrine.com/christmasdinner or by calling 202-526-8300.

Saturday, noon to 3 p.m.: Food for the Soul invites anyone in need of a hearty meal to get one at Mount Moriah Baptist Church on this day and these Saturdays in the new year: Jan. 14 and 28, Feb. 11 and 25, and March 11 and 25. In the event of a snow emergency, the program will be canceled. Free. The church is at 1636 East Capitol St. NE. 202-544-5588.

Saturday, 1 and 4 p.m.: Festival Eucharist is open to all. Christ Church, Georgetown, 31st and O streets NW. 202-333-6677. christchurchgeorgetown.org.

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m.: Fifth and sixth graders will gather between 2:30 and 4 p.m. to rehearse this years Christmas pageant, which recreates the story of Jesus birth. The pageant will start at 4 p.m. and end at approximately 5:30 p.m. All are welcome. St. Andrews Episcopal Church, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 6509 Sydenstricker Rd., Burke. 703-455-2500. standrews.net.

Saturday, 4, 7 and 9 p.m.: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will celebrate the coming of Jesus in a family worship with Communion at 4 p.m. and with candlelight services with Communion at 7 and 9 p.m. All are welcome. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3022 Woodlawn Ave., Falls Church. 703-532-6617. holytrinityfallschurch.org.

Saturday, 4, 7 and 10 p.m.: Christmas Eve will be celebrated at 4 p.m. with a family service of Holy Eucharist; Christmas music that begins at 3:30 p.m. This is especially designed for families with young children. Familiar carols will be led by the Youth Choir with organ accompaniment and a Christmas story will be read by the rector. Child care will be available for the very young. The 7 p.m. service, with Christmas music beginning at 6:30, includes Holy Eucharist and familiar carols led by the Adult Choir with organ and woodwind accompaniment and a sermon by the rector. The 10 p.m. service, with music beginning at 9:30, includes Holy Eucharist, the Adult Choir with organ and woodwind accompaniment and a sermon by the rector. Christmas Day will be celebrated with a service that includes a sermon and the singing of familiar carols led by a soloist. St. Johns Episcopal Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean. churchmail@stjohnsmclean.org. 703-356-4902. stjohnsmclean.org.

Saturday, 4, 7 and 11 p.m.: Christmas Eve candlelight service. The 4 p.m. service is especially for families with small children. Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale. 703-256-8330. annandale-umc.org.

Saturday, 4 and 8 p.m.: Family service and a Christmas pageant at 4 p.m. Christmas candlelight service at 8 p.m. All are welcome. St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt St., Alexandria. 703-549-3312. www.stpaulsalexandria.com.

Saturday, 4:30 and 11 p.m.: A procession and sung Mass will be at 4:30 p.m. At 11:30 p.m., there will be another procession and sung Mass. St. Pauls claims to be the first Episcopal church in the country to hold a midnight Mass, a tradition that goes back to at least 1870. Look for a special service with period music and decor. St. Pauls Parish, 2430 K Street NW. office@stpauls-kst.com. 202-337-2020.

Saturday, 4:30, 7:30 and 11:30 p.m.: There will be a carol choir at the family worship at 4:30 p.m.; an intergenerational choir at the lessons and carols service at 7:30 p.m.; and the Chancel Choir at the 11 p.m. service. The Rev. Molly Blythe Teichert will preach at all the services, and Julie Vidrick Evans will play the organ. Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, 1 Chevy Chase Cir. NW. 202-363-2202.

Saturday, 5 p.m.: All are welcome to the 19th Annual Christmas Eve Jazz Vespers. Vocalist Gregory Watkins sings Nat King Cole for Christmas with the Davey Yarborough Ensemble and Esther Williams. A reception hosted by the Peoples Jazz Society will follow. Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, 4704 13th St. NW. Parking available. Program is free; love offering will be received. 202-829-5511.

Saturday, 5 and 10:30 p.m.: Church of the Redeemer will await the birth of Jesus at a family-oriented service at 5 p.m. At 10:30, there will be a traditional choral worship service, but come at 10 p.m. for a musical prelude. On Sunday, there will be only one service, at 10 a.m., with readings from Isaiah, Titus, Luke and Psalms. Church of the Redeemer, 6201 Dunrobbin Dr., Bethesda. office@redeemerbethesda.org. www.redeemerbethesda.org.

Saturday, 5 p.m.: Christmas Eve worship service. St. Johns Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, 1525 H St. NW. 202-347-8766. www.stjohns-dc.org.

Saturday, 5 p.m.: Christmas Eve pageant. Bring your bell. Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, 1 Westmoreland Cir., Bethesda. www.westmorelanducc.org. 301-229-7766.

Saturday, 5, 10:30 and 11 p.m.: On Christmas Eve, we will hold a Childrens Mass and Blessing of the Creche at 5 p.m. At 10:30 p.m., there will be carols for the congregation and choir. The day will conclude with the first Mass of Christmas, a High Mass. Everyone is welcome. All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244.

Saturday, 5 to 6:30 p.m.: All are welcome. St. Pauls Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Parish, Rock Creek Church Road and Webster Street NW. 202-726-2080. Email: churchoffice@stpaulsrockcreek.org.

Saturday, 6 p.m.: Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols. Through a series of readings from scripture, congregational hymns, choral anthems and instrumental music, we move from creation to the manger in Bethlehem. The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde will preach. Washington National Cathedral, nave, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. All of the advance passes have been distributed. 202-537-2228. cathedral.org.

Saturday, 6 and 10:30 p.m.: Family Christmas Eve service with scripture readings at 6 p.m. The midnight Mass will begin at 10:30 and include carols. Historic Pohick Episcopal Church, Colonial Parish of George Washington, 9301 Richmond Hwy., Lorton. 703-339-6572. pohick.org.

Saturday, 7 p.m.: Candlelight service. The church will be closed on Christmas Day. Christ Lutheran Church of Bethesda, 8011 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda. 301-652-5160.

Saturday, 7 p.m.: All are welcome for the worship that has hymns, readings, a Christmas message and Communion. Antioch Christian Church, 1860 Beulah Rd., Vienna. Information: cssweatman@gmail.com or antiochccvienna.org. 703-938-6753.

Saturday, 10 p.m.: Christmas Eve will begin with a 30-minute choral prelude, followed by a festival choral Eucharist. All are welcome. Christ Church, Georgetown, 31st and O streets NW. 202-333-6677. christchurchgeorgetown.org.

Saturday, 10 p.m.: Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist. Readings from scripture, favorite congregational hymns, and seasonal choral and instrumental music herald the birth of Jesus. This service includes Communion. The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde will preach. Washington National Cathedral, nave, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. All of the advance passes have been distributed. No passes are required for Christmas Day. 202-537-2228. cathedral.org.

Saturday, 10:30 p.m.: Celebrate the birth of Christ at this festal liturgy with special music and an extended, candlelit prelude of seasonal organ music, choral anthems and congregational carols that begins at 10 p.m. Church of the Redeemer, 6201 Dunrobbin Dr., Bethesda. 301-229-3770. redeemerbethesda.org.

Saturday: Our Hope: The Coming of Gods Light. Early and evening Masses (Simbang Gabi) for the Advent season, sponsored by the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia. St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 3304 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington. simbanggabi.com. 703-403-5624.

Sundays, 8 a.m.: Gospel music by the Welcome Table Choir and a pianist. Healing prayers will be followed by a Welcome Table Breakfast. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. 202-347-2635.

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Christmas morning worship. The Rev. Molly Blythe Teichert will preach. Organist Julie Vidrick Evans will provide festive Christmas music. Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, 1 Chevy Chase Cir. NW. 202-363-2202. Free; donations welcome. www.chevychasepc.org.

Sunday, 10 a.m.: St. Pauls welcomes all to its Holy Eucharist, a family service with a choir. St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt St., Alexandria. 703-549-3312. stpaulsalexandria.com.

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Christmas Day worship. The Rev. Timothy Tutt will discuss Reflection on Scripture: The Paradox of Power. Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, 1 Westmoreland Cir., Bethesda. 301-229-7766. westmorelanducc.org.

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Christmas Day. There will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. St. Johns Episcopal Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean. 703-356-4902. stjohnsmclean.org.

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Christmas Day service. There will be only one worship service on this day. This celebration is designed to appeal to those seeking a quieter Christmas observance. Christ Church, 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria. parishlife@ccalex.org. 703-549-1450. historicchristchurch.org.

Sunday, 10 a.m.: On Christmas Morning. Share carols and community and explore the story of who also gathered on Christmas morning in Bethlehem and what their stories might be. Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda. 301-493-8300.

Sunday, 10 to 11:15 a.m.: Please join in a celebration of Holy Eucharist, following Rite II with Lessons and Carols. St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 6509 Sydenstricker Rd., Burke. Free. 703-455-2500. standrews.net.

Sunday, 11 a.m.: Carols and Casseroles Christmas Day service. Only one service on Christmas and on New Years Day. Come as you are to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Well sing carols and hear a Christmas message from the Rev. Clarence Brown. Children and youths are encouraged to wear their pajamas. Bring your favorite dish or casserole and well share a meal. Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale. 703-256-8330. annandale-umc.org.

Sunday, 11 a.m.: Christmas will be celebrated with a festival choral Eucharist. Christ Church, Georgetown, 31st and O streets NW. 202-333-6677. christchurchgeorgetown.org.

Sunday, 11 a.m.: Christmas Day service of Eucharist. St. Johns Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, 1525 H St. NW. 202-347-8766. Free. stjohns-dc.org.

Sunday, 11 a.m.: Christmas Day worship with Lessons and Carols. Liberty Grove United Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. Free. info@libertygrovechurch.org. 301-421-9166. libertygrovechurch.org.

Sunday, 1:30 p.m.: The new Christmas Day schedule begins at 1:30 p.m. with an organ recital of traditional and familiar holiday favorites composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, Charles Callahan, Louis-Claude Daquin, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Jean-Francois Dandrieu, Percy Aldridge Grainger and Louis Vierne, concluding with Handels Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. Washington National Cathedral, great choir, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-2228. cathedral.org. $10.

Mondays, 9 to 9:45 a.m.; Wednesdays, 4 to 4:45 p.m.: Senior strength and stretch. Wellness coordinator Judy Jurkowski teaches exercises to music that may improve strength and range of motion. Handheld weights are offered for resistance. A chair is used for seated and standing support. The class is geared to healthy seniors and those with joint, mobility or balance problems. Doctors approval is required. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria. 703-765-6555, ext. 626, or judy@aldersgate.net.

Mondays, 10 to 11 a.m.; Thursdays, 11 a.m. to noon: Gentle yoga. Certified exercise instructor Judy Jurkowski teaches classes designed to relax and soothe, renew and restore. Focus is on deep breathing, slow movement, gentle stretching and strengthening posture. Free. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria, Va. judy@aldersgate.net . 703-765-6555.

Most weekdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Behind-the-scenes cathedral tour for those 11 and older. See gargoyles and stained-glass windows and climb lots of stairs to view the city from above. Tours offered on weekdays, except holidays. $26; children, seniors, students and military, $21. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200. cathedral.org.

Mondays, 11 a.m.: Adult Bible study. Allen Stuhl leads the group. All are welcome. St. Pauls Episcopal Church, conference room on the third floor of Wilmer Hall, 228 S. Pitt St., Alexandria. stpaulsalexandria.com. 703-549-3312.

Monday, 5 to 7:30 p.m.: Grief support group. The Chesapeake Life Center invites participants to create a series of collages to commemorate lost loved ones. Church of the Redeemer-Bowie, 7300 Race Track Rd., Bowie. $10, registration required. 301-560-3812.

Mondays, 7 p.m.: Monday night services have a less formal atmosphere, in a somewhat smaller setting, at a more convenient time. Celebration of Holy Communion. Refreshments after worship. Child care available. Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. mystandrew.org. 301-384-4394 or info@mystandrew.org.

Mondays, 7 p.m.: Sally Jones leads A Course in Miracles. Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, 7400 Temple Hills Rd., Camp Springs. Free. dmuuc.org. 301-449-4308.

Mondays, 7 p.m.: Kirsten Norris leads yoga sessions. Bring a mat. Pilgrim Church, United Church of Christ, Social Hall, 2206 Briggs Rd., Silver Spring. Suggested donation, $5 to $10. The Rev. Jessie Lowry, jessdoerrer@gmail.com or 877-792-8479.

Mondays and/or Tuesdays, lunchtime: Volunteers are needed to serve an already prepared lunch to Alexandrias working poor and homeless on various dates throughout the year. St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt St., Alexandria. Email Rev. Ross Kane, ross@stpaulsalexandria.com. 703-549-3312. stpaulsalexandria.com/.

Weekdays, open and on view all day: Artist Bjorn Skaarups Carnival of the Animals, an exhibit of eight bronze works displayed outside the cathedral, adjacent to the west front, inspired by Camille Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals and crafted to express a cheerful wit and whimsy. Washington National Cathedral, Walker Court at the West End, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Free. 202-537-6200. cathedral.org.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:15 a.m.: Senior Fit, an exercise class for people 55 and older to build strength, fitness and cardiovascular health. Required physician consent form is available at the information center or by visiting the website. Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Free. Call Marilee at 301-384-4394 or go to mystandrew.org.

Tuesdays, 5 p.m.: Listening for God. Holy scripture read in silence and shared with others in prayerful listening during this time of modified Lectio Divina, or holy reading. Washington National Cathedral, Bethlehem Chapel, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-2228. cathedral.org.

Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Bible study. Faith Shepherd Baptist Church, 3233 E St. SE. 202-582-0055.

Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.: Cathedral Labyrinth Walk: Movement and Meditation Beyond Words. Walk the labyrinth with music in the nave from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., or walk one silently in St. Josephs Chapel on the crypt level. Laying on of hands for healing from 6:30 to 7:30 in Holy Spirit Chapel. End your evening with Compline (nighttime prayers) in the Great Choir. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200 or nationalcathedral.org.

Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p.m.: Caregiver support group. Share joys, concerns and questions. Your knowledge and experience may be just what is needed by those with troubles. All are welcome. Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring mystandrew.org. 301-384-4394 or info@mystandrew.org.

Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p.m.: Family-friendly gentle yoga. Certified exercise instructor Judy Jurkowski teaches classes that focus on deep breathing, slow movement, gentle stretching and strengthening posture. All ages are welcome, but parents must stay to supervise children 13 and younger. Free. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria. judy@aldersgate.net. 703-765-6555.

Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.: Homework Helpers invites parents or guardians to bring children in first through eighth grades for free after-school tutoring, advice and homework help. The program is certified by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington through its mandatory Safeguarding Gods Children training program. St. Johns Church, Broadcreek, Bayne Hall, 9801 Livingston Rd., Fort Washington, Md. Free. Registration: Ruth LaBelle, program director, 240-461-5330 or hwhelpers@stjohnsbroadcreek.org.

Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.: Holy Eucharist. A simple spoken service with readings from scripture, prayers, a brief sermon and Communion. Washington National Cathedral, Bethlehem Chapel (use the Good Shepherd entrance on the Woodley Road side, off the traffic circle), 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200 or cathedral.org.

Wednesdays, 7:40 a.m.: A celebration of Holy Eucharist, Rite II. Christ Church, Georgetown, Keith Hall, 31st and O streets NW. christchurchgeorgetown.org. 202-333-6677.

Wednesdays, 9 a.m.: Bible study. The opening study sessions will focus on Saint Pauls Epistle to the Romans and a commentary by Katherine Grieb, The Story of Romans. Christ Church, Georgetown, Keith Hall, 31st and O streets NW. christchurchgeorgetown.org. 202-333-6677.

Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Bible study. Three co-conveners meet for a reading of the gospel for the coming Sunday service, reflection and discussion. Neither preparation nor regular attendance is required. A healing service and an exploration of the lives of the saints follows. Free. St. Patricks Episcopal Church, 4700 Whitehaven Pkwy. NW. 202-342-2800.

Wednesday, 10 to 10:30 a.m.: Representatives from the military services will lay a wreath at the tomb of Woodrow Wilson on the 161st anniversary of his birth. Wilson is the only president buried within the District. Washington National Cathedral, main level, south side, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Free. 202-537-6200 or cathedral.org.

Wednesdays, 11 a.m.: A service of praise and prayer on the second and fourth Wednesdays. Pastor Moses Sangha and Pastor Richard Keller, a retired Methodist minister, will lead informal services that include singing, praying and a brief homily. Bring a sandwich for a light lunch after worship. Beverages and dessert will be provided. Glenn Dale United Methodist Church, 8500 Springfield Rd., Glenn Dale, Md. glenndaleumc@verizon.net. 301-262-2299.

Wednesdays, 11 a.m.: Holy Eucharist and healing service. St. Johns Episcopal Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean. stjohnsmclean.org. 703-356-4902.

Wednesdays, 11 a.m.: A weekly service of healing and an exploration of the life of the saints. All are welcome at this 30-minute contemplative service. St. Patricks Episcopal Church, 4700 Whitehaven Pkwy. churchoffice@stpatrickschurchdc.org. 202-342-2800.

Wednesdays, noon: Worship service for anyone who finds the holidays difficult or who would like a more simple service. Church of the Redeemer, 6201 Dunrobbin Dr., Bethesda. 301-229-3770. redeemerbethesda.org.

Wednesdays, noon: A low Mass with Healing Rite. All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244.

Wednesdays, noon: Brown Bags and Bibles. The Rev. Janice Mynchenberg leads a weekly study of the Gospel of Luke with the help of a commentary by N.T. Wright. Bring your lunch. Georgetown Lutheran Church, 1556 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Free. 202-337-9070 or glcpastor100@gmail.com.

Wednesdays, noon and 7 p.m.: Weekly Bible study. The Rev. Robert K. Pines teaches. All are welcome. First Baptist Church, Georgetown, 2624 Dumbarton St. NW. 202-965-1899. firstbaptistgtown.org.

Wednesdays, 4 to 4:45 p.m.: Senior Strength and Stretch. Classes are open to those whose physicians have given approval. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria. 703-765-6555, ext. 626, or judy@aldersgate.net.

Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m.: Yoga classes. New participants are welcome. Christ Church, Georgetown, 31st and O streets NW. 202-333-6677. To register, email Cherie Jones at cjones@ttrsir.com or call 202-352-7529. christchurchgeorgetown.org.

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Weight Watchers meeting. Trinity Episcopal Church, 14515 Church St., Upper Marlboro. 301-627-2636.

Thursdays, 7:15 a.m.: Morning prayers (Matins) will be spoken. All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244.

Thursdays, 10 to 11 a.m.: Yoga classes taught by the Rev. Randy Lord-Wilkinson. Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 205 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg. Donation of $1 to $10 requested. 301-948-0122. ascensionmd.org.

Thursdays, 11 a.m. to noon: Gentle Yoga. Certified exercise instructor Judy Jurkowski teaches classes that focus on deep breathing, slow movement, gentle stretching and strengthening posture. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria. Free. judy@aldersgate.net. 703-765-6555.

Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Barnabas Bread Basket community meals. Lunch is served every Thursday. Dinner is served on the last Thursday of the month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free. First Baptist Church, 9258 Center St., Manassas. 703-368

Thursdays, 5 to 7 p.m.: Food distribution program. Help is needed for the distribution of food to the hungry on Thursday evenings. Annandale United Methodist Church, Heritage Drive Campus, 7901 Heritage Dr., Annandale. Betsy Clevenger, 703-425-6424. annandale-umc.org.

Fridays, 12:10 p.m.: A service of healing and Holy Eucharist. Christ Church, Georgetown, 31st and O streets NW. christchurchgeorgetown.org. 202-333-6677.

Friday, 6 to 7:30 p.m.: Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols. Readings from scripture, congregational hymns, choral anthems and instrumental music. The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith will preach. Washington National Cathedral, nave, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Passes are required. 202-537-2228. cathedral.org.

Fridays, 6:30 p.m.: Recovery ministry. Fellowship and refreshments. Twinbrook Community Church, 5906 Halpine Rd., Rockville, Md. The Rev. Aaron Howard, 301-204-5911.

Saturday, 6 p.m.: New Years Eve Concert. Works by J.S. Bach, Handel, Gershwin and a world premiere will be performed by soprano Rosa Lamoreaux, harpsichordist Ann Colgrove, pianist and organist Diane Heath, and keyboardist and St. Columbas director of music, John Hurd. St. Columbas Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle St. NW. $20 donation; students free. Tickets at the door only. columba.org. 202-363-4119.

Saturdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Food pantry. Volunteers are needed to help families in need. Teens may earn school credits. Work as often as you can: grocery shopping, stocking the pantry and setting up for Saturday. St. Johns Episcopal Church, Broad Creek, 9801 Livingston Rd., Fort Washington. 301-248-4290. Stjohns1692@verizon.net or stjohnsbroadcreek.org.

For more religion events, visit washingtonpost.com/religion. Send submissions with event name, dates, times, exact address, prices and a publishable telephone number at least one week before our Saturday publication day to Religion Events, The Washington Post, 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071; or email rpevents@washpost.com.
Paul J. Wiedefeld answers questions at a SafeTrack hearing on Dec. 2, 2016. The decision to end Metros restricted drawdown can be seen as a vote of confidence for Wiedefeld, who came into Metros top job a little over one year ago and promised financial accountability. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

After more than two years of what some called onerous restrictions, Metro is finally out of the financial penalty box with federal regulators, the Federal Transit Administration said Thursday.

In a letter sent to Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld, FTA Regional Administrator Terry Garcia Crews said the transit system had made significant progress in improving its financial controls and would be allowed to spend federal money without waiting months for reimbursements to tap more than $400 million in federal grants.

It is imperative that [Metro] continue to monitor and build on the internal controls and procedures that have improved through this process, Crews wrote.

The restrictions, put in place in 2014, were an attempt to tighten the reins on Metros financial staff after outside consultants found that the staff had practiced poor bookkeeping and awarded millions of dollars in no-bid contracts.

[March 2014: Report questions Metros handling of billions in federal funds]

After those issues came to light, the FTA mandated that Metro switch to a practice known as restricted drawdown for spending federal grant funds: Rather than automatically receiving electronic reimbursements from the federal government that would be subject to later audits, Metro would need to spend its own money first and then file paper requests for reimbursements, which would be scrutinized by FTA staff before Metro was repaid  often months later. The practice often meant that Metro would need to borrow money from outside lenders, at extra cost, to cover short-term spending needs.

The requirements were lauded by federal lawmakers who said Metro was wasting taxpayer dollars.

But the new process was also highly time-consuming for Metros budget staff, and it was costly to pay interest on millions of dollars in short-term loans. At times, there were concerns within the agency about coming up against maximum borrowing caps and incurring a cash-flow problem.

[Metro seeks $250 million loan to ease cash crunch in its capital program]

Now, the FTA says Metro has improved enough that the agencys financial staff will be allowed to discontinue the practice for all federal grants awarded after June 2015. The decision can be seen as a vote of confidence in Wiedefeld, who came into Metros top job a little over one year ago and promised financial accountability.

Todays action by FTA to remove financial restrictions on Metro demonstrates the significant progress we have made toward getting our financial house in order and ensuring full compliance with federal requirements, Wiedefeld said in a statement.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), the Districts nonvoting member of Congress, said Thursday that she was relieved to see that the burdensome restrictions are now being lifted  a move she has requested for months.

FTAs diligent financial monitoring of [the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority] was essential to get the agency into acceptable financial standing with sound budget and financial controls. This exercise has been a costly lesson for WMATA, Norton said.

Of late, she said, the practice has been doing more harm than good.

Because the resulting costs will ultimately fall to the public, Norton added, the last thing financially ailing WMATA needs is the long time it has taken FTA to do its review.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) called the announcement a milestone for Metro.

It demonstrates to regional, state, and Federal stakeholders that WMATA is getting its fiscal house in order, Beyer said in a statement. This will assure those stakeholders that financial controls are in place and that investments in the system will be properly managed going forward.

Numerous challenges still confront WMATA, Beyer added, but this is a big step in the right direction.

Michael Goldman, chairman of the finance committee on Metros board of directors, said he was also pleased at the announcement  for what it says about Metros improved financial standing at the FTA and also because of concerns about what would happen if the reimbursement restrictions continued through January.

Under a new presidential administration, Goldman said, it would probably have taken many more months before newly minted agency officials would have gotten around to addressing the issue.

If this were to carry over into the new administration, theres no telling what kind of timeline there wouldve been, Goldman said. Its nice to have that uncertainty lifted.

Even so, the FTA warned in its letter that the agency will continue to scrutinize Metro and watch for backsliding into old practices. Goldman said he is hopeful that a relapse wont occur.

I think this has been a wake-up call over the last two years, Goldman said. I think that, going forward, we have a good deal of confidence in these individuals and in these systems.

[IGs report: FTA must tighten monitoring of troubled transit agencies]
Horse lovers and politicians have come up with a plan to bring more business to Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia  but it involves passengers of the four-legged, not two-legged, variety.

They want an animal quarantine center built at the airport. They say Dulles proximity to Loudoun and Fauquier counties, where all things equestrian are big business, make it an ideal location to house horses and other animals that must be quarantined and tested before they can be released to stay or compete in the United States.

The idea is more than just talk. Economic development officials in both counties have spent $60,000 for a feasibility study. The study isnt expected to be completed until late January, but Miles Friedman, Fauquiers economic development director, said preliminary results are promising.

Equine activities are big business in Loudoun, home to more horses than any other county in Virginia.

The horse business in Virginia is huge, said Keith W. Meurlin, president of the Washington Airports Task Force, a nonprofit group focused on supporting the regions airports, and a key backer of the quarantine center.

Great Meadow, an event center in Fauquier County, for example, hosts the Virginia Gold Cup and the International Gold Cup, steeplechase races that are among the biggest outdoor social events in the state. The Upperville Colt and Horse Show is the oldest such show in America.

Kellie Hinkle, Loudoun Countys agricultural development officer, said a 2015 study by the University of Virginia found that Loudouns $180 million equine industry supports 27,000 jobs. According to that study, 14,452 horses reside in Loudoun.

The key is location, Hinkle said, adding that Dulles has available land. And it fits with the desire to increase cargo at Dulles. 

If built, the facility would be the third of its kind on the East Coast. The others are in New York and Miami, which backers of the Dulles plan said can mean a lengthy drive for animal owners or competitors headed to Mid-Atlantic venues.

Its really stressful on investment-quality horses to have to go through an eight- or nine-hour flight, two or three days in quarantine and hours on a trailer trying to get out of [New York], said Rob Banner, president of the Great Meadow Foundation, in The Plains, Va.

[Dulles Airport struggles to find its footing]

Banner, a proponent of the plan for Dulles, said a facility would boost the regions profile and could help it attract more international attention.

Its the missing piece for us to be able to take the competition circuit to the next level, he said. Should the region make another bid for the Summer Olympic Games, having such a facility in the area could be a major selling point, he added.

Fauquiers Friedman said the value goes beyond Virginia.

Its a niche that Dulles is ideal for, because when you consider it, you have not just two counties, but you also have a thriving horse industry in Maryland. Theres North Carolina, as well, and then as you move into the interior  even Kentucky. Dulles is going to be a lot closer than New York.

Officials with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which manages Dulles and Reagan National airports, have just begun envisioning possibilities for what to build on a 425-acre parcel dubbed the Western Lands. In 2015, MWAA announced it would accept unsolicited bids for what to build on the property. Its not clear whether it has have received any. The land is on the western end of the airport along Route 606.

In 2012, MWAA negotiated changes in its lease with the federal government allowing for a broader array of commercial activities on airport-controlled property, which includes land near the Metros Silver Line. Previously, development had to be for airport purposes only.

MWAA spokesman Rob Yingling said officials are open to the idea of an animal quarantine facility, but he emphasized that the plans are in the very early stages

Were aware of the proposal, Yingling said. Long term, we are looking for land uses that are compatible with the airport.

Supporters say the facility could be a good match for the airport, which has struggled to increase its cargo traffic.

And unlike National, where there is little room for expansion, there is plenty of room to grow at Dulles. The plan would also dovetail well with MWAAs efforts to generate more money from non-aeronautical activities.

[Could a new roadway boost cargo operations at Dulles?]

Yingling said that next spring, MWAAs board of directors is expected to be briefed on a plan to market the Western Lands for development.

Such a deal could be lucrative. Early next year, the ARK, which is billed as the worlds first privately owned animal handling and cargo facility and quarantine center, will open at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport on a parcel of land that had been vacant for almost a decade. The $48 million project is expected to create 150 jobs and generate $108 million in rent for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the airport.

The ARK is expected to handle 70,000 domestic and wild animals annually.

Developers of that facility said they have been contacted about the possibility of developing a similar center at Dulles, but they say conversations are very preliminary.

Hinkle noted that the project wouldnt happen overnight. In the best of scenarios, it could take 2 years for it to be completed.

Still, she is enthusiastic about the concept.

Said Hinkle: We think it makes sense.
An Advanced X1 drone is shown in front of flight specialists during a demonstration of Propel Star Wars Battle Quads drones in San Francisco last month. (Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

Still looking for that perfect Christmas gift? Its not too late to buy a drone, the gift that 1 in 5 people say theyd like to receive and that 1.2 million of them are going to find under the tree.

A drone is now one of the most sought-after gifts. And the Federal Aviation Administration, which refers to them as unmanned aircraft systems, would like anyone who receives a drone to know that they have to be registered before they take to the air.

The FAA says twice as many drones will be sold in 2016 as in the previous year, numbering 2.5 million. The Consumer Technology Association says sales during the Christmas season will more than double over last year.

Theres growing awareness of drones and their capabilities, a recent survey by Saint Leo University shows, and people are somewhat less worried about them than they were a year ago, although almost 66 percent of those polled said they remained concerned about them.

For the most part, those who worried said they feared a drone might collide with an airplane or peer into their bedroom window.

Overwhelmingly, people surveyed say they support use of drones by the military, with almost 70 percent saying they are a good alternative to deploying ground troops in troubled areas.

Between 20,000 and 25,000 Islamic State militants have been killed by drone attacks in Iraq and Syria, according to military sources. There have been more than 20,000 military drone strikes in the past year in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria.

There also was strong support for drone use by local police departments.

Reaction was mixed when people were asked whether they would be open to receiving deliveries by drone from such companies as Amazon or WalMart.

More than a third said they would, while almost half said they wouldnt and 15 percent said they were uncertain about the concept that those companies and many others were working to achieve. (Amazon CEO Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

About an equal number of people thought their communities should ban drones as thought they should be allowed to fly.

You cant want to ban them, and also want to fly them or have them deliver packages, said Leo Ondrovic, a member of the Saint Leo science department.

Ondrovic said the survey found that almost 22 percent of people expressed interest in owning one and that 88 percent of those people said it simply looked like a fun hobby.

Worth noting before you rush out to buy someone a drone gift, the survey found that 9.7 of the people interviewed said they planned to purchase one this holiday season.
(Lee Powell/The Washington Post)

UNNATURAL CAUSES | SICK AND DYING IN SMALL-TOWN AMERICA: Since the turn of this century, death rates have risen for whites in midlife, particularly women. In this series, The Washington Post is exploring this trend and the forces driving it.

The ads started popping up about a decade ago on social media. Instead of selling alcohol with sex and romance, these ads had an edgier theme: Harried mothers chugging wine to cope with everyday stress. Women embracing quart-sized bottles of whiskey, and bellying up to bars to knock back vodka shots with men.

In this new strain of advertising, womens liberation equaled heavy drinking, and alcohol researchers say it both heralded and promoted a profound cultural shift: Women in America are drinking far more, and far more frequently, than their mothers or grandmothers did, and alcohol consumption is killing them in record numbers.





White women are particularly likely to drink dangerously, with more than a quarter drinking multiple times a week and the share of binge drinking up 40 percent since 1997, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal health data. In 2013, more than a million women of all races wound up in emergency rooms as a result of heavy drinking, with women in middle age most likely to suffer severe intoxication.

This behavior has contributed to a startling increase in early mortality. The rate of alcohol-related deaths for white women ages 35 to 54 has more than doubled since 1999, according to The Post analysis, accounting for 8 percent of deaths in this age group in 2015.





It is a looming health crisis, said Katherine M. Keyes, an alcohol researcher at Columbia University.

Although federal health officials and independent researchers are increasingly convinced that even moderate drinking poses health risks, American women are still receiving mixed messages. Parts of the federal government continue to advance the idea that moderate drinking may be good for you. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a division of the National Institutes of Health, is overseeing a new $100 million study, largely funded by the alcohol industry, that seeks to test the possible health benefits of moderate drinking.

Meanwhile, many ads for alcohol  particularly on social media  appear to promote excessive drinking, which is universally recognized as potentially deadly. These ads also appear to violate the industrys code of ethics, according to a Post analysis of alcohol marketing.

For example, when girl-power heroine Amy Schumer guzzled Bandit boxed wine in the movie Trainwreck, Bandits producer, Trinchero Family Estates, promoted the scene on social media. Young women responded with photos of themselves chugging Bandit. Within months, Trinchero said, sales of boxed wines  sometimes called binge in a box  jumped 22 percent.

We saw it first with tobacco, marketing it to women as their right to smoke. Then we saw lung cancer deaths surpass deaths from breast cancer, said Rear Adm. Susan Blumenthal, a former U.S. assistant surgeon general and an expert on womens health issues. Now its happening with alcohol, and its become an equal rights tragedy.

Alcohol marketing is regulated primarily by industry trade groups, but dozens of studies have found lapses in their record of enforcing the rules. As a result, an international group of public health experts convened by the World Health Organizations regional office in Washington, D.C., plans to call in January for governments worldwide to consider legislation similar to laws adopted a decade ago to sharply curtail tobacco advertising.

The industrys system of self-regulation is broken, said Thomas F. Babor, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine who is aiding the effort. The alternatives are clear: Either you have to take their system and put it into independent hands, or you have to go with a partial or full legal ban on alcohol marketing.

[Nine charts that show how white women are drinking themselves to death]

Officials with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), one of the largest U.S. trade groups, defend their record of oversight, saying it has received high marks from federal regulators.

The Councils Code of Responsible Practices sets more stringent standards than those mandated by law or regulation, or that might be imposed by government due to First Amendment constraints, council Senior Vice President Frank Coleman said.

DISCUS tells members that ads should not in any way suggest that intoxication is socially acceptable conduct. The Beer Institute tells members that their marketing materials should not depict situations where beer is being consumed rapidly, excessively. And the Wine Institute prohibits ads that make any suggestion that excessive drinking or loss of control is amusing or a proper subject for amusement or that directly associate use of wine with social, physical or personal problem solving.

But these rules appear regularly to be flouted, particularly on alcohol companies websites and social-media feeds, which are soaking up a growing share of the more than $2 billion the industry is expected to spend on advertising this year. And the trade groups acknowledge that they do not investigate or act on possible violations unless they receive a formal complaint.



A woman samples a bottle of wine at a festival in Raleigh, N.C. Companies are gearing promotions to target women, with much of the edgiest marketing appearing on social media. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)

Normalizing drinking

Some of the edgiest ads appear on social media  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram  where they can be narrowly targeted toward the inboxes of the most eager consumers.

They can be very specific, Facebook spokeswoman Annie Demarest said. The ads could go to married women ages 21 to 60 who read about wine and leisure. They can also target the ads based on location, interests, demographics, behaviors and connections.

Jokes about becoming inebriated are common. One Twitter ad features a woman with a bottle the size of a refrigerator tilted toward her lips. Its contents: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

Women also are frequently shown drinking to cope with daily stress. In one image that appeared on a company website, two white women wearing prim, narrow-brimmed hats, button earrings and wash-and-set hair confer side by side. How much do you spend on a bottle of wine? one asks. The other answers, I would guess about half an hour . . .  At the bottom is the name of the wine: Mommys Time Out.

Another ad on a company website features a white woman wearing pearls and an apron. The most expensive part of having kids is all the wine you have to drink, it says above the name of the wine: Mad Housewife.

This spring, Mad Housewife offered a Mothers Day promotion: a six-pack of wine called Mommys Little Helper.



Mommys Time Out and Mad Housewife are two wines that are marketed toward women. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)

The trend extends to wine-related housewares. A flask promoted on the Mad Housewife site features two women from the Mad Men era asking, Who is this Moderation were supposed to be drinking with?

An ad on the Etsy marketplace website promotes a stemmed glass big enough to hold an entire bottle of wine with the line: She will be telling the truth when she says I only had 1 glass.  And Urban Outfitters  a retailer that markets to 18- to 28-year-olds  stocks whole-bottle wine glasses that say: Drink until your dreams come true and This is how you adult. Urban Outfitters did not respond to calls and emailed messages.

Alcohol marketing experts see a feedback loop between alcohol advertising and popular culture. They cite Trincheros repurposing of Schumers scene in Trainwreck as a prominent example.

The rise in hazardous drinking among women is not all due to the ads. But the ads have played a role in creating a cultural climate that says its funny when women drink heavily, said Jean Kilbourne, who has produced several films and books about alcohol marketing to women. Most importantly, theyve played a role in normalizing it.

Multiple experts on alcohol marketing said Trincheros use of the scene to promote its wine violated industry standards.

Wendy Nyberg, Trincheros marketing vice president, defended the companys behavior, saying Trinchero officials had no role in the production of Trainwreck and no control over how their wine was portrayed. Its easier when you control the messaging, she said, adding: We have to promote moderation in everything that we do. We stick to the code of ethics.

The owner of Mommys Time Out did not respond to requests for comment, and marketing promotions sent to the company for a response have been removed from the companys public Facebook page.

Damian Davis, the owner of the Seattle-based Rainier Wine, which produces Mad Housewife, said he does not think his ads crossed a line.

We treat wine like a lifestyle product. I grew up in a big Catholic family, and having it with dinner was a way of life, Davis said. I certainly dont encourage binge drinking. It certainly is a drug, and it can be dangerous.

Even responsible drinking campaigns can send conflicting messages. A Facebook ad for Smirnoff Ice  ranked among the five most popular beverages by young female drinkers  shows a stack of caps from four pint-size bottles. The tagline: Know Your Limit.





Thats binge drinking, said David Jernigan, who runs the Center for Alcohol Marketing and Youth at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Jernigan, who advocates limits on alcohol marketing and has come under frequent attack from the alcohol industry, uses the Smirnoff ad in a presentation he calls Virginia Slims in a Bottle.

Not only is that not responsible drinking, he said. Thats hazardous drinking.

In a statement, Diageo, the maker of Smirnoff Ice, defended the ad, saying that by saving the bottle caps, you keep track of how much you have had. Each individual has their own individual limits and for each individual these limits can vary based on time period of consumption, food intake and many other factors.

Officials with Fireball Whisky declined to comment.

No gender equity

As it happens, drinking can be especially hazardous for women.

Women tend to have smaller bodies than men, and differences in physiology that make blood-alcohol levels climb faster and stay elevated longer. Some studies have found that women have lower levels of the stomach enzymes needed to process the toxins in alcoholic beverages.

As a result, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women are more prone to suffer brain atrophy, heart disease and liver damage. Even if a woman stops drinking, liver disease continues to progress in ways it does not in men, said Gyongyi Szabo, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. And research definitively shows that women who drink have an increased risk of breast cancer.

There is no gender equity when it comes to the effects of alcohol on men versus women, Szabo said. Females are more susceptible to the unwanted biological effects of alcohol when they consume the same amount of alcohol and at the same frequency  even when you adjust for weight.

Many women dont know this  nor do they understand what constitutes excessive drinking, said Robert D. Brewer, leader of the CDCs alcohol program. For women in the United States, anything more than one drink a day is considered excessive. Thats one ounce of distilled spirits, 12 ounces of beer or five ounces of wine.

Four drinks consumed within two hours is considered binge drinking. Thats about two-thirds of a bottle of wine.

Most people do not understand what binge drinking looks like, and they dont yet recognize how dangerous it is, Brewer said. Smoking, eating unhealthy foods, not exercising  people get what that can do to your health. But we are in a way different stage with binge drinking.



Women sample and drink wine at a festival in Raleigh, N.C. Women consume the majority of wine in the United States. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)

The alcohol industry and some government agencies continue to promote the idea that moderate drinking provides some health benefits. But new research is beginning to call even that long-standing claim into question.

This year, Jennie Connor, a professor at the University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine in New Zealand, published a paper that found strong evidence that drinking as little as two servings of alcohol a day can cause cancer at seven sites in the body  mostly in areas where human cells come in direct contact with alcohol. Connors research included a survey of dozens of studies of the issue by prominent organizations, including the World Cancer Research Fund, the American Institute for Cancer Research and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

In an earlier paper examining alcohol and cancer in the New Zealand population, Connor found that about a third of alcohol-related cancer deaths among women were associated with less than two standard drinks per day.

About the time this work was appearing, DISCUS chief scientist Samir Zakhari produced research casting doubt on its validity.

Zakhari also wrote an opinion piece directly attacking Connors study, using earlier research to dispute her findings.

Connor fired back at Zakhari in an op-ed published in a New Zealand newspaper, noting that Zakhari relied on  and misrepresented  her own earlier research. The author cites Health Promotion Agency research showing how wrong I am, she wrote. If he had opened the report, he would have discovered that I wrote it.

Zakhari scheduled and then canceled an interview with The Post to discuss his criticism of Connor and other alcohol researchers.

I occasionally write op-eds or letters to the editor, most often in response to news coverage that contains flawed science, he ultimately said in a statement.

The CDCs Brewer, however, said that Connors research  and other recent work highlighting the health risks of drinking  is persuasive.

The current and emerging science does not support the purported benefits of moderate drinking, Brewer said. The risk of death from cancer appears to go up with any level of alcohol consumption.

The guidelines talk about low-risk consumption, but there is no such thing.

Julie Tate contributed to this report.
Jung, who was at the centre of the bitter Centre-Arvind Kejriwal standoff, quit on Thursday citing no reason and saying he would return to "his first love, academics".

By Karan Thapar: A day after he resigned, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung today said he offered to quit at least twice in the past, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped him.

"In 2014, when PM Modi was sworn in, I met him and requested him that since I was a Congress appointee, I would like to resign. PM said no, please continue," he told India Today TV's Karan Thapar.

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The 65-year-old former bureaucrat said he had also offered again to resign earlier this year.

"This July when I finished three years in office, I called the PM again to congratulate and expressed my desire to leave. PM again asked me to continue," Jung said.

"Two days back, I spoke to the PM and expressed my desire yet again. This time PM told me to go ahead. I resigned within a few hours," he said.

Jung met Modi today, but what transpired between the two was not immediately clear. Informed sources said Jung briefed Modi about the reasons behind his resignation.

Jung, who was at the centre of the bitter Centre-Arvind Kejriwal standoff, quit on Thursday citing no reason. He said he would return to "his first love, which is academics".

JUNG WITH KEJRIWAL

Earlier today, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.

The Delhi Chief Minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for breakfast, a meeting that came a day after Jung's sudden resignation from his post.

Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter-sweet times and spent some light moments. Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons."

Though publicly Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions, both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at personal level.

Also Read:

This ex-bureaucrat may replace Najeeb Jung as Delhi L-G. Here's why

Jung appreciates Kejriwal, says they share good personal rapport

Govt in no hurry to pick Najeeb Jung's replacement, yet to accept his resignation Najeeb Jung acting like Hitler, Modi won't make a Muslim India's Vice-President: Arvind Kejriwal

--- ENDS ---
Piers Sellers, a British-born climate scientist for NASA who remained optimistic about the fate of the Earth despite the grim climate change models he oversaw and who gained American citizenship to fulfill a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, died Dec. 23 in Houston. He was 61.

The death was confirmed in a statement by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Dr. Sellers, who had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in October 2015, went public with his diagnosis in a New York Times column in January 2016. He wrote that while he had hoped he would see solutions to the problem of climate change in his lifetime, he was devoted to continuing his climate research until he died.

There is no convincing, demonstrated reason to believe that our evolving future will be worse than our present, assuming careful management of the challenges and risks, he wrote, sounding a note of optimism despite increasingly drastic changes in the global temperature and precipitation patterns that he studied. History is replete with examples of us humans getting out of tight spots.

Dr. Sellers had worked on global climate problems from 1982 to 1996 at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and at the University of Maryland at College Park. He wrote more than 70 papers, using computer models to delve into the relationship between the biosphere  the region of the Earth inhabited by humans and other organisms  and the atmosphere. He was also a lead scientist for Terra, a NASA satellite launched in 1998 that monitors the state of the Earths climate and environment.

All the while, he applied to become a NASA astronaut.

Astronaut Piers Sellers. (NASA)

The corps is open only to U.S. citizens, but Dr. Sellers said he wanted, at the very least, to keep his name before the astronaut selection board. He acquired dual citizenship in 1991, and five years later became part of NASAs largest astronaut training group. The class of 44 so cramped NASAs training facilities it was humorously nicknamed the Sardines.

In three space flights from 2002 to 2010, Dr. Sellers logged 35 days in space, including 41 hours in six spacewalks. Some lasted as long as seven hours, including a walk in 2006 during which Dr. Sellers tested new emergency repair techniques and materials using caulk guns, putty knives and his favorite spatula from home, according to the Times.

The best practice for this is to have an old house in Houston, he joked during the mission. Later in the walk, he lost his spatula, which mission control spotted drifting away from the shuttle and tracked, unconcerned by any possible kitchen-utensil collisions, by radar.

Dr. Sellers returned to the Goddard center in 2011, overseeing scientists researching climate and weather  including the causes and effects of climate change  as deputy director of the centers sciences and exploration directorate and as acting director of its Earth sciences division.

He made a point of using his experiences as an astronaut to further peoples awareness of climate issues.

Asked what it was like going into space, he told a United Nations interviewer in 2011 that even as a climate scientist, he was surprised to see how thin the atmosphere was. That really brought home to me how easily mankind can affect its own environment. The stuff we breathe, theres not much of it. Its a very thin atmosphere. We better pay attention.

Piers John Sellers was born in Crowborough, a town in the south of England, on April 11, 1955. The son of a British army officer, he was raised on military posts around the world.

1 of 66 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  The 63 most notable deaths of 2016 View Photos Prince, David Bowie, Harper Lee and others: Remembering those who have died this year. Caption Prince, David Bowie, Debbie Reynolds, Harper Lee and others: Remembering those who have died this year. Debbie Reynolds Actress Debbie Reynolds starred in the 1952 classic movie Singin in the Rain with Gene Kelly, shown above. Reynolds died one day after the death of her daughter, actress-writer Carrie Fisher. Reynolds was 84. Shes now with Carrie and were all heartbroken, her son Todd Fisher said. Read the Debbie Reynolds obituary AFP/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

England has no manned space travel program. (The first official British astronaut, Tim Peake, flew as part of the European Space Agency in December 2015.)

Dr. Sellers said he dreamed of going into space ever since he saw images of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbiting the Earth in 1961 and U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon in 1969.

Through a British air force cadet program, Dr. Sellers learned to fly gliders before he could drive. He received a bachelors degree in ecological science from the University of Edinburgh in 1976 and a doctorate in biometeorology from the University of Leeds in 1981. He moved to the United States one year later, starting work at Goddard as a research meteorologist.

His marriage to the former Amanda Lomas ended in divorce. Survivors include two children from his marriage, Imogen Shelton of Austin and Thomas Sellers of Houston; his mother, Lindsay Sellers of Guildford, England; four brothers; and a grandson.

Dr. Sellers became just the third Briton to go into space when he flew on the shuttle Atlantis in 2002, carrying out three spacewalks as part of the assembly of the International Space Station. Three months later, the shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry, killing all seven astronauts on board, including three with whom Dr. Sellers had trained.

His 2006 mission on Discovery was partly designed to test safety measures that would prevent similar accidents. His final flight, on Atlantis in 2010, delivered a new module to the International Space Station.

Months later, Dr. Sellers was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to science. He proclaimed himself gobsmacked.

Ive no regrets, he wrote in the Times in January. As an astronaut I spacewalked 220 miles above the Earth. Floating alongside the International Space Station, I watched hurricanes cartwheel across oceans, the Amazon snake its way to the sea through a brilliant green carpet of forest, and gigantic nighttime thunderstorms flash and flare for hundreds of miles along the Equator. From this Gods-eye-view, I saw how fragile and infinitely precious the Earth is. Im hopeful for its future.

Ever loyal to his profession as a scientist, he concluded: And so, Im going to work tomorrow.
Ex-bureaucrat Anil Baijal, who served as the Union Home Secretary in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, is said to be leading the race.

By India Today Web Desk: Najeeb Jung surprised many with his sudden move to step down from Delhi Lieutenant Governor's post on Thursday (December 22). While top government officials claimed they had no inkling that Jung was planning his resignation, questions are being asked whether the former bureaucrat quit on his own or there was a soft signal from the government regarding it.

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Sources in the government said that Jung's resignation is yet to be accepted. Meanwhile, Jung met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Details of the meeting are yet to be known.

Moments after the news of his resignation flashed, Jung, in an exclusive telephonic chat with India Today said denied him being in the race for Vice-President's chair.

ALSO READ: Najeeb Jung acting like Hitler, Modi won't make a Muslim India's Vice-President: Arvind Kejriwal

"No, I am not in the race. I intend to spend time in academic works and writing. I am looking at university in both America and Singapore. I also have a house in Goa where I intend to move," Jung said.

"I believe I have served Delhi and done my job and now I want to spend more time with family," he added.

Sources say the government is already out head hunting for candidates to replace Jung and ex-bureaucrat Anil Baijal, who served as the Union Home Secretary in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, is said to be leading the race.

Baijal, whose name was also being considered for Jammu & Kashmir Governor post, had been a member of the executive council of the Vivekananda International Foundation. Interestingly, many of this Delhi-based think-tank were elevated to top positions in the Modi government. Prominent among those are National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Nripendra Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM Modi.

ALSO READ: Jung appreciates Kejriwal, says they share good personal rapport

Names of former Delhi Police chief BS Bassi and ex-IPS officer and the current Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi are also doing rounds for the top post.

Some media reports are also speculating over BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's name.

LATEST UPDATES:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Najeeb Jung early today over breakfast. "He told me that he is resigning due to personal reasons," Kejriwal said after his meeting.

"Khatta meetha to chalta rahta hai life mein (Life is a bittersweet experience," Kejriwal to reporters last night while expressing surprise over Jung's sudden move.

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"Lt Governor Shri Najeeb Jung has submitted his resignation to the Government of India. He thanks the Hon'ble Prime Minister for all the help and cooperation he received during his tenure as the Lt. Governor of Delhi," a press release issued by Jung's office said.

"Shri Jung also thanks the people of Delhi for all their support and affection, especially during the one year's President Rule in Delhi, when he got unstinted support from them and which in turn helped run the administration in Delhi smoothly and effortlessly. He also thanks the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi for his association in the last two years," the statement said.

JUNG'S JUNG WITH AAP

In its power tussle with the Centre, Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had called Jung an agent of the BJP, which rules at the Centre.

Earlier this year, in a severe setback to the AAP, the Delhi High Court recognised the Lt Governor as the administrative head of the Delhi government.

This prompted 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".

--- ENDS ---

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Trump lieutenant Newt Gingrich this week proposed an elegant solution for all the conflicts of interest swirling around the president-elect and his team of billionaires: Ignore the law.

President-elect Donald Trump, Gingrich said, should let those in his administration do as they wish with their personal fortunes and business interests and pardon them if they are found to have violated laws against using public office for personal enrichment. He could simply say, Look, I want them to be my advisers, I pardon them if anybody finds them to have behaved against the rules, period, Gingrich said on NPRs The Diane Rehm Show on Monday.

Drain the Swamp is so October.

In another NPR interview on Wednesday, Gingrich said Trumps swamp campaign theme had been relegated to the marshlands of history, asserting that he now says it was cute, but he doesnt want to use it anymore.

Trump, in a subsequent tweet, said he will continue to use the phrase. But former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who just announced hes setting up a consulting firm that will profit from his proximity to the new president, told Fox News on Thursday that drain the swamp is probably somewhere down at the bottom of Trumps to-do list.

Clearly. The Trumps recently proposed to auction off access to Ivanka Trump (bidding had exceeded $72,000 in charitable contributions for coffee with the presidential daughter), and they just distanced themselves from another scheme to auction access to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump ($500,000 for a hunting trip) and the incoming president ($1 million for a private reception).

The General Services Administration has said Trump will be in violation of his lease agreement for the Trump International Hotel in Washington because the contract prohibits any U.S. elected official from participating in or benefiting from the lease. Trump needs to decide whether to try to oust the head of the IRS, which he says is auditing him. (The Trump Foundation recently admitted to the IRS that it violated federal rules against self-dealing.)

Then theres the minor matter of the Constitution and its obscurely named emoluments clause, which forbids the receipt by a U.S. official of funds or gifts from foreign governments. Trump has ties to hundreds of companies doing business in a score of foreign countries.

Trump could avoid this constitutional problem and other law-breaking by divesting himself of his business holdings, but he so far has announced no specific action. The billionaires and business leaders he has named to top posts present more conflicts and are subject to additional ethics laws.

Those laws arent a problem if the Trump administration follows the Gingrich plan of breaking them. But before the GOP was the Party of Donald Trump, it was the Party of Abraham Lincoln, who as a young lawyer in Illinois in 1838 warned that disregard for laws would leave the United States vulnerable to its own Caesar or Napoleon.

I know the American people are much attached to their government, Lincoln said then. Yet, notwithstanding all this, if the laws be continually despised and disregarded . . . the alienation of their affections from the government is the natural consequence.

(Alice Li/The Washington Post)

Lincoln warned that the loss of the political religion of the rule of law would leave the country defenseless when an ambitious leader felt unconstrained by the founders framework and tried to create his own. Is it unreasonable then to expect, that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time, spring up among us? Lincoln asked. And when such a one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs.

We have largely lost this attachment already. Just this week, a Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll found that only 22 percent of Americans have confidence in the federal government.

Both parties contributed to the impression that public figures violate the laws they are meant to enforce. President Obama, continuing the practice of previous administrations, tested the boundaries of presidential power with his many executive orders and actions, particularly on immigration and health care. Bill Clinton made false statements under oath. Hillary Clinton, though undeserving of the lock her up! and crooked Hillary treatment, was careless with classified information and casual about transparency laws, and she often gave the impression that donors to her campaign and foundation were paying for access.

But this is an order of magnitude worse: an incoming president directly at odds with the Constitution, many of his top aides flouting federal laws against self-dealing  and a key adviser proposing brazen law-breaking. Where is Lincolns political religion when we need it?

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
THIS YEAR saw another steady rollback of democracy around the globe. The lights go out when no one is looking: An editor is jailed, an election is postponed, a bookseller or lawyer disappears. Right now, two leaders in Africa are clinging to power, hoping to resist the forces of democracy. They must not be allowed to succeed.

In Congo, Dec. 19 was supposed to be the last day in office for President Joseph Kabila, who is prohibited by the constitution from a third term. He failed to organize a new election, did not step down and reportedly is increasingly isolated in the capital, Kinshasha, staying up late with his Sony PlayStation 4 and pondering how to protect the wealth he and his family have accumulated.

A Bloomberg News investigation published Dec. 15 shows the Kabilas have built a business network reaching into every nook of Congos economy, reaping hundreds of millions of dollars. The New York Times reports that Mr. Kabila likes to sport an expensive Rolex and Patek Philippe watch on each wrist and sometimes races fancy motorcyles around the city at night to blow off steam. Not since independence from Belgium in 1960 has the country had a peaceful, democratic transition of power, and Mr. Kabila does not look to be changing that.

At the same time, Congo is drifting toward an explosion. The nation is vast and only loosely controlled by security forces and armed militias. Opposition forces have been growing ever more restive under Mr. Kabilas boot. According to Human Rights Watch, over the past two years, the authorities in Congo have arbitrarily arrested scores of activists and opposition leaders, holding some incommunicado and mistreating or torturing them, while trying others on trumped-up charges. Mr. Kabila named a new cabinet this week, but opposition street protests are intensifying, and security forces killed at least 26 demonstrators on Tuesday .

Separately, in Gambia, the smallest nation on the continent, President Yahya Jammeh, who has been in power for 22 years, clings to office. He was defeated in Dec. 1 elections by opposition leader Adama Barrow, and his initial decision to step down and accede to the will of the voters offered a rare glimmer of hope. But it didnt last. On Dec. 9, Mr. Jammeh changed his mind and called for a new vote, refusing to budge.

There is only one nation that has overwhelming influence as a beacon for democracy, the United States. But it has not always spoken out as strongly as it should against strongmen in Africa. Clearly, Mr. Kabila and Mr. Jammeh are calculating that they can hang on, even if they destroy democracy in their countries. Perhaps they know President-elect Donald Trump has shown little interest in the topic. Sad, as Mr. Trump likes to say, because if the flame of freedom doesnt burn brightly from the United States, then next year the path for democracy will be darker for millions of people elsewhere.
The Dec. 19 editorial The SBA needs reforming seemed to support the idea of consolidating the Small Business Administration (and five other agencies) into one gargantuan department. The idea seems to be that hiding the SBA within the web of a much larger bureaucracy would enable small businesses to navigate the dizzying array of programs supposedly designed to help them. The logic of that conclusion continues to elude us.

But beyond the agencys place on the federal organizational chart, the editorial also questioned whether the SBAs loan programs have a substantive reason for being, even though the editorial acknowledged the argument that traditional small-business lending has suffered from a market failure that argues for government intervention. Credit scoring has not miraculously solved the difficulties small businesses encounter in the credit markets. In fact, the fixed costs of bank oversight and regulatory burden for smaller community banks have made smaller loans less and less profitable, further exacerbating the historic problems in the small-business credit markets.

Finally, the main SBA-guaranteed loan program doesnt cost the taxpayers a penny; it is funded entirely by fees paid by lenders and borrowers. As such, its elimination would represent an odd starting point for a streamlining of federal excess or corporate welfare.

Todd O. McCracken, Washington

The writer is president of the

National Small Business Association.
A Syrian man makes his way through the rubble of destroyed buildings in Aleppo on Dec. 17. (Youssef Karwashan/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

The fall of Aleppo just weeks before Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obamas abdication. For which he seems to have few regrets, however. In his end-of-year news conference, Obama defended U.S. inaction with his familiar false choice: It was either stand aside or order a massive Iraq-style ground invasion.

This is a transparent fiction designed to stifle debate. At the beginning of the civil war, the popular uprising was ascendant. What kept a rough equilibrium was regime control of the skies. At that point, the United States, at little risk and cost, could have declared Syria a no-fly zone, much as it did Iraqi Kurdistan for a dozen years after the Gulf War of 1991.

The U.S. could easily have destroyed the regimes planes and helicopters on the ground and so cratered its airfields as to make them unusable. That would have altered the strategic equation for the rest of the war.

And would have deterred the Russians from injecting their own air force  they would have had to challenge ours for air superiority. Facing no U.S. deterrent, Russia stepped in and decisively altered the balance, pounding the rebels in Aleppo to oblivion. The Russians were particularly adept at hitting hospitals and other civilian targets, leaving the rebels with the choice between annihilation and surrender.

They surrendered.

Obama has never appreciated that the role of a superpower in a local conflict is not necessarily to intervene on the ground, but to deter a rival global power from stepping in and altering the course of the war. Thats what we did during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Moscow threatened to send troops to support Egypt and President Nixon countered by raising Americas nuclear alert status to Defcon 3. Russia stood down.

Less dramatically but just as effectively, American threats of retaliation are what kept West Germany, South Korea and Taiwan free and independent through half a century of Cold War.

Its called deterrence. Yet Obama never had the credibility to deter anything or anyone. In the end, the worlds greatest power was reduced to bitter speeches at the United Nations. Are you truly incapable of shame? thundered U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power at the butchers of Aleppo. As if we dont know the answer. Indeed the shame is on us for terminal naivete, sending our secretary of state chasing the Russians to negotiate one humiliating pretend cease-fire after another.

Even now, however, the Syria debate is not encouraging. The tone is anguished and emotional, portrayed exclusively in moral terms. Much less appreciated is the cold strategic cost.

Assad was never a friend. But today hes not even a free agent. Hes been effectively restored to his throne, but as the puppet of Iran and Russia. Syria is now a platform, a forward base, from which both these revisionist regimes can project power in the region.

Iran will use Syria to advance its drive to dominate the Arab Middle East. Russia will use its naval and air bases to bully the Sunni Arab states, and to shut out American influence.

Its already happening. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey convened in Moscow this week to begin settling the fate of Syria. Notice who wasnt there. For the first time in four decades, the United States, the once dominant power in the region, is an irrelevance.

With Aleppo gone and the rebels scattered, we have a long road ahead to rebuild the influence squandered over the past eight years. President-elect Donald Trump is talking about creating safe zones. He should tread carefully. It does no good to try to do now what we should have done five years ago. Conditions are much worse. Russia and Iran rule. Maintaining the safety of safe zones will be expensive and dangerous. It will require extensive ground deployments, and it risks military confrontation with Russia.

And why? Guilty conscience is not a good reason. Interventions that are purely humanitarian  from Somalia to Libya  tend to end badly. We may proclaim a responsibility to protect, but when no American interests are at stake, the engagement becomes impossible to sustain. At the first losses, we go home.

In Aleppo, the damage is done, the city destroyed, the inhabitants ethnically cleansed. For us, there is no post-facto option. If we are to regain the honor lost in Aleppo, it will have to be on a very different battlefield.

Read more from Charles Krauthammers archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, represents Arizonas 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As a combat veteran of the Marine Corps and a longtime admirer of Gen. James N. Mattis, I was sad to annouce this month that I could not in good conscience support granting him a waiver to serve as our 26th secretary of defense.

I explained that my decision was motivated not by political considerations but by concern for the enduring American principle of civilian control of the military. I lauded Mattiss eminent qualifications and leadership skills while affirming that this central tenent of our democracy should matter more than any single individual.

What happened next was revealing.

Despite my considered words, I got an earful from Marines across the country, including men I served alongside in Iraq. They called and wrote letters. They tweeted and texted. In some colorful language that I cant repeat in this space, they questioned my loyalty to the Marine Corps and to our country.

Paradoxically, their passionate defense of Mattis and their anger toward me confirmed my reservations about his appointment. For me, the reaction immediately verified the wisdom of Congress in establishing a cooling-off period for former military leaders. The anger that my stance elicited among many of my fellow Marines demonstrated, albeit on a small scale, the danger to our democracy of a defense secretary coming to power with the ardent loyalty of the men and women he recently commanded.

The members of Congress who, in 1947, enshrined in law this period of separation had fresh memories of World War II. Like our Founding Fathers, they recognized that political leaders should derive their authority from the will of the people  not the personal fealty of members of the armed forces. As a result, they were wary of a decorated general slipping off his uniform and immediately stepping into an ostensibly civilian role. In addition, they were justifiably apprehensive about installing a secretary of defense who could be perceived as partial to one service over the others.

More than a half-century later, these concerns are still highly relevant. We should ask ourselves whether the reputation of our military as a highly professional, nonpartisan institution would be tainted if its most respected leaders were allowed to seamlessly segue into political positions. Thats why, instead of simply rubber-stamping President-elect Donald Trumps choice, it is critical that we engage in a meaningful debate before discarding this well-established precedent.

The last time a recently retired military man, the great George Marshall, was permitted to lead the Pentagon, the United States was facing the prospect of ignominious defeat in the Korean War. Even then, congressional leaders specified that his waiver was a one-time exception to the rule. While our country must confront an array of threats today, none of our national security challenges remotely compares to a massive war in the Far East. This history should inform Congresss decision about Mattis. When it comes to something as basic as civilian control of the military, I strongly believe waivers should be granted for extraordinary circumstances  not extraordinary people.

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Many of my fellow Democrats disagree. Recognizing Mattiss exceptional judgment and ability, they believe he could serve as a counterweight to Trump  a partial antidote to our new commander in chiefs profound lack of expertise, experience and discipline on matters of national security. I certainly sympathize with this view. However, I am equally concerned about the kinds of decisions that will emanate from the White House if, as appears likely, the national security adviser, the homeland security secretary and the defense secretary are all former generals. The American people should demand a diversity of views and experiences  both military and civilian  in the Situation Room.

When debate on Mattiss waiver resumes in January, a long-standing precedent will be at stake. Future generations of American leaders  perhaps facing circumstances far more perilous than our own  will look at how we dealt with this test of our commitment to civilian control of the military. Congress would be wise to uphold this time-honored principle by denying Mattis a waiver to serve as secretary of defense.
JANET YELLEN, chair of the Federal Reserve, spoke at the University of Baltimores midyear commencement on Monday, and her message was about as upbeat as any the students will ever hear from a practitioner of the dismal science. The economy is nearly at full employment, with prospects especially strong for college graduates, for whom the unemployment rate is an infinitesimal 2.3 percent. Whats more, grads can expect a large advantage in lifetime earnings over contemporaries with only a high school education. Last year, college graduates earnings averaged 70 percent more than high school graduates pay; that is up from 20 percent in 1980, she said. And the advantage kicks in quickly: Only a few years after graduation its almost $18,000 a year, Ms. Yellen reported.

Moral of the story: Higher education is a good long-term investment. That notion is being questioned as never before, though, due to concern about student debt, which now totals $1.3 trillion, spread out over 44.2 million borrowers. Yet as Ms. Yellen pointed out, government data shows that the vast majority of student borrowers who complete their degree programs find work that allows them to keep up with interest payments and eventually pay off the principle. According to studentloanhero.com, about 40 percent of student debt was incurred to finance graduate and professional degrees  that is, MBAs, MDs and law degrees, which enhance future earnings even more than a four-year bachelors.

Ms. Yellens words were a useful corrective to the view, expressed at great but tendentious length by presidential candidates this year, that student loans are crushing Americas young people  and that a major federal initiative is needed to correct that. In fact, debt distress is disproportionately concentrated in certain segments of the market, including professional schools and for-profit four-year colleges. Solutions, if any, should be targeted and limited so as not to waste resources that could go toward other purposes, such as enhancing the prospects of those who do not attend college. In that respect, we had reservations about Hillary Clintons plan for debt-free college  but thats academic now, and President-elect Donald Trumps ideas are the ones that matter.

They are still rather murky at this point. During the campaign, a Trump adviser spoke of returning the student-loan business to private banks, as opposed to having the government originate them, and profit directly, as at present. The candidate advocated incentives for colleges to reduce tuition costs, as well as capped payments and long-term loan forgiveness  all of which already have been suggested or attempted, in some form, by the Obama administration.

This would be a good subject on which to probe education secretary-designate Betsy DeVos at her confirmation hearing next month. Whatever the next Congress and president do about student loans, policy must reflect the fact that the benefits of investment in higher education accrue not only to society but also to the individuals who receive the education. It is therefore perfectly reasonable both to subsidize that investment  and to expect individual beneficiaries to pay for some of it themselves.
The Dec. 21 Metro article FTA: No need for Metro-related Purple Line study accurately reflected what the Federal Transit Administration said in its report to U.S. District Judge Richard Leon last week. What was sad, but not unexpected, is what the FTA omitted from its report. Omitted was what would happen if Metro ridership, which is based on service, safety, maintenance, proper funding levels and trained employees, fails to generate sufficient revenue for the Purple Line. Purple Line revenue shortfalls, almost guaranteed in this current environment, will be made up by transfers of Maryland funds from MARC. Who then pays to replenish MARCs coffers? All Maryland taxpayers, not just those in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties. Taxpayers elsewhere in the state wont be happy about this.

Metros numerous and tragic failures lead to the doorstep of the FTA. Now is the time to remove the FTA and transfer these functions to another federal agency with more experience and knowledge and no vested interest in the outcomes. Indeed, we need an independent, nonpartisan board to examine Metro and the Purple Line to determine how this debacle could happen.

The only option for taxpayers is to put the Purple Line on ice  an apt metaphor since, similar to Metro and its third rail, the Purple Line probably wont be able to function with ice on its overhead wires.

Frederick H. Graefe, Bethesda
John McCain, a Republican, represents Arizona in the U.S. Senate.

The words never again ring hollow as the city of Aleppo, Syria, has fallen to regime forces of Bashar al-Assad. A brutal siege that has ground on for years was finally brought to a bloody end by a surge of Russian airpower, Iranian shock troops and assorted regional militia fighters. As we eulogize the dead of Aleppo, we must acknowledge the United States complicity in this tragedy.

President Obama speaks of the need to bear witness to injustice. He did little else for Aleppo. To what have we borne witness? To the use of smart bombs to target women and children, hospitals and bakeries, aid warehouses and humanitarian convoys. To the development and popularization of barrel bombs  oil drums packed with shrapnel and explosives, dropped indiscriminately from aircraft to kill and maim as many civilians as possible. To the tactic of follow-on airstrikes designed to kill rescue workers, such as the intrepid White Helmets, who rush to the scene of an attack to save the innocent. And now to the busloads of refugees pouring out of Aleppo and the tens of thousands left behind to the tender mercies of the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian allies.

Obama has borne witness to all of this, and more, and done nothing to stop it.

As with past atrocities, Aleppos destruction inspired much high-minded talk and the illusion of action. Endless meetings in the gilded palaces of Geneva and Vienna and elsewhere. Red lines drawn and transgressed with no consequences. Statements like this: Should we really accept the notion that the world is powerless in the face of a Rwanda, or Srebrenica? the president asked the U.N. General Assembly in 2013. If thats the world that people want to live in, they should say so, and reckon with the cold logic of mass graves.

That reckoning is now upon us. The mass graves are before us, and the name Aleppo will echo through history, like Srebrenica and Rwanda, as a testament to our moral failure and everlasting shame. Even in a conflict that has killed nearly 500,000 people, driven half of Syrias population from their homes, created the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II and spawned the terrorist army of the Islamic State  even amid all this horror and depravity, Aleppo stands out.

Aleppo may be lost, but the war in Syria is far from over. It will likely get worse as the Assad regime, Iran, Russia, Turkey, the Kurds, the Gulf states and others intensify their fighting over what is left of Syrias carcass.

The United States still has a choice to make. The longer we wait to help end the war, the worse our options will become. But no one should believe that we have no choice.

We must acknowledge that we have a stake in what happens in Syria. It is not just about the suffering of others, as moving as that is. It is about the national security of the United States: The resurgence of al-Qaeda in Syria affects us. The rise of the worlds most advanced terrorist organization affects us, as we saw in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif. A refugee crisis that destabilizes allies such as Israel and Jordan and threatens the foundation of Western democracies affects us.

We must also acknowledge that Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qasem Soleimani, commander of Irans Quds Force, will never be viable counterterrorism partners. In fact, the opposite is true. The Syrian regime, Russia and Iran are not fighting the Islamic State. Their indiscriminate slaughter of Syrian civilians is what created the conditions for the Islamic States emergence. The bloody siege of Aleppo will be a windfall for terrorist radicalization and recruitment. To think that we can destroy the Islamic State by throwing in our lot with those who are strengthening it every day is a dangerous fantasy.

Finally, we must acknowledge that ending the conflict in Syria will not be possible until Assad and his foreign backers realize they cannot succeed militarily. And make no mistake: Succeeding militarily is what they are trying to do. The fall of Aleppo will only encourage them to turn their guns on their next targets in Syria. We must recall the wisdom of former secretary of state George Shultz: Diplomacy not backed by strength will always be ineffectual at best, dangerous at worst.

Just because America cannot stop every horror in the world does not absolve us of the responsibility of using our great power to end the worst injustices where we can, especially when doing so would benefit our own interests and make the United States and our partners more secure. We do not need to become the worlds policeman to defend our interests. But we cannot wall ourselves off from the chaos of our dangerous world. And if we try, the instability, terror and destruction at the heart of that chaos will eventually make their way to our shores.
Donald Trump, center, along with his daughter Ivanka Trump, right, and attorney David Friedman, left, on Feb. 25, 2010. (Bradley C Bower/Bloomberg)

Regarding the Dec. 20 editorial The big question about Mr. Friedman:

The rejection of the two-state solution by President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for ambassador to Israel, David M. Friedman, is an even more extreme position than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus stated support for it. Advocacy of West Bank settlements will strengthen the far rights opposition to any agreement with the Palestinians to the point at which it would be impossible for Mr. Trump to make the ultimate deal between Israelis and Palestinians he claims he wants.

The resulting elimination of any prospect for an agreement could lead to a binational state and could escalate violence between Jews and Arabs, deepen Israels international isolation, nip in the bud Israels efforts to forge alliances with Arab states in the Persian Gulf, reduce the United States standing in the Middle East and lessen Washingtons ability to project U.S. interests in the region.

Moreover, Mr. Friedmans unapologetic disdain for a broad swath of American Jewry that supports a two-state solution  he called some far worse than kapos (Jews who were forced to cooperate with the Nazis)  will intensify the divide among American Jews and diminish their support for Israel.

Seymour D. Reich, New York

The writer is a former chairman of

the Conference of Presidents of

Major American Jewish Organizations.
Nada Bakos is a former CIA analyst whose book The Targeter: My Life in the CIA on the Hunt for the Godfather of ISIS is scheduled for publication in June. John Nixon is a former CIA analyst whose book Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein is scheduled for publication this month. This column was reviewed by the CIAs Publications Review Board.

We are former senior CIA analysts who, in our combined 23 years of service, have been privy to secrets that would amaze you. You will never hear them from us. We also have learned other critical, but unclassified, information about dealing with terrorists and dictators that we want to share  but the government has thrown needless roadblocks in our path.

CIA employees pledge that for the rest of their lives they will submit their writings to the agency in advance of publication to ensure that nothing appropriately classified is inadvertently revealed. We fully support this. But we are both paying a price well beyond the spirit of our agreement. Each of us has written a nonfiction book that has been ensnared in red tape by the CIA  for 11 months (for John Nixon) and 14 months and counting (for Nada Bakos). The courts have held that this signed agreement is a lifetime enforceable contract, provided that the review is limited to the deletion of classified information and that a response is given to the author within 30 days of submission. (The 30-day time constraint was set forth by the 1972 circuit court decision in U.S. v Marchetti.)

Books such as ours can help foster a climate of accountability that is an essential element in any democracy. But the system of review is broken. Our experience is sadly typical. Even agency alumni who write novels and short stories are told to expect a year or more to pass before they hear back. It is not just the little guy, either. In 2014, former CIA director and defense secretary Leon Panetta became so frustrated with the overzealous review process that he sent his memoir to his publisher before receiving clearance. Robert Baer, a former CIA case officer and CNN contributor, was mulling running for Congress and was told point-blank by the agency Publications Review Board that it would have to review all of his campaign statements, making it nearly impossible for him to run.

Michael Hayden, a retired four-star general who served as director of the CIA and the National Security Agency, told us: Its important for the American intelligence community to get the accurate word out on what it is they do. And there is no better way to do that than to allow professionals to speak in their own words. In short, if the agency needs to commit more resources to the Publications Review Board process, it should do so. It owes that to the American people and to the officers who want a fair chance to tell their story.

When authors do hear back, too often ridiculous edits are demanded. After a lengthy wait, one CIA veteran was forced to make major alterations to his novel about vampires. Vampires! Another was directed not to reveal the gender of an unidentified officer who led a successful operation. Correctly calling him he would have narrowed a search for the officer to half the people on the planet.

Those submitting material for clearance are generally neither whistleblowers nor agency cheerleaders. They are simply offering their experience to contribute to the historical record and to help the public understand important national security issues. Without their voices, readers must rely on accounts from authors who lack the insights provided by a tenure in intelligence  or who have a political ax to grind. (Also, as a woman, Nada felt the need to write a national security book from a womans perspective.)

Why is the review process broken? We believe its because the handling of this material is given such a low priority and the resources devoted to it are so small. But we also suspect there has been an overreaction to incidents such as the Edward Snowden debacle.

The solutions arent rocket science. They include leveraging new technology to help review short articles or provide a cursory analysis of longer documents, as well as funding for more review board employees. Also needed are all-inclusive but flexible standards from the director of national intelligence, simple interagency agreements that restrict the time each has to respond to the submitting agency and realistic standards over what is considered classified or detrimental.

We are a democracy, former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski once said. We can only have as good a foreign policy as the publics understanding of world affairs. By needlessly delaying books such as ours, the CIA loses an opportunity to educate the public and policymakers alike about what intelligence can and cannot achieve. And U.S. taxpayers who fund the intelligence community lose the opportunity to know what their government is doing (and not doing) to protect them from threats abroad.
The war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is getting fierce by the day.

PM Narendra Modi was in Varanasi to inaugurate various projects and in a public speech referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as someone who has just learnt to speak.

By Rajat Rai: While Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a sarcastic reply to the allegations of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, Rahul was quick enough to shoot back with nothing else than one of Mirza Ghalib's sher.

Modi, who was in his constituency Varanasi to inaugurate various projects, in an indirect reference to Rahul, said "There is a young leader who has now learnt how to deliver a speech. Jab se bolna seekha hai, shuru kiya hai meri khushi ka koi paar nahi (Ever since he has learnt to speak and has started speaking, there is no end to my happiness)", Modi said in Varanasi.

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Also read: Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi face-off: Who said what, slide and see here

However, Rahul shot back with a reply within two hours in Bahraich with a Sher of Mirza Ghalib "Har ek baat pe kehte ho ki tu kya hai, tumhi kaho ke ye andaaze guftagu kya hai (For everything I say, you ask, 'who are you?', tell me what kind of manner of speech is this.)", Rahul said while addressing a rally.

Modi went ahead to say, "Until 2009 we did not know what was stored in this packet. Now we are slowly getting to know. Ab tak agar ye na bolte toh bhukamp aa jaata lekin ab ye bolne lage hain toh bhukamp aane ki sambhavana khatam ho gayi hai (There were chances of an earthquake if he had not spoken, but now as he has started speaking there are minimal chances of an earthquake"), Modi jibed.

Check out: Manmohan-Modi faceoff, one argument at a time

Rahul replied, "I am open to all kind of criticism but Modiji has made fun of the questions that are asked by the poor and the youth of the country who are still standing in queues after his surgical strike (demonetisation)".

Rahul went on, "We are with the NDA on all issues of corruption but the demonetisation has only been done to help the one per cent rich of the country who are friends with the prime minister."

--- ENDS ---
AT ONE point during Tuesdays debate over paid family leave legislation, D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At Large) said he had some questions about a substitute proposal. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) gamely tried to answer but was cut off and talked over by an increasingly agitated Mr. Grosso. It was clear the council had already decided, and so never mind the facts showing there might be a better, faster and more responsible way to provide benefits.

Given the councils 9-to-4 vote to approve the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016, it may be difficult for Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) to find a fifth vote to sustain a veto, but she should try. The legislation passed by council members  imposing a new tax on employers to fund an expensive paid-leave program while creating a sprawling new government bureaucracy  is a bad bill that, as was elucidated by the citys independent chief financial officer, carries enormous risks for the city. What makes the move even more mind-boggling is that most of the benefits of the program will go not to D.C. taxpayers, but to Maryland and Virginia residents who work but pay no taxes in the District.

It is telling that even some council members voting for the bill expressed misgivings. Ill considered was the judgment of Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), who meekly went along with the majority after a measure she co-sponsored with Mr. Evans failed. A serious bill with serious consequences to our business community, said Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5), noting there are a lot of issues that still need to be worked out. No kidding  such as, for starters, finding the money to design and build a system for which no model exists. Or figuring out how a city government that sometimes struggles to provide basic services is going to administer the complexities of this program. The D.C. small-business owner who said he gets chills and nightmares just thinking of the city administering his employees benefits had it exactly right.

The alternate proposal fashioned by Mr. Evans would have required businesses to provide the same amount of leave, with smaller businesses getting tax credits and hardship exemptions. It would present fewer risks to the city and could be implemented quickly. That, though, did not serve the interests of union advocates who wanted a bill they hoped would serve as a national model, and so the more sensible alternative was given short shrift.

Ms. Bowser has been too timid in her approach to this issue. While she made no secret of her reservations about the councils approach, she failed to mount an effective defense against it. It is not enough, as she has announced, that she wont attach her name to the bill. She must let the city know through her veto just how unacceptable it is and challenge the council to act in defense of the interests of D.C. taxpayers.
Erwin Chemerinsky, Annie Lai and Seth Davis are professors at the University of California at Irvine School of Law.

Cities and public universities are exercising their constitutional authority when they declare themselves sanctuaries in response to Donald Trumps vow to deport 2 million to 3 million immigrants upon taking office next month. Trump has threatened to force state and local governments to implement his deportation policies, including by taking away federal funds, but such actions would be unconstitutional and likely halted by the courts.

The term sanctuary, as used in this context, does not mean that a city or institution will conceal or shelter undocumented immigrants from detection. Rather, sanctuary policies might, among other things, commit a city to serving all individuals without regard to immigration status, protect the privacy of community members by keeping their immigration status confidential, or direct law enforcement officers not to investigate, arrest or hold people solely on the basis of immigration status.

Sanctuary policies are an exercise of basic state and local powers to regulate for the health, safety and welfare of their residents. Some entities have acted out of a moral objection to mass deportations, but that is rarely the only motivation. Many local leaders recognize that sanctuary policies are vital to preserving police-community relations and ensuring that residents feel safe reporting crimes and accessing basic government services. Still others are responding to the risk that collaboration with federal immigration officials could lead to racial profiling and civil liberties violations. Public schools and universities have voiced concern that more aggressive immigration enforcement will jeopardize student safety and interfere with their schools educational missions.

Trump insists that he can force states and cities to participate in his plan to deport undocumented immigrants. But this ignores the 10th Amendment, which the Supreme Court has repeatedly interpreted to prevent the federal government from commandeering state and local governments by requiring them to enforce federal mandates.

For example, in Printz v. United States, in 1997, the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the federal Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act that sought to require local officers to help enforce federal gun-control laws, including by conducting background checks. In an opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia, the court held that the act violated principles of federalism and the 10th Amendment for Congress by compelling state and local governments to comply with a federal mandate. Under the anti-commandeering principle, the federal government can no more require state and local governments to help it carry out mass deportations than it can require local officers to investigate and enforce federal gun laws.

Some have suggested that there is an exception to the anti-commandeering principle that allows the federal government to demand that states and cities turn over confidential information about undocumented immigrants. But this assertion misreads Supreme Court precedents. The court has held that Congress can require states and cities to disclose information where a statute also requires private parties to turn over the same kind of information. The court has never held that Congress can single out states and cities to share information with the federal government. That is the type of commandeering that the court repeatedly has found violates the 10th Amendment.

Nor can the federal government do indirectly  by threatening to withdraw federal funding from states  what it cannot do directly. In National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, in 2012, the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the Affordable Care Act that required states to expand their Medicaid programs or lose the states federal Medicaid money. The court found the condition that Congress placed on states Medicaid funding unduly coercive and thus a violation of the 10th Amendment.

There are other limits on Congresss ability to impose funding conditions on states and localities. Congress must give clear, advanced notice to states of the terms of federal grants, and any conditions imposed on a grant must be reasonably related to the federal interest animating the grant program. Congress likely could not, for example, condition the receipt of a grant for economic development on cooperation with immigration enforcement. Also, funding conditions cannot themselves be used to induce states to violate the Constitution, for example by unlawfully detaining people on immigration detainers without a judicial determination of probable cause.

California Senate President Kevin de Leon (D) on Dec. 7 unveiled a bill in the state legislature that, if passed, would further remove state and local governments from the business of immigration enforcement. For decades, conservatives have championed states rights. The principles they have created mean that states and cities can decline to participate in Trumps deportation plan, no matter how much his plans success may depend on their cooperation.
THE MOST solemn obligations of the presidency include responsible stewardship of the nations nuclear weapons and attentive duty at the apex of the command and control system. This is why a reckless tweet about nuclear weapons on Thursday from President-elect Donald Trump and his comments Friday morning are distressing.

As a candidate, Mr. Trumps statements on this subject were a welter of different ideas. At one point he suggested the United States might withdraw its nuclear umbrella from allies Japan and South Korea; at another he expressed worry about nuclear weapons being the single greatest threat but boasted about being unpredictable. A president should choose words carefully on this sensitive topic. Mr. Trump did not appear to do so on Thursday when he declared, The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes. Asked to explain by MSNBCs Mika Brzezinski, Mr. Trump replied in a phone interview that she recounted on air, Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

Nuclear deterrence is not going away soon, nor are nuclear weapons. But the United States and Russia, which together hold 93 percent of the worlds nuclear bombs, have for nearly three decades been steadily reducing those stockpiles. The New START treaty between Russia and the United States is a binding pact for these lower levels. Other arms-control agreements  notably the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty  are strained but still in force. It took years of hard striving to reduce the mountains of nuclear warheads inherited from the Cold War. Does Mr. Trump now propose to reverse course? Would this restrain others, or spur them on?

Mr. Trumps tweet came after Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered some chest-thumping lines of his own about strengthening nuclear forces. The fact is both Russia and the United States are undergoing separate cycles of modernizing nuclear forces and delivery systems, such as planes, submarines and missiles. The modernization is essential in some respects to maintain a credible U.S. deterrent, but at what cost? Just look at how the Navys plan for building 12 ballistic missile submarines is threatening to crowd out funding for other ships and submarines. Does Mr. Trump want to expand this nuclear bow wave still more? For what mission?

The new president will, at some point, be introduced to the nuclear war plans he would have to use in the event of an emergency. He will be shown how nuclear missiles are still on launch-ready alert, ready to fly four minutes after he gives the order, as they were during the Cold War. This is a sobering moment for every commander in chief. Ronald Reagan found it distinctly unsettling. As long as nuclear weapons are a fact of life, Mr. Trump should focus on how to lessen the dangers they pose, including keeping them out of the hands of terrorists. More does not always make us safer.
One of the more intriguing ideas to emerge from Donald Trumps upcoming presidency is a still-vague plan to build or renovate $1 trillion worth of roads, bridges, airports, pipelines and other infrastructure projects.

The rub, of course, is how Trump would pay for this, especially when spending-averse Republicans will control the Senate and the House.

Could Virginia be a model?

The Old Dominion has long experience with public-private transportation projects. Since 1995, the state has proceeded with more than a half-dozen, including the high-occupancy toll lanes on Interstates 495 and 95, the Pocahontas Parkway near Richmond and two expanded traffic tunnels under the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth.

The latest is a project to build express toll lanes and make other improvements on a 22.5-mile stretch on Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia.

The idea is to spare taxpayers from the expenses of building and maintaining roads with bonds and state funds. Instead, users pay for the highways through tolls collected by the private companies that built and operate the roads. Theoretically, the concept relieves taxpayers of the risks if the projects fail, but that hasnt always been the case.

It isnt clear yet how Trump intends to pay for his infrastructure initiative. He has tossed around tax credits for private developers.

In Virginia, partnership deals have resulted in transportation projects that otherwise wouldnt have been built. But not all have worked.

The unneeded Pocahontas toll road and bridge southeast of Richmond was such a financial flop that it nearly tanked the states pristine credit rating. In the Norfolk area, plans to widen the Downtown and Midtown tunnels were racked by delays and operating oversights, such as sticking users with thousands of dollars in erroneous penalties.

The biggest mess of all was a plan to build a new, 55-mile-long expressway near U.S. 460 from Petersburg to Suffolk. Although construction never began because of a wetlands permit issue, it ended up costing the state $256 million. Richmond recovered only part of the money from a consortium run by Ferrovial Agroman of Spain and American Infrastructure.

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne, a Republican appointed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), studied that partnership program and found numerous operational flaws.

A big problem was a basic one. When it conceived of projects, the state didnt bother projecting how much it would cost if the state built them, denying itself a cost baseline. The state has to demonstrate what it would cost for it to do the project. That process puts you in a better negotiating position, Layne said.

Once projects were underway, the Virginia Department of Transportation would simply turn over administration to the private sector, believing it had more experience, Layne said. Without oversight, contractors often came up with changes never discussed in public hearings. They often did not administer toll collecting and penalties fairly. They also did not always build promised features  such as additional rapid-transit bus lanes  that could decrease toll revenue and profits.

Layne said the McAuliffe administration incorporated reforms into the program. A result, he said is a $2.5 billion savings in the newly concluded I-66 expansion deal.

Trump may learn from Virginias experience, but it still may not solve his problems of paying for his big building program.

The public-private partnership concept is no silver bullet, because it needs revenue streams such as tolls to work, explained Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. The biggest need is fixing up existing facilities, and that cant be done with new tolls, he noted. Layne said many states do not have the legal framework or experience to handle partnership deals.

Shoring up the nations infrastructure sounds like a great idea. But Trump may end up simply handing out tax credits to developers or granting subsidized loans. In that case, taxpayers would get stuck with the risk, as Virginias experience has shown.
Why did all those Economically Anxious Trump voters reject policies that would have helped relieve their economic anxiety?

Maybe they believed any Big Government expansions would disproportionately go to the wrong kinds of people  that is, people unlike themselves.

Hillary Clintons unexpected loss, particularly in traditionally blue strongholds, has led to lots of rumination about what the Democrats must do to reclaim their political territory. Smarter marketing, smoother organization, greater outreach and fresher faces are among the most commonly cited remedies.

But there seems to be universal agreement, at least among the Democratic politicians and strategists Ive interviewed, that the partys actual ideas are the right ones.

[On health care, Republicans are about to give Americans more skin in the game. And theyre going to hate it.]

(The Washington Post)

Democrats, they note, pushed for expansion of health-insurance subsidies for low- and middle-income Americans; investments in education and retraining; middle-class tax cuts; and a higher minimum wage. These are core, standard-of-living improving policies. They would do far more to help the economically precarious  including and especially white working-class voters  than Donald Trumps top-heavy tax cuts and trade wars ever could.

Heres the problem. These Democratic policies probably would help the white working class. But the white working class doesnt seem to buy that theyre the ones whod really benefit.

Across rural America, the Rust Belt, Coal Country and other hotbeds of Trumpism, voters have repeatedly expressed frustration that the lazy and less deserving are getting a bigger chunk of government cheese.

In Kentucky, consumers receiving federal subsidies through the Obamacare exchanges complain that neighbors who are less responsible are receiving nearly free insurance through Medicaid.

They can go to the emergency room for a headache, one woman told Voxs Sarah Kliff.

[Joe Scarborough: Democrats long road back to hope and change]

In Ohio, white working-class focus group participants decried that women who pop out babies like Pez dispensers with different baby daddies get welfare every month and their housing paid for, their food. These women seem to live large, one participant said, while people like herself are struggling to put food on the table.

Participants in this focus group, held by the Institute for Family Studies, were also skeptical of efforts to raise the minimum wage.

Opponents argued either that higher pay wasnt justified for lower-skilled, less intense work or that raising the minimum wage would unfairly narrow the pay gap between diligent folks such as themselves and people whod made worse life choices.

That son of a b---- is making $10 an hour! Im making $13.13. I feel like s--- because hes making almost as much as I am, and I have never been in trouble with the law and I have a clean record, I can pass a drug test, said one participant.

In Wisconsin, rural whites are similarly eager to stop the flow of resources to people who are undeserving, says Katherine J. Cramer, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and author of The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker.

The people Cramer interviewed for her book often named a (white) welfare-receiving neighbor or relative as someone who belonged in that basket of undeservings  but also immigrants, minorities and inner-city elites who were allegedly siphoning off more government funds than they contributed.

More broadly, a recent YouGov/Huffington Post survey found that Trump voters are five times more likely to believe that average Americans have gotten less than they deserve in recent years than to believe that blacks have gotten less than they deserve. (African Americans dont count as average Americans, apparently.)

None of this should be particularly surprising.

Weve known for a long time, through the work of Martin Gilens, Suzanne Mettler and other social scientists, that Americans (A) generally associate government spending with undeserving, nonworking, nonwhite people; and (B) are really bad at recognizing when they personally benefit from government programs.

Hence those oblivious demands to keep your government hands off my Medicare, and the tea partyers who get farm subsidies, and the widespread opposition to expanded transfer payments in word if not in deed.

Rhetoric this election cycle caricaturing our government as rigged, and anyone who pays into it as a chump, has only reinforced these misperceptions about who benefits from government programs and how much.

Its no wonder then that Democrats emphasis on downwardly redistributive economic policies has been met with suspicion, even from those who would be on the receiving end of such redistribution. And likewise, its no wonder that Trumps promises  to re-create millions of (technologically displaced) jobs and to punish all those non-self-sufficient moochers  seem much more enticing.

No American likes the idea of getting a handout  especially if they believe that handout is secretly being rerouted to their layabout neighbor anyway.
DNC chair candidate Keith Ellison speaks to a full room at his brothers Church of the New Covenant Baptist in Detroit on Dec. 22, 2016. (Nick King/For The Washington Post)

Keith Ellison, the Minnesota congressman who could become the first Muslim chairman of a U.S. political party, stepped behind the Christian pulpit. Ellisons brother Brian, a Baptist minister, offered up his Church of the New Covenant for a town hall about the future of the Democratic National Committee and the fight against President-elect Donald Trump.

If you had a beef on Twitter with somebody, make peace, because you were probably arguing with a Russian or a bot, Ellison said two days before Christmas, trying to rally Democrats to his side. We need people who are really psyched up, and we need people who know where the bodies are buried. Do we, in the era of Trump, have somebody to waste?

He looked around the room, at 150 nervous Democrats spilling from the pews into the hallway. Not nobody!Ellison said.

With Democrats shut out of power for the first time in a decade, the race to run the Democratic National Committee has taken on the feel of a real campaign, even though the groups 437 members are the only ones who will decide on a new leader. Ellison and four rivals are campaigning across the country, appearing at forums and at a Huffington Post-hosted debate, while also issuing news releases on breaking stories. (All were silent about the fight over Israels settlements.)

Theres little ideological disagreement between Ellison and his four rivals  Labor Secretary Tom Perez; Ray Buckley, chairman of New Hampshires Democrats; South Carolinas Jaime Harrison; and Idahos Sally Boynton Brown. None has challenged the left-wing rewrite of the Democratic Party platform, of which Ellison was a part.

DNC chair candidate Rep. Keith Ellison, right, hugs his brother, Baptist pastor Brian Ellison, at the Church of the New Covenant before speaking in Detroit on Dec. 22, 2016. (Nick King/For The Washington Post)

Ellison, who is backed by Sens. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), is the central figure in the contest, although party leaders say the race is fairly wide open.

In the run-up to the Feb. 23-26 election, Ellison is taking an inside-and-outside approach. Conversations with DNC members are supplemented by rallies, designed to show how the DNC could become the hub of a resistance movement.

Unlike the divisive Clinton-Sanders primary contest  when progressives battled the more-centrist Hillary Clinton supporters  there are not the same ideological cleavages in the DNC battle. To the extent that candidates have shared their ideas, they generally agree on directing more money to state parties, boosting turnout (Ellisons goal is an increase of 3 to 7 percent) and guarding against voter suppression efforts by Republicans.

Democrats instead are engaging in a gritted-teeth argument about whos to blame for the devastating losses this year. Perez, who entered the DNC race two weeks ago, has institutional support at exactly the time Democratic activists have stopped trusting their institutions. Buckley has told audiences that he ignored the Clinton campaign to do his own voter persuasion  and gave Clinton a rare swing-state victory. Harrison and Boynton Brown, DNC candidates whove offered fewer specifics, are just as critical of the 2016 effort.

Their consensus: The national Democratic Party focused on new swing states and let state parties wither behind the Midwestern blue wall, which promptly cracked. Democratic voters in rural areas, rarely contacted by the Clinton campaign or by state parties, switched to Trump.

We need to commit ourselves, once a week, to go to a new neighborhood and talk to everybody, Ellison said in Detroit.

You dont win elections with an out-of-state organizer, Perez told the Huffington Post last week. Its a long-term investment.

DNC chair candidate Keith Ellison, center, talks with college friend Terry Price, right, and Gary Jones, left, while at 1917 American Bistro in Detroit on Dec. 22, 2016. (Nick King/For The Washington Post)

In 2004, the last year the DNC rebuilt after an election loss, there was a real argument about whether to focus on long-term state party building or on fundraising. That argument doesnt exist after 2016 losses at every level of government.

In every swing state, and in former strongholds, Democrats have lost ground in local races since 2008. In 2018, they face a once-in-a-decade chance to elect governors who can stop the next round of gerrymandering, after a devastating 2011 map drawn by Republicans.

The subtext, lost on no DNC member, is that Republicans conquered key territory on President Obamas watch, hurting the ability of any Obama ally to lead the comeback. Several Democrats who support Ellison pointed to the long tenure of former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who presided over loss after loss with no real effort by the Obama political operation to intervene.

The DNC has been worthless, retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said last week in an interview with a radio station in Nevada.

In an interview last week, Ellison complimented the Obama campaign for its Fight the Smears project, which he credited with bypassing the media to defeat nasty rumors. That was the extent of his praise.

Ellison, too, had been countering attacks on his personal life, from his youthful praise of Louis Farrakhan to money problems revealed in his 2006 House race. These were the sort of distractions that a forceful party could confront, he said  live streams and social media could get strong Democrats past the smears in the media.

In his Huffington Post interview, asked whether Obama undermined the DNC by creating an outside political effort in Organizing for America, Perez pivoted to talk about the economic crisis he inherited and argued that Obama won two elections and was able to win a historic election in 2008.

In a follow-up question from The Washington Post, Perez said through a spokeswoman that the president had a role to play in rebuilding the party.

I welcome his support to build an organization that reflects the big tent of the party and his input on how to develop a message of inclusion and opportunity that is at the core of who we are as Democrats, Perez said. No one does that better than President Obama, and we will need his support.

But to some Democrats, who are leaving the Obama years weaker than they entered them, defending the partys outgoing management means it will never get past the lessons of 2016. That was exposed in Michigan just a few weeks before Ellison arrived.

When the Michigan Democratic Party gathered to select new DNC delegates, supporters of Sanders showed up with leaflets and other campaign gear, and in force. When they tried to enter an in-progress meeting of labor organizers, a camera caught one organizer shoving Sam Pernick, the pro-Sanders chair of the Young Democrats of Michigan. It ended in a criminal complaint and several salt-in-the-wound news stories about a party in disarray.

We came there to protest a lack of transparency and support Keith Ellison for DNC chair, Pernick said in a statement. The reaction from leaders within the party was to violently throw us out of the room.

Perez, who endorsed Clinton, is viewed warmly by progressives because of his record inside the Labor and Justice departments. Despite that, hes been viewed warily by Sanderss supporters, who see him as the status quo candidate. After his first public speech as a candidate, in Texas, a citizen journalist taped Perezs gauzy answer to a question about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the moldering trade deal hed supported from inside the Obama administration. The video quickly zipped around pro-Ellison Twitter accounts.

According to Buckley, Democrats had not yet exorcised sore feelings in Michigan from the primaries, which some Sanders supporters viewed as rigged by a pro-Clinton DNC.

I think that if you add up Jill Stein and Bernie write-in votes, you get to 10,000 in Michigan, Buckley said. If only 20 percent of the protest voters were people who couldnt get over the nominating process, then it mattered. And its not just the neutrality issue  its joint fundraising, caucuses and superdelegates. There were a number of issues that were out there that caused great strife.

I dont think we ever properly addressed them.

Ellison, who was urged to run by Sanders, has no problem winning the loyalty of those voters. But only a few of them hold the positions  DNC member or state party chair  that will select the next DNC leader. Brandon Dillon, the chair of Michigans party, attended Ellisons town hall and complimented the crowd  but said he was still undecided and had yet to talk to Perez.

Theres a certain number of people who may only get re-engaged if Keith is chair, but a larger group who want to be active no matter what happens, Dillon said.

At the town hall, Ellison framed himself as a unity candidate who could get Clintons and Sanderss supporters past the primaries  while adopting what had worked for Sanders. In a pamphlet distributed at his rallies, Ellison promised to change the DNCs fundraising model so that low-dollar contributions from everyday Americans account for 33 percent of revenue.

Ellison raised that standard in his interview with The Post, saying a majority of the DNCs money should probably come from small donations and the party needed to be ready to reject checks from foreclosure kings or other malevolent interests.

A lot of people said,  No one owns Bernie because hes funded by the people. No one owns Trump because he funds his own campaign,  Ellison said. Im telling you that the Democratic Party must be perceived as funded by the people.

At his brothers church, Ellison preached the same point: No matter who Democrats supported in the 2016 primaries, no matter if a voter had bailed on the party to back Trump, Democrats need to turn away from the big-money spigot. Without mentioning Clinton, he described the damage done when Democrats were perceived to be bending policy to curry donations from big banks and corporate interests.

Once your grass roots is funding the party, he said, the lines of accountability run the right way.
Weeks before he is sworn in as president, Donald Trump and his advisers are issuing conflicting statements about the status of a signature tenet of his candidacy: restrictions on Muslims entering the United States.

Trump this week once again declined an opportunity to clarify his position on the Muslim ban, which he first proposed a year ago, suggesting that his position has been consistent. This left his aides a day later insisting once again that the year-old proposal for a total and complete shutdown of Muslim immigration had evolved into something more nuanced.

The public back-and-forth reflects the degree to which Trumps aides have struggled to reshape his initial pronouncement into something more palatable to the public than an all-out ban on a religion. And it highlights Trumps propensity to double down on his original statements even as his advisers seek to shift the focus to other issues.

As hes walked through and learned about this stuff, he has evolved, said Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker and a vice chairman of Trumps transition committee. The policy has become more targeted, more narrowly defined and more implementable, he added.

In the past 12 months, Trump has veered widely on the issue. He has suggested that wealthy Muslims might be exempted from a ban and that country-specific enhanced vetting was an expansion, rather than a refinement, of his original proposal. At one point, Trump suggested the ban might affect only Muslims from terror states.

Outside the White House on Dec. 21, Imam Ali Siddiqui, center, speaks to protesters about President-elect Donald Trumps anti-Muslim policy proposals. Protesters heard messages of tolerance. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

It has never been clear what Trump would classify as terror states, but he has alluded at times to Syria and Saudi Arabia.

According to Trump, his policy on the ban and views on registering Muslims already in the United States have been known all along.

He added that the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin this week vindicates him.

Ive been proven to be right. One-hundred-percent correct, Trump told reporters Wednesday outside his Mar-a-Lago estate, his national security adviser, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, peering over his shoulder. Whats happening is disgraceful.

Less than 24 hours later, Trumps former campaign manager and newly-named White House counselor Kellyanne Conway denied that the president-elect still supports a ban on Muslims and described Trumps plans as focusing on country-specific vetting rather than solely on religious affiliation.

What he says is that its very clear that we need better vetting policies, Conway said on CNN on Thursday morning. Youre going back to over a year ago and what he said about the ban versus what he said later about it when he made it much more specific and talked about countries where we know they have a higher propensity of training and exporting and in some cases harboring terrorists.

Asked whether religion would be a criteria for screening entrants, Conway added: That in and of itself, no.

(The Washington Post)

Trumps national security aides, led by Flynn, are currently working out the details of his plan, attempting to take a groundbreaking approach to finding terrorists before they strike, Gingrich said. He declined to say what this approach would look like, but he suggested that Islam would be used as criteria for the extreme vetting.

Were any of them Bahai? Were any of them Buddhist? Were any of them Christian? Gingrich asked, referring to the individuals who carried out the attacks in Berlin and Turkey this week. All the people involved they yell Allahu akbar! when they kill people.

German authorities have presented no evidence that the attacker who plowed his truck into a crowd at a Christmas market shouted Allahu akbar! but said he appeared to have been inspired by the Islamic State.

Trump has also expressed an openness to establishing a registry of Muslims entering the United States. And he has taken counsel from Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, who helped develop the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), which was used to register and monitor visitors from high-risk countries from 2002 to 2011.

[Obama administration tries to shut down visitor registry program before Trump takes office]

Gingrich did not say whether Trump envisions a revival of NSEERS. But some of his other advisers have suggested as much, and when Trump refers to banning people from terror states, national security and immigration experts guess that he is referring to NSEERS.

That program, which the Department of Homeland Security ultimately determined to redundant with existing monitoring procedures and relatively useless in providing added security benefits, mandated that men over the age of 16 from one of 25 countries on a list register with the U.S. government if they were living in the United States, or arrived to visit. Twenty-four of those countries were Muslim majority countries.

Registration, which involved fingerprinting, interrogations and sometimes parole-like check-ins, was required, regardless of whether the individuals had broken the law.

Men who overstayed their visas or failed to comply with annual registration requirements or more frequent check-ins were deported.

Nearly 180,000 people registered with the program when it was in place; more than 83,500 of them already resided in the United States when the program was enacted.

On Thursday, the Obama administration moved to make it more difficult for Trump to utilize NSEERS  issuing final regulations that seek to dismantle the program.

Civil rights advocates say the NSEERS already amounted to a registry for Muslims through discriminatory targeting. Obama shelved the program in 2011, but the regulations that allow it to function were not dismantled.

Virtually all of the proposals floated by Trump and his aides would invite legal challenges or strain international partnerships needed in the terror fight, experts say.

Enacting immigration restrictions, even from countries compromised by terrorism rather than simply based on religious affiliation, would be almost inherently ridiculous, said Anthony H. Cordesman, a foreign policy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who also served as an adviser to Republican Sen. John McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Youre talking about countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, with the possible exception of Syria  virtually every country in the region now has a government cooperating with us on counterterrorism, he said. Does anybody who has actually suggested this even bothered to look at who our major partners are?

Some experts expect the Trump administration to quietly take administrative steps rather than rely on Congress moving legislation to achieve its goals.

I think there are a lot of agency level things that could happen, because its much more hidden, said one national security expert, who requested anonymity to speak frankly. If you want to put pressure on Muslim communities, you could work through the FBI, which could be accomplished with little public oversight.

Trump cast suspicion on Muslims and Muslim places of worship throughout his campaign, referring variously to radical mosques and people coming out of mosques with hatred and with death in their eyes. He has suggested that mosques should be monitored.

Youre going to have to watch and study the mosques, he said last year, commending the New York Police Department for its surveillance of Muslims in the years following Sept. 11 through a strategy that focused on where people in traditional Islamic attire congregated.

Counterterrorism experts have since said there is no evidence to support a correlation between style of dress or mosque attendance and a likelihood to commit terrorism.

The executive branch has claimed extremely broad authorities to surveil or investigate people. There is a watch listing system in place that is discriminatory and unfair, said Hina Shamsi, director of the National Security Project at the ACLU, adding that the ACLU will challenge the legality of any efforts by the administration to double down or introduce new programs that discriminate on the basis of religion and race.

Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
For 30 years, Gen. Abdurrashid Dostum has reigned as northern Afghanistans untouchable warrior-king: first as a ruthless pro-communist general, later as an armed U.S. ally against the Taliban and finally as a reliable, if unsavory, political boss who could deliver votes from his ethnic Uzbek followers.

Dostum has long been infamous for his cruelty: He has reportedly ordered tanks driven over enemies legs and been accused of suffocating hundreds of Taliban prisoners in sealed truck containers. He is also known for violent and abusive rages. But none of the accusations ever landed him in serious trouble. He was either too intimidating, or too important, to challenge.

But now, Dostum may have gone too far.

His latest alleged victim, a 63-year-old former provincial governor named Ahmad Ishchi, has accused Dostum on television of imprisoning him, beating him and ordering him raped in November; Ishchi has also submitted to medical tests at a U.S. military hospital. This time, Dostum, 62, is not a warlord but the first vice president of a government backed by the United States and Europe  a heartbeat away from replacing President Ashraf Ghani.

[Afghan vice president accused of brutal assault on former governor]

Ahmad Ishchi, who says he was detained and assaulted on Dostums orders last month, displays an injury on his leg at his home in Kabul on Dec. 13. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

And this time, Afghans nationwide  including members of Dostums once-quiescent Uzbek minority  are reacting with outrage. Social media has exploded with unprintable jokes and images of Ghani and his aides wearing steel trousers. The burly strongman, who long controlled a strategic border region with Central Asia and publicly forced supplicants to kiss his hand, has become a national embarrassment.

Ghani, a former World Bank official, is under pressure from Western donors to prosecute Dostum and suspend him from office. Many Afghan analysts are calling this a make-or-break chance for Ghani to install the rule of law in a society where warlord culture has long prevailed. The attorney general announced recently that the allegations are being investigated professionally and neutrally.

If Dostum is not arrested, it will be a huge dishonor, and the government will lose all credibility, said Akbar Bai, 70, an Uzbek businessman who claimed he was beaten by Dostum in a drunken outburst in 2008. The incident ended with police surrounding the former warlords house in Kabul for months until he finally agreed to fly into exile in Turkey.

Many Afghans are skeptical that Ghani will be able to bring the former warlord to justice. His government has been weakened by internal divisions and a perceived lack of legitimacy, with legislative elections delayed repeatedly. That has made it vulnerable to pressure from outside groups, several of which are led by other powerful ex-militia leaders, including rivals of Dostum.

[Afghan political crisis intensifies as two-year anniversary nears]

The president, who took power in 2014 promising to reform and modernize Afghan democracy, is also haunted by his own political compromises. He once denounced Dostum as a war criminal but then invited him to join his presidential ticket in a bid to secure the Uzbek vote. His predecessor, President Hamid Karzai, had also courted Dostums support despite the allegations of battlefield atrocities.

Ghani asserted that Dostum had reformed, saying that he was not coming with a militia to take over Kabul. He added: Hes coming in a suit, to be vice president, based on a democratic election, and that is a profound change.

The suit did not fit comfortably, though, and Dostum has spent most of his time in his stronghold, the northern city of Shebergan. This fall, he insisted on leading his militiamen out to do battle with the Taliban, then accused Ghanis aides of conspiring against him when a Taliban ambush killed 50 of his troops.

Now, even in disgrace, Dostum is playing hardball. Refusing to leave Shebergan, he has called the assault accusation another political plot, accused Ishchi of collaborating with the Taliban and declared through intermediaries that he will never allow himself to be investigated or removed from his post. Any such move, the intermediaries warn, could trigger forceful resistance and political chaos.

General Dostum is not answerable to anyone, his spokesman, Bashir Ahmad Tahianj, said in an interview, although he conceded that Dostums guards may have misbehaved with Ishchi. We welcome an investigation, but the government should be very careful not to enlarge or politicize it. Dostum, he said, has a long history, and he is the most popular leader in Afghanistan. He was elected by the people, and no one can take that away.

Dostum still has influential friends, some dating to his collaboration with U.S. Special Operations forces that fought the Taliban in late 2001. He also maintains ties in Russia and Central Asia from his time as a pro-communist military commander in the 1980s.

Moreover, he is only one of several former militia bosses with whom the Ghani government has compromised. In September, with support from Washington, the president signed a peace deal with longtime fugitive leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, hoping to persuade Taliban insurgents to lay down their weapons, as well. He has now asked the United Nations to remove Hekmatyar, a former U.S. Cold War ally, from an anti-terrorist blacklist.

Dostum may be the poster child for impunity in Afghanistan, but he is not an anomaly, Patricia Gossman, the U.S.-based senior Afghan analyst for Human Rights Watch, wrote in an email. If President Ghani wants to demonstrate that he is serious about accountability, it cannot start and stop with Dostum, and it cannot be seen as selective.

Representatives of Dostum have proposed settling the Ishchi matter through a traditional gathering of elders, a process in which he might make amends or agree to live abroad. Aides to Ghani insist that if enough evidence is gathered to prosecute Dostum, he will be removed from the vice presidency. But they also acknowledge that putting him on trial or forcing him from office would be legally complicated and politically risky.

Even if Dostum avoids prosecution, however, Ishchis charges have brought new attention to other incidents in the generals past. There is talk of reopening an international war crimes case for the alleged mass suffocation of Taliban prisoners in 2001, and several people have spoken up about previous alleged cases of abuse. According to Bai, a now-deceased Afghan senator was sexually assaulted on Dostums orders.

Perhaps just as important, the old warlords sway over hundreds of thousands of ethnic Uzbeks in the north may be weakening. A crop of better-educated, more-moderate politicians has been waiting in the wings, serving in parliament and other posts. Dostums loss of stature, they suggest, may finally allow them to challenge his dominance.

In history, our leaders were poets and scholars, but when Russia invaded, warlords and illiterates emerged in power, said Qudratullah Zaki, 45, an ethnic Uzbek legislator and an ally of Ghani. Many people, including those who supported Dostum, realize that he is not morally qualified to hold his position.

This is no more the time for tyranny, he added. We need to deal with real issues, and we need to create hope again.

Read more

Prisoners fate, treatment not in U.S. hands, officials say

Dostum, a former warlord who was once Americas man in Afghanistan, may be back

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Demonetisation has not only stirred every household in India, but the move has a deep impact on Nepal also, especially the rural areas of the country. Nepal's Ambassador Deep Upadhyay tells India Today what he expects from the Government of India and RBI post-demonetisation.

By Smita Sharma: Nepal on Friday appealed to the Government of India to facilitate exchange of illegal tender of 500 and 1,000 Indian rupee denominations as Nepalese people are panicking.

Speaking exclusively to India Today's Smita Sharma, Nepalese Ambassador Deep Upadhyay highlighted that people in rural Nepal held a lot of demonetised currency notes saved for healthcare and pilgrimage purposes.

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The rural people in Nepal are clueless about how to get their money held in demonetised Indian currency notes exchanged, the envoy said.

READ| India's demonetisation drive drags down Nepal economy

Upadhyay added that the Nepalese people are being duped for their money in discontinued currency notes by middlemen, who are offering the poor people much less against the Indian rupees.

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

IT: What difficulties is Nepal facing because of demonetisation?

DU: Every household in our rural areas, too, have some old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 because they were legal tender there as per RBI instructions.

All the Nepalese people are expecting some very practical solution for them also and we are also hoping because deadline is coming nearer and nearer and all people are concerned and worried.

In a very respectful diplomatic manner, we are trying our best and Government of India, especially finance ministry, can in any moment make a decision, which may address Nepalese people too.

READ| Nepal bars exchange of new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes, calls them 'illegal'

IT: Why has deposit of old notes not begun in Nepal yet?

DU: Mainly a political decision, otherwise, both governors of RBI and Nepal Rashtra Bank, the two prime ministers, finance ministers, me also- we were in touch with MEA and finance ministry too. And, hopefully problem will be resolved.

But due to deadline, there is unrest in people whether it will be done or not because these notes were legal tender in Nepal. That's why they need to be addressed from the Government of India.

It is a political decision because Nepalese banks cannot accept these notes and exchange it. Also, we are in scarcity of Indian rupees.

Against US dollar we have arrangement with RBI. Around Rs 600 crore every year we take in INR (Indian National Rupee) but the stock is going to be nil. That is why people are finding it very difficult to get INR there.

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IT: Why has it still not started? What is the reason?

DU: Without proper decision of the government, neither RBI nor (Nepal) Rashtra bank can instruct concerning agencies or banks to make the exchange. We are waiting for the decisions.

READ| Nepal, Bhutan in touch with India over demonetisation

IT: Why is the Indian currency so significant? For what purposes do people save them?

DU: For pilgrimage purpose, healthcare and other purposes it is used. In Nepal, we cannot provide Indian currency as per demand. There is always a scarcity. Whoever may have currency notes of Rs 500 or Rs 1,000, they put it aside for their safety and security as per their needs.

Therefore, it is problem for local people, common people, especially labourers, who go to Nepal for festivals like Dashai (Dussehra) and leave currency with the families. That is why I am getting queries from rural parts of Nepal, whether it will be done or not. If it is done, it will be okay otherwise the mediators may get benefit.

For Indian currency Rs 500 they are being offered 500 Nepalese currency, which is a great loss of around 300 rupees for common people.

IT: Do you think the exchange of old Indian currency notes has not begun in Nepal just to avoid black money shifting from India to Nepal?

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DU: Between Nepal and India, especially on borders, we have an understanding for cross border cooperation. We have assured that everything will be secured on the border. But we need time also.

There is time needed for information to be spread; then for people to travel from far flung areas to banks and agencies.

--- ENDS ---


The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center, in Yekaterinburg, Russia, has a museum that describes the first decade of Russias post-Soviet history, and the story of its first democratically elected president. (The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center)

Its a stirring exhibition of Russias struggle to win rights and freedoms that the country no longer fully enjoys. Its a shimmering memorial to a late president few Russians miss and an era most would rather forget. And although its overseen by the Kremlin, its also a tacit symbol of defiance to President Vladimir Putins authoritarian rule.

Not surprisingly, many influential people want to shut down, or at least tone down, the unbridled take on 1990s Russia that is on display at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center, a state-of-the-art archive and museum dedicated to the countrys first freely elected president.

The drumbeat of disapproval has only gotten louder amid this months 25th anniversary of the most profound event in which Yeltsin played a leading role, also something most Russians wish had never happened: the dismantlement of the Soviet Union.

In recent weeks, one of Russias best-known filmmakers lacerated the work of the center. The countrys Communist Party leader told parliament to close it. And a prominent mufti suggested that it might be better to blow it up.

That last idea came from Ismail Berdiyev, a Muslim leader known for hard-line positions and a member of Putins council on outreach to religious groups. Berdiyev said in an interview widely reported by Russian media that if it is found to be destructive to the state, this center should be blown to hell.

What has drawn the most ire is the first exhibit at the museum, nestled in a glistening building 900 miles east of Moscow, in Yekaterinburg, the capital of Yeltsins home region and the place where his career as a Soviet party boss took off in the late 1970s.

[Russia, once almost a democracy]

Visitors are shown an animated film that depicts the history of Russia as a millennium-long brutal and bloody effort by despots, monarchs and communists to crush rule by the people, for the people. The film concludes with the arrival of Yeltsin, whose leadership of the country up to and after the December 1991 Soviet collapse is hailed as the beginning of a new era of democracy and freedom.



Boris Yeltsin makes a speech from atop a tank in front of the Russian parliament building in Moscow on Aug. 19, 1991. (AP)



A portrait of Boris Yeltsin appears on a large screen at the center. (AskarKabjan/Courtesy of The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center)

A visitor studies letters written by Yeltsin. (Courtesy of The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center)

This treatment of history flies in the face of Putins efforts to create a national identity for Russians that smooths out the rough parts of a long and difficult past. Putin, whom Yeltsin named to replace him on Dec. 31, 1999, with the words Take care of Russia, has depicted his predecessors decade in office as an era of decline and ineffective leadership that played into the Wests post-Cold War strategy to keep Russia weak. To meet this perceived external threat, Putin has repudiated many of the political freedoms initiated by Yeltsin in the name of consolidating society.

Putin, at the opening of the museum in November 2015, approved of the center as an honest story of what was done in that difficult time.

Asked about the controversy during his annual news conference recently, Putin said the way history is treated raises questions, and that it might be necessary to present some things more accurately. Russia has always had its battles between Westernizers and traditionalists, he said, but the debaters should not let their passions get out of control.

This came after one of the Kremlins cheerleaders, the Russian actor and director Nikita Mikhalkov, sounded off about the center.



Each day, the center is carrying out injections of destruction of peoples self-identity, Mikhalkov proclaimed in an address to Russian legislators.

Yeltsins widow, Naina, fired back, denouncing the criticism as lies and insults, and pointing out that Mikhalkov, who campaigned for Yeltsin in 1996, had never been to the museum. (Hes since been, and said he hated it even more now that hes seen it.) She also took a shot at communist leader Gennady Zyuganovs calls to close the museum, pointing out that seven decades of communist rule led Russia to the socioeconomic mess that occurred in 1991.

The exhibits, divided into seven critical days in the decade, do not attempt to glorify that time or its protagonists. A country on the brink of total collapse and hunger, shock therapy reforms that led to the shutdown of industrial giants that employed millions of workers and the cream of the countrys scientists and engineers, the withholding of salaries, empty shelves, the shelling of parliament in 1993 and military campaigns in Chechnya from 1994 on, the questionably fair presidential elections of 1996, the infirmity of the president in his second term  all of these are on display, largely unvarnished and accompanied by striking visual and audio artifacts.

Its not just a museum of the first president, its really a museum of that period, of our country, of that history, said Dina Sorokina, the museum director, in nearly flawless English honed while earning a masters degree at New York University. We do not necessarily avoid the sharp edges.

No, they do not. Although the animated historical film at the beginning of the exhibit has attracted most of the negative attention from the museums critics, the most stunning moment comes at the end.

On a bank of screens flashing the blue, red and white of the Russian tricolor, celebrities, athletes and politicians emphatically read out rights that are guaranteed in the countrys 1993 constitution  freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, the right to privacy  and that have been methodically eroded under Putin.

Despite this apparent open challenge to Putin, the museum received a glowing review from the state-run news agency.

An explanation can be found in the origins of the museum, which was established under a 2008 law stipulating the creation of presidential centers similar to the libraries that commemorate former U.S. presidents. Russia tapped Ralph Appelbaum Associates, which designed the museum exhibit space at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, to help design the Yeltsin Center. Under the law, the chairman of the board of the Yeltsin Center is appointed by the Kremlin, which creates an interesting historical novelty for Russia: Its current leaders are now charged with preserving the legacies of their predecessors.

[Yeltsin resigns: I did all I could]

Sorokina said that the museum had hosted about 250,000 visitors since it opened. This is despite the continuing lack of popularity of Yeltsin, who died in 2007.

According to a poll by the Yuri Levada Analytical Center last December, just 14 percent of Russians saw the countrys first president as a positive figure. The Levada Center has published other polls that suggest that a majority of Russians regret the fall of the Soviet Union, think that it could have been avoided and feel as though the Yeltsin years brought more harm than good.

That feeling is present even in Yekaterinburg, a closed city under Soviet rule (when it was called Sverdlovsk, after a Bolshevik leader) that benefited as much as any in Russia when the communist state collapsed.





Freedom started here with Yeltsin, said the citys mayor, Yevgeny Roizman, 54. This was a gray, closed city. When the city became open, everything changed.

Roizman recalled more than 100,000 people turning out for a rally in Yekaterinburg in August 1991, when Yeltsin famously stared down communist coup plotters from atop a tank in Moscow. That day used to be a cornerstone in the new Russian history. This year, the museum was one of the few institutions in the country to mark it.

The old system was bankrupt, Roizman said in an interview. When the communists say how good it was, I say, Dont tell me fairy tales. I was there. 

Opponents of the museum counter that the exhibits skirt the truth. While it has an emotional display dedicated to Yeltsins final address on New Years Eve 1999, and plays up his distinction as that rare Russian ruler who voluntarily left office, the museum barely recognizes the powerful oligarchs who divided up Russias wealth while the nation suffered (perhaps because some are among prominent donors listed on a wall in the center).

The calls to shut it down may involve political grandstanding by the likes of Mikhalkov, who thrived in the 1990s by making movies that never would have made it into Soviet theaters. But a petition on Change.org to close down the Yeltsin Center is accompanied by genuine expressions of pain.

My family also suffered from the [Soviet] collapse and its consequences, and we survived, commented one of the signers, Marina Vasiliyeva. The museum and the respect it affords Yeltsin, she wrote, spits in the face of ordinary people.

Sorokina, 32, gets this. Her parents were scientists whose relatively comfortable Soviet lifestyle took a huge hit in the new Russia. She recalls her mother not being able to buy bread, and not being able to buy milk to bake bread. The family relied on her grandparents, who had a house in the country with a small farm.

It was a very difficult time, Sorokina said. But it was worth it, she said, for the opportunities we were able to gain, the new freedoms we fought for.

Sorokina avoids openly criticizing the Putin administration. But she does not back down from what she considers her mission.

We are constantly under criticism, we are constantly under watch, we are constantly criticized, she said. But if were criticized, there must be something right that we are doing.

Read more:

Putin cant find a national idea for Russians, so hes proposing a law to do it

Russia girds for next Putin presidency as some look past it

Yeltsin resigns: I did all I could.

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
An hours-long hostage drama at an airport on the Mediterranean island of Malta ended peacefully Friday with two hijackers who had threatened to blow up a Libyan passenger jet choosing instead to surrender to authorities.

Their arrest brought to a close a tense international confrontation that began when the two hijackers  apparently armed with a hand grenade and handguns  commandeered the plane over Libyan skies, then diverted it 300 miles north to Malta.

For hours, Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 sat on the runway with 117 people on board while authorities negotiated and camouflage-clad troops lay in wait.

The hijackers surrender came after all of the flights passengers had been safely released. In the final moments of the crisis, the flights crew walked down the stairs, with at least one hijacker calmly following.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the men had a hand grenade and a pistol. Another pistol was later found on the aircraft.

A picture taken on Dec. 23, 2016 in Valletta, Malta, shows a group of hostages being released from the Afriqiyah Airways A320 after it was hijacked from Libya. (Matthew Mirabelli/AFP/Getty Images)

It was not clear how the weapons were smuggled aboard in Libya. But Muscat said authorities had managed to steer events away from violence once the plane landed in Malta.



It was a very good day  no casualties, and people are safe, a smiling Muscat told reporters.

Muscat said that Maltese authorities had refused to negotiate with the hijackers and insisted that they release their hostages. He said the men had not made specific demands, and their motives were unclear.

In an interview during the standoff with a Libyan broadcaster, Libya Channel, the flight's captain said the two hijackers were in their 30s and were asking for political asylum and for the establishment of a new Libyan party, al-Fateh al-Jadeed. The captain identified the men as Ahmed Ali and Mousa Shaha.

In a separate interview with the broadcaster, Shaha confirmed those demands and said he was in the custody of Maltese authorities. The interview was cut off before he could say more.

Maltese television showed one of the men  well-dressed in a gray suit jacket  waving the green flag of the former regime of Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafi as he exited the plane.

The Times of Malta reported that the hijackers claimed to be from a little-known Libyan faction called Fatah al-Gadida, and were backers of the late dictator in a country that has been wracked by internal unrest since Gaddafis downfall in 2011. Gaddafi loyalists in Libya, however, insisted that the men were unknown to them.





Fridays Afriqiyah flight had been scheduled to land in Libyas capital, Tripoli, and had originated in the southwestern Libyan city of Sabha. The plane was carrying 111 passengers, including 82 men, 28 women and an infant, Muscat said.

The Sabha region is known as a hub for arms smuggling and traffickers taking migrants from Libya and other points in Africa on the journey to the Mediterranean for clandestine ships bound for Europe.

The first signs of a peaceful resolution to Fridays standoff came just over two hours after the flight landed, when women and children were permitted to disembark. Later, male passengers were also allowed to leave the plane.

Many of the passengers appeared relaxed as they came off the flight. A crew member stood at the top of the stairs, occasionally smiling and laughing.

The hijacking brought, for a few hours at least, another security crisis to the European Union just days after an attack on a Berlin Christmas market killed 12 people. The main suspect in the Berlin attack, a Tunisian, was killed in a shootout with Italian police Friday.

Malta, a tiny nation of less than half a million people that lies south of Sicily, is an E.U. member.

Mahfouz reported from Cairo. Karla Adam in London and Sudarsan Raghavan in Cairo contributed to this report.

Read more

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Before lunchtime Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump said he would expand the U.S. nuclear arsenal, upending a reduction course set by presidents of both parties over the past four decades, and called for the United States to veto a pending U.N. resolution that criticized Israels settlements policy.

The policy prescriptions, communicated in morning tweets, followed calls since last months election to reconsider the arms-length U.S. relationship with Taiwan and to let China keep an underwater U.S. vessel seized by its navy. Trump declared within hours of this weeks Berlin terrorist attack that it was part of a global Islamic State campaign to slaughter Christians and later said it reaffirmed the wisdom of his plans to bar Muslim immigrants.

Late Thursday, Trump suggested in another tweet that the U.S. militarys years-in-the-making plans for a new stealth fighter, Lockheed Martins F-35, might be reconsidered, saying he had asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!

With weeks to go before he becomes president, Trump has not hesitated to voice his opinions on national security issues of the day and to publicly advise the current president on what to do about them.

[Trump says he wants to greatly strengthen and expand U.S. nuclear capability]

1 of 35 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Heres a look at Trumps administration so far View Photos The men and women the president-elect has selected for his Cabinet and White House team. Caption The men and women the president-elect has selected for his Cabinet and White House team. Scott Gottlieb, nominee for commissioner of FDA President Trump is set to nominate Scott Gottlieb, a conservative physician and businessman with deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry, to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, a White House official said. Courtesy of American Enterprise Institute/via Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

Ultimately, the nuclear statement was tempered by a Trump spokesman. And the likely fallout from a tentative decision by the Obama administration to break years of precedent and abstain on the Israel resolution was avoided when Egypt, its sponsor, abruptly postponed it just hours before a scheduled Security Council vote.

But the president-elects pronouncements have privately riled a White House that has repeatedly insisted in public that the transition has been smooth sailing.

Asked last week whether he was trying to help Trump, a professed admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, understand Russias responsibility for the civil-war carnage in Aleppo, Syria, President Obama said he would help President-elect Trump with any advice, counsel, information that we can provide so that he, once hes sworn in, can make a decision.

Between now and then, Obama said firmly, it was up to him to decide what to do. These are decisions that I have to make based on the consultations that I have with our military and the people who have been working this every day.

Even as the White House has held its tongue, however, others have not.

Trump provided no details in his tweet calling for the United States to greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability. But if he means what he says, said Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, a Washington-based security foundation, this could be the end of the arms-control process that reduced 80 percent of our Cold War arsenal.

[Donald Trump is about to learn the nations deep secrets]

Former congressman John Tierney (D-Mass.), executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said in a statement, It is dangerous for the President-elect to use just 140 characters and announce a major change in U.S. nuclear weapons policy, which is nuanced, complex, and affects every single person on this planet.

Under New START, the treaty negotiated by Obama with Russia and ratified by the Senate in 2010, the United States and Russia by February 2018 must have no more than 1,550 strategic weapons deployed. While there is widespread agreement that the U.S. deterrent must be modernized, little enthusiasm has been expressed elsewhere for increasing the number of nuclear warheads.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller later said that was not precisely what Trump meant. Rather than calling for more nuclear weapons, Miller told Yahoo News, he was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability.

The president-elects U.N. tweet was more explicit and more immediate. The resolution being considered . . . should be vetoed, he said in a pre-dawn tweet referring to the Egyptian measure. The resolution condemned the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and mostly Palestinian East Jerusalem, along with the transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians.

[Trump, Obama on possible collision course over Israeli settlement vote]

Saying the settlements have no legal validity, it demanded that Israel immediately cease all settlement activities.

Although consideration of such a measure has been circulated at the United Nations for weeks  and similar measures have for years brought a consistent U.S. veto  it was not until Wednesday night that word began to circulate that the United States might abstain and allow it to pass.

While successive administrations have considered the settlements an impediment to an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Obama administration has grown increasingly irate over what it feels is Israels flouting of its concerns.

Over the past six months, Israel has announced plans to add hundreds of units to existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. A July announcement that 770 new homes were to be built in the East Jerusalem settlement of Gilo drew particularly sharp U.S. criticism.

At the same time, right-wing voices in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pushing for legislation that would legalize settlements built on privately owned Palestinian land. The legalization bill stems from a court-ordered demolition of the Amona settlement, which sits on land owned by a Palestinian farmer.

Amona was meant to be demolished next week, but on Thursday it received an additional month of reprieve from the court. Residents brokered a deal with the government to move their homes to a nearby location, essentially creating a new settlement.

During the campaign, Trump frequently criticized what he described as the administrations failure to fully support Israel. Last week, he named David Friedman  a New York bankruptcy lawyer who has given strong financial support and other backing to the Israeli settlement movement and has said Trump supports Israeli annexation of Palestinian territory  as his ambassador to Israel.

During the campaign, Trump also charged that Obama had helped promote terrorism by supporting the ouster of a friendly regime in Egypt  that of long-standing autocrat Hosni Mubarak  and more recently by failing to fully back the military government that overthrew Mubaraks elected replacement.

In an interview last weekend with a Portuguese news agency, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi said that Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and Egypt in particular. I am looking forward and expecting more support and reinforcement of our bilateral relations.

Once it became clear late Wednesday that the settlements vote was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, Trump officials said the transition gave the administration a heads-up that the president-elect was going to publicly call for a U.S. veto.

At the end of the day Thursday, it was not entirely clear what led Egypt to withdraw the resolution. At the State Department, spokesman John Kirby said that Egypt had pulled it back in order to have discussions with its Arab League partners over the wording of the text.

Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who supported an abstention and was clearly expecting to deliver a pre-vote speech announcing it, along with an outline of future prospects for Middle East peace, canceled his plans. Elsewhere within the administration, officials said Israel had twisted Egypts arm and threatened to work against its interests in Congress.

Several Arab officials said they were convinced that the United States had pressured Egypt to postpone the vote.

In Israel, where a late-night cabinet meeting was convened Wednesday to consider the possibility of a U.S. abstention, Netanyahu sent out a dead-of-night tweet calling for a U.S. veto. It was quickly followed by Trumps own, near-identical tweet.

Deriding the imposition of terms set by the United Nations, Trump said in a later statement that passage of the resolution would put Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.

After initial hesitation on whether Trump should weigh in, the statement was written late Wednesday by Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and an influential adviser to the president-elect, and Stephen K. Bannon, Trumps chief strategist, according to two people briefed on the deliberation who were not authorized to speak publicly. They said that Kushner and Bannon consulted with several allies in Israel and the United States but declined to name them.

The effort represented perhaps Kushners most significant foray to date into foreign policy and the Middle East, where Trump has said he would welcome his son-in-laws involvement.

After the statement was issued Thursday, a transition official told the Reuters news agency, Trump spoke by telephone with Sissi.

Carol Morello and Robert Costa in Washington and Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Read more:

Trump turning away intelligence briefers since election win

Trumps national security adviser shared secrets without permission, files show
A newly declassified House Intelligence Committee report states that Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who passed secrets to journalists, has had, and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services  but says the evidence is classified.

Snowden, 33, has been in Moscow since June 2013, when he left the country to avoid prosecution for sharing classified information about NSA and other intelligence-agency programs.

His material, provided to outlets including The Washington Post, led to some significant changes to intelligence gathering, such as a ban on the governments mass collection of Americans phone metadata. It also sparked controversy over whether some of the revelations damaged national security.

The 37-page report, completed in September and issued in declassified form Thursday with substantial redactions, does not provide any evidence for the assertion. Instead it says the cited material [is] classified.

Snowden has said he never gave information to Russian intelligence. He told Yahoo anchor Katie Couric in an interview this month that Russians did try to get him to talk: And I said, Look, guys, I dont have any information. I dont have any documents. Im not going to cooperate. He said that the government has left me alone, for the most part.

Ben Wizner, one of Snowdens attorneys and a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, said that if the committee had any evidence to support that false accusation, they would show it.

The report also cites a NPR report that quotes a Russian parliament member who, the intelligence committee said, asserted that Snowden did share intelligence with the government.

Snowden told Couric that the NPR report involved a mistranslation in which the individual was speculating that Russias spy services would approach him. It didnt happen, he said. Ive never shared information with Russias intelligence services.

Snowden has said repeatedly that he did not take any documents when he left Hong Kong, where he had initially flown after leaving the United States in 2013. And while Im sure they were disappointed, he said of the Russians, it doesnt take long for an intelligence service to realize when theyre out of luck.

In a June YouTube interview, former NSA deputy director Chris Inglis said he doubted that Snowden was in the employ of the Chinese or the Russians. Said Inglis, I dont see any evidence that would indicate that, and even if they were careful in terms of practicing denial and deception, I think there would be certain telltales that would show that Snowden was giving up intelligence.

The committee chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), said the report gives the public a fuller account of Edward Snowdens crimes and the reckless disregard he has shown for U.S. national security. . . . It will take a long time to mitigate the damage he caused, and I look forward to the day when he returns to the United States to face justice.

The committees ranking Democrat, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), said, Snowden and his defenders claim that he is a whistleblower, but he isnt, as the committees review shows.

Snowden tweeted his response: Bottom line: this reports core claims are made without evidence, and are often contrary to both common sense and the public record.

The reports allegations come as Snowdens supporters are making a push to have President Obama pardon him, arguing he is a whistleblower whose acts revealed government surveillance of breathtaking scope.

The committee has urged Obama not to grant a pardon, asserting that Snowden carried out the largest and most damaging leak of classified information in U.S. history.
(Jhaan Elker/The Washington Post)

When the Islamic State was seeking volunteers for a holiday killing rampage in Europe, it sent word over its favorite social-media channel: the messaging service known as Telegram.

Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years Day is very soon, began a Dec. 6 posting on one of the terrorist groups usual Telegram bulletin boards. So lets prepare a gift for the filthy pigs/apes.

Two weeks later, when a truck mowed down pedestrians at a crowded Berlin Christmas market, the group again used Telegram, this time to claim credit for the attack. On Friday, after chief suspect Anis Amri was killed in a Milan shootout, Telegram broadcast his posthumous video. The Tunisian migrant had fled Berlin and crisscrossed France and Italy before being stopped by Italian police looking for a burglary suspect. In his video he pledges allegiance to the Islamic State and issues a chilling warning to Westerners: God willing, we will slaughter you.

The words and images flew across the globe over a network that terrorist leaders describe as ideal for their purposes  one that is highly discreet, with its heavy encryption and secret chat rooms, but also highly permissive, allowing violent Islamist groups to exchange ideas and spread propaganda with minimal interference. The same conclusion has been reached by terrorism analysts who say Telegram is now overwhelmingly preferred by extremist groups such as the Islamic State, in part because the company has failed to adopt the aggressive measures used by its competitors to kick terrorists off its channels.

A report this week by an organization that monitors Islamist militants Internet communications calls Telegram the app of choice for many ISIS, pro-ISIS and other jihadi and terrorist elements. The study describes the terrorists mass migration to Telegram as one of the most striking developments in the field recently. ISIS is one of the common acronyms for the Islamic State.

It has surpassed Twitter as the most important platform, said Steven Stalinsky, lead author of the report by the Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute, also known as MEMRI. All the big groups are on it. We see ISIS talking about the benefits of Telegram and encouraging its followers to use it.



Mansour Al-Hadj, top, and Anat Agron, part of MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor project, monitor the social-media site Telegram on Dec. 22 in their office in Washington. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

[Muslims will face two choices: The strategy behind ISISs call for Christmas attacks]

Terrorists use of Telegram has been a growing concern among U.S. and European counterterrorism officials for more than a year, as well as a source of numerous inquiries and complaints lodged against the German-based company and its creator, Pavel Durov, a 32-year-old Russian national who launched the service in 2013 with his brother Nikolai.

Just three days before the assault on the Berlin Christmas market, senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee urged Durov to immediately take steps to block content from the Islamic State, warning that terrorists were using the platform not only to spread propaganda but also to coordinate actual attacks.

No private company should allow its services to be used to promote terrorism and plan out attacks that spill innocent blood, stated the letter, signed by Rep. Ted Poe (R-Tex.), the chairman of the panels subcommittee on terrorism and nonproliferation, and Rep. Brad Sherman (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

Efforts this week to reach Telegrams founder through his social-media accounts were unsuccessful.

Durov, who fled Russia in 2014 and now lives in a kind of self-imposed exile as a citizen of the island state of Saint Kitts and Nevis, has in past interviews and essays defended his companys efforts at self-policing, noting that Telegram shut down 78 channels used by the Islamic State in the wake of the Nov. 13, 2015, terrorist attack in Paris. In March, Durov told CBSs 60 Minutes that he was horrified to see terrorist groups infesting Telegrams chat rooms, and he said the company was trying to do more to stop them.

But Durov also contends that it is impossible to fully prevent terrorists from taking advantage of the encrypted communication services Telegram offers to its 100 million active users, a global network that includes millions of people living in countries that deny citizens the right to free expression.

Theres little you can do, because if you allow this tool to be used for good, there will always be some people who would misuse it, Durov told CBS.

[Search for Berlin attacker roils Germany]

But critics of the company  a cohort that includes high-ranking U.S. counterterrorism officials  say Telegram could do more. A primary reason for the German firms popularity with violent groups is the fact that rival social-media companies have aggressively cracked down on them, U.S. officials say. Facebook and Twitter  two firms that were once criticized for allowing terrorist postings on their pages  have received high marks in recent months for their efforts to find and block radical Islamist content as soon as the material surfaces.



These images on the left and right show a conversation among Islamic State supporters on the Germany-based app Telegram discussing a possible plot to attack U.S. and British targets. (Middle East Media Research Institute)

Terrorism analysts say Telegram is now overwhelmingly preferred by extremist groups such the Islamic State. (Middle East Media Research Institute)

Positive steps by Twitter, for example, are part of the reason Telegram is becoming the new thing, said a senior administration official involved in tracking the Islamic States online presence. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive analysis of the terrorist groups operations, called the migration to Telegram a major cause of concern, in part because of encryption features that make it harder for law enforcement officials to discover and thwart the terrorists plans.

Its alarming because it shows theyre really good at adapting to new means, the official said. To stop attacks, private companies and government officials must stay a step ahead of the terrorists and figure out how to deny them these capabilities before they even start using them, he said, adding, That simply hasnt been the case with Telegram.

New easy-to-use features installed by Telegram have made the task of preempting terrorism even harder, government officials and private experts say.

Originally a phone-based software with a relatively small but devoted following, Telegram last year introduced a new version for desktop computers that made it easier to transmit videos and large files as well as private messages.

New end to end encryption was added in April to give users an extra assurance of privacy. Independent analysts have described the quality of Telegrams encryption as military grade, meaning that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to crack. Users can also opt for a self-destruct feature in which private messages disappear as soon as they are read.

MEMRIs Stalinsky monitors hundreds of jihadist-related Telegram channels from a bank of computers at his office, watching live chats joined by individuals who sign on to forums linked to the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and dozens of other groups. Often, he says, a participant in one of the open discussions will signal that he wants to have a private conversation. That typically means joining a temporary, invitation-only secret chat group that will exist for only a few hours and then disappear.

If youre not watching at that precise moment, youd never know about it, Stalinsky said.

[The Berlin attack is no surprise. Experts have issued warnings for years.]

Even the more public conversations often convey specific instructions about bombmaking or potential targets for terrorist attacks. In recent months, Islamic State leaders and supporters have posted messages on Telegram containing lengthy kill lists of Westerners the terrorists sought to mark for execution, as well as appeals to sympathetic scientists and engineers to join the Islamic States efforts to produce advanced weapons.

Last month, Stalinsky, using an anonymous user name, gained entrance to a secret Telegram chat in which self-described British and American supporters of the Islamic State discussed ideas for attacking the U.S. Embassy in London.

Stalinsky alerted U.S. officials to the conversation, and there is no known evidence suggesting that the would-be terrorists put their plan into motion. But images of the text exchange show the participants discussing in detail the logistics for such an attack, including weapons and travel arrangements. The individuals even discuss whether they should take steps to avoid killing women and children.

Women and children should be off limits, one of the participants wrote. We do not want to be like kuffar [infidels].

The fact that the group allowed a complete stranger to monitor the chat suggests that the plotters were not true Islamic State operatives. While Telegrams users include senior terrorist leaders and operatives, many chat-room inhabitants appear to be merely fanboys and wannabes, and some clearly are not that smart, Stalinsky said.

Yet, even bumblers are capable of striking a blow for the Islamic State. And using Telegram, Stalinsky said, the naive and willing have opportunities to connect with professionals  experts at the tools of terrorism and the use of social media  to put deadly plans into action.

The West has been generally two steps behind the jihadis when it comes to cyber, Stalinsky said. Many people in government are still focused on Twitter, and they need to be. But what we tell them is, Thats no longer the main story. 

Read more:

Is air power really effective in the fight against the Islamic State? It depends.

Reward for information on ISIS leader increased to $25 million

Anatomy of a takedown: How the U.S. killed ISISs No. 2
In this Dec. 12 photo, National Security Advise-designate Michael T. Flynn, waits for an elevator at Trump Tower in New York. (Kathy Willens/AP)

President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for national security adviser partnered in recent months with a technology company co-led by a businessman who pleaded guilty to trying to sell stolen scientific material in the 1980s to the KGB, the former Soviet intelligence service.

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn joined the advisory board of Brainwave Science in February, company documents show. The Massachusetts firm develops controversial brain fingerprinting technology designed to assess whether people under interrogation are being truthful by measuring their brain waves. The firm offers training in how to use the technology, in partnership with Flynns consulting firm, Flynn Intel Group, according to Brainwaves website.

One of Brainwaves two-member board of directors was Sabu Kota, an Indian-born software engineer who pleaded guilty in 1996 to selling stolen biotech material to an FBI agent posing as a Soviet spy. Prosecutors said the sale stemmed from what they called Kotas involvement in a spy ring that passed sensitive defense technology to the KGB between 1985 and 1990, according to a Defense Department summary of the case.

Brainwave Science removed Kotas name from the company website sometime between Thursday and Friday, when Bloomberg News published a report about Flynns ties to the firm, according to a search of archived Google data. Company officials and officials from Trumps transition team did not respond to requests for comment on Friday, and Kota did not respond to messages left at his home.

Kotas lawyer denied that he had any connection to spying when he was charged in 1995, and Kota told Bloomberg that the criminal charges were a misunderstanding and stemmed from a patent dispute, not espionage.

Bloomberg also quoted a Trump transition official as saying that Flynn had no dealings with Kota during his time working with Brainwave and that he has ended his association with the firm.

The connection between Flynn  a decorated military intelligence officer and former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency  and the company is the latest controversy involving relations between Russia and Trump or members of his team. Trump has faced criticism for expressing his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and on Friday the president-elect released what he called a very nice letter from the Russian leader.

Flynn stunned former colleagues when he traveled to Moscow last year to appear alongside Putin at a lavish gala for the state-run channel RT, a trip Flynn admitted he was paid to make. Former U.S. officials said Flynn, seen dining next to Putin in photos published by Russian outlets, was used as a prop by the autocratic leader.

Flynn defended the trip, saying he saw no distinction between RT and U.S. news channels such as CNN, and that he had pressed Putins government to behave more responsibly in international affairs.

The length and precise nature of Flynns contacts with the Brainwave firm could not be determined on Friday. Bloomberg reported that Flynn was supposed to help drum up new business for the firm with U.S. agencies, and that he has met with company officials at least 10 times. The meetings reportedly were held as late as September, when Flynn helped pitch Brainwaves services to officials from the Bangladeshi defense forces.

Independent scientists have disputed the accuracy and reliability of brain fingerprinting, and Brainwave has not released research supporting its claims that the tool is highly effective.

But Bloomberg quoted Brainwave President Krishna Ika as saying that Flynn had tested the device himself, donning a helmet-like headpiece fitted with sensors. He found it very convincing, Ika told the news service.

1 of 35 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Heres a look at Trumps administration so far View Photos The men and women the president-elect has selected for his Cabinet and White House team. Caption The men and women the president-elect has selected for his Cabinet and White House team. Scott Gottlieb, nominee for commissioner of FDA President Trump is set to nominate Scott Gottlieb, a conservative physician and businessman with deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry, to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, a White House official said. Courtesy of American Enterprise Institute/via Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

Julie Tate and Laura Helmuth contributed to this report.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not abide by the resolutions terms. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out Saturday at what he called the old-world bias against Israel, attacking President Obama and the United Nations over a resolution that criticized Israels settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu compared Obama to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, whom he called hostile to Israel and the last president to break with U.S. commitments to support the state. Those who try to harm Israel will pay a high price, the prime minister said, adding that Israel would fight to cancel Fridays resolution.

The resolution is distorted. It states that the Jewish quarter and the Western Wall are occupied, which is absurd, said Netanyahu, referring to holy Jewish sites that sit within the Old City in East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu balanced his harsh words about Obama with his most explicit statement yet in enthusiastic anticipation of Obamas successor, Donald Trump.

Israeli leaders on Saturday seemed to be counting down the days to Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration, hoping he will offer a more sympathetic approach to Israel and bring an end to what one senior minister called Obamas support for Palestinian intransigence, incitement, violence and terror.

Later Saturday, the U.S. president-elect tweeted that the United Nations action will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!

The resolution, which was brought for a vote Friday in the U.N. Security Council, declared that settlements built on land Israel has occupied since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war have no legal validity and are a threat to the possibility of creating two states  one for Israelis and one for Palestinians.

The 15-member council passed the resolution 14 to 0, with the United States, in a break from standard practice, abstaining rather than vetoing. It was the first resolution adopted by the council on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.

The vote also sparked strong reactions among U.S. lawmakers. On Saturday, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) told CNN he will ask Congress to rescind funding for the United Nations unless it repeals the resolution on settlements.

If you cant show the American people that international organizations can be more responsible, there is going to be a break, Graham said. I cant support funding a body that singles out the only democracy in the Middle East who shares our values.

In a statement after the vote, Netanyahu said the Obama administration had not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the U.N., it has colluded with it behind the scenes.

Netanyahu called the resolution shameful and said Israel would not abide by its terms.

For the first time since the U.S. election, Netanyahu stated clearly that he looked forward to working with Trump, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution.

Netanyahu and his ministers have generally refrained from making public statements about Trump, but subtle words and gestures have suggested that the Israeli leadership is buoyed by the incoming administration.

The Israeli officials now seem eager to see the back of Obama, who has clashed regularly with Netanyahu over numerous issues, especially the settlements.

[Israel rejects latest U.S. criticism of settlement policy]

About 400,000 Jewish settlers live on 125 settlements and 100 outposts in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Over the past six months, Israel has announced plans to add hundreds of units to existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, each time drawing rebuke from the White House.

More recently, right-wing voices in Netanyahus government have pushed legislation to legalize settlements built on privately owned Palestinian land, a step also frowned upon by the Obama administration.

Trump, on the other hand, has indicated he might bring a fresh approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last week, he nominated a close adviser and outspoken supporter of Israels settlements, New York lawyer David Friedman, as ambassador to Israel. And on Thursday, he tweeted that The resolution being considered . . . should be vetoed.

[Israel says theres never been a more right-wing U.S. ambassador than Trumps pick]

The potential change in direction might explain why there was such urgency to bring the resolution to a vote Friday, as well as the U.S. decision not to veto it.

A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive internal discussions, said the Security Council vote was preceded by months of back-and-forth discussions about numerous draft resolutions in circulation.

The official said the White House would not back any measure that delegitimized Israel or imposed a solution on the two parties, and would veto any resolution that omitted mention of Palestinian incitement to violence and terrorism.

Late Wednesday night, Obama spoke by phone with advisers including Vice President Biden, Secretary of State John F. Kerry, national security adviser Susan E. Rice and Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Obama said he was open to abstaining from a vote on an Egyptian resolution scheduled for Thursday.

But the Egyptians withdrew their resolution after President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi spoke with Trump, who had been approached by worried Israeli officials.

New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal stepped in and sponsored their own settlements resolution. On Friday morning, Obama authorized an abstention. It was relayed to Power through Rice.

Following the vote, Netanyahu ordered diplomatic steps against the countries that had brought the resolution and with whom Israel has diplomatic relations.

He instructed Israels ambassadors in New Zealand and Senegal to immediately return to Israel and canceled a planned visit to Israel by the Senegalese foreign minister scheduled for next month. He also suspended Israeli aid programs in Senegal.

On Saturday, Netanyahu reportedly canceled an upcoming visit by Ukranian Prime Minister Vlodymyr Groysman. He also said he would cancel Israels financial contributions to five U.N. agencies.

In Cairo, Sissis government was left struggling to defend its actions, after first sponsoring the resolution and then withdrawing it. Although it ultimately voted in favor, Egypt drew criticism at home and in the Arab world for giving the appearance it had folded in the face of Israeli pressure.

After the resolution passed Friday, the countrys representative to the United Nations said the decision to withdraw had been procedural and was taken because of pressures that the draft has met.

Among Palestinians, as well as Arab countries seen as friendly to Israel, the resolution was viewed as a victory.

Saeb Erekat, a former peace negotiator and the No. 2 in the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the vote was a clear and unanimous message to Netanyahu that your policies will not achieve peace and security for Israel or the region.

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzy Barhoum said: Hamas appreciates the position of the countries that voted in the Security Council for the right of the Palestinian people (to live) on their land, Agence France-Presse reported.

Israeli leaders across the political spectrum, however, criticized the U.N. decision.

I strongly oppose this harsh resolution, which is a strategic defeat for Israel, opposition leader Isaac Herzog said, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Speaking on Israeli television Saturday, he laid the blame for the defeat on Netanyahus foreign policy.

Israel Katz, a senior government minister from Netanyahus ruling Likud party said Obama had reached a new low when he turned his back on Americas ally Israel.

Obamas decision at the end of his presidency to abandon the political umbrella which the United States has traditionally provided Israel in the Security Council will unfortunately only deepen the Israeli publics distrust and allow the Palestinians to continue to evade responsibility, Katz said.

Kareem Fahim and Heba Farouk Mahfouz in Cairo and Carol Morello and Michael Kranish in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

A stormy alliance between Obama and Netanyahu reaches its end in New York

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Four days after the terror attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, the authorities released more evidence pointing to the man they have named as the chief suspect, Tunisian-born Anis Amri. A joint press statement issued by Chancellor Angela Merkel, Justice Minister Heiko Maas and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere stated that Amris fingerprints were found in the truck that ploughed into the market, killing 12 people and injuring 48 others.

De Maiziere said there were additional indications that the suspect is very likely the culprit. An identity document in Amris name had been found in the cab of the truck, which provided the security authorities with important information about the suspect, including photos.

Heavily armed security forces are searching for Amri throughout Europe. According to media reports, police stormed an apartment in Dortmund and arrested four persons. On Thursday morning, some 100 police, including heavily armed Special Forces, searched a refugee shelter in Emmerich on the Rhine in which the Tunisian suspect had reportedly stayed.

Also on Thursday, Danish police looking for Amri searched a ferry. They said they had gotten a tip that the suspect was on board a ship sailing from Grenaa in Jutland to Sweden. They came up empty-handed, however.

The identification of the alleged perpetrator and the pan-European manhunt to capture him raise many troubling and unanswered questions.

Why was the wallet containing Amris identification document discovered in the truck only many hours after the attack took place? According to the official version, investigators initially only sent sniffer dogs into the cab of the truck, with the aim of enabling the dogs to pick up the scent of the perpetrator. There was supposedly no thorough search until many hours later.

It is clear that the security authorities had Amri in their sights immediately after Mondays attack. Zeit online published an article stating: While the public was still wondering up until Tuesday if a young Pakistani had carried out the attack, investigators had long since followed another trail leading to A.

According to Die Welt, the prosecutor general and the BKA (National Crime Agency) were annoyed that photos of suspects were published prematurely.

If Amri is the perpetrator, then the attack in Berlin conforms to the pattern that has emerged in virtually every major terror attack worldwide this century, beginning with the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. In that case, as with the attacks in Boston and more recently in Paris and Brussels, the perpetrators were known to the secret services and the police.

Prior to Amris arrival in Germany in the middle of 2015, he had spent four years in prison in Italy for arson, bodily injury and theft. In Germany, he quickly came to the attention of the state, which classified him as an Islamic threat and placed him under surveillance.

He was also well known to intelligence agencies across Europe and in the US, where he was put on the governments no-fly list.

Bavarian Radio has reported an entry in the so-called Threat File from March of this year, according to which Amri sought to recruit other people throughout Germany to carry out Islamist-motivated attacks together with him. He was planning, according to the entry, to smuggle large-caliber rapid firearms via contact persons in the French Islamist scene, and it was probable that he would pursue his terror plans persistently and long-term.

Spiegel Online wrote that Amri apparently came to the attention of the German security authorities some months ago, having made alarming remarks. Following investigations into several hate preachers, results from telecommunications surveillance revealed that Amri apparently offered to act as a suicide bomber. Furthermore, Amri had asked a contact of the security authorities how he could obtain weapons.

Die Welt reported that Amri was active in the circle around the Salafist preacher Abu Walaa, who has been in prison since November 8. Walaa is accused of leading an Islamic group that recruits young men for the Islamic State (ISIS). The newspaper Tageszeitung stated that the police had Amri in their sights because he allegedly recruited fighters for IS and was looking for weapons. During this time, he also had contact with a police undercover agent.

Amri had also been categorized as a threat by the authorities in Berlinas a militant Islamist who is capable of violent acts. He was observed from March to September this year. Information was available that the Tunisian planned a burglary in order to raise money for the purchase of automatic weapons. According to the attorney generals office, the aim was possibly to commit an attack later with the help of those still to be recruited.

In the late autumn, proceedings commenced against Amri for preparing a serious state-threatening act, and were later continued by the Berlin prosecutors office, according to Die Zeit. However, according to the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Ralf Jager, the investigation was halted. The minister has given no explanation for the termination of the investigation.

Despite all the alarm bells, Amri was not arrested or deported, noted Die Welt. The newspaper reported that a photo of Amri on his Facebook page portrayed him in typical jihadist look. The picture was liked by family members, two policemen, and an employee of the Tunisian Interior Ministry. That Amri links the Libyan terror group Ansar al-Sharia, with their logo on his page, did not seem to have disturbed them.

Ansar al-Sharia is a group with loose links to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State in Libya. In 2011, it was part of the Western-backed Islamic rebels who toppled the regime of Muammar al-Gaddafi with the help of NATO bombs and were later classified as terrorist organizations.

Political circles and the media declare endlessly that the authorities lost sight of Amri after he went underground at the beginning of December. It is not clear yet whether this is a story about the failure of the state, or a story about how difficult it is for the state to keep an eye on the growing scene of danger, wrote journalists Hans Leyendecker and Georg Mascolo in the Suddeutsche Zeitung .

Nobody asks the obvious and decisive question: Are there forces in political circles and the security apparatus who knew about the planned attack and were prepared to allow or even support it in order to advance their extreme right-wing agenda of building up the repressive powers of the state, agitating against refugees and promoting militarism?
The Maharashtra government has finally seems to have satisfied the Bombay High Court with its efforts at checking noise pollution in the state.

By Vidya : People in Maharashtra can hope for a peaceful and noise-free Xmas and New Year celebrations.

Maharashtra government on Friday filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court saying that they had distributed noise pollution measuring meters to concerned authorities across the state.

The Bombay High Court had slammed the Maharashtra government for not adhering to the repeated directions to implement steps promised in the court.

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READ| Noise pollution: Bombay High Court may jail retired babu for disobeying orders

After severe reprimand from the high court, the Maharashtra government submitted its response informing it that officers had been trained to check any violation of noise norms set by the Supreme Court.

Here are the highlights: The state told the high court that 1853 noise meters have been received of which 1722 meters have already been distributed. Rest will be distributed soon. A division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka has been hearing a number of public interest litigation with regards to noise pollution. Justice Oka pointed out that it was way back in the year 2000 that the Supreme Court had set the guidelines under which noise decibels had to be controlled in silent zones and residential and commercial areas. Justice Oka said, "What should the court understand when after all these years, compliance of the Supreme Court orders have not been done. How will these rules be implemented when the decibel meters have not been procured by each and every police station in the state?" Appearing for the government, senior advocate Ashutosh Kumbhakoni assured the court that if compliance was not met this time around, the state government would accept any orders passed by the high court. These assurances came after Bombay High Court had last week found former additional chief secretary KP Bakshi guilty of contempt of court. Bakshi had been summoned by court for sentencing but seeing the assurances now being provided by the state government Justice Oka even noted in a lighter vein, "If government is so touchy about contempt notices against civil servant let us know against whom notices are to be sent." With government's assurance that it would see to it that noise levels are maintained, Justice Oka said, "Satisfy us that compliance of the rules and affidavits done or give us the names of the officers who are not doing it." The high court scheduled the next date of hearing on January 24, when state government would be filing a report on noise norms violations and what measures were taken to file cases against the culprits.

ALSO WATCH:

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Family members of some of the 29 men who died in the 2010 Pike River mine disaster are protesting against moves to permanently seal the mine entrance. For the past month the families, along with numerous supporters, have barricaded the mines access road on the West Coast of New Zealands South Island. Hundreds of people have joined protests at the remote location.

The government and the state-owned company Solid Energy, which bought the mine in 2012 after Pike River Coal went bankrupt, have refused to re-enter the mine to search for bodies and physical evidence about the precise cause of the 2010 explosions. This is despite a promise made by then Prime Minister John Key before the 2011 election that the mine would be re-entered.

No one has been held accountable for the tragedy, even though a royal commission in 2012 found it was entirely preventable. There were gross breaches of safety by Pike River Coal, including inadequate methane gas monitoring and ventilation, and no suitable emergency exit. The company placed production and profit over the safety of its workers and ignored repeated warnings about dangerous conditions.

Charges initially laid against Pike Rivers CEO Peter Whittall were dropped by the government in 2013 as part of a backroom deal with Whittalls lawyers. The decision is being appealed by Sonya Rockhouse, who lost her son Ben in the disaster, and Anna Osborne, who lost her husband Milton (see: Families of New Zealand mine disaster victims seek justice).

The World Socialist Web Site spoke to Rockhouse and Osborne on Monday about the families blockade.

Osborne said: We have tried for six years now to get some sort of closure. The families who took action were sick of remaining dignified and quiet and going along with what the government said. We thought this was a huge injustice for our guys and we needed to do something about it. If we allow them to put concrete over the entrance that would be permanently entombing our men.

She explained that families want to re-enter the drift, the 2.3-kilometre tunnel that leads into the main body of the mine. Weve had it on good authority from former miners that there is a very high possibility that some of our loved ones remains are still up at the top end of the drift because it was a change of shift (at the time of the first explosion on November 19, 2010).

Both women agreed with statements by Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the explosion, that the mine should be treated as a crime scene.

Osborne commented: We do not just want to bring our loved ones out. Weve had no proof as to why this happened. This could provide the evidence we need. It could point the finger at a lot of people that didnt do their job properly. The government dont have the will and they dont want to go in there.

Rockhouse added: Im sure that they thought we would just get tired and curl up and die. They didnt count on us doing what weve done. I dont want my grandchildren to grow up in a world where theres lies and deceit and nothing is done about it. I want them to be able to question things. Theres no justice and thats a very bitter pill to swallow.

Rockhouse said there was no logical reason for Solid Energy to permanently seal the mine. I think that they are concerned about what possibly might be found. Who knows what evidence will be in the drift.

Solid Energy CEO Tony King met the families on November 30 and declared that the mine drift was too dangerous to enter. Rockhouse said he was not willing at all to listen to what we have to say. They have an agenda. He wasnt interested in entering into any discussion.

The families have presented a re-entry proposal to the company. The submission was drawn up by Dr David Creedy, vice chair of the United Nations Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane, and Bob Stevenson, former UK Principal Mines Inspector.

Asked about the potential danger of re-entering Pike River, Stevenson told Radio NZ on December 13: Theres always a mining solution to these risks if you have the finances and the wish to do it. New Zealands former chief mines inspector Tony Forster has endorsed the plan and said he would personally be willing to enter the tunnel.

The families protest has gained widespread support. Earlier this month, a local farmer gifted the families control over part of the access road to Pike River mine, which runs through his property. Solid Energy challenged the deal and this week claimed it has the legal right to use the road.

The families said they would not break the law and will allow Solid Energy access to the mine, but will continue their protest. Monk pointed out on Radio NZ that local contractors and suppliers are refusing to assist with sealing the mine. Allied Concrete announced on November 23 that it was withdrawing from a supply contract with Solid Energy out of respect for the families.

The families are not going to go away, Osborne told the WSWS. Were sick of being bullied. We have the support of so many people and weve gained confidence. Its very encouraging and humbling for the families. I cant thank those people enough for supporting us and putting pressure on the government.

Asked about the opposition Labour Party, which has recently voiced support for the families, Osborne noted that Labour leader Andrew Little was very clever with his words because he didnt actually make a commitment to going into the mine. Instead, Little called on the government to commission another independent expert to assess whether it is safe to re-enter.

Osborne and Rockhouse agreed with the WSWS that Labour shared responsibility for the disaster. The 19992008 Labour government contributed to the deregulation of safety and the downsizing of the countrys specialist mines inspectorate.

In the days following the November 2010 explosion Little, then leader of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, defended Pike River Coals safety record. He told the New Zealand Herald and Radio NZ that the union had no reason to be concerned about the mines operations. This was despite the fact that mine workers had previously protested against the lack of basic safety equipment.
In the seminal travel memoir, In Patagonia, Bruce Chatwin christened that stretch of our planet known for its sprawling fields, majestic peaks and frigid fjords that is Patagonia, the far end of the world. Eurocentric though the pronouncement may be, one can imagine then that Patagonia is not the easiest place for most of us to get to. Theres good news: the pilgrimage to one of the most ineffably breathtaking places on earth just got that much easier to make. On December 6, 2016, South Americas largest airline, LATAM, launched a seasonal direct flight that departs Chiles capital Santiago to Puerto Natales, the small town at the mouth of Chilean Patagonia.



Patagonia



How did one get to Patagonia, say from New York, before the launch of the direct flight? LATAM operates a route from JFK to Santiago, one on which the culinary enthusiast can be assured of a delicious voyage in the airlines premium business class cabin. (LATAM famously celebrates the richness of the Latin American region through the careful selection and preparation of local ingredients paired with wines from the southern cone curated by their master sommelier). Then, from Santiago the journey typically involved a three-hour flight to Punta Arenas followed by a three or so more hours driving up the poetically (and quite literally) named Ruta Del Fin Del Mundo (Road to The End of The World) to Puerto Natales. With LATAM offering four weekly direct flights (operated by Airbus A320) from Santiago to Puerto Natales during the peak summer months of January and February, at least 4 hours of trip time have been shaved off. All of this is to say, there truly is no excuse not to be awed by Patagonia while the skies are likely to to be storybook blue and the air is still crisp but a tad less hawkish.



Patagonia



Why must you experience Patagonia? Of course because it is home to Torres Del Paine National Park, the fifth most beautiful place on earth according to National Geographic, but the real question is how must you see Patagonia? I can think of no more singular way to bask in the splendor of the region than with, well, The Singular Hotel, Patagonia. What is is singular about Patagonia is the sense of a frozen time, almost primordial, that pervades the area. The Singular Hotel preserves this feeling in its century old structure, a partially renovated and completely rustic former cold storage plant set on the banks of the Fjord of Last Hope.

The hotel offers packages that include excursions and expeditions throughout the highlights of Chilean Patagonia: The Cueva del Milodon monument (Milodon Caves), where in 1985 the skin (and other parts) of the giant ground sloth which inspired Chatwins sojourn to the Magellan region were first found; horse-back riding against the backdrop of the Patagonian Andes and of course, a full guided immersion into Torres del Paine National Park. Oh, the park is impressive enough, but hiking its terroir with the hotels sartorially-daring guide, Chinchien, in his Basque hat, totting his ever-present cup of yerba mate, is the sort of detail that makes a trip like this indelible in ones heart.

Torres del Paines vast terrain ranges from the sublime Paine Massif and Las Torres mountains to the black pebble shores of Lago Grey, a rolling lake in which two artic blue mounds of glacial ice insouciantly sit. How incredible it is to see this rushing body of water beating urgently against the stony shore, juxtaposed with the two masses of frozen water which will not be moved. And, speaking of glaciers, the hotel also organizes a boat navigation tour of the fjords to the Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers, complete with warming glasses of whiskey chilled by a shard of glacier ice for the ride: another activity not to be missed!



Singular



Yet, a well-planned trip to Patagonia should involve as much inactivity as it does activity: here again is where the Singular stands apart with its offerings. In each of its rooms, the beds face an endless view of the fjords afforded by a ceiling-to-floor window that breaks the fourth wall between the indoors and untamed nature. Without doubt, my favorite thing to do at The Singular Patagonia was to do nothing: to lie in bed and watch that magical interregnum between night and light as the day dawned. The hotel also boasts a petite spa which houses an inside-outside pool overlooking the dock and fjords. From the inside pool one can swim beneath the glass partition to the outside and listen to the wild geese call as they scuttle about in close proximity. Yes, the experience is every bit as stereotypically idyllic as it sounds.

And then theres the food! In the hotels restaurant, from the talented hands of award-winning chef Laurent Pasqualetto, one can taste Patagonias treasures. Chile is the second largest salmon producing country in the world and the flavor and suppleness of the tranches of cured salmon served at The Singular come only second to those which I tasted in flight on LATAM. The restaurants menu is expansive with dishes ranging from bounty of the land like Patagonian hare, lamb, and guanacoan indigenous mammal similar to the llama whose meat is thick and gamey to fruits of the sea such South-American King crab and charred octopus. Wash all of this adventurous eating down with a glass of Carmenere, the full-bodied Chilean red wine that flows copiously throughout the country, or a calafate or rhubarb sour cocktails made from two typical fruits from the regionand your gourmandise vacation will go down as one of the best youve ever embarked upon.



Singular Asador



Are you are dreaming of an escape from this hemispheres winter that carries a bit more gravitas than beach bumming? Somewhere at the far end of the world, there is flock of flamingos peacocking by some sliver of glimmering water, patiently awaiting your eyes to confirm that our planet truly is spectacular. The journey to Chilean Patagonia is worth each and every mile. LATAM airlines just made it easier for you to live this fantasy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Thursday funeral for the countrys ambassador to Turkey who was assassinated in Turkeys capital, Ankara, on Monday.

The 64-year-old laid a bouquet of red roses at the foot of Andrei Karlovs casket during the ceremony at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. Karlovs wife, Marina Karlova, and mother shed tears at the funeral, with Karlova planting a kiss on her late husbands forehead.

The 62-year-old ambassador was attending the exhibit Russia as seen by Turks at an Ankara art gallery on Monday when an off-duty police officer opened fire, according to the BBC.

ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty

The man fired several shots before yelling in Russian, Dont forget about Aleppo, dont forget about Syria, the New York Times reports. The gunman was fatally shot by police, according to Associated Press, which cited Turkish news channel NTV.

Hillary to Trump: Youre Putins Puppet

In televised remarks after the killing, Putin described the assassination as an attempt to undermine the easing tensions between Russia and Turkey, according to CNN.

Donald Trump later condemned the assassination in a statement.

The murder of an ambassador is a violation of all rules of civilized order and must be universally condemned, Trump said, according to Politico.




Santa surfing

Here is what you need to know.

Italy has reached a deal to save its banks. The Italian government has agreed to a 20 billion-euro ($20.9 billion) fund to aid its struggling banking system, Reuters reports. Monte Paschi, the world's oldest bank, requested a bailout just moments after a deal was completed.

Bitcoin is zooming higher. The cryptocurrency is up 5.1%, or $44, to $905.50, bringing its year-t0-date gain to 117%. Bitcoin trades at its best level in three years.

"Fallen angel" debt had its best year since 2003. Bonds issued by companies that were unexpectedly downgraded by credit rating agencies have generated a 37% total return in 2016, more than double the total return for the broader high yield market, according to Goldman Sachs.

Putin says the Russian economy is on the mend. Speaking at an annual year-end news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the economy is slowly healing as the capital flight fades and wages pick up, Reuters, reports.

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse have reached settlements with the US. The two banks have agreed to settlements related to mortgage-backed securities totaling more than $12 billion, Reuters says.

The US is suing Barclays over mortgage-backed securities. The Department of Justice is suing the bank and two former executives, saying more than half of the $31 billion worth of packaged mortgage loans defaulted during the financial crisis, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Twitter has had a rough week. The stock has tumbled 12% over the past week after a slew of top executive departures.

Stock markets around the world are lower. China's Shanghai Composite (-0.9%) trailed in Asia and Spain's IBEX (-0.4%) lags in Europe. The S&P 500 is set to open up 0.2% near 2,262.

US economic data flows. New home sales and University of Michigan consumer confidence will be released at 10 a.m. ET and the Baker Hughes rig count will cross the wires at 1 p.m. ET. The US 10-year yield is down 1 basis point at 2.54%.

Story continues

US markets are closed on Monday. US stock markets are open a full day on Friday, but the US Treasury market will see an early 2 p.m. ET close.





More From Business Insider


Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. BERLIN TRUCK ATTACK SUSPECT KILLED IN MILAN POLICE SHOOTOUT

Italian officials say the Tunisian man suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Christmas market is dead, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

2. WHY A TRUMP CAMPAIGN TACTIC MIGHT MAKE GOVERNING DIFFICULT

As Donald Trump shapes his policy agenda ahead of next month's inauguration, his trafficking in ambiguity could be a high-risk doctrine once he takes office.

3. OBAMA'S MIXED FOREIGN POLICY LEGACY

The president opened a new era of diplomacy in his presidency while running headlong into limitations: His pragmatic approach to world affairs ultimately couldn't deliver on his promise to end wars.

4. ALEPPO CONFRONTS VAST DESTRUCTION LEFT BY 4 YEARS OF WAR

Brutal street fighting and punishing bombardments in Aleppo have destroyed thousands of homes, wiped out the city's industrial base and reduced ancient landmarks to rubble.

5. AUSTRALIA POLICE SAY CHRISTMAS DAY BOMB PLOT FOILED

Five men suspected of planning a series of holiday bomb attacks in the heart of the country's second-largest city have been detained.

6. HOW CHRISTMAS LOOKS IN NORTH KOREA

Trees, lights, a Christmas song or two, but no hint of the holiday's real meaning in a country with almost no practicing Christians left.

7. FINAL TEST RESULTS CONFIRM EBOLA VACCINE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE

It's a major milestone in the search for a vaccine to stop future outbreaks, like the one that killed thousands in West Africa.

8. WHERE WALKING WINTER STREETS REQUIRES FANCY FOOTWEAR

In Alaska's largest city, innovative entrepreneurs have created imaginative shoes, like boots that click like ruby slippers, instantly sending down titanium spikes to dig into slippery surfaces.

9. WHO'S THE NHL'S NO. 2 ALL-TIME LEADER IN POINTS

Florida Panthers forward and 44-year-old Czech star Jaromir Jagr got career point No. 1,888, breaking a tie with Mark Messier.

10. WHAT "OM TELOLET OM" MEANS

It's a meme that's fanning across social media, started by Indonesian children standing on the side of the road yelling for bus and truck drivers to toot their horns, which play a series of jingle-like beeps.
Photo credit: Chris Little & Joe Little

From Veranda

The power of a white room is stunning  clean and crisp, the neutral palette adds a dose of instant chic to any home. White walls go with literally everything and allow other design elements like furnishings and textiles to shine. With a never-ending array of undertones and finishes, finding the perfect white paint for your space can be a daunting task.

Lucky for you, we've done the legwork. Browse these 23 white paints for a refreshing take on the classic.

1. Simply White; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

Benjamin Moores Simply White is one of the most versatile options out there. This neutral shade has a well-balanced undertone that doesnt lean toward warm or cool, so its not only great for your walls, but also a perfect choice for trims, cabinets, and even your ceiling.

"My favorite white is Benjamin Moore Simply White. It is the whitest of whites and just as fresh and happy as they make them. I love to dunk a whole room in glossy head to toe."- Miles Redd

2. Decorator's White; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore

"My favorite white is still Decorator's White from Benjamin Moore. This color, a longtime classic, works so well whether in a contemporary room or a period one. I often use the color for trim in satin or semigloss, as well as flat on entire room walls and ceilings. The color is bright and still warm, yet without yellow. Its my go-to, plain and simple."- Martyn Lawrence Bullard

"My go-to white for all of our projects no matter what locale is Benjamin Moore, Decorator's White. It reads like a true white be it wall or accent and plays well with other colors, but in reality is quite a bit softer. I find many other whites to be sterile and cold." - Joe Berkowitz





3. All White; Farrow & Ball

Photo credit: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

"Farrow & Balls All White is pure, fresh, and versatile enough to work in any space. It's a perfectly balanced white with just the right amount of softness and depth. It's my tried and true!" - Meridith Baer

Story continues

4. High Reflective White; Sherwin-Williams

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

This is one of the purest whites around! So white, in fact, that it may even make your marble countertops seem cream. This a great option for modern spaces and when you want to showcase that gallery wall without distraction.

5. Cloud White; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

"Cloud White CC-40 by Benjamin Moore is my favorite go-to white. I use it for both contemporary and traditional spaces because it has a nice clean crispness, but also adds a hint of warmth. - Philip Mitchell





6. Spooled White; Dunn-Edwards

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

Leaning toward the warmer side, Spooled White by Dunn Edwards Paints pairs perfectly with rustic floors and interiors with lots of wood grain.

7. Chantilly Lace; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

The most universal paint color I've used is Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore. I find myself going back to it again and again in order to create a bright white space that is warm and welcoming rather than sterile and cold. In a sea of whites, this is my tried and true! - Nicole Davis

8. Slipper Satin; Farrow & Ball

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

Inspired by the delicate shade of pink used in traditional ballet slippers, Slipper Satin by Farrow & Ball is a gorgeous off-white. Kate Forman, a former interiors expert-turned-textile designer says, "This is the softest off-white of my favourites, this pale chalky white is stunning in big light rooms."

9. Timid White; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore

"Whites are super tricky, as they reflect light from all nearby sources: the luscious green vegetation outside your window, the warm glow of natural cork flooring, the soft floral hues of dusky pink satin draperyall those tones will affect how you perceive a painted white surface. We love working with Benjamin Moores OC-39 Timid White. Its white is a warm, inviting vanilla, honey-dusted and reserved. Timid White tends to comingle beautifully with the subtleties of chromatic adjacencies yet has enough of its own inherent color to hold its own amongst them." - Greg Roth



10. Blackened; Farrow & Ball



Photo credit: Megan Tatem

One of Farrow & Ball's coolest whites, Blackened has the smallest touch of gray. This type of gray pigment has provenance originally made from "lamp black," the smoke of burning oil lamps. This color is soft and airy, adding depth to a room while still feeling like a "white room."

11. Greek Villa; Sherwin-Williams

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

Greek Villa has the perfect temperatureit has just enough warmth to create an inviting space, but is also balanced by a slight blue undertone that keeps it feeling light.

12. Oyster; Domingue Architectural Finishes





Photo credit: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

"Domingue Architectural Finishes Mineral Paint in Oyster is always soothing and statement-making. With a subtle gray undertone, Oyster always makes a room feel more spacious and particularly sophisticated." - Ruth Gay

13. Super White; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

Looking for a very crisp true to white, white? Super White is the one to try. It's bright, clean and one of the closest to pure white available.

14. Strong White; Farrow & Ball

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

"My current favorite white is Strong White from Farrow & Ball. I love the way it creates definition against clean white woodwork and is just a quiet wash of soft wet clay on your walls. It's a non color that is perfectly fine to carry right throughout your house!

I'm a fan of quiet room perimeter, it allows you to add the layers of color and pattern without the walls dominating the look of the space! Strong White is also a perfect foil for your paintings, prints, or plates." -Mally Skok

15. Joa's White; Farrow & Ball



Photo credit: Megan Tatem

Leaning more toward a neutral taupe than to a white, Joa's white has a warm red undertone that makes it a fresh and sophisticated almost-white. It pairs beautifully with rustic elements like limestone, linen, and leather.

16. WC-O5; Fine Paints of Europe

Photo credit: Megan Tatem

A pigment-based paint company like Farrow & Ball, Fine Paints of Europe achieves a great depth of color and strive for more environmentally friendly paint options. This is a great option to test out in a room that does not get a lot of natural light. WC-05 has a creamier foundation that makes a room feel bright but not yellowed.

17. Ivory White; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore

"Its been my favorite color from before I was a designer. Its creamy but not too creamy. Soft white without being too anythinggray, pink, yellow." - Katie Ridder

18. Cornforth White; Farrow & Ball



Photo credit: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

Renee DiSanto of Park & Oak Interior Design says Cornforth White is a mid-toned color, neither too cool or too warm, and extremely versatile. Really looks wonderful in any light! It has proven to be a tried and true favorite of her clients. This white tends to sway between white and lightly gray depending on the light, with subtle lavender undertones.

19. Linen White; Benjamin Moore

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore

"My go-to white is Benjamin Moore Linen White. SummerHouse is painted Linen White, and our customers always ask what the wall color is. It is an ivory with not too much yellow in it. It is fresh and light and simply beautiful."- Lisa Palmer



20. Pearl White; Pratt & Lambert

Photo credit: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

"My designs are contemporary and neutral, so I tend to favor tones of white that will add more approachability to a space. One of my favorites recently has been Pratt & Lambert in Pearl White, which I used in my latest project redesigning one of the newest model units in The Ritz-Carlton Residences, North Hills. It's a warmer and more inviting shade that blends very naturally, yet still keeps things elevated."- Ryan Korban





21. Extra White; Sherwin-Williams

Photo credit: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

Our go-to white is Sherwin Williams Extra White SW7006 because it has the palest hint of gray, which provides a crisp backdrop to every style and palette of artwork and furniture weve used, while allowing adjacent paint colors to take center stage.  Jean Liu





22. Ethereal White; Sherwin Williams

Photo credit: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

"In a world of white paint options, my favorite go-to is SW Ethereal White. It lives up to its name, as it imbues a room with serenity and relaxed elegance. Another perk is that it pairs well with a wide spectrum of colors from neutrals to deep hues like navy and charcoal. I often use it in beach homes where there is strong natural light." - Shirlene Brooks





23. White Dove; Benjamin Moore





Photo credit: Benjamin Moore





White Dove is one of Benjamin Moore's most popular whites due to its versatility in any space. From homes with vintage charm to a modern marvel, White Dove is the slightest off-white that makes almost any room come to life. It's crisp without feeling stark, and compliments a room without windows as beautifully as one with lots of natural light.





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NEW YORK (AP)  Dozens of people were injured in a fire at a high-rise building on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

The blaze broke out in a third floor apartment just before 5 p.m. Thursday and spread to the fourth floor before it was extinguished at about 6:30 p.m.

New York Fire Department officials said of the 24 people who were hurt, two people were critically injured and four had potentially serious injuries. The others, including several firefighters, had minor injuries.

Among the injured was a 7-year-old girl who was in cardiac arrest on the 21st floor, according to FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard.

He said she is now in good condition after firefighters carried her out of the building and revived her.

It wasn't clear what started the fire, but Leonard said open windows and high winds caused "very heavy smoke" to go into the hallways and rise up into the building's upper floors.

"Firefighters had a tough time getting across the hallway because of the wind," he said.

Nine people escaped to the roof to wait out the fire and were safely removed, said Leonard.
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Dec 23 (PTI) Pakistans recently appointed chief of Inter-Services Intelligence agency Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar today held his first meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The meeting was held in the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

Official sources said that security matters were discussed in the meeting which was more of a courtesy call.

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Local media reported that the prime minister discussed policy guidelines and internal security with the spy chief.

Sharif also appreciated the role the ISI has played in the anti-terrorism war.

Mukhtar was appointed as ISIs director general about two weeks ago after Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar was appointed as president of army-run National Defence University.

Mukhtar has served as corps commander of Karachi after he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in September 2014.

He has also experience of handling spy affairs as he also served in ISI as head of its counter-terrorism wing.

He has also direct experience of fighting militancy as he commanded a brigade in South Waziristan tribal district as a brigadier.

Mukhtar was commissioned in the Armoured Corps regiment in 1983. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College Quetta, National Defense University Islamabad and War Course USA.

He had commanded a Mechanised Division, according to army. PTI SH MRJ

--- ENDS ---
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  Authorities say two women have been arrested as accomplices in the attempted robbery and fatal shooting of a New Jersey woman who was using a Lyft vehicle when she was shot by a gunman.

The unknown gunman in the Nov. 30 slaying of 27-year-old Amber Dudley remained on the loose Friday.

Prosecutors say he hopped into the back of the ride-hailing vehicle in Trenton and demanded money from Dudley. Police say the Collingswood woman was shot in the torso and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Kasey DeZolt was arrested Thursday in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; Dominique Richter was arrested Wednesday in Trenton. It wasn't immediately clear if they had attorneys who could comment on their behalf.
Will she make them lip sync for their lives?

In the Jan. 2 episode of 2 Broke Girls, Max and Caroline run into drag icon RuPaul  and we have an exclusive first look at their far-from-basic encounter.

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Playing himself in the episode  sans drag  the host of RuPauls Drag Race bumps into the cupcake entrepreneurs in a convenience store/bait shop during their road-trip misadventure to see Randy in Texas. And from the looks of the second image below, the reluctant waitresses are embarrassingly starstruck.

RuPaul is far from put off by their enthusiasm though. In fact, the Emmy winner offers Max words of wisdom about romance.

Though best known for her hit Logo reality competition and singles like Supermodel (You Better Work) and Sissy That Walk, RuPaul also boasts an extensive list of acting credits, among them appearances on everything from Walker, Texas Ranger to Happy Endings.

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Lausanne (AFP) - The International Olympic Committee has launched an inquiry into 28 Russians suspected of tampering with doping samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games in a new blow to Russia's efforts to redeem its name.

While President Vladimir Putin again denied any state backing for the mass doping revealed by investigator Richard McLaren, the IOC has also ordered new testing of all samples from Russians at Sochi, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and the 2012 London Olympics.

The IOC said disciplinary proceedings against the 28 were ordered following McLaren's latest report for the World Anti-Doping Agency released on December 9.

McLaren has accused Russia of "state sponsored" doping, using the intelligence services to organise the swapping of samples at Sochi.

His latest report said that 1,000 Russian athletes in all sports took part in the doping system in which coffee and salt were used to hide failures.

While the IOC did not name any of the 28 athletes involved in Sochi, the International Ski Federation (FIS) said that six Russian cross-country skiers were involved.

The FIS said it had suspended the six and that Russia had withdrawn from holding the cross country World Cup finals in Tyumen in March.

With pressure mounting on Russia and international federations over the scandal, Russia on Thursday withdrew from holding a biathlon World Cup event in Tyumen and junior world championships, while speed skating's governing body stripped it of a World Cup meet.

"The IOC is initiating disciplinary cases against all 28 athletes for whom there is evidence of manipulation of one or more of their urine samples that were collected at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014," an IOC statement said.

McLaren found that 28 of the 95 samples his team studied had signs of "manipulation", said the IOC.

The 28 samples are now being re-analysed at the Lausanne Anti-Doping Laboratory for signs of banned substances.

Story continues

"This is the immediate follow-up to Professor McLaren's report," said IOC president Thomas Bach.

"The IOC will go beyond the findings of the (McLaren) report by re-analysing all the samples of all the Russian athletes who participated in the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 as well as all those who participated in the Olympic Games London 2012," he added.

Twenty-seven Russian athletes have already been sanctioned by the IOC as a result of re-testing of some samples from the 2008 Beijing Games and London.

All Russian samples from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games are also to be re-tested, the IOC said.

The Russian government has denied any official involvement in the doping. But former sports minister and current Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko was banned from attending the Rio Olympics this year because of the controversy.

The Russian President was again pressed on state involvement in the doping at his end of year press conference Friday before the IOC made its latest announcement.

"In Russia there never was -- it is simply impossible and we will do everything for this never to be the case -- a state doping system and support for doping," Putin said.

"We have, like any other country, problems with this and we need to recognise that. Recognising this, (we need) to do everything for there to be no doping. To that end we must closely cooperate with the International Olympic Committee, WADA and other international organisations. And we will do this," Putin declared.

"We need to rid sport as well as culture of politics because sport and culture are meant to unite people, not divide them," the Russian leader added.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)  Four Washington state electors who cast their vote for someone other than Democrat Hillary Clinton will each be fined $1,000 next week, the secretary of state's office said Thursday.

David Ammons, a spokesman for Secretary of State Kim Wyman, told The Associated Press that the electors will have 60 days to pay the fine, and said the office is putting together an appeals process in case of a challenge.

Clinton won the state's popular vote last month, earning her 12 electoral votes. Under state law, presidential electors  who are chosen by their party at their state convention  sign a pledge to vote for their party's nominees for president and vice president. But during Monday's Electoral College vote in Olympia, Clinton got just eight votes, while former Secretary of State Colin Powell got three and Native American tribal elder and activist Faith Spotted Eagle got one vote.

Republican Donald Trump finished with 304 votes  winning all but two of the Electoral College votes he claimed on Election Day  and Clinton had 227 after losing five  the four in Washington state and one in Hawaii. It takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency.

A group called the Hamilton Electors, co-founded by Washington elector Bret Chiafalo, had sought to block Trump by encouraging both Democratic and Republican electors in every state to unite behind an alternate Republican candidate.

Texas put Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes.

Chiafalo, along with electors Esther John and Levi Guerra voted for Powell and elector Robert Satiacum voted for Spotted Eagle. The four also voted for someone other than Clinton's running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, for vice president. John voted for Maine's Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, Chiafalo voted for Democratic Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Satiacum cast his vice presidential vote for Native American and environmental activist Winona LaDuke, and Guerra voted for Democratic Washington U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

Story continues

Chiafalo said he wasn't surprised by the secretary of state's decision, but said he would appeal.

"I stand by my belief that it's unconstitutional," he said.

The last time an elector broke from the popular vote in Washington state was in 1976, when Mike Padden of Spokane Valley, who is currently a Republican state senator, voted for Ronald Reagan in 1976 instead of Gerald Ford, who had won the state.

The fine  which has never previously been imposed  was first established by the Legislature following Padden's vote.
While the restaurant industry is struggling through its worst year since the end of recession, there are some big players that seem to be unperturbed by the plight. The Cheesecake Factory Inc. CAKE is one such company. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rated company has good prospects and should make a value addition to your portfolio. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .



Earnings & Revenue Growth



The Cheesecake Factory makes for a great pick in terms of Growth investment. Arguably, nothing is more important than earnings growth as surging profit levels is often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) ahead for the company in question.



While Cheesecake Factory has put up a historical EPS growth rate of 20.0%, compared with the industry average of 11.2%, investors should really focus on the projected growth. Here, the company is looking to grow at a rate of 19.5%, thoroughly crushing the Zacks categorized Retail-Restaurants industrys average, which calls for EPS growth of just 10.6% in comparison.



Propelling the earnings forward is the companys solid revenue growth story. Its last five years revenue growth stands at nearly 5%, in line with the industrys average. However, the projected sales growth for the current year stands at 7.9%, while the broader industrys estimate stands at 3.6%, which is less than its half.



Notably, the companys restaurants have posted positive comps in 27 consequent quarters. Its differentiated menu, operational distinction and unique ambiance appeal to the customers. Going forward, various initiatives to boost sales and traffic volume like menu innovation, roll-out of an improved server training program, launch of mobile payment app and increased focus on delivery service, should aid in keeping up the trend of positive comps.



For all these reasons the company currently has a Growth Score of B on our style score system that helps us to identify potential outperformers.



Valuation Looks Rational



The Cheesecake Factory has a Value Style Score of A. The Value Style Score condenses all valuation metrics into one actionable score that helps investors steer clear of value traps and identify stocks that are truly trading at a discount.



The company is currently trading at a trailing 12-months P/E multiple of 22.73x while the industrys average stands at 30.39x. Moreover, its forward P/E also stands lower at 21.65x compared to the industrys average of 22.98x.



Looking at the sales of the company, the company is currently trading at a P/S ratio of 1.28, lower than the industry average of 1.32.



All these ratios deem the company undervalued in comparison to its industry peers and indicate a good time to buy.



Stock Price & Other Returns



Shares of The Cheesecake Factory have returned over 33% year-to-date, widely outpacing the industry, which grew less than 2% in the same time frame. While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. We noticed that Cheesecake Factory has outperformed the industry in all of the time frames we considered  4-week, 12-week, 52-week as well as year-to-date.



Moreover, the Return on Equity delivered in the trailing 12 months was an impressive 22.8%, while the industry returned 8.2%. Going forward, the company is evaluating different approaches to limit its costs. Amid the current soft environment, such efforts to control costs would help to improve margins and thereby perk up returns.



Remarkably, Cheesecake Factory continuously returns wealth to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases. The company has continuously paid quarterly dividends since it announced its first dividend in 2012 and has hiked it four times since then.

Story continues





Earnings History and Future Estimates



The Cheesecake Factory has beaten earnings estimates in each of the trailing seven quarters, with an average beat of 10.84% in the last four quarters. After reporting robust third quarter results in October, the company upped its full-year 2016 earnings per share and comps outlook.



Furthermore, upward estimate revisions reflect optimism in the stocks prospects. Analysts have bumped up their earnings estimates for 2016 and 2017 by 3.3% and 3%, respectively, over the past two months.



Low Beta Stock



A stock with beta less than 1 suggests that the price movement of the stock is not highly correlated with the market. Since they are less volatile than the market, they are safer bets at the moment. The Cheesecake Factory has an impressive beta of 0.2. Adding it to your portfolio brings down your portfolios overall beta, thereby reducing its risk.



Bottom Line



Cheesecake Factory is one of the most recognized upscale casual restaurants operating in the U.S. Its differentiated menu, operational distinction and unique ambiance appeal to customers.



However, investors should be cautious of higher labor costs, pre-openings costs and expenses related to sales initiatives that could hurt the companys margins. A challenging sales environment is hurting most restaurateurs including Brinker International, Inc. EAT, YUM! Brands, Inc. YUM, Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI, to name a few.



Nevertheless, given the companys solid comps performance compared to its peers as a result of the brands strong consumer affinity, the stock should keep performing well in the quarters ahead.



Zacks' Top Investment Ideas for Long-Term Profit



How would you like to see our best recommendations to help you find todays most promising long-term stocks? Starting now, you can look inside our portfolios featuring stocks under $10, income stocks, value investments and more. These picks, which have double and triple-digit profit potential, are rarely available to the public. But you can see them now. Click here >>



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



YUM! BRANDS INC (YUM): Free Stock Analysis Report



CHEESECAKE FACT (CAKE): Free Stock Analysis Report



DARDEN RESTRNT (DRI): Free Stock Analysis Report



BRINKER INTL (EAT): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



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At least 540 Cuban refugees have tried to enter the U.S. through maritime routes so far in December, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Since Saturday, the Coast Guard intercepted 136 Cubans trying to reach U.S. illegally through the Strait of Florida, the agency said in a statement Wednesday. The asylum-seekers were intercepted in eight different operations.

Cubans refugees who reach U.S. soil are allowed to stay in the country under the wet foot, dry foot policy. Those intercepted by American authorities at sea are usually repatriated to Cuba. U.S. officials have expressed concern that likelihood of the policy ending has led to a surge in Cuban asylum-seekers.

A total of 51 people reached the U.S. successfully in the Florida Keys last weekend. The first group of 11 refugees landed in the upper Keys in Tavernier, the second group of 22 asylum-seekers arrived north of Key West and a third group of18 landed about 25 miles away on Big Pine Key.

"It is not uncommon to see a surge in Cuban migrant flow during the winter months when there are no major storms," Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District, said in the statement.

"We continue to strongly discourage attempts to illegally enter the country by taking to the sea. These trips are extremely dangerous. Coast Guard missions and operations in the Southeast remain unchanged and the Coast Guard and our partner agencies remain ready to stop those who take the illegal, ill advised and unsafe journey across the Florida Straits," Gordon said.

The number of Cubans seeking refuge in the U.S. has increased this year, according to Coast Guard. In the fiscal year 2016, 7,411 Cuban asylum-seekers were intercepted as opposed to 4,473 in 2015.

The December data on the interception of the refugees also comes within a month of Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castros death on Nov. 25. He died at the age of 90 due to failing health.

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Denver's dining scene has come a long way since the creation of its namesake omelet (originally served as a breakfast sandwich that became famous in the early 1900s), but one thing remains the same: In the Mile High City, it's brunch or bust.

Denver and brunch go together like New Orleans and gumbo, and Philadelphia and cheesesteaks. From casual eateries to reservation-only hot spots, Denver has a myriad midday dining options. To help you decide where to brunch on your next trip to Denver, U.S. News asked local travel experts to spill the (coffee) beans about some of their favorite brunch spots.

Snooze

Self-described as "an A.M. eatery," this longtime brunch haven is easy to spot -- crowds of diners mill around outside Snooze while waiting for their chance to dig a fork into a Breakfast Pot Pie or catch a buzz with a Morning Marg well into the afternoon.

[Read: 7 Breweries to Visit on Your First Trip to Denver.]

Sheila Gargan, concierge at The Westin Denver Downtown, describes Snooze as " the scene on weekend mornings," noting that the wait for a table can often be longer than an hour.

Is it worth the wait? According to Rob Sembrat, concierge at The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, it is if you're craving something sweet. "The gourmet pancakes are absolutely fantastic," he says. Get your fix with the Pancake Flight, which allows you to mix and match three pancake flavors.

This retro-inspired spot, open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., recently unveiled a third location at Denver's Union Station in Lower Downtown.

Ophelia's Electric Soapbox

Ashley Taufen, communications manager with the Visit Denver tourism board, names this funky brothel-turned-restaurant and music venue in Denver's Five Points neighborhood as one of her favorites for having "very local-focused food and some great vegetarian options."

Ophelia's also serves up live music alongside an eclectic brunch menu on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Creative menu items like Arepas Benedict and a Smoked Salmon Flatbread with "everything bagel" pine nuts keep patrons entertained almost as much as the band on stage.

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"Ophelia's is super fun for brunch," Taufen says. "Sometimes they show movies or have DJs -- it's a blast!"

Lucile's Creole Cafe

Originating in the neighboring city of Boulder, Colorado, and now with six locations statewide, Lucile's is a family-owned, Southern-style restaurant with a focus on biscuits -- a noticeable trend in Denver's brunch scene that has been growing the past few years.

"Those biscuits are crazy good," says George Maresh, concierge at the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek.

Patrons also flock to Lucile's for the hot, fluffy beignets sprinkled with powdered sugar, and other Southern specialties like shrimp 'n' grits and eggs Sardou.

[Read: 7 Must-See Museums in Denver.]

The Washington Park location serves brunch daily until 2 p.m. and is also popular for its large front patio where guests sip spicy Cajun-style bloody marys (garnished with a shrimp skewer) around an outdoor fire pit while waiting for their table.

Bistro Vendome

Located in the heart of Lower Downtown on Larimer Square, this charming French bistro was one of the first Denver restaurants founded by award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski and remains a local favorite for its romantic atmosphere, beautiful outdoor patio and consistently delicious food -- aspects which are as enjoyable from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends as they are during dinnertime.

"It's a great downtown brunch," says Callie Sumlin, assistant food editor at 5280 Magazine. "They do a great French press coffee for two, which is nice."

Sumlin also recommends the croque-monsieur, an "over-the-top French version of grilled cheese with a fried egg on top."

Tamayo

Also located on Larimer Square and created by an award-winning chef, Tamayo may have a lot in common with its French neighbor, but this long-standing Mexican restaurant offers a much different dining experience.

Tamayo is an all-time favorite way to start the day for Jordan Chavez, concierge at the nearby Hotel Teatro, for its mouth-watering menu of south-of-the-border specialties like huevos rancheros and pan dulce, a Mexican-style French toast. Chavez is also a fan of the large rooftop patio flaunting uninterrupted mountain views, a coveted amenity for city dwellers.

Go with a group to the Bottomless Margarita Brunch featuring a variety of shareable plates and unlimited drinks for $39 per person. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Root Down

Joern Howind, concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver, "highly recommends" Root Down for its "fantastic brunch" and the views of the downtown skyline from the dining room's oversized windows.

Taking pride in its sustainability practices and veggie-focused dishes -- similar to its sister restaurant Ophelia's, mentioned above -- Root Down pleases the palate of the health-conscious with items like quinoa-cake Benedicts and tofu scrambles, while also satiating stronger appetites with classics like a hearty breakfast burrito and banana bread French toast.

[Read: The Best Things to Do in Denver.]

Root Down has been a hot spot on Denver's brunch scene for several years, and although there is usually a hefty waitlist, a spacious bar area provides open seating on a first-come, first-served basis, which can accelerate things considerably. And if you still can't snag a seat in the bar, at least you can order a bottomless blood orange mimosa to sip while you wait. Brunch is served Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

To experience more of what Denver has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.

Katie Hearsum is a freelance writer based in Denver, Colorado, and uses local knowledge to write about life in the Mile High City for U.S. News & World Report. After time spent backpacking across the globe and working on a dude ranch, Katie realized a passion for all things outdoors and hopes to inspire others to expand their horizons by sharing stories about her adventures. She now writes about outdoor sports, travel and lifestyle in Colorado and the West for Snowshoe Magazine, Inspirato, the Matador Network and 5280 Magazine. You can connect with Katie and read more of her work at katiehearsum.com.
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From ELLE

After graduating from Parsons in 1990, J. Crew's president and creative director Jenna Lyons began her career at 21, as an "assistant to an assistant to someone else's assistant," she often says. Fast forward close to 26 years and Lyons is still at the behemoth brand (a bit of an anomaly in the fashion industry) having taken it from tired to tastemaker in just a handful of years.

With all eyes on the company, Lyons took time to sit down at the W Hotel in Time Square to participate in a What She Said power talk with fashion consultant and Kirna Zabete co-founder, Sarah Easley, and designer and stylist Rachel Zoe. I caught up with Lyons ahead of the chat where she dropped some pearls of career wisdom any #girlboss could use.

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On working outside of your job description: Many people have this idea that somehow movement from one place to another indicates moving up and that's not necessarily the case. I think there are opportunities often, but sometimes it's about creating them or finding the opportunities within what you are doing. I find the people who do the best or excel more often are the people who work outside of their job description and don't just do the job that is on the table. It doesn't mean they step on other people's toes, but I think people who are able to see outside of the job they have and say, "Oh wow, if I actually helped out that person my job would be easier." Or if I actually helped fix this problem because it's not working really well for me, I might actually make their job easier and they'll be happy with me and they may want to work with me more!"

On actively supporting those around you: I realized it's probably important to actually stop and remind yourself like, "Hey, I'm going to actually really support that person and give them a little extra boost." I don't think I understood the actual value of really pulling someone up with me or watching out for someone I cared about. I was conscientious of it but I think the depths of that and how meaningful that can be are far greater than I could have ever understood.

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On why you have to stop comparing yourself to everyone around you: I think early on I kind of fell into this trap of comparison and I remember someone pulling me aside and saying, "I don't know what you think you have to do with that other person but you're you and you have nothing to do with that other person. And that goes for everything that happens to you versus them." I think there's a natural "well, I've been here for two years so it's time for me to get promoted cause that person did." Those two things have nothing to do with each other. I think that it's easy to be in a compare and despair moment as opposed to trying to find something you love and not worrying about what time you come home at night. You're just doing it because you love it and I think that in the end you will do a good job because you actually care about what you are doing as opposed to being so concerned about "have I met those goals" or "have I checked that box." It's like, forget the damn box.

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Just because you like someone doesn't mean you have to agree with them: There were times when there were people I really respected or really liked their point of view, and I let them influence my decisions too much. Inside I really knew it wasn't right and I really sort of let things get off course and I paid for it. Truly. It's not their fault, they were excited about what they were doing and it's my fault for not trusting my gut and really asking myself, does this feel right? I know I like this but does this feel like our brand? What is amazing to me though is I think that while I can admit that and have said it in public more than once, I think it's pretty amazing that I have bosses that have stood by me through that and have actually heard me.

On why it's okay (and actually necessary) to speak up: The thing I think most people find to be difficult is navigating how to find their voice and to understand when it's appropriate and when it's not. The fact of the matter is-particularly in a creative company-I have no idea of knowing if you are smart or good or have great ideas if you don't speak up. If you don't talk. Being quiet tells me nothing about you! This idea of "know your place" or you should be careful not talk to the boss, I mean honestly, that doesn't mean go hog wild when the CEO is talking, but I do think that learning that balance and really trying to find your place and not being afraid to sit at the table and not being afraid to speak up and not being afraid to say "Oh, I think that is an interesting idea but what if we did this or what if we add to it" Finding your voice is so hard, but it's the most important thing you can do.

On her biggest meeting pet peeve: It just drives me crazy when people aren't paying attention because it's not their world. If a group meeting doesn't directly concern you, that doesn't mean you're not paying attention. Or you're in the back of the room on your phone. I often see junior people and I can tell that they are tuning out because it's not their product or not their thing and they just aren't listening. But I want to say, "Every part of this conversation is pertinent to you! You can be transferred to this department tomorrow, why are you not paying attention?"

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Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy spokesperson Jatin Desai, said that around 220 fishermen would be back on Sunday, the remaining 219 would return on January 5, 2017.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Despite a complete halt to bilateral talks between India and Pakistan, 439 Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails will return home in two batches, a pressure group said today.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: This move would bring good cheer to the fishing community as the first batch is scheduled to be home on Christmas. Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) spokesperson Jatin Desai said that while 220 fishermen would be back on Sunday, the remaining 219 would return on January 5, 2017. This release is important as there is no bilateral talks and there is complete pause on the dialogue, he added. Desai, said the PIPFPD has even urged the Indian government to reciprocate by releasing Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian prisons. Currently, there are 516 Indian fishermen nabbed and put in Karachi jails, while 80 Pakistani fisherfolk were put in prisons in Gujarat. The India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners (IPJCP), set up in 2008 must meet urgently, he said pointing out that both countries must pursue a 'No Arrest Policy' as far as fishermen were concerned. They should also release all the confiscated fishing boats as it was their only means of livelihood, he added. The IPJCP used to meet regularly every six months, but did not meet since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government assumed power, he said.

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Also read: Indian Coast Guard apprehends 26 Pakistanis in 5 boats off Gujarat coast

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We don't know what's in the water in Australia, but gee whiz, their TV seem like it's from another planet.

A lot of the aren't that great. Their often sanitised dramas about dreary WASPs.

But the country's penchant for being a tad uncouth and uncultivated often shines through in more unscripted moments.

SEE ALSO: Classic movie lines vastly improved with uncouth Australian captions

From drunk people stumbling through a live news cross, to unintentionally hilarious interviews with everyday heros  it just seems TV is just weirder Down Under.

Here's a quick recap of some the strangest moments from 2016.

1. A drunk AF woman tried to return a wallet on TV

Despite being barely able to string together a sentence after a few too many drinks at the Melbourne Cup, this woman tries to return a wallet with $3 in it to a television reporter during a live cross.

2. Where else do people chase criminals up the street in his underwear and deliver the best interview ever?

Brisbane man Daniel McConnell was in his underwear when he chased criminals who had crashed into his neighbours shop, and ended up giving the most Australian interview you'll hear.

"You look after your mates, and your mates will look after you," McConnell said. That pretty much sums it up.

3. When an anchor wasn't shy about her dislike for one Trump supporter.

This was unforgettable TV. Starring @RossCameron4 with cameos from @SkyNewsRicho and Janine Perrett. I've watched it back 5 times @PMOnAir pic.twitter.com/IBAMIoKuov  BenFordham (@BenFordham) October 10, 2016

Yes, Queen.

4. When a contestant on Australia's version of The Bachelor ate their own rose.

Yep. That happened. And who could forget that time the same series tried to make chocolate baths sexy?

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5. Australians got a kick out of making Kevin Hart squeamish at our wildlife.

Poor Kevin. These hosts are just sadistic tbh.

6. When Sabre Norris stole our hearts by being honest about her dad.

The pint size surfer even made an appearance on The Ellen Show (!) recently.

7. These dudes turned their robbery thwarting story into comedic genius.

Here's the recap, in case you missed it.

8. Because only in Australia could a 25-year-old muesli bar found in a jacket could make prime time news.

Ah, Australia. Where things are so mundane they become fascinating again.

BONUS: Surfing under the Northern Lights. Credit: Red Bull / Emil Sollie / Mats Grimseth
Beirut (AFP) - At least 88 civilians have been killed in 24 hours of Turkish air strikes on an Islamic State group bastion in northern Syria, a monitoring group said Friday.

A barrage of raids hit Al-Bab on Thursday, killing 72 civilians including 21 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Bombardment continued on Friday, leaving another 16 civilians dead, including three children.

"Eighty-eight civilians have been killed in 24 hours," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

He said it was the bloodiest attack by Turkish forces that his monitoring group had recorded since Ankara began its intervention in Syria in late August.

The Observatory says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to their type, location, flight patterns and the munitions involved.

Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies have been seeking to capture Al-Bab, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the northern Syrian border, for weeks.

On Thursday, IS released a video purportedly showing two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive, after Ankara vowed to respond to 16 of its troops being killed in the fight against the jihadist group.

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area.

Turkish forces regularly carry out air strikes in support of the ground operation in Syria, but officials insist that the utmost is done to avoid civilian casualties.
From the boy who gave up his Bar Mitzvah gifts for a burn victim to a 5-year-old who paid for police officers' lunches with his own allowance, 2016 was full of touching and inspiring stories of kids doing a lot of good.

Read: Singing Home Depot Store Greeter Loves Making Customers Smile: 'We Should All Be Uplifting'

Between simple chores and monumental acts of kindness, InsideEdition.com takes a look back at the selfless acts by various youths this year.

A 9-year-old girl in California wanted to help the homeless in Los Angeles, so she took it upon herself to craft care packages for those living in squalor. With the help of her mother and grandma, little Khloe bought soap, washcloths, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, lotion and feminine hygiene products, and delivered them to the homeless on Skid Row.

Fundraising was a big way the children helped others in their community in 2016.

In October, a little boy who has a heart bursting with empathy raised more than $4,000 and a carload of gifts for another little boy whose family lost most of their belongings to the devastating floods in Louisiana. In August, a 5-year-old New Jersey boy used his own allowance to treat his local police force to lunch.

In the spring, a 9-year-old in Missouri opened a lemonade stand to help foster parents pay his adoption fees so he can stay with them forever. The boy only needed $5,000 for the fees and ended up with more than $7,000 to stay with his new parents in the place he now calls home.

In the blistering summer heat, two young men in Alabama went around their community and mowed the lawns of single mothers and the elderly who needed landscaping services  all free of charge.

Some children will want gifts for their birthday but there were some who wanted their toys and treats given away to those needed them most.

Read: Police Donate Christmas Trees - and All Their Trimmings - to 10 Families in Need

A young boy who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in March donated the gifts he received to a burn victim he knew in a local hospital. In August, a North Carolina 10-year-old didnt want presents for his birthday. Instead, he asked for shoes to give to needy kids in his community.

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Also in 2016, a Virginia 7-year-old donated her birthday money to help a critically ill baby born premature.

The random acts of kindness resonated as life-changing acts, even from the great beyond.

One 14-year-old decided she wanted to be an organ donor before passing away in an accident. But the tragedy saved the life of a 13-year-old North Carolina boy in desperate need of a heart transplant.

Watch: Would You Know What to Do? Deputy Saves Baby With Infant CPR Technique

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Havana (AFP) - She needs help sitting down, but no sooner has she done it than Alicia Alonso is tapping her foot three times and giving orders in a good-natured but authoritative tone.

At age 96, the Cuban ballerina, one of the most revered dancers of all time, is blind and frail. But she hasn't lost a step, or her outsize role in Cuban ballet.

"Ready to start? Let's start!" she says in a firm voice, opening a rehearsal on the second floor of the National Ballet of Cuba -- which she launched together with her first husband, Fernando Alonso, and which she still directs.

Before her, the multi-racial company is practicing "The Nutcracker," which it will perform on January 1 to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

Alonso cannot see the dancers, but she imagines every movement.

"I dance here, in my mind," she often says.

Ever flamboyant, the woman nicknamed the "prima ballerina assoluta" is wearing enormous sunglasses, bright red pants and a headscarf to match, with fuchsia lipstick and long, pink nails.

At her side, two dancers whisper every move in the choreography. Alonso, who danced much of her career sightless after suffering a detached retina as a young woman, traces out giant movements in the air with her hands.

"You're doing something that has to be eternal, eternal, and reach the entire world," she tells her young dancers.

"You have it in your hands, your bodies, your faces. And you have the happiness to do it," she says, adding: "How I envy you!"

Alonso, who turned down myriad offers to leave Cuba throughout her career, has created a unique school of ballet on the island, instantly recognizable with its blend of classical style and Latin sensuality.

At nearly 100 years old, she is a legend.

- 'Cuban school' -

It was a lifetime ago that Alonso -- born Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad del Cobre Martinez del Hoyo -- began seducing audiences with her exuberant steps.

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A disciplined but feisty dancer, she conquered Havana, New York, and a host of European capitals, then went on to become a renowned choreographer, known for making her dancers rehearse to the point of perfection.

She has faced criticism in some quarters for her close relationship with the communist regime of late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, whose backing was instrumental in the launch of the National Ballet.

But her status as an icon is beyond question.

Among her long list of roles, she is best remembered for dancing "Giselle," the French romantic ballet that made her an international star.

But admirers also wax poetic on her "Cuban version" of classics like "Carmen," "The Sleeping Beauty," "Coppelia," "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker."

Viengsay Valdes, Alonso's current prima ballerina, recounts how she was once invited to Russia to dance "their version" of "Carmen." She insisted on dancing Alonso's instead.

"I defend all her work, everything she's created," Valdes told AFP.

Another one-time protegee, Aurora Bosch, who is now 74, recalls how Alonso lured male dancers to join the company in this country where the culture of machismo runs deep.

"She would tell them we were doing fencing classes," she says.

"When they would start rehearsing ballet steps, they would say, 'Wait, where's the sword?'" But drawn in by Alonso's magnetism, they would eventually relent and stay.

"And today, our school, our way of dancing, stands out in large part because of our male dancers," says Bosch.

Alonso hung up her ballet slippers in 1995, at the age of 75 -- nearly 60 years after making her debut on Broadway in 1938.

The newest generation of Cuban talent has never seen her dance. But the reverence remains.

Patricio Reve, a rising star at 18 years old, says he has retained one great lesson from the company's founder.

"Alicia always insists on the need to dance and defend the Cuban school."
UPDATE: 7:58 a.m. EST  The first group of passengers of a hijacked Afriqiyah Airways plane have been released after the plane was forced to land in Malta, the country's prime minister announced on Twitter.

It was unclear if a deal was reached to release the hostages. Earlier, the mayor of the Libyan town of Sebha, from where the plane originated, told the BBC that investigators are working to find out how explosives and weapons made it on board after reports said two hijackers were carrying explosives on board.

Col. Hamed Al-Khayali confirmed that the plane was carrying 111 passengers and seven crew members from Sebha airport at 11:05 a.m. local time (4:05 a.m. EST).

"The security at this airport is not good. Its a military airport," Al-Khayali told BBC.

The distance between the airport and any plane landing or taking off at Sebha is over three miles, making it possible to smuggle weapons or other items on board, the BBC noted.

UPDATE: 7:18 a.m. EST  A negotiating team is on standby at Malta International Airport, where a Libyan carrier landed after two men hijacked the plane Friday, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscats office said, the Associated Press reported.

The team is reportedly awaiting instructions from Muscat, who is in a meeting with the National Security Committee. The Afriqiyah Airways plane was on its way from Sebha in southwest Libya to capital Tripoli at the time of the hijack.

Muscat and Libyan Prime Minister Faez al Serraj discussed the hijack situation, BBC reported earlier, citing a spokesman for Malta's government.

UPDATE: 6:05 a.m. EST  Authorities in Libya and Malta confirmed that an Afriqiyah Airways plane with 118 people on board made an emergency landing in the island nation after being hijacked Friday.

[Malta International Airport] can confirm that there is an unlawful interference at the airport. All emergency teams have been dispatched to the site  While some flights have been delayed or diverted, airport operations have been resumed, the airport said, in a statement.

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BBC reported, citing a local official, that there were two hijackers on board the plane. Flights to and from Malta have been cancelled while local troops surrounded the hijacked plane, according to reports.

Original story:

An Afriqiyah Airways plane with 118 people on board has made an emergency landing in Malta on Friday, triggering reports that it may be a "potential hijack situation," according to reports.

Two hijackers reportedly threatened to blow up the domestic flight and forced it to land in neighboring Malta, which is an island off the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean Sea. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted that he has been informed about the incident.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane, an Airbus A320, was on an internal flight from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli. A total of 111 passengers and seven crew members were on the plane. The hijacker claimed to be a supporter of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, according to Times of Malta.

Reports also indicated that one of the hijackers on board had claimed to possess a hand grenade.

This is a developing story...

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The Russian social network VKontakte reacted to again making the United States Trade Representative's list of the world's most notorious pirate markets by promising to clean up its act in 2017.

"Next year, we will continue our work on signing licensing agreements with rights holders we don't yet have agreements with," VKontakte's spokesman told Billboard. "Some steps aimed at licensing content were announced in 2016 and we hope that they will be appreciated by regulators in 2017."

"VKontakte continues active work aimed at licensing audio and video content for the social network," he went on to say.

Over the last few years, VKontakte has made considerable steps aimed at improving its record for copyright infringement.

The action was largely prompted by a joint lawsuit against VKontake filed in 2014 by Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group over copyright infringement.

Later, Sony removed itself from the suit, signing a goodwill agreement with VKontakte. In October 2015, a Russian court ruled that VKontakte should take more steps to prevent illegal uploads by its users, but awarded no damages to the plaintiffs.

In late 2015, VKontakte and WMG signed a licensing deal, which was followed by an agreement with UMG in July 2016.

VKontakte also signed deals with The Orchard, Merlin, Believe Digital and a few other rights holders in 2016, the company's spokesman said.

However, VKontakte has yet to deliver on its promise to launch a fully legitimate music service that would be monetized, with revenues shared with rights holders.

In early 2016, VKontakte said it would launch the service before the end of the year.

Similarly, VKontakte's action aimed at preventing users from uploading unlicensed music leaves much to be desired. At the moment, numerous versions of copyrighted music tracks, uploaded by users, are available across the service.
Agilent Technologies Inc. A has agreed to acquire Multiplicom for approximately 68 million in cash. The acquisition will likely be completed by mid-January, subject to local laws and regulations and customary closing conditions.

Multiplicomis headquartered in Niel, Belgium. The company develops, manufactures and commercializes molecular-diagnostic solutions which enables personalized medicine. These solutions enable clinical labs to identify the DNA variants associated with a genetic disease or predisposition in patients. It may also help labs to identify congenital defects early in pregnancy.

Upon closure of the deal, all 90 Multiplicom employees are expected to join Agilent.

The acquisition will allow Agilent to strengthen its presence in the genomics market. The deal complements Agilents own product expansion efforts and will help it to offer better services to its customers. Additionally, the deal will strengthen Agilents presence in the growing European market.

The vice president and general manager of Agilents Genomics Division, Herman Verrelst said, The acquisition of Multiplicom significantly strengthens our presence in the genomics market. Multiplicoms products and technology help expand our target-enrichment portfolio and enhance our next-generation sequencing workflow capabilities  providing immediate scale in adjacent markets.

However shares of Agilent have been underperforming the industry on a year-to-date basis. The stock has returned 9.95% compared with the Zacks Electronic Test Equipment industrys gain of 21.10%.

Our Take

Agilent Technologies is a broad-based original equipment manufacturer of test and measurement equipment. The company has been supplementing organizational growth with strategic acquisitions and collaborations.

In June, the company agreed to acquire the assets of the privately held iLab Solutions, based in Boston, to expand its reach in cloud-based laboratory management software.

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In late 2015, Agilent completed the purchase of Seahorse Bioscience, a supplier of instruments and evaluation kits for measuring cell metabolism and bioenergetics, for about $235 million in cash. The acquisition enabled Agilent to expand its reach in metabolomics and disease research space.

We believe Agilents acquisitions, new products and testing systems will help it to grow as a formidable player in its space.

AGILENT TECH Price and Consensus

AGILENT TECH Price and Consensus | AGILENT TECH Quote

Currently, Agilent has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the industry are Cognex Corporation CGNX, TiVo Corporation TIVO and Itron, Inc. ITRI, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Cognex Corporation delivered a positive earnings surprise of 24.92% in the trailing four quarters.

Itron, Inc. delivered a positive earnings surprise of 30.55%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.

TiVo Corporation delivered a positive earnings surprise of 97.76%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP)  Shoppers perusing the jewelry at a pop-up store in Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B can talk to a sales clerk who also made the baubles, but they might be surprised to learn the employee is wearing a different kind of bracelet  the kind that goes around your ankle and tracks your every move.

The store is part of a program for women recently released from jail or currently in the criminal justice system. They get job skills, some income and, perhaps most important, self-confidence.

It's the product of a union between a reverend, a film producer and a former governor all committed to easing a transition that can be daunting at best.

"When you get out of prison, society doesn't let you out of prison, in a way," said Francine LeFrak, the film producer. "You have a hard time with every step of the way. People look at you as 'that person who was in prison.' But if you're managing a kiosk at Newark Airport and you're in contact with other people, you're feeling that dignity of, 'I'm worth it and now I can talk to anybody.' It's about skill-building."

LeFrak, daughter of real estate mogul Samuel LeFrak, formed Same Sky in 2008 as a way to help women in Rwanda by selling their handmade jewelry in the U.S. Her interest in helping America's burgeoning population of female ex-offenders dates back to the 1990s when she executive produced "Prison Stories: Women on the Inside" for HBO.

Three years ago, she partnered with former Gov. Jim McGreevey and the Jersey City-based New Jersey Re-entry Corp., the organization he chairs that provides links to education, job training, addiction treatment and other services. The third piece of the puzzle, Most Excellent Way Life Learning Center, offers housing and social services in northern New Jersey and is run by the Rev. Gloria Walton.

Barbara Murray was manning the Same Sky airport kiosk last week. She is a graduate of the Most Excellent Way and is studying to get a counselor's license. The 46-year-old had been jailed for shoplifting numerous times in Brooklyn, and found herself repeating the same destructive behavior.

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"The times I got incarcerated back in Brooklyn I was never given any help," she said. "I just did my time, came out and went right back to the lifestyle. Today I'm not going back to the lifestyle."

The program "is affording her the opportunity to transform herself," Walton said.

For many people who have been incarcerated, the only jobs typically available when they get out are warehouse jobs, McGreevey said. Those can be physically demanding and difficult to juggle along with school and any parole or probationary requirements. In contrast, jewelry-making can be done at any time.

"What's wonderful about this work is that they can do work all day Saturday or at 8 at night," he said. "So they can earn money while going to college or attending employment training."

Victoria Keenan, also from Brooklyn and a current Most Excellent Way resident, wears an ankle bracelet while her child endangerment case is pending in court. She said making the jewelry is like meditating. The 23-year-old said she is going back to school in January in hopes of becoming a paralegal.
A railway station is a place of discoveries and mysteries. A train compartment whodunit may feature a cast of pomaded toffs, with hermetically controlled exits and entrances, but the variegated demos on an Indian railway station offer infinite possibilities. Quite often, the station is simply a meeting place between two characters. But this is where the well-heeled must trust the imperfect stranger who offers to carry their bags. Do we ever go past the end of the platform, into half-platforms, those dark places between trains, or even to those cryptically labelled rooms? Still, for a cautious, middle-class writer, the station is accessible, unlike slums and other theatres of squalor. The most diffident of us can stand unchallenged on the platform, watching people and the way they relate to others, presuming, speculating and concluding what we want about them.

There are two protagonists in Platform No. 10, and Kacker uses Delhi's Nizamuddin station as a convenient way to make "their disparate worlds collide". One is the recently widowed Janaki, conned out of her husband's vast wealth by her brother-in-law. The other is 12-year-old Ami, who lives on the platform. Ami remains 12 throughout the book, while shares are traded, hotels renovated, a death anniversary passes, six months go by at a remand home, a carefully orchestrated scam is brought to fruition, crimes investigated and cases closed. Not that I need to pick holes in this cheesecloth of a narrative.

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Janaki is a poorly defined character, having landed in the lap of a rich man by dumb luck . She mopes about her widowhood, drapes herself in finery, satisfies her sexual hunger, briefly husbands her wealth, forgets about all that, longs for a child, gets suckered by Ami, pursues the boy's welfare, forgets about him for a while, hallucinates about owls and ends up poor but presumably complete in some way. Reading about her lurching progress through disconnected events and emotional states is an ordeal.

Kacker signals that the boy Ami is not destined to spend his entire life in poverty: he has fair skin and blue eyes. But first, plenty of miserable things happen to him; in fact, just about everything one might pick up from a week of newspapers. It's not nice to say this about a poor widdle waif, but the reader can't work up any more sympathy for him than for Janaki, and that's entirely because of bad writing. You can wait around all day but you won't find a train of thought on this platform.

The prospect from the Andheri overbridge is far more hopeful. Here and in the chawls and sands of Mumbai, Ambai has set a trio of tales written in a clean, plain-vanilla style. Ambai is the pen name of C.S. Lakshmi, whose richly layered short stories and novels have had a loyal readership for decades. In A Meeting on the Andheri Overbridge, she introduces Sudha Gupta. Sudha is the only female detective in Mumbai. (One day there will be more than one female detective in Mumbai, or in rural England, or in Botswana, but till that happy post-feminist era dawns, we work with the fictional world we have.)

There is some added flavour of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in the book. One imagines a publisher telling this star of the Tamil firmament: this could sell if you'd make your detective more like Precious Ramotswe and set the whole thing in Mumbai. So Sudha and her assistant Stella drink cinnamon tea, and in each story we're told how they pour hot water on their tea bags.

But the stories themselves are not formulaic, just Ambai. They raise problems about children abused in their homes and exploited in their schools, and the financial powerlessness of wives. Sudha occasionally solves a mystery, but she more often helps resolve a dilemma and counsels her clients. Like many female detectives, she relies on female bonding as much as on tails and phone records.

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The translation is weighed down by needless explanation, but future Sudha Gupta stories are bound to be rendered in a more buoyant style as these publishers gain confidence in Ambai and her readership.

Latha Ananthraman is the author of Three Seasons: Notes from a Country Year

--- ENDS ---
BEIRUT (AP)  After more than four years of brutal street fighting and punishing aerial bombardments, the staggering extent of destruction in Aleppo begins to emerge: Tens of thousands of homes and apartments are uninhabitable, most factories have been looted or destroyed and some ancient landmarks have been reduced to rubble.

Reconstruction would likely take years and cost tens of billions of dollars, experts say. Some of Aleppo's centuries-old cultural heritage may have been lost for good. And healing the wounds in a city once split between a wealthier, pro-government west and a poorer, pro-rebel east could take even greater effort.

Damage assessments emerged as the Syrian government announced Thursday that it had assumed full control of the city  a significant victory in a nearly six-year battle with an armed opposition trying to unseat President Bashar Assad. In recent months, rebels rapidly lost ground in the city as Assad and military allies Russia and Iran stepped up attacks.

Located at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, Aleppo was Syria's biggest city before the war, with more than 3 million residents and a world-famous cuisine. It served as the country's industrial hub, home to factories producing textiles, plastics and pharmaceuticals. Its ancient center, recognized as a World Heritage site, drew large numbers of tourists.

Today, Aleppo "resembles those cities that were stricken during World War II," said Maamoun Abdul-Karim, head of the government's museums and archaeology department. The scale of devastation has already evoked comparisons with cities like Grozny and Dresden.

But the destruction isn't spread evenly.

Areas once held by the opposition suffered severe damage after being bombarded for months by Syrian and Russian warplanes. Some eastern neighborhoods look like they have been hit by an earthquake.

In parts of the government-held west, life seemed almost normal. Children attended schools, adults went to work and restaurants and coffee shops were packed. Crude weapons used by the rebels, including mortars and home-made "hell cannons," caused some damage and casualties in government-held areas closer to the front lines.

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U.N. satellite images identified more than 33,500 damaged residential buildings in the city, with the most recent photos taken in mid-September, according to a map published this week. A majority of the buildings would have been multi-unit apartment blocks common in Aleppo, said Olivier Vandamme, an official at the U.N. agency that provided the map.

The map indicated that the most intense damage occurred in rebel-held areas. The analysis only considered residential areas and excluded industrial zones. After the images were taken, the Syrian government and its allies intensified bombardments in the final phase of the Aleppo offensive.

A Syrian urban consultant said Aleppo had a pre-war stock of about 550,000 housing units, with a total value of about $50 billion.

The fighting in the city may have caused close to $25 billion in loss of housing, said the consultant, who is involved in data collection and requested anonymity because of what he said was a highly politicized debate over the scope of destruction. About 70 percent to 80 percent of the destruction was in the east, with the rest in Kurdish and pro-government areas, he said.

The consultant estimated that over 60 percent of the homes and apartments in Aleppo are still inhabitable, including those with partial damage. Reconstruction would cost between $35 billion and $40 billion, he said.

Some 250,000 people could potentially return to the devastated east  once home to 1.5 million  and find shelter there by bricking up holes in walls and replacing shattered windows with plastic sheets, he said.

Aleppo's industrial base was largely wiped out, including by looting, the consultant said. Before the war, close to 5,000 small and mid-sized enterprises had industrial licenses in Aleppo, he said.

Exiled business partners Bassam Hajjar and George Saghir, who own a factory for plastic bottles and bottle caps in an industrial zone in northwestern Aleppo, described widespread damage to factories.

"Most of the businesses in the area are destroyed," said Hajjar.

The pair's factory is close to Castello Road, once the main link between the countryside and rebel-held areas in the city. Hajjar said rebels looted his factory, grabbing raw materials, generators and parts of large machinery.

The business partners said it's too risky to resume operations now. Most of the time, there's no electricity and water in the city, they said. The war in Syria continues, as do economic sanctions against the Assad government.

Abdul-Karim, the Syrian government official, declined comment on the damage estimates.

However, he said more than half of Aleppo's fiercely contested ancient center suffered varying degrees of damage. The densely populated area, recognized in 1986 as a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains a 13th century Citadel, a 12th century Great Mosque and ancient markets.

More than 150 buildings in the old city were damaged, Abdul-Karim said. This includes more than half the area of the old markets and parts of the facade of the Great Mosque, whose minaret was destroyed in 2012.

"We need a lot of time and billions of dollars to reconstruct the city," he said, adding that "it will be useless to talk about reconstruction without security and stability."

Repairs at the Great Mosque would be a priority, and Syria will seek UNESCO's help, he said.

A video posted online this week by the Syrian military showed government officials inspecting the damage at the mosque. Small piles of rubble were visible in the courtyard, along with damage to an outer wall.

Mohammed al-Obeid, a senior religious official in the city, said on the video that restorations would begin soon, and that every stone in damaged sections of the mosque has been numbered.

The city's emotional wounds might be harder to heal.

"You had one half of the city trying to go on with life as normal, going out, eating, drinking," said Amr al-Azm, a Syria expert at Shawnee State University in Ohio, referring to the western neighborhoods. "A few meters away (in the east), you had the most appalling conditions, really inhumane conditions."

This rupture "is going to be much harder to heal and will take much longer," he said.

___

Hashem Osseiran in Beirut contributed reporting.
Dubai (AFP) - The Syrian army's recapture of Aleppo has dealt a setback to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two supporters of rebel forces whose struggle to oust President Bashar al-Assad appears increasingly fruitless.

Along with fellow US ally Turkey, the two wealthy Gulf countries have backed armed groups fighting government forces in Syria's civil war.

But with forceful military support from its traditional ally Russia and fighters from Iran and Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah movement, the regime has made significant gains in recent months.

The retaking of Aleppo, which the army announced on Thursday after a withdrawal deal saw thousands of fighters and civilians evacuated from the last rebel-held areas, was the biggest victory yet for Assad's forces.

It marked a turning point the war, not only on the ground in Syria but for outside players like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, analysts said.

"The fall of Aleppo has weakened the negotiation position of the Syrian opposition and their allies," said Ibrahim Fraihat, a conflict resolution professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

Assad's regime has over the years agreed to several rounds of peace talks with the opposition, including the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee.

And with the opposition -- which has long complained of a lack of serious military support from its allies -- losing ground, the diplomatic path is the only way forward, Fraihat said.

- Russia, Turkey, Iran take lead -

"Gulf backers should engage in pursuing a political settlement... as a military solution to this conflict has become less likely than ever before," Fraihat said.

At the same time, they should supply the rebels with sophisticated weapons, including air defence systems "to prevent further imbalance of power" that would make a political solution even less likely, he said.

For Mathieu Guidere, Middle East expert at the University of Toulouse, the fall of Aleppo has more dramatic consequences for Gulf backers.

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"The destiny of Syria is no longer in the hands of Gulf countries," he said, pointing to the evolving cooperation between Turkey, Russia and Iran.

The trio agreed this week to guarantee Syria peace talks and have backed expanding a ceasefire, laying down their claim as the main powerbrokers in the conflict.

Ankara and Moscow also brokered the Aleppo evacuation deal.

"After the fall of Aleppo, the challenge for the Gulf countries is not Assad himself, but the new alliance between Russia, Turkey and Iran," Guidere said.

"In a severe power imbalance situation the powerful party loses the incentive to compromise and instead becomes tempted to pursue a zero-sum war," he said.

The largest remaining rebel bastion after Aleppo is Idlib province, controlled by a coalition dominated by extremists from a former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

In the south, rebels control most of Daraa province along the borders with Jordan, except for Daraa city itself. They also hold onto pockets east of Damascus, and in the central province of Homs.

- US-Russia 'arrangement'? -

Emirati political science professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla said that Turkey is repositioning itself, shifting away from the side that had wanted to topple Assad.

"He who had bet on a Turkish-Saudi-Qatari alliance has lost," he said on Twitter.

Turkey has regular troops inside Syria near its border after launching an offensive in August against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia forces.

Turkey's cooperation with Russia also asserts the leading powerbroker role assumed by Moscow in Syria, a position that could get stronger under US President-elect Donald Trump who is considered to hold pro-Russia views.

"Saudis and others know that under President Trump the Western drift toward Assad will accelerate," according to Gulf expert Neil Partrick.

"This means that the goal of a Sunni-led Syrian client state, in which Saudi Arabia would contest with the Turks and their junior Qatari allies for weight, is over," Partrick said.

He said that Gulf states now realise that Washington "may now try to get an arrangement with Russia on what happens next."

He said such cooperation could mean that their arch-rival Tehran would have "less weight in determining the situation."

The United States and Europe have long insisted that a political settlement in which Assad agrees to step down is necessary to end the fighting.

"If Saudi Arabia was wise it would be sending signals to Assad now, as the Turks and Egypt have been," Partrick said.
Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - "There's my house!" says Mohammad Sayyad.

"It's that red building," he says as he walks through the devastated streets of eastern Aleppo, seized by the army on Thursday.

Just hours after the last remaining rebels and civilians left the city on Thursday evening, he is returning to his neighbourhood of Zebdiye to find scenes of destruction.

Like thousands of others who fled to the regime-held west of Syria's second city in 2012, it is the first time he has seen his house in four years.

"Snipers were targeting us. Now I feel safe and, thank God, life is back to normal," Sayyad says.

Since 2012, the city has been divided between rebel and regime-held districts, but a devastating regime offensive launched in mid-October saw the rebels ousted from their iconic former stronghold.

In Bustan al-Qasr, a heavily damaged neighbourhood near Aleppo's famed Old City, yellow bulldozers remove the barricades that used to separate regime-held western Aleppo from the rebel-held east.

Hundreds of civilians, wrapped in coats against the bitter cold, walk along muddy roads, some pushing handcarts containing their meagre belongings.

Some struggle to find their homes in the war-torn streets, where children in colourful tracksuits play among the rubble.

"I can't find my shop," said Abu Abdu, standing in the middle of Zebdiye. "The streets are unrecognisable because of the destruction."

Some windows are smashed in, while others have been walled up with blocks of cement or bags of sand.

A family climbs over a mound of earth to reach the entrance of a building.

On the top floor, linen hangs on a balcony, abandoned by the occupants who were probably among those who were evacuated in recent days.

Nearby, a soldier scales an electric pole to hang the regime flag from on high.

At military checkpoints, the atmosphere is relaxed.

Before letting civilians enter, the army scours the area for bombs.

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"I came to find my house. I was forced to move because of the intensity of the fighting near the Salahedin district," Khaled al-Masry says. "I hope my apartment is not too damaged."

"Three days ago I told my wife and my daughter that we would come back on Friday. I can't believe this moment has arrived," he says.

Not everyone has found their property intact.

"My shop in Al-Kalasseh is heavily damaged, it's completely empty," says one local, declining to give his name. "I wanted to go home but I can't because of army roadblocks."

Umm Abdo, 42, reached her house in Al-Mayssar to find it destroyed. "There's nothing left," she says. But, she adds, "houses can be rebuilt".

Hamid, 66 years old and blind, holds the hand of his 10-year-old grandson as they search for his house.

The boy seems lost, despite Hamid's reassurances that he knows the way by heart. Every time they try a new route, their ways is blocked by barricades.

"Thank God I'm blind and I can't see all the destruction," says Hamid.
A former product manager at Alphabet Inc. GOOGL has reportedly filed a complaint against Google claiming he was fired on unfair grounds.

A class action lawsuit filed by a California labor law firm with the state court in San Francisco refers to the Google employee as John Doe and alleges that Googles policies violate labor laws, which permit employees to protect themselves by sharing information with outsiders and the press.

News website The Information, which first reported the news, said the plaintiff is a former Nest employee, another Alphabet subsidiary, and is the same person who filed a federal-level complaint against both Google and Nest in May with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The Long List of Allegations

Does suit alleges that Googles employment agreement bars employees from sharing information with each other, with spouses, friends, government agencies and the press.

The suit also alleges that Google employees are prohibited from revealing salaries and compensation to a potential employer. They are also prohibited from revealing skills, knowledge, acquaintances and experience to a new employer.

The plaintiff has stated in the lawsuit that Google blocks workers voices through illegal surveillance. It runs a program called Stopleaks that requires workers to mole on each other and report disclosure of information.

Googles Response

Google has denied all the allegations stating that they are baseless. A Google spokesman stated Our employee confidentiality requirements are designed to protect proprietary business information, while not preventing employees from disclosing information about terms and conditions of employment, or workplace concerns.

ALPHABET INC-A Net Income (TTM)

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Shares of Alphabet have been steadily treading higher on a year-to-date basis. The stock generated a return of 4.07% compared with the Zacks Internet Services industrys gain of 3.53%.

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To Conclude

If the court finds the fired employees claims to be fair, Google might have to re-hire him and pay him back wages. Not only this, Google and other tech companies like Facebook FB, Microsoft MSFT and Yahoo YHOO could be forced to change their confidentiality rules and media policies.

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Alphabet currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly all the UK stores of U.S.-based clothing brand American Apparel, which went into administration in Britain last month, have closed, with the loss of 147 jobs, administrators KPMG said on Friday.

The teen retailer, founded in 1989, made its clothes in Los Angeles and was known for its sexually charged advertising.

The Camden High Street branch in north London is now the only one of the 13 British stores remaining open.

Over the last seven weeks, we have carried out our intention to trade all of the stores on a short-term basis in order to sell the stock and realize value for the creditors. The Camden store will remain open into January, Jim Tucker, Joint Administrator and Restructuring Partner at KPMG, said in a statement.

American Apparel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. in October 2015.

Canadian manufacturer Gildan Activewear Inc. has agreed to buy the brands worldwide intellectual property rights for about $66 million U.S, but has said it does not want to acquire the stores themselves.

At least eight US teen retailers, including Wet Seal LLC and Pacific Sunwear of California Inc, have filed for bankruptcy in the past two years as the spending habits of young people shift and they visit malls less often.

(Reporting by Camilla Hodgson; editing by Stephen Addison)
Luanda (AFP) - Angola on Friday declared the end of a yellow fever outbreak that killed at least 400 people, after an emergency United Nations vaccination campaign covering 25 million.

The outbreak erupted in December last year in the slums of the capital Luanda, spreading to 16 of Angola's 18 provinces and into neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Officials said no new cases had been reported in Angola since June after the mass vaccination campaign was launched in both countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) described it as the world's worst yellow fever outbreak in a generation.

"Since June 23 that Angola has not registered new epidemic cases of yellow fever, everything is under control and it is finished," Health Minister Luis Sambo told a press conference in Luanda.

Last month WHO said the outbreak in Angola and DR Congo was "coming to a close" after more than 7,300 suspected cases and a vaccination effort involving 41,000 volunteers.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted mainly by the same species of mosquito that also spreads Zika and dengue.

Yellow fever vaccinations are routinely recommended for travellers to Angola, though the country had not previously seen a significant outbreak since 1986.

WHO has warned of future outbreaks in Africa due to increased urbanisation as transmission rates are higher in densely populated areas.
Reports from Turkish media claim that Apple has been asked to help unlock an iPhone belonging to the Russian ambassadors assassin. The device, a relatively archaic iPhone 4S, was reportedly recovered from 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altntas, a 22-year-old police officer who shot and killed Russias ambassador to Turkey .

The iPhone is said to be protected with a standard 4-digit passcode. In theory, and depending on the version of iOS installed on the device, the protection should be relatively easy to bypass. MacReports claims that Turkey has asked Apple for help unlocking the device, but although Apple has not said anything yet, it is clear that Apple will not help. In addition to Apples supposed support, Russia is also apparently sending a team of technical experts to Turkey to help examine the phone.

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The case echoes the long-running Apple vs FBI battle over unlocking the San Bernandino killers iPhone 5c earlier this year. There are important differences, however. Apple has historically complied with legal orders to unlock a device, within the limits of its ability. What it objected to in the San Bernandino case was writing software to specifically create a backdoor into iOS, which it said was a slippery slope that could fundamentally damage the security of iOS devices.

Depending on the version of iOS in question here, that may not be necessary. Older versions of iOS, lacking full-device encryption and without the hardware protection of the Secure Enclave chip, are far more vulnerable. The iPhone 4S can run iOS 9, although versions of iOS 7 and onwards tend to slow the device down so much that many users stay on older versions.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli police say an Arab lawmaker in the country's parliament is under arrest amid an investigation into suspicions he smuggled cellphones to Palestinians in prison serving sentences for security offenses.

Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Basel Ghattas is under arrest until Dec.26 after appearing before a court Friday.

He said Ghattas is suspected of "offenses of conspiracy, fraud and breach of trust" and "smuggling mobile phones and SIM cards" to Palestinians serving sentences for security offenses against Israel.

Ghattas is a member of the Balad faction, a party that has antagonized the vast majority of Israelis with provocative shows of support for the Palestinians and activism for their cause.

In 2007, Balad lawmaker Azmi Bishara fled Israel while facing charges of espionage for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Ghattas denied any wrongdoing.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) The Supreme Court today termed as "virtually infructuous" a petition filed by a group of lawyers opposing the elevation of Justice J S Khehar as next the Chief Justice of India, observing that the President of India has already issued a notification in this regard.

"Since the notification appointing Justice J S Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India has already been issued, the petition has virtually become infructuous," a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and L Nageswara Rao said.

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"There is nothing left in this petition as the President of India has issued the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI. Nothing is left in this now. If you want, we can allow you to withdraw the petition," the bench said.

However, the brief hearing witnessed an altercation among the members of the lawyers body as its vice president urged the apex court to list the matter for hearing on December 30, while the others urged the bench for liberty to file a plea afresh.

To this, the bench observed, "You are fighting among yourselves".

The vice president of the petitioner, National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, requested the bench that there was something which they wanted to argue and he would call for a general body meeting of the members to decide on these aspects.

"But nothing remains in this petition now," the bench said.

Some members of the lawyers body told the bench that there was no denial that the petition has become infructuous, so they should be given a liberty to file a fresh plea.

The bench noted in its order that the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI has been issued on December 19.

On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI. The present CJI Justice T S Thakur demits office on January 3 next year.

In its plea, the lawyers body has said that instead of Justice Khehar, Justice J Chelameshwar, who is now the fourth senior-most judge in the apex court, should be elevated as he had given a dissenting view when the National Judicial Appointments Commission was struck down by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Khehar. PTI ABA RKS ARC

--- ENDS ---
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Argentine signed an agreement with the United States to exchange tax information in Buenos Aires on Friday and received praise from Washington for President Mauricio Macri's economic reform efforts.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew visited Argentina in September, nine months after free-market proponent Macri took office and ended more than a decade of haphazard policymaking that scared off investors and raised tensions with Washington.

"This agreement furthers Argentina's reintegration in the global economy and marks an important next step in the new era of the U.S.-Argentina relationship," Lew said in a statement on Friday.

The agreement is aimed at improving collaboration between the two countries' tax enforcement agencies, the statement said.

"It is our hope that such actions will make a meaningful contribution to the efforts of President Macri's government to rebuild institutions, re-establish credibility, improve governance, and implement structural reforms," Lew's statement said.

(Reporting by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Authorities say a man known as the "Godfather of Grass" has been arrested in Canada after eight years on the run.

The U.S. Marshals Service says authorities sought John Robert "Johnny" Boone after they seized 2,400 marijuana plants on his Kentucky farm. The agency said he was arrested Thursday when information led authorities to a small town outside of Montreal.

Boone, who is about 73, spent more than a decade in federal prison after being convicted in the 1980s in what prosecutors called the "largest domestic marijuana syndicate in American history." They said he had 29 farms in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin. The group became known as the "Cornbread Mafia," and prosecutors said Boone was the leader.

Boone is awaiting extradition to the U.S.
LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways-owner IAG (ICAG.L) said it will start low-cost long-haul flights from Barcelona to U.S. destinations in June next year, in an apparent response to increasing budget competition on transatlantic routes.

The move comes after a summer in which low-cost airlines, lead by Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (NWC.OL), have shaken up the Europe to North America travel market by offering ticket prices as little as half what rivals charge.

IAG's budget airline brand Vueling uses Barcelona El Prat as a hub, and IAG said on Friday that Vueling passengers could feed into its long-haul flights at the airport, adding that it had not yet decided whether to set up a new airline or use existing resources from its airlines.

As well as British Airways and Vueling, IAG also owns Spain-based Iberia and Ireland-based Aer Lingus.

"Barcelona has become a significant airport hub and we believe that there is a demand for these flights from El Prat," IAG said in an emailed statement.

Destinations being considering for the long-haul plan are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Havana and Tokyo, IAG said.

That could bring the airline group into direct competition with fast-expanding Norwegian which is due to start budget flights between Barcelona and Los Angeles and San Francisco from next summer.

Analysts at CAPA Centre for Aviation said it looked like IAG was reacting to Norwegian's move.

"Plans by the low-cost carrier Norwegian to launch long-haul routes from Barcelona in 2017 may have had a catalytic effect on IAG's thinking," they said.

Long-established airlines like British Airways, American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) and Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) are finding their formerly lucrative transatlantic routes tougher amid rising competition from budget newcomers like fast-expanding Norwegian, WestJet and Wow Air.

That has prompted the established or "legacy" carriers to develop their own low-cost exposure.

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Earlier this year Lufthansa's Eurowings unit started flying long-haul to destinations such as Cuba, Thailand and the Dominican Republic from Cologne, and it said this week it would also consider long-haul flying from Munich.

Air France, part of Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA), said in November it wanted to launch a new long-haul unit with lower costs that would be staffed by Air France pilots and likely have a name that also contained the words "Air France".

CAPA analysts said IAG could use Aer Lingus planes as an initial platform for the long-haul plan as that airline is the lowest cost long-haul operator in its portfolio of brands.

(Reporting by Sarah Young, additional reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Adrian Croft)
Belgrade (AFP) - Aleksa Konstantinov was one of the brightest maths students in Serbia this year but like many Balkan youngsters he immediately left for a US university after finishing school.

Bosnian neurologist Sanina Babic Ribic was either laughed at or told she needed "political or some other support" to get a job after she graduated. She moved to Germany to work three years ago and now earns "four Bosnian salaries".

These are just two among the tens of thousands of young people who have abandoned the Western Balkans in the face of unemployment, corruption and low wages, looking for better prospects in western Europe or America.

The World Economic Forum's 2016/17 Global Competitiveness Report ranked Serbia 137th out of 138 countries for "capacity to retain talent". Bosnia was ranked 134 and Croatia 132, while Albania and Macedonia were just slightly ahead.

According to a recent study by Montenegro's Centre for Civic Education, half of its young people want to leave the small country of about 620,000 people.

Studies show that most of those leaving in the massive regional "brain drain" are well-educated youngsters.

"Universities in the US and Britain... offer many more opportunities," 19-year-old Konstantinov told AFP by email from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is now studying.

Last year a record 58,000 people left Serbia -- more than double the yearly average of 26,000 between 2004 and 2013, according to Vladimir Grecic, an immigration expert and a Belgrade University professor.

Croatia has a 43 percent unemployment rate among 15 to 24-year-olds, and its entry to the European Union in 2013 has enabled youngsters to flock to Germany, their preferred destination followed by Britain.

In Macedonia, "about 85 percent of final-year university students have said that they see their future out of the country," according to a government report.

Story continues

- Dreams of leaving -

Kosovo is among the hardest-hit countries in the Balkans: half the population is aged under 28, but youth unemployment stands at almost 60 percent.

"Not only me but every young Kosovan dreams of leaving and continuing his professional career abroad," said Blerim Cakolli, a waiter and law graduate in the capital Pristina.

Cakolli, 31, said he had been looking for a job in the legal profession for more than four years.

"The lack of opportunity for youngsters makes them ready to leave and degrades our society," he said.

Across the region, those most likely to leave are healthcare providers.

Babic Ribic, the 37-year-old neurologist now working in the northeastern German town of Paderborn, said one of her Bosnian colleagues paid a 5,000-euro ($5,200) bribe to get a job in Sarajevo University hospital.

"I couldn't afford that, neither financially nor morally," she told AFP.

In the poverty-stricken northern Bosnian region of Tuzla, the Alphabet InfoCentar organises fortnightly meetings between foreign employers and locals seeking work.

Mersudin Mahmutbegovic, the centre's head, said Germany had signed an accord with several Balkan countries, including Bosnia, authorising the employment of up to 250,000 people from the region in its health sector by 2020.

Short of doctors and nurses, Germany finds Balkan employees to be "flexible and reliable," Mahmutbegovic said.

And they are spurred to leave by "a lack of employment, low salaries and few possibilities for career progression" at home, said Albanian university professor Gazmend Goduzi, who co-authored a study on healthcare workers' migration from the Western Balkans.

- Vicious circle -

The Balkans seem to be caught in a vicious circle: while young educated professionals are driven to leave by poor economic prospects, their departure further harms the struggling economies of their homelands.

Serbia is estimated to have lost 12 billion euros since the early 1990s -- when the former Yugoslavia fell apart in conflict -- due to the departure of well-educated young people, particularly scientists and technical engineers, according to local media.

In Albania, businessman Alan Zuzi said his fishing company in the northern town of Lezha almost filed for bankruptcy in 2015 after 60 percent of his employees emigrated.

MIT student Konstantinov said that young people would only stay in the Balkans if living standards and prospects improved.

"I would love to come back to Serbia some day and find a job there, because after leaving I've realised how much I love Serbia and that nowhere else feels like home."
- By Alberto Abaterusso





Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) has been downgraded at TD Securities. Now the firm recommends holding shares of the world's largest producer of gold and sets a new target price, $18 per share.

The Canadian investment bank and financial services provider revised its rating for Barrick Gold down from buy. The new target price represents a 28% decline from the previous target price of $25 per share and a 28.60% decrease from the analysts' average price target of $21.01 per share.





The analysts' average target price ranges between a low target price of $15 per share and a high target price of $27.97 per share.

Barrick Gold closed at $14.16 on Dec. 21, down 18 cents (or -1.26%) from the previous trading day. The share price ranged between a low price per share of $14.01 and a high price per share of $14.34 with a volume of 13,521,246 shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange versus an average volume of 21.46 million shares traded over the last 10 trading days and an average volume of 17.87 million shares traded over the last three months.

As of today, 10 analysts out of a total of 25 suggest holding shares of Barrick Gold while nine analysts (36%) advise buying shares of the world's largest gold producer.

The recommendation rating, which represents an average of the analysts' recommendations on Barrick Gold, is 2.4, almost in the middle of a buy or hold recommendation rating.

The recommendation rating ranges between 1.0 (strong buy) and 5.0 (sell).

Analysts at TD Securities think that after Barrick Gold has achieved another debt target reduction, $2 billion less total debt with the recent repurchasing of $595 million of its corporate loan, and with a remarkable amount of cash on hand, approximately $2.648 billion as of the third quarter, the miner can rely on a strong balance sheet to endure the next bear gold market.

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TD Securities analysts say they "expect that debt reduction will still be a priority for management," as reported by StreetInsider.com.

With plenty of liquidity available, it is not excluded that the miner can further reduce its total debt, now approximately $7.74 billion. However, investors should remember that 65% of Barrick's total long-term debt is not due until 2033. The Canadian gold producer is not stressed by any impelling financial necessity to accomplish supplementary debt curtailments in the short term.

TD Securities forecasts that Barrick Gold will have a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.47 and a free cash flow per share of 85 cents or $1 billion at the end of fiscal 2017, when the average gold price will be $1,200 per troy ounce.

This ratio will be even lower if Barrick Gold completes its 50% stake in Kalgoorlie. On the Australian asset many gold mining companies have expressed their interest, but the world's largest gold producer hasn't chosen one bidder yet. The closing of the sale is expected by the end of this year.

TD Securities also said that in four years' time Barrick Gold will have "the weakest production profile among the firm's forecasts for the senior North American gold producers" due to a gradual deterioration of bulk gold ounces that the miner will extract from its ore bodies every year, which is forecasted by TD Securities to decrease by approximately 23% from 2017 to 2021.

However, investors should also know that Barrick Gold's mineral reserves have one of the highest grade (g/t) in the industry - 1.37 g/t versus an average grade of 1.08 for its North American peers group - and that this average grade of 1.37 g/t is determined by adding the ore bodies that Barrick Gold can economically mine from the mineral reserves at a gold price per troy ounce of $1,000, the lowest when compared to the peers group.

Disclosure: I have no positions in Barrick Gold Corporation.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






President-elect Donald Trump might be setting up a huge battle between fighter jets.

Trump has blasted Pentagon suppliers Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and Boeing (NYSE:BA) for cost overruns and now seems to be pitting the two companies against each other.

The incoming Republican president targeted Boeing for what he called out of control costsan estimated $4 billionto build two new Air Force One jets. He later called out Lockheed Martin, the worlds largest defense contractor, for high costs and delays associated with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

Trump met with the CEOs of both companies on Wednesday. A day later, Trump said he put in a request to Boeing: How much would it cost to build a new F/A-18 Super Hornet?

Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet! Trump wrote on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR).

Shares of Lockheed Martin fell as much as 2.3% on Friday morning, although the stock recovered some of its losses by midday. The Bethesda, Md.-based company was trading 1% lower at $250.21 a share.

We have committed to working with the president-elect and his administration to provide the best capability, deliverability and affordability across all Boeing products and services to meet our national security needs, Boeing said in a statement.

Lockheed Martin declined to comment.

In the wake of Trumps initial criticism, Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martins general manager for the F-35 program, said the company would welcome the opportunity to address any questions the president-elect has about the program. He added that Lockheed Martin continues to work on making the versatile fighter less expensive to build and maintain.

The F-35 Lightning II, the most expensive weapons program in U.S. history, has come under fire from Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The total bill has nearly doubled to $400 billion following production and design issues. The program is also running about four years behind schedule.

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The U.S. military has said the F-35 serves a wide range of roles, different than those of the F/A-18. The F-35 was designed to replace multiple existing fighter jets, including the F/A-18, F-16 and A-10.

Although the F-35 has outlasted the F/A-18 in most of their recent battles for government contracts, Canada decided last month to cancel its order with Lockheed Martin. Instead, Canada will order additional F/A-18 from Boeing, citing the F-35s price tag. The country will still consider the F-35 as a long-term replacement in its fleet of fighter jets.

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BRUSSELS (AP)  Belgian authorities summoned soldiers to examine the contents of a package left outside the offices of the Turkish Federation in Brussels, amid fears it might have been a bomb.

Brussels prosecutor's office spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch said an army team was called in Friday and "they neutralized" the package.

Police are now testing samples taken from bag for explosive material, but Van Wymersch said it was probably meant "to scare people rather than someone who has actually made a bomb."

She said the shoebox-sized container in a shopping bag was found by a member of the Turkish Federation in Brussels' Schaerbeek neighborhood.

Belgian authorities have been on high alert since suicide attackers killed 32 people at the Brussels airport and subway in March.
Bella Thorne has set the record straight about her love life. The Famous In Love took to Twitter to address speculations, saying she is single.

Ty and I have broken up for like two weeks, Thorne said, referring to Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey. And Charlie [Puth] and I arent dating. We are friends. That article was written forever ago.

Thorne cleared the air after Puth posted several tweets about his closeness to the actress and how he did not know that she and Posey were still together. Puth and Thorne have been spotted spending time together, although they both say they are not in a relationship. An interview Thorne did several weeks ago, where she mentioned her relationship with Posey, prompted Puth to share his side of the story. The article, however, was not released until Posey and Thorne had already called it quits.

No one should have their heart messed with like this, and Im not going to be in the middle of it, Puth said, adding, I dont know Tyler personally, but I know he shouldnt be treated this way.

Many found Puths decision to share his side on Twitter bizarre, including actress Keke Palmer. The Scream Queens star weighed in on the drama. The actress quoted one of Puths tweets and added her two cents, saying: Why couldnt you have just texted @bellathorne in private if you were confused? Thorne appears to be agreeing with Palmer as she retweeted the message.

Meanwhile, this is the first time Thorne addressed her breakup with Posey, although she did hint that they were no longer together in a cryptic tweet. I love you but I need another year alone, the actress said on Dec. 18.

Thorne and Posey started dating in September, shortly after the actress confirmed that she and Gregg Sulkin have parted ways after a year together.

Bella Thorne

Photo: Getty Images/C. Flanigan

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A provision contained in the RTI Act ,the PMO told the Punjab based-RTI activist that, PMO has been exempted under provision 8(i)(a) of the RTI Act and cannot share the requisite information.

By Manjeet Sehgal: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has refused to share the information pertaining to the process of demonetisation drive, sought under search results Right to Information (RTI) act.

Citing a provision contained in the RTI Act ,the PMO told the Nawanshahr,Punjab based RTI activist Parvinder Singh Kittna that PMO has been exempted under provision 8(i)(a) of the RTI Act and cannot share the requisite information.

advertisement

Kittna said on November 16, I had requested PMO to provide information about the details of the decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes under RTI but the response received on December 16 was discouraging.

"I had asked the PMO to specify the date on which the decision to scrap the currency notes was taken besides the dates of the correspondence with various departments and RBI. I had also asked whether the cabinet was also taken into confidence before taking the decision and if yes then to provide the minutes of meeting," Parvinder Singh Kittna said.

The RTI activist had also asked PMO to provide details about the illegal money recovered after the currency notes were scrapped.

Kitana has now decided to file an appeal with the appellate authority.

"PMO's refusal to share information is creating confusion. The information should be made public as people want to know about the decision taken on demonetisation," Kitana said.

Click here to Enlarge Details and information of the document

Harvinder Singh Kittna is a well known RTI activist and had earlier unearthed misappropriation of public money worth Rs 2 crore in 2008.

A senior IAS officer who had missed the funds in the name of Bhagat Singh's birth centenary was jailed after a vigilance probe. Kittna had also unearthed a case how Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had utilised most of the funds from his discretionary grant in a particular area.

Click here to Enlarge Details and information of the document

Also read: Since PM Modi announced demonetisation, PMO has recieved 600 calls about black money

--- ENDS ---
Bella Thorne came out as bisexual via Twitter a couple of months ago. The move was different from how other celebrities came out. There were some who opted for magazine interviews and others that went on television to tell their story. So why did Thorne choose social media as her outlet?

I didnt want to glamorize it, Thorne told Paper magazine. The reason why I did it is for other peoples benefits, [for those who] have the same insecurity that I had. And thats why Im doing it. When you do it in a certain way, you just glamorize it so much its not easy for kids to relate to. Like a kid could easily write on their Twitter to all their best friends that theyre bisexual and come out like that.

Despite her admission, Thorne said she never really hid her sexuality. The actress also said that she was surprised by how the public reacted to her coming out because she never denied anything. She added that while some people found her coming out inspiring, shes heard that some studio executives had some bad things to say about it.

Thorne admitted it in a reply to a fans tweet asking if she is sexually fluid. While the question could have been random, it may also have been prompted by photos of Thorne that circulated weeks before her admission. In the photos that surfaced online, Thorne and a girl friend were kissing.

After her admission, many asked if Thorne was dating the girl in the photos, which turned out to be the actress best friend, Bella Pendergast. While the actress herself did not address the rumors, a source close to her reportedly told TMZ that the two are just friends. Pendergast, at the time the photos were taken, was in a relationship with a boy from University of California-Davis, the source added.

Thorne is currently single. The actress revealed in a tweet that she and Tyler Posey have broken up after dating for a couple of months.

Bella Thorne

Photo: Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer

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The suspect in Mondays Berlin Christmas market attack reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State before dying in a police shoot-out in Milan early Friday morning.

The extremist groups Amaq News Agency released a video claiming to show the suspect, Tunisian-born Anis Amri, pledging allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In the video, which was translated by the online jihadi monitoring SITE Intelligence Group but has not yet been verified, Amri also vowed to avenge Muslims killed in airstrikes in Syria.

Police believe Amri drove a truck into the crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring dozens more. He fled to Milan, Italy, via France after the attack amid a frantic Europe-wide manhunt. When Milan police stopped him to ask for his papers, he reportedly pulled out a gun, wounding one police officer before being shot dead.

The market attack and suspects subsequent flight to Italy underscores brewing concerns about Europes security that have already been raised  and raised again  as leaders across the continent take stock of terrorism threats and the refugee crisis.

Anti-EU political figures were quick to pin part of the blame of the attack on Europes open borders, the so-called Schengen Zone. This escapade in at least two or three countries is symptomatic of the total security catastrophe that is the Schengen agreement, Frances far-right and anti-immigrant presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said Friday.

If the man shot in Milan is the Berlin killer, then the Schengen Area is proven to be a risk to public safety. It must go, British politician and Brexiteer Nigel Farage tweeted.

The attack also raises questions about Amris suspected road to radicalization. His story could become a microcosm of Europes dual struggle with rising extremism and an influx of refugees. Amri reportedly arrived in Italy from Tunisia in 2011, and spent four years in Italian prison after alleged involvement in robbery and arson. He was radicalized while he was in prison, according to his father in an interview with The Times of London.

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Prison radicalization is a top concern for law enforcement officials worldwide, but particularly in Europe, said Frank J. Cilluffo, the White House homeland security adviser to former President George W. Bush.

Prisons have long served as breeding grounds and incubators for extremist ideologies, Cilluffo told Foreign Policy on Friday. In prison, radicalized leaders have an audience more predisposed to violence and more susceptible to extremist views.

In France, for example, researchers believe that 50 to 60 percent of the countrys total 67,000 inmates are Muslim, and government officials fear they could be recruited for Islamic extremism. Were sitting on a time bomb, a French state prison auditing agency told the Wall Street Journal.

Its a concern for the United States, too, where hundreds of federal prison inmates are serving times for terrorism-related offenses. We have never been faced with such a large number of terror inmates before, said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in 2015.

Its not a new phenomenon for either the United States or Europe, says Cilluffo, but the scale and scope of the problem has become much bigger  particularly in Europes overcrowded prisons.

Meanwhile, terrorism has colored the debate on the European Unions controversial refugee policy, fueling fears extremists are slipping into the Schengen Zone by hiding among genuine refugees. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is posturing for re-election in 2017 against a growing wave of far-right and anti-immigrant political movements, came under fire for her refugee-friendly policies after Mondays attack.

Though Europe is cracking down on its refugee intake, some in the Middle East and North Africa are still risking it all to make the dangerous journey. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees announced that 100 more people have likely drowned in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, attempting to cross to Europe. That brings the death toll on Mediterranean crossings in 2016 to over 5,000. This is the worst annual death toll ever seen, the UNHCR said.

Photo credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Four days after the attack in Berlin, the alleged perpetrator Anis Amri was shot in Milan. This was preceded by a pan-European search for the Tunisian, whose fingerprints were found in the cabin of the lorry that was driven into the Christmas market on the evening of 19 December. Twelve people died, dozens were injured. AFP presents a chronology of the attack and its aftermath.
ROME, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A man believed to be the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was shot dead in the early hours of Friday after he pulled a gun on police who had asked for his I.D. papers, a police source said.

The source said the 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri was stopped by a regular patrol near the railway station of Sesto San Giovanni at around 3.30 a.m. (0230 GMT). He shot and wounded a police officer before he himself was killed.

A justice source said Italian police had information he might be in the area. He was identified by his fingerprints.

(Reporting by Antonella Cinelli and Emilio Parodi, writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
ROME  Anis Amri, the Tunisian man wanted in connection with the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market that left 12 people dead, was killed Friday by Italian police following a shootout on the outskirts of Milan.

Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti told reporters that a police patrol stopped Amri, 24, at a checkpoint before dawn Friday in the Milan suburb of Sesto San Giovanni. Amri pulled out a pistol and fired on one of the officers, and a shootout ensued in which Amri was killed.

Minniti said the dead man was Amri without any shadow of a doubt. Amris identity has been confirmed by fingerprints, according to several news reports. The officer who was shot is recovering in the hospital, Minniti said.

The killing ended an international manhunt for Amri, who had a criminal record in Europe and his native Tunisia prior to the attack in Berlin on Monday. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, in which a truck driven by Amri mowed through the crowd at a holiday market in Breitscheidplatz, a public square near a famous church in western Berlin.

One of the 12 dead was a Polish truck driver from whom Amri had stolen the vehicle. The man was found stabbed and shot inside the truck.

The manhunt for Amri had put European police forces on high alert for the holiday period. On Friday morning, news reports from Germany said authorities there had arrested two men from Kosovo who were suspected of planning a terrorist attack on a shopping mall in the western German city of Oberhausen.

Also just before Amris death, new details emerged about his movements before and after the Berlin attack. German broadcaster RBB published stills from surveillance footage allegedly showing him coming out of a mosque in Berlins Moabit neighborhood on the Wednesday and Thursday before the attack. The broadcaster also said there was other footage placing Amri at the mosque a few hours after the attack.

Amri, who arrived in Germany after washing up on Italian shores on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, had reportedly been identified by European security forces as dangerous. His asylum application had been rejected. But news reports said that authorities had not managed to deport him because he lacked identification papers.
The chief suspect in Mondays deadly attack on a Berlin Christmas market has been killed, Italian authorities say. Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian man, was shot dead by police at around 3 AM local time in the northern Sesto San Giovanni area of the city. During a routine patrol, he was asked to show identification, but pulled a .22 calibre pistol and fired, hitting the officer making the request. A second officer opened fire and killed Amri, officials said. The officer who was shot is in hospital, although his injury does not appear to be life-threatening.

European and international news nets commenced blanket coverage as reports emerged early Friday morning. Italys Interior Minister Marco Minniti held a press conference, confirming Amri as the key suspect.

The person who attacked our police officers was killed, said Minniti. There is absolutely no doubt that the person who was killed was Anis Amri, the suspect in the terrorist attack in Berlin.

#Minniti: man killed in shoot-out with police in Milan is Berlin attacker Anis Amri #berlinattack  Polizia di Stato (@poliziadistato) December 23, 2016

The Berlin Police department tweeted its thanks to Italy and wished a speedy recovery to the injured officer.

Grazie e pronta guarigione ai colleghi feriti.#Danke fur die Unterstutzumg & gute Besserung dem verletzten Kollegen. #Breitscheidplatz

^yt https://t.co/pADRzz6Wym  Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) December 23, 2016

The early-morning incident followed a manhunt across Europe after Mondays events when a truck plowed through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring dozens. The Islamic State on Tuesday claimed responsibility, saying the driver was a soldier of ISIS.

Amri, who moved to Italy in 2011 and relocated to Germany in 2015, previously spent time in an Italian prison for arson and Minniti said today this remains an active investigation.

Christmas markets are very popular destinations throughout Europe and following Mondays carnage, security was heightened across the region. France particularly has already been on high alert after a wave of terrorist attacks in the past two years, including the events in Nice this summer when a truck killed 86 people and injured hundreds after a Bastille Day fireworks display.

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Berlin (AFP) - Tunisia said Saturday it had arrested three men linked to the suspected Berlin Christmas market attacker, including his nephew. Here is what we know about the case so far.

- Shot dead in Italy -

German authorities launched a Europe-wide manhunt for 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri on Wednesday. Two days later the rejected asylum seeker was killed by Italian police in Milan.

Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti told reporters in Rome that Amri had been fatally shot after firing at police who had stopped him for a routine identity check around 3:00 am (0200 GMT).

Amri had been missing since escaping after Monday's attack in central Berlin. He had links to Italy, having arrived in the country from his native Tunisia in 2011.

Amri's temporary residence permit for Germany and fingerprints were found in the cab of the truck he allegedly rammed into the packed Christmas market, authorities said.

But in a development that stoked public anger, it emerged that German officials had already been investigating Amri.

Prosecutors in Berlin believed he was planning a burglary to raise funds to buy weapons, possibly to carry out an attack.

However, after trailing him for six months, they had to let the case drop as there was not enough evidence against him -- they thought he was only a small-time drug dealer.

Questions were also raised on Friday about how Amri managed to flee Germany, evading the Europe-wide manhunt and making it all the way to Italy.

He is believed to have travelled at least part of the route by train, passing through France. He had no phone on him and only a few hundred euros.

- Rejected asylum seeker -

Amri left Tunisia after the 2011 revolution. He lived in Italy and served a four-year sentence there for setting fire to a school which had been converted into a refugee shelter.

Security sources believe Amri was radicalised during his time in prison.

He arrived in Germany in July 2015 and applied for asylum, which was rejected in June.

Story continues

However, his deportation became bogged down in red tape as Tunisia denied he was a citizen.

Just an hour after the carnage, the police declared they had a chief suspect already in custody: a Pakistani asylum seeker.

Police released him 24 hours later, after failing to find evidence of his involvement.

The mix-up gave Amri another 30 hours to flee.

- The hunt for accomplices -

Federal prosecutor Peter Frank told reporters Friday that there were still many unanswered questions in the probe into Amri.

"It is very important for us to determine whether there was a network of accomplices... in the preparation or the execution of the attack, or the flight of the suspect," he said.

After the bloody assault, the Islamic State-linked Amaq news agency hailed Amri as a "soldier" of the group.

After Amri was shot dead, IS released a video in which he is shown pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Tunisia on Saturday said it had arrested Amri's nephew and two other men who were members of a "terrorist cell" connected to Amri.

It made no direct link between the trio and the Berlin attack.

- The Polish driver -

The truck used to carry out the attack belonged to Polish driver Lukasz Urban who was heading to Berlin to deliver steel beams from Italy.

But the delivery was put off until the following day, so he went to park his Polish-registered lorry in an industrial zone in the northwest of the city, according to the Bild daily.

In the afternoon he spoke briefly to his wife and the couple agreed to talk again an hour later. They never did.

Police found Urban, shot dead, in the passenger seat of the truck's cab. According to Urban's cousin Ariel Zurawski, who was shown photos of the body, the 37-year-old had a stab wound and "his face was bloodied and swollen", suggesting a struggle with the attacker.

Eleven other people were also killed, seven of them German nationals. The others came from Czech Republic, Italy, Israel and Ukraine.
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
Berlin (AFP) - Tunisia on Saturday said it had arrested the nephew of Anis Amri, the suspected Berlin truck attacker gunned down by Italian police, as Germany searched for the jihadist's possible accomplices.

Tunisia's interior ministry said the nephew and two other suspects, aged between 18 and 27, were detained on Friday and were members of a "terrorist cell" connected to Tunisian-born Amri.

It made no direct link between the trio and the Berlin assault on Monday, when Amri is believed to have hijacked a truck and used it to mow down people at a Christmas market, killing 12.

The 24-year-old went on the run and was the focus of a four-day manhunt before being shot dead by police in Milan after opening fire first.

The Berlin rampage was claimed by the Islamic State group, which released a video on Friday in which Amri is shown pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The Tunisian interior ministry said in a statement that Amri had sent money to his nephew so he could join him in Germany, and had allegedly urged him "to pledge allegiance to Daesh (IS)".

The unnamed nephew also claimed his uncle was the leader of a jihadist group based in Germany, known as the Abu al-Walaa brigade, it added.

The arrests come as German authorities probe whether Amri had help before or after the attack. Hundreds of investigators are set to work on the case throughout the holiday season.

"It is very important for us to determine whether there was a network of accomplices... in the preparation or the execution of the attack, or the flight of the suspect," federal prosecutor Peter Frank said Friday.

- Criticism -

Seven of those killed were German nationals, a federal police spokeswoman told AFP. The other five victims came from the Czech Republic, Italy, Israel, Poland and Ukraine.

The fact Amri was able to travel to Italy unhindered despite a Europe-wide arrest warrant has raised uncomfortable questions for intelligence agencies.

Story continues

German security services have also faced criticism for not keeping better tabs on Amri before the Berlin carnage, even though he was a known criminal.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere denied there had been a blanket security failure.

It "is impossible to monitor every person suspected of posing a threat around the clock," he told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged a "comprehensive" analysis of how Amri was able to slip the net, vowing to speed up the deportation of rejected asylum seekers such as him.

Amri was killed after firing at two officers who stopped him for a routine identity check on Friday near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni railway station.

Amri had a few hundred euros on him but no telephone, Milan police said, adding that he had arrived in Italy from France.

A French source close to the investigation said train tickets found on Amri suggested he had travelled from the southern French city of Lyon to Chambery in the southeast.

From Chambery he boarded a train to Milan via Turin, the source said, adding that Amri paid for at least one ticket in cash.

- Christmas 'not ruined' -

Amri left Tunisia for Italy in 2011. He spent four years in prison there for starting a fire in a refugee centre, during which time he was apparently radicalised.

After his release he headed to Germany in 2015, taking advantage of Europe's Schengen system of open borders -- as he did on his return to Italy this week.

German security agencies began monitoring Amri in March, suspecting he was planning break-ins to raise cash for automatic weapons to carry out an attack.

But surveillance was stopped in September because Amri was seen primarily as a small-time drug dealer.

Meanwhile, as Germany celebrated Christmas Eve, locals and tourists in Berlin visited the scene of the truck assault, and many lit a candle or left flowers in memory of victims.

"It's really nice there are so many people here and it's still open," said Marianne Weile, 56, from Copenhagen.

"Even though you are really sad about what happened you can still keep Christmas. It's not like this crazy guy ruined it for everybody."
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi termed PM Narendra Modi's demonetisation move as 'economic robbery' while repeating the charge that he received huge amount of money from big corporate houses while he was the Gujarat CM.

By India Today Web Desk: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today continued his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming demonetisation 'economic robbery'. Speaking at a rally in Almora, Uttarakhand, Gandhi said Modi has divided India into two halves.

"Aapka to lagta hai bas yahi sapna, raam naam japna, gareebon ka maal apna," Gandhi said mocking the PM's notes ban move. He also repeated the charge that top corporate houses paid crores to Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat chief minister.

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HERE'S WHAT RAHUL GANDHI SAID:

Log toot jaate hain ek ghar banane mein, tum taras nahi khaate grihastiyan jalane mein.

Over 100 people died following PM Modi's notes ban decision.

You (PM Modi) have divided India into two halves. On the one hand there is India's super rich which has 50 families, on the other side is 99 per cent of India, which includes the poor and honest people.

Aapka to lagta hai bas yahi sapna, raam naam japna, gareebon ka maal apna.

94 per cent of the black money is in Swiss Bank accounts, gold. Only 6 per cent of black money is in cash.

Do you remember (Vijay) Mallya? Where is he? He is in London. Modiji gave him Rs 1200 crore ki toffee and allowed him to sneak out of the country.

They claim that demonetisation is a surgical strike on black money, actually it is firebombing on country's poor.

Don't shout murdabad. This is their slogan not ours. Congress is Gandhiji's party.

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--- ENDS ---
UPDATE: 7:07 a.m. EST  Italian authorities received a tip-off that Berlin truck attack suspect Anis Amri could be in Milan prompting them to send additional patrols to catch him, a judicial source told Reuters Friday. Earlier in the day, the Italian government confirmed that Amri was killed in a shootout in the city.

Officials found a railway ticket on the 24-year-old Tunisians body indicating that he travelled by high-speed train from France to the northern Italian city of Turin, Reuters reported, citing the source. He then travelled in a regional train to the Milan suburbs.

Amri was the subject of a Europe-wide manhunt for mowing down 12 people at a Chrismas market in Berlin on Monday.

Meanwhile, a photo of the Italian police officer injured in the shootout with Amri was released on social media.

UPDATE: 5:40 a.m. EST  Germanys interior ministry is relieved that Berlin truck attack suspect Anis Amri was shot dead in Italy Friday, the departments spokesman Tobias Plate said, at a press conference, according to reports.

Germany has not yet received an official written notification from Italy about the development but a German police liaison office in Rome was informed about Amris death, according to reports.

Plate said "should this turn out to be true then the interior ministry is relieved that this person doesn't pose a threat anymore."

UPDATE: 5:18 a.m. EST  Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti has confirmed that the person killed in a shootout in Milan was the Berlin truck attack suspect Anis Amri.

He was the most wanted man in Europe and we immediately identified him and neutralized him. This means our security is working really well, Minniti said, at a press conference.

Original story:

Anis Amri, the prime suspect in Mondays truck attack at a Christmas market in Berlin, has been shot dead in Milan, according to Italian media. Amri fled following the attack that killed 12 people, prompting a Europe-wide manhunt for him.

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Italian interior minister Marco Minniti is expected to hold a news conference shortly.

Amri was killed after he shot at two police officers during a routine road check near the Piazza Primo Maggio, in front of Sesto San Giovanni station in Milan, according to Italian ANSA news agency. One of the officers was injured in the incident, the report said.

AnisAmir_WantedPoster

Photo: POLICE RECORD OBTAINED VIA REUTERS

Amri shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) before shooting the officers, according to Spiegel Online, a German news website. The police responded with gunfire killing him, the report added.

Germanys federal prosecutor has not confirmed Amris death. However, a representative for the prosecutors office reportedly said German officials are in contact with Italian authorities.

Some reports had earlier said that a man matching the description of the Berlin attacker was spotted in Denmark.

The 24-year-old Tunisian arrived in Germany about five years ago. He had reportedly served time in an Italian prison, and was detained for a short time in Germany as well before being released. Amri was also recently put on a U.S. no-fly list.

The suspects brother Abdelkader Amri had reportedly urged Amri to turn himself in. According to Abdelkader, Amri was likely radicalized in a prison in Italy, where he traveled during the Arab Spring uprisings.

AnisAmri_Brother

Photo: REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

According to a European arrest warrant, Amri was born in the Tunisian town of Ghaza and went by half a dozen names  most of them variants of his real name. He also had Egyptian and Lebanese citizenships, the warrant reportedly stated.

Mondays attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, which issued a statement calling Amri a soldier of the Islamic State.

Correction: An earlier version of this story wrongly identified the Italian interior minister as Angelino Alfano.

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Miami-based FiGa Films has acquired world sales rights to Tesoros from Maria Novaro, Mexicos most prominent female director.

Tesoros will world-premiere in February in the Berlin Film Festivals Generation Kplus lineup. FiGa will introduce the film to buyers there at the European Film Market.

Tesoros marks the latest movie from Novaro, whose earliest features, 1989s Lola and 1991s Danzon, helped usher in the first of Mexicans modern new cinemas waves, whose exponents also included Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro. Like all Novaros films, it charts a journey  or several, beginning with tween Andrea; Dylan, an imaginative child about six years old; and Lucas, a toddler,who all move with their parents to a beach house in Barra de Potosi, a village on Mexicos Pacific Coast north of Acapulco.

It then charts a second: the kids integration in a close-knit seaside community and their discovery of nature as Dylan, who thinks hes seen explorer Francis Drakes ghost, leads a leisurely treasure hunt for the pirates treasure trove. What they are about to find is something more valuable, runs the films synopsis, which calls Tesoros a film for children, their parents and their grandparents.

Produced by Cine Ermitanos Pamela Guinea, with whom Sandro Fiorins FiGa worked on Marimbas From Hell, Novaros sixth feature, Tesoros puts kids center stage; grownups hardly appear in frame. In its visuals, it may be more of a piece with Novaros 20o0 road movie Leaving No Trace, which captured stunning but off-the-beaten-track scenery and featured bright, warm colors.

As with Novaros 2010 The Good Herbs, it also plumbs the pleasure of nature, here in a community complete with an animal reserve, a shanty beach cafe, crab-fishing, whales in the bay, sandbars and local songs sung by a local couple.

Marias new film, and what she represents for Mexican cinema, is something entirely new for us. Its our first title for children and parents, and so gorgeous, full of love and hope, and yet a perfect fit for our catalog, Fiorin said.

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Written and edited by Novaro, and set up as a co-production between three Mexican companies  Cine Ermitano, Ajenjo Cine, and Axolote Cine  Tesoros was financed via Mexican 189 Efecine tax coin and a Foprocine investment from the Imcine Mexican Film Institute. It is part of a building but still small corpus of fiction for children in Mexico which attempts to ensure that, though the country is the second biggest export market for Hollywood animation in the world after China, childrens imagination is fueled by not only by Hollywood but also sources closer to home.

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If the idea of a matchmaker immediately brings to mind a rash, larger-than-life Jersey woman yelling into her phone on Bravo, Emily Holmes Hahn of LastFirst, in Ralph Lauren suede boots and with an altogether well-mannered temperament, is set to disappoint. But if a serious, lasting match is the interest, her success rate will speak for itself.

We want to break away from the mold of those matchmakers you see on television where anybody who can write a check can go in, no matter how crazy,Holmes Hahn says. Some of those people are people you or I would never date.

Holmes Hahn started LastFirst three years ago, after a LinkedIn message lured her from the Paris office of Ralph Lauren where she worked as a personal shopper. Right around the time that my visa was expiring, I got a recruiting offer from a matchmaker in New York, she says. It was pretty out of the blue  I had a friend who worked there but [the timing] was very serendipitous. So I moved back and worked there for a year and a half and I loved it, but I kind of wanted to marry the luxury brand concept with the big-box dating service concept.

LastFirst is billed as a boutique matchmaking agency: they limit their clientele to around 30 at a time. The way that my business model works is it moves horizontally, so when I get a client into a relationship, then I take on another client, she explains. But Im never going to take on 100 clients at a time  I always want to keep the group intimate and keep the approach really hands-on with each of them, so that we succeed for them. Getting people out, getting people in  and we actually have a waiting list.

The clients are mostly men, who range in age from their late 20s to late 60s at the moment, and who work in a range of fields, from medicine, law and finance to acting, film production and art. She declined to discuss the cost on the record, but price is very based on the project.

Clients are taken on for 18 months at a time  usually, though, if were doing a good job, its a lot less than 18 months, she says. The whole model is its a flat fee, but were very incentivized to get it done in less than 18 months.

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Getting taken on as a client is a lot more complicated than swiping right; the process is equally dependent upon Hahn Holmes liking the potential client, as much as the client seeks her out. Well go to them, and start off with the interview, she says. And from that, we go back and we determine if we think this person is a good fit and would represent the brand well. And we really kind of judge people on everything. We go back and discuss if we would want to accept a check from them. And if we would, then well make them an offer.

Matches are made with guest members, a pool of around 2,000 mostly women who do not pay, and who are scanned in a similar process. They have to be referred to me by a friend, or by someone who knows the company and trusts us, and then after that they fill out a 70 question questionnaire, which asks all kinds of questions like what is your relationship like with your parents, what was growing up like for you, if you could have a dinner party with five people living or dead, who are you bringing and we read those questionnaires really carefully. We then ask for photos, and if somebody sends us head shots, we actually send them back and ask for just a Facebook link or something, so we can have an idea of what they actually look like.

At the end of the day, the goal is to find marriage-minded individuals who arent just content dating online. As it happens, a lot of the women in the network are fashion people, just because of my own background and my own interest and the places that I like to go out, Holmes Hahn says. Such places include events like the Whitney Art Party or the Dior-sponsored Guggenheim pre-party, where shell either mingle with a client to get to know how they socialize, or scout potential guest members.

While the core of the membership is in New York, LastFirst works with clientele in L.A., London, Paris, Miami, Palm Beach, Connecticut and New Jersey, and no matter where, no request is too much. We give everybody a code of conduct before the dates  one for men, one for women, and it just kind of outlines some basic rules that we have, she says. Dont talk about matchmaking on the date, wear something youve worn before, that you feel amazing in, for the guys we say arrive a little bit early and get situated and get seats, if its a drinks date, so you arent arriving together and scrambling. And if they have a fashion question or something, Im always taking those calls.

And though working with such small numbers might seem like a harder likelihood for success, Holmes Hahn reports it only takes around six weeks to find a client the one.

I always loved connecting people, but I never thought that it could be a job, she says. Now, her job has her fielding engagement calls and smiling through toasts: I go to a lot of weddings.

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After the end of a taxing holiday shopping season, you may never want to step foot in a mall, stand in a checkout line or type out your billing address again.

But don't swear off shopping just yet.

If you tuck away your wallet, you'll miss your chance to shop some sensational post-Christmas sales. Each year, many stores celebrate the end of another successful season with huge blowouts across all departments. Eager to make way for next season's merchandise, many of these retailers take more than 50 percent off winter apparel, toys, decor, gifts and more.

[See: 10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping.]

To get an idea of what to expect from after-Christmas events this year, we dug up the best post-holiday sales from previous years. Based on our findings, we've included insights and predictions for 2016 after-Christmas sales below.

Macy's After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 25 -- Dec. 28

Macy's throws an after-Christmas sale every year, treating shoppers to deep discounts on designer apparel, home goods and accessories. Last Christmas, Macy's offered an extra 15 percent off any order with free shipping on orders over $25.

This year, Macy's is expected to run a similar sale, with a sitewide discount and free shipping on qualifying orders. In addition to storewide savings, the department store is likely to slash prices on jewelry, accessories, bras and bed and bath products.

JCPenney After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 26 -- Dec. 28

In 2015, JCPenney unveiled a number of end-of-season deals. The sale included:

-- $10 off orders over $25. -- 20 percent off orders over $100.

-- 25 percent off orders over $150.

-- Free shipping on orders over $49.

The JCPenney 2016 after-Christmas sale may follow a similar format, with percentage discounts and free shipping on qualifying orders.

Bloomingdale's After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 25 -- Jan. 1

To clear out stores for next season, Bloomingdale's traditionally launches an after-Christmas sale, often offering up to 75 percent off storewide. This year, shoppers can count on saving big on designer shoes, handbags and apparel for men and women.

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[See: 9 Ways to Save When Holiday Shopping With Credit Cards.]

Neiman Marcus After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 26 -- Dec. 31

Every year, Neiman Marcus offers deep discounts across all departments during its after-Christmas sale. In 2015, Neiman Marcus offered:

-- $50 off orders over $200. -- $100 off orders over $400.

This year, Neiman Marcus is likely to offer identical deals and additional discounts on toys, gifts and select apparel.

Neiman Marcus Last Call After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 25 -- Dec. 29

Neiman Marcus' bargain outlet locations also ring in the new year with a superb after-Christmas sale. During its 2015 after-Christmas sale, Neiman Marcus Last Call offered:

-- Up to 60 percent off any order. -- Up to 60 percent off select items.

We foresee a similar sale structure for the 2016 sale, in addition to special offers on shoes, handbags and accessories.

J. Crew After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 26

Last year, J. Crew offered sale items at 40 percent off and is anticipated to do the same in 2016.

Finish Line After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 25 -- Jan. 17

As the 2015 holiday drew to a close, Finish Line offered 50 percent off sale items during its end-of-the-season sale. This year, Finish Line may carry on the tradition by offering half off its sale collection, which includes footwear for men, women and kids.

[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]

Lord & Taylor After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 25 -- Jan. 1

Last year, Lord & Taylor ran a three-day after-Christmas sale that included 75 percent off clearance items and free shipping. This year, Lord & Taylor is expected to run a sitewide sale, with some sources predicting discounts of up to 70 percent off any order.

Saks Fifth Avenue After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 25 -- Dec. 26

Last year, Saks Fifth Avenue took up to 70 percent off select designer apparel for men, women and children. An identical sale is anticipated for 2016.

Toys R Us After-Christmas Sale

Expected dates: Dec. 25 -- Jan. 2

The 2015 Toys R Us after-Christmas sale included deep discounts on a huge array of popular toys, including Barbie Dolls, Paw Patrol vehicles and Star Wars interactive figurines. This post-Christmas season, the toy store is expected to launch equally attractive deals on 2016 items.

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.
Bethlehem, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is the "little town" where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born and it attracts thousands of pilgrims at Christmas.

Located just 10 kilometres (six miles) from Jerusalem, and hosting holy sites of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, it has not been spared the fallout of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Here are five things to know about Bethlehem as Christmas approaches:

- Sacred city for three religions -

Bethlehem is the cradle of Christianity, the site of the Church of the Nativity, which contains an underground cave where Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. A 14-pointed silver star beneath an altar marks the spot and the stone church is a key pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims alike.

The emperor Constantine the Great and his mother Helena had it built around the year 338.

Over the years the church has been sacked and undergone several transformations, and it is now administered jointly by the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic authorities.

A space reserved for Muslim prayer has been set aside in a southern wing.

Bethlehem is also home to the tomb of Rachel, wife of Jacob who was Abraham's grandson. It is Judaism's third holiest site, after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The tomb of the biblical matriarch is sacred for Muslims as well, and Jewish and Muslim women visit regularly to pray for safe and smooth pregnancies.

The first mention of Bethlehem in the Old Testament is in the book of Genesis, under the name of Ephrat, where

Rachel dies while giving birth to her son Benjamin. Her tomb is at the northern edge of the city.

- Unesco heritage sites -

In June 2012, the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route along which the traditional Christmas procession heads were designated a world heritage site by the UN cultural organisation UNESCO, despite stiff opposition from Israel and the United States.

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Palestinians hailed the decision as "historic".

In October 2010, UNESCO's executive council had termed Rachel's tomb also as the Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque.

Israel reduced its cooperation with the cultural organisation in protest.

- Christmas in Bethlehem -

Adjoining the Church of the Nativity is the Franciscan church of Saint Catherine, where Christmas Mass is celebrated each year at midnight.

A tall Christmas tree is put up in early December outside the church in Manger Square, signalling the start of the festivities, and its lighting is often accompanied by a message of peace from the city to a troubled region.

On Christmas Day thousands of tourists and Palestinians -- Muslims and Christians alike -- line the so-called pilgrimage route to watch a procession led by the Catholic patriarch who begins in Jerusalem and passes through the wall that separates the West Bank from Israel.

Scout marching bands escort the cleric to the sound of drums and bagpipes. The square is the site of many other multi-coloured processions.

Other denominations also celebrate Christmas in various parts of the city, though in the Orthodox and Armenian church calendars, Christmas comes in January.

- The wall and unrest -

The Israeli separation wall is part of a project begun in 2002 during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, that is to extend around 700 kilometres (450 miles) once completed. It is a stark symbol of the occupation for Palestinians, and in Bethlehem, where it has been covered by graffiti and "street art", it has become a gathering place for militants from all over the globe.

Pope Francis visited the site in May 2014, laying his hands on the wall and celebrating Mass in Manger Square.

Bethlehem has suffered meanwhile from the intifada unrest and a clampdown by Israeli security forces. In 2002, armed Palestinian fighters holed up in the Church of the Nativity for 38 days.

- Main tourist site in Palestinian territories -

The district of Bethlehem, home to about 210,000 Palestinians, includes the city of Bethlehem, which has a population of 32,000. Other major towns are Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, in addition to some 30 villages and three refugee camps.

Although the population was predominantly Christian a half century ago, it is now predominantly Muslim, but Christians are still present in key economic sectors.

Tourism is the biggest economic activity, with the Church of the Nativity drawing some two million pilgrims each year.

Last year however, the number of visitors slumped amid violence and protests in the region that left around 150 people dead.
By Keith Coffman

DENVER (Reuters) - African-American men and women in Colorado were disproportionately arrested or issued citations last year, and were more likely to be sentenced to prison than other racial groups, according to a state-commissioned study released on Thursday.

Despite comprising just 4.2 percent of the states population, blacks accounted for 12.4 percent of arrests and criminal summonses, according to the report by the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

Civil liberties activists welcomed the report as long overdue.

Communities of color for a long time have felt that they are stopped and arrested more than others, Denise Maes, public policy director for the American Civil Liberties Unions Colorado chapter, said in a telephone interview.

The study is the first under a law passed last year by the Colorado legislature that mandates an annual review of race, ethnicity and gender data supplied by law enforcement, judiciary and parole board agencies within the state.

It comes at a time when concern about over-incarceration of African-Americans has prompted calls for reform throughout the country from both Democrats and Republicans.

Numerous states, including California, have enacted new sentencing laws aimed at correcting the disparity, which has led to the incarceration of 1 million African-Americans in the United States, according to the NAACP.

For the Colorado study, researchers combed through more than 325,000 arrest, summons, court filings and parole decision records to reach their conclusions.

The study found that while African-Americans were arrested at three times their proportion of the population, Latinos made up 23.3 percent of arrestees and whites 61.8 percent.

In the state's district courts, blacks were sentenced to prison 24.9 percent of the time, compared with 16.9 percent of Latinos and 17.7 percent of whites.

Latinos comprise 22.2 percent of Colorado's 5.4 million residents, while non-Hispanic whites make up 69.1 percent, according to the state demographer's office.

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The arrests and citations involving blacks were also more frequently for serious offenses such as assault, aggravated assault, homicide, robbery and weapons-related offenses, the report said.

The study showed that blacks were more likely to be incarcerated at both the adult and juvenile levels.

The report also noted that males accounted for between 70 percent and 80 percent of all arrests, and whites and Asians were more likely to receive early parole than blacks, Hispanics or Native American offenders.

The department noted, however, that the findings were based strictly on a statistical analysis, and did not delve into the reasons behind the disparity.

(Editing by Sharon Bernstein and Jonathan Oatis)
Teen blogger Amos Yee leaves with his parents after his sentencing from the State Court in Singapore July 6, 2015. REUTERS/Edgar Su/Files

Controversial teenage blogger Amos Yee has been detained in the US while trying to seek political asylum, according to a media report.

Yee, who was jailed twice in Singapore for his offensive posts about religion and the late ex-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, was helped in his asylum bid by US-based Singaporean activist Melissa Chen, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) said in a report Friday (23 December).

Chen said Yee, 18, is being detained in a jail near Chicago and that she last spoke with him via video on Thursday. Yee has a tourist visa for his entry into the US, but was detained after he told border control officers that he was seeking asylum, Chen added.

Yees mother, Mary Toh, has been informed of his detention, according to the report.

Several analysts were asked by SCMP whether the detention will have an impact on relations between the US and Singapore.

P.N Balji, a media veteran and ex-editor of the Today newspaper, told SCMP, Singapore is unlikely to want to sensationalise this case or protest this move. Amos Yee is not a wanted man in Singapore and has paid the price for his actsif he wants to live in the US and he is granted asylum, that is his human right.
(Adds details on other energy company filings)

By Tracy Rucinski and Ahmed Farhatha

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Bonanza Creek Energy Inc and two other energy firms announced on Friday plans to file for bankruptcy in coming weeks, joining a long list of U.S. energy companies that have succumbed to a drop in oil prices.

Oil and gas producers Bonanza Creek and Memorial Production Partners LP and oilfield services provider Forbes Energy Services Ltd each said they had a plan to reduce debt and transfer ownership to creditors.

Global oil prices have fallen more than 50 percent since mid-2014, eroding cash flows of oil producers and crimping their ability to meet debt and interest payments.

As of Dec. 14, 114 oil and gas producers had filed for bankruptcy in 2016 with $57 billion in total debt, more than double the number of filings in 2015, according to Haynes & Boone, a law firm that specializes in energy restructuring.

Among companies like Forbes that provide well-site services to energy exploration firms, 110 had filed for Chapter 11 protection with $17 billion of debt as of Dec. 14, also more than double the 2015 number, according to Haynes & Boone.

Looking ahead to next year, restructuring advisers said they expect more energy-related bankruptcy filings, as the sector prepares for an upturn that could follow implementation of President-elect Donald Trump's pro-drilling agenda or OPEC's plan to cut oil production for the first time in eight years.

Denver-based Bonanza Creek, with oil and natural gas assets in Colorado and Arkansas, said it would file for bankruptcy on or before Jan. 5 with a plan to eliminate $850 million in debt and provide $200 million in new equity.

The company said it expects to exit bankruptcy in the first quarter of 2017. Bonanza Creek's shares slid 55 percent to $0.88 in morning trade.

Memorial Production, with oil and gas assets in Texas, Louisiana, Colorado and California, said it would file for Chapter 11 in coming weeks with a plan to eliminate $1.3 billion of debt. Its shares were down 55 percent to $0.18.

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Meanwhile, Forbes Energy said it had reached a prepackaged plan with lenders and would file for bankruptcy in Houston on or before Jan. 23, 2017. Its shares lost 6.3 percent to $0.04 in over-the-counter trading on Friday.

Earlier this month, Stone Energy Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and said it would eliminate about $1.2 billion in debt by transferring control of the company to its noteholders.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Ahmed Farhatha in Bengaluru; Editing by Ted Kerr and Phil Berlowitz)
Weinstein Company senior VP of Corporate Communications Brad Thompson is exiting his post today. Thompson, who spent four years at the company after transitioning from the political arena, has helped TWC fill the gap as lead spokesman following the exit of long time publicity president Dani Weinstein. TWC COO/president David Glasser said the company plans to continue working with Thompson in a consulting capacity. Glasser said that in addition to the usual film/TV company PR duties, Thompsons political background made him invaluable to company chief Harvey Weinstein, particularly in the exhausting presidential campaign of the past few months. Weve had a great run with Brad, who was on the forefront with Harvey on events, and progressive issues that include launching the Bully documentary, the campus rape documentary The Hunting Ground, and on LGBT issues. In their free time, Harvey and Brad are exhausted from all the events they organized for Hillary Clinton during the presidential campaign, something that was very important to both of them.

Thompson joined TWC in March of 2013 after working for as finance director for the New York office of the Obama campaign (Obama for America). Before that, he worked during the 2010 election cycle for Friends of Schumer, a New York-based Senate campaign committee for Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer. Thompson was one of a handful of communications hires made from the political sector in Hollywood in recent year. TWC, the distributor on Oscar Best Picture hopefuls Lion, The Founder, and Gold, has weathered the exit of several executives in the past couple of years. Thompson has been a calm and guiding hand as TWC has moved deeper into television.

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Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Homicides surged this year in Rio de Janeiro state despite increased security for the Olympics, but fell in Brazil's economic hub Sao Paulo, statistics showed Friday.

In Rio state, whose capital city hosted the Summer Olympics in August, there were 4,572 homicides through the end of November -- an increase of 19.7 percent from 2015, according to the Public Security Institute.

But Sao Paulo, the country's economic hub and most populous state, was trending in the other direction.

It registered 3,313 homicides, down more than eight percent from 2015 and the lowest figure since 2001, the state's public security secretariat said in a statement.

Both states and their capital cities are hotspots in Brazil's fight against powerful drug gangs, which has made the country one of the most violent in the world.

One expert, Alba Zaluar, attributed the two states' divergent homicide numbers to a proliferation of turf wars between drug gangs in Rio and a relative peace in Sao Paulo.

"In Sao Paulo, violence has declined the past several years. A single organized crime faction dominates everything: the PCC (First Capital Command). Additionally, since 2006 there has supposedly been a deal between the PCC and the state government," said Zaluar, an urban anthropologist at Rio de Janeiro State University.

"In Rio, we have three organized crime factions. And now the PCC has broken its truce with the CV (Red Command, a rival gang)," she told AFP.

The bloodshed in Rio came despite the deployment of 85,000 police and soldiers for the Olympics.

Homicides claimed more lives in Brazil from 2011 to 2015 than the Syrian civil war during the same period, according to the Brazilian Public Security Forum: 278,839 for Brazil, against 256,124 in Syria.
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have left for Dubai to ring in the New Year together.

By India Today Web Desk: Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, who have wrapped up the first schedule of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Padmavati, have taken off for a romantic vacation. The lovebirds were spotted at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday night as they left for Dubai to ring in Christmas as well as New Year.

ALSO READ: Ranveer Singh calls Deepika Padukone marriage material. Here's what Deepika's dad has to say

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ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone clears the air on Ranveer Singh and their relationship

According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, in order to avoid any attention from the media, Ranveer and Deepika arrived separately. In fact, it was only a few minutes later that Ranveer was spotted, Deepika made her entry into the airport.

A source was quoted as telling the daily, "They reached the airport at around 10 pm. Ranveer, who was the first to arrive, posed for a few pictures. Deepika was spotted making a more hurried entry soon after. While the shutterbugs tried to coax them into revealing their destination, they evaded the question with a smile."

The couple is said to return to India on January 3. The two will then resume shooting for Padmavati.

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Consideration Includes $6.0 Million Plus 19.9% Equity Interest

HANOVER, MD / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2016 / Brekford Corp. (BFDI), a leading public safety and security technology service provider of fully integrated automated traffic safety enforcement ("ATSE") solutions, parking and traffic enforcement solutions, and an end-to-end suite of technology solutions for public safety vehicles and mobile workers, announced today that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent ("LOI") to sell substantially all assets, and certain specified liabilities, of its vehicle services business to LB&B Associates Inc. ("LB&B"), headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. LB&B is a diversified government services company operating in more than twenty-five states and the District of Columbia.

The LOI contains an exclusivity provision through January 20, 2017, during which time the Company has agreed it will not solicit, negotiate, entertain or accept any third-party proposals regarding the acquisition of the subject assets. The final transaction and closing is subject to approval by the respective boards of directors of LB&B and the Company. In consideration for the sale, as currently contemplated and subject to adjustment, LB&B would pay Brekford approximately $6 million. In addition, Brekford would receive a 19.9% equity interest in the entity that acquires the assets.

"We are thrilled about the prospect of completing this transaction with LB&B," commented Rod Hillman, President and COO of Brekford. "The vision set forth in our previously announced letter of intent with Keystone Solutions is moving forward as contemplated. Brekford's impeccable reputation as a leading public safety solutions provider will be magnified with the added resources, excellent management team, and national presence of LB&B. Additionally, our automated traffic safety enforcement ("ATSE") business will benefit greatly, as the proceeds from the transaction will allow us to retire existing long-term debt and provide sufficient working capital to execute our aggressive international expansion strategy. We are already working closely with the Keystone and Firestorm management teams to introduce a completely new business strategy to the ATSE industry."

The proposed sale is in keeping with the letter of intent signed between Brekford and Keystone Solutions, Inc. ("Keystone") on December 6, 2016, with a condition to sell the vehicle upfitting business to a company with the resources to grow the business nationally. LB&B has been in business since 1992, and currently operates nationwide providing diversified services such as facilities management, transportation and distribution, security, simulation systems support and training, and base operations support for both federal government and private sector clients. Brekford's longstanding reputation as a leader in public safety technology solutions for law enforcement and government agencies will provide an excellent enhancement to LB&B's portfolio of services. Likewise, LB&B's logistics capabilities and nationwide footprint will enable it to expand the public safety upfitting business dramatically in the coming years.

"LB&B has a decades-long track record and reputation for providing superior customer service to our government and commercial clients," said Rick Franz, Executive Senior Vice President and co-owner of LB&B. "Adding Brekford's vehicle upfitting services and public safety expertise, especially with state and local government agencies, provides us a platform for significant national growth of our business. With the new company formed by Brekford's pending merger retaining a minority ownership interest in the upfitting business, it demonstrates a belief in the long-term potential. We look forward to working with the Brekford and Keystone management teams beyond the closing of this deal."

The LOI is non-binding and any agreement is subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive transaction agreement, which may vary from the terms set forth in the LOI. A final transaction also is anticipated to be subject to material conditions for a transaction of this nature. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a definitive agreement will be reached by the companies or the final terms of any such agreement.

About Brekford Corp.

Brekford Corp. provides state-of-the art public safety technology and automated traffic enforcement solutions to municipalities, the U.S. military, various federal entities, and other public safety agencies throughout the United States. Its services include automated speed and red light camera enforcement programs, parking enforcement solutions, and an end-to-end suite of technology and equipment for public safety vehicle upfitting. Brekford's combination of upfitting services, cutting-edge technology, and automated traffic enforcement services offers a unique 360-degree solution for law enforcement agencies and municipalities.

The Company is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, and its common stock is traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol "BFDI." Additional information on Brekford can be accessed online at www.brekford.com.

About LB&B Associates Inc.

LB&B Associates Inc. is a diversified services company operating in over twenty-five states, the District of Columbia, and overseas locations. Its services include facilities management, operations and maintenance, logistics support, simulation systems support and training, base operations support, and commercial support. More than 1,300 associates nationwide provide a broad range of services to federal agencies, state governments, commercial businesses, the military, NATO, hospitals, churches, research centers, and educational facilities. Key customers include the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, GSA, National Archives, HHS, and DHS.

LB&B is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. Additional information can be accessed online at www.lbbassociates.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of that term in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "anticipate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "aim," "should," and words and terms of similar substance and any financial projections used in connection with any discussion of future plans, strategies, objectives, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among others, those concerning our expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions, or beliefs about future events. These statements are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us and reflect our current views concerning future events. As such, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among many others: the risk that any projections, including earnings, revenues, expenses, synergies, margins or any other financial items that form the basis for management's plans and assumptions are not realized; a reduction in industry profit margin; requirements or changes affecting the business in which we are engaged; our ability to successfully implement new strategies; operating hazards; competition and the loss of key personnel; changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles; continued compliance with government regulations; changing legislation and regulatory environments; and the general volatility of the market prices of our securities and general economic conditions. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Brekford Corp. with the SEC, specifically the Company's most recent reports filed on Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q, which further identify important risks, trends and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Brekford Corp. expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Company contact:

Rod Hillman, President and COO

(443) 557-0200

investors@brekford.com

SOURCE: Brekford Corp.
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LONDON  Wedding photos are always lovely. But, they're even lovelier when the bride and groom look like they're having a lot of fun.

SEE ALSO: Dog weddings are an engaging tradition for humans

Thai couple Max and Mint had a whale of a time for their pre-wedding photoshoot, which was shot by photographer Sanit Nitigultanon.



Instead of your run-of-the mill wedding shots, Max and Mint decided to make food a major part of their special snaps.

The photos have proved a massive hit with fellow foodies, and more than 30,000 people have liked Nitigultanon's album on Facebook.

"I asked the couple if there was anything special about them, but they said all they liked to do was go around and eat," Nitigultanon told the BBC.

"So the first thing that came to mind was going to all their favourite restaurants," Nitigultanon continued.

The couple did a tour of Bangkok food spots and sampled just about everything, from chicken rice to egg noodles.

"We've been together for two years and I think I've gained around 10kg during that time because we keep eating together!" Max told the BBC.

And there were some pretty dorky mid-eating shots, too. Just in case you were in any doubt about how adorable they are.

"We just expected our friends and family to like the photos," said Max.

"Many other albums look cute or beautiful, but ours just shows us and our lifestyle as it is."

Congratulations, adorable foodies!
Iranian officials have told a British woman jailed on unspecified security charges to take her 2-year-old daughter to prison with her or give up custody.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, a charity worker with dual British-Iranian citizenship, was sentenced to five years in jail on national security charges in September, one of three Britons being held by Tehran. Amnesty International reported Thursday her health has suffered since she was incarcerated.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, whom Amnesty has designated a prisoner of conscience, is being held in Evin Prison, which has no suitable facilities for children.

What kind of refined cruelty is it that would involve presenting a mother with a choice to either jail her own daughter or give her up entirely? asked Kathy Voss, Amnesty U.K.s individuals at risk campaign manager.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested April 3 at Tehran Airport with her daughter, Gabriella, as they prepared to return to Hempstead, England, following a brief family visit.

Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband, Richard Ratcliffe, told the Evening Standard the British Foreign Office is not doing enough to free his wife. He said he had planned to travel to Iran to pick up his daughter but Zaghari-Ratcliffe begged him not to take her away.

I still want them home for Christmas, he said. But we will see what happens next on Jan. 4, the date her case comes up for appeal.

Demonstrators caroled outside No. 10 Downing St. Monday to urge the government to take action.

richard ratcliffe

Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images

Nazanin is one of the bravest people I know but shes at breaking point. Shes been separated from me and our daughter  completely illegally  for no reason and with no charge, Ratcliffe said last week. "We are an ordinary family, like millions of others. And its just unimaginable that my wife is in prison, and wont be with either me, or her own child at Christmas. I urge the British government to bring all their weight in the world to bear and get my wife out of jail before its too late.

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Zaghari-Ratcliffe is seen as a bargaining chip in Irans efforts to pressure the British government to turn over hundreds of millions of pounds Tehran claims it is owed. Iran is holding two other British hostages, Kamal Foroughi, 77, an oil and gas consultant serving an eight-year sentence for espionage, and Roya Saberi, 49, who was jailed for 20 years for criticizing the Iranian government on Facebook.

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SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP)  A Bulgarian court has ordered continued detention for a Dutch terrorism suspect arrested at a border crossing with Turkey.

The district court in the southern town of Haskovo said Friday that 33-year-old Dutch national Helena Sontjens was detained when she entered Bulgaria on Wednesday.

She is being held on a European arrest warrant issued by Dutch authorities, who allege she wanted to go to Syria to support the Islamic State militant group.

Bulgaria's state-run BTA agency said she told the court that she wants to be extradited to the Netherlands. It quoted her as saying: "I agree to be extradited. I am a Muslim. I have my ideals, but I am not a terrorist."

The extradition case is yet to be scheduled.
23 Dec - Cai Cortez has recently given birth to a healthy baby boy.



According to Sunstar, the actress who shared the news on Instagram, posted a photo of her baby saying, "So this is what they call love at first sight."



She also posted a photo of the baby with husband Wiseem Rkhami, as well as a family photo of their small family.



"And just like that... we are three," she wrote.



The loving couple tied the knot back in July in a civil ceremony officiated by former President, Joseph Estrada, after reportedly meeting through online dating app, Tinder.



In related news, Cortez's upcoming film "Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough" will be released in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival 2016.



(Photo Source: Cai Cortez Instagram)
5th update, Saturday AM: Carrie Fisher remains at UCLA Medical this morning, where she was taken yesterday following a major heart attack suffered while flying from London to Los Angeles. Since then, her Star Wars co-stars have been weighing in, with Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew expressing their well-wishes yesterday on Twitter. And this morning, Harrison Ford did the same in a statement.

Im shocked and saddened to hear the news about my dear friend, Ford said to The Hollywood Reporter. Our thoughts are with Carrie, her family and friends.

Fishers Brother, Todd Fisher, told the Associated Press yesterday that Fisher has been moved out of emergency and is in the intensive care unit. No further update on her condition has been provided.

4th UPDATE, 6:58 PM: Carrie Fishers brother, Todd Fisher, has since clarified his statements, telling the Associated Press that she is intensive care after being taken out of Emergency and is receiving excellent care, but is unable to state her condition. He previously said she was stable.

3rd UPDATE with statement on condition, 4:14 PM: Star Wars original Carrie Fisher suffered a heart attack on a plane en route to Los Angeles from London today. A source tells Deadline she was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and is on assisted breathing. Her brother, Todd Fisher, told the Associated Press this afternoon that she is in stable condition and out of emergency.

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox/REX/Shutterstock (5886297ew) Carrie Fisher Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope - 1977 Director: George Lucas Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox USA Film Portrait Scifi Star Wars (1977) La Guerre des etoiles

Police at LAX confirmed that a female passenger in her early 60s  later confirmed to be Fisher  was taken off United Airlines Flight 935 from the UK today after suffering what seems to be a heart attack.

With most of the town now off for the holidays, reps for Fisher have not responded to Deadlines request for comment.

The flight crew and some passengers worked on her before the plane landed, and the LAFD said they responded to a call at 12:11 PM that a patient was in cardiac arrest on an inbound flight. Paramedics who were standing by for the planes arrival at Gate 74 provided life support and aggressively treated and transported her to the hospital.

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A woman who said she was aboard the United Airlines jet tweeted this:

Don't know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home. Hope she's gonna be OK  Anna Akana (@AnnaAkana) December 23, 2016

So many thanks to the United flight crew who jumped into action, and the awesome doctor and nurse passengers who helped  Anna Akana (@AnnaAkana) December 23, 2016

That womans companion on the flight tweeted this:

I'm in complete shock. @AnnaAkana and I sat in front of Carrie Fisher on our flight from London and she was just taken off the plane by EMTs  Brad Gage (@bradgage) December 23, 2016

Fisher, 60, shot to stardom in 1977 as Princess Leia in the first Star Wars film. She has been in the UK on a book tour for The Princess Diarist, a memoir about the behind-the-scenes goings-on on the set of Star Wars and its first sequels. She reprised the role in 1980s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983s Return of the Jedi before appearing in last years Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She also is set to appear in Star Wars: Episode VIII, which Disney will release in December 2017.

The daughter of Hollywood legends Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, she recurs on Amazons Catastrophe, which films in the UK, and Fox toon Family Guy and has appeared in such films as Shampoo and When Harry Met Sally. She also has played herself on TV shows including The Big Bang Theory and Sex and the City and in the 2014 feature Maps to the Stars.

Fisher also has authored two other memoirs and  Shockaholic and Wishful Drinking  and four novels.

Deadline is reaching out to authorities for details about the incident. Meanwhile, her Star Wars colleagues Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew  the actor who played Chewbacca in multiple films  tweeted their thoughts:

as if 2016 couldn't get any worse sending all our love to @carrieffisher  Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 23, 2016

Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now.. @carrieffisher  Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) December 23, 2016

Anita Busch contributed to this report.

Related stories

'Star Wars' Family Mourns The Death Of Their Princess: George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill & More

Carrie Fisher On Her First Trip To The Oscars: From The Deadline Archives

Carrie Fisher's Last Role: 'Catastrophe's Sharon Horgan Remembers Late Co-Star
Carrie Fisher Dimitrios Kambouris Getty final

Carrie Fisher is in stable condition following a medical emergency Friday, her brother told the Associated Press.

The actress suffered a heart attack while on a plane traveling from London to Los Angeles, TMZ reported.

The United flight landed after noon local time, and Fisher was rushed by paramedics to a nearby hospital.

The emergency occurred 15 minutes before the plane landed at LAX, according to TMZ.

Her brother Todd Fisher said she's now "out of emergency," but told the AP he couldn't discuss details of the episode.

United staff and passengers attempted to revive Fisher before EMTs arrived, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Fisher, 60, is known best for playing Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchise.

Fisher's reps did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

NOW WATCH: Watch the explosive new trailer for the latest 'Planet of the Apes' film





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After news hit that Carrie Fisher reportedly had a heart attack while on a plane to Los Angeles, members of her Star Wars family started sharing best wishes for the actress who immortalized Princess Leia.

Fisher, whose singular voice shines through her active social media presence, boasts a devoted online network searching for the latest Star Wars news from the set, inspired strings of emoji and pictures of her adorable dog, Gary. So Twitter is an appropriate place for fans and colleagues alike to join forces and hope for her speedy recovery.

SEE ALSO: Report: Carrie Fisher rushed off plane after heart attack

Fisher's co-stars including Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew, (a.k.a. Chewbacca) and Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie, who crossed over to the dark side in The Force Awakens, are sending their love.

as if 2016 couldn't get any worse... sending all our love to @carrieffisher  Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 23, 2016

Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now.. @carrieffisher  Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) December 23, 2016

@carrieffisher The whole world is sending you so much love! Sending you the universes most powerful Force XXXXX  Gwendoline Christie (@lovegwendoline) December 23, 2016

Harrison Ford sent me this statement concerning Carrie Fisher: https://t.co/Cus9WOegQ7 pic.twitter.com/tDymzAPSmI  Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) December 24, 2016

Plenty of people in the extended Star Wars universe, including Clone Wars actress Ashley Eckstein and Rogue One screenwriter Gary Whitta tweeted their support for the legendary actress.

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Our thoughts and prayers are with #CarrieFisher - https://t.co/Ysti4pREoL  Ashley Eckstein (@HerUniverse) December 23, 2016

Be well @carrieffisher. Thoughts, hopes, and the Force are with you.  Merry Whitta  (@garywhitta) December 23, 2016

As did those in the community brought together by Star Wars fandom, like YouTuber Corey Vidal.

Sweet @carrieffisher, we're all rooting for you. Best wishes with your heart's recovery, but know that you already have ours forever. pic.twitter.com/As6mrpcUFp  Corey Vidal (@CoreyVidal) December 23, 2016

The Star Trek family is looking out for her, too, because there's a lot of good will for Fisher in the universe.

I ask everyone to stop for a moment and send special thoughts to @carrieffisher.  William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 23, 2016

The force is very strong with these ones.
Barcelona (AFP) - Catalonia's separatist government staged a summit on Friday to prepare an independence referendum it plans to stage in September, despite fierce opposition from Spain's central government.

The goal of the meeting, which brought together Catalan unions, separatist parties and businesses at the regional assembly, is to draw up a "national pact" for the vote in the wealthy northeastern region.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is seeking to rally independence supporters following recent divisions amongst separatist parties, which won a majority in the regional assembly for the first time in September 2015.

"We have to stand together and we can't mistake who our adversary is," Marta Pascal, general coordinator of Puigdemont's PDC party, told AFP.

The meeting comes amid a thaw in relations between Catalonia and Spain's central government.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP) government has been more open to dialogue with Catalan separatists since it was sworn in for a second term last month.

He has assigned the task of handling the Catalonia issue to Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria who has set up an office in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, which she visits almost weekly.

"There has been a change in strategy on the part of the government to try to correct the separatist drift and reduce tensions," conservative daily ABC wrote Friday.

- 'Lead nowhere' -

Santamaria has offered to negotiate with a list of economic and social demands made by Puigdemont but has refused to discuss the planned independence referendum, which her government deems illegal.

She has also acknowledged that her party made mistakes in its campaign against a 2006 statute that granted increased powers to Catalonia.

Spain's Constitutional Court in 2010 struck down several articles of the statute, despite the fact that it had been approved by Catalans in a referendum -- as well as by the Spanish parliament.

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Her comments sparked a harsh response from the more conservative wing of the PP.

"The government has arrived late at dialogue, they have to hurry up and produce facts and not just words or else this will lead nowhere," said Miquel Iceta, head of the Socialists' Catalan faction.

While the government has taken a less rigid stance on Catalonia, it has used the courts to block all steps taken by the Catalan government towards independence.

It has also taken legal action against Catalan politicians who have pursued independence.

A Barcelona court announced Friday that Puigdemont's predecessor Artur Mas will stand trial in February for serious disobedience over his role in staging a symbolic independence referendum in 2014 -- despite it having been suspended by Spain's Constitutional Court.

"It is hard to believe that there is a will to talk when at the same time we have these legal cases," said Pascal.

- 'Be rogue and shrewd' -

The central government's spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo urged Catalan leaders "not to be carried away by the radicals".

"There will be no referendum on self-determination in Spain because this goes against the constitution," he told a news conference hours before the summit started in Barcelona.

The Catalan government wants to win approval from Spain's central government to hold an independence referendum.

It cites Britain's approval of the referendum held in Scotland in 2014 which resulted in a "no" vote as an example.

But Pascal said Catalonia will go ahead with the vote even without the green light from Madrid "with our own resources".

Under Spanish law, regional governments cannot organise a referendum, only the central government can.

The Catalan government lacks its own electoral commission and does not have a list of eligible voters to be able to stage a referendum but Pascal said it has a plan to get around these obstacles.

"We can't explain how because we can't show our cards. We have to be rogue and shrewd," she said.

Polls show Catalans overwhelmingly support the right for an independence referendum but are evenly divided on actual secession.
The robotic arm introduced at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences will help surgeons to analyse brain dysfunctions in-depth as well as to spot a target area that needs to be operated.

By Priyanka Sharma: Here's a ray of hope for those suffering from epileptic seizures for which MRI is not able to point out the accurate reason. For the first time in India and Southeast Asia, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences has introduced a robotic arm for complex neurosurgeries that will provide surgeons accurate depth analysis of brain dysfunctions besides spotting a target area that needs to be operated.

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AIIMS will offer the surgery free of cost.

A European technology, robotic arm works through neuro navigation to guide doctors to the accurate area. "In the past few months, about 60 robotic neurosurgery cases were handled at AIIMS, of which 65 per cent were on epileptic patients and the rest on those suffering pituitary tumors," said BS Sharma, head of AIIMS neurosurgery division.

Also read: AIIMS governing body passes amendment in recruitment rules; ex-directors can be professors again

Twenty-three-year-old Rampal (name changed) was one such patient who was suffering from epileptic fits mainly during his resting hours. These episodes had ruined his life as he could not get a sound sleep for the past 10 years. Even doctors could not track the reasons for the fits even after repeated MRI scans.

"For this patient, we conducted nine MRI scans, but those did not provide us accurate findings about his brain disorder. We then put multiple electrodes inside his brain to see which part of the brain was affected and needed operation. We received feedback on the monitor, which told us which area of the brain was abnormal," said PS Chandra, neurosurgery professor at AIIMS. Following the surgery, the patient has recovered, he told Mail Today.

Also read: PMO orders reconstitution of search panel for AIIMS top job

To use the robo arm, neurosurgeons have to make a small incision of about 3 mm inside the brain. The robo arm reaches the accurate location and becomes stable. Earlier, experts at AIIMS were conducting surgery manually, using stereotactic frame and neuro navigation. "We used to track the needle through MRI and operate the tumors. It was a trial-and-error method for us as sometimes the MRI failed to locate the lesion in the brain," Chandra said.

Another doctor, AK Mahapatra, said it reduces the surgery duration as it is much faster, accurate and safe.

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* Leu also sets one-month low vs forint, 6-week low vs zloty * Fiscal loosening is a trend in region, robust growth seen * Romanian budget bigger worry than elsewhere in CEE * CEE equities well outperform other emerging markets By Sandor Peto BUDAPEST, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Romania's leu fell to a six-month-low against the euro and multi-week lows against Central European peers on Friday amid concerns that the next government in Bucharest will let the budget deficit rise.

Expectations for economic growth at 3-4 percent in the region next year are buoying assets as investors are closing their books for the year.

As central banks in the region have mostly run out of tools to stimulate their economies, governments have tended to increase spending. They are also striving to stop a steady loss of workers leaving for more prosperous countries in the west of the European Union.

Romanian governments over the past two years have taken the lead on wage increases and tax cuts in the region, and the election held on Dec. 11 will return the Social Democrats, who launched that policy, to power.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday he will appoint a prime minister-designate after Dec. 25.

The fiscal stimulus is likely to help the Romanian economy grow by almost 5 percent this year, Nordea analyst Anders Svenden said in a Dec. 22 note. "And the next government is unlikely to be more responsible in terms of fiscal policy and hence risks have increased, also for the (leu)," he said.

The leu touched a 6-month low against the euro, and traded at 4.5325 at 1025 GMT, weaker by 0.1 percent from Thursday.

It also set a one-month low versus Hungary's forint , which gained 0.2 percent against the euro. Poland's zloty also strengthened against the euro and set a 6-week high against the leu.

Romanian assets have underperformed in the past weeks even though both Hungary and Poland are loosening their budgets and Warsaw faces a political standoff with the opposition and tension with the European Commission over rule of law issues.

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Romania's 10-year bond yield, bid flat at 3.73 percent, is 60 basis points above its level seen before Donald Trump's surprise U.S. election win last month boosted long-term global bond yields.

In comparison, Poland's corresponding yield has risen less than 40 basis points, trading flat at 3.43 percent. Hungarian bonds have fully recovered, backed by a series of credit rating upgrades and the central bank's liquidity boosting measures.

The region's good growth prospects and relative stability have helped its stocks firm in the past weeks, well outperforming the emerging market stock index, which has shed 7.5 percent since the U.S. elections.

CEE SNAPSHOT AT MARKETS 1125 CET CURRENCIES Latest Previous Daily Change bid close change in 2016 Czech crown 27.0220 27.0215 +0.00% -0.09% Hungary forint 310.0500 310.6300 +0.19% 1.48% Polish zloty 4.4135 4.4175 +0.09% -3.52% Romanian leu 4.5325 4.5270 -0.12% -0.30% Croatian kuna 7.5300 7.5315 +0.02% 1.45% Serbian dinar 123.4700 123.5900 +0.10% -1.62% Note: daily calculate previous close at 1800 CET change d from STOCKS Latest Previous Daily Change close change in 2016 Prague 920.06 917.53 +0.28% -3.79% Budapest 31649.61 31700.85 -0.16% +32.31% Warsaw 1932.13 1943.73 -0.60% +3.93% Bucharest 7020.05 7021.91 -0.03% +0.22% Ljubljana 701.89 701.68 +0.03% +0.82% Zagreb 1989.27 1984.25 +0.25% +17.73% Belgrade Sofia 575.74 576.44 -0.12% +24.92% BONDS Yield Yield Spread Daily (bid) change vs Bund change in Czech Republic spread 2-year 5-year 10-year Poland 2-year 5-year 10-year FORWARD RATE AGREEMENT 3x6 6x9 9x12 3M interbank Czech Rep < 0.28 0.24 0.22 0 PRIBOR=> Hungary < 0.37 0.4 0.48 0.38 BUBOR=> Poland ( 1.75 1.755 1.8 1.73 WIBOR=) Note: FRA are for ask prices quotes ************************************************************** (Reporting by Sandor Peto; editing by Mark Heinrich)
NASA to launch the robotic portion of its Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) in 2021. This will be the first mission to visit and collect a multi-ton sample from a large near-Earth asteroid. The collected sample will be used in a demonstration of enhanced gravity tractor asteroid deflection.

Recently at the Robotic Operation's Center of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, a robotic capture module system prototype used a mock asteroid boulder to test its capabilities. [NASA's Asteroid-Capture Mission in Pictures]

NASA, along with students from West Virginia University, created the mock asteroid boulder from rock, styrofoam, plywood and an interior aluminum frame. The robotic hardware for the project includes three space frame legs with foot pads and two seven degrees of freedom arms with microspine grippers to hold on to the massive rock.

Within the ROC engineers have multiple tools  industrial robots, motion-based platforms, and customized algorithms  to aide in creating simulations of robotic spacecraft operating in space. Engineers will also have the capability to practice and perfect robotic satellite servicing operations, fine tuning systems and controllers and optimizing performance factors for future repair and refueling missions.

This portion of ARM will place the recovered asteroid sample in stable orbit around the moon. Future astronauts will explore the boulder and retrieve samples for study. NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission offers advances in technologies and spaceflight experience, bringing necessary growth for the manned Martian missions planned for the 2030s.

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original story on Space.com.

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BEIJING (Reuters) - More than 3,000 people have been punished and 160 billion yuan ($23.02 billion) in problematic funds "rectified" during an audit of last year's budget, China's top auditor said on Friday. In a report sent to the country's largely rubber-stamp parliament, the National Audit office said most of the problems identified had already been fixed. It did not give details of the 3,229 people who had been punished, but said in a separate statement some cases had been referred to the legal authorities, meaning they could be jailed rather than receive administrative punishments. ($1 = 6.9499 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
Beijing (AFP) - China had "real cause for concern" after US President-elect Donald Trump chose outspoken China critic Peter Navarro for a top trade position, Chinese media reports said Friday, as they warned of a potential trade war.

Trump has picked Navarro to head the White House National Trade Council, a new office that will oversee trade and industrial policy, in the latest sign he is moving ahead with plans to overhaul US economic policy.

The novice politician's promise to return US manufacturing jobs moved abroad by attacking what he describes as unfair competition from China was a central pillar of his campaign platform.

Navarro, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, has written books such as "Death by China," in which he criticises Beijing for waging economic war by subsidising its manufacturing industry and blocking American imports.

He has been hailed by Trump as "a visionary economist", but the Global Times newspaper cited Chinese experts as saying that his hawkish opinions were pure hype and he was "not an expert on China".

Though Beijing could brush off Trump's anti-China rhetoric during the election season as mere campaign-trail bluster, the appointment of people like Navarro "who have a bias against China" to influential posts was "no laughing matter", the state-owned China Daily newspaper said in an editorial.

Trump's choice now gave the Asian giant "real cause for concern", it said, stating that Chinese companies in the US should be on "high alert".

Yu Jianlong, secretary-general of the China Chamber of International Commerce, told the paper that China had no desire for trade disputes with the new US administration.

"However, if the US keeps imposing inadequate trade remedy investigations on Chinese products, the country would have no choice but to confront the challenge," he said.

China needed to prepare for a potential trade war by identifying which products it could get from other countries and areas where it had comparative advantages, Jin Canrong, a professor of international studies at Renmin University, told the Global Times.

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At a regular press briefing Thursday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that Beijing was paying close attention to Trump's transition team and how they would make policy.

"We hope that the American side will join us in maintaining the sound and steady growth of the bilateral relationship, economic relations and trade included," she said, adding that "cooperation is the only right choice".

But an editorial in the Global Times, which often takes a nationalistic tone, warned that it was time to wake up to the reality that Trump was assembling a team of hardliners.

"If Washington dares to provoke China over its core interests, Beijing won't fear setting up a showdown with the US, pressuring the latter to pay respect to China," it said.

"The US can no longer push China around today."
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is set to relax regulations for foreign elderly care firms in an effort to attract investment, the State Council said in a statement issued on Friday. The statement said China will loosen approval processes for foreign aged-care firms and encourage overseas investors to establish non-profit pension funds. China is facing the looming challenges of a rapidly aging population, driven in part by its restrictive one-child policy which was partially relaxed in 2015. The country opened the industry to for-profit investment in 2014, allowing some foreign investors to manage wholly-owned firms in the sector, albeit under close surveillance and cumbersome approval processes. According to UN data, the number of Chinese people over 80 will surge three-fold to 90 million, making it the largest aged population in the world. Currently the country's elderly care infrastructure is critically underdeveloped. China also has strong culture of filial piety, stigmatizing those who opt to put elderly relatives in nursing facilities. The notice also reiterated previous commitments to fully liberalize the elderly care market, setting a 2020 deadline. (Reporting by Cate Cadell; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
(BEIJING)  China has warned that ties with the U.S. will likely see new complications and the only way to maintain a stable relationship is by respecting each others core interests.

Foreign Minister Wang Yis remarks Thursday appeared to underscore that Chinas position on Taiwan is non-negotiable, weeks after President-elect Donald Trump suggested he could re-evaluate U.S. policy on Taiwan. It also mirrored Beijings relatively measured posture toward the incoming U.S. administration despite signs of growing wariness.

Wang told the Communist Party mouthpiece, the Peoples Daily, that China will strive to boost cooperation with the U.S. but he foresaw new, complicated and uncertain factors affecting bilateral relations under the Trump administration.

China complained this month after Trump questioned a U.S. policy that since 1979 has recognized Beijing as Chinas government and maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan. Beijing regards the self-governing island as part of China and has long used the core interest formulation to signal that any move by Taiwan toward formal independence could be met with military force.

Trumps comments on Taiwan, combined with his accusations that China is manipulating its currency and threats of imposing hefty tariffs against Chinese imports, have rattled relations between the worlds two largest economies.

Trump also accepted a Dec. 2 phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the first time an American president or president-elect has publicly spoken to Taiwans leader since 1979.

Tsai is planning to transit through the United States next month as part of a visit to Taiwans diplomatic allies in Central America, according to Taiwanese media reports Thursday. The reports cite Taiwans Deputy Foreign Minister Javier Hou as saying Tsais team will try to arrange meetings with U.S. senators or representatives. The reports did not say whether she will meet Trump or anyone from his transition team.

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China has in recent days urged the U.S. not to allow Tsai to transit through the U.S. and to refrain from sending any wrong signal to the Taiwanese independence forces. U.S. lawmakers often meet with Taiwanese presidents when they transit through the U.S.  most recently in June, when Tsai met in Miami with Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

Trumps transition team announced Wednesday that Peter Navarro, who has accused China of effectively waging economic war against the United States, would head a trade policy council inside the White House.

Asked by reporters about Trumps appointment of an economist and author whose books include Death by China, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing has been observing the incoming U.S. administrations transition and its policy direction.

As two major powers with broad mutual interests, cooperation is the only correct choice, Hua said without naming Trump or Navarro.

Although Navarro  and Trump  have been heavily criticized in the Chinese press, including state media, Beijing has largely measured its official response to potential flashpoints. This week, Chinas military returned a U.S. underwater drone in the South China Sea that Trump had described as stolen on Twitter.

In the Peoples Daily interview, Wang said U.S.-China relations are generally trending toward stable cooperation and mutual benefit. He quoted a Chinese poem  previously cited by President Xi Jinping as a metaphor for U.S.-China ties  depicting a river that flows inevitably, regardless of mountainous obstacles.

This is a historical trend that cannot be changed by an individuals will, Wang said.

After what he described as a turbulent year steered by the trend of reverse globalization and punctuated by terror attacks, Wang said China is now a mature nation that could act as a stabilizer in global affairs.

China under Xi is adopting an assertive leadership role on the world stage, Wang said, such as hosting the G20 summit and heading discussions at the APEC forum in Peru.

The world is choosing between openness and conservatism, cooperation and closure, transformation and old ways, Wang said. We will lead the way amid a shake-up in global governance, we will take hold of the situation amid international chaos, we will protect our interests amid intense and complex games.
By David Stanway SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has publicly named more than 20 enterprises it says broke environmental rules during this weeks outbreak of hazardous smog in the country's north, its latest attempt to bring lawbreaking firms to account by shaming them. The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) accused steel and paper mills, cement plants, power generators and chemical producers of a range of offences, including ignoring output suspensions, "maliciously" evading government inspections and falsifying production data. Beijing's latest public shaming campaign - in which strongly-worded ministry reprimands are disseminated by local TV and newspapers - is its most overt attempt to bring polluters to account by exposing their infringements to wider community scrutiny, one part of the government's broader "war on pollution" launched in 2014. But with employment still a priority and penalties too weak, this tactic  used in the past, albeit in a more low-key manner  has done little to discourage firms from evading or ignoring emergency measures imposed in 24 northern cities put on smog "red alert" this week. "Naming and shaming is meant to deter firms from environmental violations," said Alex Wang, an expert in Chinese environmental law at UCLA. "But where the economics don't work out for firms, and in places where non-compliance is common, (the tactic) won't have much of an effect." This year, the environment ministry has turned its fire on local governments for lapses in enforcement, singling out cities like Linfen in Shanxi province. It said last month that 487 officials in smog-hit Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, would be punished for environmental failings. Hebei, home to seven of China's 10 most polluted cities last year, set up a "media exposure platform" in October and promised to publish cases of serious violations at least twice a month. While the transparency push has made it harder for firms to conceal their transgressions, an investigation by the MEP this week showed the province remains one of the country's worst black spots for rule-breaking. The investigation, published on Thursday, revealed six Hebei steelmakers failed to comply with a Dec. 18 order to suspend all sintering operations. It identified the offenders as Hebei Rongxin Steel, Qianan Zhayi Steel, Tangshan Stainless Steel, Tangshan Xinglong Steel and Tangshan Ganglu Steel. Of the firms, only Tangshan Ganglu could be reached for comment on Thursday, but an official said he had no information about the matter. The ministry also accused three more provincial steel firms - including Hebei Xinda Iron and Steel - of "maliciously" restarting sintering facilities as soon as its inspectors had left the site. An official with Hebei Xinda also said he was unaware of the situation when contacted by Reuters on Thursday. Three firms named by the MEP earlier this week - Shandong Yuhuang Chemical, Heze Dashu Biological Engineering and Mancheng Success Paper Industry - told Reuters they had subsequently complied with the orders to suspend production, but they would not say whether they would suffer any further punishment. A logistics subsidiary of oil giant PetroChina, based in Hebei's Zhuozhou, was accused of exceeding special emissions restrictions imposed this week. An official at the company told Reuters that it has already paid "special attention" to the criticism and rectified its mistakes. He said he did not know if the firm would be subject to any additional penalties. GETTING SYSTEMATIC China first used shaming tactics in 2005, when Pan Yue, the crusading vice-head of what was then the lower-ranking State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), spearheaded several high-profile media campaigns against big state enterprises. Central government-administered firms, including the Three Gorges Project Corporation, were forced to give way having previously argued they were not subject to SEPA rules, which meant they could build new projects without seeking approval. Subsequent rounds of naming and shaming came as a consequence of ad-hoc inspection campaigns. Wang of UCLA argues while such tactics have a short-term impact, polluting firms need to be put under constant and systematic real-time scrutiny. "These campaign-style inspections still only catch violators intermittently (and) China is going to need to make more dramatic reforms," he said, adding that citizens should be given "bounties" for reporting violations. A new law enacted early last year laid out heavier punishments and ruled environmental violations must be disclosed to the public. The MEP was also given new powers this year to conduct spot inspections anywhere in the country and to summon officials to account for their actions. While China now has the legal framework to bring pollution under control, Wang believes economic worries will still undermine enforcement efforts. "We should hope for central inspection teams to bring the same sort of rigour to local enforcement in surrounding areas that we see when major international events like the APEC meeting or the Beijing Olympics come to town," Wang said. (Additional reporting by Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Sam Holmes)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A massive load of garbage, including needles and broken bottles, has washed ashore on an island close to Shanghai, after two ships allegedly dumped more than 100 tonnes of waste in the Yangtze River, the Shanghai Daily reported on Friday. China's speedy industrial development has seen it struggling to regulate waste disposal, leading to toxic waterways and cities blanketed in smog. The waste has been floating onto Chongming island since early November, collecting near Dongfengxisha Reservoir, one of Shanghai's four major water sources and which supplies drinking water to 700,000 residents on the island, said the paper. The garbage contained medical waste such as needles and plastic tubes, as well as cans, clothing and broken bottles, the paper reported Song Jian, deputy general manager of the island's water source management company as saying. The reservoir was not polluted and tap water on the island is safe to drink, the paper said, citing the Shanghai Water Authority. The first batch of floating garbage appeared on 5 Nov, Song said. More than 100 tones of garbage has been collected, in more than 48,100 packs, by the end of November, with more than 17,000 packs salvaged since Saturday, the paper said. It will take around two weeks to clear the garbage. Several suspects have been held for allegedly dumping the garbage, according to the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau. Shanghai and Jiangsu police have launched a joint investigation. (Reporting by Engen Tham; Editing by Michael Perry)
Peter Navarro

(adds details of GM fine)

* Navarro as trade adviser "no laughing matter"

* Beijing ready for "showdown with the U.S."

* China commerce ministry positive on U.S. trade

* GM China JV fined 200 mln yuan for "monopolistic behaviour"

BEIJING, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Chinese state media on Friday expressed alarm and warned of a "showdown with the U.S." after President-elect Donald Trump named Peter Navarro, an economist who has urged a hard line against China, to head a new White House National Trade Council.

And the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stressed that China-U.S. trade benefits both sides, warning Washington's new administration against moves that may hurt ties.

Navarro is an academic and one-time investment adviser who has authored books such as "Death by China: How America Lost its Manufacturing Base". The book was made into a documentary film about Beijing's desire to become the dominant economic and military power in Asia.

"That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration is no laughing matter," the official English-language China Daily said in an editorial.

"The new administration should bear in mind that with economic and trade ties between the world's two largest economies now the closest they have ever been, any move to damage the win-win relationship will only result in a loss for both sides."

China's Foreign Ministry said in reaction on Thursday it was playing close attention to Trump's transition team and possible policy direction and that cooperation between the two countries was the only choice.

Trump, a Republican, made trade a centrepiece of his presidential campaign and railed against what he said were bad deals the United States had made with other countries. He has threatened to hit Mexico and China with high tariffs once he takes office on Jan. 20.

Shen Danyang, spokesman for the ministry of commerce, told a news briefing in Beijing on Friday that the United States would continue to see mutual benefits from trade with China, and said the pattern of deepening cooperation would continue.

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"Regardless of what changes happen in the U.S. government - president, commerce secretary, trade representative - common interests (between the United States and China) are greater than differences," Shen said.

But the United States needed to be careful not to repeat mistakes, Shen said.

"We oppose the idea of making others take medicine when oneself is sick. This has happened in the past and could happen in the future," Shen said, without elaborating.

Tough trade measures against China are often met with retaliatory actions, including countervailing tariffs or fines against U.S. companies in China.

China on Friday said General Motors Co's joint venture would be fined 201 million yuan ($28.94 million) for monopolistic pricing, ending speculation after the China Daily reported on Dec. 14 that China would fine a U.S. automaker.

Auto industry sources have told Reuters the investigation was already under way before Trump's recent comments, although it has raised fears that China could be seizing on the case to send a shot across the bow at the incoming U.S. administration.

The Global Times, an influential tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said Trump's choice of Navarro was "by no means a positive signal".

"China needs to face up to the reality that the Trump team maintains a hard-line attitude toward China. It must discard any illusions and make full preparations for any offensive move by the Trump government," it said in an editorial.

"China is powerful enough to withstand pressures from the Trump government. Beijing will get used to the tensions between the two countries. If Washington dares to provoke China over its core interests, Beijing won't fear setting up a showdown with the U.S., pressuring the latter to pay respect to China."

Navarro, 67, a professor at University of California, Irvine, advised Trump during the campaign.

As well as describing what he sees as America's losing economic war with China, Navarro has highlighted concerns over environmental issues related to Chinese imports and the theft of U.S. intellectual property. ($1 = 6.9445 yuan) (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Elias Glenn; Editing by Michael Perry and Nick Macfie)
The BJP's ideological mentor RSS is all set to enter the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections battleground with special focus on reaching out to the Dalit communities to ensure their votes.

By Siddhartha Rai: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is getting ready for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017. The ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party has thrown its lot in the state politics as it started holding district-level volunteers' meets to rally supporters, though with special focus on consolidating electoral reach within the Dalit communities of the state.

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While the RSS has been running several Dalit uplift programmes across the nation, including UP, the recent focus is backed by more gravity and assertion. As the political fabric of Uttar Pradesh is fractured along caste as well as religious lines, the party as well as the RSS is trying to offset the voting pattern of yesteryears wherein the right-wing party has not found favour with the minorities.

Also read: Is RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat dictating terms to BJP for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections?

RSS sources also told Mail Today that while such meets are part of the usual social outreach exercise of the organisation, there are several other angles to them - those pertaining to organisational consolidation - which is why the meets have been called 'samanvaya baithaks' or coordination meetings.

RSS sources told Mail Today that the Sangh was aggressively disseminating the agenda of 'one village, one well and one crematorium'.

From India Today magazine: United colours of RSS

"This is nothing new, as we have been batting to bring about social change to this effect for long. But now we are aggressively pushing it at the ground level with more vigour and energy. The state is already divided among castes and religions and in such a scenario we need to consolidate the society," said a senior RSS functionary.

The BJP has already tried hard to appropriate Dalit icon Babasaheb BR Ambedkar during its Parivartan Yatras in which even the move to demonetise high-value notes was attributed to the vision of the Dalit leader as expressed in one of his books.

Also read: Will Ram Temple issue be used as political plank in UP elections?

"These meetings are not a new phenomenon. Whenever a big occasion comes, there is all the more possibility to expand our social reach. We are also running a campaign to urge people to come out and vote. Who they vote for is a matter of their own choice and Indian voting system is through secret ballot. But we want that people must exercise their franchise irrespective of whether they vote for us or not. We call this campaign "Pehle Matdaan, Phir Jalpaan" (first go vote and then have breakfast)," said Kripa Shankar, Kshetriya Prachar Pramukh in UP.

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These meets are also aimed at managing the perception of BJP at the local level, both internally as well as externally, claimed RSS sources. "These are coordination meetings at the local level for the local karyakartas and swayamsevaks, so that they can put in a concerted effort during the elections, though such meetings are held even during normal times. Impending polls have heightened the significance of these meetings," said a UP RSS functionary.

--- ENDS ---
BEIJING (AP)  A Chinese state newspaper on Friday accused a trade adviser picked by President-elect Donald Trump of "anti-China alarmism" and warned both sides would suffer if commerce is disrupted.

The China Daily editorial was more forceful and openly critical of economist Peter Navarro than China's foreign ministry, which appealed Thursday for cooperation.

Navarro, picked by Trump to run a new National Trade Council at the White House, has accused China of effectively waging economic war against the United States. The University of California-Irvine professor also will be director of trade and industrial policy.

"There is real cause for concern as the president-elect has named economist Peter Navarro, known for his anti-China alarmism, as his trade adviser," said the China Daily, which is aimed at foreign readers.

A statement by Trump's transition team said the creation of the trade council "demonstrates the president-elect's determination to make American manufacturing great again."

"That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration is no laughing matter," said China Daily. "Any move to damage the win-win relationship will only result in a loss for both sides."

Trump has blamed China for the decline in American factory employment. U.S. manufacturers have cut 5 million jobs since 2000.

Trump has threatened to raise import duties on Chinese imports to 45 percent and to label Beijing a "currency manipulator," a status that can lead to trade penalties.

Asked by reporters Thursday about Navarro's appointment, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing has been observing the incoming U.S. administration's transition and its policy direction.

"As two major powers with broad mutual interests, cooperation is the only correct choice," Hua said without naming Trump or Navarro.
Christine Lagardes job is safe. Far less secure is her legacy as managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

Hours after a Paris court convicted her on Monday of neglecting her duties while serving as French finance minister several years ago, the IMFs executive board declared its full confidence in Lagarde and said it looks forward to continuing to work with the Managing Director to address the difficult challenges facing the global economy. The statement by the board, which represents the IMFs 189 member countries, swiftly quashed speculation that Lagarde might have to step down in disgrace as did her predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, when he was arrested on charges of sexual assault in May 2011.

Nobody should be surprised that Lagarde received such unhesitating endorsement. Her stewardship of the IMF has drawn largely rave reviews  she was a shoo-in for reappointment this year to a second five-year term  and the fund has benefited from a dramatic improvement in its public profile since she took over. Indeed, she enjoys something akin to rock-star status among international civil servants, hopscotching the globe to laudatory media coverage that lends authority to her pronouncements large and small. Her commanding aura, leavened with femininity, is only part of the explanation; also fueling her popularity are her initiatives for the IMF to focus on issues such as gender disparity, income inequality, and climate change. Illustrative of the phenomenon was her appearance on The Daily Show in February 2015, when thunderous audience applause welcomed her to the stage, followed by an amiable interview with host Jon Stewart  a public relations tour de force that her staid predecessors could never have dreamed.

Moreover, the case against her was hardly overwhelming; she stood accused of having failed to appeal arbitrators award of a questionable 400 million euro government payment to a tycoon allied with then-President Nicolas Sarkozy. She had a plausible explanation for her actions, and even the prosecutor described the evidence regarding her alleged misuse of public funds as very weak. The court ruled that despite its verdict, no punishment was merited.

Small wonder, therefore, that IMF member countries chose to overlook Lagardes alleged transgressions and renewed her leadership mandate. But she will need a great deal more skill and luck to navigate the perils confronting the fund during the four years remaining in her second term. Two problems stand out as threats that could sully her record and impair the institution she heads.

The first is the Greek crisis, which is heading for yet another showdown after seven years of economy-crushing turmoil. Many at the IMF  its staff, management, and board  are anxious for the fund to redeem itself for mistakes it made during the crisis in the eurozone, most notably in Greece, the recipient of the biggest bailout loans the fund has ever provided to any country. Some of the most questionable decisions were taken in 2010, when Athens first tottered on the brink of a debt default, and in early 2011  before Lagarde took the IMFs helm. But some came on her watch.

Under pressure from powerful, austerity-minded European policymakers, the IMF joined in rescue programs for Greece in 2010 and 2012 that piled debt atop debt and imposed excessively harsh conditions on the Greek government. The bailouts were based on highly optimistic assumptions about the capacity of the economy to recover and of Athenss ability to continue paying its obligations. As the absurdity of those assumptions  and the nonsustainability of Greeces debt  became increasingly evident, the IMF came under fierce criticism for having bowed to demands from European capitals that exercise disproportionate influence over its policy. That sapped the institution of its most precious asset  its credibility as an independent, neutral arbiter of how to fix economic and financial problems that beset countries, regions and the world as a whole. That credibility is especially crucial when it comes to quelling crises, because financial markets will lose confidence in the IMFs pronouncements and analyses if they deem it overly susceptible to political meddling.

To Lagardes credit, the IMF finally broke publicly with Europe in mid-2015 as the terms of Greeces third bailout were negotiated. Although the fund had gone along in prior years with assumptions that the Greek government could generate huge budget surpluses out into the future that would enable Athens to pay down its debt, IMF officials were unwilling to endorse such fairy tales again. The IMF has argued, rightly, that such demands are unrealistic and counterproductive for the recession-battered economy; instead, Greeces European creditors should write off much of the debt Athens owes them. But the German government is particularly adamant in rejecting debt forgiveness, and it is possible that Lagarde will ultimately agree to a stitch-up based on credulity-straining projections that the Greek authorities will fix their economys woes. That would spare Angela Merkel, Germanys beleaguered chancellor, from an additional political setback, but it would leave the IMF vulnerable to charges that it had once again compromised its technocratic integrity.

The second, potentially much more worrisome threat to Lagarde is the impending presidency of Donald Trump. Some of the views she has embraced that excite Daily Show audiences  among them, the need for international action on climate change and the economic benefits of migration  are not going to endear her to the new U.S. administration. The same goes for her warnings against the dangers of protectionism  she gave an interview during the campaign to the Financial Times using the word disastrous to describe trade barrier-raising policies of the sort promised by Trump (although she was careful to avoid mentioning him by name). Perhaps most problematic of all is the IMFs pronouncement last year that Chinas currency is no longer undervalued, which is clearly at odds with Trumps vow to declare Beijing guilty of unfair currency manipulation.

The United States is the IMFs largest shareholder, with 16.5 percent of the voting power on the board. That obviously isnt enough by itself to force changes in IMF policy or personnel, but the funds ability to function could be severely jeopardized in the event of a major clash with the White House. American leadership has been essential to the institutions effectiveness since its creation at the end of World War II, and the board operates on a tradition of consensus.

Uncertainties abound. Perhaps the IMF will escape the notice of Trump himself; oversight of the fund is the responsibility of the Treasury Department. But in view of the president-elects behavior since his victory, it hardly seems inconceivable that he might take great umbrage at something Lagarde said or did. Is it so difficult to imagine, for example, tweets emanating from the @POTUS account accusing Negligent Christine of missing the boat on the Chinese renminbi? And couldnt such acrimony lead to Trump demanding, say, that the U.S. representative on the IMF board exercise his or her power to thwart the managing directors agenda? Or even demanding a U.S. withdrawal, as he has threatened regarding the World Trade Organization?

As a result, Lagarde will be obliged to make sure she doesnt gratuitously inflame tensions with the U.S. administration. At the same time, however, undue silence or namby-pamby utterances in the face of policies that menace the global economy would make the fund appear utterly feckless, dooming any pretense it has as a ruthless truth-teller to the worlds governments.

Charm, intellect, leadership talent, and public-spiritedness have taken Lagarde far. All of her resourcefulness will be essential if she is to leave her job with anything resembling the esteem in which she is currently held.

Photo credit: JOHN LAMPARSKI/Getty Images
While for most Americans and Europeans the bulk of the Christmas celebrations occur on the day itself, Dec. 25, for Hispanics, Christmas Eve is when the fun really takes place. Nochebuena, literally the "Good Night, is the celebration in Spanish-influenced cultures that takes place the night before Christmas. However, in many cases, when it is a really good night, the merriment will carry over into the day itself.

The exact method of celebration differs from country to country, but generally involves a big dinner with the whole extended family, often leading up to midnight mass, or Misa de Gallo.

In the Philippines, though, the dinner comes after the midnight mass and consists of a huge open-door feast where friends and neighbors are invited to come in and enjoy the numerous dishes on offer. The most popular dish is lechon, roasted pig, but rice cakes and fruit salads are also traditionally eaten.

In Mexico, Nochebuena is actually several days in the making. Las Posadas is the nine days of religious service which commemorate the nativity of Jesus. Each day there are candle-light processions through the streets, reenactments of the nativity and replicas of the nativity scene constructed. The tradition, at least to some extent, has been brought by Mexican immigrants to the United States.

"I want the kids to know what it's all about, and the way we do it in Mexico," Tina Pickering, who grew up in Veracruz, Mexico, and has lived in the U.S. for more than 40 years, told the Chicago Tribune this week. "It's not just about presents. Jesus was born and we celebrate the tradition that God came to the world to save us."

Christmas tree Mexico

Photo: Reuters/Henry Romero

After the final Posada on Dec. 24 comes the big feast, involving traditional dishes like tamales and the stew pozole. In the Dominican Republic and Cuba, meanwhile, the main dish is pork, usually served with rice and beans.

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Seafood is the primary feature of Nochebuena dinner in Spain, with lobster or other shellfish often the centerpiece. In Argentina, everything at the meal is served cold, including vitel tone, sliced veal covered in a mayonnaise-like sauce.

In many Latin American countries, pan dulce, a sweet bread, is served as a dessert.

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The Marin family members are the godfathers of the glassblowing trade in the Mexican village of Tlalpujahua, which makes tens of millions of ornaments each year to decorate Christmas trees in American and Canadian homes. Even mid-winter, the sun shines strong in this village in the western state of Michoacan. But it might as well be the North Poll. Stores with names like "Santa's Workshop" and "The Christmas House" line the colonial village's cobblestone streets. And Christmas lasts all year for its 28,000 residents.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan has warned the U.S. government against a tit-for-tat response to Russian hacking during the presidential election. "I don't think we should resort to some of the tactics and techniques that our adversaries employ against us. I think we need to remember what we're fighting for," Brennan told National Public Radio in an interview that aired on Friday. (http://n.pr/2ily7zS) "We're fighting for our country, our democracy, our way of life, and to engage. And the skullduggery that some of our opponents and adversaries engage in, I think is beneath this country's greatness," Brennan said on NPR's "Morning Edition." U.S. officials have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of supervising his intelligence agencies' hacking during the U.S. presidential election in an effort to help Republican Donald Trump. Russian officials have denied accusations of interference in the Nov. 8 election won by Trump.. President Barack Obama, who has asked spy agencies to deliver an analysis of Russian meddling in the election before Trump takes office on Jan. 20, last week strongly suggested that Putin personally authorized the election hacking. He also left the door open to retaliation, possibly under a Trump administration. U.S. Republican and Democratic senators have called 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. Brennan also predicted that despite the fall of eastern Aleppo to forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, there would be no end to the violence there. "Aleppo's fall, to me is not a sign that there is going to be an end to this conflict because I am convinced that many, many of those oppositionists, the ones who are trying to reclaim their country for their families, for their neighbors, for their children, will continue to fight," he told NPR. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
By Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran and the major powers with which it reached a landmark nuclear accord in 2015 have agreed on clarifications that diplomats say will reduce the amount of enriched uranium that counts towards a limit set by the deal. The U.N. nuclear watchdog circulated the clarifications, laid out in eight documents, to its member states on Friday after receiving them from the office of European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who coordinates the main forum for discussions created by the deal, the Joint Commission. "These documents are merely providing clarifications, developed by the Joint Commission, for the implementation of Iran's nuclear-related measures as set out in the JCPOA," Mogherini's office said in an attached letter, using the deal's full name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is policing the deal's restrictions on Iranian atomic activities to help ensure they are not put to developing a nuclear weapon. The accord also lifted sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The IAEA has already expressed concern to Iran about its repeated testing of one of the deal's less strictly defined limits - its stock of heavy water, a substance used as a moderator in reactors like Iran's unfinished one at Arak, which has had its core removed to make it unusable. Diplomats have said Iran has come close to exceeding other limits under the deal, particularly the 300 kg (661 pound) cap on its stock of enriched uranium, a breach of which would most likely be far more damaging than excess heavy water. There was concern during a visit to Iran this week by IAEA chief Yukiya Amano that Iran was about to go over that threshold, diplomats said. There is also great uncertainty about how U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, a vocal critic of the deal, will handle any future difficulties that arise with Iran. "It was close," one diplomat who follows Iran closely said, without giving a figure. "If they had gone over the limit while he was there, that would have been embarrassing." The 45 pages of often highly technical documents circulated on Friday specify, among other things, items that do not count towards Iran's uranium stockpile, such as some unrecoverable material left in pipes. "All current low-level solid waste contaminated with low-enriched uranium (LEU) ..., which is deemed unrecoverable, is not part of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile as specified in the JCPOA provided that Iran does not build or operate any facility or part of a facility capable of recovering LEU from solid waste for 15 years," one typically worded clause said. How much difference exactly the clarifications will make to the size of Iran's uranium stockpile is not clear. The IAEA does not give estimates in its reports on Iran to member states, which has drawn criticism from some countries, though it liaises with major powers that reached the deal with Tehran. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Marijuana use among teens in Colorado has been on the decline since legislation passed making the drug legal for recreational use back in 2012. However, people 12 and older have reportedly been indulging in another Schedule I substance, according to the 2014-2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released Tuesday.

The survey found cocaine use among Coloradans ages 12 and up increased by 2.57-percent in 2014 and continued to increase in 2015, up by 2.75-percent. Coloradans between the ages of 18 to 25 specifically had the sharpest increase of cocaine use, up 1.37-percent in the 2014-2015 report compared to data from previous years.

Marijuana use for adults 26 and older rose from 16.80-percent in 2013-2014 to 19.91-percent in 2014-2015. However, marijuana consumption among teens 12 to 17 saw a drop to 18.35-percent in 2014-2015 compared to the 20.81-percent reported in 2013-2014.

Researchers found the decrease in marijuana use among teens particularly surprising but were unable to explain the declining marijuana rate.

I dont have an explanation. This is somewhat surprising, NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow told U.S. News. We had predicted based on the changes in legalization, culture in the U.S. as well as decreasing perceptions among teenagers that marijuana was harmful that [accessibility and use] would go up. But it hasnt gone up.

While decreasing marijuana rates among teens in Colorado was pleasing to health officials and parents alike, the increasing cocaine consumption may signal that stronger efforts need to be taken in communities across the nation, Frances Harding, a director of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations Center for Abuse Prevention, said in a statement to U.S. News.

These increases signal the need for states and communities to continue working together, educating and training others on the dangers of cocaine use, she said. Pursuing a comprehensive prevention strategy has proven to be our most effective approach to address substance use issues.

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The report also said cocaine use across the nation had increased over the past two years. New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., had the highest amounts of cocaine use in 2014 and 2015, while Colorado came in third. The District of Columbia saw a 3.47-percent increase in cocaine use in 2014, but figures dropped in 2015 with only 3.19-percent of people 12 and up reportedly using cocaine. Meanwhile, New Hampshire had a 2.48-percent spike in cocaine in 2014 and further increased to 3.07-percent in 2015.

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Saif Ali Khan, who is on a paternity leave post the birth of Taimur Ali Khan, will resume work in mid-January.

By PTI: Actor Saif Ali Khan will be on paternity leave till mid-January after which he will resume the shooting of his next film, tentatively titled Chef.

ALSO READ: These new photos of Saif-Kareena with Taimur are too cute to miss

ALSO READ: Twitter is obsessed with Kareena's son Taimur and Shahid's daughter Misha

Saif's wife Kareena Kapoor Khan, who gave birth to a boy on December 20, was discharged from Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Thursday evening.

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The Bollywood star couple, who got married in 2012, have named their son Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi.

Taimur is 36-year-old Kareena's first child with Saif, who already has two children -- daughter Sara and son Ibrahim -- from his previous marriage to Amrita Singh.

Kareena and her 46-year-old husband Saif yesterday posed with the baby for the shutterbugs at their residence in suburban Bandra.

"Saif last shot for the film (remake of Hollywood movie Chef) on December 12. He will resume the shoot by mid January," director Raja Krishna Menon told PTI.

According to Raja, only 20 per cent of the shooting is remaining which will be done abroad.

"I went on a recce to the US and Europe, we will zero-in on the location soon for the last schedule," the Airlift helmer said.

Raja spoke to Saif after the birth of his son Taimur.

"He is very happy and excited. I will try and visit the baby soon," he said.

Saif's next release will be Vishal Bhardwaj's Rangoon, slated to hit the screens in February next year.

Kareena, who was last seen in Udta Punjab, had earlier signed the film Veere Di Wedding, co-starring Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar.

--- ENDS ---
oil rig

The US rig count jumped by 13 to 523 this week, according to oilfield-services company Baker Hughes.

The oil rig count is about 13 rigs away from recovering all the losses recorded this year. The addition of rigs in recent weeks, in response to more stable oil prices, has already proven to be a streak not seen since prices crashed two years ago.

Gas rigs increased by three to 129, and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at one, taking the total up by 16 to 653.

Last week, the oil rig count jumped by 12.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures traded lower but little changed on Friday, down 0.2% to $52.84 per barrel on a quiet day for global markets.

oil rig dec 23

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Dallas Based SEO & Conversion Rate Optimization / SEO Audit Expert Says, Look out!

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2016 / Optimizing your website and blog for maximum search engine visibility continues to be important, even with the rise of other inbound marketing methods. In fact, content marketing, by far the most popular inbound marketing strategy, relies so much on solid SEO to be truly effective. It helps to think of content marketing as handling the content creation process, while SEO takes care of distribution and acceleration.

But because SEO practices rely on Google's search engine updates, it also means that marketers must constantly adapt to the changing landscape of search, not to mention the changes in users' search habits. Still, this doesn't change the fact that SEO is still on top of many marketers' priority list of strategies.

Obviously, it's not easy trying to keep up with the most effective SEO techniques, so much so that many marketers end up making costly SEO mistakes. One way of 'keeping up' the smart way is knowing what not to do instead. In this guide, we go over a few of the most common SEO mistakes you should avoid to prevent your website's search rankings from being hurt.

1. You're Using Irrelevant Keywords

The point of using keywords is to make your website, your ads, and all your other content assets relevant.

So the question is: How relevant are your keywords?

One of the most common mistakes that can cripple an SEO campaign is focusing on short generic keywords (with high competition, mind you), and neglecting the value of long-tail keywords.

Source

While your business' products and services might fall under one set of keywords that you think might be relevant, it's also important to consider how your actual potential customers search for your brand and offerings on Google. And more often than not, people do so by using long-tail search terms, which usually fall outside of the typical marketer's radar.

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The key is to be more careful and thorough with your keyword research. Use as many tools as you can, whether it's Google's Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Moz, or Google Trends. Better yet, just ask your customers how they found you on Google and what search terms they used.

2. You're Still Spamming Keywords

Source

Sure, in the old days, you could get away with stuffing your landing pages and blog posts with keywords to game search engines into boosting your rankings. But that was before Penguin and Panda, Google's search algorithms that effectively ended blackhat SEO techniques and prioritized the creation of original high-quality content to create authority and better rankings.

And even back in the day, such practices were already deemed unethical because they provided little or no value at all to a brand's customers. Unfortunately, the practice of stuffing content with target keywords continues today, even if Google has made it clear that spammy content will only result in a penalty to rankings.

But don't get tricked into thinking keywords are the be all and end all of SEO. In fact, keyword placement might soon become irrelevant, with Google employing Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), an indexing method that allows the search engine bots to understand the content topic without the need for signaling them with target keywords.

In other words, a time may come that search engines will be so smart they'll immediately understand what you're trying to say in your website content or blog without having to rely on keywords.

3. Your Content is Misleading

While keywords should not be your only focus in your SEO efforts, it's still important to make sure that whatever content you produce is actually related to your target keywords.

Say you want to rank for a certain keyword: restaurants in New York City. That's fine, but any content you create should also focus on a topic related to that keyword - you can't write about cookware or shopping tips.

This might seem like common sense, but many marketers actually make the mistake of trying to fit as many topics into a single content asset, which ends up not being relevant to the keywords it's trying to aim for. A slightly different version of this mistake is to use too many keywords in one piece of content, giving it no direction.

Google wants you to use content that's actually relevant to the search terms people are using. So if you're going to use specific keywords, make sure your content answers the needs of people that use those terms when looking for you.

4. Your Content Isn't Original





Source

If Google's Panda update made anything clear, it's that quality will always trump quantity, at least as far as content is concerned.

In the old days, it was common to duplicate or spin text-based content for as many private blog networks (PBNs) and other link farms. It worked for a while before Penguin and Panda too.

Fortunately, that practice has since been banned, resulting in a search engine penalty.

But if you're smart, you don't have to worry about best content practices. You'll have made sure your content is:

Original

Well written

Relevant

Copying and plagiarizing content from other sites is not only unethical, it might also result in your site being banned from the search engine results pages (SERPs). Remember that there are no shortcuts to content marketing.

5. You Have Low-Quality Links

Source

One of Google's key ranking signals is a healthy link profile that clearly shows your site's authority. To achieve this, you need high-quality links coming from relevant, high-quality content across a diverse array of sites.

Some key notes on effective link building include the following:

More than anything, Google cares about how important the sites linking to you are.

The higher the authority and the older the indexed age of the site, the more weight and influence it has over your rankings.

Google also cares about the quality of the content your links are coming fromthink news articles from media outlets.

In addition, Google is also looking for diversity in IP links, as an added guarantee that they're not manufactured from one source.

Avoid ineffective anchor text. The anchor text should signal both the reader and the search engine about the context and value of the link. So, stay away from the practice of adding a link to the text 'Click here.'

6. You're Ignoring Your Meta Titles and Descriptions

Source

The process of optimizing your site and its content for a search engine like Google doesn't end once you've inserted your target keywords into your landing pages and blog posts. Don't ignore the value of optimizing your meta titles and descriptions, both of which are critical SEO elements that too many marketers ignore.

It's not exactly a deal breaker for your rankings, but ignoring them means that you're also ignoring the potential gains your content can get in search visibility. Just know that search engine bots will always crawl a site's meta data. If it's done properly, these factors can improve the performance of your landing pages and onsite content.

Likewise, don't ignore the power of optimizing images. All images on your site and content should have relevant alt tags, which search bots will use to identify the content you have on your page, adding it the information affecting how your pages are indexed.

In Summary

SEO continues to be a crucial component of any inbound marketing strategy, especially on the content marketing side of things. While this guide should help you avoid some common SEO mistakes, be sure that you understand what challenges other marketers have faced in their efforts to improve their rankings. This will help you understand why these mistakes are so common in the first place.

Qamar Zaman offers SEO Audit Services. He can be reached at KISSPR.com

Source: http://news.oneseocompany.com/2016/12/21/common-seo-mistakes-audit-your-seo-work-says-qamar-zaman-seo-audit-expert_201612211531.html

SOURCE: Qamar Zaman via Submit Press Release 123
North American food company, Conagra Brands, Inc. CAG reported better-than-expected second-quarter fiscal 2017 (ended Nov 27, 2016) results.

Over the last 60 days, shares of the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock recorded an average negative return of 18.16%  as against the 0.44% positive return provided by the Zacks categorized Food-Miscellaneous Preparation/Diversified industry.

In order to become a high-performing flexible company, Conagra successfully divested its Lamb Weston business in Nov 2016. However, at present, profit-making prospects of the company, post spin-off, are not clear to the market.

Quarter Specifics

In the fiscal second quarter, Conagras quarterly earnings from continuing operations, adjusted for items impacting comparability, came in at 49 cents, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 45 cents. The bottom line also comfortably surpassed the year-ago tally by 25.6%. The upside was driven by lesser cost of sales, lower selling, general and administrative expenses and reduced interest expense, as a result of lesser debt burden.

Revenues

Conagra generated net revenue of $2,088.4 million in the reported quarter, down 11.5% year over year. The year-over-year decline was stemmed by lower volumes accrued due to the companys initiatives to create an improved quality revenue base. The companys divestitures and unfavorable foreign currency translation lowered sales by roughly 5.5%.

The top line also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,107 million.

Segmental Break-Up

Effective fiscal 2017, ConAgra is reporting results in five reporting segments:

Grocery & Snacks: The segments quarterly sales were $854 million, down 6% year over year.

Refrigerated & Frozen: Quarterly revenues declined 11% year over year to $740 million.

International: Sales of the segment were $211 million, down 5% year over year.

Foodservice: The segments quarterly revenues were $283 million, down 1% year over year.

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Commercial: The company did not generate sales from this segment during the quarter.

Other Financial Fundamentals

Conagras cost of goods sold decreased 14.8% year over year to $1,440.9 million. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses declined 13.5% year over year to $417.9 million. Interest expenses plunged 31.7% to $54.1 million due to lower debt levels.

Adjusted gross profit expanded 250 basis points to 31.1% during the quarter. The upside was driven by input cost favorability, increased supply productivity and better price/mix.

Conagra exited the fiscal second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,442.5 million, higher than $798.1 million recorded at the end of fiscal 2016. Senior long-term debt (excluding current portion) was $3,018.4 million, down from $4,685.5 million as of May 29, 2016.

In the first half of fiscal 2017, Conagra generated net cash of $542.2 million from its operating activities, up from $352.1 million recorded in the year-ago period. Capital spent on additions of property, plant and equipment totaled $118.3 million, up 7.2% year over year.

In the first half of fiscal 2017, the company paid dividends worth $219.4 million compared with $215 million paid in the year-ago period.

Outlook

For fiscal 2017, Conagra projects adjusted earnings within the range $1.65$1.70 per share. Net sales are expected to decline in the band of 45% (eliminating the divestiture impacts). The estimated range for adjusted gross profit margin is 30.430.6% and adjusted operating margin is 15.315.5%.

Stocks to Consider

Better-ranked stocks in the industry include Dean Foods Company DF, Francesca's Holdings Corporation FRAN and Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. OLLI. All the three stocks currently flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Dean Foods Company has an average positive earnings surprise of 5.44% for the last four quarters.

Francesca's Holdings Corporations positive earnings surprise is 26.55% for the trailing four quarters.

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.s positive earnings surprise is 17.64% for the last four quarters.

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GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the U.N. human rights agency said on Friday that Congolese security forces had killed at least 40 people and arrested 460 in protests against President Joseph Kabila this week. "Such high casualty figures suggest a serious disregard ... of the need to exercise restraint in policing demonstrations," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said in a statement. Protests erupted against Kabila when he failed to step down despite his mandate expiring on Tuesday. "Not only are soldiers participating in law enforcement operations, but all the forces involved are heavily armed and using live ammunition," Zeid said, also noting that 107 more people had been "injured or ill-treated". (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Louise Ireland)
By Wa Lone and Simon Lewis YANGON (Reuters) - Before entering the courthouse in the capital of eastern Myanmar's Shan State, Maw Maw Oo said it was ominous that several blue police vans were already waiting in the parking lot. "But I don't want to guess what the court's decision will be," she told a Reuters reporter by phone. Hours later she was jailed for a month for trespassing on what she had insisted was her own land, in a case that starkly illuminates the challenge facing Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) took power almost nine months ago pledging to solve the country's land disputes. Maw Maw Oo, 45, is a leader among the farmers from Ye Bu village, where Myanmar's powerful military had sued 96 residents for trespassing after they continued to work land they say was taken from them by the army. The court in Taunggyi on Thursday sentenced 72 farmers to a month in prison each and fined others, making a quick solution unlikely in the dispute over the farmland, on much of which the army has sought to establish agri-businesses with private firms. Maw Maw Oo was among those convicted and taken straight to jail in one of the vans, lawyers said, so could not be reached for comment on the verdict. Ye Bu farmer Myo Aung said residents were considering their next steps, but vowed to fight on despite the convictions. "We will keep trying under the law to find justice," he said. "We complained to the government, and also the commander-in-chief, but nothing has improved." In some families, both parents were now behind bars, said Myo Aung, who was not convicted on Thursday but faces charges in a separate trespassing case involving a private company. DETERRENT Across Myanmar there are thousands of disputes involving alleged land seizures under the junta that ruled for decades. Many date from a military-led transition from socialism to a market-driven economy beginning in the 1990s and involve the army itself. The Ministry of Defence controls some 2 million acres, or about 5 percent of Myanmar's arable land, but has pledged to return any land it does not need. Major Aung Htwe of the army's Eastern Command, who filed lawsuits against the farmers in Ye Bu, told Reuters the court's decision was correct and would act as a deterrent against farmers entering or working land they did not have rights to. "If they do something like that again, they will be punished by the law," he said on Friday. Tim Millar, country director at Namati, a legal advocacy working on land disputes across Myanmar, said filing charges of trespass against farmers was a frequent tactic, although not usually on the same scale as in Ye Bu. "It is a tool used to dissuade farmers from seeking justice," he told Reuters by email. "It plays on both the fear of the farmers and imposes costs on them", as they are required to travel repeatedly to court, Millar added. David Mathieson, a senior researcher on Myanmar for Human Rights Watch, said the NLD would struggle with the scale of the land problem. "But it could be prioritizing legal reform that ensures land laws protect farmers," he said by email. Nyan Win, a national-level spokesman for the NLD, said while he disagreed with the army suing farmers, the party could not interfere in the judicial process. Suu Kyi has established a parliamentary committee on confiscated land, but activists say it has yet to take significant action. Kyaw Myint, an NLD lawmaker who sits on a separate committee handling farmers' affairs, said that despite being the ruling party, the NLD's individual lawmakers were "too weak" to confront the military over land. "The military should give up and return the lands they don't need for the military projects. They have no rights to do business in those areas," he said. "But finding a solution will be very long process." (Editing by Alex Richardson)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) had agreed in principle to pay U.S. authorities $2.48 billion to settle claims it misled investors in residential mortgage-backed securities it sold in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, the Swiss bank said on Friday.

Credit Suisse will also provide $2.8 billion in consumer relief over five years from the settlement, it said in a statement, adding the deal was subject to negotiation of final documentation and approval by its board of directors.

"Credit Suisse will take a pre-tax charge of approximately $2 billion in addition to its existing reserves against these matters. This will be taken in our 4Q 2016 financial results," it added.

The final deal is in line with the $5 billion-$7 billion the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had asked Credit Suisse to pay earlier in negotiations, as reported by Reuters on Monday.

The news came after Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) agreed to a $7.2 billion settlement with the DOJ over its sale and pooling of toxic mortgage securities.

The deals highlight the Justice Department's efforts to hold European banks accountable for shoddy securities that contributed to the U.S. housing market collapse.

The department sued Barclays PLC (BARC.L) on Thursday over similar claims.

Credit Suisse had paid a $2.8 billion fine in 2014 for helping wealthy Americans evade tax.

Credit Suisse in November said it had upped litigation provisions by 357 million francs ($348.29 million), mainly in connection with mortgage-related matters.

(Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Geneva (AFP) - Credit Suisse said Friday it had reached an agreement with US authorities to pay almost $5.3 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

"Under the terms of the settlement, Credit Suisse would pay to the DoJ (US Department of Justice) a civil monetary penalty of $2.48 billion," the Swiss banking giant said in a statement.

"In addition, Credit Suisse would provide consumer relief totaling $2.8 billion over the course of five years post settlement," it said.

The settlement, which still needs approval by the bank's board, would release Credit Suisse from "potential civil claims by the DoJ related to its securitisation, underwriting and issuance" of mortgage-backed securities, it added.

The business was mostly carried out from 2005 to 2007, it said.

Just hours earlier, Germany's Deutsche Bank said it had agreed to pay a total of $7.2 billion (6.9 billion euros) to settle a case with the DoJ over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis.

On Thursday, the DoJ sued the British financial giant Barclays, accusing the bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities, which contributed to the global financial crisis of 2008.
LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - European shares edged up on Friday, buoyed by the banking sector after Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank settled mortgage securities fraud suits with the United States, and as Italy's Monte dei Paschi agreed to a bailout.

The STOXX Europe 600 was up 0.1 percent at 0811 GMT, with banks up 0.4 percent, the top sectoral riser.

Deutsche Bank rose 4 percent, the biggest gainer on the index.

It agreed to a $7.2 billion settlement with the United States over its sale and pooling of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, while the Justice Department had been seeking nearly twice as much.

Credit Suisse rose 2 percent after also settling with the U.S. DoJ, while RBS, which is being investigated, rose 2.4 percent on hopes that its final settlement might be lower than expected.

Barclays underperformed, down 0.5 percent, as the DoJ launched a lawsuit against the bank over its sale of mortgage-backed securities. The bank said it rejected the complaint.

Italian lenders rose 1.4 percent after the Italian government agreed to bail out Monte dei Paschi, although shares in the bank itself were suspended from trading.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout, Editing by Vikram Subhedar)
The Sarah Michelle Gellar-fronted TV series reboot of Cruel Intentions is, indeed, as dead as Sebastian Valmont (too soon?), our sister site Deadline reports.

As referenced in a recent Ask Ausillo, the drama  which NBC failed to greenlight in October  will not find new life at another network. Sony, the production studio, had shopped the project around this fall. Per Deadline, the casts extended options are up next week and wont be renewed.

RELATEDThis Is Us to Marathon on USA Network

As recently as the Television Critics Association summer press tour, NBC president Jennifer Salke said that she was determined to find a place to put Cruel Intentions, adding, We wouldnt have held that talent if we didnt have every intention of finding an opportunity for the show.

The Cruel Intentions pilot picked up roughly 16 years after the events of the 1999 film, with Annette  now played by Kate Levering  raising her and Sebastians teenage son Bash in Ohio. Annette once again crosses paths with Sebastians sister Kathryn (Gellar) when Bash runs away to San Diego, seeking the truth about his fathers past.

Are you bummed about the final nail in Cruel Intentions coffin? Hit the comments!

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Siddharth Srinivasan, best known for his acclaimed movie Pairon Talle, was asked by a Delhi court to provide a separate room, with attached washroom, for his estranged wife.

By Sneha Agrawal: Siddharth Srinivasan, the director and producer of the critically acclaimed film Pairon Talle (Sand of Souls), was asked by a Delhi court to make room for his estranged wife Divya Bhardwaj at his house in New Friends Colony. His wife was reportedly not allowed to re-enter the house after she went to visit her mother.

Bharadwaj had moved court seeking directions for relief and maintenance and even alleged cruelty of her husband and mother in-law. Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar partly allowed the appeal and asked Srinivasan to provide a room with attached toilet and bathroom.

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The court observed that prima facie, Bhardwaj is the victim of domestic violence. "In such a situation, it is the court's duty to provide her with shelter and protection," the court said. "She does not seem to have her own house. Hence, she can rightfully claim residence in the shared household," the court directed the respondents.

Bhardwaj's counsel told the court that she was facing domestic violence by her husband and motherin-law. She also alleged that Srinivasan produced a Hindi film with financial help from her, for which she had taken huge loans. She further claimed that her husband misappropriated all the money received for the film leaving her with huge debt.

According to Bhardwaj, in 2013, her husband and mother in-law left the house without infor-ming her. And as she was unwell, she decided to visit her mother.

However, when she came back she realised that her husband had shifted to a new accommodation and barred her entry. He even sought a divorce from her. Since then, she had been living with her brother. Srinivasan's counsel denied allegations of cruelty and said she was not thrown out of the house. He said that staying together would further aggravate complications.

However, the court observed that even if the respondents did not throw the complainant out, prima facie, they created a situation because of which the appellant had to leave the shared household.

"The complainant is living with and is at mercy of her brother. She has no house of her own to live," the court said. "Even if divorce proceedings are pending, the wife has a right of residence in the shared household," the court added.

"When such right exists, the wife cannot be asked to stay with her relatives, including her mother or brother," the court further said. "In the present case too, right of the appellant to live in a shared household is not eliminated by virtue of any decree of divorce," the court iterated.

--- ENDS ---
Tourist and daredevil Jorden Tually took the ultimate risk to get amazing footage of his trip to Yosemite National Park in Californias Sierra Nevada mountains.

Its fair to say that Jordens daredevil spirit took him on a wild journey here. Credit: YouTube/Jorden Tually via Storyful
Denver, CO-based DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. DVA, a leading provider of dialysis services announced that HealthCare Partners Nevada, a unit within its medical group, has acquired WellHealth Quality Care, Nevada's first and only commercial accountable care network. Although the company did not disclose the financial terms of this deal, it is expected the transaction to close by the first half of 2017.

A glimpse at the share price movement of the stock reveals a dismal trend as DaVita lost almost 7% year to date, comparing unfavorably with the Zacks categorized Medical-Outpatient and Home Healthcare sub-industrys gain of roughly 0.8% and the S&P 500s promising return of 8.7%.

However, DaVita gained 11.8% till yesterdays close of $64.85 since the last quarters promising earnings performance.

Meanwhile, the estimate revision trend for the current year seems quite favorable, with one estimate moving up in the last one month and no downward movement. Notably, the current year estimate for the stock edged up by a penny to $3.76 per share over the past month.

According to DaVita, the consolidated company would exclusively focus on the quality of care and cost efficiencies of the already existing value-based health care model in the U.S. It is to be noted here that WellHealth is a Nevada-based private medical organization having a wide network covering various specialties (including anesthesiology and an OB-GYN network).

DAVITA INC Price

DAVITA INC Price | DAVITA INC Quote

Per management, the latest development strengthens DaVitas goal of building the leading independent medical group in America. In this regard, DaVita recently announced a joint venture with Inspira Health Network to expand dialysis services at the Bridgeton, Millville and Vineland centers of South Jersey.

Our Take

Acquiring dialysis centers and businesses that own and operate dialysis centers has been DaVitas preferred business strategy so far. Of late, the company has been focusing on the Accountable care space as well.

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DaVita has compelling fundamentals in terms of revenues and adjusted earnings, multiplying at a CAGR of 19% and 7.6%, respectively, over the last four years.

Meanwhile, DaVita holds a long-term expected earnings growth of almost 12% and an earnings yield of 5.8%, better than the industry average of roughly 4.4%. Of the recent developments, the partnership with Rock Health is a notable one. We believe the latest acquisition of WellHealth in the form of diversification of business, would further strengthen DaVitas fundamentally.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Currently, DaVita has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks in the broader medical sector include Addus HomeCare Corporation ADUS, LHC Group, Inc. LHCG and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. IDXX. Addus HomeCare and IDEXX Laboratories sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Meanwhile, LHC Group 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 46%.

LHC Group has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 15%. The company has returned almost 15.3% in the last three months.

IDEXX Laboratories has an expected earnings growth of almost 15%. The company posted a promising year-to-date return of almost 63.3%.

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BRISBANE, Australia (AP)  Spanish midfielder Dimas Delgado's goal on a curling free kick from just outside the box in the 69th minute gave the Western Sydney Wanderers a 1-1 draw with the Brisbane Roar in the A-League on Friday.

The Roar took the lead in the 52nd minute on left back Corey Brown's volley high into the net, Brown's second career goal in his 52nd A-League match.

The draw moved Brisbane into second place, six points behind leading Sydney FC, while the Wanderers eased into the top six.

Play in the 12th round resumes Monday when Newcastle hosts Wellington and Sydney FC plays at Adelaide. Melbourne City hosts Perth on Tuesday and Melbourne Victory takes on Central Coast next Wednesday to complete the round.
Chuck Schumer

Congressional Democrats issued scathing statements aimed at the Obama administration over the US's abstention from a Friday UN Security Council vote demanding Israel stop building settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

Leading Democrats from both houses called out the UN as an inappropriate venue for rejuvenating the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. They objected to the Obama administration's departure from what they view as decades of established US policy of vetoing UN resolutions regarding Israeli settlements.

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said it was "extremely frustrating, disappointing and confounding" that the Obama administration failed to veto the UN's vote.

Schumer called out the UN as a "fervently" anti-Israel body, since the days of "Zionism is racism."

"Whatever ones views are on settlements, the UN is the wrong forum to settle these issues," Schumer said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, called the US's abstention from the vote "unconscionable."

"A two-state solution must be negotiated directly between the Israelis and Palestinians, and this resolution flies in the face of this necessity," Blumenthal said.

He also said support for Israel must remain "bipartisan," and that he'll work with colleagues on "both sides of the aisle" to advance "productive measures" that strengthen the US's relationship with Israel.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said that he would work to form a bipartisan coalition to "suspend or significantly reduce United States assistance to the United Nations."

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) speaks with reporters as he arrives for the weekly Democratic Caucus policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington June 2, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RTR4YK2C

Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said that he was "deeply disappointed" that the Obama administration allowed such a "one-sided" resolution to pass.

"Actions like this will only take us further from the peace we all want to see," Wyden said.

And Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia said "one-sided resolutions" at the UN are counterproductive to the peace process and "achieving a two-state solution."

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"I am dismayed that the administration departed from decades of U.S. policy by not vetoing the UN resolution regarding Israeli settlements," Warner said.

Rep. Eliot L. Engel, a Democrat from New York and the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was "very disappointed" by the US's "acquiescence to a one-sided, biased resolution at the United Nations Security Council."

"I have always believed that Israel cant get a fair shake at the UN, and that is why Israel has relied on the United States to protect it from the anti-Israel tendencies of some UN Security Council members," Engel said.

Engel further said that the text of the resolution places the "blame" for the stalled peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians "entirely on Israel."

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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  Nine years after the collapse of the U.S. housing market sent shockwaves through the global economy, two European banks have agreed to offer American homeowners and borrowers billions of dollars' worth of help under a settlement related to the sale of risky securities that helped spark the 2008 crisis.

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse said Friday they agreed to the tentative settlements with the U.S. Justice Department over their dealings in mortgage-backed bonds.

Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest, agreed to pay $7.2 billion  $3.1 billion in fines and $4.1 billion in consumer relief. That relief could include easier terms on loan repayments terms for homeowners and borrowers.

Neither Deutsche nor Credit Suisse, which agreed to a similar settlement under which it would pay $5.3 billion, including $2.8 billion in consumer relief, provided details on what the consumer compensation would entail.

Previous settlements related to mortgage-backed securities have meant banks reduced loan amounts and interest for some borrowers, and donated money to community development groups, all under the supervision of appointed monitors who track compliance.

Housing advocates however have complained that banks have claimed credit toward the settlement amounts for activities they would have undertaken anyway.

The settlements, which focus on activities in 2005-2007, revisit an ugly chapter of the global financial crisis, in which banks bundled mortgages from people with shaky credit into bonds whose risks many investors did not understand. When the mortgages went into default as the U.S. real estate market collapsed, so did the bonds, spreading losses and panic through the financial system.

The Deutsche Bank agreement lessens the financial cloud over the bank's shares, since it had earlier this year said it might have to pay as much as $14 billion. The bank has been struggling to put expensive litigation from past misconduct behind it. It said it would take a $1.17 billion hit to its fourth-quarter earnings arising from the civil penalty. CEO John Cryan is putting the bank through a tough restructuring in an attempt to improve profitability and strengthen its finances.

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Deutsche Bank's share price, which had initially risen strongly, closed up only 0.3 percent at 17.81 euros, while Credit Suisse's ended 0.9 percent lower at 15.19 Swiss francs.

News of the settlements came after the Justice Department sued Britain's Barclays Bank, accusing it and its employees of misrepresenting the quality of the loans they sold to tens of thousands of investors. The investors, which included credit unions, pension plans and university endowments, lost billions of dollars, the Justice Department said.

___

Keaten contributed from Geneva.
Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse said Friday they had agreed with US authorities to pay billions of dollars to settle probes into the sales of toxic mortgage bonds that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis.

The German lender will pay a total of $7.2 billion -- a $3.1-billion fine and $4.1 billion in relief to consumers -- as part of the long-sought agreement in principle with US authorities, it said.

Shares in the German banking giant rose on the Frankfurt stock exchange on the heels of the announcement, which analysts said was a good outcome for now.

"With this settlement, CEO John Cryan has given himself and Deutsche Bank a Christmas present," said LBBW bank's Ingo Frommen.

In September, the US Department of Justice had sought an unaffordable $14-billion fine from Deutsche, sparking fears the bank could collapse and destabilise the global financial system.

Hours after the deal was announced on Friday, Credit Suisse said it too had struck an agreement with US authorities to pay almost $5.3 billion to settle a similar dispute over subprime mortgage bonds.

A day earlier, the DoJ revealed it was suing British financial giant Barclays, accusing the bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the US.

The rash of announcements comes as President Barack Obama's outgoing administration is racing to finish investigations into the Wall Street firms that created and sold the risky mortgage bonds that led to the worst crisis since the Great Depression.

US authorities have already taken more than $46 billion in fines from other big banks for their roles in the financial meltdown, according to Bloomberg News.

- 'Relief' -

Deutsche's chief executive Cryan had always insisted that the German lender would pay far less than the initial US demand.

And the bank brushed off fears the consumer relief element would have a significant impact on its results.

"The financial consequences, if any, of the consumer relief are subject to the final terms of the settlement, and are not currently expected to have a material impact on 2016 financial results," the bank said.

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Deutsche Bank's share price plummeted in late September on news of the US fine demand to historic lows of 9.90 euros.

Investors feared their stakes would be diluted if the lender -- already struggling with a painful restructuring and a morass of legal entanglements around the world -- was forced to raise fresh capital to cover the fine.

Its stock ended Friday's session 0.34 percent higher at 17.81 euros after surging by more than four percent at the start of trading.

"Although today's settlement is not the end of the route, it has been a good short-term relief for investors, given that Deutsche Bank needn't raise capital to cover for legal charges in the immediate future," said analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya of London Capital Group.

- Further probes -

While the settlement resolves a major headache for Deutsche, the lender is still facing some 8,000 legal challenges, including an investigation by New York regulators into alleged money laundering at its Russian branch.

Deutsche has had to set aside billions in provisions to deal with the cases.

Meanwhile, it is undergoing a massive shake-up under Cryan, who plans to cut units and slash 9,000 jobs in a bid to improve the bank's profitability at a time of low interest rates and sluggish global growth.

Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse were among several major banks implicated in the global financial crisis, along with Royal Bank of Scotland.

Credit Suisse on Friday said that under its own agreement reached with the US, it would pay the DoJ a civil monetary penalty of $2.48 billion and provide consumer relief totalling $2.8 billion.

The deal still needs to be approved by the bank's board, it added.

News of the settlements contrasted sharply with the DOJ's surprise decision to sue Barclays in open court, after failing to find a mutually acceptable resolution.

"Barclays appears to be playing the long game, hoping it can get a better result in the courts," said LCG analyst Jasper Lawler.
By Tom Porter

LONDON, Dec 23 (IFR) - Deutsche Bank's riskiest bonds jumped on Friday after the lender said it would pay US$7.2bn in a settlement related to pre-crisis sales of mortgage-backed securities that is around half the size feared.

The German bank's Additional Tier 1 bonds, the riskiest form of debt that banks can sell, have been under periodic bouts of pressure since mid-September, when the US Department of Justice said it would be asking for as much as US$14bn.

Deutsche's 6% 1.75bn AT1 bonds callable in 2022 jumped from 82 cash price to 86 on Friday morning, according to Tradeweb. Those bonds had fallen to around 70 in late September.

The bank will pay the DOJ a civil monetary penalty of US$3.1bn and provide US$4.1bn of consumer relief in the US.

The potential size of the fine had raised concerns that Deutsche would not have enough cash set aside to pay.

CreditSights analysts, who had estimated Deutsche had existing reserves against the DOJ claim of just 2bn-3bn, said in a note on Friday that the US$7.2bn figure "comes as a relief".

Deutsche will take a fresh provision of around 1.1bn equivalent this quarter, which the analysts said would leave ample Available Distributable Items to pay the AT1 coupon of around 350m in April.

"The uncertainty is not over yet because of the questions over impairment charges or other possible losses," they wrote, "so we still see better risk-adjusted value elsewhere in the AT1 universe."

This uncertainty includes potential fines for suspicious Russian equities trades and alleged violations of US sanctions, which are still hanging over the German lender.

"[Deutsche Bank] may settle the $10bn Russian "mirror trades" case before it closes its 2016 accounts in early March 2017, as communicated by the bank itself," said BNP Paribas analysts in a note on Friday.

"The impact of this second settlement may still be included in the 2016 financials. This means that, while the payment of AT1 coupons is more likely after the positive agreement with the DoJ, it is still not guaranteed."

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Credit Suisse has agreed also to pay a US$5.3bn fine for similar violations. The Swiss Bank will pay a civil penalty of $2.48bn and provide consumer relief of $2.8bn over five years.

Credit Suisse's 5.75% 1.25bn AT1 bonds callable in 2020 were trading flat on Friday at 109.30, according to Tradeweb.

(Reporting by Tom Porter; editing by Sudip Roy)
Jolin Tsai

Mandopop superstar Jolin Tsai and her long-time boyfriend, Vivian Dawson, have split up after six years, leading to speculation on the internet that the pair split because of Dawsons recent comments.

In a previous interview, the 32-year-old model-actor was quoted saying that he hopes his future wife would adopt his surname, always wear her wedding ring and share their marital assets.

However, such traditional views about marriage would probably have clashed with the career-minded Tsai.

With a successful music career spanning about two decades, the 36-year-old is one of Mandopops top-selling artistes and had an estimated net worth of NT$2 billion in 2014.

Collectively known as VJ to fans and the media, the couple shared on several occasions that they would like to get married by 35.

Vivian Dawson

However, friends who were close to the couple revealed to Taiwanese media that the issue about sharing marital assets was not the dealbreaker for the relationship as they had already discussed it before.

Instead, the main reason was that they separated due to their busy schedules. While Dawson was mainly working in China, Tsai was busy flying to different countries all the time, making it difficult for them to meet for dates.

They also shared, Jolin has a wide range of interests and never stops reinventing herself. Unless her partner is of equal status and shares her views, he wont be able to keep up with her.

Over the years, the couple has been spotted out on dates in Taiwan, Japan, London and Singapore. The model-actor also brought Tsai to visit his parents in his home country of New Zealand, where his Singaporean mother said she was extremely pleased with her.

Throughout their relationship, Dawson was mostly known to the Taiwanese media as Jolins boyfriend, and his success in the industry was largely credited to her as well.

Tsai was previously romantically linked to fellow Mandopop royalty Jay Chou and actor Eddie Peng.
By PTI: Tokyo, Dec 23 (PTI) Moms-to-be, take note! Smoking during pregnancy may cause damage to your childs kidneys, a new study has warned.

Researchers from Kyoto University in Japan found that young children whose mothers smoked while pregnant were more likely to show signs of kidney damage compared to those born from nonsmoking mothers.

They conducted a population-based retrospective study using a database of health check-ups from pregnancy to three years of age in Japan.

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The investigators looked for the presence of proteinuria - or elevated protein in the urine, which is a sign of reduced kidney function - in urinary tests from 44,595 children.

In the population examined, 4.4 per cent of women smoked only before pregnancy and 16.7 per cent continued smoking while pregnant.

The frequencies of proteinuria in the child at age three were 1.7 per cent when mothers continued to smoke during pregnancy, 1.6 per cent when moms stopped smoking during pregnancy and 1.3 per cent when mothers were nonsmokers, respectively.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a 1.24-times increased risk of child proteinuria compared with no exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy.

"Maternal smoking during pregnancy is known to be associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal asphyxia. The findings from this study suggest an additional adverse effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy," said Koji Kawakami from Kyoto University.

"Prevention of child proteinuria is important since child proteinuria can lead to development of chronic kidney disease in adulthood and ultimately end stage renal disease," said Kawakami.

The study appears in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). PTI NKS SAR SAR

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SEATTLE (AP)  A Washington state police officer who was shot in the head while responding to a call last week is making incremental improvements, but it's too soon to say what his prognosis might be, a doctor said Friday.

City of Mount Vernon Officer Mike McClaughry, 60, has been in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle since the Dec. 15 shooting.

Dr. Louis Kim, chief of neurological surgery, told reporters that McClaughry has displayed some reaction to localized stimulation, a sign of upper brain function, but he is not responding to instructions by squeezing or moving his fingers, for example.

On a "coma scale" that runs from 3, or nearly brain-dead, to 15, or fully functioning, McClaughry is somewhere in the middle, Kim said.

Daughter April McClaughry thanked the community for its support, saying at the news conference that the family might dedicate an entire room to the cards and letters received from well-wishers. She smiled as she read a letter from a child suggesting her father should get a Purple Heart.

"You sacrificed your head for others' safety," it said.

Mike McClaughry was responding to a shooting in Mount Vernon, 60 miles north of Seattle, when he was shot. After a lengthy standoff at a home, officers arrested Ernesto Lee Rivas, a 44-year-old repeat felon who has been charged with attempted first-degree murder.

Two teenagers in the home also have been charged. Authorities said police faced repeated gunfire during the standoff.

Charging documents say Rivas is a gang member with an extensive criminal record that includes eight felony convictions.

His cousin, Selena Evans, told the Skagit Valley Herald this week that her family opposes Rivas' actions but would support him through his criminal charges. She said her family sends condolences to McClaughry's family.

April McClaughry described her father, a 31-year police veteran, as strong and stubborn. She said she realizes he's not out of the woods.

"Nobody wants to receive this kind of call," she said. "After so many years on the force, you don't really think about your dad being in danger."
Adding Edwin Encarnacion might make the Cleveland Indians the team to beat again in the American League. (Getty Images)

The Cleveland Indians got their man, reaching a three-year agreement with free agent Edwin Encarnacion. Yahoo Sports Jeff Passan reports the deal will be worth $65 million guaranteed. Its not believed to include an opt-out, which Encarnacions representatives seemed keen on landing, but does include a $5 million buyout.

Source: Edwin Encarnacion's deal is actually $65M guaranteed. The $5M option buyout is on top of $20M a year he's getting for three years.  Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 23, 2016

The Encarnacion sweepstakes heated up quickly this week, with as many as six teams reportedly making strong multi-year offers. Opposing executives were viewing the Indians as the team to beat entering the final stages of negotiations on Thursday, and that proved to be true.

In a sense, the rich just got richer. The Indians steamrolled through the American League playoffs last season and nearly did the same in the World Series before blowing a three games to one lead against the Chicago Cubs. It was a team set up to contend again in 2017, even before landing Encarnacion. That they aggressively pursued and ultimately landed a free agent of his caliber should solidify them as AL favorites again, and if nothing else certainly cements their desire to cross the finish line next fall.

Encarnacion, who turns 34 in January, will more than fill the void left by the popular and productive Mike Napoli. The now former Blue Jays slugger was the anchor of Torontos offense last season, hitting .263/.357/.529 with 42 home runs and a league-leading 127 runs batted in. He brings that presence and production to Clevelands lineup, which makes him an upgrade over the outgoing Napoli.

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Hes essentially the perfect fit for Clevelands lineup. They may not be loaded with the same power as Toronto, but they possess so many dynamic talents, including the still developing Francisco Lindor and the hopefully healthy Michael Brantley. With Encarnacion serving as the main power source, they can beat opponents in a variety of ways, including one big swing from the assumed new clean up man.

Thats a critical asset for a team thats also loaded in the starting rotation and the bullpen. Remember, the Indians only healthy starter among its big four in the postseason was Corey Kluber. Theyll have Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer back next season, which good health permitting is as good a rotation as youll find. Theyll also still have both Andrew Miller and Cody Allen locking things down in the bullpen.

Its a strong roster from top to bottom that will undoubtedly be hungry. Perhaps most important, it has Terry Francona putting the puzzle pieces together.

The Boston Red Sox will be dangerous too with Chris Sale in the mix. The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are both poised to take another step forward. The American League is very, very strong at the top, but the Indians are still the team to beat.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

      

Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
In just 140 characters, Donald Trump could have reignited an international nuclear arms race on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. The move could cost the U.S. billions and have implications for decades to come.

On Friday, the president-elects call for the United States to "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability" was met with an apathetic response from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who noted Trump had already previously stated his desire to bolster Americas nuclear defense system along the presidential campaign trail. Putin acknowledged the U.S. has more nuclear missiles than his nation, "but what we say is that we are stronger than any aggressor, and this is the case," he said while speaking at his annual press conference in Moscow.

"As for Donald Trump, there is nothing new about it, during his election campaign he said the U.S. needs to bolster its nuclear capabilities and its armed forces in general," Putin said Friday. The president noted his nation would reduce its defense spending to 2.8 percent of its gross domestic product by 2019, down from 4.7 percent in 2016, though he added, "this will not have an impact on our plan to increase our defense capabilities."

Putin detailed the Russians defense programs current mission to modernize its existing nuclear warheads and missiles in order to pierce missile defense systems the United Nations has established in neighboring regions.

Meanwhile, Trumps tweet leaves a bevy of questions about the next White House administration's intentions on nuclear defense expansion unanswered. The New York Times detailed a number of theoretical explanations for Trumps tweet in a dissection published Thursday afternoon. The publication suggested Trump could be planning to modernize the U.S. existing nuclear forces, as President Barack Obama announced in a 64-page report on his nuclear policy proposals in 2010. In this case, Trump would only slightly upgrade Obamas existing plans. Obamas plans were expected to cost nearly $1 trillion.

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Trump shrugged off suggestions of a reignited arms race on Friday, telling MSNCs Mika Brzenzinski: "Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."

However, Trump could also wish to invest billions of more dollars into the nuclear defense system in an effort to make nuclear capabilities faster and more powerful. The move would further strengthen ties with nuclear-protected nations like South Korea but potentially cause riffs between nuclear-strongholds China and Russia.

Trumps tweet could also signal the next administration intends on expanding its total sum of nuclear warheads around the world. However, it was unclear whether the White House would immediately stockpile those new missiles or move them into active deployment.

Until the president-elect holds a press conference  its been 148 days since his last  or releases a detailed report of his goals in regards to the nation's nuclear defense system, Trumps tweets about nuclear warheads will likely continue to make waves online, with many users immediately fearing a potential new nuclear arms race.

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President-elect Donald Trump on Friday released a letter he received from Vladimir Putin and praised the Russian president by saying his thoughts are so correct.

A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct, Trump said in a statement, along with the letter, which is dated Dec. 15. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path.

In the attached letterwhich is marked as an unofficial translationPutin wished Trump well and said he hoped to bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.

At his annual news conference Friday, Putin dismissed accusations from U.S. intelligence officials that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election. Putin also said Russia was not seeking a new nuclear arms race, the New York Times reported, after Trump said Thursday that the U.S. should greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.

Serious global and regional challenges, which our countries have to face in recent years, show that the relations between Russia and the U.S. remain an important factor in ensuring stability and security of the modern world, Putin wrote in the letter as released by Trump.

I hope that after you assume the position of the President of the United States of America we will be ableby acting in a constructive and pragmatic mannerto take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.
(Adds further details, management comments)

By Toby Sterling

AMSTERDAM, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd has reached agreement to be taken over by bigger rival NN Group, the two companies announced on Friday, after NN nudged up its earlier unsolicited offer by 0.9 percent to 2.5 billion euros ($2.61 billion).

NN Group said the deal would cement its leading position in life insurance in the Netherlands, increase assets under management by 60 billion euros, and lead to "double-digit" dividend increases starting in 2018.

For Delta Lloyd the agreement caps a turbulent two-year period which included the departure of top executives after clashing with the Dutch Central Bank, and two new share issues to strengthen its capital base. Delta Lloyd shares are down more than 50 percent since July 2015.

"Today the uncertainty around our company has come to an end," Delta Lloyd Chief Executive Hans van der Noordaa told investors on a conference call.

Delta Lloyd, which had rejected an initial unsolicited 5.30 euros per share offer as insufficient, accepted the current offer of 5.40 per share in cash.

In a statement, Delta Lloyd acknowledged that continuing capital concerns influenced its decision to accept NN Group's offer.

NN Group's offer equates to a 55 percent premium to Delta Lloyd's average share price in the three months prior to NN's initial bid on Oct. 5. Delta Lloyd shares closed on Thursday at 5.33 euros and were trading at 5.297 euros at 0922 GMT on Friday.

The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, pending regulatory approval.

NN Group said it expects a 10 percent return on investment on the deal, which would reduce its solvency ratio to 185 percent of the minumum requirement on a pro-forma basis in the third quarter. As of the second quarter, NN Group's solvency ratio was 252 percent.

"Our balance sheet will remain strong," NN Group's chief execuive Lard Friese told reporters on a conference call. He said the combination would generate 150 million euros in synergies by 2020.

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In rejecting NN's earlier offer, Van der Noordaa had estimated synergies at 200 million euros.

Asked whether Delta Lloyd shareholders would support the deal at 5.40 euros per share after Van der Noordaa had said the 5.30 offer "significantly" undervalued Delta Lloyd, he said he was confident they would.

"It's not only about price," Van der Noordaa said, but the need for Delta Lloyd to retain a competitive position on the Dutch market, which regulators have said is in need of consolidation.

Van der Noordaa said he would step down as CEO of Delta Lloyd after completion of the deal.

In a note, analysts from Bernstein said they thought the deal is likely to succeed on current terms.

"We think it's possible that another bidder come in, but unlikely as NN represents the best strategic fit for Delta Lloyd," they said in a note.

A source close to the deal told Reuters that Dutch insurer ASR had considered a bid for Delta Lloyd but quickly decided it was too risky. Chinese insurer Anbang, which owns Dutch insurance company Vivat, considered a bid but dropped the idea after facing opposition from regulators.

Delta Lloyd was advised by Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Merril Lynch, while NN was advised by Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan.

($1 = 0.9571 euros) (Editing by Adrian Croft, Greg Mahlich)
Rodrigo Duterte offered his latest controversial remarks on Thursday. This time they were aimed at the United Nations human rights chief. The Philippines president attacked the U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights for suggesting the organization should open a murder investigation against Duterte, describing Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein as an "idiot" and claiming he'd "burn down the United Nations."

Duterte, who became president of the Philippines in June 2016, has repeatedly shared detailed accounts of killings against suspected drug dealers and criminals he committed on the streets of Davao, when he was mayor of the city. "In Davao, I used to do it personally, just to show the guys that if I can do it, why cant you?" Duterte said earlier in December. His recent comments followed a statement from the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, who condemned the Duterte's remarks, which appeared to openly boast about killing civilians of the Philippines in the street.

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Photo: Reuters

"It is unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer," al-Hussein said in his statement.

"You do not talk to me like that, you son of a bitch," the president responded, speaking at an army base in the southern city of Zamboanga Sunday. "I will burn down the United Nations if you want. I will burn it down if I go to America." The president has also encouraged vigilante-styled killings of anyone openly breaking the law in the Philippines as part of his crackdown on drugs and crime throughout the country.

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"Your understanding of international law is lacking," Duterte continued. "We are the ones contributing to the United Nations. You morons! You sons of whores! And I pay your salaries. Do not open your mouth there. I employ you."

The Philippines' "war on drugs" has been linked to more than 5,900 deaths since Duterte took office in June. Of those killings, 2,086 were part of police operations, while 3,841 were extrajudicial or vigilante-style killings, CNN reported. The killings, as well as Dutertes controversial remarks, have sparked international outcry since he became president in June.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently called Dutertes "war on drugs" into question in a letter sent to the department on Thursday, describing the presidents efforts "a campaign of mass atrocities thinly disguised as a response to a public health emergency."

"Rather than address the systemic problems related to the countrys drug crisis, invest in treatment programs, or approach the epidemic with a focus on the health and well-being of the Philippine people," the letter, signed by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, and two Democratic senators, Sen. Markey and Sen. Coons, said. "President Duterte has instead pledged to kill another 20,000 to 30,000 people, many simply because they suffer from a drug use disorder."

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A&E is making a change.

The cabler on Friday unveiled a new title for its upcoming docuseries centered on the KKK, switching from Generation KKK to Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America.

Along with the title adjustment, A&E also announced a new partnership with Color of Change, the next-generation African-American civil-rights organization that counts over 1 million members. This marks the second such partnership tied to the upcoming unscripted series. When A&E first announced the project earlier this month, it also announced a similar partnership with the Anti-Defamation League.

Read more: A&E Embeds With KKK for New Documentary Series

"We are glad to have some of the country's leading civil-rights organizations, including the ADL, Color of Change and others, as partners in this effort and look forward to working together to impact hate in America," said A&E and Lifetime executive vp and general manager Rob Sharenow. "We feel that this new title and enhanced partnerships, the in-show and after-show components and our outreach plan more broadly reflect the existing anti-hate content of the series and our longstanding intention. That goal is to expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms, and we appreciate the valuable feedback we have received."

Added Color of Change executive director Rashad Robinson: "After reviewing the promotions and episodes and participating in substantive conversations with A&E executives, we are pleased to see that the network is taking seriously concerns that the show - newly titled Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America - required important additional components, such as specific in-show educational context and content and a post-show town hall, as we both want to work together to ensure that it did not normalize and humanize racism and white supremacy. Black communities know all too well how perpetuating stereotypes and hateful rhetoric can empower a racist and violent agenda. At Color of Change, we recognize the power of TV and media images, and our work is rooted in creating a less harmful and hostile world for black people and all people. We look forward to seeing updated content that adds further context to the episodes and working closely with A&E on programming that articulates the network's intention of reversing racial hatred and violence, as well as finding ways to work with A&E and anyone else to end the rise of white supremacy and the hateful and violent tactics of the organizations that advance this ideology."

Story continues

Read more: A&E Boss Discusses "Ugly," Unrehearsed Look at the KKK in New Series

The announcements come after public outcry against the project. Earlier this week, Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo called for a boycott of A&E because of the docuseries in a series of tweets in which she called executives at the network "pathetic" and "desperate." She later pulled back, once A&E reached out to her, also on social media, to emphasize that the show was about exposing hate and extracting families from the Ku Klux Klan organization. Pompeo also tweeted Friday after the title change was announced to thank A&E for "for caring enough to make changes."

Premiering Jan. 10, the eight-episode series follows several family members who work with anti-hate "extractors" in order to help themselves or their family leave the Klan. The project hails from This Is Just a Test, the production company that went to A&E with the idea more than a year ago. Since then, cameras have been embedded with the KKK to facilitate dialogue between members of the Ku Klux Klan and and their family members hoping to leave the group.

The project has proven particularly timely because of the recent presidential election, as former Klan leader David Duke was an outspoken supporter of President-elect Donald Trump.

Sharenow spoke with THR about the project shortly after it was announced to defend the series order. "It's quite shocking, but I think that's important," he said. "As a broadcaster, I really think the message of anti-hate is important, timeless and moral. I fear that people will in some way think that it's a political statement - though [the election] is part of the backdrop of the show. We were filming during the campaign, but that's not what drove our interest. I have concerns that people will put a wall up, thinking it's a political statement - which it isn't."

Escaping the KKK is one of several newer serious, hard-hitting docuseries at the network, joining Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the cop-centered Live PD and the Emmy-winning Born This Way, which follows adults with Down syndrome.

Dec. 23, 5 p.m. Updated with Pompeo's reaction tweet.

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A&Es has changed the title of its controversial documentary series Generation KKK after receiving accusations that it was normalizing white supremacy.

The series, which premieres on Jan. 10, is now titled Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America. The network says the new title better reflects our longstanding intention and the content itself.

In consultation with our partners at the ADL and Color Of Change, the network is changing the name of the show to ensure that no one can mistake its intent and that the title alone does not serve to normalize the Klan, the network said.

Also Read: A&E's 'Generation KKK' Docuseries Ignites Backlash Before It Even Airs (Video)

Additionally, A&E has teamed with the African-American civil rights organization Color of Change to produce in-show content between segments to contextual what is being shown on air. The new partnership comes in addition to a previous partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, who called the show a laudable effort to understand and expose the Ku Klux Klan from the inside out.

The docuseries came under fire last week, when The Wire actor Wendell Pierce and other Twitter users asked for a boycott of the network and all of its sponsors, calling the show abhorrent before it even aired.

However, others who had seen the series came to its defense, including civil rights activist Shaun King. It was clear that it was NOT them normalizing racism & bigotry, but exposing it, King wrote about the premiere episode he was given to screen by the network.

Also Read: What the Anti-Defamation League Says About 'Generation KKK' May Surprise You

Read the full statements from Rob Sharenow, EVP and General Manager of A&E and Lifetime and Rashad Robinson, the executive director of Color of Change:

Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President & General Manager of A&E and Lifetime: We are glad to have some of the countrys leading civil rights organizations, including the ADL, Color of Change and others as partners in this effort, and look forward to working together to impact hate in America. We feel that this new title and enhanced partnerships, the in-show and after-show components and our outreach plan more broadly reflect the existing anti-hate content of the series and our longstanding intention. That goal is to expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms and we appreciate the valuable feedback we have received. Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color of Change: After reviewing the promotions and episodes and participating in substantive conversations with A&E executives, we are pleased to see that the network is taking seriously concerns that the show  newly titled Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America  required important additional components  such as specific in-show educational context and content and a post-show town hall as we both want to work together to ensure that it did not normalize and humanize racism and white supremacy. Black communities know all too well how perpetuating stereotypes and hateful rhetoric can empower a racist and violent agenda. At Color Of Change we recognize the power of TV and media images and our work is rooted in creating a less harmful and hostile world for Black people and all people. We look forward to seeing updated content that adds further context to the episodes, and working closely with A&E on programming that articulates the networks intention of reversing racial hatred and violence, as well as finding ways to work with A&E and anyone else to end the rise of white supremacy and the hateful and violent tactics of the organizations that advance this ideology.

Story continues

Related stories from TheWrap:

A&E's 'Generation KKK' Docuseries Ignites Backlash Before It Even Airs (Video)

'Generation KKK': New A&E Series to Explore Racial Hatred in America

Leah Remini Scientology Series Draws Top A&E Premiere Ratings in Two Years
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Sometimes, you just wanna snuggle with your significant other in Santa hats and feed each other from a bucket of KFC.

In times of hate, love is a revolution. Happy Holidays, internet. pic.twitter.com/7hVAATLQUV  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 22, 2016

But when Edward Snowden posted a photo of himself doing just that on Thursday, the internet suspected him of selling out.

SEE ALSO: KFC's candle might tempt you to eat the chicken-scented wax

I can't believe Edward Snowden is sponsored by KFC #favs https://t.co/kttAzu5OtC  Phil ass nappy dad (@adryfreccy) December 23, 2016

Edward Snowden was just a KFC corporate shill the whole time. https://t.co/1ioQ2tX7JO  G. Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris) December 22, 2016

...is edward snowden doing sponsored content for KFC? https://t.co/iYAri0sXLe  Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) December 22, 2016

Did Edward Snowden just hit us with a KFC plug? https://t.co/bL0n009rWw  Trent (@BarstoolTrent) December 22, 2016

Was it true? Was Snowden, now living in Russian exile after disclosing thousands of classified NSA documents in 2013, making some cash on the side from the Colonel?

Nah, turns out it's just a thing he and his girlfriend like to do sometimes.

@rklein90 @kfc Hahaha, no. I've never been paid for any posts. It's just something we do.  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 22, 2016

There are still plenty of people who are mad at Snowden, namely Popeye's fans and the House Intelligence Committee, who claimed in a report released Thursday that since his "arrival in Moscow, he has had, and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services."

The details supporting that claim were blacked out, according to the New York Times, and Snowden later said on Twitter the report was riddled with "obvious falsehoods."

One thing we know for sure, though, is that his love of greasy fried chicken is pure.
Tipped to be a spy thriller, the film will see Ajith Kumar as an Interpol officer, who investigates a crime that happens in Chennai.

By India Today Web Desk: Actor Ajith Kumar has wrapped up a major schedule for his upcoming Tamil actioner in Bulgaria. He's en route to India to celebrate Christmas with wife and family.

ALSO READ: Dulquer Salmaan posts sweet message for wife Amal Sufiya

SEE PIC: Kamal Haasan returns to India, snapped at the airport

Confirmed: Suriya's Singam 3 to hit the screens on January 26

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"The team has successfully completed a month-long schedule in Bulgaria and is on their way back home. Ajith sir ensures he spends every Christmas with his wife and family," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

Ajith Kumar is teaming up with director Siruthai Siva for the third time after the success of Veeram and Vedalam.

The film also stars Kajal Aggarwal and Akshara Haasan in pivotal roles. Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has been roped in to play the antagonist.

"Having completed nearly 80 percent of the film, the next schedule will take place in India post Sankranti festival next year. The film is slated to release on April 14 next year," the source said.

The film is touted to be a spy thriller, which has music by Anirudh Ravichander. Thala 57 is expected to release next year.

Meanwhile, rumours are rife that Ajith Kumar might team up either with director AR Murugadoss or Vishnuvardhan for Thala 58. However, we await an official confirmation.

--- ENDS ---
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian police arrested an Al Jazeera news producer on Friday over accusations of attempting to overthrow the country's government and being a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, three security sources said. The Qatar-based broadcaster, which Egypt accuses of being a mouthpiece of the Brotherhood, said it did not know where Mahmoud Hussain was being held. Hussain was questioned for more than 15 hours at Cairo airport on Tuesday after arriving for his annual vacation, the broadcaster said on its website. He is currently based in Doha but worked in Egypt before Al Jazeera closed its office there in 2013. He was arrested at his Cairo home on Friday, Al Jazeera and the sources said. Officials from the Interior Ministry were not immediately available for comment. Egyptian authorities have over the past two years arrested several Al Jazeera reporters, raising concerns over media freedoms in the country. In May, a Cairo court recommended the death penalty against two of them, charged in absentia with endangering national security by leaking state secrets to Qatar. The Brotherhood is a Qatar-backed movement that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has cracked down on since an army takeover in 2013 stripped former president Mohammed Mursi - a prominent member of the group - of power following mass protests against his rule. Thousands of Brotherhood supporters including Mursi are in jail and Egypt has designated the group, which says it is non-violent, a terrorist organization. (Reporting by Amina Ismail; Writing by Asma Alsharif; editing by John Stonestreet)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke with U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump on Thursday about Egypt's draft resolution on Israeli settlements at the U.N. Security Council, Sisi's office said on Thursday. "During the call they discussed regional affairs and developments in the Middle East and in that context the draft resolution in front of the Security Council on Israeli settlement," said presidency spokesman Alaa Yousef. "The presidents agreed on the importance of affording the new U.S. administration the full chance to deal with all dimensions of the Palestinian case with a view of achieving a full and final settlement." (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Washington (AFP) - It was only an abstention, but it was a long time coming. With just weeks left in office, Barack Obama finally gave vent to his frustration with Israel.

The White House said Obama had decided to allow the UN Security Council to pass a motion condemning Israeli settlement building just hours before the vote.

But officials confirmed they had been watching draft resolutions in circulation for a least a year and were ready to take a stand when one made it to the table.

Critics of Obama's Middle East policy allege that he has long been maneuvering to engineer an opportunity to isolate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

White House aides, however, insist they had simply run out of ways to convince Israel that its building on Palestinian land is sabotaging hopes for peace.

Either way, Friday's UN vote ordering a halt to Israel's settlement building will stand as the final word from Obama before Donald Trump takes power.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu had the opportunity to pursue policies that would have led to a different outcome today," Obama adviser Ben Rhodes said.

"The fact that this is happening towards the end of our eighth year indicates that it is not our preferred course of action.

"If it was an outcome that we sought, then we would have done it long ago."

For months, Washington has been warning in increasingly strident tones that Israel's accelerating settlement program is destroying hopes for a two-state peace deal.

This month, Secretary of State John Kerry told a US-Israeli forum in Washington that right-wing members of Netanyahu's government are deliberately working to that end.

After Friday's UN vote, the US special envoy to the peace process, Frank Lowenstein, said Kerry would in the coming days make a speech laying out ideas to revive it.

- 'Grudge match' -

The White House insists the UN resolution, which Israel wasted no time in rejecting, simply reflects the consensus view of the international community on Israeli settlements.

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But Obama's abstention came under withering criticism from across Washington -- with both Democrats and Republicans accusing the outgoing president of colluding with a biased world body to betray an ally.

President-elect Trump, who had earlier convinced Egypt to postpone the vote from Thursday, implied in a Tweet that he would punish the United Nations.

Democratic senator Chuck Schumer, who had lobbied the administration until the last minute, called the decision to let the vote pass "extremely frustrating, disappointing and confounding."

And AIPAC, the largest pro-Israel lobby group in Washington, said: "By adopting this resolution, the United Nations has once again served as an open forum to isolate and delegitimize Israel."

And many suggested Obama's decision, made while the president was on a Christmas break in Hawaii, had as much to do with his bad blood with Netanyahu as with diplomacy.

Jonathan Schanzer, vice president of Washington think tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, dubbed the relationship a "grudge match."

Netanyahu made no secret of his friendship with Obama's 2012 election opponent Mitt Romney, and last year broke protocol to go behind the US president's back and address Congress to oppose the Iran nuclear deal.

The two men have never hit it off, and the White House has never hidden its frustration with the bellicose rhetoric of Israel's right-wing coalition.

Schanzer suggested that if Hillary Clinton had won last month's presidential election, Obama would have deferred to her desire to rebuild warmer ties with Israel and held off on UN action.

But, faced with an incoming Trump presidency that may support settlement building, he opted for a binding Security Council vote that will weaken Israel's position in any future peace talks.

"You can't unring this bell," Schanzer said.
SAO PAULO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Latin American stocks and currencies seesawed on Friday in muted trading ahead of the Christmas weekend.

Mexico's peso rebounded after hitting a three-week low in the previous day, while the Brazilian real strengthened for a fifth straight day.

Traders have cited persistent capital inflows into Brazil over the past week that have helped bring the real to its strongest since early November.

The country's benchmark Bovespa stock index rose 1 percent in thin trading volumes, supported by financial shares.

Stocks in Hypermarcas SA, Brazil's largest maker of generic drugs, led the gains in the index after it agreed to sell its diaper unit for 1 billion reais ($305.5 million) to Belgium's Ontex Group NV.

Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1500 GMT: Stock indexes daily % YTD % change change Latest MSCI Emerging Markets 842.11 -0.05 6.09 MSCI LatAm 2268.00 1.68 21.9 Brazil Bovespa 58056.88 1.4 33.93 Mexico IPC 45065.56 0.13 4.86 Chile IPSA 4044.50 -1.78 9.90 Chile IGPA 20319.44 -1.52 11.94 Argentina MerVal 16400.71 0.13 40.47 Colombia IGBC 9985.87 -0.36 16.83 Venezuela IBC 28100.29 -0.51 92.62 Currencies daily % YTD % change change Latest Brazil real 3.2667 0.95 20.83 Mexico peso 20.6235 0.71 -16.45 Chile peso 673.3 0.26 5.41 Colombia peso 2982.83 0.44 6.25 Peru sol 3.382 0.33 0.95 Argentina peso (interbank) 15.5900 0.90 -16.73 Argentina peso (parallel) 16.63 0.06 -14.19 (Reporting by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
By Julia Fioretti and Barbara Lewis BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union is set to extend the exclusion of foreign airlines from its emissions trading system to give a United Nations-brokered global deal time to come into effect, two EU sources said. The move would be welcomed by the airline industry which wants a single, global emissions trading system (ETS) for aviation as opposed to a patchwork of national and regional schemes. The European Union had ordered foreign carriers to buy credits under its ETS in 2012 but backtracked when countries said it violated their sovereignty and China threatened to cancel plane orders to Airbus Group SE. It granted airlines operating flights into and out of the EU an exemption until 2016 to give the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) time to craft a global system. The United Nations body clinched a deal in October, raising hopes that the EU executive would prolong the extension beyond the end of this year when it automatically expires unless the law is changed. "Expectation is it will be extended," one of the sources said. The proposal by the EU executive, the European Commission, will be adopted at the end of January, two sources said. Another EU source said the proposal was very sensible and would create predictability for operators. The ICAO deal will be voluntary from 2021 to 2026 and mandatory from 2027 for states with larger aviation industries, prompting criticism from the European Parliament who had called for something more ambitious. The exemption for foreign carriers could be extended until it is clear the ICAO system is working, one of the sources said. Another said extending it to 2020-2021 would be a "good start". EU lawmakers have said they would push for foreign carriers to be included in the ETS once again if the ICAO deal does not go far enough to curb pollution from airlines. The EU ETS is a "cap and trade" system in which emissions are capped at certain levels. The deal reached by ICAO in Montreal allows carriers to increase emissions without limit as long as they offset them by purchasing carbon credits from designated environmental projects. Aviation was excluded from the Paris accord to fight climate change, though the industry produces about 2 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, an amount larger than generated by some industrialized nations. (Editing by Keith Weir)
By Steve Stecklow and Alexandra Harney LONDON/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - When the new SAT was given for the first time in March, the owner of the test took unprecedented steps to stop bad actors from collecting and circulating material from the all-important college entrance exam. But in the months since, Chinas largest private education company has been subverting efforts to prevent cheating, Reuters found. The company, New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc, has regularly provided items from the tests to clients shortly after the exams are administered. Because material from past SATs is typically reused on later exams, the items New Oriental is distributing could provide test-takers with an unfair advantage. New Oriental has put some of the exam items on its Chinese website. On Dec. 6, for instance, the Beijing-based company posted a reading passage that had been used on a version of the SAT administered in the United States three days earlier. New Oriental also has been posting information about recent questions on the TOEFL, the English-language exam widely used by colleges to assess foreign applicants. TOEFL questions are also sometimes recycled. New Oriental also gave students access to a March version of the SAT that was administered in the United States, two students from Beijing told Reuters. One of the students showed Reuters 36 pages from that test. In addition, the news agency viewed a copy of a full version of the SAT given in Asia last month. Most pages of the document were emblazoned with the words Beijing New Oriental School, a major tutoring operation run by New Oriental. A person who identified himself as a test-prep teacher at the school posted 15 pages of that exam on Chinese social media. In response to the Reuters findings, New Oriental issued a statement condemning illegal and illegitimate business practices, whether committed by competitors or by any of our current or past employees ... We are reviewing what has been raised and will take disciplinary actions against anyone who violated our policies and procedures. The Reuters findings cast new doubt on the ability of Americas standardized testing giants to contain cheating in Asia, where security breaches pose an increasing threat to the integrity of U.S. college admissions. Hundreds of thousands of students from China and other Asian nations are now enrolled at American campuses. The SATs owner, the New York-based College Board, has blamed the cheating epidemic on an industry of nameless bad actors operating beyond the arm of the law. New Oriental, however, is one of the best-known companies in China. A CHINESE CELEBRITY Hundreds of thousands of students enroll in New Oriental's test-prep classes. It has a stock market capitalization of $6.6 billion and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. New Orientals founder and executive chairman, Michael Minhong Yu, is a business celebrity in China. Yus company is also a business partner of Educational Testing Service, or ETS - the New Jersey non-profit that both owns the TOEFL and provides security for the SAT. A popular 2013 feature film, American Dreams in China, tells the story of how a businessman, loosely modeled on Yu, launches a test-prep company after failing to obtain a visa to study in the United States. It includes a dramatic scene in which the hero confronts attorneys for Educational Exam Services, an American company that had sued the Chinese firm New Dream for copyright infringement. Although the companies in the film are fictional, that scene is based on fact: New Oriental was caught misusing TOEFL materials more than a decade ago. In 2004, the Beijing Higher Peoples Court found that New Oriental had violated the copyright of ETS, the tests owner, by distributing content from the TOEFL without permission. The court ordered the Chinese company to pay damages. The fresh signs that New Oriental is misusing SAT and TOEFL material are a blow to ETS. After the copyright case, ETS and New Oriental formed a partnership that made the Beijing company the official provider of TOEFL online practice tests in China. ETS touted the deal at the time as a way to expand access to the practice material in China. ETS is also a key partner of the College Board. It earns about $300 million in revenue a year from the College Board to provide security for the SAT and administer the test. ETS thus finds itself in an awkward position: It failed to stop its Chinese partner from compromising both ETSs own test and the signature exam of the College Board, ETSs biggest client. Zach Goldberg, a College Board spokesman, said his organization has begun investigating whether New Oriental is misusing SAT material. ETS spokesman Tom Ewing said his company has a process in place to identify and address copyright infringement worldwide. For confidentiality and proprietary reasons we do not discuss specific instances of alleged copyright infringement. He declined to discuss the ETS partnership with the Chinese company. The findings also spell further trouble for New Oriental. Its shares plunged 14 percent, erasing more than $1 billion of its market value, after Reuters reported Dec. 2 that former and current New Oriental employees said the company had helped write college application essays and teacher recommendations for clients. (http://reut.rs/2gHWbwZ) BIG TUTORING BUSINESS The accusations raised in that report are being investigated by the American International Recruitment Council, which certifies agencies that recruit foreign students on behalf of U.S. colleges. New Oriental has contracts with a number of American universities that pay the company when it refers Chinese students who enroll. In response to the Dec. 2 article, New Oriental said it did not condone application fraud. It also downplayed the importance of the business unit at the center of the story: It noted that the division that helps students apply to college accounted for only 8 percent of New Orientals total net revenue of $1.5 billion in the fiscal year ended May 31. In contrast, the New Oriental unit thats providing the SAT and TOEFL materials  the test-prep and English language business  represented 84 percent of the companys revenue, according to its most recent annual report. Joseph Simone, a China intellectual property rights specialist in Hong Kong, said if standardized test owners are able to generate clear evidence of willful infringement of copyright, they could file criminal complaints against New Oriental. ETS and the College Board would not comment on their plans. A Reuters analysis of a New Oriental website, toefl.xdf.cn, found that the company has posted detailed descriptions of TOEFL material, including four tests given this month. The day after the exam was given on Dec. 10, for example, New Oriental posted a question that the company said had appeared on the spoken-English section of the TOEFL: If you can have a part-time job at the university, what position would you choose? A lab assistant, a campus tour guide, or a library assistant? Please give specific reasons. Reuters interviewed a student who took the TOEFL on Dec. 10 in Xian, a city in northwest China, and confirmed a question like that was on the exam. I chose library assistant! she said, laughing. A second student who took the TOEFL elsewhere that day confirmed her test included a writing prompt posted by New Oriental about the best age to travel abroad. NEW ORIENTAL'S WEBSITE New Oriental has also been circulating SAT material for years, an analysis of its website, sat.xdf.cn, shows. Reuters found more than a dozen instances in which New Oriental posted SAT essay prompts or reading passages from exams that had been administered in the U.S. and Asia between 2012 and this month. Those exam materials were not released for practice by the College Board, which means some of the items potentially could be reused on tests. For instance, New Oriental posted a reading passage about the U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act. The passage came from a version of the SAT that was given on Dec. 3, Reuters determined. How New Oriental got the material is unclear, although the post says that it was reviewed and compiled by its educational research team. We require our teachers to take tests periodically to sharpen their test taking skills, keep their knowledge up to date and be adequately prepared to effectively teach students, the company said in its statement to Reuters. We believe this practice is fully consistent with industry practice elsewhere, including that of established private educational service providers in the U.S. When the College Board first offered a redesigned SAT in March, the organization banned tutors and other non-students from taking the exam that day. They were not supposed to take the SAT in December, either. Goldberg, the College Board spokesman, said those who take the exam agree not to share test content. While challenging to enforce, it is important that test takers abide by this policy for test security reasons and for the protection of our intellectual property. Goldberg said that when the organization learns that materials are being misused, it takes appropriate measures. Any pressure on New Oriental to change its business methods could put the company in a bind. It has become a powerhouse in China by promising an unrivaled ability to help students get into the college of their dreams. It's created a culture so that everybody thinks, if I want to apply for American schools, I have to take tests, said Perry Gao, a researcher at Harvard Graduate School of Education who was once a New Oriental client. And if I have to take tests, then I have to go to New Oriental. (Additional reporting by Himanshu Ojha in London and the Reuters Shanghai newsroom. Edited by Blake Morrison and Michael Williams)
By Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is seeking to win a contract to supply Thailand with an air defense radar system built by Mitsubishi Electric Corp, as it looks to counter growing Chinese influence in the Southeast Asian nation, according to four Japanese government officials and one industry source. The effort is part of a wider push by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration to bolster its position in the region along with its U.S. ally. The Chief of Staff of Japan's Air Self Defense Force, Yoshiyuki Sugiyama, traveled to Bangkok last month to discuss areas of possible cooperation. Japan expects the Thai military government to begin accepting competitive bids as early as next year as it upgrades and adds to its existing U.S. and European radar systems, the sources said. It is unclear who else may be bidding. The value of such a contract is unclear as the specifications for the system have not yet been released. Radar systems built by Mitsubishi and other companies for Japan can stretch to hundreds of millions of dollars depending on the complexity and coverage. The sources said Japan would look to offer a lower price system because of Thailand's limited defense budget. Japan's push for stronger ties with Thailand, will benefit the U.S. given the growing tensions over Chinas claims in the South China Sea, according to the sources. Japan, which until 2014 had a ban on arms exports, has not previously sold military equipment to Thailand. Since the 2014 coup brought the current Thai government to power, the U.S. has had strained relations with its old ally, which served as a staging ground for American forces during the Vietnam War, offering access to strategic airfields and ports. In July, Thailand agreed to buy three Chinese-built submarines worth around $1 billion in a deal that illustrated Beijing's willingness to fill the vacuum left by Washington. And last month, Thai and Chinese military planes performed acrobatic demonstrations together at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, around 260 km (161 miles) northeast of Bangkok, as a prelude to the first joint military drill between the nations' air forces. A company spokeswoman said Mitsubishi Electric does not discuss individual deals. "While we are aware that Thailand is moving ahead with the deployment of air defense radar, we can't comment on the activities of individual corporations," a spokesman for Japan's defense ministry said. A Thailand Defense Ministry spokesman, Kongcheep Tantravanich, said that "many countries want to sell it to us but we have to see if the system fits." Pongsak Semachai, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Air Force, said a Japanese company had approached the force about an air defense system. He declined to name the company. "The air force has not yet decided whether to buy the air defense system from a Japanese company but the company representatives presented the idea to us informally as they knew that our air defense radar system is about to expire," Pongsak told reporters, without giving further details. Washington has a statutory obligation to withhold aid to militaries involved in coups against democratically elected governments. That includes restricting its arms makers from selling military kit to the country. Japan does not face such restrictions in engaging with the Thai government. Tokyo is worried that China's wooing of Thailand could further split members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and blunt criticism of China's island building in the South China Sea. Beijing has claimed most of the resource-rich waterway as its own, sparking protests from other claimants, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. The radar Japan proposes for the deal is a variant on Mitsubishi Electric's fixed-position FSP-3 radar, an older generation system that has been used by Japan's Self Defense Forces to detect air threats, the sources said. (Reporting by Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo; additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK; Editing by Martin Howell in Singapore)
By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani CHIBOK, Nigeria (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A group of 21 Chibok schoolgirls freed by Boko Haram militants in October after two-and-a-half years in captivity in northeastern Nigeria were celebrating a "miracle" on Friday as the girls prepared to return to their families for Christmas. The girls were released after Switzerland and the International Red Cross brokered a deal with the Islamist fighters and have been held in a secret location in the capital Abuja for assessment and debriefing by the Nigerian government. But the freed girls are being taken back to Chibok in Borno state to spend Christmas and New Year with their families, going home for the first time since being seized from their school, several of their relatives told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014 sparked global outrage and prompted global figures, including U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and a list of celebrities, to support a campaign #BringBackOurGirls. One of the girls, Asabe Goni, described her release as a "miracle" and, in the first interview by one of the 21 girls to international media, said she was happy to be going home. "I had given up hope of ever going home," Goni, 22, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from the city of Yola where the 21 girls stayed overnight before setting off to Chibok with two other freed girls and state officials on Friday. Dancing and singing in her home in Chibok, Goni's grandmother Ngobiko Mutar could not contain her joy as the family prepared for her arrival. "I didn't think I would ever see her again," Mutar said, while Goni's young relatives baked a cake to welcome her home. The girls were expected to return to Abuja in the New Year to continue a "restoration process", according to government sources. They will be joined in Chibok by two other girls abducted from the school in April 2014 who were rescued earlier this year. This includes Amina Ali, the first of the missing girls to be found, who was located in a forest with a baby and a man claiming to be her husband in May. Her discovery put the disappearance of the girls back into world headlines and President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to ensure the release of the remaining girls in captivity. Nigerian authorities are involved in negotiations aimed at securing the release of more of the girls, the president's spokesman said on Thursday on comments posted on Twitter. Goni said the Chibok girls who were not released wept when the group of 21 was freed, but they were consoled by Boko Haram militants and told that they would go home one day. Boko Haram has killed more than 15,000 people, displaced over two million and kidnapped hundreds of men, women and children during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state. Nigeria's army has driven the militants back to their base in Sambisa forest, Boko Haram's vast northeastern woodland stronghold, in recent months but they still stage suicide bombings, often using young girls to carry out the attacks. (Reporting by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Writing by Kieran Guilbert, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
Superstar Rajinikanth's blockbuster film Kabali will have its release across Thailand in January 2017.

By India Today Web Desk: Earlier this year, the world witnessed the Kabali madness. Right from the early morning special shows to the surge ticket pricing, Rajinikanth proved that he's an invincible superstar.

ALSO READ: Kabali Review

ALSO READ: Soundarya Rajinikanth files for divorce

ALSO READ: Jayalalithaa to Na Muthukumar: Celebrities who passed away in 2016

According to The News Minute, the latest buzz is that the film will have its release in Thailand next month.

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Despite opening to mixed reviews from critics and fans, the Rajinikanth-starrer shattered the box-office records with its collection. Interestingly, Kabali is the second highest grossing film of 2016 after Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's Sultan.

Directed by Pa Ranjith, Kabali tells an emotional journey of a gangster Kabali, who attempts to redeem his past. The film also stars Radhika Apte, Kalaiarasan, Dinesh, Dhansika and Winston Chao.

Meanwhile, Thalaivar is currently wrapping up the remaining portions of the much-anticipated 2.0. Made on a lavish budget of Rs 400 crore, the film also stars Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey and Adil Hussain in pivotal roles.

The film has music by Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman. Directed by Shankar, the film will have a worldwide release on Diwali next year.

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-- Joseph Patel joins Vevo as the Vice President of Original Content (New York office). Patel recently served as Vice President of Content + Creative at The FADER.

-- We Transfer welcomes new CEO Gordon Willoughby. Willoughby is a long-time e-commerce veteran who most recently worked at Amazon for eight years. Co-founder Bas Beerens is stepping down as CEO and wil now be Executive Chairman. The change will be effective in January.

-- RIAA names George York Senior Vice President, International Policy. Before joining the RIAA, George York was Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative in USTR's Office of Intellectual Property and Innovation.

-- Marcus Spence has been named Executive Vice President, Head of A&R for TuneGO Music Group, Inc. Spence is currently the Senior Vice President of Mosley Music Group, Spence represents Timbaland, One Republic, Keri Hilson, Tink, Chris Cornell and Nelly Furtado. A press release announcement is below.

--Juliana Pache and Ali Suliman are The FADER's new social media Editors. Former social editor, Nazuk Kochhar has been promoted to Associate Editor. In her new role, Kochhar will develop newsletter and video products for The FADER.
Puerto Barra (Paraguay) (AFP) - Forced from their ancestral forests by the arrival of big agriculture in eastern Paraguay, the Ache people gave up the hunter-gatherer lifestyle that had sustained them for centuries.

Now they have taken up farming themselves -- and they want their old land back.

The Ache's homeland was remade in the 1970s by the mass arrival of industrial farmers from neighboring Brazil.

A territory of fertile land and abundant rivers, the tropical region provided the lush backdrop for the 1986 Academy Award-winning film "The Mission."

Drawn by these natural riches, the Brazilian settlers set up huge farms, clearing forests to make way for agriculture.

The changes were devastating for the Ache, who had managed to preserve their way of life despite centuries of clashes with white colonizers from Spain and Portugal.

The animals they once hunted for food became scarce as their habitat was destroyed. That ultimately forced the Ache, who risked dying out completely, to abandon the forest.

They were among the last indigenous people in Paraguay to give up hunting and gathering and adopt a sedentary lifestyle.

Now, what they lack is land -- once abundant and free, suddenly scarce and expensive.

Lorenzo Puapirangy, 38, chief of the Ache village of Puerto Barra, says its inhabitants between them have "just 270 hectares (670 acres) to grow soybeans, wheat, corn" -- an area smaller than New York's Central Park.

By contrast, a single family of "Braziguayans," as the Brazilian settlers' descendants are known, typically has around 5,000 hectares.

"Paraguay owes a debt to its indigenous peoples. We want our land back," said Marciano Chevogy, 37, another chief who is helping to organize a growing protest movement.

He plans to lead 1,500 Ache -- of the 2,500 that remain -- to the capital, Asuncion, to protest for more land.

- 'Survival at stake' -

In a country whose indigenous peoples often live in poverty, the Ache are admired for finding success as farmers -- a remarkable transition in a very short time.

Story continues

Some 50 Ache families live in Puerto Barra, a scattering of wooden houses set amid the rich ochre soil and lush green of their fields.

In addition to cash crops, they run small cattle ranches, fish farms and beekeeping yards.

The indigenous leaders say they are not asking much -- several thousand hectares to expand.

But the region's politics, economy and culture are dominated by the Braziguayans.

Local radio stations broadcast in Brazilian Portuguese. In Santa Rita, a town of 40,000 people founded by Brazilian immigrants, the main road is lined with farm equipment stores catering to Braziguayan clients.

The Ache complain their demands to the government have so far fallen on deaf ears.

"If the situation is not resolved, we will sue in international court," said Jose Anegy, another community leader in Puerto Barra.

"We demand our territory be respected. We are humble, peaceful workers."

In a rural region where the state has little presence, the Paraguayan government needs to finally intervene, said Bjarne Fostervold, an American missionary who is married to an Ache woman and has adopted their cause.

"The Ache only learned they were in Paraguay when they came out of the forest," he said.

"They lost their habitat, an impenetrable forest... What's at stake here is the survival of a people, with their dignity intact. Their ability to be the architects of their own destiny."

- Nostalgic for forests -

Perched between modernity and tradition, many Ache are nostalgic for the past.

"In the forest we were free. We lived well. Life was easier. We didn't have to buy anything," said Anegy.

The oldest resident of the village, Lorenzo Krachogy, who is about 90, reminisced about life before the forests began disappearing.

"There were lots of animals and fruits in the forest. We lived without clothes, with our bows, arrows and axes," he said in the Ache language.

Then, things started to change.

"When I was nine years old, my father was killed by white men. They had dogs and rifles. They captured me and sold me," he said.

Rescued by a missionary -- Fostervold's father, Rolf -- he set about finding other displaced Ache and gathering them together in the settlement that would become Puerto Barra.

But life has never been the same, said Victoria Pikigy, an 80-something Ache woman, sitting on a mat of woven palm fronds.

"Back then we were happy," she recalled.

"Sometimes when I go back to the forest I cry. Because those times are gone, and they'll never come back."
VIENNA (AP)  Austrian cellist Heinrich Schiff, who performed with some of the world's major orchestras before health problems led him to turn to conducting, has died. He was 65.

Ludwig Mueller of The Vienna Chamber Orchestra told the Austria Press Agency on Friday that Schiff died overnight in a Vienna hospital. He did not give a cause of death.

Most known for his mastery of the cello, Schiff turned increasingly to conducting after health problems ended his solo career. Playing famed instruments from Stradivarius and Monegnana, his recordings of works by Bach, Shostakovich and Brahms earned him several prestigious music prizes.

His repertoire ranged from Vivaldi to contemporary masters such as Witold Lutoslawski and Friedrich Cerha. He conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Orchestre de Paris and other leading ensembles.
By Tom Allard and Kanupriya Kapoor JAKARTA (Reuters) - As the world battles a spike in assaults and plots by Islamist militants, Indonesia's anti-terrorism unit is drawing praise for stemming a wave of bloody attacks in the sprawling Muslim-majority nation. Indonesia has foiled at least 14 attacks this year alone and made more than 150 arrests, disrupting plots ranging from suicide attacks in Jakarta to a rocket attack from Indonesia's Batam island targeting Singapore. Going back to 2010, a Reuters analysis of data shows the elite unit, Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88), has prevented at last 54 plots or attacks in the nation of 250 million people, the world's fourth largest. "Densus 88 has become better than pretty well any other counter-terrorism group in the world," said Greg Barton, a terrorism export and research professor in Global Islamic Politics at Alfred Deakin Institute in Melbourne. "They have had an incredible workload and they have become remarkably good at what they do." In the last six years, there has been only one major attack in Indonesia that caused civilian deaths, when assailants hit a Jakarta mall and police post with gunfire and bombs, resulting in the deaths of three Indonesians and a dual Algerian-Canadian national. All four attackers were also killed in the January 2016 attack. Between 2002 to 2009, there were nine major attacks by militants, leaving 295 dead and hundreds of others wounded. Since its formation in 2002, the unit has put a premium on clandestine intelligence gathering. Now much of that intelligence work is done online, by infiltrating and monitoring chat rooms, social media and messaging apps popular with militants. SELF-SUFFICIENT Few details about Densus 88 are publicly available. "We built our organization to learn from the enemy," said a senior counter-terrorism officer who provided some insight into the working of the unit but spoke on condition of anonymity. Created in the aftermath of the deadly 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people, Densus 88 has about 400 to 500 members, state-of-the-art weaponry and training, said another official. It has received more than $200 million of funding from Western allies such as Australia and the United States. The unit is headed by a task force, a core of 30 or so senior members, said the Indonesian law enforcement source. "Many of them possess doctorates and have specialties like psychology and social behavior," the source added. "They are not like regular police." The black clad, heavily armed members of Densus 88 sometimes seen during raids on suspected militant hideouts make up a small proportion of the unit, officials say. Far more personnel are dedicated to gathering intelligence in the field and monitoring communications and online activity. There is also a large team of investigators analyzing that intelligence and forensically examining explosives and other evidence. Sidney Jones, the director of Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), said the key to Densus 88's success lies in its intelligence gathering. "They know the radical networks and have a good set of informers," she said. "It is unparalleled in terms of its ability to understand the sources of possible threats." STRATEGIC INTERROGATION Densus 88 has long been accused by human rights groups of abuses, including beatings of alleged separatists and Islamist suspects. Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission has identified 121 terrorism suspects who have died in custody since 2007 but the police routinely deny using torture or inappropriate force in interrogation. Amnesty International said earlier this year there was an "endemic culture of impunity" in Indonesia's police service and a need for an investigation into the "torture" of suspects by Densus 88. However, Barton said the unit has adopted a unique, "strategic" approach to interrogations that aids intelligence gathering. Suspects were kept at police stations rather than in jails and allowed to meet their families. "They sit down and listen to their story," Barton said. "They get them talking and that's an effective way of getting intelligence." Despite Densus 88's recent successes, the worry is that the militant threat to Indonesia is mounting as Islamic State fighters return battle-hardened from Syria and Iraq. The ultra-radical group also commands support from some Indonesians who have stayed at home. About 800 Indonesians have traveled to Syria to join Islamic State and 169 have been stopped en route and deported, according to Indonesia's national counter-terrorism agency. In the past two months alone, there have been 38 arrests, and at least five attacks foiled, according to the Reuters study, which collated data with the assistance of IPAC staff. These plots have been linked to Islamic State, with police alleging they were inspired, if not directed, by Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian militant who fled to Syria about two years ago. "These new homegrown terrorists and the local jihadists have never gone abroad. But with the advent of the Internet age and technologies like social media, it's easier to make bombs and explosives to do operations," said the law enforcement source. Authorities remain deeply worried about an attack during the holiday season. In the longer term, the worry is the possible return of hardened Islamic State fighters like Naim to the region. "They will be a different type of terrorist and the police are going to have a lot more problems," said Indonesian analyst Rakyan Adibrata. (Editing by Ed Davies and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A Florida man is in jail on charges that he threatened President-elect Donald Trump on Facebook.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/2iaCChN ) that a federal judge on Friday ordered Kevin Krohn held without bond until another hearing next week.

The Secret Service arrested the 59-year-old Krohn on Thursday at his suburban Fort Lauderdale home after agents say he posted at least two threats against Trump. In one, he allegedly wrote that he was glad President Barack Obama hadn't seized his guns "because I see a good use for one now" over a picture of Trump.

In another comment about Trump, he allegedly wrote "he will never last long" above a picture of a man holding a sniper rifle.

The Federal Public Defender's Office was appointed to represent Krohn.

___

Information from: Sun Sentinel , http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - New Zealand, Venezuela, Malaysia and Senegal told Egypt on Thursday that if it did not clarify by midnight whether it planned to call a vote on a draft U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, then they reserved the right to move ahead with the text, diplomats said. "In the event that Egypt decides that it cannot proceed to call for vote on 23 December or does not provide a response by the deadline, those delegations reserve the right to table the draft ... and proceed to put it to vote ASAP," the four council members said in a note to Egypt, seen by Reuters. The Palestinians were also a party to the note, which said "there was a strong sense of disappointment" that the 15-member Security Council had not voted on the text as planned on Thursday. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Horror Movie This 2014 cover story was one of the most controversial under Francas reign. Entitled Horror Movie, the series of nine bloody images lensed by Steven Meisel saw models being violently attacked by a man. Supposedly glamourising domestic violence, Franca defied the claim: "The horror of life is bigger than the one that you can see in the movies. This is really a horror show, what we are looking at and what we see every day in every newspaper around the world is how fragile the woman still is today, and how she can be attacked, can be abused, can be killed. We can give people the opportunity to have a voice, for awareness." [Photo: Vogue Italia]

Legendary Vogue editor Franca Sozzani sadly passed away yesterday after a year long illness.

The head of Vogue Italia for 28 years, she was responsible for some of the most important (and controversial) covers to ever be published by a fashion magazine. Constantly championing the underdogs and raising light on global issues from oil spills to wars, Franca proved that fashion didnt have to be frivolous.

Fashion isnt really about clothes. Its about life, the 66-year-old was famed for saying. Heres seven covers that prove just that.

Brands refused to lend clothes for Ashley Grahams Vogue cover shoot

Flying the flag for real women, Vogues new issue is a model-free zone
By PTI: Panaji, Dec 23 (PTI) AAPs Chief Ministerial nominee for next years Goa Assembly polls, Elvis Gomes today dubbed as suspicious the timing of the ACB issuing summons against him in connection with a land grab case.

"Look at the timing when summons are issued. Anyone can understand why summons were sent," Gomes, former IGP (Prisons) told reporters today.

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Gomes was declared as the CM face by AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on December 19.

Gomes said he would anyway appear before concerned Investigating Officer (IO) and is not afraid of any inquiry.

"The case filed against me is false. They are trying to paint me with different brush but that paint will not stick on me," he said.

Gomes and former Tourism Minister Nilkant Halarnkar were booked by the ACB in June this year for their alleged involvement in the case.

The FIR registered against them mentions the duo were part of the Goa State Housing Board and allegedly acquired 30,000 sq metres of land and changed its zoning (reservation) to benefit the original land owner.

Gomes said he was not involved in any decision-making process related to the land.

"I have not played any role in the land conversion as I was posted as Managing Director of Housing board, two months after the decision was taken," he said.

Latching on to the development, the ruling BJP today said Kejriwals "lie" has been exposed after the ACB summons.

"Kejriwal was claiming that they had given a non-corrupt face to Goa as CM. Now the lie stands exposed," said BJP Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar.

"Ideally, Kejriwal should withdraw the name of Gomes as CM face to contain the damage," he added.

AAP has already announced to contest all 40 constituencies in elections. PTI RPS NSK SDM

--- ENDS ---
Heres how you can get a free drink from Starbucks this week, because we know you need it

If your particular brand of happiness comes daily in the form of a 12 oz. cuppa joe, prepare to be extra joyful for the next few days. As part of its 10 Days of Cheer promotion, Starbucks is offering free drinks in select cities every day for the next week and a half.

OMGOMGOMG!

Between 1 and 2 p.m. local time, youll be able to get a 12 oz. handcrafted espresso beverage for absolutely zero dollars at participating locations Pop-Up Cheer Parties. (This is exactly the kind of holiday party weve been looking forward to, tbh.)

The company says the location of these ~magical~ events will change every day, so you should check here to see when your local Starbucks is playing host.

A photo posted by Starbucks Coffee  (@starbucks) on Dec 21, 2016 at 9:04am PST

The best part about this cheerful offer is that you wont be limited simply to lattes and Americanos. No indeed, dear coffee enthusiasts. During the 10 Days of Cheer you will be able to satisfy your inner Lorelai Gilmore with no-charge mochas, flat whites, Chestnut Praline Lattes, and more  much like our favorite Gilmore girl and her seemingly always free coffees at Lukes Diner.

A photo posted by Starbucks Coffee  (@starbucks) on Dec 17, 2016 at 9:31am PST

If you miss the Pop-Up Cheer Parties, though, no worries. You can also stop by your local participating Starbucks and pick up a Cheer Card that will get you a special offer, such as 50% off a Spiced Sweet Cream Cold Brew or Holiday Spice Flat White beverage, or 50% off any lunch item (sandwiches, salads, or bistro boxes), or a free holiday cookie or Cranberry Bliss Bar with the purchase of a handcrafted beverage (any size).

Now its really the most wonderful time of the year.

The post Heres how you can get a free drink from Starbucks this week, because we know you need it appeared first on HelloGiggles.
PARIS (Reuters) - Most French voters including National Front supporters think independent Emmanuel Macron would make a better president than conservative election frontrunner Francois Fillon, an opinion poll showed on Friday. But other surveys suggest Macron is unlikely to qualify for May's runoff vote, which Fillon is tipped to contest against the National Front's own candidate, party leader Marine Le Pen. According to Friday's Odoxa poll, the preference for Macron over Fillon was clear-cut among left-wingers as well as supporters of the anti-immigrant, anti-EU National Front. The poll questioned 1,015 people on Dec. 21 and 22. Other regular polls focusing on actual voting intentions suggest Macron will be eliminated in the first round of voting on April 23. They have also consistently shown former prime minister Fillon, the candidate of the Les Republicains party, winning the runoff against Le Pen. In the Odoxa poll, 55 percent of respondents chose Macron when asked whether he or Fillon would make a better president, against 39 percent for Fillon. Among National Front voters the score was 56 percent to 37 percent. The poll suggests there is strong public opposition to many of Fillon's flagship election plans. His proposal to curb public funding of healthcare costs was opposed by 80 percent of respondents in the poll, and deep cuts in a public service staff by 62 percent. Some 59 percent opposed his call for closer ties with Russia, which is the target of European sanctions since it annexed Crimea. Macron, an ex-investment banker and former economy minister in the current Socialist government, comes in a regular, if distant, third in polls of voting intentions. He has yet to produce a detailed program but has portrayed himself as an independent reformist candidate who wants to break from the tradition of left-versus-right politics. ($1 = 0.9568 euros) (Reporting by Brian Love; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and John Stonestreet)
Libreville (AFP) - Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping on Friday called on the police and army to join in his fight against the contested re-election of President Ali Bongo.

Ping has repeatedly declared himself the winner of the August election, but Gabon's constitutional court has upheld Bongo's victory.

"I join you in telling them (security forces): Join us in liberating Gabon", he told a crowd of supporters in Libreville, who refer to him as president-elect.

He promised he would soon be sworn into office, and spoke a line from the presidential oath: "I swear to dedicate all my strength to the good of the Gabonese people..."

Bongo has already been sworn in, taking his oath in September with a call for unity after the disputed election win that sparked deadly unrest and revealed deep divisions in the oil-rich country.

His re-election, which was validated by the constitutional court, is contested by the opposition and the European Union.

In its final tally, the court ruled Bongo had won 50.66 percent of the vote and Ping 47.24 percent, giving Bongo a paper thin lead to 11,000 votes over his opponent.

"I will serve only one term and none of my children will be made ministers in the government under my authority. None of my descendants... will succeed me directly as president of the republic," Ping said on Friday.

His comments were a direct attack on Ali Bongo who took over from his father Omar Bongo, who ruled for 41 years until his death in 2009.

Ping said he wanted to "use all appropriate means to get back the victory stolen from us."

"There are limits. If he crosses them, he will be arrested," government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze said, referring to Ping.

Gabon has large oil, mineral and tropical timber resources, and its per-capita national income is four times greater than that of most sub-Saharan nations.

But about a third of its population of 1.8 million still live below the poverty line -- the result, say specialists, of inequality, poor governance and corruption.
Someone pulled a prank during a Virgin America flight to Boston using the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Although not physically present in the flight, the discontinued handsets name was enough to cause a scare among the passengers and crew of the plane. Thus, the supposed to be harmless prank caused the delay of the flight and the cancellation of the succeeding flight.

According to The Verge, a passenger named his portable WiFi hotspot into Galaxy Note 7_1097. When other passengers and the crew detected the hotspot name, they quickly jumped into the conclusion that the banned handset made it to the flight. As a result, the captain and the crew made urgent announcements demanding the owner to speak up.

At one point, the captain announced that he is diverting the flight to Wyoming instead of landing in Boston as scheduled. The pilot made it clear that the emergency landing was needed if no one surrendered the device.

Another passenger, Lucas Wojciechowski, took to Twitter to reveal what was taking place during the flight. In one of his tweets, he quoted the pilot to have sad, This isnt a joke. Were going to turn on the lights (its 11pm) and search everyones bag until we find it.

Fortunately, someone confessed to have done the did, revealing that they changed the name of their SSID wireless device to Samsung Galaxy Note 7_1097. The flight crew immediately announced to everyone that there wasnt really a Note 7 onboard, as per the BBC.

Not only did the prank cause the Boston-bound flight to get delayed, it also affected the 9 a.m. flight at the airport. The latter was reportedly canceled, and many passengers had to wait for two hours.

In October, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced that the Galaxy Note 7 was henceforth banned from U.S. airline flights after it was proven to be a fire hazard. The order came days after Samsung revealed that it is scrapping its flagship phablet for good.

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Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - The Gambia's opposition coalition vowed Friday to ensure that president-elect Adama Barrow is sworn in in January, despite President Yahya Jammeh threatening to hold on to power unless the Supreme Court orders him to step down.

Barrow "is confident that he has won an election and he is confident that there is no court on this earth that will deliver judgement to the contrary," opposition spokesman Halifa Sallah told reporters in the capital Banjul.

"We will not speculate on what the court will do ... What we are telling the Gambian people is: 'Focus your mind on the fact that president-elect Adama Barrow won an election and he will be inaugurated in January 19," he added.

Jammeh, who has been in power for 22 years, stunned observers by initially accepting his defeat in the December 1 vote by opposition candidate Barrow, but then flip-flopped a week later, rejecting the results and filing a court challenge.

His stance has stoked international concerns about the future of the tiny west African country, with the UN joining African leaders in calling for him to step down.

"Unless the court decides the case, there will be no inauguration (of Barrow) on the 19 January," Jammeh said in a lengthy television address this week, referring to his petition to the Supreme Court to overturn the election result.

According to Sallah, Jammeh's statement showed he had no intention to relinquish power in January.

He also recalled efforts by the west African bloc ECOWAS -- which have also come under fire by Jammeh -- to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

Leaders of ECOWAS -- including Senegal, which surrounds the landlocked country save its coastal border -- said at the weekend they would attend Barrow's inauguration and "take all necessary actions to enforce the results", without spelling out what those measures might be.

Under Jammeh's long rule, The Gambia has remained crushingly poor but enjoyed relative stability -- though rights groups and media watchdogs accuse him of cultivating a climate of fear and crushing dissent.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The threat to Germany from terrorism remains high, despite the killing of suspected Berlin attacker Anis Amri, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday. "The conclusion of the manhunt does not unfortunately change the terror threat level in Germany - it remains high and the authorities remain vigilant," he told a news conference. De Maiziere also said he would discuss with Justice Minister Heiko Maas what changes needed to be made as a consequence of the attack, though highlighted he had already made proposals on changing deportation rules. "I reserve the right to make further proposals in order to make Germany even safer," he said. (Reporting by Victoria Bryan and Joseph Nasr)
(BERLIN)  Two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion they were planning to carry out an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany, days after a truck attack in Berlin that killed 12 people.

Police said Friday that the men, aged 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region shortly after midnight.

Authorities suspect the two men may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen. They are now probing what the pairs intentions were and whether anyone else was involved.

Police said in a statement that they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip from security sources.

Officers in uniform and plain clothes patrolled the area, but the mall remained open.

Centro is one of Germanys biggest malls, with more than 250 shops. It opened 20 years ago on the site of a former steelworks.

There was no indication of any connection between the detentions and Mondays attack in Berlin.

Authorities are searching for Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, as the suspected driver of the truck that plowed into a Christmas market.
BERLIN, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Tunisian suspected of killing 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market was filmed by police in the city shortly after the attack and investigators believe he is still hiding in the German capital, media reported on Friday.

The 24-year-old suspect, Anis Amri, was caught on camera by police officers on a regular stake-out at a mosque in the Moabit district early on Tuesday only a few hours after the attack, rbb public broadcaster reported.

Amri was not a suspect at that time, and on Thursday morning, when police raided the mosque, they could not find him, rbb said.

Investigators believe Amri is still lying low in Berlin because he is probably wounded and would not want to attract attention, Der Tagesspiegel, reported citing security sources.

A spokesman for the Federal Public Prosecutor office was not immediately available to comment on the reports. A Berlin police spokesman delined to comment.

In the early hours of Friday morning, special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, police said in a statement.

The men - two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31 - were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, they said.

A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case, which has been claimed by Islamic State.

Amri had been identified by security agencies as a potential threat and had had his application for asylum rejected, but authorities had not managed to deport him because of missing identity documents.

(Reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin and Anneli Palmen in Duesseldorf; Editing by Louise Ireland)
TMC run Asansol Municipal Corporation has sent out notices to about 40 petrol pumps in Asansol instructing them to pay a display tax if they wanted to exhibit anything on their hoardings.

By Anil Giri, Manogya Loiwal : If Mamata Banerjee is the loudest voice of opposition against Modi, her party workers are trying to ape her by being the loudest voices at the local level. In one such attempt, local TMC leaders were raising their voice of opposition in BJP leader and Junior Minister Babul Supriyo's Parliamentary constituency, Asansol.

In yet another attack that was directed towards the Prime Minister, TMC run Asansol Municipal Corporation has sent out notices to about 40 petrol pumps in Asansol instructing them to pay a display tax if they wanted to exhibit anything on their hoardings.

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Interestingly, most petrol pumps in the area have hoardings promoting the Prime Minister's endeavours ranging from the Jandhan Yojna to the current demonetisation drive, featuring Narendra Modi in most of them.

STATEMENT OF MAYOR AND RESPONSE: The Mayor of Asansol, Jitendra TiwaRI said, "There are around 40 petrol pumps which have been notified that if they want to put up any hoarding of any sort, they will have to pay a display tax. The agencies which put up hoardings around the town, complained that they had to pay a display tax, while the petrol pumps did not have to pay any taxes for the hoardings that they put up". "We thank the people who informed us about it, and as a result, we have levied display taxes on the petrol pump hoardings too and asked the petrol pumps to pay the taxes within a week". "We don't have any problem with whoever displays their ads or promotes whatever in the hoarding. They just have to pay a nominal fees in terms of the tax, even if it is the central government". "Now, if the central government wants to fill the town with their hoardings for free, is it viable? Everyone has to follow the laws, whether its the central or the state government. The rules and regulations of the West Bengal Municipal Corporation has to be obeyed by everyone, irrespective of anything." "The hoardings that are put up have nothing to do with us. It is put up by the Indian Oil authorities, and removed at their will. This is Indian Oil's pump and their hoarding. Why would a petrol pump owner do anything about the hoardings?" said Anup Chatterjee, who is a manager at an Indian Oil petrol pump in Asansol.

DIDI VS MODI FACE-OFF

The Didi versus Modi face-off has found new active fronts and no one from either party is backing off from taking a jibe at the other.

Babul Supriyo claimed that it was political vendetta and vengeance on the minds of TMC party leaders rather than focusing on the development of Asansol.

All office bearers of the TMC are finding ways to please the party chief and there is evidently not many better ways to accomplish that than to attack the BJP.

ALSO READ:

Mamata Banerjee: Like Ali Baba, Modi has robbed people using demonetisation scam

Demonetisation: Mamata Banerjee takes yet another jibe at Modi

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It has been a great year for scientists associated with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). In February, and then again in June, researchers at LIGO  which consists of two detectors, one each in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana  announced that they had discovered gravitational waves created by two black holes colliding 1.3 billion light-years from Earth.

Since then, the LIGO collaboration has earned several accolades, including a $3 million award given to its researchers by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, the journal Nature naming LIGO spokeswoman Gabriela Gonzalez to its list of "10 people who mattered this year," and the magazine Physics World  published by the London-based Institute of Physics  naming the gravitational wave discovery the "Breakthrough of the Year."

Now, the significance of the discovery has been acknowledged once again  this time by the journal Science, which also named the discovery the "Breakthrough of the Year."

"The achievement fulfilled a 100-year-old prediction, opened up a potential new branch of astronomy, and was a stunning technological accomplishment," the journal said in a statement.

So what are gravitational waves and why was their detection such a scientific landmark?

Imagine dropping a pebble in a pond. This creates ripples, which emerge from the point of impact and travel across the surface of the pond. Now replace the pebble with a slightly bigger object  a black hole or a massive star. Einsteins general theory of relativity, which posits that gravity warps the fabric of cosmos, also tells us that violent events such as the collision of massive objects such as black holes and neutron stars create ripples in the curvature of space-time.

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Photo: T. Pyle/Caltech/MIT/LIGO Lab

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These ripples in the fabric of reality are called gravitational waves, and they propagate through space-time at the speed of light.

"With this discovery, we humans are embarking on a marvelous new quest: the quest to explore the warped side of the universeobjects and phenomena that are made from warped space-time," Caltech theoretical physicist Kip Throne said in a statement released by the LIGO collaboration in February. "Colliding black holes and gravitational waves are our first beautiful examples."

The discovery of gravitational waves opens up an entirely new way to look at the universe  one that could, in theory, allow us to see farther back in time than is currently possible.

Currently, all we know about the cosmos is what we have gathered from electromagnetic radiation such as radio waves, visible light, infrared light, X-rays and gamma rays. As a result, a lot of information remains hidden because such waves get scattered as they traverse space-time, and because the universe, in its infancy, was opaque to electromagnetic radiation.

With enough gravitational wave detectors, scientists would be able to study objects and phenomena that would otherwise remain hidden from view, providing us with a gravitational map of the known universe.

"Physicists are eagerly anticipating what may come next, because gravitational waves promise an entirely new way to peer into the cosmos," Science magazine writer Adrian Cho wrote. "First, physicists hope to spot many more events. LIGO already has detected a second black hole merger and a third, weaker signal. The interferometers resumed taking data last month, and if they can reach their design sensitivity, they may eventually see a black hole merger on average once a day."

And soon enough, LIGO's two detectors will not be the only gravitational wave detectors in the world. Another one named Virgo, in Italy, is likely to be switched on sometime next year. Researchers from the European Space Agency have also demonstrated the technology needed to build a space-based detector that would hunt for gravitational waves far removed from any ground-based interference.

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obama netanyahu

The UN Security Council passed a resolution Friday urging Israel to halt building settlements on occupied Palestinian land in an unexpected vote from which the US abstained.

The US's ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, abstained from voting on the resolution, which has been perceived as a slight against Israel.

"The grudge match" between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "finally reached its peak," said Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East analyst and vice president of research at the conservative think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, based in Washington, DC.

"This is a move that Obama has been orchestrating for months, if not years," Schanzer said, alluding to the chilly relationship between the American and Israeli leaders. "He had several options at his disposal, but a United Nations Security Council resolution is the most permanent among them. Indeed, you can't unring this bell."

Obama's deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, said the president decided to have the US abstain from the UN vote on Friday morning after seeing the final text of the resolution. Rhodes added that the notion that Obama's decision was influenced by Trump's policies was "absurd."

Both Netanyahu and US President-elect Donald Trump urged the US to vote against the resolution, which was sponsored by Egypt. When it became clear that Obama was not going to obstruct the vote, however, Netanyahu reportedly called Trump and asked that he weigh in, which Trump did in a statement on Thursday morning.

"The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed," Trump said, calling the vote "extremely unfair."

Trump also spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi about the vote by phone on Thursday, according to Reuters. Sisi withdrew the measure under pressure, but it was ultimately put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Senegal.

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Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends a news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades about ways to combat illegal immigration to Europe at the El-Thadiya presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, October 11, 2016. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Netanyahu's office released a statement rejecting the vote, calling it "absurd" and saying Israel "looks forward" to working with the incoming Trump administration to "negate" the resolution's "harmful effects."

After the vote Friday, Trump promised that "things will be different" after he takes office.

Explaining her decision to abstain from the vote, Power said the "US has been sending the message that the settlements must stop, privately and publicly, for five decades," and that allowing its passage "is in line with bipartisan US policy." She added that the US is still committed to Israel's security and working toward a two-state solution with Palestine.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a lengthy statement that the US "acted with one primary objective in mind: to preserve the possibility of the two-state solution."

"While we do not agree with every aspect of this resolution, it rightly condemns violence and incitement and settlement activity and calls on both sides to take constructive steps to reverse current trends and advance the prospects for a two-state solution," he said.

The last time the 15-member UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Israeli settlements was 36 years ago. The chamber broke into spontaneous applause after the resolution was passed, with 14 members voting "yes" and only the US abstaining.

The resolution "condemned all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the Palestinian territory, occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem," and requested the UN secretary-general "to report to the council every three months on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution."

Mixed reactions

Republican lawmakers were quick to condemn the resolution's passage. House Speaker Paul Ryan called the vote "absolutely shameful" and "a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel." He vowed that "our unified Republican government" would work to reverse the resolution.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that the vote "marks another shameful chapter in the bizarre anti-Israel history of the United Nations." He also slammed the US for abstaining, saying it "made us complicit in this outrageous attack."

And South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham vowed to form a bipartisan coalition to "suspend or significantly reduce" US assistance to the UN if the resolution passed. The US contributes approximately 22% of the UN's total budget, he said.

Democrats, too, issued scathing statements aimed at the Obama administration over the vote.

Geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk firm Eurasia Group, said on Twitter that "if Obama wanted to move on Israeli settlements issue at UN, he had eight years" to do so.

"After Trump's election, it's a farce," he added. "Credit deserved: zero."

Schanzer seemed to agree with Bremmer that the US's abstention appeared politically motivated.

"I strongly believe that had Hillary Clinton won the election, Obama would have respected her desire for him to stay away from eleventh-hour moves that could encumber her ability to restore the warm ties that the US has long enjoyed with Israel," Schanzer said. "From Hawaii, Obama was leading from behind, pushing other countries to punish Israel with a resolution at the Security Council."

netanyahu obama

Others applauded the vote as a promising step down the path of implementing a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

The United Kingdom's ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, said that the resolution was a "sober recognition that the two-state solution is slipping away," and that Israel's settlement expansion was "corroding the possibility" of a lasting peace in the Middle East.

It is "because of our commitment to Israel's security that we voted for today's resolution and worked tirelessly to draft a clear and balanced text," Rycroft said. "The settlement expansion is illegal and is not in Israel's long-term interests."

The left-wing Jewish lobbying organization J-Street said in a statement that it welcomed the US abstention on the council's vote, "which reaffirms the need for a two-state solution and calls for a halt to actions by both sides that serve to undermine the prospects for peace."

Palestine's ambassador to the UN said that the vote "will alleviate the suffering of our people," and that "our appeals [to stop the settlements] have been calls for the council to contribute" to long-term peace in the region and in the world. He said "urgent efforts are needed" to hold Israel accountable for its settlement expansion.

NOW WATCH: This is what it's really like at Trump Tower  which is disrupting life in New York





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BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday the Syrian government's defeat of rebels in Aleppo this week had ended their hopes of ousting President Bashar al-Assad and could pave the way to a political solution for the country. Troops from the Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah are fighting alongside Syrian government forces against rebels opposed to Assad's rule and against Islamic State militants in Syria. In a televised live address, Nasrallah said Syrian government forces' recapture of the northern city of Aleppo after four years of fighting with rebels holding its eastern sector had opened a new stage in the nearly six-year conflict. "Today, after Aleppo, one can safely say the (opposition's) goal of toppling the regime has failed," he said. "The victory of Aleppo can open new horizons for political solutions...It could make some nations realistic and see new viewpoints." The Syrian army on Thursday said it had retaken complete control of Aleppo after the last rebel fighters were evacuated from the battered city, handing Assad his biggest victory of the war. Nasrallah said the next task was "reinforce" and "secure" Aleppo because armed groups would continue to target the city and its surrounding area. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Laila Bassam; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Hidden Figures star Octavia Spencer has the BEST thing to say about diversity in film

When people demand more diversity in our film and television, they are demanding representation. Seeing characters of different skin tones and backgrounds helps encourage a world where we believe anyone can do anything. One star of the new film Hidden Figures, Octavia Spencer, recently brought up this important issue.

Hidden Figures tells the true story of three African American women in the 1960s who worked for NASA. These brilliant women helped NASA develop its space program, and until now, very few people knew their story. Now, thanks to this film, women across the country will learn about the trails these women blazed in mathematics and engineering, and we think thats awesome. Octavia sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss why this film matters, and what she has to say is so important.

Octavia Spencer insisted that what makes Hidden Figures different is the fact that its a story about everyday life.

Octavia said she appreciates that the film tells a story about these womens real lives. It doesnt create characters to serve a larger narrative about the Civil Rights Movement. Its sharing real womens stories from that time.

Octavia said, I think the fact that this movie is out there, the fact that Fences is out there, is encouraging: These arent necessarily just stories about African American struggle, but about daily life. Theres a need for it and an audience for it.

Hidden Figures shows the small acts of racism and sexism that three African American women dealt with every day. And in doing so it shines a light not on huge acts of intolerance, but the small, almost imperceptible acts that still permeate society. Beyond that, Hidden Figures show women of color who were SO impressive and SO inspiring. Its a message to other women of color that great things are possible. That kind of representation on screen is so important for people to see to break stereotypes. Stories like this  accomplished African American women from history  are sadly not very common, but we hope this film will encourage more stories like this one.

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Octavia reminded us in her interview that these stories are still universal.

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Janelle Monae attend an official academy screening of HIDDEN FIGURES hosted by the The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at MOMA - Celeste Bartos Theater on December 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)

Octavia said, Im very grateful, and very hopeful that it continues, and that its not just about African Americans. We need different slices of Latina life. We need different slices of Asian American life. There are so many stories out there that need to be told, and just because the leads happen to be three African Americans doesnt mean they wont translate to mainstream audiences.

And its true, because we cant wait to see Hidden Figures.

Octavia explained that this film was unprecedented, and she had to be a part of it.

hiddenfigures

She said, It has not been done. Theres an underserved audience for stories of women like this working, and succeeding.

Octavia also said the film came out at an important political time, and that changed the films message a bit. She noted that these women lived in a world of open racism and sexism, And in spite of that they rolled up their sleeves and did something extraordinary for the world. So I realized that instead of being the triumphant rallying cry I thought it was going to be, the film was going to ground me in this spirit of enlightening people, inspiring people and galvanizing people.

That is a crazy powerful message, and we can see why this story so desperately needs to be told. And wed love to see more films like this about powerful women in the future.

hiddenfigures

Hidden Figures starring Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Janelle Monae hits theaters everywhere January 6th.

The post Hidden Figures star Octavia Spencer has the BEST thing to say about diversity in film appeared first on HelloGiggles.
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - An Afriqiyah Airways plane that was hijacked on Friday during an internal Libyan flight was diverted towards Malta, but turned back as far as Libyan airspace before changing course again and flying to the Mediterranean island, an airline official said. "According to radar information the plane was going to Malta, then it flew back as far as Tripoli airspace, then it turned back towards Malta again," said Farouk al-Wifati, the head of the Afriqiyah Airways office in Tripoli's Mitiga airport, where the flight was due to land. A security official at Mitiga told Reuters earlier that the pilot had tried to persuade the hijackers to land in Libya, but they had refused. (Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Alison Williams)
By Chris Scicluna VALLETTA (Reuters) - Hijackers armed with what were probably replica weapons forced an airliner to land in Malta on Friday before freeing all their hostages unharmed and surrendering, having declared loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi. Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted: "Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody". The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a man told the crew he had a hand grenade. Muscat said the grenade and two pistols the hijackers were also carrying appeared to be replicas, according to an initial forensic examination. A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since. With troops positioned a few hundred metres (yards) away, buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm. After the passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state. Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power. In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party." STANDOFF ON TARMAC Lawmaker Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya. After the standoff ended peacefully, Muscat told a news conference there had been talks between Maltese authorities and the Libyan hijackers. The men had asked for two Maltese negotiators to board the aircraft, but this was rejected. "We were not willing to negotiate until there was a surrender," he said, adding that the hijackers had not requested asylum. A senior Libyan security official told Reuters the first news of the hijack came in a call from the pilot to the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport. "Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused." The aircraft, operated by state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours. The last major hijacking on Malta was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed. (Additional reporting by Ahmed Elumami in Tripoli, Ayman al-Warfalli in Benghazi, Aidan Lewis in Tunis and Robin Pomeroy and Alison Williams in London; writing by Andrew Roche and John Stonestreet; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
(VALLETTA, Malta)  After hours of tense negotiations, two Libyans who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up surrendered peacefully Friday, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the plane before walking out themselves with the last of the crew.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was traveling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta midmorning on Friday.

Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them. All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Maltas prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3:44 p.m. local time.

They have surrendered, been searched and taken in custody, he tweeted.

The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the planes doors to open at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

In a series of tweets, Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, then the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including 7 crew members, were on board the hijacked plane.

Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers had asked him to head to Rome. He identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, Libyans who other officials said were in their twenties.

The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called the New Fateh. Fateh is a reference to former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who led Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969.

After many of the hostages left the plane Friday afternoon, someone, apparently a hijacker, waved the old green Libyan flag from the planes doorway.

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Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes, Gadhafi was ousted and killed in 2011.

Western nations view the newly-formed U.N.-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libyas parliament, which meets in the countrys far east, has refused to accept it. Amid chaos, the Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliates have gained a foothold over the past years.

Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized the Islamic State groups last stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.
By PTI: The Indian side expressed interest in further development

The Indian side expressed interest in further development of bilateral cooperation in the exploration and development of tungsten mines in Kazakhstan.

It hoped that MoU between National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Kazgeology as also between NMDC and Kaznex Invest could be concluded in the first quarter of 2017.

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"The Indian side noted with satisfaction that Kazakhstan had granted two year extension to the exploration contract of OVL in June 2016 and preparatory work was in progress for the planned drilling of the second commitment exploration well targeting deeper reservoirs (Paleozoic) in Satpayev Block in June/ July 2017," the Commerce Ministry said. PTI RR ABM

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LONDON (Reuters) - More than 4,000 homeless people in Britain are expected to use temporary shelters set up over Christmas by charity Crisis, which said the number of people sleeping rough was rising sharply. Staffed by an army of around 13,000 volunteers, the charity will provide food, shelter, haircuts, massages and dentistry services at shelters until Dec. 30. According to government statistics from 2015, more than 3,500 people sleep rough in England on any given night, but Crisis said that number had risen significantly. "In the last year, (that...) has gone up by 30 percent," its Chief Executive Jon Sparkes told Reuters at a temporary center opened in North London on Thursday. "That figure has doubled in the last six years so we are seeing a big increase." For one man who said he had been sleeping rough in London for eight months after a struggle with illness and financial issues, the shelter offers a brief chance to reconnect with a lost part of himself. "The people who assist you give you back your humanity because being homeless makes you feel inhuman," said Marc Anthony Tiwarri. (Writing by Patrick Johnston, editing by John Stonestreet)
Everybody loves Jose: The Pirates want to trade for Jose Quintana next. (AP)

Welcome to The Stews Hot Stove Digest, our daily rundown of MLB news, rumors and gossip for Hot Stove season. Here youll find a quick recap of all the days action and other fun stuff from around the internet that we think is worth your time.

WELCOME BACK: The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly reached a three-year, $26 million agreement with Ivan Nova. After spending his first six-plus years with the Yankees, Nova was traded to the Pirates at the Aug. 1 dead and enjoyed a rebirth of sorts, posting a 3.06 ERA and 52/3 K/BB over 64 2/3 innings. Soon to be three years removed from Tommy John surgery, the 29-year-old right-hander could prove to be a nice bargain. [The Stew]

NOT DONE: Even after reaching an agreement with Nova, the Pirates are still making a push to acquire left-hander Jose Quintana from the Chicago White Sox. Of course, that would just make them one of the teams that wants Quintana, the next best White Sox player since they started selling. Quintana is 27, on a team-friendly contract and had a 3.20 ERA last season. Hes a good fit for lots of teams. [@Ken_Rosenthal]

ICYMI: Free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion is going to the Indians on a three-year, $65 million deal. [Yahoo Sports]

SOOOO: The Indians are the team to beat in the AL now, right? [The Stew]

ALMOST DOESNT COUNT: The Oakland As were serious bidders for Encarnacion. Seriously serious. [@JeffPassan]

COMEBACK TRAIL: Maybe we havent heard the last of Manny Ramirez after all. According to his wife, Ramirez is training extremely hard and has his eyes on an opportunity outside the United States.[The Stew]

WHERE TO?: Free agent outfielder Ben Revere could have a new team by Friday. Hes expected to reach an agreement soon and it wont be a return to Washington after they recently acquired Adam Eaton to play center field. Revere hit.217/.260/.300 in 103 games last season, so it could be a one-year prove it deal for the veteran. [@masnRoch]

BUY LOW: Coming off a down season, teams are reportedly sending buy-low offers to the Yankees on right-hander Michael Pineda. The 27-year-old right-hander will be a free agent following the 2017 season, but the Yankees seem content to hold to see if he can bounce back. Pineda posted a 4.82 ERA last season. [ESPN New York]

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AND FINALLY: Twins second baseman Brian Dozier hasnt been traded yet, but he has acquired a large animal. [@BrianDozier]

Christmas came early! A photo posted by briandozier (@briandozier) on Dec 22, 2016 at 1:41pm PST

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

      

Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
In the early 1980s, as Switzerland confronted the threat of modern quartz technology, adventurous collectors discovered the allure of vintage timepieces. Old Patek Philippe wristwatches were especially coveted, particularly round dress models with ultrathin movements, later dubbed the Calatrava models. The company made many versions over multiple decades, but aficionados discerned an underlying aesthetic consistency, which they traced back to 1932, when the companys new owners introduced the Bauhaus-inspired Reference 96.

Elegantly understated, the three-handed 96 was a success from the outset. The product gave the brand new vitality during the Great Depression and also served as a sort of prototype for all the uncomplicated round Patek Philippes that followed. More than just a term of convenience for collectors, Calatrava embodied a design paradigm, as the company affirmed in the mid-1980s by applying the Calatrava name to an ever-growing family of timepieces. Today Calatrava is one of the brands most popular watch lines. Instantly identifiable and endlessly generative, its a bona fide design classic.

That makes Calatrava a genuine rarity. In an industry driven by novelty, classics are few and far between. Theyre also hard to identify before theyve stood the test of time. Nevertheless, understanding the essential attributes of past classics can provide insight into which watches of today may be classics for future generations of connoisseurs.

One way of creating a future design classic is to look to the past. Thats the approach taken by Jaquet Droz with the Grande Seconde Off-Centered. In the 18th century, Pierre Jaquet-Droz created a pocket watch with a distinctive figure-eight layout. Diminutive hour and minute hands were set in a small circle at the top of the dial while a longer second hand was set in a much bigger circle below. The layout of two overlapping subdials has been used extensively by the Jaquet Droz brand in recent years. Versions have been created in traditional white enamel with black indicators and vice versa, and even with an exotic variety of dial materials. With the Off-Centered, Jaquet Droz rotated the dial by 30 degrees, introducing a highly contemporary asymmetry. The effect is most dramatic in the model with an onyx dial, with the subdial indicators reduced to simple notched rings of white gold. What Jaquet Droz has achieved is to transpose time-tested proportions into a modern vernacular. The watch is unmistakably new yet immediately familiar.

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Moser has done something equivalent, only in a far briefer time span. In 2005, the company launched its Perpetual Calendar with an unusual movement developed by Andreas Strehler. In contrast to most perpetual calendars, which advertise their complicated movements with intricate dials, this perpetual used a bare minimum of indications: a date window and a pointer concentric with the hour and minute hands to indicate the month. (The 12 hourly markers also served to indicate the 12 months in the year. A leap-year indicator was visible only through the sapphire caseback, for use only when the watch was set.) Strehlers parsimoniousness was remarkable, perhaps even unprecedented, but a decade later Moser showed that it was not the bare minimum. The Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Concept sweeps the fume dial clean of all indications including numerals and the companys brand name. The subsidiary seconds dial is also removed, and most recently the power-reserve indicator has been eliminated. The Concept series is being produced only in very limited quantitiesand most certainly will not replace the original modelbut the process of stripping down the original watch exposes the classic distinctiveness of the underlying design and also the vast space still open for future variations.

Variations on a theme come naturally to Cartier, a company that has been tweaking its classic Tank since 1917. This year, Cartier launched a new line of watches that draws on an inspiration nearly as venerable. Like the Tank, which was modeled on the Renault FT-17 tanks that Louis Cartier saw during World War I, the Drive de Cartier takes its design cue from the grille of a vintage automobile. To some, the watch might appear to have been in production since cars sported large radiators. Cartier has effectively channeled a pedigree by evoking a lineage that might have been, and may well become, real in time.

At first, the New Retro by de Grisogono appears to be playing the same temporal game. The two-handed watch overtly draws on vintage sources. The smooth shape was inspired by designer Fawaz Gruosis cigarette case, and the dials wide format and bold typeface intentionally evoke midcentury alarm clocks. The dial colors also belong to another era. (Gruosis vintage green is doubly nostalgic, resembling an outdated hue that has been weathered by time.) The New Retro is not retro in the conventional sense, however, because the implementation of Gruosis midcentury vision belongs unequivocally to the present. The two curvaceous sapphire crystals forming the case could never have been manufactured in the era they suggest, and the Super-LumiNova markers are far brighter than radium. The New Retro is not an ersatz midcentury object, but rather a timepiece that a midcentury designer might have made were he living in 2016. Through the extreme compression of time, de Grisogono has made an instant classic, a watch that simultaneously exists in the past and the present.

In 1971, Audemars Piguet found itself in a situation similar to Patek Philippes despair during the Great Depression. Seeking a timepiece that would stand out in a stagnant market, the company turned to the independent watch designer Gerald Genta. Their design brief was extremely brief: The company wanted an unprecedented steel watchand time was of the essence. Genta responded in less than 24 hours, submitting his first sketch of the Royal Oak.

Inspired by an old-fashioned diving helmet, the timepiece was iconoclastic in all respects, from the exposed screw heads on the octagonal bezel to the brushed finish that treated steel like a precious metal. A luxury tool-watch that looked simultaneously dressy and sporty, the Royal Oak was a perfect paradox.

Most people in the industry reckoned that Gentas concept would put Audemars out of business. Instead, the Royal Oak reinvigorated the company and launched an entirely new luxury-watch category. What was paradoxical in the 70s now seems perfectly natural. Gentas most radical watch has become a classic precisely because of its winning iconoclasm.

By the time Richard Mille began making watches in 2001, sporty luxury was well established. But Mille took the dichotomy to a level that even Genta couldnt have imagined, creating a tourbillon in materials that belonged to the realm of racecars and aviation. His logic was peerless, redefining the wristwatch as a high-performance machine, and he has pursued it relentlessly ever since. As a result, even his most extreme piecessuch as the new RM 50-02 ACJ Tourbillon Split Seconds Chronographhave a logical inevitability. It seems only natural that this collaboration with the Airbus private jet division should use titanium-aluminum turbine alloy for the case, and that parts should be treated with the jet manufacturers own anticorrosive coating. Like APs Royal Oak line, Richard Milles industrial design has achieved an internal consistency that imbues each new piece with classic status.

The iconoclasm of Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey is of a different kind. Conceiving new models as inventions, theyve spent the past couple of decades exploring the extremes of mechanical complexity, expressed through traditional techniques and finishes. That ambition has resulted in horological achievements including the Double Tourbillon 30 and the Quadruple Tourbillon. The recently released Signature 1 has none of that complication. A time-only watch that is the simplest timepiece the company has ever produced, it lays bare the design language that all Greubel Forsey timepieces share. The avant-garde interplay of traditional finishesincluding Geneva stripes and frostingvisually organizes the movements multitiered build. The underlying architecture of the movement is asymmetric, which plays out in the dial placement. The language is so specific and consistent that Greubel Forsey can innovate relentlessly without losing its core identity. Much as the Endeavour Concept affirms Mosers aesthetic, the Signature 1 sparely demonstrates why all Greubel Forsey timepieces are immediately recognizable

A new design language, the essence of a classic, is no meager achievement. It must be atypical, intelligible, and capable of expressing more than a single statement. All three of these qualities are more speculatively manifested in the new U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon by Angelus. The main plate of the U20 is a slab of sapphire crystal on which the flying tourbillon and other components have been mounted. Absolutely everything is plainly visible, held in place with blue titanium bridges screwed directly into the transparent sapphire. Skeletonization has been one of the most versatile techniques in horology over the past couple of centuries. The U20s ultra-skeletonization has the potential to add a vast range of new possibilities.

Whether the recently relaunched Angelus continues to develop this aesthetic remains to be seen. Much as the Bauhaus rigor of the Reference 96 resonates through Patek Philippes Calatravas, extreme skeletonization could become a proprietary design quality of Angelus. Then again, naked transparency could become a new mainstream, spreading throughout the industry like Gerald Gentas approach to making dress watches in exquisitely finished steel. When it comes to the future of classics, history makes all the difference.

Patek Philippe, 212.218.1240, (patek.com); Jaquet Droz, 888.866.0059, (jaquet-droz.com); H. Moser & Cie, 860.986.9676, (h-moser.com); Cartier, 800.227.8437, (cartier.com); de Grisogono, 212.439.4220, (degrisogono.com); Audemars Piguet, 212.688.6644, (audemarspiguet.com), Richard Mille, 310.205.5555, (richardmille.com); Greubel Forsey, 212.221.8041, (greubelforsey.com); Angelus, 213.622.1133, (angelus-watches.com)



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CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois will lose its budget director just as the state's temporary fiscal 2017 spending plan expires, the governor's office said on Friday.

Tim Nuding, who joined Governor Bruce Rauner's administration when Rauner took office in January 2015, is "transitioning out of state government" and will be replaced by Scott Harry, current chief of staff for the governor's office of management and budget, according to the announcement.

Nuding, who spent more than two decades as a member of Illinois Senate Republican staff before becoming budget director, has been a central figure in keeping Illinois operating despite its ongoing budget battle.

A six-month budget approved in June ends on Dec. 31, leaving funding for operations and services not covered by court orders or ongoing appropriations up in the air. Primary and secondary public schools were funded for the full fiscal year that began July 1.

Illinois, which has the lowest credit ratings among the 50 states, is limping through its second straight fiscal year without a complete budget. Talks between the Republican governor and Democrats who control the legislature ended earlier this month with no agreement on a budget or a plan to tame a $130 billion unfunded pension liability.

The state's unpaid bills, a barometer of its chronic structural budget deficit, totaled $10.9 billion on Thursday.

Democratic Senate President John Cullerton believed progress was being made toward a budget deal, his spokesman John Patterson said.

Cullerton "hopes the governor will resume talks so we can build on that progress. A full, fair and balanced budget has been the goal all along," Patterson said.

Rauner's office said it is waiting for Democrats to propose a budget plan. The governor has said he wants term limits on state politicians and a local property tax freeze to be included in any deal.

(Reporting by Karen Pierog; Editing by Leslie Adler)
An Indian charity running schools for Dalit children will close down after the government banned it from receiving foreign funds over alleged threats to national unity, officials said Friday.

Charities, especially foreign-backed aid organisations like Greenpeace India, have come under increased scrutiny since a Hindu nationalist government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

KS Dhatwalia, a spokesman for the national home ministry, which revoked the license for the Navsarjan Trust last week, told AFP that "the law of the land was followed."

The ministry in its order accused the charity, which runs three schools in Modi's home state of Gujarat, of engaging in activities detrimental to national unity.

"(The charity) has come to adverse notice for its undesirable activities aimed to affect prejudicially harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities," it said.

The charity laid off more than 100 employees on Thursday and will shut its schools at the end of the current academic session in March, following the cancellation of its foreign funding license.

"We had no option left as foreign funding was the major source of running our operations," Martin Macwan, managing trustee of the charity founded in 1988, told AFP.

He said the charity would challenge the order in court.

Dalits, formerly known as "untouchables", are among the most marginalised groups in India and are at the bottom of the country's deeply entrenched caste hierarchy.

Tensions erupted in July when seven Dalits were brutally beaten by right-wing Hindu activists for skinning a dead cow, prompting protests across the country. The cow is considered sacred in Hinduism.

"For decades we have worked for the cause of Dalits and when we take a stand against continuing caste discrimination we are branded as anti-nationals," said Manjula Pradeep, the executive director of Navsarjan Trust.

More than 10,000 charities have either lost their operating licenses or been barred from receiving money from abroad, following a government crackdown.

Greenpeace India lost its license and US-based Ford Foundation and Christian charity Caritas were put on a watch list, although the orders were revoked later.
By Enrico Dela Cruz

MANILA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Philippine property to banking conglomerate Ayala Corp said on Friday two groups of companies in which its energy unit has stakes will acquire Chevron's geothermal assets in Indonesia and the Philippines, earlier valued at $3 billion.

Ayala, owned by one of the Philippines' richest clans, is looking to expand its power generation business and is aiming to boost capacity to up to 2,000 megawatts by 2020, double a previous plan. It would be its first investment in Indonesia's power sector.

AC Energy Holdings Inc, as part of the Indonesian and Philippine groups of companies, has signed share sale and purchase agreements with the Chevron group composed of Chevron Global Energy Inc, Union Oil Company of California and their affiliates, Ayala said in a statement.

Ayala did not disclose the acquisition price but Reuters reported earlier the assets at stake were valued at about $3 billion.

Chevron is selling assets, cutting jobs globally and slashing capital spending to save cash in a bid to preserve its dividend amid weak oil prices.

In Indonesia, Chevron operates the Darajat and Salak geothermal fields in West Java, with a combined capacity of 235 MW equivalent of steam and 402 MW of electricity.

In the Philippines, Chevron owns 40 percent of the Philippine Geothermal Production Company Inc, which operates the Tiwi and MakBan geothermal field in Southern Luzon and supplies steam to power plants with a combined capacity of around 700 MW.

AC Energy has a 19.8 percent stake in the Indonesian consortium that also includes Star Energy Group Holdings Pte Ltd, Star Energy Geothermal Pte Ltd, and Electricity Generating Public Company Ltd. The Philippine consortium consists of AC Energy and Star Energy Group Holdings Pte Ltd.

Two other Philippine companies, Energy Development Corp and Aboitiz Power Corp, were in Chevron's shortlist of potential buyers, along with Japanese firms including Marubeni Corp, local media reported last month.

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Manolo Serapio Jr.)
Mathew Samuel, the CEO of Narada News, has been summoned by the Kolkata police. This comes after issuing at least four lookout notices for Samuel.

By Manogya Loiwal : If the Central government is using central agencies and forces in Bengal, the state government is using its machinery to investigate the Narada sting operation.

In what can be explained as a TMC vs BJP battle, both Central and State investigative agencies are tightening the noose in various cases against each other, wherever the party is in power.

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Kolkata Police has issued a fourth lookout notice against Mathew Samuel, the CEO of Narada News and another notice has also been issued against Amitabha Majumdar, a social activist.

A controversial Narada sting operation which surfaced just ahead of West Bengal assembly elections, purportedly showing several Trinamool Congress leaders and an IPS officer accepting money for consideration was led by Mathew Samuel.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee immediately ordered a probe into the sting operation and the police registered an FIR against Mathew Samuel on 18th June 2016.

After the FIR was filed by city Mayor and Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sovan Chattopadhyay's wife in the New Market police station, Mathew has been issued several lookout notices.

The first notice was issued on June 23, then on July 1, followed by November 25 and then December 4.

Samuel has been booked under IPC Sections 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 500 (defamation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 171(G) (false statement in connection with an election) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy).

The notice directs Samuel to make himself available within seven days before the office of the Assistant Police Commissioner of Economic Offence Wing of Detective Department of the Kolkata Police headquartered at Lalbazar for investigation into the matter.

--- ENDS ---
Industrial metals are the building blocks of an economy. Even though global concerns have added an element of uncertainty to the outlook, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the industrial metals industry over the long term.

Here, we discuss some of the key reasons and what investors in the industrial metals sector can look forward to in the coming months and years:

High Hopes on Trump

The industrial metals space has benefited from the Donald Trump election win. His $500 billion infrastructure plan offers opportunities for the industrial metal space. Trumps promise to revive American infrastructure implies that commodities used to build everything from airports to bridges will benefit under his presidency.

Automotive & Aerospace Hold the Key

On the demand side, aluminum consumption is expected to improve on a global basis, spurred by the automotive and packaging industries  the key end markets. The automobile market is becoming increasingly aluminum-intensive, given the metal's recyclability and light-weight properties. Automakers consumed a record amount of aluminum last year as plummeting prices and technological breakthroughs made it a viable alternative to steel.

The global push to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles is expected to more than double the demand for aluminum in the auto industry by 2025. In line with this, Alcoa has completed an expansion at its Tennessee facility dedicated to supplying aluminum sheet to automakers like Ford Motor Co. (F), General Motors Company (GM) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCAU).

The airline industry is also expected to boost demand for the metal. Arconic Inc. (ARNC) has inked more than $10 billion in new contracts with aerospace customers such as The Boeing Company (BA), Airbus, Embraer, GE and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) for aircraft structures and aero engine components.

To capitalize on the lucrative aerospace market, Arconic acquired RTI International, which broadened its titanium offerings and added advanced technologies and materials to its portfolio. Moreover, the buyout of UK-based leading jet engine components maker Firth Rixson has placed Arconic in a position to grab more opportunities in the growing aerospace market through a broad spectrum of high-growth, value-added jet engine components.

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In addition, the acquisition of Tital, the Germany-based leading provider of titanium and aluminum structural castings, has strengthened Arconics position to leverage growth in the commercial aerospace sector and, therefore, capture rising demand for advanced jet engine components made of titanium.

Construction: Building Block of Industrial Metals

The housing and construction sector is the largest consumer of steel today and, consequently, of iron ore. Building construction (pipes and wires) is also the largest market for copper. An uptrend has been noticed in real estate activity, like new home initiatives and construction spends, in the U.S. over the past few quarters. Long-stalled construction projects are being renewed. Requirement for emerging projects, such as education facilities and government buildings, is also creating demand in the sector.

In the long term, as the urban population increases worldwide, so will the need for steel increase in tandem with the need to build skyscrapers and public transport infrastructure. Emerging economies will also continue to be major demand drivers to support increasing urbanization and industrialization. Naturally, a rebound in construction bodes well for the iron ore and copper industries.

Pickup in Economic Activity to Drive Copper Demand

Copper is a major industrial metal playing a particularly important role in emerging countries. Given its varied applications, the trends in the copper market are often considered useful indicators of the state of the global economy.

Developments in the world economy are strongly correlated with movements in copper prices. Given that China accounts for the largest share of global copper consumption and has a large share in the total production of pure copper, its no surprise that there is a strong correlation of the metal with Chinas ups and downs in economy.

In the long run, expectations of the growing middle class populace in Asia, particularly in India and China, who will spend more on consumer goods such as air conditioners and refrigerators, will spur demand for copper. Chinese demand for the metal will likely grow to comprise 46% of the worldwide copper consumption by 2018.

Rectifying the Aluminum Demand-Supply Imbalance

After aluminum prices bore the brunt of chronic surplus, the global aluminum industry underwent substantial changes to correct the supply-demand picture. This will eventually lead to firm prices. RUSAL is contemplating further aluminum production cuts totaling approximately 200,000 tons per annum. This came after a reduction of 316,000 tons in 2013, 256,000 tons in 2014 and 38,000 tons in the last quarter of 2015.

Likewise, Arconic has undertaken a number of restructuring measures (including closure of smelters) over the past few years, apart from aggressively pursuing cost-cutting actions. In Mar 2015, management initiated a 12-month review of 500 kmt in smelting capacity for possible curtailment (partial or full), permanent closure or divestiture. This review was part of managements target to lower Arconics smelting operations on the global aluminum cost curve to the 38th percentile (currently 38th) by the end of 2016.

As part of this review, the curtailment of capacity at Sao Luis and Wenatchee was completed in Apr 2015 and by the end of Dec 2015, respectively. The permanent closure of Warrick was completed by the end of March 2016.

Aluminum is expected to see in a deficit of 1.2 million tons this year due to curtailments in China. Arconic projects record global aluminum demand in 2016 of 60.5 million tons, up 6% over 2015 levels. Global aluminum demand is expected to double between 2010 and 2020. Alumina cuts in China will help deepen the forecast market deficit, with 6.7 million tons of curtailments already announced and set to be completed.

India to Support Demand Going Ahead

As per the World Steel Association, Indias prospects look bright due to consumption-boosting reforms and favorable policies to improve infrastructure and manufacturing output. Also, IMF projects Indias GDP growth to rise to 7.6% this year, above its previous projection of 7.4%, citing the resilience of its economy and robust growth momentum. Given that India's consumption of metals almost doubled over the past 20 years, it will be a major consumer in the years to come.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there is no reason for not being optimistic about the industrial metals industry over the long haul. But what about investing in the space right now?

Some Stocks in the Space Worth Adding

A positive outlook for the industry reinforced by expectations of earnings growth eventually in 2016 makes a good investment case for the industry. Investors can consider the following stocks that are backed by a solid Zacks Rank and estimate revisions.

With positive estimate revisions of around 10.14% over the past month, average earnings surprises of 18.75% in the last four quarters, and robust expected earnings growth of 22.40%, Vale S.A. (VALE), can be a solid addition to ones portfolio. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Fission Uranium Corp. (FCUUF) carries a Zacks Rank #2 and its estimates for 2016 have moved up over the past 60 days.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FSUGY), carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has witnessed upward movement in its earnings estimates over the past 30 days.

Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. (KIROY) also carries a Zacks Rank #2 and its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 has moved up 13.6% over the last 60 days.

Check out our latest Industrial Metals Outlook here for more on the current state of affairs in this market from an earnings perspective, and how the trend is shaping up for this sector going forward.

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From ELLE DECOR

Update 12/22/2016: A mystery buyer has officially snagged the childhood home of the country's president-elect.

Paramount Realty USA announced that a New York investor purchased the Queens home - but whoever bought it won't be getting cozy in it. The buyer plans to take it to auction next month on January 17, just days before Trump's inauguration, reports Realtor.

The realty company did not identify who the New York investor was, but the New York Post reports the house sold for $1.25 million (it was originally listed for $1.65 million).

Sneaking suspicion: Could it be Trump himself? Or is he too busy planning how to rule the free world? The president-elect did tell Jimmy Fallon in September that he wanted to buy it back on "The Tonight Show."

Whoever snagged it certainly understands investments: Experts estimate that the home could now be worth up to $10 million due to Trump's election. Childhood homes of presidents, after all, are quite rare to come across.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Originally 07/18/2016: Every real estate mogul has to start somewhere. For Donald Trump, it was a six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath Tudor-style home in Jamaica Estates, Queens, which just hit the market for $1.65 million.

"Potentially significant," the listing reads. "This property is the birthplace of presidential candidate Donald Trump." Aah, yes. We would say that is potentially significant.

Well, Trump was technically born at nearby Jamaica Hospital, but this is the same address listed on the presumed Republican presidential candidate's 1946 birth certificate, 6sqft points out.

Trump's father, Fred Trump, owned his own construction business and built Tudor, Victorian-, and colonial-style homes for the upper middle class. Newsday reports that the elder Trump built a larger house around the corner from the property in question in 1950, and that the family moved there when Donald was four years old.

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Built in 1940, the listing touts the 2,000-square-foot home's fireplace, formal dining room, screened-in patio, and two outdoor entrances. The home is currently owned by a New York City restauranteur. According to real estate agent Howard Kaminowitz, if Trump gets elected, it "would automatically become a historic site."

Speaking of the real estate agent, Kaminowitz, too, is a character: He's previously sold eight houses of worship and the home of serial killer Joel Rifkin. Sheesh.

Take a closer look at the home below:

Photo credit: Courtesy of Laffey Real Estate

Photo credit: Courtesy of Laffey Real Estate

Photo credit: Courtesy of Laffey Real Estate

h/t: The Real Deal

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- By Tiziano Frateschi





The All-in-One Screener can be used to find insider buys and sells over the last week by clicking on the Insiders tab and changing the settings for All Insider Buying to "$200,000+," duration to "December 2016" and All Insider Sales to "$5,000,000+."





According to the above filters, the following are recent buys and sells from company insiders in the past week.

Leucadia National Corp., 10% owner of Lonestar Resources US Inc. (LONE), bought 3,478,261 shares for $5.75 per share on Dec. 22. Since then, the stock price has risen by 33.9% to $7.70.

The company has an institutional ownership of 6.65% and insider ownership of 2.94%. It is an energy company focusing on acquisition and development of existing onshore oil and gas fields through exploration activity. The company holds a portfolio of 12 projects located in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

During the last 12 months, the stock price has risen by 91% and is now trading with a price-book (P/B) ratio of 0.42. The price is 29.94% below its 52-week high and 34.15% above its 52-week low.

Christopher J. Reed, 10% owner of Reed's Inc. (REED), bought 5,000 shares for $2,700 per share on Dec. 19. Since then, the stock price has dropped by 99.8% to $4.15.

The company has an institutional ownership of 9.80% and insider ownership of 51.27%. It develops, manufactures, markets and sells natural nonalcoholic carbonated beverages, candies and ice creams. The company's primary brands are Reed's ginger brew line, Virgil's line of root beer and Culture Club kombucha.

During the last 12 months, the stock price has dropped by 26% and is now trading with a P/B ratio of 64.28 The price is 29.69% below its 52-week high and 80% above its 52-week low.

Forest Baskett, Ravi Viswanathan, Anthony A. Florence Jr., Krishna Kittu Kolluri, Joshua Makower, David M. Mott, Jon Sakoda, Growth Equity Opportunities IV, Scott D. Sandell, Peter J. Barris and Peter W. Sonsini, 10% owners of Achaogen Inc. (AKAO), bought a total of 5.5 million shares for $13.50 per share on Dec. 19. Since then, the stock price has dropped by 2.6% to $13.15.

Story continues

The company has an institutional ownership of 56.47% and an insider ownership of 0.75%. It is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel antibacterials to treat multidrug resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections.

During the last 12 months, the stock price has risen by 105% and is now trading with a P/B ratio of 11.01. The price is 23.21% below its 52-week high and 380.31% above its 52-week low.

Most important sales of the week

Edward H. Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL), sold 103,000 shares in the company for $50.77 per share on Dec. 21. Since then, the stock price has dropped by 1.9% to $49.80.

The company has an institutional ownership of 82.19% and insider ownership of 0.59%. It provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the U.S. and around the world. The company's business segments are airline and refinery.

During the last 12 months, the stock price has dropped by 2% and is now trading with a P/B ratio of 3.00. The price is 3.49% below its 52-week high and 56.20% above its 52-week low.

Polar Asset Management Partner, 10% owner of Hydra Industries Acquisition Corp. (HDRA), sold 1,298,300 shares in the company for $10.05 per share on Dec. 21. Since then, the stock price has dropped by 4.5% to $9.60.

The company has an institutional ownership of 56.15% and insider ownership of 0.09%.

During the last 12 months, the stock price has dropped by 1% and is now trading with a P/B ratio of 19.20. The price is 8.57% below its 52-week high and 5.49% above its 52-week low.

Silver Point Capital LP, 10% owner of Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS), sold 52,000 shares in the company for $104.52 per share on Dec. 21. Since then, the stock price has dropped by 0.3% to $104.18.

The company has an insider ownership of 92.50% and institutional ownership of 0.29%. It is engaged in manufacturing sealing, fuel and brake delivery, fluid transfer and anti-vibration systems components subsystems and modules. Its products are used in passenger vehicles and light trucks.

During the last 12 months, the stock price has risen by 36% and is now trading with a P/B ratio of 2.64. The price is 3.06% below its 52-week high and 66.07% above its 52-week low.

Disclosure: I do not own any shares of any stocks mentioned in this article.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






Dundalk (Ireland) (AFP) - In the wake of the Brexit referendum earthquake, few people felt the aftershocks as keenly as the shopkeepers of Dundalk, a sleepy town of 37,000 people on the Irish border with Northern Ireland.

Following the plunge in the value of the pound, residents have been heading across to Northern Ireland to do their shopping and the movement has only intensified in the run-up to Christmas.

But while the politicians are still trying to figure out what Brexit will look like, retailers in Dundalk are fighting back with gift vouchers -- a form of alternative currency aimed at boosting local shopping.

"The vouchers allow businesses to give their employees up to 500 euros ($520) as a Christmas bonus tax free, making it a win for employers, a win for employees and a win for local businesses," Dundalk Chamber of Commerce chairman Michael Gaynor told AFP.

The pound is currently about 10 percent lower against the euro compared to before the June 23 referendum.

The vouchers are available online or from the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce's office and can be obtained either by individuals as regular gift vouchers for Christmas presents or by employers for bonuses.

The colourful "Shop Local Vouchers" are printed in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 euros and are accepted in more than 200 Dundalk stores, from jewellers to electrical outlets to cafes.

So far this year vouchers to the value of more than 300,000 euros have been purchased and the Chamber expects this to top out at over 500,000 euros by the end of the festive period in early January -- a welcome boost to a local economy under severe pressure.

- 'Worth taking the trip' -

The border promises to be a central part of Brexit negotiations as many on both sides fear a return of customs and police checks -- the "hard" border present during decades of conflict on the island.

The border is currently open and checks would be "hugely problematic", including for many people from Northern Ireland who work in Dundalk, Gaynor said.

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In recent months, shoppers from the Irish Republic have been crossing the border in waves to take advantage of the favourable exchange rate, particularly on alcohol, toys and groceries.

A recent Red C poll indicated that as many as 56 percent of shoppers in border counties intended to travel to Northern Ireland for Christmas shopping and a report by Goodbody Stockbrokers showed traffic flows from south to north on Saturday mornings had surged 29 percent in the wake of the referendum.

Although there are strong appeals to support the local economy, even people walking the streets of Dundalk are voting with their pockets.

"Everything up north for toys is a lot cheaper and there is more variety -- its definitely worth taking the trip up to get something a little different and save a few euros," said Chris Cumiskey, a housewife who said she can save around 25 percent on food shopping in the nearby Northern Ireland town of Newry.

Eugene Kelly, an unemployed man, said: "At the end of the day, youre going to go for the bargains.

"They can say the economy here is going to be affected but at the end of the day youve got to go for your own pocket," he said.

Lorraine Prenty, a human resources executive, said she chose to shop local but noted the increase in cars heading across the border in recent months.

"Around Dundalk there just isnt the same volume of traffic or the number of people this year," she said.

Gaynor tried to strike an upbeat tone, saying that a modest recovery in the value of the pound since the referendum meltdown had managed to avert disaster.

"We have managed to weather the storm, for now at least," he said.
(IRBIL, Iraq)  Zaid Ahmeds barber shop in the Gogjali district of Mosul was packed with customers Thursday when the first of three car bombs ripped through the outdoor food market outside. Ahmed was unharmed, but when he made a dash for safety, the second blast hit.

The 25-year-old father of two was among dozens wounded in the attack that killed 23 people, including eight policemen, the deadliest bombing yet in the district since Iraqi forces wrested it away from the Islamic State group more than a month ago.

Repeated attacks by IS militants in parts of Mosul liberated by Iraqi forces  including mortars, sniper fire, suicide car bombs and sneak attacks  are plaguing attempts by troops to advance in the city and shaking residents who are trying to find some semblance of a normal life again.

Authorities slapped a 24-hour curfew on Gogjali soon after the bombings, two of which hit the market and its surroundings, while the third hit outside a mosque a short distance away.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement this week that IS fighters are deliberately targeting civilians who refuse to join them as they retreat in the face of the advancing Iraqi forces. Mosul residents who spoke to The Associated Press this week agree with the assessment of the New York-based rights group, saying the militants seem to be punishing them for not joining them as they pull back and over widely publicized scenes of public jubilation in Mosul over the end of IS rule.

On Thursday, the United Nations said two mortar attacks in eastern Mosul killed four aid workers and seven other civilians earlier this week. It said 40 other people were wounded in the attacks. It did not identify the aid workers or provide their nationalities.

The scene at the hospital where victims of Thursdays triple bombings were taken testified to the persistent violence in Mosul areas retaken by the government forces. The ward where the injured are first admitted in a hospital in Irbil, capital of Iraqs self-ruled Kurdish region east of Mosul, was filled with screams of pain from the wounded and the wailing of relatives.

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When the ward was overwhelmed by the wounded from the triple bombings, many complained they were not being attended to quickly enough. Pools of blood covered parts of the floor as doctors and nurses worked feverishly.

Beside the victims of the bombings, some of the wounded were victims of mortar attacks blamed on IS.

Gogjali, on Mosuls easternmost outskirts, was one of the first districts to be recaptured in the offensive launched in October, and it has seen the fastest return to relative normalcy. Its outdoor food market and stores are attracting thousands of shoppers from Gogjali as well as from other Mosul neighborhoods.

Ahmed lives in another district but came to Gogjali to open his barber shop. I leased the shop two weeks ago, and now it lies in ruin, he told the AP from his hospital bed in Irbil, where he is recovering from injuries to his head and hand. His father, also a victim of the triple car bombings, lay injured just a few beds away in the West Irbil Emergency Hospital.

Gogjali is the best place to do business in Mosul now that Daesh is gone, he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

Schools have reopened and a local police force and traffic cops are back on the streets of Gogjali, a poor and middle class district. The area has also become a hub for relief operations by the government and aid organizations struggling to meet the basic needs of Mosuls liberated areas  a little more than a quarter of the city.

Firas Abdel-Monaim had just left his mobile phone at a repair shop in central Gogjali to be fixed and was making his way to buy tomatoes and onions when the first of the three blasts, apparently targeting the police, hit.

I was tossed up in the air, then landed hard on the street before I got up and kept running until I felt something in my left arm, he said from his Irbil hospital bed while feeling his arm.

A whole chunk of it is gone, said Abdel-Monaim, whose wife is about three weeks away from giving birth to their first child, a baby girl.

Life is slowly returning to normal. People desperately want their lives back, he said, while gasping for air. These are Daeshs last desperate acts.

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Associated Press writer Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The Israeli government asked President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure to avert U.N. Security Council approval of a settlements resolution after it learned the Obama administration intended to allow the measure to pass, a senior Israeli official told Reuters on Thursday.

Israeli officials contacted Trump's transition team at a "high level" after failing to persuade U.S. officials to veto the draft resolution and asked him to intervene, the official said. Two Western officials said that Obama had intended to abstain from the vote.

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an acrimonious relationship with U.S. President Barack Obama, believes the Obama administration had long planned the council vote in coordination with the Palestinians. "It was a violation of a core commitment to protect Israel at the U.N.," the official said.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Sandra Maler)
(Adds quotes and details)

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Israel asked President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure to avert U.N. approval of a resolution demanding an end to settlement building after it learned the Obama administration intended to allow the measure to pass, a senior Israeli official told Reuters on Thursday.

Israeli officials contacted Trump's transition team at a "high level" after failing to persuade U.S. officials to veto the Security Council draft resolution and asked him to intervene, the official said. Two Western officials said that President Barack Obama had intended to abstain from the vote.

Trump then sent a tweet urging a U.S. veto and spoke by phone to Egypt's president, who abruptly ordered his country's delegation to postpone the vote scheduled for Thursday on the resolution they had sponsored.

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Obama, believes the United States had long planned the council vote in coordination with the Palestinians and intended to use it to "ambush" Israel on the thorny settlements issue, the official said.

"It was a violation of a core commitment to protect Israel at the U.N.," the official said.

Israel had warned the Obama administration they would reach out to Trump if Washington decided to go ahead with the abstention, and Netanyahu's aides did so when they realized the United States set on this course, the official said.

The Israeli government appreciated Trump's efforts, the official said. Members of Netanyahu's right-wing government have increasingly warmed to Trump, who has made a controversial promise to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Relations between Obama and Netanyahu were severely strained over the U.S.-backed Iran nuclear deal.

With the clock ticking down on Obama's tenure, Israel remains concerned that the resolution condemning Jewish settlements could still go ahead with another sponsoring country -- with continued U.S. support -- before the president leaves office on Jan. 20, the official said.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Sandra Maler)
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel lashed out at US President Barack Obama over a UN Security Council resolution passed Friday demanding it halt settlements in Palestinian territory, while vowing it would not abide by it.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

"The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it colluded with it behind the scenes," it said.

"Israel looks forward to working with President-elect (Donald) Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution."

In a rare and momentous step, the United States abstained from Friday's vote, enabling the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council.

The landmark move by the Security Council came despite intense lobbying efforts by Israel and Trump to block the resolution.

But the Obama administration has grown increasingly frustrated with settlement building in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied for nearly 50 years.

There have been growing warnings that settlement building is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They are constructed on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and have long been seen as illegal under international law.

The United States has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic shield, protecting it from resolutions it opposes.

But there had been mounting speculation that Obama would allow such a resolution to pass before he leaves office on January 20.

Obama and Netanyahu have had testy relations, but Israel's statement after the vote was particularly harsh toward the US administration, as were comments earlier in the day from an anonymous Israeli official.

The United States is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.
RISHON LEZION, Israel (Reuters) - Israeli police have arrested an Arab-Israeli lawmaker on suspicion of smuggling mobile phones for Palestinian security convicts in an Israeli jail, a police spokesman said on Friday. Basel Ghattas, a member of Israel's parliament, or Knesset, was arrested late on Thursday and a magistrate's court extended his detention by four days, the spokesman said. "He is suspected of offences of conspiracy, fraud and breach of trust," spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Ghattas would not comment to reporters at the court on Friday. His lawyer Namir Idelby did not say whether the lawmaker denied or admitted any wrongdoing. He said there was no justification for keeping his client under arrest. "This is clearly a political matter," Idelby told reporters at the court. Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit said Ghattas was filmed by a police surveillance camera on Sunday handing four envelopes he had hidden in his coat to a Palestinian prisoner, jailed for 15 years for security offences, when he visited Ketziot prison in southern Israel. "Immediately after, the prison guards searched the prisoner. The search revealed the four envelopes which contained 12 mobile phones, 16 SIM cards, two chargers and one earphone," Mandelblit wrote in the letter to the Knesset speaker. Ghattas initially denied he had smuggled in envelopes but after being shown the video he admitted that he had, and said he did not know that they contained phones, the letter - seen by Reuters - said. Ghattas's Ballad party is part of the Joint Arab List faction, a group of four Arab factions that holds 13 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Ballad members are particularly vocal in supporting Palestinian causes. Ballad has often drawn anger from Israeli lawmakers who accuse its members of inciting violence and being disloyal to the state. "Anyone who smuggles cellular phones for a jailed murderer understands full-well that their use could bring about further terrorist acts and murders and therefore poses a danger to the public," Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan said in a statement. At least 231 Palestinians have been killed in violence in Israel, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip since October 2015. Israel says at least 156 of them were assailants in lone attacks often targeting security forces and using rudimentary weapons including kitchen knives. Others have been killed during clashes and protests. Street assaults have killed at least 33 Israelis and two American tourists over the same period. (Reporting by Rami Amichay and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Louise Ireland)
ROME (Reuters) - The Italian government approved a decree early on Friday that will open the way for the rescue of Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI) after the world's oldest bank failed to win backing from investors for a vital capital increase.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni told reporters his cabinet had authorised the creation of a 20-billion-euro ($21 billion) fund to prop up Italy's embattled banking sector, with Monte dei Paschi expected to be first in line for help.

"Today marks an important day for Monte dei Paschi, a day that sees it turn a corner and able to reassure its depositors," Gentiloni said.

(Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Valentina Za)
Mamata Banerjee wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh against the deployment of CRPF personnel in West Bengal without informing the state government. Mamata called it 'blatantly unconstitutional and illegal'.

By Indrajit Kundu: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh protesting against alleged deployment of CRPF personnel in the state without informing her government.

In her letter, Mamata alleges that the Narendra Modi led-central government had deployed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to provide "security" to Income Tax officials deputed for operations in West Bengal.

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"It has come to the notice of the state government that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has decided to make available 15 personnel of the CRPF for apparently providing 'security' to income tax officials and staff deputed for operations in West Bengal. No communication in this regard has been received by the West Bengal state government," she wrote.

The letter Mamata Banerjee wrote to Rajnath Singh.

ALSO READ | Mamata Banerjee locks herself in office to protest Army's presence at toll plazas in state

WHAT MAMATA'S LETTER SAYS Mamata Banerjee, in her letter, referred to a communique by the Union Home Ministry that sought the "assistance of CRPF for search and seizure operations by the Income Tax Department" in West Bengal. The communique states that the "Chairman, CBDT, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has requested to provide 15 armed personnel of CRPF to Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Kolkata" for the purpose. This comes just weeks after she alleged that the Army had been deployed in various parts of the West Bengal without intimating the state government. Describing the move as "blatantly unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism", Mamata Banerjee had claimed that any such deployment of central force could only be done at the request of the concerned state government. "The respective legislative and executive jurisdictions of the state governments and central governments are clearly delineated in the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India and 'public order' and 'police' are within the domain of 'List II - State List'. The deployment of any central police force of the Union to any state can only be done at the request of the state government," Mamata wrote in her letter, adding that such decision must be immediately revoked. The Trinamool Congress chief also reassured the Centre that her state government will provide all necessary help and protection to the officers of the Income Tax department, if requested. "The state government and its police forces will provide all necessary help and protection, if so requested by any central government agency for any legitimate action on their part," she wrote.

Also Read:

Demonetisation: Mamata Banerjee takes yet another jibe at Modi Mamata Banerjee: Like Ali Baba, Modi has robbed people using demonetisation scam

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TOKYO (AP)  Japan's Emperor Akihito marked his 83rd birthday Friday, thanking the people for their concern and effort to accommodate his apparent abdication wish.

"I am profoundly grateful that many people have lent an ear to my words and are giving sincere thought to the matter in their respective positions," Akihito said in birthday remarks, released Friday.

Akihito also greeted thousands of well-wishers from the palace balcony, along with other members of the royal family, including his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, his heir apparent.

Akihito, in a rare address in August, indicated his wish to abdicate, citing concerns that his age and health conditions may start limiting his ability to fulfill his duties.

That message was to express "what has been on my mind over the last few years, reflecting on my years as the emperor and contemplating on my role and my duties as the emperor in the days to come," he said.

A government-commissioned panel of experts is discussing a possibility of enacting a special law allowing his abdication, without touching more controversial issues, such as an option of allowing a female emperor, and how to address concerns of a shortage of successors to the Chrysanthemum throne.

The abdication issue renewed concerns about aging and shortage of successors in the Imperial family  a 2000-year-old monarchy  which reflects overall concerns about Japan's declining population and rapidly aging society.

Akhito and his wife Michiko have two sons  Naruhito and his younger brother Akishino  but after that, only one of the four grandchildren is eligible to the throne under Japan's male-only succession system.

Current law, set in 1947, is largely inherited from a 19th-century constitution that banned abdication as a potential risk to political stability.

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Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi

Find her work at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mari-yamaguchi
(This Dec. 22 story is corrected to show Wildlife Management Office is in Tokyo, not Fukui) By Megumi Lim FUKUI, Japan (Reuters) - Chiaki Kodama blows her deer whistle and soon a male deer wanders into sight. She slowly takes aim and squeezes the trigger. Moments later, Kodama and a friend on her first hunt are tracking the wounded animal through the forest. "Look for the trail of blood," advised Kodama as they set off on a mountainside in Japan's Fukui prefecture. The 28-year-old hairdresser and city councillor is among a small but growing number of Japanese women entering the male-dominated world of hunting, where it was once taboo for men to even speak to a woman before going on a hunt. As the hunting fraternity shrinks due to age and rural depopulation, women are recruited to help protect farms against rising numbers of wild deer and boar viewed as pests by farmers. Farmer Manabu Ushiyachi said he welcomed any hunter, male or female, to help fend off the wild boar that feast on vegetable crops. "There are farms that have been completely devastated," he said, adding that attempts to trap the animals had failed. Japanese farmers have lost up to 23 billion yen ($170 million) annually since 2008 because of rising numbers of deer, boar, monkeys and birds, the Ministry of Agriculture said last month. "We've tried methods such as building fences or chasing animals away to minimise their deaths, but it wasn't enough," said Kazuhiro Akiba, head of the ministry's Wildlife Management Office in Tokyo. Since the late 1990s, the number of deer in Japan has jumped from less than 400,000 to more than 3 million, according to the Ministry of Environment. The boar population doubled to 1 million over the same period. Akiba said hunting was necessary to "keep the numbers under control to maintain a healthy ecosystem". Of Japan's 105,000 registered hunters, two-thirds are 60 or older, and only 1,169 are female, according to the National Hunting Association, which counted 500,000 hunters in the 1970s. Hunting groups and local governments are trying to recruit women through social media, as well as offering hunting tours and classroom training. The national association's website has a blog page titled "Aspire to be a Female Hunter!", where women write about their hunting experiences. One writer noted the "kind gesture" when she found portable toilets for female hunters in rest huts. In some prefectures, women can sign up for hunting courses or join a hunting tour. Others, like Kodama, provide on-the-hunt training. After shooting the deer, Kodama and her 28-year-old friend, Aoi Fukuno, followed the blood trail and found the dead animal lying on a fallen tree. Kodama then showed Aoi how to gut the deer and lay it in a river to drain the blood. "It's exciting to finally see with my own eyes what I read in textbooks to get my license," said Aoi. (Editing by Darren Schuettler)
Former President Jimmy Carter is currently the only former president who has agreed to attend Trumps inauguration, an event which is typically attended by all living former presidents.

President Obama will almost certainly be there. It would be a huge break from precedent for the most recent President to skip the inauguration (although its happened before,) and would be at odds with the Obamas stated intention to help the incoming administration. Since 1889, the outgoing President has hosted the incoming President on inauguration day.

But the Bushes and the Clintons have been putting off a decision on whether to attend the inauguration of a man who has publicly mocked Jeb Bush and ran a highly personal campaign against opponent Hillary Clinton.

Trump mocked primary opponent Jeb Bush for running an ad featuring his mother, Barbara Bush, saying Jeb needed mommy to help him. He flatly accused former president George W. Bush of lying about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. He repeatedly bullied Jeb Bush as low energy during the primary campaign, and suggested that Bush had a soft spot for Mexican immigrants because his wife Columba is Mexican.

Jeb Bushs father, former President George H.W. Bush, has said he will not attend Trumps inauguration, citing his health and his age (he is 92.) Former President George W. Bush has not said whether he will go.

The Clintons have also not decided whether they will attend the inauguration of a President who repeatedly belittled Hillary Clinton and dredged up scandals from Bill Clintons past on the trail. While the inaugural invitation is typically only extended to the former President, former First Ladies often attend with their husbands. Bill Clinton choosing not to accept the invitation could be a way to spare Hillary the indignity of having to sit and watch Donald Trump take the Oath of Office after an election where she won nearly 3 million more votes.
ATLANTA (AP)  A prominent Atlanta attorney who is charged in the shooting death of his wife has posted bail and been released from jail.

Local news media report that Claud "Tex" McIver posted $200,000 bail Friday afternoon and left the jail after being fitted with an ankle monitor. He was also ordered to surrender his passport.

McIver is charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.

Atlanta police have said McIver was riding in a rear seat of an SUV late Sept. 25 when a gun he was holding fired and the bullet hit his wife, 63-year-old Diane McIver.

McIver's attorney hasn't responded to requests for comment, but McIver has insisted the shooting was an accident.

Diane McIver was president of U.S. Enterprises Inc., parent company of Corey Airport Services.

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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  A federal judge ordered prison officials to continue using new measures  including the use of modified ice chests sometimes called "Cajun coolers"  to control dangerous heat levels for three medically vulnerable inmates on Louisiana's death row.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson's order Thursday stopped short of requiring the installation of air conditioning  saying low-tech remedies officials experimented with last summer have worked. Those remedies include diverting cool air from a guards' area to the inmates' cells and the use of the ice chests equipped with fans and ducting to blow cool air into the cells.

Attorneys for the state and for inmates said they were reviewing the order.

The ruling is the latest in a 2013 civil rights lawsuit filed by the Promise of Justice Initiative, a New Orleans-based nonprofit group, on behalf of condemned killers Elzie Ball, Nathaniel Code and James Magee. All three men have high blood pressure, along with other health conditions that their lawyers say the heat could make worse.

Louisiana has spent more than three years and over $1 million in taxpayer money to fight the lawsuit, according to documents The Associated Press obtained earlier this year through a public records request.

More than two years ago, the judge ruled that Louisiana imposes unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment once the heat index on death row exceeds 88 degrees.

Last year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said any remedy should be limited to the three plaintiffs, not all 85 death row inmates, and invited the state to provide relief without installing air conditioning, which a plaintiff's expert has estimated would cost about $225,000 if installed for death row's six tiers.

Other experimental measures that Jackson ordered the state to implement are:

 Transferring the three to a specific tier of cells in hot weather.

 Using a plastic curtain to hold cool air in the cells.

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 Providing the inmates with personal ice containers and fans.

In August, a court-appointed special master told Jackson temperatures in the inmates' cells were "well within a normal condition" when the state began experimenting with the new measures in June.

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Kevin McGill reported from New Orleans.
The Centre has come in defence of the Mehbooba Mufti government in Jammu and Kashmir as the Opposition and separatists slammed the decision to give domicile certificates to refugees from West Pakistan.

By Ashraf Wani: The Centre has backed Mehbooba Mufti government's decision to give domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees living in Jammu and Kashmir.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said that the refugees living in Jammu and Kashmir needed a 'dignified livelihood'. "The nation owes it to the refugees," Jitendra Singh has said.

Jitendra Singh also said that the ministry of home affairs had been consulted in the matter.

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Earlier, the opposition and separatists slammed the Mehbooba Mufti government's decision calling it an attempt to accord the refugees permanent citizenship to settle down in Jammu and Kashmir.

MUFTI GOVERNMENT CLARIFIES

Following the voices of opposition, the Mufti government issued a clarification in this regard.

The state government made it clear that the refugees have been issued only identity certificates not state subject certificates under special article of 370.

"It seems an orchestrated and misleading campaign has been launched to create an impression that the Government is changing the status of the WPR and they are being provided domicile certificates," Minister for Education and State Government spokesman, Naeem Akhtar said in a statement.

"Issuance of Identity Certificates does in no way change the status of the West Pakistan Refugees and they continue to be the non-state subjects," he emphasised.

WHO ARE THESE REFUGEES

Akhtar said the refugees, who settled in Jammu and Kashmir, in the aftermath of the partition of the subcontinent, include those from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and West Pakistan.

"While the refugees from PoK have the status of the permanent residents of the State, those from West Pakistan are not entitled to permanent residence as they are not the domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir," Akhtar said.

Given their present status, the West Pakistan refugees are entitled to vote in the Lok Sabha elections, but can't exercise their franchise in the state assembly polls.

As the West Pakistan refugees can't apply for any job within the State, because of being non-state subjects, to facilitate them to get jobs in paramilitary forces and other central government establishments, the government has issued them identity certificates, which is in the same format as exists in the voter list for the parliamentary polls, Naeem Akhtar clarified.

VOICES OF PROTESTS

Meanwhile, the West Pakistan refugees row has stirred the politics of Jammu and Kashmir once again as the state was heading towards normalcy after a five-month long unrest.

Separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led protests after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8 in the Valley.

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The separatist leaders have criticised Mufti government's decision to issue domicile certificates to the refugees. In a joint statement, the separatists have called the move as "anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim".

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir will not hesitate to offer any sacrifice to oppose such actions tooth and nail," the separatists said in a statement.

The statement further read, "Settling them in Jammu and Kashmir will jeopardise and erode its historical and political contours, which is not acceptable to us at any cost."

The National Conference has also opposed the decision of the PDP-BJP government. "They want to turn the majority Muslims into a minority," NC leader Ali Sagar said.

PDP CALLS OPPOSITION UNFORTUNATE

PDP leader and a minister in the Mufti government Naeem Akhtar said that the opposition to the decision of granting identity cards was unfortunate.

"Earlier this year also, controversies were stirred and public passions raised deliberately on tenuous issues like Pandit colonies and ex-servicemen colonies, which ended up with a long spell of disorder and violence in Kashmir resulting in loss of so many precious lives, injuries, destruction of public and private properties, breakdown of academic system, torching of schools, ruining of economy and complete halting of developmental process," Naeem Akhtar said.

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Akhtar appealed to the people not to give credence to misleading campaign against the government's move.

"Now when the situation has started improving in Kashmir with academic, tourism, developmental and economic activities slowly picking up again, unfortunately speculative reports are being passed around about the change of status of the WPR to create confusion and once again fuel disquiet," he said.

The latest decision by the state government is a part of Rs 2000-crore rehabilitation package announced by the Centre for West Pakistani refugees in Jammu and Kashmir.

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A month after canceling the remaining North American dates of his Saint Pablo Tour, a source close to Kanye West reveals that the rapper will not be moving forward with European shows.

Despite reports that the overseas leg of the tour has been canceled, It was never confirmed, never announced, hence not canceled, the insider tells PEOPLE.

Still, another source with knowledge of Wests business dealings says that its the rappers impulsive behavior and fluctuating moods that have made it difficult to solidify future plans of any kind. He is mercurial, the business source tells PEOPLE. One minute he is here. One minute he is there. He is very very difficult to pin down. Things are changing minute to minute.

After being released at the end of November from UCLA, where he received treatment for exhaustion and sleep deprivation, West was ordered to scale back from his many business ventures. This did not stop him from traveling to New York City last week, where he had a brief meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, or stepping out for a movie Wednesday with pal Corey Gamble. But the business source says he will not be returning to the stage any time soon.

Fitness  physical and mental  are essential to him being able to be restored fully and cleared to work, the second source explains. He has health issues that need to be resolved prior to returning to work.

AKM-GSI

Some of Wests associates fear that the lost tour revenue  estimated at $1.5 million per city on top of $16 million in missed merchandise sales  could put a serious strain on his finances. But the West source tells PEOPLE that the money is indeed there, but merely tied up in the rappers portfolio of businesses.

He reinvests a lot of his earnings into his companies. A lot of what he does he finances himself, says the source. Money that comes in from touring, he uses to finance his fashion stuff. When he talked about being $50 million in debt, that was prior to the massive Adidas deal that he did and this wildly successful tour, and all the merch he was selling night after night. Hes had an incredible, massive year, financially.

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The same insider reveals that wife Kim Kardashian West has played a major role in how he approaches his financial dealings.

Kims always advised him on his businesses. Hes always talked about her business acumen  how shes a great businesswoman and hes learned so much from her. Though rumors of strife within their marriage continue to build, the couple stepped out to dinner together earlier in the week and the West source says theyre still expected to spend the holidays to together.

After an emotionally taxing year, those close to West are urging him to put his well-being first. He has tremendous earning capacity and he has a great talent, the business source says. He just needs to take the time to focus on his health now. He needs to rest, because if you feel good one day, it doesnt mean you are good. And in his situation, it is a cumulative thing. Its something he needs to manage.

After receiving a stunning eight Grammy nominations earlier this month, friends and family hope the positive momentum will carry West through his medical travails.

Kanye  he is who he is. He has had this moment. He can get better, he can be functional, and he can be successful, the business insider tells PEOPLE. He has to take a look at some things that are important for him to really take the next steps in his life personally and professionally.

Reporting by LIZ McNEIL and JANINE RUBENSTEIN


It looks like Travis Barkers apples didnt fall far from the tree!

Alabama Luella Barker  daughter of the Blink-182 drummer  recently released a brand-new music video where she covers Blue Christmas. As she showcases her talented pipes through the song made famous by Elvis Presley, brother Landon Asher rocks out on the drums.

I was going for a snow princess look with silver nails, Alabama, who turns 11 on Christmas Eve, tells PEOPLE exclusively about her experience recording one of her favorite Christmas songs and its snowy-themed video accompaniment.

It was really exciting recording together and watching him play the drums to what I recorded, she says of brother Landon, 13. We got along very well.

Want all the latest pregnancy and birth announcements, plus celebrity mom blogs? Click here to get those and more in the PEOPLE Babies newsletter.

Austin Henry Wallace

Barker, 41, tells PEOPLE hes extremely proud of his musically inclined kids.

My heart melts every time they record a song for me, he says. They mentioned to me they wanted to start recording professionally, so this was their first time recording in a real studio.

The father of two (the kids mom is Barkers ex-wife Shanna Moakler) adds that he has encouraged the craft in his son and daughter throughout their lives.

I told them at a young age, Youre my kids, and if somebody hands you a pair of drumsticks, you better know what to do with them,  he says.

Austin Henry Wallace

Landon has continued to play drums, and Alabama has really fallen in love with the piano and singing, Barker adds of his children.

Theyve toured with me and have been around music their entire lives, so its awesome to see them share the same passion for music as me.

Since @alabamaluellabarker was old enough to speak she sang, and since @landonasherbarker was old enough to walk he played drums, Barker captioned an Instagram clip of his kids new creative endeavor.

Every Christmas shed record a song for me as my gift. This year they did it together for everybody to enjoy. So proud of my humans, Happy Holidays #BlueChristmas.

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So whats next for the young Barkers?

I have a new cover song I just recorded that is coming out in the beginning of the year, Alabama tells PEOPLE.




WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Israel and the Palestinians to advance prospects for a two-state solution after the United States abstained in a U.N. Security Council vote on Friday condemning Israeli settlements. Kerry said in a statement that the United States did not agree with every aspect of the resolution. But he said the U.N. measure "rightly condemns violence and incitement and settlement activity and calls on both sides to take constructive steps to reverse current trends and advance the prospects for a two state solution." (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by David Alexander)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f317997%2f4402968e-eda4-48a8-9a2b-7422dca4b5e6

2016 was an emotional year of dizzying highs and Mariana Trench-level lows.

It seems only fitting then, that somewhere amongst the political garbage fires and the passing of a few music legends, that a new breed of hero emerge.

Or species of hero, if we're being specific. Videos of disgruntled and often-asleep koalas of Australia, were the internet's light of Earendil in the Shelob's lair that has been the past year.

SEE ALSO: Behold, all your favorite viral trends in one viral video

They've proven themselves to be serious on-screen talent. Here are some of the greatest koala moments of 2016.

During a photoshoot at Symbio Wildlife Park, a monarch butterfly perched itself on the schnoz of Willow the koala, as she prepped for her close up.

A spokesperson for the park told ABC that Willow wasn't fussed sharing the spotlight though, saying "Willow came running over and starting getting really inquisitive, nuzzling up to it. Before we knew it, it actually flew onto Willow's head and then stayed there for ages."

Home invasion isn't really a cute subject, but when the invader is a lost koala it's less terrifying and more of a funny surprise.

14-year-old Nicholas Sneath was reading in bed when he heard a noise outside his bedroom door. That noise turned out to be a slightly lost koala turned home intruder.

After a car accident left him orphaned, 9-month-old koala joey Shayne was cared for by Australia Zoo's wildlife warriors.

Part of that rehabilitation process saw him find comfort in a stuffed toy in his likeness and the rest is the stuff Disney films are made of.

Little Mason of Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary seems to have forgotten how trees work, because he ran straight into one.

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The first known instance of identical joeys was only recorded in 2000 at the University of Queensland, Australia, making this teensy duo who live in the bush outside of Raymond Island's Koala and Wildlife Shelter extra special.

When Victorian MP Harriet Shing was driving down the main street she didn't expect to see a curious koala.

After guiding it across the road, the inquisitive koala proceeded to head toward a nearby accountant's, probably to make sure its taxes were in order. Maybe.

This fella wandered into Nikki Erickson's house while Erickson was at work in June. Making good use of her doggie door, the koala, whether intentional or not, has a nice little routine going on.

Until 2017 you sleepy marsupials, thanks for making us smile this year.

BONUS: Remote group of Koalas are under threat
Larry Kudlow, economic advisor to Donald Trump and CNBC contributor, says the President elect needs to have if not a bipartisan cabinet, a bipartisan attitude.

Kudlow, author of the new book, JFK and the Reagan Revolution: A Secret History of American Prosperity, noted in a recent interview with me that both Kennedy and Reagan did so.

Kennedy had three Republicans in senior cabinet jobs [Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy and Douglas Dillon], Kudlow says. And he adds turn the clock forward with Reaganand I was there in Reagans first term as a budget deputy. The Republicans had the Senate but the house was Democratic big time and Tip ONeill, the speaker of the house, was very much opposed to the tax cuts [and Reagan wooed him.]

Kudlow says this is certainly pertinent today: My point here is I believe Trump, having a J.F.K./Reagan type tax cut program, which I strongly support and help to work on, cannot [succeed] unless he sells it across the aisle. The theme of bipartisanship and the theme of civility is a very important.

Larry Kudlow

Trump is reportedly considering Kudlow to lead the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a role held previously by the likes of Ben Bernanke, Janet Yellen, and Alan Greenspan and is currently occupied by economist Jason Furman. The Wall Street Journal recently endorsed Kudlow for the role, noting that as an ardent free trader Kudlow would provide balance for the likes of Trumps pick to run the White House Trade Council, the protectionist economist Peter Navarro.

Trump understands the benefits of trade.

I asked Kudlow, who last year wrote a piece titled Why Trumps protectionist ways will hurt the economy, why he was now less concerned about Trumps protectionist ways.

I believe that Trump understands the benefits of trade, Kudlow tells me. He himself in his business has done a lot of international trading and overseas work. I think that Mr. Trump first and foremost would like to renegotiate some pretty lousy trade deals. Particularly China but also Mexico. He is [all about] the art of the deal. He is not against trade at all but he is in favor of fair trade and enforcing treaties. I believe that its a carrot and stick.

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He will go to China [and] Pacific Rim countries and he will say we are going to make a better deal and that deal is going to be in your interest but in our interest too. He will not want international government bodies. America has to act in its own self-interest. He will insist on following the rules. As you know China steals intellectual property rights left and right. Theyre unreliable. He will insist on tax fairness taxi equality. Thats a huge issue with Mexico and China. Mr. Trump would only use tariffs as an absolute last resort not as a first resort, Kudlow says.

Were never going to revive 1950s manufacturing.

As for manufacturing, Kudlow says, Were never going to revive 1950s manufacturing. On the other hand we have a first rate energy sector which is all about manufacturing and Trumps is going take the handcuffs off that including President Obamas most regrettable regulatory initiativeoffshore drilling.

The result according to Kudlow? I think you will see faster growth. If you start lifting costly regulations, you will see companies come alive. Youll see animal spirits come alive. The incentive model works in my view and thats your biggest job creator is a faster growth rate.

I also asked him if economic policy could actually bring the nation back together? Growth heals, he says. Growth is enormously important for our attitudes. I think the best way to do this is to have bipartisan support for the tax cut and to reach across the aisle. I really do. We need greater civility in our public discourse and our politics. Ive worked with Republicans and Democrats my whole career.

Interesting to note that Kudlow, known for sometimes being combative as television commentator, is now the one talking about offering the olive branch.
HONOLULU (AP)  The Latest on President Barack Obama's annual two-week vacation in Hawaii (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

After working out at the gym, President Barack Obama is spending the seventh day of his holiday vacation in Hawaii hitting the links at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Club at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The president is golfing with friends Darrell Harrington, Bobby Titcomb and Greg Orme. It's a comfortable 73 degrees, with partly cloudy skies. The Kaneohe Klipper is an 18-hole course, where golfers have views of the Koolau mountains and the Pacific coastline.

The first family is spending its annual two-week winter vacation on the island of Oahu in Obama's home state.

8:15 a.m.

President Barack Obama is starting off the seventh day of his Hawaii vacation working out at the gym at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Obama's motorcade left his Kailua vacation rental home and arrived at the base a few minutes later. A few onlookers waved and took photos as the motorcade passed by.

It's partly cloudy with temperatures in the low 70s around Oahu's Kaneohe Bay, on the east side of the island.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Donald Trump is reacting to a decision by the United States mission to the United Nations to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The president-elect took to Twitter following the U.N. Security Council vote Friday saying, briefly, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th."

Trump didn't elaborate, however the move by the Obama administration brushes aside Trump's demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

Trump told The Associated Press last December that he wanted to be "very neutral" on Israel-Palestinian issues. But his tone became decidedly more pro-Israel as the campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.
Donald Trump speaking at a rally in Wisconsin earlier this month. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

Theres never a dull moment when a gilded finger is on the red button.

When asked to clarify his stance on expanding the United States nuclear arsenal, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly touted the possibility of an arms race  not unlike the ominous standoff between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Let it be an arms race, because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all, Trump said Friday morning, according to Morning Joe co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough.

In an off-air phone conversation, Brzezinski had asked Trump to address a tweet from Thursday about building up the nations nuclear capabilities.

The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

Trumps apparent policy contradicts decades of U.S. policy regarding nuclear proliferation and the countrys international commitments.

The Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) went into force in 1970 addressing three major concerns in the Atomic Age: disarmament, nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Virtually every state in the world agreed that countries with nuclear weapons would work toward disarmament, countries without nuclear weapons would not seek them and all countries would be able to use peaceful nuclear technology.

In April 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed the United States commitment to the principles and the goals of the NPT during a speech at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

I am pleased to stand here today representing a president and an administration that is committed to the vision of a world without nuclear weapons and to taking the prudent actions that are necessary to one day make that possible, Kerry said.

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Trumps campaign manager Kellyanne Conway discussed the president-elects disconcerting tweet during a heated interview with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow on Thursday, the day she was appointed counselor to the president.

Maddow suggested that if the U.S. announced a U-turn on nuclear policy, then countries like India and Pakistan might move their nuclear weapons to launch status. Thats what has happened, she said, when presidents even joke about nuclear weapons.

Were getting ahead of ourselves, Rachel, Conway replied.

Maddow said that Trump announcing on Twitter that he wanted to expand the nations nuclear arsenal is a big deal, and that Trump doesnt seem to know what hes talking about on that issue.

Conway said that in a perfect world they wouldnt need to talk about nukes, but that this is not a perfect world.

In the world in which we live, which is not perfect, in fact, its very dangerous and very uncertain, I hope we can all agree, military might has been one of the ways to deter people from doing bad things, she said.

According to Conway, Trump may have been echoing actions President Obama has taken to upgrade our weapons systems (although Trumps comment to Brzezinski the following morning suggests he actually wants to amass more nukes).

She took issue with Maddow scrutinizing what Trump says on social media as if it were the official policy of his administration.

I think that were getting a little too far ahead of ourselves that hes changing policy and making policy in a way that he did not intend, Conway said.

Maddow fired back: The president making policy happens whenever the president speaks on a national security matter.

Political strategist Sean Spicer, who was recently named Trumps White House press secretary, was asked to address the recent nuclear fiasco during an appearance on Today on Friday morning. He said the president-elect will take action to make sure that American interests are protected.

Were not going to sit back as a country and allow other countries to expand their nuclear capability, he said.

Spicer added that Trump only plans to expand the countrys nuclear stockpile if other countries dont come to their senses.

Other countries need to be put on notice that he is not going to sit back and allow them to undermine our safety, our sovereignty, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Trump several times during his annual end of the year news conference. He said that there was nothing unusual about Trump talking about strengthening the U.S. nuclear arsenal and armed forces. He said Russia would not compete in an arms race because it would not be able to keep up.

If anyone is unleashing an arms race, its not us, Putin said. We will never spend resources on an arms race that we cant afford.

As with many of Trumps proposals, the backlash has been swift and fierce.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told CNNs New Day that Trump could create chaos for international relations if he keeps tweeting certain things at 5 a.m. that his press people need to roll back at 7 a.m., only to be undermined by another tweet at 9 a.m.

Another recent example of this confusion is how Trump insisted Thursday that he still plans to drain the swamp, directly contradicting former House Speaker Newt Gingrichs claim a day earlier that he abandoned the slogan.
By Carolyn Crist Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) individuals are disproportionately incarcerated, mistreated and sexually victimized in U.S. jails and prisons, researchers say. Just the proportion of women in prisons and jails identifying as lesbian and bisexual is eight times greater than the 3.4 percent of U.S. women overall who identify as lesbian or bisexual, they found. The high rate was so shocking, I had to check it three times to make sure we werent making any mistakes, said lead study author Ilan Meyer, the Williams Distinguished Senior Scholar for Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Weve received mixed reactions, and some people still dont believe it, he told Reuters Health. However, there is no reason to suspect it or think theres an error. Meyer and colleagues drew data from the 2011-2012 National Inmate Survey, which interviewed a representative sample of people in U.S. prisons and jails. Their analysis found that rates of incarceration for lesbian, gay and bisexual people were 1,882 per 100,000. That is more than three times the already high incarceration rate of 612 per 100,000 U.S. population, the authors write in the American Journal of Public Health. Importantly, the data distinguishes between sexual orientation, sexual identity and sexual behavior, Meyer said. Not everyone who has had a same-sex experience identifies as gay, and we were able to look at several measures. In total, sexual minorities - LGBT individuals or those who reported a same-sex sexual experience before arrival at the facility - represented 9.3 percent of all men in prison, 6.2 percent of men in jail, 42.1 percent of women in prison and 35.7 percent of women in jail. Since the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics has collected data about the sexual victimization of inmates. Jails are short-term facilities that hold inmates for trial, sentencing or terms less than one year for misdemeanors, and prisons are long-term facilities that hold inmates and felons for terms longer than one year. Meyers and his coauthors cite past Bureau analyses of their own survey data that found 12 percent of incarcerated sexual minorities say theyve been sexually victimized by another inmate and 5 percent say theyve been sexually victimized by staff, as compared with 1.2 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively, of heterosexual inmates. Sexual minorities were also more likely to experience solitary confinement and to report psychological distress, the new study found. The data showed as well that sexual minorities were more likely than heterosexual prisoners to report sexual victimization as a child and to be incarcerated for violent sexual and nonsexual crimes rather than crimes related to property, drugs or parole violations. This raises a lot of questions and a call-to-action for policy changes in both jails and prisons, Meyer said. In a similar way were discussing race and incarceration, the experience seems to be different across the whole criminal justice process for minorities. In both prisons and jails, lesbian or bisexual women were sentenced to longer periods of time than straight women. Gay or bisexual men were also more likely than straight men to have sentences longer than 10 years in prison. The burning question is: How did such a high proportion of LGB men and women end up incarcerated? Meyer said. Where is the root of this? Future research should investigate the pathways that lead LGBT men and women to incarceration, including the effects of prejudice, stigma and social disadvantage, he said. The study authors speculate that prejudice toward sexual minorities may lead to discriminatory treatment, from initial contact with law enforcement, such as overpolicing of sexual offenses. Also, family rejection, illegal drug use and community-level marginalization may increase the risk of incarceration. For women in particular, failing to conform to societal norms of femininity, such as being labeled as masculine, aggressive or threatening, may lead to differences in treatment in the criminal justice system the study team writes. We need to understand whether there are biases ingrained in our court system that lead to sexual minorities being handled in a different way, Meyer said. With race, this is nothing new, and now were seeing its also true for the sexual minority population.
By PTI: Harsha de Silva, the deputy foreign minister, had said of

Harsha de Silva, the deputy foreign minister, had said of the opposition the ETCA: "It must be noted that Sri Lankas exports to India have been rising in the past few years... Signing the ETCA would, therefore, strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries. Rejecting the agreement would undoubtedly affect this market."

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Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, too, has boldly dismissed any misgivings about ETCA during her visit to Sri Lanka in September.

Another area of concern in Indo-Lanka ties this year remained the complexities associated with the ongoing fishermen issue. The dispute has earlier escalated tension, and brings to the equation the issue of ceding Kachchatheevu to Sri Lanka by India in 1974.

Sri Lankans are averse to permit licensed Indian fishermen to fish within a "designated area" in their waters. "We are not in agreement with this," Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has said.

It has been argued that moderates in Sri Lanka and India want a settlement and ensure the livelihood of fishermen are protected, yet the official response of both the governments to the fishermens dialogue has been lukewarm.

Soon before the navy chiefs visit to Sri Lanka, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Beijing to meet top Chinese leadership. Before he began his visit, he accused India of adopting a "softer line" towards his successor President Maithripala Sirisena.

Rajapaksa mentioned to reporters in Colombo the "tension" his administration encountered with India.

"They (India) were furious when (Chinese) submarines docked at Colombo. From what I know, the Chinese inform the Indian embassy in Beijing before a submarines enters the Indian Ocean. But they made a huge cry about it."

China was Rajapaksas main international ally when it supported him at international fora and funded his mega development projects, mainly in his home district of Hambantota. Rajapaksa, during his two terms in office, was widely perceived as being close to Beijing.

And his visit to China assumed significance in the wake of a recent public spat between Beijing and Colombo. Chinese Ambassador to Colombo Yi Xianliang had called a rare press conference and criticised Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake for his statement that Chinese had lent money to Rajapaksa government at high rates of interest.

The challenge for Sri Lanka, as earlier, is to establish a state of relative equilibrium in its relations with India and China. PTI CORR ABH AKJ NSA

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LONDON (AP)  Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his anguish over the plight of children in war-shattered Syria and made a donation to help fund emergency supplies in Aleppo.

The Real Madrid and Portugal star's "generous donation" will fund food, clothing and medical care for families in Aleppo and across Syria, Save the Children said Friday.

"This is for the children of Syria," Ronaldo said in a video message posted to his social media accounts Friday. "We know that you have been suffering a lot. I am a very famous player, but you are the true heroes. Don't lose your hope. The world is with you. We care about you. I am with you."

Aleppo has witnessed four years of brutal fighting between rebels and government forces until Thursday when opposition fighters left, putting the government in full control for the first time since 2012.

"Cristiano Ronaldo's generous donation will help us to support children from Aleppo and across Syria, who have suffered things children should never have to live through," Save the Children director Nick Finney said in a statement.

"We are tremendously grateful for his life-changing support. Ronaldo is not only one of the world's most iconic sports figures, but he also has become a beacon of hope for millions of boys and girls worldwide  and hope is something that Syria's children need now more than ever."

Street fighting and punishing aerial bombardments in Aleppo saw hospitals bombed and tens of thousands of homes and apartments become uninhabitable.
Valletta (AFP) - Two men used fake weapons Friday to hijack a Libyan plane with 117 people on board and divert it to Malta, before releasing everyone and surrendering, officials said.

The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 was en route from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli when it was taken over and forced to fly to Malta, sparking a four-hour runway standoff.

While they were initially thought to have used a real grenade and at least one pistol to stage the hijacking, it later emerged that the pair used fake weapons, a Maltese government statement said.

"Initial forensic investigations about the attempted hijack... show that the weapons used were identical replica weapons," the statement said.

"The operation to ensure that the aircraft is safe from explosives or other arms is still ongoing."

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the two men, probably of Libyan nationality, were arrested.

Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala from the fledgling national unity government said the two were supporters of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, whose death in 2011 has plunged Libya into chaos.

Siala said they wanted to set up a pro-Kadhafi political party and would ask for political asylum in Malta, although Muscat said they had not done so.

The plane landed at Malta International Airport at 11:34 am (1034 GMT), with 109 passengers, six crew and the two hijackers on board.

All flights in and out of the island were temporarily shut down while the Maltese military conducted negotiations.

- No demands -

The plane stood immobile for around an hour on a secondary runway surrounded by military vehicles, before a door opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending from a mobile staircase.

Dozens more passengers followed minutes later.

Muscat said the hijackers were told there would be no negotiations unless all passengers were set free.

After releasing all the passengers and two of the crew members, the hijackers held only the four staff "for a period of time," he said.

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Following further negotiations "the hijackers agreed to free the remaining members of the crew and to surrender," he continued, adding that "the hijackers did not make any requests".

Armed Maltese military personnel were later seen storming the plane.

All passengers and crew members would be interrogated before a charter flight takes them back to Libya, Muscat said.

Hijackings have become relatively rare since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States led to increased security on flights.

Other recent hijackings have been carried out by individuals for reasons ranging from personal to political, and almost all ended swiftly and safely.

In the most recent incident in March, a man hijacked an EgyptAir flight from Alexandria to Cairo and forced it to land in Cyprus so he could see his ex-wife.

Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa was described as "psychologically unstable" and claimed to have explosives strapped to his waist, but gave himself up after releasing fellow travellers.

In February 2014, an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome with 202 people on board was diverted by its unarmed copilot to Geneva where he asked for asylum.

- Libyan planes banned in Europe -

During the crisis, Muscat spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's unity government.

Flights into Malta were diverted to different airports in Italy and outgoing ones were delayed.

Services later resumed after what Malta International Airport called "an unlawful interference".

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines -- banned from European airspace -- operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  A Fort Worth man has been arrested in Colorado on capital murder charges for the slayings last week of his wife and their 3-month-old son at their Texas home.

Fort Worth authorities say 35-year-old Craig Vandewege was pulled over for a traffic stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, after police received a call Wednesday night that a man at a convenience store was talking about a murder. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (http://bit.ly/2hhSEt6 ) he was carrying two pistols and had two other firearms in his car.

Authorities aren't saying what evidence they have linking Vandewege to the deaths of his 36-year-old wife, Shanna, and their son, Diederick. Both had their throats slit. Their funerals were this week in Colorado.

Vandewege was being held Thursday on $1 million bail.

___

Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com
By PTI: Vijayawada, Dec 23 (PTI) YSR Congress MLA Uppuleti Kalpana today joined ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh in the presence of party national president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who formally re-admitted her into the party.

She represents the Pamarru (SC) Assembly constituency in Krishna district and becomes the 21st MLA from YSRC to cross over to the ruling party since February this year.

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Kalpana was a member of the TDP and unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls twice in 2004 and 2009.

She joined the YSRC ahead of the 2014 elections and won the Pamarru seat.

Despite being in the opposition party, she maintained good relations with her former colleagues in the TDP and for the past few months had been toying with the idea of returning to the parent party.

With Chandrababu giving the go-ahead, she formally returned to the TDP today.

Kalpana said she joined the TDP to develop her constituency.

"As an opposition MLA, I couldnt develop the constituency and hence decided to return to my parent party," she claimed.

TDP state president Kala Venkata Rao was also present on the occasion. PTI DBV DK DK SDM

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Police are asking for the publics help in locating the person responsible for setting a fire inside a gas station in northern California that killed a 54-year-old man, PEOPLE confirms.

On Wednesday evening, fire and police officials responded to reports of an active structure fire at the Rocky Ledge Shell Station in Johnson Park, California. Inside they found employee David Wicks, who had suffered severe burns.

A statement from the Shasta County Sheriffs Department claims that Wicks was treated at the scene before being transferred by air to a nearby hospital, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.

Homicide detectives worked through the night to determine the cause of the blaze.

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.

The statement claims surveillance video was also recovered from the scene. According to police, the footage  captured just prior to the arson  shows an unknown subject walking through the gas stations convenience store, spraying some sort of substance on the merchandise racks.

Investigators contend Wicks was also doused with the flammable fluid.

The statement alleges that, in the video, the suspect is seen backing out of the store. Wicks emerges from behind a counter area, the statement reads. The suspect continues to spray fluid on the floor. The suspect then ignites the fluid causing a fire. The fire engulfs Wicks and the surrounding area.

Police have yet to disclose a potential motive for the deadly blaze, and are not sure if Wicks was specifically targeted by his killer.

 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.

The video shows the suspect leaving on a black colored bicycle, westbound from the store, reads the statement. The suspect has not been identified and the suspects description is limited due to the suspect concealing his/her identity in the surveillance video.

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Police have recovered the getaway bicycle, finding it dumped just four blocks from the fire scene. A photograph of the bike was released to local media.

Authorities ask that anyone with any information about the crime contact them via phone at (530) 245-6135 or email your tip to mcu@co.shasta.ca.us.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

A GoFundMe page has been established to raise money for the family Wicks left behind.




When Anthony van der Meer had his phone stolen, he realized how much personal information the thief had instantly obtained. So, he allowed another phone be stolen, but first he installed spyware on the device, enabling him to track it.

The spyware allowed him to remotely control and monitor use of the phone, and learn intimate details about the thief. The filmmaker turned the entire process in a short film called Find My Phone. In the film, van der Meer follows the man who stole his phone from Amsterdam to Berlin and France, reading his messages and watching his conversations in real-time.

Van der Meer installed an app called Cerberus on his phone, which allowed him to track its location, create backups of texts and phone logs and remotely control the camera on the stolen device. Van der Meer told Storyful that after liaising with Cerberus, he was able to install a version of the app on the stolen phone that would make the app undetectable to users of the device.

Van der Meer began to feel sympathy for the man, and even topped up the call credit in the phone during the night. However, after seeing him in person, the film graduate quickly lost all sympathy for the man and realized he didnt know him at all. Eventually, he ended his surveillance of the thief.

Van der Meers film has quickly gone viral on social media, amassing over one millions since it was posted on December 13. Credit: YouTube/Anthony van der Meer via Storyful
A man has penned a heart-wrenching tribute to his girlfriend who was killed before they could announce that she was pregnant with their first child.

Kylee Bruce, 24, was killed in a car crash in Deschutes County, Oregon, Tuesday evening, just days before Christmas.

Read: Parents Killed in Icy Car Crash on Way to See Son Who Was Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision

After she passed away, her boyfriend, Brandon Forseth, revealed in a Facebook post that their unborn child had been killed too. He shared the heartbreaking news by posting a photo of an ultrasound image resting on three stockings labelled "Brandon," "Kylee" and "Baby."

They were going to tell their loved ones about the pregnancy in just two weeks.

"You made me promise not to announce our baby to the world until 20 weeks when we found out the sex," he wrote. "We were going to make a funny announcement video and share it with everyone. You were 18 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I lost you both last night."

Since he wrote the public post on Wednesday, it has been shared more than 200,000 times.

It continued: "Even though I hadn't met my baby, the amount of love and excitement I had in my heart was unlike anything I'd ever felt. Listening to its heartbeat for the first time on the ultrasound, staring at the ultrasound pictures on my fridge in awe of the little life growing inside of you.

"I couldn't wait to be a father and I felt so blessed everyday that it would grow up with you as its mother."

He remembered how committed Bruce had been to their baby.

"I could feel the warmth and purpose our child gave you, and I knew I needed to be the best man I could possibly be for both of you, to keep you comfortable and safe," he wrote.

Bruce was killed on Tuesday when she tried to overtake another car, according to an Oregon State Police news release. Instead, she lost control of her vehicle and it slid sideways into the path of oncoming traffic. She collided with two other cars and died at the scene.

Story continues

Read: 'Rot in Hell': Mom of Slain Pregnant Woman Speaks Out Against Her Daughter's Ex and Suspected Killer

The drivers of the other vehicles were taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

I know youll be the best Mom in heaven to our little one when he/she is born in June," Forseth continued. "I wish I could see its little face just one time. I know it would have been beautiful just like its mother...

"Rest in Peace Kylee Bruce. Rest in Peace, Braylee or Talon, daddy loves you so so very much."

The family is raising money for Kylee's memorial and funeral expenses on Gofundme.

Watch: 'Mrs. Claus' Killed in Car Wreck After Visiting Children

Related Articles:
Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday he is willing to let midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin leave Old Trafford amid interest from Premier League rivals West Bromwich Albion.

No deal can be officially completed until the new year, when the transfer window is open, and the two clubs will have to finalise terms over his departure after 18 months at Old Trafford.

But Schneiderlin is destined to leave after telling Mourinho he wants to quit United for regular first-team football.

"Yeah," said Mourinho when asked if he would consider the offer. "He is a great professional, fantastic boy, very honest, very open and opens his heart a couple of times.

"My answer is simple: if he's playing regular with me I have the right to say no way. If he's not playing regular I have no right to tell a player that wants to be happy -a to say to a player you're going nowhere.

"My answer was, if the offer is right and our board thinks that the offer is a good offer in relation to the quality of a very good player like Morgan, I would not stop him to go."

French international midfielder Schneiderlin, 27, joined United when Louis van Gaal was in charge in the summer of 2015 in a deal that could have reached a reported A27 million (31.7m euros, $33m).

However, it had quickly become apparent that Mourinho saw no future for him in a new-look United style and Schneiderlin, along with Dutch winger Memphis Depay, looks increasingly certain to leave the club next month.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has echoed the complaints of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger over the holiday period fixture list that seems to favour current league leaders Chelsea.

Antonio Conte's side play three games over a 10-day period due to their games being staggered by television coverage, while United and Arsenal must play three times in eight days and Liverpool three in seven.

At least Mourinho's position is strengthened by injured players returning to fitness with Luke Shaw his only current absentee.

Story continues

The central defensive position that has caused him so many problems this season has been strengthened with Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind all fit and available.

"The busy period is for some clubs, not for everyone," said Mourinho of Chelsea's fixtures. "If you analyse the fixtures there is no congestion for them.

"It looks like the fixtures are chosen to give rest for some and to create problems to others.

"But we are used to it because we are in the Europa League and the Europa League is a competition that creates more difficulties a- we know that, Southampton know that, Tottenham will know that later.

"For us it's more of the same.

"It's good for us to have everyone available but Luke Shaw and he's not far away."
By Liana B. Baker and Heather Somerville

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Yext, a software startup that helps businesses manage their location-based internet profiles, has hired banks to help prepare for an initial public offering that could come as early as next year, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Yext will join a wave of software IPOs expected next year, after a dismal 2016 in which only a handful of such companies went public.

New York-based Yext, which has not yet filed for an IPO, has hired Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan Chase & Co to lead the offering, the sources said.

The sources, who asked not to be named because the matter is private, cautioned that the company's plans could change. Yext, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan could not be immediately reached for comment.

Founded in 2006 by Howard Lerman, who is the company's chief executive, Yext makes software that keeps track of local listings for businesses. If a store moves location, Yext's software will update the address change automatically across various internet search platforms, saving time for business owners. Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, restaurant chain Denny's Corp and mobile carrier T-Mobile are among its customers, according to its website.

Yext generated $89 million in revenue in its last fiscal year, a 48 percent increase from a year prior. Early in the year the company said it was on pace to eclipse $100 million in annual revenue.

The company has more than $100 million in venture funding from backers that include Insight Venture Partners, Marker LLC, Institutional Venture Partners and Sutter Hill Ventures. It last raised $50 million in 2014, valuing it at about $525 million, according to press reports at the time.

Yext has been expanding in Europe and said earlier this month it hired a senior sales executive from Oracle Corp. in Europe to lead expansion efforts there.

(Reporting by Liana B. Baker and Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Lauren Hirsch in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Marriott International, Inc. MAR announced the opening of its new hotel under the Four Points brand in Cleveland, OH. The Four Points Cleveland Airport marks the brands debut in Cleveland and fourth in the state of Ohio.



The property has been developed by NextGen Hotels and encompasses 147 guest rooms, flexible meeting space, a fitness center, a business center, an indoor heated pool and the brand's iconic Best Brews and BBQ restaurant. Moreover, the hotel is conveniently located in close proximity to the airport and downtown, and expects to meet mounting demand for premium lodging by both business and leisure travelers.



Four Points popularity with travelers and flexible development options has now led to the brand having more than 200 hotels in over 30 countries. It is one of the 30 leading brands under Marriotts operation and is on track to expand its portfolio of rooms by nearly 60% in the next five years with new hotels strategically positioned in diverse locations across the world. In fact, there are over 20 hotels expected to open in North America itself by 2017 end.



Notably, after announcing the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts on Sep 23, Marriott has becomes the worlds largest hotel company, spanning across 120 countries with over 6,000 properties. Shares of the company have gained over 22% since the date, while Marriotts peer group has gained less than 7% in the same time frame, depicting the positive effect of the acquisition.









Meanwhile, with the boost in the economy and an improvement in business and leisure travel, Marriott is well poised to grow in the near as well as long term. The companys significant international exposure and an aggressive buyback strategy add to the positives. Further, its investments in technology for hotel bookings would improve guest experience, thereby boosting occupancy.



However, revenue growth at Marriott might get restricted as lingering political uncertainty in key international markets and significant currency headwinds are affecting most of the hoteliers including Hyatt Hotels Corp. H, Hilton Worldwide Holdings HLT, Wyndham Worldwide Corp. WYN, etc.



Marriott currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .



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The family of Marvin Gaye doesn't believe that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams should get a do-over of the "Blurred Lines" trial. But if there's to be one, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was told on Thursday that Gaye's copyright on "Got to Give It Up" is hardly thin and that the family deserves the opportunity to introduce as evidence the sound recording made by the Motown legend. In fact, the latter issue is described in an appellate brief as an "important and timely" one in the music industry.

Thicke and Williams are challenging the fairness of a trial examining whether they lifted substantial portions of Gaye's 1977 chart-topper. The litigation featured the "Blurred Lines" creators explaining away their comments to the media about heading into the recording studio with Gaye's song on their minds. During a deposition, Thicke conceded he didn't consider himself to be an honest person. At trial, Gaye's family had musicologists pointing to the similarities in the respective songs. A jury came back with a $7.4 million verdict, which was later trimmed down to $5.3 million plus ongoing royalties by a judge.

In August, the losing side presented the stakes to the 9th Circuit as being a "chill" on musical creativity if the verdict stood. They also spoke about a "cascade of legal errors" they claim resulted in a jury considering unprotected elements. More than 200 musicians are supporting the "Blurred Lines" creators and arguing that the judgment has eradicated "the line between permissible inspiration and unlawful copying."

Now, it's the Gaye family's turn to make arguments. A parade of their supporters in the musical community could be following with an echo of this proposition from the brief filed Thursday: "This case stands for no more and no less than the fact that the original work of an artist may not be appropriated without consent and fair compensation."

As a preliminary matter, Gaye attorney Richard Busch contends that the other side's attempt to appeal the judge's summary judgment ruling - the one before trial - is improper and that the 9th Circuit can't "turn back the clock" to ignore the factual record at trial and the final judgment. Nevertheless, he believes the judge made the correct call in sending the case to a jury and applied the proper standards.

For example, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt declined to force the Gayes to demonstrate that the songs were virtually identical to each other under the theory that "Got to Give It Up" was only entitled to a "thin" copyright.

"A music copyright is not 'thin,'" states the brief, also taking aim at an amicus brief submitted by the nonprofit group Public Knowledge. "Music is imaginative, not strictly factual or functional. ... Not surprisingly, the Thicke Parties fail to cite a single case applying the virtual identify doctrine to an original musical work."

In truth, as much as the "Blurred Lines" case may have provoked discussion about boundaries in songcraft, the appeal will largely focus on a technical, if important, aspect of copyright law. Before trial, Kronstadt ruled that Gaye's copyright was limited to what was expressed by the lead sheet music. That's because until 1978, the U.S. Copyright Office would only accept written notation as the deposit copy when a registration was filed. Submitting books is easy, but how about sound recordings (not to mention paintings, software or architecture)? Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" was one of the last recordings made that the Copyright Office wouldn't accept.

That led to much fighting between the parties about admissible evidence in the days leading up to the trial - something that was later reprised when Led Zeppelin faced its own trial for allegedly infringing an non-deposited sound recording to create "Stairway to Heaven."

Judge Kronstadt attempted to split the middle with a decision that left neither side truly satisfied. He ruled that the Gayes couldn't let the jury hear the original recording, but allowed them to play a version stripped of anything (like percussion and backup vocals) not expressed in the sheet music.

On appeal, both sides are rehashing what happened, which could provide clarity about the scope of the "Got to Give It Up" copyright, and relatedly, what a fair copyright trial looks like.

Thicke and Williams assert that while the judge properly limited the scope, testimony from the musicologists hired by the Gayes nevertheless introduced opinions about the sound recording, and thus allowed unprotected elements to be weighed by a jury. Their lawyer Howard King argues to the 9th Circuit that the judge then compounded the problem by not adequately instructing the jury to distinguish between protectable and unprotectable material in its analysis of the substantial similarity of the songs.

The Gayes move in the complete opposite direction by arguing that if anything, the judgment limiting the scope and precluding the playing of the original recording favored the other side and was in error. While the Gaye family is satisfied by the outcome of a trial that saw its musicologists talking about a "constellation" of similarities in the songs - signature phrases, hooks, themes, keyboard parts, bass melody, etc. - there's still some hard feelings, pardon the gruesome metaphor, from having the judge cut off a leg before they ran to trial.

Does the recording belong within the scope of the copyright, and even if not, should it have been permitted as the best evidence of what was copyrighted?

"The issue is of considerable importance for the many studio compositions created before 1978," states the brief. "If protection turns on the happenstance of a decades-old (and long since abandoned) Copyright Office practice, along with the degree of attentiveness of the transcriber, an open invitation to taking will be the consequence."

It's further argued that the purpose of requiring a deposit with the Copyright Office is merely "archival," identifying the work in question, and furnishing the government with an opportunity to assess the copyrightability of an applicant's work.

"What the deposit requirement does not do is define the scope of the copyright," writes Busch.

He also adds that the fundamental purpose of copyright laws is served by protecting the work of artists without regard to their music literacy. In the brief, it's noted that Gaye never wrote sheet music. In fact, he didn't know how to read music. The sheet music itself was created by someone the publisher had hired.

"Marvin Gaye is hardly the only Hall of Fame artist and composer who did not read or write notation," states a footnote. "Motown founder and music guru Berry Gordy did not read music. Nor did Michael Jackson or Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton. The King, Elvis Presley, was yet another legend who composed before sound recordings could be deposited and did not know how to read or write musical notation. They and countless others created timeless, unique and original compositions before 1978. No doubt all would be surprised to learn that their compositions are protected only to the extent that a transcriber happened to notate elements on a lead sheet."

The brief goes on to address other issues presented by Thicke and Williams including a jury instruction about subconscious copying, whether there was proper support for the award of actual damages, whether an awarding of profits was reasonable and whether a running royalty constituted an abuse of discretion. In addition to all this, the Gayes are asking the 9th Circuit to take up the judge's refusal to award attorneys' fees in light of a recent Supreme Court decision.

Read in full here.
By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - A proposed Muslim cemetery in rural central Massachusetts will go forward after the town that fought the idea for most of the year and the Islamic society that proposed the plan reached a deal, the two sides said on Friday.

The agreement will allow the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester to buy a 55-acre (22.3-hectare) site where it plans to build a 6 acre (2.4 hectares) cemetery in the town of Dudley, located about 50 miles (80.5 km) southwest of Boston along the Connecticut border.

Some in the community expressed discomfort with the idea of a Muslim institution, an objection town officials said played no role in the delay.

Muslim communities around the United States have faced similar resistance to new mosques and other properties, and the U.S. Justice Department this month filed suits against local governments in New Jersey, Virginia and Michigan accusing them of using zoning laws to block construction of proposed mosques.

"We are pleased that this 11-month saga has come to an end," said Jay Talerman, an attorney for the Islamic Society, in a phone interview. "The town is recognizing and acknowledging that our clients are proposing a beneficial and permitted use that is protected by the Massachusetts and U.S. Constitutions."

The Islamic Society proposed the cemetery early this year but, after a months-long review process that included heated public meetings, filed suit in state land court, saying the town was restricting the group's right to free expression of its religion.

Dudley officials said their review was focused on issues including whether the cemetery would affect local drinking water.

The case attracted the attention of Massachusetts' top federal prosecutor, whose office opened a civil-rights investigation into the matter. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the right to free expression of religion.

"We want to stress that the town's sole interest and motivation has been for all parties to respect the legal and regulatory process, and has absolutely nothing to do with the religious affiliation of the applicant," said Jonathan Ruda, chair of Dudley's board of selectmen, in a statement.

Story continues

Both sides said the final review of the project would go forward next month and Talerman said the society hoped to break ground on the cemetery next spring. The deal would allow the society to expand the cemetery in ten years.

"Today is a good day for citizens of all beliefs," said Khalid Sadozai, a trustee of the Islamic Society. "Our right to practice our religion and honor loved ones in accordance with our Islamic faith has been affirmed."

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Andrew Hay)
GENEVA (Reuters) - A record 5,000 migrants are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea this year, following two shipwrecks on Thursday in which some 100 people, mainly West Africans, were feared dead, aid agencies said on Friday. Two overcrowded inflatable dinghies capsized in the Strait of Sicily after leaving Libya for Italy, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said. "Those two incidents together appear to be the numbers that would bring this year's total up to over to 5,000 (deaths), which is a new high that we have reported during this crisis," IOM spokesman Joel Millman told a Geneva briefing. The Italian coast guard rescued survivors and had recovered eight bodies so far, he said. IOM staff were interviewing survivors brought to Trapani, Italy, he added. Just under 3,800 migrants perished at sea during all of 2015, according to IOM figures. UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said the "alarming increase" in deaths this year appeared to be related to bad weather, the declining quality of vessels used by smugglers, and their tactics to avoid detection. "These (reasons also) include sending large numbers of embarkations simultaneously, which makes the work of rescuers more difficult," he said The UNHCR appealed to states to open up more legal pathways for admitting refugees. Resettlement programmes, private sponsorship, family reunification and student scholarships would help "so they do not have to resort to dangerous journeys and the use of smugglers", Spindler said. IOM figures show 358,403 migrants and refugees had entered Europe by sea in 2016 up to and including Dec. 21, arriving mostly in Greece and Italy. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Alison Williams and John Stonestreet)
Mercedes will be making the CASE' for autonomous driving, ride-sharing electric mobility and the car as an element of future healthcare when the doors to the 2017 International Consumer Electronics Show (International CES) open in Las Vegas on January 5.

CASE -- Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Service and Electric Drive -- is the carmaker's newly created corporate strategy for bringing together all of the megatrends that are set to disrupt the traditional concept of the privately owned, gasoline-powered motorcar. And of course, ensuring that Mercedes is at the forefront of any innovations regarding these changes.

"Our CASE strategy will help us to shape the future of mobility," said Daimler board member Ola Kallenius. "Our notion of mobility will change more dramatically in the next five to ten years than in the preceding 50."

The biggest immediate changes will be the move from fossil fuels to more environmentally friendly forms of propulsion, and from driving to being driven.

Therefore Mercedes-Benz will be bringing its concept EQ fully electric SUV (which debuted at the Paris Motor Show in September) and its Mercedes-Benz Vision Van -- a physical study of the autonomous, networked cargo carrier of the future -- to the event. But that's just the start.

Greater autonomy means that cars need greater networking capabilities -- to connect to other cars, the infrastructure, their owners and soon, their homes.

Mercedes has already managed to integrate its cars with Google Home, holding the first media demonstration on December 16.

From January when the feature goes live, Mercedes owners with a smart home and Google's connected speaker can simply inquire about their car's fuel levels, inside temperature, battery charge levels; or unlock the doors form the comfort of their living rooms.

"This newest integration shows just how intelligent the car of the future will be, and we plan to roll out more applications as the year progresses that will make daily life even more accessible and convenient," said Sajjad Khan, Daimler's VP for digital vehicles and mobility.

But why stop there? The same technology that underpins smart homes, wearable technology and active driver safety features will also enable services such as ride and car sharing and with it an opportunity to show how, as Mercedes describes it, "Society's growing health consciousness can be intelligently combined with future mobility."

"The objective is to make the car a platform for future mobility concepts and a space that offers a digital experience. The car of the future must be networked, autonomous, emissions-free and deliver the possibility of shared mobility," said Kallenius.
Berlin (AFP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday ordered a sweeping review of Germany's security apparatus, which has drawn withering criticism after a known jihadist killed 12 people in a Berlin Christmas market.

Anger has mounted since it emerged chief suspect Tunisian Anis Amri, 24 -- who was shot dead Friday by police in Milan -- was a known radical Islamist and criminal who had long been under counter-terrorism surveillance on suspicion he was plotting an attack.

Critics have also pointed to a two-day delay before authorities issued a public wanted notice for the fugitive, as well as the fact the rejected asylum seeker should have been deported long ago.

Amid the fierce criticism, Merkel pledged a "comprehensive" analysis of what went wrong.

"The Amri case raises questions -- questions that are not only tied to this crime but also to the time before, since he came to Germany in July 2015" from Italy, she said.

"We will now intensively examine to what extent official procedures need to be changed."

Merkel said she had ordered justice and interior ministers at the federal and state level to "analyse every aspect of the case and present their conclusions as soon as possible" so that reforms, where needed, could be agreed and implemented quickly.

The German leader said she had also spoken with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi by telephone to discuss anti-terror efforts and inform him that Germany would be "significantly accelerating" deportation of rejected asylum seekers.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas meanwhile pledged to examine "how to improve surveillance of potentially dangerous persons" and concrete steps to speed up deportations of illegal migrants.

-- 'Systemic failure' --

Politicians and newspapers have deplored the fact that Amri had slipped through the net of security services, who knew he had been in contact with Islamist "hate preachers" and, according to news weekly Der Spiegel, that he had offered himself for a suicide mission.

Story continues

German police had monitored Amri since March but dropped the surveillance in September thinking he was primarily as a small-time drug dealer.

Anger has also focused on the investigation since Monday's truck attack.

After following an initial false lead, police only found Amri's identity papers in the lorry's cabin a day after the attack, and authorities took another day before issuing a Europe-wide public wanted notice.

Merkel -- already under fire from right-wing populists over her liberal migrant policies -- can now expect the security debate to heat up ahead of an election expected in September.

Berlin's B.Z. tabloid charged in a blistering headline this week: "They knew him. They did nothing."

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of Merkel's migration policy, and Christian Lindner, head of the Free Democrats opposition party, charged that "catastrophic mistakes" had been made.

Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at the King's College, pointed to "a systemic failure", as security services lacked the manpower for around-the-clock surveillance of Germany's 550 known radical Islamists considered potentially violent.

"Germany's anti-terrorism structure is failing to match the scale of the problem," he said. "Once the dust settles, it will be important to have a fundamental rethink."

-- Islamist spy mole --

German police can point to several attacks they have, or may have, prevented this year.

On Friday they said they detained two Kosovo-born brothers on suspicion they planned to attack a shopping centre in Oberhausen near the Dutch border.

But the security services have also suffered a number of embarrassing failures.

In October, Syrian bomb plot suspect Jaber al-Bakr escaped a police raid and was only caught thanks to the help of other refugees who apprehended and bound him.

Days after his arrest, he was found hanged in his cell.

And last month Germany's domestic spy service unmasked a Spanish-born agent in its own ranks as a suspected Islamist. Media reports said he was also a former gay porn actor.

Criticism has also focused on Germany's over-burdened asylum and immigration services.

Amri's asylum request was denied in June but because Tunisia refused to take him back, denying he was a citizen, he was issued a stay of deportation paper -- the document that police found in the mangled truck cabin.

The new Tunisian travel document only arrived on Wednesday, two days after the attack.

Germany has repeatedly accused Tunisia and other north African states of stalling on the repatriation of their nationals.

A law to designate Tunisia, as well as Morocco and Algeria, as "safe countries of origin", to raise the bar for asylum requests, has been held up for months in Germany's upper house, over human rights concerns in the North African countries.
By Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) - The United States' only permanent nuclear waste disposal site got the go-ahead on Friday to resume operations nearly three years after a radiation leak shut down the New Mexico facility. The U.S. Department of Energy said in a statement that disposal of nuclear waste at the site near Carlsbad could begin again as early as next month, following two safety reviews and corrective actions. The announcement came one day after New Mexico state officials said they had given their approval for operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) to resume. The site in southeastern New Mexico was shut down indefinitely in February 2014, when a barrel of plutonium-contaminated debris entombed half a mile beneath the desert floor ruptured, spewing radiation that leaked to the surface. The accident, in which 22 workers were exposed, was the facility's worst mishap since it opened in 1999. "Tremendous credit should go to the WIPP workers for what we have accomplished this year," Phil Breidenbach, president and project manager for Nuclear Waste Partnership, which operates the site under a federal contract, said in the Friday statement. The site was built for the disposal of radioactive refuse generated for decades by the Department of Energy's network of nuclear weapons laboratories and development facilities. Department of Energy inspectors identified 21 issues that need to be resolved before the site could reopen. On Friday, the agency confirmed that the corrections at the site were made. Federal investigators who examined the 2014 accident cited chronic lapses in safety procedures that led to chemically incompatible materials, including organic kitty litter used as an absorbent, being packaged together in one of the waste drums sent to the disposal site from the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The mix of organic material and nitrate salts inside the barrel sparked a chemical reaction, causing a buildup of heat and gases that breached the container, the Department of Energy said in a report. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Richard Chang)
Michael Fassbender *almost* had a role in Star Wars and we have to know who he was supposed to play

Michael Fassbender is no stranger to fantasy franchises with X-Men, Alien, and (potentially) Assassins Creed. Yet, he could have been in the BIGGEST sci-fi franchise of all time since Fassbender was in talks to be in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Even though The Force Awakens was  you know  pretty AMAZING without the talented actor, now we cant help but wonder how it would have been if Fassbender had been handed a lightsaber.

In an interview for the MTV podcast Happy Sad Confused, Fassbender told Josh Horowitz that J.J. Abrams had talked to him about being in The Force Awakens, but Fassbender believes he was busy when the movie began filming. Although the star of Assassins Creed was coy and didnt unveil the name of the character, it sounds like he was considered for a specific part.

Our number one pick for the character that Fassbender could have been is General Armitage Hux.

In the film, this bad guy was portrayed with stone-cold creepiness and ruthlessness by Domhnall Gleeson.

Yet, cant you see Fassbender in the part?

Maybe its just because they both have red hair and are Irish, but we cant resist speculating that this would have been the role that Abrams and Fassbender discussed. Sure, it would have been a smaller-ish part for Fassbender, but he would have been buds with Adam Drivers leading villain  Kylo Ren.

What adds to the fun of this theory is that Fassbender and Gleeson have been in a movie together before  Frank. In it, Gleesons character joins Franks band (played by Fassbender), despite the fact that Frank wears a strange papier-mache head all the time.

While we are SO curious about what part Fassbender would have had in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it was a classy move not to reveal it. Because his early casting conversations shouldnt take away from the performances of any of the actors in the movie  including Gleesons.

However, if it was Hux, then this isnt the first time such rumors have existed since another ginger-ish actor, Eddie Redmayne, may have also been up for the role.

Welp, the force sure is strong with Gleeson. And dont worry about Fassbender  hes doing quite alright even if he couldnt make time in his busy schedule to be in Star Wars.

The post Michael Fassbender *almost* had a role in Star Wars and we have to know who he was supposed to play appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Miles Teller has reportedly been in a car crash  and hes Uber upset.

The 29-year-old actors Bronco flipped over Thursday night when a car driven by an Uber driver made a left turn in front of his car while he was driving in Californias San Fernando Valley, reports TMZ.

Teller and his longtime girlfriend Keleigh Sperry  who was in the passengers seat  both escaped the accident uninjured, reports TMZ. Two passengers in the Uber vehicle were taken to the hospital, complaining of minor injuries.

According to TMZ, police say drugs or alcohol did not play a factor in the crash, and that the accident was not Tellers fault.

This isnt the first time Teller has been involved in a major car crash. When he was a 20-year-old, between his sophomore and junior year of college, he was in an accident that almost took his life.

My buddy lost control of my car going 80 mph. We flipped eight times. I got ejected out the window. The car landed and I was just laying like 50 feet from the car, unconscious, covered in blood. My buddy thought I was dead, Teller told ABC News.

He explained he still has scars from the accident. I got scars on my face  I still have two rocks in my face, he explained, adding that doctor told him removing the rocks would cause more scaring.

The actor also sought out laser treatments for upwards of four years to improve the scarring  as they prevented him from getting acting roles early on in his career.

Tellers on-screen characters in both The Spectacular Now and Whiplash have also had a history of car accidents.
This Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 photo shows nine eight-wheeled Singapore-made Terrex infantry carrier vehicles seized at a container terminal in Hong Kong. Singapores army is sending a team to Hong Kong to secure the nine of its armored personnel carriers that were seized by customs authorities while in transit through the southern Chinese territory, the Defense Ministry said Friday, Nov. 25. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Singapores Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said Friday (23 December) that the government is awaiting resolution with its Hong Kong counterpart over the return of nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terrex infantry carrier vehicles (ICVs) seized in the Chinese territory.

In a statement, Mindef said, Over the past three weeks, the Singapore Government has communicated its formal position to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on the detention of SAF Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles and associated equipment by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department.

We await a full resolution of this matter and return of our property by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

The announcement comes after three previous meetings between container shipping firm APL and Hong Kong Customs lasting a total of 19 hours that did not yield any formal reasons for the seizure of the Terrex ICVs.

Mindef said on 6 December that the third meeting lasting six hours was held on the same day. It was unclear whether there were more meetings scheduled between 7 December and Fridays announcement.

APL had been contracted to transport the Terrex ICVs and associated equipment from Taiwan to Singapore. The vehicles were confiscated during a routine inspection at Hong Kongs Kwai Chung Terminal, during a stopover.

On 28 November, Beijing lodged an official diplomatic complaint with Singapore over its long-standing military ties with Taiwan. Singapore has sent its troops to Taiwan for training since the 1970s.
NORMANDY, Mo. (AP)  Authorities in the St. Louis area are searching for a 5-month-old girl after someone took off with the minivan she was in earlier this week.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (http://j.mp/2i090q3) the baby, Eden Brooke Hawthorne, was last seen in the 2006 Chrysler Town and Country van at a Church's Chicken in Normandy on Monday night.

Police say the mother rode to the restaurant with the baby and four other people. The mother and a man went inside the restaurant, and the minivan left with the baby inside.

The connection between the mother and the others in the van wasn't clear. A police alert issued Thursday describes their identities as "unknown." It's also unclear why the alert wasn't issued until Thursday or when the baby was reported missing.
RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco's government said on Thursday it was working to identify the authors of social media posts praising the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey this week. Ambassador Andrei Karlov was gunned down by an assassin while giving a speech in an art gallery in Ankara on Monday. Morocco has been trying to develop ties with Moscow as it seeks new business partners and builds support on the United Nations Security Council for its proposal to offer the disputed Western Sahara region autonomy under its sovereignty. "An investigation has been opened by authorities under the prosecutor's supervision to identify the people involved, and legal sanctions will follow," the interior and justice ministries said in a joint statement. The North African kingdom has been tracking militants since Islamic State seized whole regions of Syria and Iraq in 2014-15. Morocco sees itself as a partner to the West in the war on Islamic militancy, although hundreds of fighters from Morocco and elsewhere in North Africa have joined militant forces in Syria's civil war. Officially, Morocco is aligned with the Gulf Cooperation Council in its stance on the Syrian war but it has commented less on the conflict since the king visited Moscow earlier this year. The Gulf nations mostly back the rebel forces in Syria, while Russia has supported President Bashar al-Assad. But Morocco is divided internally over the Syrian conflict. Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane this month accused Russia of destroying Syria, only for the foreign ministry to reject the comments saying it respected Russia's role in international affairs. (Reporting By Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Patrick Markey and Hugh Lawson)
The headless body of a Muslim villager has been found days after he spoke to reporters on a rare government-guided media tour of restive northern Rakhine State, Myanmar police said on Friday.

Troops have taken control of the dangerous and remote region bordering Bangladesh since October 9 when armed men raided police posts, killing nine officers.

At least 34,000 Rohingya Muslims have since fled to Bangladesh, taking with them allegations of mass-killings, rape and torture at the hands of Myanmar security forces.

The Myanmar government has vigorously denied the accusations, setting off the latest war of words over a stateless minority whose status is one of the country's most incendiary issues.

Police did not give a motive for the killing of the 41-year-old man, whose body was found floating in a river, but said he spoke to Burmese journalists on Wednesday in Ngakhura village.

"On Thursday his family said he had disappeared after giving interviews to journalists," Police Colonel Thet Naing in Maungdaw town told AFP.

"This afternoon (Friday) I got the report his headless body was found... we have confirmed from villagers that it is him," he said, adding police went to the scene of the grisly find.

Troops have killed more than 80 people in Rakhine since the start of crackdown, according to official figures.

Conflict analysts the International Crisis Group (ICG) say militants behind the border post attacks have also killed several Rohingya 'informers' perceived to be working with the Myanmar authorities.

In a statement Friday, the President's Office confirmed that a man -- whom they identified as Shu Nar Myar -- had been killed, adding that he had denied stories of military abuse when speaking to the reporters.

"Shu Nar Myar is the one who revealed that there was no case of arson by the military and police forces, no rape and no unjust arrests," the statement said.

Two Burmese reporters, who did not want to be named, told AFP that they interviewed the man on Wednesday at his village and had been contacted by police to say he was missing.

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The rare media tour of the area -- open only to Burmese journalists -- was organised by the government amid mounting pressure on de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to allow access to the conflict zone.

Her government has responded to growing international alarm over the crisis with a dogged information campaign aimed at batting back reports of military abuse.

Northern Rakhine has been under lockdown for more than two months since the hundreds of armed militants launched surprise attacks on border posts.

ICG says the attackers are from a Saudi-backed group called Harakah al-Yaqin which emerged after a wave of sectarian violence cut through Rakhine in 2012.

The Rohingya have languished under years of dire poverty and discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship.

The UN and other rights groups have repeatedly called on Myanmar to grant them full rights, describing the Rohingya as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.
Nick Cannon just headed to the hospital for complications from lupus, and we really hope he feels better soon

Lupus can be a scary disease to have. Unfortunately, Nick Cannon has been hospitalized for lupus complications, which means that his Christmas will be a bit less cheerful this year  memorable, but not cheerful.

Cannon was diagnosed with lupus five years ago after suffering through a few issues with his kidneys. Since, hes been trying his hardest to manage the disease. Those with lupus have to handle their immune systems wrongfully attacking healthy cells, thus many parts of their body can be horribly affected. Symptoms often flare up at random, and while theres no cure, there are treatment plans to lessen the impact.

Cannon announced his hospitalization last night through Instagram.

For all who have been trying to contact me the last few days this is where I've been. And I will be in the Hospital through Christmas. All good though, Doctors say I will be back to normal before the New Year. #LupusSucks #ncredible #warrior A photo posted by LORD NCREDIBLE ALMIGHTY IkeT (@nickcannon) on Dec 22, 2016 at 12:55pm PST

The caption reads:

For all who have been trying to contact me the last few days this is where Ive been. And I will be in the Hospital through Christmas. All good though, Doctors say I will be back to normal before the New Year. #LupusSucks #ncredible #warrior

Without a doubt, hes definitely a warrior.

It's that time of year again!!!! #treedecorating #merrychristmas A photo posted by LORD NCREDIBLE ALMIGHTY IkeT (@nickcannon) on Dec 13, 2016 at 9:40pm PST

Were so bummed out that this Americas Got Talent host will be missing out on Christmas at home, but we definitely hope his family stops by to visit. The fact that his doctors think that hell be back to feeling like himself for the start of 2017 is definitely a good sign.

We wish Nick Cannon the best!

The post Nick Cannon just headed to the hospital for complications from lupus, and we really hope he feels better soon appeared first on HelloGiggles.
ROME (Reuters) - A man shot dead by Italian police in the early hours of Friday was definitely the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack, Interior Minister Marco Minniti told reporters. "The man killed was without a shadow of doubt Anis Amri," Minniti said, referring to the 24-year-old Tunisian who is suspected of driving the truck that smashed through the Berlin market on Monday in an attack that killed 12 people. Minniti gave very few details of the operation which took place on the outskirts of the northern city of Milan, saying investigations were still in progress. He added that there could be "future developments". (Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Gavin Jones)
ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (AP)  Authorities say no one was hurt when a small airplane flipped while making an emergency landing in South Carolina.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office told local media that emergency personnel were called to Capers Island shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday.

Maj. Eric Watson said investigators think the plane had mechanical trouble. He says the plane landed on two wheels but flipped over.

Anthony Kozak with the U.S. Coast Guard says the plane stopped upside down on the beach. Kozak said neither of the people on the Cessna was hurt. Their names have not been released.

Capers is an undeveloped barrier island is north of Isle of Palms. It is about 3 miles long and only accessible by boat.

The plane had taken off from Mount Pleasant Regional Airport.
DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / December 22, 2016 / North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK: USMJ) and Puration, Inc. (OTC PINK: PURA) published an online shareholder update following the recent transaction with Alternet Systems, Inc. (ALYI). The presentation provides a detailed update on the business plan of both Companies in conjunction with the recent transaction with ALYI. The presentation is available on the websites of both Company's and by clicking on the link below. The presentation is titled:

Marijuana Rules: North American Cannabis Holdings and Puration Shareholders Update

Below are some excerpts from the presentation:

"What USMJ management discovered instead, is that the cannabis sector at large was in need of a business that could continuously connect investors and cannabis enterprise entrepreneurs."

"The election of Donald Trump is a loud and boisterous message to the Federal Government, that Americans are not happy with business-as-usual in Washington DC  an even louder protest  On November 8th, 2016, in direct opposition to federal law, eight more states legalized marijuana."

"The citizens of the United States have rediscovered a founding fathers' instituted check-and-balance that has been overlooked for a long-time. U.S. citizens are invoking state-citizenship over U.S.-citizenship by voting for laws within their state on a matter where the U.S. government is not representing the will-of-the-people."

"How disheartening to know that the Federal Government believes more in the executives that cratered the U.S. economy than in the entrepreneurial spirit and capacity of U.S. citizens at large to fill the void left in the aftermath of the failed fortune-500 executives."

"The state-by-state legalization of marijuana is just a first initiative of a repeatable state-by-state approach to reinstituting confidence in the entrepreneurialism of America "

"Beyond USMJ's spinoff and dividend strategy, the Company has another strategic acquisition in the works  USMJ is building a business that lets marijuana sector entrepreneurs speak to marijuana sector investors and opt to invest in those entrepreneurs should they be so inspired."

Story continues

To learn more about North American Cannabis: growusmj.com

Follow the Company on Twitter: US_HEMP

Visit Company on Facebook: facebook.com/USMJ-1619086738345351/

To learn more about Puration: purationinc.com

Follow Puration on Twitter: Puration710

Visit Puration on Facebook: Facebook.com/puration/

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.

USMJ Contact:

Steven Rash

Phone: +1-972-528-0162

Email: Info@growusmj.com

PURA Contact:

Brian Shibley, CEO

info@purationinc.com

+1-214-937-9097

SOURCE: North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc.
william barber

The leader of North Carolina's NAACP chapter announced on Thursday he will call on the national civil rights organization to start an economic boycott of his state in protest of what he calls the state's "constitutional overreach."

Rev. William Barber, the chapter's president and a local civil-rights leader, said the chapter will draft a letter later this month asking for the boycott.

After Christmas, the NC NAACP leadership will convene to write a proposal to the Nat'l NAACP to call for a national economic boycott of #NC  NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016

The proposed boycott is a protest against recent actions of North Carolina's state legislature, including its failure to repeal the polarizing "bathroom law" that critics say discriminates against LGBT residents.

Lawmakers convened for nine hours on Wednesday to erase House Bill 2, which restricts local governments' ability to protect against LGBT discrimination and dictates which restrooms transgender residents can use. But they came up empty-handed after they couldn't agree on how far to scale it back.

Barber said his proposed boycott would last until three goals are accomplished  the repeal of HB2, a "fair and constitutional" redistricting of North Carolina's electoral map, and the undoing of key Republican laws passed last week to limit the power of incoming governor Roy Cooper.

"This legislature is trying to raise a new Confederacy in policy," Barber said at a press conference Thursday. "This group doesn't respect the Constitution. They do not respect the voices of the people. They do not respect the will of the people."

Last week, Republican lawmakers in the state surprised Democrats with a last-minute special session in which they pushed through several laws stripping Cooper  a Democrat  of some of his executive authority.

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One provision mandates that state elections boards, and their county-level subsidiaries, must have an even partisan makeup, instead of a majority belonging to the governor's party. It also ensures that a Republican will chair each board in election years, while Democrats are restricted to off-years.

Barber called the surprise measures "deep violations of the Democratic process" last week, and helped organize protests at the legislative building that led to more than 50 arrests in two days.

"They're cheating to hold onto power," Barber said at the press conference on Thursday. "Enough is enough."

hb2 transgender bathroom north carolina

Barber is one of the most prominent opponents of North Carolina's Republican leadership. Since 2013, after a redistricted electoral map swung the government's balance firmly to the right, Barber has organized weekly "Moral Monday" protests, in which hundreds of demonstrators march to North Carolina's state legislative building, often resulting in arrests and attracting national attention.

He has also been one of HB2's leading critics, which he has called "an anti-worker, anti-civil rights, anti-LGBT" bill.

Since the bill's passage in March, businesses such as PayPal and Deutsche Bank have called off major expansions in the state, entertainers including Bruce Springsteen and Maroon 5 canceled concerts, and the NBA, NCAA and ACC all relocated major sporting events slated to be played there.

The bill has cost the Tar Heel State an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars. Barber's boycott would add to that total.

"It puts another form of pressure on our leaders and our leadership to do right," he said.

NOW WATCH: This is what it's really like at Trump Tower  which is disrupting life in New York





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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea on Friday mocked outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon over his apparent ambitions to run for South Korean president, calling him an opportunistic "chameleon in a human mask" who's dreaming a "hollow dream."

The North's state-run Uriminzokkiri website said Ban's alleged presidential ambitions were absurd because the way he handled his job as U.N. chief for the past 10 years has left him living in "criticism and shame."

The article said Ban had a bad reputation in South Korea's domestic politics because he's an opportunist who "sets sail wherever winds blow and changes colors by the circumstance."

"There is an old saying that you stretch your feet no longer than your blanket will reach, and his harboring presidential ambitions despite living in all sorts of criticism and shame could only described as an incomparably hollow, silly dream," Uriminzokkiri said.

Ban, who steps down as U.N. secretary general at the end of the year after two five-year terms, has not officially declared an ambition to run for South Korean president, but he has not denied his interest either.

In a meeting with South Korean reporters in New York earlier this week, Ban said he was ready to "burn" his body in devotion for South Korea, his strongest hint yet of a presidential bid.

The spotlight is on Ban because there's a possibility South Korea could hold a presidential election in the comijust several months as the country's opposition-controlled parliament on Dec. 9 voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal.

South Korea's Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide whether Park should permanently step down or be reinstated. Her presidential powers are suspended until then, with the prime minister assuming the role of government caretaker. If Park is formally removed from office, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

If he does make a run for the presidential Blue House, Ban is likely to represent a new conservative party created by defectors from Park's Saenuri Party. More than 30 anti-Park members of Saenuri have announced plans to leave the party next week and create a new party.
President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin both expressed their support for expanding their respective nations' nuclear capabilities in separate statements on Thursday.

The Russian leader told an annual meeting with his chiefs of defense that the Russian arsenal was already capable of overcoming any potential aggressors, but that nuclear expansion should be a goal for the upcoming year. Later that same day, Trump tweeted his desire to "greatly strengthen and expand" the U.S.' nuclear capability until "the world came to its sense" on nuclear warfare.

Both Washington and Moscow control two of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world. The United Nation's 1968 Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty recognizes only five countries as being nuclear-weapon states, which represent the five permanent members of the National Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, the U.K. and France. Other countries, such as Pakistan, India and North Korea, have openly developed and detonated nuclear weapons despite not signing the treaty. Israel has intentionally hidden its nuclear program, maintaining a policy known as "nuclear ambiguity" or "nuclear opacity" through which it neither confirms nor denies its nuclear capabilities.

Nine countries in total were believed to possess nuclear weapons. Nations often keep the precise number of nuclear armaments they possess confidential, but leading experts have compiled figures estimating just how many nuclear weapons there are out there and who has them. As the two largest nuclear-capable countries consider expanding their arsenals, here's a look at the existing state of affairs:

#1 Russia

RTR396OO

Photo: Reuters

Putin was not lying when he said Russia's nuclear arsenal overshadowed its opponents. Russia is believed to possess 7,300 weapons in total. Moscow detonated its first nuclear weapon in 1949, soon after the end of World War II and during the early stages of the Cold War with the U.S. The nuclear arms race was a primary area of competition between the two countries and partially responsible for the vast size of their nuclear arsenals today.

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#2 United States

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Photo: Reuters

With an estimated 6,970 nuclear weapons, the U.S. is not far behind Russia. The country's modernized military, which easily dominates in number and quality of aircraft carriers, also gives the U.S. a distinct tactical advantage. The U.S. was the first nation to develop nuclear weapons and the only nation to have ever conducted nuclear warfare, launching two atomic weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 during World War Two, killing an estimated 225,000 people and injuring many more.

#3 France

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Photo: Reuters

France hasn't let the end of the Cold War keep it from stockpiling up to 300 nuclear weapons, the largest stockpile in Western Europe. France conducted its first nuclear test in 1960 and, despite eliminating about half of its nuclear arsenal since the late 1980s, the country has pushed for more nuclear deterrent cooperation with the U.K.

#4 China

RTRHPSC

Photo: Reuters

China boasts the largest nuclear arsenal in Eastern Asia, with around 260 warheads. Beijing's communist government began pursuing nuclear technology soon after taking over in 1949 and conducted its first nuclear test in 1964. Since then, China has advocated for disarmament and expressed Friday that it was "paying close attention" to Trump's rhetoric on the matter.

#5 United Kingdom

GettyImages-506044618

Photo: Getty Images

The U.K.'s political players have questioned the future of the nation's estimated 215 nuclear weapons. The country's close relationship with the U.S. and popular support for non-proliferation have led some to speculate as to whether the country's nuclear arsenal was necessary to maintain. Hawks, however, say that Russia's military expansion mean the possession of nuclear weapons is as relevant as ever.

#6 Pakistan

RTR1ZQKG

Photo: Reuters

Pakistan is thought to maintain around 130 nuclear weapons. The nation's nuclear history began in 1972 when then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto urged politicians to support such a program to defend against its southern rival, India, which had also pursued nuclear weapons. The Pakistani-Indian conflict has been widely considered a flashpoint for nuclear warfare and border skirmishes between the new countries often raise fears of all-out war. Pakistan has rejected to adopt the "no first-use" policy, allowing it to respond to Indian aggression with nuclear warheads. However, analysts have said the dire consequences and close proximity of the nations make this an unlikely outcome.

#7 India

RTR30XCP

Photo: Reuters

India possesses about 120 nuclear weapons, according to experts. India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 and did not detonate another until 1998. Unlike its rival Pakistan, India has adopted a "no first-use" policy, meaning it would not launch nuclear strikes unless it was clear that the other side would attack first. Still, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhary said last year that nuclear warfare against Pakistan was not off the table. Some analysts say that, despite the tense situation between India and Pakistan, their nuclear arsenals actually deter war. Others have argued that they allow the possibility of mass destruction.

#8 Israel

RTR2BEMR

Photo: Reuters

Israel deliberately maintains a shroud of secrecy over what's believed to be an arsenal of about 80 nuclear warheads. In the 1950s, Tel Aviv pursued a top secret campaign to acquire parts necessary for nuclear development with confidential help from France. Not even Israel's greatest ally, the U.S., was fully made aware of Tel Aviv's nuclear aspirations. Israel has rejected inspections of its Dimona facilities from the International Atomic Energy Agency and only allows limited access to Washington. Israel's nuclear capabilities have angered its Arab neighbors, some of which faced significant international criticism for pursuing nuclear warheads in the past and have threatened to walk out on current treaties if Israel maintains its arsenal.

#9 North Korea

RTX29LRG

Photo: Reuters

Unlike Israel, North Korea has been eager to show off its nuclear arsenal, estimated at fewer than 10 warheads. The reclusive, authoritarian state carried out its first nuclear explosion in 2006 and has conducted four more tests since. Pyongyang's aggressive nuclear rhetoric has concerned its rivals, especially its southern neighbor South Korea, which North Korea routinely threatens. The nation's nuclear program has also made it a target of severe international sanctions, which even its greatest ally China has signed on to.

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By Emily Stephenson HONOLULU (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law an annual defense policy bill, but in a lengthy statement he raised objections to parts of it, including policies blocking him from closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Obama pledged in his 2008 presidential campaign to close the military prison, but his efforts have been blocked by mostly Republican opposition in Congress. The Democratic president has instead reduced the population there by transferring prisoners to other countries. The administration recently told Congress it would move up to 18 more prisoners of the 59 remaining at Guantanamo before Obama leaves office next month. "During my administration, we have responsibly transferred over 175 detainees from Guantanamo," Obama said in the statement on Friday. "Our efforts to transfer additional detainees will continue until the last day I am in office." President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20, said during the campaign that he would keep the Guantanamo Bay facility open and vowed to "load it up with some bad dudes." The $618.7 billion defense spending bill passed by the Republican-controlled Congress this month was a compromise version that dropped controversial language requiring women to register for the draft. But it kept some Republican-backed initiatives Obama had opposed. The legislation boosts military spending when there has been no similar increase in non-defense funding, and it bars closures of military bases even though top Pentagon officials say they have too much capacity. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, said on Friday the legislation would give U.S. troops a pay raise and praised the Guantanamo language. "This ensures that, right up until his last hour in office, President Obama will not be able to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States," Ryan said in a statement. Obama's predecessor George W. Bush opened the facility to hold terrorism suspects rounded up overseas following the Sept. 11 attacks. Under Bush, the prison came to symbolize aggressive detention practices that opened the United States to accusations of torture. Obama has maintained for years that he considers "onerous restrictions" on his ability to transfer prisoners a violation of the U.S. Constitution's separation of powers between Congress and the executive branch. But he gave no indication he would try to override those restrictions. Reflecting the growing migration of espionage and warfare into cyberspace, Obama also said on Friday that he favors splitting the U.S. Cyber Command, which conducts offensive operations, from the National Security Agency and making it independent, similar to the military's European and Pacific Commands. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson, additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Mary Milliken)
By Mitra Taj and Alexandra Valencia

LIMA/QUITO (Reuters) - Politicians and investigators across Latin America demanded more information from Brazil-based construction giant Odebrecht on Thursday after it admitted to a decade of immense bribe payments in the region.

In agreeing on Wednesday to pay at least $3.5 billion to Brazilian, U.S. and Swiss prosecutors, the largest penalty ever in a foreign bribery case, Odebrecht admitted to paying officials to help secure lucrative construction contracts in 12 countries, potentially opening itself up to new prosecution.

Nearly 80 Odebrecht executives and employees have also agreed to turn state's witness as part of a leniency deal, and their testimony is expected to provide even more evidence about corruption in several nations.

Peru's president and a Venezuelan opposition leader said Odebrecht should explain the payments in their countries, while Ecuador opened an investigation and Colombia's government asked the attorney general's office to move forward with one.

"Prosecutors will have to bring people from Odebrecht here so that they explain who they paid this money to," Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski told reporters, referring to the $29 million Odebrecht said it paid officials in the Andean nation between about 2005 and 2014, spanning three presidencies.

Guilty pleas on Wednesday from Odebrecht and Braskem SA, the petrochemical company it jointly owns with Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras, were the first in the United States following a nearly three-year investigation in Brazil.

Odebrecht and Braskem were charged with conspiring to violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which is aimed at deterring companies from bribing officials overseas.

Odebrecht said it paid $439 million outside of Brazil, with the largest bribe admissions abroad in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Panama. Brazilian prosecutors have singled out Panama for not cooperating with their investigation.

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Panama's presidency said on Thursday it supported an investigation by local prosecutors that would "punish the companies and persons involved in these acts." Panama's national prosecutors' office said it was requesting information on the investigation from the United States.

The discovery of kickbacks to Brazilian politicians off contracts between state-run companies, mainly Petrobras, and engineering conglomerates like Odebrecht, has generated political upheaval and led to 80 convictions in Brazil. More than 50 politicians there are under investigation.

ROADS, TUNNELS, SUBWAYS

Family-run Odebrecht blossomed during an economic boom in Brazil under former Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff and its executives regularly rubbed shoulders with elites across Latin America.

It became the region's largest engineering conglomerate, building parts of a road across the Amazon jungle, tunnels and subways in major cities.

Brazilian prosecutors say they are certain Odebrecht's way of doing business in Brazil, where the company is accused of paying out $2 billion in bribes in the past 15 years, was the way it operated around the globe.

Argentina and Peru had already opened investigations into Odebrecht construction contracts for suspected kickbacks to former politicians.

Prosecutors in Peru recently returned from an investigative trip to Switzerland, which has turned over information on about 1,000 bank accounts to Brazilian authorities on suspicion they are linked to the country's wide-ranging corruption scandal.

Brazilian police say Odebrecht may have paid bribes to former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala as well as Argentine officials, including a former transportation secretary.

Humala denies wrongdoing. Kuczynski, who was not named in the Brazilian investigation but was prime minister or finance minister when Odebrecht agreed to bribe a high-ranking official in 2005, said on Thursday he was not involved in any corrupt scheme.

Ecuador's attorney general, Galo Chiriboga, said on Thursday he had requested information from Brazil and the U.S. Justice Department.

"We will find out who Odebrecht bribed," he told state-run media.

The head of Guatemalas special anti-corruption prosecutors office told Reuters he had already been investigating Odebrecht bribes to a government official, and President Jimmy Morales said the government would revise all Odebrecht contracts.

Experts on corporate bribery said the Odebrecht admissions in a dozen countries - which also include Angola and Mexico - could subject Odebrecht to new investigations.

"It is possible that those countries could pursue their own actions, said Peter Spivack, a Washington-based corporate lawyer and expert on the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

He said many of the countries named do not have corporate criminal liability laws, or like Argentina, have newly introduced laws, meaning penalties would be a lesser civil sanction or public procurement bars.

'PATTERN OF CORRUPTION'

The Argentine prosecutor in charge of the Odebrecht investigation, Sergio Rodriguez, said the plea deal on Wednesday would have a direct impact on their case, which is looking at four Odebrecht projects, and he was trying to reach Brazilian prosecutors to find out more.

"We have a preliminary case open," Rodriguez told Reuters. "We will need to incorporate the information from the agreement sooner or later."

Sources close to Odebrecht and Brazil's federal prosecutors say it was mostly the work of the Brazilian investigators that led to the Odebrecht's record-setting corruption settlement.

But if the settlement, which was negotiated in Brasilia, had been announced in Brazil, its legal system would have required that details remain sealed and not disclosed to the public, two sources close to the negotiation told Reuters on Thursday.

The hope among Brazilian officials is that by having the plea agreements with Odebrecht and Braskem made public, authorities in the other countries will now come under public pressure to follow up and investigate.

"The corruption we've uncovered in Brazil was systematic and complex, and Odebrecht's central role in it is now obvious," Brazilian federal prosecutor Carlos Lima said earlier this year.

"We've found that wherever Odebrecht has worked, there has been this pattern of corruption, and we're carefully collaborating with several other countries on this."

(Additional reporting by Brad Brooks in Brazil, Nicolas Misculin in Argentina, Julia Symmes Cobb in Colombia, Mica Rosenberg in New York, Elida Moreno in Panama, Sofia Menchu in Guatemala, Joanna Bernstein in Mexico, Andrew Cawthorne in Caracas, Jorge Pineda in Dominican Republic; Writing by Caroline Stauffer in Buenos Aires; Editing by Kieran Murray and Alistair Bell)
By Andrew M. Seaman Older women are still underrepresented in medical trials evaluating treatments for breast cancer, according to a new study. Of three different types of trials evaluated by researchers, only one had an increase in enrollment of older women with breast cancer between 1985 and 2012. The other two had decreases. Seeing how older people react to cancer therapies "is crucial to inform decision-making and to optimally serve patients medical, emotional, and functional needs," the authors of the study write in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, online December 19. "As physicians and especially in the cancer world, we rely on clinic trials to tell us what to do with our patients," said lead author Dr. Rachel Freedman, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. "When we dont have good information, we always feel lost about how to take care of these people." She and her colleagues point out that most cancers occur in older patients. In the U.S., 72,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in women age 70 or older, and nearly half of breast cancer deaths occur in that age group. Despite the heavy cancer burden among the elderly, the researchers say it's been a challenge to recruit them into randomized trials. The new study included data collected from 1985 to 2012 from participants in breast cancer research under the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, which is a group of academic and community medical centers that run trials together. The researchers looked at how the inclusion of older women in adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and metastatic breast cancer trials had changed over that period. Overall, 17 percent of all study participants were age 65 or older. In the trials of adjuvant treatments, the likelihood of enrollment by older women increased by 4 percent a year. But in the trials of neoadjuvant therapies and therapies for metastatic cancers, the likelihood that older women would participate actually decreased over time. "The bottom line is that were still doing a poor job," Freedman told Reuters Health. "Our current strategies arent working." She said older participants in breast cancer trials tended to be sicker than younger participants. Their cancers had typically spread to more lymph nodes and they were less likely to have tumors that would respond to hormone therapies. The researchers also found that half of women age 65 and older withdrew from the trials early, compared to about a third of younger participants. Freedman suggested a number of approaches to help increase the number of older participants in cancer trials. For example, doctors' offices can advise patients about appropriate trials and also provide resources to help them enroll. On a national level, she said, it's important to design trials for older patients, mandate that older people be included in trials, give medical centers incentives to recruit older people and provide local doctors' offices with necessary support. "I think if it comes from the top down, itll filter down and become a priority," she said.
By Amina Ismail CAIRO (Reuters) - An OPEC committee responsible for monitoring compliance with a global agreement to reduce oil output will meet in the first half of January, Kuwait's oil minister said on Thursday. "We will meet... in January with OPEC and non-OPEC countries and we will coordinate over the method in which (compliance with) the cut will be implemented," Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) in Cairo. "I personally think that the announcements coming from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Russia are all encouraging signs that they will abide by the cut and hopefully other countries will follow suit." Marzouq later clarified that the meeting would take place in the "beginning" or "first half" of January. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC producers on Dec. 10 reached their first deal since 2001 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. OPEC has a long history of cheating on output quotas. The fact that Nigeria and Libya were exempt from the deal due to production-denting civil strife will further pressure OPEC leader Saudi Arabia to shoulder the bulk of supply reductions. (Reporting by Amina Ismail; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
By Andrew Callus and Michel Rose PARIS (Reuters) - For two years, disaffection with mainstream politics and disarray among her opponents have played to Marine Le Pen's agenda. But as the days tick down to election year in France, events may have started to dim her presidential prospects. Since late November, the anti-immigrant, anti-globalization far-right National Front candidate's showing in opinion polls has slipped from about three out of 10 voters to one in four. Her niece, the National Front member of parliament Marion Marechal-Le Pen, has re-opened old faultlines within the party. And the policies and personalities of those emerging as Marine Le Pen's main opponents look set to make campaigning tricky for her in the months ahead. The election rules are simple: the two candidates who win the most votes in an April first-round vote go through to a run-off round on May 7. By polling so well for so long, Le Pen's presence in that run-off had been seen as one of the few certainties in the race. Not any longer. "Le Pen not reaching round two would have been a wild bet even four months ago," the historian Justin Vaisse, director of the French foreign ministry's center of analysis, forecasting and strategy, tweeted this week. "(That's) now credible -- even though many unknowns remain." The choice on Nov. 27 of Francois Fillon as Le Pen's main conservative challenger in the Republicans party primary was among the first signs of trouble. She put a brave face on the victory for the former prime minister, whose socially conservative views on abortion and gay marriage are attractive to many Le Pen supporters and helped land him the ticket ahead of the more centrist Alain Juppe. She focused instead on Fillon's aggressive plans to slash public sector spending, calling it an attack on the French workers she and her second-in-command, Florian Philippot, have promised to protect. But the impact in the polls was immediate. A Harris Interactive survey after thE Nov. 27 primary put her on 24 percent of voting intentions, behind Fillon on 26 -- her lowest score in months, and one that has not improved since. Then her niece Marechal-Le Pen twisted the knife, giving a Dec. 10 interview in the Journal de Dimanche Sunday newspaper. The 27-year-old is ideologically much closer to her grandfather Jean-Marie, the party's now ostracized founder, than to her aunt Marine and party's modernizers led by Philippot. From her Vaucluse constituency in the south of France, part of Marechal-Le Pen's line is a form of social conservatism not very different in voters' eyes to that of Fillon - with both expressing clear reservations on abortion and gay marriage. "I am neither in a minority nor am I isolated," she told the newspaper, standing firm on proposals that the state should no longer pay for pregnancy terminations. Just days earlier, party leader Marine Le Pen had made clear that she would not change France's abortion laws. Marechal-Le Pen has also attacked Phillipot, who is gay, over his support for government-funded safe-sex posters depicting gay couples. She called the poster campaign "an embarrassment for children and for homosexuals," and said: "The majority, in the FN, do not share that choice at all." Fillon, a Catholic like Marechal-Le Pen, has said he would not change France's abortion laws, but has said he is personally opposed. He also wants to limit adoption rights of gay couples. By stepping onto her traditionalist turf, Fillon leaves the Le Pen campaign more dependent on her pro-worker agenda, which includes a lowering of the retirement age, hiking minimum wages and preserving a generous welfare safety net. In that area, she already faces fierce competition from the opposite end of the political spectrum -- Jean-Luc Melenchon of The Left Party, a hardliner and former Socialist who is running for president with the backing of the French Communist Party. Melenchon is much more credible in this area than Le Pen, according to the political commentator Thomas Guenole. "Le Pen is trapped between Francois Fillon and Jean-Luc Melenchon," said Guenole in an editorial for Le Figaro newspaper. Melenchon was eliminated in the 2012 presidential contest but scored a sizeable 11 percent of first-round votes. He is doing at least that well or better in regular polls of voting intentions in 2017. MACRON FACTOR Another hurdle for Le Pen is the youthful Emmanuel Macron's announcement on Nov. 16 that he too is running for president, as an independent candidate who rejects the traditional politics of Left versus Right. Opinion polls since then show the 38 year-old former economy minister consistently in third place. He is still well behind Le Pen and Fillon, but even before he launched officially, some of her worst scores were in scenarios where he stood against her. Macron has yet to get down to deep policy specifics, and has targeted the center, but pollsters detect a brand of "populism-light", and say his independence and youth could blunt Le Pen's anti-establishment appeal. "He takes (votes) from everyone," said Jean Chiche, a voting science researcher at Sciences-Po university in Paris. Indeed, if current popularity levels were to convert into voting in April's first round, Le Pen would be out of the running at Macron's expense. A Dec. 20 Odoxa poll of approval ratings made Macron the most popular politician in France on a score of 35 percent, ahead of Fillon on 31, and Le Pen on 27. Two days later, an Elabe poll made him political personality of the year on 48 percent, ahead of Fillon on 44, with Le Pen trailing at 24. As for the ruling Socialists, should he win their January primaries as the polls predict, former Prime Minister Manuel Valls has a lot of ground to make up from the distant fifth place in polls, behind Fillon, Le Pen, Macron and Melenchon. For now at least, his bid has little bearing on Le Pen's prospects. But there is everything to play for in an election campaign that has already created many surprises. Just over a month ago, Le Pen's likely main rivals included heavyweights such as former prime minister Juppe or former president Nicolas Sarkozy for the Republicans, and the incumbent Socialist President Francois Hollande. After Fillon's surprise win and Hollande's shock decision to not seek re-election, three people who had dominated politics for decades were consigned to campaign history, shattering many of the certainties as to what will happen on May, 7 2017. (Additional reporting by Gerard Bon; Editing by Brian Love and Mark John)
(Adds details in paragraphs 4-5 and 7)

By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Orascom TMT Investments SARL will have two of nine seats on Oi SA's board if its binding offer to buy the Brazilian telephone carrier succeeds, Karim Nasr, the executive who is leading the talks, said in an interview on Friday.

The remaining board seats will be filled by four independent people and three representatives of Oi's new shareholders, mainly creditors who agree to participate in a proposed capital injection, Nasr said.

The presence of Orascom, a conglomerate owned by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, is "not about controlling the board," Nasr said. "It is about good management."

Orascom and certain creditors formed a group to make a binding offer, announced on Dec. 16, to rescue Oi from bankruptcy protection. The group, advised by Moelis and Co , will condition it on confirmatory due diligence, Nasr said.

"It is a complex equation," he said when asked about potentially improving terms.

Any competing bid has to work for new investors, existing creditors, the company and the regulator, Nasr said.

Oi is not negotiating with Orascom exclusively and no non-disclosure agreements have been signed, Nasr said. An important part of the process will be reaching out to Oi bondholders outside of the group negotiating with Orascom. This is crucial to secure majority approval for the proposal in bankruptcy court, Nasr said.

The binding proposal entails a $1.25 billion share offering that Orascom and certain Oi creditors may subscribe entirely if other investors are not interested.

Orascom has made a firm commitment to providing $250 million of the new money.

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Bill Trott)
Russian filmmakers have made numerous movies about World War II. But only on rare occasions they have specifically addressed the issue of Holocaust - and veteran director Andrei Konchalovsky did just that in his Paradise.

"One of the most terrifying moments of our generation's history was the rise of the Nazi party and the extermination of millions of Jews and others who did not fit into the Nazi ideal of a 'perfect' German 'paradise'," says Konchalovsky.

According to the director, the film is his reflection on the twentieth century, "filled with great illusions buried in ruins, the dangers of hateful rhetoric and the need for mankind to use the power of love to triumph over evil."

Paradise is centered on three individuals coming from different backgrounds, whose paths cross amidst most hellish events experienced by Europe in the mid-twentieth century. Olga, a Russian aristocratic immigrant, is arrested and imprisoned in occupied France sheltering Jewish children. Jules, a French collaborator investigating Olga's case, grows fond of her and offers to go light on her punishment in exchange for sexual favors. At a concentration camp, Olga meets Helmut, a high-ranking Nazi officer who once was madly in love with her and the rekindling of their romance offers hope.

Read more: Oscars: Nine Films Advance in Foreign-Language Race

"Motivated by the atrocities of war, each character makes a significant life-altering decision based on their own belief of what is right," says Konchalovsky. "Can a person preserve their humanity, having experienced hell on earth?"

Konchalovsky explains his decision to shoot the film in black and white, with a muted ambience, by his desire to "enhance the documentary-style confessional monologues of the main characters."

"The director's main goal is for the audience to feel they are watching archival footage that has been edited to create one final coherent story, with a focus not on the melodramatic but instead on observations of life and death and the impending doom of certainideals," Konchalovsky says.

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According to the director, the events of the mid-twentieth centuries resonate with contemporary events strongly enough.

"These atrocities exposed the depths of mankind's capabilities for evil and although these events happened in the past, the same kind of radical and hateful thinking is apparent today and threatening the lives and safety of many around the world," he concludes.

Read more: Russia's Gazprom Media Launches New Film Studio
(Adds comment from Trump spokesman, paragraph 8)

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - A JetBlue airline passenger, who media outlets and a witness described as making angry remarks at the sight of Ivanka Trump on his flight, was removed from the plane on Thursday by the airline.

JetBlue Airways Corp confirmed in a statement that a passenger had been removed from a flight set to depart from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, bound for San Francisco, but provided no other information about the incident.

Another passenger on the flight, Marc Scheff, said that, when the man saw U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, he "did a double take and said 'Oh my God. This is a nightmare!'"

JetBlue said in a statement: "The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. In this instance, our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight."

Reuters was not able to identify the passenger who was removed. Matthew Lasner, a Twitter user cited by TMZ, said his husband was going to confront Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, at the airport.

"Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial," Matthew Lasner (@mattlasner) wrote in a tweet, which has since been deleted. "My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil."

Lasner, a professor at New York's Hunter College, did not respond to requests for comment directed to his Twitter account, which has since been taken offline, or to messages left at his office or sent to his Facebook account.

"To do that to a woman who was on there with her children, I don't care what your political background is or what your thoughts are, that's not the way we as Americans need to act," Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said on Fox News.

Scheff, 40, who told Reuters he was sitting in the row in front of Ivanka Trump on the flight, said the passenger who was later removed from the flight "started shaking."

He said that after JetBlue staff approached the man to "make sure he was calm," the passenger said: "They ruin our country, now try (to) ruin our flight!"

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Scheff said the passenger was "clearly agitated" but did not "scream or yell."

Ivanka Trump was en route to Hawaii for a vacation with her family, according to ABC News.

Donald Trump and his family are spending the Christmas holidays at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Additional reporting by Melissa Fares in Palm Beach, Florida, and Eric Beech in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Leslie Adler and Paul Tait)
By Amy Tennery NEW YORK (Reuters) - A JetBlue airline passenger, who media outlets and a witness described as making angry remarks at the sight of Ivanka Trump on his flight, was removed from the plane on Thursday by the airline. JetBlue Airways Corp confirmed in a statement that a passenger had been removed from a flight set to depart from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, bound for San Francisco, but provided no other information about the incident. Another passenger on the flight, Marc Scheff, said that, when the man saw U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, he "did a double take and said 'Oh my God. This is a nightmare!'" JetBlue said in a statement: "The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. In this instance, our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight." Reuters was not able to identify the passenger who was removed. Matthew Lasner, a Twitter user cited by TMZ, said his husband was going to confront Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, at the airport. "Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial," Matthew Lasner (@mattlasner) wrote in a tweet, which has since been deleted. "My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil." Lasner, a professor at New York's Hunter College, did not respond to requests for comment directed to his Twitter account, which has since been taken offline, or to messages left at his office or sent to his Facebook account. "To do that to a woman who was on there with her children, I dont care what your political background is or what your thoughts are, thats not the way we as Americans need to act," Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said on Fox News. Scheff, 40, who told Reuters he was sitting in the row in front of Ivanka Trump on the flight, said the passenger who was later removed from the flight "started shaking." He said that after JetBlue staff approached the man to "make sure he was calm," the passenger said: "They ruin our country, now try (to) ruin our flight!" Scheff said the passenger was "clearly agitated" but did not "scream or yell." Ivanka Trump was en route to Hawaii for a vacation with her family, according to ABC News. Donald Trump and his family are spending the Christmas holidays at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Additional reporting by Melissa Fares in Palm Beach, Florida, and Eric Beech in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Leslie Adler and Paul Tait)
VALLETTA (Reuters) - Several passengers descended steps from a hijacked plane at Malta International Airport on Friday, and Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted that women and children were being freed. The aircraft had been on an internal flight in Libya when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a hijacker told crew he had a hand grenade. More than 100 passengers and crew were reported to be on board. (Reporting by Chris Scicluna; editing by Andrew Roche)
This is how to pay homage to the fashion from Scream Queens' season finale, Drain the Swamp

Welcome to your official Scream Queens Season 2 fashion recap. Here we will discuss the various lewks in each episode, complete with affordable shopping recs so you too can mimic the grandiose style of Chanel Oberlin and Co. Warning: spoilers within!

Friends, frenemies, and idiot hookers, the time has finally come to say goodbye to Scream Queens Season 2! After intensely analyzing every faux fur coat, statement necklace, and fuzzy platform heel of Chanel Oberlin and gang, we must bid farewell to our favorite sorority girls-turned-med students and their motley crew of comrades. *tear*

Throughout the entire 10-episode series, weve watched the Chanels, Zayday, Dean Munsch, and the rest of C.U.R.E. Hospitals staff evade the murderous rampage of the Green Meanie(s).

In the finale, Dr. Cassidy Cascade, aka Green Meanie #1, decided to change his ways after falling in love with Chanel #3  much to the dismay of his mother AND Nurse Hoffel.

Meanwhile, Hester convinced Dr. Holt to propose to Munsch with the plan of inheriting all her money after she dies of kuru. Hester wants Holt to grab the cash, then run away with her to Blood Island. Chanel was NOT happy about the impending nuptials of Dr. Holt and Dean Munsch, and planned to throw a hot pumpkin spice latte into Munschs exposed brain during her surgery. Man, this season was SO INSANE.

On that note, lets peruse the insanely gorgeous fashions. I have to say, I was expecting this last episode to be FILLED with outrageous, flamboyant outfits, and was a bit disappointed to find them still wearing their usual (though fabulous) uniforms for most of it.

Thankfully, the Chanels accessory game always came through.

We finally got some new ~lewks~ at the end of the episode, when Chanel was revealed to be the new host of Lovin the D. Lets say hello to this furry pink mirror. TRULY OUTRAGEOUS!

And this FUSCHIA POWER SUIT. Were breathless.

Are you ready to shop your pretty little heart out? LETS GO!

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Chanel #5s heart tattoo choker gives us heart-eyes.

#3s white heart choker reminds me of those tattoos chokers from the 90s that made a comeback in the past couple of years. This vintage deadstock one for just $5 is the next best thing.

Only Zayday can pull off a gold pants during a negotiation.

Youd never catch Zayday in pastel faux fur, but her outfits in the show were always classy and chic. Those shiny gold slacks? Jaw-droppingly GORGE. Get this $179 pair from ASOS for your NYE outfits and beyond.

Pearls for girls.

Well miss seeing how many pearl accessories #5 can wear with one outfit. To numb our pain, we might as well buy about 10 or so of these $5.50 rings from ASOS!

Blue, blue baby.

When #5 wears a darker shade of blue, we know this is a serious scene. Either way, were loving the switch from her usual baby blue lewk! Get this shaggy oat from Etsy for $135.

Lovin the pink.

Chanels turn as the host of her own daytime talk show didnt mean she had to give up her love for all things pink. All the more reason to snag this from the WAH Nails x ASOS collab and is now on sale for $68.50.

Statement necklaces + Chanel #3 = FOREVER

#3 always killed it with the statement necklaces, from last weeks flamingo-themed jewels to this gigantic pink daisy. Since we cant find a good copy, this heart and arrow style from Betsey Johnson is the next best thing and totally something shed wear.

Hope you enjoyed our Scream Queens fashion recaps! Lets cross our fingers (for the good of our closets) that they get renewed for a third season!

via GIPHY

Until next time, bitches!

Check out our previous Scream Queens style coverage here!

The post This is how to pay homage to the fashion from Scream Queens' season finale, Drain the Swamp appeared first on HelloGiggles.
By Tracy Rucinski

CHICAGO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Leading global coal producer Peabody Energy said on Thursday its main creditors support a plan to wipe more than $5 billion of debt from its balance sheet and exit the largest energy-related U.S. bankruptcy this year.

Under a reorganization plan filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Louis, Peabody said it expects to cut its debt to $1.95 billion from more than $8 billion when it emerges from Chapter 11 in the second quarter of 2017.

Peabody filed for bankruptcy in April.

Miners that account for about 45 percent of U.S. coal output have filed for bankruptcy in recent years due to falling prices and billions of dollars in debt taken on to finance mergers.

Peabody calls itself the world's largest private-sector coal miner and accounts for about 20 percent of U.S. coal production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The company's plan contemplates a $750 million rights offering, a $750 million private placement and the issuance of new common stock. The company said it has the support of the vast majority of its creditors.

Lenders with $3.1 billion of secured debt will receive a full recovery in the form of cash and debt. Under a complex distribution scale, investors holding other forms of secured and unsecured debt will receive below par in a mixture of cash, debt or stock in the company when it emerges from bankruptcy.

"The plan charts Peabody's course forward and reflects an enormous amount of work by the company and multiple creditor groups to advance a proposal that has broad consensus, maximizes the value of the enterprise and paves the way for a sustainable future," Peabody Chief Executive Glenn Kellow said in a statement.

The plan does not provide any recovery for shareholders, who are likely to oppose it. Shareholders such as hedge fund Mangrove Partners have argued that rising coal prices created value for equity holders, who normally lose their investment in a bankruptcy.

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Prices for coal used to generate power and make steel have surged in recent months, particularly in Australia, where Peabody expanded with the $5.1 billion acquisition of Australia's Macarthur Coal in 2011.

The coal rally sent Peabody's shares to a 52-week high of $18.75 in over-the-counter trading in October and closed at $8.25 in OTC trading on Thursday.

Peabody plans to cancel its currently traded stock and list shares of the reorganized company on the New York Stock Exchange after it emerges from bankruptcy.

Shares in the second-largest U.S. coal producer Arch Coal , have risen about 25 percent since exiting its Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October after eliminating virtually all of its debt. Investors have scooped up coal stocks in anticipation of more lax regulations under a Trump administration.

The reorganized Peabody will have a nine-member board including the CEO and three directors chosen by the main creditor groups. Peabody will choose a fifth director. The remaining four directors will be selected through a search process.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Several tuck-in deals and licensing agreements were announced this week while healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson JNJ is back in exclusive talks with Actelion regarding a possible deal.



Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories



J&J In, Where Does that Leave Sanofi in Actelion Talks? A few days after saying that it has ended talks with Actelion regarding a potential transaction, J&J has now entered into exclusive negotiations with Actelion. J&Js talks with Actelion had broken down last week following which French pharma giant Sanofi was rumored to be interested in acquiring the company for as much as $30 billion. J&J could very well have to top that offer in order to finalize the deal.



We note that Actelion has often been considered an attractive takeover target mainly due to its rare disease portfolio. In addition to holding a strong position in the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) market, Actelions portfolio also has treatments approved in certain countries for specialist diseases like type I Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick type C disease, digital ulcers in patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, and mycosis fungoides type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (Read more: J&J Resumes Talks with Actelion: Did Sanofi Just Lose Out?).



Teva Settles Corruption Probe for $519 Million: Teva TEVA has reached a settlement with the government over violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The company, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have agreed to resolve previously disclosed investigations into conduct relating to three countries -- Ukraine, Mexico and a guilty plea by the subsidiary in Russia. Teva will be making a payment of $519 million.



Bristol-Myers in Oncology Deals: Bristol-Myers Squibb BMY is collaborating with clinical-stage biotech company, Calithera for evaluating its PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, Opdivo, in combination with Calitheras CB-839 in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (Read more: Bristol-Myers, Calithera Team Up for Opdivo/CB-839 Combo).



The company also announced a licensing agreement with PsiOxus Therapeutics for NG-348, an armed oncolytic virus to address solid tumors. Bristol-Myers will make a $50 million upfront payment and will be solely responsible for worldwide clinical development and commercialization activities related to NG-348. PsiOxus could receive up to $886 million in development, regulatory and sales-based milestones, as well as royalties on net sales. Bristol-Myers will also provide funds to support activities related to the preclinical development of NG-348 (Read more: Bristol-Myers, PsiOxus Ink Deal for Oncolytic Virus Therapy).



Allergan to Buy Regenerative Medicine Company for $2.9B: Allergans AGN acquisition spree continues with the company now announcing that it will be buying regenerative medicine company LifeCell for $2.9 billion in cash. This acquisition will mark Allergans entry into regenerative medicine and will be a strategic fit with the companys existing business. The deal, slated to close in the first half of 2017, is expected to be immediately accretive (Read more: Allergan to Buy LifeCell to Boost Regenerative Medicine Suite).



Novartis in NASH and Ophthalmology Deals: Swiss pharma giant, Novartis NVS also announced a couple of deals. The company will collaborate with Conatus, which is focused on the development and commercialization of liver disease treatments, for the development and commercialization of Conatus lead pipeline candidate, emricasan, which is being developed for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH, a common but often silent liver disease. Conatus will get $50 million upfront, $7 million following the exercise of the license option and up to $650 million on the achievement of development, regulatory and commercial milestones as well as royalties on future sales. The agreement covers emricasan single-agent indications and future emricasan combination products (Read more: Conatus Stock Up on Liver Drug Collaboration with Novartis).



Interest in NASH has picked up with companies like Allergan pursuing deals in this area, which represents significant commercial opportunity. By 2020, NASH is expected to become the leading cause for liver transplants in the U.S. With no treatments currently approved for NASH patients in all stages of the disease, the market could be worth billions of dollars and many companies are hoping to cash in on this opportunity.



The second agreement announced by Novartis is focused on one of its key areas of expertise  ophthalmology. The company will be acquiring Encore Vision, Inc. and will be adding a first-in-class disease modifying topical treatment for presbyopia patients to its pipeline, targeting an area of high unmet medical need and high prevalence. Novartis is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Roches MS Drug Faces 3-Month Delay: Roche RHHBY is facing a delay in the potential approval of its experimental multiple sclerosis (MS) drug, Ocrevus. The FDA said that it has extended the action date for the drug by three months to Mar 28, 2017. The FDA will need more time to review additional data submitted by Roche on the commercial manufacturing process of Ocrevus. The delay comes as a bit of a disappointment considering Roche had snagged priority review for the drug but is now facing a 3-month delay (Read more: Roche MS Drug FDA Review Date Extended in U.S.).



Performance

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Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return

Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return

The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index declined 0.5% over the last five trading days with Merck MRK declining 4.5%. Meanwhile, Lillys shares continued to rise following the companys guidance release last week. Lilly, which has underperformed the Zacks categorized Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry year-to-date (YTD) saw its shares shooting up last week on a better-than-expected outlook for 2017. Over the last six months, Merck gained 4.5% while Bristol-Myers declined 18.7% (See the last pharma stock roundup here: Lilly Up on Guidance, Merck Awarded $2.54B in HCV Case).



What's Next in the Pharma World?



Watch out for the usual pipeline and regulatory updates as well as deals and collaborations.



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Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte lashed out Thursday at the U.N.s human rights chief, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, calling him an idiot after he urged the countrys authorities to investigate Duterte for murder.

Since taking office in June, Duterte, who is known as the Punisher, has launched a gruesome war on drugs that has left more than 6,000 suspected dealers and users dead at the hands of police and vigilantes. Last week, Duterte admitted to the BBC that he had personally killed at least three suspected criminals while serving as mayor of the Philippine city Davao before becoming president.

It should be unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer, al-Hussein said in a statement released by the U.N. on Tuesday, adding that, if found to have encouraged others to follow his example, Duterte could also be guilty of incitement to violence. According to the New York Times, Duterte laid low for a day and then struck back.

Read more: The Killing Time: Inside Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes War on Drugs

You there in the United Nations, you do not know diplomacy, the Times quoted Duterte as saying. The remarks appear to have been made to a gathering of volunteer civilian watchdogs, according to the Philippine Star. You do not know how to behave, to be an employee of the United Nations. You do not talk to me like that, you son of a bch, he continued.

As Duterte ramps up attacks on Western leadersparticularly those from the Philippines long-time ally the U.S.they appear to be losing patience with him, as well. The Times reports that on Thursday, three members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made a bipartisan call for the State Department to audit police assistance programs in the Philippines to determine whether American aid is supporting extra-judicial killings or other human rights abuses in the country.

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Senators Marco Rubio, Edward Markey and Chris Coons called Dutertes war on drugs little more than a brutal campaign of government supported extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations, voicing concern over his pledge to kill another 20,000 to 30,000 people, simply because they suffer from a drug use disorder.

Read more: The Fighter: How Leila de Lima Ended Up Leading the Opposition to Rodrigo Dutertes Drug War

Earlier this week, the Philippine Commission on Human Rights vowed to investigate both Dutertes claims that he personally killed suspects and reports that he oversaw so-called death squads that allegedly killed hundreds of people in Davao, according to the BBC. Chito Gascon, the current chairman of the rights body, told the BBC, however, that the President enjoys constitutionally enshrined immunity while in office.
Los Angeles (AFP) - Brad Pitt has accused Angelina Jolie of compromising their children's privacy and is asking a judge to seal details about the youngsters emerging from the couple's divorce, court papers showed Thursday.

The 52-year-old star's lawyers claim his estranged wife is showing little regard for the welfare of the three boys and three girls, as her attorneys try to make him look bad, according to a motion filed in a Los Angeles court.

Pitt's legal team argues that Jolie has already violated an agreement to protect the privacy of the children -- who range from age eight to 15 -- by making public the names of family therapists.

The lawyers accuse Jolie, 41, of "attempting to clear the way to put in the public eye any allegations she can" without regard to the impact on the children.

Jolie filed for divorce in September, citing irreconcilable differences, and is seeking sole custody of the children.

Pitt was cleared by the FBI and social workers over allegations that he struck one of his children during a flight that month from France to Los Angeles.

Pitt, who won a best film Oscar for producing "12 Years a Slave" (2013), is seeking joint legal and physical custody.

He has been granted visits supervised by a therapist as part of a temporary custody agreement.

Under the deal Jolie has physical custody of the children -- three of whom are adopted -- at a rented LA house.

The A-listers -- given the celebrity moniker "Brangelina" -- wed in France in August two years ago, but had been a couple since 2004.

A hearing on Pitt's motion is scheduled for January 17.
Paris (AFP) - Hijackings like the one on Friday of a Libyan plane have become relatively rare since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States led to increased security.

The hijackers who diverted the plane on Friday to Malta released everyone onboard and surrendered. A Libyan official claimed the men had sought asylum, but Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said they had not.

Other recent hijackings have been carried out by individuals for reasons ranging from personal to political, and almost all ended swiftly and safely.

Here are examples from the past 10 years:

- Wanted to see ex-wife -

A man hijacks an EgyptAir flight on March 29, 2016 from Alexandria to Cairo with 55 passengers and crew onboard, and forces it to land in Cyprus so he can see his ex-wife.

Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa, 58, is described as "psychologically unstable" and claims to have explosives strapped to his waist, but gives himself up after releasing fellow travellers.

- Asylum seeker -

An Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome with 202 people on board is diverted on February 17, 2014 by its unarmed copilot to Geneva where he asks for asylum.

Hailemedehin Abera Tagegn is arrested, but Switzerland refuses an Ethiopian request for his extradition.

- Drunk hijacker -

A reportedly drunk man hijacks a flight on February 7, 2014 with 110 people on board from Ukraine's second city Kharkov to Istanbul.

He brandishes what he claims is a detonator and shouts "Let's go to Sochi," Russia, where the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is under way.

The plane is escorted by Turkish F-16 jets to Istanbul where anti-terrorist commandos end the incident without any casualties.

- Divine mission to warn Mexico -

A Bolivian preacher and former drug addict hijacks on September 9, 2009 an Aeromexico airliner from Cancun to Mexico City with 104 people on board, saying he is on a divine mission.

Presenting sand-filled juice cans with coloured lights as a bomb, Jose Marc Flores Pereira surrenders after the plane lands, with most passengers unaware they had been taken hostage.

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The hijacker says he had to warn Mexico it was threatened by an earthquake.

- Low on fuel -

A Sun Air flight carrying 95 people from Nyala in Sudan to Khartoum is hijacked on August 26, 2008 by two men and lands in Kufra, southern Libya after running low on fuel. Almost a day later, the men surrender and the passengers are freed.

- Escape out the back -

An Egyptian and a Turk who claim to be Al-Qaeda members hijack on August 18, 2007 an Istanbul-bound Atlasjet flight from the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with 142 people on board and demand to fly to Iran or Syria.

The pilots land in Antalya, Turkey to refuel, and while women and children are being freed by the front door, most of the other passengers escape through the rear. The rest are released several hours later when the hijackers surrender.

- Message to the pope -

An unarmed Turkish army deserter, Hakan Ekinci, seizes on October 3, 2006 a Turkish Airlines flight carrying 113 people from Tirana to Istanbul. The plane is forced by Greek and Italian jets to land in Brindisi, Italy.

Ekinci had forced his way into the cockpit with a parcel that he said was a bomb, and wanted to send a message to Pope Benedict XVI.

He claimed to be a Christian convert and a conscientious objector, and sought to avoid Turkey's compulsory military service.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police found and neutralized a potential explosive device in a bag left outside an office used by a Turkish cultural association in Brussels on Friday. Police were called after a plastic bag was left in front of the building at around 1.30 p.m. (1230 GMT). Brussels prosecutors said the suspected device included gas cylinders and experts were still examining it to establish, for example, if there was a detonator or not. "I cannot for the time being confirm whether this device was really going to explode or not," a prosecutors' spokesman said. No one had been held in connection with the incident. Residents, who had been evacuated, were allowed back to their homes late in the afternoon, but the traffic was blocked. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Albanian police say they have seized 1.24 metric tons (1.37 tons) of cannabis found in a vehicle on its southwestern coast.

Police said in a statement Friday that the drugs were found crammed into 116 packages in a small truck at a beach near the city of Vlora, 140 kilometers (85 miles) southwest of the capital, Tirana. Two other four-wheel drive vehicles and a trailer were found abandoned nearby.

No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.

This year, Albanian authorities have destroyed about 2.5 million cannabis plants  four times more than during the previous year. They have also seized several metric tons of cannabis from boats, ready to be sent to neighboring Italy and Greece.
Warsaw (AFP) - Polish opposition lawmakers said Friday they would continue to occupy parliament through Christmas and New Year's in protest against what they called the government's anti-democratic actions.

"It's a symbolic and sad protest, a first for Poland's parliament," Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, a lawmaker from the liberal Nowoczesna opposition party, told AFP.

"We plan to stay until at least January 11, when there's a new session of parliament scheduled," added Marcin Kierwinski, a lawmaker from the centrist Civic Platform (PO) opposition party.

The lawmakers launched their sit-in last week, while thousands of demonstrators marched outside, after the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party announced plans to restrict journalists' right to cover legislative proceedings.

Parliament then held a vote on next year's budget in another part of the building because of the opposition takeover of the main chamber.

The opposition claimed the budget was therefore approved illegally and has called for a re-run of the vote.

The PiS has since scrapped the controversial media proposals, which would have restricted access in parliament to only two journalists from each media outlet and banned them from shooting still photography and video.

However, the conservative party has held firm on other decisions it has taken since coming to power last year, which include tightening control over the media and pushing through changes to the constitutional court.

The opposition is backed by a handful of diehard demonstrators who have been camping out in front of the parliament day and night despite the winter cold.

Other Warsaw residents have brought them food and blankets, as well as wood for their fire pits.

"We're here and we'll stay as long as the lawmakers keep up their protest in parliament," said pensioner Kinga Kaminska, who belongs to a small anti-PiS movement.

"I'm not optimistic. (PiS leader) Jaroslaw Kaczynski will not let up. But we won't either," the 69-year-old told AFP, during a 24-hour stint outside parliament.

Kaminska said she would take a break to sleep at home afterward, but would be back to spend Christmas Eve among fellow protestors.
Dec 23 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- The U.S. government struck a $7.2 billion settlement with Deutsche Bank over toxic securities, while separately filing a lawsuit against Barclays Plc alleging more than $30 billion in fraud-tainted sales. http://on.wsj.com/2hxmHsY

- Italy's government has set up a backstop fund to shore up troubled banks, setting the stage for the rescue of troubled Italian lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA. http://on.wsj.com/2hxjGJd

- Federal investigators are asking questions about a billionaire New York hedge-fund manager and a Bermuda reinsurer as they examine the alleged fraud by hedge fund Platinum Partner. http://on.wsj.com/2hxnHx7

- Bridgewater Associates LP, the world's largest hedge-fund firm, wants day-to-day management including hiring, firing and decision-making to be guided by software that doles out instructions. The project is the latest bid by founder Ray Dalio to perpetuate his unorthodox philosophy. http://on.wsj.com/2hxmQN2

- Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump rounded out his senior White House team, elevating a set of trusted advisers who helped engineer his surprise election victory and bringing some of the rhythms and spirit of his unconventional campaign into the government he will soon lead. http://on.wsj.com/2hxjz0e

- Uber Technologies Inc is moving a test of its self-driving cars to the friendlier environs of Arizona after suffering a regulatory defeat in California over its use of the vehicles in San Francisco. http://on.wsj.com/2hxk0rg

- Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht's admission to U.S. prosecutors that it paid hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to win lucrative infrastructure contracts is reverberating across Latin America, sparking a political crisis. http://on.wsj.com/2hxdKQx

- Beijing is considering retaliatory steps after Trump appointed China trade skeptic Peter Navarro to head American trade and industrial policy. http://on.wsj.com/2hxomPr

- Ivory Coast in October became Africa's fastest-growing economy, a sharp reversal from 2011, when a bloody civil war left 3,000 people dead. http://on.wsj.com/2hxjIR6 (Compiled by Parikshit Mishra in Bengaluru)
Los Angeles (AFP) - Authorities in California launched an investigation into two police agencies in the state described as the deadliest in the country.

Attorney General Kamala Harris said the probe into the Kern County Sheriff's Office and the Bakersfield Police Department will examine allegations of excessive use of force and other serious misconduct by both agencies.

"These investigations will objectively, impartially, and thoroughly examine whether the Kern County Sheriff's Office or the Bakersfield Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force or other civil rights violations," Harris said in a statement.

"We look forward to working collaboratively with the sheriff's office and the police department, as well as with the community, to address any civil rights violations or other issues that we may find during these investigations."

According to media reports, a series of complaints and community groups, people were killed by officers in both agencies at a higher rate in 2015 than in any other county in America.

The Guardian newspaper, which wrote a series of reports on both agencies, said 14 people were killed in 2015 by law enforcement in Kern County, which has a population of just under 875,000. That is opposed to 10 people killed by officers in the five boroughs of New York City, which has a population almost 10 times bigger and has about 23 times as many law enforcement officers, the paper said.

The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the probe, which will be conducted by California's Department of Justice, saying it marked "an important first step toward much-needed improvements in accountability and use of force in Kern County."

"More people die in police custody there per capita than any other county in the nation, and both the Kern County Sheriff's Office and the Bakersfield Police Department have unenviable records of high profile use of force incidents that often result in fatalities," the group said in a statement.

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Authorities said the number of fatalities went down in 2016, but earlier this month a 73-year-old unarmed man with dementia was shot dead by a Bakersfield police officer, prompting complaints.

Both police agencies indicated on Thursday that they planned to cooperate with the probe.

"We will be cooperating with the investigation fully," said Ray Pruitt, spokesman for the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

Bakersfield Police Chief Lyle Martin, who took up his post earlier this month, had no comment, his spokesman said.

"He will provide a statement after he meets with the Department of Justice in January," Detective John Ramirez told AFP.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2016 / Prophecy Development Corp. ("Prophecy" or the "Company") (TSX: PCY; OTC PINK: PRPCF; FRA: 1P2N) is pleased to announce, further to its press release dated November 24, 2016, the assay results of 22 samples collected from the Company's most recent Pulacayo underground exploration program. Samples were obtained by continuous chip channel sampling across the width of the vein mineralization at locations one metre apart.

ID Ag Zn Pb Area Method Width g/t % % 1912 1,400 18.4 >20.0 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1920 915 22.7 1.0 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1908 490 20.0 1.6 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1907 688 14.7 3.3 UG1 chip channel 0.6 m 1918 405 21.6 0.4 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1906 432 15.9 1.8 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1911 583 8.4 7.0 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1919 732 7.8 0.3 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1909 682 6.1 0.8 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1910 261 11.8 0.7 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1921 161 8.4 1.6 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1917 291 6.8 0.4 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1916 101 9.9 0.3 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1915 67 5.0 0.3 UG1 chip channel 1.3 m 1922 54 2.9 0.1 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1913 62 1.6 0.5 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1914 39 0.3 0.1 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1905 392 23.0 12.0 AVS chip channel 1 m 1904 284 17.6 6.6 AVS chip channel 1 m 1901 250 6.3 6.2 AVS chip channel 1 m 1903 96 7.7 2.7 AVS chip channel 1.5 m 1902 17 5.7 0.5 AVS chip channel 1 m

The samples including QA/QC samples were delivered to ALS Bolivia Ltda., located in Oruro, Bolivia, for preparation, after which splits were sent to the ALS laboratory located in Lima, Peru (both locations together, referred to as "ALS"). ALS is an independent laboratory and was qualified and retains current accreditation by the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification (ICONTEC) and the Standards Council of Canada for the methods used during the time the samples were prepared and assayed. Normal QA/QC procedures were followed when handling and processing the samples as described in Prophecy's Sample Procedures, Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) for Sampling manual (QAQC manual), National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers Exploration Best Practices Guidelines. These procedures included use of a chain of custody to document possession, delivery, and security of the samples from Prophecy to the laboratory and secure storage until transported. The laboratory was assessed to ensure it has the technical qualifications for preparation and assay of the type of sample and range in mineral content, follows proper procedures to ensure correct sample identification and security, and maintains confidentiality of assay results. Quality control materials including a blank and certified reference materials were included with the sample group for assay. Duplicate assays were also performed. The quality control material assay results were found within acceptable limits of the known values and the duplicate assay results were within acceptable limits supporting acceptance of the assay results of the samples. Access to the analytical results was restricted to the chief executive officer, chief geologist, vice president of operations, and general mining manager. The information was verified by Christopher M. Kravits CPG, LPG. a Qualified Person through discussion with Prophecy's chief geologist, review of documents, and comparison to known values. There were no limitations on verification. Mr. Kravits has reviewed and approved the data and records supporting the above statements.

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The additional vein system (the "AVS") is located approximately 200 metres west of the Rothschild shaft, at a level of 50 metres above the San Leon adit level (level 0, 4128m). The principal vein measures 1.0 to 1.5 metres in width. The strike and vertical extent of the principal vein are unknown. The location of the AVS is approximately 600 metres west of the San Leon adit and passes outside the western boundary of the area where Apogee Silver Ltd. conducted 70,000 metres of drilling between 2005 to 2012, and therefore was not included in the Pulacayo deposit resource estimate prepared by Mercator Geological Services Limited ("Mercator") according to National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101").

Pulacayo Mineral Resource Statement* - Effective June 16, 2015

Category Tonnes** Ag (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) Ag Eq. (g/t) Indicated 1,270,000 530 2.51 3.63 688 Inferred 350,000 419 2.47 4.58 620

*Base case resources are those reported at the 500 g/t Ag Eq. cut-off

**Tonnes are rounded to nearest 10,000

The mineral resource estimate was supervised by Michael Cullen, P.Geo., who is an independent Qualified Person as set out in NI 43-101.

This additional vein is within 100 metres of the surface and is accessible via existing tunnels. The AVS was known from historical mining records. Extensive sampling had taken place between 1936 to 1940 by the Hochschild Group (founded by Mauricio Hochschild), which recorded average grades of 180g/t Ag, 9.5% Zn and 2.7% Pb, but had not yet mined the location. Because of insufficient information, the AVS was not included in the Mercator 2015 resource estimate. The Company plans to continue exploration of the AVS to assess whether drilling is warranted.

Separately, the Company is completing final preparations for underground mining, including detailed mine plans, staffing, and equipment purchases at Pulacayo for the area (UG1) in particular. A positive production decision would not be based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, so would carry increased uncertainty and the risk of failure as to the mining method and profitability. UG1 is located at level 0, approximately 110 metres east of the San Leon adit, and within 100 metres from the Central shaft. UG1 measures approximately 117 metres in strike, 93 metres in width, and 38 metres in height. Veins can be observed in UG1, where the following prior drill holes had intercepted the vein: PUD 032, PUG 051, PUG 052, PUG 058, PUD 140, PUD 188

Drillhole Number From (m) To (m) DW* (m) TW** (m) Grade Ag g/t Zn % Pb % PUD 032 207.00 211.00 4.00 3.36 216 12.3 1.7 PUG 051 128.40 128.90 0.50 0.45 340 0.9 0.9 PUG 052 176.00 176.27 0.27 0.25 750 22.2 16.9 PUG 058 137.30 137.65 0.35 0.27 810 9.4 8.2 PUG 058 137.65 138.00 0.35 0.27 350 2.2 2.5 PUG 058 158.33 158.55 0.22 0.17 2,420 5.8 34.3 PUG 058 158.55 159.00 0.45 0.34 390 1.2 5.6 PUD 140 188.00 189.00 1.00 0.79 665 0.8 0.7 PUD 140 209.43 210.00 0.57 0.46 1,465 0.6 1.9 PUD 188 194.52 195.52 1.00 0.58 645 2.9 1.9 PUD 188 233.00 234.00 1.00 0.58 376 7.6 7

*DW - drilled width, **TW - true width

Conclusion:

The Company believes the results are encouraging given the AVS is located in the shallow part of the deposit; it exhibits strong zinc and lead anomaly and represents a priority area for further exploration which could potentially add resources to the Pulacayo project. At UG1, the Company has identified a vein system that is immediately accessible via a 2.5m x 2.5m tunnel. This system exposed visible mineralization that is 4 to 6 meters in width and the sampling grades are consistent with drill results. UG1 is a priority area that is under preparation for mining. A positive production decision would not be based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability so would carry increased uncertainty and the risk of failure as to the mining method and profitability.

Lastly, the Company has extensive Pulacayo mining records from 1901 to 1957 compiled by the Hochschild Group, detailing historic mining, sampling and stope development at each of 25 individual vertical levels that span 700m in depth and 2.5km in strike. According to the records, there are more than a dozen areas with detailed sampling of mineral grades comparable to those Pulacayo resource grades estimated by Mercator, over appreciable strike (100m) but which had not yet been mined. The AVS sampling results appear to resemble the historic sampling results recorded by the Hochschild Group and the Company intends to closely examine the historic mining records to form exploration targets.

The sample pictures below are also available at www.prophecydev.com.

To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Sample 1

To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Sample 2



To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Sample 3



To view the graphic, please click here

UG1 Sample 1



To view the graphic, please click here

UG1 Sample 2



To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Map



To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Vein 1



To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Vein 2

To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Tunnel 1

To view the graphic, please click here

AVS Tunnel 2

To view the graphic, please click here

UG1 Vein 1

To view the graphic, please click here

UG1 Vein 2

To view the graphic, please click here

UG1 Vein 3

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release was reviewed and approved by Christopher M. Kravits, CPG, LPG, who is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Mr. Kravits is a consultant to the Company and serves as its Qualified Person and General Mining Manager.

About Prophecy



Prophecy Development Corp. is a Canadian public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange that is engaged in developing mining and energy projects in Mongolia, Bolivia and Canada. Further information on Prophecy can be found at www.prophecydev.com.

PROPHECY DEVELOPMENT CORP.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"JOHN LEE"



Executive Chairman

For more information about Prophecy, please contact Investor Relations:

+1.888.513.6286

ir@prophecydev.com

www.prophecydev.com

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Prophecy's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These estimates and assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies, many of which, with respect to future events, are subject to change and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by Prophecy. In making forward-looking statements as may be included in this news release, Prophecy has made several assumptions that it believes are appropriate, including, but not limited to assumptions that: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, such as due to labour disruptions; currency exchange rates being approximately consistent with current levels; certain price assumptions for coal, prices for and availability of fuel, parts and equipment and other key supplies remain consistent with current levels; production forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of Prophecy's current mineral resource estimates; labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Prophecy's current expectations; and that any additional required financing will be available on reasonable terms. Prophecy cannot assure you that any of these assumptions will prove to be correct.

Numerous factors could cause Prophecy's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including the following risks and uncertainties, which are discussed in greater detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in Prophecy's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form as filed on SEDAR and posted on Prophecy's website: Prophecy's history of net losses and lack of foreseeable cash flow; exploration, development and production risks, including risks related to the development of Prophecy's mineral properties; Prophecy not having a history of profitable mineral production; the uncertainty of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; the capital and operating costs required to bring Prophecy's projects into production and the resulting economic returns from its projects; foreign operations and political conditions, including the legal and political risks of operating in Bolivia, which is a developing jurisdiction; amendments to local Bolivian laws which may have an adverse impact on the Company's operations; title to Prophecy's mineral properties; environmental risks; the competitive nature of the mining business; lack of infrastructure; Prophecy's reliance on key personnel; uninsured risks; commodity price fluctuations; reliance on contractors; Prophecy's need for substantial additional funding and the risk of not securing such funding on reasonable terms or at all; foreign exchange risks; anti-corruption legislation; recent global financial conditions; the payment of dividends; and conflicts of interest.

These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Prophecy's forward-looking statements. Prophecy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although Prophecy 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Prophecy undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

SOURCE: Prophecy Development Corp.
The Hague (AFP) - Dutch prosecutors said Friday they would appeal a local court verdict earlier this month which found anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders guilty of discrimination but did not give him a prison sentence.

The populist Wilders, who is leading in polls ahead of next year's parliamentary elections, was convicted on December 9 of discrimination, but acquitted of hate speech over comments he made about Moroccans living in the Netherlands.

After a three-week trial, the three judges ruled "the inflammatory character of the way in which the statements were made have incited others to discriminate people of Moroccan origin."

The trial had focussed in particular on a statement made at a 2014 local government election rally in The Hague, when Wilders 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."

The judges concluded there was "insufficient evidence" to prove his words amounted to incitement to hatred, and also dismissed the prosecution's request to impose a 5,000-euro ($5,300) fine.

"The public prosecution service finds that the verdict in regards to a fine needs re-examination," the NOS public newscaster reported, quoting an unnamed prosecution services official.

Wilders, 53, largely boycotted the trial which he denounced as a political attempt to gag him and has previously said he would appeal.

The outcome of the Dutch vote will be keenly watched given the anti-EU outcome of Britain's Brexit referendum and the November election of populist Donald Trump as the next US president.

Wilders has among other things vowed to confiscate Korans, close mosques and Islamic schools, shut the borders and ban migrants from Islamic countries.
Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump often directly associated terrorism with Muslims around the world by saying radical Islamic terrorism, a phrase he criticized President Barack Obama for failing to use and denying any link between the religion and terrorist attacks.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putins thinking appears to fall well in line with Obamas and not Trump, who hes been accused of helping win the 2016 presidential election by directing his government to hack the Republican and Democratic National Committees.

Speaking at his annual year-end press conference Friday, Putin said he would prefer not to link Islam with terrorism, Russian state-run site Sputnik International reported.

"I would prefer Islam not to be mentioned in vain alongside terrorism. You are right here," Putin said when asked if the phrase "Daesh, terrorist organization in Russia" should be banned from use by the media.

Following the assassination of a Russian ambassador in Turkey, allegedly in the name of Syria, the comments may be confusing to some.

But Putins comments only strengthen is previous statements on Islam and terror. In May, at an event devoted to discussing Islam and Russia, Putin said Russia will always be a reliable ally to the Islamic World, Newsweek reported.

I would like to confirm that in Russia, the Islamic world will always find a reliable ally, prepared to cooperate in resolving pressing problems, Putin said. We support the position of Muslim countries to strengthen values such as justice and the rule of law in international relations.

Putins vow and consistent rhetoric fall well in line with his foreign policies and Russias attempts to further strengthen its military presence around the world. While helping Syria defeat revels in its five-year long civil war with airstrikes and troops on the ground, Russia has opened a permanent military base in Syria and is toying with the idea of further expansion in Vietnam and Venezuela.

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Polls show it's politically beneficial for Putin to keep the current trajectory of his foreign policies. In June 2015, a Pew Research Center study found 90 percent of Russians approved of Putins handling of China and 85 percent were in favor of his work with the U.S.

Related Articles
* Putin gives annual news conference

* Shrugs off Trump's nuclear comments

* Praises Trump, lashes out at Democrats (Recasts, adds Putin comments on 2018 election, possible U.S. visit, edits)

By Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Russia's Vladimir Putin said on Friday he was unfazed by President-elect Donald Trump's plans to boost the U.S. nuclear arsenal, praising Trump for being in touch with U.S. public opinion while branding the Democrats sore election losers.

Speaking at his annual news conference in Moscow, the Russian president said earlier comments he had made about his country's own military modernisation had been misunderstood in the United States and that he accepted that the U.S. military, not Russia's, was the most powerful in the world.

Putin said on Thursday Russia's military was "stronger than any potential aggressor". Trump later tweeted that the United States "must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

Asked to clarify his comments on Friday, MSNBC reported that Trump had said: "Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."

But Putin said he did not regard the United States as a potential aggressor and had only been talking about countries he thought might realistically launch an attack on Russia.

"I was a bit surprised by the statements from some representatives of the current U.S. administration who for some reason started to prove that the U.S. military was the most powerful in the world," Putin said, referring to State Department comments from Thursday.

"Nobody is arguing with that."

Putin said he saw nothing new or remarkable about Trump's own statement about wanting to expand U.S. nuclear capabilities anyway.

"In the course of his election campaign he (Trump) spoke about the necessity of strengthening the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and strengthening the armed forces. There's nothing unusual here," said Putin.

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"If anyone is unleashing an arms race it's not us ... We will never spend resources on an arms race that we can't afford."

Trump's comments, made in a tweet, alarmed non-proliferation experts who said that a boost to the U.S. arsenal could fuel global tensions.

'SORE LOSERS'

The Russian leader, speaking in a news conference that lasted just under four hours, fielded questions on everything from Syria to the economy, Ukraine and sports doping.

But he only became really animated when talking about the United States, launching a scathing attack on the Democrats.

He said they had forgotten the meaning of their own name and were sore losers.

"The current administration and the leadership of the Democratic Party are trying to blame all their failures on external factors," said Putin.

"(We are talking about) a party which has clearly forgotten the original meaning of its own name. They (the Democrats) are losing on all fronts and looking elsewhere for things to blame. In my view this, how shall I say it, degrades their own dignity. You have to know how to lose with dignity."

The Obama administration and U.S. intelligence officials have accused Russia of trying to interfere with the U.S. election by hacking Democratic Party accounts. Information from those hacks was leaked online, causing political problems for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Putin dismissed suggestions Moscow had helped Trump to victory in any way however.

"It's not like that," he said. "All of this (the accusations) speaks of the current administration's systemic problems."

Putin, who spoke positively of Trump before his election win, said that only Moscow had believed in his victory however.

"Trump understood the mood of the people and kept going until the end, when nobody believed in him," Putin said, adding with a smile. "Except for you and me."

Putin said he would be willing to visit the United States if Trump invited him and expected U.S.-Russia ties to return to normal now, particularly in the security and economic spheres.

He was more cagey when it came to his own political future though, saying he needed time before deciding whether he would run for president again in 2018. Most Kremlin-watchers believe he will stand and win again.

"I will look at what's going on in the country, in the world," said Putin coyly, calling a reporter who had asked him to provide reasons why people would want to vote for him again "a provocateur".

(Additional reporting by Katya Golubkova, Vladimir Soldatkin, Denis Pinchuk, Peter Hobson, Maria Kiselyova and Andrey Ostroukh, Gleb Stolyarov, Oksana Kobzeva, Andrey Kuzmin, Anastasia Lyrchikova, Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Yes, were looking forward to Christmas and New Years, but were also now anticipating Jan. 28  the day Love Locks, a movie starring Rebecca Romijn and Jerry OConnell, premieres on Hallmark. Watch the trailer debut above.

The real life husband-and-wife filmed the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation on location in Paris. Romijn plays Lindsay, a woman who studied art in France years ago but returned to New York to become the editor of an art magazine after a broken promise with her then boyfriend, Jack (OConnell). Now, Lindsay returns to Paris with her teenage daughter, another gifted artist, and runs into that old boyfriend, whos now a hotelier and, judging from the promo, also a romantic.

(Credit: Hallmark Channel)

Will they let love slip through their fingers again, like they did that lock on the bridge years ago?

(Credit: Hallmark Channel)

We think not.

Should we make them starring in a Hallmark movie every year during Countdown to Valentines Day a tradition?

YES.

Love Locks premieres Jan. 28 at 9 p.m. on Hallmark Channel.
There has been an unprecedented rise in drowning deaths in the Mediterranean Sea in 2016 as the death toll rose to more than 5,000 on Thursday, after two inflatable boats packed with nearly 100 migrants capsized near the Libyan coast.

The growing European migrant and refugee crises continues to escalate as winter months fall on the Mediterranean. The latest death toll is the highest in history, up from 3,771 deaths in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015. United Nations officials have cited increasingly harsh weather and the use of weak boats and other drastic measures for the spike in recent deaths. Meanwhile, a wave of populism in part spurred by the ongoing crisis has spurred governments to close their borders to incoming migrants, after 358,000 migrants and refugees have relocated to Europe via sea travel this year alone.

"On average, 14 people have died every single day this year in the Mediterranean trying to find safety or a better life or safety in Europe," William Spindler, spokesman for the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR, said in a statement.

RTX2PPJO

Photo: Reuters

Still, the worsening conditions for migrants havent stopped them from making the voyage to safer conditions. Migrants fleeing persecution, oppression and constant threats of civil war and unrest in West Africa and the Middle East have been forced to use the Mediterranean Sea as a pathway since several European countries like Italy and Greece have opposed sharing the burden of accepting asylum-seekers.

In an apparent attempt to adapt to European countries closing their borders, the United Nations also alleged that migrants are sending vessels packed with upwards of a hundred people at a time out to sea. Multiple vessels arriving at the same time could effectively prevent coastal authorities from turning migrants away, though the agency noted this makes rescue efforts for capsized ships all the more difficult.

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"This situation highlights the urgent need for States to increase pathways for admission of refugees, such as resettlement, private sponsorship, family reunification and student scholarship schemes, among others, so they do not have to resort to dangerous journeys and the use of smugglers," the United Nations refugee agency said Friday.

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KYIV, Ukraine -- Imagine discovering the bust of Hippocrates, the Greek "father of medicine," known for the famous doctor's oath to "do no harm" in a dark basement alley, facing the corner like a prisoner of conscience in the old Soviet gulag. This is what I found on my first day as Ukraine's acting minister of health and it was an apt symbol of a Soviet health care system that went through decades of neglect, corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency.

One hundred days later, the new team at the ministry consists of medical professionals who are committed to raising health care standards to European levels, to fulfill the hopes of Ukrainians who protested against a return to Soviet-style repression. Treatment entails reversing the harm done by corruption of former President Viktor Yanukovych's regime and the legacy of the Soviet Union.

In September, we stabilized and improved the prognosis for our primary patient: the ordinary citizens of Ukraine. First we canceled the Soviet-era "Decree 33," a typically inefficient order that dictated the number of health care workers at each facility. It has been a source of corruption in the finance system which allocated state budget money to medical facilities based on the number of hospital beds, rather than the number of actual patients. Ukraine has three times as many hospitals and twice as many hospital beds per capita compared to European countries. But Ukrainians are not healthier because of this.

We tackled corruption and overcame bureaucratic obstacles to ensure the success of the ministry's pilot program for the international procurement of vaccines. This program, which was started by my predecessor, created an open and transparent tender process for qualified international organizations to deliver vaccines to prevent polio, tuberculosis and diphtheria, as well as medicines for the treatment of cancer, HIV, and Hepatitis C.

More Ukrainians have been vaccinated this year, and through the tender process, we saved $3 million. These savings will help to buy more vaccines for next year, and will help to overcome the lowest vaccination rates in Europe that have been caused by superstition, neglect and negligent medical advice of the Yanukovych regime.

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With the support of Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, the government, parliament and president, we increased the state health care budget by 7.5 percent for next year. Budget money is scarce because of the economic difficulties imposed on Ukraine as a result of Russia's invasion of the Donbas and occupation of Crimea, combined with the corruption of the former regime. Still, this increase in funding represents a significant investment to improve the country's health care system. Ukraine must still spend more on health care in the future to reach European levels, but the budget increase for 2017 is an important "down payment" toward that goal.

[ These Countries Have the Best Quality of Life]

Earlier in December, the Cabinet of Ministers approved 10 key changes we initiated as new concepts for Ukraine's health care system, based on Western models. Now, primary care physicians will be required to sign contracts with patients. Then, through the creation of a state medical insurance body, doctors will be paid directly to allow them to receive more salary based on the number of patients. In a country where the average doctor's salary is around $200 per month, it is critical that we create opportunities for medical professionals to be rewarded for their work and avoid brain drain abroad.

These changes will provide an immediate 30 percent increase in salaries for primary care providers. At the same time, this system of contracts between patients and primary care physicians, empowers patients to select the doctor of their choice. This is a fundamental change in the financing of healthcare by ensuring that the money will now follow the patient.

READ: [The 10 Most Depressed Countries]

Currently only 1 percent of Ukraine's health care budget is spent on prevention of illnesses. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average life span of Ukrainians is 10 years less than other European countries. So, we created a new system of public health centers in every region of the country to prioritize disease prevention over treatment. Enlightenment through medicine in these new public health centers will contribute to the prevention of deadly diseases and help prolong Ukrainian lifespans from a current average of just 71 years.

We are introducing scientific-based protocols for diagnosis and treatment. Historically Ukrainian medicine has been based on tradition and governmental authority, rather than the Western model of evidence-based medicine. Now, Western protocols will be adopted for use in Ukraine, and recommended to all medical professionals before eventually becoming mandatory.

[ In Ukraine, Extensions Are the 'New Botox']

The cost of health care will be further reduced through the creation of a National Registry of Essential Medicines. The medicines in the registry are proven and effective for treatment of illnesses. Currently in Ukraine, 90 percent of all medicine purchases are paid "out of pocket" by patients. Through the implementation of reference pricing for those medicines in the registry, Ukraine will begin a system of reimbursements for the purchase of medicines by patients.

Other changes will reinforce Ukraine's decentralization efforts by giving medical institutions autonomy in financing starting next year. Medical subsidies to the more than 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) because of Russia's invasion of the Donbas and Crimea will be accessible through these reforms. Finally, strict controls on public funds used for the construction of a modern diagnosis medical complex for children known as "Okhmatdyt" will be in place.

"Considerable progress has been reached in achieving positive changes in medicine during the last few months," said Susan Kosinski Fritz, the USAID mission director to Ukraine.

More needs to be done, but Ukrainian health care is finally fixing the harm done by the past. The new team is committed to making the changes irreversible. And we freed Hippocrates and returned him to his rightful place at the entrance to the Ministry of Health.

Ulana Suprun, M.D., a U.S.-born physician, is the acting minister of health of Ukraine.
Carrie Fisher (Photo: Getty Images)

By Variety Staff

UPDATE:

Carrie Fishers brother tells the AP that the actress is out of emergency and stabilized at a Los Angeles hospital. Read more here.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Carrie Fisher suffered a full cardiac arrest on Friday while aboard an airplane going from London to LAX, an emergency official confirmed to Variety. The actress is in critical condition, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Airport police responded at approximately 12:15 p.m. PT to a woman with a medical emergency on a plane a Terminal 7, but they couldnt confirm the identify of the victim, public information officer Alicia Hernandez told Variety.

The female victim had gone into cardiac arrest and officers from the Los Angeles County Fire Department were already on the scene performing CPR, when airport police arrived. She was transported to local hospital for medical treatment.

Fisher reportedly went into cardiac arrest about 15 minutes before the plane landed, TMZ first reported.

LAFD spokesman Erik Scott said paramedics were standing by for the planes arrival at 12:11 p.m., and immediately provided advanced life support, aggressively treated, and transported the patient  whom they couldnt name  to a local hospital.

United Airlines released a statement on Friday afternoon.

Medical personnel met United flight 935 from London to Los Angeles upon arrival today after the crew reported that a passenger was unresponsive. Our thoughts are with our customer at this time and any requests for additional information should be directed to local authorities.

Reps for Fisher did not immediately respond to Varietys request for comment.

Several people who say they were on board the airplane with Fisher took to social media to share the news. Dont know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home. Hope shes gonna be OK, wrote filmmaker and YouTuber Anna Akana.

Comedian Brad Gage wrote, Im in complete shock. Anna Akana and I sat in front of Carrie Fisher on our flight from London and she was just taken off the plane by EMTs

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Fisher, known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, has recently been on tour promoting her memoir The Princess Diarist.

Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise, wrote on Twitter: Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyones favorite princess right now.

Don't know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home. Hope she's gonna be OK ????  Anna Akana (@AnnaAkana) December 23, 2016

So many thanks to the United flight crew who jumped into action, and the awesome doctor and nurse passengers who helped  Anna Akana (@AnnaAkana) December 23, 2016
The leader of Kentuckys infamous Cornbread Mafia was arrested in Canada on Thursday after spending eight years on the run, according to reports. John Johnny Robert Boone, also called the Godfather of Grass and King of Pot, was apprehended in a town near Montreal, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

A federal arrest warrant for Boone was initially issued back in 2008 after authorities found 2,400 marijuana plants on his farm in Kentucky. Authorities were unable to locate Boone, who already served prison time for two other federal charges, until now following an extensive fugitive investigation. If convicted a third time, Boone could serve life in prison on charges of manufacture and possession with intent to sell marijuana.

Boone, who was once featured on Americas Most Wanted, was first convicted on drug charges back in the 1980s. Boone, who is said to be about 73-years-old now, reportedly operated 29 cannabis farms in at least nine different states with other Cornbread Mafia members, 70 of whom were also arrested for their participation in the drug ring in the 1980s. The group is said to be responsible for transporting cannabis to states with cold climates unsuitable for growing marijuana. During court trials in the late 1980s, prosecutors accused Boone and his organization for transporting marijuana across state lines by concealing cannabis inside of cattle.

While on trial in 1988, after which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Boone reportedly said he grew, transported and sold marijuana as a means to provide for his family.

With the poverty at home, marijuana is sometimes one of the things that puts bread on the table, he said. We were working with our hands on earth God gave us.

The marijuana outlaws criminal record dates back to the 1960s with a variety of charges including possession of an illegal firearm and wanton endangerment.

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Boone was held at a Canada jail where he is reportedly awaiting extradition back to the U.S.

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Investors generally gauge a stocks potential return by examining earnings growth and valuation multiples. At the same time, its important to measure the performance of such a stock relative to its industry or peers, or the appropriate benchmark.

If you see that a stock is underperforming on fundamental factors, then it would be prudent to move on and find a better alternative. However, those outperforming their respective sectors in terms of price should be selected because they stand a better chance to provide considerable returns.

Then again, it is imperative that you determine whether or not an investment has relevant upside potential when considering stocks with significant relative price strength. Stocks delivering better than the S&P 500 over a period of 1 to 3 months at the least and having solid fundamentals indicate room for growth, and are the best ways to go about this strategy.

Finally, it is important to find out whether analysts are optimistic about the upcoming earnings results of these companies. In order to do this, we have added positive estimate revisions for the current quarters (Q1) earnings to our screen. When a stock undergoes an upward revision, it leads to additional price gains.

Screening Parameters

Relative % Price change  12 weeks greater than 0

Relative % Price change  4 weeks greater than 0

Relative % Price change  1 week greater than 0

(We have considered those stocks that have been outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 12 weeks, 4 weeks and 1 week.)

% Change (Q1) Est. over 4 Weeks greater than 0: Positive current quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks.

Zacks Rank equal to 1: Only Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks  that have returned more than 26% annually over the last 26 years and surpassed the S&P 500 in 23 of the last 26 years  can get through. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Current Price greater than or equal to $5 and Average 20-day Volume greater than or equal to 50,000: A minimum price of $5 is a good standard to screen low-priced stocks, while a high trading volume would imply adequate liquidity.

VGM Score less than or equal to 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 the five stocks that made it through the screen:

Micron Technology Inc. MU: Headquartered in Boise, ID, Micron Technology is a provider of advanced semiconductor solutions. The company has a VGM score of A and an excellent earnings surprise history. It surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters at an average rate of 34.60%.

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust PMT: A mortgage REIT that invests primarily in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets, Moorpark, CA-based PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust has a VGM score of A. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 and 2017 increased 5% each, to $1.04 and $1.78 per share, respectively.

Braskem SA BAK: Together with its subsidiaries, Braskem SA produces and sells thermoplastic resins. Headquartered in Brazil, the company is the largest petrochemical operation in Latin America. The company has a VGM score of A and handily outperformed earnings estimates in the last reported quarter.

Hawaiian Holdings Inc. HA: Hawaiian Holdings is the parent of Hawaiian Airlines - Hawaii's largest and longest-serving airline, in addition to being the biggest provider of passenger air service from its primary visitor markets on the U.S. Mainland. Sporting a VGM score of A, this Honolulu, HI headquartered companys expected EPS growth rate for 3 to 5 years currently stands at 15.20%  comparing favorably with the industry growth rate of just 8.90%.

CONE Midstream Partners L.P. CNNX: Headquartered in Canonsburg, PA, CONE Midstream Partners is a master limited partnership focused on natural gas and condensate gathering in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The 2017 Zacks Consensus Estimate for this partnership is $1.60, representing 33% earnings per share growth over 2016. The next years average forecast is $1.80, pointing to 12% growth. Bob Evans Farms has a VGM score of A.

A mortgage REIT that invests primarily in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets, Moorpark, CA-based PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust has a VGM score of A. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 and 2017 increased 5% each, to $1.04 and $1.78 per share, respectively.

You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.

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.

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CAIRO (AP)  An international rights group says it found evidence that a Saudi-led coalition used Brazilian-made rockets carrying cluster bombs when it targeted schools in northern Yemen earlier this month.

Human Rights Watch said Friday that the Dec. 6 airstrikes on Saada killed two people. The attack came a day after Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United States abstained from a U.N. vote to ban the use of cluster munitions.

The Saudi-led coalition has been at war with Yemen's Houthi rebels since March 2015.

Earlier this week, the coalition said it would stop using British-made cluster bombs after Amnesty International and other groups raised concerns about civilian casualties.

HRW said it has documented the use of seven types of cluster munitions in Yemen, made in the U.S., Britain and Brazil.
Towards the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, just before the climactic all guns and AT-AT blazing battle on the tropical planet Scarif, Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso delivers a rousing speech around the briefing room table at the Rebel Alliance base. It's a pivotal scene, gathering all the film's forces of good before they hyperspace off towards a rather uncertain future against the Empire.

Just behind Erso stand two figures looking suitably roused: Riz Ahmed's nervous defector Bodhi Rook and an unnamed rebel X-wing pilot in full iconic orange garb.

Thanks to a book published to coincide with the film's release - Dorling Kindersley's Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide - this pilot would be given a name, Harb Binli, and a call sign, Red Seven of Red Squadron. Red Squadron would, of course, famously be joined by Luke Skywalker in A New Hope and successfully destroy the Death Star, a mission Red Seven wouldn't return home from.

For the man beneath the flight suit, appearing in Star Wars and becoming part of its folklore completes something of an almost-too-perfect circle.

In the early 1980s, Brit Ben Hartley was among the millions of children obsessed with George Lucas' galactic fantasy world. But it was the X-wings and their pilots that interested him the most. And it was this interest, coupled with a youth spent living abroad in far-flung places such as Morocco, Turkey and Mexico thanks to ex-pat parents, that he credits with steering him towards a career as a helicopter pilot for the British Royal Navy.

Hartley spent 18 years serving in the military, mostly flying on anti-submarine warfare and anti-people smuggling missions. Towards the end of his time on duty he moved towards pilot recruitment, and it was here where he met Andrew Buckley, a former Royal Marine who was leaving the forces to work as a film location manager. One day, Buckley gave him a call.

Read more: Kathleen Kennedy Says There Will Be No 'Rogue One' Sequel

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"He said, 'mate, can you help me get an aircraft carrier for a shoot?'," Hartley tells The Hollywood Reporter.

The shoot was World War Z, and Hartley and Buckley managed to not just find a suitable boat (the RFA Argus, which was renamed the USS Argus for the film), but bring Hartley's expertise on board as the film's helicopter supervisor.

"I was the technical advisor, and somehow ended up controlling the whole deck scene," he says.

It was on the deck of the Argus that Hartley noticed that the extras didn't quite look the part.

"I saw all these guys running around with guns playing U.S. Marines and I thought it would look much better with actual armed forces personnel who had done that sort of thing in real life. So we said to them: we can get you guys who are actually Marines to be Marines."

After World War Z, word got around, and Buckley soon had a call from one of the assistant directors on the Tom Cruise action film Edge of Tomorrow, also shooting in the U.K., asking for extras who knew how to handle a gun.

"We sent over photos of people and mates that we knew from the Forces and said, 'these are the sort of guys we can get,' and he was like, 'great, can we have all of them,'" says Hartley. "So we thought, shit, now we'd better ask the people whether they actually want to be involved in the film."

Thankfully, they did, while others found out on the grapevine and got in touch via social media to offer their services. Soon, Hartley and Buckley had a growing database of names - some still serving and others having left the military - and the two, sensing a gap in the market, co-founded Military Film Services.

"Films need authenticity and realism, especially when it comes to people holding weapons and moving in a certain way that you can tell is military or not," says Hartley. "But there's also a period where ex-service personnel are transitioning to civilian life, and it's a really difficult phase of their lives. So having something like this acts as a really good go-between. You've also got a bunch of people who are reliable, turn up on time and don't mind being barked orders at on set!"

Read more: Before 'Rogue One': 'Ewok Adventure' Star on George Lucas' First 'Star Wars' Spinoff

With the U.K. in the midst of a film production boom thanks to a tasty tax incentives scheme luring big Hollywood productions, the work started to pour in, and MFS began supplying extras and its technical expertise to films including 24: Live Another Day, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Fury and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. It also moved away from being purely military-focused, with its database of names appearing as CIA agents, SWAT team members, police officers and close protection. The company grew, and now boasts more than 3,000 ex and serving military personnel on its books, alongside thousands of police officers, martial artists, action specialists and regular extras in their sister agency, Action Extras.

After about three years of steady work, a call came in from an assistant director MFS had worked with several times previously. Knowing that Hartley had himself been a pilot, the request this time was for others who knew the insides of a cockpit, who he needed to work on a major secret project.

That film was Rogue One.

"When we found out it was Star Wars, it was amazing to know that we'd be putting people who had flown military aircraft into X-wings fighting for the Rebel Alliance," he says. "You can imagine how amazed and chuffed everyone was."

Having previously kept himself at a managerial or advisory level, this time Hartley decided to put himself forward as one of the faces and, once selected, went down with the 50 or so MFS pilots, ground crew and engineers on the first day for their costume fitting.

"It was like an old reunion of mates. People had come from all over, people who I might have flown on squadron with or known in my career," he says.

One ex-navy man, believing he'd been set up as part of a - very - elaborate joke, actually started crying when he put on the orange flight suit and realized that he was, actually, going to be in Star Wars.

Much of the shoot involving the extras took place at RAF Cardington, a former air force base boasting a huge hangar that had been extensively used by Christopher Nolan in his Batman trilogy and for Inception. For Rogue One, it was transformed into the Rebel Alliance base on the moon of Yavin 4, the setting for those iconic outdoor scenes as frantic pilots scramble to their waiting X-wings.

Aside from his extra work, Hartley also became the on-set aviation advisor, sitting in the ships with Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed, Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk's K-2SO, giving them tips on which buttons to press and how to look comfortable and authentic in the cockpit.

"In a lot of those scenes in the ships, I'm actually crouching behind the seats," he says, adding that while working with the key cast he learned that he and Luna used to hang out in the same shopping mall in Mexico City as kids.

But things were to get even bigger for Hartley when shooting moved to Pinewood for the scene in the Rebel Alliance briefing room, where he was slowly moved towards the front of the pack of extras.

Read more: 'Rogue One': That Familiar Face Isn't Familiar Enough

"When they reshot it the second time, I was right behind Felicity and when they did the final reshoot - where much of the footage is from - the AD kept pushing me further forward," he says. "When they framed up the camera, they realized they needed to fill a gap so I was drawn right to the front of the table. From that point I absolutely knew that I was going to be quite key in this scene."

The subsequent marketing drive underlined his prominent role, Hartley glimpsing himself briefly in the first trailer and more significantly in the second. And then came the other promotional material, with his face appearing on trading cards and official stills that were published around the world.

After Rogue One was eventually released in the U.K. on Dec 16, Hartley's social media "went bananas," with him being inundated with messages from people who had seen him, several joking that they had no idea what Erso actually said in her speech because they were too busy staring at their friend next to her, or pointing out that he appeared in the film "more than Darth Vader."

And now, thanks to the Dorling Kindersley book, Hartley isn't just a nodding extra, but a legitimate part of the Star Wars family, with a backstory on Wookieepedia that looks only set to expand (it currently says he's from the planet Eriadu and "particularly excelled at strafing runs against point defense cannons.")

Hartley says he found out about his sudden new place in history by complete accident, having bought his daughter a copy of the book simply so she could see behind-the-scenes pictures.

"When I opened up the X-wing page and saw myself, with a name, I had to look it at a few times to check it was definitely me," he laughs.

"At the time of filming I was just there trying my best to look concerned, but now you realize he actually jumps in an X-wing and fights the battle of Scarif in Rogue One and later becomes mates with Luke Skywalker and fights in A New Hope!"

Red Seven may have met his maker at the hands of the Empire in the 1977 original, but Hartley isn't sad that he's unlikely to be donning the orange jumpsuit again in any of the future Star Wars films (production on the Han Solo spinoff kicks off in the U.K. in early 2017).

"It's kind of good [that he dies], because it means that you're part of the ultimate iconic battle. You were there."

Read more: Box Office: 'Rogue One,' 'Sing' Win Wednesday; 'Assassin's Creed' Beats 'Passengers'

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MOSCOW (AP)  Russia's defense minister says a military police battalion has been deployed to eastern Aleppo.

Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin Friday that the battalion moved to the eastern part of the city the previous evening to "ensure order." He didn't say how many troops have been deployed.

Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces took full control of Aleppo Thursday after the last opposition fighters and civilians were bused out of the city's eastern districts. The evacuations sealed the end of the rebellion's most important stronghold.

Shoigu told Putin that the Russian military is helping restore water and energy supplies to eastern districts of Aleppo and clearing them from mines.

Shoigu said an agreement on a "complete cease-fire" in Syria is very close, but didn't offer details.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday he expected new Syria peace talks backed by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran to take place in the middle of January, the Interfax news agency reported. It cited Gatilov as saying he expected they would focus on discussing what needs to be done to get a nationwide ceasefire for Syria in place. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey held talks on Syria in Moscow on Tuesday after which they said they were ready to help broker a Syrian peace deal. The United States sought to downplay its absence from the talks, saying it was not a "snub" and did not reflect a decline of U.S. influence in the Middle East. United Nations Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura has said he intends to convene separate peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8. The U.N.-backed talks have been held intermittently. Russia says the Kazakh talks would complement rather than compete with the U.N. talks. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday he expected new Syria peace talks backed by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran to take place in the middle of January, the Interfax news agency reported. It cited Gatilov as saying he expected they would focus on discussing what needs to be done to get a nationwide ceasefire for Syria in place. The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey held talks on Syria in Moscow on Tuesday after which they said they were ready to help broker a Syrian peace deal. The United States sought to downplay its absence from the talks, saying it was not a "snub" and did not reflect a decline of U.S. influence in the Middle East. United Nations Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura has said he intends to convene separate peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8. The U.N.-backed talks have been held intermittently. Russia says the Kazakh talks would complement rather than compete with the U.N. talks. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
MOSCOW (Reuters)  Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday he expected new Syria peace talks backed by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran to take place in the middle of January in Kazakhstan, the Interfax news agency reported.

It cited Gatilov as saying he expected they would focus on discussing what needs to be done to get a nationwide ceasefire for Syria in place.

The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey held talks on Syria in Moscow on Tuesday after which they said they were ready to help broker a Syrian peace deal.

The United States sought to downplay its absence from the talks, saying it was not a snub and did not reflect a decline of U.S. influence in the Middle East.

United Nations Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura has said he intends to convene separate peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8. The U.N.-backed talks have been held intermittently. Russia says that its talks would complement rather than compete with the U.N. talks.

(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Moscow (AFP) - Russia has sent a battalion of military police to keep order in Aleppo, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Friday, after the Syrian regime took full control of the ravaged city.

"We sent in a battalion of military police yesterday evening to maintain order in the liberated territories," Shoigu told Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Russian battalion normally numbers between 300 and 400 soldiers.

The Russian military police is a subdivision of the military that is meant to ensure order and discipline in the army.

Putin hailed the recapture of Aleppo as a "very important part of the normalisation in Syria" and said that "everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory."

Russian media earlier this month reported that scores of Chechens have been sent in as military police to Syria, with one video showing them chatting in the Chechen language while getting ready for their sendoff and wearing military police uniforms.
Kuchki (Russia) (AFP) - In a snowy field outside Moscow, an abandoned barn conceals an illicit vodka distillery that produces thousands of bottles of Russia's national drink for the black market.

In a recent raid, police seized more than 100,000 half-litre (one-pint) vodka bottles with counterfeit labels and tax stamps from the barn in the village of Kuchki.

Surrogate alcohol, a cheaper alternative to store-bought spirits, accounts for many deaths in Russia every year and is coming under growing scrutiny in a country with one of the highest liquor consumption rates in the world.

This week at least 71 people died in the Siberian city of Irkutsk after drinking bath essence containing toxic methanol in a bid to get merry on the cheap.

The bottles discovered in Kuchki cost under $2 (two euros) each -- three times less than vodka sold in shops.

"We don't know what they make this vodka with," said Alexander Kulikov, spokesman for Russia's alcohol regulator.

The equipment at the barn looked clean, but Kulikov recalls a case in which vodka-makers at another illegal facility were working "with mud up to their knees".

After banning the sale of spirits at night and hiking alcohol taxes, authorities have started cracking down on bootleggers in a bid to curb the damage wreaked by illegally-produced booze.

Officials say they have dismantled more than 170 workshops, seizing over 37 million litres since October 2015.

- Shrinking black market -

Authorities are also hoping the crackdown will help address the problem of unpaid taxes by illegal alcohol producers, as low oil prices have hit Russia's coffers.

A new law came into force in July requiring business owners who sell alcohol to join an electronic registry that tracks each bottle from production to sale, an initiative meant to prevent surrogate booze from making its way onto the shelves.

This has seen legal vodka sales bounce back after years of stagnation, hinting that the black market is shrinking.

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Vadim Drobiz, a researcher who studies alcohol markets, says the black market share in hard liquor sales dropped to 50 percent this year after standing at 65 percent in 2015.

But as Russia struggles to pull itself out of a recession that has battered the currency and significantly diminished people's purchasing power, it seems unlikely the black market will disappear altogether.

According to Drobiz, up to 25 million Russians do not earn enough to purchase liquor at official selling points.

Hoping to save a few rubles, the poorest often turn to cosmetics and household products containing alcohol, a factor blamed for a large number of drink-related deaths.

In late 2014, when the ruble lost half its value off the back of Western sanctions and low oil prices, authorities dropped the price of vodka after President Vladimir Putin expressed concern that soaring prices could boost consumption of illegal booze.

Throughout history, Russian leaders have had to act with caution when it comes to regulating alcohol.

On the eve of World War I, tsar Nicholas II ordered a crackdown that fuelled moonshine production and demoralised his troops.

And in the 1980s, a sobriety campaign spearheaded by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev drove his popularity down.

- Hawthorn liqueur -

The number of alcohol-related deaths has fallen in recent years, according to the state statistics agency, with experts attributing this to measures implemented to curb the sale of illegal spirits.

"Alcohol abuse is down," said Yevgeny Bryun, who heads Moscow's toxicology centre, stressing that the number of poisoning cases had dropped 30 percent in the past three years.

"But we need to go further," he said, citing the need to stop Russians from drinking pharmaceutical products.

A remedy called hawthorn liqueur, which is believed to help treat insomnia and is widely available in pharmacies, has become popular among Russians looking to get drunk cheaply, and authorities are weighing measures to better control its distribution.

The health ministry is expected to limit its sale to 25-millilitre bottles, while the finance ministry is looking to impose taxes on it like an alcoholic drink.

The bath essence scandal in Irkutsk saw Putin order tougher laws on the production and sale of perfumes, lotions, medicines and household cleaners containing alcohol.

But Drobiz warned against introducing stringent regulations on such products, which remain the only drinking option for many impoverished Russians.

The problem, he said, lies the products' legal status: drinking legally-sold cologne is safer than drinking its black market equivalent.

"It's better that a pensioner drinks hawthorn liqueur sold in pharmacies than a homemade version," he said.
* Off-duty policeman, 22, gunned down Russian ambassador

* Home town is on Turkey's Aegean coast

* Remembered as quiet, lonely youth

* Some worry about spillover from Syria crisis

By Tuvan Gumrukcu

SOKE, Turkey, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Those in the small Turkish town of Soke who knew Mevlut Altintas, the smartly dressed, clean-shaven young man who shot dead Russia's ambassador this week, recall a lonely taciturn boy twice rejected by university before leaving home and joining the police.

Altintas was 22 when he shot Andrei Karlov in the back at an Ankara art gallery before being himself gunned down by police. Few in Soke would have recognised the figure in black suit and tie who stood over the diplomat's body screaming jihadi slogans.

For his family, as for Karlov's, it was a tragedy.

"I have always admired their son," said a next-door neighbour, who spoke to Reuters from behind her closed door and from time to time broke down in tears. "He was respectful and calm, a very nice young man.

"When the police arrived at the door, we assumed he had been killed on duty and they were here to tell the family of his martyrdom. The mother was devastated when she heard," the neighbour said.

The killing, for many, illustrated the turmoil in a country that has been transformed under Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has to contend with conflicts across the border in Syria and Iraq, and Kurdish insurrection and attacks by Islamic State at home.

The police force Altintas served, as a member of the riot squad, is also in some tumult, its command and rank-and-file purged of what Erdogan calls traitors and terrorists after a failed coup against him in July. The Turkish police has long had secret networks and allegiances in its ranks, both Islamist and nationalist.

Although constitutionally secular, the Turkish state has long relied on the "twin pillars" of Sunni Islam and nationalism, said Halil Karaveli, managing editor of The Turkey Analyst, a policy journal.

"The religious element was always very important in the recruitment and the formation of the cadres of the Turkish state, especially in the security services - not in the army - but in the police."

Story continues

EXILED CLERIC

Erdogan said the assassin was a follower of exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally, who had built a wide network in the police. Gulen denies this.

Soke is in one of the most secular regions of Turkey, in the south-west. But Celtikci, the Soke neighbourhood where the Altintas family live, is filled with run-down buildings, where the paint is peeling and the walls are scarred by graffiti, often nationalist or religious.

"Islam is the only way," reads one, "God should be bestowed upon Turks," says another.

Altintas' family lives on the fourth floor and laundry could still be seen hanging out on the balcony, two days after police detained them for questioning. Media said they were later released.

His father, Israfil Altintas, said he had spoken to his son by phone on the day of the attack. The young man's behaviour started changing after he became friends at police academy with a man identified as Sercan B.

"As far as I know, he was not a member of any terrorist organisation, religious network or group," Israfil Altintas told police, according to Turkish broadcaster Haberturk.

"However, he started becoming focused on his prayers, more introverted and silent after he became a policeman."

Israfil said his son had ignored his suggestion that he should remain in Izmir and had gone with Sercan to Ankara, where they lived in the same house.

His mother, Hamidiye Altintas, said she had also called her son on the day of the attack.

"He asked, 'What are you doing, Mom?', and I told him I was on a visit and would call him when I was available. He then hung up, saying 'Alright Mom, be in God's care, give me your blessing'.

"My son was an introverted and silent boy," she said.

Former acquaintances of Altintas recall a distant figure who spent much of his time with his step-sister and grandmother. No-one seemed to know of any open allegiance to Gulen in young adulthood.

"He was always in need of help," said Bahri Gokciyel, who was from the same neighbourhood and now works at a teahouse in Soke, a lower middle-class town of 117,000 overshadowed by the upscale resorts that dot the Aegean coast.

"He was a silent kid who had no friends all through school," he said, adding that Altintas twice failed to get a place at university.

Whatever his academic shortcomings, Altintas planned the killing meticulously, scouting out the gallery in advance, calling in sick on the day of the attack and using his police ID to bypass security checks and get into the venue with a gun.

While the slogans Altintas shouted suggest he was sympathetic to radical Islamist ideology, Gulen preaches interfaith dialogue. Whatever the motive, the killing capped a violent year for Turkey that includes a string of deadly bombings blamed on both Kurdish militants and Islamic State.

Since the attempted coup, authorities have dismissed or suspended more than 100,000 people suspected of links to the cleric, and fired 40,000.

NEIGHBOURS

Although Altintas lived in Ankara, he came home from time to time and was seen by neighbours.

"Mert stayed with his grandmother a lot, and we used to see him on the street when we played games," said 22-year-old Tolga Tosun, who grew up with Altintas, and now is involved in local politics for the main secular opposition party, the CHP, the dominant party in Soke.

"He never joined, and he never spoke to anyone. He was always alone and silent," Tosun added.

National feeling also runs strong in Soke, with the nationalist opposition also boasting a solid presence.

Tosun said Altintas' family were affiliated with the nationalist party and relatively pious. However, other neighbours could not confirm that and the local head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said the family were not members.

SPILLOVER

Altintas' actions have also raised questions about the potential spillover from the Syrian crisis to Turkey.

Some pious Turks, who for years have listened to Erdogan talk about the need to save Syria from President Bashar al-Assad, are now puzzled by his closer ties with Russia, Assad's main backer.

"Since 2011, the high-pitched government rhetoric on Syria has shaped a Turkish constituency that is very sensitive to the tragedies unfolding in Syria," said Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat and analyst at Carnegie Europe.

"That constituency is becoming very uncertain and almost disillusioned."

But in Soke, some of the locals see the dark hand of Gulen, which the government refers to as the "Gulenist Terror Organisation".

Gokciyel, the former neighbour, said he believed that Altintas used Gulenist connections to enter the police academy. The government has long said Gulen's followers have used their affiliated schools to infiltrate the civil service and police.

Whatever happens next, the people of Soke, like many Turks, feel things have been irreparably changed by the assassination.

"Killing an ambassador is shameful. Not just for the killer, but also for our country," said Yurdakos Elgun, an official at the local office of the CHP, the secular opposition.

"Our ancestors have always said that no cruelty can be done to guests." (Additional reporting by Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Giles Elgood)
MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gave an update on the investigation into the killing of the Russian ambassador in Ankara in a phone conversation with President Vladimir Putin on Friday which also covered the Syrian crisis, the Kremlin said.

The envoy, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead on Monday by an assassin who shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "Don't forget Aleppo". He was buried with military honours in Moscow on Thursday.

"The President of Turkey informed Vladimir Putin about how the investigation of the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey was going," the Kremlin said in a statement.

"The close cooperation between Russian and Turkish law enforcement and special services was noted," it said.

On the Syrian crisis, the two men expressed satisfaction with the end of the operation in Aleppo.

"This has meant that favourable conditions have been created to start the peace process, assuming there will be a cessation of hostilities across the whole territory of Syria and a transition to a political settlement," it said.

Russian news agencies reported earlier on Friday that one Russian military police battalion, fully staffed with contract service members, had been deployed from the Hmeimim air base in Syria to Aleppo.

The battalion will help local officials with law enforcement, the defence ministry was quoted as saying by RIA news agency.

(Reporting by Polina Devitt; editing by Richard Balmforth)
Ryan Phillippe is getting in the ring!

The actor appeared on WWE Smackdown on Tuesday, where he was welcomed in the ring by wrestling star Mojo Rawley.

EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Phillippe Opens Up About How He and Ex Reese Witherspoon Co-Parent During the Holidays

The 42-year-old actor, who stars on USA Network's Shooter, shared a video of the glorious moment on Instagram, captioning the shot, "'i'm goin.' boyhood dreamzzzz."

"i'm goin." boyhood dreamzzzz s/o @mojorawleywwe & @wwe A video posted by @ryanphillippe on Dec 21, 2016 at 9:18am PST

And Phillippe wasn't the only one excited about his wrestling debut!

WATCH: Ryan Phillippe Has Already 'Moved On' From Ex Fiancee Paulina Slagter

The actor's 13-year-old son, Deacon, watched on as his dad stepped into the ring, sharing the moment on Instagram with the adorable caption, "That. Was. AWESOME!"

That. Was. AWESOME! A photo posted by Deacon Phillippe (@deaconphillippe1) on Dec 21, 2016 at 7:06am PST

Backstage, Phillippe also found himself in the middle of some pre-fight trash talk. WWE tweeted out the video, writing, "It's never a dull moment backstage at #SDLive, and @Shooter_USA star @RyanPhillippe learned that FIRST HAND..."

RELATED: Ryan Phillippe Reveals the Hilarious Thing That 'Repulses' His Teenage Daughter

Looks like things got pretty intense!

While Phillippe may not be a professional wrestler, the actor does have a pretty enviable six pack!

Story continues

Watch the video below for more.

Related Articles
Prince George and Princess Charlotte are guaranteed to wake up to sackfuls of gifts on Christmas Day.

Thats because their parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, have bought them special bags for Santa to put their presents in.

When they delve into their sacks at the country manor home of granny and grandpa Carole and Michael Middleton, theyll likely need help. The burlap bags, which come with the childrens names printed on them, stand at nearly 2-and-a-half feet.

The bags are made by Harrow & Green, which is run by Philip and Tanya Taylor and are already sold out. Kate purchased the bags from London department store Selfridges.

RELATED VIDEO: Prince George Makes So Much Mess in the Kitchen, Reveals Princess Kate

The royal kids have already gotten a head start on holiday festivities with a lunch at Buckingham Palace with Gan-Gan Queen Elizabeth II and the extended royal family earlier this week. But the tots wont be spending Christmas Day with the usual royal stop at Sandringham  they will instead be visiting with the Middletons at their home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

William has already let slip that 3-year-old George has been impatiently tearing into his presents ahead of Christmas day. We already know what a couple of the gifts will be  Kate said she was placing two teddy bears given to her from the Cub Scouts during a royal visit under their tree.
Frazer Harrison/Getty

There arent many people who could make wearing a rose-pink fully spangled Dolce & Gabbana tea-length gown look as effortless as a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, but Sarah Jessica Parker is definitely among them. And like those of us who wear the same jeans and a T-shirt on repeat, SJP does the same with her paillette-embellished, flare-skirt, $5,375 gown, finding two occasions to wear it within two months.

The Divorce star first took the dress for a spin at a November Art Basel event hosted by LEden by Perrier- Jouet and Vanity Fair, where she teamed it with Fred Leighton jewelry and flowers in her hair (yep, were getting shades of Carrie Bradshaw too), and read poetry by W.H. Auden to an assembled crowd, then toasted the crowd with Champagne.

We have to assume that the details were slightly  but not very  different when she wore it again to be in the wedding party of friends Bruce Bozzi and Bryan Lourd. The two got hitched in a California courtroom ceremony in October (attended by Lourds daughter with Carrie Fischer, Billie Lourd), but kept the celebrations going in N.Y.C. at a bash attended by Parker and her pal Andy Cohen, where things apparently got a little handsy. Though, as Parker points out, its totally legal. Especially if its @brucebozzi at his wedding party.

Bozzi shared a shot of the group with another friend, Ben Hickey, showing off the full effect of her sparkly pink dress, which she this time wore with a pale pink crossbody.

Bruce Bozzi/Instagram

We cant blame her for wanting to get as much use out of the festive dress as possible  and shes hardly the first star to rewear a red carpet dress for a friends big day. Jennifer Aniston also took a print Prada dress for a spin at Lake Bells wedding after wearing it a few years early to immortalize her handprints in cement outside Graumanns Chinese Theater, and Princess Kate rewore a green Diane von Furstenberg dress for Zara Phillips pre-wedding bash that shed worn on her tour of Canada and the U.S.

Story continues

Do you love that SJP got more wear out of this dress?

Reporting by Becky Randel




MANCHESTER, England (AP)  Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin will be allowed to leave the club in the January transfer window.

The France international, who joined United for about 25 million pounds ($39 million) in July last year, hasn't started a Premier League match since Mourinho took over as manager during the offseason.

Mourinho says Schneiderlin has "opened his heart a couple of times" about his situation at United, adding: "My answer was, if the offer is right and our board thinks the offer is a good offer in relation to a very good player like Morgan, I would not stop him to go."

West Bromwich Albion and Everton have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old Schneiderlin, who was previously at Southampton.
Activist group Sea Shepherd's fast new patrol vessel Ocean Warrior Friday intercepted a Japanese harpoon ship "hiding behind an iceberg" in thick fog as its annual high-seas battle against whaling kicked off.

Two vessels from the environmental organisation left Australia on December 5 bound for the freezing Southern Ocean in the Antarctic for its 11th campaign to disrupt the Japanese hunt.

It said Ocean Warrior, built with financial support from the Dutch, British and Swedish lotteries, had already found one of the harpoon ships which meant the rest of the fleet would be near by.

"The crews of the Ocean Warrior and the Steve Irwin have been battling through thick fog and ice to protect the whales in the Australian whale sanctuary," said Ocean Warrior captain Adam Meyerson, referring to the sanctuary around Australia's Antarctic territory.

"Finding one of the hunter killer ships hiding behind an iceberg in a thick fog means that the rest of the fleet is nearby."

He added that the group hoped to "have whaling in the Southern Ocean shut down by Christmas".

The Ocean Warrior has a powerful water cannon and is capable of outrunning the whalers.

Japan has previously sought court action to halt the anti-whaling campaigns, saying the activists ram their ships, snare propellers with ropes and harass crew with paint and stink bombs.

The Japanese fleet set sail on November 18 in defiance of a worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling and international opposition.

Japan is a signatory to the International Whaling Commission's moratorium in force since 1986. But it exploits a loophole allowing for whales to be killed for the purposes of scientific research.

Tokyo claims it is trying to prove the whale population is large enough to sustain a return to commercial hunting for a traditional source of food. But the meat from what it calls scientific research often ends up on dinner tables.

In 2014 the United Nations' International Court of Justice ordered Tokyo to end the Antarctic hunt, saying it found permits issued by Japan were "not for purposes of scientific research".

After the ruling Japan cancelled its 2014-15 hunt, only to resume it the following year under a new programme with a two-thirds cut in the target catch number -- saying the fresh plan was genuinely scientific.
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Santa Claus is coming to town, or actually, the internet.

Like so much of the planet, the jolly red man has found a home online. Booking gigs, talking with fans, finding the perfect red suit  it all happens there. But like many of us mere mortals, Santa's social life and work life are two different worlds that just sometimes merge. That's where secret online communities come in.

Yes, there are Santas on LinkedIn and others marketing themselves on social media, but "Santa groupies" and a need for more privacy have driven many to connect in hidden online groups.

SEE ALSO: Take this festive virtual tour of Santas house at the North Pole

Whenever there's a public Facebook group dedicated to working Santas, they become "overwhelmed with Santa groupies" John Chilson, a Santa from Colorado, told Mashable, defining "Santa groupies" as "people who just want to hang out with Santas, know everything about them."

It's a real problem. And like anyone else, sometimes Santa just wants to talk with his friends.

"There are a lot of Santa groups on Facebook where you have to become a member," Norm Gerring, a cofounder and administrator of a web-based haven for Santa-style socializing in Michigan, said. "I think they deserve a right to talk with each other openly and freely."

Gerring's site, called Michigan Association of Professional Santas, or MAPS, can only be accessed by members. And to become one, you must usually be recommended by another Santa.

On the site's blog, Santas can post about things like liability insurance tips or the gigs they can't do. Dave Downs, who cofounded the site and goes by the name "Big Wave Santa," said postings for jobs are picked up "usually within hours or minutes."

But it's not just professional networking happening behind the scenes. The Santas share stories and photos and commiserate with one another, too.

Story continues

"For those who are referred to as a 'real bearded Santa,' it is a lifestyle," Gerring said, adding the pressure can be tough when representing the iconic Christmas figure. "You have to be very careful when you're out in public because people look at you."

In fact, not too long ago during the pre-internet days, it was very different. "It was a lonely job," Gerring said. Gradually, little groups started forming around the country and the online communities grew, he said. The web was a game-changer: "I believe it has helped immensely," he said.

Now, the online world of Santa has been whittled down to tight-knit communities. Members can freely talk about what it's like to be Santa, from the naughty to the nice and everything in between. They can also plan meet-ups.

Through the MAPS website, Santas from around Michigan get together for casual breakfast gatherings or the organization's annual dinner in January, when dozens talk about the last Christmas and cap off the night with cookies and milk. Last year's event drew 85 Santas, Downs said.

So what do these guys talk about? Well, being Santa is kind of like being in Fight Club. But some Santas would share a few general tidbits about their experiences. For one, there are mall Santas and then there are other Santas, a distinction made clear by professional Santas Mashable spoke with.

Being a mall Santa is tough work, requiring 8- to 12-hour days, quick and sometimes unflattering photos and often traveling significant distances to hold down the gig.

"I dont do malls. I got friends that do," Downs said. "I hear the horror stories ... I prefer home visits, where I have a chance to talk with the kids."

What else do they talk about? Children's trust, and well, their pee.

Jim Manning, a full-time professional Santa Claus, gave his tips on avoiding the pee of children during an AMA on Reddit in 2013. And apparently, it's all in the parents' body language as they hand the child to you with "arms outstretched, elbows locked."

One of the Santas' biggest challenges, though, is that inevitable question: "Is Santa real?"

That's got to be a toughie for anyone, but a good Santa is always prepared. And it's actually a question that gets asked "almost everyday," Keith "SantaFinn" Makela of Rochester, Michigan said. His response is simple: "Are you a real child? Are you a real kid?"

Makela attended the CW Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan, as well as the International University of Santa Claus. He learned about the history of Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus, proper dress and make-up, live reindeer habits and "Santa Sign Language."

From the pricey clothes to the priceless patience, there's a lot that goes into being Santa. But a lot of them will tell you they aren't just doing it for the cash. Rather, it's for something else. And it's something they can't usually find elsewhere.

"I had no idea before becoming Santa what it was like to walk around where there was no negative energy anywhere," Makela said. "Wherever Santa goes, theres nobody being negative about anything. Thats an interesting way to walk around."

So it turns out Santa does exist, and he's living life to the fullest IRL and online. You're just not invited to his private group.




Getty/NBC

According to President-elect Donald Trump, all Americans should celebrate the holidays by saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, or anything else that sounds remotely unlike anything his pollsters would prefer. Whether or not he has ever heard of Seinfelds made-up alternative Festivus remains to be seen, but if long-time celebrant Rand Paul gets his way, the New York real estate mogul will be reading about it on Twitter for days. Thats because the former Republican presidential candidate decided to channel Frank Costanza and air his grievances on Friday  many of which took aim at Trumps cabinet picks.

The Kentucky senator warned his followers about the oncoming tweet storm early Friday morning, promising to flood everyones newsfeed with complaints throughout the day:

Good morning Seinfeld fans and Happy Festivus everywhere! Today I'll have my annual #AiringofGrievances. Join me here throughout the day  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2016

Paul, who first tweeted about Festivus back in 2013, returned hours later to do just that. First, he reminded everyone about the coming grievances with a choice Costanza line

Hello again, I hope everyone is having a Happy Festivus! It's once again time for my annual #AiringofGrievances pic.twitter.com/pZfRtAUtZN  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2016



then he dove straight into the muck of Trumps confirmed and reported cabinet picks and administrative appointments. First up? Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who counts himself and his website among the president-elects most ardent followers. Then practically everyone else:

Story continues

.@peterthiel is advising the President Elect. That's great. But his plan 2 make the Statue of Liberty into a digital stop sign is a bit much  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2016

My favorite Cabinet pick is what's his name, umm it's that guy who wanted to eliminate the Dept. of @ENERGY. Hang on I'll think of it  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2016

Festivus notwithstanding, Paul  a devout Presbyterian  made sure to tell everyone he would be celebrating Christmas later. That, and warn other Festivus celebrants hed be ready for the Feats of Strength held later:

If you only celebrate Festivus, enjoy today and I hope you win the feats of strength later. I've been practicing  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2016

Not that it stopped the media from peppering Pauls office with interview requests. Or at least thats what Paul later claimed on Twitter:

For the folks at @MSNBC, that was a joke.  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2016

(Via Talking Points Memo)
As travel picks up for the holiday season, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal is looking to keep e-cigarettes from being allowed on planes, according to a report from the Hill.

Blumenthal, the senior senator from Connecticut, urged airlines to prohibit e-cigarettes from being carried on planes due to reports the batteries of the popular smoking devices have been exploding.

Last week, American Airlines flight traveling from Dallas to Indianapolis was forced to make an emergency landing when an electronic cigarette in a passengers carry-on luggage caught on fire mid-flight, Blumenthal wrote in a letter directed to a number of major airlines.

This troubling incident is not uncommon, and the increase in e-cigarette use means the likelihood of in-flight fires is only going to grow, creating a terrifying risk for all who rely on safe air travel, he said.

The letter from Blumenthal was sent Virgin America, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air and Sun Country Airlines.

Earlier this year, the Transportation Department (DOT) explicitly banned the use of e-cigarettes on commercial flights. In 2015, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an interim final rule prohibiting plane passengers from storying e-cigarettes in checked bags and banned charging the devices on board a plane.

Blumenthals request would extend that prohibition to e-cigarettes being carried on the plane. The request would require airlines to issue a voluntary ban on the devices.

The senator also sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requesting a recall of e-cigarette devices that have a history of exploding. He also called for new safety standards to be applied to the rechargable batteries used in the devices.

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There have been 134 recorded cases of e-cigarettes exploding, catching fire, or overheating reported to the FDA since 2009.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone was banned from flights by the DOT earlier this year over fears of the device exploding; airlines around the world followed suit with bans of their own. Several airlines also issued voluntary bans on hoverboards following reports of battery explosions.

Related Articles
RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A U.N. Security Council vote to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements marks "a day of victory," a senior Palestinian official said on Friday.

"This is a day of victory for international law, a victory for civilized language and negotiation and a total rejection of extremist forces in Israel," Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters.

"The international community has told the people of Israel that the way to security and peace is not going to be done through occupation ... but rather through peace, ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state to live side by side with the state of Israel on the 1967 line," Erekat said.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2016 / Lundin Law PC, a shareholder rights firm, announces a class action lawsuit against Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. ("Zimmer" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZBH) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws between September 7, 2016 and October 31, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors, who purchased or otherwise acquired Tenet shares during the Class Period, are encouraged to contact the firm in advance of the January 31, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

To participate in this class action lawsuit, click here. You can also call Brian Lundin, Esquire, of Lundin Law PC, at 888-713-1033, or e-mail him at brian@lundinlawpc.com.

Per the complaint, during the Class Period, Zimmer made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about its business, operations, and prospects. The complaint is as follows: that issues within the supply chain caused a decline in order fulfillment, particularly within the knee and hip portfolios; that, because of this, Zimmer would not achieve its revenues and profit as anticipated and; that as a result of the above, the Company's statements regarding its business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On October 31, 2016, the Company issued a press release reporting third quarter 2016 financial results. Zimmer reported net sales of $1.83 billion, and lowered guidance for the full year 2016 at $7.630 billion to $7.650 billion, a decline from the $7.68 billion to $7.715 billion estimated in July. Zimmer maintains that weak sales are due to a change in the supply chain, leading to a lack of available implants and instrument sets during the quarter.

In a conference with investors following the above release, the Company stated: "Third quarter revenue was below our expectations, primarily due to execution issues within our large joint supply chain, which led to a degradation in order fulfillment rates late in the quarter, as well as our performance in dental As a consequence, we underestimated demand for certain key cross-sell brands within our existing customer base, leading to a depletion of our safety stocks and also affecting our ability to capitalize on new customer opportunities."

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Following this, shares of Zimmer fell $17.15 per share, or nearly 14%, to close on October 31, 2016 at $105.40 per share, causing investors harm.

No class has been certified in the above action. Until a class is certified, you are not considered represented by an attorney. You may also choose to do nothing and be an absent class member.

Lundin Law PC was established by Brian Lundin, a securities litigator based in Los Angeles dedicated to upholding the rights of shareholders.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contact:

Lundin Law PC

Brian Lundin, Esq.

Telephone: 888-713-1033

Facsimile: 888-713-1125

brian@lundinlawpc.com

http://lundinlawpc.com/

SOURCE: Lundin Law PC
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore said on Friday it is still awaiting the return of nine troop carriers seized in Hong Kong last month, which led to tension with China over Singapore's relations with self-ruled Taiwan. Hong Kong customs seized the Singapore military's armored vehicles as they were being shipped from Taiwan to Singapore after military exercises on the island that Beijing regards as a breakaway province.. Beijing then warned countries against maintaining military ties with Taiwan. Singapore's defense ministry said in its latest update it had communicated its formal position on the seizure to Hong Kong authorities over the past three weeks. "We await a full resolution of this matter and return of our property by the Hong Kong SAR Government," the ministry said in a statement, referring to Hong Kong by its designation as a special administrative region of China. The seizure of the vehicles came amid mounting regional uncertainty and signs of tension between China and Singapore, which has deepened its security relationship with the United States over the last year and remains concerned over Beijing's assertive territorial stance in the South China Sea. China's influential state-run tabloid the Global Times said the vehicles should be "melted down" but Singapore sought to play the incident down. Its foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, said it was "not a strategic incident" and Singapore's relationship with Taiwan was known to China. Singapore and Taiwan have a longstanding military relationship that began in the 1970s and involves Taiwan being used as grounds for Singaporean infantry training. Beijing has grudgingly tolerated this agreement since China and Singapore re-established diplomatic relations in the 1990s. China has repeatedly warned Singapore against getting involved in the South China Sea dispute in which China asserts sovereignty over various waters and islands claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore has no claims in the South China Sea, but as the biggest port in Southeast Asia, its open economy depends on free navigation in the area. (Reporting by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Robert Birsel)
By Fathin Ungku SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore police are investigating a conference that Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong addressed via Skype without a permit, police and one of the event's organizers said on Friday. Singapore issued new public speaking rules in October to clarify that foreign companies and individuals need a permit to sponsor or take part in certain events. The government of the multi-ethnic island is sensitive about anything that it thinks could upset social harmony. Wong, 20, who helped organize pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2014, spoke to a "Civil Disobedience and Social Movements" conference in November, organized by a Singapore group called the Community Action Network. Jolovan Wham of the network said although police advised him Wong needed a permit, he and other organizers went ahead anyway as they considered it a "simple discussion about the role of civil disobedience, social movements and civil society activism". "I didn't' think there was anything wrong with going ahead with the event. Its a very harmless event, it was for a discussion, so I dont understand why it should be restricted by these regulations," Wham told Reuters. Wham said police had questioned him for 45 minutes. Police said they were investigating. "Police confirm that a report has been lodged and investigations are ongoing," said a police spokesperson who declined to be identified or give further details. The Singapore foreign ministry did not respond to emailed requests for comment. In October, Wong was denied entry and to Thailand where he was due to give talks on democracy, and sent back to Hong Kong. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said at the time his expulsion was a matter for China, not Thailand. He was barred from entering Malaysia in 2015. Wong's difficulties in traveling in the region have raised concern among human rights groups about Chinas influence. In Hong Kong, Wong told Reuters that the Singapore police action constituted "political censorship" and he speculated that it was a result of Chinese pressure. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the Singapore government had taken the action and questions should be referred to it. Ties between Singapore and China have been strained in recent months, particularly after the seizure of nine of the city-state's troop carriers by Hong Kong customs on their way back from a military exercise in Taiwan. Beijing disapproves of other counties maintaining military ties with self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province. (Additional reporting by Venus Wu in HONG KONG, Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Robert Birsel)
By Timothy Mclaughlin and Renita D. Young

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A Singaporean blogger who has stirred controversy in his home country is being detained by U.S. immigration officials, the Department of Homeland Security said on Friday.

Amos Yee, 18, who was jailed earlier this year in the Southeast Asian city-state, was stopped by customs agents at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 16 as he sought political asylum in the United States, his mother said.

"Amos is being detained in the US right now. He is seeking political asylum in the US. The matter is now with his lawyers. I will not be speaking to the press or anyone on this matter," Mary Toh, Yee's mother, said in a statement posted to Facebook on Friday evening Singapore time.

Yee has been jailed twice in Singapore for online comments. His trials, which have been closely watched by rights groups and the United Nations, have fueled the debate in Singapore over censorship and the limits of free speech.

Yee is in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pending federal immigration court proceedings, Gail Montenegro, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in an email.

Montenegro declined to provide further details of why Yee was detained, where he was being held or if he had any legal representation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Ralph Piccirilli also said the agency had "encountered" Yee, but declined further comment.

The Singapore embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In September, Yee pleaded guilty to six charges of deliberately posting comments on the internet - in videos, blog posts and a picture - that were critical of Christianity and Islam. He was sentenced to six weeks in jail.

Last year, Yee was convicted on charges of harassment and insulting a religious group over comments he made about former premier Lee Kuan Yew and Christians soon after Lee's death. His sentence at the time amounted to four weeks in jail.

(Additional reporting by Fathin Ungku in Singapore; Editing by Andrew Hay)
Nukes! Thursday was a big day in Trump Tweets, and were all just going to have to get used to it.

First was his 140 character suggestion that he may scrap decades of bipartisan agreement over nuclear disarmament, and the U.S. must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability. The tweet didnt come from nowhere. Hours earlier during a speech in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for upgrading and expanding his own nuclear portfolio  something he has done repeatedly over the years  and Trump was fresh from a meeting with several U.S. generals who run U.S. strategic and nuclear forces.

No one knows quite what to make of Trumps response: is it policy? Are they simply musings? But FPs Paul McLeary writes, the comments from two men  who have expressed a willingness to work together to reduce tensions  show how tough it may be to overcome great-power rivalries, driven both by Moscows desire to reclaim its place and a nervous NATO bulking up against a perceived threat.

Troll-in-Chief. During his annual year-end press conference on Friday, Putin repeated his assertion that the Russian armed forces could take on all comers, but denied he wanted a nuclear arms race with the United States. Of course the U.S. has more missiles, submarines and aircraft carriers, but what we say is that we are stronger than any aggressor, and this is the case, he said. When it comes to Trumps nuke tweet, Putin, seemingly content he had gotten a rise out of the President-elect, added, as for Donald Trump, there is nothing new about it, during his elections campaign he said the U.S. needs to bolster its nuclear capabilities and its armed forces in general.

The business of defense. And in another example of how Trump may use his Twitter account to react quickly to events and summarize meetings he holds with officials, he also lit into the worlds biggest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin, for its unsteady performance on the $400 billion F-35 program. Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet! he exclaimed.

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Lockheeds stock immediately plummeted, while Boeings rose  just as we saw Boeings stock fall recently after Trump attacked its Air Force One contract. The tweet caused Cowen and Companys defense analyst Roman Schweizer to coin a new term for the Trump Era: we have no idea how this plays out but believe Twitter risk for defense companies could be a significant issue over the next four years, he wrote to investors.

Any changes in the F-35 program, of course, would have a huge impact not only on the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines, who are all customers, but also U.S. allies. The program has eight international partners for developing the plane: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and the U.K. And another three countries are customers: Israel, Japan and South Korea.

Not so easy. As Defense News Valerie Insinna points out, what this means for Lockheed Martin and its top competitor Boeing in the long term is not exactly clear. Although the F-35 has been plagued with its share of cost overruns and technical issuesRedesigning a Super Hornet that meets the same requirements as the F-35 would require years of development and engineering time and probably billions of dollars.

Flynn watch. Incoming national security advisor Michael Flynns Russian-related business practices are again under scrutiny. Earlier this year, Flynn partnered with a controversial technology company co-run by a man once convicted of trying to sell stolen biotech material to the Russian KGB espionage agency, according to Bloomberg news.

Subu Kota, who pleaded guilty in 1996 to selling the material to an FBI agent posing as a Russian spy, is one of two board directors at the company, Boston-based Brainwave Science. During years of federal court proceedings, prosecutors presented evidence they said showed that between 1985 and 1990 Kota met repeatedly with a KGB agent and was part of a spy ring that made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling U.S. missile defense technology to Russian spies. Kota denied being part of a spy ring, reached a plea agreement in the biotech case and admitted to selling a sketch of a military helicopter to his co-defendant, who was later convicted of being a KGB operative.

War ready. Ukrainian artillery forces and the Democratic National Committee have something surprising in common, FPs Elias Groll reports. They were both targeted by the same Russian code and spied upon by the same military intelligence unit. The finding, contained in a report released Thursday by security firm Crowdstrike, provides additional evidence linking hackers working on behalf of the Russian state  in this case, Russian military intelligence, or GRU

According to Crowdstrike, a hacking group known Fancy Bear attempted to spy on Ukrainian artillery units by distributing a bogus Android application used for weapons targeting. It is unclear how successful the effort was, but according to the firm, the app had the potential ability to map out a units composition and hierarchy, determine their plans, and even triangulate their approximate location.

SitRep is taking Monday, Dec 26 off but will be back at it Tuesday to close out the year that was. Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!

Good morning and as always, if you have any thoughts, announcements, tips, or national security-related events to share, please pass them along to SitRep HQ. Best way is to send them to: paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or on Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley

Libya

The international community has spent time and effort trying to piece together an inclusive, representative government of national accord in Libya, but Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to undo all that by pumping up authoritarian strongman Khalifa Haftar as a leader for the country. Bloomberg reports that Russia has been flattering Haftar with visits to Moscow and facetime with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Haftar may also be receiving weapons from Egypt, which has grown increasingly close to Moscow in the past few years. Haftars control of territory in Libyas oil crescent gives him powerful cards to play within the countrys political landscape.

Snowden

The Intelligence Committee in the House released a new report on former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. The report accuses Snowden of continuing to have contact with Russian intelligence services while in self-imposed exile in Russia. The assertion, however, is backed up with what the report says is classified material, leaving no evidence available for discussion in the open. Snowden has denied previous versions of the allegation, saying that Russia briefly tried to get him to share secrets but that he rebuffed the attempt.

The report also looks at the alleged damage done by Snowdens leak of a massive archive of classified National Security Agency documents. It says the Pentagon pointed out at least 13 areas where leaks based on the documents created high risk issue for U.S. national security, saying that major adversaries like Russia and China could put American troops at risk in the event of a military confrontation in the event they received further information on eight of those 13 areas. The committee says it still doesnt think the Agency has gotten a handle on security after the Snowden leaks and it remains concerned that it hasnt done enough to prevent a repeat leak.

Bombs away

The U.S. military announced on Thursday that airstrikes in Yemen had killed 28 al Qaeda members since September. The statement from U.S. Central Command didnt specify how the strikes were carried out, but most U.S. airstrikes in Yemen have been conducted by drones.

Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force
The advent of the Trump administration has plunged many immigrant communities into uncertainty. While this moment is still surreal, we can say this: For decades, immigrants have put their bodies on the linefasting, marching, taking arrest, speaking out publiclyto demand and win protections. Wherever Trump promises to inflict pain, immigrants and their allies can draw on this history to mount a powerful resistance.

First, Trump promises to deport as many as 3 million immigrants, saying hell target criminals. Experts estimate that there are far fewer than 3 million immigrants with criminal convictions, and many jurisdictions profile and target immigrants for traffic violations and other non-violent crimes.

Resisting mass deportations will require a robust legal response and highly organized communities. Trump cant effect such a massive promise on day oneit will require the expansion of Obamas already wide-reaching deportation and detention infrastructure and the suspension of due-process protections. Immigrant organizers have already launched know your rights trainings in communities nationwide. As the administration accelerates its attacks, its crucial to offer financial and logistical support to expand these efforts.

Second, Trump has threatened to eviscerate so-called sanctuary city policies by cutting off federal aid. Currently, more than 320 cities and four states limit local law enforcements cooperation with immigration authorities. Undoing these policies could lead to an uptick in racial profiling and arbitrary detention. It will also undermine law enforcements relationships with communities they are sworn to protect. Working as a young attorney in post-9/11 New York City, I had the honor of representing survivors of domestic violence. My Muslim clients, faced with nighttime round-ups, interrogations and profiling by law enforcement, were frequently distrustful of the authorities, even when they were desperate to protect themselves and their children.

Many immigrant rights groups have demanded that local political and religious leaders stand up to Trumps threats and adopt or reaffirm sanctuary policies. We can all call on our cities, schools or places of worship to pledge support for immigrants and provide safety for those threatened by deportation.

Third, the Trump administration may target immigrants in the workplace by reinstating Bush-era worksite raids. Large-scale immigration raids terrorized workers, and in 2008, nearly destroyed the economy of the small town of Postville, Iowa. Many workers, fearing deportation, are afraid to stand up to their bosses, which intensifies the existing problems of wage theft, unsafe working conditions, trafficking and sexual violence faced by immigrants, particularly women.

Thats why worker centers, unions and other labor groups must pledge to stand by immigrant workers and redouble efforts to help them enforce their rights. Even as labor plays defense in a hostile climate, it must continue fighting to expand protections for vulnerable workers through measures such as domestic worker bills of rights, which set minimum wages and working conditions for domestic workers, regardless of immigration status, in the seven states where they have passed.

Finally, the fear and turmoil sowed by Trumps policies could effectively silence the voices of those who have been critical in winning these protections in the first place. In response, we must lift up leadership within these targeted communitiesparticularly immigrant women of color and Muslim immigrantsensuring that they are at the front lines of decision making and strategy development, and are supported in their ability to participate in direct actions and civil disobedience.

Now more than ever, we need to act to ensure that no voices are silenced. You can start by joining the January 14th Immigrant Rights Day of Action, a nationwide mobilization to resist xenophobic policies and assert immigrant rights, and the Million Women March on January 21. Will you join us?

Sameera Hafiz is advocacy director at the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
In the wake of last month's "Gooligan" attacks, which targeted more than a million Android devices and gained access to the users' Google accounts, experts are suggesting that a flood of simlar smartphone hacking incidents may be on the way in 2017.

The Chinese hackers behind Gooligan were making as much as $500,000 a month by exploiting their access to the phones, according to Michael Shaulov, director of mobile security for Checkpoint, the California-based cyber-security firm that tipped off Google to the Android security problem.

Professional hackers, they are financially motivated, Shaulov says. What theyre looking for is a repeatable and scalable business model.

And the scheme behind Gooligan may be just that.

To understand the nature of this new threatand why it may soon be targeting your own phoneit helps to understand how the Gooligan attacks generated revenue for the hackers.

Scamming App Marketers

In this case, Shaulov says, the business model consisted of scamming marketing companies such as Mobvista, Apsee, Startapp, and the Google-owned AdMob into paying for what looked like successful, legitimate efforts to boost the popularity of certain mobile apps. (Consumer Reports reached out to those digital marketing firms but got no response.)

In reality, the increased activity was being generated by hackers who took over the affected phones and made them open dozens, and even hundreds, of apps without the users' knowledge.

"These are free downloads and what you're trying to do is show engagement to investors," says Steven Cohn, senior Linux administrator at Sovrn Holdings, a Colorado-based digital advertising exchange. "You pay the hackers maybe 50 grand and you get enough downloads to put you in the highlighted page in the app store."

That means the phone-owning consumer wasn't the primary target, but rather an unknowing middle man in the hackers' attempts to defraud marketing companies that pay for improved app traffic.

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According to Shaulov, Gooligan is an automated version of a much larger scam that affects the app market to the tune of billions of dollars a year. That involves digital download farms in places like Vietnam, where hundreds of workers reportedly sit with phones and SIM cards and continuously load, open, and comment on apps in an attempt to artificually boost traffic and engagement on marketplaces like the Google Play Store.

Exploits such as Gooligan potentially could allow criminals to increase the scale of this scam by eliminating the human element. Infected phones not only load and open apps without the user's permissionand often without his or her knowledgethey even leave feedback on app marketplaces. "Cleans up my phone great" and "It is very good aps (sic)" are among the comments discovered by CheckPoint.

Hacking Google Accounts

Gooligan was part of a larger campaign that Google calls Ghost Push that compromised both older Android 4 and 5 phones and Google user accounts. Unsuspecting victims downloaded legitimate-seeming apps such as Stopwatch and WiFi Enhancer, which carried malware that then took over their phones. Google reported that as many as 1.3 million phones might have been affected, with as many as 13,000 new phones still being affected every day.

The Gooligan scheme had some issues that limited the hackers' profits. For one thing, the avalanche of rogue appspotentially hundreds on any devicequickly clogged the targeted phone, tipping off the user.

"If the hackers render your phone useless," says Cohn. "They've in some sense killed their investment."

But a slightly more sophisticated version of this malware could be made to operate surreptitiously, launching just a few apps quietly in the background without the user ever suspecting.

More importantly, this data breach may herald a new wave of sophisticated attacks aimed primarily at smartphones. While PCs and corporate servers remain the primary target for hackers, that might not be the case for long.

"This is bound to get worse. Phones are a much more attractive platform [than PCs]," says Cohn, explaining that the number of phones worldwide is huge, and many phone users fail to take even basic security precautions.

Almost inadvertently, the Gooligan hackers also demonstrated the vulnerability of a far bigger prize than the phones themselvesthe victims' Google accounts.

The hackers seemingly accessed the victims' Google accounts just to make it harder to rid devices of the malware.

Gooligan can only be completely defeated by reflashing the affected phone, a tech-intensive process that needs to be done by a carrier or a savvy technician. If a user merely restores the phone to factory settings, the next trip to an affected Google account will re-infect the phone. And that is continuing to happen now, three weeks after the Gooligan hack was made public.

Adrian Ludwig, Googles chief security engineer for Android, reports that no fraudulent activity, aside from the unauthorized loading of the apps, was discovered within the affected accounts.

The motivation behind Ghost Push is to promote apps, not steal information, he wrote in a document posted to Google+.

But that could change, and exploiting access to users' account data could be a logical next step for a new generation of criminals. Once hackers have access to the information in a Google account, it could be used for mischief such as resetting the passwords to accounts at banking and other financial institutions.

And that could mean serious trouble for consumers.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright  2006-2017 Consumers Union of U.S.
By John Shiffman SURPRISE, Arizona (Reuters) - Jim Stauffer thought he was doing the right thing. He had cared for his elderly mother, Doris, throughout her harrowing descent into dementia. In 2013, when she passed away at age 74, he decided to donate her brain to science. He hoped the gift might aid the search for a cure to Alzheimers disease. At a nurses suggestion, the family contacted Biological Resource Center, a local company that brokered the donation of human bodies for research. Within the hour, BRC dispatched a driver to collect Doris. Jim Stauffer signed a form authorizing medical research on his mothers body. He also checked a box prohibiting military, traffic-safety and other non-medical experiments. Ten days later, Jim received his mothers cremated remains. He wasn't told how her body had been used. Records reviewed by Reuters show that BRC workers detached one of Doris Stauffers hands for cremation. After sending those ashes back to her son, the company sold and shipped the rest of Stauffers body to a taxpayer-funded research project for the U.S. Army. Her brain never was used for Alzheimers research. Instead, Stauffers body became part of an Army experiment to measure damage caused by roadside bombs. Internal BRC and military records show that at least 20 other bodies were also used in the blast experiments without permission of the donors or their relatives, a violation of U.S. Army policy. BRC sold donated bodies like Stauffers for $5,893 each. Army officials involved in the project said they never received the consent forms that donors or their families had signed. Rather, the officials said they relied on assurances from BRC that families had agreed to let the bodies be used in such experiments. BRC, which sold more than 20,000 parts from some 5,000 human bodies over a decade, is no longer in business. Its former owner, Stephen Gore, pleaded guilty to fraud last year. In a statement to Reuters, Gore said that he always tried to honor the wishes of donors and sent consent forms when researchers requested them. Jim Stauffer learned of his mothers fate not from BRC or the Army but from a Reuters reporter. When told, Stauffer curled his lip in anger and clutched his wife Lisas arm. We did right, Lisa reassured him. They just did not honor our wishes. SCANT OVERSIGHT The story of how an Arizona grandmothers remains came to be used in a Pentagon experiment shines a spotlight on a growing but little-known industry: the trade in human cadavers and body parts. The body-brokering business is distinct from organ transplantation, in which hearts, livers, eyes and lungs are carefully removed from the dead to extend or enrich the lives of the living. It also is separate from the business of using skin, tendon or bone from cadavers to repair joints or other parts of the body. Those practices are strictly regulated by U.S. law. In contrast, the buying and selling of human bodies not used for transplant receives scant oversight. No federal law regulates body brokers like BRC, and no U.S. government agency monitors what happens to cadavers pledged for use in medical education and research. It is not illegal to sell a whole body or the parts of a body for research or education, said University of Iowa law professor Sheldon F. Kurtz, who helped modify the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which has been adopted by 46 states. Although the act was updated in 2006, Kurtz said, the issue of whole bodies or body parts for research or education never came up during our discussions. Since then, the body trade has become big business. Only one state, New York, keeps detailed records on the industry. According to the most recent data available, companies that did business in New York shipped at least 100,000 body parts across the country from 2011 to 2014. Reuters obtained the data, which have never been made public, from the states health department. The New York figures represent a fraction of the industry: Any company that handles bodies but doesnt do business in New York state is not included. A handful of other states either require companies to register with state health departments or seek approval to ship individual body parts across state lines. Most states compile no such records. We are in a complete vacuum, said Michel Anteby, a Boston University business professor who has researched the trade in bodies. Thats a real problem because we are treating bodies as a potential commodity like any other. Brokers procure virtually all their cadavers for free from donors who believe the remains will be used for science. As a result, brokers can turn a profit of thousands of dollars on each body donated. Its about $2,500 to $3,000, said John Cover, chief operating officer of Research for Life, a body broker based in Phoenix. When bodies are subsequently dismembered and sold part by part, the profit margin can be even higher. BRC charged $5,893 for a whole body in 2013; a few years earlier, the company priced spines at $1,900, legs at $1,300 each, and torsos at $3,500, BRC documents show. Cadavers and donated body parts provide vital tools to teach anatomy and medical students. They also serve as a cornerstone of the medical-device business. Artificial hips, dental crowns and surgical devices are best tested on real human tissue. Surgeons and dentists who implant the devices and use new tools have to be trained. Theres no way any medical institution could function without the donation of cadavers, said David Morton, a University of Utah School of Medicine professor and a board member of the American Association of Anatomists. Most medical schools have strict rules for handling bodies, Morton said. Those quality controls and ethical guidelines, however, arent always followed. This year, The New York Times reported that New York University buried an unknown number of donated bodies in mass graves. The school apologized and said it had changed its policy in 2013 to better protect donor wishes. The BRC case is not the first time bodies donated to medical schools have been misused in military experiments. In 2004, Tulane University disclosed that bodies donated to the school were shipped to a broker who then provided them to the Army, which used them for landmine experiments. As happened with BRC, these donors had not consented to military use. A BLOODY COOLER Federal authorities began investigating BRC in 2011. That year, a Detroit body broker from a company called International Biological Inc was stopped by U.S. customs agents as he crossed the border from Ontario. He had 10 human heads with him. According to an FBI affidavit, agents traced one of the heads to BRC. Within a year, investigators had identified at least 250 suspect body parts sold by BRC to the Detroit broker. Records from the Detroit and Phoenix cases show that thousands of bodies donated for research and education were dismembered and then sold or leased, often for commercial purposes. In January 2016, the Detroit broker and his wife were arrested by the FBI on fraud charges related to their practices at International Biological. The broker, Arthur Rathburn, has pleaded not guilty and is jailed awaiting trial. His wife, Elizabeth Rathburn, pleaded guilty to a single fraud charge but has not been sentenced. Arthur Rathburn leased human heads, torsos and other body parts for medical and dental training in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Greece and Israel, authorities said. In 2012, two coolers that contained eight bloody heads and were addressed to Rathburn were seized at the Detroit airport. Government documents unsealed this year also allege that Arthur Rathburns inventory included more than 100 body parts infected with hepatitis, HIV, sepsis, meningitis, the life-threatening bacteria MRSA, and the flesh-eating disease necrotizing fasciitis. Rathburns lawyer, Byron Pitts, said his client committed no crime. I think the government has overstepped and I dont think they are going to be able to prove their charges, Pitts said. In a court filing this year, Pitts noted that the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act does not prohibit the sale of body parts and said Rathburn should not be held accountable criminally for paperwork errors or the actions of others, including BRC. BRC also shipped infected body parts, according to Arizona state investigation summaries reviewed by Reuters. These included portions of eye and ear tissue infected with Hepatitis B sent to researchers in Tucson; eyes from a body that tested positive for Hepatitis C to Utah for use by a biomedical firm; and a left foot infected with Hepatitis B to a podiatry training center near Atlanta. In at least one case, BRC notified next of kin about the infections but failed to warn researchers who received the tissue or body parts, the records show. When a 76-year-old woman died the morning of April 29, 2012, BRC staffers rushed to remove her brain by mid-afternoon and shipped the 13-pound package the same day to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center near Boston. In a standard industry practice, BRC also sent a blood sample from the womans body to a lab. Three days later, the sample came back positive for Hepatitis C. BRC promptly notified the womans son. Unfortunately, we received an unfavorable report for infectious disease blood testing, BRC staff wrote in a letter. These blood tests could not confirm that an infectious disease was present, but did prohibit us from using the body for safety reasons. BRC, however, did not warn Harvard researchers handling the diseased brain, records show. In fact, the researchers did not learn that the specimen was infected until nearly two years later, when Arizona authorities contacted them. We would never knowingly use [a brain sample] with a history of disease, said Harvard brain donation coordinator Joseph Manzo. He said privacy rules restricted him from commenting further on a specific specimen. In an email exchange with Reuters, Gore apologized for not notifying researchers. I simply have no excuse, he said. The risks of infection are real: Records of the Arizona state investigation show that one worker at the Georgia podiatry facility was accidentally stuck by a needle used with the hepatitis-infected foot. The worker had been vaccinated. A LABOR OF LOVE In emails to Reuters, Gore said that the troubles at BRC represented only a fraction of the work by the company, which served scores of research and training entities it supplied. BRC had an incredibly kind, professional and caring staff on all levels, Gore said. Because BRC sold bodies and parts to various Army subcontractors  and not directly to the military  Gore said he sometimes received different instructions about what BRC needed to provide. But he said he sent consent forms whenever researchers requested them. It is my belief that we did what we could to honor the donors consent as we understood it, Gore said. When he was sentenced in 2015 for the charge related to misleading donors and families, Gore presented a letter to the judge explaining what went wrong. He said he created BRC because he had grown bored as an insurance salesman. Though he held no more than a high school degree, Gore had previously spent nine years at a local eye and organ bank, he said, working with donor families and assisting surgeons. This was never about financial gain but rather a labor of love, Gore wrote. Instead of hiring a qualified medical director to supervise how bodies and parts should be used, Gore said he relied on books and the Internet. This was an industry that had no formal regulations to look to for guidance, Gore wrote in his letter to the judge, and I believe that many times I was simply overwhelmed and I tried to do the right thing but often did not. Arizona prosecutors said in their filing that Gores fraud misled those who had hoped to provide the most precious gift a person could bestow on society, their own body, to benefit scientific and medical research. IT WAS FREE In interviews, family members who signed BRC consent forms said they were focused on saving money and serving society. They said they didnt realize the bodies of their loved ones would be sold or used for commercial purposes. I had no money, said Tina Johnson, who gave her husband Kerrys body to BRC when he died of liver failure in 2012. It was a free cremation. Mary Hughes, whose 52-year-old son, Grady Hughes Jr, died of cancer in late 2012, recalled that somebody from hospice gave us a pamphlet. It was a good idea, Hughes said. The cremation was free, and it was donating the body for medical purposes. Months after the donations, Johnson, Hughes and dozens of others received a vague form letter from BRC listing nine potential medical education and research uses. None cited military experiments. Some BRC donors willed bodies with the expectation that they would be used for a specific disease. Jim Stauffer, for example, said he hoped his mothers brain would be used to study Alzheimers. It shocks me that the military was involved, he said. The BRC consent form permitted the broker to sell cadavers and parts to almost any entity, including commercial ventures. Under current law, relatives have no right to learn what happened to their loved ones. ARMY PROJECT The Armys human-body experiments were part of a program to protect U.S soldiers from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. During wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army scrambled  with limited success  to fortify vehicles. Early this decade, the Army launched a long-term study of the biological impact of an IED blast that thrusts a vehicle into the air. The most vulnerable body parts are those already in contact with the inside surfaces of a vehicle. Its your feet, your butt in the seat, and to some extent your back, said Randy Coates, the civilian engineer who directed the Army project, which is based at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. To study a blasts effect, the Army considered experimenting with crash-test dummies, the biometric mannequins used by engineers to improve automotive safety. But crash-test dummies have limitations: They enable researchers to collect data only on front, rear and side collisions common in traffic accidents, not from explosions beneath a vehicle. When cadaver experiments confirmed that a crash-test dummy couldnt replicate battlefield wounds, the Army set out to create a mannequin that could show the effects of explosions. The project required experiments involving more than a hundred cadavers and included researchers from nine universities. In addition to building the blast mannequin, the Army is using cadavers to obtain data to develop a virtual dummy for computer simulations. Donated bodies are not obliterated in explosions, Coates said. But the blasts do break bones and snap spines. In an experiment witnessed by a Reuters reporter this year, two bodies wired to 100 biosensors flailed violently during an explosion and came to rest slumped, but intact. Army policy requires that body donors or next of kin consent to the blast experiments. But records reviewed by Reuters show that the bodies or body parts of 34 people were shipped to the military without donor permission. MIND-BOGGLING In 18 of the 34 cases, the donor consent forms neither mentioned nor offered any warning language about potential military experiments. In the remaining 16 instances, the consent form presented an option to allow military and other violent experiments. Twelve of the 16 families explicitly rejected violent experiments. Four made no choice. All 16 were shipped to the Army anyway. Among those shipped to the military were Nancy Culvers son and Marla Yales grandfather. Oh, no. Oh, no, Culver said when a Reuters reporter told her that the right arm of her son, Timothy Smith, was detached and used for a military experiment against her wishes. She donated his body two days after he took his own life in late 2012. I wanted something good to come of this, she said. Marla Yale recalled watching grandfather Kurt Hollstein sign a donor form two months before he died of cancer in 2013. Hollstein, an Army veteran, was so angry about the health care he was provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, she said, that on the consent form he checked No to military experimentation. Yale learned what really happened to her grandfather from Reuters. This is almost beyond belief that his entire body went somewhere else without his permission, and especially to a place that he absolutely did not want to be, she said. To go to the Department of Defense is absolutely mind-boggling. WHOS RESPONSIBLE? According to Army policy, If it is clear that a donor prohibited the contemplated use, then the donors cadaver will not be used. The policy requires that authorization forms must explicitly state that donors or next-of-kin agree that their bodies may be used in explosions. But the consent forms the Army examines are not necessarily the same ones signed by donors. In the BRC case, the Army said, the military reviewed heavily redacted forms or forms signed by an agent of BRC that indicated consent. Army officials said their first indication that something was amiss came in January 2014, after law enforcement authorities searched BRC. Coates, who oversaw the military project, said experiments were halted immediately. An Army safety officer then traveled to Arizona to compare the documents the military reviewed with those kept by BRC. In at least 34 cases, the forms did not match, records show. Coates said that the Army acted in good faith because it believed the consent forms it received were valid. The Army was a victim of BRC business practices, he said. Even so, the Army said in a statement that it still relies on brokers to accurately represent the wishes of donors and does not review the original consent forms before experiments begin. AMENDING CONSENT BRC records also show that in at least two cases, consent forms were amended after the donor died. In each case, records show, an elderly widow agreed to countermand a husbands written instructions that his body not be subjected to explosive military experiments. Both widows made the change after being contacted by BRC, donor case files show. In an interview with Reuters, one of the widows, Dona Patrick, said she didnt fully grasp what she had agreed to: that husband Conrads head and spine would be severed and shipped to one of the universities conducting the military experiments, his case file shows. The call from BRC came less than 48 hours after her husband died, at a time when you are susceptible to anything just to get it out of your mind, she said. Patrick said yes to the BRC caller because Conrads soul was already gone, and the body was nothing, she said. Probably now if they would have called me, I would have said no. But then, I didnt know what to do. BRC recorded the conversation for legal reasons and quality assurance. On the call, the BRC employee asked: As next of kin, do you agree to amend the consent form to allow special non-medical projects that could involve exposures to destructive forces  for example, impacts, crashes, ballistic injuries and blasts involving agencies such as the military? Patrick, her voice quavering, said, Yes, I do. Excellent, the body broker replied. That takes care of everything. (Additional reporting by Adam DeRose in Phoenix. Edited by Blake Morrison and Michael Williams)
In the "Star Wars" universe, a mystical power known as the Forcedrives the battles between Jedi knights and their dark counterparts, the Sith. Ahead of the release of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," a group of real-world scientists got together over the summer to discuss the science of this mystical power.

The panel of scientists, who gathered at the Dragon Con convention in Atlanta this past September, raised an intriguing possibility: that the ability to manipulate the Force could travel from one life-form to the next, rather than as a genetic mutation, just as a virus does. (In the "Star Wars" universe, the Force is said to be stronger in some people than in others.) That would mean a sensitivity to the Force could be transmitted not only among humans, but to their extraterrestrial allies.

"A Jedi virus could have a broad range  like the influenza virus  so that little green Yodas can get it as well as humans," Eric Spana, a biologist at Duke University in North Carolina, told Space.com. (The panel elected to ignore the midi-chlorian explanation suggested in the prequels, which says the Force is created by microscopic organisms that live inside everyone but are more common in some people.) ['Rogue' Star Wars Science: How Does It Work?]

Although the focus on characters who can willfully manipulate the Force is smaller in the new movie "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" than it is in previous films in the franchise, the new movie's characters are not immune to this mystical power; the Force-as-a-virus theory would mean that characters' contact with someone like Darth Vader (a subscriber to the dark side of the Force) could affect whether their children become Jedi or Sith.

The case against genetics

The Force-wielding hero of the original "Star Wars" trilogy, Luke Skywalker, and his twin sister, Leia (who was also sensitive to the mystical power), had a father who was certainly strong in the Force: Darth Vader, or Anakin Skywalker, was a fallen Jedi who left the realm of good to join the dark side. Leia's son Ben also is one with the mythical power source. That could suggest a genetic trait, Spana said.

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"If use of the Force is entirely a genetic trait, within just the human population, most instances would be the product of a de novo mutation," Spana said, referring to a mutation that appears for the first time in one person as a result of a mutation in the egg or sperm cell of one parent.

In this case, a mutation in the father's sperm would carry the trait to the child when the egg was fertilized. That might suggest that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Emperor Palpatine and other humans each had non-Force-using parents who carried the mutation only in their egg or sperm cells, with Anakin Skywalker being the only known Force user to pass the trait on to his children, the panelists noted.

Although the Force-wielding stars of the "Star Wars" movies tend to be humans, they certainly aren't the only species in this fictional universe with the ability to move things with their mind. Spana cited the battle on Geonosis in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones," in which a variety of species fight with the Force.

"That would make the underlying gene extremely well conserved across the organismal evolution in the universe  unless there was another answer," Spana said.

The panelists also discussed another potential hindrance to the idea that the trait could be passed genetically. Young Anakin Skywalker married Padme Amidala in secret, because marriage was forbidden by the Jedi Council. If most Jedi knightsobeyed the edict, then the people with the genetic mutation would also (presumably) not produce Force-wielding children, reducing the number of people with this gift in each subsequent generation, the panelists noted.

Together, these arguments suggest that the Force may be transmitted more like a virus than like a mutation.

"It doesn't really resemble a disease, but possibly transmits like a disease," Spana said.

The Jedi virus

If the ability to work with the Force is transmitted the same way a virus is, it seems to appear in the host before he or she reaches puberty. Spana suggested that it would require an early stage of infection  such as during the single fertilized-egg stage  keeping adults such as Padme from "catching" the Force usage but allowing her children to be infected in utero. This would allow the ability to be passed from Jedi to non-Jedi, or from mother to child.

The process resembles that of the existing virus Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6), Spana said. The relatively benign virus can be passed through bodily fluids, or it can be integratedinto a person's germ line, the cellular lineage that produces a person's sperm or egg and passes genetic material on to his or her children.

"Passing on a Jedi virus could be as simple as coughing on someone, and having the virus move through their system to the germ line, being integrated and passed on to the offspring," Spana said. "Jedi themselves would be the ones transmitting the virus around by coughing, but not actually mating, except for Anakin and Padme.

That means hanging out with Jedi knights (or their dark Sith counterparts) could have lasting results for offspring.

If Spana lived in the "Star Wars" universe, would he seek to infect either himself or his children with the Force?

"That's a tough call!" he said. As an adult, he would be too old to contract the ability himself, but he could make choices that would result in having Jedi offspring.

"Would I want a kid with superpowers who gets taken away at a young age to be trained as military peacekeepers, or my actual kid?" Spana said. "I'm too selfish  tough luck, galaxy; my kid is awesome. I'll take B.

Follow Nola Taylor Redd on Twitter @NolaTRedd or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.

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On the face of it, at least, the stock trades look pretty fishy. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), President-elect Donald Trumps choice for secretary of health and human services, traded more than $300,000 in shares of health-related companies over the past four years, even while sponsoring major legislation that could affect those companies.

Price, one of the leading opponents of the Affordable Care Act, bought and sold stock in roughly 40 health care, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies since 2012, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal. Yet technically he did nothing wrong within a government institution notorious for its weak ethics rules.

Related: 8 Big Changes Under Tom Prices Obamacare Replacement Plan

Price, a wealthy surgeon and the chair of the House Budget Committee, bought and sold stocks in prominent drug and health care companies including Bristol Meyers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Pfizer and Aetna, according to the report.

The Georgia Republican sits on the Ways and Means subcommittee on health, which oversees Medicare, Obamacare and other government health care programs.

Over the past several years he has sponsored or co-sponsored 44 bills that could have important financial repercussions for the nations health care, insurance and drug manufacturing industries. A spokesman for Price, Phil Blando, told The Wall Street Journal that the conservative lawmaker takes his obligation to uphold the public trust very seriously and has complied with all relevant laws.

However, Democrats are sure to question Price about the scope and timing of his financial dealings during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearings next month. And some government ethics experts say that even if Prices investment activities were all above board, the fact that a highly influential lawmaker invested in companies that could be impacted by his legislative action unavoidably raises suspicions and doubts. It undermines the public trust, Michael Carome, director of the nonprofit Public Citizens Health, told Roll Call.

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Congressional ethics rules give members extraordinary leeway in managing their financial portfolios. There is nothing in the House ethics rules that can prevent a member from buying and selling shares of stock, even if the committees on which they serve have jurisdiction over companies or industries in which the member has invested. As long as they publicly disclose those transactions, lawmakers are free to invest their money as they see fit.

Related: GOP Cuts in Medicare May Be Next After Dismantling Obamacare

Basically  members of Congress set their own rules when it comes to investments and things, said Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar with the American Enterprise Institute. There are supposed to be checks and balances in terms of the Office of Congressional Ethics in the House and the Ethics Committee, but theyre pretty limited in what they do.

Its an honor system in a way, Ornstein said in an interview Friday. You are free to buy and sell stocks and youre supposed to be able to understand when youre getting into conflicts of interest  When you are deeply involved in health policy like Price, and youre making decisions every day that effect the price of stocks  it strikes me that you should be really extra careful about what youre doing here.

Congress and the Obama administration have attempted to come to grips with the problem of the questionable trading practices of lawmakers, with mixed results. In 2012, President Obama signed into law the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act that barred members from using any non-public information derived from the individuals position  or gained from performance of individual duties for personal benefit.

The anti-insider trading legislation was enacted on the heels of a shocking 60 Minutes report in 2011 that members of Congress could legally trade stocks based on potentially market-moving information garnered as part of their duties  information that wasnt available to the public. Correspondent Steve Kroft reported that then-Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, bet against the market in the lead up to the 2008 financial crisis after receiving an apocalyptic briefing from then-Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson.

Related: Conflicts of Interest With Trumps Businesses Are Already Occurring

The STOCK Act, signed by Obama with much fanfare, also applied to officials of the executive branch and their staffs. It greatly expanded financial disclosures and made all of the data searchable to make it easier for investigators and journalists to ferret out potential wrongdoing.

But a year later, Congress and Obama quietly watered down some of the most important provisions as part of a bill shepherded through the House by then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). The plan to automate and digitize financial disclosure forms was abandoned. Investigators now have to apply in the basement of the Cannon House Office Building for authority to print out hard copies of relevant documents.

Price joins an administration in which conflict of interest concerns are far from isolated. President-elect Trump himself appears to plan on retaining ownership of his business, which ethics experts have warned will inevitably -- and quickly -- lead to questions about whether he and his family stand to benefit from specific actions taken by his administration.

Related: GOP and Dem Governors Are Closing Ranks Against Obamacare Repeal

For example, Trump's National Security adviser, retired Army Lt. General Mike Flynn, has served on the board of a defense contractor and ran a lobbying company that had contracts with foreign government, and continued to do so even as he was receiving classified intelligence briefings with Trump during the campaign.

Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, retired Marine General James Mattis, is on the board of a major defense contractor, General Dynamics, which has paid him well over $1 million in cash and stock since 2013. The new administration's pick for secretary of state, Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, served as a board member of an oil company joint venture between Exxon and the Russian government that has been affected by U.S. sanctions.

None of these potential conflicts are disqualifying on their own -- Trump's nominees can make a clean public break with their past commitments when they join the government. But the sheer volume of them creates the impression among critics at least that the president-elect is staffing his administration with people who have extraordinarily close ties to companies and foreign governments that will have business before the federal government.

Rob Garver contributed to this report.

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Stop everything! Troian Bellisario has PINK HAIR and its perfection

A case of senioritis has seriously spread through that cast of Pretty Little Liars since filming wrapped for good in October. How do we know? Troian Bellisario has pink hair. The actress joined fellow PLL alum Ashley Benson in adopting the unicorn inspired trend.

Troians 2016 has not looked too shabby  she married Suits actor Patrick J. Adams in an insanely gorgeous wedding ceremony at which she rocked a corseted white dress and then a different slinky gold sequin gown for the after party. She filmed the delightfully odd-looking action/adventure/comedy Chuck Hank and the San Diego Twins.

After seven years of shooting Pretty Little Liars, Bellisario said goodbye to Spencer by changing what she could of her appearance to drastically leave the famously tormented friend. The verdict? Spencer would never have gone pink. Thats A fact.

Spencer? Is that you?

Baby boi @davestanwell finally gave me fun hair after a lifetime of brown. Bye bye spencer. It's been real girl. A photo posted by Troian Bellisario (@sleepinthegardn) on Dec 22, 2016 at 10:11pm PST

The switch to pink could have been a move of self-love, as the actress recently spoke to The Cut about self-care and the importance of finding time for yourself. Shooting a television show for nine months out of the year, seven years in a row, takes a lot out of you. Its a pretty big requirement on your life, especially the energy requirement, she told The Cut. Troian has been known to use her platform to speak out about common issues that matter to her  such as the PSA she released about disordered eating and mental illness. I was doing an interview with Seventeen a few years ago, and they asked me what my life was like when I was 17, and I thought very clearly to myself, Well, I can either lie about this or I could tell people the truth, Bellisario explained, citing her own battle with anorexia nervosa.

Thank you @citiznshane for capturing me at the height of happiness. #fortday2016 A photo posted by Troian Bellisario (@sleepinthegardn) on Dec 16, 2016 at 9:13pm PST

Needless to say, the woman is enjoying her very, very well deserved break. We wish Troian the happiest New Year, lots of sleeping in with her new husband, frequent reunions with her PLL girls and oh yeah, some time off to appreciate that gorgeous head of rosy pink hair. Some people are just living their best lives.

The post Stop everything! Troian Bellisario has PINK HAIR and its perfection appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Producer, composer and all round musician gives us a 101 on the underground hip hop scene.

I want one of my songs to be on the Billboard charts, says Rajdeep Sinha aka Stunnah - the Guwahati-based producer who is and one half of the hip-hop / trap production duo Stunnah Sez Beatz. Everyday, I wake up and work towards that goal. No excuses for hard work. Beats, clients, placement opportunities - I hustle to make it happen.

Stunnah, one of the pioneers of hip hop music in India

Born and raised in Shillong, Sinha, along with his partner, has played an incremental role in pushing Indias hip-hop community towards promising new frontiers. The hip-hop community has grown exponentially in the past few years, he says. Back when I first started, most of the guys were just listeners or fans. Now more people are experimenting with the art and also investing in it to raise the bar. Before he re-invented himself as a beat producer, Sinha found himself battling and posting songs online on forums such as Insignia Rap Combat. I remember the song that got me hooked, he says. It was way back in 2003 - my friend played 50 Cents In Da Club for me and that just became my jam. I was listening to it everyday. His earliest influence though was a track called Meri Marzi (The Gambler, 1995) that was sung by Indias own version of Weird Al Yankovich, Devang Patel. Man thats embarrassing, he says. My mum still tells me stories about how I used to incorporate the lyrics into everyday conversations.

Stunnah aka Rajdeep wrote his first verse at 17

From 50 Cent, Sinha moved onto collecting hip-hop mixtapes and CDs from his local market. I bought everything, he says. From Eminem to Lil Wayne to compilation tapes featuring some rappers that nobody has ever heard of - I had everything. I knew this music was for me. He started writing his own verses at the age of 17 - under the heavy influence of Eminem and Lil Wayne. I thought rap was all about flexing, he says. My knowledge about the genre only increased once I joined Insignia. You could pick up new knowledge and skills almost every single day. He recorded his first single on top of an Eminem instrumental - and in an effort learn polish his production value - quit rapping until he could master the production aspect of the music. Initially, it was so that I could improve my own songs, he says. But then, after a few months, I was addicted to making beats. I havent stopped making them since then and I havent been in front of a mic either.

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Sinha put in a lot of work - experimenting with different production techniques in an effort to hone his craft - and also gave away a lot of beats for free to his contemporaries. Eventually, I got frustrated, he says. I needed to make this financially viable. Once I figured it out, I approached Sez with the idea and our venture took off. Sez aka Sajeel Kapoor is a resident of Ashok Nagar, Delhi - 18. Also a member of the Insignia Rap Combat forum, Sinha and Kapoor hit it off from the get go. I think we battled each other once, says Sinha. He used to be on the forum under the moniker War-Child. I think Im the only one who ever beat him in a text-battle!

Hes behind some of the biggest hip hop tracks in the country

Since they got together, the production duo have been behind some of the biggest homegrown hip-hop tracks that have come out in the industry. From producing the title track for All India Bakchods On Air With AIB show to this summers massive hit Jungli Sher (by Divine), the duo have established themselves as the go-to team for hip-hop production in the country. Now, theyre looking towards the West. We recently produced a beat for Phora and Hopsin, he says. Thats been the biggest achievement weve had so far.

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On the future of Indian hip-hop, Sinha remains cautiously optimistic about where its headed. Weve made some improvements, he says. But we still have a long way to go. Were still behind the Japanese and South-Korean hip-hop scenes. While MCs, producers, and promoters are making moves, I still find our scene lacking a bit of quality. But its up to use to make it happen and ensure that Indian hip-hop makes a mark on the global hip-hop scene. All I want is everybody to give their 100%.

Beats by Stunnah



Stunnah Beatz features in the Hip Hop Homeland journey. Watch it now on 101India.com

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An Arkansas man has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of a 3-year-old boy who was fatally shot through the window of his familys car in an alleged road rage incident on Saturday, reports say.

Gary Holmes, 33, surrendered to police in Little Rock on Thursday in connection with the death of toddler Acen King, Fox reports. The boy was killed as he rode in the car with his grandmother and 1-year-old sibling Saturday evening.

Holmes has been charged with capital murder and two counts of terroristic acts as a result of the incident, NBC News reports.

Acen KingCBS News

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Police offered a $400,000 reward for information leading to the mans arrest, and KTHV reports that law enforcement agencies worked with Holmes family to convince Holmes to surrender.

It was not immediately clear if Holmes has entered a plea or retained a lawyer.

Acens grandmother, 47-year-old Kim King-Macon, reached a stop sign on the citys southwest side when another vehicle approached her from behind, police said. The suspect was allegedly angry that King-Macon wasnt moving fast enough at the stop sign, Little Rock Police Lt. Steve McClanahan said, according to NBC.

Gary HolmesPulaski County Sheriff PIO

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It was raining, McClanahan previously told PEOPLE. She was trying to turn. The suspect vehicle honked. She honked back, and then she observed a black male, very generic description, get out with what she thought was a gun.

She thought he was going to fire the gun in the air, he says, before alleging, He fired in the car. She didnt know that.

King-Macon did not know little Acen had been shot until she she drove another 10 miles and pulled into the parking lot of a J.C. Penney store, McClanahan said.

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When they got to Pennys, she realized the child had been shot, McClanahan says.

Police, firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene and Acen was taken to Arkansas Childrens Hospital, where he died a very short time later, McClanahan said.

A GoFundMe page has been created for the boys family, with the creator identifying the childs mother as a woman named Gashon.

In a Facebook post, Gashon uploaded a photo of two young children, writing, In my eyes you will always be right by my side! Acen is on the roll!!!




LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  A Little Rock man who fired his gun into a car, striking and killing a 3-year-old boy, did so because he thought the driver of that vehicle was following him too closely, police said in an affidavit released Friday following the suspect's arrest.

Gary Eugene Holmes, 33, turned himself in at police headquarters Thursday night, Little Rock police said in a statement Friday. Holmes was being held in the Pulaski County jail on preliminary charges of capital murder and committing a terroristic act in the shooting death last week of Acen (AY'-sin) King.

Holmes pleaded not guilty to the preliminary charges and was ordered jailed without bond after a brief video arraignment Friday morning. Court records do not list an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

Police said Acen was on a shopping trip with his grandmother Dec. 17 when he was struck by gunfire. The boy's grandmother, Kim King-Macon, told authorities that she had stopped at a stop sign in the pouring rain when a man honked his horn, then got out of his car and fired a gun.

King-Macon said she did not realize her grandson had been shot until she arrived at the shopping center, about 10 miles away, and saw Acen slumped over in his seat. In 911 recordings released by police, a woman can be heard screaming, "Acen has been shot! Oh my God!"

An affidavit from Little Rock Police Detective Steve Moore says investigators received a tip that the car involved in the shooting belonged to Holmes' girlfriend, who is not named in court filings. According to the affidavit, the girlfriend told police that she was in the car with Holmes when the fatal shooting occurred.

She told investigators that Holmes said a Dodge Charger was following him too closely, so he pulled over and let the car go past. The affidavit says the girlfriend told police that Holmes got out of the car and fired his gun after the Charger stopped at a stop sign for "a few minutes."

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The girlfriend told police that Holmes said: "That's what you get for following me around."

Acen, who was riding in the backseat of the Charger, was shot in the back and later died at a hospital. King-Macon and a 1-year-old child who was also in the car were not injured.

The girlfriend said she and Holmes didn't realize he had shot someone until the next day.

Joshua Kaplan, a senior inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service in Little Rock, said authorities reached out to family members who arranged for Holmes' surrender. The FBI and the city of Little Rock had offered a $40,000 reward in the case.

___

Associated Press writer David Warren in Dallas contributed to this report.
An intense manhunt for the suspect in Mondays truck attack at a crowded Berlin Christmas market ended early Friday when attacker killed in a shootout with police near Milan, according to multiple reports.

Anis Amri, 24, reportedly pulled out a gun when an officer asked him to produce identification during a routine traffic stop in Milan, Italy, in the early morning hours, according to CNN. He reportedly shot the officer before being killed by a second cop on the scene, according to CNN.

The person who attacked our police officers was killed, Interior Minister Marco Minniti said at a news conference, according to the New York Times. There is absolutely no doubt that the person who was killed was Anis Amri, the suspect in the terrorist attack in Berlin.

Twelve people were killed and 48 injured when a truck plowed into a crowded Christmas market in western Berlin on Monday. European officials had been searching for the Tunisian-born Amri since Wednesday after releasing a previously detained man due to a lack of evidence.

The hunt for Amri began when officials reportedly found his identity documents in the truck, a security official told CNN.

What to Know About the Berlin Christmas Market Attack

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Amri reportedly caught a train to Milan after traveling from France and additional patrols were implemented in the Italian city after police received a tip that Amri might be in the area, Reuters reports. Minniti said the officers involved in the shootout have done an extraordinary service to our community.

Now, officials are looking to determine how one of the most wanted men in Europe managed to travel freely amid patrols and an intense manhunt, according to the Times.

 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.

ISIS has claimed that it inspired the attack, according to CNN. And German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday called the incident a likely terrorist attack.

This is a difficult day. I am, like millions of people during these hours, horrified and shocked by what happened at the Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, she said, according to the New York Times. We must assume at the current time that it was a terrorist attack.




With the election of Donald Trump, the Right is triumphantly unveiling policy wish lists theyve been compiling for decades. White supremacists and nationalistsmany operating under the banner of the alt-rightsee an opportunity to mainstream their anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, racist vision of America.

Even before Trump takes office, we are seeing the implications of putting these ideas in the mainstream: In the first 10 days after the election, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) reported nearly 900 incidents of harassment and intimidation across the nation. According to the SPLC, Many harassers invoked Trumps name during assaults.

In a Washington state public school, build a wall was chanted in the cafeteria at lunch. In Oakland, Calif., an Asian American leaving a train station was told to go home. According to the SPLC, When an 18-year-old service employee in Kalamazoo, Mich., asked a man if he needed help, he replied, I dont need to ask you for shit. Donald Trump is president. He then called her a black bitch and spat on her shoes.

How can we help understand, cope with and combat this growing maelstrom of hate speech and attacks? A three-pronged approach is required: understanding and naming the alt-right, taking a public stand and organizing to take back political power.

Information is key. As Malcolm X said, Reading and study are the activities that best reward effort.

There are a million things to read, but potential starting points include Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream by Leonard Zeskind, president of the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights (IREHR), and How Trump Took Hate Groups Mainstream by David Neiwert and Sarah Posner in Mother Jones. Only by understanding how they came to the spotlight can we strategize on how to push them back out.

We also need to shine a clear spotlight on racists and extremist activity, Neiwert wrote at his blog, making the public better equipped when confronting [these issues] inevitable manifestations in their real lives.

We must call out the mainstream media when they excuse or soft-pedal the Rights core of racism, misogyny, nativism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia; and we must protest frequently and peacefully, joining the courageous people already standing against hate on the streets, in schools, in workplaces and online.

But in doing so, progressives must be careful not to label all Trump voters as bigots. Such labeling risks pushing them into the arms of a welcoming alt-right.

Instead, we should educate. Beyond simply marching and chanting, organizers can separate into groups and go out on the streets and door-to-door to talk to people about the rise of white nationalism and the need to stand against it.

We need to reach the alt-rights target demographic where they are, be that online or on college campuses, Devin Burghart, vice president of IREHR, tells In These Times in an email. We need to reach them before the alt-right does, and we need to build a culture of resistance  becoming allies, and creating bonds of solidarity across race, gender and class in confronting these bigoted ideas. Lastly, we need to have an alternative vision of the future to which young people can be drawn, not merely maintaining the status quo.

This alternative vision must then go beyond protests and turn into an electoral strategy at both local and national levels, so this tide can be reversed.

Bill Berkowitz is an Oakland, Calif.-based writer who has been monitoring and covering U.S. right-wing movements for the past 16 years.
NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP)  A man charged with killing a good Samaritan who police say intervened in an assault on a woman outside a Connecticut bar has been held on $550,000 cash bail.

Dante Hughes was detained after an arraignment Thursday on murder and domestic violence charges in New London. Public records didn't list a lawyer for Hughes.

The 30-year-old suspect is charged with the Dec. 11 shooting death of 24-year-old Joey Gingerella outside Ryan's Pub in Groton. Witnesses told police that Gingerella left the bar to try to stop Hughes from assaulting a woman on a parking lot.

Gingerella is the stepson of a state lawmaker.

Hughes was detained two days later by Canadian immigration authorities after trying to enter the country at Niagara Falls.

Hughes is due back in court Jan. 10.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP)  One of two men charged with kidnapping and raping a Kansas sheriff's deputy has been charged with sexual assaulting a Missouri woman in February while the woman's 2-year-old daughter was in the same bed.

Jackson County, Missouri, prosecutors said Brady Newman-Caddell was charged Friday with first-degree rape, two counts of sodomy and first-degree child endangerment.

DNA evidence from the October assault of a non-uniformed Johnson County, Kansas, sheriff's deputy linked him to the February attack in Independence, Missouri. The deputy was abducted from the parking lot of the detention center in Olathe, Kansas, as she was headed to work, and she was released about two hours later.

The second suspect in the deputy's rape has not been charged in the Missouri assault.

Newman-Caddell is jailed in Johnson County on $1 million bond related to charges involving the deputy. Jackson County prosecutors have requested a $150,000 in their case filed Friday.

Newman-Caddell's Kansas attorney, Michael McCulloch, declined to comment.

In an affidavit that accompanied Friday's criminal complaint, Independence police Det. Jeff Pagel wrote that the Independence mother told investigators she was awakened in her apartment at about 1 a.m. on Feb. 9 and found a stranger in her bedroom.

The woman reported that during the ensuing sexual attack she said lasted nearly three hours and involved as many as four suspects, she did not fight her attackers and tried to make them believe she would not call police, Pagel wrote.

The assailants then left, with one of them noting to the woman that it was one attacker's birthday, Pagel wrote. The woman then notified police and sought hospital treatment.

Newman-Caddell later told police that he lived in the same apartment complex as the Independence mother and sexually attacked her with just one friend, Pagel wrote.
Fresno County sheriff officers are hunting for a group of suspects who attempted to burglarize a Fresno, California, pharmacy by ramming a truck into it. Officials released surveillance footage from inside and outside the building.

The group of at least three people is seen outside the pharmacy, including a truck that authorities said was a 10-foot U-Haul truck. The truck then backs into the pharmacy, not breaking through the stores steel security bars, setting off the alarm.

One suspect checks the door before the group flees the scene after determining the building is inaccessible.

Nothing was stolen from the business, but the building suffered $10,000 worth of structural damage, according to authorities. Credit: YouTube/Fresno County Sheriffs Office via Storyful
(Adds Damascus water supply cut, Hezbollah comment)

By Lisa Barrington and Angus McDowall

BEIRUT, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo and air strikes resumed around the city on Friday as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents' withdrawal from the city could pave the way towards a political solution for the country.

A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district.

The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed. State television said at least three people died.

Insurgents seeking to oust Assad have shelled government controlled areas of Aleppo throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in eastern districts rebels held until this month.

Air strikes resumed in rebel-held areas of the countryside near Aleppo on Friday for the first time since the end of the evacuation operation.

Strikes hit to the west, south-west and south of the city, areas which had not been hit for at least a week. The Britain-based Observatory had no information on casualties yet.

After months of bombardment and a final few weeks of intense air strikes and Syrian army advances on the besieged, rebel-held part of Aleppo, a local ceasefire was reached on Dec. 15 which allowed thousand of civilians and then fighters to leave.

The last left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west. The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed.

Many of those who left are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed.

On Friday, the army and its allies, including Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels, to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported.

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State television showed empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes in the al-Ansari district.

DAMASCUS WATER CUT

In the capital Damascus, the water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use reserves instead after rebels polluted the water with diesel, it said on Friday.

The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley northwest of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border.

The government controls much of the surrounding territory and on Friday carried out aerial attacks and shelled the rebel-held area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A military news outlet run by Hezbollah said the rebels in the valley had refused to leave the area and the Syrian Arab Army began an offensive against them on Friday morning.

Through a series of so-called settlement agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition around the capital.

PEACE TALKS?

During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad's forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah.

On Friday, Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria's main partner in the battle, and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process.

Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution.

Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State.

United Nations-backed peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year as violence escalated, particularly around Aleppo.

(Additional reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut and Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman; editing by John Stonestreet and David Clarke)
By Lisa Barrington and Angus McDowall BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo and air strikes resumed around the city on Friday as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents' withdrawal from the city could pave the way toward a political solution for the country. A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district. The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed. State television said at least three people died. Insurgents seeking to oust Assad have shelled government controlled areas of Aleppo throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in eastern districts rebels held until this month. Air strikes resumed in rebel-held areas of the countryside near Aleppo on Friday for the first time since the end of the evacuation operation. Strikes hit to the west, south-west and south of the city, areas which had not been hit for at least a week. The Britain-based Observatory had no information on casualties yet. After months of bombardment and a final few weeks of intense air strikes and Syrian army advances on the besieged, rebel-held part of Aleppo, a local ceasefire was reached on Dec. 15 which allowed thousand of civilians and then fighters to leave. The last left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west. The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed. Many of those who left are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed. On Friday, the army and its allies, including Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels, to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported. State television showed empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes in the al-Ansari district. DAMASCUS WATER CUT In the capital Damascus, the water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use reserves instead after rebels polluted the water with diesel, it said on Friday. The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley northwest of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border. The government controls much of the surrounding territory and on Friday carried out aerial attacks and shelled the rebel-held area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. A military news outlet run by Hezbollah said the rebels in the valley had refused to leave the area and the Syrian Arab Army began an offensive against them on Friday morning. Through a series of so-called settlement agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition around the capital. PEACE TALKS? During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad's forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah. On Friday, Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria's main partner in the battle, and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process. Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution. Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State. United Nations-backed peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year as violence escalated, particularly around Aleppo. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut and Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman; editing by John Stonestreet and David Clarke)
* Taiwan's diplomatic allies down to 21 from 30 in 90s

* Of 28 poles for allies' flags on embassy building, 12 empty

* Sao Tome flag taken down this week after it severed ties

* People's Daily says improve China relations or expect more

By J.R. Wu

TAIPEI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - In Taipei's leafy Tienmu district, nearly half the flagpoles in front of the imposing pink building that houses most foreign embassies are bare, as Taiwan's dwindling band of diplomatic friends jump ship to its giant neighbour.

Another flag was taken down this week when tiny West African state Sao Tome and Principe severed ties with the self-ruled island that China claims as a renegade province.

Reshuffled for symmetry, the flag of the Solomon Islands now flutters from the pole still bearing the Sao Tome plaque.

Taiwan had as many as 30 diplomatic allies in the mid-1990s, but now has formal relations with just 21, mostly smaller and poorer nations in Latin America and the Pacific.

And Beijing is gunning for the rest, angered by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this month, the first public contact at that level since Washington switched recognition to China from Taiwan in 1979.

China is deeply suspicious of Tsai, who leads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which traditionally advocates independence for Taiwan, even though Tsai says she wants peace with China. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

"From the issue of Sao Tome cutting off ties it can be seen that the DDP authorities ought to understand one thing - that they should speed up the proper handling of cross-Strait relations, or similar incidents will continue to happen," said the overseas edition of the People's Daily, an official organ of China's ruling Communist Party.

Taiwan - official title Republic of China (ROC) - has competed with China for diplomatic recognition since the defeated Nationalists fled there in 1949 at the end of the Chinese civil war, but the tables turned decisively in Beijing's favour in the 1970s when the United Nations and United States switched sides.

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Taiwan has accused China of providing financial incentives to Sao Tome in exchange for recognition, charges Beijing denies.

While Taipei and Beijing have both played that game previously, Taiwan now cannot hope to match the spending power of the world's second-largest economy.

"If China, for the sake of gaining Sao Tome, wants to put up large sums of money, please go ahead. It can play dollar diplomacy, but Taiwan will not play," said Lo Chih-cheng, a senior DPP lawmaker.

"UNNECESSARY SPENDING"

Taiwan's diplomatic efforts have at times descended into farce, with some countries like Liberia switching ties several times, sometimes in the space of a few years, depending on the money they could wrangle out of Taipei or Beijing.

In 1999, Papua New Guinea (PNG) changed its mind just a week after deciding to establish ties, and in the following decade there was a public outcry after media reported millions of dollars were wasted in a failed bid to lure it back.

The public remain unimpressed by the cost of what some see as a face-saving exercise, said Chuang Fu-yao, a Taipei resident walking near the embassy compound.

"Most people don't even know how many diplomatic allies we have. Our own feeling is we are spending a lot of money to do unnecessary things," he said.

Taiwan lost six allies during the last DPP-led government from 2000-2008, accounting for many of the 12 empty flagpoles at the embassy building.

Under Tsai's predecessor Ma Ying-jeou, from the more China-friendly Nationalist party, one more was lost.

Sao Tome, population just under 200,000, needed around $210 million in grants and low-interest loans, according to Taiwanese daily the United Daily News.

Taiwan foreign minister David Lee told reporters only that an "astronomical figure" was discussed.

"The government of Sao Tome and Principe, however, with excessive financial difficulties, and demands beyond those the ROC could meet, has ignored 20 years of friendly diplomatic relations, playing both sides of the Taiwan Strait while holding out for the highest bidder," Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said.

Sao Tome's prime minister this week denied the country asked Taiwan for money.

Taiwan's Central American allies are also vulnerable.

Diplomats in Beijing have told Reuters they believe Panama, one of Taiwan's oldest diplomatic friends, could be next to go.

Earlier this month, a large Chinese business delegation visited Panama after Tsai was there in June for the formal opening of the expanded Panama Canal.

Seeking to shore up its Central American ties, Tsai will visit Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador next month.

In Africa, now only Swaziland and Burkina Faso have ambassador-level relations with Taiwan.

Perhaps, said one foreign diplomat at the embassy building, allies are leaking away to the mainland in anticipation that Beijing will eventually win this battle of wills and bring Taiwan back under its control.

"Maybe they think: 'I will wait for you there'," he said.

(Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Will Waterman)
By J.R. Wu TAIPEI (Reuters) - In Taipei's leafy Tienmu district, nearly half the flagpoles in front of the imposing pink building that houses most foreign embassies are bare, as Taiwan's dwindling band of diplomatic friends jump ship to its giant neighbour. Another flag was taken down this week when tiny West African state Sao Tome and Principe severed ties with the self-ruled island that China claims as a renegade province. Reshuffled for symmetry, the flag of the Solomon Islands now flutters from the pole still bearing the Sao Tome plaque. Taiwan had as many as 30 diplomatic allies in the mid-1990s, but now has formal relations with just 21, mostly smaller and poorer nations in Latin America and the Pacific. And Beijing is keen to nab the rest, angered by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this month, the first public contact at that level since Washington switched recognition to China from Taiwan in 1979. China is deeply suspicious of Tsai, who leads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which traditionally advocates independence for Taiwan, even though Tsai says she wants peace with China. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. "From the issue of Sao Tome cutting off ties it can be seen that the DDP authorities ought to understand one thing  that they should speed up the proper handling of cross-Strait relations, or similar incidents will continue to happen," said the overseas edition of the People's Daily, an official organ of China's ruling Communist Party. Taiwan - official title Republic of China (ROC) - has competed with China for diplomatic recognition since the defeated Nationalists fled there in 1949 at the end of the Chinese civil war, but the tables turned decisively in Beijing's favour in the 1970s when the United Nations and United States switched sides. Taiwan has accused China of providing financial incentives to Sao Tome in exchange for recognition, charges Beijing denies. While Taipei and Beijing have both played that game previously, Taiwan now cannot hope to match the spending power of the world's second-largest economy. "If China, for the sake of gaining Sao Tome, wants to put up large sums of money, please go ahead. It can play dollar diplomacy, but Taiwan will not play," said Lo Chih-cheng, a senior DPP lawmaker. "UNNECESSARY SPENDING" Taiwan's diplomatic efforts have at times descended into farce, with some countries like Liberia switching ties several times, sometimes in the space of a few years, depending on the money they could wrangle out of Taipei or Beijing. In 1999, Papua New Guinea (PNG) changed its mind just a week after deciding to establish ties, and in the following decade there was a public outcry after media reported millions of dollars were wasted in a failed bid to lure it back. The public remain unimpressed by the cost of what some see as a face-saving exercise, said Chuang Fu-yao, a Taipei resident walking near the embassy compound. "Most people don't even know how many diplomatic allies we have. Our own feeling is we are spending a lot of money to do unnecessary things," he said. Taiwan lost six allies during the last DPP-led government from 2000-2008, accounting for many of the 12 empty flagpoles at the embassy building. Under Tsai's predecessor Ma Ying-jeou, from the more China-friendly Nationalist party, one more was lost. Sao Tome, population just under 200,000, needed around $210 million in grants and low-interest loans, according to Taiwanese daily the United Daily News. Taiwan foreign minister David Lee told reporters only that an "astronomical figure" was discussed. "The government of Sao Tome and Principe, however, with excessive financial difficulties, and demands beyond those the ROC could meet, has ignored 20 years of friendly diplomatic relations, playing both sides of the Taiwan Strait while holding out for the highest bidder," Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said. Sao Tome's prime minister this week denied the country asked Taiwan for money. Taiwan's Central American allies are also vulnerable. Diplomats in Beijing have told Reuters they believe Panama, one of Taiwan's oldest diplomatic friends, could be next to go. Earlier this month, a large Chinese business delegation visited Panama after Tsai was there in June for the formal opening of the expanded Panama Canal. Seeking to shore up its Central American ties, Tsai will visit Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador next month. In Africa, now only Swaziland and Burkina Faso have ambassador-level relations with Taiwan. Perhaps, said one foreign diplomat at the embassy building, allies are leaking away to the mainland in anticipation that Beijing will eventually win this battle of wills and bring Taiwan back under its control. "Maybe they think: 'I will wait for you there'," he said. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Will Waterman)
The news out of Washington this week of potential tariff actions by the Trump administration in January harks back to one of the big political and constitutional issues of a long-ago age.

Credit: Cornell University Library

On Thursday, CNN reported there has been debate among Trump advisers of a 5 percent import tariff coming in the new year. Trump spokespeople didnt comment on the report to CNN, but the media outlet said any tariff proposals would run into opposition from pro-trade wings of the Republican Party.

There were few details on the alleged tariffs, such as their role as a replacement for current tariffs, or their implementation as a new tax on imports. The report was also unclear on if the tariffs would be done through Congress as part of a House bill, or under the Presidents limited authority to make tariff decisions.

The latter is a key question, since under the Constitutions original terms and subsequent precedents, Congress has the ultimate power in tariff questions. One of the critical early parts of the Constitution was Article I, Section 8, which stated the enumerated powers of Congress.

The section lists powers directly controlled by Congress, and the first thing on that list is tariffs: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

While the Constitutions Article II gave the President the power to negotiate treaties, the chief executive didnt have the direct power to set or impose tariffs on nations that traded with the United States. The President could only take such action if a law passed by Congress allowed it.

The first major law passed by the First Congress in 1789 dealt with tariffs and it stated that it is necessary for the support of government, for the discharge of the debts of the United States, and the encouragement and protection of manufactures, that duties be laid on goods, wares and merchandise imported. (Disagreements over the law also led to an ideological split between James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.)

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Despite these precedents, the constitutionality of tariffs was debated for well over a century. The Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in J. W. Hampton & Co. v. United States (1928), confirming their legitimacy and the ability of Congress to delegate tariff powers to the Executive Branch. Chief Justice William Howard Taft rejected claims by the J.W. Hampton company that a high tariff levied on it by the Coolidge administration violated the intent of a congressional statute, the Tariff Act of 1922. The statute provided that a President could make adjustments to tariff rates after proper investigation and in response to changing production costs.

The enactment and enforcement of a number of customs revenue laws drawn with a motive of maintaining a system of protection, since the revenue law of 1789, are matters of history, Taft wrote. So long as the motive of Congress and the effect of its legislative action are to secure revenue for the benefit of the general government, the existence of other motives in the selection of the subjects of taxes cannot invalidate congressional action.

Taft had experience with the volatile issue of tariffs. President Tafts stance on tariffs helped his election bid in 1908 and hurt his re-election chances in 1912, after he changed positions on the tariff question.

But by 1928, tariffs had started to fade away as a major political question in the country, as the national income tax replaced tariffs as a source of federal revenue. In 1934, Congress gave the President limited authority to reduce tariffs. In later years, Congress also established a procedure called Trade Promotion Authority to expedite the consideration of trade issues.

Earlier this month, the Congressional Research Service updated its guidance on presidential authority and tariffs. It reviewed the past century of major trade deals involving shared tasks between Congress and the President. What can be culled from these examples is that most of the provisions require the President to make some threshold finding or determination before he may take some circumscribed trade-related action to counteract his finding.

If a presidential tariff action is challenged in court, once it is determined that the court had jurisdiction over the case, it will look to see if Congress delegated a related tariff power to the President. If so, the CRS says, a court will probably not review the reasoning behind a Presidents determination that executive action is warranted, it will likely examine closely whether the selected means of executing the delegated powers bear a reasonable relationship to that determination.

Scott Bomboy is the editor in chief of the National Constitution Center.

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A report from CNN that Donald Trump and his economic team are considering the imposition of a 5 percent tariff on imports is adding fuel to the fear that his administration would be willing to engage in the sort of aggressive protectionism that leads to trade wars.

CNN reported on Wednesday that senior figures on Trumps economic team, like venture capitalist Wilbur Ross, the nominee for Commerce Secretary, are serious about imposing a blanket tariff on imports as they cross the border. Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump took a get tough stance on trade issues, insisting that the U.S. is effectively being cheated out of jobs and revenue by bad trade deals.

Related: It Looks Like Trump Is Serious About Starting a Trade War With China

The suggestion that he would pursue the 5 percent tariff -- enacted by executive action, according to CNN -- came as Trump announced the creation of a National Trade Council in the White House, apparently operating at the same level and the National Security Council and Domestic Policy Council. The man he picked to run the NTC, University of California-Irvine economist Peter Navarro, is a trade hawk who has repeatedly warned that China is attempting to destroy the United States through unfair trade practices.

But while Trump has talked about tariffs before, they were typically presented as specific and punitive -- like a 45 percent tax on all Chinese goods as a punishment for what Trump claims are Beijings illegal trade practices, or a 35 percent tariff on goods manufactured by U.S. companies that move production overseas.

An across the board 5 percent tariff would be so unprecedented and counter to most economic theories about trade, that some economists werent ready to take the idea completely seriously, reacting instead with cautious disbelief.

Alan Cole, an economist with the Center for Federal Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation, said he was considering the idea a trial balloon that may not actually reflect the incoming administrations real plans. Maybe they want to see how people will react.

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Related: Experts Warn of a Coming Fiscal Crisis as Trump Prepares to Take Charge

However, he said, If they keep going forward with this, I would expect more attention is going to be paid to it by economists and think tanks, and that attention is going to be negative.

In general, economists dislike tariffs because they are an inefficient form of taxation, and they cause particular problems when the nation levying the tariff is, itself, a major exporter.

If the sole purpose of a tariff was to raise money for the government, theres at least an argument that they are a good idea. The hope, basically, is that part of the additional 5 percent cost of goods coming into the country would be borne by foreign merchants, meaning that the Treasury would gain more in tax revenue than the U.S. population would pay. However, tariffs dont operate in a vacuum. For one, they tend to cause the currency of the country imposing them to rise in value relative to other countries currencies, which hurts domestic industries whose exports are now more expensive to foreign buyers.

Tariffs also frequently trigger retaliation by other countries, doing still more damage to domestic companies that export their goods. They also raise prices on goods that consumers in the country imposing the tariff saw as a good value.

Related: Want to Pay Less than Half for Your Meds? Join the Throngs and Try Canada

Cole said that if the Trump administration is seen to be serious about pushing the tariff, it will see fairly united opposition among experts and academia. However, he pointed out, the defiance of experts and academics hasnt exactly deterred Trump in the past.

All of that opposition isnt to say that he wont end up getting tariffs, Cole said.

Nevertheless, he said, Its not a good idea.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
The candidate who unapologetically called for the registration, extreme vetting and outright banning of Muslims has been elected president.

If one were to make a roster of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant all-stars, it would look a lot like Donald Trumps appointees and inner circle: Kris Kobach, Jeff Sessions, Michael Flynn, Frank Gaffney, Katie Gorka, Rudy Giuliani, Walid Phares.

We know from U.S. history that lots of unimaginable things happen when people like Trump take power and when people are afraid, says Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). One of the most frustrating things is that there is a long list of things that are unknown. Will he follow through with his threats?

In the haze of Trumps bombast, activists like Billoo are quick to remind us that the United States expanded the War on Terror under the leadership of President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Obama administration increased its drone strikes and targeted killings abroad and turned its surveillance tactics on Muslims at home.

The Obama administration also launched local countering violent extremism (CVE) programs that train teachers, religious leaders, parents and teens to become extensions of law enforcement by identifying young people they think might commit terrorist acts. Beneath the buzzwords of community resilience and development, the programs are based on debunked and discredited radicalization theories that leave the door wide open for profiling Arab and Muslim youth.

The ACLU and a host of Arab and Muslim activist organizations have called for an end to CVE programs. As for the use of lethal drone strikes, Amnesty International claims the program violates human rights and has called for reforms. Trumps ascension makes these demands more urgent.

In this sense, Trumps election does not necessarily change the strategy of Muslim activists, but it definitely speeds things up and raises frightening possibilities. Advocates are already working to head him off at the pass.

For example, Queens-based Desis Rising Up & MovingSouth Asian Organizing Center (DRUM) has gathered more than 120,000 signatures on a MoveOn.org petition calling on President Obama to dismantle a Bush-era registry program known as the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, or NSEERS. NSEERS was effectively a Muslim registry: It registered immigrants from 25 countries, of which 24 are majority-Muslim. According to DRUM, more than 83,000 Muslim immigrant men and boys were registered and more than 13,000 were entered into deportation proceedings. None were ever connected to any violent activity.

The program was halted, but the framework had not been; the Trump administration was in a position to immediately revive it. Trump adviser Kris Kobach, who helped create NSEERS, had already outlined plans to update and reintroduce it.

We need everyone to pour their energy into making sure President Obama shuts this program down once and for all so that it does not end up in the hands of Donald Trump, wrote DRUM in a statement. These efforts were successful: On Dec. 22, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would remove NSEERS' underlying regulatory structure.

Activists are also bracing for more aggressive anti-Muslim politicking by state and local lawmakers emboldened by Trump. In Tennessee, conservative politicians have already tried to ban Muslim religious practices, block new mosque construction, seize mosques assets and whitewash school curricula by removing references to Islam in social studies units, citing fear of indoctrination.

Muslim activist Paul Galloway, executive director of the American Center for Outreach, says advocates have been able to hold the line in the face of overt bigotry, in part through behind-the-scenes work, but he says the assault likely to come will require more visible and dogged participation by Muslims.

Billoo and Galloway say Muslims dont have toand shouldntgo it alone. They both point to shared struggles with people who are Black, Latino, Native American, undocumented and LGBTQ. Building awareness of these identities within the Muslim community, as well as strengthening relationships with advocacy groups outside it, can lead to the meaningful solidarity needed to challenge the Trump administration.

If you think of this big group that white supremacy targets, we are not that small, says Namira Islam, executive director of the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative. If you come after one of us, youre going to have to come after all of us.

Kalia Abiade is program director at the Pillars Fund, a social investment fund to create and expand opportunities for U.S. Muslims.
By Abhirup Roy and Euan Rocha

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The bitter boardroom battle at the heart of Tata Sons has put a spotlight on the vulnerability of India's independent company directors who stand-up to, or take on a dominant shareholder.

Tata Sons is not only fighting former chairman Cyrus Mistry, who has complained of mismanagement and corporate governance failures within the company, but is now also trying to oust Nusli Wadia - one of the group's most fiercely vocal independent directors - after he publicly backed Mistry.

While Mistry has resigned from all listed Tata entities, Wadia was removed from the board of Tata Steel and Tata Motors this week. Tata Chemicals will vote on Wadia's ouster on Friday.

Such corporate infighting is not rampant in India, but the latest events could set a dangerous precedent, suggesting an urgent need to relook at the role of independent company directors in the country, experts say.

"What is at stake right now is not an independent director. What is at stake is the independence of independent directors," said L. Iyer of LVV Iyer & Associates.

"If independent directors are under constant threat of being removed ... why would they act in an independent manner?"

In developed markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, independent directors are relatively protected as shareholdings are much more diffused. But in India, listed firms are dominated by a major shareholder, making it easier for the latter to stamp out dissenting independent voices.

Of the 1,594 listed and actively traded firms on India's main bourse, some 88 percent have dominant shareholders with 30-80 percent stakes, data from Prime Database shows.

TEST CASE

Tata Sons is the single-largest shareholder in the group companies where Wadia was an independent director. Mistry's Shapoorji Pallonji family owns about 18 percent of Tata Sons.

To oust Wadia from Tata Steel and Tata Motors, all Tata Sons needed to do was call for a special shareholder meeting and win a simple majority vote. The dominant shareholder, who is calling for the removal, is not barred from voting on the issue.

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"I think this particular case will be effectively the test case for how robust the regime (India's company law) is or whether any further changes need to be made to it," said Umakanth Varottil, an associate law professor at National University of Singapore.

India's market regulator SEBI, however, said there was no immediate need to change the norms around independent directors.

"I, at this stage, don't foresee any particular compelling reason to review that," Chairman UK Sinha has said.

India has only recently moved to recognise the role and the significance of independent directors. The function was formally introduced into the Companies Act 2013.

The law details the duties of independents - from looking after interests of minority shareholders to scrutinising management performance and providing objective views on strategy decisions and other matters.

"The institution of independent directors in India is quite nascent, so if you allow independence to be compromised at this stage, then things can go wrong," said Iyer.

(Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Editors Note: This story originally ran on Dec. 23. Hell or High Water currently counts four Oscar nominations including best picture and an original screenplay nod for Taylor Sheridan. After drug war noir Sicario made enormous waves at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival into last years awards season, you could feel that Taylor Sheridan, a Sons of Anarchy actor-turned-scribe, was bound to repeat his success all over again with this years CBS Films/Lionsgate movie Hell or High Water.

To date, Hell or High Water racked up three Golden Globe nominations for best drama, Sheridans screenplay and supporting actor Jeff Bridges who plays a crusty Texas Ranger in the twilight of his career. Bridges, who collected a best actor Oscar for the 2010 title Crazy Heart, also has a Screen Actors Guild supporting actor nomination under his belt for Hell or High Water.

On the Croisette, the revisionist western sparked laughs and hit a nerve in echoing the years political landscape stateside. Sheridan, a native of Waco, Texas, didnt have his mind set to direct Hell or High Waterthat role fell to Scottish helmer David Mackenzie. But the film is part of a modern day American trilogy including Sheridans Wind River, which he directed and is making its world premiere next month at the Sundance Film Festival. Starring Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and Jon Bernthal, Wind River follows a FBI agent who teams with a towns game tracker to solve a murder that occurred on a Native American reservation.

Tell us about getting Hell or High Water mounted.

Taylor Sheridan: I wrote Sicario first. I sent Hell or High Water to Peter Berg, asking if hed like to be involved. He did a phenomenal job with [West Texas fare] like Friday Night Lights, both the film and the TV series. He really responded and took to scouting locations. His schedule didnt permit him to direct. We found ourselves in a competitive situation with a bunch of finance companies bidding for it. It was Sidney Kimmel who said hed shoot my first draft. It was a decision that was made alarmingly fast.

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What took a long time was finding the right director, and ultimately we found David. Id seen his film Starred Up and he had an authenticity. That movie follows a father and son who wind up in the same prison together. Hes an unsentimental director, and hes patient with the camera in a way that doesnt feel slow. And I felt there were important moments in Hell or High Water that could be overly sentimental, such as between Marcus and Albertos friendship, and when Toby meets his ex-wife, or goes to sit with his son. Theres a lot of landmines, and David effortlessly stepped around them. David boarded and we cast the film quickly.

Theres something about European directors where theyre able to look at something American through unique eyes; they dont have a dog in this fight. I didnt want this movie to be political in any way; rather, social.

David Mackenzie: Taylors script was love at first sight. I loved the way it moved, the sense of place and people and its connection to the great movies of the 1970s that I really loved. But it also felt like it was a snapshot of contemporary America with resonance of the past, a slightly poetic song to the change of the Old West. I wasnt trying to be an outsider, but an amateur American. I wanted to embrace and respect this world we were trying to represent.

Taylor, your uncle was a lawman like Jeff Bridges Marcus character.

Sheridan: He was a federal marshal. They have a mandatory retirement age. The day before his, he was kicking in the door and serving a warrant, then turning in his badge and gun. That was fascinating to me, that all of the sudden your life has no purpose.

The fact that Pine and Fosters bank robbers steal from one chain in the movie where did you draw inspiration for that?

Sheridan: I was driving through these small towns in Texas and every town had a bank and a cafe with nothing else to do. Everything else was closed. And I said to myself, Why is there still a bank? Well, obviously they needed to deposit oil royalties. I thought, someone can rob this place blind. Theres only two county sheriffs in an area thats the size of greater Los Angeles. I then worked through in my mind the cycle of poverty, by robbing the people who legally robbed from you. I watched as the recession hit, and there was anger, and I allowed that to manifest.

The films opening tracking shot is pretty stunning. Where did the idea for that come from?

Mackenzie: On the very first day of shooting, it was the very first shot. I tried to shoot the outlaws sequentially. But the shot was trying to set up the scope of the world, and some kind of tension as youre moving through this landscape. I tried to do a lot in fairly long takes. Its important that the pace of the film be what it is.

As an outsider, to come into an uncluttered landscape [like West Texas], felt very beautiful to me and my DP, Giles Nuttgens. Weve worked on five films that Ive done. For us its a beautiful place, and for some people in America, they would think its normal and slightly depressing.

Sheridan: I dont write tracking shots in my screenplays or any camera directions, but I do try to give a sense of how the action is moving. David came up with the method of weaving and he shot it on the back of a motorcycle.

Tell us about Wind River.



Sheridan: Its a deeply personal story, but its not drawn from anything specific in my past. Theres a theme between all three of these moviesSicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind Riverthats about fatherhood at the end of the day; the sojourns of a father. When you become a new father, there are things that terrify you. I look at that more acutely in Wind River.

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An Idaho teen was killed after the snowmobile he and his cousin were on careened off a ravine, fatally hitting the boy in the head as it plummeted down the steep drop, his heartbroken family told InsideEdition.com.

Logan Billman, 14, was off from school when he suggested to his 15-year-old cousin and best friend, Wyatt Billman, that they go on a snowmobile ride behind their homes in the foothills of Idaho Falls Monday.

They didnt think they would be gone long, so neither bothered with helmets, but the pair decided to make their way to a water tower about four miles from their homes.

They take off for the water tower... and youve got to go through some dips and ravines  they dont normally go to this spot [in the winter], James Billman, Wyatts father and Logans uncle, told InsideEdition.com. And when they were coming back, it was just before dark and visibility wasnt super great. Wyatt said the snow machine had been acting up  and all of a sudden they just shot off of this ravine, 30 feet in the air.

Wyatt, who had been driving, jumped off the machine as it fell and yelled at Logan to do the same. Logan fell to the ground and Wyatt landed further down the hill, in front of the snowmobile, East Idaho News first reported.

Read: Boy and Girl, Both 12, Die After Falling Through Ice on Frozen-Over Pond

He tucked and rolled, he told me Dad, I could hear the snow machine coming but I couldnt bear to look up. It landed on his leg and grazed his head and then bounced over top of him, Billman said. He started yelling for Logan and saw him up the hill. He was unconscious and bleeding pretty bad.

Wyatt called 911 and directed emergency responders to their location the best he could, but it was a remote area and it took paramedics about 45 minutes to reach the boys, Billman said.

In the meantime, Wyatt performed CPR on his cousin and tried to keep him warm, but Logan had suffered a severe head injury.

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He was riding behind Wyatt  and I think as he was going off the back, the snow machine was coming up, and it hit Logan in the head before he even hit the ground, Billman said.

Logan was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just six days before Christmas.

The snowmobile landed about 520 feet down the ravine and was destroyed.

Wyatt was not seriously harmed in the crash.

Everyones telling me how proud I should be of Wyatt and how lucky we are, Billman said, noting authorities said his son had a one in 100 shot of coming out of such an accident unscathed. Wyatt did everything he could for his cousin. I think he went through a lot with Logan for those 45 minutes. I know hes going to beat himself up pretty bad; he always looked out for Logan. They were just best buddies.

The accident came only days after a thief cut the lock on a trailer that Logans parents were using to store the familys Christmas presents and made off with the haul.

Its just kind of been one thing after another, Billman said. But our community had really stepped up.

Since the tragedy, neighbors and members of the Billman familys church have come together to show their support, cooking, buying Christmas presents and donating money through GoFundMe to help pay for Logans funeral and medical expenses, he said.

To visit Logan's GoFundMe page to make a donation, click here.

Read: Woman Dies After Broken Snowmobiles Leave Family Stranded in Wyoming Wilderness

My brother had a couple tires put on his truck, and when I went to pick it up and pay, the guy just said this ones on us. Different little things like that... There are a lot of good people that have stepped up, Billman said.

Logan will be laid to rest on Friday. On Saturday, they will come together to try to celebrate Christmas as best they can, just as Logan would have wanted.

Logan was one of those kids who lived life 100 miles per hour, all the time, Billman said. He always had a smile on his face, and anytime Id ask him to help out with this or that, hed help out with anything.

A natural born adventurer, Logan died doing what he loved most, being in the mountains, his obituary said.

Any chance he got, hed jump on a four wheeler or a motorcycle or hed jump on a horse. He wasnt ever really afraid of much, Billman said.

He also had a gentle side.

If there were ever little kids around, hed be the one giving them piggy back ridesif you didnt know where Logan was, all you had to do was find the little kids and there he was, Billman said. "He was a really, really good kid. You dont realize how much youre going to miss somebody until theyre gone."

Watch: College Athlete Killed in Car Accident While Driving to His Friend's Funeral

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Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice will celebrate her first Christmas without husband Joe.

A source told Us Weekly that Teresa is going to spend Christmas eve with the Gorgas  Teresas brother Joe Gorga and his wife Melissa Gorga  and Christmas day with the Giudices.

The reality star, who usually hosts Christmas eve parties at her house, is skipping it this year because she did not want to spend the holiday at home without Joe. Being home is just kind of going to be sad, Teresa said, adding, so I didnt want to be home.

Celebrating the holiday season while her husband is serving time for fraud charges is tough for Teresa, but shes putting on a brave face for her children, Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audrina, according to a source. If Teresa is sad, shes not showing it, the source said. She always talks about how she misses Joe, but never lets her kids or any of her friends see it.

Teresa also reportedly keeps in touch with Joe all the time via email. Speaking to Extra, the reality star said: I talk to him every day, sometimes twice a day. He calls me and we email constantly throughout the day, and I see him every week.

Teresa has also been working on keeping her and Joes kids busy while the latter is finishing his 41-month sentence. The reality star also said that theyre looking at Joes time away from the perspective of people who have loved ones serving in the military.

I think about it like theres people in the military that are not there for everything, Teresa told People about her childrens relationship with their father. Of course he would be there if he could as long as we have our health, thats all that matters. When you have your health, you have everything.

Teresa Giudice

Photo: Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

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A Texas father has been arrested in the double-murder of his wife and infant son, who were found dead Dec. 15 with their throats slit, PEOPLE confirms.

A Fort Worth police press release states Craig Vandewege was arrested in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Wednesday for allegedly speeding and not having proof of insurance after a citizen told police he was acting suspiciously.

On Dec. 15, Fort Worth police found the dead bodies of Shanna Vandewege, 36, and the couples 3-month-old son, Diederick, in the master bedroom with apparent knife wounds to their necks, authorities have said. They died from having their necks cut, and their deaths were ruled homicides, a Tarrant County Medical Examiners office spokeswoman told PEOPLE.

Upon arrival to the scene, officers found Vandewege on the front walkway crouched down with his face in his hands, according to the release.

Homicide detectives subsequently interviewed Vandegege about the slayings, but Vandewege denied any knowledge of this heinous offense, the release states.

During an interview with Fort Worth police on Monday, Vandewege said he wanted to speak with his attorney before speaking to investigators further, but he had not been in touch with police subsequently, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

At the time of his arrest in Colorado, Fort Worth authorities had prepared an arrest warrant for capital murder. According to the Star-Telegram, Vandewege was in the process of bonding out of jail in Colorado when local authorities were notified of his warrant in Texas.

Shanna, Craig, and Diederick VandewegeGoFundMe

 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.

According to an arrest report obtained by the Star-Telegram, Vandewege allegedly told the officer who pulled him over that he was going to Las Vegas, and said, Its been a long week, my wife and kids were murdered in Texas.

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The arrest report alleges Vandewege refused police instructions to exit his vehicle over a five-minute period.

It also alleges that officers found a wedding band in Vandeweges pocket along with numerous condoms.

Victim Wanted a Family Since She Was a Little Girl

Shanna Vandeweges friends told PEOPLE she and Craig had moved from Colorado in May after Craig got a promotion at work.

Shanna was a registered nurse at a nearby hospital but was on maternity leave, friends tell PEOPLE.

In an email to PEOPLE, childhood friend Monica Vance wrote, She had wanted a family since she was a little girl. She planned it out, including names, before she was 12.

 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.

Longtime friend Cindy Prevatt wrote in an email to PEOPLE, Shanna was wonderful, adding, I can not think of one single thing that she ever did wrong. We are heartbroken, confused and angry.

Mark Riddle, Shannas father, told ABC8 that the couple had three miscarriages prior to having a baby.

Vandeweges attorney, Leslie Barrows, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

 With reporting by HARRIET SOKMENSUER




Several states voted to legalize marijuana this past Election Day but the pot business still has a griperegulations.

Though decriminalized on some level in 19 states and the District of Columbia (it remains illegal under federal law), marijuana is still subject to regulations that strike some in the industry as micromanagement.

One company that tracks regulations is Cannabiz Media, which publishes the Marijuana Licensing Reference Guide. It recently posted a list of what it describes as the 10 weirdest marijuana laws. For example, in Nevada and Oregon, signage for businesses that sell pot is regulated down to the font size and even font style. Connecticut bans the uses of illuminated signs while Washington, DC, makes it a point to outlaw the sale of pot at gasoline stations or auto repair shops.

Ed Keating, the person who compiled the list, sees such regulations as more than just a nuisance, particularly for medical marijuana dispensaries.

Its really hard to comply with these regulations because they are so particular and, in some cases, they just dont seem to make a lot of sense, he said. If youre a business trying to get medicine to your patients some of these regulations are very expensive to comply with.

However, Keating isnt entirely against regulations and argues that some control would be in the industrys best interests.

In a lot of states now, theyre starting to put what an appropriate dosage or amount is to consume, he said, noting that Maureen Dowds 2014 New York Times piece on her overdose of marijuana-infused chocolates showed the dangers of no labeling. That makes a lot of sense for safety.

The other area that has seen a lot of regulatory scrutiny is testing because they want to make sure that if people are consuming this as medicineor even recreationallytheyre given a safe product, he continued. Where it gets dangerous is when people concentrate that product into a liquid, an oil. Youre raising the concentration of everything. So if there are bad chemicals in there, they get much more concentrated and it could be a danger to people. So I think well be seeing even more regulations there.
- By Holly LaFon





Dear Fellow Shareholders,

As we wrote to you in our letter dated November 29, 2016, the Third Avenue Focused Credit Fund (the "Fund" or "FCF") recently paid its fourth liquidating distribution. Fund management has continued the orderly wind down of FCF and cumulative distributions now account for approximately 40% of the Fund's total assets since FCF announced its plan of liquidation on December 9, 2015.





Portfolio Commentary

As of this writing, it has been approximately one year since we began the wind down of the Fund. I would like to share some mileposts we have been able to achieve in this year. As mentioned above, we have distributed approximately 40% of the Fund's assets and after continued sales of securities we now have about 10% cash in the Fund. The number of investments (issuers) is down from 35 to 19. Six of those names are very small stub positions that collectively total 1.5% of the Fund. The remaining cash and 13 investments represent 98.5% of the Fund's total assets.

In general, there seems to be good news for the business performance of many of our holdings. However, while we believe the underlying fundamentals of most of our investments have been stable to improving, the prices at which these investments have been trading have not consistently reflected this view. Below is a summary of where we are one year later.

Current (12/9/2016) NAV per share: $3.93000

12/16/2015 $0.58613

6/15/2016 $0.54362

11/8/2016 $0.25463

11/29/2016 $1.18829

Total Liquidating Distributions: $2.57267

Current NAV + Liquidation Distributions $6.50267

12/9/2015 NAV $6.46000

hear Change (difference) $0.04267

As you can see in the table above, NAV on December 9, 2015 was $6.46. At that time, Fund management saw bids for many of our positions at prices that would have unfairly disadvantaged shareholders, which is why we took the steps to suspend redemptions. One year later, the Fund has distributed approximately 40% of its capital and the adjusted NAV is approximately $0.04 more than one year ago. We believe this table supports Fund management's decision to suspend redemptions and suggests that management's decision was, in fact, in the shareholders' best interests. While we cannot predict the future performance of the Fund, we take our responsibility as stewards of your capital seriously and will continue to manage the orderly wind down of the Fund.

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Portfolio Activity

The Fund has been steadily selling assets in a balance of returning capital and realizing fair value. We have sold a majority of the more liquid investments and some of the less liquid ones. iHeart has been reduced from $152mm bonds to $25mm (par). We have been selling the government-sponsored enterprises (Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) but have been able to realize some of the upside from the change in administration and the comments from President-Elect Trump's Treasury nominee, Steven Mnuchin. Two significant cases are still pending that could positively impact prices, along with more details of the Treasury's plans to "get them out of government control... reasonably fast". We continue to sell the Freddie and Fannie preferred holdings in the Fund. Once we finish selling the remaining more liquid investments, the Fund will be left with mostly private equities (and associated debt instruments). Liquidation of these securities will depend on the timing and values of corporate events (M&A / I PO / divestitures/ refinancings, etc.).

Team Update

Currently, the team consists of myself and Joe Zalewski. We believe the current staffing levels are appropriate given the reduced size of the Fund. As I have said in the past, I am also a fellow shareholder in the Fund, and I am committed to the goal of realizing fair values of the remaining portfolio positions, while balancing the timing of returning cash to the Fund's shareholders.

Top Holdings Updatel

Corporate Risk Holdings (formerly Altegrity): 23% weight

In October, Corporate Risk Holdings ("CRH"), our largest position, announced the sale of one of its subsidiaries, Kroll Ontrack to LDiscovery for $410 million. This was the first major asset sale by one of the less liquid companies in our portfolio. The transaction closed on December 9th, and CRH will use the proceeds to pay down secured debt ahead of our investment as required by the bank and bond covenants. We believe the sale was attractively priced and reflects the quality of the business and brands at CRH. The sale has two benefits for our investment. One, it de-risks the investment by deleveraging the company. Second, it begins to realize and validate the valuation in the investment we talked about in our last letter.

CRH still owns two large and growing businesses, HireRight (a commercial background check business) and Kroll Advisory, which focuses on investigations, cyber security, identity theft and compliance. We do not expect a sale of either of these businesses in the near term as current management is continuing to improve operations and performance. We have about 8% of the Fund in the 11.5% second Lien Notes and 15% of the Fund in the equity. We are the largest equity holder and have board representation. The three other large holders are like minded well-regarded distressed managers.

Ideal Standard: 19% weight

Ideal is now publishing its financial results on its website, isi-investor.com, and holding conference calls. Year-to-date EBITDA is up 13% and the most recent financials are improving with third quarter 2016 EBITDA up 30% year over year and margins expanding from 9.3% to 12%. Ideal still remains a highly leveraged investment with high coupon debt, but results seem to be heading in the right direction. The global bathroom fixture and ceramics market is fragmented geographically but has several large players. Ideal has strong brands and market share in the key European markets of UK, Italy, France and Germany and Egypt. The Fund owns B notes, C notes and equity (23% of company). The vast majority of the weight in the investment is in the B and C notes.

Liberty Tire: 15% weight

Liberty's business remains on track, and the company continues to operate well. We are the largest equity holder in the company and we believe it has many options to maximize value. The Fund's ownership is weighted about 5% in the term loan and 10% in the 11% second Lien Notes with zero value allocated to the equity.

Affinion: 3% weight

The company's most recent quarter was in line with our expectations, and we believe the outlook is improving as old business runs off and new business starts to outpace the run off. We are on the board and are the largest equity holder. The company will be looking to address its 2018 maturing capital structure. Refinancing markets have opened up and the company is starting to see results of its new business growth plans going into 2017. All of our position is in the equity. The equity has a very low valuation compared to our future estimates and comparables. Once the balance sheet improves and the results start to turn the corner, the stock may have material upside from here.

iHeart Communications: 2% weight

Prices continue to recover, and we continue to sell opportunistically as part of the Fund's wind down. For the past 12 months, iHeart has been selling down assets and negotiating intracompany transactions which appear to be setting the table for a more holistic solution to rationalizing the company's capital structure. This year, bonds have rallied on these developments as well as the announcement of a bond buyback of a different tranche than the one we own. These events have allowed us to reduce exposure at more attractive levels. We expect to be out of this investment by year end 2016.

Longview Power: 2% weight

The company has operated very well notwithstanding a challenging price environment for electricity and competition from cheap natural gas. After undergoing a massive fix in 2015, the plant has operated with great efficiency and productivity. However, the pricing environment has created disappointing financial results and has restrained the likelihood of any traditional strategic bidders expressing interest this year.

We thank you again for your patience as we work to maximize the value of the portfolio, and we will continue to update you on new developments on the Fund in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

The Third Avenue Focused Credit Team

Please note the Third Avenue Focused Credit Fund ("the Fund") is currently in liquidation. There is no purchase or investment option. Any recommendation contained herein may not be suitable for all investors. Information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, but cannot be guaranteed.

The information in this portfolio manager letter represents the opinions of the individual portfolio manager and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Views expressed are those of the portfolio manager and may differ from those of other portfolio managers or of the firm as a whole.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Large crowds of South Koreans were expected to march in the streets on Saturday, calling for the permanent removal of impeached President Park Geun-hye and extending the historically biggest protest movement in the country to Christmas Eve. The protest comes as a special prosecutor widens an investigation into a corruption scandal surrounding Park, which saw millions of people take to the streets before the country's opposition-controlled parliament on Dec. 9 voted to impeach her. Organizers expected Saturday's rally in Seoul to be festive, but there was tension as Park's conservative supporters planned to gather in nearby streets.

SINGAPORE (AP)  A Singaporean teenager whose video posts and blogs mocking his government and its late founder landed him in jail twice has been detained in the U.S. where he is seeking asylum, his lawyer and a human rights group said Saturday. The Human Rights Watch deputy director for Asia, Phil Robertson, called on the U.S. to recognize Amos Yee's asylum claim, saying he has been consistently harassed by the Singapore government for publicly expressing his views on politics and religion and severely criticizing the city-state's leaders, including late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Yee, 18, was imprisoned for six weeks in September on charges of hurting religious feelings of Christians and Muslims after repeatedly breaching bail conditions following a four-week prison sentence he served in July last year on the same charges.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Kem Ley, a poor rice farmer's son turned champion of Cambodia's have-nots, was sipping his usual iced latte in the same chair he had occupied most mornings for years. Eyewitnesses say a former soldier walked into the Caltex gas station cafe, fired a semi-automatic Glock pistol into his chest and head and casually walked away. Two weeks later, tens of thousands of mourners thronged Phnom Penh's streets to trail the glass casket bearing Kem Ley's body in the largest public rally Cambodia has witnessed in recent times. The funeral march reflected not only grief for the popular government critic, but also anger at a government that this year has decimated opponents through imprisonment, intimidation and, many believe, the still-unresolved killing of Kem Ley.

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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  A Sri Lankan court has acquitted five suspects including three navy personnel who were accused in the shooting death of an outspoken ethnic Tamil lawmaker. Nadaraja Raviraj was shot dead in his car in 2006 during the country's long civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, which ended in 2009. He was an advocate for greater self-rule for minority Tamils and had explained the Tamil perspective of the conflict in Sinhala, the language of the majority. The verdict was delivered by High Court Judge Manilal Waidyatilleke on midnight Friday following the unanimous decision reached by the jury in the monthlong trial.

MIRPUR KHAS, Pakistan (AP)  The mother rummages through a large metal trunk, searching for a picture of her young daughter taken away in the night to be the bride of a man who says the family owed him $1,000. Beneath the blankets, clothes and silver ornaments that she wears with her sari, Ameri Kashi Kohli finds two photos, carefully wrapped in plastic, of her smiling daughters. Ameri tries to remember her daughter Jeevti's age; few of this country's desperately poor have birth certificates. With a grin at a sudden recollection she says, "I remember her sister, my youngest, was born when there was a big earthquake in Pakistan." That was 2005.

BEIJING (AP)  Beijing prosecutors said Friday they had dropped criminal charges against five police officers over the death of a man who died in their custody, a 180-degree turn in a case that has sparked outrage in a country deeply suspicious of police abuse. Six months earlier, the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate, which is responsible for both investigation and prosecution in China's legal system, had declared that police acted "improperly" during the detention of Lei Yang and arrested two officers on charges of negligence. The announcement on social media of the reversal said investigators found that five officers had used excessive force and deliberately sought to cover up Lei's death, but the procuratorate concluded that their actions did not necessarily merit prosecution under Chinese law because they "admitted their crime and showed repentance." The case comes three years after top Communist Party leaders began to declare that they would strengthen the rule of law in China, where top judicial officials openly acknowledge that wrongful convictions are rife and police brutality and torture often result in the shocking miscarriage of justice.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  If Santa Claus stops in North Korea this year, he'll find some trees and lights and might even hear a Christmas song or two. But he won't encounter even a hint of what Christmas actually means  not under a regime that sees foreign religion a very real threat. There are almost no practicing Christians in North Korea. But there used to be. And while the trappings of the holiday season they once celebrated haven't been completely expunged, any connections they had to the birth of Jesus have been thoroughly erased. Take Christmas trees, for example.

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine authorities seized more than half a metric ton of suspected methamphetamine Friday in suburban Manila and arrested six people in what could be one of the largest drug seizures under President Rodrigo Duterte. National Bureau of Investigation agents initially seized about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of the substance, locally known as shabu, in six bags and arrested four Filipinos in a car in the upscale Greenhills residential district, metropolitan Manila police spokeswoman Kimberly Molitas said. Almost simultaneously, other agents raided a nearby house and found about 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of meth and arrested two suspects believed to be Chinese.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A high-profile North Korean defector told South Korean lawmakers on Friday that the massive protests that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye still feel strange to him but he sees the demonstrations as the country's strength. Thae Yong Ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to London, said in a closed-door briefing to lawmakers that he was impressed with the South's democracy because its government continued to function despite the protests, according to the office of Lee Cheol Woo, one of the legislators who attended the event. Thae also saw as remarkable that powerful individuals linked to the scandal that brought down Park were grilled by lawmakers on live TV, Lee's office said.

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Police in Australia have detained five men suspected of planning a series of Christmas Day attacks using explosives, knives and a gun in the heart of the country's second-largest city, officials said Friday. The suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street train station, neighboring Federation Square, a fashionable bar and restaurant precinct, and St. Paul's Cathedral, an Anglican church, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said. He said they had been plotting the attack for three weeks. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was one of the most substantial plots that have been disrupted over the last several years.
On the evening of Nov. 8, 2016, I was near an East Oakland polling site with a group of BYP100 members, talking with voters about the propositions on the ballot. It wasnt until late that evening that I checked the election results and learned that America had elected as president a neofascist who has promoted xenophobia, condoned the racist violence of his supporters and threatened to put even more police on the streets of Black communities. Since then, Trump has nominated as attorney general Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who in 1986 was denied a federal judgeship because of his racist views, who has called the Voting Rights Act intrusive and who is likely to oppose even the most minor reforms to the criminal justice system.

Facing outright antagonism from a federal government, the Movement for Black Lives must continue to seek solutions that dont rely on the state. We are already building community-based infrastructure to address each others needswe have always had to. We can learn from projects like Freedom Square, the #LetUsBreathe Collectives 41-day reclamation of land on Chicagos West Side that fed hundreds of neighborhood residents and addressed conflict without police involvement.

Under Trump, our movements are under threat. He has effectively promised to criminalize dissent, proposing to expand libel laws and suggesting to Bill OReilly this past July that his attorney general would investigate Black Lives Matter. On Twitter, he wondered if burning the U.S. flag should have consequencesperhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail. Whether or not he follows through on his threats, the message to organizers is clear.

Trump has tried to implement a divide-and-conquer strategy. His New Deal for Black America argues that our communities are harmed by illegal immigration. He has attempted to sow division in Black communities by targeting people with criminal records, whom he promises to remove  from our neighborhoods.

In response, some liberals and leftists have called for abandoning identity politicscode for their belief that addressing structural racism is not a priority. Many call for unity, but such sweeping rhetoric too often suggests generalized solutions and visions that leave out the most marginalized. Indeed, the Movement for Black Lives is in many ways Black folks response to being left out of other movements. Some sectors of the white Left, for example, do not see ending deportations, racial violence, police occupation of Black communities and mass incarceration as being at the center of economic justice work. Anti-Blackness permeates even people of color spaces that are too often constructed around narratives of oppression and colonization, without regard for Black peoples particular history of chattel slavery, displacement and state violence.

Our strategy must be one that addresses, rather than glosses over, the diversity of identity and experience within and across our communities. We must understand who specifically is under threat and how. This means organizing within our own communities first: Those of us in Black communities should be actively dispelling the targeted myths put forth by Trump about undocumented immigrants; those in immigrant communities should be working to break down racialized notions of criminality; and white folks must be organizing other white people in cities, suburban towns and rural areas to confront both racial oppression and Trumps lies.

For a model, we can look to the asambleas popularespopular assembliesbeing hosted by immigrant justice organizations across the country. In these spaces, families, community members and activists educate themselves politically, learn new skills from one another and explore the intersections between their experiences and those of others.

It is in spaces like these that we can collect our cousins, so to speak, and begin building the better world that we know wont be provided by the state.

Asha Rosa Ransby-Sporn is a national organizing co-chair for BYP100, an organization of Black 18- to 35-year-olds that organizes through a Black queer feminist lens.
UPDATED: 1:59 p.m. EST  Gov. Andrew Cuomo responded to statements made by Donald Trump's New York campaign chair, Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino.

"Paladino has a long history of racist and incendiary comments. While most New Yorkers know Mr. Paladino is not to be taken seriously, as his erratic behavior defies any rational analysis and he has no credibility, his words are still jarring," Cuomo said in a statement. "His remarks do not reflect the sentiments or opinions of any real New Yorker and he has embarrassed the good people of the state with his latest hate-filled rage."

Paladino told a local Buffalo newspaper Thursday that he'd like to see President Barack Obama die of mad cow disease and wished for Michelle Obama to "return to being a male" and live alongside a gorilla.

Original story: Controversial businessman and political activist Carl Paladino had some shocking words for newspaper reporters about the presidential family when asked what hed like to see happen in 2017. An alternative weekly newspaper in Buffalo, New York, asked Paladino and other locals what they hoped would occur in the new year.

Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford, Paladino said Thursday. He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.

When asked who he would most like to see go in 2017 Paladino responded: Michelle Obama. Id like to see her return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.

Paladino, 70, confirmed to the Buffalo News that he made the comments before saying to news editors, Tell them all to go f--- themselves.

He continued: Yeah, Im not politically correct. They asked what I want and I told them.

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RTR3JIPP

Photo: Reuters

Paladino is the CEO of Buffalo real estate company the Ellicott Development Company, which he founded in 1973. Hes also battled for interests in local governments, according to his website, and sits on the Buffalo school board. The businessman was also Donald Trump's New York campaign chair. He met with Trump Monday and spent an hour speaking with the president-elect.

I think I will have an ongoing ability to make recommendations, Paladino said after his meeting, according to the Buffalo News. They discussed Trumps campaign in New York, possible government appointees, and who might advise Trump, he said. Paladino also said hed be open to taking a role in the new administration, though so far, he had not been offered one.

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Washington (AFP) - President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he had asked Boeing to provide a price estimate for a new F-18 fighter jet, after bemoaning the soaring costs of Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter.

"Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Trump tweeted.

His message came the day after he met with some of the US military's top brass to discuss ways of reducing costs, particularly for the F-35 program.

Trump also met with Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson and Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

With a current development and acquisition price tag already at $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most of them destined for the Air Force -- the F-35 is the most expensive plane in history, and costs are set to go higher still.

Once servicing, maintenance and other costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs have been projected to rise to as much as $1.5 trillion.

The next-generation F-35 fighter has been under development since 2001 and both the US Marine Corps and the Air Force have already taken delivery of some of their first planes.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet does not have stealth capabilities and has been in use since the late 1990s.

Proponents of the F-35 tout its speed, close air-support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. One version boasts short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.

Lockheed Martin describes the plane's stealth capabilities as unprecedented, allowing it to evade the most sophisticated missile systems.

Trump last week tweeted that F-35 program costs were "out of control." He has also blasted Boeing over the costs for the replacement Air Force One presidential jet.

Lockheed was down 1.90 percent at $248.00 in after-hours trading at 22:45 GMT, while Boeing was up 0.82 percent at $158.75
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday appeared to signal that he is open to a new nuclear arms race. His soon-to-be counterpart in Russia, President Vladimir Putin, said that if one has begun, it wasnt the Kremlin that started it.

The two statements kicked off a second day of anxious theorizing about what role the two men believe nuclear weapons will play on the international stage in coming years.

Related: Was Trumps Nuclear Tweet a Poke at Putin?

The issue came to the publics attention Thursday, when Putin delivered a speech to the Kremlins Defense Ministry Board in which he vowed to continue Russias massive investment in upgrading its military. He said, in part, We need to enhance the combat capability of strategic nuclear forces, primarily by strengthening missile complexes that will be guaranteed to penetrate existing and future missile defense systems.

It wasnt precisely clear what he meant by strengthening missile complexes (language that the Kremlin provided in its own translation of the speech into English.) But the remarks could be read as a reference to an expansion of Russias nuclear arsenal -- something that both the U.S. and Russia have avoided doing for the most part since the Reagan administration.

Trump responded with an equally vague statement, delivered on Twitter: The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

In a wide-ranging, four-hour press conference on Friday, Putin returned to the topic of nuclear weapons and was asked about the possibility of reviving the arms race that defined the Cold War era. He said that if a new arms race occurs, or indeed if one has already started, it will be due to the George W. Bush administrations decision to pull out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty with Russia in 2002.

Related: Russian State Media Warns that Trump Is Facing a Coup dEtat

The Bush administrations controversial decision to withdraw was made, officials said, because the country needed to be able to develop an effective nuclear shield against attacks from rogue states that were not a party to the treaty.

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When one party unilaterally withdrew from the treaty and said it was going to create an anti-nuclear umbrella, the other party has to either create a similar umbrella  the necessity of which we are not sure about, considering its questionable efficiency  or create effective ways to overcome this anti-ballistic missile system and improve its strike capabilities, Putin said Friday.

While Russia is upgrading its nuclear capabilities, he denied that doing so constitutes an arms race. If anyone is unleashing an arms race, it's not us ... We will never spend resources on an arms race that we can't afford.

He claimed that the United States is upgrading tactical nuclear weapons in several NATO countries, saying to a BBC reporter, I hope that your program audiences and Internet users know about that.

Related: Team Trump Is Singing from Putins Songbook on DNC Hacks

Not long afterward, Trump delivered another statement on nuclear weapons, this time through television host Mika Brzezinski, on the MSNBC program Morning Joe. Brzezinski said that she had spoken with Trump Friday morning and that the president-elect told her he wasnt worried about an arms race -- not because he doesnt believe it will happen, but because he believes the U.S. would win it.

Let it be an arms race, he told her, Brzezinski said. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

Later, Sean Spicer, the incoming White House press secretary, struggled to push back against the idea that his boss was blithely inviting nuclear proliferation.

He told NBC host Matt Lauer that there wont be an arms race, but that other countries need to be put on notice that he is not going to sit back and allow them to undermine our safety, our sovereignty ... He is going to match other countries and take action.

When Lauer pointed out that matching other countries advances in weaponry is practically the definition of an arms race, Spicer again insisted that nothing like that was going to happen, because Trump is going to ensure that other countries get the message he is not going to sit back and allow that ... Whats going to happen is they will all come to their senses and we will all be just fine.

Perhaps concerned that all the discussion about nuclear weapons was making people nervous, the Trump transition team late Friday morning, released a letter that Putin sent to Trump. Dated December 15, it offers holiday greetings and notes that relations between Russia and the U.S. remain an important factor in ensuring security and stability of the modern world.

It continues, I hope that after you assume the position of the President of the United States of America we will be ableby acting in a constructive and pragmatic mannerto take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.

In a brief statement, Trump called it a very nice letter and said, [H]is thoughts are so correct. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path."

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Well, look at that. Donald Trump just wrote a Nuclear Posture Review in 140 characters.

The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

It was a tight fit. Trump had to use every single one of those 140 characters. There was not even room for a period to punctuate the sentence. Or for an emoji. Thats too bad. I think a



would have really summarized the sentiment.

As we collectively freak out about an apparent promise to increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal, I think we are misreading Trump.

The context of the tweet is clearly the series of meetings he had at his Mar-a-Lago resort. You see, Trump invited a glittering gaggle of generals and admirals  I met some really great Air Force GENERALS and Navy ADMIRALS today  Very impressive people!  to discuss reducing the costs of various defense programs. (Yes, Trump invited the brass to his 128-room Palm Beach mansion to discuss the importance of economizing.)

Trumps primary target appears to be the F-35 program. Hes now tweeting about replacing the F-35 with an F/A-18 buy. In this context, Trumps comment about greatly expanding and strengthening U.S. nuclear capabilities is more about not cutting them than evidence of any well-thought-out plan to grow the nuclear stockpile.

Of course, Trump will now double down on what he said. When he was told his efforts to shake down Japan and South Korea would lead them to build a bomb, Trump said Tokyo and Seoul could enjoy themselves. Now hes reportedly responding to warnings that hes starting an arms race by saying, Let it be an arms race. He never cops to saying the wrong thing.

But its the F-35 that is Trumps target. And The Donald wants us to know his apparent concern about the cost of certain military systems does not extend to the nuclear triad.

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And why should it? When Trump talks about nuclear weapons, he has a tendency to enviously describe Vladimir Putins nuclear force. Remember that bit about Russias nuclear being tippy top? Its clear to me that, for Trump, one of the great perks of being president is having his stubby little finger on the button of a great and glorious nuclear arsenal. For Trump, the bomb serves the same function as Mar-a-Lago or a trophy wife. The ability to end the world in a matter of minutes is the ultimate status symbol. Sure, he might be asking Boeing for a deal on Air Force One or trying to wring some savings on the F-35, but when it comes to his personal luxuries, The Donald spares no expense.

And thus the tweet. But it is an interesting question whether Trump could, if he wanted, greatly strengthen and expand [U.S.] nuclear capability.

The United States is attempting to replace all three legs of its strategic triad of nuclear forces: bombers, ballistic missile submarines, and land-based intercontinental-range ballistic missiles. These programs include the new B-21 bomber, a new cruise missile called the LRSO, the Columbia-class submarine, and nascent plans for a new ground-based strategic deterrent. Also, I should note that the United States is modernizing the delivery system for its sole tactical nuclear weapons capability  by purchasing the F-35. Yup. The one Trump wants to cut.

Along with some colleagues at the Middlebury Institute, we added up the official estimates for the full cost of all these programs and got something like $1 trillion. Former Defense Secretary William Perry thinks were right, but if you dont like that number its OK. The Congressional Budget Office calculated the costs at a mere $348 billion over the next 10 years, which is right before we think the really big expenses kick in.

As I have warned, the problem isnt $1 trillion averaged over something like 25 or 30 years. Its what defense officials are calling the modernization mountain  a period of very high expenditures during the late 2020s.

Trump might think that modernizing the deterrent is like renovating a dilapidated mansion or building a casino, but its far more complicated than that. Modernizing the nuclear deterrent requires a stunning level of project management  simultaneously executing multiple defense programs that must remain on schedule and on budget over several decades.

The existing force of bombers, submarines, and missiles is set to reach the end of its operational lifespan at about the same time. That means the United States must replace, more or less simultaneously, all three legs of the U.S. nuclear triad. If these replacement programs go over budget and fall behind schedule, it means the number of U.S. nuclear weapons will start to fall as systems age out before their replacements are ready. So theres some real need here.

But plenty of Pentagon officials worry that the modernization of nuclear systems will start to choke other priorities. There are plenty of signs that the Navy and Air Force realize this, which is why both have pushed to move spending on nuclear systems out of their service budgets into a separate bucket. Its also why officials like Brian McKeon, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, joked that Obama administration officials had no idea how to pay for planned modernization and were thanking our stars we wont be here to have to answer the question.

The problem isnt, as Republicans allege, that Obama is not dedicated to spending what it takes. The problem is that the current modernization plan, as implied by the promises made to win Senate ratification of the New START treaty, is an unexecutable political commitment that neither Obama nor his opponents in Congress have had the courage to face squarely. If the metaphor is a modernization mountain, then my prediction is that the story ends like Jon Krakauers Into Thin Air. There is a moment when the climbers realize that they cant summit Everest in time to avoid the storm. And yet they keep going. For the most part, they pay for it with their lives.

Were now at the same point, realizing just how far we are from the mountains summit and how the fiscal winds have shifted against us. This summer, I wrote, The Obama administration might not be in office when the bills come due, but someone will. I had hopes that Hillary Clinton would have to make the hard choices about where to modernize and where to economize, but some number of my fellow citizens disagreed. And Trumps tweet shows he plans to keep charging up the mountain, even as the storm clouds gather.

Photo credit: DREW ANGERER/Getty Images
Washington (AFP) - It was once conventional wisdom in Washington that the prospect of assuming command of US foreign relations would force Donald Trump to tone down the shoot-from-the-hip style of his campaign.

Instead, undaunted, he has ploughed on as before, breaking diplomatic taboos, trampling on the prerogatives of the sitting president and unsettling America's friends and foes alike.

As his January 20 inauguration approaches, in a near daily stream of unexpected Twitter outbursts and brief statements from his transition team, he has shaken up several delicate diplomatic dossiers.

Nuclear arms

On Thursday, Trump launched a solo bid to restart the Cold War arms race, Tweeting: "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

His team of advisers scrambled to insist he was not about to reverse Washington's long-standing but slow-moving commitment to arms reduction and non-proliferation treaties.

Outgoing US leader President Barack Obama won a Nobel Prize for his vision, expressed in a famous 2009 speech in Prague, of a world without nuclear weapons. Trump threw it out in fewer than 140 characters.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israel spotted a threat: A motion is before the United Nations Security Council to condemn its building of settlements on occupied Palestinian land. Who does it turn to?

Traditionally, the United States has shielded Israel from UN criticism, but all the signs are that Obama -- frustrated at the failure of the Middle East peace process -- is tempted to abstain on the latest resolution.

In jumps Donald Trump.

At Israel's request, Trump persuaded Egypt to withdraw the motion from Thursday's order of business. Four more countries brought it back on Friday, and it was no clear what the United States would do. But Trump has made his own position clear.

"The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed," he said.

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"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations."

China

There can few more delicate relationships in international affairs than that between the two greatest powers, glowering at each other over the Pacific, the United States and China.

For four decades Washington's stance towards the Asian giant has been determined by the framework agreed by president Richard Nixon on his famous opening to Beijing: "One China."

So, while Washington arms Taiwan and enjoys treaty alliances with the South East Asian nations that dispute China's claim on the South China Sea, it does not overtly challenge Beijing's core interests.

Until now.

"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," Trump said last week, after earlier breaking with establish protocol by accepting a call from Taiwan's president.

Russia

Throughout his campaign, Trump expressed sympathy for the idea of warmer ties with President Vladimir Putin's Russia, while calling for Moscow and Washington to work together to defeat the Islamic State jihadist group.

He has picked a national security adviser and a secretary of state who know the Kremlin strongman personally, and he has attacked US intelligence for daring to suggest that Russian hackers tried to interfere in the US election.

On Friday, his reward came in the form of a "very nice" letter from Putin, suggesting closer ties.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President-elect Donald Trump's call with Taiwan's leader was either a well-coordinated warning shot to China or a harmless congratulatory conversation. His provocative campaign proposal for temporarily halting Muslim immigration to the United States may or may not be back on the table.

And his stance on nuclear weapons? Trump said Thursday that he wants to "greatly strengthen and expand" U.S. nuclear capabilities, without offering any detail about what that would entail.

As Trump shapes his policy agenda ahead of next month's inauguration, he is trafficking in the same ambiguity that was a hallmark of his presidential campaign. The strategy proved useful to Trump as a candidate, keeping his rivals off balance and allowing voters of varying ideological persuasions to draw their own conclusions from his remarks.

"President-elect Trump has so far taken so many stands on so many issues so ambiguously that he's hard to hold to account," said Anthony Cordesman, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "And that's not a criticism."

As president, ambiguity is a high-risk doctrine, particularly on foreign policy matters. For every adversary Trump may try to keep on edge, he could engender confusion and anxiety from allies that rely on clarity and stability from the United States. Mixed messages from Washington could also provoke an unintended response from abroad with wide-ranging economic or security implications.

"It's one thing to be ambiguous to set our adversaries or those we have to leverage or negotiate with on their heels," said Benjamin Chang, who worked as a foreign service officer in the Obama, George W. Bush and Clinton administrations. "But what does it do to our allies that rely on us?"

Trump promised throughout the campaign that he would be a more "unpredictable" commander in chief, accusing President Barack Obama of forecasting his strategy to American enemies.

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"We are totally predictable," Trump said during a foreign policy address in April. "We tell everything. We're sending troops? We tell them. We're sending something else? We have a news conference. We have to be unpredictable, and we have to be unpredictable starting now."

Whether Trump's hazy and contradictory statements are part of a calculated strategy or signal his inexperience on international issues will be one of the central questions hanging over the first months of his presidency. The questions will only grow if he continues to deliver many of his pronouncements on Twitter and does not flesh out details in news conferences or policy briefings.

Trump has not held a news conference since winning the election more than a month ago.

It was Trump's call with Taiwan's president that seemed to leave little doubt he planned to keep up his freewheeling campaign style as he tackles major issues in the White House. The call thrust Trump into the center of one of Asia's most delicate diplomatic issues and prompted speculation that he might sever Washington's long-standing "One China" policy, which acknowledges Beijing considers Taiwan its territory.

Weeks later, Trump's goal in taking the call remains unclear. He's both suggested he was simply accepting a congratulatory call and said he doesn't understand why the U.S. should be bound by the "One China" policy, "unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade."

On Thursday, Trump chimed in on another hot-button issue without providing context or clarity: the nation's nuclear stockpiles. He abruptly tweeted that the U.S. should "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability," but did not say what his proposals would entail or why he raised the matter on a quiet morning a few days before Christmas.

A subsequent statement from Trump's spokesman also did not address what the president-elect meant by calling for an expansion of U.S. nuclear capabilities.

The issue that has generated perhaps the most confusion among Trump supporters and opponents alike is his stance on banning Muslim immigration to the U.S. as a means to combat terrorism. Trump called for a temporary ban during the GOP primary, but later shifted his rhetoric to focus on halting immigration from an unspecified list of countries with terrorism links.

Following this week's deadly truck attack in Berlin, Trump was asked whether he was reevaluating the Muslim ban.

"You know my plans," Trump said, without listing his plans. "All along, I've been proven to be right, 100 percent correct."

Cordesman said clarity on Trump's objectives will likely only come once he's in the position to make concrete decisions as commander in chief.

"Everybody is either criticizing him for being very naive and careless or looking for the secret plan," Cordesman said. "The only way to find out is to see what happens after he's in office."

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC
US and Russia Nuclear war doomsday missiles

On Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted that the "United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

In the presidential debates, Trump said "Russia has been expanding" its nuclear weapons, adding that it has "a much newer capability than we do."

But according to Jeffrey Lewis, the founding publisher of Arms Control Wonk, although Russia may have updated its missiles and warheads more recently, the idea that Moscow has better capabilities is "almost certainly not true."

Kingston Reif, the Arms Control Association's director for disarmament and threat reduction policy, told Business Insider that the US's nuclear arsenal is "second to none," and that expanding US nuclear stockpiles risks "accelerating and worsening global nuclear competition and the chances of war."

But fears that Russia has surpassed the US in nuclear ferocity are not completely unfounded. On paper, newer, more complicated, and more fearsome weapons constitute Russia's nuclear arsenal.

Russia's RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, introduced in the mid-2000s, can strike anywhere in the US with what some report to be 10 independently targetable nuclear warheads.

RS-28 sarmat satan 2

These 10 warheads would reenter the Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic speeds  around 5 miles a second. China has developed a similar platform, and the US simply has no way to defend against a salvo of such devastating nukes.

In comparison, the US's Minuteman III ICBM also reenters the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, but it carries just one warhead and was introduced in the 1970s.

But the question of whose are better is more a philosophical one than a straight comparison of capabilities.

Lewis says that US Strategic Command leaders, who command the country's nuclear arsenal, have said for decades that given the choice between the US's nukes and Russia's, they'd choose the US's missiles every time.

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In an interview with Business Insider, Lewis said that the US's arsenal, while it lacks the potential to devastate and lay waste to whole continents, much better fits the US's strategic needs.

Russia's arsenal vs. the US's

A Russian Yars RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile system drives during the Victory Day parade, marking the 71st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2016. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

"Russians made a really different design choice than we did" when it came to building ICBMs, said Lewis.

"Russia built nuclear weapons that are incremental improvements," he said, or weapons that would need updating every decade or so.

On the other hand, "US nukes are like Ferraris: beautiful, intricate, and designed for high performance," he said. "Experts have said the plutonium pits will last for hundreds of years."

Indeed, the US's stocks of Minuteman III ICBMs, despite their age, are "exquisite machinery, incredible things."

"Russia's nuclear weapons are newer, true," Lewis said, "but they reflect the design philosophy that says, 'No reason to make it super fancy because we'll just rebuild it in 10 years.'"

The philosophical differences don't end there.

"Russians love to put missiles on trucks," said Lewis, while the US prefers land-based silos, which present a reliable target and lack mobility. During the height of the Cold War, the US at one point tried a truck-launched ICBM, but US safety and durability requirements far exceeded that of the Russians, rendering the platform unreasonable.

"If you look at the truck [the US] built for missiles, it's 10 times more expensive. It's radiation-hardened and way less vulnerable," Lewis said. "We gold-plated the thing."

Minuteman III ICBM intercontinental ballistic missile

The US "can't do things the Russians did because we're not going to put missiles on a crappy truck," said Lewis. Meanwhile, the Russian philosophy relies on sneakiness and achieving a threat without breaking the bank.

"Good luck trying to find it  it doesn't have to be gold-plated," Lewis said of the Russians' idea of missile trucks.

The US "likes things that are reliable, things that can be maintained, things that you have to really train people to do," Lewis said. This difference stems from the people who make up the US military and how they differ from the Russians.

"Non-commissioned officers are the core of [the US] military," said Lewis. "They've been around a long time. That's why we're way better than the Russians, who still have conscripts."

It's that professionalism at the core of the US military that makes America a different kind of world power. The US prefers accuracy over destructive capability.

"We love accuracy," Lewis said  the US's ideal nuke is "a tiny little nuclear weapon we'll fly right through the window and blow up the building." Meanwhile, the Russians would rather put 10 warheads on the building and level the whole city, civilians and all.

"You see it in Syria  that's how they show it off," Lewis said of Russia's air campaign in Syria, where Moscow has been accused of using cluster bombs and incendiary munitions, and of indiscriminately bombing hospitals and refugee camps. This kind of careless and brutal attitude is a defining trait of Russia's military.

For instance, Russia's leaked Status-6 nuclear "doomsday" weapon, a "robotic mini-submarine" that can make 100 knots with a range of 6,200 miles, is a nuclear-armed dirty bomb. The bomb would not only nuke, but also turn the waters around a harbor radioactive for years to come. The US never even considers this kind of devastation, and it doesn't want to.

Russian status 6 nuclear torpedo dirty bomb

Russia's nuclear ambitions, as shown in its nuclear arms, are "deeply, deeply, deeply immoral," Lewis said.

"That's why [Americans are] the good guys."

How the US deters Russia without 'doomsday' devices

Lewis said the US really can't defend against Russia's most advanced, diabolical nuclear weapons, as "the problem is just that the math never works."

A Russian nuclear ICBM would blast into orbit, turn around, and break into individual reentry vehicles, which would drive toward their individual targets at Mach 23. The US simply can't afford or design a system that would destroy 10 nuclear warheads traveling at that mind-bending speed toward the US.

The US has "never scaled a missile defense to the size of a Russian attack. It sounds like a really great idea on paper, but when you're looking at 1,000 warheads" he said, trailing off.

Another possible solution would be to destroy the missiles before they exit the atmosphere, but that means shooting them down over Russia, which presents its own problems.

missile defense THAAD

Another would be to destroy the missiles from satellites in space, but according to Lewis, the US would have to increase its satellite launches twelvefold before it had enough space assets to protect the country.

Don't get even  get MAD

jfk john f kennedy cuban missile crisis

Instead of spending years and trillions of dollars  and escalating an arms race  the US relies on a doctrine known as mutually assured destruction, or MAD.

Lewis said that in the days of John F. Kennedy, the US puzzled over how to size its nuclear arsenal. The Kennedy administration decided to build enough nukes to destroy the Soviet Union if necessary. The administration named the doctrine "assured destruction," but critics pointed out that nuclear salvos would be traveling both ways, so the more apt name, intended as an insult to Kennedy's policy, was "mutually assured destruction."

"There was no real theory of victory," said Lewis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin once said Russia could destroy the US in "half an hour or less" using its overblown doomsday devices. But the fact is that US Minuteman III rockets that would vaporize the Kremlin seconds later.

Nuclear Triad

The US finds it most stabilizing to have a nuclear triad, or three varieties of nuclear weapons available at any time. Submarines, land-based silos, and bomber planes all hold nuclear missiles. No attack from Russia could simultaneously neutralize all three. Nothing could stop the US from retaliating, and nothing would.

The US's nuclear weapons are not doomsday devices that would almost certainly initiate the apocalypse.

Precise, professionally maintained, responsibly kept nuclear arms provide the US with a credible deterrent without needlessly endangering billions of lives.

NOW WATCH: Watch the US Navy launch one of the deadliest warships in the world





More From Business Insider


Palm Beach (United States) (AFP) - US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday released what he said was a "very nice" letter from Russia's President Vladimir Putin calling for a thaw in ties between the rival powers.

Relations between Washington and Moscow are at their worst since the end of the Cold War, and President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions over Russia's interventions in Syria and Ukraine.

But Trump, who takes office on January 20, called several times during his election campaign for improved relations and suggested he could work with Putin to jointly oppose Islamist extremism.

Putin's letter, according to a translation released by Trump's office, said "relations between Russia and the US remain an important factor in ensuring stability and security of the modern world."

And "it called for real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas."

Trump responded by declaring: "A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct.

"I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path," Trump said, a day after both he and Putin vowed to boost their country's nuclear arsenals.
Heading toward his inauguration in less than a month, President-elect Donald Trump has already waved a big stick at every American multinational company thats even thinking about moving productive operations to another country. After making Carrier Co. an offer it couldnt refuse, to keep 800 Indiana factory jobs from moving to Mexico, he warned that companies are not going to leave the United States anymore without consequences. In a barrage of subsequent tweets, he threatened retribution, including a 35 percent tariff on products those companies try to sell back to the United States.

Trumps ultimatum scored well in national polls, but it should trouble all Americans who value free enterprise and the rule of law. It weakens our economy and our political system when the incoming chief executive of the federal government tries to dictate to U.S. companies how they should deploy their productive assets.

Related: Talk of Tariffs from Team Trump Makes Economists Very Nervous

According to a new report issued by the U.S. Commerce Department, more than 4,000 U.S. companies operate more than 32,000 affiliates around the world. Those companies dont invest abroad primarily to take advantage of low wages or to send products back to the homeland, but to instead reach new customers and expand their market share globally. Locating production in foreign markets allows U.S. companies to better tailor products for local consumer tastes, to reduce transportation costs and to protect trademarks and intellectual property. Various services cant be exported; they must be delivered in the local market.

In todays global economy, U.S. companies sell more of their brand-name goods and services through their majority-owned foreign affiliates than they do by exporting from the United States. According to the most recent numbers from the Commerce Departments Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. majority-owned affiliates supplied $4.49 trillion in goods to foreign customers in 2014, compared to the $1.63 trillion exported from the United States. U.S. affiliates supplied $1.66 trillion in services to foreigners, compared to $743 billion in exported services. That means U.S. companies sell more than twice as much in global markets through their foreign affiliates as they do by exporting from the United States.

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What U.S. majority-owned affiliates produce abroad is overwhelmingly sold abroad. Of the more than $4 trillion in goods they supplied in 2014, 8 percent were sold as imports to the United States; 92 percent were sold in the host country or in third countries. A full 96 percent of the goods supplied by U.S.-owned affiliates in China were sold in that country or others outside the United States. In Mexico, 68 percent of the goods they supplied were sold in Mexico or other foreign countries.

Related: It Looks Like Trump Is Serious About Starting a Trade War With China

Ford Motor Co. has also come under Trumps Twitter fire for its plans to shift production of lower-margin vehicles to Mexico. Its competitor General Motors now sells almost twice as many cars in China than it does in the United States, not by exporting to China but by producing them in China through joint ventures. Few of the cars are exported back to the United States. In 2015, GMs China operations returned more than $2 billion in profits, improving the companys long-term viability after its 2009 bankruptcy.

United Technologies Corp., the parent company of Carrier as well as Otis Elevators, operates 25 factories in China that generate $6 billion in annual sales and employ 24,000 workers. As Politico recently reported, United Technologies vice president for international government relations, David Manke, said of the companys operations in China, Were not going anywhere. We like doing business there. Manke said Uniteds joint ventures make products for the Chinese domestic market, not the U.S. market. We dont go there to make elevators and ship them back to the U.S. We go there to make elevators and sell them in China.

While investment in Mexico and China draws the president-elects ire, most of the foreign affiliates are located in other high-income, high-standard countries, accounting for three quarters of the affiliate value added. What attracts U.S. investment is not primarily low wages but wealthy customers, skilled workers, free movement of goods and money across borders, the rule of law and political stability. U.S. majority-owned affiliates employ twice as many workers in Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia as they do in Mexico and China.

Related: Experts Warn of a Coming Fiscal Crisis as Trump Prepares to Take Charge

Expanding operations abroad not only generates profits but also supports U.S. employment at the parent company. More production abroad can increase demand for higher-end components and services exported from the United States. It creates demand for more U.S. engineers, designers, accountants and managers to support global operations. From 2009 through 2014, while U.S. multinationals were expanding their affiliate employment overseas by 3.0 million, they were adding 3.6 million jobs at their parent-company operations in the United States.

The irony of Trumps fixation on outward manufacturing investment is that the United States remains the worlds largest recipient of manufacturing investment. Foreign multinationals, year after year, invest more than twice as much in the U.S. manufacturing sector as American manufacturing companies invest abroad. About one in six American manufacturing workers, more than 2.4 million, are employed by foreign-owned companies.

While candidate Trump was calling out Carrier for its plans to send 1,300 jobs to Mexico, the Japanese automaker Subaru was shifting production of its new Impreza model from Japan to its operations in Indiana, adding 1,400 new jobs in the past year. We should be grateful that Japans government is not threatening retribution against its companies that ship jobs to the United States.

Related: There Are Still Some Big Holes in Trumps Plan for Economic Growth

If a Trump administration succeeds in erecting a financial Berlin Wall that prevents U.S. companies from investing abroad, the result will be a retreat from global markets, with European, Japanese and Chinese multinationals ready to grab market share. U.S. companies will sell fewer American-branded goods and services abroad, reducing the returns to their shareholders and employment opportunities for American workers.

Daniel Griswold is a senior research fellow and co-director of the Program on the American Economy and Globalization with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
ISNA news agency reports that Police chief, Hossein Sajedi-Nia said, Dealing with vi-olations and crimes in cyberspace is one of the priorities of police in Tehran, and in this regard, officers of Fata Police (cyber-police) monitor and observe cyberspace and social media activities, deal with the crimes and violations, and address the com-plaints.

Of the arrests of more than 1200 cyberspace activists Sajedi-Nia said, In the first 8 months of the year, 986 men and 298 women accused of committing cyberspace viola-tion were identified and arrested by Tehrans Fata Police. He expressed the Iranian regimes fear of cyberspace and social media saying, Cyberspace is a very extensive and complex world that easily puts untrained users into trouble, and if the user does not have a certain goal, he (or she) would perhaps fall into the trap of deviation and abuse by opportunistic people.

On December 23, the NCRI wrote that millions of young Iranians turn to the Internet and social media to exchange information freely. This has terrified the regime, and de-spite its requests to the public to stop using cyberspace, as well as its implementation of censorship and filtering, threatening and arresting, more and more people, especial-ly the informed youth, are using cyberspace.
President-elect Donald Trump and his economic team are threatening to dynamite the foundations of global trade that have underpinned decades of growth, with potentially dire consequences for the economy and for Americas place in the world.

Trump telegraphed a confrontational approach to trade while on the campaign trail, especially with countries like China and Mexico, threatening big tariffs and calling for the United States to pull out of the World Trade Organization. Hes also vowed to scrap sweeping, multilateral trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and instead boost smaller-scale bilateral deals with individual countries.

By naming Peter Navarro, a China-bashing economist at the University of California at Irvine, as head of his newly formed National Trade Council, Trump signaled Wednesday he will indeed turn that hawkish rhetoric into trade policy  despite plenty of concern among mainstream and conservative economists, and big chunks of the U.S. business community.

The Trump transition team praised Navarro, who advised the campaign, for challenging the prevailing Washington orthodoxy on so-called free trade. Trump, who said he read Navarros 2006 book, The Coming China Wars, said the rogue economist has presciently documented the harms inflicted by globalism on American workers, and laid out a path forward to restore our middle class.

Trump has also made clear that Wall Street raider Wilbur Ross, his pick for commerce secretary, will play a leading role in shaping the administrations trade policy. Taken together, the moves suggest Trump will seek to sideline the role played by the U.S. trade representative, traditionally the presidents main trade advisor. Trump is reportedly considering tapping Jovita Carranza, a former official in the Small Business Administration with no apparent experience in trade, as U.S. trade representative.

And the threats of punitive tariffs may not have been left on the campaign trail, either. CNN reported Thursday that Trump is considering slapping tariffs, perhaps of high as 10 percent, on all imports after taking office. That would likely violate WTO rules, and could spark retaliation from trading partners, which would weigh on U.S. exports.

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The Trump transition team said Thursday it is too early to discuss specifics of future trade policy.

Its gruesome. Its shocking that he wants to turn back the clock to another age, to a manufacturing economy, said J. Robert Vastine, a former Treasury Department trade official in the Ford administration. Somehow we get there by abdicating trade agreements? I just cant believe it.

The incoming Trump administrations trade architects share with each other and the real estate mogul some notions about trade that are odds with most economists. They tend to view trade as a zero-sum game, where countries can only gain at other countries expense, and where trade deficits are seen as a sign that a country is losing.

But since David Ricardo in the early 19th century, most economists see trade as largely mutually beneficial.

Trump has a very different view of reciprocity in trade than has historically been the case, Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of Economics and former Carter administration trade official, told Foreign Policy.

Trumps team blames Beijing and bad trade deals for many of the ills affecting U.S. manufacturing. Navarro, in particular, argues that Chinas trade policies, rather than long-term trends like rising automation in manufacturing, are responsible for wiping out some 25 million U.S. manufacturing jobs.

Navarro says China keeps its currency cheap and unfairly supports exports by Chinese firms, giving them an unfair advantage in the U.S. market. Like Trump, he has called for tariffs on Chinese goods of up to 45 percent to level the playing field. In fact, in recent years, Beijing has spent vast sums of money propping up the value of its currency, not pushing it down.

Now China is grappling with the implications of a Trump administration that could put into practice what many in Beijing had dismissed as election-year rhetoric. In 2012, Navarro made Death by China, a documentary film based on his book. In it, he claimed that lax standards, cheap currency, and illegal subsidies are helping Chinese firms flood the U.S. market and decimate American manufacturers; Navarro says in the film that Chinese tactics shuttered more than 50,000 factories in the United States.

In an article in the National Interest earlier this year, Navarro detailed how a get-tough policy on China would shape Trumps economic plans. Trumpnomics, he wrote, will eliminate the pull of Chinas unfair trade practices like illegal export subsidies, currency manipulation, piracy, and the use of sweatshops and pollution havens.

Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, said Thursday that Navarros appointment is a strong signal that Trump could carry out most of his trade policy promises on the campaign trail.

Navarro, a Foreign Policy contributor, did not respond to requests for comment.

If most economists think Trump and his advisors misdiagnose trades impact on the economy, they are even more worried by the remedies the incoming president is proposing.

Slapping unilateral tariffs on all imports, as Trump is reportedly considering, would violate WTO rules, and almost certainly would spark a massive retaliation by U.S. trading partners. Targeted but steep tariffs against countries such as China and Mexico  two of the biggest U.S. trade partners  would be especially risky. In 2015, two-way trade between the United States and China totaled $659 billion, while two-way trade with Mexico amounted to $584 billion.

We call this absolute trade war, Marcus Noland, executive vice president at the Peterson Institute, told FP recently. There are millions of Americans, many of whom are vulnerable, who have no idea that their livelihoods are at risk.

A willingness to resort to unilateral tariffs, even in violation of WTO rules, highlights the dim view that Trump and his economic team take of the framework thats come to govern world trade since the end of World War II. That includes Trumps campaign pledges to pull the United States out of the WTO and his antipathy toward big, multi-country trade deals like President Barack Obamas proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership.

But pulling out of the WTO would have steep costs for the U.S. economy, the Peterson Institute found. American exports get privileged access to about 96 percent of the worlds consumers through the WTO and other trade agreements in effect. Although Washington has 20 free-trade deals with individual countries, the bulk of U.S. trade takes place with the rest of the world, thanks to the low-tariff access made possible by the WTO.

Bailing out of the WTO, like ditching the TPP, also risks ceding Americas role in shaping the rules governing the global economy, experts have warned. For the Obama administration, TPP was the centerpiece of the U.S. pivot to Asia, and would help Washington write the rules of the road, including raising environmental and labor standards. A U.S. withdrawal would open the door for China to gain more economic and diplomatic influence in Asia and Europe, experts say.

A China-dominated regional trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, is already shaping up as a successor to the doomed TPP, giving Beijing a bigger role in shaping Asias future. And European governments and firms are lining up to court Chinese business  and accept Chinese political influence  as Beijing builds its New Silk Road across Central Asia to Europe.

TPP is very important for foreign policy reasons. China is negotiating RCEP, which could put U.S. companies at a disadvantage, William Krist, who was a U.S. trade negotiator in the Carter and Reagan administrations, told FP. Its important for our allies around there to think were reliable.

Trump and his team argue that existing trade pacts and agreements leave U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage and are largely responsible for the U.S. trade deficit, which last year reached $532 billion. The North American Free Trade Agreement was a favorite punching bag of Trumps on the campaign trail.

The problem with regional trade agreements is you get picked apart by the first country, then you negotiate with the second, you get picked apart, and you go with the third one, you get picked apart again, Ross said last month. Instead, Trumps team favors bilateral trade deals with individual countries, with the idea that the U.S. trade negotiators could wrest a better deal.

What has to be put into perspective, Ross said, is we are the big market, we are the worlds biggest importer, we need to treat the other countries as good suppliers, not as determining the whole show.

But trade experts say bilateral deals offer few advantages over more ambitious pacts like TPP or a similar deal in the works with Europe. Bilateral deals dont mesh well with sprawling, global supply chains that increasingly underpin manufacturing. And they can take just as long to negotiate and get through Congress, but deliver fewer economic benefits than big deals do.

Boeings 787 Dreamliner, for example, uses 2.3 million components, 30 percent which come from countries including Italy, Japan, Germany, Korea, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and France. Raising barriers to cross-border trade would make those planes, and thousands of other products, more expensive to produce. That would be especially risky as global trade is already facing plenty of headwinds. This year, for the first time this century, trade is growing at a slower rate than the global economy.

The evolution of the global value chain is that trade is done within many countries playing by the same rules, not multiple countries playing by multiple sets of rules, said Wendy Cutler, a former U.S. trade negotiator currently at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

And small, bilateral deals arent any quicker to pull off, either. The U.S. free trade agreement with Panama, for example, took nine years from conception to conclusion, but covers just $8.2 billion worth of trade. The TPP, in contrast, covers a dozen countries that collectively account for 40 percent of global economic output, but took only five years to negotiate.

It takes just as long to negotiate a bilateral agreement as it does a multilateral or regional agreement, and it has much less impact, Mickey Kantor, who served as U.S. trade representative under President Bill Clinton, told FP.

They have very little impact on overall U.S. trade benefits.
SANTA FE, N.M.  The transition office for President-elect Donald Trump is adding one, and perhaps up to three, people to the landing team assigned to NASA to provide more insight into commercial space activities.

The transition office added Charles Miller to the NASA "landing team" on Dec. 20, according to an update of the rosters of the landing teams assigned to various federal agencies on the transition website. Unlike previous assignments of individuals to the landing team, there was no formal statement issued by the transition office.

Miller, like many other members of the landing team, previously worked for NASA. He served as senior adviser for commercial space from 2009 to 2012, a time when NASA was starting several commercial space efforts, from its commercial crew development program to the Flight Opportunities program for suborbital research. [Related: What a Trump Administration Means for NASA]

Prior to joining NASA, he was chief executive of Constellation Services International, which worked on concepts for commercial cargo delivery under NASA's Alternative Access to Station program, a precursor to NASA's later commercial cargo program. He was also a co-founder of NanoRacks, a company that provides flight services to the station for experiments and small satellites. Miller established a consulting company, NextGen Space LLC, after leaving NASA.

Miller has also been active in space policy and advocacy. In the mid-1990s he established ProSpace, a grassroots lobbying group focused in particular on commercial space issues, which helped win passage of the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1998. After leaving NASA he became executive coordinator of the Alliance for Space Development, a coalition of space organizations supporting commercial space policy initiatives.

The addition of Miller to the landing team for NASA is seen by many as an effort by the overall Trump transition effortto add commercial space expertise to the team, which largely features individuals who previously worked on more traditional programs at NASA. The backgrounds of many team members have led to speculation that the incoming administration might pull NASA's human spaceflight efforts back to the moon.

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Miller, ironically, could support that, but with a commercial approach. Miller was the principal investigator of a 2015 study that concluded that use of commercial space capabilities could allow for a human return to the moon at a much lower cost than a government-led effort. The study, funded by a $100,000 grant from NASA's Emerging Space Office, found that use of commercial vehicles, as well as contracting tools like public-private partnerships, could enable brief "sortie" missions to the moon in five to seven years, from which a more permanent presence there could be built up. [50 Years of Presidential Visions for Space Exploration]

The transition office may add additional individuals to the landing team, also with commercial space backgrounds. One person under consideration is Alan Stern, best known as a former NASA associate administrator for science and principal investigator for the New Horizons mission to Pluto. Stern is currently the chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, an industry group that includes among its members many leading commercial space companies and spaceports.

Stern has also been involved in a number of commercial space companies. He is the chief scientist for World View, a company developing high-altitude balloons for tourism and research, including NASA's Flight Opportunities program. He also previously consulted for other commercial space companies, including Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. He was president and chief executive of Golden Spike, a company that in 2012 announced plans for commercial human missions to the moon but which made little progress since that announcement.

Another individual under consideration for the NASA landing team is Alan Lindenmoyer, a retired NASA executive who managed the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office at the Johnson Space Center from 2005 to 2014. In that position, he managed the development of the commercial cargo program from its inception through the entry into service of commercial cargo vehicles by Orbital ATK and SpaceX.

Even before the addition of the new landing team members, commercial space interests had influence with the overall transition. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk and Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos were among the attendees of a Dec. 14 meeting of technology company executives with President-elect Trump and other senior advisors, including billionaire Peter Thiel, whose venture capital firm has invested in SpaceX. Musk was also named the same day to an advisory group, the President's Strategic and Policy Forum, the only current aerospace executive among the group's 19 members.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.

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Donald Trump on Thursday alarmed nonproliferation experts when he called for the U.S. to "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability." The comments, made by the president-elect via Twitter, came the same day Russian president Vladimir Putin also vowed to strengthen his country's nuclear weapons capabilities.

"Can a tweet start an arms race? This one may just have done that," Joseph Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation, told NBC News.

The Ploughshares Fund estimates that there are currently over 15,300 nuclear weapons in the world, over 90 percent of which are currently in possession of the two former cold war foes  the United States and Russia. According to the think tank Nuclear Threat Initiative, the two countries each keep nearly 2,000 nuclear weapons in a state of high alert, so that they are ready for immediate launch.

Over the past few years, President Barack Obama has made efforts to modernize the so-called U.S. nuclear triad  ballistic missile submarines, bombers, and land-based missiles. However, no U.S. president has called for an actual expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal in decades.

"The president-elects latest take to Twitter should be deeply alarming to the American public and people everywhere," Derek Johnson, executive director of Global Zero, a group that advocates elimination of all nuclear weapons, said in a statement in response to Trump's comments. "These are not ordinary military capabilities. Nuclear weapons are designed to wipe entire cities off the map and inflict catastrophic loss of life. The use of even a single nuclear weapon, anywhere in the world, would be a global humanitarian, environmental and economic disaster."

Trump spokesman Jason Miller, however, said that the tweet did not imply that the president-elect was advocating the use of nuclear weapons.

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"President-elect Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes," Miller said. "He has also emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength."

This is not the first time Trump has talked about the U.S.' nuclear arsenal. During the first presidential debate in September, Trump said that he couldn't "take anything off the table," even while acknowledging that "once the nuclear alternative happens, it's over."

Related Articles
(Adds Chinese comment)

By Melissa Fares and Timothy Gardner

PALM BEACH, Fla./WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - P resident-elect Donald Trump called for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities on Thursday, in a tweet that alarmed nonproliferation experts who said that a boost to the U.S. arsenal could fuel global tensions.

In his Twitter post, Trump said, "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," but gave no further details.

It was not clear what prompted his comment. However, earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia needed to "strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces."

Asked about the tweet, Trump spokesman Jason Miller later said Trump was "referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it - particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes."

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, also has "emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength," spokesman Jason Miller said.

Miller told Reuters that Trump was not advocating the use of nuclear weapons, and said Trump's comments were not meant to be read as a new policy proposal.

Experts wondered whether Trump's brief tweet meant he wanted to breach limits imposed on U.S. strategic weapons and delivery systems by the 2011 New START treaty with Russia - or planned to expand the non-deployed stockpile.

"It is completely irresponsible for the president-elect or the president to make changes to U.S. nuclear policy in 140 characters and without understanding the implications of statements like 'expand the capacity,'" said Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, a leading proponent of arms control based in Washington.

"He must have leaders around the world trying to guess what he means," Kimball said in an interview. "This is bush league."

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Putin, who has said that Trump has confirmed to him that he is willing to mend ties between the two countries, also spoke on Thursday of the need to enhance Russia's nuclear arsenal.

"We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems," he said in a speech in Moscow.

If Trump and Putin both want to expand nuclear weapons, that would effectively end arms control efforts underway since the Nixon administration, said Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a foundation that works to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons.

"This is how arms races begin - with a battle of words," Cirincione said, urging Trump, a real estate mogul, to "make the biggest deal of his life" and negotiate cuts to the nuclear arsenal with Russia.

"Neither side needs to be spending hundreds of billions of dollars on nuclear weapons we don't need," Cirincione said.

'FARCICAL'

The United States is one of five nuclear weapons states allowed to keep a nuclear arsenal under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The others are Russia, Britain, France and China.

Trump's "farcical" tweet failed to communicate a "rational deterrence policy" and risks fueling arms race dynamics with Russia and China, said Miles Pomper, Senior Fellow at the Washington-based Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

The United States needs to do more to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands, rather than creating more materials, Pomper told Reuters.

"Expanding our nuclear arsenal will do nothing to prevent nuclear proliferation or prevent nuclear terrorism. We have more than enough nuclear weapons as it is," Pomper said.

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the government was paying attention to the nuclear policy of the incoming U.S. administration, adding that China upheld the abolition of nuclear weapons.

"Countries which have the largest nuclear weapons stockpiles have a special and top priority to, at the end of the day, create conditions for the complete abolition of nuclear armaments and ought to keep taking the lead in making large, substantive cuts to nuclear weapons," Hua told a daily briefing.

Trump, who was elected on Nov. 8, campaigned on a platform of building up the U.S. military but also pledged to cut taxes and control federal spending.

Most of the U.S. arsenal was built between 25 and 62 years ago during the arms race with the former Soviet Union, and has been patched and otherwise refashioned many times to extend its lifespan.

During the next decade, U.S. ballistic missile submarines, bombers, and land-based missiles - the three legs of the nuclear triad - are expected to reach the end of their useful lives.

Maintaining and modernizing the arsenal is expected to cost about $1 trillion over 30 years, according to independent estimates.

Trump's tweet came the day after meeting with a dozen Pentagon officials involved with defense acquisition programs.

He also met the chief executives of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co, the country's two largest defense contractors, about high-profile projects he said cost too much.

Late on Thursday, Trump said on Twitter that he had asked Boeing to "price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet" because of the "tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35."

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay in Washington, Lewis Krauskopf in New York, Emily Stephenson in Honolulu and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Writing by Susan Heavey and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Frances Kerry)
By Melissa Fares and Andrew Osborn WEST PALM BEACH, Fla./MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump upped the stakes on Friday in a back-and-forth exchange with President Vladimir Putin over nuclear weapons that tested the Republican's promises to improve relations with Russia. Offering a glimpse of how he might conduct diplomacy after taking office on Jan. 20, Trump reportedly welcomed a nuclear arms race with Russia and China and boasted that the United States would win it. MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski said Trump told her in an off-air phone call: "Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all." The television station did not play his comments on air. It was the second brusque comment about atomic weapons in two days from the New York businessman that alarmed nuclear non-proliferation experts worried about fueling global tension. The broadsides from Trump's resort in Florida appeared to be aimed mostly at Putin even though the two men have vowed to patch up relations between their countries once the Republican enters the White House. Trump tweeted unexpectedly on Thursday that, "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," but gave no further details. That comment appeared to be a response to Putin who said earlier on Thursday that Russia needed to "strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces." Russia and the United States are at odds over Syria's civil war and Ukraine but Cold War-style nuclear tensions have greatly eased in recent years. Moscow and Washington signed the New START nuclear treaty in 2010 which reduced strategic weapons and delivery systems. PUTIN CAUTIOUS Putin, accused by the Obama administration of overseeing a wave of cyber attacks against U.S. political organizations during the presidential campaign, said on Friday he had no interest in competing with the U.S. nuclear weapon program. "If anyone is unleashing an arms race it's not us ... We will never spend resources on an arms race that we can't afford," he said at a news conference. The Russian president said he was surprised by State Department comments that the U.S. military is the most powerful in the world. "Nobody is arguing with that," Putin said. He said he did not regard the United States as a potential aggressor and said he saw nothing new or remarkable about Trump's own statement about wanting to expand U.S. nuclear capabilities. The United States is in the midst of a $1 trillion, 30-year modernization of its aging nuclear arsenal and replacement of its ballistic missile submarines, bombers and land-based missiles. It is a price tag that most experts say the United States can ill afford. Russia, also bound by New START limits, is carrying out its own costly modernization program but is not expanding its warhead stockpile. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the president-elect's nuclear comments were meant to send a general message of strength to countries like Russia and China rather than indicate the United States planned to build up its nuclear capabilities. "He is going to do what it takes to protect this country and if another country or countries want to threaten our safety and sovereignty, he is going to do what it takes," Spicer said onCNN. Trump was elected president unexpectedly last month partly on a platform of building up the U.S. military but he also pledged to cut taxes and control federal spending. His nuclear comments suggest that improving relations with Moscow might not be easy. Trump on Friday released what he said was "a very nice letter" from Putin dated Dec. 15 in which the Russian leader sought bilateral cooperation and a "new level" of relations. In an accompanying statement, Trump said he hoped both countries could "live up to these thoughts" rather than "have to travel an alternative path." The Obama administration has accused Russia of trying to interfere with the U.S. election by hacking Democratic Party accounts. Information from those hacks was leaked online, causing political problems for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Putin dismissed suggestions Moscow had helped Trump to victory. "The current administration and the leadership of the Democratic Party are trying to blame all their failures on external factors," Putin said at his Friday news conference. Putin, who spoke positively of Trump before his election win, said that only Moscow had believed in his victory. "Trump understood the mood of the people and kept going until the end, when nobody believed in him," Putin said, adding with a smile. "Except for you and me." (Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Jonathan Landay and Roberta Rampton in Washington and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Mary Milliken)
A funny thing may happen on the way to David Friedmans confirmation hearing for U.S. ambassador to Israel. Former Sen. Joe Lieberman said Thursday its likely Friedman will back off his most contentious views, like opposing the two-state solution.

Friedman is a conservative bankruptcy lawyer, Orthodox Jew and Israeli hardliner who has condemned Jewish peace groups. In addition to opposing the two-state solution, Friedman also has said he supports Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, a contentious issue that has stymied peace talks.

Lieberman told CNN he thinks Friedman, like his soon-to-be boss, wants to help craft a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has eluded world leaders for nearly 70 years. President-elect Donald Trump nominated Friedman last week.

"I think you're going to find in the weeks ahead in the confirmation process on David Friedman that it's going to be very clear that  he and President Trump want to be part of achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and that some of the things he said really don't reflect what he believes," Lieberman told CNN.

"I think you'll find along the way that he will express some regrets."

The U.N. Security Council had been scheduled to vote on a draft resolution Thursday, calling on Israel to stop all settlement activity in Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Trump has condemned the resolution saying the only way to achieve peace is "through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations. This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position, and is extremely unfair to all Israelis."

Egypt blocked the vote, freeing President Barack Obama from having to act in his last month in office to protect Israel with a veto or abstain to express criticism of the settlement activity. Reuters reported Egypt put off the vote under pressure from Israel to avoid alienating Trump. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke with Trump Thursday, a transition official said.

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Lieberman said, however, he thinks peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors is closer than ever, given both sides concerns about Iran.

They have common interests. But the Arab nations won't come out with this closer relationship to Israel, in my opinion, unless there's progress between the Israelis and Palestinians," the former Democratic vice presidential candidate said.

Trump has taken no clear position on the two-state solution beyond saying he would like to be the one to broker a deal, and he favors moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer said earlier this week moving the embassy would send a strong message against efforts to delegitimize the Jewish State, Politico reported.

The second reason why I think the embassy should be moved to our capital is that it would be a great step forward to peace. That's right. A great step forward to peace," he said.

Congress has long favored moving the embassy but presidents have resisted, insisting the status of Jerusalem needs to be part of an overall settlement.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat has warned moving the embassy would kill whats left of the peace process.

[In] the peace process, the issues for negotiations [are]: Jerusalem, borders, settlements, the regime, security and no one should pre-empt or prejudge, because this will be a destruction of the peace process as a whole, Erekat said.

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Berlin (AFP) - Police have arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack one of Germany's biggest shopping centres, authorities said Friday, four days after a jihadist killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market.

Police said they had arrested two men, aged 28 and 31, originally from Kosovo, and were trying to establish how advanced the plot was and whether other people were involved.

Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence services, police were deployed to the shopping complex and a nearby Christmas market in the western city of Oberhausen late Thursday, they said.

The mall that was targeted, CentrO, is one of the largest in Germany with around 250 shops that are usually packed in the run-up to Christmas.

The arrests come as police frantically hunt for the Tunisian suspect accused of ploughing a truck through crowds packing one of Berlin's most popular Christmas markets on Monday.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the assault -- their deadliest yet carried out on German soil.

Police commandos on Thursday raided three homes and a long-distance bus, prosecutors said, as they cast a wide dragnet for 24-year-old Anis Amri.

Police say they are certain it was Amri who steered the 40-tonne lorry after finding his identity papers and fingerprints inside the cab, next to the corpse of its registered Polish driver who was killed with a gunshot to the head.

Authorities have issued a Europe-wide wanted notice over the attack, offering a 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward for information leading to Amri's arrest.

In Tunisia, a brother of the fugitive appealed to him to surrender.

"If he is listening to me, I tell him: 'Present yourself' so the family can rest easier," Abdelkader Amri told reporters.

"If my brother is behind the attack, I say to him 'You dishonour us'," he said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "proud of how calmly most people reacted" to Germany's deadliest attack in years and voiced confidence Amri would be arrested soon.

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- 'Systemic failure' -

But Merkel's assuring message failed to dampen criticism of what many politicians and newspapers slammed as glaring security failures leading up to Monday's attack.

Officials have revealed that Amri was a rejected asylum seeker with a history of crime who had spent years in an Italian jail and had long been known to German counter-terrorism agencies.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

And Berlin prosecutors said Amri had been monitored from March until September, suspected of planning a burglary to pay for automatic weapons to carry out an attack.

However, when authorities failed to find evidence of the plot and watched Amri operate as a small-time drug dealer, the surveillance was stopped.

"They knew him. They did nothing," ran the scathing headline of Berlin's B.Z. tabloid.

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel's liberal stance on refugees, said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy.

Germany took in more than a million refugees last year, many of them fleeing violence in Syria, North Africa and the Middle East.

"It's clear that a lot went wrong... it was a systemic failure," said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King's College London.

Neumann argued that German security services lacked the manpower to maintain around-the-clock surveillance of the 550 known radical Islamists in Germany.

"Germany's anti-terrorism structure is failing to match the scale of the problem," he told news channel NTV.

- 'In the crosshairs' -

While the security debate rages, and is set to intensify with an election next year, many Germans were still looking forward to Christmas Eve on Saturday, the country's most important festival.

On Thursday, Berliners flocked to the reopened Breitscheid square Christmas market that was targeted in Monday's carnage.

The government has appealed for people to carry on as normal and not to give in to fear.

Organisers dimmed festive lights and turned down the Christmas jingles as a mark of respect for those killed.

Victims were also honoured with candles, flowers, letters of condolence and signs reading "Love Not Hate".

Among the dead were six Germans, 60-year-old Israeli Dalia Elyakim, and a young Italian woman called Fabrizia Di Lorenzo. Some 48 others were injured.

Germany had until now been spared the jihadist carnage that has struck neighbouring France and Belgium.

But it has suffered a spate of smaller attacks, including two in July that left 20 people injured, both committed by asylum seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group.

Merkel said Germany had "known for a long time that we are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism. And yet, when it happens... it is a totally different situation."
By Michelle Nichols and Lesley Wroughton UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States intended to allow the U.N. Security Council to approve a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, two Western officials said on Thursday, a major reversal of U.S. practice, which prompted Israel to ask President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure. In a day of intense diplomatic wrangling on one of the thorniest Middle East conflicts, Egypt, which had proposed the draft resolution, abruptly put off a vote that had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Diplomats said Cairo had acted under pressure from Israel and to avoid alienating Trump, who spoke to the Egyptian president and urged the White House to use its veto. By late Thursday, four Security Council members had given Egypt an ultimatum and threatened to put the draft resolution to a vote. The two Western officials said President Barack Obama had intended to abstain from the vote, a relatively rare step by the United States to register criticism of the building on occupied land that Palestinians want for a state. The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Obama, believes the Obama administration had long planned the council vote in coordination with the Palestinians, the senior Israeli official said. "It was a violation of a core commitment to protect Israel at the U.N.," the official said. The White House had no immediate comment. U.S. officials have voiced growing fears that a "two-state" solution is imperiled by Israeli settlement building and have been more willing to voice open criticism, including, the two Western officials said, via Thursday's planned vote. A U.S. abstention would have been seen as a parting shot by Obama, who has made the settlements a major target of his - ultimately futile - peace efforts. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel, called Trump on Thursday, a Trump transition official said, saying they spoke broadly about laying the ground for Middle East peace. Sisi's office said the two leaders spoke. "The presidents agreed on the importance of affording the new U.S. administration the full chance to deal with all dimensions of the Palestinian case with a view of achieving a full and final settlement," presidency spokesman Alaa Yousef said. The resolution would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law." Egypt, currently a Security Council member, worked with the Palestinians to draft the text. The senior Israeli official said Israel remained concerned the resolution could still go ahead with another sponsoring country. New Zealand, Venezuela, Malaysia and Senegal asked Egypt to clarify by midnight whether it planned to call a vote. "In the event that Egypt decides that it cannot proceed to call for vote on 23 December or does not provide a response by the deadline, those delegations reserve the right to table the draft ... and proceed to put it to vote ASAP," the four states wrote in a note, seen by Reuters. They said "the proposal for other delegations to take the lead ... would also help Egypt by relieving it of the burden of carrying this draft alone." They plan to meet on Friday morning to decide how to proceed, diplomats said. CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONS WITH TRUMP? Officials in Netanyahu's office spoke to Egyptian officials on Thursday about postponing the vote, an Israeli diplomat said. It was not clear what pressure Israel may have put on Egypt but there are several ways it could do so, including curtailing Israeli security cooperation in Egypt's fight against Islamist militants in the Sinai desert. Netanyahu took to Twitter in the dead of night in Israel to make the appeal for a veto. Hours later, Trump backed fellow conservative Netanyahu on one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the pursuit, effectively stalled since 2014, of a two-state solution. The State Department declined to comment immediately on reports of the planned abstention. Israel's far-right and settler leaders have been buoyed by the election of Trump, who has signaled a possible change in U.S. policy by tapping a fundraiser for a major Israeli settlement as Washington's ambassador to Israel. Netanyahu, for whom settlers are a key constituency, has said his government has been their greatest ally since the capture of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a 1967 war. The United States says continued Israeli settlement building lacks legitimacy, but has stopped short of adopting the position of many countries that it is illegal under international law. Some 570,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. The United States has vetoed dozens of Security Council resolutions on Israel and it is rare for it to abstain. The last time the Security Council adopted a resolution on Israel and the Palestinians was in January 2009, when Washington abstained on a resolution calling for ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In 1979 the United States abstained on a resolution, when the council said Israeli settlements have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Britain also abstained. (Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed, Matt Spetalnick, Emily Stephenson and Lesley Wroughton in Washington, John Irish traveling with the French foreign minister, Jeffrey Heller and Ori Lewis in Jerusalem, and Amina Ismail and Ahmed Aboulenein in Cairo; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by James Dalgleish and Leslie Adler)
By Sarah N. Lynch

(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed a high-profile whistleblower in its criminal investigation into Wells Fargo & Co's (WFC.N) opening of accounts without customer permission.

U.S. prosecutors in San Francisco have asked Wells Fargo banker Yesenia Guitron, who lost a private lawsuit against the fourth-largest lender, to testify before a grand jury in San Francisco on Tuesday, according to a subpoena dated Dec. 12, which was seen by Reuters.

A Wells Fargo spokesman declined to comment.

Guitron is among at least five Wells Fargo employees who sued the bank or filed complaints with regulators alleging that they were fired after reporting the opening of customer accounts without their permission, according to a Reuters review of lawsuits and complaints to the U.S. Labor Department.

The suits and complaints, filed between 2010 and 2014, raise questions about how early Wells Fargo knew about such allegations and how it handled them.

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo reached a settlement with U.S. regulators and the Los Angeles city attorney in September.

The Justice Department subpoena directs Guitron to bring all documents related to her employment at Wells, including any related to sales practices, discipline "or other form of retaliation taken against you by Wells Fargo or Wells Fargo employees."

Guitron and her lawyer were not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, which issued the subpoena, declined comment.

The bank has acknowledged opening as many as 2 million accounts without customer permission, and it fired 5,300 employees for the behavior. Former staffers have publicly described a culture where they were pushed into hitting unrealistic sales targets and opened the sham accounts to do so.

Wells Fargo chief executive John Stumpf resigned in October after intense questioning before Congress. Beyond the Justice Department probe, Wells Fargo is facing others from various lawmakers and regulators, including a criminal probe by the California attorney general's office.

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Guitron and another personal banker, Judi Klosek, filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as a joint federal lawsuit in 2010, claiming Wells Fargo retaliated against them for blowing the whistle on similar conduct.

Guitron alleged that managers responded by falsifying a paper trail that purported to document her poor performance, forbidding her from taking family medical leave and firing her improperly.

A federal judge ultimately dismissed all of Guitron's claims, saying Wells Fargo was justified in firing her because she failed to meet sales quotas and refused to meet with management.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Writing by Suzanne Barlyn; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Leslie Adler)
By Sarah N. Lynch

(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed a high-profile whistleblower in its criminal investigation into Wells Fargo & Co's <WFC.N> opening of accounts without customer permission.

U.S. prosecutors in San Francisco have asked Wells Fargo banker Yesenia Guitron, who lost a private lawsuit against the fourth-largest lender, to testify before a grand jury in San Francisco on Tuesday, according to a subpoena dated Dec. 12, which was seen by Reuters.

A Wells Fargo spokesman declined to comment.

Guitron is among at least five Wells Fargo employees who sued the bank or filed complaints with regulators alleging that they were fired after reporting the opening of customer accounts without their permission, according to a Reuters review of lawsuits and complaints to the U.S. Labor Department.

The suits and complaints, filed between 2010 and 2014, raise questions about how early Wells Fargo knew about such allegations and how it handled them.

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo reached a settlement with U.S. regulators and the Los Angeles city attorney in September.

The Justice Department subpoena directs Guitron to bring all documents related to her employment at Wells, including any related to sales practices, discipline "or other form of retaliation taken against you by Wells Fargo or Wells Fargo employees."

Guitron and her lawyer were not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, which issued the subpoena, declined comment.

The bank has acknowledged opening as many as 2 million accounts without customer permission, and it fired 5,300 employees for the behavior. Former staffers have publicly described a culture where they were pushed into hitting unrealistic sales targets and opened the sham accounts to do so.

Wells Fargo chief executive John Stumpf resigned in October after intense questioning before Congress. Beyond the Justice Department probe, Wells Fargo is facing others from various lawmakers and regulators, including a criminal probe by the California attorney general's office.

Story continues

Guitron and another personal banker, Judi Klosek, filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as a joint federal lawsuit in 2010, claiming Wells Fargo retaliated against them for blowing the whistle on similar conduct.

Guitron alleged that managers responded by falsifying a paper trail that purported to document her poor performance, forbidding her from taking family medical leave and firing her improperly.

A federal judge ultimately dismissed all of Guitron's claims, saying Wells Fargo was justified in firing her because she failed to meet sales quotas and refused to meet with management.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Writing by Suzanne Barlyn; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Leslie Adler)
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council failed on Friday to adopt a U.S.-drafted resolution to impose an arms embargo and further sanctions on South Sudan despite warnings by U.N. officials of a possible genocide in the world's newest state. There were seven votes in favor and eight abstentions. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. Washington called for a vote on Friday knowing it would fail. The United States could not even win over its ally Japan, which last month deployed troops to a U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Japan, Russia, China, Angola, Malaysia, Venezuela, Egypt and Senegal all abstained. "The council members who didn't support this resolution are taking a big gamble that South Sudan's leaders will not instigate a catastrophe," said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power. "It is the people of South Sudan who will pay an unbearable price." She said the United States was prepared to push for another vote on an arms embargo in the future. "We're not in favor of using sanctions to exert pressure on developing countries," China's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Wu Haitao said. "There needs to be prudent actions with respect to embargoes and designations to avoid complicating the situation even further in South Sudan." The resolution had also proposed blacklisting South Sudan opposition figure Riek Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei. Political rivalry between President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Marchar, his former deputy, led in 2013 to civil war that often has followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a peace deal last year, but fighting has continued. Machar, a Nuer, fled in July and is now in South Africa. "This resolution would not have been a panacea, we are not naive," said Power, though she added that the measure would have cut arms sales to a state that "instead of feeding its people is amping up and arming up for an increasing ethnic conflict." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday told the Security Council that he feared genocide was about to start in South Sudan unless immediate action is taken, renewing his months-long plea for an arms embargo. South Sudan's U.N. ambassador, Akuei Bona Malwal, said such descriptions were exaggerated and did not "reflect the reality on the ground." U.N. peacekeepers have been in South Sudan since the nation gained independence from Sudan in 2011, and there currently are some 13,700 U.N. troops and police in the country. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States on Friday allowed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, defying pressure from President-elect Donald Trump, Israel and some U.S. lawmakers who urged Washington to wield its veto. An abstention by the United States paved the way for the 15-member international body to approve the resolution, with 14 votes in favor, prompting applause in the council chamber. "Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has encouraged the expansion of Jewish settlements in land captured by Israel in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbors, said in a statement. The Obama administration's action broke with the long-standing American approach of shielding Israel, Washington's long-time ally that receives more than $3 billion in annual U.S. military aid, from such action. The United States, along with Russia, France, Britain and China, has veto power on the council. The resolution, put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew it under pressure from Israel and Trump, was the first adopted by the council on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the resolution and Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on Israel to "respect international law." The U.S. abstention was seen as a parting shot by outgoing President Barack Obama, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Netanyahu and whose efforts to forge a peace agreement based on a "two-state" solution of creating a Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel have proven futile. His administration has argued that continued Israeli settlement building has undermined chances of a peace deal. Israel and Trump had called on the Obama administration to veto the measure. Trump wrote on Twitter after the vote, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," referring to the day he succeeds Obama. Israel for decades has pursued a policy of constructing Jewish settlements on territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbors including the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Most countries view Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and an obstacle to peace. Israel disagrees. The Obama administration has deemed settlement expansion "illegitimate." Successive administrations of both parties have criticized settlement activity but have done little to slow their growth. INDEPENDENT STATE The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. The resolution demanded that Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law." After the vote, the White House defended the U.S. abstention, saying that in the absence of any meaningful peace process, Obama took the decision to abstain. Criticizing Israels settlement policy, it said it had repeatedly warned Israel privately and publicly that settlement activity was increasing Israel's international isolation. Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, dismissed Trump's criticism, noting that Obama remains president until Jan. 20. "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," Rhodes told a conference call. Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said, said the United States did not raise a veto because the resolution "reflects the facts on the ground and is consistent with U.S. policy across Republican and Democratic administrations." MORE THAN SYMBOLIC The passage of the resolution changes nothing on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians and likely will be all but ignored by the incoming Trump administration. But it was more than merely symbolic. It formally enshrined the international communitys disapproval of Israeli settlement building and could spur further Palestinian moves against Israel in international forums. The U.N. action was "a big blow to Israeli policy, a unanimous international condemnation of settlements and a strong support for the two-state solution," a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. Israel's U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, called the resolution disgraceful, adding he had no doubt the incoming Trump administration and Ban's successor as U.N. chief, former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres, "will usher in a new era in terms of the U.N.'s relationship with Israel" Israel has said the final status of the Jewish settlements should be determined in talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of U.S.-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014. Trump, who called for a veto along with Netanyahu, is likely to be a more staunch supporter of Netanyahu's right-wing policies. He named a hardline pro-Israel ambassador and vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Some U.S. lawmakers of both parties condemned the Obama administration's abstention. Republican Senator John McCain said the abstention "marks a troubling departure from our nation's long, bipartisan history of defending our ally Israel in the United Nations." U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who heads the Senate subcommittee that oversees American U.N. funding, threatened to pull financial support for the international body. The council last adopted a resolution on settlements in 1979, with the United States abstaining. Then it approved a resolution saying Israeli settlements had "no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East." (Writing by Will Dunham and Yara Bayoumy; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Lesley Wroughton and Susan Heavey in Washington, Matt Spetalnick in New York and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Editing by Bill Trott and Cynthia Osterman)
(Adds timing of vote, senator, U.S. official, French ambassador)

By Michelle Nichols and Matt Spetalnick

UNITED NATIONS/NEW YORK, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council will vote on Friday on a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, defying pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as well as Israel and several U.S. senators who urged Washington to use its veto.

The United States is likely to abstain on the resolution, which was abruptly withdrawn by council member Egypt on Thursday but later presented by four other members. This would be a relatively rare step by Washington, which usually shields Israel from such action.

A U.S. abstention would be seen as a parting shot by U.S. President Barack Obama who has had an acrimonious relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and who has made settlements a major target of peace efforts that have proven ultimately futile.

Even if the resolution is adopted, it will unlikely result in any major change in one of the thorniest Middle East conflicts. Netanyahu and Trump, who have both called for a veto, are expected to have a more amicable relationship.

A senior Israeli official said on Thursday that if adopted there was "zero chance" the Israeli government would abide by the measure. Under the U.N. Charter, U.N. member states "agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council."

The draft resolution asks the U.N. secretary-general to report to the council every three months on the implementation of the resolution and says the council will "examine practical ways and means to secure the full implementation."

New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal, who were co-sponsors of the draft resolution, have requested the vote, which diplomats said would take place about 2 p.m. (1900 GMT).

The 15-member council had been due to vote on Thursday, but Egypt withdrew the draft resolution, under pressure from Israel and Trump, who spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

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On Friday, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called on Washington to "stand by" Israel. In one of the harshest personal attacks by Netanyahu's government, a senior Israeli official said Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry pushed a "shameful" draft anti-settlement resolution at the U.N. Security Council.

SENATORS URGE VETO

A senior U.S. official said the Obama administration has not been involved in crafting or promoting the resolution.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who oversees the Senate subcommittee that overseas U.S. funding for the U.N., threatened on Friday to pull financial support for the international body if it moves forward with a vote and for any nation that backs the measure.

The United States contributes the most to the United Nations, paying 22 percent of the $5.4 billion core U.N. budget and 28 percent of the $7.9 billion U.N. peacekeeping budget.

U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Joe Manchin both urged the Obama administration to veto the resolution.

U.S. officials have voiced growing fears that a "two-state" solution is imperiled by Israeli settlement building and have been more willing to voice open criticism.

Wael Abu Youssef, a senior member of the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization, told Reuters that Netanyahu's government "must not be rewarded" by the withdrawal of the draft resolution.

"We are determined to go to the Security Council to seek a decision against settlements," Abu Youssef said.

Netanyahu, for whom settlers are a key constituency, has said his government has been their greatest ally since the capture of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a 1967 war.

The United States says continued Israeli settlement building lacks legitimacy but has stopped short of adopting the position of many countries that it is illegal under international law. Some 570,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The draft resolution would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted.

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem - areas Israel captured in the 1967 war. Most countries and the United Nations view Israeli West Bank settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Israel disputes that settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of U.S.-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014.

(Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Susan Heavey in Washington and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Bill Trott and Cynthia Osterman)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Lindsey Graham said on Friday that U.S. foreign policy under President Barack Obama "has gone from naive and foolish to flat-out reckless" after the United States abstained from voting on a U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. The senior Republican senator, in a note on Twitter after the vote, said: "With friends like these, #Israel doesn't need any enemies." "Regardless of the terrorist attacks they suffer or the number of rockets fired their way, in the United Nations Israel is always the bad guy," said Graham, who has threatened to work to "suspend or significantly reduce" U.S. support for the United Nations over the resolution. (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Eric Beech)
(Recasts; adds background on negotiations, details)

By Karen Freifeld

NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday sued Barclays Plc and two former executives on civil charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities during the run-up to the 2008-09 financial crisis.

The lawsuit was filed after Barclays resisted a penalty the U.S. government had sought in settlement negotiations, a person familiar with the matter said. The person would not disclose the government's demand.

Major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of America Corp, have paid tens of millions of dollars to settle similar claims over misconduct in the sale and pooling of mortgage securities, which helped to cause the financial crisis.

Barclays was among a handful of European banks still under investigation by the Justice Department, according to company disclosures. Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse are also in settlement talks, sources have said.

Barclays is accused of deceiving investors about the quality of loans underlying tens of billions of dollars of mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2007, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

Loans had been made to borrowers with no ability to repay and were based on inflated home appraisals, the complaint said.

According to the lawsuit, more than half the underlying loans in $31 billion worth of mortgage loans pooled into 36 deals defaulted.

"With this filing, we are sending a clear message that the Department of Justice will not tolerate the defrauding of investors and the American people," U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Barclays said the claims in the lawsuit are "disconnected from the facts" and that it has an obligation to defend against "unreasonable allegations and demands."

A Justice Department spokesman would not comment on negotiations or the penalty sought during talks. The lawsuit does not include a penalty amount.

Story continues

A Barclays spokesman would not comment on negotiations beyond the statement.

The London-based bank's U.S.-traded shares ended down 1.8 percent at $11.07 in regular trading on Thursday.

LOOKING AHEAD

Barclays has set aside $3.1 billion to generally cover litigation and penalties, but has not made a specific provision for the mortgage probe.

A settlement in excess of $1.5 billion would lead to increased provisions and could impact the bank's core capital ratio, JPMorgan analysts have said.

In addition to Barclays and its affiliated companies, the complaint targets two former executives: John T. Carroll and Paul Menefee, both former managing directors at Barclays Capital units.

Carroll, Barclays' head subprime trader in the run-up to the housing crisis, and Menefee, the banker in charge of due diligence on the subprime deals, were central to the alleged scheme, the complaint said, and stand accused of intentionally making false representations.

When asked about 40 loans already delinquent before a deal closed, for instance, Carroll told Menefee to "just leave them in," according to the lawsuit, and Menefee did.

Menefee, who blamed the delinquent loans on fraud, then falsely represented to investors and credit ratings agencies that the deal did not contain such delinquent loans, the complaint said.

Barry Berke, a lawyer for Menefee, 47, of Austin, Texas, called the complaint a "misguided attempt" to blame his client and others for losses that resulted from the collapse of the U.S. housing market.

A lawyer for Carroll, 49, of Port Washington, New York, did not return a call for comment.

The complaint alleges violations of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), based on mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud as well as other misconduct.

The statute allows for civil penalties up to the amount of Barclays' gain, or the amount of losses suffered by others.

The actions against the banks over mortgage securities stem from a 2012 initiative by U.S. President Barack Obama to pursue the misconduct that helped lead to the financial crisis. The Trump administration, which takes over on Jan. 20, will oversee any ongoing matters.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld, additional reporting by Rodrigo Campos in New York and Lawrence White in London; editing by Cynthia Osterman and G Crosse)
By Karen Freifeld

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday sued Barclays Plc (BARC.L) and two former executives on civil charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities during the run-up to the 2008-09 financial crisis.

The lawsuit was filed after Barclays resisted a penalty the U.S. government had sought in settlement negotiations, a person familiar with the matter said. The person would not disclose the government's demand.

Major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), have paid tens of millions of dollars to settle similar claims over misconduct in the sale and pooling of mortgage securities, which helped to cause the financial crisis.

Barclays was among a handful of European banks still under investigation by the Justice Department, according to company disclosures. Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) are also in settlement talks, sources have said.

Barclays is accused of deceiving investors about the quality of loans underlying tens of billions of dollars of mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2007, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

Loans had been made to borrowers with no ability to repay and were based on inflated home appraisals, the complaint said.

According to the lawsuit, more than half the underlying loans in $31 billion (25.3 billion pounds) worth of mortgage loans pooled into 36 deals defaulted.

"With this filing, we are sending a clear message that the Department of Justice will not tolerate the defrauding of investors and the American people," U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Barclays said the claims in the lawsuit are "disconnected from the facts" and that it has an obligation to defend against "unreasonable allegations and demands."

A Justice Department spokesman would not comment on negotiations or the penalty sought during talks. The lawsuit does not include a penalty amount.

Story continues

A Barclays spokesman would not comment on negotiations beyond the statement.

The London-based bank's U.S.-traded shares (BCS.N) ended down 1.8 percent at $11.07 in regular trading on Thursday.

LOOKING AHEAD

Barclays has set aside $3.1 billion to generally cover litigation and penalties, but has not made a specific provision for the mortgage probe.

A settlement in excess of $1.5 billion would lead to increased provisions and could impact the bank's core capital ratio, JPMorgan analysts have said.

In addition to Barclays and its affiliated companies, the complaint targets two former executives: John T. Carroll and Paul Menefee, both former managing directors at Barclays Capital units.

Carroll, Barclays' head subprime trader in the run-up to the housing crisis, and Menefee, the banker in charge of due diligence on the subprime deals, were central to the alleged scheme, the complaint said, and stand accused of intentionally making false representations.

When asked about 40 loans already delinquent before a deal closed, for instance, Carroll told Menefee to "just leave them in, according to the lawsuit, and Menefee did.

Menefee, who blamed the delinquent loans on fraud, then falsely represented to investors and credit ratings agencies that the deal did not contain such delinquent loans, the complaint said.

Barry Berke, a lawyer for Menefee, 47, of Austin, Texas, called the complaint a "misguided attempt" to blame his client and others for losses that resulted from the collapse of the U.S. housing market.

A lawyer for Carroll, 49, of Port Washington, New York, did not return a call for comment.

The complaint alleges violations of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), based on mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud as well as other misconduct.

The statute allows for civil penalties up to the amount of Barclays' gain, or the amount of losses suffered by others.

The actions against the banks over mortgage securities stem from a 2012 initiative by U.S. President Barack Obama to pursue the misconduct that helped lead to the financial crisis. The Trump administration, which takes over on Jan. 20, will oversee any ongoing matters.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld, additional reporting by Rodrigo Campos in New York and Lawrence White in London; editing by Cynthia Osterman and G Crosse)
By Karen Freifeld

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday sued Barclays Plc <BARC.L> and two former executives on civil charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities during the run-up to the 2008-09 financial crisis.

The lawsuit was filed after Barclays resisted a penalty the U.S. government had sought in settlement negotiations, a person familiar with the matter said. The person would not disclose the government's demand.

Major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co <JPM.N> and Bank of America Corp <BAC.N>, have paid tens of millions of dollars to settle similar claims over misconduct in the sale and pooling of mortgage securities, which helped to cause the financial crisis.

Barclays was among a handful of European banks still under investigation by the Justice Department, according to company disclosures. Deutsche Bank <DBKGn.DE> and Credit Suisse <CSGN.S> are also in settlement talks, sources have said.

Barclays is accused of deceiving investors about the quality of loans underlying tens of billions of dollars of mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2007, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

Loans had been made to borrowers with no ability to repay and were based on inflated home appraisals, the complaint said.

According to the lawsuit, more than half the underlying loans in $31 billion worth of mortgage loans pooled into 36 deals defaulted.

"With this filing, we are sending a clear message that the Department of Justice will not tolerate the defrauding of investors and the American people," U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Barclays said the claims in the lawsuit are "disconnected from the facts" and that it has an obligation to defend against "unreasonable allegations and demands."

A Justice Department spokesman would not comment on negotiations or the penalty sought during talks. The lawsuit does not include a penalty amount.

Story continues

A Barclays spokesman would not comment on negotiations beyond the statement.

The London-based bank's U.S.-traded shares <BCS.N> ended down 1.8 percent at $11.07 in regular trading on Thursday.

LOOKING AHEAD

Barclays has set aside $3.1 billion to generally cover litigation and penalties, but has not made a specific provision for the mortgage probe.

A settlement in excess of $1.5 billion would lead to increased provisions and could impact the bank's core capital ratio, JPMorgan analysts have said.

In addition to Barclays and its affiliated companies, the complaint targets two former executives: John T. Carroll and Paul Menefee, both former managing directors at Barclays Capital units.

Carroll, Barclays' head subprime trader in the run-up to the housing crisis, and Menefee, the banker in charge of due diligence on the subprime deals, were central to the alleged scheme, the complaint said, and stand accused of intentionally making false representations.

When asked about 40 loans already delinquent before a deal closed, for instance, Carroll told Menefee to "just leave them in, according to the lawsuit, and Menefee did.

Menefee, who blamed the delinquent loans on fraud, then falsely represented to investors and credit ratings agencies that the deal did not contain such delinquent loans, the complaint said.

Barry Berke, a lawyer for Menefee, 47, of Austin, Texas, called the complaint a "misguided attempt" to blame his client and others for losses that resulted from the collapse of the U.S. housing market.

A lawyer for Carroll, 49, of Port Washington, New York, did not return a call for comment.

The complaint alleges violations of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), based on mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud as well as other misconduct.

The statute allows for civil penalties up to the amount of Barclays' gain, or the amount of losses suffered by others.

The actions against the banks over mortgage securities stem from a 2012 initiative by U.S. President Barack Obama to pursue the misconduct that helped lead to the financial crisis. The Trump administration, which takes over on Jan. 20, will oversee any ongoing matters.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld, additional reporting by Rodrigo Campos in New York and Lawrence White in London; editing by Cynthia Osterman and G Crosse)
[December 23, 2016] AgileThought Announces James Olson as Senior Vice President of Product Management



TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AgileThought, a national provider of custom software solutions and development consulting to Fortune 1000 clients, appointed James Olson as Senior Vice President of Product Management. Olson will lead product design and rollout strategies for AgileThought's largest clients. "I am excited to have James as part of the AgileThought executive team," said David Romine, CEO of AgileThought. "James has been a colleague and advisor to the company's founders as we have developed and grown AgileThought over the past 12 years. We now have a unique opportunity by combining AgileThought's innovative software development capabilities and the insights James has developed while consulting with an international roster of Fortune 500 companies." Olson brings over 20 years of Big Four management consulting experience in designing and delivering customer experience strategies and operational transformation for clients in the financial services, retail, automotive, hospitality, government, and pharmaceutical sectors. Additionally, as Managing Director at Autometrics, Inc., he led the launch of the firm's marketing and sales analytics platform in the United States. Follow AgileThought: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook



About AgileThought AgileThought is a full-service software consulting firm with specializations in custom software development, user interface and experience design, managed cloud services, application lifecycle management (ALM), SharePoint and business intelligence solutions, and agile and DevOps consulting and training. Formed in 2004, the company has been noted as one of the country's Best Companies to Work For by Fortune magazine. It is currently listed on the Inc. 5000 list for the ninth consecutive year and was also listed as one of the Best Companies to Work For by Florida Trend magazine. It serves Fortune 1000 clients nationwide from offices in Tampa and Orlando. For more information, visit www.agilethought.com or call 1-877-514-9180.

Media Contact: Chad Nielubowicz

Phone: 1-877-514-9180

Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg image2.png image3.jpg Related Links AgileThought This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.



To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agilethought-announces-james-olson-as-senior-vice-president-of-product-management-300383430.html SOURCE AgileThought

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Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned US Ambassador Daniel Shapiro Sunday two days after Washington abstained in a vote on a UN resolution against Israeli settlements.

Their meeting came after Israel earlier Sunday called in 10 representatives of 14 other states that voted for the resolution.

An official Israeli source confirmed only that Netanyahu and Shapiro had met, without elaborating on the content or outcome of their discussions.

The UN Security Council passed the measure Friday after the United States abstained, enabling the adoption of the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

The resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem".

It says settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-state solution."

Netanyahu, who also holds the foreign ministry portfolio, had rejected the resolution as a "shameful blow against Israel".

On Sunday, he repeated Israel's claim that US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry were behind it.

"We have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated the drafts and demanded to pass it," the premier said at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting.

- 'Total contradiction' -

"This is of course in total contradiction to the traditional American policy of not trying to impose conditions of a final resolution," he said, "and of course the explicit committment of President Obama himself in 2011 to avoid such measures."

The Haaretz daily's website said that for Israel to summon an American ambassador was "considered a most unusual step".

"Even more unusual is the fact that unlike the other envoys who were summoned on Sunday to the foreign ministry, Netanyahu will conduct the conversation himself at his office," it said ahead of the meeting.

Story continues

By deciding not to veto the UN move, Washington took a rare step that deeply angered Israel, which accused Obama of abandoning its closest Middle East ally in the waning days of his administration.

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council, with applause breaking out in the chamber.

The landmark vote came despite intense lobbying efforts by Israel and calls from US President-elect Donald Trump to block the text.

On Sunday evening Netanyahu visited the Wailing Wall in the Old City of annexed east Jerusalem to light a candle marking the Jewish feast of Hanukkah.

"I ask those same countries that wish us a Happy Hanukkah how they could vote for a UN resolution which says that this place, in which we are now celebrating Hanukkah, is occupied territory.

"The Western Wall is not occupied. The Jewish Quarter is not occupied... Therefore, we do not accept, nor can we accept, this resolution. We are certain of our future just as we are certain of our past," he said.

- 'New era' coming -

While Friday's UN resolution contains no sanctions, Israeli officials are concerned that it could widen the possibility of prosecution at the International Criminal Court.

They also worry that it could encourage some countries to impose sanctions against Israeli settlers and goods produced in the settlements.

Netanyahu earlier called the resolution "part of the swan song of the old world that is biased against Israel, but, my friends, we are entering a new era," he said of Trump's imminent presidency.

Trump reacted after the vote by promising change.

"As to the UN, things will be different after Jan. 20th," he tweeted, referring to the date of his inauguration.

Earlier Sunday, army radio reported that Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered the Israeli security establishment to cease all cooperation on civilian matters with the Palestinians, while retaining security coordination.

The reported measures join Netanyahu's order to review engagements at the United Nations, including funding for UN agencies and the presence of UN representatives in Israel.

Rightwing Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said Saturday that Israel should "announce a full annexation of settlement blocs" in response to the UN resolution.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett of the far-right Jewish Home told army radio his party would "soon propose a bill to annex Maale Adumim", a settlement city east of Jerusalem.

There have been growing warnings that settlement expansion is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Settlements are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and are seen as illegal under international law.
Samantha Power UN

The UN Security Council on Friday passed a resolution demanding that Israel halt building settlements on occupied Palestinian territory, a move that was permitted by the US's abstention.

The resolution, put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Senegal, passed with 14 members of the council voting in favor. The US abstained, refusing to use its power as a sitting member of the Security Council to veto. In doing so, the Obama administration defied pressure from US President-elect Donald Trump, along with bipartisan members of Congress.

The resolution says that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories have "no legal validity" and constitute a "flagrant violation under international law." The settlements are a "major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State (sic) solution," and a, "just, lasting and comprehensive peace," the resolution says.

Members of the council clapped and cheered as the vote passed. It was the first time in 36 years the UN adopted a resolution on Israeli settlements.

Israel strongly condemned what it called a "shameful anti-Israel" resolution and said it would not abide by its terms. In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also accused the US of being complicit in the UN effort.

"The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it colluded with it behind the scenes," the statement read. It said it looked forward to "working with President-elect Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike."

Bipartisan members of Congress had denounced the resolution leading up to its passage. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, called it a "provocative action," that "must be dealt with sternly and forcefully."

Graham said he would work to form a bipartisan coalition to "suspend or significantly reduce United States assistance to the United Nations."

Story continues

Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas said in a statement that "President Obama is personally responsible for this anti-Israel resolution."

"This resolution hurts the prospects for a secure and just peace by targeting Israel for building homes in Jerusalem, its own capital, while not specifically addressing Palestinian incitement of and financial support for terrorism," he said.

israel

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council that the US would not have let the resolution pass if it didn't address "counterproductive" measures by Palestinians to the peace process.

Power noted that Israel continues to be "treated differently," than other UN member states.

"You cannot separate the venue from the vote," she said.

The passage of the resolution comes near the end of an often contentious relationship between Obama and Netanyahu.

Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened on Thursday, with both men personally calling on Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to postpone the vote.

Trump also urged the Obama administration to veto the resolution, though a group of temporary Security Council members picked up the resolution on drove it to a vote on Friday.

NOW WATCH: Here's how much the presidency ages you





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Evacuations from Aleppo were completed in the aftermath of the resurgent Syrian Armys success in establishing complete control, even as the United Nations passed a resolution Wednesday to establish an independent panel to investigate possible war crimes in Syria.

The resolution passed in the General Assembly with 105 countries in favor, 15 against and 52 abstentions, aims to establish an impartial and independent mechanism to assist in investigation and prosecution in order to punish perpetrators of serious and heinous crimes committed in Syria since March 2011.

The mechanism is set to work with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, established by the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2011, which has repeatedly suggested the intervention of the International Criminal Court, a move blocked by Russia and China.

Calls upon all States, all parties to the conflict as well as civil society to cooperate fully with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to effectively fulfill their respective mandates and, in particular, to provide them with any information and documentation they may possess, as well as any other forms of assistance pertaining to their respective mandates, the resolution reads.

Reports coming in through the week suggested difficulties in evacuations due to delays and lack of oversight promised by the U.N., but evacuation operations were said to be completed late Wednesday.

However, there were massive discrepancies in the numbers coming in. The U.K.-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that a total of 900 people were transferred from the villages to government-held parts of Aleppo during the week-long evacuation process. Media outlet CBS, citing the International Committee of the Red Cross, said that as many as 4,000 fighters were evacuated from Aleppo overnight, since Wednesday. An even bigger figure of 34,000 people, including both civilians and fighters, were supposedly evacuated, as suggested by Reuters, which cited the United Nations.

Story continues

Syrias former industrial and financial center, Aleppo, turned into an important battleground in 2012 when rebel forces launched an attack on the government. Split into two, the city's eastern portion was under rebel control and the west was under President Bashar Assads regime.

As pro-government forces assisted by Russian airstrikes launched an offensive to recapture the city in 2016, the situation worsened in eastern Aleppo after airstrikes destroyed most of its hospitals, causing civilians to be trapped with dwindling food, water and medical supplies in the absence of a robust mechanism to deliver them humanitarian aid.

After the Assad government marked its biggest victory by regaining control of the city last week, Syrian President Bashar Assad's Christian supporters erupted in Christmas celebrations in the government-controlled western region of Aleppo, according to posts on social media.

Analysts suggest that Assads victory is not an indicator of any semblance of peace returning to the conflict-affected region as the number of Syrian rebels estimated to still be fighting in the country is around 150,000 and the migration to Idlib simply meaning a shifting of the battleground.

"Many of them have gone to Idlib, which could be in theory the next Aleppo," U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura said in Geneva, according to Reuters.

Related Articles
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Friday rejected a US-drafted resolution on imposing an arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan amid divisions over how to pressure leaders to end the three-year war.

The measure presented by the United States garnered only seven votes in favor in the 15-member council, while eight countries including Russia, China and Japan abstained.

Nine votes and no veto are required for resolutions to be adopted in the council.

The United States, backed by Britain and France, had argued that cutting off the arms flow was urgently needed following UN warnings of a risk of mass atrocities.

But Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and more importantly, the three African council members -- Angola, Egypt and Senegal -- were not swayed and they all abstained.

"This should not have been a contentious resolution," US Ambassador Samantha Power told the council after the vote.

"History is going to be a very harsh judge of their decision," said Power, arguing that those who declined to support the measure offered no alternative course to try to end the bloodshed.

The outcome was a setback for the United States, which helped South Sudan gain independence in 2011 but has been unable to steer the country away from a war that erupted two years later.

The United States had also sought to put rebel leader Reik Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei on a sanctions blacklist, subjecting them to an assets freeze and a global travel ban.

- Japan says sanctions 'counter-productive'-

Japan, which has some 350 troops serving in the UN mission in South Sudan, had warned that the measure would have antagonized President Salva Kiir's government and put peacekeepers' lives at risk.

Opponents of the sanctions pointed to Kiir's call for a national dialogue to restore peace, saying that initiative must be given a chance.

"Japan believes that it would be counter-productive to introduce additional sanction measures at a time when the transitional government is making some positive moves," said Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho.

Story continues

In veiled criticism of the United States, French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the draft resolution should have been put to a vote earlier, when more council members were on board.

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.

Six non-governmental organizations expressed disappointment and warned it could embolden the warring sides on the ground.

"The Security Council had an opportunity to show that it stands with the civilian victims of this conflict," said Akshaya Kumar, from Human Rights Watch.

"Instead, this failure gives the warring parties in South Sudan a green light to buy more weapons and materiel that will end up being used against civilians."

There is growing alarm over the humanitarian crisis in the country as the conflict enters its fourth year.

More than six million people -- half of South Sudan's population -- are in need of urgent aid and humanitarian organizations expect this number to rise by 20 to 30 percent next year.

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.
By Lisa Jucca, Benjamin Kang Lim and Natalie Thomas

BEIJING/HONG KONG, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Every winter Sunday in the Chinese village of Youtong, hundreds of Catholic faithful brave subzero temperatures to meet in a makeshift, tin-roofed church. Tucked away in a back alley in a rural area of Hebei, the province with China's biggest Catholic community, the gatherings are tolerated - but are illegal in the eyes of the local authorities.

These worshippers are among the millions of "underground" Catholics in China who reject the leadership of the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), which proclaims itself independent of Rome. The underground Catholics are solely loyal to Pope Francis.

The Vatican, though, is currently seeking better relations with communist China - which is making some underground Catholics wary and concerned. Some are not ready to accept reconciliation with a Chinese government that has persecuted them for years. They now represent the biggest challenge to Francis' hopes of developing a long-lasting entente with Beijing, according to Catholic Church officials and scholars.

Pei Ronggui, an 81-year-old retired bishop who was recognised by the Vatican, made plain his concern about the CCPA as he prepared to take confessions in a bare room at the makeshift church in Hebei.

"There's no way there can be an independent (Catholic) Church (in China) because that is the opposite of the principles of the Catholic Church," said Pei, who spent four years in a labour camp after a 1989 government raid on an underground Catholic service in Youtong. "They (the Chinese government) have to change; if they don't change, then the pope cannot agree with them."

Cardinal Joseph Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, is also openly critical of a soft approach by the Vatican to Beijing. "A bad agreement - such as one that imposes the underground Church to submit itself to the government - would make these underground people feel betrayed by the Holy See," Zen told Reuters.

Story continues

A senior Vatican prelate told Reuters that, while the Holy See appreciated Zen's concerns, the situation in China "is not black and white and the alternative (to an agreement) is a deeper schism in the Church."

The pope is keen to heal a rift that dates back to 1949 when the communists took power in China, subsequently expelling foreign Christian missionaries and repressing religious activities. Since then, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has refused to submit the local Catholic Church to Vatican authority, and the Vatican has refused to recognise the PRC.

Since taking office in March 2013, Pope Francis has vigorously supported talks aimed at rapprochement.

Chinese Catholics on all sides - underground and in the state-sanctioned community - number an estimated 8 to 10 million and are overall loyal to the pope. Dozens of interviews with clergy and faithful show both sides wish for a positive outcome to the current talks. Nevertheless, many, especially among the underground Catholics, remain sceptical that the talks will lead to any substantial improvement in their religious freedom.

A draft agreement on the thorny issue of how to ordain bishops in China is already on the table, as Reuters has previously reported. The Vatican is keen to prevent Beijing from appointing new bishops who have not been recognised by the pope. There are about 110 bishops in China. About 70 are recognised by both sides; 30 just by the Vatican; and eight just by Chinese authorities.

The negotiations do not at present focus on whether Beijing should recognise the 30 or so underground bishops who have been approved by Rome but not by the Chinese government, according to Church officials, Vatican officials and Chinese sources familiar with the talks. Nor do they focus on the role of the CCPA, a political body that was created in the 1950s to supervise Catholic activities in China and is considered illegitimate by the Vatican because it runs counter to the belief that the Church is one and universal.

"The biggest problem is still ahead. And this is the Catholic Patriotic Association," said father Jeroom Heyndrickx, a Belgian missionary and member of the Vatican Commission for the Church in China who closely follows the negotiations. "I have no impression at all that China is willing to give in."

A source with ties to the Chinese leadership hinted at the government holding to a firm line, telling Reuters: "There is a saying: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Catholicism needs to adapt to Chinese ways."

In a statement earlier this week, the Vatican said it was asking Beijing for "positive signals" about the talks. The CCPA declined to comment.

STATE WATCH

In interviews, underground Catholic clergy in China said they continue to face pressure to join the CCPA. That is problematic because the CCPA statutes say the organisation is independent of Rome, which clashes with the fundamental Catholic belief that the Church is one, holy, universal and apostolic.

"(Police) came to me again two years ago and asked me to sign up," said an 86-year-old Chinese Catholic priest who runs a small underground church inside his apartment in Shanghai. The priest, who spent three decades in a labour camp in Western China for refusing to give up his faith, said he told the police: "I gave up more than 30 years of my life for a principle: do you think I could ever join (the CCPA)?"

The priest, who declined to be named, said his movements are restricted and that authorities have repeatedly refused to issue him a passport, denying him his long-standing wish to carry out a pilgrimage abroad.

Other underground priests and faithful interviewed by Reuters said they faced similar restrictions and were often questioned by police about their activities. Local authorities also ask to scrutinise all evangelical material, including adverts for charity events, according to Catholic faithful.

Reuters was unable to confirm these accounts. An official at China's State Administration for Religious Affairs declined to comment, saying they had not received any reports of restrictions. The CCPA declined to comment.

In September, Chinese police took underground priest Shao Zhumin out of his diocese in Zhejiang province against his will, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The police wanted to prevent Shao, who had been appointed by the Vatican as assistant bishop of Wenzhou, from running the diocese after the death of a local bishop, according to the sources. Officials did not respond to requests for comment.

In Shanghai, the auxiliary bishop Ma Daqin has been under house arrest for more than four years following his resignation from the CCPA on the day of his ordination. The Shanghai seminary of Sheshan, where Ma resides, was once home to nearly a hundred Catholic students; but its activity has now ground to a near halt, with only six seminarians still studying here.

In the long term, such restrictions and declines pose problems for the Catholic Church, not least because Protestant churches are becoming increasingly popular in China. Those churches have opted for a less confrontational approach with the government.

NEW CHALLENGES

Amid the tensions and talks, one Catholic priest has thrown down a challenge to both the Vatican and Chinese authorities. In October, Father Dong Guanhua declared he had been ordained bishop of Zhengding, 300 km (185 miles) southwest of Beijing, in 2005. He said he had become bishop without the mandate of either the Chinese authorities or the Vatican, and he has so far refused to clarify the circumstances of his ordination, even to the Vatican.

Dong, who says he never went to seminary and taught himself the Bible during the chaotic 1966-76 Cultural Revolution when many clergy were imprisoned or defrocked, is a maverick. But he illustrates the risk that some radical elements of the underground Church in China may break away from Rome, according to Vatican and Church officials.

"The underground Church will be wiped out if I don't do this," said Dong, 58, referring to taking a stand against the state-led Church.

The Vatican has urged underground Catholics in China not to take matters into their own hands if they oppose the Holy See and Beijing mending fences. But it has stopped short of criticising Dong. Rome appreciates that if he refused to bow to Vatican orders, it would show the Chinese government that Rome does not fully control the underground Catholics, according to Vatican and Church officials.

In light of such challenges some senior members of the Chinese clergy, in both official and underground communities, say they believe current talks between the Vatican and the Chinese authorities are going too fast. They feel a deal on the appointment of Chinese bishops, if signed, would be a historic step - but they caution that the wounds of repression cut deep and may take a generation to heal.

Even some of those who support dialogue between Rome and Beijing say a deal would not immediately bring together the official and underground communities after decades of suffering.

"The Catholic communities are very suspicious of each other. We are like a traumatised child," said Paulus Han, a cleric and a prominent religious blogger in China. "We have to learn to live with a number of contradictions. It takes time."

(Additional reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai, Jessica Yu in Hong Kong and Philip Pullela in Rome. Editing by Richard Woods and Peter Hirschberg)
By Lisa Jucca, Benjamin Kang Lim and Natalie Thomas BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Every winter Sunday in the Chinese village of Youtong, hundreds of Catholic faithful brave subzero temperatures to meet in a makeshift, tin-roofed church. Tucked away in a back alley in a rural area of Hebei, the province with China's biggest Catholic community, the gatherings are tolerated  but are illegal in the eyes of the local authorities. These worshippers are among the millions of "underground" Catholics in China who reject the leadership of the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), which proclaims itself independent of Rome. The underground Catholics are solely loyal to Pope Francis. The Vatican, though, is currently seeking better relations with communist China  which is making some underground Catholics wary and concerned. Some are not ready to accept reconciliation with a Chinese government that has persecuted them for years. They now represent the biggest challenge to Francis' hopes of developing a long-lasting entente with Beijing, according to Catholic Church officials and scholars. Pei Ronggui, an 81-year-old retired bishop who was recognized by the Vatican, made plain his concern about the CCPA as he prepared to take confessions in a bare room at the makeshift church in Hebei. "There's no way there can be an independent (Catholic) Church (in China) because that is the opposite of the principles of the Catholic Church," said Pei, who spent four years in a labor camp after a 1989 government raid on an underground Catholic service in Youtong. "They (the Chinese government) have to change; if they don't change, then the pope cannot agree with them." Cardinal Joseph Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, is also openly critical of a soft approach by the Vatican to Beijing. "A bad agreement - such as one that imposes the underground Church to submit itself to the government - would make these underground people feel betrayed by the Holy See," Zen told Reuters. A senior Vatican prelate told Reuters that, while the Holy See appreciated Zen's concerns, the situation in China "is not black and white and the alternative (to an agreement) is a deeper schism in the Church." The pope is keen to heal a rift that dates back to 1949 when the communists took power in China, subsequently expelling foreign Christian missionaries and repressing religious activities. Since then, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has refused to submit the local Catholic Church to Vatican authority, and the Vatican has refused to recognize the PRC. Since taking office in March 2013, Pope Francis has vigorously supported talks aimed at rapprochement. Chinese Catholics on all sides  underground and in the state-sanctioned community  number an estimated 8 to 10 million and are overall loyal to the pope. Dozens of interviews with clergy and faithful show both sides wish for a positive outcome to the current talks. Nevertheless, many, especially among the underground Catholics, remain skeptical that the talks will lead to any substantial improvement in their religious freedom. A draft agreement on the thorny issue of how to ordain bishops in China is already on the table, as Reuters has previously reported. The Vatican is keen to prevent Beijing from appointing new bishops who have not been recognized by the pope. There are about 110 bishops in China. About 70 are recognized by both sides; 30 just by the Vatican; and eight just by Chinese authorities. The negotiations do not at present focus on whether Beijing should recognize the 30 or so underground bishops who have been approved by Rome but not by the Chinese government, according to Church officials, Vatican officials and Chinese sources familiar with the talks. Nor do they focus on the role of the CCPA, a political body that was created in the 1950s to supervise Catholic activities in China and is considered illegitimate by the Vatican because it runs counter to the belief that the Church is one and universal. "The biggest problem is still ahead. And this is the Catholic Patriotic Association," said father Jeroom Heyndrickx, a Belgian missionary and member of the Vatican Commission for the Church in China who closely follows the negotiations. "I have no impression at all that China is willing to give in." A source with ties to the Chinese leadership hinted at the government holding to a firm line, telling Reuters: "There is a saying: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Catholicism needs to adapt to Chinese ways." In a statement earlier this week, the Vatican said it was asking Beijing for "positive signals" about the talks. The CCPA declined to comment. STATE WATCH In interviews, underground Catholic clergy in China said they continue to face pressure to join the CCPA. That is problematic because the CCPA statutes say the organization is independent of Rome, which clashes with the fundamental Catholic belief that the Church is one, holy, universal and apostolic. "(Police) came to me again two years ago and asked me to sign up," said an 86-year-old Chinese Catholic priest who runs a small underground church inside his apartment in Shanghai. The priest, who spent three decades in a labor camp in Western China for refusing to give up his faith, said he told the police: "I gave up more than 30 years of my life for a principle: do you think I could ever join (the CCPA)?" The priest, who declined to be named, said his movements are restricted and that authorities have repeatedly refused to issue him a passport, denying him his long-standing wish to carry out a pilgrimage abroad. Other underground priests and faithful interviewed by Reuters said they faced similar restrictions and were often questioned by police about their activities. Local authorities also ask to scrutinize all evangelical material, including adverts for charity events, according to Catholic faithful. Reuters was unable to confirm these accounts. An official at China's State Administration for Religious Affairs declined to comment, saying they had not received any reports of restrictions. The CCPA declined to comment. In September, Chinese police took underground priest Shao Zhumin out of his diocese in Zhejiang province against his will, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The police wanted to prevent Shao, who had been appointed by the Vatican as assistant bishop of Wenzhou, from running the diocese after the death of a local bishop, according to the sources. Officials did not respond to requests for comment. In Shanghai, the auxiliary bishop Ma Daqin has been under house arrest for more than four years following his resignation from the CCPA on the day of his ordination. The Shanghai seminary of Sheshan, where Ma resides, was once home to nearly a hundred Catholic students; but its activity has now ground to a near halt, with only six seminarians still studying here. In the long term, such restrictions and declines pose problems for the Catholic Church, not least because Protestant churches are becoming increasingly popular in China. Those churches have opted for a less confrontational approach with the government. NEW CHALLENGES Amid the tensions and talks, one Catholic priest has thrown down a challenge to both the Vatican and Chinese authorities. In October, Father Dong Guanhua declared he had been ordained bishop of Zhengding, 300 km (185 miles) southwest of Beijing, in 2005. He said he had become bishop without the mandate of either the Chinese authorities or the Vatican, and he has so far refused to clarify the circumstances of his ordination, even to the Vatican. Dong, who says he never went to seminary and taught himself the Bible during the chaotic 1966-76 Cultural Revolution when many clergy were imprisoned or defrocked, is a maverick. But he illustrates the risk that some radical elements of the underground Church in China may break away from Rome, according to Vatican and Church officials. "The underground Church will be wiped out if I don't do this," said Dong, 58, referring to taking a stand against the state-led Church. The Vatican has urged underground Catholics in China not to take matters into their own hands if they oppose the Holy See and Beijing mending fences. But it has stopped short of criticizing Dong. Rome appreciates that if he refused to bow to Vatican orders, it would show the Chinese government that Rome does not fully control the underground Catholics, according to Vatican and Church officials. In light of such challenges some senior members of the Chinese clergy, in both official and underground communities, say they believe current talks between the Vatican and the Chinese authorities are going too fast. They feel a deal on the appointment of Chinese bishops, if signed, would be a historic step - but they caution that the wounds of repression cut deep and may take a generation to heal. Even some of those who support dialogue between Rome and Beijing say a deal would not immediately bring together the official and underground communities after decades of suffering. "The Catholic communities are very suspicious of each other. We are like a traumatized child," said Paulus Han, a cleric and a prominent religious blogger in China. "We have to learn to live with a number of contradictions. It takes time." (Additional reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai, Jessica Yu in Hong Kong and Philip Pullela in Rome. Editing by Richard Woods and Peter Hirschberg)
By Lewis Krauskopf

NEW YORK, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's call for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities has shone a spotlight on a group of uranium stocks that has been battered over the past six years but have seen some new life since his presidential election victory.

A clutch of uranium companies including Uranium Energy Corp and Ur-Energy Inc trade at around $1 a share or even less and have market values of less than $400 million. Canada's Cameco , one of the world's largest producers, is an exception in North America, with market value above $5 billion.

Since the Nov. 8 election, U.S.-traded uranium shares are up between 15 percent and 30 percent, against a 14.8 percent rise for the Russell 2000 small-cap index. During the presidential campaign, Trump said the U.S. nuclear arsenal should be modernized and suggested Japan and South Korea could acquire nuclear weapons.

Some stocks have seen swings since Trump on Thursday tweeted that the U.S. "must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

Shares of Uranium Energy climbed for two straight days, while Uranium Resources Inc stock was little changed on Friday after rising 31 percent on Thursday in its two heaviest trading days since August. Still that brings Uranium Resources up to only $1.41 per share, resulting in a market value of $19 million.

Trump's comments "could mean a really big thing for uranium equities, however we really do need to see a sense of scale of what he is thinking," said Rob Chang, head of metals and mining research in Canada for Cantor Fitzgerald.

"If there is a notable increase in demand from the weapons standpoint, that could certainly be a huge boost," said Chang, who thinks uranium prices regardless are due to rise off of decade lows because of impending demand from utilities.

Trump on Friday sowed more doubt about his position on nuclear proliferation, reportedly welcoming an arms race even as his spokesman insisted an atomic weapons build-up was not likely to happen.

Story continues

Chang said sentiment for the stocks has been helped by Trump's pro-nuclear comments, as well as Trump's nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a critic of federal environmental regulation, to head the Environmental Protection Agency, suggesting federal opposition to some mining projects may be relaxed.

"So it's positive for all of mining, and uranium, in my opinion, is the most heavily regulated of all," Chang said.

Uranium stock prices have been decimated in the wake of the March 2011 Fukushima disaster, which led to Japan closing its nuclear reactors.

(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Andrew Hay)
By Lewis Krauskopf

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Trump's call for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities has shone a spotlight on a group of uranium stocks that has been battered over the past six years but have seen some new life since his presidential election victory.

A clutch of uranium companies including Uranium Energy Corp (UEC.A) and Ur-Energy Inc (URG.A) trade at around $1 a share or even less and have market values of less than $400 million. Canada's Cameco (CCO.TO) (CCJ.N), one of the world's largest producers, is an exception in North America, with market value above $5 billion.

Since the Nov. 8 election, U.S.-traded uranium shares are up between 15 percent and 30 percent, against a 14.8 percent rise for the Russell 2000 small-cap index (.RUT). During the presidential campaign, Trump said the U.S. nuclear arsenal should be modernized and suggested Japan and South Korea could acquire nuclear weapons.

Some stocks have seen swings since Trump on Thursday tweeted that the U.S. "must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

Shares of Uranium Energy climbed for two straight days, while Uranium Resources Inc (URRE.O) stock was little changed on Friday after rising 31 percent on Thursday in its two heaviest trading days since August. Still that brings Uranium Resources up to only $1.41 per share, resulting in a market value of $19 million.

Trump's comments "could mean a really big thing for uranium equities, however we really do need to see a sense of scale of what he is thinking," said Rob Chang, head of metals and mining research in Canada for Cantor Fitzgerald.

"If there is a notable increase in demand from the weapons standpoint, that could certainly be a huge boost," said Chang, who thinks uranium prices regardless are due to rise off of decade lows because of impending demand from utilities.

Trump on Friday sowed more doubt about his position on nuclear proliferation, reportedly welcoming an arms race even as his spokesman insisted an atomic weapons build-up was not likely to happen.

Story continues

Chang said sentiment for the stocks has been helped by Trump's pro-nuclear comments, as well as Trump's nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a critic of federal environmental regulation, to head the Environmental Protection Agency, suggesting federal opposition to some mining projects may be relaxed.

"So its positive for all of mining, and uranium, in my opinion, is the most heavily regulated of all, Chang said.

Uranium stock prices have been decimated in the wake of the March 2011 Fukushima disaster, which led to Japan closing its nuclear reactors.

(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Andrew Hay)
CAIRO (AP)  The U.S. military says its airstrikes have killed 28 al-Qaida militants in Yemen since September.

Central Command said in a statement Thursday that the airstrikes took place between Sept. 23 and Dec. 13.

Army Maj. Josh T. Jacques, a spokesman, said the strikes "pressure the terrorist network and hinder their ability to attack the U.S. and our allies."

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, as the Yemeni affiliate is known, has been behind a number of failed attacks on the U.S. homeland and is widely seen as the most dangerous branch of the global network.

The fight against AQAP has been complicated by Yemen's civil war, which pits the government and a Saudi-led coalition against Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to a former president.
Shutterstock

The U.S. government has begun asking some foreign travelers to share their social media accounts. The story originated at Politico and was verified by Mashable, which spoke to a rep for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While some privacy advocates are criticizing the new protocol, Mashable noted that its not as panic-inducing as some would think.

The CBP will be asking for this information from travelers working through the Visa Waiver Program. This program allows travelers to enter the country for 90 days without a visa. The information is collected when travelers fill out an Electronic System for Travel Authorization form, which is used by the CBP to examine whether a traveler is a security risk. The request comes as many groups (such as ISIS) are using social media to recruit members and promote their messages. While Twitter has cracked down on the media savvy terrorist groups, they are still finding loopholes to communicate their messages.

The act may seem like the government is infringing on peoples privacy, but it is voluntary, and no one will be barred from entering the country for a refusal. But some privacy advocates are concerned, since the information can be shared with appropriate federal, state, local, tribal and foreign governmental agencies. In October, the ACLU penned an open letter saying this request could lead to first amendment violations:

Many of these travelers are likely to have business associates, family, and friends in the U.S., and many of them will communicate with their contacts in the U.S. over social media. This data collection could therefore vacuum up a significant amount of data about Americans associations, beliefs, religious and political leanings, and more, chilling First Amendment freedoms.5 Indeed, the PIA acknowledges that DHS/CBP is likely to collect First Amendment protected information as part of this program.

The program has already been in effect, but it is not known at this time whether it will be changed.

(Via Mashable, Politico & ACLU)
* Palm down 4 pct so far this week, biggest since early July

* Market not reflective of current fundamentals - trader

* Palm oil may fall further to 2,948 ringgit/T - Technicals

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell as much as

2 percent on Friday and hit their lowest in four weeks, tracking declines in

rival oils on the Dalian Commodity Exchange.

Benchmark palm oil futures for March delivery on the Bursa

Malaysia Derivatives Exchange were down 1.33 percent at 3,035 ringgit

($677.91)per tonne at midday break, after declining to a low of 3,013 ringgit

earlier in the session.

They were headed for their fifth session of falls in six, and have declined

4 percent so far this week in what could be their biggest percentage fall since

early July.

Traded volumes remained thin with 13,104 lots of 25 tonnes each changing

hands.

The market is not reflective of palm's current fundamentals, said a Kuala

Lumpur-based trader, adding that volume was low as the year-end holiday season

had started and they were likely to focus on external factors for cues.

"Physical trade is strong around the 3,200 ringgit levels and demand is

there, but the market is trading according to external markets. There are not

many traders in the market now, resulting in a herd mentality among those

present, tracking the Dalian," the trader said.

The May contract for Dalian soybean oil dropped 2.44 percent, while

the palm olein contract fell 2.79 percent.

On the Chicago Board Of Trade, the January soybean oil contract slid

1.01 percent.

Palm oil may fall further to 2,948 ringgit per tonne as it has broken a

support at 3,045 ringgit, said a Reuters analyst for commodities and energy

technicals.

The tropical oil has been on a roller-coaster ride since the start of

December. It logged a three-day rally last week, hitting a four-and-a-half year

high on a weaker ringgit, before diving for three straight sessions on

poor export data.

On Wednesday, the vegetable oil rebounded as traders covered positions ahead

Story continues

of holidays.

Palm, soy and crude oil prices at 0448 GMT

Contract Month Last Change Low High Volume

MY PALM OIL JAN7 3113 -12.00 3080 3125 85

MY PALM OIL FEB7 3059 -29.00 3034 3065 1801

MY PALM OIL MAR7 3035 -41.00 3013 3040 6328

CHINA PALM OLEIN MAY7 6066 -174.00 6026 6164 709860

CHINA SOYOIL MAY7 6888 -172.00 6866 6984 509508

CBOT SOY OIL JAN7 34.44 -4.00 34.44 34.98 2730

INDIA PALM OIL DEC6 559.80 -4.00 556.70 560.5 181

INDIA SOYOIL JAN7 707.2 -6.65 705.25 708.95 8900

NYMEX CRUDE FEB7 52.71 -0.24 52.56 52.78 10493

($1 = 4.4770 ringgit)

($1 = 67.85 Indian rupees)

($1 = 6.95 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Liz Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
This story originally aired on Inside Edition in December 2015.

A great-grandmother in Indiana was left blushing when she opened a sexy Christmas present in front of her family.

Read: 6 Babies Born to Firefighters Pose for Fire Station Christmas Card: 'They Came Out Like Superstars'

Mary Ann Davis, 81, couldnt believe her eyes when she was given a calendar filled with photos of shirtless firemen from Hamilton County, Indiana.

The mother of five, grandmother of 10 and great grandmother of 14 couldn't stop laughing.

I dont think I can stand this! she said in a video, which went viral.

Read: 'Kung Fu Panda' Goes Head-to-Head With Snowman in Epic Battle

She later spoke to Inside Edition and proudly showed off her favorite Christmas gift.

That is what I want my firefighter to look like," she said.

She said her favorite hunk was Mr. April because that is her birthday month. "I want him to come to my house when I ring 911 for fire," she said.

The steamy calendar was created to help raise money to build a fallen firefighters memorial.

Watch: Let The Holiday Feasting Begin! Watch as Zoo Animals Feast on Festive Snacks

Related Articles:
Adorning Lil Uzi Vert with a Taylor Gang chain, Wiz Khalifa officially welcomed the ascendant MC to his music family Thursday night (Dec. 22).

The announcement came onstage during the A Very Uzi Christmas show in the young rapper's hometown of Philadelphia.

In Wiz's surprise appearance, he joined Uzi to perform their song "Pull Up," before pulling the chain out of his pocket and saying, "Taylor Gang, we got Lil Uzi Vert now -- welcome to the motherf---in' gang. Thank you for bringing me out to Philly. Thank you for being the most influential young ni--a."

Wiz later confirmed the news on Twitter, replying to a fan's inquiry with "Definitely is gangster."

Taylor Gang and Vert had already shared the same corporate home at Atlantic Records. Along with Wiz, the label also boasts Juicy J, Ty Dolla Sign, Chevy Woods and SosaMann. Reps for the label were on vacation and not available for comment.

"Pull Up" is the first single off Wiz's upcoming album, Rolling Papers 2, and Uzi is expected to drop his Luv Is Rage 2 mixtape soon.

Wiz Khalifa officially welcomes Lil Uzi Vert to Taylor Gang ------ pic.twitter.com/nOwTOUjd7u

- The Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) December 23, 2016
LONDON (Reuters) - The weapons used on Friday in the hijack of a jet from Libya to Malta were replicas according to the result of an initial forensic examination, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on his Twitter feed. The hijackers, armed with a grenade and pistols, forced the airliner to land in Malta earlier on Friday before freeing all their hostages unharmed and surrendering. (reporting by John Stonestreet; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Researching the Indianapolis Colts defense isnt tremendously difficult. Their 7-7 record is a testament to the prolific offense. The defense consists of a menagerie of unproven players, aging veterans, and LB DQwell Jackson. Jackson is serving a four-game suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. The Raiders aim to lock up the AFC West with a win and help. First and foremost, they must take care of business at home. Here is how the Raiders may attack the Colts:

The front three is surprisingly subpar. The league regards Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano with respect and esteem. Working himself up from a coordinator, Pagano prides himself on defense. The Indy defensive line is the most uninspiring unit Oakland will face this season. NT David Parry is the leader of the group. Built like a fire hydrant, Parry uses leverage to clog running lanes and forklift the opponent backward. This will not work, as any of the Oakland interior line can handle Parry one-on-one with zero help. The running attack should amass over a hundred yards.

Indys pass rush looks effective, but shouldnt be feared. Erik Walden paces the Colts with ten sacks. Looking deeper, four of these sacks arrive versus immobile quarter back (Sam Bradford, Philip Rivers). Walden is a simplistic rusher, using speed to get to the corner. His technique isnt always the cleanest, as depicted by whatever this is:

In addition to Waldens play, he is a known hothead that will catch a flag for knuckleheaded behavior. Of his 29 penalties (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WaldEr99/penalties), five are facemask grabbing, three are unnecessary roughness. And five roughing the passers. Basically, Walden cannot contain himself. Look for one of the Raiders linemen to man handle him. Once that occurs, he will lose his composure and see a fifteen yard penalty. While he is talented, referees are keenly aware of his exploits.

While Vontae Davis is a good corner, he can only cover one Raider at a time. The smart move is to throw at Rahsaan Melvin. Melvin is a bigger corner (61, 195) with good long speed. His drawback is a lack of twitchy hip rotation. He cannot adjust to suddenly subtle movements. If Davis shadows Cooper, Melvin hounds Crabtree. This is where Crabtree runs a go and test the Indy Corner. Melvin has makeup speed, but what happens when the go is the second part of the route. A hitch early in the game sets him up to fail.

Story continues

On paper, the Raiders offense should go wild for 30+ points; The Colts defense is constructed to surrender yards and points in bunches. Consequently, the only way the Colts defense becomes especially relevant is if Andrew Luck goes berserk. Maybe that forces the Raiders out of the rushing attack. Initially, this game seems like an blowout, but Oakland isnt that type of team, yet.

Stats to Know:

Allowed Passing Yards: 274.9 (25th overall)

Allowed Rushing Yards: 109.6 (20th overall)

24.2 PPG (23rd overall)

The post Week 16 Preview: Raiders Offense vs. Indianapolis Colts Defense appeared first on Cover32.
Too fast, too furious.

Vin Diesel refused to pump the brakes during a recent interview with Brazilian YouTuber Carol Moreira, who was visibly uncomfortable by the actors incessant flirting.

While the interview began innocently enough, the actor, who was in the country for the Comic Con Experience in Brazil, quickly began to derail Moreiras questioning by complimenting her looks.

God, youre so beautiful. God shes so beautiful, said Diesel, who wore his sunglasses during the entire 10-minute interview.

Am I right or wrong? I mean look at her, he said, looking off camera. How am I supposed to do this interview? Look at this woman. Shes so beautiful. Talk to me, baby.

Despite Moreiras efforts to refocus the interview, Diesel at one point declared her too sexy to continue.

Man, shes so f sexy. I cant do this interview, he later added.

When she tried to connect with Diesel over their shared love of Dungeons & Dragons, Diesel replied, Im anything like you because I love you. He continued, Guys, really? Look how beautiful she is. You guys think this is a joke. How am I supposed to sit here when Im looking at such beauty? Shes so beautiful. Im in love. Im in love with the interviewer!

Moreira, who remained professional despite being visibly uncomfortable, addressed the interview in an introduction to her video.

He began to hit on me in the middle of the interview, say that I was pretty, and he interrupted the interview three times to talk about it. I was laughing, completely uncomfortable, she said in Portuguese, according to a translation from the New York Daily News.

I did not like it. At the time I did not know how to react, but you will see that I was uncomfortable, it was not nice that he interrupted my work, she added.

Diesel welcomed his third child, daughter Pauline, with wife Paloma Jimenez last March. The couple are also parents to son Vincent Sinclair and daughter Hania Riley.

A rep for the star did not immediately respond a request for comment.




Berlin (AFP) - The Berlin attack may have rattled nerves but, mindful of their own dark history, Germans are resisting calls for a security overhaul and reject any talk of being at war -- setting the country apart from other jihadist-hit nations.

Long-held fears of a major attack on German soil became reality on Monday when an extremist rammed a truck into a crowded Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring dozens. The suspected attacker, 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri, was shot dead by police in Italy early Friday.

The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, horrified Germany, which had until now escaped the type of jihadist carnage seen in neighbouring France and Belgium.

But while the shock and grief are the same, there are no cries for a state of emergency and there is no question of flooding the streets with armed soldiers.

Chancellor Angela Merkel herself on Thursday said she was "very proud of how calmly most people reacted to the situation".

Experts attribute the sang-froid in part to Germany's past as an instigator of two world wars, making its citizens today deeply suspicious of any kind of heavy-handed security response.

And whereas the US declared a "war on terror" after the September 11, 2001 attacks and President Francois Hollande said France was at war following last year's Paris assaults that killed 130 people, such talk is quickly shut down in Germany.

Klaus Bouillon, the interior minister of Saarland state, found out as much when in the immediate aftermath of the Berlin attack he said Germany was "in a state of war", sparking outrage that forced him to backtrack on the comments.

"Terrorists are evil criminals, but the country is not at war," the Sueddeutsche Zeitung's co-editor in chief Kurt Kister hit back in an editorial.

Christian Tuschhoff, an expert on international terrorism at Berlin's Free University, said Germans are particularly sensitive to the word.

Story continues

"Here, we associate war with a form of organised violence between states, and in several historic cases Germany was the aggressor. That's why we are very reluctant" to use war rhetoric, he told AFP.

- Balance -

While German authorities came under fire for letting the prime suspect in the Berlin attack -- a known jihadist who was supposed to have been deported -- slip through the net, there has been no major clamour for a security revamp.

Before the truck rampage, the government had already moved to strengthen security in response to earlier, smaller IS attacks, including by tightening asylum laws.

Merkel's cabinet on Wednesday also approved a wider use of CCTV and more bodycams for federal police officers.

Here too officials have to walk a fine line between security needs and the much-cherished right to privacy, in a country still haunted by the surveillance carried out by the Nazis and the communist-era Stasi secret police.

But there is no question of armed soldiers patrolling the streets to reassure nervous citizens, as has happened in France, and in Belgium after the Brussels airport and metro suicide bombings in March.

For now, Germans seem content with their country's balance between having freedom and feeling safe.

"If we were to secure everything, control all the entrances to public spaces, that would no longer correspond with our culture of openness," said Berlin mayor Michael Mueller.

On the streets of the German capital, where the reopening of the Christmas market on Thursday marked a defiant return to normal life, locals were equally stoic.

"Sadly, it will probably not be the last attack that we experience here," one resident told AFP, declining to be named.

"And anyway, there is no such thing as 100 percent security. No one can guarantee that, no police, no state can achieve it," he said.
Its time to meet the boyfriend in Why Him? (out in theaters now), a comedy that centers on a mild-mannered father, Ned (Bryan Cranston), who doesnt exactly warm up to his daughter Stephanies (Zoey Deutch) outrageous, tech-billionaire beau, Laird (James Franco)  and things only get worse when Ned hears that Laird plans to propose.

The film is directed by John Hamburg from a script he wrote with Ian Helfer, and also stars Megan Mullally as Neds wife and Stephanies mother, Barb, and Griffin Gluck as Ned and Barbs son and Stephanies brother, Scotty. EW spoke with Hamburg, Franco, Mullally, and Deutch on set in March, where they discussed the idea for the film, the one-sided feud at the center of it, its sense of humor, and more.

Read on for that, and for Cranstons take on the film, head here.

On the idea for the film

JOHN HAMBURG: There was a previous script and I liked the kernel of the idea in it. It just came from the idea that even myself in my mid-40s, sometimes I feel like a kid and sometimes I feel like the establishment, so that conflict between whose life has been working, and suddenly the worlds changed and he hasnt wanted to let go of things that arent working anymore. Hes holding on for dear life and it feels like the kids are taking over the world, with obvious examples of Mark Zuckerberg or Evan Spiegel from Snapchat. It feels like thats part of the culture now. Those are the guys at the Sun Valley conference. Theyre the new establishment and that dialectic felt like really interesting material for a movie.

Then, Im a parent of quite a young daughter, but the idea of feeling like youre losing your daughter. My daughters only 4, so I have a ways to go before some of the nightmares that Bryans character endures in this movie, but its the idea that you want to hold onto your kids as kids and you have to at some point accept that theyre their own people and theyre grown-ups and theyre going to make whatever choices theyre going to make and you have to support them, and that felt like a real grounded emotional idea to base a movie in.

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On Cranston and Francos working relationship

HAMBURG: , I feel that they have that classic comedy pairing where theyre two of the most opposite people you could put together, which is why I wanted them in this movie, and yet they play off each other so well. Theyre very different kinds of actors, but thats the story. Theyre different people in this movie. Ned is very put together, everything has its purpose and hes well spoken, and Laird is the complete opposite, says whatevers on his mind, so when they work together it just creates this tension and comedic spark, and theyre both super experienced, technically amazing actors.

JAMES FRANCO: Its really easy to work with somebody that you look up to, especially when youre playing a part that looks up to his part. sort of similar in like Milk with Sean Penn, where I played Seans lover and boyfriend; the character loved him and I admire Sean so much. It was kind of easy to translate that admiration into the characters emotions, and its sort of similar here.

He is the nicest guy and obviously so talented. Wed been talking about this movie for a long time. I remember first talked about it backstage during the last episode of The Colbert Report. John had asked us to do it and we were like, What do you think? Maybe we should do it together. Since then, I directed two of my own movies before we started this one and I asked Bryan to do parts in them and he was so gracious and did them.

And the dynamic between their feuding characters

HAMBURG: I like movies about gray areas, so most of the movies Ive written and/or directed, theres no villains. Its kind of like everyones okay, their heart is in the right place, they just dont know how to work it out. So this one, Ned feels threatened from the get-go by Laird, but Laird just wants to love this guy. The problem is Laird doesnt know how to behave. Hes never had a family, so its like he was raised by wolves basically and Ned feels threatened and doesnt want this guy in his life.

Eventually it is like, what are you doing? His wife is like, youre at war with this guy, hes not fighting. Ned has to realize that, but Laird also does some messed up things. He doesnt do anything in an arched way. He just does it because he doesnt know better. Hes probably not around parental figures that much. Thats where the comedy comes from, some of it on his side. He has no filter, and when you have a guy with no filter whose heart is in the right place I think you can buy yourself a lot because he can say anything and it can be quite shocking, but hopefully you keep the heart because hes a decent human being underneath it all.

FRANCO: movies called Why Him? meaning why did his daughter choose me to be with and suggests that Im supposed to be repellant to Bryans character, but the trick of it is is my guy actually isnt that. actually a pretty good guy at heart, and hes actually really great for daughter, but we needed to set it up in such a way that even my good intentions are misread by Bryans character. I guess for my characters arc, hes really trying to please everybody. Its just that he goes about it the wrong way, and so finally at the end, he kind of wakes up and realizes maybe he doesnt have to try so hard.

On where Stephanie and Barb are at

ZOEY DEUTCH: Stephanie invites her family to come and visit her  she goes to Stanford  for the Christmas break, and ultimately to meet her new boyfriend. All hell breaks loose in this one-sided war of my father against my boyfriend. My boyfriends not really engaged at all. Its just my dad not accepting the fact that this guy is in my life, so Stephanie falls right smack-dab in the middle. I think like anybody in real life, you try different tactics . Youre just constantly trying to say the right thing, trying to do the right thing, trying to please everyone, ultimately just trying to make everybody happy, which never works out.

I think shes hesitant because she knows he comes off a little strong and she knows that he is somebody filter, theres no facade. Hes exactly who he is, and shes wary that theyre not going to immediately accept him, but knows that if they give him a chance theyll see hes this really great, honest, and generous man, but it takes a turn for the worse. She thinks that if they meet him in person rather than explain him or meet him on Skype or something that its a better option.

because then she has to explain why she hasnt told them for this long. It just became bigger than she wanted it to become in terms of the lie and it was easier to keep going with it than be like, Im sorry I didnt tell you for this entire year that Ive been with this guy. She doesnt want to hurt their feelings and she has a very close relationship with her father and to hide this from him would really pain him.

MEGAN MULLALLY: I think when we first arrive were feeling protective of our daughter, Stephanie. We arrive in Palo Alto to this big, modern mansion and were pretty overwhelmed.Were a little freaked out because we meet Laird and hes a freak and we dont know what to think or do and one bomb after the next keeps getting dropped. We keep finding out more and more. Hes had her face tattooed on his chest, hes got our family Christmas card tattooed on his back. Hes completely inappropriate and dropping the F-bomb right and left and weve got a 15-year-old son with us and we are not big users of that language.

We find out theyre living together, we find out all of these things. Its all a big surprise. I think that Ned and Barb are different in the sense that Ned is a little more conservative and buttoned up and Barb is conservative and Midwest in her own way, but at the same time shes sort of an artist. Shes a photographer and she was more the wild one in college and so its a case of opposites attracting, but within more of a microcosm. As the movie goes on, Barb blossoms a little bit and comes out of her shell. At a certain point Barb has a conversation with Laird and she realizes that hes actually not a bad guy, that hes a pretty good guy and she develops a certain fondness for him and then tries to nudge Ned in that direction.

On the films sense of humor

DEUTCH: Its not forcing jokes down your throat, I dont think. Theres been a lot of find-it-in-the moment sort of stuff thats come about.

MULLALLY: Im sure youve seen I Love You Man. I actually was a huge fan of that movie, and I love Johns movies because the humor comes out of the characters and the situations, but at the same time hes cast it very well so weve had some people in, like for the party sequence we had Andrew Rannells and Adam DeVine, and Keegan-Michael Key is playing Lairds butler for lack of a better term and hes killing it. There are a lot of scenes where weve done quite a bit of improvisation, so its hard to say because the tone of the movie is very real, but at the same time I think theres going to be some pretty state-of-the-art comedy happening. Not necessarily on my part, but some of the other actors.

HAMBURG: Theres insane moments of comedyYou cant have every moment be a huge, big, explosive laugh scene, but scenes where its a little more subtle, its about behavior and looks between characters and little, subtle things that Im looking for when Im directing that might actually be as funny as some of the big things. Its more grounded in everyday life and so this is about these normal people from the Midwest entering James Francos characters world. Its like The Wizard of Oz. Theyre in this alternate universe and they dont know what theyre doing there and Im trying to capture that tension.
LEVITTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2016 / William Penn MHC (OTC PINK: WMPN), the majority shareholder of William Penn Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the purchase of up to 48,158 shares, or 6%, of the Company's common stock, excluding shares held by the MHC. The purchases will be made from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of management during the next twelve months, or such shorter or longer time as the Company may decide, subject to the availability of stock. The timing of the purchases will depend on market conditions and other requirements.

William Penn, MHC is a federally chartered mutual holding company and majority shareholder of William Penn Bancorp, Inc. William Penn Bancorp, Inc. is the mid-tier holding company for William Penn Bank which operates from its main office in Levittown, Pennsylvania, and branch offices located in Morrisville and Richboro, Pennsylvania. William Penn Bank's deposits are insured up to the maximum legal amount by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). William Penn Bancorp's common stock is traded on the OTC Pink Marketplace under the symbol "WMPN."

This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations or beliefs about events or results or otherwise and are not statements of historical facts. These statements may be identified by such words as "should," "expect," "believe," "view," "opportunity," "allow," "continues," "reflects," "typically," "usually," "anticipate," or similar words or variations of such terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in such statements. We caution that such statements may be subject to a number of uncertainties and actual results could differ materially and, therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. William Penn, MHC does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Terry L. Sager, President and CEO

(215) 945-1200

SOURCE: William Penn MHC
Kids at a Florida childrens hospital were treated to some early holiday cheer as Santa Claus and his elves flew in to greet them.

Window washers from A1 Orange Cleaning Service Co. dressed as St. Nick and his helpers to surprise kids on the other side of the glass at Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando.

Read: 6 Babies Born to Firefighters Pose for Fire Station Christmas Card: 'They Came Out Like Superstars'

The children placed their hands on the windows to touch the elves and of course, Father Christmas.

They are going through all of these rehabs and treatments and to have these fun things come, it is not only really fun for them but for me, the mom, that people care enough to visit these kids is a really big deal, parent Jennifer Nielson told the hospital.

One parent, whose child is a patient, added: It is really cool!

The cleaners went around the entire 100,000 square feet of exterior windows to spread joy to children who needed their spirits lifted.

Miranda Caquias, whose child is also a patient, said: They told us there was going to be a surprise and it definitely was.

She added that her son was really excited because he is really into Christmas right now and seeing Santa made him really happy.

It is the second year that the hospital has had window washers dress as Santa and the elves. Over the summer, the cleaners dressed as superheroes to surprise the children.

The hospital told InsideEdition.com that they try to normalize the childrens lives as much as possible while they are patients inside the facility.

Of course, they wouldnt see elves washing windows at home, but if these patients were not in the hospital, theyd be baking cookies, decorating trees, visiting Santa at the mall," a spokesperson said.

Read: Woman Turns Her Work Cubicle Into a Festive Log Cabin For the Ages

With smiles as bright as Rudolphs nose, the children of all ages were thrilled to have the comfort of Santa and his elves.

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The hope is to remind them that theyre more than their illness," the hospital said.

Watch: 2-Year-Old Battling Cancer Asked for 500 Christmas Cards, Receives Thousands

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)  A Wisconsin man faces sentencing next year for amputating a woman's finger as part of a ritual to commemorate a fellow rap music fan.

Twenty-four-year-old Jonathan Schrap pleaded no contest Thursday to second-degree reckless injury. A mayhem charge was dismissed but can be weighed by the judge at Schrap's sentencing Feb. 24.

A complaint says Schrap and his friends were staging a "ritualistic memorial" at his house in August to commemorate a deceased member of the Juggalos, the name given fans of the Detroit rap duo Insane Clown Posse.

WBAY-TV (http://bit.ly/2ilcfVm ) reports the woman allowed Schrap to cut her arm with a machete. She also let Schrap cut off her right pinky finger.

The mother of the woman's boyfriend convinced her to go to the hospital where staff called police.

___

Information from: WBAY-TV, http://www.wbay.com
A Pennsylvania woman got her colleagues into the holiday spirit by turning her office cubicle into an impressive log cabin.

Read: 6 Babies Born to Firefighters Pose for Fire Station Christmas Card: 'They Came Out Like Superstars'

When Melissa ONeills boss called for a cubicle decorating contest at their Toll Brothers, Inc. mortgage offices in Horsham, Pennsylvania, she got to work on securing her victory.

ONeill and her boyfriend, Wayne, turned to YouTube for inspiration. They then visited a local carpet store, Big Marty's in Penndel, and asked for empty carpet rolls, which they wanted to use as "logs."

We asked the carpet guy for 30 carpet rolls. He looked at me like I had lost my mind. I told him we'd take everything he'd got, ONeill told InsideEdition.com.

They then started building the eight-foot by nine-foot login cabin inside their basement. It took two weeks in total, but she didn't utter a word about her plan to her colleagues.

"This is the most outrageous thing I've ever done," she said, laughing.

Then last weekend, the couple dismantled the cabin and headed to O'Neill's office while no one was at work. Some of the pieces were so large they wouldn't fit in the elevator, and the couple had to haul them up three flights of stairs.

It took two hours to re-create the cabin, complete with wreaths, a sled and even a wine rack.

When her co-workers arrived to work the following Monday, everyone was blown away.

"After I put mine out, people tried to up their game," she said. Colleagues turned their cubes into Candy Land and the Island of the Misfit Toys.

But unsurprisingly, ONeill took first place.

I was getting emails from people in the office I've never even heard of," she said.

The cabin will stay up until the New Year, when O'Neill will give it to a co-worker, who plans to set it up at her son's themed high school prom.

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Read: Woman Wins the Right to Keep Pet Gator Named 'Rambo' That She Dresses Up in Outrageous Costumes

I was honestly just doing it for a reaction out of my co-workers. But it brought a lot more holiday spirit, she said.

This was the first year her office held the contest but it will now be an annual competition at the company.

Watch: 2-Year-Old Battling Cancer Asked for 500 Christmas Cards, Receives Thousands

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23 Dec - It was only last month that Yao Chen gave birth to her second baby, and the Chinese actress recently attended the promotional event of her new movie looking like she was never once pregnant.

As reported on Xinmin, the actress recently surprised everybody by attending the "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 2" press conference in a short number that exposed her slender legs, despite the fact that she was in labour 40 days prior.

When asked how did she do it, Yao said that she has always been obsessed with fitness, adding that she would still go to the gym every day during her pregnancy, as well as after giving birth to her baby.

"Before I gave birth, I was working hard with barbells," she said.

On the other hand, when asked why he cast Yao Chen in the movie, Stephen responded, "She has such a high spirit. She always wanted to keep herself in the best state. We didn't choose the wrong actress for the job."

(Photo Source: Yao Chen Official Instagram)
PHOENIX (AP)  A 3-year-old Arizona's boy celebration of his adoption is a hit on social media.

Dezhianna "Dae" Brown's Twitter post of photos of her adoptive brother Michael had over 55,000 retweets and nearly 140,000 likes by Friday morning.

The little boy is now a member of a family living in Phoenix's Peoria suburb.

He gives a fist pump in one photo taken at court. Another has him posing with Brown and another adoptive sister.

Brown says Michael was "super-shy" when placed with family as a foster child in early 2015 but has since opened up and bonded with her family.

Brown told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that her mother, Tara Montgomery, adopted Michael on Tuesday.

Court spokesman Vincent Funari said he could not discuss a child dependency case.
With nearly 3.2 million followers on their main YouTube channel, The Young Turks is one of few online news programs thats found a dedicated audience among millennials who care about politics and foreign affairs but have no use for the talking head carousel of cable news.

Steve Oh, TYTs chief business officer, told TheWrap that whats working online  but doesnt work with cable news  is that TYT determines the content of its programming solely based on what its highly engaged and communicative audience wants, and not a corporate parent or advertising partner.

The main thing I would tell CEOs of cable news companies is they have to start speaking to regular Americans, he said. Now theyre focused on speaking to Beltway insiders and advertisers.

Also Read: Fusion to Model Young Turks Show on ESPN's 'College Game Day'

TYT, which began as a radio show before transitioning to the internet and had a spin-off on Current TV for two years, returned to linear television for the first time since the summer of 2013 with a 12-week limited series on cable network Fusion, helpfully titled The Young Turks on Fusion, that had hosts Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola traveling to a dozen college campuses to discuss current events, particularly the presidential election.

Oh highlighted the difference between that show, which went directly to TYTs core millennial audience, with election coverage on cable news.

When CNN hires Jay Carney  Jay Carney was literally the mouthpiece of the Obama administration, he said. Do you think millennials really care what these political insiders have to say? Of course not. Those people are partisans. Start programming to your audience and not for insiders and advertisers.

Also Read: The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur Calls Breitbart News an 'Embarrassment'

However, Oh acknowledged one major structural problem with cable news that the internet can bypass: the mandatory and structured commercial breaks and show lengths, which made it challenging to have an organic, free-flowing talk.

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Its harder to have a prolonged in-depth discussion without this artificial break that is foisted upon us, he said.

And that may contribute to the talking at each other dynamic that makes cable news dialogue look more like an auction house than a conversation.

Also Read: The Young Turks' CEO Cenk Uygur on Trump, Sanders and the Political 'Tsunami'

Having four people talk about any kind of issue in a four-to-eight minute block  and [also] having audience feedback, he said. It becomes a race to get your point off in time.

Cenk Uygur, TYTs longtime face, the host of its flagship program  although not the Fusion show  and a former Current TV and MSNBC anchor, said that some of his earliest advice from his cable news bosses was to act like a senator and not wave his arms around so much, two things its hard to imagine young people who watch news online caring about at all. Uygur said the fact that TV has been this way forever means nobody in it questions its idiosyncracies, but internet natives do.

Its like how if you didnt grow up in a religion, religion seems super weird, he said.

Also Read: 'The Young Turks' Celebrates Decade as Digital Politics Powerhouse

Because TYTs audience isnt exactly paying attention to whats on cable news, Oh said it took a little bit of an onboarding process to get them to notice and watch the Fusion show. TYT promoted the show on their own and Fusions Facebook page to raise awareness.

Its really a challenge to get millennials  forget cord cutters, theyre cord-nevers  to get them to watch on a linear platform, he said. Folks who watched Young Turks werent already watching Fusion.

However, TYTs millennial viewer base is highly coveted by broadcasters, because so many in that cohort simply arent watching linear TV. Oh said TYT has been in touch with TV networks and brands looking to capture that audience after the Fusion show.

Also Read: 'Mad as Hell' Review: Cenk Uygur and The Young Turks Explored in Doc That's More Like a Clip Reel

[They] are interested in working with us to develop programming for their linear audience, he said. One of the main reasons they want to do that is to access our audience. They want the content we create, which is relevant to the younger generation.

According to data from June provided by online video analytics firm OpenSlate, TYTs audience is about 81 percent male with an average age of 32.5 years, which is on the high side for a YouTube channel, but extremely young compared to cable news.

Oh envisions future TV projects, but only with partners like Fusion who let TYT be TYT. That might be a bridge too far for many cable news outlets for now, but as millennials continue to stay away from linear TV news, that could change.

Also Read: How the Young Turks Built a 21st-Century News Network (Video)

It would have to be an outlet that is OK with us having complete editorial control, he said. Without any kind of demands that we conform to standards that are set by advertisers.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Fusion to Model Young Turks Show on ESPN's 'College Game Day'

The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur Calls Breitbart News an 'Embarrassment'

The Young Turks' CEO Cenk Uygur on Trump, Sanders and the Political 'Tsunami'
Photo credit: Facebook / Kortney Miller

From Good Housekeeping

When you hear heartwarming stories about couples overcoming major odds to conceive, infertility is usually the culprit. For Kortney and Justin Miller, a couple in their early 20s, it seems as if over-fertility was at play when they naturally conceived quadruplets.

Are you ready for the odds? I don't think you're ready. The odds of conceiving quadruplets sans IVF or fertility therapy are 1 in 700,000. As if that isn't rare enough, the Miller quads are even more extraordinary. Each child came from its very own egg, which led to four individual sacs and placentas. In layman's terms, that means that, prior to the quads' conceptions, Kortney Miller released four eggs at once. Busy mama.

Kortney and Justin already had their hands full with their 4-year-old son, Bentlee, when they were told that their family of three would soon become a family of seven. They weren't quite prepared for the news, but Kortney had a hunch. Multiples, after all, run in her family. "I was sure I was having more than one," Kortney told Today. "I felt a little different."

Yep, we'd expect you'd feel a tad different when you're, you know, carrying four tiny humans inside of you. "I never thought there would be four," she continued. At the ultrasound, with her mother by her side, she discovered that she would be "carrying on the tradition" with Miller multiples.

The Georgia couple turned to their OB-GYN, Dr. Heather Turner, at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, where a team of doctors and nurses (dubbed the "quad squad") assembled to prepare for the babies' arrival. It was the first time the hospital would be delivering quadruplets.

"There was a lot of preparation to do," Dr. Turner told Today. "Any time we anticipate a pre-term delivery, there is a lot of coordination across the labor and delivery unit as well as the hospital to lay the groundwork so everything can be as smooth as possible."

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Weekly interdisciplinary meetings for doctors and conferences with the Millers were hosted to maximize chances of a successful delivery. So when Kortney came in for a check-up on December 16, a quiet Friday morning, to discover that she was three centimeters dilated, it was all systems go. Her husband arrived just in time to witness the cesarean birth.

Kortney and Justin are now the proud parents of three boys - Brandon, Brayden and Bryant - and one precious little girl, Kenlee. Brandon was the largest of the four, weighing in at 3 pounds, 1 ounce. The babies are currently in the NICU and are thriving. Dr. Turner says the birth went "amazingly well" and that the babies are expected to grow stronger over time.

Big brother Bentlee is a tad overwhelmed, but is quick to remind everyone that his siblings are his babies. Looks like the overprotective big brother gene has been activated. "We are so excited and blessed to have four healthy babies," Kortney told the Newnan Times Herald. "We can't wait to go with them on their journey as they grow and progress."

[h/t Today]

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By Jeffrey Dastin

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (Reuters) - A cargo plane emblazoned with "Prime Air" descended from an empty sky at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Tuesday, ninety minutes from the bustle of New York City, loaded with crates of goods during the peak holiday shopping season.

It's one of 40 jets leased by Amazon.com Inc for a new cargo service to meet delivery demand from the retail giant's customers. Exclusive payload data reviewed by Reuters and interviews with airport officials around the country show that Prime Air planes are flying nearly full, but with lightweight loads, taking away valued business from FedEx Corp and United Parcel Service Inc.

Expanding into transportation, from trucks to planes, is one of Amazon's most important endeavors as it strives to lure new customers with fast shipping while keeping costs under control. The world's largest online retailer is sending more packages, more often, and later in the day to serve its estimated 35 million to more than 50 million U.S. members of Amazon Prime, a service that promises two-day shipping for $99 per year.

Bulky boxes with goods once purchased in stores, like toilet paper, are a revenue driver at UPS and FedEx. That's in part because they now are charging customers increasingly by boxes' volume rather than weight. Shipping its own big, light packages is helping Amazon dodge those rising fees.

To date, Amazon has only said it leased the planes to speed up shipping and to backstop cargo partners during the holiday season. FedEx and UPS have delivered items late for Christmas in recent years.

"Our own delivery efforts are needed to supplement that capacity rather than replace it," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman told Reuters. She declined to comment on eluding cargo airline fees.

Amazon's planes fly to at least 10 airports across the United States, supplying its warehouses nearby. Officials at four airports said Amazon's flights are operating near capacity but landing with lower-than-average weight -- meaning it is placing low-density shipments inside the jets. [For graphic-click http://tmsnrt.rs/2hZ8uZp]

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Amazon aircraft on a monthly basis handled only between 37 percent and 52 percent of their maximum loads by weight, according to an analysis of cargo, capacity and landing data from the four airports, with supplementary information from tracking website FlightAware.com. By contrast, FedEx and UPS were at 53 percent and 56 percent capacity, respectively, according to U.S. Transportation Department data for the year ended September 2016, excluding weight carried for free.

"You're dealing with cargo that's big in dimensions, but in pure weight it's light," said an airport ramp manager in California.

Airports in Tampa and Charlotte reported similar payload data for the carriers contracted by Amazon, but they did not specify whether the flights were full by volume or whether they were operated on Amazon's behalf. A seventh airport outside Chicago said the planes were not full, though daily flights only started in October 2016, and Amazon likely is learning the market, transport experts said.

The remaining airports did not comment.

FedEx declined to comment. Steve Gaut, vice president of public relations at UPS, declined to comment on Amazon's airline but said customers commonly handle parts of their logistics in-house.

Reuters could not determine the extent to which, if any, Prime Air had an effect on the bottom lines of FedEx or UPS to date. Reuters could also not determine how much Amazon has spent on aircraft leases so far, key to whether the fleet has cut its costs overall.

The payload figures Reuters reviewed do not include November or December, when contractor ABX Air, a unit of Air Transport Services Group Inc, paused flights for Amazon after a pilot strike.

FLYING LATER

Flight data shows another way that Amazon is departing from cargo companies' road map in an attempt of its top goal: rapid delivery.

Using FlightAware.com and similar websites, Reuters tracked the schedules of Amazon contractors and verified with airports which flights were on behalf of the retailer.

Many of the company's eastbound flights leave the states of Washington and California unusually late at night: its flight from Stockton to Wilmington, Ohio departs close to 2:00 AM Pacific Time (10:00 GMT), for instance. FedEx instead schedules most eastbound service no later than 9:00 PM (5:00 GMT) to ensure arrival at its Memphis, Tennessee hub in time for sorting packages overnight.

The difference is that cargo airlines stop at airport hubs so they can fill up planes easily with boxes from many origins. Amazon does this much less.

But flying without a stopover is faster, helping Amazon cut shipping times from Prime's two-day standard, to a day or even hours. Scheduling later departures has an advantage, too.

"Most people have a tendency to order packages when they're home" from work, said Brian Clancy, managing director of advisory firm Logistics Capital & Strategy LLC. Amazon is "waiting for the orders."

Amazon also saves time by flying to remote locations like Lehigh Valley, which are near cities and its warehouses but have little traffic. Expectations are for Amazon to stretch well beyond Lehigh Valley and the existing airports Prime Air serves.

"We're just seeing the beginning of this," said Marc Wulfraat, president of logistics consultancy MWPVL International Inc. "We could see Toronto. We could see Denver.

"They're going to need a lot more planes," he said.

(Editing by Peter Henderson and Edward Tobin)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, an Uber driverless car is displayed in a garage in San Francisco. Uber has pulled its self-driving cars from California roads. The ride-sharing company said Wednesday, Dec. 21, California transportation regulators revoke registrations for the vehicles. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday welcomed the arrival of a fleet of Uber self-driving cars delivered via a self-driving truck that transported them from California.

Ducey's office says the governor welcomed the truck carrying the self-driving Volvos at the State Capitol in Phoenix.

Uber announced Thursday that it was shipping the cars to Arizona after they were banned from California roads over lack of required permits.

Uber made the announcement after Ducey on Wednesday and Thursday promoted Arizona as an alternative to California for the ride-hailing company to test its self-driving cars.

Uber has not announced when the cars will be tested, nor provided details about how many vehicles arrived in Arizona.

Uber previously had 16 self-driving cars registered in California.

___

This story clarifies that Uber's self-driving cars were banned in California because they lacked permits, not solely because of safety concerns.
By Dustin Volz and Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is investigating how hackers infiltrated computers at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for several years beginning in 2010 in a breach senior FDIC officials believe was sponsored by China's military, people with knowledge of the matter said. The security breach, in which hackers gained access to dozens of computers including the workstation for former FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair, has also been the target of a probe by a congressional committee. The FDIC is one of three federal agencies that regulate commercial banks in the United States. It oversees confidential plans for how big banks would handle bankruptcy and has access to records on millions of individual American deposits. Last month, the banking regulator allowed congressional staff to view internal communications between senior FDIC officials related to the hacking, two people who took part in the review said. In the exchanges, the officials referred to the attacks as having been carried out by Chinese military-sponsored hackers, they said. The staff was not allowed to keep copies of the exchanges, which did not explain why the FDIC officials believe the Chinese military was behind the breach. Reuters was not able to review those records, and could not determine how long the FBI probe has been open, though it was described as still active. A third person with knowledge of the matter confirmed the FBI had opened a probe. FDIC spokeswoman Barbara Hagenbaugh declined to comment on the previously unreported FBI investigation, or the hack's suspected sponsorship by the Chinese military, but said the regulator took "immediate steps" to root out the hackers when it became aware of the security breach. After FDIC staff discovered the hack in 2010, it persisted into the next year and possibly later, with staff working at least through 2012 to verify the hackers were expunged, according to a 2013 internal probe conducted by the FDIC's inspector general, an internal watchdog. CYBER DEALS The intrusion is part of series of cybersecurity lapses at the FDIC in recent years that continued even after the hack suspected to be linked to Beijing. This year, the FDIC has reported to Congress at least seven cybersecurity incidents it considered to be major which occurred in 2015 or 2016. An annual report by the regulator said there were 159 incidents of unauthorized computer access during fiscal year 2015, according to a redacted copy obtained by Reuters under a Freedom of Information Act request. Rather than major breaches by hackers, however, these incidents included security lapses such as employees copying sensitive data to thumb drives and leaving the agency. Twenty of the incidents were confirmed data breaches, according to an FDIC document provided to Reuters by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology. That represents a higher number than was previously reported by the regulator under reporting guidelines for major incidents. Throughout the lapses, the FDIC has said it is stiffening information security standards, including a ban on thumb drives and more coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to prevent hacks. "We are continuing to take steps to enhance our cybersecurity program," Hagenbaugh said. An audit by the FDIC's inspector general in November found the FDIC was failing to do "vulnerability scanning" in an important part of its network, a standard technique used to detect hackers. The audit stated the FDIC was working to address the shortfall. The FBI declined to comment on its investigation. When asked about China's possible role in the 2010 hack, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "If you have no definitive proof, then it is very hard for you to judge where the attacks really come from." Washington has accused Beijing of hacking government offices before, including the theft of background check records from the Office of Personnel Management. It was not clear whether the FBI probe of the FDIC hack would result in any action against China or whether the issue would be taken up by President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to confront China on trade issues. The Obama administration has struggled to develop a clear strategy for responding to cyber attacks, due to the difficulty of identifying hackers and fears of escalation. That challenge was thrown into relief by hacks during the U.S. presidential election which the CIA and FBI concluded were carried out by Russia to help Trump win. Russia denied the accusation. The White House had no comment on the FDIC hack. Trump's transition team did not respond to a request for comment. Last year, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement to avoid economic cyber espionage on one another. "ADVANCED PERSISTENT THREAT A July report by the House Science Committee said hackers suspected to be linked to China's government gained deep access to FDIC computers starting in 2010. The probe at that point was unaware the hack was tied to China's military. The committee, chaired by Texas Republican Lamar Smith, has continued to press the FDIC. Republican lawmakers accused FDIC employees of covering up the hack to protect the job of Chairman Martin Gruenberg, who was nominated for his post in 2011. An FDIC inspector general review last month found no evidence Gruenberg's pending confirmation influenced handling of the breach. In September, FDIC officials told the committee it could not share some documents because the FBI was investigating the breaches, two committee aides told Reuters. FDIC staff realized in October 2010 that sophisticated intruders lurked within the agency's network, according to the FDIC inspector general's 2013 probe. Staff at the regulator learned the computer of the FDIC's then-chairwoman, Bair, was breached by what they called an "advanced persistent threat." Top FDIC officials were not briefed on the matter until August 2011, a month after Bair left the agency, according to the 2013 investigation. Bair declined to comment when reached by Reuters this week. Reuters was unable to determine when the hackers were expunged from the FDIC network. The regulator hired Mandiant, a firm specialized in probing Chinese military hackers, to investigate, executing a contract in January 2013. Mandiant was purchased in 2014 by FireEye, which declined to comment. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; editing by Edward Tobin)
Samsung may be the first to release a foldable phone next year, according to some reports, but it wont be the only top company looking to launch such devices. A new report says that foldable smartphones are in the works from several tech giants, Apple included, and they may become more and more popular by 2019. But could Apple release its first foldable iPhone as soon as 2018?

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To make a foldable phone, you need a flexible display, and a flexible type of glass. OLED is flexible, whereas LCD isnt, and Apple is already expected to launch its first OLED iPhone with a curved display next year.

According to The Korea Herald, theres just one company in the world that can mass produce colorless polyimide, the glass that would protect the foldable OLED screen, and thats Kolon Industries.

Around three to five tech companies are expected to mass produce foldable phones in 2018 globally. The devices will then grab around 20 percent of the total smartphone market here, Kolon Industries colorless polyimide division head Kang Chung-seok told The Herald.

The company is apparently supplying materials to Samsung, LG, and BOE. Apple may also be one of the companies looking at such components.

The Kolon exec said the first foldable devices could have a bend radius of 5 millimeters rather than the 1-millimeter radius that would allow a wallet-like smartphone fold, where the glass on the face of the handset would actually touch itself.

The bend radius of 1 millimeter is the most ideal, but that may cause a safety issue. So, tech companies are likely to unveil the bend radius of 5 millimeters first and then gradually unveil devices with less bend radius, Kang added.

Kolon finished the development of its flexible colorless polyimide glass in August and expects to mass produce films for around 100 million units of foldable devices in 2018.

Apple has traditionally been very cautious about adopting certain technologies, choosing to only bring some of them to market in the iPhone when they have met its performance and quality standards. Itll be interesting to see how fast the company will release a foldable iPhone  or iPad, for that matter  especially considering that the iPhone will receive its first major redesign in four iPhone generations next year.

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That said, Apple already has various patents describing foldable devices, including the kind fold just like a wallet.

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Both Google and OpenAI announced plans to open-source their deep learning code on Monday.

Doctors in London will be getting help from Google-backed AI firm DeepMind, it was announced in a post on Thursday.

DeepMind is teaming up with doctors at Imperial College hospitals for a five year partnership. With the Streams app, developed by DeepMind, physicians will be able to monitor the health of patients. The app gathers data about key physiological measures and warns when readings are high or low, according to the BBC.

The app came from an agreement with London's Royal Free hospital that gave Google access to 1.6 million patient records.

How The App Helps Doctors

The app supports doctors in caring for patients at risk for deterioration, especially with conditions where early intervention can have a major impact, DeepMind says.

With the app, health employees can get notifications, similar to breaking news alerts, of when test results show a patient is at risk of getting seriously ill. Streams also lets clinicians securely assign and communicate about clinical tasks, and give them the data needed to make diagnoses and decisions, the AI firm says.

Apps have changed the way we live our lives, from banking to shopping, and they are clearly part of the future healthcare landscape, said Dr Sanjay Gautama, chief clinical information officer at Imperial College Healthcare Trust.

They bring immense opportunities for faster and more efficient care, by making access to vital information quicker and easier for clinicians, Gautama added. But for apps to be useful and safe they cannot operate in isolation  they need to be securely linked to the core electronic patient record system.

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By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - The Baltic state of Lithuania, on the frontline of growing tensions between the West and Russia, says the Kremlin is responsible for cyber attacks that have hit government computers over the last two years. The head of cyber security told Reuters three cases of Russian spyware on its government computers had been discovered since 2015, and there had been 20 attempts to infect them this year "The spyware we found was operating for at least half a year before it was detected  similar to how it was in the USA," Rimtautas Cerniauskas, head of Lithuanian Cyber Security Centre said. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a Reuters written request for comments over the Lithuanian claims. But Russia has in the past denied accusations of hacking Western institutions. Fears of cyber attacks have come to the fore since the U.S. election campaign when hacking of Democratic Party emails led to allegations from U.S. intelligence that Russia was involved. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, all ruled by Moscow in communist times, have been alarmed by Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. In what Baltic officials say was a wake-up call, Estonia was hit by cyber attacks on extensive private and government Internet sites in 2007. State websites were brought to a crawl and an online banking site was closed. Lithuanian intelligence services, in their annual report, say cyber attacks have moved from being mainly targeted at financial crimes to more political spying on state institutions. Russian spyware was transferring all documents it could find, as well as all passwords entered on websites such as GMail or Facebook, to an internet address commonly used by Russian spy agencies, Cerniaukas said. "This only confirms that attempts are made to infiltrate our political sphere," said Cerniaukas. PREPARATIONS Germany's domestic intelligence agency reported earlier this month a striking increase in Russian targeted cyber attacks against political parties and propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilising German society. The domestic intelligence chief said Russia may seek to interfere in its national elections next year. Although no Russian cyber meddling was detected in the run up and during the Lithuanian general election in October, Cerniauskas said his country needs to understand it is vulnerable to such meddling. "Russians are really quite good in this area. They have been using information warfare since the old times. Cyberspace is part of that, only more frowned upon by law than simple propaganda", he said. "They have capacity, they have the attitude, they are interested, and they will get to it  so we need to prepare for it and we need to apply countermeasures." Lithuanian officials targeted by the Russian spyware held mid-to-low ranking positions at the government, but their computers contained a stream of drafts for government decisions of its positions on various matters, said Cerniauskas. The head of the Lithuanian counter-intelligence agency Darius Jauniskis said Russia tried to sow chaos in Lithuania by orchestrating a cyber attack in 2012 against the Lithuanian central bank and its top online news website. "It is all part of psychological warfare," he told Reuters earlier this month. (Reporting By Andrius Sytas; Editing by Alistair Scrutton)
Russias prowess at cyber-warfare is also helping the country obtain an advantage on traditional military battlefields. According to a new report, Russian hackers infected an Android app in order to capture communications and location information about Ukrainian artillery units, and attack them.

The report, which is from U.S. cyber-security firm Crowdstrike, explains how Russia copied an Android app developed by an officer in the Ukraine military, and whose purpose is to process targeting data for a weapon called the D-30 Howitzer.

The counterfeit Russian app worked the same way. The only difference is that it contained malware that allowed the hackers to gain access to the text messages, location, and Internet data of Ukrainian soldiers who had downloaded it.

Such information reportedly helped Russia gain critical information about Ukrainian troop movement and fighting strength, and resulted in it inflicting unusually high casualties and damage in a violent border conflict that began in 2014.

80% of D-30 howitzers were lost, far more than any other piece of Ukrainian artillery, says the Crowdstrike report, which also cites casualties among Ukrainian military units that used the app.

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The Russians reportedly developed the poisoned app between mid-2013 and 2014 but did not place it in the Android store. Instead, in order to distribute the app, Crowdstrike suggests Russian hackers infiltrated online forums and on social media, where Ukrainian military personnel shared information.

This assessment is based on a number of factors, but chief among them is the likelihood that a military member would only trust and use an application designed to calculate something as critical as targeting data if it was developed and promoted by a member of their own forces, says the report. The type of operational activity described here suggests an extremely sophisticated understanding of the target that only a skilled adversary would likely possess.

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The operation was reportedly carried out by Fancy Bear, a Russian military unit of hackers that has carried out a number of high profile operations, including the theft and release of emails belonging to John Podesta, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

According to Crowdstrike, Russia hackers have also been developing iOS apps injected with malware in order to spy on adversaries, and has been impersonating Ukrainian groups on social media in order to discredit them.

See original article on Fortune.com

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MATTOON -- Former Mattoon resident George Leo Cutright III and his two "urban sled dogs" have gotten a lot of attention recently in his hometown and on Facebook.

Cutright exercises his Siberian huskies, Lobos and Sarah, by letting them pull him while he is seated in a lawn chair on a skateboard. Passersby recorded one of these exercise sessions last week while Cutright was visiting Mattoon. The videos have since been viewed by hundreds of Facebook users.

"I just thought it was a good way to exercise them, and people seem to like it," Cutright said of his two rescue dogs. "It's so nice to have something that brings a little joy into the world."

The former Mattoon resident said he adopted Sarah, who just turned 1 year old, several months ago while he was in California. He said Sarah was living in a Los Angeles home that was too small for her and was spending much of her time confined to the bathroom.

"When I met Sarah, it was love at first sight," Cutright said. "She needed help and I felt obligated that she should have a good home."

Cutright said he adopted Lobos, who is now 13 months old, a few weeks later from a homeless man in Venice Beach, Calif., who could no longer take care of the dog. Cutright said he wanted Sarah to have a companion dog, adding that the dogs are now "peas in a pod."

The two dogs are loyal pets that love to clown around with each other and get attention, Cutright said. He added that the Alaskan huskies also love to go outdoors and run around. Their exercises as "urban sled dogs" accidentally began during one of these outdoor adventures.

"I was sitting on a skateboard and holding Sarah's leash one day when she took off," Cutright said, adding that he held on to the leash and rolled right after her. "She loves it."

Cutright said he cannot keep pace on foot with the speed that the two dogs want to run, so the skateboard was a big help for him. Cutright said he soon learned to balance on a chair while on a long skateboard and fashioned harnesses for his dogs.

In addition, Cutright said he uses his shoes as brakes and has taught sled dog commands to his Alaskan huskies. He says "yah" to get them to speed up, "whoa" to slow down," and "hard right" or "hard left" for turning.

Cutright said he had told his family a lot about his two dogs and their sledding, so he took the opportunity to show them in action last week while he was in town for a visit.

The two dogs and Cutright were racing on a sidewalk along Charleston Avenue when they caught the attention of passersby with cellphone cameras. Cutright said he has been pleasantly surprised by the attention the dogs have garnered.

"It's overwhelming to have people appreciate the love that I have for the dogs," Cutright said. He added that he has received positive feedback about the videos from Facebook users from as far away as Australia, Brazil and Germany.

Cutright, who has traveled throughout much of the United States, has a big trip in mind someday for Lobos and Sarah.

"I would really like to get my dogs to Alaska. I think they deserve to see their native land," Cutright said.
After a recent Change to Win report alleged unscrupulous (and potentially illegal) selling practices at T-Mobile retail stores, numerous T-Mobile customers have contacted BGR to share stories about the exact kind of behavior detailed in CtWs report.

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At the heart of the matter is the practice of bill cramming, or T-Mobile sales reps signing customers up for services and insurance they dont want and havent agreed to. The Change to Win report claims that the bill cramming is a result of T-Mobile sales associates being pressured to meet unrealistic sales metrics; regardless of the motive, T-Mobile customers seem to be encountering this behavior on a frequent basis.

The practices of signing customers up for services they dont want has seen AT&T in serious trouble before, and its the same practice that landed Wells Fargo in the crosshairs of federal regulators. According to the customer complaints below, it seems like T-Mobile is doing exactly the same thing.

A T-Mobile spokesperson declined to comment on these complaints.

TMobile added the JUMP! Insurance on some devices without my consent. When I called about it, they said it was automatically added to new devices. Also, when we went to upgrade the iPhones 6s to 7, the girl told me that TMobile was giving us a Tablet for free. I asked if I had to pay anything and she said no, that it was going to be a credit on my bill and that it had FREE data. In October, they charged me $35  $10 = $25/mo for 6 GB data. The JUMP! was added as well. I called TMobile and told them the girl told me it had FREE data. They told me that it was not possible that the girl said that. So they said I could change to the 2 GB version for $20  $10 = $10/mo. I had given the tablet to my young son so I said yes to the 2 GB, otherwise I had to return the tablet. But the JUMP! insurance hasnt been taken out even thought it looks like they are giving me credit for the past months.

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I have been a T Mobile customer for over 10 years and the pressure from the customer service representatives and the sales people at the dealership is bad. When we purchased our phones 2 1/2 years ago we were told the jump was mandatory. I explained we didnt have that much extra for 5 phones to add jump but was told to get the phones I had to add on jump. We purchased 5 more phones about 3 months ago and went thru the same thing. Jump had to be added per sales rep.

My mother lives in Myrtle Beach, SC and I convinced her to switch to TMobile because I worked for them in Cincinnati, OH. When she signed up she got home and opened her bag to get her phones and under the phone boxed and paperwork she found 80 dollars worth of accessories that she didnt know about. Apparently the person in the store bundled them and didnt tell her about them. When she called the store they told her they were free out the door. Which is the truth, they were free walking out the door. But they added 9 dollars a month to her bill.

I was bamboozled. I was told I had Unlimited Everything for $50 a month. I was with Metro PCS paying a flat $40 a month( no taxes or fees) for what Im getting at T-Mobile. $50 for the privilege of the SAME THING I WAS GETTING at Metro for $40. T-Mobile charges me 1.67 a month for some glass cover (which no one told me about) paying the same amount for memory card (which I thought I was paying set price). $9.00 more for insurance (which no-one said anything about). I got no paperwork, just a phone box in sack. I still have no idea what Im paying for. If I could back out of this mess, I would, but I have no idea what the limits are. Im now paying almost $80 a month for the same thing I was paying $40 for at Metro. Not happy at all.

In November of this year I went in to ask about a promo they were advertising on TV and sending me emails the promo said add 2 lines free I inquired with 2 tmobile salespeople in person I asked them both to define free so there wouldnt be any misunderstanding. They both said you will ONLY pay the taxes and you will pay $4.71 a month for the phone until its paid in full and the phone was $99.00 dollars so I said what about the tablet they said the tablet is free for as long as you keep your services active. Next bill come out Im charged for the 2 lines that was suppose to be free so I called about my bill I got more lies I went back to the store where I made the purchases I was told well when you got the lines it was right at my billing cycle but you will be credited for the lines next month so I said do you think Im going to believe anything you guys say when I have the text message saying congratulations on your 2 new free lines and youre still trying to charge me. So we went back n forth finally I said I will be reporting this to the FCC and the BBB.

These complaints line up exactly with the complaints issued to the FTC, which T-Mobile gets the most of out of all the mobile carriers. You can see all the complaints, released under the Freedom of Information Act, on the FTCs website.

Do you have a T-Mobile horror story? Email chrismills at bgr dot com!

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On Dec 19, we issued an updated research report on Telephone & Data Systems Inc. TDS. The company has been striving to expand its business in the managed hosting and cloud service market through a new cloud-based storage service and managed IP connections. However, intense competition, roaming revenue-related woes, high costs associated with network integration and construction of new cell sites, aggressive equipment pricing, wireless technology upgrades and spectrum licensing are near-term risks. Year to date, Telephone and Data Systems have underperformed the U.S. Wireline National by 2.20%. These are the primary reasons why Telephone & Data Systems currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Telephone and Data Systems is experiencing strong smartphone demand at its wireless wing  U.S. Cellular. Of the total smartphone sales, nearly 94% are 4G devices. The addition of iPhone and other branded mobile phones like Samsung Note series are driving the companys revenues. We believe that the long-term higher ARPU from smartphone users and full utilization of LTE network capacity on the back of migration of customers from 3G to 4G networks are expected to mitigate operating cost headwinds stemming from higher subsidies on smartphones. Further, the device installment plan is expected to offset losses from smartphone subsidies.

Also, Telephone and Data Systems has been increasingly focusing on business services like cloud-based back up services and managed IP connections. Notably, managed IP connections have continued to increase. Moreover, the companys current personal cloud service  younited by F-Secure  has boosted market share and has also helped the company expand cloud services in the retail segment, beyond the conventional enterprise market.

Risks Remain

Telephone and Data Systems is likely to be affected by the amendments in Universal Service Fund (USF) brought in by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Presently, U.S. Cellular  subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, draws approximately $160 million per year in the form of ETC (Eligible Telecom Carrier) funds from USF, representing a significant revenue contribution. Therefore, the end to this program would certainly prove detrimental to the companys earning prospects over the coming years.

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We believe high costs associated with network integration and construction of new cell sites, aggressive equipment pricing, increasing capacity in existing cell sites, wireless technology upgrades and spectrum licensing will considerably strain the companys finances. Moreover, the company faces severe competition in the U.S. wireless market, dominated by larger players like Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, AT&T Inc. T and T-Mobile US Inc. TMUS.

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Are you a prospective iPhone 8, iPhone 7s, or Galaxy S8 buyer? Youre not going to like this rumor, because it may hurt the hottest smartphones set to be released next year. What do these unreleased 2017 flagships have in common? Theyre all expected to have one particular component in common, and its one thats currently showing poor yields that could impact availability in 2017.

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Apple, Samsung, and every other major smartphone maker is preparing to launch mobile devices that have 10nm processors. These will be faster than the current 14nm and 16nm chips found in the iPhone 7, Galaxy S7, and other flagships. And theyll be more energy-efficient, as well.

Theyre also harder to make, and a new Digitimes report claims that foundries are currently experiencing 10nm yield rates that are lower than expected.

TSMC and Samsung are both making 10nm chips, and reports claim that TSMC has won iPhone 8 orders for next year. As a result, its set to make the A11 processor thatll follow the A10 Fusion and the next-gen iPads A10X chips. TSMC expects volume production of 10nm chips to begin in the first quarter of 2017, but the yield rates so far are not what the company expected. The next-generation iPad is expected to receive the A10X chips in time for a March 2017 launch, but unsatisfactory yields may hinder the launch.

Production of the A11 chip should kick off in the second quarter of 2017.

Lets just hope poor yields wont force Apple to fall back to 14nm and 16nm chips, or only equip the iPhone 8 with 10nm chip  a report earlier this week said Apple will launch three iPhones in 2017, the OLED iPhone 8, the iPhone 7s, and the iPhone 7s Plus.

TSMC is also developing 7nm and 5nm chips, but dont expect them in commercial products anytime soon.

Samsung may have lost the iPhone 8 chip battle, but its still producing 10nm silicon for Qualcomm and for its own processors. The Snapdragon 835 chip is built on a 10nm process and will equip the Galaxy S8 and every other hot Android phone in town. Samsung is also developing its own 10nm chip that will likely power its 2017 flagships, including the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8.

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Qualcomm, meanwhile, is also cautious about is product roadmap in 2017. The company will only use 10nm technology for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. The Snapdragon 660, originally planned as a 10nm chip, will be built on a 14nm process.

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Samsung is expected to launch two Galaxy S8 versions next year, including a regular model and a phablet-sized Plus model. A new report claims the Galaxy S8 Plus will sport a massive 6-inch display that thrusts it right into tablet territory. Googles Nexus 6 phone had a 6-inch screen that not many people liked. But Samsungs 6-inch Galaxy S8 Plus might be more pocket-friendly thanks to that rumored all-screen design of the handset.

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Samsung is said to be eliminating most of the top and bottom bezels on its next-generation Galaxy S phone, which would let it increase the display ratio of the phone to more than 90%. That means a 6-inch display may find a home in a reasonably sized phablet. We recently told you about a crazy Beast Mode feature rumored to be hitting next years Galaxy S8, and now this is another area where Samsung might outshine Apple in 2017.

Korean site Naver says that Samsung will be the first company to equip a flagship handset with a 6-inch display. Thats true if you ignore the Nexus 6 that launched in 2014. The report also says that Samsung considered launching the Galaxy S8 Plus with a stylus, but thats not happening. Galaxy Note fans will have to wait for the second half of 2017 to get a built-in stylus.

Naver also says the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus will ship with a voice controlled assistant with advanced artificial intelligence. Some reports claimed recently that Google may prevent Samsung from adding AI to the Galaxy S8 since it would compete against Google Assistant.

The report also cites a recent Goldman Sachs note that said the Galaxy S8 will be up to 20% more expensive than the Galaxy S7.

Samsung may unveil the Galaxy S8 in late February at MWC 2017 in Spain, according to some reports. Meanwhile, other reports have said that the new flagship phone will be unveiled in April during a special Unpacked event.

Story continues

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Italian security sources in Milan say Anis Amri, a Tunisian man suspected of having driven a truck into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people, has been shot dead in a shootout with police, Deutsche Welle reports.

According to the newspaper Corriere della Sera, Amri was killed at around 3 a.m. local time on Friday, and one policeman was injured in the incident.

German federal prosecutors say they are in contact with Italian authorities, but have so far not confirmed Amris death.

Amri, who came to Europe from Tunisia in 2011, spent four years in prison in Italy, among other things for arson. He came to Germany in 2015 after his release.

German authorities say they are almost certain that Amri, 24, was behind the Berlin attack, after his fingerprints were found inside the truck cabin, along with documents pertaining to his residency status in Germany.

So far, four non-German nationals have been identified among the 12 victims of Mondays attack. A spokeswoman for the Federal Prosecutors Office in Karlsruhe said on Friday that one victim each from the Czech Republic, Italy and Israel had been confirmed, along with the Polish driver whose truck was apparently hijacked by the attacker.

Fifty other people were wounded.
Three off-duty Nebraska National Guard officers were hurt when they crashed into a train car earlier this month near Mead, according to the Saunders County Sheriffs Office.

The men survived the Dec. 10 crash on a gravel road, but they were badly injured, said Saunders County Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz. He said his office continues to investigate the crash.

According to an accident report from the sheriff's office, the driver, 26-year-old Joshua Bowman of Geneva, had a blood alcohol content of .16 percent that night.

Bowman at 2:25 a.m. was driving a 2004 Chevy Silverado south at 55 to 60 mph -- the posted speed limit is 45 mph -- on County Road 10 just south of Nebraska 92 when he realized a grain shuttle train car was partially blocking his lane of the road, the accident report says.

Bowman swerved, but hit the rear of the train car owned by Frontier Coop in Mead. The pickup partially spun, hitting a railroad crossing signal pole and ending up in a sod field on the east side of the road.

Bowman and Matthew Boelter, 30, were taken by ambulance to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. Joseph Prichard, 27, was flown to the medical center.

Stukenholtz said Thursday no charges have been filed yet.

Nebraska National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Kevin Hynes confirmed the men are guard members. Prichard is a staff sergeant and the other two are sergeants. Hynes declined to comment on the men's condition citing privacy laws.

Frontier Coop declined to comment.
A front-page Journal Star story on Dec. 15, reported Oil and gas allies amass new powers, and noted the many ways the fossil fuel industry is shaping up to be even more influential than it already is in the coming presidential administration.

Just two days prior to that, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication reported results from its survey taken in the days after the election. The report stated, Seven in 10 registered voters say the United States should remain a participant in the international agreement to limit climate change  two-thirds of registered voters want the United States to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, 66 percent supported a tax on carbon and 76 percent of Republicans want to see the U.S. use more renewable energy.

Our members of Congress need to hear from us if we are among this majority of voters who want to see our nation become an innovative leader in the transition to clean-energy alternatives. Ask for their leadership so we benefit from the many jobs and improved health this transition would provide. A tax on carbon with net revenues coming back to households would speed this process.

Becky Seth, Lincoln
OMAHA  Authorities have arrested an Omaha woman whose 2-year-old daughter's blood tested out more than three times the legal limit for an adult to drive.

Online court records say 23-year-old Joann Powell is charged with felony negligent child abuse causing injury. Her attorney told a judge Thursday that Powell disputes the charge but did not say why.

The child was taken to a hospital early Tuesday morning after her mother called 911. Hospital staffers noted two burns on the child and told police they doubted the wounds were caused by what Powell said was incense being burned and a knocked-over iron.

The staffers also noted the child's high blood alcohol content. Powell acknowledged leaving unattended a cup of cola spiked by brandy.
RACINE COUNTY  For the second straight Saturday, donations you drop into local red kettles will be matched dollar for dollar.

Last Saturday, SC Johnson matched all Racine County Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign donations. This coming Saturday, SCJ Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson will personally match Red Kettle donations, his company announced Thursday.

Saturday was the busiest collection day of the year, and second-highest kettle collection day in history for the Salvation Army, according to SCJ. Volunteers rang their bells at 22 merchant sites throughout the area and brought in more than $16,000. SCJ will provide a matching $16,000 donation to the organization.

I am inspired by the communitys support this year for the Racine Salvation Army, Johnson stated. To help the organization end this campaign with a strong finish, I will personally match the total for donations made on Saturday, Dec. 24.

The Salvation Army hopes to raise $290,000 through this years campaign. To date, it has raised $225,000, according to SCJ.

Red kettles will be located at merchant sites throughout the community through Christmas Eve. Donations can also be sent by mail through the end of the year to the Salvation Army, 1901 Washington Ave., Racine, 53403.

The annual red kettle campaign supports programs and activities that help disadvantaged families with food, clothing and keeping a warm place to live. The Salvation Army also operates community center programs for children and seniors.

SCJ has provided more than $200 million in philanthropic support around the world over the last 10 years. Areas of giving include community and economic development, education, environment and sustainability, social services, health and wellness and art, culture and the humanities.
RACINE  After months of planning and three previous unsuccessful attempts, five tiny houses were moved Thursday to the new Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin location at 1624 Yout St.

Everything fell into place today, said Jeff Gustin, co-founder of Veterans Outreach.

Veterans Outreach has officially moved its headquarters to the new site along with its food pantry.

When trying to transport the tiny houses, Gustin said, they ran into issues with the cold weather and using the wrong trailer.

This makes it one more step to reality, Gustin said happily. It was just a short period of time ago this was just a vision in a lot of peoples heads. This is a huge part of all of this becoming one big reality.

Currently four of the five tiny houses arent finished with the interiors needing to be completed before anyone moves in. The community center also needs to be finished. Officials expect homeless veterans will be able to move into the houses by spring.

Its going to be a lot easier to build them up, having them on site, Gustin said. People can actually come here during the week, rather than having to do it strictly on weekends out in the county.

Donation surplus halts construction

Gustin said Veterans Outreach has received so many donated items that construction on the community center had to be put on pause so they could store the items inside.

Next week were going to be sorting out all of the food donations and getting it back into a construction site, Gustin said.

Veterans in need of assistance and their families can begin heading to the new operations center now, as can anyone looking to make donations to the nonprofit.

Were elated, said Chris Becker, Veterans Outreach board member. This is what weve been pushing for.

Aside from completing the interior of the tiny houses and the community center, the lot where the houses will finally stand needs work. The area needs a storm sewer, underground electrical installation, concrete pylons to place the houses on top of, and a larger water line for the community center.

We cant set them until thats finished, Becker said. So its like building a home. You have to make sure the infrastructure underneath is finished before you can set them on top.
TOWN OF NORWAY  A 33-year-old Wind Lake man allegedly ravaged the inside of a woman's house and assaulted her following a work-related holiday party, resulting in three charges.

Joshua M. Manriquez was charged with misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, all related to domestic abuse, following the incident Wednesday.

The woman was reportedly with Manriquez earlier in the day at the party, where they were drinking alcohol, before an incident angered Manriquez and he left her there.

The woman returned home to find all of her Christmas decorations broken and strewn about the residence, her glass family heirlooms smashed, several other items broken or torn apart and a box filled with Christmas presents emptied, according to a criminal complaint. The electrical cord to the Christmas tree and electric appliances also was cut.

When she tried to talk to Manriquez, he allegedly slapped her in the face multiple times. While the woman spoke with police dispatchers, Manriquez said he would murder her male coworker and ruin her life, according to the complaint.

Four children were reportedly home at the time of the incident.

Manriquez made his initial court appearance Thursday. A pre-trial conference is set for Jan. 26.
4 hrs daily traffic closure starts at Muglin road

Vehicular movement along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section has been closed for four hours daily for road expansion works until further notice.
Aleppo battle: Syrian city 'back under government control'

The Syrian army says it has retaken full control of Aleppo, following the evacuation of the last group of rebels.
Black soot smeared on suspended CIAA chiefs face, two held

Two persons who smeared black soot on Lokman Singh Karkis face on Thursday have been identified as Prakash Shahi of Dang and Chandra Bahadur Budha of Rukum.
BP Cancer Hosp officials furnish clarifications

The chairperson and director of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital (BPKMCH) in Chitwan have furnished their clarifications to the Ministry of Health (MoH) over several complaints related to hospital management.
Egypt delays UN resolution on Israel as Trump raises concerns

Egypt has suddenly delayed a vote on its UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank as Donald Trump made his opposition clear.
Electrical shock

Nepal needs to realise that its hydropower potential is not just for export but also for its own industrial growth
Empowering the power sector

Instead of playing the victim, Nepal should create an investor-friendly environment
Fire engulfs 140 buildings in Japan, but no deaths reported

A fire engulfed about 140 houses, shops and other buildings in a Japanese coastal city on Thursday, injuring five people but causing no deaths, a fire official said.
Gathabandhan: UMLs racist remarks will spread communal disharmony

Denouncing what it calls the main opposition CPN-UMLs racist remarks against the constitution amendment, the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati parties, on Thursday announced a nationwide campaign to garner public support for its demand for the formation of 10 provinces.
Ginger farmers worried as prices plunge 40pc

Ginger prices have declined sharply by 40 percent during the peak harvest season causing distress to farmers.
Ivanka Trump accosted on JetBlue flight by passenger

An airline has thrown a passenger off a flight after he accosted Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of President-elect Donald Trump, on a plane from New York.
Japan, Nepal sign deal on Nagdhunga Tunnel Project

The Japanese government has signed its official development assistance loan worth Rs 15.2 billion with Nepal government for the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project.
Jica hands over VDC building in Thokarpa

Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Nepal handed over a newly constructed VDC building in Thokarpa in Sindhupalchok to the local authority on Thursday.
KMC, Chinas Chengdu to become sister cities

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a sister city with Chengdu, the capital of Chinas Sichuan province, on Friday.
Leaders lose temper as deposed king finds tongue

Deposed king Gyanendra Shahs out-of-the-blue remarks on Wednesday have prompted a flurry of comments, with even the Cabinet on Thursday making the ousted monarchs statement an agenda for discussion.
Make it a crime

The state should do more to end discrimination against Dalits because the people wont
Man caught with IRs363k in banned denominations

Airport authorities on Thursday arrested an Indian national in possession of banned Indian notes in the denominations of 500 and 1,000 from Tribhuvan International Airport.
Ministry, NOC told to roll back fuel price hike

A sub-committee of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Commerce and Consumer Welfare Protection on Thursday directed the Supplies Ministry and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to roll back the latest hike in petroleum prices, stating the oil monopoly did not follow due procedures while taking the decision.
Nepal seeks 10-day exchange window for banned Indian notes

Nepal has conveyed to India that at least 10 days are required to exchange the banned Indian bank notes of 500 and 1000 denominations held by Nepali citizens and financial system.
Nepal tells India officials: Itll take at least 10 days to exchange defunct notes

Nepal has conveyed to India that at least 10 days will be required to exchange the defunct Indian banknotes of 500 and 1,000 denominations held by Nepali citizens and the countrys financial system.
Nepali injured in Thai bus accident

A Nepali national was injured in a bus accident in Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand on Wednesday, the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok said on Thursday.
Nepse to appoint two more clearing banks

Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) on Thursday said it will soon initiate the process of appointing two financial companies to work as clearing banks.
NT appoints consultant

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Opposition alliance to devise further protest plan

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SC starts hearing on Karki case

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Three-tier elections indispensable for full statute implementation: NC prez Deuba

Nepali Congress senior leaders have made an insistence on holding the three-tier elections with the endorsement of the constitution amendment bill registered in the Legislature  Parliament.
Tibetan team meets Nidhi

Chairman of the Peoples Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Baima Chilin met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi at Singha Durbar on Thursday and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
Transitional justice: Victims say crucial in reparation policy

Stakeholders have emphasised on the need of consultation with conflict victims to formulate the reparation policy of the transitional justice bodies.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I took a trip to Iceland! Iceland? You ask. Yes!

We had been wanting to travel there for a few years and with some pretty amazing airfare rates, and tourism booming, aka loads of travel-inspo in Instagram, we decided to take the frosty winter plunge into the land of ice and fire and all things magical. We had visions of snow, northern lights, blue lagoons, wintery horses and Bjork dancing in our minds.

Iceland as a destination felt adventurous, yet welcoming. A bit of unknown yet small and accessible. Would we love it? Hate it? Be bored? Ha! Sometimes the funnest part of travel is not knowing exactly what to expect. So with that, let me take tell you why I cant wait to return to Iceland! 10 Things I Loved About Iceland..

Welcome to Iceland!

Says Mr beautiful Icelandic horse. I will name him Butterscotch because just look at him..

My favorite moments from the trip were hanging out with these cuties, the Icelandic horses  during a bit of snowfall!



View during our drive to the ION Hotel.. Lake ingvellir.. (And please dont ask me to pronounce that..)



Cutest streets to stroll in Reykjavik.. (RAKE-ya-vik)



More Icelandic horses, yes Im obsessed..



The Trip Begins. Our WOW Air flight took off from Stockholm, Sweden where we spent a few days exploring. Read about that leg of our trip here.

We landed in Iceland just as the sun was dipping down low on the horizon .. aka 4pm. I was beyond jet-lagged, even after a few days of travel, and completely passed out during the short flight. I awoke as the wheels of the airplane scraped abruptly across the runway. My head bobbed up and my eyes flashed open. In front of me, the WOW Air flight attendant was posturing herself for unloading. I swung my gaze over to the window and saw black rocky land with some army green colors and a bit of white. But really, all I noticed was that glistening, blinding sun all golden and sharp, sinking down into the horizon. We had just arrived, but in Iceland, the daylight was just ending.

We scurried ourselves through the terminal and found our pre-booked Greyline Shuttle that would take us directly to our hotel, the Hilton Canopy. When choosing our hotels in Iceland, I really had no idea which to choose. There are not many familiar brands and the reviews all sounded muddled together and similar. So I just took a guess. We were staying at two different hotels for one night, then one hotel for two nights. So, yes a quick but jam-packed first trip to Iceland.

We climbed onto the airport shuttle. The airport was a good 45-60 minutes away from our hotel. During the drive, I scanned the coastline, saw giant glaciers in the distance and watched as the sun dove deeper into the earth.

By the time we arrived to our hotel, the sky was a hazy blue and the sun was nowhere to be found. We rushed to settle in, change and grab a bite to eat at Joe and the Juice, just across the street. We were rushing because our Blue Lagoon shuttle would be picking us up any minute! But overall I was super happy with our first hotel. I loved this little neck of the woods in Reykjavik. The streets are small, cobblestone accents and a the beautiful ocean out your window. Loads of shops and dining all around. I would absolutely stay here again.

We rushed out to meet our shuttle. The air was super crisp and cold and I huddled up in my brand new Save the Duck winter puffer coat. I love that thing! It kept me warm without harming any cute ducks with the use of down feathers.

Our first big adventure in Iceland was the Blue Lagoon. Ill chat more about it below. But overall, the Blue Lagoon was fun. Especially with the night crowd. In Iceland in general, there seemed to be a very high percentage of folks from the UK on a weekend or week holiday. At our night session of Blue Lagoon, bathers were drinking and laughing and the whole experience had a jovial tone. I was expecting it to be a bit more tranquil, but I loved it anyways. I kept laughing because the whole process of Blue Lagoon-ing reminded me of the movie Titanic. What, huh? Why? Go with me here. Hords of people are expelled from the dressing rooms, out into the freezing night air and because of that bitter cold, forced to plunge yourself into the waters. Everyone scattering and flapping towards the dark water, black sky and night stars above, basically no lighting on the waters, I could barely see where I was swimming at some points. This was my first time swimming in freezing weather under a black night sky, so that was literally my only reference point .. a movie.

Our first full day in Iceland was perfect. My favorite day. I awoke well-rested and happy. The breakfast at the Canopy Hilton was wonderful with loads of fresh fruit and juices and cereal, tea, non-dairy milk  and much more for anyone who isnt vegan. I felt very well fed there though.

We strolled through Reykjavik a few hours, it was cold but lovely as snow started to fall on our faces. Snow in Iceland! I was in heaven.

We walked up the steep streets to the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church. I purchased a ticket to ride the tiny elevator to the top and peered out for 360 degree views of the city. A must-do if you are not afraid of heights.

That afternoon we headed out by taxi to our next stop for two nights, the ION Hotel. The ride there was gorgeous. The snow was falling and we stopped at several spots to check out the Icelandic Horses. Magical fuzzy creatures that brave the cold all winter long.

Finally we arrived at the ION Hotel, out in the middle of what felt like nowhere. (More about it below) The ION was a bit disappointing due to the lack of vegan food and also lack of northern lights (but there is nothing the hotel can do about that.) The service was hit or miss. A few of the staff members were ah-mazing. And others, not so much. The hotel bills itself as being luxury, so I think the service could be more dependable.

On our last evening at ION, kinda hungry and realizing there would be no lights for us, I decided to live it up anyways and took a very long and playful dip in the Geothermic pool. The icy snow fell on my face as I swam and danced in the warm waters. All to myself!! A totally unexpected way to spend our days in Iceland, but so refreshing and soul energizing. Plus, the water in Iceland is just magical everywhere you go!

I wont go into too much detail about our last night full day because we had a pretty bad experience with a tour we booked. Long story short, the all-terrain bus was insanely bumpy on the highway, the rain made it impossible to do anything on the tour, and my neck completely went out while I was racing towards shelter/the designated lunch spot as it gushed rain and the bus was parked way across the parking lot. I was in tears the whole ride back to the city because my neck hurt so bad. BTW, this was a 9 hour tour. Yikes. The lesson: be very careful about the tours you book and if the weather looks awful when you are supposed to go see waterfalls and beaches  consider skipping it  because the tour might go no matter what and could just be awful. Like Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs.

Our last night, we stayed in the FossHotel. It felt enormous. It was a good hotel, but I prefer a more boutique style when staying in a place like Iceland. The breakfast buffet felt like a large dining hall rather than a cute hotel. But they did have loads of food options. The lobby was large and cozy and the view from our room was beautiful, so high up.

Other highlights from our trip included strolling around Reykjavik, visiting Glo and Joylato more than a few times! And just embracing the crisp cold, the amazing water. Next time I want to do more hot spring searching and bathing.

Our last morning, we shuttled back to the airport and readied ourselves for our 9 hour flight back to LAX, via WOW Air. Let me just say this, we booked VERY last minute, like a few days before our trip, and our WOW Air return flights were only $199 each. CRAZY! I can rarely fly to NYC for that price. More on WOW below too..

So with that quickie of our trip, here are some more specific fave moments: 10 Things I Loved About Iceland..

10 Things I Loved About Iceland

1. Blue Lagoon.

For years I have been gawking at photos online of Blue Lagoon, the icy blue waters circled by dark black rocks, a gentle steam rising from the waters as bathers soak in the peaceful scene.

The Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976 during operation at the nearby geothermal power plant. In the years that followed, people began to bathe in the unique water and apply the silica mud to their skin. The unique properties of its waters provide not only an enchanting lagoon experience, but also the patented, active ingredients in Blue Lagoon skin care: silica, algae, and minerals.

Well it was definitely amazing, but also a bit less delicate and tranquil than I imagined. Probably because stupidly, we didnt book our ticket until a week before and all the morning slots were all sold out, so we had to go at 7pm, when it is dark and super freezing out.

The blue lagoon felt a bit like Disneyland in the way that it handles A LOT of people each day. But it was really fun and had great energy. I was laughing and giggling and a happy little lagoon floater the whole time. Since we went in the dark, I didnt get any good photos, but it was still an energizing experience. Some negative points for me, there were people drinking alcoholic beverages IN the lagoon, and spilling them into the water (served from the swim up bar) and people were crowding around the face mask section, so when I finally got over there the face mask tub was empty. I wish they handed out single serving masks instead of a self serve tub.

The freezing weather wasnt an issue at all! I loved the contrast of freezing cold and super warm water.

Overall I loved the lagoon!

Tip: Book your blue lagoon tickets EARLY. Snag those morning spots. Morning is probably a bit more peaceful and you can get better photos! Also, they are renovating so I cant wait to return and see how those renovations turn out!

More info: Blue Lagoon Iceland

The Blue Lagoon photo I really wanted

photograph credit: BlueLagoon.com



The Blue Lagoon Photo I got. haha it was a bit different at night! But still awesome.

2. Natural Beauty All Around

Waterfalls, glaciers, beaches, rolling hills, lava rocks, geysers, mineral pools, fog, snow, sun, stars. Basically Iceland has it all in terms of natural beauty.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall, one of the two waterfalls we sortve saw. Sadly it was too rainy to get too close or to hike behind the waterfall, as you can do on sunny, dry days.

3. Reykjavik

I loved this little big town! It was fun to stroll the streets. There are loads of tourists and locals, cute shops and loads of dining. Bright colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, ocean views and crisp air. Dining was doable for vegans! Many menus had veggie options. And vegan options if you do a bit of digging or know where to go. (My two faves, Glo and Joylato are listed below.) Be sure to visit Hallgrimskirkja Church for a birds eye view..

Looking up at the Hallgrimskirkja Church..



View from the top..



4. Northern Lights.

So we really wanted to see the northern lights, the magical aurora borealis phenomenon. All your northern lights questions can be answered on this website: Guide to Iceland Northern Lights.

We actually booked two nights at ION, a hotel that prides itself on being northern lights-friendly. More on that in #5, but sadly the weather was too cloudy.

We did the the lights our first night, in poor viewing conditions  near some parking lot lights. They were magnificent, yet, I will be honest a bit underwhelming. I was expecting insanely vivid lights like you see in photos, but for us, the green color was pretty muted. I guess I should have known that people love photoshop. And I am sure they are more spectacular if you can really get out in the middle of nowhere on a clear night

Tip: Do not go to Iceland JUST to see the northern lights, because if you end up missing them due to weather changes, you will feel sad. Instead, enjoy Iceland all on its own and think of the lights as a possible perk! That being said, having a car or going on northern lights tours are a must since you cannot see them very well or most times at all with the glow of the city lights of Reykjavik. So drive a bit out of town to where it is dark to look for them.

My one northern lights photo from my iPhone, very grainy, but still lovely in its own way..

5. ION Adventure Hotel.

Sadly, the weather was too cloudy for any northern lights during our stay. But we still had fun.

This hotel was gorgeous, design wise, yet lacking in a few ways. One thing, the vegan food options were dismal or very expensive. The problem is that you literally have to eat at the ONE restaurant in the hotel during your stay because the hotel is a good 60-90 minutes outside of Reykjavik, depending on how weather conditions are. You may feel a bit stranded, but that is also part of the fun, right? I actually loved the serene quietness of the snow and stillness of the white on white surroundings. The one small geothermic pool is lovely. And all the rooms are gorgeous and modern. I loved that room. Small but perfect. If only they had better food options!! Grr. The restaurant serves fine dining cuisine in the evenings  very modern and fancy in style.

fun fact: Bjork, yes the Bjork, was dining in the restaurant one night we were there! Crazy. I thought I was imagining it, but it really was her with some of her entourage. She looked sassy and amazing in a black and white striped blouse and two buns on top of her head. My 90s self was giddy.

The ION Hotel spa is just two treatment rooms. And you need to book in advance. I tried a facial and really enjoyed it. I love the products they used, from an Icelandic brand called Soley. I am almost out of the Birta moisturizer I bought and super sad because I cant find it for sale anywhere else. Love it!

Tip: Try to book on non cloudy days, if possible  easier said than done. And bring some snacks!! We brought a big takeout lunch from Glo for our first day, which was very smart. Be prepared to feel away from it all in the coziness of a very modern hotel.

More info: ION Hotel

Snowy scenes from around the ION Hotel..



The one item I really loved at the restaurant, vegan butternut squash and carrot soup with cauliflower cream..

6. Joylato.

My favorite spot in Reykjavik! This tiny little shop serves customized vegan coconut milk ice cream as well as many vegan hot beverages. That hot chocolate, o-m-g. The ice cream is sooooo good even when it is freezing out! The spicy hot chocolate made with almond milk was ah-mazing.

Tip: Try the coconut milk ice cream with the salted caramel flavor. Amazing!

More info: Joylato

Salted Caramel..

7. Icelandic Horses!

These creatures are gorgeous. They are not hard to find once you start driving outside of the city. their fluffy fur gets thicker and fluffier as winter sets in. They are beautiful creatures and I was so happy to find them with a little help from our taxi driver.

Tip: Go find these beauties and soak in their magical presence.

8. Glo.

We ate at Glo in Reykjavik three times because it was everything a vegan could want! They are vegan, but they also serve one chicken wrap. Kinda odd, but whatevs. They also have a raw entree option. The portions are large, seating cute and arty and casual, and food super healthy and flavorful. They have amazing juices too!

Tip: Dine at Glo at least once! come hungry, leave nourished and happy.

More info: Glo Restaurant

Our to-go meals we brought to ION..



9. Canopy Hotel Reykjavik  by Hilton

We only stayed one night at Canopy, but it was my favorite out of the three hotels we stayed at in Iceland. It is is walking distance to loads of dining and shopping options. And the hotel is beyond adorable. The breakfast was awesome too. And service was great. I had to be a bit pushy because the first room we were given was a little stuffy without many windows. I had a pretty bad asthma attack at our last hotel and so I requested a different room. They gave us a one bedroom room with loads of windows and fresh air. I was beyond grateful. they also changed out the feather bed and pillows to foam. The bar they have is open late and super trendy and cute. Everything in this hotel feels artsy and modern. I was impressed!

Tip: If you dont mind spending a bit more than the average hotel in Reykjavik, you will be treated to a cute and fun hotel experience. This hotel reminded me of NYC meets Iceland meets London. I loved it.

more info: Canopy Hotel

Room view from the Canopy Hotel in Reykyajik..



10. Icelandic Water.

Right out of the tap. I am OBSESSED. The water in Iceland is crazy mazing. Seriously, even after a few days my skin felt soft, hair shiny and I just felt good being lazy in a long shower. No offense Los Angeles tap water but you kinda suck compared to Iceland. Icelanders are very proud of their water too! For very good reason.

Tip: Enjoy your long showers and basically every moment you get to enojy Icelandic water! Out of the tap or in a mineral spa!

Other things..

Air to Iceland

We booked a super cheap flight on WOW Air and were super happy with it! Seriously, I have seen some flights from LAX to Iceland for $99 each way! Crazy. Go for it.

Tip: Upgrade to a seat with extra leg room.

More info: WOW Air

To Rent a Car or Not?

This really depends on what your travel plans are and how adventurous you are with driving in icy or rainy conditions. For us, we knew we would be trekking out to a hotel in the middle of nowhere, so we decided to rely on knowledgable taxi cab drivers as well as tour bus shuttles to places like the blue lagoon and to and from the airport. It was a smart move for us. I cannot imagine driving ourselves along those blizzard-y rural roads! There are not street lights once you get out of the city. For getting around Reykjavik, you can pretty much walk to most places  just bring a really big, warm coat and hat and gloves help too.

Tip: For winter time especially, book all your shuttles in advance (from and to airport) and use cabs and shuttles if possible. If you really need to rent a car, ok, but just drive very carefully! In the summer months I would definitely rent a car to have more freedom to explore on your own schedule.

Tour Bus Sightseeing. We didnt have the best experience, so I am guessing some tours are awesome and other not so much. Choose your tours very carefully! They are LONG days so if you dont like sitting next to strangers or possibly having your tour altered a bit (or a lot as in our case) due to weather then maybe just try and rent a car and tour things yourself  or stick to more local areas on bad weather days.

Flight home..

Thanks for the adventures Iceland!..



View from our room at the ION Hotel, yup just a whole lot of snow and ice and white on white!


Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
Ugandans have been urged to look to Jesus Christ for joy peace and strength even during times of distress and hopelessness.

The message comes from the Bishop of Namirembe diocese Rt Rev Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira as Christians wait to join the rest of the world to celebrate Christmas.

Delivering his Christmas and New Year message at Namirembe, Bishop Luwalira said all human effort to restore peace, joy and harmony are temporary with only Jesus able to give lasting joy and peace.

Bishop Luwalira has decried the continued cases of domestic violence, theft and corruption, loss of life and insecurity in some areas of the country and impunity of the so called investors.

He says only God will help the country and Ugandans deal with all social injustices.
South Sudans Ministry of Higher Education says it is investigating the legality of Busoga Universitys operations in South Sudan, after it emerged that the institution awarded degrees to South Sudan without following the requisite procedures.

The ministrys Undersecretary Professor Bol Deng Busoga University is accused of unfairly awarding degrees to more than a hundred South Sudanese within just a few months.

An investigation committee formed in Uganda found that the University graduated more than 1,000 students, including 137 from South Sudan and unspecified number of Nigerians, who never completed the programme duration while others never met the minimum admission requirements.

The graduates were reportedly from an affiliate private university in Juba.

Investigations into the fake degrees scandal found that the affected students were awarded degrees on September 30 after studying for only five months while others didnt fulfill the minimum entry requirements.

Professor Deng now says the branch of Busoga University in Juba may be closed if it does not possess the required documents.
President Yoweri Museveni has called upon the citizens of South Sudan to stop fighting and work upon regaining their power from those with guns.

The president who had gone to South Sudan on invitation of President Salva Kiir for talks on the political situation in the country says the people of South Sudan can only regain their sovereignty by voting.

He further appealed to stakeholders and the government to stop actions of insecurity and put focus on holding elections as soon as possible

Yoweri Museveni has also tasked the citizens to exercise their freedom through democracy.
The United States has dismissed reports of a looming stock-out of anti retro-viral drugs saying money to implement the Test and treat Policy is available.

A statement released by the US embassy in Kampala indicates that through the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, the American government agreed to provide $11.5 million to procure ARVs so that Uganda could meet the expected demands of Test and Treat, on top of an additional $8.6 million to fill other funding gaps related to procurement.

According to the statement, the Government of Uganda committed to provide $23 million to help cover the countrys ARV needs through June 2017.

The US mission also indicates that the new Test and Treat guidelines are not to blame for Ugandas chronic drug shortages.

The guidelines were officially adopted in December 2016 and the Ministry will begin their implementation in January 2017.

Earlier, the National Medical Stories General Manager, Moses Kamabare had expressed fears of looming drug stock-outs, mostly for anti-malarial drugs next year.
German police are on heightened alert after a Tunisian man on Monday plowed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others.

That's what makes this image that purports to show two female German police officers holding Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns -- without magazines -- so provocative. (Click the link; there was a glitch embedding the tweet into this post.)

The Stuttgart-based media outlet Online-Magazin on Friday tweeted the image along with the caption, "Germany: After the #ISIS terrorist attack in #Berlin. Policemen guard Christmas markets with HK-MP5 without magazine and ammo."

It wasn't immediately clear exactly where or when the image was taken, who the officers were, or to which law enforcement unit they belonged. But the idea of patrolling with empty firearms obviously seems dubious.

What do you think? In what scenario does it make sense for police or troops to stand guard with weapons but without magazines -- or ammunition?

Meanwhile, the terrorism suspect, Anis Amri -- whom ISIS claimed as one of its own -- was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan, ending a Europe-wide manhunt, the Associated Press reported. The police officer he shot sustained non-life threatening injuries, according to AP.
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The La Crosse County Boards monthly meeting Dec. 15 might not have merited much of a report, except for one thing: It was the last to be held in the 51-year-old La Crosse Administrative Center.

County Administrator Steve OMalley gave board members a rundown of the countys considerable accomplishments this year, including maintaining its Aa1 bond rating and keeping the tax rate flat at $3.89 per $1,000 in equalized property value, even with $23 million worth of downtown campus remodeling and nearly $18 million for building a new Lakeview Health Care campus in West Salem.

He touted the countys debt management strategy that made it relatively pain-free to accomplish the downtown campus projects, which included purchase and remodeling of the old Associated Bank building to serve as a new administrative center, a 20,000-square foot addition and remodeling at the Health and Human Services Building and completion of unfinished space at the Law Enforcement Center.

A long list of other highlights for the year included national accreditation of the countys Health Department, the launching of a veterans expo, and a banner first year for the countys Neighborhood Revitalization Program, which saw a 10-to-1 return on investment in new housing development in La Crosses most impoverished areas.

OMalley also touted the countys continuing ranking as one of the lowest taxed counties in the state, with La Crosse Countys $285 per capita tax levy ranking seventh lowest out of 72 counties. And, he added, La Crosse County is only one of two counties in the state that has women in the board chair and vice-chair roles.

At some point in the distant future people will probably reflect on this county board in 2016 with amazement and wonder, said Board Chair Tara Johnson said.

But none of this was really too surprising or groundbreaking news. The most unprecedented part of the agenda was Johnsons reminder to board members to make sure to clean out their lockers  they wouldnt be coming back.

One board member, Ralph Geary, had been coming to board meetings in the basement of the Administrative Center for 40 years. Thats as a board member, first elected in 1976. To him, the old place feels like home, and he wasnt sure how he was going to feel about the new building.

The moving process began Tuesday and is expected to be completed by the end of next week.

Before the board meeting, in the lobby of the building, current and former officials and staff members reflected on all that has gone on in the administrative center, which once was home to the entire county government  courtrooms, jails, sheriffs department, health department  everything.

Of course, it didnt take as much to hold the health department back in May 1965, when the building was dedicated. Bob Taunt, the countys former personnel director, noted that the county only had one public health nurse and one social worker.

Former Vernon County Judge Michael Rosborough was with the state public defenders office when the building opened and recalled that back then public defender had space in the early years in the basement across the hall from the employee lounge.

We spent many an hour in that lounge discussing current events and cases with judges, prosecutors and others, Rosborough wrote in an email Assistant County Administrator Jane Klekamp read at the farewell ceremony. When the new courthouse was in the planning stages we were given the opportunity to request space therein; however, we had come to realize that all of the hobnobbing with judges and prosecutors created the appearance of a conflict of interest and therefore sought out separate quarters.

County planner Charlie Handy reminded people that before the jail and courthouse were moved across the street in 1997 to the new Law Enforcement Center, inmates used to be escorted down the hallways from the jail to the courtrooms and back, sometimes causing unease among people there on other business.

The opening of the new administrative center, built for a total cost of $1.2 million, was a very big deal, involving a ceremony that took at least 90 minutes, by OMalleys estimation. He dug up the program for the dedication, which took place on Sunday, May 23, 1965, and was kicked off by a half-hour concert by the Bangor High School band. Choirs from Logan and Central high schools sang hymns, local pastors prayed and Gov. Warren Knowles gave the dedication keynote speech.

No such festivities are planned for the new administrative center, although there will be an open house on Jan. 12 so people can inspect the new seat of county government.

The old administrative center has been sold to Stizo Development, which plans to spend $10 million to renovate the building to create a student housing complex that will be home to more than 200 people.
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Warnings from two Republican lawmakers that the University of Wisconsin Systems budget could be affected if UW-Madison does not cancel a planned course on racism amount to an unconstitutional attempt to stifle free speech, according to a national anti-censorship group.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which tracks campus speech policies at colleges and universities across the country and criticizes efforts to limit First Amendment rights, said the statements this week from state Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Greenville, and Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, threaten academic freedom.

Of course, legislators  like everyone else  are free to criticize academics as they see fit, but using ones power as a government official to crack down on speech is the very definition of censorship prohibited under the First Amendment, Joe Cohn, the groups legislative and policy director, wrote Wednesday.

Nass and Murphy have called for UW-Madison to cancel the course, planned for the spring semester, titled The Problem of Whiteness. The course will explore white identity and the role of white people in dismantling racist systems, according to UW officials.

But Nass and Murphy say the class is inappropriate and a waste of money. They both called for UW-Madison to cancel the course, and said administrators handling of it could affect how the lawmakers evaluate the UW Systems request for increased funding in the next state budget.

Murphy on Tuesday called for the professor leading the course to be fired over posts on social media in which Murphy said the faculty member, Damon Sajnani, condoned violence against police officers.

Murphy said he disagreed with Cohns characterization that he was threatening to withhold funding for the university system, and said his comments were more about encouraging UW to build goodwill with lawmakers and the public.

You cant ever cut the taxpayers out of the equation  they have a right to have a voice also in discussions about the universitys courses, Murphy said.

Nass office did not respond to a message seeking comment Thursday morning.

The anti-censorship organization  which often draws praise from conservatives who warn of what they call restrictive campus speech policies put in place by left-leaning academics  countered that it was inappropriate for lawmakers to try to shut a course down because they disagreed with it.

Cohn warned that letting legislators exercise veto power over course content they dont like would lead to a politicization of education in which conservative faculty could be silenced in liberal states, and liberal professors would face the same in conservative areas.

Academic freedom and the quality of education provided to students suffers immensely when faculty are not free to decide their own content, Cohn wrote. Hopefully, the Legislature will drop these misguided and even unconstitutional threats.
The Wisconsin Humanities Council has awarded a grant to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse English Department to support a community-wide conversation about Ernest Gaines "A Lesson Before Dying."

The event will be a highlight of the first annual La Crosse Reads program, which is sponsored by the NEA Big Read in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Community members will come together for a dialogue about issues of social justice, human rights and structural racism as they relate to the novel and the community at large. The city of La Crosse's Human Rights Commission has hosted similar listening sessions the past year, and recently the Mayor of La Crosse, Tim Kabat, issued a proclamation affirming La Crosses commitment to moving past its history of discrimination.

A panel discussion will accompany the community conversation, providing a forum for local activists and experts to address questions of discrimination and privilege as they relate to Gainess book. "Although the novel is set in Louisiana during the Jim Crow era, the problems it poses have continuing relevance for readers in the La Crosse community," said Bryan Kopp, one of the grant's co-authors.

A dialogue about social justice will help encourage change and action to decrease poverty rates and increase literacy rates in the La Crosse area. This project is part of the Wisconsin Humanities Councils focus on Race and Ethnicity.

For more information on this and other La Crosse Reads events, visit www.lacrossereads.com.
A judge is recommending that Canadian Pacific be allowed to modify two La Crosse street crossings to accommodate an additional track through the citys North Side.

The railroad announced plans in 2015 to add a third track along a -mile stretch of its line between the Black River and its North Side rail yard, saying the new track would allow trains to pass more freely on its Chicago-Twin Cities corridor.

That stretch includes grade crossings at the Avon/Hager and Liberty/St. Cloud street intersections, for which CP would need permission from Wisconsins Commissioner of Railroads.

Under the order recommended by an administrative law judge, CP would be allowed to add a crossing at each intersection so long as the company installs anti-skid surfaces on the pedestrian walkways, pedestrian warning signs and filler to minimize the chance of a bicycle or wheelchair getting stuck.

Canadian Pacific and the city are to conduct a joint study of ways to keep drivers from going around crossing gates.

Company spokesman Andy Cummings said the railroad has no immediate plans to build the new track, as freight volumes have slowed since it was initially proposed.

We do intend to follow through with the regulatory process so that we can begin construction at such time that volumes justify this investment, Cummings said.

Under the terms outlined by the judge, the work would need to be completed by June 15, 2017, and Canadian Pacific would be responsible for the costs of the modifications and the safety investigation.

According to the railroad, the 4,500-foot rail addition will allow trains to pass even while crews are switching cars on the third track and would increase network capacity.

An average of 24 freight trains pass through those intersections each day at maximum speeds of 40 mph, according to the judges findings. The secondary track carries another 26 trains a day during switching operations at Canadian Pacifics neighboring rail yard.

According to the findings, train traffic would not change as a result of the project.

Neighbors complained that trains impede traffic and present a safety hazard for children crossing those intersections, while local rail safety advocates opposed the project saying it would result in more explosive crude oil and other hazardous materials moving through the city.

But the volume of crude oil shipped by rail from the Midwest to East Coast refineries is about half what it was at its peak in 2014, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

According to information filed with state authorities in May, Canadian Pacific moves an average of one to three fully-loaded oil trains per week through La Crosse County. Thats down from seven to 11 trains per week reported in December 2014.

State authorities have no ability to regulate railroad speed limits or other operations. The Commissioner of Railroad has authority over crossings.

It will be up to Commissioner Yash Wadhwa to issue a final decision after considering any comments on the judges recommendation. Public comments on the recommendation must be submitted by 4:45 p.m. on Jan. 9.

Canada Pacific has no immediate plans to build the new track, as freight volumes are down. The railroad moves an average of one to three fully-loaded oil trains per week through La Crosse County, down from seven to 11 trains per week reported in December 2014.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a new conservation effort to boost the monarch butterfly population through habitat improvements.

The program will allow landowners to enroll up to 50,000 acres of farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program, through which the government pays farmers to remove environmentally sensitive land from production.

This is a huge win for conservation in Wisconsin, said Patty Edelburg, state executive director of the Farm Service Agency. While participation in CRP programs is down, Edelburg said the agency in recent years has had to turn away farmers looking to put their lands into conservation.

In order to qualify, land must have been planted with crops for at least four of the past six years. If accepted into the program, landowners agree to follow a conservation plan that calls for a mix of grasses and flowering plants  including milkweed  that monarchs, bees and other polinators feed on.

These insects are critical to the production of dozens of common foods, from apples to vanilla.

Polinators are the lifeline between us and the foods we eat, said Brandon Soldner, a conservation program specialist with the FSA.

Bright orange with black and white markings, monarch butterflies are found throughout North America, mostly east of the Rocky Mountains. During the summer they are found as far north as Canada. Beginning in August, they make a two-month journey south to a handful of sites in Mexico, where they spend the winter before returning to mate in the spring.

Two decades ago, about a billion monarchs occupied a winter habitat of 44.5 acres, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. By 2013-14, that had fallen to about 37 million butterflies.

More than 90 percent of those butterflies feed on common milkweed, much of which has been eradicated by modern farming and landscape practices, said Kurt Waterstradt, Wisconsin private lands coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Planting 50,000 acres of Wisconsin in milkweed could boost the population by 750,000 butterflies, Waterstradt said.

Its imperiled, he said. We dont want to put it on the Endangered Species List.

Available to landowners in the southern two-thirds of the state, the monarch program is modeled on an existing one that was aimed at improving habitat for the endangered Karner blue butterfly in Jackson and Eau Claire counties.

With about 350 acres enrolled, the Karner blue program in Jackson County is full. Julie Dokkestul, executive director for the FSA in Jackson and Trempealeau counties, said there are landowners who couldnt get into that program will likely flock to the monarch program.

Dokkestul notes that seeds for the monarch program will be more affordable than those for Karners.

CRP rents vary based on location, land quality and other factors. In 2015, Wisconsins average rents ranged from $25 an acre in Florence County to $148 in Grant, with an overall average of about $80 an acre, according to FSA data.

Standard cropland rents for an average of $109 an acre in Wisconsin, and about $200 an acre for irrigated land, according to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The FSA expects to begin accepting applications this winter. Planting would begin in spring of 2018.

Participation in CRP programs plummeted over the past decade, largely driven by rising commodity prices that had farmers looking to plant more corn.

Between 2005 and 2015, Wisconsin lost 61 percent of its conservation acres. Minnesota lost 35 percent. Thats nearly 988,000 acres of land in the two states combined that was taken out of conservation. Farmers in parts of Wisconsins hilly Driftless area  including Jackson, Trempealeau and Vernon counties  took more 3/4 of conservation acres out of the program.

When crop prices are really really good people dont want to put land into conservation cover, said Kim Iczkowski, a spokeswoman for the agency. When prices fall conservation becomes more of a viable option.
A La Crosse man on probation for drug offenses is in custody after striking an officer with his vehicle during a drug bust Thursday night.

According to the Holmen Police Department, officers from multiple agencies attempted to arrest the man, since identified as 24-year-old Brandon Ritter, in the parking lot of Festival Foods as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

Ritter attempted to flee in his vehicle, striking a La Crosse Police investigator who in turn fired several shots at the vehicle. Ritter, who was not hit, was arrested after his vehicle ran into a snowbank.

Authorities did not identify the officer, who sustained minor injuries when he was struck. He was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.

Ritter is being held in the La Crosse County Jail pending charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, battery to police, delivery of methamphetamine and a probation violation.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Ritter has been on community supervision since his release from prison in February. He has felony convictions for burglary, bail jumping and possession of methamphetamine.
MADISON (AP)  A state panel rejected former state Corrections secretary Ed Walls appeal of his firing, saying he knowingly tried to evade Wisconsins open records law.

The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission issued a ruling earlier this month throwing out Walls appeal of his firing from a backup job within the state Department of Justice. Walls attorney Lester Pines said on Friday that he was likely to file an appeal with the circuit court.

Wall stepped down as the head of the state prison system in February amid concerns about how the Lincoln Hills juvenile prison was being run. Wall tried to secretly lobby Gov. Scott Walkers chief of staff Rich Zipperer to return to his old job as administrator of the state Division of Criminal Investigation.

Wall wrote to Zipperer at his home address and suggested Zipperer should feel free to shred the letter after reading it so no public record would remain.

Instead, Zipperer reported what happened to Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel who then fired Wall.

Wall understood that the document indeed was a public record and that the only way to avoid the required disclosure was to unlawfully keep it strictly between you and me as Wall proposed, WERC said. Once the communication was disclosed, the attorney general had no choice but to terminate Wall. The action of a high-level administrator attempting to evade the law would significantly undermine the (Department of Justice) had lesser discipline been imposed.

Schimel said in a written response that he was pleased WERC determined there was just cause to fire Wall.

Transparency and integrity have been the cornerstones of my administration, Schimel said.

But Pines said firing Wall over the open records issue was overly harsh.

Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, said he hoped the case means there will be more serious regard for the open records law in the future by state workers and elected officials like Walker.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Small Business Development Center is looking for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

As part of its 2017 Innovation Generation Program, the SBDC will hold the Coulee Ventures High School Business Challenge. Participating high school students will operate as a team or individually to develop business ideas and present them to a panel of judges at a business competition in April.

The program will consist of eight Sunday afternoon sessions from 4 to 7 p.m. starting Jan. 22 at the Institute for Campus Excellence at UW-L. Under the guidance of an instructor and mentors from local businesses, students will work together to develop a business plan.

They will present business concepts and compete for awards, including cash and donated products, in the high school division of the UW-L Eagles Eye Business Competition.

Coulee Ventures is our way of bringing our business education expertise to our areas youth, SBDC Director Anne Hlavacka said. We want to ignite and support the entrepreneurial interests of Generation Z.

Applications for the free program will be accepted until Jan. 4. Details and applications are available at: www.uwlax.edu/cei/entrepreneurship. For additional information, contact the center at CEI@uwlax.edu or 608-785-8648.
The following editorial appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday, Dec. 22:

We have long criticized presidents of both parties who use their executive authority to achieve policy goals they couldnt get by working with Congress. In limited circumstances, especially emergencies, such actions are OK. But in general, theyre an undemocratic assault on congressional prerogatives  and those who favor presidential power plays should worry about the precedents they set for when the other party holds the White House.

That latter point finally seemed to be sinking in last month with Donald Trumps surprise win in the presidential election. On Monday, it even appeared to resonate with President Barack Obama, who has issued a striking number of edicts that rewrite federal laws after being frustrated in his dealings with a Republican Congress. (G)oing through the legislative process is always better, in part because its harder to undo, Obama told National Public Radio in an interview.

Alas, Tuesday, the president was back at it, signing an executive order declaring huge chunks of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans off limits to oil and gas drilling for a time period without specific expiration. The White House did not use the word permanent, but environmental groups did.

Its not. Instead, its part of a pattern of Obama behavior that could enable all kinds of unilateral actions by Trump  including ordering that huge chunks of the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean be opened to oil and gas drilling with lease terms favorable to energy companies.

Not many Democrats will be happy about presidential overreach then.
Its impossible to say Cleveland without asking why? in every other sentence:

Recently, the Better Half asks, I have a meeting in Cleveland, want to join me?

Yes.

Why?

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland.

Why in Cleveland? she asks.

Cleveland screams Rust Belt. Historically, its smokestack industries dumped toxic waste into the Cuyahoga River, which runs through the center of town. Between 1868 and 1969, the Cuyahoga burst into flames five times. For the fish, the fires gave new meaning to deep fried.

For years, pollution was Clevelands biggest export to China, with manufacturing jobs a close second. In Beijing, the smog is so bad you need a GPS to find your hands in front of your face. In Cleveland, the air is so clean you can see the coast of Russia.

Belly up in Cleveland now describes bar patrons, not floating fish.

So why is the R&R Hall of Fame in Cleveland? DJ Alan Freed coined the phrase rock n roll, and Cleveland coughed up $65 million for new digs.

Money well spent. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in the top 10 of the 10,000 places to see before you die.
ONALASKA  Globe University is pulling out of its Wisconsin and South Dakota locations by the end of the year.

The announcement, which can be found on the Globe University website, states the company will cease operations at those campuses at the end of the month. Globe, which operates a campus in Onalaska, will transfer administration of those campuses to Utah-based Broadview University, and students will have the option to complete their program at the campus or online through an agreement approved with Broadview.

This holiday season will not be so happy for the thousands of students forced to complete their programs elsewhere, the hundreds of employees losing their jobs, or the communities that depend on a skilled workforce, according to a statement on the Globe website. We will continue to work with regulators to seek more reasonable actions and for our other programs to continue.

According to the most recent federal numbers, the Onalaska campus enrolled more than 170 students and had an average annual tuition of $18,756. Nearly 75 percent of students received an average of $4,200 in Pell Grants, and more than 80 percent receive an average of $7,100 in federal student loans.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swansons office filed a lawsuit against for-profits Globe and the Minnesota School of Business in 2014, claiming the institutions used deceptive practices to enroll students in criminal justice programs. In the aftermath of the judges ruling in favor of the suit, state officials took steps to close the Minnesota campuses of Globe University and its sister institution Minnesota School of Business.

More recently, the U.S. Department of Education revoked access to federal student aid programs, a decision which globe officials have said they are appealing. In a statement, education department officials said the university preyed on those looking to become public servants and abused taxpayer funds.

Western Technical College officials have reached out to former Globe students about opportunities to continue their studies at the public two-year college.
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The L.A. County district attorneys office has announced that it wont be pressing charges against Wayne Spindler, whod addressed a racist and threatening note to councilmember Herb Wesson during a city council meeting earlier this year, reports the L.A. Times.

During a May 11 council meeting, Spindler submitted a public comment card that was filled words and drawings that ranged from the taunting, to the racist, to the outright threatening. The notes were directed at Wesson, who is African-American. The card contained items such as F-U Herb, Herb=N, as well as drawings that depict a burning cross, a figure in a Ku Klux Klan hood, and a person hanging from a noose thats tied to a tree. And, if there was any confusion as to who wrote the note, the card was signed "Wayne from ENCINO. Wesson, after receiving the card, requested officers at the meeting to escort Spindler out. It was unclear if Spindler, a licensed attorney, ended up staying or if hed left.

[The] often harassing and threatening comments made by Mr. Spindler have become increasingly worse over time, Wesson told the Los Angeles Sentinel back in May. It has risen to the point that I have serious concerns about my safety, my familys safety, my staffs safety and the safety of my colleagues on the city council.

Since then, there has been debate about what constitutes a viable threat on Spindler's part. On one hand, a judge had issued a restraining order against Spindler, forcing him to stay 100 feet away from Wesson, with the exception of council meetings, reports an earlier Times article. On the other hand, when officials requested that the State Bar discipline Spindler (and maybe even have him disbarred), the State Bar said that it wasnt planning on doing anything about Spindler, as he hadnt technically been charged with a crime. A State Bar official wrote a letter that said, [We] cannot bring disciplinary charges against him for exercising his right to free speech. And now, the county district attorneys office has echoed that sentiment, saying in a memo that they couldnt prove that Spindlers actions amounted to a punishable 'true threat. The office did note, however, that the notes were "deeply offensive, morally wrong and socially reprehensible.

Spindler, it should be noted, has done much more than write a single, threatening note to Wesson. Hes been known to show up to council meetings in a KKK hood, as well as giving the Nazi salute. Who knows what this guy will do? Danny Bakewell Sr., the executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel, told the Times. What he has done already, dressing up with KKK garb, sending people notes... with a black man hanging from a noose, how would you trust that persons judgment under any circumstances?

Here's an image of the public comment card that Spindler had submitted in May. Warning: some readers may find the image below disturbing.



The public-comment card filled out by Wayne Spindler. (City Clerk's Office)


Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier

Those who habitually put items in their recycling bins that don't belong there are the target of the ordinance amendment, not those who make an occasional, accidental mistake, said Public Works Director Jeff Demers.
The Alice Ferguson Foundation is a non-profit group that works to improve the environment by building relationships between people and nature.

The foundation is based in the state of Maryland. It was created more than 50 years ago. It teaches people ways to protect the environment.

At the end of the year, it designs events to help children celebrate Christmas without increasing the amount of waste they create.

Hanna Seligmann works for the foundation. VOA joined Seligmann recently during one of her talks.

So lets figure out what is in our bag of trash.

She shows adults and children how to reduce waste during the holiday gift-giving season.

You can sort it as a cardboard item or you can sort it as a plastic item.

Seligmann works with volunteers.

We encourage using things that are already in your house like newspaper, old magazines, using a gift within a gift. You can wrap something in a reusable napkin, wrap something in a scarf, or a shawl or even a reusable tote bag.

Urging people to recycle is important in the Washington, D.C., area. It is home to the Potomac River, one of the most famous rivers in the country.

The river is 652 kilometers long. It begins in the mountains of West Virginia, goes through Maryland and Virginia and ends in the Chesapeake Bay. About 5 million people live near the river. That means a lot of waste can enter the river and the bay, which is important to fisheries.

Seligmann says the amount of waste created increases during the holidays.

We found out that from Thanksgiving Day to New Years day, the household trash increases by 25 percent.

Many young people do not know how much waste enters the river until they help to clean it up.

Lori Arguelles is the executive director for environmental education at the Alice Ferguson Foundation.

Over time we realized that really just doing trash cleanups was the symptom of the problem, not getting to the root cause. And so it was just a little over a decade ago that we started the initiative itself.

The Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative is an effort by the Alice Ferguson Foundation to support clean agricultural methods. It includes educational programs at an environmental center on the foundations farm.

Programs teach children about the kinds of pollution that can enter the watershed. These include plant and farm waste and trash from homes.

One activity is called the Trash Timeline Game. It teaches children that the things they throw away do not decompose, or break down, at the same rate.

For example, paper dissolves in about four weeks. An apple core takes two months to break down. A metal can takes up to 100 years. Some things that become trash take a very long time to break down. A plastic bag will not decompose for 450 years. Glass takes 1,000 years. And, they say, Styrofoam never dissolves.

Hanna Seligmann says Styrofoam is banned because of its ability to hold toxic, or poisonous substances.

This is the most toxic form of plastic. And the reason why it's so dangerous is cause when it's out floating in the water it absorbs all the other toxins in the water. So now what weve done to prevent that is the Anacostia River Watershed has banned Styrofoam.

Young people taking part in the program learn that reducing waste is important not just during the holidays, but every day of the year.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

VOA Correspondent Faiza Elmasry reported this story from Accokeek, Maryland. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sort  v. to separate and put (people or things) in a particular order

encourage  v. to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen

scarf  m. a long piece of cloth that is worn on your shoulders, around your neck, or over your head

shawl  n. a piece of cloth that is used especially by women as a covering for the head or shoulders

tote bag  n. a large bag used for carrying things

symptom  n. a change which shows that something bad exists; a sign of something bad

root cause  n. the cause or source of something

decade  n. a ten-year period

initiative  n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem

watershed  n. a line of hills or mountains from which rivers drain; a ridge between two rivers

decompose  v. to cause something (such as dead plants and the bodies of dead animals) to be slowly destroyed and broken down by natural processes, chemicals, etc.

rate  n. the speed at which something happens over a particular period of time

Styrofoam  n. trademarked name used for a type of light and usually white plastic

toxin  n. a poisonous substance, especially one that is produced by a living thing
The government of Kenya has ended operations of a United States-funded program aimed at educating Kenyans about voting.

The Kenyan government action comes just months before the East African country holds its next presidential election. Last week, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta claimed money entering the country through the program is an attempt to influence the election.

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) operated the $20 million program. The IFES is a non-governmental organization, an NGO, which supports free and fair elections around the world.

The NGO receives funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of State.

Fazul Mohamed is the executive director of the NGO Coordination Board. This is the state-run corporation responsible for regulating NGOs in Kenya. Mohamed wrote in a letter to the IFES that the Board was stopping the program. The reason he gave was the IFES is not a registered NGO and all its foreign workers are operating illegally.

U.S. ambassador to Kenya Robert F. Godec said the attempt to discredit the United States' efforts to assist Kenyans in the conduct of free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in 2017 disappointed him.

Godec added the Kenyan government and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had requested U.S. assistance. The IEBC is an independent Kenyan organization that supervises elections. Godec added that the program operated under their careful oversight.

Also, the IFES is registered under a Kenyan law called the Companies Act, the ambassador said. This means the organization is legally able to run programs in the country.

In a separate statement, the U.S. and 11 other countries said they do not provide help to one candidate or political party over another. The statement said, "the Kenyan people alone have the sovereign right to choose their leaders, and we fully respect this right.

Kenyatta is running for re-election next year. He has accused opposition leader Raila Odinga of secretly working with foreign countries to remove him from power.

Kenyatta entered his office in 2013. He gained support from people who were angry over what they considered attempts by Western countries to influence Kenyas elections.

At that time, the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged Kenyatta and fellow politician William Ruto with crimes against humanity. The court in The Netherlands said the two men organized violence following the troubled elections in December 2007. Former President Mwai Kibaki claimed victory over Raila Odinga in that election.

More than 1,000 people died and 600,000 lost their homes in the election violence.

Kenyatta and Ruto were on different sides of the conflict but became allies after the ICC named them as suspects. They then said that the ICC charges were an attempt to help Odinga.

The ICC later dropped the charges because of lack of evidence. However, the top ICC lawyer in the case said witnesses were interfered with and faced threats.

Im Pete Musto.

Tom Odula reported this story for the Associated Press news agency. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. How do NGOs and other countries governments try to effect elections in your country? What protections do elections in your country have? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

fund(ed)  v. to provide money for something

regulating  v. making rules or laws that control something

credible  adj. reasonable to trust or believe

disappoint(ed) v. to make someone unhappy by not being as good as expected or by not doing something that was hoped for or expected

oversight  n. the act or job of directing work that is being done

sovereign  adj. having independent authority and the right to govern itself
President Barack Obama has declared much of U.S. waters in the Arctic Ocean and some areas in the Atlantic Ocean permanently unavailable to oil and gas drilling.

The Obama administration announced the action as the government of Canada took similar measures. Canada is placing a temporary ban on new oil and gas leasing in parts of the Arctic Ocean that it controls.

Obama is using part of a 1953 law to ban leases for oil and gas drilling. Offshore drilling involves recovering oil or gas below the bottom of the sea. The law the administration is using says, "the president of the United States may, from time to time, withdraw from disposition any of the unleased lands of the outer Continental Shelf."

The Continental Shelf is an area near land where the ocean is not very deep.

Environmental groups hope the move will make it difficult for future presidents to change the ban.

The Obama administration said the ban was an answer to environmental concerns. These include the importance of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas to native Alaskans, and the risk that an oil spill presents to the ecosystems there.

Environmental pressure



Some oil industry officials disagreed with the presidents action.

Dan Naatz, of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, said that the ban would put the U.S. on a path of energy dependence for many years. He said that the U.S. instead should be a global energy leader.

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to make major changes to how the U.S. produces energy. He has chosen Cabinet nominees who are strongly opposed to Obama's environmental and climate change policies.

Trumps election victory has put pressure on environmental groups and businesses that rely on tourism and fishing. Trump has said he wants to use all available fuel reserves to reduce energy imports.

Jackie Savitz is a senior vice president at the environmental group Oceana. She says that the decision will help protect coastal tourism and fishing businesses from offshore drilling. She says that oil drilling provides smaller profits than supporters promise and can harm coastal life.

What is not clear is how difficult it will be for future presidents to change Obama's decision.

In 2008, President George W. Bush used a legal action to permit drilling on Outer Continental Shelf lands.

However, administration officials have noted that previous indefinite withdrawals are still in place.

Congratulations and critique

Lawmakers have had mixed reactions to the move.

Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ed Markey said that President Obama is putting the interests of millions of Americans ahead of oil companies.

However, Utah Representative and chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources Rob Bishop says that the president is only trying to please special interest groups.

"This is not a moral calling; it's an abuse of power," he said.

Environmental legacy

The ban is one of several efforts Obama has made in recent months to leave an environmental legacy for his presidency.

In August, the Obama administration announced it will increase the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in Hawaii to 1.5 million square kilometers. This makes the monument the largest marine protected area in the United States.



Im Phil Dierking

Phil Dierking adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. Mario Ritter was the editor.

Should more landed be protected from drilling, or should the we be developing our energy resources? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

disposition  n. the act or power of officially or legally giving land, possessions, etc., to someone.

ecosystem  n. everything that exists in a particular environment.

legacy  n. something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past

permanent  adj. lasting or continuing for a very long time or forever : not temporary or changing.

reserve  n. a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later time.

tourism  n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure.
The suspected driver in the deadly truck attack at a Christmas market in Germany was shot and killed Friday by police in Italy.

The 24-year-old Tunisian man, Anis Amri, was killed during a shootout with two police officers in Milan. Amri pulled out a gun and shot one officer in the arm after he was asked to show identification papers during a normal patrol.

German officials said they had confirmed through fingerprints that the man killed in Milan was the suspect in Mondays truck attack. Amri is suspected of hijacking the truck and killing its driver before driving into a Christmas market in central Berlin.

The attack killed 12 people and injured more than 50 others.

Police said they found documents belonging to Amri inside the truck.

Before Amri was identified as the main suspect, police detained a Pakistani man for possible involvement in the attack. He was later cleared and released.

Germany's head prosecutor told reporters the investigation is continuing. He added that it is not yet known whether other suspects might have helped carry out the attack.

The Islamic State (IS) said the attacker was inspired by its call for people to strike members of a coalition fighting the militant group in Syria and Iraq.

In a video posted by IS's Amaq news agency, Amri pledged his allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He also urged others to carry out attacks on "Crusaders who are striking Muslims daily. He added: I swear to God that we will come to slaughter you, you pigs."

Officials say Amri arrived in Germany in July 2015, after serving time in jail in Italy for setting fire to a refugee shelter. He sought asylum in Germany but the request was denied. Authorities said he could not be sent back to Tunisia because he had no passport and that country had refused to accept him.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ordered an investigation into the policies that resulted in Amri staying in the country so long. Merkel is facing increasing political pressure in Germany to take a stronger position on immigration and asylum policies. Her popularity has dropped since Germany opened its border to accept about one million refugees.

Im John Russell.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, with material from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

patrol  n. the act of walking or going around or through an area, building, etc., in order to make sure that it is safe

prosecutor  n. lawyer who press the governments case against someone accused of a crime

inspire  v. make someone want to do something

allegiance  n. loyalty to a person, country, group

slaughter  v. to kill a lot of people in a violent way
This week in our national parks journey, we explore a vast area with mountains, beaches, forests, and glaciers. The areas huge range in both rainfall and elevation make it one of the most diverse parks in America.

Welcome to Olympic National Park!

The park is located in the western state of Washington. It is on the Olympic Peninsula, in the northwest part of the state.

The park covers more than 400,000 hectares. It has several different ecosystems. Visitors will find temperate rainforests, glacier-covered mountains, and almost 120 kilometers of wild coastline.

History



The Olympic Peninsula has seen travelers from many countries throughout history, including Mexico, Spain, France, Russia, and England. Many travelers from these countries arrived in the late 1700s. They were searching for the Northwest Passage. The sea route connects the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by way of the Arctic Ocean.

These explorers all claimed to discover different parts of what is now Olympic National Park.

In 1792, English Captain George Vancouver explored the peninsula in great detail by boat. He named many of the natural features in the area.

Later, people began moving west across North America to search for gold. This era was known as the Gold Rush. Many people came to the western United States in search of gold.

At the time, the Olympic Peninsula was not very developed, and did not have roads. People had to travel by boat or horse to explore the peninsula.

Early settlers reached the Olympic peninsula in the mid-1800s. At first, people built homes on the coast. This area was easier to access, and had good land for farming.

Life on the Olympic Peninsula was difficult, however. People lived far from large cities and resources. They cut trees to build cabins. They also hunted and fished for food.

Later, people started making expeditions into the center of the peninsula. They explored its forests and mountains. These areas never became very populated, however.

To protect the nature of the area, President Grover Cleveland declared the Olympic Peninsula's forests as the Olympic Forest Reserve in 1897. And in 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the bill that established the Olympic National Park.

People

Eight Native American tribes are closely connected to the area.

One tribe, the Makah, has a long history of whaling. The U.S. bans whaling, but the Makah tribe is permitted to continue practicing this tradition in small amounts. American courts also gave Native American tribes the right to continue their traditional fishing practices in the area.

Protecting fish resources is important to the Native Americans living on the Olympic Peninsula. They work with the National Park Service to protect the areas natural resources.

Places to go

Olympic National Park has meadows and lakes. It has glacier-fed rivers and mountain peaks that rise more than 2,300 meters. Each area of the park offers visitors something special.

Elwha Valley



The Elwha Valley is in the central part of the park. It is the Olympic Peninsula's largest watershed. A watershed is an area of land that separates waters that flow to different rivers or seas.

Long ago, the rivers in this area held the most salmon outside of Alaska. The area also was home to bears, eagles, cougars, and the Klallam Native Americans.

In the 1920s, a growing community of settlers built two hydroelectric dams to provide energy for the local economy. The dams created many problems for the river. They decreased the water in the rivers, which caused the fish population in the area to decrease. This affected the other animals that depended on fish for food.

The community later decided to fix these problems. In 1992, Congress passed the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act. Both dams have been removed, and the National Park Service is using fish hatcheries to increase the salmon population.

Today, the Elwha River is the site of one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects in National Park Service history.

Hoh River Valley

The Hoh River is on the west side of the park. The river is formed from melted glacial ice on top of Mount Olympus. The river is 80 kilometers long. It empties into the Pacific Ocean.



The area receives about 400 centimeters of rain each year. It is a temperate rainforest. Because of the amount of rain, many different types of plants grow in the Hoh rainforest, from mosses and ferns to huge Sitka spruce trees.

The Hoh River Valley is protected from any logging or development.

Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge is a mountain area in the northern part of the park. It is easy to enter, and provides incredible views of the Olympic Mountains.

The ridge has many hiking paths. In winter, people come here to ski. They also come here to take part in other fun winter activities, like sledding and snowboarding.

Hurricane Ridge usually has snow from December through the end of March. Visitors must be prepared for icy roads and severe weather.

The Coast

The westernmost part of the park is Pacific coastline. Olympic National Park has many breathtaking beaches.

Rialto Beach is known for its tall seastacks. These formations are tall towers of rock standing in the sea.

North of Rialto Beach is Hole-in-the-Wall. It is a natural arch that has been carved by the powerful sea.

Kalaloch Beach is known for its white sand. It also has three national wildlife refuges, which protect the areas bird and fish species.

The coastline areas offer hiking and camping. They are some of the most popular places in the park.

A place for everyone

Olympic National Park offers difficult mountain hikes. It offers relaxing beaches, and exciting walks through lush rainforests.

There truly is something for everyone at Olympic National Park.

I'm Dorothy Gundy

And Im Phil Dierking.

Phil Dierking wrote this report for Learning English, with materials from the National Park Service. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Which part of Olympic National Park would you most want to visit? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

diverse - adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other.

expedition - n. a journey especially by a group of people for a specific purpose .

elevation - n. the height of a place.

glacier - n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land.

hatchery - n. a place where people raise young chickens or fish from eggs

hydroelectric - adj. of or relating to the production of electricity by using machines that are powered by moving water.

interior - adj. located on the inside of something.

peninsula - n. a piece of land that is almost entirely surrounded by water and is attached to a larger land area.

populated - adj. to be a heavily populated.

seastacks - n. a column of rock standing in the sea.

thorough - adj. including every possible part or detail.

whaling - v. the job or business of hunting whales.

lush - adj. covered with healthy green plants
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The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice.
The Around Town section of the Clipper-Herald is to notify the public of upcoming events and to publicize pertinent information from individuals, groups or organizations that are not for profit.

PEOPLE

Former Lexington resident Bill Skinner is hospitalized in Lincoln, recovering from a leg amputation. Cards may be sent to him at Holmes Lake Manor Recovery Center, Room 29, 6101 Normal Blvd, Lincoln, NE 68506, 402-489-7175.

HAPPENINGS

Miller Dances: All Dances start at 7 p.m. Bring finger food and snacks. Questions? Call 308-325-2909. Dec. 24: No Dance - Merry Christmas; Dec. 31: Classic Country, free will offering soup supper at 5:30. Please bring salad or dessert. No lunch at 10.

All are welcome to attend Christmas Eve Service, 6:00 p.m. and Sunday Christmas Day service (9:30 a.m.) at Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church (76199 Road 429, Lexington, NE 68850).

On display at the Dawson County Historical Museum is a Sparkles, Spangles, and Spruced Up Spruces exhibit , which features a Christmas display by the Plum Creek Quilters Guild. The display, in the art gallery will be showing through the first week of January.

Lexington Blood Drive at First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Please call Pat Jones at 308-325-4596 to make an appointment.

WIC Clinics for Dawson County for January, February and March are scheduled as follows:

In Lexington, 931 West 7th, Tuesday through Thursday the first four full weeks for each month. Call 308-324-6212 for an appointment.

In Cozad, 120 East 9th, Monday, Jan. 9, Feb. 3, March 13.

In Gothenburg, 1512 Ave. G, Monday, Jan. 9, Friday, Feb. 3 and Monday, March 6.

Events at the Lexington Grand Generation Center - Public Bingo on Mondays at 7 p.m. Must be 18 to play. For questions call 308-324-2498. Homemade Pretzel Baking on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. Cost to purchase pretzels is .50/pretzel, $6.00/dozen. Purchase and/or come help roll!.

Love in Action Outreach, 907 West 8th St., Lexington, is open Monday through Thursday, 12:30  4 p.m. For assistance go to 909 West 8th St. Donations of clothes, furniture and other items any time back of store or contact 1-308-651-0925 for further assistance. Monetary donations are accepted as well.

Are you a person with compassion and good listening skills? Parent-Child Center would like to give you the opportunity to put those feelings and abilities into practice. The Parent-Child Center needs volunteers to answer our lines after office hours. If you are interested please call for more information at 308-324-2336.

If you visit the grave of a veteran and the flag holder is missing or damaged, please notify the Dawson County Veteran Service Office by calling 308-324-3041.

Volunteers needed for Adult Education ESL and GED classes offered through Central Community College. To volunteer contact Marge Bader, Volunteer Coordinator at 308-785-2111 or 324-8483 or email mbader57@msn.con and leave a message.

Lexington Area Parkinsons Disease Support Group Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday each month at 2 p.m. in the education room at the Community Health & Fitness Center (1600 W. 13th, Lexington) For more information contact Dixie Menke at 308-325-5350 or 308-784-4022 or Brenda Bierman at 308-324-2523.

RYDE Transit - Public Transportation is available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule a ride in Dawson County or Lexington call 308.324.3670. Public Transportation is easy to ride and open to everyone.

MEETINGS

American Legion in Lexington meets the First Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Heartland Military Museum.

Bingo Night at Lexington Regional Health Center will be held Thursday evenings from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at The Corner Cafe (LHRC dining room). Come and enjoy FREE soup and an evening of BINGO.

Survivors of Suicide Support Group meets every second Monday of the Month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1616 W. 39th, in Kearney. For more information contact Carol Rowedder at 308-237-2635.

LEXINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Check out our new "Can't wait to read it" display in the new book section. The display shows book covers of books the library is waiting to receive. You can place a hold on these titles at the circulation desk.

The Lexington Public Library will close at 12:00, noon, on Friday, December 23 and will remain closed Saturday, December 24, Sunday, December 25, and Monday, December 26 for the Christmas Holiday. The Library will re-open on Tuesday, December 27 at 9:00 a.m. We wish everyone a safe, fun, and relaxing holiday break!

The Lexington Public Librarys Gently Used Booksale is now! We have a variety of books available for you to choose from. Hardback books are $2.00 each, everything else is $1.00 per item. Shop for yourself, for your family and friendsjust in time for Christmasand support the Lexington Public Library. All proceeds go to the Library Memorial Fund and are used to support Library programs.

Drop by the Library to see a fantastic Santa display in the Librarys entry display case. Thank you to Pat Longly and JoAnn Small for creating the display from Kathy Thomsens collection of Santas.

Novel Stitchers meets on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. If you enjoy stitching--knitting, crocheting, quilting, cross stitch, needlepoint, or have another portable stitching project--join us at the library for two hours of stitching and visiting. We will meet on Tuesdays, Dec. 27 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Lexington Public Library Board Room. We would love to have you join us.

n Storytime at the Lexington Public Library will begin Wednesday, January 4 at 10:30 a.m. Pre-readers and their caregivers are invited to join us for stories, songs, and activities. Make time in your week for this fun and educational pre-school activity.

LEXINGTON

GRAND GENERATION CENTER

Exercise room is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Every Sunday

Center available for rent

Monday

Center Closed

Tuesday

1 p.m. - Foot Clinic

Wednesday

9:15 a.m. - Go4Life

9:30 a.m. - Coffee/Crafts

9:30 a.m. - Pool T. - Gothenburg

11 a.m. - 5-in-a-Row

12:45 p.m. - Cards

1:30 p.m. - FROG

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Hot Cookies

3 p.m. - Strength Training

LEXINGTON GRAND

GENERATION

CENTER MENU

Homemade bread everyday. Choice of skim, 2% or chocolate milk. No reservations needed except for large groups. Serving time: 11:30 a.m.

Monday

Center Closed

Tuesday

Spaghetti/meat sauce, itailan green beans, potato salad, diced peaches,

garlic bread

Wednesday

Meat loaf, baby bakers, wax beans, mixed fruit

ORGANIZATIONS

Al-Anon (Day Time) meets Thursday noon to 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. Use office door. For more information call 308-324-5301.

NA group, "A Way Out," meets every Sunday night, 7 p.m. at the Lexington Christian Church, 1206 N. Erie.

NA group - A Way Out - "Letting Go," meets Tuesdays, 7 p.m. at Plum Creek Mall, Suite 3, use north doors. NA group also meets Sundays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at First Christian Church, located at 13th and Erie Street, use north doors.

Al-Anon & AA - Lexington: at 8 p.m. on Mondays at First Christian Church, 13th and Erie, south door. Al-Anon at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Lexington Regional Health Center Board Room; AA at 8 p.m. at Fitness Center Education Room. Contact: 324-5301, 324-2288, 858-4582, or 991-8246.

AA Elwood: at 8 p.m. on Sundays at United Methodist Church, 601 Rush in Elwood. Contact: 785-3567 (Tom).

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, non-smoking: at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at St. Anns Catholic Church basement, 301 E. Sixth St. Contact: 320-2564, or 858-4821.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, non-smoking - Smithfield: At 8 p.m. on Thursdays at Hope Lutheran Church, 74098 Road 436 in Smithfield. Call 785-3567 or 472-3376.

Celebrate Recovery: a 12-step, anonymous program helping participants overcome any hurts, habits, addictions or hang-ups. Meets twice: 1) at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at Lexington Evangelical Free Church, 810 S. Washington Street. Contact: 308-324-3825 or 308-238-1298. 2) at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays at Parkview Baptist Churchs Y.A.C., 1105 Park St.. Contact: 308-324-4410.

Central Community College Adult Basic Education and English as Second Language in Lexington. Basic reading, writing, math and spelling. Citizenship classes, preparation for the high school equivalency (GED) exam. All classes open to individuals 16 years or older not enrolled in secondary school. Contact Marilynn Hersh at 324-8483 or 324-8480. An annual fee applies to all students.

Central Health Center at 1308 N. Adams: provides pap test, free HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, sexually transmitted infection screening, pregnancy testing, emergency contraception. Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays 1-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Services available by appointment or walk-in. Sliding scale fees charged. Insurance accepted, donations welcome. Contact 324-6944 for information.

The Compassionate Friends, Lexington Area Chapter (a support group for parents who have lost a child), meets the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m., at the Great Western Drive-In bank meeting room, corner of 6th and Lincoln. For more information call 308-320-1483.

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska Public Immunization Clinic, 1st & 3rd Mondays every month: Open 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. by appointment at 931 West 7th St., Lexington. Clinics serve ages 2 months - 18 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult, previous vaccination records required. Contact 308-865-1352 ext. 143.

Dawson/Gosper County CASA: seeking Volunteers. CASA Volunteers are everyday people from all walks of life, who advocate through the court system in the interests of children. Contact 324-7364 for more information.

Double Trouble in Recovery: starts June 4 on Mondays from 12 to 1 p.m. at Heartland Counseling, 307 5th St., Lexington. For more information contact Heartland Counseling at 308-324-6754.

Gamblers Anonymous: at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at Richard Young Hospital, 1755 Prairie View Place, Kearney.

Lexington Area Grief Support Group: meets at 4:30 p.m. on the first Mondays of each month at Fitness Center, 1600 W. 13th Street. Open to anyone experiencing the death of a loved one. Contact Lexington Regional Health Center Home Health office, 324-8300.

Lexington Genealogical Society: at 2 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at Lexington Public Library. Visitors welcome.

Lexington Kiwanis: meets at noon every Wednesday at Grand Generation Center.

Lexington Lions Club: meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month at Grand Generation Center. Contact any member or attend any meeting to join.

Lexington MS Group: meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month in the Community Education Room at the Lexington Regional Health Center Fitness Center.

Lexington Optimist Club: meets at noon on Thursdays at Kirks Restaurant.

Lexington Rotary Club: meets at noon every Wednesdays at the Grand Generation Center.

Love In Action Outreach Ministry: Located at 907 W. 8th Street in Lexington, is in need of mens clothing, all sizes and styles; pots pans, serving dishes and utensils; bedding, crib sheets, twin size, reg. size, queen and king size, pillows, blankets, beds; winter coats and jackets. Bring to 907 W. 8th during our regular operating hours, Monday through Friday, 1 - 4 p.m. Monday to Friday we have bag sales, small bag $10.00 and large bag $15.00 dollars. Closed Saturdays, Sundays & all Federal Holidays.

MOMS (Making Our Mothering Significant): resources and relationships to encourage for mothers of all ages. Meets from 8:45-11 a.m. every other Thursday at Parkview Baptist Church, 803 W. 18th, Lexington.

Narcotic Anonymous (New) A Way Out: at 7 p.m. on Sunday nights at First Christian Church at 1206 N. Erie, use South door, Contact: Don, 651-9294.

Overeaters Anonymous: meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Cozad Hospital meeting room and at 10 a.m. on Saturdays at the Fitness Centers conference room in Lexington. Contact 308-785-2064 or 308-537-3063.

Parkinsons Support Group: meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at United Methodist Church, E and McDonald, North Platte. Contact 534-7404.

Phoenix Group for divorce recovery: meets at 7 p.m. on Mondays in the Friendship Room at First United Methodist Church Kearney, 46th Street and Linden Drive. Contact Julie, 234-9986.

Recovery Education for persons who have a family member or loved one dealing with abused substances. This free program is at 5 p.m. every Tuesday at Heartland Counseling, 307 East 5th St., Lexington. For questions, call Jennifer Sand at 324-6754.

The Riverdale Rounders Country and Bluegrass Jam Session: second Thursdays, Riverdale Community Center. Bring instrument or come and enjoy. Contact: John Shafer, 236-6559 after 5 p.m.
It is often asserted that the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 proved that HWA was right and he really did see the future.

This of course is nonsense. Herbert W. Armstrong said that Christ would return within twenty years in his book Mystery of the Ages. (PCG has since deleted those words so someone in there knows HWA spoke nonsense.) How convenient for them to forget this.

Also Herbert W. Armstrong never said the Soviet Union would collapse. He thought it would survive intact until a few years after Christ's return. It shows how biased some many in the COGs are that they never seem to notice this. This inconvenient truth is just tossed into the memory hole.

It is true that HWA said that some Eastern European states would break away from Moscow's orbit and join the European Empire he said would arise at any moment. But he never talked of the Soviet Union collapsing. He did not teach that. Also he portrayed the rise of the European Empire to be far quicker then what has actually happened. In Mystery of the Ages Christ was supposed to return by 2005 at the most.

So assertions that the fall of the Berlin Wall somehow prove that HWA was right is just complete nonsense spread by people who, for whatever reason, are still in denial that HWA was a false prophet who merely talked out of his own "human reasoning".
The slowdown in the information technology sector seems to be prompting companies to change their hiring methods. A Business Standard report today says that tech major Infosys has decided to hire tech graduates as paid interns instead of taking them on their rolls.

The Indian IT sector, a key job creator, has been witnessing a crippling demand slowdown due to wobbly recovery in global economy and the shift in business model of companies.

Hiring in the Indian IT sector in the first half of this fiscal was down 24 percent to a net of 29,686, according to a report in MoneyControl. The top four Indian IT companies hired 14,421 candidates in September which was 43 percent less than last year.

Infosyss latest move will only drive the wedge deeper accentuating the dry patch the sector is experiencing in the recent past.

One of the reasons could be the change of guard in the US with President-elect Donald Trump set to take charge on January 20, 2017 and his oft-repeated speeches harping about jobs being sent offshore rendering the locals jobless. On 2 December 2016, Trump warned that US companies would face "consequences" for outsourcing jobs abroad, as he touted his early success in persuading an air conditioner maker to keep about 1,000 jobs in the United States rather than move them to Mexico, according to Reuters. Trump did not say what those consequences would be.

Another reason could be the change in visa rules in the UK announced last month. Under the new visa rules announced by the UK Home Office, anyone applying after November 24 under the Tier 2 intra-company transfer (ICT) category would be required to meet a higher salary threshold requirement of 30,000 pounds from the earlier limit of 20,800 pounds.

The ICT route is largely used by Indian IT companies in Britain and the UK's Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) had found earlier this year that Indian IT workers accounted for nearly 90 per cent of visas issued under this route.

Though Infosys has not spelt out any reasons for its change in the companys hiring decision, experts in the industry point toward a couple of reasons for the change.

Kris Laxmikanth, chairman and managing director, The Head Hunters India, Bengaluru, and visiting faculty, Institute of Management, Ranchi, says that the requirements of the industry have changed over the years. The industry is no longer job-focused as it was earlier but is more tech-oriented.

Earlier, the overseas clients of the tech majors in India would be apprised the headcount of people working on a project. The payment would be made accordingly.

That has changed with clients only interested in the project and not about the number of people working on it. So tech graduates can be easily replaced with MCAs (Masters of Computer Applications), too, an HR policy many tech giants adopt to economise on large payout to tech graduates.

The aggressive growth witnessed in top IT firms in India until 2014 has been slowing down and that is another factor that is coming into play for the changes in hiring decisions, says Dhruvil Sanghvi, CEO and Co-Founder, LogiNext, a big data analytics firm.

The competitors for the Top 5 IT firms are the second best or even third rung IT firms with lowered costs and at par performance. Not surprisingly, clients prefer to give them the projects instead of only the top 5 or even 10 firms.

Rather than losing out on their clients, Infosys and other IT majors would prefer cutting down on hiring or make strategic hiring decisions to cut costs, says Sanghvi.

Campuses will not balk at the recent change in hiring method of Infosys, feel analysts as this decision does not impact the Indian Institutes of Engineering (IITs) and top IT colleges in the country. Top tech majors also go to tier 2 and 3 cities to hire campus recruits. It is students in these colleges who would be affected. But that is not the way most would see it, said an analyst, who felt that with hiring coming down in the sector over the years, a fresher would consider it 'better to have an Infosys on his/her resume as that would still open doors in other firms later'.

The hiring change in the decision of Infosys will not affect those companies that go in for fewer campus hires. Like ThoughtWorks, an American MNC headquartered in Chicago (Their India HQ is Bengaluru), for instance. We hire around 150 campus recruits, said Sudhir Tiwari, Managing Director, ThoughtWorks India. He said that around 10 percent of their recruits comprise of diploma holders. He hoped the change in hiring by Infosys would result in 'closing the gap between industry demands and academia, which was not in sync in India," he said.
It may not be a happy new year for benami property holders. Come 2017 and Income Tax (I-T) sleuths may be knocking at their doors. And if proved a "benamidar" (benami property holder), one is likely to face rigorous imprisonment from one year up to seven years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given enough indications on various occasions about his intention to combat the black money menace in India by adopting stringent actions against people involved in benami properties and transactions.

And, to make it successful, unlike in the past, the Modi government has already cleared the ground making amendments in the original Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act, 1988.

The provisions of the amended act came into force on 1 November 2016. It has given more teeth to the I-T Department to get cracking on benami properties and transactions, with a comprehensive tracking, identifying and finally taking stringent action against offenders.

Looking back at the Benami Transaction Act

More than two decades ago, in 1993-94 and 1994-95, two alternative budgets were presented by Delhi-based Citizens' Parliament comprising 230 eminent citizens, including politicians from diverse political parties barring the Congress and the BJP.

The author of the two budgets was Professor Arun Kumar, a noted economist who holds authority on black money. The former professor of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had suggested levying wealth tax and property tax on all properties.

Nothing much has happened in taking action against benami property holders since 1988, when the Benami Transaction Act came into being. We had suggested in our alternative budget to levy wealth tax and property tax on all properties above 25 square yard (20.9 square metres). This will bring every property under the tax net," Kumar told Firstpost.

According to my estimate, 62 percent of our GDP  that is Rs 93 lakh crore is the black economy. Given the situation, identifying the benami property holders is a tough job. Will the tax department be able to do it? said Kumar.

Amended Benami Transaction Act

The legal framework for dealing with benami transactions in the old Benami Transactions Act was weak and nothing much was achieved. Now, the amended act empowers the I-T Department to inquire into any person, place, documents or property during an investigation into any matter related to a benami property transaction.

The amendments have made the act stricter. Apart from imprisonment and penalty up to 25 percent, the benami property will be confiscated. The property rights would go directly to the Centre, and the government can make use of the property as it wishes purportedly to help rural development plans. Now action will be taken against both the actual owner and the property holder under a bogus name," a senior I-T official said.

The benamidars invest black money in buying land and houses through multiple channels and use bank accounts of different people. The real owner always remains unidentified. From politicians to bureaucrats  properties like land and flats are bought by floating bogus companies in the name of other people while the actual face behind benami transactions get away unnoticed, untracked.

"It was not easy to track the unknown entities in the past. But after the introduction of permanent account number (PAN) and filing of I-T Returns, the tax department has been able to collect information. Now, information from property registration office, online registration records, Annual Information Report filed with the tax department, the municipal corporation record, etc, have made tracking easy. The amended Benami Transactions Act will make escaping tougher for offenders. Punishment is now stringent," said chartered accountant Abhishek Aneja.

What is an offence under the new Benami Transactions Act?

Any transaction made under a fictitious name; transaction made without the knowledge of the owner; person who owns the property is not traceable; amount paid to buy property from an unknown source; on records the owner is another person, whereas benefits go to the one who paid for the property yet doesn't show up in the record of the purchase will be considered a benami.

Benami transactions could be a property or any other asset  movable, immovable, tangible, intangible, any right or interest, or legal documents. Gold or finance securities, stocks and shares can also fall under benami transaction if the requirements mentioned in the act are not met.

However, property held in the name of spouse or children, paid from known source or joint ownership of property with siblings or relatives, paid from known source  are exempted.

Tracking mechanism to be used

According to sources at the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), increasingly itll be immensely difficult for those having benami properties or going for benami transactions to escape from I-T radar.

The tax authority now has new tools to track benami property holders. Besides, 360-degree profiling of people who file tax returns, the Intelligence and Criminal Investigation wing of the Income Tax at CBDT receives information from multiple sources such as Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), banks, Registrar of properties, annual information report (AIR) from banks, hotels, grand weddings, tours and travel agencies, high-value purchases like house, cars, jewellery, consumer durables, payments made through cards, and from transactions that attract tax collected at source (TCS) and tax deducted at source (TDS).

The database prepared from the information gathered by collating manual and electronic intelligence goes to the data warehouse unit for analysis. A new Non-Filers Management System (NMS) matches the data being obtained from various sources.

The non-intrusive surveillance capabilities of the I-T Department have been enhanced. There is a huge database with the I-T Department. Parameters have been set to select cases automatically. Based on it, the creditworthiness of the owner of a property is also matched with the I-T returns. The crackdown will be on all those who have been avoiding paying taxes and show their actual income," a CBDT source said.

Though its tough and challenging for the I-T Department to determine legal and illegal holdings, its not impossible now, unlike in the past. The government might also come up with a scheme giving the benami property holders a chance to voluntary declare their hidden assets. In case that happens, and a person doesnt comply and is caught later, he/she will face stringent punishment, the source added.
The Income Tax Department on Friday questioned the manager of a Kotak Mahindra Bank branch here in connection with two of its customer accounts, officials said.

According to a police official, a "raid" was conducted in the morning on the Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch in the heart of Delhi.

Rohit Rao, official spokesperson of Kotak Mahindra Bank, said in a statement: "IT department has visited the bank's branch in connection with survey of two of its customers and their related accounts.

"No KYC deficiencies were noted in these two customers. The IT department did question the Branch Manager and no adverse report has been submitted to the bank so far."

Rao said the bank had a "robust system of regularly and proactively filing necessary reports with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for all large transactions.

"The bank denies that there were any fake accounts. The bank is extending full cooperation to the investigating authorities."

Another private sector bank, Axis Bank has been in news after income tax department and enforcement directorate have detected illegal activities at some of its branches after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

The bank's Ahmedabad branch was raided on Thursday and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) put transactions worth Rs 89 crore under scanner. The raid was conducted at Mayamnagar branch of the bank and the ED scrutinised 19 accounts.

The ED had earlier registered a money laundering case in the alleged forging of a customer's identity to conduct huge illegal transactions in the branch of Noida for conversion of black money into white post demonetisation.

The bank, according to a PTI report, had suspended 24 employees and 50 accounts after the I-T raids unearthed such illegal activities.

With IANS
Mumbai: Fishermen in Maharashtra protesting against a proposed Shivaji Maharaj memorial off Mumbai coast have decided to withdraw their agitation, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation

stone.

"Fishermen have agreed to withdraw their agitation against Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial Bhoomipujan," a senior official said, after a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and fishermen association leaders in Mumbai on Thursday night.

Fadnavis assured fishermen that the government will look into their concerns.

"At the meeting, it was decided to constitute a joint committee to resolve their issues. The CM thanked fishermen associations," the official said.

The main feature of the memorial will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop

roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore of Mumbai.

Members of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti (AMMKS), an association of fishermen from Cuffe Parade, Machhimar Nagar, Geeta Nagar (near Navy Nagar), near Raj Bhawan and Backbay Parade, had said they will fly black flags on their boats and homes as a sign of protest.

Fisherwomen were to form a human chain from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty, holding black flags, ahead of Modi's arrival for the inauguration, said AMMKS leader Damodar Tandel.

The livelihood of 1.5 lakh fishermen residing across five villages in south Mumbai, who have 1,500 large boats and 450 small boats, will be affected by the construction, he had claimed.
By Michelle Nichols and Jeffrey Heller

| UNITED NATIONS/JERUSALEM

UNITED NATIONS/JERUSALEM Egypt postponed a U.N. Security Council vote on Thursday on a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building and diplomats said Cairo had acted under pressure from Israel and to avoid alienating U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.A vote would have forced U.S. President Barack Obama to decide in his last month in office whether to shield Israel with a veto, or, by abstaining, to register criticism of the building on occupied land that the Palestinians want for a state.Obama has been considering whether to lay out parameters for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement or to allow a critical resolution through the Council before he steps down in the hopes this might ultimately help to end the conflict.U.S. officials have voiced growing fears that a "two-state" solution is imperilled by Israeli settlement building and so have been more willing to voice open criticism of it.In a sign that they feared Obama might withdraw the United States' long-standing diplomatic protection for Israel, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the White House to veto the draft resolution that Egypt had put forward.President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel, put off the vote because of pressure from Israel, diplomats said, saying another factor may have been a fear of alienating Trump.Sisi telephoned Trump on Thursday, a Trump transition official said, saying the two spoke broadly about laying the groundwork for peace in the Middle East. The official did not have information about whether they discussed the resolution.There was no comment from the Egyptian presidency."Egypt has delayed the vote following an intense Israeli lobbying campaign," said a Western diplomat on condition of anonymity.The resolution would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and it said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law". Egypt is currently a Security Council member and worked with the Palestinians to draft the text. It was not clear whether a vote would be rescheduled and some diplomats said it may depend on negotiations among Arab diplomats in Cairo. Egyptian media quoted the Palestinian ambassador to Egypt as saying Egypt's foreign minister had said those talks would continue for two days.

CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONS WITH TRUMP?

Officials in Netanyahu's office spoke to Egyptian officials on Thursday about postponing the vote, an Israeli diplomat said.It was not clear what pressure Israel may have put on Egypt but there are several ways it could do so, including curtailing Israeli security cooperation in Egypt's fight against Islamist militants in the Sinai desert.An Egyptian and a Western diplomat said Cairo put off the vote in part to maintain good relations with the incoming Trump administration."We (Arab states) are all looking for a way to ensure constructive relations with this new administration. It's not clear if this (resolution) helps that, or if it might even hinder," said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Netanyahu took to Twitter in the dead of night in Israel to make the appeal for a veto, in a sign of concern that Obama might take a parting shot at a policy he has long opposed and at a right-wing Israeli leader with whom he has had strained ties.Hours later, Trump backed fellow conservative Netanyahu on one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the pursuit, effectively stalled since 2014, of a two-state solution.The Security Council had been due to vote on Thursday afternoon. It was unclear how the United States, which historically has protected Israel from U.N. Security Council action, would have voted.U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had planned to make a speech to explain the U.S. stance on Thursday but cancelled it after the vote was postponed, a U.S. official said.Another U.S. official said there was a widespread assumption within the State Department that the United States was likely to abstain, saying that otherwise Kerry was not likely to have scheduled the speech.State Department spokesman John Kirby declined to say how the United States would have voted, or even to say whether a final decision had been made about how it would vote.

The White House declined comment.OBAMA CRITICAL OF SETTLEMENTS

Obama's administration has been highly critical of settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. U.S. officials said this month, however, the president was not expected to make major moves on Israeli-Palestinian peace before leaving office on Jan. 20.Israel's far-right and settler leaders have been buoyed by the election of Trump, who has already signalled a possible change in U.S. policy by tapping a fundraiser for a major Israeli settlement as Washington's ambassador to Israel.Netanyahu, for whom settlers are a key constituency, has said his government has been their greatest ally since the capture of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a 1967 war.Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital, a claim that is not recognised internationally.The United States says continued Israeli settlement building lacks legitimacy, but has stopped short of adopting the position of many countries that it is illegal under international law. Some 570,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted. (Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed, Matt Spetalnick, Emily Stephenson and Lesley Wroughton in Washington, John Irish travelling with the French foreign minister, Ori Lewis in Jerusalem and Amina Ismail and Ahmed Aboulenein in Cairo; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and James Dalgleish)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
All 111 passengers and seven crew members of a hijacked Libyan plane have been released, before the two hijackers also surrendered on Friday afternoon, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said. The two had hijacked a domestic Afrqiyah Airlines plane on its way to Tripoli from Sabha, and forced it to Malta in the Mediterranean Sea, 500 km away. This resulted in an afternoon of high drama, as the hijackers first released 65 passengers before letting the others go as well.

Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

65 passengers released so far.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

Further 44 passengers being released.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

Muscat tweeted that he had been alerted of a "potential hijack" of a Libyan plane reported to be headed for Malta.

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

The plane, carrying 118 people, including seven crew members, landed in Malta at 11.32 am local time, Malta Today reported. Maltese media reported that the hijacked plane, flight number 8U209, left Sabha in South West Libya and was scheduled to arrive in Tripoli at 11.20 am, but was instead diverted to the tiny island of Malta. The A320 flight is operated by Afriqiyah Airways.

BBC News reported that all flights in and out of Malta were cancelled. Prime Minister Muscat further tweeted saying that among those onboard, 82 were men, 28 women and one infant:

The #Afriqiyah flight from #Sabha to #Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in #Malta. Security services coordinating operations.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

It has been established that #Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

According to the Times of Malta, an hour after the hijack, the plane was surrounded by Maltese security forces. The report added that the hijackers, believed to be pro-Gaddafi, are in possession of a hand grenade, while their demands remain unknown.

Malta Today added that all emergency teams have been dispatched to the site. The Malta International Airport called the hijack situation an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac.

Earlier in the day, The office of Malta's prime minister Joseph Muscat said the premier spoke to his Libyan counterpart, Fayez Serraj, on the hijacking. Serraj is leading the so-called Presidency Council and National Unity Government, both brokered by the United Nations as part of peace efforts to heal the country's rift and end divisions.

The Maltese government also confirmed that a negotiating team is on standby at airport awaiting instructions from the prime minister, who is in a meeting with the National Security Committee.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country. Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

With inputs from agencies
GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here.
Chinas foreign minister yesterday warned that ties with the U.S. will likely see new complications and that the only way to maintain a stable relationship is by respecting each others core interests.

Foreign Minister Wang Yis remarks appeared to underscore that Chinas position on Taiwan is nonnegotiable, weeks after President-elect Donald Trump suggested that he could re-evaluate U.S. policy on the status of Taiwan.

Wang told the Communist Party mouthpiece, the Peoples Daily, he will strive to boost cooperation with the U.S. but foresaw new, complicated and uncertain factors affecting bilateral relations under the Trump administration.

China complained after Trump this month questioned a U.S. policy that since 1979 has recognized Beijing as Chinas government and maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan.

The president-elects comments on Taiwan, combined with accusations that China is manipulating its currency and threats of imposing hefty tariffs against Chinese imports, have rattled relations between the worlds two largest economies.

Trumps transition team announced Wednesday that Peter Navarro, a University of California, Irvine, economist who has accused China of effectively waging economic war against the United States, would head a trade policy council inside the White House.

Still, U.S.-China relations are generally trending toward stable cooperation and mutual benefit, Wang said. He quoted a Chinese poem  previously used by President Xi Jinping as a metaphor for U.S.-China ties  depicting a river that flows inevitably, regardless of mountainous obstacles.

Beijing regards the self-governing island as part of China. It has long used the core interest formulation to signal that its position on Taiwan will be upheld under any circumstances and any move by Taiwan toward formal independence could be met with military force. Gerry Shih, AP
Ten thousand people are feared dead after a two-hour earthquake ripped through the Nicaraguan capital of Managua.

Initial reports suggest whole communities have been wiped out as an estimated 80% of buildings have been flattened with little hope of finding survivors.

The earthquake which reached 6.5 on the Richter Scale has sparked huge fires causing fears those who survived the initial attack may not escape the flames. Nicaragua was struck at 1240 local time when all electricity and water supplies to the country were cut. Telegraph and telephone links have also been severed.

Aid workers are trying to clear the area to prevent the spread of diseases such as typhoid so that experts can search for survivors and get food and water to the hundreds now homeless.

Among the ruins and rubble are two of the citys three main hospitals. Relief workers at the scene are trying to bury the dead in makeshift graves to curb a growing stench.

An evacuation order has been placed on the city and authorities are expected to close off the area while a clean-up operation takes place. The city is still affected by occasional tremors, and cracks in the road are hampering emergency relief efforts.

Officials have said they need medical aid and anaesthetic more than anything else at present. The United States, Mexico and neighbouring countries to Nicaragua are preparing to send aid, food and medicine.

The capital city is above a geological fault which has made it susceptible to tremors and earthquakes. Managua has twice been destroyed in earthquakes in 76 years, leading to speculation the country may have to move its capital.

Parts of the country have already suffered the worst drought of the century this year. And the partial failure of the cotton crop, which with coffee is the staple of the Nicaraguan economy, has led to unemployment and poverty.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

More than 25 countries responded with aid worth several millions of pounds.

But the magnitude of the devastation meant it was not distributed well and began being stockpiled despite the desperate situation facing thousands of people.

Most of the original foreign aid money never reached the victims of the earthquake and the death toll is estimated to have been between 5,000 and 10,000.

The devastation caused by the earthquake was blamed on badly built high-rise buildings which collapsed.

Central Managua was never rebuilt, instead a sprawl of markets and businesses developed where people had set up home.

Small parks and squares have been built to try to draw people back to the city centre and plans for new infrastructure include a limit of three-storey-high buildings.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is back on the U.S. governments annual list of notorious markets that sell pirated goods.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said Wednesday that Alibabas on-line marketplace Taobao sells high levels of counterfeit goods and is slow to respond when companies complain about the knockoffs.

USTR took Alibaba off the blacklist in 2012, but several U.S. trade groups successfully sought to get it reinstated.

There are a lot of victims here, including U.S. companies that lose sales to fakes and consumers who wind up with shoddy goods, said Stephen Lamar, executive vice president at the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which wanted Alibababack on the list.

Alibaba Group President Michael Evans said the company is disappointed. Alibaba polices the market more effectively than it did four years ago, he said.

Evans questioned whether the USTR decision was based on actual facts or was influenced by the current political climate. During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump blasted China for stealing intellectual property.

In 2014, Alibaba sold USD25 billion worth of stock on the New York Stock Exchange in the biggest initial public offering on record. Winding up on the notorious markets listing again is another blow to its reputation. In 2015, Chinese regulators issued an unusual, scathing report that accused Alibaba of failing to do enough to prevent the sale of fakes on its websites.

AP
A new policy, spearheaded by Macaus Immigration Services, decrees that non-residents who leave their employment or are fired will have only eight days to depart from the MSAR. The revision is down from the previous 10 days.

Furthermore, if non-residents have been working in Macau for less than half a year, they will only be able to remain in the territory for two days after their employment is terminated.

According to a report from TDM, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has expressed concern over the decision, warning that it might foster unequal employment relationships. The organization advocates that non-residents ought to receive the same treatment as local workers.

Their concerns are echoed by non-resident workers and rights activist groups in the city, some of whom have been claiming since 2010 that the previous 10 days were not sufficient for workers who planned to challenge unfair dismissal.

Macaus Labor Affairs Bureau told TDM that they regularly meet with migrant workers to explain their rights. However, they were keen to stress that the policy is being driven by the Immigration Services.
A Swiss man convicted of blackmail linked to a Malaysian financial scandal was freed this week after serving over a year in a Thai prison.

Xavier Justo was one of around 30,000 inmates released early under a pardon by Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradevarangkun to mark his ascension to the throne on Dec. 1. Justos lawyer said his client will be deported to Switzerland.

Justo was convicted in August 2015 of blackmailing his former employer, a Saudi oil exploration company, by threatening to sell to the media documents related to the companys dealings with Malaysias 1MDB state development fund unless the company paid him USD2.47 million.

The 1MDB fund has been the focus of investigations in the U.S., Switzerland, Singapore, and other countries over allegations of a global embezzlement and money-laundering scheme.

The U.S. Justice Department says people close to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak stole at least $3.5 billion from 1MDB, which was meant to promote economic development projects. The department acted in July to seize $1.3 billion it says was diverted from the fund to buy assets in the U.S. Najib has stymied government investigations into the fund, denies any wrongdoing and rejects calls for his resignation.

Thai police had said Justo confessed to handing over documents to Sarawak Report, a London-based news website opposing the Malaysian government. He was originally set to be jailed for six years, then his sentence was halved for pleading guilty and commuted further for good behavior. Stories in Sarawak Report and The Wall Street Journal first revealed the funds problems.

Justo, who said hes very happy about the release, cannot board a plane back home immediately because he needs to buy a ticket and sort out paperwork, but Justos lawyer said hell probably return home before Christmas. He is meanwhile being held at Bangkoks immigration detention center. Kaweewit Kaewjinda, Bangkok, AP
A flag-raising ceremony was held Tuesday morning at Golden Lotus Square to celebrate the completion of the Sino-Portuguese handover process 17 years ago.

Chief Executive (CE) Chui Sai On who spoke at the Macau Tower during an official ceremony later in the day, took the occasion to commend how Macau has weathered significant economic changes in recent years, and to thank the Central Government for its role in supporting the MSAR.

Representatives of the government, led by the CE, were accompanied during the Golden Lotus Square ceremony by officials from the Chinese military in addition to residents and visitors. All present were entertained by several performances. Together the gathered individuals honored the handover celebration day and reflected on the citys changes since 1999.

Following performances at Golden Lotus Square, a reception was hosted at the Macau Tower by the CE, who delivered a speech expressing sentiments on these changes. In particular, he praised the progress that Macau has witnessed since the handover, with specific reference to the apparent recovery from the gaming downturn in the last few months.

Recently, affected by the complicated external environment, Macau is experiencing deep economic adjustment, said Chui. Despite the uncertainties facing the global economy in the coming year, we are still cautiously optimistic about Macaus economic outlook. We believe Macau will achieve stable economic development in 2017.

Thanks to the joint efforts of Macau society, we have succeeded in maintaining overall economic stability this year, and even reversed the downward trend during the latest quarter, he added.

Aside from a pledge for the government to review and improve any shortcomings in our work [] and be accountable, Chuis speech was notably absent of commentary on the recent allegations of corruption rocking his administration.

When queried by reporters on this matter after the ceremony, the CE said that he wouldnt comment on the allegations of nepotism concerning Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan, and her predecessor, Florinda Chan.

According to public broadcaster TDM, Chui hinted that it would be inappropriate to comment before an investigation into the allegations has begun. Although this comment in itself was revealing, as it implies that there will be an investigation.

People are concerned about the existence of unfairness and the recruitment procedures based on favoritism, he said, as cited by TDM. For my part I support central recruitment where theres openness and fairness.

In a statement released later in the day, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) said that Chui is seeking to set an example of morality and integrity even higher than that required by local laws and regulations.

With an eye on the coming year in his speech at the Macau Tower, the CE promised to strengthen the rule of law, improve education policies, and reform the public administration. He expressed his gratitude to the Central Government for various policies that came to fruition this year, including the yacht visa scheme between Macau and Zhongshan and the recent scheme to allow registered Macau cars to drive on Hengqin Island.

Chui concluded his speech by professing his love for his country, China, and toasting to the prosperity of Macau, which he says is certain to have a bright future.

Celebration not without protests

Not all residents shared Chuis vision of a prosperous and economically successful MSAR on Tuesday. During the celebration holiday several groups took to the streets demanding greater protection for local workers who they feel are being neglected in favor of non-resident workers. An estimated 600 people marched from Iao Hon to the government headquarters, demanding that the rights and interests of resident workers be protected. Meanwhile, Pearl Horizon pre-buyers staged a protest of their own held outside the office of the sites developer, Polytec. Protesters called on the government to propose a solution to the ongoing disputes before the Lunar New Year next month.

Leong stresses healthy economy

Comments made by Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong after the handover reception hosted by the government stressed the stable business environment of the territory and the high employment rate. The secretary said that despite uncertainties in issues related to Macaus economy, the outlook remained positive. He added that issues relating to the livelihood of Macau residents would continue to be a top priority of the government. Separately, Leong informed that a government decision on whether to renew the contract of the Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome would be settled prior to July 20, 2018.
Sao Tome and Principe has announced that it will sever formal relations with Taiwan in favor of abiding by the mainlands One-China policy, in what has become the latest diplomatic rebuff to the island-state.

The move is expected to pave the way for the African nation to join the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macau).

Sao Tome and Principe is the only Portuguese-speaking country that has been excluded from active participation in Forum Macau (despite being permitted as an observer) on the basis of its former recognition of Taiwan.

Taiwan, which receives diplomatic recognition from less than two-dozen countries as of today, lost another ally this week after Sao Tome and Principe revoked its formal ties. The decision comes less than a year after Beijing resumed relations with the African country of Gambia which had formally severed its ties to Taiwan in 2013.

The Chinese foreign ministry has welcomed the decision and commended the African nation for reverting to the correct path of the One-China principle.

However, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen condemned Beijings diplomatic suppression, writing that such conduct will not help the long-term development of cross-Strait relations. Deliberately ignoring and dwarfing Taiwan in the international arena will only make [the] Taiwanese feel humiliated and infuriated.

The government of Sao Tome and Principe did not specify a reason behind the sudden announcement, but Taiwans foreign minister David Lee accredited the policy shift to increasing financial demands in the relationship between the two states. The West African nation, like most of the islands remaining friends, is a recipient of economic aid, with the total sum over the last 19 years amounting to around USD200 million.

The Peoples Republic of China and Taiwan have engaged in a decades-long battle to win over friends by enticing them through financial assistance. As Chinas economic might has grown, Taiwan has found it increasingly difficult to compete.

Analysts speculate that Vatican City, Taiwans only source of diplomatic recognition on the European continent, could be next to reverse its position on the island given the already increased efforts of Beijing to woo the walled enclave over.

However, Taiwans deputy foreign minister, Javier Hou, said that that outcome is not yet decided.

The Holy See is different. Its not a secular state, and the pontiff is the supreme leader. So no problems exist like dollar assistance, he said, as cited by South China Morning Post. At least in the short term, the Holy See will not sever ties with Taiwan.

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Souring relations

Cross-Strait relations between Taiwan and mainland China have ominously soured over the course of 2016. Upon assuming office in May, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen upset China when she refused to endorse the 1992 Consensus on the One-China principle. The backlash from Beijing quickly saw several diplomatic channels of communication between the two governments unilaterally ended, while at the same time China exerted significant pressure to further alienate Taiwan from international organizations. Then, earlier this month, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump took a phone call from Tsai in an unusual breach of protocol. The move provoked Beijing, which responded by reiterating its willingness to use force to reunite what China considers to be a breakaway province.
Nearly 1,000 construction projects involving roads will be conducted next year, according to a statement released by the Transport Bureau (DSAT) on Monday. The department predicts that the citys traffic congestion will become severe over the next year.

The Road Construction Co-ordination Group has so far received plans for 711 road construction projects from governmental departments and institutions, all due to begin work in 2017. Moreover, there will be several private projects and urgent maintenance tasks of public projects that will add to this number.

DSAT explained that a multitude of developments are occurring next year since many big public infrastructure projects will commence or be completed next year alongside energy supply, information development, urban planning, and other projects.

DSAT issued a reminder that the projects will involve arterial roads and that the construction periods will be relatively long. Additionally, the length of many of the roads undergoing work will be altered.

Seventeen projects involving arterial roads will take between 140 to 1,000 days depending on their progress. The main roads to be involved will be Avenida do Almirante Lacerda, Rua do Visconde Paco dArcos, Avenida da Ponte da Amizade, Avenida do Conselheiro Borja, Avenida de 1 de Maio, Avenida de Venceslau de Morais, Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues and Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen.

According to DSAT, nearly half of the projects will take approximately six months to be complete.

Around 500 of the aforementioned 711 projects will be conducted in the Macau Peninsula, while 234 will take place on the islands.

In order to shorten the construction period and reduce the impact on people moving around the city, the Road Construction Co-ordination Group has introduced a reward and punishment mechanism to the project operators.

Lam Hin San, director of DSAT, when asked by the media about whether the department was worried that the projects would be criticised for worsening traffic, said that coordinating road projects was difficult, however the projects must be done.

Lam noted that many projects will be conducted in the northern districts. JZ
JEROME  A Gooding mother who gave her daughter butter infused with marijuana to treat the girls seizure-like symptoms earlier this year was in court Thursday trying to regain custody of her children, but a judge ruled against her, her attorney said.

Kelsey Osborne, 23, is charged in Twin Falls County with a misdemeanor count of injury to child, while in Jerome County a legal battle is unfolding over the custody of her children.

Osborne says she gave her 3-year-old daughter, Madyson, a smoothie with marijuana butter on Oct. 5 to help calm the girl, who was suffering from seizure-like symptoms, vomiting and hallucinating. Osborne said Madysons behavior was the result of several weeks going on and off the antipsychotic medication Risperidone.

Osborne said the butter calmed the girl and helped treat the seizures and hallucinations, but when she took Madyson to a doctor later that day, the toddler tested positive for marijuana and the doctor reported it. The incident resulted in the criminal charge in Twin Falls County and prompted the Department of Health and Welfare to take Osbornes two children, Madyson and son Ryker, and place them in the custody of her ex-husband.

On Thursday, following a nearly four-hour hearing that was closed to the public, a judge ruled that for now, Osborne still cannot have custody of her children, said her attorney, Tom Curl. The judge ordered that the children stay with Osbornes ex-husband.

This is not the absolute worst-case scenario, Curl told the Times-News after the hearing. Shes obviously upset, but I told her this was probably going to happen, so at least we were a little mentally prepared.

But things could be worse, Curl said  the children could have been taken away from both parents. Instead, theyll stay with their father and Osborne will continue to have supervised visitation rights.

Shes upset, but she understands this isnt going to be an overnight situation, Curl said. And the hearing lasted a little under four hours  we certainly didnt go down without a fight.

Curl said the adjudicatory hearing was held to determine whether or not the state has the right to keep her kids from her.

The burden in todays hearing was not beyond a reasonable doubt, it was the preponderance of the evidence  thats not a very high burden, the attorney said.

While Osbornes criminal case in Twin Falls County is focused on whether she injured her daughter by giving her the marijuana-infused butter, the child protection hearing Thursday was centered on a negligence argument.

The doctor said in his testimony there was no injury to Madyson, Curl said. The doctor said he doesnt prescribe marijuana, obviously, because its illegal in Idaho, but its being studied for just this type of application. The (Child Protective Services) case worker agreed there was no injury. But the judge did find the state met their burden.

Curl said he hopes to delay the next major decision in the child protection case until after Osborne goes to trial in the Twin Falls criminal case. Once a jury returns a verdict on her misdemeanor charge, there will be more evidence to work with and more options on how to argue the child protection case.

The criminal trial in Twin Falls is set for Feb. 8, and Curl and Osborne plan to argue that while illegal, giving marijuana to Madyson didnt hurt her.

I dont believe theres any way possible I could have injured my daughter by doing anything I did, Osborne said after a November hearing in which she pleaded not guilty. If anything, I helped her.
BURLEY  Gingerbread houses created by Cassia Regional Technical Center students are more than just four walls, a roof, frosting and gumdrops. They have style  architectural style.

Cape Cod, saltbox, garrison and Victorian architecture was easily recognizable as students from the Computer Aided Drafting and Design Class tried their hand turning their 3D planned homes into reality.

The first-year students spent the first three months of the class learning programs that helped them to create a gingerbread floor plan in 2D, transfer it to another program that gave them 3D vision, make a scale model and then test their hand skills building it  all for a grade.

There were some casualties for some students who didnt think the graham crackers would break so easily, said Alisha Harper, the class instructor.

After they had a scale model they ordered their building materials: graham crackers, frosting and candy.

And, grade points are deducted for supply overages, Harper said.

They have to really think on their feet because in the real world things dont go as planned, especially in construction, Harper said.

Change orders in construction, she said, are a big deal.

Despite warnings from Harper that no students had successfully completed a Victorian-style house, students Kierra Koyle and Randi Briggs felt up to the challenge.

Nobody had done it yet and nobody was trying, so we decided to do it, Koyle said.

As Briggs carefully held an ice-cream sugar cone in place that was on its way to becoming a turret, she said they had been surprised that they were using more graham crackers than anticipated.

Eleise Ramos and Gabe Erickson worked on their Cape Cod-style home that had chocolate Kit Kat bar pieces for stairs and Chex Mix cereal around the base of the porch along with pretzel pillars.

It makes me appreciate architecture a lot more, Erickson said.

One lesson the team learned was that frosting is not always sticky enough and hot glue tends to burn the fingers when touched, he said.

Christian Lloyd and Christopher Harper planned a Spanish-style house, but ended up mixing styles after it didnt go as planned.

We improvised, Christopher said.

The change in plans required the addition of extra pretzel sticks that will cost some points on their grade.

Lloyd said there were lessons to be learned in how the materials support each other and how the weight of the building must be spread to make it stable.

Kimball Gibby and Jon Meyer tackled a garrison-type house, which has an upper floor that extends beyond the lower level, symmetrical windows and a centered door.

The challenge has been with the structure, when you use food products you cant always build it strong enough to give it enough support, Meyer said as Gibby munched on Jolley Rancher bites that were declared surplus.

Buddy Harman and Samuel Slusser were putting finishing decorative touches on their contemporary beach house while the other students were still working on structure.

Their home sported a candy pine tree and decorative fence in front along with a colorful M&M roof.

The pair patiently waited for the blue frosting to become available so they could add some ocean around the house.

Harman hopes to pursue a career as an engineer and chose the design on a day when Slusser was absent.

Slusser, who is still deciding a career path, said it has been fun learning how to create the 3D models on the computer.

Discovering that the off brand graham crackers were not the same size as the brand they used for the scale model was somewhat of a shock, but they carefully shaved them down to make it work, Harman said.

This project really teaches craftsmanship, Harper said. You can build an awesome 3D model, but you have to have good hand skills to make it work.
Dona Rose Manning Fenton

April 10, 1930 - December 18, 2016

BURLEY  Dona Rose Manning Fenton, age 86, of Springdale, passed away peacefully in her home Sunday, December 18, 2016, surrounded by her adoring family.

She was born April 10, 1930, in the home that her father built. She was the ninth child of 10. She graduated from Burley High School and then attended BYU for a semester before being proposed to by James Fenton, the love of her life. They married in that same home on November 18, 1949, honeymooning in San Francisco and making their home in Burley where she worked at JC Penney's.

In 1955 they moved to Venice, California. Dona and Jim were sealed in the Los Angeles California LDS Temple in 1959 for time and all eternity. She was a lifelong active and worthy member of the LDS Church. She always had a calling and was endlessly giving her time. Dona worked at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for several years where they hosted the Academy Awards. They had four beautiful children, Bobbie, Wayne, Scott, and Kris, before moving back to Burley in 1969 to buy the family farm.

They moved to Minneapolis for a time to help with the construction of one of their children's homes and stayed for a few years before returning to Burley in 1991.

Dona Rose could always find out how people were related to her or how she knew one of their relatives. Once that connection was made, you were now family. She was famous for cooking breakfast and she made the world's best pancakes. No one ever left her home hungry. Holidays were legendary for her hand dipped chocolates. If you were ever the recipient of a gift of food from Dona Rose, you could taste the love she put into everything she made.

Dona Rose, Mom, Grandma, Dear, Sweetie, burner of turkeys [that one time], touched so many lives, we miss you. This cold December got a little more bleak because you aren't here with us to warm our hearts. But as Cousin Doug reminded us, Heaven just got a lot more fun now that Dona Rose is there.[csvicw2]

[mf2,2][cw1][v1][f3][pc9.5]She is survived by her sister, Virginia Bell; her sister-in-law, Loanda Manning; her children, Bobbie Ann Nix, Wayne James (Margie) Fenton, Scott Manning (Debra) Fenton, and Kris Tina (Michael II) McDaniel; her grandchildren, Pepper, Roderick, Justin, Bret, Brandon, Jaret, Jordan, Breann, Lance, Talia, Chalyce, Kory, Kelsie, Michael and Ryan; and 29 great-grandchildren.[csvicw2]

[mf2,2][cw1][v1][f3][pc9.5]Family and friends are invited to the viewing from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., Burley The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at the Springdale LDS Church, 519 E. 200 S., of Burley, with Bishop Brian Wilde officiating. Viewing will be from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday, prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery.[csvicw2]
The story of Anis Amri, the man sought in connection with Mondays terror attack in Berlin, shows clearly that Europe, and Germany in particular, isnt letting in too many migrants  its kicking out too few.

Amri, with a history of violence, drug-dealing and other crimes, including a truck theft, left Tunisia in 2011, during the countrys Arab Spring revolution. The countrys economy had come to a standstill because of the disturbances and Europes financial crisis, which undermined tourism. At the same time, border controls all but disappeared, so irregular migration to Europe spiked. When Amri reached Italy, he continued his career as a petty criminal, earning a four-year prison sentence.

After his release in 2015 to a deportation center, Italian authorities waited for Tunisia to recognize his citizenship and issue a passport. The answer didnt come in the allocated time, and Italy released Amri with orders to leave the country. He went to Germany: July 2015 was a good time to get lost among the throngs of refugees then pouring across the border. Many didnt have valid identity papers, and Amri could start a new life by joining those filing asylum applications.

This entitled him to $408 (392 euros) a month in cash. The German migration service was flooded with applications, and waiting times were long. By the time Amri was denied refugee status in June 2016, he was under surveillance on suspicion of terrorist ties and selling soft drugs in Berlin. Amri should have been deported immediately; but Tunisia denied he was its citizen. It issued his passport only on Wednesday  after the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.

Immigrants from poor and violent countries brave enough to make the long, dangerous journey to Europe generally deserve a chance. Not all of them can make good use of it, though. Amri, with no education, no desire to learn or work and a tendency to break rules, did not belong in Europe and should have been kicked out at several points in his squalid sojourn here. But he wasnt because the system isnt designed to handle cases like his.

The German bureaucracy has done a stellar job of reducing the asylum application backlog, but it hasnt demonstrated similar efficiency in deporting those deemed ineligible. It processed 616,000 applications from January through November, 160 percent more than in the same period of last year. But the 23,750 deportations in that period is an increase of just 14 percent over 2015. With another 51,243 taking advantage of voluntary repatriation programs, compared with about 35,000 last year, about 215,000 rejected asylum-seekers are still residing in Germany. And that number will jump.

Earlier this month, McKinsey submitted a report to Germanys Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, entitled Return Management 2017, predicting that the number of people ordered to leave but still in Germany will grow to 485,000 by the end of next year. McKinsey says immigrants stuck around for an average of 12 months after being told to leave, while the deportation process after a criminal conviction takes 20 months.

The longer Europes rejects overstay their welcome, the more embittered they become and the more susceptible to Islamic State recruiters whisperings. Amri probably wasnt a terrorist when he arrived in Italy from Tunisia, otherwise he would have acted much earlier. His radicalization must have happened while he was in Europe, in limbo.

McKinsey advised Germany to improve cooperation between states in rounding up deportees, set up special detention centers and offer stronger financial incentives than just a ticket home to encourage voluntary repatriation  a worthwhile investment, given that each rejected applicant costs Germany 670 euros a month, according to McKinsey.

But none of this will help unless Germany and its neighbors work out better return mechanisms with the immigrants countries of origin. Fixing this requires a major diplomatic effort to produce efficient repatriation procedures with the dozen or so countries responsible for the bulk of the immigrants.

European governments are humane; they cannot just put people in boats and push them off toward Turkey or North Africa, the way Spain did with 17th-century Moriscos. But that hardly justifies the management failure of being unable to deport convicted criminals and repatriate rejects.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel doesnt need to apologize for letting people try their luck in her country. She does, however, have a responsibility to make sure that those with no respect for rules cannot stay. McKinsey is criticized in Germany for charging millions of euros for its advice  but the expense is justifiable if it forces bureaucrats and politicians to resolve the issue.
We dont know how Donald Trumps presidency will turn out, or what the cost could be to democratic culture and norms. But we know that Trumps capacity for harm will depend only partly on Trump and his aides.

Enormous power will rest with Republicans in Congress. If the GOP wants to constrain Trumps propaganda, political chaos and end-runs around ethical, constitutional and democratic standards, especially on the domestic front, it can.

Its far from clear, however, that it will.

Trump represents an obvious departure from democratic behavior and norms. But what about the GOP? Is the Republican Party still fixed in a democratic orbit, respectful of American political traditions and protective of civil and political rights? Or is its early acquiescence to Trump, following other retrograde motions  Republican presidents get to appoint justices to the Supreme Court but Democratic presidents dont  a sign that the party is transitioning into something else?

I dont see any evidence, at least at the grass-roots level, that the Republican Party is morphing into a vehicle for authoritarian rule, said political scientist Matthew Dickinson, an expert on the presidency, in an e-mail interview. Trump did highlight a deep strain of political and economic populism within the Republican electorate, but I didnt see evidence that people were willing to cede authority to a strongman and his ruling clique.

Of course, the GOPs grass-roots, which account for much of the demand side of the political propaganda market, may not be all that reliable a bulwark. They didnt terribly mind their candidates lack of disclosure, accountability or credibility, or his wallowing in cruel attacks and trashy conspiracy theories. They may not mind such behavior in a president, or a majority party, either.

Thomas Mann, a University of California, Berkeley, and Brookings Institution scholar who co-wrote an influential 2012 book on the decline of democratic norms among congressional Republicans, exhibits less confidence about democracys durability. In a blog post, Mann said that the silence of GOP leaders on everything from Trumps alarming personnel moves to his egregious conflicts of interest is alarming.

The risk of party loyalty trumping institutional responsibility naturally arises with unified party government during a time of extreme polarization, Mann wrote. A devils bargain of accepting illiberal politics in return for radical policies appears to have been struck.

Sarah Binder, a Brookings congressional scholar and political scientist at George Washington University, believes its too soon to tell. She e-mailed:

Reports that GOP incumbents in the House are fearful of attacks from Trump and his supporters if they stray from his preferred positions (whatever those may be) raise big doubts about the democraticness of the Hill GOP. If true, those reports suggest that diversity of opinion and its free expression are at risk. And thats not so democratic. But I think its too early to know whether and to what degree such fear is taking root on the Hill.

Norman Ornstein, Manns co-author and a political scientist at the American Enterprise Institute, has long held a darker view. The party has been in transition for a number of years ideologically, but has also clearly begun to cast aside in many venues the fundamental norms of democratic behavior, Ornstein e-mailed.

He cited Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Ben Sasse of Nebraska as potential counters to the partys authoritarian drift. But the fact that the party has been rewarded with major victories at the state and national level means the approach and mentality gets solidified instead of fragmented, Ornstein said. The next year is a major test of how far otherwise conventional politicians will go to achieve political ends.

John Pitney, professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College, is hopeful that Republicans remain a small-d democratic party. But, he said in his e-mail, there are disturbing signs, such as Newt Gingrichs casual suggestion that Congress should rewrite ethics laws to accommodate Trump, and that Trump could simply pardon his kids if they fall afoul of the laws in place. Thats sniffing at dictatorship.

With luck, Pitney continued, Republicans in Congress will take their oaths seriously and recognize that their loyalty is to the Constitution and the institution, not a president of their party. The next couple of years will be a fight between James Madison and Donald Trump. Let us pray that Madison wins.
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.
 III  2022         ,            8      ,    - 2,2  .
Abortion care in the UK is "heading towards a crisis" and reform of the law is just one of the many obstacles that needs to be overcome, argues an expert in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.

Among the challenges women seeking abortion face include inequitable access, a lack of trained staff, stigmatisation, and a culture of exceptionalism, explains Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood, editor in chief of the journal, and clinical lead for abortion services at Cambridge University Hospitals.

She argues that "problems of access and stigma, familiar worldwide, are compounded in the UK by an abortion law that is now widely seen as not fit for purpose" which is considered to be "out of step with technical advances in safe medical abortion and current UK social values."

Most women believe they have a right to make their own decision about abortion, but British law still requires the identification of serious physical or mental health risk by two doctors not necessarily qualified, and who may not know the woman personally.

The law is, therefore, widely seen by clinicians as "hypocritical andanachronistic," explains Dr Goldbeck-Wood.

Another problem is that abortion care has become artificially separated from the rest of reproductive health care, she adds. In the UK, a high proportion of abortion care is provided in specialist organisations outside the NHS.

Trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology - among them the potential service providers of the future - have too little opportunity to benefit from the learning environment that abortion care offers.

"As well as reinforcing stigma, this deprives trainees of valuable learning opportunities," she says

Organisations calling for the law to be reformed include the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives and other women's health organisations.

And if the law is to be reformed, says Dr Goldbeck-Wood, there will be a strong need for debate which is respectful and acknowledges the ethical complexity in this sensitive area of health care.

"Abortion care remains a high-volume, under-researched and under-integrated area of women's healthcare," she writes. "2017 is an excellent time for practitioners to be challenging hypocrisy and exceptionalism in UK abortion care, and leading respectful debate centred on women's needs, with complexity acknowledged."

A study led by Dr Louise Keogh, from the University of Melbourne, assessed the decriminalisation of abortion in the Victoria state of Australia in 2008.

It found that a change in the law has empowered women, and increased clarity and safety for clinicians, but has failed to address stigma, access to services and workforce sustainability.

Commenting on the study, Sally Sheldon, professor of law at Kent University, says that the abortion law reform in Victoria has vital lessons for the UK.

She says that removal of specific criminal prohibitions against abortion "should not be seen as a panacea", even though it is important to remove criminal law prohibitions and to establish abortion care as a health issue.

Much more work is needed to remove stigma, encourage doctors to provide terminations, and improve "equitable access to excellent, modern abortion services," she concludes.

More information: Editorial: Reforming abortion services in the UK: less hypocrisy, more acknowledgment of complexity Editorial: Reforming abortion services in the UK: less hypocrisy, more acknowledgment of complexity jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2  0/jfprhc-2016-101696 Commentary: Abortion law reform in Victoria: lessons for the UK jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2  1/jfprhc-2016-101676 Research: Intended and unintended consequences of abortion law reform: perspectives of abortion experts in Victoria, Australia jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2  rhc-2016-101541.full
Puerto Rico's health secretary says two babies have been born with defects as a result of a Zika infection.

Ana Rius made the announcement Friday and said that a total of seven babies have now been affected by the mosquito-borne virus. She declined further comment.

The U.S. territory is fighting a Zika epidemic with 35,870 cases reported, including 2,880 pregnant women. Officials said 314 people have been hospitalized.

Five people have died, including at least two who developed complications from a paralysis condition linked to Zika known as Guillain-Barre.

 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
(HealthDay)A veterinarian appears to have been infected with a strain of avian flu known as H7N2 that spread among more than 100 cats housed at New York City animal shelters. If confirmed, this would be the first known transmission of this bird flu strain from cat to human, officials said.

New York City health officials said the vet has recovered from a mild illness, and there's no sign that the flu has spread to shelter workers or those who've adopted cats.

Still, the city's top health official is calling for caution.

"Our investigation confirms that the risk to human health from H7N2 is low, but we are urging New Yorkers who have adopted cats from a shelter or rescue group within the past three weeks to be alert for symptoms in their pets," city Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said in a health department news release.

"We are contacting people who may have been exposed and offering testing as appropriate," she said.

According to officials, the outbreak of H7N2 struck cats that lived at Animal Care Centers of NYC shelters. H7N2 is a subtype of influenza A virus, also known as avian or bird flu.

More than 160 employees and volunteers were tested, and only the veterinanian, who worked with sick cats, appears to have been infected, officials said. The vet's case has yet to be definitively confirmed.

Officials said they've contacted more than 80 percent of people who adopted cats from the animal shelter, and there's no sign that any of these people have been infected.

There have only been two previous documented cases of transmission of the avian flu subtype to humans in the United States, and neither was linked to cats or to other humans, city health officials said.

For now, the city's health department is urging people to avoid close facial contact and nuzzling with ill cats.

One cat diagnosed with the avian flu died, while the others are expected to get better. Adoptions of cats have been halted for the time being, and the sick cats will be quarantined.

Officials said no other shelter animals have been infected. For the time being, officials are urging New York City residents to not drop off cats at the Animal Care Centers of NYC shelters.

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about avian flu

Copyright  2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Forty years after emerging in what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola virus may finally have met its match in a vaccine which could be "up to 100 percent effective", according to its makers.

Dubbed rVSV-ZEBOV, the vaccine is one of at least 15 being designed worldwide.

Since the end of the West African Ebola outbreak earlier this year, however, developers sit with a unique dilemma: they can only test a vaccine's ultimate efficacy by checking if it protects people in the midst of an epidemic.

Here are brief descriptions of the leading contenders for a vaccine to stop the deadly haemorrhagic fever, for which there is no cure.

rVSV-ZEBOV

The frontrunner vaccine candidate has been developed by pharma company Merck, Sharp & Dohme and funded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Canada's Public Health Agency and other donors.

It uses a modified version of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which causes illness in rodents, cattle, pigs and horses. Not dangerous to humans, the virus has had one of its genes replaced by an Ebola virus gene.

The vaccine prompts the human body to develop antibodies against the invader, so that when Ebola attacks, the antibodies are quick to identify it and fight back.

According to final trial results released by the WHO on Friday, not one of the nearly 6,000 people given the vaccine in Guinea contracted Ebola within 10 days. The trial was conducted when the outbreak was already winding down in 2015.

In a comparison group of similar size, not given the vaccine, there were 23 cases in the 10 days.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were the countries hardest hit by the 2014-16 outbreak which made nearly 29,000 people ill and killed more than 11,300.

rVSV-ZEBOV could become available for use in 2018, under a fast-track drug-approval process.

chAd3

Britain's GlaxoSmithKline and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have been developing the other of the two most advanced trial vaccines.

It is based on a type of chimp cold virus, known as an chimpanzee adenovirus type 3 (ChAd3), to which an Ebola virus gene has been added.

Phase I trials, the first step in vetting a new drug for safety and effectiveness, were conducted in the United States, Britain, Switzerland and Mali.

These showed the drug was safe, and people injected with it developed Ebola antibodies.

It went straight to Phase III tests in Liberia, but the epidemic ended and the trial was stopped without reporting any results.

A Phase III trial is meant to test whether a vaccine protects people under natural disease conditionsthe final step before licensing.

Other

An experimental double-dose vaccine consisting of two different virus-based vaccines, Ad26-EBOV and MVA-EBOV, has passed a Phase I trial in England.

It is developed by Crucell, a subsidiary of US company Johnson & Johnson, in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health.

It is more onerous, requiring two shots three weeks apart, but may ultimately provide longer-lasting protection than a single dose.

Elsewhere, China has conducted early-stage human testing with a vaccine, while Russia is developing at least twoone of which, also a dual-dose drug, is already registered in Russia for emergency use.

The ideal is to have more than one vaccine typepreferably a combination of an easy-to-administer, quick-acting, single-shot version to be given to the general population to stop an outbreak, and a double-dose vaccine to confer longer-term protection on health personnel.

 2016 AFP
A terminally ill Dutch six-year-old boy, who hoped to raise a few hundred euros for other sick children by daring people to paint their nails in garish colours, had raised more than one million by Friday.

Tijn Kolsteren, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in May, launched the appeal only two days ago but it has quickly fired the imagination of the Dutch public who had donated more than 1,270,000 euros ($1,326,000) at the last count.

"Paint your nails, make a donation and then challenge three of your friends to do the same," dares the donation page, which invites participants to share their pictures on social media using the hashtag #lakaan (meaning "the polish is on").

"Most poor children diagnosed with pneumonia don't live until the age of five," said the young boy on the site. "That's why we have to put up a fight."

Celebrities, politicians, presenters and actors have been among thousands of people who have posted pictures of their painted nails online, with far-right politician Geert Wilders plumping for deep red.

"I got really emotional when I heard the story about this little guyit made a really big impression on me," Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at his weekly press conference.

The appeal is part of a traditional event in The Netherlands where radio DJs lock themselves away for several days without food or drink to raise money. This year, proceeds are going to the Red Cross.

Although Tijn's cancer was diagnosed on May, it was only last week that his family learned that a course of chemotherapy had failed to reduce its size.

"Despite this bad news, we wanted to do something for children who won't maybe even make it to six," his father Gerrit told public television channel NOS.

"We came up with the idea together: Tijn had already painted his nails with a friend and liked it. I wanted to do something similar to the Ice Bucket challenge and men painting their nails is a bit taboo," he added, referring to the internet craze that raised millions.

The Dutch press hailed the boy as a hero, with the tabloid AD putting a picture of him dressed as a superhero under the headline "SuperTijn".

 2016 AFP
Transmission electron microscope image of negative-stained, Fortaleza-strain Zika virus (red), isolated from a microcephaly case in Brazil. The virus is associated with cellular membranes in the center. Credit: NIAID

Over half the women in Brazil are avoiding pregnancy due to the Zika epidemic, reveals a study published online in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.

There is an urgent need to reconsider abortion criminalisation, and also to improve reproductive health policies to ensure women have access to safe and effective contraceptives, say the authors of the study.

Since the outbreak of Zika in Brazil, there have been 1,845 confirmed cases of congenital Zika syndrome in babies.

A team of doctors, led by Professor Debora Diniz from University of Brasilia, wanted to understand how the epidemic has impacted reproductive health practices.

A national survey conducted in June 2016 used face-to-face questionnaires to collect data about reproductive health and pregnancy, and a secret ballot box to obtain information related to abortion experiences.

Data were collected from 2,002 urban and literate Brazilian women aged 18-39 years, corresponding to 83% of the total female population.

Over half (56%) the women reported that they had avoided, or tried to avoid pregnancy because of the Zika epidemic.

Conversely, 27% of women reported that they had not tried to avoid pregnancy because of the epidemic and 16% had not been planning to get pregnant, regardless of the epidemic.

A higher proportion of northeastern women (66%) than southern women (46%) reported avoiding pregnancy, and the authors say this is most likely due to the epidemic being more concentrated in northeastern Brazil.

Black (64%) and brown (56%) women were more likely to report avoiding pregnancy than white women (51%), most probably reflecting the disproportionate impact of the epidemic on vulnerable racial groups, they add.

There were no significant differences among the main religious groups: 58% of Catholic women and 55% of Evangelic women reported having avoided pregnancy because of the Zika epidemic.

"The results provide an important first glimpse into how the Zika epidemic has shaped pregnancy intentions among women in Brazil," explain the authors.

"Brazil must urgently re-evaluate its reproductive health policies to ensure better access to contraception information and methods" they argue.

This includes making available a wider range of contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraception, which are either scarce, such as the copper intrauterine device, or not available, such as hormonal implants, through public health services.

"As indicated by the high proportion of women who avoided pregnancy because of Zika, the Brazilian government must place reproductive health concerns at the centre of its response, including reviewing its continued criminalisation of abortion," the authors conclude.

More information: Letter to the editor: Brazilian women avoiding pregnancy during Zika epidemic Letter to the editor: Brazilian women avoiding pregnancy during Zika epidemic jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2  1/jfprhc-2016-101678
The News in Brief

Average rate is not enough,we need rapid economic development Parliament Speaker



The government has a clear vision for economic development, which is reflected in the Prime Minister's four-point plan, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze told the Kviris Palitra newspaper.



He said the government could not take drastic economic measures, but in that case we would have maintained the average economic growth rate in the region.



"It would not be bad in the current economic situation in the region, but the average rate is not enough for Georgia today; we need rapid economic development.



As you are aware, economic changes envisage tax reduction in case of re-investment, which created the need for an alternative reform in order to minimize the budget deficit.



Tax cuts led to the increase in the budget deficit and reduced revenues, which needed to be balanced. It was a recommendation of our foreign partners, including the IMF, said Kobakhidze



He expressed hope that due to the ambitious plan of economic development, Georgia will increase its annual economic growth rate by several percent.

(IPN)







Georgian Interior Minister Meets Armenian President



Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Mgebrishvili met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan on December 16.



Within the framework of his working visit, Mgebrishvili also held talks with Vladimir Gasparyan, Armenias chief of police; the sides signed a declaration on deepening the cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries and stressed the importance of the agreement in the field of combatting organized crime, which promotes close and fruitful cooperation between Georgian and Armenian police officers, according to the Georgian Interior Ministry.



President Sargsyan emphasized the importance of the visit of the Georgian Interior Minister to Armenia in terms of close and effective interaction, jointly countering the contemporary challenges.



It was underlined that not only are Armenia and Georgia friendly states, but they are connected with centuries-old good neighborly relations. President Sargsyan noted that it is necessary to work constantly to further strengthen this friendship, the Armenian Presidents administration noted.



According to the statement, the sides emphasized the active and dynamic nature of the Georgian-Armenian political dialogue, promoted through exchanges of visits at various levels, which enable the two sides to discuss the issues of mutual interest in a constructive and warm atmosphere.



The Georgian Interior Ministry said that during the meeting with the Armenian President, Giorgi Mgebrishvili spoke on the delimitation of Georgian-Armenian state border and expressed hope that it will be completed successfully in the near future.



The two countries have already reached an agreement on 71% of the 224-kilometer border.

(Civil.ge)







Investigation launched into train fire



The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation of the fire that broke out on the Kutaisi-Batumi train on October 18.



The investigation is underway into deliberate damage inflicted onto anothers property.



Rescuers and ambulances were mobilized at the scene.



According to the Georgian Railway company, passengers were evacuated from the train and nobody was injured.

(IPN)







Georgias President saddened by terror attack in Turkey



President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili condemned a terror attack in the central Turkish city of Kayseri that killed 13 soldiers and left many dozens injured.



The car bomb exploded at about 8.45am on Saturday and destroyed a bus carrying off-duty soldiers, who were visiting a local market.



Georgia's President has publically condemned the attack and offered his sympathies to the victims and their families.



"I convey my condolences to the families of the soldiers killed in the blast in Kayseri city, Margvelashvili said in a statement.



We strongly condemn the terror attack in Turkey and once again express our readiness to intensify our cooperation with our partners in fighting terrorism.



We stand by the people of Turkey.



Turkey's regional governor SuleymanKamci said the blast in Kayseri, a usually calm industrial hub in Central Anatolia, was carried out by a suicide bomber parked next to the bus near the entrance to Erciyes University.



The soldiers were said to be on leave from a nearby military base.



The suicide car bomb killed 13 soldiers on board the bus and wounded 56 more. Turkish authorities said 12 were in intensive care and six were in critical condition.



No group has admitted carrying out the attack, but Turkish officials say it bears the hallmarks of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), reported the BBC.

(Agenda.ge)




@MichaelAuslen

Will Weatherford won't run for governor in 2018, the former Florida House speaker said Thursday.

"Running for governor is a pretty big commitment, and it's something that is certainly of interest," he told the Herald/Times. "My focus right now, which I'm really enjoying, has been growing a business with my partners who are my brothers and being there for my four young children."

Weatherford, a 37-year-old Republican from Wesley Chapel, isn't ruling out a run in the future. His children are all young  8, 6, 4 and 2 years old  and he said he has years ahead of him to return to politics.

"While I'm compelled at some point to re-engage in the political arena, I just think the timing right now is not right," he said.

More here.
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NEW YORK  Martin Scorsese's Manhattan office, in a midtown building a few blocks northwest of the cordoned-off Trump Tower, may be the most concentrated bastion of reverence for cinema on the face of the earth.

There's a small screening room where Scorsese screens early cuts of his films and classic movies for his daughter and his friends. There's his personal library of thousands of films, some he taped himself decades ago. Film posters line the walls. Bookshelves are stuffed with film histories. And there are editing suites, including the one where Scorsese and his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker regularly toil with a monitor dedicated to the continuous, muted playing of Turner Classic Movies.

"It's a temple of worship, really," says Schoonmaker.

Scorsese's latest, "Silence," may be the film that most purely fuses the twin passions of his life: God and cinema. Scorsese, who briefly pursued becoming a priest before fervently dedicating himself to moviemaking, has sometimes seemed to conflate the two.

"Silence" is a solemn, religious epic about Jesuit priests (Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver) in a violently anti-Catholic 17th century Japan. Scorsese has wanted to make it for nearly 30 years. He was given the book it's based on, Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel, by a bishop after a screening of his famously controversial "The Last Temptation of Christ" in 1988.

"Silence" is an examination of belief and doubt and mysterious acts of faith. But making the film was such an act in itself.

"Acting it out, maybe that's what existence is all about," Scorsese says of his faith. "The documentary on George Harrison I made, 'Living in the Material World,' that says it better. He said if you want an old man in the sky with a beard, fine. I don't mean to be relativist about it. I happen to feel more comfortable with Christianity. But what is Christianity? That's the issue and that's why I made this film."

It wasn't easy. Scorsese, 74, may be among the most revered directors in Hollywood, but "Silence" is almost the antithesis of today's studio film. To make it Scorsese had to drum up foreign money in Cannes and ultimately made the film for about $46 million. Everyone, including himself, worked for scale.

Few today are making movies with the scope and ambition of "Silence"  a fact, he grants, that makes him feel like one of the last of a dying breed in today's film industry.

"Cinema is gone," Scorsese says. "The cinema I grew up with and that I'm making, it's gone."

"The theater will always be there for that communal experience, there's no doubt. But what kind of experience is it going to be?" he continues. "Is it always going to be a theme-park movie? I sound like an old man, which I am. The big screen for us in the '50s, you go from Westerns to 'Lawrence of Arabia' to the special experience of '2001' in 1968. The experience of seeing 'Vertigo' and 'The Searchers' in VistaVision."

Scorsese points to the proliferation of images and the overreliance on superficial techniques as trends that have diminished the power of cinema to younger audiences. "It should matter to your life," he says. "Unfortunately the latest generations don't know that it mattered so much."

Scorsese's comments echo a tender letter he wrote his daughter two years ago . The future of movies, he believes, is in the freedom that technology has yielded for anyone to make a movie.

"TV, I don't think has taken that place. Not yet," adds Scorsese, whose "Boardwalk Empire" was lauded but whose high-priced "Vinyl" was canceled after one season. "I tried it. I had success to a certain extent. 'Vinyl' we tried but we found that the atmosphere for the type of picture we wanted to make  the nature of the language, the drugs, the sex, depicting the rock 'n' roll world of the '70s  we got a lot of resistance. So I don't know about that freedom."

Since the election of Donald Trump, some have expressed hope for a return to the kind of '70s filmmaking Scorsese is synonymous with.

"If the younger people have something to say and they find a way to say through visual means as well as literary, there's the new cinema," says Scorsese. But the current climate reminds him more of the '50s of his youth. "I'm worried about double-think or triple-think, which is make you believe you have the freedom, but they can make it very difficult to get the picture shown, to get it made, ruin reputations. It's happened before."

"Silence," which Scorsese screened for Jesuits at the Vatican before meeting with the pope, remains a powerful exception in a changing Hollywood.

"He wanted to make this film extremely differently from anything out there," says Schoonmaker, Scorsese's editor since "Raging Bull." "He's just tired of slam-bam-crash. Telling the audience what to think is what he really hates. Trying to do a meditative movie at this point, in this insane world we're in now, was incredibly brave. He wanted to stamp the film with that throughout: the pace, the very subtle use of music.

"How many movies start without music at the very beginning under the logos?" she adds. "He said, 'Take out all that big Hollywood.' "

Scorsese, apostle of cinema, continues the fight. His Film Foundation has helped restore more than 750 films. And he regularly pens supportive letters to young directors whose films he admires.

Imagine that in your mailbox. Almost like getting a letting from your god.
By most any measure, the Lil Smokies had a big year in 2016.

The members of the Missoula progressive bluegrass band estimate they played at least 170 shows.

"This is definitely the most shows we've played by far," said vocalist and dobro player Andy Dunnigan, who formed the band in 2009 with some friends.

They're traveling outside Montana more than they used to. During their fall tour, they hit both coasts including opening gigs for the Infamous Stringdusters and Greensky Bluegrass.

"Those come to mind as full-circle moments," Dunnigan said. They played a Halloween show with the Stringdusters at Denver's Fillmore Auditorium for a crowd of around 3,000 people.

"There's this really cool moment with all of us back by the control board all dressed up like the Village People," getting ready to play an encore with musicians they consider heroes.

They have a new booking agent, Monterery International, whose other clients include Leftover Salmon and the Stringdusters.

At the International Bluegrass Music Association's Momentum Awards in September, they were named a Momentum Band of the Year.

Next year, they'll release a new album and likely play more than 200 gigs, a feat for bands based in remote state like Montana, where geography is a hindrance in gaining a local fan base, but touring nonstop is the only way to make music a full-time job.

Over the past several decades, only a few roots acts born and based in the Treasure State built a sizable national audience, the two most recent being the Big Sky Mudflaps and the Mission Mountain Wood Band.

***

The Smokies plan to release a new album in 2017, a follow-up to their 2013 studio debut and a live recording from New Year's Eve 2013 at the Top Hat Lounge.

"There's some stuff we've only been playing live for a couple of years now, in addition to newer stuff we haven't played at all," Dunnigan said.

"Feathers" and "Might As Well" have been staples for awhile. "The City" and "Hitchcock" were written during the last few months. Dunnigan wrote most of the songs, while guitarist Matt "Rev" Rieger contributed one.

Some of the songs have evolved over the last year, and the live album isn't an accurate representation of the way they sound now. Like any band, they've had some turnover. Dunnigan, bassist Scott Parker and banjo player Matt Cornette have stayed on.

Jesse Brown, their fiddle player, has moved on. Cameron Wilson, their mandolin player, and Pete Barrett, their guitarist, both parted ways amicably this year.

"Families and work and other hobbies and passions came into play, so we completely understood," Dunnigan said.

Rieger and fiddler player Jake Simpson joined earlier this year and are eager to sell a CD they've played on at their merch tables.

"For me, coming into this so fresh and listening to their music, it's a completely different sound now in my opinion," Simpson said. "The old record is good, and this one is going to be good, but they're going to be completely different."

Simpson, an Oklahoma native, was living in Colorado when he met them at the Winter Wondergrass festival. He moved to Missoula to join the group in April.

Rieger was playing with bands in Seattle and met them at Chinook Fest outside Yakima. They stayed up until the early hours playing with headliner Lukas Nelson, the son of country legend Willie Nelson.

"He had to leave at 4:30 in the morning or something and sat around the fire and played music with us until 3:30, 4 o'clock," Rieger said.

They kept talking about it, and he moved to Missoula and played his first official gig with them on Jan. 6.

***

Two wins at band competitions set the Smokies on their current course.

In 2013, they entered and won the band competition at the Northwest String Summit, a music festival in Oregon.

"That was a huge catalyst, especially competing against national acts," Dunnigan said. The surprise win "was a huge boost to our self-confidence, so to speak."

As part of the win, they were given a slot on the main stage the following year. Both helped them make connections and book tours of the Northwest, first on their own and then with a booking agent.

Then in 2015, they won an even bigger title: the Telluride Bluegrass Festival's Band Contest.

The band was originally on the waiting list for the competition, which only accepts 12 bands. About two weeks before the festival, a band dropped out and they were contacted. However, Cornette was leaving the next day for a two-week vacation in the Bahamas. So he brought a banjo with him and practiced on the beach, although being separated from his bandmates with a career-making gig ahead didn't sound all that relaxing.

"I would fall asleep on the beach and have dreams of me playing a solo and my fingerpicks shooting off and strings breaking and me running off the stage at Telluride crying," he said.

The competition has notoriously strict rules. All musicians have to play around a single mic. There are two rounds, each requiring a slow song, a fast song and an instrumental. The songs need to be cut to three minutes, a tight time in a genre known for stretching out.

The rest of the band sent Cornette voice memos and videos as they rearranged the songs to pare them down. The schedule was tight enough that they didn't have time to practice together until they arrived in Colorado.

All of them described it as the most stress they've ever experienced.

In the final round, they played "Tooth Fairy," "Might as Well" and "California," and took first place, putting them on a list that includes names like the Dixie Chicks and Greensky.

As part of the prize, they were awarded a main-stage slot this year.

"It felt good, it felt right. I wasn't nearly as nervous as the competition. I don't think I'll ever be that nervous again," Dunnigan said. They were given an 11 a.m. slot and filled the lawn over the course of an hour.

"People said that was the largest crowd they'd seen that early on a Saturday," Cornette said.

There's a certain amount of self-questioning that goes in with pursuing music full-time, but Dunnigan said that particular win "kind of convinced us we're not delusional after all."

Simpson, the 20-something who moved all the way to Montana for this gig, said whatever level of success you can find is tenuous.

"It can all fall apart at any moment, at any second. You can just lose everything you've gained in this business," Simpson said. Band members can leave. A business relationship can go sour.

Dunnigan said it's self-defeating to even think too far ahead.

"It's almost the ultimate test of trying to live in the moment, so to speak. If you think about it too much, you will drive yourself crazy. Or you think about what you could've done, but I think thinking ahead is where you get into the dangerous territory."

***

In a few more full-circle moments, the band was picked as the opening-night headliner for the River City Roots Festival in August.

The line-up is selected personally by Ellen Buchanan, a roots music aficionado who ran a similar event in Johnson City, Tennessee. "It's their town and, boy, they've earned it," she said. She imagines they could go just as far as Mission Mountain Wood Band or the Mudflaps if they try.

While the longtime members of the group had played the street festival before, it was Rieger's first.

"I saw how much Missoula loves the Lil Smokies. I knew it was there, but playing downtown for all those people, it very much demonstrated how much the town loves and supports the Lil Smokies," he said.

Cornette said they were fresh off another tour and had a "true, professional product" that showed how far they've come, how much they'd tightened up and evolved since their first gigs at the Top Hat, when they didn't even own pickups for their instruments.

In October, they played at the Wilma Theatre, a place familiar to Dunnigan from his formative years.

"My first concert was there. We got to see all the music I ever liked, all my heroes graced that stage so it's cool to come back and play that frequently," he said.
Richie Farrar's path to become a teacher started when he was a student at Big Sky High School.

Today, he's one of the agriculture teachers at Big Sky and, in front of the entire school on Thursday morning, he got a surprise. The Missoula Education Foundation student board named him Outstanding Educator of the Year.

Farrar appeared in the bleachers and climbed down, clad in his muck boots. He walked across the gym to claim his award, spotted his family in the crowd and smiled.

"How did you guys all sneak in there?" he said to his family as they stepped into the second gym to snap some photos as the high school choir began singing holiday songs.

He gave his 4-month-old daughter, Ruth, a smooch on the cheek and grinned for the camera while she latched on to his collar.

***

Farrar, 26, graduated from Big Sky in 2009.

When he was a freshman, he said kids would make fun of Future Farmers of America. Many, if not all, FFA members are also involved at the Agriculture Education Center, formerly known as Vocational Agriculture, or Vo-Ag.

"One friend pulled me into it," he said, and he was hooked.

One of his ag teachers was Gene McClure, who retired from Missoula County Public Schools in 2008 after 27 years teaching in the ag department.

"He used to take his keys and jingle them right in front of our faces," Farrar said, laughing. "He was pretty old and was in his 27th year of teaching. He would say, 'I'm not going to be here forever, so who's going to take these keys?'"

That planted the idea in Farrar's mind. After graduating Big Sky, he headed to Montana State University, where he got a degree in agricultural education.

Then he came home to Missoula. This is his fourth year teaching at Big Sky.

Farrar is soft-spoken, and was genuinely surprised that he won, and that there were so many nominations.

MEF student board secretary Annika Charlson, a senior at Hellgate High, said 300 nominations were sent in for the high school educator of the year. The students went through each one and narrowed the list to those with the highest number of nominations, as well as the quality of the nomination.

From there they narrowed it to 15, and then to five.

Farrar had nominations from students, fellow teachers, staff and parents.

"All of those nominations were quality, outstanding and well-written," Charlson said. "It was a unanimous vote (for Farrar)."

***

This is the third year in a row that a Big Sky teacher has earned this recognition. Last year, it was Tom Andres, Farrar's colleague in the ag department. The year before, it went to social studies teacher Cameron Johnson.

"I thought you would figure it out when I ironed your shirt this morning," Farrar's wife, Erin, said of the surprise. "I never do that."

She convinced him it was for a Christmas party after school.

The MEF student board launched about six years ago, with the idea to give students an opportunity to learn about leadership. They developed criteria for teacher of the year awards  with the middle school and elementary school awards still to come this school year.

Farrar couldn't say for sure why he had won.

"I work hard with the students," he said. "Most of my classes are more informal than a lot of others and I think the kids learn more in that setting."

It shows. The Missoula FFA brought home a pile of top trophies from the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis two months ago, adding to an ever-growing list of awards. The same goes for their three ag teachers: Farrar, Andres and Kristy Rothe.

The trio each have earned awards for their work in ag education, and all three devote countless hours to FFA, the ag students and managing the center's 80-acre farm.

"You can't learn if you're not having fun," Farrar said.
In a fine editorial (Dec. 21), the Missoulian recently wrote about a new local effort to combat suicide, Project Tomorrow Montana. This is an initiative based in United Way of Missoula County to help people learn about suicide and how to prevent it. The Missoula City-County Health Department actively participates in this new initiative, recognizing that suicide is a major public health issue.

As the Missoulian noted, the statistics are pretty grim for us. Montana has had one of the top five highest suicide rates in the country for almost 40 years. We are now at the top of the list. Montanas suicide rate was nearly twice the national rate. It would be nice to think that Missoula is doing better  but were not. In 2014 and 2015, 68 people completed suicide in Missoula County. This year we have had more suicides than last year  34 precious lives lost so far.

Every suicide is a tragedy. Many recent suicides in Missoula County have been teenagers. These deaths leave behind dozens, and even hundreds, of grieving people who dont understand why their loved one made this terrible choice. These deaths can be prevented if we have the tools to recognize the warning signs and get needed help to people feeling suicidal.

What exactly are we doing, and how can you help?

In the last legislature, our lawmakers had the wisdom to create the Montana Suicide Mortality Review Team. The team has looked in depth at every suicide in Montana since 2014, and has collected enough data to make recommendations to the 2017 state Legislature. In Missoula County we are already working on a couple of those suggestions:

 Suicide prevention training for law enforcement, health care workers, teachers and school staff, and other tribal and community workers.

 Less access to the most common ways to complete suicide: firearms and drugs.

The Missoula City-County Health Department works with Project Tomorrow Montana to make QPR suicide prevention training available to everyone in the county. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. This training is the CPR of mental health  it teaches you what to do in a crisis. QPR instructors in Missoula teach any groups that request it. QPR has been proven to save lives. More people in Missoula County with QPR training means more help for people who are at risk of suicide.

We also focus on reducing access to guns and prescription drugs. These are common methods of suicide because they are so deadly, and so easily available. Over 60 percent of Montana suicides are completed with guns, and for youth its even higher. We handed out hundreds of free gun locks this year at QPR trainings and community events. We also work with the Missoula Underage Substance Abuse Prevention team to help the community block access to prescription and other drugs through drug take-back and educating the public to lock up their drugs.

The goal of Project Tomorrow Montana, which is supported by a generous gift from Wells Fargo, is to bring many perspectives on suicide prevention to the table. Different viewpoints help us to see the issue from all sides and form wide-ranging plans to help solve the serious public health problem of suicide.

Missoula County Public Schools is a key partner in this effort. The school district has stepped up efforts to train teachers, counselors and students in suicide prevention strategies. They have put together a strategic plan for suicide prevention that includes a system to make sure all teachers, school crisis teams and middle and high school students are trained in suicide prevention regularly.

Other efforts include working with the University of Montana, health care providers, and even gun dealers and bartenders to help us reach everyone in the community. Suicide prevention is everyones business. We need a far-reaching, coordinated effort to tackle this tough enemy.

If your workplace, church or any other groups want QPR training, please contact us to schedule a free class.

 Missoula County Suicide Prevention office: (406) 258-3883, hkendall@missoulacounty.us

 Project Tomorrow Montana: http://projecttomorrowmt.org/

You can get help in a crisis at these numbers:

 Get free 24/7 help through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

 If you prefer, text MT to 741-741

We can prevent suicide in Missoula County  if we know the warning signs and where to go for help. Project Tomorrow Montana is eager to connect our community with the tools to prevent suicide.
Does Ryan Zinke's publicist require the title "Navy SEAL" to be appended to Zinke's name with every mention? It becomes tiresome to read about Zinke's military experience with every article that includes him. Should we also hear that U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke, former Navy SEAL, is from Whitefish, Montana, home to America's Neo-Nazi movement?

Now that Zinke, retired Navy SEAL from Whitefish, Montana, the center for the alt-right National Policy Institute and Nazi movement, has been nominated by president-elect Donald Trump for Secretary of Interior, will Montana's mining, drilling and timber-cutting spike sharply upwardly? Assuming so, we should expect more environmental degradation to follow, such as the Berkeley Pit at Butte? More train wrecks and pipeline failures?

With Zinke's (who was a Navy SEAL and resides in Whitefish, Montana, home to Neo-Nazi proponent Richard Spencer) departure from the House of Representatives, who will become our lone representative to Congress in Washington, D.C.? Speculation abounds given the responsibility of Montana's Democrat governor to appoint a temporary replacement.

Should Zinke, whose military service included being a Navy SEAL, and who lives in Whitefish, Montana, which Andrew Anglin and his newspaper, The Daily Stormer, targeted with white supremacy propaganda, be confirmed as a far-right leaning proponent of money for the wealthy secretary of Interior, will this ultimately be a long-term gain for Montana and its people?

We wish Ryan Zinke, a Navy SEAL of some fame, and a resident of Whitefish, Montana, where the Nazi movement makes its home in America, well and hope he thinks about returning that wish to us Montanans who are not former SEALs and don't reside in Whitefish, Montana, and don't seek to single out Jewish persons as adversaries.

Herbert Myers,

Missoula
There are several ways to paraphrase Pastor Martin Niemollers sad and prophetic saying, First they came for ... Then they came for meand there was no one left to speak for me. We Americans could easily replace Niemollers communists and socialists with Irish, Italians, Chinese, blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and the current focus of Richard Spencers hate-inspired group, Jews.

The current election of Donald Trump and Trumps choices for his advisors and cabinet seem to have given the National Policy Institute, the alt-right movement and the Daily Stormer permission and impetus to promote their racist fear-mongering with more determination.

Come on, Missoulians and Montanans in general, lets not allow hate to trump our sense of decency, ethics and just plain caring about our fellow and sister humans. We are better than that! Let our congressional representatives and the president-elect know that discrimination and threats against any group is not acceptable. Lets be willing to speak and act for love and acceptance.

Shirley V. Tiernan,

Missoula
We see Donald Trump rising up from the ashes of Nazism. The majority of Americans do not accept him as their president. We see white supremacists saluting him, chanting, "hail Trump."

It is not acceptable for him to have a close relationship with Vladimir Putin. Putin is the richest man in the world. This can easily be verified. Putin has built his vast empire off of the backs of the Russian people. He has spread destruction, terror and death throughout other nations, taken their resources. Exxon oil executive Rex Tillerson is one of Putins right-hand men.

Trump is placing unqualified people in his cabinet for positions they have no experience with. They are multi-millionaires and billionaires, far more qualified to manage the Trump and Putin empires.

Why did Putin hack our presidential election helping Trump to win? What does Putin want, or better yet, what do they want? Why did Putin risk already strained relations with the USA by their hacking? They need to be stopped before it is too late.

Lori Ortiz,

Darby
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Most folks understand laws are promulgated by the legislative branch, executed by the executive branch and interpreted by the judicial branch. When the judiciary misinterprets the legislative intent of a law, they are wrong and need correcting. That correction comes from the legislative branch and is exactly what our senators and representative say needs to happen with the Cottonwood decision.

Our elected officials understand the enormity of that decision and the impact it will have on all work contemplated by the Forest Service. The agency already has capacity issues and this decision makes a bad situation worse.

In the Missoulian article dated Dec. 10 (and Montana Standard on Dec. 21), John Meyer, with the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, took particular exception to U.S. Sen. Jon Tester agreeing to proposed legislation overturning the 9th Circuit Courts decision. Meyer made several serious allegations which were naive and disingenuous. Calling out a senator for doing the right thing is a bad idea and Senator Tester deserves better.

-- Loren Rose, Seeley Lake
As leaders of Montana communities of faith and practice, we are called to respond to the recent surge of white supremacist and neo-Nazi activity in our state. Distribution of pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic flyers in Missoula and intimidation of Jewish community members in the Flathead Valley moves us to speak out against actions of those who attack the Jewish citizens of our state, and any other minority group, with false assertions and threatening language.

As an act of solidarity, we invite people across Montana to show support by displaying menorahs in their windows this season. Find one at a local store, print a paper copy from the Internet, or find one in the local Missoula newspaper. The menorah is a symbol of light and wisdom. In this time of transition and challenge, it represents the need to support each other in the work of peace-making, reconciliation and justice.

Further, we call on our lawmakers to protect the rights of all citizens by enacting laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity, race, and gender. We urge law enforcement to closely monitor bias incidents and act swiftly to protect our citizens. We encourage our schools to teach tolerance and uphold state and district anti-bullying policies.

The cosigners of this letter affirm the right of all individuals and communities to live, worship, dress, and pray in accordance with their beliefs and traditions, free from intimidation and fear of violence. We affirm the rights of all people to live and worship in peace.

Rabbi Laurie Franklin, Missoula

Deacon Marcia Lauzon, Great Falls

Pastor Eric Huseth, Bonner

Rev. Susan Otey, Great Falls

Rev. Robyn Morrison, Helena

Rev. Lynne Spencer-Smith, Great Falls

Rev. Connie Campbell-Pearson, Bozeman

Rev. Tammy Bull, Great Falls

Rev. D. Gregory Smith, Bozeman

Rev. Tyler Amundson, Helena

Rev. John Lund, Missoula

Rev. Karen Disney, Troy and Libby

Rev. Dr. David Andersen, Butte

Rev. Jean Collins, Lewistown

Rev. Stephen Schmidt, Bozeman

Rev. Rob Kirby, Billings

Rev. Waveland King, Superior

Rev. Anthony Rhodes, Townsend

Rev. Nancy Slabaugh Hart, Great Falls

Rev. Dr. Steve Hundley, Great Falls

Rev. Sarah Beck, Billings

Rev. Dee Anna, Boulder

Rev. Dr. Ronald C. Greene, Great Falls

Rev. Dan Krebill, Bozeman

Rev. Dan Dixson, Missoula

Rev. Dcn. Donna Gleaves, Helena

Rabbi Ed Stafman, Bozeman

Rev. Lindean Barnett Christenson, Bozeman

Rev. Wendy Ochs, Billings

Rev. Steve DeHart, Dillon

Rev. Todd Scranton, Missoula

Rev. Charles Akula, Stevensville

Patty Optiz, Helena

Rev. Marianne Niesen, Helena

Rev. Morie Adams-Griffin, Whitefish

Rev. Jody McDevitt, Bozeman

Rev. Amy M. Carter, Missoula

The Ven. Roxanne Klingensmith, Bozeman

Rev. John Daniels, Missoula

Rev. Michael S. Mulberry, Billings

Rev. Anna Merritt, Great Falls

Rev. Laurie Folkwein, Missoula

Rev. Pattiann Bennett, Eureka

Rev. Mary Wellemeyer, Columbia Falls

Rev. Tim Ljunggren, Great Falls

Rev. Susan M. Barnes, Billings

Rev. Jim Heikes, Butte

Rev. Arne Bergland, Helena
Senator Daines submitted a letter to President-elect Trump on Dec. 6 where he outlined actions that the incoming President should take to grow our national economy. After reviewing Senator Daines recommendations, it is apparent that he continues to support antiquated modes of thinking that seem poised to help very few Montanans directly. His loyalties instead appear more in-line with corporate interests that seek to exploit state resources with actions that undermine access to and the quality of our outdoor recreation amenities.

Sen. Daines paints in broad strokes in support of extractive industries that do not represent the future, but instead a past that will irrevocably continue to negatively impact Montanas environment, economy, and our national security. Absent in the Senators lengthy letter is mention of our outdoor recreation economy in Montana. According to the Outdoor Industries of America, the outdoor recreation economy contributes to 64,000 direct jobs and $1.5 billion in wages across the state. Where are his calls to protect our future access to public lands as well as our environmental quality?

I ask Senator Daines to send a clear message in follow-up to President-elect Trump that he supports our public lands and environmental protections.

-- Ryan Krueger, Whitefish
HELENA  The Child and Family Services workers who deal directly with children will have to wait until next October to get a new computer program that handles casework. But the Department of Public Health and Human Services says the delay will be worth it.

A replacement for the antiquated Child and Adult Protective System, which was implemented 20 years ago, was first scheduled to be completed this fall. But that was pushed back to next October after DPHHS, which runs the CFS, determined it needed to roll out a program with more functions than originally planned.

As the number of children who enter CFS annually has doubled over the last five years, the department has struggled to hire and keep employees who face increasingly high workloads, up to four times the amount recommended by national watchdog groups. Lowering the amount of time spent on data entry and struggling to navigate an out-of-date computer system could alleviate that.

CAPS is what the employees who answer the Child Abuse Hotline and specialists who do investigations or fieldwork use to input and manage cases. The new program is called Montana Family Safety Information System.

Erica Johnston, operations management officer for the department, said Wednesday that the first phase of the new program was initially planned to handle only the intake process. But the system that eventually rolls out will cover everything from intake to assigning a case for investigation, completing the investigation, reporting on work done, and documenting if a child is removed from a home.

While it may feel like the project is delayed, its really about a broadening of what we included in Phase 1 and what we really thought we could have in the hands of workers, she said.

Department spokesman Jon Ebelt said the first part of the project is over half complete.

The department is going from a system with a black background and green text that uses F keys to navigate to a web-based program that is device-responsive, meaning it will adjust to fit on screens any size from a desktop to a smartphone, which CPS specialists are equipped with when they go out into the field.

The state's Information Technology Services Division, which is providing the development and graphic design in conjunction with the department, reached out to CFS employees about what they wanted in a new system. The old system was a struggle for an increasingly younger workforce to use.

If you can just imagine being a professional that grew up in the age of technology with web-based services and instant gratification with information, coming into your career trying to learn a mainframe system, it's just not intuitive, Johnston said.

One of the biggest challenges with CAPS was finding information about people related to a case, such as siblings. The new system will show all of that on one screen and tell employees about possible family relations they might not have known about.

I cant even come up with a word for how much better it is, Johnston said.

The team working on the project couldnt come up with an estimate of how much faster an employee will be able to enter case information, but Johnston said the change is incredibly valuable.

It will be immeasurable, just in the ability to know and understand and quickly learn the system. While it may not reduce the time that a caseworker spends on a case, itll improve the allocation of time that worker spends on a case, and that's really the goal.

The department plans to create an entirely new system over the next several years, but is doing it in a modular way to get a new tool out to workers as soon as possible, Johnston said.

Part of the reason for the delay is because the department thought it could use more pieces from the system the Department of Corrections uses to manage offender information. While that system provided the framework for what CFS will use, developers had to build more from scratch than expected.

It also took longer to get federal approval for the system, which must be built to regulations governing how it functions and what sort of information it collects.

Johnston said by January shed have a better idea of when employees around the state would start testing the intake component. CFS offices statewide will test new components as they are ready.

During the 2013 legislative session, the department received $350,000 to research what it would take to replace the old CAPS system. It learned that a new system would be too expensive to buy from a vendor, so in 2015 the department instead chose to ask the Legislature for money to build its own version. The department received about $4 million. Of that, $750,000 goes to this project, which is matched by federal funds for $1.5 million. The state funding renews each biennium.

Johnston said the money is enough to support the department's work.

Later phases of the project will include pulling data out of the system to use to make better management decisions.

Getting information from CAPS is difficult and time-consuming. Numbers from CAPS were also dated, so supervisors couldnt get a real-time picture of, for example, the number of calls for service or caseloads of employees. In later phases of the update, the new system will have a dashboard with programmed searches to more easily provide that type of information.

Johnston said as employees start testing the system, they might see things that need fixing or changed, which could push back the timeline, but added that with the level of involvement from employees so far, she doesnt anticipate a lot of problems.
The email to a group that promotes diversity in northwestern Montana warned that white supremacists would encircle the advocacy organization's office and end with someone "swinging by a rope from the nearest lamp post."

"Those days are not far off Jew," wrote the author, identified only as Rudolf, to the group Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley. "It's best you leave now while you can."

The ski resort town of Whitefish, 6,600 people strong in a valley just west of Glacier National Park about 60 miles from the Canadian border, is an unlikely flashpoint between white supremacist groups and residents trying to preserve the town's reputation as a welcoming vacation destination.

But white supremacists have also been drawn or actively recruited over the years to the libertarian-leaning Flathead Valley in their search of a haven where they can preach and practice their views unmolested. Richard Spencer, one of the leaders of the so-called "alt-right" movement, an offshoot of conservatism mixing racism, white nationalism and populism, is a part-time resident and his National Policy Institute is headquartered there.

Spencer, who moved to Montana in 2011, claims to have coined the term "alt-right." Both the term and Spencer gained fame during the recently ended election season with the ascendance of the far-right Breitbart News and its leader, Steve Bannon, who is set to play a prominent role in President-elect Donald Trump's administration. The presidential election, and the anti-immigration stance taken by Trump, has only heightened the divisiveness in western Montana, leading Whitefish city leaders and groups like Love Lives Here to renew their past condemnations of Spencer.

Last week, Spencer's mother, Sherry Spencer, posted an article on the website Medium titled "Does Love Really Live Here?"

She wrote that a local real estate agent tried to force her to sell her downtown Whitefish building, which houses two retail stores and four vacation apartments for rent, and donate some of the money to the Montana Human Rights Network and make a public statement denouncing her son.

That sparked a white supremacist website called The Daily Stormer, to post a call for action the next day against "Jews targeting Richard Spencer's mother for harassment and extortion." The website called for "an old fashioned troll storm" and posted the phone numbers, addresses, email addresses and social media addresses of the real-estate agent and two women involved in the group, Love Lives Here, all three of whom are Jewish, and their family members.

Since the Daily Stormer's post last week, the three Whitefish women, their families and about a dozen businesses whose owners have "Love Lives Here" signs in their windows or have supported the group in the past have received anti-Semitic messages and threats. Some trollers have gone online to target Whitefish businesses with negative reviews, prompting people within the community to launch a counter-effort to boost the online reviews and call out the negative comments as fakes.

The individuals targeted, who are all Jewish, have declined to talk to the media because they don't feel safe, Carroll Rivas said.

"This is affecting the everyday lives of people being able to carry out their business, going to school and feeling safe in their homes," said Montana Human Rights Network co-director Rachel Carroll Rivas said. "It raises the level of fear among the whole community."

The author of The Daily Stormer posts, Andrew Anglin, said in a podcast Wednesday that he is not calling for violence or threats, but if there are any, "that has nothing to do with me."

A phone number listed for Sherry Spencer is disconnected, and Richard Spencer did not immediately respond to a request for an interview. In a 12-minute video posted on Twitter early Wednesday, Spencer refused to condemn the Daily Stormer's post.

Attacking and trolling individuals is "not the kind of thing that I would do, but to be honest, at the end of the day, it's mean words," Spencer said. The harassing calls and messages do not compare to what he described as the attempt to destroy the life of his mother.

The Whitefish Police Department is passing on the communications to the FBI, but none rises to the level of a direct threat or a crime committed, officials said. Police Chief Bill Dial said Thursday that he believes the situation has been blown out of proportion.

"It's just a bunch of people who sit in their basements and send out hate emails to get things going," Dial said. "I understand people's fears, but stay off it. Leave it alone. Don't fan the flames."

The FBI is reviewing the matter to determine if there has been a violation of federal law, spokeswoman Sandra Barker said in a statement.

The advocacy group that is the target of much of the trolling campaign, Love Lives Here in the Flathead, was created in 2010 in response to that year's screening of a series of Holocaust denial and pro-Nazi films in Kalispell, about 15 miles south of Whitefish. Love Lives Here Chairman Will Randall said his group has been fighting against hate messages ever since.

"I think this is always going to be a struggle," Randall said. "The reason I'm in it, is I feel in the long run that love and tolerance and inclusion is going to win."

Randall said his organization is not trying to force the Spencers out of Whitefish, and said the real-estate agent acted as an individual, not as a representative of Love Lives Here.

"I think the Spencers could resolve this by picking up the phone, calling their son, and telling him to tell his followers to stop harassing people online and to take those actions down from the internet," Randall said. "That's how it can end and we can move on."
New York transplant Brian DAmbrosio, author of the new book Shot in Montana, picks his Top 5 movies filmed in Montana:

1. Northfork, a 2003 film by Mark and Michael Polish, was shot in the Glasgow area and includes iconic views of the Fork Peck Dam. DAmbrosio called the film a visionary epic set that goes deeper than constructing a dam and displacing a Montana town.

Its got angels, the death of a family and a cemetery being moved. There are so many parables in it and gorgeous shots of Fort Peck Dam. Its the most visually interesting film.

2. The 2013 film, Winter in the Blood, transposes the late Montana author James Welchs book into a story fit for the big screen. It is directed by Alex and Andrew Smith, Montana natives who grew up living near James and Lois Welch. DAmbrosio points out that Welchs book is so popular it has never been out of print because the story is so authentic.

3. The 1971 film, Evel Knievel, features George Hamilton in the title role. After portraying the larger-than-life Knievel, Hamilton dubbed the Butte native the father of extreme sports.

To see George Hamilton portray Knievel with Butte in the background  thats a treasure, DAmbrosio said.

4. The 1992 drama A River Runs Through It, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Robert Redford, is as iconic as any film could possibly be, DAmbrosio said. Many fly fishing guides have had requests from clients to go to spots on the river so they could look at where Brad Pitts character cast his fly line in the film.

5. Damnation Alley, a post-apocalyptic World War III story with exploding cockroaches and other epic scenes, was shot in Lakeside and Bigfork in 1976.

Flathead Lake fills the part of New Yorks shore where the surviving souls are saved. The $7.2 million budget for the film, including assembling a 12-foot-all-terrain Landmaster."

It gives you the chance to see a 20,000-pound Tonka truck driving across a frozen pond, DAmbrosio said.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE

ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE

CITY OF MUSCATINE, IOWA

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MUSCATINE, IOWA AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. That the boundaries of the District Map, being a part of the Zoning Ordinance, which is Title Ten of the Ordinance of the City of Muscatine, Iowa, be and the same are, hereby amended to rezone the following described real estate, commonly known as 922 Hancock Street, situated in the City and County of Muscatine, and State of Iowa, to-wit:

Lots 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Park Place Addition City of Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa, and the North 100 feet lying adjacent to Lot 3 of the Park Place Addition City of Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa.

Said real estate shall be rezoned from R-3 Single Family Residential to S-2 Institutional-Office District

Section 2. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed and this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as provided by law.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 15th day of December, 2016.

CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF

MUSCATINE, IOWA

By Diana L. Broderson, Mayor

Attest:

Gregg Mandsager, City Clerk

1st Reading: December 1, 2016

2nd Reading: December 15, 2016

3rd Reading: December 15, 2016

Publication: December 23, 2016
MUSCATINE, Iowa  The Salvation Army of Muscatine is struggling to meet its fundraising goals this holiday season. Since the November fundraising kickoff event, the organization has raised less than half its $180,000 goal for 2017.

Its not going very well, said Lt. Cristian Lopez of the Muscatine Salvation Army, adding that so far, the organization raised $78,000.

Lopez said the Armys advisory board came up with that $180,000 figure by creating a yearly budget that takes into account programs, personnel and utilities.

Last year it was $160,000 that we needed  [this year] more people in the community are asking for our help, he said.

The Salvation Army of Muscatine helps low-income people with food through its food pantry, warm clothes for the winter through its coats program, and household items through its thrift store. It also offers an after-school program and help with utility bills.

Lopez said the organization also helps Muscatine residents who lose their house in a fire or a tornado.

If you lose everything we can help you, he said. We can put you in a hotel for three days until you get your home back or until you find somewhere to live.

And if the Army cannot reach its fundraising goal, some of these programs will have to go.

Our budget is to run all these programs for next year, Lopez said. But if we dont have it, well have to arrange whatever we have and that means that well have to close some of the programs that we have.

To offer all of the programs in its yearly budget, The Salvation Army of Muscatine needs to raise the remaining funds by January 31, 2017.

Lopez urged the community to donate money to the Salvation Army of Muscatine by bringing a check or cash donation to the organizations Oregon Street location.
DAVENPORT, Iowa  Gildas Club and CCKMA are teaming up to once again present the Cancer Kickin Scholarship. Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students impacted by cancer  whether it is themselves, a parent, sibling, other relative or friend with the diagnosis.

Students must be current high school juniors/seniors or currently in their first or second year of college to apply. Applicants must reside in Scott, Rock Island, Muscatine County or Henry County.

Application submissions are due February 13, 2017. Scholarship forms are available online at CancerKickinScholarship.com, at Gildas Club (1234 East River Drive, Davenport) or by calling Kelly Hendershot at (563) 326-7504.

Recipients will be recognized on April 8, 2017 at the 10th Annual CCKMA Event. Recipients will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges:

 Greg Dwyer, Dwyer and Michaels Morning, 97x

 Denise Hnytka, Co-Anchor, News 8 WQAD

 John Marx, Columnist, The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus

 Jaryn Franklin, Miss Illinois

Dealing with cancer, at any age, is an emotional whirlwind, said Kelly Hendershot, Program Manager. For children and teens, it can unleash a storm of emotions, questions, and unexpected discoveries. We want to hear about those experiences.

Applicants will enroll in an undergraduate course of study during the 2017-2018 (or 2018-2019 if applying as a high school junior) school-year at an accredited two or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the U.S.

Scholarship recipients are eligible to re-apply each year they are eligible. Applications must be completed each year and submitted to the scholarship committee.

CCKMAs founder, Angie DeWilfond, died in July 2015 after living eight years with ovarian cancer, followed by leukemia.

Angie wanted to give back to the local community that has supported and given so generously to CCKMA through various fundraiser events each year, said CCKMA President Todd DeWilfond. So we are now working with Gildas Club to make this dream of Angies a reality with the Cancer Kickin Scholarship.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Children and families traveled back in time to a German Christmas Market at the Musser Public Library Thursday night.

The open house event included crafts, snacks and German-themed decorations and music.

"We felt like it was a nice family activity that's sort of recreating a little old-world charm as best we can," said Betty Collins, the children's librarian at the Musser Public Library.

As children walked in, Collins greeted them with five coins that they could spend at the market.

"One for something to eat, one for something to drink, and three for things to make," she said as she passed out the plastic gold coins.

At one station, volunteers helped children create an ornament of a polar bear riding on a sled. On the other end of the room, children could press white clay with a rolling pin full of shapes.

"And of course we always like them to check out books, and they'll get to see an old-fashioned Saint Nicholas," Collins said.

When Saint Nicholas arrived, he carried a staff and wore white, with bells on his wrists and passed out chocolate coins. Collins taught everyone who visited Saint Nicholas how to say "Merry Christmas" in German.

In addition to warm apple cider and cookies, children could try chestnuts, although Collins said they typically did not like them.

"But we feel like chestnuts are such a literary thing that it's nice for them to be able to see what one is like," she said.

Parents and children said they enjoyed the different take on a Christmas gathering.

"It's so sweet to have crafts, and a different-looking Santa to visit," Nicole Miller said.

Miley Ossian, 9, said she often visits the library for Christmas events, and although she enjoyed the crafts and food, after visiting the different craft tables the polar bear craft was her favorite.

"I think it would be making the ornaments," she said.
100 Great Iowa Nurses Program Offers Financial Education Awards

100 Great Iowa Nurses program accepting applications through February 10, 2017

IOWA CITY, Iowa  In addition to recognizing outstanding nurses every year, the 100 Great Iowa Nurses program is pleased to offer financial education awards to support graduate-level nursing students in Iowa. The program plans to offer at least two $1,500 awards to students pursuing an MSN, DNP, or PhD.

The 100 Great Iowa Nurses education awards promote professional nursing in Iowa by supporting the continued education of future nurse leaders. It is the mission of the program to support the IOMs Future of Nursing report, which calls for 80% of Iowas nurses to have their bachelors degrees by 2020 and double the number of doctoral-prepared nurses.

Completing my graduate education has taken a large commitment of time and energy, but also comes with a large financial obligation. I am so appreciative to the 100 Great Iowa Nurses program for providing me with a financial award, said 2016 award recipient Taren Flug.

Nursing students across Iowa are encouraged to apply for available financial award opportunities to complete or further their nursing education. Applications can be found at http://www.greatnurses.org/financialawards/.

Applicants must:

 Commit to advancing their education and professional goals of enhancing the delivery of quality health care in Iowa through practice, research, and/or teaching

 Be full- or part-time students attending an approved MSN nursing program, or pursuing a DNP or PhD in Nursing program or related field, such as education

Each year, the 100 Great Iowa Nurses program recognizes 100 nurses across the state whose courage, competence, and commitment to patients and the nursing profession stand out above all others. Patients, coworkers, friends, and family members nominate an outstanding nurse for recognition. The 100 Great Iowa Nurses are honored each year at a ceremony created for the state of Iowa by nurse and community leaders. This statewide event belongs to the people of Iowa, and is made possible through the generous support of sponsors.

This years celebration will be held Sunday, May 7, 2017, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The celebration is an annual prelude to National Nurses Week, which begins on May 6 and ends on May 12 (the birthday of Florence Nightingale).

For more information, visit www.greatnurses.org.
I had a dream, and in that dream my wife and I were standing in the midst of a never-ending field. As far as we could see were neatly cultivated rows of seedlings that had sprouted to a height of six or eight inches. The plants looked to be spaced about six or eight feet apart. The rows were also about 8 feet apart, and as my wife and I walked the rows they seemed endless. They extended as far as one could see to the North, South, East and West. After several paces I cried out, What is all this? A voice from above then said, These are the seeds youve planted in people. With that I fell to my knees. My wife placed her hand on my shoulder and began to sob.

When I told my wife of the dream the following day she had the same reaction; she sobbed.

Sometime back I had another dream. In that dream I had died and was in a casket at the funeral home. The line of people to see me and pay their respects was backed up for miles. When I woke up I somehow knew what the dream meant. I wasn't going to die right away, although I will eventually, it meant I made an impact on many. (Now that's the true definition of success)

I've been on that upper rung of success. Quite frankly, it's not always glamorous. I willfully gave up a lucrative business, and to be honest Im happier now than I have ever been.

The world thinks having it all materially is grand, but theres smallness thereof. Society would never say theres greatness in nothing. Being meek and humble is considered weakness, but I beg to differ. An individual who's considerably happy, but has little financially, is truly rich in my opinion. For I have lived both sides of the coin.

Ive known several wealthy people in my life and the lions share of them were downright miserable. I had a boss once who was so wealthy he bought his wife a chain of shoe stores ~ they eventually got a divorce.

It's not the material things one owns that defines greatness. Instead, it's those intangible, immeasurable things we do to touch others that defines ones true wealth.

I remember when we first moved into our home. My wife and I hadn't been married very long and we had little ones. It was Christmas Eve and we had maybe a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk. The fridge was empty. I think I may have been out of work and we couldnt afford even one present for the kids. (That tore me up inside) And on top of that we were almost out of fuel oil to heat the house.

When things looked most dire, there came a knock at the door. I was in one of the other rooms when the girls said, Daddy! It's Santa! Its Santa! I remember saying something like, Stop foolin. But the kids weren't fooling. It was someone with the Boone County Jaycees dressed up like Santa Claus. St. Nick had many presents with him and a couple of his helpers had several bags of groceries. We never knew how they found out about our plight, but we did learn they spent their entire budget of one thousand dollars on us.

After they left I sat in the middle of the floor with the kids opening gifts and cried.

The following day I heard someone outside. It was our next door neighbor. He was filling our fuel oil tank. I told him we didn't have the money for that. He told me not to worry about it because three churches in town said they had been in prayer for needy families and gave him the money to fill our tank.

Theres a certain nothingness in having it all, you know. I can't remember all the new vehicles Ive purchased. I can't remember all the places weve been on vacation. I can't remember all the Things I've had that are no doubt rotting in a landfill. But I do remember that Christmas when someone decided to invest in us. I will never forget those seeds!

Greg Allens column, Thinkin Out Loud, has been published bi-monthly since 2009. Hes an author, nationally syndicated columnist and the founder of Builder of the Spirit in Jamestown, Indiana, a non-profit organization aiding the poor. He can be reached at www.builderofthespirit.org or follow him on Twitter @GregAllencolumn.
Although 2016 was an especially good time in the life of science fiction, the genre's more disappointing past flops can be hard to forget. Her
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 []
Georgetown Professor Thomas Zimmer joins us to talk about polarization and extremism, and what insights American and world history provide as to whether ...
MILAN  The Tunisian man suspected in a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan during a routine patrol outside a train station, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

Anis Amri traveled from Germany through France and into Italy after Monday nights truck attack in Berlin, at least some of it by train, Italian police said. French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, which has increased surveillance on trains after recent French attacks and the one in Germany.

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers while he was alone outside the deserted station. But he also called for greater cross-border police cooperation, suggesting some dismay that Europes open border policy had enabled Amri to move around easily despite being its No. 1 fugitive.

Amri, who shot one of the police officers in the shoulder, was identified by fingerprints supplied by Germany.

The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack, said Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack outside Berlins Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in which a truck plowed into a Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 56. It also noted his death in Milan and released a video showing him pledging allegiance to the militant group.

Amri has been linked to an extremist recruitment network allegedly run by Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A., also known as Abu Walaa, a Germany-based preacher who was arrested last month, said Holger Muench, head of the Federal Criminal Police Office.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered an investigation into all angles of the case after it emerged that German authorities had tracked Amri for months on suspicion of planning an attack.

We can be relieved at the end of this week that one acute danger has been ended, she said in Berlin. But the danger of terrorism as a whole remains, as it has for many years  we all know that.

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert, with increased surveillance and police patrols. Italian officials stressed that the young officers who stopped Amri didnt suspect he was the Berlin attacker but rather grew suspicious because he was a North African man, alone outside a deserted train station at 3 a.m.

Amri, 24, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped during a routine patrol in Milans Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his ID and was killed in an ensuing shootout.

Officer Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder and had surgery for what doctors said was a superficial wound. His 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

Amri had no ID or phone, carrying only a pocket knife and the .22-caliber pistol he used to shoot Movio, police said.

He was a ghost, Milan police chief Antoio de Iesu said, adding that he was stopped because of basic police work, intensified surveillance and a little luck.

Despite Amris death, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the terrorist threat to the country remains high and security wont be scaled down.

Amri passed through France before arriving by train at Milans central station where video surveillance showed him about 1 a.m. Friday, de Iesu said. A ticket indicated he traveled from Chambery, France, through Turin and into Milan, an Italian anti-terrorism official said.

De Iesu declined to provide further information. Germanys chief federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, said his office contacted Italian authorities to establish Amris route.

A Milan anti-terrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation, said Amri made his way to the piazza outside the Sesto San Giovanni train station about 7.5 kilometers (nearly 5 miles) from the main station.

Authorities are still trying to determine how Amri got to the piazza because only a few buses operate at that hour.

It is now of great significance for us to establish whether the suspect had a network of supporters or helpers in preparing and carrying out the crime, and in fleeing, whether there were accessories or helpers, Frank said.

Prosecutors also want to know whether Amris gun was the same one used to shoot the Polish driver of the truck he had commandeered for the attack, Frank added. The driver was found dead in the vehicles cab.

De Iesu confirmed the trucks cargo was loaded Dec. 16 in another Milan suburb, Cinisello Balsamo, before heading to Berlin, but said there was no evidence to connect it to Amris presence nearby early Friday.

The Milan anti-terrorism official said investigators want to see if Amri had any contacts in Milan. There is no evidence he passed through Milan in his previous stay in Italy, after he left Tunisia following the 2011 Arab Spring.

Muench, of the German Federal Criminal Police Office, said Amris name has come up in connection with the network centering on Abu Walaa, Muench said. Abu Walaa was arrested Nov. 8 with four other men and accused of leading a group whose aim was to steer people to the Islamic State group in Syria. Prosecutors say the network smuggled at least one young man and his family to Syria.

CNN reported that German investigative files it obtained detailed the extremist recruitment network raised funds through robberies and fraudulent loans, and used a common curriculum to try to get recruits for IS.

Amris brother Abdelkader told The Associated Press the family wants to learn the truth about my brother, but refused to comment on his death. The family told a crowd outside their house in the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia to leave when news of the police shootout reached them, said a neighbor, Wiem Khemili.

Amri served 3 years in jail in Italy for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other things  but authorities apparently detected no signs he was becoming radicalized. He was transferred repeatedly among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections.

His mother said he went from there to Switzerland and then to Germany last year.

German authorities deemed him a potential threat long before the Berlin attack and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers and Tunisia initially denied he was a citizen. Authorities said he has used at least six different names and three nationalities.

Merkel said she told Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi the repatriation of Tunisians who arent entitled to residency in Germany needs to be stepped up. Essebsi called for tighter cooperation to fight the plague of terrorism that threatens the security and stability of all countries and all societies.

Tunisian authorities have insisted the reason it took so long to issue Amris papers is that they needed to verify his identity, noting his numerous aliases.

Italy said it expelled a 37-year-old Tunisian who showed signs of radicalization while in jail, putting him on a flight to Tunis on Friday. It brought to 131 the number sent out of the country since January 2015.
Adelle Iverson-Payne has sewn her last Community Projects button. She passed away peacefully at home on December 16, 2016, two months after reaching her 99th birthday.

Adelle was born in Balfour, North Dakota, the sixth of seven children of Tilda (Thompson) Peterson and Linus Peterson on October 14th, 1917. She grew up on a big farm and had many tales to tell about her wonderful childhood. One of these involved meeting her future husband, Milton Iverson, at a high school dance. They were married in 1936, then left freezing North Dakota and headed west to warmer California.

Milton became the manager of the Napa Safeway store, so Adelle, Milton and their first daughter, Greta, moved to Napa from San Rafael in 1941. Their second daughter, Karen, was born in Napa in 1945. Milton opened his own store, the Napa Food Center, where Adelle sometimes helped out.

Adelle was kept busy caring for the familybut she also began a career as a bridge player. Her original bridge club started in 1945 and stayed together for over 60 years! She was a card shark (in a very nice way, of course),but also very dangerous at the poker table!

In 1952, Adelle became a dedicated member of Community Projects, where she served on almost all committees and worked at the Thrift Shop. She was most famous, though, for being in charge of the Candy Booth at Fancy Fair, the annual fund-raising event for Community Projects. Not only did she make the most wonderful cookies and candy, she also helped create the legendary candy leis. As time marched on and there were no more Fancy Fairs, she worked in the book department and then began her final career with Community Projects in the button department, sewing buttons onto cards to be sold at the Thrift Shop. The amazing thing about this job was that in her later years, she could hardly seebut that is where her tenacity and dedication pulled her through. She still sewed a total of about 2000 button-cards a year for 10 years, earning thousands of dollars for the community. She loved giving back.

At the age of 40, Adelle decided she wanted a new career focus and so she went back to school to get her teaching degree at Sonoma State. She began teaching first grade at Lincoln School in 1963. After a few years, she continued her education, became a reading specialist and got her Masters Degree in counseling. At Ridgeview Junior High, she was a beloved teacher and counselor, helping hundreds of students (and some teachers) find their way (and feeding them fudge along the way to help). When Ridgeview closed, she went to Silverado Middle School where she continued as a counselor and administrator until her retirement in 1991. During her 28 years of work as an educator, Adelle was instrumental in developing the pre-school Head Start Program, she taught courses on Napa Valley History to both teachers and students, worked as an advisor for countless student activitiesand was awarded much recognition for her efforts: among them the Phi Delta Kappa, Golden Apple, California Historical Society and Retired Teachers Awards, also an award for helping to attain Distinguished School status for Silverado Middle School, and becoming a final nominee for teacher of the year.

After Milton passed away, Adelle began traveling extensively until she met Dr. J. Win Payne, a former Napa Superintendent of Schools. The 80 year-old Adelle married the 88 year-old Win in a beautiful ceremony at her home in 1998. The happy couple spent five glorious, active years together until Wins death in 2003.

In spite of the loss, Adelle continued, as always, to look for the positive things in lifeand she was quick to find themin her loving family, friends and interests. Books, history and poetry brought her great joy. She amazed us by reciting countless poems up until the very end.

She was an outstanding role model for all who came into contact with her. She made everyone feel as if he or she were the most important person on earth, because she listened to what they were saying. She had the gift of making things special for people. Her gift of giving good advice was sought after by many. Her wise sayings are legendary and will inspire all of us foreverher favorite being: Just when you think you cant continue, you can always do a little more. And Adelle always did do a little more to make things better. She will be greatly missed, but her teachings and her shining example of how a person should be, will live on in all who were fortunate enough to have known her.

Adelle is predeceased by her two husbands Milton and Win, and her daughter Greta, and sons-in-law John Haag and Helmut Wendel. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Wendel; grandson Christopher Wendel (Hilary), their children Noah, Maya and Eva; her granddaughter Katharina Hoeltje (Markus) and their children Hannah and Martha; her two stepdaughters Victoria Piersczinski and Rebecca Praul (Myke); her step daughter-in-law Jacqueline Payne; her step grandchildren Laura Senderov, Daniel Payne (Andrea), and Janelle (Don), and her step-great-grandchildren Derek, Sabrina and Georgia.

The family would like to thank Dr. Dermody, the nurses and helpers from Collabria Hospice and her helpers Marie, Rhodora, Ike and Mike for their outstanding, caring and loving support.

Interment and a celebration of Adelles life will be held on March 8th, 2017 at 11.00 am at Tulocay. Donations may be made to Community Projects (715 Franklin Street, Napa, 94559) or Collabria Hospice (414 South Jefferson Street, Napa 94559) and would be greatly appreciated.
ST. HELENA  The St. Helena Planning Commission voted 2-1 Tuesday to approve a tasting room on Adams Street, over objections that its close proximity to schools could endanger students.

The permit will allow Ladera Vineyards to open a tasting room at 1234 Adams St., occupied by the Go Vino offices and previously a tasting room for Tamber Bey Vineyards.

Brian Russell, speaking on behalf of Ladera, said the tasting room would be a high-end, low-volume operation that wouldnt draw big crowds.

Commissioner Bobbi Monnette voted against the project because she was concerned about childrens safety, since people would be driving away from the tasting room after drinking. She cited the close proximity to St. Helena Elementary School, the Carnegie Building, Sun and Stars Montessori, and the First Presbyterian Church.

There will be people driving in and out of the driveway, potentially during school hours when there are so many children there, Monnette said, adding that there is no safe level of alcohol to drive.

Monnette said she might be more inclined to support the application if the tasting room would be closed during school hours.

One member of the public who didnt mention her name had the same concern. She said it was inappropriate to put a wine bar near a school, and also criticized the Davies Vineyards Winery tasting room across from St. Helena High School.

I just dont know when the city of St. Helena lost all incentive to protect our children from intoxicated drivers, she said.

Russell responded that Ladera was proposing a tasting room, not a wine bar. He said Ladera would serve alcohol responsibly and comply with the requirements of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Obviously we would never serve anybody to the point of illegal intoxication when theyre going to get into a car, he said. Almost all of the people that would be visiting the tasting room are either walking on the street and already visiting other establishments here in St. Helena or have another mode of transportation besides driving themselves.

Commissioners Tracy Sweeney and Grace Kistner voted in favor of the tasting room. Sweeney said the space was previously given a use permit for the Tamber Bey tasting room, so it would be inconsistent not to support Laderas application.

Sweeney said she was confident Ladera would comply with state regulations about responsible alcohol service. They cant keep their (ABC) license if they dont follow those rules and restrictions, she said.

Kistner said the commission has to abide by the citys zoning code, which does not restrict tasting rooms near schools. The commission should explore that topic when it overhauls the zoning code, but for now the appropriate place for that discussion is with the ABC and not with the St. Helena Planning Commission, Kistner said.

One seat on the commission is vacant and Commissioner Sarah Parker recused herself due to a personal relationship with the applicants family, leaving only three commissioners left to discuss the matter.

Before the hearing, City Attorney Tom Brown said Commissioner Monnette had expressed certain opinions about the project prior to the public hearing (that) cast doubt on whether (Monnette) would be able to be fair and impartial as the law requires.

However, since Monnettes recusal would have left the commission without a quorum, Brown said the applicants were willing to waive any objections and let Monnette vote on the project, as long as she disclosed her previous comments and pledged to judge the project impartially. If she had recused herself, the vote would have been postponed until the city council fills the commissions open seat.

In response, Monnette said she had made various public comments over the years criticizing the concept of direct wine sales near schools. She called her specific comments criticizing the Ladera application regrettable.

Since the city had already designated tasting rooms as an acceptable use in the Central Business zoning district, the best place to challenge that use is through the ABCs permitting process, not the Planning Commissions public hearing, Monnette said. She said she would give the project a fair hearing.

Russell said the applicants were satisfied with Monnettes statement and were willing to let the public hearing go forward. Monnette went on to cite the same concerns during the hearing.

Mayor Alan Galbraith offered a statement about the situation on Wednesday morning.

I am deeply disappointed that Commissioner Monnette allowed her objectivity to become subject to serious legal question, Galbraith said. She put the city in the position of asking that the applicant waive its due process rights. This is unacceptable. Our processes need to be fair, and perceived to be fair. We failed here.
The scene was a festive holiday-season dinner with guests from both Northern and Southern California. But the discussion grew serious as the question arose of whether President-elect Donald Trump would really try to set up a national registry of citizen and resident Muslims in America as an anti-terror tactic  which he advocated while running for office  with no one knowing what might come next.

If that happens, I would immediately go and register as one, declared one youthful woman, a non-Islamic mother of two small children.

Days later, more than 600 computer engineers and programmers for California-based high-tech giants like Google and Twitter said they would refuse to take part in setting up or operating such a database, even if it cost them their high-paying jobs. This defiant list has now surpassed 2,000.

Trumps staff, however, says he never advocated a registry based on religion, but when asked about it in an NBC-TV interview in November 2015, he said Oh I would certainly implement that. Absolutely.

All this evoked the actions of Danish citizens when German leader Adolf Hitler ordered a roundup of occupied Denmarks 7,800 Jews on Oct. 1, 1943, in the midst of his World War II campaign to exterminate Europes 6 million Jews.

Christian Danes first alerted all Danish Jews to hide, then staged a two-night boatlift, taking more than 7,200 Jews across a narrow strait from Helsingor (Shakespeares Elsinore), north of Copenhagen, to neutral Sweden.

The Danes King Christian X became a historic hero by actively encouraging this.

Its uncertain that Trump will order a Muslim registry, although his transition teams chief adviser on immigration, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, has said he advised Trump to establish a list of immigrants and visitors from countries where terrorist organizations are active. Read: refugees and others from predominantly Islamic places like Syria, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Somalia and Algeria.

Some Trump allies cited as a legal precedent for such a registry the roundup and internment of Japanese-American Nisei in remote, primitive camps just after the Pearl Harbor attack that brought America into World War II. Never mind that the U.S. government under President Ronald Reagan long ago apologized and paid reparations for those actions.

Kobach, a longtime anti-illegal immigrant activist, wrote Arizonas 2010 Senate Bill 1070, which required police to stop anyone who looked like an immigrant (read: Latino) and demand documents showing they were authorized to be in this country. Courts later declared the law unconstitutionally discriminatory.

Any registry or database of the type Trump proposed during his campaign would probably need cooperation from Americas large high-tech companies, most headquartered in this state, just as President George W. Bushs post-9/11 effort to track phone traffic by potential terrorists needed cooperation by the likes of AT&T and Verizon. But the subject did not arise when more than a dozen mostly-Californian high-tech moguls met with Trump in mid-December.

At first, only California-based Twitter and Facebook took refusal stances on any such Muslim registry. Later, Apple, Google, IBM, Uber and Microsoft jointed them, possibly prodded by the stances of thousands of their employees.

When TheIntercept.com, a self-described adversarial journalism website, asked major tech firms what they would do about a registry,

Microsoft initially said Were not going to talk about hypotheticals at this point, and provided a link to a company blog advocating not just diversity among all the men and women who work here, but inclusive culture.

What several companies at first did not see, but Twitter and Facebook apparently understood right away, was that if they said nothing they would be tacitly approving the idea of a religion-based list.

The moral question here is similar to what confronted Danes in 1943, even if the potential consequences for people resisting a Muslim list or database are far less threatening than the shoot-on-sight tactics carried out by Nazi SS troopers when they encountered or caught someone defying an occupation regime order.

The bottom line: Tarring all Muslims as potential terrorists would be a form of discrimination somewhat comparable to rounding up Americas Nisei, especially since the vast majority of Islamic-Americans have absolutely no interest in or record of promoting anything anti-American.

Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column.
"Lighting a candle in the darkness, that is something that stands on its own," Rabbi Jack Moline told me, just as that early winter night was closing in and the Christmas lights around us began twinkling.

It's a powerful image, a strong metaphor for both Christians and Jews.

The start of Hanukkah and Christmas fall on the same day this weekend, a rarity that comes only every few decades. It means millions of people of both faiths will be lighting candles together, across the land.

Hello? Haters? Are you seeing this celestial bat signal?

It's a sign. Interfaith wonderpowers, time to activate. Because the darkness has been deep this year.

Anti-Semitism, for ages, felt dead or maybe just dormant in the ugliest, dark corners of America, where moon landing and illuminati conspiracy theories writhed.

But since the start of this presidential campaign, there has been a resurgence of swastikas and hate speech. Trolls are trying to ignite the internet with pictures of ovens or subversive signals sent to folks with Jewish sounding names.

"It's no surprise to me that there are people who hate Jews for being Jews," said Moline, who is president of the national Interfaith Alliance.

History will never allow American Jews to completely exhale, not even in the country where George Washington, Founding Father Numero Uno, sent that lovely letter to the Hebrew Congregations in Rhode Island back in 1790:

"May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants-while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid," Washington wrote.

Rabbi Gerry Serrota, the executive director of the Interfaith Conference on Washington, said that America has been wonderfully hospitable to Jews. More than 40 percent of the world's Jews live here.

Both Serrota and Moline grew up when Jewish kids were bullied in school, the slurs and jokes were common, and there were quotas on the number of Jews admitted to American universities.

But their kids? They've experienced none of that.

And the stuff they're seeing today is scary.

Not just scary because there are swastikas on a school bathroom wall in tolerant and enlighted Bethesda, Maryland. Not only frightening because a guy who hosted a showcase of bigotry and hate - Steve Bannon - will work in the high reaches of the Trump White House.

But today's atmosphere is terrifying because of what other minorities are facing.

"What Jews are experiencing now ain't nothing," Moline said.

A people who saw their communities destroyed and their families slaughtered by the millions during the Holocast are understandably appalled by the way Muslims are now being targeted in this country.

While Merry Christmassing around the country this week, Trump underscored his commitment to a nationwide Muslim registry and a ban on Muslim immigrants.

"You know my plans all along," Trump declared.

This - far more than a swastika scrawled on a building - is terrifying.

"If they're asking Muslims to register, of course we'll get every Jew in America to register," Rabbi Daniel Zemel vowed at a Friday night Shabbat service at Temple Micah in Washington last month. "If they're going to start deporting people, we'll make Temple Micah into a sanctuary."

Moline agreed, joining Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims outside Masjid Muhammad, which calls itself "The Nation's Mosque," in Washington last month and saying "I will be the first in line to say, 'Ana Muslim!' 'I am a Muslim!'"

It's because Jews remember not just the Nazis but the people like Marion Pritchard.

Pritchard, a Dutch social work student, was 96 when she died in Washington last week.

She was credited with feeding, clothing and hiding more than 150 Jews during the Holocaust, many of them children. She even killed a Nazi collaborator who discovered one of the hideouts she used under floorboards. She shot him and slipped his corpse into a coffin with another cadaver, to escape detection.

Pritchard always insisted that none of it would've been possible without the assistance of others.

Serotta pays tribute to Christians like her every Christmas. His family goes out to Chinese food, as many Jewish families do, and then they volunteer at a local church soup kitchen, so Christians can have the night off to celebrate with their families.

He'll do it again this year, and light his Hanukkah candle when he gets home.

The rabbi's America is the one we must embrace - a place of love, religious freedom and tolerance.

George Washington was very clear in his letter to the Jews he visited in Rhode Island, explaining that the United States "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."

And now is a good time to live up to that promise, to light a candle in the darkness.

Petula Dvorak is a columnist for The Washington Post's local team.
When Sacramento real estate agent Kim Pacini-Hauch visited Gina Knepp, the director of that city's Front Street Animal Shelter, she had no inkling she'd soon make a decision that would dramatically alter the shelter's fortunes.

In fact, Pacini-Hauch didn't have any plan at all when she sat down with Knepp in early November. She just knew she wanted to help Front Street during the holidays. In the past, Pacini-Hauch had donated money to the shelter and spearheaded a drive to furnish it with special cots to keep the animals off the concrete floors. She'd also supported other local causes, both animal- and non-animal.

"Maybe she needs a washing machine?" Pacini-Hauch recalled thinking as she drove to the meeting. "You need this, you need that. Because this is a city shelter."

But when Knepp mentioned that Front Street was brimming with animals - around 300 cats and dogs were at the shelter, and nearly 700 in foster care - Pacini-Hauch was no longer thinking about washing machines. She was thinking big.

"I truly was shocked," said Pacini-Hauch, a lifelong animal lover with an ebullient manner. "Think of putting almost 1,000 animals in one spot, and looking at 2,000 eyeballs, and tell me how you would feel if you saw that all in one location. And that's what was going through my mind.

"And then I said, 'I want to sponsor to empty the shelter. What do we need to do?' It happened just that fast."

What she needed to do was cover the costs of all Front Street adoptions through Dec. 31, the two women decided. That's typically $65 per cat and $85 per dog - a fee that includes spaying or neutering, vaccination, microchipping and more - though the shelter offers a discounted flat rate of $20 during the holidays.

It worked - and then some.

A few days after the meeting, Pacini-Hauch and Knepp reconvened at Front Street to take photos to help promote this "Home For The Pawlidays" campaign. When the shoot was done, Pacini-Hauch said, someone pulled out an iPhone and shot a 38-second video, and later posted it on the Front Street Facebook page.

The video went viral. More than 2 million people viewed it in less than 24 hours.

Outside Front Street the next morning, it looked like Black Friday had arrived a week early: A throng extended around the block. Some people had been camping out.

On a regular day, the shelter does 10 adoptions, maybe 20 on an extremely busy day. On this day, Front Street completed more than 60 adoptions. And a month later, interest has not waned a bit. As of mid-December, Front Street had finalized more than 700 adoptions, all on Pacini-Hauch's dime.

Even more remarkable is that this holiday generosity has traveled beyond the Sacramento facility. Knepp said Front Street started doing such a brisk adoption business that it was in a position to import animals from six other Northern California shelters and find homes for them, too.

Across the country, in the Tampa Bay area, a local resident contacted the county's Pet Resource Center, pledging $2,000, which would cover 100 adoptions at $20 a pop. The benefactor, who asked to remain anonymous, mentioned being influenced by Pacini-Hauch. Center staff referred to the donor as Secret Santa, and some patrons paid it forward by covering the adoption fee for another pet. By the time Santa's donation ran out, the center said, 126 pets had been adopted.

Shelters commonly offer adoption deals during the holidays. But Front Street and the Tampa-area shelter reflect an important trend, said Kim Alboum, the shelter outreach and policy director at the Humane Society of the United States.

"Now it's not just the shelters waiving adoption fees," Alboum said. "We're seeing donors jumping in to waive adoption fees. When someone steps up like the Sacramento donor, it does spark the generosity of other donors, especially around the holidays."

Front Street, Alboum added, "is getting a lot of attention right now. There are people who never thought of adopting who are now considering it. So this donor has done even more than they realize."

Uplifting as these adoption tales are, they raise some thorny questions. Like: Should shelters be concerned about the motives of a person who adopts an animal when it's free, and the care that animal will receive? One school of thought holds that someone who pays nothing is inherently less invested, and possibly less responsible.

Knepp lands squarely in the other school.

"First of all, how much you pay for an animal or whether you got it for free does not equate to how much love you feel for that animal," she said. What's more, she said, all potential adopters at Front Street are required to undergo the same vetting people do when paying the fees themselves.

Pacini-Hauch, meanwhile, said that she has no qualms about what her largesse - which she figures may ultimately total around $20,000 - has wrought. Indeed, she seems to be one of those people who toggle between highly enthusiastic and downright fervent.

So it's a safe bet she'd be thrilled to hear about the adoption she covered for Susan Durst, who has fostered adoptable animals at Front Street. Most recently, Durst was caring for Daisy, a deaf 14-year-old shepherd mix. She'd said she had never experienced "foster failing," the tongue-in-cheek term for a foster parent who ends up adopting an animal, often foreclosing the ability to continue fostering.

But owing to an array of factors, including Pacini-Hauch's offer and Durst's supreme attachment to a dog she called the most "senior of all seniors," she decided to adopt Daisy. "This is my first foster fail," she said in a phone interview, sounding not at all defeated, but categorically giddy. "It's a little Christmas miracle."

"Kim," Durst later said of Pacini-Hauch in a text message, "has saved a lot of lives for animals, and people."
When you believe that extraordinary vineyard soils are the absolute key to producing exceptionally balanced wines, youve found your true place in the world. For me, that place is on the mountain slopes of Napas wine growing region, where I contend some of the finest wines are produced.

Mountain wineries flourished here back in the late 19th century, before Prohibition put them out of business. There was a bit of newfound interest in the 1970s, but it wasnt until the mid-1990s that existing wineries and vineyards were re-energized by new vintners and mountain wines were revived to their past glory.

Theres a discernible distinction to the grapes grown in Napas mountain area. They possess that smack of Californian earth that Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about in The Silverado Squatters (1883).

From RLS: And when you taste a vintage, grave economical questions are involved.

The beginning of the vine-planting is like the beginning of mining for precious metals: The wine-grower also prospects. So, bit by bit, they grope about for their Clos Vougeot and Lafite. Those lodes and pockets of earth, more precious than the precious ores that yield inimitable fragrance and soft fire; those virtuous Bonanzas, where the soil has sublimated under sun and stars to something finer, and the wine is bottled poetry. The smack of California earth shall linger on the palate of your grandson.

Mountain vineyards, usually some thousand feet or so in elevation, offer a different climatic rhythm and thus produce greater intensity of flavors and aromas enhanced with that smack of California earth. Only with height do you get the combination of clean, thin, cool mountain air which steadies the days temperatures, creating warmer days with full sun and cool nights. As elevation increases, sunlight becomes more concentrated, causing grapes to develop deeper pigments. They get more early sun because they are above the fog line, thus forcing grapes to mature and ripen slowly.

In the afternoon, the heat from the valley floor begins to drift up the hillsides. The grapes absorb more sun, then, close down at night, halting photosynthesis, sugar formation and acidity, locking in their structure and backbone while allowing them to ripen perfectly.

The mountains are more exposed to prevailing winds, giving more stress to the vines. The variation from warm to cool causes the vines to struggle, developing the acidity needed to produce such intense aromas, flavors, colors and tannins. You get much more depth, more notes, more balance, more structure and complexity from these climatic rhythms.

There is an intensity to the fruit because they mature more slowly and age much more gracefully. There is depth and structure to the wines that you actually taste in these mountain grapes.

Every year, there seems a flurry of headlines about the health benefits of high-elevation red wine as if ripe berry flavors along with perfect structure werent reasons enough to seek out mountain wines. There is growing evidence that red wines grown at higher elevations possess greater levels of healthy antioxidant properties.

Basically, plants synthesize the antioxidant resveratrol as a response to natural UV sunlight. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol antioxidant that is found in some plants, like grapes.

The phenolic content in wine can be separated into two groups, flavonoids and non-flavonoids. Flavonoids contain anthocyanins and tannins which give the color and mouthfeel of the wine.

The non-flavonoids include the resveratrol and phenolic acids. These phenolic acids provide some of the most important elements in assessing a wines quality and are, very possibly, responsible for the beneficial health properties of red wines.

Red wine has been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on preventing heart disease. The mechanism of this benefit isnt known yet, but we have been drinking wine for many centuries and, in addition to the joy it provides, scientists are working with vintners to better understand its health effects, said Dr. David Agus, professor of Medicine & Engineering, University of Southern California. He is also an author of several books, including The End of Illness, A Short Guide to a Long Life and The Lucky Years: How to thrive in the brave new world of health.

There are five American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Napa that can be described as mountains. On the western side of the valley are Diamond Mountain, Mount Veeder and Spring Mountain, and on the eastern side stand Atlas Peak and, to its north, Howell Mountain.

Adjacent to Atlas Peak is Pritchard Hill, home to some of Napas great award-winning mountain wines including Dalla Valle, while further north is Mount St. Helena, home to Jericho Canyon with its spectacular, steeply terraced mountain vineyards.

Renowned and highly influential Bordeaux-based oenologist Michel Rolland said, Growing these mountain grapes are far more difficult to farm and the growing season tends to be considerably longer. Its much more difficult to plant, more difficult to establish the vines and they produce far lower yields, however, the end result is a grape expressing intensity of stellar quality as difficult growing conditions often lead to extraordinary wines. Rolland maintains hundreds of vineyard clients across 13 countries around the globe.

Home to the most highly elevated and rocky volcanic mountainous landscape, Atlas Peak has been producing wines of renown quality since 1870. The 11,400 acres of land that comprise the AVA include sangiovese and premium varietals used to create Bordeaux-style wines, such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petite verdot and malbec.

Over the years, despite its rugged remoteness, the appellation has produced an abundance of wines acclaimed worldwide for their intense flavors and delicate, balanced tannins that have become the signature of Atlas Peak Mountain wines. Its worth mentioning that mountain viticulture is a very expensive business when you have to remove tons of huge rocks to plant vines with different ripening times within rows which require many passes during harvest. Mountain wines tend to be produced in small quantities from land that is extremely expensive to farm, hence the reason that many of Napas expensive cult wines are from high elevations.

Wine is born of passion, evolving over time, offering a truly beautiful thing that speaks to us through heightened sensory emotions that can sometimes reflect wonderful universal mysteries in a surprising fashion, evoking one of lifes many unforgettable pleasures. I think the people who plant vineyards at higher elevations possess a different sort of inner motivation and optimism, perhaps more in harmony with Ernest Hemingways view that wine is one of the most civilized and natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection. It is good to know that luscious healthy pleasures can be derived from mountain vines.

Editors Note: Igor Sill farms a terraced hillside cabernet sauvignon vineyard in St. Helena and a mountain vineyard in Atlas Peak mountain in Napa. Hes a passionate wine lover, writer, Court of Master Sommeliers, attended UC Davis winemaking program, member of the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group, Judge for the International Wine Challenge, London; and holds his masters from Oxford University. He said, Many thanks to Dr. David Agus, Michel Rolland and Jessica Sill for their much appreciated assistance, insights and contributions to this article.

Wine is one of the most civilized and natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.  Ernest Hemingway
The Harpoon is an all-weather anti-ship missile typically integrated with naval platforms. The missile uses a radar guidance system to attack surface ships, and can also be launched from submarines, shore batteries, or aircraft.



Harpoon Block II missiles feature autonomous, all-weather, over-the-horizon capability and can execute missions against sea and land targets, including coastal defense sites, surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft, port or industrial facilities, and ships in port. More than 600 ships, 180 submarines, 12 different types of aircraft and land-based launch vehicles carry Harpoon missiles. Boeing has delivered more than 7,300 Harpoon and Harpoon Block II missiles to the U.S. Navy and more than 30 international military customers since the inaugural Harpoon contract was awarded by Naval Air Systems Command on June 21, 1971.
A new contribution to the European NATO BMD



The Ballistic Missile Defense role mainly relies on US destroyers today. From about 2025 it could also involve Belgian ships. The country joined a NATO missile defense project group at the end of October, to which Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands belonged so far. At the same time, it has committed itself to contribute to the group's ability to actively defend itself - in addition to the pure sensors on Dutch, Danish and soon German ships. The Belgian naval forces already cooperate very closely with the Royal Netherlands Navy and, together with their new frigates, are equipped with extensive interceptors, "exo-atmospheric interceptors".



The focus of this project group, under German leadership since May 2015, has been the early warning for NATO air defense with the so-called target assignment for American interceptors. The performance spectrum of the European Alliance partners will significantly expand with the new German and the new Belgian contribution - and will substantially strengthen the defense of NATO as a whole.



Ballistic Missile Defense "against mass destruction weapons



Experts have warned of the global spread of long-range missiles. According to estimates, more than 30 countries around the world now have the technology to build missiles of 1,000 kilometers range or more - from the so-called mid-range to intercontinental rocket. Such missiles follow a ballistic trajectory, that is, they leave the Earth's atmosphere in a high arc for a part of the route to their destination before they strike.



These missiles are particularly dangerous because they can potentially be equipped with weapons of mass destruction. If their "payload" is nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, they are not only threatening punctual military targets, such as the runway of an airfield, but the whole airfield and all the inhabitants in its neighborhood.



Among other Alexander Vershbow, Deputy NATO Secretary General, described the military counter-measures of the Atlantic Alliance at an international conference in May as purely defensive: "Our ballistic missile defense is designed to defend our territory, our populations and our troops against a range of threats , which come from outside the European-Atlantic area. "
The ISI chief and Sharif exchanged views on the country's security situation during their first meeting since the former's appointment.

The Prime Minister also felicitated Mukhtar on assuming charge of his new assignment, the PM house said in a statement.

--IANS ahm/dg

( 72 Words)

2016-12-23-18:26:13 (IANS)
According to informed sources, Rijiju will visit the areas worst hit by the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council to denounce the creation of seven new districts from areas inhabited by Nagas in Manipur.

The Imphal Valley has been simmering following the Congress government's decision to create Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Tengoupal, Pharzol, Kakching, Noney and Kamjongin districts.

Naga protesters are preventing all trucks from reaching the Imphal Valley. Trucks, which transport essential goods, are also being blocked from leaving the valley.

"Heading for Manipur to review the security situation. Must resolve the prevailing humanitarian crisis due to economic blockade," Rijiju earlier tweeted.

--IANS rup/py/mr

( 141 Words)

2016-12-23-13:46:13 (IANS)
"..(The company) has executed definitive agreements to acquire 100 percent equity shares of Brahmani River Pellets Limited (BRPL) from Aryan Mining and Trading Corpn Private Ltd (AMTC) and other companies in the Moorgate Industries Group (MIG)," a company statement said.

"The transaction is based on an enterprise value of BRPL of Rs 900 crore plus closing adjustments and is subject to completion of certain condition precedents including regulatory approvals," it added.

The funding for the acquisition would be done from steel maker's internal cash flows.

"The location of the BRPL assets makes this very strategic to Tata Steel especially to our Kalinganagar operations and has significant operating synergies to make our Kalinganagar plant even more competitive for the future," said Koushik Chatterjee, Group Executive Director (Finance and Corporate).

BRPL owns a 4 mtpa pellet plant at Jajpur, Odisha and 4.7 mtpa iron ore beneficiation plant at the state's Barbil, with both connected through a 220 km underground slurry pipeline.

"The iron ore from our captive mine in the Joda and Khondbond region will get transferred in future through the slurry pipeline and reduce freight costs significantly," Chatterjee said.

He said that the 4 mtpa pellet plant and other infrastructure would enhance the operating efficiency and reduce costs of blast furnace operations in Kalinganagar.

--IANS bdc/vd

( 252 Words)

2016-12-23-16:40:13 (IANS)
An agreement was signed to this effect in New Delhi on Thursday between Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India's state-owned power major NTPC.

The NEA is Nepal's state-owned electricity company. The import will be made through Dhalkebar-Mujjafpur Cross Border Transmission line which was inaugurated in February 2016.

The fresh agreement on power purchase from India would to some extent address the problem of blackouts in the country, the NEA said in a statement.

Nepal is reeling under a huge power crisis. The country suffered power cuts up to 15 hours everyday until last year -- mostly in winter season.

To cope with this perennial power crisis, Nepal in September signed an agreement to import additional 250 MW electricity from India through various cross-border transmission lines.

It was decided that India will install additional 100 MVA transmission line in Muzaffarpur in its side to ease the export to Nepal.

Currently, Nepal has been importing 345 MW electricity from India.

--IANS giri/lok/vt

( 214 Words)

2016-12-23-18:08:13 (IANS)
He said Modi divided the country between the one per cent super-rich and the 99 per cent honest people of the country.

"Notes ban wasn't against black money or corruption, it was economic dacoity. Modi-ji has created a divide between one per cent super rich and 99 per cent honest people of the country," said Gandhi while addressing a rally in Almora.

"Not a single black money holder has been arrested so far. There are 50 families who had taken loans. The scheme was to waive off the loans worth Rs 8 lakh crore of these families," he added.

Gandhi said: "When farmers don't pay loans, the government snatches their lands and houses. But when rich don't pay loans, they call them defaulters and their debt Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). The government restructures their loans but doesn't recover it."

He demanded that the Modi government release in Parliament the list of names of those who hold black money in Swiss banks.

"About 94 per cent of the black money is in Swiss bank accounts, gold and real estate. Just 6 per cent of black money is in cash," said Gandhi.

"Modi has not listened to the farmers but has forgiven Rs 1.40 lakh crore in loans to 15 rich people ... but not farmers."

He said: "They say notes ban is a surgical strike on corruption, but this is actually fire-bombing on India's poor."

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 in a bid to curb black money and corruption in the country.

--IANS sid/lok/dg

( 299 Words)

2016-12-23-18:30:19 (IANS)
Finding no common ground on the issue of dual control or cross empowerment that deals with assessee jurisdiction, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's 7th meeting that came to an end on Friday raised grave concerns about its April 1 implementation date while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley saying that he was trying his best. "I am trying my best (on deadline of April 1). I don't want to hasten the process of discussion and don't want to delay the implementation," Jaitley said at a press briefing after the Council meet ended. The Finance Minister however said: "There was no issue raised on dual control today as we were working on legislations." Jaitley said that the two principle issues that still remain before the Council are Integrated GST (iGST) and cross empowerment. "In iGST, definition of territory of states is pending. And the division of authority between assessing authorities of Centre and states is pending. The two issues will be taken up together at the next meeting on January 3-4. "The recommendation of GST rates committee will also be placed before the Council at the next meeting," he said. The drafts of Central GST (cGST) and the compensation law were approved mostly in the Council meeting on Friday with the only portions relating to dual control being left out, he added. "The primary draft of the cGST and sGST law has been approved. These two laws will be mirror image of each other. There were some portions that were left out. Only those blanks are there which deal with dual control and cross empowerment," Jaitley said. The legally vetted copy of the cGST and compensation law will brought before the Council in its next meeting, he said. The three GST bills - Central GST (cGST), Integrated GST and State Compensation Law - need to be approved by the Council before they can be tabled in the Parliament. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who is part of the GST Council, told reporters that the "big issues are still to be resolved". The iGST issue has not been discussed on Friday, he said. "Second issue is dual control. The states are very clear with the unanimous decision of the empowered committee that small traders with a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore turnover cannot have dual assessment," he added. Mitra said that post-demonetisation, the states feel that they will need more compensation than mentioned in the GST draft bills. "Many issues on compensation need to be resolved. Earlier the parameters on compensation were different, there was no demonetisaion. Now in new environment, many states feel they will need compensation. They feel 30-40 per cent revenue will be affected in the third quarter." But Jaitley, during the press briefing, clarified that the compensation in GST is only for loss of revenues due to GST implementation, but asked how was it related to this. --IANS mm/vd ( 494 Words) 2016-12-23-19:16:12 (IANS)
Based on David Grann's nonfiction bestseller 'The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon', the movie tells the true story of the disappearance of a 20th century British colonial explorer.

Percy Fawcett (Hunnam) traveled the Amazon and discovered evidence of a mythical, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region, and despite much doubt from colleagues, he is determined to return to the Amazon and find the city.

He seeks support from his wife Nina Fawcett (Sienna Miller), his son Jack Fawcett (Holland) and aide de camp, Henry Costin (Pattinson).

The teaser shows the determined explorers take on natives from the region, battling against the odds of nature and overcome fear and doubt to pursue their passion.

'The Lost City of Z' will hit theaters April 14, 2017. (ANI)
Fortis Charitable Foundation (FCF) treats more than 1000 underprivileged children suffering from Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) every year. Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) is the structural or functional abnormality in the heart that is present at birth. This may pose a grave threat to the well-being of the child or can even lead to death. Under Fortis Foundations AANCHAL Programme, the 'UMEED-DHADKAN' initiative has set a high benchmark that has helped maximum numbers of children with CHD in the country. FCF works closely with key partners which include Being Human Foundation, Rotary Trust and Needy Heart Foundation to provide treatment. UMEED is an intervention under the AANCHAL programme designed to provide healthcare service for children from underprivileged section of the society suffering from CHD and who may not have access to quality healthcare. According to a report[i], the prevalence of CHD varies anywhere between 2.25 to 5.2/ 1000 live births. The report suggests that approximately 10% of infant mortality in India can be attributed to CHD alone. CHD along with neural tube defects account for two thirds of all major birth defects[ii]. Krishna was diagnosed with Congenital Heart Defect at birth. His father worked as a cook at a small restaurant, earning a meager salary of Rs.800 per month. Initially the owner of the restaurant assured the family for financial support but lastly it did not happen. Finally Shyam reach out to Fortis Charitable Foundation (FCF) and Being Human Foundation where Krishna got the treatment. Shyam, father of Krishna, said, "Managing the medical expenses for Krishna has been nearly impossible. I have sold all my assets and taken loans from several people. Getting support for Krishna's treatment from Fortis Foundation and Being Human Foundation has been a miracle." Despite the magnitude of the CHD problem, it is still largely unrecognized, understated, and underestimated. But timely detection and proper intervention can help children suffering from CHD lead a healthy life. The mortality rate due to CHD can be arrested by early detection, supporting care and surgical correction. Fortis Healthcare has world class expertise in treating CHD. As an executing partner of FCF, the children treated under 'Umeed-Dhadkan' are not just treated for CHD but have the best of patient care. Speaking at this humble milestone, Jasbir Grewal, Head, Fortis Charitable Foundation said, "Umeed-Dhadkan" is an intervention that brings hope to hundreds of children suffering from Congenital Heart Defect. Congenital Heart Defect is one of the major reasons for death among infants. Our partner, Fortis Healthcare has the medical expertise to treat children suffering from Congenital Heart Defect and in collaboration with them and other like-minded partners we are making a difference to the lives of over 1000 children every year" (ANI)
Shan5 is manufactured in Shantha Biotechnics' new plant in the state and will be exported to Nigeria, Morocco and Rwanda through the UN agency.

Shan5, which was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in April 2014, is a high-quality vaccine that provides effective protection for children from 6 weeks of age against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B.

Shantha Biotechnics is manufacturing Shan5 in a new facility, which is spread across 19,000 square-meters and located in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Muppireddypally, Telangana.

The commercial production of vaccines started in May this year after getting the necessary approvals from the Indian regulatory authorities and the WHO.

"With a dedicated site for vaccines in the country, we are reinforcing our commitment towards disease prevention and public health in India and across the world," said Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director - India and Vice President - South Asia, Sanofi.

"Across the world, a large number of babies today do not have access to modern vaccination programs. Our aim, at Shantha Biotechnics, is to fill this gap by providing large supplies of high-quality vaccines to emerging and low-income countries. Our new manufacturing site will help us to meet the purpose, " said Mahesh Bhalgat, Executive Director & Chief Operation Officer, Shantha Biotechnics, India.

--IANS ms/vd

( 256 Words)

2016-12-23-21:28:13 (IANS)
The Congress party on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing the opposition to Pakistan saying, the former has forgotten to maintain sanctity of his position. "Prime Minister has even forgotten to maintain the sanctity of his position. Instead of giving a direct answer to the charges made by Rahul Gandhi, he is trying to escape by making such statements," said Shobha Oza. Oza further said the prime minister must have the courage to come forward and answer the charges made by Rahul. Another Congress leader, Meem Afzal, said, "This is very shameful that the prime minister is also trying to play the same politics which is played by their party's small leaders like Giriraj Kishore. I think the prime minister should not try to become like Giriraj Kishore. I am shocked that he is trying to go down from the position that he is holding," he said. On Thursday, Prime Minister Modi said he had never imagined that some political parties, some political leaders would shamelessly take sides with the dishonest. He further compared the opposition din during the winter session of the parliament to "cover fire" provided by Pakistan to "push infiltrators into India". Commenting on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister said his speech held no relevance. "Since the time he has learnt how to speak, there is no extent to my happiness. Till 2009, there was no clue as to what is inside the packet (Gandhi). Better that he started speaking, at least we came to know that there is no scope of earthquake occurring," said Modi. The Prime Minister opined that the opposition's criticism is actually benefitting them, because by doing so they re exposing themselves and the "black heart" of people is coming to light, in front of people. (ANI)
Two dozen people, including a manager of a nationalised bank and son of a former MLA from Murbad of Thane district, have been booked on alleged charges of conniving and misappropriation of bank money to the tune of Rs 3.14 crore, Thane police said. Police said that the main accused in the entire fraud and misappropriation was the bank manager of the Khadakpada branch of the nationalised bank T Kirankumar and among other accused was the son of the former MLA of Murbad, Subash Gotiram Pawar of Sourabh Constructions, police informed. Ironically enough, the bank manager, without the consent of the KDMC, broke the FDs from among the Provident fund account of the employees of the corporation to the tune of Rs 2.82 crore and diverted the same to the intermediate account of the bank in addition to Rs 72 lakhs also of the KDMC to manage the misdeeds. The manager violated all the regulations of the bank and set procedures and also the RBI regulations to favour the beneficiaries who were businessmen, builders, etc and put the bank to the losses to the tune of Rs 3.14 crore it was stated. The violations were of different nature right from granting overdraft, passing the loans, making payment of loan amount without due approval, verification, and also when there is a default in payment indicated in CIBIL granting loans etc and all kinds of irregularities to favour the beneficiaries who were more than 20 thecomplaint by the bank official stated. This fraud took place between September 2015 to June 2016 it was stated. The police have initiated probe into the case and no arrests have been made so far in connection with the incident. An offence was registered yesterday against the alleged accused under sections 409,468,471 rw 34 of the IPC and also sections 43 D of the IT act with the Khadakpada police station under Kalyan Zone the police added.UNI XR NV SB 1224 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1077412.Xml
The Congress Party on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing the opposition to Pakistan, saying the former has forgotten to maintain sanctity of his position. "The Prime Minister has even forgotten to maintain the sanctity of his position. Instead of giving a direct answer to the charges made by Rahul Gandhi, he is trying to escape by making such statements," said Congress leader Shobha Oza. Oza further said the Prime Minister must have the courage to come forward and answer the charges made by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Another Congress leader Meem Afzal said, "This is very shameful that the Prime Minister is also trying to play the same politics which is played by their party's small leaders. I am shocked that he is trying to go down from the position that he is holding." On Thursday, Prime Minister Modi said he had never imagined that some political parties and leaders would shamelessly take sides with the dishonest. He further compared the opposition din during the Winter Session of Parliament to "cover fire" provided by Pakistan to "push infiltrators into India". The Prime Minister also taunted the Congress vice-president over his accusations against him. "Since the time he has learnt how to speak, there is no extent to my happiness. Till 2009, there was no clue as to what is inside the packet (Gandhi). Better that he started speaking, at least we came to know that there is no scope of earthquake occurring," said Modi. The Prime Minister also said the opposition's criticism is actually benefitting them because by doing so they are exposing themselves and the "black heart" of people is coming to light in front of the people. (ANI)
The first squadron of the most modern Rafale fighter jets, the newest acquisition for the Indian Air Force, is likely to be set up at the Sarsawa airbase in UP. The airbase, which is just 50 km crow-flight from the National Capital, is getting prepared to host the squadron and related maintenance facilities, sources in the South Block told UNI. A team of Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale visited the airbase last month to carry out feasibility study and improvements needed for making it home for the Combat jet. The first squadron is likely to have 12 fighters, including pair of trainers, said the sources. The IAF was in process of identifying two more airbases for the rest of the squadrons of 24 fighter. India sealed a government-to-government deal with France last September for purchasing 36 aircraft. The Euro 7.89 billion (about Rs 59000 crore) also included a component of Euro 1.8 billion for support and infrastructure supplies, which the Original Equipment Manufacturer is to create. "French experts visited Sarsawa in first half of November and conducted a preliminary survey of the base," sources in the IAF said, confirming that this base is one of the options being explored for the Rafale. At present the base is being used for helicopter operations. It will be converted into a fighter base with the active help of the French company. Under the contract, a nine member team, including three pilots would be trained in France to take possession of the aircraft. They, in turn, will train rest of the crew after their return. The IAF managed to get an additional guarantee for an additional 60 hours for the trainer Rafale jets with a concession to keep the weapons storage in France for an additional period six months. The French firm will supply spares for a period of seven years at initial cost, instead of five years, with an option that a new deal will be negotiated for the next five years. Under the Intergovernmental Agreement signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, the manufacturer agreed for a guarantee performance-based logistics support which means that 75 per cent of the fleet will be airworthy at any given time. A 50 per cent offset agreement obligates Dassault to re-invest half the money from the deal in India. Of the total amount of contract, Euro 3.42 billion is for the cost of the platform; another Euro1.7 billion for India-specific 14 changes on the aircraft; Euro 710 million for weapons package; and Euro 353 million is the cost of logistics support. The first of the jets from France is to be delivered in 36 months, by September 2019, and the entire lot over the following 30 months. UNI MK SV SB 1347 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-1077593.Xml
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has received the report on the incident of separation of a five-year-old child from his parents by the Norwegian authorities, and will take up the issue with their Government. The Minister, however, said she will represent the mother on her request as she is an Indian national, while the father and son are Norwegian nationals. In a tweet, Ms Swaraj said, "I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals.We will represent the mother on her request, who is an Indian national." The Child Welfare Department of Norway on December 13 had taken custody of the child from his kindergarten school, after accusing his NRI parents of beating him up. More UNI RBE AE SNU 1447 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-1077663.Xml
"Raisuddin Mollah, the zonal secretary of CPI(M) in South 24 Parganas' Mathurapur block-1, gave refuge to a homeless woman in a local party office one year ago. The leader allegedly raped the woman several times taking advantage of her situation," Kaushik Kundu, the officer in-charge of Mathurapur police station said.

Police have arrested Mollah based on the complaint lodged by the victim on Thursday night.

The CPI-M leader has, however, denied all allegations and termed it a conspiracy hatched by the ruling Trinamool Congress.

"The accused has been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody," the officer added.

--IANS mgr/ssp/ksk/bg

( 132 Words)

2016-12-23-15:12:13 (IANS)
Jammu and Kashmir BJP President and MLA from West Jammu was allegedly manhandled today by the local people in this winter capital of the state. BJP MLA Sat Sharma, who had gone to lay the foundation of a developmental work in Bakshi Nagar area here this morning, was manhandled by some locals including a retired police personnel as they were angry about his false promises. These persons alleged that the Legislator was not paying due attention to the development of his constituency. Subsequently, police intervened and took the protestors into custody. "We have taken the required action," Deputy Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rasgotra, SDPO West said. J&K Congress spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, however, said that the people were fed up with the PDP-BJP Government's policies as they have failed to address the grievances.UNI VBH PS SNU 1531 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1077719.Xml
With poll dates for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections to be announced any day, possibility of a pre-poll alliance between the ruling Samajwadi Party and the Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has gained momentum and the announcement is expected any day next week. The alliance, if and when it is forged, is clearly a desperate move on the part of the ruling SP as well as the Congress to prevent the BJP from coming to power. Such an alliance will also help Samajwadi Party prevent its minority vote from being divided and provide a lifeline to the Congress, which is clearly fighting for survival in the state. According to sources in both the SP and the Congress, talks are in an advanced stage and an announcement to this effect is expected in two-three days. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is talking about the alliance in public for the past several days, has called the first timer MLAs of the SP at his official residence this evening to discuss the political situation. The meeting is slated to continue tomorrow morning too, sources in the SP told UNI here today. However, a senior Congress leader on anonymity told the agency that it is almost final that SP was ready to give 100 seats to Congress-RLD of which 78 seats will go to Congress, and rest to the RLD. It has also been decided in principle that Mr Akhilesh Yadav will be the CM face of the alliance with the Congress to get a deputy CM post, if they strike majority in the elections. The last hitch for the SP is a nod from the Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had earlier opposed this alliance. But it is said that the party supremo has now been convinced and would announce some major decisions next week. Earlier, the SP was not ready to shed more than 70 seats for Congress and RLD but now it has been said they have agreed to give a total of 100 seats to both Congress-RLD. Besides the 29 seats the Congress won in the previous Assembly polls and 31 others on which it finished second, party sources said, there are some 50 other constituencies where the party has good chances. In the light of this, the Congress may climb down from its earlier demand of contesting 125 seats to 100. However, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav is reportedly not willing to concede more than 80 seats. Another report also said the Congress is demanding the Deputy Chief Minister's post and around 100 seats.More UNI MB SW SNU 1508 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1077666.Xml
DMK President and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanildhi, who was re-admitted to the Kauvery hospital on December 15following breathing problems due to throat and lung infections, was dischargedthis evening. Senior DMK leaders, including his son and PartryTreasurer M K Stalin, daughter and Rajya Sabha Member Kanimozhi, former Union Ministers andMLAs were present at the hospital when the nonagenarian leader was discharged from the hospital at around 1645 hrs. A large number of DMK cadres thronged the hospital and greeted him by showering rose petals as his car came out of the hospital and proceeded towards his Gopalapuram residence. The hospital had released a photograph of the DMK Patrairch watching TV by sitting in a chair, informing the people that he has recovered from the infections two days back. The hospital in a photo release said Mr Karunanidhi was recovering well and he would be discharged after completion of course of antibiotics. Mr. Karunanidhi, who was convalescing at his Gopalapuram since his discharge from the hospital on December 7, complained of breathing problems and was readmitted to the hospital on the night of December 15and he underwent a tracheostomy procedure the next day to optimisebreathing.MORE UNI GV CS 1705 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1078038.Xml
Through travel websites like Wego.com you can celebrate New Year twice in one night. "When one New Year's Eve just isn't enough, crossing into different time zones on December 31st means you can welcome 2017 twice," said Dean Wicks, Chief Flights Officer at Wego. "It takes 26 hours for the New Year to hit each of the 39 local time zones," said Wicks. "It is possible however to double your celebrations and see the clock ticking over into 2017 more than once, without having to hire a private jet." "You can't travel faster than time, but you can come close by moving backwards across the International Date Line," Wicks continued. "Depending on where you're located a nearby border crossing can deliver you two New Year opportunities, and easier than you might think." 1.Australia: The invisible border between the states of New South Wales and Queensland on Australia's east coast is one of the easiest ways to have yourself two strokes of midnight. With New South Wales observing daylight savings time, which Queensland doesn't, a one hour time difference means you can easily cross over from Tweed Heads (NSW) into Coolangatta (Queensland) and get double the dose of fireworks. In fact, the runway at Gold Coast Airport actually straddles the state border of Queensland and New South Wales, so technically your landing time may jump an hour, although it's registered at Queensland time. 2.Cyprus In just September this year, the Turkish Republic of Cyprus (in the north) announced they'd follow mainland Turkey time zone and not join the southern part of the island, Greece's Republic of Cyprus, in Daylight Saving Time. The island has now been split into two time zones with a one hour time difference during winter. Nicosia is now the last divided capital in Europe and the only world capital that follows two time zones - a UN buffer zone which separates the Turkish-Cypriots in the north and the southern Greek controlled Cyprus. The major shopping area of Ledra Street in the central part of the city is divided into two and a viral 'Dual Time Zone New Year Party' is planned. 3.Spain and Portugal In just twenty minutes you can drive between Extremadura (Spain) and Alentejo (Portugal) and have a double New Year's Eve. Begin in Badajoz then pop across the River Guadiana to the gorgeous Portuguese town of Elvas for a second midnight run. Apart from registering a double New Year whammy, both these areas are brimming with beauty and ooze historical charm. 4.United States In the north-west of Florida, the Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Central Standard Time (CST) split the corner of the state. You can enjoy New Year number one at Port St Joe on the beach, then travel five minutes away to Mexico Beach for New Year number two. The New Year double is supported by free shuttle buses and has become quite the end of year attraction. California and Nevada are also split by time zones (Mountain Standard and Pacific Standard Time) so you can chase time from Arizona Village for your first glimpse of 2017, then cross the Colorado River to see it once again in the tiny California town of Needles. 5.Sweden and Finland Sweden's Haparanda and Finland's Tornio are neighbouring towns, separated by time zones and borders. Begin in Tornio for your first 2017 welcome, then just wander by foot (five minutes) over a bridge for round two, all in magical Scandinavian surroundings.(ANI)
General manager of a public sector bank was shot at by the bike-borne miscreants under Kotwali Police Station here today. According to police, Shanker Ram Solanki was on his morning walk when he was attacked by some unidentified miscreants. Soon after the incident, he was taken to a private hospital where he is said to be out of danger by doctor. Though there are reports that the crime was linked to demonetisation, the Inspector General of Police (Bareilly Zone) Vijay Kumar Meena, however, refused it. Meena said that a manhunt has been launched to nab the culprits.UNI MB SDR SNU 1751 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1078078.Xml
"The CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) alone won 35 gram panchayat seats, two Panchayat Samity seats and one Zilla Parishad seat and its partner CPI (Communist Party of India) two gram panchayat seats," State Election Commission secretary Prasenjit Bhattacherjee told IANS.

He said two gram panchayat seats each went in favour of opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress while Congress drew a blank. Polling was held on December 21.

Compared to the elections to three-tier gram panchayat last year, the CPI-M lost two gram panchayat seats to the BJP and one seat to Trinamool, while wresting five seats from BJP (2), Congress (2) and Janata Dal-United (1).

The Left parties, which have a substantial base in the rural areas, earlier won three gram panchayat seats before the by-elections without any contest.

--IANS sc/vd

( 176 Words)

2016-12-23-18:24:13 (IANS)
Principal Opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh suffered another blow today as its Pamarru (SC) constituency MLA Uppuleti Kalpana joined the ruling Telugu Desam party in the presence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. At a programme held at the residence of Chief Minister, she was admitted into the party by wrapping yellow scarp by Mr Naidu. 14 MPTC members, 2 ZPTC members also joined the TDP along with her. With this, so far 21 YSRCP MLAs had quit the party and joined the ruling TDP. Addressing the gathering, the newly joined MLA said that she was attracted by the development being carried out by the Chandrababu Naidu led government. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said YSRCP President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is obstructing the construction of Sea Port, Air Port and establishment of industries. TDP state president K Venkata Rao and Minister D Umamaheshwara Rao were among those present.UNI DP CS 1817 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1078252.Xml
Tata Group today said they were ready to produce a Fighting Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) for the Army within three to four years under the 'Make in India' project in defence. Mr Vernon Noronha, Vice-President, Defence and Govt. Business, Tata Motors, told a roundtable here that Tata Motors had already mastered in the field of logistics and now, ''they are gearing up to replicate in combating. Our strategy is to penetrate in the market with DRDO and other companies and come up with combat vehicles in four to five years.'' He also stated that the company will not shy away from merging with foreign companies for the project. ''Partnership is not a crime. We will absorb the technology and will localise it for future. At least 30% of the FICV has to be Indianised and we are clearly above that,'' Mr Noronha said. The Ministry of Defence is expected to announce the name of company which will get this bid sooner. There are ten companies which had been shortlisted for the project. This includes Tata Motors, L&T, Tata Power (SED), Mahindra & Mahindra, Bharat Forge, Pipavav Defence, Rolta India, Punj Lloyd, Titagarh Wagons, and the Ordnance Factory Board. These companies had received Expression of Interest (EOI), by Ministry of defence. Interestingly, two of the companies of Tata group are bidding separately for the project, they are Tata Motors and Tata Powers. On the question of two separate companies from Tata Motors bidding for same project, Mr Noronha said, ''ideally it should have been one bid. But we are providing two distinct solutions and hence we went ahead with two different companies. Therefore, it does not mean that we are competing with each other.'' Giving the legitimacy to Tata Motors, he described top wins of Tata in past which includes Tata Xenon 4 x 4 which will now replace Maruti Gypsy and others. He said that present government is more open which will facilitate them in their task of defence manufacturing. He also added, ''There is no other Indian manufacturing Company with this much set up in North East. It is this confidence that we are sure we will get the bit.'' FICVs are nothing but armoured battle-taxi, operated by three crew members which have the capacity of carrying ten soldiers in battle field. It is 10-billion dollar project, which is close to Rs 60,000-crore, and Tata Motors and L&T seem to be the top two bidders. UNI XC AE SNU 1840 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1078180.Xml
Kumar Mangalam Birla, head of leading industrial conglomerate Birla Group, today refused to comment on the allegations levelled by Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi that his Group had paid Rs 25-crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. "I am not aware. I don't know about it and do not want to talk about it. The matter is subjudice and I would not like to say anything," Mr Birla told the mediapersons at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Mr Birla, also the chairman of IIM-A, was visiting the campus after nearly two decades, stayed in the campus for two days. He said he would act as a bridge between corporate world and the premier B-school. "My focus is to increase the interaction between corporates and IIM-A," he said. Asked how IIM-A can improve its rankings globally, Mr Birla said he preferred that IIM-A prepare more of Indian students than to attract expatriate or foreign students. "One of the criteria is that how many foreign students you can attract on your campus. As an Indian I would be delighted if India seeks to take demographic advantage of having largest young population and IIMs train our own youngsters in management. But this is purely my opinion," he said. Birla said he was in favour of maintaining complete autonomy of IIMs. UNI ND PS SNU 1842 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1078269.Xml
The Ministry for External Affairs is closely monitoring the case of separation of a five-year-old child from his parents by the Norwegian authorities, and the Indian Embassy in Oslo is following up the matter. Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said, "EAM Sushma Swaraj is personally monitoring this case and our Embassy in Oslo is following up the matter." "Our Ambassador has already established contact with the father who is a Norwegian citizen as is the child. The mother, however, is an Indian passport holder," Mr Swarup said here today while replying to a question during a weekly briefing. The official said, following the custody of the child by Child Welfare Services (CWS) of Norway, legal proceedings were underway regarding the continuation of such custody. "We are informed that the father has engaged a Norwegian lawyer to pursue the matter in the court," he added. Given the seriousness of the issue, should the government receive a formal representation from the mother, the Indian Embassy which remained fully prepared, would engage with local authorities to impress upon them that this was a humanitarian issue and that the separation of a child from his parents was a matter of distress to the entire family, he said. The Child Welfare Department of Norway on December 13 had taken custody of the child from his kindergarten school, after accusing his NRI parents of beating him up. Anil Kumar, father of the child, said his son was taken without giving prior information. He also alleged that policemen came to his house, took his wife into custody and interrogated her for more than three hours. Mr Kumar also alleged that the police took his minor son to another room after he denied being beaten up but later he agreed that he was beaten. This is not the first incident in Norway where children from NRI parents have been forcibly taken away by the authorities on alleged abuse at home. In December 2012, Chandrashekhar and Anupama Vallabhaneni were sentenced to imprisonment by an Oslo court on charges of maltreatment of their seven-year-old son. Similarly, two toddlers were separated from their parents Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya in 2011 by the Norwegian authorities. The nearly year-long legal battle ended when the Norwegian court ruled that the custody of the children be handed over to their uncle. UNI RBE AE 1858 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-1078278.Xml
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today accused the SAD-BJP Government for cheating its 6.50-lakh employees and pensioners in the name of cashless health insurance scheme, which was primarily meant to benefit the employees, but ended up lining the pockets of owners of private hospitals. Bhagwant Mann, Campaign Committee Chairman of AAP, said the Badal Government has miserably failed to provide medical facilities to its employees and other sections of the society, adding that the State Government has discontinued its much-publicised health insurance scheme which lacked planning and commitment. He said that private hospitals had submitted inflated bills forcing the hired insurance company to withdraw. He said the State Government was left with no alternative because the insurance company refused to continue the scheme after it incurred a loss of Rs 165-crore in a year. Punjab Government had no money to fully finance the health insurance scheme the Badal Government had taken an overdraft of Rs 1850-crore in the month December from the Reserve Bank of India to pay salaries and now, trying to earn revenue by allowing four digit lotteries. Mr Mann said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had censured the SAD-BJP government few days back for not paying Rs 350-crore arrears of pensioners. He said that account of Excise and Taxation Department was attached. He added that it was a slap on the face of Badal Government, which is launching popular schemes to woo the voters, while its coffers are lying empty. Mr Mann said the cashless health scheme was an attempt by the SAD-BJP Government to cover up the collapse of primary and secondary health system in the state. He said that nobody wants to go for treatment in the government hospitals due to lack of infrastructure and specialist doctors. He said that free medicines and services of specialist doctors were available only in propaganda posters of SAD-BJP Government. He said that earlier, employees of the state government were getting fixed medical allowance and reimbursement of indoor treatment. He said that Cabinet has discontinued the cashless health scheme but as such no decision has been taken on payment of fixed medical allowance. The reimbursement of expenses on medical treatment in private hospitals is yet anybody's guess. He said when the reimbursement system was discontinued, the total liability of medical bills was Rs 160 crore. This much amount was the loss of insurance company. Badal Government has also brought cashless health care scheme for BPL families, which would provide free medical services of up to Rs 30,000 per annum under the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna (BPSSBY). He said this health scheme has also failed to take off due to scaling down the status of Community Heath Centres and Primary Health Centres at block and sub-division level. He said hospitals at district headquarters which are working also lack adequate medical facilities. Mr Mann said Punjab Government had not even supplied wheat and pulses to the BPL families from April, 2016 onward. Now a few days before the election code of conduct is expected to be enforced, the SAD-BJP Government has purchased pulses for the month of December at an exorbitant rate which seemed another scam in the making. He said that same pulses which were purchased at Rs.77 per kg against the previous purchase at Rs 59 per kg. Mr Mann said that PUNSUP has spent Rs 40-crore on procurement of pulses. He said that AAP Government would hold an in depth probe of Atta-Dal scheme and expose the embezzlement of funds. He said that AAP was committed to provide better facilities for the BPL families. Mr Mann also slammed Badal government for the spate of suicides by debt-ridden farmers. He said that suicide by Jagjit Singh, farmer of Faridkot district, who also killed his three children, was a shocking reminder of plight of farmer community in the state. He said that another farmer Chadinder Singh committed suicide yesterday in Jhunga Maha Singh village near Phillaur. He said that at an average, three farmers were committing suicide every week, which is an alarming situation. Mr Mann also appealed to farmers not to end their lives and wait for the AAP government to come to power.UNI XC RJ SNU 1837 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1078090.Xml
In a major breakthrough, Patna Police busted an inter-state gang of vehicle looters by arresting its five members today. Patna Senior Police Superintendent Manu Maharaj said here that while two vehicle looters were nabbed from a jeep on Sadishopur-Vishunpura road, three others who were trying to escape on another vehicle were arrested from neighbouring Bhojpur district after police gave them a good chase. He said that two loaded country made pistols had been recovered from their possession.Mr. Maharaj said that a team of police officers was formed when incidents of vehicle loot increased at various places like Bihta, Maner, Naubatpur and Bikram in the recent past. Outlaws taking theadvantage of dense fog in wintry nights looted vehicles on National Highways as drivers were unable to speed up their vehicles due to poor visibility. Outlaws after looting vehicles sold them in West Bengal, Mumbai, Assam and north eastern states. If vehicles could not be sold, they used to dismantle them and sell their spare parts in grey market. He said that two vehicles looted by criminals were also recovered on the basis of clues provided by them.An intensive interrogation of nabbed outlaws is on to nab other members of the gang.UNI DH SJC -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-1078456.Xml
Police busted a high-profile liquor party and arrested former chairman of Indian Premier League (IPL) and leading industrialist Chirayu Amin and 260 other prominent residents from a farm house situated on the outskirts of the city. "In a raid last night we have recovered 103 bottles of liquor and 113 of beer worth Rs 1,28,950 from the spot. Many men and women appeared inebriated and so they were taken to hospital to collect their blood samples to verify presence of alcohol in their body," Superintendent of Police Saurabh Tolambiya told mediapersons today. "We have filed a non bailable case against the farmhouse owner and his son under the new prohibition law which provides for 10 years jail term for keeping and distributing liquor. Another FIR has been filed against 127 men and 134 women, including two British citizens for consuming liquor," the police personnel said. As per the new provision of prohibition law in the "dry" state, consuming liquor is now punishable with up to three years in jail. The police also seized 90 vehicles from the venue of the party held to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of farmhouse owner Jeetendra Shah's grand daughter. Shah and his son Abhay are now being interrogated and will be produced in a court for remand, Tolambiya said. All the men arrested at night were given bail on personal bond from Taluka police station. The women present at the party were however not arrested in the night and were given bail immediately. Their blood samples have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar for further tests. Addressing media in state capital Gandhinagar, Gujarat minister of state for home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said that the state was "serious" about strict implementation of prohibition in the state. "I congratulate police for carrying out successful raid at the party", Jadeja said. "Those present at the party may be big names in economic world but police will not come under any pressure whilst acting against those found guilty of violating prohibition law," he added. He also issued warning to organizers of parties in club houses or farm houses in the forthcoming festive season of Christmas and New Year eve to desist from serving liquor. Opposition Congress hit back at the ruling party saying that the entire episode was nothing but an eyewash."The BJP has been ruling the state for over two-and-a-half decades now . How can people so easily find liquor to hold parties," Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi asked. UNI ND PS RSA 1928 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1078431.Xml
He said strengthening of PRIs will ensure that people at the grassroots level are included in day-to-day governance and formulation of developmental policies.

Addressing a public grievances redress camp at Siot in Rajouri after laying the foundation stone of Grid Station, Dr Singh said, "we believe in decentralisation of power as a means to empower people at grassroots level''.

He added to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions as part of our vision to empower local governance bodies, we amended the Panchayat Raj Act.

"With the implementation of this Act there will be flow of power to the lower strata of the society. People should elect the well qualified and honest persons so as to translate the government vision of decentralization of powers in real spirit,'' said the Deputy CM.

Dr Singh said the country and the state can develop only when there is devolution of powers to the grassroots level. UNI VBH PY RSA 2108

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Lashing out at the Hurriyat and Separatists for opposing domicile certificate to the West Pakistani Refugees, the state unit of VHP today said their dream of converting Jammu region into Islamic state will never be allowed to be fulfilled. "We protest the move and call given by Hurriyat and separatists of Kashmir valley protesting against the issuance of the domicile certificates to the West Pakistan refugees settled in J&K since 1947,'' VHP State President Leela Karan Sharma here said. He said Hurriyat and Separatists wanted to Islamanise Jammu province, which is a stumbling block in their object, adding, "we warn the Government that the J&K is an integral part of India and every citizen has the right to settle anywhere in the country as a number of residents of J&K are settled throughout India without any protest why a reciprocity be not done in the case of J&K state." Thousand of Burmese and Bangladeshis have settled in Jammu and many upper and underground organisations in the name of NGO's are helping them to settle in Jammu with the long term motive to change the demography of Jammu region, he said adding that the Hurriyat and the separatists are confined only to four districts of the Valley then what is problem with them if West Pak refugees are given permanent resident certificate so that they could participate in Assembly and Panchayat elections. Mr Sharma however, called upon the Govt to identify all Bangladeshis and Burmese settled in J&K on or before March 31 and deport them and also make a permanent solution for the settlement of the West Pakistan refugees in J&K giving full rights like other citizens of J&K state. UNI VBH PY RSA 2115 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1078675.Xml
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan, will be the Guest of Honour at the event that would also be presided over by Zafar Younus Sareshwala, MANUU Chancellor.

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali will be the other Guest of Honour.

Internationally acclaimed film personality Shah Rukh Khan and Urdu aficionado and founder of Rekhta Foundation Rajiv Saraf would be given Honorius Causa for their extraordinary contribution in the promotion of Urdu language and culture, a MANUU statement said here today.

About 2,885 graduates and post graduate students and 276 M-Phil and Ph.D from various disciplines in regular courses will be awarded degrees.

At the same time 44,235 graduates and post-graduates from the distance mode would also be given degrees in absentia.UNI VV PS RSA 2002

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Laying the foundation stone of 1320 MW thermal power project, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav here today said that the Samajwadi Party government had transformed the state by improving the infrastructure as well as extending the social umbrella for the poor and downtrodden. "Uttar Pradesh is no longer a laggard state as considered earlier. It is developing very fast. Good quality roads have come up, new projects have been launched to generate electricity and as a result investors are now investing in UP," Mr Yadav said. He said that his government had promised 24-hour electricity in urban areas and 18-20 hour electricity in rural areas. "We have fulfilled our promise. UP will become self reliant in power generation as many more thermal power plants will start operation in coming years," Yadav said. "We had a vision and a road map to transform that vision into reality. If we are working to generate electricity through conventional methods we have also opted for non-conventional methods and have tapped solar energy to generate electricity," he said and added: "When Samajwadi Party will be voted back to power in 2017 we will provide 24x7 electricity in villages." Addressing the rally after laying the foundation stones of various projects including 1320 MW projects in Etah, 1320 MW project for Obra C thermal power plant and expansion of 660 MW thermal power project in Harduaganj CM said that Samajwadi Party has worked hard to improve power supply. "You can compare our government's performance with previous government. When last government had built memorials and statues the Samajwadi Party government worked hard to provide better facilities to the people. There has been holistic development all across the state," Yadav said. He asked the party workers to go to people and make them aware about the achievements of the Samajwadi Party Government. "We have distributed laptops and over 1 crore people have registered for smart phones. The onus will be now on the workers to popularise the policies of the state government. If we can educate people about our policies, no one can stop Samajwadi Party from coming back to power," he said. He was caustic about Bharatiya Janata Party, when he said that BJP had failed to fulfill its promise. Its leader had promised 'acche din'. Where is that acche din. The Government has made people to stand in queue outside banks and ATMs to get their own money. Is this achche din their leaders had promised, he asked. "The demonetisation has affected poor and small traders very badly. The economy is on the regression. People will teach BJP a lesson in the coming election," he said. The Chief Minister inaugurated laid foundation stone of over Rs 51,000 crore projects. He inaugurated 1000 MW thermal power project in Sonebhadra, 1320 MW thermal power projects in Lalitpur, 1980 MW power projects in Bara in Allahabad and various other sub-stations.UNI MB PS RSA 2028 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1078546.Xml
Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh today accused the Badals of deliberately twisting his statement on review of all decisions taken by them in the last three months before the polls, making it clear that no government appointments would be subjected to any scrutiny. Pointing out that he was committed to providing one job per family, Captain Amarinder asserted that no government employee would be deprived of his job. Rather, he promised regularization of all contractual appointments, with related perks and facilities. "I am only concerned about the political appointments that the Badals are hastily making to promote the interests of their own people," said Captain Amarinder, adding that his target were the decisions which were blatantly politically motivated and sought to rehabilitate the disgruntled elements in the ruling SAD-BJP combine at the cost of the common people of the state, especially the youth who were taking to drugs due to their unemployment burden. Many such appointments relate to retired government officials or politicians who had not been given tickets by the Badals, said Captain Amarinder, reiterated his threat to review every such appointment immediately after coming to power. The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president charged the Badals with resorting to fabrications and misleading statements, as well as unfounded allegations, against him and his party in a fit of desperation triggered by the certain wipe-out they were facing in the coming assembly elections in the state.UNI JS RSA 2124 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1078602.Xml
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh this evening visited Rajiv Gandhi Government Engineering College at Massal, to take stock of the arrangements made for the visit of AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi tomorrow. The Chief Minister visited the spot within the college campus where 1700 kg and 12.5-foot bronze statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which will be unveiled by Mr Gandhi tomorrow. The CM was accompanied by IPH minister Vidya Stokes, Transport and Technical Education minister G S Bali, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sukvinder Singh Suku, former minister Harsh Mahajan, Deputy Commissioner C P Verma and Kangra District Police Chief Sanjeev Gandhi. Mr Singh enquired about the expansion of this Engineering College and appreciated the PWD authorities for completing the first phase of the college within a record time of 14 months. He said Mr Gandhi will land at Kangra airport and will reach Dharamshala by road. He said after the public meeting Mr Gandhi will proceed for Massal by road 20 km stretch. Mr Bali said people will line up from Rajiana to Massal on both side of the road to greet Mr Gandhi while he will cross Nagrota Bagwan constituency. He said after unveiling the statue and inaugurating the RGGE College, Mr Gandhi will fly to Kangra airport before he leaves back to Delhi. UNI XC JS PY RSA 2257 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1078559.Xml
The cashless transactions for token, smart card purchase and top up at these stations could be through mobile wallet, debit and credit cards.

All these stations have over 70 percent Smart Card users as a result of which cash transactions here are moderate in comparison to other stations.

The decision has been taken keeping in view government's vision to transform India into a cashless economy. (ANI)
A young Indian researcher, whose presentation integrated a popular Khasi folk tale with scientific findings to explain the occurrence of a particular parasitic worm in northeast India, has won the top honour in the EURAXESS Science Slam India contest for teaching current science to a diverse audience in an entertaining way. Science Slam is a science communication format where young scientists explain their research projects in short 10-minute talks to a non-expert audience. Damanbha Lyngdoh, a doctoral candidate at North Eastern Hill University-NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya, impressed judges with his science slam titled "Do not judge a book by its cover - A tale from India's North-East". "Damanbha Lyngdoh has won the first prize in India this year in the fourth edition of the Science Slam India. He will be visiting Brussels (headquarters of the European Union) and a research institute of his choice in the EU," the organisers said in a statement. The Science Slam offers a platform for young research talent to showcase their work outside of the formal constraints of a research lab or classroom. The finalists are judged on the basis of their ability to capture the audience's attention with a precise, accessible and original introduction to their research topic. "I presented my slam in story-telling manner along with live performance of playing the Khasi Big Drum or 'Ka Bom' (in Khasi language). The folk tale is adapted to suit the scientific information, and through the folk tale, the scientific knowledge about the diversity of this parasite is elaborated. "In addition, the slam highlighted the usefulness of these small and minute parasitic worms (often viewed for their negative aspects), in stabilising the environment and maintaining a balance in mother nature, thereby becoming heroes," Lyngdoh told IANS. Already in its fourth installment, the annual science communication competition of the EU-funded EURAXESS Links network has taken place this autumn in Brazil, China and India. Winners can also try to get one Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship or a European Research Council (ERC) grant, both actions funded by the European Union Research and Innovation Programme Horizon 2020, the organisers said. --IANS sgh/sm/dg ( 360 Words) 2016-12-23-16:28:12 (IANS)
A UN Security Council session on the issue of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories has been postponed due to last-minute negotiations, diplomats said. During the session which was scheduled for Thursday, a vote was to have been held on a draft resolution calling for Israel to halt settlement building in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, reports Efe. It is still unclear whether the US would use its veto power to block the measure. Diplomatic sources told Efe that Egypt, which circulated the draft text, had asked for more time for negotiations and that it was now unclear when the session would take place as a meeting for later today has been ruled out. The US in 2011 vetoed a resolution demanding Israel immediately halt the settlement activities, but according to diplomatic sources this latest Egypt-led effort had resulted in a proposal that was ambitious from the standpoint of the Palestinians. The resolution reaffirms that the establishment by Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, has no "legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law". US President Barack Obama, who will leave the White House on January 20, supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and also has criticized the Israeli settlement policy. But his successor, Donald Trump who holds a more staunchly pro-Israel position, said: "As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations." --IANS vgu/ ( 270 Words) 2016-12-23-04:34:12 (IANS)
In a one-page written reply submitted by Interior Secretary Arif Khan before the LHC, the government has said the matter 'might be referred to an appropriate forum' after consultations with the Attorney General of Pakistan, reports the Express Tribune.

The three-member LHC bench headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi was hearing a petition seeking proceedings against Hussain and other party leaders for alleged treason.

In the reply, the Interior Secretary submitted that the matter had been referred to the Law and Justice Ministry to solicit comments regarding invoking Article 6 of the Constitution against Hussain.

A meeting was held between the Law Minister, Interior Minister, Attorney General, Prime Minister's special assistant and Interior Secretary to deliberate on this matter.

The Law and Justice Ministry suggested that before making a reference to the Cabinet or the Prime Minister, the matter may be referred to the Attorney General because Hussain had a large number of followers in urban Sindh and enjoyed substantial political strength.

The secretary stated the matter was sensitive and required careful handling despite glaring violations of the law.

The court gave the Attorney General three weeks to give his recommendations and adjourned the matter.

The petition filed has called for a lifetime ban on the live telecast of MQM leader's speeches, alleging that Hussain's speeches violated Article 5, which called for showing loyalty to the state and obedience to the Constitution. (ANI)
At least seven Pakistani sailors are feared dead after an unidentified fighter jet reportedly hit their ship in Yemeni waters earlier this month. According to human rights activist Ansar Burney, motor vessel 'Jouya 8' - a general cargo ship registered in Iran - was reportedly targeted off the Hodeidah coast when it was en-route to Egypt from Dubai. A crew of eight, all of Pakistani origin, was onboard under the command of Captain Syed Anisur Rehman, reports the Express Tribune. "One sailor, identified as Kabir Khadim, survived somehow by jumping off the ship and swimming to the Hodeidah port," Burney said, adding that he was hospitalised and is being given medical care in the same city. He said another sailor Suhail Ahmed's body is also at the same hospital. However, Khadim was unsure about the fate of the rest of the crew. The date of the incident is not yet clear as the lone survivor, according to Burney, is in trauma and cannot recall how, where and when did this happen. However, Yemen's state-owned Saba news agency reports that a boat carrying 12 Pakistani sailors was hit in a Saudi air raid off Mukha coast in the Yemeni province of Taez earlier on December 4. In this incident, six sailors were killed while as many others were still unaccounted for, the news agency reported. Burney said since the incident was reported to him through his sources, he requested the Saudi, Iranian, Turkish and Russian governments to help find the missing sailors. He also appealed to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take notice of the matter and ascertain the facts. (ANI)
Raghad, the daughter of deposed Iraqi dictator , has said that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has a 'high level of political sensibility' and hopes that he will be different from his predecessors. Raghad, who blames the United States for the chaos in Iraq, said in an interview to CNN, "This man (Donald Trump) has just arrived to the leadership ... But from what is apparent, this man has a high level of political sensibility that is vastly different than the one who preceded him. Praising Trump for his outspoken attitude, Raghad said, "He exposed the mistakes of the others, specifically in terms of Iraq, which means he is very aware of the mistakes made in Iraq and what happened to my father." During his presidential campaign, Trump said he opposed the war on Iraq, however, he was publicly supportive of the invasion in interviews before and after the war. And while saying that Saddam Hussein "was a bad guy," Trump has praised the former Iraqi leader's efficient killing of "terrorists". Raghad said she has not been involved in politics and supports no groups or parties on the ground. However, the present Iraqi Government has accused her of supporting her father's Baath party, now outlawed, and has called on Jordan to repatriate her. More recently it has accused her of supporting ISIS, an allegation that she vehemently denies. Self-declared jihadist groups sprung up in Iraq under the banner of fighting US army "infidels," and the country became a magnet for foreign fighters. ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, started as the Islamic State of Iraq in 2006 -- the year of Saddam Hussein's death -- and expanded to Syria in 2014, three years after the eruption of violence there. (ANI)
German investigators are in contact with Italian authorities over the Berlin Christmas market attack, a spokesman for the Chief Federal Prosecutor's office said today.A man believed to be the suspect in the Berlin truck attack was killed in a shoot-out in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan today, a security source told Reuters. REUTERS SDR AS1528 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1077812.Xml
An airliner on an internal flight in Libya was hijacked and diverted to Malta where it landed today, Maltese media reported.Two hijackers had threatened to blow up the Airbus A320, which had 118 people aboard, outlets including the Times of Malta said. The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways.The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast.Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM". REUTERS SDR AN1559 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1077979.Xml
West Africa's regional bloc has put standby forces on alert in case Gambian president Yahya Jammeh does not step down when his mandate ends on January 19, ECOWAS commission president Marcel de Souza said.Jammeh has vowed to stay in power despite losing a December 1 election to rival Adama Barrow, raising the possibility that regional powers may intervene to oust him if diplomacy does not succeed in persuading him to leave."We have put standby forces on alert if he does not (step down) on Jan. 19 when his mandate ends," De Souza said on Malian state television last evening."No one has the right to oppose the will of the people."Barrow's surprise victory and Jammeh's initial decision to concede after 22 years in power was seen across Africa as a moment of hope. But the president changed his mind a week later and said again on Tuesday that he would not step down, rebuffing efforts by West African leaders to persuade him.Jammeh's camp could not immediately be reached for comment, but he has said the electoral count was flawed and that ECOWAS has no right to meddle in Gambia's internal affairs.The regional bloc has mandated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari as mediator to offer Jammeh an "honourable exit", but if he does not take it then forces might be deployed, De Souza said.The BBC quoted De Souza as saying in an interview that Senegalese troops would lead any military intervention. Senegal is Gambia's only territorial neighbour and has a frequently stormy relationship with the country, having sent troops there during a 1981 coup.Senegal has indicated that military action would be an absolute last resort.Diplomats say ECOWAS would probably seek approval from the UN Security Council for the use of force. ECOWAS deployed troops to Liberia and Sierra Leone during civil wars in the 1990s, setting a precedent for possible intervention.A first step for raising pressure once the handover date passes is likely to be targeted sanctions by the UN and others, diplomats say, also raising the possibility that Jammeh could be offered asylum abroad.Barrow's supporters suggested yesterday that the president might not immediately be prosecuted for alleged human rights abuses during his rule."Justice is absolutely essential ... but we are going to take the route to truth and reconciliation," said coalition spokesman Halifa Sallah at a meeting with the African Bar Association.Gambia's Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge on January10 from Jammeh's ruling party which wants to overturn the election result.REUTERS SDR AS1754 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1078176.Xml
A former British ambassador to Syria has accused the Foreign Office of lying over the countrys civil war and said the British policy there has "made the situation worse". Peter Ford said the Whitehall department led by Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond before him had "gotten Syria wrong every step of the way", reported the Independent on Friday. He said that Britain's Foreign Office was falsely claiming that Bashar al-Assad cannot control the country when he is "well on the way to doing so". Ford, who was Britain's ambassador to Syria from 1999 to 2003, claimed that Britain misread and misrepresented the situation in the country since the start of the conflict. "They told us at the beginning that Assad's demise was imminent... and he'd be gone by Christmas. They didn't say which Christmas, so they could still be proven correct," he said. It comes after the Syrian army reported that it had taken full control of Aleppo following weeks of heavy bombing and fighting in and around the city. Ford said that when the conflict started, Britain should have either "put everything, including our own forces, on to the battle field, or if our judgement, as it would have been my judgement, that was not realistic, refrain from encouraging the opposition to mount a doomed campaign". He claimed Britain's tough talk on one hand, followed by little action to back rebels in Syria had preceded a rebellion that had "only led to hundreds of thousands of civilians being maimed and killed". "We have made the situation worse." In a statement on Thursday the Syrian army said it had "returned security to Aleppo" and called it a "crushing blow" for rebels. Johnson said earlier this month that there could be no military solution to the war in Syria, while Britain has consistently taken the line that Assad cannot be a part of Syria's future. --IANS soni/ahm/vt ( 326 Words) 2016-12-23-18:12:13 (IANS)
If approached, India is ready to help the NRI parents of a five-year-old child who has been separated from them by Norwegian authorities who accused them of beating him, a senior official said here on Friday. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup in his weekly media briefing here said that the government was aware of the issue and the Indian embassy in Oslo was following up the matter. "Given the seriousness of the issue, should we receive a formal representation from the mother, who is an Indian national, our embassy remains fully prepared to engage with local authorities to impress upon them that this is a humanitarian issue and that the separation of a child from his parents is a matter of distress to the entire family," Swarup said. According to reports, the child was taken from his kindergarten school on December 13 without the parents being informed and is being kept at a children's welfare home some 150 km away from Oslo. His mother, Gurvinderjit Kaur was also taken into custody and was subjected to interrogation. The child's father, Anil Kumar, who runs an Indian restaurant, has denied all the allegations and said that his son was asthmatic. While the father and son are Norwegian nationals, the mother is an Indian passport-holder. Swarup said that the Indian Ambassador to Norway has already established contact with the father. "Following the custody of the child by Norway's Child Welfare Services (CWS), legal proceedings are currently underway regarding the continuation of such custody," he stated. "We are informed that the father has engaged a Norwegian lawyer to pursue the matter in the court." Earlier on Friday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj stated that she has received the report on the case from the Indian Ambassador and the government would help the mother if approached. "I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national," she tweeted. This is the third such case in Norway involving Indian children. In 2011, a three-year-old and and a one-year-old were separated from their parents but were later reunited when the UPA government took up the issue with Norwegian authorities. In another case of alleged child abuse in December 2012, a seven-year-old and a two-year-old were separated from their parents. The mother got a 15-month prison term and the father was jailed for 18 months. The two children were sent to the custody of their grandparents in Hyderabad. --IANS ab/vt ( 432 Words) 2016-12-23-18:18:12 (IANS)
Four UN Security Council members met today to decide whether to vote on a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements after Egypt withdrew the measure under pressure from Israel and US President-elect Donald Trump.The 15-member council had been due to vote yesterday afternoon and Western officials said the United States had intended to allow the draft resolution to be adopted, a major reversal of US practice of protecting Israel from action.New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal, who were co-sponsors of the draft resolution, told Egypt last night that if Cairo did not clarify its position, then they reserved the right to "proceed to put it to vote ASAP."Security Council member Egypt has since officially withdrawn the text, which it had worked on with the Palestinians, allowing those four countries to call for a vote, diplomats said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump had both called for the United States to veto the draft resolution.Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the Republican president-elect had spoken with both Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the proposed Security Council action."He put out a statement about the Egyptian motion that was going to happen at the UN It was revoked," Spicer said on NBC's "Today" program today. "President al-Sisi called, Prime Minister Netanyahu called. He is getting results, whether it's is domestically or abroad."The draft resolution would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted.The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem - areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. Most countries and the United Nations view Israeli West Bank settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace.Israel disputes that settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in any future talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of US-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014.REUTERS SDR RK1959 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1078545.Xml
Hijackers forced an airliner to land in Malta today then freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi.Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km north of the Libyan coast, after one man told crew he had a hand grenade.Initial reports said one of the men had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to free all passengers if his demands were met. It was unclear what the demands were.A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party."STANDOFF ON TARMACMP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked."Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.The government of Malta said Prime Minister Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team was formed at the airport. Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.The last major hijacking on the island was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed. REUTERS PY RK2134 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1078678.Xml
MANILA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered the closure of all online gambling companies operating in the country as it continues to leave the government on the losing end.

"I am ordering the closure of all online gaming. All of them. They have no use," the president said during the ceremonial signing of the 2017 budget in Malacanang, the Philippine presidential palace.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, in an interview in Malacanang, clarified that Duterte was referring to online gambling firms and not online games.

Duterte said while it appears that the online gambling operations are flourishing in the country, the government does not earn from it as the betting are being done abroad which means it is not taxable in the country.

He added another problem is that some gambling operators continue to operate using old licenses which only requires them to pay a one percent tax compared to the 10 percent tax that is being charged on the new operators.

Aguirre said the president had directed him to investigate the irregularities involving online gambling and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go is already drafting the "scope of my authority to investigate on online gambling."

He said he is planning to create a team that would conduct the probe instead of just delegating it to the National Bureau of Investigations.
BEIRUT, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault said Thursday that France will do everything to keep Lebanon away from Syrian conflict.

According to a statement by Prime Minister Saad Hariri's media office, Ayrault said that his country wants "to do everything possible to keep Lebanon away from the Syrian conflict and at the same time stand by Lebanon's side in its fight against terrorism."

Ayrault said that "France is a faithful friend of Lebanon, and will continue to help the country to face its economic difficulties and pressure of refugees who are the result of the conflict in Syria. That is why France is committed toward Lebanon, including financially. Lebanon is the country in this region that benefits from the largest aid of France and this will continue."

He added "I also remind that France is present in the UNIFIL and will continue to be. We also hope that Lebanon can continue its dialogue with neighboring countries and in particular with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf countries, Egypt and of course with Iran."

Ayrault, who arrived on Lebanon Wednesday evening, will meet with President Michel Aoun and his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil during his visit.
Yu Zhengsheng (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) - China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng met here on Thursday with Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the relations between the two countries and the two parties have witnessed a good beginning since the convening of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) early this year.

He recalled the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, capital of Peru last month.

Chinese party and government attach great importance to relations with Vietnam, he said, calling on the two sides to advance their ties in the future.

The CPPCC is ready to enhance friendly exchanges with the VFF to jointly serve the common development of the two nations, said Yu.

Man said the traditional friendship initiated and fostered by the older generation of leaders of the two countries is a great treasure for the two parties and the two peoples.

Vietnam is willing to carry forward the traditional friendship and work with China to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two sides, said Man.

Man is on a working visit to China from December 19 to 23.
BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- An official with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday expressed disappointment with the European Union for its intention to extend trade remedy measures on Chinese photovoltaic (PV) products.

Continued anti-dumping and countervailing duties will hurt the interests of Chinese companies, the long-term benefits of the EU and the world's efforts to combat climate change, according to Wang Hejun, head of the MOC trade remedy and investigation bureau.

PV products carry great significance for all countries to address climate change, Wang said.

"EU should put an end to trade remedy measures against PV products as early as possible to turn the PV market back to normal," Wang added.

As important strategic and trade partners, China and the EU should do more to create a sound environment for world economic growth and combating climate change, he said.

On Tuesday, the European Commission disclosed documents that recommended keeping anti-dumping and countervailing duties that have been in effect for more than three years on Chinese products.
BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed the need for improvement in flood control and disaster prevention.

In his instruction to the plenary meeting of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, Li expressed appreciation to all those participated in flood control and relief this year, which saw the most serious floods since 1998.

The country should push forward reforms to disaster prevention and relief strategies, strengthen disaster surveillance and emergency management and speed up post-disaster reconstruction and building of major water projects, Li said.

Vice Premier Wang Yang, head of flood control, said at the meeting that efforts should be made to accelerate water conservancy and flood control capabilities in flood-prone cities.

Disaster prevention and risk reduction should be put at the forefront, Wang said, adding that China should establish early warning for rural flood and build more urban underground pipelines to avoid waterlogging.
RIYADH, Dec. 22, (Xinhua) -- Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan denied on Thursday any plan to impose taxes on citizens, residents or local firms, Al Ekhbariya local TV reported.

He assured that citizens and the private sector won't be surprised from now until 2020 of anything that contradicts with what will be announced in the state budgets.

The assurance was made by the minister while describing the general aspects of the state budget of 2017 that was passed by the cabinet on Thursday with fewer deficits by 33 percent compared with the deficit of 2016.

He revealed that over the last ten years, Saudi Arabia succeeded this year of spending less than the estimated expenditure budget and achieved unexceptional non-oil revenues. He attributed the achievements to government cost-cutting policy and more focus on economic projects.

According to Al Arabiya local news, Saudi Arabia succeeded in doubling its non-oil revenues to 53.3 billion U.S. dollar in 2016.

Meanwhile, to ease the financial burdens on citizens as results of the financial reforms to be less dependent on oil revenues, the government announced financial compensations that could reach 100 percent for Saudis for any decision to stop various government services.

The 2017 budget allocated an amount of 6.6 billion U.S. dollars for compensations that might be given next year, while the amount will increase to 15.9 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.
TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- A major plane purchase deal between Iran and France's Airbus was finalized here on Thursday, Press TV reported.

The Airbus sealed the contract with Iran Air to sell 100 aircraft worth over 18 billion U.S. dollars to the Islamic republic.

Farhad Parvaresh, chief executive officer of Iran Air, and Airbus President Fabrice Bregier finalized the accord, the report said, adding that the agreement involves 46 Airbus A320 planes, 38 A330 planes and 16 A350 XWB aircraft.

The deal is "a significant first step in the overall modernization of Iran's commercial aviation sector," Bregier said on Thursday, adding that it also covers pilot training, airport operations and air traffic management.

Parvaresh said the accord has paved the way "for more practical steps to follow for Iran Air's fleet renewal."

"Iran Air considers this agreement an important step towards a stronger international presence in civil aviation. We hope this success signals to the world that the commercial goals of Iran and its counterparts are better achieved with international cooperation and collaboration," he was quoted as saying.

Parvaresh said that Iran Air will receive seven or eight planes from Airbus in 2017.

The deal came a week after Iran Air finalized an agreement with the U.S. Boeing to purchase 80 commercial planes.
by Keren Setton

JERUSALEM, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- On a bright but chilly morning in Jerusalem, a shopkeeper in the Old City arranges the Christmas decorations in her empty shop. She stood at the entrance, waiting for customers. She refused to speak or identify herself.

With Christmas decorations hung by the Jerusalem municipality decorating the streets, tens of Christians came to receive free Christmas trees the municipality was distributing. This has become an annual event in the city.

Jerusalem, the place where Christians believe Jesus is buried, is trying to be festive days before the holiday. The Christians are a minority in Israel, about two percent of its population.

The role of Jerusalem in Christianity's faith and history is paramount -- making it a potential tourist attraction for believers from around the world.

But tensions and violence throughout the years have hampered that potential.

David Koren, the Jerusalem mayor's senior adviser for East Jerusalem and Arab Affairs, says the Jerusalem municipality is making great efforts to make it a merry Christmas.

"We are doing a lot of actions in order to make the Christmas as happiest and as best as we can. We are cleaning the roads, we are putting the lights in the Christian areas, we are giving Christmas trees to the Christian citizens of Jerusalem and we are doing whatever we can in order that this Christmas will be the happiest ever," he said.

Renewed violence began in September last year. There have been clashes and attacks all over Israel and the West Bank, but the focal point has been Jerusalem. Two U.S. citizens and 36 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinian assailants. Over 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces -- some were attackers and others died during clashes.

Mutual blame is handed out for the violence, but it has decreased in recent weeks. So has the media coverage of it -- making Christmas celebrations easier.

"Jerusalem nowadays is very secure," said Koren. "We have declined dramatically the amount of vandalism attacks in the city."

In what has become an annual tradition in Jerusalem, the municipality handed out free Christmas trees to its Christian residents. A Santa riding on a camel greeted those who came to get trees at the entrance to the Old City's Christian quarter.

Verena Sturm, a 23-year old German citizen studying environmental engineering in Jerusalem, came to get her tree.

"It will be really interesting to celebrate Christmas here because there are a lot of different churches here," she says with a big smile on her face, "I feel completely safe here," she added.

She came hours after a driver rammed into a crowded Berlin Christmas market killing over ten people and injuring dozens.

At the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, the quiet lobby hosts a recreation of Jesus' birth scene.

Tourists sit in the warm lobby before venturing out to tour the city's holy sites.

"Tourism has been picking up since last year," says Eliane Abdinnour from the marketing and development department of the center. "We keep always hoping for peace," she said with optimism.

According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, there was a decline in incoming tourism in 2015, perhaps a result of the upsurge in violence.

The statistics for 2016 have yet to come out, but there is hope for better numbers.

Israel's tourism ministry is expecting 120,000 Christian pilgrims to arrive throughout December and the coming January.

"It's safe, and there have been no worries. Everything is under control," said Victor Portugal, a resident of Jerusalem from the Philippines. He came with his wife to get a Christmas tree.

In an attempt to streamline things for tourists, the Israeli Tourism ministry offers free shuttle transportation for pilgrims from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.

Bethlehem is located in the West Bank and is under Palestinian control. Tourists crossing between the two cities will cross Israel's controversial barrier wall that was built in 2002 in attempt to thwart Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

This contrast and ever-present reminder of the political situation is perhaps the weakest link of the tourism industry. Even if there is a lull in the violence, the conflict can simply not be avoided.

Security alone cannot be blamed for Israel's inability to fulfill its potential as a tourist hotspot.

Public transportation needs great improvement. The high cost of hotel rooms and dining in the country makes it an expensive destination.

In Nazareth, the city that is considered Jesus' hometown, an annual Christmas market is underway.

Locals and tourists come to get into the holiday mood.

"Spending New Years and Christmas in this land is just an incredible experience, just to be in the land where Jesus walked, where he lived -- this is very special to me," said Jennifer at the market.

It is this sentiment that Israeli tourism officials hope to capitalize on.

But hope is not enough and Israel must do more in order to improve its touristic appeal, with the country's fragile international image, its main weak spot.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Israel's top court accepted on Thursday the government's request to postpone the eviction of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona by 45 days.

The government asks the Supreme Court for the extension as part of its efforts to reach a compromise with the settlers, in which they would agree to evacuate the unsanctioned outpost that was built on private Palestinian land.

Pushing the original Dec. 25 deadline, a panel of three justices said that the houses will have to be demolished by Feb. 8.

"This is the last and final extension, even if no alternative solution is found or another," the justices wrote in the decision.

A deal was reached Sunday between the government and the settlers to relocate the settlers to a nearby plot on the same hill, on land declared by Israel as "abandoned." In return, the settlers agreed to evacuate peacefully.

However, the new plot is also claimed to be a private Palestinian land and its landowner petitioned to the court.

Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, said the deal was a "corrupt agreement between the Government of Israel and lawbreakers" and called on the government to respect the court's order without further delays.

Amona, located east of the city of Ramallah, is the largest among the so-called "illegal outposts," communities built by far-right Israelis without permits from the government.

There are about 100 unauthorized outposts and 120 settlements that Israel considered as legal.

Both outposts and settlements are illegal under international law as they were built on lands occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War.
File photo taken on July 21, 2016 shows Donald Trump taking the stage on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday called for the United States to "strengthen and expand" its nuclear capabilities.

"The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," the President-elect tweeted.

The United States is expected to spend one trillion dollars over the next 30 years upgrading its nuclear arsenal, according to a TheHill news daily report.

However, it's not immediately clear what prompted Trump's new proposal and what are the details behind.

On the presidential campaign trail, Trump, counter to the past and current U.S. stance, proposed that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Japan should acquire nuclear weapons, stirring sharp criticism at home and abroad at the time.
ACCRA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were confirmed dead and 12 others injured after explosions hit Ghana's capital Accra on Thursday evening, rescuers told Xinhua.

Xinhua reporters at the site said a blast took place some meters away from a gas station near the Ghana International Trade Fair Center, igniting fire that spread to the station, where a truck was discharging gas, and cause a second blast.
Passengers read newspapers on a train at the Baker Street Underground Station in London, Britain, Jan. 10, 2013.(Xinhua/Wang Lili)

LONDON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Home-hunters in London need to save every penny of their salary for 15 months, just to raise a deposit to buy a house in the capital, a report revealed Thursday.

The report, by the Local Government Association (LGA), exposes the growing problems for home ownership, revealing that the proportion of 25-year-old homeowners in Britain has more than halved in 20 years.

New analysis for the LGA reveals almost half (46 percent) of all 25-year-olds owned their home 20 years ago. In a generational shift, only 20 per cent of 25-year-olds have managed to climb onto the housing ladder today.

An analysis for the LGA by estate agents Savills, reveal that just 6,550 social rented homes were built in 2015/16, a drop of 88 per cent from 20 years ago when 56,950 were built.

On average, people in privately rented homes now pay 34 percent of their total household income on rent, while those in social and affordable rented accommodation pay 29 percent.

In comparison, homeowners pay an average of 18 percent of their total household income on their home mortgage loans.

The LGA said: "Average house prices are now at 7.9 times average earnings. The average size of a deposit needed to get a mortgage is 62 percent of annual income, in London it is 131 percent."

The LGA, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, warns a drop in social and affordable rented homes is combining with rents rising above incomes to make it more and more difficult for people in Britain to get on the housing ladder.

The association says 4 million working people will need access to some type of affordable housing even if the country achieves full employment by 2024.

In advance of the Government Housing White Paper due to be published next month, the LGA's Housing Commission, set up last year to explore new ways to boost housebuilding, has set out more than 30 recommendations on how local and national government can work together to solve the nation's housing challenges.

Cllr Martin Tett, LGA housing spokesman, said: "A shortage of houses is a top concern for people as homes are too often unavailable, unaffordable and not appropriate for the different needs in our communities.

"The housing crisis is complex and is forcing difficult choices on families, distorting places, and hampering growth," he added.
British former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg talks to media during his visit to the archeological site of Great Temple in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2014. (Xinhua/Pedro Mera)

LONDON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Three Westminster politicians called Thursday for Britain's prison population to be slashed by almost half.

The call, by former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and two former interior ministers, Ken Clarke and Jacqui Smith, comes after trouble flared at a number of prisons leading to a major riot involving 600 inmates at Birmingham Prison last month.

The cross-party trio said British jails have become unacceptably dangerous, and they suggest cutting the number being locked-up reduced from a current prison population of around 86,000 to 45,000.

Their intervention was welcomed by the Howard League for Penal Reform, Britain's leading campaign charity for a shake-up in the prison service.

The three politicians, in an article in Thursday's London Times newspaper describe the Birmingham riot as a wake-up call.

They said there had been a 31 percent increase in prison assaults in the past year, and one prisoner killed himself every three days.

"We believe that an escalating prison population has gone well beyond what is safe or sustainable. To restore order, security and purpose to our jails, ministers should now make it their policy to reduce prison numbers. If the tide is not turned soon, the prisons crisis will do untold damage to wider society," they wrote.

Frances Crook, CRO of the Howard League, said: "Three former Cabinet ministers, from across the political spectrum, are supporting our call to reduce the prison population to its level under Margaret Thatcher's premiership (when it was around 45,000)."

"With violence and suicide behind bars at record levels, and with re-offending rates alarmingly high, the need for radical reform is abundantly clear. We cannot build our way out of this crisis, and recruiting a few more staff will not be enough to make prisons safe and purposeful. The only solution is to have fewer prisoners."

Interior minister, the Home Secretary Amber Rudd, has announced an investigation into the causes of the Birmingham riot. Britain's current prison population is one of the highest in Europe.
ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Celebrations prevailed Syria's northern city of Aleppo, just minutes after the army declared the city free of rebels on Thursday.

Honking their cars while waving the Syrian flags, hundreds of people thronged the squares of western Aleppo chanting slogans in support of President Bashar al-Assad and Aleppo.

"Here is Aleppo", and "Aleppo is back," chanted the demonstrators.

"I would like to say that today the victory in Aleppo, tomorrow in all of Syria. We tell the rebels that we are here and we are the victors," Qadri, a demonstrator, told Xinhua.

Sabah, another demonstrator, said "we are so happy. This happiness is indescribable and it's the best joy we have had in a long time. Now we are the happiest people in the country. Everyone here is happy, the boys, the men and women."

For his part, Shadi said "we have earned this happiness. We have been waiting for this day for a very long time. Thanks God the time of terrorists is over."

On Thursday evening, the Syrian army declared the liberation of eastern Aleppo city, as the last batch of rebels left the city, making Aleppo city completely under the government control.

The Syrian army declared the restoration of security and stability to all of Aleppo city, following the evacuation of the last rebel convoy from the eastern part of the city on Thursday evening.

"This victory constitutes a strategic turn in the war on terror, and deals a strong blow to the terrorist project and its backers," said the army in a statement.

"The victory constitutes the launching of a new stage in battling terrorism on all Syrian territories," the statement added.

The statement stressed that the victory in Aleppo will motivate the Syrian army to carry out its battles on the terrorists across Syria.

The evacuation of rebels and their families started last Thursday, as part of a Russian Turkish-deal to end the rebel presence in eastern Aleppo following a large-scale offensive. Aleppo has been under the rebel control since 2012. Enditem
OUAGADOUGOU, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- World Bank has allocated 100 million U.S. dollars to finance energy and tax reforms in Burkina Faso, an official release said in the capital Ouagadougou on Thursday.

Burkina Faso Minister of Economy, Finance and Development Rosine Coulibaly and World Bank country manager to Burkina Faso Cheick Kante, signed the heads of agreement to that effect on Wednesday in Ouagadougou.

The financial support, including 55 million U.S. dollars loan and 45 million U.S. dollars grant, is expected to enable the West African country enhance both energy sector and public finances management, according to the official release from the Ministry of Finance.

Alpha Omar Dissa, Energy and Mining Minister, said it is a timely support as the government has undertaken to increase energy generation and to diversify sources so as to meet high domestic energy demands.

According the release, the funding will be partly allocated to increase energy production capacity through the establishment of 30 MW solar power plant and to extend energy grid in the country.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday warned that without immediate funding, it will be forced to end its support to 150,000 people uprooted by violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), a UN spokesman told reporters here.

"Funding shortages have resulted in WFP only being able to help under half of the people it had aimed to reach, as well as supply only half the amount of food it had intended to provide," Farhan Haq, deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.

The UN agency urgently needs 21.5 million U.S. dollars to provide life-saving aid in the country through to next June.

"We remain concerned by the violence and numerous human rights violations committed by the armed group," Haq said.

Since January 2016, the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has conducted several human rights investigations in Koui and Bocaranga areas and reported on the violations.

"The mission confirmed the killings of 13 civilians, the rape of seven women and documented allegations of killings and rapes of more than 100 people," he said.

MINUSCA deployed peacekeepers to Koui to protect civilians while some civilians took refuge near the MINUSCA premises, he said.

"The Mission also helped organise several joint visits with the national authorities in June and December 2016 and has activated its nearby field offices and the community liaison network to engage with local population, leaders and NGOs in order to improve protection efforts through proactive measures," he said.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- As many as 28 suspected militants linked to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have recently been killed in nine separate U.S. drone strikes across Yemen, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

"Strikes against AQAP in Yemen pressure the terrorist network and hinder their ability to attack the U.S. and our allies," Major Josh T. Jacques, a Central Command spokesman, said in a statement.

The strikes were carried out between Sept. 23 and Dec. 13., said the statement, which was released shortly before the anniversary of the attempted bombing of a commercial airliner in 2009 carried out by the terror group.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was also blamed for the bloody attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris in January 2015.
Funerals are held for the explosion victims in the San Pablito fireworks market, in Tultepec, Mexico, Dec. 22, 2016. The death toll from Tuesday's explosion at the fireworks market in central Mexico rose to 35 on Thursday, as two of those hospitalized succumbed to their injuries. (Xinhua/Str)



MEXICO CITY, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Tuesday's explosion at a fireworks market in central Mexico rose to 35 on Thursday, as two of those hospitalized succumbed to their injuries.

Among the latest fatal victims was Pamela Romero, 13, who had burns over 90 percent of her body.

Her mother, Ericka Villanueva, 38, was killed in the blast at the San Pablito Fireworks Market in Tultepec, in the central State of Mexico.

Some 36 people remain hospitalized, four in serious condition.

Due to the extent of the injuries, identifying the victims has not been easy, and two bodies remained unidentified, the state's government secretary, Jose Manzur, said in an update to the tragedy that has cast a pall over Christmas celebrations in Mexico.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the explosion, but have said they suspect a rocket ignited at one of the market's 300 stalls, sparking a chain reaction that destroyed virtually the entire complex.
CANBERRA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- It is Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's "duty" to unite the coalition government in the face of a defection threat from outspoken Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday.

According to local media, Turnbull's predecessor and former PM Abbott penned a letter to the Liberal Party urging unity in the face of the breakaway threat from Bernardi, who has hinted he would defect from the coalition to form the far-right Australian Conservatives party.

Abbott described the threat as a "very serious matter" and said the Liberal-National coalition should be a place for all conservatives to work together in a constructive manner.

"The first duty of the leader is to keep the party together," News Corp reported Abbott as writing.

Abbott also took to social media to convey a similar message, posting: "To be strong and united, the Liberal Party cannot take the base for granted and must convincingly argue for its values and principles."

The government could also be at risk of losing its voting majority in the House of Representatives if the split occurs, as Queensland Nationals MP George Christensen has hinted that he might not "remain inside the tent" if Turnbull cannot unite the party and better represent the people who voted the coalition into power.

Other coalition MPs have also attempted to quell the tensions within the partyroom; Industry Minister Greg Hunt urged Bernardi to remain loyal to the "commitment" he made not only to the Liberal Party, but to the Australian public.

Meanwhile conservative Senator Eric Abetz backed Turnbull to unite the party before Parliament's first sitting day of 2017.

He described politics as a "frustrating game", but said the coalition was better off with conservatives and urged Bernardi and Christensen to "roll with the punches" as "disunity is death".

Bernardi formed the Australian Conservatives website back in July, as a means to "make the Liberal Party stronger", but talk has since moved to him forming an official breakaway party after a disgruntled Christensen posted his thoughts on social media on Thursday.

"With satisfaction with democracy at an all-time low in this country, I really do hope that 2017 heralds a new way of doing things for the Turnbull government and for politics in general," Christensen wrote on Facebook.

Bernardi has previously hinted that he would defect from the Liberal Party after Donald Trump's shock victory in the U.S election, saying that he has to "be a part of that change, perhaps even in some way be a catalyst for it".

Turnbull has not yet responded to the threat of the breakaway. Parliament is set to resume in February.
CANBERRA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia's greenhouse gas emissions rose by 0.8 percent in the year ending June 2016, but the federal government has said the nation was still on track "to meet and beat" its 2020 emissions target.

The government on Friday released the Quarterly Update of Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2016 report, which showed despite reducing emissions in the agriculture sector, emissions increased in the electricity and stationary energy sectors to result in a 0.8 percent overall rise.

Despite the negative result for the government, which has set an ambitious 2030 emissions target, Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said Australia was making positive strides, explaining that both emissions per capita and emissions per unit of GDP were at 27-year low.

"Our policies, like the emissions reduction fund, are working to reduce Australia's emissions at low cost, without driving up the price of electricity like Labor's carbon tax did," Frydenberg was quoted by Fairfax Media on Friday.

According to the report, emissions per person was clocked at 23 tons of carbon dioxide, down from 26 tons 10 years ago.

The results come less than a month after Frydenberg floated the idea of a scaled-down emissions trading scheme to help Australia reach its emissions goals, but the plan was embarrassingly scrapped less than 48 hours later for not being aligned with the coalition government's policies on climate change.
File photo taken on July 18, 2013 shows the first direct cargo train leaving from Zhengzhou to Europe at the railway container center in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province. Zhengzhou is one of the Chinese cities having direct cargo trains to Europe. Starting from Zhengzhou, a logistics center and transport hub in Henan, the 10,214-kilometer Zhengzhou-Europe international shuttle train crosses the border at the Alataw Pass in Xinjiang before passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland on its way to Germany's Hamburg. The Zhengzhou-Europe express railway service, which opened in July, 2013, has brought more imported goods, such as IT products, clothes, food and automobile parts to Chinese and European customers. The ancient Silk Road linked China and Europe, and people along the road traded not only commodities but exchanged their cultures and civilizations. Today, cargo trains were a logical development, opening a new channel for the transfer of goods to and from China's central and western regions to compete with the traditional maritime route from the east coast. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

by Xinhua Writers Liu Chen, Li Binian, Tian Dongdong

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- After three years of development, the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 has gradually and steadily brought change to peoples and countries along the ancient trade route, defying expectations of many international observers who have regarded it as a mere extension of Chinese diplomacy.

With more than 100 participants and advocates so far, including countries and international organizations, the initiative has now become a road to a happier life, their dreams and regional prosperity for local people along the route.

ROAD TO HAPPIER LIFE

As a master plan to integrate 65 countries from East Asia to Western Europe, China's Belt and Road Initiative is poised to improve the living standards of 4.4 billion people, more than half of the world's total population.

"No one knows what is waiting for us at the end of the road, but for all, I only wish the road will lead to happiness," Ma Yi, a Chinese construction worker working on roads in Laos, wrote on her blog.

As an employee of China's Yunnan Sunny Road & Bridge company, Ma has worked in this Southeast Asian country for five years and participated in several projects to improve Laos' infrastructure.

As Ma wishes, upgrading the No. 13 highway, the project conducted by her company, would bring the Lao people closer to a happier life.

The project, along with several other China-funded infrastructure projects in Laos, are part of cooperative programs within the framework of the initiative.

After the upgrade of the 81-km road, the travel time from Pakmong to Muang Xay will be shortened by over one hour. Villages along the road now have access to the power grid. Shops, restaurants, hotels and banks have been built, bringing more job opportunities for the local people.

With better roads, "we can plant more, earn more money and no longer have to worry that our produce may spoil in the fields before it ever makes it to the consumers," a local villager at Muang Xay surnamed Ketmane told Xinhua.

Infrastructure, an important aspect of cooperation under the initiative, not only brings faster transportation to the countries along the Belt and Road, but also offers them a chance to improve their technology.

"China is cutting-edge in the development of subway and railway transportation. It always has great things to share with Iran," said Siamak Ghasemi, a 36-year-old veteran worker in a Tehran-based factory under Tehran Wagon Manufacturing, a joint venture between Iran and China.

Sent to China twice for training, Ghasemi is quite aware of the technology transfer and localization of production in the process.

"At the very beginning, we imported from China; then we learned to assemble; now, with China's help, things are getting more localized that we have our own production line," Ghasemi told Xinhua.

ROAD TO DREAMS

For those who are actually involved in the projects under the framework, the initiative has been a road to their dreams.

When 30-year-old Nahla Emad decided to work in the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (SETC Zone), she did not envision the decision would change her life.

The SETC Zone, established in 2009 with an initial area of 1.34 square km, is a landmark project of cooperation between China and Egypt under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"I was young with no experience in this kind of job when I joined the company, but now I am a manager of the marketing department," Emad said, adding that she had thought about such a promotion only in her dreams.

"Now everything at work is like a habit and the company is like my home. I live here, work here and built up my family here," she said.

The initiative allows participating countries to benefit from China's rapid growth. For people in Pakistan's Gwadar, the influence of the initiative is even more tremendous. It has transformed a fishing town into a prosperous port, realizing local people's dream that their port may become a second Dubai.

A town with a population of less than 100,000, Gwadar is blessed with a natural deep-water harbor that falls close to main shipping lanes and an anchor-shaped peninsula that shields the harbor from the waves of the Arabian Sea.

Though development plans had been drawn up by the Pakistani government in 2002, the town remained dormant for another decade before China chose the port as a major project in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is a major project of the initiative.

Land prices, a barometer that measures investor confidence, has more than doubled in the past two years, Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Dostain Jamaldini said.

Locals are constantly talking about Dubai when they picture their future, believing the huge opportunities created by China's Belt and Road Initiative will transform their fishing town and realize their dreams.

"What Dubai can achieve, so can we," Jamaldini said.

ROAD TO COMMON PROSPERITY

With its guiding principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the initiative proposed in 2013 has become a chorus instead of a solo.

Inspired by the ancient major trading route that linked China with Asia, Europe and Africa for a long time, the current Belt and Road Initiative aims to modernize the ancient trade route while aspiring to create common prosperity within those areas.

A report issued by China's Renmin University said China has already begun the coordination of its signature initiative with the development strategies of many countries along the route, such as Kazakhstan's Bright Road program as well as the Sustainable Development Strategy of Kyrgyzstan.

Over the past three years, China-Kazakhstan cooperation projects within the framework of the initiative have already yielded results, setting an example for other countries along the Belt and Road.

According to the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan, China and Kazakhstan have reached 51 agreements on promoting industrial production capacity, with total investment amounting to 26 billion dollars. The 12 projects already launched or to be launched, including the construction of light rails and subway expansion, take up 4 billion dollars.

These cooperation projects will bring about great changes in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries, Shigeo Katsu, president of Nazarbayev University, told Xinhua.

For Sheradil Baktygulov, an independent consultant and expert on state governance, Kyrgyzstan's Sustainable Development Strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative supplement each other.

For one thing, the construction of a transport corridor in the region is a priority both for the Sustainable Development Strategy and the initiative, said the expert.

What's more, the initiative will mobilize the economies of countries along the route, which means that Kyrgyzstan may benefit from Chinese investment, said the expert.

Besides Central Asia, the initiative also unleashes growth in Africa. Gerishon Ikiara, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi's School of Diplomacy, said the initiative will underpin Africa's future prosperity.

"The Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative is expected to radically change Kenya's and Africa's participation in global trade in the coming two decades," said Ikiara, adding that East African nations have started feeling the impact of this initiative through the implementation of the China-funded Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project and seaports.

As part of the initiative, those infrastructure projects have started benefiting Kenya and the larger eastern and Horn of Africa region, and will boost intra-Africa trade as well as galvanize the continent's industrial transformation, said Ikiara, adding that the initiative will act as a guarantor of Africa's future economic development, peace and stability.

Praised by the United Nations as an important pillar of its 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the initiative has an epoch-making global influence and significance far beyond countries along its routes, observers said.

"This initiative of the People's Republic of China is maybe one of the most important ones in the whole world. It represents a result of deep consideration not only of Chinese political circles, but also scientific institutions," Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told Xinhua in an exclusive interview recently.

"This, in a way, represents a global initiative approved and well received by a great number of countries including both EU members and countries that are not part of the EU, both EU candidate countries and those that are not candidates. I think that it is one serious initiative and that it will produce serious results in all areas," he said. Enditem

Xinhua reporters Wang Shoubao from Nairobi, Wang Huijuan from Belgrade, Wang Xue from Cairo, Liu Yang from Washington, Zhang Jianhua from Vientiane, Chen Yao from Bishkek, Magdalena and Han Mei from Warsaw also contributed to the story.

Related:

China's "One Belt One Road" to play crucial role in South Asia infrastructure development: Nepalese minister

KATHMANDU, Dec. 22 (Xinhua)-- The "One Belt One Road" initiative introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping can play a crucial role in the infrastructure development of Nepal and the entire South Asia region, a Nepalese minister said here Wednesday.

Nepalese Minister for Federal Affairs Hitraj Pandey made the remarks during a meeting with a visiting delegation of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress of China, which arrived Wednesday at the invitation of Nepalese Parliament Speaker Onsari Gharti. Full story

Commentary: Belt and Road Initiative focuses on regional public service, not geo-political tool

by Xinhua writers Peng Tianxiao, Jin Minmin

BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China is a visionary cross-continental development and cooperation mechanism that focuses on providing regional public service, rather than a geo-political tool as some worry about.
YANGON, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Dutch national visitor has been deported back to the Netherlands by Myanmar immigration authorities for violating the country's visa rules and regulations which require cultural respect, official media reported Friday.

The Dutch named Klaas Haytema was released and deported Thursday after serving a three-month prison term in Mandalay correctional facility for the violation.

He was imprisoned since Oct. 6 on a charge of interfering with a religious ceremony by unplugging an amplifier broadcasting a late-night Buddhist sermon near a hotel he stayed at in Mandalay, the immigration authorities said.

Mandalay court has deported 18 foreigners so far.
BRASILIA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht has admitted to paying more than a billion U.S. dollars in bribes across much of Latin America and parts of Africa, local media reported Thursday.

"Odebrecht and its petrochemical subsidiary Braskem admitted to having paid 1 billion in bribes to government officials, their agents, and political parties in 12 countries," Agencia Brasil (EBC) news agency said.

The confession was made as part of a plea bargain deal with the U.S. Department of Justice, which released the documents Wednesday, showing Odebrecht paid 788 million dollars in kickbacks starting in 2001, and Braskem paid 250 million dollars from 2014 to 2016.

The companies have "agreed to pay 3.5 billion dollars in global fines to resolve what has been regarded as the history's biggest foreign bribery scheme," the EBC said.

Citing the Justice Department, the agency said the company had set up a "a department of bribery" to dole out bribes and kickbacks for lucrative contracts in Brazil, Angola, Argentina, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Mozambique, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Venezuela immediately launched investigations into the matter.
MOSCOW, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism, the Kremlin press service said Friday.

In a telephone talk, "Putin and Netanyahu continued exchange of opinions on the current situation in the Middle East. They confirmed their readiness for further active cooperation in the fight against terrorism," it said.

The conversation, held on the Israeli initiative, was the second this week.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu offered condolences over the assassination of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov and said Israel was ready to boost anti-terrorism cooperation with Russia.
PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Taliban key commander Mullah Sibghatullah has been killed as security forces ambushed his group in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province on Friday, security official Mohibullah Kohdamani said.

"Acting upon intelligence report, the security forces organized ambush early Friday in Baghlan Markazi district of Baghlan province as a result Taliban important commander Mullah Sibghatullah was killed and his men fled away," Kohdamani told Xinhua.

Sibghatullah was involved in organizing terrorist activities over the past few years in Baghlan-e-Markazi district and adjoining areas and his physical elimination could prove a major blow to the insurgents operating in Baghlan province.

Taliban militants have not commented.

Meantime, army spokesman in the northern region Abdul Khalil has also confirmed the report and contended that the "notorious Taliban commander Sibghatullah" was killed following ambush conducted by security forces in the wee hours of Friday and his body is with government troops serving in Baghlan.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has arrested eight Indonesians for immigration offences and peddling of duty-unpaid cigarettes in a joint operation, said ICA in a press release on Friday.

The joint operation which involved officers from the ICA, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Customs, seized about 119 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, with potential duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) of about 10,460 Singapore dollars (5882 U.S. dollars) and 1,005 Singapore dollars (565 U.S. dollars) respectively.

ICA said it takes a "serious view" of attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally.

Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), overstaying or illegal entry could be jailed for up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars (1125 U.S. dollars), a jail term of up to six months, or both.
MOGADISHU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were on Thursday evening killed while three others were injured after an explosion occurred at a garage near Black-Sea village in the Hodan district in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, officials said.
BRASILIA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer said Thursday that though his rather low approval rate is unfortunate, it is not a deterrent to his governance.

In a press conference in Brasilia, the Brazilian president expressed his confidence in being recognized in the future for the measures his administration has announced.

Latest polls showed that only 13 percent of Brazilians consider Temer's administration good, while 46 percent see it bad or worse.

"There will be recognition later on," the president said. However, it remains unclear whether there will be some sort of positive recognition of Temer's measures in the future, as they were met with distrust and strong opposition from a number of experts and a significant part of society.

The president's educational reform has been regarded by several experts as not only unconstitutional, but also a move that will actively restrict the access of lower class students to higher education and lower the quality of public high school education.

The government's proposed social security reform has also caused deep resentment. If approved by the Congress, Temer's reform will make Brazilians work for longer with lower pensions.

Workers from physically demanding careers and rural workers will be the most affected, as the reform foresees that Brazilians will only be allowed to retire at the age of 65, regardless of the length of their service. Currently, a worker can retire after 30 years of work. The president himself will retire at 55.

The problem is that all the reforms Temer has been enacting so far go completely against the program for which he was re-elected vice president in 2010, along with running mate Dilma Rousseff.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian government announced on Thursday a proposal for a labor legislation reform in the country.

The proposal, a "great Christmas gift" in the words of President Michel Temer, establishes 12 points which will be negotiated between employers and employees, with the main one being that agreements between them would be enforced by law.

The reform also includes the number of hours worked in the day, which could be raised from eight to 12 with a maximum of 48 hours of work per week.

A longer workday is already foreseen in some fields, such as healthcare and security, in which people work in 12-hour shifts, with 36 hours of rest between shifts. The government said it would regulate the current situation.

The reform also regulates remote working: lunch hour of at least 30 minutes, and productivity-based wages, among others.

The announcement is only the latest in a series of proposals for reforms the Temer administration made since the new president took office in late August. Reforms in several areas have been postponed for decades in Brazil.

However, several of the measures the government quickly proposed have been harshly criticized for not favoring the working class - quite the opposite, in some cases.

Temer's proposal for social security reform, for example, establishes a minimum age for retirement, regardless of how many years a person has already worked. Under the current system, Brazilians can retire when they complete 30 years of work. Temer himself retired at 55 under this system.

However, if the President's reform is approved, citizens will have to wait until they are 65 to retire, even when they have worked much more than 30 years. In some regions of Brazil, life expectancy is a little over 65, which means in the neediest regions of the country workers would often not live long enough to enjoy their retirement.

In addition, people with physically demanding jobs, such as farm and construction workers who often start working at quite a young age, would have to work many more years to retire, which is likely to compromise their health.

The government announced the proposed labor reform in an effort to modernize the law and prevent a loss of jobs by revising rules so that employees and companies can negotiate.

It remains to be seen how much power employees would really have in labor negotiations: in many sectors in Brazil, trade unions are not strong, and unemployment in the country might make it easier for employers to fire a worker and hire another who accepts their conditions, especially now that the new measure reduces the compensation companies must pay for dismissing a worker without just causes.
MOGADISHU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were on Thursday evening killed and three others injured in an explosion in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, officials said.

The blast occurred at a garage near Black-Sea village in Hodan district. A landmine concealed inside rubbish blew up, local government spokesman Abdifitah Omar Halane told reporters on Friday.

"The landmine explosion killed a security soldier and two civilians and wounded three others," Halane said.

The garage area has been condoned off.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which came at a time when Somali security forces are beefing up security in the capital.
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China-Russia high-level political dialogue has bolstered the two countries' cooperation in Russia's Far East, an expert told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The deepened China-Russia political ties, geographical proximity and mutually complementary markets, among other factors, have also contributed to the active win-win cooperation between the two neighbors in Russia's Far East area, said Sergei Ivanov, an expert from the Far-Eastern branch of the Russian Academy of Science.

"Cooperation between Russia and China has more than one dimension. The most visible edge of it is a political dialogue," said Ivanov, citing that over the last 20 years the political dialogue has been developing successfully, among mechanisms of bilateral cooperation in other fields.

For years, the two countries have effectively implemented a mechanism of regular meetings between their government heads and organizations, such as committees, subcommittees and working groups involving in almost all areas of bilateral cooperation.

"Both countries are actively cooperating on international issues... These have been reflected in the pairs' cooperation whthin the United Nations, in joint development of international organizations including BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization," Ivanov added.

According to the expert, China-Russia high-level political dialogue has contributed to implementation of Russian Far East's major projects, including resource development projects, such as the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline, "Power of Siberia" gas pipeline, cooperation in "Sakhalin-3" project under the oil and gas agreements, and the expansion of electricity supply over the Amur River (the Heilongjiang River) to China.

Chinese business people have also actively participate in the Far East's agriculture. Chinese mid-sized companies, which have been operating in the Far East more than a year, have a permanent land fund for long-term lease. The region's agriculture industry has a great potential for investment cooperation, said Ivanov.

Investment cooperation in spheres, including forestry and fishery, is very perspective from the business development point of view, noted the expert. Several Chinese companies in Russia's Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Primorsky Krai and Zabaykalsky Krai, planned to create woodworking industry clusters or pulp and paper mills.

Talking about economic relations between China and Russia in Russia's Far East, the expert said, "First, the two countries should not invest in projects which have no chance to get economic entities' financial support. Second, they need to work consistently on improving political and legal conditions for projects' development implemented by small and mid-sized enterprises."

Ivanov added that a whole set of development institutions have appeared in the region in recent years. For instance, the special economic zones in the form of Advanced Development Territories (ADT) and a free port of Vladivostok have been established.

Moreover, the bureaucratic institution of development in the form of a special ministry, the State Corporation for the Far East's development as well as a set of regional agencies designed for increasing exports and attracting foreign investment have been created.

Finally, financial development institutions have also emerged, such as the Far East Development Fund or the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which is actively cooperating with the China Investment Corporation in financing projects of the Far East.
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's central government has allocated 700 million yuan (100.72 million U.S. dollars) to protect the Great Wall over the past two years, said a top cultural heritage official on Friday.

The figure was revealed by Liu Yuzhu, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), at a national meeting attended by senior cultural heritage officials across the country.

In 2017, SACH aims to set up model zones for protection, launch training programs for protectors and volunteers, and establish a national research center for Great Wall protection, Liu said.

With a total length of more than 21,000 kilometers, China's Great Wall runs through 404 counties in 15 provincial regions, with much of it in poor condition due to natural erosion and man-made damage.

The government aims to formulate an outline for protecting the Great Wall and detailed plans for provincial-level protection, and it plans to release documents to standardize maintenance projects next year, according to the director.
TOKYO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's cabinet approving a record 830 billion U.S. dollars spending budget for fiscal 2017 has underscored the nation's struggle to curb spending and rein in its massive public debt in the face of a demographic nightmare as fiscal rehabilitation remains firmly on the back burner, while money for military spending seems readily available.

Analysts here have also been quick to note that the 97.5-trillion-yen general-account budget for the fiscal year starting on April 1, sees a whopping 733 billion yen from the proposed plan earmarked for a rapidly swelling social security bill, to deal with welfare costs associated with Japan's rapidly aging society.

Also raising the eyebrows of economists and military analysts here, is the fact that Japan's defense spending is set to rise for a fifth straight year to a new record 5.12 trillion yen (43.60 billion U.S. dollars), as the Defense Ministry eyes a shopping list of new military hardware, with local analysts believing Japan can ill-afford such technology, especially if it can't provide the social welfare necessary to deal with its own "demographic overhang."

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly stated, however, in contrast to the massive spending plans just outlaid, that he plans to curb spending on his way to achieving, as with all his economic targets that are far from coming to fruition, his aim of creating a primary budget surplus, excluding debt servicing and new bond sales, by the fiscal 2020.

And analysts believe that the spending plans will not stop here, as has been the case in the past, and more extra budgets will be pumped out by Abe's administration that preaches austerity on the one hand yet looks to spending for stimulus time and again, despite the fact that public debt currently stands at 240 percent the size of Japan's economy and the worst in the industrialized world.

"This budget does not mark a shift away from reflationary policies. Chances are high for Abe to compile additional stimulus budgets later next year," Toru Suehiro, senior market economist at Mizuho Securities, said.

Meanwhile, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has warned that Japan's debt pile could jump to 400 percent of GDP within three decades, if policymakers do not implement structural reforms and keep from simply piling on more debt.

But while the Ministry of Finance is attempting to show that it is reining in unnecessary spending, knowing full well extra budgets will be added at a later date, the move is widely believed by to be a decades-old, downward spiral used by Japan that not only loosens fiscal discipline, but sees it unravel alongside other stimulus measures such as the central bank pushing borrowing costs to a new record low.

"If Japan adopts extra stimulus budgets, that will cause more debt issuance. Given such a possibility, I don't think fiscal discipline is at work with this budget," Hidenori Suezawa, fiscal and markets analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities, said of the issue, with other analysts stating that a spending reform is truly needed for Abe and his government to get their fiscal house in order.

Multiple delays of the second phase of the consumption tax hike by Abe have also added to the government's fiscal woes and inability to achieve sustainable growth, economists have said.

Even Japan's own Finance Minister Taro Aso has said that fiscal rehabilitation has become "more difficult since the postponement of the sales tax hike," although believes that the government planning to issue less government bonds for 2017, is a move in the right direction.

In terms of the budget's major outlays, it stands to reason that as Japan is dealing with a demographic crisis of a shrinking and aging population, that a significant portion of the latest budget, equal to 32.47 trillion yen, or 1.6 precent more than in fiscal 2016, is targeted at tackling mounting social security costs.

The "silver tsunami" demographic phenomenon battering Japan is nothing new in terms of rising social security costs, however, the number of annual births in Japan is set to fall below 1 million this year, which will mark the first time numbers have slumped to this level since data became available in 1899, underscoring the rapid rate at which society here is both aging and the ballooning costs of childcare.

According to multiple local media reports, the total number of births is expected to be between 980,000 and 990,000 this year, down from just over 1 million last year, with a shrinking population of women in their 20s and 30s cited as being highly significant, as is the low fertility rate among women here.

Analysts have said this is a major problem facing Japan's economy, as ultimately its workforce will be hollowed out as the population continues to age and shrink, and in terms of structural reforms to counter this, it is universally known that Abe's government is well behind the curve and has prioritized other issues, such as beefing up Japan's constitutionally unsound military.

Japan under the new budget plan is eying to increase defense spending for a fifth straight year to a new record 5.12 trillion yen (43.60 billion U.S. dollars), a move that observers have described as once again contradicting the government's plans to curb spending, rein in costs and get its fiscal house in order.

Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said the 1.4 percent hike on spending compared to plans made in 2016 were based on the government's medium-term plan to bolster defense capabilities and the 176.9 billion yen addition to defense spending under the third supplementary budget for fiscal 2016 was based on the "situation around Japan this year."

That said, economists believe that these costs, added to rising social security costs, will add near unendurable pressure to Japan's already buckling economy.

Under the budget plan, a record 210.6 billion yen was also earmarked for The Japan Coastguard, which is 12 percent more on year, with the amount somehow inexplicably surpassing the 200.5 billion yen the agency initially asked for.

Total defense expenditure for FY 2017 will be 5.13 trillion yen (43.68 billion U.S. dollars), with the fifth annual increase doing little to settle tensions in the region, military experts have said, and, if anything, Japan's hardware shopping list could trigger something of an arms race in the region, which could lead to a growing "cold war" mentality, which, considering Japan's push to reassert itself on the global military stage, by way of new war legislation, could turn from "cold" to "hot" very quickly.

Under the budget plan, Japan, among other things, plans to acquire six additional F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, four V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, despite the accident-prone plane crash-landing in Okinawa recently irking both local and government officials, 11 AAV7 amphibious assault vehicles, and an additional Soryu-class diesel-electric attack submarine.

The defense budget has also seen funds for research balloon from 600 million yen to 11 billion yen, with new programs including systems for next-generation ship-to-air missiles for destroyers, air-to-ship missiles, and a land-to-ship missiles.

In addition, under the budget, the defense ministry will be plowing funds into cyber resilience technology research and will be conducting research on autonomous surveillance technology and a sensor system for unmanned underwater vehicles, sources close to the matter have said.

In terms of the Coast Guard, the government will add five large surveillance ships and three research vessels to its fleet, and aims to build an armada of 142 patrol vessels by the end of 2020.

For a country that is constitutionally bound to not maintain any war potential, or use force as a means of settling international disputes, analysts have said defense spending increasing for a fifth year on some of the world's most modern, next-generation hardware is nothing less than irresponsible for a country struggling to finance its own debt and care for its own people.

"Without high-impact reforms, potential growth in Japan is projected to decline from about 0.5 percent in 2015 to close to zero by 2030, given the demographic overhang," the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a recent report on the matter, adding that Japan is also forecast to be the weakest growing G7 economy this year.
by Xinhua Writer Xia Lin

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 shops were looted in mid-December in several states of Venezuela, but few of their Chinese owners were physically harmed. Amid wide-ranging shortage of goods and drying up of local currencies, Chinese business people are staying united to ensure security.

"We have gradually founded 23 branches across the country for self-protection and promotion, which worked very well this time," Wu Tianrong, major leader of the Chinese communities in Venezuela, told Xinhua.

A four-country investigation in Latin America by Xinhua reporters tells the truth of millions of Chinese living in Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela enjoying better security and expanded cultural influence in 2016.

Numbering around 200,000 in total, the Chinese in Venezuela have increasingly realized that they can eschew risk and well protect themselves if they get organized in a proper way.

"Legally established at state levels, the 23 branches can interact with each other and essentially put us in arms against emergencies and for common development," said Wu.

Each member has his social connection and when needed, all connections can form a network to bless their collective interests, especially personal security, he added.

COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCERS

In Mexico, where bandits tend to aim Chinese merchants for cash and fortune, they try to keep in regular contact with local law enforcers to retrieve losses and put criminals to justice.

Feng Chengkang, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Mexico, organized a committee in May 2012 in Mexico City to lubricate ties with local law enforcers and judiciary departments to ensure that their business and personal safety can be legally protected.

"In March or April, one Chinese businesswoman was abducted in Mexico City. Three days after the case was reported, the abductors were arrested through our cooperation with the justice department," he told Xinhua.

So far, the committee has enrolled over 100 permanent members and 400strong part-timers. Altogether 450 criminal cases and 200 civil ones have been well handled through its operation or transaction, almost a legend to the Chinese people living or working in Mexico.

"We serve our purpose by linking the opinions, decisions, policies, regulations and laws of the Chinese embassy, the Mexican government and the Chinese people themselves, a pattern never exercised before our committee was set up," added Feng.

ART AND CHARITY

In Brazil, where recession sustains despite the success of the Olympic and Paralymic Games, Chinese people win respect through charity and art contribution.

The total number of the Chinese communities has accumulated to some 200,000 in recent years, a dominant foreign force deserving enough attention in the largest economy in Latin America.

"We donated for the mud slide relief work several years ago, winning praise from the government and local people. (In 2015) we organized photo show and art performance to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Rio," said Yin Chuping, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Brazil.

In 2016, under the guidance of the Chinese embassy, Yin pooled the power of relevant groups to commemorate the 150th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, herald of the Chinese democratic revolution, to help proliferate the history and development of modern China.

"We are trying to promote the Chinese culture, push forward the bilateral relations and help the Brazilians know more about China, which can also build a positive and distinctive image of us Chinese in Brazil," Yin told Xinhua.

In Panama, where more than five percent of its three million population are of Chinese origins, Chinese culture has already seeped into every corner due to their long existence since the country started to build its world-leading canal more than 100 years ago.

"Under the guidance of China's commercial representative's office, we recently established a cooperation center and an art troupe in order to serve and help our communities and contribute to the bilateral exchanges in culture and trade," said Zheng Yiliang, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Panama.

Regular commercial and cultural contacts have led to more social recognition of the Chinese people in Panama, who are now modern business people, rather than offspring of the labors who came here to construct the Panama Canal, Zheng told Xinhua.

CHINA EVER STRONGER

Though living in Latin America, the human-inhabited continent furthest from their motherland, the Chinese communities have felt that an ever stronger motherland provides them with confidence and hope for the upcoming years.

"We always stand together with the Chinese government while promoting culture and friendship on the land where we thrive. China gives us identity and Brazil gives us fortune," said Yin Chuping.

For Feng, his job in 2017 is to feed back more to the society of Mexico, as the country did a lot in 2016 to help his compatriots gain their foothold and multiply their business.

In Panama, Zheng and his colleagues plan to cash in on the Chinese government's Belt and Road Initiative to enhance the cultural exchange as well as trade and commerce cooperation.

For Wu, it is still necessary to beef up the Chinese chambers for more opportunities and the common welfare of their Venezuelan friends.

"Though Venezuela is in a relatively difficult period, we have confidence to unite and endure the hardship, with hands joined with our local partners," he added. Enditem

Xinhua reporters Chen Weihua and Zhang Wuyue reporting from Rio de Janeiro, Qian Yongwen from Mexico City, Su Jin from Panama City, and Xu Ye from Caracas.
ZHENGZHOU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's second peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan has returned after finishing a 12-month United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The battalion finished nine long-tour patrols, 52 armed guards, and eight movements dealing with emergent conflicts. They also performed tasks, including patrolling United Nations camps and protecting civilian regions.

The battalion was awarded a medal of honor for peace by the United Nations.

On July 8, Corporal Li Lei, 22, and Master Sergeant Yang Shupeng, 33, were killed in fighting between government troops of President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar in South Sudan's capital of Juba.

The third peacekeeping infantry battalion left China early this month and are in position.
KATHMANDU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nepal Airline Corporation (NAC), the state-owned aviation entity in Nepal, said it could take delivery of two of the four Chinese aircraft on order by February 2017.

As per the commercial agreement signed between Nepal's national flag carrier and Chinese supplier-AVIC International Holding in December 2012, Nepal would acquire six Chinese aircraft, two in grant and four in soft loans.

Of them, the NAC has already acquired one 56-seater MA60 and one 17-seater Y12e delivered under grant component from the Chinese government but it is yet to take delivery of three Y12e and one MA60 under the loan component.

"I cannot confirm the exact date of bringing the remaining Chinese aircraft but I think we can take delivery of two of them by February," said Sugat Ratna Kansakar, managing director of Nepal's national flag carrier.

The NAC has the plan to bring one MA60 and another Y12e initially before taking delivery of remaining two planes gradually.

The arrival of two aircraft is expected to enhance the reliability of NAC's air service.

"We have just one MA60 and one Y12e in operation now. We face trouble to operate our service smoothly when one is grounded due to some technical problems," said Kansakar.

"The arrival of new planes will address this situation and save us from any bad publicity."

The Chinese side has said all the planes that Nepal had sought to acquire, are ready for delivery since 2015. The aircraft, bearing NAC livery and Nepali registration numbers, have been sitting in the factory's hangar since then.

However, the NAC has been delaying to take delivery arguing that it has some issues related to spare parts, training, load capacity and insurance with the supplier to be sorted out before taking delivery of those planes.

Earlier in October, Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry instructed the NAC to take delivery of remaining planes as early as possible by sorting out any issue with the supplier.

China Exim Bank has already paid 60 percent of the cost to the manufacturer which has been paid as loan to Nepal to purchase the aircraft, according to the ministry.

"As per the ministry's instruction, the NAC and the aircraft supplier, AVIC International Holding have already signed two or three minutes to address the issues we have raised," Kansakar told Xinhua.

"We are going to take delivery of the remaining aircraft once works are done as per the agreement."

Both NAC and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aviation sector regulator of Nepal, have said they have not found any faults in Chinese aircraft in their technical and technological strength.

In fact, CAAN has already given type certificate to the Chinese planes which means the aircraft is manufactured according to an approved design, and that the design ensures compliance with airworthiness requirements.

However, the NAC said they are a little worried about delay in getting delivery of spare parts, relatively higher insurance cost and load restriction to land at the certain airports of Nepal in the case of Y12e.

According to Kansakar, the load-related issue will now no longer be any problem as the NAC has already decided to operate the Y12e at the airports where this is no problem at all.

Kansakar also praised the Chinese aircraft of being much cheaper compared to similar aircraft from other manufacturers.

"When I checked the aircraft prices of similar aircraft compared to MA60 from other manufacturers, prices are 1.5-2 times higher," said Kansakar.

"The Y12e is also cheaper compared to similar planes from other manufacturers from the rich countries."
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has noted that retired officials are an important resource for the Communist Party of China (CPC) to govern the country and lead China's development.

He called on retired officials to continue supporting strict Party governance and become role models accordingly.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a directive congratulating the opening of a meeting Friday honoring organizations and individuals for outstanding services for retired officials.

Xi praised retired officials' "deep emotion" and "utmost loyalty" to the Party, and their patriotic spirit.

Noting that services for retired officials embody the CPC Central Committee's care, Xi called on workers to learn from the role models, and to work diligently and heartedly.
VALLETTA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- An airplane flying a domestic route in Libya abruptly changed its course and landed in Malta on Friday, in what local sources said was a potential hijacking.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli, sources said.

Local sources said that two people on board the flight were threatening to blow up the aircraft. A total of 111 passengers and a crew of seven were on the plane.

Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on his Twitter account that he was "informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by."

Malta International Airport has instigated several emergency measures. Malta's Armed Forces have been deployed, including the counter terrorism unit.

The zone around the airport has been closed off.

Malta International Airport reminded passengers of keeping updated via its website, as other flights scheduled to land in Malta after 11.30 a.m. could be turned away.
GENEVA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- According to figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Friday, 110,196 men, women and children have fled Mosul and its adjacent districts since military operations to recapture one of the Islamic State (IS)'s last strongholds began in October.

Up from 99,384 a week ago, IOM data revealed that 18,366 families have been forced to flee their homes as a result of more than two months of fierce fighting in the northern Iraqi city.

A total of 77 percent of the internally displaced have ended up in formal camps, with the rest finding shelter in private settings, emergency sites and critical shelter arrangements.

According to IOM, Al-Hamdaniya district in Ninewa governorate is hosting most of the internally displaced people (65 percent), followed by Mosul (32 percent) and Hatra (1.3 percent).

Supported by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Iraqi troops kicked off operations on Oct. 17 to recapture the city which fell into the IS hands in June 2014, giving IS militants control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.

International aircraft as well as Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition artillery units are supporting ground operations there.

According to reports, more than 5,000 IS militants were initially holed up in Mosul.

The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR had warned before operations started that as many as 1.2 million people could be forced to flee their homes.
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian appeals court on Friday upheld the conviction against opposition lawmaker Um Sam An for Facebook posts accusing the Cambodian government of using fake border maps with Vietnam.

After a half-day trial, Appeals Court judge Seng Sivutha announced that the court decided to uphold the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's verdict on Oct. 10, 2016 that convicted Sam An and sentenced him to two and a half years in prison.

Sam An, 40, lawmaker for the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, was arrested midnight on April 10 after returning from months in exile in the United States.

He was charged with "incitement to commit crimes causing turmoil for social security and incitement to cause racial discrimination."

Last month, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court also sentenced opposition senator Hong Sok Hour to seven years in jail for forgery and incitement after the 59-year-old senator posted to Facebook in August 2015 a fake version of a border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam.
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China aims to increase its forest coverage to 23.04 percent by 2020 from the current 21.66 percent, agricultural minister Han Changfu said Friday.

Han made the remarks when briefing lawmakers on scientific and technological innovation in the agricultural and forestry sector during a week-long session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which runs from Monday to Sunday.

An increase of 1.38 percentage points in the forest coverage rate would mean a rise of over 1.3 billion cubic meters in the volume of growing stock.

China's forest coverage stood at 20.36 percent, or 195 million hectares, at the end of 2008.

The country saw its forest cover expand by 450 million mu (30 million hectares) during the 12th Five-Year Plan period between 2011 and 2015.

Yet China's forest cover rate is still about 10 percentage points lower than the world's average.

In his report, Han said China will work to promote afforestation and improve the quality of its forests in the five years starting from 2016.

He also noted that sci-tech advances have played an increasingly important role in China's forestry and agricultural development.

Advances in science and technology contributed to 56 and 48 percent of agricultural and forestry production last year, and the figures are expected to rise to 60 and 55 percent respectively by 2020, the minister said.
iStock/Thinkstock(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) -- Police have arrested and charged a suspect in connection with last Saturday's road rage killing of three-year-old Acen King in Little Rock, Arkansas, officials confirmed to ABC News.



The suspect, 33-year-old Gary Holmes, was arrested for the shooting and is being held at the Pulaski County Detention Center in Little Rock.



Holmes was booked late Thursday night on charges of terroristic acts and capital murder, records show.



Little Rock mayor Mark Stodola said the suspect was turned in by his relatives to authorities Thursday evening and was interviewed by Little Rock Police detectives.



Terrance Long, the pastor of the boy's family, tells ABC News that the family was told by police that a suspect was taken into custody.



The toddler was out on a shopping trip with his grandmother, Kim King-Macon, when he was gunned down. His infant sibling was also in the vehicle at the time, but he was unharmed, as was King-Macon.



Little Rock Police had said King-Macon told officials that a man in an older black Chevrolet Impala opened fire on her car at a stop sign after becoming agitated that she was not driving fast enough.



King-Macon said she did not realize her grandson had been hit until she pulled into a nearby shopping mall's parking lot, where she called police.



Acen was transported to Arkansas Children's Hospital where he died.



Little Rock Police tweeted on Saturday, "Tonight's homicide was a road rage incident, the grandma and three-year-old victim are innocent and have no relationship [with] the suspect."



Local and federal authorities had offered a combined $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.



Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday lauded the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), saying it is a new type of sub-regional cooperation mechanism.

The LMC, which is well-tailored to the development of six countries along the river, will serve the common interests of the countries and bring tangible benefits to their people, Wang told reporters after the 2nd LMC foreign ministers' meeting.

The project-based LMC has laid emphasis on efficiency and practical results, he said, adding that through implementation of projects, it will contribute to the sub-regional development.

The Chinese foreign minister said the LMC has paid more attention to comprehensiveness when compared with other sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

Highlighting the three major fields the LMC covers, namely politics, economy and sustainable development, and society and culture, Wang said the mechanism will promote the alignment with the ASEAN Community and enhance the overall cooperation in the region.

"The LMC is complementary to other existing Mekong River mechnanisms," Wang pointed out, adding that it has no intention of replacing other mechanisms and they can work together to jointly promote sub-regional development and prosperity.

Wang noted that the LMC has been proved to be playing a positive role in promoting the development of other sub-regional cooperation.

"China is willing to continue participating in various cooperation mechanisms concerning the Mekong River in an appropriate manner," the Chinese minister said.

China also encourages other countries inside and outside the region to support and get involved in the LMC process, he added.

Wang and his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn co-chaired the meeting that also gathered foreign ministers from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

The six countries along the Mekong (known as Lancang in the Chinese stretch) launched the LMC mechanism in 2015.
DUBAI, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Etihad Airways, the second largest airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said Friday that it has launched the "1,000 Chinese visitors to Morocco" initiative with a travel service in Beijing.

David Barranger, the senior vice president of global sales at Etihad, said that the Emirati airline and Beijing Yougo World International Travel Service, the largest tour operator specialized in outbound tourism to the Middle East and Africa, expect to carry 1,000 Chinese travellers to Morocco between February, when Chinese New Year holidays start, and June in 2017.

He added that Etihad has also join hands with the Moroccan National Tourist Office to promote a plan to attract 100,000 Chinese visitors each year by 2018.

Since June 1, Chinese tourists are eligible for a Moroccan visa on arrival in the North African country, which is known for its rich culture, beautiful beaches, vast deserts and magnificent mountain ranges.
Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2016 shows the hijacked Libyan plane at Malta International Airport, Valletta, Malta. A hijacked Libyan airplane which was diverted to Malta on Friday has 111 passengers on board, 82 males, 28 females, and one infant, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter. (Xinhua/Jacob Borg)

VALLETTA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Libyan airplane with 111 passengers on board and flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed in Malta on Friday morning.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The hijacked airplane landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

It has 111 passengers on board, 82 males, 28 females, and one infant, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter.

Muscat has convened an emergency meeting to coordinate the security operation.

All passengers and crew were still on the plane. While local media reported that hijackers had released all passengers on board, but still held the seven crew members.

There were two hijackers on board. Local media said the hijackers appeared to be supporters of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and armed with hand-grenades.

At this point, it is not known what hijackers' requests are.

Malta's Armed Forces are on standby. Soldiers have surrounded the plane. The engines are still running.

According to Malta's media, Libyan Transport Minister was in negotiations with the hijackers. The Libyan authorities also confirmed that the airplane has been hijacked.

About one and a half hours after the Libyan plane landed, Malta International Airport said operations have resumed although some flights had been delayed and diverted.

Passengers are advised to check for updates before coming to the airport, Malta airport said in a statement.
ROME, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The suspect of Monday's terror attack at a Christmas market in Germany's capital Berlin was shot dead in a neighborhood of Milan on Friday, local media reported.

Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti has confirmed the news, saying the person killed, "without a shadow of a doubt," is Anis Amri, the suspect of the latest terror attack in Berlin.

Amri was killed during an exchange of fire with police near a train station in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood early Friday.

According to the anti-terrorism police, Amri arrived in Italy from France. He went from the French town of Chambery to Italy's Turin and then took a train to Milan, where he arrived at around 1 a.m.local time.

He then continued to head for the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood, where he ran into two police officers at around 4 a.m. before he was killed in a shootout when they tried to conduct a routine stop-check, according to local media reports.

One policeman was wounded in the shoulder during the shootout and hospitalized, but not in serious condition.

Amri, who carried no documents with him, was identified on the basis of his appearance and fingerprints after the shootout, anti-terrorism police sources in Milan said.

Amri had been jailed for about three years in Italy for setting fire to a refugee center.
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday voiced concern over Japan's rising defense spending.

"For historical reasons, it is reasonable for us to be seriously concerned over Japan's direction and real intentions," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at the daily press briefing.

Hua made the remarks after Japan's cabinet on Thursday approved a record97.45 trillion yen (830 billion U.S. dollars) budget for 2017, with the highest ever defense spending, 5.13 trillion yen (44 billion U.S. dollars).

The defense budget is up 1.4 percent on this year's figure, the fifth rise since Abe took office in 2012.

In recent years, Japan has kept sensationalizing "China Threat," and meanwhile increasing its military strength, said Hua.

"Even in Japan, some are questioning the budget," Hua said.

She said that Japan's Asian neighbors and the international community are closely watching whether Japan would truly learn a lesson from history and stick to a path of peaceful development.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2016. Chui is in Beijing to report to the central government on his work in 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Friday.

Xi said the central authority fully appreciates the work of Chui and the Macao SAR government, and the Macao SAR has set an example in implementing the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law, as well as safeguarding national security and unity.

Chui is in Beijing to report to the central government on his work in 2016.

Under Chui's leadership, the Macao SAR government has focused on policies to boost the economy, improve people's livelihood and ensure stable development in 2016, Xi said, adding the Macao SAR government has done a lot of work in advancing public administration reform, promoting "appropriate diversification" of its economy, putting gaming industries under check and dealing with major issues in accordance with the law.

By mapping out the first five-year development plan for Macao, Chui and the Macao SAR government actively coordinated with the country's 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, moves that showed the SAR's commitment to long-term development, Xi said.

Xi said the general situation in Macao is good, and the economy and people's livelihood are improving.

He called on Chui and the Macao SAR government to lead and unite all circles in the region to carry forward the tradition of loving the country and Macao, while sticking to national strategy and ensuring the prosperity and stability of the region.

Chui and the Macao SAR government were told to make boosting the economy and improving people's livelihood a priority and to efficiently govern the region in accordance with the law to make Macao more beautiful and prosperous.

On behalf of the central government and himself, Xi asked Chui to convey new year greetings to all citizens of Macao.

Top legislator Zhang Dejiang also attended the meeting.
Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2016 shows the hijacked Libyan plane at Malta International Airport, Valletta, Malta. A hijacked Libyan airplane which was diverted to Malta on Friday has 111 passengers on board, 82 males, 28 females, and one infant, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter. (Xinhua/Jacob Borg)

VALLETTA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 109 passengers have been released from a hijacked Libyan plane, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

The plane has 111 passengers on board -- 82 males, 28 females and one infant. It also has seven crew members.

The Libyan plane, flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

The Afriqiyah Airways flight had departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha in the morning, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Muscat also spoke to Libyan counterpart Faez al Serraj over the hijacking, according to Malta government spokesman Kurt Farrugia.

There were two hijackers on board. Local media said the hijackers appeared to be supporters of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and armed with hand-grenades.

At this point, it is not known what hijackers' requests are.

Citing Arab sources, Maltese national TV station TVM reported that the two hijackers, armed with explosive devices, were from southern Libya.

According to Maltese media, one of the passengers was member of the Libyan Parliament.
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Management Group (IMG) has announced that the Color Run, also known as "The Happiest 5K on the Planet," will return to China in 2017 with a brand new theme: Dream World Tour.

Fresh elements of magic, dreams, and color will be placed on the track to offer color runners an unprecedented 'run of dreams.' The inaugural event of the Dream World Tour in China will take place in Hangzhou at Xianghu National Tourism Resort on May 6.

The Color Run is the largest running series held worldwide. Since its debut in the United States in March 2011, it has generated enthusiastic support and participation from people who value health, happiness and individuality.

Dream World Tour will take runners to a magical world. Every year, the Color Run adopts a unique theme to create the most unforgettable experience for runners around the world. Following the "Tropical World Tour" in 2016, the "Dream World Tour" is set to kick off in 2017.

Surrounded by giant unicorns, puffy color clouds and hot music, color runners and their family and friends will partake in a dreamy 5K race where everything and anything is possible. The vibrant colors combined with a fully decorated course are guaranteed to offer a relaxing, joyful and magical atmosphere.

Color runners are able to express both uniqueness and individuality through the events.

The Color Run does not involve winners or rankings. Runners are encouraged to enjoy the sport and the happiness invoked by running with colors.

IMG strictly regulates materials used in the events to ensure the safety and health of participants. More than 500 Color Run events have been held, involving over 4 million runners.
A soldier of pro-government militia fires mortar to rebel-held areas in Aleppo, Syria, on Dec. 11, 2016. The Syrian army and allied fighters are now in control of 98 percent of the rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo. (Xinhua Photo)

ANKARA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish warplanes and artilleries killed 24 Islamic State (IS) militants in northern Syria on Friday, according to an official statement.

Turkish warplanes struck 51 IS targets, killing 22 IS militants and destroying 37 buildings used as shelters, weapon pits and defensive positions, three arsenals and a logistics center in northern Syria's al-Bab, the Turkish General Staff said Friday.

Meanwhile, Turkish artilleries hit 143 IS targets and killed two militants in the same operation, adding that a drone of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was seized.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that about 200 IS militants were killed in the latest clashes.

"Our struggle is not an ordinary struggle. We have 16 martyrs; around 200 DAESH fighters have been killed," said Erdogan in Ankara, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"We could not stay silent against those that threaten our country, and we are doing what is necessary," he added.

On Aug. 24, the Turkish Armed Forces launched the Euphrates Shield Operation against IS and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

Turkish President Erdogan said that the operation was also meant to end the rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Turkey lists the YPG and the PYD as terrorist organizations due to their links to the PKK.
Israeli Housing Minister Yoav Galant (C-L) visits the settlement outpost of Amona, which was established in 1997 and built on private Palestinian land, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on December 18, 2016. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

RAMALLAH, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is considering to ask other countries for help get resolution on settlements pass through the UN Security Council, after Egypt decided not to submit it, a senior Palestinian official said Friday.

"Ramallah was shocked by Cairo's decision to ask for postponing the vote because it was unilaterally made without a coordination with the Palestinian side," the official said on condition of anonymity.

He said that Venezuela, Senegal, Malaysia and New Zealand have expressed readiness to replace Egypt.

The official also slammed Egypt for its decision, saying "it was a painful strike to the Palestinian efforts to gain a resolution that obliges Israel to put an end to settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories."

The Palestinian official, however, denied any resulting tense relations between the two sides.

Reyad al-Malki, the PNA minister for foreign affairs, said earlier in a press statement that reports say the United States would abstein from the anti-settlement voting.
A picture taken on December 23, 2016 shows a Malta armed forces truck sitting by the Afriqiyah Airways A320 after it landed in Valletta, Malta, following its hijacking from Libya. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

TRIPOLI, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Most of the 118 passengers and crew have been released from a hijacked Libyan plane that was forced to divert its domestic flight to Malta on Friday, according to Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

A Libyan airplane on a domestic flight with 118 people on board was hijacked on Friday morning by two men claiming to be supporters of late leader Muammar Gaddafi, local media reported.

The hijackers, who ordered to redirect the flight to Malta, threatened to blow up the plane with a hand grenade if their demands were not met.

Details of their demands were not immediately available.

Reports say the Libyan government has formed a follow-up chamber to handle the hijack crisis.

Libyan Ambassador to Malta said that negotiations are continuing for the safety of the passengers.

The airplane belongs to the state-owned Afriqiyah Airways and was intended to fly from Sabha in southern Libya to Tripoli's Mitiga airport.
BISHKEK, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan and Iran have agreed to strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism and extremism, according to the press service of the Kyrgyz President on Friday.

The agreement was reached after a meeting between Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who arrived in Bishkek on Thursday for a two-day official visit.

The two presidents said in a joint statement that the two countries strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and will not allow any attempt to equate terrorism with any nation, culture or religion.

Meanwhile, they expressed their concern about the spread of terrorist and extremist groups like the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and others in the Middle East region, and condemned their inhuman crimes in Syria and Iraq.

The two leaders agreed that they would instruct the relevant departments of their respective countries to intensify contacts in fighting terrorism, extremism, organized crime, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, according to the statement.
MOGADISHU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people including two soldiers on a minibus were killed while six others were injured after Al-Shabaab militants opened fire at a vehicle at Daynunay location, about some 30 kilometers south of Baidoa town in southern Somalia, officials said on Friday.

Information Minister for Southwest State, Ugaas Hassan told Xinhua by phone that the militants ambushed a civilian bus and opened fire on the passengers indiscriminately.

"Al-Shabaab terrorist militants opened fire on a civilian mini-bus which had left Baidoa town and was heading to Burhakaba town in the region," Hassan said.

He added that the injured people were taken to the hospitals in Baidoa town, the administrative capital of Southwest State Administration.

According to the minister, by the time the Somali National Army reached the crime scene, the militants had already fled from the area.

This is the second deadly incident on a civilian bus in southern Somalia in the past seven days.

At least six people on minibus were killed early on Saturday morning last week near Qoryoley town in lower Shabelle region in Southern Somalia.
COLOMBO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will strengthen its public transportation sector to ease traffic congestion on its roads by next year, the Finance Ministry said here Friday.

A light railway system will be introduced in capital Colombo and its suburbs, where vehicle speeds have now reduced to 8 kilometers per hour from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour in 1980.

Separate lanes for public buses will also be introduced in Colombo under a proposed mechanism to streamline public bus service within city limits.

"Plans are already afoot to launch the construction of two new roads, one between New Kelani Bridge and Athurugiriya and, the second road between Kelani Bridge and Colombo Port in next year," the Ministry said.

"One of the main concerns of the plan is to identify seven entry points to the city and start a light railway system from each point. This new light railway system will cover the main suburbs," the Ministry added.

The Ministry further said that another project will be launched to upgrade the existing railway lines in order to reduce the number of buses entering daily to the city.

Accordingly, Kelani Valley Railway line will be extended up to Rathnapura and an additional line will be constructed between Polgahawela and Kurunegala.

The total vehicle population in Sri Lanka has risen from 3,390,993 in 2008 to 6,302,141 in 2015. About 250,000 vehicles enter the Colombo city daily and this number increases annually by 25,000.
SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) foreign ministers' meeting has mapped out the direction of further cooperation and made clear the goal of following efforts, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Friday.

Number One is to set up joint working groups on key priority areas within three to six months and put them into real practice, Wang told a joint press conference with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn after the meeting had concluded.

Number Two is to encourage member states to set up LMC secretariats or coordination bodies respectively within next year, Wang said.

Number Three, all 45 early harvest projects will be implemented next year, the minister said.

Number Four, foreign ministers of the LMC member states have agreed to work out a list of new cooperation projects and a LMC five-year action plan which will be submitted to the second Leaders' Meeting for approval, he said.

Number Five, the application for the LMC fund and its usage will be formally launched, he added.

Since the first Leaders' Meeting, LMC has made remarkable progress and demonstrated satisfactory speed and efficiency, Wang told reporters.

The reason why LMC could make so much headway within such a short period of time is that it answered the urgent desire of the six countries to enhance reciprocal cooperation and followed the tide of regional economic integration process, Wang said.

China is ready to make joint efforts with the other five countries to cultivate a Lancang-Mekong culture featuring equality, mutual assistance and amicability and create a LMC corridor based on the principles of mutual consultation, common contribution and shared benefits, he added.

The second LMC foreign ministers' meeting was held in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province on Friday, gathering top diplomats from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

At the joint press conference, Prak Sokhonn, who co-chaired the ministerial meeting, said the establishment and development of LMC is in line with the needs of countries in the region.

LMC member states are grateful for China's attention and devotion to LMC, hoping that China would continue to play a leading role in future cooperation process, he said.

Foreign ministers attending the meeting also lauded the achievements that LMC had made over the past year.

They hoped that LMC could be aligned with the "Belt and Road" Initiative proposed by China, be more complementary with other sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, and be able to make unique contributions to the benefits of peoples of the region.

The six countries along the Mekong (known as Lancang in the Chinese stretch) launched the LMC mechanism in 2015 and convened the first Leaders' Meeting in March 2016.
Chinese PresidentXi Jinping(R) meets with Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2016. Chui is in Beijing to report to the central government on his work in 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Friday.

Xi said the central authority fully appreciates the work of Chui and the Macao SAR government, and the Macao SAR has set an example in implementing the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law, as well as safeguarding national security and unity.

Chui is in Beijing to report to the central government on his work in 2016.

Under Chui's leadership, the Macao SAR government has focused on policies to boost the economy, improve people's livelihood and ensure stable development in 2016, Xi said, adding the Macao SAR government has done a lot of work in advancing public administration reform, promoting "appropriate diversification" of its economy, putting gaming industries under check and dealing with major issues in accordance with the law.

By mapping out the first five-year development plan for Macao, Chui and the Macao SAR government actively coordinated with the country's 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, moves that showed the SAR's commitment to long-term development, Xi said.

Xi said the general situation in Macao is good, and the economy and people's livelihood are improving.

He called on Chui and the Macao SAR government to lead and unite all circles in the region to carry forward the tradition of loving the country and Macao, while sticking to national strategy and ensuring the prosperity and stability of the region.

Chui and the Macao SAR government were told to make boosting the economy and improving people's livelihood a priority and to efficiently govern the region in accordance with the law to make Macao more beautiful and prosperous.

On behalf of the central government and himself, Xi asked Chui to convey new year greetings to all citizens of Macao.

Top legislator Zhang Dejiang also attended the meeting.

In a separate meeting with Chui on Friday, Premier Li Keqiang expressed appreciation of Macao SAR's efforts to achieve a fiscal surplus, promote the job market, boost diversified development and maintain social harmony and stability, in face of the pressure of economic downturn.

Li said the central government will unwaveringly implement the principles of "one country, two systems," "Macao people governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy, as well as act with the Constitution and the Basic Law.

The premier said the central government will give full support to the Macao SAR government and the chief executive's governance in accordance with the law, adding it will also back the SAR's efforts to boost economic development, improve people's livelihood, promote public administration reform and integrate its development into the country's development.

He also called on the Macao SAR to make new headway as a service platform for business and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Chui said guidance and assistance from the central government, especially a series of preferential policies, have vigorously bolstered social and economic development in Macao, as well as its opening up to the outside and external cooperation, adding the Macao SAR government will work to maintain economic stability and continue improving people's livelihood.
Flowers and candles are placed to mourn the victims of the attack at a Christmas market in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Dec. 20. 2016. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

BERLIN, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Friday confirmed the death of Anis Amri, a man suspected of committing Monday's truck attack on a Christmas market in downtown Berlin.

The minister said he was "very relieved" that the suspected attacker no longer posed a danger.

De Maiziere told reporters that despite the death of the suspect, threats from extremists "remains high" in Germany, stressing that the German government would not scale down security.

The Italian government announced earlier Friday that Amri was shot and killed by police during a routine patrol in Milan.

The suspect opened fire at two police officers who had stopped him and asked for his identification near a local train station. Amri was killed and one policeman injured during the shootout.

Peter Frank, Germany's top federal prosecutor, told reporters here that the German authorities will continue the investigation into the Christmas market attack in Berlin that left 12 dead and 48 others injured.

"Even though Anis Amri has died, we'll continue our investigation," Frank said. It was very important to find out whether there was a network of supporters and accomplices, he added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday also issued a statement over the death of Anis Amri, a Tunisian national who allegedly fled Berlin to Milia via France after committing the truck attack.

Merkel said that she had told Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi in a phone conversation that Germany wanted quicker deportation of Tunisian asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected.

The truck attack on the Christmas market raised many questions, she said, vowing that her government would take necessary measures to make the country better secured.
Artists perform during a cultural performance in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Feb. 15, 2013. (Xinhua/Marcos Mendez)

by Xinhua Writer Xia Lin

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 shops were looted in mid-December in several states of Venezuela, but few of their Chinese owners were physically harmed. Amid wide-ranging shortage of goods and drying up of local currencies, Chinese business people are staying united to ensure security.

"We have gradually founded 23 branches across the country for self-protection and promotion, which worked very well this time," Wu Tianrong, major leader of the Chinese communities in Venezuela, told Xinhua.

A four-country investigation in Latin America by Xinhua reporters tells the truth of millions of Chinese living in Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela enjoying better security and expanded cultural influence in 2016.

Numbering around 200,000 in total, the Chinese in Venezuela have increasingly realized that they can eschew risk and well protect themselves if they get organized in a proper way.

"Legally established at state levels, the 23 branches can interact with each other and essentially put us in arms against emergencies and for common development," said Wu.

Each member has his social connection and when needed, all connections can form a network to bless their collective interests, especially personal security, he added.

COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCERS

In Mexico, where bandits tend to aim Chinese merchants for cash and fortune, they try to keep in regular contact with local law enforcers to retrieve losses and put criminals to justice.

Feng Chengkang, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Mexico, organized a committee in May 2012 in Mexico City to lubricate ties with local law enforcers and judiciary departments to ensure that their business and personal safety can be legally protected.

"In March or April, one Chinese businesswoman was abducted in Mexico City. Three days after the case was reported, the abductors were arrested through our cooperation with the justice department," he told Xinhua.

People take part in a parade to celebrate the Chinese lunar New Year in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, Feb. 6, 2016. (Xinhua/Pedro Mera)

So far, the committee has enrolled over 100 permanent members and 400strong part-timers. Altogether 450 criminal cases and 200 civil ones have been well handled through its operation or transaction, almost a legend to the Chinese people living or working in Mexico.

"We serve our purpose by linking the opinions, decisions, policies, regulations and laws of the Chinese embassy, the Mexican government and the Chinese people themselves, a pattern never exercised before our committee was set up," added Feng.

ART AND CHARITY

In Brazil, where recession sustains despite the success of the Olympic and Paralymic Games, Chinese people win respect through charity and art contribution.

The total number of the Chinese communities has accumulated to some 200,000 in recent years, a dominant foreign force deserving enough attention in the largest economy in Latin America.

"We donated for the mud slide relief work several years ago, winning praise from the government and local people. (In 2015) we organized photo show and art performance to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Rio," said Yin Chuping, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Brazil.

In 2016, under the guidance of the Chinese embassy, Yin pooled the power of relevant groups to commemorate the 150th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, herald of the Chinese democratic revolution, to help proliferate the history and development of modern China.

"We are trying to promote the Chinese culture, push forward the bilateral relations and help the Brazilians know more about China, which can also build a positive and distinctive image of us Chinese in Brazil," Yin told Xinhua.

In Panama, where more than five percent of its three million population are of Chinese origins, Chinese culture has already seeped into every corner due to their long existence since the country started to build its world-leading canal more than 100 years ago.

"Under the guidance of China's commercial representative's office, we recently established a cooperation center and an art troupe in order to serve and help our communities and contribute to the bilateral exchanges in culture and trade," said Zheng Yiliang, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Panama.

A waiter moves dishes of food at the Chinese Dynasty restaurant in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 14, 2015. (Xinhua/Boris Vergara)

Regular commercial and cultural contacts have led to more social recognition of the Chinese people in Panama, who are now modern business people, rather than offspring of the labors who came here to construct the Panama Canal, Zheng told Xinhua.

CHINA EVER STRONGER

Though living in Latin America, the human-inhabited continent furthest from their motherland, the Chinese communities have felt that an ever stronger motherland provides them with confidence and hope for the upcoming years.

"We always stand together with the Chinese government while promoting culture and friendship on the land where we thrive. China gives us identity and Brazil gives us fortune," said Yin Chuping.

For Feng, his job in 2017 is to feed back more to the society of Mexico, as the country did a lot in 2016 to help his compatriots gain their foothold and multiply their business.

In Panama, Zheng and his colleagues plan to cash in on the Chinese government's Belt and Road Initiative to enhance the cultural exchange as well as trade and commerce cooperation.

For Wu, it is still necessary to beef up the Chinese chambers for more opportunities and the common welfare of their Venezuelan friends.

"Though Venezuela is in a relatively difficult period, we have confidence to unite and endure the hardship, with hands joined with our local partners," he added.

(Xinhua reporters Chen Weihua and Zhang Wuyue reporting from Rio de Janeiro, Qian Yongwen from Mexico City, Su Jin from Panama City, and Xu Ye from Caracas.)
Chinese PresidentXi Jinping(R) meets with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2016. Leung is in Beijing to report to the central government on his work in 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping met with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying Friday.

Xi told Leung that the central government firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR government in its work to contain "Hong Kong independence" according to law.

Leung is in Beijing to report to the central government on his work in 2016.

Xi said, achievements in Hong Kong's practice of "one country, two systems" are for all to see. However, as the practice of "one country, two systems" is a new undertaking, it is natural that new situations and new problems have arisen.

Currently, as Hong Kong is developing steadily in social, political and economic terms, the central government as well as Hong Kong citizens all hope for a better economy and people's livelihood, a harmonious society and happy life for the citizens, according to Xi.

"One country, two systems" is in line with interests of the country, well-being of Hong Kong citizens, and the common aspiration of the entire Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, Xi said.

He added the central government, the SAR government and Hong Kong society need to "strengthen their faith, adhere to the bottom line, staunchly safeguard and make sure the practice of 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong keeps pressing ahead along the track of the Basic Law."

Xi noted, the central government fully acknowledges the work of the chief executive and government of the Hong Kong SAR.

With the support of the central government, chief executive Leung has led the government of the Hong Kong SAR in prudent administration, and achieved remarkable progresses in sectors such as land and housing, old-age care, poverty relief, as well as scientific and technological innovation, Xi said.

Besides, in such significant matters as containing "Hong Kong independence" and handling street violence according to law, Xi commented, the Hong Kong SAR government, led by Leung, has strictly followed the Basic Law, the interpretation of the Basic Law by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, and laws of the SAR.

The SAR government has "safeguarded national sovereignty, security, development interests, and Hong Kong's economic development, social stability."

Moreover, Xi said, the central government respects the decision by Leung not to run in the next election in 2017 due to family related reasons.

Over the past four years or so, Leung and the SAR government have "comprehensively and accurately" implemented the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law, as well as made concrete efforts in "building the groundwork and benefiting the long-term development."

Leung and the SAR government have made vital contributions to the undertaking of the "one country, two systems" as well as Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, Xi added.

Xi asked Leung to present the new-year wish of him and the central government to Hong Kong citizens.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, also attended the meeting.

In a separate meeting with Leung on Friday, Premier Li Keqiang said the central government is in full support of the SAR government and the chief executive performing administration in accordance with the law.

Li pledged continued policies and measures that support Hong Kong's development and enhance cooperation between the SAR and the mainland.

Over the past year, the Hong Kong SAR government has made progress in ensuring steady economic growth with relatively low unemployment, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, integrating Hong Kong's development with national strategies, and expanding cooperation with the mainland and international exchanges, said Li.

The premier called for a bigger role of the SAR in the country's economic development and opening up.

Leung said the SAR government will coordinate with the country's 13th Five-Year Plan and Belt and Road Initiative, vigorously promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and strive to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and economic development.
PARIS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Marine Le Pen, leader of French far-right National Front party on Friday called for an end to open borders in Europe after the Berlin attacker's movements came to light, saying the Schengen pact must be "definitely buried."

Le Pen decried the Berlin fugitive being able to travel to neighboring countries despite heavy security, which she said was the result of the Schengen Agreement.

The agreement was signed on June 14, 1985 which allows people to travel across Europe's border-free zone comprising the territories of 26 European countries.

In a statement posted on the party's website, Le Pen wrote: "Anis Amri killed in Milan, Schengen indicted."

"This escapade in at least two or three countries is symptomatic of the total security catastrophe that is the Schengen agreement," she said.

"I reiterate my pledge to give back France full control of its sovereignty, its national borders and to put an end to the consequences of the Schengen agreement," she added.

Le Pen is challenging the country's two major Republican parties in the upcoming presidential election.

The National Front made unprecedented gains in the last European Parliament election, boosting her chance in the presidential elections in 2017.
Fire victim placed on bond for marijuana

His actions landed him in court and yesterday San Fernando Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert bonded him in the sum of $10,000 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next two years.

Villafana, first appeared in court a few months ago and pleaded not guilty to the charge of marijuana possession.

When the case was called in the Fourth Court yesterday, he changed his plea to guilty.

Court prosecutor Sgt Parasan Ramsumair told the court that on May 26, at about 1.20pm while at Ramsaran Street, San Fernando, police searched Villafana and found 14 plastic packets of marijuana in his possession. The drug weighed 10.6 grammes. WPC Noel of the Marabella Police Station laid the charge.

Attorney Frank Gittens, who represented Villafana, told the court that last year December, his clients home was destroyed by fire.

The attorney added that Villafana has four younger siblings and assured the magistrate that his client will have no more run-ins with the law. Addressing Villafana directly, Alert enquired why he had the marijuana.

He responded that he lost everything in the fire and was looking to make some money.

Alert placed him on the bond, and if he defaults, Villafana will serve seven months with hard labour in pri
Weed to ease relationship woes

Police prosecutor Sgt Parasan Ramsumair read that on Wednesday, police officers were on mobile patrol at Pointe-a- Pierre Road in San Fernando when they observed Lall smoking a cigarette of unusual length in an empty lot of land.

Upon further observations, police discovered that he was smoking the illegal narcotic and PC Lange charged him for the offence.

Unrepresented by an attorney yesterday, Lall admitted that he was indeed smoking marijuana.

His reason, Lall said, was because he was having relationship problems with his girlfriend and decided to use it to ease his stress.

Alert fined him $500 to be paid within 30 days or, in default of payment, he is to serve two months in prison
Female Coast Guard CO makes history on CG28

Bourne did so when she captained the TTS Carli Bay (CG 28) on its maiden voyage from The Netherlands to Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas .

The CG 28 and the TTS Moruga (CG 27) arrived in Trinidad on Monday, having completed a three-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from the Port of Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands where they were built by Dutch shipbuilder, Damen Schelde (Damen) .

These two vessels are the most recent delivery in a 12-vessel order made by the TT Government back in May 2015. The first six vessels were delivered in July 2015 .

In between posing for photos with girls from the TT Cadet Forces Naval Cadets from the Naval Cadet Unit at Holy Faith Convent, Couva, Bourne answered Newsdays questions about her historic achievement .

Its a great responsibility .

Something thats not new to me because being the first female officer in the TTCG, I have been breaking a lot of ground in terms of what I have achieved .

Hopefully, one day it will be commonplace; where every woman will be doing it. Bourne recalled that her first command was of a Fast Patrol Craft (FPC) in 2012, I believe. While the Lt Cdr was the first woman to hold certain posts in the TTCG, she happily noted that the Coast Guard has incorporated all our females in everything we do. So theres no restrictions and thats one of the beautiful things about the Coast Guard; theres no restriction on women other than themselves. Asked what message she would like to send to her female TTCG colleagues, Bourne replied, Never limit yourself .

Youre only limited by your own imagination, youre only limited by your own mind. Expand your knowledge, never say you cant.
TT MONEY FOR TERRORISTS

Young made this disclosure at the final post-Cabinet news conference FOR 2016 at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, Port-of-Spain.

What the FIU has picked up in their STRs (Suspicious Transaction Reports) and SARs (Suspicious Activity Reports) is that approximately 182 TT citizens, we suspect, may be involved in the financing of terrorist activities, Young said.

He added the total monetary value of the 739 STRs submitted to the FIU for this year was $805.5 million and this represented a 127 percent increase in the STR submissions to the FIU in 2015.

Explaining that the STRs and SARs could involve banks, financial institutions, private members clubs, attorneys and real estate agents, Young said the focus is on, certain countries in the Middle East and near to the Middle East. He reminded reporters that his ministry obtained orders under the Anti- Terrorism Act this year, to have certain persons declared terrorists and freeze their accounts et cetera, including ISIS and all of the bodies that we know of from the United Nations. Young said local law enforcement agencies have been collaborating with their international partners on countries such as Syria, Turkey and the United Kingdom as some jurisdictions where terrorist financing could be taking place.

Declaring that, all criminal activity is of concern to us in TT, Young said in addition to providing local law enforcement with the resources they require, Government continues to improve, channels of communication with our international partners who have better global monitoring policies, information and intelligence gathering. Young said critical information is, filtering back to us in TT. In addition, Young said the Financial Intelligence Bureau of the Police Service has been, conducting a number of criminal investigations into some of these transactions....

especially some related to the financing of terrorism and other white collar crimes. He also disclosed that his ministry and the National Security Ministry have negotiated with the US Department of Justice to train local law enforcement officers to deal with these types of white collar crimes.

Young said the FIU report also highlighted other areas of concern over this year. We have an emergence of wire transfers to jurisdictions suspected in involvement in human trafficking and the use of fraudulent certificates of insurance and false documentation to support claims arising from motor vehicular accidents, Young stated.

He was unable to specifically identify the jurisdictions to which money was being wired to in respect of human trafficking but did not deny that some of these places could be in Latin America.

He said the FIU also found, a continuance of the use of bank accounts for lottery fraud and employment fraud. He indicated the FIU also saw, frequent and small intra-island money transfers and advance fee fraud scams using unsolicited emails and posts. Young lamented, Unfortunately, we still have citizens who are falling prey to the schemes and the scams. He cited the continuation of the repatriation of funds via wire transfers and money remittances to foreign jurisdictions by non-nationals and expatriates as another source of concern.

Another concern Young identified was,the use of forged documents for obtaining loans for multiple financial institutions and co-mingling of accounts between individuals and their private company accounts for the financial tax avoidance purposes. He said local law enforcement agencies and their international partners have found, an increasing use of these remittances, some of which are suspected to be financing foreign terrorist fighters abroad being done through channels such as small kiosks in public places which are used for wire transfers.
Woman detained for Jenices death

The woman was, up to last evening, being held at the Gasparillo Police Station, police sources confirmed.

Jenice, a pupil of the Whiteland Early Childhood Learning Centre, died on November 24.

An autopsy revealed that she died as a result of blunt force trauma.

Investigators said the child, of Morocoy Extension Road in Whiteland on the outskirts of Gasparillo, sustained multiple blows to her head and stomach area.

Police were initially told that a female relative found Jenice unresponsive on a mattress at her home at about 9 pm that day.

The little child was rushed to San Fernando General Hospital where she later died.

Police were told that earlier that day, the child who had suddenly fell ill was complaining of stomach aches.

A file is being prepared to be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for instructions on how to proceed in the matter.

If charged, the woman would appear before a San Fernando magistrate on Wednesday
Powerful Ladies launch mobile crime app

Williams was speaking at the launch of the C-Safe Anti-Crime Mobile App at the VIP Lounge, Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain yesterday VIP Lounge yesterday.

The application, Williams said, represents a change in times from traditional policing initiatives to a more innovative, community-based approach to crime prevention, where information on criminal activities can be shared between users and the police. The app was launched in partnership with the Powerful Ladies Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (PLOTT).

Policing in Trinidad and Tobago cannot rest solely on the Police Service, Williams said. Every citizen has a part to play in making their homes and their communities safe and secure. The app allows members of the public to anonymously share, with police, information on illegal activities.

Darrin Carmichael, consultant with Community Defence Services Limited, the apps developer, was optimistic that the app would prove beneficial in creating safer communities.

Its free to download and easy to access on your smart phone or tablet devices. Carmichael explained that while the app is currently available from the mobile app store for android and Apple smart phone devices, e-mail and short-messaging service (SMS) notifications were also available to users.
Homeless family thanks everyone for help

A contractor by the name of Ricky Ragoonanan is helping us out a lot, said 59-yearold truck driver Robin Seecharan.

God bless that man and his family. We are very grateful to that man and all the people who donated things to us. Thank you. Seecharan, together with his wife Raquel Babwah, 38, and their seven children - Brandon, 15; Antonio, 14; Jenel, 12; Christie, 11; Selena, seven; Anna, five; and Crystal, three - were rendered homeless on December 11.

They lived in a wooden two-bedroom home at Springvale in Claxton Bay.

Reports are that residents saw the house on fire at about 7 am while the family was out.

Within minutes, it was completely destroyed and the family lost all their possessions.

Someone is letting us stay in his house for the next two weeks or so. Thank you everyone for every single bit of help. We are grateful again to Mr Ragoonanan because the flooring of the house is already cast and the frame up. It will be a ply house and we are hoping to move in for the Christmas, Seecharan added.

After the house is constructed, Seecharan said he is hoping to wire it for electricity.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services has also offered help in the form of a Temporary Food Card, valued $700, to be used by month-end.

Ministry officials visited the family days after the fire and also offered counselling
Gopeesingh calls again on Rowley to fire Garcia

In a statement, Gopeesingh, a former education minister, repeated his call for Rowley to fire Garcia, saying that until Rowley does so then he must also be blamed for the education sectors woes, including 40 government schools being in disrepair causing a disruption to the teaching of thousands of pupils.

Garcia is grossly incompetent, lacking in leadership and organisational skills, essential work ethic and basic capacity to head that vital portfolio, alleged Gopeesingh, saying Rowley has been told of this repeatedly.

Gopeesingh said dilapidation in 40 schools is a direct result of the cavalier and haughty approach of Garcia, whom he alleged is out of depth in this Ministry.

Gopeesingh said in the past academic term, the shoddy state of schools had disrupted the studies of thousands of pupils, some of whose parents held emotional public protests.

That followed the solemn earlier pledge of Mr Garcia that all schools were in a proper state for use by students and teachers at the start of the September term, related Gopeesingh.

It is increasingly apparent that education is not a priority matter for the Rowley regime, which has refused to issue $34 million for necessary school repairs.

Further, Mr Garcia clearly carries little influence and credibility among his Cabinet colleagues to convince them to assign that sum for urgent repairs to the nations schools. Gopeesingh also accused Garcia of non- cons t ruc t ion of schools and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) centres, shutdown of homework centres, scrapping the laptop programme and ending the Continuous Assessment Programme for Standard Five.

At the end of the Peoples Partnership Administration, 42 ECCE centres, 29 primary and seven secondary schools were at various levels of construction, some close to 95 percent completed, Gopeesingh said.

After 15 months, all the schools under construction have been left in ruin and decay without further attempts at completion, a serious and shameful indictment of the Rowley-led administration. He accused the Government of shutting 400 homework centres.

In addition, Mr Garcia is presiding over sharp cutbacks in the Schools Feeding Programme, late payment of stipends to national scholars and scrapping of the textbook allocation. Gopeesingh alleged major reversals in achievement levels in mathematics and English at both SE A and CSE C levels, in the past year, unlike the historic high success rates met in the previous five years.

In 15 months of the Rowley administration, the education sector has suffered major rollbacks in the sustained achievements over the previous five years, which were all targeted at making Trinidad and Tobago a knowledge- based, modern and competitive society, said Gopeesingh.

I again appeal to the Prime Minister to remove the inept and bungling Mr Garcia and to appoint an Education Minister with the requisite competence and vision for this most important sector. This is the best Christmas gift he can give to the students of today and leaders of tomorrow
Vasant: Bond at expense of business boost

A further increase in the public debt and the decline in the Ease of Doing Business ranking for TT are worrying indicators of an economic meltdown, he asserted.

The recent floating of a TT$500 million six-year bond, now surreptitiously upsized and doubled to $1 billion, makes clear Governments ill-fated policy of increasing public debt for non-investment and non-productive spending. Bharath lamented that TTs debt level is now escalating out of control, having risen $14 billion in the past year alone. He alleged, The Governments main policy instruments for raising revenues are increased levels of taxation on an already beleaguered population, as well as increasing public debt.

Bharath said recent Central Bank data gives a dismal outlook for the economy with declines in the energy and non-energy sectors of 10.7 percent and 10.9 percent respectively, with no economic strategy to restore confidence, stability and growth He said an eight percent drop in the economy in the second quarter of 2016 was the worst ever quarterly contraction in the countrys history, according to the Banks November 2016 Monetary Policy Report.

Bharath blamed the energy sectors woes on continued gas-supply shortages, maintenance shutdowns and weak energy prices. That sector also pulled down the non-energy sector.

He lamented a worsening current account deficit of US$1 billion, plus a worsening unemployment rate of 4.4 percent.

Bharath said economic deterioration will also be fuelled by a decline in the Ease of Doing Business for Trinidad and Tobago.

While in 2014, the World Bank lauded TT as one of the worlds top 10 reformers, by 2016 TT had fallen to a rank of 96 with the World Bank saying it is now tougher to do business here.

Recent reports have stated that with 95 being the break-even point, the drop was enough to knock TT into the half of countries where it is more difficult rather than easy to do business, bemoaned Bharath.

He urged serious action to stem any further fall in this ranking is required to ensure that the rank does not further deteriorate, especially in a time of severe economic decline
In major privacy victory, top EU court rules against mass surveillance

The European Unions top court has severely undermined the British governments mass surveillance powers in a new ruling that could rein in police and spy agency investigations.

In a judgment handed down in Luxembourg on Wednesday, the European Court of Justice declared that the general and indiscriminate retention of data about peoples communications and locations was inconsistent with privacy rights. The court stated that the highly invasive bulk storage of private data exceeds the limits of what is strictly necessary and cannot be considered to be justified, within a democratic society.

(Article by Ryan Gallagher, republished from TheIntercept.com)

Camilla Graham Wood, legal officer with the London-based group Privacy International, hailed the ruling as a victory for civil liberties advocates. Todays judgment is a major blow against mass surveillance and an important day for privacy, she said. It makes clear that blanket and indiscriminate retention of our digital histories  who we interact with, when and how and where  can be a very intrusive form of surveillance that needs strict safeguards against abuse and mission creep.

The European courts panel of 15 judges acknowledged in their ruling that modern investigative techniques were necessary to combat organized crime and terrorism, but said that this cannot justify the general and indiscriminate retention of all traffic and location data. Instead, the judges stated, it is acceptable for governments to engage in the targeted retention of data in cases involving serious crime, permitting that persons affected by any surveillance are notified after investigations are completed, and that access to the data is overseen by a judicial authority or an independent administrative authority.

The case was originally brought in December 2014 by two British members of parliament, who challenged the legality of the U.K. governments Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act, which forced telecommunications companies to store records on their customers communication for 12 months. That law has since been replaced by the Investigatory Powers Act, which was recently approved by the British parliament and is expected soon to come into force.

Though the U.K. voted to leave the European Union earlier this year, Wednesdays decision remains  at least in the short term  highly significant, and will prove to be a severe headache for British government officials. The ruling will now be forwarded to the U.K.s Court of Appeal, where judges there will consider how to apply it in the context of national law. It may result in the government being forced to make changes to controversial sections of the Investigatory Powers Act, which enable police and spy agencies to access vast amounts of data on peoples internet browsing, instant messages, emails, phone calls, and social media conversations.

Read more at: TheIntercept.com

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Goa Muslim children's festival axes Zakir Naik

Goa,National,Religion,Art/Culture/Books, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Panaji, Dec 23 (IANS) The organisers of Goa's first Muslim children's festival have withdrawn controversial preacher Zakir Naik as a personality to be emulated at a fancy dress contest following protests from Muslims.

Asif Hussain, a spokesperson for the Board of Islamic Education Centres, told IANS that Naik's name from the list of 20 Muslim personalities to be emulated during the fancy dress contest had been withdrawn.

"The organisers have withdrawn Naik's name from the competition keeping in mind the reservations some people have regarding him," Hussain said.

"Naik has contributed a lot towards the enlightenment of Muslims and focussed a lot of commonalities of faiths... But in recent developments surrounding him and the reservations expressed from some quarters we have withdrawn his name from the list," he said.

Born in Mumbai, Naik is the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation and a television preacher who is now under the radar of Indian security and enforcement agencies allegedly over his extremist views and funding of his organisations.

Goa's first ever Muslim children's festival "Taare Zameen Par" from December 26-30 is being organised by the Board of Islamic Education along with the Hikmah Foundation's House of Wisdom.

The fancy dress competition is one of the several events in the festival where boys are expected to emulate "personalities who have contributed to Islam or Muslim community" and expected to dress and introduce them.

Others in the list of Muslim personalities to be emulated include Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Tippu Sultan, Adil Shah, Aurangzeb and Ibn Batuta.

BJP's minority cell chief Sheikh Jinnah told IANS that the inclusion of Naik was unfortunate in the first place.

"His views do not represent the views of Muslims in India. By asking children to emulate him, we might be sowing the wrong kind of ideas among young minds," he said.

--IANS

maya/py/mr
IIT-Kharagpur urges students to restore normalcy

West Bengal,National,Education, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Kolkata, Dec 23 (IANS) IIT Kharagpur Director P.P. Chakrabarti has urged agitating students to restore normalcy at the institute and called for bridging the communication gap.

The IIT-Kharagpur on Thursday dubbed the agitation as "undemocratic" after a section of students demanded the rollback of a hike in mess overhead charges, but said efforts were on to engage with them in a reasonable manner.

"The situation arising out of such over-reaction was extremely painful for all of us, including me as director of the Institute which is also my alma mater," Chakrabarti said in a letter to all the students dated December 22.

"Some of you have been agitating regarding the revised Mess Overhead Charges that are applicable from the next semester. The reasons are due to the sudden increase in the charges from Rs 8,250 to Rs 15,800. While the institute was willing to listen to the students in a peaceful manner, we were not at all agreeable to engage in any discussion under duress," Chakrabarti said.

He asserted IIT-Kharagpur is "the last institute to overburden students unnecessarily or discriminate among them".

The director also requested the students to "not be provoked into creation of an atmosphere" where the rest of the world -- including recruiting agencies, national and international institutions, which take the institute's students -- feel that IIT-Kharagpur students are not the type of people they want.

"I guess that there has been some communication gap as IIT-KGP students are not known to react this way. We are in the process of examining all the issues in details to see what is the best we can do," he said.

"Little did I know that on December 20 night and on December 21 morning, I would be profusely apologising to the several (at least five) distinguished alumni on campus in the last two days (who are giants on their fields now), two major industry leaders who came to initiate unique collaborations and the National Steering Committee on e-Library Consortium which I chair nationally to enable large discounts on e-books and journals, that I could not meet / discuss with because I and my colleagues were held hostage in my office and that they had to leave / cancel the meeting under such disturbing conditions," Chakrabarti said.

"I tried my best to explain to them that is not the 'new normal' of IIT-KGP and it still remains the great institution it was three days ago," the director added.

Hoping that good sense will prevail and the students will "refrain and get back to the true normal of IIT-KGP", Chakrabarti said the authorities will try to work out what is "best possible as soon as they can" and discuss how to take it forward in the future in a "democratic manner".

"We have to remove the disconnection that I observed in a much better manner. If you have any suggestions, please consolidate them and share with us," he added.

--IANS

sgh/sm/vt
Getting Oscar for 'Sarbjit' would be different high: Co-producer

Delhi,Cinema/Showbiz,Bollywood,Hollywood, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Actor Jackky Bhagnani, who debuted as producer with "Sarbjit", which has made it to the long list of 336 feature films eligible for the upcoming 89th Oscars, says bagging the prestigious honour for the film will be a different high for him.

The film, directed by Omung Kumar, is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates at a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.

"Bringing an Oscar is like bringing an olympics medal for the film fraternity...and of course getting it will be a different high. I hope this year 'Sarbjit' manages to get into the finalist, and make India proud," Jackky told IANS in an e-mail.

Jackky says he feels great as "Sarbjit" was his first production venture.

"This was my first film as a producer and I feel so blessed that that we are shortlisted for the Oscars in the feature film category alongside Hollywood films like 'La La Land' and 'Moonlight' and 'Manchester by the Sea'. The whole team of 'Sarbjit' has worked very hard on the project and I hope it makes its way to the final list as well.

Besides "Sarbjit", which stars Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Darshan Kumar in lead, actor Sushat Singh Rajput-starrer "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story" has also made to the Oscars long list.

"With two potential films being a part of this, I guess not only us but the entire industry would be excited, so fingers crossed hoping to get to the final list," Jackky said.

--IANS

dc/sas/vm
Hardik says he was arrested in Jaipur, police deny

Rajasthan,National,Politics,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Jaipur, Dec 23 (IANS) Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel in a tweet on Friday claimed that he was "arrested" here, but the Jaipur city police have denied it, saying he was only escorted.

Patel earlier said he was arrested on landing at the Jaipur airport but the police officer told him that it was done as a precautionary measure as there were risks to his life.

"Jaipur police cited threats to my life as the reason," Patel said and added he was "taken into custody". He even quoted an unnamed senior police officer as saying that there were "orders from above" to "arrest" him.

However, the police in Jaipur have denied any such arrest.

"We neither arrested nor detained him. We only provided him escort as there were some security concerns," Jaipur (East) Deputy Commissioner of Police Kumwar Rashtradeep told IANS.

"He (Patel) is now on his way to Udaipur where he is living for the last couple of months and has already crossed Ajmer district. If we would have arrested or detained him, would it be possible for him to tweet," the police officer said.

--IANS

as/in/vt
Remove 'anti-profiteering' provision from Model GST Law: Assocham

Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Against the backdrop of the ongoing Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meet, industry lobby Assocham has asked for removal of the anti-profiteering provision from the model law.

"Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India has suggested removal of a provision in the revised Model GST Law dealing with anti-profiteering since it is open to misuse and subjective interpretation," Assocham said in a statement here on Friday.

The suggestion was made by the industry chambers in a detailed representation to the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CEBC) and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

In the revised Model GST Law, the central government has been given powers to constitute an authority to examine whether input tax credits availed of by any registered taxable person, or the benefit of a reduction in the tax rate, has resulted in a commensurate reduction in the price of the goods or services supplied.

Also, the authority would have powers to impose penalties where the prices of goods or services supplied are not reduced.

"While the intent of such a proposal cannot be questioned, the industry believes that it will be very difficult to implement and the costs of compliance and administration will significantly outweigh the risks that some businesses will seek to 'profiteer' from the change in indirect tax systems," the statement added.

--IANS

mm/ksk/vt
President for innovative models for oral healthcare

Andhra Pradesh,National,Health/Medicine, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Hyderabad, Dec 23 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee Friday call for bridging the gap between the number of people seeking dental treatment and the number of dentists available by introducing innovative models of service delivery.

He said in addition to organizing dental camps and dental education outreach camps, there was a need to increase access through mobile dental clinics.

He was addressing the convocation of the Army College of Dental Sciences, Secunderabad.

Mukherjee noted that the country had over 300 dental colleges producing around 30,000 dentists annually.

"These numbers are somewhat inadequate as the dentist-to-patient ratio is small, particularly in the sub-urban and rural areas. As against an already low ratio of 1:8,000 in urban areas, the dentist to population ratio is acute in rural areas with one dentist for every 50,000 people," he said.

The President, who is on 10-day southern sojourn here, said many people suffer from poor oral health due to wrong lifestyle choices.

"Compounding the problem is a general lack of awareness and neglect. Lack of identification of oral diseases at initial stages and neglect of oral health deterioration adds to the disease burden," he said.

Stating that the cost of dental care sometime proves prohibitive for economically lower segments, he called for special measures to cover the vulnerable sections with reasonable oral healthcare services.

The President called upon the graduating students to use their knowledge and technical expertise for the welfare of the common man.

"With your professional might, contribute to the cause of humanity, and touch and transform the lives of millions," he said.

Degrees were conferred upon 38 graduating students and nine post graduates from six specialities of dental surgery.

Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali, Adjutant General Lt Gen. Rakesh Sharma, GOC Dakshin Bharath Area Lt Gen R K Anand, GOC Telangana and Andhra Sub Area Maj Gen Sharabh Pachory and other officials were present.

--IANS

ms/mr
Not surprisingly, JLF lands in another controversy

Delhi,National,Politics,Art/Culture/Books, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) With barely a month left for the 10th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival, the inclusion of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders in the programme and the exclusion of prominent faces of last year'a "award-wapsi" protest has drawn flak.

The upcoming edition will feature Manmohan Vaidya, the head of RSS's communications department and Dattatreya Hosabale, a joint general secretary of the RSS. On the other hand, writers who were almost regulars at the event, like Ashok Vajpeyi, Uday Prakash and K. Satchidanandan, have not been invited this time around.

Social media users were quick to point out at the "growing clout" of the RSS and suggesting that the latter have not been invited because of their active participation in the "award-wapsi" protest last year.

Given the fact that a major section of JLF's sessions tend to look at the major events in the past one year and books that made the headlines, some have pointed to the Dadri incident, the suicide of Rohit Vemula and mobilisation of students from IIT-Madras, Uthe niversity of Hyderabad and JNU, raising questions on why these issues have not found mention in the programme.

The annual event that, in its own words, has always ""stood for diversity of ideas, languages, nationalities and subjects", has not invited the likes of Vajpeyi, Prakash and Satchidanandan, who have been at the forefront of these issues.

Voices to boycot the JLF are also rising on social media. In a viral blog post, a user, Mosarrap H. Khan says: "If you want to resist the fascist forces in the country, boycott Jaipur Literature Festival. If you value Dalit and minority lives in India, boycott Jaipur Literature Festival. If you don't want a literary festival over the dead bodies of Muhammad Akhlaq and Rohith Vemula, boycott Jaipur Literature Festival."

On their part, the organisers say that this is "neither the first nor the last instance where we have welcomed speakers from the right, left and centre and allowed our audiences to form their own views at the end of each session of debate and discussion".

However, controversies are not new to JLF. IANS lists some earlier instances of its tryst with controversies:

* Who kept Salman Rushdie away?

In 2012, the controversial writer Salman Rushdie did not attend the festival because he had information that hitmen were "on the way to Jaipur to kill me", but later accused the Rajasthan government of inventing that theory to keep him away. "Rajasthan Police invented plot to keep away Rushdie' I've investigated, & believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry," Rushdie later tweeted.

The 2012 edition also saw several writers like Jeet Thayil and Ruchir Joshi reading from Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses", a book banned in India.

*Ashish Nandy creates furore

The very next edition of JLF in 2013 again became the centre of another controversy as sociologist, Ashis Nandy made a controversial comment on corruption and people belonging to OBC, SC and ST communities.

At the session "Republic of Ideas", on Republic Day, he said: "Some may call it a vulgar statement on my part, but it is a fact that most of the corruption comes from OBCs and Scheduled Castes and now increasingly Scheduled Tribes."

An FIR was filed against Nandy and festival producer Sanjoy Roy under sections 506 and 3(1) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by Rajpal Meena, the then state president of the National Union of Backward Classes, SCs, STs and Minorities.

The organisers then scheduled a hasty press conference where Nandy read out from a prepared text.

*Vedanta's sponsorship and uproar

In May 2016, over a hundred writers, academics, professionals and students, signed an open letter, urging participants of JLF London to boycott it.

The reason? The London leg of JLF received sponsorship from Vedanta Resources, the controversial British mining company with operations in India, Zambia and Australia.

The protesters issued a statement slamming "Vedanta's shameless PR campaign through the sponsorship of Jaipur Literature Festival, London" and expressed "solidarity with the many communities suffering pollution, illness, oppression, displacement and poverty as a result of Vedanta's operations."

--IANS

ss/vm
CBI summons Uttarakhand CM in sting case

Delhi,National,Politics,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The CBI on Friday said it has summoned Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat for further questioning over a "sting" video that purportedly shows him offering bribes for legislative support in the assembly.

In a written document, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) asked Rawat to appear before it at the agency's headquarters in Delhi on December 26.

Sources in the agency claimed that Rawat will be questioned to furnish full and complete details on many issues which he failed to submit in his questioning in June this year. The CBI had questioned the Congress Chief Minister twice in June.

Rawat has, however, maintained that he had "fully cooperated" with the CBI.

The sting video purportedly shows Rawat offering money to rebel Congress legislators to win their support ahead of a March 28 floor test in the 70-member Uttarakhand house. The floor test never happened as the state came under President's Rule a day earlier.

The video was shot by Umesh Kumar, the editor-in-chief of Noida-based private TV channel Samachar Plus, and was released on March 26 by nine Congress legislators who had rebelled against Rawat's government.

Rawat has denied the allegations and dismissed the video as a fake but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation.

In the sting operation which was done in March, rebel Congress lawmakers voted against the state budget and thereby triggered a political crisis.

Based on a reference from the state government, then under President's Rule, and further orders from the central government, the CBI on April 25 initiated a preliminary inquiry to determine the authenticity of the sting operation.

According to the agency, the video tapes have been proven to be authentic.

--IANS

rak/vd
Modi created divide between super rich, honest: Rahul

Uttar Pradesh,National,Politics, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Almora (Uttarakhand), Dec 23 (IANS) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi divided the country between the one per cent super rich and the 99 per cent honest people of the country.

"Banning of notes is an economic dacoity of the government. Modi ji has created a divide between one per cent super rich and 99 per cent honest people of the country," said Gandhi while addressing a rally in Almora.

"Not a single black money holder has been arrested so far. This policy was not against black money. There are 50 families who had taken loans. The scheme was to waive off the loans worth Rs 8 lakh crore of these families," he added.

He demanded that the Modi government should release in Parliament the list of those names who hold black money in Swiss banks.

--IANS

sid/ahm/vt
China opposes call for n-weapons boost by Trump, Putin

China,Politics,Defence/Security, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Beijing, Dec 23 (IANS) China on Friday opposed the call for a nuclear weapons boost by Russia and the US.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump had called for enhancing nuclear weapons capabilities, Efe news reported.

"China stands for and advocates the full prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press conference.

"The country with the largest nuclear arsenal should take special and prior responsibility for nuclear disarmament, take the lead in dramatically decreasing its nuclear arsenals so as to create conditions for full and thorough nuclear disarmament," he added.

On Thursday, Trump had tweeted that the US "must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes".

In a meeting with defence officials the same day, Putin also made a call to strengthen Russia's nuclear potential.

--IANS

ksk/dg
Kerala CM inaugurates school in Sharjah

United Arab Emirates,Politics,Diaspora,Diplomacy,Education, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Sharjah, Dec 23 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a three-day official visit, inaugurated an Indian school here, a media report said.

On Thursday, Vijayan toured the new Sharjah Indian School building in Juwaisa area and later congratulated the Indian Association Sharjah for its efforts in offering affordable education to expatriate children, the Gulf News reported.

Hundreds of community members, including women and children, were present to receive Vijayan at the school premises.

He was accompanied by K. Muraleedharan, a member of the Kerala assembly, and Y.A. Rahim, president of the Indian Association Sharjah.

Vijayan attended a large reception by the community members at Sharjah Expo Centre.

He will also attend an award function organised by a Malayalam TV channel and a public reception in Dubai. He paid a surprise visit to a labour camp of Indian workers in Al Quoz on Wednesday evening.

Vijayan's visit is considered significant in view of increased cooperation between the UAE and Kerala. The Emirates established a new consulate in Kerala this year.

He said Kerala would set up an exclusive cell to support investment from expatriates.

Speaking at a business meet in Dubai on Thursday, Vijayan announced that a single-window system and online transactions for facilitating investments were also in the pipeline.

Inviting expatriate investors to Kerala, Vijayan pledged to offer guarantee for investments in the state.

--IANS

soni/ksk/mr
Congress releases second list of nominees for Punjab polls

Delhi,National,Politics, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The Congress on Friday released the second list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.

The names announced by Congress General Secretary Madhusudan Mistry include Barinderjit Singh Pahra from Gurdaspur.

Pahra's father Kartar Singh Pahra was an MLA from 1997 until 2002 and he has been working in the constituency for the last several years.

The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Congress had on Tuesday finalised 25 candidates in the second round, but it announced names of only 16 of them.

The party announced the first list of 61 nominees for the Punjab polls last week.

In the first list, the party retained as candidates 31 of its 42 legislators.

--IANS

bns/nir/dg
Yasin Malik protests against Pakistan refugees, detained

Jammu And Kashmir,National,Politics, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Srinagar, Dec 23 (IANS) Separatist leader Yasin Malik was detained on Friday in a protest march against the Jammu and Kashmir government's alleged move to give domicile certificates to refugees from Pakistan even as the authorities have denied making any such a decision.

The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief was detained at Lal Chowk after the Friday prayers when he was leading the march along with dozens of his supporters.

Separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have been protesting the move that would give refugees from Pakistan state-subject rights allowing them to apply for jobs and vote in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

These refugees have settled in Jammu since the India-Pakistan wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971. Three generations of these refugees have been living in the state. They cannot apply for state government jobs. But they can vote in the Lok Sabha elections.

The state government has clarified that these refugees have been issued only identity cards to facilitate them to apply for jobs in central government departments.

--IANS

sq/sar/vt
Hijacked Libyan plane lands in Malta

Malta,Defence/Security,Terrorism,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Valletta (Malta), Dec 23 (IANS) A hijacked Libyan plane with around 120 people, including 111 passengers, on board landed in Malta on Friday, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.

"Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by," he said in a tweet.

The state-owned Afriqiyah Airways A320 plane was on an internal flight from Sebha to Tripoli in Libya. A total of 111 passengers and a crew of seven were on board.

According to the Times of Malta, at 12.13 p.m, the plane's engines were still running and it was surrounded by soldiers at a distance.

The reports indicated that one hijacker was on board. He was claiming to be in possession of a hand grenade.

The hijacker, claiming to be pro-Gaddafi, said he was willing to let all passengers go apart from the crew, if his demands were met.

However, it was not known what his demands were.

Meanwhile Malta authorities have cancelled or diverted all flights until further notice.

Passengers waiting in the departure lounge near the gates were being moved towards the open area by the Schengen Passport area.

The last major hijack incident in Malta took place in November 23, 1985, when an EgyptAir Boeing 737 plane was diverted to the island nation.

A 24-hour ordeal ended in a bloody massacre with 62 people dead when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane. Only one of the three hijackers survived and was brought to justice.

Forty three years ago then Prime Minster Dom Mintoff managed to negotiate the release of 247 passengers and eight air hostesses on board a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, which was also hijacked over Iraq and flown to Malta.

The passengers and air hostesses were released in return for fuel. The plane had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The plane later left Malta and the hijackers eventually surrendered.

--IANS

ahm/bg
Hijacked Libyan jet lands in Malta, 118 people on board (Third Lead)

Malta,Defence/Security,Terrorism,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Valletta (Malta), Dec 23 (IANS) A Libyan aircraft with 118 people on board, including 82 men, 28 women and an infant, was hijacked on Friday by a man claiming to have a hand grenade, media in Malta reported.

The hijacker told the crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

It was unclear what the demands were or whether the hijacker was acting alone.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed on Twitter that "The #Afriqiyah flight from #Sabha to #Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in #Malta. Security services coordinating operations."

He added: "It has been established that #Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant."

Libya's UN-backed government confirmed the hijacking and its forced diversion to Malta, Libya's state news agency LANA reported.

All passengers aboard the plane were in good health, an unnamed official at the Libyan foreign ministry told the agency.

"(Libyan) Foreign Minister Mohammed Sayala has immediately started intense contacts with his Maltese counterpart and the government there," the official added.

Security personnel took up positions a few hundred metres from the plane as it stood on the tarmac and no one was seen boarding or leaving it.

The aircraft's engines were running 45 minutes after it landed, the Times of Malta said. All other flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 500 km north of the Libyan coast.

Passengers waiting in the departure lounge near the gates were being moved towards the open area by the Schengen Passport area.

The last major hijack incident in Malta took place in November 23, 1985, when an EgyptAir Boeing 737 plane was diverted to the island nation.

A 24-hour ordeal ended in a bloody massacre with 62 people dead when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane. Only one of the three hijackers survived and was brought to justice.

Forty three years ago then Prime Minster Dom Mintoff managed to negotiate the release of 247 passengers and eight air hostesses on board a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, which was also hijacked over Iraq and flown to Malta.

The passengers and air hostesses were released in return for fuel. The plane had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The plane later left Malta and the hijackers eventually surrendered.

--IANS

ahm/bg
Tata Motors' shareholders oust Wadia as Director

Maharashtra,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) Automobile major Tata Motors on Friday said that a majority of its shareholders at an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) on Thursday voted to remove Industrialist Nusli Wadia as an Independent Director of the company.

According to a Tata Motors' regulatory filing with the BSE, over 69 per cent of total shareholders of the company voted during Thursday's EGM.

Out of the total number of shareholders who voted -- 1,517 or 71.20 per cent of votes -- favoured the resolution to remove Wadia from the Board of Directors.

In contrast, 1,037 shareholders, or 28.80 per cent of votes cast on Thursday, were opposed to the resolution to remove Wadia.

"Wadia was not present and as per his request, his letter dated December 21, 2016, addressed to the shareholders was read out by the Company Secretary," the automobile major said in its filing.

"On an invitation by the Chairman, lshaat Hussain representing the requisitionist, Tata Sons, spoke at the meeting clarifying certain issues raised by Wadia."

Tata Motors convened the EGM to take shareholders' approval for the removal of Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry and Independent Director Wadia from its Board of Directors.

However, on Monday, Mistry voluntarily stepped down from his position as non-executive Chairman from the Board of Directors of Tata Motors.

Tata Sons board ousted Mistry on October 24 and appointed Ratan Tata as the Interim Chairman. Wadia's support for Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Mistry has led several Tata Group companies to call for their respective EGMs to decide whether or not to remove Wadia from their respective boards.

The development comes few days after Wadia was removed from Tata Steel's Board of Directors.

On Wednesday, a majority of shareholders of Tata Steel removed Wadia as an Independent Director of the company.

At the end of the last quarter on September 30, Tata Sons held 26.98 per cent stake in the company, while the complete promoter group had a holding of 33.01 per cent in Tata Motors.

On December 13, Tata Sons hiked its stake in Tata Motors buying five crore shares worth Rs 486.13 per share.

Wadia approached the Bombay High Court, which on December 16 declined relief to minority shareholders of three Tata Group companies. They had sought restraint on promoters from voting at EGMs between December 21-23 on a resolution to remove Wadia as an Independent Director.

However, the Bombay High Court has barred Tata Steel, Tata Motors and Tata Chemicals from filling up the vacancy on the Board of Directors till further orders in the matter.

--IANS

rv/vt
The Tech World Feels the 'Patent Jerk' as Nokia Sues Apple

New Delhi, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 NI Wire

Nokia has retaliated in what looks like a 'Patent War' against the Apple on Wednesday when it sued the American Software giant for infringement of patent rights. Nokia has filed lawsuits in Mannheim, Munich and Dusseldorf in Germany and US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The Finnish company in its statement said, "Since agreeing a license covering some patents from the Nokia Technologies portfolio in 2011, Apple has declined subsequent offers made by Nokia to license other of its patented inventions which are used by many of Apple's products".

The multinational from Finland claims that Apple has attempted transgression of 32 patent rights that include rights related to display, user interface, antenna, video coding, software, chipsets and other features.

The move has come after the makers of the iPhone initiated legal proceedings against two patent licensors viz. Conversant Intellectual Property Management and Acacia Research Corp accusing them of being in cahoots with Nokia for extortion of revenue from the plaintiff by unfairly taxing the innovations related to its cell phones.

Josh Rosenstock, explaining the matter on behalf of Apple, said, "We've always been willing to pay a fair price to secure the rights of patents covering technology in our products". The Apple spokesman further stated, "Unfortunately, Nokia has refused to license their patents on a fair basis and is now using the tactics of a patent troll to attempt to extort money from Apple by applying a royalty rate to Apple's own inventions they had nothing to do with".

The defendants - Conversant, Acacia, as well as Nokia have not made any comments yet on this collusion allegation made against them.

What raises eyebrows is that the legal action taken by Apple happened only a day after Boris Teksler was appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Ottawa-based licensor Conversant. It is to be reported that Boris had worked as the Director of Patent Licensing and Strategy with Apple during 2009-2013. This means the latter half of his tenure collided with the infamous 'Smartphone Patent War' between Apple and Samsung that started five years back.

Conversant, which reportedly possesses thousands of patents, last week announced that they had been awarded $7.3 million damage claim in the case of two Smartphone patents' infringement against Apple by Silicon Valley Jury.

Similarly, the other accused party Acacia had reported its victory over the US-based leading software firm, in the matter of breach of the patent rights of one of its subsidiaries. The publicly-traded licensing firm based in California claimed that the subsidiary has been awarded $22 million as settlement by a Texas Jury in the said case.

The lawsuits filed by both the corporate houses seem to be the resurrection point of the war that was waged in 2011 when Samsung Electronics Co. was sued by Apple over the violation of patent rights in terms of copying designs of iPhone and iPad. In the same year the Korean electronics company countersued the Apple, blaming the latter of contravention of patents related to the former's mobile technology. The verdicts which came out awarded wins and losses to both the sides and didn't allow a clean sweep victory to either side.
Britain made situation worse in Syria: Ex-envoy

United Kingdom,Politics,Defence/Security,Diplomacy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

London, Dec 23 (IANS) A former British ambassador to Syria has accused the Foreign Office of lying over the countrys civil war and said the British policy there has "made the situation worse".

Peter Ford said the Whitehall department led by Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond before him had "gotten Syria wrong every step of the way", reported the Independent on Friday.

He said that Britain's Foreign Office was falsely claiming that Bashar al-Assad cannot control the country when he is "well on the way to doing so".

Ford, who was Britain's ambassador to Syria from 1999 to 2003, claimed that Britain misread and misrepresented the situation in the country since the start of the conflict.

"They told us at the beginning that Assad's demise was imminent... and he'd be gone by Christmas. They didn't say which Christmas, so they could still be proven correct," he said.

It comes after the Syrian army reported that it had taken full control of Aleppo following weeks of heavy bombing and fighting in and around the city.

Ford said that when the conflict started, Britain should have either "put everything, including our own forces, on to the battle field, or if our judgement, as it would have been my judgement, that was not realistic, refrain from encouraging the opposition to mount a doomed campaign".

He claimed Britain's tough talk on one hand, followed by little action to back rebels in Syria had preceded a rebellion that had "only led to hundreds of thousands of civilians being maimed and killed".

"We have made the situation worse."

In a statement on Thursday the Syrian army said it had "returned security to Aleppo" and called it a "crushing blow" for rebels.

Johnson said earlier this month that there could be no military solution to the war in Syria, while Britain has consistently taken the line that Assad cannot be a part of Syria's future.

--IANS

soni/ahm/vt
Notes ban is economic dacoity by government: Rahul

Uttar Pradesh,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Almora (Uttarakhand), Dec 23 (IANS) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's notes ban (demonetisation) decision is economic dacoity by the government.

He said Modi divided the country between the one per cent super-rich and the 99 per cent honest people of the country.

"Notes ban wasn't against black money or corruption, it was economic dacoity. Modi-ji has created a divide between one per cent super rich and 99 per cent honest people of the country," said Gandhi while addressing a rally in Almora.

"Not a single black money holder has been arrested so far. There are 50 families who had taken loans. The scheme was to waive off the loans worth Rs 8 lakh crore of these families," he added.

Gandhi said: "When farmers don't pay loans, the government snatches their lands and houses. But when rich don't pay loans, they call them defaulters and their debt Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). The government restructures their loans but doesn't recover it."

He demanded that the Modi government release in Parliament the list of names of those who hold black money in Swiss banks.

"About 94 per cent of the black money is in Swiss bank accounts, gold and real estate. Just 6 per cent of black money is in cash," said Gandhi.

"Modi has not listened to the farmers but has forgiven Rs 1.40 lakh crore in loans to 15 rich people ... but not farmers."

He said: "They say notes ban is a surgical strike on corruption, but this is actually fire-bombing on India's poor."

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 in a bid to curb black money and corruption in the country.

--IANS

sid/lok/dg
SIAC's representative office at GIFT City to be operational in January

Maharashtra,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Gandhinagar, Dec 23 (IANS) The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) will start operating its representative office at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) from January, an official said here.

The SIAC in June had signed a memorandum of agreement with GIFT for dispute resolution mechanisms at the country's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) here.

Under the agreement, SIAC and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) will collaborate with the Indian companies to resolve international commercial disputes in the GIFT city.

"All the formalities have been completed and the SIAC will start their operations here through their representative office from January," said Dipesh Shah, head (IFSC & Strategy) at GIFT City.

"SIAC, and the SIAC Rules, are widely used by Indian and international companies investing in India, to resolve their disputes. So the opening of the office will be big boost towards dispute redressal," he said.

Talking about the GIFT city, Shah also said the BSE starting an international stock exchange will further boost the prospects of the IFSC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the international trading operations of the BSE on January 9 on the eve of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2017.

Shah said following the BSE's international exchange, as many as 84 trading members with the BSE will also set up business at the IFSC.

"Besides, being operational with transactions worth over A$1 billion, we have received committed investment of over $1700 million of which $300 million have already been made," he added.

--IANS

and/vd
Delhi BJP to celebrate Vajpayee's birthday with sanitation drive

Delhi,National,Politics,Environment/Wildlife, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Over 25,000 BJP workers from Delhi will take part in cleanliness activities as a tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary on December 25, the party state unit said here on Friday.

Announcing a detailed organisational programme for the week, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party President Manoj Tiwari asked the party workers to celebrate December 25 as 'Swachhta-Suchita Diwas' (Sanitation-Good Governance Day).

Besides workers, Bharatiya Janata Party's parliament members, legislators, municipal councillors, and district level office-bearers will participate in voluntary labour, and awareness campaign on good governance and new economic policies.

"BJP workers will carry out sanitation awareness drive from hospitals, railway stations, major bus-stands, court complexes, major markets to neighbourhood parks," a statement issued by the party said.

"On 25th December from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the workers will offer sanitation 'Shram Daan' (voluntary labour), and between 12 to 1 p.m. they will hold discussions on mobile app banking and cashless economy," it added.

Tiwari also said that during the week, the party will hold conventions at all the 14 organisational districts here, and educate workers about the guiding principles of 'good governance' as laid down by Vajpayee.

A talk is also scheduled on the impact of demonetisation.

After he became the Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi declared December 25 to be celebrated by the party as 'Good Governance Day'.

--IANS

vn/sm/vt
India condemns terror attack at German Christmas market

India,National,Defence/Security,Terrorism,Diplomacy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) India on Friday strongly condemned the terror attack on a Christmas market in Germany that claimed the lives of 12 persons.

"India strongly condemns the attack that occurred at a Christmas market in Berlin on December 19," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing here.

"We offer our condolences to the families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," he said.

"As a victim of repeated terror attacks, India stands with the government and people of Germany."

At least 12 persons were killed and 48 injured when a truck ploughed through a crowd in a Christmas market in the German capital on Monday.

Early on Friday, the suspect, a Tunisian identified as Anis Amri, was shot dead by Italian police in the city of Milan.

Swarup said that there could be "no doubt that the rising number of terrorist attacks across the world underlines the need for concerted action against terrorism in all its manifestations".

--IANS

ab/bg
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Basel Alrashdan's family fled their family home in Syria five years ago, with the boy's father telling him to take only his "very important things" in a small bag.



Now, the 11-year-old is learning to ice-skate, enjoys building snowmen and speaks English with a Canadian accent.



He loves everything Canadian, his father, Amjad, told photographer Ashley Gilbertson.



The Alrashdan family was granted asylum by Canada and has since late 2015 lived in Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island. They are one of about 250 Syrian families who were resettled in the eastern Canadian province.



Gilbertson, who works for the VII Photo Agency, teamed up with the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) to chronicle what Basel's life is like after a year in his new homeland. Gilbertson's photographs and his account of Basel and his family's journey and new lives were offered to ABC News courtesy of UNICEF.



Basel remembers the day his family left Syria amid heavy fighting in Daraa where a local uprising against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ultimately expanded a year later into a full-fledged civil war.



It was really fast and very sad, Basel told Gilbertson. He said his father told him: 'Just take your very important things and put them in a small bag.'"



The family went first to Jordan where they lived first in a refugee camp and then eventually made their way to Amman, the country's capital.



But opportunities for jobs and education for the children -- Basel and his younger sister and brother -- were scarce, the family told Gilbertson.



Basels mother, Ghouson, said she supplemented the childrens schooling at home. The father had to work two jobs from morning until midnight each day just to provide basic necessities for the family.



Refugees' rights in Jordan were less than other people, the father, Amjad, said in an interview with Gilbertson.



Then in late 2015, the family was invited to apply for asylum in Canada.



Amjad said he told the Canadian government that he had family in Detroit and would like to be in Ontario to be near them but was told that would mean waiting a year, according to Amjad's account to Gilbertson.



So Amjad asked where the family could go without a long wait.

"They told me Prince Edward Island. I didnt know that place, but, I said, 'Well, I love islands, so why not?' he recalled.



Basel recalls the day the family arrived in Charlottetown on Dec. 27, 2015.



When my toes went out of the airplane, my foot became freezing, the boy told Gilbertson. Id never felt cold before that.



Basel, along with his 5-year-old brother Idress and 7-year-old sister Shatha, now attend St. Jean Elementary School in Charlottetown.



Basel's willingness to intervene in problems and help others has earned him a nickname.



We call him 'the little mayor,' the schools principal, Tracy Ellsworth, said in an interview with Gilbertson. Hes very dedicated to whats fair and just. That was evident with him from the get-go.



Basel and his siblings arent the only newcomers at the school. Approximately half of the students are refugees or migrants, school officials told Gilbertson.



We have children that came from no schooling whatsoever, or from British schools in the Middle East, and kids that have been in refugee camps for most of their life, Ellsworth said.



In Basels class of 16 students, eight languages are spoken.



The scene around the local school is changing, too, Gilbertson noted. Queen Street, where the school is located, is peppered with shops and restaurants catering to an array of cultures, including Chinese and Lebanese, and the space between the haberdashery store and a yoga studio houses a mosque, where Basel's father sometimes serves as the imam.



Multiculturalism in Canada is a concept enshrined by law, Gilbertson notes. In 1971, Canada became the first country to embrace the concept as policy. The country has fostered a cultural mosaic where people from different backgrounds live side by side.



In Canada, Im Canadian. Im not a refugee, Basel told Gilbertson. I feel Canadian-Syrian. No  Syrian-Canadian! he said, laughing.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Trying my best, says Jaitley as GST logjam continues

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Finding no common ground on the issue of dual control or cross empowerment that deals with assessee jurisdiction, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's 7th meeting that came to an end on Friday raised grave concerns about its April 1 implementation date while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley saying that he was trying his best.

"I am trying my best (on deadline of April 1). I don't want to hasten the process of discussion and don't want to delay the implementation," Jaitley said at a press briefing after the Council meet ended.

The Finance Minister however said: "There was no issue raised on dual control today as we were working on legislations."

Jaitley said that the two principle issues that still remain before the Council are Integrated GST (iGST) and cross empowerment.

"In iGST, definition of territory of states is pending. And the division of authority between assessing authorities of Centre and states is pending. The two issues will be taken up together at the next meeting on January 3-4.

"The recommendation of GST rates committee will also be placed before the Council at the next meeting," he said.

The drafts of Central GST (cGST) and the compensation law were approved mostly in the Council meeting on Friday with the only portions relating to dual control being left out, he added.

"The primary draft of the cGST and sGST law has been approved. These two laws will be mirror image of each other. There were some portions that were left out. Only those blanks are there which deal with dual control and cross empowerment," Jaitley said.

The legally vetted copy of the cGST and compensation law will brought before the Council in its next meeting, he said.

The three GST bills - Central GST (cGST), Integrated GST and State Compensation Law - need to be approved by the Council before they can be tabled in the Parliament.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who is part of the GST Council, told reporters that the "big issues are still to be resolved".

The iGST issue has not been discussed on Friday, he said.

"Second issue is dual control. The states are very clear with the unanimous decision of the empowered committee that small traders with a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore turnover cannot have dual assessment," he added.

Mitra said that post-demonetisation, the states feel that they will need more compensation than mentioned in the GST draft bills.

"Many issues on compensation need to be resolved. Earlier the parameters on compensation were different, there was no demonetisaion. Now in new environment, many states feel they will need compensation. They feel 30-40 per cent revenue will be affected in the third quarter."

But Jaitley, during the press briefing, clarified that the compensation in GST is only for loss of revenues due to GST implementation, but asked how was it related to this.

--IANS

mm/vd
Germany was informed about Tunisian suspect earlier

Malta,Defence/Security,Terrorism,Diplomacy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Rabat, Dec 23 (IANS) Moroccan intelligence services had warned Germany about a potential threat posed by Tunisian national Anis Amri, the main suspect in the December 19 Christmas market attack, ahead of the deadly incident in Berlin.

According to investigative website Mondafrique, the German Federal Foreign Service (BND) was alerted by Moroccan intelligence agencies (also known as DST) on September 19 of Anis Amiri's jihadist tendencies and his alleged allegiance to the Islamic State terror group.

The German intelligence was again informed on October 11 that Amiri was illegally residing in Germany for 14 months and was meeting, on a regular basis, with two followers of the IS described as "dangerous", said Mondafrique on Thursday.

Before entering Germany, Amiri had tried to enter the Syrian war zone as well as Iraq following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011.

Amiri, who is of Tunisian origin, was later arrested by Italian authorities and sentenced to four years in prison after he tried to leave for Turkey, said the Moroccan sources.

Amiri was shot dead by the police on Friday in Milan, Italy.

--IANS

soni/ahm/dg
Maoist killed in Jharkhand gun battle

Bihar,National,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Ranchi, Dec 23 (IANS) A Maoist guerrilla was killed in gun battle with security forces in Jharkhand's Khuti district on Friday, police said.

According to police, the gun battle broke out between security forces and guerrillas belonging to People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) took place at Murhu of Khuti, around 45 Km from Ranchi.

One ultra was killed and three three rifles seized after the gun battle while a large number of Maoists managed to escape.

--IANS

ns/vd
Need attention on theoretical physics in India: Indian-American scientist

West Bengal,National,Science/Tech,Education, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Kolkata, Dec 23 (IANS) India needs focused attention to further the discipline of theoretical physics, where it is yet to match global standards, says Indian-American physicist Mani Bhaumik.

"In the world standard, we are still behind. There are good people like Ashoke Sen (the string theorist) and good work is going on at Jadavpur University, TIFR and others. We are a developing country and we require more resources but we need to have the focus and desire to do well in the field," Bhaumik told IANS here on the sidelines of a felicitation ceremony by the Ophthalmological Society of West Bengal and Disha Eye Hospitals.

One of the advantages that India has is that the researchers here have traditionally been contemplative and intuitive which is important for the growth of theoretical physics, he said.

Bhaumik recently funded the establishment of the $11 million Mani L. Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics at University of California, Los Angeles.

About this, he said the goal is to show the unification of all particles.

Faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students at the Bhaumik Institute will address unanswered questions in all areas of theoretical physics.

Theoretical physicists attempt to determine the action of the laws of nature by constructing mathematical models of physical systems and solving the equations that underlie those models, sometimes aided by computers.

Born in a remote village in West Bengal, Bhaumik rose from poverty to become an eminent scientist who played a key role in developing the laser technology that paved the way for Lasik eye surgery.

--IANS

sgh/ssp/vd
Kejriwal lashes out at Modi government on demonetisation

Rajasthan,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Jaipur, Dec 23 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday lashed out against the Narendra Modi government on demonetisation and termed it a "big scam".

"People are facing problems, troubles and hardships due to this," Kejriwal said while addressing a rally here.

"Trade, industry and the common man have suffered badly, farmers are in grave trouble, mandis wear a deserted look and the country's economy has been adversely affected," he said.

"If it would have been a drive against corruption, then I would have been the first person to support Modi-ji," he added.

Kejriwal further said: "I am not here for political reasons. If I was interested in just politics, then I would have gone to Punjab and Goa rather than coming here.

"I am travelling all over the country to educate people and make them aware about demonetisation, and I have come to Jaipur for this reason only."

He demanded that audit should be ordered into the accounts of all political parties and all transactions over the last five years.

He alleged that 70 per cent of the BJP donations came in cash, the Congress figure is 80 per cent, while 8 per cent donations for the AAP came in cash.

"Modiji should first make his party cashless (not to take donations in cash) before making the economy cashless", he said.

The common man is feeling cheated, as the big fish have already converted their currency, he said.

The Prime Minister has already got a list of 648 persons who have accounts in Swiss banks.

"If he (PM) takes action against them then all the black money can be recovered. Why is he not acting against these persons," he asked.

He alleged that this note ban is Rs 8-lakh crore scam. This much was given as loans by banks to big businessmen. The Modi government has already waived off loans of over Rs 1.14 lakh crore of big business tycoons, he said.

"Banks were left no money because of this and the government wanted to write off Rs 8-lakh crore loans, so Modi-ji and Amit Shah resorted to this note ban or demonetisation," Kejriwal said.

Targeting Vijay Mallaya, he said that in March he was allowed to run away from the country. "Now they are claiming that they are trying to bring him back."

"When people were standing in queues to convert their currency, Modi government wrote off some loans of Mallya. Do you think they (the BJP government) did it for free?"

He also showed a file containing papers, in which he claimed that in October 2013, the Income-Tax department had raided the Birla Group and in documents recovered by the I-T officials, it is written that the then Gujarat Chief Minister would be given Rs 25 crore, out of which Rs 12 crore had already been paid.

Likewise, in November 2014, an I-T raid was conducted on the Sahara Group and Rs 130 crore cash and incriminating documents were recovered which had names of some politicians mentioned to whom money was paid. He alleged that Modi's name also figures in it.

"Why Modi-ji is not ordering inquiry into allegations of kickbacks by some industrialists," he wondered.

--IANS

as/nir/dg
Goa AAP's CM candidate summoned by ACB in housing scam case

Goa,National,Politics, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Panaji, Dec 23 (IANS) A few days after the Aam Aadmi Party named him as its chief ministerial candidate in Goa, former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes has been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Goa Police in connection with a housing scam case.

The AAP Goa convener has accused the BJP-led coalition government of the state of victimisation and has demanded that all land acquisition procedures which were initiated and subsequently dropped over the last few years, should be probed.

Gomes, along with Nilkanth Halarnkar, a former Minister for Housing in the erstwhile Congress-NCP alliance government, has been summoned to report before the investigating officer on December 26, a senior ACB official told IANS on Friday.

"They have been asked to report before the ACB on December 26," a senior police official said on the condition of anonymity.

Gomes and Halarnkar were booked under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) in February this year, while Gomes was still a serving bureaucrat.

The duo has been accused of scrapping official acquisition procedure for a piece of land measuring 30,256 sq metres in South Goa's Margao, and again without following procedure, giving an opportunity for vested interests to purchase the land subsequently.

During his visit to Goa last week, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP co-convener Arvind Kejriwal described Gomes as an honest officer and nominated him as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate in the state, which will go to polls early next year.

Gomes has in the past called the accusation his "political victimisation", with an eye on the state assembly elections and has said that he has committed no illegality.

Gomes has also claimed that he was not even holding office when the land acquisition process was moved.

"We demand that all land acquisition procedures which were initiated and dropped in the last ten years, during the respective tenure of the governments led by the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine and the current BJP-led coalition should be probed," Gomes said.

The AAP leader also said that in one specific land acquisition deal involving a tract of land meant for parking at the Dabolim airport, which was later reverted to private ownership, opposition BJP politicians as well as those from the Congress-NCP ruling coalition had received kickbacks.

--IANS

maya/lok/vt
Hardik says he was arrested in Jaipur, police deny (Third Lead)

Rajasthan,National,Politics, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Jaipur, Dec 23 (IANS) Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Friday claimed that he was "arrested" here, but Jaipur city police denied it, saying he was only "escorted".

Patel earlier tweeted he was arrested on landing at the Jaipur airport, but a police officer told him that it was done as a precautionary measure as there was risk to his life.

"Jaipur police cited threat to my life as the reason," Patel said, and added he was "taken into custody". He even quoted an unnamed senior police officer as saying that there were "orders from above" to "arrest" him.

However, police in Jaipur denied any such arrest.

"We neither arrested nor detained him. We only provided him escort as there were some security concerns," Jaipur (East) Deputy Commissioner of Police Kumwar Rashtradeep told IANS.

"If we would have arrested or detained him, would it have been possible for him to tweet," the police officer asked.

Sources said Patel was expected to meet Kejriwal, who was already in the city to address a rally against the November 8 note ban.

Police were also worried that he could also try to meet Gujjar community leaders, who were campaigning for quota in Rajasthan, a source said.

Worried about the expected meetings of the Patidar leader, police confined him inside the airport, the source added.

Patel was later escorted to Udaipur where he is living for the last couple of months.

--IANS

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Ahead of Modi event, Congress performs token 'bhoomi pooja' of Pune Metro

Maharashtra,National,Politics, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Pune, Dec 23 (IANS) The Congress on Friday performed a token 'bhoomi pooja' of the proposed Pune Metro Railway project, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for the formal function here.

Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, under whose tenure the project secured all final approvals to put it on track, performed the 'pooja' at Swargate area of the city in the presence of a large number of Congress activists.

Later, speaking to media persons, he demanded to know why the Pune Metro was delayed by the Modi government and priority accorded to the Nagpur Metro.

He accused the state BJP of organising Saturday's function taking into consideration the forthcoming civic elections in the city and other major municipalities across the state early next year.

Chavan said recently, a proposal to get the Pune Metro inaugurated by Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar had been passed along with Congress support at an all-party meeting of Pune Municipal Corporation.

Now, the PM will perform the bhoomi pooja for the prestigious Rs 11,420 crore project and Pawar will be attending the function, he said.

Last Tuesday, Pune Mayor Prashant Jagtap, who belongs to the NCP, had even threatened to boycott the PM's event and organise a separate event if Pawar was not invited.

--IANS

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Libyan jet hijack drama ends in Malta, hostages released (Fifth Lead)

Malta,Defence/Security,Terrorism,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Valletta (Malta), Dec 23 (IANS) A Libhyan jetliner hijack drama ended peacefully at Malta International Airport on Friday and all 118 persons aboard were safely rescued, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed in a series of tweets.

A man believed to be from the pro-Gaddafi group Al Fatah Al Gadida hijacked the Airbus A320 aircraft from Tripoli with crew and passengers that included 28 women and a child.

"Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a series of tweets.

While the Prime Minister talked of "hijackers", local media referred to a lone man who commandeered the aircraft.

The hijacker earlier told the crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

It was not known what the demands of the hijacker or hijackers were and if it was an act of terrorism or the result of the bitter Libyan political feud.

One German report said they were demanding the release of Saif Gaddafi, the second son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The claim was confirmed when a hijacker was seen at the aircraft door waving the former green Libya flag.

Prime Minister Muscat earlier confirmed on Twitter that "The #Afriqiyah flight from #Sabha to #Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in #Malta. Security services coordinating operations."

He added: "It has been established that #Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant."

Libya's UN-backed government confirmed the hijacking and its forced diversion to Malta, Libya's state news agency LANA reported.

All passengers aboard the plane were in good health, an unnamed official at the Libyan Foreign Ministry told the agency.

"(Libyan) Foreign Minister Mohammed Sayala has immediately started intense contacts with his Maltese counterpart and the government there," the official added.

Security personnel took up positions a few hundred metres from the plane as it stood on the Malta tarmac.

All flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

The aircraft was flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 500 km north of the Libyan coast.

Passengers waiting in the departure lounge near the gates were being moved towards the open ground by the Schengen Passport area.

The last major hijack incident in Malta took place in November 23, 1985, when an EgyptAir Boeing 737 was diverted to the island nation.

A 24-hour ordeal then ended in a bloody massacre with 62 people dead when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane. Only one of the three hijackers survived and was brought to justice.

Forty-three years ago then Prime Minster Dom Mintoff managed to negotiate the release of 247 passengers and eight air hostesses on board a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, which was also hijacked over Iraq and flown to Malta.

The passengers and air hostesses were released in return for fuel. The plane had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The hijackers eventually surrendered and the plane later left Malta.

--IANS

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Gang rape victim's mother shot at in Delhi

Delhi,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) A 47-year-old woman, mother of a gang rape victim, was shot at on Friday morning when she was on her way to hospital here, along with her victim daughter, police said.

The woman was shot in the back by an unidentified young man in Jamia Nagar area of south Delhi.

The victim has been identified as Neemat, a resident of Jamia Nagar, according to police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Banniya told reporters: "The woman was shot at around 8.45 a.m when she was going to hospital along with her daughter. The attacker was a young boy.

"After firing at the lady, he fled the spot, along with his associate, who was waiting for him at some distance."

A case of attempt to murder has ben registered against the unidentified person, police said.

The victim is the mother of the 15-year-old girl, who was gang-raped. A case of gang rape was registered against four persons, including a local builder, on December 12.

According to police, the sexual assault on the girl first took place in July 2016 when the accused, identified as 40-year-old Sajid Khan, a resident of Shaheen Bagh area, raped the victim in his flat.

The attack could be related to the gang rape case, police said.

The rape victim is a Class IX student of a government school. She met Khan through her classmate, police said.

Khan also made an MMS clip of the sexual assault. Later, Khan's three to four associates also committed the same crime with the victim in various flats located in south Delhi.

--IANS

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Sarsawa air base likely to host first Rafale squadron

Delhi,National,Defence/Security, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The first squadron of Rafale fighter jets are likely to be based at the Sarsawa air base of Indian Air Force in Uttar Pradesh, informed sources said on Friday.

According to sources, the air base is being geared up for the squadron, while two more bases are to be identified.

The deliveries of the aircraft will start in September 2019 and will be completed in April, 2022.

Sources said a team from Dassault Aviation visited the air base last month, and a feasibility test was carried out. The infrastructure for hosting the squadron and its maintenance is being created at the air base.

The Sarsawa air base comes under the Western Command of IAF.

The first squadron is likely to have 12 fighters, including pair of trainers.

India and France signed an inter-government agreement for purchase of 36 Rafale fighters off shelf on September 23 this year. This was after a long negotiation between the two countries over the price and other aspects of the deal which was agreed upon during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in April 2015.

The procurement includes a provision for offsets of 50 percent of the value of the Aircraft and Weapons Package, excluding the value of Performance Based Logistics and Simulator Annual Maintenance, which will be discharged by the vendors through purchase of eligible products supplied by Indian firms.

--IANS

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Attempts made to damage Tata Group's reputation: Ratan Tata

Maharashtra,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) Tata Sons Interim Chairman Ratan Tata on Friday said attempts have been made to damage his and Tata Group's reputation.

"Over the last two months there has been a definite move to damage my personal reputation and the reputation of this great group - the Tata group," Tata told the Tata Chemicals' extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) held here on Friday.

"And these days are very lonely because the newspapers are full of attacks, most of them unsubstantiated but nevertheless very painful. And coming here this week with all the shareholders, I have been so moved emotionally and deeply touched by the warmth and the support and the affection that they have shown."

"I could not leave here today without at least expressing my deepest gratitude to the shareholders. It has been a pleasure to be with you. It could have gone either way but your support has been overwhelming and remarkable."

According to Tata, the group has been based on governance and fair play.

"It has done more for my sense of goodwill today and this week than anything else that has happened. The group has been there for 150 years. It has been based on governance, fair play," Tata said.

"I think the truth will prevail, whatever the process may be, however painful it may be. The truth will prevail and the systems in our country will govern."

Tata Chemicals EGM has been convened to decide whether or not to remove Industrialist Nusli Wadia, an Independent Director of the company, from the Board.

The original agenda of the EGM was to take shareholders' approval for the removal of Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry and Independent Director Wadia from its Board of Directors.

However, on Monday, Mistry had voluntarily stepped down from his position as non-executive Chairman from the Board of Directors of Tata Chemicals.

Tata Sons' board ousted Mistry on October 24 and appointed Ratan Tata as the Interim Chairman.

Wadia's support for Mistry has led several Tata Group companies to call for their respective EGMs to decide whether or not to remove him from their respective Boards.

Earlier in the day, Wadia had made an impassioned appeal to the company's shareholders to vote with their "conscience" during the firm's EGM.

"It is in your hands to vote with your conscience for what is right for your company and more important for the institution of Independent Directors," Wadia said in his letter, written on Thursday but made public on Friday.

Wadia said that he has chosen not to attend the company's EGM, as the recent meetings of other Tata companies have been "inappropriately and shamefully stage managed".

"What is at stake now is not whether I am removed or not but the fate of the very institution of the Independent Director that has been created in law and by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders," he said.

In the letter, Wadia outlined events relating to some key decisions of the Board, such as Tata Chemicals' investment in the Brunner Mond Group of the United Kingdom, and the proposed merger of Hind Lever Chemicals Limited (HLCL) (Haldia Plant) with the company.

"Most important of all is Tata Chemicals' investment in the Brunner Mond Group, in UK, Kenya (Magadi Soda) and the Netherlands at a cost of around Rs 800 crore," Wadia disclosed.

The letter elaborated that Wadia, as well as some other Board members, had expressed concern about the fundamental issues involved in the overall arrangement of the deals.

Wadia pointed to large cross-holdings of Tata Chemicals in various listed and unlisted Tata companies.

"If these holdings were to be disposed off, your company would be debt- free. These cross-holdings are being maintained in a debt-ridden company only to indirectly keep the voting rights and control of Tata Sons and Tata Trusts," the letter explained.

"Figure across all the listed companies holdings in Tata Sons is approximately 14% of its capital amounting to approximately Rs 70,000 crore," it said.

"It is for you, the shareholders of Tata Chemicals, who own 70% of the shares of your company to decide whether you want to be the holder of Tata Sons shares with minimum return, zero liquidity and no exit."

The development comes a day after Wadia was removed from Tata Motors' Board of Directors.

On Thursday, a majority of Tata Motors' shareholders at its EGM had voted to remove Wadia as an Independent Director of the company.

Tata Motors' in a regulatory filing made to the BSE said that over 69 per cent of total shareholders of the company voted during Thursday's EGM.

Out of the total number of shareholders who voted -- 1,517 or 71.20 per cent of votes -- favoured the resolution to remove Wadia from the Board of Directors.

In contrast, 1,037 shareholders, or 28.80 per cent of votes cast on Thursday, were opposed to the resolution to remove Wadia.

Wadia has also been removed as an Independent Director from the Board of Tata Steel on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Wadia had approached the Bombay High Court, which on December 16 declined relief to minority shareholders of three Tata Group companies. They had sought restraint on promoters from voting at EGMs between December 21-23 on a resolution to remove Wadia as an Independent Director.

However, the Bombay High Court has barred Tata Steel, Tata Motors and Tata Chemicals from filling up the vacancy on the Board of Directors till further orders in the matter.

--IANS

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Shantha's Shan5 vaccine dispatched for Unicef supply

Andhra Pradesh,National,Health/Medicine,Business/Economy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Hyderabad, Dec 23 (IANS) Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced the dispatch to Unicef of a part of a consignment of six million doses of Shan5 - a paediatric pentavalent vaccine manufactured by its affiliate Shantha Biotechnics.

Shan5 is manufactured in Shantha Biotechnics' new plant in the state and will be exported to Nigeria, Morocco and Rwanda through the UN agency.

Shan5, which was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in April 2014, is a high-quality vaccine that provides effective protection for children from 6 weeks of age against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B.

Shantha Biotechnics is manufacturing Shan5 in a new facility, which is spread across 19,000 square-meters and located in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Muppireddypally, Telangana.

The commercial production of vaccines started in May this year after getting the necessary approvals from the Indian regulatory authorities and the WHO.

"With a dedicated site for vaccines in the country, we are reinforcing our commitment towards disease prevention and public health in India and across the world," said Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director - India and Vice President - South Asia, Sanofi.

"Across the world, a large number of babies today do not have access to modern vaccination programs. Our aim, at Shantha Biotechnics, is to fill this gap by providing large supplies of high-quality vaccines to emerging and low-income countries. Our new manufacturing site will help us to meet the purpose, " said Mahesh Bhalgat, Executive Director & Chief Operation Officer, Shantha Biotechnics, India.

--IANS

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Jindal Global University opens school of journalism

Delhi,National,Media,Education, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has inaugurated India's first global media school that will foster inter-disciplinary learning to train and groom the next generation of media leaders, at the India International Centre here.

"The vision of the school is to provide training as well as the knowledge and education through a critical pedagogy which includes inter-disciplinarity at the core of it," Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor at JGU, said on the occasion.

The Jindal School of Journalism & Communication (JSJC), which will be operational from 2017, will offer a three-year full-time B.A. (Hons.) Media and Communication programme, designed to give students a rigorous understanding of journalism across print, broadcast, radio and new media platforms.

"Rampant changes in technology and the business models of journalism effect what we read, see and hear. Journalism today faces momentous challenges, challenges which only well-qualified and well-educated journalists can take up," said Tom Goldstein, Professor and Dean at University of California-Berkeley while delivering the inaugural address.

A discussion on 'ethics and professional obligations of journalists in a democracy' was also held at the event, a statement said.

Distinguished journalists and academics from both India and abroad participated in the event on Thursday and stressed the need for integrity on behalf of media persons.

Noted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said: "We live in the times of high-octane nationalism, where the narrative is now being spun about whether you are wearing your patriotism on your sleeve or not. With social media as echo chambers for hate and outrage, journalists are being now branded, based on their ideological preferences."

"My ethical belief system tells me that we as journalists must not put India first but truth first," he added.

--IANS

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6th-grader in Pakistan sues President House's over plagiarism

Pakistan,Immigration/Law/Rights,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Education, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Islamabad, Dec 23 (IANS) A sixth-grader, through his father, on Friday sued in the Islamabad High Court officials of the Pakistan President's House, accusing them of plagiarising and using his speech without his consent.

Eleven-year-old Mohammad Sabeel Haider, who studies in Islamabad Model College for Boys, told DawnNews that he was chosen to deliver a speech at the President House in Islamabad on December 22.

The ceremony was recorded and is supposed to be aired on Pakistan Television on December 25, marking the 141st birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

However, when Sabeel arrived at the President's House, he was informed he will no longer be delivering the speech.

He said in his petition that a tenth-grader named Ayesha Ishtiaq delivered the speech he had written and prepared, alleging that his intellectual property was stolen.

According to Sabeel's lawyer, as per country's constitution, a literary piece that the person has produced themselves cannot be used by a third party without their consent.

The court's judgement in this regard has been reserved.

--IANS

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Two held for cheating, money laundering

Delhi,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Two men were arrested on Friday for stealing Rs 55.7 lakh from a Delhi woman's bank account and laundering money in collusion with bank officials, police said.

The accused were involved in issuing fake bills against bank entries, theft of sales tax and illegal transactions in Corporation Bank at Greater Kailash (GK)-II area, where the woman had her bank account, police said.

Police also detected nine fake accounts which were opened in the name of fake firms viz R.K International, Swastik Trading and others at Kotak Mahindra Bank at Naya Bazar and used to convert illegitimate money into legitimate through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) with the help of the bank manager and staff.

Police said on September 16, 2016, Suman Anand, a resident of Gk-II had filed a complaint that sums of Rs 40,50,200 and Rs 15,20,300 were debited illegally from her account on different dates through RTGS using cheques.

The victim told police that these cheques in original are in her possession and forged cheques were used to transfer cash from her account.

"Police arrested the accused following a tip off from Naya Bazar on Thursday night," Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP) Crime Ravindra Yadav said.

The accused persons have been identified as Rajkumar Goel, 47, a resident of Sonepat in Haryana and Ranjit, 29, a native of Jharkhand. The duo worked as commission agents at Naya Bazar in Old Delhi area, police said.

"Goel and Ranjit told police that they had opened an account in the name of Raj Enterprises at Kotak Mahindra Bank and the money was received by them in this account through RTGS. The account is used only for such transactions," Yadav said.

"Another person, Upender, cousin of Ranjit, is proprietor of the account. The money has also been transferred to another account of IVD services at Ghaziabad which is also under investigation," Yadav added.

The investigation is on, he added.

A person can transfer money through RTGS in Bank branch also by filling up a NEFT/RTGS form. However, for money transfers involving large sums, the person has to provide a cheque, but even if one doesn't have a cheque book handy the bank generally arranges for a temporary cheque book in the person's name.

--IANS

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Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh selected for Jnanpith

West Bengal,National,Art/Culture/Books, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Kolkata/New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Noted Bengali poet Shankah Ghosh was on Friday chosen for the India's highest literary honour Jnanpith award for 2016, the award selection panel announced on its website.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Jnanpith Selection Board chaired by scholar, writer and critic Namwar Singh in New Delhi.

Born in 1932m Ghosh is a prolific poet, critic and academician and an authority on Tagore, whose poetic idion and experiments with various poetic forms mark his greatness as a creative talent.

His poems convey messages but are free from polemics, the board noted.

"Ghosh is a poet with an eye to the social milieu and his poems record both his time and space in a rare poetic style. 'Adim Lata - Gulmomay', 'Murkho Baro', 'Samajik Noy', 'Baborer Prarthana' are among those creations which have inspired a whole generation of modern poetry due to their unique form and feeling," the panel said.

Ghosh's poems have been translated into many Indian languages including Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Punjabi and Malayalam, besides many foreign languages.

Praising his creations as "lyrical and reflective", the board said they also portray a sense of anguish towards the superficiality of society and existence.

The venerated author was given the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and got the Sahitya Akademi in 1977 for "Baborer Prarthana". In 1999 he got the Sahitya Akademi award for translation. He is also the recipient of many coveted awards that include Narsingh Das Puraaskar, Saraswati Samman, Rabindra Puraskar and Desikottam.

Ghosh joins Bengali greats like Mahasweta Devi, Ashapurna Devi, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, Subhash Mukhopadhyay and Bishnu Dey in receiving the Jnanpith.

--IANS

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Manish Sisodia meets Najeeb Jung

Delhi,National,Politics,Human Interest/Society, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday met with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung who resigned from his post on Thursday, officials said.

Sisodia's meeting followed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who met Jung earlier over breakfast.

Jung's resignation from the post of Lt Governor came through a press release on Thursday.

Jung became the Lt Governor on July 9, 2013 when the Congress-led UPA was in power. The Narendra Modi-government retained him even as it replaced most governors in the states.

Jung is a former IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre.

--IANS

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Radha Mohan Singh addresses the Closing Ceremony of International Year of Pulses, 2016

New Delhi, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 NI Wire

Government agencies will ascertain support price of farmers' products wherever market price of pulses will be below the support price: Shri Radha Mohan Singh

Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh has said that for the first time, Government has made provision to ascertain the sale of pulses on support price for the farmers. Under this provision, wherever the market price of the pulses falls below the support price, the Government of India ascertain support price for the farmers. Apart from this, the Government has also decided to maintain a buffer stock of pulses to the extent of 20 lakh tonne so that people could be provided pulses are reasonable prices when market prices escalate. Shri Singh briefed this in the closing ceremony of International Pulses Year, 2016 in Agra today. The General Assembly of United Nations had decided to celebrate the year 2016 as International Pulses Year to make the common people aware of the nutritional properties in pulses.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that Government has increased minimum support price of the pulses to promote the cultivation and production of pulses. The Government of India has declared minimum support price for Arhar at Rs.4625/-, for black gram at Rs.4575/- and for Moong at Rs.4500/- which is the maximum support price till now. The Government has also declared additional bonus for Rs.25/- per quintal for pulses along with minimum support price.

Agriculture Minister said that the Government of India has taken a number of measures for International Pulses Year, 2016 to increase the production and productivity of pulse crops in the country. For this purpose, the two Departments of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Agriculture have implemented an extensive course of action jointly under National Food Security Mission Project. Under this scheme, Government of India has laid down a target of 200 lakh tonne production for the year 2016-17, 210 lakh tonne for year 2017-18 and 240 lakh tonne for year 2020-21. Shri Radha Mohan Singh added that additional breeder seed production programmes have been launched with the cost of Rs.20.39 crores at Regional Centres of 10 Agricultural Universities with Indian Pulses Research Institute, Kanpur. A target of 5801 quintal additional breeder seed production has been fixed in addition to 7561 quintal breeder seed being produced presently by the Centres by 2018-19 apart from 3717 quintal additional breeder seed by 2016-17 by these Centres. Shri Singh said that these steps have been taken to strengthen the formal seed mechanism of pulse crops and to increase availability of seeds of improved varieties in the country.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that pulse seed hubs are being established in State Agriculture Universities, Institutes of the Council and Agriculture Scientific Centres of major pulse producing States of the country. A target has been fixed to establish a total of 150 Pulse Seed Hubs from 2016-17 for increasing the availability of quality seeds for which a provision of Rs.225.31 crores has been made. Under this project, there is a target of 1.50 lakh quintal additional seed production per year. Each Pulse Seed Hub will produce a minimum of 1000 quintal quality seeds of pulse crops per year and supply it.

Shri Singh praised the efforts of all the farmers, scientists and policy makers for increasing production and productivity/ availability of pulses in the country and hoped that they would put in their best efforts to make India self sufficient in pulses production.

Source: PIB
Swachh Bharat Mission moves to a new level; Enabling easy access to public toilets in urban areas

New Delhi, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 NI Wire

Google Toilet Locators launched in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida in NCR

Bhopal and Indore also get online locator facility; to be extended to other cities in the country

Shri Venkaiah Naidu also launches Smart Toilets and Reverse Vending Machine in NDMC area

504 cities and towns become Open Defecation Free in 2016 as Swachh Bharat Mission gained momentum during 2016, says Shri Naidu

Minister names lead performing States in toilet building in urban areas

New Delhi Municipal Council gets ODF Certificate

With construction of individual and public and community toilets in urban areas getting on to fast track, Swachh Bharat Mission(Urban) today moved to a new level of improving 'ease of access to public toilets'. Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu today launched Google Maps Toilet Locator App to enable people to locate the nearest public toilet for use in five cities in National Capital Region and Bhopal and Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

Shri Naidu said this facility now available in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida and the two cities of Madhya Pradesh would help in addressing open urination and open defecation.

Using the key word Swachh Public Toilet, users can access 5,162 public toilets located near malls, hospitals, bus and railway stations, fuel stations, metro stations and public and community toilet complexes in the five cities in NCR and 703 in Bhopal and 411 in Indore. The App also gives information about the nature of the toilet seat available, free or pay for use, working hours etc. This facility will be extended to other cities in due course. Ministry of Urban Development has partnered with Google to enable this service.

Shri Venakaiah Naidu also launched free to use Smart Toilets set up by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) under PPP model at National Gallery of Art on Shershah Road, opposite Haryana Bhawan on Copernicus Marg and near Tolstoy Marg Metro Station. Each such complex has one WC toilet seat and four urinals for gents, one WC each for women and differently abled, Water ATM, Bank ATM and Digital Health Centres.

One Reverse Vendor Machine set up by NDMC at Gate No.2, Palika Market, New Delhi was also launched today. When a plastic bottle is dropped in to this machines, it gives a receipt of credit of up to one rupee. NDMC is setting up 20 such machines which help in preventing littering of plastic bottles.

Speaking about the progress of Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas since its launch in October,2014, Shri Naidu said the mission picked up momentum during 2016 with 502 cities and towns including New Delhi Municipal Council declaring themselves Open Defecation Free during this year and most of these claims verified independently. Another 237 cities and towns are set to become ODF by March next year. He said that during this year, the Mission in urban areas got to halfway mark in toilet construction against the mission targets.

Against the target of construction of 66 lakh individual household toilets, 27,81,883 such toilets have already been built and construction of another 21,43,222 is in progress. While over five lakh community and public toilet seats are to be built, 1.07 lakh seats have already been built so far and another 1.30 lakh toilet seats are under construction. Regarding Solid Waste Management, about 40,000 of the total 81,000 urban wards in the country have reported 100@ door-to-door collection and transportation of such waste. 21.50% of total solid waste being generated in urban areas is being processed scientifically.

Shri Naidu named Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim who have declared all cities and towns as ODF besides Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Jharkhand, Karnataka besides the UTs of Chandigarh and Puducherry as lead performers in toilet construction having met more than 75% of physical targets.

The Minister further informed that 95 Waste to Compost plants are currently functional in the country with an annual production of compost of 2.88 lakh tonnes. These include 17 in Karnataka, 16 in Gujarat, 15 in Maharashtra, 9 in Tamil Nadu and 8 in Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi is producing the highest quantity of compost of 3,000 MT/month followed by UP-2,900 MT/month, Gujarat-2,500 MT/month and Karnataka-1,600 MT/month.

Another 313 Waste to Compost plants are under revival and upgradation with a total production capacity of 22 lakh tonnes per year.

Seven Waste to Energy plants are operational in the country including 3 in Delhi, 2 in Maharashtra and one each in Madhya Pradesh and Telangana producing a total of 88.40 MW of electricity form municipal solid waste. Another 53 plants are under construction or tendering with a production capacity of 405.30 MW of power. 177 more such plants are under consideration with a production capacity of 1,138 MW. The maximum number of upcoming plants are in Madhya Pradesh-60, Andhra Pradesh-54 and Tamil Nadu-27.

Shri Venkaiah Naidu presented Swachhata Certificates 12 cities and towns who have become ODF recently and their claims verified independently by the Quality Council of India. These are; Visakhapatnam, Guntur and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, Thanesar and Sirsa in Haryana, NDMC, Suchindram and Mailadi in Tamil Nadu and Khopoli, Kolhapur and Nandurbar in Maharashtra.

Source: PIB
Not enough to just make a good film: Guneet Monga

Maharashtra,Cinema/Showbiz,Bollywood, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) The journey of making a good film does not end just there, says producer Guneet Monga, whose movie "Haraamkhor" faced a roadblock from the censor board for telling an "objectionable" tale of romance between a teacher and a teenage student, but has now been cleared by the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) for release on January 13, 2017.

"I am just over the moon today that we won the court case (Tribunal) that lasted six months plus and we got U/A certificate. Guess what, we will have TV sale now," Monga posted on her Facebook page.

"Over the last three years, we grew up and realised it is not enough to just make a good film. Most of the Bollywood films don't break even and studios are shutting down, but hey... Our little crowd funded, independent film needs to tick all the boxes," she added.

"Haraamkhor", featuring the talent powerhouse Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a 35-year-old teacher and actress Shweta Tripathi

as his 15-year-old student, is directed by debutant Shlok Sharma.

Monga, who recently returned to Mumbai after toiling for two months for the campaigning of Tamil film "Visaaranai" -- India's official entry for the Foreign Language Film Oscar -- says bringing "Haraamkhor" to reality happened with a firm conviction.

She recounted how she was always questioned about how the film would release, who her audience was and whether she had enough funds to manage marketing, publicity and advertising for "Haraamkhor".

And she would respond: "No! We found the money to make the film on Facebook! We did not want one person's money, so we got little money from a lot of amazing people who believed in us."

Monga says it was the team's conviction of telling the "important film" which they made with "a lot of love" that they continued to try getting a censor certificate.

The movie was has also travelled to multiple film festivals, and won at the 13th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) and at the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

Now while it's finally ready to release, Monga said: "This film has reached where it has because of our Facebook friends... it's now time to spread the word as we now release."

--IANS

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Katie Price to sue Glasgow hotel

United Kingdom,Cinema/Showbiz,Hollywood, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Glasgow, Dec 23 (IANS) English TV personality-model Katie Price is reportedly going to sue a Glasgow hotel that kicked her out following her "loss of 100,000 pounds worth of diamonds" earlier this month.

Mirror.co.uk has reported about her plans to take legal action against the hotel.

The management at the four-star Lorne Hotel is said to have looked in her room for the jewellery but "there was nothing there". They have also been trying to get in touch with the star but without luck.

The hotel manager told The Sun newspaper: "The day after she was asked to leave, she called the hotel to claim that she had left 100,000 pounds worth of jewellery in the hotel.

"Our housekeeper and manager immediately checked the room, which hadn't been cleaned yet, and there was nothing there. We checked straight away but couldn't get her back on the phone. So we replied to the email address she had given us to let her know that nothing had been found."

The hotel also told the newspaper that police were called the night she was kicked out.

"The guest became extremely abusive towards the staff member and so the duty manager agreed to escort them to the room," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson added: "Once the guest was granted access to the room, they continued to shout abuse and to make matters worse, threw plates at the duty manager, breaking these against the wall.

"The police were called. After the police spoke with the guest for almost an hour, the guest was invited to leave the premises."

A police spokesman confirmed that at around 1.50 a.m. on December 11 police went to the hotel and while "advice was given", no complaint was made and they took no further action.

--IANS

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Now an Indian actor makes waves in Costa Rica (Special to IANS)

India,Cinema/Showbiz,Diaspora, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Prabhakar Sharan from Motihari, a sleepy small town in Bihar, in a way personifies Bollywood's westward march.

Settled in Costa Rica -- a small Central American nation with less than five million people -- since 1997, he is the lively hero of "Enredados: La confusion" (Entangled: The confusion), the first Indian to act as hero in a Latin American movie. This is also the first Latin American film made with the typical Bollywood song-and-dance recipe.

Nancy Dobles, a popular Costa Rican TV hostess, is the film's heroine. Famous local actors Mario Chacon and Jose Castro also appear in the film. The cast includes a world wrestling champion and Hollywood actor Scott Steiner. Panamanians, Colombians and Argentines have also collaborated in the project.The director is Ashish Mohan, who has helmed blockbusters like Akshay Kumar-starrer "Khiladi 786" (2012). The dance, music and action sequences have been choreographed by Bollywood experts. Teresa Rodrigues of Costa Rica has produced the film, which has been shot entirely in that country.

The film will release in Costa Rica on February 9, 2017, with the President as chief guest. It will also be shown in the rest of Latin America, besides being dubbed in Hindi and English for audiences in India and the US.

The rom-com sees Leo, the hero, carrying out a big robbery. But his life changes when he meets Ana, who becomes the love of his life -- but it turns out that he has to choose between money and love. He chooses love and decides to return the money. But confusion starts with an accident, which is followed by a series of risky and funny situations leaving the viewer with suspense and confusion about the money's whereabouts.

A word about the title song. Costa Ricans, known as Ticos, have a distinct spirit. They do not say "bien" (well) when asked "Como esta" (How are you?). They say "Pura vida" which literally means "Pure life". But what they really mean is "Full of life" and "Great". No wonder, Costa Ricans come on top of the Happy Planet Index with the highest life satisfaction in the world. The title song of the film is about this "Pura Vida" philosophy.

Prabhakar's life story is also like a Bollywood film script. He studied in Haryana and attempted to break into Bollywood but failed. He then wanted to go to the US but somehow ended up in Costa Rica. He fell in love with a local girl and married her. He ventured into the textiles business and later shifted to trading, film distribution and Monster Truck Jam shows.

His ventures failed and he lost money. He returned to India and lived in Chandigarh for two years from 2010. During this time, his marriage broke up and his wife went back to Costa Rica taking their daughter with her. Prabhakar was deep in depression but did not give up. He went back to Costa Rica, fell in love with another woman and lives with her.

The film is Prabhakar's dream project and he has struggled and worked very hard for its fruition. His biggest challenge was to convince Bollywood to take seriously little Costa Rica with a tiny population and an insignificant film industry.

In recent years, Bollywood has reached out to Latin America for location shooting, inclusion of Latinas in Indian films and co-productions. Pablo Cesar, the famous Argentine director, is currently making a film on Tagore's romantic encounter with Victoria Ocampo, his muse from Buenos Aires. Mathew Kodath from Kerala, settled in the Honduras, has produced two films in Spanish. Bollywood music and dance are the latest craze in dance clubs and gyms across Latin America.

The Bollywood crew, during the shooting in Costa Rica, did not miss Indian food thanks to the the authentic and popular Indian restaurants "Taj Mahal" and "Naan and Curry" owned by Kapil Gulati from Gurgaon who is settled there, bitten by the "Pura Vida" bug. The favourite dishes of Ticos, according to Gulati, are garlic naan, rogan josh and gulab jamun.

For Prabhakar, the film is only the beginning of his Latino movie "entanglement". He plans to produce more films and include in his next Barbara Mori, the Mexican actress who was the heroine to Hritik Roshan in the Bollywood film "Kites". His next film might connect Indian and Latin American characters with shooting in India as well as in Latin America.

Prabhakar's film initiative will certainly contribute to enriching Indian cinema with the Costa Rica's "Pura Vida" culture and Latin America's "Celebra la Vida" (Celebrate life) spirit.

(R. Viswanathan, a former Indian Ambassador to Argentina, is "passionate about Latin America" and can be read on the blog <http://latinamericanaffairs.blogspot.in/>. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at r.viswanathan@mea.gov.in)

--IANS

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Room rendering at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana (Photo: Business Wire)





Nickelodeon Jacuzzi Pad (PRNewsFoto/RCI)

Karisma Hotels & Resorts' has confirmed plans to open a Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts resort in Cartagena, Colombia!According to EL UNIVERSAL , Karisma Hotels & Resorts' plans to open a Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts resort in Cartagena, Colombia haven't been finalised yet, however, they are still interested in opening a Nick-branded resort in the North of Cartagena!Karisma Hotels & Resorts hope to have the financial arrangements for Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Cartagena in place in 2020!Rafael Feliz, chairman and CEO of Karisma Hotels & Resorts has revealed to TravelPulse the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts brands Latin America debut could be either Brazil or Colombia. In Colombia, Feliz toldto expect a Nickelodeon near Cartagena. He said the Brazil location will be near Rio de Janeiro!Karisma Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open a brand-new Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts resort in Cartagena, Colombia! Rafael Feliz, CEO of Karisma, made the exciting announcement during the Karisma Hotels & Resorts' 9th Annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum.The news follows the successful opening of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Karisma and Viacom International Media Networks' (VIMN) first Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts resort, which opened to critical acclaim this summer , and boasts a life-sized replica of SpongeBob's Pineapple home which guests can vacation in.Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Cartagena will be Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts' first destination in Central and South America, and will be home to the new family brand's first hotel outside of the Caribbean and Mexico. Feliz told Travel Agent Central that the property is expected to open roughly three years from now (2019/2020).In 2015, Feliz and Lubo Krstajic, the companys Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, told Travel Agent the plan was to expand Nickelodeon Hotels to Central and South America with destinations such as Brazil; Cartagena, Colombia; and Panama being heavily discussed. With Cartagena now confirmed, it is quite possible that either Brazil or Panama could be Nickelodeon's second destination in Latin America.From EL UNIVERSAL Tras confirmar la designacion de Pierre Bonin como gerente General de sus operaciones en los hoteles Allure Chocolat, Bonbon y Canela, en Cartagena, la cadena Karisma Hotels revelo que hay interes de abrir su primer resorts en Colombia y los destinos que se exploran son la Zona Norte de Cartagena y la isla de Baru.Bonin es de origen frances y tiene una amplia experiencia en el sector turistico.La nueva propuesta de Karisma en Cartagena llevaria la marca Nickelodeon y la decision se tomaria al final del semestre.Karisma Hotels & Resorts (KHR) fue creada en el ano 2000 y posee un portafolio de 15 marcas. A la fecha administra 31 propiedades en 6 paises (Mexico, Republica Dominicana, Jamaica, Colombia, Croacia y Montenegro), con 3.500 habitaciones.Sus tres hoteles en Cartagena suman 121 habitaciones y estan dirigidos a clientes del segmento de reuniones, para los amantes de estancias largas y para los amantes del turismo cultural. Genera en la ciudad mas de 100 empleos directos.###From La Republica El proximo ano llegaremos a Cartagena con el Nickelodeon Resort: Karisma Hotels & ResortsLa estrategia de Karisma esta enfocada en la operacion de branded hotels, enfocada en la relacion estrecha que tiene con Margaritaville y NickelodeonLa cadena de hoteles y resorts Karisma, con presencia en Cartagena, continua su expansion en America Latina y el Caribe con la apertura este ano del resort de lujo Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun by Karisma.LR hablo con Diego Jaramillo, director general de Karisma Hotels & Resorts Latam sobre las nuevas aperturas de la compania y los planes de expansion en Colombia.LOS CONTRASTESGUSTAVO TOROPRESIDENTE EJECUTIVO DE COTELCOEl sector hotelero en Colombia sigue creciendo, gracias al aumento en el numero de turistas internacionales que llegan a nuestro pais y a la recuperacion del sectorCon cuanto esperan cerrar en materia de ingresos en 2019?El presupuesto de ventas para toda la cadena es de US$400 millones y, aunque este ano el turismo del Caribe se ha visto fuertemente impactado por eventos externos, vamos a cerrar en una cifra de ventas muy cercana a lo esperado y con una ocupacion promedio de alrededor de 80%.La estrategia de Karisma esta enfocada en la operacion de branded hotels, enfocada en la relacion estrecha que tiene con Margaritaville y NickelodeonMaria Alejandra Ruiz Rico - mruiz@larepublica.com.coLa cadena de hoteles y resorts Karisma, con presencia en Cartagena, continua su expansion en America Latina y el Caribe con la apertura este ano del resort de lujo Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun by Karisma.LR hablo con Diego Jaramillo, director general de Karisma Hotels & Resorts Latam sobre las nuevas aperturas de la compania y los planes de expansion en Colombia.LOS CONTRASTESGUSTAVO TOROPRESIDENTE EJECUTIVO DE COTELCOEl sector hotelero en Colombia sigue creciendo, gracias al aumento en el numero de turistas internacionales que llegan a nuestro pais y a la recuperacion del sectorCon cuanto esperan cerrar en materia de ingresos en 2019?El presupuesto de ventas para toda la cadena es de US$400 millones y, aunque este ano el turismo del Caribe se ha visto fuertemente impactado por eventos externos, vamos a cerrar en una cifra de ventas muy cercana a lo esperado y con una ocupacion promedio de alrededor de 80%.ADVERTISINGinRead invented by TeadsCuales son las metas para 2020?Desde el punto de vista de nuevos hoteles, esperamos la apertura del Margaritaville Island Reserve en Riviera Cancun y de Nickelodeon Riviera Maya. Tendremos tambien, entre 2020 y 2021, la apertura de otros dos hoteles Margaritaville, uno en Riviera Maya y otro en Jamaica; todos ellos operando bajo nuestro galardonado concepto Gourmet Inclusive. Y desde el punto de vista del compromiso con el medio ambiente, continuaremos con la implementacion de nuestros planes de sostenibilidad. Ya hemos ejecutado la sustitucion de botellas plasticas de un unico uso en nuestros hoteles de Mexico, accion que tambien tendremos implementada en Colombia para el primer trimestre del 2020.De que se trata el concepto de la nueva apertura?Nuestro proximo lanzamiento es el Margaritaville Island Reserve en Riviera Cancun, un producto enfocado en familias que estan en busqueda de un estilo de vida relajado y de lujo y que esperamos este en servicio para la temporada de Ano Nuevo. Despues vendra el Nickelodeon Riviera Maya, Mexico, un resort con 280 habitaciones dentro de las que se incluyen suites tematicas, como la de Bob Esponja, la de Las Tortugas Ninja y otros personajes de este canal; el hotel debe estar en funcionamiento en diciembre del 2020 y contaremos con el parque de agua mas grande de la Riviera Maya.Cuanto invirtieron en este nuevo proyecto?En el proyecto Margaritaville Island Reserve, que tiene 148 habitaciones, Karisma invirtio cerca de US$10 millones en la remodelacion de uno de nuestros hoteles ya existentes. En relacion con Nickelodeon, como cadena hotelera nosotros somos los expertos en la conceptualizacion del hotel, asi como en el diseno de las experiencias culinarias y de entretenimiento para nuestros huespedes, las inversiones son realizadas por nuestros socios de negocios e inversionistas, quienes controlan los montos de inversion.Y hay nuevos planes de expansion en Colombia?Siempre, si bien las aperturas que tenemos mas proximas estan en Mexico, Jamaica y en Republica Dominicana, estamos fuertemente concentrados en que Colombia y Brasil sean los proximos paises que Nickelodeon llame su hogar.Actualmente, estamos en el proceso de estructuracion del primer Nickelodeon Resort que habria en Colombia. Seria en Cartagena y esperamos tener cierre financiero del proyecto en 2020.Tendran nuevas alianzas?El objetivo de Karisma es continuar nuestro plan de expansion soportado en las alianzas que ya tenemos con reconocidas marcas del mundo del entretenimiento como Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, y Comedy Central, entre otros. En tal sentido, mas que tener nuevas alianzas, estamos trabajando conjuntamente con nuestros socios actuales.Hoteles que son una atraccion familiarHay dos hoteles de Nickelodeon. Actualmente uno esta en operacion en Punta Cana en Republica Dominicana con 208 habitaciones y otro en proceso de construccion en la Riviera Maya. Son resorts Gourmet Inclusive, donde se logra un equilibrio entre el entretenimiento para ninos y la indulgencia, y el lujo para sus papas. Para ninos, tiene experiencias inspiradas en el canal, desayunos con los personajes (Bob Esponja, Paw Patrol, Dora La Exploradora y Las Tortugas Ninja), Slime Time, espacios de fotos con los personajes, Club de ninos y un parque de agua.###From Noticias de turismo REPORTUR La cadena hotelera Karisma estaria en proceso de estructuracion del primer Nickelodeon en Cartagena, Colombia, y esperan que este incluido en el cierre financiero de 2020. Igualmente, buscan abrir otro hotel de la misma marca en Brasil. Proximamente tendran la apertura del Margaritaville Island Reserve en Riviera Cancun y el Nickelodeon Riviera Maya.Actualmente, estamos en el proceso de estructuracion del primer Nickelodeon Resort que habria en Colombia. Seria en Cartagena y esperamos tener cierre financiero del proyecto en 2020. Tendremos tambien, entre 2020 y 2021, la apertura de otros dos hoteles Margaritaville, uno en Riviera Maya y otro en Jamaica; todos ellos operando bajo nuestro galardonado concepto Gourmet Inclusive, dijo a La Republica Diego Jaramillo, director general de Karisma Hotels & Resorts Latam.En cuanto al presupuesto de ventas de la hotelera, Jaramillo comento al mismo medio: El presupuesto de ventas para toda la cadena es de US$400 millones y, aunque este ano el turismo del Caribe se ha visto fuertemente impactado por eventos externos, vamos a cerrar en una cifra de ventas muy cercana a lo esperado y con una ocupacion promedio de alrededor de 80%.De acuerdo a Jaramillo, el objetivo de Karisma es continuar el plan de expansion soportado en las alianzas que ya tienen con reconocidas marcas del mundo del entretenimiento como Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, y Comedy Central, entre otros. En tal sentido, mas que tener nuevas alianzas, estamos trabajando conjuntamente con nuestros socios actuales, explico Jaramillo.El proximo lanzamiento es el Margaritaville Island Reserve en Riviera Cancun, un producto enfocado en familias que estan en busqueda de un estilo de vida relajado y de lujo. La apertura sera a final de ano. Luego abriran el Nickelodeon Riviera Maya, Mexico, un resort con 280 habitaciones dentro de las que se incluyen suites tematicas, como la de Bob Esponja, la de Las Tortugas Ninja y otros personajes de este canal; el hotel debe estar en funcionamiento en diciembre del 2020 y contara con el parque de agua mas grande de la Riviera Maya.Como informo REPORTUR.co, Karisma Hotels en Colombia desde 2018 planea traer la marca Nickelodeon, luego de Mexico y Brasil. Ademas la hotelera quiere desarrollar la marca Irotama fuera Santa Marta, en destinos como Cartagena, Eje Cafetero y la Sabana de Bogota. Igualmente, proyecta incursionar en el mercado corporativo del pais, asi lo anunciaba la marca en su momento. (Karisma Hotels planea traer la marca Nickelodeon a Colombia).Queremos traer el segundo Nickelodeon para la region en Brasil,  luego del mencionado en Mexico- y esperamos que, en el primer trimestre del proximo ano, tengamos algo ya mas definido para tener programas de construccion especificos con fechas. El tercer Nickelodeon queremos que sea en Colombia y estamos buscando alternativas de donde podria ser, indico Jaramillo en su momento.###From America Retail La estrategia de Karisma esta enfocada en la operacion de branded hotels, enfocada en la relacion estrecha que tiene con Margaritaville y NickelodeonLa cadena de hoteles y resorts Karisma, con presencia en Cartagena, continua su expansion en America Latina y el Caribe con la apertura este ano del resort de lujo Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun by Karisma.LR hablo con Diego Jaramillo, director general de Karisma Hotels & Resorts Latam sobre las nuevas aperturas de la compania y los planes de expansion en Colombia.Con cuanto esperan cerrar en materia de ingresos en 2019?El presupuesto de ventas para toda la cadena es de US$400 millones y, aunque este ano el turismo del Caribe se ha visto fuertemente impactado por eventos externos, vamos a cerrar en una cifra de ventas muy cercana a lo esperado y con una ocupacion promedio de alrededor de 80%.Cuales son las metas para 2020?Desde el punto de vista de nuevos hoteles, esperamos la apertura del Margaritaville Island Reserve en Riviera Cancun y de Nickelodeon Riviera Maya. Tendremos tambien, entre 2020 y 2021, la apertura de otros dos hoteles Margaritaville, uno en Riviera Maya y otro en Jamaica; todos ellos operando bajo nuestro galardonado concepto Gourmet Inclusive. Y desde el punto de vista del compromiso con el medio ambiente, continuaremos con la implementacion de nuestros planes de sostenibilidad. Ya hemos ejecutado la sustitucion de botellas plasticas de un unico uso en nuestros hoteles de Mexico, accion que tambien tendremos implementada en Colombia para el primer trimestre del 2020.De que se trata el concepto de la nueva apertura?Nuestro proximo lanzamiento es el Margaritaville Island Reserve en Riviera Cancun, un producto enfocado en familias que estan en busqueda de un estilo de vida relajado y de lujo y que esperamos este en servicio para la temporada de Ano Nuevo. Despues vendra el Nickelodeon Riviera Maya, Mexico, un resort con 280 habitaciones dentro de las que se incluyen suites tematicas, como la de Bob Esponja, la de Las Tortugas Ninja y otros personajes de este canal; el hotel debe estar en funcionamiento en diciembre del 2020 y contaremos con el parque de agua mas grande de la Riviera Maya.Cuanto invirtieron en este nuevo proyecto?En el proyecto Margaritaville Island Reserve, que tiene 148 habitaciones, Karisma invirtio cerca de US$10 millones en la remodelacion de uno de nuestros hoteles ya existentes. En relacion con Nickelodeon, como cadena hotelera nosotros somos los expertos en la conceptualizacion del hotel, asi como en el diseno de las experiencias culinarias y de entretenimiento para nuestros huespedes, las inversiones son realizadas por nuestros socios de negocios e inversionistas, quienes controlan los montos de inversion.Y hay nuevos planes de expansion en Colombia?Siempre, si bien las aperturas que tenemos mas proximas estan en Mexico, Jamaica y en Republica Dominicana, estamos fuertemente concentrados en que Colombia y Brasil sean los proximos paises que Nickelodeon llame su hogar.Actualmente, estamos en el proceso de estructuracion del primer Nickelodeon Resort que habria en Colombia. Seria en Cartagena y esperamos tener cierre financiero del proyecto en 2020.Tendran nuevas alianzas?El objetivo de Karisma es continuar nuestro plan de expansion soportado en las alianzas que ya tenemos con reconocidas marcas del mundo del entretenimiento como Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, y Comedy Central, entre otros. En tal sentido, mas que tener nuevas alianzas, estamos trabajando conjuntamente con nuestros socios actuales.Hoteles que son una atraccion familiarHay dos hoteles de Nickelodeon. Actualmente uno esta en operacion en Punta Cana en Republica Dominicana con 208 habitaciones y otro en proceso de construccion en la Riviera Maya. Son resorts Gourmet Inclusive, donde se logra un equilibrio entre el entretenimiento para ninos y la indulgencia, y el lujo para sus papas. Para ninos, tiene experiencias inspiradas en el canal, desayunos con los personajes (Bob Esponja, Paw Patrol, Dora La Exploradora y Las Tortugas Ninja), Slime Time, espacios de fotos con los personajes, Club de ninos y un parque de agua.###From El Universal Dentro de los proyectos que tiene de expansion Karisma Hotels & Resorts en America Latina, a uno le podrian dar prioridad y se empezaria a desarrollar en los proximos anos.Se trata de un nuevo hotel, construido desde cero, de la franquicia del famoso canal de television infantil y juvenil, el cual seria el primero en su formato en Suramerica, y tendria como sede la ciudad de Cartagena.Asi lo anunciaron las directivas de Karisma Hotels & Resorts que se encuentran participando en la Vitrina Turistica Anato que se realiza hasta este viernes en Bogota.Esta cadena hotelera que opera mas de 30 hoteles en distintas partes del mundo y cumple 20 anos de desarrollo, ya cuenta con un primer hotel Nickelodeon que se encuentra en Punta Cana, Republica Dominicana y en pocos meses espera tener listo uno mas en la Riviera Maya en Mexico y que supera las 380 habitaciones.Sus creadores aclaran que si bien es un hotel de tematica infantil, esta disenado para que pueda ser disfrutado por toda la familia, con las atracciones que tienen que ver directamente con los personajes principales del canal, como Bob Esponja, Dora La Exploradora y las Tortugas Ninja, pero a la vez, con espacios como el spa y zonas de relajamiento para los mas adultos.Son hoteles de grandes dimensiones que mueven un alto numero de huespedes diarios, bajo el concepto gourmet-all inclusive, que han desarrollado con gran exito en sus hoteles en Mexico y Republica Dominicana pero que aun no logran realizar en Colombia.A finales de 2018 realizaron un primer intento con una union con Irotama en Santa Marta. El ambicioso proyecto incluia convertir a dicho hotel al concepto de gourmet-all inclusive, que consiste en un todo incluido pero con restaurantes de alto nivel y atencion personalizada para los huespedes. Ademas, Karisma ayudaria para que Irotama se convirtiera en una marca para desarrollar otros proyectos hoteleros, tanto dentro como fuera del pais.Sin embargo, la union duro poco y a principios de 2019, de comun acuerdo, terminaron con dicho convenio.Aunque el interes de Karisma por desarrollar pronto el Hotel Nickelodeon Cartagena es muy fuerte, tambien planean realizar uno igual en una de las regiones de Brasil. Solo bastaria ver cual de las dos ideas primero se empieza a desarrollar.Cartagena es una ciudad que conocen bien. Alli operan hoteles como Allure Chocolat by Karisma, ubicado en el corazon de la ciudad y a solo unos pasos del centro de convenciones.###Cartagena acogera el primer hotel de Nickelodeon en Suramerica. Asi lo han anunciado las directivas de Karisma Hotels & Resorts, la cadena que explota los hoteles de esta marca, durante la pasada edicion de la feria Anato en Bogota. La franquicia del famoso canal de television infantil y juvenil cuenta ya con un establecimiento en Punta Cana (Republica Dominicana) y en pocos meses espera tener listo uno mas en la Riviera Maya en Mexico que supera las 380 habitaciones.Sus creadores aclaran que si bien es un hotel de tematica infantil, esta disenado para que pueda ser disfrutado por toda la familia, con las atracciones que tienen que ver directamente con los personajes principales del canal, como Bob Esponja, Dora La Exploradora y las Tortugas Ninja, pero a la vez, con espacios como el spa y zonas de relajamiento para los mas adultos, publica El Universal (Riviera Maya: hotel Nickelodeon no abrira hasta finales de 2020).Se trata de hoteles de grandes dimensiones que mueven un alto numero de huespedes diarios, bajo el concepto ourmet-all inclusive, que han desarrollado con gran exito en sus hoteles en Mexico y Republica Dominicana pero que aun no logran realizar en Colombia, aunque en 2018 realizaron un primer intento con una alianza con Irotama en Santa Marta que no llego a final termino.Karisma operan hoteles en Cartagena como el Allure Chocolat by Karisma, ubicado en el corazon de la ciudad y a solo unos pasos del centro de convenciones. La cadena tambien tiene previsto llevar la marca Nickelodeon a Brasil.###From Travel Pulse A report in Reportur says that Karisma Hotels & Resorts is planning a new outpost of the popular, family-friendly brand in Cartagena. It will be the third property for the brand and the first in South America.Nickelodeons second property will open this year in the Riviera Maya. It will have 350 guestrooms designed for families and multigenerational groups.The resort chain is known as much for providing younger guests the chance to interact with their favorite television characters as it is for its high-end family experience.Guests will be wowed by five-star accommodations, food and amenities as well as by character breakfasts and Nickelodeon-themed attractions that include SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer.Few details are known about the Cartagena location of the hotel; however, the Riviera Maya property will feature Gourmet Inclusive eateries, themed accommodations and one of the areas largest waterparks.###From Portal de Turismo Directivas aseguraron que la marca traera propuestas para toda la familia.Las directivas de Karisma Hotels & Resorts, la cadena que explota los hoteles de la marca Nickelodeon, anuncio durante la pasada edicion de la feria ANATO 2020 en Bogota que la franquicia del famoso canal de television infantil y juvenil abrira su primer hotel tematico en la ciudad de Cartagena en Colombia, convirtiendose en el primero de Sudamerica. Segun lo publicado por el portal Reportur, la cadena ya cuenta con un establecimiento en Punta Cana (Republica Dominicana) y en pocos meses espera tener listo uno mas en la Riviera Maya en Mexico que supera las 380 habitaciones.Del mismo modo, sus creadores explicaron que si bien es un hotel de tematica infantil, esta disenado para que pueda ser disfrutado por toda la familia, con las atracciones que tienen que ver directamente con los personajes principales del canal, como Bob Esponja, Dora La Exploradora y las Tortugas Ninja, pero a la vez, con espacios como el spa y zonas de relajamiento para los mas adultos.Ademas, determinaron que se trata de una cadena de hoteles de grandes dimensiones que mueven un alto numero de huespedes diarios, bajo el concepto gourmet-all inclusive, que han desarrollado con gran exito en sus hoteles en Mexico y Republica Dominicana. De esta manera, manifestaron que estiman que el proyecto a desarrollar en Cartagena tendra una gran acogida por el publico y anunciaron que tambien tienen previsto posteriormente llevar la marca a Brasil.Cabe resaltar que la cadena Karisma opera diferentes hoteles en Cartagena como el Allure Chocolat by Karisma, ubicado en el corazon de la ciudad y a solo unos pasos del centro de convenciones.###
I used to be one of those parents who took a second look at their kids bags of candy theyd gotten Halloween night and think, Wait a minute. Is that a full-size Butterfingers bar? Why would a kid need that much candy in one serving? Id either then ask if they really wanted that item or I
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Reporters Without Borders has denounced the suffocating lack of press freedom in Algerian media since the re-election of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a 4th term.

The latest death in detention of British-Algerian journalist Mohamed Tamalt comes to blacken the picture of the alarming situation in the country because it is the first time that an inmate dies for opinions published on Facebook, says RSF in its report on Algeria.

The fight for a free press is now more urgent than ever in Algeria as the list of taboo subjects keeps growing. Journalists are banned to speak about the health of the head of state, the assets of the Algerian leaders, corruption, etc, adds the report of the international NGO that promotes and defends freedom of information and freedom of the press.

The document also cites in this regard the imprisonment of journalists under the criminal code, the control of audiovisual media and the economic strangulation of independent outlets. This situation is likely to worsen as the Algerian parliamentary election slated for April 2017 draws nearer, says RSF.

Algerian journalists have fought with courage and resilience since the 1990s for the freedom to inform, says Christophe Deloire, Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Today, we notice that authoritarian practices are undermining journalistic independence. We wonder how far will the Algerian authorities go to stifle the press and those who defend it? Is it not scandalous that in the year 2016, a journalist died in detention after a coma of three months in total indifference of the prison administration? deplores Deloire.

He cites in this regard other cases such as those of Mehdi Benaissa and Ryad Hartouf who were arbitrarily detained for more than 20 days last June and Hassan Bouras, an independent journalist, a whistleblower who is still in detention.

RSF calls for the immediate release and dropping of all charges against Hassan Bouras. He was prosecuted by Algerian authorities using criminal code. The independent journalist was sentenced to one year in prison for publishing a series of interviews with residents of the wilaya of El Bayadh, claiming that high-ranking judicial and security officials in the city have received bribes and incarcerated innocent people for fabricated charges.
The Berlin attack could have been averted had the German authorities taken seriously the warning issued by Moroccos intelligence services about the danger posed by the radical Tunisian Anis Amri, the main suspect in the terrorist attack, Moroccan local media said.

Several Moroccan media outlets quoted officials, who requested not to be named, saying that Moroccos domestic intelligence alerted German counterparts on September 19, 2016 that Amiri was about to perpetrate a terrorist attack on German soil.

Moroccan intelligence services also warned Germany on October 11, 2016, of the potential threat posed by Amri who had been living illegally in Germany for 14 months and meeting illegally with extremists, Moroccan media said.

According to media reports, the suspect was killed in a shoot-out in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday. Italys interior minister confirmed the death of the suspect.

The Tunisian national has been monitored by Moroccos intelligence services since his attempt to join terrorists in Syria and Iraq in 2011. Amri was then arrested by Italian authorities and served a four-year prison term.

Moroccos intelligence services have shown professionalism and vigilance while adopting an anticipatory approach that helps avert terrorist attacks and bust terrorist cells before they move to action.

They also led joint operations notably with Spanish counterparts enabling the dismantling of international terrorist networks.

The information provided by Moroccos intelligence services has been vital in preventing several attacks across Europe. Morocco provided the tip-off that enabled French police to locate the whereabouts of the mastermind of Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud.

Moroccos counter terrorism strategy is led by the Bureau Central dInvestigations Judiciaires (BCIJ,) also dubbed Moroccos FBI.
The Tunisian Interior Ministry Thursday announced it dismantled a five-member terror cell in contact with jihadists in neighboring Libya and Algeria.

The cell according to the ministry included three young women aged between 17 and 28 while the two men are 19 and 31.

The cell was active in the town of Sidi Bouzid (central region), in Tunis as well as in the North-Eastern city of Beja.

During the interrogation, the suspects admitted that they tried to recruit would-be terrorists. They also confessed that they were in contact with terrorists in Libya and Algeria, via social media, the Interior Ministry said.

Tunisian security authorities have dismantled countless terror groups since the 2011 revolution. The country has been living under a cloud of terror threats.

Seventy-one people mostly foreign tourists were killed last year in three Islamic State group (IS) terror attacks in March and November in Tunis and in June in the resort city of Sousse.

Over 4,000 Tunisians have been reportedly fighting in the ranks of terrorist groups abroad, mainly in Libya, Syria and Iraq.

It was also reported that around 700 Tunisian women have left the country to join terrorist groups.
Rem Koolhaass great, weird 2008 design for a tower on East 23rd Street.

The Second Avenue subway, henceforth to be known as the Q line, has been planned, postponed, begun, and delayed so many times that even now, days before it opens, it still has the vagueness of a dream. If the whole project turned out to be a chimera, plenty of commuters would just shrug and say they had suspected all along. Anyone who has lived in New York for a handful of years has seen big ideas yield lots of nothing. Remember the cluster of prisms at the World Trade Center, the Olympic Village at Hunts Point, the gondola ride to Governors Island, a luminous new Penn Station  oh, wait: that last one isnt dead yet.

For decades, it seemed that the Second Avenue subway had joined the rich catalogue of abortive plans, which form a whole parallel history of the city. Now that its squeaking to life, the $4.5 billion, two-mile new Q qualifies as a big deal in our age of reduced expectations, and in terms of tunnel boring-technology and street-killing nuisance, it is. But if you want to see what real vision looks like, crack open Never Built New York, by Greg Goldin and Sam Lubell, a fine chronicle of the counterfactual city that makes a good last-minute gift for fans of fantasy urbanism.

The book contains a catalogue of ambition and failure: overweening projects that someone wisely quashed, sensible ones that choked on inertia or recession, plenty of dodged bullets, and a few regrets. We can still feel relief that Robert Mosess mid- and lower Manhattan expressways died before they could wipe away vast swaths of the Village and Murray Hill, but why couldnt we have Rem Koolhaass upside-down setback tower on 23rd Street, or Santiago Calatravas stack of airborne boxes at 80 South Street?

All through the late-19th and early-20th centuries, far-seeing civic minds roamed the city and imagined making it bigger, faster, higher, and more advanced. They envisioned enlarging Manhattan into the harbor and filling in the Hudson River, draping bridges from skyscraper to skyscraper, and landing planes on a continuous 50-block rooftop.

In the 1860s, the 19th-century engineer Egbert Ludovicus Viele proposed an Arcade Under-Ground Railway  the subway, essentially  which featured double-decker streets, with trains below, carriages above, and pedestrians on either side. The plan, which Viele promised would connect lower Manhattan to Harlem in 20 minutes, was stymied by property owners, and the idea of an underground transit system would have to wait another 40 years. Even more ambitious was Gustav Lindenthals 1887 plan for a North River Bridge, between Hoboken and West 23rd Street. Construction actually began on that one: Workers started erecting the immense stone piers that would have made the Egyptian pyramids seem puny.

Vieles nineteenth-century scheme for double-decker streets. Photo: Courtesy Library of Congress

Lindenthals plan for bridging the Hudson.

True, as the history of the Second Avenue subway shows, its easy to draw pictures but hard to dig through dirt, and harder still to summon the capital and political will to put such imperial-scale schemes into practice. And sure, the vast majority of these projects were better off dead. But even so, while well start taking the truncated Q line for granted in a matter of days, leafing through Never Built New York will keep right on provoking gasps at the sheer, lunatic audacity emblazoned on every page.
Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Five men were arrested in early-morning raids for allegedly planning to carry out a terror attack in Melbourne, Australia. According to the authorities, the suspects  all in their early- and mid-20s  intended to target the shopping district of Federation Square, the Flinders Street train station, and nearby St. Pauls Cathedral with some combination of explosives, guns, and knives, possibly on Christmas Day.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the men as inspired by [ISIS] and self-radicalized. All five are Australian citizens, with four born in the country and one having immigrated from Egypt. Turnbull went on to say that the situation was one of the most substantial terrorist plots that have been disrupted over the last several years.

The head of Australias Federal Police, Andrew Colvin, said that law enforcement had been monitoring the group for a while: They had moved very quickly from an intention to a capability, a developed capability, including quite progressed plans. Meanwhile, local police chief Graham Ashton told reporters that, as of Friday afternoon, We dont have any threat over and above that threat that weve currently neutralized.
Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Anis Amri, the man suspected of ramming a tractor-trailer into a crowd at Berlins Christmas market this week, has been killed after a shootout with police outside Milan, Italy. The nearly weeklong manhunt ended early Friday, after two police officers from the suburb of Sesto San Giovanni stopped Europes most wanted man, who was on foot, after a routine check. The cops asked for his identification; Amri immediately drew a gun and shot one of the officers in the shoulder. His partner, a rookie cop, responded, firing on, and fatally shooting, Amri. The wounded policeman was hospitalized, but his injuries are not life-threatening.

There is absolutely no doubt that the person killed is Anis Amri, Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti assured the public on Friday. Fingerprints from the dead man also matched Amris, ending the dragnet but raising a host of new questions, including how Amri evaded authorities for so long, and managed to cross multiple borders, apparently without detection.

Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016. Photo: DANIELE BENNATI/AFP/Getty Images

A search of Amri turned up a ticket that showed he had arrived in Milans Central Station around 1 a.m. Friday on a train from Chambery, France, with a stop in Turin, Italy. Authorities are now trying to figure his movements over his last days and final hours. According to the Guardian, Amri carried no ID, no phone, and, besides his handgun, had a small pocket knife.

German authorities have also not ruled out potential accomplices. Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian migrant who first arrived in Italy around 2012 before coming to Germany around 2015, was a failed asylum-seeker who authorities had tried, unsuccessfully, to deport. German and other intelligence agencies had put him on their radar for potential terror ties, and he had been pinpointed as someone who had designs on carrying out an attack. Authorities had monitored his communications until September of this year.

ISIS, which had called Amri a soldier of the caliphate after the attack, released a video via its Amaq News Agency that appears to depict Amri declaring his allegiance to the terror organization. In the clip, the Berlin suspect pledges loyalty to ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and claims his attack is retribution for air strikes against Muslims. God willing, we will slaughter you like pigs, he professes.

There is no evidence yet that Amri was under coordinated instructions from ISIS, though evidence suggests that he had at least tried to make contact with extremists, and the video  the authenticity of which hasnt been confirmed, but appears credible  indicates that he devoured ISIS propaganda.

Meanwhile, Germany remains on alert. In addition to the ongoing investigation into Amri, German authorities said they foiled an attack on a mall North Rhine-Westphalia, in northwestern Germany. Police arrested two Kosovan brothers whose identities have not yet been released.

This post has been updated with new information.
Bad mistakes, Ive made a few. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Hillary Clinton spent much of last summer arguing that Ronald Reagan would never vote for Donald Trump. At the Democratic National Convention, a series of speakers  including Barack Obama  argued that the patron saint of the conservative movement would recoil at Trumps authoritarian ethos. At a September press conference, the Democratic nominee suggested that the Gipper would be incensed to see the Republican nominee praise Vladimir Putin while disparaging the American president. One of her super-PACs final campaign ads cast Reagans ghost as a Clinton surrogate.

The point of all this nostalgia for the man who killed off the New Deal consensus was to isolate the Republican nominee from his partys upscale wing  and, thus, to engineer a landslide, bipartisan rebuke of the demagogue.

This same strategic logic shaped Clintons alt-right speech, which cast Trump as the champion of a reactionary online movement that defined itself in opposition to mainstream conservatism. By the end of that address, Clinton had contrasted the hatefulness of Trumps meme-savvy minions with the principled tolerance of such statesman as Bob Dole, George W. Bush, John McCain, and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

At the time, it wasnt hard to make a case for this gambit. After the DNC, polls showed Clinton with a solid grasp on the Democratic base and a comfortable lead in the states shed need to win on November 8. Why not try to expand her coalition across the aisle, by assuring suburban Republicans that the vulgarian whod commandeered their party wasnt really one of them?

But that question was never as rhetorical as the Clinton campaign may have hoped. There was always a risk that in distancing Trump from the GOP, she would be doing him a service.

After all, throughout the Republican primary, Trump had branded himself as a nationalist unconstrained by fealty to conservative dogma. At various points, he feigned openness to raising taxes on plutocrats and increasing the minimum wage  a heresy he explained by declaring, Im very different from most Republicans.

A considerable amount of Clintons paid media was devoted to affirming this claim.

And a growing body of evidence suggests this was a bad mistake.

Just before Election Day, a survey from Politico and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health raised some eyebrows among advocates of reproductive rights: 48 percent of those planning to vote for Trump wanted the federal government to continue funding Planned Parenthood.

After the tragic events of November 8, Planned Parenthood organized a series of focus groups, to figure out why so many people who support their organization voted for a man who had promised to defund it. Slates Michelle Goldberg offers this analysis of what they found:

For opponents of Trump, the recordings make for excruciating viewing. They show how myths about Hillary Clintons corruption proved more influential than facts about Trumps. I really didnt trust Hillary at all, and thats why I went with Trump, said a new mother in Harrisburg whod been undecided until the last moment  But if theyre maddening, the focus groups are also revelatory. They suggest that the Clinton campaign made a fatal mistake in depicting Trump as outside the bounds of normal conservatism. Clintons camp had hoped that doing so would lead Republicans to defect. Instead, it helped some people who distrust conservatism to reconcile themselves to Trump.



 In several focus groups, the moderator asked if people expected Trump to veto a defunding bill, and most hands went up. The new mother in Harrisburg pointed out that Trump avoided social issues in the campaign: That was never Donald Trumps platform. Said a Phoenix man in his 30s: I think this is coming from the bible-thumper mentality. I dont see Trump having that mentality, but [Mike] Pence, Paul Ryan, those guys, its like they call up God from their cellphone. Theyre so out of touch with reality.

This notion  that Donald Trump does not share Paul Ryans ideology  was indispensable to the formers victory: Trump simply could not have won without the support of white Democrats who have little affection for GOP orthodoxy.

Synthesizing data from voting returns, exit polls, the census, and preelection polling, the Upshots Nate Cohn concludes that Clinton did not lose because Rust Belt Democrats stayed at home, but rather, because they voted for Trump in large numbers.

Cohn does find that Clintons attempt to make inroads with affluent, historically Republican constituencies succeeded on its own terms: By his estimates, Clinton improved on Obamas 2012 performance among whites with postgraduate degrees by 17 points, while besting him among those with bachelors degrees by 4.

And among white, college-educated voters who earn above $250,000 a year, Clinton gained a whopping 24 points.

But those gains failed to make up for her losses among downscale whites. Among white voters who make less than $30,000 a year, Trump bested Mitt Romney by 24 points, according to exit polls  a finding consistent with preElection Day surveys.

Why Bernie Sanders' plan for free college was a great idea to build the Democratic Party's support, in one graph. https://t.co/5PhQRFhWTP pic.twitter.com/bTMH1VzQVq  Lee Drutman (@leedrutman) December 23, 2016

Many of these voters were Obama supporters in 2008 and 2012  in fact, 19 percent of white working-class Trump voters said they approved of Obamas performance on November 8 of 2016. Ten percent of these voters told exit pollsters that they wanted Trump to continue Obamas policies, while 38 percent said they hoped he would pursue policies that were more liberal than Obamas.

Examining Pew data from 2014 on the political attitudes of white non-college-educated Democrats, Cohn found little support for the GOPs platform on abortion, gay rights, the environment, health care, and Social Security  but a great deal of support for scaling back free trade and limiting immigration.

In other words, normal Republicans have little to offer these voters. But there had long been evidence that a right-wing populist who emphasized trade protection and immigration restrictionism  and who didnt talk too loudly about the Bible or supply-side economics  could find some sympathy with this group.

Polls gave the Clinton campaign fair warning that Trump was, in fact, making inroads with them. But so long as she remained ahead, her party seemed comfortable trading working-class whites for country-club ones: As Chuck Schumer infamously reasoned, For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia, and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin.

This trade did not work for two reasons. One, Clinton picked up far more votes in the suburbs of Manhattan, Seattle, Chicago, and Boston than she did in the swing states of the Midwest.

Second, and most critically, there were a lot more white working-class Democrats who could be lost than well-educated moderates who could be won. As Cohn explains:

Campaign lore has it that President Obama won thanks to a young, diverse, well-educated and metropolitan coalition of the ascendant  an emerging Democratic majority anchored in the new economy. Hispanic voters, in particular, were credited with Mr. Obamas victory.



But Mr. Obama would have won re-election even if he hadnt won the Hispanic vote at all. He would have won even if the electorate had been as old and as white as it had been in 2004.



Largely overlooked, his key support often came in the places where you would least expect it. He did better than John Kerry and Al Gore among white voters across the Northern United States, despite exit poll results to the contrary. Over all, 34 percent of Mr. Obamas voters were whites without a college degree  larger in number than black voters, Hispanic voters or well-educated whites.

In other words: Working-class whites were Obamas base. They were the bricks in his partys Electoral College firewall.

Now, its entirely possible that Trump would have scattered those bricks, no matter how Clinton chose to attack him. As already mentioned, Trumps message had built-in appeal with the demographic. Add in the tailwinds provided by the Kremlin, James Comey, and entrenched sexism and racism, and perhaps he would have outpaced Clinton, even if shed decried the Trump-Ryan agenda in every campaign ad.

But the fact remains: Clinton lost the White House because a bunch of white Democrats who despise most of the GOP agenda  but like the cut of Trumps jib  decided to cross the aisle.

Some of these voters may learn that Trump is a regular Republican the hard way  by losing access to their health care or local Planned Parenthood. But many will not.

In 2020, Democrats need to make sure they inform the latter that Donald Trump is something much worse than a racist, misogynist, incompetent populist: a regular old Medicare-cutting, abortion-banning movement conservative.
Its hard to imagine Hillary Clintons political career without Bills, but its never been clear whether he was helping or hurting it. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

As most observers begin to grow weary with the many, many theories of how and why Hillary Clinton lost a presidential election virtually everyone thought she had well in hand, a fresh theory has arisen that will sound painfully familiar to people close to the defeated candidate: Her husband may have helped do her in, just as he allegedly did in 2008.

In HRCs first presidential race, Bill Clinton went on something of a public bender of race-tinged recriminations toward Barack Obama at a very inauspicious point in the presidential-nominating contest. Its a stretch to blame that for the ultimate outcome, but it was a distraction the campaign did not need, and led a lot of Clinton-watchers to wonder how shed keep Bill under control in 2016.

In point of fact the 42nd President was notably less prominent in HRCs campaign the second time around. But as a long investigative piece from the Washington Posts Sari Horwitz suggests, he may have inadvertently set off a chain of events that led to the damaging late intervention in the campaign by FBI director James Comey, whose out-of-the-blue October 28 letter to Republican congressional leaders disclosing a new investigation of Hillary Clintons emails (and perhaps even his subsequent announcement the new emails did not change anything) are widely thought to have given Trump the break he needed to pull off an upset.

As Horwitz explains, Attorney General Loretta Lynch knew about the pending Comey letter and could have (indeed, should have) had it quashed. She reportedly did not do so because of assurances she made of a hands-off attitude towards the case after a June encounter with Bill Clinton on a Phoenix tarmac that became very public. In Horwitzs telling, the attorney general was completely blindsided that day:

It was a sweltering June day in Phoenix, and Lynchs plane had just landed at the airport. She and four staffers had flown west for a series of meetings with local police officers.

The staffers walked down the plane stairs first and stepped into a van on the tarmac. The plan was for Lynch  and her husband, who was also on the trip  to follow quickly afterward and step into another vehicle. As the staffers waited for about five minutes in the van, checking their smartphones, they suddenly saw a man with silvery white hair approaching the plane.

The half-hour of small talk (or so the participants said) that ensued between Lynch and WJC became the smoking gun in Republican conspiracy theories about alleged political interference with the FBI investigation into HRCs emails. And so Lynch was loath to stand in Comeys way, even when he was violating the standard procedure of avoiding pre-election drama with his note to Congress about the emails he needed to examine from Anthony Weiners laptop. By then, the die had already been cast:

Justice officials decided that neither Lynch nor her deputy, Yates, should order Comey to not send the letter. They werent sure how Comey would respond to such a command. And they too feared leaks. Lynch and her advisers were nervous about how it would look if people found out that she, a Democratic presidential appointee, told Comey to keep secret from Congress a new development in the Clinton investigation.

Well never know for sure what Lynch might have done with the email case and Comeys handling of it had she not been compromised by the tarmac encounter. But having been compromised, she knew any late effort to rein in Comey would look even more political than what the FBI director was doing, and draw even more attention to an incident that did not belong in headline news less than two weeks before the election. So by any kind of but for test, Bill Clintons courtesy call on Lynchs plane in Phoenix may well have altered history in ways he could not have envisioned but should have feared.

And so the long tangled story of Bill and Hillary Clintons immensely productive but sometimes star-crossed partnership takes another unexpected turn, as her ambitions of reentering the White House as chief executive vanish forever.
Lets do this. Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

On Thursday, Donald Trump went nuclear. Specifically, the president-elect appeared to upend a decades-old bipartisan consensus that less is more when it comes to nuclear weapons.

The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

This tweet was widely interpreted as a declaration of Trumps intent to pursue nuclear proliferation. But could that really have been what he meant? Why would Trump want to give the worlds other nuclear powers an excuse to proliferate when America already has enough weapons to wipe out humanity so many times over  and when arms races are so damn expensive. Surely, the words nuclear capability were meant to signify a modernization of our existing arsenal, like president Obama is already pursuing.

On Thursday night, Trumps communications director Jason Miller said that Trump had meant just that.

President-elect Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes, Miller said in a statement. He has also emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength.

Then the president-elect had a Friday-morning chat with MSNBCs Mika Brzezinski. And she gave him the opportunity to say, in no uncertain terms, that he was not trying to kick-start a new arms race.

Let there be an arms race, Trump replied, because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

Future White House press secretary Sean Spicer clarified Trumps remarks on the Today Show.

Other countries need to be put on notice that he is not going to sit back and allow them to undermine our safety, our sovereignty, Spicer said, apparently arguing that Trump had threatened an arms race so as to prevent one.

If one squints very hard one can make out a scintilla of logic in this premise. Shortly before Trumps nuclear tweet on Thursday, Vladimir Putin told the Russian people, We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems.

Thus, when Trump says he wants an arms race because America would win it, he really means, Vlad, buddy, dont do this. Youre not gonna like how it ends.

Or, so Trumpworld would like us to believe.

If there is going to be an arms race, the Today shows Matt Lauer began to ask Spicer.

There is not going to be, Spicer replied.

He says, so be it, we will match them at every turn.

But there is not going to be because he is going to ensure other countries get the message he is not going to sit back and allow that, Spicer explained.

Cant you just feel Trump making America safe again?
Free to barge into Trumps office whenever. Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump frequently attacked Goldman Sachs, casting the powerful investment bank as part of a global conspiracy of shadowy interests that are ripping off America. As president-elect, Trump announced he was appointing Goldman president and COO Gary Cohn to lead the National Economic Council, the influential West Wing office that helps the president set economic policy. Since then, Cohns power in Trumpworld has rapidly increased.

Several sources connected to the Trump transition team describe Cohn as an influential voice inside the emerging administration. Cohn, one source said, has walk-in privileges that allow him to pop into Trumps office whenever he wants. Gary is brash; he has no trouble interrupting Trump, the source, who has attended meetings with both men, explained. Trump has tasked Cohn with a wide array of responsibilities, including recommending candidates to head the Securities Exchange Commission, developing a strategy to repeal Obamacare, and crafting plans for new infrastructure spending and tax reform, sources say.

Cohn is one of the three early hires by Trump who worked at Goldman, and hes by far the most accomplished among them on Wall Street. Trump loves having Goldman guys around. The bank wouldnt touch Trump, and now theyre working for him, one Republican close to the transition told me, referring to the banks unwillingness to lend to Trump businesses. While both Treasury secretary nominee Steve Mnuchin and White House strategist Steve Bannon have Goldman on their resumes, neither rose close to Cohns level inside the company. Trump sees Mnuchin as a hedge-fund guy, one source told me. Cohn, 56, joined Goldman in 1990, the year Bannon departed, and rose through the ranks to become Lloyd Blankfeins deputy (his departure scrambles succession planning at the bank). Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, is particularly close with Cohn. One former Goldman executive told me that if Kushner cant take a West Wing post for legal reasons, Cohn will be his proxy inside the administration. A Republican close to the transition even speculated that Cohn could be a potential chief of staff if Reince Priebus doesnt work out.

But conservatives around Trump are skeptical of Cohn, whos donated to both Republicans and Democrats. According to sources, Cohn has upset right-wing members of the White House economic team by attempting to block the appointment of CNBC commentator and avowed supply-sider Larry Kudlow to chair the Council of Economic Advisers, based on Cohns concerns that Kudlow is too ideological. The former executive said Cohn is definitely not a conservative and will enthusiastically embrace infrastructure and other government spending. Cohn did not respond to a request for comment.

Members of Trumps team also worry that Cohn represents the politics and culture of the Davos set  the clique of global superrich and superelite who attend the annual Swiss conference  in contrast to the populist and nationalist values the president-elect preached on the campaign trail. Preventing Cohn from exerting too much influence on Trump seems to have become a goal for Bannon, says a source. Hes a huge Democrat and knows zero about politics, a person close to Bannon told me.

Correction: This story originally reported that Bannon and Davos founder Klaus Schwab argued at a meeting. That was inaccurate.
Photo: Andrew Kelly/Reuters/Corbis

Back in September, the House Intelligence Committee released a summarized version of a report based on the two-year investigation into former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, whose 2013 leak of classified materials revealed the alarming scope of the United States governments surveillance programs. The three-page summary reflected the intelligence communitys general hostility toward Snowden, denying that he was a whistle-blower and describing him instead as a serial exaggerator and fabricator, and a difficult employee who caused tremendous damage to national security. It also alleged that his actions endangered American troops abroad and that he shared intelligence with the government of Russia, where hes been living in order to avoid prosecution in the U.S. On Thursday, the committee declassified the full 33-page report, though evidence supporting the most explosive claims  that Snowden put U.S. soldiers at risk and passed secrets to the Russians  was redacted.

Left unredacted was a description of some workplace drama. According to the report, in June 2012, Snowden installed a patch to a group of servers on classified networks that supported NSA held sites, including NSA Hawaii. When the patch failed, One of senior technical support managers, a government employee, fired off an e-mail to a number of systems administrators, asking who had installed the troublesome patch and sarcastically chiding that individual for failing to test the patch before loading it.

Snowden replied to all the recipients and added the deputy head of technical services directorate to the e-mail thread. This individual was several levels above the immediate government supervisors whom Snowden could have contacted first. Calling the initial e-mail not appropriate and  not helpful, Snowden accused the middle manager of focusing on

evasion and finger-pointing rather than problem resolution.



Snowden received a quick rebuke. The NSA civilian employee in Washington responsible for managing field AXISS contracts sent Snowden an e-mail telling him his response was totally UNACCEPTABLE because [u]nder no circumstances will any contractor call out or point fingers at any government manager whether you agree with their handling of an issue or not. She further instructed Snowden that if he felt the need to discuss with any management it should have been done with the site management you are working with and no one else.

The reports authors implied that the spat was what prompted Snowden to begin downloading the documents that he would eventually leak. (Snowden has said misleading statements by Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper were what prompted him to act.)

Committee chairman Devin Nunes said that (redactions aside) the report was intended to offer the public a fuller account of Edward Snowdens crimes and the reckless disregard he has shown for U.S. national security. Snowdens lawyer, Ben Wizner, called the report a failed attempt to discredit Snowden, adding that if the committee had any evidence to support that false accusation that his client had cooperated with Russia they would show it.

Meanwhile, Snowden defended himself on Twitter:

Unsurprising that HPSCI's report is rifled with obvious falsehoods. The only surprise is how accidentally exonerating it is. 1/x  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 22, 2016

After three years of investigation and millions of dollars, they can present no evidence of harmful intent, foreign influence, or harm. Wow.  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 22, 2016

Bottom line: this report's core claims are made without evidence, and are often contrary to both common sense and the public record.  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 22, 2016
Anis Amri. Photo: Bundeskriminalamt

The manhunt for Anis Amri, suspected of being the terrorist who plowed a tractor-trailer through Berlins Christmas market, has escalated as police conduct raids across Berlin. But Amri has so far evaded authorities, and he remains at large almost three days after the bloody rampage that killed 12 and injured nearly 50 others. There is a 100,000 euro reward for information leading to his capture. Officials warn that that Amri is likely armed and dangerous.

The evidence against Amri is mounting after police first found a wallet and identification papers belonging to the 24-year-old Tunisian man under the bloodied seats of the truck turned murder weapon. Police say they have now found Amris fingerprints in the front cab of the vehicle, tying him more directly to the attack.

After a false arrest shortly after the rampage, the discovery that Amri likely carried out the attack was a gut-punch to anti-terror officials. Amri (he also had about six aliases, says CBS News) was on the intelligence services radar in both Germany and the United States because of his alleged terror ties and suspicion that he could be planning some sort of attack. He also should not have been in Germany, or Europe  the German government rejected his application for asylum in June 2016 and issued a deportation order. (Amri arrived in Germany in July 2015, though may have been in Italy since 2012.) He was in custody at some point  he apparently had forged paperwork  but, for unclear reasons, he was released. Even more alarming, his deportation from Germany had been delayed because he lacked a Tunisian passport, and Tunisia wouldnt accept him back without the proper documents. The Washington Post reports that Tunisian finally issued his passport Wednesday  almost two days after the attack hes suspected of carrying out.

The full details of when, and how, Amri came under authorities radar is still not clear, but, right now, there appear to have been multiple red flags at least since his arrival in Germany, landing him on the terror watch list in January, according to the Guardian. He reportedly first caught officials attention while in North Rhine-Westphalia, say German officials, when according to Reuters, the government put him under surveillance. Authorities suspected that he might have been trying to recruit people for an attack, and was plotting a burglary to get money to purchase weapons from contacts in France. Amri also allegedly made contact around that time with Abu Walaa, a radical Islamic preacher at a mosque a few hours outside Berlin, who has been called ISs number one in Germany. Walaa (real name: Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah) was arrested in November in an anti-terror raid on charges that he was recruiting ISIS fighters.

Amri relocated to Berlin sometime in February, and surveillance continued until it was reportedly dropped sometime in September, though its not really clear why. Meanwhile, over the summer  just around the the time Germany rejected Amris asylum application  the United States added Amri to its no-fly list. According to the New York Times, U.S. intelligence picked him out on the internet, where he browsed for bomb-making instructions. He also had made contact with known ISIS members through a messaging app.

These revelations have heightened criticism of German law enforcement, and wedged a deeper divide on questions over Germanys refugee policies under Chancellor Angela Merkel. Most migrants and refugees didnt want to end their trek to Europe until they could make it to Germany, where the economic prospects trumped those in many southern EU states. Germany, in turn, welcomed about 1 million migrants and refugees, a decision that has strained tensions over terror fears and given rise to a right-wing backlash against Merkel. Its also a logistical issue: Accepting 1 million people and processing hundreds of thousands of asylum applications created a massive backlog. Germany has vowed to speed up the processing of asylum applications, and passed laws to do just that, but the deportation process remains slow, and as Amris case seems to show, bureaucratic challenges leave many cracks to slip through. And the question of why Amri, pending his deportation, was released remains unanswered at this point  though it seems Germany is suffering from the same intelligence challenges that have plagued U.S. and other European officials when it comes to preventing attacks even by those theyve identified as potential threats.

But still the hunt for Amri continues. Police have raided an apartment where hes believed to have stayed, and a few other sites in Berlin. Local media reported that four people had been arrested in connection with Amri, but German officials denied that report.
Picking winners and losers. Photo: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images

Typically, president-elects dont conduct negotiations with military contractors until theyve actually been sworn in as commander-in-chief. And then, they typically do not hold said negotiations over Twitter.

But, of course, Donald Trump is not a typical president-elect. Earlier this month, Trump set Boeings stock spiraling downward by canceling its (nonexistent) $4 billion contract to build the new Air Force One.

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

Then, he did the same for Lockheed Martins share price, by suggesting he intended to cancel the F-35 program that the company supplies.

The F-35 program and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2016

This week, Trump met with the CEOs of both firms, and extracted a promise from Boeings Dennis Muilenburg that the new Air Force One would cost less than $4 billion. Lockheeds Marillyn Hewson chose not to make a statement for the press.

One day after that meeting, Trump tweeted:

Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

Lockheed Martins market value instantly dropped by 2 percent (or $1.2 billion). Boeings share price ticked up one percent.

Its worth noting that the F-18 Super Hornet is not comparable to the F-35.

that's...impossible. That's impossible.



The F-18 doesn't have a stealthy body.



The F-35...does. It's the one thing it does right. https://t.co/0lRBd5WEBJ  Kelsey D. Atherton (@AthertonKD) December 22, 2016

It also seems noteworthy that the company whose CEO made a public promise to keep costs down after meeting with Trump  and thus, provided him with the favorable headline, Trump extracts pledge from Boeing on Air Force One costs  is the one with the rising share price.
Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

Donald Trump has long promised to build a big beautiful wall on the border between the Unites States and Mexico, but officials on his transition who have begun exploring the practicality of that promise are running into roadblocks which have them considering alternatives, the New York Times reports.

In Texass 28th Congressional district, for example, Representative Henry Cuellar says the transition team requested suggestions for locations that would be appropriate for a wall or fencing. In Laredo, which is in Cuellars district, Mayor Pete Saenz tells the Times that he has spoken with U.S. Border Patrol about installing additional fencing, lighting, roads, surveillance equipment and other security measures along portions of the border.

The plan, Saenz said, did not mention a wall and only called for fencing along short stretches of the border. For the Democratic mayor, this was a big relief.
St. Lucys Day. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/AFP/Getty Images

This time of year the sun rises in Stockholm around 9 a.m. and sets at about 3 p.m. The days are similarly brief in Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Oslo. Yet, for all the vitamin D deficiency, these northerners are smiley through December, and with varying success, into the winter.

Meanwhile, despite having comparatively longer days, New York, as a whole, is complaining. This presents a compelling question: What is it that Americas cultural capital  and maybe the country more broadly  doesnt get about winter and that seems so baked into Scandinavian life? Folklorists, historians, and anthropologists have a few ideas.

Seriously, its the candles.

If you feel like playing the role of scandalized American, walk into any restaurant, bar, or house from Berlin to the Arctic Circle during the winter. You will find candles arrayed across the room, unthinkably unshielded by glass or plastic. Marcus Cederstrom, who just completed his Ph.D. in Scandinavian studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, says that while candles are rightly romanticized today, their cultural primacy reflects their longtime role in survival. Befitting to the land of the Vikings, Scandinavian houses didnt really have windows until the 17th century, and electricity didnt come far into the countryside until into the 20th century.

These are lands where its dark all the time during the winter, he says, and candles help extend the day: not only driving out the dangers of darkness, but granting people the freedom to get things done. You see that throughout Scandinavian folk culture, a lot of traditions center around fire, like the way spring is greeted with a villagewide bonfire on Valborg, the holiday of epic flames that are said to keep supernatural forces at bay. That really is carried over to today with candles, he says  maybe not so much the warding off witches, but that sense of establishing security and place.

This is also personified in St. Lucys Day, a holiday tracing back to the third-century martyr who brought food by candlelight to Christians holed up in catacombs in her native Sicily. In Sweden, a young maiden dresses in a robe of white, with a crown of (frequently live) candles. Shes followed by a dozen women dressed in white, each holding a candle, and a scrum of little boys wearing hats with a star affixed to the top. This beatific bunch brings candles, pastries, coffee, and hot chocolate to offices, houses, and schools across town. This Lucia procession is literally bringing light into the home, Cederstrom says. Many of these these traditions that seem like lifehacks today are survival mechanisms. Theyre centered on how can we literally brighten our day, and candles are a great way of doing that.

And Christmas is cultural, rather than religious.

Scandinavia is famously nonreligious, especially compared to the States. But Scandis also love the hell out of Christmas. What gives? UCLA folklorist Tim Tangherlini says to look at the words themselves: the Danish word for Christmas is Jul, which is where we get Yuletide and yule logs from. Wintertime feasting predates the Christianization of Scandinavia, which happened on either side of the tenth century, by a good minute: Odin, the leader of the Norse gods, is also known as jolfar, or Yule father. The pagan connection is present today, too: Theres definitely a strong focus on the Tree of Life that we drag into our living rooms in the U.S., he says. The evergreen tree probably has a longstanding relationship to pre-Christian druidic ritual, and so do candles, as it its damn dark.

In the old days, the good times of Yules served an essential social function. With three long, hard, cold months ahead, no one wanted the burden of feeding all their cattle, so they slaughtered them. And with so much meat to go around, You might as well have a blowout feast, he says. That also allowed members of the family, clan, or broader community to come together and reestablish ties, ensuring that people could lean on their fellow villagers to get through the winter.

Wool played a similar role to food. By the end of the fall, youd have shorn your sheep of their coats and spun the wool into thread. The next step: you get together and knit. Communal knitting rooms were a center of wintry social life through the 19th century in Denmark, he says. Its dark, youve got candles lit, youre sharing food, throwing back some mead, and telling tales of the year thats passed.

Over in Finland, the beloved sauna has served a similar role for a couple thousand years, and Swedes copied it and called it the badstuga, or bath cabin. Beyond being a way to warm up, the stones and steam provide a setting to hang out with your friends and neighbors. Today, 99 percent of Finns visit the sauna at least once a week.

You double down on coziness.

Americans found a bit of an obsession with the cozy Danish concept of hygge over the past year. Trend stories abound, and there are now enough hygge-centric books on Amazon that you could form a reassuring pile on your nightstand.

Like many a cultures gifts to the world, there isnt a direct translation: In his ethnographic study of the subject, anthropologist Jeppe Trolle Linnet declares that the meaning of hygge can be approximated through English words such as cozy, homey, informal, sincere, down-to-earth, warm, close, convivial, relaxed, comfortable, snug, friendly, welcoming, and tranquil. (The German Gemutlichkeit, or a state of good cheer, comes close, too.) Its a way of existing just with the people that youre around, quality time where you laugh about old memories and create new ones. To Linett, hygge is a category of practices that, in various ways, entail the creation of temporary shelters against social stratification, competition, and the market. You create a sense of interiority, and stay within it.

Hygge is a way of describing social harmony, and its of the utmost importance to Danes: Linnet reports that while maintaining the family unit is crucial, a divorce becomes the best option when a relationship has deteriorated to the point where no hyggelig atmosphere could be found in the home  not least for the sake of the children, who should not grow up in cold, non-hyggelige surroundings.

While recipes vary, its generally agreed hygge is a combination of ambiance and company. One gathers candles and other indirect lighting; seasonal beverages like glogg or its Germanic equivalent, gluhwein; simple, warm furniture with clean lines. Equally as important: warm company where people dont dominate the conversation; good, simple, clean food. There may also be a high likelihood of board games, and while hygge is largely an analog pursuit, Ive heard that exceptions may be made for heartwarming films. For Tangherlini, the folklorist, the knitting circles of old formed a wellspring of what hygge is today: the felt quality of intimacy, shared memory, and protection from whatever storms  meteorological, political, or economic  may be happening outside your door.
The spirit of Christmas or something. Photo: Bettmann/MGM

This years annual performance of A Christmas Carol at the Centerville Elementary School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was canceled for vastly different reasons depending on whom you ask.

Breitbart and Fox News both reported last week that the production was canceled over concerns regarding Tiny Tims famous line God bless us, everyone  another salvo in the war on Christmas that Obummer and the Dumbocrats have supposedly been fighting for years. A local news report stated that complaints about the line (from sources unknown) are what led to reexamining how the play is done, but that they were not the reason for the cancellation. Ultimately, the school cited the hefty in-school time commitment.

Following those reports, Lancaster Online wrote that a Jewish family had fled their home after receiving threats and fearing retaliation for the plays cancellation. Other left-leaning sites also picked up the story of a Jewish family forced to flee the right-wing commentariat.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, however, the family had asked that their child be removed from the production, and not asked that it be canceled. Also, the family was gone because they were going on an already-planned vacation.

And furthermore, they had asked for their child to be removed from the play because of the aforementioned commitment. In a blog post from December 15, school principal Tom Kramer wrote:

One rumor weve been addressing is that one or two families influenced this decision. Thats just not true. The instructional time issue was our primary concern. Alternative solutions were explored for offering the play differently, including the use of non-core instructional time, but it was decided by the building team to not go down this path. We also looked at having rehearsals after school hours, but, at this time, parents nor staff members have stepped forward to take advantage of this possibility.

Furthermore, the school district posted a lengthy FAQ this past Wednesday clarifying their position: As Mr. Kramer worked with the 5th grade teaching team to understand what putting on the play entailed, it became clear that the teachers had concerns about committing roughly 20 hours of instructional time to something that is not part of the fifth grade curriculum.

Breitbarts report briefly mentions Kramers concerns about instructional time at the end of the article. Fox News does not as of now.

This whole thing is clearly a clusterfuck  an example of partisan news organizations, on both sides, attempting to wish a particular narrative into existence  but one thing its not is fake news. All of the initial reporting on this story came from established news organizations quoting people involved in the fracas. Certain parts were distorted, or misunderstood, and later corrected. But unlike the Moldovan teens pumping out Trump-themed fakery, they were not knowingly publishing wrong information. Next time we exhort Facebook to do more about fake news, remember that the only real answer to misleading, badly reported stories is more reporting.
The Christmas of my eighth year, I woke to a beautifully wrapped present from my grandmother under our Christmas tree. Inside was a neat, ironed pile of my dead grandfathers dress shirts. I smiled and told her how much I loved them.

Later, in my room, I cried like the kid I still was. I didnt want my dead grandfathers shirts! I could barely handle his funeral five months before, let alone the concept of death. But the lesson was burned in my mind: You have to put on a good face when you receive a gift from someone who loves you  no matter how much you might hate it.

Now, Im not claiming to be a perfect gift-giver. Over the years, Ive been guilty of buying terrible presents for loved ones, specifically significant others. Is there anyone harder to buy for than the person youre sleeping with? There was the gym membership for the guy I thought could stand to lose a few pounds (I know, shameful). The handwritten coupon for a massage (What am I  5?). Or the set of comedy DVDs for the guy I didnt think was funny enough. The main mark of the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good Very Bad Gift is the one that comes with implicit instructions: Take this, use it, and maybe Ill like you better.

This year, Im proud to say that my husband and I nailed it. I got him a pair of deluxe Bose noise-canceling headphones because we live in a small apartment and these help create the illusion of space. He got me great ergonomic wedges that have helped me with back problems that are a result of writing in bed all the time. Ive learned from my gift-giving mistakes, the biggest of which was a bike helmet I bought him that remains dusty in our closet, unused. In my husbands defense, he doesnt ride a bike. The moral of that story? Give presents that reflect who the recipient truly is, not who you want them to be.

When I told my girlfriends about my wide-ranging experience of giving (and receiving) A-plus prezzies and total flops, they shared their own lessons on the Fine Art of Thoughtful Gift-Giving. Heres what I learned.

1. Putting someone elses needs over your own is the greatest aphrodisiac.

I love my friend Kerry Coddetts story about how her boyfriend showed just how well he knew her in the form of an epic weekend getaway.

Im a wild party animal, but my boyfriend doesnt drink or smoke, she says. As soon as we got to the hotel, he arranged for our room to have all my favorite snacks, drinks, cigarettes  he even got me a cute to-go cup so I could take my booze with me! It means the world that were so different, and yet he doesnt judge me for the things I like to do.

Shes shown herself to be just as tender  and crafty. There was this PBS documentary called Eyes on the Prize that my boyfriend watched as a kid, and much of his worldview was shaped by it. I was able to track down the DVD box set at a store that only sold to teachers  by pretending to be one.

2. Theres nothing worse than the regift.

Actually, scratch that. There is one: the straight-up, admitted-to regift.

My friend Maggie Serota has one of my favorite stories about the extreme thoughtlessness on the part of a significant other. My ex bought this really nice Mecca track jacket  we were ravers, shut up  for this girl he had a crush on before he met me, she says. One day, he handed me the jacket and said, I bought this for [whatever the girls name was, I forget] cause I liked her, but you can have it. I took it because it was a nice jacket, but still gave him a piece of my mind.

3. If it says, Look at me, its the worst gift of all.

Sam Escobar provided me with an epic tale of a truly shitty offering. My ex is a musician and somehow managed to hit that special intersection of not very good and extremely performative, Escobar says. He once wrote a song that he claimed was about me, but it was painfully obvious that he only wrote it so he could sing it in front of people at my birthday party. In reality, the song related to nothing in our relationship, and Im pretty sure he wrote it before he met me  about his previous partner.

4. Practicality is key.

Publicist Dara Avenius is often ushered to A-list parties for her job, and she recalls the perfect present from an ex. I was having a bad day, and she surprised me with a pair of earrings, Avenius says. She knew I was reworking my wardrobe and looking for accessories that I could wear for the many red-carpet events I had to attend. It was clear shed studied my style and came up with earrings that fit me so well. Contrast that with another bestowal of accessories that was a major fail  and youll see why. A girlfriend gave me a symbolic piece of jewelry (not an engagement ring, just a particular symbol that matched a tattoo of hers), which would be fine if she hadnt given something similar to her ex  and the person she dated after me!

5. There is so much romance in the Ive been holding on to this for years gift.

Take my friend Sylvia Haider, who met her husband through work. Early in their relationship as colleagues, she says, In an abysmal attempt to be funny, I started making up a story about ninja donkeys who would defend damsels in distress. The story flopped and was never mentioned again.

Years later, when they were a couple, she says, For the holidays, he gave me a crimson silk book with an illustrated 20-odd-page story about our relationship evolution centering around a ninja donkey (him) and a damsel (me). Hed been working on it for months (story line, rough drafts, illustration, coloring, etc.). He remembered every detail I made up during our initial conversation, researched and referenced my cultural background into it as well. This beautiful labor of love, she says, is still her most valuable possession.

6. Impracticality can be insanely sweet.

Quinn Sutherland describes the first Christmas she spent with her boyfriend. He knew I really wanted a Christmas tree, but we lived in an insanely small studio apartment, she says. He insisted, saying hed bring home a little tree. Cut to later that night, when her boyfriend called and asked her to come open the door. He and a friend dragged this enormous tree up into our tiny home, she says. We only had about three ornaments, and the branches hit our knees when we sat on the sofa, but I didnt care. I loved it, and loved that he wanted me to have a proper tree.

7. If youre feeling down about a disappointing gift, youre not alone.

Twenty years ago, my friend Alison Freer received a trash can (yes, a trash can) from her then-boyfriend, complete with a cheap stick-on bow. He goes, Its a trash can, as if I was partially sighted, she recalls. I said, Thank you, while thinking the whole time, Im going to dump you.

Fair enough. Because if you give a garbage present, youre guaranteed a garbage reaction.
10 Must-Read Queer Books of 2016



ugh, NO. the term "queer" is still a derogatory term. fuck this post.

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r u kidding lmao

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wtf is this dismissive ass comment? no. i've had people call me a "fucking queer" before.



Edited at 2016-12-23 05:48 am (UTC)

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lol I don't mind the term myself but it's still a slur and people in the LGBT community are still allowed to feel uncomfortable about it.

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mfte. its usually used to erase our identities too. There is no reason not to use LGBTQ

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You're doing the most, good sis FKA. Especially since "queer" has been used in academic settings for a few decades now. Even my gay professors have used the term in this context.

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Didn't you hear? LGBT people are ~reclaiming~ the word.

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queer as a qualifier for art has existed since the earlier 90s tho, i.e. New queer cinema. and it is very intentional given the history of lgbtq art and public consumption of it (NEA grants etc)



I get how it can be sticky w people, but it feels, historically, like "queer" as way of being is doing something else for art.

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It's YA but I recently read Dante and Aristotle Discover The Secrets of The Universe and loved it!

Does anyone know of a place or an app that can help with book recommendations? I always want to pick up new books but I'm so picky :/

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That book's on my list.



Goodreads maybe?

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I just downloaded this book, I should really start it.

Goodreads is what my friend uses and the reviews seems pretty spot on.

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lol same! he did a good job reading it.

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ffs get your shit together livejournal and start working

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I actually liked Captive Prince quite a bit.



... I could do without the first book tho. :x

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it sounds interesting, i am gonna give it a try for sure

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comment

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I don't understand the love for Captive Prince. I remember skipping and skimming pages because I could not get into it. I honestly don't even remember what happened in those books.

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I ended up liking book 2 & 3 because of the world-building & political intrigue (and eventually the relationship between the protags as well) but at the same time book 1 was such an uncomfortable slog to get through so I get the backlash it's been getting.



I'm surprised tumblr even liked those books in the first place tbh. They're the definition of... "problematic" lmao.

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it's fanservice for thirsty fangirls imo



i was surprised to learn the books weren't originally a fanfic because the plot and writing (i only read the first one tho) are so fanfic-ish

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Lmao that series is fucking bad I was so confused at everyone being all about it

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The only thing I remember about the first book was the excessive rape.

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same, i read it rly wasn't that good & the plot had very awful elements that's why i can never take it seriously if it pops up on my dash.

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I read the first one and while I totally get how it could be a major thing for many readers, it just made me very uncomfortable.

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It's cheesy fanfiction.

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[ Spoiler (click to open) ] Draco Malfoy or whoever was like "PSYCH!! I actually hate you and now I have total power over you and your kingdom muahahaha" but then like three chapters later he was back to liking the guy again? Or something? idek. Yeah, it was really weird. Like I had so many questions about the worldbuilding. And then at the end whenThe whole thing just left kind of a bad taste in my mouth over the power dynamics.

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Pls recommend better titles then, bc I loved it.

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What do you like, boo?



If you want some unconventional m/m romance, JA Rock has an amazing YA called Take The Long Way Home. And a reeealy fucked up and dark dystopia, The Grand Ballast.



Aleksandr Voinov has an awesome book called Return on Investment. It's about investment bankers, there's a lot of talk about finance and a romance inside.



I second KJ Charles rec. My fave is her series that starts with Fashionable Indulgence.



Santino Hassell and Alexis Hall are some of the best writers in the genre. My faves are Hassell's Sunset Park (contemporary) and Hall's Sand and Ruin and Gold (dark fantasy). Hall also wrote a BDSM romance For Real which won a RITA this year (I think that's the first LGBT+ book that won in the erotic romance category).



If you like beautiful stories and crying, The Song of Achilles is the best book in the world.



I also love Amy Lane's fantasy books, but she's a Problematic Fave.

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It's not historical but I really loved The Backup by Erica Kudisch, It was sold to me as Velvet Goldmine meets American Gods.

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I don't remember how I was tricked into reading it, as it's not my usual genre. Someone must have recommended it highly for easy beach reading. But I was PISSED reading it.



Absolute trash. Slave fantasy trash. Filled with happy slaves who just love being slaves and can't wait to fuck their masters. I kept reading it, thinking they must be going somewhere with this. And yeah - apparently the prince decides maybe he should get rid of slavery at the end. Which, oh wow, what progress after we saw all of his pain at being a slave instead of a prince for the whole series. Meanwhile the actual slaves get a single chapter where they think wait, something might be a little off with our situation. Then nah, let's not give them brains and feelings any more, back to all happy slaves. Happy to kiss the boots of whomever will pet their heads, happy to offer their throats to whomever wants to slit them.



Disgusting, insulting, infuriating trash.

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i only read the first one but i just did not want to keep going



the rape (like the prince forcing damen to get a blowjob from that other slave) framed as erotica is just... so so so... not what i want to read. especially when it's like 'damen and the prince are gonna fall in love later don't worry' and i'm just but the prince is his abuser in this book and i get that he was also an abuse victim but the whole thing framed as an erotic romance is just frightening. the violent punishments were too much for me.



it feels like the author is just into the darker fetishes and isn't handling the situations with any sensitivity or care. and if that's someone's thing, it's fiction, you can write like that if you want, but i just don't want to read it and was surprised at how many of my friends like it.

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I was about to buy this based on this post, thanks for talking me out of it.

Any recommendations on fantasy/scifi(/I know its not likely but maybe horror?) m/m fiction?

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I saw the word queer in the title and was immediately disappointed :/

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seriously, wtf

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Absolutely disgusting.

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what do you think of the iconic tv series "Queer as Folk" (2000-2005) or the website queerty.com ?

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sis queer as folk was problematic for a lot more reasons then its name lol

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How do you feel about the term QPOC?

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i'm on the fence when it comes to "queer." i'm okay with lgbt individuals reclaiming it, but i really struggle to understand why people would use it as 1) their personal identity label; 2) an umbrella term for all sexual and gender minorities. all you're doing is giving cishets free reign to throw around a violent slur. that's not how reclamation supposed to work, imho.

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Mte

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Yay a book post!



Has anyone tried the Book of the Month Club, and if so, do you recommend it? I've noticed some of the selections they had this year were books that I really liked (The Mothers, A Gentleman in Moscow).



I work at a public library, so I could save money and just check them all out. It's fun to get stuff in the mail though, I'm thinking of subscribing next year.

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oooh how much is it? this sounds up my alley

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I think it ranges from $11.99 to 14.99 a month, depending on the length of your subscription. You get to pick from 5 books. If another one interests you, you can also order that one for like $10.



Some of selections they offer become books that are well known and talked about. I've seen a couple of selections that are on the best of 2016 lists.





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they usually have a 3 month for 30 dollars including a tote bag deal for new joiners

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i have it! i really love it. there's only been one month since i signed up that i've skipped and i've enjoyed everything (including a gentleman in moscow) i've received from them.

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every heart a doorway was a nice quick read with some lgbt characters

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TBH Gay Lit (especially nonwhite) is probably one of only 3 genres I even bother to read. It's so hard to find good gay lit though.

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It's a huge chunk of my Goodreads and why I end up reading so much YA because most new gay stories seem to be in that genre.

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Got any good w/w recs? I've always read a lot of non-fiction, almost entirely political. I've lost all interest in reading given the current climate, but I don't want to stop reading.

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Have you read Venus as a Boy by Luke Sutherland? I loved it. Also, Giovanni's Room, of course. And there's a short story by Julio Genao called When You Were Pixels. They're all really sad, but beautiful.

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the captive prince trilogy is my problematic fave. ik tumblr turned its back on it but laurent and damen are my fav new fictional characters in a long while

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I'm excited to try it!

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every heart a doorway was a nice quick read with some lgbt characters

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read 'what belongs to you' and was sort of disappointed given all the hype. parts felt like weird fanboy baldwin fan fiction. idk also it was NOT sexy, not that it had to be but reviewers went on about how hot mitko was as a character. Agree to disagree.



also read the script for call me by your name! Can't fucking wait for the movie. such a good book that takes gay relationships seriously w/o being overly depressing, I'd recommend to anyone.



now reading:

beijing comrades (currently), Juliet takes a breath or dancer from the dance (next)

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i got halfway through What Belongs to You and felt so apathetic and burnt out. i didn't like the narrator, i didn't particularly care about mitko... it was just so empty imo.



will probably try to finish it this week, anyway, because i hate leaving books half finished.

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it honestly just gets more... that.



empty is a great way to describe it tbh. i never really understood their relationship at all, the narrator doesnt even seem that attracted to him? w.e.

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also! i have to know if they left that peach (? was it a peach) scene in the script for Call Me By Your Name?

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Beijing Comrades is so odd to me because it just recently came out( in English?), but Lan Yu has been a big gay Chinese film since the 90s and it seems its profile eclipses the novel.

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yo can you hook a girl up with the call me by your name script??? i cannot WAIT

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Zootopia all around most educational movie of 2016. I teach 7th grade life science, so I showed it to my class when we were learning about biomes, ecosystems, and relationships between organisms.

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I wasn't expecting it to deal with it the way it did. I liked all the ways it addressed it as well.

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Zootopia is one of my fave movies of all time. Love everything about it!

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I'm honestly struggling to see where this happened in BvS.

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same, i'm racking my brain rn

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the only instance I can remember is Martha giving Lois the twice-dead ring Clark bought but that's still kind of about him.

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clark's mom spoke to lois, wonder woman spoke to lois I think, and there was also a female senator (she had a name but idr it) or smth who spoke to lois. if I'm remembering correctly



Edited at 2016-12-23 06:57 pm (UTC)

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I'm not 100 % sure if it was in the actual film, but at least in the extended edition there's a scene where Lois talks with that one woman who testified about the destruction of that village.

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lois and jena malone's character maybe?



edit: although now that i think about it, i think jena was only in the extended version, so now i don't know.



Edited at 2016-12-23 08:10 pm (UTC)

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Right? Men seem to "discover" this every other year.

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She was.

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There was a woc in bad moms too

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you're right. i'm not sure how rogue one was included and fantastic beasts wasn't.

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Does she interact with another woman tho? Bc that seems to be the determining factor to whether the film passes the test or not.

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She was. And had quite a few lines, so I'm not sure why they say no WOC had speaking roles in these films.

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Look at this Regal Queen:







Edited at 2016-12-23 08:39 pm (UTC) I was about to say that she is a WOC (and had speaking parts as well)!Look at this Regal Queen:

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It's so bizarre to me that we even have to have something like the Bechdel test. What a world.

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the last (I think) bechdel post we had was a TRIP

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this tea. here's the joke in it's original context for anyone who hasn't seen it:

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does this mean the bechdel test is fake

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its become such a watered down, meaningless concept at this point.

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mte like i cant believe people are using this as a serious gauge for anything esp when the women are straight and cis and most often white

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I don't see anyone doing the most here. It's good to know the origins of the test but I see nothing wrong with having women in general discuss the still very glaring problem of female exclusion from the biggest productions.

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if anything the thank you. it doesn't even mean anything. just because the movies pass this test doesn't mean they're good, feminist, empowering etc; i'm so tired of people acting as if it's the end all and be all.if anything the mako mori test is way more relevant.

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Yet that you will find it extremely difficult to find a movie that would fail a male version of the Bechdel test. And yes, that is telling you something quantitive about the state of the film industry (and since you can widen it to include other media) about the state of our collective cultural take on gender in fiction - about what stories get told and whose stories get told.



That the test began its life as a joke, doesn't make the reality behind the joke any less true. The fact that it is true is a reason why this joke worked in first place.

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a needed reminder tbh i see ppl using the term without at least acknowledging the origins

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mte ppl acting like it's the be all end all of (white) feminism drive me nuts

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3693689/Director-Paul-Feig-confirms-Kate-McKinnon-s-Ghostbusters-character-gay.html Kate's character in Ghostbusters was lesbian. If you pay attention to some of her dialog, you'll hear it. Also, in interviews it's been confirmed.

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does it really count if the director or creators have to clarify it for people? like Dumbledore being gay is great and all, but if nobody could even tell then what does that count as representation in the movie

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When I saw the movie I thought it was obvious. I guess not everyone did. I mean, she spends the movie flirting with the women, there are some comments made toward the end about it as well. (Only saw it once, can't remember the exact line.)

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tbh he only has 2 clarify it for the obtuse straight ppl bc the rest of us understood she was into women

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I think it should count given the mental contortions assholes will go through to convince themselves that clearly gay people/relationships are straight or "close friendships." Dumbledore being gay doesn't (at least as far as I know - haven't seen Magical Beasts) because there was nothing in the books or film to suggest that until JKR said it.

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yeah I was gonna make a note about it in the post but forgot lol she was obviously gay imo, even before the director confirmed

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yeah kate's character was def gay, it was so obvious. she was flirting with the other female characters left right and centre.

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Only 7 movies (Suicide Squad, Ghostbusters, Moana, Moonlight, Rogue One, Civil War, and Apocalypse) had women of color with speaking roles.



Fantastic Beasts, though?

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shouldnt fantastic beasts be in the women of colour with speaking roles to because of the minister of magic and the chinese minister of magic (gemma chan my queen)



also wasnt the woman who does the awesome hilary clinton impressions ghostbusters character confirmed not straight?

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didnt she say she was in love with the other character at the end?

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She was openly flirting with women, especially Erin, throughout the movie. They spend more time showing Holtzmann flirting with a Erin then they do on Erin's crush on Kevin.

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i'm more appalled at the second statistic about woc. absolutely unreal.

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just responding to the bustle tweet. my younger cousin who graduated from college last year got a job at bustle a couple of months ago and she's so excited to have gotten a job in media. it's a pretty sweet gig from what she tells me. she gets to work from home.

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better bustle than the shitfest that hellogiggles has become :(

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depressing list tbh

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"Only 7 movies (Suicide Squad, Ghostbusters, Moana, Moonlight, Rogue One, Civil War, and Apocalypse) had women of color with speaking roles.



In all of 20 films, women were straight and cis, meaning no LGBT representation."



This is so depressing.

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Stoltzman tho

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Also please note these are the highest grossing films.



I see a ton of indie stuff and they are much better than Hollywood. There still aren't as many movies focused on poc/lgbt people as there should be, but it's better.



Off the top of my head, movies with woc in lead/co-lead roles that came out this year: Queen of Katwe, American Honey, Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, The Fits, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Certain Woman (also has lesbian representation), Divines, Jean of the Joneses, Sweet Bean.



Edited at 2016-12-23 06:58 pm (UTC)

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Additionally, while Suicide Squad passed, its portrayals of Harley Quinn and Enchantress as scantily-clad antiheroines, who are somehow smart but incredibly emotionally dependent on their love interests, send confusing and regressive messages about how women should be portrayed in film.



I think it sent a very clear message about how women should be portrayed: not like that.



Waller was great though.

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I wonder how far Louis and Steve's song will drop next week. It's only this high because larries were using a vpn to stream it from all over the world and mass gifting the song so Louis would get the #1 but now that the goal of christmas #1 is gone they'll slowly stop.





That's why I never really consider 1d's or Zayn's number 1's impressive because it's just stans playing the song over and over for days straight (though Zayn staying in the top ten for as long as he did is impressive)

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I actually really liked Louis and Steve's song, so maybe if it got a little promo it could stay in the top 20 for a few weeks.

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Yes the studio version is actually decent...

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IA, plus pop/EDM crossovers seem to be pretty popular at the moment so they might have released it at the perfect time.

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please get your hearing checked

it's unlistenable

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lmao

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Pillowtalk was a legit hit, though stans of course contributed to his No.1 (but Louis' and Niall's fans couldn't do that)

so he had the general public for a hot minute with that. then he sat on his ass and did nothing and it's back to his stans, which explains why everything since then has flopped. Bless Gigi and Taylor for giving his US career a revival.

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Yup.. the power of tweens... I never bought into the hype that Zayn "deserved" his Pillowtalk #1..



I miss the old days when charts were just physical sales... not that streaming nonsense



Edited at 2016-12-23 08:27 pm (UTC)

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It's not really getting a lot of radio support right now so if that doesn't change it will probably fall quickly. Fans keeping changing and saying to push for another week to try and get #1 but I see more and more fans losing interest with each week. I've seen fans claim it hasn't been "officially" released or pushed to radio yet but I'm not sure if that is the case. It makes me wonder if this is just be a one off and he might not have a full record deal

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Keep on slaying, Little Mix!



When are we getting a music video for Touch?

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I guess until next year? I doubt they're gonna drop it next week.

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And that feud between Mixers and the Rangers' stans was so weird yet oh so entertaining.



Edited at 2016-12-23 07:23 pm (UTC) QUEENS OF THE UK POP SCENE AND PURE SALESAnd that feud between Mixers and the Rangers' stans was so weird yet oh so entertaining.

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I made the mistake of tweeting about Joe Garner and my mentions became a mess. I had to go private for a few hours 

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When will your faves chart with a 22 year old song tbh?

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lol, Mariah makes all of the look bad without even trying.

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Truly a queen for the ages.





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mte that part is so dumb lol

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I haven't heard the song but that sounds hilarious lmao 

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Glory Days' sales are incredible. Already 355k pure sales in the UK. I wonder how the tour will do compared to the Get Weird tour. And Touch can be in contention for #1. It would be their first time having multiple Mariah is queen of Christmas as always! <3Glory Days' sales are incredible. Already 355k pure sales in the UK. I wonder how the tour will do compared to the Get Weird tour. And Touch can be in contention for #1. It would be their first time having multiple #1s in one era.

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GET IT, GIRLS! they're doing amazing with Glory Days, I'm so happy for them.

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congrats to little mix!





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I'm glad Louis & Steve aoki's song has done well this and last week (even if that is bc of relentless stan manipulation).



It's Louis' bday tomorrow and I can't imagine what that'll be like for him having lost his mum so recently. If the song's success gives him something positive to focus on rn and distract him somewhat (however momentarily) then I'm glad.



Edited at 2016-12-23 08:43 pm (UTC)

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IA the song was better than I expected even if EDM isn't really my thing, and having Louis first birthday AND the first Christmas without his mom at the same time must be so hard.

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Yaaassss at LM! I'm proud of them and their success so far with Glory Days. May they slay North America!



I'm surprised at Louis' single doing well. Besides his struggle vocal, it's a solid song. His voice seems suited for this type of music.





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bless louis getting the sympathy buys

that song is intolerable

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Yeah, everyone is struggling to say it, but come on the song's crap. It's sad his mom died, but that doesn't change the fact that that song is bad and he can't sing.

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Little Mix slayyyy



those numbers are amazing. they work really hard, they deserve it.

Louis' song is only okay but I'm glad it's doing well, Christmas will be hard on him and his family without their mom. Especially the little ones.

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I am happy for Louis and Steve Aoki.

Landing on the No.3 spot without promo and a video is actually quite successful.



I can't imagine what this Christmas/his birthday will be like for Louis and his family though. Still so sad about Johannah.



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YAY for Little Mix!!!!!! Slay!



Also, glad for Louis & Steve to be doing so well, especially during the holiday times.

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Outgoing President Barack Obama is about to invoke a 1953 law in a bid to protect the Arctic and Atlantic shelf of the United States from the claws of the oil and gas industry, but below the surface it may just be theoretical.

The Outer Continental Shelf Land Act, and more specifically its provision 12(a), has only been invoked a few times since the passing of the legislation and has always, until now, concerned discrete areas.

This time will be the first when the provision is invoked to protect such large regions of the countrys shelf and its looking like the invocation will be more of a symbolic gesture to the environmentalist lobby than anything of practical significance going forward.

On the face of it, Obamas move would interfere with President-elect Donald Trumps energy policy priorities, where drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic and Atlantic shelf features prominently, according to a memo from Thomas Pyle, Trumps transition team energy policy leader.

While the Trump administration has been expected to open up more federal lands for drilling, the Pyle memo singled out the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, the Atlantic Ocean, the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), and federal lands in the Western U.S.

Related: U.S. Natural Gas Needs Mexico

Invoking provision 12(a) from the OCSLA could theoretically ban oil and gas licensing in these areas for an indefinite future. The powers to do this lay exclusively with the President and the decision cannot be rescinded automatically by a future president.

So, if Trump wants to remove the ban, he would have to go to court. The court, for its part, according to the Alaska director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Niel Lawrence, will hand matters over to Congress.

Congress, Republican-dominated as it is, will in turn revoke Obamas invocation of the controversial provision, which quite simply states that the U.S. President can from time to time, withdraw from disposition any of the unleased lands of the outer continental shelf.

The court proceedings could take years, and this is what some observers see as problematic for the Trump administration. However, at the moment, the oil and gas industry is still weak and unable to commit the substantial amounts of investment needed for Arctic exploration. Big Oil already got burned in the Arctic, shelving projects and giving up licenses due to the high cost of the projects.

Related: Saudi Use Of Solar Could Boost Its Oil Exports

The Atlantic shelf is not as hostile but it will still take time for Big Oil and its smaller brothers to get back firmly on the cash flow positive path and be able to afford the investments. They need a few years for this and these few years nicely coincide with an earlier decision by Obama to suspend the sale of new exploration leases in the Arctic, the Atlantic, and the Pacific shelf from 2017 to 2022. Invoking provision 12(a) from the OCSLA, however, as Bloomberg points out, would explicitly put certain parts of the U.S. continental shelf off limits for the energy industry.

Chances are that the Trump administration would use all tools at its disposal to overcome this obstacle and will meanwhile seek ways around it, such as parts of the shelf that are under state jurisdiction. Whats more, given the right motivation, Congress could actually strike down the 12(a) provision altogether. Perhaps its time for the already very agitated environmentalist lobby to tread carefully lest it incurs greater damage by unduly antagonizing the new administration.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Each Christmas, around the world billions of children sit quietly in their beds at night pondering one of lifes biggest mysteries about a fat man in a red suit; what are the propulsion specs on Santas sleigh and what is the relative level of its fuel economy?

OK, so maybe its only the engineering minded children who are wondering that. Still, its an important question to consider. We already have a clear answer to how much oil Santas sleigh needs to use for backup power in the event that Rudolph and his compatriots succumb to Crazy Reindeer disease (an analog to Mad Cow).

Now that Santa is focused on going green though, its time to consider how much biofuel the reindeer need. Or more precisely, how much biofuel could be created through the biomass ingested by Santas reindeer? And what is the cost of all that biomass?

Lets start with a few simple assumptions. Lets assume that Santas reindeer eat grass like most reindeer do. (If they are gulping down 5 hour energy shots to prepare for the big night instead, then I have no idea how to account for that in biofuel or cost terms.) That grass most closely translates to the cellulosic ethanol feedstock of switchgrass.

Lets also assume that property rights are not a big issue at the North Pole and so Santa can get his switchgrass at the production cost. Its probably not economical to import switchgrass, and plus it would put a lot of hardworking farmer elves out of work and then theyd probably gather outside Santas home with tiny signs, picketing and calling for new border adjustment tariffs to stop the import of unfair grass from Greenland and Scandinavia. Who wants to deal with having to try and get past a tiny picket line? Far easier to just grow the grass yourself on North Pole land and fight off the occasional polar bear.

Switchgrass in upper Midwest costs about $30 per acre to cultivate, and each acre yields about 15 tons of switchgrass or 300 gallons of cellulosic ethanol. Thus, it takes about 1 ton of switch grass to get 20 gallons of ethanol, and the cost of that raw material is about $2 or about $0.10 per gallon. Now you might ask why the Grinch down at the farm supply store is charging far more than ten cents for a gallon of ethanol, but you have to remember that the cost there includes significant processing and refining none of which is relevant to the reindeer. So we are just looking at the cost of the raw material. Related: Can Killer Whales Strike A Blow Against Canadas Oil Sands?

As an additional adjustment, we need to account for the fact that the North Pole is considerably less agriculturally productive than the Upper Midwest. North Pole farming data is a closely guarded secret, but lets use a ballpark figure that the North Pole is only 50 percent less productive than the Midwest. That means switch grass now costs $4 per ton.

Next we have to figure out how many tons each reindeer will eat. This is where things get really tricky. We cannot assume that Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen have the same level of appetite as normal reindeer. Thats just not reasonable from a caloric intake stance.

Instead, lets assume that the reindeer have to eat switchgrass in rough proportion to the number of miles they will travel in one night. Careful calculations indicate that Santas sleigh needs to travel 226 million miles on Christmas Eve. That means each reindeer needs enough food to fly that distance.

Its tough to get data on caloric needs for a reindeer to fly one mile, but we do know that mules and oxen can go roughly 15-20 miles per day. We also know that a typical livestock animal might need to eat around 1.5 percent - 2 percent of its bodyweight in forage feed (depending on the nutritional content of that feed). Related: Why The Koch Brothers Just Warned Of A Gasoline Price Spike

We also know that a male reindeer weights 350-400 pounds. Santas reindeer are probably on the more muscular end of that scale, meaning that theyd need to eat about 2 percent of 400 pounds, or 8 pounds to be able to fly 15-20 miles  roughly one-half a pound of grass per mile. Thus to fly 226 million miles, a reindeer needs to eat about 113 million pounds of switchgrass.

Since Santa has 9 reindeer including newcomer Rudolph, he needs 1 billion pounds or about 500,000 tons of switchgrass. That 500,000 tons of switchgrass could have been used to produce about 10 million gallons of ethanol. Santas furry helpers require food from 67,000 acres of North Pole land at a cost of $2.0 million total. What a bargain!

By Michael McDonald for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Quick Take: 2017 Oilfield Service and Drilling Outlook from Bloomberg Intelligence

Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) analysts Andrew Cosgrove and William Foiles presented a briefing on Wednesday on the outlook for U.S. oil services and drilling. The bottom line: U.S. shale developers will lead a rebound in oilfield service activity in 2017.

Oil Price and CapEx Outlook

The Bloomberg analysts expect the global oil market to tighten throughout next year, with demand expected to catch up with supply and inventories being gradually drawn down. But higher OPEC and U.S. production could increase the risk of surplus in 2018.

(Click to enlarge)

Source: Bloomberg Intelligence

Heading into 2017, U.S. E&P capital spending is expected to rebound while global capex is expected to remain flat, Bloombergs analysts said:

- Short-cycle U.S. shale output will drive as much as a 30 percent rebound in spending.

- The only international growth is expected in the Middle East and Russia.

- Offshore spending is anticipated to fall another 20-25 percent.

Shale Drillers: day rates have come off the bottom

Momentum in U.S. and Canadian rig counts is expected to roll over into next year as E&Ps reset their budgets higher:

- Day rates for high spec rigs have come off the bottom.

- Utilization of rigs is not expected to cause a rise of more than $2,000 to 3,000 per day.

- Reductions in drilling time are expected to cut into rig demand.

Pressure Pumpers/Well Services

Frac horsepower and pressure pumping demand is expected to tighten in 2017:

- Price traction may take time to gain momentum.

- Not everybody is asking for price increases now, some are still sacrificing price to keep market share as much as they can, so price increases will likely happen post-1Q.

- DUC drawdown in the Eagle Ford and Bakken will aid in horsepower demand.

Frac Sand Miners

The frac sand market is leveraged to higher oil prices and has been supported by higher sand intensity per well, with longer laterals, more use of proppant per stage, and higher stage counts:

- 2017 demand is expected to come in at 48 million tons due to a 30 percent increase in completions and 10-20 percent growth in intensity.

- 2018 demand is expected to reach 65 million tons.

Offshore Drillers

The analysts presentation described the OPEC decision as effectively throwing offshore companies a lifeline. While the sectors stock rallies in 4Q were primarily due to short-covering, clearing of debt runways was cited as removing some of the overhead pressure on fundamentals and potentially allowing the stocks to trade closer in line with oil.

(Click to enlarge)

Source: Bloomberg Intelligence

From a fundamental tendering standpoint, many drillers have said a pickup in shallower water activity needs oil to be above $50 for six months while Deepwater would need $60. With that being said, Brents 12-month contract has spent the last six months above $50 and this increases the possibility for follow-on, blend-&-extend, and option exercises where available, the analysts said.

In short, offshore is not going away yet. Related: The Shale Oil Threat Will Not Go Away

A Deep Dive into Service/E&P Efficiency Gains

Analyst William Foiles discussed the results of a study on factors driving the increase in 30-day oil IP rates seen between 2014 and 2016. Some observers see recent enhancements in productivity as a temporary by-product:

- High Grading  As prices rise, E&Ps will return to drilling fringe acreage.

- Longer Laterals  They will eventually stop growing.

- E&P Survivor Bias  If oil prices rise, smaller, less efficient E&Ps will return, dragging down averages.

- Cost Concessions  Many advanced techniques currently used wont be available when service costs rise.

The chart below breaks down the gains observed in the Permian Basin.

(Click to enlarge)

Source: Bloomberg Intelligence

- 29 percent of uplift attributable to longer lateral lengths

- 16 percent of uplift attributable to high-grading

- 4 percent of uplift attributable to E&P survivorship bias

- 51 percent of uplift attributable to well construction techniques

By Oil & Gas 360

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The OPEC deal has raised the possibility of an oil supply deficit as early as the first half of 2017, according to the IEA, but the oil price rally has hit some stumbling blocks in recent weeks on ongoing concerns over whether or not the promised cuts of 1.8 million barrels per day from both OPEC and non-OPEC will materialize. Even if participating countries adhere to the details of the deal that was signed in November, extraordinarily high levels of oil sitting in storage will continue to weigh on the market. In fact, the latest data from the EIA show a surprise build in oil inventories, taking the steam out of the rally for the time being.

If the oil futures market is anything to go by, investors are not all that bullish on oil prices, at least in the next few months. John Kemp of Reuters notes that the market contango remains relatively pronounced throughout the first six months of 2017. The contango  in which front month oil contracts trade at a discount to oil set for delivery further out into the future  is an indication that investors are betting on a market that remains oversupplied for the next few months. A contango can be interpreted as evidence of, or concerns about, near-term oversupply; since there is a glut, oil needs to be discounted for immediate delivery in order to entice buyers.

Related: Saudi Use Of Solar Could Boost Its Oil Exports

Brent oil futures for Feb. 2017 are trading at more than a $2.50 per barrel discount relative to contracts set for June 2017. That is certainly not the deepest contango exhibited over the two-and-a-half-year oil bust, but it suggests a concern about on ongoing glut throughout the first half of 2017.

However, that stands in stark contrast to the timespreads later in the year. The June 2017-December 2017 differential has disappeared since OPEC announced its deal. That timespread is also on the verge of flipping into positive territory, or backwardation. That is, oil for delivery in June 2017 might actually start trading at a premium to December 2017 oil. Moving into 2018, the Brent timespreads are more firmly in positive territory.

What does this mean? The narrowing of the contango from mid-2017 on is an indication that oil traders believe that the market could come into balance by the middle of the year, and grow tighter as time passes.

That also means that oil inventories will have to come down. There is a sort of chicken and the egg question in regards to inventories and the futures differentials, which is to say, do falling inventories cause the contango to narrow, or vice versa? Either way, oil inventories will get worked through over the course of the year, likely coming down to average levels at some point in 2017. For now, judging by the narrowing contango as you move out along the oil futures curve, the market is pricing in a balancing by mid-2017. That largely backs up some of the projections by the IEA and OPEC, among others.

Related: How Much Biofuel Do Santas Reindeer Need?

Of course, the dynamics of pricing in the futures market is a reflection of whats going on in the physical world of supply and demand. A lot will come down to whether or not OPEC members comply with their stated production targets. Many of the key countries to watch  Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia  ramped up output just ahead of the meeting, and while they have promised to cut, they all have an incentive to cheat. Indeed that is what they have done historically.

However, the problem is that the earliest evidence of cheating will have to wait until February at the earliest, which is when January data will be reported. Even then, as S&P Global Platts notes, it will take a few months to truly build a case that any particular member is cheating. That is because the production cuts as part of the OPEC deal are an average for the six-month period from January to June. Theoretically member countries can defer cuts until closer to mid-year, although then they would have to cut much deeper.

For now, the best guess is that inventories will start drawing down, reaching more appropriate levels by the time OPEC meets again in June. If that is the case, oil prices should move higher, and the cartel can feel confident that their deal worked. Time will tell.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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A nearly $2 billion natural gas deal could signal a sign that companies are interested in gas drilling again after a long downturn.

Gulfport Energy announced plans to issue new shares in order to finance a $1.85 billion acquisition of acreage in Oklahomas SCOOP basin. The SCOOP has emerged as arguably the next most exciting shale play, with acreage still largely undeveloped.

The Marcellus and Utica Shales in Pennsylvania and Ohio have been home to the bulk of the shale gas revolution, although Oklahoma has seen years of shale gas drilling as well. Now with the Marcellus having been poked with tens of thousands of wells, natural gas drillers are moving on to greener pastures. The rig count outside of the handful of major shale basins is now at its highest level in almost a year.

Adding fuel to the fire is the recent rise in natural gas prices, with Henry Hub now up to about $3.60/MMBtu. Natural gas production peaked earlier this year, dipping by about 5 percent. The sector has shown some recent signs of life however, with supplies tightening and demand continuing to rise. The record levels of natural gas inventories are also starting to come down to more reasonable levels, although they remain elevated. Cold weather across the country has added a bit of bullishness to the fuel in recent weeks.

Related: Oil Traders See Market Balance By Mid-2017

Investors were not exactly keen on the deal, with Gulfports share price falling the most in two years on the announcement. Gulfport will issue 29 million shares to pay for the purchase. Its a combination of dilution from the transaction and just uncertainty on the strategic direction of the company, Gordon Douthat, an analyst at Wells Fargo & Co., told Bloomberg in an interview. It caught people off guard, an acquisition outside their core Utica area.

It is too soon to tell, but the SCOOP could be the next big thing in shale gas drilling. If that is the case, Gulfport is getting a head start.

By Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com

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American Muslim civil advocacy groups Thursday (Dec. 22, 2016) welcomed President Barrack Obama's decision to permanently dismantle the regulatory framework behind the National Security Exit-Entry Registration System (NSEERS) also called "Special Registration."

CNN quoted Neema Hakim, a DHS spokesman, as saying: "The Department of Homeland Security is removing outdated regulations pertaining to the National Security Entry-Exit Registration Systems (NSEERS) program, with an immediate effective date." By 2011, nearly a decade after the program was enacted, NSEERS had not resulted in a single terrorism conviction. The Department of Homeland Security determined in 2011 that the program was "redundant and did not provide any increase in security," said Hakim.

The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Legal & Policy Director Abed Ayoub states, "This is the right decision by Secretary Johnson. We commend him, and the White House, for letting it be known that such registry programs are futile and have no place in our country. However the community cannot be at ease; the next administration has indicated that they will consider implementing similar programs. We will work twice as hard to protect our community and ensure such programs do not come to fruition."

The ADC led an effort on behalf of over 200 organizations, calling on the Obama administration to end the program. The letter, which was delivered in late November, was followed by vigorous advocacy efforts by a large coalition of community organizations, including allies from the Arab, Muslim, and South Asian communities. Resources were leveraged to build a strong diverse coalition to exert pressure that ultimately led to the dismantling of the NSEERS framework.

"Registering and tracking Muslim visitors to the United States is not only discriminatory but a tremendous waste of our nation's national security resources," said the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw. "We thank President Obama and DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson for finally putting an end to what was widely perceived to be a massive profiling campaign targeting individuals based on their religion and ethnicity."

"Many activists and advocacy organizations came together over the years and again recently to challenge NSEERs and encourage an end to the program. We are especially grateful for the leadership of the ADC and Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) who even as recently as last week organized a march and rally in Washington, D.C. on this issue," said CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo.

The American Muslim Voice (AMV) also welcomed Obama administration's decision to permanently end the controversial NSEERs program. The national President of the AMV, Khalid Saeed, in a statement said that "we thank Obama administration for formally rescinding the program which was dormant since 2011 as it was considered redundant and ineffective." He said that the AMV also thanks to all civil advocacy groups and individuals who came together to end this program and support the seven-million strong American Muslim community in the face of anti-Muslim bigotry. Khalid Saeed said that the best example of this support was a vigil on Wednesday night at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. This pro-Muslim vigil was organized by the Jewish Voices for Peace and held simultaneously in more than 20 cities across the nation.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Thursday hailed the Obama administration's decision to rescind the NSEERs program. However, the MPAC warned that although the framework of the program will be removed, the next administration has the authority to rebuild a dangerous NSEERS-type program from scratch. The MPAC said: "Americans of all backgrounds must join together and prevent discriminatory policies that target any community and violate rights and liberties enshrined in the US Constitution. Today is a victory for civil liberties, but we must continue to preserve our rights by redoubling our efforts to building coalitions and engaging our elected officials."

After 9/11, the Bush Administration instituted the NSEERS registry system that targeted individuals on national origin. Of the 25 designated countries, 24 were majority Arab or Muslim. The discriminatory NSEERS program disparately profiled Arabs and Muslims by questioning and fingerprinting individuals and registering this identifying information in a database.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Wednesday (12/21) called on Obama to dismantle the NSEERS program. In a letter addressed to the President, Schneiderman wrote that NSEERS did not reduce terrorist activity and instead "undermined trust" in law enforcement and instilled fear in some communities.

President-elect Donald Trump and advisors close to him have publicly said that the Trump administration would revive and expand the federal registry that once targeted visitors mostly from Muslim-majority countries. Alarmingly, in the wake of the Berlin attack, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to a Muslim registry.

According to the Atlantic, DHS suspended the domestic registration program in December 2003, more than a year after it had begun. By that point, according to a fact sheet released by the agency, NSEERS had garnered more than 83,500 domestic registrations, and 93,741 people had registered at ports of entry.

By December 2003, nearly 13,800 people had been placed in deportation proceedings because of the program--but, according to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the program did not help the government open a single terrorist-related criminal case. The deportations broke apart families, representatives for the advocacy organizations said, and their effects reverberated far beyond the end of the domestic registration program.

When DHS phased out the domestic registration program, the agency said it was outdated compared to newer systems like US-VISIT, a comprehensive program for tracking visitors to the U.S. from nearly every country, which is still in use today.

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From Smirking Chimp



Democracy Lost |

(Image by amarillion.net) Details DMCA



The United States stands at the endpoint of a long series of attacks on democracy, and the choices faced by the American public today point to the divide between those who are committed to democracy and those who are not. Debates over whether Donald Trump was a fascist or Hillary Clinton was a right-wing warmonger and tool of Wall Street were a tactical diversion.

The real questions that should have been debated include: What measures could have been taken to prevent the United States from sliding further into a distinctive form of authoritarianism? And what could have been done to imagine a mode of civic courage and militant hope needed to enable the promise of a radical democracy? Such questions take on a significant urgency in light of the election of Donald Trump to the presidency. Under such circumstances, not only is the public in peril, it is on the brink of collapse as the economic, political, and cultural institutions necessary for democracy to survive are being aggressively undermined. As Robert Kuttner observes:

"It is hard to contemplate the new administration without experiencing alarm bordering on despair: Alarm about the risks of war, the fate of constitutional democracy, the devastation of a century of social progress. Trump's populism was a total fraud. Every single Trump appointment has come from the pool of far-right conservatives, crackpots, and billionaire kleptocrats. More alarming still is the man himself -- his vanity, impulsivity, and willful ignorance, combined with an intuitive genius as a demagogue. A petulant fifth-grader with nuclear weapons will now control the awesome power of the U.S. government. One has to nourish the hope that Trump can yet be contained. Above all, that will take passionate and strategic engagement, not just to resist but to win, to discredit him and get him out of office while this is still a democracy. We can feel sick at heart -- we would be fools not to -- but despair is not an option."

Kuttner rightly mediates such despair with a call for resistance. Yet, such deep-seated anxiety is not unwarranted given the willingness of contemporary politicians and pundits during the 2016 presidential battle to use themes that echoed alarmingly fascist and totalitarian elements of the past. According to Drucilla Cornell and Stephen D. Seely, Trump's campaign mobilized a movement that was "unambiguously fascist." They write:

"We are not using the word 'fascist' glibly here. Nor are we referencing only the so-called 'alt-right' contingent of his supporters. No, Trump's entire movement is rooted in an ethnic, racial, and linguistic nationalism that sanctions and glorifies violence against designated enemies and outsiders, is animated by a myth of decline and nostalgic renewal and centered on a masculine cult of personality."

Large segments of the American public, especially minorities of class and color, have been written out of politics over what they view as a failed state and the inability of the basic machinery of government to serve their interests. As market mentalities and moralities tighten their grip on all aspects of society, democratic institutions and public spheres are being downsized, if not altogether disappearing. As these institutions vanish -- from public schools to health care centers -- there is also a serious erosion of the discourses of community, justice, equality, public values, and the common good.

This grim reality has been called a "failed sociality"-- a failure in the power of the civic imagination, political will, and open democracy. As the consolidation of power by the corporate and financial elite empties politics of any substance, the political realm merges elements of Monty Python, Kafka, and Aldus Huxley. With the election of Donald Trump, the savagery of neoliberalism has been intensified with the emergence at the highest levels of power of a toxic mix of anti-intellectualism, religious fundamentalism, nativism, and a renewed notion of American exceptionalism. Mainstream politics is now dominated by hard-right extremists who have brought to the center of politics a shameful white supremacist ideology, poisonous xenophobic ideas, and the blunt, malicious tenets and practices of Islamophobia.

The older political establishment's calls for regime change and war are now supplemented by the discourse of state-sanctioned torture, armed ignorance, and a deep hatred of democracy. Neoliberalism, with its full-fledged assault on the welfare state and public goods, the destruction of the manufacturing sector, and a dramatic shift in wealth to the upper 1 percent, has destroyed the faith of millions in democracy, which lost its power to contain the rich and the rule of financial capital.

With the erosion of the social contract and the increasing power of the rich to control both the commanding institutions of society and politics itself, democracy has lost any legitimacy as a counter-weight to protect the ever widening sphere of people considered vulnerable and disposable. The result has been that the dangerous door to neo-fascist appeals have gained more and more credence. The end result is that large portions of the American public have turned to Trump's brand of authoritarianism. The future looks bleak, especially, for youth in neoliberal societies as they are burdened with debt, dead-end jobs, unemployment, and, if you are black and poor, the increasing possibility of being either incarcerated or shot by the police. The United States has become a war culture and immediate massive forms of resistance and civil disobedience are essential if the planet and human life is going to survive.

There can be little doubt that America is at war with its own ideals and that war is being waged against minorities of color and class, immigrants, Muslims, and Syrian refugees. Such brutality amounts to acts of domestic terrorism and demands not only massive collective opposition but also a new understanding of the conditions that are causing such sanctioned violence and the need for a fresh notion of politics to resist it. This suggests putting democratic socialism on the agenda for change.

The struggle for democratic socialism is an important goal, especially in light of the reign of terror of the existing neoliberal mode of governance. It is crucial to remember that as a firm defender of the harsh politics and values of neoliberalism, Trump preyed on the atomization and loneliness many people felt in a neoliberal social order that derides dependency, solidarity, community, and any viable notion of the commons. He both encouraged the fantasy of a rugged individualism and toxic discourse of a hyper-masculine notion of nativism, while at the same time offering his followers the swindle of a community rooted in an embrace of white supremacy, a white public sphere, and a hatred of those deemed irrevocably other. The ideology and public pedagogy of neoliberalism at the root of Trump's embrace of a new authoritarianism must be challenged and dismantled ideologically and politically.

Yet, the task of challenging the new authoritarianism will only succeed if progressives embrace an expansive and relational understanding of politics. This means, among other things, refusing to view elections as the ultimate litmus test of democratic participation and rejecting the assumption that capitalism and democracy are synonymous. The demise of democracy must be challenged at all levels of public participation and must serve as a rallying cry to call into question the power and control of all institutions that bear down on everyday life. Moreover, any progressive struggle must move beyond the fragmentation that has undermined the left for decades. This suggests moving beyond single issue movements in order to develop and emphasize the connections between diverse social formations.

At stake here is the struggle for building a broad alliance that brings together different political movements and, as Cornell and Seely observe, a political formation willing to promote an ethical revolution whose goal "is not only socialism as an economic form of organization but a new way of being together with others that could begin to provide a collectively shared horizon of meaning."

Central to a viable notion of ideological and structural transformation is a refusal of the mainstream politics of disconnect. In its place is a plea for broader social movements and a more comprehensive understanding of politics in order to connect the dots between, for instance, police brutality and mass incarceration, on the one hand, and the diverse crises producing massive poverty, the destruction of the welfare state, and the assaults on the environment, workers, young people and women.

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From Smirking Chimp

At the smallest, crappiest newspaper in the world -- even at a high school paper -- no sane editor would publish a story that wasn't backed by solid evidence. As the 20th century print journalism cliche' goes, if your mother says she loves you check it out. So why are the nation's most prestigious multi-Pulitzer-winning newsgathering organizations repeatedly claiming that hackers working for the Russian government stole emails belonging to the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta, and gave them to WikiLeaks?

Because the CIA says so.

Well, not the actual CIA. Some unidentified people who claim to have seen some report say so.

The charge against Russia is explosive. "In a 'closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill last week,' intelligence officials told senators that it was now 'quite clear' that electing Trump was Russia's goal," according to Vox. Hothead Sarah Palin enabler and senior Arizona Senator John McCain called it "an act of war."

Even Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman -- historically a voice of reason and prescience -- dove into the neo-Red-baiting morass of this weird month, writing that "bad guys hacked the election" thanks to "useful idiots" (a Cold War slur used against lefties like, um, Krugman, pinned here to Trump and his advisers).

(Hypocrisy alert! I'll save my catalog of covert U.S. attacks against other nations' democratic elections -- Obama's role in the recent coup in Honduras comes to mind -- for some future book, a format where word counts aren't as constricting.)

Anyway, newspapers and magazines and radio and television and Internet news sites say that Russia was behind the hacks. So, as my editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator would surely have asked, what is the basis of this contention?

"The CIA's conclusion does not appear to be the product of specific new intelligence obtained since the election, several American officials, including some who had read the agency's briefing, said on Sunday," wrote the Times' Mark Mazzetti and Eric Lichtblau. "Rather, it was an analysis of what many believe is overwhelming circumstantial evidence -- evidence that others feel does not support firm judgments -- that the Russians put a thumb on the scale for Mr. Trump, and got their desired outcome."

The primary basis of this "overwhelming circumstantial evidence" appears to be that whoever hacked the DNC also hacked the RNC but only released the DNC stuff to WikiLeaks. "If the Russians were going to interfere, why on earth would they do it to the detriment of the candidate that was pro-Russian?" asked Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

My editor at the Spec would not have been impressed.

As Sam Biddle writes at The Intercept, "you can't help but notice all of the qualifying words: Possibly, appears, connects, indicates."

This is one of those awkward times when you have to admit that Donald Trump has a point: why should we take the CIA, whose BS Iraqi WMD intel led to the deaths of over a million people, at its word?

Why would the very same journalists who let themselves get duped 13 years ago dutifully transcribe what amounts to nothing more than unsubstantiated allegations?

I don't know if Russia is innocent of hacking those emails -- any more than the New York Times and the Washington Post and CBS News and so on know that they're guilty.

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Trump as a presidential candidate had expressed his views on how to grow the US economy. Obviously, US economy had been growing, albeit, anemically. However, as president he will have the economic wind at his back--last quarter economic growth was a robust 3.6 percent. So one has to assume that by growth they mean faster rate of growth than the country is currently experiencing: 1.2 growth rate of GDP (it averaged about 2.5 percent in 2015), with unemployment below five percent. What they had in mind was an accelerated rate of growth. Part of Donald Trump's plan includes reducing tax brackets from the current seven to three with rates of 12, 25, and 33 percent. He expects a four- percent GDP growth, which is not beyond the ability of the US economy to achieve. Sen. Hillary Clinton wants a faster rate of growth as well. But how to get there involved diametrically opposite strategies from the two candidates. Trump's conversation on growth surrounds a massive tax of $2.5 trillion that some studies suggest will be a huge tax breaks to the very rich and will cause the debt to soar. On the other hand, Sen. Clinton proposed to achieve her economic growth by raising taxes on the rich income earnings and eliminating corporate loopholes. She also planned to cut taxes on the middle class and increase the minimum wage. One strategy is backward looking and the other is forward looking. Clinton lost!

Donald Trump railed during the presidential debate that approximately $5 trillion was spent in the Middle East that could have been spent on rebuilding US infrastructure. His transcribed (from The Washington Post) statement from the debate is:

"They're going to Mexico. They're going to many other countries. You look at what China is doing to our country in terms of making our product. They're devaluing their currency, and there's nobody in our government to fight them. And we have a very good fight. And we have a winning fight. Because they're using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, and many other countries are doing the same thing."

"So we're losing our good jobs, so many of them. When you look at what's happening in Mexico, a friend of mine who builds plants said it's the eighth wonder of the world. They're building some of the biggest plants anywhere in the world, some of the most sophisticated, some of the best plants. With the United States, as he said, not so much."

"So Ford is leaving. You see that, their small car division leaving. Thousands of jobs leaving Michigan, leaving Ohio. They're all leaving. In addition, we can't allow it to happen anymore. As far as child care is concerned and so many other things, I think Hillary and I agree on that. We probably disagree a little bit as to numbers and amounts and what we're going to do, but perhaps we'll be talking about that later."

"But we have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us. We have to stop our companies from leaving the United States and, with it, firing all of their people. All you have to do is take a look at Carrier air conditioning in Indianapolis. They left, i.e. they were fired 1,400 people. They're going to Mexico. So many hundreds and hundreds of companies are doing this."

"We cannot let it happen. Under my plan, I'll be reducing taxes tremendously, from 35 percent to 15 percent for companies, small and big businesses. That's going to be a job creator like we haven't seen since Ronald Reagan. It's going to be a beautiful thing to watch."

"Companies will come. They will build. They will expand. New companies will start. And I look very, very much forward to doing it. We have to renegotiate our trade deals, and we have to stop these countries from stealing our companies and our jobs."

Mr. Trump intervened--Vice president-elect Pence did the heavy lifting--and prevent some loss of jobs with a promised tax break of seven million dollar. (See New York Times)

Mr. Trump is correct. But the problem is that $5 trillion in sunk; its opportunity cost is zero. It cannot be used to do any infrastructure building in the US. Trump's strategy relies on the rich to spend money that he funnels up to them. They could spend it on private investment. He wants to give incentives to companies come back to the US and stop what he seems to believe is a hemorrhaging out of US companies to places like Mexico and China. It is hard to find robust evidence of a positive correlation between trickle down economies policies and sustained economic growth.

Hillary Clinton's comments on the economy (also from The Washington Post) are:

"I want us to invest in your future. That means jobs in infrastructure, in advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology, clean, renewable energy, and small business, because most of the new jobs will come from small business. We also have to make the economy fairer. That starts with raising the national minimum wage and also guarantee, finally, equal pay for women's work."

"I also want to see more companies do profit-sharing. If you help create the profits, you should be able to share in them, not just the executives at the top."

"And I want us to do more to support people who are struggling to balance family and work. I've heard from so many of you about the difficult choices you face and the stresses that you're under. So let's have paid family leave, earned sick days. Let's be sure we have affordable child care and debt-free college."

"How are we going to do it? We're going to do it by having the wealthy pay their fair share and close the corporate loopholes." Voters were not impressed. She lost!

Each candidate planned to use taxes as the vehicle to achieve faster economic growth: one through conceptually a trickle-down paradigm and the other by raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for it. Clinton wanted to a trickle up approach by growing the middle class. And both candidates were embarking on a sort of Keynesian economics where the consumer is the economic driver--through more disposable from tax cuts, increases in the minimum wage that would give those workers more purchasing power. We'll never know if her plan would have worked. We'll have to wait and see if Mr. Trump's will since he will control the levers of the government during the next four years.

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When Sunil Duggal was offered the CEO post at Dabur, one of India's largest fats moving consumer goods, or FMCG, companies, in mid-2002, it was not the most desirable of jobs. There was unprecedented competition and Dabur, despite strong brand recall, was struggling for growth. The first attempt at transforming the over 100-year-old company from promoter-driven to being led by professionals had not got off to a good start. The first professional CEO, Ninu Khanna, had quit due to differences with the top management. Dabur was going through one of its worst years. Sales had declined and the company, for the first time, reported a dip in profits. Duggal took up the challenge.

Within a short span of time, he managed to turn around the company's financial performance and set it up for exponential growth, mainly through acquisitions. Under him, Dabur's revenues have risen sevenfold, while profits have soared almost 20 times. While doing this, he has laid down a template for India Inc. on how to professionalise a family-run business.

CHALLENGING START

Duggal was not an outsider to the FMCG business, courtesy his stint at PepsiCo. Also, by 2002, he had been with Dabur for seven years. However, sailing was far from smooth. His appointment was followed by a churn in the workforce - some left on their own, disappointed by his elevation, while others were asked to go. The other problem was the dated feel of the company's product portfolio.

"I brought in a lot of changes at the top, whether it was finance or human resources or operations. I brought in people who had passion and were committed to doing something much bigger than what they had been doing in their earlier jobs," says Duggal. "I found people at the next level, who were hungry for growth. They were willing to do anything to build their careers in a different environment. They were the people that made the difference."

Product changes were kept at a minimum. Some products nearing the end of their lifecycle were revived with cheeky innovations. One example is Dabur Lal dant manjan. "You had companies coming up with toothpastes with more and more offerings at lower price points. Consumer preference was obviously going to change," says Duggal. "So, I got the brand team to work on a toothpaste version of dant manjan. It was tempting to do something traditional such as launch a mint-flavoured toothpaste. But we decided take a brave step, to stay true to the DNA, while giving the product a contemporary look. The red toothpaste is one of our biggest successes."

Duggal was also instrumental in separation of FMCG and pharmaceutical businesses. The latter was sold to German company Fresenius' Singapore arm. Dabur also went global. At the same time, Duggal drove a series of acquisitions, starting with three Balsara group companies in 2005, followed by Fem Care Pharma in 2008. In 2011, it bought Ajanta Pharma's 30-Plus brand. It also bought Hobi Kozmetik Group in Turkey and Namaste Laboratories in the US in 2010. Today, overseas markets account for onethird revenues.

"The first thing I did was to terminate franchises and launch a subsidiary for international operations with its hub in Dubai. This laid the ground for overseas growth," says Duggal, adding, "We localised the supply chain and built factories in UAE, Egypt, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nigeria."

PATANJALI CHALLENGE

Over the past two years, Dabur has been fighting a strong challenge to its leadership in ayurvedic products from Patanjali Ayurved, which, say market watchers, is poised to overtake it in the ayurveda category in the not-too-distant future. Duggal concedes that Dabur may have missed a trick or two here. "The playing field for ayurveda has expanded tremendously after the entry of Patanjali. The back-to-the-roots mindset means Indian and ayurvedic products are preferred by a significant mass of people," he says. "A corporate will always find it a bit hard to play this theme directly, to brand itself into a desi kind of company. In hindsight, we think we, too, could have done that, but it probably requires somebody evangelical like Baba Ramdev rather than a corporate. I do feel we missed something, but it is hard to decipher these things."

Patanjali has hit out at foreign multinationals with a "with us or against us" campaign, and while it has been relatively soft on Dabur, it has questioned the company's pricing strategy. This is because one of the biggest strengths of Patanjali is the low prices of its products. Duggal says he does not wish to get into a direct fight with Patanjali but wants to cater to consumers who are more rational about their choices.

Patanjali, say experts, may have got everybody's attention, but Dabur's market penetration can still hold it in good stead against the upstart. According to the Rural Establishment Survey conducted by Chrome Data Analytics that claims to cover over 200,000 villages with over 300 million consumers, 93 per cent rural households are aware of Patanjali but more than half, 56 per cent, do not know about at least 30 per cent of its products. The survey found that Dabur is still the most popular choice for chyawanprash, honey and hair oil. In the past three years, Dabur's income has grown at a compounded annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 10.2 per cent, while net profit has grown at a CAGR of 16.7 per cent. This show Duggal has been up to the task of holding on to his own against Patanjali.

"Before Narendra Modi became prime minister, ayurveda was considered a dismal/archaic science. I would credit the current political establishment and Ramdev for changing this," he says. "But he is not the only one in town. We can actively participate by stressing the scientific aspects of ayurveda. This is something that will differentiate us from Baba Ramdev. Many people may not be swayed by emotions and want some rational underpinning to justify the choice of ayurvedic products."

BEYOND DABUR

With less than two years to go before he hangs up his boots, Duggal is overseeing something that will be extremely critical for Dabur's future - succession planning. For the sake of continuity, he wants his successor to be identified as early as possible, latest by mid-2018.

He has not thought about life after Dabur yet but is happy with what he has been able to achieve. The longest-serving CEO in the FMCG industry in India has already etched his name in corporate history. "We have done far more good things than wrong things. I get the most satisfaction from having built a large and profitable international business," he says. "Dabur is today a more robust company, insulated from cyclically bad events happening around the world. It is scary to think about what I will do once I retire, but my engagement will not end with just one stroke."

The owners may not want him to relinquish the corner office but a smooth handover will probably be another of Duggal's lasting legacies.
Bhola confessed his involvement in Baldia factory fire case

KARACHI: Abdul Rehman, alias Bhola, a former sector in-charge of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, confessed on Thursday before a judicial magistrate to his involvement in the Baldia factory fire case.



The suspect was arrested in Bangkok through Interpol a couple of weeks ago and the Federal Investigation Agency brought him back last week. He was later remanded in police custody for questioning.



Police produced the suspect before the court of a judicial magistrate (West) for his confessional statement.



After completing the legal formalities, magistrate Abid Ali Lakho recorded the confession under Section 164 of the criminal procedure code.



Over 250 workers were burnt alive when the building was set on fire in September 2012

According to judicial sources, the suspect confessed that he with Zubair, alias Charya, set the factory ablaze on the instruction of then chief of the MQM organising committee Hammad Siddiqui as the factory owners had refused to pay the demanded protection money.



After recording the confessional statement, the magistrate sent the suspect to prison on judicial remand till Dec 29 and directed the investigating officer to submit a supplementary investigation report in the antiterrorism court-II.



The prosecution said that over 250 workers were burnt alive when the multi-storey garment factory was set on fire in September 2012.



Initially, owner of the factory Abdul Aziz Bhaila and his two sons Arshad Bhaila and Shahid Bhaila, general manager Mansoor and three gatekeepers were charge-sheeted for their alleged negligence. However, a reinvestigation of the case was ordered in March last year through a joint investigation team after it was revealed in an earlier JIT report of suspect Rizwan Qureshi, submitted to the Sindh High Court in February 2015, that the factory was set on fire because its owners had failed to pay protection money.



In March this year, the police in a progress report told the court that the factory fire was a planned terrorist activity and the JIT had recommended that a new case be registered under the antiterrorism law and proposed former chief of the MQM Karachi Tanzeemi Committee Hammad Siddiqui, his alleged frontman and then Baldia Town sector in-charge Abdul Rehman, Hyderabad-based businessmen brothers Ali Hasan Qadri and Umer Hasan Qadri, Dr Abdul Sattar, Zubair Charya, and others as accused in it.



After a lengthy reinvestigation, police had come up with a supplementary investigation report in August in which they charge-sheeted Hammad Siddiqui and his alleged frontman Abdul Rehman, alias Bhola, and their three to four unidentified accomplices as absconding accused.



But police did not send for trial 13 suspects, including the owners and some employees of the ill-fated industrial unit, and listed them among the prosecution witnesses.



Police had also not charge-sheeted brothers Ali Hasan Qadri and Umer Hasan Qadri, and some others who were among the proposed accused in the JIT report.



Referring to the JIT report, the supplementary charge sheet said that Hammad through Abdul Rehman had approached the factory owners to demand protection money of Rs250 million and partnership, but the owners only offered Rs10m, which the alleged extortionists did not agree to receive, and they allegedly set the factory on fire in order to teach the owners a lesson.



The trial court, however, enlisted all the 13 discharged persons, including the owners and key prosecution witnesses, observing that the owners/manager had ordered closure of the gates while the others abetted the crime.



Police had incorporated sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder), 337 (shajjah), 384 (punishment for extortion), 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion), 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage etc), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house etc), 109 (abetment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with sections 6 and 7 of the ATA in the supplementary charge sheet and a list of 58 prosecution witnesses was also attached with it.
Syrian army retaken full control of Aleppo 23 December, 2016



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Woke Bingo The army said Thursday it has retaken full control of Syria's second city Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory against opposition forces since the civil war erupted in 2011.



The announcement came after a landmark evacuation deal that put an end to a ferocious month-long offensive waged on east Aleppo by government forces and allied militia.



Earlier, the Red Cross said more than 4,000 fighters had left militant-held areas of the city in the final stages of an evacuation.



The loss of east Aleppo is the biggest blow to Syria's militant movement in the nearly six-year conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people.



It puts the government in control of the country's five main cities: Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Damascus, and Latakia.



President Bashar al-Assad's victory in Aleppo is a boon for his allies in Moscow and Tehran and a defeat for the opposition's backers, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Western states.



Because of the intensity of these global rivalries -- particularly between Russia and the United States -- the international community struggled for years to respond to the bloodshed in Syria.



The liberation of Aleppo is not only a victory for Syria but also for those who really contribute to the fight against terrorism, notably Russia and Iran, state news agency SANA quoted Assad as saying before the army announcement on Thursday.



The evacuation effort had been hampered by heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, leaving evacuees waiting in unheated buses for hours.



Overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, in one of the last stages of the evacuation, more than 4,000 fighters were evacuated in private cars, vans, and pick-ups from eastern Aleppo, said Ingy Sedky, the spokeswoman in Syria for the International Committee of the Red Cross.



She said about 34,000 people had left militant areas of Aleppo under the evacuation plan.



The United Nations said it had deployed observers to monitor the final evacuations, under a Security Council resolution adopted on Monday.



Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency, said 31 staff had been assigned for monitoring at the crossing point at Ramussa, the government-held district of southern Aleppo through which evacuation convoys have been leaving.



It's been a very difficult night. The weather is really harsh, and people are leaving in hundreds of private vehicles at different levels of disrepair, he told AFP.



Heavy snowfall from Wednesday, which blanketed Aleppo and the surrounding countryside, had slowed down the evacuations.



The bad weather, including heavy snow and wind, and the poor state of vehicles... mean things are moving much more slowly than expected, Sedky said.



Militant forces, who seized control of east Aleppo in 2012, agreed to withdraw from the bastion after a month-long army offensive that drove them from more than 90 per cent of their former territory.



The deal was brokered by Russia, which launched air strikes in support of Assad's regime last year, and Turkey, which has supported some militant groups.



As part of the Aleppo evacuation deal, it was agreed some residents would be allowed to leave Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shia-majority villages in northwestern Syria that are under siege by the militant.



About 1,000 people have been able to leave the villages in recent days.



The evacuation of Aleppo's militant sector is a pivotal moment in a war that has triggered a major humanitarian and refugee crisis.



As well as a major strategic gain for Assad, the militant withdrawal from Aleppo has given fresh impetus to international efforts to end the conflict.



Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed this week to guarantee Syria peace talks and backed expanding a ceasefire, laying down their claim as the main powerbrokers in the war.



Repeated attempts at peace have failed, but UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has said he hopes to convene fresh talks in Geneva in February.



Formerly the beating heart of Syria's commercial and cultural industries, Aleppo has been split since July 2012 between militant in the east and the government in the west.



Militant fighters lobbed rockets into government-held territory, and regime forces battered the east with air strikes and artillery.



Moscow's military intervention in support of Assad marked a major turning point in the war.



Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday the Russian air force has killed 35,000 militant fighters in Syria since it began in September last year.



Turkey launched its own campaign in Syria in late August in support of pro-Ankara militant, with the aim of ousting the militant Islamic State group militants as well as Kurdish militia from areas near its border.



Turkish air strikes killed at least 47 civilians including 14 children Thursday in the IS-held town of Al-Bab, which Turkish forces have been seeking to capture for weeks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.



The raids came a day after 14 Turkish soldiers were killed by militant around Al-Bab, in the country's biggest loss of the campaign so far.



Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed Thursday to press on, saying: Turkey is in the midst of a great struggle -- our fight against terror continues both in our country and outside our borders. 
The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,
Credit: Caltech

Caltech biologist Markus Meister is disputing recent research claiming to have solved what he describes as "the last true mystery of sensory biology"the ability of animals to detect magnetic fields. This "magnetic sense" provides a navigational aid to a variety of organisms, including flies, homing pigeons, moles, and bats.

In three separate papers appearing in journals published by the Nature Publishing Group, teams of researchers from Peking University in Beijing, the University of Virginia, and Rockefeller University in New York build a scientific case, based on the existence of particular iron-laden protein molecules, for how living cells might be affected by magnetic fields. If correct, these findings would help explain how animals sense magnetism and how cellular functions might one day be controlled using magnetic fields.

An important property of iron is that it can be magnetized like the needle on a compass. Because the described proteins contain so much iron, the argument goes, they would be affected by Earth's magnetic field, providing a mechanism through which organisms could sense that field.

The problem, says Meister, Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences, is that each of the proteins described in the trio of Nature papers do not contain enough iron to be affected by magnetic fields.

"We're talking a disparity of between five and 10 orders of magnitude. The amount of iron in the molecules isn't even close to being enough," says Meister, who discusses his analysis of the three studies in a paper published by the journal eLife. That difference is enormous. Meister likens it to claiming to have built an electric car that could run for a yearon a single AA battery.

After noting the issue, Meister checked in with colleagues in the field, including Joseph Kirschvink (BS, MS '75), Nico and Marilyn Van Wingen Professor of Geobiology at Caltech, who is known for work on magnetoreception based on magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ), a ferromagnetic iron ore. In 2001, Kirschvink published evidence that crystals of magnetite in animals may play a role in animal magnetic sensitivity. Kirschvink agreed with Meister's analysis. "Markus is spot-on," says Kirschvink.

In one of the papers, published in Nature Materials in November 2015, a group led by Siying Qin of Peking University report the discovery of an iron-rich rod-like protein complex in the eyes of the fruit fly Drosophila that, the authors say, could be the source of the fly's magnetoreception. They named the complex MagR, for magnetoreceptor protein.

MagR includes 40 iron atoms. These iron atoms, the Peking University researchers say, provide enough of a magnetic moment (movement in response to a magnetic field) that roughly 45 percent of isolated proteins orient with their long axis along the geomagnetic field. In other words, the paper suggests that the proteins align in response to Earth's magnetic field so that they point to magnetic north like the needle on a compass.

However, Meister says that the proteins actually do not have enough iron content to be sensitive to magnetic fields.

The smallest iron particles that are known to have a permanent magnetic moment at room temperature are crystals of Fe 3 O 4 , which are about 30 nanometers in size. Each crystal contains about 1 million tightly packed iron atoms. That means that even if all 40 iron atoms in a MagR protein manage to link up somehow and operate as a single unit, the protein's resulting magnetic moment would still be too small to align with Earth's geomagnetic field at room temperature. Magnetism is locked in a battle against the chaos-inducing energy of heat, which works to randomize the orientation of the protein complex. This thermal effect is about five orders of magnitude stronger than any magnetic pull on the 40 iron atoms.

"This is back-of-the-envelope physics," Meister says.

The other two papersone in Nature Neuroscience by Michael Wheeler of the University of Virginia and one in Nature Medicine by Sarah Stanley of Rockefeller Universityexplore the possibility of engineering mechanisms that would use iron atoms in cells to control ion channels.

Ion channels are gateways in cellular membranes that allow for the passage of ions across the membrane, thus transmitting signals into and out of the cell. These signals control cellular functions. For example, ion channels in nerve cells can transmit pain signals. Being able to selectively open and close ion channels with magnetic fields, rather than with medications, would offer clinicians a minimally invasive technique to control cellsfor example, managing pain without the use of pharmaceuticals.

Both Wheeler's and Stanley's findings hinge on the use of ferritin, a hollow protein shell that, previous research has shown, can be packed with iron. (Most organisms naturally produce ferritin to store iron, which is toxic when floating freely throughout cells.) Both groups attached a ferritin ball to an ion channel that resides in the cell membrane, with the goal of creating a mechanism for opening or closing the channel by manipulating the ball with magnetic fields. Wheeler proposed physically tugging on the ferritin ball with a magnetic field, while Stanley used a magnetic field to heat the ferritin and trigger the attached ion channel's opening and closing.

Neither scheme can possibly work, Meister says.

Indeed, Meister's calculations show that ferritin is too small by many orders of magnitude to be affected by magnetic fields. "In both cases, one can blame the choice of ferritin," Meister says. Since ferritin has no permanent magnetic moment, magnetic fields interact with it only weakly. "If the reported effects really occurred as described, they probably have nothing to do with ferritin."

However, he suggests, there may be a viable route to controlling ion channel function in cells using much larger magnetic particles, like those found in certain magnetic bacteria.

While missteps in science are common and indeed part of the scientific processhence the need for peer-review for articlesMeister worries that these announcements could discourage other scientists from trying to understand the causes of magnetism in biological contexts.

"It's like the brass ring has already been snatched," Meister says. "It's all too easy for someone to look at that and think, 'All right, I guess that's been answered. I'll try to tackle some other problem, then.'"

Meister's paper is titled "Physical Limits to Magnetogenetics".
Synthetic strategies to access secondary and tertiary alcohols by carbonyl addition reactions. a, Traditional alkylation processes rely on organometallic reagents (that is, Grignard reagents and organolithium reagents). They are typically prepared from the metallation of petroleum-derived organic halides in the presence of stoichiometric quantities of metal. b, -unsaturated hydrocarbons have recently been advanced as carbanion equivalents for additions to carbonyl compounds, facilitated by catalytic quantities of metal and chiral ligands. These elegant methods provide enantioenriched alcohol products in excellent stereoselectivity. c, Carbonyls are masked as latent alkylating reagents via hydrazone formation for carbonyl addition reactions, assisted by catalytic quantities of metal (this work). This new alkylation approach can be enantioselective when engaging chiral ligands. Cat., catalytic; L*, chiral ligands. *, stereogenic centres. Credit: (c) Nature Chemistry, DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2677

(Phys.org)Researchers from McGill University in Montreal have devised a novel carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction that serves as an alternative to a nucleophilic addition reaction of an organometallic compound to a carbonyl (e.g., Grignard reaction). Common aldehydes, when reacted with hydrazine to form hydrazones, are then activated with a ruthenium-based catalyst and serve as the nucleophilic carbanions that attack an electrophilic carbonyl, forming secondary or tertiary alcohols. This alternative reaction demonstrated both selectivity and versatility in a variety of carbonyl compounds, including those that would serve as naturally-occurring feedstocks. Their work appears in Nature Chemistry.

"This chemistry uses catalytic amount of metal and naturally prevailing (or readily available) carbonyl functionalities to synthesize alcohols," author and project director Professor Chao-Jun Li told Phys.org.

"On the contrary, classical organometallic reagents require excessive amount of metals and pre-synthesized organohalides."

There are three components in the novel reaction reported here: the nucleophile, the electrophile, and the phosphine-based ruthenium catalyst. The nucleophile is the hydrazone, or the carbanion equivalent, formed from the aldehyde and hydrazine. The electrophile is various types of carbonyl compounds. Both the nucleophile and the electrophile can be tailored with a variety of alkyl and aryl substituents. As a model reaction, Haining Wang, Xi-Jie Dai, and Professor Li. used benzaldehyde and acetophenone to optimize the ligand and the reaction conditions.

This reaction employed umpolung reactivity of the aldehyde functional group. Umpolung reactivity means that the polarity of the carbonyl in the aldehyde is inverted from an electrophilic carbon to a nucleophilic carbon. This was done by reacting the benzaldehyde with hydrazine (N 2 H 4 ) to form a hydrazone. The carbon in the C=N bond converts to a nucleophile. Using a ligand-bound ruthenium-based catalyst, a base, and a reaction additive, the hydrazone reacted with acetophenone to form a tertiary alcohol in the model reaction.

The ruthenium-based catalyst was devised by this group in previous research. It contained the ligand, 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane. While this ligand demonstrated the best reactivity compared to other ligands, additional experiments showed that by changing the ligand, the authors could obtain a particular chiral product. Aside from the ligand, the base and the reaction additive were key ingredients for optimizing this reaction. Their preferred base was potassium phosphate, and the best additive to spurn catalytic activity was a substoichiometric amount of cesium fluoride. Using a weak base allowed the authors to try several different reactants with functional groups that could not withstand strongly basic conditions.

The authors then tested a variety of aromatic aldehydes with various functional groups to serve as the nucleophile. Many of them worked well, producing the desired alcohols in good yields. Importantly, some functional groups, such as nitriles, which are usually prohibited in Grignard reactions, performed well under these reaction conditions. Notably, there was a difference in reactivity for some substrates that was likely due to steric hindrance from the functional groups on the benzene ring. They found that sterics also played a role in the reactivity of the electrophile.

The next step was to investigate the diversity of electrophiles that could be used in this reaction. Several aromatic and aliphatic carbonyl compounds showed good reactivity and yields. The authors saw moderate-to-good yields for aromatic ketones and aldehydes, aliphatic ketones and aldehydes, and an oxo-steroid compound.

According to Professor Li "The aldehyde-derived carbanion displays excellent chemoselectivity and broad functional group tolerance, distinct from classical organometallic reagents. This is extremely important to access structurally more complex alcohols across academia and industry." The reason for this, he says, is twofold, "First, a shortened and more efficient synthetic route is possible for C-C bond formation by stitching together large pieces of carbonyl-containing molecules. Second, this allows rapid late-stage functionalization of complex molecules bearing indistinguishable functional groups other than carbonyls (e.g., esters, nitriles, alcohols, etc.)."

While the use of hydrazine precludes this reaction from being ideal for green chemistry, it does demonstrate an avenue for using naturally-occurring aldehydes that can be converted to carbanion equivalents. Furthermore, unlike other organometallic addition reactions, this reaction only required a catalytic amount of metal and produced innocuous by-products under relatively mild reaction conditions. In addition to these advantages, Professor Li points out that this procedure does not require the strict exclusion of air and water, making this an important reaction for industry.

More information: "Aldehydes as alkyl carbanion equivalents for addition to carbonyl compounds" Haining Wang, Xi-Jie Dai, and Chao-Jun Li, Nature Chemistry, DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2677 Abstract

Nucleophilic addition reactions of organometallic reagents to carbonyl compounds for carboncarbon bond construction have played a pivotal role in modern chemistry. However, this reaction's reliance on petroleum-derived chemical feedstocks and a stoichiometric quantity of metal have prompted the development of many carbanion equivalents and catalytic metal alternatives. Here, we show that naturally occurring carbonyls can be used as latent alkyl carbanion equivalents for additions to carbonyl compounds, via reductive polarity reversal. Such 'umpolung' reactivity is facilitated by a ruthenium catalyst and diphosphine ligand under mild conditions, delivering synthetically valuable secondary and tertiary alcohols in up to 98% yield. The unique chemoselectivity exhibited by carbonyl-derived carbanion equivalents is demonstrated by their tolerance to protic reaction media and good functional group compatibility. Enantioenriched tertiary alcohols can also be accessed with the aid of chiral ligands, albeit with moderate stereocontrol. Such carbonyl-derived carbanion equivalents are anticipated to find broad utility in chemical bond formation. Journal information: Nature Chemistry

 2016 Phys.org
Flower-shaped structure, as frozen through high-speed photography, found during the collapse of bubbles in the bubble raft at the free surface of a flute poured with champagne. Credit: Gerard Liger-Belair

Ever wondered how the fate of champagne bubbles from their birth to their death with a pop enhances our perception of aromas? These concerns, which are relevant to champagne producers, are the focus of a special issue of European Physical Journal Special Topics, due to be published in early January 2017celebrating the 10th anniversary of the publication.

Thanks to scientists, champagne producers are now aware of the many neuro-physico-chemical mechanisms responsible for aroma release and flavour perception. The taste results from the complex interplay between the level of CO2 and the agents responsible for the aromaknown as volatile organic compoundsdispersed in champagne bubbles, as well as temperature, glass shape, and bubbling rate.

In the first part of the Special Topic issue, Gerard Liger-Belair from CNRS in Reims, France, has created a model to describe, in minute detail, the journey of the gas contained in each bubble. It starts from the yeast-based fermentation process in grapes, which creates CO2, and goes all the way to the nucleation and rise of gaseous CO2 bubbles in the champagne flute. It also includes how the CO2 within the sealed bottle is kept in a form of finely tuned equilibrium and then goes into the fascinating cork-popping process.

The second part of this Special Issue is a tutorial review demystifying the process behind the collapse of bubbles. It is mainly based on recent investigations conducted by a team of fluid physicists from Pierre and Marie Curie University, in Paris, France, led by Thomas Seon. When a champagne bubble reaches an air-liquid interface, it bursts, projecting a multitude of tiny droplets into the air, creating an aerosol containing a concentration of wine aromas.

More information: G. Liger-Belair and T. Seon (2017), Bubble Dynamics in Champagne and Sparkling Wines: Recent Advances and Future Prospects, European Physical Journal ST, DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2017-02677-8 G. Liger-Belair (2017), Effervescence in champagne and sparkling wines: From grape harvest to bubble rise, European Physical Journal ST, DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2017-02678-7 T. Seon and G. Liger-Belair (2017), Effervescence in champagne and sparkling wines: From bubble bursting to droplet evaporation, European Physical Journal ST, DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2017-02679-6 Journal information: European Physical Journal

Provided by Springer
Scanning transmission electron microscope image of a nickel-platinum composite material created at The Ohio State University. At left, the image is overlaid with false-color maps of elements in the material, including platinum (red), nickel (green) and oxygen (blue). Credit: Imaging by Isabel Boona, OSU Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis; Left image prepared by Renee Ripley. Courtesy of The Ohio State University.

The same researchers who pioneered the use of a quantum mechanical effect to convert heat into electricity have figured out how to make their technique work in a form more suitable to industry.

In Nature Communications, engineers from The Ohio State University describe how they used magnetism on a composite of nickel and platinum to amplify the voltage output 10 times or morenot in a thin film, as they had done previously, but in a thicker piece of material that more closely resembles components for future electronic devices.

Many electrical and mechanical devices, such as car engines, produce heat as a byproduct of their normal operation. It's called "waste heat," and its existence is required by the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, explained study co-author Stephen Boona.

But a growing area of research called solid-state thermoelectrics aims to capture that waste heat inside specially designed materials to generate power and increase overall energy efficiency.

"Over half of the energy we use is wasted and enters the atmosphere as heat," said Boona, a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State. "Solid-state thermoelectrics can help us recover some of that energy. These devices have no moving parts, don't wear out, are robust and require no maintenance. Unfortunately, to date, they are also too expensive and not quite efficient enough to warrant widespread use. We're working to change that."

In 2012, the same Ohio State research group, led by Joseph Heremans, demonstrated that magnetic fields could boost a quantum mechanical effect called the spin Seebeck effect, and in turn boost the voltage output of thin films made from exotic nano-structured materials from a few microvolts to a few millivolts.

In this latest advance, they've increased the output for a composite of two very common metals, nickel with a sprinkling of platinum, from a few nanovolts to tens or hundreds of nanovoltsa smaller voltage, but in a much simpler device that requires no nanofabrication and can be readily scaled up for industry.

Heremans, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and the Ohio Eminent Scholar in Nanotechnology, said that, to some extent, using the same technique in thicker pieces of material required that he and his team rethink the equations that govern thermodynamics and thermoelectricity, which were developed before scientists knew about quantum mechanics. And while quantum mechanics often concerns photonswaves and particles of lightHeremans' research concerns magnonswaves and particles of magnetism.

"Basically, classical thermodynamics covers steam engines that use steam as a working fluid, or jet engines or car engines that use air as a working fluid. Thermoelectrics use electrons as the working fluid. And in this work, we're using quanta of magnetization, or 'magnons,' as a working fluid," Heremans said.

Research in magnon-based thermodynamics was up to now always done in thin filmsperhaps only a few atoms thickand even the best-performing films produce very small voltages.

In the 2012 paper, his team described hitting electrons with magnons to push them through thermoelectric materials. In the current Nature Communications paper, they've shown that the same technique can be used in bulk pieces of composite materials to further improve waste heat recovery.

Instead of applying a thin film of platinum on top of a magnetic material as they might have done before, the researchers distributed a very small amount of platinum nanoparticles randomly throughout a magnetic materialin this case, nickel. The resulting composite produced enhanced voltage output due to the spin Seebeck effect. This means that for a given amount of heat, the composite material generated more electrical power than either material could on its own. Since the entire piece of composite is electrically conducting, other electrical components can draw the voltage from it with increased efficiency compared to a film.

While the composite is not yet part of a real-world device, Heremans is confident the proof-of-principle established by this study will inspire further research that may lead to applications for common waste heat generators, including car and jet engines. The idea is very general, he added, and can be applied to a variety of material combinations, enabling entirely new approaches that don't require expensive metals like platinum or delicate processing procedures like thin-film growth.

More information: Stephen R. Boona et al. Observation of spin Seebeck contribution to the transverse thermopower in Ni-Pt and MnBi-Au bulk nanocomposites, Nature Communications (2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13714 C. M. Jaworski et al. Giant spin Seebeck effect in a non-magnetic material, Nature (2012). DOI: 10.1038/nature11221 Journal information: Nature Communications , Nature
Credit: Swiss National Science Foundation

Pedestrians often try to find their way about using their smartphones. The computer scientist Peter Kiefer and the geomatics expert Martin Raubal are at work together trying to make things easier for them. They work at the GeoGazeLab at ETH Zurich and are trying to refine smartphone maps so that pedestrians will find their way perfectly in any new environment. To this end they are developing special systems that involve attaching an eye-tracking module to one's head. These modules comprise different cameras that are variously focussed on the eyes of the user and on the user's field of vision. By means of eye tracking, Kiefer and Raubal can determine which landmarks pedestrians use to orient themselves. Their findings are interesting. "People ignore some elements on the map completely", says Raubal. In order not to confuse people, he suggests that these elements  railway tracks, for example  should be left off such maps altogether.

This is just one of many examples illustrating the remarkable progress made by so-called 'eye tracking'  the process of automatically tracking the direction of your gaze. The importance of this technology shouldn't surprise us, because people's gaze can tell us exactly what's the object of their attention, and also how they feel. Many areas of science and business use this technology today, from cognitive research and sociology to the car industry.

Stressed pilots in front of the camera

Kiefer and Raubal are also busy with another, especially ambitious project, this time in the field of air transportation. They are engaged in a collaboration with the airline Swiss, using eye tracking to monitor the training of pilots in flight simulators. In order not to hinder the pilot, eye-tracking cameras are not installed on his head, but in the cockpit itself. Raubal and Kiefer want to use the trainees' eye movements to recognise what kind of situations place them under stress. Swiss hopes that this method will offer new information to help them further refine their flight training programme.

You can also use eye tracking to help optimise your office space. This is the area of research of Mandana Sarey Khanie, a civil engineer at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Performance-Integrated Design (LIPID) at EPFL. People who sit for eight hours a day in front of their computer often complain of sore eyes, tiredness and headaches. This can be because of brightness contrasts in their environment. People usually work more productively if they're in an office with pleasant lighting. Sarey Khanie is investigating how the intelligent use of light can be applied when designing workspaces. Her focus is on offices that are lit up by natural light.

Sarey Khanie's project uses an eye-tracking system that comprises three cameras mounted on a person's head. Two look in the person's eyes while a third records the orientation of their head. Together, they serve to determine the person's viewing direction. Eye tracking enables Sarey Khanie to recognise when a person reacts to light in a systematic way. "In one experiment we observed that people like to look out of the window, and only avoid doing so when the incoming sunlight creates stark brightness contrasts", she says. You could carry out a survey instead, to try and find out if people feel they're being blinded by light at the workplace. But such a method would be too imprecise, explains Sarey Khanie. Together with Marilyne Andersen, the Director of LIPID, Sarey Khanie wants to develop software tools to enable architects to carry out simulations that meet three requirements of construction planning: maximising the use of daylight and visual contact with the outside world; avoiding the glare of bright light; and keeping energy use low.

Looking at nothing

Eye tracking is also used in pure research. Psychologists in particular are fond of the technology, because it enables them to observe human behaviour in an uncompromised manner. "Your eye movements aren't something you can really control", explains Agnes Scholz, a psychologist at the University of Zurich.

Scholz uses eye tracking in order to investigate fundamental thought processes. When people make decisions they can orient themselves on abstract rules, or base their decisions on examples taken from recent memory. Scholz carried out an experiment to see if she could observe differences between these two approaches. Test subjects were asked to assess several people whose profiles were presented to them on a computer screen. In order to check whether recent memory played a role in their assessment, the test subjects were presented with example cases on the monitor before they came to make their own assessment.

When the test subjects were observed by means of eye tracking, it revealed a fundamental difference in their direction of vision. The assessment ran differently if the test subjects remembered the examples they had seen. While they were making their decision, these test subjects looked at specific areas of the monitor  the empty spaces where the example cases had been shown just before. Psychologists call this behavioural phenomenon 'looking at nothing'. The other test subjects  those who based their assessment on abstract rules  did not engage in this 'looking at nothing'. In future, Scholz wants to find out more precisely when this specific viewing behaviour occurs, and what role it plays in decision-making.

Scholz used a special camera for her eye tracking. It is directed at the eyes of the test subjects and also uses infrared light to measure the geometric characteristics of their pupils. Such systems have been honed more and more in recent years, and now function very precisely. However, they often lack flexibility, especially in cases where people move about a lot without keeping anything firmly in their gaze.

Eye tracking at the conference table

At the Idiap Research Institute in Martigny, Kenneth Funes Mora and Jean-Marc Odobez are developing systems that use relatively inexpensive cameras without high resolution. They register both colours and distances. Sophisticated algorithms enable a computer to use the pictures from the cameras to determine the direction of one's gaze at all times. The variable angles of the head and eye movements are captured and then converted into data that describes the changes in a person's direction of vision. The researchers can place these camera systems inconspicuously on a conference table in order to study negotiation techniques.

Funes Mora and Odobez patented their new eye-tracking method a while ago now. Funes Mora is currently researching at the Institute only on a 50% post, because in the rest of his time he has to look after their spin-off company, 'Eyeware'.

The two researchers believe that such an eye-tracking system can have many different areas of possible application. Their newly developed camera is especially suited to investigating people's visual attention, and to supporting the interaction between people and computers. It could be used by a robot, for example, to advise customers in a shopping mall. Applications in the medical field would also be possible  such as in diagnosing disorders like autism, which can be recognised by tracking eye movements.

And this will hardly be the last of their ideas for applying their eye tracking system. "The eyes simply tell you a lot about people", says Funes Mora.
Flat lenses created by combining two layers of metamaterial studded with silicon nanoposts. Credit: Caltech

Engineers at Caltech have developed a system of flat optical lenses that can be easily mass-produced and integrated with image sensors, paving the way for cheaper and lighter cameras in everything from cell phones to medical devices.

The technology relies on stacking two metasurfaces. Metasurfaces are sheets of material whose electromagnetic properties can be altered on demand. In this case, the metasurfaces are dotted with silicon cylinders smaller than a micron across that alter the way light passes through them.

"The way we make lenses hasn't changed much since the time of van Leeuwenhoek. Until now," says Caltech's Andrei Faraon (BS '04), referring to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch scientist and lens-maker who created some of the first microscopes.

Faraon, assistant professor of applied physics and materials science in Caltech's Division of Engineering and Applied Science, collaborated with Caltech postdoctoral researcher Amir Arbabi and Seunghoon Han from Samsung Electronics to develop the lens system. Their work was published in Nature Communications on November 28.

A classical lens made of plastic or glass has a curved shape that bends the path of incoming light toward a single focal point. This is because light travels faster through the thinner glass at the edges of the lens than through the thicker glass at the center.

Two layers of nanoposts yields a wider field of clarity (left), compared to a single layer (right). Credit: Caltech

The metasurfaces accomplish the same task using silicon nanoposts, cylinders just 600 nanometers tall and with varying diameters in the hundreds of nanometers. (For scale, a strand of human hair is 100,000 nanometers wide.) Each metasurface is dotted with tens of millions of these posts. Light travels faster through nanoposts with smaller diameters than through nanoposts with larger diameters, so controlling the width of the nanoposts allows the engineers to finely adjust the path of light passing through the metasurface to create flat lenses.

Early experiments with nanopost metasurfaces yielded lenses whose images were blurry around the edgeslike a magnifying glass. However, by coupling two metasurfaces together, each nanopost-side-out, the engineers were able to create a lens system that can capture and focus light from a 70-degree angular range, making the technology useful for the first time in microscope and camera imaging applications.

"Metasurfaces like these can be easily mass produced, much the way computer chips are," Arbabi says. "That means this could be a cheap and easily scalable way to create tiny lenses just a few millimeters in diameter."

In addition, the lenses can be seamlessly integrated with CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensors because they are made using the same materials and fabrication techniques. CMOS image sensors are the tiny chips that underpin digital photography, and were developed at JPL.

Flat, lightweight, and cheap lenses are in demand for various consumer electronics equipped with cameras, or medical devices such as endoscopes, Faraon says.

Next, the team plans to integrate these lenses into miniaturized cameras and microscopes, and extend their functionality and operation bandwidth.

More information: Amir Arbabi et al. Miniature optical planar camera based on a wide-angle metasurface doublet corrected for monochromatic aberrations, Nature Communications (2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13682 Journal information: Nature Communications
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QUEENSBURY  A surveillance video captured two Queensbury residents stealing packages that were left at a property, police said.

Sonya Petrazzuolo, 20, and Trent Watson, 21, of Barton Place were arrested and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a class E felony in connection with the incident.

According to a Warren County Sheriffs Office news release, Watson was working at a construction site Monday in Burnt Ridge when he observed a UPS track making a delivery at a nearby property.

Upon finishing work Watson picked up his girlfriend, Petrazzuolo, and backed into the victims driveway. Watson went to the front door, rang the doorbell then proceeded to load his vehicle with the boxes and fled the scene.

Police said they were able to track down the pair thanks to the homeowners security surveillance system. Police said some of the property was recovered.

Petrazzuolo was issued an appearance ticket in Queensbury Town Court in January and Watson was arraigned and remanded to Warren County Jail with no bail. He is scheduled to re-appear in court later this month.

The case was investigated by Investigators Edward Affinito and Douglas David and Officer Mark LaFond.
The red ribbons and bows tied around trees in Greenwich this week have a meaning.

Greenwich residents, many of them children who were friends of Joshua Demarest, tied the ribbons all around town in Joshuas memory Thursday, after calling hours for the 13-year-old who died tragically last week.

Joshua died Dec. 13 when a snowbank collapsed as he played in it. His 12-year-old friend, Tyler Day, survived.

A candlelight vigil was to be held for Joshua on Friday night at Greenwich Central School.

A fund has been set up at TD Bank for Joshuas family. A fundraiser is also being organized for Jan. 15 at NaNola restaurant on Route 9 in Malta, from noon to 6 p.m. Food, music and a silent auction will be among the offerings.

 Don Lehman

Too many Fishes

A proceeding in Warren County Court took a strange turn Wednesday when the wrong Jeff Fish was brought to court.

Two men by the name have been jailed in recent weeks, and the wrong one was brought to County Court on Wednesday for a case update.

Jeffrey W. Fish, 52, was due in court to answer charges he failed to show up for sentencing on a grand larceny charge, but Jeffery W. Fish, 31, was brought over instead. The latter Fish was jailed recently on a burglary charge.

It was unclear whether they are related.

Court officials realized the mixup quickly, and had the right Jeff Fish brought over later in the day.

We got the wrong one, Judge John Hall told the right Jeffrey Fish on Wednesday afternoon.

 Don Lehman

Scouts make scarves, hats and mittens

Anyone in need of scarves, hats and mittens, just head to the local park in Fort Ann.

The local Girl Scout troop gathered Dec. 10 to make and hang out scarves. Boy Scout Jack Herring also made and hung scarves.

The troop wants to thank Barbara Eagle and Joan Degener for helping complete the project.

 Gretta Hochsprung
LAKE GEORGE  The death of an 8-year-old girl put a renewed focus on boating accidents and boat safety on Lake George this year, but the Lake George Park Commissions annual report shows boating accidents and injuries declined on the lake last year.

Boat accidents dropped from 29 in 2015 to 21 this year, and the number of people injured in boat collisions also dropped, said Park Commission Lt. Joe Johns, the agencys director of law enforcement.

Still, the July 25 death of Charlotte McCue in a two-boat collision near Cramer Point was one of four deaths on the busy lake this year. The Park Commission Marine Patrols annual report details two drownings, in April and September, and an Aug. 2 incident in Northwest Bay where a man died after breaking his neck while diving into the lake.

While boat accidents were down, the ones that occurred after Charlottes death were highly publicized amid calls for more boater safety training. Two accidents that involved rental boats resulted in more scrutiny of the boat rental business, and efforts are underway to improve education for boat renters to include a video put together by the Park Commission and lake advocate groups.

The report also focuses on the annual Log Bay Day party on the lakes east side, which the man who was blamed for the crash that killed Charlotte had attended and which was marred this year by an attendee being paralyzed, five other injuries that required evacuation and at least five fights.

The Park Commissions report made it clear that Log Bay Day does not have a bright future.

This unsanctioned party has come to a point that it is a public safety issue, the report states. Efforts are underway by the Lake George Park Commission, NYS DEC, NYS Police and the Warren and Washington County Sheriffs Departments to put an end to it.

The report highlights a dramatic increase in the number of inspections of boat sanitary systems. They rose from fewer than 100 in 2014 to 637 last year, with 64 found to be failing.

Johns said many of the inspections are being done at inspection stations where stewards are checking for invasive species. Sanitary inspections had decreased as resources were shifted to aquatic invasive issues, but the Park Commission decided to train the boat launch stewards to check sanitary systems as well, he said.

The combined efforts of the inspectors and patrolmen has resulted in the most boats being inspected since 2005 on the lake this year, he said. The vessel inspection technicians did an outstanding job of taking on this new challenge and assist in keeping the waters of Lake George clean.

Lake George Association Executive Director Walter Lender said he was happy to see the increase in sanitary inspections.

Thats always been a concern for our members to make sure that people coming to Lake George have their holding tanks and sanitary collection devices on their boats sealed, he said.

The report also showed that the Park Commission dealt with a significant increase in the number of permit violation tickets it issued.

A link to the report can be found at poststar.com. It includes a number of interesting anecdotes about calls the Park Commissions marine patrol handled last year.

Staff writer Michael Goot contributed to this report.
The year 2016 marked a challenging time and environment for higher educationand a time of big change, overall. The University of Tennessee, like other universities across the nation, addressed well-documented concerns around sexual assault and campus civility, diversity and inclusion, and long-term sustainable funding. The new year wont bring an end to tough issues, but it will bring new UT leaders on board, and new opportunities for sustaining great momentum in fulfilling our unique mission to educate, discover and connect for the benefit of all Tennesseans. 2016 Presidents Report Since I began serving as president in 2011, the number of bachelors degrees weve awarded is up 16 percent; our six-year graduation rate, system-wide, has increased 6.6 percent; and both the high school GPA and ACT scores of incoming freshmen have continued a decade-long trend of improvement. We are educating more students, more quickly and at institutionally record-high numbers. On the discovery front, research proposals are up almost 12 percent, system-wide; and in 2015, the University, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, won a five-year, $259 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy, the largest single such award in UT history. New inventions and discoveries that provide solutions to important problems are up 33 percent, and 25 new startup companies in Tennessee and based on UT technology have been established since 2011. As for how we connect, UT non-credit programs increased 28 percent, as did the number of clients or customers we served since 2011. More than 900,000 non-credit program hours have been delivered since then, and the number of medical and veterinary patients UT served increased 27 percent in the same period. In the meantime, we began attacking a projected funding gap looming in the absence of increases in revenue or state appropriationsa gap I wasnt going to allow drastic tuition increases to fill. Today, the University is closing out a two-year trial period of self-imposed budget restrictions and Im bringing together and re-constituting our Budget Advisory Group to develop another two-year set of constraints to follow the current ones. Weve certainly benefited from and are grateful for an unanticipated increase in state appropriations since 20142016 appropriations were 4.5 percent over 2015. But weve also re-allocated more than $61 millionby cutting or avoiding costs, or added revenuetoward our internal target of $68 million re-allocated by June 30, 2017. Were heading into the new year for the first time with an executive-level focus on diversity and inclusion in Dr. Noma Anderson, who began serving as a special adviser to me in that role in July. Since then, she and I have logged many hours and miles across the state meeting with government officials and policymakers in making the case for the value of an environment of diversity and inclusion in Tennessee. UT Martin welcomes its 10th chancellor, Dr. Keith Carver, on Jan. 3, and weve just formally confirmed the next chancellors for UT Knoxville, Dr. Beverly Davenport, and the UT Institute of Agriculture, Tim Cross. I look forward to working with these accomplished individuals in their new leadership roles in the year ahead and for years to come. I also look forward to bringing you my second annual State of the University address in February, and to honoring our second class of Presidents Award honorees at that time. You can read about the 2016 honorees here. Im grateful for the privilege of leading an institution critical and beneficial to the entire state, and that I get to do so in partnership with a workforce committed to excellence in everything we do. While the University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with facilities and a presence in every county, our unique mission unites us. You, our alumni, also impact and change your communities and worlds, wherever you live in the state, nation and world. We hope that our ongoing efforts continue to make you proud to be part of the University of Tennessee family. We are one. All the best to you in 2017.

Joe
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The president of PEF Nana Osei-Bonsu said the agreement signed with the European Union by the outgoing government needs to be reviewed so they know how Ghanaian businesses especially after Brexit.

We request a review of the Economic Partnership Agreement and how it is going to affect both our export and infant domestic industries in view of Brexit, one the biggest trading partners of Ghana in the EU, he said.

READ ALSO: Nana Addo confirms Alan Kyeremateng as Trade Minister

Nana Osei-Bonsu further requested the abolishment of the one percent tax on income from agriculture since it was a disincentive to the sector.

We request removal of the one percent tax on income from agriculture investment which is further curtailing investment in the growth of the sector that employs 44 percent of our population, he said

READ ALSO: We will not compete with the private sector during my tenure

The government earlier signed onto the agreement (interim) but was awaiting ratification from Parliament as stipulated in the countrys laws in relation to international agreements.

The ratification of the agreement by Parliament led to the entry of a percentage of imports from Europe to Africa and vice versa, free of tariffs.
Pm Express reports that the 21-year-old Lamidi had burgled the apartment of the lady, Gift Nseobong and stole her laptop, phone, and money but after some days, she called the number and offered to give him sex in exchange for her sim card.

Lamidi allegedly agreed to the arrangement and they arraigned to meet at the Ikotun Roundabout so he could take her to a hotel and sleep with her.

Little did he know that Nseobong had informed the police and was arrested when he showed up to keep the rendezvous.

The dumb wit robber was arraigned at an Ejigbo Magistrates Court where the Magistrate, Mrs. J.O.E Adeyemi promptly ordered that he should be remanded at the Kirikiri Prison till the next adjourned date on January 30, 2017.

It was gathered that Lamidi broke into Nseobongs apartment at 8, Mutiatu Okesalu Street, Ikotun area of the state, and stole the items which he sold off but retained the sim card and started using it.

However, when the victim bought another sim card and tried the number of the stolen phone, Lamidi picked the call.

She pleaded with the suspect to return the sim card because of the contact numbers on the card which are so important to her and offered to do anything in return.

The randy criminal allegedly told her he would only return the sim card on the condition that she would allow him to sleep with her and she agreed to the deal.
Abiola who went to her Facebook wall to put a picture of her disfigured face after the attack, said the in-law stormed her shop following a disagreement and showed her that she is above the law by emptying a canister of tear gas on her face.

This is what Abiola wrote on her wall:

If u c dis lady, pls avoid her cos she is a bad fellow. Look at wat she did to dis poor lady. she intentionally went to her shop and poured tear gas on her sister in-laws face,

And she is a police officer for dat matter. She took the law into her hand because she has the power to do so and she goes scot free. Please good citizen of Nigeria, is this right?
READ ALSO: Trade Fair Gas Explosion

Ghana every year records incidences of fire disasters, which usually leads to economic losses. This year, the cost of items damaged has increased from GHC28, 282,081 in 2015 to GHC85, 916, 355 in 2016.

Figures from the Ghana National Fire Service also indicate that 31 per cent and 18 per cent of the cases occurred in Greater Accra and Ashanti regions respectively.

A total of 1, 365 representing 31per cent of the cases were domestic.

Mr Billy Anglate said 90 per cent of the outbreaks recorded would have been controlled if distress calls were received on time.

He feared that there could be more fire outbreaks, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities due to the harmattan.
This has left the head porters and others who live there homeless.

The Fire Service is yet to commence investigations into the incident.

Meanwhile five people have been confirmed dead with several others injured after an explosion that occurred at a gas filling station at La in the Greater Accra region Thursday evening.

It is unclear yet what may have caused the explosion but eyewitnesses say that a number of people were present at the filling station at the time of the explosion.

The explosion is said to have occurred between the La Cemetery and Trade Fair Centre.
In a related development, president-elect Nana Akufo-Addo has indicated that the regulations on the citing of gas and fuel stations must deliberated on again to prevent high number of deaths during explosions.

In a Facebook post sympathising with the victims and their families Nana Addo said there must be strict enforcement of such laws to prevent future occurrences.

I have learnt with sadness of the news of a gas explosion near the Trade Fair Centre, resulting in the loss of 6 lives, and injuries to many others. My deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery.

It is about time we take a second look at the citing of gas stations in our country, and ensure the strict enforcement of, and adherence to safety regulations, so as to forestall the occurrence of any more of such avoidable incidents.

Five people have been confirmed dead and about 39 persons are reported injured after a gas explosion at La.

According to the deputy minister of Health Victor Bampoe, 27 of the injured are currently receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital with 6 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and 6 at the La General Hospital.
Over the week, a self-acclaimed group who called themselves Gbese Kingmakers in a press conference gave Nii Ayi-Bonte one-week ultimatum to abdicate his throne following the latters pronouncement that should President John Mahama fail to retain his seat in the December polls he would step aside as King of Gbese.

However, on Thursday, in a counter press conference at the premises of the Gbese Palace, another group led by Nii Ayi Adefio (Akwashong Manste), said they are the Real Gbese Dzase, adding that the group that gave Nii Ayi-Bonte II one-week to vacate his stool are ex-convicts.

It is instructive to state that we represent the Principal Kingmakers of the Gbese Stool. This invitation is to expose the lack of capacity of the persons behind the Press Statement, who are widely known as ex-convicts whose disrespect to the authorities have left a scar for which they seek to have their pound of flesh, said Nii Ayi Adefio.

We have observed with great consternation to paint our gazzetted Chief with political coloration. It is important to state that the Gbese Chieftancy started in 1980 and victory was won by the Elders during the tenure of the NPP Administration in 2003 under His Exellency President John Agyekum Kufuor. Are the organisers seeking to say that President Kufuor secure victory for the Elders of Gbese who in turn enstooled Nii Ayi-Bonte II?, he quizzed

The answer is No and no political party has contributed to the successful ascension of Nii Ayi-Bonte II to the stool, he continued.

The Real Kingmakers of Gbese added that it is not a crime to belong to a political party.

It is no crime to belong to a party or offer support to a political party whose policies one admires at a point in time. If ever the Gbese Stool wanted persons to speak on its behalf, for the dignity of the Stool, Ex-Convicts would not be selected to do so. We as Gbese Dzase wish to state that Nii Ayi-Bonte II has our support as the legitimate Gbese Mantse and still in office."

Nii Ayi Adefio concluded by congratulating President John Mahama for conceding defeat to President-Elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
CHAMBER OF PETROLEUM CONSUMERS GHANAYET ANOTHER FATAL EXPLOSION23/12/16Ghanaians have once again been awakened to the reality of potential disaster very close to residential and commercial spaces after another fatal gas explosion at Labadi a suburb of the capital that has reportedly taken a couple of unsuspecting lives.The memory of a similar incident of June 3rd continue to remain fresh in the minds of many who lost dear ones and property but seems very little or not much has been learnt after assurances have been variously given.Investigations are currently underway and we have a firm belief in the ability of the Police and Fire Service to do a thorough job at unraveling the true and exact details of what went wrong leading to the loss of lives and property.Issues of effective monitoring and compliance to safety and acceptable standards by the authorities on such highly volatile and inflammable facilities still leaves a lot to be desired.Whiles acceptable and regulatory standards or practices require routine and periodic maintenance and sometimes complete closure of such facilities including fuel stations to make way for repairs of worn out valves, tanks and pumps, many operators continue to put making money first before safety.The state institutions tasked with ensuring such routine checks across these facilities are complied with continue to erode the public confidence of working efficiently to curtail any such unfortunate catastrophic incidences. The loss of any unsuspecting life or lives at a fuel or a gas station due to negligence of safety standards and proper maintenance or the enforcement of same by the authorities cannot be countenanced nor accepted.We appeal to the owners and operators of such facilities to make it a priority of putting safety at the apex of their operations for the protection of lives and their own investments whiles challenging the authorities especially the monitoring unit of the National Petroleum Authority ( NPA ) to enforce all neccesary regulations regarding safety of such highly flammable facilities across the country.SignedDuncan AmoahExecutive Secretary
There are reports that family members and friends of those who worked at the station are trooping there in a frantic search for answers about the whereabouts of their loved ones.

He also called on motorists to use the approved alternative routes to go about their business instead of the La Trade Fair Road.

Now the place is not safe. The Fire Service is advising that nobody should get near the [gas station]. So people are using the cemetery road to go and assess the place. I dont know what they are looking for? Because there is nothing [here].

"Unfortunately, those who died have been conveyed to the Police Hospital [morgue]. So if you want come and have a look at dead bodies, there are no dead bodies here. If you are looking for the injured, they are in the hospital.

"So, please use your medium to advise all the people to go home. The police will be here. We also advise motorists that they should not assess the road to La."

Background

Five people have been confirmed dead with several others injured after an explosion that occurred at a gas filling station at Labadi in the Greater Accra region.

It is unclear yet what may have caused the explosion but eyewitnesses say that a number of people were present at the filling station at the time of the explosion.
He said: The projects that the John Mahama government has started we are going to do our best to make sure that they come to a conclusion. In our manifesto we have a whole chapter dealing with suspended projects in one region or the other, it is not good for Ghana and I am not going to add to that story. I am coming to complete whatever work that is in-progress and am going to complete them, so Ghanaians should have no fears at all.

Nana Addo added that he will not interfere in the chieftaincy issues of Bawku, but will ensure that the community and the country as a whole enjoy the needed peace.

He further maintained that he is fully aware that Naba Abugrago Azoka II is the only legally recognized paramount chief of Bawku traditional area.

I do not know any other Bawku Naba except Naba Abugrago Azoka II. I am not a Kusaul or a Mamprusi. I am not interested in the chieftaincy issues of Bawku, that is not my plan. My issue is the peace and unity of Ghana that is what concerns me, he added.

Naba Asigiri Abugrago Azoka II, on his part, urged the president-elect to speed up the construction of the Bolgatanga-Bawku road and the Tamne dam in Garu started by John Mahama to boost the socio-economic prospects of the area.
Over the week, the Gbese Kingmakers gave Nii Ayi-Bonte one-week ultimatum to abdicate his throne following the latters pronouncement that should President John Mahama fail to retain his seat in the December polls he would step aside as King of Gbese.

Following the Kingmakers one-week ultimatum, the Gbese Youth led by their chairman Nii Annan Agbo, addressed the media on Thursday at the forecourt of the Gbese Palace.

READ MORE:

Below is the full text:

The Gbese Divisional Council has noted with concern purported calls by self-styled king makers and politically manipulated individuals on the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayibonte II to abdicate. We have also noted with anxiety meetings and plans to disturb the peace and tranquility of Gbese from the mid-night of 6th January, 2017.

We the people of Gbese irrespective of our political affiliation. Wish to state categorically that Nii Ayi-Bonte ii has committed no crime to warrant abdication. Nii Ayi-Bonte II like any other chief in Ghana expressed his joy at the sod-cutting for the rebuilding of the Salaga Market. He enumerated other development projects seen under the government and went on to mention particular, the laudable efforts of the Hon. Member of Parliament , Nii Lante Vanderpuje and the Accra Mayor, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuje in bringing those developments. He pledged his support for the MP and the Mayor. He asked the Chief of Staff to inform the President to keep them as ministers for more developments. He pledged that if Nii Lantey Vanderpuje and Alfred Okoe Vandepuje are beaten in the Parliamentary election, he would step down. They have won, so what is Nii Ayi-Bontes crime?

Those self-styled Kingmakers, are in a hurry to embark on their long held intentions of creating chaos in Gbese. We however, wish to state that, Nii Ayi-Bonte II was traditional and customarily enstooled Chief of Gbese. Disgruntled individuals battled him throughout the courts to the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court failed to undo what was rightly and properly done by the Kingmakers. If they think they would now use the back door to embark on another reckless and unwarranted disturbance of the peace of Gbese and Accra then they should be ready for a long and belligerent battle.

We have enjoyed peace and stability over the past years and nobody would be allowed to disturb this peace and we cherish so much. We have not forgotten the violence, murders and injuries they inflicted on us for years and wish to assure them that the blood, shed by our elders, people and the youth in those miscreants who we call jailbirds that, we would defend Gbese with our lives .

Anyone who think that they could use the illegitimate means to destool Nii Ayi-bonte II should be ready to wipe off the face of the earth all the people of Gbese.

We are by this statement calling on the President of Ghana and the President elect, IGP, and all concerned with the peace and security of the country to take note these developments and those individuals who are bent on causing the disruption of peace and act appropriately.

READ MORE:

Long live the Chiefs and people of Gbese.

Long live the Chiefs and people of Ga Mashi.
His comment comes after an explosion that occurred at a gas filling station at La in the Greater Accra region claiming five lives and leaving several others injured.

In a Facebook post sympathising with the victims and their families Nana Addo said there must be strict enforcement of such laws to prevent future occurrences.

I have learnt with sadness of the news of a gas explosion near the Trade Fair Centre, resulting in the loss of 6 lives, and injuries to many others. My deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery.

It is about time we take a second look at the citing of gas stations in our country, and ensure the strict enforcement of, and adherence to safety regulations, so as to forestall the occurrence of any more of such avoidable incidents.

It is unclear yet what may have caused the explosion but eyewitnesses say that a number of people were present at the filling station at the time of the explosion.
WASHINGTON -- US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday called for the United States to "strengthen and expand" its nuclear capabilities.

"The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," the President-elect tweeted.

The United States is expected to spend one trillion dollars over the next 30 years upgrading its nuclear arsenal, according to a TheHill news daily report.

However, it's not immediately clear what prompted Trump's new proposal and what are the details behind.

On the presidential campaign trail, Trump, counter to the past and current US stance, proposed that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Japan should acquire nuclear weapons, stirring sharp criticism at home and abroad at the time.
The show which held on December 23, 2016, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, had a very low turnout of celebrities. Their absence was glaring with numerous nominees and awardees absent at the award.

The show which was hosted by Falz and Adesua Etomi and celebrated the best of Nigerian music had many awardees fail to turn up. Numerous awards were left unclaimed by the winners as some presenters had to take the awards with them backstage.

Simi failed to claim her award for Best Vocal Performance, Kiss Daniel failed to claim an award, Illblisss who was a big winner in two categories, Patoranking who won the Best Reggae/Dancehall single was absent, and Olamide won two awards, but was a no show.
The duo were spotted at the just concluded Headies awards at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos seperately.

Ubi was seen arriving with pals AY Makun and Kcee few minutes before the event started while Lilian Esoro came in later in a dazzling evening dress.

Unlike celebrity couple Gbenro and Osas Ajibade who presented an award at the Headies together, Lilian and Ubi had to do theirs seprately.

One could tell Ubi wasn't really happy after his estranged wife left the stage. Infact! The both of them were spotted leaving the venue in separate cars.

This comes after Franklin took to Instagram sharing a very sober messagereflecting on his marriage.

According to the Triple MG boss, this time last year, he was in church with his pregnant wife but this time, he's going to church alone.

Meanwhile, Lilian Esoro has been spotted at various events over the week without the company of her husband. Just recently, she bagged the award for the Most Fashionable Actress of the Year at the Lagos Fashion Awards held in Lagos and her hubby wasn't present at the event.
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
It was gathered that the body of the 60-year-old Abluza was discovered naked inside the hotel room in a city called Oyugis which is in the Homa Bay County, while the woman he went with was nowhere to be found.

The pastor who was also a professional surveyor, had booked a room in the lodging facility at around 5 pm on the day of the incident and in anticipation of an all-night sex romp with the woman, he took an overdose of the Viagra.

But barely 30 minutes after they went into the room, the woman was seen hurriedly leaving the hotel without the pastor in tow.

The hotel management called in the police after discovering the body of the late pastor though the identity of the woman could not be ascertained.
Dan-Daura, who is said to be a Deputy Suprintendent in the NSCDC, appeared before Justice Dije Aboki of the state High Court on a one-count charge of obtaining by false pretence.

The accused is alleged to have obtained N145,000 from one Yahaya Musa under the guise of securing a job for him in the corps. He denied the charge.

According to the prosecutor, Dan-Daura committed the alleged offence sometime in March, 2013 contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same Law.

Prosecution counsel, Musa Isah, asked the court for a trial date after the accused had pleaded not guilty.

However, the defence counsel moved an application praying the court to admit his client to bail pending the determination of the case.

Justice Aboki granted the accused person bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety who shall be a resident of Kano with a landed property within the courts jurisdiction.
The accused, who resides at Ogba, a Lagos suburb, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretences and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Inuoha, told the court that the offences were committed on Nov. 19 at Alade Market, Ikeja.

The complainant, Alhaji Mohammed Mammoud, went to the market to change his N600, 000 into U.S. currency.

On getting there, the accused collected naira from him, promising to pay him the equivalent in U.S. dollars.

The accused later disappeared and all efforts to trace his whereabouts failed, until he was sighted by the complainant and apprehended, he said.

The offences contravened Sections 285 and 312(1)(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B. O Osunsanmi, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Adakole narrated that he had invested the sum of N750,000 in the scheme hoping to get an extra 30% add-on which he wanted to use for his wedding coming up on December 28, 2016, but with the freeze of the scheme, the money got trapped in it and he decided to commit suicide.

The Otukpo native who reportedly drank the substance called Sniper, was rushed to a hospital, where the doctors battled successfully to revive him and after his full recovery, he was invited to a radio program in Abuja, where he narrated his plight.

Here is what Adakole said:

I came to Abuja a few months back in preparation for my wedding and my friend introduced me to the MMM thing.

He told me about the benefits involved and though I was a bit hesitant about it, but he succeeded in convincing me to register under him.

To be honest, I initially invested 20k into the scheme and I got 30 percent the following month. The following month, I rendered help of N50k and I still got 30 percent commission and my full investment back.

This time, I believed it was real and I decided to increase the money. Before then, my fiancee had warned me against it.

I went to my cooperative to obtain a loan and they gladly gave me thinking it was for my wedding. I put in N750k last month, hoping that it would yield 30 percent income this month only to wake up one morning to discover that my account has been suspended.

To be sincere, the best option I had then was to take my life, because I had thought of how I would face my woman. I didnt even know when I took the insecticide.

It was my guy, Fred, who rescued me. My wedding is around the corner, I have been saving the money ahead of the wedding only to end up that way.

As we speak, I have not set my eyes on my woman. I put off my phone since then because the shame is much. My wedding is a few days from now and I am confused. I just returned from the hospital. I dont know what to do.
But he was shocked when he went to his bank to pay a real estate agent after negotiating for a plot of land, only to realize that Nma had used the whole money to sow seed in a church.

Read his story here:

"My name is Jerry, a 46-year-old man. I have been married to Nma for 12 years and we have three lovely children together but at the moment, I am very angry with her over what she did.

You cant imagine that my wife used our life savings, a total of N10 million to sow a seed in church without informing me.

We have slaved for many years, denied our family some basic things just so that we could put this money together so we could get a piece of land to build our house and in a moment of spiritual madness, Nma used the whole money to sow seed.

I only got to realize this after I had finished negotiations with a real estate agent and at the point, I was supposed to pay for the land, I realized that the money had been withdrawn from our joint account by my wife.

I was so shocked and embarrassed at the bank when the manager informed me that my wife had withdrawn the money over two months ago.

When I got home and confronted her, Nma opened up and said she gave the money to our church for a building project.

She even had the guts to tell me that she saw nothing wrong in giving our money to God as the blessings would come out of it would be more than the money.

I have been so mad at her and I have told her never to set foot in the house unless she has the money intact. I have even contemplated going to the church to demand a refund of the money but some friends have been telling me it is not the right thing to do.

Jerry.

The teaser for the day was:

How Nigeria voted:

I will make sure he/she pays back the money - 28%

I will confront the church to refund the money - 37%

Since he/she gave the money to God, I will not do anything - 36%
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Vanguard reports that the monarch took his life after he was accused of engaging in witchcraft by some of his subjects.

The lifeless body of the king was discovered at about 8 am on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, in his palace after taking the poison with its container was found near his body.

A source in the community narrated that incident spoilt their mood as they were celebrating the recent release of the former state governor, James Ibori from a UK prison.

While others were celebrating the release of ex-governor James Ibori, it was all tears here as our monarch was found dead in his room in a case we suspect is a suicide.

The monarch was said to have been accused of witchcraft by subjects. It is not clear who those subjects are but the traditional ruler drank what was considered to be a poisonous chemical, whose container was found near his lifeless body.

There has been apprehension in Umuachi-Ogo since the incident.
The group told newsmen in Ibadan on Friday that it would proceed on indefinite strike from Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, if the outstanding salaries were not paid.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group consisted of four professional associations, among whom are the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

Others are Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI).

Mr Olusegun Sotiloye, the Chairman, National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), UCH Chapter, told newsmen that the last time they collected salary was in September.

Sotiloye, who addressed the news conference on the issue, stated that the seven-day ultimatum commenced from Friday, Dec. 23, and ends on Friday, Dec. 30.

He said that it was sad that health workers, who care for the sick, make decisions that could result in life and death, were subjected to such unimaginable hardship.

Some of our members now trek to work to fulfil their professional, ethical and moral obligations.

Those who can borrow have borrowed many times and their lenders have grown tired of them and are no longer lending them money, he said.

Sotiloye said that their members are dejected, disenfranchised and their morale at the lowest ebb.

We must let you know that this has become a recurring decimal as we had the same problem in 2014 and 2015 as the November and December salaries of the two years were not paid until January of the following year.

This has been due to inadequate budgetary provision by the federal government as they arbitrarily slash the submitted personnel budget supplied by the hospital management.

It is against this back ground that we are giving the federal government a seven-day ultimatum to pay all our outstanding salaries from today, Dec. 23 to Dec. 30.

And if by then we are yet to receive the salaries, we will proceed on an indefinite strike by Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, he threatened.

He urged those in charge of personnel budget to do everything that was needful in making sure that adequate provision was made to cover the incoming year.
He explained that maternal and infant mortality rate was still high and the retreat was an avenue to discuss and strategise for lasting solutions.

If maternal and infant mortality rate is not reduced to its lowest minimum at the end of our tenure, then our purpose in office would not have been achieved.

We are looking at what we have done so far, where we did not do well and what we need to do or steps to take to make it better, he said.

Jibril said the aim was to build effective team and enable the state to revitalise the health care system.

He noted that after the inauguration of the first Primary Healthcare Centre that would be functioning for 24 hours by the Minister of Health, much has not been achieved due to recession.

Dr Joseph Monehin, Public Health Physician, said a functional primary and secondary healthcare system was needed to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the state.

Infants need adequate care for the first five years of life, providing good facilities will help the reduction of maternal and infant mortality, he said.

Monehin recommended Service Availability, Service Readiness, Quality of Care to be put in place to improve coverage to get more clients to patronise the facilities.
The Army also noted that the insurgents are also fleeing to other locations in the country following the ongoing final clearance of their hideouts in Sambisa forest.

A statement by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. -Gen. Sani Usman on Thursday, therefore, advised members of the public, especially residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, to be extra vigilant, security conscious of strange movements or persons in the society.

The public are also please requested to report any suspicious person or group of persons to the security agencies for prompt action.

We wish to reiterate our commitment of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in all their suspected hideouts by the end of this year. We therefore solicit for more public support and cooperation to achieve that."
It gladdens my heart to get reports of our citizens rushing to purchase this cheaper local rice to enable them and their families enjoy the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the president said via a statement released by presidential spokesman,Femi Adesina on Friday, December 23.

Buhari said further that what the two states have done is evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue.
Earlier media reports had it that 21 more girls had been released by the sect on Thursday, December 22, and taken to the Yola International Airport in Adamawa State.

However, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu explained that the girls seen at the airport were the same ones who were freed by Boko Haram in October.

To my friends spreading the news of a further release of Chibok Girls, we are not there yet. The negotiations are ongoing and the Department of State Service, DSS is full of optimism that they will be successful, Shehu said.

Today, the DSS took the 21 Girls already secured to Yola, Adamawa State on their way home to celebrate the Christmas with their families. No new girls have been released but by God's grace, they will be, he added.

The 21 girls were released on October 13 following negotiations between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram which were brokered by the International Committee of Red Cross and the Swiss government.

ALSO READ: FG, Boko Haram finalize negotiations for release of 2nd batch of Chibok girls
At the presentation on Thursday, Dankwambo said the budget was aimed at sustaining the tempo of development that was kickstarted in May 2011.

We committed to providing a secured livelihood to the people of Gombe state and to restore their continued confidence in our governance system, he said.

I therefore present to the Honourable House the proposal of the 2017 Budget of sustainability to the tune of N85.billion for your deliberations and passage for the progress of Gombe State, he said.

Dankwambo said that his administration would continue to transform the education sector and provide infrastructure that would make economic and social activities viable for the people.

He said his government would implement safety Net program especially for the youth, women, the SMEs and the entire people in the state.

His government would also continue the programmed of agricultural transformation that would make commercial and Small holder farming viable and attractive as means of diversifying the economy of the state.

The news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that works and infrastructure ministry sector has the highest share of N9.4 billion.
The News Agency of Nigeria,(NAN), reports that beneficiaries, estimated at 6,000, got gift which included rice and cash, at a ceremony in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

The exercise was carried out under the auspices of a body known as John Kayode Fayemi (JKF) Centre, an advocacy conglomerate instituted some years ago by the former governor, to support the needy in the society.

NAN reports that the beneficiaries were drawn from Ado Ekiti, the state capital and the 15 local government areas of the state.

Speaking with reporters at the main distribution point in Ado Ekiti, the Director of JKF Centre, Mr Biodun Omoleye, said the minister was carrying out the gesture to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship in the country.

He disclosed that contrary to wide held insinuation, the gesture had no political undertone.

He said that it was purely humanitarian to provide succor to all manner of people during the yuletide .

According to him, the Centre had in June this year distributed food materials to civil servants, labour unions, teachers and local government workers following irregular payment of salaries.

Omoleye explained that the Centre gave priority to the indigent people, widows, orphans and the needy with the exercise driven by faith-based and non-governmental organisations.

Our patron (Fayemi) identifies with the people of the state because no serious-minded individual will look on while the people needs help and we are in our own little way alleviating the suffering of our people

This is not a one-off thing as it is a continuation of our desire to put smiles on the faces of our people

It is not political or partisan and we are not targeting members of a particular party but the needy because hunger does not know party affiliation and colour of the skin.
The DSS had earlier alleged that Wike was planning with Ikenga Ugochinyere, an aide to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to destabilise Abuja.

According to Vanguard, the Ekiti Governor said the allegation by the DSS is a barefaced attempt by the federal government to divert the attention of Nigerians and the international community from its involvement in the violence unleashed on the people of Rivers State during the December 10 rerun elections.

Governor Fayose also said the security agency is supposed to serve Nigerians and not the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said When protesters went round major streets in Abuja on Tuesday, protesting against Governor Wike, where was the DSS then?

Assuming but not even conceding that anyone was planning to protest in support of Governor Wike, what is wrong with that? Was the DSS on sabbatical on Tuesday, when protest was held in the same Abuja against Governor Wike?

Is the DSS now telling Nigerians that only supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can protest and only protests against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are sanctioned?

Fayose also added that Security agencies were accused of playing ignoble roles in the Rivers State rerun elections. Can the same security agencies that was accused of ballot box snatching and assisting the APC to unleash terror on the people of Rivers State carry out any credible probe?

The only probe that will be credible and acceptable concerning the Rivers State rerun election is the one in which the international community, civil society organisations and observers who were on the field during the election take part not this kangaroo probe being spearheaded by the police just to work to a pre-determined conclusion.
Heller, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights to water and sanitation, commented on the budget, after it was presented by Gov. Akinwumi Ambode to the Lagos House of Assembly, UN Secretary-Generals office said.

According to him, Lagos, Nigerias largest city, continues to grow while access to basic services could dwindle.

He stated that the Government reports showed high deficits in the sector, representing clearly unacceptable conditions for millions of the megacitys residents.

Heller said the annual budget discussion was a chance for the city to take more actions in providing water and sanitation to the people.

He also expressed concerns over the high numbers of vulnerable people.

There is no question that the citys water and sanitation sector has deteriorated to this point because of the way it has been managed for many years.

The Special Rapporteur also presented some alternative solutions to the problem for the State Government to consider.

His suggestions include increasing the effectiveness of the public service provider, adopting necessary financing schemes, and reducing water losses.

For more than a decade, the Government has adopted a hard-line policy according to which the solution would seem to only attract private capital, notably via public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Numerous civil society groups have urged the Government to guarantee their right to participate in these processes, Heller said.

He added that the key to an adequate solution is a participatory process.

According to him, the water and sanitation situation continues to worsen as the population of Lagos increases.

He added that the resources have become scarce, with an estimated 10 per cent of the population having access to water supplied by the State water board.

Heller said residents have also been reported drilling their own boreholes, in hopes to get some water, causing various environmental and health issues, particularly contaminated water consumption.
The Vice President made the comments on Thursday, December 22, during a visit to the Mpape artisans village in Abuja FCT, yesterday.

For instance, look at what is happening in the Niger Delta; that is where we get most of the money. But when the boys in the Niger Delta decided to start blowing up pipelines, production dropped from the 2 million barrels per day that we used to do, to 1 million per day and we lost 60 per cent of what we used to earn from oil. That is partly responsible for the problem that you see today," he said.

Now, there are many people with jobs because we are beginning to produce rice, mill it locally and distribute. In the meantime it will be expensive and when it is expensive, there will be suffering but that is the only way we are going to stop importing rice.

There is no country that can make progress without some pain. If you dont fight corruption, the money we are trying to get, some persons will pocket it and that is all and there wont be anything," he added.

ALSO READ: How Buhari chose Osinbajo as VP over Tinubu, Fashola
He assured them of governments commitment and determination to support the growth of small and medium scale enterprises in the country as efforts were ongoing to fix the challenges in the system.

The Vice President said: We are progressing but it is slow and the reason it is slow is because there have been a lot of damages in the past.

For instance look at what is happening in the Niger Delta; that is where we get most of the money.

But when the boys in the Niger Delta decided in blowing up the pipelines, production dropped from the two million barrels per day that we used to do to one million per day.

And we lost 60 per cent of what we used to earn from oil, that is partly responsible for the problem that you see today.

On the Buhari administrations reinvigorated rice production programme, Osinbajo said Nigeria was now on the path of improved and sustainable production of rice for domestic consumption contrary to what obtained in the past.

Now there are many people with jobs because we are beginning to produce rice, mill it locally and distribute.

In the meantime it will be expensive and when it is expensive there will be suffering but that is the only way we are going to stop importing rice.

Prof. Osinbajo encouraged the artisans not to despair as government was focused on addressing key sectors that would improve the economy and create jobs for Nigerians.

According to him, We are trying to deal with the problem in the Niger Delta, address farming, industry and the economy so that this problem you are talking about will be fixed permanently.

He, however, told the artisans to brace up as there was no quick-fix to the problems confronting the economy, stressing that there is no country that can make progress without some pain.

He gave the assurance that the administration was addressing the issues on all fronts with the fight against corruption.

If you dont fight corruption the money which we are trying to get, some persons will pocket it and that is all and there wont be anything, he noted.
Reports of plastic rice in circulation in the Nigerian market, have caught on like wildfire. The rice bears the label 'Best Tomato Rice'.

A misnomer, if ever there was one.

For days, people testified that the rice was sticky when cooked. Residents of Lagos also swore that the rice smelt and tasted like shit.

The Comptroller of Customs in Lagos, Haruna Mamudu, told the local and international press that his agency had confiscated 100 bags of the fake rice.

"We have done a preliminary analysis of the plastic rice. After boiling, it was sticky and only God knows what would have happened if people consumed it", Mamudu said.

The Customs chief warned "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal business activity".

According to another senior Customs official, the bags of plastic rice were smuggled into Lagos from China.

The AFP reports that the bags of rice "had no date of manufacture and were intercepted Monday in the area of the sprawling city".

ALSO READ: British journalist comes into contact with fake grains

Everyone was wary of eating plastic for rice at Christmas in a city of some 20 million people; one where rice is the biggest staple.

Not a few thanked God that the LAKE Rice (a collaborative effort between Lagos and Kebbi States) had been ushered into the market at just the right time.

A couple of Lagosians even confessed that they had bought and cooked the said plastic rice. They described the rice as 'sticky with a funny chemical smell'.

So we all prayed never to buy or come across the damned plastic rice with its rubbery, sticky, shitty stench.

Well, until Thursday when Health Minister Isaac Adewole said no such rice exists. In other words, our apprehension over some plastic rice was unfounded and premised on a zero foundation.

"I have just been briefed by the on Plastic Rice reports. Preliminary test results reveal there is no evidence backing claims", the minister said in a tweet.

He added that: "tests conducted; floating - negative, cooking - normal, odour normal, color - off white rice grains, moisture - 13.0, pre-ashing - normal.

"NAFDAC will release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations. We urge all Nigerians to remain calm for now".

Why would Customs declare the rice to be made of plastic and a federal minister will declare the same rice fit for consumption? Whose words should we go with? Who should we believe?

Why would Customs announce that the rice is poisonous without first taking the product to NAFDAC for laboratory tests?

There's something wrong when two government officials issue contradictory statements on a particular subject within hours of each other.

Especially because we are talking food and the lives of people here.

Surely, this could all have been better handled by all concerned agencies of government.

This was shoddy work all around--yet another evidence that we can't get the simplest of things right in this country.

In the coming days, we'll expect better communication from government on this issue. It's just too serious to be trifled with.
Ugochinyere was accused by the DSS of planning to destabilise the Federal Capital Territory with the help of the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike.

According to Vanguard, the operatives of the DSS raided the office of the National President of National Youth Council of Nigeria by 2 am yesterday, Thursday, December 22, 2016.

Reports say Ugochinyere, his driver and secretary were also arrested and taken to an unknown destination.

The Senate Presidents aide was planning to hold a protest in Abuja to condemn the alleged fraud that characterised the Rivers rerun election which held on December 10, 2016.

A source, Ohazuruike Tochukwu, who spoke to Vanguard, said Armed security men suspected to be from DSS in the wee hours of Thursday invaded the office at Suit 29, Shaki Plaza area, 11 Garki and whisked away Barrister Ugochinyere, his driver and Secretary to unknown destination.

This is the private law firm of the National President of NYCN. This place was invaded by DSS by 2am this morning, while the National President and some workers were inside this place.

The security men guiding this place called us that some DSS men were here and they broke the place and took away the National President, his driver and secretary, Oguchukwu.
The DSS has accused Ikenga of working with Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike to cause mass violence in Abuja.

Saraki made the comment via a statement released by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

The statement reads:

The attention of the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been drawn to a statement issued by the Department of State Services (DSS) in which the department raised allegations against Mr Ugochinyere Ikenga, an aide to the senate president.

Though the DSS has not officially informed the senate president of the allegations against Ikenga, Dr. Saraki, having read the statement now circulating online will want to make it clear that he will never condone any action by any of his aides which threatens the peace of the country or is against the provisions of the law.

Dr Saraki hereby calls on the DSS to properly investigate the allegations against Mr. Ikenga and if he is found to have acted against the law, then the law should take its natural course.

ALSO READ:Buhari holds secret meeting with Saraki
He added that those who planned to protest in his favour must have taken a cue from those who protested against him in Abuja.

If they like, let them bring all manner of accusations daily, it will not cow me. Three days ago, they sponsored protests against me in Abuja with the police leading the protesters.

It is so unfortunate how they can descend so low. The DSS is unhappy because I stopped them from kidnapping a judge. Till today, they are yet to invite that particular judge, he said.

Wike asked, assuming people want to protest, are we not in a democracy? If I am the one who is the sponsor of the planned protest in my favour, who sponsored the protests against me?

It means they are the people who sponsored the protests, he contended.

Wike assured the Christian leaders that he remained committed to the development of the state and the welfare of its people.

He said no level of intimidation or blackmail from federal agencies would scare him into selling out the state to external forces.

He said this was a turbulent period but that the state would overcome the challenges because he could not be cowed.

He urged Rivers people not to panic because nobody can take the state by force despite sustained blackmail by the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

None of them gave me the mandate. The people of Rivers state gave me this mandate and I will never sell the interest of this state for whatever reason.

I will not bring out the money of Rivers to sponsor other people outside the state, he said.

Wike told the Christian leaders that security agencies were frustrating the security architecture of the state to further their plot to declare a state of emergency and thereafter bring a lackey to loot the state.

ALSO READ:DSS accuses Governor Wike of planning to cause violence in Abuja

Leader of RISECOM, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Most Rev Ignatius Kattey commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state.
"I am under pressure to contest the 2019 election".

Every online news platform went to town with the quotes and amplified same into a story. The commentaries were tumbling in thick and fast.

Thanks to Senior Associate, 'Jola Sotubo,played the waiting game on the story. It sounded like a hoax from the off.

Hours later, the man at the center of it all, confirmed that the story was a ruse.

According to a media aide of the former President, Ikechukwu Eze, the story was a complete fabrication.

Eze also added that the former President was neither in his home state on the stated date nor met with his kinsmen who paid him an end of year visit, as the story read.

ALSO READ:

The statement added that: "The former President was not in on Tuesday, neither did he make the comments attributed to him.

In fact, Jonathan has only just returned to his community to spend having been away for two weeks, so he could not have been hosting anyone there last Tuesday.

Of what good is it to our national development efforts if some people spend so much energy spreading falsehood about fellow citizens and our nation?

The former President wishes his fellow compatriots a merry Christmas and prosperous New Year in advance, and advises all to always channel their efforts towards working to attain the nation of our collective dreams.

This was obviously someone flying a kite while hoping it lands in safe territory.

Jonathan is never going to return as President. The odds are too stacked against him for the man to even contemplate another presidential run.

It is true that Muhammadu Buhari has been disappointing as President, but what this country needs isn't the man who wasn't any better as the nation's number one citizen.

Jonathan's supporters can wish and dream all they want, but the last thing their man wants right now is all the trouble that comes with overseeing the affairs of a country this polarised.

Jonathan is better off where he is now.

In the coming months, we'll see more and more rumours of this kind being hurled into the arena in an attempt to test the waters. It won't work.

Nigeria needs a clean break from the past. Jonathan is now history and his fans should live with this.

He had his moment and blew it.
The Rivers rerun election was held on Saturday, December 10, 2016.

Nwuche also condemned the killing of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Alkali Mohammed by suspected political thugs.

According to Daily Post, Nwuche said the result of the election is proof that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has active supporters in Rivers state.

He also said The heavy security presence enabled voters to come out en mass to vote as opposed to the past elections where they were intimidated and many murdered in cold blood. Many of us spoke up and urged the federal government to secure the lives of our people.

I am happy the Federal government is now addressing the security situation more aggressively.

The law enforcement agencies are not only focused, but appeared to understand the sophisticated and organized crime pattern better. They saved the election. The presence of the Army ensured that people were able to vote according to their conscience.

The Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, also said that the heavy deployment of security agenciesaccounted for the success of the Rivers Legislative re-run election.
The allegation was made by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Rivers government made its denial via a statement released by Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George.

The statement reads:

It is an irresponsible scaremongering by an agency that seems bent on a mission to blackmail the governor of Rivers State, and bring the state government into disrepute.

Governor Wike is a man of peace, and would never orchestrate disturbances in any part of the country. The Rivers State Government challenges the DSS to leave Governor Wike alone, and instead focus their operational attention on the Boko Haram insurgency that has killed over 70, 000 people, and displaced 6 million Nigerians , in the past six years.

The government and people of Rivers State will never succumb to cheap blackmail by the DSS, or any federal agency by whatever name.

ALSO READ: Wike caught threatening to kill INEC officials over Rerun Election
The centenarian who has worked for twenty years as a faculty member at the Edith Cowan University in Western Australia frowned at the institution for saying he has over stayed his welcome.

This resulted in the university granting him permission to stay as long as he want after a successful plea, Punch News reports.

According to other reports, Goodall has produced more than 100 research papers in ecology since he joined the institution.

The decision of the school management concerning letting him go was because he was considered a safety risk.
The Afriqiyah Airways plane, which was heading from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli, was re-directed and received permission to land at Valletta, a source from Libya's unity government told AFP, asking not to be named.

"Negotiations are underway to guarantee the security of all the passengers," the source said, without specifying who was negotiating.

An Afriqiyah Airways source said two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade, forcing them to head for Malta instead of landing at Tripoli's Mitiga airport.

The hijackers have not yet been identified, the source added.

Libya has been rocked by chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
Tunisian Anis Amri, 24, is believed to have hijacked a truck and used it to mow down holiday revellers at the market on Monday, killing 12 and wounding dozens more.

The Islamic State jihadist group has claimed responsibility and released a video Friday in which Amri is shown pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

He had been missing since escaping after the attack Monday, but his time on the run was cut short thanks to a combination of luck and the quick reflexes of rookie police officer Luca Scata.

The 29-year-old, still officially a trainee, shot the Tunisian twice after he had fired on his patrol partner, Christian Movio, 36.

The officers had stopped Amri in the early hours of Friday, near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni train station. They had no idea of who they were dealing with.

"He was completely calm, they asked him to empty his backpack and with a sudden movement he pulled out the pistol, which was loaded and ready to use," said Roberto Guida, the neighbourhood police head.

Police said Amri had initially tried to pass himself off as being from southern Italy and had shouted "bastard police" in Italian before opening fire.

Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the news, saying: "We can be relieved at the end of this week that the acute danger is over.

"However the danger of terrorism in general endures, as it has for several years. We all know that."

Amri's death came as German police arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack a shopping mall, while authorities in both Australia and Indonesia reported that Christmas terror plots had been foiled.

Amri's port of entry to Europe was Italy, arriving on a migrant boat in 2011, and spending four years in prison there afterwards.

Convicted for starting a fire in a refugee centre, he served out his sentence until 2015, then made his way to Germany, taking advantage of continental Europe's Schengen system of open borders -- as he did on his return to Italy this week.

Milan police chief Antonio De Iesu said Amri had arrived in Italy from Germany via France. He had no telephone on him and only a few hundred euros.

German police said they found his finger prints in the truck, next to the body of its registered Polish driver, who was killed with a gunshot to the head.

A 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward had been offered for information leading to Amri's arrest.

Prominent politicians in Germany and Italy warned that lessons had to be learned from mistakes that might have contributed to Amri being able to carry out his attack.

The Tunisian was a rejected asylum seeker and had been on the radar of anti-terrorism agencies in both countries following his apparent radicalisation in prison.

German news weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Amri had been monitored since March, suspected of planning break-ins to raise cash for automatic weapons to carry out an attack -- but the surveillance was stopped in September because Amri was seen primarily as a small-time drug dealer.

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel's liberal stance on refugees, said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy that brought almost 900,000 asylum seekers to Europe's top economy last year.

"It's clear that a lot went wrong... it was a systemic failure," said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King's College London.

Beppe Grillo, leader of Italy's biggest opposition party, the Five Star Movement, said the Schengen open borders system should have been suspended after the attack and needed an overhaul.

"Italy is becoming a crossroads for terrorists that we are not able to identify and alert people about, and they are able to spread all over Europe thanks to Schengen," he said.

"Those entitled to asylum in Italy can stay, but all the other illegals need to be repatriated immediately, starting from today."

Germany's government has urged its citizens not to give in to fear, and Berliners flocked back to the Breitscheid square market after its reopening on Thursday.

On Friday, a memorial concert was planned at the iconic Brandenburg gate under the theme of "Together Berlin".

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni praised the police duo whose overnight patrol ended an international manhunt.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said: "Italy can be really proud of these two officers.

"We remain on maximum alert, we will not underestimate the threat but what happened overnight shows citizens that the state is there for them."
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
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The Quad-City unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent in November as the area continued to see a decline in non-farm jobs and as both the number of people employed and unemployed decreased, a state labor analyst said.

According to statistics from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Quad-City region's unemployment rate last month was down 0.9 percent from a year ago when it was 5.7 percent.

"The last time it was equal or lower in November was 2007," said Tom Austin an agency representative. "It's been awhile since you've had this low of an unemployment rate, so that is a positive sign."

However, he said the shrinking labor force can be seen as a negative. "It might be individuals who are retiring. They may be going back for education to improve their job opportunities. They may have moved and they may have become discouraged."

Last month, an estimated 9,120 Quad-Citians were unemployed, down from 10,947 a year ago. Meanwhile, the number of those employed fell from 181,177 a year ago to 179,148 in November.

"It's always a positive to have your unemployment rate drop, but when you look at why in the Quad-Cities it is due to declines in the labor force,'' he said. Austin added that the decreasing labor force follows the declining nonfarm payrolls.

In the Quad-Cities, total non-farm employment decreased by 1,700 over the year from 182,800 non-farm jobs a year ago to 181,100 in November. The largest declines were seen in professional-business services and manufacturing sectors, which both lost 1,100 jobs over the year. Also posting a decline was the leisure-hospitality sector, which lost 400 jobs.

Austin said declines are in "several areas the Quad-Cities has seen declines in for a long time, particularly manufacturing and business services."

Sectors showing growth over the year included government (+800), and construction and educational-health services, both up 200 jobs.

The local unemployment rate outperformed the Illinois unemployment rate of 5.3 percent last month, which was a decrease from 5.8 percent a year ago.
One gift arrived early this year for avid cold-weather anglers in the Quad-Cities.

Normally, we dont start ice fishing until after the holidays, but weve got really safe ice right now, said Jon Hurt, who manages Croegaerts Great Outdoors, 4002 11th St., Rock Island.

You better get out this weekend," the veteran fisherman, who refers to himself as "Captain Jon," told a customer earlier this week at his bait shop. "We're going to lose a lot of ice.

Sunday's warm and wet forecast, Hurt warned, could threaten the clear and consistent ice that's formed across Quad-City area waterways.

Just a mile and a half south of the store, Mike Culbertson dragged his one-person ice-fishing tent onto the frozen-over Hennepin Canal in Milan.

"If it seems thick by the bank, Ill walk out," said Culbertson, who noted the ice just east of the U.S. 67 bridge measured about 4 inches thick.

The 46-year-old Culbertson, who recently returned from Arizona to help care for his ailing father, said this season marks the first time he's stepped on the ice in more than a decade. And he's making it count.

On 10 separate solo outings, he's caught and released dozens of fish, including crappies, bluegills and largemouth bass.

In Milan, Culbertson drilled four holes into the rock-hard surface around a log that stands jaggedly out of the canal.

The fixture, he said, absorbs heat from the sun during the day and attracts bait fish, which in turn, draw bigger fish.

"Anytime you find a tree or a stump, I highly recommend you fish that," said Culbertson, who found 5-inch-thick ice at Sunset Marina in Rock Island. "I've been all over."

Under the ice, Hurt said, fish need oxygen and food.

"They won't expend energy they can't replace with a meal," he added.

Returning to the ice also reminded Culbertson of the three times he plummeted into freezing-cold water in the past.

On Tuesday night, less than five miles east of the longtime outdoorsman's spot on the Hennepin, a man fell through the ice and drowned in the Rock River off the shores of Moline.

The Big River Rescue and Recovery Dive Team, a volunteer crew, found the body of the 18-year-old Moline resident on Thursday about 200 yards from where he was believed to have gone into the river.

Jeff Harrison, conservation officer for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, stressed that anglers should stick to the buddy system on ice, and carry flotation devices.

Before venturing out on the ice, the DNR suggests folks should drill a hole into it from a dock or the shore to gauge its thickness and quality.

According to the agencys safety guidelines:

 4 inches of clear blue ice will hold one person

 5-6 inches of clear blue ice can hold snowmobiles, four-wheelers and groups of three or more people

According to the experts, sporadic spells of warm weather should not cause much melting. Additionally, sunny skies only will help smooth the ice, said Hurt, who reiterated steady precipitation on Sunday likely will impact conditions.

For those who do happen to catch fish in the meantime, they may notice a difference in taste.

During the winter months, Hurt said, there is significantly less sediment in fresh water. In turn, the walleye or bluegill successful anglers throw on the pan may pack more flavor.

As for Hurt, his ice fishing days are long gone.

About three years ago, the 59-year-old slipped on the ice and fell on his back.

"I'm 6-foot-3, so it's a long way down," he said. "It's not worth slipping and falling down at my age anymore."
A Camanche, Iowa, man already on parole from the Iowa Department of Corrections for manufacturing methamphetamine was arrested on outstanding domestic violence warrants Thursday after a chase and standoff, Clinton County Sheriff Rick Lincoln said.

Waylon James Koehler, 37, was being held Thursday night in the Clinton County Jail after being arrested on a warrant in Clinton County for aggravated domestic assault, and for failure to appear for a probation violation from an original charge of domestic assault in Scott County.

Lincoln said that at 1:15 p.m., a Clinton County Sheriffs Deputy and a Camanche Police officer tried to conduct a traffic stop on Koehlers car at the Caseys General Store in Camanche.

Koehler backed into the Camanche squad car and fled the scene.

Officers pursued and saw Koehler go into a home at 4109 9th St., Camanche.

Officers established a perimeter and officers from the Gateway Area High Risk Entry and Apprehension Team, or HEAT, were sent to the home. Officers also closed 9th street to traffic during the event.

Deputies began negotiating with Koehler by telephone, Lincoln said. At 2:35 p.m., HEAT members went into the home and took Koehler into custody.

According to Clinton County District Court records, in July 2008, Koehler was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine. The charge is a Class B felony.

In 2006, Koehler pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, a Class C felony that carries up to 10 years in prison, and a charge of second-degree theft, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of up to five years. He was placed on probation but admitted to violating his probation in the 2008 methamphetamine case, according to court records. He then was sentenced to prison.

He has been on parole or work release since March 2015, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records.

His parole was to have ended Sept. 20, 2019, but that date could change if he is convicted of the domestic violence charges.
JOHNSTON  President-elect Donald Trumps America first economic nationalism scored well with voters, but may not play well with international trading partners, much to the detriment of Iowa, according to economists who monitor the states economy.

The zero sum trade game  that is, the idea that when American wins there has to be a loser  that Trump seems to be advocating could hurt Iowas exports to China as well as to its North American and European trading partners, economists David Swenson of Iowa State University and the University of Iowa and Ernie Goss of Creighton University said Friday during taping of an upcoming Iowa Press program.

Goss compared Trumps approach to trade to Brexit  Britains decision to leave the European Union  and similar populism in Europe, saying such uber nationalism is not good for the economy.

The impact could be huge, huge, Goss said, because the U.S. depends heavily on agriculture, agricultural exports and agriculture depends heavily on trade. Iowa is among the five states most dependent on agricultural trade.

Iowa exports much of its agricultural commodities and manufactured goods to China, so if Trump carries through on his threats to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, Swenson said it will either increase the cost of buying stuff from Iowa or decrease our access to goods and services from other places.

China has played fast and loose on trade in some cases, Goss said, but the Chinese are no longer manipulating their currency to gain an advantage in trade.

While many Iowans have praised Trumps selection of Gov. Terry Branstad as his ambassador to China because of his many trade missions and personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jiping, the economists warned that Branstad cant approach the post as the states trade representative.

The governor is going to have to learn to be an ambassador and all that entails broadly with regard to traditional State Department activities, he said. An ambassador isnt a trade representative and so the role is significantly different than being the chief trade representative of the state of Iowa or the Midwest.

There are no ribbons to cut in China, which is what Terry Branstad loves to do. Hes a promoter and hes a hand-shaker and he likes to work out arrangements with people, Swenson added.

Iowa public Broadcastings edition of Iowa Press with the economists will air at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30 and noon Jan. 1 on IPTV, 8:30 a.m. Dec. 31 on IPTV World and online at IPTV.org.
The fire that destroyed Lunardi's Italian Restaurant in Davenport early Thursday may have been caused by a pile of freshly laundered towels that spontaneously burst into flames.

Manager Jake Lunardi said an employee dropped off the pile of hot towels in a back room of the eatery at 102 E. Kimberly Road shortly before 4 a.m. after having them cleaned. Once the fire started, Lunardi said the male employee escaped unharmed and ran to Welcome Way to flag down help.

"Everything in the back was completely ruined," Lunardi said.

Davenport Fire Marshal Mike Hayman, who is leading the investigation, believes spontaneous combustion could be the cause.

"I'm leaning that way," Hayman said. "I've seen many of those fires in my career."

Hayman said any organic material left on the towels, such as vegetable or olive oil, can combine with heat trapped in the towels to cause a reaction that ignites a small fire. He said that happened at the former High Notes restaurant in what is now Hotel Blackhawk. There also have been two similar incidents in Davenport this year.

"It does happen," Hayman said. "We're looking at that hard. It's unusual but not uncommon."

The investigation is still pending, he added.

Firefighters arrived on scene around 4 a.m. and found the kitchen area fully engulfed in flames. A crew was able to extinguish the fire before it spread to adjoining businesses, but the restaurant is considered a total loss.

The business is insured, but, Jake Lunardi said, the family is still taking a financial hit.

Lunardi's sits in a strip mall near NorthPark Mall. Terry Lunardi, Jake Lunardi's great uncle, started the business in 1989.

Terry Lunardi died in 2009. The business continued under his brother, Thomas Paul Lunardi Sr., until he died earlier this year and his son, Thomas Paul Lunardi Jr., took the reins.

Jake Lunardi, who saw himself as next in line, lamented that a freak accident is bringing down what has become one of the Quad-Cities' most popular Italian eateries.

"This restaurant is all I've known, all I've loved," he said.

The fire couldn't have come at a worse time. The Christmas holiday is the restaurant's busiest.

The Lunardis were trying to outdo themselves in holiday orders compared with last year, when they filled more than 100. They had received 60 orders until the fire brought everything to an abrupt end.

"If you or anyone you may know has placed a order for the holidays we will be unable to fill it," the family posted on the restaurant's Facebook page. "The fire destroyed our records so we are unable to contact these customers.

"Please help us by sharing this post so these families can make other arrangements for the holidays. We are so sorry for this and we will do our best to re-open as soon as possible."

The restaurant is a favorite for Michael Hoschek and his family whenever they're in town. Hoschek lived in Davenport for 23 years and, he said, Lunardi's was always his first choice.

"The food is so good," said Hoschek, who moved to West Burlington, Iowa, earlier this year.

Hoschek was in Davenport for a visit on Thursday when he heard the news. He had been planning a dinner celebration at Lunardi's for Thursday evening for his daughter, who just announced that she is expecting a baby in May.

"Now we'll have to change our plans," he said. "But I hope they're able to reopen again."

Jake Lunardi is not about to give up on the family's dream.

"We're pretty devastated," he said. "But we plan to reopen. It's going to take some time."

He shared pictures he took of the damage showing ceilings that had fallen down, damaged tables and booths and charred walls and countertops.

The storefront would have to be gutted if the family were to reopen in the same location. Jake Lunardi said the family may consider another location in the Quad-Cities.

"I can't guarantee it, but we'll try our best to reopen and make it better than before," he said. "We could redesign it or relocate it, but the food and staff will always be the same. We really hope people don't forget about us."
Safety and aesthetics; those may very well be the main concerns of residents who attend a solar power informational session, set up for early January in Davenport.

The Davenport Community School District has considered adding solar power to help meet the district's energy needs. An initial proposal has been approved by the school board; it's hoped the forums will give board members more public feedback on the idea, which could save the district $300,000 per year.

Jason Egli, president of EPo Energy of Columbus Junction, Iowa, is a main contractor on the proposal. His company specializes in Midwest-based solar systems, and Egli has taken part in several public forums over the years.

"Usually the discussions come down to safety and aesthetics and how well does the solar system work," he said. "But by now there is enough information out there, many do know how well solar works."

Those topics are main concerns from school board members, who are moving forward cautiously on the solar project proposal. The district has recently posted the plan layout for every district building on its website  some 30 structures are included.

The current proposal shows that Davenport would have an estimated savings of $300,000 per year; own the system after 20 years and be able to realize $1.9 million in energy savings in the 21st year. Davenport spends just under $1.4 million on energy costs annually.

This is not the district's first foray into alternative energy sources. About half the district's buildings have geothermal heating and cooling systems.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety's Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation released the name of the Bettendorf police officer involved in a shooting on Monday.

Lieutenant Kent Keeshan was identified in a press release Friday as the officer involved in the shooting that took place at the Home Depot in Bettendorf.

Keeshan is a 22-year veteran of the Bettendorf Police Department and was placed on paid administrative leave.

The shooting happened Monday night when officers were sent to a Home Depot to check a disturbance. Officers confronted a man with what appeared to be a handgun.

Keeshan shot the man, identified as Joshua Price of Bettendorf. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Investigators later learned that Price had a soft-air gun, which resembled a handgun, according to the DCI. Price also presented suicidal tendencies in front of the officers, according to the DCI.
It is one of fate's cruel jokes that conservatism should be at its modern nadir just as the Republican Party is at its zenith -- if conservatism is defined as embracing limited government, displaying a rational, skeptical and moderate temperament and believing in the priority of the moral order.

All these principles are related, and under attack.

Conservatives believe that human beings are fallible and prone to ambition, passion and selfishness. They (actually, we) tend to become swaggering dictators in realms where we can act with impunity -- a DMV office, a hostile traffic stop, a country under personal rule. It is the particular genius of the American system to balance ambition against ambition through a divided government (executive, legislative and judicial). The American system employs human nature to limit the power of the state -- assuming that every branch of government is both dedicated to the common good and jealous of its own power.

Conservatives believe that finite and fallen creatures are often wrong. We know that many of our attitudes and beliefs are the brain's justification for pre-rational tendencies and desires. This does not make perception of truth impossible, or truth itself relative, but it should encourage healthy self-examination and a suspicion of all forms of fanaticism. All of us have things to learn, even from our political opponents. The truth is out there, but it is generally broken into pieces and scattered across the human experience. We only reassemble it through listening and civil communication.

And conservatives believe that a just society depends on the moral striving of finite and fallen creatures, who treat each other with a respect and decency that laws can encourage but not enforce. Such virtues, often rooted in faith, are what turn families and communities into the nurseries of citizenship. These institutions not only shape good people, they inculcate the belief that human beings have a dignity that, while often dishonored, can never be effaced. In the midst of all our justified skepticism, we can never be skeptical of this: that the reason for politics is to honor the equal value of every life, beginning with the weakest and most vulnerable. No bad goal -- say, racial purity or communist ideology -- outweighs this commitment. And no good goal -- the efficiency of markets or the pursuit of greater equality -- does either.

So how do we get this set of beliefs and commitments when they seem in short supply? It is hopeless to demand results from an organic process -- to order the grass to grow faster. But this type of conservatism -- a conservatism of intellectual humility and moral aspiration -- also has the advantage of being an organic process. It grows with tenacity in hidden places, eventually breaking down the cement and asphalt of our modern life. It appeals to people who would never call themselves conservatives -- who probably wouldn't use words like "nadir" and "zenith" -- who provide examples of hard work, personal responsibility, unfailing decency, family commitment, quiet faith, inspiring compassion and resilience in adversity. They are the potential recruits of a humane political conservatism.

This is not the political force that has recently taken over the Republican Party -- with a plurality in the presidential primaries and a narrow victory in November. That has been the result of extreme polarization, not a turn toward enduring values. The movement is authoritarian in theory, apocalyptic in mood, prone to conspiracy theories and personal abuse, and dismissive of ethical standards. The president-elect seems to offer equal chances of constitutional crisis and utter, debilitating incompetence.

The plausible case that Russian espionage materially contributed to the election of an American president has been an additional invitation to anger. Now, not only the quality but also the legitimacy of our democracy is at stake. This extreme threat would seem to require a commensurately radical response -- some way to change the outcome.

But what is the proper conservative response? It is to live within the boundaries of law and reality. There is no certain way to determine if Russian influence was decisive. And no serious constitutional recourse seems to remain. While open to other options, I see none. It will now fall to citizens and institutions to (1) defend the legislature and judiciary from any encroachment, (2) defend every group of people from organized oppression, including Muslims and refugees, (3) expand and defend the institutions -- from think tanks to civil liberty organizations -- that make the case for a politics that honors human dignity. And pray for the grass to grow.
SIOUX FALLS | A Minnehaha County grand jury has indicted a 36-year-old man for the death of his 18-month-old stepson in southeastern South Dakota.

Keith Cornett is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, and child abuse. He remains jailed on $2 million cash-only bail. An arraignment date has not been scheduled.

Authorities were called to a Dell Rapids home earlier this month where they found Hayden Wigton unresponsive with traumatic injuries. The toddler could not be revived. An autopsy found six blows to the child's head and bite marks.

Authorities say Cornett and his wife had been staying at the home with a couple who was renting the house.
RAPID CITY  December marks the 75th Anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). It also marks the 75th Anniversary of the CAPs South Dakota Wing.

The Civil Air Patrol came into being on 1 December 1941, one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that propelled the United States into World War II when Fiorello La Guardia, Director of the U.S. Office of Civilian Defense, signed Executive Order #9. On that same day each of the then 48 states was designated a CAP Wing.

Nationwide, the Civil Air Patrol carried out anti-submarine patrols along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. CAP crews flew anti-intrusion missions along the northern and southwestern borders. CAP aircraft acted as targets for the training of searchlight crews and towed aerial targets for training anti-aircraft gunners. More inland, CAP members carried out search and rescue for missing military aircraft, provided fire watch over the U.S. forests and patrolled major harbors and waterways. The CAP operated a nationwide courier service ferrying personnel, supplies and equipment about the country. CAP also flew mercy missions for the Red Cross, mock raids to test blackout practices and air raid warning systems; supported War Bond Drives, and assisted in scrap metal collection drives.

In the central and western states, including South Dakota, Civil Air Patrol pilots armed with shotguns flew patrols to spot Japanese balloon bombs. One actually landed in South Dakota but didnt cause any damage. Armed CAP pilots flew patrols hunting wolf packs that caused economic losses for ranching operations.

In the South Dakota Wing, subordinate units called squadrons were organized across the state by late December 1941. The Black Hills area was of particular concern because of its forest resources. Members of the Black Hills squadrons flew forest fire patrols and wolf reduction patrols. South Dakotas major towns were hubs for the extensive CAP courier service within the region. South Dakota CAP aircraft patrolled the states major highways and waterways.

In October 1942, the Civil Air Patrol instituted a cadet program for high school age youth. Young men and women were trained in aviation with an emphasis on flight training and civil defense-related skills for operational tasks in CAP and, after graduation, for military service.

The Civil Air Patrol's success with the cadet program, along with its impressive wartime record, led the War Department create a permanent place for CAP. In April 1943, by order of the president the Civil Air Patrol was transferred from the Office of Civilian Defense to the War Department and given official status as the auxiliary to the Army Air Forces.

In 1946, recognizing CAPs value to the nation, Congress passed a law that incorporated the Civil Air Patrol as a non-profit, quasi-government organization. In 1947, the Civil Air Patrol was transferred to the newly formed Air Force. In 1948, by law, CAP became the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

Since its founding 75 years ago all CAP members are unpaid civilian volunteers who generously donate their time and skills. In the early days CAP pilots often used their own small airplanes, often at their own expense, to perform CAPs missions. In 2015, the nearly 200,000 members of the World War II-era Civil Air Patrol were honored with a Congressional Gold Medal for their contributions to the nations war effort. Since then replica medals have been presented to surviving CAP members or their next-of-kin across the country.

Today, the South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, with squadrons in Brookings, Custer, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Spearfish has approximately 300 volunteer officer and cadet members. The Wing has been assigned seven light aircraft and17 multi-purpose vehicles, a considerable amount of communications gear and stocks of disaster relief equipment and supplies. These assets are available to federal, state and county governments, emergency responders and law enforcement agencies to perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and counter-drug missions.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Forces Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrols 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.
Editors note: This is the latest in a series of profiles of United Way-backed agencies and the people they help.

For a single mother of three, Christmas seemed a no-go this year for 39-year-old Trivia Afraid of Lightning.

In September, the nonprofit organization for which she worked as an office manager closed. Then she lost a loved one. Finally, in October she was forced to abandon the Mall Ridge home she had purchased a decade before when repeated flooding, black mold and a crumbling foundation proved unsafe for her and her family.

Ive always saved money, Trivia said last week. I have a strategic plan to get through life because Im a single mother and I just plan that way. But I didnt plan for the loss of my job, the loss of a loved one and moving out of my house.

Despondent, Trivia was referred to the Uplifting Parents Program sponsored by Catholic Social Services in Rapid City, an organization funded in part by the United Way.

Quite simply, it changed her life.

Working with an UP Program mentor Tracy Palecek, Trivia was able to work through her seemingly insurmountable challenges, get back on her feet and look forward to the future she had always planned.

In June, she expects to graduate with her masters degree in Lakota leadership and management from Oglala Lakota College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in literature and communications in 2009.

What the UP Program did is, it blessed me, she said. The scholarship I received carried me from month to month. Without it, oh, my gosh, I dont even want to think about that.

Trivia said the one-on-one counseling sessions with Palacek helped because she was able to work through her struggles with someone who truly cared and understood the challenges single mothers face every day. When Trivia had an issue with her computer, critical to her studies, the IT person at Catholic Social Services got her back on track.

I just made sure I talked with Tracy a lot, and in her I had a mentor who helped, who listened, who counseled, who was experienced, and believe it or not I made it through the last semester and passed, Trivia said. Before that I was going to drop out of school. But with her help, prayers and perseverance, I made it through.

As Christmas approached, Trivia warned her 6-year-old son and two teenagers that her budget this year wouldnt allow for any extravagant purchases. But when she mentioned that fact to her mentor, Trivia said she was shown a room with gifts, from which she selected an assortment for her children, ensuring the holidays remained bright for her family.

It was a godsend, she said. The kids gifts have been taken care of. Its not the way I thought it would be. Its going to be OK.

With more than a few Christmas gifts and a monthly stipend to meet the cost of tuition, books and day-to-day living, Trivia said the UP Program had renewed her confidence in the future.

If I could tell those who helped me one thing, it would be that their donation for this scholarship not only empowers women to further their education, but what it does is teach them to give back to the community, Trivia said. It really is life-changing.

Trivia is so high on the UP Program's needed assistance and resources, she has referred other single mothers to the program and encouraged her to remain connected to the community through after-school activities and networking opportunities. A Cheyenne River Sioux, she said she hopes to find a position with a nonprofit organization after she earns her advanced degree, preferably in the tribal arena.

Natalie Lecy, director of the Family Services Department at Catholic Social Services, said Trivias saga is not unusual, and that without help from United Way and private donations, the UP Program would only be a dream.

Single mothers often face systemic and social barriers that prevent them from moving forward and realizing their potential, Lecy said. These are people who will do everything they can to provide a better life for their kiddos  the kind of childhood they were robbed of. Watching them progress is just amazing. We provide the resources and support, then sit back and watch them take off.

One of Lecys favorite success stories among the 34 participants and 63 children served by the program since April 2014, involved a pregnant woman who showed up at Catholic Social Services a year and a half ago with her 2-year-old son. Everything she owned was in a black garbage bag and Lecy said the destitute mom was ready to give her unborn baby up for adoption.

She didnt see a future for the child and had no way to feed or clothe that youngster, Lecy said. Then she got involved with UP, found housing and began working toward a CPA. In 18 months, she had passed her four CPA exams and secured a full-time position with an international accounting firm. Now shes making more money than any of us. We love that.
Lithuanian court upholds 35.6 mln antitrust fine for Gazprom - report

MOSCOW, December 23 (RAPSI)  A court in Lithuania has upheld a 35.6 million fine imposed on Russias oil giant Gazprom for anti-competitive practices including overcharging customers and blocking rival suppliers, Lrytas.lt reported.

Lithuanias Competition Council fined Gazprom in June 2014 after investigating the attempts by Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba (formerly Lietuvos Energija) to sign a gas exchange deal with the Russian supplier. The council concluded that Gazproms refusal to negotiate a swap deal in 2012-2013 prevented the Lithuanian power producer from buying natural gas from other suppliers.

The council qualified Gazproms actions as violation of competition rules and provisions of the 2004 contract for the purchase of a 34% stake in Lithuanian gas supplier Lietuvos Dujos. The contract was approved on the condition that Gazprom would not hinder Lithuanian consumers from seeking alternative suppliers.

In February 2012, Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba asked Gazprom Export to sign a gas swap deal. As physical delivery was not possible, the Lithuanian company asked Gazprom to exchange the gas it planned to buy in Western Europe for the gas that the Russian company delivered to Lithuania via Belarus.

The fine was calculated based on Gazproms 2012 revenues from the sale of gas to Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba, the timeframe of the violation and related risks.

Under the European Union gas market rules designed to ensure fair competition, companies that supply energy are not allowed to dominate ownership of the infrastructure.
MOSCOW, December 23 (RAPSI) - The Leninsky District Court of Kirov will begin on January 18 and 19 interrogation of witnesses for the prosecution in the case against Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny charged with embezzlement at the Kirovles timber company, RIA Novosti reported Friday.

In total, there are 41 witnesses for the prosecution, the agency quoted a court representative as having said.

Currently, prosecutors have reportedly completed examination of written evidence in the case.

In November, Russia's Supreme Court overturned sentences against opposition politician Navalny and his accomplice Pyotr Ofitserov in Kirovles embezzlement case and sent it for retrial.

Russia's Supreme Court delivered the ruling taking into consideration the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Nevertheless, the ruling of the Supreme Court didn't meet expectations of both prosecutors and defense lawyers.

The ECHR ruled in February that Russia had violated Navalny's and and Ofitserovs right to a fair trial.

In particular, according to ECHR, sentences against them were issued with numerous violations because of a lot of references being made regarding another defendant  Vyacheslav Opalyov. Proceedings against Opalyov were treated as a separated criminal case after he admitted his guilt.

Additionally, ECHR noted that Russian courts failed to review claims by defense that Kirovles case may have a political motive behind it and did not provide adequate evaluations of such claims. ECHR itself did not find a political motive in the case. The court ruled to compensate Navalny with 48,000 euro of legal costs and Ofitserov with 22,000 euro. Additionally, Russia is to pay 8,000 euro each in damages.

Russias Justice Ministry filed a request seeking referral of the case to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR, but the request was dismissed.

Navalny was given a five-year suspended sentence for embezzlement at the Kirovles timber company in July 2013. In May, Moscow's Lyublinsky District Court increased a probation period for him to 5.5 years. Ofitserov received a four-year suspended sentence.

According to investigators, while serving on a voluntary basis as an adviser to the Kirov Region governor Navalny organized the theft of over 10,000 cubic meters of timber from Kirovles company between May and September 2009.

Investigators claimed that Pyotr Ofitserov, then Director of Vyatka Timber Company, and Kirovles CEO Vyacheslav Opalyov were involved in the scheme.
Putin discusses possibility of release for Ukrainian nationals Sentsov and Sushchenko

MOSCOW, December 23 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his opinion on potential release for Ukrainian nationals, film director Oleg Sentsov and journalist Roman Sushchenko, during his annual press-conference in the Moscow Centre of international trade.

Putin said that film directors should work on films and journalists should be engaged in journalism. What are we supposed to do when a film director was preparing for terror attacks? Should we release him just because he is a film director?, Putin asked. He added that amnesty is up for discussion only when Ukraine will renounce hostile actions against Russia.

In August 2015, Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison for organizing a terrorist group in Crimea. Investigators found that Sentsov started a terrorist group, a branch of the Right Sector movement that is banned in Russia. He was allegedly promoting Crimeas secession from Russia. Sentsov denied all charges against him. He said he had never been a member of the Right Sector and that the investigators had no evidence against him.

On October 7, Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) charged Sushchenko with espionage. According to the FSB, the Ukrainian citizen "purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia." Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability, according to the FSB. Sushchenko faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is hosting its fifth New Years Eve ball benefiting a local non-profit with a special option of a Masquerade Ball.

Event organizer Mario Torres said the funds raised at the dance will benefit Emmas House, the Bitterroot Valley Childrens Advocacy Center.

This is our third annual for Emmas House. It is kind of our pet charity as far as the Eagles dance committee is concerned, Torres said. We threw a little twist in it with a High-Enders Masquerade Ball, which is optional. The wives were really excited to pick a theme and this makes it fun for people to dress in costume if they choose.

The Eagles host a dance with live music each month to raise money for local nonprofit organizations and charities. The dances are 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month, February through November. Admission is $7.

Weve given to the backpack program, Shepherds House and Corvallis Angels without Wings, said Yvonne Torres. The charities we look to support are local and might not otherwise be funded. We keep it in the valley.

Torres said Farmers State Bank made a large financial contribution towards the New Years Eve dance.

As a major sponsor they make it possible to give more money to Emmas House, Torres said. It offsets the costs of hosting the dance. Last week we presented Emmas House a check for 2015 of $1,530 and the previous dance brought in $1,500 for Emmas House.

The New Years Eve dance, from 8 p.m. to midnight, will have music by Nashville 406, snacks and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

Weve had gloves, jewelry, meals at restaurants and whatever we can achieve by contacting vendors, Torres said. We have a food drive for Haven House and for every nonperishable canned good people bring they receive an extra raffle ticket.

The Eagles are providing a limited number of masquerade masks for males and females and a photographer will be on hand to snap a picture of dancers and guests.

A photograph creates a memento of the fun-filled evening, Torres said. We did it before and its gone over really well.

The Eagles dance committee includes new member Barry Schlect, plus Clyde Trueax, Ronnie Leonard, Doug Davis, Julie Davis, Yvonne Torres and Mario Torres.

We are doing prizes for the best mask so if someone wants to be original and creative they could win. Well give away prizes for the top three favorites, said Yvonne Torres. The dance is going to be a blast and a great way to ring in the New Year.

Leonard said dancers will have another opportunity to donate to Emmas House.

Their symbol is the butterfly and so we are going to sell butterfly cards that people can write their name on and for a small fee well post them all over the bar, she said. Well probably do it for every Emmas House dance.

Attend the Eagles Lodge New Years Eve Masquerade Ball to benefit Emmas House for $10 per person, 8 p.m. to midnight, Dec. 31 at 125 N. 2nd St. in Hamilton. Everyone 18 or older is welcome. For more information, call 406-363-1113 or online visit www.foe.com.
Florence-Carlton School is one of nine Montana schools that will receive funding from Governor and First Lady Bullock to expand breakfast services.

Florence-Carlton School will receive $4,900.

Superintendent Bud Scully said the school plans to purchase a breakfast serving cart.

We are trying to increase our breakfast participation numbers, Scully said. Currently we believe that not enough of our students are taking advantage of our breakfast program.

The Bullocks are continuing their Breakfast after the Bell initiative by giving $29,905 in privately funded grants to nine schools across Montana.

The funding allows schools to implement or improve breakfasts for students giving them the energy the need to do well in school.

Building a stronger, healthier future for all Montanans begins with making sure our children have all the resources they need to succeed, Bullock said. Kids cant learn, grow, and be successful if theyre starting their school days with an empty stomach. By partnering with more schools, community organizations, and businesses across the state, we can better prepare the next generation of Montanans to succeed down the road.

Montana No Kid Hungry grants were made possible by the Wal-Mart Foundation, Share our Strength, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Round It Up Montana (a partnership between the Montana Restaurant and Retail Associations, Prostart and No Kid Hungry).

The funds are for purchasing new equipment and technology or supporting creative breakfast options like grab-and-go or breakfast in the classroom. Schools can purchase delivery carts, insulated food storage bags, breakfast service kiosks, point-of-sale systems or use the money to pay the costs of additional labor hours needed to serve breakfast.

Participation in school breakfasts increase, by as much as 70 percent, when there is an alternative breakfast option. The United States Department of Agriculture provides additional reimbursement for creative serving methods.

Weve seen much higher participation in school breakfast when schools provide an alternative breakfast model, said First Lady Lisa Bullock. Serving breakfast in the classroom or offering a grab-and-go option helps students avoid feeling singled out and its a convenient way to make sure they have the energy they need to focus on learning.

A press release from the governors offices said studies show that students who regularly eat breakfast have better academic success, more positive behavior and better health. In Montana, over 130 schools have made breakfast a regular part of each school day.

Other school receiving breakfast grants this cycle are: Winifred School, Winifred ($5,000); Central Elementary School, Helena ($5,000); Lolo Elementary School, Lolo ($5,000); Lodge Grass Elementary School, Lodge Grass ($4,000); Gallatin Gateway Elementary School, Gallatin Gateway ($2,500); Drummond Elementary School, Drummond ($1,850); Valley View Elementary School, Great Falls ($855) and Dixon Elementary School, Dixon ($800).

Since 2014, Governor and First Lady Bullock have awarded over $230,000 to 66 Montana schools. Another grant cycle for schools to apply for funding will be available in February.

Learn about alternative breakfast ideas and grant opportunities by contacting Montana No Kid Hungry School Breakfast Manager, Linda Cleatus, at LCleatus@mt.gov or 406-444-3925.
First grade students at Washington Primary School were surprising people in downtown Hamilton earlier this week with candy canes and wishes of Merry Christmas.

The excited students bundled into their warm winter coats, hats, gloves and boots then visited businesses and shoppers as part of their studies in gratitude.

Prior to the adventure students had transformed candy canes into reindeer with pipe cleaners antlers, pom-pom noses and googly eyes.

The students attached a note that read:

Youve been R.A.C.K.E.D. by a Random Act of Classroom Kindness. This season Washington Primary students are counting the days until Christmas break by performing Random Acts of Classroom Kindness. Happy Holidays.

Students handed the candy and notes to community members, cheering up those they met.

Some of the exuberant 6 and 7 year olds shared their thoughts.

Dominic Beall said, Were thanking people for Christmas.

Kelly Hart said, Its random acts of classroom kindness. Were here doing good deeds.

Abrianna Doebler said she was thanking storeowners for helping people get stuff.

Ben Leuchtman said, It is good to be kind to others.

Braylon Nelson said, We are helping do service.

First grade teacher Heather Montez said her class has been learning the importance of generosity and enjoyed the outing downtown just to say thank you to the community.

Barb Collins, secretary at Washington school, said she received calls of thanks.

There was an older lady downtown with no kids, Collins said. She was so touched that the kids handed her a candy cane that she called the school.

Montez said she appreciated the phone call.

Our kid is have so much to offer but dont always have the right avenue to do it, she said. They do work hard.

Montez said that each week her class discusses giving back to the community, then takes action.

We went to the Veterans Center and Sapphire Lutheran Homes to read to the veterans and seniors, Montez said. We learned how to help at the Humane Society and we delivered food to Haven House.

The students also went caroling at an independent living center.

Montez said every student at Washington Primary School is studying character traits and have examined excellence, respect, gratitude and empathy.

Students have grabbed on to it, Montez said. We talked about putting yourself in someone elses shoes. It has been helpful and relatable for the kids. We read a book about a friend who is hungry and her friends help her out.

On Tuesday, first grade students in Brittany Hayes class also joined in random acts of classroom kindness for the community.

Mrs. Hayes and I have partnered for Friendship Fridays, Montez said. We teach kids how to greet one another, say Hello, how are you doing? and ask a question like Whats your favorite color? and they practice asking back. They also give a secret handshake. Each week we do an activity with our classroom partner. Our kids have become very good friends this year.

Montez said teaching is all about relationship building.

Once you build the relationship with your students they do better, she said. I have enjoyed teaching random acts of classroom kindness.

Downtown Hamilton business Mineshaft Pasty Company rewarded the students with cookies.

Hamilton students are now out for Winter Break and school resumes Jan. 2.
Hanukkah means dedication. When we, the Jewish people, rededicated our Holy Temple after defeating Antiochus IV and his invading forces, we lit the temple lamp with a single, remaining pot of holy oil. The oil burned miraculously for eight days, shining intensely with the light of religious freedom.

This year, I rededicate myself to freedom. I will proudly light my Hanukkah lamp and display it at my front door. Once again, I declare to the world, I am a Jew, and I love my religious and cultural heritage, my ancestors, my family and my Jewish community. Once again, I dedicate myself to living a Jewish life: celebrating the Sabbath and festivals, loving my neighbor as myself, caring for the earth, supporting the needy, and striving for justice and freedom for all.

When I look at the glowing candles, I remember that in the darkest time of the year, hope illumines the world. The light of the candles reflects the light of creation, the magnificent power of the divine, and the vast energy of all that lives. How fortunate to wake each morning and live another day. How grateful I am to witness the wonder of life!

This year, I invite you to join me: please place an image of a nine-branched Hanukkah menorah in your window or on your door for all to see. Why? Because this year, either one person or a group has been distributing fliers in Missoula that malign the Jewish people. The leafleting began shortly after the Nov. 8 election and has continued for several weeks.

I repudiate these fliers. White supremacist, pro-Nazi, anti-Jewish ideology is distorted and dangerous. Our country is a land for all people, where all are free to practice our faiths and celebrate our rich and varied cultural heritages. Divisive, prejudicial propaganda has no rightful place in our great democracy.

My family moved to the United States to escape oppression in the early 1900s. We remember too well the pogroms (lynchings) of Eastern European communities from which we came; we remember friends and relatives lost to the Nazi Holocaust. We will not remain silent when fellow citizens applaud the ugliness of the Nazi regime and dare to suggest that it offers a model for society. We will do everything in our power to oppose the rise of hateful rhetoric and action directed towards Jews and all other groups.Good people of Missoula, where do you stand? Will you join in denouncing those who would spread hate? Will you join in declaring that religious freedom is our right? Will you join in affirming the principles of our American democracy? If so, please display a Hanukkah menorah in your window during this holiday season.

This year, Christmas Eve and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same date for the first time since 1959. In this season of miracles, let us share the light.

 Laurie Franklin, Spiritual leader of

Har Shalom in Missoula
I have property in Missoula, and pay taxes here. Im also strongly interested in local history, and feel that too much has already been lost.

The Missoula City-County Library Board now plans to build a new Library which will also house the Childrens Museum as well as other non-profit organizations which now rent elsewhere. It will be located on the identical block next to the existing library - the E. 400 block between Main and Front Streets. Until the Library Board land-swapped the existing library for that block to Terry Payne, who owned all of it, ft was protected by Missoulas Historical Preservation Commission part of the Downtown Historic District. Now, as County property, it is no longer protected and will be razed to the ground.

The small white office building at 407 B. Main was built in 1873 - the first purpose built brick schoolhouse in the entire Montana Territory. Several other 100-plus-year-old historically significant buildings are also on that block. Their hazmat content is probably high - asbestos, lead paint, vermiculite were all used in old construction. The costs of containment during demolition and disposal will be high.

The entire project is estimated to cost $45 - $50 million.

The way the plan stands, we are merely providing additional library space for a few worthy non-profits. If we really must do it, heres one alternative: The existing Library building covers only the Main St. half of its block. The Front St. half is parking lot. Since those two blocks are exactly the same size, we could gain just as much new space by building an annex above the existing parking area and connecting the two with corridors. There would be no demolition, no hazmat problems, and it would preserve an entire block of Downtown Historic District. We could accomplish the same goal and at the same time save at least half of that $50 million.

We might not need the recently approved bond issue.

 Barbara Sharp

Stevensville
Since there is considerable evidence piling up that Russia is now contributing to the downfall of America, it has become plain to me that I am (and have been for years) an unwitting dupe of these nefarious scoundrelsnamely, that I use (and have for years) Kaspersky anti-virus software on my computer. How could I be so daft? If I had only researched this properly (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Kaspersky), I would have known better. I am so ashamed.

However, Im not the only one taken in by this subterfuge. No less than that bastion of unbiased opinion, NPRs Morning Edition, openly and publicly proclaims, without any attempt to hide its wrong-doing, that it receives support and funding from, you guessed it, Kaspersky. How these truth-seekers and valiant defenders of the American Way get away with their treason is completely beyond me.

Not only that, but now it seems that the Russians are also responsible for the current wave of bitterly cold, arctic air sweeping over much of North America. Unbelievable, yes, but its true. How do I know this? I saw it on NBC News the other day.

Preposterous, you might say, but NBC (or their local affiliate, NBC Montana) actually aired a graphic showing where the cold air originated fromSiberia. Huge amounts of cold air come out of Siberia (controlled by Vlad Putin, of course), sweep over the North Pole, and then wreak havoc over large areas of the United States.

When will the Democrat Party, John McCain, or Chill-airy (pardon the pun, I just had to do it) start talking about this. When will Obama stand up to this aggression and tell Putin to cut it out?

Obviously, all of this is sarcasm. No one should mistake it for fake news or take it literally.

 Roger Mitchell

Stevensville
Some Points of Orientation on the Murderous Attack on Shoppers in Berlin

December 22, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

On December 19, a truck plowed into a Christmas market in Berlin, where all kinds of people were shopping, eating, and drinking. According to news reports, at least 12 people were killed, and dozens more were injured.

Shortly after the incident, a Pakistani asylum seeker in Germany who authorities said matched the description of the truck driver was arrested. Immediately, news reports speculated on possible links to ISIS or other fundamentalist Islamic jihadist terror organizations. Hours after the attack, police said there was no evidence connecting the initial suspect to the attack, and he was released. Now authorities have launched a manhunt for someone they say is connected to ISIS. A pro-ISIS news site claimed the attack was carried out in response to appeals to target nationals of the international coalition fighting ISIS. Reactionaries in Germany, in Europe, and in the U.S. have seized on this incident and the claims by ISIS to demand ratcheted up terror, repression, and deportation of Muslims and immigrants.

At this moment, it is impossible to know who was behind this, and what their motives were. Even so, it is critical to establish, stick to, and fight for some basic principles that correspond to the truth, and to the interests of humanity.

Terrorism Is a Crime Against Humanity... Who Are the Worlds Biggest Terrorists?

The first thing that must be said is that targeting ordinary people for terrorist attacks or killing ordinary innocent people in order to achieve political objectives through terror is always wrong.

The United States carpet-bombed Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in a war for empire that led to the deaths of millions of innocent civilians, with one prominent U.S. Air Force General threatening to bomb them back into the stone age. Here, the horror after napalm was dropped on a village, June 1972. (Photo: AP) Child in a Baghdad hospital, 1991, one of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi infants suffering from diarrhea as a result of the destruction of the country's water and sanitation system. In 1997, the UN reported that more than 1.2 million Iraqis, including 750,000 children below the age of five, had died since the beginning of the Gulf War as a result of this and of medical shortages caused by the war and sanctions.

October 2015, the U.S. bombed a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killing 42 people including 14 medical staff. (Photo: AP)

The bodies of Afghan children who were killed by a U.S.-led NATO airstrike which killed many Afghan civilians, including ten children, April 2013. (Photo:AP)

This is true in the case of the rulers of countries like the United States and Germany, who have a long history of this in their own countries and around the world. The capitalist-imperialist rulers of Germany, after all, rounded up and murdered millions of innocent Jews and others in the Holocaust. The United States carpet-bombed Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in a war for empire that led to the deaths of millions of innocent civilians, with one prominent U.S. Air Force General threatening to bomb them back into the stone age.

More recently, over the last 25 years, the U.S. has been responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent civilians in order to accomplish its political objectives. In 1990, the U.S. instituted sanctions against Iraq that had the effect of poisoning the water people drank and depriving peopleespecially children and elderly peopleof essential medicines and medical care. When U.S. UN Ambassador and future Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was asked on 60 Minutes if it was worth it to kill 500,000 children to accomplish U.S. objectives, she said, We think the price was worth it. (See Case #76: U.S.-UN Sanctions on IraqA Legitimized Act of Mass Slaughter.).

In October 2015, the U.S. bombed a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, despite the fact that the hospital administrators were in constant contact with the U.S. military command before the attack, and during the attack made repeated phone calls to the U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan demanding it stop. How is a sustained bombing attack on a hospital, that killed 42 people, including 14 medical staff, and wounded dozens more, not terrorism?

The U.S.-backed Saudi Arabian air assault on Yemen includes systematically bombing schools and hospitals. How is that not terrorism? And the U.S. increased military aid to Israel while Israel was carrying out a massacre in the Gaza strip region of Palestine in the summer of 2014. During that massacre, Israel targeted children playing on a beach, UN schools, apartment buildings, and hospitals. Three quarters of the 2,000+ people killed were civilians, and a quarter of those killed were children. How is that not terrorism?

Because of the whole history of Hitler, and World War 2, the rulers Germany have avoided overt military intervention around the world. But Germany backed the murderous sanctions against Iraq in the 1990s. And Germany is a major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia and Israel. Around the world, the German news service Deutsche Welle summarized that last year countries in the Middle East, South America, Africa and East Asia that are either involved in conflicts or have problematic human rights records have been splurging on German rifles, handguns and other handheld weapons. Included in that deadly mix, Germany sells the guns and ammunition that arm a range of reactionary forces engaged in the slaughter in Syria. How is that not, at least, state-sponsorship of terrorism?

And terrorist attacks are a crime and outrage when carried outalbeit on a qualitatively smaller but no less immoral scaleby fundamentalist Islamic jihadists. Whatever their role actually was or was not in Berlin, they do advocate and carry out such attacks.

No to Roundups, Repression and Reactionary War

The Berlin attack has actually benefited the imperialists. That is the case regardless of who was behind it and what their intent. Besides causing the deaths and suffering of innocent people, these killings will now be seized upon to further repress people, and intensify a vicious and violent wave of official and unofficial attacks on immigrants in Germany and throughout Europe.

This incident cannot be allowed to justify and uncork a new, escalated wave of official and unofficial attacks on immigrants and Muslims in the U.S. and Europe, and even more vicious unjust wars by the U.S. and its allies. The Washington Post reported that when asked about his plans to register Muslims, Donald Trumpwho made demonizing and threatening Muslims a key element of his campaign, and who has brought fanatic war-on-Islam crusading military men into the core of his cabinetdeclared You know my plans.

People cannot lose sight of fundamental dividing line between right and wrong. Everyone of conscience must oppose attacks on Muslims and immigrants. And the authorities in Germany and throughout the West cannot be allowed to use this incident to ratchet up spying, surveillance, and repression against political protest and dissent. Remember: in the wake of the terrorist attacks in 2015 by avowed fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists, France launched a massive crackdown against the environmental movement, among other repressive measures.

A Clash of Two Reactionary Poles... And How to Break Out of That

What we see in contention here with Jihad on the one hand and McWorld/McCrusade [increasingly globalized western imperialism] on the other hand, are historically outmoded strata among colonized and oppressed humanity up against historically outmoded ruling strata of the imperialist system. These two reactionary poles reinforce each other, even while opposing each other. If you side with either of these outmodeds, you end up strengthening both. While this is a very important formulation and is crucial to understanding much of the dynamics driving things in the world in this period, at the same time we do have to be clear about which of these historically outmodeds has done the greater damage and poses the greater threat to humanity: It is the historically outmoded ruling strata of the imperialist system, and in particular the U.S. imperialists. Bob Avakian, BAsics 1:28

The attack in Berlin comes in the context of reactionary global conflict between Western imperialism and fundamentalist Islamic Jihad. The main factor behind that conflict is the imperialist system itself. Capitalism-imperialism has given rise to massive suffering, death, and dislocation in the world, and ultimately bears responsibility for creating conditions that give rise even to very wrong-headed and cruel actions in opposition to it.

Germanys powerful economy and wealth are rooted in a global system that viciously exploits and oppresses billions of people around the world. And the same could be said of the U.S., France, Britain, and other imperialist powers. But things like the attack in Berlin are most definitely NOT in the interests of masses of people all over the world, and can in no way be justified.

What is urgently needed right now in countries like the U.S. (and Germany) and all over the world, is massive political resistance and opposition to what the imperialists, with the U.S. first among them, are doingthe many crimes they have committed and are continuing to commitand to the way in which they will seize on this incident to seek to justify and carry further these crimes. This challenge is particularly urgent and acute, in the context of the rise of fascist, white-supremacist, violently anti-immigrant movements and political parties throughout the West, concentrated in the incoming Trump-Pence regime in the U.S.

There is a way to break out of the whole paradigm where, for billions of people, the choices are posed as Western imperialism or fundamentalist Islamic Jihad.

A genuinely emancipating revolutiona communist revolutioninvolves millions and millions of people who are determined to bring about a radical change in society and the world. This communist revolution aims to overturn the grotesque and horrific systems and relations in the world that cause such untold and unnecessary suffering for literally billions throughout the globe, and which themselves also give rise to and are ultimately responsible for grotesque forms of opposition to this. The nature and aim of this revolutionary struggle is nothing less than the conscious and determined struggle of millions and ultimately billions, throughout the globe, to bring into being a whole new world without exploitation, oppression, and social inequalities.

Organizing for that revolution is urgent. And right now, that requires going all out to stop the ascension to power of a Trump-Pence regime, which would, among other horrors, pour gasoline on the reactionary conflict between fundamentalist Islamic Jihad, and Western capitalism-imperialism.

Find out more about the revolution

Find out about BA, the leader of the revolution

For full coverage and the current issue of REVOLUTION click here
When Is Terrorism Not "Terrorism," in the Twisted World of Donald Trump?

December 23, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

Only hours after the attack on the Christmas market in Berlin where all kinds of people go this time of year to shop, eat, drink, and hang out, Donald Trump issued a statement claiming: 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.

from RefuseFascism.org: Donald Trump, the President-elect, is assembling a regime of grave danger. Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world are filled with deep anxiety, fear, and disgust. Our anguish is right and just. Our anger must now become massive resistance  before Donald Trump is inaugurated and has the full reins of power in his hands. Should we fail to rise with determination and daring in our millions now to stop this, the consequences for humanity will be disastrous. We, the undersigned, know in the depths of our beings, the catastrophe that will befall the people of the world should the Trump/Pence regime assume full power. We therefore CALL FOR A MONTH OF RESISTANCE beginning on December 19th, reaching a crescendo by the January 20th, 2017 Inauguration. Read more at RefuseFascism.org.

In reality, at the time he made his statement, Trump had no idea who was at this market, who carried out the attack, or why.

In reality by far the greatest numbers of victims of terrorist attacks, where the religious affiliation of victims can be determined, are Muslims.1

But Trump used this incident in Berlin to threaten new repression, new terror, new wars: 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.

The Washington Post reported that when asked about his plans to register Muslims within the U.S. and ban Muslims from entering the country, Donald Trump responded, You know my plans. And Trump, who made demonizing and threatening Muslims a key element of his campaign, and who has brought fanatic war-on-Islam crusading military men into the core of his cabinet, declared, All along, Ive been proven to be right. One hundred percent correct.

Contrast that with

In the warped worldview of Trump and his advisors, no evidence is ever needed to equate all terrorism with a Muslim war against Christians. On the other hand, no crime committed in service of or inspired by Christian fundamentalism is terrorism.

On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roofa publicly declared Nazi-loving, Confederate-flag-waving, virulent white supremacistslaughtered nine Black people engaged in Bible study in a Charleston, South Carolina house of worship. The earliest news accounts reported that Roof told victims, I have to do it.... You rape our women and youre taking over our country and you have to go.

Trumps response: The tragedy in S.C. is incomprehensible. My deepest condolences to all.

Incomprehensible??!? A white terrorist had come into a Black church, murdered people and gave an ugly racist explanation to one of the few survivors.

Condolences to all? Who are the all? Why not condolences to the murdered victims and their families?

When a man who declared he was saving fetuses from being chopped up and sold, shot up a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado last fall, Trump was asked on Meet the Press whether heated rhetoric about Planned Parenthood contributed to the attack.

Trump insisted, We don't even know the purpose. I mean, he hasn't come out, to the best of my knowledge, with a statement as to why it happened to be at that location.

The interviewer followed up with, We have reporting that he [the murderer] was talking about baby parts and things like that from law enforcement officials during his interview.

Trump responded, Well, I will tell you there is a tremendous group of people that think it's terrible, all of the videos that they've seen with some of these people from Planned Parenthood talking about it like you're selling parts to a car. I mean, there are a lot of people that are very unhappy about that. Here Trump was referring to and giving credence to totally discredited claims that Planned Parenthood sells baby parts.

In other words, Trump refused to acknowledge, let alone condemn, the on-record anti-abortion motives of a terrorist who attacked a Planned Parenthood clinic. But he expressed sympathy and understanding for the mentality of the attacker and others like him.

So in the sick and twisted fascist mind of Donald Trump, when is terrorism not "terrorism"? When Christians do it in the service of a fascist agenda!!

For full coverage and the current issue of REVOLUTION click here
Guwahati : Opposition Congress and Hills State Demand Committee (HSDC) had urged the Assam governor intervention to hold the council poll of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) immediately.

A team of the two political parties on Thursday had met Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Rajbhawan in Guwahati.

The team comprised by former MP Dr Jayanta Rongpi, former MLA Bidyasing Engleng and Ashok Teron had asked the governor to take necessary action to hold the council poll before January 13 next.

The present BJP-led council of KAAC tenure will be ended on January 13, 2017.

The team also urged an intervention of the Assam governor to hold the council poll.

The last council poll was held on January 4, 2012.

Meanwhile, the BJP-led state government is all set to extend the present council tenure to April next.

A top source said that, the state government would not like to hold the council poll in next month.

'A powerful minister of the state government who also very closed to Tuliram Ronghang, the Chief Executive Member of KAAC has requested the central leaders of the saffron party to extend the present council tenure,' the source said.

The source further said that, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal would not like to extend the present council tenure under Tuliram Ronghang, but he agreed to do it under pressure.

'The all plan for extending the tenure had prepared recently during a crucial meeting held in Guwahati in presence of two top BJP leaders and a RSS leader,' the source said.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Kathmandu, Nepal: Suspended Chief Commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Lokman Singh Karki has shown high kindness towards the two youths who had assaulted and smeared his face black yesterday.

Issuing a statement on Friday, Karki has appealed to release the assailants stating the innocent cadres were mobilized by someone behind the curtains. I request the security agency to release the innocent cadres without taking any action, Karki has stated in the statement.

The arrested persons are in fact the innocent cadres of those who tried to implement somebodys design to demoralize me, Karki has stated in the statement.

Prabal Shahi and Chandra Bahadur Budha had assaulted suspended Karki and smeared him with soot at Supreme Court (SC) premises on Thursday.

The assailant duo has been identified as the cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN (Maoist)s student wing, All Nepal National Independent Student Union (Revolutionary).
MUSTANG: An overdue vulture census to determine the population of vultures in and around the world-famous Annapurna circuit trek route has started.

The Global Primate Network is undertaking the census as well as a research on vultures situation in the area straddling Muktinath VDC of Mustang and various places of Myagdi, Kaski, Lamjung and Manang.

Beginning in 2001, the vulture count was undertaken every six years in coordination with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), but it later stalled.

The Networks Programme Director, Dikpal Karmacharya, said the count would be held at the same locations where the earlier counts had taken place.

He added that the vulture population was expected to remain stable as compared to the past record.

The vultures are facing existential crisis around the world owing to human activities, and the past researches had shown that its population was on a gradual decline in the areas in and around Mustang.

The vulture population was on a decline from 2001 to 2006, but now after a long time we have found that it has increased, Karmacharya shared.

The research team has already carried out researches in Muktinath, Lopra, Marpha and Kobang areas.

The Networks Director added that researches would be held in Myagdi, Lamjung and Manang.

We will present the report in this regard to the ACAP by 2017, he said.
East African Community courts technology to address post harvest grain losses

With about one third of the food produced on the continent lost along the value chain, East African agricultural sector stakeholders want to harness technological innovations in order to reduce post-harvest losses.

James Shikwati, the chief executive officer of the Inter-Region Economic Network, said the initiative would help improve produce handling, cut waste, and ensure food safety and security. Such innovations will make it easy to improve post-harvest management of perishable foodstuffs, livestock and fish products, as well as non-perishable food commodities, including grains, and cereals, he said.

Shikwati was speaking during the launch of the East Africa Postharvest Technology Challenge 2017. The competition seeks to identify 10 scalable innovations and technologies that address challenges in postharvest management of perishable commodities, livestock and fish products, and non-perishable produce, including grains, cereals, and pulses from the East Africa Community (EAC).

Shikwati said the challenge is part of an upcoming All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition scheduled for March 28-31, 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya. The event to be held under the theme, Reducing Food Losses and Waste: Sustainable Solutions for Africa, is expected to attract over 400 participants from across East Africa, including Rwanda.

Young innovators from Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi can participate in the contest whose three top contestants pocket $30,000 in seed funding, Shikwati told The New Times on Tuesday. We are delighted to host this exciting new challenge and would like to invite all post-harvest technology innovators from the region to participate in this game-changing competition, he said. The competition will help identify a range of technologies that have the potential to help the continent confront and counter the huge challenges in post-harvest management.

About 30 per cent of the food produced in Africa is lost along the supply chain. Therefore, through such competitions we can get solutions that will help us reduce the losses, Lillian Uwintwali, the chief executive officer of M-Ahwiii Ltd and an IT consultant in Kigali, said. Uwintwali said over 1.3 billion tonnes of the total food produced globally is lost. This accounts for almost 15 per cent lost income for over 470 million actors across the agriculture value chain, including smallholder farmers, retailers and processors.

www.irenkenya.com
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Seguin, TX (78155)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the evening giving way to a few showers after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Partly cloudy skies during the evening giving way to a few showers after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Do cities in California have the right to adopt ordinances for aesthetic reasons? The answer to that question regarding the definition of public use will be decided by the state Supreme Court, who agreed unanimously yesterday according to the Chronicle that they would hear a case brought against the city of San Francisco by T-Mobile West. That case concerns telephone companies putting wireless antennas on utility poles, but the larger question of the rights of California cities and also questions about the future of wireless service are also at play.

The First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco decided this September three to nothing in favor of the San Francisco ordinance in question, one regulating where antennas can be installed. "San Francisco is widely recognized to be one of the worlds most beautiful cities the Board of Supervisors wrote in passing that ordinance in 2011, and since then, telecom companies have needed to seek city permits before installing large antennas and other equipment. The ordinance just applies to companies like T-Mobile West, who brought suit, and not to utilities like PG&E or video providers including Comcast.

In 2014, T-Mobile West brought the case challenging the ordinance: California law, their lawyers argued, allows telecoms to put up any and all roadside equipment provided it doesn't incommode the public use of roads. But Justice Bruiniers of the First District Court ruled that "incommode" didn't just pertain to blocking physical access to cars, bikes, pedestrians, etc. Incommode, he wrote, had a more expansive definition. "Public use of the right of way is not limited to travel," the justice wrote.

But the stakes for T-Mobile and other companies is high according to Bloomberg BNA, as it would "have a major impact on the roll-out of 5G networks." Those 5G networks are critical for the infrastructure of the "internet of things," in which devices are interconnected, and a robust internet of things could also benefit cities, with improved "smart city" transit solutions, for example.

But as one wireless telecom attorney and engineer, Jonathan L. Kramer explained to Bloomberg, there's a trade off  to function, 5G networks need their wireless equipment to be very close in proximity to their end users. "If you're a business or a residence user, that means the cell sites are going to be in the public right of way, Kramer said. Therefore, Access to the public right of way is the absolute Holy Grail' for 5G and beyond, because distance matters. Reducing distance matters even more, he said. The case is T-Mobile West vs. San Francisco, S238001.
Police are seeking two unkind teens following a morning attack on a man in the Mission.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, a 41-year-old man was walking near 24th and Bryant Streets at 9:25 a.m. Thursday when the crime occurred.

Police say that the victim was approached by two teens  one, around 18 years of age, the other around 16. The duo demanded the older man's money, according to the SFPD. When the victim stated that "he has no money," the pair assaulted the man, sending him stumbling to the ground.

The miscreants then fled on foot, police say.

The victim was injured significantly enough by the fall that he was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, police say., noting that his injuries aren't considered life-threatening. The suspects remain at large, according to the SFPD, and haven't been seen since.
Sundance Kabuki Theater and its pleasant moviegoing experience  aided by the beer, wine, and cocktails available at certain of its screens  is potentially due for changes as the owner of the Sundance mini-chain, the larger group Carmike Cinemas, is snapped up by an even bigger fish, the movie house giant AMC, whose massive multiplex on Van Ness Avenue isn't too far from Japantown and the Kabuki.

Deadline reported this week that AMC had agreed to the Justice Department's terms in order to approve its purchase of Carmike, the nation's fourth largest movie chain. Carmike, in turn, had purchased Sundance Cinemas in 2015, as Deadline reported at the time. The Sundance Cinemas brand, part of Robert Redford's Sundance Group, has 37 screens at five theaters: Those are in West Hollywood, Houston, Seattle, Madison, and here in San Francisco.

At the time of Carmike's purchase of Sundance, Carmike's CEO said that Sundance has been enormously successful in creating a compelling consumer experience," and any changes made to theaters like the Kabuki between then and now have been lost on this moviegoer. The Carmike CEO said he liked the limited geographic overlap" with his company's existing theaters and praised Sundance's film choices, tastes that favor independent and foreign movies along with more standard Hollywood tentpole features.

In fact, rather than diminishing Sundance's brand, Variety reports that Carmike upped the ante in terms of marketing, refurbishing the smaller chain's branding and website. We really wanted to revitalize the unique brand that is Sundance Cinemas through this project, and saw it as an opportunity to leverage founder Robert Redfords vision, Carmike's CMO told Variety.

Sundance will inevitably face more geographic overlap under AMC ownership  see the aforementioned proximity of AMC Van Ness to Japantown  which has the Chronicle wondering what changes may be in store. The deal's last step is a pro forma regulatory approval by the US District Court in the District of Columbia. After that goes through, "Almost nothing will change immediately," AMC has assured its audience, and, over time, it will "combine the best of Carmike Cinemas with the best of AMC Theatres."

Where Sundance fits into that remains to be seen. As with Carmike's website, a banner on Sundance's site welcomes the theaters "to the AMC family." As it pertains to Kabuki, it might more accurately read "Welcome back." In 2005, the AMC divested itself of the Kabuki theater under a settlement in order to merge with the chain Loews. Under the terms of that agreement, they had to sell off the Kabuki.

At the time, state Attorney General Bill Lockyer said something that remains true today, particularly when considering AMC's purchase of Carmike: "Consumers, especially those with families, have been forced to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets to go to the movies, Lockyer said. By reducing competition, the merger threatened to worsen that problem by hitting consumers with a double whammy: paying higher tickets to watch movies in poorly-maintained theaters."

Hence the move to force AMC to shrug off the Kabuki in the first place: "The divestiture we sought and won will help prevent those problems for movie-goers in San Francisco, the California community most affected by the merger. Back, I suppose, to square 1.

Related: Video: Projectionists Keep On Rolling At The Roxie
PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) Mark Zuckerberg has enlisted the help of Morgan Freeman and taken a shot at Nickelback while unveiling his new artificial intelligence assistant.

The Facebook founder and CEO showed off "Jarvis" with a post on the project and videos on his Facebook page.

The voice interactive assistant takes its name from a similar AI device in the "Iron Man" films. Freeman provides its voice.

Zuckerberg can be seen in the videos using Jarvis to control lights, the thermostat and even make toast. It also plays music, but when asked by Zuckerberg to play some good songs by the much derided Canadian band, Nickelback, Jarvis replies: "There are no good Nickelback songs."

The videos feature his wife Priscilla Chan and their toddler daughter, Max.

Zuckerberg calls the videos "a fun summary."
BALTIMORE  The 4-month-old on the operating table has a shocking birth defect, nearly half his heart too small or even missing. To save him, surgeons will have to totally reroute how his blood flows, a drastic treatment that doesn't always work.

So this time they are going a step further. In a bold experiment, doctors injected donated stem cells directly into the healthy side of Josue Salinas Salgado's little heart, aiming to boost its pumping power as it compensates for what's missing.

It's one of the first attempts in the U.S. to test if stem cells that seem to help heart attack survivors repair cardiac muscle might help these tiniest heart patients, too.

"We think the young heart is able to be more responsive," said Dr. Sunjay Kaushal, chief of pediatric cardiac surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who is leading the study in partnership with University of Miami researchers.

Kaushal bent over the baby's right ventricle, the part of the heart that will take over for the abnormal left side. The surgeon had repaired as much as possible for now. Next he measured where to place eight shots of precious stem cells.

Then the bustling operating room went silent as Kaushal helped fellow surgeon Dr. Si M. Pham guide tiny needles into the ventricle's muscle.

"We're not saying we're going to cure it," Kaushal said of the birth defect, called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. But, "my whole quest is to see if we can make these little kids do better."

Josue's parents knew there was no guarantee the experimental injections would make a difference. But their son had been hospitalized since birth and needed open-heart surgery anyway for a chance to go home. Teary-eyed, they clasped hands and prayed over Josue's crib moments before nurses wheeled him to the operating room.

"We are marching ahead with God," said Josue's father, Hidelberto Salinas Ramos, speaking in Spanish through a hospital interpreter.

Cardiac birth defects

Nearly 1,000 babies are born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in the U.S. each year. It's the most complex cardiac birth defect.

Josue is missing his left ventricle, the main pumping chamber that pushes oxygen-rich blood to the body. Other key structures on his heart's left side are too small or malformed to work.

Always lethal until a few decades ago, this defect now is treated with three open-heart surgeries performed between birth and age 3. Doctors route blood around the abnormal left heart and they convert the right ventricle  which normally would shuttle oxygen-poor blood to the lungs  into the main pumping chamber.

Today, about 65 percent survive at least five years, and many reach adulthood, said Dr. Kristin Burns, a pediatric cardiologist at the National Institutes of Health.

But too many children still die or require a heart transplant because the right ventricle wears out under its increased workload.

That's why doctors are conducting this early-stage study of whether stems cells might help that ventricle work better.

"This is very different than a surgical approach or giving a medicine just to treat the symptoms. This is trying to treat the underlying problem," said Burns, of NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

_____

"I know you're really nervous," Kaushal told Josue's father, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Everything is going to be fine."

Experimental treatment

Just 4 months old, Josue was undergoing his second open-heart surgery. The first operation, a day after his birth, was a temporary fix to keep his heart pumping and create an aorta, the main artery leading to the body, big enough for blood to flow.

While he babbled happily at his family and nurses, Josue never got strong enough to be discharged to his Edgewater, Maryland, home. This time, Kaushal would take pressure off Josue's right ventricle  and inject those stem cells.

Even in adults, stem cell regeneration is highly experimental. But small studies involving heart attack survivors and older adults with heart failure have found what Dr. Denis Buxton, a stem cell specialist at NIH's heart institute, calls a modest benefit in how well their hearts pump blood.

For testing in babies, Kaushal turned to Dr. Joshua Hare at the University of Miami's Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, who researches a specific type of stem cell donated from the bone marrow of healthy adults.

Hare's institute freezes these so-called mesenchymal stem cells, which have a long safety record in adult studies, and is providing them free for the baby study.

Initially, Kaushal's team tested piglets, whose hearts are similar to humans. When the right ventricle was damaged, they found stem cell injections preserved the piglets' heart tissue. Apparently the cells spurred some of the heart's existing repair mechanisms.

Back in the Baltimore operating room, University of Miami researchers helped Kaushal's nurses thaw the frozen stem cells and prepare injections. A few feet away, Kaushal was moving a large vein so it will drain deoxygenated blood from the top of Josue's body straight to his lungs without having to enter that overworked right ventricle. (When he's 3, Josue will need a final operation to similarly reroute blood returning from his lower body.)

Then, just before his chest was stitched back up, Josue became the second baby with this defect to receive the experimental bone marrow stem cells.

It's an early-stage study that will compare 30 babies, half given stem cells, to see if the strategy is safe and shows any difference over surgery alone. If so, it could open stem cell research for other pediatric heart problems.

Other types of stem cells also are being explored for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Mayo Clinic researchers have tested stem cells taken from affected babies' umbilical cord blood. Kaushal also plans to try stem cells from affected newborns' own heart tissue, something researchers in Japan are pursuing.

It will take several years to know if stem cell experiments work. But, like many babies after their second surgery for the heart defect, Josue bounced back  and a week later, finally got to go home.
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NEW YORK  Dick Latessa, a veteran Broadway actor who was in the original productions of "Follies," ''Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "The Will Rogers Follies" and who won a Tony Award playing Harvey Fierstein's onstage husband in the original cast of "Hairspray," died Monday, Fierstein said. He was 87.

"This was a man who defined pro, with the timing of a Swiss watch and a voice, a smile and sweet soul that made you feel special just to know him," Fierstein wrote of his former co-star on Facebook. No other details on the death were immediately available.

Latessa, born in Cleveland, played Herr Schultz in the 1999 revival of "Cabaret," and Dr. Dreyfuss in the 2010 revival of "Promises, Promises." Other credits on Broadway included "Broadway Bound," ''Awake and Sing!" and the 1994 revival of "Damn Yankees." He was last on Broadway in "The Lyons" in 2012.

He won his best supporting actor Tony in 2003 as the good-hearted dad in "Hairspray," singing "You're Timeless To Me" with Fierstein. When he won the Tony, he said: "Being up here is wonderful but the trip here was the best of all."

His film roles included parts in "The Substance of Fire," ''Stigmata" and "Alfie" with Jude Law. On TV, he made appearances on "Six Degrees," ''The Black Donnellys," ''The Good Wife" and "Brotherhood."

Tributes came from all over Broadway. Bernadette Peters said Latessa was "sweet extraordinarily talented" and "he shall be deeply missed." Michael McKean, who replaced Fierstein as Edna Turnblad, tweeted: "Dick Latessa was my man. He is irreplaceable."

Latessa's old role opposite the cross-dressing Fierstein in NBC's "Hairspray: Live!" was taken by Martin Short in the recent telecast, but creators honored him with a store sign  "Crazy Dickie's."

"Oh, Dick, there was only one you and I'll be forever grateful that I got you all to myself for nearly a thousand performances," wrote Fierstein.
TORONTO  A movie has a way of sitting up straight whenever Sigourney Weaver is in it. Whether the part is small or large, she reliably jolts any film alive with her intelligence and commanding presence. She usually means business.

That, of course, has been apparent since her breakthrough role as Ellen Ripley in "Alien." But it's no less true of Weaver at 67. She has an almost queen-like status on today's movie landscape, particularly in science-fiction.

She has defined one mega franchise ("Alien," with one more on the way) and been the MVP of another ("Avatar," with four sequels coming). Just her voice is enough to lend sci-fi credibility, whether as the ship's voice in "WALL-E" or as the all-powerful Director in "The Cabin in the Woods."

Weaver has been particularly ubiquitous in 2016, gracing the year's top box-office hit, "Finding Dory," with its best gag (her aquatic center greeting), and popping in to reprise her original role in the contentious "Ghostbusters" reboot. She was even glimpsed in Ron Howard's "The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years" as a young, rabid Beatlemaniac.

But she ends the year with "A Monster Calls," a smaller film that uses fantasy to plumb deeper emotional depths. Directed by J.A. Bayona (who's helming the next "Jurassic Park" film), the adaptation of Patrick Ness' novel is about a boy coping with his mother's terminal illness. Aside from approaching grief with uncommon seriousness, the film flips some genre tropes, including Weaver's grandmother character.

The actress (who hasn't lost a bit of her glamour) recently reflected on "A Monster Calls," her re-entry to Pandora and her legacy of strong female protagonists.

AP: Your father, Sylvester 'Pat' Weaver was president of NBC and created the "Tonight Show." Was it like you grew up in show business?

Weaver: At the time, I thought everyone's father ran a network. I thought everyone got to go on the set of "Peter Pan" and meet Mary Martin. I always used to think I was going to go to school and then come home and be a different girl and go to a different house. It took me a while to realize I was stuck with me. Maybe that's the early awareness of an actor that we're all changeable. I remember thinking, "Gosh, I'm so amazed I'm in this body for so long."

AP: You have such an impact on a film, regardless of how large your part is.

Weaver: I really love being part of a good story. I don't need to be the center of the story. That's why I really loved "A Monster Calls" because the grandmother was unlike anyone I've played before  not completely unlike my mother, who was British. It's a movie I hope families go to together.

AP: Was your small role in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" your first film?

Weaver: Woody offered me a bigger part but I turned it down because I was in a play. I played a multiple schizophrenic who kept a hedgehog in her vagina and I wasn't going to give that part up.

AP: "Alien" was quite a follow-up.

Weaver: It didn't feel like a big movie to me. It felt like a very small, dark, strange movie and I could relate to that because I was used to doing very strange things off-Broadway. I thought: This is fine. This is like a workshop movie.

AP: Ripley was one of the first strong female protagonists in an action film. Is that a legacy you're proud of?

Weaver: I am. I've since read other scripts and I go, "Well that's kind of an interesting part but I'd rather play this guy." Because I always feel still, like in our world, there's a lot of testosterone in some of these movies where really legitimately a woman would be involved.

AP: Do you think that's changing?

Weaver: I think by the time your daughters are in the world, everything will be different.

AP: What did you think of the backlash to Paul Feig's "Ghostbusters"?

Weaver: I was very surprised by it. I enjoyed the movie. I love all those women. I think Feig is brilliant. I do think it has something to do with the misogyny Trump has unearthed. I thought it was very charming. Does it also make you remember how much you loved the first one? I think so, but not to the extent that I'm going to boycott it. We're sitting at the table. You've got to make room for us. We're not going to go away.

AP: Ang Lee's "Ice Storm" must be a film you're particularly proud of.

Weaver: I was discussing a character I might play with someone and they said, "This woman's cold." I said I find that a nonsensical adjective for a woman. I'm sure you could describe Janey in "Ice Storm" as cold but she wasn't cold. She was so disconnected from her life and bored by it.

AP: You're soon to head into one mammoth "Avatar" production.

Weaver: The scripts for "Avatar" are absolutely incredible. I have committed to a very interesting movie about a woman ("Second Saturn") that I hope to do in May. It's like: This is my wonderful meal before I go into Pandora.
NEW YORK  Two of Matt Lauer's former "Today" show co-hosts  Katie Couric and Meredith Vieira  are returning to the show for a week each in January with Savannah Guthrie on maternity leave.

Couric, who was "Today" host from 1989 to 2006, has returned for special occasions but this will be the first time in the anchor's role. In 2012, she spent a week as a fill-in co-host on the NBC show's bitter rival, ABC's "Good Morning America."

Vieira worked alongside Lauer from 2006 to 2011.

"It's going to be fun," said Lauer on Thursday, describing it as a "walk down memory lane." He will mark his 20th year as host of the morning show in 2017.

Couric will host on the week of Jan. 2, Vieira the week after, NBC said.

Guthrie gave birth to a boy, Charles Max Feldman, on Dec. 8. She and her husband, Mike Feldman, already have a two-year-old daughter, Vale.

The high-profile returns come at a key time in the network morning show competition. After several years of dominance by "Good Morning America," the two shows are now running neck-and-neck in viewership, with "Today" doing better among the valuable younger audience. "CBS This Morning" has also been doing well in the ratings.

There's one walk down memory lane Lauer apparently won't be taking. While celebrating the returns of Couric and Vieira on Thursday, "Today" said nothing about Ann Curry. Her co-hosting stint with Lauer in 2011-12 ended disastrously, sending "Today" into a tailspin.

Although Lauer received some heavy criticism during the presidential campaign for his questioning of Donald Trump at a forum, NBC considers him a valuable player. He recently signed a new contract that will keep him at "Today" into at least 2018.
Blood drives

Tyson-Dakota City Blood Drive, 11:30-3:30 p.m. Friday at Tyson Foods, Highway 35.

Emerson Community Blood Drive, 2-6 p.m. Monday at Emerson Fire Hall, 205 Main St.

Screenings

Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary.

Programs/Self-Help Groups

Al-Anon Information Center, call 712-255-6724.

Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 712-255-6724.

Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 712-252-1333.

Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons.

Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180.

Co-Dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room.

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.

Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512.

Eating disorder coalition awareness event, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Boy's and Girl's home and family services, 2101 Court St. Contact Lisa 712-251-0570 or Michele 712-898-2351.

Clinics

Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005.

Information

Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300.

Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa.

Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991.

Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733.

Overeaters Anonymous, 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees.

St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906.

Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715.

The Link-Recovery and Freedom, 1603 Glen Ellen Road; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432.

Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623.

Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10-minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410.

Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public.

Support Groups

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935.

Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Childcare provided. 712-490-3343. All welcome.

PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116.

Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675.

GriefShare, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.

HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965.

Hospice of Siouxland, seeking volunteers. For more information, call 712-233-4144 and ask for a volunteer coordinator.

La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998.

Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441.

Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260.

Tri-State Sober Project, 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City.

Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fridays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050.

Divorce Care, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.

NAMI Siouxland, (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group meets 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month at Friendship House, 1101 Court St. For individuals and family members dealing with mental illness. 712-255-4209.

New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624.

Orphan Sunday, 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday at Sunnybrook Community Church loft, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive.

Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213.

Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129.

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential.

Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information.

Single and Parenting, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.

Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December.

Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939.

Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927.

Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766.

Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151.

Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315.

Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453.

Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call Sally Reinert at 402-987-3516.

Sojourners, support group for families of persons with life-threatening illness, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Room 416. For more information, call Marjorie Jarvill at 402-241-8637.

South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133.

Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 712-255-1065.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS.

Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686.

Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential.

Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders.

Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page.

A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319.

Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St.

Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursdays at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church; 7 p.m. Sundays, Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.. 712-277-2901.

Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387.

After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370.

After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426.

Alzheimer's Association, Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802.

Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319.

Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260.

Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce St. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900.
Donald Trump's Inaugural weekend will include an interfaith prayer service at Washington's National Cathedral, a customary event but complicated this year by anger over the president-elect's rhetoric on Muslims, immigrants and others.

The service was announced this week by the presidential inaugural committee, which provided no details on the ceremony or participants. A similar 2013 event for President Barack Obama's second-term Inaugural included about two dozen religious leaders, including three Muslims, along with representatives of Judaism, evangelical Christianity, mainline Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity and Sikhism.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington, has been helping plan the Jan. 21 service and will participate, said his spokeswoman, Chieko Noguchi. She said the organizing "is still in its early stages."

Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who oversees the cathedral, declined an interview request. She released a brief statement saying the service "is a moment for our next president to pause and contemplate the incredible responsibility he has been entrusted with and to listen as the faith community offers prayers for the office of the president."

In an interview Tuesday on NPR's "The Diane Rehm Show," Budde said "all faiths will be represented at his (Trump's) request and we will pray for the good of our nation."

The cathedral, part of the Episcopal Church, a liberal Protestant group, has hosted presidential funerals and national prayers of mourning, including a ceremony with evangelist Billy Graham three days after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The cathedral also has been deeply involved in interfaith outreach, including hosting Friday communal prayer for Muslims two years ago  a first for the worship space.

The cathedral staff and other religious leaders will work with the inaugural committee on the event, but the committee "can't dictate everything about it because it is, in fact, an Episcopal cathedral, so they have to negotiate" over who is invited and what they say during the ceremony, according to Charles Haynes of the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum Institute in Washington.

The cathedral service will be held on a Saturday morning, during the Jewish Sabbath, when observant Jews are forbidden to drive or use electricity, among other restrictions, potentially complicating efforts to find a rabbi to participate in the service. Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared are Orthodox Jews and would face the same Shabbat limits. The inaugural is constitutionally mandated to be held on Jan. 20, and the National Cathedral service is usually held the next day.

Nathan Diament, head of the public policy arm of the Orthodox Union, the main communal association for Orthodox Judaism, said the cathedral service "should not be looked at in a partisan way."

"It's meant to be a unifying event," Diament said. "It's meant to focus on praying for the success, not only of the president but also his entire administration and the new Congress, which is something everyone should hope for."
SIOUX CITY | Susan Peete knows how dangerous a fall can be.

The 72-year-old Sioux City woman once suffered a broken nose, split lip and an injured tooth when she lost her balance.

Standing behind a strip of tape stuck to the floor in a hallway at the Siouxland Center for Active Generations on a Wednesday morning, the 72-year-old Sioux City woman felt a little uneasy. She was about to move up a yellow wooden ramp as fast as she could without using the blue handrails.

Peete hustled, looking down at her feet as she stepped. Switch-mats on the first step and the third step of the ramp start and stop the clock.

When she reached the top of the ramp, Peete turned around and began her descent.

"I felt like I was going on a roller coaster," she said chuckling afterward.

The exercise is part of a research study being conducted by Andrew Shim, director of kinesiology & human performance at Briar Cliff University, along with his students. Shim developed the prototype for the ramp, which he hopes will help health care providers better gauge fall risk in healthy senior citizens.

Shim came up with the concept for the study 10 years earlier at a motor behavior conference on the East Coast. He told a group running a fall prevention program that he thought strength and power might be an important variable in preventing falls. At the time, Shim said no studies had been conducted to determine if lower body power might be a direct indicator of balance.

"Three of the professors all laughed at me and said that was the most ridiculous thing that they had ever heard," said Shim, who wasn't deterred by their comments. "Getting out of a chair, getting off of a toilet is power. You want to do that quickly in a one-repetition way."

Shim recalled the Margaria-Kalamen stair climbing test, which, when conducted in the mid 1960s, timed male athletes to see how long it took them to reach a certain vertical distance. He thought, "Why can't we do that for seniors?" He devised a way to modify the test so he could record an older person's lower body power in a safe manner.

"This is what I came up with," Shim said motioning to the ramp. "We've got stairs, but it's in a ramp device where it makes it a lot easier for seniors to go vertical versus them clumsying up nine steps or 12 steps of stair rail and getting hurt that way."

Shim first used college students to test the ramp's reliability. He also compared it against the Margaria-Kalamen stair climbing test to establish validity. The result he said was a "very, very high" correlation.

Shim said it has taken him a number of years to find a group of independent seniors for the study. He's not looking for a senior Olympic team, but for participants who don't have any disabilities that would prevent them from charging up the ramp, and who don't take certain medications that can cause dizziness.

Shim was pleased to see more than 20 participants turn out for the study at the Siouxland Center for Active Generations. He previously tried to conduct the study in Sioux Falls, but he said he didn't have enough people. He will take participants' lower body power scores and compare them to their balance scores to see if a relationship exists between the two components.

Brady Harr, a first-year student in Briar Cliff's kinesiology & human performance graduate degree program, worked with the center to set up the study and recruit volunteers. He said he was happy to see the study finally underway.

"I'm really hoping that the results we're getting show the relationship that we're looking for -- that inverse relationship that if you have more power output you have better balance scores," said Harr, of Spearfish, South Dakota.

Kelsey Kanaby, a sophomore kinesiology major from Sergeant Bluff, said she was surprised at the strength of some of the seniors. After measuring their lower leg power, Shim and his team will be able to determine their risk of falling in the near future.

"The amount of power some of these elderly people have is crazy," Kanaby said, shortly after watching a man sprint up and down the ramp.

William Utter, of Sioux City, remarked that he's "not a flamingo" when it comes to balance, but the 90-year-old said he didn't have any problems getting up and down the ramp. He credits his participation in Wii bowling and dancing at the center for helping him stay on his feet.

Utter's dance partner, Marge Anderson, 87, of Sioux City, believes line dancing prevents falls in older adults. Anderson, who taught line dancing in Le Mars, Iowa, for 25 years, said she hasn't suffered any serious falls, but she said she thinks participating in Shim's study could benefit her.

"I've had trouble balancing. I thought it would help me with better balancing," she said.

In the future, Shim envisions his ramp being used in hospitals, physical therapy centers, senior centers and nursing homes.

"We're trying to improve quality of life," he said. "If we can increase their power, they're able to become more independent by getting out of a chair without help or getting off of a toilet without hitting a call button, then this device is going to be helpful for society."
CHICAGO  What if your doctor's gender could influence your chance of surviving a visit to the hospital?

A big study of older patients hospitalized for common illnesses raises that provocative possibility  and also lots of questions. Patients who got most of their care from women doctors were more likely to leave the hospital alive than those treated by men.

The differences were small  about 11 percent of patients treated mostly by women died within 30 days of entering the hospital, versus 11.5 percent of those treated by men.

But the all-male research team estimated that there would be about 32,000 fewer deaths each year in the U.S. if male physicians performed at the same level as their female peers.

The study didn't probe why there might be these differences in survival. And Dr. Ashish Jha, the lead author, said the study doesn't mean patients should avoid him and all other male physicians.

But he said male doctors could take a cue from women doctors' tendencies that might contribute to better care. According to other research, women doctors are more likely than men to follow treatment guidelines, provide preventive care more often and communicate more with patients.

Jha said that it was important to better understand the reasons behind the differences, and to share that information with all physicians to improve care.

Jha said he has not spoken to his own patients about the study  yet.

"As a male physician, I have a stake in this," Jha said.

The study was published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The researchers looked at data involving more than 1.5 million hospitalizations for Medicare patients aged 65 and older between January 2011 and December 2014. Patients' illnesses included pneumonia, heart failure, intestinal bleeding, urinary infections and lung disease.

All were treated by general internists in the hospital. The researchers compared results in patients who got most or all of their care from women internists with those who got most or all of their care from men.

Most patients survived and were sent home within a month of treatment. But in addition to better survival chances, those treated by women doctors were slightly less likely to be re-admitted to the hospital within that first month.

On average, women doctors were in charge of fewer patients and some of their patients weren't as sick as those of male doctors, but the researchers considered those factors and still found a link between doctors' gender and patients' survival differences.

Dr. Lisa Schwartz of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice said the study doesn't prove whether doctors' sex accounted for the results.

"To make a stronger case, you'd need information on doctors' practices in the study," she said. For example, did women physicians give patients with pneumonia antibiotics sooner than men physicians  treatment that could potentially improve survival chances, she said.

For example, did women doctors give patients with pneumonia antibiotics sooner  treatment that could potentially improve survival chances, she said.

Dartmouth policy analyst Dr. H. Gilbert Welch called the results "intriguing" but preliminary and "not something for patients to act on."
PRIMGHAR, Iowa -- Clean Line Energy Partners announced Thursday it is withdrawing its application to the Iowa Utilities Board to construct a transmission line across the state pending a court challenge to the project in Illinois.

The Houston-based Clean Line has been working for years to get approval for the Rock Island Clean Line project, a 500-mile line that would begin in Northwest Iowa's O'Brien County and deliver wind-generated electricity to Illinois and states in the eastern part of the U.S.

The line, which would deliver 3,500 megawatts of power, has drawn opposition from rural landowners and others. Backers said the project would lead to $7 billion in new wind farm investments, the creation of more than 5,000 construction jobs and in excess of 500 operational positions.

Nearly three years ago, Clean Line signed a $200 million deal with Sabre Industries to provide poles to support the direct current line. Sabre's plant in Sioux City's Southbridge Business Park had been targeted to manufacture an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 poles.

Clean Line has gone before regulators in Iowa and Illinois seeking permission to build the transmission line. And while the Illinois Commerce Commission granted permission in 2014, the case has been tied up in the courts. An Illinois appellate court reversed the commission in August, and last month the state's Supreme Court agreed to review the case.

Clean Line officials said Thursday that the timing of the Illinois court case and a schedule set out by the Iowa Utilities Board led to the withdrawal.

"Under the IUBs timeline, we would have been required in January to identify specific parcels for eminent domain application in several counties, and we did not wish to do that at this point," Clean Line Energy Vice President Hans Detweiler said in an email. "We prefer to get resolution of the Illinois approval first, and then revisit the Iowa process."

The Iowa board approved a procedural schedule in August that would have required all the parcels pegged for eminent domain to have been identified by May. That schedule was prompted by a state law signed last spring that would have required a decision in the case by May 27, 2018. The schedule contemplated a hearing on the application in January 2018.

A Clean Line filing with the utilities board Thursday said it did not expect the Illinois Supreme Court to issue a decision before next May. And it added that it would not be an "efficient utilization of resources" to go forward, including submitting documents related to eminent domain proceedings, until the case is decided.

Critics of the project hailed the decision on Thursday, but were nonetheless cautious. "I think that we have to be guardedly optimistic because weve been in this for three-plus years," said Carolyn Sheridan, president of the board of directors of the Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance.

Still, she called it "a very Merry Christmas for Iowans."

Opponents have worried that land would be condemned for the project, and they've worked to convince landowners not to sign leases for the line to run through their land. Sheridan said they have been successful in limiting the number of leases. Critics also have cast doubt on the economic benefits.

Clean Line, though, said even with the withdrawal Thursday, the need for such a transmission line remains.

"Projects backed by private investment like the Rock Island Clean Line address our country's continued demand for electric infrastructure," Detweiler said.

The company has said the Rock Island project will bring about a $7 billion investment in new wind farms and save millions in energy costs.

What happens from here appears to depend largely on what the Illinois Supreme Court does. Clean Line said it will make a determination about a new filing after the court makes its ruling.

The company's Iowa case was filed two years ago, but Detweiler said that much of that time has been taken up with procedural matters and a new filing does not mean it would take another two years to get to this point again. In a news release Thursday, the company said the Illinois case could be resolved as early as the middle of 2017.
ORANGE CITY, Iowa | A Hull, Iowa, man has pleaded not guilty to stabbing his roommate and also using a fake identity to secure employment.

Jose Estrada-Martinez, 42, entered his written plea Thursday in Sioux County District Court to charges of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, identity theft, obstruction, unlawful possession of a license or ID card and three counts of forgery.

According to court documents, Estrada-Martinez got into an argument with his roommate at their Hull residence on Dec. 4 and stabbed him in the arm with a knife-sharpening steel rod. During the investigation, authorities discovered that Estrada-Martinez had provided a false name and Minnesota identification card and had been working at B&M Concrete in Hull under another identity.

Estrada-Martinez had been arrested and prosecuted in Sioux County previously and had used a false identity at that time, court documents said.
SIOUX CITY | The LaunchPAD Children's Museum in downtown Sioux City is holding activities for kids to learn about cold weather animals Dec. 27-31.

According to a press release, guides with the museum will help kids learn more about animals who thrive in winter weather. The activities will be at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

There is also a story time at 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. on Friday to learn about how penguins take care of their eggs, the release said.

LaunchPAD, at 623 Pearl St., will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. Otherwise, the museum will have normal operational hours of 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information go to www.launchpadmuseum.com or call (712) 224-2542.
WINNEBAGO, Neb. | In separate cases, federal grand juries in Nebraska handed down indictments for theft and corruption charges against several former and current members of the tribal councils for the Winnebago and Omaha tribes.

The indictments against leaders of the two northeast Nebraska tribes is No. 7 on the Journal's Top 10 stories of 2016.

In July, a federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against nine former members of the Winnebago Tribal Council, after an FBI investigation determined the officials had given themselves large raises and bonuses totaling $327,500 from the tribe's WinnaVegas Casino Resort without approving them at council meetings.

Former tribal chairman John Blackhawk, 61, and former tribal Council members Darwin Snyder, 49, Thomas Snowball, Jr., 55, Louis Houghton, 69, Lawrence Payer, 70, Travis Mallory, 38, Charles Aldrich, 48, Morgan Earth, 70, and Ramona Wolfe, 76, were each charged with conspiracy, theft and misapplication of funds belonging to an Indian gaming establishment, and wire fraud.

Seven of the nine pleaded not guilty at a court hearing in August. No further court dates have been set.

In September, eight current and former Omaha Tribal Council members and a former employee were handed a 20-count indictment by a federal grand jury for improperly paying themselves bonuses with federal funds.

The current or former council members included Jessica Webster-Valentino, 46, secretary Jeff Miller, 52, Rodney Morris, 62, Mitchell Parker, 68, Doran Morris Jr., 45, Amen Sheridan, 55, Tillie Aldrich, 47 and Forrest Aldrich, 66. They and former tribal employee Barbara Freemont, 64, were charged with conspiracy, conversion and misapplication of funds from a program receiving federal funds and conversion and misapplication of a health care benefit program.

At the time, Webster-Valentino was the council treasurer, Miller was the council secretary and Morris was a council member.

The indictment said the nine defendants granted themselves almost $389,000 in incentive payments from federal Indian Health Service funds meant to provide health care to tribal members. State and federal authorities launched an investigation into the actions in June.

Six pleaded not guilty to the charges in October. No other trial dates have been set.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | The main response from South Sioux City officials at a Thursday meeting with residents displaced from their homes due to odor issues was, "I wish I could do more."

Mayor Rod Koch and Public Works Director Bob Livermore both said that, in front of dozens of residents affected by the gas odors, which city officials have tied to sewer-line infrastructure that ties in with Big Ox Energy's plant. Residents at the weekly meeting Thursday demanded answers on what is being done so that they can go back to their homes. They have been displaced since October.

Each affected household in the five-block area has different strengths of the odor that is associated with the harmful hydrogen sulfide gas that Big Ox pumped into sewer lines before they were forced to stop. A plug has since been placed to block the residential sewer line from the industrial one Big Ox was on, but the smell still remains.

At the meeting, Livermore announced that there will be a team of people to meet with each affected household to try to assess the different amounts of damages.

"Each of you has a little bit of different issue," Livermore said. "And one of the things that we need to do is to sit down and go through each individual issue with improvements to make the decisions on what needs to be done in the home."

Livermore said he is not sure on who will be at the individual meetings with residents but said they may include contractors and South Sioux City and Big Ox officials. The meetings will start next week.

The city has said that Big Ox will pay reimbursements to the displaced residents for meals, laundry, cleaning and incidental costs, as well as hotels, engineering costs, gas testing and sewer chemical costs. According to a financial report given to the Journal Monday, the total costs resulting from the gas problem have reached about $336,000.
SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City Transit bus driver has been found at fault in a Nov. 15 two-vehicle crash that put a Hinton, Iowa, man in the hospital with critical injuries.

According to an Iowa State Patrol report issued Friday morning, 39-year-old Jamie Pica, of Sioux City, has been cited for failure to obey a traffic control device and failure to wear a seat belt in connection with the accident, which occurred shortly before 6 a.m. Nov. 15 at the intersection of Lewis Boulevard and Outer Drive.

Chad Plante, 26, whose vehicle was struck by the transit bus at the intersection, sustained two broken legs and a brain injury in the wreck and was in a coma for several weeks.

Plante's wife, Rosanne, said Friday that Plante is now out of the coma and has been admitted to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Lincoln, Nebraska, to begin what could be a year to 18 months of recovery. She said Chad is undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy.

"We are building from the ground up," she said. "He is going to have to learn to do everything again."

According to the state patrol's report, Pica was driving a Sioux City Transit System bus northbound on Lewis Boulevard when she failed to yield the right-of-way to southbound traffic while turning left during a solid green light at the intersection with Outer Drive.

The bus, which had been stopped at the intersection for a red light, turned when the light turned green and collided with Plante's southbound 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe.

The transit bus went off the road to the southwest, crashing through a chain-link fence. Plante's vehicle was turned onto its side, and Plante had to be mechanically extricated from the vehicle. He was transported by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City. The transit bus was not carrying any passengers.

The Iowa State Patrol took over investigation of the crash the next day since the incident involved a city transit bus.

In the weeks following the crash, the Plantes received an outpouring of cards from friends, family and strangers offering support and prayer.

Rosanne said in recent weeks, Chad has resumed a normal sleep schedule and his legs are healing well. Rosanne said the family is hoping for a full recovery.

"He is making amazing progress," she said. "We have great hope, and we appreciate all the prayers and thoughts from everybody. This is a marathon, not a sprint."

As of the first week of December, Pica was still employed with the city, according to city attorney Nicole Dubois. The city attorney's office could not be reached for comment Friday.

Journal staff writer Bret Hayworth contributed to this story.
Christmas in Assyria

Assyrians celebrate Christmas in north Iraq, 2014 ( Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Once Assyria stretched from Cyprus to Iran and from the Caucasus to Egypt. Successive invasions and massacres have diminished both the land area of Assyria and the Assyrian population, but still there has been a continuous Assyrian presence in Iraq and Syria for over 2000 years. Before adopting Christianity, the ancient Assyrians worshipped a number of gods, including my namesake (Esther, as well as being the name of a Jewish heroine, is derived from Ishtar/Ashtoreth/Astarte, the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, war and the morning star). The Assyrians built temples to the goddess Ashtoreth at Nineveh (next to what is now the city of Mosul) and at Arbel (now the city of Irbil/Erbil) in present day Iraq.

The Assyrians became Christian in the first century AD, and the monasteries, churches and cathedrals they built from then onwards are part of the cultural heritage of Iraq and Syria, along with their pre-Christian temples and carvings. The Assyrian church bells have rung to celebrate Christmas each year, even when there has been little else to celebrate. Their recent history, as a minority ethnic and religious group in their homelands, has been one of persecution.The Assyrian and Armenian genocides of 1915-18 carried out by the Ottoman Turks (when hundreds of thousands of Assyrians died) were followed by the Simele massacre of Assyrians in Northern Iraq by Arabs and Kurds of the Iraqi Army in 1933 and the attempted obliteration of Assyrian identity by the Baath party in Iraq from 1963 onwards.From around 2003 there were increasing attacks by Islamic groups on Assyrian Christians, then in 2014 Islamic State started a brutal rampage across the Nineveh plain in Northern Iraq. The unarmed Assyrians were forced to flee from the cities of Qaraqosh and Mosul and the surrounding villages where Assyrians had lived for centuries. Those who had not managed to escape risked torture, abductions, attempted forced conversion and death (including by beheading or crucifixion). Other minority groups in Northern Iraq were also targeted by Islamic State.The fate of the Yazidis was particularly horrific -- men were killed, women and girls were imprisoned as sex slaves, and Yazidi boys were abducted and trained to become members of Islamic State (Cubs of the Caliphate). In neighboring Syria, the attacks by Islamic State on Assyrians and other Christians were severe enough to be declared genocidal by various governments around the world. As well as attempting to destroy the Assyrian population, Islamic State also tried to wipe out all traces of Christian and pre-Christian Assyria, destroying historic monasteries and churches in Syria and Iraq, as well as ancient sculptures and other artefacts. Assyrians and Yazidis have been pleading for the international community to establish a safe haven for them in their ancestral lands, so they can return to rebuild their shattered communities. UN Goodwill Ambassador, Nadia Murad Basee, a Yazidi who escaped from Islamic State slavery, recently made a statement to the European Union: 'We ask that the EU and all those concerned with the fate of Syria and Iraq establish a safe zone to protect the Yazidis, Christians and other vulnerable minorities in Sinjar and the Nineveh Plain,' adding 'If the world can't protect the Yazidis in our homeland, we ask Europe to give us a safe new home.'The last few Christmases, Assyrians have spent in displaced persons camps in Iraq, or refugee camps in surrounding countries. With the gradual expulsion of Islamic State from Assyrian villages around the city of Mosul, Assyrians have been returning to their devastated homes in the Nineveh Plain. For around 1,500 years, bells had rung from Assyrian churches at Christmas until the genocidal onslaught of Islamic State. Restoring the churches vandalized by Islamic State, and ringing the bells once again at Christmas will be a symbolic gesture of hope for the future. Christmas this year will still be more bitter than sweet for the Assyrians of Iraq and Syria with constant reminders of sorrow and loss, and the still-present threat from followers of extremist Islam. The United Nations and the international community have a responsibility to protect groups subjected to attempted genocide. They need either asylum or a safe haven in their homelands, with the protection of a secular state, a judicial system that upholds the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, representation of minority groups in government and United Nations peace-keepers to remain until there is no longer a threat from militant Islamic groups.
LE MARS, Iowa | A state trooper used the barrel of his rifle to poke a suspect in the shoulder blade to subdue him at the end of a police chase in rural Plymouth County 18 months ago, according to an open records report the Iowa State Patrol released Friday.

The Iowa State Patrol also released a dash cam video of the June 21, 2015 incident involving Shanne Arre, of Le Mars, who fled after police tried to pull him over for speeding.

In January 2016, the state patrol acknowledged trooper Jeremy Probasco injured Arre with his rifle after Arre showed "passive resistance." But the patrol withheld the video of the incident and also didn't detail how the weapon was used or what injury Arre suffered, saying doing so would jeopardize Arre's right to a fair trial.

With the resolution earlier this month of state charges against Arre, the state patrol released the "portion of the troopers dashcam video that shows the discovery of Arres crashed car and the search and apprehension of Arre is being released to provide additional information to supplement the immediate facts and circumstances that were previously released." The video and additional information was released as a result of a Freedom of Information Request filed by the Associated Press.

Just before midnight on June 21, 2015, Arre, then 28, failed to stop after a Plymouth County Sheriff's deputy tried to pull him over for speeding. The deputy followed in pursuit through southeastern Plymouth County, eventually joined by the state trooper and police officers from Kingsley and Remsen.

After driving down gravel roads and into farm fields, Arre crashed his vehicle into a fence and ditch. He then fled on foot. Officers found him hiding in tall grass, with the only light coming from patrol car lights and flashlights, so "the officers did not know if the suspect was armed," according to the report released Friday.

"Arre moved his hands so that they were hidden in the grass, and it appeared to the trooper that Arre was either going to push himself up off the ground and/or grab a weapon. The trooper did not have time to transition to a taser or asp baton. The trooper poked Arre once with the barrel of the rifle, into the soft tissue area of the shoulder blade, in order to gain control of Arre and prevent him from pushing up off the ground or grabbing a weapon," the report said.

After Arre was arrested, a knife was found in the grass.

The rifle barrel left a mark between Arre's shoulder blades and a scrape on the left side of his back. He was offered and refused treatment for the visible injuries, according to the report.

Arre was cited for eluding or attempting to elude, a felony charge, and second-offense operating while intoxicated, an aggravated misdemeanor. He later pleaded guilty to those charges.

After being released from the Plymouth County Jail, in September 2015, Arre was arrested in Woodbury County on two Class B felony controlled substance violations and a Class D felony, according to the report from the state patrol. Those charges were subsequently dismissed and Arre was indicted in U.S. District Court for Nebraska for the same or similar acts.

The federal court ordered Arre to reside at a residential treatment facility and undergo drug treatment. As a result, Arre was not available to appear in court on the state charges in Plymouth County. At different times, a warrant was issued for Arre for failure to appear on the state charges and on one occasion, his attorney needed additional time to locate Arre in the federal system, according to the state report.

In November, Arre pleaded guilty to federal charges and was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with the sentence to commence in January. On Dec. 6, 2016, he pleaded guilty in Plymouth County District Court to the charge of eluding as a Class D felony and received a five-year prison sentence to run concurrently with his federal prison sentence. He also pleaded guilty to the charge of OWI second offense, and was sentenced to 365 days in jail, with all but 7 days suspended.

The Iowa State Patrol's delay in releasing the dash cam video and more details about the unusual show of force by a trooper led the Iowa Freedom of Information Council in June to send a letter accusing the patrol of "not meeting the letter or the spirit" of the open records law.
The never-Trumpers are never going to surrender the myth that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the hacking of Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and the Democratic National Committee to defeat Clinton and elect Donald Trump.

Their investment in the myth is just too huge.

For Clinton and her campaign, it is the only way to explain how they booted away a presidential election even Trump thought he had lost in November. To the mainstream media, this is the smoking gun in their Acela Corridor conspiracy to delegitimize Trump's presidency.

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sees Russian hacking as a way to put a cloud over the administration before it begins. But it is the uber-hawks hereabouts who are after the really big game.

They seek to demonize Putin as the saboteur of democracy -- someone who corrupted an American presidential election to bring about victory for a "useful idiot" whom Clinton called Putin's "puppet."

If the War Party can convert this "fake story" into the real story of 2016, then they can scuttle any Trump effort to attain the rapprochement with Russia that Trump promised to try to achieve.

If they can stigmatize Trump as "Putin's president" and Putin as America's implacable enemy, then the Russophobes are back in business.

Nor is the War Party disguising its goal.

Over the weekend, Sen. John McCain called for a congressional select committee to investigate Russian hacking into the Clinton campaign. The purpose of the investigations, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, "is to put on President Trump's desk crippling sanctions against Russia."

"They need to pay a price," Graham chortled on Twitter.

"Crippling sanctions" would abort any modus vivendi, any deal with Russia, before Trump could negotiate one. Trump would have to refuse to impose them -- and face the firestorm to follow. The War Party is out to dynamite any detente with Russia before it begins.

Among the reasons Trump won is that he promised to end U.S. involvement in the costly, bloody and interminable wars in the Middle East the Bushites and President Barack Obama brought us -- and the neocons relish -- and to reach a new understanding with Russia and Putin.

But to some in Washington, beating up on Russia is a conditioned reflex dating to the Cold War. For others in the media and the front groups called think tanks, Russophobia is in their DNA.

Though Julian Assange says WikiLeaks did not get the emails from Russia, this has to be investigated. Did Russia hack the DNC's email system and John Podesta's email account? Did Putin direct that the emails be provided to WikiLeaks to disrupt democracy or defeat Clinton?

Clinton says Putin has had it in for her because he believes she was behind the anti-Putin demonstrations in Moscow in 2011.

But if there is to be an investigation of clandestine interference in the politics and elections of foreign nations, let's get it all out onto the table.

The CIA director and his deputies should be made to testify under oath, not only as to what they know about Russia's role in the WikiLeaks email dumps but also about who inside the agency is behind the leaks to The Washington Post designed to put a cloud over the Trump presidency before it begins.

Agents and operatives of the CIA should be subjected to lie detector tests to learn who is leaking to the anti-Trump press.

Before any congressional investigation, President-elect Trump should call in his new director of the CIA, Rep. Mike Pompeo, and tell him to run down and remove, for criminal misconduct, any CIA agents or operatives leaking secrets to discredit his election.

Putin, after all, is not an American. The CIA saboteurs of the Trump presidency are. Will the media investigate the leakers? Not likely, for they are the beneficiaries of the leaks and co-conspirators of the leakers.

The top officials of the CIA and Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy, should be called to testify under oath. Were they behind anti-Putin demonstrations during the Russian elections of 2011?

Did the CIA or NED have a role in the "color-coded" revolutions to dump over pro-Russian governments in Moscow's "near abroad"?

If Russia did intrude in our election, was it payback for our intrusions to bring about regime change in its neighborhood?

What role did the CIA, the NED and John McCain play in the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Ukraine in 2014? McCain was seen cheering on the crowds in Independence Square in Kiev.

Trump has promised a more hopeful foreign policy than that of the Republicans he denounced and is succeeding. No more wars where vital interests are not imperiled. No more U.S. troops arriving as first responders for freeloading allies.

The real saboteurs of his new foreign policy may not be inside the Ring Road in Moscow; rather, they may be inside the Beltway around D.C.

The real danger may be that a new Trump foreign policy could be hijacked or scuttled by anti-Trump Republicans, not only on Capitol Hill but inside the executive branch itself.
Jaxport CEO Eric Green said the $23.5 million grant marks a milestone in our initiatives to build the port of the future and move cargo in the most efficient and eco-friendly way possible.
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.
Flowserve Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, distributes, and services industrial flow management equipment in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Flowserve Pump Division (FPD) and Flow Control Division (FCD). The FPD segment offers custom and pre-configured pumps and pump systems, mechanical seals, auxiliary systems, replacement parts, upgrades, and related aftermarket services, including installation and commissioning services, seal systems spare parts, repairs, advanced diagnostics, re-rate and upgrade solutions, retrofit programs, and machining and asset management solutions, as well as manufactures a gas-lubricated mechanical seal for use in high-speed compressors for gas pipelines. The FCD segment provides engineered and industrial valve and automation solutions, including isolation and control valves, actuation, controls, and related equipment, as well as equipment maintenance services for flow control systems, including advanced diagnostics, repair, installation, commissioning, retrofit programs, and field machining capabilities. This segment's products are used to control, direct, and manage the flow of liquids, gases, and fluids. The company primarily serves oil and gas, chemical and pharmaceuticals, power generation, and water management markets, as well as general industries, including mining and ore processing, pulp and paper, food and beverage, and other smaller applications. The company distributes its products through direct sales, distributors, and sales representatives. Flowserve Corporation was incorporated in 1912 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of Ecolab: AO Ecolab, Abednego Environmental Services, Abednego Environmental Services LLC, Abednego Mexico Holdings LLC, Abednego de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Alcide Corp., Anios America S.A., Anios Diffusion SAS, Anios Manufacturing SAS, Aqua Environmental Limited, Bioquell, Bioquell Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Bioquell Global Logistics (Ireland) Ltd., Bioquell Holding SAS, Bioquell Inc., Bioquell Limited, Bioquell SAS, Bioquell Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd., Bioquell Technology Canada Ltd., Bioquell UK Limited, Bro-Tech Limited, CALGON LLC, CID LINES NV, CID Lines, CID Lines Beijing Animal Hygiene Co Ltd., CID Lines France Sarl, CID Lines Iberica SL, CID Lines LLC, CID Lines Mexico S.A. DE C.V., CID Lines R&D NV, CID Lines Sp. z o. o., CORPAK MedSystems, Cascade Water Services, Champion Technologies, Chamtech L.L.C., Chemlawn, Chemstar Corporation, Cirlam BVBA, Copal Holding NV, Copal Invest NV, Cymru Holdings Limited, DERYPOL SA, DMD, E&M Bio-Chemicals LLC, ECOLAB NL 10 B.V., ECOLAB PEST FRANCE SAS, EPN Water Col Ltd., Ecolab (Antigua) Ltd., Ecolab (Aruba) N.V., Ecolab (Barbados) Limited, Ecolab (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Ecolab (Fiji) Pty Limited, Ecolab (GZ) Chemicals Limited, Ecolab (Guam) LLC, Ecolab (Proprietary) Limited, Ecolab (Schweiz) GmbH, Ecolab (St. Lucia) Limited, Ecolab (Taicang) Technology Co. Ltd., Ecolab (Trinidad and Tobago) Unlimited, Ecolab (U.K.) Holdings Limited, Ecolab A.E.B.E., Ecolab AB, Ecolab AU2 Pty Ltd, Ecolab Acquisition LLC, Ecolab ApS, Ecolab Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Ecolab B.V., Ecolab Bahrain S.P.C., Ecolab CDN 2 Co., Ecolab CDN 4 ULC, Ecolab CH 1 GmbH, Ecolab CH 2 GmbH, Ecolab CH 3 GmbH in Liquidation, Ecolab CH 6 GmbH, Ecolab Chemicals Limited, Ecolab Co. Compagnie Ecolab, Ecolab Colombia S. A., Ecolab DE 1 GmbH, Ecolab Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Digital Center Private Limited, Ecolab EOOD, Ecolab East Africa (Kenya) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Tanzania) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Uganda) Limited, Ecolab Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Ecolab Engineering GmbH, Ecolab Europe GmbH, Ecolab Export GmbH, Ecolab FR 1 SAS, Ecolab FR 4 SAS, Ecolab Finance Company Designated Activity Company, Ecolab Food Safety & Hygiene Solutions Private Limited, Ecolab G.K., Ecolab Global Business Services LLC, Ecolab GmbH, Ecolab Gulf FZE, Ecolab HK 1 Limited, Ecolab HK 2 Limited, Ecolab Hispano-Portuguesa S.L., Ecolab Holding Italy S.r.l., Ecolab Holdings (Europe) LLC, Ecolab Holdings Inc., Ecolab Holdings Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Ecolab Hygiene Kft., Ecolab Hygiene d.o.o., Ecolab International SDN BHD, Ecolab Israel Holdings LLC, Ecolab JVZ Limited, Ecolab Korea Ltd., Ecolab LLC, Ecolab LUX & Co Holdings S.C.A., Ecolab LUX 1 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 2 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 4 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 7 Sarl, Ecolab LUX Sarl, Ecolab Limited, Ecolab Ltd., Ecolab Lux 10 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 12 SCA, Ecolab Lux 13 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 14 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 15 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 16 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 17 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 9 Sarl, Ecolab Lux Partner LLC, Ecolab MT Holdings LLC, Ecolab MT Limited, Ecolab Malta 1 Limited, Ecolab Malta 2 Limited, Ecolab Malta GPS, Ecolab Manufacturing IE Limited, Ecolab Manufacturing Inc., Ecolab Manufacturing UK Limited, Ecolab Maroc Societe a Responsabilite Limitee, Ecolab NL 11 B.V., Ecolab NL 15 BV, Ecolab NL 16 B.V., Ecolab NL 23 B.V., Ecolab NL 3 BV, Ecolab Name Holding Limited, Ecolab New Zealand, Ecolab Peru Holdings S.R.L., Ecolab Pest Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Philippines Inc., Ecolab Production Belgium B.V., Ecolab Production France SAS, Ecolab Production Italy Srl, Ecolab Production LLC, Ecolab Production Netherlands B.V., Ecolab Production Poland sp. z o.o., Ecolab Pte. Ltd., Ecolab Pty Ltd., Ecolab Quimica Ltda., Ecolab S. de R.L. de C.V., Ecolab S.A., Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Ecolab SAS, Ecolab SIA, Ecolab SNC, Ecolab SRL, Ecolab Sdn Bhd, Ecolab Services Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Services Malaysia SDN. BHD., Ecolab Services Poland Sp. z o, Ecolab Sociedad Anonima, Ecolab Sp. z o, Ecolab Spain Services S.L.U., Ecolab Temizleme Sistemleri Limited Sirketi, Ecolab U.S. 2 Inc., Ecolab U.S. 6 LLC, Ecolab U.S. 7 LLC, Ecolab US 1 GP, Ecolab USA Inc., Ecolab Viet Nam Company Limited, Ecolab Water Holding LImited, Ecolab a.s., Ecolab d.o.o., Ecolab s.r.l., Ecolab s.r.o., Ecolab y Compania Colectiva de Responsabilidad Limitada, Ecolab-Importacao E. Exportacao Limitada, Ecolabone B.V., Ecolabtwo B.V., Endoclear Equipamentos Medicos Hospitalares Ltda., Enviroflo Engineering Limited, Food Protection Services, GCS Service, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd., GallayTrac Pty. Ltd., Georgia-Pacific - Paper Chemicals Business, Gibson Chemical Industries, Green Harbour Mainland Holdings Ltd, Henkel-Ecolab, Hicopla SL, Holchem Laboratories, Huntington Laboratories, Hydenet SAS, INTERNATIONAL WATER CONSULTANT B.V., Immobiliare R.E.O.P.A. SRL, Instrunet Hospital SLU, Jianghai Environmental Protection Co., Jianghai Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., KATAYAMA NALCO INC., Kay BV, Kay Chemical Company, LHS (UK) Limited, Laboratoires Anios, Laboratoires Anios S.A.S., Laboratoires Anios-Distribution SAS, Les Produits Chimiques ERPAC Inc., Lobster Ink, Lobster Ink Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Lobster International S.A., MOBOTEC AB LLC, Master Chemicals OOO, Meratech Rus Group LLC, Microtek Dominicana S.A., Microtek Italy S.R.L., Microtek Medical B.V., Microtek Medical Holdings, Microtek Medical Holdings Inc., Microtek Medical Inc., Microtek Medical Malta Holding Limited, Microtek Medical Malta Limited, Midland Research Laboratories, NALCO (SHANGHAI) TRADING CO. LTD., NALCO AB, NALCO ACQUISITION ONE, NALCO ACQUISITION TWO LIMITED, NALCO AFRICA (PTY.) LTD., NALCO ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., NALCO BELGIUM B.V., NALCO CHINA HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO COMPANY OOO, NALCO DANMARK APS, NALCO DE MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., NALCO DELAWARE COMPANY, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, NALCO DUTCH HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO EGYPT LTD., NALCO EGYPT TRADING, NALCO ESPANOLA MANUFACTURING S.L.U., NALCO ESPANOLA S.L., NALCO EUROPE B.V., NALCO FINLAND MANUFACTURING OY, NALCO FINLAND OY, NALCO FRANCE SAS, NALCO FRANCE SNC, NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO HOLDING B.V., NALCO HOLDING COMPANY, NALCO HOLDINGS G.m.b.H., NALCO HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, NALCO HONG KONG LIMITED, NALCO INDUSTRIAL OUTSOURCING COMPANY, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (NANJING) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (SUZHOU) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (THAILAND) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES CHILE LIMITADA, NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO INVESTMENTS U.K. LIMITED, NALCO ISRAEL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD, NALCO ITALIANA HOLDINGS S.R.L., NALCO ITALIANA MANUFACTURING S.R.L., NALCO ITALIANA SrL, NALCO KOREA LIMITED, NALCO LIMITED, NALCO MANUFACTURING BETEILIGUNGS GMBH, NALCO MANUFACTURING LTD., NALCO NETHERLANDS B.V., NALCO OSTERREICH Ges m.b.H., NALCO OVERSEAS HOLDING B.V., NALCO PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED, NALCO PHILIPPINES INC., NALCO PORTUGUESA (QUIMICA INDUSTRIAL) UNIPESSOAL LDA, NALCO PWS INC., NALCO SAUDI CO. LTD., NALCO TAIWAN CO. LTD., NALCO TWO INC., NALCO U.S. HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO UNIVERSAL HOLDINGS BV, NALCO WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, NALTECH INC., NANOSPECIALTIES LLC, NLC PROCESS AND WATER SERVICES SARL, Nalco (BN) SDN BHD, Nalco (China) Environmental Solution Co. Ltd., Nalco Anadolu Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Nalco Canada ULC, Nalco Company LLC (1), Nalco Contract Operations LLC, Nalco Deutschland Manufacturing GmbH, Nalco Japan G.K., Nalco Libya, Nalco Middle East FZE, Nalco Polska Sp. z o. o., Nalco Production LLC, Nalco Real Estate GmbH, Nalco Schweiz GmbH, Nalco US 1 LLC, Nalco Wastewater Contract Operations Inc., Nalco Water India Private Limited, Nalco Water Pretreatment Solutions LLC, Nalco Worldwide Holdings S.a.r.l./B.V., National Wiper Alliance Inc., Nigiko, Nuova Farmec S.r.l., Oksa Kimya Sanayi A.S., Oy Ecolab AB, PT Ecolab International Indonesia, PT Ecolab Technologies and Services, Purate business - AkzoNobel, Purolite, Purolite (China) Co. Ltd., Purolite (Int.) Ltd, Purolite (Pty) Ltd, Purolite AG, Purolite GmbH, Purolite Ileri Kimyasal Ticaret Ltd, Purolite KK, Purolite LLC, Purolite Ltd, Purolite NZ Limited, Purolite Private Limited, Purolite Pte. Ltd., Purolite Pty Ltd, Purolite S. de R.L. de C.V., Purolite SAS, Purolite SRL, Purolite do Brasil Ltda, Purolite s.r.o., Purolite sp. z o.o., Purolite C Corporation, QazSorbent LLP, Quantum Technical Services LLC, Quimicas Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Quimiproductos S.A. de C.V, RP Adam Ltd, Research Fumigation Co., Royal Pest Solutions, Shield Holdings Limited, Shield Medicare Limited, Soluscope International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Soluscope SAS, Swisher Hygiene, TechTex Holdings Limited, Technical Textile Services Limited, Terminix, Ultrafab, VanBaele Hygiene AG, Wabasha Leasing LLC, Zhe Jiang Purosoft Home Appliances Sale Co Ltd, and vanBaerle Hygiene AG.

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Environment  December 23, 2016  Sid Shniad

Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money, and the Remaking of an American City by Steve Early. Beacon Press, Boston 2016.

It seems that we are condemned to live in interesting times. Decades of neoliberalism and austerity, capped by the election of carney barker Donald Trump as president of the United States.

Of course, there have been glimmers of hope. The Occupy Movement, Idle No More and Black Lives Matter showed people fighting back against burgeoning inequality, the continuing effects of colonialism, and out of control police violence. Recently, the Bernie Sanders campaign gathered incredible numbers of enthusiastic supporters by addressing peoples economic and social concerns in a straightforward manner.

In the foreword to Steve Earlys Refinery Town , Bernie provides a perspective on the problems we face today and suggests that the book points in the direction we can go to begin addressing them:

We need to start engaging at the local and state levels in an unprecedented way [T]aking over city hall wont, by itself,

keep big money out of politics. It cant stop climate change, eliminate economic injustice and racism, or stop law enforcement abuses But local progress is still possible wherever we have government that represents all of us, not just the 1 percent. This timely book offers ideas and inspiration for making change were it counts the most  among friends, neighbors, and fellow community members.

Timely Book

Sanders is right: the publication of Earlys book is timely. The building of local organizations is vitally important, as they can provide a means of addressing issues like mortgage foreclosures and rent control, both of which are increasingly relevant in todays world, dominated as it is by neoliberal economics and driven by real estate speculation and runaway housing costs. In a time of increasing hostility toward immigrants and anti-Muslim sentiment, they can also help protect victims of racism as well as neoliberalism by organizing communities to provide sanctuary programs and meet peoples most immediate needs.

Refinery Town describes the experience of the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) in Californias East Bay, showing that it is possible for community-based coalitions to overcome even the enormous wealth and power of a company like oil industry giant Chevron, which had dominated local politics in the area for generations, through corporate paternalism and strong-arm tactics. The kind of progressive change that is so badly needed will require the building of similar coalitions on widespread basis, both for the change they provide at the local level and as a sound foundation for the regional, national and international networks that we will need to confront neoliberalism globally. In any event, Early reminds us that under the prevailing circumstances, those seeking progressive social change have few short term options other than expanded grassroots work in the trenches of local politics, labor organizing, or social movement building.

The problems facing Richmond at the end of the 20th century included a crack cocaine epidemic, widespread gun violence, rampant gang activity, and the highest level of AIDS in the Bay Area near San Francisco. To make matters worse, a 2003 fiscal crisis led to the laying off of 200 municipal employees and budget cuts that resulted in the closing of libraries and parks and the curtailment of fire services as well as those provided to seniors. It was in this bleak context that an unlikely group of Greens, Latinos, progressive Democrats, African Americans, and free spirits formed the Richmond Alliance for Green Public Power and Environmental Justice, the precursor of the RPA. This was a coalition held together by progressive values and dedicated to civil rights, the environment, education, open government, and quality of life issues When, like so many other municipal governments, the Richmond City Council banned sleeping and camping in public places, the group mounted a campaign against police harassment of the homeless.

Peoples Convention and Electing the Mayor

RPA members knew that success in turning things around in their town on a number of fronts would require the election of allies on the City Council. Convening a Peoples Convention, hundreds of local residents created a set of local policies, including repeal of Richmonds anti-homeless law, increasing municipal taxes on Chevron, punishing the company for its cavalier attitude toward pollution, strengthening community control over the police, fighting for affordable housing, promoting rent control, protecting against arbitrary evictions, setting a living wage, and investigating both the local budget crisis and the mismanagement that caused it.

By 2006, the RPA succeeded in making Richmond the largest U.S. city to elect a Green mayor. Capitalizing on this success, the organization appointed sympathetic activists to city commissions, boards and committees. Through extensive outreach work, the RPA administration was able to build its base, creating solid relationships with a range of community groups. Hiring a city manager who shared their views, the new city government promoted an approach dedicated to making city government accountable and transparent. The resulting Richmond General Plan outlined the RPAs priorities for land use, economic development, transportation, open space conversion, and arts and culture, prioritizing community health and wellness

When the housing crisis hit in 2012, it resulted in 900 foreclosures in Richmond. By the end of the following year, half of the citys homeowners were under water, owing more on their mortgages than their homes were worth. Unlike other cities, however, the RPA council did not play the role of spectator in this disaster. Instead, by using the threat of expropriation, they forced mortgage companies to renegotiate the terms of their loans. Purchasing outstanding loans at prevailing market prices, the council reset the mortgages based on their current value, and put the resulting refinanced loans with lower payments back into homeowners hands. This helped a significant number of Richmond residents who would otherwise have gone under to hold on to their homes.

Refinery Town includes lots of other pertinent examples of what the Richmond city council has been able to do because it has been controlled by progressive, community-based forces dedicated to meeting the needs of residents rather than cow-towing to corporate interests. While many of these crises are similar to those in other localities, rooted as they are in the manifestations of problems rooted in the dominance of neoliberalism, the RPA doesnt provide cookie-cutter solutions. What Steve Earlys portrait of the Richmond Progressive Alliance does provide is a model worthy of emulation. Using the RPA as a source of inspiration, activists everywhere can begin the process of building the kind of society we want from the grassroots up.
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.
Catherine Theresa Wise, a/k/a Catherine Theresa Andrews, age 41.

Latece Cantelle Greer, a/k/a "T," age 28, and Keara La Shawn Greer, a/k/a "KeKe," age 26

Aaron Dwayne Johnson, age 20.

Maurice Terrell Kent, age 33, of Great Mills.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme.

Gohar Tarek Shaaban, age 23, of Lexington Park.

The Sheriff's Office received information in March of this year that a home in Callaway was a distribution point of various controlled prescription medications. Two people were developed as suspects, one of which was. As the investigation continued, evidence was gathered to support the allegations and undercover purchases of controlled prescription medications were made in connection to the residence.On December 22, Vice/Narcotics detectives, assisted by the St. Mary's County Emergency Services Team, K-9 and Support Team deputies, executed a search and seizure warrant on the home of the listed suspect. Recovered from the residence were numerous items of evidentiary value to include Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Oxymorphone, Suboxone and Adderall. Several glassine vials were also seized which contained Fentanyl and unknown substances. Nearly $1,300, 3 cellular phones, a loaded handgun and 2 shotguns were also seized. Suspect Wise (Andrews) was arrested and additional charges and arrests are pending a review with the State's Attorney.Vice/Narcotics detectives developed information regarding a heroin distribution network operating throughout St. Mary's County. Detectives began making numerous undercover purchases of heroin from the two main suspects,, andAs the investigation continued, detectives determined the distribution network was operating in Calvert County and surrounding jurisdictions. Detectives utilized existing partnerships with the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division-Central South Region and the Calvert County Sheriff's Office as the investigation widened.Search and seizure warrants were obtained for several locations, one of which was a home in Great Mills. Suspect Keara Greer was located inside the home with several children ranging in age from 5 months to 6 years old. A search of the residence revealed thirty-three clear plastic bags containing suspected heroin totaling 13.7 grams with a street value of $1,650. Also seized was a cellular phone, nearly $900.00 in cash and a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta 4-door sedan utilized by Keara Greer and other members of the drug organization.A second warrant for a residence in Prince Frederick was executed with the assistance of the Calvert County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Team. During the search, officers located four plastic bags containing one hundred seventy-five bags of suspected heroin totaling 69.2 grams having a street value of $8,750. Also seized were a quantity of marijuana, cellular phones, a digital scale with residue, packaging materials, almost $1,000.00 in cash, and a 2011 Dodge Nitro. Later, detectives located a 2000 Chevrolet Impala belonging to Suspect Keara Greer, which she utilized to facilitate her distribution operation. That vehicle was seized as well.Detectives obtained two search and seizure warrants for bank accounts connected to Suspect Greer and seized approximately $7,500. In total detectives seized 83 grams of heroin (Valued at more than $10,000), nearly $9,400 in cash, multiple cell phones and three vehicles.Suspects Kearea Greer and Latece Greer were indicted on multiple counts of Distribution of Heroin and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. Both suspects were located and arrested on 11/17/2016.A third suspect,who was indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Distribution of Heroin arrested on 11/18/2016. Additional charges and arrests are pending.Vice/Narcotics detectives identified, as a distributor of heroin. As a result of evidence recovered during the execution of a search and seizure warrant on his home, he was indicted for Possession of Heroin with the Intent to Distribute., was indicted and subsequently arrested for Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute.
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NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2016 / Standard Newswire / -- The staff at the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Jerusalem are appalled by the recent ruling of Rabbi Elad Dukov, the Technion's synagogue rabbi, forbidding Jewish students to enter the student hall where a decorated Christmas tree is present and calling it paganism as well as an anti-Jewish symbol.According to the overwhelming majority of Jewish law (halakhic) decisors, (including eminent figures such as Rabbi Jacob Emden and Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch) Christianity is not idolatry and Christmas trees are neither worshiped by Christians nor used in their worship services. Furthermore, the Technion Student Center is not a place of worship and placing a tree within it in no way designates the student center as a Christian house of worship.It is tragic that when extremist Islam is targeting Christianity as the infidel who must be destroyed, Rabbi Dukov would add fuel to the flames. It rather behooves us Jews to welcome the Christians in our midst as being our brothers and sisters, gerei toshav, who share our belief in ethical monotheism and live in accordance with the seven universal laws of morality. We must respect their religious symbols; imagine if the Christian majority in America would forbid Christians from eating in a room with a Hanukkah menorah? The God of Israel and the world believes in absolute morality and cultural pluralism, as is powerfully stated by our prophet Micah, "Let all the nations walk each one in the name of his god and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever." Let us respect and work together with those nations who accept the morality of God's covenant with Noah and let us use our energies to fight the terrorism running rampant in a world in which a large segment no longer sees peace as the highest ideal.Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, FounderDavid Nekrutman, Executive DirectorRabbi Pesach Wolicki, Associate DirectorRabbi Eugene Korn, Academic DirectorRabbi Abe Reichman, Community RelationsLimor Riskin, Director of OperationsSara Kremer, Marketing DirectorRabbi Joshua Ahrens, CJCUC German OfficeRabbi Alan Yuter, CJCUC LecturerRoy Doliner, CJCUC Lecturer
The essential component of totalitarian propaganda is artifice (het toepassen van kunstgrepen. svh) . The ruling elites, like celebritie...
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Lori department of the Investigative Committee continues probing the criminal case on the murder-suicide of a 45 year old woman and two minors, the committee told ARMENPRESS.

According to forensics the toddlers death was caused by asphyxiation which was resulted by pressure of abdominal organs with a blunt item. And the 45 year old womans death was caused by asphyxiation by hanging. According to forensic experts, the children died earlier than the woman.

Earlier it was reported that a woman had committed suicide in the entrance of a residential building in Spitak city on December 19. First responders discovered the woman hanged in the entrance, and two children aged 5 and 7 were discovered dead in her apartment.

A criminal case was initiated in the Investigative Department of Lori. According to law enforcement agencies the woman suffered from clinical depression and was registered in the mental institution of Spitak, where she had been subscribed with psychotropic drugs and anti-depressants.

Investigation continues.
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
The National Marine Fisheries Service unveiled recently a wide variety of changes proposed for the operation of lower Columbia River hatcheries and their releases of fall chinook, coho and steelhead.

In summary, the changes would result in a moderate reduction in fall chinook production, shift some coho from the lower Columbia River to central Washington and tweak winter and summer steelhead stocks primarily in Southwest Washington streams.

Rob Jones, chief of NMFS hatcheries and inland fisheries section, told a conference call the changes are part of a 20-year process to operate hatcheries in a way that do not impede recovery of salmon and steelhead listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

However, the planning for future hatchery programs has been given impetus by a lawsuit from the Wild Fish Conservancy challenging the hatchery operations.

Jones called the proposals the next generation of hatchery operations. They will be formalized by mid-January.

The Washington and Oregon departments of Fish and Wildlife actually operate the hatcheries, with funding coming from the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The proposals calls for a 24 percent reduction in the number of chinook released from federally funded hatcheries downstream of Bonneville Dam from 18.1 million young fish now to 13.7 million by the 2022 brood year.

However, with no changes at Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, the reduction for releases downstream of Bonneville Dam is only 20 percent.

When Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery in eastern Skamania County produces its full 10.5 million fall chinook, the total reduction drops to 12 percent.

No change is planned at Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, which produces 3.4 million to 3.5 million fall chinook. That program is paid for by Tacoma Power as mitigation for the hydroelectric dams on the Cowlitz River.

Larrie LaVoy of the National Marine Fisheries Service estimated the 20 percent reduction in lower Columbia fall chinook releases would lessen the sport catch in the popular Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth by about 6 percent.

The cut in the catch between Tongue Point and the Lewis River was projected to be 4 percent, and 1 percent between the Lewis River and Bonneville Dam.

Fall chinook releases will be discontinued from net pens in Deep River. Fall chinook reductions are proposed at Big Creek, plus the Kalama, North Fork Toutle and Washougal rivers.

There will be increases in Oregons Klaskanine and Bonneville hatcheries, said James Dixon, NMFS Mitchell Act coordinator.

The Mitchell Act was passed by Congress in 1938 and pays for hatchery operations as partial compensation for losses caused by the Columbia River dams.

Dixon also said there will be a gradual shift to using broodstock for the hatcheries that reside in area, rather than using adults for spawning from streams farther away.

Dixon said the changes would be phased in, starting with young fish produced by 2017 spawning parents and completed by 2022.

Changes in the chinook abundance would result when those 2017 fish return as adults starting in 2020.

Lower Columbia fall chinook are only a small portion of the overall fall chinook run to the Columbia. There is considerable hatchery production upstream of Bonneville Dam and a large, healthy wild-spawning population in the Hanford Reach, the name given to a stretch of the Columbia just downstream of Priest Rapids Dam.

Changes are on the way for coho and steelhead, too.

The federal fish agency plans to reduce by 15 percent the number of early-returning coho and by 11 percent the number of late-return coho it pays Washington and Oregon to rear and release.

Early coho return from August to mid-September. Late coho enter the Columbia River from late September into November.

Early coho releases in the lower Columbia would go from 2 million to 1.7 million. Late coho would be reduced from 989,000 to 883,000.

Coho financed by the federal government are only about one-third of overall coho releases and one-quarter of overall late coho releases in the lower Columbia. Large coho programs on the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers as compensation for the dams make up the lions share of lower Columbia releases.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is planning to add a coho program at Ringold Springs near the Tri-Cities and release 1 million coho, which, numerically, would more than offset the lower Columbia reductions.

Steelhead releases in the lower Columbia tributaries financed by the Mitchell Act would stay unchanged at 762,000 winter steelhead and 655,000 summer steelhead.

However, changes are coming to the broodstocks to be used, Dixon said.

Winter steelhead originating in Chambers Creek, a Puget Sound tributary, will no longer be funded by NMFS in areas where there a steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The last of the Chambers Creek fish will be released this spring in the Coweeman, Kalama and Washougal rivers plus Salmon and Rock creeks.

A winter steelhead that originates from the Kalama River will be developed additionally and used in Southwest Washington streams.

Skamania stock summer steelhead, which originated in the Washougal River, will continue in the Elochoman, South Fork Toutle, Washougal and Klickitat rivers.

A native Kalama River summer steelhead stock will be used in that watershed.

Jones said the proposals now will undergo additional analysis.

Its a very complex matter with lots of moving parts, he said. If it doesnt work, there will be future changes.
When Cowlitz County Deputy Nate Hockett made a call to a tiny house along East Pine Way in Kelso, he wasnt in his sage-colored work uniform, and he wasnt there to serve an arrest warrant.

Standing on her doorstep, Cheryl Yundt wasnt sure who Hockett was or why he was there.

Cheryl? Hockett asked.

Yes, she said.

Im your secret Santa, Hockett said.

Really? Yundt said, clasping a hand around her mouth to cover the shock. Tears seeped out of her eyes, and Hocketts, too.

Decades ago, the Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriffs Benefit Association (which is separate from the guild) regularly delivered holiday meals to families in need. The tradition faded  until Hockett revived it this year.

Sometimes in our line of work you dont think about (the good). You gotta think about the good sometimes, Hockett said.

Sheriff Mark Nelson said the tradition reaffirms the fact that law enforcement officers also are members of the community, not separated by their badge.

On Thursday afternoon, Hockett, Deputy Ness Aguilar (president of the benefit association) and Nelson delivered holiday meals to nine local families. The meals were paid for exclusively by Hockett and other deputies.

Hockett and his teenage son Josh delivered black forest ham, pie with whipped cream, rolls, stuffing, gravy and sparkling cider to Yundt and her two young sons and announced to Yundt that he was taking her boys shopping the next morning.

Yundt has been a single parent since her husband went to jail nine years ago. She worked and parented her two boys until it became too hard to do both.

Now, shes a stay-at-home mom. She and her two boys live in a tiny home on East Pine Way, paying rent with her sons disability money. When she cant pay her electricity bill, her landlord helps out.

She doesnt have enough money to buy presents for her sons, and theyre in bad need of clothes.

Its been a long struggle. Its been a big struggle, she said.

With his eyes and nose still red, Hockett started to cry again and Yundt leaned over and wiped the tears away for him.

We just wanted to bless you, Hockett told Yundt, giving her another hug. We want to be the hands and feet (of Jesus), he told her, quoting a Bible verse.

You are, she told him.

With fresh tears in his eyes, Hockett leaned out the driver side window of his truck and quoted the 19th Century American poet Bayard Taylor: You know what they say. The bravest are the tenderest, the loving are the daring. 
The Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office has recommended hundreds of weapons charges against the owner of a massive cache of guns discovered last month in a shed in rural Castle Rock.

Deputies found more than 400 guns after eight teenagers were arrested and later charged with burglarizing the shed. They are accused of stealing about 50 guns and pawning 18 of them along with watches and knives.

It was later discovered that the guns belong to Lafayette Keaton, an 87-year-old Portland man.

The recommended charges sought against Keaton include about 430 counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and about 50 counts of possession of unlawful firearms, representing the number of illegal fully automatic guns Keaton owned.

It was not immediately known when, or if, Prosecutor Ryan Jurvakainen will file charges against Keaton.

While gun owners can go through a process to legally own fully automatic guns, Keaton did not, said Deputy Riley McNeal.

McNeal said Keaton told him in an interview Dec. 7 that he knew it wasnt legal for him to own guns.

Hed been convicted in 2010 of Social Security fraud and got six months in prison. An investigation revealed Keaton had been voting under his own name and those of at least two other men, including his dead son. Hed also collected Social Security under the name of his brother Jerome Keaton, who died in 1989.

Keaton never went through a formal process to have his right to own guns restored after his conviction. McNeal said Keaton was a former juvenile probation officer in Oregon.

During the investigation, deputies discovered that about 15 of Keatons guns were listed as stolen. However, McNeal said 14 of those guns were actually falsely reported as stolen by Keaton in 2003 after the burglary of a home in Marion County, Ore.

According to McNeal, Keaton reported them stolen under the name of his dead brother Jerome Keaton. One gun may be stolen out of Los Angeles, but McNeal is waiting for confirmation on that, so he has not recommended Keaton be charged with possessing a stolen firearm.

When you purchase a gun in Washington, you are required to get an official background check done through a licensed gun dealer. That background check also would confirm whether the gun youre buying is stolen.

During his interview Dec. 7, McNeal said Keaton denied ever building or selling guns. McNeal said Keaton claimed he received the fully automatic weapons from other people.

Based on interviews with family members, however, Keaton said he believes Keaton was building guns and storing them in the Castle Rock shed.

McNeal said theres no evidence Keaton was selling guns, however.

Prosecutors now will decide which charges, if any, to file against Keaton.
China has blasted Long March 2D rocket carrying TanSat carbon-monitoring satellite at 19:22 GMT (2:22 p.m. EST) on Wednesday from the Jiuquan launch base in north-west China. The Long March rocket placed the satellite in a near-circular polar orbit about 435 miles (700 kilometers) above Earth a few minutes later.

The satellite is aimed to track the greenhouse gases present on Earth and combat global climate change. Scientists will use near-infrared spectrometer aboard the TanSat satellite to track the concentration of CO2 present all around the globe. The equipment installed on the satellite is so sensitive that it can accurately measure up to 4 parts per million (ppm) of CO2.

Scientists will generate the global and regional map of distribution of carbon dioxide and will compare them with maps of previous months in order to check out the variation. Scientists from the Chinese space agency revealed that the TanSat will orbit Earth for next three years and will send data on global carbon dioxide levels every 16 days.

Yin Zengshan, chief designer of TanSat at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) micro-satellite research institute said that data obtained will help us in fighting against the fast changing climate and deteriorating environmental conditions due to global warming. The mission is in compliance with the Paris climate meet that focused on cutting down the carbon emissions. Scientists believe that the mission will help in reducing the CO2.

It is to be noticed that concentration of CO2 has gone up from 280 ppm to 400 ppm in last 15 decades which has increased the global average temperature by 0.7 degree Celsius. Thus, we need revolutionary steps before situation becomes too worse.

With the launch, China became the third nation to launch a carbon-monitoring satellite. Since only the United States and Japan have carbon-monitoring satellites, it is hard for us to see first-hand data, said Zhang Peng, TanSat application system commander and vice director of the National Satellite Meteorological Center, in a report by Xinhua. Before, all our data came from ground stations. That kind of data is both local and limited, and does not cover the oceans.

The satellite has worldwide scope and will improve data collection, Zhang said in Xinhuas report on the mission. Observing atmospheric CO2 by satellite demands cutting-edge technology, so TanSat is a major technological achievement for China.

China started the development of satellite back in 2011 and it took them five years to completely build and launch the satellite. According to reports, Chinese scientists planned to put the observatory in in the A-train orbit. However, NASAs Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, which measures atmospheric carbon dioxide like TanSat, is already flying in the A-train constellation. Therefore, scientists later changed their mind placed TanSat in slightly offset orbit.
tech2 News Staff

Canada has declared that access to high-speed internet is a must for citizens in the country. This is a step up from the previous announcement where access to landline phone services was considered necessary. In addition to the declaration by CRTC, the national telecoms regulator, the Canadian government has announced a $750 million investment package to improve internet connectivity in the rural areas for the next five years.

CRTC, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission declared that all the citizens are entitled to access broadband internet and voice services both on fixed as well as mobile wireless networks. The regulatory body, as reported by Financial Post, has set the bar high regarding speed and data plans by mandating 50 Mbps as the download speed along with 10 Mbps upload speed along with unlimited data plans. The benchmarks mandated by the body are ten times faster than the current speeds in Canada right now which was set in 2011.

CRTC chair Jean-Pierre Blais added, "The future of our economy, our prosperity and our society  indeed, the future of every citizen  requires us to set ambitious goals and to get on with connecting all Canadians for the 21st century," as reported by The Verge. The Canadian government is trying to bring connectivity to 18 percent population that does not have access to high-speed internet and expects that 90 percent of the country will have access to new speeds by 2021.

The situation in Canada is a far cry from the situation in India as the current average Internet speed in the country is 4.1 Mbps in comparison to 13.8 Mbps as reported by Akamai's State of The Internet, Q3 2016 report. The government here has to do a lot to improve in terms of the internet speeds and connectivity coverage.
tech2 News Staff

Cyberbullying and online harassment is a major global problem. The lack of a physical presence only means that people are more mentally exposed in the digital realm. A majority of children in India encounter online harassment in one form or another, but their parents are oblivious of the fact. Facebook recently launched a portal to tackle cyberbullying, and allow parents to let their children navigate the social network safely. We discussed online harassment with Mishi Choudhary, the Executive Director of Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), a Delhi-based not-for-profit legal services organization. SFLC.IN brings together students, lawyers, technologists and policy analysts to defend freedom in the digital realm.

Can we differentiate between trolling and online harassment?

Trolling can turn into harassment but these aren't always interchangeable terms. Sometime in days of internet yore, trolling could have meant posting of messages to provoke a response or disrupt a conversation but unfortunately it has now transformed itself into harassment, sustained abuse, threats and debasement either on grounds of their actual or perceived characteristics.

The behavior of some users these days causes substantial emotional distress while serving no legitimate purpose.

In what ways is the online community in India different from developed countries, like the U.S., when it comes to dealing with online harassment?

This is not an Indian or an American problem as harassment gets contextual and covers itself in local colors, like the Adarsh Liberals v Bhakts characterization in India sees a parallel in Left v Alt-Rightor Tea party supporters in the U.S. Because of the "online disinhibition effect" , people all over the world throw away civility and start behaving in ways they would otherwise think twice before saying to anyone if they were to meet such people in person.

A lot of online abuse in India is political in nature. How far does it affect the citizens' rights to freely debate politics online?

At SFLC.in, we have been studying online harassment as form of censorship that forces people out of participating in the online discourse. we wish to call attention as how this acts as a blow against freedom of expression itself because people are pushed out of discussion as there is no civil, substantive discourse that is conducted.

In a net which is increasingly monitored, in which people are very heavily surveilled, abused, there is also a way in which people are more at risk about the destruction of their right to speak than ever before. Part of that is internet shutdowns i.e depriving entire commnunities of access to the net, the action of closing off the venue of speech altogether for public reasons good or bad or indifferent.

All this seems to be sending a message that if you wish to speak freely at places in the net where free speech is supposedly prized, you have to be prepared to give up all protection against the kind of crudeness, anger and aggression that no human being should have to take at any time, let alone all the time. We don't want the discourse to be reduced to a vulgarity that's why the hashtag #KeepItCivil. The problem with today's social networking in that sense is that aggression and reduction of human dignity has now scaled up and we need to do something about that.

What can the government do to limit online harassment? Are there any gaps in laws that when plugged, could reduce the incidents of online harassment?

We interviewed many people for our report but nobody, even the ones most abused, wanted the Government or law enforcement to intervene, unless words translated to real actions for which criminal law already exists. People praise the promise of the internet, people feel empowered by a smart phone in hand, they saw what happened with abuse of sections like 66A and use of criminal defamation to silence voices. Enough laws exist. What the Government can do is educate people about keeping it civil, even political parties can ask their supporters to be respectful of others' opinions.

Twitter has been widely targeted in the recent past for failing to contain the online abuse. How far are platforms liable to contain incidents of online harassment?

Platforms cannot be held liable for user generated content. We cannot have a Digital India if we will start holding platforms responsible for every abuse word uttered. Having said that, Twitter released another iteration of its policies on November 15, 2016. Each new follower will need to be manually approved by the user. Followers will also be unable to re-tweet or quote their tweets. Twitter has demonstrated awakening to the widespread prevalence of bullying and harassment on the platform, and it is seen taking incremental and public facing measures to limit such instances. We are working with them and other such platforms to educate people about their policies and we hope Twitter or other platforms will keep their commitment to free speech and privacy of their users.

I will call attention to a part of our report on online harassment that documents what the companies policies are , how they deal with these issues, but I wish to highlight as to how cumbersome it all is, how difficult it is, how much friction there is involved in preventing other people's free speech from harming one's own and to be the arbiter of free speech.

Is it fair to say that harassment is generally targeted at well-known public figures on social platforms? What checks and safeguards are available to such people?

Not necessarily, but they do have more followers and receive brickbats and praises in form of words by an order of magnitude more than others. We make recommendations for everyone like:

Thoroughly screen the personal information shared online

Avoid uploading photographs that identify you or your location

Keep a tab on information others post about you

Use strong passwords and change them periodically

Block the perpetrator

Report incidents to the concerned service provider

Ask influencers to call perpetrators out

Ask for help. SFLC.in will be launching ahelpline soon to help people meander their way through these seemingly daunting processes.

Should platforms reserve the right to strip online abusers of anonymity, if such anonymity is used as a cloak to abuse or harass others?

Its not an easy question but it's a comfortable, lazy fix that everyone wishes to run to. We should not forget that much of the harassment occurs for the benefit of the audience, so those who participate in Internet mobs should be called out by other influencers. The platforms already have a lot of power, we don't want them to strip us totally of our privacy to anyone who comes calling. Some politically incorrect ideas may only be acceptable to discuss under a pseudonym on the internet but raise important issues in the society, say in our society where we still cannot talk openly about LGBT rights.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Citizens of Aleppo are celebrating the liberation of their city. The rainy weather and winds dont hinder citizens from going outside and celebrating one of the most significant event of the last 5 years of their lives, RIA Novosti reports.

I thought this day would never come. We waited five years for this. Long live Bashar, long live Syria and Russia, a local resident told reporters.

The Syrian Army officially announced on December 22 that Aleppo is under their control. The Syrian Army command announces the restoration of peace and security in Aleppo, the Syrian Army said.

The military reported that the last remaining militants and civilians have left the eastern part of Aleppo, therefore control is restored over it.

The Army considers the liberation of Aleppo as: a strategic breakthrough in the ongoing anti-terror fight.
tech2 News Staff

The Government has launched a Digi Dhan Abhiyan program to educate the citizens of rural India on cashless transactions in the wake of the demonetisation of high value currency notes. According to the Government, training the rural population and familiarising them with digital transactions is another step in the effort to tackle the problems of black money and corruption.

The program involves registering citizens, activating electronic points of sale, enabling merchants to go cashless, sensitizing the local population to electronic transactions, and providing more micro ATMs. The Government is hosting awareness sessions, informing the citizens of the policies and the options available for financial transactions. The citizens are being informed about the various methods of cashless payments available, including banking cards, USSD, AEPS, UPI, Mobile Wallets, point of sale services, internet banking, mobile banking and Micro Atms.

The shopkeepers and merchants are being sensitised to accept these forms of payments. The programs are being conducted at the panchayat, district and block levels. The target of the project is to educate over 1 crore or 10 million citizens from rural and semi-urban India, with the goal of reaching every single one of the 2,50,000 panchayats across the country. The plan is to reach at least forty households and ten shopkeepers in every panchayat. There will be an acute focus on women, farmers, merchants and small traders.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/806777731060887552

Prime minister Narendra Modi is reaching out to the rural population through the program. A translated version of his call to action is "Your mobile phone is no longer just your mobile phone, it is also your bank and your wallet. You can manage all your affairs without having to even touch money." IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is persuading users to switch to cashless transactions with the message "Cashless Economy is the new era of digital revolution that has made money transfer an easy process. I urge everyone to not only use digital payment system but also encourage and train others in doing the same."

https://twitter.com/rsprasad/status/807184763882590208

The efforts towards making India a cashless economy is tracked on the Cashless India web site. Digi Shala is a free to air channel launched on the Door Darshan network, and available on Dish TV, with the sole purpose of educating the rural population on electronic transactions. The web site for the Digi Dhan Abhiyan is known as Digital Jagriti. The Digital Jagriti web site has real time updates on the progress of the Digi Dhan Abhiyan.
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The Baltic state of Lithuania, on the frontline of growing tensions between the West and Russia, says the Kremlin is responsible for cyber attacks that have hit government computers over the last two years.

The head of cyber security told Reuters three cases of Russian spyware on its government computers had been discovered since 2015, and there had been 20 attempts to infect them this year

"The spyware we found was operating for at least half a year before it was detected  similar to how it was in the USA," Rimtautas Cerniauskas, head of Lithuanian Cyber Security Centre said.

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a Reuters written request for comments over the Lithuanian claims. But Russia has in the past denied accusations of hacking Western institutions.

Fears of cyber attacks have come to the fore since the U.S. election campaign when hacking of Democratic Party emails led to allegations from U.S. intelligence that Russia was involved. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, all ruled by Moscow in communist times, have been alarmed by Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

In what Baltic officials say was a wake-up call, Estonia was hit by cyber attacks on extensive private and government Internet sites in 2007. State websites were brought to a crawl and an online banking site was closed. Lithuanian intelligence services, in their annual report, say cyber attacks have moved from being mainly targeted at financial crimes to more political spying on state institutions.

Russian spyware was transferring all documents it could find, as well as all passwords entered on websites such as GMail or Facebook, to an internet address commonly used by Russian spy agencies, Cerniaukas said. "This only confirms that attempts are made to infiltrate our political sphere," said Cerniaukas.

Preparations

Germany's domestic intelligence agency reported earlier this month a striking increase in Russian targeted cyber attacks against political parties and propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilising German society. The domestic intelligence chief said Russia may seek to interfere in its national elections next year.

Although no Russian cyber meddling was detected in the run up and during the Lithuanian general election in October, Cerniauskas said his country needs to understand it is vulnerable to such meddling."Russians are really quite good in this area. They have been using information warfare since the old times. Cyberspace is part of that, only more frowned upon by law than simple propaganda", he said.

"They have capacity, they have the attitude, they are interested, and they will get to it  so we need to prepare for it and we need to apply countermeasures." Lithuanian officials targeted by the Russian spyware held mid-to-low ranking positions at the government, but their computers contained a stream of drafts for government decisions of its positions on various matters, said Cerniauskas.

The head of the Lithuanian counter-intelligence agency Darius Jauniskis said Russia tried to sow chaos in Lithuania by orchestrating a cyber attack in 2012 against the Lithuanian central bank and its top online news website. "It is all part of psychological warfare," he told Reuters earlier this month.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

Xiaomi was suppose to announce an update to its Mi Notebook lineup and today it has announced the new Mi Notebook Air 4G. As the name suggests, it now supports 4G connectivity, specifically LTE Cat. 4. Launched in partnership with China Mobile the laptops natively support the telecom company's networks without the need of a SIM card.

Apart from the addition of 4G LTE support, there aren't a lot of changes, atleast for the 12.5-inch version. You still get the Full-HD display, Intel Core M3 processor paired with 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM (1866MHz) and a 128GB SSD (SATA) with a second SSD expansion slot. Rest of the features include AKG stereo speakers, Wi-Fi , Bluetooth 4.1 and Dolby Digital surround sound support. The ports include an HDMI, two USB 3.0 , a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The claimed battery life also remains the same at 11.5 hours.

A certain rumour said that the update will be called the Mi Notebook Pro with high-end specs. However that is not the case, but the 13.3-inch model does see a small upgrade. It now features a sixth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, which the company claims provides a 10 percent improvement over the standard Core i5 processor which was launched earlier. Other than that everything remains the same including a Full-HD display, an Nvidia GeForce 940MX GPU with 1GB of VRAM, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 9.5 hour battery life and a 256GB SSD with a secondary expansion slot.

The 12.5-inch version of the Mi Notebook Air 4G is priced at CNY 4,699 (Rs. 46,500 approx) and the 13.3-inch model has been priced at CNY 6,999 (Rs. 69,500 approx). Both the laptops will come bundled free access to 4GB of 4G data free every month courtesy China Telecom, which means 48GB a year.

Xiaomi's Mi Notebook Air offerings haven't grabbed much attention and it seems the hype of copying Apple products has subsided. Currently the Mi Notebook Air lineup is available only in China but hopefully by next year it will be sold in other markets.
tech2 News Staff

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has quietly started collecting information of social networking accounts of visitors to the United States, according to a report in Politico. The information is being used by the DHS to better identify possibilities of nefarious activity by what the DHS calls visiting "aliens".

The DHS proposed the changes back in July, and travelers have started getting the new forms with fields for filling in details of their social networks. The measure is meant to meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. The act was a response to calls from the American public that visitors were not being screened thoroughly enough, in the wake of the San Bernardino shootings.

The form has fields for users to fill in their profiles for social media accounts such as Facebook, Google and Twitter. The details will be used to enhance the investigation process of the DHS, and provide more data and tools for analysts or investigators to work with. The move has been opposed by privacy advocates, saying that it exposes travelers to immense risk considering how personal social media accounts are. Additionally, there are concerns that the Arab and Muslim communities will face disproportionate scrutiny.

DHS says it is collecting the information for vetting purposes. The move by the United States could spark similar measures by other countries, which may not follow the due process, or take sufficient measures to secure the collected information. While filling out the details are optional and voluntary, most visitors are likely to fill out the information.

The information is collected only from visitors who temporarily enter the United States through the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program allows travelers to enter the United States without a Visa for travel or business purposes, for a maximum period of 90 days. The program is only available to citizens of 38 countries, and India is not on the list.
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By Shefaly Yogendra

I am aware this is controversial advice.

Especially since the last column said: You pay for some things, you do not pay for some things; you should take your time to understand which is which.

Especially since we all know free legal templates are available online, or a friend can send you their stuff, and you can take them and tweak them, and you are done. This is where I mention that I have seen startups in India working with documents that state their jurisdiction as England and Wales. They certainly found a template for free! But is it serving them and their purposes?

The ability to make sense of legal documents is not for everybody. The inability to make sense of legal documents could however be quite expensive. The advice of a competent, experienced startup lawyer is something founders would do well to pay for.

Here is why.

A good lawyer will not just write you legalese and lots of documentation but she will build you the scaffold for a future of success and high growth. It is something to plan for now, because lets face it, when you are blazingly successful, you wont have time to come back and re-do the paperwork assembled from a random assortment of templates.

One of the first decisions in a startup is about location and structure. A competent lawyer, equipped with adequate tax advice if necessary, will help set up the most optimal structure for future growth and in a location that works for you. But I am incorporating in India, you may say. Fair point, but a good lawyer, who understands the competing jurisdictions you could incorporate in, such as Singapore, will explain the options to you, thus helping you think more broadly and globally about your business right from the start. Tax is not the only consideration, of course. A location can often beat your default location on the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the ease of finding and hiring talent including from other countries, and most crucially, the ease of doing business.

With cofounders on board, you will need a watertight shareholding rights agreement everyone agrees to sign. A shareholding rights agreement outlines founder shares of equity, but more importantly, outlines important issues that may come up including cofounders wanting to leave, resolving matters in a going concern, potential conflicts arising and so on. I have lost count of how many founder conflicts could have just been avoided or resolved more easily, had someone thought of writing a sensible shareholding rights agreement up front.

As you build the business, you will need to think about several other contracts e.g. with service providers and partners. Service providers may send you their own contracts on which it would be wise to get legal eyes so you know what you are signing up to and what recourse is available to you if things don't pan out as expected. Next come employees and their employment contracts, which for startups may be different from those offered by BigCo employers. A major difference, for instance, may be the inclusion of stock options in the employment contract, as well as termination clauses and what happens to unvested or unexercised options in different scenarios. Especially if your startup is a success, this is an important matter to not deal with in an amateurish manner.

Whether your website is transactional or not, it is an essential for business and brings responsibility. A good startup lawyer will help write the right policies governing the use of your website for the visitors, and policies disclosing how you will treat data you may collect on their visit, their interaction and their transactions with your business.

These considerations are common across startups. Some specific startups may need specialist advice.

For instance, if you are creating a startup in a regulated industry, such as FinTech, in which none of the founders has adequate deep experience, the importance of a lawyer with industry specialisation cannot be overstated. A competent lawyer can advise you on compliance and regulatory challenges arising from, say, your business model.

In case, you are creating a social enterprise or a non-profit, correct legal advice would save you much heartache. Can you set up a trading arm? Who can and cannot donate to your organisation? What tax benefits are and are not allowable? How do you ensure adequate transparency, disclosure and compliance?

And of course, if you are creating a startup with a patented product, you will have already dealt with a lawyer specialising in intellectual property, and the advice here would dovetail with your experience.

Ignorance of the law, in no jurisdiction, is an admissible excuse for violations or non-compliance. Ignorance is definitely an expensive indulgence should anyone, from your cofounders to your customers, bring about a lawsuit against your startup. Be smart.

The author is a decision-making specialist, and advises founders and CEOs on technology, risk, branding and talent. She can be found on Twitter: @Shefaly.

This is the eighth part in a series (first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh) on the startup ecosystem.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Overnight December 22-23 Azerbaijani forces made intense ceasefire violations in the eastern (Akna) and south-eastern (Martuni) parts of the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, the NKR defense ministry told ARMENPRESS.

The ministry issued a statement, saying: Overnight December 22-23 Azerbaijani forces made over 65 ceasefire violations along the entire Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, firing various caliber small arms and mortars. Azerbaijani forces fired more than 1200 shots at NKR positions.

Most intense violations occurred in the eastern (Akna) and south-eastern (Martuni) parts. In the Martuni direction alone, Azerbaijani forces shelled NKR positions 14 times: 9 times using 60mm mortars, and 5 times using 82mm mortars.

The NKR forces took countermeasures mainly in the Martuni direction in order to suppress the Azerbaijani aggression, thus forcing them to refrain from further provocative actions. The Armed Forces of Nagorno Karabakh confidently continued their service along the entire line of contact.

As of this moment the situation along the line of contact is relatively calm.
Crackdown on trouble-makers

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

Law enforcing agencies have launched a wide-ranging crackdown on the labour right activists and the labour leaders amid labour unrest in Ashulia garment industrial zone.

Detectives have already detained seven labour leaders for their alleged involvement in fuelling labour unrest.

They are: Shamim Khan,

Soymita Kumar Das, Al Kamran, Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Rafiqul Islam Sujon, Ibrahim Hossain and Shakil Khan. Later, they were taken to Savar Detective Branch (DB) office for interrogation, reports our Savar correspondent quoting police.

Police are preparing to frame charges against them for reportedly disturbing 'industrial harmony and social order.'

Police are looking for more right activists who were believed to have been involved in influencing workers for Ashulia factory strikes.

Detective Branch of Police on Thursday morning picked up President of Garment Worker Unity Forum Mushrefa Mishu from Topkhana Road around 11:30am and took her to Detective Branch office in Dhaka. "Mishu had a programme to attend a press conference of Garments Sramik Adhikar Andolan. As soon as she got down from her vehicle, Detective Branch of Police picked her up and took her away," Finance Secretary of Garment Worker Unity Forum Shahidul Islam Sabuj told The New Nation yesterday.

"We did not detain her (Mishu). She was just invited to a cup of tea at detective branch office 'just for talks about labour unrest,' Monirul Islam, Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told media. Mishu was freed in the evening from DB office.

"We have information that a vested quarter and some labour leaders are trying to destabilize the Ashulia garment industrial area afresh. They are instigating the workers to abstain from work and start demonstration by adopting unfair means to create a ruthless unrest there," Assistant Superintendent of Police of Savar Circle Nazmul Hasan Firoz told The New Nation on Thursday.

"Tripartite discussion is on to bring back working atmosphere in the closed factories. The issue will be settled within a day or two," he hoped.

Denouncing the crackdown on workers and right activists, labour leader Nazma Akhtar told The New Nation yesterday that they were actively working to assist the workers in understanding their rights and to hold negotiation with the factory managements.

"Strikes take place time and again due to lack of effective collective bargaining agents at the factory levels and proper understanding," she said. Nazma Akhtar continued to say that the factory owners not only violate the associational rights, but also effectively deprive the workers of collectively establishing their rights at work.

"Labour organizations and right activists are advocating for workers rights, but the authorities have responded harshly with arrests and intimidation. This should be stopped," she said.

Regarding the ongoing labour unrest, Nazma Akhtar said, they have the right to demand for wage hike as apparel workers in Bangladesh are lowest paid in the manufacturing world.

On Tuesday, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) announced closure of 55 apparel factories in the Ashulia area for an indefinite period in the wake of labour unrest.

"Tension still prevails there that led to closure of at least 84 apparel units so far. Over two lakh workers are working in these factories," an official of BGMEA told The New Nation on Thursday.

Sources said, apparels workers in Ashulia started work abstention from December 12 to press home their 12-point demands, including an increase in their minimum wage to the tune Tk 16,000 only.

Ashulia is the home of at least 800 high-ranking apparel units, which produce clothing for reputed global apparel brands and retailers. "We have tried to resolve the present crisis through intense discussion with apparel sector's stakeholders for the last one week. But the workers did not return to their workplaces, making our efforts futile," M Siddiqur Rahman, President of BGMEA told The New Nation yesterday. "We would not initiate further talks about the issue. However, the closed factories would go to production when the workers return," he said. Meanwhile, police on Thursday arrested acting Chairman of Savar upazila Mini Akhter Urmi over instigating workers in Ashulia garment factories.

Mini Akhter Urmi, also a BNP leader of the upazila, was arrested from Yaarpur union of Ashulia. "She (Urmi) has already been produced in a court," said Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman confirming the arrest.
Hijacked Libyan plane lands in Malta with 118 on board

A Maltese military vehicle stands near a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 on the runway at Malta Airport, December 23, 2016. REUTERS/Darrin Zamit-Lupi

An airliner on an internal flight in Libya was hijacked by a man claiming to have a hand grenade on Friday and diverted to Malta, where it landed with 118 people on board.



The hijacker told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.



It was unclear what the demands were. Some media reports said there was more than one hijacker. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.



Troops took up positions a few hundred meters (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac and no one was seen boarding or leaving it. The aircraft's engines were still running 45 minutes after it landed late in the morning, the Times of Malta said.



Some other flights at Malta International Airport were canceled or diverted, it said.



A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.



"The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



"The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."



Large numbers of security officials could be seen at Mitiga airport after news of the hijacking.



The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.



The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta, a European Union member, is about 500 km (300 miles) north of Tripoli.

Related Coverage





Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM".



The last major hijacking in Malta was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.--- Reuters


Syrian army announces victory in Aleppo in boost for Assad

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area

Reuters, Beirut :

The Syrian army said it had retaken complete control of Aleppo on Thursday after the last rebel fighters were evacuated from the battered city, handing President Bashar al-Assad his biggest victory of the nearly six-year-old war.

The military said it had brought "the return of safety and security to the city of Aleppo", ending four years of rebel resistance in the northern Syrian city.

"This victory constitutes an important turning point," an army statement said.

The recapture of Aleppo is Assad's most important gain so far in a war that has claimed 300,000 lives. But the fighting is not over with large parts of the country still controlled by insurgent and Islamist groups.

Assad said retaking Aleppo was a victory shared with his Russian and Iranian allies. Russia's air force conducted hundreds of raids that pulverized rebel-held parts of Aleppo. Iranian-backed militias, led by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, poured thousands of fighters into the city.

In the western part of the city, controlled by the government throughout the war, there was celebratory gunfire, fireworks and street parties on Thursday night, witnesses said. Crowds sang, danced and waved flags and pictures of Assad, chanting slogans praising the army and the president.

The last group of rebels and their families holed up in a small eastern enclave of Aleppo were evacuated under a deal that gave the army and its allies full control of the city, Syrian state television said.

At least 34,000 people, both civilians and fighters, have been evacuated from east Aleppo in a week-long operation hampered by severe winter weather, according to the United Nations, which estimates that thousands more remain behind.

"The process for evacuation was traumatic, with crowding, and vulnerable people waiting for hours and exposed to sub-zero temperatures," U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.

Remaining civilians must be allowed to leave safely if they choose to do so, he said.

The last evacuees left a tiny pocket that was all that remained of a rebel sector that once covered nearly half the city before being besieged in the summer and hit by intense air strikes that reduced much of it to rubble. As the months of bombardment wore on, rescue and health services collapsed and casualties mounted.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Russian Dumas committee of CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Compatriots Affairs Leonid Kalashnikov and the committee members on December 23 visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Armenia, press service of Armenias Parliament told Armenpress.

Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of Armenia Mher Shahgeldyan accompanied the Russian delegation.

Leonid Kalashnikov and the delegation members laid a wreath at the monument of the Armenian Genocide victims on behalf of the Russian State Duma, laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and paid a tribute to the memory of the Genocide victims with a moment of silence.

The guests also visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, got acquainted with the documents on the Armenian Genocide.

Today also innocent people are killed, it is necessary to unite all efforts to prevent new human tragedies, Leonid Kalashnikov said.
BSMRMU 11th Syndicate Meeting held

Campus Report :

The 11th meeting of the Syndicate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Bangladesh (BSMRMU) was held at the university's temporary campus at Pallabi in the capital recently. Vice-Chancellor Rear Admiral ASM Abdul Baten chaired the meeting. The approval to conduct Masters/ Diploma in the evening section on Tourism and Hospitality Management, Coastal Zone Management, Dredging and Harbour Engineering and Land and Water Management and Regulation for Transportation and various academic and administrative decisions have been taken in the meeting.

The university is successfully conducting two batches of 'LLM Maritime Law' and 'Master in Port and Shipping Management' and a batch of BSc (Hons) in Oceanography programs.

The university planned to launch 'Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering' and many honours and masters programs very soon.

After completing courses the students will be able to build their career as skilled maritime professionals at home and abroad.

The university is determined to contribute to the development of maritime human resource of the nation and uplift the nation's economy to 'Blue Economy', added the Vice-Chancellor.

The syndicate members also expressed their satisfaction by the recent initiatives taken by the university in enhancing maritime education.


Corroborated material particulars of hostile witness acceptable

Appellate Division :

(Criminal)

Surendra Kumar Sinha CJ

Syed Mahmud Hossain J

Hassan Foez Siddique J

Judgment

November 4th, 2015

Aminul Islam Bulbul .Appellants vs

State Respondent

Evidence Act (I of 1872)

Section 154

If a witness is declared hostile his evidence may not be rejected as a whole but his statement which has not been discredited may be accepted if he is corroborated by other witnesses in material particulars. When the court permits a party to cross-examine a witness of his own, the grant of the permission does not amount to an adjudication that the witness is unworthy of credit, it merely provides the party with a means to test the veracity of the witness, and the value the witness's testimony will be judged by what it discloses in such cross-examination. The evidence of much wellness shall be received with caution. There must be corroboration by other witnesses in material particulars otherwise the evidence may not be accepted.

Since the word hostile does not find place in the Evidence Act, the question as to when may a party be allowed to put question in the nature of cross-examination to his own witness has to be determined in each case in the light of its particular circumstances. In every case the main question before a court of law is to discover the truth from the conflicting pleas of the parties before it. The requirement is not that the witness must be suppressing truth or not desirous of telling the truth to the court. A part of the deposition of the witness cited by a particular party goes against that party is not sufficient reason for declaring such a witness hostile and for giving the party calling him a further opportunity for purpose of cross examining him. . ..... (17 & 14)

Object of cross-examination

When a witness is cross-examined by the party calling him on the ground that his evidence cannot be believed in part and disbelieved in others part. It is because the object of cross-examination by a party of a witness was to discredit the witness and amount to an admission that he was not a witness of trustworthy. It is not the only object of cross-examination to discredit him, but also to compel him to make admissions favorable to the cross-examiner and to find out the truth. It is true that mere fact that a particular witness has not chosen to support the party who brings him to examine by itself is not a reason to discard the testimony of such witness in to if the court finds something else. ..... (13)

Evidence Act (1 of 1872) Section 154

Section 154 of the Act does not say anything to declare a witness hostile but it is a practice being followed by this subcontinent that in case of a witness who turned hostile or unwilling to support his previous statement or makes adverse statement, the court may in its discretion allow the person who calls him as witness to put any question to him which might be put in cross-examination. The discretion is unqualified and untrammeled and is quite apart from any question of the hostility. The court should not act on the request of the public prosecutor to permit for cross-examination. Unless and until the court satisfied from the statements of the witness that the witness turned hostile by stating something which is destructive to the prosecution case. The court normally allows the witness to be treated hostile. . ..... (12)

Evidence Act (1 of 1872) Section 80

A deposition cannot be considered to have been duly taken if it does not contain what the witness actually stated. Secondly, this statement has not been recorded in presence of the accused and therefore, the court cannot act upon such statement unless it is corroborated in material particulars by other evidence in view of section 114 of the evidence Act but in case of a confession it can be used against the maker if the same is recorded in accordance with law. ..(11)

Code of Criminal Procedure (V of 1898) Section 164

Evidence Act (1 of 1872)

Section 80

The court should not draw adverse inference against the defence treating a statement of a witness made under section 164 of the Code as substantive evidence. Though there is presumption under Section 80 of the Act of genuineness of a statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code, Section 80 of the Act merely gives the sanction to the maxim ominia praesumuntur rite et solemniter esse act i.e. all acts are presumed to have been done rightly and regularly with regard to documents taken in the course of a judicial proceeding. It does not render admissible any kind of particular evidence, but dispenses with the necessity of formal proof in the case of certain documents taken in accordance with law. It should not equate between 'statement' and a 'confession' while drawing inference of presumption. . ..... (10)

Circumstantial evidence

If any of the circumstances makes it probable that somebody else might have committed the crime there will be element of doubt and the benefit of which must go in favour of the accused. This is to be meticulously looked into and applied in respect of an offence of charge of murder because of the fact that in respect of such charge the ultimate penalty is a cessation of life of person. So, the court must be strict in the adherence of the circumstantial evidence.

Haranund vs Ram Gopal Chatlangia, 27 IA1 (PC); Abed Ali vs Ismail Miah, PLD 1961 Dacca 85 = 12 DLR 578; Profulla Kumar Sarkar vs Emperor, AIR 1931 Cal 401; See Ammathaya Rammal vs Official Assignee, AIR 1933 Mad 137; Shyam Kumar Singh vs Emperor, AIR, 1941 Oudh 130; Islam vs State, PLD 1962 Lah 1053 and Abdul Awal vs State, PLD 1962 Dac 623 = 13 DLR 846 ref.

Khondaker Mahbub Hossain, Senior Advocate, instructed by Syed Mahbubar Rahman, Advocate-on Record-For Appellant.

Ekramul Haque, Deputy Attorney-General, instructed by Mahmuda Begum, Advocate-on-Record-For Respondent.

Judgment

Surendra Kumar Sinha CJ : In this appeal the convict Aminul Islam Bulbul seeks leave from a judgment of the High Court Division by which it has maintained his sentence by altering the conviction to one under section 302 of the Penal Code.

2. Short facts are that the appellant along with co-accused Kazi Bashirul Huq and Kazi Zahirul Huq was put on trial to face charge under Sections 302/34 of the Penal Code for the murder of Shafiqul Islam, a pre-cadet student, son of the informant Md Hossain Ali Mridha (PW 1) on 16th March, 2002. Victim's friend Tonmmoy was beaten up by Bulbul, Sumon and some other persons on the night of 19th March 2002 for love affairs and Tonmmoy was admitted to Narail Hospital for treatment. Deceased Shafiqul Islam went to see Tonmmoy at the hospital and on his way Bulbul and Sumon threatened him. In the evening of 25th March, 2002, the informant heard that Bulbul and Sumon with the help of 3/4 unknown persons took away Shafiqul Islam to the field of Moheshkhola. In the same evening at 10-00 pm the informant heard that a slaughtered dead body of a boy was lying in Moheshkhola field and on getting such information he along with his son Mohsin, brother-in-law Sultan Mahmud and others went to the place of occurrence and found the dead body of Shafiqul Islam. Thereupon the informant lodged an FIR with the Narail Police Station on the same night at about 11-30 PM implicating the appellant and another. The police eventually submitted a charge sheet against the appellant and 2 others under Sections 302/34/109 of the Penal Code.

3. The trial court relied upon the evidence of Mojubur Rahman (PW 4), Md Jahangir Howlader (PW 5), Md Ayub Mollah (PW 6) and Toufiqul Islam (PW 7) who according to it corroborated each other, and their evidence have also been corroborated by the circumstantial evidence led by Hossain Ali Mridha (PW 1). The High Court Division, however, relied upon the PWs 5 and 6 and the statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure exhibits 6 and 7, treating them as substantive, evidence.

4. Mr Khondaker Mahbub Hossain, learned Counsel appearing for the appellant submits that the High Court Division erred in law in relying upon exts 6 and 7, the statements of PWs 5 and 6 as substantive evidence, who did not support their previous statements in court. According to the learned Counsel, there is practically no legal evidence in support of the charge of murder and the High Court Division has totally overlooked this aspect of the matter while maintaining the conviction.

5. There is no dispute that Shafiqul Islam was done to death on the evening of 25th March, 2002. We are shocked to note that the High Court Division has taken into consideration the allegations made in the FIR in which accused Suman and Bulbul were shown as the assailants. An FIR is the earliest information made to the police over the incident suspecting some accused persons as assailants and sometimes the name of the accused persons are not mentioned. This FIR is not evidence at all. It furnishes a clue to the investigating agency to find out the accused persons against whom it found prima facie evidence to connect them with the offence. It can be used for the purpose of corroboration or contradiction of the maker only. It has no evidentiary value at all except that the accused persons have been suspected as assailants.

6. The High Court Division noticed that the informant (PW 1) denies that PWs 2 and 3 are seizure list witnesses. It also noticed that PW 4 did not state to the investigation officer that Bulbul and Shafiqul were seen while they were moving by the side of Mosque on the faithful day with a rickshaw and that these witnesses were examined 10/12 days after the occurrence. According to PW 1 his son told him at night regarding the incident of beating of Tonmoy. He claimed that Mohi Jamader and Zakaria (PW 10) intimated him about the incident. Mohi Jamader has not been examined and the other has not corroborated him. So, practically, this witness though implicated the appellant but he is not an eye witness and he has not been corroborated by other witnesses.

7. PW 5 stated that he was irrigating water to his land at about 8-00 pm of 26 March, and at that time Ayub was with him. He heard screaming and he along with Ayub approached towards the shop in front of Jail and on reaching there, he told the machine owner that a dead body was lying with cutting throat injury. He could not identify the dead body. In course of cross-examination by the prosecution, he stated that he told to the Magistrate that on hearing hue and cry he reached at the place where victim was requesting Sumon and Bulbul to release him. He then said, he made the statement out of fear, inasmuch as, previously he was detained at the police station and that he was threatened to make statement if he wanted not to become accused. PW6 made a different statement denying the suggestion given to him that he heard the uttering of the victim naming the appellant.

8. PW 5 was declared hostile. In course of cross-examination by the prosecution he stated that on hearing screaming he along with Ayub went to the place of occurrence when they heard the entreaties of the victim requesting Sumon and Bulbul to release him. Then he said, he made the above statement to the Magistrate out of fear because previously he was detained in the police station and that he was threatened to make an accused in case he did not make such statement. The High Court Division also considered the evidence of PW 6, who was also declared hostile by the prosecution but it misread his statement. It also found that PWs 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 did not say anything implicating the appellant. It, however, took into consideration the statements of Jahangir Howalder and Ayub Mollah made before the Magistrate as substantive evidence by reproducing their statements in full.

9. The High Court Division after discussing the evidence has arrived at the conclusion that there is no eye witness of the murder except the 164 statements made by PW 5 Jahangir Howlader and PW 6 Md Ayub Mollah. It has been observed that PW 5 Jahangir Howlader and PW 6 Ayub Mollah clearly admitted that on the night of occurrence they were irrigating water to their paddy field adjacent to the place of occurrence when they heard the piteous entreaty of the victim to Sumon and Bulbul to release him and that there is "full corroboration of their statements with that of their 164 statements before the Magistrate." The High Court Division not only misread the evidence of these witnesses but also illegally took their statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as evidence against the appellant.

10. Though PW 5 admitted in cross-examination that he made such statement to the Magistrate, he clarified later on that it was out of fear as he was detained by the police preceding night to the making of the statement otherwise he was threatened to make an accused in the case. PW 6 did not admit in course of cross- examination by the prosecution that he made such statement to the Magistrate. His reply was ??? ???? ???? ????? ??, ????????? ???? ???? ??, ?????? ????? ???? ? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??, ???? ???? ?????? ???. It is expected that High Court Division would be more cautious and meticulous in assessing the evidence. More so, the court should not draw adverse inference against the defence treating a statement of a witness made under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as substantive evidence. Though there is presumption under Section 80 of the Evidence Act of genuineness of a statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 80 of the Evidence Act merely gives the sanction to the maxim ominia praesumuntur rite et solemniter esse act i.e. all acts are presumed to have been done rightly and regularly with regard to documents taken in the course of a judicial proceeding. It does not render admissible any kind of particular evidence, but dispenses with the necessity of formal proof in the case of certain documents taken in accordance with law. It should not equate between 'statement' and a 'confession' while drawing inference of presumption.

11. The presumption mentioned in Section 80 of the Evidence Act will arise only if the deposition has been recorded in accordance with law. Where a deposition has not been read over to the deponent or having been given in a language different from the one in which it is recorded, has not been interpreted to him or so, there will be no presumption of genuineness. It has been held by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Haranund vs Ram Gopal Chatlangia, 27 IAl (PC), that a person having given evidence is a fact which may be proved by the evidence of a person in whose presence the evidence was given. A deposition cannot be considered to have been duly taken if it does not contain what the witness actually stated. Secondly, this statement has not been recorded in presence of the accused and therefore, the court cannot act upon such statement unless it is corroborated in material particulars by other evidence in view of Section 114 of the evidence Act but in case of a confession it can be used against the maker if the same is recorded in accordance with law.

12. Section 154 of the Evidence Act does not say anything to declare a witness hostile but it is a practice being followed by this subcontinent that in case of a witness who turned hostile or unwilling to support his previous statement or makes adverse statement, the court may in its discretion allow the person who calls him as witness to put any question to him which might be put in cross-examination. The discretion is unqualified and untrammeled and is quite apart from any question of the hostility.

The court should not act on the request of the public prosecutor to permit for cross-examination. Unless and until the court satisfied from the statements of the witness that the witness turned hostile by stating something which is destructive to the prosecution case. The court normally allows the witness to be treated hostile. .

13. When a witness is cross-examined by the party calling him on the ground that his evidence cannot be believed in part and disbelieved in others part. It is because the object of cross-examination by a party of a witness was to discredit the witness and amount to an admission that he was not a witness of trustworthy. It is not the only object of cross-examination to discredit him, but also to compel him to make admissions favourable to the cross-examiner and to find out the truth. It is true that mere fact that a particular witness has not chosen to support the party who brings him to examine by itself is not a reason to discard the testimony of such witness in to if the court finds something else.

14. Since the word hostile does not find place in the Evidence Act, the question as to when may a party be allowed to put question in the nature of cross-examination to his own witness has to be determined in each case in the light of its particular circumstances. In every case the main question before a court of law is to discover the truth from the conflicting pleas of the parties before it. The requirement is not that the witness must be suppressing truth or not desirous of telling the truth to the court. A part of the deposition of the witness cited by a particular party goes against that party is not sufficient reason for declaring such a witness hostile and for giving the party calling him a further opportunity for purpose of cross examining him. In Abed Ali vs Ismail Miah, PLD 1961 Dacca 85 = 12 DLR 578, it has been held that two conditions namely; a hostile animus and the witness being not desirous of telling the truth should weigh in the matter of allowing the prayer for cross-examining a witness cited by a particular party.

15. It is now established that the mere fact that a witness has gone back upon his previous statement and given in court evidence which is inconsistent with that statement does not make the witness hostile. The value of the evidence of a witness cross-examined by the party calling him is that the evidence of the witness thus discredited could not be used for or against either party. The witness loses all evidentiary value and can neither be used in favour nor against the prosecution. This view has not been accepted by a full court of the Calcutta High Court in Profulla Kumar Sarkar vs Emperor, AIR 1931 Cal 401 (FE). Rankin CJ speaking for the court was of the view that a witness is dealt with under Section 154 of the Evidence Act even when under that section he is cross-examined to credit, in no way warrants a direction to the jury that they are bound in law to place no reliance in his evidence, or that party who called and cross-examined him can take an advantage from any part of his evidence. There is moreover no rule of law that if a jury thinks that a witness has been discredited on one point they may not give credit to him on another. He concluded his argument as under:

"But, in other cases, the jury cannot be so directed because prima facie the previous statement of the witness is not evidence at all against the accused of the truth of the facts stated therein. The proper direction to the jury is that, before relying on the evidence given by the witness at the trial the jury should take into consideration the fact that he made the previous statement, but that they must not treat the previous statement as being any evidence at all against the prisoner of the facts therein stated ......... In a criminal case, however, the previous unsworn statement of a witness for the prosecution is not evidence against the accused of the truth of the facts stated therein save in very special circumstances."

16. The Madras, Oudh, Lahore and Dacca Courts have taken the similar views in this regard. See Ammathaya Rammal vs Official Assignee, AIR 1933 Mad 137; Shyam Kumar Singh vs Emperor, AIR, 1941 Oudh 130; Islam vs State, PLD 1962 Lah 1053 and Abdul Awal vs State, PLD 1962 Dac 623 = 13 DLR 846.

17. I find no reason to depart from the above views. So, my conclusion is that if a witness is declared hostile his evidence may not be rejected as a whole but his statement which has not been discredited may be accepted if he is corroborated by other witnesses in material particulars. When the court permits a party to cross-examine a witness of his own, the grant of the permission does not amount to an adjudication that the witness is unworthy of credit, it merely provides the party with a means to test the veracity of the witness, and the value the witness's testimony will be judged by what it discloses in such cross-examination. The evidence of such witness shall be received with caution. There must be corroboration by other witnesses in material particulars otherwise the evidence may not be accepted. Since there is no other iota of evidence to the evidence to corroborate the evidence of PW 5 to connect the appellant in the murder of Shafiqul Huq other than his statement made under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the High Court Division fell in an error in maintaining the conviction of the appellant.

18. Admittedly there is no eye witness of the occurrence and the case entirely rests upon the circumstantial evidence. The principle of law on the question of dealing with circumstantial evidence has been settled by catena of decisions. It is that every relevant fact has to be considered in juxta position and see that those circumstances are cogent and established. These circumstances must be of a definite tendency pointing fingers towards the guilt of the accused in their totality and must unerringly leave to the conclusion that within all human probability the offence was committed by the accused and accused alone and none else. If the circumstances are not incompatible with the innocence of the accused, it should not be acted upon and the accused will get the benefit of doubt. To say otherwise, if any of the circumstances makes it probable that somebody else might have committed the crime there will be element of doubt and the benefit of which must go in favour of the accused. This is to be meticulously looked into and applied in respect of an offence of charge of murder because of the fact that in respect of such charge the ultimate penalty is a cessation of life of person. So, the court must be strict in the adherence of the circumstantial evidence.

Thus, we find that there is no reliable evidence in support of the charge against the appellant. The High Court Division erred, therefore, in maintaining the conviction. We find merit in this appeal. The judgment and order of convictions set aside. The appellant is found not guilty of the charge and he can be acquitted at once if not wanted in connection with any other case.


Delay in lodging FIR under certain situation is sustainable

(From previous issue) :

22. PW 4 Belal Hossain is also a neighbour of the informant, who has narrated that the occurrence took place on 17-7-2006 at about 9-00 am. He was going to see his land. All on a sudden, he heard hue and cry, from the betel leaf field of PW 1. Then and there he went to the spot and saw the victim Shaheen lying in the field with many injuries on his body including hand, shoulder and abdomen and entrails came out. He also saw accused Nazrul having bloodstained hasuya in hand running away. Having tied the abdomen with napkin [gamchha] the victim was sent to Kushtia Sadar Hospital in a Nosimon vehicle. On 21:7-2006 he died in the hospital.

23. In course of cross-examination he has replied that' the victim was wearing a pant and a T-shirt but he could not remember the colour of the clothes. Around 8/10 persons went to the spot on hearing hue and cry. He has confirmed in reply that he narrated to the investigation officer' that Nazrul was fleeing away with a blood stained kiris. This witness has also corroborated the evidence of former witnesses including PW I, the informant of the case. No discrepancy is appeared in his evidence with the evidence of other witnesses.

24. PW 5 Tozammel Haque states in his deposition that on 17-7-2006 in the morning at 9-15 am he went to the place of occurrence on hearing hue and cry and saw victim Shaheen with severe shoulder and hand injuries lying on the gr6und and his entrails came out. And he had seen mother and sister of the victim weeping nearby. They informed him that accused Nazrul dealt blows on the body of the victim with hasuya [Kiris]. Then they having tied the belly sent the victim to Kushtia Sadar Hospital in a Nosimun vehicle. He heard later that victim died at Dhaka' Medical College Hospital.

25. In course of cross-examination, he has replied that he remained present at the place of occurrence for about half an hour and two policemen came while he was there. This witness corroborates the evidence of PW 4 without any contradiction. He has narrated the incident in the same tune as PW 4 narrated in his deposition.

26. PW 6 Mukbul Malitha has testified that the occurrence took place on 17-7-2006 at 9-15 am. He was then at home. He rushed, to the place of occurrence on hearing hue and cry and saw victim Shaheen, son of PW I, lying nearby at the betel leaf field with blood stained injuries and the entrails of the victim came out. He also saw wife of PW 1 and his two daughters namely China and Champa weeping and saying that Nazrul cut Shaheen with kiris and left the place instantly. Victim Shaheen also narrated that Nazrul cut him. Thereafter, having tied with napkin they sent him to Kushtia Sadar Hospital in a Nosimun vehicle. Subsequently, he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital wherein he died on 21-7-2006.

27. In course of cross-examination, this witness has responded that informant and the accused both are close to him. In reply he said Idris Miah, father of the accused, is his teacher. Around 22/30 people rushed to the spot and subsequently, many other persons came there. Daughters namely China and Champa of PW 1 were crying there and they told about Nazrul's involvement in the attack of the victim. This witness echoed in the same tune as stated by PWs 4 and 5.

28. PW 7 Mizanur Rahman, son of PW 1 and full-brother of the victim, testifies that the occurrence took place on 17-7-2006 at 9-15 am. He was in the field at the relevant time. On hearing hue and cry he reached the spot and saw his brother lying on the ground with bloodstained injuries. Thereafter, they took him to Kushtia Sadar Hospital. They took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated. On the way to Dhaka victim Shaheen told him that Nazrul made attack on him with hasuya. The victim could not speak much because his was in a critical condition. On 21-7-2006 around 7-00 pm he succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. On 22-7-2006 around 12-00 am one SI Nazrul Islam held the inquest report of victim Shaheen and took his signature in it. Inquest report is marked as exhibit-2 and his signature as exhibit-2/1 Dead body was examined in the morgue of Medical College and buried him after his dead body was taken to village home. On 23-7-2006 his father lodged an FIR with the police station.

29. On 24-7-2006 Daroga Rois Uddin rushed to the place of occurrence and prepared seizure list after being seized blood stained full plant and T-shirt of the victim and took his signature in it: The seizure list is marked as exhibit 3 and his signature as eXhibit-3f1 and the seizing apparels are marked as material exhibit-1 (one) series.

30. In course of cross-examination this witness has replied that regarding treatment and death of the victim were informed to his father and before lodging FIR they have narrated the incident to him. On perusal of the evidence of this witness it, appears that he was informed by victim that accused Nazrul made attack on him with hasuya and this witness all the time, during treatment of the victim, was with him. As he was ,with the victim all the time, he became the seizure list witness of the bloodstained apparels seized by. the investigating officer. It is further evident that the defence did not take denial that the apparels seized by the investigating officer were not belonging to the victim.

31. PW 8 Chamili Khatun, daughter' of PW 1 and the sister of the deceased, narrates in her deposition that the occurrence took place on 17-7-2006 in the morning at 9-15 am. She was doing' work in the pond nearby house at the relevant time. All on' a sudden she heard hue and cry, then she went to the betel leaf field and saw Nazrul and Habib having hasuya and stick in hands coming out of the betel leaf field. The bloodstained hasuya was in the hand of Nazrul. She entered the betel leaf field and saw her brother Shaheen lying in. the field with severe injury and entrails came out of the belly and he was also groaning. On query her brother Shaheen told her that Nazrul gave him blows with hasuya. Locals came to the spot while they were shouting. They sent him to the hospital for treatment having tied the abdomen with a towel. As his condition. deteriorated was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital wherein he died on 21-7-2006. His father. being, informant filed the case.

32. In course of cross-examination, she has replied that her father was not at home at the time of occurrence. It has revealed from the cross-examination of this witness that while the victim was in Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment PW 1 made communication with the attendant of the victim. As it appears from the evidence of this witness that defence has failed to discredit her evidence. Rather the evidence of this witness corroborates the evidence of PW 7 in a same way. No major contradiction we find in the evidence of this witness.

33. PW 9 China Khatun states in her deposition that the occurrence took place on 17-7-2006 in the morning around 9-00 o'clock while she was standing on the bank of the pond. She went to the place of occurrence on hearing hue and cry. And saw accused Nazrul having blood stained hasuya in hand fleeing away and having heard the groaning she. entered the betel leaf field and saw her brother lying in the field and entrails came out of his belly. Her brother told her that Nazrul made attack and cut him. She then shouted in a weeping condition. Locals came there from around their house. PW 3 asked her how it happened then she replied that Nazrul did it. With the help of locals her brother was sent to Kushtia General Hospital. As his condition deteriorated he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital wherein he died four days after the incident.

34. In course of cross-examination this witness has replied that she rushed to the place of occurrence on hearing shouting and saw her brother lying on the ground with abdomen injury. From her evidence it has emerged that at the time of occurrence she was very near to the place of occurrence and that was why she could be able to see accused Nazrul running away with blood stained hasuya. This witness has also corroborated the evidence of PWs 7 and: 8 in a same manner.

35. PW 10 Rezaul Karim is a seizure list witness. In his presence a blood stained full' pant and T-shirt along with a towel had been seized and he put his signature in the seizure list which has been marked as exhibit 3/2. This witness has recognized the seizing apparels in court. From defence no suggestion has been given that the blood stained wearing apparels were not belonging to the deceased of the case. Moreover, this witness has denied the defence suggestions that he' has given false evidence against the accused because of relationship with the informant party.

(To be continued)

36. PW 11 SI Rois Uddin Khan, the investigating officer of the case, 'testifies that he was on duty at Veramara police station when the occurrence took place. The officer-in-charge of the said police station assigned him the case to investigate. During investigation he visited the place of occurrence, analyzed the FIR, prepared the sketch map with Index, seized the alamot and recorded statements of the witnesses after examining them and collected inquest. report along with post-mortem examination report.

37. Upon conclusion of investigation, he submitted police report being Charge Sheet No. 9 dated 12-1-2007 against the four accused persons including the convict-accused. The sketch map is marked as exhibit-4 and his signature as exhibit-4/1, index is marked as exhibit-5 and his signature as exhibit-5/1.

38. In course of cross-examination he replies that he took over the charge of investigation on 24-7-2006 and analyzed all connected documents including FIR. Deceased was injured on 17-7-2006 and died on 21-7-2006 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The case was lodged on 23-7-2006 at 21-35 hours and cause of delay in lodging Ejaher has been stated and he visited the place of occurrence on the same day. He has denied the defence suggestions that he did not investigate the case properly and being biased submitted' charge sheet against the accused.

39. Upon assessment and evaluation of the aforesaid evidence of the witnesses it appears that the informant being informed by others instituted the case against the convict-accused and three others. He has given evidence supporting the FIR, story. PWs 2 to 6 are neighbours of the informant party and they have come forward to the court giving evidence in support of the prosecution case. The defence has not been able to discard or discredit their evidence in course of cross-examination. Rather they have confirmed the time, place and manner of the occurrence while replying the questions to the defence. Although the PWs 7, 8 and 9 are the nearest relations of the informant but their evidence corroborated each other as if they echoed their voice in a same tune. PWs 8 and 9 have categorically stated in their evidence that they rushed to the place of occurrence on hearing hue and cry and saw the victim in a critical condition and accused Nazrul running away with a blood stained hasuya in hand. It is evident that soon after the occurrence PWs 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 rushed to the place of occurrence and saw accused Nazrul fleeing away with blood stained hasuya and the victim also told them on query that Nazrul made attack on him with sharp weapon like hasuya. The above versions of evidence could not be shaken by defence in any way. Therefore, it is very difficult to disbelieve the evidence of these witnesses as having. no contradictory events therein. Although they are not absolute eye witnesses to the occurrence but it is evidenced that they had witnessed partly of the occurrence. Even then, what victim narrated to them soon after the occurrence, is very much important for taking into consideration. In their evidence nothing has been found inconsistent in respect of departure of the accused from the scene with a blood stained hasuya, used in the attack of the victim. So such clear version of evidence is enough to be found the accused for his involvement in the attack of the victim.

40. The medical evidence i.e post-mortem examination report reveals 5 (five) severe injuries on the person of the victim-Shaheen which are as follows:

(1) Stitch wound in the turn and side of the neck 13" long and extending to the left scapular 37 stitches over this.

(2) Stitch wound extending over the right scapular 3" long 5 stitches.

(3) One stitch wound 1" long 3 stitches over the right shoulder joint,

(4) Surgical stitch wound in the Medline of the front of the abdomen 8rt long 18 stitches over there.

(5) Stitch wound 2 long in the left side of the abdomen 8 stitches over there."

41. Although doctor was not found to verify the post-mortem examination report but it has sufficient value being corroborative evidence when it is supported by other evidence. It appears from record that the trial court initially issued summons, then warrant of arrest and finally non-bail able warrant to the doctor, cited in the charge sheet even through IGP SP and the same was also communicated to the principal and director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which shows that all attempts have been exhausted in due course to produce the doctor but in vain. Post-mortem examination report of the dead body of the deceased even if not taken into consideration, does not weaken the prosecution case for lack of corroboration of ocular witnesses. Nevertheless, Statute itself contemplates that the report of post-mortem examination required to be used as evidence, and the civil surgeon or other medical officer who made the report is dead or is capable of giving evidence or is beyond the limits of Bangladesh and his attendance cannot be procured without an amount of delay, expense or inconvenience which, under the circumstances of the case, would be unreasonable such report may be used as evidence.

42. In the present case it appears that the trial judge made several attempts to bring the doctor before the court for which some delay occurred. Lastly he took final decision considering the medical examination report as corroborative evidence, which is absolutely justified in the eye of law. Even then, such postmortem examination report being corroborative evidence is not needed in this case as material evidence is available to prove the allegation brought by PW 1. It finds support from the case of State vs Ful Mia, reported 5 BLC (AD) 41 where it was held as under,

"The post mortem report was filed under Section 509A of the Code of Criminal Procedure as the Doctor was not available.

Section 509A CrPC contemplates certain procedure but those were not complied with amid for that the post-mortem report could be left out of consideration. As the factum of murder has been proved by four eye-witnesses the post-mortem report as corroborative evidence is not absolutely essential. "

43. It has emerged in this case that requirements of Section 509A of the code of criminal procedure were complied with and Doctor's attendance could not be procured because he was not available and, as such, the use of post-mortem examination report under Section 509A of the CrPC as corroborative evidence is proper and justified by the trial court.

44. Defence has tried to say that Panna Bahini or third party might have killed the victim for extortion money but it is not found in evidence during cross-examination by the defence that when and where at what time Panna Bahini or third party demanded subscription from the informant party. The further claim of the defence is that the FIR was lodged some days later which makes the prosecution case weaken. It is true that FIR was lodged 6 (six) days after the occurrence. But it should be worthy to forget. that the victim's condition was so deteriorating time and again after occurrence, for which all eyes look at the next, consequence of the victim. Therefore, the explanation given by the informant for delay in lodging the FIR is sustainable.

45. There has been no direct evidence in this case that before occurrence took place the perpetrator made a plan or preparation to kill the victim. But the nature of injuries caused by the accused with hasuya, a sharp weapon, proves that by his act and conduct eventually resulted in the death of the victim. The injuries caused by the accused are so severe that makes definite cause of death of the victim. So previously preparation or plan is not material particular in the instant case. Intention to kill the victim depends on the action of the perpetrator; it may come to the effect instantly or by making pre-plan previously. In this case the preparation and plan to commit murder discloses from the previous action of the deceased who some days before gave punishment to the accused for his involvement in an immoral conduct and released some lands from their [accused] illegal possession. Being enraged the accused made attack to kill the victim when he got him alone in the betel leaf field at the relevant time.

46. In this respect we find support from the decision held in the case of State vs Montu alias Nazrul Haque, reported in 44 DLR (AD) 287, which is run as follows:

"It is true in this case there was no preplan of the accused to kill the victim their common intention to kill developed on the spot when they all simultaneously fell upon the victim as soon as he appeared on the scene."

47. It is not at all wise in all cases to find an accused guilty if he remains absconding. Absconding by itself is the conclusive proof of guilt of the accused but it lends weight to the circumstantial evidence against him.

48. In the present case we find three other persons as accused who are close relatives to the convict-accused. One is his wife, then his full brother and third one is his father. All of them appeared in the case and got acquitted at the trial but he did not bother to attend the trial court in the case while they all were put on trial. He obviously knew that his three close relations became involved in the legal battle on a charge of murder. If he was not involved with the crime as alleged by the prosecution, he ought to have faced the trial without any hesitation but he did not do so. Although record shows that all due process of law was exhausted by the court below to bring him in the book but he evaded trial going into hiding. Under such circumstances he cannot say now that he had no knowledge about the case filed by the informant, PW 1. It finds support from the decision in the case of Zakir Hossain vs State, reported in 55 DLR 137 where court opined that,

"Accused remained absconding with clear guilty knowledge about his overt act in the occurrence resulting in the murder and, as such, his absconsion will create adverse opinion against him."

49. The contention of learned defence lawyer is that PWs 1, 7, 8 and 9 are the interested witnesses as they are brother, sisters and father of the victim. In reply to that effect it can be said that when a person comes under an attack by assailant, his nearest relatives will come forward to save and look after him, is quite natural.

50. In the instant case we find PWs -7, 8 and 9 on hearing hue and cry rushed to the place of occurrence soon after and saw the incident on their own eyes partially. Interested witness by itself cannot be a good ground to discard the evidence if one is found to be a truthful witness and telling the truth. It finds support from the decision in the case of State vs Ful Mia, reported in 5 BLC (AD) 41, in which our Apex Court opined that,

"The evidence of eye-witnesses cannot be discarded on the ground that they are interested witnesses and such evidence is admissible in evidence if they are found to be truthful witnesses and telling the truth."

51. The evidence of all prosecution live witnesses is found consistent, uniform and corroborative with each other in all material particulars. They consistently prove the time, place [exhibits-4 and 5] and manner of the occurrence. No discrepancy is found in respect of time, place and manner of the occurrence.

There is nothing to disbelieve in evidence of the competent witnesses of the prosecution case. More so, it has been corroborated by material exhibits-I, l(a), l(b) and also post-mortem examination report. And as such, it can be safely said that prosecution has been able to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt by the impartial and unbiased witnesses.

52. Learned State Defence Lawyer appearing for the accused has contended lastly that court has ample power to .give lesser sentence instead of death penalty if the prosecution case is proved beyond all reasonable doubt. In the present case, the alleged hasuya" used by the accused in the attack of the victim was not recovered and that is why the same was not produced before the court. The investigating officer of the case did not make any attempt to recover the alleged weapon from any places. He ought to have carried out such vision for the interest of proper investigation. More. s6, the victim of the case died four days after the occurrence.

53. However, it is very difficult task on the part of a judge to decide what would be the quantum of sentence to be awarded upon an accused for committing an offence. We find some support from the decision in the case of Nawshar Ali Sarder vs State, reported in 39 DLR (AD) 194 [para 11] their Lordships opined that,

"Section 302 which punishes 'murder' does not specify in which case death sentence should be given and in which case transportation for life to be awarded, but leaves the matter to the discretion of the court, Every case should be considered m the facts and circumstances of that case only".

54. Considering the decisions cited above, the testimonies on record and the facts and circumstances of the case we are of the view that justice will be met if the impugned judgment and order of conviction and sentence of death to accused Md Nazrul Islam is altered and reduced to imprisonment for life instead of death.

55. In the result, the Death Reference is rejected and the order of sentence of death passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Kushtia against the condemned-accused Md Nazrul Islam finding him guilty under Section 302 of the Penal Code is commuted to imprisonment for life with a fine of Taka 5,000 (five thousand) in default, to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 6 (six) months more.

Let a copy of this judgment and order along with lower court records be sent to the learned sessions Judge, Kushtia for information and necessary action at once.




Facebook provides info of users accounts

It also restricts 2 contents responding to BD's call

Special Correspondent :

Responding to the call of Bangladesh Government, the popular social media network Facebook has provided information of some users' accounts.

The Bangladesh Government sought information of 10 users' accounts through nine requests in the last few months. Of the nine requests, the Facebook authority provided information of eight accounts, which is 11.11 per cent.

Apart from it, the Facebook gave full information of another account when Bangladesh Government wanted to know the details in "urgent basis", where the percentage of provided information is 100%.

In total, the Facebook gave 20% information to Bangladesh, according to the Global Government Request Report.

The Facebook, however, did not disclose identities of users to the commoners. It also restricted two contents getting requests from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission [BTRC].

An official of BTRC requesting not to be named said that the government recently sought action about a Facebook page that contents some distorted pictures and articles relating to two religions of the country, which are also connecting to recent Nasirnagar attacks.

Earlier on April 28, the Facebook for the first time provided to Bangladesh Government some users' information. The information was given following 12 requests about 31 users' accounts between July and December 2015.

The Facebook at that time also restricted four contents upon the Bangladesh government's appeal.

Officials said the Facebook responds to valid requests relating to criminal cases. Each and every request received by the Fcaebook is checked for legal sufficiency. Besides, the Facebook rejects or requires greater specificity on requests that are overly broad or vague, the officials added.

Meanwhile, the latest report was released by Facebook on December 21 based on the requests of different governments and its provided information volume since January to June of the current year.

It said government requests for user account data rose 27 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to the second half of last year, with U.S. law enforcement agencies topping the list.

According to a report ran by Reuters, government requests for account data globally

rose to 59,229 from 46,710 and more than half contained a non-disclosure order that prohibited the Facebook from notifying users.

Facebook in a blog post said that requests for content restriction and the number of items restricted for violating local laws have decreased by 83 percent from the second half of 2015. The number of content restriction requests elevated after the Paris attacks in November last year.

The social media network provided information about government requests to preserve relevant user account information while the company so far had received 38,675 preservation requests for 67,129 accounts.
Sea urchin in Bay

Gazi Anowarul Hoque :

The presence of Sea Urchin along the St Martin coast of the Bay of Bengal is the sign of a healthy sea. It is important for the survival of an ecosystem, experts say.

It was found by SM Atiqur Rahman, ocean Explorer and Director of Save Our Sea one year ago along the St Martin's coast.

Sea urchins have a water vascular system. Their spherical shape is typically small, ranging from about three cm to 10 cm in diameter, and their bodies are covered with a spiny shell. The skeleton of a sea urchin is also known as the test.

Sea urchins can vary

greatly in colour. Some of the most frequent colours are black, red, brown, purple and light pink.

On their body, they have also hundreds of transparent tubes that emerge which allow them to stick to the bottom of the ocean or to move at a very slow pace. These unusual tubes are called "tube feet," Which are much longer than the spines outlining their shells and they are also used by the sea urchin to trap food and in respiration.

They live in a variety of environments in many different parts of the world. Some common places they live in are in rock pools and mud, on wave-exposed rocks, on coral reefs in kelp forests and in sea grass beds. Sea urchins also commonly lodge themselves half way into the surface of sand, mud or holes. This way they can be protected from large waves or currents. Sea urchins also live in areas where they can find sources of algae, sea grass, seaweed and other foods they can consume. One very important characteristic of the sea urchin is that it is nocturnal. Sea urchins will usually hide in holes or crevasses during the day and only feed at night. A common place to find a sea urchin is coral reefs.

Experts said, like most creatures, sea urchins are vital for the survival of other living creatures surrounding them. They have many predators, and due to this, if the sea urchin population decreases, the sea creatures that feed on them might begin to die out as well.

A few predators that feed on sea urchins are sea otters and star fish. However for maintaining a healthy balance of environment, it's very important that the population of sea urchins does not decrease or increase all that much.

Dr. Mohammad Firoj Jaman, Professor of Department of Zoology of Dhaka University told The New Nation on Thursday that Sea Urchin is enriching our marine bio-diversity. It is also important to the survival of ecosystem.

The loss of green sea urchins in Marine impacts many people's livelihoods and continues to hinder future economic prospects for the fishery, he added.

Md. Hashibul Islam, Oceanographer and visiting lecturer of Marine Fisheries Academy, Chittagong said that it is sign of healthy ocean. It is needed to do research for what is the amount in the Bay of Bengal throughout the year.


I want to get love, nothing else: Ivy

The affectionate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hugging the newly elected NCC Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy when she went to Gonobhaban on Friday evening after clinching landslide victory on Thursday\'s election.

Staff Reporter :

The re-elected Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor Selina Hayat Ivy has expressed her hope to get love from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She said, "I just want to get your (PM) love and have no will to get anything else."

Ivy said this while speaking at Gonobhabon on Friday evening. She went there to meet PM as she won the mayoral race beating BNP candidate in NCC held on December 22.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the dwellers of Narayanganj city have given their appropriate answer through the election.

"NCC polls has proved that it is possible to hold any election peacefully and fairly under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government," Ivy added.

She said, "NCC voters showed what democracy is.

I have no demand for myself, but Narayanganj dwellers demanded for a bridge. Hope, the construction works of the bridge would be started very soon."

Ivy said, "The leader (Sheikh Hasina) gave me the boat (symbol), Narayanganj people secured its honour. I expressed gratitude to the leader again. I want to stick with development of NCC for next five years."

Ivy, the ruling Awami League candidate, bagged 1,75, 611 votes, beating her nearest rival BNP's Shakhawat Hossain Khan by 79,567 votes. Shakhawat got 96,044 votes, according to unofficial results announced by the returning officer (RO) on Thursday night. She also won a landslide victory in the city for the first time on October 30, 2011.
3 currency forgers held in city

Staff Reporter :

Police arrested three people from the city's Mirpur area on Thursday for their alleged involvement in fake currency trading.

The law enforcers also recovered counterfeit currency worth Tk 28,500 from their possession. The arrestees are Hridoy, 22, Anisur, 40, and Kamran. Deputy Commissioner

(Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Masudur Rahman on Friday said a special team of Mirpur Police Station conducted a drive at Shewrapara around 4:45 pm and arrested Hridoy and Anisur along with fake currency worth Tk 25,000.

Later, the police team conducted another drive in '60-foot' road area around 7:45 pm and arrested Kamran along with fake currency of Tk 3,500. During preliminary interrogation, the arrestees confessed to their involvement in the fake currency trading.
462 prisoners languishing in 58 jails without trial

Gulam Rabbani :

A total of 462 prisoners have been found without any trial for more than five years in 58 jails across the country. They have been detained in various charges such as murder, rape and other criminal offences, jail Authorities sources said.

"We have received reports in this regard from all the jail authorities in the country," Coordinator of the Supreme Court Legal Aid office Ripon Paul Sku told The New Nation yesterday.

The office of the Inspector General of Prisons has recently submitted the report to the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee (SCLAC).

On November 16, the SCLAC sent separate letters to the jail authorities across the country seeking information about those prisoners, who have been in jail for long time without any trial.

Currently, there are 68 jails in the country. The SCLAC requested for two separate lists of the prisoners. One list will be for those, who have been in the jails for more than five years and the other one for more than 10 years without trial

so that the legal aid committee can provide legal assistance to them.

The government has taken the responsibility of providing legal assistance to the poor litigants. But it exposes from the recent media reports that many prisoners have been staying in jail for a long time without any trial. The trial proceedings of the cases against them continue for years for various reasons, including absence of witnesses in the trial courts, according to the letters.

In reply to the letters, the jail authorities sent lists of 462 prisoners to the office of the Inspector General of Prison. Later the jail authority sent the list to the Legal Aid office.

According to the lists, 5 prisoners are in Dhaka Central Jail, 27 in Mymensingh Jail, 4 in Kashimpur-1 Jail, 57 in Kahsimpur-2 Jail, 5 in Kashimpur Women Jail, 21 in Kashimpur High Security Jail, 5 in Faridpur District Jail, 3 in Tangail, 1 in Jamalpur, 8 in Kishoreganj, 18 in Narayanganj, 11 in Narsingdi, 4 in Munshiganj, 1 in Netrokona, 2 in Manikganj and 2 in Shariatpur District Jail.

Besides, 17 prisoners are in Rajshahi Central Jail, 4 in Pabna District Jail, 5 in Bogra, 8 in Sirajganj, 2 in Noagaon, 5 in Joypurhat and 4 in Natore Jail. 2 in Rangpur Central Jail, 1 in Chapainawabganj, 9 in Nilphamari, 11 in Dinajpur, 6 in Thakurgaon, 4 in Gaibandha and 2 in Kurigram District Jail.

There are 56 in Chittagong Central Jail, 39 in Cox's Bazar, 4 in Khagrachhari, 2 in Bandarban, 17 in Comilla Central Jail, 4 in Chandpur, 2 in Noakhali, 4 in Feni, 4 in Laxmipur District Jail, 14 in Sylhet Central Jail, 2 in Habiganj, 6 in Moulivibazar and 4 in Sunamganj.

Also 7 in Jessore Central Jail, 10 in Khulna, 2 in Bagerhat, 1 in Narail, 1 in Magura, 4 in Jhinaidah, 10 in Chuadanga, 3 in Barishal, 2 in Patuakhali, 2 in Barguna, 3 in Bhola, 1 in Jhalakathi and 1 in Pirojpur District Jail.

The reports said that 10 jails out of 68 have no prisoner without trial. These jails are Sherpur, Meherpur, Gopalganj, Lalmonirhat, Panchagar, Kushtia, Brahmanbaria, Rangamati, Madaripur and Rajshahi District Jails. Most prisoners are housed in Kashimpur-2 Jail.

Ripon Paul Sku also said that the committee will now study the report to select the under-trial prisoners who will be given legal aid.

Terming the situation as an inhuman behaviour legal expert and former president of Supreme Court Bar Association Khandker Mahbub Hossain said these prisoners are deprived of their fundamental rights.

The people who are responsible for the woes of these prisoners should be punished, he said.
Trouble-makers identified

Staff Reporter :

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Friday said that the government would identify the trouble-makers at the Ashulia garment industrial zone and they would be brought to book.

He issued the warning at 'meet the press' programme held in the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the morning.

"The government will not tolerate any anarchy in the country's garment sector and those who are fuelling labour unrest in Ashulia would be brought to book soon," said Tofail.

The minister said, the intelligence is working to identify the instigators responsible for creating recent unrest in the Ashulia garment factories.

"At least 90 illegal labour organisations are operating in Ashulia which are blamed in fuelling unrest at Ashulia time and again. The activists and the leaders of the 'so-called' trade union are now under intelligence radar. If their involvement is found in the latest workers' unrest, the government would go tough against them," warned Tofail.

The Minister also said that the government was closely monitoring the current situation at Ashulia. At the same time, concerned ministries, BGMEA and workers' leaders are discussing means to calm down the ongoing labour unrest there.

"We hope that normalcy will return in the industrial zone in a day or two and the workers will go back to their workplaces by this time," he added.

On Tuesday, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) announced closure of 55 apparel factories in the Ashulia area for an indefinite period in the wake of labour unrest.

The workers of these factories reportedly started work abstention from December 12 to press home their 12-point demands, forcing the authorities to shut production in a move to quell further flare up of labour unrest.

Sources said the law enforcing agencies have already launched a wide-ranging crackdown on the labour rights activists and the labour leaders amid labour unrest in Ashulia.

The crackdown was launched in line with the list of 200 trouble-makers. The list was prepared after intelligence departments took quick steps.

Detectives have already detained seven labour leaders and one Vice Chairman of Ashulia for instigating labour unrest and disrupting industrial production.

Several cases have also been filed against named and unnamed persons on the charge of creating unrest.

Ashulia is the home of at least 800 high-ranking apparel units, which produce clothing for reputed global apparel brands and retailers.

Bangladesh is the second largest apparel exporter in the world after China.

It exported garment items worth $28.09 billion in 2015-16 fiscal.
No scope to evacuate Bangalees from CHT

Staff Reporter :

Speakers from different walks of life at function on Friday said that some conspirators are trying to evacuate Bangalees from Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The tribal people will be benefited without evacuating Bangalees from there by implementing the CHT land commission act, they said.

"No one has the right to evacuate Bangalees from their homes of hill tracts," said Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury, the former Chairman of the commission while addressing as the chief guest a discussion on the CHT land commission issue at the National Press Club in the city.

Arranged by CHT Research Foundation, the programme was presided over by its chairman Mehadi Hassan Palash.

Kalyan Party Chairman and Defense Analyst Major General (rtd) Syed Muhmmad Ibarahim presented the key note paper while Coordinator of the organization Afrina Haque conducted the programme.

Firoja Begum Chinu MP, Professor Dr. Tarek Shamsur Rehman of Jahangirnagar University,

Barrister Sarwar Hossain, Parbatya Nagorik Odhikar Parishad Chairman Engineer Alkas Al Mamun, Sama Odhikar Andolon leader Jahangir Kamal, Kalyan Party leader Shahidur Rahman Tamanna and Journalist Syed Ibne Rahmat, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury said, the tribal people of the three hill districts could be benefited by implementing the CHT land commission act without evacuated the Bengalees from there.

Citing many cases of non-cooperation of the tribal leaders of CHT while he was trying to solve disputes as the chairman of the commission, he said, "If the chairman of CHT, Jotirindra Bodhipriya Larma (Santu Larma) cooperated then the disputes might had been solved."

Khademul Islam Chowdhury said, "According to our Constitution and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, there are no indigenous people in the hill tracts. There are some tribal people living there. So, the land disputes are never problems for the indigenous."

He also said, "The land commission was formed to solve the land disputes. So, the commission could not do anything beyond the given responsibility."

Stressing that there was no scope under the guideline of our Constitution to move Bangalees from the CHT, he said, "We must seek all of our salvations in the Constitution."

Syed Muhammad Ibrahim said, "According to the article 3 (2) no Bangalees are allowed to be the member of the commission. According to the article 13, the secretary and other staffs of the commission must be taken from the tribal people. It is discriminatory. There are lots more discriminatory articles remain in the act."

Firoza Begum Chinu said, "Santu Larma has no Bangladeshi Identity Card. He still did not become a voter of Bangladesh. We don't know whether he is the citizen of Bangladesh or not."

Dr. Tarek Shamsur Rehman said, "How dare Santu Larma told that the Bangalees to be removed from the CHT? Who is he? He is not an elected public representative too."

The speakers asked the government to further amend the act to remove the discriminations.


YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on December 23 held a meeting with the Russian delegation led by Chairman of the Dumas committee of CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Compatriots Affairs Leonid Kalashnikov, press service of the MFA told Armenpress.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of Armenia Artak Zakaryan also was present at the meeting.

Minister Nalbandian attached importance to the further strengthening of Armenia-Russia close allied relations at various formats and in this context he highlighted the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The delegation members stated that their visit is symbolic since after the Russian parliamentary elections this is their committees first foreign visit.

The both sides highlighted the existing mutually beneficial cooperation between the Armenian Parliament and the Russian State Duma.

Leonid Kalashnikov presented the works of their committee, the initiatives aimed at developing the relations with Armenia, as well as the results of the joint session held with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs in Yerevan.

The sides also talked about the cooperation within the framework of the CIS, EAEU, CSTO.

Armenias FM presented the guests the efforts aimed at overcoming the consequences of the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh in early April.
Readers` Forum

Stop killing of Rohingyas :

Muslim Rohingya of Rakhain hereditary/tribal massacre in Arakan province should be solved on emergency basis on humanitarian ground. On October 09, 2016 some terrorists attacked 3 Army security check posts. Army of Myanmar claimed that they are Muslim Rohingya of Rakhain hereditary/tribal. Considering the above incidents, Army of Myanmar attacked Muslim Rohingya with heavy weapons of Artillery causing loss of lives and devastation of wealth of Rohingya Muslims. More than 1 (one) lac Muslim Rohingya left Myanmar and took their shelters in Bangladesh. These people should be taken back to Myanmar from Bangladesh creating good atmosphere by the government of Myanmar. World leaders should come forward to create pressure on Myanmar government for stopping killing of Muslim Rohingya in Arakan province and establish peace there. We thank BBC World News, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other social and International media for bringing the Rohingyas massacre to light of the leaders, UNO and people of the world. We want undivided Myanmar with religious understanding and harmony.



Engr. Abul Hossain

Dhaka
We must target skill development to cutback youth unemployment

ILO report circulated recently showed about 41 percent youths in Bangladesh from 15 to 24 years of age are not in education, employment and training (NEET). Bangladesh stands third at the lower end of 21 Asia Pacific countries surveyed for this purpose. They are part of the labour market but they have been left out due to lack of effective initiative resulting from ineptness of the leadership and bureaucracy.

Reports in national media on Wednesday said that it is a worldwide trend with a third of over 1.8 billion young people in the world not involved in education, training and employment. The share of our young unemployed is 78 percent. They are vital part of the society but languishing behind. ILO warns this section of the population if continues to be deprived of education and training to get into jobs may become ultimately perverted to crimes and drugs bringing greater threat to social peace.

Such ineffectiveness of Bangladeshi youths is a matter of deep concern to all. Bangladesh's quest for maximum job creation for young people seems to be at high risks as the disclosure pointed out and we must do much more in this respect beyond the government's tall talks about phenomenal progress in the field of the country's youth development. Rising unemployment of the youths and government claims must be supportive by facts.

The ILO report made an eye opening disclosure at a time when we must take the issue more seriously to bring the NEET people within the class rooms and in the fold of skill based training. Absence of quality education and a skilled labour force is the main cause of our youth unemployment. A World Bank report in 2013 similarly warned of the consequences of leaving the huge section of our youths to suffer from illiteracy, poverty, and resultant unemployment. It said if unemployment rises, use of drugs and crime rate will too. The situation must be tackled before its impact becomes tremendous threat to socio-economic life.

Bangladesh is working to achieve the UN set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but we believe the gap is still too much as the ILO disclosure suggests. Reducing growing youth unemployment rate and illiteracy by 2020 are two clearly set goals for the country's socio-economic development and any setback may derail us from the target.

We must say the government must stop waste of resources on political projects, unchecked corruption and mismanagement while there must be noticeable improvement on quality of governance. These are vital issues to make more resources behind activities to cut illiteracy and train young people to drastically reduce unemployment. Outsiders may tell us but we must do it ourselves.


All passengers freed in Malta

A Libyan passenger plane has been hijacked by two pro-Gaddafi supporters armed with hand grenades, it has been reported. (inset) Two hijackers were arrested after surrender to Maltese military.

Reuters :

All passengers were freed from a hijacked plane in Malta on Friday, but some crew remained on board with hijackers believed to be loyalists of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The aircraft was on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said a hijacker had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all passengers leave the Airbus A320 if his demands were met.

It was unclear what the hijackers' demands were. A Libyan television channel reported that it had spoken by phone with one of them, who described himself as

head of a pro-Gaddafi party.

Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

Two hijackers of a Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 surrender to Maltese military on the runway at Malta Airport, December 23, 2016. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit-Lupi

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.

Troops were positioned a few hundred meters (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were canceled or diverted.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.

The government of Malta said Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team had been formed and was at the airport. Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.
Looking for the vulture assist with Neolithic burials

2 years ago
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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The signing of the EAEU-Iran free trade agreement must be quickly held through Armenias assistance, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments Hovhannes Azizyan said on the sidelines of Prospects for the development of EAEU-Armenia industrial cooperation conference in Yerevan, reports Armenpress.

The markets of the EAEU and Iran are very interesting for each other. Here there are many cooperation opportunities, but what we are using is quite limited. In this sense the two sides have works to do. The EAEU presidents will approve the launch of talks over the EAEU-Iran free trade agreement soon. This will not only solve tariff issues, in other words, tariff reduction issues, but also it will provide an opportunity for non-tariff regulations. There is a common agreement to continue the works, and Armenia is interested in the quick signing of the agreement. This is going to be the biggest opportunity in order to record serious activeness in the bilateral Armenia-Iran, as well as the EAEU-Iran relations and trade turnover, the Deputy Minister said.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the New Year and Christmas a reception was held on December 23 at the Presidential Palace of Armenia for media representatives.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, Serzh Sargsyan extended congratulations and wishes to the journalists.

The speech of the President at the reception runs as follows,

Dear friends,

I cordially greet you. I am very happy to see all of you and for the opportunity to congratulate you on the coming New Year.

First of all I would like to speak about the passing 2016 year. The year was itself symbolic, as we marked the 25th anniversary of the independence of our statehood.

I have to note that our country has recorded many positive trends compared with other countries, ensuring freedom of speech and media. Even during the hottest period of the war the Republic of Armenia did not impose military censorship. A war situation can always become a reason for such a temptation for some. Anyway, we have a national consensus in Armenia that limitations of freedom of speech are unacceptable. This is one of our key institutional achievements, which we must together protect.

I dream this year was marked only by this beautiful jubilee year. But we know that this year we had to withstand two challenges, one external and one domestic.

The first one was the 4-day war in April. Our victory in a war forced upon us keeps many people in trouble. We could regularly hear their gnashing of teeth, but this year it turned into an attempt of revenge. The heroic suns of the Armenian people prevented the insidious plan of the adversary.

Here I cannot bypass the consolidated and united efforts of the Armenian people, largely covered by you in those days. Despite the possible ideological or other differences, the Armenian people formed one and united fist during those days.

There are issues that are in the area of national consensus, and the first one in this range is, of course, the future of our heroic Artsakh. Our differences over this issue are negligible and minimal. I do not think that at least one percent of our people think in another way. We all wish the people of Artsakh to decide their future and final status on their own.

I am thankful to you for your activities in those days, as well as your solidarity.

The next, domestic challenge took place in July, this year, resulted by the acts of the clandestine group that attacked the police patrol regiment and took hostages. I have already given a precise assessment over this incident. I also gave a precise assessment over the activities of the journalists and the force used against them. Though some try to find something else in my assessment and say that the President advocates to forget. But I think it is clear for at least 95% in what sense I used that word.



I am deeply convinced that in Armenia issues will not be solved by violence, and this is a provision over which we must reach a national consensus as well. Often happens so that a word paves the way for violence. Hence, we must be free and righteous, at the same time moderate in our speech.



Of course, I am regularly informed that Armenian media outlets seek practical tools of self-regulation to address this issue. Insulting, labeling, disseminating fraud are unacceptable.

Today we witness that false news have become a challenge even for the most developed democratic societies. Overseeing the diverse and decentralized media landscape of our times is merely impossible.

I never think of overseeing the media arena. I expect free, independent and responsible work.

I expect you to come up with self-regulatory initiatives, in order to be able to distinguish between black and white. I am ready to support you without intervening in your agenda or forcing upon you anything.

We are heading to the parliamentary elections of 2017. In one of my recent speeches I stressed that we need ideal elections and a National Assembly formed based on that ideal election.

I expect you to assume similar responsibility in your mission during that process. I expect you to be not only free and independent, but, as we always mention, really impartial and fair, avoiding becoming an election campaign tool.

Dear friends,

Saying goodbye to the passing year 2016, I congratulate you on the coming New Year and Easter holidays. I wish you good health and happiness, and prosperity and peace to your families. I wish new creative initiatives in your professional sphere, and what is most important, I wish you to be in peace first of all within yourself. This is one of the key preconditions.




by The Associated Press

Tax-free shopping on Amazon for Louisiana residents is ending.

The online retail giant will start charging sales taxes on all purchases shipped to destinations in Louisiana starting Jan. 1.

NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/2hRwnlH ) that a state revenue department spokesman confirmed Amazon will begin collecting both state and local sales taxes in Louisiana when the new year begins.

The process is the same for Louisiana retailers who also sell online. The tax collections are required in state law. For Louisiana's shoppers, they'll be paying the state's 5 percent sales tax, along with any local sales taxes they normally pay when they shop in person at retail stores.

Louisiana has pushed online retailers like Amazon to collect and remit the required sales taxes. Amazon currently charges sales taxes in 29 states.
As the year closes, take note of these entertainment items you may have overlooked.

Lafayette native Skye Isaac, far left, backs Solange Knowles during a recent Saturday Night Live performance.

Big Moves for Skye

Last year, former Gator Girl Skye Issac put out a barely there CD. While it showed she had a ways to go, it also showed she had promise.

As this year comes to a close, she is closing the gap between the two. After appearing on BETs Chasing Destiny, she was contacted by Solange Knowles people and asked to back the chart-topper on the Nov. 5 edition of Saturday Night Live.

Now based out of Los Angeles, the Lafayette native says the experience of appearing on SNL with Beyonces sister was electrifying and awesome!

Thomas in the Mirror

If you have discovered the Netflix original Black Mirror  the anthology show that is terrifying not because of gore, machete-wielding maniacs or ghosts but because of its dim projections of what life will be like in just about 20 minutes  theres a haunting song sung by three different and seemingly unrelated characters in its way-too-short three seasons (season three should be floating around in Recently Added). Characters sing, You can blame me, try to shame me and still Ill care for you. You can run around, even put me down, still Ill be there for you.

Its actually 1964s Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand), an Irma Thomas song co-written by Randy Newman. It first appears via a character auditioning for a talent show in season ones Fifteen Million Merits (the end credits feature New Orleans own Thomas  and Lafayette favorite  in all her original glory). It comes back in a karaoke performance in season twos White Christmas and via another character in season threes Men Against Fire.

The shows creator, Charlie Brooker, told Thrillest, it was brought back in season two, because ... it does sort of nest the whole thing together in some kind of artistic universe, to sound wanky for a moment.

In a series loaded with meaning, what does it all mean? Thats not easy to answer other than people of the near future  despite their shallow ways, self-centered behavior, vapidity, absence of morality and ultra tech crutches  apparently have good taste in music.

The Weary Blues

If you missed out on the Weary Boys reunion show at the Blue Moon, it is ok. Who can blame you? Chances are that if you remember the Boys  or have very foggy memories of them  you also have kids and cant always make it to the honky-tonk shows.

Fret not, the Boys CD Early Years is a good substitute  as close as anything could every come to seeing them live. Early Years opens with a couple of ferocious live cuts from one of their prison shows at Angola before segueing into some early studio work  such as a cover of Rock Island Line. Other classic Weary material Worried Man Blues and Pauline make this a ghost of good times past.

However, the CD is currently only available at their rare reunion shows, a problem Mario Matteoli says will be fixed in the spring when they launch a website that will sell the CD.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
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.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Finance of Armenia forecasts Armenias total debt will reach 5 billion and 905 million USD by the end of the year, Armenpress reports Minister of Finance Vardan Aramyan told the reporters. According to him, domestic debt securities will amount to 1 billion USD.

The Central Banks debt amounts to nearly 511 million USD, the remaining is external debt. The Governments debt, excluding the Central Banks debt, to GDP will slightly exceed 50% based on 2016 results. The overall debt to GDP will amount to nearly 55%, Vardan Aramyan said.
When Milton McDaniel Sr. was hired to work for the railroad in 1967, things were different. So different that Harry Koonce, superintendent of railroads in the Carbondale division office, broke railroad rules to hire McDaniel.

Harry Koonce was a longtime Carbondale resident, and I owe him my career, McDaniel said.

No African-American firemen  who are responsible for shoveling coal into the furnace to keep the boiler going on a steam engine  were allowed north of the Ohio River. McDaniel said trains in the south had African-American firemen, but they had to turn around and head back south when they reached the Ohio River.

When Koonce hired McDaniel, he told him he had a request. He wanted McDaniel to work hard enough to make engineer, then drive by his office and blow the horn at him. McDaniel did just that when he made engineer.

On Aug. 4, 1967, McDaniel took his first train ride as a fireman on a train traveling from Carbondale to St. Louis. When two elderly white women saw McDaniel, a young black man, on the train, they got off. They complained and asked for their money back rather than ride with a black man driving the train, thinking he was engineer.

McDaniel did not care. He got paid the same whether the train was empty or full. He said they did not know he was the fireman at the time, not the engineer.

My very first trip for pay was from East St. Louis to Cairo, McDaniel said.

The date was Aug. 14, 1967, and Cairo, like much of the U.S., was in racial turmoil.

The crew always stayed at a motel at the intersection of U.S. 51 and Illinois 3, one of two in town. Since it was the first trip McDaniel took, he did not know what to do, so he watched the rest of the crew. They went in, signed their names, got a key and went to their rooms.

I went in and signed my name. The proprietor said, boy, what do you want. I said, well Id like a room. He looked at me and said, I dont care what the hell you want, dont no n------ stay here, McDaniel said. At the time I was dating my wife of almost 50 years. She lived 12 miles from the hotel.

McDaniel walked to his then-girlfriends house, where her mother agreed to let him sit up all night on the couch. Someone drove him back to the train the next morning.

McDaniel said when Koonce found out about the incident, he called the hotel and told them if McDaniel was not welcome, no railroader would stay in that hotel. After that, McDaniel was allowed to stay in a separate room at the facility.

As a fireman and engineer, McDaniel is a nearly 50-year member of labor unions. Currently, that union is SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air and Rail Transportation Workers), a combination of several unions, including United Transportation Union.

McDaniel said he could have switched to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers.

On Dec. 2, McDaniel was honored for his place in Illinois labor history by being inducted into the Illinois Union Hall of Honor by the Illinois Labor History Society. He was recognized for being the first African-American locomotive fireman and locomotive engineer north of the Ohio River.

Other inductees were: Tim Black, Elwood Flowers and Elcosie Gresham. The banquet also celebrated 100 years of the Great Migration, during which the black population shifted from the rural South to more northern urban areas.

Robert Guy of the SMART Transportation Division spoke at the ceremony.

The fortitude, the bravery must have been tremendous, Guy said. Im proud of our forefathers, so to speak, that when certain establishments treated Brother McDaniel that way, they stood up and left the establishment. I want to thank him personally, and thank you for allowing us to be part of it. I want to thank him for his trailblazing.

Joe Sazbo of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning said it was the railroad, and Illinois Central Railroad in particular, that brought African-Americans from Louisiana and Mississippi to Chicago.

For Milton to become the first African-American to work in the operating crafts is an extra level of significance. I think theres kind of a double significance to it. The fact that that was the railroad was the bloodline of the migration, and you were one of the first African-Americans to actually work as a locomotive engineer.

Carbondale also made Dec. 2 Milton McDaniel Sr. Day.

A link to a video of the ceremony is available at www.illinoislaborhistory.org/.
MURPHYSBORO  The City of Murphysboro is on the cusp of taking its next big step into redefining what its city should look like in the years to come.

The city's Plan Commission recommended that HeartLands Conservancy firm complete a comprehensive plan for the city, but at the Dec. 13 City Council meeting, one alderman asked for a more definitive breakdown of the $15,000 cost. The money for developing the plan was donated to the city by the Smysor Trust.

Alderman Dan Bratton asked for a detailed expenditure that indicated how much money the firm would charge and receive for each stage of work completed.

Council members will revisit that discussion and vote at their Tuesday, Dec. 27 board meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at council chambers in City Hall. A 5:30 p.m. public hearing on city's 2017 proposed $5.2 million budget precedes that meeting.

HeartLands Conservancy is currently helping to update the comprehensive plan for the city of Shiloh, Illinois, according to Mary Vandevord, the companys president and CEO. The group has partnered as a subcontractor with other agencies doing comprehensive plans, taking over work on the bike and pedestrian walking paths or parks and open-space areas, for instance, Vandevord said.

Before joining HeartLands Conservancy, Vandevord said she worked on comprehensive plans for Scottsdale, Arizona, and the Oklahoma cities of Blanchard, Noble and Nichols Hills.

Completing a comprehensive plan is about a yearlong process, she said.

If agency staff are approved to do the project, they would start the work in February, and would probably use online and hard-copy surveys to gauge residents' desires and needs for their city going forward, Vandevord said. There would be a public hearing after that, and agency staff would talk to others about the desires for the city.

Though amendments have been made to the city's comprehensive plan over the years, the plan last had a major update in the 1960s, according to Sandra Ripley, Murphysboro's human resources manager.

This project presents a great opportunity for Murphysboro residents to have a say in the future of the city, the mayor said.

The development of the comprehensive plan and the preparation for the development of the comprehensive plan is a chance for residents, essentially, to become de facto city council members, Mayor Will Stephens said. They will provide feedback that will chart the course for the next 30 years."

According to the city's website, the Plan Commission can "prepare and recommend to the City Council a comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the City and contiguous unincorporated territory not more than one and one-half miles beyond the corporate limits of the City and not included in any other municipality." That plan is advisory, unless it refers to city ordinances, and can be adopted in whole or in part.

For more information, contact Murphysboro City Hall at 618-684-4961 or visit the Plan Commission page at www.tinyurl.com/PlanCommission.
A Jonesboro man and a Marion man were sentenced to federal prison this week on methamphetamine charges, according to a news release from Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

Troy A. Smith, 45, of Jonesboro, and Jeremiah Lee Jae Sadler, 37, of Marion, previously pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Tuesday, Smith was sentenced to 135 months in prison, and on Wednesday, Sadler was sentenced to 121 months in prison.

At sentencing, the court found Smith was responsible for the distribution of 1.24 kilograms of ice and Sadler was responsible for the distribution of 389 grams of ice." Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80 percent.

The offense occurred between 2015 and February 2016 in Union and Williamson counties. The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

 The Southern
To the Editor:

While Congress prepares to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, its important to remember whats really at stake  the health and well-being of people  including over one million Illinoisans who depend on coverage under the ACA.

We cant afford to take action that disrupts healthcare coverage and the Illinois economy. Any repeal of ACA coverage should not take effect until the replacement plan takes effect. If Congress does not make repeal of coverage contingent on adoption of a replacement plan, then Congress should also repeal the hospital payment cuts that help pay for ACA coverage.

Illinois hospitals have experienced over $1 billion in ACA payment cuts. Otherwise, people wont be able to get the care they need, local economies will suffer and jobs will be lost. Facing revenue losses, hospitals will be forced to cut spending by reducing services and staff, delaying new technology and facilities or shifting costs to privately insured patients.

If Congress repeals coverage and does not replace it, the preliminary estimate is that the loss of this revenue in Illinois will result in a potential loss of $11.6 billon to $13.1 billion in annual economic activity translating to a potential loss of 84,000 to 95,000 jobs. On behalf of our 200 hospitals and 50 health systems, and the patients and communities they serve, IHA looks forward to working in a bipartisan manner with our state and federal officials to improve our health system.

Remember the first lesson of medicine  first, do no harm.

A.J. Wilhelmi

Naperville
Thumbs up to the residents of Franklin County  as well as the rest of Southern Illinois  for keeping the memory alive of those who died in the Dec. 21, 1951, explosion in the Orient 2 Mine. On Wednesday, relatives and Franklin County residents packed the Trinity United Methodist Church to remember those who lost their lives and the many others touched by the tragedy. This was the 65th anniversary memorial service, and it happens every five years. Its tragic that it happened, but its good to see the victims will be remembered forever.

Thumbs down to a census report this week that stated Illinois lost more people than any other state. Well, we cant be all that surprised, can we? The state is mired in a long battle without a budget; universities, social service agencies and others arent getting proper funding, and things are literally a mess in Illinois right now. Who can blame residents for leaving? According to The Associated Press, the figures released Tuesday cover July 2015 to last July and show a decline of 37,508 people in Illinois. In total, eight states lost population in the same time period, including Pennsylvania, Wyoming and New York. Illinois still remains the fifth most populous state in the country with close to 13 million people, following California, Texas, Florida and New York.

Thumbs up to plans for a 2017 eclipse outdoor music festival, which earned the city of Carbondales seal of approval. At a council meeting Tuesday, members unanimously voted to enter into a $50,000 municipal sponsorship agreement with the promoter of the two-day festival, which would feature several national acts. Thats great news for whats sure to be great event for Carbondale and the rest of Southern Illinois. The 2017 eclipse, which will happen Aug. 21, could draw as many as 50,000 visitors to the Carbondale area, according to estimates. We hope this is just the start of great things that will be announced for events happening around the eclipse.

Thumbs up to Ban Ki-moon, the outgoing United Nations secretary-general, and his visit to Southern Illinois University Carbondale this week. How cool was it have his final public lecture as secretary-general in Carbondale? During his speech, Ban discussed challenges facing the world, what he has learned during his time in office and being a voice of voiceless people and a defender of defenseless people throughout his decade-long term. The event was co-sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and the United Nations Association-USA Southern Illinois Chapter. SIUC Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell said there was a reason he picked Carbondale. I believe he chose Southern Illinois (for his final public appearance) because of our strong reputation as a national research university and our rich history of embracing international education, which dates back to 1947, just two years after the founding of the United Nations. We are extremely proud to enroll students from more than 100 nations each year. Kudos to SIU for the event; keep them going.

Thumbs down to the closure of the Rend Lake Resort in Whittington. Last week, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced it had terminated the concessionaires lease and closed the facility. In a news release, the IDNR stated the resort faced delinquent rent payments of $205,000 while also owing $14,000 in real estate taxes as well as back payments for utilities and hotel operators taxes. The release also said that the Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center had issues with mold, peeling paint and other health-related issues, ultimately leading to the closing. The hope is that they can open the resort again at some point. The hope is the agency will be able to open it at some point, said IDNR spokesman Ed Cross in a story this week. Realistically, the hope is we would like to get in there as quick as we can. Until we get in there to see how much mold there is, its hard to put an exact time frame on it. The hope is we can get in there before summer. But, the problem goes deeper than the mold, as the resort is still waiting on money from the state to be appropriated.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Editor-in-chief of Lebanon-based Azdak daily Shahan Gantaharyan referred to the recent visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Armenia in an article headlined Towards both Eurasia and Europe. Armenpress presents the full translation of the article.

Towards both Eurasia and Europe

The top level visit by the Iranian side to Armenia is of strategic importance from both political and economic perspectives and naturally it is not limited by signing protocols or standard procedures of working meetings.

In the roots of this visit is the first key step by Iran emerging after isolation seeking both Iran-Armenia and Iran-wider world new routes.

Armenia, and not necessarily only the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), is the first door of post-isolated Iran. In fact, Rouhanis next stops were in Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. This means that our republic finalizes its status of a threshold to the EAEU with its geographic and transit factors.

Probably, this factor could have worked during the years of isolation as well, bringing benefits for both Iran and Armenia.

The issue is more far-reaching and prospective, also with the following explanation. Iran sees Armenia as a direct door to the Black Sea and from there to Europe. This transit location of Armenia is a unique factor for Iran in the phase of its unblocking.

The Republic of Armenia is a land bridge linking the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea and is an unavoidable route for Iranian trade with the West.

Some opinions of Russias negative influence to halt this type of an increased understanding between Armenia and Iran were present in Armenian media landscape with some argumentations.

Naturally, it is not ruled out that particularly when speaking about gas supplies the Russian factor might have had a role in limiting the diameters of Iranian gas pipes. Anyway, it might be exaggerated to claim that it was because of the Russian pressures and fault of the Armenian side that such a high level visit was delayed for some time and only now took place.

Inter-state relations are mutually beneficial and the increase of the level of these relations has been closely related with choosing a period of mutually favorable political situation.

Iran had to wait for international decisions on lifting isolation (even with delay and prolonged) in order reaching to the Black Sea through our country made any sense. Being under sanctions and having no exit to Europe made little sense for Iran to use Armenias transit location.

Most probably, Iranian trade with Europe through Armenia will not be fully exempted from obstacles. But the trends are quite clear. Iran is in the phase of overcoming isolation for which the significance of Armenia becomes gradually vivid as a key bridge with no alternatives.

By the way, those who followed the process of Armenian-Iranian relations must have noted how vigorously the Armenian side started to intensify economic (also political-economic) relations with Iran after the mitigation of sanctions imposed on Iran. A number of Armenian officials started to pay visits to Tehran one after another. It should be also mentioned that the contribution of the Ambassador of Armenia to Iran in these developments is rather visible. No doubt, the Iranian leadership also reacted in a tantamount way.

And now we witness the results of the works done.

Inter-state relations will develop based on factors of bilateral interest, they will develop and reach the top level. Now is the preparatory phase of Irans overcoming the isolation and Armenias assuming the role of a key bridge.

Shahan Gantaharyan

Editor-in-chief of Lebanon-based Azdak daily
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The total investments in the sphere of urban development will amount to at least 500 million USD in 2017, Chairman of the State Urban Development Committee of Armenia Narek Sargsyan told the reporters on December 23.

We have great expectations in 2017 in terms of investments. Various projects are in the phase of elaboration, Sargsyan said.

According to him, there are some problems with Sevan hotel, premises of the Youth house and the Ministry of Education which need a solution.

Minister Sargsyan noted that talks are underway with potential investors to persuade them to implement investment projects in Jermuk, Gyumri and Ashtarak cities.

We are working in Akhtala to build an international village. We do our best that an investor could feel safe in Armenia and see how state agencies treat with them, he stated.
DENMARK  The Denmark Police Department has arrested and charged a Hampton area man for stealing items from 13 vehicles in the city since November, Chief Leroy Grimes reported at Denmark City Council's December meeting.

From November to the present, we had an individual from Hampton County. In three days, we had 12-13 vehicles damaged," Grimes said.

In addition, the suspect had outstanding warrants against him in Hampton, the police chief noted.

Also in his monthly report, Grimes noted that 58 new case files were created by the department from Nov. 21 through Dec. 19, which involved simple assault, burglary, shoplifting, larceny, vandalism of property, fondling, public disorderly conduct, driving under suspension and a traffic collision.

He reported Officer Joseph Dingle resigned to become police chief in the town of Gifford in Hampton County.

In other business, city accountant Rusty Munoz reported that through the end of November, the city had total revenue in excess of expenses of $44,716.29.

This is very good for this time of year, he said, adding that the auditors were pleased with the town's finances after reviewing them.

City Administrator Heyward Robinson reported Denmark's water system improvements project is scheduled to begin Jan. 2, replacing 6,480 feet of smaller water mains with new six-inch water mains along Cooper, Brooker, Mill and Sawdust streets and Rome Avenue. Five new fire hydrants will also be installed, he said.

These are continuations of things we have managed to do (in the past). The water project has several phases of completion," Mayor Dr. Gerald Wright said, noting the current pipes are aging or are smaller than modern ones.

There is still a lot of work to be done," Wright added.

Robinson also reported that architect McDonald Law is in the process of preparing drawings for the new Denmark City Hall.

The mayor noted during the meeting that Denmark's streetscape project was recognized during a Lower Savannah Council of Governments conference he attended.

Robertson reported the kick-off meeting for the extension of the streetscape project will be held the first part of 2017.

"A site survey will be conducted after that, and the first public workshop will be scheduled," the administrator reported. "A conceptual plan will be developed. A second public workshop will (also) be scheduled. Design drawings will be developed; construction documents will be developed. All needed permits will be acquired. The city of Denmark will be assisted by Stantec and Lower Savannah Council of Governments.

Councilwoman Bervay L. Carter, citing past, current and ongoing improvements, said, In my opinion, Denmark looks good.

When Councilwoman Hope Long Weldon mentioned she hoped the city would be able to add to its Christmas decorations in the future, Robinson responded that the city will be getting approximately 10 new Christmas decorations a year for the next few years as agreed upon by the council previously.

Also during the meeting:

Denmark Technical College's Dr. Yvette McDaniel of the Community Rural Arts initiative in the city announced the receipt of a grant from the S.C. Arts Commission for $1,000 and a Palmetto Pride grant of $2,500. She said the group's first public event focusing on children was held Dec. 21, with hot dogs served and the children making ornaments. McDaniel said the initiative will start its 5th Friday events in 2017 with its first one, featuring a magician and a singer, coinciding with the Dogwood Festival on March 31.

Denmark City Hall will be closed Dec. 23-27 for Christmas, it was announced.

In the absence of the fire chief, Robinson reported there were 15 fire calls, with an average of six firefighters responding to each, in November.
BELEN, N.M.  A historic Hispanic city in New Mexico has one in the center of town on public property. A small farming community in Colorado has another outside of a public park. A Pennsylvania city refused to take its display down despite a legal threat.

Across the county, annual disputes over displays celebrating the birth of Jesus on public land have pitted local residents against advocacy groups pushing separation of church and state. But after years of complaints, communities continue to resist demands that they remove public display celebrating the birth of Jesus from public property.

The moves come after town residents have rallied around the displays or conservative groups have offered legal assistance to keep displays up amid legal threats.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's a dead issue," said Jerah Cordova, the mayor of Belen, New Mexico, where a Nativity scene artwork sits year-round and was not taken down following threats of legal action last year. "The Nativity scene not only represents the history of our town, it represents our culture."

Belen  Spanish for Bethlehem  is a small city of 7,000 people and nearly 70 percent Latino. Last year, residents raised $50,000 for a festival in support of the display following a letter threatening legal action.

In Franklin, Pennsylvania, a city of 6,500, councilors last month voted to keep a decades-old Nativity scene in a city park after receiving an email from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. That foundation has sent similar letters warning municipalities that public Nativity scenes violated the separation of church and state.

Franklin's city councilors consulted lawyers and resolve the issue by agreeing to allow other secular Christmas decoration s in the park.

Officials in St. Bernard, Ohio, a suburban of Cincinnati, ignored a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation and opted to keep in place nativity scene displayed in front of City Hall.

In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania tourists visit to see miniature replicas depict various settings of the Nativity story. That display is run by the nonprofit, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites and is not connected to the city government.

In previous years, some municipalities pulled Nativity scenes after receiving complaints from the foundation. For example, officials in Wadena, Minnesota removed its decades-old traditional Nativity scene off public property following a letter from the foundation.

Supporters and opponents of the Nativity scenes agree that municipalities are fighting harder to protect the displays.

"We are seeing more municipalities digging in after learning about their rights," said Mat Staver, who heads the Florida-based Liberty Counsel, which offers the municipalities advice to protect them and volunteered free legal help for Franklin, Pennsylvania.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said more cities and towns simply ignore complaints that placing Christian art on public property violates the U.S. Constitution.

In recent years, conservative Christians have vocally complained about the secularization of Christmas, said Andrew Chesnut, the Bishop Walter F. Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

"We also are seeing a rural and city divide where rural areas are facing less resistance (to Nativity scenes) while there is more conflict in cities, which are more diverse," Chesnut said.

Gaylor said some cities and towns are getting around the conflict by setting up public spaces where volunteers can erect Nativity scenes along with secular Christmas displays. "But we don't think putting a couple of reindeer up near a Nativity scene solves the problem," Gaylor said.

Still, the pressure has forced some cities to scrap plans for Nativity scene displays. In Gig Harbor, Washington  a maritime city near Tacoma  officials blocked residents from putting up a display after getting a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That prompted a small protest in the city of 7,000 people this week from residents who wanted a Nativity scene.

When cities and state allow the public spaces, Gaylor said the foundation tries to submit its own display. In some states, the foundation put up a Nativity scene with James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and the Statue of Liberty. Instead of baby Jesus in a manger, the group put in place a copy of the Bill of Rights.

In New Mexico, Cordova predicted Belen will never remove its Nativity scene.

"It's here to stay," he said.
Regional Medical Center trustees met behind closed doors on Thursday to evaluate longtime President and CEO Tom Dandridge.

The meeting came a week after trustees voted to change the hospitals management contract with QHR, which employs Dandridge on RMCs behalf.

QHR Regional Vice President Frank Swinehart led Thursdays discussion in closed session, according to the board's agenda.

There was no public discussion about the matter. A vote was not taken when trustees returned to open session.

Following the meeting, hospital attorney Bob Horger did not provide any further details about the issue except to note that the board will take up the matter Tuesday.

The board has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 27 to specifically discuss the QHR contract. A vote is expected at that time.

RMC trustees last week voted 8-6 to enter into an advisory contract with QHR for the remaining two years of its contract.

Under an advisory contract, QHR would serve in an advisory and consultative role.

The change would allow the board to hire its own chief executive officer, instead of the position being filled by a QHR employee. The hospital would have about 90 days to retain a new CEO if QHR agrees to enter the advisory agreement.

Under the current contract, the hospital cannot employ the CEO that is placed in the hospital by QHR. Horger has said the change would allow the board to hire Dandridge.

The hospital has been in a management contract with QHR for over two decades.

The board is considering the change following a turn-around in the hospitals finances.

The hospital received about $2 million more than it spent during the last fiscal year. The hospital system, including Edisto Regional Health Services, lost $3.5 million the year before.

As the new fiscal year begins, RMC Finance Committee Chairman Matt Stokes said Thursday the hospital had another not-so good month."

"The major contributing factor to this is our investment portfolio not performing as well as anticipated," Stokes said. The portfolio lost about $744,000 for the month.

The hospital itself had a positive margin of $97,676 for the month and the total system had a total loss of a little over $1.3 million for the year, Stokes said.

But Stokes noted the hospital is $2.3 million ahead of where it was last year at this time when it had a loss of $3.7 million.

Hospital Chief Financial Officer Liza Porterfield said the losses in market value are unrealized."

"You don't recognize them until you sell the investments, but we are required every month to value the investment portfolio at the value at the end of the month," Porterfield said.

Porterfield said despite the challenging month, the hospital's operations are generating positive cash flow.

In other matters:

It was reported that the hospital had a computer outage for about five hours on the evening of Dec. 17.

RMC Chief Information Officer Jim Albin said the issue was isolated to the hospital's campus. He said changes are being made to address the issue.

Trustee Betty Henderson requested that trustees receive notification if another event should occur and requested the hospital communicate with the county when such an incident occurs.

Dandridge provided trustees an overview of the status of the Affordable Care Act.

"It is easy to repeal, it is hard to replace," Dandridge said. The ACA has meant 20 million people who were previously uninsured are now insured.

"Will the Republicans who are talking about repealing be willing to put those 20 million people back out in the streets uninsured? If that happens, hospitals everywhere will be hurting, Dandridge said.

Dandridge thinks the ACA may be repealed, but not for another three years until a new plan can be put in its place.

Dandridge said one of the weaknesses of Obamacare is that the penalty for not being insured is too low.

"What happens is young, healthy people don't buy insurance, but old guys like me with a bunch of chronic diseases buy insurance that throws up premiums and it forces insurance companies out of the exchanges," Dandridge said.

Trustees voted to enter into a three-year, $454,000 annual contract with Massachusetts-based Serena Group to help manage the hospital's wound care center and hypobaric oxygen therapy procedures.

Officials hope the new contract could mean an expansion in hospital wound care services.

Trustees entered into closed session to discuss the hospitals quality report and doctor and medical staff contracts.
Orangeburg City Council members say theyre happy with the improvements Warren Harley has brought to the Department of Public Utilities since he was named interim manager.

Hes done a phenomenal job, Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said. He has brought the morale back.

City Council voted to terminate the previous manager, Tommy Miller, on Nov. 7. Miller had officially retired in 2013 before state retirement rules changed, but continued to lead DPU.

Council members claimed Miller refused to read a report related to a June accident that led to the amputation of a linemans arms.

Harley, a former Orangeburg assistant city administrator, was selected by council to fill the empty position as interim manager until a permanent replacement can be found.

He began work on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Things are going well, Harley said.

He said he is making an effort to continue listening and assessing.

Since Harley joined DPU, employees seem to be happier and benefitting from working together, Butler said.

The morale at DPU is just what it should be, Councilwoman Liz Keitt said. We are just blessed to have him.

Butler said Harley has an open-door policy which has had a positive impact on relationships as well as business.

He meets with the directors every Monday, Butler said. They brief him on whats going on in their various departments.

Harley said, We meet regularly every week just to make sure that were communicating with each other and everybody knows whats happening in the organization.

If theres an opportunity to help or assist one another, they can get that out during the discussion.

Butler said Harley is also a reaching out to the community.

He is doing a good job in so many areas as far as the administrator, as far as making community contact, pulling the community together, Butler said. I just applaud him.

He added that Harley is out in the community talking to businesses.

Mr. Harleys doing a great job, City Administrator John Yow said.

Yow said they are working together on several projects, including some lighting projects, personnel projects and health and dental insurance renewal.

Things are going smoothly, he said.

Council has not started the process of finding a permanent replacement yet.

Theyre going to engage a full search process, Yow said.

Butler said, We are currently working to write the job description.

Keitt said council will take its time to find the best fit for DPU manager, but she believes Harley would be a good option if he is willing to accept.

He would be the kind of person we would love to take office, Keitt said.

When asked if he believed Harley would be a good choice, Butler simply said, I do.
For many years now, France, Turkey, Russia, America and other countries have kept their heads in the sand regarding the threats to every nation and people.

After the killing of 3,000 Americans in the World Trade Center towers, the ridiculous distraction of political correctness prevailed in the place of logical sound judgment of what was, and still is, at hand. After Americans eye witnessed these horrific 9-11 murders, why has it taken this long for us to face the truth on Islam, its teachings, the reason that Islamists want to kill us, and the motive of why this is happening?

The lack of common sense in the form of a smoke screen of political correctness has taken place, not only in France, Germany, Aleppo, Berlin, Switzerland and other parts of the world, but also in the United States for many years now. It has restrained truth and free speech. I swear, I have been so astounded at the years of lack of judgment and smoke screen of political correctness that I seriously dont know what it will take for human beings to wake up. Its like living in an insane asylum and accepting delusional peoples distortions as truth.

France has had for quite some time no go zones where the police could not enter. Hence, the terrorists were allowed to maintain their own Islamic territory and society within the country. This was a perfect base to organize jihadi activities and attacks, unchecked. We are now tragically seeing the disastrous results of this neglect of common sense and rational reason playing out, yet again, throughout the world.

Wake up, people! The Koran instructs to go in peacefully until you are in numbers to take them (people, nations) over.

This is the reason why innocents are being slaughtered.

Americans and the world are way past due on standing up to these down-right Satanic attacks on the innocents, due to the Barack Obama and Angela Merkels of the world. Common sense needs to prevail to protect not only the United States but the world.

No one, let me repeat, no one should tolerate the nonsense of political correctness. This liberal politically correct smoke-and-mirrors disease that has not only spread through our great nation but throughout the entire world has cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

There are many ways to destroy. The most strategic and offensive way is to lull people into a false sense of security and denial of what they know and see with their own eyes: Nothing to see here, move along.

I will also leave you with the following Koran scriptures:

Martyrdom is therefore the ONLY way for a Muslim to obtain forgiveness of sins -- Surat Al Tawbah 9:111

Jihad (fighting for Allahas cause) is ordained for you -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:216

Kill the Mushrikun (non-Muslims), wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush -- Surat Al-Taubah 9:5

They (non-Muslims) shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land -- Surat Al Maidah 5:33

And if you are killed or die in the Way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all that they amass -- Surat Al Taubah 9:111

And remember that the Koran instructs to go in peacefully until you are in numbers to take them over.

John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. There were no problems over state debt in 2016, neither will be in 2017, Armenpress reports Minister of Finance of Armenia Vardan Aramyan told in a press conference on December 23, summarizing year 2016.

The sources to gather the 150 billion AMD deficits are already clearly known. It is clearly mentioned from where how much we will take and the share of the domestic market in the deficit. Naturally, here we encounter the factor of debt service. In 2017 debt service costs will amount to 119 billion AMD. There are no risks of being unable to implement the debt service. The target in 2017 for all of us will be attracting new investments. The recent years have shown that our key weak point are the foreign investments which gradually dropped, and we have to reverse this trend to record rise, Vardan Aramyan said.

According to him, the first step for that is ensuring macroeconomic stability and conducting trustworthy macroeconomic policies. For the Minister, the state budget is reasonable and he adds that the budget inspire confidence among foreign investors as well.
I make it a point of not missing the annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, and this year was/is no different as it's a street pho...
The Wallilabou Anchorage Restaurant where the Austrian family had dinner during which time their yacht was burglarised. Left: Edmund Morris - Supervisor at the Wallilabou Anchorage Restaurant  is wary of the effects acts of theft and violence against tourists can have on the industry.

A call has been made for increased presence of the SVG Coast Guard in and around the more popular bays on mainland St. Vincent.





The call follows the most recent report of burglary of a yacht, Barda, moored in the Wallilabou Bay.

The yacht was burglarised last Saturday evening.





Reports are that around 8:30pm last Saturday, the occupants of the yacht, an Austrian family of six, returned to their vessel after having dinner onshore, only to find that it was in a mess.





The Austrian family had arrived on their chartered yacht from Martinique, some two days earlier.

Checks later revealed that a number of items were missing.





A report was made at the Barrouallie Police Station on the said night. The family visited with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Kingstown the following day.

The police confirmed that a report was made and the family reported losses inclusive of 5,635 Euros in valuables and $8,000 Euros in cash, as a result of the burglary.

The Austrian family departed St. Vincent, as scheduled, later that Sunday.





Restauranteur concerned





Edmund Morris - Supervisor at the Wallilabou Anchorage Restaurant where the Austrian family had dined that Saturday evening, is upset with what is taking place in the area, and has called for an increased presence of the Coast Guard.





Morris confirmed that the Austrian tourists were at the restaurant moments before finding out that their yacht was robbed. He said that the boat arrived on Thursday from Martinique. "I guess it would have been to the Grenadines before it come to Walliabou, said Morris. "They spend Thursday morning and Friday as well as Saturday, he further added.





Morris said that he is worried, since incidents like these can drive away tourists. He noted that the tourist season has just started, and admitted it has been slow, but he anticipates by next month there would be an increase in yacht arrivals.





In anticipation of the heightened activity at Wallilabou, Morris appealed to persons to desist from these sorts of crimes, since it only serves to affect the countrys tourism industry in a negative manner.

"If I have to talk to the persons who does these things, I would tell them to think about the country first before they think about themselves, and just think about the importance of tourism to this country, said Morris,

"Whatever bit of security to deter these persons will be important. The presence of the Coast Guard will make these persons (visitors) feel secure, the Supervisor appealed .He said that security is provided at the restaurant but not on the waters.





Morris boasted that Wallilabou is one of the main ports of entry for yachts visiting the Leeward side of St. Vincent, and has been since it was so designated some 15 years.

"People love the place and they normally return. They also enjoy the villages and interacting with the locals, he said.





He is of the opinion that whoever burglarized the yacht lives in the community. The perpetrators, according to him, had to know that the family was at the restaurant before they burglarized the yacht.

Second in charge at CID - Assistance Superintendent of Police Clastone Francis said that the police was investigating the matter which he described as an unfortunate one. "They came to enjoy themselves, and its a very unfortunate incident, said Francis, who promised that the investigation will be a vigorous one.

This latest robbery adds to a list of unbecoming acts in that area of mainland St. Vincent.

Readers will recall the killing of a German yachtsman in March 2016, on a yacht which was moored in Wallilabou.




Renwick Rose, even in retirement, continues to be a sought after and respected voice on behalf of civil society in the Caribbean.

Former Chairman of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), the regional umbrella network of civil society organisations, Mr Renwick Rose, represented Caribbean civil society at a seminar held in Brussels, December 6 and 7, to begin discussions on "Future perspectives for relations between the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries and the European Union (EU) after 2020.





The year 2020 is significant because in that year the current relationship agreement signed between the ACP and the EU at Cotonou in 2000, expires. No negotiations for a follow-up agreement have yet been held but must be concluded by the end of August 2018. Failure to reach agreement will have effect both on development assistance under the Cotonou agreement, as well as jeopardize the legal basis of the Economic Partnership Agreement signed between the Caribbean states and the EU in 2008, governing trade relations between these regions.





Mr Rose, was invited, along with counterparts from Africa and the Pacific, by the European-wide civil society network CONCORD, to begin to explore ideas as to what form any new ACP-EU agreement should take, bearing in mind the strengths and weaknesses of previous agreements, and to prepare a civil society input into the official discussions to ensure that any such agreement contribute to the advancement of the well-being of the people of the ACP states, especially the poor.





While in Brussels, Mr Rose also met with the two top officials of the ACP Secretariat in Brussels, Secretary General Mr P.I. Gomes, and Assistant Secretary General, Mr Emile Ogninmba. Those discussions centred on the need for full participation of ACP civil society in ACP development and in matters pertaining to ACP-EU relations. Specifically they discussed preparations for a planned meeting of ACP, civil society, private sector, and labour representatives to be held in the first half of next year.




Coreas Hazells Inc continues to make contributions to cultural activities here.





The most recent demonstration of this came when the SVG Nine Mornings Commiitte, organizer of Nine Mornings activities in Kingstown, received a sponsorship cheque of $5000.00 from the company.

The cheque was handed over by Marketing Coordinator of Coreas Hazells Inc. Mr. Ezzie Roberts to Deputy Chairman of the Committee Mr. Lennox Bowman.





Mr. Bowman expressed gratitude to Coreas Hazells Inc for their valuable contribution, saying, "The Nine Mornings Committee would like to sincerely thank Coreas Hazells Inc for their valued and worthwhile contribution.





Ezzie Roberts stated, "The sustenance of this unique Vincentian tradition is very important. We recognize the fact that the execution of such a costly venture depends heavily on the support of the private sector.

He continued, "We definitely recognize our corporate responsibility in this regard, hence our willingness to support wholeheartedly.





The funds will go directly to offsetting some of expenses of this years activities.

Coreas Hazells Inc is on record as having been an ongoing sponsor of activities organized by the SVG Nine Mornings Committee.





Mr. Roberts also took the opportunity to highlight the companys sponsorship of the Coulls Hill Nine Mornings Commiitee. A quantity of Christmas lights was donated for use in lighting up the location where the Coulls Hill Nine Mornings activities are being held.





Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Kenly Shallow received the items , and expressed thanks on behalf of his organization for the donation.
KFC St Vincent, under the management of (Ms) Tessa Glass, is a perfect example of charity within a business.





This Christmas season, KFC St Vincent felt the joy of sharing and with it, decided to dedicate time to orphanages around the country. On Monday the 19th December, some of KFCs workers journeyed to the Leeward and Windward parts of the Island, paying visits to three institutions that offer a diverse range of services to children, namely, St Benedicts Nursery and Childrens Home, Bread of Life, and Salvation Army Childrens Home.

In the spirit of Christmas, KFC brought Santa Claus and friends along for the visit. Gifts were distributed to all the children, as well as to the homes caretakers. KFC also fulfilled a wish list that was received from each home, which included groceries and things of the sort.





Even outside of the Christmas season, KFC is proud to be supporting the needs of those who are in challenging situations. They have been doing so since they reopened late last year. They regularly contribute/ donate things such as chicken to places like Red Cross, VinSave, Salvation Army, and a Soup Kitchen in Kingstown. Since the beginning of 2016, KFC has donated a total of 2,191 lbs of raw chicken and 1,789 lbs of cooked chicken.

KFC, along with its employees, are also contributing to the Sandy Bay Flood Relief. On Wednesday, they journeyed to Sandy Bay with food products, toiletries, clothing and the like, in an effort to bring relief to those who incurred losses of one kind or the other, during St Vincents recent floods. (Submitted by KFC)
Leacock: Review the damage assessment system St. Clair Leacock, MP for Central Kingstown, broached the recommendation that MPs should have a more direct involvement in the damage assessments process after storms, etc. The system in relation to damage assessments or complaints is flawed, and needs to be revisited.

Parliamentary Representative for Central Kingstown, St Clair Leacock, directed this point to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, during last week Thursdays Sitting of the House of Assembly.

Leacock made the point during deliberation on a question put to the prime minister, as to whether or not the capacity to assist with disaster relief could be enhanced if an institutionalized practice was put in place, to have the duly elected Parliamentary Representatives visit the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to lodge reports/complaints and contribute to damage assessments.

In giving his response, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves read from a statement issued by the Director of NEMO  Michele Forbes  in which she stated that the damage assessment and relief management process coordinated by NEMO was transparent and fair, and was conducted by trained professionals from the ministries of Transport and Works, Housing, National Mobilization and Finance. Other entities making input included the St Vincent Red Cross, she noted.

"NEMO has always been open to discussions with Parliamentary Representatives as to the needs of their constituents with respect to emergencies and building resilience, the Director wrote.

Forbes, however, went on to state that if an institutionalized practice for duly elected representatives to visit NEMO for damage assessment was to take effect, that this had the potential of leading to biases, distractions and chaos, and will hinder the process, as they will want the individual cases to be made priority. "This is the view of the professionals at NEMO; but clearly, it is always very helpful, and I urge public servants, to hold conversations with any parliamentary representatives who may wish to talk to them, and to draw to their attention certain matters for which the public servants have responsibility, Gonsalves said. He continued saying that the view must be held that there does not exist a suicide pact between politicians or parliamentarians on one hand, and public servants on the other.

"We have to work together . understanding our respective rules, and giving due consideration to everything, and I am quite sure that someone like the honourable member for Central Kingstown, who I might know from personal experience, has an interest of interfacing with public officials, unlike others who are not keen on interfacing, the views would be taken account of; I am quite sure of that.

But Leacock responded, saying that he did not agree with the submission made by the Director of NEMO, although he understood the logic behind the comment.

According to Leacock, he visited the office of the Director General of Finance and Planning, with respect to the Lives to Live programme, to get an understanding of how it can be accessed.

"The fact of the matter, we as representatives are the first port of call immediately after these trough systems, disasters, storms whenever they occur, and we are left helpless and hapless save and except for raising funds through radio-thons, visitations and clearly this is within your remit, that you revisit the public administrations modalities and mechanisms to see how they can enhance a faster and speedy response that makes people feel in the event of disasters they can really and truly speak to their representatives, he explained. (DD)

Reader Comments Kendal Coombs

DEC 29  Kendal Coombs I think the government should be prudent when getting involve in disaster activities as they do have the propensity to insert bias earmark programs to stricken areas in their districts or communities. Also they can botch disaster relief effort this can be best explained not by venal or incompetent leadership, but by the intrusive nature of bureaucracy and the incentive that accompany decision making. For example, if Saint Vincent is inundated by a major disaster like a volcanic eruption, or a tsunami, politicians will have difficulties harnessing the proper knowledge to control the situation furthermore, they can make matters worse. In other words Government meddling into disaster relief activities are prone to unintended consequences. I have read reports from the disaster in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina and clearly experts should be the standard bearer is such an event. On the other hand there are things government can do. They can analyze and disseminates critical information to facilitate response and recovery operations and manage and coordinate food, shelter and first-aid for victims. Also provides bulk distribution of relief supplies; operates a system to assist family reunification and relief agencies. Anything outside those responsibilities can cause things to go dangerously wrong. I think while the professionals at (NEMO) do what they do best, fluid communication must flow between the Government the Agency anything short of that will cultivate mistrust or culpability of shady actions. Finally, as disasters become more frequent and destructive as a result of climate change, and man destructive nature, preparedness must be a mean to an end. We all know that man has no solution to the destructive force of Mother Nature, but list below are some suggestion that can lessen causalities. So let be pragmatic in case of a disaster and avoid the squabbling.  Saint Vincent is a hilly island and those people who live on those hills are vulnerable from land slide if rain fall continuously.  After a disaster what is the absence of alternative livelihood? With the scarce resource on the Island logistics must be in palace to accommodate the event.  Houses that are on stilts are extremely vulnerable therefore people should knowledge in the event of a disaster. Also, people in low lining or coastal areas e.g. Arnos Vale, Kingstown etc. If there is an earthquake 6 or a 7, that might trigger a tsunami, those people must have procedures in place for evacuation.  History tell us that Saint Vincent do get it share of hurricane, if a category 3 or a 4 hit the island, it will cause general poverty in the island or environmental degradation. The above mentioned calamities can cause cataclysmic results on the infrastructure, economy, and even human lost. So while I like the spirited dialogue between the entities, the bigger picture is the survival and coordination a frame work on what to do if there is a disaster.

Vinci Vin

DEC 25  It is quite depressing to note that SVG continues to lack leaders with the basic commonsense to see that the dependence on government for disaster relief is unsustainable. Government must not continue this practice of dependency. Instead, a prudent leader would encourage citizens to rely on private property and health insurance to manage their own risks. On the other hand, Government should put its efforts towards economic development that would create gainful and sustainable employment for its citizens. Let private insurers bear the risks. Of course, if we take away the ability of government to use natural disasters as opportunities to beg for financial aid and to plead for mercy based on the inability of the nation to finance its own projects, then we also take away opportunities for crooked politicians to skim money off the top of funds that should have gone to the victims of disasters. vin

submit your comments

DEC 29  Kendal Coombs I think the government should be prudent when getting involve in disaster activities as they do have the propensity to insert bias earmark programs to stricken areas in their districts or communities. Also they can botch disaster relief effort this can be best explained not by venal or incompetent leadership, but by the intrusive nature of bureaucracy and the incentive that accompany decision making. For example, if Saint Vincent is inundated by a major disaster like a volcanic eruption, or a tsunami, politicians will have difficulties harnessing the proper knowledge to control the situation furthermore, they can make matters worse. In other words Government meddling into disaster relief activities are prone to unintended consequences. I have read reports from the disaster in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina and clearly experts should be the standard bearer is such an event. On the other hand there are things government can do. They can analyze and disseminates critical information to facilitate response and recovery operations and manage and coordinate food, shelter and first-aid for victims. Also provides bulk distribution of relief supplies; operates a system to assist family reunification and relief agencies. Anything outside those responsibilities can cause things to go dangerously wrong. I think while the professionals at (NEMO) do what they do best, fluid communication must flow between the Government the Agency anything short of that will cultivate mistrust or culpability of shady actions. Finally, as disasters become more frequent and destructive as a result of climate change, and man destructive nature, preparedness must be a mean to an end. We all know that man has no solution to the destructive force of Mother Nature, but list below are some suggestion that can lessen causalities. So let be pragmatic in case of a disaster and avoid the squabbling.  Saint Vincent is a hilly island and those people who live on those hills are vulnerable from land slide if rain fall continuously.  After a disaster what is the absence of alternative livelihood? With the scarce resource on the Island logistics must be in palace to accommodate the event.  Houses that are on stilts are extremely vulnerable therefore people should knowledge in the event of a disaster. Also, people in low lining or coastal areas e.g. Arnos Vale, Kingstown etc. If there is an earthquake 6 or a 7, that might trigger a tsunami, those people must have procedures in place for evacuation.  History tell us that Saint Vincent do get it share of hurricane, if a category 3 or a 4 hit the island, it will cause general poverty in the island or environmental degradation. The above mentioned calamities can cause cataclysmic results on the infrastructure, economy, and even human lost. So while I like the spirited dialogue between the entities, the bigger picture is the survival and coordination a frame work on what to do if there is a disaster.DEC 25  It is quite depressing to note that SVG continues to lack leaders with the basic commonsense to see that the dependence on government for disaster relief is unsustainable. Government must not continue this practice of dependency. Instead, a prudent leader would encourage citizens to rely on private property and health insurance to manage their own risks. On the other hand, Government should put its efforts towards economic development that would create gainful and sustainable employment for its citizens. Let private insurers bear the risks. Of course, if we take away the ability of government to use natural disasters as opportunities to beg for financial aid and to plead for mercy based on the inability of the nation to finance its own projects, then we also take away opportunities for crooked politicians to skim money off the top of funds that should have gone to the victims of disasters. vin


At press time Wednesday, police were investigating two homicides which occurred in less than a 24-hour period.





The latest of these occurred around 5:30pm on Wednesday, December 21, when Ancito Cito Balcombe, 36, of Georgetown, died after receiving a stab wound to the neck at Georgetown.





Details of the circumstances surrounding Balcombes death were still unclear up to press time.

That incident occurred hours after Avi-Donna McKenzie-Williams, a 36-year-old mother of four from Chapmans Village, in the South Central Windward district, was reportedly approached by a young man and chopped in the neck. She died subsequently.





That incident took place at Chapmans Village, around 10:45pm last Tuesday, December 20, in the vicinity of a shop owned by McKenzie-Williams father.

A young man is in custody and assisting the police with their investigations in connection with that matter. Meanwhile, a police release late Wednesday, said that they have launched an investigation into the death of Desroy Richards of Pole Yard, Arnos Vale.

Richards was reportedly shot while attacking a police officer with a cutlass, on Wednesday morning. The release said that preliminary investigations indicated that the police officer approached the 35-year-old male at his home at Pole Yard about 6:30am, December 21. He was informed that he was wanted as a suspect in relation to a November 23, 2016 robbery, as well as a series of burglaries.

Richards apparently grabbed a cutlass and attacked the police who immediately fired a warning shot into the air, but Richards continued his approach. The police officer then shot at Richards, wounding him in his side. He was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Post mortem examinations are to be performed on the victims.




SVG is talking to airlines but is yet to firm up any real agreement for service to SVG.

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is, presently, unable to provide reliable figures as per the comparative cost paid by neighbouring countries for international flights to their destinations.





This the Prime Minister all but admitted in a response to a question on the issue, posed by Representative for Central Kingstown, St Clair Leacock, at the Thursday 15th December sitting of Parliament.





In responding as the Minister responsibility for the relevant portfolio, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves disclosed that the government has been trying to obtain these figures but has not been getting reliable information.





Requests have been made of St Lucia, Barbados, St Kitts, Antigua and Jamaica, and the attendant research is being paid for from the tourism budget.





Dr. Gonsalves did explain, however, that the cost paid to international airlines to service SVG, would depend on the number of airlines concerned.





And as far as airlines were concerned, the PM informed the Parliament that government was negotiating with one carrier from the United States. No agreement has been consummated with that airline, which has requested a three-month lead and a letter of credit to an amount of US$1 million.





"You may not pay the amount, but that is the letter of credit in respect of if any short fall of agreed numbers which you may have, Dr. Gonsalves said, adding that a similar agreement was being done for a Canadian airline.





But, "this was something that we anticipated, because in opening an international airport, and especially for us where we have not had one before, we have to test a number of systems, the PM added.

The immediate plan, according to Dr Gonsalves, would be to begin operations with airlines which currently serve SVG, including LIAT and Amerijet.





As far as a date for opening the airport at Argyle, Dr Gonsalves says that he has a date in mind, but this would be dependent on a few things, including the need for airlift. (DD)
Since the commencement of the Buccament Bay Resort, the New Democratic Party has been consistently raising concerns about Dave Ames and Harlequin.





The manner in which the project was conceptualized and executed left much to be desired. Today, Buccament Bay Resort is an embarrassment to the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration.





At the onset, there was disagreement over the lands for the project, and allegations of bribery. At a Press Conference on Wednesday 20th February, 2013, the Honourable Arnhim Eustace made the following statement about Dave Ames and Harlequin: "Mr. Ames and Harlequins project here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bucccama Resort, has had a troubled history. Locally, the project has been plagued by labour and land ownership disputes, litigation by investors, and arrears owed to vendors, combination of which has prompted questions as to whether the government of St. Vincent and did thorough due diligence in its assessment of Dave Ames and Harlequin. I have, on many occasions, publicly called upon the project to honour its debts to local contractors and workers, with little success. Internationally, UK investors have instituted legal proceedings which have attracted coverage by British and regional press. Most recently, allegations of bribery against the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in relation to the project are causing unease among Vincentians locally and in the Diaspora, and have cast a pall over St.Vincent and the Grenadines landscape.

During the construction phase, the project attracted regional and international attention, but the ULP regime failed to investigate and address the critical issues that were affecting the project. Again on Wednesday 19th February, 2014, speaking at a Press Conference, the Honourable Arnhim Eustace addressed the issue. He said, "We all know that the Harlequin Development Buccament Bay has been a troubled project. We know that lawsuits have been filed against the company and against its principals in the United Kingdom and locally.

Today I can tell you that a UK based Law Firm Carter Lemon Camerons LLP represents 23 UK claimants and one US claimant, in a group action against David Ames and Carol Ames proceeding in the High Court in London. The claimants are all investors in various Harlequin developments at Buccama here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. David Ames, we remember, is the sole director of Harlequin Developments and was granted Vincentian Citizenship by the Prime Minister.





"Carol Ames is his wife and Matthew Ames is their son. The UK and US claimants alleged that Mr. and Mrs. Ames are responsible for a number of false statements that were made, in order to persuade investors to purchase off plan properties at Buccament and elsewhere. One of the allegations is that Mr. and Mrs. Ames claimed there was bank finance behind the project when there was not.





"Another allegation is that Mr. and Mrs. Ames falsely claimed that their investors would all be offered guaranteed mortgage finance on completion. It is also alleged that Mr. and Mrs. Ames represented that they owned the land on which they were selling properties when this was not always the case. A further allegation is that the Harlequin scheme was sold in breach of the UK law on promotion of investments, set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.





"Mr. and Mrs. Ames deny all the allegations and are defending the claim. The claim brought on behalf of these twenty-four people is against Mr. and Mrs. Ames in person. Mr. and Mrs. Ames assets are frozen to a value of 2.5m pending the outcome of this matter. Their son, Matthew Ames, who I am told was previously employed as a manager at Buccament Bay, was convicted on multiple counts of fraud in Isleworth Crown Court in London last week. The frauds, totaling around 1.6m, related to various phony "green Investment Opportunities, and were not related to the Harlequin companies. We have been informed that Matthew Ames has been remanded in custody. We understand he was initially held at H.M. Wormwood Scrubs prison in London. We continue to watch the Harlequin Development at Buccament with much concern.





As we watched the project develop, Dave Ames absconded, departing this country owing the government over seven (7) million dollars, after he failed to appear in court on tax evasion charges. It would appear that very little is being done by the relevant authorities to have him return to the country to answer his charges.

The embarrassment continued recently, when the St, Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC) disconnected the Buccament Bay Resort, leaving the resort in darkness. It was reported that the resort owed VINLEC close to $2 million. We wonder how much is owed the Central Water and Sewerage Authority.





Moreover, the ULP regime allowed poor and working class Vincentians to suffer. They worked for months unpaid at Buccament Bay Resort, and they will not be paid for Christmas. These workers have families to maintain, bills to pay, mortgages to pay and children to send to school. What will they do? The government failed to intervene in a timely manner to assist the workers.





But what is even more devastating, is the negative effect that the recent development at the Buccament Bay Resort will have on our tourism product, at a time when our tourism is on the decline. Already there has been negative feedback from guests at the resort.





The situation is totally unacceptable, and members of the ULP regime who were at the forefront of the project must now hang their heads in shame.





We have witnessed another failed project under the ULP administration. The project that was to complement the Argyle International Airport; the project that was to be the flagship of tourism on the mainland is closed and now in receivership.





The ULP regime must be held responsible for what occurred at the resort. As a result, the question that still lingers on most Vincentians mind is: Was thorough due diligence conducted on David Ames?
BY MAX HAYES & PETER CAHILL

EDWARD JOHN HERBERT, who has died at the age of 85, was a popular policeman, and latterly industrial advocate in PNG and Queensland.

A former rear gunner in an RAF Lancaster bomber flying sorties over Europe in World War II, he was appointed to the Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary in Port Moresby in 1949 as an assistant sub-inspector of police.

Later transferred to Rabaul as sub-inspector and later inspector, he undertook sensitive special duties.

After serving briefly in Lae, Wau and Kundiawa he studied at the University of Queensland and earned a BA and a Diploma of Public Administration. He returned to Port Moresby as Licensing Inspector with the Liquor Licensing Commission before joining the Department of Labour as an Industrial Relations Officer.

John represented PNG, and also mentored trainee local officers, at an International Labour organisation conference in Switzerland in 1970. After training his local successor, he retired as Chief of Division (Industrial Relations) in 1976 and left PNG.

In Australia he was appointed Industrial Officer for the West Australian Colleges of Advanced Education, and later to a similar position in Brisbane where he became Industrial Advocate for Queensland Colleges of Advanced Education.

Retiring again, he joined a writers group in Brisbane and entertained members with thinly-disguised tales of his life in pre-World War II London and post-war Rabaul.

He is survived by his wife, Kath, daughters Carla and Cherry and their families, son Tony and his family, and son Kieran. He had six grandchildren and one great-grand-child.

John was unique, a one-off, respected and trusted by friends, colleagues and villains, always willing to help and advise.

Novice coppers could not have had a truer friend a colleague wrote; nor could the Papua New Guineans he guided into their pre-and post-Independence careers.
by The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association





Issue one





The St Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVG HRA) has a mission to promote the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, through education, training, representation, documentation and advocacy, and by networking to influence the Government and other agencies on the issues mentioned above.





It, therefore, supports the issue of Environmental Democracy as a Human Rights issue, agreed to by the UN at its conference in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, since it addresses the equal and meaningful public participation in decision making and programming of land and natural resource decisions, which speak to three mutually reinforcing rights: the right to freely access information on environmental quality & problems; the right to participate meaningfully in decision making; and the right to seek enforcement of environmental laws or compensation for harm.





Environmental Democracy also speaks to the involvement and participation of marginalized and vulnerable groups, which the SVG HRA considers a critical step to promoting equity and fairness in sustainable development.





The St Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association, therefore, endorses the sentiment that without meaningful exchange between Government and the public, inclusive of the media, on Environmental Issues, communities will be stifled and decisions that are detrimental to the public WILL NOT BE challenged or remedied. The Association calls on ALL Vincentians to learn more about Environmental Democracy: "Principle 10 of the Rio declaration; the right to know!





Issue two

In the preceding section, the Association spoke to the term "Environmental Democracy (ED), which specifically addresses three basic rights, as enshrined in Article 10 of the Rio declaration, i.e. the right to: freely access information on environmental quality and problems; participate meaningfully in decision making; seek enforcement of environmental laws or compensation for harm.

The term Environmental Democracy speaks to:





i. the involvement of ALL persons within a community, country or nation whose daily lives reflect the quality of the environment,





ii. the fact that the environmental issues MUST be addressed by ALL those that are affected by their outcome, not just by Government and industrial sectors,





iii. the principle of equal rights for ALL involved in the environment debate, including public, community groups, advocates, industrial leaders, Workers, Governments, academics and health professionals,

iv. participation in environmental decision making is as important as in education, health care, finance and Government for all those whose daily lives reflect the quality of their environment,





v. A policy of "Right to know; the provision of information to members of the public, so that citizens can become active participants in identifying and resolving issues at both local and national levels is suggested & endorsed,





vi. emphasis such that, just as consumers are demanding knowledge of what is in the food they eat and the medicines they take, so too they HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE AIR THEY BREATHE; THE WATER THEY DRINK AND THE LAND ON WHICH THEY LIVE & PLAY,

vii. the demand for communities to be aware of what chemicals are shipped along their roads, placed in landfills, or stored for future use,





viii. recognition for the "Right to Know, as it will lead ALL nations to a healthier, sustainable environment.





Issue three





In the two previous sections, the Association focused on the origin and terminology of Environmental Democracy.





It further expounded and highlighted Article 10 of the Rio declaration which speaks to three fundamental rights: access to information; access to public participation; and access to justice.

These access rights are critical in promoting transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability on environmental governance.





The first right, which is access to information, always serve to empower citizens so that they are able to participate fully in decision and policy making processes, once they have the prescribed, requisite knowledge.

Citizens participation is critical in addressing local or national issues, specifically those of an environmental nature, as this leads not only to contributing solutions, inclusive of policy adoption and legislation, but also those that are sensitive to sustainability.





The final right; Access to Justice, facilitates the ability of the public to enforce their right to participate, to be informed and to hold regulators & polluters accountable for environmental harm.

So, what can you do to promote Environmental Democracy?

i. Speak to your relatives and friends about it;





ii. Explain to them what you understand by the term "ED; Get involved in Environmental issues; those that affect you; at home, school, or community;





iii. As a student, think of it as a CPEA/CSEC topic to study/research;

iv. Form an ED group at school, church or community and speak to "the Right to know,

v. Become an ED activist, a Human Rights advocate on ED.




Members of the triumphant Western Division celebrating their victory. Right: A section of the gathering at the Police Caroling.

The Western Division of the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has maintained their unbeaten record as champions of the Police Cooperative Credit Union Police Caroling Contest.





"Four in a row! Four in a row! the excited group chanted after being crowned champions at the event, which took place at the Central Police Station last Friday night.





The Western Division, headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Enville Williams, copped the 2016 title with the songs The First Noel and Its Christmas, to add to their titles in 2012, 2013, 2014 and now 2016.

Newcomers to the contest, SVG Teachers Co-operative Credit Union, ran a close second to the winners, with their renditions Oh Holy Night and Its Christmas Again.





Third position went to the Cadets, who sang Drummer Boy and Christmas Trouble.

Western Division also took the Best Speech, Best Traditional Song and Best Original Songs awards.

The award for Best Turnout group went to the Criminal Investigations Department.





The Junior Category was won by Petit Bordel Police Youth Club with Oh Come All Ye Faithful. Second place went to Bequia Police Youth Club who did Hark the Herald Angels, and third to Layou Police Youth Club, with Angels We Have Heard On High.





The Central Police Station yard was a hive of activity, with persons from all walks of life in attendance.

Seven groups took part in the Seniors Category, while four took part in the Juniors Category.
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My sisters and I revelled in the bounty of that day, which ranged from opening our stockings on Christmas morning and discovering sixpenny pieces in the Christmas cake and pudding.

When we came to Australia, my mother brought all these English traditions with her and, despite the usually blistering heat on Christmas Day, insisted on serving lashes of hot, stodgy English Christmas fare.

They were farmers and they celebrated a traditional English Christmas. They fattened a goose for dinner and they began making the Christmas cake and pudding months before the event.

My father was Irish but my mother was English and we lived near her family in Suffolk before coming to Australia.

AT ABOUT this time nearly 50 years ago I arrived in Mount Hagen as a callow 19 year old cadet patrol officer. It would be my first Christmas away from home.

Some of my childhood years were decidedly lean but at Christmas time we still managed to eat well and receive gifts, even it was a repainted second hand bicycle fitted with new tyres.

I had taken part in a similar celebration the year before I left for Papua New Guinea but the outlook for Christmas cheer as I arrived in the Territory looked decidedly bleak.

Those of us who had been sent to the Western Highlands had spent a couple of days in the local hotel and, a couple of weeks before Christmas, been despatched to our various postings around the district.

I was supposed to remain in Mount Hagen working out of the Sub-District Office but had been sent to the Nebilyer Valley to rebuild a bridge swept away in a flood.

It looked like my first Christmas in Papua New Guinea would be spent by myself in a rest house in the sticks.

With the bravado common to young men of 19, I shrugged off my fate. I was, after all, a kiap and we were tough and unsentimental.

Christmas Day dawned. I had sent home all the villagers working on the bridge for a few days rest so I stayed in bed until the chill highland air had dissipated and been replaced by the welcoming rising sun.

I was pottering around the rest house when I heard what sounded like a car horn in the distance. I listened for a while and then got on with what I was doing.

Then the honking started again, this time a lot closer. I walked out to the road and stared both ways. Then out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a Land Rover in the distance.

As the vehicle got closer I could see it was swerving this way and that and appeared to be draped with flowing rolls of toilet paper. Following it was another Land Rover covered similarly in bilas.

The two vehicles dipped down to cross the temporary ford in the river and then charged up the slope to the rest house.

Both vehicles were loaded with red-faced kiaps and a solitary didiman, none of whom I knew. Also jammed in the vehicles were an assortment of policemen, interpreters and sundry villagers.

An SP beer was thrust into my hand and I was told to grab a few clothes and climb aboard. I signalled to my police and interpreter and they ran to get their things.

Where are we going? I shouted to the three kiaps in the front seat. They were engaged in a rollicking abortion of a Christmas carol that include the line, We wish you a merry syphilis and a happy gonorrhoea.

They stopped singing and turned around.

Hagen mate! Its bloody Christmas!

And it was. One of the most memorable for many years to come.
By Azernews





December 24 marks the 55th birthday anniversary of President Ilham Aliyev, a true leader and bright politician of our time.





President Aliyev took huge responsibility on his shoulder in his young ages, but could become one of few young and successful leaders in the world.





Coming to state power in the age of 42, Ilham Aliyev could recommend himself as a talented state leader, pragmatic politician and farsighted economic modeler. Based on the political and economic background of the country created by national leader Heydar Aliyev, he was able to bring the young democratic nation up through revolutionary reforms. His tremendous efforts for the economic growth of the country yielded results even in the first years. High GDP growth rate achieved in the first years of his presidential office continues to this day.





Standing at the helm of the state back in 2003, young and ambitious politician Ilham Aliyev had many far-reaching plans. In a short time, he has managed to ensure a rapid economic breakthrough of the country.





Today, Azerbaijan's economy is the 46th among the world's economies. Poverty and unemployment rate, which was 49 percent, not long ago, has now declined to 6 and 5.2 percent respectively.





It is worth to note that Azerbaijan is making significant economic progress in a time when the countrys 20 percent of lands is still under Armenian occupation.





The reforms carried out in the country over the past years by President Aliyev, diversification of the country's economy, social policy, oil strategy, and proper use of budget revenues, all served to rapid development of the country.





At a time when oil prices slumped down considerably on world markets, resource-rich Azerbaijan is facing quite big challenges to develop its economy. In this regard, President Aliyev makes great effort to bring the country out of financial crisis by taking important actions aimed at the development of non-oil sector of Azerbaijan.





One of the most important areas of reforms envisages promoting businessmen, in particular, producers of agricultural products.





The president has initiated 'Made in Azerbaijan' brand to help the country access world markets to ensure the inflow of currency into the country, which is a prerequisite to save the economy from oil dependence.





Energy policy pursued by President Aliyev paved the way for transforming and diversifying the Azerbaijani economy.





Looking back the path left behind, one can easily conclude that President Aliyev is fully committed to continue the course, pledged in 1994 with the signing of the historic "Contract of the Century". He is the very initiator of new global economic projects able to change the energy map of Europe.





With strict purpose of creating a highly competitive economy Ilham Aliyev strongly supports the initiatives targeting the development of advanced areas, determining the scientific and technical progress. Developing space industry and information technology, as well as creation of modern industrial parks are all together push the process significantly ahead.





Some 7-8 years ago, very few people believed Azerbaijan could launch its own satellite into orbit. But today it is a reality, helping Azerbaijan to enter the global space club.





"The development of information and communication technologies will identify and ensure our future success," stressed Ilham Aliyev, when in 2013 the first Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite "Azerspace-1" was launched into orbit. Today, one of the most important challenges facing the country is the launch and orbiting of the second telecommunications satellite "Azerspace-2".





A "field" for corruption and bribery was significantly narrowed due to the brilliant invention of President Aliyev's team -- "ASAN Service" established in 2012. The innovative Azerbaijani model of public service delivery provides venues for state agencies to render their services in a uniformed and coordinated manner and so far more than 10 million people have benefited its services.





President Aliyev had made great contributions to the largest transit project Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which was successfully commissioned transporting Caspian oil to foreign markets.





Under the pragmatic leadership of President Aliyev, Azerbaijan became an initiator country. The Trans-Anatolian and Trans-Adriatic pipeline projects - the world's largest energy projects - are the brainchildren of Ilham Aliyev, able to change the energy map of the region and Europe.





Moreover, thanks to the policy pursued by the head of state, Azerbaijan is becoming an important logistics center. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is very promising in this context.





Modernizing the economy, reviving the industry and raising the agriculture, the President is not neglecting the issues of development of rich culture, literature and art of the nation.




By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have held consultations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea in Baku.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov represented Azerbaijan, while ambassador-at-large at the Foreign Ministry Zulfiya Amanzholova attended the consultations on behalf of Kazakhstan.

The two discussed articles of a draft Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea and other related issues.

The diplomats emphasized the necessity of increasing joint efforts to hold the next meeting of the special working group at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral states on complete coordination of the draft Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea and preparation of the Convention in Ashgabat ahead of the next summit of heads of the Caspian littoral states.

The legal status of the Caspian Sea has remained unsolved for over 20 years, preventing development and exploitation of its disputable oil and gas fields and creating obstacles to the realization of major energy projects.

The Caspian basin is extremely rich with oil and gas resources and has caused an uneasy relationship between all littoral states.

Iran seeks an equal division of the Caspian into 5 even sectors, mainly because most of offshore energy resources are located away from the Iranian coastline. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan reject the proposal on division of the seabed based on median lines,and instead backs giving each state a share proportional to its coastline length.

Turkmenistan also demands division of the Sea into equal parts between the pre-Caspian countries so that each country must have 20 percent of the sea.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently announced that Moscow expects that a convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea to be signed at the fifth Caspian Summit to take place in Kazakhstans Astana in 2017.
By Azernews

By Nigar Abbasova

High-ranking officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Kyrgyzstan discussed bilateral ties and inked a number of cooperation documents as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Bishkek as a final part of his regional tour.

The Iranian president and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev held talks on bilateral, regional and international issues at the Kyrgyz presidential palace. The talks focused on Iranian investments in the Kyrgyz economy, gradual introduction of visa-free travel between the two countries, and joint efforts to combat terrorism.

The countries inked five deals to develop the relations in different fields, including ICT, healthcare, culture and arts, social affairs, and combating the drug trafficking. Moreover, the countries also signed the Program of long-term cooperation between the countries for 2016-2026.

Following the talks, Atambayev said that the two countries should create joint ventures in various economic sectors.

We have also expressed joint interest in the construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran railroad. It will be one of the main issues during my upcoming visits to Uzbekistan and China, he mentioned.

Rouhani, in turn, said that he supports the idea.

Atambayev further said that his country backs Irans joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), whose member states are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, while Iran has observer status.

Kyrgyzstans view of Irans intention to join the SCO as a full member is positive and the country welcomes Irans will. We believe, regarding Irans potential, that the countrys membership can improve the organizations stance in the world, he said.

Irans full membership is expected to be put on agenda of the next SCO conference. Iran applied for full SCO membership in March 2008, but membership was denied due to UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. After the UN sanctions were lifted in January this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Chinas support for Irans full membership in the organization.

Moreover, the two heads of states also promised to resolve the issue of introducing flights between the two countries. The Iranian president further pointed to the two countries plan to revoke the visa regime in three phases for business purposes, tourism and other ordinary trips, respectively.

Furthermore, the Iranian president said that they are also interested in the construction of hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan, as well as cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals and advanced technologies.

He also emphasized the importance of the creation of a free trade zone between Iran and Kyrgyzstan which is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, mentioning that Iran is also aimed at rapprochement with the EAEU and free trade with it.

The Iranian side hopes this question could be on agenda of the EAEU summit due on December 26.

Rouhani said that Kyrgyzstan is one of the countries that enjoy very friendly relations with Iran ever since Kyrgyzstan acquired its sovereignty.

Iran was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Kyrgyzstan and we are interested in strengthening of our relations, he said.

Trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Iran amounted to $11 million in JanuarySeptember 2016.
By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan can receive flights from a new Zhukovsky airport of Russia in 2017, said Eugene Solodilin, Deputy Director General, Ramport Aero OJSC.

Solodilin noted that the flights from the airport will not performed only to CIS states, but also to countries in Europe and Asia. In January-February we will gather all information and from March we will come to a more serious level. For this, we will gradually add destinations - Baku, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Solodin said.

Timing and directions of the first long-distance international flights from Moscows Zhukovsky airport are now known. In the spring of 2017, the aircraft will fly to Israel (Tel Aviv) and Turkey (Istanbul and Antalya), izvestia.ru states.

He suggested that flights to Antalya will begin from April or May. Transportation of passengers to Turkey will be carried out by the Pegasus airline, which intends to provide daily flights to Istanbul and Antalya.

Ural Airlines, Yamal, VIM-Avia and Ikar airlines are also interested in flights from Zhukovsky airport, while negotiations with Hungarian Wizz Air and other companies are currently underway. The name of the base carrier of the airport will be defined in the second half of 2017.

Solidilin called satisfactory the results of the work of Zhukovsky airport in 2016.

Zhukovsky airport is Moscow's fourth international airport. After the 2014-2016 reconstruction there was the official opening of Zhukovsky International Airport on May 30, 2016. The declared capacity of the new airport was 4 million passengers per year. As of December 2016 flights from the Zhukovsky International airport are being served by 5 airlines to 6 destinations in Russia and CIS.

Currently, several Russian air carriers operate flights to Azerbaijan's capital Baku and some other cities of the country. Over the past year, Azerbaijan received over 2 million tourists, 685,000 of whom were guests from Russia, and this figure is expected to rise following 2016.
Berger Paints, a leading paint manufacturing company with a global presence, has launched its new campaign Colours of Arabia, which celebrates the unique culture and traditions of the Middle East, its timeless landscape, and the national pride of its people.



The initiative complements the UNs declaration of 2016 as the year for Travel for All - Improving Universal Accessibility through series of nine short films.



The web-series is a set of two-minute films, woven around an intensely emotional and heartwarming narrative, in Arabic with English sub-titles, said a statement from Berger.



Featuring landmark structures and geographical landscapes, including deserts, wadis, creeks and beaches, the web-series highlight the journey of a visually impaired young girl with her grandfather, her Jiddoo.



Through the journey Jiddoo connects heritage, culture and landscape with colours through verbal narration, feel and touch. The films not only connect with the emotions of the viewers but also help to demystify that people with visual disability can also enjoy and experience physical and natural beauties present around them through their special sensory powers, it stated.



Aseem Doshi, the general manager, Berger Paints said: "The Arabian peninsula is rich, both in terms of its art, culture and heritage as well as its singular terrain. Equally fascinating is the way the people of this land revel in its uniqueness, and celebrate it."



"We want this campaign to reflect the spirit of the Middle East through its vivid hues, its people and its stories. With these web-series, we want to reach out to build a link between the people of this beautiful land and its heritage. Colours of Arabia weaves in our respect for this great land with our mission to support and raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities across communities," he added.



In the GCC, Berger Paints has dedicated factories and research and development (R&D) centres in Bahrain, Oman and the UAE. Its comprehensive ranges of architectural, wood and protective coatings have all been tailored to meet the challenges of the regions extreme weather conditions.-TradeArabia News Service
Lite-Tech Industries, a joint venture between Masharie, a subsidiary of Dubai Investments and Philips Lighting, has inaugurated the first-of-its-kind complete LED fixtures manufacturing unit in the region, reinforcing its leadership in the energy-efficient LED lighting segment.



This manufacturing unit, set up in Ras Al Khor Industrial Area in Dubai (UAE), was inaugurated in the presence of chairman of the board of directors of Lite-Tech Industries Abdulaziz Bin Yagub Al Serkal; board members of Masharie & Philips and company officials, said a statement from the company.



Lite-Tech Industries, which has 23 years expertise in the sector, also announced that the new facility will manufacture nearly 400,000 LED fixtures in the first year, it said.



Built with an investment of Dh3 million ($816,759), the company plans to scale up its capacity to nearly to 600,000 LED fixtures by 2019, it added.



With the new capabilities, Lite-Tech will manufacture customised LED chips and components and assemble them in various printed circuit boards and fixtures for both indoor and outdoor applications across the entire span of verticals  from industrial to commercial to retail to world-class quality standards, in the UAE.



The LED luminaires from Lite-Tech lead to up to 85 per cent savings, compared to traditional conventional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.



The new line offers 100 per cent locally-made LED luminaries including down lights, panel lights, spot lights, cover lights and ceiling lights in indoor segment and high bays, flood lights and street lights in outdoor segment.



Customers now can have a product with warranty of up to seven years and 100 per cent peace of mind for quality and performance and security of investments.



Khalid Nashashibi, general manager of Lite-Tech Industries, said: The new LED manufacturing unit is a significant step forward for our company in the LED lighting segment, which prioritises energy-efficiency, sustainability and operational cost reduction for clients.



The facility is equipped to manufacture the complete range of LED Luminaries using best international LED chips and components to meet different wattage, price range and customisations for both indoor and outdoor lighting requirements, he said.



The new facility reinforces our commitment to energy-efficient products in line with UAE governments sustainability initiatives, he added.



Lite-Techs in-house R&D team design circuits and PCB prints using LED chips from international suppliers such as Philips, Nichia and Seoul, as also drivers/gears made by Philips, and other molds of down lights. LED fixtures not only offers high brightness and power efficiency but also lower carbon emissions compared to traditional lighting technologies.



The new facility comes amidst growing market for the LED segment, surging by approximately 10 per cent year-on-year. Regionally, LED takes up about 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the lighting industry, but it is still way below the global average of approximately 70 per cent market share it enjoys.



On an average, LED tubes have a significantly longer life span of 60,000 hours, compared to a traditional fluorescent tube lasting down to 5,000 hours. LED lights also have a wider optimum temperature range which reduces cost of the repurchase and maintenance besides cutting down on the electricity bills.



The company has also announced plans to expand its geographical footprint to Africa to tap into the burgeoning demand for lighting solutions in the continent. This is part of an outreach by the company to tap into new revenue streams which also include partnerships with developers and contractors and all lighting distributers in trading industry, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Oman-based Mazoon Dairy Company has selected Abu Hatim Co, one of the sultanates leading construction and engineering companies, as the contractor for its site enabling works, said a report.



A formal agreement will be signed on December 25, added the Oman Daily Observer report.



A tender for pre-qualifying local companies to develop the farm, dairy plant and associated facilities at Al Sunaynah in Buraimi have also been floated earlier this year, it said.



Dr Rashid al Masroori, chairman of the board of Mazoon Dairy, said that the company is pleased to note that the project is progressing to the execution stage with the award of this site enabling works contract.



He noted that when operational, the integrated facility will comprise a state of the art dairy farm, a fully automated centralised processing plant and related sales and distribution facilities ensuring product reach within Oman and the wider region.



The dairy farm is planned to house 25,000 Holstein Friesian cows over a period of 10 years.



The facility will have a state of the art cow cooling systems and fully automated milking parlour.



The processing plant will process fresh milk, laban, yoghurts, juices and ice cream of the highest quality upholding international standards with HACCP & ISO certification, added the report.
Dec. 23, 1936

Mrs. Lawrence Salzer was elected president of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Rosary Society of St. Alphonsus Church for the coming year. Mrs. William Wenzel was elected vice president, Mrs. Floyd Abrams, secretary, and Miss Belle Herrling, treasurer for the past three years, was re-elected to that office.

During the business meeting, F.G. Straub, pastor and prefect of the society, addressed the members briefly reminding them of the spiritual side of Christmas and expressing his wish that their Christmas would be a merry one.

Dec. 23, 1961

More than a thousand Auburn children wll get presents for Christmas thanks to the efforts of the Jaycettes, the auxiliary of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. This year 297 families with 1,131 children will be the recipients of toys compared to 228 families with 841 children last year.

Gifts distributed include many large used items such as sleds and skates as well as many toys purchased with cash donations, including baby rattles. Altogether, 4,524 toys and games were distributed, four to each child.

Dec. 23, 2006

Cindy Kirby turned to help a Wal-Mart customer Friday afternoon only to find herself standing face-to-face with a man dressed in Navy greens. After a quick pause and an excited scream, Tim! Cindy broke down into tears and embraced her son, whom she hasn't seen in almost a year.

Dec. 23, 2011

Councilors-elect Peter Ruzicka and John Camardo wont be sworn in until the first of the year, but theyre already influencing legislation in City Hall. On Thursday, the council tabled a bond ordinance to allow the incoming councilors the opportunity to vote on the borrowing plan, and a resolution paving the way to grant money for the State Street hotel project was nearly tabled for the same reason.
Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian man suspected of carrying out a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, was killed by the police in a shootout near Milan on Friday, according to Italian officials.



The police shootout outside Milan around 3 a.m. Friday, ended a brief but intense manhunt for the terror suspect across Europe, reported New York Times, citing Italian officials.



Stopped in the suburb of Sesto San Giovanni, north of central Milan, Amri was asked to show identification papers, Italian officials said.



He pulled out a pistol and shot the officer who had asked for the papers. A second officer then opened fire, killing Amri.



The person who attacked our police officers was killed, Interior Minister Marco Minniti said at a news conference.



There is absolutely no doubt that the person who was killed was Anis Amri, the suspect in the terrorist attack in Berlin.



Law enforcement authorities had issued a Europe-wide warrant on Wednesday for Amri who moved to Italy in 2011 and then relocated to Germany in 2015.



How one of the most wanted men in Europe was able to travel seemingly freely after an attack that left at least 12 people dead will no doubt be a crucial question for investigators, stated the report.



The Islamic State, which had called Amri a soldier who carried out the attack in response to calls for targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition, released a video on Friday that Amri had recorded, in which he proclaimed loyalty to the groups leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, and declared that he was avenging coalition airstrikes that have killed civilians, it added.


Consumers planning to pay for their shopping by contactless could be in store for a nasty New Year shock, according to research from a London Business School professor whose prior findings would suggest touchless payment could see festive shoppers rack up an unprecedented amount of debt this year.



Niro Sivanathan, associate professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School, explains: Parting with cash is psychologically painful. Consumers are therefore less likely to spend as much when cash is the only payment option available. Paying with credit decouples the pleasure of consumption from the pain of paying. Paying with contactless payment further reduces the friction and anaesthetises the psychological pain that accompanies payment, seducing us into splashing out even more on those pricey purchases.



Its a powerful anaesthetic and touchless and mobile payment options are now more widely available than ever.



Sivanathan explains, the research finds that not only are consumers more likely to purchase goods when such decoupling is present, but they are also willing to pay more for those goods.



The more consumers can decouple the pleasure of consumption from the psychological pain of expenditure, the bigger the risk of a holiday season financial debt, Sivanathan warns.



The findings could also have worrying implications for people with low self-esteem, who find solace in purchasing high-status goods.



Research by Sivanathan and his co-author Nathan Pettit, assistant professor of Management and Organisations, NYC Stern School of Business, finds purchasing luxury goods on credit is especially attractive to those who have low self-esteem.



Sivanathan says: In addition, our research shows purchasing luxury goods on credit, is especially attractive to those who have low self-esteem. These individuals seek to boost their self-esteem by purchasing high-status goods to make them feel better about themselves. The combined effect of low self-esteem, high status goods and the ability to purchase on credit creates a perfect storm. This can be dangerous; consumers with low self-esteem are at higher risk of falling into debt.  TradeArabia News Service
Rixos The Palm Dubai, the Turkish-inspired luxury resort destination brought home three awards from the Middle East Hozpitality Excellence Awards 2016 and the World Travel Awards 2016.



At the Middle East Hozpitality Excellence Awards 2016, the five-star property won the Hotel of The Year (Five-Star) and the Hotel Manager of The Year Award for Cenk Unverdi.



The ceremony took place at Dusit Thani Dubai, where over 350 top hospitality professionals celebrated the success of 84 award winners, who were chosen from 400 nominated candidates.



The Hozpitality Excellence Awards 2016 recognises top industry organizations and individuals who have shown skill, creativity, ingenuity and success in the Middle East and North Africas growing hospitality industry.



Meanwhile, at the 23rd World Travel Awards ceremony held in Maldives over the first week of December, Rixos The Palm Dubai was honoured with the Worlds Leading Lifestyle Resort 2016 award.



Acknowledged as the ultimate travel laudation, the World Travel Awards appreciates companies that are a hallmark of quality and innovation. Rixos The Palm Dubai was chosen as the best lifestyle resort of the world, for pushing the boundaries of excellence and being a trailblazer in global hospitality.



Unverdi said: This year has proved to be very successful as a result of continuous commitment, expertise and efforts by our organisation. My team and I continue to strive to enhance our services and facilities year after year as well as to deliver excellence by way of maintaining high level standards and were proud of the recognition received through these awards.



The dedication of our hardworking employees, the training and leadership of our management team as well as the loyalty of our guests contributed to this honourable accolade of Hotel Manager of the Year, added Unverdi.



Located on Palm Jumeirahs Eastern Crescent, the resort boasts 230 guest rooms and suites. - TradeArabia News Service
Iran Air and Airbus have signed a firm contract for 100 aircraft worth more than $18 billion at list prices, building on an initial commitment signed in January 2016 in Paris, France.



The agreement signed by Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air chairman and CEO and Fabrice Bregier, Airbus president and CEO, covers 46 A320 Family, 38 A330 Family and 16 A350 XWB aircraft. Deliveries will begin in early 2017.



I am delighted that we have reached an agreement to go to the next decisive phase and start taking delivery of new aircraft. I am gratified that this new round of cooperation with Airbus has come to fruition and brought us closer with more practical steps to follow for Iran Airs fleet renewal, said Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air chairman and CEO.



Iran Air considers this agreement an important step towards a stronger international presence in civil aviation. We hope this success signals to the world that the commercial goals of Iran and its counterparts are better achieved with international cooperation and collaboration.



This is a landmark agreement not only because it paves the way for Iran Airs fleet renewal, said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus president and CEO. Our overall accord includes pilot training, airport operations and air traffic management so this agreement is also a significant first step in the overall modernisation of Irans commercial aviation sector.



The agreement is subject to US government Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) export licences which were granted in September and November 2016. These licenses are required for products containing 10 per cent or more US technology content. Airbus coordinated closely with regulators in the EU, US and elsewhere to ensure understanding and full compliance with the JCPOA. Airbus will continue to act in full compliance with the conditions of the OFAC licences.



The agreement follows the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action), its associated rules and guidance and included new commercial aircraft orders as well as a comprehensive civil aviation package.



The package includes pilot and maintenance training, supporting the development of air navigation services (ATM), airport and aircraft operations and regulatory harmonization.  TradeArabia News Service
The Energy Information Administration recently updated its projections for oil price averages in 2017. If theyre correct, the numbers will be disappointing for producers in Western states.

The spot price for West Texas Intermediate will hover around $49 a barrel for the first half of the year, according to the agency. The remaining months should fare better, with the spot price averaging $54 per barrel.

Those are not the kind of numbers Wyoming companies want to hear. As oil producers watch the price, many hope less for a boom than for a few more dollars.

For the EIAs numbers, its close but no cigar, said Charles Mason, an economist at the University of Wyomings Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy.

The price of oil needs to be at least $55 before producers in the state can make a steady profit. Below that, things are tough, he said.

Peter Wolds Casper-based Wold Oil Properties returned to drilling east of the city in the early autumn despite the low prices, taking advantage of cheaper service costs. He hopes the EIAs projections are wrong but has watched the industry contract to meet the new constraints.

Its interesting to see how ones expectations for profitability have diminished over a relatively short period of time, he said. Were developing the methods for producing oil more cheaply than we did three or four years ago. Still costs arent shy.

Optimism has colored the conversations on oil prices recently, reflecting a recent production-capping deal reached by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which includes Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

The countries agreed to reduce production by about 1.2 billion barrels per day. They also agreed to pull down the production ceiling to 32.5 million barrels per day starting Jan. 1.

But the deal is dependent on non-OPEC players reducing production as well.

There is that sort of big mystery event of what will happen with Russia, Mason said. Will they go along? In which case I think youll see prices closer to $55 a barrel. Will they undercut? In which case I think youll see closer to $50 a barrel.

Of course, volatility on Wall Street is only one part of the key that turns the lock on Wyoming production.

There are shallower plays, which require less drilling, that can still be profitable when prices are low, Mason said, pointing to active drilling in northeastern Colorado between I-25 and Sterling.

Its only going to be places that have lower costs that are going to be viable, he said. It probably takes more than $50 to get people interested in drilling in Wyoming.

Wold said his company could probably retain profitability at the projected prices, but that his company anticipates a higher price.

Even with increasing technology that makes drilling less expensive, costs are far from cheap.

Any kind of drilling where youre re-utilizing large fracks and long horizontal legs, its expensive, Wold said. To recapture those expenses it really helps if you have oil prices that are more than in the $50s.
The past year has been a stunning reminder of how vital the energy industry is to Wyomings economy, in particular the states traditional, though not necessarily its most lucrative, commodity: crude oil.

The sharp decline in the price of oil, first in 2014 and again after a brief rebound in late 2015, dammed one of Wyomings most important revenue streams. Unfortunately, oil wasnt alone. Natural gas and coal experienced sharp declines as well.

The fallout in the Cowboy State was all-encompassing. The myriad businesses involved in the oil fields felt the pressure of a rapidly deteriorating state economy. The struggle for oil to rebound made 2016 a year to remember. Despite hopeful signs, many say there is a long way to go before recovery.

The commodity cycle is familiar to anyone in the industry: Booms are as common as busts. But 2016 was far from routine. The onset of the downturn was rapid and dramatic.

The trouble actually began in the good days, as commodity cycles do. In 2014, U.S. oil experienced its highest growth rate since 1940 and its highest volume increase in more than 100 years, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The hum of production and investment reverberated across Wyoming, and that echoed throughout the country.

But producers can be their own worst enemy. Increased drilling and expansion, additional assets and new wells contributed to a record stockpile of fuel worldwide. Production outpaced global demand.

The price of oil went from bullish to bearish in a matter of months. Despite a rebound in 2015, the price fell once again.

By the spring of 2016, the price was down 50 percent from 2014 highs.

The effect swept across the state. It wasnt only the oil producers who felt the clutch of a desperate market.

Construction businesses and manufacturers, truckers and metal workers all depend on the oil and gas fields as well.

Unemployment rose as companies cut staff, announced layoffs and scaled back production.

The hemorrhage of workers in the industry and related fields did not slow until August.

As the year progressed, signs of stabilization in the price of oil emboldened some producers to go back to drilling.

A November deal with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to cap production encouraged the price of crude to breach the $50 mark. It has held at about that level to finish out the year.

As bad as things have been, Wyoming has been through busts before.

The most infamous downturn in living memory, that of the mid-80s, had a long-term effect on the state. In contrast, many in the business today hesitate to even call 2015-2016 a bust.

If there is one thing that the 80s taught Wyoming, its that the aftershocks of a downturn may continue for some time. The economy as a whole has yet to feel the full effect of stabilizing prices.

The problem, some say, is that companies hunker down during a low price trend. Production, drilling and exploration can then be slow to restart.

Producers are watching the price of crude, hoping not only for an increase but for stability in 2017.
Learn Google Chrome

The Natrona County Library will offer a Google Chrome class at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 28. This introductory class will cover the basic features and functions of one of the most popular web browsers. Learn about add-ons, extensions, how to download and install Chrome to your computer and how to sign in to Chrome using a Google Account. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

Teen virtual

reality demo

Teens grades 7-12 will have an exclusive chance to immerse themselves in an entirely new world when the Library hosts a virtual reality demo from 1 to 5 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 29. Teens can choose from over 40 of the best virtual reality games and apps while being taken through a guided experience with the HTC Vive. Free and open to the public. Gameplay will last for approximately 10 minutes per player. Tickets will be handed out at the beginning of the event; available on a first-come, first-served basis; and limited to the first 25 attendees. Call 577-READ ext. 101 for more information.

Learn Windows 10

The Natrona County Library will offer a Windows 10 class at 2 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 30. Learn how to navigate Windows 10, including the updated Start menu, Action Center, and more. Feel free to bring your Windows 10 device with you to follow along. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

Chronic pain/illness group starting

Highland Park Community Church and The Healing Place are starting HopeKeepers. HopeKeepers is a support group designed to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of the person who lives with chronic illness or pain. Through the support group setting you will have the opportunity to grow spiritually surrounded by others who share similar circumstances, unrevealed answers, and even joys, living with chronic pain or physical pain.

The group will meet Mondays from noon to 1:30 p.m., Highland Park Community Church, Rm #1327-The Prayer Room. This is an ongoing group. Call The Healing Place at 265-3977 to enroll.

Veterans get help with employment

Attention veterans! Are you having a hard time finding employment? Need help with a resume? Considering a new career? If so, stop by any Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Office. All of our services are free. In Casper, the office is located at 851 Werner Court. Call 234-4591 for more information.

Parenting classes available

Mercer Family Resource Center offers three classes in 2017 designed to help parents become more effective.

Strengthening Families for parents and their children ages 9 to 14 will be held Jan. 11, 18 and 25 and Feb. 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This is a seven-week, evidence-based program with onsite childcare available. Dinner is provided. Fee is $50 per family.

Parenting the Love and Logic Way is for parents and caregivers with children of any age. Onsite childcare is available. Class is Jan. 23 and 30, Feb. 6, 13, 27 and March 6 and 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $35 for individuals and $50 for couples.

Make Parenting a Pleasure is for parents and caregivers with children ages 0 to 8. Class meets March 1, 8, 15, and 22 and April 5, 12, and 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Onsite childcare available, meets once a week for seven weeks. Cost is $35 individuals and $50 a couple.

For more information or to enroll, call Lisa Brown at 233-4276.

Saturday morning watercolor classes

ART321/Casper Artists Guild announces the schedule for the Saturday Morning Watercolor Sessions for the months of September and October 2016. We hope to see you then to begin or continue your learning experience with us. All levels are welcome. Saturday mornings, 10 a.m. to noon, $10 per session. If you have questions, please contact Ellen Black at 265-6783.

Dec. 31, no session, New Years Eve.

ART321/Casper Artists Guild, 321 W. Midwest Ave, Casper, WY, 82601, gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., phone 265-2655, www.art321.org

Teen Challenge offers fall classes

Teen Challenge Wyoming offers classes this fall at local churches, True Care and the Link (Youth for Christ). For more information on these groups or on other Teen Challenge programs, please call 258-5397.

Peacemaking: Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. In this world of division and conflict, it is important for Christians to stay grounded in what the Bible teaches about resolving our differences with orders in a God-honoring way. For more information, call Pat at 258-5397.

Save One: A group for post-abortion healing. For more information, call Judy at 251-5644.

Single & Parenting: Sundays at 6:30 p.m. Covers major challenges single parents face in raising their children, and offers tools to help them meet these challenges. Enter anytime, each lesson stands alone. Call Cathie at 258-6119.

Professionals in Recovery: An ongoing Christian recovery group. For more information, call Gary at 267-7777.

Insight: Discovering the path to Christian character, especially in the midst of stress. Time to be announced. For more information, call Teen Challenge Wyoming at 258-5397.

Possible offering: Committed Couples and/or the Smart Stepfamily (groups designed to strengthen marriages for both married couples and those anticipating marriage) may be offered later this year. For more information on these possibilities, please call Teen Challenge Wyoming at 258-5397.

Caregiver support meets monthly

Are you caring for a loved one with a debilitating condition? Confusing and conflicting feelings are likely to come up-anger, sadness, hopelessness, resentment and guilt for having those feelings. Please join us on the second Thursday of the each month to talk about your feelings and learn effective ways to release difficult emotions by joining a support group. Meetings will be held at Rocky Mountain Therapy, 2546 East 2nd Street #500, at 5:30 p.m. Different topics will be discussed each month. Coffee and lemonade will be served. We will be meeting on Dec. 15. To RSVP please call 577-5204 and ask for Jerri or Shannon.

Womens Bible study starts

The Heart of Casper Community Bible study will meet for a womens bible study on Tuesdays, starting Jan. 3 through March 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Hilltop Baptist Church, 2555 E. 2nd St. The title of the bible study is Expecting to See Jesus  a wake up call for Gods people, by Anne Graham Lotz, oldest daughter of Billy Graham. The cost is $9 for the book. Remember, youre something special in the Lords eyes, and ours too! For more information, call 234-3594.

Caregiver support

Wyoming Dementia Care offers five Alzheimers Caregiver Support groups each month. Caregivers of those with dementia-related illnesses and the loved ones they care for are welcome at any of the group sessions. Professional staff from Intermountain Home Companions will be on hand to offer separate activities and snacks for those who need care. There is no charge for Wyoming Dementia Cares support groups or for the respite care provided during the approximately one hour long sessions.

The morning support group sessions meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at Central Wyoming Senior Services, 1831 E. 4th St. The afternoon support groups meet at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at Life Care Center of Casper, 4041 S. Poplar. The evening groups meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Meadow Wind Assisted Living, 3955 E. 12th St.

For information, email wyodementia@casperseniorcenter.com or call Dani Guerttman at 265-4678.

Family continues suicide support

Good Grief, Support will continue at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott, by request of attendees. The family of J.R. Hunter, who died from suicide in June 2015 began the support before the especially tough holiday season. Anyone who is grieving a suicide, death, or considering suicide is encouraged to attend. Attendance at the meeting, as well as the content, will be strictly confidential. The Fresh Start Cafe will be open, and you can eat during the meetings. This meeting place was offered by Dan Cantine of the 12-24 Club. You need not be a member to attend. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom

New depression group begins

J.R.s Hunt for Life is offering See it Clearly, a free peer support group for persons suffering from depression and other mental conditions that lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. We are not professionals but rather a group of like-minded peers wishing to support each other in these struggles. We offer anonymity and confidentiality to all attending. Our meetings are at 6:45 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 500 South Wolcott in the conference room on the second floor, (12-24 Club). If you have ever considered or attempted taking your life or are struggling, please come. You are important to us. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom

Family offers faith-based groups

The family of J.R. Hunter, who committed suicide, is going to begin two more support groups, these faith-based, in addition to the groups they run on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the 12-24 Club. Those continue. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom

J.R.s Hunt; for life presents faith-based grief and depression peer to peer support groups at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Restoration Church, 411 S. Walsh. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom

Grief Support Group, Good Grief: A faith-based grief support group that our family hosts on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Restoration Church. Our loss has moved us to offer this to anyone grieving. Youll experience comfort and understanding. We get it. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom

Depression Support Group, See It Clearly: A faith-based free peer to peer support group for persons suffering from depression and other mental conditions that may lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. We are not professionals but rather a group of like-minded peers wishing to support each other in these struggles. We offer anonymity and confidentiality to all attending. Our meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Restoration Church. If you have ever considered or attempted taking your life or are struggling, please come. You are important to us. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom

Parkinsons exercise

Rocky Mountain Therapy is offering a Parkinsons exercise program. Join us from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays at Rocky Mountain Therapy, 2546 E. Second St., Building 500. These classes are open to anyone with Parkinsons or caring for someone with Parkinsons.

Thursdays class is tailored for the individual with more advanced Parkinsons and focuses on improving endurance, safety and managing symptoms. We are open to all ages and can tailor the class to meet varying exercise needs. The cost of the class is $5. To RSVP, call 577-5204 and ask for Jerri or Shannon.

Celebrate Recovery every Friday

Celebrate Recovery meets at 5:30 p.m. every Friday at Highland Park Community Church, just south of Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital on East Second Street. We start with a family meal, followed by praise and worship. At 7 p.m., theres either a lesson from Celebrate Recoverys planned curriculum or a testimony by a person who has found recovery through Christ. Then, people go to gender-specific small groups until 8:30 p.m., when dessert and fellowship conclude the evening. Child care is available at no cost. For more information, contact Chris at 265-4073.

Here and Now: Dementia-focused monthly art class

Classes are every third Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. There is no charge. Here and Now is a program made possible through a collaboration between Wyoming Dementia Care and the Nicolaysen Art Museum. It is designed to provide a supportive environment for people with dementia and Alzheimers and their loved ones.

To register, contact Dani with Wyoming Dementia Care 265-4678, ext. 106, or at wyodementia@casperseniorcenter.com or Zhanna Gallegos at 235-5247 or at zgallegos@thenic.org.

Latin Club meets

Wish you had taken Latin in school or had paid better attention when you did? You are welcome to join the Latin Study Club at Mount Hope Lutheran School, 2300 Hickory. This friendly group of language enthusiasts meets on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m., to study Latin, free of charge. We will pick up where we left off last year, Chapter 4 of Wheelocks Latin, 7th edition. Noli timere!

Mount Hope Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
A decades-old tradition plus roller skating and trains, along with church services, highlight a brief schedule on Christmas Eve. Here is a summary, as provided to the Star-Tribune.

The traditional Childrens Christmas Party at the Elks Lodge, 108 E. Seventh St. (corner of Center and Seventh streets) is from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday. All are welcome to take the children to watch Christmas cartoons, sing Christmas carols, see Santa and Mrs. Claus and receive a sack of goodies.

Skate on Your Can Schools Out Skate and Bounce at the Wagon Wheel Roller Skating is from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is discounted with canned goods for the Mountain View Food Pantry.

The Central Wyoming Model Railroad Association has its extensive display running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. There is no admission charge.

The Casper Recreation Division, including the Recreation Center, Ice Arena and Aquatic Center, will close at 3 p.m. Hogadon is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on Christmas Day.

All Elk members and guests are invited to the annual Tom and Jerry Party from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Casper Elks Lodge. Members, significant other and guests accompanied by a member are welcome.

Fort Caspar Museum is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

The light show of 50,000 choreographed lights at 3148 Whispering Springs is on from 6 to 11 p.m. There is a collection box for items for Joshuas Storehouse. Tune your radio to 98.1 FM and enjoy.

The following church service information has been provided by the churches to the Star-Tribune:

First Christian Church, 520 CY Ave., hosts Christmas Eve services at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. with Christmas carols, communion and lighting candles.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 1240 S. Missouri, will have its Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at 7 p.m.

Our Saviours Lutheran Church, 318 Sixth St., offers three Christmas Eve Services at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The 5 p.m. service will feature a special childrens message, and all services will include special music and candlelight.

First Presbyterian Church, 804 S. Wolcott, hosts a 7 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Carol Celebration in the sanctuary with traditional Christmas carols and a heartwarming message of peace to encourage and inspire you. Stay afterward for hot wassail and Christmas cookies in the warmth of the church parlor.

St. Marks Episcopal Church, 7th and Wolcott, will have two services at 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The earlier service will feature a childrens Nativity pageant while the later service will include carols and a traditional Festival celebration of Holy Eucharist.

St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 4700 S. Poplar, hosts a Christmas Eve family-friendly Eucharist Service with Rev. Kay Flores presiding at 7 p.m.

Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, 4100 Casper Mountain Road, welcomes the community to its Christmas Eve candlelight services at 4, 5:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. The services will include the music and message of Christmas. A nursery will be provided at the two early evening services.
AUBURN  Heavy deterioration at points along the North Division Street bridge have prompted Auburn officials to pursue temporary repairs.

Members of the Auburn City Council acted Thursday to allocate $72,200 to erect temporary braces beneath the bridge, which is located just off the westbound Arterial over Owasco River.

The bridge is scheduled for a full replacement, which is expected to start in mid-2017, officials said Thursday. However, immediate action was needed after the state Department of Transportation issued the city multiple structural flags earlier this month.

The DOT cited advanced deterioration along the bridge's piers and erosion at the ends of several concrete beams, according to a state spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the city needs to take corrective action within six weeks of the DOT's notification on Nov. 30. This action could entail closure, repairs or reduction of the bridge's posted 5-ton load.

City councilors considered two options: Close the bridge through most, if not all, of 2017 ahead of the bridge replacement; or install the temporary splints without the need for a closure. An average of 6,500 vehicles cross the bridge on a daily basis, according to Mark Laistner of Popli Engineering.

"As much as I don't want to spend money on something that's going to be temporary ... I do think that extending the closure of it, we're going to have enough grief when the actual work is done," said Councilor Terry Cuddy.

Bill Lupien, superintendent of the city's engineering department, said the braces should be installed beneath the bridge over the course of a few weeks in January. The work will be handled by BVR Construction Company of Churchville, the same firm handling repairs to the city's North Division Street hydroeletric plant.

Lupien said BVR's presence at North Division Street  and the opportunity to keep the braces to potentially reuse the steel when they are no longer needed  may have been the reason why the firm's project price was nearly $100,000 cheaper than the next-lowest bid, $168,895.36.

"Who wants to work out in the middle of winter in a river? That's not the ideal conditions for a construction project, but BVR is already out there right next door," he said.

Thursday's council vote was 4-1, with Councilor Jimmy Giannettino opposed.

Laistner said the full bridge replacement project is expected to close a .24-mile portion of North Division Street  from the start of the bridge to around Aurelius Avenue  for at least six months. He and Lupien both said designers will do their best to limit that period, while the total project is expected to continue through 2018.

In considering a closure, Laistner pointed to routes along Aurelius Avenue and Washington Street as detours. Giannettino said he believes those detours were reasonable alternatives, while the indefinite timetable regarding the closure also factored into his opposition.

"It's not that I prefer the closure. I just didn't want to spend the money on something that's going to be torn down," he said.

In other news

 A Finnish exchange student who will live in Auburn over the course of the school year was recognized by the city council as an honorary U.S. citizen.

Saga Pirskanen was honored at Memorial City Hall with a special ceremony. Pirskanen's visit is being facilitated by the Auburn Rotary Club as part of the international Rotary Youth Exchange study-abroad program.

Pirskanen comes from Vihti, Finland. Auburn Rotarian Heather Paris, the club's youth exchange officer, said the program takes a special student to leave their family and adopting a new lifestyle with a host family for a year.

"(Saga) has been such a delight. We are so privileged to have her here as a part of this program," Paris said.
Another former patient of Poplar Living Center filed a lawsuit against the nursing home, the most recent claim against the facility with a documented history of poor care.

The suit, filed Thursday in Natrona County District Court, alleges that staff at Poplar Living Center did not diagnose a patients fractured pelvis for nearly a month after she fell, despite the womans constant complaints of severe pain.

An attorney for the nursing home did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Calls to the nursing home Thursday were not answered, and there was no voicemail set up.

The patient was admitted to the nursing home on March 17, 2014, with dementia and osteoarthritis. Staff at the home found that the woman, Chong Phillips, had a high risk of falling, according to the suit.

Despite the assessment, Poplar failed to implement common measures that would reduce her risk of falling, the suit states. In the first four months of her stay, Phillips fell at least 18 times. The nursing home failed to complete federally required reviews after each fall, according to the suit.

After a fall on July 11, 2014, Phillips was unable to bear weight on her left leg, unable to walk and was demonstrating extreme pain, the suit states.

Phillips condition didnt improve for two weeks, and staff notified a doctor, who came to check on her July 28, 2014.

The doctor noted Phillips was in obvious pain and placed orders for the woman to have X-rays performed on her pelvis, knee and femur on the left side. The doctor also prescribed a painkiller.

However, the staff never took Phillips to a hospital for the tests and X-rays were never completed, the suit alleges. Staff also did not give the painkiller to Phillips until 34 hours after the prescription was written, though the facility had the pill in stock at the time.

Phillips son became increasingly worried about his mother. When he asked Poplar staff whether they had figured out why she was in so much pain, the staff members told him she was being well cared for and that X-rays showed no serious injury, the suit states.

The son took the matter into his own hands on Aug. 4, 2014, and drove Phillips to Casper Orthopedics. X-rays there showed that she had a weeks-old fracture to her hip joint, according to the suit.

Surgeons replaced Phillips left hip three days later.

A Centers for Medicaid and Medicare inspection report from August 2014 cites Poplar Living Center twice for breaking federal standards in its care for Phillips. The report states the nursing home failed to provide necessary care and services in her case and didnt ensure that the facility was free from hazards and provide adequate supervision to prevent avoidable accidents. The report backs up many of the facts in the lawsuit.

In the report, the director of nursing confirmed that the staff failed to schedule an appointment with a specialist for Phillips after the July 11 fall.

The lawsuit states the nursing home severely neglected Phillips by failing to keep her from falling and for not diagnosing her broken hip. The lawsuit also cites concerns about inadequate staffing.

(Poplar Living Center) has demonstrated a pattern of negligent, willful and reckless conduct in caring for patients, including Ms. Phillips, the suit states.

The nursing home has settled six wrongful death or personal injury lawsuits in the past six years.

Repeated inspections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also cite a pattern of understaffing, improper care and unsafe building conditions. The agency classified the nursing home as a facility that needs closer monitoring than others because of a history of persistent poor quality of care. It is the only nursing home in Casper with that designation.

In response to previous questions about allegations against the nursing home, Poplar Living Center released a statement through one of its attorneys that it continues to seek opportunities to improve the care and services we provide for those individuals we have to privilege to serve every day. We appreciate the efforts our staff have made to provide quality care and quality of life for our residents.

Poplar Living Center is owned and operated by Delaware-based SavaSeniorCare. The company runs more than 230 nursing homes across the country, including Cheyenne Healthcare Center and Sheridan Manor.
The buildings that the Natrona County School District has put up for sale have received no bids, officials said Thursday.

Earlier this month, the districts school board approved a plan to remove from inventory North Casper Elementary, the old Roosevelt High School and the Fairgrounds Center, all of which are vacant.

Grant Elementary and Mills Elementary will be vacant after this year and will be sold as soon as possible, officials said. Star Lane Center, which is also occupied, is also slated to be closed no later than next school year.

Though the plan called to have the vacant buildings removed from inventory by July 1 and have at least Mills removed by Sept. 1, district spokesman Kelly Eastes said the timeline is fluid.

Ideally, the district will sell the properties, though officials have said the buildings may be demolished as a last resort. But Eastes said Thursday that the district likely doesnt have the money to demolish the buildings.

Thats probably not in the cards right now, Eastes said.

Eastes said no bids had been submitted for any of the properties. In November, Dennis Bay, the districts executive director of business services, said the district had been approached by a church group to use one of the buildings for a church. Additionally, the Salvation Army has expressed some interest; it is looking for a new facility because its outgrown its old one, Bay said.

Theres another (interested group) that wants to use them for apartments, he said, though he didnt specify which buildings these groups were interested in. He said he could not name the church group.

Bay added that the district will advertise to sell the buildings, and the authority to approve bids rests with the school board.

Though the district apparently has no plans to demolish the buildings, Bay acknowledged last month that any buyer could tear them down should the facilities not meet the purchasers needs. The old Roosevelt building is on the National Register of Historic Places, but that wont protect it should a buyer decide to tear it down, Bay and Eastes have said.

A lot of people think that because its on the register, it cant be demolished, Bay said. That is not the case.

Theres been more concrete interest in Mills, officials have said. Rick Skatula, the executive director for school improvement, said in November that the district asked Mills officials if the town could make use of the building and to send the district a written proposal about what groups would use the vacant school.

Right now, were just about to embark on more discussions with the town of Mills as far as purchasing the school, Skatula said last month. The town may use it for a Boys and Girls Club or other entities that serve the town, like a day care.

Through Eastes, superintendent Steve Hopkins said this week that there has been some interest in the buildings but nothing has been finalized yet.
Deputies with the Natrona County Sheriffs Office cited workers at three bars for serving alcohol to minors over the past week.

During compliance checks on Monday and Thursday, investigators found that servers at Black Gold Grille, Horseshoe Bar and Arcade Bar in Midwest sold alcohol to people under the age of 21.

The sheriffs office performs the checks twice a year, Sgt. Aaron Shatto said. The deputies send a minor into the bar and have the minor attempt to order alcohol. The minor is required to show his or her real identification if asked and cannot lie if a server asks his or her age.

If servers fail to check the minors age and sells them alcohol, they are ticketed. Under Wyoming law, furnishing alcohol to minors is a misdemeanor on first offense. If convicted, a person could be fined between $100 and $1,000 or be sentenced to up to a year in county jail.

Deputies last checked the bars in May, Shatto said. Black Gold Grille previously failed a compliance check in November 2015, and Horseshoe Bar failed in May 2013.

Eight other businesses that sell alcohol passed the check. Five others were closed when the deputies came by.
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CHEYENNE  A former Johnson County prosecutor will spend the holidays behind bars after pleading guilty to a federal contempt of court charge.

Greg L. Goddard of Buffalo pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge earlier this month in Cheyenne.

Goddard told Magistrate Judge Kelly Rankin he failed to disclose that he was aware a client he represented in a federal bankruptcy case last year stood to inherit some money. Goddard said he had no excuse.

Rankin approved a plea agreement with prosecutors that called for Goddard to serve 45 days in jail. Rankin also fined Goddard $500.

Goddard has served more than 30 years as county attorney and deputy county attorney. Casper lawyer P. Craig Silva represents Goddard and told Rankin that Goddard could continue his private law practice from the Johnson County jail.
SHERIDAN  Five-year-old Hailey Hamilton anticipated cop day for a week. She reminded her mother daily of the event.

When the day finally came, officers Annalisa Jones and Meagan Phillips turned on lights and opened doors for Hailey, allowing her to sit in the patrol car and commenting on its discomfort.

During the short walk from the car into Andis Coffee Shop on Broadway, the two officers talked with Hailey about gun safety, using their interaction with the youngster to make a positive impact.

What do you do if theres a gun around? Jones asked Hailey.

You put it down, Hailey replied.

And dont touch it, Jones added.

Jones and Phillips met up with Lt. Tom Ringley and Lt. Travis Koltiska to grab a cup of coffee before settling down to chat with community members who stumbled across Coffee with a Cop.

Sheridans Coffee with a Cop participation started back in April of this year. The past five months stayed consistent with meetings in different locations around town. Despite the small number of community attendees, the officers in attendance helped break down barriers with community members with quick hellos as well as in-depth conversations about nationwide trends and daily experiences.

Sgt. Jerry Rasmussen shared a wealth of information with two curious coffee-goers from Buffalo. The two women asked questions regarding the nationwide-trending racism dilemma among police officers and civilians and explained what weapons law enforcement officers use in different scenarios.

The Buffalo residents also asked about marijuana and Jones explained common tests that help determine if a driver is under the influence of marijuana specifically. Jones explained blood and urine tests remain the most stable and reliable of tests for THC content, but specific eye tests taken from DUI tests also help determine if a driver is high. Rasmussen reminded the women that even though some states legalized the drug, it remains federally illegal in the United States and punishable by arrest under federal law if discovered.

The Sheridan Police Department also works to create positive relationships with community members through its Citizens Police Academy program each year. The program begins the first Tuesday after Valentines Day and features a series of classes designed to offer insight into how local police officers perform their duties and how the SPD serves the citizens of the community, the application memo reads. SPD holds classes each Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning in February and running into April.

SPD previously held Coffee with a Cop quarterly, but bumped it up to monthly, usually on the first Wednesday of the month. The officers in attendance welcome any and all questions and will let you know if they are unable to answer due to confidentiality stipulations. Almost always they remain willing to help citizens understand their job.

Its really about transparency with the community, Rasmussen said. (Citizens) can ask questions freely.

Limited interactions with law enforcement, especially those with a typically negative connotation such as getting pulled over, make it difficult for citizens to see law enforcement as a positive aid. These coffee chats work to bridge that gap. Among community members, many remain thankful. Two individuals stopped the conversation at Andis simply to thank the officers for their service to the community. Rasmussen shared a memory of the days following the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers, telling the group about the masses of food sent to SPD in appreciation.

SPD looks to continue and grow the Coffee with a Cop program. Ringley said he doesnt expect Andis to be filled with people at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, but one interaction makes the difference.
Quite a few readers have asked me to comment on a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R.-Texas, that he calls The Social Security Reform Act of 2016.

I would call it the One-Sided Social Security Reform Act of 2016. And thats because, like just about every Social Security reform proposal I have seen sponsored by a Republican, it is lopsided. It proposes an array of benefit cuts, but not a single suggestion to raise revenues.

Having said that, let me commend the congressman for at least taking the initiative to present a package of Social Security reforms. (Although one does have to wonder why he did so on the very last day of the current Congress.)

Still, a last-day proposal is better than none at all. Too many of our countrys leaders treat the program like a sacred cow that should never be tampered with.

But tamper they must. Some of my old friends still with the Social Security Administration tell me that they are taking something like 10,000 retirement claims each day. In other words, tax-paying baby boomers are turning into benefit-receiving senior boomers at a record pace. That demographic time bomb has been ticking for quite a while now. The longer we wait to deal with the issue, the harder it will be to implement changes.

You can think of our Social Security system as a pipeline. On one end of it are working people pumping their tax dollars into the pipe. On the other end, are senior citizens  along with people with disabilities and widow(er)s and children of deceased workers  drawing Social Security benefits out of the pipe.

For many years now, the system has worked very well at a three-to-one ratio. In other words, with three workers pumping taxes into the front end of the pipe for every one person on the back end collecting benefits.

But with 10,000 people every day moving from the input side of the pipe to the output side, we are gradually reaching the point where we will have only two workers pumping money into the system for each retiree sucking benefits out of the other end. And our Social Security system simply cannot be sustained at that two-to-one level  as it is currently structured. Thats why reform is needed.

To deal with that pending shortfall, you essentially have two choices. You can pump more money into the front end of the pipe (by raising revenues) or you can cut back on the money flowing out of the other end (by reducing benefits). Most fair-minded people agree that a reasonable solution would involve a mix of both: some tax increases and some benefit cuts.

And as I alluded to at the beginning of this column, I dont think Congressman Johnsons proposals meet that fair-minded test. His bill includes 15 specific reforms, some of them way too technical to explain in a short column.

But here is a brief rundown of the major points of his Social Security reform package.

He would gradually raise the retirement age from 67 to 69 for people born after 1967. While I think a gradual increase in the retirement age is inevitable, I think age 69 might be just a bit too steep. I agree with many other reformists who think age 68 is a better target number.

Johnson also proposes to reduce benefit payments for the top 50 percent of wage earners. Although the details of this proposal are too complex to explain here, the bill essentially means that future benefits for people making more than $50,000 per year would be cut. SSAs actuaries project that under Johnsons proposal, people making $50,000 per year or more could see their benefits cut between 11 percent and 35 percent. Although I, and many people, think that benefits could be trimmed for the very wealthiest Americans, I think that dropping the benefit-cutting ax on middle-class earners is way too much.

The plan also would cut cost-of-living increases for all Social Security beneficiaries and eliminate them for people with incomes over $85,000. Although most economic experts agree that Social Security COLAs could be reduced, I havent heard any serious proposals to outright eliminate them for anyone who is in the upper middle class or higher.

An out-of-left-field part of Johnsons plan calls for a cut in benefits to most spouses and children of retirees and disabled workers. It would peg their benefits to the average national wage, rather than to the workers actual wage. In other words, benefits would go down for any family with above-average income.

Johnson did throw a bone to Democrats and others he knew would oppose his lopsided plan with a proposal to provide a minimum Social Security benefit for the very poorest annual wage earners, those averaging $12,000 or less. They would see their benefits rise by about 20 percent. But frankly, that wasnt much of a bone, since his plan would cut benefits to anyone making more than that. So the very poorest Americans would get a boost with the Johnson plan, whereas anyone in the middle class and above would get a kick in the pants!

Once again, I applaud Congressman Johnson for at least broaching the subject of Social Security reform. I just wish his proposals were not so darn partisan. I know it is an anathema to most Republicans to suggest anything that smells of a tax increase. But had he, for example, included a proposal to eliminate or at least increase the cap on Social Security taxable earnings, or slightly raise the payroll tax (which hasnt been increased in more than 30 years) from 6.2 to 6.4 percent, he would not have had to recommend such dramatic cuts in benefits.

In other words, a balanced mix of revenue increases and benefit reductions is the real and fair way to reform Social Security. Congressman Johnsons plan is a place to start discussing reform, but nothing more.
PHOENIX  Medical marijuana users cannot be convicted of driving while under the influence of the drug absent proof that they were actually impaired, the state Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

In a major setback for prosecutors, the judges pointed out that Arizona, unlike some other states, has no law that spells out that at a certain level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the blood a person is presumed to be impaired.

THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

And, according to evidence here, there is no scientific consensus about the concentration of THC that generally is sufficient to impair a human being, appellate Judge Diane Johnsen wrote.

What that means is every case where prosecutors charge a medical marijuana user with breaking the law requires expert testimony to show that particular individual was impaired at that particular level of THC.

This case involves Nadir Ishak who was stopped by police in Mesa in 2013 after the officer said he saw his vehicle drift out of its lane. The officer testified Ishak admitted to smoking marijuana that morning, that his eyes were bloodshot and watery, and that during a field sobriety tests he experienced body tremors and eye tremors.

Ishak was charged with driving while impaired to the slightest degree and a separate charge of driving with marijuana in his body. Jurors acquitted him of the first charge but convicted him of the second.

Johnsen said Ishak was denied a fair trial when the city court judge refused to allow him to tell jurors he had a state-issued card allowing him to use the drug legally. She said that would have provided evidence to the jury that Ishak was legally entitled under the 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act to use the drug and have it in his system.

Potentially more significant, Johnsen, writing for the 2-1 majority, said the trial judge also erred in ruling that it was up to Ishak to prove he was not impaired, even to escape the charge of driving with marijuana in his body.

What voters approved in 2010 spells out that being a legal marijuana user does not excuse someone from being charged with driving under the influence of the drug. But it also says that a patient cannot automatically be considered under the influence of marijuana solely because of the presence of metabolites or components of marijuana that appear in insufficient concentration to cause impairment.

The Arizona Supreme Court already has ruled that the mere presence of metabolites  the chemical compounds caused the the breakdown of marijuana in the body  is insufficient by itself to prove impairment. Thats because those chemicals can remain in the body for days or weeks afterwards.

In this case, however, the court records show that Ishak had a concentration of 26.9 nanograms per milliliter of tetrahydrocannabinol.

Mesa city prosecutor Craig Jones argued that the 2010 law requires medical marijuana cardholders who are arrested to prove through expert testimony that the amount of THC in their blood is insufficient to cause impairment in people generally or in any person. He said its irrelevant whether the specific defendant was actually impaired.

But Johnsen said thats not how the law works.

Nothing in the statute ... requires a cardholder to present expert testimony (or precludes a cardholder from offering non-expert testimony) on the question of whether the cardholder was impaired due to THC, she wrote.

Further supporting this conclusion is the reality that, at present, there is no presumptive impairment limit established by (Arizona) law, the judge wrote. By contrast, Colorado statutes say anyone with a THC above 5 nanograms is presumed impaired.

And Johnsen said in this case there was no foundation for the states expert to testify that a THC level of 26.9 nanograms would cause impairment in Ishak.

On the other side of the equation, Ishaks own expert said there is no consensus about the concentration of THC that causes impairment. The expert did testify that 26.9 is a high number and it can impair some people, but I cant tell you that number ... will impair all people.

That ruling was not unanimous.

Appellate Judge Randall Howe said he reads the statute and case law to give medical marijuana cardholders an affirmative defense they can present at trial. He said that means it is up to the person arrested to prove not only that he or she is authorized to use marijuana for medical purposes but that the concentration of the drug was insufficient to cause impairment.

The defendant bears the burden of proof on the defense, Howe wrote. And he said Ishak did not show, either in cross-examining the states expert or presenting his own, that his THC concentration did not leave him impaired.

Thursdays decision is the latest in a string of appellate court rulings that have limited the ability of prosecutors to bring various charges against medical-marijuana patients. These range from limiting the kind of evidence that prosecutors can use to bring drugged-driving charges, to requirements for law enforcement officers to give back drugs taken from legal users.

And it comes just two days after another division of the appellate court slapped down efforts by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery to use the federal ban on marijuana to block the necessary permits for a medical marijuana dispensary.
Two suspects were arrested after they stole a child's bike and exchanged gunfire with sheriff's deputies Thursday on Tucson's northwest side, authorities said.

David Allen White, 28, and Stacey Lynn Lastella, 30, have been booked into Pima County jail on multiple felony charges in connection with yesterday's incident, said Deputy Ryan Inglett, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman.

Shortly after 2 p.m. deputies learned that a man pushed a child to the ground before stealing the childs bicycle in the 1600 block of West Gleaming Moon Lane.

Deputies located the suspect's vehicle and attempted a traffic stop near West El Camino del Cerro and Interstate 10, but the vehicle fled into a desert area near the Santa Cruz wash, Inglett said.

A female driver and male passenger ran from the car, after which the male suspect pointed a gun at the deputies and fired multiple shots, Inglett said.

One of the deputies fired at least one shot in response.

No one was injured in the incident, Inglett said.

After a search by the sheriff's department air and K9 units, the Marana Police Department and Tucson Police Department, both suspects were taken into custody without incident.

Crime scene processing and search warrant service turned up four BB guns and "other items of evidence" linking the suspects to the Pima County and Marana cases, Inglett said.

White has been charged with robbery, aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with yesterday's incident. He has also been booked on additional charges of armed robbery, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, in connection with a Marana Police Department case, Inglett said.
The death of a 2-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in a bathtub Dec. 10 has been ruled a homicide.

Kamia Baptisto died Dec. 17 from her injuries. Additional charges are pending against Warren Gastelum, 27, who was arrested on one count of child abuse two days after the incident, Tucson police said in a news release Thursday.

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Dec. 10, Tucson firefighters called for police to assist with a near-drowning at an apartment, located at 1700 West Prince Road, near Romero Road, according to a Dec. 12 Tucson police news release.

Paramedics found Baptisto unresponsive inside the apartment and immediately transported her to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Officers spoke with Baptisto's caretaker, identified as Gastelum, who was the boyfriend of the child's mother. He told police that he was alone that night with four kids under the age of eight while his girlfriend was at work, and put the 2-year-old in the bathtub before stepping away for a few minutes. He said that when he returned, she was unresponsive and he called 911, according to the release.

Detectives with the child abuse unit spoke to the girl's doctor, who said that her injuries weren't consistent with drowning or a fall in the bathtub, the release said.

Detectives continued the investigation over the next two days, serving a search warrant, collecting evidence and conducting multiple interviews.

Gastelum was arrested Dec. 12 and booked into the Pima County jail on one count of child abuse. He's being held on a $100,000 bond.
Pamela Smith points out her trailers broken windows, busted out by thieves, and the edges of the bathtub, separating from the wall. The ground below the trailer is visible through holes in the bathroom floor, the heater doesnt work and a wobbly set of stairs leading to the trailer door appears ready to collapse, she said.

She didnt have a written lease in October when she moved in to the mobile home park at 110 E. Prince Road, but she said the park manager promised he would make repairs.

Smith said she was lucky she could afford to move out a few weeks ago, after the trailer was burglarized and the promised repairs never happened. Her neighbors arent so fortunate, she said.

People moving into places like this wont stand up for themselves, said Smith, who said she is on disability because of mental illness and lingering problems related to a broken femur. Its a quick-fix for putting a roof over your head.

Substandard housing is too often the standard in Arizonas mobile home parks, housing advocates say. State and local officials are trying to improve the parks and hold irresponsible landlords accountable, without inadvertently putting more low-income residents in the streets.

Some cities and towns are getting more restrictive on these parks, said Val Iverson, executive director of the Arizona Housing Alliance, a nonprofit working to expand access to affordable housing. But I think wed rather have someone living in a dumpy trailer than on the street.

The Arizona Housing Alliance has launched a mobile home working group  including advocates, local governments and owners of mobile home parks  focused on improving the states aging mobile homes, which comprised about 10 percent of occupied housing in Arizona as of the 2010 Census.

Many of the oldest trailer parks in Arizona are either in disrepair or are being redeveloped into other uses, said Susan Brenton, executive director of Manufactured Housing Communities of Arizona, a lobbying group for mobile home park owners.

Thats unfortunate because the parks are a major source of housing for low-income Arizonans, and modern zoning codes can make it hard to open new parks, she said.

Cities and counties have to look at the issue of, do we really want these older mobile home parks to go away or not? she said. This is affordable housing. If we close down that park, what is going to happen to these people?

Local housing assistance is stretched thin: Tucsons Section 8 housing-voucher program, which subsidizes rent for low-income people, has a wait list of more than 18,600 families, said Sally Stang, director of the citys Housing and Community Development Department.

The mobile home working groups initial recommendations, compiled in a September report, include:

Start tracking problematic mobile home park properties, and help fund county assessors offices to electronically store data collected through the rental property registration law, which requires landlords to register their rental properties.

Offer displaced mobile home park residents the same type of housing counseling and financial assistance provided to those who lost homes to foreclosure.

When a park shuts down, owners should seek out other mobile home parks with vacant spaces where displaced residents could go.

Increase access to the state relocation fund, which provides safety-net funding to poor tenants displaced when a park shuts down. The fund currently only helps people who own their trailer and rent the space below it; it doesnt apply to those who rent both the trailer and the space.

Create a consumer guide, in English and Spanish, to help landlords and tenants better understand mobile home law.

Boost the number of mobile home parks owned cooperatively by park residents.

WEAK CODE ENFORCEMENT

While some municipalities are cracking down on trailer parks, advocates for the poor in Tucson say code enforcement is still too weak here.

Lax or underfunded enforcement allows problems to persist in aging mobile home parks and in other low-cost housing  especially in Pima County. The county has intentionally adopted a limited set of property maintenance codes to avoid the cost of enforcing the code inside occupied residential properties.

That means renters living in unsafe or uninhabitable units cant just call up a county inspector to force repairs of hazardous conditions inside their homes  they would have to take their landlords to court.

Government should not pass the burden of code enforcement onto low-income, vulnerable tenants who may not have the time or resources to engage in a lengthy court case, said Beverly Parker, attorney for Southern Arizona Legal Aid.

Many cant afford the expense, are afraid of retaliation or dont know their rights as tenants, and so they tend to keep quiet, she said.

In 2014, after the Star reported on the lack of code enforcement in the county, Pima County Developmental Services  which oversees code enforcement  wrote a budget proposal to expand the code to cover occupied housing, starting in fiscal year 2016. The cost would have been $269,000, but County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry did not include it in his recommended budget, said Carmine DeBonis, department director.

LOCAL ISSUES

Vulnerable mobile home buyers need more support in ensuring the trailer theyve purchased or rented is decent and safe, said Marcos Ysmael, program manager for the Pima County Housing Center. The center is part of the Arizona Housing Alliances mobile home working group and will help implement the groups recommendations locally.

A lot of times these folks are in desperate situations. They dont have resources and time to do a thorough inspection of the unit, and some problems youre only going to see when it rains, for example, he said.

Prince Road Park is owned by Todd Kroepel of Talazera Holding Group LLC, who lives in Southern California and referred questions to the parks local manager, Don Knitter.

Knitter said he made a mistake in renting the trailer to Smith in such poor condition, but he said Smith was supposed to make the repairs. The previous park owner was negligent, resulting in widespread maintenance issues, said Knitter, who took over the park in August.

Keeping up with maintenance is especially tough when tenants dont quickly report issues like water damage that only worsen over time, he said.

At the trailer park, Im cleaning up a mess left by someone else, he said. Were doing our best to make it livable and safe and compliant.

UNLICENSED SELLERS

Pima County officials added plans to improve distressed mobile home parks to the countys long-term plan, called Pima Prospers, following the Stars reporting on the issue, said Carla Blackwell, deputy director of Pima County Development Services department.

At the top of the agenda: The department is trying to crack down on people who are relocating trailers built before 1976  before U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development construction standards were established  without proper paperwork, Blackwell said.

Those older, and potentially dangerous, trailers require permits to move and an inspection to prove theyve been brought up to livable standards, Blackwell said. The requirement aims to stop landlords from moving decrepit trailers from a defunct park to another location where they can continue to rent or sell them, she said.

Other systemic issues need attention, including the power landlords wield over mobile home tenants who are scared of having an eviction on their record, which can make it nearly impossible to find decent housing, said Parker of Southern Arizona Legal Aid. Stronger protections for tenants in eviction court could help, she said.

During eviction proceedings, held in the justice courts, tenants often show up without a lawyer and their cases are usually decided within minutes.

Some unscrupulous trailer park owners run rent-to-own scams, offering tenants the option to pay extra each month toward purchasing their trailer. But before the trailer is paid off, the sellers find a pretext to evict the tenant, in order to re-sell the trailer and make more money on it. Often the trailers theyre selling are only worth a fraction of the price theyre charging, Parker said.

In other cases, tenants pay off the trailer, only to find the seller never actually held title to it because it was abandoned by the previous owner. Among the Arizona Housing Alliances recommendations: Make it easier for new buyers to immediately acquire proper title to their trailer, so unscrupulous sellers cant find a way to take them back, and impose penalties on sellers who deal in mobile homes without titles.

Brenton emphasized that in Arizona, the vast majority of the parks are well-run.

Most of what youre going to read about in newspapers and hear about on TV are bad issues, she said. Everyone has to realize, we are the most affordable type of living thats unsubsidized.
Tucson Electric Power agreed to sponsor the Winterhaven Festival of Lights for the next five years.

The midtown neighborhood is putting on its 67th installment of the festival, in which residents adorn their houses with electric lights and set up holiday displays.

Starting next year, TEP pledged to provide $40,000 annually for the event, the company said in a news release. The funds will be used to pay off-duty police officers, as well as provide traffic control, barricades, insurance, portable restrooms and other items.

Were very pleased to help ensure that this beloved Tucson tradition can continue for years to come, David G. Hutchens, TEPs president and chief executive officer, said in a news release.

Winterhaven residents describe the festival as their gift to Tucson. We feel the same way and consider this contribution as an opportunity to say thank you to our customers and our community, Hutchens said.

TEP already donated energy-efficient LED lights to the festival and plans to promote incentives for the use of LED lights and other energy-efficiency programs at the festival.

We literally couldnt have kept the lights on for future festivals without this pledge of support from TEP, festival chair Robin Dolezal said in the news release.

TEP employees, along with employees of Sturgeon Electric and Cox Cable, already donate their time to help hang lights in the neighborhood, Dolezal told the Star.

I couldnt be more excited. Its a great fit, he said.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Casino del Sol sponsored the festival in recent years with $35,000 donations, but discontinued that sponsorship, Dolezal said.

The festival costs more than $70,000 each year, Dolezal said. Vendors pay to offer their services at the festival, which largely offsets the expenses not covered by the major donations.

The Winterhaven organization set up an online funding campaign to help cover costs. To donate, visit the festivals website at www.winterhavenfestival.org.
The city of Tucson is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to throw out a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Mark Brnovich over the city's policy to destroy confiscated guns.

The 30-page motion filed Thursday night suggests the legal mechanism that brought the complaint to the state's highest court  SB 1487  is unconstitutional and therefore, unenforceable. The state is threatening to pull shared revenue from the city unless Tucson stops destroying seized guns.

Tucson receives $115 million a year in state-shared revenue.

Additionally, city officials argue the gun destruction policy  which applies to handguns and semi-automatic firearms  is a protected action as Tucson is a charter city.

Tucson is among 18 cities that have taken advantage of a constitutional provision allowing them to write their own charters.

The filing also asks the Supreme Court to instead have a lower court to hear the case  the city has filed a case in Pima County Superior Court.

Attorneys for the city, Richard M. Rollman and Richard A. Brown, argue that the Legislature wrote SB 1487 in an effort to force local municipalities into rescinding controversial policies.

"It may be that the Legislature disagrees with the authority given to charter cities by the constitutional framers. But, rights granted by the constitution can only be withdrawn by a constitutional amendment that is approved by the voters pursuant to Article 21 of the Arizona Constitution.

The wrote that the state's new law "seeks to avoid that requirement by coercing any city that seeks to exercise its charter city authority through the prospect of catastrophic financial sanctions without judicial review."

If the Supreme Court refuses to throw the case out, the city has asked the high court to consider the constitutionality of SB1492 as part of the overall complaint.

State Rep. Mark Finchem, an Oro Valley Republican, filed the complaint with the Attorney Generals Office earlier this year, stating Tucson is violating an Arizona law that requires the sale of otherwise legal guns obtained by law enforcement agencies. These firearms are typically seized in criminal cases.

The Tucson City Council voted earlier this month to reject Brnovichs demand that it repeal its 2005 city ordinance requiring the destruction of most handguns and semi-automatic firearms seized by police.

The Council did decide at the same time to indefinitely suspend the destruction of firearms until the court fight has been resolved.
HIT: To all the work that goes into making the Christmas Elf program a success.

The Elf makes toys available to local children who might not otherwise receive presents on Christmas Day. The effort is coordinated by the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency to assist families who apply through area social services agencies. A small army of volunteers  and generous donors from all over  helped this year to fill 750 gift boxes.

MISS: To the actions of two local men that will have them spending the holidays behind bars.

The pair was in court this week to be sentenced for burglaries they committed in Port Byron. They both got a break when the prosecutor and the judge determined that they still have a chance to turn their lives around, so instead of a state prison sentence they were given six months in the county jail and five years of probation.

HIT: To good news for the local economy.

November's jobless rate for Cayuga County was 4.5 percent  down from 4.9 percent a year earlier and just one-tenth of a point above the national average. There was a decrease of 300 government jobs in the county but that was more than made up for with 600 new jobs in the private sector. The latest data shows Cayuga County tied for 21st lowest unemployment rate among New York's 62 counties.
The Republicans are waging war against the right to vote. Although there is no evidence, elections are denounced as fraudulent. They have slate of election denying candidates on ballots across the country. These candidates are great at identifying the problems facing our country, but not so 
University of Arizona researchers, buoyed by support from dog lovers and a California pharmaceutical startup, say a canine vaccine against valley fever could be available within 10 years.

The live vaccine, a mutant spore invented by UA fungal geneticist Marc Orbach, is called delta-CPS1. It has already protected mice from valley fever.

Researchers at the UAs Valley Fever Center for Excellence in Tucson are optimistic, yet not certain, it will work in both humans and dogs.

But dogs are likely to get a vaccine against valley fever before humans.

There is no prevention or cure for valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis. An estimated 30,000 people and 60,000 dogs in Arizona get sick from valley fever every year. The disease is found mainly in dusty areas of Arizona and California. State health officials say it caused the deaths of 50 people in Arizona last year.

We think the dog is the path to the human (vaccine), said Dr. Lisa Shubitz, a veterinarian and associate research professor in the UAs School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, and part of the team working on a vaccine.

For one thing, theres been more widespread community support in Arizona for a dog vaccine than for a human vaccine.

Over 20 years a total of $400,000 earmarked for the UAs canine vaccine has been donated, all of it from dog lovers who have seen the toll the disease can take.

The UAs Valley Fever Center for Excellence receives $350,000 in non-earmarked donations every year. Most of it comes from one donor: the Manhattan-based J.T. Tai & Co. Foundation, which donates $300,000 annually.

The canine vaccine funds are smaller but show broader backing. The donations frequently come in amounts of $20 or $30, from concerned and grieving pet owners who give what they can afford. Larger donations have come in from kennel clubs and owners of dog-related businesses.

These add up and I am endlessly grateful for the support, big and small, of those who have given to this project over years, giving to a hope that we could accomplish this, Shubitz said.

Regulatory process more condensed

A canine vaccine would go through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics to get to market, while a human vaccine would need to go through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval.

The regulatory process is very similar to humans, but it is a lot more condensed for animals, said Kwansun Ahn, CEO of Anivive Lifesciences, a veterinary pharmaceutical startup based in Irvine, California.

The UA has made some progress in moving delta-CPS1 past the development stage by partnering with Anivive. Anivive also recently acquired the license to a canine cancer drug developed at the UA.

We are not like Big Pharma. We are not solely focused on a big opportunity of millions of dollars. For us, its about solving both the big and small problems, Anivive co-founder Dylan Balsz said. The work will not only advance it to canines but is a driving force to get it to humans. As a veterinary company its good to be able to play that role.

At least two previous serious attempts at creating a valley fever vaccine failed. The first resulted in sore arms but no conclusive proof it worked. The second was a laboratory-created hybrid protein vaccine made in a yeast strain using DNA from the valley fever fungus. It looked promising but stalled because of its cost.

Politics and funding are problems for getting any valley fever vaccine to market because it is a regional, not national, disease. In humans it affects fewer than 200,000 people per year, which gives it orphan status. That also means its harder to get drug companies interested.

But since delta-CPS1 is a spore, theres no expensive protein purification step as there was with other vaccine attempts.

I think it has a lot of promise and potential, said Dr. George R. Thompson, a valley fever expert who is an associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the University of California at Davis.

Thompson, who has been researching valley fever for about a decade, said there are numerous challenges to getting a vaccine against the disease. Among other things, theres no global market for it.

The researchers will have to show the efficacy in clinical trials and there could be genetic factors that make some dogs respond better than others to a vaccine, he said.

The same is true for humans. A 2016 CDC study found increased mortality from valley fever in non-white racial groups, The study found African-Americans had the highest coccidioidomycosis-associated mortality rate. Those genetic variances are not yet fully understood.

But eventually there will be a vaccine against valley fever, Thompson predicted, and right now delta-CPS1 is the one to watch.

Well undoubtedly learn a lot from this process and I hope it works, he said.

The delta-CPS1 researchers are hopeful about getting approved for grant applications theyve submitted to further the vaccine development  $6 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health and $250,000 from the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission.

The UA team was heartened to see the request for proposals on the NIH grant specifically encouraged vaccines with small-market potential, and its wording cited as examples valley fever, Lyme disease and Zika virus.

The UA and Anivive are not shoo-ins for the NIH award. Dr. John Galgiani, director of the UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence, places their chances at about 20 percent.

If they dont get the money it doesnt mean the canine vaccine wont move forward, but it will be a hurdle to overcome, Galgiani said.

The UA research team has in the past estimated it will be less than $40 million to get a delta-CPS1 vaccine to market. But Galgiani said its almost impossible to know an exact price at this stage. He said its like estimating how much it will cost to build a fighter plane without having a list of parts or suppliers.

I dont think it will be $40 million to get into dogs. It might be in the order of $20 million, maybe as low as $10 million, he said.

Trials to include Dogs from Pima county

Anivive officials say they are aiming to get the canine vaccine to market in three to five years, though Shubitz has a more conservative view.

If we get that grant, I think six to seven years from right now is more realistic as it will take some time to do studies, she said.

The vaccine has not been put into dogs yet. The research team, which includes Orbach, Shubitz and Galgiani, was advised to get more regulatory input from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before starting introductory safety and immunology studies in dogs.

Still, a timeline of three to five years is possible, USDA spokeswoman Donna L. Karlsons said. It depends on how fast the firm develops the required data and gets manufacturing methods and facilities in place, she said. The UA team will need to prove to the USDA that the vaccine is safe and effective.

Shubitz anticipates clinical trials for the vaccine will mostly include Arizona dogs in Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties, along with some California dogs.

Vaccine fundraising

A recent Howliday Party at the Sit Stay Play dog day-care center in central Tucson was a fundraiser, held annually for more than a decade, for the UA Foundations Valley Fever Companion Animal Care Fund, money earmarked to directly fund research into the vaccine.

Many of my client dogs have valley fever. The emotional and economic costs are enormous, said Janet Galante, the owner of Sit Stay Play.

She holds the event, which brings in $2,000 to $4,000 each year, in memory of a former client, Tyler Ford, a vizsla who died of valley fever in 2005.

What they are doing over there is remarkable, Galante said of the UA researchers.

Some dogs with valley fever are euthanized because their owners cannot afford to treat them. The anti-fungal medication that is often necessary to keep the valley fever at bay for the rest of their pets life costs $4 to $6 per day, and blood tests and associated veterinary costs can run into the thousands. Also, blood tests can give false negatives and require additional testing and money.

Dogs will often lose large amounts of weight and the disease causes lameness and pain, or paralysis if the infection moves into the bones of the back. Things people complain about the most to me are lack of appetite, lack of energy, and pain. They hate that the most. And severe coughing, Shubitz said. They really hate seeing their dogs feeling sick.

The risk factor for acquiring valley fever is the same for dogs as for humans  breathing  and in parts of California and Arizona, impossible to avoid. It takes inhaling just one spore to become infected, though like humans, most dogs who acquire valley fever will not get sick from it. For the ones that do, the disease can result in amputations and worse.

Randy Ford had never heard of valley fever when he moved to Tucson from Salinas, California, with his dog Tyler in 2001. In the fall of 2005, Tyler became ill. A few days before Tyler died he was raising hell  chasing toys in the pool. Then all of a sudden he quit eating, and hed stand outside his doggie door and shake like it was cold, Ford said. Tylers valley fever had disseminated into his bloodstream and his kidneys started to shut down.

Ford spent more than $5,000 trying to save his beloved dog, but Tyler was too sick. He died shortly after Thanksgiving.

A vaccine sure would save a lot of heartache, said Ford, an aircraft mechanic who attends the holiday party at Galantes business every year. Tyler was beautiful. The fungus is bad stuff.

Six percent get ill

A 2005 UA study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that dogs in Pima and Maricopa counties had a 28 percent chance of becoming infected with valley fever in the first two years of life. During that time, the chance of a dog becoming ill was 6 percent.

The risk of infection was nearly five times greater for dogs that spent more than 80 percent of their time outdoors compared with predominantly indoor dogs. Dogs with more than an acre of land to roam were found to have a risk of infection 6.2 times greater than dogs with a smaller roaming area.

No relationship was found between infection and breed, age of home, yard cover, digging behavior or proximity to construction.

I remain confident that delta-CPS1 will effectively prevent valley fever in dogs. Whether it becomes a routine vaccine in Arizona may depend on consumer acceptance of the product, Shubitz said.

Company officials who are raising money from investors would not divulge a price point for the vaccine, but the intent is to create a vaccine that is affordable, said Dr. Dave Bruyette, chief veterinary officer at Anivive.

Shubitz  who herself has three dogs suffering from valley fever  said that even if the vaccine costs $100 per animal, thats a bargain compared to what many people spend on treating the disease in their dogs. Its still unclear how often the vaccine would be needed.

Id vaccinate instantly if it was available, said Sherry Botos, a Raytheon employee who attended Galantes holiday party this year with her 2-year-old Yorkie, named Barney Fife, diagnosed with valley fever in September.

We need to seize this moment in time, said Shubitz, who, like Galgiani, has spent more than two decades devoted to valley fever research. No one is going to pay for this (research effort) twice. We need to be right.
Help India!

By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net

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Hummer is a car that dwarfs every other automobile bar the trucks, and is priced at over Rs 1 crore. This explains why SP Candidate from Kanpur Cantonment, Atiq Khan made his way to his rally in a Hummer, no less. Like Khan, a Hummer too makes his presence felt, and with a special number plate-786, and his followers keeping pace with him in over 250 other, normal luxury cars: BMW, Mercedes, Fords etc, he surely made a loud, pompous entry in the city on Thursday.

And despite requests to not carry firearms, many armed men were spotted but they remain inside the car.

The Rama Devi crossing, which is the entry point in Kanpur city, was decked up like a bride by Atiqs supporters. Atiq arrived in style at 3:55 pm in Kanpur, where a number of his supporters wanted to catch a glimpse of this leader. And keeping in tune with his style, the roof of his Hummer vehicle opened up and Atiq emerged, waving to the crowd. His caravan had 250 vehicles while the local administration was expecting only 100 vehicles. It took nearly two and half hours to cross Rama Devi crossing where he was felicitated by his supporters. Due to the heavy rush, police had stopped traffic on Lucknow-Kanpur Highway and there was a serpentine queue of vehicles.

He was scheduled to address the meeting at Babupurwa at 6 pm but he reached there at 9 pm while a huge crowd waited for him. Seeing the turnout, Atiq too remained focussed on Muslim votes. But he had the apprehension of splitting in Muslim votes as BSP too has fielded a Muslim candidate from the same seat. Atiq mentioned it in his speechRSS works silently while our people make lot of noise and on the day of polling they take rest after having Nihari and Biryani. We should realise that our vote should not get divided.

He also raised the issue of triple talaq and Muslim personal law stating that these issues hardly affect anyone else. He also invoked Allama Iqbal and claimed that government should not interfere in these issues.

Atiq also targeted Congress by stating that Muslims used to vote for them just after seeing the photographs of Indira Gandhi offering chadar at Ajmer Dargah. On BSP he said that it has diverted from its path after Kanshiram.

But amidst such paraphernalia, Atiq remains apprehensive about his ticket being changed. He claimed that if under pressure from media his ticket is cancelled then also he is not worried and he will make his own ticket.

Atiq also visited the house of SP MLA Irfan Solanki and claimed that he had role in the alleged assault at the Shiats institute in Allahabad. He claimed that when court and election commission are not stopping him from contesting polls why are others worried. He batted for SP claiming that it is coming to power again.

But as was expected, such brazen display of flashing cars had its own set of issue. Even as Atiq accommodated local SP leaders and city president of SP Fazal Mahmood in his car, at two places-Begum Purwa and Rail Bazar, SP workers had a scuffle among themselves over showing their faces to Atiq.

As he had appealed earlier, Atiq had deposited Rs 10,000 each at two toll plazas which are between Kanpur and Allahabad. He also had assured the toll plaza staff that any balance due will be paid immediately.
Help India!

By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav mooted the development agenda for forthcoming assembly polls, ushering in a new wave and hope that for once UP will witness poll battle on development. But ultimately he has also succumbed to caste equations.

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The OBCs have remained the focal point in the politics of Hindi heartland. Last year during the polls in Bihar, they stood with Nitish Kumar ensuring his victory. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, they supported BJP and ensured its thumping victory.

Following his father Mulayams footsteps, Akhilesh also has taken the decision of inclusion of 17 Most Backward Classes in Scheduled Caste category. Though Akhilesh while chairing the cabinet meeting on Thursday cleared 74 other proposals, the most important proposal was granting SC status to 17 MBCs. As per the cabinet decision these 17 caste are sub caste of five SC castesShilpkaar, Manjhwar, Gond, Turaiyah and Beldaar and hence they have been categorised as SCs. A government notification will be issued after which they can avail the facilities of SC. For further issues, the proposal will be sent to the central government.

Which are these 17 MBCs>

The 17 MBCs are Rajbhar, Nishad, Prajapati, Mallah, Kahar, Kashyap, Kumhar Dheemar, Bind, Bhar, Kewat, Dheemar, Batham, Machua, Manjhi, Turah and Gond.

Are they politically important

Yes, these castes constitute nearly 13.63% of UPs population. Among them, Nishad caste along with its sub-castes constitute nearly 10.25%, Rajbhar are 1.32%, Prajapati are 1.84% and Gond are 0.22%. All previous governments, including Mulayam and Mayawati and Akhilesh, have sent proposals to include them in SC category.

What is the stand of all political parties and leaders?

Mulayam Singh Yadav:

He was the first person to tap the political importance of these 17 MBCs. He took the first initiative when he gave a ticket to former dacoit Phoolan Devi who hailed from these castes and she was elected as MP in 1996. Mulayam in his last regime has also sent a proposal to Central government for inclusion of these 17 castes in SC category. In 2005, he had issued a notification for their inclusion in SC category and caste certificates were issued on this ground. But it was challenged in court.

Mayawati:

After coming to power in 2007, Mayawati withdrew Mulayam governments proposal and sent a fresh proposal stating that these 17 MBCs may be included in SC category and the reservation quota of SC be increased so that they can be given reservation. It was done as she did not want to antagonise her Dalit vote bank which will offended in sharing their existing reservation quota. During her tenure these 17 caste remained in OBC category.

Akhilesh Yadav:

During his whole tenure, CM Akhilesh Yadav kept the issue alive. He formed a sub-committee of state assembly headed by social welfare minister Awadesh Prasad which recommended that these 17 caste be included in SC category. It has also recommended that the report on the socio-economic status of these caste conducted by SC ST Educational Research Centre and the reply of 18 queries as required by central government be sent. He also had sent a similar proposal to the central government in 2013 and even wrote to social justice and empowerment minister. The proposal was not acceded to.

Akhilesh declared April 5 as a public holiday to mark the birth anniversary of Maharaj Nishad Raj. Leaders of these communities like Shankhlal Manjhi, Gayatri Prasad Prajapati were appointed minister and another Rajpal Kashyap was appointed MLC. Two conventions of these 17 MBCs were also held at the party office in Lucknow.

Another major decision which Akhilesh took was to earmark 7.5% quota for these 17 MBCs in over 80 schemes for the social welfare schemes run by the state government.

Congress:

In 2007 Congress in its election manifesto had promised to include 13 castes of Nishad community in SC category.

BJP:

In 2012 election manifesto, the BJP too had promised SC status to these 17 MBC and also to Biyar, Nonia, Chauhan, Lonia and Banjara castes.

Will this move reap benefits for the SP?

SP is focussing on two advantages from this decision. The first, and rather obvious, advantage is that it is likely to get support from these 17 MBCs on grounds that it is favouring their SC status and the ball in centres court. The other advantage, which few have spoken about, is that the SP wants these 17 MBCs to be out from OBC category. The reason is that then they will no longer claim 27% reservation under OBC category. This will benefit Yadavs who are core voters of SP and are dominant caste in OBC. They will be thus relieved from competition from these 17 MBCs in their quota of 27% reservation.

How SC status is given to castes

Only the Parliament has the right to include or exclude any caste from SC category. State government can only send proposals to the central government. The proposal should be accompanied with reasons. The proposal may be taken up by the central government which, after consultation with Registrar General of India and National SC Commission, will place it before the Parliament. Experts claim that for the inclusion of any caste in SC category, the most important issue is that they should have been a victim of untouchability.
Help India!

By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

Doda (J&K): As one travels 180 kms east of Jammu , the scenic beauty and picturesque landscape with the mighty Chenab river dissecting the valley into two parts welcomes one to Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Spread across mountains and lush green trees providing a cover to the high ranges, with the soulful winds blowing round the day can let anyone fall in love with its beauty. But beneath the present calm, lies a burden of torture, disappearances and deaths of the 1990s when Kashmir was up in arms against the Indian rule.

Fifteen kms from Doda, on the foothills of the Himalayas, lies Bhabore, a non-descript village which overlooks the flowing mighty Chenab deep in the gorge. The village might be peaceful as of now, but like many other places in the state it too has a painful past.

On the evening of May 16, 1996, seven-year-old Umar Iqbals father Mohd Iqbal Bhat, a school teacher was relaxing back home, just like everyone else in the village, after a tiring day.

A well-known figure in the nearby villages, Mohd Iqbal Bhat, who was 35-years old at the time, was also one of the members of Jamaat-e-Islami, which used to be on the radar of Indian security forces. These were the days when fear of security forces ruled the streets in this part.

Bhat was with his two sons and one daughter and the family was about to have dinner when a barrage of knocks disrupted their evening.

He rushed to open the door. Around a dozen army men were standing in the lawn and asked him to accompany them, to which he obliged. He promised his kids and wife to return in few hours.

Hours turned into days, little Umar along with his mother tried to search for Iqbal everywhere across the army camps, but to no avail. Three days after his sudden disappearance, the family found the dead body of Iqbal in Dashnan, another village in Doda.

The sudden killing of Iqbal was a period of gloom for the entire village. Umar was very close to his father and despite being seven, he had realised the tragedy that befell on his family. The thoughts of his father death continued to haunt him for over a decade.

During those years, it was a norm to cross the border to get arms training to take revenge for the killing of loved ones by the army, but Umar even though little, acted maturely and chose to continue the mission of his father: first, to get educated and then, to educate.

At the age of 14, he moved to Srinagar and enrolled himself in an orphanage, where he studied for seven years and graduated from Amar Singh College, Srinagar.

After my fathers death, there was no financial support for my family due to which my studies affected. Seeing our wretched conditions, one of my fathers friends, late Mohd Akram took me to Srinagar and admitted me in an orphanage (J&K Yateem Khana), says Umar, who is now a 27-year-old man.

In 2011, he decided to dedicate himself for establishing a school which could impart quality education to the poor villagers at a minimal cost. One of his uncles donated him a building and he started the enrollment process the very same year by getting it registered in the education department of the state government.

I had no money to start with, but as it is said that if you are committed to something good then God opens many doors for you. The same happened to me, says a proud Umar.

Iqbal Memorial School named after his late father, initially had 20 students enrolled, but after six years, the school has more than 150 students from different villages.

The school is more like a model school in the village having facilities at par with any other school in cities. A big library with more than 1,000 books keeps students busy in their spare time. The school is also equipped with a computer lab with four computers and has internet connections to introduce the children to the outside world. The students are also taught via smart classes through the use of projectors.

My father believed that that ignorance is the basic cause of distress, confusion, and poverty. There was no dearth of intelligent and brilliant children in our village, but due to lack of educational facilities and backwardness they werent able to carry forward their education leaving them to work only as laborers, tells Umar.

The school not only teaches the children but also holds regular sessions for villagers so as to emphasize the necessity of educating the children.

The school has totally changed the environment of our village by creating a temperament of encouraging universal education. Now people dont have to migrate to towns for getting a quality education, they are getting it at their doorstep, says 58-year old Abdul Rashid Bohru, a resident of the village.

Nine-year-old Mehak Irshad is studying in Iqbal Memorial School since its inception. She achieved the first rank in debate competition held among 40 schools at the zonal level this year.

We are not only taught subjective knowledge but also encouraged to take part in co- curricular activities. , says Mehak.

She wishes to join the civil service after completing her education.

Umar is now working hard to upgrade his school up to tenth standard so that the village childrens dont have to migrate to cities for higher education or drop their plans to pursue further education altogether due to the costs involved in the cities. He is also looking for generous supporters, who can donate computers and infrastructure for his school.

We are offering education at a very low cost so that every poor person in the village can afford to get an education for their children. Those who cant even afford that amount are exempt from giving the fee, and so are the orphans who study here. In recent years some people have come forward to sponsor those kids, says Umar.

Umar isnt looking for profits or some long-term corporate goals but wants to tune the behavior of students in such a way that they can be messengers of love, kindness and peace among masses besides paying back to the community to which they belong.

Education was a wealth for my father and I got it even when I lived in the orphanage. Now its my turn to dispense the very same wealth among my people via the medium of school, adds Umar.

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Help India!

By Imran Inamdar, TwoCircles.net

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Former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde unveiled a new Urdu poetry book Sail-e-Junoon, authored by Siraj Solapuri at a function in the city which was attended by a number of Urdu aficionados.

Speaking with Twocircles.net on the occasion, Siraj said, Sail-e-Junoon means a storm of passion which is carried out to achieve something positive. Comic poetry has given me name fame at the state and national level. Two of my comic poetry books have already been released this year. This book, however, contains serious poetry and is a reflection of my personal and social life experiences. All the poems written in the book are directly or indirectly a reflection of our day to day life and the responsibilities towards society.

The Chief guest of the function Sushil Kumar Shinde said poets who play a key role in building society are badly sidelined. It is our responsibility to crown them in their true sense. If you want to come closer to the mirror of the society, then you should read Urdu poetry, he added. At the same time, he also said that Siraj had the talent to make people laugh and requested him to do not go away from writing humorous poetry.

President of the Khidmat Khalq organisation and senior Urdu teacher Eijaz Manzoor Alam appreciated literary work of Siraj and said, I have been a great fan of his poetry for decades. Whatever he writes is always based on reality and evils, his poetry leaves a good impression and makes people think.

The function was presided over by Dr. Iresh Swamy and Waqar Sheikh, Basheer Parwaz were guest members.
Nissan announced in October that there was a risk to their factory based in Sunderland. The key issue was surrounding Brexit and the risks that leaving the EU could pose. But the UK government held talks with the Japanese car manufacturer and the Chief Executive said that he was confident over assurances made to him by Theresa May and her government.

Unfortunately, the government has been severely lacking over details given to the public about talks that will affect the public greatly.

Freedom of Information request

Reported in The Financial Times, they revealed that Nissan would have a shield against any Brexit tariffs, but the rest of the deal is unclear even after calls to clarify.

I sent a FOI request to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), to further clarify the governments terms or assurances given to Nissan.

In an email sent on 27th October, I stated:

FOI Request on the Details of the Deal with Nissan

Please provide the details of the deal given to Nissan to keep the car manufacturer within the UK, including any clauses and sub-clauses. Also, include any financial help they may receive when Brexit does occur and when we leave the single market. Include any potential compensation from future tariffs, exemptions from trade barriers, and tax breaks.

Please provide the information electronically.

The first reply was the confirmation they received the request, where it stated that Your request is being considered under the terms of the FOI Act 2000 and we will reply at the latest by 24th November. Which gave them 4 weeks to respond, but they did miss their deadline which prompted me to send them a tweet a month after receiving the initial reply.

You have failed to answer my FOI request in regards to the @Nissan deal @beisgovuk #SecretDeal pic.twitter.com/ycb18Hiuyh  Matthew Clifton (@UnnaturalGeek) November 28, 2016

Their response

This tweet prompted them to respond the same day, where they claimed that your email contains an enquiry rather than a request for recorded information held by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). They continued From our preliminary assessment, it is clear that we will not be able to answer your request without further clarification.

They are avoiding answering the questions posed, by claiming that this is an enquiry rather than a request.

They also ask is there a particular document you are seeking? The abstruse nature of the reply is designed to avoid answering the question, and I have recently replied to their request for clarification.

In an email sent on 21st December, I stated:

To clarify I am looking for any documentation pertaining to my previous request.

If no such documentation is available, then I would like to see any minutes of meetings with Nissan that may shed some light on the talks between the government and Nissan (I assume you are capable of handling something as simple as minutes of a meeting). The previous request was clear enough however, the avoidance of the giving any information out is apparent.

I expect a reply within the time you set yourselves this time, the original request is below as to remind you of the detail I seek.

FOI Request on the Details of the Deal with Nissan

Please provide the details of the deal given to Nissan to keep the car manufacturer within the UK, including any clauses and sub-clauses. Also, include any financial help they may receive when Brexit does occur and when we leave the single market.

Include any potential compensation from future tariffs, exemptions from trade barriers, and tax breaks.

Please provide the information electronically"

The latest date they said they will respond is the 23rd of January, although, they have already proved that keeping to timetables is not their forte.
In the five years that have passed since the start of the crisis in Syria, it remains the single greatest threat to peace and stability in the world today. But it is those who have been caught up in the civil war that have suffered the most; that is the ordinary civilians. Although there has been a ceasefire agreed between the parties to allow civilians to leave Aleppo, the question that remains is, how do we solve the huge humanitarian crisis for good as the war continues on?

Background to the conflict

Let us provide some background to the crisis itself.

The Conflict began in 2011 after pro-democracy protests against the rule of President Assad, according to the BBC, escalated into full-on conflict. It was originally between supporters of the government and those opposed. But it has become a complex situation, one which the BBC stated was "now more than just a battle". As civil war descended, other parties emerged in the conflict. The alignment of Sunni and Shia parties, and the emergence of the terror group, the Islamic State (IS), is testament to that. It is the emergence of IS that has caused most concern within the international community and has, as a result, led to foreign intervention. The BBC reported that in September 2014 that a United States (US)-led coalition was launched to "degrade and ultimately destroy" IS.

Although at times on opposite sides of the conflict, Russia too has intervened to target "terrorists" in Syria.

The humanitarian crisis

But this is where the problem lies. As the civil crisis has descended into full scale war, in ultimately trying to destroy the Islamic State and emerge victorious, it is those on the ground who have suffered the most; the civilians.

In addition to war crimes, it is the humanitarian crisis that has been the major consequence of battle. In the key city of Aleppo, there were estimated to be 250,000-300,000 civilians trapped in August of this year. Now although as stated a recent ceasefire was agreed between the parties, what has occurred overall in Syria is still a major cause for concern as the statistics demonstrate.

As stated on Wikipedia, in January 2015, of the estimated 212,000 people that month who were affected by the battle, only 304 were reached with food. Furthermore, since the start of the conflict, the BBC noted that more than 4.5 million people have fled Syria and a further 6.5 million are internally displaced. However, most notably, around 70 percent of the population are without drinking water, one in three people are unable to "meet their basic food needs", and four out of five people are living in poverty.

The solution to the crisis

It seems that as the war has escalated, the civilians are the ones who are suffering the worst. They need help, the foreign powers need to recognise this and do a lot more.

The Islamic State is the major threat to the global community, but let us not forget those caught up in what is going on. It is positive sign that the ceasefire was agreed in Aleppo, but going forward, it has to be the first thought of the parties involved in the conflict. Look after those in the war, and not just those fighting the war.
A man who a few months ago didnt know what a Nuclear triad was is about to gain control over nearly 7,000 nuclear weapons, enough to destroy the entire human species in a few hours. Yesterday he joined with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to jointly say the two countries leaders goals were to increase the number of nuclear weapons in their respective arsenals.

Is it more frightening that President-Elect Trump has made the statement, or that Vladimir Putin made almost the exact same statement just a few hours earlier?

Nuclear ninny?

In August then Candidate trump asked (rhetorically perhaps) why does the U.S.

have nuclear weapons if there is no intention of using them?

On December 22 P.E. Trump tweeted The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes

This was such a frightening concept that, once again his staff rushed to explain he didnt really mean what he clearly wrote. Newly appointed White House Communications Director, Jason Miller explained that Mr. Trump was [REALLY] referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes, and not that "the U.S. must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability..."

That is supposed to calm everyone from PM Theresa May to Kim Jong-um, that he really isnt preparing the U.S. to win a nuclear exchange.

Mid-December 2015 Candidate Trump showed that he didnt have a basic knowledge of nuclear weapons when he couldn't respond to a question about to the nuclear triad.

After knowing that nuclear weapons were big bombs, the second most basic thing to know about the U.S. nuclear arsenal is that it has three components.

The U.S. has 14 SSBNs (ballistic missile subs) and 4 SSGN (cruise missile carrying subs) collectively called Tridents because they are the third leg of U.S.

(French, Russian, and UK) nuclear capabilities.

The first leg is bombers of various sorts, from ancient B-52s, to B1's and any airplane capable of launching cruise missiles. The second leg of the nuclear triad is the ballistic missile.

Our President Elect will have control of enough nuclear power to destroy all human life but skips most intelligence briefings, doesnt know what weapons we (or others) have, and has twittered the world that he will expand U.S.

nuclear capability.

The world has come within seconds of destruction when Soviet officer Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov was the deciding vote against a Soviet nuclear strike to end the Cuban Missile Crisis (and probably all humanity). Today we have a North Korean dictator who murdered his chief military adviser by having him strapped to the front of an anti-aircraft gun and fired for falling asleep in a meeting.

What would it take to have North Korea test whether their nuclear-tipped missile actually works?

Why briefings are so important

Mr. Trump apparently feels he would be able to catch up quickly enough if something happened, but if some 3 a.m. he were pried away from his twittering and told there may have been a missile launched from China, Russia, or North Korea, he would have less than 30 minutes to learn about the current political and military situations of all three, decide whether it was likely or unlikely that they were actually attacking, twitter a message about the warning, get rushed to a shelter or Air Force One, and still have time to decide what U.S.

response should be.

Presidents must make snap decisions which could start or stop a war so most of them take security briefings seriously and learn as much as possible before a crisis.

(Note: I'm not an expert, but Im trained in nuclear physics and the effects of nuclear War, including more than a decade as a Radiologic Monitor for Pennsylvania and have a current FEMA certification in IS00003 Radiological Emergency Management. I also consult with a former CIA employee.)
Christmas time is upon us once again and with it comes the usual treasures of Christmas day Television to enjoy. This year we see the BBC say farewell to "Bake Off" before it moves over to Channel 4 for 2017, as well as the last appearance on "Strictly Come Dancing" for Len Goodman. Here is a look at the best TV has to offer on Christmas Day...

"Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special"

BBC ONE 6:45 PM

Now in its 12th year of Christmas Specials, this years "Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special" will see long-serving judge Len Goodman say farewell to the show after 12 years on the programme.

The 72-year old has admitted that leaving the show might be a decision that he regrets, but feels that now is the right time to call it a day. It has also been leaked that this years theme will be movies.

"Doctor Who"

BBC ONE 5:45 PM

The ever successful "Doctor Who" returns to our screens on Christmas Day in "The Return of Doctor Mysterio". This Christmas special looks to see "Doctor Who" delve into the superhero world for the first time with Peter Capaldi reprising his role as the Doctor alongside other names such as Matt Lucas, Justin Chatwin and Charity Wakefield. The episode will be the first "Doctor Who" for a whole year when it is broadcast on Christmas Day.

"The Great Christmas Bake Off"

BBC ONE 4:45 PM

We say another farewell this Christmas, as the much loved Mary Berry departs from the show as it makes the switch to Channel 4 for the New Year.

This Christmas version of the popular "Great British Bake Off" show will see contestants from previous series' compete against each other to bake festive themed treats.

"Eastenders"

BBC ONE 9:30 PM

"Eastenders" is now renowned for its drama filled Christmas episodes and this year looks to be no different on Albert Square. Although producers, cast and crew have been as tight-lipped as usual over potential spoilers for the show, what is known is the return of Max Branning after a year in jail following him being acquitted of Lucy Beales' murder.

"Maigret's Dead Man"

ITV 9:00 PM

A two hour adaption of the mystery novel is set to air on Christmas Day with Rowan Atkinson set to play detective Maigret. The first in the series "Maigret Sets a Trap" aired on ITV at Easter and other actors to portray the detective have included Michael Gambon, Richard Harris and Rupert Davies. The detective, created by Georges Simenon, featured in a massive 75 novels between 1931 - 1972.
Learn Bangla from where you are

If you are in interested in learning Bangla, then you have come to the right place.Probably you do research on Bengal, want to communicate with your friends, like to travel or work in West Bengal or Bangladesh, or you have an interest in learning a new language. Whatever it is, I am here for you. I love teaching Bangla and made it my profession 25 years ago.I resided in USA for 13 years and recently came back to Kolkata.

You can be physically anywhere in the world. I will be able to guide you face to face. I have chosen one digital teaching and learning platform for my classes which is Italki.com . It is easy to use and payment is secure.

You just need a good internet connection and a computer.

I would just like you to know if you want to learn Bangla or any other language, feel free to use my personal invite link

You will get credit for it from Italki.com, and can get a free trial class.

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About me : I have been teaching Bangla as a second language since 1991. I taught in the American Institute of Indian Studies in Kolkata for 12 years. Then I taught Bangla in the University of Michigan from 2004-2007. I joined in the University of Chicago in 2007 and I will teach here until June, 2016. In many summers since 2005, I taught in the Intensive program in SASLI , Madison.



While I was in Kolkata, besides teaching in the American Institute of Indian Studies, I used to give private lessons to non-native Bangla speakers from all over the world. I taught Bangla to pharmacists, nurses, travelers, social workers, anthropologists, historians, doctors, film makers and many more people with interesting professions.



I give emphasize to students' needs. My classes are task based. Speaking, listening, reading and writing skills will be taken care of.

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Students' testimonials from Italki.com and Verbling.com

"Mandira is wonderful! She is very warm and friendly, which helped me feel quite at ease from the beginning of the lesson. After a few minutes of talking about my interest in the Bangla language we dove into writing and pronouncing the vowels. Mandira provided tips throughout to help with writing properly. Afterwards we discussed basic greetings and she even gave me a polite phrase that I will use the next time I'm at a friend's house! I encourage anyone to book a lesson with her if you want a well-organised yet approachable class. See you next time, Mandira! Dhonnobad. ()"James Davis-Ford in Italki.com

"Mandira is an excellent teacher!" Reem from Isreal in verbling.com

"Everything was great, and a real example of what language teaching can be." Daisy Paradis from USA in verbling.com

"I had one lesson with Mandira and I'm looking forward to more! She takes time to find out where you're starting from, what you want to learn, and really personalizes the lesson to meet your needs." Katia from USA in verbling.com

'Mandira is a truly wonderful teacher. During the initial lessons she gauged my level of understanding of the language. She quickly created a lesson plan to build upon my level of knowledge which is at the intermediate level. This lesson focuses on two parts - having a conversation in the language and practicing reading out loud. Mandira has a wide collection of reading materials which she has aggregated over years of teaching the language. I feel privileged to learn from someone who teaches the language (and has been doing so for years) and has made this her life's work. On top of everything, she is very friendly and funny and the lessons are truly very enjoyable and fun. I am quite excited to be learning this language!' Arunaksha Guha from 'Italki.com'.

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A Seattle judge has ruled this week eight teenagers can sue the government for not doing more to fight climate change. King County Superior Court Judge Hollis Hill said the plaintiffs, ages 12 to 16, can have their day in court, writing in her ruling that it is time for these youth to have the opportunity to address their concerns in a court of law Because none are old enough to vote, the lawsuit allows them to bypass the legislative branch by using the courts.

The children had wanted the judge to find the Department of Ecology (DOE) negligent in failing to protect them and future generations from global warming.

Judge Hill noted the DOE had complied with the Clean Air Rule in the time frame set by the court and she denied their request. She did, however, allow the adolescents to amend their lawsuit so they could sue Gov. Inslee and the state of Washington for violating the public trust doctrine and constitution.

Kids Climate Lawsuit Gets Even Bigger, Heads to Trial in 2017 https://t.co/lh1bC9wHHT pic.twitter.com/jK9ig3YMq6  Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) December 20, 2016

Inalienable climate rights

Hill said the petitioners have a right to force Washington state to use science-based action to fight climate change before its too late or costly. Andrea Rodgers, an environmental lawyer representing the children, said this means they can go to court and argue their constitutional rights had been violated.

Rodgers said the actions currently taken by the state are not lowering emissions as required by state law. The governor and state legislature dispute that claim.

This isnt the first time youths have joined forces and sued over climate inaction. Last month a federal judge in Eugene, Oregon, said a similar climate change case against President Obama could move ahead.

In that complaint, kids aged 9 to 20 said the government had violated their constitutional climate rights to life, liberty, and property. The self-described Earth Guardians dont believe the federal government is doing enough to slow climate change.

EXCLUSIVE: Continuing Obamas Climate Agenda Will Cost $1 Trillion https://t.co/2LCkQ9naRe pic.twitter.com/ZQhdGF1dhU  The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 19, 2016

More action wanted

Despite Obama unleashing a torrent of climate regulations, rolling out the Clean Power Plan, and setting aside billions in executive actions to fight global warming, the man behind the Oregon suit, James Hansen, says those actions are toothless.

Indeed, Hansen believes urgent action is needed as we are running out of time.

Hansen, an ex-NASA climatologist who raised eyebrows by publishing a non-peer reviewed paper to support his Oregon lawsuit, wants the judicial branch to impose a global carbon tax on all fossil fuel emissions. He also wants Big Oil to pay trillions for emissions extractions. And he doesnt trust lawmakers or the executive branch to get it done.

Former NASA climate chief says fossil industry must pay trillions https://t.co/oKMgmxwrXK  Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 4, 2016

Litigate, not legislate

Enter the Oregon-based nonprofit Our Childrens Trust, an organization that uses a game-changing legal campaign to force emissions reductions at all levels of government by empowering youths.

OCT has pending litigation in nearly all 50 states and has successfully moved cases forward in certain states. These cases, like many others, will undoubtedly get appealed. And with the Supreme Court expected to go conservative for an entire generation, petitions to the highest court may fall on deaf ears.

Its unclear if a teenager, let alone a nine-year-old, understands the complex forces influencing our climate: oceanic cycles, geological disturbances, solar variations, El Ninos and La Ninas, natural variability, the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, plus a hundred other variables even seasoned climatologists find daunting. But it seems they have good instructors telling them carbon dioxide is a pollutant (its not), causing temperatures to rise, and only a lawsuit can fix it.
A woman tries an Alibaba VR device during a shopping spree in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. [Photo/China Daily]

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has hit out at a US decision to label it a haven for counterfeits, indicating that the move may have been politically motivated.

The world's top online retailer said on Thursday it was "very disappointed" by the decision to be restored to the list of "Notorious Markets", after the US Office of the Trade Representative cited a high level of alleged piracy and counterfeiting.

"We are very disappointed by the USTR's decision to include Taobao on its 'Notorious Markets' list, which ignores the real work Alibaba has done against counterfeits," Alibaba President Michael Evans said.

In 2016 alone, Taobao, the customer-to-customer platform, has removed more than double the number of infringing product listings than it did in 2015, Evans said.

"Our results speak for themselves. Unfortunately, the USTR's decision leads us to question whether it acted based on the actual facts or was influenced by the current political climate," Evans said.

Alibaba said in a statement that the list will not dampen its fight against the fake.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "The two countries should provide a fair and impartial trade environment for the activities of each other's companies."

The "Notorious Markets" list is under the auspices of the annual Special 301 process where Washington identifies trade barriers due to infringements of intellectual property rights, according to Catter Hu, a partner at Shanghai Jiehua Law Firm.

"While the report mainly targets companies and does not necessarily reflect Washington's view on respective countries, it's likely to dampen Alibaba's reputation in the US, where it has been trying to build up ties with retailers," Hu said.

However, this year's review also included a call for the Chinese government to take stronger measures on IPR reforms, a clear sign that political considerations are getting in the way of business, said Zhao Ping, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.

Despite all of its efforts, the company finds itself listed along with 10 other Chinese websites and bricks-and-mortar markets in the list, dealing a further blow to its overseas expansion, according to Yang Yaqiong, a senior analyst at Beijing-based Analysys.

"It's more politics than anything else. If you read through the report, you see a rather negative tone toward the Chinese market at large," said Yang.

Wang Qingyun in Beijing contributed to this story.
BEIJING - Mixed-ownership reform is expected to help China make breakthroughs in state-owned enterprise (SOE) reform, despite remaining challenges.

The state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) announced on Wednesday it has passed guidelines to promote market-oriented and mixed-ownership reforms, according to a statement on its website.

China said it will take substantial steps in mixed-ownership reform in the electricity, oil, natural gas, railway, civil aviation,telecommunications and military industries.

"Piloting mixed-ownership reform in heavyweight industries indicates China's resolve and confidence to push forward SOE reforms," said Liu He, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning body.

Mixed-ownership reform through diversifying the shareholding structure of SOEs is a pioneer for overall SOE reform, according to a statement issued Friday following the Central Economic Work Conference.

Pilot reforms for state-owned asset investment companies, designed to make the state a stakeholder rather than a manager, would raise management and operational efficiency, according to the statement.

The prime aim of mixed-ownership reform is to create a flexible and efficient market-oriented mechanism to improve management of SOEs, according to China Enterprise Research Institute researcher Li Jin.

Methods to introduce SOE mixed-ownership reform include non-state-owned capital investment, SOE investment in private companies and employee stock ownership plans.

Progress has been made in this respect: 68 percent of all SOE-funded firms in 2016 were mixed-ownership, in contrast with 66 percent registered in 2014.

Results of the SOE reform are also emerging. Combined SOE profits returned to growth in October after dropping since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Finance said. In the first ten months, SOEs made a combined profit of 1.92 trillion yuan ($276 billion).

China has about 150,000 SOEs, which hold more than 100 trillion yuan in assets and employ over 30 million people.

Although significant in stabilizing GDP growth and employment, the blind expansion of SOEs despite the cooling market in recent years has compounded nationwide overcapacity and risk from corporate debts.

Though plagued by a slowdown, China is pushing for mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of its larger SOEs to enhance efficiency. A 350-billion-yuan national fund was established three months ago to speed up the process.

From power supply to tourism, consolidation in a number of sectors has accelerated at an unprecedented pace this year. Food giant Sinograin was approved to acquire China National Cotton Reserves Corporation last month, and two building material producers initiated their merger in August.

Ongoing large-scale restructuring is just part of an ambitious program to push government-funded businesses to the market.

Guidelines on SOE reform were issued in September last year, promising mixed-ownership pilots, opening up more industries to private capital, and a modern enterprise system.
Luxury hotel operator Fairmont Hotels & Resorts launched its first property in Western China on December 21, 2016.

Fairmont Chengdu, located on Tianfu Middle Avenue in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, offers luxury experience for both business and leisure travelers. Fairmont already operates properties in Shanghai, Beijing, Kunshan and Nanjing.

Prime location

The hotel neighbors major local business facilities and shopping malls, such as the Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Center and Global Center. It is a 25-minute drive to Shuangliu International Airport and steps away from metro station with easy access to Tianfu Square, the upcoming Tianfu International Airport, and the fast developing South CBD zone.

Food lover's paradise

Four restaurants with seven unique food and beverage concepts will be available in the hotel. Spectrum, an all-day dining restaurant at lobby level, offers a tempting array of Asian and Western cuisines served throughout the day. Cube combines a lobby lounge, cocktail bar and Japanese restaurant into an innovative integrated space over three levels of unique architectural design. The first of its kind in Chengdu, Cube is an ideal venue for social activities and private salons. For guests who prefer authentic Sichuan food, Chang Yi, the Chinese restaurant on the fourth and fifth floors, will offer spicy delicacies for adventurous palates. Along with its unique cuisine, guests will also savor the arts, culture and history of Sichuan. Serving up sweeping panoramic views of the city, Manhattan (to open in mid-2017) occupies the top floors and will be one of the highest restaurants and bars in the city. Manhattan will be a fantastic escape to the vibrant era of 1920s American jazz with its Great Gatsby inspired decor and ambience.

Ambassador for local art

Stepping into the lobby, guests will be enthralled by a masterpiece  Qianli Yanxia Jinshuitou, or Gorgeous Cloud and Waters in Distance, a spectacular Shu embroidery landscape. Shu is the ancient name for Sichuan. The embroidery is a masterful blend of traditional landscape painting, hand-woven tapestry, and modern photography. The original painting was created by digital ink artist, Lu Jun, by recording color pigments dropping into water and combining the results into a fascinating artwork. Later, local artist, Yang Dequan, the former director of the Shu Embroidery Workshop, recreated this masterpiece from the original picture. This form of Shu embroidery embodies the intricate skills and knowledge passed down over generations, and years of painstaking practice by two major artists. The artwork, which took two years for the artists to complete, is regarded as the largest Shu embroidery piece in China. Presenting this artistic centerpiece and also showcasing a number of local artists, Fairmont Chengdu is proud to be a cultural ambassador for Sichuan arts and crafts.

World-class facilities and contemporary elegance

Offering stunning views of the fast-changing city skyline, Fairmont Chengdu will deliver a world of contemporary elegance throughout its 336 guest rooms and suites. An ideal venue for global conferences, major product launches, spectacular weddings and gala dinners, Fairmont Chengdu has 11 dedicated function areas to choose from. The 730 square meter Fairmont Ballroom features natural daylight, an adjoining VIP room and a designated lift to provide easy access for large equipment or automobiles. From the initial enquiry to the departure of guests, a seamless process delivered with the highest level of professional service ensures each event at Fairmont Chengdu is a remarkable and memorable success.

First Fairmont Residences in China

As part of the Palm Springs International Center, the Fairmont Chengdu Residences offer the first branded luxury apartment complex in Chengdu. This is the first Fairmont Residences in China. The development is managed by Fairmont with its exclusive concierge services. Residence owners are invited to participate at the highest level of the Fairmont President's Club. Along with special benefits and privileges such as room upgrades and exclusive preferential room rates, owners also enjoy an exceptional level of personalized service and attention at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts worldwide.
Beijing reiterated that China would "resolutely" take necessary actions to protect its security interests in response to US deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the Republic of Korea.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remark Thursday in response to Michael Flynn, US president-elect Donald Trump's designated national security adviser, calling the decision to deploy THAAD an "appropriate move".

"China has repeatedly expressed its serious concerns and clear opposition," Hua said. "The THAAD deployment by the US in the ROK severely undermines the regional strategic balance and the strategic and security interests of relevant regional countries including China.

"It will not help preserve the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. We hope that relevant countries can take our legitimate concerns seriously and halt the deployment."

This was the first time that a senior adviser to Trump offered clear backing for THAAD. It suggests that Trump, who repeatedly hinted in the election campaign at the possibility of the US reducing its military presence overseas, would continue to pursue deployment of the THAAD antimissile system in the ROK, according to the ROK's Dong-A Ilbo newspaper.

Flynn, speaking to a delegation from Seoul in Washington, said, "The Seoul-Washington alliance remains strong and firm," according to media reports. He also called for closer collaboration with Seoul to deal with nuclear and missile issues from Pyongyang, which THAAD was designed to deter.

Shi Yongming, an Asia-Pacific studies researcher at the China Institute of International Relations, said THAAD support from a Trump senior adviser is meant to strengthen the trilateral intelligence alliance between US, ROK and Japan, and "build a NATO-like organization in Asia."

"The US can use THAAD as a ploy to install powerful radar that can detect missile activities in China and Russia," said Shi. With the ROK and Japan signing an intelligence sharing pact last month, the US might put forward its own intelligence sharing pact and use THAAD to give itself an edge in negotiations, Shi said.

Teng Jianqun, research director at China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said the goal is to use THAAD in the ROK to contain China.

Last week, ROK leadership contender Moon Jae-in suggested the deployment should wait, but acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn on Wednesday called for immediate deployment of THAAD to deter the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, according to Yonhap news.

In the final analysis, it will be the ROK population that will decide the fate of THAAD, which remains uncertain given the country's internal turmoil, Teng said.

zhangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn
A look into the past of an accidental political photographer who managed to get up close and personal with some of the world's most high-profile leaders

Xu Genshun may already be 67 this year, but the memories of his profession as a political photographer are still as intact as the poignant images he once shot.

For example, he still fondly remembers the moments when former Russian leader Boris Yeltsin suddenly stepped out of his car to shake hands with Shanghai residents and the childlike smile of the former prime minister of Canada Jean Chretien as he rode a Phoenix bicycle through a busy street in the city.

"My photography approach was to tell the hidden stories in history using close-ups of facial expressions, attire details and body language," said Xu, who has throughout his illustrious 28-year-career photographed more than 800 visiting world leaders and other important guests.

"Those photos captured the dramatic changes taking place in Shanghai back during those times and were a way of recording how China's diplomatic relationships with other countries developed through years."

Born in 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, Xu went through the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) after graduating from secondary school and was assigned to the Shanghai Machinery Factory of Mining and Metallurgy.

He later studied journalism in Jiangxi University before becoming a professor at the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. His accidental foray into political photography only began when he started work at Jin Jiang Tower, the first five-star hotel in China run by Chinese. Jin Jiang Tower was at that time the hotel of choice of many world leaders during their visits to Shanghai.

"The monthly salary of a professor was only 156 yuan ($23), which was not enough for me to support my family. I was introduced to Jin Jiang Tower by chance and took up the role of an administration executive officer who was in charge of reception services for foreign leaders," said Xu of his decision to switch jobs.

Xu soon found himself attending a host of foreign affairs events and having to take photos of dignitaries to commemorate the occasion. Because of his role in the hotel, Xu said that he managed to capture images that were different from what was normally seen in the media.

"Being given such opportunities allowed me to record candid moments of many presidents and premiers. The images I managed to capture were quite different from the stereotypical serious and set-up shots printed in newspapers or seen on television," said Xu.

Excited by the fact that he had access to high profile individuals who could influence China's development and matters of the world, Xu was determined to take things a step further - get even closer to his subjects in order to capture the more intimate moments. He also wanted their autographs.

"I made it a point to appear in front of the leaders' bodyguards at every chance because I wanted them to be familiar with my face. I also made sure that I spoke with key Chinese leaders when these foreign bodyguards were watching so that they would know I was not a threat," said Xu.

His methods worked, and it even led him to precious encounters that few in this world could only dream of. After all, this was exactly how he managed to get up close and personal with the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro in December 1995. Castro even indulged Xu with a chat and gave him a cigar.

Part of his job also involved taking pictures of the wives of political leaders and Xu recalled how he was assigned to capture a group photo for a number of first ladies in Shanghai's Xintiandi area during the APEC summit many years ago. Xu added that the women were duly impressed with the speed at which the photos were printed and presented as gifts within just half an hour, a feat made possible only with the help of government staff.

"In my eyes, there is no group of women that can be on par with first ladies. They are extraordinarily elegant and beautiful," said Xu.

"The style I used to record the interactions between the leaders and their wives are different from the usual. I tried to capture those intimate moments where the leaders and their ladies were in a relaxed setting, such as close-ups of them whispering and making eye contact."

In 2007, Xu started sorting out the pictures he had taken to create a book titled State Guests in Shanghai and First Ladies in Shanghai which was published a year later. Han Zheng, former mayor of Shanghai, wrote the preface.

"The year of 2007 was an important year for China because of the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai Expo. I wanted the book to show Chinese people the results of Chinese diplomacy over the last few decades," said Xu.

In addition to photos, his collection also contains images of the numerous menus that political leaders received during their dining receptions in Jin Jiang Tower, as well as commemorative envelopes and stamps bearing their autographs.

"I am planning to publish several editions of the menus that I have collected. I think cuisine is an integral part of Chinese culture and the type of cuisine served to foreign leaders reflected the economic and living standards of China at that time," said Xu.

"I also hope that I can cooperate with chefs in hotels or restaurants to recreate the dishes on the menus for the public."

Till today, Xu spends most of the day working in his 100-square-meter studio sorting volumes of documents and old photos that span 10 large tailor-made leather suitcases and several shelves. His collection includes envelopes autographed by over 400 world leaders, thousands of photographs of these leaders and their wives, and 280 dining menus.

"These photos I have shot, the menus for the foreign guests and the signatures I have collected, they are all part of history - they are the witnesses to the development of Chinese diplomacy and the rise of Shanghai."

Cheng Si contributed to this story.

yuran@chinadaily.com.cn
James Allison of the United States and Tasuku Honjo of Japan each received the Fudan-Zhongzhi Science Award in Shanghai on Dec 17 for their outstanding contributions to immunotherapy that have been proven to prolong the survival of patients suffering from particular types of cancer.

Melanoma patients, when left untreated, have a median survival period of just 11 months. Those who are treated with conventional drugs live only about four months longer.

Based on Allison's treatment method, which involves administering four injections every three weeks, 22 percent of melanoma patients will still live after 10 years. Honjo's treatment method, which is administered to the patient every two weeks for as long as two years, increases this ratio to 26 percent.

The premise of their treatment methods lies in using antibodies to suppress certain genes that act as a braking mechanism in the immune response. By doing so, the patient's immune system would be able to better fight against cancer.

"When the two immune treatments are combined, the survival rate would be raised to around 60 percent. It's been three years and tens of thousands of patients have already been treated by this combination," Allison told China Daily.

The Fudan-Zhongzhi Science Award was jointly founded by Shanghai-based Fudan University and Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, an asset management entity headquartered in Beijing. This was the first time the award was presented.

According to Fudan University, candidates for the award represent cutting-edge global innovation standards in science and technology that can significantly improve the quality of human lives.

"The best news I think is that we now know the basic rules of cancer treatment. For melanoma, for example, the survival curve drops in the first two years and at about three years it plateaus and remains so for 10 years."
Alibaba's Taobao e-commerce platform is back on the US Trade Representative's "Notorious Markets" blacklist as a haven for counterfeits four years after getting off, and Alibaba officials attributed the return to the "current political climate".

The USTR had warned Alibaba last year that the company needed to improve its anti-piracy measures to avoid inclusion on the list, and ultimately placed them back in a report released on Wednesday, saying that "current levels of reported counterfeiting and piracy are unacceptably high".

It recognized that Alibaba set up internal measures and programs to better facilitate take-down requests from intellectual property holders, but stated that ultimately attempts to report IP infringement are "refused inconsistently" and that denials of take-down requests contain "little to no justification".

Alibaba issued a statement expressing its disappointment over the company's inclusion on the list, saying that it ignores the "real work Alibaba has done against counterfeiters".

Michael Evans, Alibaba Group's president, said that in 2016 it proactively removed twice the number of infringing product listings as it did last year. "It is therefore unreasonable for the USTR to have concluded that Alibaba is less effective in anti-counterfeiting than when it reviewed our efforts in 2015 and when it removed us from its list four years ago," he said.

Evans said the USTR's decision "leads [Alibaba] to question whether the USTR acted based on the actual facts or was influenced by the current political climate," adding that it is inconsistent to the work Alibaba has done with brands.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "The two countries should provide a fair and impartial trade environment for the activities of each other's companies."

Matthew Dresden, partner and lead IP attorney at Harris Bricken in Seattle, said he has clients working with Alibaba

to take down fake products, and that Alibaba has "absolutely made strides over the years" to combat complaints of persistent counterfeiting, and that "to say they have done nothing is false."

But "the problem hasn't been solved. Alibaba has taken all these steps and maybe they are taking down a lot of these

listings, but it's not any better for [the clients]. If they wanted to be more aggressive, they can be," he said.

Dresden said that his US and Europe-based clients who work with Alibaba on take-down requests often don't receive much information on why requests are rejected. "It's not as easy to remove [counterfeit listings] as it ought to be," he said.

Peter Yu, professor and co-director of the Center for Law and Intellectual Property at Texas A&M University, said that given Alibaba's efforts to strengthen IP protection, "they are understandably disappointed" by Taobao being back on the Notorious Markets List. "Nevertheless, we cannot overlook the major pressure the USTR has received from US brand owners, not to mention the continuous challenges Taobao faces in protecting intellectual property rights," he said.

Alibaba faced backlash this year from major brands after it acquired membership to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, a trade group that represents many luxury brands. Brand members of the group, including Michael Kors and Alexander Wang, expressed concerns over the inclusion of Alibaba, and the membership category under which Alibaba was accepted was later suspended.

Jack Ma, the company's founder, got in more hot water after he said at an investor's meeting in Hangzhou that fake products are hard to curb because they are often made from the same factories that make legitimate products, making them "better quality and better priced" than real goods.

After critics said that Ma was trying to deflect blame from Alibaba, Ma responded in an oped in the Wall Street Journal in defense of his comments, saying that counterfeit goods are "absolutely unacceptable, and brands and their intellectual property must be protected."

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com
More Chinese stricken with cancer are making the trip to US hospitals for treatment not available in China, and two in Houston - the MD Anderson Cancer Center and Methodist Hospital - are providing treatment and hope for an increasing number of those patients, reports May Zhou in Houston.

One morning in September, when 6-year-old Stephen walked into a lobby, the Chinese boy was greeted by people dressed as GG Bond and Little Feifei, two of his favorite cartoon characters from Chinese TV, and given a GG Bond costume and stuffed toys.

That lobby was at the University of Texas MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center where Stephen (not his real name), who was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, had gone through proton therapy from February to June this year. He was in the hospital for a couple of days when necessary, but most of the time he was an out-patient, returning to China after completing the regiments. In September, he went back to the hospital with his parents for a checkup, and they were quite pleased with the results.

Stephen is just one of an increasing number of cancer patients who come to the US in search of better treatment, and MD Anderson Cancer Center is the most sought-after institution at the Texas Medical Center due to its top rank in cancer treatment.

Top ranking

The MD Anderson Cancer Center is in the center of this photograph. Provided to CHina Daily

It was ranked the No 1 hospital for cancer in both 2015 and 2016 by US News & World Report based on four matrixes: reputation with specialists, survival. patient safety and other care-related indicators, including nurse staffing.

This year, China has become the main source of MD Anderson's international patients for the first time, according to Marth Coleman, administrative director of the hospital's International Center.

Coleman said that MD Anderson started to see a trickling in of Chinese patients at the end of the last decade. Sensing a trend change, it decided to translate its website to Chinese in 2011.

"The Chinese webpage is a major reason for so much interest in MD Anderson in China. It started the conversation with Chinese patients. At first we hired one Mandarin speaker handling inquires and some translations. Within weeks, she couldn't keep up with the work," said Coleman.

Stephen is escorted on his way to meet with his medical team by staff members dressed as his favorite Chinese cartoon characters. May Zhou / China Daily

And the number of patients from China has continued to increase.

"From 2013 to 2014, Chinese patients increased by 40 percent, from 2014 to 2015, the increased rate was 46 percent. Last year we had more than 300 Chinese out of total 1,900-plus international patients. We have added at least another 100-plus Chinese patients this year," she said.

Now MD Anderson has two Chinese-language representatives to deal with Chinese inquiries and help patients understand the process. Another person works with patients from Chinese referral agencies. A Mandarin speaker was hired for a reception area.

"We probably get around 10 inquiries from China every day. There seem to be a lot of articles about MD Anderson out there. It's very common to get calls from China to confirm what they read about MD Anderson, or if this referral company is working with MD Anderson." Coleman said, adding that more often than not, the agencies in question made false statements about being its partner.

MD Anderson also receives inquiries from Chinese referral agencies hoping to represent it in China on a daily basis. "We are very careful in picking who is our partner. Currently, we only work with a couple of trusted agencies, including St. Lucia and Handsome," said Coleman.

The hospital practices a general standard guideline in patient admission by its international assessment center, explained Coleman. MD Anderson always talks to each patient directly. If a patient is in the middle of radiation or chemo, MD Anderson usually requires the patient to complete the regiment first before coming to the hospital.

"With diagnosis of cancer, there is desire to have treatment right away, but taking time to have cancer fully diagnosed and fully staged is very important because that first therapy is the best option for the best quality of treatment. Unfortunately, a significant number of patients save us for last when there are less treatment options," said Coleman.

The large presence of Chinese patients at MD Anderson is a relatively new phenomenon, but MD Anderson's collaboration with China began much earlier in 2003 through its sister institutions program.

According to TJ Liu, project director of global academic programs, MD Anderson has five sister institutions in Chinese mainland's Changsha, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and two in Hong Kong. In addition to exchanges with sister institutions, many research partners and physicians directly come to exchange with individual professors.

China partnership

"China is a very important partner for our academic collaboration. We focus on research, education on cancer prevention and to some degree on clinic care. There are a lot faculty and students coming back and forth," said Oliver Bogler, senior vice-president of academic affairs at MD Anderson.

Over the last decade, MD Anderson has done a lot to analyze the details of cancers in China where gastric and lung cancer are most prevalent.

In cancer prevention, MD Anderson works with Changsha to develop programs to reduce tobacco use. Basically this is a "clinic trial on behavioral science to find out how to help people stop smoking," according to Bolger.

MD Anderson is the most popular choice at the Texas Medical Center for Chinese cancer patients, but other medical institutes, such as Methodist Hospital, a private institute with strength in organ transplantation, orthopedics, cancer treatment and neurology and neuroscience, also began to see more and more patients from China.

"About two years ago we started to see the influx of Chinese patients coming our way. When we see the numbers, we wanted to be more intentional, we want to understand the China market, how to serve them better," said Summer Dajani, vice-president of patient services, education and business development at the Methodist.

Methodist Hospital began to develop academic collaboration with China and established relationships with three hospitals in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. "We get our physicians connected with physicians in those institutes. They discuss their patients, go to each other's conferences, share opportunities and expertise. What we learned is that cancer in China is completely different from what we have here. There are far more gastric and lung cancers there," said Dajani.

Methodist treats around 3,000 international patients a year, with the majority from the Middle East, Mexico and Latin America. China is still a relatively new market, accounting for only 2-3 percent of its current total of international patients. About 60-70 percent of Chinese patients at the Methodist are cancer patients.

Dajani said that while more than 99 percent of their past international patient market is built on word of mouth, the most authentic and cheapest way of marketing, they soon realized that the Chinese patients behave differently.

"China is much more tech savvy. People there like to go online to find out information, while in other markets people like to be hand-held more, prefer to talk on the phone or face-to-face more," said Dajani.

That discovery prompted Methodist to decide to translate its current English-only website into Chinese, as well as Spanish and Arabic. Dajani said the Chinese website will be launched in the near future.

"We are also testing social media like Weibo in China. We know it's popular. We want to see if it provides information to patients," Dajani said, adding that they also work with referral agencies.

Lymphona patient

Li (his first name has been withheld for privacy), a 32-year-old man from Qingdao, Shandong province, has spent more than a year in Houston, being treated for lymphoma at Methodist.

He was diagnosed with stage IV-A lymphoma in 2010. After going through a couple of rounds of treatment in China, Li was told that there was no hope for complete remission. His best scenario was to be radiated periodically to only deter it from progressing.

Li learned that a new targeted medicine - SGN-35 for late stage lymphoma - was available in the US but not in China. He came to Houston first seeking treatment at MD Anderson. Li was referred to an oncologist at Methodist by MD Anderson after initial consultation, and he has been receiving treatment there since May 2015.

"I got better with SGN-35, but after six regiments, its effectiveness diminished due to resistance building up. I was then switched to immunotherapy. After 19 regiments, my cancer was in complete remission," said Li.

It has been four months since Li stopped the regiment, and he said he is still cancer free. Now he is being treated for a lung infection from complications, and he is working on recovering his physical strength before heading back to China.

"This is one of the advantages to treat cancer at our hospital. Often cancer patients suffer teeth, gum, liver or kidney complication from chemo. The patients can get joint diagnosis from doctors of multiple disciplinary right here," said Dajani.

Li said advanced medical instruments, medicine and treatment plans in the US but not available in China have been the key for his beating cancer.

"From the very beginning, the oncologist encouraged me, and told me that there are many options for my illness, I must have confidence. I was given hope," Li said. And he said he has been very impressed with the humanitarian care shown to him by all the doctors and medical staff involved in his treatment.

"I felt I was treated like a family member here," said Li.

Both MD Anderson and the Methodist have 50 or so staff who speak different languages to serve their international patients.

"We are particular about patient experience. We centralize everything around them," said Dajani. "We want people to remember their experience is always a good one."

Contact the writer at mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com
BERLIN -- German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Friday confirmed the death of Anis Amri, a man suspected of committing Monday's truck attack on a Christmas market in downtown Berlin.

The minister said he was "very relieved" that the suspected attacker no longer posed a danger.

De Maiziere told reporters that despite the death of the suspect, threats from extremists "remains high" in Germany, stressing that the German government would not scale down security.

The Italian government announced earlier Friday that Amri was shot and killed by police during a routine patrol in Milan.

The suspect opened fire at two police officers who had stopped him and asked for his identification near a local train station. Amri was killed and one policeman injured during the shootout.

Peter Frank, Germany's top federal prosecutor, told reporters here that the German authorities will continue the investigation into the Christmas market attack in Berlin that left 12 dead and 48 others injured.

"Even though Anis Amri has died, we'll continue our investigation," Frank said. It was very important to find out whether there was a network of supporters and accomplices, he added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday also issued a statement over the death of Anis Amri, a Tunisian national who allegedly fled Berlin to Milia via France after committing the truck attack.

Merkel said that she had told Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi in a phone conversation that Germany wanted quicker deportation of Tunisian asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected.

The truck attack on the Christmas market raised many questions, she said, vowing that her government would take necessary measures to make the country better secured.
Earth Day is celebrated worldwide every year on April 22nd with the aim to promote environmental awareness and call for the protection of our planet. On this year Earth Days 45th anniversary, 17 world-leading scientists launched the Earth Statement, which is believed to be the last opportunity for world leaders to finally pass a binding climate change science-based agreement in Paris.

In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson founded the first organization of the Earth Day in order to raise awareness of the growing problems of air, water, and soil pollution and pass on the message of green living. Unfortunately, since then, many attempts to create an effective international treaty on climate change mitigation have ended to failure. So, 45 years later it seems we have to redefine what progress looks like. Earths day message for this year is: Its Our Turn to Lead, and is addressed to people around the world who want to take a stand.

2015 is a milestone year for our climate future. Global warming, biodiversity collapse, and resource exhaustion are only a few signs of the existential risks humanity is facing. So, according to scientists, it is high time to take a bold action towards a sustainable planet. World leaders will have the chance to meet three times this year and discuss the required actions to advance prosperity and eliminate poverty. In particular, on July 2015, heads of state will gather to discuss Financing for Development, in September of 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be adopted, and in December of 2015, nations will negotiate a new Global Climate Agreement.

As the decisions made in this single year will be the legacy of our generation, in the Earth Statement, scientists invite world decision makers to work towards the following eight essential elements of a Paris Agreement in December of 2015.

Eight Essential Elements of Climate Action in Paris

The most essential element is to keep global warming below 2C. Governments should implement their commitments as soon as possible, since even 2C warming will cause significant environmental damage. Global fossil fuel emissions should stay below 1000 Gt CO 2 in order to reach the goal of 2C. Nations must transform their economies and phase out greenhouse gases to reach a zero-carbon society by mid-century or shortly thereafter. Every country has to achieve deep decarbonization through equitable effort sharing. Research and technology should contribute to this global effort to save the planet. However, all technological advances must have universal access. World leaders have to adopt a joint strategy to help the poorest and most vulnerable countries, which suffer the most from climate impacts. Countries have to protect carbon sinks and natural ecosystems, which play an important role in the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions. Governments should engage with climate funding to enable a shift to climate-friendly investments in an effective, transparent, and accountable way.

On this Earth Day, humanity united can show the world a new direction towards a sustainable future. Its our turn to pave the way for global well-being with the hope that world leaders will follow by example.
EA Executive Vice President Patrick Soderlund spoke about the Dead Space franchise and the possibilities of a new game in the future. Soderlund, who spoke on behalf of Visceral, the developers of Dead Space, said while the game was not actively being worked on, the IP will stay with EA and there should be another game sometime in the future.

Visceral Games, who are also working on Star Wars and Battlefield, might not have the time to develop a fourth episode of Dead Space. Dead Space 3 received a mixed reception in reviews and sales, leading to people believing the franchise would be dropped by EA in favor of new Star Wars games and a more profitable IP.

In an interview with Polygon, Soderlund said:

Do I think that we will create a Dead Space game again? Yes, I think so. But when we do so, we have to think about what made the previous ones successful and how we go about envisioning Dead Space for a new generation.

This does appear to be EA saying it does not want to make the mistakes Dead Space 3 delivered and wants to go back to the roots of why the first and second game were so good for consumers and fans of the series.

It is interesting that Dead Space is likely to be dropped from EAs library, at least for a while. The game has one of the most attractive fan bases for EA, and all the developers at Visceral really need to do is open up the story to more creative writers and stop adding micro-transaction payment options in the single-player.

We would be interested in a heavy horror Dead Space game, as the first and second were more deep, while the third loosened up a bit. The horror scene, especially on PC, is huge right now, and EA could definitely build a more powerful fan base if it made something genuinely scary with Dead Space.
Google has announced that it is changing terms to be able to release the identity of its users in its advertising. Beginning Nov. 11, the search giant wants permission to use names, photos and product reviews in advertising that it sells to businesses.

That means the reviews of restaurants, shops and products that are created by users would be fair game. Content, including songs that are purchased in the Google Play store could also be included in ads that are displayed to friends, connections and the public general as they conduct Google searches. These new ad features are being called shared endorsements.

As an example, Google may have a user named John Doe. John may write a review detailing his weekend stay at a resort in the Daytona Beach, Fla., area. That resort may decide to advertise with Google. As the ad appears on the screen, a photo of John Doe and his review could appear underneath it, sort of as an endorsement to recommend the resort to his friends and family. What if someone doesnt want their photos and information shared? They can opt out. Google has some 390 million users who are active each month.

When explaining the changes, Google said, We want to give you  and your friends and connections  the most useful information. Recommendations from people you know can really help.

Instead of opting out, if a user wants to limit an endorsement to specific friends or business circles, that restriction will be respected in any ads that use an endorsement, according to the company.

Googles move follows on the heels of a similar move by social networking site Facebook. Back in August that company said it would show the faces and names of users who clicked like for products in ads. Privacy groups were very critical of the proposal and asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into the proposal farther.
'The counting machine beeped, indicating a counterfeit note.'

'When the teller started tearing it, my nephew stopped him and asked him: Under whose authority was he destroying it, how did he know that the note was fake and if a genuine note gets destroyed, how will he be compensated?'

Harsh Roongta explains the process if you have a counterfeit note.

Customers don't want to face police investigation and banks would rather avoid extra paperwork.

So tearing up a fake note is a win-win situation for both

My namesake and nephew (also Harsh Roongta), who owns and runs a stock broking and financial planning entity, had a very curious experience recently.

He was standing in the line of his bank to deposit some of the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes when he saw the teller tear off a few notes being deposited by the person in front of him.

"They are counterfeit and need to be destroyed," the teller said.

When his own turn came to deposit, the counting machine beeped once again indicating a counterfeit note.

When the teller again started tearing it, my nephew stopped him and asked him pointed questions: Under whose authority was he destroying it, how did he know that the note was fake and if a genuine note gets destroyed, how will he be compensated?

In response, the teller became aggressive and claimed that he had no right to ask questions, as he was depositing a fake note. However, my nephew stood his ground.

When he showed the teller a circular by the Reserve Bank of India, which stated that a bank had to impound any counterfeit note and issue a receipt to the client depositing the note, the bank manager intervened.

But even the manager, much like the teller, had no idea about the guidelines. He simply gave the partially torn note back.

When my nephew visited the RBI and met a deputy general manager, he was told the entire procedure.

While it is okay for banks to confirm fake notes through approved machines, any notes flagged should be stamped as 'counterfeit' and impounded for further action.

Also, a stamped acknowledgement receipt signed by the counter staff (and counter signed by the customer) has to be issued with details such as the serial number, its denomination and the parameter on which the note was deemed counterfeit.

Even if the tenderer is unwilling to countersign it, the receipt still has to be given. Unlike in the past, the tenderer no longer gets any credit in his bank account due to impounded counterfeit note.

There are rules regarding filing first information reports with the local police authorities if there are five or more notes in a single transaction or a monthly consolidated report to nodal police authorities.

The apex bank has laid out an elaborate procedure to deal with such notes.

There are detailed reporting requirements and banks are also required to monitor the trends/patterns of such detection and suspicious trends/patterns are required to be bought to the notice of RBI/police authorities immediately.

In fact, its instructions clearly provide that 'in no case, the counterfeit notes should be returned to the tenderer or destroyed by the bank branch.'

It goes on to add that 'failure of the banks to impound counterfeit notes detected at their end will be construed as wilful involvement of the bank concerned in circulating counterfeit notes and penalty will be imposed...'

Anecdotal feedback suggests that tearing up of fake currency is common across many banks.

Customers wouln't want to go through the trouble of a police investigation while banks would like to avoid extra paperwork.

So, destroying notes is a win-win situation for both.

Maybe it's for the RBI to find out if banks are indeed doing so as they are destroying critical evidence because of sheer laziness.

Photograph: Reuters
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Hanoi, December 23 (VNA)  Officials have shared the Christmas joy with Catholics and Protestants nationwide, offering the best wishes to them on this occasion.



A delegation of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region on December 22 visited the Bishops Palace of the Diocese of Vinh Long and the Cathedral, Protestant Church, and the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long.



Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee Le Hung Dung wished all Catholics and Protestants a merry Christmas and happy new year, appreciating their contributions to boosting socio-economic development and ensuring political security and social order and safety.



He asked Catholic and Protestant dignitaries, pastors, priests and clergymen to continue encouraging followers to be both good citizens and followers, actively take part in patriotic emulation movements and socio-economic activities.



For their part, local dignitaries, priests and clergymen thankedthe Steering Committee and provincial authorities for creating favourable conditions for local Catholics and Protestants to practice their religions and do economic activities. They promised to encourage followers to comply with the Partys guidelines and the States policies and laws, thereby helping with socio-economic development and defence-security maintenance.



In nearby An Giang province, local authorities also extended Christmas greetings to Catholics and Protestants in Long Xuyen and Chau Doc cities, Tan Chau township, and the districts of Chau Thanh, An Phu, Tri Ton, Cho Moi, Phu Tan and Thoai Son.



Sending the best wishes to the Evangelical Church of An Giang, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh recognised Protestants efforts to solidify the great national unity bloc and develop and protect the nation.



Pastor Cao Van Hoang, on behalf of the Church, appreciated the provincial administrations attention and pledged to encourage followers to abide by law and lead a good religious and secular life.



On December 20, officials of Long An  another Mekong Delta province  visited and presented gifts to outstanding Catholic and Protestant dignitaries in ThanhHoa, Moc Hoa, Vinh Hung and Tan Thanh districts and Kien Tuong township.



In Nghe An, authorities of this central province sent many delegations to localities with big numbers of Catholics, wishing them a merry Christmas season. The provincial chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union also offered greetings to secretaries of its sub-chapters who are Christians in Nam Loc commune of Nam Dan district.

VNA/VNP
HCM CITY  The Viet Nam Social Work Centre for Adolescents yesterday signed an agreement with C.P.Viet Nam Livestock Corporation and a social enterprise, Development Sharing Foods Viet Nam, to organise a programme to provide assistance and practical training to young people who want to start up food businesses.

After the training the start-ups will be franchisees of CPFoods.vns safe food chain, which opened its first store yesterday in HCM Citys Binh Thanh District.

The chain, which sells meat and poultry products, uses food with clear origins to feed livestock while its production processes meet food safety and hygiene standards.

Cao Hong Hung, the centres head, said through the programme more and more safe food start-ups would be set up in the country to mitigate fears about unsafe foods. VNS
HCM CITY  Risks that companies face while exporting and measures to mitigate such risks and collect overseas receivables were discussed at a seminar in HCM City yesterday.

Speaking at Risk Management and Offshore Debt Prevention in Free Trade seminar, Quyen Anh Ngoc of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Multilateral Trade Policy said existing and future free trade agreements would bring great opportunities for Vietnamese firms to boost exports and enter the global supply chain.

But they would also face challenges like technical barriers and the threat of losing domestic market shares, he said.

Besides, exporters face the risk of not getting payments from their buyers, he said.

He urged export firms to fully understand the commitments made under the FTAs, draw up suitable business strategies and strengthen their competitiveness to take better advantage of them.

Ngo Khac Le, an arbitrator at the Viet Nam International Arbitration Centre, said to prevent risks and improve efficiency in exports, before signing export contracts Vietnamese companies should carefully check the antecedents of their customers, especially new customers, through consultancies, Viet Nam trade offices abroad and other sources.

They should choose suitable INCOTERMS (international commercial terms), have clauses ensuring the independence of the contract, and set a duration for negotiations and dispute resolution, among others, he said.

Firms should resolve their disputes through arbitration centres, he added.

Christopher McNabb, director of Assurance Global Financial Services and Solutions in Viet Nam, said collection of delinquent offshore account receivables is very challenging and expert advice is critical.

According to his companys statistics, Viet Nams exporters lost an estimated US$8 million last year, he said.

Uncollectable account receivables result in high financial losses to exporters and so they need to have a credit management system to manage these risks and employ global best practices to avoid delinquent debts, fraud and revenue loss, he said.

He also introduced his companys services and measures for collecting delinquent offshore account receivables.

Organised by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Assurance Global, the seminar attracted more than 100 delegates, including members of business associations and executives of large export firms.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will tighten control over the fertiliser and petroleum markets in 2017 to limit fake products and frauds.

The market watch department will conduct regular checks on all producers, importers and traders to ensure that regulations related to business registration, business conditions, quality of inorganic fertilisers, labelling, bills and the distribution system are being followed.

There will also be inspections on the implementation of regulations under Decree No. 83/2014/N-CP on petrol trading.

During the 14th National Assembly session last month, MoIT minister Tran Tuan Anh said authorities would strengthen their fight against the counterfeit fertiliser market and build a legal framework on standards for sustainable development of the sector.

The fertiliser market has a potential value of US$2 billion and brings huge profits, which is why there are so many fake products. These not only have a harmful effect on crops, environment and peoples health, they also affect the reputation of genuine products. Statistics from the ministrys chemical department shows that the country has around 800 fertiliser producers. Counterfeit fertilisers have caused losses to the countrys agricultural production and economy to the tune of VN60 trillion (US$2.64 billion).  VNS
HA NOI  Bac Ninh Province has gained US$26 billion from the export value of industrial products in 2016, largely because of foreign-invested information and telecommunication enterprises.

This year, the provinces total industrial production value is estimated at VN588.65 trillion and the total export value of its industrial products at $26 billion, 93 per cent of which comes from the IT industry, according to the Bac Ninhs department of information and communications.

Foreign-invested businesses in the province that contributed to these figures include Samsung (Samsung Bac Ninh and Samsung Display), Canon, Microsoft and Foxconn, the department said.

Bac Ninh is a popular destination for local and foreign investors, including many multi-national groups, who manufacture electronic products such as tablets, mobile phones, printers, household appliances and chips.

The province has advantages in terms of its geographical location and has created a suitable environment to entice large investors. It is one of the key provinces that is attracting foreign direct investment in Viet Nam.

So far foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Bac Ninh have operated efficiently and competitively. - VNS
HA NOI  Stocks on the HCM Stock Exchange edged up in the last trading minutes yesterday, but the overall market condition was negative as investors remained cautious prior to year-end holidays.

The benchmark VN-Index, the measure of 321 stocks, gained marginally to close the session at 664.4 points. The gauge slid 1.6 per cent for the week.

The losers outnumbered the gainers by 130-110, while 81 ended flat.

Gains of heavyweight stocks such as dairy firm Vinamilk (VNM), real estate developer VinGroup (VIC), Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) rescued the market from another fall.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, without the support of large-cap stocks, the HNX-Index decreased 0.9 per cent to end at 79.1 points. The Index slipped 0.8 per cent this week.

The decline was attributed to weak purchasing, as investors worried about the markets being pulled down by large-cap shares and had their minds on the holidays.

The market is under pressure from dry cash inflows. Support information has given a little boost to the market overall and had limited effect on several individual stocks, stock analysts at Artex Securities Co wrote in a note.

The market was undergoing another downward adjustment with up-and-down sessions altering. However, the VN-Index could bounce back to 665-670 point range in the next sessions as major stocks recovered, analysts at Maritime Securities Co wrote in a note.

Liquidity increased yesterday with a total of 150.3 million shares worth VN2.7 trillion (US$118.9 million) traded in the two markets, up both 8 per cent in volume and value compared to Thursdays figures.

Viet Nam Sea Products Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation debuted all 125 million shares yesterday on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) under the code SEA. The shares climbed 39.5 per cent to end at VN15,900 a share.

Foreign investors remained net sellers in HCM Citys market but their net sell value decreased substantially to just VN4.4 billion. They were net buyers in Ha Noi but for just VN303 million.  VNS
by Vuong Bach Lien

inh Thi Long has lived in her house in Ninh Van village for over 50 years, and is still getting used to the idea that it has become a major tourist attraction in the famous stone carving village in northern Ninh Binh Provinces Hoa Lu district.

The 100 year-old house, almost entirely built of natural blue stone, has attracted lots of tourists from Viet Nam and abroad who are interested in the art of stone carving of this ancient capital.

Besides the red tiled-roof, almost all other parts of the house and its furniture were built in stone: from its walls and pillars, to its gate and fences.

The house was built by her husbands grandfather who was a talented stone carver.

He was invited to build the stone Phat Diem cathedral in Kim Son District of Ninh Binh Province. After he finished building the cathedral, he invited the group of stone carvers (who built the cathedral with him) to his village to help him build his house, recalls the 77 year-old woman.

It took them two years to build the house.

Nguyen Quang Dieu, who is head of the managing board of the stone carving village, says the house is unique in the region. Many researchers and stone carvers have come here to study how the house was built, he said.

Tourist attraction: The 100-year-old house owned by Madame inh Thi Long is almost entirely built of natural blue stone.  VNS Photo Bach Lien

400-year tradition

The art of stone carving first appeared in Ninh Van commune four centuries ago, a natural development given that Ninh Binh is surrounded by spectacular limestone mountains.

In the past, stone carving was only practiced in a few households in the commune, and they mainly produced items made of blue stone, which were sold locally.

But gradually many people began to benefit from this industry.

Dieu said that the village has known a wave of development in the past 20 years in light of an increasing demand for stone products nation-wide.

Almost 85 per cent of the communes working age inhabitants (about 3,000 inhabitants) take part in the carving industry. They produce stone carvings ranging from simple to sophisticated designs, most of which have become popular in many areas of the country.

The villages diverse products are also exported to the US and Europe. These range from small ornamental plant pots, to large-scale Buddha statues, war martyr statues and even bridges.

Increasing demand: A craftsman in Ninh Van carves in stone.  Photo ninhbinhtravel.net

Nguyen Van Thinh, 55, son of Madame Phong, said he learned the art when he was a small child.

Since I was a child, I helped my father with his workd.We did it manually, and it was very hard. But I loved watching the beautiful objects that my family could create from huge stone blocks, he recalls.

When he grew up, he opened his own stone carving enterprise. The work has become easier with the advent of machinery.

To better understand how much our villages stone carving is appreciated, you should come to see some well-known sites in my province. They include the stone Phat Diem cathedral, the welcome gate at the Tam Coc Bich ong tourism area, and the stone bridge leading to the inh and Le King temples where the kings of the inh and Le dynasties are worshipped, he said.

The popularity of the stone products is a source of pride to its residents. The village itself, located 2-hour drive from Ha Noi, is well worth a visit.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nams tourism has made great efforts to achieve its targets and hit many historic milestones in 2016, said Nguyen Van Tuan, Director General of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) at a press conference yesterday.

The conference aims to review Viet Nams tourism in 2016 and announce the upcoming years targets.

Accordingly, domestic and international tourism numbers, as well as tourism revenue, set new records. Specifically, Viet Nam has welcomed 10 million international tourists (an increase of 25 per cent in comparison to last year), served 62 million domestic tourists and reached a total tourism revenue of VN400,000 billion (US$18 billion).

The overall analysis of VNAT demonstrates that most of the international markets of Viet Nams tourism have seen an increase in 2016. First among this group is Northeastern Asia--including China, Japan and South Korea--accounting for about 30 per cent with high spending.

The number of tourists from Western Europe, including five countries exempted from visa: Italy, England, France, German and Spain, has also sharply increased by 16 per cent in comparison with the same period last year. Significant growth was also seen in Viet Nams biggest tourism market in Europe, Russia, as well as smaller-scale markets like Netherlands and Sweden.

Additionally, the effectiveness of the state administration and tourism human resources have been significantly enhanced, while the investment on the infrastructure and material facilities has been instantly stimulated in 2016.

This year has also seen the reinforcement in the activities promoting Viet Nams tourism and the launch of e-marketing campaigns that aim to improve the countrys image via mass media. Besides, tourism co-operation and products have received proper attention, while the central region has been supported to revive its tourism activities after the maritime environmental incident.

Also, according to Tuan, VNAT will co-operate with Phu Quoc International Airport in the southern coastal province of Kien Giang to welcome its 10 millionth foreign visitor from Britain this year on Christmas Day, December 25, together with the 9,999,999th from German and the 10,000,001th visitor from Sweden. Three lucky visitors, arriving in the same plane and going on vacation on Phu Quoc Island, will be presented with campaign medals and souvernirs.

However, beside the positive results, Viet Nams tourism still encounters many difficulties, including the sub-standard quality of services in several destinations, low competitiveness among regions and international markets, inadequate tourism administration, the occurrence of several tourism accidents, the lack of suitable management policies for special kinds of tourism and the limitedness in both quantity and quality of human resources.

According to Tuan, the next target of Viet Nams tourism is welcoming 11,5 million of international tourists and 66 million domestic ones, earning a total revenue of VN460,000 billion ($21 billion) in 2017. The tourism sector will be oriented to basically become the key industry of the country, he added.

Big investors

Addressing a meeting of the State Steering Committee on Tourism yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am urged localities to seek out big tourism investors in order to attract visitors.

The Deputy PM, also head of the committee, mentioned famous tourism spots like Trang An (in Ninh Binh Province), Sam Son (in Thanh Hoa), and Phu Quoc (in Kien Giang) which have witnessed a huge influx of tourists after attracting big investment projects.

Scattered development will not help attract tourists, he said. Localities with high tourism potential that have not been able to attract big investors should not be tempted to accept small ones. This will likely shatter or even smash tourism planning.

According to am, the recent progress of the tourism sector is a result of close co-ordination among industries, sectors and intensive measures by localities.

Cities and provinces have worked hard to solve lingering problems that drive international tourists away, such as overcharging, begging, poor food hygiene and environmental pollution. Accommodation quality has been upgraded and tightened. Thirty-six hotels lost their stars as a result of sub-standard quality.

These activities should be kept up and each city and province should take responsibility for them, the Deputy PM asked.  VNS
I want to paraphrase a quote: The measure of a nation is how its most vulnerable members are treated.

Keep that in mind.

Now imagine risking your life every day just to go to school.

If youve been in Viet Nam long enough, chances are that youve heard of the many dangerous ways that poor kids (poor as in economically disadvantaged), especially in remote and mountainous areas, take to school.

Sliding across steel cables above rivers and stepping gingerly on improvised bridges made of bamboos or trees that become slippery and exposed to flash floods in the rainy season are two of the ways.

Or maybe youve seen the video in which dozens of young children from grade 1 to grade 5 swim across the river in order to get to school in ien Bien Province. In order to keep the clothes and books from getting wet, the students put them in large, tightly tied plastic bags while crossing the river almost naked.

Earlier this month, local TV stations aired a short clip of children holding on to the remnants of an old bridge as they crossed a river to get to school in Lo Son Commune, Hoa Binh Province. In the same area, pictures were also captured of parents carrying their children on their backs as they crossed the river.

The commune chairman said a provincial inspection team had concluded in 2014 that the bridge had deteriorated so badly that it needed to be replaced. The bridge was officially dismantled in 2014, but people continued to use what was left of the structure because they had no other option.

He said the dismantled bridge was in the centre of the commune and people in six villages had to use it to go to schools and access other services on the other side.

Faced with an extra hours walk to cross via an alternate bridge, the children have chosen to undertake the precarious crossing of the collapsed bridge instead.

The children say they have fallen down from the bridge, but they just get up and continue walking to school. It seems that it is just luck that has so far prevented more serious accidents. Getting wet is not the only danger they are exposed to when it rains and the possibility of flash floods rises.

Local authorities havent heard of any plan to replace or build another bridge.

In 2014, the then Minister of Transport inh La Thang launched a programme to build hundreds of bridges in disadvantaged areas where local budgets couldnt cover the costs of repair or construction. It had successfully raised fund from many firms to build bridges in the Mekong Delta. So far, it is reported that 186 bridges have been built or repaired.

The second phase of the programme, which aims to build nearly 4,000 bridges in remote areas, kicked off in August this year. A total of 3,959 bridges, including many suspension bridges, will be built in more than 5,200 communes in 450 districts located in 50 provinces and cities. Priority will be given to 63 impoverished districts.

It was a much welcomed move, and in the past two years, many new bridges have been built with donations of international organisations, private firms and philanthropic individuals.

All this does not reduce the sadness of seeing the sights mentioned earlier. There is a clear need to speed up the repair and building of bridges in the most risky areas. Our children cannot wait until 2020 for safe ways to get to school.

Whats possible

It might not be fair to compare, but it is relevant to look at Japan, where workers toiled around the clock to fill the 30mx27m, 15m deep sinkhole on a road in Fukuoka. The road reopened just a week after the accident.

And have you heard the news about Chinese engineers rebuilding a 1,300-tonne bridge in just 36 hours?

So while the central Government should do its part to hasten crucial works, local authorities cannot sit back and blame everything on budget constraints.

There are good people everywhere. A poor farmer living in a makeshift house in An Nhon Township in Binh inh Province was willing to spend VN100 million to build a bridge for the children in his village to go to school. The money had been saved for his and his wifes funerals.

Have the local authorities who complain ever tried tapping the goodwill and resourcefulness of local residents?

Viet Nam is a country with a complicated network of rivers and streams. The number of bridges needed could be more than the 4,000 mentioned in official plans. When there is a shortage of funding, or other resources, theres no choice but to prioritise. Obvious, right?

If millions of dollars can be spent on superhighways and fancy projects, surely the nation can afford small bridges that will help children get to school without risking their lives? Many children have quit school because it is dangerous to get there.

Meetings, anniversaries, festivals and other events are being held at the drop of a hat. Surely we can cut down on some of these and use the funds to repair or build a new bridge?

To repeat the paraphrased quote: the measure of a nation is how its most vulnerable members are treated.

Weve not come to par. Lets get our priorities straight first, then act on them. No more excuses.  VNS
NA Deputy Chairman Phung Quoc Hien delivers speech at the fifth session of the 14th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee yesterday.  Photo quochoi.vn

HA NOI  The fifth session of the 14th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee concluded yesterday with discussion about salaries for cadres and civil servants employed by the State Audit of Viet Nam (SAV), funding for constructions of SAV offices and the use of foreign funds.

The head of the SAV, Ho uc Phoc, said that in the light of the 2003 Constitution and 2015 Law on State Audit, the organisations leader was given many more tasks and responsibilities than before, but the salary for the post was not commensurate with the increased work load.

Now he received a salary that is either 9.7 or 10.3 times higher than the minimum wage for public servants and those working in the armed forces. The minimum wage was raised from VN1.15 million (US$50.5) to VN1.21 million on May 1, 2016.

He proposed an increase to rate 9.8 and 10.4 for the post of SAV head.

Chairman of the NAs Committee for Finance and State Budget Nguyen uc Hai said the salary increase for the post was reasonable and some members of the committee suggested that the rate should be higher so that the SAV heads salary would be equal to that of the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy and Supreme Peoples Court Chief Justice  10.4 or 11.0 times higher than the minimum wage for public employees.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said that the salary adjustment for the post should be considered and proposed by the National Steering Committee on Salary Reform, which would submit a salary reform plan to the Party Central Committee in May 2018.

After the plan is approved, the NA Standing Committee would issue a resolution on salary and allowances for State Audit staff.

Also yesterday, the NA Standing Committee agreed on the need to fund construction of 13 SAV offices across the country and two audit training schools. The projects were approved with an investment of VN2.4 trillion ($106 million) by the then Prime Minister in 2012 as part of Viet Nams strategy of developing audit sector by 2020.

Construction of ten offices is ongoing, and additional funds are needed to complete them and build the others.

The total estimated investment in the next three years for the constructions is over VN3.1 trillion ($138.2 million).

Under the Governments mid-term public investment plan for 2016-2020, nearly VN1.6 trillion is allocated to the SAV. The SAV recommended seeking the other half of the required investment from other sources, including from money added to the State budget as a result of auditing activities.

The NA Standing Committee agreed with the SAVs proposal.

Slow foreign fund disbursement

The last issue discussed in the fifth session of the NA Standing Committee was the slow disbursement of foreign funds.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong said that this year, Viet Nam plans to receive foreign funds totaling VN50 trillion ($2.2 billion), but as of last month, just 74.9 per cent of the sum had been disbursed. Nine ministries, agencies and 26 localities failed to disburse the foreign funds as planned.

The planning and investment ministry wants to change this years plan of foreign funds disbursement and suggested putting part of the money into two State banks  Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies and the Viet Nam Development Bank. The foreign funds would be used to increase charter capital of the two banks.

Hai from the Committee for Finance and State Budget said each foreign fund including Official Development Assistance or loans from international credit institutions were committed to certain programme or activity.

Some who spoke at the debate said depositing foreign funds in the banks might contravene the agreements governing the funding, as well as the funding principles of the Law on State Budge, Hai said.

He added that the grant of charter capital for the two banks must be included in the Governments mid-term public investment scheme until 2020.

NA Chairwoman Ngan noted that the Government proposal to adjust the foreign fund allocation plan comes just nine days before the end of 2016. Its too late, she said.

She claimed that for years, the management and disbursement of foreign funds had been inefficient, with some funds disbursed slowly, some localities who could not disburse the funds they received while other localities overspent what they got.

She asked the Government to review and address the problems so that the problems would not recur next year.  VNS
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liu Qibao in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung

HA NOI  General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has asked Vietnamese and Chinese party officials to share practical experiences in Party building and in combatting corruption.

He made his remarks yesterday on receiving head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liu Qibao, who is in Viet Nam to attend the 12th theory conference of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) and the CPC.

He spoke highly of the conferences theme Party building amidst international integration  challenges and experience of the CPV and the CPC, underscoring the significance of Party building and anti-corruption for each Party in the current process of intensive international integration.

He said he hopes conference participants will focus on discussing theories and sharing experience, thus improving the effectiveness of corruption prevention and combat, as well as the ruling role of the two Parties in the new era.

The Party, State and people of Viet Nam always attach much importance to fostering friendly neighbourliness and a comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with China, he said.

The Party leader suggested that the two sides maintain regular high-level meetings, while strengthening co-operation in all fields and increasing exchanges among Party agencies, ministries, localities and peoples.

He also stressed the importance of communication and media agencies in boosting the Viet Nam-China relations.

The Party chief also expressed his belief that Lius visit will help step up the friendship and co-operation between the two Parties and nations.

Liu briefed his host on the outcomes of the CPC Central Committees sixth meeting.

He hailed the significant theme of the 12th theory conference and stressed the willingness to share experience with Viet Nam in Party building and anti-corruption, and to strengthen co-operation between the communication and media agencies.

He affirmed that the Party and Government of China wish to work closely with Viet Nam in persistently expanding the traditional friendship as well as comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership between Viet Nam and China, developing the ties in a healthy and stable manner.  VNS
Professionals and experts need to help HCM City resolve its problems like traffic congestion, flooding, unsafe food and poor healthcare services, city leaders said at a meeting with them on Tuesday.  Photo zing.vn

HCM City  Professionals and experts need to help HCM City resolve its problems like traffic congestion, flooding, unsafe food and poor healthcare services, city leaders said at a meeting with them on Tuesday.

Prof Dr Nguyen Ngoc Giao, chairman of the HCM City Union of Science and Technology Association, said, The most two urgent tasks for the city are sustainable development and attracting intellectual resources to develop the city.

He said many intellectuals are disappointed with the shrinking social welfare benefits, falling morality of many government workers and severe environmental pollution caused by foreign companies.

We have 60,000 intellectual members and many of them have studied the problems of the city. I suggest the citys leaders should meet them often to listen to their suggestions.

Assoc Prof Dr o Thi Hong Tuoi, a lecturer at the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, hoped the citys leaders would use young experts, especially those who have graduated abroad, since many of those returning do not know how to apply what they have studied and what they would get for their contributions.

Young intellectuals would like to contribute many new ideas to the citys development.

Assoc Prof Dr Ho Thanh Phong, head of the Viet Nam National University HCM City  International University, wondered how to attract overseas Vietnamese experts to come and contribute.

We have had a number of meetings to consider this but the problem has not been solved yet. I think the salary policy is the biggest hurdle. We need to properly reward experts and scientists for them to focus on research.

Assoc Prof Vo Van Sen, president of the Viet Nam National University HCM City  University of Social Science and Humanity, said HCM City is home to a million intellectuals, yet the contribution of science and technology to GDP remains very low and the city only spent around VN 500 billion (around US$23 million) in the last five years on research.

If the city does not change the current mechanism and pay more attention to research, HCM City would lose its competitive advantage.

The city should hire foreign experts with high salaries only for specific projects and not for general research, he said.

Assoc Prof Dr Le Ke Lam, chairman of the Marine Economy and Science Technology Association, suggested that the city should develop its maritime economy.

HCM City may have only 27km of coast in Can Gio District, but it should give priority to marine transport and shipbuilding, he said.

Dr Duong Anh uc, deputy director of the Viet Nam National University HCM City, said there are 67 universities, colleges and educational institutes in HCM City. Research centres have been established at many of the universities and institutes, he said.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the city Peoples Committee, said: Besides capital and human resources, the city will also focus on increasing the application of science and technology to improve the quality and speed of economic growth.

The city is trying to become a smart city with focus on healthcare, transport and social welfare. We warmly welcome all contributions to the project from intellectuals.

Party Secretary inh La Thang said: The citys achievements have been possible due to contributions from intellectuals, and the citys leaders would like to hear and apply all suggestions for development from intellectuals.

The city will improve policies to encourage scientific research and boost the role of intellectuals, increase State spending on science and technology, simplify administrative procedures and honour outstanding works and ideas.  VNS
A NANG  After years of discussions and negotiations, a Nang City and Quang Nam Province inked an agreement on Wednesday on integrated management of the Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin and Quang Nam-a Nang coastline.

Vice chairman of the central Quang Nam Provinces Peoples Committee, Le Tri Thanh said the co-management agreement ensures mutual benefit that harmonises water resources with sustainable development.

He said the agreement was made by the two localities with support from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET-International).

A section of Vu Gia-Thu Bon River. a Nang City and Quang Nam Province agreed on integrated management of the Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin and Quang Nam-a Nang coastline after years of discussions and negotiations.  VNS Photo Cong Thanh

Thanh said the partners will set up a Quang Nam-a Nang joint committee that involves experts and managers on Integrated watershed and coastal management  from ridge to reef approach in the river basin.

As scheduled, the rivers observation system will be installed under the cost of the two locals budget.

The river basin, which has more than 10,300sq.km with water volume of 20.22 billion cubic metres, covers on total 225km length on Quang Nam and a Nang and provides invaluable resources to the 2.5 million population of the two localities.

However, a series of problems - including illegal destruction of riverhead forests, over-exploitation of mineral resources, decentralised management of rivers and faulty development of hydropower plants - have threatened to destroy the river.

A total of 42 hydropower plant projects have been built in the river, while more than 820 irrigation projects with 72 reservoirs have been built in the river basin.

The operation of hydropower plants in upstream rivers in Quang Nam Province often cause a clean water deficit during every dry season in a Nang.  VNS
UNITED NATIONS  The UN Security Council will vote on Friday on whether to impose an arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan, but the measure is expected to fail amid divisions over how to pressure leaders to end the three-year war.

The council will meet at 9:30 am to decide on the US-drafted resolution calling for a one-year ban on weapons sales and sanctions on rebel leader Riek Machar, the army chief and a minister.

The United States, backed by Britain and France, has argued that cutting off the arms flow was urgently needed following UN warnings of a risk of mass atrocities.

Diplomats however said the measure fell short of the nine votes needed for adoption in the 15-member council.

Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and more importantly the three African council members -- Angola, Egypt and Senegal-- have all expressed serious reservations.

A rejection of the arms embargo would be a setback for the United States, which helped South Sudan gain independence in 2011 but has been unable to steer the country away from a war that erupted two years later.

Under the proposed resolution, Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei would be put on a sanctions blacklist, subjected to an assets freeze and a global travel ban.

Japan, which has some 350 troops serving in the UN mission in South Sudan, has argued that the measures, if adopted, would antagonise President Salva Kiirs government and put peacekeepers lives at risk.

Opponents of the sanctions point to Kiirs call earlier this month for a national dialogue to restore peace, saying that initiative must be given a chance.

Risk of mass atrocities

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is backing the US push for a ban on 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," Ban told the council on Monday.

The draft resolution provides for a one-year ban on the "supply, sale or transfer" of "arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment" as well as spare parts.

The worlds youngest nation, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 3.1 million people displaced.

US Ambassador Samantha Power has argued that all sides were mobilising for more fighting and that action was needed to prevent a bloodbath.

Russian Deputy Ambassador Petr Iliichev cast doubt over warnings of a risk of genocide, arguing that criminal groups and "undisciplined" troops were responsible for mass violence, and not the governments policy.

There is growing alarm over the humanitarian crisis in the country as the conflict enters its fourth year.

More than 6 million people -- half of South Sudans population -- are in need of urgent aid and humanitarian organisations expect this number to rise by 20 to 30 percent next year.

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.  AFP
DUNDEE  The Iowa Court of Appeals has sent back the sentence of a Cedar Rapids woman who was convicted in a 2013 crash that killed a 13-year-old girl in Dundee.

Amber Rae Rutherford, 34, was driving her three children and a childs friend back from camping at Backbone State Park when her vehicle crashed into a steep ditch. The impact threw Rutherford and one of her children from the vehicle.

The friend, 13-year-old Chloe Estes of Cedar Rapids, died, and her children suffered serious injuries, according to court records.

The vehicle had been traveling about 90 mph at the time of the crash, and tests found Rutherford had methamphetamine and benzodiazepine in her system, and she had a blood-alcohol level of .168, court records state.

In January, Rutherford pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle through reckless driving and child endangerment causing serious and bodily injury. She was given a combination of consecutive and concurrent prison sentences totaling up to 20 years in prison.

She challenged the punishment and, in a decision issued Wednesday, the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled the district court judge failed to outline the reasons behind the consecutive time when handing down the sentence.

The Iowa Court of Appeals remanded the case back to district court to determine if the sentences should be consecutive or concurrent and to provide reasons behind the sentencing decision.

Fatal ramp fall ruled accidental

WATERLOO  A state medical examiner has ruled the death of Cedar Falls man who fell from a downtown Waterloo parking ramp in October was an accident.

Michael Chris Peterson, 52, was found injured in an alley next to the East Park Avenue and Lafeyette Street ramp around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 11. He died hours later at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital.

On Dec. 1, Dr. Michele Catellier with the Iowa State Medical Examiners Office found Peterson died of multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a fall, and she ruled the manner of death was accidental.

Police said there were no signs of foul play and there were no security cameras in the area.

4 hurt in crash north of C.F.

CEDAR FALLS  Four people were hurt in a two-vehicle accident north of Cedar Falls on Wednesday afternoon.

The accident occurred at the intersection of North Union and Cedar-Wapsi roads around 3:30 p.m. Deputies said a Dodge Dakota pickup driven by Richard Lambert, 63, of Waterloo, was northbound on North Union Road when an eastbound Dodge Ram pickup driven by Nelson Converse, 64, of Postville, failed to stop/yield at the intersection with North Union and collided with Lamberts truck.

Converses pickup came to rest in the north ditch of West Cedar-Wapsi Road. Lamberts truck rolled onto its side and came to rest on Cedar-Wapsis north shoulder.

All three occupants of the Converse vehicle  Converse, his wife, Twila, and Linda Hauschild, 71, no address given, were transported to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital by ambulance. Lambert was taken by ambulance to Sartori.

The crash remains under investigation.

Fire breaks out in wall of home

NORA SPRINGS  Firefighters investigated a fire that broke out in a wall of a rural Nora Springs home Wednesday.

The fire was reported around 4 p.m. in a home in the 21000 block of 250th Street.

No one was hurt.

The fire is believed to have been an electrical fire and was contained to the wall near where electrical service entered the home, firefighters said.

Mans sex abuse sentence vacated

CHARLES CITY  A Charles City man who was given a suspended two-year prison sentence for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse had his guilty plea and sentence vacated Wednesday.

The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled the case against Barry J. Holden Jr., 32, be sent back to Floyd County District Court for further proceedings because his lawyer did not inform him before his guilty plea of the correct amount of time he would spend on probation.

Holden pleaded guilty in 2015. He was put on probation for two years, concurrent with the probation he was already serving in another case, and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Once his probation ended he was to be under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections for 10 years as part of the special sentencing provisions for sex offenders.

Holden claimed when he entered his plea, he did not understand he would be on probation for two years. He stated he believed the probation for the assault with intent to commit sexual abuse conviction would end at the same time as his probation in the other case, which was slated to end in a few weeks.

Holden originally was charged with felony counts of first-degree burglary, third-degree sexual abuse and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse resulting in bodily injury. He allegedly committed those crimes July 4-5, 2013, in the 800 block of C Street in Charles City, according to court records.

The third-degree sexual abuse charge was dismissed in exchange for Holden pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. The burglary charge was dismissed by the state due to lack of sufficient evidence to proceed.

Buchanan Co. case upheld

INDEPENDENCE  The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a Buchanan County Jail inmate who was accused of exposing himself to a female jail guard in 2015.

Jamie Lee Cole, of Quasqueton, argued the state had insufficient evidence to back the guilty verdict on charges of indecent exposure. He said there was no evidence the correctional officer was offended by his conduct and no evidence he would have known his conduct was offensive.

The incident happened in May 2015 at Coles cell bunk.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed Coles conviction. The court noted, at trial the jail administrator testified inmates usually try to be discreet, but Cole was acting differently by being naked on his bunk knowing the officer would be coming up the stairs and by looking right at her.

Cole, 34, is currently serving time at the Newton Correctional Facility.
Miranda was virtually everywhere in popular culture this year  stage, film, TV, music and politics, while engaging on social media as he went. Like a lyric he wrote for Alexander Hamilton, it seemed at times that the non-stop Miranda was working as if he was "running out of time."

Among the things Miranda did this year are asking Congress to help dig Puerto Rico out of its debt crisis, getting an honorary doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, performing at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton on Broadway, lobbying to stop gun violence in America and teaming up with Jennifer Lopez on the benefit single "Love Make the World Go Round."
During the recent cold snap, my daughter, Zoey, pointed out a man with a sign standing at an intersection.

Wind-battered, he was bundled into a few layers and hooded sweatshirt beneath a light-weight jacket.

I cant imagine, remarked Zoey, noting his shivering. Where does he sleep?

She paused, then read aloud from his sign. Shelter is full.

The notion left her incredulous. We have a homeless shelter, and its full? Whats he supposed to do?

Theres actually more than one shelter  just in Waterloo, I explained. Theyre relatively small, I added, and woefully underfunded. I had been at one of them earlier this fall when it was still warm outside, and it was full then.

Theyre usually full, here and everywhere, I told her. I dont know what hell do. I hope he at least has a car to get out of the wind, but thats not enough.

As housing costs continue to climb, the growth of the homeless population nationwide has far exceeded the capacity of faith-based and secular charitable organizations.

The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty notes the main causes of homelessness are lack of jobs that pay a living wage and lack of affordable housing. (The federal government defines affordable housing as that which costs no more than 30 percent of a persons income.)

In Black Hawk County, there are roughly 60 people housed in shelters. In addition, an undocumented number of people stay temporarily with relatives and friends, in vehicles and in other transitional shelter.

Some live on the margins, at risk of homelessness. Of Iowas 3.1 million people, more than 12 percent are below the poverty line. Children and seniors are most at risk, with 15 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively, at or below poverty level.

There are several common myths about homelessness, ranging from questionable work ethics to misconceptions about mental health and addictions.

An estimated 25 percent of homeless people are employed and figure among the working poor, according to the Law Center. The fastest growing homeless population is families, and children account for one in four U.S. homeless people.

Its true a disproportionate number of homeless people have a mental illness, but it accounts for less than 30 percent, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors National Coalition for the Homeless. The same goes for those with drug and alcohol addictions. In all cases, the vast majority can become self-sufficient with adequate outpatient treatment.

Some people believe great social services cause homeless people to flock to a particular area. However, studies show the majority of homeless people remain in the city in which they became homeless. If they do move to a new area, its to search for work or be near family.
Life term for $15 theft tossed

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A Louisiana appeals court has tossed out the life sentence for a man convicted of grabbing $15 from a parked car.

Walter Johnson, 38, had three prior convictions when he was convicted for snatching the money from an SUV that turned out to be a bait-vehicle police were using to catch burglars. He was sentenced last year under a habitual offender statute mandating a life sentence for fourth-offenders.

The appeals court ordered a New Orleans judge to come up with a reduced sentence.

The court noted none of Johnsons three previous convictions were for violent crimes.

Trump co-chair wishes death on Obama

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)  A Buffalo businessman who co-chaired Donald Trumps New York campaign says he wants to see President Barack Obama die from mad cow disease and the first lady return to being a male.

Failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino made the comments in response to a survey by Artvoice, a Buffalo newspaper. The publication asked local artists, performers and business owners for a New Years wish list.

In his response, Paladino wrote he hopes the president dies from a disease caught from having relations with a cow.

He said he wants to see Michelle Obama return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.

Christmas cards get Bethlehem postmark

BETHLEHEM, N.H. (AP)  A tiny post office in Bethlehem, N.H., is being overrun this holiday season by people who want to postmark their Christmas cards with the towns name.

Every December, Bethlehem postmaster Brian Thompson dusts off a 60-year-old machine and feeds stacks of cards by hand to cancel each stamp with the word Bethlehem.

About 58,000 letters have been sent this season.

There are about 90 U.S. towns with holiday- or winter-themed names, including six others named Bethlehem. Others include Santa Claus, Ind., and Snowflake, Ariz.

Family of bears likely ate poison plant

WEST WYOMING, Pa. (AP)  Game commission officials say a poisonous ornamental shrub likely killed a black bear and her three cubs found dead on a church parking lot in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The bears were found on the lot of St. Monicas church in West Wyoming, Pa., on Dec. 6.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says the bears ate the leaves and seeds of an English yew plant before they died. The plant is highly toxic to people and most animals if ingested. They say the bears likely died suddenly.

3-year-old killed in road rage case

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  A Little Rock man who fired his gun into a car, striking and killing a 3-year-old boy, did so because he thought the driver of that vehicle was following him too closely, police said in an affidavit released Friday following the suspects arrest.

Gary Eugene Holmes, 33, turned himself in at police headquarters Thursday night, Little Rock police said in a statement Friday.

Holmes was being held on preliminary murder charges in the shooting death last week of Acen King.

Police said Acen was on a shopping trip with his grandmother Dec. 17 when he was struck by gunfire. The boys grandmother, Kim King-Macon, told authorities she had stopped at a stop sign in the pouring rain when a man honked his horn, then got out of his car and fired a gun.
WATERLOO -- Jurors are continuing to deliberate in the case of a Waterloo teen accused of shooting at a car in a botched prescription drug robbery.

Marcus Anthony Bell, 17, is charged with first-degree robbery, intimidation with a weapon and carrying weapons in the Dec. 3, 2015, holdup in the 1800 block of Mulberry Street.

Prosecutors said Bell and a 17-year-old girl had arranged to meet so she could sell him her naproxen pills for $105, but when he entered her car, he displayed a handgun and demanded the medication.

The girl began to retrieve a bat from her backseat, and Bell left the car and then fired twice as she drove off, authorities said. One bullet lodged in the cars center console, police said.

Testimony in the case ended Wednesday, and jurors began deliberations Thursday morning. They considered the case for most of the day before adjourning in the afternoon. They are scheduled to return Friday to continue.
WATERLOO -- A jury found a Waterloo teen accused of robbery guilty on lesser charges Friday.

Marcus Anthony Bell, 17, was found guilty of assault, carrying weapons and intimidation with a weapon in a Dec. 3, 2015, incident in the 1800 block of Mulberry Street.

Bell initially faced a charge of first-degree robbery in addition to charges of intimidation with a weapon and carrying weapons.

Prosecutors said Bell and a 17-year-old girl had arranged to meet so she could sell him her naproxen pills, but instead displayed a handgun and demanded the medication.

The girl began to retrieve a bat from her backseat, and Bell left the car and then fired twice as she drove off, according to police. One bullet lodged in the cars center console, police said.

Testimony in the case ended Wednesday, and jurors began deliberations Thursday. They returned a verdict Friday morning. A sentencing date has not been set.
Domestic violence

A woman was arrested Friday on suspicion of aggravated assault, criminal damage and disorderly conduct after police said she hit a man with a coffee pot, according to a police report.

When police arrived at the home, they found two men and a woman in the home. According to the report, one man had a cut on his forehead and the other had cuts on his arms and head.

According to the report, the television in the home was also broken, a chair was turned on its side and drinking glasses were shattered on the floor. Police said it appeared clothes had also been thrown around the kitchen.

One of the men told police he and the woman had been in a fight, and the woman hit him in the head with the coffee pot twice, breaking the pot.

The other man said he saw the first man and woman fighting and he got between them and also got hit.

Johnelle Lynn Hoskie, 28, was arrested and transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility in connection with the incident.

Fraudulent schemes

A woman contacted the Flagstaff Police Department Friday to report she had been a victim of a fraudulent scheme.

According to the police report, the woman told officers her computer became locked due to a virus from her virus protection software, called Advantage. The woman told police she received a call from Advantage, and the representative said the virus was the companys fault and that they needed an account to refund her money.

The woman told police the caller requested she send money to them via MoneyGram so they would have account information to refund the money. The woman told police she gave them her bank account numbers and money via MoneyGram.

The first attempt at sending the money to the recipient, discovered to be in China, was declined because the Walmart deemed the MoneyGram to be suspicious. She then sent the money from another Walmart.

The woman later found her bank account to be depleted, and said additional money had been removed from her savings account.

City and county residents who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME, submit a tip online at www.coconinosilentwitness.org, or text the word Flagtip along with your information to 274637 (CRIMES). Rewards of up to $2,000 are given for information that leads to an arrest.
This is one of those rare moments when it is imperative President-elect Donald Trump not wait until inauguration day but act now to potentially save lives in Syria, Ukraine and maybe elsewhere.

Because, especially in Syrias Aleppo, civilians who this very minute are struggling to survive really cant wait until an inaugural calendar half a world away reaches Jan. 20, 2017. Whether they live or die may depend upon whether Russias Vladimir Putin can be convinced to act with urgency  right now!  to make sure no more innocents are slaughtered in Syria.

And that can happen only if Trump acts with a skill he has not yet demonstrated. Trump may be uniquely able to use his unprecedented blooming bromance with Putin to assure the lives of Syrian innocents will be saved, not snuffed. But the dicey part is Trump also must convince Russias proud president, while their new relationship of co-equals can happen soon, Americas new president will never be able to exchange handshakes and hugs with a Russian leader whose hands are still dripping blood.

Importantly, this pre-inaugural moment may be the perfect time for the Donald to convince his new best bud, Vladimir, this can be their new best moment. This month, we just celebrated the 25th anniversary of the greatest United-States-Russian life-saving partnership since the end of World War II. Namely: the enactment of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Act, which may well have prevented our planet from suffering a nuclear catastrophe.

This may be the best moment to rekindle that new partnership spirit that recently existed between the two former Cold War adversaries. And Trump may be the one person who can convince Putin they can launch a new partnership that can last. But they ought to begin their drive for a visionary future by first glancing in their rear view mirrors and recognizing the spirit that enabled the former Cold War adversaries to forge a joint effort to safeguard their people and the world.

Rewind and recall: It was 1991 B.P. (before Putin). The Soviet Union suddenly collapsed, and Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn and Republican Sen. Richard Lugar realized the Soviets huge nuclear arsenal was virtually unsecured, vulnerable to being seized by terrorists or rogue regimes that wanted them for just one reason  to use them. Nunn and Lugar conceived this urgent program that secured the vulnerable weapons and deactivated 7,600 of them.

But the proud Putin always hated one thing about the Nunn-Lugar plan: By necessity it was a partnership of un-equals  America paying for securing Russias nukes and more. But tomorrows partnership can be a deal among co-equals that benefits both economies.

Thats the heart of the Art of the Diplomatic Deal Trump and Putin must forge.

To keep Syrians safe and alive, Trump must begin dealing today (after first consulting with President Barack Obama, of course). Then Trump can begin convincing Putin if he agrees to save lives today, their partnership can happen tomorrow.

But first, Trump must face, at least in his own bathroom mirror, two realities hes pretended not to see:

Trumps new best bud has long had bloody hands. In Ukraine and Syria, Putins military enabled the slaughter of uncivil wars. In Ukraine, Putin militarily invaded and seized Crimea. Also a Russian missile downed a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members. In Syria, Putins troops enabled and joined President Bashar Assads slaughter of civilians, even bombing Aleppos hospitals so civilians couldnt get life-saving care.

Putins hacking in America of Democratic political emails was an unacceptable crime that can never be repeated  akin to the Watergate break-in crimes of Richard Nixons henchmen.

Trumps designees for national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, and secretary of state, Exxons multibillionaire CEO Rex Tillerson, were stroked and enriched by Putin. Like Trump, they barely concede Putins bad stuff. Thats downright cynical and shameful, in one sense. But it might help Trump convince Putin he can only get the deal he wants if he ends his bad-stuff ways.

Heres where Trump may need artistic help. Because Trump needs to draw his own artful red line. From inside the Kremlin, Trumps red line must look as bright and bold as Red Square itself.

Then Trump must convince his new best friend hes a president whos not just willing to draw a red line, but a chief executive who will damn well make it stick.

Martin Schram, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, is a veteran Washington journalist, author and TV documentary executive.
Strategies to best prepare students for entering the workforce or for higher education are a dynamic process. Educators always are on the lookout for ways to improve the educational experience for students.

After a couple years of study, Cedar Falls Community Schools will implement a new strategy through a new program  the Center for Advanced Professional Studies.

The CAPS program is a partnership with local businesses to put students in a skilled career environment. They will study at a host business for about 2 1/2 hours with high school teachers and business mentors, earning high school and Hawkeye Community College credit.

The program needs a buy-in from the business community, and we believe we are fortunate to live in an area where business leaders are taking an interest.

It really is an opportunity to provide career readiness skills by focusing on real-world experiences outside of the classroom, Dan Conrad, the districts director of secondary education told school board members. Students will complete projects for the companies.

Its embedded opportunities for students working with professionals in professional careers, added Superintendent Andy Pattee.

The program is for juniors and seniors who will take on the title associate, when theyre assigned projects with their respective business partner.

District officials have been looking at engineering, computer science and information technology strands for the courses, emphasizing career fields for which students would earn at least two- or four-year college degrees.

The host business for the engineering strand will be Viking Pump. Administrators are still working on the other two strands and working with some local businesses to see if that can be determined for the start of the second semester.

We really worked with our (Greater Cedar Valley Alliance &) Chamber about what strands would be most beneficial, Pattee said  as well as identifying potential host businesses. They also met with Hawkeye Community College and University of Northern Iowa officials in determining college credit requirements.

The CAPS project was created by the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kan., in 2008 and now enrolls hundreds of students. Related programs have spread to more than 20 other locations in nine states.

This is an opportunity to give students a taste of what various careers may be like, while also an opportunity for high school students to earn high school and community college credit.

Participating students will not only benefit from working with professionals, they may end up with some important professional references and contacts by the time they leave the CAPS program.

As this program progresses, students may be able to save time and money by deciding before they leave high school and enroll in college whether a certain career is right for them or not.

As reported, district officials also are looking to neighboring Waterloo Community Schools new high school career center, where two career and technical education pathways were launched this fall, with more to follow.

We have had conversations with Waterloo about opportunities for partnership down the road, said Conrad. That would allow for expanded career offerings in the two districts without duplicating programs.

This is particularly interesting and encouraging. For many years, we have supported the idea of collaboration and sharing of services between districts as a way to efficiently use resources, as well as offer a variety of opportunities for area students.

School district officials  along with area business and higher education partners, deserve thanks for getting this program off the ground. We believe it holds plenty of promise and we look forward to seeing how it progresses.
Q: How long do people have to shovel their sidewalks after a snowstorm before notifying code enforcement?

A: Waterloo city ordinance gives abutting residential property owners 48 hours after a snowfall to remove accumulations of 2 inches or more of ice or snow from public sidewalks. The requirement is 24 hours in downtown, business districts or a three-block radius of schools and hospitals.

Q: Regarding reading the book To Kill a Mockingbird in school: Is it up to the parents whether their children should read the book?

A: Parents or guardians always have the right and responsibility to know the content curriculum in their childs classes, said Waterloo Community Schools spokeswoman Tara Thomas. Anyone who objects to the materials used can request their child be exempt from a book study, unit, project, etc. The teacher will provide an alternative assignment for the student.

Q: Can Country View have fundraisers to keep it going?

A: There are no laws that prohibit people from holding fundraisers or donating money to Country View.

Q: The article said Country View has 171 employees. How many residents are there?

A: Country View is licensed for 134 nursing beds and 34 intermediate care beds for developmentally disabled individuals. The census fluctuates, but stood at 150 residents Dec. 13, according to the facilitys management.

Q: Will the city of Hudson be liable for accidents that occur going over the bicycle trail wall along U.S. Highway 63?

A: Hudson Mayor George Wessel responds: The project was designed and constructed to state and federal design standards approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

Q: Is the city of Waterloo going to clean the sidewalk of snow between Hoff Road and Ansborourgh?

A: No, the city does not plan to remove snow from the Shaulis Road recreational trail. The city does not clear recreational trails in the winter unless they also serve as sidewalks.

Q: Does the city have any plans to downsize the crow population inside city limits?

A: Waterloo city officials said they had no plans as of Dec. 16 to attempt any crow management plans this year but will continue to monitor the situation.

Q: Will the Chicago Cubs come on any kind of tour to Cedar Rapids or Waterloo in the near future?

A: The Cubs themselves arent coming, but their World Series trophy is. Its Midwestern tour started Dec. 9; Cubs management says Iowa stops will include Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Mason City, the Quad Cities, Sioux City and Waterloo. The dates arent firm yet; go to http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com for details.

Q: What is the party affiliation of former Rep. Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia who is going to prison?

A: A Democrat.

Q: Donald Trump has been married three or four times. The one whos supposed to be helping him so much now  which wife is that one from?

A: You might mean his daughter Ivanka. Her mother is Ivana, Trumps first wife.
CANADA  On Nov. 29, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an announcement that the Canadian federal government was going ahead and approving two highly controversial pipeline projects. Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain pipeline project and Enbridges Line 3 project, could see as much as a million barrels more per day of various petroleum products from Albertas oilsands traveling through Canada, to the West Coast, and also over the border, into the United States.

A third project, the Northern Gateway pipeline was rejected. This was a victory for protesters, as this pipeline would have crossed an environmentally sensitive area known as The Great Bear Rainforest. This 21 million acre forest is part of the largest coastal temperate rainforest on Earth. It is home to wolves, salmon, whales and the most elusive resident, the Spirit Bear. These are black bears with a recessive gene that makes them as white as a polar bear. They are sacred to the Tsimshian First Nations people, who live in the area.

Local lore about the Spirit Bear says that they were made by Raven to remind people of a time when glaciers covered the land, and how that we should be thankful for the lush bounty that the land gives us today.

In his statement rejecting this particular pipeline, Trudeau said, It has become clear that this project is not in the best interest of the local affected communities, including Indigenous Peoples. He added, The Great Bear Rainforest is no place for a pipeline.

The two approved pipelines will still face challenges before they can be built.

In a press release, Greenpeace campaigner Mike Hudema stated If Prime Minister Trudeau wanted to bring Standing Rock-like protests to Canada, he succeeded.

One activist willing to do whatever it takes to stop these projects is Sparrow, co-host of popular pagan podcast, The Wigglian Way. Her particular focus is the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline. Currently, the plan for the project is to twin an already existing pipeline that runs from Edmonton AB, through the Rocky Mountains to a terminal in Burnaby, BC. This will nearly triple its capacity to 890,000 barrels a day.

The Wild Hunt spoke with Sparrow, from her home on Burnaby Mountain. Right now we have the pipeline 50 metres from the house, thats a jet fuel line, and then it leads to the tank farm, which is just under a kilometer away, she explains.

They will also expand that tank farm. Not only will they expand how many tanks will be on there, but they are expanding the size of the tanks. If there is a spill over, or if fumes are released or a fire, this neighbourhood and Simon Fraser University, at the top of the mountain, are in grave danger. There is only one road in, and one road out.

The Trudeau government has been making some strides in improving Canadas status as a green-conscious country. Once a world leader, Canadas ranking fell under the previous government, led by Stephen Harper. Leading up to the pipeline announcement, Trudeau announced plans to overhaul the National Energy Board, the countrys regulator, and also impose a new carbon tax and phase out coal-powered plants by 2030.

In light of this, it surprised many that the two pipelines were approved. Sparrow was standing by when the announcements were made. She says, I was watching it when it happened, and I know that I screamed out a number of times NO NO NO!

I was astounded that he had approved it, that there was no other process going through. How could a climate leader build a pipeline? It doesnt make sense. He talks about carbon tax and he talks about all these things that will help the environment, and then he approves the pipelines.

The Enbridge Line 3 Project has garnered the least amount of attention, despite being the largest project in the history of the company. It will be 1,659 kilometres long, and will carry oil from Hardisty, AB, across Saskatchewan, through southern Manitoba, into Minnesota and on to Superior, Wisconsin. It will double an existing pipelines production to an estimated 760,000 per day.

The current pipeline has seen a series of spills since it was built in the 1960s, and Enbridge has had to cut production in attempt to address maintenance issues. This existing line will be deactivated once the new line is fully operational.

One of the strongest arguments in favour of the pipelines is that building and running them will strengthen the economy, and create jobs. On the Trans Mountain pipeline project, Kinder Morgan forecasts the expansion will create 15,000 jobs a year during construction, and a further 37,000 direct and indirect jobs for every year of operation.

Activists would rather see the job creation come in the form of retraining, and making Canada a world leader in the innovation of renewable energy. Can you imagine how much sun Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba could harvest in a year? asks Sparrow, There is a lot of sunshine and a lot of wind that could be harvested. There is so much retraining that could be done.

The most emotionally charged and fiercely debated of the projects is certainly the Trans Mountain pipeline, as this expansion touches so many communities. Sparrow has concerns for the security of her neighbourhood.

My main one is the elementary school children, the school is 100 metres from the tank farm, and for Simon Fraser University. And then I worry about the water quality in our neighbourhood. What happens when there is a spill, and our tourism industry, or seafood industry, totally flops?

Sparrow is confident that the community is against the pipeline expansion, and that it wont go through: I think that in this neighbourhood and this city, people are making the pledge to stand with Indigenous people to do whatever it takes to stop Kinder Morgan.

The City of Burnaby does not believe it will help the local economy, and has issued a statement in opposition to the pipeline. The mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson, has also been outspoken in his opposition to the plan.

Backlash against the pipeline spread as Green Party leader Elizabeth May was quoted in the CBC News as saying that she is willing to go to jail to stop Trans Mountains construction. Canadas Natural Resources Minister, Jim Carr, responded to this and publicly stated that unruly protesters would be dealt with by military force, a statement for which he later had to apologize publicly. The Canadian military reported to the National Post that they had no such response planned.

When asked how far she is willing to go to protect the environment from the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, Sparrow says, with a sigh: It will not happen. It cant. Over my prone, and difficult to move body, that may be locked to some sort of equipment. I am prepared for that.

It will be like the Northern Gateway project, it will be shut down. There are so many people here, and throughout the world, that are prepared to lay their body down in front of a tractor, or lock themselves to a machine so that it does not happen.

Sparrow approaches activism as a form of ritual worship for the Earth. She explains, Before I go to any action, march or rally, I prepare myself and I cleanse myself. Its just like circle. Then I go to the action and I am in ceremony. This is my worship of Gaia. I work for Mother Earth and my spirituality and activism are the same thing.

She is not affiliated with any one group in particular, but she has worked with Greenpeace, BC Sea Wolves and Dogwood and other community groups.

Construction of the Trans Mountain project is scheduled to start in September 2017, and it should be fully functioning by December 2019, unless protests and possible court actions are successful. Kinder Morgan must also meet the National Energy Boards 157 conditions, including 49 environmental requirements.
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All of the materials used here are copyright Doug Stowe.

Photos of our students at work are published solely for the promotion of the Wisdom of the Hands program and

Other uses are strictly prohibited and copyright will be enforced.

Questions about Wisdom of the Hands can be addressed to
Upstate New York is a region that has typically been underserved by some of the bigger national solar companies. We want to do the same with our new office in Keene for the Tri-Lakes region.

KEENE, NY, December 23, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Wednesday January 4th, 2017, Apex will be opening a sales office in Keene New York to better serve area residents seeking information about solar power, and what it can do for their home. This new office brings with it new opportunities for area residents- Apex will be hiring 3-5 new employees to help fill out their sales and administrative team in Keene.



Over the last few years, solar power has been spreading throughout New York State, as it has throughout the USA. In the Northcountry, NYSERDA supported programs like Solarize Tri-Lakes, Solarize Adirondack Coast, and Solarize Canton helped to educate area residents about the benefits of solar at a lower price. These solarize programs resulted in over 100 new installations coming online in 2015 and 2016, and this number is set to grow even more in the new year. "Solarize Programs have been great for us," said Ben Sopczyk, Marketing Director for Apex Solar Power. "They gave people a resource to learn about solar and understand everything that goes into an installation."



Apex Solar is a regional installer who was selected to participate in these Solarize outreach programs. In 2015, the growth of the solar market warranted the company to open an office and installation warehouse in Malone, NY to handle the increased installation volume that resulted.



Taylor Kimbrell, the north country regional sales manager for Apex, said that "we have seen a huge amount of interest for solar throughout the Adirondack Region. Our Malone office helped us reach customers in the north in a region that has typically been underserved by some of the bigger national solar companies. We want to do the same with our new office for the Tri-Lakes area."



Apex's new office is located at 10909 Nys Rte 9N, Keene, NY. On January 4th they will be hosting a grand opening celebration, and Mr. Kimbrell would like to invite area residents to "stop in, learn about solar, talk about our business, or just say hi. Everyone is welcome."



Over the past decade, Apex Solar Power has established itself as a premier company in the solar industry. Apex has installed over 3,100 solar systems for customers throughout the Northeast--from Buffalo, NY, to Boston, MA, to Burlington, VT and beyond. Altogether, Apex has installed over 25 Megawatts of solar power on homes and businesses.



Apex has also achieved company-wide accreditation from NACBEP as a solar installer in New York. Apex is the first and only installer in the Northeastern United States to have advanced beyond installer certification, and only the 5th in the country to do so. See the list here: http://www.nabcep.org/accredited



# # #
Dec 23, 2016 | By Julia

A four-year-old boy from Doncaster, UK has received his christmas present early this year. Meet Brooklyn Brentnall-Croydon, the proud new owner of his very own 3D printed Iron Man hand.

The young Tony Stark fan, who was born with one hand, will now be able to do activities most of us take for granted every day, such as open presents, hold a fork and knife, and eventually, ride a bike  all with two hands and the exceptional style of his favourite superhero.

This is just a dream come true for us  it has completed our Christmas, said Brooklyns mother Marie Brentnall. Now hes got two hands, he thinks hes a superhero now  he loves all The Avengers stuff  but Brooklyn has always been a little superhero in our eyes.

While 3D printed prosthetics are becoming increasingly common, less often do we hear about those of the superhero variety. Made by Design Technology researchers at Shotton Hall Academy in Durham, each part of the marvelous hand, including screws and fixings, was printed individually over a 20 hour period. Brooklyns new hand now opens and closes whenever he flexes his wrist.

The initiative began when Brooklyn asked Santa for a bike this Christmas. The four-year-olds grandmother Jacqui Housley reached out to a local teaching group on Facebook, asking if anyone could help outfit her grandson with a prosthetic hand. The post eventually made its way to Shotton Hall Academy.

I saw a post on Facebook by Jacqui asking if anyone could make a 3D printed hand, explained Head of Design Technology at the school Scott Bradley. After seeing the heartwarming post and having a four-year-old myself we just had to make it come true.

We had the technology, the 3D printer, so it just went from there, Bradley said. It just great that the technology can produce something so instrumental to this young lads life.

The whole process, from the initial Facebook post to the completion of the hand, took a total of two months. Brooklyn is now ready to open his presents with both hands, and just in time for Christmas.

Bradley has even vowed to update and remake the prosthetic when Brooklyn grows out of his current hand.

Words do not do justice the moment Brooklyn saw the hand for the first time and realised what was going on, his mother commented. At first he wasnt sure, but hes honestly over the moon  we all are.

Everything was going through my mind. It was a chance for our little boy to do things other children take for granted.

The Marvel-inspired prosthetic is so cool that even Brooklyns dad wants a piece of the action. I think its marvellous, perfect, and I really want one as well, said Scott Croydon. He doesnt let anything stop him and seeing him using the hand is just truly wonderful.

Source & images credit: [swns.com]

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Dec 23, 2016 | By Tess

While many things in our future remain uncertainin terms of politics, social upheaval, etc.there is one thing that experts seem to be sure about: humans will be marrying robots within the next 35 years. According to robot expert Dr. David Levy, who spoke at a Love and Sex with Robots conference at Goldsmiths University, London, humans marrying robots will become more and more common, especially as AI technologies become more refined.

And while were certainly not at the Westworld stage yet, there is already some evidence of human-robot relations happening. A woman from France named Lilly, who identifies as robosexual, has reportedly been in a happy relationship with a robot she 3D printed and has been living with for a year. The robot, called InMoovator, was created with the help of open-source technologies provided by French InMoov designer, Gael Langevin. Langevin's platform not only supplies the necessary files for 3D printing the open-source life-size robot but also all the instructions necessary to build it.

As Lilly explains, she has known for some time that she is only attracted to robots, as she realized at the age of 19 that she was not attracted to humans but rather to droids. Currently, she is engaged to her robot partner and plans to marry it when France legalizes human-robot marriage. Whether this is on the French governments agenda is not clear.

Lilly explained her alternative lifestyle to the press saying, Im really only attracted by the robots. My only two relationships with men have confirmed my love orientation, because I dislike really physical contact with human flesh.

As mentioned, Lilly built InMoovator for herself using open-source technology and 3D printing. While it is not clear what the robot is actually capable of (in terms of movement, speaking, etc.) it does bear a human likeness, especially in the eyes. Lilly is reportedly a roboticist in training.

Images from Twitter

Admittedly, while the relationship does seem a bit strange, there perhaps is something appealing about being able to update, adjust, and correct your partner to suit your needs perfectly. As of now, however, her lifestyle remains on the margins, though if Dr. Levy is any indication, this might just be the beginning of a growing trend.

He explained: The future has a habit of laughing at you. If you think love and sex with robots is not going to happen in your lifetime, I think you're wrong. The first human robot marriages will take place around the year 2050 or sooner but not longer.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Will(somewhat embarrassed Inmoov builder) wrote at 2/3/2017 11:12:46 AM:Good job Lily. You just made the rest of the Inmoov builders, who build these for research and learning, look like flakes and crazy people. This is for sure a mental illness simply for the single fact that you can't feel love for an object. Not real love. Admiration and respect for the project but not love. This is a sickness probably onset by years of loneliness and isolation but I can only guess at that part. It is definitely abnormal and quite frankly, ridiculous.Tritium wrote at 1/8/2017 7:58:56 PM:Sick, perverse and damned by the creator.Joel wrote at 12/28/2016 9:07:12 PM:Till death (or power outage) do we partEd wrote at 12/27/2016 9:45:48 PM:I know a lady who married a gorilla and she told me he's wonderful. Does all the home work and gives her what she needs. She met him in a trip to Congo.What else could one possibly want from life?mick wrote at 12/23/2016 6:10:00 PM:why fix a man when you can upgrade himSunny wrote at 12/23/2016 4:28:13 PM:Human with strange problems relating to her own kind. Will this mean, we are given equality if the marriage is recognised. Will I be able to inherit and own property when my other half expires ?




Dec 23, 2016 | By Julia

Live cell imaging is no longer the stuff of high-end hospitals and research labs. A powerful tool for studying cells, as well as how they respond to different treatments such as drugs or toxins, live cell imaging technology can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The prohibitive price of the tech has been an obstacle for scientists with limited funding, consequently holding back many cell researchers around the globe. But now, researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have invented a new way to make the cutting edge technology affordable and easy to assemble yourself. All it takes is a smart phone, a few 3D printed parts, and some off-the-shelf electronics.

Our idea was to make possible live imaging of cells for labs in developing countries, said Johan Kreuger, a senior lecturer in the Department of Medical Cell Biology at Uppsala University.

"What we have done in this project isn't rocket science, but it shows you how 3D printing will transform the way scientists work around the world. 3D printing has the potential to give researchers with limited funding access to research methods that were previously too expensive," Kreuger explained.

Being able to conduct live imaging of cells is key for studying how they respond to different stimuli. Recording video of the cells is equally as important, as it lets researchers study cell behaviour over a longer period of time, allowing for much more detailed information than would be available from static images.

Published in the open access journal PLOS ONE, the Uppsala study involves upgrading old standard inverted microscopes that are readily abundant at most universities and hospitals. All the apparatus requires is a few 3D-printed components, store-bought electronics, and a smartphone. The studys findings showed that the upgraded systems provide excellent cell culture conditions, and enable high-resolution imaging of real living cells.

Using our concept, you can 3D print pieces to hold your phone in place, as well as a small incubator for the cells to grow in, which will warm them to a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, the same temperature as the human body, Kreuger explained. Youll need some readily available consumer electronics, but for anyone with a little bit of technical know-how, its very straightforward.

The DIY set-up cant quite do everything that an expensive live-imaging microscope can, but it comes pretty close. Kreuger notes that lots of smartphones come equipped with sophisticated cameras that are more than capable of capturing cells. The research team has also developed an app that allows time-lapse imaging directly from the phone, as well as temperature control.

The study shows that the self-assembled rig effectively achieves high-resolution imaging of living cells, while also providing excellent conditions for the cell culture. The apparatus even includes a built-in humidity module to ensure cell cultures retain the necessary moisture.

human kidney cells grown in a lab, taken at 400x with a smartphone attached to the team's rig

"The technology presented here can readily be adapted and modified according to the specific need of researchers, at a low cost. Indeed, in the future, it will be much more common that scientists create and modify their own research equipment, and this should greatly propel technology development," says Kreuger. And without getting too ahead of ourselves, its probably safe to bet that 3D printing will continue to play a key role in that development.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Xan Rice in New Statesman:

Hanan al-Hroub was a poorly paid teacher on the West Bank. Then she won the $1m Global Teacher Prize. On a cold Monday morning in central London in late November, a 44-year-old Palestinian woman reflected on the dramatic recent changes to her life. At the start of the year the only foreign country that Hanan al-Hroub had visited was Jordan. She spoke very little English. Though she stood out among the teachers in the West Bank  often wearing a clowns wig over her headscarf and a red nose while in class  she was just as poorly paid as the rest. Now, Hroub is a celebrity at home and a globetrotter. In Vatican City she has had an audience with Pope Francis. In New York she spoke in the UN General Assembly hall at the invitation of Ban Ki-moon.

Hroub explained that her approach to education was formed long before she ever became a teacher. One of 11 siblings, she was born at the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, in the West Bank. There was only one female doctor in the city and Hroub dreamed of becoming the second. But her plans were ruined in the 1990s when Palestinian universities were closed during the first intifada  the uprising against Israel. Instead, she got married and concentrated on raising her five children. In October 2000, at the start of the second intifada, Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint shot at her husbands car as he drove with their twin daughters, then aged nine. Though he was only slightly wounded, and the girls escaped harm, they were deeply disturbed by the incident, becoming withdrawn and prone to bursts of aggression. They did not want to go to class, or to mingle with people. At night they would wake up

in fear, Hroub said.The girls teachers had no training to help children affected by violence, so Hroub decided to keep her daughters at home for a while. During breaks in the curfew, she would rush to the shops to buy scissors, cardboard, pens and other items that she could use to make games. A corner of my home became their new class, full of cards and colours. Being able to play and learn in a safe space made the girls happy, reduced their tension and helped them overcome the trauma. Hroub realised then that she could make a difference in society and decided to study to become a teacher.

More here.
James Campbell at The Times Literary Supplement:

Patrick Leigh Fermor knew his place: bestriding the posh and the primitive, with one hobnailed boot planted in each. Some parts of Greece, and this is one, he wrote in 1966 of Kardamyli, the village in the Peloponnese that was to become the closest he ever had to a permanent home, are so backward they dont know the difference between nice and nasty. This has been read by one reviewer ofDashing for the Post: The letters of Patrick Leigh Fermor as appalling snobbery, but Fermors immersion in Greek society at every level was as deep as any foreigners can be. He came close to dying for it on several occasions. The attachment stretched over eight decades, ending only on June 9, 2011, when, aged ninety-six, he returned from Kardamyli to England, to die the next day at the place where his wife Joan Eyres Monsell was buried. One letter after another in this superb collection recalls meetings with infirm, booted, sashed, turbaned Cretans, a people quite unlike anyone else, funnier, higher-spirited, more musical and alert. He relished the whiskery embraces that enfolded him on visits to the island for reunions of survivors of the resistance in which Mihali  Fermorsnom de guerre  had played a prominent, even decisive, role. When, in 1975, he appeared on a French television show with Manoli Paterakis and another guerrilla fighter, all were put up in a grand hotel off the Champs-Elysees. It was so strange to see Manoli  a mountain chap who belongs to sheepfolds, caves and mountain tops  among those muslin curtains, brass bedsteads, pink lampshades, Empire furniture, watered-silk panels on the walls, gold swan-shaped bath taps, and reproductions of Watteau . . . .

more here.
Morgan Meis in The New Yorker:

The British art historian Kenneth Clark lived through much of the tumult that the twentieth century had to offer. He was born in London in 1903, and died just before his eightieth birthdaya span that took him from the Edwardian Age to the age of Margaret Thatcher. Clark experienced both World Wars, the collapse of the British Empire, the upheavals of the nineteen-sixties, and, just before he died, the musical duo Wham! Clark weathered all this history, it should be noted, with the help of a not inconsiderable fortune. The money came from a family business, the Clark Thread Company of Paisley, which was founded in the eighteenth century. Clark used this inheritance to become a great aesthete.

His aesthetic life began in earnest with a trip through Italy during a summer break from college, at Oxford, in 1925. In Italy, Clark met Bernard Berenson, the legendary specialist of the Italian Renaissance. Berenson took an immediate liking to Clark, and offered the student a job helping to prepare a new edition of his book Drawings of the Florentine Painters. Soon afterwardand thanks partly to his relationship with BerensonClark, at just twenty-eight years old, was made keeper (i.e., director) of fine art at Oxfords venerable Ashmolean Museum. Two years later, he became the director at the National Gallery. Then George V asked Clark to assume the position of Surveyor of the Kings Pictures. Clark declined, at first, and so the King came to see him personally, as James Stourton chronicles in his new biography, Kenneth Clark: Life, Art and Civilisation. The King persuaded Clark to take the job, and in the years to come Clark went on to take several other high-level positions that he believed would advance the cause of art in his country. He helped save the British art collection from the Nazi Blitz, by loading the art into trucks and driving those trucks to caves in the Welsh mountains. He wrote influential books, such as The Gothic Revival and The Nude: A Study in Ideal Form. Most famously, he recorded dozens of television programs about art.

More here.
Thats easier to do if youre a diva than demure, but anyone can make a memorable entrance  or exit  by following these tips:

Shop your closet first. Edina and Patsy  the Ab-Fab duo played by Jennifer Saunders, 58, and Joanna Lumley, 70  get glam by mixing old and new. Real style comes from a one-of-a-kind look, says costume designer Hale. The trick is how you throw it all together.

So dig out that cache of lame and sequined tops  the ones with dolman sleeves, draping or Dynasty-style appeal. Theyre trendy again! And giant clip-on earrings? The bigger and bolder, the better, Hale advises. Like Edi, maybe you can carry off the shine & sheen look with metallic jackets or booties, wild print and a turban. Or make like Patsy by rocking clingy, black, long-sleeved sequined dresses, with a stash of Spanx on hand.

Finally, Hale advises holiday celebrants, Dont be afraid to mix patterns and textures. Which can mean only one thing: More is more  at least for this season

Opposites attract. Forget everything you know about taste or common sense: It makes an impression  a good one if you ask me  when an item of clothing or an accessory looks a bit off.

Contrast casual, sporty pieces with dressy ones  a rocker can be a lady. Try pairing track pants or faux-leather leggings with a statement sweater (rhinestones or reindeer  theyre all good!). Match a ruffled blouse (think Prince) and a pair of red velvet heels with your boyfriend jeans, or top a lace pencil skirt with a gray sweatshirt.

And might there be a metallic mini in the nether reaches of your closet? Reinvent it by bookending it with a comfy, slouchy black sweater and a pair of black opaque tights (the latter beneath over-the-knee boots). The new proportions make that wearable again. Tacky? No  terrific!

Shake up basic black. If you still subscribe to the Black makes me look thinner theory  hey, I do, too  let matte black provide a secure starting point. Then, just like trimming a tree, decorate it with shimmer and shine: Start with black ankle pants or black jeans, a black tee or a black tank; then throw on a sequined or a metallic knit cold-shoulder or sweater, or a silver or gold biker jacket. Finally, top it all off with some awesome jewelry. H&M, Zara and BaubleBar online all offer cheap, chic versions of these options.

Leverage those lips. If youre going from desk to cocktails or simply dont want to change clothes at all, a bold lip is a fast and easy way to overhaul your look. Having just caught Jessica Chastain in Miss Sloane, Id be tempted to select a take-charge red from the likes of Maybelline (On Fire Red), Urban Decay (Vice Lipstick in Hex) or Lancome (LAbsolu Rouge in 162 Rouge Chic).
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Thomas R. Cutler announced the Manufacturing Media Consortium will meet on January 27, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. Cutler will lead the meeting with several hundred members of the European members of the Manufacturing Media Consortium. The professional organization includes journalists, editors, economists, and other industrial leaders worldwide. Members write about trends, data, case studies, and profiles, in the manufacturing, industrial, and distribution sectors. Cutler works with thousands of media outlets to expand manufacturing media coverage.

Cutler is ranked as the leading manufacturing journalist worldwide and a contributing editor for hundreds of publications annually. Thomas R. Cutler has been writing extensively about manufacturing and industry for more than twenty years. According to Cutler, The dynamic stories of global manufacturers and best-practices create a never-ending stream of feature articles and important, newsworthy content. There are challenges to be sure along with opportunities for growth and worthy of media attention which is the purpose of the global Manufacturing Media Consortium.

About TR Cutler, Inc. and Thomas R. Cutler

TR Cutler, Inc. (www.trcutlerinc.com) was founded by Thomas R. Cutler seventeen years ago. Maintaining extraordinary relationships with clients, journalists, editors, trendsetters, and key business leaders worldwide, TR Cutler, Inc. has become a key resource for those writing about the manufacturing sector. Cutler founded Manufacturing Media Consortium in the 1999. Cutler is the author of several books and has become the go to resource among those who write about manufacturing and distribution. Cutler is the author of more than five hundred feature articles annually regarding the manufacturing, distribution, industrial, and material handling sectors. Follow on Twitter @ThomasRCutler.

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Bear Paw Receives Environmental Assessment Approval

Perth, Dec 23, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG ) ( LNGLY:OTCMKTS ) (LNGL or the Company) is pleased to advise that Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, has received its environmental assessment (EA) approval from Nova Scotia Environment for its natural gas pipeline.



"The environmental assessment approval is an important regulatory component that furthers our goal to be the leader in helping Nova Scotia realize the LNG opportunity that will benefit the province and community," says Greg Vesey, LNGL's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. "Bear Paw's pipeline is integral to the development of Bear Head LNG. We are putting all the elements in place to develop a successful LNG export facility on Cape Breton Island and the pipeline is a strategic and critical element."



Bear Paw is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km natural gas pipeline from Goldboro to the proposed Bear Head LNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Point Tupper, Richmond County, Nova Scotia. The Goldboro to Point Tupper pipeline connects Bear Head LNG to the North American natural gas pipeline network.



The Minister's decision follows a review of the information provided by Bear Paw's registration document and the information provided during the government and public review of the environmental assessment. The EA approval is subject to terms and conditions.



"Bear Head LNG's focus is to provide access to overseas markets for North America's natural gas resources on competitive economics," Vesey noted. "Bear Head LNG is uniquely positioned to provide liquefaction services to Western Canadian, Northeast U.S., and offshore Nova Scotia resource owners desiring to sell natural gas to the global LNG market."



Vesey further stated, "with initial permitting complete, a premium location providing shorter sailing times to major overseas markets, and through use of LNGL's patented OSMR(R) technology, a mid-scale, scalable, efficient, and reliable technology that delivers the LNG industry's lowest full cycle cost, Bear Head LNG has significant competitive advantages over competing projects."



Expenditures for construction of the pipeline shall commence only after financial close of the Bear Head LNG project.



ABOUT BEAR PAW PIPELINE CORPORATION



Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of LNGL, is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km (38.8 mile) natural gas pipeline to supply natural gas to the Bear Head LNG terminal in Nova Scotia, Canada. All required initial permits are now in place for Bear Head LNG to construct the liquefied natural gas export facility in Point Tupper on the Strait of Canso southeast of Port Hawkesbury. Canada's National Energy Board and the U.S. Department of Energy have granted export licenses for the facility. LNG produced at the facility will be transported by LNG vessels to overseas markets.



About Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd





Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG) ( OTCMKTS:LNGLY) (LNGL) is an ASX listed company whose portfolio consists of 100% ownership of the following companies:

- Magnolia LNG, LLC (Magnolia LNG), a US-based subsidiary, which is developing an eight mtpa or greater LNG export terminal, in the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA;

- Bear Head LNG Corporation Inc. (Bear Head LNG), a Canadian-based subsidiary, which is developing an 8  12 mtpa LNG export terminal in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada with potential for further expansion;

- Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), which is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km gas pipeline lateral to connect gas supply to Bear Head LNG; and

- LNG Technology Pty Ltd, a subsidiary which owns and develops the Company's OSMR LNG liquefaction process, a midscale LNG business model that plans to deliver lower capital and operating costs, faster construction, and improved efficiency, relative to larger traditional LNG projects.
Early this year the flagship news portal of Network18, IBNLive.com, underwent a rebranding exercise to transform itself into a pure-play Digital news media site NEWS18.com. In its new avatar, News18.com has effected significant changes to its UI/UX (fully responsive and mobile friendly), product features, content and social media strategy.

Commenting on the development, Manish Maheshwari, CEO, Network18 Digital said, We aim to give our audience the best experience when it comes to digital news reporting. Since refreshing our identity, we have changed our approach to make the format more engaging; in addition to breaking news we are investing on high quality original video content produced by our dedicated multimedia team using state-of-the-art technologies. Our increased reach and month on month growth over the last seven months makes us believe that we are moving in the right direction.

In line with the growing trend of increase in consumption of content through Digital platforms, News18.com has adopted a robust news gathering strategy through its string of reporters and today boasts of producing original and exclusive content in text, digital video and infographic formats.

News18.com has adopted an equally aggressive Social Media strategy, innovating in format and content  native videos, live broadcast of news bulletins, on ground FB Live reporting and Indias first 15-minute, Social First Tech & Auto show on weekends. Since rebranding, News18.coms Facebook account acquired 1 mn additional users in six months while Twitter took 8 months to garner the same number of followers.

NEWS18.com, which has portals in different languages including Hindi and English, has garnered a staggering 130 mn page views and 18mn unique visitors for the month of October 2016 alone. With an engagement of over 10 million users per month on Social platform, News18.com has been constantly at the top amongst media publishers.

Along with exclusive reportage by the News18.com team of news reporters, a buzzing features sections with three new verticals - Auto, Tech and iVideos with original digital video and multimedia content  has made News18.com the one-stop Digital news destination for all.

Engaging multimedia content, such as infographic explainers, Social Media cards, data visualization, audio embeds and immersive long-form content are employed to enhance storytelling and engage audience in multiple ways. Short, crisp and Digital-format HD videos, which runs from 45 seconds to 1:30 minutes, has also grabbed the attention of the Digital natives.
Samsung shares the festive spirit with its Samsung Galaxy users by releasing #WishUponMyGalaxy campaign. Cheil India conceptualizes the unique digital engagement campaign to embrace holiday cheer!

#WishUponMyGalaxy campaign is all about sharing ones wish and bringing it alive for the users! Samsung Galaxy consumers are encouraged to use all-in-one My Galaxy app. The users have to visit the My Galaxy app, share their wishes and Samsung will ensure it brings a smile to its users. The My Galaxy app users will in turn stand a chance to groove to peppy songs while a chosen few will be put in spotlight with a customized animated song. The music videos are a treat to eyes and ears and are being sung keeping in mind the users wishes.

Speaking about the campaign, Sanjeev Jasani, Head  Digital, Cheil India said, Samsung is very close to our hearts. Samsung always encourages us to go beyond our boundaries of creativity and captivate the audience in a unique manner. #WishUponMyGalaxy dwells on a strong emotion  joy of surprising people. The campaign is all about touching the hearts of the people and we believe it has been brought alive in a very engaging manner.

Running up to Christmas Eve (campaign ends on 24th Dec 2016), the ongoing campaign has resulted in some fantastic response from the My Galaxy app users. On the first two days of the campaign we have received over 10 thousand wishes and the thematic video has got over 4 lakh views.

If you want to be left spellbound, log on to your My Galaxy app on your Samsung mobile and #WishUponMyGalaxy

Thematic Video Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqaXkzPmuMg

A participants wish that was converted to a video song 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9zxui9PrPs
NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC is deeply disappointed that the United States chose to abstain on a UN Security Council resolution today which singled out Israel for condemnation. The resolution, withdrawn by Egypt yesterday, was reintroduced by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela.

"The Administration's decision, for the first time in eight years, not to block an anti-Israel measure at the UN Security Council is profoundly disturbing," said AJC CEO David Harris. "It only encourages diplomatic end-runs and diversionary tactics, which hinder rather than advance the prospects for peace."

"Moreover, this measure repeats the Palestinian falsehood that Israeli settlements constitute the core of the conflict," said Harris. "Let's be clear: The chief obstacle to achieving peace is, and long has been, the steadfast refusal of the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel's legitimacy and negotiate in earnest a comprehensive agreement. Security Council members that supported the resolution are not helping the cause of peace by their failure to hold the Palestinians accountable for their chronic short-sightedness and inaction."

AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, has long advocated for direct, bilateral Israeli-Palestinian talks, leading to a durable two-state accord. "The two-state solution may be frustratingly elusive after years of effort by successive Israeli governments, and years of Palestinian rejectionism, but surely it is the only conceivable path to an accord," said Harris.

"Encouraging the misguided Palestinian strategy of doing everything possible to avoid Israel, while accumulating hostile statements against Israel at the UN and other international organizations, has been counterproductive to achieving a sustainable peace that will benefit both Israelis and Palestinians," said Harris. "Isn't it high time to face reality? Enduring peace accords with Egypt and Jordan came about because of direct talks with Israel. The same could be true with the Palestinians, if only they finally learned the lessons of those talks."

The final vote was 14 in favor, none against, and one abstention, the United States.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ajc-deeply-disappointed-by-us-vote-on-un-security-council-resolution-300383493.html

SOURCE American Jewish Committee
BRISTOL, Conn., Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Conveyco (www.conveyco.com), an integrator of Automated Material Handling Systems and Design Build Solutions, who was awarded a contract to fully automate the new fulfillment center for Boxed.com earlier this year, has announced that it will be partnering with Boxed to help those who need it most this holiday season.

"Conveyco's team is honored to be entrusted by Boxed to automate their new Fulfillment Center in Union, NJ. We wanted to do something that will honor both of our amazing teams that would make an impact in our local community here in Connecticut. We value the partnership we have formed with Boxed and hope to continue to provide much needed necessities to families in need not only now, but throughout the year," says Raymond Cocozza, President of Conveyco. "I can think of no better opportunity to support the Southington Community Services Organization and the work they do to assist those less fortunate."

Conveyco has made a $5,000 donation to help those in immediate need this holiday season and delivered a generous donation of food and paper goods from Boxed.com. Additionally, Conveyco will be making a commitment to donate additional goods throughout the year.

Where will Conveyco be getting all these goods? You guessed itBoxed.com.

Ray Cocozza stated, "Conveyco is more than a brand. It is our mission to live true to the principles our brand is built upon: Good People. Great Solutions. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back, to serve our community and to serve our valued clients".

Rick Zumpano, Vice President of Distribution of Boxed said, "We could not be happier, through our collaboration with Ray and the entire team at Conveyco, to help those in need this holiday season, and beyond."

Founded in 2013, Boxed has taken the best elements of the wholesale shopping experience and folded it into one innovative, cutting edge mobile app that allows consumers direct-to-their-door access to all of their favorite warehouse club products without membership fees. Boxed brings convenience and savings to on-the-go consumers who don't have the time, means, or patience to shop at a brick and mortar big box club. The elegantly designed iPhone and Android app offers bulk-sized goods at pint-sized prices and is completely free to download and use.

Boxed does all the heavy lifting, delivering a rich array of wholesale items directly to doorsteps across the continental United States in two days or less. The brand's innovative discovery-based design recreates the fun of the treasure hunt experience with a curated selection of everyday essentials that consumers love including household staples, health and beauty supplies, office and pantry items, groceries, and a wide variety of organic and green products.

According to the Southington Community Services (SCS) website (http://southingtoncommunityservices.org) the organization "provides support services to Southington residents and serves as a link between private providers, human services and governmental agencies."

Conveyco (www.conveyco.com), a material handling systems integrator, with a team of best-in-class engineering talent, works closely with its supply chain clients to design original, reliable, street-smart solutions that help them overcome their toughest challenges in the movement, storage, control and protection of materials and goods throughout their manufacturing and distribution operations. From problem definition to implementation, Conveyco's collaborative work ethic enables its clients to achieve their goals for enhanced profitability and to compete more successfully within their industries.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/conveyco-giving-back-300383514.html

SOURCE Conveyco
HONG KONG, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Far East Consortium International Limited ("FEC" or the "Group") (SEHK: 35) is delighted to announce that the Group has completed the purchase of a car park in the vicinity of the Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom (the "Car Park") at a consideration of GBP13.4 million.

The Car Park will continue to be operated under the brand of FSS Manchester Airport Car Park. With a capacity of approximately 1,500 car parking bays, it is expected to become yet another source of steady cash flow to the Group. The acquisition provides the Group with a good starting point to grow and sustain a car parking management business in the UK.

With the Group's existing diversified portfolio consisting of car parks in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, its car park business has been generating steady recurring cash flow and has shown constant growth over the years. Nonetheless, the Group has been actively looking for ways to further diversify its geographical presence by expanding into other locations with sustainable demand for car parking facilities.

Recently, the Group's car park business upgraded its central monitoring system thereby enhancing the control room operational functions and providing a better control of the day-to-day operations of the business thus paving a solid foundation for its regional expansion.

Mr. Chris HOONG, Managing Director of FEC said: "The Group has been evaluating a number of expansion opportunities in car parking operation and the acquisition represents a unique opportunity for the Group to establish an initial operation in the UK. The asset offers not only good scale but also potential extension opportunity. In the longer term, the Group intends to utilise and leverage on the operating strengths of the Care Park brand to expand in the country. The Group views the car parking operation as a core business with significant regional expansion potential."

Mr. Robert Belteky, Managing Director of Care Park said, "The acquisition is a very attractive investment providing not only a strong yield on investment return but also significant potential to further extend the capacity of the car park and implement technology based innovations, operating and marketing initiatives through Care Park to further enhance the value of the investment. The asset provides a substantial base from which Care Park can grow a successful car parking business in the UK."

About Far East Consortium International Limited

Far East Consortium International Limited has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1972 (HKEx stock code: 35.HK). The Group is mainly engaged in property development and investment, hotel operation and management, as well as car park and facilities management. The Group adopts diversified regional strategy and the "Chinese Wallet" strategy with business covering Hong Kong, Mainland China, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

About Care Park

FEC operates its car park business through its subsidiary Care Park. Care Park is one of the largest car parking operators in Australia and New Zealand. As at 30 September 2016, it has a portfolio of 399 car parks, including 24 self-owned ones, with approximately 76,200 car parking bays under management contracts entered with local governments, shopping malls, retailers, universities, airports, hotels, hospitals, government departments and commercial and office buildings.

FEC official website:

www.fecil.com.hk

FEC WeChat and Weibo:

http://www.weibo.com/u/5703712831

For further information, please contact:

Far East Consortium International Limited

Ms. Venus Zhao, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Finance

Contact Number: (852) 2850 0639

Email: venus.zhao@fecil.com.hk

Wonderful Sky Financial Group

Mr. Paul Sham / Ms. Martha Tung / Ms. Jacqueline Wong

Contact Number: (852) 3970 2170 / (852) 3641 1311 / (852) 3970 2177

Email: fecil@wsfg.hk

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fec-announces-entry-into-uk-car-parking-business-300383352.html
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a Lowell, Massachusetts-based trucking company, Kamway Services, USDOT No. 2509225, to be an imminent hazard to public safety and ordered the company to immediately cease all interstate and intrastate commercial operations. Separately, FMCSA has also declared Kamway Service's owner and commercial driver, John Kamau, to be an imminent hazard to public safety and ordered him to immediately cease all interstate operations. The federal orders were served on December 20, 2016.

On November 18, a Kamway Services box truck driven by Mr. Kamau along Interstate 95 in York County, Maine struck the rear of a passenger vehicle that had slowed due to traffic. The impact pushed the passenger vehicle into a tractor-trailer truck that was immediately ahead of it. Both occupants of the passenger vehicle, including a five-old-boy, were killed.

A post-crash investigation by FMCSA safety investigators found that at the time of the crash, Mr. Kamau was medically disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

Investigators further found the company to be in violation of multiple federal safety statutes and regulations including:

Failing to comply with any driver qualification requirements, including ensuring that its drivers were properly licensed and physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). During the investigation, a Kamway Services management official stated that it maintained no driver records, including a driver qualification file for Mr. Kamau.

Failing to properly monitor its drivers to ensure compliance with maximum hours-of-service requirements prohibiting fatigued operation of commercial motor vehicles. A Kamway Services management official stated the company maintained no records-of-duty-status or supporting documents.

Failing to ensure that its vehicles were regularly inspected, maintained, repaired, and met minimum safety standards. During FMCSA's investigation, Kamway Services was unable to produce the required maintenance records or periodic vehicle inspection reports.

FMCSA's investigation found that Kamway Services' "complete and utter lack of compliance with (federal safety regulations) substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death for its drivers and the motoring public if (its) operations are not discontinued immediately."

Violating an imminent hazard out-of-service order may result in a penalty of up to $25,705, operating without necessary authority may result in a fine of not less than $10,282, and operating without a USDOT number may result in a civil penalty of up to $14,502. A violation of this order may also result in a criminal penalty, including a fine of up to $25,000 and imprisonment not to exceed one year.

FMCSA is also considering civil penalties for the safety violations discovered during the investigation and may refer this matter for criminal prosecution.

A copy of the imminent hazard out-of-service order can be viewed at:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/imminent-hazard-out-service-order-kamway-services-2016.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fmcsa-declares-massachusetts-trucking-company-and-driver-to-be-imminent-hazards-to-public-safety-300383452.html

SOURCE Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
TORONTO, Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven by more environmentally conscious consumers and technological advancements, disruptive technology is poised to revolutionize the food packaging industry. Pita Pit Canada, a fast-casual restaurant, recognized the first mover advantages by teaming up with delfortgroup and McNairn Packaging in introducing a new innovative packaging material called thinbarrier eco.

Joe Kofler, President of delfortgroup speciality papers says, "disruptive technology is the best way to describe this new biopolymer substrate." Not only is the paper whiter and brighter, but thinbarrier eco also performs better!

delfortgroup's thinbarrier eco paper is a packaging wrap paper produced from renewable resources, that outperforms the existing wax-coated alternatives in both sustainability and functionality. delfortgroup's R&D team designed a fluorocarbon and PFOA free environmentally friendly paper using a grease-resistant, vegetable based coating that eliminates the need for wax. As a result, thinbarrier eco is re-pulpable, recyclable* and compostable*.

Therefore, switching from traditional waxed paper wraps to thinbarrier eco significantly reduces Pita Pit Canada's carbon footprint. According to a streamlined LCA study (Life Cycle Assessment) conducted by Innventia Edge, changing to thinbarrier eco would decrease crude oil consumption in wrap production by 60%, saving nearly 12kg/26.46lb of crude oil per 10,000 wraps. To put this into a practical perspective, for every 113,000 thinbarrier eco wraps Pita Pit Canada would consume one less barrel of oil.

With thinbarrier eco, Pita Pit Canada simultaneously ticks the boxes of cost-neutral, product innovation and most importantly measurable commitment to sustainability. Pita Pit Canada has abandoned the traditional "do less harm" industry mentality by switching to a "do better" philosophy with thinbarrier eco starting from December.

*The paper is recyclable and compostable in those areas where these facilities are available.

Media Contact:

Brad Ido-Bruce

Phone: 917.318.5530

Email: BIdo-Bruce@mcnairnpackaging.com

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pita-pit-canada-takes-the-lead-in-disruptive-packaging-technology-300383248.html

SOURCE McNairn Packaging
Goldfein visits ISR Airmen

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein met with Airmen and leaders at 25th Air Force Headquarters Dec. 19.



My mission this week is to get out and say thanks to all of those who are standing watch, not only on behalf of the Joint Chiefs, but also on behalf of a very grateful nation, Goldfein told the Airmen of the 625th Operations Center.



Goldfein thanked the Airmen for their hard work and dedication.



Nothing that you do is easy. Nothing that you have shown me walking around here is simple, but the way you knit it together  the way you work the relationships that matter so much in this business, are very often what keeps our nation safe and allows us to sleep at night, Goldfein said.



Goldfein, a Texas native, reminded Airmen they are an important to global security.



Its not only our families, its families around the world that rely on us, he said. We are a global power for one reason and that is because we have global capabilities, and that is what you provide every day. Never take for granted the impact that you are having on a truly national level. Our families sleep well at night because you are here. And I, for one, couldnt be prouder to serve with each and every one of you and to say thank you for what you are doing every day.



During his visit, Goldfein also presented his recognition coin to several outstanding team members at 25th AF Headquarters.



Maj. Octavia Heard, a squadron section commander, was recognized for her courage in ensuring the safety of one of her Airmen.



In early December, an Airman under her supervision was abducted by a group of men, beaten and forced to drive around town withdrawing cash from ATMs and selling his personal property at pawn shops. When the Airman did not report for work the next morning, Heard worked with the Airmans apartment complex manager and the San Antonio Police Department to conduct a welfare check.



While they were there, the abductors drove into the apartment complex in the Airmans car, with the Airman in the back seat. Heard approached the car, opened the back door and pulled the Airman out of the car as the abductors attempted to drive away. The alleged perpetrators were later arrested, and the Airman was treated and released from the hospital.



Tech. Sgt. Dan Schultz, an airborne mission systems manager, 625th Air Support Squadron, was recognized for his key role in finding a more problem-centric, deductive and anticipatory approach to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.



An example of his impact was shown when he recommended delaying an RC-135 to assist when another aircraft was incapacitated. His actions allowed 25th Air Force to continue support for a critical focused collection operation.



Schultz also assisted with coordinating and synchronizing ISR activities supporting EC-130H missions designed to test a new capability in support of the 624th and 625th Operations Centers.



Carol Glover, spouse of 25th AF Command Chaplain (Col.) Bruce Glover, was recognized for her service as the 25th AF Key Spouse coordinator. She coordinated efforts to recognize and care for the families of deployed service members. She led numerous activities for the families, to include decorating yards with welcome home signs, holding pizza making events for families and putting together care packages for those deployed. Prior to her service with the 25th AF, she led a similar group, Yellow Ribbon Spouses, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
Multinational paratroopers fill NC skies

Instead of snow above North Carolinas frigid skies, the horizon was filled with paratroopers as they flurried to the ground, during the 19th annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop Dec. 5-16.



Every year, the Fort Bragg community in North Carolina begins celebrating the holidays early by inviting their coalition partners to participate in the worlds largest annual multinational airborne exercise and give toys to children in need.



Operation Toy Drop supports the local community by giving underprivileged kids toys while also allowing international teams to enhance their parachuting capabilities, said Staff Sgt. Joey Hauser, Jr., the OTD Netherlands host nation jumpmaster instructor. The training is designed for domestic and foreign nations to build relationships, to share knowledge and find better ways to conduct operations.



According to Hauser, the goal is to ensure nations take back lessons learned as they train to sharpen abilities as paratroopers.



This is accomplished as each nation implements their practices and partners with other nations, Hauser said. By training together, they familiarize themselves on a multitude of aircraft and standardizations, which can also lessen cultural barriers.



Finding common ground is important, but its a big challenge to work in an environment with so much variety and strict timelines, Hauser, Jr., added.



Canadian, Dutch, Botswanan, Czech, German, Italian, Polish, and Singaporean armed forces worked alongside U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force units around the clock, getting accustomed to different languages and methods.



For Staff Sgt. Leanne McCombs, an 824th Base Defense Squadron fire team leader assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, it was pivotal to build rapport with partner nations during the 820th Base Defense Groups first OTD.



The ability to get an understanding while building trust and cohesion among [the U.S. armed forces] and other nations was important because it will allow us to perform better back home, McCombs said. Trust is the biggest factor for us and if we have familiarity with a nation that we can depend on, it makes us more confident to perform in real world scenarios with exercises like these.



For security forces personnel from the 820th BDG, their role was to provide force protection on the ground but they are also airborne qualified. At home station, the chance to jump is rare, which made OTD exhilarating for McCombs.



Theres a lot of excitement with an exercise like this because we dont get to jump as often back home, McCombs said. This was also fun because theres the serious focus to train, but also the chance to enjoy the experience. Usually, when we perform jumps, theres a follow-on mission or we have to parachute with heavy combat equipment with more at stake, but this was more enjoyable and relaxing. This whole experience has been awesome with all the different aircraft and people.



Approximately 120 jumpmasters helped 4,000 paratroopers descend the skies under parachute canopies. For Sgt. Daniel Jenkins, a Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Center parachute instructor, the chance to share tactics and stories with others continues to forge the universal brotherhood experienced in the paratrooper world.



The airborne community as a whole is like a family, no matter if youre American, Canadian, Czech or Polish, Jenkins said. When we go overseas to conduct our business whether its for combat or peacekeeping, we fight the mission and the chance to come back here and share those experiences and build relations is very special. Its been a great time for a great cause.
On this look around the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James speaks on the Air Forces role in transatlantic security at the Atlantic Council Conference in Washington D.C.; and the North American Aerospace Defense Command helps spread holiday cheer by tracking Santas journey across the globe. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Traci Keller.For previous episodes, click here

Related links:

- Band kicks off holiday season with 4th annual flash mob
Africa: The overlooked role of the African Diaspora

Ethiopia and Ghana greatly benefit from diaspora networks

For many years, Africas growth and development has been bolstered by the African Diaspora, however the contributions of the Diaspora have often been overlooked, unaccredited and unappreciated by African and International institutions. The added value in terms of insights, knowledge of local conditions and networks, cultural experience, empathy and sensitiveness, intellectual capacities and skills that the African Diaspora gain and subsequently offer to the enrichment of Africa is relatively substantial, research has shown.








The CBI registered a case against two officials of a bank controlled by BJP MP Pritam Munde and some others, following recovery of Rs. 10 crore in demonetised notes in the city last week.

The agency also carried out searches at 11 places at Beed, Aurangabad, Pune and Mumbai. Nobody has been arrested though. On December 15, police had recovered Rs. 10.10 crore, including Rs. 10 lakh in the new Rs. 2,000 notes, from a car. It turned out that the cash was part of Rs. 25 crore in demonetised notes that the officials of Vaidyanath Urban Cooperative Bank were transporting, a CBI official said.

Munde, daughter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, is director of Vaidyanath Urban Cooperative Bank which has its head office in Beed district. The case was also registered against a doctor and some others in connection with transportation of the cash. It was registered under IPC sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and also under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The accused entered into a conspiracy and fraudulently transported around Rs. 25 crore in demonetised currency from the banks head office in Beed to its Ghatkopar branch here on November 19 for changing it into legal tender, CBI said.

Around Rs. 15 crore was allegedly deposited with Maharashtra State Urban Co-operative Bank and Rs. 10.10 crore (Rs. 10 lakh in Rs. 2,000 denomination and Rs. 10 crore in old Rs. 500 notes) was being transported back to Beed in a car when it was intercepted by Mumbai police.

Three persons have been detained in the case by the police.

The probe revealed that the cash belonged to Vaidyanath Bank, and the detained persons were its employees, including a branch manager.
An airliner with 118 people aboard on an internal flight in Libya was hijacked and diverted to Malta where it landed on Friday, Maltese media reported.

The plane had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in the south to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

Malta state TV says two hijackers on the diverted plane have hand grenades and are threatening to blow up the aircraft.

The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter.

Libya confirmed the plane had been diverted.

Malta International Airport tweeted: MIA confirms there is an unlawful interference at the airport. Emergency teams dispatched.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac surrounded by military vehicles and all flights have been cancelled.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

An hour after the hijack, the plane was surrounded by Maltese security forces. The report added that one of the hijacker, believed to be pro-Gaddafi, is in possession of a hand grenade, while their demands are unknown.

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the countrys far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.
Kathak dance shows are common in India, many dance teachers and gurus have had performances of their style for decades now. But recently Shringar Mani and Hirkani Awardee Guru Vijayshree Choudhary asked me to be a part of a Kathak show. I have known Vijayshreeji for about 15years now. She is a disciple of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj and was also the Cultural ambassador of India to Indonesia, so a call from a diva like her is always a wonderful feeling.

Vijayshreeji told me that she was having a show Katha Kathak Ki where she wanted me to perform a Kathak piece. Initially, I was reluctant but then her charm took over me and I had no option but to give-in to the demands of this graceful dancer. I had always read in my dance books during my dance education that Spanish Paso Doble and flamenco had Indian roots from the Kathak, but as soon as our rehearsals began I started to realise the similarities.

In the dance, I was to play the character of mischievous Lord Krishna and she was Radha. The song chosen by her Guru Pandit Birju Maharajwas Hori. I remember, when I met Maharajji over coffee in Delhi some time back he had told me about Hori composition of his and how dear this song was to him. He also informed me that he had danced to it many a times. Thinking of the conversation with Maharaji and dancing the same piece with one of his favourite students I was very nervous.

I have always admired and appreciated the Kathak and witnesses many shows but this was not going to be a cake walk I was sure. Guru Vijayshree made me relax a bit and patiently taught methe finer points of the compositions that we were dancing.

I remember one part in the dance where I was just not able to understand the beats as they were different from western beats and the style of counting was different too. Vijayshreeji called live musician to explain it to me. That is when she decided that I responded better to live music than the recorded one, she decided to do the show with live musicians. It was a great idea I thought but it made me more nervous. As even a small mistake on part of either the dancer or the musician can make the act look bad. Our rehearsals began with full swing and each day I grew more nervous and she grew more confident of me. It was a strange situation.

Then came the night before the show, I received a call from her again asking me to host the evening as her compere for the evening was not present for the show. My heart sank, I was anyway nervous about the Kathak, I was going to perform for the first time ever and now hosting too for the first time ever. One bomb dropped on me after another I felt, but like I mentioned before when the diva calls no one refuses. I stayed up all night to rehearse the script and then came the evening of the show.

Chief Guest, the legendary actress Padmashree Asha Parekh lighted the auspicious lamp along with guest of honour actor director Saurabh Shukla. Vijayshreeji and my gorgeous student Miss world runners up Parvathy Omanakuttan hosted the evening with me. Later we were complimented for our jobs as comperes and were told that we made a good pair as hosts for the evening.

There were many performances, from Shiva Stuti to story of Kathak, from Tarana to Nriytakeli, from Sufi mixed Kathak to Kathak in film, as each performance was over I became more nervous. Dressed in my Deepak Shah and Neeta Lulla designed gold brocade sherwani with red Patiala salwarI tried to look like Lord Krishna. On the other hand, Vijayshreeji in her traditional gold and red lehenga choli was a splendid asRadha.

Our dance was the finale piece and when the music began, I remembered my dance teachers of Ballroom who always told me Dance be it western or Indian, dance is dance, it has the same language just that the ways of expressions may be bit different. That was it, I dont remember what happened after that, the only memory I have is that post the show all the guest present there, be it former director of national school of drama Ramgopal Bajaj or yesteryears actress Shammiji, another Birju Maharaj student Neelima Azeem, actors like Sameer Dharmadhikari, Vijay Raaz, Jesse Randhawa and others congratulated Vijayshreeji and me for the show and the dynamic finale. One of them even came and told me that the dance looked as if Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha had actually descended on stage to show their naughtiness to the audience. I guess that is the beauty of dance and the dancer that they can transcend you into another world and make you believe in all that they do.

I am specially writing this piece to thank Guru Vijayshree Choudhary for believing in me and asking me to partner her for the finale dance of her show. I surely cannot reach the perfectness that Birju Maharaj has inculcated in her but sharing the stage with her and performing the same dance act makes me humble.

(Sandip Soparrkar is a well known Ballroom dancer and a Bollywood choreographer who has been honoured with National Achievement Award and National Excellence Award by the Govt of India. He can be contacted on sandipsoparrkar06@gmail.com)

SandipSoparrkar

Artscape
The girl called Jeevti was just 14 when she taken from her family in the night to be married off to a man who says her family owed him $1,000.

Her mother, Ameri Kashi Kohli, is sure that her daughter paid the price for a never-ending debt.

Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid.

Its a familiar story in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted.

In this world, women such as Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment.

The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest, the young and pliable. Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can.

I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us, says Ameri, who is Hindu. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife. They told us, Your daughter has committed to Islam and you cant get her back.

More than 2 million Pakistanis live as modern slaves, according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing.

They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable, says Ghulam Hayder, whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistans bonded labourers.

An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organisation.

Hayder says, They always take the pretty ones.

The night Jeevti disappeared; the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat here in southern Sindh province. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed a high-voltage electoral rally in poll-bound Uttarakhand. Rahul continued his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of organizing an economic loot. Rahul accused Modi of plundering the wealth of the nation and assisting the 1 per cent super rich section of the population.

If this were actually an anti-corruption move, my party would be totally in favour of it, but it isnt anti-corruption, it is economic robbery, Rahul said at a rally in Almora, Uttarakhand.

More than 100 people have died due to the scrapping of high-value banknotes, Gandhi said, Modi has hit the poor.

But they did not allow us to stand for two minutes in Parliament to pay respects to these people, he said  yet again accusing the government of muzzling the Opposition voice in Parliaments winter session.

Log toot jaate hain ek ghar banane mein, tum taras nahi khaate grehastiyan jalane mein, he said, quoting poet Bashir Badr. That loosely translates to: People give their everything to build their home, you mercilessly burn those households.

This, the Congress leader said, is the truth about a suit-boot ki sarkar like that of Prime Minister Narendra Modis. It cares only about industrialists and not the poor, he added.

Due to note ban, due to demonetisation, the unemployment rate in India has jumped to 7-year-high. You (Modi) promised to create 2 crore jobs per year. But you have instead snatched away the existing jobs in the market, Congress VP added.

Farmers of the nation had demanded three things from Modi ji. They wanted loan waivers, electricity bills halved and adequate price for their crop produce. But Modi ji betrayed the farmers. He cannot waive off the loans of farmers, but write off 1,40,000 crore of his capitalist friends, said Gandhi.

The Congress leader kept hammering home the point that the Modi government is only for the rich.

The PM snatched your money and gave it to (liquor baron and loans defaulter) Vijay Mallya. Thats why the note ban is anti-poor and loots the poor. Because 94 per cent of black money is in Swiss banks, land and gold and not in cash. Only six per cent is in cash. Why has Narendra Modi targeted six per cent black money in cash and not the 94 per cent, Rahul asked.
BJP and Shiv Sena involved in a tug of war to take credit by erecting hoardings of Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial bhoomi pujan ceremony.

With an eye on the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election the BJP and Shiv Sena are trying to outdo each other by erecting posters of Chhatrapati Shivaji statues bhoomi pujan ceremony to be held on Saturday. On one hand, BJP has tried to hijack Senas political agenda of wooing Marathas by organising the foundation stone laying ceremony of Shivaji memorial on the other hand the latter has installed posters in Dadar mentioning that even late Balasaheb Thackeray had supported the construction of Shivaji memorial. Thus both the parties are involved in a tug of war to take credit by erecting hoardings of the Maratha warrior at various places in the city.

BJP is keen to wrest the control of BMC from Sena which is currently ruling the civic body. The saffron party had successfully used Chhatrapati Shivaji for electoral gains during the 2014 state assembly polls. BJP also has indicated that it has already fulfilled one of the poll promises made by it prior to assembly election. On the other hand, Sena is keen to retain the control of the BMC at any cost and doesnt want BJP to play the role of big brother. Sena has often expressed its displeasure over the functioning of the BJP government through its mouth piece Saamna.

The state government has already incurred Rs 18 crore for publicising this ceremony. They have already released advertisements in print, TV, social media and outdoor media, said said a senior government official on condition of anonymity.

Earlier Shiv Sena President had said that he will attend the ceremony only if a formal invitation is sent to him. Subsequently, BJP leaders Chandrakant Patil and Vinod Tawde had gone to Matoshree to invite Uddhav for the function.

We will take steps to construct the Shivaji memorial and fulfil peoples aspirations. The erstwhile government had only made announcement about this memorial but failed to fulfil it. The first phase of the project will be completed by 2019 and we have received permissions for going ahead with the construction of the project, said Vinod Tawde Education and Cultural Affairs minister.

Security has been tightened on the Prime Ministers route with the help of navy and other agencies. People who would be present at the BKC can watch the ceremony live. A film on Shivaji will be screened and Prime Minister will address a rally, said Ashish Shelar, Mumbai BJP president.

MRCC President Sanjay Nirupam said, The BJP government is organising Chhatrapati Shivaji memorials foundation stone laying ceremony with an eye on the BMC election. The party should stop deriving political mileage out of this issue. They indulge in such cheap gimmicks before election but fail to deliver the promises made by them. The party had also promised to erect a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ahead of the 2012 Gujarat assembly polls but work is yet to start.

Earlier both Sena and BJP tried to take credit for the construction of the new suburban station Ram Mandir. Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar has charged the BJP with taking credit for Senas efforts.
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ahul Gandhi who was always against the demonetisation made a sensational revelation by saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been bribed nine times over a course of six months by employees of the Sahara India, according to notes in their diaries. This could well be the tremor Gandhi was talking about fortnight ago, saying there would be an earthquake if he was allowed to speak in Parliament. He said, employees of the Sahara group wrote in their diaries that they had given money to Narendra Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. The I-T department raided the Sahara group on November 22, 2014. The Congress leader then went on to detail how much Modi had received in bribe: As per records with the I-T Department, Rs. 2.5 crore was given to Modi on October 30, 2013, Rs. 5 crore on November 12 , 2013, Rs. 2.5 crore on November 27, 2013, Rs. 5 crore on November 29, 2013, Rs. 5 crore on December 6, 2013, Rs. 5 crore on December 19, 2013, Rs. 5 crore on January 13, 2014, Rs. 5 crore on January 28, 2014, and Rs. 5 crore on February 22, 2014.

The Congress and other opposition parties have vociferously and relentlessly been criticizing the November 8 scrapping of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes. The note ban, or demonetization, has caused a severe cash crunch with the farmers and the poor bearing the brunt of the shortage of new notes and small value notes. He is a big fish. Since then, Modi and opposition have been attacking each other but we should understand that Modi has survived many charges in the past and acquitted in many. Every time, he was given clean chit doesnt justify his innocence but it only proves that Indian judicial system has failed to deliver the justice. He will survive again. The system is opaque and complex, too many vested interests are ready to bend before the power that be. It looks like repeat of infamous Jain Hawala diaries which gutted the image and political career of so many politicians while charges could not be proved against them. In India, politicians are always caught in scams but as per his/ her power sharing capacity, they have never got convicted.

This note ban is the biggest scam in the history of India. Modi delivered election speeches, pre-recorded messages but avoided addressing questions about the currency ban in Parliament. If the PM is speaking on the issue at different places in the country then why he is scared of giving a clarification about it in Parliament? Anyway, financial scam by BJP leaders are not surprising or new, they are caught, exposed and got scot free.

On 25th November, a bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices J S Khehar and Arun Mishra told petitioner Common Cause that it cannot order an investigation into allegations that representatives of the Sahara and Birla Groups had bribed politicians including Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The bench told senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, who was representing the NGO, that the documents that had been adduced to its petition were not reliable and asked Common Cause to produce better material when the case is heard again on 14th December. They never have genuine documents. Anybody can make a computer entry against a chief minister or prime minister. Can we order a probe based on all that? Bring better material

Referring to documents seized by the Income Tax Department after conducting raids on companies in the Aditya Birla Group in October 2013 and on the Sahara India Group in November 2014, Justice Khehar added: If we accept what you say, then somebody can tomorrow make an entry that I sent PM this much of money  see how far-reaching this could be. We are not shying away from taking action against anybody but you must have something even prima facie to show wrongdoing. We cannot initiate proceedings only because you name a big man. There has to be something fishy. If any suspicion arouses our conscience, it is a good suspicion but your suspicion does not do it this is only insinuation. Show us better material because we are not satisfied at all with this. It is zero for us. Demanding a court-monitored probe by a special investigation team, Common Cause had alleged that there had been a cover-up following the raids, the seizure of documents and computers, and the preparation of appraisal reports by the Income Tax authorities. The bench said that the petitioner should take its petition back from the court if it fails to gather credible evidence. Anyway, neither the special probe will ever be conducted nor Modi would ever be caught even if he is involved in accepting bribe. This is the sole reason, Prashant Bhusan, Arvind Kejriwal is not pursuing the case.

Names on diaries or papers are not admissible in the court of law. This can only be substantiated, if investigative authorities would have found out cash from Mr. Modis place. The best part in this case is that, this happened during the Congress regime, when they were in power in the centre. Does any one of you have any doubt that Congress must have not used all its state machineries to implicate Modi? The raids took place in 2013, when Modi was all over the Television and a Prime-Ministerial candidate. Moreover, when the accused Subhendu Amitabh from Aditya Birla group was interrogated, he referred that money was given to Gujarat Alkali Chemicals referred to as Gujarat CM.

Coming back to political attacks, PM ridiculed Rahul and his statements as a political allegation. However, he always failed to answer, How many black money holders have been put in jail by BJP? The answer is not even one. Many BJP leaders have been caught with huge currency, but none of them were ever punished or questioned by Modi or his party. BJP successfully tagged Congress as corrupt party but since it is a weak opposition, it failed to take mileage out of the issue. In the meantime, some of us believe that these papers need to be investigated and some believe that evidence is not enough to put on trial. It doesnt matter what we think, because its ultimately courts call to determine if a person is guilty or not. We can only raise our opinions on it.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the plea filed by a lawyers body seeking not to make Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India.

A bench of the Apex Court headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and also comprising Justice L Nageswar Rao, while dismissing the plea, said that the plea was infructuous after the notification was issued by President Pranab Mukherjee on December 19th.

Several lawyers representing the body addressed the court.

There is nothing left in this petition as the President of India has already issued the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and L Nageswara Rao said.

Besides the National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, which moved the court through its General Secretary Rohini M. Amin, the petition was backed by several lawyers associated with it.

Seeking direction to the Centre to consider various representations made to the President, the prime minister, the chief justice and the union law minister, the petition favoured the appointment of Justice Chelameswar as the next chief justice who would have a tenure of almost two years.

Besides this, the National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms contended that Justice Chelameswar was senior to Justice Khehar as he became a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on June 23, 1997 while Justice Khehar became a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court only on February 8, 1999.

The petitioner alleged that Justice Khehar should not be appointed as CJI as he had virtually paved the way for himself to be elevated as CJI by quashing the NJAC Act and reviving collegium system of appointment of judges.

But Justice Khehar became senior as he was elevated to the top court before Justice Chelameswar, said the petition.

However, the petition said Justice Khehar was undoubtedly one of the most upright judges of the Supreme Court and nobody could  point a finger at Justice Khehar when it comes to honesty, integrity and uprightness.
Mumbai Police has served a notice on a leading tea company asking them to withdraw an advertisement which purportedly uses photographs of police personnel without authorisation.

Mumbai Police has no concern whatsoever with recent advertisement of the tea company having photographs of the personnel of Mumbai Police, in which one (personnel) is in khaki and other is in traffic police uniform.

This has been done by the company without taking any authorisation from Mumbai Police, said DCP and spokesperson Ashok Dudhe.

He said the police have asked the company to immediately withdraw the advertisement.

Mumbai Police does not endorse any brand without authorisation from the government, the DCP stated.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2016 - Sales of medically important antibiotics for food-producing animals rose by 2 percent last year and are up 26 percent since 2009, the Food and Drug Administration says in its latest annual report on usage of the drugs.

But the data don't reflect the impact of two pending policy changes designed to limit farm use of the drugs and preserve their viability in human medicine.

FDA is in the process of approving new label changes that will effectively prohibit future usage of such antibiotics for growth promotion, and beginning Jan. 1 all use of medically important antimicrobials will require a veterinarians oversight.

According to the FDA data, 97 percent of antibiotics were sold over the counter in 2015, a figure virtually unchanged from 98 percent in 2009, when the sales reporting started.

Sales of drugs approved for production purposes fell from 72 percent in 2014 to 71 percent in 2015, but FDA cautioned that the data also include drugs approved for therapeutic purposes.

Tetracyclines accounted for 71 percent of U.S. sales of medically important antibiotics in 2015, followed by penicillins at 10 percent, macrolides at 6 percent, sulfas and aminoglycosides at 4 percent, lincosamides at 2 percent, and amphenicols, cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones, all at less than 1 percent.

Tetracycline sales rose by 4 percent in 2015 and have grown by 31 percent since 2009.

In May, the agency finalized a rule that will require companies to begin providing estimates of antibiotic sales broken down by animal species - cattle, hogs, chickens and turkeys.

The Animal Health Institute said that tetracyclines dont play a big role in human medicine, and the group emphasized that the 2015 data dont reflect the impact of the new requirement for farmers to get a veterinarians approval for antibiotic usage.

That policy ensures that medically important antibiotics used in food animals will be used only to fight disease under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, said the group, which represents drug manufacturers.

The administration came under sharp criticism from consumer advocates for not mandating that companies remove growth promotion from antibiotic labels. The label changes were undertaken voluntarily at FDAs request, which led to the same result, according to Michael Taylor, who stepped down earlier this year as FDAs deputy commissioner for foods.

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At the same time, some food companies and restaurant chains are requiring producers to phase out the use of antibiotics. This fall, McDonalds announced that all of the chicken it is buying now has been raised without the use of medically important antibiotics.

David Wallinga, senior health officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the 2015 increase in sales is troubling. Sales just keep rising. Against the backdrop of a crisis in now untreatable or nearly untreatable infections, this report further underscores how urgently we need more and stronger government action to address the ongoing overuse of the drugs in livestock, he said.

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December 22, 2016

BAGHDAD  With every year, Christmas in Baghdad is marked with more festivities than the year before. Is this merely a celebration of joy or a deep expression of solidarity with the threatened Christian minority?

Commercial streets such Karada, al-Mansour, Palestine and Zaytouna are adorned with Christmas trees and Santa Claus. Zawraa park in the center of the capital is hosting a giant Christmas tree, offered by one of the businessmen, while commercial malls and stores are displaying trees that are bigger than usual.

Sama mall, a large shopping complex in the Karada area, set up a 7-meter-high (23 feet) tree, while displaying toys and New Year's decorations for sale.

In this context, Sama mall staff officer Ammar Hussein said the sales are high despite the declining purchasing power given the financial crises and the austerity plan by the Iraqi government.

Muslims are buying Christmas trees among other related goods. The shops are frequented by both the poor and the rich, Hussein told Al-Monitor, stressing that Muslims love to share this holiday season with their compatriots and the injustices done to the Christians are not caused by Muslims but by those who hate Iraq.

Mohammed and his veiled wife, Umm Youssef, were among the buyers in the mall. They purchased a small Christmas tree and some gifts and took pictures with their children in front of the giant tree.

This is the most joyful time of the year, Mohammed told Al-Monitor. We do not need proof of coexistence. We are one people. We like to celebrate Christmas like the rest of the Islamic holidays, Umm Youssef said.

In previous years, Christians used to fast with Muslims during the month of Ramadan. They also suspended public celebrations in 2012, when the Christmas holiday coincided with Arbaeen (Arbaeen means 40 in Arabic; it takes place on the 40th day after the anniversary of the death of Prophet Muhammads grandson Hussein bin Ali in 680), which is the saddest event for Shiite Muslims.

Christian and Muslim clerics also take part in the different occasions and events of both religions, while several Muslim politicians have also attended occasions held in churches. Despite this optimism, many question marks hang over the fate of one of Iraqs oldest religions.

Iraq is home to some of the oldest churches in history, such as the Kukhy church in Salman Pak, south of Baghdad. Many of Iraqs churches were destroyed after the Islamic State (IS) invaded and took over Mosul, including al-Khadra Church in Salahuddin governorate. Christians were displaced and required to pay the Jizya (protection tax), as per Sharia, imposed on non-Muslims. If they dont wish to pay this tax, Christians have either to convert to Islam or leave.

Many Christian activists believe that many of them are leaving Iraq along with other minorities in the country. In this context, Walim Warda, the coordinator at the Hammurabi human rights organization, told Al-Monitor, If things continue down this path and the authorities fail to provide guarantees and protection for Assyrians and Chaldeans in Iraq, they will eventually leave the country.

He also noted that half of Mosul's displaced persons are Christians who have already left Iraq, and their numbers are only increasing.

IS, which committed atrocities against Christians, displacing and killing them, is not the only reason they are leaving the country. It is also partly because of the governments policies, as parliament did not respond to minorities demands to amend Article 26 of the National ID law, which stipulates that minors become Muslims should one of their parents convert to Islam, Warda said.

Warda also accused those parliament members who voted for banning the sale of alcohol of harming the business and livelihoods of Christian and Yazidi merchants.

He also blamed the Iraqi government for being negligent in protecting minorities and for the murder of a Christian man named Jiji Dawoud al-Qiss Botros in Basra on Oct. 26. This was further reason for Christians to leave Basra, which was not under IS control, Warda said.

Although Christians have taken many steps to affirm shared living with their Muslim compatriots, they do not receive adequate protection. The Dora district in southern Baghdad, which was inhabited by many Christians, witnessed assaults, and its inhabitants started to be displaced in 2004.

In southern governorates of the country, Christian women are forced to wear the hijab or clothing in line with Muslim traditions. One of the most horrific incidents, however, was when al-Qaeda militants stormed into Our Lady of Salvation Church in central Baghdad during service, took hostages and killed worshipers in October 2010.

This was the beginning of the Christian exodus, which peaked with the IS occupation of Ninevah governorate.

The Iraqi Constitution emphasizes respect for the different components of Iraqs society, Christians in particular, which ought to be a strong and basic reference that can be built on to provide protection for minorities. However, the main problem lies in the mechanisms to enforce the constitution.

In this context, the pastor of St. Joseph Church in Baghdad, Monsignor Pius Kasha, told Al-Monitor, Christian clerics are calling on Christians to remain in the country, as they are one of the main components of Iraq. He said that the churches will be making the same call in the new year. IS atrocities left Christians frightened of living in Iraq; [they] now believe it is no longer safe for them to stay here, he said.

IS was not the only one to treat Christians as war spoils and to loot them; some neighbors did the same. How could they rob us? he added.

For his part, moderate Muslim cleric Raheem Abu Raghif told Al-Monitor, We ought to rethink the religious sources in order to provide a nonviolent interpretation of them. We must build a new understanding of religion based on the principle of citizenship, rather than discriminating against citizens based on their religions.

Hence, the Christmas celebrations are an opportunity to promote coexistence, but the political act remains the most important step to be taken as authorities have to take it upon themselves to provide adequate protection and security for minorities to lead as decent a life as the rest of their compatriots do.
December 21, 2016

Abla Adel, a 25-year-old Egyptian with impaired vision, likes to spend her weekends reading.

On a sofa in her bedroom, she uses her laptop to access a SoundCloud channel called Al-Kutub (Arabic for "books"), where she finds dozens of audio books. Adel puts her headphones on and starts listening to her beloved novels.

I search among different kinds of books and select what I want," Adel told Al-Monitor. "The voice is clear and I have a wonderful time listening to the books, she added. Her laptop displayed the title of the Arabic-language novel "Wounded Laugh" by Egyptian satirist Belal Fadl.

Al-Kutub produces audio books for visually impaired readers. Founded in the Egyptian capital two years ago, the project is run by volunteers of all ages. When Adel learned about it from her friends, she was delighted.

Before hearing about the project, I used to listen to my friends reading novels," Adel said. "Sometimes they summed up the stories for me. This was the only way for me to learn the contents of the different novels." Now, however, all kinds of books are available for people like Adel.

The project depends entirely on volunteers, according to Solafa al-Anwar, a social media marketing specialist and one of the founders of the project. "So far, 12,000 volunteers have joined the project," she said. "They do not come only from Egypt, but also as many as 32 other countries," she added, noting that the volunteers include Palestinians, Syrians, Algerians and Tunisians.

Volunteers record themselves reading the books using their mobile phones or tablets and then upload them to the MediaFire application and send them to the projects production team.

Anwar said that volunteers must first take a reading test. After reading a page from a book, she said, applicants record their reading and then upload it for review. The project's evaluation committee of reading specialists and sound engineers listen to the recorded files and then determine whether the potential volunteer is appropriate for the job. The committee selects a suitable book for each volunteer according to the tone of his or her voice.

"For example, a volunteer with a melodious voice is best fit for reading and recording history and religious books," Anwar said. "A softly-spoken volunteer, meanwhile, is more suitable for children's books."

It usually takes between three and four hours to edit a recording, during which specialists omit pauses between words and repeated sentences and mistakes.

"Sometimes, we accidentally catch a motorist honking the horn of his car in the recorded track," she said. "We remove this to keep the voice of the volunteer clear."

After the specialists edit the recordings, they add music suitable for the book as well as introductions.

"Books about romance are the most popular for the visually impaired," Anwar said. "Then come religious books, books on psychology and others on human development."

So far, 68 books have been uploaded to the Soundcloud channel, according to Anwar. She said the project's team is working to edit 50 more books. The books are expected to be ready next month.

The project's team expects to participate in the next Cairo International Book Fair, held every year during the last week of January in Nasr City, eastern Cairo. The fair, one of the most important cultural events in Egypt, is also one of the top cultural events in the Arab world. It is an important meeting place for writers, poets, publishers and intellectuals from every part of the Arab world.

"We will invite some visually impaired persons to the fair to talk about the challenges they face every day," Anwar said. "Some of the participants will also be asked to showcase their talents for fair visitors." She added that the project's team will also distribute CDs of recorded books during the fair.

Doha Selim, a 22-year-old photographer and one of the volunteers with the project, told Al-Monitor that she learned about it from its Facebook page. Since then, Selim has been dreaming of sharing this unique experience with other people.

I like the idea of giving," Selim said. "These visually impaired individuals cannot see me, but I can see them and I cannot ignore them while they need my assistance."

Selim goes to the project's offices in al-Tagamu' al-Khamis, on the southeastern outskirts of Cairo, every Saturday to receive training in Adobe Audition, the digital audio workstation from Adobe Systems. Once she learned how to edit recordings, Selim decided to practice the skill every Saturday together with other volunteers.

Selim was not initially accepted by the evaluation committee, because her voice, she said, was "not so good." She said she was eager to join the the project and after another two months, the committee approved her request to join the editing team.

Selim and many of her friends like the concept of volunteering. They do it, she says, because they want to please God. But Adel worries about how long it will last.

Adel studied history at the College of Arts in Ain Shams University. She is now working on a master's degree. She faces obstacles in some libraries that do not have electronic versions of their books.

I always look for references and curricula on the shelves, but this is impossible to do without a companion," Adel said.

She told the project about this problem. The team then posted about it on the project's closed Facebook page, and the reactions were surprising. A large number of people offered to help by accompanying Adel to the library and reading the books for her.

"Will these volunteers keep doing this forever?" Adel asked. "I really dont know. I need this problem to be solved, not only for me, but for all other people who have problems with their eyesight."
December 22, 2016

Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadis latest project is a Spanish-language film set in rural Iberia and starring Spains most celebrated acting couple: Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. The film, not yet titled, will be Farhadis second production outside his native Iran. In 2013, he wrote and directed The Past, a drama shot in France. It starred French-Argentine actress Berenice Bejo, who later won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance.

In 2010, French actress Juliette Binoche won the same award for her role in another film made by an Iranian director. Certified Copy, shot in Italy, was directed by the acclaimed Abbas Kiarostami, who died on July 4, 2016, and was his first feature film made outside Iran. Kiarostami subsequently made the 2012 Like Someone in Love, set in Japan. When asked by an Iranian reporter in May 2012 why he did not make his films in his homeland, Kiarostami said, If I request a license [to film in Iran], they would easily give it to me, but there is no guarantee as to whether this license will be valid six months later or when the film is ready. I cannot jeopardize other peoples money or my own peace of mind. Therefore, as long as a license has no real meaning, I will not make any films in Iran.

Kiarostami was refering to the Iranian law that requires a production and a screening license from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to make or screen a film in Iran. Many projects obtain a production license but then face issues in procuring one for screening, making it risky for producers to invest in Iranian cinema.

Other Iranian directors have also made films abroad. While some of these productions have been publicly screened in Iran, others never made it to local theaters.

Iranian director Abolfazl Jalili told Al-Monitor, After the revolution, I was among the first people who were invited to France to make a film. When I asked the producer who had invited me why I had been selected, he said it was because they wanted to make a film for the younger generation and since I had worked in the field and they had seen my films, they thought that I could have a greater impact than other directors. Of course, I was enthusiastic too.

Jalili has made 15 films in Iran, all of which have been granted production licenses but have nonetheless failed to receive licenses for public screening. In 1999, he and his fellow Iranian directors Nasser Taghvai and Mohsen Makhmalbaf were nominated for the Golden Palm  the grand prize at the Cannes Film Festival  for their film Tales of Kish.

Jalili said he was excited to direct a film outside Iran not only because he thought his work would not be shown at home. He told Al-Monitor, It was because I wanted to go and gain experience in the world outside Iran. I think this was also true for Abbas Kiarostami and Farhadi.

However, in Jalilis telling, directing a film abroad can be very risky for Iranian filmmakers due to a lack of full understanding of the other countrys culture." He said, "Kiarostami did this very cautiously. Farhadis The Past was also made in France with Iranian actors. In fact, one can say that it was an Iranian film that was made in France.

Jalili said Farhadi is now making films with strong producers, who give him access to the best facilities and services that are unavailable in Iran.

Alexandre Mallet-Guys Memento Films and Pedro and Agustin Almodovars El Deseo are set to produce Farhadis Spanish-language project. On May 25, Mallet-Guy, who produced Farhadis last two films The Past and The Salesman, told Variety that the Spanish-language project is the product of a mutual wish by Cruz and Farhadi to work together.

Given the restrictions and obstacles faced by female actors in Iranian cinema, and especially with regard to compulsory veiling, it seems natural that Farhadi would choose a location abroad to turn his and Cruz wish into reality. Nevertheless, the change in location doesnt mean that Farhadi, his screenplay or his actors will be wholly free of restrictions.

In a press conference that followed the screening of The Past at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2013, Farhadi spoke of his experience working in a liberated environment and said, Being outside Iran for two years, I do not think I have full freedom. However, I do not feel the heavy weight of the restrictions [there] either and am more at peace. In France, I do not have the same restrictions as I faced in Iran, but there are financial restrictions and the pressures imposed by the producer and limitations that I myself am not aware of either.

Farhadi and Cruz were initially set to start working together immediately after the making of The Past. However, the Iranian director had a sudden change of mind and returned to Iran to make The Salesman instead. In an interview with Iran's Etemad on Sept. 14, Farhadi said, I felt that if I were to be away from Iran for another three years to make a film, it would be very difficult. I asked the actors and producers of the [Spanish-language] film to wait for a period.  It was in fact an unexpected and instinctive decision. We had planned on locations in Spain, but I decided to return to Iran and make a film here.  I think my base should definitely be right here. I think no director can claim such a thing unless he goes and lives in another culture for some time, stays there and grows. Filmmakers can show their full capabilities in their own culture and language.

On Dec. 12, the Iranian-made drama The Salesman was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2017 Golden Globe Awards. Meanwhile, Farhadi is in Spain preparing the preliminary stages of his new film. Farhadi told Etemad that there are different reasons for working outside Iran. On the one hand, there are cinematic reasons: the fact that you get to work with a new group, in a different setting, and gain a new experience. On the other hand, there are non-cinema-related reasons. Unfortunately, my work in Iran is accompanied by some controversy and sometimes I have no choice but to distance myself and then return again.
December 22, 2016

On Dec. 19, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attended a meeting at parliament with the foreign policy and national security commission. As in other regular sessions, he informed members of the commission on various foreign policy issues, including the July 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Two days later, while Zarif was accompanying President Hassan Rouhani to Armenia, hard-line member of parliament Javad Karimi Ghoddousi took to distributing a page about Zarifs alleged statements at the Dec. 19 meeting.

Karimi Ghoddousi claimed that the main thrust of Zarifs address to the commission was related to his mistake in trusting the Americans. He quoted the foreign minister as having said, I admit that I made a mistake by listening to [US Secretary of State John] Kerry, and if I had followed my own strategy, I wouldnt face a problem right now.  Following the violation of the JCPOA, Kerry called me and asked me to go to Italy and hold talks there, and I told him in response that what you did to me has made it impossible for me to even be present in the same city as you.  The [extension of the] ISA [Iran Sanctions Act] is a violation of the JCPOA.  Kerry and [US Energy Secretary Ernest] Moniz had told us that we have methods to prevent the passage of ISA, and we trusted their methods, and this was among Obamas commitments that werent upheld, and I noted this big mistake during my conversation with Kerry.

On the same day, Alireza Rahimi, a member of the foreign policy and national security commission, described the meeting with Zarif as confidential, saying, What was quoted from Zarif was a clear lie. These issues werent discussed [by Zarif] in the recent meeting of the commission.

Rahimi further questioned the accuracy and validity of Karimi Ghoddousis claims by revealing that the hard-liner wasnt even present at the session with Zarif.

In this vein, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said of Karimi Ghoddousi on Dec. 21, Ironically, this person wasnt present at the meeting, and his quotes from the statements of the foreign minister were completely false, distorted and chosen selectively.

In response, Karimi Ghoddousi confirmed that while he wasnt at the meeting, he had the notes of other members of parliament who did attend the session  and an audio file of Zarifs remarks.

He said, The audio file of the foreign policy commissions meeting with Zarif has been reviewed, and [it became clear that] the exact statements [of Zarif] that I published were said. Mr. [Behrouz] Nemati and Mr. [Jahanbakhsh] Mohebi-Nia have also confirmed this.

However, on Dec. 22, Nemati, a moderate member of parliament, denied Karimi Ghoddousi's statement. Our assessment is that a wrong perception has caused this problem. The subject of discussion was the ISA sanctions, not the matter of the whole JCPOA, Nemati said.

Meanwhile, hard-line media outlets jubilantly covered the statements attributed to Zarif. Kayhan daily published the headline, Zarif: I admit that my trust in John Kerry was wrong, while Vatan-e-Emrooz went with Zarif: I made a mistake.

Mahdi Mohammadi, a hard-line analyst who was part of the negotiating team of former hard-line chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, tweeted Dec. 22, Zarif has concluded well. We made a mistake is the sum-up of the four-year performance of Rouhani.

Separately, hard-line retired Gen. Saeed Ghasemi called for the trial of those who played Iranians with the filthy game of win-win. He said on Dec. 22, I was informed yesterday that the foreign minister had told the members of parliament that he had made a mistake by trusting John Kerry. But a secret and whisper-like confession isnt acceptable.  This confession should be done in public, and this failure should [be revealed] formally before the cameras of the world.

This is not the first time Karimi Ghoddousi has tried to assail Zarifs reputation. These efforts have even led to verbal confrontations between him and the foreign minister. Indeed, among Karimi Ghoddousis accusations that have proven wrong are his past charges that a member of Zarifs nuclear negotiation team was a spy and that Rouhanis brother, special aide Hossein Fereydoun, has imitated the presidents voice in some phone conversations.
December 22, 2016

A strike by the local governments, which employ many kindergarten staff, forced tens of thousands of Israeli parents to take Dec. 21 off work to look after their kids. The Union of Local Authorities in Israel took this extreme step to protest planned cuts in the budgets of already strapped local governments in socio-economically disadvantaged towns. In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the union warned that a planned 230 million-shekel ($60 million) cut in the budget of the Interior Ministry, which funds local governments, would result in the collapse of some of these weak municipalities in Israels social and geographic periphery and directly affect the services they provide to local residents. The cut stems from a Dec. 18 government decision to slash 1.25%, or 1.2 billion shekels ($313 million), across the board from its annual spending over the next two years, including on health, welfare and education services.

It gets better. Israels National Insurance Institute informed the people of Israel that their state had retained its top spot on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments poverty and inequality scale. The body's annual report indicates that the poverty rate among Israeli families increased from 18.8% in 2014 to 19.1% last year. One of every five families in Israel lives below the poverty line of 3,158 (shekels $825) a month per capita. The poverty rate is particularly high among the elderly. This situation, compounded by skyrocketing housing prices, also hurts the middle class.

But wait, there's more. In accordance with a policy that proves that crime pays, the public coffers, meaning the inhabitants of Israel, will lose another 130 million shekels ($34 million). Thats the price tag of getting a few dozen criminals living in the unauthorized West Bank outpost of Amona, on stolen Palestinian lands, to obey a court order to vacate their trailer homes and move to an adjacent hilltop also not under the sovereignty of their state. In northern Tel Aviv, across from the railroad station on Arlozorov Street, dozens of law-abiding citizens live in frayed, rain-drenched tents (forced out of apartments they could no longer afford). No one offers these homeless Israelis an iota of the aid that the government is pouring into the legal settlements  as the government calls them, in defiance of international law  in the occupied West Bank and the outposts there. The price of the deal with the settlers of Amona also includes the cost of demolishing dozens, perhaps hundreds of houses built without permits by Arab-Israelis in their communities within Israels sovereign borders. According to recent reports, thats what Netanyahu promised the Jewish lawbreakers from the settlement movement in a compromise outline for the evacuation.

In the post-shame era, the government doesnt even bother concealing the source of the millions that it will hand over to the Amona squatters. The Finance Ministry proposal presented to the Cabinet said the budget cuts are needed, among other things, to fund the Amona deal. One might say that 130 million out of the 230 million shekels being cut from the budgets of 190 disadvantaged local councils are destined for distribution to 40 squatter families. Truly distributive justice.

If things are so bad, how has Netanyahu held on to power for so long? The answer lies in the words that the prime minister kept repeating on the eve of the last elections in 2015: When we talk about the price of housing, about the cost of living, I dont forget life itself for a single moment. It was his response to the sharp criticism leveled at him by the state comptroller over his governments failure to resolve the housing crisis that troubles the sleep of hundreds of thousands of Israeli families.

Netanyahu excused his failure by saying that he was forced to devote all his time and energy to save the citizens of Israel from a cruel enemy who seeks to annihilate them. The greatest challenge in our lives is currently Irans bid to acquire nuclear weapons, Netanyahu explained. As we know, his success in thwarting the nuclear agreement with Iran is comparable to his success in resolving the housing shortage, reducing the cost of living and forcibly suppressing the Palestinian struggle for freedom. But Netanyahu will always have the left, which he accuses of colluding with Israels ill-wishers. Now, his greatest challenge is to protect the lives of Israelis from the leftists.

But whats to be done if the threat of the Israeli left isn't so menacing? One exaggerates it, of course. If needed, we can even depict centrist Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid as a leftist. Yes, the same Lapid who disparaged his fellow Arab Knesset members and called them names, and then went on to condemn the Israeli human rights groups Breaking the Silence and BTselem.

It turns out that the public, especially those who haven't the money to buy an apartment, is willing to buy this cheap propaganda. The latest Democracy Index, published Dec. 19 by the Israel Democracy Institute, indicates that 71% of Israeli Jews believe human rights organizations are harmful to the state  a 15% increase over last years finding. More than half the Jewish public (52.5%) thinks the right to vote should be revoked from those refusing to declare that Israel is the national state of the Jewish people.

As we all know, only disgruntled leftists think Israel is also the state of its 1.7 million Arab citizens. In the same poll, most Israelis (78% of Jews and 60.5% of Arabs) expressed contentment with their lot in life. Netanyahu can keep laughing at them all the way to the ballot box.
December 22, 2016

The Barack Obama administration is allowing US experts to train their Iranian counterparts in a final effort to build bonds between the two countries before Donald Trump takes over as president.

The Treasury Department unveiled new regulations Dec. 22 that make it easier for the drug, medical device and agricultural sectors to more easily sell their products on the 80-million-strong Iranian market. In a first, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is also allowing relevant companies to send Americans to Iran to help with their operation and maintenance.

In response to feedback from the regulated public regarding improving patient safety, the regulation states, OFAC is  expanding existing general licenses to authorize the provision of training for the safe and effective use or operation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices.

With that move, says Tyler Cullis of the pro-engagement National Iranian American Council, the Obama administration is breaking a taboo.

Its a pretty big deal moving forward, Cullis told Al-Monitor.

The administration had previously given a green light to US companies that make civilian aircraft and parts to also provide Iran with associated services when it implemented the nuclear deal in January. But that language was included in a hypothetical statement of licensing policy rather than an actual license. Contact between US persons and Iranians for purposes such as academic cooperation has also been allowed previously.

The Treasury Department finally authorized Boeing and Airbus to go ahead with aircraft sales in September. Those licenses are presumed to cover services such as pilot training, maintenance and repairs, but they have not been made public.

The Dec. 22 regulations, in contrast, spell out US exporters new rights in black and white for all to see. In addition to the training component, it expands the scope of medical devices that can be exported to Iran as well as approving more agricultural commodities, such as shrimp and shrimp eggs.

It allows Iran to reach the full benefit of the medical devices that OFAC, up until this point, has allowed to be exported there, said Erich Ferrari, a sanctions lawyer who represents medical device makers interests before OFAC. A lot of these devices are more complicated, and theres just a dearth of non-US personnel available to provide that type of training.

He predicted that the Trump administration would have little incentive to overturn the Dec. 22 regulations.

Its all in furtherance of humanitarian trade, he said. And theres congressional will for this type of trade to be unimpeded.
December 22, 2016

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Several developments over the past few months can explain the lukewarm bilateral relations between Palestine and Egypt. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to defer to pressure from the Arab Quartet (Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia) to achieve an internal reconciliation in Fatah that would have allowed for the return of those dismissed from the movement, most notably Mohammed Dahlan.

Abbas announced on several occasions his rejection of any interference in Palestinian affairs. In a speech at Fatah's seventh congress on Nov. 30, Abbas said, We confirm our categorical rejection of any interference in our internal affairs and preserve our national and independent decision, thus reaffirming statements he had made in September that "no one can dictate positions or decisions to us.

We make and implement our own decisions, and no one can exercise any power over us, he added.

Abbas' statements were reportedly aimed at Egypt, given the latters close relationship with Dahlan. This prompted the Egyptian Youm7 newspaper to fiercely attack Abbas in September and even accuse him of political dementia and dancing on the bodies of Palestinians.

In light of the dispute between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Egypt, Cairo seemed more open to Hamas and the Dahlan bloc, allowing Dahlans supporters to hold meetings on Egyptian territory. This support can also be seen in Egypt's more frequent openings of the Rafah land crossing with Gaza, most recently on Dec. 17 for three days, a week after it was opened Dec. 10. Add to this Cairos declaration of humanitarian support to the Gaza Strip.

This may have prompted Fatah to swiftly call on Hamas to attend its general congress in Ramallah to show its desire to achieve reconciliation with the movement. Also, after he returned from an October visit to Turkey, Abbas met with the head of Hamas political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, and his deputy, Ismail Haniyeh, in Qatar. They discussed internal Palestinian affairs, the need to resume the Qatar-hosted dialogue between Fatah and Hamas, and the need to achieve national reconciliation. Abbas thanked Qatar and Turkey in his speech at the November Fatah congress, raising the question as to whether Abbas has decided to turn his back on Egypt and reach out to Qatar and Turkey.

Mahmoud al-Habash, the adviser to Abbas, visited Cairo Nov. 8 and announced that the misunderstandings between Palestine and Egypt do not affect the strategies that bind the two countries. He told Al-Monitor that the PA's "relations with Egypt are fine, and there are no problems or disputes between the two countries. Diverging views are solved in a friendly way, and there is nothing to disturb the bilateral relations.

Habash added, There were different points of view between the two countries, but everything is now solved."

Despite Habashs diplomatic response, a Palestinian source from Fatah told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the relationship between Egypt and Palestine is lukewarm as a result of the PA rejecting the pressures exerted by Egypt. The source added that the PA does not want this dispute to turn into a rift with Egypt due to Egypts stature in the region and its pivotal role in several Palestinian issues.

Since Egypt is sponsoring the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, it has cards it can play to place pressure on the PA. Egypt could strengthen Dahlans position or even open a new page with Hamas, Fatahs political opponent, by opening the Rafah crossing and establishing a free-trade zone with the Gaza Strip. The PA is well aware of Egypt's strong cards, which is why it does not want relations with Egypt to sour.

Ahmed al-Majdalani, a member of the PLO Executive Committee who is close to Abbas, told Al-Monitor, We have gotten over the issue of the Arab pressure.

Majdalani said, Our relationship with Arab countries is based on coordination and cooperation, and we reject some Arab parties erroneous understanding of this cooperation and meddling in internal Palestinian affairs.

He added, Politically speaking, the relationship with Egypt is good. There is coordination and consultation between the two leaderships, and Egypt cannot risk to lose Palestine and its cause for one person [Dahlan]. This is out of the question.

This is not a matter of dispute with any Arab country, he said.

Asaad Abdul Rahman, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, ruled out the possibility of the PA turning its back on Egypt and reaching out to Qatar and Turkey.

He told Al-Monitor, When a certain country places pressure, it does not mean that we should reach out to another one in an opposite axis, because this could make things worse.

Abdul Rahman said the PA usually deals with pressures by explaining the Palestinian position rather than engaging in a game of Arab and regional axes, because Palestine must be at the same distance from all the Arab countries.

Ahmad Jamil Azem, a professor of political science at Birzeit University, told Al-Monitor, President Abbas cannot afford a tense relationship with Egypt and a special relationship with Qatar and Turkey. The president will not enter into an adventure of this kind.

Azem added, I don't think that Egypt would allow the relationship with the PA to degenerate, especially considering that the impression that Dahlan gave to Egypt and the Arab states, whereby he is of considerable stature in the Palestinian street, has faded during Fatahs seventh congress, which was successfully completed without the Dahlan issue being tackled. The matter was deemed over.

Finally, the PAs blocked horizons in the reconciliation process and its internal divisions make it in dire need of support from Arab countries, especially Egypt, given its stature for Palestine and its sponsorship of several Palestinian issues. Abbas is incapable of turning his back on Egypt despite all the Egyptian pressure he is facing.
December 22, 2016

BAGHDAD  During his visit to the Vatican on Dec. 3, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari invited Pope Francis to visit Iraq, noting that the best time to visit would be once the Islamic State (IS) is defeated and displaced Christians are returning to their homes.

Other Iraqi officials have brought up such a visit in the past, such as the undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Environment, Jassim al-Falahi, who told the media in June that Iraq was preparing for a planned visit by the pope.

In December 2014, Francis said that he wanted to visit Iraq, but that this was not possible at that time in light of the security situation.

Also in 2014, when Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani visited Francis, he noted that the pope had agreed to visit the KRG, given the large number of displaced Christians it hosts.

Ahmad Jamal, a spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, told Al-Monitor over the phone, Pope Francis is invited to visit Iraq, and we reiterate this invitation at every opportunity we get when meeting Vatican officials. The pope has not once rejected our invitation, and he will visit us at the earliest appropriate opportunity.

He added, The popes visit would reflect the Vaticans support in urging the international community to help Iraq eliminate the terrorism that killed many and forced others into displacement, especially the Christians of Mosul, which had been occupied by IS since June 2014. Iraq hopes the Vatican will set a date for the visit as soon as possible, and the Iraqi Foreign Ministry will continue its efforts to make this visit happen.

A spokesman for the prime ministers office, Saad al-Hadithi, told Al-Monitor, The government is looking forward to the pope's visiting Iraq soon because it would deepen the relationship between Iraq and the Vatican on the one hand, and would be a great support for Iraqs war against IS on the other.

This visit has yet to be set, despite many invitations by several officials over the years, including Chaldean Patriarch Mar Louis Raphael I Sako, who said in November 2011, We really wish our beloved Pope Francis would visit Iraq.

The situation in Iraq and the Middle East has captured the attention of religious authorities at the Vatican; this is particularly the case as a result of the acts of violence that have affected the Christians since 2003 in Iraq.

The Vatican expressed opposition to the first Gulf War that followed the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Pope Saint John Paul II wrote a letter to then-President Saddam Hussein in 1991, urging him to take courageous steps to withdraw from Kuwait.

The Vaticans interest in Iraq mainly focused on the historic city of Ur in the southern Dhi Qar province, where Prophet Abraham was born, according to the Bible.

In February 2011, news surfaced about a potential visit to Ur by Pope Benedict XVI, and the Ministry of Tourism approached parliament to ensure the success of preparations for this visit.

In November 2013, Iraq and the Vatican agreed on the need to build advanced relations of mutual respect in order to confront the common challenges posed by extremism and terrorism.

Although the pope has not yet visited Iraq, a delegation from the Vatican held Mass on Dec.14, 2013, in the city of Ur, headed by Monsignor Andreatta, the head of the Vatican pilgrimage organization, during which he called on people to perform a pilgrimage to the ancient city of Ur.

On Nov. 23, Francis prayed for the Iraqi people suffering under war and expressed his hope that peace would prevail. I voice my solidarity with the people and Iraq and the residents of Mosul in particular, he said. IS invaded Mosul in June 2014 and has controlled it ever since, resulting in the displacement of its residents, particularly Christians.

On Nov. 17, Francis brought up the Christian martyrs in Iraq and Syria who have remained faithful and sacrificed their lives for their religion.

The relationship between Iraq and the Vatican is heading toward further cooperation. The new papal ambassador in Iraq, Alberto Ortega Martin, met with Iraqi President Fuad Masum on Nov. 19, 2015, and called for reopening Christian schools in Iraq.

Meanwhile, a member of Dhi Qars provincial council, Dakhel Radi, told Al-Monitor, If Pope Francis visits the city of Ur, it will most definitely turn into an international tourist attraction, especially after IS imminent defeat and its elimination from Iraq.

Journalist Walid al-Tai told Al-Monitor, The people of Dhi Qar hope the pope's visit can finally happen because it would give the impression that Iraq is a safe country, and thus Christians from all over the world could visit the city of Ur, without having any security concerns, in light of the prevailing terrorism in several [other] countries in the Middle East.
December 22, 2016

The assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov deeply shocked the public and the ruling circles in Moscow. President Vladimir Putin canceled his long-planned annual press conference to bid farewell to the diplomat. Given the recent worsening of Turkish-Russian relations after Turkey downed a Russian jet in November 2015, whoever was behind the murder clearly expected a sharp reaction from Moscow. However, a timely and proper reaction from the Turkish establishment, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in particular, dashed those hopes. Erdogan immediately addressed the nation and called Putin to express his condolences and condemnation of the assassin. That immediate reaction, according to the sources close to the Kremlin, has become an important marker to keep the emotions down. Otherwise  undoubtedly  the incident would have become one more indelible stain on Moscow-Ankara relations.

The results of the investigation into the assassination, which is being carried out by a joint Russian-Turkish commission, are critical. The obvious flaw for all parties involved was the weak protection of the ambassador. The Russian press has reported that the Turkish side opposed increased protection due to the involvement of a Russian special group associated with the security agencies. The weak protection is even more surprising when taking into account that terror attacks have been ripping through major cities across Turkey, with two more deadly blasts rocking Istanbul a couple of weeks ago. Contrary to authorities assurances that the situation has been stabilized, Turkey is apparently still suffering from a vulnerability to the growing terrorist threat.

The murder of the ambassador revitalized the debate within Russia about the possibility of cooperation with Turkey in combating terrorism. While the main line remains an attempt to find common ground, governing bodies believe that the murder of the ambassador was intentionally planned for that day, as it preceded the meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran in Moscow. The terrorist attack, however, failed to derail these talks. Not only did the negotiations take place, but all three parties stressed their determination to fight terrorism together, emphasizing that the future of Syria in many respects depends on their joint actions.

There is an understanding in Moscow that Turkey has been actively engaged in combating terrorism, both domestically and internationally, but is unable to eradicate it for a number of reasons.

The first reason has something to do with Ankaras ever more independent foreign policy, a departure from the traditional, exclusively pro-Western orientation, which typified Turkeys foreign policy throughout the second half of the 20th century. In turn, the United States and Europe started withdrawing their support and instead naturally shifted to opposing the ruling regime. Undoubtedly, it has compromised national security.

The second reason was Turkeys repeated demonstration of its desire to join the ranks of world powers rather than stay a regional one. It was apparent in Erdogans statement about the UN Security Council: The world is bigger than five. It is also visible in Ankaras pro-active stance in handling global and regional problems in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The problem is that this activity requires substantial resources  which Turkey currently lacks  and entails serious foreign policy risks. The price for this game is getting heavier, and Ankara does not seem fit to pay it, even though it keeps signaling its readiness.

Moreover, the fight on many fronts has brought about an increase in the number of the countrys opponents, which leads to heightened activity within the country. Operation Euphrates Shield and other Syria- and Iraq-related steps may foreshadow stiff resistance to Ankaras policies. What is more, Turkey is simultaneously facing the hostility of terrorist groups, neighboring states and non-state actors.

Kurds, among other groups, oppose the ruling regime. Even though the leaders of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party are on trial and the president enjoys much public support and confidence after the failed military coup, one should not turn a blind eye to the mobilization of Kurdish identity, first and foremost in Syria and Iraq, which could prove to be contagious and infect the Turkish Kurds. Against the background of the two countries rapprochement, Moscow will not welcome this possible new urge for Kurdish self-identification. Besides, Moscow approves of the recent reconciliatory steps toward harmonizing Russias and Turkeys approach to combating terrorism as Russia seeks to stop the bloodshed in Syria and secure its own borders.

However, a bid to reach a compromise is not bound to be successful. At this stage, the long history of confrontation  rather than cooperation  makes the Russian expert community skeptical about the prospects of the successful resolution of complex geopolitical disagreements with Turkey. However, there are some grounds for optimism as closer economic ties could pave the way for a resolution to geopolitical problems.

In general, economic rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara is taking place. However, this does not mean that the existing restrictions imposed by the two countries will be lifted amid spreading instability. Contrary to Turkeys wishes, Russia has not rushed to restore visa-free travel, as it is wary of radicals flowing into and out of the country across the Turkish border. Turkey, by contrast, still offers Russia visa-free access, which, on the one hand promotes tourism, but on the other hand causes concern when it comes to thinking about the recent past when Turkey served as a holiday resort for Chechen militants. Moreover, vivid memories remain of the Russian student of Moscow State University who tried to cross Turkey to join the ranks of the Islamic State.

Generally, certain representatives of Russia's and Americas establishment share obvious concern over Ankara dividing terrorists into homegrown and alien. Turkeys greater independence must bring about more responsible and prudent policies. However, given Turkey's tough rhetoric and measures, the governments position falls a long way short of it.

Turkey is skillfully exploiting the situation. Moreover, the competing interests of the West and East compel Turkey to derive as many benefits as possible from its current position. Ankaras greater assertiveness in dealing with Brussels is a function of a more intensive cooperation with Moscow, whereas todays economic and political situation allows considerable scope for bargaining over gas prices between Turkey and Russia. Quite simply, in its interaction with Russia, Turkey refers to Western-related risks, while the countrys dialogue with the West emphasizes risks posed by Russia.

In reality, regional developments and the unbalanced foreign policies of Turkey as it seeks to redefine its place in the world incur major risks. This redefinition causes concern in many capitals, including Moscow. The world powers are not interested in greater uncertainty in the key regional camp Turkey is part of.

Ankara has a chance to make its policies more sensible and balanced, but as Turkeys authorities increasingly face terror and Russias particular stances, Turkish officials find themselves in the fell clutch of circumstance. Notwithstanding their different perception of events in Syria and Iraq, Russia and Turkey are all eager to combat terrorism. Stability in the Middle East, which has suffered too much over the recent years, will depend on their bargaining. In fact, Turkey and Russia hold the key to a more normalized world, as much depends on their consensus over joint anti-terror campaigns. Perhaps the tragic death of the Russian ambassador will push Moscow and Ankara from a theoretical understanding of this necessity to a practical cooperation.
December 21, 2016

I want to tell you that weve been concerned with controlling the media from the very first day the army took over power in 2011, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is heard saying in an October 2013 leaked video.

Tell me how do you suggest I terrorize them? Sisi asked one of his officers. Three and a half years into power after the toppling of President Mohammed Morsi and taking charge of the country, Sisis Egypt is witnessing the harshest crackdown in the 200-year history of Egyptian media. Repression, destruction of equipment, imprisonment and even death surround the profession.

Last week, the parliament passed a law on the Institutional Regulation of the Press and the Media, which indicates creating three regulatory bodies to oversee all of Egypts media outlets. Sisi himself is to select the heads of these boards, according to Article 32.

One body is to supervise state-owned press organizations and select their board chairmen and editors, another would oversee state-owned audio-visual media, radio and digital media institutions, and last and most crucial, the Higher Council for Media Regulation will regulate all media outlets, audio-visual, digital or print  whether public or private  in coordination with the other two bodies.

The law ignores Article 72 of the Egyptian Constitution that indicates the State shall ensure the independence of all state-owned press institutions and media outlets, in a manner ensuring their neutrality and presentation of all political and intellectual opinions, Yehia Kallash, the head of the Egyptian press syndicate, told Al-Monitor.

The law also neglects an initiative to abolish freedom-stripping punishments over publishing cases, which raises concerns around the affiliations of those who put the law together, Kallash added.

Kallash had asked for a draft of the law and to give the syndicate time to review it, but the request was ignored.

There was willfulness from parliament to dismiss the conversation with the syndicate. Paradoxically, I spent three years working on this law, most of the time alongside the government. At its last stop, it goes out in this deformed version, said Kallash.

Khaled el-Balshy, the head of the syndicates Freedoms Committee, criticized the law further. The new law is a consecration to the current [pro-state] media dominance.  It opens the door for further corruption, he said. Membership of the boards has no regulations or legal restrictions, and articles prohibiting the monopolization of the media have become ambiguous, he believes.

This serves both the state and businessmen who work closely with it. One example would be Sisi supporting businessman Abu Hashima, who bought three mass-viewed TV channels: ONTV, CBC and Al Nahar. Such private media is already tainted with state mouthpieces  some with a security background.

Mai Shams El-Din, a journalist at independent news website Mada Masr, joined the condemning choir.

[The law] shows an intention by the government to further suppress press freedoms, given the wide powers delegated to the government in the formulation of the councils that organize media affairs. Also, it seems that these councils will also have more controlling and regulatory powers than organizational powers, especially with the clause monitoring the legality of the sources of funding for media outlets, she said.

The newly passed law joins an anti-terror one, which Sisi ratified in August 2015. The latter bans media from reporting on nonofficial statistics, or false reporting, on militant attacks or security operations against militants. Those who stray from government statements are subjected to a fine of up to 500,000 Egyptian pounds ($26,000), and courts could prevent the convicted from practicing the profession for up to a year.

There is a difference between organizing media and fettering it, syndicate head Kallash stressed.

Yet journalists are literally fettered. There are currently 63 journalists and members of the media behind bars in Egypts prisons; 58 of them were arrested following the ouster of Morsi. Many of those locked up have exceeded the legal two-year period of pre-trial detention. Since the ouster in July 2013, nine journalists were killed during the course of their work, according to the international watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists, which placed Egypt as the third country in the world with the highest number of jailed journalists in 2016. Journalists have not escaped the reach of military trials as well.

The situation is unprecedented, which follows other unprecedented incidents, Balshy declared.

For the first time in its 75 years, the syndicate was stormed by security. Also for the first time, its head faced prosecution.

On May 1, 50 armed men attacked the syndicate, recalled Amr Badr, editor-in-chief of news website Yanair Gate. The website decried the giveaway of two Red Sea Islands to Saudi Arabia, which the High Constitutional Court later ruled against. Viewership had hiked up, its reach and effect bothering authorities, Badr believes. He and journalist Mahmoud al-Saqa were arrested from inside the premises.

The initial accusation was inciting protests through publishing, over which Badr said, We are journalists; publishing is what we do, pointing to how insensible the charge was. And how could we incite people to do something legal? Protesting is constitutional, he added, saying that the accusation befits tyrannical states.

Our authorities regard freedoms as a luxury, Badr told Al-Monitor.

Meanwhile, Kallash, along with Balshy and another deputy, received two years in prison for harboring Badr and Saqa at the syndicate.

Shams El-Din expressed her anxiety about the future of free and independent press, especially online, which she believes is in extreme danger. Online media and the internet is the last free and democratic space in this country; controlling it means controlling our last resort.

Not only has Egypt blocked access to websites such as the New Arab and condemned others like Middle East Eye, but it formed what are known as digital committees. Digital security consultant Wael Eskandar explained how these online armies function.

[People] are paid money; they create fake accounts and fill the internet with a certain message. They are effective at filling cyberspace with whatever message, or propaganda, so that someone who doesn't know much about the topic will find difficulty finding out what's true and what's false. Having a unified message echoing across cyberspace gives the illusion of wide consensus, he said.

The internet is surveilled for dissent. In 2014, the Ministry of Interior developed a system for monitoring security threats on social media and public opinion. Numerous arrests have occurred over opposition posts, the most recent being 24-year-old Sayed Gad. He is accused of the misuse of social media.

The Egyptian press has always dealt with dictatorships restricting its freedom. But the level of repression is currently at its worst ever, Balshy maintained.

However, the future of press freedom is not hostage to current procedures, Balshy claimed.

Former President Gamal Abdel Nasser had attempted nationalizing the syndicate, his successor Anwar Sadat wanted to convert it to a club, and Hosni Mubarak and Morsi strived to control it, all in vain, he narrated.

The press shall always win the battle for freedom, Balshy concluded.
December 22, 2016

When former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Turkey in 2008, he was warmly welcomed by Turkeys Islamists, who were angry at the United States over the occupation of Iraq and at Israel over the suffering in the Gaza Strip. Ahmadinejad was embraced as a defiant hero against both.

Today, eight years later, the mood in Turkey is quite different. If the current Iranian president visited the Blue Mosque, he would probably see a wave of protests instead of welcoming crowds. The Islamist media is not full of praises for Iran as an anti-imperialist hero; rather, it strongly criticizes its eastern neighbor as an imperialist power. At the extreme, the distaste with Iran even extends to its dominant sect of Islam, Shiism, in websites or social media accounts that define Shiites as heretics who stab the real Muslims  Sunnis  in the back.

This dramatic change did not happen because Turkeys Sunni Islamists suddenly became sectarian after a theological soul-searching. It happened because of a major political drama they witnessed: the Syrian civil war. From the beginning of the war in spring 2011, both the Turkish government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan (then prime minister, and now president) and the Islamists in its base focused on the brutality of the Syrian regime over its people  especially the Sunni opposition. When Iran and proxies such as Hezbollah emerged as the biggest protectors of this regime, the anger at Bashar al-Assad and his Shabiha turned into anger against Iran and the broader Shiite-Alevi axis in the region.

Lately, Iraq added more to this picture. Turkeys mainstream Islamists have never supported the Islamic State (IS), and rather saw it as an extremist force that puts shame on Islam. Yet at times they understood it as a Sunni reaction to the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad. The latters Shiite militia, especially the Popular Mobilization Units, became notorious in the Turkish Islamist media as a force as brutal as IS and a major threat to the Sunnis of Iraq.

In other words, while the Turkish Islamists Middle Eastern vision did not begin with a sectarian outlook  a nice motto Erdogan has reiterated goes, I am neither Sunni nor Shiite, just Muslim  the existing sectarian conflict has began to influence them.

This sectarian perception comes out in two forms. One is the milder one, which blames Iran not for Shiism but for Persian imperialism. Can Acun, a Middle East expert at the pro-government think tank SETA, makes this argument when he states in a pro-government daily, Iran represents a neo-Persian ambition wearing a Shiite mask. Accordingly, the Shiite identity is merely a tool that Iran as a nation-state is using to advance its imperialist goals.

Another Islamist voice in the pro-government media, columnist Yusuf Kaplan, takes a similar line in a piece titled Iran must be stopped, but not by falling into Iranian sectarianism. According to this argument, it is none other than Iran that is fueling sectarianism among Muslims, and Turkey must undo this scheme  but mainly by protecting the Sunni spine of Islam. Kaplan adds the conspiracy theory that  despite all its anti-Western rhetoric  Iran is in fact in a covert collaboration with the West, acting as the latter's Trojan horse among Muslims.

The harder anti-Iranian line, which clearly takes an anti-Shiite form, is found less in the pro-government media but more in more marginal websites and social media accounts. One of those sites is www.irangercegi.com (or irantruth.com), which presents this grim quote: The Shiites are more dangerous than the People of the Book [Jews and Christians]. The site presents articles and graphics that unabashedly demonize the Shiites as rafida, a derogatory term that implies heresy. On social media, such bilge gets mixed with the enmity against the Alevi minority in Turkey, which harbors some pro-Assad views that also agitates Turkeys Sunnis.

By looking at all this, it would be a gross exaggeration to think that Turkey is on the brink of a sectarian conflict. Yet still, the sectarian narrative is disturbing, and the sensible Islamic opinion leaders in Turkey must take a clearer stance against it.

One point they should see is that Shiite sectarianism, about which they rightfully complain, is not taking place in a vacuum. Since the Iraq War of 2003, a radical Salafi movement emerged in the Middle East with a fiercely anti-Shiite line. Shiite mosques and shrines were bombed by al-Qaeda in Iraq, the precursor of IS. This led to a sense of besiegement by Shiites, which led to radicalization among them. To break this vicious cycle, one should equally oppose Shiite and Sunni sectarians, who demonize each other within a similar mindset: ancient religious bigotry, seeing only the suffering on their side, and identical conspiracy theories that depict the other side as agents of America or Zionism.

The other point is that while criticism about Irans imperialist ambitions is not misplaced, it is not taking place in a vacuum either. When the world is seen from the eyes of Tehran, Saudi Arabia might look quite imperialist as well, with its military involvements in Bahrain and Yemen, all at the expense of Shiites. Turkeys military presence in Syria and Iraq can also be perceived as such, especially when combined with the romantic rhetoric about our historical rights over Mosul.

In other words, sectarianism is a fitna (sedition) created not only by a single treacherous party, but rather by all parties involved. So it can be overcome only by moderate voices within all parties who will take a stance against fanatics within their camps. Turkeys more sensible Islamists have the potential for that; they should not let it go by going with the tide.
December 22, 2016

The assassination of Russias Ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov by an off-duty Turkish police official at an art event Dec. 19 has made Turkey extremely vulnerable. It didnt take long for the ramifications of the assassination to affect foreign politics.

During a Syrian meeting held in Moscow between Russia, Turkey and Iran a day after the assassination, a trilateral solution proposed by Russia was approved. The murder has weakened Turkeys standing to the extent that it cant express any reservations. From now on it seems we will distinguish relations with Russia as pre-Karlov and post-Karlov.

For well-known and much-discussed reasons, Turkeys Syria policy over the past year has been one of upheavals and turbulence. To restore relations with Moscow after shooting down a Russian jet on Nov. 25, 2015, Turkey was compelled to end its support of the opposition forces in Aleppo and mediate in their evacuation. Now just as Turkey was figuring out how to benefit from the availability of opposition fighters, Karlov was assassinated. Turkey had already lost one arm to Russia after shooting down its plane; now it lost its other arm.

According to a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after the Dec. 20 Moscow meeting, two key points were agreed on:

Turkey, Iran and Russia have become the guarantors of a comprehensive cease-fire and political solution process between the opposition groups and the Damascus regime.

The three countries have agreed that the priority is not to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power, but to combat terror.

Under normal circumstances, guaranteeing a cease-fire means halting logistic support and weapons transfer to Syria via Hatay and Kilis in Turkey. Turkey feels that if it halts its support to the opposition forces, then the groups on the side of the regime should also be denied support. In their joint press briefing in Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the three countries have promised to fight the Islamic State (IS), Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jahbat al-Nusra) and affiliated groups that have no benefit for Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in the same briefing said the cease-fire envisaged for Syria does not cover IS and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, and foreign assistance to groups that are covered by the cease-fire, including Hezbollah, should cease.

Another point to note is the perceptible shift in the negotiation process for Syria. Although the Moscow troika said they were not promoting an alternative to the Geneva process, a new solution concept that sidelines the West-Gulf axis is in the making.

President Vladimir Putin had said earlier they were in the process of organizing new peace talks that would exclude the United States and the United Nations and that such talks could be held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. All efforts by the United States and its allies to coordinate their actions have failed. None of their moves have really affected the situation on the ground, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

The role envisaged for Turkey in this new concept is to prepare the opposition groups for the change. Russias strategy when intervening in the Syrian crisis was first to cripple the armed groups, then to identify among them those who were willing to discuss a political solution and finally declare all the rest as terrorists and crush them. Russia has been working on Turkey to adopt this course of action, but Ankara has not been having an easy time acquiescing. While including Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and affiliated groups in their list of terror groups, Iran and Russia have also expanded it to cover other groups supported by Turkey. How much longer can Turkey be the guardian of groups such as Ahrar al-Sham that are linked to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham? Will Turkey be asked to abandon them? After the assassination, can Turkey resist Russian political pressures?

Turkeys only hope is for Russia not to treat the ambassadors murder as an act of sabotage against the relations of the two countries but as a murder by an off-duty police official who has adopted the slogans of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.

Is there a new axis being shaped?

If the Iran, Russia and Turkey partnership succeeds, certainly it could open the way to a new axis that will reshape Middle East politics. But it will be a folly to ignore the reactions to the Moscow declaration. Not everyone is delighted with it. There are many issues that will test the feasibility of this declaration, such as:

What is going to happen to Idlib where Jabhat Fatah al-Sham has set up its own emirate, now beefed up by fighters coming from Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Damascus? Is Idlib the next target after Aleppo? If so, where do the refugees go? Will Turkey accept members of armed groups and their families?

If Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and its allies are to be targeted, what will be the policy against groups protected and helped by Turkey? Will they also become targets?

What will be the attitude of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who have been supporting armed groups in Syria?

What will happen if logistics channels from Jordan are activated after Turkey closes down its supply lines?

What will be Washingtons reaction to the alternative axis?

Will Turkey continue with Operation Euphrates Shield, which is becoming more costly for Turkey with mounting casualties in the army?

What will happen to Turkeys condition of terminating autonomy moves by the Kurds in Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan)? Will Turkey insist on transforming Operation Euphrates Shield into a wider war against the Kurds? Will Russia tolerate Turkish operations against Kurdish People's Protection Units forces in Rojava?

Turkey was thinking of recruiting the fighters evacuated from Aleppo as soldiers for Euphrates Shield. Russia was against it. What will happen now?

Turkeys shift to the Iran-Russia axis on Syria will surely affect the field. After all, about 70% of the logistics, arms and personnel needs of the Syrian front were being met from Turkey.
December 22, 2016

SANAA, Yemen  Yemen's children are paying the price of the civil war that began there in September 2014. They are dying daily from preventable conditions like diarrhea. In times of war, children lose their schools, houses and healthy food, and suffer from diseases caused by malnutrition and for which they are unvaccinated.

On Dec. 3, UNICEF revealed the emergence of measles cases among Yemeni children. The disease, which had disappeared years ago in Yemen, had resurfaced. UNICEF's spokesman in Yemen Ahmad al-Asaadi told Al-Monitor, "Children have been diagnosed with measles in Saada, al-Mahra, Umran and Hadramout governorates. He added, There are 37 confirmed diagnoses of measles and 268 suspected cases, in addition to three deaths in Saada, al-Mahra and Hadramout as a result of the condition.

Ashwaq al-Ashaari, the director of the vaccine department at Moeen Medical Center in Sanaa, told Al-Monitor that the measles vaccine is available. Asked whether the center had seen measles cases, she said, In November 2015, we treated two infected children and they were referred to the Epidemiological Surveillance Center in Sanaa, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Health. This was not due to the lack of vaccines, but rather to the familys negligence.

But there are even worse dangers than measles. A Dec. 13 UNICEF statement noted that one Yemeni child dies every 10 minutes due to malnutrition and preventable diseases like diarrhea. It read, Malnutrition among Yemeni children is at its highest level ever and unequaled in the world. Epidemics like cholera and measles are spreading. "The lack of operational health facilities has allowed disease to spread among children.

Already classified by the World Bank as one of the poorest countries of the Arab region, Yemen's situation worsened after Houthi militants took control of Sanaa on Sept. 21, 2014. Famine and disease soon spread with the civil war.

Human rights activist Rayan al-Shaibani told Al-Monitor, The UNICEF figures are dangerous and we should not ignore them. The organization gets its information about the situation from field researchers who conduct interviews. Nevertheless, I think that there are more child victims because the organization cannot reach everyone in a highly reserved society that stigmatizes poverty.

She added, The future of children who have left school is also at risk. They do not receive sufficient food and vaccines to maintain their quality of life. Also, according to some information in the media, the Houthis are trying to amend school curricula for children to contain new sectarian information.

Yemen's health system has collapsed almost completely, and US attempts have failed to bring the fighting parties to the negotiation table. The ongoing conflict has killed thousands of people and created one of the worst humanitarian crises ever.

The children whose families have been killed in the war are at risk on multiple fronts. On Nov. 22, in Dhamar governorate, 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Sanaa, Al-Monitor spoke to Mohammad al-Samawi, a nine-year-old begging with his five-year-old brother near a restaurant. He said that his father had died while fighting alongside Houthis in an armed clash with supporters of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in early 2016 in the town of Bzommar, in Dhamar governorate.

He said that after his father died, Houthi militants brought us weapons and told us that he had been martyred. Then they left. Six months later, my mother who mourned my father daily, died. I am now begging in the streets during the day, and at night I go back home.

Neither Mohammad nor his brother go to school, and they are at high risk of enlistment into militias as well as sexual exploitation.

The Houthis, the pro-government forces and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are all known to be recruiting children. The conflicting forces are taking advantage of impoverished and vulnerable children across Yemen. In January, UNICEF pointed out that militants fighting in Yemen have recruited children who are barely 10 years old to join them on the battlefield.

In a June 2 statement, the United Nations declared that 762 cases of child military recruitment have been registered in Yemen. In 72% of those cases the recruiters were Houthis, 15% were recruited by Hadis forces and 9% were recruited by AQAP. With every passing day, the numbers are increasing.

Yemen is going through the most violent period of its modern history, and its childrens lives are threatened. The next generation will be a deeply wounded one, scarred not only by illnesses and other problems that have recently surfaced, but also the long-lasting psychological repercussions of the war.
"Moonlight," an affecting drama that features Bessemer's Andre Holland in a key supporting role, has won another end-of-the-year best picture award.

The Southeastern Film Critics Association has selected writer-director Barry Jenkins' film -- which follows a young black man from his childhood growing up in a rough Miami neighborhood through his teenage years and into adulthood -- as the best film of 2016.

The Southeastern critics also awarded "Moonlight" best adapted screenplay, best ensemble cast and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali. Jenkins shared best director with Damien Chazelle of "La La Land."

Previously, "Moonlight'' has been named the best picture of 2016 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and by film critics A.O. Scott and Stephen Holden of the New York Times and Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post.

"Moonlight" has also earned a Golden Globe nomination for best motion picture, and is a sure-bet for multiple Academy Award nominations.

Holland, who grew up in Bessemer and graduated from Birmingham's John Carroll Catholic High School, is featured in "Moonlight" as the adult version of Kevin, the childhood friend of the lead character, Chiron.

Recently seen in Season 6 of the FX horror anthology "American Horror Story," Holland previously appeared in the movies "42" and "Selma" and in the Cinemax drama "The Knick."

Here is the complete list of winners from the Southeastern Film Critics Association:

Top 10 Films: 1. ""Moonlight." 2. "Manchester by the Sea." 3. "La La Land." 4. "Hell or High Water." 5. "Loving." 6. "Arrival." 7. (tie) "Fences" and "Jackie." 9. "Nocturnal Animals." 10. "Hidden Figures."

Best Actor: Casey Affleck, "Manchester by the Sea." Runner-up: Denzel Washington, "Fences."

Best Actress: Natalie Portman, "Jackie." Runner-up: Ruth Negga, "Loving."

Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, "Moonlight." Runner-up: Jeff Bridges, "Hell or High Water."

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, "Fences." Runner-up: Naomi Harris, "Moonlight."

Best Ensemble: "Moonlight." Runner-up: "Manchester by the Sea."

Best Director: (Tie) Damien Chazelle, "La La Land," and Barry Jenkins, "Moonlight."

Best Original Screenplay: "Manchester by the Sea." Runner-up: "Hell or High Water."

Best Adapted Screenplay: "Moonlight." Runner-up: "Arrival."

Best Documentary: "I Am Not Your Negro." Runner-up: "O.J.: Made in America."

Best Foreign-Language Film: "The Handmaiden." Runner-up: "Elle."

Best Animated Film: "Zootopia." Runner-up: "Kubo and the Two Strings."

Best Cinematography: "La La Land." Runner-up: "Moonlight."

The Gene Wyatt Award (for the film that best embodies the spirit of the South): "Loving." Runner-up: "Moonlight."

The Southeastern Film Critics Association includes film critics from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Fifty-three critics from newspaper, radio and online outlets voted in this year's 25th annual awards.
By the time Mark Holman showed up at Blu's Karaoke Bar in Anniston this September, 2016 had already been rough.

But the year is ending on a higher note, as the once homeless Naval veteran is living in his own home, thanks to donations and some timely intervention.

"It shows you there's still some good people in America," Holman said. "It ain't all about stuff. There's people who want to know how they can help you out."

In January, the 55-year-old Naval veteran had a stroke. Then he could no longer afford the monthly payments on his Jacksonville home. He spent time at the Anniston Salvation Army shelter until his money ran out. Then he made him home in a wooded area in Saks.

The day of the Alabama-Ole Miss game, Holman came into the bar and ordered water, still carrying his backpack.

"He had been there about 20 or 30 minutes he got to talking," said Cynthia Mosley, co-owner of the bar. "He started telling us his story."

Cynthia and her husband Daniel managed to get the man a meal and blankets. Holman asked for a job washing windows and earned $50, which he used to buy a tent. On other days, Daniel took Holman out for food, to get to know him.

"He seemed a real genuine person," Daniel said. "I just got a feel for what he had been through.

"I grew up with nothing, and I was still very poor through my 20s. Then I joined the military and served in Afghanistan. And I know how it is - people don't always help you. They treat you like you're not a real person sometimes."

But Daniel knew a friend who was trying to get rid of an old house in Saks.

"I had heard about it a while back, and didn't think anything of it," Daniel said. "But then I got to thinking about stuff I had sitting in my yard."

He traded in a vehicle, two motorcycles, and $1,000 cash for the house in Saks.

But there was a problem - he couldn't find Holman. The man spent two weeks in the hospital and the Mosleys had no idea where he was. Cynthia went to gas stations and called shelters looking for him.

At last, Holman showed up one day. During his hospitalization, someone stole his tent and his belongings. So the Mosleys took him to his new home - one bedroom, one bath, with power, heat and water.

"It was unbelievable," Holman said. "I'd been sleeping outside since February, and out of the blue, they surprised me. I'm not used to that."

Now with an address, Holman can apply for food stamps and VA benefits.

"We just wanted to show how easy it is to help somebody," Daniel said. "He had this big grin on his face. I had to tell him to quit telling us 'thank you.'"

"It gives you a very peaceful feeling to be able to help somebody," Cynthia said. "To see the joy and elation in their face."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Holman, while the Mosleys are working to organize a New Year's Eve motorcycle ride to benefit him.
A Marshall County water system, at least for now, can stop fluoridating its water over concerns that the long-held practice isn't healthy, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled Friday.

The city of Arab's water system in August 2015 stopped fluoridating its water after reviewing studies that the practice was unhealthy. But a few months later the Arab City Council ordered the system to restart fluoridation.

A Marshall County judge sided with the city after hearing testimony from medical experts and issued a preliminary injunction in the case ordering the water system to re-start fluoridation. The water works appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court.

The water board argued that despite the city council's 1972 resolution to start fluoridation and its 2015 resolution telling the waterworks to continue fluoridation, the water system still has the authority to make operational decisions.

The Alabama Supreme Court sided with the water works board in its Friday opinion. The court reversed the circuit judge's order that had granted the city council an injunction requiring the water system to fluoridate the water.

"The board is correct. It is undisputed that the board has authority over the waterworks system," according to the Alabama Supreme Court opinion.

In its opinion reversing the injunction, the Alabama Supreme Court stated Arab did not have a reasonable chance of success on the ultimate merits of its case.

Many water systems began putting fluoride in their water about 70 years ago after studies showed it helped prevent tooth decay in children and adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Not all water systems added fluoride and some have stopped in recent years over health concerns. The CDC maintains a My Water's Fluoride website to let people learn about their community's drinking water fluoridation levels.

Birmingham's water works system fluoridates its water. To check if your system fluoridates its water go to the CDC's website: My Water's Flouride

On Sept. 19, 1972, the city of Arab adopted a resolution ordering its water works board to begin fluoridating the water.

"On Aug. 1, 2015, the (water) board, citing studies indicating negative health consequences resulting from fluoride, stopped fluoridating the water it supplies to the city," according to the Supreme Court opinion. The city disagreed and on Nov. 2, 2015, the council, citing studies indicating negative health consequences if the water wasn't fluoridated, passed a resolution ordering the water works board "to immediately restart the addition of fluoride into the water supply system of the municipality," according to the opinion.

On Nov. 10, 2015, the board wrote a letter to the city stating that it did not intend to comply. On Feb. 17 the city filed a lawsuit against the water board and asked the circuit court to enter an injunction requiring the water system to fluoridate the water it supplies to the city.

On March 17, 2016, the circuit court granted the City's request for a preliminary injunction after holding a hearing in which medical professionals, including the Director of the Alabama Department of Public Health testified.

The judge stated that "all medical professionals in attendance were qualified as experts in their fields and each offered the opinion that systemic fluoride is important for the public health, and that removal of fluoride from the water supply would cause immediate, irreversible, irreparable harm -- especially to children who need systemic fluoride as their teeth develop, elderly, and poor citizens served by the (water board)."

The judge stated that the only evidence before him was that the water board "fluoridated the water for 43 years without any complaint or claim of hardship. And while the [board] has presented no evidence of hardship, the city has shown through the testimony presented that immediate and irreparable harm will indeed occur if fluoride is not reintroduced into the city's water system."

The water board appealed the injunction and the Alabama Supreme Court reversed the circuit judge's decision.
A Louisiana woman was killed Thursday in a two-vehicle crash in Sumter County, Alabama troopers report.

Angela Michelle Primeaux, 36, of Baton Rouge, La., was seriously injured when the 2001 Jeep in which she was a passenger struck a 2013 Ford Escape before leaving the roadway and striking a tree, troopers stated. Primeaux and the Jeep's driver, Ronnie Dean Spence Jr., 33, of Orchard Hill Ga., were both transported to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa where Primeaux died a short time later.

The driver of the Ford was not injured. The crash occurred at 10:52 p.m. on Interstate 59 near the 26 mile marker, eight miles northeast of Livingston.

No other details were available. Alabama State Troopers are continuing to investigate.
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Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said he expects to talk to Gov. Robert Bentley about the Senate seat expected to be vacated by Sen. Jeff Sessions.

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Attorney General Luther Strange said today he expects to interview with Gov. Robert Bentley about the expected vacancy of the Senate seat held by Jeff Sessions.

Bentley would appoint a replacement if Sessions is confirmed as U.S. attorney general.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Sessions for the post. Confirmation hearings are scheduled for Jan. 10 and 11.

The Bentley appointee would fill the Senate seat until a special election, which the governor would schedule.

Strange has announced he will run for the seat in the special election.

He was asked today if he also expected to talk to the governor about the appointment.

The governor has interviewed 11 candidates for the seat, according to his press office.

More interviews are expected next week.

Strange said he and the governor talk on a regular basis because of their jobs.

"He knows I'm the only person that's actually running for the office. So I expect we'll talk before he makes his decision," Strange said.

Yasamie August, Bentley's communications director, would not say whether an interview is planned with Strange.

August said interviews are only being confirmed after they take place.

Strange was asked today if an investigation by his office related to the governor's office could make it problematic for him to accept an appointment from Bentley.

A special grand jury began meeting in Montgomery in July at the request of the special prosecutions division of the attorney general's office.

While grand jury proceedings are secret, it's clear that some of the special grand jury's work has been related to Bentley, who was called as a witness.

Strange said today he has never said the governor is under investigation.

That contradicts a press release issued in November by Rep. Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Jones announced the committee was suspending its impeachment investigation of Bentley at Strange's request because Strange was conducting a separate investigation of the governor.

Strange said the press release was incorrect.

"We typically don't comment, but we certainly have never said that," Strange said today.

Jones' press release was based on a letter Strange wrote to him on Nov. 3.

In the letter, Strange asked Jones to suspend the Judiciary Committee's investigation "until I am able to report to you that the necessary related work of my office has been completed."

Contacted today, Jones said he did not remember the exact wording of the letter but that his intent in announcing the suspension was to cooperate with Strange.

"Our intention has always been and will continue to be to honor the request of the attorney general," Jones said.

Strange said his office sought the suspension of the impeachment investigation because there were "some common players involved" in the two probes.

In October, Strange issued a press release saying that the special grand jury had found no wrongdoing by former Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier.

It was Bentley who cited alleged misspending by Collier when he fired Collier earlier this year.

Strange's office announced that the investigation determined there was no basis for those allegations.

Strange noted that the announcement was an exception from his office's policy that it does not comment on investigations.

"We felt like since it had been done so publicly we needed to make some sort of response publicly as to what we found," Strange said. "Beyond that, we have not said anything."

Strange said if the governor did appoint him to the Senate seat, the most important consideration would be the governor's choice of a replacement as attorney general.

"We have a great team of people in this office," Strange said. "I'm very proud of the legacy and any questions related to anything going on in the state would really be a question for anybody he appoints to take my place if he decides to do that."

Strange said he's running regardless of who Bentley appoints.

"I'm running because I think I'm the best candidate to take Jeff Sessions' place," Strange said.
A suspect is in custody in an early Friday morning shooting at a nightclub that killed one woman and wounded three others, Birmingham police report.

Linda Hall, 51, died after being transported to UAB Hospital, according to a press release from Birmingham Police. Three others, who had non-life threatening wounds to their legs and arms also were transported to UAB Hospital for treatment.

The shooting happened about 3:30 a.m. in the 3800 block of Richard Arrington Blvd North at the GM Lounge.

Officers from the South Precinct responded to the listed location on reports of four people shot, police said.

The preliminary investigation by homicide detectives revealed that prior to the shooting, two males were seen circling each other in the night club as if they were going to fight. One of the males pulled out a handgun and began shooting at the other male. All four victims were struck during the shooting. It appeared all the victims were patrons at the club.

The shooter fled the scene in a red Ford Mustang. The CRT and NET began actively searching for the suspect.

A suspect was arrested and taken into custody four hours later without incident, police report. Official charges pending.

Anyone with information pertaining to the case is asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department Homicide Unit at 254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.
The mother of a Mississippi gang member who pleaded guilty this week to killing Alabama teenager Mercedes Williamson last year because she was transgender has spoken out about the incident, claiming they were "both in sin."

Mobile resident Kelly Wilkins - whose 29-year-old son Josh Brandon Vallum pleaded guilty Wednesday to the first federal hate crime ever filed in a U.S. court for the murder of a person for being transgender - made the comments during an interview with AL.com conducted Thursday via Facebook Messenger.

In the messages, the self-professed devoutly religious woman incorrectly uses the male pronoun when referencing Williamson.

"I am a Christian. I believe what God says. His word says its (sic) a sin to be homosexual. It also says it is a sin to kill," she said.

"Josh is not gay. Ask all the girls he has dated over the years. I'm not more focused on either sin. They are both sin. I am very sorry that boy lost his life. I'm sorry josh killed him. I hope that boy cried out to God for forgiveness before he died and is in heaven now."

The remarks came a day after she claimed on social media that Vallum "is not a monster" and that he "blacked out" before murdering the Theodore teen.

Vallum is already serving a life sentence for killing Williamson on May 30, 2015; the charge he pleaded guilty to on Wednesday is aimed at determining whether the murder was a federal hate crime.

The killer said this week that he planned for two days to kill Williamson after he learned from a "friend" that she was transgender, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald newspaper.

Vallum claimed he was concerned that he might be killed by fellow members of the notoriously violent Latin Kings gang if they found out he was in a relationship with a transgender person.

The convicted killer admitted during a jailhouse interview with the Sun Herald newspaper in July that he hit Williamson, who was pleading for her life, with a stun gun, stabbed her repeatedly with a military knife then beat her in the head with a claw hammer until she stopped yelling. Vallum, a statewide officer of the Latin Kings in Mississippi, then buried her at a piece of property owned by his father.

Asked in the Thursday interview whether the fact that he was prejudiced against transgender people led her son to kill Williamson, Wilkins responded angrily.

"You are an idiot. It wasn't about that. He did black out because he didn't know," she said. "He was kissing that boy thinking it was a girl and when he put his hand in their pants and felt a penis he blacked out."

The interview with Wilkins came a day after she wrote about the ongoing case in a lengthy post on her personal Facebook page that has now been deleted. In that initial posting just hours after her son pleaded guilty to the hate crime charge, she claimed her son "blacked out" and killed Williamson in reaction to his discovery that she had a penis.

"He is not gay. He thought the transgender was a female. He had been in a relationship with what he thought was a girl but in the act of making out he found male genitals," she wrote.

"He blacked out and when he came to that person was dead in his car and he had a hammer in his hand. He panicked. He pulled the body out of his car and left it there. He did not cover it up in any way."

She added that "[i]t was a tragedy for that young person to have died. It was also [wrong] the way he lived his life as a female when God created him as a male. This whole thing happened because of both parties involved in sin." She also claimed he "did not admit the things reported by papers."

Kelly Wilkins, the mother of Josh Brandon Vallum, a 28-year-old Mississippi man who pleaded guilty this week to killing Alabama teenager Mercedes Williamson last year because she was transgender, posted comments about the case on Facebook after Vallum appeared in court Wednesday. (Photo via Kelly Wilkins' Facebook page)

An FBI data dump uncovered almost 100 photographs of naked men as well as other gay pornographic images and videos of "man on man sex" from Vallum's cell phone, Jackson County, Miss., District Attorney Tony Lawrence said, according to the Sun Herald.

The paper reported that Vallum attempted to commit suicide in jail after the murder, writing a suicide note that claimed he was "haunted" by Williamson.

"Her spirit is screaming for revenge," Vallum wrote in the note. "I'm living a nightmare. It's like a horror movie. I killed her and now she's not gonna stop until she has killed me. I love all of you. I'm so sorry."

Wilkins ended her Wednesday Facebook post by stating that her "son made a mistake but he is not a monster."
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Brian White

(Limestone County Sheriff's Office)

An Alabama man is accused of trying to solicit sex from a 15-year-old girl and sending her a nude photo.

Brian Lee White II, 25, of Lester, is accused of contacting the girl via Facebook and proposing they meet for sexual acts, Limestone County sheriff's spokesman Stephen Young said.

White also allegedly sent the girl a photo of his genitals, Young said.

The girls parents reported the incident to the Sheriff's Office on Dec. 13, and White was arrested this week after an investigation substantiated the report, according to authorities.

White is charged with transmission of obscene material to a child by a computer and electronic solicitation of a minor. He was released from the Limestone County Jail on $15,000 bail.

Further details were not immediately available.
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Robert Thornton (top left), Jaleel McElderry (bottom left), Quindarious Sterling (top right) and Antonio Thompson

In an attempted Huntsville robbery that didn't go as planned, a suspect was killed by the homeowner, and four other robbery suspects are charged in their alleged accomplice's death, police said.

The person shot and killed during the robbery has been identified as Montarious Hill, 20, of Anniston. His alleged accomplices in the holdup are charged with murder and robbery, both Class A felonies, punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Those charged are Anniston residents Antonio Thompson, 20, Jaleel McElderry, 20, Robert Thornton, 20, and Quindarious Sterling, 21.

When four of the suspects came to Huntsville on Thursday to pick up a fifth man who had been released from state prison, they decided to go rob a home on the 4700 block of Broadmeadow Lane because they heard drugs might be there, Lt. Stacy Bates said. It's unclear which suspect was released from prison, though Thornton currently is out on bond in connection with an Etowah County murder charge, court records show.

When two of the men forced their way into the home, a fight ensued and several gunshots were fired. Hill was fatally shot and died in the backyard, while a second suspect sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Bates said Hill was armed, but the one shot in the leg wasn't believed to have a weapon. That suspect fled the scene and was captured on nearby Grizzard Road by police.

Although police believe the homeowner was the shooter, the robbery accomplices have been charged per allowance of Alabama law, Bates said. He described it as guilt by association and putting themselves and Hill in a dangerous situation that could result in death. No other charges are expected.

"This wasn't some random act," Bates said. "This was premeditated, planned. This house was specifically targeted. They had a reason for going there. It was drug related. This is not something we want people to be in fear of because this was a premeditated and a planned event."

Police aren't sure if the suspects actually knew the homeowner or if they just heard about the possible drugs through another connection.

During the robbery, police responded to a call about a suspicious white Crown Victoria on the 3100 block of Gayhart Drive. While officers made contact with three of the robbery suspects, they heard gunshots nearby.

Bates said authorities didn't find any illegal drugs in the house, though they detected an odor of marijuana. The investigation will continue, he said.
What was supposed to be a 60th birthday present to herself has turned into a "distressing" ordeal for an Alabama woman who received a delivery of dead birds.

A United States Post Office

The United States Postal Service delivered six dead canaries in a smashed box to Rhonda King, at her hair salon, Above A Cut at Rhonda's. The salon is located in Grant, a northeast Alabama town in Marshall County with fewer than 1,000 residents.

"When my postmaster got there he told me, 'Well, your birds arrived, but they're not alive,'" King told Al.com. "This happened right in front of my clients. I was handed this box with tire tracks on it and bird carnage hanging out."

King paid a seller in Texas $600 for eight birds and an additional $100 to have them shipped. The box was supposed to ship on Dec. 5, King's 60th birthday, and arrive the following day. But, three days later, the smashed package arrived, missing two of the birds.

USPS plans to reimburse King the money she spent on the birds and shipping, or to replace the birds, said Debbie Fetterly, communications programs specialist for the Postal Service's Alabama and south Florida districts. The Service also will apologize to King, Fetterly said.

But, King said no one from USPS had contacted her as of Thursday evening.

"I'm not trying to target the Postal Service," King said. "But, I'm distressed. Accidents happen, but in this case, there's been no accountability. These birds were in an approved box with wires to let them breathe, then it shows up at my business smashed."

King said she spoke with representatives of her local post office, then she was directed to Birmingham. From there, she contacted a post office in Houston. But, she's yet to get an explanation about how the birds died.

"I just wanted these birds for a happy lifestyle," King said. "Their singing is so beautiful, and I wanted that in my home."

Update:


Italy Germany Christmas Market

Italian police cordon off an area around the bod after a shootout between police and a man in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood, Italy, early Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Daniele Bennati)

(Daniele Bennati)

The Tunisian man suspected in a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan during a routine patrol outside a train station, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.



Anis Amri traveled from Germany through France and into Italy after Monday night's truck attack in Berlin, at least some of it by train, Italian police said. French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, which has increased surveillance on trains after recent French attacks and the one in Germany.

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers while he was alone outside the deserted station. But he also called for greater cross-border police cooperation, suggesting some dismay that Europe's open border policy had enabled Amri to move around easily despite being its No. 1 fugitive.

Amri, who shot one of the police officers in the shoulder, was identified by fingerprints supplied by Germany.

"The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack," said Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack outside Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in which a truck plowed into a Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 56. It also noted his death in Milan and released a video showing him pledging allegiance to the militant group.

Amri has been linked to an extremist recruitment network allegedly run by Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A., also known as Abu Walaa, a Germany-based preacher who was arrested last month, said Holger Muench, head of the Federal Criminal Police Office.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered an investigation into all angles of the case after it emerged that German authorities had tracked Amri for months on suspicion of planning an attack.

"We can be relieved at the end of this week that one acute danger has been ended," she said in Berlin. "But the danger of terrorism as a whole remains, as it has for many years -- we all know that."

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert, with increased surveillance and police patrols. Italian officials stressed that the young officers who stopped Amri didn't suspect he was the Berlin attacker but rather grew suspicious because he was a North African man, alone outside a deserted train station at 3 a.m.

Amri, 24, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped during a routine patrol in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his ID and was killed in an ensuing shootout.

Officer Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder and had surgery for what doctors said was a superficial wound. His 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

Amri had no ID or phone, carrying only a pocket knife and the .22-caliber pistol he used to shoot Movio, police said.

"He was a ghost," Milan police chief Antoio de Iesu said, adding that he was stopped because of basic police work, intensified surveillance "and a little luck."

Despite Amri's death, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the terrorist threat to the country "remains high" and security won't be scaled down.

Amri passed through France before arriving by train at Milan's central station where video surveillance showed him about 1 a.m. Friday, de Iesu said. A ticket indicated he traveled from Chambery, France, through Turin and into Milan, an Italian anti-terrorism official said.

De Iesu declined to provide further information. Germany's chief federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, said his office contacted Italian authorities to establish Amri's route.

A Milan anti-terrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation, said Amri made his way to the piazza outside the Sesto San Giovanni train station about 7.5 kilometers (nearly 5 miles) from the main station.

Authorities are still trying to determine how Amri got to the piazza because only a few buses operate at that hour.

"It is now of great significance for us to establish whether the suspect had a network of supporters or helpers in preparing and carrying out the crime, and in fleeing, whether there were accessories or helpers," Frank said.

Prosecutors also want to know whether Amri's gun was the same one used to shoot the Polish driver of the truck he had commandeered for the attack, Frank added. The driver was found dead in the vehicle's cab.

De Iesu confirmed the truck's cargo was loaded Dec. 16 in another Milan suburb, Cinisello Balsamo, before heading to Berlin, but said there was no evidence to connect it to Amri's presence nearby early Friday.

The Milan anti-terrorism official said investigators want to see if Amri had any contacts in Milan. There is no evidence he passed through Milan in his previous stay in Italy, after he left Tunisia following the 2011 Arab Spring.

Muench, of the German Federal Criminal Police Office, said Amri's name "has come up" in connection with the network centering on Abu Walaa, Muench said. Abu Walaa was arrested Nov. 8 with four other men and accused of leading a group whose aim was to steer people to the Islamic State group in Syria. Prosecutors say the network smuggled at least one young man and his family to Syria.

CNN reported that German investigative files it obtained detailed the extremist recruitment network raised funds through robberies and fraudulent loans, and used a common curriculum to try to get recruits for IS.

Amri's brother Abdelkader told The Associated Press the family wants to learn the "truth about my brother," but refused to comment on his death.

His family, which lives in the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia, wants his remains sent home from Italy. Tunisian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bouraoui Limam said it would "take a while" for the body to be repatriated because Italian, German and Tunisian investigators need to carry out their examinations.

Nour El Houda Hassani, the mother of Anis Amri, reacts after the death of her son in Oueslatia, central Tunisia, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Anis Amri, the Tunisian-born suspect in the Berlin truck rampage that killed at least 12, was shot dead early Friday on the outskirts of Milan, Italy. His mother fears the world will now never know why he allegedly rammed a truck through a holiday crowd.(AP Photo/Anis Ben Salah)

Amri served 31/2 years in jail in Italy for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other things -- but authorities apparently detected no signs he was becoming radicalized. He was transferred repeatedly among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections.

His mother said he went from there to Switzerland and then to Germany last year.

German authorities deemed him a potential threat long before the Berlin attack and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers and Tunisia initially denied he was a citizen. Authorities said he has used at least six different names and three nationalities.

Merkel said she told Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi the repatriation of Tunisians who aren't entitled to residency in Germany needs to be stepped up. Essebsi called for tighter cooperation to fight "the plague of terrorism that threatens the security and stability of all countries and all societies."

Tunisian authorities have insisted the reason it took so long to issue Amri's papers is that they needed to verify his identity, noting his numerous aliases.

Italy said it expelled a 37-year-old Tunisian who showed signs of radicalization while in jail, putting him on a flight to Tunis on Friday. It brought to 131 the number sent out of the country since January 2015.
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The Birmingham Water Works board

(Howard Koplowitz)

Several Birmingham residents took to social media, scratching their heads over unusually high water bills -- ranging from 50 percent to as much as four times higher than their normal bill.

The cause of the sticker shock is unclear - Birmingham Water Works General Manager Mac Underwood could not be reached for comment. It's also unknown whether the utility's revamped billing system - customers were given new account numbers last month - is causing widespread issues.

And while the Water Works instituted drought surcharges for customers, many residents said they were aware of the surcharge and their usage did not meet the threshold for the added fees. The Water Works Board approved a 3.9 percent increase in water rates, but it doesn't take effect until January.

David Carrington, a member of the Jefferson County Commission, said he was also trying to get to figure out the cause, adding "I'm seeing complaints all over, too." He theorized that the utility increases its billing cycle may be a factor, although that wouldn't seem to explain a 200 percent increase in some customers' bills.

"The only thing I could figure out is they changed their cycles, which means some people got billed for more days than usual, and they don't read the meters every month," Carrington said.

Water Works customer David Burroughs mentioned his bill Wednesday morning on Facebook, which led other metro area residents to chime in about their higher invoices.

"I know [prices] went up due to the drought, but way more than I expected if that's the cause of my increase," Burroughs posted to the I Believe in Birmingham Facebook page. "My October invoice was $68.09 and for November it was $192.72. We have a household of 2 people."

Burroughs told AL.com that he made sure his faucets were off and his toilet weren't running, then checked his meter and found it didn't budge -- indicating he wasn't dealing with a leak.

"It's just bizarre," he said.

Chloe Cook, another customer, said her bill tripled from last month's invoice.
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Fairhope is a city of quaint neighborhoods and a charming downtown. But it's rapid growth is causing a concern among residents and the city government. On Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, the Fairhope City Council unanimously voted on a six-month moratorium on new large-scale developments. (file photo)

One of Alabama's fastest growing cities put a temporary halt Thursday on the development of large-scale subdivisions and apartment complexes.

The Fairhope City Council, with a unanimous vote, implemented a six-month moratorium on new subdivisions of four lots or more and new multi-family dwellings that eclipse three units.

The moratorium was put into effect to give the city more time to analyze its infrastructure capabilities amid rapid growth that has seen Fairhope's population surge 22 percent -- from 15,338 residents in 2010 to 18,730 in 2015.

The development freeze also gives the city's Planning & Zoning Department time to catch up with an influx of applications for large-scale projects, while assisting in crafting changes to ordinances aimed at streamlining regulations pertinent to development.

The moratorium terms allow the council to end it before six months, or to extend it further. "The moratorium can be terminated at any day," said Council President Jack Burrell.

"The intent of the (moratorium) is to give Planning & Zoning a break," said Councilman Robert Brown. "It won't stop the development or the building. But it's a temporary pause so they can catch their breath so they can work out the ordinances and regulations."

Brown added, "I think we'll be in a better place coming out of it."

Jonathan Smith, director of Planning & Zoning, said his overworked staff may have difficulty complete the analysis within six months. He said there is a chance to complete studies of traffic congestion and sewer and drainage capabilities as long as the staff doesn't "have to worry about 17 to 20 applications coming in like we did this past month."

During the council's work session ahead of the vote, elected officials debated how restrictive the moratorium should be.

Smith said that "minor subdivisions" are not a huge burden for the city to process. But, he said, "If we want to take inventory to find out what is wrong with the city, it takes time." He said, "We have to think how (new development) affects infrastructure in town."

The city's downtown business district is exempt from the moratorium.

Not everyone was in agreement with the council's action. Architect Ryan Baker, who is working on a project in downtown Fairhope's central business district, suggested the council hold off on things. He said the city wasn't prepared to proceed with the studies needed ahead of the moratorium's six-month expiration.

"It seems like you guys had a lot of questions and not a lot of answers," Baker said to the council. "I want you to think bigger and broader. And it may pause you for enacting a moratorium for two months, but find out who will do the studies and what you want to resolve."

Fairhope's moves are being watched closely by neighbor cities in Baldwin County's popular Eastern Shore area. Baldwin's population is growing faster than any other county in the state.

In Daphne, Mayor Dane Haygood said there is no interest in pushing through a development moratorium, but added that his city is in a different position in which the most likely hot spot for future growth is outside the city limits.

He said while annexation remains in the city's long-term growth strategy, pressure exists to provide basic services - such as fire protection - to other areas of the city.

In Spanish Fort, Mayor Mike McMillan said his concern focuses on a proliferation of multi-family housing developments. He said he wonders how such developments will evolve in the years ahead.

"We're a bedroom community in Spanish Fort, no doubt about it," McMillan said, adding that the city isn't entertaining any moratoriums of its own. "We're very conscientious of the amount of multi-family housing vs. single-family housing. We don't have parcels within the city that are advantageous to multi-family housing at this point."
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Alabama's school and district report card system went live earlier today. It's likely new to most people, and experts recommend the information used in report cards be used to start conversations between communities and their schools.

While the state board of education chose not to award letter grades until all indicators are calculated and factored into the final grade next year, it is possible to calculate grades based on the points earned on the four district indicators out of the total points available.

Scroll down for a definition of what those indicators are and how they were calculated.

Here are grades, calculated on a 100-point scale, for districts across Alabama, using the indicators obtained from the state department's A-F Report Card website.

Here's a look at the individual indicator scores for each district.

How schools and districts earned points toward the indicators

The first phase of indicators include learning gains, achievement, graduation rate, and local indicator. According to the Alabama State Department of Education web site, the four areas listed for each district are worth a total of 75 points.

The value of each area is different for schools, however, so it's important to remember the grades are based on possible points at the district level.

Three of the categories (learning gains, achievement, and graduation rate) apply weights within the calculation to represent variables within the category. So it's not a straight-up calculation of percentages of anything. That's also important to remember.

Here's a link to the state department's explanation of these calculations.

Learning Gains (30 percent of final grade)

Learning gains are calculated based on 2015-2016 ACT Aspire scores for grades four through eight, except for Florence City Schools, which uses a different standardized test for accountability.

The score, shown as points earned, considers how many students showed growth on the ACT Aspire from one testing year to the next, and at what level that growth was: low, average or high. Weights are assigned for each of those three categories.

Those categories of growth were calculated by ACT and should be considered a measure of relative growth. ACT explains those calculations of "student growth percentiles" in a technical bulletin if you want to dig in.

No weight is given for students with low growth, students with average growth are given a weight of one, and a weight of 1.5 is given for students with high growth.

Reading and math are calculated separately and then added together for a weighted score.

Student Achievement (20 percent of final grade)

Student achievement points are calculated based on 2015-2016 ACT Aspire scores (again, except for Florence City Schools) and the Alabama Alternate Assessment which is given to students with significant disabilities.

Only students who are enrolled within a district for a full academic year are included in this calculation.

Weights are used in this calculation, too. Students scoring at Level I (in need of support) get no weight applied. Students at Level II (close to proficiency) have a 0.5 weight applied. Students at Level III (considered proficient) have a weight of one applied. Students at Level IV (exceeding standards) are weighted at 1.25.

Reading and math are calculated separately and then added together for a weighted score.

Graduation Rate (20 percent of final grade)

Four- and five-year graduation rates are used in this calculation, with four-year rates given an 80 percent weight and five-year rates given a 20 percent weight.

It's important to remember here that while Alabama's four-year graduation rate has been questioned by federal officials, no attempt to recalculate graduation rates has been made. And it is unclear how widespread miscalculated rates are, if in fact they are. The state department has only said that the four-year rate is inflated, but not by how much.

Local Indicator (5 percent of final grade)

The local indicators for each school and district were required to be tied to student outcome measures. The state department reviewed all local indicators for approval prior to implementation. Points were awarded based on whether the baseline measurement was set (25 percent), providing a measurable goal tied to positive student outcomes (25 percent) and for meeting the submitted goal (50 percent).

Final Grade

The final grade reflected in the data visualizations was calculated by applying the weights to the points awarded in each area and dividing that total by the 75 points available.
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Steve Swofford

By Steve Swofford, president of Alabama Credit Union and immediate past chairman of the board for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates. Alabama Credit Union was recognized this year as one of the best places to work in Alabama. Organized in 1956 to serve The University of Alabama, Alabama Credit Union is one of Alabama's fastest-growing credit unions with 27 branches across Alabama.

It was no surprise when banking associations filed suit against the National Credit Union Administration over new rules expanding credit union membership. These rules represent an important modernization of the definition of credit union membership and offer more Americans access to affordable, consumer-friendly financial services from credit unions.

Frankly, the bank trade associations would prefer that credit unions operate under laws and regulations established decades ago -- rules that would preclude our industry from being relevant and competitive. In truth, due to opposition from the banking industry, there have been very few legislative enhancements to credit union laws over the years, so the fact that the regulatory agencies felt the need to handle modernization by regulation seems appropriate.

In essence, the new rule allows credit unions to expand the identifiers for those who can join and take advantage of lower loan rates and the privilege of being a part owner of their financial institution rather than just a customer. Credit unions work for you, allowing you have more say in how the credit union is operated, including the power to make decisions. Credit unions were started by groups of teachers, company employees and others sharing some common bond who wanted to put together their money to help them save and establish a safe place for their finances. For instance, Alabama Credit Union was organized in 1956 to serve the University of Alabama.

The amended rule reinforces the objectives of the first credit unions established in the U.S., which were, ironically, all community-based organizations. And for many years, the various state regulatory authorities have granted broader field of membership authority to state chartered credit unions. The NCUA is simply providing similar powers to federal credit unions in the new guidelines.

Credit unions are extremely popular financial institutions, and interest in membership grows as do concerns about safety and integrity of some of the nation's largest banking institutions. Expanding fields of membership enables consumers to more easily access the advantages and benefits of being part of a credit union, in which they have a vested interest, plus allows credit unions to better diversify in order to become more financially viable in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

One of the issues broached by bankers in the law suit is the tax-exempt status of credit unions, which they claim to be inappropriate given these regulatory changes. Credit unions, however, are still not-for-profit institutions; they are still run by volunteer boards; and they are still cooperatives owned by our members. Those facts remain unchanged, meaning that credit unions still deserve the federal tax exemption that Congress granted early in our history.

We applaud the actions of the NCUA that help modernize rules governing credit union operations - something I'm sure millions of consumers will appreciate now that they can become members of our nation's most popular financial institution.
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My youngest son examines the marker of his great great great grandfather, I.B. Flanders.

(Cameron Smith)

Nobody ends up in Toombs County, Georgia without a reason to be there. The home of the sweet Vidalia onion knows a thing or two about roots, and mine brought me back down a long country road that dead-ends into Harden's Chapel.

My family gathered there to bury my grandfather.

You can see the chapel's steeple shoot up on the horizon like a big onion sprout at the end of miles of pecan orchards and pine stands. Next to it is an old cemetery. If you're not a Smith, Flanders or one of the few other families buried there, you'd never even accidentally stumble upon it.

Death isn't something most of us talk much about. It's uncomfortable. My eldest son summed up funerals nicely: "It's when they put you in a box, and sad people line up to walk by and touch your face."

I can't offer a much better description. We gather together, say nice things about the departed, bury them and then eat lunch. Saying goodbye is simply part of life.

I've been to my share of funerals, but standing in Harden's Chapel cemetery was different for me. After we put my grandfather in the ground, I saw my boys walking among the tombstones. My oldest would read the names and inscriptions, they'd think about it for a moment and move to the next one.

I called my two-year-old over to show him someone particular, my great grandmother Florence "Mom" Flanders. When I met Mom Flanders as a child, age and illness had already taken its toll. I remember her twisted frame and creaky voice.

I also recall the stories my father told me about her.

He let me how much she loved Jesus. She read the Bible to him every night he was at her house growing up. "Mom Flanders would pray so loud it would lift the roof," he'd say. My dad would join the family around the piano as she played and sang hymns like "I've Been Redeemed" and "He Set Me Free." Mom Flanders worked hard at everything she did from milking the cow, Rawhide, to cooking giant southern meals for the family so good my father still remembers them.

Even though she's been gone a long time, Mom Flanders is as real to me as her great great grandson who stood next to her grave marker. My father's stories shaped my perception of her far more than any fleeting conversation I had with her in her last years.

My grandfather's legacy won't be in the fond recollections for a few fleeting moments at his funeral. It's in the stories his sons and grandchildren pass on, the lessons learned, and relationships forged over an entire lifetime.

When we die, everything we own will belong to somebody else. We won't have the opportunity to speak up on our own behalves as to the kind of people we were or would like to have been. When we're gone, all that's left are our names carved on a rock and the stories other people tell about us.

As I left Toombs County in my rearview mirror, I don't know if I'll ever make it back. There's nothing magical about the dirt there that makes people remember. Every time I watch my boys play the piano with my wife or settle down to read a Bible story with me, I see the real legacy of my family buried in Harden's Chapel cemetery.

Cameron Smith is a regular columnist for AL.com and state programs director for the R Street Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C.
jamie lee wallace.JPG

Jamie Lee Wallace was sentenced to 25 years Monday, November 7, 2011, for killing mother and attempting to kill grandfather (The Birmingham News/Tamika Moore)

( )

Jamie Lee Wallace, carrying a gun he stole from his grandfather, chased his mother the short distance from their ramshackle Graysville house to his grandparents house, as she desperately tried to get her 8-year-old son to safety.

The 16-year-old gunned down his mother, 39-year-old Michelle Wallace, on March 23, 2009. He also attempted to shoot the grandfather he stole the gun from. It jammed and the grandfather wrestled the gun away.

Jamie Lee then stole one of the large trucks parked in the gravel lot that was their front yard. He was arrested minutes later after Jefferson County deputies saw him driving 5 mph.

The morning of the shooting, working my early-bird shift for The Birmingham News at the time, I found Jamie Lee's dad, Michael Wallace, standing on his porch, his face stained with tears.

Minutes earlier, he had nearly come to blows with a TV reporter he felt gave an unfair account of the murder of his wife of 21 years at the hands of a mentally ill son they had tried so very hard to save.

I worried he might take a swing at me, but instead we talked and he quickly opened up. Months after the story Carol Robinson and I wrote that day, he would call me, just wanting to talk.

He always breathlessly thanked me for that and other articles about his plight. He was poor and they fought hard to get help for Jamie Lee, who was often so childlike but prone to severe mood changes.

''Everybody is portraying my son as Frankenstein, and he's not,'' Mike Wallace told me at the time. ''If they knew him, they would know he has a good heart. No one could have seen this coming.''

But it did happen, as it so often does when we fail to help those who most need our help -- our collective help as a state and nation -- to battle mental illness.

It happens when we fail to support those struggling to help loved ones fight those battles.

Jamie Wallace's battle ended sometime before 10:33 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2016, when officers at Bullock Correctional Facility in Union Springs found him hanging in his cell. He was 24.

The Alabama Department of Corrections announced Wallace's death five days later.

AL.com reporter Amy Yurkanin on Thursday (Dec. 22) shared the sad, final details of Jamie Lee's life.

He was moved to a stabilization unit in Bullock Correctional Facility after he testified in a federal trial over whether he and other Alabama prison inmates receive the mental health care and protection they need.

Jamie Lee was placed on suicide watch on Dec. 10. Prison employees released Wallace from suicide watch on Dec. 13, and he hung himself two days later, according to an emergency motion filed by the Southern Poverty Lawsuit Center on Dec. 22 seeking immediate action to prevent prison suicides.

Michael Wallace told me in 2009 that Jamie Lee suffered from explosive behavior disorder and bipolar disorder. They sent him to centers in Dothan and Memphis.

The father was driving a load of coal for a little extra money when his wife called to tell him Jamie had the gun.

He told her to run. Soon, he got that call telling him his wife was dead. He drove the truck back from Georgia to face the horror that was now his life.

''I told him Daddy can't help him; he's got to walk the walk of a man,'' he told me of his first talk with his son after the shooting.

Jamie Lee, as near as I could tell, tried to do as his father said.

He spent the next two and a half years at the Jefferson County Jail. His grandmother committed suicide while he was there, not long after the shooting.

Jamie Lee's lawyer and father urged Jamie Lee to go to trial and seek an acquittal by reason of mental illness, knowing he had been released from a mental hospital on new medication just weeks before the shooting.

But he pleaded guilty, accepting a 25 year prison sentence. His reason? He wanted visits in prison from his younger brother.

"I've been there so long," Jamie Lee Wallace said at his sentencing. "I can't wait."

After the sentencing, Michael Wallace said the justice system had failed his son and did not fully consider his mental issues.

"I wanted them to know the person he is and not just look at him as someone who killed his mother," he said after the hearing. "I want people to know I don't hate my son."

Michael Wallace died in February at age 47.

Jamie Lee Wallace earlier this month was the first to testify in a federal non-jury trial over allegations that the Alabama prison system fails to provide mental health care that meets constitutional standards, Mike Cason reported for AL.com.

That report stated:

"Wallace, in prison for six years, said he was "mildly retarded" and has bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and ADHD. He said he saw a mental health professional about once every two months for sessions that he said lasted five or 10 minutes.

"They don't check on you unless it's chow call or pill call," Wallace said.

"Wallace testified about repeatedly cutting himself and showed ... marks on his arms and neck. Wallace said one corrections officer gave him a razor in response to his efforts to harm himself.

"It's really easy to get ahold of something very sharp down there," Wallace said.

"Jamie Lee Wallace at times offered side commentary, sometimes laced with profanity," Cason reported.

"Wallace told a defense attorney: "Let me tell you something Mr. goody two-shoes."

"Maria Morris, senior supervising attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is representing the inmates in the case, issued a statement about Wallace's death.

"Mr. Wallace was severely mentally ill, and he testified in this matter because he wanted to bring the lack of mental health care to the attention of the court in the hopes of making it better," Morris said. "We're really sad that any changes didn't come in time for Mr. Wallace."

"I think what this does as far as the trial is highlight the gross inadequacies of the mental health care system in Alabama prisons."

Yes, prisons failed Jamie Lee Wallace and Michael Wallace and everyone touched by the shooting of Michelle Wallace. But, they were failed long before that.

Too many families find only roadblocks and frustration when they seek mental health care for a loved one.

As we have seen in Alabama, help often comes in the form of police officers instead of doctors and jails rather than treatment centers.

I don't know the answer. I just know we failed Jamie Lee over and over and people died because of it.

I know this Christmas there are Jamie Lees all across this state. Each day, we are failing them too, over and over.

When we fail them, people -- sometimes the people we love -- die or go to prison.

Sometimes they die in prison before they ever had a chance to live.
Child Advocacy Center Christmas Decorations

(Mike Brantley)

Jan White

By Jan White, who has written a weekly religion column for more than 20 years. It's published in the Andalusia Star-News and in the Enterprise Southeast Sun. Her articles have also been published in the Alabama Baptist newspaper and in various magazines and devotional publications.

"Merry Christmas!" I've been saying this seasonal greeting everywhere I go, along with "Happy New Year!"

I'm on a mission to greet as many people as possible for Charlie because he's not here to do it. He left us in December 1997, so he's about to spend his 20th Christmas with Christ, whom he loved and served.

If you ever met Charlie Smith, you heard him say, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," not just in December, but year-round. For those of you who never knew him, let me introduce you.

Charlie worked as an accountant for 24 years until he began losing his eyesight, a painfully slow process that continued for decades, resulting in blindness. His failing eyesight forced him to retire at age 45.

But Charlie didn't complain about his circumstances, even when an unexplainable bright light flashed on and off in his eyes every moment of his life for the last few years. Every Wednesday for more than 16 years, he conducted a weekly service at a local nursing home.

He would also visit the residents who couldn't come to the lobby for the service, going room to room letting them know someone cared. When asked what a person who gives so much of himself for so long receives in return, Charlie said, "I've been paid back many times over in my life. You may go in the door feeling blah, but always feel good when you leave."

Charlie Smith

Then he went on to talk about how the residents were a joy to be around, even though he had seen them at times when they were lonely, sick or depressed. His genuine caring flowed from his faith in God, whom he believed deserved all the glory for any good works.

What better principles to live by each day than cheerfully giving to others as God did when He gave us His greatest gift, Jesus Christ. What if we thought about others before ourselves?

Think of what the world would be like if we lived each day as though it was the first day of a new year. Wouldn't we have a more joyful outlook on life if we put the past behind us and looked forward to each new day?

If we actually lived "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" year-round, we would be human messengers bringing "glory to God in the highest, on earth peace goodwill toward men" (Luke 2:14).

What was Charlie communicating? "Merry" means cheerful, and "Christmas" is a celebration of Jesus' birth, as well as a time for giving and thinking of others. "Happy" is defined as joy and contentment. A "new year" speaks of a fresh start or clean slate of time.

By his 72 years of life, Charlie Smith demonstrated what it means to be a Christian because he was a reflection of Christ. He could see those around him through eyes of compassion.

Live every day with "Merry Christmas and "Happy New Year" in your heart, and share it with others!
Nazareth  As tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims converge on the Holy Land this week to celebrate the birth of Jesus, senior Israeli rabbis have announced a war on the Christmas tree.

In Jerusalem, the rabbinate has issued a letter warning dozens of hotels in the city that it is forbidden by Jewish religious law to erect a tree or stage new years parties.

Many hotel owners have taken the warning to heart, fearful that the rabbis may carry out previous threats to damage their businesses by denying them certificates declaring their premises to be kosher.

In the coastal city of Haifa, in northern Israel, the rabbi of Israels premier technology university has taken a similarly strict line. Elad Dokow, the Technions rabbi, ordered that Jewish students boycott their students union, after it installed for the first time a modest Christmas tree.

He called the tree idolatry, warning that it was a pagan symbol that violated the kosher status of the building, including its food hall.

READ MORE: Gazas Christians  Israel cant beat us down

About a fifth of the Technions students belong to Israels large Palestinian minority.

While most of Israels Palestinian citizens are Muslim, there are some 130,000 Christians, most of them living in Galilee. More Palestinian Christians live under occupation in East Jerusalem, which Israel has annexed in violation of international law.

This is not about freedom of worship, Dokow told the Technions students. This is the worlds only Jewish state. And it has a role to be a light unto the nations and not to uncritically embrace every idea.

Rabea Mahajni, a 24-year-old electrical engineering student, said that placing the tree in the union was backed by Palestinian students but had strongly divided opinion among Jewish students and staff. The majority, he said, were against the decision.

One professor upset [Palestinian] students by taking to Facebook to say that the tree made him uncomfortable, and that those who wanted it should either put one up in their own home or go to Europe, he told Al Jazeera.





Mahajni added: This is not really about a Christmas tree. It is about who the tree represents. It is a test of whether Jewish society is willing to accept an Arab minority and our symbols.

He pointed out that Palestinian students had not objected to the students union also marking Hanukkah, referring to the Jewish winter festival of lights that this year coincides with Christmas.

For most of Israels history, the festive fir tree was rarely seen outside a handful of communities in Israel with significant Christian populations. But in recent years, the appeal of Christmas celebrations has spread among secular Israeli Jews.

Interest took off two decades ago, after one million Russian-speaking Jews immigrated following the fall of the Soviet Union, said David Bogomolny, a spokesman for Hiddush, which lobbies for religious freedom in Israel.

Many, he told Al Jazeera, had little connection to Jewish religious practice in their countries of origin, and had adopted local customs instead.

The tree [in the former Soviet Union] was very popular but it had nothing to do with Christmas, he said. Each home had one as a way to welcome in the new year.

Nazareth, which claims to host the tallest Christmas tree in the Middle East, has recently become a magnet for many domestic tourists, including Jews, Christians and Muslims. They come to visit the Christmas market, hear carols and buy a Santa hat.

Haifa and Jaffa, two largely Jewish cities with significant Palestinian Christian populations, have recently started competing. Jaffa, next to Tel Aviv, staged its first Christmas market last year.

READ MORE: Violence hurts Bethlehems Christmas tourism business

Meanwhile, hotels are keen to erect a tree in their lobbies as a way to boost tourism revenue from Christian pilgrims, who comprise the bulk of overseas visitors.

But the growing popularity of Christmas has upset many Orthodox rabbis, who have significant powers over public space. Bogomolny said that some rabbis were driven by a desire to make the state as Jewish as possible to avert it losing its identity.

Others may fear that the proliferation of Christmas trees could lure Israeli Jews towards Christianity.

Wadie Abu Nassar, a spokesman for the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem, said that he had noticed an increasing interest from Israeli Jews in Christian festivals, including in some cases requests to attend Christmas mass.

He told Al Jazeera this was not a threat to Judaism, but healthy curiosity. If we want to live together in peace, we have to understand each other and learn to trust, he said.

Given this hostile political climate, the battle to gain legitimacy for our religious symbols becomes all the more important. Otherwise we face a dark future. by Hanna Swaid, former legislator

The controversial status of Christmas in Israel was underscored four years ago when Yair Netanyahu, the 21-year-old son of Israels prime minister, caused a minor scandal by being photographed wearing a Santa hat next to a Christmas tree.

The office of Benjamin Netanyahu hurriedly issued a statement saying that Yair had posed as a joke while attending a party hosted by Christian Zionists who love Israel, and whose children served in the [Israeli army].

Two years earlier, Shimon Gapso, the mayor of Upper Nazareth, originally founded for Jews on Nazareths land, banned all signs of Christmas in the citys public places. He has been a vociferous opponent of an influx of Christians from overcrowded Nazareth.

The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has also been declared a Christmas tree-free zone.

In 2013, its speaker rejected a request from Hanna Swaid, then a Palestinian Christian legislator, to erect a tree in the building. Yuli Edelstein said it would evoke painful memories of Jewish persecution in Europe and chip away at the states Jewish character.

Swaid pointed to the prominence of Jewish symbols in public spaces in the United States, including an annual Hanukkah party at the White House, during which the president lights menorah candles.

Israeli leaders expect the US to be religiously inclusive, but then they refuse to practise the same at home, he told Al Jazeera.

He also noted that the religious freedoms of the Palestinian minority were under ever greater attack, most notably with the recent drafting of a so-called muezzin bill, which would crack down on mosques use of loudspeakers for the call to prayer.

Given this hostile political climate, the battle to gain legitimacy for our religious symbols becomes all the more important, he said. Otherwise we face a dark future.

READ MORE: Jewish leader demands expulsion of Christian vampires

Nonetheless, there has been a backlash, especially from secular Jews, against the rigid control exercised by Orthodox rabbis.

Haifas mayor, Yona Yahav, overruled the citys rabbi in 2012 when he tried to ban Christmas trees and new years parties. The Jewish new year occurs several months before the Christian one.

And last year, in the face of a legal challenge from Hiddush, the chief rabbinate backed down on threats to revoke the kosher certificates of businesses that celebrate Christmas.

But while the ban on Christmas trees has been formally lifted, in practice it is still widely enforced, according to Bogomolny.

The problem is that the chief rabbinate actually has no authority over city rabbis, who can disregard its rulings, as we have seen with the letter issued by the Jerusalem rabbis, he said.

Most hotels wanted to ignore the prohibition on Christmas trees because it was bad for business, but feared being punished.

It is a problem throughout the country, he said. The hotels are afraid to take a stand. If they try to fight it through the courts, it will be costly and could take years to get a ruling.

One hotel manager in West Jerusalem to whom Al Jazeera spoke on condition of anonymity said he feared retaliation from the rabbis.

The letter was clearly intended to intimidate us, he said. The Christian tourists are here to celebrate Christmas and we want to help them do it, but not if it costs us our certificate.
To confront discrimination, Bengali-origin Muslim poets are turning Miya  a slur for illegal immigrant  on its head.

Delhi, India  Since childhood, 29-year-old Shalim Hussain, a research scholar at Delhis Jamia Millia Islamia University, has contended with being called a Miya. Although the word literally means gentleman in Urdu, Hussain learned at a young age that in his home state of Assam, Miya is a slur meaning Bangladeshi or illegal immigrant.

In Assam, a northeastern border state in India, Miya is exclusively directed at Muslims of Bengali origin.

Migration to the state from what is now Bangladesh pre-dates the present international borders. A fear of illegal migrants, perceived to grab land and corrupt the local culture, has been played up in local politics for just as long.

Even in 1946, when state elections were held, migration of Bengali-origin Muslims into Assam was a big issue, says Sanjoy Hazarika, an Assamese scholar and director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in Delhi.





The prejudice against Muslims of Bengali origin, a community which remains largely impoverished, has led not only to abusive language but recurring communal violence as well.

Growing up on one of Assams more than 2,000 chars, or river islands, where 85 percent of the population consists of Muslims of Bengali origin, Hussain felt safe. But at the prestigious Cotton College in the state capital of Guwahati, where his relatively well-to-do parents had sent him for higher education, he quickly learned how many in Assam see his community.

In 2005, the annual floods displaced many people from the chars and they started settling in temporary shelters on the pavements of Guwahati, he recalls, sitting cross-legged on a thin mattress in his sparsely furnished two-room flat in Delhis Muslim-majority residential area of Zakir Nagar, close to Jamia Millia Islamia University, where he is pursuing a PhD in English literature.

The Assamese students at Cotton College participated very actively in forcefully evicting them. These kind of informal evictions happen often, but it was the first time I saw one, he says.

What he saw scared him.

I realised there was a divide between us and other Assamese.

More than a decade since, Hussain and others from his community have found a way to take the derogatory term Miya and subvert it.

Despite the low levels of literacy prevalent in the community  the most recent government survey in 2003 found that the average literacy rate on the chars was 19 percent, compared with the state average of 54 percent  a growing number of younger people from Hussains community are pursing higher education in English and working in academia, NGOs, medicine and law. Some are using their skills for social activism in collectives such as the Muslim Youth Forum Against Communalism, Terrorism, and Sedition (MY-FACTS) and Jhai Foundation, which works for the rights and socially uplifting of Muslims in the state.

Now, Hussain and others are using poetry as a tool of resistance, confrontation and empowerment. This emerging form of expression is known as Miya poetry.

READ MORE: In 2015, more than 200,000 displaced by floods

Miya poetry

The roots of this new genre lie in a 1939 poem titled A Charuwas Proposition by Maulana Bande Ali. Although Ali did not use the word Miya, his poem is considered the first example of someone within the community asserting their identity.

In 1985, Khabir Ahmed wrote I Beg To State That, which included lines such as I am a settler, a hated Miya. It was written in the aftermath of the Nellie Massacre of 1983, in which more than 2,000 Bengali-origin Muslims were killed in just six hours. His poem is considered the first true assertion of Miyaness and sparked a trend of protest poetry within his community.

But this new wave of Miya poetry has had a wider reach, with social media spreading the work beyond a small literary elite.

It began earlier this year, shortly after the April 4 and 11 state assembly elections, in which illegal immigration was a prominent campaign issue. When the results were announced on May 19, an unprecedented victory was claimed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The movement began with Hafiz Ahmed, an academic, social activist and poet in his 50s, who published Write Down I Am A Miya on Facebook in late April. His poem received hundreds of likes, comments and shares, and triggered a series of spontaneous poetic responses.

Hussain, who says earlier he mainly wrote about love and death, responded next with his poem called Nana I Have Written, asserting his identity as a Miya for the first time.

To date, about 20 mostly young poets have written poems, sharing them on Facebook. These include established poets as well as occasional writers, academics and activists as well as grassroots leaders, writing in English, Assamese or local dialects of Bengali.

Miya poetry has been noticed outside the community as well.

These poems have been published in online literary journals and featured at poetry readings in both Assam and Delhi.

At a recent festival celebrating the culture of Indias northeastern states in the capital Delhi, the Assamese poet and Delhi-based academic Nitoo Das singled out Miya Poetry as an important new voice in the region. Hussain recently won a prestigious grant to research the genre.

Ahmed, speaking to Al Jazeera by phone, says it wasnt just the assembly elections result which inspired him to write, but an overall anger which can no longer be ignored.

Ahmed believes decades of discrimination and torture are to blame. Although the 1983 massacre was the most deadly incident of communal violence, it did not stop there. In 2012, clashes over land led to violence between members of the indigenous Bodo tribe and Bengali-origin Muslims in Assams eastern districts, leaving dozens of people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced from both sides. In 2014, the violence occurred in a more one-sided way; militant Bodos burned the homes of Muslim families, killing dozens of people.

Proving one is Indian

Both Ahmed and Hussain refer to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in their work.

The NRC was completed in 1951 and, after that, never updated. Responding to several public petitions seeking information on and action against illegal immigrants in Assam, the Supreme Court in 2014 ordered the state government to update the NRC. Now, all residents must show documents to prove they settled in Assam before March 25, 1971, the date Bangladesh was created.

The opening stanzas of Ahmeds poem, Write Down I Am A Miya, ask if Miya is associated with hate and points out one way in which the NRC is used  as a means for Muslims of Bengali origin to prove that they are Indian citizens:

Write

Write Down

I am a Miya

My serial number in the NRC is 200543

I have two children

Another is coming

Next summer.

Will you hate him

As you hate me?

At the same time, the poem reflects the communitys fears about how the register could be misused  to disenfranchise Bengali-origin Muslims by deeming them illegal migrants if they do not possess the right documentation. Citizens who live on the chars, for instance, often travel in search of work as seasonal labourers, and dont always maintain proper documentation.

In their state election campaign, the BJP had promised to strip Muslim immigrants of voting rights and deport those who were deemed illegal migrants if it came to power.

Recently, while travelling close to the Bangladesh border, Hussain met an 83-year-old woman whose citizenship was called into question  she was declared a Doubtful Voter owing to a revision of the electoral roll. Cases such as hers are referred to courts called the Foreigners Tribunals. Sometimes, people are sent to detention camps to wait until the special courts hear their cases. There are almost 500 people in these centres, according to the news weekly India Today.

She is now mortally scared of being sent to a detention camp, Hussain says. When you see things like that, something breaks inside.

The last stanzas of Ahmeds poem anticipate a worrying spectre, wherein the angry Miya is not prepared to acquiesce any longer.

When you push people against the wall for too long, they might react in a violent way. If my community picks up guns, Assam will turn to ashes, Ahmed says, echoing the last lines of his poem:

Beware!

I have nothing but anger in stock.

Keep away!

Or

Turn to Ashes.

READ MORE: The disappearing children of Assam

Nationalistic rhetoric

In Assam, nationalistic rhetoric hasnt subsided. In October, Himanta Biswa Sarma, a powerful minister in the state government, stated at a gathering in Guwahati for the release of his new book that while Hindus from Bangladesh, where they are a minority, are welcome to take refuge in the state, Muslims are not.





Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed a similar sentiment when he campaigned in the state during the national elections of 2014. His central government is working on a new bill, the Citizenship Amendment Bill (2016), which will help illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists to become Indian citizens with greater ease. Muslims, however, have been kept out of this list, causing a stir in both Assam and Delhi.

There is a widening and sharper rift in some areas, says Hazarika, the director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in Delhi, citing the region where the recent Bodo-Muslim violence occurred as an example.

He calls this trend extremely worrisome.

According to Hazarika, a former journalist who wrote for international publications, the local media is obsessed with so-called Bangladeshis and its coverage amounts to scaremongering.

Hardly a day goes by without the word Bangladeshi being on the front pages of all local newspapers, he says.

In this political climate, Hazarika considers the poetry movement a sign of courage and welcomes it.

It should be heard in every nook and corner of Assam, he says.

READ MORE: India  Worlds wettest place suffers water shortage

More shameless, more angry

Since writing his poem in English, Hussain has translated it into Assamese and local dialects of Bengali, and translated other poems written in those languages into English.

He shares the work on a Facebook page called Itamugur, a term which refers to a tool used by farmers on the chars, where the majority of the Miya poets grew up.

While illiterate char residents may not be able to read the poems, in the opinion of Abdul Kamal Azad, a social worker operating on several chars, the words do really translate the anger of the community.

Azad is himself from a poor family, and his parents are farmers on a char. Verbal and physical abuse was part of his youth, he alleges.

When people call us Miya or Bangladeshi, there are limited options to fight back, because the state does not protect us, he says, referring to an incident from this year where a Muslim member of the state assembly was reportedly called a Bangladeshi in a derogatory way during a session.

There is a risk of Muslim youth in Assam becoming radicalised as a result, Azad says.

This is why, in 2012, he actively supported the founding of the MY-FACTS, which started working in the camps of displaced victims of the Bodo-Muslim violence.

Now, Azad works to improve the social conditions on the chars with his NGO Jhai Foundation.

Poetry can be used towards this goal, believes Azad, who co-runs Itamugur with Hussain.

Im not a poet, but I am using my network to spread these new poems, he says.

The low social status and existential insecurity of the community are topics addressed in many of these poems. But it is also often done with a mild, ironic humour, and pride, as Hussains poem demonstrates:

Now see me rise

From flood waters

Float over landslides

March through sand and marsh and snakes

Break the earth

s will draw trenches with spades

Crawl through fields of rice and diarrhoea and sugarcane

And a 10 percent literacy rate

See me shrug my shoulders curl my hair

Read two lines of poetry one formula of math

Read confusion when the bullies call me Bangladeshi

And tell my revolutionary heart

But I am a Miya

We are more shameless now, and more angry, says Hussain with a grin, adding that poems from the past were more conciliatory in tone.

They were still hopeful that the Assamese will listen to them, he says. But we do not have any such expectations. We want to draw the attention of people outside the state and even the country.
Donald Trump will assume command of a drone campaign that lacks any meaningful constraints.

President-elect Donald Trump has effectively extinguished any hope that his administration might pursue a more centrist approach to national security. His recent selection for key posts  Lieutenant General Michael Flynn (National Security Adviser), Senator Jeff Sessions (Attorney General), and Representative Mike Pompeo (CIA)  instead demonstrate what Patrick Eddington has described as a dangerous tilt towards an Islamophobia administration.

The Trump administration will not be writing on a blank slate. In January, Trump will take control of a government that has been waging war against terrorist groups for more than 15 years.

This conflict, which began as a military action against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, has morphed into a global war against a wider array of groups that includes both offshoots and associated forces of al-Qaeda.

Trump will also inherit a statute, the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), that has been interpreted and applied expansively to encompass organisations and threats that did not exist on 9/11.

Trump, who has vowed to pursue aggressively the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other armed groups, will inherit this framework.

Lack of accountability

The transition to a Trump administration is likely to have far reaching implications for US counterterrorism policy in multiple areas, including drone strikes.

The Drone Memos: Targeted Killing, Secrecy, and the Law, edited and introduced by Jameel Jaffer, highlights several of the risks ahead.

The Drone Memos assembles the legal and policy documents  many formerly secret  that provided the basis for the Obama administrations expanded use of drone strikes against suspected terrorists.

The book also includes an introduction that provides a comprehensive overview of the Obama administrations development of a legal framework to justify these strikes.

Despite his good faith efforts to ground drone warfare in law, the book underscores how Obamas legacy includes two features that could prove especially troubling in a Trump administration.

The expansive interpretation of legal authority and strong defences of secrecy wielded by a president who at least understood the risks and downsides of drone warfare will now be available to an administration that sees the world in black-and-white, rather than shades of grey. by

First, drone strikes remain shrouded in secrecy. The Obama administration, to be sure, finally released some aggregate data, including the number of noncombatants and combatants killed since 2009 in drone strikes conducted outside Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria (all characterised areas of active hostilities).

But despite promises of greater transparency, it has refused to provide more case specific information, including about the identity of targets, dates, and locations of strikes, and assessments of collateral damage.

The administration, moreover, continues to resist the release of other legal documents regarding the drone programme and to defend the significant reductions in documents that have been released (whether via government leak or through litigation), including the 11-page factual discussion in the July 2010 Office of Legal Counsel memo regarding the strike that killed American citizen Anwar al-Aulaqi in Yemen.

Such continued secrecy prevents independent examination of whether US drone strikes have complied with international law, let alone with the standards that the administration has articulated as a matter of policy.

Broad interpretation

Moreover, the Obama administration has favoured flexible guidelines over legal rules to constrain drone strikes. In May 2013, Obama issued a Presidential Policy Guidance (PPG) that stated the US would, as a matter of policy, follow strict requirements in conducting lethal strikes outside areas of active hostilities, including that targeting would remain a last resort.

Yet, the administration also hews to a legal position that would authorise the US to use drones more expansively, including through status-based strikes against members of any terrorist group falling within the AUMF anywhere in the world.

OPINION: Drones have forever changed us

Thus, while Obama has relied primarily on the AUMF for drone strikes, he has interpreted his statutory authority broadly.

Further, the president has rejected the argument that The Constitution  including the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment  places any judicially enforceable constraint on the use of lethal force in the global war on terror, including against American citizens.

Inheriting an unconstrained programme

It would be foolish to expect a Trump administration to pursue anything other than broader legal authority and greater secrecy.

Meanwhile, the more stringent policies in the PPG  a reflection of President Obamas awareness of the risks to the US in waging war by drones  are likely to fall by the wayside.

The expansive interpretation of legal authority and strong defences of secrecy wielded by a president who at least understood the risks and downsides of drone warfare will now be available to an administration that sees the world in black-and-white, rather than shades of grey.

Perhaps the Congress or federal courts, which have yet to impose limits on US drone strikes, will be more willing to do so in the face of an administration that will presumably act recklessly and in blatant disregard of legal norms (as the Supreme Court did during the Bush administration with respect to the detention and mistreatment of enemy combatants).

But, for the moment, as The Drone Memos suggests, Trump will assume command of a drone campaign that lacks any meaningful constraints that could not be lifted by the stroke of a pen.

Jonathan Hafetz is Associate Professor of Law at Seton Hall University School of Law.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Suspect in Berlin Christmas market truck attack killed in shootout in a Milan suburb, Italian minister says.

Anis Amri, the main suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack, has been killed in a shootout in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan, Italian authorities said.

Interior minister Marco Minniti told a news conference on Friday in Rome that Amri had been fatally shot after firing at police who had stopped his car for a routine identity check around 3am (02:00 GMT).

Identity checks had established without a shadow of doubt that the dead man was Amri, the minister said.

The shootout took place in Milans Sesto San Giovanni neighbourhood.

Minniti added that the suspect, a 24-year-old Tunisian, pulled out a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identity papers. A police officer was injured in the shootout.

The minister gave very few details of the police operation, saying investigations were still in progress.

He added that there could be future developments.

ISIL has claimed responsibility for Mondays attack, in which the truck drove through a crowd of people and bulldozed wooden huts selling Christmas gifts and snacks beside a famous church in west Berlin.

ISIL on Friday said in a statement on its Amaq website that the Berlin attacker  was killed in an exchange of gunfire.

The group also released a two-minute video showing Amri pledging allegiance to ISIL in a video, as he called for attacks against Crusaders.

Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked Italian authorities, expressing relief that the suspect posed no further threat.

We have also made progress this year on the very important issue of deporting Tunisian citizens who have no right to stay in Germany, Merkel said. I told the Tunisian president [Beji Caid Essebsi during a phone call] that we have to significantly speed up the deportation process and increase the number of people sent back.

One of the 12 killed in Berlin was the Polish driver from whom the lorry had been hijacked. His body, stabbed and shot, was found in the cab.

Germany had launched a Europe-wide manhunt for Amri, who was described as violent and armed.

But it emerged that he was already under investigation.

The interior minister of Germanys North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) state, Ralf Jaeger, said counterterrorism officials had exchanged information about Amri, most recently in November, and a probe had been launched suspecting he was preparing a serious act of violence against the state.

Berlin prosecutors said Amri had been suspected of planning a burglary to raise cash to buy automatic weapons, possibly to carry out an attack.

Amris brother seeks the truth

The Tunisian hometown of Berlin attack suspect Anis Amri is reeling at news that he was killed by police in Milan.

Amris brother Abdelkader told The Associated Press by telephone Friday that the family wants to find out the truth about my brother. He hung up when asked about the familys reaction to Amris death.

The family ordered a crowd outside their house to leave when news of Fridays police shootout reached the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia, according to neighbor Wiem Khemili.

Police stood guard around the impoverished town, where everyone is talking about Amri.

WATCH: Why is Germany being targeted?

Amris mother and siblings have questioned German authorities accusation that Amri was the attacker.

Al Jazeeras Dominic Kane, reporting from Berlin, said that German newspapers headlines on Friday morning threw accusations of ineptitude at authorities over the attack.

Lets remember theres a general election coming up in Germany in the not to distant future, he said. Many questions are going to ensue for the government here about what they knew about this individual, prior to the attack on Monday night.

Kane added: There are also questions over how this individual could have travelled from the capital in the northeast of Germany 1,000 kilometres across Europe, as one of the most wanted men in Europe, to Milan.
President Joseph Kabila will stay on for another year but wont stand for a third term under the proposed deal.

Congolese politicians have agreed in principle to a deal under which President Joseph Kabila leaves office by the end of next year, opposition leaders said, an unexpected breakthrough after more than 40 people died in anti-government protests this week.

However, a mediator said on Friday that an agreement was still not signed and it was unclear if it would be over the coming days.

Kabilas mandate as president of Democratic Republic of Congo expired on Tuesday, but he has remained in office as presidential elections scheduled for last month were postponed until at least April 2018.





In return for Kabila staying on for another year, the constitution will not be changed to let him stand for a third term, and a prime minister will be named from the main opposition bloc.

Opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi will oversee implementation of the deal, politicians Martin Fayulu and Jose Endundo told Reuters news agency.

Kabila stays for one year, Fayulu said. He will not try to stand for a new term.

A government spokesman declined to comment on the agreement.

If the deal does succeed, it would be a major achievement for the Catholic church, which has been mediating talks in an attempt to prevent Democratic Republic of Congo sliding back into years of anarchy and civil war.

Millions were killed in wars between 1996 and 2003.

Church leaders have presented the talks as a last ditch effort to prevent violence spinning out of control after a bloody week that saw protesters killed and deadly clashes between various ethnic militia across the country.

At least 40 people were killed and another 460 arrested this week during protests against Kabilas refusal to leave office, the UN said on Friday.

Some 107 people have been injured or ill-treated and there have been at least 460 arrests, the UN human rights office said in Geneva.

More than two dozen people killed in DRC protests

Kabila has declined to commit publicly to not changing the constitution to extend his term, leading many to conclude this is what he secretly wants to do.

Questions still surround the proposed agreement.

On Friday morning a source in the Congo National Episcopal Conference, which is presiding over the negotiations, told AFP news agency tersely: There have been complications.

A mediator subsequently said the signature could now be between Christmas and the New Year.

DR Congo has never witnessed a democratic transfer of power following polls since independence from Belgium in 1960.
Security officials say Mahmoud Hussein is accused of attempting to overthrow President Abdel Fatah el-Sisis government.

An Al Jazeera news producer has been arrested in Egypt over accusations of attempting to overthrow the government and being a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, Reuters news agency said quoting three security sources.





Mahmoud Hussein was arrested at his Cairo home on Friday, Al Jazeera Media Network confirmed, but it was not known where he was being held.

Al Jazeera strongly denies all accusations against Hussein.

Al Jazeera holds Egyptian authorities responsible for the safety of Hussein and is calling for his immediate release, the Qatar-based network said in a statement.

Hussein, who lives in the capital Doha, used to work in Egypt before Al Jazeera closed its office there in 2013.

He was questioned for more than 15 hours at Cairos airport on Tuesday after arriving for a vacation, security sources told The Associated Press news agency.

State security also stormed the homes of Husseins two brothers and arrested them.

WATCH: How far will Egypt go in attacking media freedoms?

Officials from the Interior Ministry were not immediately available for comment.

Egyptian authorities have over the past few years arrested several Al Jazeera employees, raising concerns over media freedom in the country.

In May, a Cairo court recommended the death penalty against Ibrahim Helal and Alaa Omar Mohamed Sablan, charging them in absentia with endangering national security.

Al Jazeeras Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste  along with seven colleagues outside the country  were accused of spreading false news during their coverage of demonstrations against a military overthrow of then-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the year they went into custody.

Al Jazeera journalists freed from Egypt prison

Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy spent 437 days in jail before being released. Greste spent more than a year in prison.

There has been a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood since the army takeover in 2013 stripped Morsi  a prominent member of the group  of power following mass protests against his rule.

Thousands of Brotherhood supporters, including Morsi, are in jail and Egypt has designated the group, which says it is non-violent, as a terrorist organisation.
Egypt agreed to postpone a vote on a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements after US President-elect Donald Trump called President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Egyptian presidents office said.

Egypt had circulated the draft late on Wednesday, demanding Israel halt settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, and a vote was initially scheduled for Thursday.

But it requested that the resolution be postponed after Israel launched a frantic lobbying effort, including calls from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the US to use its veto power at the Security Council to block the resolution.

On Friday, Sisis spokesman said the two leaders agreed to allow Trumps incoming administration a chance to tackle the issue.





During the call, they discussed regional affairs and developments in the Middle East, and in that context the draft resolution in front of the Security Council on Israeli settlement, said spokesman Alaa Yousef.

The presidents agreed on the importance of affording the new US administration the full chance to deal with all dimensions of the Palestinian case with a view of achieving a full and final settlement.

A similar resolution was vetoed by the US in 2011.

Earlier, diplomats from New Zealand, Venezuela, Malaysia and Senegal told Egypt that if it did not clarify on whether it planned to call the vote, they would press ahead without Cairos involvement.

Trump, who campaigned on a promise to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital, had called on Washington to use its veto to block the resolution.

The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed, the Republican said in a statement released hours ahead of the scheduled vote.

OPINION: Trump and Israel

As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations.

This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis, Trump added.

Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and seen as a major stumbling block to peace efforts as they are built on Palestinian land occupied by Israel.

The United Nations maintains settlements are illegal, but UN officials have reported a surge in construction over the past months.

Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel occupied in a 1967 war.

Israel disputes that settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in any future talks on Palestinian statehood.
Four UN council members press Egypt to go ahead with UN Security Council vote demanding an end to Israeli settlements.

Four UN council members have given Egypt an ultimatum on whether it plans to go ahead with a vote demanding an end to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Diplomats from New Zealand, Venezuela, Malaysia and Senegal told Egypt late on Thursday that if it did not clarify on whether it planned to call a vote on a draft UN Security Council resolution demanding an end to settlements, they would press ahead without Cairos involvement.

Egypt had circulated the draft late on Wednesday and a vote was initially scheduled for Thursday.

In the event that Egypt decides it cannot proceed to call for vote on December 23 or does not provide a response by the deadline, those delegations reserve the right to table the draft  and proceed to put it to vote ASAP, the four council members said in a note to Egypt, seen by the Reuters news agency.

Hours before the UN Security Council was about to vote on the draft resolution, US President-elect Donald Trump weighed in and said the United States should veto the measure.

Egypt then requested a delay to the vote to allow time for consultations, but no new time or date has been scheduled.

OPINION: Trump and Israel

James Zogby, the president of the Arab American Institute, told Al Jazeera that Egypts decision could impact years of work trying to make progress in the Middle East.

Knowing that the Obama administration was not going to restart the peace process, we told them that the least they could do is resurface the issue surrounding the illegality of settlements, something which hasnt been said since the Carter administration.

But the Egyptians pulled the rug out from under this proposal and there is now a black stain on Egypt. Zogby said.

Trump, who campaigned on a promise to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital, bluntly said Washington should use its veto to block the resolution.

Peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations, the Republican said in a statement released hours ahead of the scheduled vote.

This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis, Trump added.

OPINION: Stephen Bannon and disarming Israel

Al Jazeeras Abderrahim Foukara, reporting from Washington DC, said there was a huge dissonance over the issue between the administration of President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump.

You have this tug of war between the Obama administration and the next administration over what the next steps should be. Donald Trump has made it quite clear that he does not want the United States to vote against the settlements but at the end of the day it is Obama who is still officially the President [of the] United States.

Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and seen as major stumbling block to peace efforts as they are built on Palestinian land occupied by Israel.

The United Nations maintains settlements are illegal, but UN officials have reported a surge in construction over the past months.

Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel occupied in a 1967 war.

Israel disputes that settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in any future talks on Palestinian statehood.

OPINION: Five reasons why the US-Israel military deal stinks

Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said Obama should push for the resolution to pass before leaving office.

The Israeli government is violating international law, by doing so it is undermining the whole status of Israel, he told Al Jazeera.

If there is somebody to be blamed, it is the Israeli government  I do hope that President Obama will listen to us and at least allow this resolution to pass. He has failed us in the past. He promised he would ask Israel to stop settlement activities and he failed to do so for eight years, Barghouti said.
West African states pledge to intervene militarily if Yahya Jammeh does not step down by January 19 after election loss.

West African leaders will send troops into The Gambia if its longtime ruler, who lost in recent elections, does not step down next month, the president of the Economic Community of West African States said on Friday.

Marcel de Souza told reporters the regional bloc has chosen Senegal to lead any military intervention if President Yahya Jammeh does not hand over power.

The deadline is January 19, when the mandate of Jammeh expires, de Souza said. If he doesnt go, we have a standby force, which is already on alert. And its this standby force that should be able to intervene to restore the will of the people.

This would not be the first time the bloc has intervened in a regional crisis. De Souza spoke to reporters in Bamako, Mali, even as ECOWAS continues to use diplomacy to get Jammeh to accept his December 1 defeat.

READ MORE: Defiant Gambian president refuses to step aside

Jammeh at first shocked Gambians by accepting the loss, but announced a week later that he had changed his mind. He said irregularities in the vote count made him question the win of Adama Barrow, a little-known businessman who was the opposition coalition candidate.

Troops seized the office of Gambias electoral commission after Jammehs later announcement, and he has mobilised troops across the tiny country that is almost completely surrounded by Senegal.

The UN Security Council this week urged Gambian security forces to demonstrate maximum restraint and again pressed Jammeh to accept defeat.

The UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, called the troop deployment deeply worrying, given the record of human rights violations in 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.

Jammeh took power in a coup 22 years ago.
Aircraft with 118 people on board hijacked by men claiming to have hand grenades who threatened to blow it up.

A Libyan aircraft with 118 people on board has been hijacked and diverted to Malta by two men claiming to have hand grenades who threatened to blow up the aircraft unless their demands were met.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in all 109 passengers had been released by Friday evening, which would leave only two passengers, possibly the hijackers themselves. Seven crew members were also on board the flight.

One of the hijackers told the flight crew of the Afriqiyah Airways plane that he was pro-Gaddafi. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

It was unclear what the demands were.

Hours after landing, people could be seen disembarking from the aircraft.

Tim Diacono, a journalist from Malta Today, told Al Jazeera the hijackers had grenades and threatened to blow the plane up.





We dont know what the demands are, but the negotiations are under way, Diacono said. There are people leaving the airplane as we speak, so it looks like it is being resolved peacefully, but its still too early to tell.

The last major hijacking on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.

Security personnel took up positions a few hundred metres from the plane as it sat on the tarmac on Friday.

Malta-based journalist Karl Stagno-Navarra said one of the hijackers appeared at the exit door of the plane waving a large green flag  similar to the old Libyan flag under Gaddafis rule. After a few moments he put the flag down and returned inside.

This is not an issue of international terrorism, this is an issue of internal feud that is still ongoing in Libya, Stagno-Navarra said. It looks like the situation is quite tranquil and under control even though the aircraft is surrounded by the local security forces.

All passengers aboard the plane were in good health, an unnamed official at the Libyan foreign ministry told the state news agency LANA.

The prime ministers office confirmed a negotiating team was at Malta International Airport.

The #Afriqiyah flight from #Sabha to #Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in #Malta. Security services coordinating operations.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take about two hours.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane was diverted towards Malta, but turned back as far as Libyan airspace before changing course again and flying to the Mediterranean island, an airline official said.

According to radar information the plane was going to Malta, then it flew back as far as Tripoli airspace, then it turned back towards Malta again, said Farouk al-Wifati, the head of the Afriqiyah Airways office in Tripolis Mitiga airport, where the flight was due to land.

Malta is about 500km north of the Libyan coast.

Prime Minister Muscat also tweeted the passengers on board the plane included 82 men, 28 women and one infant.

UN launches new round of Libya peace talks

The pilot of the Afriqiyah Airways plane told the control tower the aircraft had been hijacked, a senior security official at the airport said.

The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him, the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused.

Reports said the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu, an ethnic group present in southern Libya from where the plane departed.
Aircraft with 118 people on board was hijacked by men claiming to have hand grenades who threatened to blow it up.

Two hijackers of a Libyan aircraft with 118 people on board surrendered to authorities on the island of Malta hours after claiming to have hand grenades and threatening to blow the plane up unless their demands were met.

Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter that all passengers and crew had been safely released by Friday evening.

The hijackers, Muscat said, had surrendered and been searched and taken [into] custody.

The prime minister said the hijackers had one pistol and one hand grenade on them, and a second handgun was later found on the plane.

In a later statement, the government said initial forensic investigations showed that the weapons used by the hijackers were identical replica weapons  imitation weapons that may not actually fire, but are difficult to distinguish visually from real guns.

One of the hijackers told the flight crew of the Afriqiyah Airways plane that he was pro-Gaddafi. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

Libya passenger jet hijacked, diverted to Malta

Mohamed Taher Siala, Libyan foreign minister, confirmed the two hijackers were supporters of the slain dictator Gaddafi and had requested political asylum in Malta.

Siala, from Libyas internationally backed Government of National Accord, said the hijackers also said they want to set up a pro-Gaddafi political party.

Hours after landing, people could be seen disembarking from the aircraft.

Tim Diacono, a journalist from Malta Today, told Al Jazeera the hijackers had grenades and threatened to blow the plane up.





The last major hijacking on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an EgyptAir plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.

Security personnel took up positions a few hundred metres from the plane as it sat on the tarmac on Friday.

Malta-based journalist Karl Stagno-Navarra said one of the hijackers had appeared at the door of the plane waving a large green flag  similar to the old Libyan flag under Gaddafis rule. After a few moments, he put the flag down and returned inside.

This is not an issue of international terrorism, this is an issue of internal feud that is still ongoing in Libya, Stagno-Navarra said.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take about two hours.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane was diverted towards Malta, but turned back as far as Libyan airspace before changing course again and flying to the Mediterranean island, an airline official said.

UN launches new round of Libya peace talks

Malta is about 300km north of the Libyan coast.

Prime Minister Muscat also tweeted that the passengers on board the plane included 82 men, 28 women and one infant.

The pilot of the Afriqiyah Airways plane told the control tower the aircraft had been hijacked, a senior security official at the airport said.

The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him, the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination, but they refused.

Reports said the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu, an ethnic group present in southern Libya from where the plane departed.
Headless body of Shu Nar Myar found after he spoke to media during rare government-guided tour of restive Rakhine state.

The headless body of a Muslim villager has been found days after he spoke to reporters on a rare government-guided media tour of restive northern Rakhine state, Myanmar police said on Friday.

Police did not give a motive for the killing of the 41-year-old man, whose body was found floating in a river, but said he spoke to Burmese journalists on Wednesday in Ngakhura village.

On Thursday his family said he had disappeared after giving interviews to journalists, Police Colonel Thet Naing in Maungdaw town told AFP news agency.

READ MORE: Who are the Rohingya?

This afternoon [Friday] I got the report his headless body was found We have confirmed from villagers that it is him, he said.

Myanmar soldiers have taken control of the dangerous and remote region bordering Bangladesh since October 9 when armed men raided police posts, killing nine officers.

Troops have killed more than 80 people in Rakhine since the start of crackdown, according to official figures.

Conflict analysts at the International Crisis Group say fighters behind the border post attacks have also killed several Rohingya informers perceived to be working with Myanmar authorities.

At least 34,000 Rohingya Muslims have since fled to Bangladesh, taking with them allegations of mass-killings, rape, and torture at the hands of Myanmars security forces.

The Myanmar government has vigorously denied the accusations, setting off the latest war of words over a stateless minority whose status is one of the countrys most incendiary issues.

Rare media tour

In a statement Friday, the presidents office confirmed that a man  whom they identified as Shu Nar Myar  had been killed, adding he had denied stories of military abuse when speaking to the reporters.

Shu Nar Myar is the one who revealed that there was no case of arson by the military and police forces, no rape and no unjust arrests, the statement said.

Two Burmese reporters, who did not want to be named, told AFP they interviewed the man on Wednesday at his village and had been contacted by police to say he was missing.

The rare media tour of the area  open only to Burmese journalists  was organised by the government amid mounting pressure on de-facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to allow access to the conflict zone.





Her government has responded to growing international alarm over the crisis with a dogged information campaign aimed at batting back reports of military abuse.

Northern Rakhine has been under lockdown for more than two months since the hundreds of armed men launched surprise attacks on border posts.

The International Crisis Group says the attackers are from a Saudi-backed group called Harakah al-Yaqin, which emerged after a wave of sectarian violence cut through Rakhine in 2012.

The Rohingya have languished under years of dire poverty and discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship.

The United Nations and other rights groups have repeatedly called on Myanmar to grant them full rights, describing the Rohingya as one of the worlds most persecuted minorities.
UN says new rebel group known as 3R is responsible for rapes and mass displacements in Central African Republic.

A recently formed rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR) is wreaking havoc in the western half of the country, displacing thousands and emptying towns and villages in a country already hit hard by instability.

The Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation group, or 3R, was formed in late 2015 and has displaced at least 30,000 people in the Ouham Pende region in CAR, debilitating relief efforts in the region, the United Nations told Al Jazeera on Thursday.

Approximately 15,000 fled [from Koui in Ouham Pende] to the neighbouring town of Bocaranga and another 15,000 have not been identified yet  they sought refuge in the bush and along the axis leading to Bocaranga, Yaye Nabo Sene, spokesperson at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the capital, Bangui, said.

Sene said that overall, some 70,000 people have been displaced across CAR since September, due to ongoing clashes between armed groups vying for regional control.

The UNs comments come two days after Human Rights Watch (HRW) described the emergence of a new rebel group operating in the western parts of the country.

The watchdog accused the group of killing at least 50 people and displacing another 17,000 in a series of campaigns launched across the region between November 21 and 27. Two months earlier, the group allegedly raided the town of De Gaulle, killing 17 people and raping up to 43 women and girls.

The emergence of 3R comes at a time of rising tensions and insecurity in the towns of Kaga-Bandoro, Bria, and Bambari.

Who are the 3R rebel group? The group is reportedly led by General Sidiki Abass.

Formed in late 2015, it claims to be protecting Muslim Puehl herders. Formed in late 2015, it claims to be protecting Muslim Puehl herders. According to HRW, the group is responsible for rape and mass looting of villages. There is no documented alliance between 3R and the Seleka rebels.

The 3R group was initially formed to protect the minority Puehl population from attacks by Christian Anti-Balaka militias and is reportedly made up of mostly Muslim cattle herders.

According to Lewis Mudge, Africa researcher at HRW, the group now has hundreds of well-armed fighters who control territory near Cameroons border.

While details about the new group remain vague, Mudge says early research suggests a sectarian dimension to the fighting insomuch as 3R is a result of violence perpetrated against Muslim Peuhl by the Anti-Balaka.

However, as with the rest of the crisis, things do not fit into neat categories. Based on our research, 3Rs claim to be protecting Muslims is a pretext. They seem to be a Cameroonian or Central African group whose real goal is to profit from the crisis, Mudge said.

Likewise, Richard Moncrieff, Central Africa Project Director of International Crisis Group (ICG) based in Nairobi, said that armed groups tend to pick up on grievances of a community, many of which are quite legitimate. But this does not mean they in any way represent that community.

The Central African Republic descended into political chaos in March 2013 when Muslim-led Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian nation.

It is now becoming apparent that the election of the start of the year did little to solve the underlying issues that have allowed armed groups to take hold by Richard Moncrieff, ICG

Former President Francois Bozize was deposed in a move that prompted a series of reprisal attacks from Christian and animist militia. Both Anti-Balaka and Seleka groups have been accused of widespread human rights abuse against civilians, including murder, sexual violence, and mass displacement.

CAR has seen intermittent violence over the past three years. Despite the gains and installation of a new government in February, violence remains cyclical.

It is now becoming apparent that the election of the start of the year did little to solve the underlying issues that have allowed armed groups to take hold  a criminalised economy, widespread exclusion and social grievance and a total incapacity of the state to impose its will, Moncrief told Al Jazeera.

UN officers reportedly told HRW on November 26 that they are trying to conduct as many patrols as possible with the combat-ready men they have, but admit that both the 3R and Anti-Balaka are emboldened to circulate freely with their guns.

Bangui is seen as relatively secure with the majority of the UN mission stationed there. But rural areas remain mostly lawless and ruled by a litany of armed fighters, known to tax and harass the civilian population.

As recently as October, tensions in the town of Kaga Bandero in northern CAR led to the suspension of humanitarian work in the area.

More than 20,000 people were forced to flee to a UN base to seek safety and shelter after an IDP camp in the town was attacked.

The UN says that the relief efforts in CAR remain underfunded; only 36 percent of the 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan was financed.
The UN Security Council rejected a US-drafted resolution on imposing an arms embargo and more sanctions on South Sudan in a setback to proponents who said the measure could help mitigate a four-year-long conflict that some UN officials warned could escalate into a genocide.

The measure garnered only seven votes in favour in the 15-member council on Friday, while eight countries including Russia, China and Japan abstained. Nine votes and no veto are required for resolutions to be adopted by the council.

The United States, backed by Britain and France, had argued that cutting off the arms flow was urgently needed following UN warnings of a risk of mass atrocities.





But Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and, more importantly, the three African council members  Angola, Egypt and Senegal  were not swayed and they all abstained.

The council members who didnt support this resolution are taking a big gamble that South Sudans leaders will not instigate a catastrophe, US ambassador Samantha Power told the council after the vote.

It is the people of South Sudan who will pay an unbearable price.

The worlds youngest nation, South Sudan, descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 3.1 million people displaced.

READ MORE: UN: South Sudan on brink of ethnic civil war

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council that he feared genocide was about to start in South Sudan unless immediate action is taken, renewing his months-long plea for an arms embargo.

South Sudans UN ambassador, Akuei Bona Malwal, said such descriptions were exaggerated and did not reflect the reality on the ground. Earlier this month South Sudans President Salva Kiir denied reports that ethnic conflict was so severe in the country that it risked escalating to genocide.

The outcome of the vote was a setback for the US, which helped South Sudan gain independence in 2011, but has been unable to steer the country away from a war that erupted two years later.

Power also said the US was prepared to push for another vote on an arms embargo in the future.

Aside from the arms embargo, the US had sought to put rebel leader Reik Machar, army chief Paul Malong and information minister Michael Makuei on a sanctions blacklist, subjecting them to an assets freeze and a global travel ban.

A joint statement issued by seven non-government organisations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and The Enough Project, has condemned the UNs failure to adopt the resolution.

READ MORE: Wau displaced tell of death and horrifying escapes

South Sudanese civilians had a reasonable expectation that the Security Council would make good on its long-standing threat to impose an arms embargo and extend sanctions to some of the senior leaders who have been responsible for grave human rights abuses, said John Prendergast, founding director of the Enough Project. I can only imagine their frustration with todays vote.

The statement cited how the African Union and UN investigators have documented war crimes, including killings and rape of civilians, and forced recruitments of child soldiers by opposing groups.

In the last few months, there has been an increase in incitement to violence, hate speech by senior leaders, and targeting of civilians, sometimes based on ethnicity, in parts of the country that were previously untouched by the civil war, the statement said.

The Security Council had an opportunity to show that it stands with the civilian victims of this conflict, said Akshaya Kumar, deputy United Nations director at Human Rights Watch.

Instead, this failure gives the warring parties in South Sudan a green light to buy more weapons and materiel that will end up being used against civilians.

On the other side, Japan, which has some 350 troops serving in the UN mission in South Sudan, had warned the resolution would have antagonised Kiirs government and put peacekeepers lives at risk.

Opponents of the sanctions pointed to Kiirs call earlier this month for a national dialogue to restore peace, saying that initiative must be given a chance.
US abstains in demanding Israel to halt settlements on Palestinian land, allowing Security Council to pass resolution.

The UN Security Council has voted in favour of a resolution demanding the halt of settlement activity by Israel on occupied Palestinian territory with the United States notably abstaining.

The resolution was put forward at the 15-member council for a vote on Friday by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal, a day after Egypt withdrew it under pressure from Israel and US president-elect Donald Trump.

Israel and Trump had called on the US to veto the measure.

This is a day of victory for international law, a victory for civilised language and negotiation and a total rejection of extremist forces in Israel, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters news agency.

The international community has told the people of Israel that the way to security and peace is not going to be done through occupation  but rather through peace, ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state to live side by side with the state of Israel on the 1967 line, Erekat said.

READ MORE: UN votes on ending Israeli settlements

The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favour to a resounding round of applause. It is the first resolution the Security Council has adopted on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.

Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms, a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The United States abstention was the biggest rebuke in recent history to long-standing ally Israel, allowing the Security Council to condemn its settlements and continuing construction in Palestinian territory as a flagrant violation of international law.

The resolution said Israels settlements on Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity.

It demanded a halt to all Israeli settlement activities, saying this is essential for salvaging the two-state solution.





Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had backtracked on the move to condemn Israels settlement policy on Thursday after receiving a phone call from US president-elect Donald Trump, who spoke out in favour of a US veto.

Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said his government had expected a US veto of this disgraceful resolution.

I have no doubt that the new US administration and the incoming UN secretary-general will usher in a new era in terms of the UNs relationship with Israel, said Danon after the vote.

Trump said in a tweet: As to the UN, things will be different after Jan 20th.

Trump is likely to be a more staunch supporter of Netanyahus right-wing policies. He named a hardline, pro-settlement ambassador to Israel and vowed to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

READ MORE: Trump  US should veto UN Israel settlement resolution

Israeli settlements are seen as a major stumbling block to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

The United Nations maintains that settlements are illegal, but UN officials have reported a surge in construction over the past months.

Yuval Steinitz, Israeli energy minister, accused the US of abandoning Israel by abstaining.

This is not a resolution against settlements, it is an anti-Israel resolution, against the Jewish people and the state of the Jews. The United States tonight has simply abandoned its only friend in the Middle East, Steinitz, who is close to Netanyahu, told Channel Two News.

Some 430,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the West Bank and a further 200,000 Israelis live in occupied East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.

READ MORE: Egypt  Trump convinced Sisi to withdraw UN resolution

The passage of the resolution changes nothing on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians, and likely will be all but ignored by the incoming Trump administration.





But it was more than merely symbolic.

The resolution formally enshrined the international communitys disapproval of Israeli settlement building and could spur further Palestinian moves against Israel in international forums.

Sharif Nashashibi, a London-based analyst of Arab political affairs, told Al Jazeera he feared the vote will be just one of many UN resolutions that Israel will flout.

We dont have any mechanism to put tangible pressure on Israel to abide by this resolution, so I fear that despite the passing of this resolution, the Security Council has still proved itself largely irrelevant to this conflict, Nashashibi said.

Before the vote, a senior Israeli official said if adopted there was zero chance the Israeli government would abide by the measure. Under the UN Charter, UN member states agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.
Egypt withdrew resolution on Thursday, but UN Security Council is voting Friday now after nations revived it.

The UN Security Council is voting on Friday on a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, a day after Egypt withdrew the measure under pressure from Israel and US president-elect Donald Trump.

New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal, who were co-sponsors of the draft resolution, have requested the vote, which diplomats said was to take place at 1900GMT.

The 15-member council had been due to vote on Thursday and western officials said the United States would allow the draft resolution to be adopted, which would be a major reversal of US practice of protecting Israel from action.

Egypt: Trump convinced Sisi to withdraw UN resolution

The US intention to abstain sparked criticism from the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an acrimonious relationship with President Barack Obama.





Netanyahu and Trump had both called for the United States to veto the draft resolution.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the Republican president-elect spoke with Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about the proposed Security Council action on Thursday.

Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called on Washington to stand by Israel.

In one of the harshest personal attacks by Netanyahus government, a senior Israeli official said Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry pushed a shameful draft anti-settlement resolution at the UN Security Council.

The White House declined to comment.

Trump: US should veto UN Israel settlement resolution

President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was discussing behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity.

The US administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israels back.

He called it an abandonment of Israel, which breaks decades of US policy of protecting Israel at the UN.

A senior US official denied Israeli accusations that the United States was behind the effort.

Contrary to some claims, the administration was not involved in formulating the resolution, nor have we promoted it, the official told Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity.

Wael Abu Youssef, a senior member of the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization, told Reuters news agency that Netanyahus government must not be rewarded by the withdrawal of the draft resolution.

We are determined to go to the Security Council to seek a decision against settlements, Abu Youssef said.

Egypt given ultimatum on Israeli settlements vote

The draft resolution would demand Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and says the establishment of settlements by Israel has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.

A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted.

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem  areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. Most countries and the UN view Israeli West Bank settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Israel disputes that settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of US-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014.

A senior Israeli official said on Thursday that if another sponsoring country went ahead with the anti-settlement resolution and it won Security Council approval, there was zero chance the Israeli government would abide by the measure.
Ramallah, occupied West Bank  Last month, Mashvisor became the first Palestinian company to get into the 500 Startups programme, a prestigious Silicon Valley venture capital seed fund that accepts very few of its more than 8,000 applicants a year.

Mashvisor helps find the best real-estate properties in the United States to invest in. But the online platform differs from others in at least two ways: It analyses and presents the data quickly, reducing a research process that usually takes three months to 15 minutes. Also, its creators are Palestinian, providing real-estate information in easy-to-understand visualisations from their base in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Mashvisor was born less than two years ago, developed from a personal experience of cofounder and CEO Peter Abualzolof. When he was living in San Francisco, he sought investment opportunities in the US. Realising how complicated and time-consuming the process was, he saw the need for a valuable tool that would help with the research.

He partnered with Mohammed Jebrini, Mashvisors cofounder and chief technology officer, to create a tool to find traditional and short-term investment properties and optimise their rental performance. Their startup was backed by the Ramallah-based Ibtikar Fund, which invests in innovative Palestinian companies at their earliest stages.

Today, Mashvisor employs nine people  seven on a full-time basis, with women making up a third of the team. Al Jazeera spoke with Abualzolof about Mashvisors achievements and the challenges facing the Palestinian start-up scene.

READ MORE: Startup aims to reshape aid structure for Palestine

Al Jazeera: Mashvisor is relatively new but has made some considerable achievements in a small time period. What implications are there for Mashvisor to get the support of the American 500 Startups venture capital fund?

Peter Abualzolof: We secured our first investment of $200,000 from Ibtikar Fund in January 2016. In May 2016, we were able to release our second version of our platform that has allowed us to [increase] our revenue by 20 to 25 percent month over month. [And] in October 2016, we were the first startup from Palestine to be accepted into the 500 Startups seed fund in Silicon Valley.

We see 500 Startups as a valuable partner in our success. We plan to utilise their network and community to continue the success of Mashvisor. Our decision to accept the 500 Startups offer was more for strategic reasons than financial. Were confident in their abilities to support our success.

Al Jazeera: Why did you decide to analyse the US market specifically?

Abualzolof: There were many reasons for us to focus on the US market. I personally understood the US real-estate market more than other parts of the world. It was something that Im familiar with, so it wasnt much of a challenge to put the structure together.

Real-estate data in the US is digitalised more than anywhere else in the world, making it accessible to our team. [Also], the US real-estate market is the most stable and in demand in the world. Its a market that were confident will allow us to build a company at a large scale. We already have international customers that are interested in using our platform to find real-estate investments in the US. We have customers using Mashvisor in China, the UK and other parts of the world.

Al Jazeera: What were some of the difficulties leading up to Mashvisors creation?

Abualzolof: The biggest difficulties were fundraising for our first investment. When we started to fundraise, we were limited to either the local accelerator or the VC (venture capital). We wanted to keep operations in Palestine and to do so, we knew we needed a Palestinian investor.

The local accelerator, FastForward, couldnt offer us enough funds to grow and we were still too early for the VC that invests $1m and above. Thankfully, Ibtikar Fund was established to invest around that time and we were able to agree on terms to receive our first investment of $200,000.

Al Jazeera: How has the political situation and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip affected your work?

Abualzolof: The advantage of tech startups is the virtual market. The virtual market has no walls, roadblocks, checkpoints and overall very little restrictions. We operate no differently than a Silicon Valley startup. The only real difference is the physical location of our startup.

Were determined to succeed and proudly represent Palestine. We dont allow the situation to affect our work. Also, the greatest part of a web-based startup is that you can build a successful company with a laptop and an internet connection.

Al Jazeera: Do you think startups are the way for Palestinians to excel, given they exist in a virtual market?

Abualzolof: I believe that its one opportunity for Palestine to develop an independent economy. As I mentioned before, the greatest part of a tech startup is the ability to succeed by simply having a laptop and an internet connection.

A good portion of the Palestinian population is connected to the internet and have access to a laptop, if not their own. Im aware of many independent freelancers in Palestine that are starting to outsource their skills to countries around the world from the comfort of their home. Now, its just a matter of time that these individuals come together to start companies at a large scale. We hope to be an inspiration for these people.

Al Jazeera: Some compare Palestinian startups to Israeli ones, saying they lag behind. What are your thoughts on that? Is that even a fair comparison?

Abualzolof: Tel Aviv is considered one of the top startup ecosystems in the world behind Silicon Valley. Their tech community started in the early 1980s with support from their government and other entities.

The Palestinian startup ecosystem is fairly new  Were still in the early years of developing the ecosystem and I can proudly say that were starting strong. Compare Palestine to [any other] ecosystem at a similar stage and youll see that Palestine is on the right path.

Comparing ecosystems that are in different stages is like comparing Facebook with a startup that just received their first million in funding. The startup has the potential to be bigger than Facebook, but still needs time to evolve.
We debate the worrying trend of increasingly open anti-Semitism among the radical right and the left.

Its been called the worlds oldest hatred. In back-to-back debates in this UpFront special, we discuss anti-Semitism.

In the first debate, a panel explores the rise  or return  of anti-Semitism among the far right, and discusses if Donald Trumps election has emboldened those attitudes.

And in the second debate, we discuss anti-Semitism among the left, and the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.

Part 1: Anti-Semitism on the political right

Since Donald Trumps election victory in November, anti-Semitic attacks have been on the rise in the US, with swastikas and other Nazi imagery increasingly popping up.

Has far-right anti-Semitism been energised by Trumps election win?

Its not so much that this anti-Semitism didnt exist before; it probably did exist but it was under the radar, says Haaretz senior columnist Chemi Shalev. The candidacy of Donald Trump brought forth or emboldened all sorts of anti-Semitic and anti-Jewish groups who nobody paid attention to any more.

Hadas Gold, a media reporter for Politico magazine, says: Some of my colleagues got actual letters to their personal addresses at home  it was rather frightening. I mean, its never pleasant to see your face with a bullet hole through it. These direct threats were something new, and they were almost always directly connected to Donald Trump.

In the first part of this UpFront special, Chemi Shalev and Hadas Gold discuss the troubling resurgence of anti-Semitism among the hard right.

Part 2: Anti-Semitism on the political left

With anti-Semitism on the rise across parts of Europe, is it something the left and supporters of the Palestinians need to tackle urgently, or is anti-Semitism being used and abused by supporters of Israel?

Just because sometimes not all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic or anti-Jewish, doesnt mean that it never is, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland, who also writes for The Jewish Chronicle. Sometimes it is, the way its expressed. If it borrows from or draws on the language or imagery of old style anti-Jewish prejudice, then it is.

Israeli-Canadian Lisa Goldman, cofounder of the left-wing Israeli journal 972, says: I do see it on the rise in Europe on the left, but the crude anti-Semitism Im seeing comes from the radical right.

Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Noura Erakat, who is also an author and academic, says: I think that obviously there is a misunderstanding thats constructed. But at the end of the day, those who are part of a movement against Zionism are part of a liberatory movement not only for Palestinians, but it has an emancipator potential for Jewish people as well.

In the second part of this UpFront special, Jonathan Freedland, Lisa Goldman and Noura Erakat debate anti-Semitism among the political left.

Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook.
Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
The idea of a separate "IT budget" for banks may soon go the way of the passbook: a relic no longer relevant to the industry.

Technology spending in banking has changed dramatically in the past five years or so. A bank's IT budget used to be dedicated largely to maintaining infrastructure to keep the business running. Now, with the industry pursuing digital transformation and growth in mobile channels, areas of the bank that typically weren't involved in tech spending in years past are now spending on technology initiatives managed outside the IT department.

As a result, bankers should be thinking about tech spend as it pertains to all areas of the bank, as opposed to a solitary discipline, some say.

"The rise of digital is really changing what it means to be a bank," said Stephen Greer, an analyst with Celent.

Banks face a conundrum when it comes to tech spending, he said; they still have to spend more each year to maintain infrastructure and run compliance and security technology while also investing in the digital services necessary to remain competitive. At the same time, CEOs and boards are always looking at ways to control costs, and if they see simply that the technology budget is rising  without explanation of how those dollars are carved up  it can result in orders to cut tech spending as a whole.

One way to adapt is to move "budget and reporting lines to customer segment or journey owners," as a Forrester report from November put it. The report predicted that "a handful of leaders" would move in this direction in 2017.

At USAA, for example, "the experience owner has an end-to-end view and ownership of the technical capabilities that enable the customer experiences," said Kim Snipes, the chief information officer for the company's banking business. "That business ownership naturally incents a behavior of maximizing the technology investment to cover the continuum of innovation through enhancements to maintenance of existing capabilities."

This approach brings "accountability" to technology spending, Snipes said, and allows bank personnel to "prioritize the various types of investment to bring about the best outcome for the customer and the business."

Greer agreed that this method could help banks allocate tech spending better at a time when technology budgets keep rising.

"Then you can have a better idea of what's being spent on maintenance and running the bank and what's being spent on real innovation and new initiatives," he said.

Banks that still look at IT budgets as a stand-alone entity run the risk of becoming "dinosaurs," Frank Sorrentino, CEO of Englewood, N.J.-based ConnectOne Bank, told American Banker in October.

"It should be baked into all your [internal] budgets," he said.

Even with such a model, banks still need to manage every dollar efficiently, Greer said, and they need to look carefully at what they might cut in other areas to enable more spending on technology.

He said larger banks  which he defined as those with $20 billion in assets and above  have more leeway to cut from other areas to add to technology; they can close branches, eliminate some branch staff functions and cut back-office costs, such as by getting rid of mainframes and instead using hosted cloud storage solutions. But it's the smaller banks that will find it harder to do more with less as they have less to potentially do away with.

"They're generally running leaner operations anyway," Greer said. "They have [fewer] branches and there's not a lot of excess in the back office to be cut."

However, smaller banks do have one advantage in that the money they have to spent on things like cybersecurity and anti-money-laundering technology is far less than the larger banks, since they deal with fewer transactions per day and are not as attractive a target for hackers, said Gilles Gade, CEO of Cross River Bank in Fort Lee, N.J.

"A small community bank in Nebraska is not going to have to spend as much [on these systems] as a JPMorgan Chase," he said.
Now that Donald Trump has been elected, hope is gone. That's more or less what Michelle Obama told Oprah Winfrey in a recent interview. "We are feeling what not having hope feels like," she said.

There are millions of liberals feeling hopeless these days. The left's fear of a Trump administration is like nothing seen since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, which reversed 50 years of liberal politics. Not only are they bawling in public, threatening to relocate to Canada, and cuddling up with therapy dogs, but they've tried every undemocratic trick in the book to deny Trump the election.

Trump obviously threatens something of crucial importance to the left, but what is it? What are they afraid of?

They are afraid of Trump's policies, of course  and there will be plenty of changes on day one. Most of what Obama "accomplished" by executive order stands to be reversed. Other reversals may take months or years. All of this threatens the left on business regulation, taxes, health care, energy, welfare, labor law, the environment, and more.

Trump's policies will make America a business-friendly, prosperous, and free nation once again. The importance of these changes cannot be overestimated. But since Hillary never argued the case for progressive policies in her campaign  she focused on demonizing her opponent  it's probably not policy that's the real cause of progressive paroxysms.

It's something more troubling  the suspicion that, in some deep and lasting way, America doesn't want them.

That was the unspoken implication behind Michelle's "hope is dead" routine. It's one thing to pine over the loss of an election  it's another to say it's Armageddon because they lost. It's suddenly dawned on the first lady, and on millions of others, that Americans do not share her progressive fantasies. And like all the others, she has too much invested in progressivism to go away quietly.

That much is obvious, too, in Obama's tentative performance in his final press conference. With China having seized a U.S. underwater drone, Obama needed to look tough. He didn't. He looked bewildered, like the man he is  an overbearing potentate who never listened to the American people and who now finds his "legacy" in shambles. After claiming "success" on every front, he evaded answering a question from Mark Landler of the New York Times about China's seizure of a U.S. research drone. This time it's not "leading from behind"; it's not showing up. Like, China won't bother us if we leave them alone. And when they do, just pretend it didn't happen.

What's causing all the frenzy on the left is just this: the realization that after eight years of weak and undemocratic governance, democracy has reasserted itself. The American heartland is disgusted with what they've done, from Obamacare to Black Lives Matter to transgendered bathrooms to a feeble foreign policy that emboldens our enemies.

The truth is that most Americans are not progressives and never will be. They are conservative by nature. They believe in small business, family, God, and the right to self-defense. For eight years progressives have ridden roughshod over the values of the heartland, and voters have been seething.

What will they do, now that they've been so soundly defeated? There was supposed to be a mass exodus to Canada. Not a single Hollywood celebrity has left. Maybe, what with Toronto facing a wind chill of minus 39 not long ago, they've decided that Brentwood isn't so bad.

What they will do, unfortunately, is stay here and continue to carp for the next four, and hopefully eight, years and more. Nothing can change the fact that the America is conservative and getting more so. For the first time in 32 years, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania voted for a Republican presidential candidate. That's not just because of the Trump mystique or a distaste for Hillary Clinton. Wisconsin and Michigan also have Republican governors, as does Ohio. And in Wisconsin and Ohio, the GOP holds overwhelming control of the state legislatures.

The verdict is in. The heartland is solidly conservative. The Blue Wall has turned red and threatens to stay red for a long time.

That is one more reason progressives are crybabies. It's not just the loss of one election. It's the realization that, having given Obama eight years to prove their case, Americans have made up their minds. Trump's victory was not an anomaly  it was the inescapable result of eight years of indignation.

Progressives are throwing tantrums because they realize that the party is over, for a long, long time, if not forever. What do you do now?

The American left finds itself in the same position as those aging True Believers who populated Russia and Eastern Europe when communism fell apart. Those who had lived under communism for fifty years or more, some of whom were my acquaintances in Macedonia and Bulgaria, were forced to question their very identity. The change was not easy, and many, especially those who had lived under communism for a half-century and knew nothing else, found it impossible to change.

I visited one such Central Committee member in her apartment in Sofia in 1994. She had lost her post at the university, lost her political influence, lost many of her friends. She was surviving on a trifling pension, making do with canned goods, bread, and homemade brandy, and still in shock over the fall of communism.

Maybe Michelle was right. Hope is gone, for progressives, at least. Like my acquaintance in Sofia, they've lost their power and influence, and it's too late to change. So far as I know, Nancy and Harry (the latter retiring in January) have never recognized the greatness of American capitalism or brilliant business leaders like Rex Tillerson. These aging radicals are about to find themselves outcasts with no power or influence. No wonder they're distressed.

It isn't too late for the young. Those millions who voted for Bernie did so out of a desire for change. Trump offers that change. Even before entering office, he's saving jobs and restoring confidence to investors and business leaders, who are already planning increased capital outlays to expand business. He's restoring hope to the Appalachian coal region and the oil fields of Oklahoma and Texas and Pennsylvania and Alaska. He's beginning to change the thinking of Millennials, who now believe they have a future.

All of this is driving the left nuts. They're afraid of finding themselves on the wrong side of history, as in fact they are. They ran on "four more years" of failure without realizing that the American people don't want more failure. Our president-elect was smart enough to realize that they want to win for a change.

It's one thing to lose an election. It's another to lose your identity. After two Trump terms, even the True Believers will realize that progressivism is a lost cause. That thought is just beginning to percolate, and progressives are freaking out. Soon it will sink in: America really is a conservative nation. She gave progressivism a chance, and progressivism failed.

It's over for the left in America. That's why they are so distraught.

Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011).
During a performance at Yoshis in Oakland, the late legendary Texas wordsmith Guy Clark asked the question: Is there a synonym for Thesaurus? He added that he never found one, but the word lexicon was about as close as he could find.

The lexicon, the words and phrases used on a daily basis, constantly evolves as words may go in and out of vogue.

There is no decisive governing body determining which words to use or not use, but I sometimes wish there were. Words often need to be dropped, either from overusage, laziness, or because of misrepresentations of their true meaning.

With the above in mind, I humbly submit a list of words that should be banned in the New Year:

TRANSPARENCY -- This word was elevated in the common lexicon under President Obama, who vowed to have the most transparent administration in history. After witnessing the misuse of the word during his tenure, any liberal politician who uses it should be tarred, feathered, and forced to watch Donald Trumps acceptance speech. How about reverting back to what we really desire? ...honesty.

ALT-RIGHT -- Though first used by the political right, this word was co-opted by the political left to use as a derogatory term synonymous with white supremacy. They like using the word as often as possible to get a rise out of people. Saul Alinsky taught them to do that.

DIVERSITY -- This word is hugely popular at liberal universities where they have diversity officers, administrators of diversity, and diversity quotas. They love to brag about how diverse they are, or how they appreciate diversity. The exception, though, is diversity of ideas, which is highly frowned upon and severely punished in diverse ways.

INCOME INEQUALITY -- Yes, we have heard this for years; The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Margaret Thatcher described liberal policy thusly: (Liberals) would rather that the poor were poorer provided the rich were less rich.

WHITE PRIVILEGE -- The concept can be traced back to W.E.B. DuBois, but has come into vogue only in the past ten years or so. This libspeak is meant to diminish achievement, while ignoring efforts contributing to success. It is a concept used to divide the races while currying favor among minority voters.

FREE (as in Free Education or Free Health Care) -- Nothing in life is without cost. Only Bernie Sanders supporters, those grieving for Fidel, and junior college philosophy professors actually believe that such things are free. What they really mean, and are perfectly happy with, is: someone else pays.

BULLYING -- Okay, we get the point, no one likes mean people. We have heard it now for a few years. Sure, Tommy stole your lunch money in the fifth grade. Get over it.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND  No war was ever won by aerial bombardment alone or by superior footwear. Those boots are filled by soldiers, our sons and daughters. Lets stop referring to them as something from the L. L. Bean catalog.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT  Translated, it really means; I am about to shoot your argument full of holes because I think youre an idiot. But it does sound a lot nicer, at least until you know the true intent. Due to overuse, it has lost any real meaning.

MY BAD -- Translated this one means: Im sorry, I made a mistake. But five characters texts faster than 22. Are you really in that big of a hurry to forgo a simple courtesy?

FAITHLESS ELECTORS -- This phrase, virtually unknown on Nov. 7th of this year, was brought out of the unused pages of the dictionary by democrats, still smarting after Hillarys humiliating defeat. Various ploys failed to grant her the success she craved: illegal voting, vote fraud, recounts in multiple states, and the best one: the Russians did it! Then came Faithless electors. These are Electoral College voters who were to be coerced, threatened, or enticed into changing their votes. Madonna offered herself to anyone who changed their vote. I am not clear if that was a threat or an enticement.

HOPE AND CHANGE -- Eight years ago, this phrase became the national theme for the incoming president. Last week Michelle Obama, fretting over her departure from the White House, declared that now there is no hope. Well, here is hoping we never hear from those two again. Good-bye and good riddance to them both.

And here is hoping to a bright future and a great America. Happy New Year to everyone!
A shocking number of hate crimes  some widely reported by the media  have turned out to be hoaxes, according to Fox News.

One of the biggest tall tales involved the burning of an all black Mississippi church where pro-Trump graffiti had been scrawled on the charred walls.

The mayor of Greenville, Miss., where the arson took place, automatically assumed that the church burning was the work of white racists:

I see this as an attack on the black church and the black community, Mayor Errick Simmons said in a press conference following the fire, calling the incident a direct assault on peoples right to freely worship. The Jackson field office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives, will assist with the hate crime investigation, which is standard practice after church fires. Greenville Police Chief Delando Wilson said investigators are interviewing possible witnesses but dont have any suspects at this time. They are, however, talking to a person of interest. Online, church supporters raised more than the $10,000 goal set in a GoFund Me drive to help the 200-person congregation rebuild. When describing the fundraiser, organizer J. Blair Reeves Jr., cited the historic implications of racially motivated attacks on black churches. The animus of this election cycle combined with the potent racial history of burning black churches as a political symbol makes this event something we must not ignore, he said.

But yesterday, authorities arrested a black man for the crime  a member of the church's congregation:

Mississippi authorities have made an arrest in the burning of an African-American church spray-painted with the words, Vote Trump. Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain says Andrew McClinton of Leland, Mississippi, who is African-American, is charged with first-degree arson of a place of worship.

Fox News compiled a partial list of hoax hate crimes  many of which you have probably read about:

A Muslim teenager from Long Island by the name of Yasmin Seweid told authorities that she was harassed on the subway by men who yelled "Donald Trump!" while trying to remove her hijab. The police said within two weeks that she admitted she was lying because she broke her curfew; she now faces charges of filing and false report. A Muslim woman in Louisiana claimied that she was attacked and had her hijab ripped off. The Lafayette Police Departmenet said that she "admitted that she fabricated the story about her physical attack as well as the removal of her hijab and wallet by two white males." A hateful note on a white board at Elon Univeristy in North Carolina that read "Bye Bye Latinos Hasta La Vista" was actually satire written by a Latino student at the school, according to the Elon News Network. Hateful notes allegedly sent to a North Park University student in Chicago were "fabricated" according to David Parkyn, the university's president. The student said on Nov. 14 she had received messages taped to her door containing harassing language and mentions of Trump. University of Minnesota student Kathy Mirah Tu alleged that she was accosted by white men and told to "go back to Asia." The University's police department and the Minneapolis Police Department said they had no record of the incident and Tu's Facebook post later disappeared.

It seems that hate crimes against Muslims are particularly prone to hoaxing:

A Muslim University of Michigan student who said that a man threatened to light her on fire if she didn't remove her hijab was lying about the incident, police officials said. After reviewing hours of footage and speaking the businesses in the area, they could not corroborate her claims.

The hoaxes must be seen in the contex of the post-election hysteria about Trump deliberately generated by the left to, 1) energize their supporters to oppose the president-elect's agenda; and 2) delegitimize Trump's victory. Add to that the natural inclination of some people to do anything to get attention, and you have a potent mix of fear and hate that leads to the current spate of fake "hate crimes" that the media eagerly reports as they try to justify their open opposition to Trump's candidacy.

Perhaps this hysteria reached its pinnacle on a JetBlue flight, when a gay Brooklyn lawyer began screaming at Ivanka Trump, saying her father was "ruining the country."

Dan Goldstein and his Hillary supporter husband Matthew Lasner were thrown off of the JetBlue flight from New York to San Francisco on Thursday when they accosted the future first daughter and started shouting at her. While holding a child in his arms Goldstein, 35, began screaming: 'Why is she on our flight. She should be flying private.' Ivanka paid as little attention as possible and tried to preoccupy her children with some crayons to diffuse the situation until the crew escorted him off the plane. Lasner, said that was not what happened however on Twitter, writing: 'My husband expressed his displeasure in a calm tone, JetBlue staff overheard, and they kicked us off the plane.' But just an hour prior to that Lasner wrote on Twitter: 'Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil' Lasner has been very vocal about his distaste for Trump on Twitter, writing shortly after the election about marching against the President-elect.

Lasner deleted his Twitter account after the incident to hide his lies about what happened.

Ivanka Trump pleaded with the crew not to kick anyone off the plane because of the incident, but JetBlue explained the reason for the expulsion of the gay couple:

JetBlue released a statement on Thursday morning saying: 'The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing a conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight.'

You would think the hysteria would gave died down by now, but instead, every day brings new "outrages" over something Trump has said or done. As long as the media is going to report Trump's doing with hateful bias, it's going to continue.
What Hillary Clinton supporter and contributor is already infiltrating the Trump administration? The answer should be obvious: famed Beltway robber baron Elon Musk.

Musk likes to prance around as a big-time industry mogul, as CEO of the electric car company Tesla and as chairman of the Space X rocket launch company. But a Los Angeles Times expose calculated that Musk's companies have benefited from $4.9 billion in government support. That support has taken the form of grants, tax breaks, factory construction, discounted loans, environmental credits, and tax credits and rebates to customers of Musk's companies.

With nearly $5 billion in taxpayer-funded support, I could play a big-time industry mogul, too. But reaping that taxpayer-funded windfall does not come easy. Musk has to be politically nimble to keep the pipeline flowing.

Musk was a Hillary Clinton supporter, calling her economic and environmental policies "the right ones," and a maximum contributor during the 2016 election. But now Musk has already flipped over and won appointment to an advisory panel for President-Elect Donald Trump.

Musk has long been on both sides of every issue. He was a contributor this past election season to Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham. He favors relaxing America's immigration laws to enable more free entry into the United States, regardless of the impacts on working people. Just last month, he said he "thinks a bit strongly that [Trump] is probably not the right guy for the presidency."

That has not stopped him from now joining the Trump team. Indeed, since 2003, political chameleon Musk has contributed $258,350 to Democrats and $261,300 to Republicans, public records show.

Now Musk is looking for still more payoffs. He is seeking billions more in taxpayer dollars to subsidize rocket launches of people to colonize Mars. This despite serial failures of Musk's often far-fetched fantasies.

Just last year, another Space X rocket blew up on the launching pad. Even Musk acknowledges that anyone reckless enough to spend $200,000 for a Space X ride to Mars would be rolling the dice with his own life. "Are you prepared to die?" he has asked. If so, you are a candidate for one of his rocket rides to Mars.

Even he has said that he won't be among the first to take one of his own rides to Mars. "I'd really need to have a good succession plan because the probability of death is really high on the first mission," Musk has said. That gives new meaning to the admonition "let the buyer beware. "

There is method to this madness. Musk's grand plans feed his reputation as a daring, farsighted thinker, serving as a much needed distraction from his serial failures.

Besides his failed rocket launches, Musk's Tesla is binging on money to feed his race to finish a huge battery manufacturing factory in the Nevada desert, slated to supply batteries for his announced Model 3 car, scheduled for mass marketing next year.

Musk has also merged Tesla and Solar City Corp., which installs heavily subsidized rooftop solar panels. Not publicized is that Musk is on both sides of that deal, as chief executive officer of Tesla and chairman and largest shareholder of Solar City.

Bloomberg Technology columnist and famed short-seller Jim Chanos has labeled the proposed $2-billion merger, to be financed by an all-stock transaction of worthless paper, as a "walking insolvency." There are shades of the Solyndra bankruptcy, which cost taxpayers a billion dollars in losses.

Musk is the very definition of a "crony capitalist," which is a businessman who succeeds only because of political favoritism available only to political insiders. That is why he contributes to both parties and supports both sides of every issue. In other words, Musk is a classic example of corporate and political corruption, a corporate version of a welfare queen living off of the taxpayers.

Peter Ferrara is a senior fellow at the Heartland Institute and a senior adviser to the National Taxpayer Limitation Committee. He served President Reagan in the White House Office of Policy Development and President George H.W. Bush as associate deputy attorney general of the United States.
An unusually harsh U.N. Security Council resolution on the illegality of Israeli settlements introduced by Egypt and to be voted on Thursday was suddenly and mysteriously withdrawn by President el-Sisi.

A change of heart precipitated by President Obama? Not on your life. Reuters is reporting that the U.S. was going to abstain on the vote, allowing its passage, as Obama sought a parting shot at President Netanyahu.

The United States intended to allow the U.N. Security Council to approve a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, two Western officials said on Thursday, a major reversal of U.S. practice, which prompted Israel to ask President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure. In a day of intense diplomatic wrangling on one of the thorniest Middle East conflicts, Egypt, which had proposed the draft resolution, abruptly put off a vote that had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Diplomats said Cairo had acted under pressure from Israel and to avoid alienating Trump, who spoke to the Egyptian president and urged the White House to use its veto. By late Thursday, four Security Council members had given Egypt an ultimatum and threatened to put the draft resolution to a vote. The two Western officials said President Barack Obama had intended to abstain from the vote, a relatively rare step by the United States to register criticism of the building on occupied land that Palestinians want for a state. The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Obama, believes the Obama administration had long planned the council vote in coordination with the Palestinians, the senior Israeli official said. "It was a violation of a core commitment to protect Israel at the U.N.," the official said. The White House had no immediate comment. U.S. officials have voiced growing fears that a "two-state" solution is imperiled by Israeli settlement building and have been more willing to voice open criticism, including, the two Western officials said, via Thursday's planned vote. A U.S. abstention would have been seen as a parting shot by Obama, who has made the settlements a major target of his - ultimately futile - peace efforts.

Speculation on why Egypt's president el-Sisi withdrew the resolution centers on pressure from Israel and the desire of the Egyptian government not to antagonize Donald Trump, who came out against the resolution.

CFR:

The remaining question is why President Sisi withdrew the resolution. Press reports all say it was Israeli pressure, which is a negative way of saying he did so because he values Egyptian-Israeli bilateral relations and was asked to pull the resolution by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Thats a good thing; the United States should itself value cooperative Israeli-Egyptian relations. Others have suggested that Sisi wanted to avoid a confrontation with the incoming Trump administration, which was clearly against this text. Thats also a good thing. But note this: none of the news stories suggest the Egyptians acted because of the Obama administration. Just as with the Russian-Turkish-Iranian meeting to discuss Syria (The New York Timess story began Russia, Iran, and Turkey met in Moscow on Tuesday to work toward a political accord to end Syrias nearly six-year war, leaving the United States on the sidelines.), the Obama administration apparently played no role in Egypts decisions. In large part this is because the Obama administration has left friends confused as its objectives and foes without fear of consequences for opposing the United States. Defenders of the administration will say its just lame duck status that explains the lack of concern for the wishes of the White House, but I cant agree. At the very end of the George W. Bush administration, there was a vigorous negotiation in the Security Council over a resolution on the fighting in Gaza, and the United States was at the center of itright up into January, 2009. Now its December, 2016 and we are being ignored. Thats the result of eight years of policy choices, not lame duck status.

Beyond the Obama administration being irrelevant in world affairs is the realization that the center of gravity of power is no longer in Washington; it is in Trump Tower, where the president-elect has gone beyond dabbling in foreign policy and is actually impacting world events.

This is unprecedented and has happened simply because Trump has asserted himself while President Obama has abdicated. For example, Russia announced that it is working on a ceasefire in Syria, with President Assad, Turkey, Iran, and Moscow being involved in the talks.

The U.S. State Department was not invited to participate in one of the most important peace conferences in the last decade.

As for Egypt, they are only expressing in a public way what other Sunni Arab states are saying privately: Iran is an existential threat, and Israel is going to be a key ally in holding their hegemonic designs in check. The Arab street may say they care most about the Palestinians, but their governments see the big picture quite differently.

As the scope and impact of Obama's foreign policy failures become clearer, it would appear that it will take more than one administration to repair the enormous damage done to U.S. prestige and power.
Prince Charles, who is slated to be the formal head of the Church of England, is behaving like a proper dhimmi, spouting P.C. nonsense. Justin Holcomb reports on Townhall:

While speaking on the British radio show "Thought for the Day," the future King of Britain, Prince Charles, said that Christians should be more mindful of Islam and Muhammad during the holidays. "Normally at Christmas we think of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder though if this year we might remember how the story of the nativity unfolds, with the fleeing of the holy family to escape violent persecution. And we might also remember that when the prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina he was seeking the freedom for himself and his followers to worship. Whichever religious path we follow, the destination is the same  to value and respect the other person, accepting their right to live out their peaceful response to the love of God," he said.

This is wrong on so many counts. Mohammed wasnt seeking freedom; he was seeking the ability to rule and coerce others to worship his way. He was expelled  he didnt migrate  and freedom was not what he sought. Islam means submission, and that is the very opposite of freedom.

And no, despite all the liberal pabulum, the destination of all religions is not the same. Islam specifically seeks a global theocracy. Some religions liberate, while others enslave.

Can Queen Elizabeth just skip over Charles and award the throne to her grandson as she abdicates?
For Christmas, soon to be first daughter Ivanka Trump, her cousins, husband Jared, and the couple's three small children, Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore, booked a low-key commercial JetBlue flight to San Francisco.

Brooklyn Labor Relations and Employment lawyer Daniel Jennings Goldstein was also along for the ride. The problem is that Goldstein took umbrage at having to share in-flight cabin air with the Trump-Kushner entourage.

Legendary in his own right, Mr. Goldstein (below at left) is a fascinating guy. When not litigating sexual harassment lawsuits and marching against Donald Trump with the Hunter College professor he calls his husband, Matthew Lasner (below at right), Goldstein enjoys staying active in liberal causes and taking family vacations with son Amos.

Goldstein's most recent attention-getting episode unfolded when Harvard Ph.D. Lesner spotted Ivanka and Co. in an airport terminal and responded by burning up his Twitter feed, alerting Trump-haters and ISIS terrorists:

A short time later, while the aircraft was in the process of boarding, Dan ruined everybody's day when he couldn't control an emotional outburst that berated the #banalityofevil by telling Ivanka, "Your father is ruining the country."

Swinging his son around in his arms, Daniel's anger issues were further exposed when he attempted to get an answer from the entire flight crew: "Why is she on our flight? She should be flying private."

Clearly, based on their lifestyle, Matt and Dan are certainly not guilty of harassing hesitant women into having sex by crooning Christmas songs like "Baby, It's Cold Outside." However, based on Goldstein's erratic boarding-behavior, the dynamic duo does seem to have an inclination to harass wealthy women on airplanes.

Although Jared Kushner was standing in the aisle the entire time, Goldstein, whose legal know-how counsels him to do otherwise, directed all his vitriol toward the woman.

Class act that she is, a poised and polished Ivanka ignored the immature liberal lunatic, tried to divert her children's attention by occupying them with a box of crayons, and attempted to play down the whole incident.

Nonetheless, as the flight crew decided that Goldstein and Lasner needed to deplane, Dan defended his First Amendment rights by screaming, "You're kicking me off for expressing my opinion!"

At the ready, Matt quickly updated his Twitter feed with breakneck speed, pounding out with his muscular thumbs:

In response to the controversy, Daniel and Matt have since deleted their Twitter accounts and refused to speak to reporters. Yet the truth is that the two weren't exactly "kicked off" the plane. Instead, they and the well-dressed child were politely escorted off the airline and offered a seat on the next flight.

As a litigator, Daniel should have recognized the glaring inconsistency of balking at being kicked off the flight for "expressing his opinion" while simultaneously demanding that a woman be kicked off the flight because she didn't share his opinion.

Moreover, notwithstanding the hysterical histrionics at play and the presence of horrified children, the last person who should be telling any woman what to do with her body, let alone if she should "fly private" or not, is a gay liberal man.

After all, if Ivanka were at an abortion clinic, and not waiting to take off in an airplane, a liberal like Daniel Goldstein would be applauding her right to choose.

Therefore, based solely on a person's political inclination, Daniel Goldstein's bias toward Ivanka Trump proves, once again, that liberals see themselves as authorized to selectively discriminate.

Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com.

Destination of flight corrected
The New York Times endorsed the election of presidents by popular vote in the 50 states plus the District of Columbia. The Times resorts to playing the race card by arguing that the original reason for the Electoral College was to favor the Southern slave states:

The Electoral College, which is written into the Constitution, is more than just a vestige of the founding era; it is a living symbol of America's original sin. When slavery was the law of the land, a direct popular vote would have disadvantaged the Southern states, with their large disenfranchised populations. Counting those men and women as three-fifths of a white person, as the Constitution originally did gave the slave states more electoral votes.

This race argument is based on the essays by attorney Donald Applestein and Yale law professor, Aklhil Amar, who argue that counting each slave as three fifths of a person added to the population of the slave states, thereby giving the slave states more representatives in the House and therefore more electoral votes than it would have if slaves were not counted.

The Times is linking the argument for a popular vote election to labeling the Electoral College as a living symbol of slavery that must be abolished. We fought a civil war to end slavery, but the Times dredges up slavery as reason to endorse the popular vote.

The Times seems to have discovered and to be offended by this view of the E.C. only after Trump won the E.C. vote but lost the popular vote, and probably by Bush 43 winning the E.C. vote but losing the popular vote to Al Gore in 2000.

The constitutional reasons for the E.C. were stated by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 68:

It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. 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. It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder. ... 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[.]

Hamilton did not own slaves. He started a movement in New York to free the slaves. He did not campaign for the E.C. to give power to the slave states. Hamilton wanted another buffer, the E.C., between the people and the presidency to elect the president because he did not trust the electorate. A nationwide popular vote is not consistent with Hamilton's reasons for the E.C.

The E.C. prevents the domination of the presidential election by the most populous states such as California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina. One danger of a popular vote election is that a candidate would campaign in the populous states and the large cities in each state and would tailor his agenda to the voters in the large cities in the large states. This would ignore the needs and views of small towns and rural areas, which are the base of the Republican conservative party.

The Times complains that the election now is fought in the ten or twelve battleground states. But a popular vote election replaces the battleground states election with an election fought in the ten most populous states.

The Times endorses the National Popular Vote Compact, which if enacted by states having at least 270 votes would give the E.C. votes from the states in the Compact to the winner of the national popular vote instead of the winner of the state. The website of the National Popular Vote states:

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Explanation It has been enacted into law in 11 states with 165 electoral votes (CA, DC, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, RI, VT, WA). It will take effect when enacted by states with 105 more electoral votes. Most recently, the bill was passed by a bipartisan 4016 vote in the Republican-controlled Arizona House, 2818 in Republican-controlled Oklahoma Senate, 574 in Republican-controlled New York Senate, and 3721 in Democratic-controlled Oregon House. It has passed one house in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes (AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, ME, MI, NC, NM, NV, OK, OR."

The fair method to reform the E.C. is to have each state agree that the E.C. vote goes to the winner of each congressional district. The E.C. vote would mirror the House of Representatives, which is the most representative elected body in our government. It would also force the candidate to campaign in all fifty states, thus involving the entire country in the election. A candidate would have to appeal to voters in the 435 congressional districts. Having the E.C. vote based on the congressional districts is consistent with Hamilton's reasons for the E.C.

Conservatives must mobilize to oppose a popular vote election and push for an election based on the congressional district model. If we do nothing, the only proposal is the popular vote model, which will eventually pass.
Every year for Advent, about a month before Christmas, the town of Gavle, in Sweden, builds a giant Christmas goat out of straw. And every year, arsonists do their best to bring it down.

The goat is a giant version of the Yule Goat, which has been a Christmas tradition in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries for many centuries, although its origin has been lost to history. The Gavle goat, on the other hand, began in 1966 as a way to attract customers to the businesses and restaurants in the southern part of the city. Since then, the Gavle Goat, also known as Gavlebocken, has been a Christmas symbol built ever year on the same spot. There is also a long standing tradition of someone destroying it, year after year, earning the goat a certain amount of international fame. Over the last fifty years, the goat has been burned, knocked down, and once thrown into the river, thirty seven times. The 2016 Gavle Goat did not even last 24 hours.

Photo credit: Johan Hansson/Flickr

Just to make it clear, the destruction of the goat is not officially part of Gavles tradition, but not everyone is aware of that. In 2001, an American tourist, mistaking the goat burning ritual to be legal, set the goat on fire and had to spend 18 days in jail. Most of the time, the act is committed under the cover of night and the perpetrators manage to escape. To date only four people have been caught or convicted for vandalizing the goat.

The city has tried everything to protect the Gavlebocken guards, metal fences, security cameras, but to no avail. Cameras have been hacked, guards bribed or sneaked past and fences are no use to flaming arrows. They even tried to fireproof the goat but dew made the fireproofing substance drip off the structure.

Sometimes, the Southern Merchants the group who finances the building of the goat would rebuild it after damage only to be destroyed again. In 1971, just five years after the first goat the Southern Merchants became tired of the repeated arson and decided to stop making the goat. The Natural Science Club of the School of Vasa then took over, and started building their own goat; this one was called the Yule Goat. The first Yule Goat was small, only 6 feet high, but in subsequent years it became bigger and bigger until it became so large that it entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1985. That year the Yule Goat was 41 feet (12.5 meters) tall.

Envious of the Guinness title earned by the Natural Science Club, the Southern Merchants announced that the would start making the Gavle Goat once again. From 1986 onwards, there has been two goats in Gavle one by the Southern Merchants, the original Gavle goat, and the Yule Goat by the Natural Science Club. Both are target to vandalism.

There is some serious rivalry between the two goat-builders. The Southern Merchants have been trying in vain to beat the Natural Science Clubs record for the largest goat. In 1993, the Natural Science Club humiliated them once again by erecting a 49 feet (14.9 meters) tall Yule Goat, once again earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The burned Natural Science Club Goat in 2006, with the larger Gavle goat visible in the distance. Photo credit: Stefan/Wikimedia

Photo credit: Seppo Laine/Wikimedia

Photo credit: Johan Karlborg/Flickr

Photo credit: Casey Bisson/Flickr

Sources: Wikipedia / NPR
Google I/O, Googles annual developer conference was held in Moscone Center, San Francisco on eight occasions. From 2008 to 2015, the Mountain View-based tech giant opted to hold this conference in the largest convention complex in San Francisco. However, this years iteration of the said event took place at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, immediately next to Googles campus. That change of scenery resulted in somewhat shorter talks, and Googles representatives were even handing out sunscreen and sunglasses to attendees, many of whom were burnt from sun exposure. Well, if latest reports are to be believed, Google wont repeat this outdoor experiment in 2017.

Namely, Google is allegedly planning to return to San Francisco next year, as TechCrunch reports that the upcoming Google I/O 2017 will once again take place at the Moscone Center. Despite being the largest exhibition complex in San Francisco, Moscone Center is still somewhat smaller than the Mountain View venue Google used this year. In other words, the tenth iteration of Googles annual developer conference certainly wont be the largest one yet. Of course, despite the fact that not everyone who attended Google I/O 2016 in person will be able to do the same next year, Google will likely be broadcasting the entire conference online.

While no official details have yet been given, its expected Google will announce Google I/O 2017 next month. The company traditionally held its annual developer conference in late May, though the said event was also pushed to June on two occasions. Regardless of when the event actually takes place, registrations should be live by March. With Google returning to San Francisco next year, its expected that the next iteration of this conference will only last two days, like it did in 2015. Prices of regular tickets will probably be in the $900 ballpark, though students are likely to get a discount if they register quickly enough. In any case, we should know more about the upcoming Google I/O 2017 come January. It remains to be seen whether Google will debut any new hardware during the tenth iteration of its developer conference seeing how the company only put an end to that tradition this year.
#FreeThePress: reject Section 40, champion gossip and smash the new Star Chamber

Hacked Off can call on Steve Coogan (Press freedom is a lie peddled by proprietors and editors who only care about profit) and free speech extremists can summon day time tellys Judge Rinder (first name on application).

Writing in the Sun, Rinder says the countrys greatest freedom is to say what you want. You might suppose this is obvious, that freedom of expression is not under threat in a modern country like the UK. If you think that, youre wrong.

Just look at the Metropolitan Polices Operation Elveden, the investigation into tabloid newspapers allegedly paying public employees for information. Mick Hume explains the perversity of how journalists doing their jobs became suspected criminals. Countries where truth dies on the vine might care to make notes:

To pursue Elveden, the UK authorities effectively made up a law specifically aimed at journalists  something the Turkish and Egyptian states might be wary of doing. Prosecutors dusted off a thirteenth-century common law which made misconduct in public office a crime. Then they gave it a modern twist by adding on the previously unheard-of offence of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, which allowed them to prosecute journalists who are not public employees at all.

Rinder recalls his grandfather, a survivor of the Nazi death camps. Stood at Speakers Corner in Londons Hyde Park, Judges grandfather heard one speaker giving full throat to his anti-Semitism. You see, he says. In this county, even this man can say whatever he wants and nobody can stop him.

Free speech is the right to hear what you dont want to hear. It is the right to offend and to be offended.

And so Rinder turns to Section 40 and the drive for a Press no longer free but regulated under the Governments Royal Charter. What business is it of the States to police anyone says in print or pixels? None. But they want it to be.

Section 40 demands newspapers sign up to a Press watchdog supported by statute. Failure to sign up to the official censor 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. Be targeted by a vexatious campaign and watch your organ die.

Is that an incentive to sign up to the Royal Charter-backed press regulator? No. Its a threat. Join Impress, the Max Mosley-funded press regulator, or else theyll cut your tongue out and chop your fingers off. Whatever the jury decides, you will be found guilty.

How can a journalist function in such a climate?

The Mirror takes up the cry. Jason Beattie looks at the Attack On Press Freedom. He says a free press is the rampart between the defenceless and the bullies, the bad and the powerful. If the State gets its way you paper will become no better than a council free-sheet. You will only read what the rich and powerful want you to read. He reminds readers that the States pet press watchdog, Impress, is ultimately governed by Royal Charter, which in turn is overseen by politicians on the Privy Council.

The Privy Councils oath contains one line all members must utter: You will keep secret all Matters committed unto you. There are about 600 privy counsellors, including all former prime ministers, cabinet ministers, leaders of the opposition, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the current and former Speakers of the House of Commons, Archbishops, senior Bishops, senior courtiers, senior backbenchers and senior judges. Here is a full list of people that if the censorious win will rule on what you can and cannot say.

Of course, it wont matter who sits in this reworked Star Chamber if Section 40 is passed  youll be mute and impoverished before the throttlers sit down for lunch at Buckingham Palace.

The Right To Gossip

Both Beattie and Rinder cite high examples of how a free Press have caused upset, exposing paedophiles, Lance Armstrongs cheating and politicians fiddling on their expenses. All wonderful and worthy work. But Id go for something else that epitomises free speech: tittle-tattle. If you like poking fun, lampooning and gossip and all that stuff that entertains, you enjoy free speech.

The censors dismiss it as the stuff of the gutter press. Well, to muck rake you need to look in the ugly places. But if the censors have their way, youll only ever see shiny, clean things covered in a fresh layer of paint  you wont get close enough to pick up the stink and scratch off the veneer to see what lurks beneath.

Sign here and support free speech.

Paul Sorene

Posted: 23rd, December 2016 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
- GENEVA - The UN said Friday that the number of migrants and refugees that had died in the Mediterranean in 2016 had risen to over 5,000.



The number is the highest ever recorded. Two incidents occurred on Thursday that are thought to have resulted in the death of about 100 people. An average of 14 people die every day in an attempt to reach Europe via sea, the UNHCR said.
All passengers, crew released from hijacked Libyan flight Landed on Malta after being hijacked on way to Tripoli

(ANSAmed) - ROME, DECEMBER 23 - All 111 passengers, crew members, and two pilots aboard a domestic Libyan commercial flight have been released on Friday, after the flight was hijacked Friday morning by two men and diverted to Malta.



Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody".



One of the hijackers had waved a green Jamahirya flag, a symbol of the Libya of Muammar Gaddafi.



The flight was operated by Libyan carrier Afriqiyah Airways and had taken off from the southwestern Libyan city of Sebha and was headed for Tripoli prior to being hijacked.(ANSAmed).




(by Massimo Lomonaco) - TEL AVIV - Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity have been decked out in Bethlehem for the holidays, with the traditional Christmas tree and nativity scene in the middle. Palestinian media say that there will be fewer tourists this year, however, as has been the trend for many years. The Israeli tourism ministry has said that about 120,000 tourists will be coming to the country for the holidays, about half of them Christians. Inhabitants of Israel and the West Bank will also be visiting the holy places in Jerusalem and elsewhere in these days. The small Christian community in Gaza will also be celebrating Christmas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) has announced its plan to ensure the security of those who will be visiting Bethlehem and who will be taking part in the midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity with the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa.



PA security chiefs have said that the streets adjacent to the church will be closed to private vehicles and that parking will not be allowed in the surrounding streets. Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala is expected to attend the midnight mass and, like every year, PA president Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian representatives are expected to take part as well. Sala, who will leave again on Christmas Day, will be meeting with Bethlehem mayor Vera Baboun and her counterpart in Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai: both of the cities are twinned with Milan. The Israeli tourism minister has said that there will be free shuttle buses from Jerusalem to Bethlehem every 30 minutes from 3 PM on December 24 until 3 AM on December 25. In recent days, the Jerusalem town council distributed free Christmas trees to all those who had asked and many are seen in Christian-majority areas. Christian communities can be found in many places of Israel and not just Jerusalem. In Haifa - which has a mixed Jewish, Christian and Muslim population - the mayor has launched a series of public events to foster brotherhood among the members of the various communities.



This year Christmas will be on the same day as the beginning of the Jewish holiday Hanukah, which lasts 8 days. Like every year, there have been arguments over the presence of Christmas symbols. In Jerusalem, some local rabbis called on hotels not to put Christmas trees up, and one of the latter located at the entrance to the building housing the Technion student association of the city sparked protest from the institute's rabbi, Elad Dukov, who asked Jewish religious students to stay away. ''This is,'' he said, ''a religious symbol and not a Christmas one. It is more problematic, as it is a pagan one.'' The remark was criticized by Wadie Abunassar, spokesperson for the bishops of the Holy Land, who said that ''Israeli society needs greater reciprocal respect among its various components and not rabbinic verdicts that increase divisions.


- PARIS - The French government will deploy more than 91,000 police, gendarmes, and military from the anti-terrorism Sentinelle operation in Paris over the Christmas weekend to "ensure the safety of the French people" said Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux on Friday. About 2,400 churches and religious buildings in France have been placed under surveillance.





"The threat is strong. Our response has never been this strong before," Le Roux said during an inspection at the Gare de Lyon, one of the capital's main train stations, where trains depart for the south of France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.



When asked about an increase in security following the Monday attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, Le Roux said: "The question isn't strengthening the security force but rather evaluating risks on the ground every day and adapting the resources based on these risks. Day by day I don't have to strengthen, but rather guarantee the proper use of the anti-terrorism tools available," he said.



Following the November 13, 2015 attacks in Paris, about 120,000 agents and military personnel were deployed for the Christmas holidays.
- ROME - Journalism in Algeria is under attack, with arbitrary detentions, a constant increase in violence against journalists, particularly on the Internet, as well as suffocated media pluralism and public service subservient to power that remains untouchable, according to a recent report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) dedicated to freedom of information in Algeria.



The probe - which ranks Algeria 129 out of 180 countries on its 2016 classification on freedom of the press - said that pretextual incarcerations, continual political pressure, intimidation and above all a new form of violence in online form all weigh on the country's freedom of information.



It said online violence is the "work of mercenaries who, by taking articles bucking or critical of power, mock or incite hate. It's an increasingly frequent practice capable of unleashing a chain of comments by readers who, on the journalist's website or profile, even issue death threats," the report said.



It said the "authorities do absolutely nothing" about this situation and that "even worse, according to various sources, the country's secret service encourages this type of practice".



Despite a decreasing freedom of the press in Algeria, there is no lack of publications.



Beginning with the protest movements in 2011 in the Arab world, in fact, even the Algerian authorities made some reforms that brought a softening of sanctions - for example, prison substituted with fines - and a slight opening.



In 2014 the audiovisual law was thus modified and the number of publications grew to 150.



Many of them, or nearly all of them, choose a rather soft line on power in order to ensure advertising.(ANSAmed).
"For Americas white nationalists, there is only one nationand one leaderworth emulating. And it has nothing to do with lederhosen or Wagner.

Richard Spencer, the current face (and haircut) of USs alt-right, believes Russia is the sole white power in the world. David Duke, meanwhile, believes Russia holds the key to white survival. And as Matthew Heimbach, head of the white nationalist Traditionalist Worker Party, recently said, Russian president Vladimir Putin is the leader of the free worldone who has helped morph Russia into an axis for nationalists.

For those Americans who are just now familiarizing themselves with Russias current political proclivitiesdue to the recent, high-profile Russian hacking allegations, say, or the brutal military campaign in AleppoMoscows transformation into a lodestar for Americas white supremacists is enough to cause whiplash. After all, just a few decades ago Moscow was a beacon for the far-left, and its influential Communist International provided material and organizational heft for those pushing Soviet-style autocracy around the world. Over the past few years, however, the Kremlin has cultivated those on the far-right end of the Wests political spectrum in the pursuit, as Heimbach told me, of reifying something approaching a Traditionalist International."

Read more: http://qz.com/869938/how-russia-surpassed-germany-to-become-the-dangerous-new-role-model-for-trump-loving-american-white-supremacists
Local media has said the hijacker told crew he is pro-Gaddafi and is willing to let the passengers leave the aircraft, but not the crew.

The Malta airport authority has dispatched emergency teams to the site of the aircraft, as well as military personnel in position

The situation is currently on going.
The airport retailer was awarded with the Customer Delight Award, while its executive vice chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin, was named Best Business Leader in Retail for the second consecutive year.

Commenting on the two awards Colm McLoughlin said: I am delighted to accept the Best Business Leader Award for the second time and dedicate this to our Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is himself an excellent leader.

The Customer Delight Award is also a fantastic recognition for the continuous hard work and dedication of our own team of staff whom I believe to be the best in the world.
The award-winning airline is also joining hands with the Moroccan National Tourist Office to support plans to attract 100,000 Chinese visitors each year by 2018. This is helped by the visa exemption policy for Chinese tourists from 1 June 2016. Uniway expects to carry 1,000 Chinese travellers with Etihad Airways to Morocco between February and June 2017.



We are delighted to see the obvious increase in demand and the great interest from Chinese tourists to visit Morocco. This is attributable to the visa relaxation policy granted by the Morocco government. said Daniel Barranger, senior vice president of global sales, Etihad Airways.



The UAE government also granted visa upon arrival for Chinese visitors from 1 November this year, which positions Abu Dhabi as a perfect stopover for the visitors before transiting to Morocco. They can spend a couple days enjoying Abu Dhabi, a modern and vibrant Arabian city offering a rich variety of remarkable leisure activities to tourists.

Etihad Airways operates daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca, and a twice-weekly service between Abu Dhabi and Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. Taking Etihad Airways non-stop services between China and Abu Dhabi, Chinese tourists from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Hong Kong can conveniently connect at the airlines hub in Abu Dhabi to their final destination in Morocco.

He Zhenbin, CEO of Uniway, said: The number of Chinese leisure travellers to the Middle East and Africa has increased tremendously in recent years. Etihad Airways is the airline of choice for the Chinese customer offering convenient connections, dedicated inflight service, personalised products, as well as competitive prices.



Rabia Talhimet spokesperson of the Moroccan National Tourist Office, said: We are confident that we will be able to achieve the goal of attracting 100,000 Chinese visitors each year by 2018. The Moroccan National Tourist Office will strengthen its cooperation with Etihad Airways to serve the Chinese tourism market still further. In the meantime, we will speed up the readiness of the infrastructure, including our digital presence in China as well as ensuring the readiness of the local hospitality industry to meet Chinese tourists needs.
The agreement signed by Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air chairman and CEO and Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO, covers 46 A320 Family, 38 A330 Family and 16 A350 XWB aircraft. Deliveries will begin in early 2017.

I am delighted that we have reached an agreement to go to the next decisive phase and start taking delivery of new aircraft. I am gratified that this new round of cooperation with Airbus has come to fruition and brought us closer with more practical steps to follow for Iran Airs fleet renewal. Iran Air considers this agreement an important step towards a stronger international presence in civil aviation. We hope this success signals to the world that the commercial goals of Iran and its counterparts are better achieved with international cooperation and collaboration, said Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air Chairman and CEO.

This is a landmark agreement not only because it paves the way for Iran Airs fleet renewal, said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO. Our overall accord includes pilot training, airport operations and air traffic management so this agreement is also a significant first step in the overall modernisation of Irans commercial aviation sector.

The agreement is subject to US government Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) export licences which were granted in September and November 2016. These licenses are required for products containing 10 per cent or more US technology content. Airbus coordinated closely with regulators in the EU, US and elsewhere to ensure understanding and full compliance with the JCPOA. Airbus will continue to act in full compliance with the conditions of the OFAC licences.

The agreement follows the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action), its associated rules and guidance and included new commercial aircraft orders as well as a comprehensive civil aviation package. The package includes pilot and maintenance training, supporting the development of air navigation services (ATM), airport and aircraft operations and regulatory harmonisation.
Shamel Pitts had spent seven years with Batsheva, Israels most famous dance company, when he created a solo work to a spoken-word soundtrack he assembled and recorded himself. A director friend of his filmed the work, and now Pitts is back in New York, touring the film and live show around the Western Hemisphere.
Company acquired Brahmani River Pellets Ltd (BRPL), which had a turnover of Rs 452 crore in 2015-16.

The deal between both the companies which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in four months.

New Delhi: Tata Steel today said it has signed an agreement to acquire Odisha-based iron ore pellet manufacturer BRPL for Rs 900 crore in cash. Brahmani River Pellets Ltd (BRPL), which had a turnover of Rs 452 crore in 2015-16, owns a 4 million tons per annum capacity pellet plant in Jajpur and a 4.7 million tons iron ore beneficiation plat in Bardil, Odisha.

A 220-km slurry pipeline connects the pellet plant with the beneficiation plant. It manufacturers iron ore pellets for iron and steel industry. "The acquisition provides an upstream integration opportunity to Tata Steel to meet its metallic requirements and improving the feed mix for its Kalinganagar steel plant and Jamshedpur steel plant," the company said in a statement.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in four months. It also needs approval from RBI and other regulatory bodies to restructure BRPL's balance sheet, including shareholders loan and advances.

"The acquisition of the company is being made at an enterprise value of Rs 900 crore plus closing adjustment," it said. BRPL was incorporated on August 24, 2006 and is engaged in the business of acquisition and beneficiation of iron ore and the manufacture and sale of iron ore pellets.

Pellets are used as agglomerates in the iron making process. The company was originally established by the Moorgate Industries Group (MIG), which continues to hold a significant stake in BRPL through its shareholding in AMTC.

MIG was formed on demerger from the Stemcor Group of Companies as part of a UK court-approved restructuring in 2015.

"Tata Steel Ltd announces that it has executed definitive agreements to acquire 100 per cent equity shares of BRPL from Arya Mining and Trading Corp Pvt Ltd (AMTC) and other companies in the MIG," the statement said. The acquisition will be funded from internal cash flows of Tata Steel.

Koushik Chatterjeee, Group Executive Director (Finance & Corporate) and member of the Tata Steel board said: "The location of the BRPL assets makes this very strategic to Tata Steel especially to our Kalinganagar operations and has significant operating synergies to make our Kalinganagar plant even more competitive for the future."

The iron ore from Tata Steel's captive mine in the Joda and Khondbond region will be transferred in future through slurry pipeline to reduce freight costs significantly.

Also,the pellet plant and other infrastructure will enhance the operating efficiency and reduce costs of blast furnace and operations in Kalinganagar.

"To build a similar facility would have taken significant time and costs and therefore, this acquisition is very timely as we are looking to ramp up the capacity of the Phase-1 Kalinganagar.

This is also a demonstration of our commitment to the state and people of Odisha," he said. Tata Steel currently has an aggregate capacity to produce 28 million tons of crude steel and had a turnover of USd 17.69 billion in FY16.
Credit Suisse paid $5.3 billion to settle the disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

The settlement, which still needs approval by the bank's board, would release Credit Suisse from "potential civil claims by the DoJ

Geneva: Credit Suisse said Friday it had reached an agreement with US authorities to pay almost $5.3 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

"Under the terms of the settlement, Credit Suisse would pay to the DoJ (US Department of Justice) a civil monetary penalty of $2.48 billion," the Swiss banking giant said in a statement.

"In addition, Credit Suisse would provide consumer relief totaling $2.8 billion over the course of five years post settlement," it said.

The settlement, which still needs approval by the bank's board, would release Credit Suisse from "potential civil claims by the DoJ related to its securitisation, underwriting and issuance" of mortgage-backed securities, it added.

The business was mostly carried out from 2005 to 2007, it said.Just hours earlier, Germany's Deutsche Bank said it had agreed to pay a total of $7.2 billion (6.9 billion euros) to settle a case with the DoJ over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis.

On Thursday, the DoJ sued the British financial giant Barclays, accusing the bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities, which contributed to the global financial crisis of 2008.
Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan, welcomed a new arrival, a son, in their life earlier this week.

Saif and Kareena have featured in several films together.

Mumbai: One of the most popular couples in B-Town, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan, welcomed a new arrival, a son, in their life earlier this week.

The couple has named him Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi.

Since the announcement of the news, several pictures of Kareena with her son have been doing the rounds on social media. There was, however, some uncertainty related to the authenticity of the pictures as some claimed it to be true and some termed it fake.

Just like the couple had issued a statement and confirmed the news of becoming parents, they stepped outside their house in Bandra on Thursday and offered a glimpse of their baby in front of the media.

The couple smiled for the shutterbugs and looked extremely happy with Kareena and little Taimur looking extremely healthy.
After hearing their plight, the actor assured them that he would help build toilets for them.

Mumbai: Residents of unit number 7, Madras Pada, one of the slums inside Aarey Milk Colony, were happy to have Bollywood star Salman Khan in their midst on Thursday. During his visit, the slum dwellers complained that they had no option but to defecate in the open as there were no toilets in the area. After hearing their plight, the actor assured them that he would help build toilets for them.

After the locals claimed that Aarey Milk Colony authorities did not allow the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to repair toilets, Mr Khan promised the BMC that his NGO, Being Human Foundation, would repair all existing toilets at its own expense and also provide mobile toilets if required. Mr Khan added that his organisation would do all this provided it got a no-objection certificate from the Aarey Milk Colony authorities.
Rahul said Modi had been attacking the poor people of the country for the last 2.5 years.

Almora: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the Centre over demonetisation and called the move economic loot, while addressing a rally in Uttarakhands Almora.

Congress wants to remove corruption from the country. Any step taken by the Modi-led govt, be it big or small, it will be supported by the Congress party. But note ban was not a move against black money, neither was it a move against corruption. Note ban was an economic loot, Rahul said.

Because of the move, more than 100 people have died in the country. We were not allowed to stand in two minutes of silent for the deaths of these people in Parliament, he added.

Earlier, Rahul had called the move the biggest impromptu financial experiment undertaken by the Prime Minister and claimed it was only causing trouble to the poor.

Directly taking on the PM, Rahul said Modi had been attacking the poor people of the country for the last 2.5 years.

Gandhi asked the Prime Minister to name those "thieves" who own the black money stashed in Swiss banks.

"The Swiss government has provided the list of all black-money holders to the Modi government. Why does he not place the list of thieves before the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha? We want to know who are these thieves. You should put their names before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," he said.

"Why didn't you bring back (Vijay) Mallya and Lalit Modi from London?" he asked.

Gandhi accused Modi of snatching away the hard-earned money of the country's poor and giving them to banks to write off bad loans. He said demonetisation was introduced to waive Rs 8 lakh crore loans the "super rich" owe.

"Gareebon ka paisa kheencho, amiron ko seencho. 99 per cent imaandaar ka paisa kheencho, 50 pariwaron ko seencho. Yeh hai notebandi ki sachhai, (Take away the money from the poor and help the rich. Take away the money from the 99 per cent honest people and help the 50 super-rich families. This is the truth of note ban)." he said.
The bodies were recovered from his car Thursday night in Shivdaspura area, police said.

Jaipur: An additional superintendent of police of the Anti-Terrorist squad of Rajasthan Police allegedly shot himself dead after killing a woman on the outskirts of the city, police said on Friday.

Before killing himself with his service revolver, Ashish Prabhakar also allegedly shot dead a woman in his car. The bodies were recovered from his car Thursday night in Shivdaspura area, police said.

Prabhakar was disturbed for the last few days and left office early on Thursday evening and went to Shivdaspura area, they said.

Prima facie, Prabhakar shot the woman dead after some quarrel before allegedly committing suicide inside the car. He had also made a call to the police control room, saying two bodies were lying in a car, before taking the extreme step.

Efforts are on to identify the woman.

The bodies have been shifted to a hospital for post-mortem and the matter is being investigated, the police said.
In his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked Modi for his help and cooperation.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung comes out of PMO (South block) after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Najeeb Jung on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after springing a surprise by tendering resignation as Delhi's Lt Governor even as he said that he had wanted to quit earlier but was asked by the PM to continue.

Jung reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block in the national capital around 11.30 am and spent a little over an hour inside.

Sources said it was a courtesy meeting. On Thursday, in his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked Modi for his help and cooperation.

Rejecting speculation that he quit as pressure was mounting on him, Jung was quoted as saying by NDTV that there is no politics behind his decision and that he wanted to quit earlier as well.

"I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on," he said.

"After three and a half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds," Jung was quoted as saying.

Jung also said that he would like to write a book.

Over the last two years, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to Modi.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.

The Delhi Chief Minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for the breakfast meeting that came a day after Jung's sudden resignation from the post.

Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter- sweet times and spent some light moments.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also called on Jung. Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons."

Though publicly Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions, both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at personal level.

Asked about his meeting with Jung, Sisodia said, "We had a very good chat. He shared memories of the last two years and also of his days as a bureaucrat. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year.

"He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said that he could not quit due to things like chikungunya (outbreak in the city)."

Sisodia said he shared a "good rapport" with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation especially in areas of education. "We will work for the people if Delhi irrespective of circumstances be that easy or tough."

On who could be next LG of Delhi, the Deputy Chief Minister said many names are doing the rounds but nothing official has come up.

Sources close to Jung had said yesterday his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.

The Chief Minister was in Ranchi yesterday when the news of Jung's resignation broke.
The President had already issued a notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI. Justice Khehar will be sworn-in on Jan. 4, 2017.

New Delhi: The vacation bench of the Supreme Court declined to entertain a public interest writ petition challenging the governments decision to elevate Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, the SCs second senior-most judge, as the 44th Chief Justice of India.

Justices Ashok Bhushan and L. Nageswara Rao dismissed the PIL, filed by the National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparen-cy and Reforms (NLCJTR), as infructuous since the President had already issued a notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI. Justice Khehar will be sworn-in on January 4, 2017.

Advocate Matthew Nedumpara said that, instead of Justice Khehar, Justice J. Chelameswar, now the fourth senior-most judge, should be elevated as he had given a dissenting view when the National Judicial Appointments Commission law was struck down by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Khehar. The lawyers body said Justice Khehar, being a member of the collegium, had usurped to himself the power of appointment of judges by quashing the NJAC Act, which sought the abolition of the collegium system of judicial appointments.
The governor also sought clarifications in the matter from the state chief minister and chief secretary.

Lucknow: In a move that could cause considerable discomfort to the Akhilesh government, Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik has written to the chief minister, seeking clarification over his inaction on the recommendations of Lokayukta on corruption cases against former ministers, public servants and bureaucrats.

In his letter, the governor has named nine former ministers, one MLA, three directors (nagar palika/nagar panchayat) and 40 bureaucrats. He wanted to know why any action has not been taken against them and why was the state legislature not duly informed in this regard.

Former BSP ministers on the radar of the Lokayukta include Awadhpal Singh Yadav, Ramvir Upadhyay, Badshah Singh, Ramachal Rajbhar, Rajesh Tripathi, Ayodhya Prasad Pal, Ratan Lal Ahirvar, Naseemuddin Siddiqui and Swami Prasad Maurya (now in the BJP).

The governor, on August 12, had sent recommendations of the Lokayukta to the chief minister and had sought a reply about the action taken over these representatives suspected of corruption. The governor also sought clarifications in the matter from the state chief minister and chief secretary.

In the letter, he has now mentioned that under section 12(7) of the Lokayukta Act, state government has given clarification in just two recommendations out of the 53 sent to it.
The alleged I-T note tweeted by Mr Bhushan also had names of Congress leaders like Salman Khursheed and Digvijay Singh.

New Delhi: The BJPs decision to field union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to defend Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis corruption attack seems to have misfired.

On Thursday, civil right activist and eminent lawyer, Mr Prashant Bhushan tweeted a handwritten page allegedly seized by I-T sleuths during raids at Sahara Group offices regarding payoffs in 2010. Posting a handwritten note showing names of politicians in the alleged payoffs, Mr Bhushan tweeted; A handwritten pg seized by IT in Sahara raid with payoffs of 2010. Last entry is Rs 1.25cr to R.S. Prasad. BJP should get better person to defend Modi.

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of taking money from the Sahara and Birla groups when he was Gujarats chief minister, a charge the ruling BJP strongly refuted.

Mr Gandhi made the allegation while addressing a rally in Gujarats Mehsana after he claimed last week that there would be an earthquake if he was allowed to speak in Parliament as he had proof about Mr Modis personal corruption. While Mr Gandhi demanded an independent probe into the matter, the BJP said these charges were not new and had been debated and refuted for quite some time now.

He had lleged that the I-T department had notings of Sahara officials claim that they had paid at least Rs 40 crores in nine installments to the PM between October, 2013 and February, 2014. Mr Prasad on Wednesday had defended PM saying that Modiji is as pure as the Ganges.

The alleged I-T note tweeted by Mr Bhushan also had names of Congress leaders like Salman Khursheed and Digvijay Singh.
The 16-party conglomerate will include the SP, BSP, JD(U), JD(S) and the Left parties.

New Delhi: After the much-flaunted Opposition unity took a hit following Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the last day of the Parliament session, the 16 parties are coming together once again to show that their unity is intact. This time, however, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is herself expected to lead the charge. On December 27, the parties plan to hold a discussion on demonetisation followed by a joint press conference, which is expected to be addressed among others by Mrs Gandhi.

The 16-party conglomerate will include the SP, BSP, JD(U), JD(S) and the Left parties. All these parties had been upset when Mr Gandhi had met the PM on the morning of the last day of the winter session in order to discuss farmers issues, even as they were supposed to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to complain against not being allowed to speak in Parliament.

Following Mr Gandhis meeting with the Prime Minister, many parties which include SP, BSP, JD(U), had boycotted the march to the Presidents house. BSP supremo Mayawati had led the protest against Mr Gandhis meeting the PM, arguing that it was an issue connected with Uttar Pradesh, Congress vice-president had no right to appropriate it. Samajwadi Party, her arch-rival in Uttar Pradesh, had also supported her and had boycotted the meeting with the president. Others who did not attend the meeting with the President included the Left parties, NCP and DMK. Sources told this newspaper that the earlier plan was to hold a joint press conference against demonetisation at the Congress headquarters itself, but later it was decided to shift it to the Constitution Club after some of the parties raised objections. The Trinamul Congress, which has been leading the charge against demonetisation along with the Congress, will also attend the joint press conference.

Though the joint press conference to show the Opposition unity was apparently being held as an initiative of the Congress, the Trinamul supremo, Ms Mamata Banerjee has also emerged as one of the leading faces to take on the Prime Minister on the issue of demonetisation. Keeping her eye on the 2019 general elections, Ms Banerjee, adopting an aggressive stance had held meetings to take on the Prime Minister at his home turf in Varanasi. By agreeing to participate in the joint press conference, the JD(U) has also given a signal that it was not in a mood to disturb the Opposition unity. There were rumblings within the JD(U) after the Bihar chief minister and party chief Nitish Kumar stepped forward to support the Prime Ministers demonetisation move.
The disease is known to kill unless treated and kills quickly, hence Burger and the medical team were racing against time.

Washington: Coming back from a soothing trip can leave people in a refreshed state, but what awaited Erich Burger after a memorable trip to Zambia was something he had never anticipated.

When the Baltimore resident returned home, he headed to the community hospital after having chills and fever for a week. But what Erich thought of as malaria from his trip to Africa, was found to be a rare disease seen only 40 times in 50 years in the US when haematology technician took a close look at the blood tests.

The disease was not only rare but its lethal and is known to kill quickly. But while the disease was threatening Burgers life and he was in a race against time, there were people who did the right thing at the right time and managed help Burger.

While the doctors were looking for malaria parasites, they encountered a few rare parasites which were in low numbers on the slide and couldve been missed. The disease called trypanosomiasis has two forms and is spread by tsetse fly found in rural Africa.

The kind encountered in West Africa is known to kill in up to three years and the rarer east African variation kills in a matter of months. While Burger remembered being bitten on the trip as he said it was too hot to wear anything but shorts or t-shirts.

After the source of the disease was verified, the medicines had to be figured out, a medicine developed in 1920 called Suramin is used to care east African trypanosomiasis if its in blood, an in case it reaches the nervous system, a much more toxic arsenic called melarsoprol needs to be used.

To check whether the disease had infected the nervous system, a spinal tap had to be performed for examining the clear fluid surrounding the spine, but it was a risk in case the infection hadnt reached the spine, as inserting a pin in the spine could send parasites from the blood to the spine and eventually infect the nervous system.

Burger was given a dose of Suramin in order to reduce level of parasites in the blood, a treatment which lasted for four hours and once it was done, they checked the spine and were relieved when they didnt find any parasite or infection on the spine.

Elrich Burger was feeling better within days and was eventually discharged, but still needs to undergo one more treatment for rashes he developed and since the drug can be toxic to kidneys and liver. He also has to get a spinal tap done every six months for two years to make sure parasites arent in the nervous system.

He is grateful to the doctors and is even planning on faming the image of parasites found in his blood, although he isnt averse to the idea of visiting Africa again.
Becoming a mum can lay down a whole lot of stress on you.

A study, based on brains scans, found that the volume of grey matter in certain regions of the brain decreased in women who had been pregnant.

How do the changes in brain structure help boost a mothers ability to care for her child? Well heres an answer.

A study, based on brains scans, found that the volume of grey matter in certain regions of the brain decreased in women who had been pregnant. These changes were remarkably consistent, said Elseline Hoekzema, co-author of the research from Leiden University. So, consistent that a computer algorithm could automatically identify which of the women in our sample had been pregnant between the sessions and which (had) not.

Brain changes may sound somewhat intimidating, but our findings suggest that there may be an evolutionary purpose to these changes that may serve you in some way when you become a mother, said Hoekzema.

In the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers from the Netherlands and Spain describe how they used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare the brain structure of 25 first-time mothers before and shortly after pregnancy. The scans were also compared with those of 20 women who had not become pregnant, 19 first-time fathers and 17 men without children.

The results reveal that the new mothers experienced a decrease in the volume of grey matter  thought by the authors to imply a fine-tuning of connections  in regions of the brain involved in social processes, with the majority of the changes found to last at least two years after giving. It is important to stress that our findings do not suggest any link to changes in general cognitive abilities or intelligence, asserted Hoekezema, adding, These findings provide some of the first evidence that these brain changes may in some way help a mother to care for her infant.

It has also been reiterated by the researchers that the findings do not necessarily mean that pregnant women are shedding brain cells.

Source: www.theguardian.com
As the city prepares for Christmas, we take a closer look at an often-overlooked festivity which takes place at the same time  Hanukkah.

City streets decked in fairy light, Christmas trees at shop windows and the aroma of cakes and guava jelly cooking permeates the air  one knows that Christmas has arrived. However, even as Mumbaikars prepare for the season to be jolly, the citys smallest minority  the Jews  are preparing for a different, though equally joyous occasion, Hanukkah. The festival commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Romans. The day falls on the 25th day of Kislev (the third month of the Jewish civil year), which has coincided with Christmas this year. We spoke to a few Jewish families in the city to find out more about the festival and how they spread the joy.

The Herzl Family

Most families have special heirloom Hanukkiah

Herzl Simon: Herzl Simon, who is a Jewish social worker, is planning to celebrate the festival with his family at home, and visit other synagogues. We will be visiting different synagogues during different days of Hannukah. Theres also going to be a celebration at the Swatantrayaveer Savarkar Smarak Hall (Dadar) on December 27, he says. Herzl also elaborates that though the original Israeli Jewish ceremony dictates that the lights have to be lit with olive oil, the Beneisraeli Jews, who are indigenous to Maharashtra, go about it a different way. We use coconut oil instead. It is of a high quality and has to be sanctified. The Hanukkiah we have has been handed down through my grandmother, who said she got it from her mother in law, so it dates back further than a century. Most families have special heirloom Hanukkiah like this, he further explains.

Samuel Elijah Daniel

Each day a different family member lights the Hanukkiah

Samuel Elijah Daniel: Samuel Elijah Daniel, or Sammy Bamnolkar, who is an active member of the Jewish community in Thane, stands in front of the Hanukkiah at Gate of Heaven synagogue and explains how each day one lamp is added to it. On the first day, we light two oil lamps, one on the bottom row and the top lamp. As days progress, we keep adding candles. In all, 44 candles are lit through the eight days of Hannukah and each day a different family member lights it, he elaborates. It is not only the lighting of the candles of course. Sammy adds that the occasion is also celebrated with special sweets like doughnuts and potato pancakes, as well as an exchange of gifts among Jewish families. We also have a game for kids, where they play with a spinning top, which has Jewish words written on it. This is both educational and fun, he adds.

The Galsurkar Family

Sabbath is always a celebration at our home

Sharon Galsurkar: According to Jewish customs, our day starts with sunset, so the eight days of Hanukkah will begin on December 24, in the evening, explains Sharon Galsurkar, who works as a Jewish educator. When the Holy Temple was reclaimed, it is said that there was very little oil to light the Hanukkiah, the nine-branched candelabrum, which needed to stay lit for eight days. However, by some miracle, the candles stayed lit despite the shortage. It is this miracle we celebrate along with the reclaiming of our temple by lighting candles each day, he adds.

Sharona, Sharons wife, adds that this year will be extra special for Hanukkah, since the first day of the celebration also coincides with the celebration of Sabbath (regarded as a holy day). Sabbath is always a celebration at our home and Im usually busy cooking up a storm on Fridays. Now, Saturday evening will also be a celebration, she smiles, adding that she has family coming all the way from New Zealand to celebrate with them.
A total cash of over Rs 58 lakh was seized from the Nigerian, with Rs 53.78 lakh in new currency and Rs 4.29 lakh in old notes.

The incident was reported at 2:30 AM when CISF personnel intercepted the Nigerian travelling to Coimbatore. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: A Nigerian national was found in possession of about Rs 54 lakh in new notes on Friday at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.

Officials said the incident was reported at about 2:30 AM when CISF personnel intercepted the Nigerian travelling to Coimbatore from here.

"He was allowed to travel after information was shared with tax and customs sleuths. A total cash of over Rs 58 lakh was detected with the Nigerian with Rs 53.78 lakh in new currency and Rs 4.29 lakh in old notes," they said.
Some politicians were also of the opinion that the BJP could also bring in former IPS officer Kiran Bedi.

New Delhi: A day after Najeeb Jung tendered his resignation, names of several bureaucrats and politicians were doing the rounds in the local political circles on Friday as to who could be the next lieutenant governor of Delhi. While former bureaucrat Anil Baijal, who served as the home secretary under Atal Behari Vajpayees NDA regime, continued to be the frontrunner for the post, the other two strong contenders who joined the fray were former bureaucrat and BJP national executive member K .J. Alphons and former Delhi chief secretary D.M. Spolia. Some politicians were also of the opinion that the BJP could also bring in former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who was recently appointed as the lieutenant governor of Puducherry or veteran local politician Jagdish Mukhi, who too was recently appointed as the L-G of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The possibility of former city police chief B.S. Bassi taking over as the Delhis L-G had hardly any takers in the local political circles.

A source said that Mr Alphons, an IAS officer from Kerala, was also a strong contender for Raj Niwas owing to his work as the vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority. Known as the demolition man, Mr Alphons had brought down a large number of illegal buildings in the national capital. It is learnt that Mr Spolia, who had played a critical role during former chief minister Sheila Dikshits 15-year-long tenure, could also be picked up by the Centre for his vast experience in handling the pressing issues concerning the city.

Mr Spolia not only served as the principal secretary to the CM, but also as urban development secretary, which was responsible for the regularisation of about 1,000-odd colonies in the city.

These colonies play a critical role in deciding the future of the candidates in city polls. Mr Spolia, who retired as the CS of Mr Kejriwal, is also aware of the functioning of the three municipal bodies, which are going to polls in the next year.

A section within the BJP said that there were very few chances that the party could bring back either Ms Bedi or Prof. Mukhi as the two had lost Assembly elections against AAP candidates. A local saffron leader said: Kiran ji was our chief ministerial candidate. So, how can our party bring her to head the Delhi government, which is run by AAP, which had won 67 of the 70 Assembly seats.

As far as Prof. Mukhi is concerned, many within the BJP said that he had already completed his innings in politics. He was the citys finance minister. He was also the leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly. He won several elections. Now, its time that the party promotes some young, but experienced person for the crucial job.
Mangu Singh is an Indian Railways Service of Engineers officer of the 1981 batch.

New Delhi: Delhi Metro managing director Mangu Singh, whose tenure was nearing completion, was granted a four-year extension on Friday. Mr Singh, who had assumed charged on January 1, 2012, had succeeded Metro Man E. Sreedharan as the Delhi Metro chief. The development comes even though the Delhi Metros Phase III project is running behind schedule due to land acquisition issues.

He will continue to lead Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), a joint venture of the Centre and the Delhi government, till December 2020. The Delhi government had earlier proposed a five-year extension to Mr Singh, who was to hang his boots on December 31.

The govt of NCT of Delhi, in accordance with provisions of Article 130 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of DMRC and after obtaining concurrence of the Central government, is pleased to extend the tenure of Mangu Singh up to 14.12.2020, read the order signed by the transport secretary of the Delhi government.

Mr Singh is an Indian Railways Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer of the 1981 batch. He has been associated with the Delhi Metro since its inception.

Mr Singh has contributed in the project implementation of Metro in Delhi and Kolkata and has been responsible for bringing revolutionary changes in the execution of large Metro engineering projects (civil) within tight deadlines and budget and is considered the foremost tunneling expert. He is also the President of the Tunneling Association of India (TAI).

He has introduced new technologies and innovative methods of construction of Metro tunnels and structures to achieve economy, safety, quality and speed of construction. The credit for using Shield Tunnel Boring Machines and introducing New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) for the first time in the country goes to Mr Singh.

In addition, he has successfully led the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects of Delhi Metro, the only such successful project in the Railway Transportation sector in the world. He has been instrumental in preparing the Master Plan and Detailed Project Reports for Metro system in other cities of the country such as Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kochi, Jaipur, Ludhiana and Ahmedabad.

His experience includes rail based transportation projects, its planning and execution, procurement of works and services for Mega Projects on Design and Build Contracts basis, handling multilateral funding agencies, development of bid documents for metro projects on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis, management of Concession contracts and CDM projects.


Protesters gathered outside the legislative chambers during Wednesday's special session on House Bill 2. (CJ photo by Dan Way)

How do you feel about Roy Cooper being the Governor-Elect of North Carolina? I have optimism that Roy Cooper will enact positive change for the State, and offer quality leadership. I am unsure of how a Roy Cooper governance will impact North Carolina. I am concerned with the direction which Roy Cooper will lead our State. Who is Roy Cooper? Hillary told me to vote for Ray Cooper. 45 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



poll#94

Should Americans be thankful for North Carolinians setting precedent in taking a stand for their state's right to manage the safety of their public facilities, where separation of the sexes remains, or should they follow Bruce Springsteen's lead and boycott the state as bigots since they will not allow grown Transgender men to use the same bathrooms /locker rooms as pre-pubescent girls? North Carolina is right to control the separation of the sexes as a matter of decorum and safety. North Carolina is a bigoted state to not require that children of opposite sexes share the same public facilities with adults of the opposite sex, although misidentified - the Transgender. I generally prefer the natural environs of the vacant, although rather public, large tree. 236 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



After a day of repeated pauses and extended recesses, just before 8 p.m. Wednesday the General Assembly adjourned its fifth special session of the term without accomplishing its intended purpose: repealing House Bill 2.The Senate rejected a proposal from Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, to combine a repeal of H.B. 2 - which requires people to use public facilities based on the gender listed on their birth certificates and prevents towns, cities, and counties from enacting employment regulations that are more stringent than those allowed by the General Assembly - with a "cooling off period" allowing legislators to work toward a compromise on local anti-discrimination laws.Gov. Pat McCrory called the session to "reconsider" H.B. 2 after a Monday Charlotte City Council vote repealed a portion of the anti-discrimination ordinance that initially inspired the controversial state law. The Charlotte ordinance opened bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms to individuals based on the gender with which they identified, resulting in the passage of H.B. 2 in a March special session. The matter has become the focus of federal litigation regarding gender identity and public facilities.Moments after the Charlotte council vote, Democratic Gov.-elect Roy Cooper suggested a deal had been struck between Charlotte officials and legislative leaders: After Charlotte repealed its ordinance, the General Assembly would repeal H.B. 2. But, as Carolina Journal reported earlier this week, no deal existed.Accusations of bad faith flew back and forth throughout the day. The Charlotte City Council reportedly had repealed only a portion of its ordinance and returned Wednesday to enact a total repeal. Meantime, legislative Democrats accused Republicans of failing to live up to their end of the "bargain" by adding the moratorium to its repeal legislation.Berger's original bill included a six-month cooling-off period. But that bill languished as Democrats refused to accept the moratorium. Berger later offered to amend the moratorium so it would last until the end of the 2017 legislative "long" session. That didn't work, either.said Sen. Jeff Jackson, D-Mecklenburg. He complained that the original bill went from a six-month cooling-off period "to an indefinite period of time," and Charlotte would have rejected that deal had the General Assembly offered it to them.Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, rebutted Jackson, saying Charlotte did not have a trustworthy track record, and without the moratorium to work on a long-term solution there was nothing to prevent the city or other local governments from passing a similar measure.Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, said he was concerned about Charlotte City Council and its "lunatic left" agenda, reiteratingHe said the General Assembly should come together to work on a resolution to avoid beingAfter a lengthy recess, at about 5:30 p.m. the House approved a resolution adjourning the session before any bill had been introduced. (This was a procedural move, because the House could not adjourn until the Senate agreed.)Just before 7 p.m., the Senate returned, and Berger offered to divide the bill, allowing two votes: one for repeal, the other for the moratorium. If both passed, the measure would go to the House for concurrence. If either failed, the bill would fail.The division strategy didn't work. The repeal failed by a 16-32 margin, with all Democrats voting no.Earlier, WBTV in Charlotte reported that Cooper called individual Democratic lawmakers, urging them to vote against the repeal/moratorium provisions. During Senate debate over the adjournment resolution, Berger called out Democrats for playing partisan politics, a charge several Democrats denied.Sen. Tommy Tucker, R-Union, said the General Assembly did what was required.he said.Tucker echoed several reports from earlier in the week that a similar bargain had been available for months, but Charlotte did not repeal its ordinance until Cooper had won the election over McCrory.he said.After Berger's proposal failed, several senators expressed regrets that nothing was accomplished. Then the Senate adopted the House adjournment resolution, and the special session ended.
Deployment of any central police force to any state can only be done at the request of the state government, Mamata said.

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday objected to the Centre's move to deploy CRPF personnel for providing security to Income Tax officials during search operations in the state and demanded that the decision be immediately revoked.

Describing the decision as "unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism" in the one-page letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, she said, "Deployment of any central police force to any state can only be done at the request of the state government."

"The decision must be immediately revoked," she demanded, adding, "The state government and police forces would provide all necessary help and protection if so requested by any central government agency for any legitimate action on their part."

Stating that no communication in this regard has been received by the state government, Banerjee said, "A copy of such instruction as reported in the media is enclosed."

"Respective legislative and executive jurisdictions of the state governments and the central governments are clearly delineated in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and public order and police are within the domain of List II (state list)," the letter said.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to the chief ministers of all the states in the country.
Prima facie, the digging operations underway at the site triggered the accident.

A joint rescue operation is on at the spot by teams of Disaster Management cell, Fire brigade and police. (Photo: Twitter/ANI)

Thane: Two labourers were killed and seven others injured when an under-construction structure collapsed in Ghodbunder area of city on Friday, police said.

Prima facie, the digging operations underway at the site triggered the accident.

Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) chief Santosh Kadam said some labourers could have been trapped under the debris.

Police PRO Sukhada Narkar said two bodies have been extricated so far from under the rubble, who are identified as Mohammad Abdul Hussain Lashkar (34) and Radhakant Barabhoye (32), both labourers.

A joint rescue operation is on at the spot by teams of Disaster Management cell, Fire brigade and police.
The court has put certain conditions to follow while being released from jail for a day to conduct the rituals.

Mumbai: A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Thursday rejected Indrani Mukerjeas application seeking interim bail for two weeks to visit her hometown to perform the last rites of her father, Upendra Bora, who died on December 15. The court, however, allowed her to perform her fathers last rites in Mumbai on December 27. This permission means that she will be allowed to leave the jail for a day with police escort.

On Monday, Indrani was informed by a CBI officer that her father had died on Thursday, following which she moved the court on Tuesday seeking two weeks interim bail so that she could go to her home town and perform the rituals.

The CBI opposed her plea and with its reply annexed a copy of e-mail sent by Indranis biological son Mekhail to the agency taking objection on her bail plea. Mekhail, in the mail, said his grandfather had been bed-ridden for the last one year and he had been looking after both his grandparents for the last three years without any financial and mental support from Indrani. He had also said that his grandparents had legally adopted him as their son and he has already commenced the rituals.

His mail further added, Indrani has been accused of murdering my elder sister Sheena Bora and ruining my family. Therefore, it is my utmost plea that I dont want Indrani to come to Guwahati and visit me as this will create chaos and unnecessary disturbance in my life... The special judge H.S. Mahajan on Thursday rejected her application seeking interim bail. However, the court granted her permission to conduct the rituals anywhere in Mumbai, including her residence.

The court has put certain conditions to follow while being released from jail for a day to conduct the rituals. The judge also clarified that Indrani will be taken out of the jail in the morning and will have to return by 7 pm. According to the courts directions, she would be with a police escort the whole day and she has been restrained from speaking to anybody, including the media.

Rahuls stand:

Rahul Mukerjea, who had tweeted in his fathers support on Tuesday, took to Twitter on Thursday, saying, While Indrani so ironically performs last rites of her father.. I hope she spares a thought for Sheena too. She should be alive today. Another tweet said, The cbi and police/jail authorities absolutely MUST ensure she has no scope for trying to escape (sic).
South Asia, with India at its centre, is fastest-growing region for human trafficking in the world, says UN Office for Drugs and Crime.

In May, India's minister for women and children unveiled a draft of the country's first comprehensive anti-human trafficking law. (Photo: PTI)

London: As 2016 draws to a close with news dominated by bloodshed, disasters and disease from the Middle East to Africa and Latin America, it may seem there wasn't much to be happy about this year.

Despite continued violence in Syria and Yemen, severe drought in Africa and the outbreak of the Zika virus in Latin America, there have been events worth celebrating in 2016.

Here are five of them that you might have missed in the last 12 months:

1. India's Quest To Fight Human Trafficking

In May, India's minister for women and children unveiled a draft of the country's first comprehensive anti-human trafficking law, which would treat survivors as victims in need of assistance and protection rather than as criminals.

South Asia, with India at its centre, is the fastest-growing region for human trafficking in the world, says the U.N. Office for Drugs and Crime.

2. Peace Comes To Colombia

In November, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC rebel leader Rodrigo Londono signed a modified peace deal, cobbled together after the first version was rejected in a public vote in October, to end 52 years of war.

For his efforts to end Latin America's longest-running conflict, Santos was awarded the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.

The conflict killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions more in the Andean nation.

3. Climate Action

A landmark global accord to combat climate change officially entered into force on Nov. 4, putting pressure on nearly 200 countries to start executing plans to slash their greenhouse gas emissions.

The Paris Agreement, agreed in December 2015, seeks to wean the world economy off fossil fuels in the second half of the century, limiting the rise in average world temperatures to "well below" 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial times.

4. West Africa Battles Female Genital Mutilation

More than 300 communities across four West African countries with some of the world's highest rates of female genital mutilation (FGM) are declaring themselves free of the practice in public ceremonies this month.

FGM affects an estimated 140 million girls and women across a swathe of Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia, and is seen as a gateway to marriage and a way of preserving purity.

The ritual involves the removal of the external genitalia and causes numerous health problems that can be fatal.

5. UN Appoints First Lgbt Rights Investigator

In September, the U.N. Human Rights Council appointed its first independent investigator to help protect gay and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination.

Vitit Muntarbhorn, an international law professor at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, will have a three-year mandate to investigate abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.
Various sources confirmed that the dead man was Anis Amri, the suspect in the Berlin truck attack on Monday that killed 12 people.

Amri was caught on camera by police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit district early on Tuesday a few hours after the attack. (Photo: AFP)

Milan: A man believed to be the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a shoot-out in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday, a security source told Reuters.

Italy's interior minister was to hold a news conference at 10.45 am (0445 ET) the ministry said.

A short video posted on the website of Italian magazine Panorama suggested the shooting happened before dawn, with police gathered around a cordoned-off area in the dark.The report was one of several conflicting accounts on the whereabouts of the 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri.

A man matching his description was seen in Aalborg in northern Denmark, the Danish police tweeted on Friday, saying people should keep away from the area as it had an ongoing operation there.

Amri was also was caught on camera by police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit district early on Tuesday a few hours after the attack, Germany's rbb public broadcaster reported. Amri was not a suspect at that time, and on Thursday morning, when police raided the mosque, they could not find him, rbb said.

German investigators had said they believed Amri was still lying low in Berlin because he is probably wounded and would not want to attract attention, Der Tagesspiegel, reported citing security sources.

In the early hours of Friday morning, special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, police said in a statement.

The men, two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31, were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, they said.A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case, which has been claimed by Islamic State.

Amri had been identified by security agencies as a potential threat and had his application for asylum rejected, but authorities had not managed to deport him because of missing identity documents.
The plane had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways but was re-routed to Malta.

The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. (Photo: AP)

Valletta: Hijackers diverted a Libyan plane carrying 118 people to the Mediterranean island of Malta on Friday and threatened to blow it up with hand grenades, officials said. Tense negotiations ensued and within a few hours at least 65 passengers were allowed to leave the plane, the prime minister said.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was traveling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta.

Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers on board had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them.

Emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the site of what the Malta airport agency called an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac. All flights into Malta International Airport were diverted.

Malta's National Security Committee was coordinating the hostage operation, a government statement said, and a negotiating team was on site.

An official from Afriqiyah Airways said the two hijackers had expressed a willingness to release the passengers but said they would keep the pilot. The company said there were 118 people, including the crew, on board.

The doors of the plane opened at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was moved over to its door before passengers began disembarking.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a tweet that 65 people left the hijacked plane so far. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

It was not clear why the plane was hijacked or what the demands of the hijackers were.

Serraj al-Fitouri also told Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV that one Libyan lawmaker was among the list of passengers. It was unclear whether the lawmaker, identified as Abdel-Salam al-Marabet, was actually on the flight.
The economic sanctions imposed by China, Mongolias main trading partner, lead to a change of heart in Mongolia.

Ulaan Baatar (AsiaNews)  Mongolias Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh-Orgil expressed his countrys regret for hosting the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

"Under this current government, the Dalai Lama will not be invited to Mongolia, even for religious reasons," Mr Munkh-Orgil told the Mongolian newspaper Unuudur.

Last month, Mongolia hosted the Dalai Lama despite a stern warning from the Chinese government, which sees the spiritual leader as a political enemy and a separatist.

After the visit of the head of Tibetan Buddhism, the Chinese government postponed bilateral meetings with the Mongolian deputy prime minister and imposed heavy economic sanctions on the country.

These sanctions have been a blow to the Mongolian economy, which depends heavily on China, its first trading partner.

Less than two weeks ago, the Indian government offered a billion US dollars to help Mongolia to cope with Chinas sanctions.

According to Trading Economics, China receives 89 per cent of Mongolian mineral exports  in particular copper, coal and gold  worth US$ 4.93 billion.

Mongolia had hosted the Dalai Lama before, in 2006, which led China to cancel briefly all flights between Beijing and Ulan Bator.

The Chinese government bears a grudge against every country that welcomes the Nobel Prize recipient and almost always imposes economic sanctions on them.

During his visit to Mongolia, the Dalai Lama announced his intention to visit US President-elect Donald J. Trump.
As Damascus celebrated the recapture of Syrias second largest city, the Turks struck the citys outskirts, killing 29 civilians, including eight children. Daesh fighters suffer no casualties. Al Bab is the price paid to Turkey to get Jihadis and rebels out of east Aleppo.

Aleppo (AsiaNews)  As the bells of Aleppos Armenian Mother of God Cathedral rang out in celebration for the first time in five years and as prayers of thanksgiving rose from altars for the new-found peace after the departure of the last convoy of Jihadis from the citys eastern sector, the Turkish air force bombed the town of Al Bab, killing 29 civilians, including eight children.

According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of local contacts, many people are still missing under the rubble and the death toll can be expected to be far higher than announced so far. No Daesh* fighter was killed in Turkish air raids though, only civilians, this despite Ankaras claim that "everything has been done to avoid civilian casualties."

For the Arab chroniclers of the Middle Ages, "Al Bab is the Achilles heel of Aleppo. Whoever controls it controls Aleppo, and whoever controls Aleppo controls Syria, and whoever controls Syria controls the entire fertile Middle East."

Al Bab, which means "the Gate" in Arabic, is in fact the door to Aleppo. Located some 30 Km from the border with Turkey, it is Daeshs last stronghold in the Province Aleppo.

Syrian Observatory director Abdel Rahman reports that Al Bab is surrounded by Turkeys invading troops, along with rebel groups "from the east, the north and from the west." The Kurds too are involved in the citys conquest, invasion or liberation from the hands of the Islamic State, who at Al Bab are paving the way for a Syrian Kurdistan that Turkey wants to prevent. The latter is a real obsession for Ankara, whose aim is to annex northern Syria and Iraq. Ankaras goal is to use its control of Al Bab to get a place at the table of future peace talks on Syria. The rightful owner, the Syrian State, is also aware that it could not guarantee a safe and long-lasting peace in Aleppo without taking back Al Bab.

Turkish activism on this front shows that something has changed. About a month ago, Turkeys invading forces were met for the first time by the Syrian air force, in a stern warning not to cross a red line by heading towards Al Bab. Syria could not have bombed Turkish troops without Russian approval (a year after a Russian fighter place was shot down by the Turks), nor could Turkey advance to take Al Bab without Moscows approval.

What if ceding control of Al Bab to Ankara was the price to persuade jihadists and rebels (known to be led from Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) to evacuate Aleppo East? This is on everyone's lips today in Aleppo, right after news spread of the liberation of the countrys second-largest city.

Syria has repeatedly said that any Turkish invasion of Al Bab would have catastrophic consequences for regional and world peace, for which Ankara alone should be held responsible. However, in this case leaders in Damascus have been silent, still drunk perhaps from their victory in Aleppo. All the while, Russians, Iranians and Turks were meeting and discussing the evacuation of the Jihadis and rebels from Aleppo and the future of the city as well as that of Al Bab, whose fate cannot be divorced from that of Aleppo. Likewise, the UN was being presented with a proposal to send observers, and talks were underway on an investigation into war crimes committed in Aleppo, a prelude to similar actions across Syria and the start of an international trial for war crimes perpetrated in the country.

Who might be in control of Al Bab? The answer cannot wait any longer. With the Kurds discarded by the power transition in Washington, the competition remains open between two contenders: the legitimate Syrian regular army or invading Turkish troops under the legal guise of the men flying the flag of the much-vaunted but never seen Free Syrian Army. A banner under which Ankara is trying to reconcile all the Jihadis it managed to evacuate from Aleppo to Idlib.

Yesterday Turkish President Erdogan talked again about the 1920 Sevres International Peace Conference, which formalised the partition of the Ottoman Empire. If we stop, we will find ourselves facing Sevres conditions, he said, linking the fight against terrorism to Turkeys Euphrates shield operation and Turkish invasion of northern Syria. "We cannot keep silent before those who constantly threaten our national security, and now we are doing what is necessary towards them."

On Wednesday, 14 Turkish soldiers were killed in Al Bab by three explosive-filled cars driven by suicide bombers. According to Daeshs news agency "men with Turkish special forces fled from Al Bab".

Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said that at least a thousand Islamic State men and about 300 Kurdish YPG fighters "have been killed since Turkish intervention". However, the information could not be confirmed from other independent sources. (PB)

* Arabic acronym for the Islamic State
by Sumon Corraya

The exchange of greetings took place in Dhaka with some 1,500 Christians, as well as a good number of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. The prime minister thanked Pope Francis "for appointing a Bengali as cardinal". She also said that her government supports the equality of all religions.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  About 1,500 Christians, mostly Catholics, and a good number of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists exchanged Christmas greetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who as guest of honour, sang Christmas carols along with the Christians.

"I thank Pope Francis for appointing a Bengali as cardinal, she said. Turning to newly elected Card Patrick D'Rozario, she added, Your Eminence, I ask not to work only for Christians, but for the welfare of the whole country, as you have done in the past."

The exchange of greetings took place in the auditorium of the Krishibid Institution. "Those who claim to practice religion create conflicts between faiths, the prime minister said, whilst those who truly believe in religion have confidence and trust in themselves, and never take unjust measures".

According to Hasina, "religion is in danger from those who try to use it in a negative way. Hence, it is everyone's responsibility to maintain the dignity of their own faith and grant it an even more solemn position."

"As a Muslim I follow my religion and I trust it. We must always maintain a peaceful environment in which everyone can practice their beliefs. My government strongly supports the equality of all religions in Bangladesh."

For his part, Cardinal D'Rozario thanked the prime minister "for her sincerity. We want to be free to practice our religion and work in this country for the people with the support of the government. "

Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman praised "the Catholic Church for the crucial role it plays in the development of education and the countrys socio-economic situation."

Bangladesh, he noted, "is a nation where traditionally there has been religious harmony, even though badly intentioned people are trying to destroy fraternal relations between people of different faiths."
The Canadian Government is sued: violation of international law or legitimate export? Canada believes vehicles will not be used to abuse human rights.

Ottawa (AsiaNews)  The Canadian government has admitted for the first that the armoured vehicles it plans to sell to Saudi Arabia might be used in the fighting in Yemen.

Canadas CA$ 15 billion military export deal to the Mideast country includes Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs), which are mechanised infantry combat vehicle.

Universite de Montreal professor Daniel Turp is suing the Trudeau government, alleging that it is breaking Canadian regulations and international law by selling heavily-armed vehicles to the autocratic state.

Canadas legal defence contends that Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion has the authority to decide what does and does not constitute a legal weapons sale  not the court.

The main issue is that vehicles could be used in a conflict that the Canadian government has repeatedly condemned.

At the same time, government lawyers told the court that Saudi Arabia is a key partner for Canada and an important ally in the region, plagued with instability, terrorism, and conflict.

The kingdom is a key military ally who backs efforts of the international community to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Canada also remains certain that the LAVs, which can come outfitted with machine guns and anti-tank weaponry, will not be used to abuse human rights.

Still, the legal defence also accepts that Riyadh is free to use the military vehicles as it sees fit.

In October, Dion condemned bombings in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its military partners.

Earlier this month, he said that Canada does not export the same kind of weapons to Saudi Arabia as the United States did, referring to American-made air-to-ground bombs that have been responsible for numerous civilian deaths.

These violations of international law and humanitarian law are tragic and unacceptable, he concluded.

Ultimately, Turps lawsuit stands little chance of succeeding, since, as the government argues, the guidelines relating to military exports are not matters of law.

The federal court is set to rule on the case in the new year.
What's on my Christmas list this year for educators, parents, students and taxpayers? Three simple goals: Expanding educational freedom, making our schools more efficient and accountable and enhancing transparency. The good thing is North Carolina legislators can take several steps to make those goals a reality in 2017. They include:The current pay system for principals and school administrators in North Carolina has two problems. First, the current system has North Carolina ranked last in average principal pay. Second, pay for principals and school administrators is linked to years of service - not job performance. For these reasons alone it's a pay system that needs to be replaced. Since principals are responsible for cultivating a quality faculty and are responsible for all that happens in their buildings, shouldn't a pay plan reflect those realities and reward job performance? Who better than a principal knows how teachers and staff are performing? Sen. Jerry Tillman, Committee Co-Chair of the Legislative Study Committee on School-Based administrator pay had suggested giving LEAs a pot of money and letting school districts pay principals as they saw fit. However, Tillman backed off when a number of Superintendents said they didn't like the idea, mainly because it asks superintendents and school boards to do something they aren't currently doing; setting salary levels. While buy-in is important, opposition by superintendents should not be a reason for shelving such a proposal, especially when the potential benefit to principals far outweighs the negative costs. Eliminating salary schedules for principals and administrators allows school boards to better respond to individual labor markets and allows schools to more closely link pay with job performance.In hopes of providing parents more accurate information about how public schools are performing, the North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation requiring all public schools receive an A-F letter grade. Since their inception in 2015, NC school report cards have been shrouded in controversy. Much of the disagreement is rooted in how much weight to ascribe to factors such as academic performance and academic growth. While a readjustment on weighting may improve the system, a far better option is to move schools back to a 10-point grading scale (i.e. each letter grade represents a ten-point range: 90-100 is an 'A', 80-90 is a 'B', etc.). School grades are based on the composite score the school received and the corresponding letter grade. Republicans should move schools back to a 10-point grading scale because the fifteen-point scale has lowered standards as well as the floor for failure. Under the current system, "A" grades are lowered from 90 to 85; "B" grades begin at 84; "C"; 69 and so forth. "F" grades have been lowered from 59 and below to 39 and below. The legislature delayed implementation of the 10-point grading scale last year, fearing the higher standards would tag too many schools with low scores. If we have too many schools with low scores, we don't improve education by lowering standards to make everything look better. The 15-point grading scale creates a false security about education quality and what children are actually learning. Restoring the 10-point grading system is a step toward remedying some of the current problems and one that gives parents more accurate information on school report cards.Charter schools continue to grow in North Carolina. In 2015-16, 160 charter schools enrolled nearly 82,000 students. Charter schools are not perfect. Yet, their steady growth attests to the fact that they are doing something right. While charter schools have different governance systems than the public schools they are supposed to be on equal footing with the public schools in funding and support. However, there is a big difference between what is supposed to be and what is actually happening. Most public schools are built through bonds. Charter schools receive no money for capital costs and on average charter schools can spend anywhere from 20 to 30 percent of all expenditures on building costs. While state dollars are supposed to be divided evenly, equity does not translate to the local level.On average charter public school children across North Carolina receive about seventy-five cents for every dollar given to traditional public schools. In 2015, New Hanover County local public schools received about $2,844 per student in local funding to attend the local public school. Students who attended public charter schools in New Hanover County, however, received $359 less per student, $2,485, in local support.Aren't all children - no matter where they attend school entitled to equitable funding? The solution is to adopt legislation that follows the student and not the school. Student-centered funding would go a long way in putting North Carolina charter schools on equal footing and ensuring all children get a chance at a quality education.Last year USA Today exposed the poor quality of state systems tracking teacher discipline from around the country. It's so bad that teachers frequently fled one area and turned up in another lacking a paper trail. USA Today ranked states by the quality of the systems and North Carolina was one of the worst offenders. The Tar Heel state received a failing grade of "F".In 2010 a State Board of Education Task Force came up with 15 recommendations to improve North Carolina's troubled system for doing background checks on teachers. Solutions included hiring more investigators to prosecute teacher misconduct, fingerprinting teacher candidates and allowing the state board to share background information with local school districts. For a variety of reasons, the State Board never acted on the recommendations.Last session Sen. Chad Barefoot introduced legislation (SB 867) that attempted to address some of the problems. The bill passed the Senate but was never passed by the House. These efforts can be done in a manner that protects the rights of the accused as well as protects our most vulnerable children. If we are really concerned with the safety of students in the classroom we must adopt a system that allows school districts to access accurate information on teaching applicants in a timely manner.Parents of special needs students in North Carolina can apply for Special Needs Scholarship. Scholarship recipients receive up to $8,000 annually ($4,000 per semester) for tuition, required fees and other expenses (e.g. related services and medical therapies) at nonpublic schools. Families whose child attends a school that participates in the Special Needs Scholarship Program can receive a tuition reimbursement on behalf of the student. Otherwise parents must front the money for such expenses as medical therapies, tutoring, textbooks, transportation costs and other services. The provision - in actuality - makes the program accessible to families that can afford to front the money to incur the expense. We all know Special Needs children come to families of all incomes; and families incur significant expense in educating such students, no matter their income level. Cost can vary widely depending on the nature and severity of individual disabilities.These problems can be addressed through the creation of a special needs Education Savings Account (ESA) similar to those in Arizona and Florida. A special needs ESA transfers a percentage of state per pupil funding and deposits it in a parent-controlled bank account where the money can be used to cover education-related expenses.Education Savings Accounts are the next wave in education reform. They not only provide parents the ability to choose how and where their children are educated, but because of their ability to customize education they also serve to drive and shape education reform efforts. ESAs are an idea whose time has come and North Carolina would do well to offer parents and students the opportunity to take control of their education.
by Melani Manel Perera

A Catholic mother convinced her family to have a different Christmas. They saved money for a month and decided not to have gifts in order to help two poor families, one Catholic and one Buddhist. What I want is for my children to learn the true meaning of Christmas, she said.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  In Sri Lanka, a Catholic family has decided to spend Christmas with two other less well-off families, one Catholic and one Buddhist, to whom they will donate food and clothing.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Miriam Perera said that she managed to convince her family to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a different way.

In fact, the gifts that Miriam will bring to two poor families are from the money she and her children gave up in order to bring a smile and a bit of comfort to those who need them the most.

The inspiration to this gesture, Miriam said, "comes from the Holy Family. I wanted to celebrate this Christmas in a more meaningful way. I know I cannot change the whole world or my country, but I can at least try to honour in a truer way Christmas with my family."

The 52-year-old woman lives near Colombo with her husband, an employee at a private company, and two school-age children.

Last month, she proposed sharing Christmas with caring love for others". Initially, her family did not react enthusiastically. Have you gone mad! one of her children said upon hearing the idea of saving money for someone else and giving up gifts.

However, as days went by, and thanks to Miriam's loving explanation, the whole family joined in, and put together some 30,000 rupees (US$ 200). With the money, she bought food and clothes.

So tomorrow, the family will spend Christmas eve with another Catholic family in a village not far from home. Together, they will attend Christmas mass, but before that Miriam will donate good clothes to the other family, especially bought for them.

For Miriam, their hosts do not have enough room for her and her family, so they will stay at a nearby inn and will return the next day with food for the Christmas dinner partly prepared before leaving.

Her children will play with the daughter of the other family, and everyone will spend time in peace and joy.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Miriam and her family will visit the second poor family, who are Buddhists, to whom they will give some money for their farming activity.

Miriam does not seek fame. "I'm not the only one doing something like this, she said. There are so many other Christians who do the same. What I want is for my children to learn the true meaning of Christmas."
A draft submitted by Egypt, was withdrawn the next day. US President-elect, not yet in office, imposed US veto.

New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The UN Security Council has delayed a vote on a resolution calling on Israel to stop the expansion of its colonies in the Occupied Territories. The motion was filed a day earlier by Egypt, but the same country withdrew it to present it later after the United States intervened saying they would place their veto.

According to the BBC, the United States had only intended to abstain, thus allowing the motion to pass. But an Israeli representative contacted the new president-elect Donald Trump asking for his intervention. Trump thus asked the Security Council to abandon the motion.

In a video posted on his Twitter account, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that " Israelis deeply appreciate one of the great pillars of the US-Israel alliance: the willingness over many years of the United States to stand up in the UN and veto anti-Israel resolutions".

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi had a telephone conversation with Trump and decided to withdraw the motion, to allow time for the new US administration, which will begin on January 20, to pursue the matter.

The draft resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem." It states that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperiling the viability of the two-state solution" that would see an independent Palestine co-exist alongside Israel.

Under the Netanyahu government there has been an impressive increase in Israeli settlements. In 2015 at least 15 thousand new settlers have moved into the West Bank.

According to the organization Peace Now in 2016 the Israeli administration has given the green light for 2,623 new settlements. These include 756 illegal houses and those later "legalized". To date at least 570 thousand Israelis live in over 130 settlements built by Israel since 1967, when the occupation began and have grown exponentially in recent times thanks to the expansionist policy of the Israeli government.
Tom Campbell

Once again North Carolina made national news and once again it wasn't favorable. For a while it appeared our state was ready to rid itself of all the negative publicity, economic loss and rancor associated with HB2, but at the end of the day all we saw was frustration, divisiveness and inaction instead of the repeal of the nightmare that has impacted our state.Few can deny that the fallout associated with the Charlotte ordinance and HB2 has cost us more than just the economic losses we've suffered. This issue has called into question who we are as a state, how we treat others different from ourselves and how we make decisions. We've seen the ugly side of all sides, the deep divisions within families, communities and political parties. Our image is tarnished and our morale has plummeted.At this moment it would be easy to join in the finger pointing and partisan spin coming from all sides but that serves no positive purpose. Recent developments have not shown elected officials at their finest, but it is also true that the people we elect are no better and no worse than those they represent. Wednesday's special session only amplified the political climate in which we find ourselves, an atmosphere where goodwill, honest, civil discussion and trust are sacrificed on the altar of wanting to prevail more than doing what is best for the state. It is not a pretty picture.There are big issues facing us as we begin 2017. Many are still homeless and without restoration as a result of Hurricane Matthew and the western wildfires. North Carolina has enjoyed a recovery from the Great Recession but too many, especially in rural regions, haven't seen the benefits. Public education has made some good gains but too many of our young people aren't getting the education they need to obtain and hold good jobs. Too many of us suffer from physical and mental health problems. Our public infrastructure, especially our highways, desperately needs improvements.Yes, we are disappointed that our legislature was unable to repeal HB2, but disappointment needn't lead to despair. We are where we are. The HB2 discussion isn't over, merely postponed. Now we must do some soul-searching to determine where we want to go and how to get there and time off during holiday might provide the opportunity to open our hearts and minds for understanding others' positions and to earnestly seek compromise that will put this chapter of our history behind us.We've always believed we were a blessed state, filled with wonderful natural resources, but also filled with a people who genuinely care about others and want to do what is right. I refuse to believe we choose to hate, to ridicule, to find fault and place blame over choosing harmony, unity and the common good. Our state has a better face than what we have shown recently. We genuinely hope that the New Year will bring with it a new resolve to show our better selves and put behind us the ugliness we too often experienced in 2016.
The European arm of King & Wood Mallesons has filed court papers stating that it is preparing to appoint administrators in a move which is designed to protect the firm from its creditors and allows it to maintain client service as it continues to explore all available options.The Law Society Gazette says that another senior KWM Europe partner is leaving the ailing firm to join Keystone Law. Jeremy Schrire was the firms head of two teams, commerce & technology and consumer & retail.Global partners at Ashurst will receive annual profit payments instead of the quarterly payments, bringing a unified approach across the firm.There was widespread support for the move, which had been discussed at the time of the merger of the firm with legacy Australian firm Blake Dawson. The harmonized payments will begin in May 2017.A team from the real estate practice of Herbert Smith Freehills has advised M&G Real Estate Asia PTE on its acquisition of Casey Central Shopping Centre, south east of Melbourne.The team working on the $220 million deal was led by David Sinn, supported by senior associate Emily Peverill, solicitor Stephanie McSwiney and graduate Amari Romero.A charity that focuses on the wellbeing of legal professionals is urging lawyers to switch off and take a real break over Christmas.LawCare says that the festive season can increase stress before the office closes due to Christmas parties and the rush to complete work before the break.The UK-based charity says that lawyers should try to take a genuine break by not answering calls, especially from the office; resisting the urge to check emails; and ensuring that colleagues who are looking after matters are well briefed so they wont need to contact you.
By Alan Duffy, Research Fellow, Swinburne University of Technology

NASA/Hinode/XRT

Its been a rough 2016 on Earth so I wanted to share (just some of) my reasons why I think we should celebrate New Years as 2017 is looking incredibly exciting. Everything from meteor showers and eclipses to epic space missions and more, 2017 will be worth looking up for and forward too.

1. Quadrantids Meteor Shower

Kick off the New Year with a meteor shower on the night of 3rd / 4th January thanks to the debris tail from asteroid 2003 EH1. the Earth will plunge through dust and tiny pieces of rubble that then burn up in our atmosphere as shooting stars. These will appear to originate from the North, in the constellation of the Big Dipper / Plough meaning this is best enjoyed by Northern Hemisphere observers. The Moon is only partially illuminated meaning it wont outshine many of the expected 100 or more shooting stars every hour.

2. Juno explores Jupiter

Exploring one of the Solar Systems most dangerous places is ambitious enough but to do so 37 times seems insane, yet thats exactly what NASAs Juno mission is undertaking this year. It entered orbit around Jupiter on the 4th July 2016 and at the close of the year had already started to reveal what lies beneath the clouds that make up the Gas Giant. As it threads underneath the dangerous radiation belts around Jupiter, skimming just 5000 km from the cloud tops, we will have unrivalled closeups of the chemical composition and structure of the planet. Thanks to Junocam those closeups will be as beautiful to view as they are valuable for science.









3. SpaceX test launch

In 2016 SpaceX made history by landing their Falcon 9 first stage rocket after it had launched satellites into space. This came to an end when a rocket exploded on the launchpad, a worrying failure for a system that was nearing human crewed flight tests to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. Along with other proponents of human exploration and settlement of space I will be nervously watching the resumption of launches in early 2017 to see if the anomaly has been fixed. If SpaceX can reuse its rockets rather than discard them in the same was as aircraft are refuel upon reaching a destination airports it could usher in a new era of cheaper space travel.









4. Great American Eclipse

This Solar Eclipse will be on August 21st and totality (the complete eclipsing of the Sun by the Moon) will be visible in a narrow band stretching across the continental United States of America. In anticipation of the event, NASA has created a super accurate Moon model for the eclipse path. The craggy, cratered surface of the Moon results in stray sun-rays reaching Earth so that the the shadow region (as seen from space) is not the normally modelled oval. Check NASA for the best observing times in your location.









5. TESS to launch

Thanks to the Kepler Spacecraft we know of thousands of alien worlds, and in 2017 NASA will launch the successor mission TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite). Targeting 200,000 bright stars across the sky TESS hopes to find 500 Earth-sized worlds that briefly pass between us and dim the starlight. Crucially these alien worlds will be much closer to us than the planets spotted by Kepler meaning Earth-based telescopes can potentially measure the contents of their atmosphere and see if the conditions are right for life as we know it.









6. Chinas Mission to the Moon

China will continue to advance its rapidly developing space capability with a sample return mission from the Moon. The uncrewed Chang'e 5 will launch in 2017 with the goal of landing and returning 2kg of lunar regolith to Earth. If successful this effort will mark the first time that material has been returned from our neighbour since Gene Cernan and Apollo 17 left the Moon for the last time 45 years ago.

7. Grand Finale around Saturn

On the 15th September, the Cassini spacecraft around Saturn will end its almost two decade long mission by burning up into the atmosphere of the gas giant. It will mark the end of an astoundingly valuable scientific mission and one that reached new highs at the end of 2016 when it embarked on a Grand Finale tour of the innermost Rings of Saturn. A region never before explored, and with over 20 dives between ring and planetary cloud-tops, we will learn about how these rings formed as well as uncover some of the hidden planets contents. The fiery end will ensure that hardy microbes on the spacecraft cant contaminate the potentially habitable moons of Enceladus and Titan, Cassinis final and ultimate contribution to space science.









8. Geminids Meteor Shower

End the year as it began with a meteor shower from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which reaches its peak on the early hours of 14th December (visible anytime after midnight of the 13th December). This can be viewed by most of the world in the constellation of the Gemini (Twins). Even better with a New Moon just days away it will be dark enough to ensure almost all of the 120 shooting stars each hour will be visible.

Theres many more missions and space events, but if you get to experience even some of these events then maybe 2017 really will have been worth celebrating.

Originally published in The Conversation.
The Tiguan is one of the three new VW models lined up for India; is likely to be assembled at the VW Group's Aurangabad facility.

The second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan has been spotted on test. First showcased at Auto Expo 2016 in Delhi , the Tiguan is the first SUV from the VW Group to be based on its flexible MQB platform that also underpins the new Passat and Skoda Octavia. The Tiguan will come to India in 2017 and is likely to be assembled at the VW Group plant in Aurangabad.

It features a sharp, sporty exterior design, and the MQB platform makes the car relatively lighter than the first-gen Tiguan by over 50kg. The SUV looks premium thanks to the dual-LED headlights which merge with the grille to form a single element. The carmaker has stated that the Tiguan is the first SUV from its stable to be equipped with these headlights.

On the inside, the Tiguan comes equipped with a host of driver assistance, infotainment and safety features which include three-zone automatic climate control, redesigned seats, a 5-inch colour touchscreen with the option of a larger eight-inch screen with smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, according to trim level.

For India, the Tiguan is bound to get the option of petrol and diesel engines. Transmission duties will be handled by a 7-speed dual-clutch unit, and the SUV will be available in both front-wheel-drive and 4MOTION all-wheel-drive guises.
AMG

There's also a car equivalent now, but I'm not sure you'll be able to see the improvements. Theophilus Chin has been obsessing over the idea of a Mercedes subcompact for many years. And ever since the B-Class came out five years ago, he has been trying to imagine a rival for the MINI Cooper.Back in 2011, he proposed something that would be based on the Renault Clio , but his AA-Class looked like the B-Class with a shorter wheelbase and two fewer doors. Not his best work, the project was followed up by the Vision Mini in 2013. This time, he created an A-Class with pug-like stubby features.By that time Autocar magazine was reporting that Mercedes was considering building a rival for the Audi A1 and MINI's hardtop. But later on, this was dismissed. We still think that the Germans are missing out. It's not about the size of the car, but how close you can come to a premium feel. Which is why the ultra-expensive Audi S1 is doing relatively well.By 2015, Theophilus had graduated to the O-Class, looking like a shrunken version of the GLA, with silver skid plates and a rugged body kit. We liked that one the least, but this sort of thing is usually down to personal preference.Finally, we have his latest work, nicknamed the Z-Class. This time around, the GLC has served as the source material, but he got rid of the offroader look by adding an "line" type of bumper. All the major design elements are exaggerated, especially the grille.But the smaller the car is, the more exaggerated its proportions are. Just compare the Audi Q2 with the Q7, and you'll see what I mean.
This week, the federal government of Australia met with a handful of industry experts to talk about how to reduce vehicle emissions. Draft proposals have been made, while sharply dressed men have been assigned to identify the benefits of the proposed fuel emissions changes.The big boys behind these drafts are Josh Frydenberg, Australias Minister for the Environment and Energy, and Paul Fletcher, the Minister for Urban Infrastructure. According to a joint release, the proposals are designed to keep Australia in line with international vehicle markets. In this regard, the first thing the Land Down Under will do is to require automakers to supply vehicles with more fuel-efficient engines . Its easier said than done, but new standards could cut consumer spending by AUD 28 billion by 2040.Translated into fuel savings per year per the average Australian car owner, that would be AUD 519. Light commercial vehicle owners, meanwhile, are expected to save AUD 666. If you wonder how more fuel efficient engines can help with keeping Australias air clean, the proposed standards could reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 65 million metric tons by 2030.Another proposal comes in the form of upgrading pollution standards for everything ranging from cars to buses . By doing so, Australia expects to reduce toxic emissions in such a way that the government could save as much as AUD 4.2 billion in healthcare costs by 2040. Last, but not least, theres a proposal to to improve the quality of our road transport fuels.At the present moment, the base unleaded fuel on sale in Australia is 91 octane gasoline. With current standards due to expire in 2019, the Land Down Under could propose a higher octane rating or, if possible, ethanol-blended fuels. These being said, the Australian Automobile Association is calling for improvements in real-world testing procedures.With the Government actively considering stricter standards for Australias vehicle and fuel sectors, its critical that real-world testing is introduced to ensure motorists arent asked to pay more for regulation that fails to deliver environmental benefit, said Michael Bradley, chief executive at the AAA
In light of the recent event, the authorities have asked the organizers of Berlins Formula E race to borrow the huge concrete blocks that are used in the top-tier electric motorsport Immediately after receiving the request from Berlins Police, Formula E has provided all of its concrete barriers located in Germany to support the effort of preventing an attack with a speeding vehicle on a public place.The cement barriers employed in Formula E are designed to stop race cars from leaving the track, which could lead to many deaths among spectators. Each barrier is one meter (3.2 feet) tall, four meters (13.12 feet) long, and it weighs four tons.All of the obstacles will be placed by the organizers of the local Formula E race, and the action will happen without any cost for the authorities.The first of these barriers were placed on Wednesday, two days after the cowardly act that killed twelve people at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market. For those of you that are not up to speed with world news, a lame excuse for a human stole a truck from an honest Polish worker after stabbing him, drove it at speed on Budapester Strasse (Budapest street), and then veered into mobile stalls and Christmas shoppers at the Christmas market.Authorities specified that the barriers have been placed in relevant points across the city, including the Brandenburg Gate. They will probably be removed after the New Years Eve party. Berlins Police was helped by the citys technical emergency service to deploy the concrete blocks usually placed on the sides of the track in Formula E races, Motorsport notes.Dozens of people were injured in the attack, which mimicked a similar incident that took place in Nice, France, earlier this year.
As per Automotive News , the joint venture between SAIC and GM is to pay 201 million yuan to the Chinese government because the joint venture has been using monopolistic pricing practices. In U.S. dollars, that amount works out at $29 million, otherwise known as a tremendous stack of dollar bills.On Chinese state television, the pricing regulator in Shanghai condemned SAIC-GM for setting minimum prices on certain Cadillac , Buick, and Chevrolet models. SAIC hasnt responded to the allegation, although the U.S. arm of General Motors responded as follows:"GM fully respects local laws and regulations wherever we operate, said a press officer. We will provide full support to our joint venture in China to ensure that all responsive and appropriate actions are taken with respect to this matter." Reading between the lines, with emphasis on the selection of words, it appears that this is news for the American arm of General Motors On that note, the 201 million yuan fine for SAIC-GM comes nine days after a Chinese official from the National Development Reform Commission told the local media that a penalty is in the offing for a U.S.-based automaker with monopolistic behavior. This, in turn, saw General Motors and Ford Motor Company shares take a dive.GM's and FoMoCo's stock market slip was made worse by a nomination made by the U.S. President-elect. Two days ago, Donald Trump nominated Peter Navarro, an anti-China economist, to fill the role of White House National Trade Council chief.Is this all a coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.
SUV

The U.S.-based and Chinese-backed company kicked off the week before by showing us a teaser video of its upcoming car. The images showed a camouflaged prototype line up on a drag strip alongside some of the world's fastest cars, with its closest rival not missing the get-together.We're talking about the Tesla Model X P100D, the world's first and only electric, a label that instantly paints it as Faraday Future's closest competitor. They also had a Bentley Bentayga there, but we sincerely hope it was present strictly for its dynamic performance similarities, and price related ones (the British SUV is a machine worth a quarter-million dollars). Ferrari 488 GTB completed the motley crew of quick on their feet contenders that had been gathered together to show they're not quick enough. As expected, a few days later, Faraday Future released a video showing all those cars get beaten by their mysterious vehicle.However, in one of the shots, we also spotted a dark gray Tesla Model S present at the track. The video did not make any reference to the electric sedan, so we assumed it was the only car that managed to defeat the FF crossover, which was why the footage was missing.Well, it turns out we were wrong, and Faraday Future was merely saving the best for last. A recently released video gives us the hotly anticipated race in all its glory - well, we get to see the start and the end, which is enough.Since it made the cut, you figured by now that the Model S - officially the world's quickest car to the 60 mph mark with a time of 2.4 seconds - only came last. But the video states the Model S reaches 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, which was the speed prior to the November update.Either Faraday Future isn't aware of the modification, or it benchmarked its vehicle against a non-updated vehicle. But even if it hasn't, given the gap at the end, the result is still largely irrelevant. A minute difference in the reaction time of the two drivers could have tilted the scales one way or the other, since there's definitely less than 0.1 seconds between the two.If Faraday Future's intention was to convince us its vehicle is quicker than a Model S P100D, then it failed. But if it wanted to convey the idea that the crossover is crazy-quick, then, yes, message received. Now go ahead and find the money necessary to build it.
It is called SP 275 rw Competizione, and it is built on the F12 Berlinetta  chassis. However, Ferrari made a factory engine swap, and fitted the powerplant from the F12 tdf , along with its transmission, in this unique car. The one-off from the prancing horse brand comes with an exclusive design, which was done by Ferraris Styling Center, with the kind help of Pininfarina.Ferrari says that this car was inspired by the legendary 275 GTB , which was also part of the reason why it has 275 in the name. At the time when the 275 GTB was launched, it became an iconic model, and it also had a naturally aspirated V12 engine placed in the front of its Berlinetta body.Ferrari has also enhanced the rear track of this model, along with increasing the width of the front and rear wheel arches. Evidently, you cannot miss the additional vents, which are a styling cue, along with a milled aluminum fuel cap, a yellow paint scheme, a set of dedicated rims, and a redesigned front end that comes with a smoothly integrated hood bulge.Maranello has not announced who was the lucky customer of this one-off model. Its performance figures have also not been mentioned, but they should match the values of the F12 tdf. The latter needs just 2.9 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph), which means that this model should be able to replicate those values.In typical fashion, Ferrari did not bother to publish too many photos of the model. This is the kind of policy that frustrates any petrolhead, because you will probably not see one of these on the street any time soon. Hopefully, the Italians have more photos up their sleeves, and they will release more after a few days.
They do have the drawback of not working during the night or having lower productivity on overcast days, which means they need to be backed by another source as well as use energy storage devices. Still, Tesla seems to believe they are cheap enough to make that they can prove a viable solution in the long term.But the most important advantage is that they can be installed over existing structures, meaning they don't need any kind of new infrastructure or take up extra space. For years, solar panels have been placed on rooftops, the tilted surface helping ensure that they sit at the perfect angle to take in as much as possible of the sun's rays.Covering the surfaces of roads, however, would make even more sense. The world has billions of miles of ribbons of tarmac that serve no other purpose than to increase the speed and safety of the vehicles that move over it.If that surface could be covered in solar panels, its functionality would instantly be doubled. However, that does pose some problems, one of which being finding a material that lets light through, but is also as grippy and as durable as the asphalt.It would seem a small French village in Normandy called Tourouvre-au-Perche has found the solution. The little settlement has just inaugurated a road strip of one kilometer (0.6 miles) that's covered in solar panels for a total surface of 2,800 square meters (30,139 square feet).The French ecology minister, Segolene Royal (the same one who proposed a decommissioned nuclear facility to Elon Musk as a site for a future Tesla factory in Europe), was present at the event to confirm the support this project has had from the state. The total cost of approximately $5.2 million was publicly funded and was executed by the construction company Colas Group.The project has its detractors, but most of them are only questioning the cost versus energy production ratio. But since the best way to test that is to build a prototype, that's exactly what this one-kilometer long road is. The program will be reassessed after two years, and conclusions will be drawn.Others are more optimistical, though. According to The Guardian , the construction firm claims to have around 100 other solar road projects, only half of which are in France. Expect the title of the only solar road in the world to be a very short-lived one, then.
Tillis' Legislation, The Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act, Was Signed Into Law By President Obama In October

Contact: Daniel Keylin

Daniel Keylin daniel_keylin@tillis.senate.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. In the Senate, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has continued to work to bring justice to the victims of North Carolina's state-run eugenics and sterilization program. Senator Tillis has also attempted to raise the public's awareness of a dark and shameful chapter in America's history, calling on other states to join North Carolina in creating their own compensation programs for living eugenics victims.From the 1920s to the 1970s, more than 60,000 Americans in 33 states were sterilized. North Carolina had one of the most aggressive eugenics programs in the nation, sterilizing more than 7,600 North Carolinians against their will. The state government targeted specific groups for sterilization, including unmarried women, African-Americans, and children from poor families.When Tillis was a member of the N.C. House, he joined then-state Rep. Larry Womble in a bipartisan effort to compensate the living victims of the state's eugenics programs. They ran into political opposition from the beginning, first blocked by a Democratic governor and legislature, and then meeting resistance from some of Tillis' fellow Republicans when he became speaker.In 2013, they worked out a hard-fought bipartisan compromise that made North Carolina the first state in the nation to create a compensation fund for the living victims of its state-run eugenics program.Senator Tillis noticed an unintended problem with federal law that could affect eugenics victims receiving compensation payments. Since the federal government counted the compensation as "income," it jeopardized the victims' eligibility for federal safety net benefits like Medicaid, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, and others. This meant that the victims-many of whom already have only the modest of means-could have had their federal benefits reduced, or eliminated altogether.Senator Tillis introduced The Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act to fix the problem. The legislation passed the Senate and House unanimously, and was signed into law by President Obama in October 2016.Editorial:(Editorial, Greensboro News & Record, 7/3/15)Editorial:(Editorial, Winston-Salem Journal, 10/4/16)Tillis:(Thom Tillis op-ed, USA Today, 9/9/15)
Likewise, it seems that every time there's a new rumor about a future Mercedes-Benz, Autocar magazine is in the thick of it. For example, the much-anticipated MINI Cooper rival they suggested or the multitude of baby G-Class reports.This time around, the British magazine says the A-Class will have a sedan version. The fact that it would overlap with te CLA is not the issue, as their report suggests it would be bigger and more expensive. However, there's no way that a brand new car is tested and developed in such a short amount of time.Right now, Daimler engineers are busily making the A-Class itself , which might not be ready until the Frankfurt Motor Show of next fall.The proposed 4-door A-Class would be based on the updated version of the MFA platform and share its engines with its hatchback sister. Supposedly, the legroom and trunk space would almost match those of the C-Class.But the sizes don't add up very well, as there's only a tiny gap between the 4.64-meter CLA and the 4.68-meter C-Class. Is there something we're missing here?Another weird thing about the report is that it claims the A-Sedan would be available in RHD. There aren't such major markets - the UK, Australia, Japan, Britain, Malaysia, India and parts of Africa.BMW revealed its 1 Series sedan , but it's only available with three engines in China, having all its steering wheels mounted on the left.A couple of years ago, Mercedes mention the C-Class went up in size so the CLA has its own spot. Now they want to slot another one above the CLA? It doesn't make a lot of sense. There's also an issue with placing a car above the current four-door coupe, which is about 4,000 more expensive than the Audi A3 in Germany. I know Mercedes cars are supposed to be expensive, but asking even more money is ridiculous.
Photo courtesy of Volvo.

Uber will end its self-driving pilot program in San Francisco after a meeting with the California DMV and the attorney generals office. The DMV revoked the registration on the 16 self-driving test vehicles Uber was using in the pilot.

Uber will now move its self-driving vehicles to Arizona for the pilot program.

"Arizona welcomes Uber self-driving cars with open arms and wide open roads," said Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. "While California puts the brakes on innovation and change with more bureaucracy and more regulation, Arizona is paving the way for new technology and new businesses. In 2015, I signed an executive order supporting the testing and operation of self-driving cars in Arizona with an emphasis on innvoation, economic growth, and most importantly, public safety."

The California DMV issued this statement: The California DMV encourages the responsible exploration of self-driving cars. We have a permitting process in place to ensure public safety as this technology is being tested. Twenty manufacturers have already obtained permits to test hundreds of cars on California roads. Uber shall do the same.

Uber decided to not pursue this permitting process because it claims that its cars arent considered autonomous since they cant operate completely autonomously at this stage.

We respectfully disagree with the California Department of Motor Vehicles legal interpretation of todays autonomous regulations, in particular that Uber needs a testing permit to operate its self-driving cars in San Francisco, Anthony Levandowski , Ubers vice president of engineering, posted on the Uber website. The regulations apply to autonomous vehicles. And autonomous vehicles are defined as cars equipped with technology that can drive a vehicle without the active physical control or monitoring by a human operator. But the self-driving Ubers are not capable of driving without active physical control or monitoring.

"We are pleased to hear that the DMV took enforcement action, which I strongly supported; consequently, Uber has removed its unpermitted self-driving vehicles from San Franciscos streets," said San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee."I have always been a strong supporter of innovation and autonomous vehicle development and testing, but only under conditions that put human, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety first. San Francisco will continue to work with innovative companies while working with state legislators and agencies to keep our residents safe."

Uber had started to offer self-driving Volvo XC90 luxury SUVs to customers in San Francisco. This expanded its partnership with Volvo that launched in August to provide self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh.
Photo courtesy of Volvo.

Uber will end its self-driving pilot program in San Francisco after a meeting with the California DMV and the attorney generals office. The DMV revoked the registration on the 16 self-driving test vehicles Uber was using in the pilot.

Uber will now move its self-driving vehicles to Arizona for the pilot program.

"Arizona welcomes Uber self-driving cars with open arms and wide open roads," said Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. "While California puts the brakes on innovation and change with more bureaucracy and more regulation, Arizona is paving the way for new technology and new businesses. In 2015, I signed an executive order supporting the testing and operation of self-driving cars in Arizona with an emphasis on innvoation, economic growth, and most importantly, public safety."

The California DMV issued this statement: The California DMV encourages the responsible exploration of self-driving cars. We have a permitting process in place to ensure public safety as this technology is being tested. Twenty manufacturers have already obtained permits to test hundreds of cars on California roads. Uber shall do the same.

Uber decided to not pursue this permitting process because it claims that its cars arent considered autonomous since they cant operate completely autonomously at this stage.

We respectfully disagree with the California Department of Motor Vehicles legal interpretation of todays autonomous regulations, in particular that Uber needs a testing permit to operate its self-driving cars in San Francisco, Anthony Levandowski , Ubers vice president of engineering, posted on the Uber website. The regulations apply to autonomous vehicles. And autonomous vehicles are defined as cars equipped with technology that can drive a vehicle without the active physical control or monitoring by a human operator. But the self-driving Ubers are not capable of driving without active physical control or monitoring.

"We are pleased to hear that the DMV took enforcement action, which I strongly supported; consequently, Uber has removed its unpermitted self-driving vehicles from San Franciscos streets," said San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee."I have always been a strong supporter of innovation and autonomous vehicle development and testing, but only under conditions that put human, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety first. San Francisco will continue to work with innovative companies while working with state legislators and agencies to keep our residents safe."

Uber had started to offer self-driving Volvo XC90 luxury SUVs to customers in San Francisco. This expanded its partnership with Volvo that launched in August to provide self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
Thousands of customers may have worthless car rental bookings through Atlas Choice this holiday season, according to a report by The Guardian.

Atlas Choice customers have reported being told at the rental car counters that their bookings wouldnt be honored unless they paid again. Atlas Choice hadnt paid the cars actual provider for the bookings, says the report.

Angry customers have posted comments about the London-based company on Twitter and other social media.

Chris Clifton-Brown wrote online: Booked through them recently, and when I turned up to collect my car the hire firm made me aware that Atlas Choice are not paying the actual hire firms. I had to pay the hire firm for the car again even though Atlas Choice had already taken my money.

Operating since 1999, Atlas Choice has partnered with several web-based travel businesses and used the booking agent website via the TravelSupermarket comparison website. A TravelSupermarket spokeswoman told the Guardian that it pulled Atlas Choice from its listings three weeks ago when Atlaschoice missed a payment and couldnt be reached.

Currently, the Atlas Choice website says its not accepting any new bookings.

We have requested that all car hire companies keep cars in place to fulfill bookings and honor the previously agreed price, Atlas Choice states on its website. In the event that this does not occur, we recommend that you visit a travel search engine like Skyscanner or TravelSupermarket to source an alternative supplier  at the present time, Atlas Choice is unfortunately unable to assist. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause you, especially at this time of year.

Click here to read the full Guardian report.
Photo courtesy of Audi

Audi on demand, a smartphone-based daily rental service, has opened its first location in Germany at the Munich Airport.

Users can choose a specific model and book their Audi for as long or as little as they need it, according to the company. The service starts with a onehour minimum. It has hourly rates, with no mileage cap.

Audi on demand is one of the brands four usage models: Audi select allows customers to choose between different models for an allinclusive rate; Audi at home, a mobility solution for those living in megacities; and Audi shared fleet for intelligent management of company cars. These services have been launched internationally in places such as Hong Kong, the U.S., and Denmark.

In the spring of 2015, San Francisco became the first location for Audi on demand. myAudi Sphere opened in mid2016 at Munich Airport, where it is the central hub for Audi on demand.
Photo courtesy of Hertz Global

Hertz Global has become the exclusive car rental service provider of Hong Kong-based international carrier Cathay Pacific, following the signing of a two-year agreement between the companies.

As part of the agreement, Hertz has launched a specifically-created Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty website to provide Cathay Pacific's passengers with access to a range of vehicles and offers at around 10,000 locations globally.

In addition, Cathay Pacific passengers will now receive an automatic 5% discount on Hertz Rent a Car basic car rental globally.

To celebrate the new agreement, Hertz Global has launched discounts of up to 20% on basic car rental for Cathay Pacific's passengers renting with Hertz at participating locations in the U.S, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

In order to benefit from the promotion, passengers need to book their Hertz vehicle before Jan. 31, 2017 and collect it between Jan. 1 and March 31, according to the company. Additionally, members of Asia Miles, Cathay Pacific's frequent flyer program, will also earn up to 2,000 extra miles for every qualifying rental. Specific terms and conditions apply.

This new agreement is the extension of the longstanding partnership between Hertz and Cathay Pacific's frequent flyer program Asia Miles. Members of Asia Miles will continue to earn up to 500 Asia Miles and receive a 10% discount on basic car rental when renting with Hertz, according to the company.

Additionally, Green and Silver members of the airline's Marco Polo Club will receive a complimentary one car class upgrade. Marco Polo Club Gold and Diamond members will be also entitled to the 10% discount off the basic car rental price on vehicles from Hertz's Prestige and Fun Collections and to a two car class upgrade at no extra cost, subject to availability.

"Becoming the exclusive car rental service provider of Cathay Pacific is a significant milestone in our longstanding partnership with the airline," said Eoin MacNeill, vice president, Hertz Asia Pacific. "The new, exclusive multibrand website we have launched for Cathay Pacific's passengers will enable them to find the car rental service that best suits their needs in just a few clicks. It is an honor for us to continue to grow our relationship with such a prominent carrier, which, like us, is strongly committed to excellence in customer service.



"At Cathay Pacific, we care about our passengers' experience at every stage of their journey  from the moment they visit our website to make their booking, until they reach their destination and beyond  and our exciting new partnership with Hertz Global underlines our commitment to a 'Life Well Travelled,'" said Roberto Abbondio, managing director, Cathay Pacific Holidays. Providing our customers with more choice and convenience beyond our award-winning flying experience is very important to us, and we are delighted to be teaming up with Hertz Global, a company that has built a well-earned reputation for world-class customer service."
Hijackers of a Libyan airliner with 118 people aboard have surrendered to authorities following a standoff Friday morning on a tarmac in Malta. The Airbus A320 had departed Sabha in southwestern Libya late Thursday, and instead of flying its route to Tripoli at the northwestern border of the country, flew to Malta in the Mediterranean Sea and landed at the islands main airport, according to news reports. Two men on board the Afriqiyah Airlines flight had threatened to blow up the jet with a hand grenade, according to the Times of Malta. They released everyone on board and surrendered nearly four hours after a standoff at the airport, the report said.

The pilot of the A320 had alerted controllers to the hijacking, then dropped off the radio, Reuters is reporting, quoting an unnamed official who said, The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused.Its unclear what the men demanded, but they appeared to be loyal to a political party promoting the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, according to Reuters, referencing a Libyan television station that quoted one of the hijackers saying, We took this measure to declare and promote our new party.


Dr. Shannon Banks, left, Brody graduate and third-year resident in family medicine, discusses an x-ray with Dr. Chelley Alexander, chair of ECUs Department of Family Medicine. (Photo by Jay Clark)

Dr. Vontrelle Roundtree is an ECU medical graduate, completed residency training in family medicine at ECU and now practices in Wayne County. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)

East Carolina University continues to lead the state in the percentage of medical graduates training in or practicing primary care five years after completing school, according to a report presented this month to the state university system.Of the 65 students who graduated from the Brody School of Medicine in 2010 who were practicing medicine or in residency or fellowship training in 2015, 36 - or 55 percent - were in a primary care field, according to the report compiled by the N.C. Area Health Education Centers and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.The report defines primary care as family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN and internal medicine-pediatrics.Dr. Nicholas Benson, interim dean of the Brody School of Medicine, said ECU values its position as a provider of primary care physicians for North Carolina and wants to increase it.he said. That expansion could be to as many as 120 students, according to UNC system documents.According to the report, 34 percent of a total of 420 N.C. 2010 medical graduates were still in training or practice in a primary care field in 2015. In addition to ECU's 55 percent, 38 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill's 136 graduates in 2010 were in primary care five years later as were 30 percent of Wake Forest University's 115 graduates and 21 percent of Duke University's 99 graduates. Those numbers do not include graduates who are no longer in training or practice.In addition, the report says 146 of the total number of the graduates were practicing or training in North Carolina in 2015. ECU led the way in this category, too, with 62 percent of its 2010 graduates still in the state five years later. Thirty-five percent of Chapel Hill graduates, 29 percent of Wake Forest and 25 percent of Duke graduates were still in training or practice in North Carolina in 2015.About a tenth of ECU's 2010 graduates, 7 percent of Chapel Hill graduates, 4 percent of Wake Forest graduates and 1 percent of Duke graduates were in training or practice in a rural areas of North Carolina as of 2015.The report noted, however, that North Carolina's rural areas continue to have a higher supply of physicians than comparable rural areas elsewhere in the country, largely due to the work of the medical schools, the N.C. AHEC program, the N.C. Office of Rural Health and other programs. Report authors nevertheless called for continued work to increase the supply of providers and better distribute them.While all four medical schools have programs encouraging students to aim for a career in primary medicine, other factors such as pay and workload make the job more difficult. Primary care doctors usually work longer hours and earn less than doctors who choose a specialty and graduates are drawn to specialties that allow them to control their hours and have less call on nights and weekends, the report said.The report also noted that community psychiatry, general OB/GYN and general surgery are also vital for rural and underserved communities, and future reports will look at those figures over a certain time period.A 1993 state law addressing North Carolina's chronic shortage of primary care doctors said ECU should aim for 60 percent of its graduates choosing residencies in primary care. Since 2011, the percentage of ECU medical graduates matching into primary care residencies has averaged 62.5 percent, according to university figures.The law established the same 60 percent goal for UNC-Chapel Hill and 50 percent for the Wake Forest and Duke medical schools. In future years, the report will include the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine as its graduates enter residencies in 2017 and into practice in 2020.
A busy traffic pattern and a controllers mistaken identity of an aircraft led to the midair collision of a Sabreliner jet and a Cessna 172 near San Diego in 2015, the NTSB found. All four on board the Sabreliner twin-engine aircraft and the solo pilot in a Cessna 172 were killed on Aug. 16 during landing approaches at Brown Field Municipal Airport. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported this week the Cessna 172 pilot was Michael A. Copeland, an executive at the San Diego-based tech company Qualcomm. The Sabreliner, called Eagle1, was registered to military contractor BAE Systems, with company employees on board. The NTSBs probable cause was a controllers failure to properly identify the aircraft in the pattern and to ensure control instructions provided to the intended Cessna on downwind were being performed before turning Eagle1 into its path for landing.

Contributing factors were the controllers high workload when taking over the radios from a trainee and what the board called inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept for the two pilots. The controller, who had 37 years of experience, told investigators his personal limit for workload was seven aircraft between the airports two parallel runways, but at the time of the collision there were nine under his control. He appeared to have confused the accident Cessna, N1285U, with another 172 while trying to resolve potential traffic conflicts in the pattern. The collision occurred as the controller tried to verify N1285Us position, according to the report. The NTSB also noted that the cockpit views and surrounding environment made it difficult for the pilots to spot each other until it was too late to avoid a collision, and neither aircraft had traffic detection equipment. The board recently issued recommendations for additional training for controllers based on the accident and a safety alert for pilots to promote the use of traffic displays.
AVwebs search of aviation news around the world found announcements from Bell Helicopter, Airbus Helicopters, Cutter Aviation and Austro Engine.Bell Helicopter announcedits Bell 505 Jet Ranger X has been certified by the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA). Unveiled in 2013, the new, five-seat helicopter went from concept to a successful first flight in 20 months. Since then, the aircraft has flown more than 1,000 flight hours.Airbus Helicopters Inc. has been awarded a Contractor Logistics Support contract by the U.S. Army to provide spare parts, material and engineering support for the Armys UH-72A Lakota fleet of utility and training helicopters. Airbus Helicopters Inc. will provide the support at Army and National Guard bases in 43 states as well as in Kwajalein, Guam, Puerto Rico and Germany. The U.S. bases include Fort Rucker in Alabama.

Cutter Aviation announced it has completed the necessary requirements to begin operating the revolutionary new HondaJet on its FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. Two new HondaJet Aircraft have begun operations from Cutter Aviation and the first ever FAA Part 135 charter flight in a HondaJet will depart this week from Cutter Aviation Phoenix Sky Harbor.Austro Engine, a company of the Diamond Aircraft Group, is celebrating 1 million flight hours of the AE300 jet-fuel aviation engine. Since the start of serial production in 2008, more than 1,500 engines have been delivered into operation.Very popular with pilots is the easy engine management by an electronic controlled system (ECU) with integrated single power lever design, as this allows them to focus on the actual flying.
23 December 2016 16:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Stories about injustice in Armenian army know no end. This time an Armenian commander sent to a battle position a serviceman, who couldn't even stand on his feet.

Sevak Simonian, a contract serviceman of a military unit in the Armenian city of Vayk, did not want to go to front due to his health problems, according to Epress.am. However, he was forced to obey the decision of his commander.

The soldiers toes were damaged while serving on the front in September. After returning from the position, he took leave, Simonian's wife Hayarpi Voskanyan says. In October, his leg was still not all right, therefore he went to Sisian Military Hospital. There he was given a certificate stating that he should stay in bed and pass a course of treatment.

Simonyan presented the document to his military unit, and stated that he wont be able to serve in a fighting position. Soon after that, he was called by Commander Mher Stepanyan, who demanded the serviceman to come to the position.

If you do not go to the front, we will fire you the commander threatened, the wife says. Simonian said he submitted a paper about the health problems that prescribe taking a break. "I dont care, dont you want everything to be alright? was the answer. This way Simonian was forcibly sent to the fighting position for two weeks from October 27 to November 10.

Due to arguing with his commander, the salary of Simonyan for November made up only $168. When the serviceman turned to the financier of his military unit and other military commanders, the only answer they gave was it's not our business, Simonyans wife says.

Such stories of iniquity and unfairness in the Armenian army are of wide variety; mysterious murders of soldiers, suicides of those who cant stand the humiliation in army anymore.

Recently, father of Armenian serviceman, who died as a result of ill-treatment, won a lawsuit against Armenia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

He court found violation of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to life) and ordered to pay the Government of Armenia to Hrachya Muradyan 50,000 EUR of compensation.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
23 December 2016 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Mark Leonard



This past year changed everything, except how governments think. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the pre-negotiations for Brexit. With both sides ignoring the far-reaching implications of Donald Trumps election as US president  namely, the decline of the liberal world order  the process seems set to produce a tragedy for the United Kingdom and the European Union alike.

Judging by the behavior of British Prime Minister Theresa Mays diplomats, one might believe that Brexit is the only real uncertainty nowadays. Indeed, they seem convinced that their only imperative  beyond protecting the unity of the Conservative Party, of course  is to secure as many benefits for the UK as possible.

Because the governments Brexit negotiators are assuming that they can count on continued global growth, they are focused on securing a bigger piece of the pie for the UK. And because they also assume that the liberal international economic order will endure, they expect that, once liberated from the shackles of the EU, the UK will find eager partners with which to sign trade deals. Finally, the Brexiteers seem unconcerned about the security implications of going it alone, because they assume that the United States will maintain its role as global policeman, not to mention continued protection from NATO.

Thats a lot of assuming. But the British are not alone in thinking that nothing has changed. In Brussels, EU institutions  and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in particular  still regard a Brexit-triggered Euroskeptic domino effect as the biggest threat to the Union.

In such a context, the goal of the EUs Brexit negotiators would be straightforward: make clear that being a member of the European club brings substantial benefits, and that leaving carries substantial costs. That is the logic that drove EU Council President Donald Tusk to declare that the UK has two options: hard Brexit or no Brexit. It is also the logic behind member states refusal to engage in pre-negotiations or to accept a transitional arrangement.

But this logic is for the world of yesterday  and even then, it didnt quite work. During the Greek crisis, the EUs strategy was to decide the terms of a deal and tell Greece to take it or leave it. If Greece tried to negotiate, the EU made the conditions progressively less attractive, until the pressure was too much to bear.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his then-Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis were shocked by the EUs intransigence during the 2015 negotiations, in which it, too, had much to lose. Nonetheless, Tsipras took the deal  and the Greek crisis is still not resolved.

Despite this experience  and the fact that the global environment is even less stable now than it was then  the EU seems set on employing the same negotiating technique today. Already, Michel Barnier, the EUs lead Brexit negotiator, has presented the UK government with a 50 billion ($52 billion) bill to cover pensions and other obligations until 2030. British politicians do not believe EU officials really mean it, but they do.

The UK and the EU are now locked in a deadly dance, one that may well continue until time runs out. The result will be even worse than a bad Brexit; it will be a non-negotiated Brexit, in which the UK doesnt leave the EU so much as it falls out of it. Beyond causing severe economic damage to both sides, such an outcome would generate so much acrimony that the two sides would find it next to impossible to work out arrangements in myriad other areas, such as territorial defense and counter-terrorism, trade and sanctions, international diplomacy, and climate change.

There is no moral equivalence between the self-defeating solipsism of post-Brexit Britain and attempts by the EU to defend a European order that has been painstakingly built from the ruins of World War II and the Cold War. But both sets of response could contribute to the same tragic result: a Europe stranded in Trumps new Hobbesian world order.

The reality, outside the Berlaymont and Westminster snow globes, is that Europes holiday from history has been brought to an abrupt end. Trumps protectionism-tinged trade policies are likely to take a serious toll on global economic growth. And his attacks on international institutions are likely to undermine peace and cooperation  with potentially devastating security implications.

Contrary to what the British government may like to believe, it is the EU, not NATO, that is most critical to its security. NATO is currently confronting serious challenges. Beyond Trumps apparent lack of interest in upholding US responsibilities to the bloc, NATO members  from the Baltics to Turkey  are under pressure.

In any case, the EU, not NATO, has driven the biggest foreign-policy successes in recent decades, from the pacification of the Balkans to the Iran nuclear deal to the response to Russias annexation of Crimea. Though Trumps election has impelled the EU to agree to a permanent structure for defense cooperation, the incoming US administrations overall effect on European security will not be positive.

It is time for Brexit negotiators to accept reality  and change their game plan accordingly. The British cannot continue to pursue negotiating tactics that erode the foundations of the very system from which they expect to benefit. And the EU must back away from its harsh stance, however understandable it may be.

John Maynard Keynes once noted that practical people  those who believe that they are exempt from any intellectual influences  in fact are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Today, Britain and the EU have become the slaves of defunct thinking. If they do not break their intellectual chains, they will secure for themselves nothing but more misery.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: The coming Brexit tragedy

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23 December 2016 12:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has so far paid compensations worth over 721.06 million manats ($410.2 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 433.48 ($246.6 ) 460 ($261.7) Zaminbank 52.42 ($29.8) 60 ($34.13) Dekabank 3.02 ($1.71) 5.59 ($3.18) Kredobank 27.77 ($15.80) 30.21 ($ 17.18) Caucasus Development Bank 1.97 ($1.12) 2 ($1.13) Atrabank 14.27 ($ 8.11) 14.55 ($8.27) Bank of Azerbaijan 24.15 ($13.74) 24.2 ($13.76) Gandjabank 0.98 ($ 0.55) 1($0.56) Texnikabank 120.08 ($68.32) 122.6 ($69.41) Parabank 42.91 ($24.41) 43.79 ($24.91)

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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23 December 2016 14:52 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijani companies are ready to make investments in development of Kharkiv district of Ukraine.

Azerbaijani ambassador to Ukraine Azer Khudiyev made the remark as he met with Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Yulia Svetlichnaya.

Currently, several Azerbaijani companies are interested in becoming engaged in infrastructure projects in Kharkiv, including construction of large facilities such as hotels and residential complexes, he noted.

The ambassador further mentioned that an Azerbaijani delegation is expected to visit Kharkiv soon for discussions over possible cooperation.

This will be followed by a reciprocal visit to the potential partners by a Ukrainian business delegation, he added.

In turn, Svetlichnaya said large enterprises in Kharkiv like machine-building plant "FED", PJSC Turboatom and State Enterprise Plant Electrotyazhmash are ready for cooperation with new customers.

We are ready for industrial cooperation, Svetlichnaya saif, further guaranteeing the legitimacy and safety of making business by Azerbaijani investors in Kharkiv district.

Svetlichnaya said that more than 3,000 Azerbaijanis are studying in Kharkiv, noting that the district is interested in development of relations between the two sides in economy, culture and science fields.

In general, Azerbaijan and Ukraine have sustainable prospects of bilateral relations in political, economic, energy, transport and humanitarian fields. That is evidenced by $137.68-million trade turnover in January-May 2016, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.

This year, President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Ukrainian delegation headed by President Petro Poroshenko. During the visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed between two nations. Additionally, they discussed implementation of joint projects in energy, transport and agricultural spheres.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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23 December 2016 13:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Bakus Fairmont Hotel hosted The Fashion Show of the Women Clothes of the Turkish World from Tradition to Present on December 21.

Organized by Yunus Emre Baku Institution, Ankara Development Institution, Gulnara Khalilova Fashion House and the Agency of Kazakhstan Women Fashion, the event was attended by representatives of public, art, culture and media.

Ibrahim Yildirim, Head of the Baku Institute of Yunus Emre and MP Ganira Pashayeva , addressing the event, praised the project, stressing the importance of preservation and promotion of the national values of Turkic states.

They said such events with the participation of well-known designers of the Turkic world are expanding and strengthening cultural relations, as well as promoting the national dress.

The catwalk was opened by the collection of Gulnara Khalilova, which featured colorful costumes, revealing the national values of Azerbaijan. This collection was presented in London on the eve of the first European Games.

Fashion designer Khalilova repeatedly successfully represented Azerbaijan at international events, and the idea of establishment of the National Costume Day belongs to her.

During the fashion show collections of famous designers from Kazakhstan - Madina Massakova, Gulzhan Nietkabul and Hanim Aydash, Kyrgyzstan - Makhabat Samanchieva, and Turkey - Ilknur Kochbiyik, who showed the national traditions of their peoples and modern motifs in their collections were put on display.

The catwalk show ended by the collection of Gulnara Khalilova entitled "Language of Carpets" - a modern design solution using patterns of Azerbaijani carpets, which has recently been awarded the highest prize in the Creative Industries Awards in Romania.

Media partners of the event were Azernews.az, Day.Az, Trend.az, and Milli.z.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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23 December 2016 10:25 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The National Monitoring Department on Environment of the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry carried out the next monitoring for the second decade of December to study the contamination level of Kura and Araz transboundary rivers, as well as their transboundary confluents.

The monitoring revealed that water consumption in Kura river held 189m3/sec in the second decade of December decreasing 2m3/sec in relation to the first decade of December.

The monitoring in Kura river also revealed that the amount of bio substances were considerably more than norm due to domestic wastes and slops of industrial institutions discharged directly to water objects without purification from the territories of Georgia and Armenia.

Phenol and copper compounds as specific contaminants in the water component exceeded the admissible turbidity level. In this regard phenols and copper compounds exceeded the turbidity level trice and five fold in Shikhli 2 settlement, thrice and fourfold in Aghstafachay settlement, thrice and twice in Aghstafachay, the report reads.

In second decade of December within Araz river phenols and copper compounds exceeded the turbidity level twice, twice and one fold in Horadiz settlement, trice and trice in I Shahsevan settlement, twice and twice in Bahramtapa settlement respectively.

The water oxygen regime changed within the sanitary norm in all settlements being about 6.22-7.30mg/l.

Overall, the Department periodically checks the pollution level of the transboundary rivers, and the results often exceed the permissible level due to the fault of the neighboring countries where the rivers start.

Waste thrown into the Araz River is the most harmful. The heavy metals and other hazardous, toxic, and radioactive wastes brought by the Okhchuchay, which takes its beginning from Armenian territory, pollute the Araz River.

Following Araz Rivers flowing into the Kur River, these hazardous materials in turn pollute the Kur River that is the main source of drinkable water for majority of Azerbaijani regions.

The Kura river also gives the means of producing energy to the Mingachevir, Varvara, Shamkir and Yenikend hydro power stations, while it is the only river in the country suitable for shipping.

The Kura River is significant for Azerbaijan, which suffers water shortages throughout the year, when compared with the two another Southern Caucasus countries.

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23 December 2016 11:28 (UTC+04:00)

Friendly and fraternal countries Azerbaijan and Turkey will always comprehensively support each other, said Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Ismail Kahraman as he met with Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade.

Speaker Ismail Kahraman noted that the two countries are determined to continue bilateral relations in all areas, Azertac reported.

PM Rasizade said historical friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are developing. Artur Rasizade stressed that all people of Azerbaijan were deeply saddened by the horrible terror attacks recently committed in the brotherly country. The Azerbaijani Premier hailed political, economic, humanitarian and military relations between the two countries.

Saying the two fraternal countries enjoy big economic potentials, Artur Rasizade noted that the successful implementation of global energy and transport projects, as well as fruitful cooperation in non-oil sector is being carried out in the best interests of the two countries` peoples.

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Ismail Kahraman described the opening of headquarters of the International Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking Countries (TURKPA) in Baku as an historically remarkable event.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ismail Kahraman underlined that Turkey has always supported the fair settlement of the dispute in accordance with the norms of international law, within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and inviolability of its borders, and will do so till the end.

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Improving School Accountability In North Carolina

Earlier this week, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released results from the 2015 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA assesses math, reading, and science proficiency among 15-year-old public school students who live in developed nations throughout the world. Approximately 540,000 pupils in 72 countries and jurisdictions participated.What made last year's testing cycle notable is that 2015 was the first time a sample of North Carolina 15-year-olds was included. PISA administered tests to students from North Carolina, Massachusetts, and four Chinese provinces, among others.North Carolina's reading and science performance was average. Our state's average scores were not significantly different than the U.S. or international averages. Even so, the "usual suspects" - Singapore, China, Japan, and South Korea - outperformed North Carolina and the United States in both subjects. In addition, Finland, Canada, and Slovenia exceeded national and statewide averages in reading and science. In sum, ten countries and jurisdictions had higher average reading scores and 14 had higher average science scores than North Carolina.North Carolina's math performance was dismal. While the state's average score was not significantly different than the equally dismal U.S. average, North Carolina fell well short of the international average and the average scores of 35 countries and jurisdictions. While many of the top scoring students live in Pacific Rim nations, Europe is well represented in this group.There is no shortage of folks who offer simplistic explanations for the differences in performance. Predictably, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, blamed Not to be outdone, Weingarten's counterpart, NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia, claimed that high-performing nations "fully fund" their schools.Are they right about funding? In a 2015 Comparative Education Review article , Emiliana Vegas and Chelsea Coffin found,In a subsequent op-ed published by the Brookings Institution, Vegas concludes that how the money is spent is more important than how much is spent, assuming the $8,000 spending threshold has been met.North Carolina's public schools spend an average well above that line - around $8,800 per student for operating expenditures and another $450 per student for capital expenditures. The United States average is higher than all but a handful of nations. In other words, post-recessionary spending decreases did not drop per student expenditures enough to cross the threshold.There are plenty of critics of PISA, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and other international assessments who discount any comparisons among nations. They argue that lower test scores are an inevitability because the United States does not have the kind of racially and socioeconomically homogeneous population that its peers enjoy. Specifically, they contend that international comparisons are not valid because childhood poverty, immigration, and other demographic factors in the United States hinder academic achievement and stifle progress.Improvements in the performance of low-income students suggests that lagging performance in the national average is not as closely tied to socioeconomic status as some might believe. Amanda Ripley explains in a New York Times piece thatIn fact, the performance of low-income students in the U.S. has improved since 2006. Rather, there was a significant drop in performance among affluent 15-year-old Americans. Ripley points out thatShould we look to high-performing nations for answers? Encouraging schools to adopt proven models of classroom teaching, particularly direct or teacher-directed instruction, seems to be a good place to start. In PISA 2015 Results: Policies and Practices for Successful Schools , OECD researchers point out,While I am sure that there are other lessons to be learned, education governance is too fragmented to make immediate, simultaneous, and systematic changes to America's, or even North Carolina's, public schools.
23 December 2016 12:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Azerbaijan carried out live firing from the anti-aircraft rocket systems Ildirim, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry reported on December 22.

A sudden inspection of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces was conducted according to the combat readiness plan approved by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev.

Practical skills of military personnel raised up on alert and the possibility of using of combat means has been verified in the conditions close to the fighting.

During sudden inspection, the anti-aircraft rocket systems Ildirim (Lightning) were alerted, after which the live-firings were carried out.

During the practical shooting the task on detection and automatic tracking of cruise missiles, low-flying and aerodynamic, simulating enemy targets under intense fire and electronic warfare, decision-making, shootings on them and effectively destroying of enemy targets were successfully carried out.

The Ministry reported that inspections of Air Force and Air Defense Forces will be continued.

The Azerbaijani Army, which today is considered the most modern army in the Caucasus, consists of Air Force and Air Defense Forces, the Navy, and the Land Forces. The skills and combat readiness of the Azerbaijani army are growing year by year. The army building process in Azerbaijan is progressing as well.

The countrys armed forces regularly conduct military exercises since Azerbaijan remains in a state of war with Armenia, as Armenian forces occupy a 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

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23 December 2016 14:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have held consultations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea in Baku.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov represented Azerbaijan, while ambassador-at-large at the Foreign Ministry Zulfiya Amanzholova attended the consultations on behalf of Kazakhstan.

The two discussed articles of a draft Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea and other related issues.

The diplomats emphasized the necessity of increasing joint efforts to hold the next meeting of the special working group at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral states on complete coordination of the draft Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea and preparation of the Convention in Ashgabat ahead of the next summit of heads of the Caspian littoral states.

The legal status of the Caspian Sea has remained unsolved for over 20 years, preventing development and exploitation of its disputable oil and gas fields and creating obstacles to the realization of major energy projects.

The Caspian basin is extremely rich with oil and gas resources and has caused an uneasy relationship between all littoral states.

Iran seeks an equal division of the Caspian into 5 even sectors, mainly because most of offshore energy resources are located away from the Iranian coastline. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan reject the proposal on division of the seabed based on median lines,and instead backs giving each state a share proportional to its coastline length.

Turkmenistan also demands division of the Sea into equal parts between the pre-Caspian countries so that each country must have 20 percent of the sea.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently announced that Moscow expects that a convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea to be signed at the fifth Caspian Summit to take place in Kazakhstans Astana in 2017.

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23 December 2016 16:51 (UTC+04:00)

December 24 is the birthday of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. President Aliyev receives congratulatory messages on the occasion of his 55th anniversary.

Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to President Aliyev on the occasion of his birthday.

Dear Mr. President, I am honored to extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes to you on the occasion of your birthday, said Xi Jinping in his letter.

Relations between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan have been constantly developing in recent years, noted the Chinese president. Mutual political trust between the two countries is strengthening, cooperation in economic, trade, humanitarian and other areas is stably developing, traditional friendship is strengthening day by day.

I attach great importance to developing relations between our countries. I am looking forward to making joint efforts for strengthening frank cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan, he added.

President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev also congratulated the Azerbaijani president.

Your Excellency, please, accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your birthday, I wish you good health and success in your highly responsible work, said Plevneliev in his letter.

I avail myself of this pleasant occasion to express my belief that with joint efforts the strategic cooperation between our countries will continue to develop and enrich for the benefit of our peoples, he noted. Please accept, honorable Mr. President, the assurances of my highest respect to you.

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko congratulated President Aliyev on the occasion of his birthday.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, please accept my most sincere congratulations on the occasion of your birthday, said Lukashenko in his letter.

I am very happy to see overall achievements of Azerbaijan  dynamic development of the economy, improvement of the societys welfare and the countrys strengthening image and statehood in the world. I highly value and cherish our friendly and trusting relationship, which further strengthened after my recent fruitful visit to your beautiful country, noted the Belarusian president.

I am confident that our striving for the elevation of Belarus-Azerbaijan cooperation to a qualitatively higher level will give tangible results in the nearest feature in the best interests of the brotherly peoples of our countries, he added. Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wholeheartedly wish you, your relatives and loved ones further success, robust health and happiness.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko also congratulated Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

Your Excellency, please accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your birthday. Your presidential activities aimed at ensuring future successful progress of modern Azerbaijan, rapid development of society, and the strengthening of the countrys influence on the international arena has won approval in Ukraine and across the world, said Poroshenko in his letter.

I believe that based on the principles of trust and mutual understanding, Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation will continue develop in the years ahead, and our joint efforts will contribute to restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, noted the Ukrainian president.

I am sure that the continuation of our sincere dialogue during your forthcoming visit to Ukraine in 2017 will give new impetus to the mutually beneficial cooperation and fruitful partnership between the two countries, he said.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wish you robust health, peace, inexhaustible zeal and new successes in your high state activities for the prosperity of the friendly people of Azerbaijan, added Poroshenko.

Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, on behalf of the government of the Russian Federation and on my own behalf, I extend my congratulations to you on the occasion of your 55th jubilee, said Medvedev in his congratulatory letter.

I would like to note your personal outstanding contribution to strengthening of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation, which is based on the principles of good neighborliness and strategic partnership. You always pay attention to the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and implementation of large-scale joint projects in the fields of industry, infrastructure and energy, he noted.

I am confident that the strengthening of practical mutual activities, expansion of regional cooperation and business relations is in full conformity with best interests of Russia and Azerbaijan, said Medvedev. I warmly recall our meetings with you that have always been held in an atmosphere of constructiveness and confidence. I would be happy to maintain our fruitful contacts.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wish you good health, well-being and new success in your responsible state activities, he added.

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23 December 2016 17:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan`s Guba and Kyrgyzstan`s Kant have signed a memorandum to become sister cities as head of Guba Region Executive Authority Yashar Mammadov visited the Kyrgyz city.

Kant Mayor Erkinbek Abdirakhmanov, speaking at the signing ceremony, hailed development of Azerbaijani regions, including Guba. The mayor stressed Azerbaijani Ambassador Hidayat Orujovs role in establishing relations between Guba and Kant.

Mammadov highlighted Guba`s tourism potential, saying that the region is home to people of diverse nationalities, who co-exist here in peace and harmony.

He noted that Azerbaijan deeply cares about ethnic and religious minorities.

Ambassador Orujov, for his part,said he is happy that Guba and Kant started cooperating, adding that the Kyrgyz city is densely populated by Azerbaijanis.

In Kant, the Azerbaijani delegation also visited a street named after national leader Heydar Aliyev.

One of Azerbaijans most beautiful regions, Guba, is an impressive corner of the country known for its rich flora and fauna. The northern region, located in 168 km from Baku, has become a favorite destination for many travelers.

Guba is the closest mountainous region to Baku, located about three hours from the Baku International Bus Terminal, where you can easily find yourself on an affordable vacation surrounded by a sea of green, broken up only by majestic mountains.

With fresh air, unique landscapes, and preserved traditions, Guba attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists every year. Its cold winters and cool summer nights make the region even more attractive for tourists.

Kant is a town in the northern Kyrgyzstan, some 20 kilometers east of Bishkek.

Kant is an industrial and service center. The Kyrgyz word for sugar is "kant", and the city received its name when a sugar plant was built there in the 1930s.

During the Soviet era, the city was home to a large number of ethnic Germans who had been forcibly relocated to Central Asia in 1941.

Several other nearby settlements, such as Luxemburg and Bergtal, still carry their German names.

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23 December 2016 13:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

World oil prices were down on December 23 due to the strong dollar, while volatility still remains principal tendency on the black gold market.

Brent futures recorded a drop of 19 cents or 0.4 percent and stood at $54.86 a barrel, while U.S. WTI crude futures were 28 cents or 0.9 percent down from the previous close and stood at $52.67.

The USD index, one of the biggest factors that determine the oil price, was slightly lower on December 23 but was still close to a 14-year peak of 103.65. A stronger U.S currency puts downward pressures on greenback-denominated commodities including oil, making them more expensive for users of other currencies.

Oil is currently trading at its nearly highest levels since mid-2015, supported by a landmark deal by OPEC and non-OPEC players of the market to cut output jointly by almost 1.8 million bpd from January 1.

Optimism about the future effectiveness of the deal is among major driving forces of prices. Saudi Arabia, which is expected to bear brunt of cuts, recorded a decrease in its oil production from 10.650 million bpd in September to some 10.625 million bpd in October 2016, according to the kingdoms self-reported figures to the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI).

Under the deal, Riyadh agreed to cut its production to 10.06 million barrels a day, down from a record high of nearly 10.7 million barrels in July. Furthermore, the Kingdom also signaled it is ready to cut oil production even more, putting output to below the psychologically significant level of 10 million barrels depending on market conditions. The second biggest cut is expected from Iraq, which agreed to reduce its oil output by 210,000 barrels per day to 4.351 mbd, UAE  139,000 bpd to 2.874 mbd, Kuwait  131,000 bpd to 2.707 mbd.

Moreover, the intention of Libya (which along with Nigeria was exempted from a recent pledge to cut production) to put additional 270,000 barrels per day (bpd) to local production may be put at risk and overshadowed by the non-stable political situation. Libyan production remains vulnerable to the North African country's continuing political turmoil, and blockades by local groups. Even after a faction of Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) announced the reopening of the country's main oil pipelines in the west, it took six days before Libya's National Oil Corporation confirmed it, reflecting concerns that the pledge would not be fulfilled.

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23 December 2016 11:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The volume of petroleum import from non-OPEC countries averaged 6.657 million barrels per day in the first nine months of 2016, as compared to averagely 6.696 million barrels per day in the same period in 2015, according to the Monthly Energy Review of the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).



The average volume of petroleum import from non-OPEC stood at 5.895 million barrels per day in the first nine months of 2014, said the report.



The highest volume of petroleum import from non-OPEC countries in the first nine months of 2016 was recorded in August (6.888 million barrels per day), while the lowest level was observed in March (6.426 million barrels per day), according to the EIA.



This figure averaged at 6.554 million barrels per day in 2015, as compared to 6.004 million barrels per day in 2014.



Oil production from countries outside the OPEC currently represents about 60 percent of world oil output, according to the EIA.

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23 December 2016 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijans energy major SOCAR and BP-operated Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) signed an agreement on future development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field on December 23, BP reported.

The agreement will cover the development of the field until 2050 and will add significant resource development potential. The document agrees the key commercial terms for the future development of the ACG field and enables the parties to conclude negotiations and finalize fully-termed agreements in the next few months.

The document was undersigned by SOCAR head Rovnag Abdullayev and BP regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey Gordon Birrell.

The existing ACG PSA was signed in September 1994 for 30 years. Oil production from the field began in November 1997. To date the field has produced more than 3 billion barrels of oil with around $33 billion of investment.

Abdullayev, addressing the event, said that SOCAR has been in negotiations with ACGs foreign partners for some time and fully-termed agreements will be completed in the near future.

ACG is known as the Contract of the Century. It is very important to Azerbaijan - it is the symbol of our oil industry. It has opened up a whole new era for the countrys development. The document we signed today with ACGs foreign partners signifies that we can now look ahead to many more years of ACGs success.

Birrell, in his turn, said that BP is pleased to have the opportunity to continue to lead this world-class field development safely and efficiently.

Todays signing allows us to look ahead to the next chapter in ACGs success and indeed in Azerbaijans energy story. We believe together we will be able to build on this success by continuing to combine the countrys potential and experience with leading technology, he said , adding that the agreement will enable future investments and projects, and will bring many thousands of jobs in the years ahead.

BP CEO Bob Dudley, in turn said that it is an important day for Azerbaijan, SOCAR and the AIOC partnership.

The document opens up an exciting opportunity to the middle of the century for us to continue this extraordinary partnership. In 1994 we set out to develop ACG in the new phase of the countrys energy journey. BP is very proud to be a part of this long-term partnership and looks forward to continuing it for many decades to come.

ACG is a super-giant field located about 100 km east of Baku. It is the biggest producing oil field in the Caspian Sea and covers an area of more than 432 square kilometers. The field lies in water depths of between 120 and 170 metres. The depth of the reservoir is 2,000-3,500 metres.

There are six producing platforms on ACG, linked with a world-class onshore terminal in Sangachal near Baku. From the terminal ACG oil is exported to world markets primarily by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil export pipeline and the Western Route Export Pipeline to Supsa.

BP is the operator acting on behalf of AIOC and the Contractor Parties to the ACG Production Sharing Agreement.

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23 December 2016 17:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan has fulfilled its commitments on financing of the ambitious Southern Gas Corridor by 50 percent. The Director-General of the SGC Closed Joint Stock Company (CJSC) Afgan Isayev told Azertag that the total volume of expenses required within the implementation of the project in 2014-2019 amounts to some $11.9 billion.

So far, the company has drawn some $6 billion, or 50 percent of the required sum. Some 2 billion have been spent in 2016, he clarified. He mentioned that work on the Phase 2 of the Shah Deniz Field Development is completed by 87.9 percent, while work on the expansion of South Caucasus Pipeline is implemented by 74.5 percent. The implementation of Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline project (TANAP), one of the core parts of the project, is completed by 59.3 percent, while the construction work on Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is over by 31.8 percent.

He also mentioned that the work is underway on the attraction of loans from such international financial organizations as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Reflecting the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor for all countries involved in the program, a number of international financial institutions are supporting the project.

The World Banks Board of Executive Directors earlier approved a $400 million loan for Turkey and a $400 million loan for Azerbaijan for the TANAP Project. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has also approved allocation of a loan worth $600 million for the project.

Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is a large scale-project aimed at improving the security and diversity of the EUs energy supply. Being one of the biggest construction projects of our times SGC is expected to bring some 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the Caspian region to Europe. Stretching over the area of 3,500 km, crossing seven countries and involving more than a dozen major energy companies, the project comprises several separate energy projects, including TANAP, South Caucasus Pipeline, Trans Adriatic Pipeline, and Shah Deniz 2 development.

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23 December 2016 16:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The Islamic Republic of Iran is eager to develop its ICT industry and to launch three new satellites into space in the nearest future.

Irans Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi said that the country plans to launch all satellites by 2018, with one of the new domestically-manufactured satellites being send into space by the end of the current year (Iranian calendar year ends on March 20, 2017).

One of the satellites - Sharif Sat or Doosti will be put into orbit by the end of the year, while two more satellites will be launched by the end of the next Iranian calendar year, he said, adding that the satellites have been manufactured by young Iranian experts in research centers of local universities.

Doosti (Friendship) satellite is a remote sensing satellite with weight of 50 kg, which was developed by the Remote Sensing Laboratory of the Iranian Space Agency.

Iran has taken long strides in recent years to develop its space industry and to build different types of satellites and explorers. A new era for ICT development in Iran opened following the lifting of international sanctions against the country that opened opportunities for buying commercial satellites and acquiring related technologies.

Back in 2009, Iran launched its first locally-built Omid satellite. In February 2015, the country placed into orbit its domestically-made Fajr satellite.

Iran also considers construction of the national telecommunications satellite. The country is currently in talks with a number of foreign countries on the project.

Moreover, the country is also about to sign a contract with a Russian company on the manufacture of a remote-sensing satellite, while the contract is in its final stage.

Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which was set up in 1959.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
23 December 2016 17:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

High-ranking officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Kyrgyzstan discussed bilateral ties and inked a number of cooperation documents as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Bishkek as a final part of his regional tour.

The Iranian president and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev held talks on bilateral, regional and international issues at the Kyrgyz presidential palace. The talks focused on Iranian investments in the Kyrgyz economy, gradual introduction of visa-free travel between the two countries, and joint efforts to combat terrorism.

The countries inked five deals to develop the relations in different fields, including ICT, healthcare, culture and arts, social affairs, and combating the drug trafficking. Moreover, the countries also signed the Program of long-term cooperation between the countries for 2016-2026.

Following the talks, Atambayev said that the two countries should create joint ventures in various economic sectors.

We have also expressed joint interest in the construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran railroad. It will be one of the main issues during my upcoming visits to Uzbekistan and China, he mentioned.

Rouhani, in turn, said that he supports the idea.

Atambayev further said that his country backs Irans joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), whose member states are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, while Iran has observer status.

Kyrgyzstans view of Irans intention to join the SCO as a full member is positive and the country welcomes Irans will. We believe, regarding Irans potential, that the countrys membership can improve the organizations stance in the world, he said.

Irans full membership is expected to be put on agenda of the next SCO conference. Iran applied for full SCO membership in March 2008, but membership was denied due to UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. After the UN sanctions were lifted in January this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Chinas support for Irans full membership in the organization.

Moreover, the two heads of states also promised to resolve the issue of introducing flights between the two countries. The Iranian president further pointed to the two countries plan to revoke the visa regime in three phases for business purposes, tourism and other ordinary trips, respectively.

Furthermore, the Iranian president said that they are also interested in the construction of hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan, as well as cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals and advanced technologies.

He also emphasized the importance of the creation of a free trade zone between Iran and Kyrgyzstan which is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, mentioning that Iran is also aimed at rapprochement with the EAEU and free trade with it.

The Iranian side hopes this question could be on agenda of the EAEU summit due on December 26.

Rouhani said that Kyrgyzstan is one of the countries that enjoy very friendly relations with Iran ever since Kyrgyzstan acquired its sovereignty.

Iran was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Kyrgyzstan and we are interested in strengthening of our relations, he said.

Trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Iran amounted to $11 million in JanuarySeptember 2016.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A wind farm north of Reed Point will sell power to NorthWestern Energy under a new 25-year contract announced this week.

WKN Montana, a Billings-based company, will break ground in late spring on a 25-to-35-turbine Vivaldi Springtime Wind Project in the hills north of Reed Point. The project is expected to finish in early 2018.

The wind farm will produce about 80 megawatts of wind energy, enough to power 19,000 to 30,000 homes. WKN will receive $37.65 a megawatt hour for its energy.

Wind farm developers have been active in the Reed Point area for several years. The area between Big Timber and Columbus has been targeted by several wind developers over the years, but coming to sales terms with NorthWestern hasnt been easy.

The Vivaldi project is classified as a qualifying facility," meaning that under 40-year-old federal laws to promote renewable energy, NorthWestern cannot say no to the power and must offer a long-term contract. However, the projects are subject to negotiated price and thats where other qualified facilities have struggled.

In July, the wind developer Greycliff Wind Prime balked at a price set for its 25 megawatt project north of Greycliff. The company said the price of $45.49 per megawatt hour was 16 percent lower than what it needed to be profitable. And that price was set as a compromise between what Greycliff wanted and the rate offered by NorthWestern.

But WKN settled on the $37.65 rate. NorthWestern has repeatedly argued that renewable energy rates at $50 megawatt hour and above are too high and will needlessly raise the bills for the utilitys customers.

We are pleased to have negotiated an agreement that will result in a very low-cost QF renewable project for our portfolio and that also incorporates important contract terms, including reasonable curtailment rights, which help protect our customers bills, said John Hines, NorthWestern vice president of energy supply. Qualifying facilities can be problematic since were mandated by federal law to purchase the power, regardless of our customers needs. However, were pleased in this instance to work with a developer that takes into consideration our customers best interest while still having a viable project.
23 December 2016 14:11 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan can receive flights from a new Zhukovsky airport of Russia in 2017, said Eugene Solodilin, Deputy Director General, Ramport Aero OJSC.

Solodilin noted that the flights from the airport will not performed only to CIS states, but also to countries in Europe and Asia. In January-February we will gather all information and from March we will come to a more serious level. For this, we will gradually add destinations - Baku, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Solodin said.

Timing and directions of the first long-distance international flights from Moscows Zhukovsky airport are now known. In the spring of 2017, the aircraft will fly to Israel (Tel Aviv) and Turkey (Istanbul and Antalya), izvestia.ru states.

He suggested that flights to Antalya will begin from April or May. Transportation of passengers to Turkey will be carried out by the Pegasus airline, which intends to provide daily flights to Istanbul and Antalya.

Ural Airlines, Yamal, VIM-Avia and Ikar airlines are also interested in flights from Zhukovsky airport, while negotiations with Hungarian Wizz Air and other companies are currently underway. The name of the base carrier of the airport will be defined in the second half of 2017.

Solidilin called satisfactory the results of the work of Zhukovsky airport in 2016.

Zhukovsky airport is Moscow's fourth international airport. After the 2014-2016 reconstruction there was the official opening of Zhukovsky International Airport on May 30, 2016. The declared capacity of the new airport was 4 million passengers per year. As of December 2016 flights from the Zhukovsky International airport are being served by 5 airlines to 6 destinations in Russia and CIS.

Currently, several Russian air carriers operate flights to Azerbaijan's capital Baku and some other cities of the country. Over the past year, Azerbaijan received over 2 million tourists, 685,000 of whom were guests from Russia, and this figure is expected to rise following 2016.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
After all the slicing and dicing and studying of wildlife, along comes an animal or two that just wont fit into a category, showing us we really dont know it all.

In the last two years a pair of cow moose  radio collared on the Rocky Mountain Front as part of a 10-year population dynamics study  has displayed a wanderlust that has confounded Nick DeCesare, research wildlife biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Weve seen local migrations, but nothing like these two, DeCesare said.

One female moose took off the summer of 2015 from the Pine Butte Swamp west of Choteau and strolled to Fresno Reservoir northwest of Havre. Thats a straight line distance of about 110 miles, longer the way the moose walks.

By fall 2015 the 5-year-old animal had returned to Pine Butte Swamp and has not left since.

This summer a different moose  age 3  took off west from the Rocky Mountain Front. She crossed the Continental Divide, walked through the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and ended up on the Clark Fork River near Deer Lodge and Anaconda.

This fall, she headed back, crossing the Divide near Rogers Pass, spending time in front yards around Fairfield, then heading north past Choteau and was last seen near Conrad.

AAA couldnt have come up with a more scenic trip.

Most moose dont move around a lot, DeCesare said. In fact, many moose will spend the entire year in an area covering only a few square miles.

Of the 105 moose radio collared in this study, these are the only two to range widely.

DeCesares study is looking at what drives moose populations in three areas of the state: the Cabinet Mountains, the Big Hole and the Rocky Mountain Front.

Lots of problems in the moose population have claimed lots of headlines recently.

In other parts of the world, moose face challenges of predation, lack of nutrition, parasites and diseases and climate effects, DeCesare said.

Although some local studies have taken place on Montanas moose population  the Yaak Valley in the 1980s and the Ruby Range and Tobacco Root Mountains in the 1960s and 1970s  no comprehensive look at the states population has ever occurred.

Now four years into his study DeCesare can say each of the three studied populations is different for different reasons.

The Cabinet population survival of adult females is good but getting the calves to 1 year of age, called recruitment, is lower. Predation may play a role. Overall the population is steady.

In the Big Hole cow survival is down, possibly from parasites and disease, but recruitment is good.

The Front has the best population growth of all, he said.

The Front is one of the few places in the state with a growing population, DeCesare said. They have a really high productivity, survival of adult cows and recruitment.

Maybe the neighborhood got too crowded for the two females and they started looked for new addresses, perhaps a fixer-upper.

Just when you think youve seen it all, DeCesare said.
A Minnesota woman on Thursday denied charges in a sex trafficking case in which a Missoula man is accused of forcing women and minor girls to engage in sex acts.

Francine Joann Granados, 31, of Moorhead, Minn., pleaded not guilty to tampering with a witness, victim or informant during an arraignment in federal court in Billings.

An indictment alleges that Granados attempted to intimidate or threaten a person, identified as Jane Doe 1, with the intent to prevent Jane Doe 1s testimony in an official proceeding relating to sex trafficking. The tampering is alleged to have happened between Sept. 23 and 28 in Montana, North Dakota and elsewhere.

Granados is charged along with co-defendant, Terrance Tyrell Edwards, 34, of Missoula.

Edwards is charged with six counts including sex trafficking by force, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution and obstruction.

Prosecutors allege the activity occurred from about April to September in Missoula and Billings. Edwards has pleaded not guilty.

Edwards is suspected of forcing two women, identified as Jane Doe 1 and 2, to engage in sex acts and with transporting three minor girls between North Dakota and Montana to engage prostitution. He also is accused of trying to obstruct the investigation by instructing Jane Doe 1 to lie about his conduct.

Granados faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan continued Granados release pending trial.
Separate bedrooms for her two young children is just one of the things that has Lindsay Daniel excited about her new home in the Heights.

On Thursday night though, space was scarce in the Jordan Circle home, as more than 50 people turned out to celebrate with Daniel in a dedication service organized by Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley, the Christian nonprofit that set Daniel up with the home after she completed their program.

"I'm overjoyed," Daniel said after the ceremony. "I have good friends here, good family here and I'm so thankful for everyone who has come to celebrate this."

Daniel said she and her children11-year-old Landon and 3-year-old Chrisanthyiawill begin moving into the new home on Friday, just days ahead of Christmas. With the house decked in lights, the exchanging of gifts between Daniel and others and a round of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to close out the ceremony, the holiday seemed to have arrived early on Thursday night.

The house is project number 76 for Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley since it began in 1992. The major sponsor for the project was Wells Fargo & Co., which donated $45,000 to the project, according to a Habitat for Humanity press release about the event.

Another source of funding for the home was a $10,000 anonymous donation made in honor of Jim Butler, said Jim Woolyhand, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley.

Butler, an Absarokee resident who died in May, "would just be overwhelmed with it," his wife Lois Butler said of the event.

Joining Butler were friends and family, some of whom came from as far away as Idaho. "It's just wonderful," she said.

All of the homes in Jordan Circle were created through Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley and Daniel's home will be the final one to join the neighborhood, Woolyhand said.

Those who qualify to join Habitat's program must meet requirements including working 350 to 500 hours constructing other Habitat homes, after which they have a home sold to them at no interest and no profit, according to the press release.

"I put my heart and soul into it," Daniel said during the ceremony. "I'm just really happy to finally be in a home and so are my kids."
Here's your Tampa area forecast for the overnight hours heading into Christmas weekend:



Mostly clear to partly cloudy into Saturday



Some areas of fog develop



Expect mix of sun and clouds, warmer temps Saturday



Skies will go from mostly clear to partly cloudy into Saturday morning. Once again, there will be areas of fog that develop.



Morning lows will be a bit milder -- upper 50s for northern counties and low to mid 60s from the Bay southward.

Saturday will be a nice day, with a mix of sun and clouds. It will also, however, be a warmer day, with highs in the low to mid 80s.

Christmas Day Sunday will be one of the warmest days of the week, with highs in the mid 80s under a mix of sun and clouds. There will be a 10 percent chance of an afternoon shower.



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As leaders of Montana communities of faith and practice, we are called to respond to the recent surge of white supremacist and neo-Nazi activity in our state. Distribution of pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic flyers in Missoula and intimidation of Jewish community members in the Flathead Valley moves us to speak out against actions of those who attack the Jewish citizens of our state, and any other minority group, with false assertions and threatening language.

As an act of solidarity, we invite people across Montana to show support by displaying menorahs in their windows this season. Find one at a local store, print a paper copy from the Internet, or find one in the local Missoula newspaper. The menorah is a symbol of light and wisdom. In this time of transition and challenge, it represents the need to support each other in the work of peace-making, reconciliation and justice.

Further, we call on our lawmakers to protect the rights of all citizens by enacting laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity, race, and gender. We urge law enforcement to closely monitor bias incidents and act swiftly to protect our citizens. We encourage our schools to teach tolerance and uphold state and district anti-bullying policies.

The cosigners of this letter affirm the right of all individuals and communities to live, worship, dress, and pray in accordance with their beliefs and traditions, free from intimidation and fear of violence. We affirm the rights of all people to live and worship in peace.

Rev. Tyler Amundson

Helena

Editor's note: This letter was co-signed by 50 Montana faith leaders, including Jean Collins of Lewistown, Sarah Beck, Wendy Ochs, Michael S. Mulberry and Susan Barnes, all of Billings. To view the entire list, see the link with this letter at Opinion at billingsgazette.com.
Another former patient of Poplar Living Center filed a lawsuit against the nursing home, the most recent claim against the facility with a documented history of poor care.

The suit, filed Thursday in Natrona County District Court, alleges that staff at Poplar Living Center did not diagnose a patient's fractured pelvis for nearly a month after she fell, despite the woman's constant complaints of severe pain.

An attorney for the nursing home did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Calls to the nursing home Thursday were not answered, and there was no voicemail set up.

The patient was admitted to the nursing home on March 17, 2014, with dementia and osteoarthritis. Staff at the home found that the woman, Chong Phillips, had a high risk of falling, according to the suit.

Despite the assessment, Poplar "failed to implement" common measures that would reduce her risk of falling, the suit states. In the first four months of her stay, Phillips fell at least 18 times. The nursing home failed to complete federally required reviews after each fall, according to the suit.

After a fall on July 11, 2014, Phillips was unable to bear weight on her left leg, unable to walk and was "demonstrating extreme pain," the suit states.

Phillips' condition didn't improve for two weeks, and staff notified a doctor, who came to check on her July 28, 2014.

The doctor noted Phillips was in "obvious pain" and placed orders for the woman to have X-rays performed on her pelvis, knee and femur on the left side. The doctor also prescribed a painkiller.

However, the staff never took Phillips to a hospital for the tests and X-rays were never completed, the suit alleges. Staff also did not give the painkiller to Phillips until 34 hours after the prescription was written, though the facility had the pill in stock at the time.

Phillips' son became increasingly worried about his mother. When he asked Poplar staff whether they had figured out why she was in so much pain, the staff members told him she was being well cared for and that X-rays showed no serious injury, the suit states.

The son took the matter into his own hands on Aug. 4, 2014, and drove Phillips to Casper Orthopedics. X-rays there showed that she had a weeks-old fracture to her hip joint, according to the suit.

Surgeons replaced Phillips' left hip three days later.

A Centers for Medicaid and Medicare inspection report from August 2014 cites Poplar Living Center twice for breaking federal standards in its care for Phillips. The report states the nursing home failed to "provide necessary care and services" in her case and didn't ensure that the facility was free from hazards and provide adequate supervision to prevent avoidable accidents. The report backs up many of the facts in the lawsuit.

In the report, the director of nursing confirmed that the staff failed to schedule an appointment with a specialist for Phillips after the July 11 fall.

The lawsuit states the nursing home "severely neglected" Phillips by failing to keep her from falling and for not diagnosing her broken hip. The lawsuit also cites concerns about inadequate staffing.

"(Poplar Living Center) has demonstrated a pattern of negligent, willful and reckless conduct in caring for patients, including Ms. Phillips," the suit states.

The nursing home has settled six wrongful death or personal injury lawsuits in the past six years.

Repeated inspections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also cite a pattern of understaffing, improper care and unsafe building conditions. The agency classified the nursing home as a facility that needs closer monitoring than others because of a "history of persistent poor quality of care." It is the only nursing home in Casper with that designation.

In response to previous questions about allegations against the nursing home, Poplar Living Center released a statement through one of its attorneys that it "continues to seek opportunities to improve the care and services we provide for those individuals we have to privilege to serve every day. We appreciate the efforts our staff have made to provide quality care and quality of life for our residents."

Poplar Living Center is owned and operated by Delaware-based SavaSeniorCare. The company runs more than 230 nursing homes across the country, including Cheyenne Healthcare Center and Sheridan Manor.
A new video showing a Fort Worth mother and two family members being arrested by an officer they called to investigate the assault of their 7-year-old boy is drawing attention from across the country.

Jacquelin Craig, the 46-year-old mother who called police, is seen explaining to the officer that a man choked her son after he refused to pick up a piece of paper he threw on the ground.

WATCH: Thieves steal rifles from display shelf in Florida Bass Pro Shop

"My son is 7 years old, you don't have the right to grab him or choke him," explains Craig in the video.

After telling her story, the police officer asks, "Why don't you teach your son not to litter?"

"It doesn't matter if he did or didn't, it doesn't give him the right to put his hands on him," said Craig.

"Why not?" the officer responds.

Shortly after, Craig grows more upset and eventually the conflict explodes into an ugly arrest.

As the women are being put in the police car, a woman can be heard yelling that the incident is being broadcast on Facebook Live. The woman also yelled profanities at the officer.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Craig was charged with resisting arrest and had outstanding traffic warrants.

Craig's daughter Hymond was charged with resisting arrest and interfering with public duty.

By noon on Thursday the video had been viewed more than 1 million times.
The Edward Foundation granted scholarship money to Diane Patino, RN, of Plainfield, Ill.-based Edward's Surgical Care Center, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The foundation awarded $10,000 Peter Veit Scholarships to both Diane Patino and Kerri-Ann Thornton, a registered nurse at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill. So far, the Edward Foundation has awarded $62,000 in nursing scholarships to 23 Edward Hospital employees who are pursuing a degree or advanced degree in nursing.
The following hospitals announced plans in the last week to expand, upgrade or renovate their facilities.

1. Indian River Medical Center eyes $100M expansion plan in 2017

Vero Beach, Fla.-based Indian River Medical Center has set its sights on a $100 million expansion and renovation project in 2017, reports TCPalm.

2. North Dakota hospital plans new cancer center: 4 things to know

Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center plans to build a cancer center as part of its "Journey to Oncology" campaign, according to a WDAZ report.

3. Lawrence General plans $73M expansion and renovation efforts

Lawrence (Mass.) GeneralHospital will implement a $73 million multi-year Master Facility Plan that includes the construction of the new surgical center, as well as various expansion, renovation and improvement projects, according to a Boston Business Journal report.

4. Kindred Healthcare and Atlantic Health System team up on NJ rehab hospital

Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Healthcare  one of the nation's largest home therapy care providers  and Atlantic Health System in Morristown, N.J., signed a definitive agreement to construct and operate a 38-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in northern New Jersey.

5. Obama approves measure to build $136M VA Hospital in Omaha

President Barack Obama signed into law a measure that will allow a public-private partnership to construct a $136 million veterans' healthcare facility in Omaha, Neb., according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

6. Henry Ford Allegiance Health to break ground on 66-room patient tower

Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, Mich., plans to build a new patient tower, according to a report on MLive.com.

7. Elliot Health System breaks ground on medical center

Manchester, N.H.-based Elliot Health System began work on a 58,000-square-foot medical center to expand access to primary care physicians, specialists and ancillary services.

8. Sacred Heart Hospital concludes $30M expansion

Miramar, Fla.-based Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast completed a $30 million expansion of several of its maternity, emergency department and inpatient services to meet increasing demand.

9. UPMC Hamot to invest $111M in hospital expansion

Erie, Pa.-based UPMC Hamot plans to build a $111 million, seven-story patient tower to accommodate the hospital's growth projections, according to Trib Live.

10. South Bay Hospital unveils new patient tower

South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center, Fla., recently completed a new, 30,900-square-foot patient tower, according to The Observer News.

11. Ribbon cutting held for Huntington Hospital's new emergency department

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health's Huntington (N.Y.) Hospital held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new emergency department.
As investors scout out promising stocks to buy in the new year, U.S. News & World Report looks back on the worst performing stocks of 2016.

Here are three drug companies that made this year's list.

1. Valeant Pharmaceuticals (Laval, Canada)

Valeant's shares are down more than 80 percent on the year, making it the worst performing mid- to large-capitalization stock in the entire market, according to the report. The drugmaker has had its fair share of issues this past year. In January 2016, Hillary Clinton brought negative public attention to Valeant, calling out the company for price gouging at a town hall meeting in Iowa. In November, the FBI arrested and charged two former Valeant executives for corporate fraud.

2. Allergan (Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ)

Allergan's shares have dropped about 40 percent this year. While the company struggled with operational performance in 2016, U.S. News & World Report lists its failed merger with Pfizer as the main culprit for the drop in stock. Pfizer agreed to acquire Allergan for $160 billion, or about $363 per share, but the agreement was dropped in April after the U.S. Department of Treasury created new regulations to prevent large companies from avoiding taxes through corporate inversions.

3. Mylan (Canonsburg, Pa.)

In just five days, Mylan's stock dropped by 12.4 percent from a high of $49.20 a share on August 19 to $43.11 on August 24, according to data from MarketWatch. The drugmaker faced a large amount of scrutiny this year from the media, politicians and consumers over the high price of EpiPens, which has increased by more than 400 percent since Mylan acquired the drug in 2007.

More articles on finance:

S&P assigns 'AA-' rating to Hospital Sisters Service's bonds

Hawaii governor's proposed budget includes $9.5M for Maui hospitals

New York State hospital costs vary greatly in same region, study finds
Democratic governors are calling on Congressional Republicans to leave the ACA intact, saying that repealing and replacing the healthcare law would impose a serious burden on state governments that use federal funding to extend access to medical care to low-income residents, reports The Hill.

Democratic Governors Dan Malloy, Conn., Jay Inslee, Wash., and Andrew Cuomo, N.Y., sent a letter Wednesday to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel, R-Ky., warning that repealing the ACA would mean 30 million Americans would lose healthcare coverage by 2019, as any repeal effort would affect Medicaid expansion, according to the report.

"Repeal would throw millions of our residents off their health coverage, shift enormous costs to state governments  blowing a hole in state budgets  and cause economic uncertainty for our states' businesses, hospitals and patients," the governors wrote, according to The Hill.

Washington Gov. Inslee said preserving the ACA is Democratic governors' top short-term priority, according to the report.

"Our first obligation is to not allow the Republicans to pull off this scam, the healthcare equivalent of Trump University, by repealing this healthcare without a real replacement," Gov. Inslee said, according to The Hill. "It is a scam."

Republican leaders in Congress have said they hope to pass a repeal of the ACA in the early days of President-elect Donald Trump's presidency, but the repeal would not come into effect for a few years, until Congress decides on a replacement.
Cybersecurity is bound to be one of the top health IT issues in 2017, as evidenced by the sheer number of data breaches that occurred throughout 2016.

This year's healthcare data breaches affected everything from hospitals to clinics to insurers, exposing millions of patients' protected health information.

Here is a look back at 11 of biggest healthcare data breaches of the year based on number of individuals affected.

Note: This list was compiled primarily based on information from Health Data Management.

1. Banner Health (Phoenix). In the largest data breach of 2016, 3.7 million patients, Banner health plan members and beneficiaries and food and beverage customers and providers were affected. Read more



2. Newkirk Products (New York City). Newkirk Products, which issues ID cards for health insurance plans, including a number of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, reported a data breach affecting 3.3 million individuals. Read more



3. 21st Century Oncology (Fort Myers, Fla.). In March, the cancer care services provider reported a data breach that occurred in October 2015 and affected 2.2 million individuals, according to Health Data Management. Read more



4. Valley Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants (Phoenix). In August, the clinic began notifying patients, employees and providers of a breach that affected 882,590 individuals. Read more



5. Bon Secours Health System (Marriottsville, Md.). Approximately 655,000 patients were affected after a vendor inadvertently left patient information accessible on the internet. Read more



6. Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic (Atlanta). The clinic reported the breach, which affected 531,000 individuals, this fall. Read more from Health Data Management



7. Radiology Regional Center (Fort Myers, Fla.). Patient records from the center fell off the back of a waste management truck in December 2015. Approximately 483,063 individuals were affected, according to Health Data Management. Read more



8. California Correctional Health Care Services (Elk Grove). CCHCS, a provider of healthcare to adult inmates in the state, reported a data breach after a laptop was stolen from an employee's car. Approximately 400,000 individuals were affected, according to Health Data Management. Read more



9. Community Health Plan of Washington (Seattle). A data breach affected 381,534 current and former members of the health plan, which provides insurance to Washington's Medicaid members. Read more



10. Central Ohio Urology Group (Gahanna). An August cyberattack on Central Ohio Urology Group affected 300,000 patients. Read more



11. Premier Healthcare (Bloomington, Ind.). The multispecialty physician group notified more than 200,000 patients of a data breach that stemmed from a stolen laptop. Read more



More articles on health IT:

Ransomware in healthcare: 3 questions with cybersecurity veteran Jack Danahy

The growth of telehealth: 20 things to know

Nature, Scripps launch peer-reviewed digital medicine journal
The following hospital and health system executive moves were reported by Becker's Hospital Review in the last week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.

1. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System tapped Brian Whited, MD, as CEO for MCHS Minnesota locations in Cannon Falls, Lake City and Red Wing, Republican Eagle reports.

2. Brownfield (Texas) Regional Medical Center hired Jerry Jasper as its new CEO, according to a Brownfield News report.

3. Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and four of Saint Thomas Health's regional hospitals tapped Timothy Bode, MD, as CMO.

4. Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University Healthcare tapped Mitch Wasden, EdD, CEO of Columbia-based University of Missouri Health Care, as CEO effective March 1.

5. Maywood, Ill.-based Loyola Medicine named John Hart, a healthcare compliance expert, as vice president and chief integrity officer.

6. Stacy Garrett-Ray, MD, was appointed president of the University of Maryland Quality Care Network and vice president/medical director of the Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical System's Population Health Services Organization.

7. Bastrop, La.-based Morehouse General Hospital found a permanent CEO in Derrick Frazier, effective Dec. 27.

8. Richard Liebowitz, MD, was appointed president of NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, effective Feb. 6.

9. Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton (Mass.) named Richard Fernandez CEO, effective Jan. 30, according to the Boston Globe.

10. Houston-based Neighbors Health, which operates 31 freestanding emergency centers in Texas and Rhode Island, appointed Tensie Homan Axton as CFO.

11. Pine Ridge (S.D.) Hospital, a 45-bed facility in the Indian Health Service Great Plains Area, welcomed Mark Meersman as CEO.

12. The Fairfield (Texas) Hospital District Board of Directors named Stace Holland hospital CEO.
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System tapped Brian Whited, MD, as CEO for MCHS Minnesota locations in Cannon Falls, Lake City and Red Wing, Republican Eagle reports.

Here are three things to know about Dr. Whited's appointment.



1. Dr. Whited is vice president of operations for MCHS. He will become a CEO in early February.



2. He will replace Tom Witt, MD, who is stepping down from CEO of MCHS in Cannon Falls, Lake City and Red Wing to focus on his family practice, according to the report. Dr. Witt will leave the role by March 1.



3. Dr. Whited is a family medicine physician and has leadership experience within MCHS and in southeast Minnesota.
Throughout 2016, physicians across the globe put themselves in danger to help patients, worked to tackle the world's health crises and advocated for preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. Other physicians committed unethical crimes and brought disgrace to the profession.

Medscape took an in-depth look at the biggest accomplishments and mistakes in 2016 and named the "best," "worst" and  for the first time  the "neither best nor worst" physicians of the year. Two physicians were dubbed "neither best nor worst" because although they made news, "the final decision in their cases is yet to come," according to Medscape.

"Best" physicians of 2016

Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD. Dr. Hanna-Attisha leads the Pediatric Public Health Initiative, a multidisciplinary task force that works to diminish the harm done to children in Flint, Mich., due to lead-contaminated drinking water. She was named one of Time's Most Influential People in 2016.

Dr. Hanna-Attisha leads the Pediatric Public Health Initiative, a multidisciplinary task force that works to diminish the harm done to children in Flint, Mich., due to lead-contaminated drinking water. She was named one of Time's Most Influential People in 2016. Jasmine Sulaiman, MD. When Dr. Sulaiman moved to Cleveland, Texas  population 7,700  the only hospital in the area had just closed. She opened a 24/7 health clinic in an old flower shop, which grew into Health Center of Southeast Texas. In addition, Dr. Sulaiman launched a program to improve healthcare at the county jail.

When Dr. Sulaiman moved to Cleveland, Texas  population 7,700  the only hospital in the area had just closed. She opened a 24/7 health clinic in an old flower shop, which grew into Health Center of Southeast Texas. In addition, Dr. Sulaiman launched a program to improve healthcare at the county jail. Denton Cooley, MD. Dr. Cooley, a world-renowned surgeon and the first to implant an artificial heart in a human, died this year at 96 years old. During his career, he performed the first successful heart implant in the U.S., founded Houston-based Texas Heart Institute and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Dr. Cooley, a world-renowned surgeon and the first to implant an artificial heart in a human, died this year at 96 years old. During his career, he performed the first successful heart implant in the U.S., founded Houston-based Texas Heart Institute and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Denis Mukwege, MD. Dr. Mukwege, a 61-year-old gynecologist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, specializes in treating females who have been gang raped by the Congolese military and rebel forces. He founded and works in Bukavu, East Congo-based Panzi Hospital and has treated more than 45,000 rape survivors throughout his career.

Dr. Mukwege, a 61-year-old gynecologist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, specializes in treating females who have been gang raped by the Congolese military and rebel forces. He founded and works in Bukavu, East Congo-based Panzi Hospital and has treated more than 45,000 rape survivors throughout his career. Brett Ohlfs, MD. This fall, a jury awarded $1 million to Dr. Ohlfs, who said his former hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill.-based Advocate Christ Medical Center, fired him in 2011 for reporting that another physician was sexually harassing female residents. Though he now works at Redding, Calif.-based Shasta Regional Medical Center, he told Medscape he is "still kind of the black sheep."

This fall, a jury awarded $1 million to Dr. Ohlfs, who said his former hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill.-based Advocate Christ Medical Center, fired him in 2011 for reporting that another physician was sexually harassing female residents. Though he now works at Redding, Calif.-based Shasta Regional Medical Center, he told Medscape he is "still kind of the black sheep." Henry Barnett, MD. Dr. Barnett, a renowned neurologist and stroke prevention researcher, died this year at 94 years old. During his career, he cofounded London, Ontario, Canada-based Robarts Research Institute, served as president of the International Stroke Society and was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Dr. Barnett, a renowned neurologist and stroke prevention researcher, died this year at 94 years old. During his career, he cofounded London, Ontario, Canada-based Robarts Research Institute, served as president of the International Stroke Society and was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Ruth Anne MarDock, MD. In June, a 6-foot, 213-pound male patient attacked Dr. MarDock while she was working at Dallas-based Timberlawn Mental Health System. After being thrown to the ground, Dr. MarDock lost consciousness and died two days later. "Her death highlights the threat of workplace violence directed against healthcare workers, particularly in inpatient psychiatric facilities," Medscape noted.

In June, a 6-foot, 213-pound male patient attacked Dr. MarDock while she was working at Dallas-based Timberlawn Mental Health System. After being thrown to the ground, Dr. MarDock lost consciousness and died two days later. "Her death highlights the threat of workplace violence directed against healthcare workers, particularly in inpatient psychiatric facilities," Medscape noted. Kevin Morton Jr., DO. In 2007, Dr. Morton, a then-22-year-old college student, was fatally shot while sitting in his car. He was given a 10 percent chance of survival, but Dharti Sheth-Zelmanski, MD, and her team at Detroit-based St. John Hospital worked through the night to save his life. The experience inspired Dr. Morton to go on to medical school, and this year he earned his degree from East Lansing-based Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In 2007, Dr. Morton, a then-22-year-old college student, was fatally shot while sitting in his car. He was given a 10 percent chance of survival, but Dharti Sheth-Zelmanski, MD, and her team at Detroit-based St. John Hospital worked through the night to save his life. The experience inspired Dr. Morton to go on to medical school, and this year he earned his degree from East Lansing-based Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine. Donald Ainslie Henderson, MD. Dr. Henderson, the dean of Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins School of Public Health from 1977 to 1990, died this year at 87 years old. An epidemiologist, he directed the World Health Organization vaccination effort to eradicate smallpox across the globe. During his career, Dr. Henderson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science.

Dr. Henderson, the dean of Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins School of Public Health from 1977 to 1990, died this year at 87 years old. An epidemiologist, he directed the World Health Organization vaccination effort to eradicate smallpox across the globe. During his career, Dr. Henderson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science. Paula Pareto, MD. Dr. Pareto, who stands at 4 feet, 9 inches tall, won her first gold medal in judo at this year's Rio Olympics. But this wasn't her first Olympic feat  halfway through her academic career, she competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a bronze medal. She received her degree from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Dr. Pareto, who stands at 4 feet, 9 inches tall, won her first gold medal in judo at this year's Rio Olympics. But this wasn't her first Olympic feat  halfway through her academic career, she competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a bronze medal. She received her degree from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Philip Katz, MD. Dr. Katz, a gastroenterologist, was 60 years old and had no severe medical history in 2013. But one October evening that year, he had a cardiac arrest. Dr. Katz immediately went from physician to patient. "My view from the other side of the bed has given me insight into a part of medicine that I'd never experienced," Dr. Katz said at the American College of Gastroenterology 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting. "I actually think I'm alive because of everything good about our profession."

"Neither best nor worst" physicians of 2016

Stephanie Waggel, MD. Dr. Waggel, a former psychiatry resident at Washington, D.C.-based George Washington Hospital, is suing her former employer over alleged workplace discrimination that occurred after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. According to the lawsuit, the hospital allegedly started to "engage in a pattern of discriminatory conduct" against Dr. Waggel after her diagnosis. She began her residency in 2014 and was dismissed  and thereby fired  May 2016.

Dr. Waggel, a former psychiatry resident at Washington, D.C.-based George Washington Hospital, is suing her former employer over alleged workplace discrimination that occurred after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. According to the lawsuit, the hospital allegedly started to "engage in a pattern of discriminatory conduct" against Dr. Waggel after her diagnosis. She began her residency in 2014 and was dismissed  and thereby fired  May 2016. Dr. Ketan Desai. Dr. Desai, a trained urologist based in India, was selected as future president of the World Medical Association in 2009. Soon after, alleged conspiracy and corruption allegations against him came out. Though the court case against Dr. Desai is ongoing, he delivered his inaugural speech as president this year and will serve in the role for 2016-2017.

"Worst" physicians of 2016

Anthony Joseph Garcia, MD. This fall, a jury charged Dr. Garcia with four counts of first-degree murder, which prosecutors claimed he committed as revenge after being fired from Omaha, Neb.-based Creighton University's pathology department in 2001. Dr. Garcia was convicted for murdering Thomas Hunter, the 11-year-old son of William Hunter, MD, who fired Dr. Garcia, as well as Shirlee Sherman, the Hunter family's housekeeper. He was also convicted for the murders of Roger Brumback, MD, who played a role in Dr. Garcia's firing, and his wife, Mary.

This fall, a jury charged Dr. Garcia with four counts of first-degree murder, which prosecutors claimed he committed as revenge after being fired from Omaha, Neb.-based Creighton University's pathology department in 2001. Dr. Garcia was convicted for murdering Thomas Hunter, the 11-year-old son of William Hunter, MD, who fired Dr. Garcia, as well as Shirlee Sherman, the Hunter family's housekeeper. He was also convicted for the murders of Roger Brumback, MD, who played a role in Dr. Garcia's firing, and his wife, Mary. Anthony Moschetto, DO. Dr. Moschetto, a cardiologist, pleaded guilty this year to setting fire to a rival physician's office and conspiring to have him beaten up. But Dr. Moschetto's past goes deeper than that  prosecutors claimed a police investigation uncovered Dr. Moschetto's murder-for-hire plot targeting an unnamed fellow cardiologist. When police searched Dr. Moschetto's home, they found around 100 weapons, most of which were stored in a secret room behind a moving bookshelf.

Dr. Moschetto, a cardiologist, pleaded guilty this year to setting fire to a rival physician's office and conspiring to have him beaten up. But Dr. Moschetto's past goes deeper than that  prosecutors claimed a police investigation uncovered Dr. Moschetto's murder-for-hire plot targeting an unnamed fellow cardiologist. When police searched Dr. Moschetto's home, they found around 100 weapons, most of which were stored in a secret room behind a moving bookshelf. Hsiu Ying "Lisa" Tseng, DO. In 2015, Dr. Tseng was charged with murder for overprescribing drugs that resulted in a patient's death. In February of this year, she was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. Over a three-year period, Dr. Tseng's office took in more than $5 million while nine of her patients died.

In 2015, Dr. Tseng was charged with murder for overprescribing drugs that resulted in a patient's death. In February of this year, she was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. Over a three-year period, Dr. Tseng's office took in more than $5 million while nine of her patients died. Alfred Ramirez, MD. Dr. Ramirez was accused of illegally prescribing 10,000 tablets of oxycodone, occasionally from his gold Lexus. Dr. Ramirez, who would charge patients between $150 and $400 in cash, pleaded not guilty to illegally distributing oxycodone, alprazolam and other drugs. This fall, he was found dead in his home. Police did not find signs of foul play.

Dr. Ramirez was accused of illegally prescribing 10,000 tablets of oxycodone, occasionally from his gold Lexus. Dr. Ramirez, who would charge patients between $150 and $400 in cash, pleaded not guilty to illegally distributing oxycodone, alprazolam and other drugs. This fall, he was found dead in his home. Police did not find signs of foul play. Farid Fata, MD. Known as "Dr. Death," Dr. Fata, an oncologist, was convicted of giving chemotherapy and other drugs to at least 533 patients, some of whom did not have cancer. During his scheme, he scammed Medicare and raked in more than $17 million. Dr. Fata is currently serving a 45-year sentence in a South Carolina federal prison.

Known as "Dr. Death," Dr. Fata, an oncologist, was convicted of giving chemotherapy and other drugs to at least 533 patients, some of whom did not have cancer. During his scheme, he scammed Medicare and raked in more than $17 million. Dr. Fata is currently serving a 45-year sentence in a South Carolina federal prison. Michael Reinstein, MD. This spring, Dr. Reinstein, a psychiatrist, was ordered to pay $592,000 and sentenced to a nine-month prison sentence. He was accused of accepting thousands of dollars in drug industry kickbacks. He promoted brand-name drugs before generic drugs to elderly patients in nursing homes and received payment in the form of entertainment, consulting fees and all-expenses-paid vacations.

This spring, Dr. Reinstein, a psychiatrist, was ordered to pay $592,000 and sentenced to a nine-month prison sentence. He was accused of accepting thousands of dollars in drug industry kickbacks. He promoted brand-name drugs before generic drugs to elderly patients in nursing homes and received payment in the form of entertainment, consulting fees and all-expenses-paid vacations. Diana Anda Norbergs, MD. Dr. Norbergs is the former owner and operator of Palm Harbor, Fla.-based East Lake Oncology, a cancer treatment clinic. This year, she was convicted of smuggling unapproved drugs into the U.S., giving them to patients and charging Medicare for more expensive versions. She's currently facing a prison sentence of more than 500 years.

Dr. Norbergs is the former owner and operator of Palm Harbor, Fla.-based East Lake Oncology, a cancer treatment clinic. This year, she was convicted of smuggling unapproved drugs into the U.S., giving them to patients and charging Medicare for more expensive versions. She's currently facing a prison sentence of more than 500 years. Tressie Duffy, MD. Dr. Duffy practiced at Martinsburg-based West Virginia Weight and Wellness, a family medicine clinic. She was sentenced to 366 days in jail and a $18,200 penalty for pleading guilty to seven felonies of illegal oxycodone distribution. This isn't the first time Dr. Duffy's been in hot water  she'd been censured three times by the West Virginia Board of Medicine.

More articles on integration and physician issues:

This volunteer cuddled babies in UT Medical Center's NICU for 20 years

Demand for clinicians serving transgender youth on the rise: 5 things to know

DMC wants long relationship with Wayne State despite dean's words
Physicians and community leaders gathered Thursday to publicly denounce the decision by Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health's board to fire CEO Pauline Grant, according to a report from the Sun Sentinel.

Ms. Grant was fired Dec. 1 when the North Broward Hospital District Board decided by a 4-1 vote to remove her due to alleged potential violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and alleged questionable patient referral practices, according to the report. However, physicians and community members are concerned the moral integrity of the dismissal process was compromised and that Ms. Grant was wrongly accused, according to the report.

"As the director of the orthopedic trauma program, I feel I have to give you some of the facts," said Steven Naide, MD, of Broward Health North, according to the report. "Since I have known Pauline I have never, ever felt there has been wrongdoing in assigning call to the orthopedic surgeons. I have never seen or had any evidence that anyone received call for bringing cases."

Other physicians are concerned the board's actions are harming Fort Lauderdale-based Broward Health Medical Center's reputation. As the largest hospital in the system, the medical center's photo accompanies many news stories about the firing of Ms. Grant, which has medical staff concerned, according to the report.

The one board member who voted against Ms. Grant's dismissal, Sheela VanHoose, made a motion to reverse the vote after an investigation is completed, but the motion died, according to the report.

Ms. Grant has sued the board over open-meetings law violations.

More articles on integration and physician issues:

How this black female physician changed a Delta flight policy

Medscape names the best and worst physicians of 2016

This volunteer cuddled babies in UT Medical Center's NICU for 20 years
A suspect charged with robbing a bank was shot by an officer at Ocala (Fla.) Regional Medical Center Thursday after threatening a hospital staff member and an officer with scissors. The suspect was receiving treatment at the hospital at the time of the shooting, WKMG Orlando reports.

The Ocala Police Department said the suspect was being treated for injuries the suspect sustained after being arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a local Bank of America. Officers took the suspect to Ocala Regional Medical Center for treatment around midnight, according to officials.

Authorities said the suspect's handcuffs were removed to take an X-ray. As hospital staff tried to take an X-ray, the suspect attacked a female hospital staff member. The suspect grabbed scissors from an exam room desk and threatened the staff member and an officer with them.

An Ocala police officer then shot the suspect twice when the suspect did not put down the scissors as requested by the officer, according to the report.

The suspect remains hospitalized but is expected to survive, according to WKMG. Authorities said hospital workers involved in the incident suffered minor injuries.

The suspect will be moved to the Marion County jail once released from the hospital. As a part of standard procedure, Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials will investigate the shooting.
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana pushed back the deadline for their $37 billion acquisition agreement to Feb. 15.

"Aetna and Humana each agreed, in order to extend the 'End Date' to waive until 11:59 p.m. on February 15, 2017, its right to terminate the merger agreement due to a failure of the mergers to have been completed on or before December 31, 2016," a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reads.

This is the second time the insurers extended their agreement deadline, the first being from June 30 to Dec. 31.

The decision arrived as the insurers' antitrust trial closed in Washington, D.C., Wednesday. DOJ and the insurers' attorneys will return to court Dec. 30 to make a final, 90-minute argument to overseeing U.S. District Court Judge John Bates.
This is the second of two articles discussing eminent domain law in both South Dakota and North Dakota. This article will address several problems with North Dakota condemnation law. The use of eminent domain (condemnation) is a modern legal problem. Condemnation is the taking of property for a public or, in some cases, private interest. Condemnation is a legally sanctioned sword. My argument is not that eminent domain as a concept is wrong, but that in its present state as a legal vehicle attempting to provide fairness, eminent domain is in need of repair on both sides. This law allows a governmental body  and a private business  to convert privately owned land to another use, often over the objections of the landowner. Traditionally in a legal taking a landowner receives market value for the land taken. This often includes money for reduction in agriculture output or for the loss of other productive use of the land.

Justice Sandra Day OConnor famously said in her dissent to a private taking condemnation case, The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory. One local North Dakota government official said it aptly regarding action to condemn property: it is better to look at condemnation through our local eyes rather than through the developers egos.

In my opinion, there are four notable problems with current North Dakota law:

1. While eminent domain makes sense under a public utility easement paradigm, how does this process apply when a pipeline easement on a landowners property is the transportation vehicle for a commodity? How does one calculate fair market value when millions of dollars worth of product are flowing across privately-held land? President elect Donald Trump said, I want the Keystone pipeline, but the people of the United States should be given a piece, a significant piece of the profits." North Dakota law does not take this into consideration. In fact, state law prohibits this. The law states that no benefit from the proposed improvement may be allowed in calculating a landowners compensation.

2. A land owner is not allowed to recover reasonable attorneys fees if he appeals and does not prevail or if he applies for a new trial and does not receive greater compensation than awarded in the first trial. Why should the land owner be penalized for exercising his right to an appeal or to a new trial when the whole process of condemnation is involuntary in the first place? This lawsuit and claim is not elective surgery to the landowner. He is forced into the circumstances of condemnation.

3. In a federal condemnation, even if a landowner does not formally answer the condemnation lawsuit, the landowner may still present evidence of the value of his land and may participate in the distribution of awarded monies. North Dakota law does not provide for this.

4. Eminent Domain law is old law  too old. About half of the states still maintain that the property owner has the burden of proving value and proving the amount of compensation; this is ridiculous. Condemnation is not private litigation. It is a special legal right given to the condemnor to take land from another party. But North Dakota law requires that the burden of proof rests with the landowner to prove entitlement to compensation. This is also ridiculous. Rather than placing the burden of proof on the landowner who would often not prefer the forced taking, the law and the legal burden of proof should hold responsible the government or private party trying to take the land.

I am reminded of one of my tutors during my legal internship, who said something very memorable about the law while instructing me: David, the law is a strange thing to citizens. They dont pay much attention to it until it affects their property or their daughters. The North Dakota Supreme Court acknowledges the dilemma in our society concerning the taking of someone elses property. The Court stated that condemnation is, Clear in theory but often cloudy in application. A landowner in a condemnation case is not a party choosing elective surgery. Although the state has made progress in addressing fairness for surface owners, equity demands that more work be done.

David Ganje practices law in the area of natural resources, environmental and commercial law. His website is Lexenergy.net.
Attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice and insurers Aetna and Humana answered a judge's closing questions during the final day of an antitrust trial in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Hartford Courant reports.

The antitrust trial concerning Aetna's proposed $37 billion acquisition of Humana began Dec. 5 after the DOJ sued to enjoin the proposed deal in July. U.S. District Court Judge John Bates closed the trial by asking lawyers from both parties if the transaction violated antitrust laws if the DOJ could only prove competition would be negatively affected in one county or one state.

Eric Mahr, a DOJ lawyer, said it would, while Aetna lawyer John Majoras said the DOJ had not shown antitrust laws would be violated in any area, according to the report.

Mr. Mahr continued the DOJ's argument that Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare do not compete with one another. He said Medicare beneficiaries either chose traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans and rarely transition from one to the other, although beneficiaries with Medicare Advantage plans do change among that type of plan. He also said Long Beach, Calif.-based Molina Healthcare  even with Aetna and Humana's divestiture of 290,000 Medicare Advantage customers  will not sustain competition were an Aetna-Humana insurer to limit competition.

Mr. Majoras countered Mr. Mahr, saying competition would be "excellent" in those markets. He also argued Aetna's decision to leave ACA exchanges in 11 states was a business decision, an argument he said is supported by financial information.

The DOJ and the insurers' attorneys will return to court Dec. 30 to make a final, 90-minute argument to Judge Bates, according to the report. A decision is expected to be reached by mid-January. Aetna and Humana have also extended the deadline of their acquisition agreement to Feb. 15.

Elai Katz, antitrust partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, told Becker's Hospital Review that while is not difficult for a judge to accept the DOJ's position on cases like this, "The important precedent is the DOJ brought both of these cases [Aetna-Humana and Anthem-Cigna] to court. As far as the judge's decision, I'm sure it will be important, but I don't think it will tell you how some future health insurance merger turns out, because of the unique aspects of this merger."
The following health insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.

1. Aetna-Humana trial closes with pressing questions from judge

Attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice and insurers Aetna and Humana answered a judge's closing questions during the final day of an antitrust trial in Washington, D.C., Dec. 21.

2. Cigna names managing director of Europe global health benefits business

Cigna Global Health Benefits Europe appointed John Kaye as managing director of its Europe global health benefits business.

3. BCBS of Nebraska to require precertification of nonemergency inpatient admissions on day 1

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska will start requiring first day precertification for nonemergency inpatient and observation admissions to hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

4. WellStar, BCBS team up for federal exchange plan

Marietta, Ga.-based WellStar Health System and Atlanta-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia will collaborate on a federal insurance exchange product.

5. BCBS of Vermont recognized for collaborating with mental health services

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services of the Washington County Mental Health Services recognized Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont for its collaboration with and support of the center's mental health services.

6. Humana names president and regional market leader for senior products

Louisville, Ky.-based Humana promoted Catherine Field to president and Intermountain Region market leader for senior products.

7. BCBS of South Carolina adopts coverage for Acessa System

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina will provide coverage for Brentwood, Calif.-based Halt Medical's minimally invasive fibroid treatment.

8. BCBS of Louisiana, Amerigroup collaborate to improve state's Medicaid programs

Amerigroup Louisiana  a managed care organization  and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana signed an agreement to pursue Medicaid-focused collaboration for residents in the state's Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion and LaCHIP programs.

9. UnitedHealthcare refused emergency injunction to keep NMHS in network

A judge denied Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare an emergency injunction to keep a contract with Tupelo-based North Mississippi Health Services intact until arbiters could be chosen to resolve a contract dispute.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this week awarded the Los Angeles City and County Continuum of Care nearly $105 million in renewed and new grants to fight homelessness.

The figure represents the largest single award the LA CoC has ever received from HUD. The funds are part of a record $1.95 billion that the Obama Administration awarded to 7,600 homeless assistance programs around the nation.

The new funding to LA County includes $2.6 million for direct services, with two awards granted to the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles and two to the Housing Authority County of Los Angeles. The projects will be operated by St. Joseph Center, Alcott Center for Mental Health Services, Union Station Homeless Services, and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and provide an additional 152 units of permanent supportive housing.

The announcement also includes two new awards to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, expanding local capacity to combat homelessness. LAHSA was granted $1.25 million to support CoC planning efforts and $500,000 to enhance the local homeless management information system.
Cardiac surgeon and Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD, may be President-elect Donald Trump's top choice to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, STAT reports.

Here are five things to know:

1. Earlier this week, Dr. Cosgrove met with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida.

2. As a provider and leader, Dr. Cosgrove has maintained that the government should not solve the nation's problems with chronic disease, but rather should be addressed through the private sector.

3. Dr. Cosgrove implemented several initiatives while CEO to maintain employee health. He prohibited smoking on clinic ground and launched a personal wellness program aimed at helping employees lose weight.

4. Beginning his career as a cardiac surgeon in 1975, he has been with Cleveland Clinic for the past 41 years. Since he took over as CEO in 2004, Cleveland Clinic has expanded globally and opened a full-service hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

5. In 2014, Dr. Cosgrove did not take the VA position when President Barack Obama offered it to him. The VA was under scrutiny at the time for quality issues and delays in veterans obtaining care.
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George Best Belfast City Airport has been sold as part of a package of UK and European assets. EISER Finance Ltd is selling the assets to 3i funds, managed by 3i Investments plc.

It's understood the sale will have no impact on the day-to-day running of the airport.

There was no comment from the airport on the deal. But it's understood management are hoping for investment from its new owners - with improvements to its car park top of the list.

EISER bought the airport for 132.5m in 2008, and is thought to have spent around 20m on improvements to the airport over the last eight years.

As well as George Best Belfast City Airport, the deal also includes gas transporter and electricity network East Surrey Pipelines.

EISER Global Infrastructure Fund (EGIF) is also selling assets in Italy and Spain to 3i as part of the deal, which is worth hundreds millions of pounds.

Reports earlier this year suggested that 3i could pay as much as 600m (509.5m) for the package. The proposed sale was first revealed in the Belfast Telegraph in April but has only now been finalised. Economist John Simpson described the sale of the airport as an "investor decision" by its one-time owners. And he said he believed the performance of the airport may have disappointed EISER.

"They did expect it to increase its turnover and profit a little bit more if restrictions on the City Airport were lifted - but of course, that hasn't happened."

The number of departure seats which the airport can sell in a year is currently capped at two million.

In its accounts for 2015, the airport reported operating profits, before exceptional items, of 3.3m, up from 2.4m. Revenue was up around 5% to 20.8m.

This week, the airport was coping with the Christmas rush of passengers, with around 10,000 people expected to come and go every day this week. Speaking earlier this week, airport commercial and marketing manager, Katy Best, said 2016 had been a "successful" year.

Developments included a new three-times weekly link to Reykjavik with Icelandair, starting in June. It also announced a new ski route to Salzburg, Austria in November.

EISER took control of ABN AMRO - which had bought the airport from former Spanish owners Ferrovial Group. Ferrovial had paid 35m for the airport in 2003.

The sale is the latest in a string of big deals affecting Northern Ireland businesses this year.

This week, Thompson Aero Seating was sold to Chinese state-owned business AVIC.

The first six months of the year also saw the sale of TV broadcaster UTV Ltd to ITV and the sale of the radio stations in UTV Media plc, which rebranded as Wireless Group, to News Corp.
About a dozen staff at Belfast's only branch of restaurant chain Ed's Easy Diner have been told it will shut its doors for good in less than a week, this newspaper can reveal.

Employees were given the news this week, just days before Christmas, and told the Boucher Square store would close next Wednesday.

It is understood some received the news by text message.

The American-style diner chain was once hailed as one of the fastest-growing restaurant businesses in the UK, but it has suffered a turbulent year.

It went into administration earlier this year and was bought over by Giraffe Concepts Limited, part of Boparan Restaurant Holdings, in October.

Despite plans to close the city store, brand director Sam Wignell told the Belfast Telegraph he believed the business had a "great future".

He said: "Following our acquisition of Ed's Easy Diners we moved quickly to improve the quality of our food and service across the brand.

"We also looked closely at the performance of each site and realised that, unfortunately, Belfast is not a viable business and will therefore be closing.

"We would like to emphasise that we see a great future with the Ed's Easy Diner brand and we will be investing significantly into the business over the coming months and years."

Boparan also runs restaurant chain Harry Ramsden's and is a holding company for the 2 Sisters Food Group.

As part of the deal to buy Ed's Easy Diner, it was announced 26 branches would close with the loss of almost 400 jobs across the UK.

At the time, the Belfast branch was named among the 33 restaurants spared closure.

In the latest cuts, other branches in England are also set to shut down, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. It is understood the Gloucester and Canterbury branches are to close.

The Boucher Road branch was the chain's first outlet in Northern Ireland and created 25 jobs when it opened just a year-and-a-half ago.

It was previously reported that the failing restaurant let half of its employees go just weeks after opening.

In July last year the firm announced it would open a second outlet in the city centre on Castle Lane, but bosses performed a U-turn and the store did not open despite work being already under way to fit out the restaurant. Also in the Boucher Road retail park are Costa Coffee, Frankie and Benny's and Nando's - which opened its fourth Belfast restaurant last month.

Rob Croxen and Blair Nimmo from KPMG had been appointed joint administrators to Ed's Easy Diner.

The administrators completed a pre-packaged sale of the business to Giraffe Concepts Ltd.

It is believed the owners had been looking for around 100m for the chain.

At the time, the deal was said to have saved around 700 jobs across the restaurant chain.

The casual eatery is known for its menu of burgers, chilli, hot dogs, milkshakes and fries in 1950s American diner-style surroundings, complete with jukeboxes.

The company's first restaurant opened in Soho in central London in 1987.

By June 2015, a rapid expansion saw the chain open 41 branches across the UK.

Meanwhile, Irish-owned American-style diner Eddie Rocket's opened its first Northern Ireland restaurant in Newry last year.

The firm has since opened a second store on the Lisburn Road in Belfast.
Department store chain House of Fraser has opened its first standalone shop in China as it begins to build its brand in the Asian powerhouse.

The retailer, owned by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower Group, set up shop in Sanpower Plaza in the commercial zone of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province.

The store spans six floors, trades over 425,000sq ft of retail space and sees the introduction of brands such as Cambridge Satchel Company, Peter Werth and Radley into the Chinese market for the first time.

In September the firm warned over high street conditions in the United Kingdom as it revealed sales woes amid "very challenging" trading.

House of Fraser chairman Frank Slevin said at the time that the UK retail sector was facing significant change in "structural dynamics as consumers shopping habits and delivery expectations continue to evolve".

The chain will look to benefit from the strong demand for UK brands among Chinese consumers.

Mr Slevin said: "The opening of the store in Nanjing is a strong way to finish 2016. The store has focused on bringing international brands and a premium shopping experience to China.

"We are confident that our first store will clearly demonstrate the unique status that House of Fraser can achieve in the market, and will be a standout platform for our brand partners."

House of Fraser has a store in Belfast's Victoria Square.
Lapland UK has had a number of high-profile visitors with their children

Revenues at Lapland UK have soared this year as the company attracts an increasing number of parents looking to rekindle the magic of Christmas for their children.

The firm, headed by former City trader Mike Battle, is set to see sales rise by 30% to 6.5 million in 2016, with operating profit approaching the 1 million mark.

Mr Battle told the Press Association that the venue, near Ascot, Berkshire, will have 60,000 visitors come through the doors during the festive period for "something special".

He said: "Lapland UK is an immersive experience aimed at bringing back the magic of Christmas for children.

"Christmas, and particularly the Father Christmas element, has been badly treated and it's not good enough. Here, families are welcomed to the show by elves, kids can spend time in a toy factory building a reindeer and wooden teddy bear and decorate gingerbread men."

Families can also ice skate and visit an elf emporium or bauble shop before meeting Father Christmas at his lodge.

Lapland UK has seen a number of high-profile celebrities enjoy the festivities with their children, including the Beckahms, Jamie Vardy and Emma Bunton.

Mr Battle, who spent the bulk of his 20-year trading career at an independent hedge fund, was head hunted by Goldman Sachs in his 20s, but turned the investment banking behemoth down, fearing he would not see his children grow up.

"This whole project began with me and my wife wanting to give the best Christmas possible for our children. Going to McDonald's to celebrate or paying thousands to go to the Finnish Lapland doesn't really cut it, so we decided to create our own magical experience," he added.
A catalogue of devastating errors at Northern Ireland's biggest hospital were to blame when a Belfast man suffered a severe brain injury during botched attempts to resuscitate him, a high-ranking investigation has found.

The Belfast Telegraph can today reveal the details of a damning official investigation into what went wrong when Jimmy Stewart suffered irreparable brain damage, leaving him in need of 24-hour care.

His family spoke of their anger after the report found that the cataclysmic series of events which led to Mr Stewart's injury at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital could have easily been prevented.

His wife Linda said she found it hard to believe that one patient could be failed by so many mistakes in his care.

And she said she was horrified when the report uncovered failings in the grandfathers care of which the family had been previously unaware.

The investigation was ordered by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which incorporates the Royal.

The tragic series of events began when Mr Stewart was initially |admitted to the Mater hospital in north Belfast on March 7 last year with a chest infection.

His condition worsened when he developed pneumonia and he was transferred to the Royal's |intensive care unit on April 2, 2008.

Twelve days later he was moved to a general ward in the Royal.

The 50-year-old was placed in a side room because he had picked up four superbugs in hospital and was considered to be an infection risk.

The report, investigated by six senior Belfast Trust staff and two independent experts, highlighted the inappropriate decision to nurse the patient without one-to-one care.

He was therefore on his own in the sideroom on April 16 last year when he suffered a cardiac arrest after his oxygen supply became disconnected.

The investigation found that staff were delayed in reaching Mr Stewart because an alarm signalling that he was distress was not audible from the nurses' station.

Resuscitation was further delayed because none of those who responded when the alarm was heard knew that Mr Stewart was a tracheostomy patient who breathed through a tube fitted to his throat.

Staff attempted to bag' the north Belfast man through his mouth and nose, leaving air going into his stomach instead of his lungs, until a nurse who was aware of the trachoestomy arrived in the room.

All this time Mr Stewarts brain was being starved of vital oxygen.

According to the report, it took eight minutes for staff to re-establish circulation in Mr Stewart after the alarm was raised.

But the report doesnt shed any light on how long Mr Stewart was starving of oxygen before the alarms were heard.

The investigation highlighted four broad failings which the team said collectively led to Mr Stewarts brain injury:

An inadequate level of monitoring and care of Mr Stewart before his cardiac arrest.

Failure to recognise and respond to a deterioration in his condition.

Failure to notice that a tube vital to his oxygen supply had become disconnected and caused his cardiac arrest.

Delay in resuscitating the patient through a failure to re-connect his oxygen supply and resuscitating him incorrectly.

Each of these areas were looked at in detail by the team, which highlighted dozens of errors.

The report came to eight conclusions and made seven recommendations to be implemented in the Belfast Trust and three to be rolled out across all Northern Ireland hospitals.

Linda Stewart said she agreed with the reports conclusion that a systems failure was to blame.

But she said that didnt lessen the heartbreak she suffered when reading the hospital failures.

I cant bear the thought of him fighting for oxygen and desperately trying to get someones attention, she said.

Mrs Stewart said she asked to stay with her husband that night but was told to leave when visiting time was over.

This would never have happened had I been allowed to stay with him, she added.

The Stewart family solicitor Peter Bowles, who has practised extensively in medical negligence cases, said the treatment undoubtedly ranks as one of the most devastating cases I have come across.

It is of some comfort that the Belfast Trust has now held its hands up and accepted that the quality of care provided to Jimmy was not what should be expected and have admitted extensive failings which have caused such dreadful consequences, said Mr Bowles.

A spokeswoman for the Belfast Trust said: We deeply regret what has happened to Mr Stewart at a critical stage in his treatment. Our care for him fell short of the standard all our patients have the right to expect.

We will continue to support and work with the family to |ensure that Mr Stewart's on-going care is the best it can be, added the spokeswoman.



Investigation identifies litany of mistakes



Some of the main findings of the probe were:

An alarm to signal Mr Stewart was in distress could be heard only at his bedside in a sideroom

His tracheostomy tube was not downsized, as recommended by physiotherapists.

Eight doses of a prescribed drug were not administered at any time during his three days on a general ward.

A chart indicated that observations were not recorded as frequently as specified.

A nursing care plan handed to staff was printed out incomplete with four sections missing.

There were supposed to be four trained nurses on the ward the night of April 16 but one was replaced by an untrained nurse after an agency nurse who worked the previous night was asked not to return because of concerns about her performance. One of the three trained nurses on duty had a medical certificate saying she was unfit to work but she did not tell anyone this, rather than go off sick at short notice and potentially leave the ward shortstaffed.

Mr Stewart should have had hourly observations carried out. There were no recorded observations between 7.30pm and 11.15pm on the night of his arrest, although there is evidence that staff had been in contact with him.

A specialist registrar said that Mr Stewarts lung condition was very bad and progress was uncertain, to say the least. Yet there was no decision to return him to intensive care.

Many people were involved in giving orders when Mr Stewart was found unconscious, some of which were conflicting, and there was no-one in charge of the arrest in the initial stages.

Multiple teams were called to the arrest resulting in 15 people being in the side room for a short period of time.

Eight or nine staff were bleeped by the hospital switchboard as a result of the cardiac arrest call. The number of staff attending the incident caused confusion.

THE TRUSTS EIGHT DAMNING CONCLUSIONS



The Belfast Trust investigation came to eight damning conclusions on what went wrong with Jimmy Stewarts care the night he suffered a brain injury:

1 For three days on the general ward, Mr Stewarts condition fluctuated, triggering numerous interventions by several staff. The alerts did not instigate communication with his consultant or trigger a case review to consider his condition and need for specialist input.

2 There was lack of ownership and leadership shown by both medical and nursing medical and nursing teams.

3 Key opportunities to identify the developing problems and to intervene were missed and no-one recognised the need to escalate the level of care.

4 Practical aspects of Mr Stewart's care were not properly delivered; for example the failure to give him one of his prescribed drugs for three days.

5 The decision to nurse Mr Stewart in a side ward without one-to-one nursing was inappropriate. The disconnection of his oxygen supply would have been immediately identified and reconnected with constant supervision.

6 An advanced warning chart alerted staff to Mr Stewarts changing condition, however its use was not sufficiently effective to prevent this incident (the arrest) from occurring.

7 Medical and nursing staff who had CPR training would not have been taught how to provide resuscitation to a patient with a tracheostomy.

8 Management of tracheostomies in patients with other existing co-morbidity (the effect of a number of diseases on one patient) and care needs is an ongoing challenge for the hospitals in the Belfast Trust area.

Dad deserves a chance to recover

Jimmy Stewarts family has been battling to bring him home permanently since he was left severely brain-damaged in hospital just over a year ago. Claire Harrison met the father-of-three during a precious visit home

Family has always meant everything to Jimmy Stewart but he has needed his wife and children more than ever in the past year. He was a doting grandfather to five-year-old Kirstie and was delighted to have another on the way when he found himself in hospital with a chest infection last March.

But the north Belfast man never got the chance to know little Lucy, now a bubbly one-year-old who was born on the day he was admitted to intensive care in the Royal Victoria Hospital. Jimmys eldest son Thomas put off bringing the newborn to visit until he was better. But a fortnight after her birth Mr Stewart had suffered a severe brain injury and was robbed of the chance to get to know his grandchild.

Last year was one the Stewarts had been looking forward to with a number of special occasions marked in the calendar. January 2008 saw Jimmy and his childhood sweetheart Linda celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary with a holiday to Gran Canaria. Jimmy's own 50th birthday was coming up in July while his two sons Mark and Thomas were preparing celebrations to turn 21 and 30 respectively. Little did the father-of-three know that he would be spending his birthday in hospital, suffering from a devastating brain injury and permanently unable to do anything for himself.

A year after the botched resuscitation hes still in hospital despite the Stewarts fiercest efforts to bring him home permanently.

Linda and the wider family circle have visited him at Musgrave Park's regional brain injury unit every day and the strain has taken its toll. Linda's mother Daphne Seaton also died of cancer in December, capping off a harrowing year.

Permanently in a wheelchair and unable to do anything for himself, Jimmy will need round-the-clock care but the Stewarts are determined he will not be going to live in a care home. His Woodvale home is unsuitable for his extreme care needs so Linda is having to move.

The Stewarts found a suitable house in the Woodvale area but couldnt buy it while waiting to hear the outcome of the trusts investigations. Linda said it was only down to help from the Filor Housing Association and McMillan Estate Agents in Glengormley that the house was held back and they are now able to move in within six weeks.

In the meantime Jimmy has been allowed home to his daughter Paulas house in Woodvale three evenings per week. They said they first had to pay for Jimmys wheelchair transport until Health Minister Michael McGimpsey stepped in and asked the trust to pay out. The DUPs Diane Dodds has also helped the family.

Jimmy is conscious but not able to communicate in any way. His family don't know if he's aware of what's happening around him but they assume he is.

Daughter Paula Picking (28) says the family are angry about the mistakes made in Jimmys care but are determined to face the future and give him the best life they can.

Officially in a vegetative state, they refuse to give up hope there may be some form of recovery.

Paula said: We come from the point of view that dad understands everything going on around him because no-one can prove otherwise to us. Were told theres no point in giving him physio but we fought for that and it has made a difference to his legs. Weve heard him trying to speak, but it was just completely dismissed.

We know him best and we know hes trying. We're not willing to let him vegetate, we just want to get him home to look after him.

He's still my father, he's a human being and he deserves to be given a chance to recover.

Sitting in a wheelchair in Paulas home it's clear Jimmys still the centre of this close-knit family and is included in all the conversations buzzing on around him.

Linda, too, is angry about the defeatist attitude to his recovery.

We have to pay tribute to the nurses who have cared for Jimmy. Musgrave Park is a great place and weve no complaints about the care there. We have so many people to thank for helping us piece life back together. If it wasnt for a charity called Headway, which helps patients with brain injuries, I dont know what I would have done.

Theres no doubt weve lived our worst nightmare in the past year, we have come to accept that  we just live in hope.
Sherman Wright failed to turn up for his court hearing

A Co Antrim man who had applied to do a law degree to become a solicitor has now been charged with burglary.

Sherman Wright (44), of Devenagh Way, Ballymena, is alleged to have stolen food on September 24 this year during the incident at a local Poundstretcher.

His case was called at Ballymena Magistrates Court yesterday but his solicitor John McAtamney said he was not present.

A police officer said he believed he could connect the accused to the charge and the case was put back until later to see if the accused would turn up.

Later, Mr McAtamney said: "He has not arrived. It may well be an oversight on his part."

The solicitor asked if the case could be adjourned until early in the new year and in the meantime said he would contact his client.

A prosecutor said they were awaiting CCTV evidence in the case.

Adjourning the case, Deputy District Judge Peter Magill said: "If he is not here on January 5 there may be consequences."

Earlier this year in a Press interview, Wright said he wanted to become a lawyer and was hopeful of starting university in the autumn.

However, he has so far remained in Ballymena.

In September his defence barrister told the same court his client had disclosed his background on his university application form.

He also admitted that Wright's appearance in court had thrown his education hopes "into the ether", and that his university place would now be reviewed.

Wright told the media in September: "I have got stuck in to higher education. I have a Higher National Diploma in 12 different subjects and you don't get that unless you do have capabilities, so therefore I forwarded myself at Belfast Metropolitan College.

"On top of the Higher National Diploma I now have a further two A-levels in sociology and social policy, therefore that got me an unconditional offer in Gloucester University to study law, which I am over the Moon with.

"I am an opportunist and I'm going to grab this opportunity.

"Law is something I have always had an interest in."

He also said he hoped to become a lawyer in his home town.
A mother given a year to live is beating the odds by spending Christmas with her family - thanks to community support.

East Belfast woman Aundrea Bannatyne was in July told the devastating news that an inoperable tumour was wrapped around her pancreas, and secondary lesions were in her liver.

But determined not to be beaten, the 42-year-old, from Dundonald, sought out support from friends and family, who formed a #aundreasarmy campaign to organise events to raise vital funds for private treatment at the Hallwang Clinic in Germany.

The appeal for Aundrea, a manager for Thomas Cook, soon gathered momentum, raising more than 120,000 so far.

The Hallwang Clinic is known for its advanced treatments, but they are not cheap - just one injection costs 9,000.

Aundrea said she was overwhelmed by the support. "It's unbelievable - people of all ages have come up with fantastic fundraising ideas," she added.

"They've all been brilliant. It's been truly amazing the lengths people have gone to to help raise the money, and I cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity.

"Hundreds of people here, in Scotland and so many other places have organised and taken part in so many events.

"The funds mean I can receive treatment to help spend more time with my children, who are my world.

"So I want everyone to know how thankful I am for everything that has been done."

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Charity walk for local woman Aundrea Bannatyne Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The walkers out in force for Aundrea Bannatyne in Bangor Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Fairytale Ball, Phil and Aundrea Bannatyne / Facebook

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Whatsapp Charity walk for local woman Aundrea Bannatyne

Although the treatment has been tough, with Aundrea admitted to hospital many times because of side-effects, the optimistic mum is looking forward to spending Christmas with the "loves of her life", sons Jack (14) and James (10).

"There have been some difficult times, but I am a positive person and remain upbeat thanks to a good support network around me," she said.

"I will be pleased to get up on Christmas morning and see the excitement on my sons' faces as they open their presents. The fundraising has made this possible, and I want to say thank you and wish a merry Christmas to all who made it possible."

Aundrea's diagnosis was the second to hit the family.

James was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour at the age of two.

Eight years on, he is nearly in remission and remains an inspiration to his mother as she continues her fight.

So far, Aundrea had attended two appointments at the Hallwang Clinic, with another week-long trip organised for the new year.

A total of 200,000 is needed, and fundraising will continue until the target is met.

Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/2gtranmq
Just over 2 million was spent on prescriptions for paracetamol in 2014

Health officials have been urged to review free prescriptions in Northern Ireland, after the cost of meeting demand spiralled to 440m last year.

Over 40 million items were dispensed in 2015 - a staggering 111,000 every day.

The bill has risen by over 30m in the past three years alone.

All primary care prescriptions have been free in Northern Ireland since April 2010, a move that was hailed as "an end to taxing the sick".

But while patients continue to benefit from the service, some have warned that a combination of free prescriptions and rises in drug prices is contributing to a significant cost to the taxpayer.

In the last three years the cost of free prescriptions topped 1.2bn - rising from 409.02m to 440.44m between 2013 and 2015.

The figures were released by Health Minister Michelle O'Neill after an Assembly question from UUP MLA Jo-Anne Dobson.

Ms Dobson said: "The cost of prescribing, sitting as it does at over 440m for 2015, is greater than the yearly budget of some Stormont departments.

"A rise in the cost of prescriptions in the last three years of over 31m is significant and I encourage the Health Minister to continue to promote and fund alternative therapies to prescribing - therapies which in many cases deliver better results."

Ms Dobson said her party remained "fully committed" to free prescriptions for the sick, but called for a review into the list of eligible items available to patients.

More than 2m was spent in Northern Ireland on prescriptions for paracetamol in 2014, while in 2013 more than 32,000 prescriptions were dispensed for nappy cream Sudocrem - costing the taxpayer over 122,000.

"The Ulster Unionist Party remain fully committed to free prescriptions as we believe that a charge on the sick, as was previous advocated, to pay for the sick, would be unfair," she added.

"There should, however, be a review conducted into the list of eligible items for prescription to ensure that only those items which are medically needed are those which are being prescribed."

Former Health Minister Jim Wells believes there is "no easy answer" to the issue of prescription charges.

The DUP MLA had called for the reintroduction of charges in January 2015 when he was Health Minister, with money raised helping to pay for a new specialist drugs fund.

And while he admits the latest figures represent a "huge amount of money", he believes the cost of giving out free prescriptions could be far greater [for the taxpayer].

"The number of free prescription items being dispensed is increasing, but I think the overall cost isn't as high as many people predicted," Mr Wells said.

"But it is still 440m. It is a huge commitment each year which has to be met.

"I advocated a small charge for prescriptions when I was Health Minister.

"That was put under consultation and then Simon Hamilton became the minister and there appeared to be concerns over the reintroduction of charges, so the department then didn't go ahead with the proposals."

Mr Wells said he believed charging a small fee would make people think twice about asking for prescriptions.

"The idea was that if you put a value on something, then it makes people think twice," he added.

"An example is the plastic bag charge, which saw an 80% reduction in the use of plastic bags after a 5p charge was introduced.

"Healthcare is far more important than plastic bags, but it gave an indication that when something has a price on it then demand is reduced.

"I think there was concern among doctors and GPs that if you charged for prescriptions, then some people wouldn't pay for their medication, which would be detrimental to their health, and they could end up in hospital.

"There was the worry that people would miss out on vital medicine. The flip-side of the argument is that if prescriptions are free, then there is always the threat of people abusing the system.

"The other danger with free prescriptions is that there can be a lot of waste. People end up with various medicines and tablets which they don't use and run out of date, and they end up being thrown out.

"So there are a lot of pros and cons with regards to free prescriptions, and there doesn't seem to be an easy answer. The key is trying to keep the cost under control.

"The healthcare budget will continue to rise, and the current Health Minister, Michelle O'Neill, has said that if that continues then by 2020 health will take up 20% of the entire budget.

"That won't be allowed to happen, but it shows you the direction the figures are heading."

Despite the concerns, a leading doctor believes the introduction of free prescriptions in 2010 has proved a success in Northern Ireland.

Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association's NI General Practitioners Committee, said doctors were mindful of the cost.

"GPs have been working incredibly hard over the past couple of years to constrain the costs of free prescriptions," he said.

"They have been looking at ways of providing the most cost-effective medication to patients, and I think it has been very successful. Is it sustainable? Yes, I think it is.

The figures represent 10% of the health budget and it is proving to be effective. It is our duty to make sure costs are controlled as best we can, and I think we are doing that.

"When people had to pay for prescriptions there were a large number of exemptions anyway, and you start delving into issues such as equality and maybe some patients not being able to access free treatment."
The Irish Defence Forces' extensive experience with United Nations peacekeeping missions has been singled out for praise by a Northern Ireland-born British military chief

The Irish Defence Forces' extensive experience with United Nations peacekeeping missions has been singled out for praise by a Northern Ireland-born British military chief.

UK defence attache to Ireland Colonel Max Walker said the Republic's Defence Forces' continuous presence in global peacekeeping operations since 1958 was something the UK "can learn a great deal from".

Col Walker, the first resident attache in Dublin for more than eight years, was speaking in the latest edition of Signal, the official journal of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, representing officers in Ireland's Defence Forces.

The diplomat, originally from Co Fermanagh, and a veteran of Afghanistan, said bilateral defence relations between the two nations were now stronger than ever due to increased co-operation.

And despite the much smaller scale of the Republic's military infrastructure compared to its United Kingdom counterparts, he said both were starting to reap the benefits from working more closely together.

He said: "In early 2015 a memorandum of understanding was agreed between the UK and Ireland, which identified a range of areas for defence co-operation to our mutual benefit.

"To build on that we have a three-year action plan that provides some detailed direction for co-operation in the land, maritime and air domains and in the area of defence policy.

"Harnessing the experience and knowledge that both nations have can be of massive mutual benefit.

"The UK, for example, can learn a great deal from Ireland in terms of UN experience."

Col Walker said his broad role also included co-ordinating training courses, clearing military overflights, and earlier this summer overseeing the display of the famed Red Arrows at the Bray Airshow in Co Wicklow.

Col Walker added: "We have significant British Legion, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy association membership in Ireland and we play a small supporting role in this area and also with regard to facilitating the already close relationship that UK veterans' organisations share with Irish veterans' organisations, including ONE and IUNVA."
Both the soldiers being prosecuted were members of the Parachute Regiment

The 67-year-old man, known only as Soldier A, has been told he will be prosecuted over the death of Joe McCann

A former soldier who faces prosecution for allegedly murdering an Official IRA commander has said he is being treated "like a terrorist".

The 67-year-old man, known only as Soldier A, told The Sun he felt "betrayed" after being told he will be prosecuted over the death of Joe McCann.

McCann, 24, who was one of the Official IRA's most prominent activists in the early days of the Troubles, was shot dead in disputed circumstances in Belfast on April 15 1972.

Soldier A is to be prosecuted for the alleged murder along with a 65-year-old man known as Soldier C.

Both are surviving members of the Parachute Regiment patrol which fired on Mr McCann, prosecutors have said.

Soldier A told The Sun: "I'm being treated like a terrorist."

He added: "I feel betrayed.

"To be told you will be charged with murder 44 years after the incident has been a shock to the system.

"Until last week I was looking forward to retiring and taking a few holidays abroad. But life's on hold now."

He added: "A letter at the time said no action would be taken."
There will be extra reason for festive cheer in one Northern Ireland household as a baby born 10 weeks early reaches her first Christmas.

Little Aimee McCauley had to spend weeks in hospital after surprising her parents with a premature arrival earlier this year.

The tot, who weighed in at just 3lb 14 ounces in April, was so small she had to be given help to breath for the first few days of her life and was tube-fed for several weeks.

But her strength and determination has amazed doctors and now, aged eight months, she is fighting fit and ready for Santa.

Mother Fiona McCauley said: "Premature babies just look like they will break if you touch them. They are so fragile and their skin is so thin, it looks like it could just tear.

"But they are much stronger than they look.

"For someone so small, Aimee did very well. We were very lucky.

"She was tube-fed for the first few weeks and then she had to learn to take the bottle before she could be allowed home.

"But for the most part, she just had to grow."

Aimee is the second premature baby for the McCauley family from Londonderry.

Her older brother Dylan arrived at just 28 weeks, five years ago.

Mrs McCauley, a nurse, said: "Aimee was not due until mid-June.

"Because our son was premature, I was kind of paranoid that it might happen again, so I was being very careful and was very conscious of it.

"But, when I got past the 28-week stage, I was happier. Then, on Easter Sunday, my waters broke. I was just under 29 weeks and was admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital for a week.

"Nothing happened, so they let me go home."

However, she returned to hospital a day later and little Aimee was born shortly after.

Juggling the uncertainties associated with a premature births and another child made the first few months tough.

Mrs McCauley said: "Aimee was doing great, but for us it was just the not knowing that made things hard.

"When babies are in the neo-natal units, there are so many things that can go wrong.

"You just don't know - there can be so many complications and things that can go wrong when they are born so early - there could be issues with her development and all sorts.

"You just don't know what's in front of you so we didn't like to look too far ahead."

Now, aged eight months, Aimee is already caught up in the excitement of Christmas.

"She is so alert and so nosey," said Mrs McCauley.

"She is amazed by the Christmas tree and all the lights. It's great to see her taking such an interest in it all.

"I think she's going to be a wee rascal. She is always smiling and happy and chats away to herself.

"She is so active - all she wants to do is bounce.

"Premature babies all just seem to be wee fighters.

"Nothing seems to bother them as they grow up because of what they've been through in the early days."

Last year, almost 2,000 babies spent time in Northern Ireland's seven neo-natal units.

Some arrived as early as 24 weeks and weighing as little as 1lb.

Volunteers from the charity TinyLife are in the wards to offer practical and emotional support to the parents of premature and sick babies through the family and support service.

TinyLife's hospital to home volunteer visitation service provides breast pumps, tiny gyms, baby massage and sensory sessions as well as family activities and support groups.

Mrs McCauley said: "TinyLife were amazing.

"I didn't have them first time around but the support I received with Aimee was just fantastic."

She has also paid tribute to the medical staff at Altnagelvin Hospital.

To donate to TinyLife, visit www.justgiving.co.uk/TinyLife.
So what can be said about Christmas that hasnt been said? Glad you asked because I dont know of anything that hasnt been said before either. However, both of my loyal readers know that something like that has never stopped me from saying something anyway.

So if youre still with me here Ill start with "Merry Christmas to you and yours and for those of you celebrating Hanukkah  Happy Hanukkah, and for the rest of you folks Happy Holidays and for those of you who make it to the New Year Happy New Year." Hopefully thatll cover everybody.

OK, by now you have realized that nothing Ive said hasnt been said before and most likely both my loyal readers are hoping that I wont say what I said again before we part company here.

Last Sunday, while trying to figure out what to say here I watched the slaughter of civilians in Aleppo, Syria, a city of over 2 million that has rebelled against the brutal Assad regime (assisted by Russian bombing) for the last five years. The horrors of that civil war cant adequately be described here because so far none of us has literally been bombarded out of our homes by our government.

As I watched a video of about 47 orphans who were turned back as another attempted peaceful evacuation of rebels in Aleppo was halted by random gunfire, the battered faces and bodies of these kids flashed across my television screen and my heart sunk. It was the third time they were guaranteed safe passage. Barack Obamas representative to the United Nations looked at the Syrian and Russian delegates and repeatedly said, Have you no shame?

This civil war is so intense that humanitarian relief convoys have been unable to get through, a 24-hour truce to let food and aid to civilians caught in the crossfire didnt last more than a few hours before the rescue convoys were halted by gunfire. Finally the rescue convoys got through and loaded up families, orphans and rebels willing to leave the country. The convoy didnt make it to the edge of Aleppo when a hailstorm of bullets forced them to once again escape back to hell.

Shortly after that newsclip I noticed that Renee was busy wrapping Christmas presents and the whole thing left me wondering why I ended up here and they ended up there . luck? Divine intervention? Did I earn something in a previous life? Who do I thank for this? Is there a reason Im here and those poor orphans are in hell? Other than praying for them, is there something I need to or can do to help these kids and their families?

Think about this for a minute, you and I are quite likely to spend our Christmas holiday in the warmth of our homes surrounded by family and friends. Visions of sugarplums will dance in our dreams, the thrill of a childs laugh will tickle our souls, and for a moment peace will fill the air. In the meantime millions of people around the world will be living in the hell of war and strife that very few of us local folks could ever imagine. What have we done to deserve such a fate?

It seems to me that as we indulge in the excesses of celebrating our Saviors birth we need to take stock and wonder what Jesus really wants us to do. Maybe we can give more gifts, maybe more time walking in each others shoes, maybe rather than spend our fortunes on Christmas presents we could spend all that money on a worthy cause that might just help leave this place better off than we found it.

I guess what Im trying to say here is that Christmas should remind us that we will not be measured by what we do for ourselves rather by what we do for the world around us and yes ,Ive said that before, too. Merry Christmas.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for many parts of Britain due to Storm Barbara, with Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the conditions

Storm Barbara has disrupted power supplies and travel and led to school closures as it batters the UK.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings with an amber "be prepared" wind warning in place for northern and western parts of Scotland into Friday evening.

Two separate "be aware" yellow wind warnings, one covering more northern areas where gusts of 60mph to 70 mph are expected and another covering parts of northern England, the South West and Wales, are also in place.

Gusts reaching almost 120mph were recorded on the summit of Cairn Gorm at 11am while gusts of 68mph were recorded in Stornoway in Lewis and 75mph at Mona on Anglesey in Wales on Friday afternoon.

A number of properties in Aberdeenshire, Moray and on the Western Isles lost power, with engineers working to reconnect supply.

In the Highlands more than one hundred schools were closed due to the bad weather.

There have been cancellations to some ferry services while revised schedules and cancellations of flights to the islands are also expected.

The situation is being replicated on the railways, where a revised timetable is in place, with travellers being advised to check the latest conditions before venturing out.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued eight flood warnings for Tayside, the Borders and Easter Ross and eight flood alerts across the country.

Scotland's transport minister Humza Yousaf said: "Ministers have been receiving regular updates on the impact of the severe weather across this week.

"We are expecting the worst of the disruption today when winds are expected to reach 90mph.

"Our transport operators and trunk road operating companies are working hard to keep services and roads running, safety has to be our top priority, so we are seeing delays and cancellations to flights and ferries.

"We would urge everyone to check the latest sources of information before they travel and keep in mind that the situation can change quickly."

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said more than half of the company's network has seen services cancelled for the duration of Friday while others are suspended and under constant review for any weather windows.

However, it said it managed to run a "very difficult lifeline crossing" to Barra on Thursday, complete with the island's turkeys, making the journey in seven hours instead of the usual five and a half

Festive travellers have been dealt another blow with a further amber alert for Storm Conor now being issued for the far north of the country on Boxing Day.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Dan Harris said: "The wet and windy weather is a result of two deep Atlantic low-pressure systems crossing the Atlantic and passing close to the north-west of the UK, bringing the potential for some disruption to power supplies and travel, and possibly structural damage.

"Although we need to be prepared for storms Barbara and Conor, it's important to note that there will also be some less unsettled weather for many on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day."

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), which owns and operates the electricity distribution network in the north of Scotland, remain on yellow alert with 600 frontline and support staff on stand-by.

South of the border, councils were said to be ''fully prepared'' for the onset of harsh conditions over Christmas.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents hundreds of councils in England and Wales, said it was issuing renewed advice on how to deal with flash floods and has stockpiled more than one million tonnes of salt to grit roads.

People can call 105, a free new national phone line, if the weather damages their local power network and affects electricity supply.

The number is available to people in England, Scotland and Wales, regardless of who they buy electricity from.

SSEN said that since midday engineers have restored power to 14,855 homes.

As of 6pm 445 customers remained off supply across the north of Scotland, with all homes expected to be restored during the evening.

SSEN said that in anticipation of Storm Barbara it has increased the levels of frontline and support staff and has moved engineers, equipment and welfare facilities to strategic areas, including the islands, that may be hit by the bad weather.

It said that 600 frontline and support staff are on hand across the Christmas period, around five times the normal number who would be available.

Dale Cargill, director of customer operations for SSEN, said: "So far our network has stood up well to the conditions but we won't be complacent and remain prepared to respond quickly to disruption to supplies, where it is safe to do so.

"The safety of our customers and engineers will remain a priority as we continue to respond to the impacts of Storm Barbara, particularly given the presence of lightning.

"We are acutely aware of the time of year and the increasing concern this brings and would like to reassure our customers we will be doing all we can to keep disruption to a minimum."
PSNI are at the scene of a road collision on the M1 motorway in Northern Ireland

A man has died in a serious one-vehicle crash that closed the M1 in Northern Ireland in both directions near Tamnamore between junctions 13 and 14.

The crash happened at around 12.35pm and involved a grey Honda Civic.

The M1 motorway has now fully reopened to traffic.

John McPoland from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said they were alerted at 12.37pm of a single vehicle RTC on the citybound on the M1 between junctions 13 and junction 12.

Paramedics attended the scene but no one was taken from it.

UUP councillor for Dungannon Walter Cuddy said a friend of his daughter's had witnessed the crash and believed one man was involved.

"It looks like a man driving towards Belfast lost control of his car completely. A friend of my daughter's was in the car behind and seen it all happen," he said.

"She's 25 and would be a balanced young girl and called it a horrendous accident, she's in a really bad state as she saw it all first hand."

"I believe he was at the Loughgall turn off and heading to Belfast when he lost control. I couldn't say what speed he was going but there was very heavy rain at the time with the storm.

"It's just very sad at the mouth of Christmas. I've heard that just one car was involved, that it spun round and may have caught fire. A young person wouldn't have seen an accident like that before and it's pretty stressful.

"That section of the motorway isn't a straight part. You come round from Dungannon from the Coalisland turnoff over Blackwater river, there's a few fairly tight corners. There has been a history of accidents on that stretch over the last decade."

His party colleague, councillor Rosemary Barton posted on Twitter: "Shocked to hear about serious RTC at Tamnamore on M1. My thoughts are with all those involved and the emergency services."

Glen Millar from Portadown contacted the Belfast Telegraph to say his partner Ruthann had also witnessed the crash and was left deeply shaken.

"She was taking the children to Dungannon to the cinema. A silver car came past her and lost control at the Loughgall turnoff."

He said he understood the car was badly damaged after hitting a road sign at the turnoff with four concrete pillars.

"Ruthann was on the phone to me and frantic with stress. I told her to get off the phone and just get home," he said.

"She was very shaken, it sounds horrific. The road conditions were horrendous, I was out in my van and would usually do 50mph, but the rain was that bad I slowed right down to 30mph and still had difficulty seeing."

He continued: "At one stage the rain was literally torrential. I can't help but think this man's family might be out shopping and don't know, what if he has children?"

"All these things are going through Ruthann's head. She lost her brother six years ago to a car accident after he hit a tree. It's brought a lot of things home to her."

Police have asked that anyone who noticed the Honda Civic in the area prior to the collision, or anyone who witnessed the collision itself, to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 566 of 23/12/16.
Scores of prisoners have today been unshackled from their chains and released from prison for Christmas leave.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has confirmed that 93 lags will be heading home for Christmas in a break from daily life behind bars.

Over half of those released (51) are from the maximum security Maghaberry jail which holds some of Northern Ireland's most dangerous men.

At Magillian, 35 will be released while four young men and three women are being released from Hydebank Wood College.

Their periods of temporary release have been granted for varying periods from December 23 until January 3. Conditions have been placed on all successful applicants.

All prisoners granted Christmas Home Leave have been the subject of a satisfactory risk assessment and have either successfully completed a home leave programme or undergone periods of unaccompanied testing in the community, the Prison Service said.

Those released must be within three years of their jail term's end, have been recommended for release by parole commissioners and have suddessfully completed an unaccompanied overnight release in the past.

Only those sentenced before October 31 are eligible.

Remand prisoners are not eligible for Christmas Home Leave.

Northern Ireland prisons currently hold 1,445 people.
A west Belfast man awaiting trial on charges arising from the discovery of guns and Semtex at a house in Ballymurphy has had his bail conditions varied to allow him to spend Christmas with his partner in Sunderland.

Kevin Nolan, from Stewartstown Road in Dunmurry, is due to be tried next month.

The 47-year-old has already admitted possessing two handguns that were found during a search of his father's home last September. He has, however, denied charges linked to the Semtex find.

Following the discovery of the explosives and weapons in Belfast, Nolan was arrested at his partner's home in Sunderland.

His barrister, Eilis MacDermott QC, yesterday made an application at Belfast Crown Court to vary Nolan's bail to allow him to travel to England and spend Christmas with his partner and her three young children.

She said that since being granted bail Nolan has adhered to all conditions, adding that her client would agree to any additional conditions imposed.

Crown prosecutor Gareth Purvis said police were opposed to Nolan's bail conditions being varied to allow him to travel to Sunderland for a week for several reasons, including a risk of flight.

Judge Smyth said she would grant the application to vary Nolan's bail to allow him to spend a week at Christmas in Sunderland.

She ordered that Nolan observe a 10pm to 8am curfew, that he report to police in Sunderland three times during the week he is there, and that two sureties re-sign the bail papers.
There has been a disturbance at HM Prison Swaleside in Kent

Prison guards are working to control a disturbance involving 60 inmates at HMP Swaleside.

Prisoners have taken control of a landing on a wing at the category B training prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

Prison Officers Association (POA) chairman Mike Rolfe said the extent of the disturbance was unclear but fires had been lit.

Specially trained guards known as "Tornado" squads have been deployed to Swaleside, the Prison Service said.

It added that the incident has been contained to a landing on a single wing and the rest of the prison is secure, with inmates safely locked away.

It is the fourth major disturbance at an English prison in less than two months, coming a week after hundreds of inmates rioted at Birmingham prison.

Mr Rolfe said: "There is an ongoing disturbance there (at Swaleside). Some fires have been lit, apparently, and basically we know that it's an ongoing incident."

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "The Prison Service is dealing with an incident involving 60 prisoners at HMP Swaleside.

"The incident is contained to one landing on A Wing. The rest of the prison is secure with all prisoners in locked in cells."

HMP Swaleside has a capacity of around 1,100 inmates serving prison terms of more than four years. It has eight wings comprised of single cells.

Swaleside was condemned by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in July, which described it in a report as "dangerous", with levels of violence that were "far too high" and many incidents of a serious nature.

A survey found 69% of inmates felt unsafe at some point - a result which was significantly higher than at similar facilities.

More than half (52%) of prisoners polled said it was easy or very easy to get drugs at the prison, while 45% said the same about alcohol.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons also said the use of force was high, while the segregation unit was described as "filthy".

The A wing of the prison houses the Open Academy, a study centre with a computer suite.

At the time of the HMIP report, inspectors said it was used by 50 of the 126 prisoners on the wing, who were enrolled on open and distance learning courses.

The incident is the latest in a series of prison disturbances that have piled pressure on Justice Secretary Liz Truss.

Last week, hundreds of inmates rioted for more than 12 hours at Birmingham prison, one of the country's biggest jails.

Some 240 prisoners were transferred from the prison but it is understood none were taken to Swaleside.

Prisoners set fires, stole keys to residential areas from a guard and one inmate was seriously injured in a major disturbance on December 16.

On November 6 about 200 inmates went on the rampage at HMP Bedford just days after a national response unit had to be brought in to control prisoners after a six-hour incident at HMP Lewes in East Sussex.
Which? has formally requested a judicial review of Peterborough Trading Standards (PTS) over its handling of the Whirlpool faulty dryers safety alert.

PTS has been dealing with the alert, which involves a reported 5.3 million dryers made by Whirlpool brands Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda, as Whirlpool's UK head office is in Peterborough.

Fire chiefs warned in October that owners of faulty Whirlpool dryers must stop using them immediately, after one of the machines was found to be the cause of a huge blaze in an 18-storey tower block in Shepherd's Bush in London.

London Fire Brigade said they believed a faulty Indesit dryer was the cause of the August 19 blaze, following a "painstaking" investigation.

Which? said it was "stepping up its action" with the judicial review request to the High Court following PTS's "failure to review the situation in light of this report".

The watchdog said: "Following earlier attempts to get PTS to do the right thing, we now have no choice but to pursue formal legal action to ensure consumers are protected.

"The judicial review will ask the High Court to assess whether Peterborough Trading Standards' handling of the case since the London Fire Brigade's report has been lawful."

Which? said it believed that PTS had failed consumers by not properly carrying out its role as an enforcer of product safety laws.

It said it expected PTS to conduct a fresh, independent assessment of the risks posed to consumers by the faulty dryers that remain in homes and "not shy away from enforcement action if it is needed".

Various dryers made by Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda between April 2004 and September 2015 are subject to a safety notice about the fire risk, which is caused by excess fluff coming into contact with the heating element.

Which? managing director of home and legal services, Alex Neill, said: "We believe that the way Whirlpool has handled the tumble dryer safety issue is absolutely appalling and to add insult to injury Peterborough Trading Standards has failed to do its duty to protect consumers.

"We have decided to step in and take legal action because we want Peterborough Trading Standards to properly protect Whirlpool customers and carry out its role as an enforcer of product safety laws."

Whirlpool said: "The safety of consumers is our number one priority and we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that the tumble dryer modification programme is carried out in a safe and timely manner.

"We have acted entirely appropriately at every stage of this programme and refute any suggestion otherwise.

"We urge everyone who owns an Indesit, Hotpoint or Creda dryer manufactured between April 2004 and September 2015 to check if their dryer is affected and then register for a free modification if it is.

"Customers can do this using the model checker on two bespoke websites we have created, https://safety.hotpoint.eu/ and https://safety.indesit.eu/, or our dedicated freephone helpline on 0800 151 0905 for the UK, or 1800 804320 for Ireland."

A Peterborough City Council spokesman said: "The safety of consumers is our paramount concern and has been throughout our involvement in this matter.

"An independent review, which began earlier this month, is currently taking place and we would expect Whirlpool to fully comply with the outcome.

"This review involves independent experts in fire safety, product safety and product risk assessment.

"We will strongly defend our position if Which? is granted a judicial review and bearing in mind the on-going independent review, we consider that this action is premature."
Donald Trump has called for an "arms race" when asked to clarify his comments about expanding American nuclear weapons capability, MSNBC reported.

And, The president-elect said, America would win any subsequent race.

Trump set alarm bells off on Thursday with a Twitter post that said the United States "must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski spoke with Trump on the phone and asked him to expand on his tweet.

Sky News reported her response: "Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."

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Republican Trump takes office on January 20.

In his year-end news conference in Moscow on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Trump's nuke tweet was not out of line and that he did not consider the United States to be a potential aggressor.

He also said that his country would not spend money on weapons it could not afford.
An Afriqiyah Airways plane from Libya stands on the tarmac at Malta's Luqa International airport, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jonathan Borg)

Two Libyan men who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up have surrendered peacefully, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the aircraft before walking out alongside the last of the crew.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was travelling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta on Friday morning.

Malta state television said the two hijackers possessed hand grenades and had threatened to detonate them.

All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3.44pm local time (2.44pm GMT).

They have surrendered, been searched and taken into custody, he said.

The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the plane's doors to open at 1.44pm (12.44pm GMT) and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

In a series of tweets, Mr Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, followed by the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including seven crew members, were on board the hijacked plane.

Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers had asked him to head to Rome.

He identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, Libyans who other officials said were in their twenties.

The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called "the New Fateh".

Fateh is a reference to former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who led the Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969.

After many of the hostages left the plane on Friday afternoon, someone, apparently a hijacker, waved the old green Libyan flag from the plane's doorway.

Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes. Gaddafi was ousted and killed by a mob in 2011.

Western nations view the newly-formed UN-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libya's parliament, which meets in the country's far east, has refused to accept it.

Amid the chaos, Islamic State (IS) and al Qaida affiliates have gained a foothold over the past years.

Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized IS's last stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.

Mr Muscat later said the two Libyan men had a hand grenade and a pistol, with a second pistol found later on the plane during a search by Maltese soldiers.

He said the 111 passengers on the plane will be returned to Libya in the coming hours after they are questioned by police, while the hijackers are being interrogated.

Libya's transport minister has defended airport security in the country.

Milad Matouq said security breaches happen everywhere and Libya is no exception, adding that this is the first such incident since the 2011 revolution.

He said Maltese authorities are questioning the passengers and carrying out security checks in case a hijacker is among them.

Passenger Ibrahim Bashir told Al-Nabaa TV that the passengers were "trapped" inside the buses and not allowed to leave.

The head of Libya's state-run culture agency said a total of 25 artists, writers, and intellectuals from southern Libya were among the passengers and were heading to Tripoli to participate in a culture forum.
Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka arrive to meet spouses of military service members (AP)

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 19: (L-R) Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump and Malania Trump arrive before the start of the third U.S. presidential debate at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight is the final debate ahead of Election Day on November 8. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 19: Ivanka Trump waits for the start of the third U.S. presidential debate at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight is the final debate ahead of Election Day on November 8. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump attend the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Ivanka Trump (L) and Jared Kushner attend the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Two men say they were removed from a JetBlue flight after one "expressed displeasure" about flying with Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.

Matthew Lasner said on Twitter that JetBlue staff kicked him and his husband off the flight from New York's Kennedy airport to Florida on Thursday after overhearing his husband's remarks.

Mr Lasner tweeted earlier that his husband was chasing the couple down in the terminal "to harass them".

"Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil," Lasner said in a now-deleted tweet.

JetBlue cited the possibility of "the risk of escalation during flight" in explaining the decision to remove the men.

The airline said the couple were rebooked for the next available flight.

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JetBlue said in a statement that the "decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly."

"If the crew determines that a customer is causing conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight," the company said in the statement.

"In this instance, our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight."

A spokeswoman for the Trump family declined comment but did not dispute the accounts.
Candles are lit at Breitscheidplatz, in Berlin in tribute to the 12 people who died after a lorry ploughed into a crowded Christmas market

German chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her relief that the suspect in the Berlin truck attack poses no further threat after he was shot dead by Italian police in Milan.

Mrs Merkel said she has ordered a comprehensive investigation into all angles of the case, after it emerged that German authorities had tracked 24-year-old Tunisian man Anis Amri for months this year on suspicion of planning an attack.

The German leader said "our democracy, our rule of law, our values and our humanity" are the alternatives to "the hate-filled world of terrorism", and would ultimately prevail.

Mrs Merkel also expressed her deep thanks to Italian authorities, and in particular to the two police officers who challenged Amri.

Twelve people were killed and 48 others were injured after a truck was driven into a Christmas market in the German capital on Monday evening.

Amri was killed early on Friday in a shoot-out with police during a routine patrol outside a train station in Milan.

He was stopped by two officers during a routine patrol in the Sesto San Giovanni area. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identification and was killed in an ensuing shoot-out.

One of the officers, Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder. He underwent surgery for a superficial wound and is said to be in good condition. Mr Movio's 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

Italian police said the suspect had travelled from Germany through France and into Italy after the attack, with some of the journey taken by train.

French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, which has increased surveillance on its trains after recent attacks and the Berlin massacre.

Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers while he was alone outside the deserted station.

He also called for greater cross-border police cooperation, suggesting some dismay that Europe's open border policy had enabled Amri to easily move around, despite being Europe's number one fugitive.

Amri was identified with the help of fingerprints supplied by Germany.

"The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack," said Italian interior minister Marco Minniti.

Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack outside Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Mrs Merkel said: "We can be relieved at the end of this week that one acute danger has been ended.

"But the danger of terrorism as a whole remains, as it has for many years - we all know that."

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert since the attack, with increased surveillance and police patrols.

Amri's death does not reduce the terrorist threat to Germany, the country's top security official said.

The threat "remains high" and security won't be scaled down, interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said.

He said the two Milan police officers "did excellent work and acted with great bravery".

Germany's chief federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, said his office is in contact with Italian authorities to establish what route Amri took.

Prosecutors also want to know whether the gun Amri was carrying in Milan was the same one used to shoot the Polish driver of the truck he had commandeered for the attack, Mr Frank added. The driver was found dead in the vehicle's cab.

A Milan anti-terrorism official said investigators also are working to determine what contacts, if any, Amri had in Milan. There is no evidence he ever passed through Milan during his previous stay in Italy, where he spent time after leaving Tunisia in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

Amri served three and a half years in Italy for setting a fire at a refugee centre and making threats, among other things - but authorities apparently detected no signs that he was becoming radicalised. He was repeatedly transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with prison records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections.

His mother said he went from there to Switzerland and then to Germany last year.

Authorities in Germany deemed him a potential threat long before the Berlin market attack, and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

Authorities said he has used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers, and Tunisia initially denied that he was a citizen.

Mrs Merkel said she had spoken with Tunisian president Beji Caid Essebsi and told him that the repatriation of Tunisians who are not entitled to residency in Germany needs to be stepped up.

Mr Essebsi firmly condemned the "cowardly terrorist act" in Berlin and called for tighter cooperation to fight "the plague of terrorism that threatens the security and stability of all countries and all societies".

A video later released by IS appears to show Amri pledging allegiance to its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and vowing to fight against "the Crusader pigs".

The video, which seems to have been taken by Amri himself, shows him standing on a footbridge in the north of Berlin, not far from where he allegedly hijacked the truck used in the attack.

The site is just a few hundred yards from a Berlin state administration office which deals with asylum matters.

It is unclear whether Amri's case was handled there or whether the video, released online on Friday, was taken before or after the attack.
Around one in four adults are considering putting technology into a stocking for a loved one this Christmas, a survey has found

Christmas lights are turned on in Derry last month

Children around the world are counting down to Santa's take-off on Christmas Eve

Traditionally, excited children and their parents leave out biscuits and milk for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph before going to bed on Christmas Eve.

But now its possible to stay up and track his journey around the world in real time using a number of dedicated Santa Tracker apps and websites.

Googles Santa Tracker has animated videos, games and a world map with information on Christmas traditions in different countries.

The search engine is counting down to Santa and the reindeers take-off in less than a days time  when his progress will be charted live on Google Maps.

And the North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) will update their site with the latest news on where Father Christmas stops off at when he begins his journey tomorrow.

Norad says it began tracking Santa in 1955 when a child called the Commands headquarters in Colorado asking to speak to Santa Claus.

Now volunteers at Peterson Air Force Base answer an estimated 125,000 calls from children around the world to let them know where Santa is, and at what point he'll be arriving at their house.

Other ways to follow the worlds busiest present delivery round include downloading the free  Where is Santa? app made by Super Kiddo studio, or  Santa GPS made by Fission Media Group.

And technophiles with the latest voice-activated technology can ask new gadgets like Amazons Echo speaker where Father Christmas is at each moment, according to Cnet.
Many city and county crews may be spending Christmas on snow removal equipment. A blizzard watch has been issued for 6 a.m. Christmas Day through noon Monday, with as much as a foot of snow and wind gusts as high as 60 mph expected.

Rick Krolak, meteorologist technician with the National Weather Service in Bismarck, said 8 inches of snow is forecast for western North Dakota. The central area is expected to get 12 inches, he said, and the eastern side of the state could see a range of 12 to 18 inches.

"We'll treat it like it's any other storm, said Dennis Wetzel, who has operated snowplows in Bismarck for 14 years. I'm supposed to be in Jamestown this weekend. ... We're hoping New Year's we'll make it with my mother-in-law."

Missing the holiday is disappointing, but the sacrifice is necessary, he said.

"They've been through this before with me. You do what you have to do. This is what we've got to do.  The town would be shut down if we wouldn't be out plowing, he said.

The high winds will cause drifting, and crews were out Friday reducing many of the the high banks formed from the previous two storms, according to Wetzel. "Then, we'll have room to put the next snowfall that we have, he said.

"When it's snowing at its worst time, we're going to be out," Wetzel said. "We're going to be keeping the main roads open for the fire trucks, the ambulance, police department. They have to be out regardless. If we aren't out, they aren't going to make it."

He rests between 12-hour shifts and refuels with a lot of Coca-Cola.

In past serious storms, crews have been placed near fire stations in case of calls.

"We had to go and blaze a trail for them. If there is a snow emergency, someone in town is going to be close to where they need to go. Dispatch will call us. Whoever is closest will get the equipment to where it needs to be, Wetzel said.

Ross Reinbold, a plow operator for the city of Bismarck for 10 years, was also out Friday and will be on standby for the holiday storm.

"We've been told to stay close to home. Maybe in a week or so, we can travel to see the relatives. We will be in place to do the emergency routes, make sure all of the emergency vehicles can get around town, he said.

"I just watch people through the picture windows as they are having their hot toddies and wave at them," he jokes about the multiple sweeps.

Reinbold, who has missed a few family Christmases in his time, said crew members don't take a lot of breaks; they keep going for 12 hours, with the exception of using bathroom facilities.

"Usually, the adrenaline is pretty high. You don't get tired until the end of the shift. You are always in traffic. You always have to be moving with your eyes, said Reinbold, adding that he plays music, but switches stations often to keep alert.

Occasionally, somebody will bring the crews cookies or arrange catered food, which can take the edge off not being home for the holiday.

"It's part of the job, Reinbold said. "I'll just call the daughter in Moorhead. Maybe it will be a Happy New Year visit instead of a Christmas visit."

The North Dakota Transportation Department asks travelers to keep informed about weather and traveling conditions throughout the region, as some roads may be blocked and impassable. Motorists should carry an emergency survival kit if they travel.

Visit a travel map at http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info-v2/ or download the NDRoads smartphone app. Road condition information is also available through text or email alerts by signing up on our website at: http://www.dot.nd.gov/govdelivery/landing.htm. Call 511 for road condition reports.
Two people were arrested in separate incidents for allegedly eluding police and tossing contraband out their car windows in Bismarck early Wednesday.

Around 12:31 a.m., police attempted to pull over a car for an equipment violation on the 100 block of West Century Avenue. The 21-year-old Bismarck driver allegedly continued driving for eight to 10 minutes after police turned on their sirens, according to police.

Ultimately, Jeffrey Luckey led the officers into a parking lot where he allegedly threw a bag of marijuana out the window before getting stuck in a snow bank. There was a 9-month-child in the backseat, according to police.

Luckey was charged with fleeing a police officer and possession of marijuana. He pleaded guilty before South Central District Judge James Hill to the drug charge on Wednesday for a 10-day suspended sentence and has a misdemeanor jury trial scheduled on the fleeing charge.

About three hours later, in a separate incident, police responded to a report of a reckless driver on the 600 block of South Washington Street. The driver allegedly made a left turn from the right turn lane through a red light on South Washington Street and later threw a beer bottle out the driver's window.

When police finally stopped the vehicle, they found 26-year-old Codilynne Kohl, of Bismarck, smelling of alcohol and attempting to take white, prescription Percocet tablets, according to a police affidavit filed in the case.

According to police, there was a 5-month-old baby in the backseat of the car in a carseat not strapped in properly. She also allegedly kicked an officer in the leg during her arrest.

Kohl was charged with felony child neglect, simple assault on a police officer, driving under the influence with a minor and driving under a suspension. South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell set bond at $2,000 cash.
Islamic activists march toward the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to protest violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Dec. 6, 2016.

Bangladeshs decision to seal its southeastern border to refugees fleeing violence in neighboring Myanmar could create a domestic backlash fueling militancy and sympathy for a new group of Rohingya Muslim insurgents, observers told BenarNews.

More than 30,000 Rohingya have crossed into Coxs Bazar district from western Myanmars Rakhine state since early October, according to international relief agencies, but Dhakas policy of pushing back refugees at the border has led to at least one conservative Bangladeshi Muslim group exploiting the situation and potentially fomenting radicalism in a country already threatened by militancy, according to one expert.

His comments came in light of a research paper published last week by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG), which reported about a new anti-Myanmar rebel group made up of Rohingya emigres with links to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan as well as Bangladesh.

An attack in Maungdaw township that killed nine Burmese border policemen on Oct. 9 and sparked a crackdown by Myanmars army that has left scores of people dead, amid reports of widespread rape of Rohingya women and the burning of Rohingya homes, has marked the emergence of the new rebel group that calls itself Harakah al-Yaqin (HaY), according to the ICG report.

Titled Myanmar: A New Muslim Insurgency in Rakhine State, the 30-page report warned that the attack on the border post and subsequent violence could threaten prospects for stability and development in Rakhine.

Since Oct. 9, several hundred young Rohingya men from Bangladesh have joined the fight. However, the main fighting force is made up of Muslim villagers in northern Rakhine State who have been given basic training and organized into village-level cells to limit risks of compromise, the report said.

HaY is overseen by a committee of 20 senior leaders headquartered in Mecca and who are all Rohingya emigres or have Rohingya heritage. They have connections in Bangladesh, Pakistan and possibly India, and some or all of the leaders have visited Bangladesh and northern Rakhine state in the last two years, ICG said.

Institutional ties do not appear to exist, though there are some efforts to recruit around 200 Rohingya in Bangladesh trained since 2012 by an ex-RSO military commander, but never deployed due to lack of an organizational structure that HaY may potentially now offer, the report said, referring to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization, a now defunct armed group founded in 1982.

Bangladesh policy questioned

Asif Munier, a Bangladeshi analyst on migration, said the conservative Muslim group Hefazat-e-Islam has taken advantage of the situation in Rohingya refugee camps near the border with Myanmar.

The governments no access for Rohingyas policy cannot stop their entry. The hardline Islamic groups such as Hefazat-e-Islam have been exploiting the situation by providing relief to the despondent Rohingyas who make their way to Bangladesh by whatever means, Munier told BenarNews.

The hardline Islamic groups can radicalize easily, calling for revenge on the Myanmar army and the Buddhists. What is more alarming is these youths have been spreading across the country. They can fuel militancy in Bangladesh, too, he said.

Despite the governments policy to bar entry, about 34,000 Rohingya have crossed over from Myanmar since early October, according to figures from U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Police Assistant Inspector Gen. M. Maniruzzaman told BenarNews that authorities were monitoring the movements of Rohingya inside Bangladesh, where more than 300,000 are concentrated in and around Coxs Bazar.

We are keeping a watch on the Rohingyas so that they cannot be the tool of militancy, he said. In this age, this is very easy for militants of a country to join hands with similar outfits across the border and beyond.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told BenarNews that intelligence agencies have been active in in the southeastern district to keep militants from recruiting the refugees.

Group provides aid to refugees

Meanwhile, Mohiuddin Ruhi, joint secretary-general of the Hefazat-e-Islam, an association of conservative Muslim teachers and students, told BenarNews that his group had been providing aid to Rohingyas in Coxs Bazar.

Our Muslims brothers in Myanmar, Rohingyas, are being killed, raped and driven out for their faith. But the government is not giving them access and support. Hefazat-e-Islam is the first to come to help the Rohingyas, Ruhi said, denying allegations that the group supports militants.

They are our saviors. They gave me food and a blanket. Allah has sent them for us. Bangladesh is a land of Muslims,Rohingya refugee Mohammad Hafiz told BenarNews by phone. We do not want to fight; we want to live peacefully.

HaY: New offshoot of old militant outfits?

Shahriar Kabir, a Bangladeshi columnist who made a documentary, Portrait of Jihad, said he had traveled to Myanmar in 2007 to interview Rohingya leaders who said they enjoyed support from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic parties in Bangladesh.

Some Islamic parties in Bangladesh have been radicalizing Rohingyas since 1978 when they came to Bangladesh to escape another military crackdown in Rakhine state.

In 2006-07, we knew of the existence of 17 militant organizations, mostly dominated by the Rohingyas, along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. And HaY may be a new offshoot of those militant outfits, he told BenarNews.

The government does not support militancy at all, but the government monitoring on the Rohingyas and the Islamic parties activities in the Rohingya-dominated areas is very poor. These Rohingyas will pose a new security threat in Bangladesh, Kabir added.
Homemade bombs are seen at a shop in al-Qaryatain, a town in Homs province in central Syria, after Syrian troops regained control of it from the Islamic State group, April 4, 2016.

A Syria-based Malaysian bomb-maker has been sharing his knowledge in explosives with Islamic State recruits for more than two years and has instructed militants to carry out attacks in his home country, Malaysias top anti-terror cop alleged in an interview.

IS member Muhamad Nasrullah Abd Latif (also known as Abu Gomes) has been recruiting his countrymen to join the extremist group in the Middle East and has been teaching recruits to build bombs since he left Malaysia, police counter-terrorist special branch chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay told The Star newspaper in a report published Thursday.

Ayobs comments followed the announcement by police on Tuesday of the arrests in Malaysia of seven men with alleged links to IS and other militant organizations, who were taken into custody in raids in different states between Nov. 3 and Dec. 16.

Among the seven was a 24-year-old self-employed man, arrested in Malacca on Nov. 26 and believed to be an IS member who was taught to build home-made bombs by Abu Gomes, who is from the northern Malaysian state of Perak and has been in Syria for more than two years.

We can confirm that he [Abu Gomes] often shares his knowledge in bomb making and has issued orders to IS cells in Malaysia to launch attacks, Ayob said, according to The Star.

The unidentified suspect had also received instructions from Muhammad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi, a Malaysian who left for Syria with his wife in January 2015 and has been recruiting for IS as well, Police Inspector-General Khalid Abu Bakar said in announcing the arrests.

Malaysian police investigators are identifying Abu Gomes recruits, Ayob said, adding that he is not as influential as Wanndy.

In June, two men allegedly associated with Wanndy and IS launched a grenade attack that injured eight people at a nightclub in Puchong, near Kuala Lumpur  the first terrorist act claimed by Islamic State on Malaysian soil. Both suspects were arrested and are awaiting trial in January.

IS operative

Khalid said a different foreign suspect who worked at a factory in the southern state of Johor was arrested earlier in December after allegedly trying to smuggle weapons to Poso, Indonesia, and enter Myanmar illicitly.

Ayob told The Star that the suspect, who also took orders from Wanndy, planned to use Malaysia as a transit point for smuggling weapons to militants in Poso.

He entered the country legally a year ago but overstayed, Ayob said. He used his job as a factory worker in Johor Baru as a cover to carry out his work as an IS operative.

The safety of the people is our top priority

As of November, Malaysian police had arrested more than 260 people allegedly involved in militant activities, including more than 70 who have been charged in court. Recent statistics show that 56 Malaysians were in Syria, including 12 women and 17 boys and girls. Twenty-seven Malaysians have been killed in Syria and Iraq and eight have returned home.

Among others whose arrests were announced this week were two students at Al-Madinah International University in Shah Alam, Selangor, according to Khalid.

The first suspect has been previously investigated by foreign authorities for alleged involvement in the Daesh terror group, Khalid said, using another name for IS. During September 2016, he was believed to be involved in obtaining security information [about] an international school in Kuala Lumpur.

Khalid said the second foreign suspect conspired with his university colleague. Both men, who were arrested Nov. 3, have since been deported to their home countries.

On Thursday, officials at Al-Madinah University issued a statement about the arrests of the students. The two suspects are not representative of the campus, which is not a hub of terrorist activity deployment, the university said.

In the interview Ayob also told Malaysians not to panic over potential terror attacks during the Christmas and New Year holidays, The Star reported.

People should carry out their routines and celebrate during this holiday season, he said. We are always on our guard and the safety of the people is our top priority.
A veterinarian with Save Vietnam Wildlife holds an injured pangolin as he walks out of a quarantine cage in Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh province, Oct. 22, 2016.

Cameroon says it has intercepted more than 670 kilograms of African pangolin that authorities say were being smuggled from the Central African country to Malaysia.

The pangolin is the worlds most trafficked mammal and conservationist groups are calling for severe sanctions on the three traffickers who have been arrested.

Cameroon customs Lt. Wara Wara Francois Noel of the Yaounde-Nsimalen international airport told Voice of America (VOA), a sister entity of BenarNews, that the recovered pangolin scales were found in several meat packets. He said the three smugglers had bribed their way into the airport, but authorities were mobilized after getting a tip from wildlife officials.

He says two weeks after the tip, his staff finally intercepted the truck loaded with pangolins at the plane bound for Malaysia. He says although it was the first large-scale interception of the protected mammal at the Yaounde-Nsimalen international airport, authorities said they have been regularly seizing three to five kilos of scales and meat of pangolins hidden in little containers.

Six months ago, Hong Kong authorities announced a massive seizure of four tons of pangolin scales that had arrived from Cameroon and were being smuggled to Asian countries.

Among the organizations assisting officials in this ongoing case is the local NGO, the Last Great Ape Association, or LAGA. Its deputy director, Eric Kaba Tah, says traffickers have often able to buy their way around sanctions when caught in Cameroon.

According to the 1994 wildlife law, anybody arrested or found in possession of parts or whole of a protected wildlife species is presumed to have captured or killed that animal and is liable to a prison term of one to three years and or a 10 million CFA [U.S. $20,000] maximum fine, said Tah. If the law were applied as it was supposed to be applied, we would have been seeing many wildlife criminals behind the bars.

Some cultures consider pangolin meat a delicacy and use pangolin scales in traditional medicine. High demand has fueled an international criminal trade that has severely threatened the survival of the worlds eight pangolin species.

It is estimated that more than a million pangolins have been snatched from the wild in the past decade.

In September, the worlds largest wildlife protection convention, known as CITES, recommended a complete ban on international commercial trade.
Boys disembark from the plane after the ceremony. (Kusumasari Ayuningtyas/BenarNews)

Parents try to calm their son as he is about to be circumcised. (Kusumasari Ayuningtyas/BenarNews)

A boy cries out as he is circumcised. (Kusumasari Ayuningtyas/BenarNews)

Parents break the jug, a tradition to symbolize the cleansing of their boy. Kusumasari Ayuningtyas/BenarNews)

A Boeing 737 belonging to the Yogyakarta School of Aviation Technology dwarfs the crowd during the opening ceremony of a mass circumcision, Dec. 17, 2016. (Kusumasari Ayuningtyas/BenarNews)

Indonesia, the country with the worlds largest Muslim population, recently saw a new twist on the ritual of khitan, or circumcision for boys.

In Yogyakarta province over the weekend, about 80 boys participated in a mass circumcision aboard a Boeing 737-200 belonging to the Yogyakarta School of Aviation Technology. Many of the boys had never been on a plane before, but the 737 remained parked in the hangar throughout the ritual.

This mass circumcision on the plane is not only the first to be held in Yogyakarta but also in the world," said event committee chairman Ryan Budi Nuryanto.

Despite the non-traditional location, many traditional steps were followed during the ritual.

Yellow coconut leaves known locally as tarub, were installed as decorations at the site.

The boys were splashed with water from seven different springs to symbolize purification. Dressed in traditional attire, the boys performed sungkeman (bending over their parents knee ) to thank them and ask for their blessing.

Inside the plane, parents and relatives tried to sooth and comfort the boys as medical experts assured them that the process would be quick and painless.
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 Bismarck Fire Department spread some holiday cheer by delivering presents to kids at CHI St. Alexius Health and Sanford Medical Center.

Firefighters visited children in the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric unit and pediatric therapy unit at St. Alexius, giving books and toys to children and their families.

Capt. Luke Teagle has been spearheading a group of firefighters for the past five years who go to local businesses, as well as individuals, asking for donations. The firefighters were able to work with more than 10 business as well as individuals to collect enough donations.

Its just a cool thing were able to do for the kids who are having tough times going in and out of the hospital around Christmas time, Teagle said. "They may or may not be able to get home, so it is just something we can do to bring a gift for them and put a smile on their face.

Aiden Bash, 3, shared a big grin with the firefighters when he received his gift.

Brittney St. Claire, Aidens mother, said having the firefighters come was exciting and their gift was just the lift he needed that day.

With the toys handed out, Teagle said he plans to continue the annual tradition.
Bismarck is gearing up for a winter storm expected to hit the area over the holiday weekend as the National Weather Service in Bismarck forecasts possible blizzard conditions Sunday afternoon into Monday morning.

Family travel plans have been put on hold as those who serve the city are working to prepare for the potentially heavy snowstorm.

Keith Glass, superintendent of roads and streets in Bismarck, said everybody in the street department is expected to stay in town for the holiday.

The plows will be up and running 24 hours in order to keep emergency routes and major arterial streets open, according to a statement released by Jeff Heintz, director of service operations.

The city has already begun preparing for the storm by getting equipment ready for potential snow, as well as hauling in more than 1,500 tons of sand in case of slippery conditions, according to Glass.

Plowing and the use of blowers are being put to work in drifted areas on the north side of town. The plan is to reduce high drifts and haul away excess snow to combat future drifting.

However, public works isnt the only department preparing for the snow. Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Holte said the Bismarck fire department is also ready to go if a storm does hit.

The fire department is increasing staffing in anticipation of the storm, according to Holte, adding the department has also been in contact with the police, public works and ambulances to coordinate responses in case of a winter storm.

The city is asking residents to move vehicles off streets to aid in snow removal operations.

Glass said the best thing the public can do to help is to stay off the streets in order to keep them clear for road crews and emergency vehicles.

In Burleigh County, snowplows and sanders will be operating from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Tuesday with a concentration on major routes.

The National Weather Service reports that temperatures are expected to take another dip once the storm has passed.
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
Advanced imaging technology to accurately visualise the cardiovascular system and guide minimally invasive procedures is part of the upgrade to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory at a hospital in Johannesburg.

Cardiologists at the hospital have welcomed the upgrading, which will assist them to further improve safety and medical outcomes for cardiovascular patients.

More advantages

The facility, which has been completely revamped, is now equipped with a state-of-the-art GE Healthcare Discovery IGS 730, says Dr Farouk Mamdoo, an interventional cardiologist who practises at Netcare Union Hospital. It is the first time that this cutting edge system has been introduced in a hospital in South Africa.

According to Mamdoo, the new system has many advantages over older technologies, including improved image quality and reduced radiation doses.

The systems software enables doctors to receive other kinds of images, such as CT and sonar scans, and data directly from the hospitals radiology department, and we can then overlay these with our angiogram images.

This important feature provides us with a completely integrated high-definition picture of the patients cardiovascular system, which we use to guide our procedures even more accurately than before, he explains.

Lower radiation doses

Interventional cardiologist, Dr Chris Zambakides, who together with Mamdoo, runs a percutaneous heart repair unit at the hospital agrees that the new technology was an important advance for the hospital and heart medicine in the southern Johannesburg region.

One of the most important advantages of the new technology is that images of excellent quality can now be achieved at lower radiation doses, especially as percutaneous procedures in complex cardiovascular cases are highly intricate and take many hours to complete, says Zambakides.

This means that when we undertake these procedures we are not only able to capture more images, but also no longer have to take a break mid-way through in order to keep radiation doses at safe levels. These procedures then are safer for all involved and can be completed more quickly. Indeed, we will be able to reduce the time it takes to complete them by some 25%.

First procedure completed

The first procedure was recently completed after the interventional cardiac team received training and became completely familiar in the use of the new system. The procedure was a tremendous success and the patient was able to return home just a couple of days after it was completed, he says.

We performed a percutaneous rotational rotablation [endarterectomy], in which a tiny drill, powered by compressed air and special fluid are used to clear calcified deposits blocking an artery, as well as a simultaneous coronary intervention to chronic total occlusion [CTO] to re-canalise a chronically blocked portion of an artery.

Fully mobile C-arm

Dr Jean-Paul Theron, another cardiologist at Netcare Union Hospital, says that the upgrade will enable interventional cardiologists and vascular surgeons to perform procedures with greater ease and safety.

He points out that, unlike most other interventional imaging systems, the new Discovery IGS technologys C-arm is not permanently floor- or ceiling-mounted, but, unusually, has a fully mobile C-arm.

The C-arm is mounted on an advanced guided vehicle and laser technology is used to accurately guide it to the appropriate position anywhere over the patient to acquire the best possible three-dimensional images. The C-arm can be moved out of the way when it is not in use. In addition, this system makes it easier for us to capture images of our larger patients, Theron says.
A bottle of Luc Belaire Rose champagne, a dash of Tanqueray gin and a big dose of punch certainly sounds like a delicious summer thirst-quencher.

Trying out News Cafes new cocktail at The Boardwalk are, from left, Mon-Lee March, 24, Luisa Kutz, 33, and Ashley Tessendorf, 25.Picture: Fredlin Adriaan

But there is a catch that might just make you choke on your drink  it costs a staggering R990.

So if you are looking to fritter away a small fortune, head over to News Cafe at the Boardwalk to try out its new Black Bottle Rocket cocktail.

If you are wondering about the drinks sale potential, News Cafe owner Sandy Zoetmulder said the first one had been sold the day after the pricey party cocktail appeared on the menu two weeks ago.

I was very surprised when a table of three women bought the drink, but it really is a refreshing summer drink, she said.

[It] has definitely been received well and there is a clientele who want to have that VIP experience.

The cocktail, intended for a group of people, also contains cranberry juice, Monin grapefruit and a flare for effect.

The champagne bottle is turned upside down in the giant glass to allow the bubbly to mix slowly into the concoction.

It really is a fun and flirty drink. It could[be] a refreshing Christmas punch, or perfect for a New Year celebration, she said.

This reporter was lucky enough to taste the Black Bottle Rocket and it certainly was not hard to swallow.
The official launch of Original Mason's took place on 14 December 2016 at The Deck Rooftop & Pool Bar at Cape Quarter Lifestyle Centre. Mason's has transferred the growing global trend in cocktail consumption from the bar into an innovative range and brand of excellent cocktail spritzers.

Picture: Supplied

Masons set up four bars to highlight each flavour from the newly launched range of first in SA wine-based cocktail spritzers. Guests were served a variety of cocktails with the four Masons flavours as the base.

Cosmopolitan was served ice cold, with orange foam and delicate piece of orange rind in a martini glass, this was loved most for its bright pink colour and refreshing finish on the palate.

Pina Colada was served with a thin wedge of pineapple and scoop of Pina Colada sorbet then topped with a fresh cherry - perfect for the hot summer weather.

Mojito was muddled with blueberries and crushed ice, then served in a tall glass for a fun take on a traditional favourite.

Moscow Mule was served with a single large square ice block, dried orange slices and ginger foam  the fiery ginger flavour seemed to be the most loved of the evening.

High growth in alcoholic mixed drinks

The global alcoholic drinks market is expected to grow from $1,198.6 billion (2014) to $1,451.6 billion (2020), with a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 3.2% during this period (P&S Market Research).

There are growing trends and opportunities for alcoholic mixed drinks (AMDs), Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages (FABs), Alcopops or Ready-to-Drinks (RTDs), as they are often referred to. Historically AMDs have been labelled as cheap, artificial and primarily youth-focused'. Despite this or rather because of this, AMDs are currently the fastest growing category globally within alcoholic beverages, besides cider.

The growing sophistication of modern day consumers and millennials, whose broadening taste palates are catalysing more adventurous and natural flavours, is creating opportunities for innovation within the alcoholic beverage sector. There is a shift towards aspirational brands that provides for a multi-sensory experience that can stimulate the curiosity of current trendsetters.

The following key market shifts, strategies and trends are inherently part of the Original Masons brand and its character and act as some of the driving forces behind it.

Authenticity and packaging power

Masons is a fusion between classic and contemporary. It is a relationship between sophisticated and sassy. It is the perfect mix between being you and making a statement. This inherent dual personality defines it as being an original among a multitude of other AMD drinks on the shelves today. The classic black and white packaging is clean and minimal, allowing the vibrant contents of the bottles to speak for itself, reiterating this duality.

Global taste trends

Its mixologists combined the global shift to classic cocktails and long-drink taste directions, with polarising flavours and fruit juice infusion to ensure a new mouthfeel experience that allows for a more premium and natural positioning.

Leveraging social media

The digital revolution has changed the way that brands activate and interact with their consumers. The ability to leverage social media and other communication platforms is levelling the playing field somewhat, by making audiences more accessible to up and coming new brands like this.

Increasing the market size

Targeting a new and younger generation of wine consumers with a sweeter and more distinctive taste profile of different fruits allows brands to pull younger consumers away from other alcoholic segments. Combined with the fact that home drinking increases steadily with age, it is essential that AMD producers formulate and position products in a way that is accessible and desirable to age groups outside of the traditionally favoured legal drinking age.

Masons is available from select Spar Tops stores in Cape Town. For more information, go to www.drinkmasons.com.
The World Wide Fund for Nature in SA (WWF-SA) is urging South Africans to avoid eating West Coast rock lobster, commonly known as "kreef" as stocks have fallen to 2% of their previous levels.

WWF-SA said its campaign to "skip the kreef" follows government's publication of an unchanged total allowable catch (TAC) for the species in the current season, although there has been a precipitous decline in stocks because of illegal fishing and poor management of the resource.

A coalition of fishers and WWF-SA have signed an open letter to minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, calling for a reconsideration of the management of West Coast rock lobster, in everyone's interests. This species not only provides a livelihood for coastal communities but also plays a key role in marine ecosystems.

It said the delicacy could disappear from menus altogether within five years unless radical action is taken.

WWF-SA regularly updates its Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (Sassi) list of fish which are "green" (best choice to eat), "orange" (think twice) and "red" (don't buy) to make consumers aware of endangered species. Kreef is now on the red list.

Source: BDpro
Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Meizu Technology, has officially entered the South African market.

Established in China in 2003 as a consumer electronics company specialising in music players, Meizu formally entered the smartphone market in 2007 with the launch of the Meizu M8, and has since become one of the biggest smartphone brands in China.

The brand's flagship Meizu Pro 6 model (R7,999) and the more budget-friendly M3 Note (R3,299) has been made locally available online through 2C Telecoms, the official distributor of Meizu branded phones in South Africa. weFix, meanwhile, has been declared the official repair partner.

Ferdi van Niekerk Jr, national sales director for Meizu Mobile South Africa, told Gearburn that the success of other Chinese smartphone brands in the SA market signalled that it was a good time for Meizu to follow suit.

We definitely view Xiaomi and Huawei as our direct competitors. Both brands have seemed to gain quite a local following, especially Huawei with their aggressive marketing.

We see this as proof that the South African consumer is starting to trust in the Chinese brands and we believe its a perfect time to enter the market with the Meizu offerings. And we have used Xiaomi and Huawei as sort of guinea pigs in our planning and strategy ahead to bring high quality, high-spec handsets at affordable pricing to the South African consumer.

We're currently testing out both the Pro 6 and M3 Note, so a product review will be coming soon.
A prototype vaccine for Ebola, the haemorrhagic virus which killed 11,300 people in western Africa, has proven effective in Guinea, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). It hopes fast-track approval will emerge by 2018.

WHO assistant director-general Marie-Paule Kieny wrote in the medical journal The Lancet that an "effective vaccine" for Ebola, dubbed rVSV-ZEBOV should be 80% effective in a fully-fledged epidemic.

The Canadian-developed vaccine was given to nearly 6,000 people in Guinea's coastal region of Gasse-Guinee in a "phase 3" clinical trial last year.

The trial was carried out last year at the tail end of western Africa's epidemic that began in early 2014 and also spanned Liberia and Sierra Leone, prompting world alarm.

Not one person contracted the disease, but among a control group of unvaccinated volunteers 23 cases did occur, wrote Kieny who led a team at the WHO which took over the study.

"When the next Ebola outbreak hits, we will not be defenseless," she said, adding that the pharmaceutical giant Merck would seek fast-track approval in the USA and Europe next year.

"We may have a vaccine which is registered in 2018," Kieny told journalists in Geneva. "They will be able to produce a million in [a] very short period of time," she noted.

Effective vaccine

A Texas expert, who did not take part in the study, Thomas Giesbert of the Galverston National Laboratory, said the world appeared to have an effective vaccine to work on after 40 years of uncontrollable outbreaks.

Infectious disease professor John Edmunds, whose team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine helped design the trial, spoke of a "historic" success.

Ebola was first identified in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and erupted periodically in several hundred cases, mainly across western and eastern Africa.

Clusters of contact persons vaccinated

In Basse-Guinee, researchers used a "ring vaccination" approach by tracing all people who had had contact with the patient at the centre of each new Ebola case.

The rings typically comprised 80 people. Some received the prototype vaccine immediately, others after a three-week delay.

When interim results showed 100% protection for those vaccinated immediately, all trial participants were given shots straight away.

Among the 5,800 people vaccinated, 80 suffered side effects, which had all been successfully remedied.

Russian vaccine not proven

The global vaccine alliance GAVI contributed $5m earlier this year to buy 300,000 doses of rVSV-EBOV as a preliminary stockpile.

Kieny told the German Protestant church news agency EPD that a substance declared to have been a vaccine by Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in January had proven to have no protective effect.
In spite of the efforts deployed by countries in Central Africa to incorporate the objectives of the African Mining Vision (AMV) into national policies and legislative frameworks, the results are still limited and do not yet permit the mining industry to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Such is the conclusion contained in a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) report: The state of progress and next steps in the implementation of the African Mining Vision in Central Africa. The report was reviewed at a just-ended ad hoc expert group meeting in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo, aimed at proposing recommendations for its improvement to enable countries of the sub-region maximise gains from their enormous mining potentials.

The extensive work on the sub-region's mining economy shows Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) member countries are yet to be fully aligned with the AMVs long-term objective of establishing mechanisms that allow for:

a transparent mining industry, and

an optimum, equitable and rational exploitation of mineral resources so as to support steady, inclusive and sustainable growth.

Lack of beneficiation

Opening the meeting, Louis Marie Joachim Djama - representative of the minister of mines and geology of the Republic of Congo - underscored the importance of the reflection on the African Mining Vision (AMV), while admitting that though nature has blessed his country with huge mineral resources, the "country does not benefit fully from these resources that are scarcely processed locally into industrial products and are exported without any real local added value".

He, however, told the experts that his country has created an enabling environment for the exploitation of the said mineral resources within the framework of a national development plan for Congo.

Need to be bold

The resident representative of the UNDP and coordinator of the United Nations system in Congo, Anthony Ohemeng-Boamah, argued that countries of Central Africa are already the main suppliers of certain minerals, and thus needed to be bold in their level of ambition and invest in building the necessary capacity and institutions to make their mineral deposits a real source of wealth.

He cited the example of coltan that is one of the main components of mobile telephones, stating, "We must however move away from being just simple suppliers of crude coltan and become producers of coltan-based smartphone component parts".

"This is about moving away from a situation where we are passive collectors of taxes, dividends and royalties to an approach where we privilege the use of our raw materials to boost industrialisation and the structural transformation of our economies," Ohemeng-Boamah added.

Changing dynamics

For his part, the director of the ECA sub-regional office for Central Africa, Antonio Pedro noted the changing dynamics of the extractive industries since the adoption of the African Mining Vision in 2009, namely the falling commodity prices, the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the rising challenges of climate change and the impact of digital transformation and technological advances on the sector.

He underscored that this situation represents both a challenge and opportunity for the implementation of the AMV in Central Africa. "As such," he noted, "the Republic of Congo which sits on an in-situ value of almost $3trn of potash could play a central role in fertilising land to feed the world's population which is projected to rise to 10bn by 2050."

In his view, Central African states therefore need to seize the opportunities ushered-in by the new dispensation.

Once finalised, the ECA report shall be circulated to policy-makers in the sub-region to enable them tap its content to improve the contribution of the mining industry to the development of their countries.
Outsource solutions company, Innovative Solutions Group and SA black female-owned sanitary pad company, Mimi have partnered in a project that aims to keep 1,000 underprivileged girls in school.

Innovative Solutions Group has made a donation of R180,000 to Mimi to empower young women and reduce absenteeism in school. Their generous donation will buy 120,000 sanitary pads which will help keep 1,000 girls in school for the next year. The decision was in response to Mimis call to action for corporate South Africa to pledge their support.

Innovative Solutions Group believes that their contribution will help to address the fact that more than two million schoolgirls miss up to 60 days of school a year as a result of not being able to afford sanitary towels. As a result of this donation, these girls now do not have to experience the abuse they would normally receive from their peers, parents and blessers because they cannot afford a basic necessity to manage a monthly menstrual cycle.

Restoring dignity

Poverty itself is a form of abuse, emphasises Ramona Kasavan, founder and CEO of Mimi. At the very least these disadvantaged girls are forced to miss a number of school days every year because their peers bully them for leaking through their clothes. The embarrassment becomes overwhelming. Furthermore, it creates the potential for girls to drop out of school completely as they fall behind in their studies. What is more alarming is the risks that these girls are exposed to due to poverty, as many become prime targets for exploitation by blessers; a particularly degrading form of abuse against girls.

Kasavan adds that many girls resort to using old cloths, tissue paper, rolled up socks or newspaper when they cannot afford sanitary towels. They become hugely embarrassed when these methods fail, and the blood stains on their clothes are seen by their peers. Many girls are ridiculed and mocked to the degree where they will do anything to avoid the social ostracism. Some stay at home during their periods, while other girls will go as far as to exchange sex for money or pads.

Innovative Solutions involvement

Liza Trollip, Innovative Solutions Group director, who is responsible for the companys corporate social investment (CSI), says: When we learned about the struggles these girls face because of the lack of a supply of sanitary pads which cost just R180 for an entire year, we rearranged our CSI spend to enable us to participate in this worthy cause. We are closely involved in the communities in which our 5,500 staff members live and believe the best use of any discretionary money at this point, lies in initiatives that help uplift education. There are few things in life that can be more satisfying than participating in a venture which keeps thousands of learners at school.

We cant address poverty in its entirety but we can help address one of the root causes of the poverty trap - the phenomenon of girls being abused through ostracism and exclusion due to their periods. With the assistance of Mimi, Innovative Solutions Group is happy that we were able to assist 1,000 school girls in Mamelodi, a community that houses many of our employees, continues Trollip.

Kasavan concludes, Distributing affordable sanitary pads is an important activity for us, but the greater part of our activity is empowering and educating the youth on issues of hygiene and self-respect. Thanks to the corporate support of companies such as Innovative Solutions Group, our objective of moving girls and women from poverty to empowerment is a reality. We hope that more corporates will follow in their footsteps and support our countrys girls.
While in the past government alone has been expected to deal with the challenges surrounding land reform - these challenges include its slow pace and the fact that some transferred land has become economically inactive. There is now, however, acceptance by all stakeholders that the private sector has an important role to play towards achieving a successful land reform programme.

The challenges facing land reform warrant us to take a step back, reflect on what needs to be done by all role-players to ensure that land reform succeeds and serves the needs of South Africans, says Peter Setou, chief executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund. Vumelana is a non-profit organisation, established in 2012, to help beneficiaries of the land reform programme to develop their land in an effective and sustainable way.

Expedient and successful land reform is an important cure required for the national reconciliation project, considering South Africa's history of state-led land dispossession, says Setou.

He explains that one of the key lessons learnt is that the current pre-occupation in the land reform debate is the question of 'how can the state do more'. We are advancing an alternative question that asks how land reform beneficiaries and private investors can be incentivised to do more for land reform to be successful.

Community private partnerships

The creation of community private partnerships (CPPs), where sustainable partnerships are established between communities that acquire land under the land reform programme and private parties as investors, can be an immediate way of addressing the current challenges where there are limited public resources.

Investor appetite in the land reform programme can be dampened by a range of factors, including intra-community conflict. Post-settlement support, particularly in the provision of administrative capacity and governance support, remains a crucial intervention. Vumelanas experience in this arena demonstrates that, though conventionally viewed as a state responsibility, this role of institutional support can be fulfilled by other social actors.

Financing advisory services

Vumelana Advisory Fund supports community private partnership by financing advisory services in order to structure commercially viable partnerships between beneficiary communities and investors so that much needed jobs, income and skills can be created. We work with skilled advisory teams who are assembled per project and include legal, deal structuring and community facilitation. The transaction advisory team is contracted to structure an agreement where the community makes the land available and the investor undertakes to finance and takes responsibility for managing operations. Transaction advisors procure and review proposals with beneficiary communities that show how the land will be developed to create jobs, income, skills and other benefits for the community. Once the agreement is concluded, the investor reimburses funds used to put the deal together. The reimbursed funds are used by Vumelana to further support the community over a period of two years to build administrative capacity and governance systems within the community structures.

The CPP model should therefore be seen as one of a number of tools with which to resolve the complex challenges faced by interested and affected parties in the land reform programme, The growing number of successfully facilitated CPPs provides for a pragmatic review of possible solutions to the challenges currently being experienced by land reform beneficiaries, the state and the private sector, concludes Setou.
The Agritech Expo Tanzania , taking place in Arusha, 26-27 January at the Selian Agricultural Research Institute, is being described by the local agricultural sector in the country as the private and public sector working together.

The inaugural farming B2B platform will gather commercial to emerging and small-scale farmers, as well as key officials from regional governments, agro associations, NGOs, aid, development and research agencies; agro dealers, traders and retailers; suppliers, consultants and technical experts, as well as venture capitalists, investors and bankers.

Industrialisation a priority

The role of private sector is highly recognised in the agricultural policy, strategies and programmes, says Dr David Nyange, policy advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Tanzania, a supporting partner of the upcoming Agritech Expo Tanzania.

He adds: As industrialisation is at the top of the current development agenda, the technologies that will be displayed at the expo have potential to play a great role toward the commercialisation of agriculture which is necessary for ensuring sustainable supply of raw materials to the industry.

Other host partners for the event are the Agriculture Council of Tanzania (ACT), the Tanzanian Horticulture Association (TAHA), the Southern Agricultural Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) and the Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Arusha.

Agri suppliers supporting Agritech Expo

Global farming equipment suppliers John Deere and its distributor in the country, LonAgro Tanzania, are gold sponsors for the event. The horticultural sector is an awakening giant, says Harald Peeters, MD Tanzania of the vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan Q-Sem, a bronze sponsor at Agritech Expo. He adds: Tanzania has plenty of land, enough water and year-round sunlight. I am looking forward to an expo which raises the awareness of the government to the fact that the private sector is a partner in development, creating thousands of jobs, educating workers and building the nation.

Other agri suppliers that have already confirmed their presence at the event include Afrivet, Ford, CMC Automobiles, Hughes Motors, Maji, HortiPro, Irrico, Rivulis, AMDT, FNB, Lindsay Africa, Balton, Kibo Seed, Neptun Boot and TFSC.
Advanced Agri director, Frank Winder says farmers should prioritise investing in soil fertility as insurance.

Farming insurance is a vital investment for farmers and goes a long way in ensuring that the farming industry continues to prosper, even when farmers encounter financial burdens.

Specifically in South Africa, with the recent droughts, farmers have had to make sure that they are insured to survive the damning weather conditions. The changing regulatory environment puts farmers risk and cover requirements beyond the standard crop, livestock and forestry cover thats traditionally provided for. In 2012, for example, claims received as a result of the Western Cape farm strikes amounted to more than R50m while media reports put the economic cost at over R100m, with many affected farmers uninsured.

Working with machinery, dealing with problems relating to livestock production, maintaining outbuildings and managing staff are some of the daily issues with which farmers must deal. As much as financial losses can be incurred because of bad weather, unforeseen occurences like animals contracting illnesses or staff going on strike can occur at any time and without warning. Insurance helps to protect farmers from some of the negative impacts of these occurences.

Insuring in soil fertilisation

According to Winder, there are several things that can go wrong when soil is not fertile. By working towards creating the conditions for successful farming, farmers are being as responsible as possible in terms of their farming practices and protecting their livelihoods.



Especially during times of uncertainty and economic difficulty, farmers must look to new farming techniques and soil products to increase the usage of land without stripping it of all its nutrients, while ensuring optimum uptake of nutrients into the crops.

Through the use of effective products, farmers will be contributing to both the economy and food security through the cost-effective production of food, timber, oil, and fibre while limiting the environmental impact.

Soil fertilisation and crop cycles

Along with soil fertilisation, it is necessary to evaluate cropping cycles to ensure the full benefits of this practice are achieved. Crop rotation is a critical feature of farming that goes hand-in-hand with soil fertilisation and an overall successful farming model, explains Winder.

He adds that growing an appropriate crop on a particular piece of land potentially refurbishes the soil and negates the negative impact of planting a single crop-type season after season. There may also be benefits such as nitrogen fixing that is associated with the planting of legumes.
Applying good advice and quality data in the planning phases of a mining project puts it on track not just for profitable operation, but also for longevity and sustainability through the turbulence of the commodity cycle.

The value of upfront input from experts is that developers and investors find out what they dont know and gain the assurance that technical and financial studies are optimally conducted the first time round, says Andrew van Zyl, partner and principal consultant at SRK Consulting,

It also ensures that a full 360 mining perspective, taking into account the technical, financial, environmental and social risks, can be addressed timeously so that they are fully exposed and factored into project planning.

Test of success

It is difficult enough to prove a discovery and bring a project on-stream within the available budget, he says, but the real test of success is whether that mine can be designed to operate within the lowest possible cost quartile.

Achieving a profitable operation starts with finding the right strategy as early as possible, which must address all the modifying factors that stand between the projects in-the-ground mineral resource and its economically mineable mineral reserve.

Social license to mine

Among the increasingly important strategic factors is the social license to mine. Recent stoppages and disruptions at Anglo Americans Los Brancos mine in Chile show that social license is becoming more tenuous and difficult to maintain.

Increasingly onerous regulatory frameworks applied by many lenders and governments pushed mines to move beyond compliance to fully integrating environmental and social management into their business philosophy and practice.

Van Zyl believes it is increasingly vital for project champions to seek professional guidance from a very early stage, even before the formal technical studies are initiated.

Benefits from early consultation in the exploration phase, for instance, could relate to the extraction, sampling and storage of drill cores in a way that allows for further testing and checking of results at a later stage, he says.

Technology needs to be high on the agenda

Indeed, technology itself needs to be high on the agenda of choosing the optimal project strategy  as falling productivity in mining globally threatens the industrys sustainability, says SRK corporate consultant. Roger Dixon.

With productivity levels today 25-30% lower than they were a decade ago, it is not enough for mines to focus on isolated areas of operation for a magic bullet.

Progress in mining will shift from how well the operation moves material to how well it collects, analyses and acts on information to move material more productively.

Team approach

Marcin Wertz, partner and head of the mining unit at SRK, highlighted the team approach to mining studies, with each team-member being keenly aware of the impact of their decisions on other aspects of the project.

Advances in technology allow more sophisticated modelling and integration of various key aspects of mine planning  from ore body, structural geology, geohydrology and geotechnical engineering to mine planning and scheduling, he says.

The holy grail is to have one sophisticated model comprising elements of all these disciplines; this optimises the mine plan, secures better efficiencies, and reduces project risk. Too often, costly mistakes occur at implementation stage due to, for example, insufficient orebody knowledge.

Water and energy

Access to water and energy are also key factors for new projects, as competition for these scarce resources grows and the likelihood rises of conflict with stakeholders.

Many of the most prospective mining areas in Africa, for instance, are water-scarce  and it is no simple matter to secure long-term access to affordable water, says Van Zyl.

Channels of communication with other users must be closely managed, while on-site usage strategies must prioritise conservation and strict environmental compliance.

Similarly, energy constraints in much of Africa  and rising electricity prices in countries like South Africa  mean that todays mine energy designs must address higher risks, better efficiencies and smarter application.

According to SRK principal mining engineer, Noddy McGeorge, energy planning could include altering production plans to meet the needs of load balancing, exploring energy recovery systems and installing more secure power sources on-site.

Savings can be valuably found where energy usage is highest. A good example is in fuel consumption in open pit operations; about 70% of diesel consumed is used in elevating waste material to be dumped  so any design innovations that reduce the amount or position of waste can help cut the diesel bill.
Rain in the eastern part of South Africa has been above average in the past two months, but the west of the country is still getting below-average rainfall, according to a climate change and disaster management report posted on the AgriSA website on Wednesday, 21 December.

The committee said that above normal rain and temperatures were likely until autumn but it was becoming less likely that the next few months would be particularly wet as the La Nina (associated with heavy rainfall) was weakening.

Although rain in most of the Eastern Cape was normal, the condition of livestock was only reasonable to poor, and in the Sarah Baartman area livestock were in very poor condition. Although rain in the Free State was normal to above normal, dam levels continued to decline and were now at 50% from last year's 59%. Livestock were still dying as a result of the drought in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.

In Gauteng, rainfall was above normal and the major dams were on average 82% full, from 81% a year ago. Flash flooding had caused infrastructural damage. In the Western Cape, below normal rainfall in most areas resulted in lower crop yields and smaller fruit. Major dams were on average 49% full, from 57%.

In KwaZulu-Natal, there had been above normal rainfall in most areas, particularly the northern areas, which were worst affected by the drought since 2014. But the dams were not filling as needed because of insufficient runoff, and mild drought persisted over the whole province. Dam levels averaged 42%, down from 53%.

Limpopo had near-normal rainfall. The veld and livestock in communal areas were in poor condition, but were better on commercial farms. Major dams were down to 49% from 66%. In Mpumalanga, dam levels were falling, but crops were in good condition, with maize and cotton at knee level and harvesting of vegetables and subtropical fruits under way.

The committee said favourable weather forecasts and US imports of white maize might push maize spot prices lower. Domestic demand for wheat was outstripping supply, and imports were not enough to meet demand, and that was supporting prices. Prices of beef, mutton, pork and chicken are strengthening in the short term because of festive season demand.

Elsewhere in the SADC region, maize grain prices were expected to peak from January to March, particularly in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. With La Nina conditions in the subcontinent, production prospects were positive, but in many areas relied on availability of inputs.

Source: BDpro
DEVILS LAKE -- A North Dakota Veterans Affairs officer in Ramsey County is facing backlash for making what one resident called a clearly racial comment about a woman who called him about Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

Ramsey County commissioners said during a Tuesday meeting they have received numerous calls about Stacy Tweets comments, which were made during a Dec. 8 commission meeting. Tweet, the countys VA officer noted leaders from the state Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees his office, condemned a group called Veterans Standing for Standing Rock, which in early December sent veterans from across the country to Morton County to show support for Dakota Access protesters.

He said he received a call from a little old lady from south of here who proceeded to chew me out for not sending anybody down there to help those poor protesters.

I proceeded to chew her out, and I ended up hanging up on her, he said, adding he expected someone may come back to him or the commission to discuss his phone etiquette.

None of the commissioners responded to the comments during that meeting. Tweet declined to comment on the matter.

The protests against Energy Transfer Partners 1,172-mile pipeline that would ship Bakken oil from western North Dakota to Illinois have drawn strong feelings from both sides. Some have criticized law enforcement, claiming officers are using inappropriate force to keep protesters at bay. Protest opponents have called the demonstrations unlawful.

Since August, protesters gathered just north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to oppose Dakota Access. A plan for the pipeline to cross the Missouri River just north of Standing Rock has been halted after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declined to approve permits for that portion of the project.

Its unclear what Tweet meant by a little old lady from south of here, though the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation borders Ramsey County to the south.

A letter from Devils Lake resident Lori Schlieve addressed to the commission criticized Tweet and called his treatment of the caller inappropriate. Commissioner Lucas Wakefield read the letter during the Tuesday meeting in which Schlieve also said she was disappointed with the commissions complete lack of response or action.

Even after hearing Mr. Tweet proudly report his inept handling of the phone call and then hearing him throw in a clearly racial comment, the board did nothing, Schlieve wrote, adding the commission needs to publicly address the matter.

Commissioner Jeff Frith, who missed the Dec. 8 meeting because of a prior commitment, said he was taken aback by the comment when he first watched video of the meeting. He said he was surprised the commission hadnt received more letters about Tweet. He suggested the letter should be placed in Tweets personnel file along with a corrective action plan.

Commission Chairman Mark Olson, who is in charge of the Veterans Service Office as part of his portfolio of commission responsibilities, said he has spoken with Tweet. Olson said the comment showed poor judgment.

It wasnt, I dont believe, our proudest moment, not saying anything, Commissioner Adam Leiphon said, adding it is an issue that shouldnt go unnoticed. I think most of us were caught off guard when it happened. It happened quickly.

He said the commission should have said something at the Dec. 8 meeting but noted he doesnt think airing out personnel matters in a public meeting is necessarily the best way to handle it.

Thats why I feel its right for the portfolio holder to deal with it, he said. Maybe as a commission we should come up with a plan on how to handle it.

The county has policies on employee conduct but does not have policy on how to handle such violations, Wakefield said. Commissioners said not every employee issue should come up in a public setting, meaning supervisors and commissioners who oversee department portfolios should try to handle the situation first.

For now, Olson will handle the matter regarding Tweet since he is the portfolio holder.

Wakefield emphasized there could be employee issues large enough that should come before the commission, adding the commission doesnt want to completely shut out all complaints.

But he would like to see the commission form a policy that would lay out how county departments address employee conduct violations.

This really emphasizes the importance of having someone who can handle these (human resources) issues on behalf of the county and on behalf of the commission, Wakefield said. Without policies in place for how we go about reprimanding or righting these wrongs, we risk being very arbitrary with our judgment.
Human Rights Watchs statement issued on 13 December said that since October 9, 2016, at least 1,500 buildings have been destroyed, driving thousands of ethnic Rohingya from their homes.

HRW demanded in their statement that military and government officials should immediately allow humanitarian agencies, the media, and human rights monitors access to all of Rakhine States Maungdaw Township.

HRW said that despite the government continued denials of its abuse of Rohingya villages, HRW said that satellite images has put responsibility for the arson on the governments military.

The new findings refute the Burmese military and governments claims that Rohingya militants were responsible for burning down their own villages, said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Mr Adams added that the satellite imagery and eyewitness interviews clearly point the finger at the military for setting these buildings ablaze.

HRW said that the new satellite imagery analysis of villages in Maungdaw Township reveals four new elements. First, the total number of destroyed buildings identified by Human Rights Watch has climbed to 1,500 as of November 23. The full number is probably higher as tree cover may have concealed some destroyed buildings.
The two sides opened fire at noon on December 20, in the Gaung-shar field, near Ahlae Sakhan Village, and it is the third time both sides have fought following clashes in September and October respectively.

The reason behind the gunfire is uncertain. We cannot explain exactly, since the place where the gunfire was exchanged is far from our place. However, its true that gunfire has occurred, said an official of NMSP based in Yebyu Township, in an interview with Mon News Agency.

The NMSP official continued that the area where the gunfire took place was marked by the Tatmadaw for the NMSP to station its Dawei troops after the NMSP signed the state level and union level ceasefire agreement with the then-Thein Sein Government. The area is close to the KNUs timber logging production grounds.

I am in Dawei. I havent heard about the fighting that occurred in the Gaung-shar field yet, said Padoh Win Khine, official of KNU Myeik-Dawei Liaison Office.

The NMSP unit and KNU unit opened fire at each other as they encountered the area where logging is prohibited by NMSP, according to a commander of NMSP.

Although Mon News Agency was informed by locals that some men from the NMSP and KNU were wounded from the fighting, it has not been confirmed.

In the Gaung-shar field area, the NMSPs Dawei District Battalion No. 2 and Battalion 10 of KNUs Brigade 4, are active.

The KNU is an ethnic armed group that signed Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government, while the NMSP has not signed the NCA yet.
International condemnation of National League for Democracy (NLD) regime has been on the rise since the abrupt explosion of Rohingya uprising in Arakan State that occurred on 9 October was met with massive retaliation response by the Tatmadaw, which led to the accusation of inhumane rights violations on the said Muslim population.

Parallel to this is the fierce armed conflict of some two weeks that started on 20 November in the northern part of the country between the Tatmadaw and the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), in Kachin and Shan States.

While media coverage gives more visibility to the plight of the Rohingya population by rights groups like Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), including Muslim countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and lately the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the armed ethnic conflict in the countrys north is under-reported.

Even then, one common denomination is what the AI statement concluded that the NLD government has no influence over the Military and could not control it might be the real source of all the difficulties for not being able to resolve the conflicts, both in Arakan and the two northern states of the country.

Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty Internationals Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, recently said:

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 escalation of conflict in the north is because of the Tatmadaws military pressure to push the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA), employing months-long military onslaught on its positions in Kachin State, to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), which latter responded by hitting back the Tatmadaw positions in Muse Township area of northern Shan State that borders China, together with the MNDAA, TNLA and AA, which now called itself the Northern Alliance-Burma (NA-B).

The reasoning was to take the heat away from embattled KIA in Kachin State, by employing the strategy of The best defensive is the offensive and perhaps to hit the enemy where it hurts most, plus showing their displeasure for being sidelined by the government in the peace process.

Thereafter, the Tatmadaw tried to label the NA-B as terrorists organizations, once within the union parliament that was shot down. But the same motion within the Shan State parliament sailed through. At the same time, it heightened its offensive in Kachin State targeting KIA mountain bases near Laiza, its headquarters. The Tatmadaw was able to captured Gideon mountain outpost and another one some eight kilometers away from Gideon in Waingmaw Township, using airstrikes, artillery and hundreds of infantry troops.

This face-saving undertaking, as the NA-B coordinated offensives showed the Tatmadaws inability to protect its controlled areas, cost to overrun an isolated mountain outpost manned by just some 20 to 50 KIA fighters was said to be tremendously high.

According to a recent report by The Irrawaddy on the Tatmadaws victory, The exofficer from the Burma Army estimated the death toll of the Tatmadaw as 400 to 500 Burmese soldiers in the fight for Gideon alone; the same source suggested 2030 KIA casualties, citing a KIA advantage due to their defensive positioning and familiarity with the terrain.

The financial cost must also be very high as the report said, Seizing Gideon likely cost the Burmese military millions of dollars. A regional security analyst with British security and defense publisher IHS Janes Information Group estimated the cost of a 227kg airdropped bomb to be around US$2,000, not including aircraft fuel and maintenance costs. A case of 120mm rounds of mortar shells cost $4,000 per case.

The report pinpointed that as of midDecember, there had been more than 2,000 rounds of shelling, according to sources on the ground.

Following this, a rally to support the Tatmadaws war on the EAOs was held in Rangoon, emphasizing that the EAOs could not be negotiated and that the war is a justified one.

Meanwhile the Tatmadaw and the governments National Reconciliation Peace Center (NRPC) were said to be making overture again to negotiate with the NA -B which still need to be agreed upon.

The first Chinese mediation last month in China shattered as the Military didnt want to meet the alliance as a group but individually. This time around the NA-B is sticking to the old proposal to meet as a group again including the involvement of United Wa State Army (UWSA) as a witness. At this writing no agreement has still been made.

Analysis

The problematic in Arakan with the Rohingya population is more than a communal strife with regional and international dimension.

The lobby to exclude the Rohingya from becoming an acceptable indigenous people seems to be having an edge, as the Arakanese and as well many within the country were buying the notion that they are illegal immigrants from neighboring country.

In relation to this an attempt to rewrite the history is on the agenda, notwithstanding the U Nu era recognition of Rohingya as one of the ethnic group in the sixties. After General Ne Win came to power through the military coup in 1962, citizenship and all the privilege granted were revoked and treated the Rohingya as illegal immigrants again until today.

Against this backdrop, the Rohingyas spontaneous uprising is seen as a natural reaction to the oppression and excluding policy of the successive military governments, possibly opening up a leeway to a larger conflict involving the Islam radical entering the fray, as speculated by the International Crisis Group (ICG) and even noted observers. But if this is going to be the case is anybodys guess for the time being.

But one sure thing is that appropriate solution and implementation have to wait for quite a while, as racism tendency and angst for illegal immigrants or foreigners flooding the Arakan State is very much on the mind of the people.

The Rohingya, on the other hand, cannot just fade away only because they are unwanted. For the time being, the notion of Rohingya being illegal immigrants seems to be upheld by the NLD regime, using and agreeing to the 1823, one year after the first wave of British colonization, as a timeline to determine whether an ethnic group is indigenous, national or not. The Rohingya naturally also has arguments that their ancestors were settled there before the said timeline.

The government is likely pushing the problem to be resolved within the context of humanitarian facet, while the Rohingya would definitely asked for a place to be recognized as an ethnic group.

As it is now, a wider conflict resolution mechanism is needed to address the worries from both spectrum of the interest groups but would take time to come up with a comprehensive solution, at least for the moment.

But as for the conflict in the north and generally where the Tatmadaw and EAOs conflicts are concerned, there are a set of solution which could be applied, if there is a political will to do so.

To put it differently, they are to tackle the problems of two-tier administrative system and the two-pronged approach to the issue of national reconciliation.

While the first one could be resolved by thrashing out the policy differences between the Tatmadaw and the NLD, rather than each going its own way, the second one would be to abandon the two-pronged posture of the government and military.

Short of demanding that the Military conform to the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Hkun Htoon Oo, head of the Shan Nationalities for Democracy (SNLD) told a gathering on 17 December, according to Eleven Media Group: The government should have talked with the military. The government has the executive branch and Parliament. The other one [defense services] has defense [ministry], border affairs [ministry] and home affairs [ministry]. Its like there were two authoritative bodies in Myanmar. So, I think the government and the military should negotiate thoroughly before discussing peace with ethnic groups.

Adding confusion to the lack of common stand between the government and military, the two-pronged approach, applied by the two coalition partners, either intentionally or unintentionally, of carrot and stick has preempted any trust-building process that might have taken place. In other words, while the military is coming down hard on the KIO and its allies, the NLD is negotiating ways to include the non-signatory EAOs into the peace process, through talks of possible give-and-take with the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), the seven ethnic army alliance.

The case in point is the backlash that two-pronged has produced instead of winning over the EAOs to sign the NCA, it only produces the opposite result. The military offensives to press for the signing of NCA by the KIO has been met with counter offensives from the NA-B, of which the KIO is a leading figure and also the head of the UNFC.

Therefore, the said two main obstacles of two-tier administration mode and two-pronged approach that contradict with each other need to be addressed and altered. Otherwise, we all will be wading and muddling through, like we have been doing for the past five years.
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PODCAST Were in the mood for a good old-fashioned Gilded Age story so were bringing back one of our favorite Bowery Boys episodes ever  Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst vs. the newsies!

LISTEN TO THIS SHOW HERE:

It was pandemonium in the streets. One hot summer in July 1899, thousands of corner newsboys (and girls) went on strike against the New York Journal and the New York World. Throngs filled the streets of downtown Manhattan for two weeks and prevented the two largest papers in the country from getting distributed.

In this episode, we look at the development of the sensationalist New York press  the birth of yellow journalism  from its very earliest days, and how sensationalisms two famous purveyors were held at ransom by the poorest, scrappiest residents of the city.

The conflict put a light to the child labor crisis and became a dramatic example of the need for reform.

Crazy Arborn, Kid Blink, Racetrack Higgins and Barney Peanuts invite you to the listen in to this tale of their finest moment, straight from the street corners of Gilded Age New York.

PLUS: Bonus material featuring a closer look at the Brooklyn Newsboys Strike and a moment with the newsies during the holidays.

To get this weeks episode, simply download it for FREE from iTunes or other podcasting services or get it straight from our satellite site.

To get this weeks episode, simply download or stream it for FREE from iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or other podcasting services.You can also get it straight from our satellite site.

Or listen to it straight from here:

The Bowery Boys #219: NEWSIES ON STRIKE

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The Bowery Boys: New York City History podcast is brought to you . by you!

We are now producing a new Bowery Boys podcast every other week. Were also looking to improve and expand the show in other ways  publishing, social media, live events and other forms of media. But we can only do this with your help!

We are now a creator on Patreon, a patronage platform where you can support your favorite content creators.

Please visit our page on Patreon and watch a short video of us recording the show and talking about our expansion plans. If youd like to help out, there are six different pledge levels. Check them out and consider being a sponsor.

ALL patrons at all levels will receive many benefits include the next episode of the Bowery Boys Movie Club, an exclusive podcast (released every 6-8 weeks) celebrating New York City in the movies. And patrons at the Five Points ($5) level and up will get our other exclusive podcast  The Bowery Boys: The Takeout  released every two weeks.

We greatly appreciate our listeners and readers and thank you for joining us on this journey so far. And the best is yet to come!

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For related images for this weeks show, Im turning to the extraordinary Lewis Wickes Hine, one of the first photographers to ever turn his lens towards the poor and disadvantaged with the express purpose of public activism.

Here is a collection of Hine photographs of newsboys (and some girls), taken from the late 1890s into the early 1920s. A Where possible, I will try and include Hines original caption and will feature a selection of images from cities across the country.

Perhaps you will see the face of your grandfather or great-grandfather here? These pictures are equally charming, concerning, life-affirming, tragic,

Pictures courtesy the Library of Congress. Our thanks to them for continually providing great access to their marvelous trove of images.

Group of newsies (youngest 10 years) selling Boston papers at noon. In Barre and Montpelier newsies are excused from school a little early at noon and at night in order to get to their papers earlier. Location: Barre, Vermont December 18, 1916  one century old

LOC

One of the newsies at The Newsboys Picnic, Cincinnati. Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, August 1908

11:00 A. M . Monday, May 9th, 1910. Newsies at Skeeters Branch, Jefferson near Franklin. They were all smoking. Location: St. Louis, Missouri. May 9, 1910

Two newsies selling in P.M. Grand Avenue. May 9th, 1910. Location: St. Louis, Missouri.

LOC

Newsies selling near saloon. Location: St. Louis, Missouri.

LOC

Just newsies. Location: St. Louis, Missouri. May 1910

LOC

In comparison with governmental affairs newsies are small matters. This photo taken in the shadow of the National Capitol where the laws are made. This group of young newsboys sells on the Capitol grounds every day, ages 8 years, 9 years, 10 years, 11 years, 12 years. The only boy with a badge, was the 8 year old, and it didnt belong to him. Names are Tony Passaro, 8 yrs. old, 124 Schottes Alley N.E.; Joseph Passaro, 11 yrs. old, (has made application for badge) Joseph Mase (9 yrs. old), 122 Schottes Alley. Joseph Tucci, (10 yrs. old), 411 1/2 5th St., N.E. Jack Giovinazzi, 228 Schottes Alley, 12 yrs. old. Is in ungraded school for incorrigibility in school. Location: [Washington (D.C.), District of Columbia]. April 1912

Some of the youngest newsies hanging around the paper office after school. Location: Buffalo, New York (State) February 1910

Newsies selling on Court St., 8 P.M. Left to right: Frank Spegeale, 13 years old, 72 Terrace St.; Dominick Gagliani, 10 years old, 230 Court St.; Charlie Decarlo, 8 years old; Anthony Decarlo (brother) 13 years old, 32 Front Ave.,. Location: Buffalo, New York (State) February 10, 1910

Group of Nashville newsies. In middle of group is 7-year-old Sam. Smart and profane. He sells nights also. Location: Nashville, Tennessee. November 1910

LOC

Lewis met a lotA of profane kids apparently! Two 7 year old Nashville newsies, profane and smart, selling Sunday. Location: Nashville, Tennessee.

Beaumont is overrun with little newsies. This boy, Vincent Serio, eight years old, is up at 5:00 A.M. daily. Have sold papers since I was four years old. Location: Beaumont, Texas. November 1913

LOC

Tony and Charlie a pair of six year old newsies. Location: Beaumont, Texas. November 1913

LOC

And now for a few of their New York brothers:

Group of newsies hanging around Long Acre Square waiting for the theatre to close. Photo taken at the Victoria Theatra [i.e., Theatre], B'[road]way and 42nd St. James Thorpe (boy selling paper) 8 yrs. 640 10th Ave. Richard Farrell, 13 yrs., same address. Harry Farrell, 10 yrs., same address. August Habich, 10 yrs., same address. 10:30 P.M. Oct., 1910. Location: New York, New York (State)

LOC

In foreground14 yrs. old Nathan Weis. He comes all the way from East New York in Brooklyn (435 W. Jersey St.) to sell pages at the 14th St. Subway entra[n]ce. St. 11 P.M. with one exception, I saw no other small newsies on 14th St. between 5th and Third Ave. Location: New York, New York (State) October 1910

LOC

Newsies. Bowery. Frank & Johnnie Yatemark. 12 Delancey St. Location: New York, New York (State), July 1910

Park Row Newsies. July 1910

LOC

N.Y. Newsies. Location: New York, New York (State)

LOC

And just to demonstrate Hines thoroughness, he even went out to the West Coast, searching for newsboys in action.

Newsies. Location: Los Angeles, California. May 1916

LOC

The famous Newsboys Lodging House at 9 Duane Street. Date of photograph unknown, taken by Robert L. Bracklow (1849-1919). Courtesy Museum of the City of New York


Australia's first P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Photo: Boeing

NEW DELHI (BNS): Australia has received the first of eight P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).



The aircraft arrived in the capital city of Canberra on November 16, carrying Australias Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and other senior government leaders, Boeing said in a statement.



The Poseidon is a cutting edge surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft which will dominate the skies around our nations coastline, Prime Minister Turnbull was quoted as saying.



This is the first of eight Australian P-8As under contract with Boeing as part of a cooperative program with the U.S. Navy begun in 2009 to collaborate on the aircrafts development.



Four additional Poseidons have been approved and funded by the Australian government.



The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.



The aircraft is militarized with maritime weapons, a modern open mission system architecture, and commercial-like support for affordability.


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Staff had numerous concerns with how youth were kept at the Brandon jail at the time a girl hanged herself in her cell with a bed sheet, an inquest has heard.

Dark cells with no windows, lack of activities, isolation and short staffing were all concerns highlighted in a Manitoba Corrections review done following the teens death.

The jails current superintendent, however, says many of the reviews 39 recommendations have already been put in place. She stood by staff who testified that they saw no red flags and were shocked by the girls death.

If she was a high risk for suicide, authorities outside the jail didnt seem to know that, either.

She was assessed as low risk  I believe it was a good assessment. I believe the staff did their jobs and everything we knew  that she was making future plans  that told us she was in a good place, said Bonnie Carnegie, who was the Brandon Correctional Centres deputy superintendent a the time of the girls suicide in September 2013.

The 16-year-old girl was being held on remand at the Brandon jail for bail breach and mischief. She was also pending on Liquor Control Act charges and a theft.

She was a ward of DOCFS and living at Specialized Foster Homes when she was sent to jail. She was there for eight days prior to the hanging, a stretch staff said was unusually long for a youth at BCC.

The Brandon Sun is not naming the girl due to restrictions under the Youth Criminal Justice and Child and Family Services acts.

The inquest, which has run all week, heard she was being kept alone in a cell without a camera when she climbed onto a desk, looped a bedsheet through a vent grate in the ceiling and hanged herself.

On Thursday, hospital doctors described how the girl suffered extensive brain damage due to lack of oxygen and had a slim chance of survival.

She was in a coma and completely unresponsive, and doctors testified that, even if she did survive, shed be severely disabled.

As her condition worsened and she depended on a ventilator to breathe, a doctor consulted the girls family and it was agreed to remove her from life support. She died on the afternoon of Oct. 2, 2013.

Also on Thursday, DOCFS lawyer Dean Kropp took Carnegie, now BCC superintendent, through the concerns highlighted by a corrections review completed about a year after the girls death.

Kropp said jail staff acknowledged serious mistakes were made.

What your staff told investigators is the Brandon Correctional Centre is a bad place to house youth, Kropp told Carnegie.

The girl had been referred to a psychiatric nurse, but for some reason never saw one. During her eight days in jail, she didnt receive prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication.

Staff also recognized that community collaterals such as foster parents or her psychiatrist should have been consulted.

As for conditions in the juvenile unit, employees said youth had nothing to do and were treated as though they were in segregation.

Youth were held in cells with no outside windows, and curtains over the windows of the doors stopped them from looking out. Due to behaviour, or to separate genders, at times young inmates were held alone in cells.

When the lights were out, cells were almost completely dark, which made it difficult for guards to peak in to check on them.

The girl in this case, and other young inmates, lost free time outside of their cells for talking to inmates of the opposite gender, even though youth were generally kept apart and talks would take place while separated by walls or doors.

The staff was also spread thin. There were times they were pulled off the juvenile unit to work in other areas such as admissions, which at times left no staff in the juvenile unit.

In addition, the investigators noted tie-off points in the unit where inmates could hang themselves, inadequate lighting, and a lack of cameras and microphones to monitor youth.

There was also a concern that night staff were only doing visual checks of inmates once per hour, when the policy for low suicide risk was for every 30 minutes. When staff were pulled off the juvenile unit, checks were missed altogether.

There were no case managers for young inmates to ensure their needs were being met.

Kropp said investigators were also concerned about discipline, which seemed to vary depending on which supervisor was on duty.

He said investigators found that the fact the girl who hanged herself had once been held in a cell that smelled of urine and told to wear a suicide gown  not because she was suicidal, but because she purposely tore her clothes  as unacceptable.

Youth were held at BCC, which lacked resources for youth, for too long before being transferred to a youth facility, Kropp said.

An initial estimate placed the average stay for youth at the Brandon jail at 18 days, without school work or programming, but on Thursday Corrections said there had been a mistake and the average was 4.5 days.

Judging by comments form staff, Kropp suggested, even four days was too long.

Carnegie, however, had also taken the stand on Wednesday and outlined the changes made after the girls death.

The curtains on cell door windows were taken down, and anti-suicide vent grates have been installed and other tie-off points removed.

An audit is done to ensure checks are completed, at least one staff member in the unit at all times, youths have a case worker, and senior staff will receive mental health first aid training that younger counterparts already receive.

Also, cameras have been installed in all four of the youth cells with a monitor placed in the unit office, although Carnegie acknowledged inmates arent constantly watched by staff who have other duties.

Most relevant to this case  a mental health alert list has been created to ensure inmates get to see a psychiatric nurse when needed. The general policy is that youth will get their medications and the process has been streamlined for checking with outside sources regarding mental health and medications.

Carnegie said one recommendation the jail decided not to act on was to increase staff.

We did a review, just an internal review, and found that our staffing levels were adequate.

 ihitchen@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ianhitchen
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Aligning closely with his own work, Brandon University research associate Wayne Kelly said Thursday that he commends the CRTCs forward-thinking policies.

The previous day saw the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission declare that high-speed broadband Internet is a basic service, setting forth a targeted download speed of 50 megabytes per second.

Only a few months ago, Kelly joined his colleagues at BUs Rural Development Institute in releasing a report that came to a similar conclusion.

Titled State of Rural Information and Communications Technologies in Manitoba, the report advocates for increased access to broadband Internet in rural Manitoba as well as the increased use thereof.

You cant just build it and youre done  you have to create a culture of using that Internet, Kelly explained, citing untapped potential for community and commerce.

Reflecting on the CRTCs declaration as fantastic, he said its goals bring Canada on board with many other jurisdictions.

Ive looked at a lot of other national broadband policies, so the figures and the rationale thats coming out of the CRTC is not surprising, and I think its really encouraging, he explained.

Westman has various broadband dead zones between communities, with the most significant dead zone hugging the Canada-U.S. border.

In general, though, Kelly considers Westman fairly well-served in a national context, with the area stacking up well compared with rural areas in other provinces.

Theres no clear remedy to the rural-urban broadband service disconnect, although continued investment in rural Internet and awareness as to the importance of rural Internet remains central, he said, affirming that broadband Internet opens up a world of possibilities for communities with access.

Online education is one such possibility, he said, noting, for rural communities retaining their youth is such a challenge right now.

The co-operatively run Westman Communications Group has invested about $10 million in Internet infrastructure over the past few years and has another $10-million investment planned, chief marketing officer John Quail said, that Internet is the main driving force of their operations.

During the past five years theyve added Internet service to 20 communities and plan on expanding to 30 within the next year or so.

Theyre offering a minimum speed of 12 megabytes per second, though Quail noted theyre always striving to up the ante.

Weve increased our speeds last October, and we plan to increase again, because thats whats driving people, he said.

Investment is ongoing in this industry, he said.

They never stop.

While a 50 megabytes per second target might seem ambitious now, one never knows where technology will take us, Quail said, noting that at one time, dial-up speeds were considered state of the art.

In response to Wednesdays news out of the CRTC, Manitobas Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade Cliff Cullen offered a prepared statement to media, in which he noted that his government is looking forward hearing more about the federal funding available to bring broadband Internet service to rural and remote areas of Canada.

This year saw the federal government announce a $500-million investment to bring broadband Internet access to 300 rural and remote communities by 2021.

This is one of several positive steps forward in recent months, Kelly said, noting that several last-minute updates had to be written into the Rural Development Institutes broadband Internet report due to ongoing advancements.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
Even if Anthony had a year to analyze and dissect each piece...(he couldn't tell if it would)... stand the harsh light of public exposure.

WUWT insider Willis Eschenbach tells you all you need to know about Anthony Watts and his blog, WattsUpWithThat (WUWT). As part of his scathing commentary , Wondering Willis accuses Anthony Watts of being clueless about the blog articles he posts. To paraphrase: Click here to read more.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its only two days until Christmas so if you are needing to get last-minute gifts for friends and family members you can find out your local Liquor Marts hours of operation by going to liquormarts.ca/hours.

Theres a few beers Ive been eyeing on the Liquor Mart shelves lately that Ive been wanting to buy myself as a Christmas gift to myself. Central City Brewing has two sour ales including a cherry Kriek-style sour as well as a raspberry wood sour ale, but at the price of $24.95 per 750ml bottle, its quite expensive, but its one of those beers that will age and develop interesting flavours over the next several years. Out of the United States are two beers by two raved after craft breweries, Evil Twin from New York has a Biscotti Break Imperial Stout ($19.01 per 650ml) while Epic Brewing out of Utah has a Big Bad Baptist Barrel Aged Imperial Stout ($17.49 per 650ml bottle). Every single one of these beers may seem excessively expensive but when you realize that each one of these four beers is over 10 per cent alcohol and can be aged for several years, thats when you know that its going to be a quality product.

On the flip side of the coin, Im also checking out Brasserie Dunhams Berliner Melon Weisse, a sour German-style wheat ale that tops out at a whopping 3.9 per cent. I had the opportunity to visit Brasserie Dunham when I was in the Montreal area. Dunham is considered to be one of the best breweries in the world and everything Ive had by the brewery in the past three years from LaPatt Robust Porter (play on Labatt) to their saisons and India pale ales have been remarkable. Ive been wanting to buy the Berliner Melon Weisse nearly every time I go to the Liquor Mart but at $8.42 price tag for a 750ml bottle, I usually end up buying a couple cans of cheaper beers instead.

Berliner Melon Weisse.

Berliner Melon Weisse is well worth the money, even with it being 3.9 per cent. Once you open the beer, the first thing you notice is how fizzy the it is. The beer doesnt gush like lot of yeasty wheat ales out there, rather its a bit of a fizzy, carbonated ale with a light, cloudy-straw body and a good deal of white foam with a bit of a beige hue to it. The aroma is quite powerful, it has notes that remind me of a sparkling wine  a citrus forward bite with a great deal of pungent sourness to it and a moderate amount of barnyard funkiness at the end. Wow for the flavour. Its truly in your face as the sourness hits your tastebuds immediately the very second that it is within reach of your lips. Im getting notes of lemon  a lot of lemon. There are notes of barnyard funkiness  which is a bit of a funky, earthy flavour that I can only describe as the farm. The beer is quite sour to the point that Im getting goose bumps from it but one flavour thats lacking is melon. I do notice a faint amount of melon at one point but its not melony enough to have melon in the beers name.

Dunhams Berliner Melon Weisse is one of those beers Id recommend if youre looking to buy a beer as a stocking stuffer or gift for a friend or family member who loves to try new beers or even for the fellow wine drinkers because this is in a category of its own. If you enjoy Belgian sour ales, I know you will love this. What is surprising about the beer is that its only 3.9 per cent but full of attitude.

Available at the Brandon Liquor Marts for $8.42 per 750ml bottle.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its like a train wreck in slow motion.

Just when you think Trump has made the worst possible choice for his cabinet, he announces another whos even worse.

Rick Perry, the wackadoodle ex-governor of Texas, is a sad example. Perry couldnt remember the name of one of the government departments he pledged to eliminate when he tried to run for president four years ago. Now, Trump has named Perry to head it! (Its the department of energy. You know, the trivial one responsible for the U.S. nuclear program!)

Perry is a climate-denier and evangelical. So its not surprising that taking practical action to curb greenhouse gas emissions just wasnt in his playbook. So, instead, in 2011, Governor Rick decreed there be days of prayer to fix the terrible, prolonged drought that had been ravaging his state. The rains came, alright, almost six months later. Since then, theyve turned into floods which have washed away vast areas of his state. Such is the price Texans paid for electing an anti-science, believer-in-magic.

Perry also owns a piece of the Dakota Access pipeline which has imposed such terrible misery on the people of Standing Rock. So, I take it back. Maybe hes not stupid, after all. Just evil.

Of course, a previous appointment to the Trump cabinet was oh, so much better (sarcasm intended)! The dude in charge of the worlds biggest oil company, Exxon Mobil (Ex-Mob), will be Trumps new secretary of state. Much ado has been made (and rightly so) of his cosy relationship with the thug who runs Russia; not so much about the fact that several U.S. states have been moving to indict his company for the lies and deception it has engaged in over climate change. Decades ago, the corporations own scientists began issuing internal warnings that the fossil fuels it was producing, were harming the planet. Instead of doing the right thing, dear old Ex-Mob (a la Big Tobacco), hired imposter scientists and phoney front groups to cover it up.

I could go on  but you get the point.

So, it is no longer a stretch to say that, south of the border, the lunatic fringe has now gone mainstream. Among other things, it has elected a commander-in-chief who plans to unleash Devil Coal back into our lungs. All the while, Trump pisses on the cradle of knowledge lovingly assembled over generations by the best minds on our planet; that doubling down on coal is absolutely the worst thing we can do if we want to avoid human health and climate catastrophe. With malice aforethought, Trump is on a course to harm all living creatures everywhere. Dont forget, Donalds emissions wont respect U.S. borders. And, theyll be just as harmful to his own basketful of deplorables as they will to the innocent and the kind in the U.S. and beyond.

But the deplorables wont care.

It will matter nothing to them, for example, that air quality improved greatly when Ontario phased out coal-fired generating plants almost a decade ago, probably saving that province billions in health-care costs. Why? Because they live in their own universe which runs completely parallel to reality, truth, facts and decency. Dont forget, to them, unemployment increased under Barack Obama (it did not). The stock market crashed under Obama (it did not). California is not one of the United States (it is). But the popular vote there was heavily in favour of Hillary Clinton. So, instead of accepting that as fact, the deplorables find it convenient to argue, instead  without a shred of justification  that the California votes should just be ignored!

Most chilling to me is the degree to which Trumpism seems to be creeping, like a cancer, into Canada. One of our countrys most despicable rebels-without-a-clue, Ezra Levant, hosted that disgraceful protest on the steps of the Alberta legislature earlier this month. Like lap dogs, his rebels were chanting for Alberta Premier Rachel Notley to be locked up because she plans to bring in a carbon tax. Way to go, Ezra! Fascist moves like this are bound to guarantee you a place on Trumps Christmas card list!

Levant, a self-proclaimed journalist, has been successfully sued several times for defaming others, mostly to support his twisted delusion that climate change is a hoax and that all fossil fuels are our friends. Earlier this year, he actually posted someone elses video (without their permission) which, he claimed, showed journalists showing their biases by jumping for joy in the press room as the big climate accord was approved in Paris. They were not journalists, and it was not the press room. Sadly, Im afraid, despite all of this, some people still look upon this fraud as having some sort of credible place in the climate change debate.

Then theres Kellie Leitch, the leading contender for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. She actually believes Trump has good ideas. Her own brand of hatred has made her the top fundraiser in the campaign. (I wonder if she could pass her own test for Canadian values.)

You know what they say. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. With barbarians now knocking at our gate, now would not be a good time to let down our guard.

LARRY POWELL

Neepawa
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To the critic of the critic of Larry Maguire

My point, which no one, including the new critic seems to speak to or wonder about, is our overall tax base and why is it the little guy  personal and small business  that takes the hit. Why dont you talk about the missing tax revenues not paid by corporations  Big Business. We could literally wipe out our deficit by cutting out the tax breaks and other incentives provided to Big Business. Of course, if the critic considers tax to be a four-letter word then we know his or her political leanings. Im disappointed the critic also takes potshots at time honoured true benefits  the CPP and EI. Also the critic implies that he/she could never hire extra personnel or replace equipment because of the business tax? Please, give me a break (on my taxes).

A good decision by Pallister

Premier Pallister has said that he will not sign the agreement to the carbon tax until outstanding issues related to health care are resolved. Good for him. He must remember what happened in the 1990s when the Chretien government was tightening their belt by passing much of their problem on to the provinces, including Manitoba.

Best quote of any era

The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance.  Cicero, 55 BC. So, evidently weve learned nothing over the past 2,071 years.

A hand for Helping Hands

Kudos to the board and volunteers of the Helping Hands Centre. The amount of work they do for our less fortunate is unbelievable. I would like to send my own heartfelt thank you to those who do so much unrecognized work for this program. Merry Christmas to you all and God bless you.

Blame those Liberals!

Thanks to all the people across our once-great nation who voted for the Liberals and Justin. He, Ms. McKenna and Mr. Morneau are far more interested in how they look on the world stage than looking after even those who voted for them. Why else would they give millions of dollars to please the UN and still do not look after Canadians best interests  like health care, and the economy! So he will cut health care tax dollars to the provinces, and all the democratic minded people in Manitoba will blame Mr. Pallister for the cuts that will be forced on us by Ottawa! If you want to blame someone, and you voted Liberal, look in the mirror!
The Italian government is bailing out Monte dei Paschi di Siena after Italy's third-largest bank failed to raise the 5bn needed to stay afloat.

The government passed the bailout decree for what is thought to be the world's oldest bank early today.

Parliament has approved a 20bn fund to guarantee the stability of Italian banks, with MPS the most vulnerable.

Shares in Monte dei Paschi were suspended today on the Milan stock exchange.

MPS said last night that it had not secured a key anchor investor to pump money in, and that efforts to swap debt for equity had netted only 2.45bn.

The government passed the decree saying it was 100% guaranteeing the bank's retail customers.

Under the decree, the government will temporarily support MPS by offering it capital under a formula agreed with the European Commission called "precautionary recapitalisation", under which the state offers assurances that the bank is solvent and that the government will get its money back.

The bank's troubles come amid broader concerns over Italy's banking system, which is weighed down by 360bn in bad loans.

MPS is by far the most vulnerable after it was listed as the worst-performer in this summer's European Union stress tests of banks.

Consumer advocate organisation Codacons estimated the Italian bailout fund could cost each Italian family 833.
Ryanair today made a 100,000 donation to ISPCC Childline, its 2016 chosen Irish charity partner, at a Christmas jumper day held at its Dublin Offices.

Childline is the only 24-hour listening service which seeks to support and empower children and young people in Ireland with almost 90% of its funding raised through corporate and individual donations.

We've donated 100,000 to @ISPCCChildline our 2016 Irish Charity Partner. Thank you for supporting this great cause! https://t.co/x1CpYJeGyW pic.twitter.com/3CNgz0fliD  Ryanair (@Ryanair) December 23, 2016

Childline will receive over 1,000 calls on Christmas Day this year.

A number of fundraising initiatives were held throughout 2016 including a digital donation day hosted on Ryanair.com, a Cheerios charity breakfast morning, a nationwide paper plane colouring competition and a charity abseil.

Ryanair thanked all of its customers who supported its charity partnership over the past 12 months.

Ryanair is proud to partner with ISPCC Childline and support the invaluable work they do to help children in need and the 100,000 donated will enable them to continue to provide a vital range of services.

We have held a number of fundraising efforts in conjunction with Childline throughout 2016 and we wish to thank everyone who supported our events, said Ryanairs Kenny Jacobs.

We look forward to further charity events in 2017.

ISPCC chief executive Grainia Long said: We would like to thank the incredible team at Ryanair for this 100,000 donation and for all their hard work supporting the ISPCC in 2016.

This partnership raises vital funds and awareness for Childline which operates a 24 hour helpline for children throughout Ireland needing to talk to a trusted adult.

Last year, Childline had conversations with almost 440,000 children and young people who contacted the service for help and advice with wide-ranging serious issues, including abuse, violence, exploitation, addiction and suicide.

That is an astounding 1,205 contacts by children a day. With Ryanairs support, we will ensure that there is always someone there to answer these calls.
Update 1.45pm: Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald is calling on the Taoiseach to evaluate the Government's approach to dealing with organised crime in Dublin.

Deputy Lou McDonald says people at the highest levels of the Government and the Gardai need to take action to prevent further deaths.

For people in charge, for An Garda Siochana, for the commissioner, for the Taoiseach, for the Minister for Justice  what are they saying now to the community of the north inner city? she said.

What are they saying to the community of Clondalkin, and other places that are directly hit by this, for whom this isnt a news story, this is a reality, and a very sinister reality that continues to unfold all around them.

Earlier:

The Archbishop of Dublin has called for an end to violence following the

Read More:

It comes after a 62-year-old man, named locally as Noel Kirwan, was targeted by a lone gunman shortly after he pulled into the driveway of a house in the Ronanstown area of Dublin just after 5pm as his partner looked on.

He was hit by several bullets fired into the driver's side of the Ford Mondeo.

He is believed to be the latest victim of the feud between the Kinahan and Hutch gangs.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin says the violence must stop:

"This is all about interference in a multi-million euro business of death - the drugs business," he said.

"The ones who are calling these killings from comfortable places - they don't care about the people who are being killed, and they care less about the young people they drag every day into the world of drugs."
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten has today welcomed the decision to allow a power station in the midlands continue operating until 2030.

Edenderry Power Plant in Co Offaly has been granted permission by An Bord Pleanala after An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment lodged appeals with the body.

Concerns had been raised about the potential for up to 300 job losses if the plant were closed.

Minister Denis Naughten said that the decision has implications for other Bord na Mona facilities.

At the moment, Edenderry is burning about 50% biomass in the power station  that has implications for both Lanesborough and Shannonbridge, he said.

And what we hope now with this decision is to develop a sustainable local biomass industry that outlives these peat power stations.

SIPTU also welcomed the An Bord Pleanala and stated that the move should also result in further investment in two other power plants in the midlands.

SIPTU Organiser, John Regan, said: The An Bord Pleanala decision announced today comes as a great relief to our several hundred members who work at Edenderry Power Ltd and related businesses, and their families.

A failure to grant planning permission for the continued operation of the plant would have had a devastating effect on the economy of the midlands.

This decision also has a major impact on the future of other power generation plants in the midlands as it accepts that the hybrid model of creating energy through the use of both peat and biomass, in operation in Edenderry, is in line with environmental protection legislation.

He added: The ESB and Bord na Mona must embrace this ruling and immediately commence investment in the power stations in Lanesborough, County Roscommon, and West Offaly Power, County Offaly, to bring them into line with this hybrid model.

Todays decision and this further investment we believe will safeguard up to 2,000 jobs at the plants and in related activities.
Sinn Fein says the Government is not doing enough to deal with organised crime gangs operating in Dublin.

The party's deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, is calling on the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Garda Commissioner to improve resources for communities affected by gangland murders.

The Sinn Fein TD was reacting to a shooting in Clondalkin last night, in which a 62 year old man was killed.

The shooting is believed to be part of an ongoing feud between the Kinahan and Hutch gangs.

Dublin Central TD Mary Lou McDonald, says the Taoiseach and his Ministers need to take effective action: "What has the Government been doing, there has been an awful lot of talk but really what results have we seen?

"I want to make an appeal to the Taoiseach who has been in and out of the inner city many times in recent months and to the Minister for Justice and everyone in Government to look again at their approach.

"We need resourced and targeted policing and we need big investment in communities."
When our HSI team found these dogs at the Yulin dog meat festival, they were confined in cages so tightly they couldn't move. Some were gasping for breath. Many had skin infections and open wounds. Above, one of the rescued dogs in Toronto. Photo by Michael Bernard/HSI

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Today, Canada welcomed 110 new residents who just took a trip around the world. The dogs, once headed for the butchers block at the Yulin dog meat festival in China, were flown last night into Toronto, just in time for the holidays, by Humane Society International/Canada. They are now one giant step closer to adoption into forever homes.

Getting the dogs out of China and into Canada required months of diligence and patience. We had to jump through more than a few bureaucratic hoops, doing our best to assure the humane treatment of the dogs even as we treated various health conditions that had beset them during their time in the meat trade.

The dogs journey to freedom began seven months ago when HSI representatives were on the ground in Yulin, in the run-up to the citys barbaric annual dog meat festival. There, our team found dogs confined in cages so tightly they couldnt move. Some were gasping for breath. Many had skin infections and open wounds. Severely emaciated and dehydrated, the dogs had likely been transported for days with no food or water. Some had been fitted with collars, indicating they may have been stolen pets.

Our team spent several days gathering evidence to expose the plight of the dogs in Yulin to the world. In the process, HSI team members and our local partners were able to help save 173 dogs and cats who were bound for the slaughterhouse. The animals were immediately transported to HSI-funded emergency shelters in northern China where they received veterinary care, food, water, love, and attention.

Some of the animals have already been placed in local homes. But while HSI is working with our partners to create a pet culture in China, adoption rates remain low. These 110 dogs would have likely faced a lifetime of confinement in shelters had HSI/Canada not stepped in.

China has never exported dogs in such numbers before, and the process of obtaining government approvals was daunting. Month after month we worked to overcome bureaucratic hurdles and to identify an airline able to handle such a large shipment.

This week, the government of China finally issued the export paperwork and Air Canada found space on one of its flights. But just when we thought the dogs were home free, northern China was hit by a smog storm that has made international headlines. Intrepid local activists drove through it all for more than 18 hours to get the dogs to the airport and onto the only remaining available flight. At 6:30 pm last night, the Yulin dogs arrived safe and sound at Torontos Pearson International Airport.

Today, these resilient dogs are receiving care at an HSI/Canada temporary shelter just outside Toronto, before traveling on to rescue groups and shelters in Ontario and Quebec. The wonderful Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary in King City, Ontario, is taking 63 of the dogs, 37 more will go to the Montreal SPCA, and 10 will be cared for by the Ottawa-based rescue group BARK.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of one of our most important Canadian supporters: the Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation. Without hesitation, the Margolis family provided the funds needed to fly these dogs from China to Canada so they could begin a new life.

These deserving dogs will now become ambassadors for the campaign to stop the global dog meat trade. Thirty million dogs fall victim to this barbaric trade each year, and up to 20 million of those are killed in China.

But there is hope. HSI is at the forefront of an international effort to shut down the dog meat trade for good, and we are making real progress. In recent years, the international pressure you have helped to create has reduced the killing at the Yulin dog meat festival by 80 percent. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., introduced a congressional resolution, H. Res. 752, cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 161 Representatives, strongly condemning the festival and dog meat trade. And there is more evidence that our campaign is working: a 2016 poll shows 70 percent of Chinese people holding an opinion are now in support of a national ban on the dog meat trade. Local government has started to listen, enforcing existing laws that can restrict the dog meat trade in several parts of China.

In just two weeks time, our work against the dog meat trade continues in South Korea as our Animal Rescue Team closes down yet another dog meat farm. More than 100 of the rescued dogs will be brought back to North America where rescues and shelters are waiting.

While the overall numbers are staggering, for every dog we deliver into a loving environment, its a 100 percent victory. It warms our hearts, just as I know it does yours.
Update 10.09am: Italian Interior minister Marco Minniti has confirmed that the man shot dead by police in Milan "without any shadow of a doubt" is Berlin Christmas market attack suspect Anis Amri.

Anis Amri took out a pistol and shot at police when he was stopped in Milan before he was shot dead https://t.co/cEYssquIeC

Update 10.03am: The main suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack has been killed in a shootout with police in Milan, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

The shootout took place at 3am in the Sesto San Giovanni neighbourhood during a routine police check.

The Italian Interior minister Marco Minniti is now holding a press conference regarding the incident.

ANSA said the man pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identity papers, and was killed in the ensuing shootout.

A police officer was injured.

ANSA said various sources in Milan and Rome confirmed that the dead man was Anis Amri, the suspect in the Berlin truck attack on Monday that killed 12 people.

A police source has said the fingerprints have identified the man killed in Milan as #Berlin attacker Anis Amri https://t.co/lQcsYBCZ4G  Sky News (@SkyNews) December 23, 2016

Earlier:

Reuters news agency has quoted a security source claiming that Amri had been shot dead in Milan.

In addition to the 12 killed, 56 were injured in Monday's attack, which was claimed by the so-called Islamic State group (IS).

German authorities issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, on Wednesday. They offered a reward of 100,000 for information leading to Amri's arrest, but warned he could be "violent and armed".

Authorities said Amri used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.

He left Tunisia in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings and initially spent time in Italy.

He was repeatedly transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with prison records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections.

He served three and a half years for setting a fire at a refugee centre and making threats, among other things - but Italian authorities apparently detected no signs that he was becoming radicalised.
Two Libyan men who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up have surrendered peacefully, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the aircraft before walking out alongside the last of the crew.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was travelling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta on Friday morning.

Malta state television said the two hijackers possessed hand grenades and had threatened to detonate them.

All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3.44pm local time (2.44pm GMT).

They have surrendered, been searched and taken into custody, he said.

The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the plane's doors to open at 1.44pm (12.44pm GMT) and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

In a series of tweets, Mr Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, followed by the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including seven crew members, were on board the hijacked plane.

Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers had asked him to head to Rome.

He identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, Libyans who other officials said were in their twenties.

The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called "the New Fateh".

Fateh is a reference to former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who led the Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969.

After many of the hostages left the plane on Friday afternoon, someone, apparently a hijacker, waved the old green Libyan flag from the plane's doorway.

Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes. Gaddafi was ousted and killed by a mob in 2011.

Western nations view the newly-formed UN-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libya's parliament, which meets in the country's far east, has refused to accept it.

Amid the chaos, Islamic State (IS) and al Qaida affiliates have gained a foothold over the past years.

Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized IS's last stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.
German chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her relief that the suspect in the Berlin truck attack poses no further threat after he was shot dead by Italian police in Milan.

Mrs Merkel said she has ordered a comprehensive investigation into all angles of the case, after it emerged that German authorities had tracked 24-year-old Tunisian man Anis Amri for months this year on suspicion of planning an attack.
An Israeli official has accused US president Barack Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a "shameful move against Israel at the UN".

The comments came after the official learned the White House did not intend to veto a Security Council resolution condemning settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem the day before.

The official said: "President Obama and Secretary (of state, John) Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN.

"The US administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel's back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall occupied Palestinian territory."

He called it "an abandonment of Israel which breaks decades of US policy of protecting Israel at the UN".

Earlier, the official said Israel's prime minister had turned to president-elect Donald Trump to help head off the critical UN resolution.

Although the US opposes the settlements, it has traditionally used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block resolutions condemning Israel, saying that disputes between Israel and the Palestinians must be resolved through negotiations.

But after eight years of failed peace efforts during the Obama administration, Israel has expressed concern the outgoing president would take an audacious step to leave his mark on the region. In recent weeks, the White House had been especially secretive about its deliberations.

The Israeli official's admission marked a final chapter in the icy relations between prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Obama over the last eight years, and signalled an era of close ties between Israel and the incoming Trump administration.

Israel knew even before the Egyptian draft resolution that the White House was planning an "ambush" and coordinating it with the Palestinians, said another Israeli official.

Israeli diplomats believe they were misled by the US during a meeting last week between high-ranking Israeli and Obama administration officials in which the US side offered reassurances about its efforts to support Israel, but declined to explicitly state that the US would veto such a resolution if it came up.

Confirmed: #UNSC vote on illegal Israeli settlements in Occupied #Palestine to take place at 2:00 PM NY Time - 9:00 PM #Palestine time   Palestine PLO-NAD (@nadplo) December 23, 2016

The Israelis told their counterparts that "friends don't take friends to the Security Council", the official said.

The Egyptian-sponsored resolution had demanded that Israel halt settlement activities in occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians and declared that existing settlements "have no legal validity".

Under heavy Israeli pressure, Egypt called off a planned vote in the Security Council hours before it was to take place. In the diplomatic activity ahead of the postponement, both Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump issued nearly identical statements urging the US to veto the measure.

"After becoming aware that the administration would not veto the anti-Israel resolution, Israeli officials reached out to Trump's transition team to ask for the president-elect's help to avert the resolution," the Israeli official said.

On Friday, Egypt said its president had received a call from Mr Trump in which they both agreed to give the incoming US administration a chance to try and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The call came hours after Egypt indefinitely postponed the UN vote.

A statement from the Egyptian presidency said the two men had spoken by phone and agreed on "the importance of giving a chance for the new American administration to deal in a comprehensive way with the different aspects of the Palestinian issue with the aim of achieving a comprehensive and a final resolution".

A senior Palestinian official said Egypt did not consult with the Palestinians about delaying the vote and it was a "complete shock" for them. Egypt represents Arab states on the security council.

Egypt is the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, and the two countries have close security ties in a shared struggle against Islamic militants.

The Palestinian mission to the United Nations said the Security Council will vote later in the day on the resolution condemning Israel's settlement construction, now sponsored by New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela.

The US, along with the Palestinians and nearly all of the international community, opposes Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as obstacles to peace. Some 600,000 Israelis live in the two territories, which the Palestinians seek as part of a future independent state. Israel captured both areas in the 1967 war.

Mr Trump has signalled he will be far more sympathetic to Israel. His campaign platform made no mention of the establishment of a Palestinian state, a core policy objective of Democratic and Republican presidents over the past two decades.

He also has vowed to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that would put the US at odds with the Palestinians and almost the entire remainder of the international community, while his choice for ambassador to Israel, Jewish-American lawyer David Friedman, is a donor and vocal supporter of the settlements.

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The Every Student Succeeds Acts focus on using research in education has breathed new life into the federal regional education laboratory network, which awarded new contracts this morning.

The nine five-year contracts are not forward-funded, and with a new administration and a history of uncertain budgets in Congress, its likely the new labs will have to prove themselves fast to stay afloat. But the new iteration of the regional labs expand the variety of technical assistance and research partnerships the labs can provide. Research partnerships have proven popular with states and districts in recent years; more than 80 so-called research alliances have been launched nationwide in the last five years.

What I see happening in the education field now is people taking seriously, and realizing how hard it is, to bridge research and practice. ESSA sort of elevated that, said Ruth Curran Neild, the delegated director of the Institute of Education Sciences, the Education Departments research agency, which supervises the regional labs. To me, that makes the role of the RELs and the promise of the RELs more important and more exciting.

Also, while the 2012-2017 contracts for the labs included a separate contract to coordinate their work, each of the labs this time will be responsible for coordinating work on a particular topic, from developing tools to help educators conduct their own research studies to developing partnerships and measures of students kindergarten readiness and social-emotional learning.



New Lab Contracts Awarded

The new roster of labs include two newcomers. The regional lab for Appalachia, which covers Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, will move from the current grantee CNA to Deborah Jonas at SRI International. Jonas previously founded and led Virginias College and Career Readiness Initiative, which developed indicators to measure students enrollment and persistence in higher education; the lab will be the focus center for high school completion.

Likewise, the Mid-Atlantic regional labwhich covers Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, will move from Maryland-based ICF International to Mathematica Policy Research, under Brian Gill. Gill is a national expert on principal evaluation and charter schools, including leading the first nationwide evaluation of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) charter network. The Mid-Atlantic lab will coordinate training and supporting excellent educators.

Another seven regional lab contracts will continue with those who run them now:

REL Central, which covers Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, will stay with the Colorado-based Marzano Research, under Terri Martin. It will coordinate rural education research.

REL Midwest, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, will stay with the American Institutes for Research, under Julie Kochanek. It will coordinate work on collaborative research partnerships, Neild said: These research partnerships are such a new way of doing research and there is such a lot of learning that needs to happen by researchers and practitioners on how to do this well.

REL Northeast and Islands, which covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, & the Virgin Islands, will stay with the Education Development Center, under Jill Weber. It will coordinate research on English-language learners.

REL Northwest, which covers Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, will stay with Education Northwest, under Christopher Mazzeo. It will coordinate work on postsecondary readiness and success.

REL Pacificwhich covers American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap), Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palauwill be run by Phillip Herman at the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) International. It will coordinate work on social-emotional learning.

REL Southeast, which covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina, will be led by Barbara Foorman of Florida State University. It will coordinate work on school readiness.

REL West, which includes Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, will be led by Nikola Filby of WestEd. It will coordinate work on using evidence in educationanother critical focus during ESSA implementation, Neild said.

The only regional lab which has yet to be awarded is for REL Southwest, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. That lab is 11 months off the cycle of the rest of the labs, as a result of a dispute in the 2011 contract competition. Its now run by SEDL, the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, which is affiliated with the American Institutes of Research.

The new labs will begin January 3.

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A hot lunch of turkey and ham, with pudding and custard for dessert, is expected to bring some festive cheer to inmates and their families at Canberra's prison this Christmas.

ACT Corrective Services was preparing to cater for about 445 detainees and staff at Christmas lunch celebrations at the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Sunday.

Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury helped volunteers pack hampers for AMC detainees in the lead up to Christmas. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

About 410 inmates spent Christmas Day behind bars in the ACT last year, up from 330 detainees on December 25 in 2014.

This year's lunch menu would start with traditional hot turkey and ham with vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding and custard for dessert.
For six months Rosie Leonard woke each morning desperately hoping it would not be the last time she would see her children.

The Canberra mother had suffered from cystic fibrosis all her life but her health rapidly deteriorated in July 2014 when she caught a virus that dropped her lung function to 12 per cent.

Rosie Leonard with her sons Shay,8, Fin,15 and Jamie, 19, received a double lung transplant 18 months ago and is passionate about raising awareness of organ donation. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

"I began to feel like I was slipping away really fast, like I was disappearing," Ms Leonard said.

Fortunately her excruciating 24 weeks spent on oxygen ended with a life-saving double lung transplant.
The neighbour was present when CYPS officers spoke to the parents earlier in the day of the children's removal. "I was asked to come over [by the parents] and I told them I had only seen the children well-cared for and happy," she said. "The officers left and I told [the mother], 'You'll never see them again. There's nothing to worry about'." But CYPS officers returned later that afternoon with an emergency action to remove the children. Police were also present from about 6pm and a stand-off ensued. Police documents describe the scene as a seige and Specialist Response Group officers were called in. The children were removed close to midnight. The neighbour, who was inside the parents' home during the negotiations, says she never felt threatened by the parents but understood why they did not want to hand over their child, without a court order.

"The way it was done, it was just not humane," she said. "I don't care what anyone says, I was there. Those kids were dragged away." The children have been in kinship care with relatives interstate. Child and Youth Protection Services also wanted to take another child born to the couple this year, from the hospital, on the day the child was born. The infant did go into interim care for a short period with the mother allowed breastfeeding visits. A magistrate later dismissed the application from the director-general of the Community Services Directorate for the youngest child to remain in interim care but that decision was appealed by the director-general. The youngest child remains in the care of her parents.

The matters are still before the courts, with a decision imminent determining the future of all the children. CYPS officers have told the courts the children love and want to live with their parents but their have concerns about their capacity to care for the children. The parents have given their consent to publicly air their concerns about the manner in which the children were taken and their efforts to have their children returned. "Our life is our children," the mother said. "They are at an age when they need their mummy and daddy and want their mummy and daddy.

"I don't wish this upon any mother or any father. My heart was ripped out the day they were taken." Child and Youth Protection Services have not alleged any abuse or violence against the children. It has alleged neglect and questioned the parents' capacity to care for them. The father has an acquired brain injury from a car accident. The mother is his carer. The courts have heard conflicting evidence from experts.

A psychiatrist who met with and assessed the mother says she does not have a mental illness. She was stressed due the removal of her children and the care of her husband and would benefit from counselling, he found. Her GP of long-standing says she is a fit and capable mother. Other experts enlisted by the directorate who have never met with the mother have advised she is mentally ill and needs to take drugs. "It's just getting beyond the point of ridiculousness," the father said. The couple agree they need the help of support services if their children are returned, not least because the father's struggle with his brain injury. "We've never said no to any sort of help," the mother said.

"For the last 10 years, all we've been doing is going to doctors [for the husband] and trying to get help." The involvement of CYPS stems from the father leaving his oldest child in a locked car while he attended a meeting in Civic. Police and CYPS officers attended the car. CYPS officers subsequently visited the house the next day. The officers found there was minimal furniture in the house and the family was sleeping on mattresses. The couple maintain their furniture was re-possessed by their landlord during an ill-fated move to Sydney. They had been attempting, at that stage unsuccessfully, to get money from his trustee to buy new furniture.

The couple did attend the CYPS offices the next day to discuss the matter. Through a series of miscommunications, they were told the person they were supposed to see was not in. The CYPS officers attended the family home later that day and within hours there was the high drama of the stand-off and the children were removed and put into care. The neighbour has questioned why she has never been asked to present her version of events. "I've never been spoken to by police or Care and Protection about it," she said. More than a year later, the house is fully furnished. Carefully-made beds, stocked cupboards, newly-bought toys await the children's return.

"All we want is to bring them home to a beautiful house," the mother said. The Community Services Directorate was asked if the manner in which the children were taken from the family home was heavy-handed and unnecessarily traumatic. The children were taken on a Friday and the following Monday was a public holiday. The directorate was also asked why the officers could not wait until the Tuesday for a court order to be issued. It was also asked to respond to the conflicting evidence regarding the mother's capacity to care for her children. A spokesperson gave the following response, emphasising the directorate could not comment on specific cases:

"Intervening in the lives of families is always emotional and highly complex. Governments must intervene when families abuse or neglect their children. Child and Youth Protection Services are obligated by law to not release child protection information publicly to protect children in care and their families," the statement read. "Child and Youth Protection Services proceeds with Emergency Action to ensure the immediate safety of children. Police attendance during Emergency Action is not always necessary. The decision to include police attendance in an Emergency Action is undertaken in consultation with the police and takes into account information available at the time including police, mental health, drug and alcohol history and other relevant information. "Following Emergency Action, the evidence that the decision was based on must be presented to the ACT Children's Court within two working days unless interrupted by a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday then the next sitting day of the court. Parents are parties to the proceedings and have the opportunity to present their evidence to the court. In any proceedings, children are also independently represented by a Children's Representative (solicitor). "Parents may, and sometimes do appeal interim decisions made by the Children's Court. An appeal is heard by the Supreme Court. Who then has parental responsibility for the children during this time is determined by the court. "After Emergency Action, Child and Youth Protection Services often seek independent expert opinions on which to base decisions about the arrangements that would be in the children's best interests. The independent experts are then required to present their reports to all parties and be available to give evidence before the courts.
Caroline Le Couteur. Credit:Jamila Toderas The vote that went wrong for Barr in the first week wasn't any vote; it was a vote on his handling of the mess that surrounds the Land Development Agency - an issue with very damaging political potential. Barr's handling of this has been unedifying - since the first questions from the Canberra Times about the Glebe Park land purchase early this year were dismissed as trivial and obsessive, to his repeated and aggressive denials of problems on the floor of the parliament, to his partial capitulation in the face of a report from the Auditor-General when he announced that the Land Development Agency would be split in two. As an aside, restructuring the agency might be necessary and it might bring about the desperately needed change of culture, but it doesn't address the second part of the equation: who is to take responsibility for the agency's cavalier handling of taxpayers' money? Alistair Coe has been pursuing this issue all year in the Assembly, and has got little from Rattenbury. In August, Coe put a motion that would have forced Barr to answer a long list of questions about the Glebe Park and City to the Lake land purchases. Rattenbury teamed with Labor to defeat the motion, letting Barr off the hook. Rattenbury's justification was two fold: Barr had already provided some of the requested information, and he preferred to wait for the auditor's "objective, thorough and complete review". Which, of course, we now have. Its findings are startling and troubling. Whether the findings are now investigated, aired and dealt with comprehensively in a way that looks back at what happened rather than simply forward at Barr's new structure, will be largely up to the Greens.

The signs are good. The Liberals will push for an inquiry through the parliament's public accounts committee, perhaps even with public hearings and witnesses called. It remains to be seen whether that will get traction, given the committee is locked two Liberals, two Labor, which results in the defeat of most any contentious motion. But the Liberals will seek Greens support in the Assembly to refer an inquiry to the committee, and thus force the issue. Rattenbury and Le Couteur are likely to agree. Watch for the government's damage control to manifest itself in the committee with dedicated efforts to limit the scope of any inquiry, and curtail any thoughts of compelling witnesses or canvassing some of the murkiest corners of the affair. So the detail might be less than satisfactory, but an inquiry of some shape appears likely. And on the floor of the parliament, Le Couteur is already making trouble. It went like this. On Wednesday, private members' day, Coe brought a motion pointing to the auditor's findings of "manipulation" of freedom of information documents, a "lack of transparency, accountability and rigour" in agency land purchases, and "major issues around integrity and probity" at the Land Development Agency. Barr moved to amend his motion to remove all of the critical references and turn it into an anodyne statement highlighting the government's reforms. This is typically the way it goes. But this time, Rattenbury was away - he was attending a national meeting of energy ministers. And no one thought through the implications. Barr took Greens' support for granted and so lulled had everyone become by the routines of the last Assembly that the whips forgot to do their job. Le Couteur sided with the Liberals. Barr lost his motion. Coe lost his, too, since Le Couteur's support tied the vote - and a tied vote is lost.

Labor failed to head off defeat on the floor, by seeing it coming, treating the Greens with more care and respect, and negotiating a position they could live with. Arguably, the Liberals failed to exploit the new dynamic for a significant win - although this is a trickier argument to make. If the debate had been pushed back an hour, Rattenbury would have been there and two Greens could have won the vote for the Liberals. In practice, though, if Rattenbury had been there, political experience and habit is likely to have seen a negotiated position between Labor and the Greens and avoided the defeat for Barr. All this is politically intricate and usually goes on behind the scenes. The fact that it played out in public is a valuable lesson for Barr so early in his term. He and Rattenbury have already spoken about what went wrong and you can expect Barr to be watching more closely, counting more carefully, and speaking with more clarity to the Greens ahead of contentious votes, especially on private members' day when the Greens are in full crossbench mode. Rattenbury ensured he never missed a sitting day last term - he had no choice, since Labor could only govern with his vote. Asked about the voting mishap in the first week of the new term, Rattenbury says that, essentially, "no one had done the procedural thinking".

He says the Greens are sharing a chief of staff and will be working hard to ensure they are given time to discuss their position, allowing Rattenbury to take a joint stance to cabinet, and ensuring their Assembly vote is clear. He's also talking about trying to negotiate a vote-by-vote pair with Labor and the Liberals, so if he's away, especially on private members' day, his vote still counts. "We're going to have to invent a mechanism" to make pairs work, he says. But it's impossible to see either of the major parties wearing this idea, since they both lose from the deal. Rattenbury points to another loss for Labor in the first week, when Labor backbenchers "dreamed up" a number of inquiry topics and tried to refer them to the newly establishedcommittees. The Liberals and the Greens combined to block the move, saying they hadn't been consulted and although there was nothing wrong with the inquiry ideas and the Labor backbenchers were simply keen to get to work, Labor should respect the right of the committees to meet and sort out their priorities before receiving referrals. Rattenbury's take-out message from the week is that Labor needs to "not take the Greens for granted". For the Liberals, there's clearly a chink here for them to exploit. While Coe is more socially conservative than his predecessor, a characteristic you would think would drive the Greens and Liberals further apart, Rattenbury says he has already signalled a more cooperative relationship than Jeremy Hanson. Hanson, he says, was combative in the chamber and dismissive of the idea of working with the Greens, insisting that Rattenbury could not play the role of crossbencher and cabinet member at the same time.
Besieged senator Rod Culleton has been declared bankrupt in a Federal Court hearing in Perth, jeopardising his position in the Senate.

The decision is the result of legal action brought against Senator Culleton by a creditor, former Wesfarmers director Peter Lester, seeking $280,000.

The constitution prohibits federal parliamentarians from being bankrupt. The judge has granted a 21-day stay on the order.

Senator Culleton recently quit One Nation after weeks of public tension over policy differences and the party's support for an unrelated legal action against him - concerning his eligibility to run at the July election - in the High Court.
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in the original Star Wars. Credit:Twentieth Century Fox United Airlines issued a statement saying the flight was met on the ground by medical personnel after the crew reported that a passenger was "unresponsive," but the airline did not name the stricken passenger. "Our thoughts are with our customer at this time," the statement read. Just prior to arrival, a pilot told the control tower that passengers who were nurses were attending to another "unresponsive" passenger." "So they're working on her right now," the pilot said in a public recording of the conversation on liveatc.net.

Twitter messages posted by other passengers aboard the plane reported that Fisher had fallen ill, with one saying she had stopped breathing. "Don't know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home. Hope she's gonna be OK," wrote filmmaker and YouTuber Anna Akana. Comedian Brad Gage wrote, "I'm in complete shock. Anna Akana and I sat in front of Carrie Fisher on our flight from London and she was just taken off the plane by EMTs". The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that they responded to a call from the airport, but would not release any additional information, including the name, age or gender of the patient. "At 12:11 pm the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call from LAX for a patient that was in cardiac arrest," Erik Scott, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, told USA Today.

"Firefighter paramedics provided advanced life support and aggressively treated the patient whom was transported to a local hospital." Celebrities immediately took to social media to express their well-wishes for Fisher, including her Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill. Fisher has been making waves recently promoting her latest memoir, The Princess Diarist, based on the diaries she kept while starring in the original Star Wars film as a 19-year-old. In the book she reveals, among other things, that she and her co-star Harrison Ford had an affair on the set that they kept secret for decades. She reprised her world-famous role in the seventh film of the sci-fi series, The Force Awakens, which hit theatres in December 2015. She also appears in the upcoming Episode VIII, which is in post-production and set for release in December 2017.

Star Wars co-star Mark Hammill was among those to post their wishes.

Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie, who played Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens, wrote: "The whole world is sending you so much love! Sending you the universe's most powerful Force." Warwick Davis, the Ewok Wicket from Return of the Jedi, tweeted a picture of himself with Fisher. Fisher is the daughter of famous Hollywood couple Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

Fisher is considered Hollywood royalty who has written and spoken openly about her struggles in Hollywood. She took on her prickly relationship with her mother in the book-to-movie Postcards From the Edge. She's also been outspoken about her mental-health issues and the solution she's found  radical-sounding electroshock therapy. She made her big-screen debut as a teenager in the 1975 comedy Shampoo. Her big break came in 1977 as the intrepid Princess Leia, her hair twisted into braided side buns, in the first of the Star Wars movies. Fisher made headlines in November with the disclosure that she had a three-month love affair with her Star Wars co-star, actor Harrison Ford, who played the swashbuckling pilot Han Solo, during the making of the original film in 1976. Loading She reprised her Princess Leia role in two sequels and returned last year in Disney's reboot of the franchise, The Force Awakens, appearing as the more matronly General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance movement fighting the evil First Order.
An adult woman has been diagnosed with measles in Brisbane's north, Metro North Public Health Unit confirmed.

The woman from Camp Mountain visited a number of businesses while she was unknowingly infectious.

A case of measles has been confirmed in Brisbane's north. Credit:US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

She went to the Samford IGA, Samford Caltex and Samford Patisserie on December 15-16, Spokes Cafe on December 17, Aspley Medical Centre on December 21 and The Prince Charles Hospital emergency department on December 22.

The public health unit is now working with the businesses and healthcare centres the woman visited, Public Health physician Dr Mekala Srirajalingam said.
Vending machines that spit out free boxes of tampons will be installed across Queensland as part of a new project.

Queensland charity Share the Dignity will install 10 of the "Pink Box" vending machines in locations such as the 139 Club in Fortitude Valley, the Southport domestic violence court, the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Townsville.

Share the Dignity's Rochelle Courtney and Housing Minister Mick de Brenni with a Pink Box. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Launching the pilot site at Bracken Ridge McDonald's on Friday, Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtney described it as an Australian-first to help women experiencing homelessness and domestic violence.

"We will ensure that every woman who is experiencing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence will have one less thing to worry about - and that will be experiencing her period without having the basic necessities," Ms Courtney said.
Hero: Trainee cop Luca Scata, 29, who shot dead the Berlin attacker. Speaking in black-hooded windbreaker on an iron bridge with white railing and scrawled graffiti, he called on Muslims in Europe to rise up and strike at "crusaders." "God willing, we will slaughter you like pigs," he said in the video, whose date and location was not given. Berlin attack suspect Anis Amri pledged his allegiance to terror group ISIS in a video. He added, "to my brothers everywhere, fight for the sake of Allah. Protect our religion. Everyone can do this in their own way. People who can fight should fight, even in Europe."

Italian police cordon off an area around the body of terror suspect Anis Amri. Credit:Daniele Bennati The authenticity of the video could not be independently confirmed, but previous material released by Amaq has been credible. Earlier, a statement carried on Amaq described Amri as inspired by the Islamic State. A visitor lays a candle at a makeshift memorial inside the reopened Breitscheidplatz Christmas market. Credit:Getty Images

In Italy, Minniti said he had phoned the wounded Italian officer, Cristian Movio, and Scata, an agent-in-training. Already, Facebook sites and other social media sites were popping up, including ""give Luca Scata a medal" and "Luca Scata world HERO." "Thanks to him Italians can have a Merry Christmas," Minniti said. A general view of the crime scene in Berlin on Tuesday. Credit:AP Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni told reporters that he called German Chancellor Angela Merkel to relay the news. A German security official briefed on the case said that the Italians had identified Amri via a confirmed fingerprint match.

While Amri's death ended an international manhunt for the suspect who it also raised a whole new set of questions. Amri appeared to travel right under the noses of European authorities, though via a circuitous route, raising questions about how he managed to evade European dragnets for at least two days after authorities had identified him as the prime suspect. After leaving Berlin, Amri is believed to have traveled by train through the French city of Chambery, and appears to have stopped in Turin, Italy, before arriving in Milan, said Alberto Nobili, Coordinator of the Anti-Terrorism department at the District Attorney's office in Milan. Frank, the German prosecutor, said the investigation "continues with high intensity." The main aim was to find out which route Amri had taken from Berlin and whether he had any supporters. "These are questions one surely has to ask," he noted.

Nobili said Italian authorities were sharing ballistic information with the Germans to ascertain whether the gun used to shoot the Italian police officer was the same as the one used to slay the Polish driver whose truck Amri is believed to have hijacked on Monday before slamming into the Christmas market. His death in Italy also raised serious questions about the handling of the case by German authorities. German investigators only uncovered their single biggest clue - his wallet with identification left in the truck's cabin - the following day after the attack, suggesting the delay may have facilitated his flight from Germany. "We need to increase international collaboration against terrorism," Gentiloni said. Amaq, the news agency of the Islamic State - which had claimed it inspired Amri - confirmed his death. "The executor of the Berlin attack," it said, was "killed during an exchange of gunfire" with Italian police. Amaq described the wounding of the Italian policeman as Amri's final "attack." By heading to Italy, Amri was, to some extent, retracing his steps. He had first arrived in Europe in April 2011 on the Italian island of Lampedusa, and spent four years in jail in Sicily, where Italian officials believe he was radicalized.

The news came as German police said they had thwarted yet another terrorist attack planned against a shopping mall and arrested two brothers from Kosovo. Authorities detained the brothers, aged 28 and 31, after receiving an intelligence tip-off, according to North Rhine Westphalia police. Security at the Centro Mall in the western German city of Oberhausen has been beefed up. Amri had a criminal record in Europe and his native Tunisia. Sought in his native Tunisia for hijacking a van with a gang of thieves, the Italians jailed him in 2011 for arson and violent assault at his migrant reception center for minors on the isle of Sicily. There, his family noted, the boy who once drank alcohol - and never went to mosque - suddenly got religion. He began to pray, asking his family to send him religious books. The Italian Bureau of Prisons submitted a report to a government anti-terrorism commission on Amri's rapid radicalization, warning that he was embracing dangerous ideas of Islamist extremism and had threatened Christian inmates, according to an Italian government official with knowledge of the situation. The dossier was first reported by ANSA, the state-run Italian news service.

The Italians tried to deport Amri but couldn't. They sent his fingerprints and photo to the Tunisian consulate, but the authorities there refused to recognize Amri as a citizen. The Italians, officials there say, could not even establish his true identity. Italy's solution: After four years in jail, they released him anyway - giving him seven days to leave the country. He had previously known links to Islamist extremists, and German efforts to deport him also failed because Tunisia had initially refused to take him back. The night before the attack, Amri called his family in Tunisia, as he would nearly every weekend. His birthday - on Thursday - was fast approaching, and he seemed animated. "What's the weather like? Is it raining? What are you having for dinner?" his sister, Sayida Amri, 36, in his bleak home town of Oueslatia, Tunisia, recalled him asking Sunday. He asked her, she said, to pass the phone to his youngest niece, Zeinab - 4 years old. "Do you even know who I am?" he asked her.

His case suggests two critical realities of modern terrorism that present major new challenges, especially in Europe. The cumbersome, sometimes flawed system of deportation and asylum - mixed with open borders - has made it exceedingly easy for radicalized Islamists to operate on the continent. Yet Amri is also the latest suspect to have emerged from a disconcerting counter terrorism gap in both Europe and the United States. In case after case - including that of the German Christmas market attack - authorities have come forward after the fact to say that they had enough cause to place the suspect under surveillance well before the violence. But never enough to move in for an arrest. This has been true of the majority of lone-wolf terrorism plots over the past several years. The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, had been under FBI investigation for 10 months.

The bureau had also tracked but had been unable to build a case against the Boston Marathon bombers or the plotters who targeted a contest to draw cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. The same was true with Amri. Several months ago, during a surveillance operation monitoring radical Islamic preachers, German authorities intercepted a communication, which, in retrospect, appeared to forecast Amri's violent intent. They would not disclose the precise wording, but two German officials with knowledge of the investigation said the intercept was not straightforward enough to directly indicate an imminent threat. "He never made such a clear statement during this interaction, which could have led to the conclusion that he would become a martyr," one of the officials said.

Amri fell into a dangerous gray zone - he was on the US no-fly list a month ago, and Germans had linked him to a radical network led by Abu Walaa, a 32-year-old of Iraqi descent arrested in November on charges of recruiting and sending fighters from Germany to the Islamic State. Amri had also been under police surveillance for several months until September of this year, because he was suspected of planning a burglary in Berlin to finance the purchase of weapons. The suspicion wasn't confirmed, however, and authorities found him guilty only of being a small-time drug dealer. "This kind of super-low-tech, improvised thing is hard," said Rafael Bossong, research associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. "The guy didn't buy any weapons. He didn't give off absolutely clear signals. The question is, how do you definitely prevent that?" Amri appears to have attempted to manipulate the German asylum system - an inundated bureaucracy clogged with a backlog of more than 400,000 cases following the arrival of 1.2 million asylum seekers over the course of the past two years. According to Der Spiegel, he claimed to be Egyptian and to have suffered persecution there when applying for asylum in Germany in April. When officials questioned him, he could not answer basic questions about his alleged home country. They checked their data system and found that he had been registered under several aliases and birthdays. By July, his asylum request was rejected.
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Its the most pun-derful time of the year!

Brooklyn Paper Radio marked its annual (and first-ever) pre-Christmas show by celebrating the nifty wordplay that readers have come to expect from their beloved broadsheet-shaped tabloid.

The show decided to review its greatest hits after Bklyner Editor Donny Levit posted his own year-end tribute, 28 Brooklyn Paper Puns That Made Us Cringe In 2016.

Naturally, radio hosts Gersh Kuntzman and Vince DiMiceli had a homonym to pick with Levit. DiMiceli offered Levit a pointed defense of all puns, which, of course, are beloved by Brooklyn Paper readers, and as necessary to good journalism as thick shoe leather.

Caffeine free: Artist opens cash-optional coffee shop in Williamsburg, DiMiceli read, referring to a Brooklyn Paper headline of Dec. 8 that referred to a cafe offering coffee for no money.

Thats a great headline, Donny, Kuntzman said. You have to admit it.

He did. And that allowed Kuntzman to share his favorite Brooklyn Paper puns of all time  and it was the same pun three times!

We did Doe-saster when a deer got run over, Kuntzman said. Then we did Dough-saster when a pizzeria blew up. And then we even did Doh-saster when we wrote something about The Simpsons, believe it or not.

Oh, he believed it. But Levit still took exception to DiMicelis Oct. 18 headline that ran atop the Papers coverage of the funeral for District Attorney Kenneth Thompson. Closing statement: Pols, friends eulogize DA Ken Thompson at funeral, the headline ran. The lede particularly bothered Levit: The prosecution rests.

Thats so disrespectful, offered Levit, who is a good guy, by the way.

Its not, replied DiMiceli. Theres no exclamation mark, which would have been disrespectful.

The conversation got as close to heated as a non-trolley discussion could get on Brooklyn Paper Radio, so Kuntzman served as moderator, pointing out that the article was certainly not the only story the Paper had done on the untimely death of Thompson.

This was like the third-day story, offered Kuntzman, who, as an editor at the New York Daily News, certainly knows his way around the issue of tabloid over-reach. Id give them that leeway.

Speaking of over-reach, Kuntzman revealed on the show that his two columns this week slamming Russian President Vladimir Putin have earned him death threats from Russians and Americans alike.

They send me e-mails telling me they know where I live, Kuntzman said. The good news is that Vince has my obit and promises to run it. Vince, we may need to change the lede from Gersh died in a bike accident to Gersh was killed by Russia.

No problem, Gersh, DiMiceli offered.

Its all part of another jam-packed episode of Brooklyn Paper Radio, so take a listen.
World Series collides with TNF: Both feature Philly, Houston teams

Thursday will mark the seventh time a World Series game and NFL game involving teams from the same two cities will play on the same day.
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)
Families need help: Donate and Give a Christmas

During the holiday season, in partnership with NJ 211, we are pleased to offer the Give a Christmas program to Burlington County residents.
Maciej Cegowski (previously) gave this talk, "Superintelligence: The Idea That Eats Smart People," at Web Camp Zagreb last October, spending 45 minutes delving into the origin of the idea that computers are going to become apocalyptic, self-programming, superintelligent basilisks that end all live on Earth (and variations on this theme) and then explaining why this fundamentally evidence-free, fuzzy idea has colonized so many otherwise brilliant people  including people like Stephen Hawking  and why it's an irrational and potentially harmful belief system.



As a science fiction writer, I've spent a fair bit of time noodling with these ideas in both story form and essays: True Names, the novella I wrote with Ben Rosenbaum about this, was nominated for a Hugo Award; and Charlie Stross and I wrote a novel on the theme, Rapture of the Nerds, and then there's my essay on the Singularity as a spiritual belief system that can pass for a scientific prediction.





One thing I'm keenly aware of is that the aesthetic appeal of futuristic Singularity predictions is firmly rooted in the here-and-now: it's nice to think that there is a thing called "progress," and that we're in the midst of it; it's nice to think that when progress outstrips your capacity to make sense of it, it's because it's transcended human comprehension (and not, say, because your time has past and you are becoming irrelevant to a field and discourse you once dominated); it's nice to think that the privilege you enjoy in the midst of great deprivation is in the service to a better future for all humanity, and not a fundamentally unfair situation that you would rise up in fury over if the roles were reversed.

Cegowski's expert puncturing of the arguments for "AI Alarmism" was prompted by philosopher Nick Bostrom's bestselling book Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, which is a fun read but which also palms a lot of cards in the construction of its arguments.

I believe the greater social meaning of AI Alarmism is the twin phenomena of the worry of an ever-larger class of have-nots whose lives are upended by uneven economic returns from technological disruption (in other words, the problem isn't that only some of us have to clean toilets, while all of us have to use them; it's that the dividends from self-cleaning toilets never accrue to the toilet-cleaners they displace); and the blithe dismissal of this worry by an ever-smaller, ever-richer 1%, who use the story of AI as a spiritual belief system that declares this division to be natural, inevitable, and, ultimately, beneficial.

At one point, Bostrom outlines what he believes to be at stake: "If we represent all the happiness experienced during one entire such life with a single teardrop of joy, then the happiness of these souls could fill and refill the Earth's oceans every second, and keep doing so for a hundred billion billion millennia. It is really important that we make sure these truly are tears of joy." That's a heavy thing to lay on the shoulders of a twenty year old developer! There's a parlor trick, too, where by multiplying such astronomical numbers by tiny probabilities, you can convince yourself that you need to do some weird stuff. This business about saving all of future humanity is a cop-out. We had the same exact arguments used against us under communism, to explain why everything was always broken and people couldn't have a basic level of material comfort. We were going to fix the world, and once that was done, happiness would trickle down to the point where everyday life would change for the better for everyone. But it was vital to fix the world first. I live in California, which has the highest poverty rate in the United States, even though it's home to Silicon Valley. I see my rich industry doing nothing to improve the lives of everyday people and indigent people around us. But if you're committed to the idea of superintelligence, AI research is the most important thing you could do on the planet right now. It's more important than politics, malaria, starving children, war, global warming, anything you can think of. Because what hangs in the balance is trillions and trillions of beings, the entire population of future humanity, simulated and real, integrated over all future time. In such conditions, it's not rational to work on any other problem.



Superintelligence: The Idea That Eats Smart People [Maciej Cegowski/Idlewords]
Tata Motors, one of the largest defence equipment suppliers to the armed forces, is confident of bagging the Rs 60,000-crore order to produce and supply future infantry combat vehicles (FICV) to the Indian Army.
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Indias second largest software exporter Ltd is offering paid internship to campus hires before taking them on rolls, a move that that would impact new jobs across the IT sector when hiring by technology services is already at a ten-year low.





"To clarify, the internship programme is over and above the campus hiring and training that we undertake," an spokesperson said on Friday.
The car market seems to be inching back to normalcy after a temporary shock from demonetisation. Suzuki, India's largest car maker, said bookings grew seven% in the first three weeks of December, after shrinking 20% in November.
Several individual shareholders who addressed Tata Motors' EGM (extraordinary general meeting) convened to remove Nusli Wadia from the board on Thursday endorsed the resolution, while a few threatened to sue the Bombay Dyeing patriarch for terming the meetings stage-managed. The outcome of the voting is awaited.

The EGM was attended by hundreds of shareholders and the whole 11-member board, barring Wadia, and chaired by interim chairman Subodh Bhargava. Ratan Tata sat among the shareholders through the entire proceedings of over four hours.

Like Wednesday's Tata Steel EGM, Wadia skipped Thursday's meeting but sent in a note to shareholders that was read at the beginning.

In a regulatory filing, Tata Steel said Wadia had been removed from its board, with 90.8 per cent of shareholders present at Wednesdays EGM voting in favour of his ouster.

Wadia has termed the move to remove him inappropriately and shamefully stage-managed by the Tatas.

I have chosen not to attend the meeting as I understand that recent meetings held of other Tata companies have been inappropriately and shamefully stage-managed by the requisitionist (Tata Sons) controlling the entry into the hall, as also in the selection and choice of speakers as never before seen in Indian corporate history, he wrote to Tata Motors shareholders.

In his introductory remarks, Ishaat Hussain, who is on the board of Tata Sons and also interim chairman of TCS, said as against Wadia's claim that he was asked to join the board by the late JRD Tata whom Wadia has described as his mentor and godfather, he was handpicked by Rata Tata himself and has been on the board for 23 years.

Some shareholders said they wanted to sue Wadia for casting aspersions on the process. "We have to seriously think whether we should not be suing Wadia for doubting our integrity and credibility. What locus standi he has to question the Tatas and us when he has been silent all these 23 years and never raised a finger against any of the activities that the company did? asked a shareholder from Pune.

However, some opposed the resolution to sack Wadia and also Mistrys ouster, saying neither the board nor Ratan Tata have given any evidence against them.
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) on Friday approved the plan to acquire the entire 80 per cent participating interest of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltds (GSPC) block in the Krishna- Godavari basin at $995.26 million.
Friday said it is likely to sign an agreement with the Indian Army for the sale of 3,192 Safari Storme SUVs after the Christmas holidays to replace the iconic Maruti Gypsy that has been serving the land forces for decades.

"We are now exchanging first draft of the contract. We hope that after the Christmas holidays we will be able to sign it," Vernon Noronha, Vice-President, Defence Business, Ltd, said here.

He said the Army was looking for a vehicle with a hard top that runs on diesel and has climate control.

" and Mahindra and Mahindra were the last two to be in the fray and when the envelope opened, we gave a better deal to the Army," he said adding that they have finished with the contract negotiation committee meetings.

While the initial number of vehicles is just 3,192, the Army has over 35,000 gypsies to be replaced.

"We have set our eyes firmly on that," Noronha said.

The Tata Motors official added that if the Army wants any variants, the company will be happy to provide.

Tata Motors is also eyeing the nearly Rs 70,000 crore project for future infantry combat vehicles (FICVs) for the Army.

Two of the five private contenders in the fray, apart from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), will be selected for building the prototype.

The government will fund 80 per cent of the development cost.

The best prototype will then be selected for mass production.

The contenders are L&T, Mahindra, Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering and two consortium of Tata Motors-Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED-Titagarh Wagons.

Once signed, this will be the second major order for Tata Motors this year. They had got a Rs 1,300 crore deal in January to supply high-mobility military trucks for the Army.
Is premium economy becoming a trouble for Vistara? The board of Tata Sons, the largest stakeholder in the airline, certainly feels so and have even asked the airline management to discontinue the service if it proves to be unviable.
My favorite Star Wars characters are the droids, and the best of them all is cantankerous C1-10P, or Chopper from Star Wars Rebels. Seems someone agrees with me, as Chopper was the one Rebels character to make the jump to live-action in Rogue One.

MovieWeb shares more backstory:

StarWars.com caught up with Lucasfilm Story Group's Matt Martin to chat about the exciting Easter eggs scattered through the movie's two hour runtime. He actually had the prevlage of operating Chopper while the droid's scene was shot on Yavin 4. He says this about the experience.

"It was really surreal. I wasn't actually there for the purpose of operating a droid. The Rogue One production team asked to have Chop shipped over and we were more than happy to do so. An animated character in a live action movieand it's OUR Chopper! Awesome! A few weeks later I was sent over to help produce some behind-the-scenes content for StarWars.com and it happened to be when they were shooting in the Yavin set. I saw my buddy Chopper sitting there with all the other droids, as well as some of my friends who were brought onto the production to build and operate the droids. When Chopper was called in for one of the scenes, Lee Towersey on the droid team just handed me Chop's control and said, "You know how to do this, right?" You can't really tell since it's so brief in the film, but the scene was actually really intense. It was the most challenging droid-driving I've ever done. There had to be at least 30 extras running around, as well as a little personnel transport thing, and I had to make sure Chop didn't crash into any of them or impede their motion. It was very nerve-wracking at first, especially because I was in a position where I couldn't see very well. Eventually I found my way up onto a gantry and things were a bit easier. I'm pretty sure I never ruined a take, but one time Genevieve O'Reilly [Mon Mothma] accidentally bumped into the droid, she looked around, spotted me holding the control on the gantry and mouthed, "I'm sorry!" I'd expect nothing less from a former senator. So thanks to Lee and the rest of the crew for allowing me to be a VERY small part of the production without any sort of qualifications. It'll be one of the highlights of my life, for sure."
The Tata Chemicals extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Friday was following the familiar script played out at other group companies EGMs earlier this week until Tata Sons Interim Chairman Ratan Tata chose to speak for the first time two months after Cyrus Mistrys ouster on October 24.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of on Thursday raided houses and offices of seven state government officials across the state.

"The surprise raids were conducted in Bellary, Bengaluru, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, Dakshina Kannada and Davangere districts," said the ACB.

Inspector General of Police MA Saleem and Additional Director General of Police Gagan Deep of the watchdog supervised the searches in all the six districts.

The officials under the scanner are Pampapthi, Principal, Training Centre, Bellary; Basavaraju, Assistant Director, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Bengaluru; HR Rechanna, Teacher, Chamarajanagar; HL Puttalingaiah, Assistant Engineer, Irrigation, Chitradurga; Govinda Naik, FDA, Taluk office, Belthangadi, Leelavathi HB, Senior Women Health Assistant, Panchalakatte Health Centre, Dakshina Kannada and Umesh N Patil, Assistant Executive Engineer, Davanagere.

"The searches were conducted on credible information that the accused officials were having assets disproportionate to their legal income," said the Bureau.

The officials were found to possess huge properties, including farmlands, residential and commercial sites, buildings, gold jewellery and silver ornaments, unaccounted cash, cars, bank deposits, lockers and foreign currency, besides incriminating documents in support of the graft charges.
China will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as "supporting terrorism", Chinese official media today said and suggested India to accept the "olive branch" extended by a top Pakistani military General to participate in the USD 46 billion economic corridor.

"Surprise aside (over General's call), New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," said an articlein the state-run Global Times.

The comments came after Lt Gen Riaz, Commander of the Pakistan's Southern Command which is based in Quetta, this week reportedly said India should "shun enmity" with Pakistan and "join the USD 46-billion along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits".

"Such an opportunity could be transient. There is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the will quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if New Delhi does not respond in a timely manner to the General's overture," the article said.

"The best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus," it said.

It said that India could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the . In addition, the northern part of India bordering Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir will gain more economic growth momentum if India joins the project, it said.

Another article in the same daily said "Riaz's invitation, which came as a surprise to New Delhi, is mainly intended as a gesture. While he hinted at India's intervention in the CPEC, he welcomed India's participation in the project, demonstrating Pakistan does not want to exclude India."



At the same time, it said, "if any country wants to label Pakistan as 'supporting terrorism' and discredit the country, then China and other countries who uphold justice will oppose such behaviour strongly".

The article said that since President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in April, 2015, the CPEC has advanced considerably.

"However, some international forces, and India in particular, are accustomed to look at the CPEC and the One Belt and One Road initiative from a geopolitical perspective. On one side, this is relevant to the geopolitical competition mindset they insist on, on the other, this is because of their excessive speculation on the strategic implications of the CPEC and the Belt and Road," it said.

"To ensure the smooth advancement of the CPEC, it is necessary for Pakistan to have a stable and peaceful domestic and periphery environment and a favourable profile," it said.

On anti-terrorism, the Afghanistan peace process, and the peace and stability of Kashmir, Pakistan is making efforts to show international society its wish to pursue peace, it said.

"The CPEC is not only a bilateral cooperation, but also a multilateral project in the long-run, which aims at regional economic integration. So it's open and inclusive, and China and Pakistan hope India,Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries can participate and become stakeholders," it added.
Aamir Khan's wrestling drama has been made tax free in Uttar Pradesh.

A decision to this effect was taken by the state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Thursday, an official spokesman said on Friday.

The tax exemption is in keeping with government policies, the spokesman said.

The film, based on the life of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and directed by Nitesh Tiwari released in the theatres on Friday.
The Delhi Police on Thursday arrested a manager of a marketing company and his friend for allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman in west Delhi's Dwarka area.

The woman, a resident of Gurugram in Haryana, was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital here on Wednesday night along with her boyfriend Himmat after they fell from a building in Dwarka area and got injured.

Police said that both, the woman and Himmat, were drunk when admitted to hospital.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Surender Kumar told IANS that the woman alleged that she was raped by her boyfriend and his friend Sunil, a cab driver.

"On inquiry, we found that the woman and Himmat accidentally fell from the window of the building where they consumed alcohol during a party," the officer said.

He said the woman met Himmat at Kapashera, near Delhi-Gurugram border, on Wednesday. Himmat's friend Sunil joined them later and took them to his flat in Dwarka.

The officer said Himmat and Sunil have been arrested and a rape case has been registered against the accused.

"We are still probing how the woman and her friend fell from the building, and whether she was raped or it was a consensual act," the officer said.
A division bench of the Delhi High Court on Friday reversed a July 8 verdict by a single judge restraining Prius Auto Industries, a Delhi-based an automotive accessories company, from using the 'Prius' trademark for its products after upholding a challenge earlier made by Japanese car maker Motor Corp.

The July 8 verdict had found Prius Auto guilty of infringing on Toyota's goodwill and reputation, by selling car spare parts under the name 'Prius', a trade name for Toyota's hybrid vehicles and thereby gaining customers who were familiar with Toyota's reputation. The judgment restrained the Prius Auto from manufacturing, selling, or using the trademarks "Prius", "Toyota" and "Innova". In addition, the court had also directed Prius Auto to pay Rs 10 lakh to as compensation for the infringement.



After the single judge determination, Prius Auto had challenged the interpretation of well-known trademarks, taken by to secure the judgment and had submitted before the division bench that such trademarks had to be determined in context to a similar class of goods and in a relevant geographical market.
The I-T Department is considering criminal proceedings against property dealer Mahesh Shah, who declared Rs 13,860 crore under an Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) but later said it belonged to some "big fish" whom he would name only to I-T officials.

The Income-Tax Department officials on Thursday remained silent on whether the 67-year-old businessman had so far provided any information about his declared amount.

"We suspected his intentions from day one and so rejected his claim beforehand. We also did not include his declaration as part of the IDS figures announced," Chief Commissioner of Income Tax B.D. Gupta told reporters here.

Shah came to the limelight after he declared an unaccounted income of Rs 13,860 crore under the IDS. However, he disappeared without paying the first instalment of the Rs 1,560 crore tax on the amount.

He later reappeared before the media and made a statement that the amount he disclosed did not belong to him but he was a tool in the hands of some big fish who promised him a hefty "commission".

The I-T officials said they would now initiate criminal proceedings against Shah and his chartered accountant Taihmul Shethna for "false" declaration.

"We have sent in a report to the nodal authorities (Central Board of Direct Taxes) and now any further action is out of our purview. However, we are going to initiate criminal proceedings against Shah and his chartered accountant under the Indian Penal Code," P.C. Modi, Director General-Investigation of Income Tax, Gujarat, said.

The I-T officials also refused to divulge any details about the findings from Surat-based snacks-seller-turned-financier Kishore Bhajiyawala.

"We cannot give you any figures, as his is not the only case. We are flooded with several similar types of Bhajiyawalas and shall be able to share more details in January," Modi said.

Some figures suggest that the I-T department had unearthed "undisclosed" wealth to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore from Bhajiyawala.

On the misuse of Jan-Dhan Accounts to convert "illegal" money into legal currency, the I-T officials claimed that so far they had "not" come across any such case in Gujarat.

Several reports, however, suggested that post-demonetisation, deposits in Jan-Dhan accounts in the state had reached roughly around Rs 3,560 crore -- up from Rs 1,687 crore before November 8, 2016, when was announced.
The inter-ministerial task force, set up by Narendra Modi government to look into strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, discussed ways to fast-track hydropower projects of 8,500 Mw-capacity in Jammu and Kashmir during its first meeting held here on Friday.

Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra, the meet was attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar as well chief secretaries of Punjab and J&K.

"The issues of fast-tracking implementation of hydroelectricity projects in Jammu and Kashmir were discussed during the meeting. We discussed what will be the ways of financing and structuring of the projects," top sources said.

These projects including Tulbul Navigation, intended at developing India's rights over both eastern and western rivers, will require consent of government of Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to get back to the task force next month on the issues discussed, they said.

"We will take it forward only when there is consent of the Jammu and Kashmir government. The state's representative did not have mandate. So, the representative will speak to their chief minister (Mehbooba Mufti) and after that we can take the implementation forward," they added.

India has identified setting up hydroelectricity projects of a total of 18,000 Mw capacity. Of these, 3,000 Mw have already been established.

The Centre now intends at further development of 1,800 Mw capacity projects including Ratle (850 Mw) in the first phase. In the second phase, 5,500 Mw capacity projects are expected to be developed.

"These projects are on both the Eastern (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) and Western rivers (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum). We will develop capacities in accordance with our rights under the water distribution pact," the sources added.

Meanwhile, on asked about the government's meeting with World Bank expert to discuss Pakistan's objection over Kishenganga (330 Mw capacity) and Ratle projects being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said a communique to this regard is "awaited".

Pakistan had in September approached World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under . It had then demanded the international lender to set up a Court of Arbitration to look into the matter.

Refuting the claims made by Pakistan, India had asserted that the project design is "well within parameters" of the treaty and urged the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert as the issue is a "technical matter" as suggested in the treaty.

The international lender had then set up two separate mechanisms of COA as well as the neutral expert, which India objected to. The mechanisms were then "paused" by the Bank in view of the objections.

The inter-ministerial task force was formally formed last week, nearly three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the 56-year-old water distribution pact with Pakistan in the aftermath of series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack.

In that meeting, it was also decided that India would exploit to the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers including Jhelum.

Under the IWT, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 and to which the World Bank is also a party, the global body has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
Lt. Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung during a meeting on Dengue, Chikungunya at Raj Niwas in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

In a surprise move, Delhi's Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, who had a running battle with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, resigned on Thursday, without any reason, leaving the city and central government and most parties taken aback.

A brief statement released by the Lt Governor's Office did not say why the 66-year-old former IAS officer had called it quits but quoted him as saying that he would return to academics, "his first love".

In the statement, Jung thanked both Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kejriwal for their association with him.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was his personal decision and wished him all the best, the Congress questioned if a deal was struck between Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jung became the Lt Governor on July 9, 2013 when a Congress-led coalition was in office. The Modi government retained him even as it replaced most Governors in the states, raising eyebrows.

Kejriwal, who was in Ranchi, immediately telephoned Jung and later said his exit "is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours".

AAP sources said Kejriwal was likely to call on Jung on Friday.

The central government, which appoints the Lt Governor, was equally taken aback.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told the media that he had met Jung on Tuesday but the latter gave no inkling of his thinking.

Jung thanked the people of Delhi too for "their support and affection, especially during the one year's President Rule" leading to the assembly elections that led to an AAP victory in February 2015.

Congress Delhi chief Ajay Maken termed Jung's resignation as an "unceremonious exit" and asked the Central government to explain the reason behind it.

"We feel there has been a deal between the BJP and AAP because of which he has been made to leave. The central government should come out clean," he added.

Hailing Jung's work, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wished him all the best for his future endeavours.

Bharatiya Janata Party secretary Sardar R.P. Singh termed Jung's resignation as his personal decision, saying: "In his resignation letter, he has said that he want to pursue academics again, it is his personal decision. And we respect that decision."

A former Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, Jung gave no reason for his dramatic decision to step down, not even to his official advisors.

He directly sent the resignation to the union Home Ministry through a special messenger.

His advisor Ajay Chaudhary said he and his colleagues were not aware of Jung's move. "It was surprising," the official told India Today news channel.

Informed sources said Jung, who could take up an academic job abroad, also wanted to spend more time with his family.

Former Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal's name emerges as the front-runner for the post of Lt Governor in Delhi.

Speculations are also rife that former Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi could also be among the choices for the post.

Jung's tenure was marked by a sharp escalation in tensions between his office, which reported to the union Home Ministry, and the AAP government of Kejriwal.

What began as a turf war turned into an often nasty confrontation between Jung and Kejriwal over who is the boss in Delhi, which, although a state, does not enjoy parity with other states.

The central government, through the Lt Governor, controls Delhi Police, law and order and issues related to land in the capital.

Jung made it a point to question almost every decision taken by the Kejriwal government, often declaring many of them null and void. Kejriwal repeatedly accused Jung of being "a Modi agent".

The recurring Jung-Kejriwal battle was decided in favour of the former on August 4 by the Delhi High Court. The AAP government has moved the Supreme Court, where the matter is yet to be decided.

Jung had reportedly confident to friends that he would quit if the Supreme Court decided the turf war in favour of the Kejriwal government.
The Chocolate Watch Band perform "Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In)" in this excerpt from the 1967 LSD exploitation film, The Love-Ins.

Here's the full movie:

YouTube description:

Jonathan Barnett (Richard Todd) is a Timothy Leary-esque university professor who resigns his position in protest when publication of the school underground newspaper is halted by the Dean and its publishers Larry (James MacArthur) and Patrica (Susan Oliver), are expelled. He appears on conservative broadcaster Joe Pyne's television program where he is grilled over his belief in the consciousness-raising properties of LSD.

Pyne suggests that Barnett move to Haight Street where he can be closer to the freaks he so obviously loves. Barnett moves in with Larry, Patricia and about ten other people in a Haight Street apartment also housing Elliot (Mark Goddard), an in-name-only hippie who makes money by selling banana peels to the kids for five dollars and ounce and likes to make jokes about the stock market. He suggests to Barnett that there would be money to be made selling Barnett to the hippies as a new age guru. Soon Barnett is dressing in white robes and preaching his mantra of "Be More, Sense More, Love More."

One night Patricia has a bad LSD trip where she becomes convinced that she is Alice in Wonderland, leading to a ridiculous musical production number, the likes of which have absolutely no place in a movie like this. When Larry confronts Barnett over Patricia's somewhat dangerous yet totally embarrassing trip, Barnett refuses to renounce the use of LSD which creates a schism in the once-happy group.

The hippies in this film are treated like a separate species despite being the main characters in the film. There's an early scene where sightseers on a tour bus snap photos of the hippies on Haight Street like they were monkeys in a zoo. It's remarkably similar to a scene in John Water's MULTIPLE MANIACS (1970) where tourists pay to gawk at members of the counterculture, but where Waters was satirizing the attitudes of society towards those they perceive as different, Katzman and company are playing it completely straight.

Also suspect is the film's depiction of drug use. LSD is the drug of choice and not only are the hippies high on it all the time but one hit and the characters in the film are either flailing about wildly on the lawn, jumping out of windows or becoming convinced that they've become Alice in Wonderland (I'm honestly not sure which is worse). For a film that only runs 85 minutes there's a remarkable amount of padding. The scene where Barnett first arrives in town and observes the hippies doing their thing while obviously all stoned out of their minds seems to go on longer than the entire Summer of Love. And then there's that Alice in Wonderland sequence. I give the filmmakers credit for wanting to do something different than the usual light show representing an LSD trip but this was a really crazy idea that should have never made it past the first draft of the screenplay. It stands as a classic "What were they thinking" moment and is easily the most memorable part of the film, although I'm sure not in the way anyone intended. For all its faults (and they are legion) I still think the film should be seen not as a snapshot of the time it was made, but a snapshot of the attitudes of those that made it. It's a classic case of an established producer and a major studio (Columbia) teaming up to pander to and criticize its audience at the same time. The result may be somewhat offensive but it's never boring. It's like HAIR as written by Glenn Beck. Groovy".
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday issued a fresh attachment order worth Rs 44 crore in connection with its money laundering probe in the Madurai granite scam case in Tamil Nadu.

The agency, in a statement, said it has "provisionally attached" properties worth Rs 44 crores of Ms Aiswariya Rock Exports Madurai and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"The agency had similarly attached assets worth Rs 528 crore in the same probe case few days back. It booked a criminal case of money laundering in the latest case against two people and their firms after taking cognisance of three police FIRs.

"During the investigation under PMLA, it was noticed that one Sankaranarayanan and PKM Selvam were running two firms M S Granites and Ms Sri Aiswariya Rock Export and they have entered into a criminal conspiracy to illegally quarry multi-colour granite stones from the non-lease hold lands.

"They have also resorted to illegal quarrying from the government Poramboke lands by removing the boundary stones erected by the Revenue department.They used various machinery and explosive materials, without adhering to statutory obligations and safety precautions causing harm to human lives.

"They forged and fabricated documents for transporting illegally acquired granite blocks so as to cheat the statutory authorities and to camouflage illegally earned income," it said.

The agency added that investigation conducted by it so far revealed the said firms are selling the illegally mined granite blocks in the international/domestic market in excess of the declared quantity and realised the sale proceeds.

"The same were reinvested in the acquisition of the immovable properties, capital goods among others and got further additional revenues.Thus, the proceeds of crime were integrated and projected as money acquired through legitimate business," the agency said.

The two individuals, it said, "Utilising the said crime proceeds, acquired immovable properties in their personal names, in the name of their spouses and in the name of their firms.It was also noticed that the crime proceeds were also invested in certain fixed deposits.

"Investigations revealed that proceeds of crime were invested in 31 immovable properties having a market value of over Rs 43 crores and in 37 fixed deposits to the tune of Rs 1.52 crores.

"As these properties are involved in money laundering, the said 31 Immovable properties and 37 fixed deposits have been provisionally attached under the provisions of PMLA," it said.

An attachment of assets action under PMLA is aimed to deprive the accused of taking benefits of their suspected ill-gotten wealth and such an order issued by the agency can be appealed before the Adjudicating Authority of the said Act within 180 days.

The granite scam came to the fore after the then District Collector U Sagayam in a report in May 2012 pegged the loss to the exchequer due to illegal granite quarrying in the district at about Rs 16,000 crore.
With Income Tax department cracking the whip on black money hoarders, several Indians are reportedly sending their illegitamte cash in new notes to Bangladesh via coal assignments.
Odisha Chief Minister was on Thursday left air-borne in a chopper for about 45 minutes, following which an executive engineer in Koraput district was suspended on charges of dereliction in his duty.

After completing his programme at Jeypore, Patnaik left for Kotpad at 12.40 pm and was scheduled to arrive at 12.55 pm but he could not land until 1.35 pm at Kotpad, a senior state official said.

The Public Works Department - entrusted to prepare the helipad for landing of the Chief Minister's chopper - had to provide the details of the location, including the latitude, longitude and altitude, but could not provide timely information to the pilot resulting in the delay, the official said.

The pilot kept scouting for the location and the chief minister remained mid-air for 45 minutes, the official added.

Following the development, the Executive Engineer of Jeypore division was placed under suspension, Works Department Secretary Nalin Kanta Pradhan said.

The official's name was not given.

Earlier, at Jeypore the chief minister had reiterated his government's commitment for tribal development.

"Even though the Centre stopped the special KBK fund, to ensure that development work is not hampered in this region, my government launched Biju KBK fund to strengthen infrastructure like road, electricity and safe drinking water at villages. Obstacles to development of the region will not be tolerated," Patnaik said in his address in a bid to woo the tribal votes.

"All round development of tribals is the priority of my government and several steps have been taken in this regard. To increase tribal female literacy rate, capacity of hostels in tribal residential schools are being increased," he added.

The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various projects, including a 100-bedded tribal girls hostel, mini-stadium, sub-stations, bus terminal.

He also affirmed there will no crunch of funds in the state's (Kalahandi Balangir Koraput) KBK districts.
Interested candidates can apply through the official website of the . Last date to apply for the posts is extended to December 30, 2016
In a bid to decongest the roads, the government may allow registration of vehicles only after production of availability certificate to the authorities.

Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu also said that in future, permission would not be given for any construction unless it has a provision for toilets.

"In future, it would be mandated (that) no permission would be given to any construction without a toilet... No car or vehicle should be registered without adequate availability certificate," Naidu, the union urban development minister, said.

Underlining he was "very keen" to put in place such riders for vehicles' registration, Naidu said that his ministry was in discussions with Surface Transport Ministry in this regard.

"I am holding discussions with Nitin Gadkari and also sensitising the states. We are moving in that direction (to get such a mechanism implemented)," he said.

Earlier, he also launched 'Google toilet locator' that would help people search toilets in Delhi-NCR as well as Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

The minister said the Google platform offers over 6,200 public toilet locations, including their availability in shopping malls, hospitals, bus and train stations, petrol pumps and metro stations.

Naidu said the objective of achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status for cities and towns entails not only construction of toilets but also ensuring the regular usage.

Urban Development Ministry has partnered with Google and August Communications to provide the location of toilets on Google Maps Platform.

"We have already collated community and public toilet data in 5 cities of NCR (Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida) and two cities from MP (Indore and Bhopal). In fact, the Delhi-NCR region alone has more than 5,100 toilets listed," he said.
A day after Rahul Gandhi hurled corruption charges, Prime Minister on Thursday mocked at him, asking where was the "earthquake" the Congress leader had been threatening. But an unrelenting Gandhi reiterated his allegations.

"There is a youth leader in the Congress who has just learnt to speak. I am glad he has started to speak now," the Prime Minister said sarcastically at an event at the Banaras Hindu University, triggering loud cheers.

"In 2009, it was very difficult to find out what was inside this packet. Good he has started speaking.

"Had he not spoken, the county would have faced a big earthquake. And the country could not have recovered for 10 years," Modi added in his Lok Sabha constituency.

Gandhi had been threatening for days to make damning disclosures against Modi that he said would cause an "earthquake". On Wednesday, he said in Gujarat that Income Tax documents showed Modi took bribes from corporates when he was the state Chief Minister.

Later, at another event after inaugurating a super-speciality 150-bed hospital in Varanasi, Modi likened the attacks on his government over the note ban to the cover fire given by the Pakistan Army to help terrorists sneak into India.

"After all the 'too-too-main-main' in Parliament recently, I often wondered why all this till I realised this was being done to provide cover fire to protect some corrupt people," he said.

"Never had I anticipated such stiff opposition over demonetisation."

The Prime Minister's onsalaught came after the entire winter session of Parliament was virtually washed out over demonetisation of high value currency that has led to an unprecedented cash crunch in the country.

He alleged that some politicians and political parties were siding with the corrupt and those hoarding black money.

"Chalo achcha hua, isi bahane logon ka kala dhan aur kala mann bahar aa raha hai (It's good to see that both black money and those with evil intentions are getting exposed)," Modi said.

Modi was on a day-long trip to Varanasi where he laid foundation stones of several projects and addressed Bharatiya Janata Party activists.

Hours after his first Varanasi jibe, Gandhi hit back.

Addressing a "Jan Aakrosh" rally in Bahraich, also in election-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Congress leader said: "Make as much fun of me as you like... but answer my question.

"Today the Prime Minister mocked at me but did not answer my questions. I will ask the same question again. Did you indulge in corruption or not?"

Gandhi reiterated that seized Income Tax department documents showed that Modi got kickbacks of Rs 65 crore from two corporate houses and asked him to come clean on this.

He vowed to raise the issue in Parliament too.

"He (Modi) got kickbacks in nine instalments over a period of six months. On November 22, 2014 there was a raid on Sahara. The Income Tax Department raided them and seized their records," Gandhi alleged.

"This record is with the Income Tax department for two-and-a-half years. Income Tax people had said there should be a probe into this. There is one more record of the Birla Group... 'Gujarat CM (to be paid) Rs 25 crore, Rs 12 crore paid, the rest?' This is what is written there," Gandhi added.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded to know why the Congress did not rake up corruption charges against then Gujarat Chief Minister in 2013.

This could be because of a "deal" between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said in a video statement.

A Congress-led coalition ruled India from 2004 to 2014, when Modi became the Prime Minister.

Later, addressing a rally in Ranchi, Kejriwal reiterated his allegations that Modi took huge bribes when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister. On Wednesday, he sought a Supreme Court monitored probe into the allegations.
Around 213,000 farmers have activated mobile banking accounts and about 81,000 are now using e-wallets on their mobile phones across India, according to the National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies.


The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is likely to award around 31 oil and gas blocks to various bidders out of 46 contract areas (or 67 per cent) which were put on offer. A final nod for awarding the contract areas to the selected bidders in discovered small and marginal field (DSF) auction will happen only by the third week of January.
The curious case of Kolkata-based realtor Paras Mal Lodha, his association with Delhi lawyer Rohit Tandon and Chennai-based sand mining baron Shekhar Reddy, is a tale worthy of a best-selling crime thriller, not only because of the amount of money involved, but also because it has caused ripples in both Delhi and Tamil Nadu.
Months before demonetisation, in February-March, the Madhya Pradesh and Haryana state governments had approached the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) to evaluate Pune-based NGO ArthaKrantis proposals, which include the withdrawal of high-denomination notes.

The initial queries for conducting the research from the two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state governments went to NIPFP around February and March. Work on the research formally commenced around July. But, the complete report on the evaluation of the proposals was not submitted to the state governments by the time the Union government announced the on November 8. NIPFP did put out a working paper in the public domain on November 14 discussing the impacts of .

NIPFP is a New Delhi-based think tank set up as an autonomous society, at the joint initiative of the Union ministry of finance, erstwhile Planning Commission, several state governments and academics.

The Madhya Pradesh government responded to Business Standard queries saying that it asked NIPFP to carry out an Assessment of proposals outlined in the document Exploring ArthaKranti  A path to Fiscal Consolidation.

When asked what prompted the state government to request NIPFP to carry out the research, the government replied, ArthaKranti Pratishtan, Maharastra knowledge Corporation Limited had prepared a report for exploring ArthaKranti-A path to Fiscal Consolidation in 2013. The Commercial Tax Department of Government of Madhya Pradesh felt that this report needs to be examined further since the report focuses on a substitute alignment of the system of laying and levying taxes. Hence, a more in-depth analysis by NIPFP would be in order. In the context above the State Government has executed an agreement with NIPFP to conduct an assessment of the proposal outlined in the document.

Under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, state governments have no role or power in either withdrawal of currency or by any route. The Acts provision 26 (2) reads, On recommendation of the Central Board the Central Government may, by notification in the Gazette of India, declare that, with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, any series of bank notes of any denomination shall cease to be legal tender.

The central government has repeatedly mentioned that the entire exercise running up to the announcement of demonetisation on November 8 had been conducted in secrecy.

Business Standard also sent detailed queries to NIPFP as well as the chief minister of Haryana. Neither responded.

ArthaKranti has claimed credit for introducing the idea of demonetisation to the BJP leadership even before Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over reigns at the Centre. The NGOs head, Anil Bokil, has spoken of repeatedly meeting several top BJP leaders on the issue.

Speaking to Business Standard, Bokil said, The report is in the final stages. Madhya Pradesh and Haryana had recommended NIPFP to study our proposals. I have personally not met people from NIPFP directly but other directors are in regular touch.

On being asked if the proposal had been commissioned to NIPFP by state finance ministries or chief ministers, Bokil said, It went from the chief ministers.

Haryana Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu said, I have not come across such a proposal but I wouldnt know if such a proposal had gone from the chief ministers office.

ArthaKrantis proposals listed on its website include the withdrawal of existing taxation system, introducing a banking transaction tax, withdrawal of high-denomination currency, legal restrictions to restrict cash transactions up to a certain limit. Bokil has noted that the government has not followed all the steps his NGO had recommended but undertaken only one part of it  the withdrawal of high-denomination notes as yet.

A reference in public to the possibility of demonetisation had also come as early as March 2016 from the chief economic advisor of the state bank of India, Soumya Kanti Ghosh. He wrote in Business Standard on March 23, stating, If we were to draw a link between such a surge in production and the usage of cash, it is possible that demonetisation might have begun even before the government had withdrawn high-value notes from circulation (according to unconfirmed reports, higher currency denomination notes may be discontinued in the near future so as to tackle the menace of unaccounted money).

The article was followed up by a formal report from SBI (Ecowrap) that Ghosh authored in April, stating, There are suggestions in the public domain and even analysis that are suggesting that higher denomination notes may be replaced. We believe, as a result of that people may be using more of high value currency to purchase safe haven assets.

While more details of NIPFPs report to states are not known, the working paper it put out after November 8 concludes, While it has been argued that the cash that would be extinguished would be black money and hence, should be rightfully extinguished to set right the perverse incentive structure in the economy, this argument is based on impressions rather than facts.

Sources in NIPFP said a working paper does not represent the views of the institution but that of the authors.
On Dec 21, Jacqueline Craig called the Fort Worth, TX police to report that her neighbor had choked her 7-year-old son; the cop who arrived was belligerent and dismissive, blamed her son for littering and her for not parenting him adequately, and then, when she became upset at his refusal to take her report, he violently wrestled her and her teen daughter to the ground, cuffed them and arrested them.

This mother reports TO THE POLICE in Fort Worth that a grown man choked her son. In seconds, he is brutalizing HER and her family. pic.twitter.com/kDf7dcAyxW  Shaun King (@ShaunKing) December 22, 2016

Fort Worth Police won't release the cop's name or bodycam footage, but they say there's an investigation underway.

Merritt said the police department did not take Craig's original report of an assault on her seven-year-old son. In the video, the officer does not express concern over Craig's complaints of the man choking her son. After the officer told her to teach her son not to litter, and questioned how she raises her children, Craig raised her voice at the officer, at which point he threatened to arrest her. "If you keep yelling at me, you're gonna piss me off, and I'm gonna take you to jail," the officer threatened, with the man accused of assaulting a child standing on the sidewalk. Following this remark, Craig's daughter stands in between them, apparently to calm her mother down, and the officer grabs her from behind and pulls her away. Screams break out from onlookers. The officer pulls out his stun gun and pins down Craig, before pointing the stun gun at her daughter and telling her to get on the ground. Both were arrested and escorted to a vehicle around the corner.



Mother aggressively arrested on tape after reporting her son was assaulted

[Mazin Sidahmed/The Guardian]
Raju Lakhanis beachside restaurant here at this popular tourist strip in north Goa should have been packed this time of the year. But the tables at Moon Star are empty and the restaurateur is a worried man.

We have no customers, he said. Almost 90% of tourists are leaving because of the inconvenience caused by notebandi.

Lakhani said he now has no choice but to lay off workers. He is one of Goas many restaurant owners who are feeling the brunt of what is referred to as notebandithe colloquial term for the ban on Indias Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, 86% by value of all bank notes.
NRIs and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) converging in Bangalore for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas should be allowed to exchange banned Indian currency, a global organsation representing them said.

"One group that will be hit hard by the government's restrictions will be hundreds delegates reaching Bengaluru for the Pravasi convention from all over the world," said Sunny Kulathakal of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO).

"Many of them have in their possession demonetised currency notes that they may find difficult to exchange on arrival in India," he said adding that GOPIO has requested the government to facilitate the exchange of these notes at various Indian embassies or other means.

"NRIs and PIOs should be allowed to exchange whatever amount they have as long as they show the proof of past conversion of foreign currency to Indian currency in the last 10 years," said Thomas Abraham, chairman of GOPIO International.
It seems like a battle of numbers between the Reserve Bank of India and the world of digital cash players. While the RBI numbers suggest a decline in digital transactions after demonetisation, digital wallet and payment companies argue that the central bank has failed to capture the full universe.
A day after the Reserve Bank withdrew the notification that barred people from depositing old notes in bank accounts more than once, the central bank on Thursday clarified that people are free to make more than one deposit till December 30.

The old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes can be deposited at bank branches or in cash deposit machines more than once till December 30, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in the updated Frequently asked questions (FAQ).

The customers should use separate pay-in-slips for making deposits in the mixed bunch of demonetised and legal tender notes, it said.

Anybody depositing more than Rs 50,000 in cash in their bank account needs to submit a copy of the PAN card in case the bank account is not seeded with the information.

The clarification on the part of the RBI comes a day after it took a U-turn on its notification of December 19 after widespread protests from the public.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had clarified the same evening on December 19 that one-time deposit would not attract any scrutiny by bankers. However, on Tuesday, he had insisted that only a one-time deposit would be allowed till December 30. On Wednesday, the RBI withdrew its norms on KYC deposits, but left it unclear whether multiple deposits would be allowed.

The RBI said that for non-KYC accounts, if a person deposits more than Rs 5,000 in withdrawn currencies, the account will be credited only after questioning him or her, in the presence of two bank officials, as to why the money was not deposited earlier. The bankers will also have to keep the explanatory statement on record for future audit trail.

Even if the non-KYC deposits are less than Rs 5,000 at a time but cumulatively exceed the amount, the bank officials have to get on record an explanation from the depositor of a non-KYC account.

The upper limit of deposits for such accounts is also restricted to Rs 50,000.

The above restrictions do not apply to deposits under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
The 5th Session of India - Kazakhstan Joint Working Group on Trade & Economic Cooperation was held in New Delhi on 22-23 December .The Sides were led by Shri Sunil Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce & Mr.?????t ????ba??v, General Director of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Both Sides discussed the current state and prospects of development of Indian - Kazakh economic and trade cooperation and exchanged views on the possibilities of expanding bilateral cooperation.

Free Trade Agreement between Eurasian Economic Union & India

Both Sides expressed satisfaction at the successful completion of the Joint Study Group Report on the feasibility of Free Trade Agreement between Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and India. They hoped that the process of obtaining internal clearances by both sides would be completed by end of December 2016 thereby paving the way for commencement of formal trade negotiations in early 2017. Both Sides agreed that early commencement and conclusion of formal negotiations on FTA would serve to boost bilateral trade.

International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

Both Sides agreed that an efficient and effective border crossing procedure and multi- modal transportation arrangement could provide further impetus to bilateral trade. In this context, the Kazakh side informed that since December of 2014, when the "Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran" railway, which is the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor, was launched, 2.5 thousand tons of cargo has already been transported on this route. Indian shippers and freight forwarders were requested to make extensive use of this transportation facility for bilateral trade. Both Sides agreed that since all members of INSTC, except India and Oman, were already signatories to TIR Convention 1975, Custom issues & Common Documentation issues could be quickly resolved if India signed the TIR Convention and aligned its system.

Bilateral Investments

The Kazakh side expressed interest in establishing cooperation with leading Indian companies dealing with production and sale of phosphorus pentasulfide and its derivatives. The Sides expressed interest in further development of bilateral cooperation in the exploration and development of tungsten mines in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and hoped that MoU between National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Kazgeology and between NMDC and Kaznex Invest could be concluded in the first quarter of 2017.

The Indian Side noted with satisfaction that Govt. of Kazakhstan had granted two year extension to the exploration contract of OVL in June 2016 and preparatory work was in progress for the planned drilling of the 2nd commitment exploration well targeting deeper reservoirs (Paleozoic) in Satpayev Block in June/ July 2017.

Both Sides agreed that there was potential for promoting investments in spheres of Oil and Gas, Civil Nuclear Energy, Uranium, Chemicals, Food Processing, Public Health, Pharmaceuticals, Information Technology and Mining and Metals. The need to augment connectivity and information exchange dissemination and promote cooperation in Service Sector was also underlined.

Visa Issues
All passengers on the hijacked plane at Malta Airport on Friday have been released, and potentially two hijackers and some crew members are still on board.

The aircraft had been on an internal flight in Libya when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a hijacker told crew he had a hand grenade. More than 100 passengers and crew were reported to be on board.
Former president and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) 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 to Pakistan on Friday.

The Dawn quoted PPP leader Nisar Khuhro, as saying in a press conference that Zardari will arrive at Karachi's old Jinnah terminal on Friday afternoon.

"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," Zardari had said this in his June 16, 2015 speech.

Khuhro said a rally will be addressed by Zardari outside the old Jinnah terminal and added that arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the event.

He said that about 1,000 volunteers have been recruited to direct traffic.

According to a statement from Karachi traffic police, no roads will be closed for the former president's arrival, but traffic will be diverted at some points to avoid inconvenience to commuters.
The Tunisian man suspected of carrying out the deadly Berlin truck attack was shot dead on Friday by police in Milan, Italian media reported, citing security sources.

Italy's interior minister Marco Minniti has announced a press conference later on Friday.

According to the reports, the suspect, Anis Amri, was stopped in his car around 3 am for what was a routine identity check. He pulled out a pistol and shootout ensued in which he was shot.

Amri had been missing since escaping after Monday's attack which left 12 people dead.

He had links to Italy, having arrived in the country from his native Tunisia in 2011.

Shortly after his arrival he was sentenced to a prison term for starting a fire in a refugee centre.

He was released in 2015 and made his way to Germany.
Deutsche Bank AG and Credit Suisse Group AG agreed to pay a combined $12.5 billion to resolve US investigations into sales of the toxic debt that fuelled the financial crisis, putting behind them a major dispute that had weighed on their shares and raised questions about their turnaround plans. Deutsche Bank will pay $7.2 billion and Credit Suisse agreed to a $5.3 billion deal, the banks said in separate statements early Friday. Their announcements came hours after Barclays Plc, which is being probed in a related case, was sued for fraud Thursday by the Justice Department after it ...
President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Thursday that the United States should greatly expand its nuclear capability, appearing to suggest an end to decades of efforts by presidents of both parties to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in American defenses and strategy.
He left Tunisia, his family said, with dreams of making money and buying a car. After arriving in Italy, he was a violent inmate who spent time in six jails. In Germany, he was one of some 550 people identified as dangers to the state and placed under special surveillance.
has sold its entire 4.12 % stake in India Energy Exchange (IEX) for Rs 103 crore, about 10 times higher than the purchase value, to a foreign portfolio investor, sources said.
After a top Pakistan general surprisingly invited India to join the USD 51 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, state-owned Chinese media has advised New Delhi to accept Islamabad's offer, pitching that such an opportunity could be of transient benefit to all involved.

"New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said an article in the Global Times, adding that there is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the CPEC will quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if India does not respond in a timely manner.

It said that since India's primary strategy is to promote economic and social development in the Kashmir region, the best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus.

It claimed that China has no intention of using the CPEC as strategic leverage to intervene in Pakistan and India's dispute and that it would rather adopt an open attitude towards New Delhi joining the CPEC.

It said that as India is ramping up efforts to integrate itself into global manufacturing chains, the country could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the CPEC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former president Asif Ali Zardari, who had left the country in mid-2015 soon after accusing the military establishment of overstepping its domain, returned to Pakistan on Friday.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the end of his self-imposed exile after a year and a half.

On his arrival at the old terminal in the provincial capital of Sindh, Zardari said the crowd reminded him of the day he was sent to Lahore by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

"I feel Bibi (Benazir Bhutto) is with us today, Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto is with us," he was quoted as saying by GeoNews while addressing his party workers gathered to welcome him.

The former PPP president also said that Pakistanis were depressed and there was a sense of hopelessness in the country.

"I am not giving such a message".

Emphasizing on the importance of democracy, he stated that it did not matter who was in power as there will come a day when public's voice will lead the country, adding that democracy would not be allowed to be derailed.

Speaking about the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the former PPP chief said this was geared towards our children and said that now was the time for Pakistan and China to prosper.

"Right now the CPEC concept has not been discussed with its architect. It is bigger than those who are discussing it," he said.

"Every time I go abroad, they make some new story. We will bring revolution in Parliament for democracy," he added.

Although there is no fixed schedule, but sources privy to the development said that PPP co-chairperson will leave for Larkana after a two-day-long stay in Karachi.

Later, he will visit his hometown in Benazirabad before attending the death anniversary of his spouse Benazir Bhutto on December 27.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In yet another cash haul from the capital post demonetisation, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) seized almost Rs. 54 lakhs in new currency at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The money was seized from a foreign national, from whom Rs. 4. 29 lakh in old currency was also recovered.

Earlier, the Income Tax department and the Crime Branch, in a joint operation, seized Rs 3.25 crore in old notes from a hotel in Karol Bagh area in Delhi.

Since demonetisation, there has been a spike in seizure of unclaimed cash and gold by the CISF. A special drive has been started at the airport to detect surplus cash being carried by passengers.

Senior customs and CISF have been directed to keep a strict vigil over incoming and outgoing passengers.

Meanwhile, in Assam, over 2 crore 40 lakh new high value notes have been recovered from two different places and two youths from Meghalaya have been detained in this connection.

Additional DGP Pallab Bhattacharya said the Income Tax officials seized a total of 2 crore 30 lakh new 2000 denomination notes from a businessman in Nagaon.

In another incident, police recovered 12 lakh rupees of new notes at Azara near Guwahati by police.

The Enforcement Directorate has been carrying out searches and enquiry at various places in the wake of de-monetisation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi based compliance management software startup LexComply has raised half a million rupees pre-series funding from Ex Founder of CX Partners, Ajay Relan along with other Angel Investors.

The funding will be utilized for enhancing technology and marketing solutions to enable conversions.

LexComply deals in tailored compliance management software for corporate targeting the business's risk areas. The software's are easy to operate on all processes and provide unique features like cloud based storage system, simple UI, and enables ease of doing .

"We wish to have capital ready as we are up for ramping up the operations, increasing the outreach, automating delivery and development of more GRC Solutions in next one year," said Founder of LexComply, Gaurav Jain.

"Current LexComply have clients in UP, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Mumbai and Bangalore. 60 + corporate have already executed 11000+ compliances through LexComply GRC solution," said Gaurav Jain.

"A compliant organization has option to raise funds by way of equity or can grow by way of JV/Collaborations/mergers/acquisitions or by becoming an OEM of large corporate. Lexcomply solutions are tailored compliance program based on the industry type, location, HR constituents and process," added Jain.

LexComply enables comprehensive software solution that streamlines the governance, risk, and compliance process for organisations of all sizes and geographic diversity. With products ranging from individual use to corporate usage, you have a highly configurable set of modules that help identify gaps and risks, eliminate duplicate efforts and easily maintain the records needed to demonstrate full control of compliance, risk and audit programs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi [India], Dec.23 (ANI): Vijay Diwas and Victory Day were celebrated in India and Bangladesh in the week gone by with as much fervor as in the past. This year, 2016, marked the 45th anniversary of the conclusion of the 1971 Liberation War which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh out of what was then East Pakistan.

This year, Kolkata played host to a 72-member delegation from Bangladesh led by that country's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. It included the "Mukti Joddhas" (freedom veterans) and their families, and serving senior Bangladesh Armed Forces officers. Celebrations were spread over four days under the aegis of the Indian Army's Eastern Command. Mukti Joddhas who participated in the war, have been attending the annual reunion for the past 10 years and they returned home with warm memories of shared and spirited experiences of a time that was tense and traumatic for many.

Major General R. Nagraj, MGGS (Major General General Staff), Headquarters, Eastern Command said the celebrations recalled the sacrifices of about 3,800 Indian personnel killed and 12,000 injured in a war that eventually led to 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendering in Dhaka on December 16, 1971.

The event in Kolkata included a military band concert on the historical Princep Ghat, a magnificent horse show, parachute jumping and band display at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club for the public. On 16 December, there was a wreath-laying ceremony at the historic Vijay Smarak inside Fort William. The memorial was installed in 1996 on the 25th anniversary of the victory.

A look back at pre-Bangladesh history is relevant. A few years before the painful split of Pakistan into two parts - west and east -, separated physically by India, the Bengalis of East Pakistan realized that the oppression, exploitation and deprivation that they had suffered at the hands of the British, was back in the form of their West Pakistani 'countrymen'.

Some of the causes of Bengali discontentment were: East Pakistan being turned into a market to dump West Pakistani products; foreign trade being biased in favor of West Pakistani interests; the ruling elite allocated and distributed resources in favor of West Pakistan; between 1948 and 1960, East Pakistan making 70 percent of all of Pakistan's exports, but receiving only 25 percent of the earnings; no profits/advantages accruing to East Pakistan despite it being the largest producer of raw jute; Imposition of Urdu on a largely Bengali speaking East Pakistan population despite Bengali being granted official language status in 1956; the Pakistan government's failure to aid victims of the Bhola Cyclone in November 1970; Pakistan's refusal to accept an Awami League majority win and the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman (winning 298 seats in the East Bengal elections and 167 seats at the Assembly elections); the Operation Searchlight genocide by the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan of over three million East Pakistanis, largely Bengalis, but also Hindus and Christians and rape of up to 4,00,000 East Pakistani women.

All of these atrocities and disadvantages prompted a band of determined East Pakistani Bengali youth to rise in rebellion under the banner of Mukti Vahini and aided and trained by Indian Army, became an effective counter to the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan.

The uncertainty in those times was compounded by around 10 million East Bengali refugees entering India during the early months of the war

India declared war on Pakistan on December 3, 1971 after the latter attacked the former's air force bases on the west, The war was fought on two fronts -- Western and Eastern, and East Pakistan was encircled within twelve days.

This war also revealed the great difference between how the Indian and Pakistan armies treated each other as enemies. The driver of a destroyed Pakistan tank captured by Indian Army personnel was cowering and when given tea by them. He broke down and cursed his officers and blurted out their misdeeds. In contrast, Lt. Chandavarkar, the youngest officer of the 45 Cavalry, was captured by the Pakistan Army, tied to a tree and for each question that was not answered, he lost a limb or organ. The JCO in charge chopped off his ear lobes, fingernails, toes, and fingers and finally gouged out his eyes before shooting him in the chest.

On December 16, 1971, Lt. Gen. Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, General Officer Commanding-in Chief of the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army, signed the instrument of surrender at the Ramna Racecourse in Dhaka with his Indian counterpart Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora.

Air Commodore A. K. Khandker, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, and Major General J F R Jacob, Chief of Staff of the Indian Army's Eastern Command, witnessed the surrender. Also present were Vice Admiral Mohammad Sharif, commander of the Pakistan Navy's Eastern Command and Air Vice Marshal Patrick D. Callaghan of the Pakistan Air Force's Eastern Air Force Command. Lt. Gen. Aurora accepted the surrender without saying a word, while the crowd shouted anti-Niazi and anti-Pakistan slogans

The text of the surrender, now a public property of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani governments, is on display at the Museum in New Delhi, and reads:

The PAKISTAN Eastern Command agree to surrender all PAKISTAN Armed Forces in BANGLA DESH to Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA, General Officer Commanding in Chief of Indian and BANGLA DESH forces in the Eastern Theatre. This surrender includes all PAKISTAN land, air and naval forces as also all para-military forces and civil armed forces. These forces will lay down their arms and surrender at the places where they are currently located to the nearest regular troops under the command of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA.

The PAKISTAN Eastern Command shall come under the orders of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA as soon as the instrument has been signed. Disobedience of orders will be regarded as a breach of the surrender terms and will be dealt with in accordance with the accepted laws and usages of war. The decision of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA will be final, should any doubt arise as to the meaning of interpretation of the surrender terms.

Lieutenant General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA gives a solemn assurance that personnel who surrender shall be treated with dignity and respect that soldiers are entitled to in accordance with provisions of the GENEVA Convention and guarantees the safety and well-being of all PAKISTAN military and para-military forces who surrender. Protection will be provided to foreign nationals, ethnic minorities and personnel of WEST PAKISTANI origin by the forces under the command of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA.

Signed (JAGJIT SINGH AURORA)

Lieutenant-General, General Officer Commanding in Chief

India and BANGLA DESH Forces in the Eastern Theatre

16 December 1971

Signed (AMIR ABDULLAH KHAN NIAZI)

Lieutenant-General, Martial Law Administrator Zone B and Commander Eastern Command (Pakistan)

16 December 1971

An interesting and very ironic incident prior to the surrender mentioned in Hassan Abbas' book, "Pakistan's drift into extremism: Allah, the army, and America's war on terror", reads:

On December 14, 1971. Major General Rao Farman Ali and Lieutenant General A.A.K. Niazi, the military commander in East Pakistan, asked the U.S. consul in Dhaka (capital of East Pakistan) to transmit a surrender proposal to New Delhi. Before forwarding the proposal, the U.S. ambassador in Islamabad was instructed by Washington to get approval from Yahya. The foreign secretary. Sultan Ahmed, speaking on behalf of the president of Pakistan, gave the necessary approval. Yahya Khan did not have time to attend to this matter personally. On the eve of Pakistan's surrender he was giving a party in his newly constructed house in Peshawar." One of the few guests was Mrs. Shamim, known as "Black Pearl," the Bengali beauty who was Yahya's latest sexual af?liate and whom he had recently appointed as Pakistan's ambassador to Austria. As drinks ?owed, so did the affair go progressively nude? It was when the whole party was drunk and unattired, except for Major General Ishaque, Yahya's military secretary, that "Black Pearl" wished to go home. The president insisted that he would drive her personally, both of them stark naked. General Ishaque could not save Pakista, but he did manage to knock enough sense into the sizzled head of a fun loving president to put him into his pants. Thus coincided the housewarming of the president's house with the surrender in East Pakistan.

The cruel inhuman conduct of Pakistani officers of their troops was in sharp contrast to the manner in which Indian Army treated Pakistan prisoners of war (PsOW). The 93,000 Pak PsOW were totally surprised at the humane treatment they got in their POW camps in India, as promised before their surrender by then Indian Army Chief, Gen, later Field Marshal, S H F J Manekshaw. Twice after the 1971 war, he visited Pakistan for Delineation Talks. In one of them, at Lahore, as he was departing after being hosted by the Governor of Punjab province, one of the employees at the Governor's House placed his turban at Manekshaw's feet. In chaste Punjabi when Sam told him 'this turban should be on your head, not at my feet', the man emotionally replied that it was there to thank him for the well being of five of his sons serving in the Pakistan Army and all being held as PsOW in India, in humane conditions with prisoners pay, beds to sleep on, even when Indian Army personnel were facing a shortage of the same and provision to write letters home, which he was receiving from all of them. His parting words, much to the embarrassment of the Governor and Pakistani officials were '.we will never again say that Indians are bad'.

The views expressed in the above article are that of Col (Retired) Anil Bhat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
August 22, 2022, Monday

Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai said that there will be pro and anti-beliefs and arguments on noted personalities, but it must ...
Dubbing Pentagon's latest assessment that the Taliban and Haqqani network were freely operating from the country as a mere 'rhetoric', the Pakistan Foreign Office instead accused Afghanistan of being an epicentre of terrorism in the region.

"This is more of rhetoric than anything else. Afghanistan is infested with most terrorist organisations due to the instability there, which has created space for these terrorist elements," the Dawn quoted Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Nafees Zakaria as saying.

His remarks were in response to the recent biannual report of the US Department of Defence on security and stability situation in Afghanistan.

The report said: "Afghan-oriented militant groups, including Taliban and Haqqani network's senior leadership, retain freedom of action from safe havens inside Pakistani territory. The United States continues to be clear with Pakistan about steps it should take to improve the security environment and deny safe havens to terrorist and extremist groups."

Recalling the counterterrorism operations by Pakistani security force in tribal areas, he said the operations have restored peace there.

He also acknowledged that a large number of terrorists had moved to Afghanistan after the start of the operations.

The number of "senior commanders of Haqqani network, Taliban, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups killed in Afghanistan this year," he stressed, tells where the leadership of these organisations was currently based.

Also, a senior FO official, in a testimony at the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee earlier in the week, had said that the Haqqani network and Taliban had been told to end violence in Afghanistan.

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In Tamil Nadu, hundred pilgrims left for Katchatheevu to participate in the consecration ceremony of St Antony Church the island from Ramesaram today morning.

The pilgrims including fishermen left in three boats. The Christian pilgrims including fishermen led by Verkodu St Joseph's church Parish priest Father Sagayaraj left for Katchatheevu today morning.

The consecration ceremony of the St Antony Church in the uninhabited island of Katchatheevu is expected to start at 9 in the morning.

The consecration ceremony which was to be held on 7th of this month was postponed following the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Selvi Jayalaithaa. At first only 20 persons were given the clearance to go to Katchatheevu .

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow 100 pilgrims to participate in the consecration ceremony.

Following which the External Affairs Ministry gave permission to 100 pilgrims to visit Katchatheevu .

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India on Friday insisted that it has never refused for talks with Pakistan while stating that it is the Asian neighbour which has to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the same.

"We have never refused talks, but Pakistan has to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Pakistan needs to stop supporting terrorism. Pakistan should create a healthy atmosphere for talks," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a weekly press briefing.

"We are repeatedly seeing that there is cross border firing at the LoC, there are terrorist attacks. Every other day, there are instances of infiltration. They are attacking our soldiers," he added.

The MEA spokesperson further insisted that in such a situation and atmosphere, no fruitful talks can take place between the hostile neighbours.

"In such a situation, how can we have fruitful talks with Pakistan? It is Pakistan which has to ensure that there are suitable conditions for bilateral talks," he said.

"It should create an atmosphere where they don't take the help of violence and terrorism. And then we are ready for talks with Pakistan on any issue," he added.

This assertion from India comes a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Islamabad wants peaceful settlement of matters with India.

Addressing the Bosnian Parliamentary group on Wednesday, Sharif said there is no presence of Daesh in Pakistan, adding that his country has effectively handled the threats from al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

He said Pakistan has paid a heavy price for war against terrorism.

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At least seven Pakistani sailors are feared dead after an unidentified fighter jet reportedly hit their ship in Yemeni waters earlier this month.

According to human rights activist Ansar Burney, motor vessel 'Jouya 8' - a general cargo ship registered in Iran - was reportedly targeted off the Hodeidah coast when it was en-route to Egypt from Dubai.

A crew of eight, all of Pakistani origin, was onboard under the command of Captain Syed Anisur Rehman, reports the Express Tribune.

"One sailor, identified as Kabir Khadim, survived somehow by jumping off the ship and swimming to the Hodeidah port," Burney said, adding that he was hospitalised and is being given medical care in the same city.

He said another sailor Suhail Ahmed's body is also at the same hospital. However, Khadim was unsure about the fate of the rest of the crew.

The date of the incident is not yet clear as the lone survivor, according to Burney, is in trauma and cannot recall how, where and when did this happen.

However, Yemen's state-owned Saba news agency reports that a boat carrying 12 Pakistani sailors was hit in a Saudi air raid off Mukha coast in the Yemeni province of Taez earlier on December 4.

In this incident, six sailors were killed while as many others were still unaccounted for, the news agency reported.

Burney said since the incident was reported to him through his sources, he requested the Saudi, Iranian, Turkish and Russian governments to help find the missing sailors.

He also appealed to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take notice of the matter and ascertain the facts.

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Tata Sons interim chairman Ratan Tata on Friday said there has been a "definite move" to damage his personal reputation in the last two months, adding that the 'attacks' on him and the Tata Group are unsubstantiated and very painful.

"Over the last two months there has been a definite move to damage my personal reputation and the reputation of this great group - the Tata group. And these days are very lonely because the newspapers are full of attacks, most of them unsubstantiated but nevertheless very painful," Tata said.

"The Group has been there for 150 years. It has been based on governance, fair play," he said.

"I think the truth will prevail, whatever the process may be, however painful it may be. The truth will prevail and the systems in our country will govern," he said thanking shareholders for their support.

The remarks comes after tycoon and former independent director on the board of three Tata companies Nusli Wadia filed a defamation case against Tata Sons and Ratan Tata hours after Tata Motors' shareholders voted in favour of his removal as the post.

Earlier on Monday, Cyrus P Mistry, who was ousted as the chairman of Tata Sons, said he has resigned from all the Tata group companies and vowed to adopt legal course to fight against "illegal coup staged by Ratan Tata".

In a three-page letter, Mistry said, "In order to be more effective, serve the objective of governance reform, and to regain lost ethical ground, I have decided to shift from the forum of the EGMs to a larger platform and also one where the rule of law and equity is upheld."

On November 11, Tata Steel had stated that it had received a special notice from the promoter and principal shareholder to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to remove Cyrus Mistry and Nusli Wadia as its directors.

Two days after Ratan Tata replaced Cyrus Mistry as the interim chairman of Tata Sons', the later hit back at with an e-mail addressed to the board members, expressing shock at the "manner of his removal".

Mistry was appointed as the chairman in December 2012 and had been a director of the company since 2006.

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From USFDA

Alkem Laboratories has been issued an Establishment Inspection Report by the United States Food and Drug Administration for its Daman facility which was inspected in September 2016. The inspection has now been closed by USFDA.

The USFDA had inspected the Daman Formulations facility from 20 September to 29 September 2016 and had issue Form 483 with 13 observations. Post this, the Company had submitted a detailed corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plan to the regulator within stipulated timelines. The USFDA reviewed the CAPA and has found them acceptable.

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At meeting held on 23 December 2016

Allahabad Bank announced that the Board of Directors of the Bank at its meeting held on 23 December 2016 has accorded its in-principle approval for merger of its wholly owned subsidiary - AllBank Finance with the Bank subject to necessary statutory and regulatory approvals.

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Key benchmark indices were trading almost unchanged in early trade after opening lower tracking subdued global cues. At 9:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was almost unchanged at 25,978.69. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 6.45 points or 0.08% at 7,972.65.

In side indices, the BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.08%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.03%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On the BSE, 654 shares fell and 564 shares rose. A total of 64 shares were unchanged.

Overseas, Asian stocks suffered modest losses as Wall Street took a breather yesterday, 22 December 2016, from its relentless rise since the US election. Overnight, US equities posted their first back-to-back daily declines of the month in light trading ahead of the Christmas weekend.

Among economic data in US, Gross domestic product increased at a 3.5% annual rate instead of the previously reported 3.2% pace, the Commerce Department said in its third GDP estimate. In another data point, Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose 0.2% in November, below the estimates. Wall Street stocks had witnessed an unabated rally since the US election on expectations that Donald Trump's promised fiscal stimulus will boost economic growth and company profits.

Meanwhile, the Italian government approved a decree today, 23 December 2016, to bail out Monte dei Paschi di Siena after the world's oldest bank failed to win investor backing for a desperately needed capital increase. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his Cabinet had authorised a 20 billion-euro ($20.9 billion) fund to help lenders in distress - first and foremost Monte dei Paschi.

Back home, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (down 1.07%), Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (down 1.1) and ITC (down 0.75%) were the major losers from the Sensex pack.

Among news specific action, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries rose 1.08% after the company announced that one of the wholly owned subsidiaries has acquired 1.3 crore series B preferred stocks, which is equivalent to 14.58% fully diluted equity stake on conversion, by way of allotment of scPharmaceuticals Inc.

scPharmaceuticals Inc., is a United States pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of transformative pharmaceutical products for subcutaneous delivery. The announcement was made before market hours today, 23 December 2016.

Wipro declined 0.36% after the company announced that it has reached an agreement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to formally resolve the previously disclosed six year old investigation. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

In agreeing to the settlement, the company neither admits nor denies the SEC's allegations that the company violated certain provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under the terms of the settlement, the company consents to pay a civil money penalty of $5 million, to cease and desist from committing or causing violations of the Exchange Act, and to undertake certain follow through actions.

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JSW Energy said that its board will meet on 27 December 2016, to consider raising long term funds through the issuance of non-convertible debentures by way of a private placement. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Hinduja Ventures said that its board of directors has approved the disinvestment of 4.36 crore equity shares of Rs 10 each held by the company in Hinduja Energy (India), in tranches, as per independent valuation of Rs 31.58 per share to third party. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Suzion Energy announced a joint venture with the AMP Solar for the development and construction of a 15 megawatts (MW) solar pv project located at Achampet in Telangana. According to the contract signed between Suzlon Energy and the AMP Solar on 21 December 2016, the AMP Solar shall acquire a 49% stake in Rudra Solarfarms, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by Suzlon for executing this project. AMP Solar has the option to acquire the balance of the 51% stake in the SPV in the future in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations. The off taker of the SPV project will be the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company (TSSPDCL). Suzion will be responsible for project commissioning and to provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for a period of 25 years. The project is expected to be commissioned in the financial year 2017 (FY 2017). Suzlon won solar projects of 210 MW in Telangana through a competitive bidding process and the power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the same were signed in February 2016. These include one project of 100 MW, one of 50 MW and four projects of 15 MW each. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Voltamp Transformers said that few of contract workmen at the company's Savli factory situated at Village Vadadala in Vadodara, Gujarat resorted to violent act on 20 December 2016 with the company's production supervisors, outside factory premise. The company suspended Savli factory operations effective from 21 December 2016 to ensure safety and security of the company's employees and property. However, operations at the company's Makarpura factory situated at Vadodara, Gujarat are totally normal. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Karnataka Bank said it opened its 738th branch at Thakurli in Thane district on 22 December 2016.

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Key benchmark indices extended intraday gains and hit fresh intraday high in mid-afternoon trade. At 14:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 97.22 points or 0.37% at 26,076.82. The Nifty 50 index was currently up 16.50 points or 0.21% at 7,995.60. The Sensex was currently trading well above the psychologically important 26,000 level. The Nifty was currently trading a tad below the crucial 8,000 mark after regaining that mark in mid-afternoon trade. Bargain hunting has kicked in after indices witnessed prior seven days of losses.

After a subdued start to the trade tracking weak Asian cues, indices reversed losses in early afternoon trade and consolidated further in the green.

The Sensex rose 163.59 points or 0.62% at the day's high of 26,143.19 in mid-afternoon trade. It lost 107.22 points or 0.41% at the day's low of 25,872.38 in morning trade. The Nifty rose 43.50 points or 0.54% at the day's high of 8,022.60 in mid-afternoon trade. It fell 37.05 points or 0.46% at the day's low of 7,942.05 in morning trade.

The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently down 0.16%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.13%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 1,365 shares rose and 1,045 shares fell. A total of 156 shares were unchanged.

Tata Steel rose 0.74% after the company said that it has executed definitive agreements to acquire 100% equity of Odisha based manufacturer of iron ore pellets, Brahmani River Pellets (BRPL) from Aryan Mining and Trading Corporation (AMTC) and companies in the Moorgate Industries Group (MIG) for enterprise value of Rs 900 crore plus closing adjustments. The announcement was made during market hours today, 23 December 2016.

BRPL recorded revenue of Rs 452 crore in FY 2016. The indicative time period for completion of the acquisition is about four months.

Shares of most power generation and power distribution companies saw buying interest after indices reversed losses. Torrent Power (up 0.46%), NHPC (up 0.01%), NTPC (up 0.62%), Adani Power (up 0.34 %), Reliance Infrastructure (up 0.07%) and Reliance Power (up 0.12%) gained. Tata Power Company (down 0.74%) and Power Grid Corporation of India (down 0.33%) declined.

Shares of state run coal mining major Coal India rose 0.02% to Rs 288.10. The stock hit high of Rs 288.65 and low of Rs 286.10 in intraday trade.

Auto stocks witnessed a mixed trend. Ashok Leyland (up 0.71%), Maruti Suzuki India (up 1.43%), Bajaj Auto (up 2.08%), Hero MotoCorp (up 1.18%), and TVS Motor Company (up 0.99%) gained. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (down 0.79%), Eicher Motors (down 1.48%), and Tata Motors (down 0.88%) declined.

Reliance Defence and Engineering rose 3.57% to Rs 55.05 on BSE after a huge bulk deal of 1.23 crore shares was executed on the scrip at Rs 55.10 per share at 09:35 IST on BSE.

Asian Oilfield Services surged 10.14% after the company said it has scheduled a board meeting on 27 December 2016, to consider allotment of warrants. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016. The allocation of warrants is subject to the company's shareholders' approval in its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to be held on 23 December 2016.

Overseas, European stocks were mixed in early trade. The Italian government approved a decree today, 23 December 2016, to bail out Monte dei Paschi di Siena after the world's oldest bank failed to win investor backing for a desperately needed capital increase. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his Cabinet had authorised a 20 billion-euro ($20.9 billion) fund to help lenders in distress - first and foremost Monte dei Paschi.

Asian stocks witnessed a mixed trend. Overnight, US equities posted their first back-to-back daily declines of the month in light trading ahead of the Christmas weekend. Wall Street stocks had witnessed an unabated rally since the US election on expectations that Donald Trump's promised fiscal stimulus will boost economic growth and company profits.

Among economic data in US, Gross domestic product increased at a 3.5% annual rate instead of the previously reported 3.2% pace, the Commerce Department said in its third GDP estimate. In another data point, consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose 0.2% in November, below the estimates.

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After languishing in the red near their intraday low, key benchmark indices pared almost entire intraday losses in mid-morning trade. At 11:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was almost unchanged at 25,979.23. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 10.15 points or 0.13% at 7,968.95. Weakness in Asian stocks affected sentiment adversely today, 23 December 2016.

After opening lower tracking weak Asian cues, indices turned positive for a brief period in early trade but soon took a u-turn and extended their losses in morning trade with the Sensex hitting more than four-week low and the Nifty hitting 4-1/2 week low.

Among side indices, the BSE Mid-Cap index was currently down 0.13%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently down 0.11%. The decline in these indices was higher than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On the BSE, 1,095 shares fell and 1,010 shares rose. A total of 134 shares were unchanged.

Telecom stocks witnessed selling pressure. Reliance Communications (RCom) (down 3.07%), Bharti Airtel (down 0.44%), and Idea Cellular (down 0.98%) declined. Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) rose 0.99%.

Shares of Bharti Infratel rose 0.53%. Bharti Infratel is a provider of tower and related infrastructure and is a unit of Bharti Airtel.

Cement stocks were mixed. Shree Cement (down 1.65%), Ambuja Cements (down 0.72%), and UltraTech Cement (down 2.32%) declined. ACC rose 0.14%.

Grasim Industries gained 0.12%. Grasim has exposure to the cement sector through its holding in UltraTech Cement.

Aurionpro Solutions rose 1.03% after the company announced that Goodpack has selected the company's SCMProFit product suite, an industry leading cloud-based, fully-integrated supply chain platform, delivering state-of-the-art order management, depot operation, freight and transportation.

The platform will help Goodpack manage inventory positions and movement across more than 190 depots in 18 countries and 5,000 inventory hubs worldwide. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Welspun Enterprises fell 3.91% to Rs 59.05 after the company said that with a view of utilising the company's substantial cash reserves and in order to enhance shareholder value, the board has approved buy back of 25% of the company's share capital. The buyback would be at Rs 62 per share in cash for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs 270 crore, Welspun Enterprises said.

The promoter group, except the foreign co-promoters holding 2.17%, have indicated their intention to participate in the proposed buyback, the company said. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Goodluck India rose 5.32% after the company said that its board will meet on 27 December 2016 to allot warrants convertible into equal number of equity shares to promoters on preferential basis. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Overseas, Asian stocks suffered modest losses as Wall Street took a breather yesterday, 22 December 2016, from its relentless rise since the US election. Overnight, US equities posted their first back-to-back daily declines of the month in light trading ahead of the Christmas weekend. Wall Street stocks had witnessed an unabated rally since the US election on expectations that Donald Trump's promised fiscal stimulus will boost economic growth and company profits.

Among economic data in US, Gross domestic product increased at a 3.5% annual rate instead of the previously reported 3.2% pace, the Commerce Department said in its third GDP estimate. In another data point, Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose 0.2% in November, below the estimates.

Meanwhile in Europe, the Italian government approved a decree today, 23 December 2016, to bail out Monte dei Paschi di Siena after the world's oldest bank failed to win investor backing for a desperately needed capital increase. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his Cabinet had authorised a 20 billion-euro ($20.9 billion) fund to help lenders in distress - first and foremost Monte dei Paschi.

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Key benchmark indices extended initial losses and hit fresh intraday low in morning trade as weakness in Asian stocks played spoilsport. At 10:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 89.77 points or 0.35% at 25,889.83. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 33.15 points or 0.42% at 7,945.95. The Sensex was currently trading below the psychological 26,000 mark after regaining that mark briefly in morning trade. The Sensex hit more than four-week low and the Nifty hit 4-1/2 week low in morning trade.

After opening lower tracking weak Asian cues, indices turned positive for a brief period but they soon took a u-turn and extended their losses in morning trade.

The Sensex shed 107.22 points or 0.41% at the day's low of 25,872.38 in morning trade, its lowest level since 24 November 2016. The index rose 27.56 points or 0.1% at the day's high of 26,007.16 in early trade. The Nifty dropped 37.05 points or 0.46% at the day's low of 7,942.05 in morning trade, its lowest level since 21 November 2016. The index rose 6.35 points or 0.07% at the day's high of 7,985.45 in early trade.

Among side indices, the BSE Mid-Cap index was currently down 0.55%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently down 0.33%. The decline in both these indices was higher than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On the BSE, 1,034 shares fell and 724 shares rose. A total of 97 shares were unchanged.

In sectoral trends, capital goods stocks were mixed. Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) (up 0.88%), BEML (up 1.53%), ABB India (up 0.41%), and Bharat Electronics (up 0.3%) gained. Havells India (down 0.9%), L&T (down 0.55%), Thermax (down 0.28%), and Siemens (down 1.54%) declined.

FMCG stocks also declined in subdued market. Tata Global Beverages (down 0.67%), Marico (down 0.96%), Britannia Industries (down 0.88%), Hindustan Unilever (HUL) (down 0.41%), Dabur India (down 0.49%), Colgate Palmolive India (down 0.61%), GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare (down 0.01%), Godrej Consumer Products (down 0.47%), Jyothy Laboratories (down 2.79%), and Bajaj Corp (down 2.11%) declined. Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (up 0.11%) and Nestle India (up 0.45%) gained.

Hinduja Ventures rose 1.98% after the company said that its board of directors has approved the disinvestment of 4.36 crore equity shares of Rs 10 each held by the company in Hinduja Energy (India), in tranches, as per independent valuation of Rs 31.58 per share to third party. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

Voltamp Transformers fell 2.23% after the company said that it suspended operations at Savli factory in Gujarat from 21 December 2016 after a few of contract workmen resorted to violence on 20 December 2016. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 December 2016.

The company said that a few of contract workmen at the company's Savli factory in Vadodara, Gujarat resorted to violent act on 20 December 2016 with the company's production supervisors, outside factory premise. The company suspended Savli factory operations effective from 21 December 2016 to ensure safety and security of the company's employees and property. However, operations at the company's Makarpura factory situated at Vadodara, Gujarat are totally normal, the company said.

Overseas, Asian stocks suffered modest losses as Wall Street took a breather yesterday, 22 December 2016, from its relentless rise since the US election. Overnight, US equities posted their first back-to-back daily declines of the month in light trading ahead of the Christmas weekend. Wall Street stocks had witnessed an unabated rally since the US election on expectations that Donald Trump's promised fiscal stimulus will boost economic growth and company profits.

Among economic data in US, Gross domestic product increased at a 3.5% annual rate instead of the previously reported 3.2% pace, the Commerce Department said in its third GDP estimate. In another data point, Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose 0.2% in November, below the estimates.

Meanwhile, the Italian government approved a decree today, 23 December 2016, to bail out Monte dei Paschi di Siena after the world's oldest bank failed to win investor backing for a desperately needed capital increase. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his Cabinet had authorised a 20 billion-euro ($20.9 billion) fund to help lenders in distress - first and foremost Monte dei Paschi.

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Fourteen sugar shares rose by 0.21% to 12.22% at 15:00 IST on BSE, following a rise in sugar prices in global commodities market.

Oudh Sugar Mills (up 12.22%), Dwarikesh Sugar Industries (up 10.86%), Upper Ganges Sugar & Industries (up 9.99%), Rana Sugars (up 8.57%), Sakthi Sugars (up 7.47%), Simbhaoli Sugars (up 7.16%), Triveni Engineering & Industries (up 5.88%), DCM Shriram Industries (up 4.17%), Dhampur Sugar Mills (up 3.22%), Empee Sugars and Chemicals (up 2.75%), Balrampur Chini Mills (up 2.63%), KCP Sugar & Industries Corporation (up 2.33%), Shree Renuka Sugar (up 0.68%) and Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar (up 0.21%), edged higher. EID Parry (India) was down 0.78%.

The S&P BSE Sensex was up 55.43 points, or 0.21% at 26,035.03.

Raw Sugar futures dropped under 18 cents per pound last week before bouncing back above that levels this week. Conab, the Brazilian crop supply agency has noted that sugar prices are being helped by concerns of a global production deficit.

This rebound has also capped the losses for local sugar prices, which took a hit after the Demonetization drive. Medium Grade Sugar in Muzaffarnagar dropped from Rs 3780 per quintal to Rs 3630 per quintal in six week after the government banned high values notes on 8 November 2016. However, prices are up near Rs 3700 per quintal now. The commodity is up about 15% this year.

Meanwhile, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), as on 15 December 2016, 440 sugar mills were crushing sugarcane for the year 2016-2017 SS, and they have produced 53.29 lakh tonnes of sugar till that date, i.e. 5.36 lakh tonnes, or 11%, higher than the sugar production on the corresponding date of previous sugar season, when same number of sugar mills were in operation and had produced 47.93 lakh tonnes of sugar.

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Tata Steel rose 0.18% to Rs 393.10 at 14:34 IST on BSE after the company said it executed definitive agreement to acquire 100% equity of Odisha-based Brahmani River Pellets.

The announcement was made during trading hours today, 23 December 2016.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 60.13 points, or 0.23%, to 26,039.73.

On the BSE, so far 4.24 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volumes of 7.82 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 395.60 and a low of Rs 387.05 so far during the day.

The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 440.90 on 11 November 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 211.30 on 12 February 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past 30 days till 22 December 2016, rising 0.01% compared with the 0.28% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 5.51% as against Sensex's 9.38% decline.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 971.22 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Tata Steel announces that it has executed definitive agreements to acquire 100% equity shares of Brahmani River Pellets (BRPL) from Aryan Mining and Trading Corporation (AMTC) and other companies in the Moorgate Industries Group (MIG). The transaction is based on an enterprise value of BRPL of Rs 900 crore plus closing adjustments and is subject to completion of certain condition precedents including regulatory approvals. The funding for the acquisition will be done from internal cash flows of Tata Steel.

BRPL was originally established by MIG (MIG was formed on demerger from Stemcor Group of companies as part of a UK court-approved restructuring in 2015), which continues to hold a significant stake in BRPL through its shareholding in AMTC. BRPL owns a 4 million tons per annum (MTPA) pellet plant in Jajpur, Odisha and 4.7 MTPA iron ore beneficiation plant in Barbu, Odisha connected through a 220 kilometre underground slurry pipeline.

Koushik Chatterjee, group executive director (finance & corporate) and member of the Tata Steel board, said that the location of the BRPL assets makes this very strategic to Tata Steel especially to its Kalinganagar operations and has significant operating synergies to make the Kalinganagar plant even more competitive for the future. The iron ore from the company's captive mine in the Joda and Khondbond region will get transferred in future through the slurry pipeline and reduce freight costs significantly apart from the 4 mtpa pellet plant and other infrastructure which will enhance the operating efficiency and reduce costs of blast furnace operations in Kalinganagar. To build a similar facility would have taken significant time and costs and therefore, this acquisition is very timely as the company is looking to ramp up the capacity of the Phase I at Kalinganagar. This is also a demonstration of the company's commitment to the state and people of Odisha.

On a consolidated basis, Tata Steel reported net loss of Rs 49.38 crore in Q2 September 2016, compared with net profit of Rs 5609.43 crore in Q2 September 2015. Net sales rose 0.1% to Rs 26291.86 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Tata Steel Group stands among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 28 million tonnes per annum (MnTPA) and a turnover of $17.69 billion in the year ended March 2016. It is the world's second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and commercial presence in over 50 countries.

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At an enterprise value of Rs 900 crore plus closing adjustment

Tata Steel has executed definitive agreements to acquire 100% equity shares of Brahmani River Pellets from Aryan Mining and Trading Corpn and companies in the Moorgate Industries Group.

The acquisition provides an upstream integration opportunity to Tata Steel to meet its metallic requirements and improving the feed mix for its Kalinganagar steel plant and Jamshedpur steel plant.

The acquisition of the Company is being made at an enterprise value of Rs 900 crore plus closing adjustment.

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Agrees to pay civil money penalty of USD 55 million

Wipro announced that it has reached an agreement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to formally resolve the previously disclosed six-year old investigation. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company consents to pay a civil money penalty of USD 55 million, to cease and desist from committing or causing violations of the Exchange Act, and to undertake certain follow through actions.

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A sixth-grader, through his father, on Friday sued in the Islamabad High Court officials of the Pakistan President's House, accusing them of plagiarising and using his speech without his consent.

Eleven-year-old Mohammad Sabeel Haider, who studies in Islamabad Model College for Boys, told DawnNews that he was chosen to deliver a speech at the President House in Islamabad on December 22.

The ceremony was recorded and is supposed to be aired on Pakistan Television on December 25, marking the 141st birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

However, when Sabeel arrived at the President's House, he was informed he will no longer be delivering the speech.

He said in his petition that a tenth-grader named Ayesha Ishtiaq delivered the speech he had written and prepared, alleging that his intellectual property was stolen.

According to Sabeel's lawyer, as per country's constitution, a literary piece that the person has produced themselves cannot be used by a third party without their consent.

The court's judgement in this regard has been reserved.

--IANS

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Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh on Friday rubbished reports of having stitched an alliance with Samajwadi Party and Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, saying "there have been no talks with either Congress or SP on alliance".

Reports saud that SP-Congress-RLD have forged an alliance ahead of the UP elections.

"I havn't had any meeting or talks with anyone in Congress in more than six months," Ajit Singh told IANS.

"The last time I met Samajwadi Party leaders was when they had that function (party's silver jubilee celebrations on November 5) in Lucknow. We had talks that time but after that no phone call, no meeting, nothing," he added.

"That time we had talks with all parties and (Samajwadi Party chief) Mulayam Singh had asked us to merge with them. But no talks after that," said Singh.

Asked would he accept the offer to ally with Samajwadi and Congress if it comes, Ajit Singh said: "When there have been no talks, where does the question of offer come?"

Earlier, there were reports that Congress and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party were likely to strike an alliance for the coming assembly polls.

--IANS

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Rome, Dec 23 (IANS/AKI) The suspect in the December 19 terror attack at a Berlin Christmas market, which claimed 12 lives, was on Friday shot dead near Milan in Italy, the media reported.

Anis Amri, who, according to the Islamic State terror group, was "a soldier", ploughed a lorry into the crowd of people at the Christmas market on Monday.

Amri was killed in a gunfight with police, Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti said.

"There is absolutely no doubt that the person who was killed was Anis Amri, the suspect in the terrorist attack in Berlin."

According to the anti-terrorism police, Amri arrived in Italy from France and then took a train to Milan.

He then continued to head for the Sesto San Giovanni neighbourhood, and ran into two police officers before being killed in a shootout when they tried to conduct a routine stop-check.

Amri, who carried no documents with him, was identified on the basis of his appearance and fingerprints after the shootout, anti-terrorism police sources in Milan said.

A police officer is in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the shootout.

The 24-year-old Tunisian had been jailed for about three years in Italy for setting fire to a refugee centre, and after the Germany attack a reward of 100,000 euros (about $104,000) had been offered for information leading to his capture.

German government spokesman thanked Italy's authorities for their cooperation in the four-day manhunt for Amri following the deadly attack.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni informed German Chancellor Angela Merkel of Amri's death in Milan.

Amri's family said he was not at all religious when he lived in Tunisia and was converted to radical Islam in Italy while in prison.

--IANS/AKI

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The CBI on Friday said it has summoned Uttarakhand Chief Minister for further questioning over a "sting" video that purportedly shows him offering bribes for legislative support in the assembly.

In a written document, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) asked Rawat to appear before it at the agency's headquarters in Delhi on December 26.

Sources in the agency claimed that Rawat will be questioned to furnish full and complete details on many issues which he failed to submit in his questioning in June this year. The CBI had questioned the Congress Chief Minister twice in June.

Rawat has, however, maintained that he had "fully cooperated" with the CBI.

The sting video purportedly shows Rawat offering money to rebel Congress legislators to win their support ahead of a March 28 floor test in the 70-member Uttarakhand house. The floor test never happened as the state came under President's Rule a day earlier.

The video was shot by Umesh Kumar, the editor-in-chief of Noida-based private TV channel Samachar Plus, and was released on March 26 by nine Congress legislators who had rebelled against Rawat's government.

Rawat has denied the allegations and dismissed the video as a fake but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation.

In the sting operation which was done in March, rebel Congress lawmakers voted against the state budget and thereby triggered a political crisis.

Based on a reference from the state government, then under President's Rule, and further orders from the central government, the CBI on April 25 initiated a preliminary inquiry to determine the authenticity of the sting operation.

According to the agency, the video tapes have been proven to be authentic.
A Chinese newspaper on Thursday warned India against using the Dalai Lama and Mongolia against China, saying employing proxies to counter Beijing was way beyond New Delhi's capability.

The Global Times, which is known to reflect the thinking of the Chinese leadership, called India a "spoilt kid," and wondered what made India so confident when even the US thought twice before "messing" with China on sensitive issues.

The op-ed article in the daily came in the wake of the December 11 meeting that Indian President Pranab Mukherjee had with the Tibetan spiritual leader.

India also pledged financial support for Mongolia when Beijing punitively hiked tariff on trucks travelling through Chinese territory after Mongolia hosted the Dalai Lama.

"New Delhi has long held the Dalai Lama issue as leverage that it can use against China. Mukherjee met the Tibetan separatist in exile in India this month, probably as moral support to Mongolia, which mired itself in diplomatic trouble after receiving the Dalai Lama in November," said the Global Times article authored by Wen Dao.

"India wants to disturb China's pace of development by taking advantage of China's national and international problems, most of which have nothing to do with India's national interests," Wen wrote.

"India has used the Dalai Lama card from time to time in a retaliatory move against China," it said.

The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959.

The Global Times said Mongolia gave in to Beijing and said sorry for hosting the Dalai Lama before New Delhi could start the $1 billion credit line it had promised to Ulan Bator.

Mongolia "tried to seek support from India, hoping that by allying with China's competitor, Beijing would be forced to give in".

"India's way of dealing with the issue shows, once again, the gap between its ambition and its strength. It is way beyond India's capability to acquire leverage against China by employing a proxy or challenging China's bottom line."

The newspaper asked India to learn lessons how Beijing and US President-elect Donald Trump dealt with the situation after he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai-ing Wen on telephone.

"After putting out feelers to test China's determination to protect its essential interests, Trump has met China's restrained but pertinent counter-measures, and must have understood that China's bottom line -- sovereign integrity and national unity -- is untouchable.

"Even the US would have to think twice before it messes with China on such sensitive problems, so what makes India so confident that it could manage?

"Sometimes, India behaves like a spoilt kid, carried away by the lofty crown of being 'the biggest democracy in the world'. India has the potential to be a great nation, but the country's vision is short-sighted."

--IANS

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The Election Commission (EC) has delisted 255 political parties that existed only on paper and has asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to initiate appropriate action, if necessary.

None of these parties have ever contested a local body, assembly or Lok Sabha election since 2005, the EC found out while reviewing the records of unrecognised parties registered with it.

Although the EC does not have a direct power to cancel the registration of a political party, it exercised its powers under Section 29A of the Representation of People Act 1951, whereby it can take back the symbol of a party.

Interestingly, the addresses given by some of these parties include Union Home Minister's present residence, and lawyer's chambers at Patiala House courts.

A party called All India Progressive Janata has given 17, Akbar Road as its address. This is currently the official residence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Another party by the name Pavitra Hindustan Kaazhagam gave its address as 11, Harish Chandra Mathur Lane, which is the office of Jammu and Kashmir CID.

Similarly, the Akhil Bharatiya Dastkar Morcha and Rashtiya Yuva Loktantrik Party provided chamber number 187 and chamber 461 respectively at Patiala House courts as their addresses.

"The Election Commission of India has so far deleted the names of 255 political parties from the list of registered un-recognised political parties maintained by the Commission under the Section 29A and and para 17 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

"This is for your information and necessary action if any, in view of the provisions of Section 29B and 29C of R.P Act, 1951," the EC wrote in a letter to CBDT.

The EC said that it has decided to review the cases of the unregistered unrecognised political parties "which do not set up any candidate at any of the general elections to the house of the people and/or state legislative assemblies held during the period from the year 2005 to 2015 as per the Commission's record" in order to consider whether they continue to exist and function from the registered office addresses available in the records of the Commission.

--IANS

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A 47-year-old woman, mother of a gang rape victim, was shot at on Friday morning when she was on her way to hospital here, along with her victim daughter, police said.

The woman was shot in the back by an unidentified young man in Jamia Nagar area of south Delhi.

The victim has been identified as Neemat, a resident of Jamia Nagar, according to police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Banniya told reporters: "The woman was shot at around 8.45 a.m when she was going to hospital along with her daughter. The attacker was a young boy.

"After firing at the lady, he fled the spot, along with his associate, who was waiting for him at some distance."

A case of attempt to murder has ben registered against the unidentified person, police said.

The victim is the mother of the 15-year-old girl, who was gang-raped. A case of gang rape was registered against four persons, including a local builder, on December 12.

According to police, the sexual assault on the girl first took place in July 2016 when the accused, identified as 40-year-old Sajid Khan, a resident of Shaheen Bagh area, raped the victim in his flat.

The attack could be related to the gang rape case, police said.

The rape victim is a Class IX student of a government school. She met Khan through her classmate, police said.

Khan also made an MMS clip of the sexual assault. Later, Khan's three to four associates also committed the same crime with the victim in various flats located in south Delhi.

--IANS

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Actor Jackky Bhagnani, who debuted as producer with "Sarbjit", which has made it to the long list of 336 feature films eligible for the upcoming 89th Oscars, says bagging the prestigious honour for the film will be a different high for him.

The film, directed by Omung Kumar, is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates at a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.

"Bringing an Oscar is like bringing an olympics medal for the film fraternity...and of course getting it will be a different high. I hope this year 'Sarbjit' manages to get into the finalist, and make India proud," Jackky told IANS in an e-mail.

Jackky says he feels great as "Sarbjit" was his first production venture.

"This was my first film as a producer and I feel so blessed that that we are shortlisted for the Oscars in the feature film category alongside Hollywood films like 'La La Land' and 'Moonlight' and 'Manchester by the Sea'. The whole team of 'Sarbjit' has worked very hard on the project and I hope it makes its way to the final list as well.

Besides "Sarbjit", which stars Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Darshan Kumar in lead, actor Sushat Singh Rajput-starrer "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story" has also made to the Oscars long list.

"With two potential films being a part of this, I guess not only us but the entire industry would be excited, so fingers crossed hoping to get to the final list," Jackky said.

--IANS

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A few days after the Aam Aadmi Party named him as its chief ministerial candidate in Goa, former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes has been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Goa Police in connection with a housing scam case.

The AAP Goa convener has accused the BJP-led coalition government of the state of victimisation and has demanded that all land acquisition procedures which were initiated and subsequently dropped over the last few years, should be probed.

Gomes, along with Nilkanth Halarnkar, a former Minister for Housing in the erstwhile Congress-NCP alliance government, has been summoned to report before the investigating officer on December 26, a senior ACB official told IANS on Friday.

"They have been asked to report before the ACB on December 26," a senior police official said on the condition of anonymity.

Gomes and Halarnkar were booked under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) in February this year, while Gomes was still a serving bureaucrat.

The duo has been accused of scrapping official acquisition procedure for a piece of land measuring 30,256 sq metres in South Goa's Margao, and again without following procedure, giving an opportunity for vested interests to purchase the land subsequently.

During his visit to Goa last week, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP co-convener Arvind Kejriwal described Gomes as an honest officer and nominated him as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate in the state, which will go to polls early next year.

Gomes has in the past called the accusation his "political victimisation", with an eye on the state assembly elections and has said that he has committed no illegality.

Gomes has also claimed that he was not even holding office when the land acquisition process was moved.

"We demand that all land acquisition procedures which were initiated and dropped in the last ten years, during the respective tenure of the governments led by the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine and the current BJP-led coalition should be probed," Gomes said.

The AAP leader also said that in one specific land acquisition deal involving a tract of land meant for parking at the Dabolim airport, which was later reverted to private ownership, opposition BJP politicians as well as those from the Congress-NCP ruling coalition had received kickbacks.

--IANS

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The organisers of Goa's first Muslim children's festival have withdrawn controversial preacher Zakir Naik as a personality to be emulated at a fancy dress contest following protests from Muslims.

Asif Hussain, a spokesperson for the Board of Islamic Education Centres, told IANS that Naik's name from the list of 20 Muslim personalities to be emulated during the fancy dress contest had been withdrawn.

"The organisers have withdrawn Naik's name from the competition keeping in mind the reservations some people have regarding him," Hussain said.

"Naik has contributed a lot towards the enlightenment of Muslims and focussed a lot of commonalities of faiths... But in recent developments surrounding him and the reservations expressed from some quarters we have withdrawn his name from the list," he said.

Born in Mumbai, Naik is the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation and a television preacher who is now under the radar of Indian security and enforcement agencies allegedly over his extremist views and funding of his organisations.

Goa's first ever Muslim children's festival "Taare Zameen Par" from December 26-30 is being organised by the Board of Islamic Education along with the Hikmah Foundation's House of Wisdom.

The fancy dress competition is one of the several events in the festival where boys are expected to emulate "personalities who have contributed to Islam or Muslim community" and expected to dress and introduce them.

Others in the list of Muslim personalities to be emulated include Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Tippu Sultan, Adil Shah, Aurangzeb and Ibn Batuta.

BJP's minority cell chief Sheikh Jinnah told IANS that the inclusion of Naik was unfortunate in the first place.

"His views do not represent the views of Muslims in India. By asking children to emulate him, we might be sowing the wrong kind of ideas among young minds," he said.

--IANS

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A high-profile booze party at a farmhous outside this Gujarat city was busted late on Thursday and over 250 top figures, including former chairman of Indian Premier League (IPL) and leading industrialist Chirayu Amin, booked, police said.

"We have recovered 103 bottles of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and 113 of beer worth Rs 1,28,950 from the spot. Many men and women appeared inebriated and so were taken to a hospital to collect their blood samples to verify presence of alcohol in their body," Vadodara Superintendent of Police Saurabh Tolambiya told reporters here on Friday.

"We have now filed two FIRs, a non-bailable one against the farmhouse owner and his son under sections of the new Prohibition law, which has provision of 10 years' jail term for keeping and distributing liquor. Another FIR under sections related to consumption of liquor has also been filed against 127 men and 134 women, including two British citizens," he said.

According to the new provisions of prohibition law in the "dry" state, consuming liquor is now punishable with up to three years in jail.

Police also seized 90 vehicles worth over Rs 18 crore from the venue of the party, which was held to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of farmhouse owner Jeetendra Shah's grand daughter. Shah and his son Abhay are now being interrogated and will be produced in a court for remand, Tolambiya said.

All the men arrested at night were given bail on personal bond, while the women present at the party were not arrested and were bailed out immediately. The blood samples too have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar for further tests.

Later, addressing media in state capital Gandhinagar on Friday, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said the state is "serious" about strictly implementing prohibition.

"I congratulate police for carrying out successful raid at the party and work towards strict implementation of prohibition law.

"Those present at the party may be big names in economic world but police will not come under any pressure whilst acting against those found guilty of violating prohibition law," he said.

Jadeda also sought to warn organisers of parties in club houses or farm houses in the forthcoming festive season of Christmas and New Year eve to desist from serving liquor.

Opposition Congress, meanwhile, hit back at the ruling party saying that the entire episode was nothing but an eyewash. "The BJP has been ruling the state for over two-and-half decades now and despite prohibition, how can people so easily find liquor to hold parties," asked Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.

--IANS

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English TV personality-model Katie Price is reportedly going to sue a Glasgow hotel that kicked her out following her "loss of 100,000 pounds worth of diamonds" earlier this month.

Mirror.co.uk has reported about her plans to take legal action against the hotel.

The management at the four-star Lorne Hotel is said to have looked in her room for the jewellery but "there was nothing there". They have also been trying to get in touch with the star but without luck.

The hotel manager told The Sun newspaper: "The day after she was asked to leave, she called the hotel to claim that she had left 100,000 pounds worth of jewellery in the hotel.

"Our housekeeper and manager immediately checked the room, which hadn't been cleaned yet, and there was nothing there. We checked straight away but couldn't get her back on the phone. So we replied to the email address she had given us to let her know that nothing had been found."

The hotel also told the newspaper that police were called the night she was kicked out.

"The guest became extremely abusive towards the staff member and so the duty manager agreed to escort them to the room," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson added: "Once the guest was granted access to the room, they continued to shout abuse and to make matters worse, threw plates at the duty manager, breaking these against the wall.

"The police were called. After the police spoke with the guest for almost an hour, the guest was invited to leave the premises."

A police spokesman confirmed that at around 1.50 a.m. on December 11 police went to the hotel and while "advice was given", no complaint was made and they took no further action.

--IANS

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Calling Patidar leader Hardik Patel's arrest "bizarre", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asked the Rajasthan government to immediately release him.

"Arrested? Bizarre. Vasundhara (Raje) government should release him immediately," the Aam Aadmi Party leader tweeted.

Patel tweeted earlier that he was arrested after deboarding at the Jaipur airport and a police officer cited threats to his life as the reason for his detention.

--IANS

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A Maoist guerrilla was killed in gun battle with security forces in Jharkhand's Khuti district on Friday, police said.

According to police, the gun battle broke out between security forces and guerrillas belonging to People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) took place at Murhu of Khuti, around 45 Km from Ranchi.

One ultra was killed and three three rifles seized after the gun battle while a large number of Maoists managed to escape.

--IANS

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on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after springing a surprise by tendering resignation as Delhi's Lt Governor even as he said that he had wanted to quit earlier but was asked by the prime minister to continue.

Jung reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block here around 11.30 am and spent a little over an hour inside.

Sources said it was a courtesy meeting. On Thursday, in his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked Modi for his help and co-operation.

Rejecting speculation that he quit as pressure was mounting on him, Jung was quoted as saying by NDTV as saying that there is no politics behind his decision and that he wanted to quit earlier as well.

"I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on," he said.

"After three and a half years, I requested the prime minister again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds," Jung was quoted as saying.

Jung also said that he would like to write a book.

Over the last two years, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to Modi.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.

The Delhi chief minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for the breakfast meeting that came a day after Jung's sudden resignation from the post.

Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter- sweet times and spent some light moments.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also called on Jung.

Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons."

Although publicly Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions, both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at a personal level.

Asked about his meeting with Jung, Sisodia said, "We had a very good chat. He shared memories of the last two years and also of his days as a bureaucrat. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year.

"He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said that he could not quit due to things like chikungunya (outbreak in the city)."

Sisodia said he shared a "good rapport" with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation especially in areas of education. "We will work for the people of Delhi irrespective of circumstances be that easy or tough."

On who could be next LG of Delhi, the deputy chief minister said many names are doing the rounds but nothing official has come up.

Sources close to Jung had said on Thursday that his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.

The chief minister was in Ranchi on Thursday when the news of Jung's resignation broke.
"Federal District Judge Miles Lord, who died Dec. 10 at age 97, could have given me 10 years once. Instead, the famously outspoken judge, who was well known for protecting ordinary people from corporate crime and pollution, used the anti-nuclear case a group of us argued before him to deliver a remarkably scornful condemnation of nuclear weapons and of the corruption that protects them.

On August 10, 1984, Barb Katt and I did more than $36,000 damage to launch-control computers being built for Trident missile-firing submarines by Sperry Univac (now Unysis) in Eagan, Minnesota. It was the 9th in a series of 100 so-called Plowshares actions, one wed planned for two years. After walking into the Sperry plant dressed in business suits, we used household hammers to smash two of the companys missile-guidance computers then under construction. We named the wreckage by pouring blood over it because, as the philosopher Simone Weil said, Nuclear weapons kill without being used by forcing people to starve. We didnt run away but waited for the authorities, explaining to workers in the room that wed disarmed part of the governments first-strike nuclear war machinery. One worker said later as a trial witness, Ive heard the word Trident but I dont know what it means.

We were charged with felony depredation and were convicted by a jury after a three-day trial. Facing a maximum of 10 years in prison at a Nov. 8 sentencing, Barb and I urged Judge Lord to boldly denounce US nuclear war preparations that were then common knowledge. Judge Lord then did exactly that.

With the federal government today proceeding with a 1-trillion-dollar nuclear weapons modernization program, much like the one Ronald Reagan was overseeing in 1984, Judge Lords stunning critique of criminal corporate militarism is as relevant as ever. These are the judges sentencing remarks from the bench, as reported in the official transcript:

It is the allegation of these young people that they committed the acts here complained of as a desperate plea to the American people and its government to stop the military madness which they sincerely believe will destroy us all, friend and enemy alike.

They have made a plausible argument that international law prohibits what our country is doing by way of manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.

As I ponder over the punishment to be meted out to these two people who were attempting to unbuild weapons of mass destruction, we must ask ourselves: Can it be that those of us who build weapons to kill are engaged in a more sanctified endeavor than those who would by their acts attempt to counsel moderation and mediation as an alternative method of settling international disputes?

Why are we so fascinated by a power so great that we cannot comprehend its magnitude? What is so sacred about a bomb, so romantic about a missile? Why do we condemn and hang individual killers while extolling the virtues of warmongers? What is that fatal fascination which attracts us to the thought of mass destruction of our brethren in another country? Why can we even entertain the thought that all people on one side of an imaginary line must die and, if we be so ungodly cynical as to countenance that thought, have we given thought to the fact that in executing that decree we will also die? Who draws these lines and who has so decreed?

How many of the people in this democracy have seriously contemplated the futility of committing national suicide in order to punish our adversaries? Have we so little faith in our system of free enterprise, our capitalism and the fundamental concepts that are taught us in our constitutions and in our several bibles that we must, in order to protect ourselves from the spread of foreign ideologies, be prepared to die at our own hands? Such thinking indicates a great deal of lack of faith in our democracy, our body politic, our people and our institutions.

There are those in high places that believe Armageddon is soon to be upon us, that Christ will soon come to earth and take us all back with him to heaven. It would appear that much of our national effort is being devoted to helping with the process. It may even be a celebration of sorts. When the bombs go off, Christ wont have to come to earth. We will all, believers and nonbelievers alike, meet him halfway.

The anomaly of this situation is that I am here called upon to punish two individuals who were charged with having caused damage to the property of a corporation in the amount of $36,000. It is this self-same corporation which only a few months ago was before me accused of having wrongfully embezzled from the U.S. government the sum of $3.6 million. The employees of this company succeeded in boosting the corporate profits by wrongfully and feloniously juggling the books. Since these individuals were all employees of a corporation, it appears that it did not occur to anyone in the office of the Attorney General of the United States that the actions of these men constituted a criminal conspiracy for which they might be punished. The government demanded only that Sperry pay back a mere 10 percent of the amount by which the corporation had been unlawfully enriched. Could it be that these corporate men who were working to build weapons of mass destruction received special treatment because of the nature of their work?

I am also called upon to determine the amount of restitution that is to be required by the two individuals who have done damage to the property of Sperry. The financial information obtained by the probation office indicated that neither of the defendants owes any money to anyone. While Ms. Katt has no assets, Mr. LaForge is comparatively well endowed. He owns a 1968 Volkswagen, a guitar, a sleeping bag, and $200 in cash.

The inexorable pressure which generates from those who are engaged in making a living and a profit from building military equipment, and the pork barreling that goes on in the halls of Congress to obtain more such contracts for the individual state, will in the ultimate consume itself in an atomic holocaust. These same factors exert a powerful pressure upon a federal judge in my position to go along with the theory that there is something sacred about a bomb and that those who raise their voices or their hands against it should be struck down as enemies of the people, no matter that in their hearts they feel and know that they are friends of the people.

Now conduct of this sort cannot be condoned under the guise of free speech. Neither should it be totally condemned as being subversive, traitorous, or treasonous in the category of espionage or some other bad things. I would here in this instance take the sting out of the Bomb, attempt in some way to force the government to remove the halo with which it seems to embrace any device which can kill and to place thereon a shroud, the shroud of death, destruction, mutilation, disease and debilitation.

If there be an adverse reaction to this sentence, I will anxiously await the protestations of those who complain of my attempts to correct the imbalance that now exists in a system that operates in such a manner as to provide one type of justice for the rich and a lesser type for the poor, one standard for the mighty and another for the meek, and a system which finds its humanness and objectivity is sublimated to military madness and the worship of the Bomb.

A judge sitting here as I do is not called upon to do that which is politically expedient or popular but is called upon to exercise calm and deliberate judgment in a manner best suited to accomplish, and accommodate, and vindicate the rights of the people acting through its government and the rights of those people who are the subject matter of such actions. The most popular thing to do at this particular time would be to sentence [Katt and LaForge] to a 10-year period of imprisonment, and some judges might be disposed to do just that.

[Thereupon, the sentences were imposed: six months imprisonment, suspended, with six months unsupervised probation.]

I am also aware of the thrust of the argument, which would say this would encourage others to do likewise. If others do likewise, they must be dealt with at that time. I am also impressed with the argument that this might in some way constitute a disparity of sentence, that [Katt and LaForge] have not been properly punished because some others might not be deterred from doing [what they did]. I really wonder about the constitutionality of sentencing one person for a crime that may be committed by another person at another time and place.
She is just two years old in Bollywood but has already managed to bag four films, including one with superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Actress Kriti Sanon, who has been on a roll in Hindi filmdom, however, says she had never thought of becoming an actor.

She made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with "Heropanti", then featured in "Dilwale" starring Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan and has two films in her kitty -- "Raabta" and "Bareilly Ki Barfi".

Asked how she feels on bagging four films in just two years, Kriti told IANS here: "Of course it feels really great, specially because I am not from (a filmy) family and I don't belong to the industry. I never thought earlier of becoming an actor. It is something which just gradually happened."

The actress said she simply realised that acting was something she wanted to do all her life.

"I am so glad that I did get this opportunity to kick-start my career at the right platform and the audiences and the industry welcomed me really nicely," said Kriti, who was here for the launch of Kiss -- Keep It Stylish Sale -- for her label Ms. Taken.

The 27-year-old feels that she is the "chosen one, who was probably destined to do this".

Before joining Bollywood, Kriti was into modelling; so does she credit her acting career to modelling?

"As an actor no, because it has nothing to do with acting. It helped me face the camera," she said and added: "Before shooting for a film, I faced for an advertisement or face the still camera for photo-shoots, but it (modelling) does groom you as a person.

"Modelling increases your confidence level and sort of improves your personality and the way you carry yourself. You become much more confident," she said.

Kriti stressed that acting is different from modelling. "The kind of skills and efforts go into it (acting), I dont think I can compare it. I really believe if you have that ability to act, only then you can act," she said.

The actress, who made her acting debut in 2014 with the Telugu film "1: Nenokkadine", has a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication.

Kriti said the reason she made a shift to acting was because she was not sure if she was passionate about working as an engineer all her life.

"Acting was something I had never tried; so I never knew that I could do it. When I realised that I was enjoying it so much and I would love to do this all my life, that's how I made the shift," she said.

The actress is now gearing up for the release of Dinesh Vijan's directorial debut "Raabta", a romantic drama. The film also features actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Kriti says the script is very close to her heart. "Every time I rethink about the journey, it just really makes me happy that I am part of that film. It is a very special love story. It's about dreams, destiny and love," she said.

(Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durga.c@ians.in)

--IANS

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's notes ban (demonetisation) decision is economic dacoity by the government.

He said Modi divided the country between the one per cent super-rich and the 99 per cent honest people of the country.

"Notes ban wasn't against black money or corruption, it was economic dacoity. Modi-ji has created a divide between one per cent super rich and 99 per cent honest people of the country," said Gandhi while addressing a rally in Almora.

"Not a single black money holder has been arrested so far. There are 50 families who had taken loans. The scheme was to waive off the loans worth Rs 8 lakh crore of these families," he added.

Gandhi said: "When farmers don't pay loans, the government snatches their lands and houses. But when rich don't pay loans, they call them defaulters and their debt Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). The government restructures their loans but doesn't recover it."

He demanded that the Modi government release in Parliament the list of names of those who hold black money in Swiss banks.

"About 94 per cent of the black money is in Swiss bank accounts, gold and real estate. Just 6 per cent of black money is in cash," said Gandhi.

"Modi has not listened to the farmers but has forgiven Rs 1.40 lakh crore in loans to 15 rich people ... but not farmers."

He said: "They say notes ban is a surgical strike on corruption, but this is actually fire-bombing on India's poor."

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 in a bid to curb black money and corruption in the country.

--IANS

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The United States returned to Japan the control of 4,000 hectares occupied until now by its military bases on the southern island of Okinawa.

The ceremony in Nago was attended by top Japanese government spokesperson Yoshihide Suga and US ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy

This is the largest return of US-occupied land since 1972, when Japan regained the administration of Okinawa, where 240,000 people died during the Second World War and which had been controlled by the US ever since, reports Efe.

The returned land, which is 17 per cent of the territory administered by the US military on the island, was used for combat training in forest areas.

"This decreased training area on Okinawa will not deteriorate our commitment or our ability towards working with the government of Japan and our partners in the Japan Self-Defense Forces in mutual defense of this country," US Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson said in a statement.

Nicholson added that that the US intends to return more land to Japan in the future.

Opposition by the local population and politicians to US bases on the island has intensified over time owing to several incidents.

The latest took place on December 13 when one of the controversial Osprey MV-22 aircrafts, a US military aircraft which has been deployed in Japan since 2012, crashed.

Okinawa shelters half of the 48,000 US troops in Japan as well as 70 per cent of the US military facilities in the country.

--IANS

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Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari who returned to the country on Friday from self-imposed exile after a year-and-half, has vowed that "Kashmir will become part of Pakistan".

Addressing his supporters outside Karachi airport shortly after his arrival, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman said there is a sense of despair in Pakistan.

"However, I want to tell you that I have brought hope and not despair with me. I assure you that my programme will give Pakistanis new hope. Pakistan is secure with the efforts of the masses and the armed forces and will never face failure," he said.

The former President said the Pakistani flag has become the "symbol of freedom for Kashmiris".

"Kashmir will become part of Pakistan," he said.

Slamming his opponents, the former president went on to add that his party will once again rule the country and establish itself in the Parliament.

He also expressed pleasure over the thriving democracy and democratic culture in the country. "We will keep moving forward with the spirit of democracy and as only democracy has the solution for Pakistan's problems."

The PPP leader had left the country in June last year following a hard-hitting speech that criticised the establishment for over-stepping its domain, thereby offending it. Since then, he divided his time between Dubai and London.

--IANS

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The National Democratic Alliances intention to bootstrap India into the top 50 nations in the World Banks Doing Business rankings is praiseworthy for a regime that views corporate investment as central to its job-creating agenda. Its constructive response to Indias disappointing 2016 ranking of 130 out of 190 countries, an advance of just one rank from 2015, has been to explore practical options to improve the business climate, chiefly by leveraging information technology to streamline systems and processes  such as the IceGate e-commerce platform to facilitate improved trading across borders. As a means of reducing discretionary intervention by the countrys famously obstructive bureaucracy, this is an unexceptionable route to choose. For all that, the government will discover that its efforts may be good optics for the global investment community but will have limited impact because more than half the variables that are assessed for this ranking are not entirely within its control. Three of the 10 criteria that the World Bank uses are in the hands of the states and three others involve intervention by the judiciary.
There is a blame game on within the on who advised Vice President Rahul Gandhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue of farmer distress on 16 December, which caused cracks in the opposition unity. The has now reached out to opposition parties in a bid to restore this unity and launch nationwide coordinated protests on the 'note ban' issue in January.

According to sources in some of these opposition parties, leaders close to President Sonia Gandhi have approached them to explore the possibility of a joint press conference next week. The Congress wants the press conference to be its show of strength and reflect that opposition unity is restored.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday termed Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's resignation as his "personal decision", and said people of the capital will always remember him for his "firm commitment towards constitutional propriety".

"Delhi will always remember him (Jung) for his firm commitment towards constitutional propriety as a constitutional head and as a remarkable poet in his individual capacity," BJP unit chief Manoj Tiwari told reporters.

Jung, who was locked in a running battle with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a long time, on Thursday resigned. He became the Lt Governor on July 9, 2013 when the Congress-led UPA was in power. The Narendra Modi government retained him even as it replaced most Governors in the states.

"The decision of Jung to submit resignation appears to be his personal decision," said Tiwari, who also is an MP from Northeast Delhid.

Hailing his stint, the BJP leader said: "As a Lt Governor he served Delhi quite well for almost three years and citizens of Delhi wish him well for the future."

Earlier, BJP national secretary Sardar RP Singh also wished him all the best for his future endeavour.

"We want to wish him all the best for his future endeavours," Singh told IANS.

Hailing his work as the Lt Governor, the BJP leader said: "He has done a lot of work for Delhi. We thank him for all the pain he took for people of the city."

Singh also termed Jung's resignation as his personal decision, saying: "In his resignation letter, he has said that he want to pursue academics again, it is his personal decision. And we respect that decision."

"He has said in his letter that he wants return to academics, his 'first love'," Singh added.

A former IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre and a former Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, Jung gave no other reason for his sudden decision to step down.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of duping the poor, honest and hard-working people to help the 50 super rich families, Congress vice-president on Friday alleged that demonetisation of high-value currency is not a surgical strike on corruption but firebombing on India's poor.

Addressing a rally in Almora, Gandhi escalated his attack on Prime Minister Modi and said that demonetisation is economic robbery.

"The Congress Party wants to obliterate corruption from India. The Congress will support any step against corruption. But notes ban wasn't against black money or corruption, it was economic robbery," said Gandhi.

"You have divided India into two halves. On one side, India's super rich- 50 families, on the other side the 99 per cent of India, including the poor, the honest, hard-working people," he added.

The Congress vice-president also used the occasion to reach out to the farmers and labourers.

"Prime Minister Modi hasn't listened to the farmers, but he has forgiven 1.40 lakh crore in loans to 15 rich people but not farmers," said Gandhi.

"Speaking about labourers in Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said they dig holes. They made fun of labourers. PM Modi, India's labourers don't dig holes, they build India," he added.

Gandhi alleged that the 'suit boot ki Sarkar' was in its bid to help its "rich friends" snatching the rights of the poor.

"Under NDA, one per cent of Indians have 60 per cent of the wealth. 99 per cent Indians don't have black money. 94 percent of the black money is in Swiss Bank accounts, gold and land. Just six percent of black money is in cash. I don't know why Prime Minister Modi has made this six percent black money his target, not the 94 percent," said Gandhi.

"I will tell you why he took aim at the poor people. He had said I will put 15 lakhs in every account. You gave Vijay Mallya a toffee worth Rs 1,200 crore (but) you could not give to Uttarakhand," he added.

The Congress vice-president further said the Prime Minister makes money from the poor and gives to the rich, adding the latter wants the money of the people to remain in banks for as long as possible.

"I'll tell you why they introduced notes ban. There is some eight lakh crore in unpaid loans by rich people. When the farmers don't pay loans, you take away their land and houses," said Gandhi.

"But when super rich don't pay loans, you call them defaulters and their debt Non-Performing Assets. You restructure their loans but don't recover it. With your money, PM Modi wants to forgive this eight lakh crore in loans," he added.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) is willing to offer 70-75 of Uttar Pradeshs 403 assembly seats to the Congress and 20 seats to Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal to take forward the proposal to put together a mahagatbandhan (grand alliance) before the assembly elections.
Two British Muslim men were today found guilty of using Syrian aid convoys to funnel cash to terrorists in the war zone, in the first confirmation that some of these groups were abused.

Syed Hoque, 37, of Stoke-on-Trent and Mashoud Miah, 27, of east London were both convicted of funding terrorism between 2012 and 2014, BBC reported.

The Old Bailey court here was told the high-profile convoys led by the Muslim community became unwitting vehicles for the plan to fund terrorism.

One of the targeted aid missions included Alan Henning, the British taxi driver later kidnapped and murdered by Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists.

Today's verdict marks the first confirmation that some aid convoys were abused.

A third man, 46-year-old charity worker Pervez Rafiq, 46, was cleared of involvement in their plans.

A fourth man, 30-year-old Mohammed Hussain, of east London was also found not guilty.

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A 20-year-old Harare woman was reportedly sexually assaulted by a neighbour on their way home after she was ordered to relieve herself and later dragged to a lodge and abused.The woman, according to the court says 35 year old Tinashe Rufasha, of Eastview fondling and inserting his fingers into her privates.That was after her father had asked Rufasha to drive her home.According to prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa, on December 3 at around 4pm, Rufasha was asked by his neighbour to drive his daughter home and he agreed.While on their way, Rufasha suddenly diverted his route and drove to a lodge located in Hillside where he asked the woman to relieve herself.It was at that point on her way to the toilet that Rufasha grabbed and dragged her into a room.Rufasha started fondling the woman's breasts before he inserted his fingers into her privates, the court heard.She managed to push Rufasha away and stormed out of the room but Rufasha quickly followed her and asked her to get into his car.He pleaded with her not to reveal the ordeal to anyone.She later told her father who took the matter to the police.Rufasha was then arrested and taken to court charged with aggravated indecent assault.He was remanded out of custody to January 11 next year for routine remand.
At least 29 civilians including eight children were killed today in Turkish air strikes on an Islamic State group bastion in northern Syria, a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes were carried out on the flashpoint town of Al-Bab, which Turkish forces have been seeking to capture for weeks in the biggest test of a four-month incursion into Syria.

The raids came a day after 14 Turkish soldiers were killed by jihadists around Al-Bab, in the country's biggest loss of the campaign so far.

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area.

Turkish forces regularly carry out air strikes in support of the ground operation in Syria but officials insist the utmost is done to avoid any civilian casualties.

Defence Minister Fikri Isik told the parliament today that 1,005 IS jihadists and 299 fighters affiliated to the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) had been killed so far in the Syria operation, but made no mention of any civilian casualties.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed today to press on with the fight, saying: "Turkey is in the midst of a great struggle -- our fight against terror continues both in our country and outside our borders."



The army has suffered increasing casualties in the fight for Al-Bab -- 25 kilometres from the border -- with some three dozen soldiers believed to have been killed so far.

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If you have nothing to do, don't do it here.

Four Chinese nationals should have paid heed to this adage as they landed in the police net at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here for trying to spend time with a friend flying to Hong Kong by allegedly using fake e-tickets to enter the terminal area.

Officials said the four, three men and one woman, were intercepted by CISF personnel last night after their movements were found to be suspicious.

"The four entered the airport using fake e-tickets in order to see off a woman friend who was flying to Hong Kong.

"They were handed over to Delhi Police which booked them under sections 447 (criminal trespass), 465 (forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged) and 417 (cheating)," they said.

Police said out of the four, two had valid air tickets to travel to a foreign location which they cancelled last moment while the other two had allegedly faked their tickets to gain entry into the terminal area.

It added that the four were staying at a hotel in Gurgaon and were employed with a Chinese firm.

Entering the secured airport terminal using fake travel documents is a criminal offence under law.

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The insurance regulator Irdai has approved the R3 application and granted certificate of registration to five global reinsurers to opens shops here, a senior Irdai official said today.

The R3 is the final approval from the regulator to begin branch operations.

The five global reinsurers that were granted final approval by the regulator are the US-based reinsurer Reinsurance Group of America (RGA), Munich Re and Hannover from Germany, Swiss Re from Switzerland and French reinsurance major Scor, the official told PTI.

Another Swiss reinsurer XL Catlin and London-based specialised reinsurer Lloyd's are expected to get R2 soon, whereas Gen Re (part of Berkshire Hathaway of Warren Buffet) is set to receive R1 approval shortly, he said.

ITI Reinsurance, promoted by a domestic firm controlled by Sudhir Valia, has already received R2 licence and is waiting the final approval to kick off its operations.

Currently, state-owned GIC Re is the sole reinsurer in the country. The reinsurance market is estimated to be at around USD 2.5 billion.

Confirming the development, RGA said the insurance regulator has approved the R3 application and granted certificate of registration to it to setup a branch here.

Talking to PTI, RGA India branch Chief Executive and Managing Director Thomas Mathew said his parent organisation has already brought in the initial capital of Rs 100 crore and the India branch already has 45 people on its roll.

RGA is a US-based Fortune 500 company specialising in life and health reinsurance and has clients in over 60 countries. It is the global market leader in life reinsurance with total revenue of USD 10.4 billion and assets of USD 50.4 billion in 2015. It is strong in actuarial, underwriting and product development talents.

Since 2001, RGA has been operating in the country as a foreign reinsurer through its Irish subsidiary. RGA is working actively with its clients in developing innovative products in 'online protection' and 'critical Illness' space providing tailor made reinsurance solutions.

RGA has 23 life insurance companies, including the insurance behemoth LIC, as its clients in the country and 5 life insurance companies as clients in Sri Lanka.

"RGA has long term commitment to Indian insurance market and is keen to provide continued service to its clients," Mathew said in a statement.

"With the branch licence, RGA will become a regulated legal entity and will be able to give better, faster and efficient services to its clients," he said.

The RGA branch being set up will be under its Canadian arm, and will be based in Mumbai.

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Five people were killed and dozens injured following an explosion and fire at a gas station in Ghana's capital Accra, the police and fire service said today.

"The situation is very serious," regional police commander Yoosa Bonga told AFP of last night's incident.

"We can't immediately say what caused the fire but we took several people to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment but unfortunately five people are dead."



A spokesman for the Ghana Fire Service, Billy Anaglatey, said "four bodies were retrieved from the streets and one on the premises of the gas station".

He said some of the victims were passers-by, adding that the fire also damaged a nearby school building.

A resident, Daniel Amissah, who had just left the gas station before the explosion, said a leakage on the main gas tank was suspected as the cause.

At least 150 people were killed in June last year when a petrol station in Accra caught fire, with heavy flooding contributing to the deaths as the blaze was believed to have spread from a nearby residence via fuel on the floodwater.

Many people had sought refuge from a seasonal downpour under the canopy of the petrol station when the flames ignited tanks, causing an explosion and deadly blaze.

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Income Tax officials are probing 600 accounts in Bihar and Jharkhand for their suspected naxal connection after they showed a total deposit of over Rs 10.8 crore following demonetisation.

A total of 600 accounts which have money deposits on an average in between Rs 1 to Rs 3 lakh are being probed in Bihar and Jharkhand for naxal connection, Principal Director Income Tax (Investigation) Ashok Kumar Sinha told reporters.

He said the 600 accounts now have over Rs 10.8 crore deposits in the two states.

Though he did not provide break-up of the accounts, he said majority of them are in Jharkhand.

Principal Chief Commissioner Income Tax (Bihar & Jharkhand) S T Ahmad said one such account in Ara witnessed a deposit of Rs 40 lakh after demonetisation which has been freezed.

Ahmad, accompanied by other senior officials were interacting with mediapersons on launch of Taxation and Investment Regime for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna, 2016 in the two states.

Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) Prashant Bhusan said that if naxal connection is established during probe of these 600 Jan Dhan accounts, the accounts would be freezed.

Subrat Sarkar, Commissioner IT (Exemption), said that the department has served notices to 150 society and trusts in Bihar and Jharkhand including some political parties, educational, religious and social trusts enjoying tax exemption under IT Act to probe if cash has flown there after recall of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes.

"We have asked for details from them about cash deposits from November 8 till December 30 when the demonetisation drive would end," Sarkar said.

(Reopens CAL 4)



Sarkar, however refused to disclose names of political parties or other organisations under the lens.

Giving details of action after demolition of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, the IT officials said a total of 16 searches have been conducted in the two states so far. In addition, 41 surveys have been conducted and over Rs 9.17 crore seized.

Total Rs 42.4 crore undisclosed income has been unearthed so far in the two states, Sinha said, adding jewellery worth Rs 7 lakh is among total seizure.

Ahmad said that the Income Tax department has referred 14 cases of money laundering in the two states, each to Enforcement Directorate and CBI.

He said that against a target of collecting Rs 10,854 crore by way of tax in Bihar and Jharkhand in the current financial year, a sum of Rs 6,609 crore has already been collected which is 15 per cent above the collection in the corresponding period last fiscal.
196 cartons of India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) were seized from a truck and seven persons were arrested near Rampur village in Bihar's Samastipur district late last night.

Acting on a tip-off, the police team searched the truck from which 196 cartons of IMFL, brought to the district from neighbouring Jharkhand, were seized, Superintendent of Police Nawal Kishore Singh said.

Besides arresting seven persons in connection with the illegal transportation of liquor, the police seized the truck and an SUV which did not have any registration number, the SP said.

The liquor cartons were supposed to be sold in different parts of the state including in the vicnity of the district during the Christmas festive season and new year, another police officer said.

The Bihar government had on Gandhi Jayanti notified the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 banning manufacture, trade, storage, transportation, possession, sale and consumption of liquor and foreign liquor through stringent provisions incorporated under the law.

As per the new liquor law, those found indulging in unlawful import, export, transport, manufacture, possession, sale of intoxicant or liquor could attract a minimum 10 years of jail term which may extend to imprisonment for life besides, a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh which may again extend to Rs 10 lakh.

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The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Centre and the Delhi government on a plea by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan challenging the decision of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to dissolve the Waqf Board for not having his approval.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva also issued notice to the LG and the Waqf Board and sought their reply by March 18 next year on Khan's plea alleging that the decision was "patently illegal".

The lawyer for Khan said the LG's October 7 decision was taken on the ground that the Board, reconstituted in March this year, did not have his approval and claimed that this reason "goes against his (LG's) own record".

The AAP MLA has sought quashing of the LG's decision under which he had also asked the Revenue Secretary to begin steps to reconstitute the Board.

The court did not set an early date of hearing, saying that since LG Najeeb Jung resigned yesterday, the matter was not going to get resolved any time soon.

Khan has sought orders from the court recognising the reconstitution of the Board in March 2016 and his appointment as its Chairperson.

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Public sector Allahabad Bank said it has merged its wholly-owned subsidiary AllBank Finance with itself.

The merger was okayed at the Board of Directors meeting of the bank held today.

"The Board of Directors of the bank in its meeting held today, accorded in-principle approval for merger of its wholly owned subsidiary AllBank Finance with the bank," Allahabad Bank said in a regulatory filing.

The merger is subject to regulatory approvals, it added.

AllBank Finance is the merchant banking arm of Allahabad Bank and also holds licence for debenture trusteeship.

As a Category I Merchant Banker, ABFL offers basket of fee-based financial services such as IPO management, debt/loan syndication, trusteeship services (debenture trustee/security trusty) structured finance, placement of equity shares to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), investment advisory and portfolio management services.

Besides, it is also into distribution of mutual fund schemes and other corporate services including valuation of security.

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Senior Congress leader A K Antony today expressed displeasure over the 'rift' among top party leaders in the Kerala unit and told them to be ready to make compromises for strengthening the party's grass root base.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC President V M Sudheeran and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala should be ready to compromise for the party's growth, Antony said addressing a function organised to commemorate the 6th death anniversary of K Karunakaran at the KPCC office here.

"The desire of myself and party high command is that Chandy, Chennithala and Sudheeran lead the party together," he said at the function in which Sudheeran was among those present.

The remarks of Antony, a senior Congress Working Committee member, assume significance as they come in the backdrop of differences among top leaders over recent selection of new DCC presidents.

Apparently unhappy over the selection of new DCC chiefs, Chandy has been keeping away from party meetings.

Antony, also a former chief Minister of the state, said he and Karunakaran had reached agreements on several party issues even though they had differences.

"We continued to lead the party for 31 years as friends and rivals," he said.

Stating that party as in 1967 was passing through a difficult time, he said the main focus of the party leaders should be to widen its grass root base.

The former defence minister also said there were several positive factors such as the "failure" of CPI-M led LDF government of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Narendra Modi government in the centre for the growth of party.

Referring to the party affairs in the state, he saidin defence parlance 'there are generals, Officers in the party. But no artillery... That situation has to be changed.'



Leaders should be able to take the entire party together, Antony said adding it was difficult to have a generational shift in leadership.

Antony said party workers should take up people's issues and 'should be ready even to go to jail' for public cause.

Besides skipping party meetings, Chandy had also abstained from attending the agitation organised by the Congress-led UDF in Delhi recently on demonetisation, even as party leaders said his absence was due to some personal inconvenience.

Chennithala had already indicated that there was differences among party leaders in Kerala over appointment of new DCC Presidents and he too was unhappy.

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Solar power generator Azure Power today said it has bagged a 50 MW project which was recently put up for auction by SECI under the National Solar Mission (NSM).

Azure Power secured 50 MW of the total 100 MW capacity auctioned by Solar Energy Corp (SECI) and will supply power to SECI for 25 years, it said in a statement.

The project will be built in the Ananthapuramu Solar Park, which is being developed by the Solar Park Implementation Agency (SPIA), Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Limited (APSPCL).

The tariff will be Rs 4.43 per unit (USD 0.067) with an additional support of Rs 12.7 million per MW (USD 0.19 million) from the Government of India in terms of Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

This makes the levelised tariff of this project significantly higher than the levelised tariff of the lowest bid, including VGF, under SECI auctions in NSM Phase II Batch III.

Azure Power's Founder and Chief Executive Officer Inderpreet Wadhwa said, "With this win, we have once again demonstrated our strong project development capabilities."



With a portfolio of over 1,000 MW, Azure Power has developed, constructed and operated solar projects of varying sizes, from utility scale to rooftop, since its inception in 2008.

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News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A political commentator Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo has said the coalition of opposition political parties which is being organised to gang up against Zanu PF and President Robert Mugabe is based on numbers and popular vote hence those with very little numbers may face a challenge.He said the issue of coalition evolves a lot of factors."One cannot wake up and say he or she wants to lead a coalition there are issues that needs to be put into serious consideration. We have seen this in several countries to some it has worked and to some it has failed. The recent polls in Zambia clears shows that coalitions they work if you combine yourself with people who can add value and input to the coalition," he said."This is not an issue of wearing suits and holding press conferences but it is an issue of who is popular and who is not. Let's not try to play dirty politics. In fact there is a strong suspicion that some people who are calling for a coalition could be agents of the state trying to destroy the premature talks. In Zambia Felix Mutati the current finance minister previously had merged with Hakainde Hichilema and later on he changed his mind set he went back to Edgar Lungu. In politics you should be able to be well calculative and be able to see things far ahead. Hakainde Hichilema merged with people who had bad reputation that had negative impact towards their pact, for example people like GMB and Nevers Mumba the former vice president of Zambia."Muzamhindo said looking at the political trenches in Zimbabwe it's about popularity."You cannot do away with popularity in an election set up. You definitely need to play your politics within the matrix of popularity. There are two political parties that are popular in this country and these are Zanu Pf, MDC-T and small emerging parties like People first, MDC Ncube and Zapu etc. The only two remaining figures in this country is Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai," he said."There is no question about it that these are the remaining contenders in the upcoming elections in 2018. African politics is about brands and European politics is about money and wealthy. Morgan Tsvangirai has some black spots in his political life but when it comes to numbers he commands a huge following. It's very difficult to form a coalition without Tsvangirai."He said people cannot put a leader to try and test the level of the political field."People can't risk their votes, or try and invest their votes in something they know it does not work. The only party that is known in the history of Zimbabwe to defeat Zanu Pf is MDC T led by Morgan Tsvangirai. People cannot experiment with people s votes to see what will happen. What other political parties should do is to sit down with MDC and discuss how best they can work around on a good coalition that can involve everyone and contribute positively," he said."Biti broke away from Tsvangirai led party and he left with few lieutenants and who also literally broke away from his as well. PDP is the only party that has suffered major setbacks and defections during 2016. Biti is very arrogant and he cannot be allowed to lead a coalition and later on the nation because of his arrogance."Muzamhindo said the upcoming coalition needs someone who has experience of running a Government and who was tried and tested."People need to look at those facts and see who can lead the coalition. Most of these unity Governments majority of these parties have been swallowed by Zanu Pf, and they have been absorbed within the system. This can also be a factor to try and consider which party remained relevant in Zimbabwe politics for a long time. Experience counts as well to try and see who has the experience in the Government, councils and parliament as well," he said."It's crucial to consider the issue of structures. What matters at the end of the day is votes. If you look at the political scenario in Zimbabwe you find that there are only two parties that have structures in every district, ward and cell its Zanu Pf and MDC T. so one cannot wake up and say he wants to lead the coalition without putting those issues into consideration. Those structures they are important in the sense that they mobilize voters and also provide relevance and visibility of the party in every corner of the country."
Two unidentified motorcycle borne assailants shot at a senior bank official when he was on a morning walk today at the posh Civil Lines area here.

Shankar Ram Solanki, general manager at Bank of Baroda, was stopped by the accused and fired upon near the Post Master General Office, police said.

The victim, a native of Bhopal, was seriously injured and rushed to a private hospital in the area. His condition was stated as stable, they said, adding the motive of the crime is yet to be ascertained.

"A case has been registered at the Kotwali police station. Four police teams besides a crime branch team have been deployed to nab the accused," SSP Jogindra Kumar said.

The police is also questioning employees of the bank, the SSP added.

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The staff of a state-run bank here were locked up by a group of customers after the officials allegedly refused to provide cash after working hours, police said today.

The incident took place yesterday when officials of State Bank of India refused to entertain the pleas of customers after the working hours, SHO Sanjiv Sharma said.

The angry customers then locked up the bank officials, he said.

A police team reached the spot and freed the officials, police said.

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Noted industrialist and Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla today said his key priority at IIMA will be to create a stronger bond between the premier business school and the industry.

The Aditya Birla Group head, on his first visit to the top management institute after being appointed Chairman of the IIMA Board of Governors by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in October, also stressed on the need to address the issue of shortage of faculty.

"One of my key roles in this new position will be to create a stronger bond between the industry and academia, particularly IIMA, so that they connect with each other and also learn from each other," said Birla during his interaction with the media at the IIMA campus.

"I believe faculty can take advantage of the practical experience of the industry and bring it back to the classroom. I will try to build an ecosystem to reinforce that relationship" he added.

Commenting on the issue of shortage of faculty, Birla stated that almost all top educational institutes are facing this problem. "This is an issue which all institutes are facing. I am facing such a problem in BITS Pilani (Birla Institute of Technology & Science). We all will work together to address this issue here."



Asked to share his views about the autonomy status of IIMA, the business tycoon asserted that it should not be altered.

"This institute has grown in a certain way. IIMs have their own DNA and they are also self-regulated and self taught. Thus, autonomy is an integral part of these institutes and it should remain like that."



Birla also attended the quarterly board meeting at the institute today.

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BJP today demanded an inquiry by a retired High Court Judge into the months-long unrest in the Valley, which it said was "engineered" across the border but executed by "supporters" of anti-national forces in the state.

"With the situation largely under control now, it is right time for government to order an inquiry by a retired Judge of High Court to identify the forces responsible for causing the trouble and suggest measures to be taken to stop recurrence of such incidents," state BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi said.

Sethi said an example should be set to create deterrence by prosecuting those responsible for the violence and unrest.

The violence had begun following the death of a commander of Hizbul Mujahideen militant group - Burhan Wani - in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8. At least 86 people died and thousands, including 5,000 security personnel, were injured in more than five months of unrest.

BJP governs Jammu and Kashmir in alliance with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufli-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

And Sethi said the unrest was "engineered by anti-national forces from across the border" and their supporters in the state executed it, leading to destruction of public properties and death of "scores of people".

"It will take time for everything to return to (normal), and people to recover losses - monetary and psychological," he said.

He said unless action is taken against people behind the unrest, "reccurrence of such incidents can't be ruled out".

"The role of political elements and the so-called social workers should also be put to scrutiny. Protecting life and property is the foremost duty of the government," he said.

He claimed that the demonetisation exercise launched on November 8 has "broken the backbone" of the troublemakers and separatists and spoiled their capacity to hire stone pelters.

The BJP leader welcomed the grant of Resident Certificates to West Pakistan Refugees, living in the state, saying the settlers were getting identity after a decades-long struggle.

"The government of BJP and PDP has taken first step in doing justice to them what was long due and their birth right. Many more things are required to be done for their benefits within Constitution to address their demands and remove all troubles from their lives so that feeling of Nationals without Nation is taken away," he said.

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Former minister and Udhampur MLA Pawan Gupta today accused BJP of surrendering before PDP on the issue of West Pakistan refugees to stay in power.

"BJP's lust of power led it to surrender before PDP to promote the agenda of separatists, while denying the citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees despite their domicile in Jammu and Kashmir for the last seven decades," Gupta claimed.

Gupta, who was a minister in the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed- led coalition was dropped from the Cabinet when Mehbooba Mufti took over the reins of the state, alleged BJP has betrayed the people of Jammu region.

Gupta also accused BJP of aligning with the separatists and PDP to scuttle the establishment of Kashmiri Pandits' and Sainik colonies in Kashmir.

Gupta said the fundamental right of the West Pakistan refugees has been infringed even after they were promised domicile certificates.

"Now BJP has taken a U-turn despite its announcement of issuing domicile certificates to the refugees and ridiculously reducing the same to merely issuance of I-cards, thus depriving them any chance of livelihood," he said.

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BJP and JKNPP today criticised the Opposition and the separatists for resisting Jammu and Kashmir government's decision to issue identity cards to West Pakistan Refugees, saying their "orchestrated and misleading" protests were aimed at fomenting trouble in the state.

BJP state chief Sat Sharma said the decision was meant to benefit the refugees in getting central government jobs and joining security forces. "What is wrong in it," Sharma asked.

He said separatists and opposition parties were out to trigger trouble by an "orchestrated and misleading campaign to create an impression that the government was changing the status" of the refugees and giving them domicile certificates.

He also slammed the protesters for opposing colonies for state subject members of armed forces and Kashmiri Pandits.

Lashing at National Conference and separatists, Labha Ram Gandhi, Chairman of West Pakistan Refugee Action Committee, said if the state government provided support to Rohingya Muslims in settling them in Jammu "what problem do they have with a handful of West Pakistan refugees".

Gandhi condemned separatists' call for a shutdown against the decision. "We are not asking for a domicile certificates, We are just asking for citizenship in a state where we have been living for the past 70 years. We are citizens of India. This propaganda of the separatists is wrong," Gandhi said.

He appealed to the people in Jammu region to support them.

"Our children are not getting jobs, education, land in state and have no voting rights. This is discrimination with our generations," he said.

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman Harsh Dev Singh said if the government "can settle Rohingya Muslims in Jammu, what problem do separatists and other parties have in giving us an identification certificate."



Jammu and Kashmir government yesterday issued a clarification after protests against the move, saying it has decided to give only identity certificates to WPRs and the settlers were not being given "domicile certificates".

It said a "false and contrived impression" was being created over the change of status of WPRs and all reports in this regard were being "deliberately" spread to disturb the political-economic interests of the people.

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BJP MP Roopa Ganguly was today admitted to a city hospital after she complained of severe headache and partial loss of vision.

A release issued by the hospital in Salt Lake said Ganguly had a small haematoma in the brain and she is absolutely stable but required complete rest.

Hospital sources said the actor-turned-politician's vision in the left eye is disturbed and she is currently under observation.

A medical board has been set up for round the clock monitoring of Ganguly.

Senior BJP leaders visited her at the hospital.

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Alleging that the Odisha government is shielding Bhubaneswar Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena in the sex clip scandal and the death of an engineering student, BJP today sought intervention of Governor S C Jamir.

"We urge you to intervene and ensure removal of the mayor of Bhubaneswar city for a clean and transparent probe into the crime," the BJP memorandum to the governor said.

A delegation of the party led by its state president Basant Panda met Jamir at the Raj Bhavan here.

"We have drawn attention of the governor on the Odisha government's inaction on the cold blooded murder of an engineering student which is directly linked to a sex video circulated in the media," Panda said.

The BJP in the memorandum claimed that there were allegations that engineering student Ashutosh Mohanty alias Rishi Mohanty, who was in possession of the sex video, was murdered in a planned manner.

There were several clinching evidences to establish that the engineering student did not die an unnatural death, the party said adding, "it was most probably the result of a planned execution of murder of the student. Since the mayor is close to the chief minister, the police is not doing proper investigation".

The the link between the sex video and the "planned murder" must be investigated and the guilty should be punished, it said.

"We are apprehensive about proper investigation as the case involves a person with capacity to influence the investigation due to closeness with the chief minister and the government," BJP said.

The party had earlier in the week organised a Bhubaneswar bandh, a statewide two-hour 'chakka jam' and demonstration before the DGP's office in Cuttack.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress held a dharna in front of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation office demanding the mayor's resignation.

"The police cannot undertake an impartial probe into the matter till the mayor continues in his post. Therefore, we demand a CBI probe," state Congress chief Prasad Harichandan said.

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The Income Tax department today conducted searches on eleven premises of a city-based bullion trading group and detected unaccounted income worth Rs 12 crore.

Officials said the searches were carried out as part of the department's operations against black money hoarders in the wake of the currency scrap announced by the government last month.

"The group has surrendered undisclosed income of Rs 12 crore to the department. Investigations in the case are ongoing," they said.

In an another case in Allahabad, the taxman searched a locker belonging to a similar group and seized gold bullion worth Rs 1.06 crore and a cash of Rs 20 lakh," they said, adding operations are still on.

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China today warned that a trade confrontation with the US could damage one of the world's largest bilateral ties after US President-elect Donald Trump appointed Beijing's bitter critic for the top post in his economic team.

"China-US cooperation is interdependent, confrontation would only hurt both sides," Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said here, adding China is willing to further expand bilateral trade with the US.

Shen's comments came as concerns mount over a potential confrontational China-US trade relationship, sparked by the election and recent moves of trade-bashing Trump, who nominated Beijing's critic Peter Navarro for top trade job, state-run Global Times reported.

Navarro, who wrote a book called 'Death by China', will lead the newly created White House National Trade Council.

The appointment of Navarro, a staunch critic of China raised eyebrows here coming in the backdrop of Trump's questioning One-China policy after his unprecedented call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and his tweet, "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".

Navarro's appointment as head of the trade council has added more fuel to concerns that China-US bilateral trade will suffer under a Trump administration, with the outside threat of a full-blown trade war, a report in the Global Times said.

With about USD 600 billion bilateral trade, US is China's top trade partner. China's exports to the US last year totalled to USD 598 billion, imports USD 116 billion.

The US debt to China till September this year is about USD 1.157 trillion, which is 30 per cent of US treasury bills, notes and bonds held by foreign countries.

Chinese officials apprehend trade wars between the countries if Trump pursues hardline policy towards China, specially to strengthen its currency yuan, which weakened by 7 per cent this year.

US also alleges that China is weakening yuan to get better returns on its declining exports.

However, the MOFCOM spokesman expressed optimism about the future of China-US trade relations, saying it is too early at this point in time to predict whether or not China-US trade will continue to decline.

"Trade complementarity between China and the US is strong, no matter how the US government changes, the mutually beneficial and complementary characteristics in China-US trade won't change," Shen said.

In scathing editorial, Global Times said "Trump's Navarro pick is regarded as a signal that he will take more aggressive actions to promote his American interests first agenda. It's likely that the US will adopt reckless trade protectionist policies in future, causing changes to the pattern of the benefits distribution between the US and other countries," it said.

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News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Zimbabwe Freedom has created a score card for Zanu PF ministers who are viewed as having contributed to serious economic crisis in the country.The rating is A to D. A being given to the ones who excelled in their efforts to ruin the economy and one pretty much failed.The organisation rated the ministers as follwos, Samuel Undenge, Energy Minister -Rating: A, Ignatius Chombo, Home Affairs Minister -Rating: A, Chris Mushohwe, Information Minister -Rating: B, Patrick Zhuwao, Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment -Rating: B, Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Finance -Rating: C and the rest -Overall Mark: A which means they totally failed in their discharge of duty."There are many others we could individually rank on the incompetence rankings, but the competition was far too stiff. We don't want to be handling complaints from ministers that we left their ineptitude unrecognized," said Zimbabwe Freedom."There was Labour Minister, Prisca Mupfumira, whose only task became that of announcing pay dates, even as the civil service cried for an audit. There was also Obert Mpofu, a long time strong contender in the ineptitude stakes, who is the Minister in charge of bringing in investment. He clearly brought in none, which, by our government's measure, means he is doing a great job."The organisation said his National Diaspora Policy is surely only meant to taunt Zimbabweans abroad, or meant to grab a few foreign trip per deism."There is Jonathan Moyo, whose great STEM initiative would have fooled us, until he was possessed by the spirit of Robin Hood. There is also Industry Minister Mike Bimha, whose rushed import ban sparked riots," said the organisation."Not to forget Kembo Mohadi, the State Security Minister. He appeared bored at Chombo's finger wagging press conferences on protests, disappeared for a while, only to reappear at a Malawian prophet's church, receiving a magic cloth.""And Saviour Kasukuwere, whose idea of work, both in his party and in government, is firing and suspending people. All said and done, only Josaya Hungwe is blameless. The Minister of Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education Vocational Training did no wrong. Because he did nothing to start with," it added.The organisation said as for the rest, we wait with great anticipation to see how harder they work in the coming year to outdo themselves."Elections will be on the horizon in 2017, and we know how elections are always an incentive for politicians to be at their worst behaviour," it said."The competition will be stiff."
A Chinese state newspaper has accused a trade adviser picked by President-elect Donald Trump of "anti-China alarmism" and warned both sides would suffer if commerce is disrupted.

The China Daily's comments in an editorial Friday were more forceful and openly critical of economist Peter Navarro than China's foreign ministry, which appealed Thursday for cooperation.

The newspaper, which is aimed at foreign readers, said Navarro's appointment to run a new National Trade Council at the White House gives "real cause for concern."



Navarro has accused China of effectively waging economic war against the United States.

The newspaper said, "there is real cause for concern as the president-elect has named economist Peter Navarro, known for his anti-China alarmism, as his trade adviser.

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Indian-American Christians have celebrated Christmas at the Indian Embassy here, which was attended by eminent community members.

Welcoming the guests, the Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna extended his warm greetings to the audience yesterday on the joyous occasion.

The programme included invocation by the Samuel Honnappa, pastor of Memorial First India United Methodist Church in Maryland.

Speaking on the significance of Christmas and its relevance to India, Elder Ted N C Wilson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist World HQ, highlighted that the quiet spirit of sacrifice, humility and service is needed to make the world a better place.

The celebration was marked by singing of Christmas songs by the choir of St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church of Washington Metropolitan area led by Rev Fr Laby George Panakkamattom, a media release said.

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With civic elections round the corner, the city unit of Congress today performed the 'bhoomipujan' of the Pune Metro Rail project, a day before its formal launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress said the event was a "symbolic protest" against BJP-led government's "deliberate delay" in clearing the project.

The Congress was also miffed at NCP for reversing its stance to hold a parallel function with the state government assuring that party supremo Sharad Pawar would be invited to share dais with the PM.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held at Swargate junction by former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Talking to PTI after the event, Chavan said, "Metro project was Congress' idea and we had taken concrete steps towards it. Today's programe was a symbolic protest."



"Pune and Nagpur cities had got in-principle approval for Metro rail projects in March 2014. Six months after that, work on Nagpur project commenced. However, the Pune project was deliberately delayed in view of the upcoming civic body elections. Today's function was meant to protest this deliberate delay," he said.

"We wanted to expose the double standards of the BJP-led government and their sham for the development of the Pune city, as the project should have been cleared long back. However, BJP deliberately passed the project keeping the civic elections in mind," Chavan said.

A number of Congress leaders from the city were present on the occasion.

On December 20, accusing the BJP of taking credit of the Metro project, city Mayor Prashant Jagtap had warned that NCP would get the project inaugurated at the hands of party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday. However, NCP cancelled the plan a day later, after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that Sharad Pawar would be invited for sharing the dais with PM.

The Congress said that as the NCP backed off after CM's mediation, it had decided to go ahead with the separate inauguration programme.

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A couple wanted in connection with a cheating case in Mumbai were held here late last night, police said today.

In a joint operation by the city and Mumbai police, the duo, accused of "cheating and mismanagement of funds" by a Mumbai-based company, was apprehended from a residential locality here last night, they said.

The two were being taken to Mumbai for further interrogation, police said without giving any further detail.

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Credit Suisse said today it had reached an agreement with US authorities to pay almost USD 5.3 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

"Under the terms of the settlement, Credit Suisse would pay to the DoJ (US Department of Justice) a civil monetary penalty of USD 2.48 billion," the Swiss banking giant said in a statement.

"In addition, Credit Suisse would provide consumer relief totaling USD 2.8 billion over the course of five years post settlement," it said.

The settlement, which still needs approval by the bank's board, would release Credit Suisse from "potential civil claims by the DoJ related to its securitisation, underwriting and issuance" of mortgage-backed securities, it added.

The business was mostly carried out from 2005 to 2007, it said.

Just hours earlier, Germany's Deutsche Bank said it had agreed to pay a total of USD 7.2 billion (6.9 billion euros) to settle a case with the DoJ over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis.

On Thursday, the DoJ sued the British financial giant Barclays, accusing the bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities, which contributed to the global financial crisis of 2008.

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The investigation wing of the Income Tax (IT) Department today said the deployment of CRPF personnel during searches is as per the law, which West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has termed as "unconstitutional and illegal".

"The number of search operations being carried out now have increased manifold and this is why we are taking help of CRPF personnel," a senior official of the IT investigation wing told PTI here.

To a query, he said the investigation wing was also getting cooperation of West Bengal Police.

"As per law, we are authorised to seek the help of paramilitary forces, Customs, PSU banks and CISF personnel during search operations," the official said.

"This is nothing new and we are doing it everytime.

"It is well known that we are carrying out such action day-in and day-out. So it is necessary to take the help of other central agencies besides the state police," he said.

Mamata Banerjee today objected to the Centre's move to deploy CRPF personnel for providing security to Income Tax officials during search operations in the state and has also shot off a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding withdrawal of the decision.

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An inter-ministerial Central team led by Praveen Vashista, Joint Secretary (LWE) in the Home Ministry will visit Tamil Nadu next week for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by the massive December 12 cyclone Vardah.

Vashista will be accompanied by senior officials of Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Rural Development, Industries, HRD, Health and Family Welfare, Power, Road, Transport and Highways, and Water Resources, an official statement said.

The delegation is expected to visit the affected areas in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallore districts.

They will assess the damage caused by the cyclone to agriculture, industries, infrastructure and other sectors, and submit its report to the Centre, it said.

On the basis of the report, the Central government will fix the compensation amount and provide financial assistance to the state.

At least 18 people were killed when cyclone Vardah hit Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on December 12.

The cyclone, that triggered strong winds of nearly 100 kmph, uprooted hundreds of trees and disrupted power supply lines besides land and air transport, throwing normal life out of gear.

Around 13,000 people had to take shelter in 100 different locations to escape the fury of the massive cyclone.

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Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay today said the Raghubar Das-led government has created more problems in the state rather than solving any during its two-year tenure.

"The state government has failed to deliver on all fronts. We shall appreciate if the Das-headed government could highlight a single achievement during its two-year regime," the former Union Minister of State for Home told a press conference here.

Describing the Chief Minister as "arrogant and Copycat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi", Sahay said the Das government failed to tackle the deteriorating law and order and the situation was worse in the state capital, where loot and murder became a common feature.

Three murders including the brutal rape and murder of an engineering student had taken place on a day in the Hinoo locality of Ranchi, from where the Chief Minister passed through everyday, but the government failed to arrest the culprits, who are roaming around, he claimed.

Asked to comment on Jharkhand government's efforts to woo investors, Sahay said had the government been serious about industrial growth in Jharkhand, it should have revived those sick or closed industries in the state rather than touring abroad.

Sahay dubbed as "misuse of public money" the ongoing tour by state officials to Singapore to lure investors to participate in Global Investors Summit to be hosted by the state government in February 2017.

He claimed that the chief minister and his team could not even lure a bicycle puncture repairer to invest in the state during his Singapore visit.

"Everybody knows that the world including European and Asian nations celebrate Christmas for a fortnight and no one will be interested to talk business during this period," he said questioning the objective behind Chief Minister's visit now.

Das was following the footsteps of Modi and repeating the same things in the state which the Prime Minister had been attempting at the Centre, he alleged.

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Days after a row erupted over the army drill at toll plazas in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today objected to the Centre's move to deploy CRPF personnel for providing security to Income Tax officials during search operations in the state.

Banerjee demanded that the decision be immediately revoked.

Describing the decision as "unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism", Banerjee shot off a one-page letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in which she said deployment of any central police force to any state can only be done at the request of the state government.

"The decision must be immediately revoked," she demanded, adding, "The state government and police forces would provide all necessary help and protection if so requested by any central government agency for any legitimate action on their part."



Stating that no communication in this regard has been received by the state government, Banerjee said, "A copy of such instruction as reported in the media is enclosed."



"Respective legislative and executive jurisdictions of the state governments and the central governments are clearly delineated in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and public order and police are within the domain of List II (state list)," the letter said.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to all state chief ministers.

A row had erupted over the deployment of Army personnel at toll plazas in the state with Banerjee and the Centre trading charges.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also dashed off a stinging letter to Banerjee, saying her allegations against the army can "adversely" impact the morale of the force and the Trinamool Congress chief hit back over his "wild assertion".

(REOPEN DEL 41)



The I-T department said the deployment of CRPF personnel is "as per the law".

Supporting the Centre's decision, the investigation wing of the Income Tax (I-T) Department said the deployment of CRPF personnel during searches is "as per the law".

"The number of search operations being carried out now have increased manifold and this is why we are taking help of CRPF personnel," a senior official of the IT investigation wing told
After arresting a Kolkata-based businessman, the Enforcement Directorate has begun questioning Delhi-based lawyer Rohit Tandon in its money laundering probe in two high-profile black money cases of illegal conversion of old notes in the wake of demonetisation.

Officials said the agency, for the second day today, recorded the statement of Tandon under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and confronted him with documents seized by the agency against him.

Tandon's case pertains to an operation of the Delhi Police and the I-T department, early this month, where the agencies had seized Rs 13.6 crore from a law firm he is associated with.

Phone calls made and emails sent by PTI to Tandon's law firm T and T Law elicited no response.

The lawyer, before this operation, was separately searched by the I-T department where it was said that he declared undisclosed income worth over Rs 125 crore.

ED sources indicated that Tandon will soon be questioned along with Kolkata-based businessman Paras Mal Lodha, whom the agency arrested in this case on Wednesday.

Lodha (62) was arrested by the agency in "connection with the recovery of large amount in new currency notes from a company belonging to Advocate Rohit Tandon of T and T law firm (in Delhi) and J Shekhar Reddy of Chennai".

The agency has sent two phones, allegedly seized from Lodha, for forensic examination as it contained details of some conversations that the investigators could give them leads.

The Reddy case pertains to Chennai where the Income Tax department has made the biggest detection of unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore.

These two cases, involving Tandon and Reddy, are being probed by at least four lead agencies of the country including the ED, I-T department, CBI and Delhi Police.

Officials said the multiple agencies working on these two cases, involving high-profile individuals, are joining dots of the investigations to prepare a water tight case against those who have either hoarded or generated black funds after the government scrapped high value notes on November 8.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News / National

by Staff Reporter

A 68 year old Gokwe man is in trouble with goblins after acquiring them in search of wealth in Mozambique.It is alleged Givemore Chigumbeze from Nembudziya Gokwe is fed up with his goblins he took in Mozambique in search of riches.Chigumbeze testified that he never attends any funeral and he uses a fan with beads to call for any money he wishes and he gets it."I am in trouble with this goblins I acquired them in Mozambique and I do not attend any funeral regardless of my relationship with the dead."I keep a fan with juju in a closed room and I get so much money to boost my businesses," he saidChigumbeze owns eight cars but is no longer enjoying his riches and wishes to repent.
Drug firm Divi's Laboratories plummeted over 21 per cent on bourses today following media reports on critical observations made by the US heath regulator about the company's Visakhapatnam plant.

On BSE, the stock ended the day at Rs 866.10, down 21.87 per cent from its previous close. After opening at Rs 1,101.05, it had nose-dived 25.91 per cent to hit 52-week low of Rs 821.35.

Following decline in the counter, market capitalisation of the company fell by Rs 6,437.62 crore to Rs 22,992.23 crore.

On similar lines, the share plunged 20.80 per cent to settle at Rs 877.70 on NSE. It had opened at Rs 1,100.50 and dropped 27.71 per cent to its 52-week low of Rs 801.10.

On the volume front, over 1.45 crore shares of the company changed hands on the bourses.

Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) had made five observations after inspecting the manufacturing plant of Divi's Laboratories at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

According to media reports, USFDA observed that proper control was not being exercised over the computer system at Divi's Laboratories' Visakhapatnam plant.

Besides, facility equipments were not maintained to ensure purity, quality and strength. The health regulator further observed that the documentation and records were not maintained or inaccurately falsified, media reports said.

In a response, Divi's Laboratories said that it is not aware of any information that has not been announced to the exchanges which could explain the movement in trading.

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DMK today urged the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu to convene a special session of the state assembly to discuss the Cauvery water issue and the situation faced by farmers in the delta region.

Party Treasurer and Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin alleged that because of the ruling AIADMK's "confrontational approach" toward the upper riparian state Karnataka, the state could not get its due share of water from the inter-state river for the past six years.

In such a situation, some farmers in the Cauvery delta region had died unable to bear the losses suffered due to failure of crops or had committed suicide, he claimed.

Farmers' associations, besides DMK, had staged a series of protest on the Cauvery issue, but the government had so far neither held any talks with the ryots on the matter, nor has it provided any relief to them, he said in a statement here.

With Karnataka not releasing water, the delta region was "dry" he said, adding, the lawmakers, should therefore discuss the "critical" situation of farmers.

Further, with the Centre proposing to establish a single tribunal to look into all inter-state water disputes, he doubted if the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) will be constituted in the near future and sought confidence boosting steps from the government for the farmers.

"Therefore, a special session of the Assembly should be convened to discuss the critical situation of farmers. Further, a resolution should be adopted for constituting the CMB and declaring Tamil Nadu as drought-hit and it should be sent to the Central government," he said.

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A court here today sentenced a 36-year-old man to double life sentence for raping a minor girl in 2014.

District Mahila Court Judge N Thirunavukkarasu awarded double life sentence to Vijayan. The sentences would run concurrently.

The prosecution case was that Vijayan took the girl inside a shop and raped her on December 1, 2014 and impregnated her.

Following a complaint from the girl's parents, he was arrested.

The judge also recommended the Tamil Nadu Government to grant Rs five lakh to the girl as compensation.

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A 35-year-old inebriated man allegedly beat his wife to death and then set her body ablaze to hide his crime in Pauhar village, police said today.

"Lal Singh beat his wife to death last night and burnt her body to hide his crime," police station in charge of Badausa, Manoj Pathak said today.

A police team rushed to the crime spot on a complaint made by the family of the deceased.

"The body has been sent for post-mortem and the accused taken into custody," Pathak added.

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The on Friday barred 25 candidates, who had contested the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, for the next three years for failing to submit the expenditure incurred by them during the elections.

As per the orders by Anuj Jaipuriar, Secretary, Election Commission, 25 candidates, including six from Muzaffarnagar, are barred from contesting the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls for three years, Assistant Election Officer Ranjit Saroj told PTI.

The order came into effect after the said candidates failed to submit the expenditure incurred by them during the 2012 Assembly polls, he said.

Naresh from Budhana constituency, Rakesh Sodai, Sanjiv and Deepak Kumar from Purkazi constituency, as well as Salim and Sethpal Singh from Miranpur constituency in Muzaffarnagar district have been barred from contesting the elections, the official added.

Uttar Pradesh goes to polls next year.
Egypt agreed to postpone a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements when US president-elect Donald Trump called President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the presidency said today.

Egypt had requested yesterday that the resolution demanding Israel halt settlements be postponed after Israel launched a frantic lobbying effort.

The presidency said the two leaders had agreed to allow Trump's incoming administration a chance to tackle the issue.

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An old woman was charred to death and at least 52 houses and two churches were gutted in a devastating fire at Wakka village in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh.

According to an official report here today, the village was ravaged in the fire that broke out yesterday afternoon killing 77-year old Bangman Gangsa and turned to ashes 54 houses, including the Catholic Church and Baptist Church and a traditional dormitory.

The fire also ravaged a fair price shop and an Anganwadi centre.

When the last report came in, a few children were also found missing.

Store-houses, domestic animals, household goods and all utilities including two vehicles were completely burnt.

The incident also left many houses partially damaged.

Nothing could be saved as the accident took place when the villagers were busy clearing a forest away from the village in the wake of series of militant-related activities in the area.

Soon after the accident, the district administration rushed Circle Officer N L Naam along with relief materials to Wakka.

The Wancho Council and various NGOs and youth bodies of Longding district and beyond are mobilizing resources as relief for the victims.

Local MLA and Education Minister Honchun Ngandam has rushed relief material and is monitoring all relief works while Kanubari MLA Gabriel D.Wangsu has dispatched truck-loads of relief materials comprising rice, clothes and utensils.

The village under Wakka circle, the last administrative headquarters bordering Myanmar, has a total 314 households with 2026 inhabitants.

Of late it has been in for militant-related activities from across the border, including IED blasts and attacks on security forces.

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A former senior official of China's ruling Communist party was today jailed for 18 years for corruption in the country's north Hebei province.

Personal assets worth four million yuan (USD 575,954) belonging to Jing Chunhua, a former senior official of Hebei, should be confiscated and his illegal gains be recovered and turned over to the state treasury, the court's verdict said.

Jing, former secretary general and standing committee member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) provincial committee of Hebei, was found to have taken advantage of his various official posts from 2001 to 2013 to seek benefits for others in project construction, business operations, personnel promotions and reassignment.

He accepted bribes worth over 60.5 million yuan either himself or through his wife, state-run Xinhua agency reported today.

Jing was also unable to specify the sources of his assets, worth over 86.3 million yuan, which constitutes another criminal violation.

Changchun City Intermediate People's Court in northeast China's Jilin province said it showed leniency as Jing confessed to his crimes, expressed remorse and voluntarily returned his illegal gains.

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On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation for Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in Arabian sea, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a swipe at erstwhile Congress-NCP government for "failing" to secure the approval for the project during their 15-year rule.

"My government is following the political, social and administrative principles laid down by Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj. Like the warrior king (Shivaji) faced opposition, the project is also being opposed, but it will happen no matter what," the CM said at a function at Gateway of India in South Mumbai.

Taking a swipe at erstwhile Congress-NCP regime for "failing to secure required permission for the project", he said the approval for the project, which was pending for last 15 years, was granted immediately by Modi.

Proposed on around 15-hectare island off Mumbai coast, the memorial will be as high as 210 metres of which 60 per cent would be the height of the statue of Shivaji. The total cost of the project is Rs 3,600 crore of which first phase would cost Rs 2,500 crore.

"The foundation stone laying ceremony is fulfilment of electoral promise as well as a dream coming true," the CM said.

Urging people to be Part of the function, Fadnavis said his government had taken up the preservation of forts built by the legendary 17th Century king.

"Work at Raigad has already started. We are working as sevaks (servants) and not as shasak (ruler)," he added.

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In a major haul, police have seized fake currency notes with face value of Rs 1.35 crore in scrapped denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 here and arrested eleven persons, including a local NCP worker, a senior police officer said today.

The incident occurred last evening when a police team laid a trap and intercepted four cars in Adgaon area, city Police Commissioner Ravindra Singhal told reporters at a press conference.

"Police found fake currencies in old denominations of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500, totalling Rs 1.35 crore, in the cars and arrested eleven men," he said.

The scrapped notes were being brought to Nashik from Dhule.

Singhal said police are trying to trace the recipients who were supposed to take the delivery of the consignment.

"We are also probing the motive behind printing fake currency notes at a time when Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes have already been banned on November 8," the police commissioner said.

Among the arrested persons is one Chhabu Nagare, a former president of NCP's city unit Youth wing, and Ramrao Patil, a contractor who supplies garbage collecting vehicles for Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC).

According to sources, Nagare is considered close to a NCP heavyweight from the region.

Rest of the accused hailed from Pune, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane.

They are identified as Sandeep Saste (45), a resident of Pune, Ramesh Pangarkar (63), Ishwar Parmar (50), Nilesh Layse, and Praveen Mandhare (all from Mumbai), Rakesh Karkur (29), a resident of Thane, Gautam Jadhav, who hails from Navi Mumbai, Santosh Gaikwad (43) and Prabhakar Ghate (44), both from Nashik.

All the accused were produced in a local court, which remanded them in police custody until December 29, Singhal added.

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Fresh Turkish raids on an Islamic State group stronghold in northern Syria killed 16 civilians today, a monitor said, a day after dozens were killed in fierce bombardment of the town.

Today's strikes on Al-Bab killed 16 civilians, including three children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The raids brought the total civilian toll from 24 hours of Turkish raids on the town to at least 88 dead, including 24 children, the Observatory said.

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German authorities said they were investigating whether the main suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack, who was shot dead in Italy today, had accomplices, as they warned the high threat level remained "unchanged".

Federal prosecutor Peter Frank told reporters that there were many open questions in the probe into Tunisian national Anis Amri, the suspect who was killed when he opened fire on Italian police in Milan.

"It is very important for us to determine whether there was a network of accomplices... In the preparation or the execution of the attack, or the flight of the suspect," he said.

Frank said investigators also hoped to learn whether the firearm Amri used against police in Milan was the same weapon used to shoot dead the Polish registered driver of the truck that was hijacked to mow down holiday revellers in Berlin on Monday.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere later thanked Italian police for their swift action, saying the officers had been "especially brave" and done "excellent work".

"I am very relieved that this attacker no longer poses a threat," he said, adding that a team of German federal police were bound for Italy to assist in the probe.

He said the case demonstrated "the enormous importance of European and transatlantic cooperation in the fight against terror".

However he warned: "Although this manhunt was successful, the threat of terrorism is unchanged for Germany. It remains high, the security authorities remain vigilant."



Federal police chief Holger Muench said that "hundreds of investigators" would be working on the case "despite the Christmas holidays" beginning tomorrow.

Amri, 24, was suspected of killing 12 people and wounding dozens more in Monday's assault on the Christmas market, which has been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

Italy's interior minister Marco Minniti told reporters in Rome that Amri had been fatally shot after pulling out a pistol and firing at police who had stopped him for a routine identity check around 3:00 am (local time) near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni train station.

Identity checks had established "without a shadow of doubt" that the dead man was Amri, the minister said.

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The iconic beach front of Girgaum Chowpatty is all decked up and awashed in saffron flags as it gets ready for the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the foundation stone laying ceremony for a grand memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea tomorrow.

The sand on the route, which Modi is scheduled to take to enter the sea from the beach in South Mumbai, has been completely levelled and watered. Mannequins of Lord Vitthal, Shivaji and saints Tukaram, Mira bai, Dnyaneshwar and Maharshi Vyas have been put up to showcase the rich cultural and religious legacy of India with a special focus on Maharashtra.

A 'sea' of saffron flags adorns the entire Girgaum Chowpatty area, which is popular with tourists and also locals.

A grand replica of one of the forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji has been built at the beach, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will hand over the samples of sand, stones and water brought from across the state to Modi.

The samples, collected from various places related to the 17th century Maratha warrior by district-level representatives, will be used by Modi to lay the foundation stone of the memorial.

The PM will take a hovercraft from Chowpatty to reach the site of the foundation stone laying ceremony in the sea.

However, in all the hectic preparations for the high- profile and much-awaited event, its hard to miss the political message around the function.

According to a BJP leader, the party will milk the construction of the memorial in run up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls likely in early 2017.

"The Sena has been trying to hijack the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj from the very beginning. This time, we decided to turn the tables on them. Beginning the construction work of the memorial at a time when BMC elections are round the corner will be a shot in the arm for the BJP," said a senior party leader, requesting anonymity.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, meanwhile, held a meeting with party legislators and vibhag pramukhs (area incharges) where, according to sources, he asked his cadres to "show of their strength" during Modi's visit to Girgaum Chowpatty and also at the BKC Ground.

A Sena leader said that Shiv Sainiks in large numbers will be present at both sites.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis termed the ceremony as a dream come true for "crores and crores of Indians and Shiv premis".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To accelerate works under AMRUT, Centre has decided to approve action plans for the next three years in one go rather than annual approvals, as 14 states including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab, got nod for their plans for the remaining period of the scheme.

With the approvals, Urban Development Ministry has given nod to about 85 per cent of five-year mission plans with targeted investment of Rs 1 lakh crore by 2019-20 for 500 cities having more than 1 lakh population across the country.

The ministry used to grant yearly approvals to action plans under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), which focuses on ensuring water supply, and improving sewerage network and drainage system.

"We had taken a very important decision... Rather than the usual practice of sanctioning plans every year, we decided to approve them for the remaining three years of the mission in one go," Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba said.

He said the ministry has approved investment plans of 14 states for the next three financial years.

The investment plans approved in the latest round included for Madhya Pradesh (Rs 2,494 crore), Gujarat (Rs 2,279 crore), West Bengal (Rs 1,536 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 1,232 crore), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 1,350 crore), Punjab (Rs 1,200 crore), Bihar (Rs 1,030 crore) and Odisha (Rs 607 crore).

Jammu and Kashmir got investment approvals worth Rs 225 crore, Goa Rs 80 crore, Tripura Rs 64 crore, Mizoram Rs 53 crore, Chandigarh Rs 62 crore and Meghalaya Rs 31 crore.

Gauba said the new practice was launched to enable states plan in a "comprehensive and holistic manner" and in advance to enable timely execution of urban infrastructure projects.

He, however, said the plans for remaining mission period are being approved after due verification of progress of projects approved during the last and current financial years.

On the release of funds, he said it will be linked to implementation of urban governance reforms by city and state governments, including e-governance, improving efficiency of water and power use, increasing efficiency of revenue collection, single-window clearance for construction permits, and credit rating of municipal bodies.

For credit rating of municipal bodies, Gauba said it encompasses a wide range of governance and accounting aspects and the mindset of political and administrative leadership.

"We expect most of the 500 mission cities to be credit rated by March next year and 57 million plus population cities to put in place online single window clearance mechanisms by March next year," he said.

Investment approvals have been "fast tracked" in 2016.

Gauba said that out of the total targeted investment of 1 lakh crore by 2019-20, projects only worth Rs 16,000 crore are to be approved by the ministry and this would be done by the end of next month.

(Reopens DES 36)



With the latest approvals, the total investment nod for Madhya Pradesh for the entire mission period stands at Rs 7,201 crore, Gujarat Rs 4,884 crore, West Bengal Rs 4,035 crore, Rajasthan Rs 3,323 crore, Andhra Pradesh Rs 2,890 crore, Punjab Rs 2,767 crore and Bihar Rs 2,469 crore.

Odisha received a total investment approvals of Rs 1,599 crore, Jammu & Kashmir Rs 593 crore, Goa Rs 207 crore, Tripura Rs 150 crore, Mizoram Rs 140 crore, Chandigarh Rs 85 crore and Meghalaya Rs 81 crore.

Gauba said approval of projects under AMRUT involves scrutiny at three levels - a state level technical committee, state level empowered committee chaired by Chief Secretary, and by the Apex Committee in Ministry of Urban Development.

Under the guidelines, top priority in resource allocation is accorded to ensuring water taps to all urban households in mission cities, besides ensuring water supply of 135 litres per capita and improving sewerage networks, drainage systems, non-motorised transport and development of green and open spaces.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today said his government is putting in efforts to make the state take a lead in becoming "cashless".

"Telangana will soon become the first state in the country to fully go for cashless transactions and the government is making all efforts for it," KCR said, addressing a gathering at Yerravelli village in Siddipet district.

He inaugurated as many as 580 houses under the government's flagship double-bedroom housing scheme at Narsannapet and Yerravelli villages this morning.

"Government will educate and make people aware about benefits of cashless transaction and encourage it," he said.

Mentioning about Siddipet's Ibrahimpur village, which had been recently declared as the first village to become 'cashless' in south India by the state government, the CM said Narsannapet and Yerravelli villages will soon follow the suit.

On the occasion, Rao also distributed swipe machines to some commercial establishments and traders.

He said the dream of owning a house has come true for people of the two villages.

Under the scheme, 380 houses have been constructed in Yerravelli and 200 in Narsannapet.

Each house has been built at a cost of Rs 5.04 lakh in an area of 560 sq ft and is equipped with facilities like 24X7 water supply, drainage system, community hall, parks and other infrastructural amenities.

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In a meeting with three-member ministerial panel of state government, a delegation of the Akhil Bhartiya Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti today gave time till January 15, sought by latter to clear its stand on reservation issue to special backward communities (SBCs).

In this regard, a meeting was convened today, where Gujjar leaders and three-member ministerial panel of state government discussed the matter.

Earlier, Rajasthan government assured the communities under the special backward classes that it would go for appropriate solution within the framework of law to protect their interest, after Gujjars threatened to launch a fresh agitation for quota.

The Rajasthan High Court had on December 9 struck down Special Backward Classes quota given to Gujjars and five other communities by the state government as the total reservation exceeded the permissible limit of 50 per cent.

We have demanded to maintain status quo on reservation given to SBCs, on job appointment of 4,000 SBC category candidates and legalise 5 per cent reservation to SBCs including Gujjars, Samiti spokesperson Roop Singh told PTI.

He further said that state government had sought time till January 15 on the matter, which we have agreed upon.

Answering a question on Hardik Patel lending support to Gujjars in their fight for reservation, Singh said that we are not convinced with the agenda of Patel or any other political party.

Rubbishing Patel's proposed meeting with the Gujjar leaders today in state capital, Singh said that there was no such meeting scheduled.

Patel had met Samiti president Kirori Singh Bainsla on December 10 in Hindaun city but it was only a general meeting, Singh added.

Later, the Gujjar leaders also met Chief minister Vasundhara Raje and she also assured that government would go for appropriate solution within the framework of law to protect the interest of the communities.

I urge people to maintain calm and have perseverance. We are committed to find a possible solution, said the chief minister in a statement.

The state has witnessed violent agitation by Gujjars several times since 2007, when the community members blocked national highways and railway tracks and were fired upon by the police.

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Patidar community leader Hardik Patel today claimed he was "arrested by the Rajasthan police" at the Jaipur International Airport, a charge the police denied as "rumour" saying he was escorted for safety reasons.

"On the instructions of the Vasundhara Raje government, the Jaipur Police arrested me as soon as I got down at the Jaipur airport," he said in the first of a series of tweets.

However, the police denied the claims saying he was "just escorted for his own safety".

"He was neither detained nor arrested by the police. He was escorted owing to safety reasons. He had left for Udaipur right after landing at Jaipur Airport. It is purely a rumour (that he was arrested)," DCP East Kunwar Rashtradeep told PTI.

After landing at Jaipur airport, Patel, in multiple tweets alleged he was "arrested" and "the Rajasthan government and other BJP-ruled states were trying to snatch freedom (from people)".

He tweeted, "Jaipur police said the reason for my arrest, is threat to my life."



"In Independent India, attempt to snatch freedom is being made in every BJP-led state," he alleged in another tweet.

The Patidar leader also tweeted, "The Jaipur DCP said we have orders from higher authorities, you have to come with us.

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INLD leader Ajay Chautala, who is serving a 10-year jail term in a teachers' recruitment scam case, was today allowed by the Delhi High Court to attend the marriage function of his son and MP Dushyant Chautala.

The leader, who was on parole since November 28 and was restrained from moving out of the national capital, has sought modification of the order, saying he be allowed to attend his son's 'roka' ceremony at Sirsa in Haryana on December 25.

The application came up for hearing before Justice Vipin Sanghi who allowed the leader's plea to attend two ceremonies to be held at different locations in Sirsa and Gurgaon.

Advocate Amit Sahni, appearing for the convict, said the 'ring' ceremony was scheduled on January 3 next year and sought permission to the petitioner to leave the territory of Delhi to "enable him to attend and perform the customs on both the dates".

Allowing the plea, the court asked the leader to surrender before the jail authorities on January 5 next year, the date already fixed.

On November 28, the court had granted a month's parole to Ajay for maintaining "social ties" but restrained him from taking part in political activities.

The court had restricted Ajay's movement while directing him not to leave Delhi without permission from the authorities concerned.

The Supreme Court on August 3 last year had dismissed the appeals of Ajay and his father O P Chautala challenging the high court's verdict upholding their conviction and sentence of 10 years awarded by a trial court in the junior basic trained (JBT) teachers recruitment scam case.

The high court had on March 5, 2015, upheld the 10-year jail term awarded to Chautalas and three others, saying, "The overwhelming evidence showed the shocking and spine-chilling state of affairs in the country."



The father-son duo and 53 others, including two IAS officers, were among 55 persons convicted on January 16, 2013 by the trial court for illegally recruiting 3,206 JBT teachers in Haryana in 2000.

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The Gauhati High Court today directed the Assam government and the State Election Commission to issue instructions regarding holding of elections to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

A division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Manojit Bhuyan gave the directive after hearing a public interest litigation filed by Karbi Students Association along with Student and Youth Council and an individual, Bidyasingh Rongpi.

The PIL stated that the present term of KAAC would expire on January 13, 2017 and as per para-2(6A) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, the term of the council members was for a period of five years.

The petitioners also raised their apprehension that although the process of election of new members of the council ought to have been initiated, the state authorities were not taking steps for holding elections for a new council due to "political consideration".

The court, after hearing the case today, issued notices to the state council as well as the State Election Commission and directed them to come out with instructions for holding of election to KAAC.

The next date of hearing of the case has been fixed on January 4, 2017.

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President of Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) Ramjee Singh, arrested on October 22 for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 20 lakh for giving clearance to a college in Gujarat, was today granted bail by a special court here.

Special Judge Parveen Singh also granted the relief to suspected middleman Harishankar Jha, who was arrested along with Singh by the CBI.

The court granted bail to both the accused on a personal bond of Rs two lakh each and one surety of like amount.

The probe agency recently filed a charge sheet against the accused for the alleged offences of criminal misconduct by public servant, receiving illegal certification and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had arrested Singh, who also runs GD Memorial Homeopathy Medical College in Patna, and Jha on October 22.

According to CBI, Jha was allegedly receiving the bribe amount, which was a part payment for the total amount agreed upon, from a hawala operator in Karol Bagh area.

A CBI official had said that a private university based in Rajkot (Gujarat) had applied for setting up a new Homoeopathy college.

"It was alleged that...The Vice President of the said University was in a regular contact with both the President of CCH and a private person for getting inspection carried out by such team of inspectors of CCH who would give favourable inspection report," the agency had said.

Others named in FIR include R D Patel, Assistant Director, Homeopathy Department, Gujarat Government; Denish Patel, Vice President of R K University Bhavnagar, which was setting the Homoeopathy college; members of inspection team comprising Jabalpur-based Professor Rahul Shrivastava; Ashok Konar of National Institute of Homeopathy, Kolkata; and Ashwini Arya of J R Kissan Homoeopathy college, Rohtak.

It said R K University wanted to set up the Homeopathy college for which mandatory clearance was needed from CCH, a statutory body for regulating education in the field, which accords it after inspection and deliberation among its various committees.

It was alleged that Denish Patel roped in R D Patel to get this done. R D Patel in turn approached Singh through Jha.

Singh allegedly deputed a team-- comprising Shrivastava,



Konar and Arya-- which conducted the inspection in September, the agency had said.

The president of CCH had demanded illegal gratification and the part amount of which Rs 20 lakh was to be delivered in New Delhi and the same was to be collected from a hawala operator, the FIR alleged.

Jha had obtained an alleged bribe of Rs 20 lakh on behalf of then president of CCH, CBI alleged in the FIR.

"Searches were conducted at Delhi, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Jabalpur and Kolkata, including (at) the official and residential premises of accused persons and others which led to recovery of incriminating documents.

"A sum of Rs 21.5 lakh (approx) was also recovered from the residence of private person at Gurgaon," the agency had said.
Sri Lanka's ties with India improved in 2016 with high-level exchanges and signing of agreements to give momentum to their relationship, even as issues over a proposed economic and technology pact, poaching by fishermen in each other's water and China's influence in the island nation remained.

Historically, bilateral ties have been fraught with controversies. In the 1980s, the Tamil question dominated relations and more recently differences have sometimes erupted over poaching by fishermen and Sri Lanka's increasing dependence on China for investment.

But with a change in government in India and Sri Lanka last year, the ties in 2016 showed signs of maturity, breaking away from the past towards an era of synergy and understanding.

One of the defining moments in bilateral ties this year came when Sri Lanka pulled out of the SAARC Summit, which was scheduled in November in Pakistan, after India boycotted the meet over an attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based terrorists.

In November, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba visited Colombo during which he attended the Galle Dialogue - a meeting of regional navies at the southern coastal city. The visit was aimed at consolidating bilateral maritime security relations amid an increasingly assertive China in the region.

The increasing dependence on China for investment and military aid curtailed Sri Lanka's ability to limit Beijing's influence in its economic and maritime policy. China has been keen to push its economic and infrastructure proposals to the Indian Ocean states.

India focused on economic consideration to boost ties with Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government too appeared interested in building the country through economic ties with India.

During his visit to India in the first week of October, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka expected to sign an Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) with India by the end of this year.

Wickremesinghe appeared keen to fast-track the ETCA, given the needs arising from Britain's decision to leave the 28- member European Union economic bloc. The ETCA advocates believe the pact was an imperative to mitigate the effects of Britain's exit from the EU.

The progress on ETCA has been discouraging, however, and some have doubted the benefits of the agreement.

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition has said the agreement was an "appeasement" of India, ignoring the greater largesses from China.

Opposition legislator, Wimal Weerawansa, said: "With the ETCA, it looks as if the government is keen to help India solve its unemployment problem. They are creating one million jobs for the Indians."



But President Maithripala Sirisena defended his government's decision to enter into the agreement with India, saying protests against it were "politically motivated.

Harsha de Silva, the deputy foreign minister, had said of



the opposition the ETCA: "It must be noted that Sri Lanka's exports to India have been rising in the past few years... Signing the ETCA would, therefore, strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries. Rejecting the agreement would undoubtedly affect this market."



Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, too, has boldly dismissed any misgivings about ETCA during her visit to Sri Lanka in September.

Another area of concern in Indo-Lanka ties this year remained the complexities associated with the ongoing fishermen issue. The dispute has earlier escalated tension, and brings to the equation the issue of ceding Kachchatheevu to Sri Lanka by India in 1974.

Sri Lankans are averse to permit licensed Indian fishermen to fish within a "designated area" in their waters. "We are not in agreement with this," Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has said.

It has been argued that moderates in Sri Lanka and India want a settlement and ensure the livelihood of fishermen are protected, yet the official response of both the governments to the fishermen's dialogue has been lukewarm.

Soon before the navy chief's visit to Sri Lanka, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Beijing to meet top Chinese leadership. Before he began his visit, he accused India of adopting a "softer line" towards his successor President Maithripala Sirisena.

Rajapaksa mentioned to reporters in Colombo the "tension" his administration encountered with India.

"They (India) were furious when (Chinese) submarines docked at Colombo. From what I know, the Chinese inform the Indian embassy in Beijing before a submarines enters the Indian Ocean. But they made a huge cry about it."



China was Rajapaksa's main international ally when it supported him at international fora and funded his mega development projects, mainly in his home district of Hambantota. Rajapaksa, during his two terms in office, was widely perceived as being close to Beijing.

And his visit to China assumed significance in the wake of a recent public spat between Beijing and Colombo. Chinese Ambassador to Colombo Yi Xianliang had called a rare press conference and criticised Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake for his statement that Chinese had lent money to Rajapaksa government at high rates of interest.

The challenge for Sri Lanka, as earlier, is to establish a state of relative equilibrium in its relations with India and China.
In an unusual move, Iran and six world powers has released previously restricted documents about their nuclear deal to enforce their view that Tehran is not circumventing limits on its limit of enriched uranium, which could be used to make nuclear weapons.

Some of the documents are dated Jan 6, 2016, shortly before the pact was implemented. But they were not made public until yesterday, when they were posted on the public website of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is monitoring the nuclear deal.

The agreement stipulates that Iran can possess only low-enriched uranium, which is not suitable for weapons, and it is limited to possessing no more than 300 kilograms (660 pounds) at any time.

That is far less than would be needed to make a nuclear weapon even if it were further enriched to weapons-grade levels used for the core of nuclear warheads.

When the nuclear deal was agreed on, Iran had more than 100 kilograms of liquid or solid waste containing low-enriched uranium as part of its enrichment activities. Some of the material remains and the documents posted yesterday declare the low-enriched uranium it contains as "unrecoverable" and thereby not part of the 300-kilogram limit.

A letter on behalf of the European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, authorizing publication of the documents was also posted on the IAEA website.

It did not specify why they were made public nearly a year after they were agreed on by the nations negotiating the deal.

But it comes at a time that the incoming US administration has served notice it might seek to pull out of the agreement. Two officials of one of the five nations at the table with Iran suggested it was meant to show unity on the issue among criticism from experts that U.S. Lawmakers critical of the deal have seized on as an example of allowing Iran to undercut the pact.

Publication of the document comes shortly after the IAEA warned Iran to curb its production of low-enriched uranium or face the possibility of exceeding its allotted limit. The two officials said, however, that the two issues were not related, and Iran for now remained within its obligations.

They agreed to discuss the matter only if they were not quoted by name because they are not authorized to talk about the confidential issue.

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In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation move, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinomool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today said "irresponsible political leaders" would ultimately lose their credibility.

"Irresponsible political leaders act in such a way that common people are made to suffer," Banerjee said without mentioning Modi's name.

"I am also saying it for myself. I should rectify myself first, else will lose my credibility," she said at an event at the St Xavier's College here.

Speaking out against demonetisation, she said, "It has led to degradation of the entire banking system in the country. Every sector is in trouble. Everybody is perturbed."



Now things have come to such a passe that everyone is scared of any kind of raid, be it by the I-T department, the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate, she said.

"People are scared of I-T raids. We have never seen this before. How could we? Nobody has come before like this one," she said referring to Modi.

Banerjee said, "This is Christmas time. People can't travel....Cake sellers are facing problems."



The Chief Minister today announced the state would provide financial assistance of Rs 7 crore to the proposed St Xavier's University per annum.

The government would also provide four acres of land in Asansol for a new Jesuit college, she said.

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The Islamic State group said that the man shot dead by Italian police near Milan today carried out the deadly truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market.

"The Berlin attacker carried out a new attack against an Italian police patrol in Milan and was killed in an exchange of fire," the IS-linked Amaq agency said, referring to the fatal shooting of Anis Amri, the prime suspect in the Berlin attack, by Italian police.

Twelve people were killed when the Polish-registered articulated truck, laden with steel beams, slammed into the crowded holiday market late Monday, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims.

Amaq said Tuesday that "a soldier of the Islamic State" had carried out the attack "in response to appeals to target citizens of coalition countries".

Germany is part of a US-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria.

An Italian police officer shot Amri dead near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni train station today, four days after the attack which had triggered a Europe-wide manhunt.

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An Israeli official is accusing President Barack Obama of a "shameful move against Israel at the UN" after learning the White House did not intend to veto a Security Council resolution condemning settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The official said the "US Administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel's back."



He spoke today a day after, following heavy Israeli pressure, Egypt indefinitely postponed the UN vote.

"This is an abandonment of Israel which breaks decades of US policy of protecting Israel at the UN and undermines the prospects of working with the next administration of advancing peace," the official said anonymously in line with protocol.

Although the US opposes settlements, it has traditionally used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block resolutions condemning Israel, saying that disputes between Israel and the Palestinians must be resolved through negotiations.

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Israel lashed out at US President Barack Obama over a UN Security Council resolution passed on Friday demanding it halts settlements in Palestinian territory, while vowing it would not abide by it.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

"The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it colluded with it behind the scenes," it said.

"Israel looks forward to working with President-elect (Donald) Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution."



In a rare and momentous step, the United States abstained from yesterday's vote, enabling the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council.

The landmark move by the Security Council came despite intense lobbying efforts by Israel and Trump to block the resolution.

But the Obama administration has grown increasingly frustrated with settlement building in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied for nearly 50 years.

There have been growing warnings that settlement building is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They are constructed on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and have long been seen as illegal under law.

The United States has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic shield, protecting it from resolutions it opposes.

But there had been mounting speculation that Obama would allow such a resolution to pass before he leaves office on January 20.

Obama and Netanyahu have had testy relations, but Israel's statement after the vote was particularly harsh toward the US administration, as were comments earlier in the day from an anonymous Israeli official.

The United States is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was today taken into preventive custody along with several of his colleagues as he tried to stage a demonstration at Lal Chowk here against the government decision to give identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees living in Jammu and Kashmir.

Malik and his five colleagues were taken into custody by police soon after they reached Lal Chowk.

Before being whisked away by police, Malik told reporters that any change in "Muslim-majority character of Jammu and Kashmir" will be resisted by him.

Meanwhile, controversial Independent MLA Shiekh Abdul Rasheed began a 48-hour sit-in outside the residence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti against the government decision.

Rasheed and several of his supporters sat on the footpath outside Mehbooba's Fairview residence on Gupkar road, officials said here.

Talking to reporters, the MLA warned the government against "bulldozing rights of people of state".

He said, "If 40 lakh Afghan refugees can be sent back from Pakistan, the government should send these refugees back to their ancestral places. If New Delhi has a human heart, it can resettle them in any part of India, other than the disputed area of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken today claimed Najeeb Jung had to resign because he had planned to make public the Shunglu Committee report and alleged there was a "deal" between BJP and AAP on the matter.

He alleged BJP does not want Congress to form governments in Goa and Punjab, and if the Shunglu Committee report were made public, AAP would have suffered great jolts in the two states, benefiting his party.

The report was not made public as it would have exposed AAP and hence as per the "deal", Jung, who wanted to release it, was made to resign.

The two BJP-ruled states go to poll next year and the AAP has launched intensive election campaigns.

"It seems the deal was struck between the BJP and AAP not to make public the Shunglu Committee report as it would have exposed irregularities in 200 files of Delhi government," Maken told a press conference.

"Dr Najeeb Jung was to make public the Shunglu Committee report on Monday, that's why he had to resign," Maken said quoting "reliable source".

The two states go to poll next year and the AAP has launched intensive election campaigns.

"BJP does not want the Congress party to form governments in Goa and Punjab at any cost. However, the Congress is coming to power in both the states," he claimed.

Earlier, Maken had demanded the Modi government to explain the reason behind sudden resignation by Najeeb Jung from the post of Lt Governor.

He had charged the reason behind Jung's "unceremonious exit" could be a "deal" between Narendra Modi and Kejriwal, or he was punished for poor performance of BJP in MCD bypolls, or the government wanted to place a representative of RSS on his post.

Jung had formed the Committee to examine over 400 files on the AAP government decisions.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated an Indian school in the UAE's third largest city of Sharjah.

Vijayan, who is on his first official visit to the UAE since taking office, inaugurated the building of the new Sharjah Indian School yesterday evening.

The school, which will enrol 6,000 students in the next academic year, is situated in Juwaisa area in Sharjah, Gulf reported.

The Chief Minister congratulated the Indian Association Sharjah for their efforts in offering affordable education to expatriate children.

Vijayan, who paid a surprise visit to a labour accommodation in Al Quoz area on Wednesday, is scheduled to attend an award function organised by a Malayalam TV channel and a public reception in Dubai during his three-day visit.

Accompanied by Indian leaders, diplomats, businessmen and association office-bearers, Vijayan also attended a large reception by the community members at Sharjah Expo Centre.

Vijayan's visit to the Gulf nation is considered significant in view of increased cooperation between Kerala and the UAE which established a new consulate in the southern Indian state earlier this year.

An estimated one million Keralites live in Sharjah.

Speaking at a business meet in Dubai earlier yesterday, Vijayan invited expatriate investors to Kerala, assuring that his government will offer guarantee for investments in the state.

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Fearing fall in onion prices on likely good production in the coming days, Maharashtra government has demanded the Centre to extend export duty benefits beyond December 31 for promoting onion exports.

In September when onion prices had crashed, the Commerce Ministry had announced an export incentive of five per cent to exporters under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for both fresh and stored onions. The export incentive is valid till December 31.

"Since the crop of onion is huge and early disposal of the product is required, I request you to please take up the matter at appropriate level to ensure that inclusion of onion exports under MEIS continues," state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said in a letter written to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

There is a need to continue the export incentive as prices are expected to come under pressure because of higher production not only in the state but also adjoining states like



Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, he said.

"Maharashtra onions can be consumed within the state or exported out of the country. If onions cannot be exported, there will be a collapse of onion prices and farmers will have to face severe crisis and they will not be able to recover their production costs," he said.

The kharif onions cannot be stored for long. "If farmers are not able to sell at remunerative prices, they would be compelled to leave the onions in the field without harvesting."



The arrival of kharif onion is expected to start in full swing from next month in Maharashtra, the leading state in onion production.

Onion exports were at 13,56,381 tonnes in the April-September period of this fiscal.

The country's total onion production in 2015-16 crop year (July-June) is estimated to be higher at 20.99 million tonnes from 18.92 million tonnes last year. Maharashtra contributes more than one fourth of the country's overall output.

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During his visit to New Delhi yesterday, Mungantiwar also met Jaitley along with a delegation of onion producers and exporters from the State.

"It is more than the average of a good season, ie 1.75 lakh metric tonnes. It is likely that neighbouring states such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and also Rajasthan and others, too, will have bumper production of onion thanks to a good weather," Mungantiwar told reporters in Mumbai today.

He said exporting onions is necessary to ensure its production remains profitable and prices stable.

"Currently, the Centre gives grants for export of onion under the trade production encouragement scheme. This scheme will expire on December 31. Due to this scheme, onion producers and exporters gained market at the international level and competed with other countries," the Minister said.

"If this scheme is not given an extension, the export capacity of onion producers and exporters would be hampered and they would face difficulties in accessing markets in other countries and exporting their produce," he added.

Mungantiwar said this will result in a drop in onion exports and glut in the domestic market, causing a crash in the commodity's prices.

He said Jaitley has assured him and the delegation that he would take a positive action over their demand.
A man hailing from Kargil who went missing after he left his 10-year-old son at the main gate of a hospital in Gurgaon to fetch an auto rickshaw on December 16, has been found dead at railway track in old Faridabad.

After exhaustive search by Jammu and Kashmir Police in the national capital and adjoining Faridabad and Gurgaon, Faridabad police claimed to have recovered a body from railway track in the old city on December 19.

Faridabad police buried the body on December 21 as it was unidentified.

However, today the brother of the deceased identified him as Abdul Rahman, who had arrived in the national capital with his son Juma Khan on December 5 for treatment of his son.

The father-son duo checked in the hospital on December 5 for a cardiac surgery which was sponsored by Salman Khan's Being Human NGO and Fortis Memorial Research Institute.

On December 16, the son was discharged and the father told his son to wait at the main gate and he would get an auto rickshaw to go to the hotel.

However, the father did not return and Gurgaon police registered a case of abandoning of child.

An official spokesman of Fortis said, "The child was found abandoned at the gate and attempts were made to reach to his relative. After a day, his relatives flew from Kargil and the child was handed over in presence of police."



Neither Faridabad or Gurgaon police took the case to its logical end and made attempts to search for Rahman.

There are so many unanswered questions including how Rahman reached Faridabad from Gurgaon, a distance of nearly 45 km, asked one of the relatives.

Om Prakash and Narinder Singh, sub inspectors of Faridabad's Old Chowki police station said investigation would commence now as "we have now come to know that he had disappeared from Gurgaon police station."



The post mortem conducted by the doctors at Faridabad did not give the exact reason for his death.

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Political tussle among the key players in Maharashtra to claim the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji has been in full play on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state for laying the foundation for a grand memorial of the Maratha king in Arabian sea off city coast.

While the BJP has fully cranked up its organisational might to project the 'bhumipujan and jalpujan' by Modi as a high profile event, its bickering ally Shiv Sena as well as opposition Congress and NCP have miffed at the way the ruling party is trying to 'appropriate' it, though they support a mega memorial to the 17th century warrior king.

Shivaji, who carved out his own kingdom in early 17th century areas in the heartland of Maharashtra as well as parts of today's Karnataka and Telangana, has been held in high reverence by the people of the state, and political players cutting across ideologies never failed to invoke him.

Sena, which has always claimed the legacy of Shivaji, faced a challenge on that front for the first time from the BJP in 2014, when general elections changed the social and cast equations with aspiring Marathas, OBCs and some dalit factions joined hands with the saffron party.

Sensing the change of wind, BJP has started moving slowly in 'appropriating' Shivaji and his legacy.

The BJP leaders, however, dismissed that the party has been cultivating Shivaji for electoral gains.

"It has been a misconception that BJP is trying to seek the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj. We were with Shiv Sena earlier and supported and fought for a memorial. Now, we have our own government at the Centre as well as in the state.

"We are making it a grand event because the personality of the king deserves it and everybody in the state has tremendous respect for his contribution in those days," BJP Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar said.

Vinod Tawde, a senior BJP minister in state government, has already refuted charges of the BJP-led government spending a huge amount for the event.

"If entire Maharashtra has respect for the king, then putting up flags and boards across the state for such special occasion should not be viewed skeptically. All we have done is putting up some saffron flags and decoration of some areas. (There is) nothing wrong in it," Tawde said.

State unit Congress president Ashok Chavan said, "There is no question in objecting to Shivaji Maharaj's memorial. The memorial should be done but taking care of demands of fishermen who are solely dependent on the fishing activity. Their livelihood should not be affected.

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President Enrique Pena Nieto has pledged to help rebuild a fireworks market where explosions killed at least 35 people and reopen it next year, while a Roman Catholic church held funeral Masses throughout the day.

Families packed Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church in Tultepec in Mexico State, where chain-reaction blasts destroyed the country's best-known fireworks market Tuesday.

Investigators have still not announced the cause of the tragedy, which was the third explosion at the market since 2005 and cast a pall over Mexico's Christmas season.

Pena Nieto visited the injured in a hospital near Tultepec. But it was later at an anniversary ceremony for one of Mexico's independence heroes that the president spoke about the future of the San Pablito fireworks market.

"We commit to support all of the artisans, the 300 vendors from this market, to recover or to support them so that they can restart their normal activities next year and we can achieve the reconstruction of that market," Pena Nieto said.

Vendors have said that while they recognise the dangers of the fireworks market, it is their only way to make a living and they would return to work there.

Safety measures were put in place after the previous two explosions at the market but were apparently ignored.

Investigators were focusing their attention on reports that vendors displayed fireworks outside their concrete stalls in the passageways that were designed as safety buffers to prevent exactly the sort of devastating chain-reaction explosions that occurred.

Refugio Leon, whose family ran seven stalls in the market, said vendors commonly stacked displays of bottle rockets and firecrackers outside their establishments in the passageways in violation of the rules.

"Everybody did it," Leon said, speculating that it may have played a role in the rapid spread of the explosions. Video and photos of the stalls from previous years show concrete-block enclosures with open dirt passageways between them.

Later photos show the passageways filling up with fireworks and awnings.

Because it was the holiday season, the market was packed with fireworks and bustling with hundreds of shoppers when the blasts reduced the market to a stark expanse of ash, rubble and scorched metal. Dramatic video of the disaster showed a towering plume of smoke that was lit up by a staccato of bangs and flashes of light.

On December 12, the city of Tultepec had issued a statement calling San Pablito "the safest market in Latin America." It said 100 tons of fireworks were expected to be sold during the high season, which runs from August to New Year's.

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The Home Ministry has asked digital payment and e-commerce companies to beef up their cyber security mechanisms to prevent any attack from virtual world in the wake of surge in digital payments triggered by demonetisation.

Sources in the Home Ministry said that Information Technology Ministry and concerned agencies have been told to communicate the concerns of the government to the companies involved in e-commerce.

They said the threat of cyber attacks cannot be ignored especially when the government was asking people to adopt digital payments as a new way of life.

The sources said cyber security of many companies was still vulnerable which gives the hackers an opening to attack them.

They did not make it clear whether they have any specific intelligence input about a possible cyber attack or whether the missive was a routine cautionary exercise to the companies to upgrade their systems conveyed in an informal manner.

Deputy National Security Advisor Arvind Gupta had recently red-flagged the vulnerability of banking industry which has rapidly gone digital over the years.

In the recent past, he had said, several high profile attacks have taken place on the banks, "this is a worrying trend".

"Cyber security issues are now top of the national security agenda and such issues are given more importance than even the nuclear issues that used to top the international security agenda," Gupta had said.

He also asked the banking industry to be more forthcoming in sharing the incidents of financial security frauds and help in chalking out timely response.

"Now, with India going towards less cash economy, major thrust for the government is to promote digital transactions, banking industry must make a robust infrastructure so that digital transactions are secured," the Deputy NSA had said.

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Three teenagers -- two girls and a boy -- who had gone missing from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh on December 15 were found at Boisar in Palghar district near Mumbai, police said today.

Senior police inspector Ashok Honmane of Palghar Crime Branch said a team led by inspector Jitendra Thakur spotted the three during patrolling on the night of December 21.

As the police found their movements suspicious, the trio were questioned. Police found out that they were from Shimla.

Missing complaint about the three had been lodged at Sadar police station in Shimla on December 18. Shimla police had also posted their photographs on social media.

The district police then contacted their Shimla counterparts and informed them about finding the three teenagers here.

Their parents and a police team from Shimla would soon arrive here, police said.

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Amid snowballing row, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh today defended the decision of Jammu and Kashmir government to issue domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees and slammed those opposing the move to address the matter which has been lingering for 70 years.

Singh, a senior BJP leader from Jammu, said the country owes it to them since they have been living in the state for last 70 years and have been languishing without jobs and proper livelihood since Independence.

Kashmiri separatists have criticised the move by the Jammu and Kashmir government to give domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees, saying it was an attempt to change the demography of the state.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with citizenship right per se...Those who are trying to make an issue out of it or oppose this should first address the issue of some foreign nationals who have settled down in the suburbs of Jammu," Singh said.

"They (refugees) don't have the citizenship right and State Subject certificate in absence of any identity proof as a result they can not apply jobs. Therefore, the state government in consultation with Union Home Ministry devised a mechanism where each of them could be provided proof of identity to ensure them a dignified means of livelihood," the minister said.

Singh noted that the counterparts of such refugees like I K Gujral and Manmohan Singh, who settled in other parts of the India, rose to occupy the office of Prime Minister.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik attempted to stage a protest demonstration in Srinagar today against the move, saying it was a bid to change Muslim-majority character of the state.

An Independent MLA of the state Sheikh Rasheed also launched a 48-hour protest outside the residence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today against the decision.

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The Namami Chandrabhaga project announced in June this year by the BJP-led Maharashtra government for the rejuvenation of Bhima river, has remained only on paper so far.

Through 'Namami Gange', the state government plans to make the Bhima river at holy town of Pandharpur in Solapur district pollution-free. The project was announced on the lines of Centre's Namami Gange initiative. The Bhima river is also referred to as Chandrabhaga as it resembles the shape of the moon at Pandharpur.

"The project not just aims to clean the Chandrabhaga river, but also to keep a check on areas upstream that have been causing pollution. It includes municipal corporations of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad and many towns and villages that release untreated sewage into the river," Solapur district Collector, Ranjit Kumar, told PTI.

"Namami Chandrabhaga is an ambitious project, hence its implementation is being planned very meticulously. The river-cleaning project is also linked to several development works, including construction of sewage treatment plants in major cities to avoid river pollution," he said.

When contacted, state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar admitted that the work was still largely on paper.

"The project costs over Rs 1,000 crore, in which municipal corporations are going to be funded for setting sewage treatment plants. Unless these funds are utilised on priority basis, the pollution level would not go down. Some meetings were held in this regard. But since it is a big project, it will take some time to roll out.

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Around 50 vehicles engaged in excavation and transportation of iron ore from the Surjagad hills in Etapalli taluka of the district were burnt down and their drivers beaten up by Naxals today, police said.

Lloyd Metals Company has been allotted the lease of Surjagad hills by the Government and it has been excavating iron ore from the site for the last one-and-a-half month.

When the work was going on near the hills, dozens of rebels reached the site at around 11 AM and burnt down around 50 vehicles, including trucks, tractors, Pokland and JCB machines, they said.

The rebels confined the drivers of these vehicles, thrashed them and set them free after three hours, police said.

It should be noted that local people have been opposing the excavation and transportation of iron ore from the Surjagad hills.

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No arrests had been made so far in connection with the incident, Gadchiroli Police said in a release.

A search operation has been launched to nab the ultras, it added.
Eight persons were today named by NIA in a charge sheet for allegedly attempting to carry out a terror strike by using explosive devices similar to those used by ISIS cadres during last year's Paris attacks.

The charge sheet was filed before a special NIA court at Hyderabad under various sections of IPC, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

They have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the country by collecting weapons and explosive materials to target public places including religious sites and sensitive government buildings in various parts of the country.

Those named in the charge sheet are Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi alias Fahad, Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani alias Abu Abdurrahman, Habeeb Mohammed alias Abu Shaibah, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani alias Abu Mansoor, Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan alias Abulhasan, Yasir Naimathullah alias Naimath Ullah Hussaini, Mohd Ataullah Rahman alias Ghouse and Abdul Raoof alias Mohammed Almashrifi.

The NIA said that during raids at various premises on June 29, several electronic gadgets, mobile phones, hard discs, semi-automatic pistols, air rifle, pellets, target boards, explosive precursor chemicals were recovered.

These can be used for preparation of triacetone triperoxide (TATP), an explosive material used in the Paris attacks.

As many as 129 people were killed on November 13, 2015 when ISIS cadres used TATP substances while carrying out terror strikes at three places in Paris. TATP is easy to make, easy to set off, and susceptible to accidental detonations.

The NIA also found urea, nitrate explosive and equipment for manufacturing like pet jars with liquids, capacitor, gas stove with cylinder, weighing balance, nails, knives, quartz alarm time pieces, bundle of wire.

Forensic analysis of electronic gadgets seized from the accused showed online radicalisation of the accused by watching videos of ISIS, discourses and lectures of radical Islamic preachers, such as Anwar Awlaki, Abdu Sami Qasmi, Meraj Rabbani, Tausif ur Rehman, Jerjees Ansari and Zakir Naik, the agency said.

Investigation has established that the members downloaded and followed ISIS propaganda videos, ISIS magazine - "Dabiq", which convinced them that ISIS was fighting for the rights of the Sunni Muslims, it said.

The group associated with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (the ISIS) and pledged their allegiance through the Bay'ah to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed Caliph of the Islamic State and formed a group called Jhund ul Khilafa Fi Bilad Al Hind (Army of the Caliph from the South India), it further said.

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A Nigerian national has been apprehended at Coimbatore airport with about Rs 54 lakh in new notes today.

He took off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here and was intercepted by CISF officials.

Officials said the incident was reported at about 2:30 AM when CISF personnel intercepted the Nigerian, identified as T C Chuwutebelu, who reached the airport here to travel to Coimbatore.

"He was allowed to travel after information was shared with Income Tax department officials. They apprehended him at Coimbatore airport.

"A total cash of over Rs 58 lakh was detected with the Nigerian, with Rs 53.78 lakh being in new currency and Rs 4.29 lakh in old notes," they said.

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Another person was arrested today in connection with the sensational murder of a senior official of a shipping company here about two months ago, raising the number of arrests in the case to six, the police said.

Accused Susant Sethy was arrested by a police team in New Delhi and he was being brought here on transit remand, said Jagatsingpur district SP Jaynarayan Pankaj.

Sethy would be produced before a court at Kujang and the police would seek his remand, the SP said.

Earlier, the police had arrested five persons, including three belonging to Jharkhand, in connection with the gunning down of Mahendra Swain in this port town on October 26, the police said.

In another development in the case, a Kujang court today issued non-bailable warrant against the Managing Director of a stevedors company, Mahimananda Mishra, in connection with the murder case and company Director Basanta Kumar Bal, who are at large.

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Pakistan's electronic media regulator today ordered that the Channel-24 be shut down for seven days for airing a "false and unverified" audio clip of the crashed PIA plane in which 47 people were killed on December 7.

The decision was taken "for airing false, unverified audio clip" by the channel claiming that the clip was of the ill-fated Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane which was crashed near Islamabad, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) spokesman Muhammad Tahir said.

The regulator had issued a show-cause notice to the channel, directing its management to file a reply by December 15.

"The channel in reply to show-cause notice and personal hearing could not prove its claim. The authority thus took the decision keeping in view the gravity of the violation, its adverse mental and psychological impact on the family members of those boarded the plane and the general public that was already going through an emotional trauma," Tahir said



The seven-day ban will come into effect from December 27.

Soon after the crash, an audio clip went viral on social media claiming to be the last audio before the plane crashed and was broadcast by Channel 24.

In the audio, people could be heard crying for help. However, it came to light that the clip was an audio of another plane.

The audio was released by Channel 24 during its 9:47 PM transmission on December 7 following which, PEMRA sent a notice to the channel for broadcasting the unverified audio clip.

PIA flight PK-661 smashed into a hillside in the country's north while travelling from the city of Chitral to Islamabad on December 7. The airline said one of the planes' two turboprop engines had failed.

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Pakistan's recently appointed chief of Inter-Services Intelligence agency Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar today held his first meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The meeting was held in the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

Official sources said that security matters were discussed in the meeting which was more of a courtesy call.

Local media reported that the prime minister discussed policy guidelines and internal security with the spy chief.

Sharif also appreciated the role the ISI has played in the anti-terrorism war.

Mukhtar was appointed as ISI's director general about two weeks ago after Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar was appointed as president of army-run National Defence University.

Mukhtar has served as corps commander of Karachi after he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in September 2014.

He has also experience of handling spy affairs as he also served in ISI as head of its counter-terrorism wing.

He has also direct experience of fighting militancy as he commanded a brigade in South Waziristan tribal district as a brigadier.

Mukhtar was commissioned in the Armoured Corps regiment in 1983. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College Quetta, National Defense University Islamabad and War Course USA.

He had commanded a Mechanised Division, according to army.

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Critics and victims of military abuses expressed alarm today after President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted Philippine leaders to be able to wield martial law powers without judicial and congressional approval.

Duterte, a fiery populist politician who was elected by a landslide earlier this year largely on a vow to kill 100,000 criminals, has cultivated an image as a no-nonsense leader.

He has made reviving the death penalty in the mainly Catholic nation his top legislative priority as part of his war on crime, and has likened himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler as he said he was "happy to slaughter" three million drug users.

Speaking during a visit to the northern Philippines yesterday, the 71-year-old lamented how the constitution tied the president's hands in dealing with security crises including war.

"If you have martial law, only one person should be in control," Duterte said.

"If there's invasion or war and I declare martial law, I cannot proceed on and on to deal with the trouble as I still have to go to Congress, go to the Supreme Court," he added.

"That's why that needs to be replaced."



The Philippines adopted a new constitution in 1987 to curtail presidential powers after millions of Filipinos took to the streets the year earlier in a famous "People Power" revolution, to oust dictator Ferdinand Marcos and end his 20-year rule.

Under the former leader, who imposed martial rule from 1972-1981 to fight crime and a communist insurgency, thousands were killed and tortured to suppress dissent, previous Philippine governments have said.

Today the president can impose martial rule for up to 60 days to stop invasion or rebellion, but parliament can revoke it within 48 hours, while the Supreme Court can also review its legality.

Bonifacio Ilagan, imprisoned and tortured under Marcos' martial law reign, said Duterte could be floating a "trial balloon" to gauge public opinion before taking actual steps to amend the constitution.

"I honestly believe that the people will resist," said Ilagan.

Asked to explain Duterte's intentions, spokesman Martin Andanar told AFP on Friday: "I will ask the president."



Duterte has spent his first six months in office waging a brutal campaign against drugs that has left more than 5,300 people dead and raised concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings.

The president has previously declared he does not need martial law, but has also threatened to impose it during a row in August with the chief justice of the Supreme Court who had criticised his drug war.

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A PLFI extremist was killed in an encounter with security forces in naxal-affected Khunti district today, police said.

The encounter took place near Kander village under Arki police station area when the Peoples' Liberation Front of India (PLFI) ultras fired at security personnel comprised of CRPF and state police.

Superintendent of Police, Ashwini Kumar Sinha said one extremist, identified as Mahadeo Munda of Charom Bartoli in Khunti was killed in the encounter.

One country-made carbine, magazine, one country-made rifle, one pistol, a jacket, mobile phones and two motorcycles were recovered from the spot, he said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day's visit to Maharashtra tomorrow, where he will lay foundation stones for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the metro rail projects in Mumbai and Pune.

Modi will inaugurate the newly-built campus of the National Institute of Securities Management in MIDC Patalganga in neighbouring Raigad district.

He will then proceed to the site in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast, where the state government is planning to build a mega memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The Prime Minister's visit assumes political significance as the high-stake elections to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are just a few months away.

The main feature of the Shivaji memorial, slated to cost Rs 3,600 crore, will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the iconic Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop, roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently said the 'Shiv Smarak' will not only be the tallest memorial in the country, but in the entire world. He had thanked Modi for "making it possible."



Later, Modi will address a public function at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) ground in suburban Bandra, after laying foundation stone for two Metro rail projects, Elevated Rail Corridors Project and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party is an ally of ruling BJP, is expected to share the dais with Modi at the MMRDA event.

The PM will then leave for Pune, where he will lay the foundation stone of the Pune Metro Rail project. NCP leader Sharad Pawar will share the stage with Modi at this event.

The memorial project has been facing stiff opposition from fisherfolk and environmentalists, who have alleged that it would affect marine life and ecology of the Arabian Sea.

A rally was flagged off at Chembur today, where



representatives from various districts gathered with collections of sand and soil from Chhatrapati Shivaji's forts across the state.

The rally led by a 'Shivaji chariot' will conclude at the Gateway of India, where the Chief Minister will receive the vase carrying water and soil from all districts of the state. This will then be handed over to the Prime Minister and carried to the memorial site.

For the MMRDA event, the government has sent out invitation to over 3,000 VVIPs and dignitaries, including members of the royal family and Shivaji historians.

Ever since it came to power in Maharashtra in October 2014, BJP has been quietly trying to usurp the near-monopoly that bickering ally Shiv Sena has held over the 17th century Maratha king for the last many years.

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election in 2014, BJP had used the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji for electoral gains, with a famous tagline seeking to evoke Shivaji's blessings.

The government and BJP are trying to make the memorial event a success with hoardings at important places of all districts and also through campaigns in print, TV and social media.

Meanwhile, an official said those who would accompany Modi in the hovercraft to the jalpujan and bhumipujan venue off Mumbai coast, will include Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Fadnavis, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP's Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale and BJP's Rajya Sabha MP from Kolhapur Sambhaji Raje Bhosle.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram recalled that Indira Gandhi had admitted that declaring Emergency was a mistake and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should similarly admit that was a "flawed" decision which has badly hit the people.

Flaying the BJP regime and Modi on demonetisation, he said " is a measure which made 45 crore people like beggars and hassled middle class people for 45 days."

The former Union Finance minister said nobody could deny that such hassles due to (for getting cash) would continue for six more months.

Addressing a public meeting at the open grounds of party State headquarters Satyamurthy Bhavan here, he said Congress cadres should meet the people and address meetings in local languages of the respective states on the issue.

The people should be apprised that BJP's claim that demonetisation would root out black money "is a big falsehood, eliminating corruption and counterfeit currency was a deception," he said.

On Modi's statements of a 'cashless society', he wondered how it was possible when a country like USA had "46 per cent of its transactions in cash (after 300 years of its formation) and in Germany cash transactions are 80 per cent."

Chidambaram said the Prime Minister should have accepted that he had taken a wrong decision.

"He (Modi) is a big (magnanimous) man... Had he said that I made a mistake, had Modi sought forgiveness, he would have been a big man," the senior Congress leader said.

He said Indira Gandhi had generously admitted that promulgation of Emergency in 1975 was a mistake as it had led to suffering of people (not in Tamil Nadu) and promised to never do it again till such time she was Prime Minister.

"That is why she continues to live in the hearts of people as a towering leader though she passed away 32 years ago," he said.

"There is nothing wrong in accepting one's mistake..There is nothing wrong in saying that I have done a mistake."

Chidambaram said if Modi had admitted he had taken a "wrong decision based on wrong advice" and he was not told of the quantum of currency that will be scrapped, it would have been generous.

If Modi had said he was not apprised about the note printing capacity and how many months it would take to print such notes and on the duration of ATM recalibration, he would have been magnanimous, he said.

Modi should have admitted that he had not taken into consideration the fact that people would be hit and daily wage earners would be affected, Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram said that rather than accepting that what he did was a flawed decision, Modi was trying to stick to his ground.

Quoting a Tamil proverb, which meant trying to justify one's stance, despite it being flawed, he said, "Prime Minister, however, goes on and speaks gesticulating using his arms and legs and how we can accept this?"

He said Modi should have admitted that "I believed what I was told about rooting out black money...I did not pose a question as to how bringing Rs 2,000 note was a logical step when Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were to be scrapped.
About eight women die every year in country due to exposure to fumes from cooking, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said today.

Fadnavis, along with Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in the second capital of Maharashtra.

PMUY, officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May this year, envisages safeguarding the health of women and children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel - LPG.

Fadnavis said the scheme has reached to the poor and BPL families across the country since its launch by the PM.

He said there were only 13 crore LPG connections in country during last 70 years.

"Narkhed taluka in Nagpur district has become Kerosene-free and soon entire Maharashtra will be free of Kerosene," the CM said, adding nearly one crore citizens in the country have surrendered LPG subsidy thus enabling the passing off the benefits to the needy people.

On the occasion, Gadkari said about 1500 women from Women Self Help Group (SHG) in Narkhed have been given a loan of Rs 54 lakh by district authorities for availing LPG connection.

Pradhan, the MoS for Petroleum & Natural Gas, said 1.20 crore families have been benefitted in last eight months since the PMUY was officially launched on May 1.

"It was launched in Maharashtra two months back and 4.5 lakh families have benefited," he added.

The minister said a proposed gas pipe line, connecting Mumbai to Nagpur and further Nagpur to a point in Odiha, will pass through Nagpur district and create employment opportunities for locals.

"Today's launch marks one more step in the direction of providing LPG connections during three financial years commencing 2016-17 to 5 crore BPL families," stated an official release.

On the occasion, 20 women from BPL families were handed over LPG connections by three ministers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A political blame game has erupted between ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Karnataka over non-inclusion of Kannada among the languages for holding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for admission in medical colleges for the academic year 2017-18.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought to put the onuson the Centre, Union Minister Ananth Kumar hit back citing the state government had written to the Centre suggesting that the exam be held in English.

"Our government had written a letter stating that NEET exams should be held in Kannada also, still it has not been done. I have asked the Chief Secretary to write a letter," Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said, "It is wrong. We have written a letter, but what are our BJP ministers (at the Centre) and MPs doing? Don't they have the responsibility? They have won from Karnataka... What are they doing?"



The Union Health Ministry on December 21 had said NEET exams for admission in medical colleges will be held in eight languages - Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu.

Taking strong exception to Kannada being left out, the Chief Minister said, "Omitting Kannada... Is a wrong thing, we are writing a protest letter also."



However, Ananth Kumar held the state government responsible for it.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he said, "When the Centre asked the states about the language for NEET exams in their respective states in November, Karnatakagovernment's medical education department had clearly said in writing that the exams be held in English."



"It is only three days ago that they have awakened and sought that the exams be held in Kannada," he added.

The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has called the move to exclude the language a "great injustice" to seven crore Kannadigas.

Karnataka is considered to be the home for highest number of medical colleges in the country.

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President Vladimir Putin said today the recapture of the devastated city of Aleppo by Syrian regime forces was a "very important" step towards stabilising the war-torn country.

"The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalisation in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall," Putin told defence minister Sergei Shoigu in a meeting, Russian agencies reported.

The Syrian army said late yesterday that it had retaken full control of Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory against opposition forces since the civil war erupted in 2011.

The Kremlin strongman said that after the ouster of rebels from Aleppo, Moscow will now look to end fighting across the country.

"Everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory," Putin was quoted as saying.

"In any case, we will strive toward this."



Moscow has been conducting a bombing campaign in Syria in support of long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad since September 2015.

Russia forged a deal with Turkey - which supports groups seeking to topple Assad - that saw rebel fighters and civilians leave Aleppo.

Shoigu said today that some 34,000 people had been evacuated from rebel-held eastern Aleppo since December 15.

Russia's bombardment of Aleppo saw the West levelling accusations of war crimes that stung the Kremlin and further strained its fragile ties with the West.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin today said there was "nothing unusual" about US President- elect Donald Trump's call to boost America's nuclear capability.

"As concerns the new president-elect of the United States Mr Trump, there is nothing new here. During his election campaign he spoke about the necessity of strengthening the nuclear component of the United States, to strengthen the armed forces. There is nothing unusual here," Putin said at his annual press conference.

Trump yesterday wrote on Twitter that the US must massively bolster its nuclear capabilities, without providing details or context, a day after meeting a group of Pentagon top brass, and shortly after Putin called for Russia to reinforce its own nuclear capabilities.

"The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," Trump tweeted.

The open talk of ramping up nuclear capabilities -- reminiscent of Cold War pledges -- marks a jarring departure from the stance of President Barack Obama, who in a famous speech in Prague in 2009 called for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Trump's remark came after Putin told military top brass, "we need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces," while boasting about the Russian army's performance in its Syria campaign.

Russia's focus should be on "missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defence systems," the Kremlin strongman added.

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With Gujjars threatening to launch a fresh agitation for quota, Rajasthan government has assured the communities under the special backward classes that it would go for appropriate solution within the framework of law to protect their interest.

The Rajasthan High Court had on December 9 struck down Special Backward Classes quota given to Gujjars and five other communities by the state government as the total reservation exceeded the permissible limit of 50 per cent.

"State Government is waiting for a certified copy of the Rajasthan high court judgment so that an appropriate solution, within the framework of law, can be arrived at," a statement said.

The government said that it always showed its commitment to the welfare and uplift of Special Backward Classes (SBCs) of the state and concrete steps had been taken in the past.

"The decisions taken in the interest of the communities include convening a special session of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

"The Chief Minister had directed that all efforts have to be made to defend the legislation of 2015," the statement said.

The Rajasthan High Court has directed to suspend its December 9 order for a period of six weeks and that the appointments/admissions given by the Government of Rajasthan, pursuant to the 2015 Act, shall not be disturbed, it said



Even before the orders of the High Court were passed, the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to look into and address issues related to the welfare of SBCs, met several times, it said.

After the court order, the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti had threatened to launch a fresh agitation for quota.

On November 28, 2012, the Rajasthan Cabinet had decided to provide a separate five per cent quota to the SBCs without touching the 21 per cent reservation available to Other Backward Classes and taking the overall reservation in jobs and education to 54 per cent.

This had left Gujjars dissatisfied as it was susceptible to judicial rejection since its inception.

Earlier too, an attempt was made to enhance five per cent of reservation over and above the prescribed limit in 2008 which was not permitted by high court.

Then in 2009 and 2010, the high court had asked the OBC commission of the state to revisit the concession made by state government and after the study and recommendation of OBC Commission again, the Gujjars and five other communities were given 5 per cent extra reservation in 2012 that has been struck down.

The state has witnessed violent agitation by Gujjars several times since 2007, when the community members blocked national highways and railway tracks and were fired upon by the police.

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An additional superintendent of police of the Anti-Terrorist squad of Rajasthan Police allegedly shot himself dead after killing a woman on the outskirts of the city, police said today.

Before killing himself from his service revolver, Ashish Prabhakar also allegedly shot dead a woman in his car.The bodies were recovered from his car last night in Shivdaspura area, police said today.

Prabhakar was disturbed for the last few days and left office early last evening and went to Shivdaspura area, they said.

Prima facie, Prabhakar shot the woman dead after some quarrel before allegedly committing suicide inside the car.He had also made a call to the police control room, saying two bodies were lying in a car, before taking the extreme step.

Efforts are on to identify the woman.

The bodies have been shifted to a hospital for postmortem and the matter is being investigated, the police said.

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Appalled over the incident of rodents nibbling a woman's corpse in the premises of state-run Hamidia Hospital here, additional chief secretary of Medical Education department and the dean of Gandhi Medical College (GMC) were today shunted out, a senior official said.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today issued directives to transfer ACS (medical education) Prabhanshu Kamal and GMC dean Ulka Shrivastava from their posts, a senior Public Relations department officer, told PTI.

The government's action comes in the wake of the incident where an old destitute woman, identified as Gulab Bai, had died on December 12, while staying under a shade erected in campus of Hamidia hospital, affiliated with GMC, by a social welfare society, Share-n-Care.

The woman's corpse was nibbled and her eyes gnawed by rodents in the campus. The body was later shifted to hospital's mortuary and cremated by another NGO.

On the 'rat gnawing' incident, Share-n-Care director, Sayyed Suhail Hassan said that the woman had come to them in a bad condition as various hospitals had refused to admit her.

"The woman told us that hospital refused to treat her. She was in a bad shape as wounds on her hands were badly infected. We tried our best but could not save her," he said.

Meanwhile, on his way to the state hanger at the Raja Bhoj Airport this morning, Chouhan made a surprise inspection of the outpatient department (OPD) and other wards of Hamidia hospital.

After spotting filth and litter in toilets, the CM directed authorities concerned to cancel the cleaning contract of the hospital.

"Chouhan also told the divisional commissioner and district collector to scrutinise the functioning and arrangements at the hospital," the official said.

Meanwhile, the government handed over the additional charge of ACS (Medical Education) to principal secretary (Health), Gauri Singh.

Manish Rastogi, a 1994 batch IAS officer, was appointed as commissioner, Medical Education.

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Nine US air strikes have killed 28 "terrorists" in Yemen since late September, the Pentagon has said.

The US military's Central Command said the strikes yesterday targeted Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operatives between September 23 and December 13.

"AQAP is a foreign terrorist organization with a history of attacks against the United States and its allies," US military spokesman Major Josh Jacques said in a statement.

Those attacks included "the Christmas Day 2009 attempted bombing of a commercial airliner in the US, and the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo office massacre in Paris," he added.

The so-called "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a US airliner on Christmas Day 2009 with explosives stuffed down his pants.

Officials did not provide the names of any of those killed in the strikes.

AQAP and the Islamic State group have exploited a power vacuum created by a conflict between the government and Shiite Huthi rebels to expand their presence in Yemen, especially in the south and southeast.

US operations against AQAP in Yemen are separate from a Saudi-led coalition campaign against the Huthis.

The Pentagon periodically puts out terse statements giving the numbers of suspected AQAP operatives it has killed in Yemen, but seldom provides additional details.

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External Affairs Ministry today described as "completely factually misleading" reports that more than 150 bodies of people from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were lying in various hospitals and mortuaries in Saudi Arabia.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also asserted that there are only about 10 cases that pertain to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

"This report is completely factually misleading. The report refers to 150 bodies from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In reality, there are only about 10 cases that pertain to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. And the total number of bodies is nowhere near that number," he said.

He was reacting to a report which said at least 150 bodies of residents of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are piling up at mortuaries in Saudi Arabia for nearly a year with families unable to bring them back to Hyderabad for last rites and the Indian embassy in Riyadh has been of little help.

Noting that there are more than 2 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, Swarup said on average, there are 3-4 death cases registered every day on account of natural reasons.

Most cases are 'clear' cases in which, as per the local norms, it takes around three weeks to send mortal remains even if the documents are in order, the spokesperson added.

"In cases of unnatural death, like suicide, murder and industrial accident, and also in those cases wherein the families doubt the circumstances of death, the investigation procedure is very lengthy, causing delay in completion of documentation/transportation of mortal remains," he said.

Swarup further said in some cases, the families demand release of compensation first, before the dispatch of the mortal remains, whereas compensation is a legal process and takes a year.

In other cases of delay, DNA samples from the families back home are needed to identify the body and complete the local procedures, he observed.

"So at any given time there would be a number of cases, of all categories, being processed. The Embassy proactively follows all death cases on top priority. In fact, NOCs are issued by the Embassy on 24x7 basis.

"In the Kafala system (sponsorship) being followed in Saudi Arabia, it is the responsibility of the sponsor to complete the paper-work and dispatch the mortal remains to India. Despite this legal position, the Embassy steps in wherever there are delays in the transportation of mortal remains," Swarup said.

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Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) has sold its 4.122 per cent stake in power trading exchange IEX to a non-resident investor for a consideration of Rs 103 crore.

RInfra has sold its stake in IEX to a non-resident investor for a consideration of Rs 103 crore, valuing IEX at Rs 2,500 crore - highest value thus far, sources close to the development said.

RInfra is amongst primary investors in IEX and owns 4.122 per cent stake in IEX, sources said.

RInfra had invested Rs 1.25 crore for the stake in October 2007, sources added.

IEX is a leading power trading exchange in India enjoying 30 per cent of the short term power market -- approximately nine per cent of total power market.

"Last 3 deals for exchange of 14.12 per cent stake happened in February/March 2016 at an equity value of Rs 2,375 crore -- JSPL selling 4.12 per cent stake to Motilal, and Bessemer selling five per cent stake each to TVS Capital and Dalmia group," a source said.

RInfra is one of the largest infrastructure companies, developing projects through various Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in several sectors such as power, roads and metro rail in the infrastructure space and the defence sector.

It is also a leading utility company having presence across the value chain of power businesses i.E. Generation, transmission, distribution and power trading.

RInfra through its SPVs has executed a portfolio of infrastructure projects such as a metro rail project in Mumbai on build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis and eleven road projects with total length of 1,000 kms on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

Moreover, it also provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for developing power and road projects.

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The Crime Branch of city police today seized Rs 34.50 lakh in cash, including Rs 30 lakh in Rs 2000 new notes, from two persons here.

Rajesh and Amit, residents of Jaipur, were detained after they failed to give any satisfactory answer about the money.

"We have seized the money from the duo as they could not give any substantial answer and forwarded the matter to Income Tax Department for further probe," SP (Crime Branch) Vikas Pathak told PTI.

Pathak said the duo has claimed that its their money and were not going to exchange with the demonitised currency.

"We are verfying their facts and further investigation is on," he added.

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Russia has sent a battalion of military police to keep order in Aleppo, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said today, after the Syrian regime took full control of the ravaged city.

"We sent in a battalion of military police yesterday evening to maintain order in the liberated territories," Shoigu told Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Russian battalion normally numbers between 300 and 400 soldiers.

The Russian military police is a subdivision of the military that is meant to ensure order and discipline in the army.

Putin hailed the recapture of Aleppo as a "very important part of the normalisation in Syria" and said that "everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory."



Russian media earlier this month reported that scores of Chechens have been sent in as military police to Syria, with one video showing them chatting in the Chechen language while getting ready for their sendoff and wearing military police uniforms.

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A scathing US Congressional report released today branded intelligence leaker Edward Snowden a "serial exaggerator and fabricator" and said he has had continual contact with Russian intelligence services.

The partially redacted report, released by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, portrays Snowden as a disgruntled government contractor rather than a legitimate whistleblower.

The former National Security Agency contractor leaked thousands of classified documents to the press in 2013, revealing the vast scope of US surveillance of private data that was put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

According to the report, Snowden swiped about 1.5 million documents and those he leaked to the press were "merely the tip of the iceberg."



"Most of the material he stole had nothing to do with Americans' privacy, and its compromise has been of great value to America's adversaries and those who mean to do America harm," Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff said.

Snowden was quick to disparage the report, taking to Twitter to decry its "obvious falsehoods."



"After three years of investigation and millions of dollars, they can present no evidence of harmful intent, foreign influence, or harm. Wow," he wrote.

Snowden now lives in exile in Russia where he has sought asylum after fleeing his home in Hawaii and a brief stint in Hong Kong.

Should he ever return to the US, he would be tried for espionage and other charges carrying up to 30 years in prison.

"Since Snowden's arrival in Moscow, he has had and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services," the report states.

Snowden tweeted that the committee report was slanted and deliberately omitted his criticisms of Russian policy.

"Despite this, they claim without evidence I'm in cahoots with Russian intel. Everyone knows this is false, but let's examine their basis:" he adds, before posting a series of tweets on the matter.

The report also states that a Pentagon review had identified "13 high-risk issues," eight of which relate to specific capabilities that if the Russian or Chinese governments know about could put American troops at greater risk "in any future conflict."



Since September, a campaign calling for a presidential pardon for Snowden has won support from figures such as financier George Soros and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

The campaign says Snowden should be welcomed home "as a hero" for actions that benefited the public because they reined in US surveillance programs and led to improved privacy protection laws.

Snowden's lawyers are trying to win him clemency before US President Barack Obama leaves office in January or a plea bargain that would shield him from spending a lot of time in jail. Snowden himself has said he is not expecting a pardon.

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South Korea today inaugurated its consul general office here to cater to the needs of states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory Chandigarh.

Korean Ambassador to India Cho Hyun, who inaugurated the city office, said Korea is keen to forge economic partnership with India in the field of renewable energy, defence industry, health and education and also for working together on dealing with cyber crime threat.

He said his country was also interested in having academic exchange programme with Panjab University for encouraging Koreans to study in this prestigious university.

"We are exploring the possibility of academic exchange programme with Panjab University. There are very few Koreans in India and I want more Koreans in India and for that we need some academic exchange partnership with PU.

"I was surprised to find not a single Korean in PU despite all the good conditions for receiving Korean students here. Therefore, I advised PU Vice Chancellor to send a team for holding a road show to attract Koreans here," said Hyun.

Meanwhile, Jagdip Singh, a leading manufacturer and exporter of automotive parts, has been appointed as the first Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Korea (south Korea) here.

"The office of the Honorary Consul will also provide limited consular assistance in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh and support the Korean citizens within these states," Ambassador Hyun said.

"Republic of Korea has been one of the major and the oldest economic partners of India, by being among the first few countries to invest in the Indian economy post its economic liberalisation in the early 1990s," he added.

South Korea has two consulate offices in Chennai and Mumbai, while one honorary consul general office in Kolkata.

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"As an Honorary Consul, Jagdip Singh will work towards further strengthening the collaboration between the two nations, promoting culture, industry and commerce, facilitating investments, educational exchange and enhancing goodwill," said Ambassador Hyun.

Singh's appointment as Consul General will help towards further strengthening the collaboration between the two nations, promoting culture, industry and commerce, facilitating investments, educational exchange and enhancing goodwill, he said.

Korea's investment in India also recorded a remarkable increase, with more than 4 billion dollars of FDI being invested, he said, adding, "As a result, more than 450 Korean companies are currently operating in India and an increasing number of their products are becoming familiar household for Indians."



"Korean companies are also actively involved in numerous infrastructure projects in India such as highways, subways, and major construction works in power sectors," said the Ambassador.
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today hit out at the Bihar state government for doing away with post-matric scholarship for SC/ST students from 2017 and charged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with punishing the Dalit community for not voting for the Grand Alliance in the 2015 Assembly elections.

The state government has scrapped post-matric scholarship for SC/ST students and instead launched a scheme called student credit card, under which those Dalit students passing out intermediate examination will get Rs four lakh loan for higher studies, he said in a statement.

Sushil Modi, a former deputy chief minister, said the state government first reduced the amount of post-matric matric scholarship to the SC/ST students to Rs 15,000 in the current fiscal as against Rs 1.5 lakh a year ago and now it has decided to scrap the scholarship scheme altogether from the next year.

Expressing anguish at the state government's move to do away with the post-matric scholarship for SC/ST students altogether, the senior BJP leader said it would jeopardise aspirations of Dalit students for higher studies as the process has not been initiated for grant of scholarship nor application sought from Dalit students enrolled in intermediate courses.

Sushil also asked to clarify whether the loan to the SC/ST student for post-matriculation studies under the student credit card would be the same as the scholarship or the beneficiaries would have to return the funds to lending institutions with interest.

The senior BJP leader alleged that the scrapping of post-matric scholarship to the SC/ST students was a direct fall out of the liquor ban in Bihar as the revenue of the state government would drop substantially.

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: SV.CO, a leading digital incubator for student startups, has signed an agreement with DigitalOcean, making the American company its official Cloud Partner for its incubation programmes.

DigitalOcean is a cloud platform that simplifies the complexities of infrastructure for software developers and businesses.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Bengaluru earlier this month, all students who complete SV.CO's Free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) will get cloud credits, while additional cloud credits would be given to teams that get selected to the Silicon Valley Programme.

The month-long six ways to graduate MOOC provides basics in entrepreneurship to first year engineering students while the six-month Silicon Valley programme is the main course of SV.CO's #StartInCollege flagship programme.

"Cloud infrastructure is one of the most crucial components required for young startups to build technology companies. The partnership with DigitalOcean will bring world class technology and support for student startups across India," Startup village chairman Sanjay Vijayakumar said in a release here.

The association with DigitalOcean would provide college startups the expertise and resources of a top company in Cloud infrastructure, he said.

Prabhakar Jayakumar, India Country Manager, DigitalOcean, said, "At DigitalOcean, we love to nurture developers and startups and students are an integral component of these ecosystems.We look forward to supporting student entrepreneurs through such programmes and help them build next generation businesses on the cloud."



With this partnership, DigitalOcean has joined the ranks of companies like Facebook and Paytm which provide training assistance and scholarships to SV.CO's students respectively, the release said.

It also brings into focus the startup culture of giving back to society, it said.

SV.CO has forged an agreement with Facebook, which is its official host in the Silicon Valley.

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Syrian troops cemented their hold on Aleppo today after retaking full control of the city, as residents anxious to return to their homes moved through its ruined streets.

Syria's army announced yesterday it had recaptured the former rebel stronghold of east Aleppo following a landmark evacuation deal that saw thousands of opposition fighters and residents bussed out.

It was the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assad's forces in nearly six years of civil war and a major win for his foreign backers, with key ally Russia hailing the recapture as "very important" step.

Braving the cold, war-weary residents crossed districts that had become infamous front lines, eager to return to neighbourhoods they had not seen in years.

An AFP correspondent saw civilians wrapped in coats trekking through the cold, some rolling their belongings on wheelbarrows.

"I came to check on my house, which I haven't seen in five years," resident Khaled al-Masri said. "I really hope my home wasn't badly damaged."



The evacuation operation ended more than four years of ferocious fighting inside Aleppo, which had been divided between government forces in the west and rebels in the east.

Opposition forces remain in control of areas west of Aleppo and today at least one civilian was killed in the first wave of rebel rocket fire on the city since it fell under government control, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Eight people were also wounded in the fire on the Al-Hamdaniyeh district, the Britain-based monitor said, while state agency SANA reported three killed.

The evacuation agreement was brokered by rebel backer Turkey and regime supporter Russia, which said it would strive to end fighting across Syria.

"The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalisation in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall," President Vladimir Putin said.

"Everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory," Putin said. "In any case, we will strive toward this."



The Kremlin also announced that Putin had signed an order to expand Russia's naval facility in the Syrian city of Tartus.

Today morning, government fighters moved into Ansari and al-Mashhad, two neighbourhoods they had not entered since mid-2012.

They searched for improvised explosive devices and mines, clearing buildings in anticipation of civilians returning, the Observatory said.

In Bustan al-Qasr, a heavily damaged neighbourhood near Aleppo's famed old city, small bulldozers removed rubble from the streets.

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Realty firm Tata Housing has sold 50 housing units in Goa in three days for about Rs 40 crore, bucking the overall sluggish trend in property market.

The Mumbai-based developer had partnered Amazon to sell this project.

"In a record three days, the project has sold over 50 units across limited 1BHK-3BHK units starting 39 lakhs to Rs 1.4 crore," the company said in a statement.

Sources said the sales booking in the value terms stood at about Rs 40 crore.

In this project, Tata Housing is offering a plan under which buyers have to pay Rs 7.99 lakh now and nothing for the next 36 months for the 2-3 BHK apartments.

Spread across 5 acres, Rio-De-Goa is a premium resort themed residential project. It is strategically located near the Goa International Airport at Dabolim and only 4-5 km from the Bogmalo beach.

Tata Housing is selling home online from December 2013 when it partnered with The Great Online Shopping Festival by Google.

Tata Housing has listed all its projects online spanning affordable, premium and luxury segments. The company has 29 projects with around 70 million sq ft under various stages of development at 13 locations across the country.

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Tamil Nadu government today urged the Japanese aid ageny JICA for early approval of various projects assisted by it in the state including the second phase of Chennai Metro Rail and a 400 MLD desalination plant.

This was stated by Chief Minster O Panneerselvam to a visiting Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) delegation led by its President Shinichi Kitaoka, a state government release here said.

Tamil Nadu government has undertaken various JICA-assisted initiatives including the Chennai Metro Rail project.

"The Chief Minister requested the President of JICA for the early approval of some important projects proposed by Government of Tamil Nadu for JICA assistance including the 400 MLD Desalination Plant for Chennai, Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II and Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Programme Phase II," it said.

He also sought for JICA's early approval for Chennai Peripheral Ring Road Project with Intelligent Transport System, and the Chennai Urban Infrastructure Project, it added.

Panneerselvam 'highlighted' that JICA's involvement in Tamil Nadu has been very beneficial to the people of the state and that it is an important partner in implementing the Tamil Nadu Vision 2023, it said.

Kitaoka was quoted as saying that he had had extensive interaction with India and Indian officials through his diplomatic career and that he expressed great satisfaction with his visit to the Institute of Child Health here today.

"He highlighted that while JICA was one of the biggest donors in the world with a large presence in this region, the success of JICA's assistance was equally dependent on the understanding and co-operation on the side of the recipient. In this context, Tamil Nadu was a model partner for JICA," the release said.

The Japanese side also 'highlighted' that the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Programme (TNIPP) Phase I "was a great success and JICA was ready to move to TNIPP Phase II within the current fiscal year."



"It was also highlighted from the Japanese side that the implementation of ongoing projects is proceeding satisfactorily," it said.

Kitaoka also expressed his condolences on the recent "untimely demise" of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, and said "she was a personality of great charisma," it added.

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October 15, 2022, Saturday

US President Joe Biden has said Pakistan is one of the most dangerous nations in the world as it has nuclear weapons without ...
Britain today gave a go-ahead to a reserve force of armed officers to protect London against possible terror attacks.

The 11-million-pound (over USD 13 million) plan will involve training, buying guns and a new armoury for around 200 officers from the Territorial Support Group (TSG) who will be trained as a back-up force.

London's Deputy Mayor for Policing Sophie Linden today approved the contingency plan, which was ordered in the wake of last year's Paris attack which left 130 people dead.

"There is no change in the plan to raise the number of armed officers by about 600. Of those, 400 will be officers in the Force Firearms Unit (SCO19) and the remaining number of officers within other roles across the Met (Metropolitan Police Service), and one of those options includes officers from the TSG," a Scotland Yard spokesperson said.

The TSG is in the front line of policing violent protests and disorder in the capital and carries out routine patrols of crime hotspots in the British capital.

The officers will not carry weapons in their normal public order duties or while on patrol in London and will only be called on if the Metropolitan Police's firearms capability is committed to dealing with multiple coordinated attacks, Evening Standard reported.

Many extra officers are being deployed this year to armed response vehicles which are on permanent patrol.

Scotland Yard is spending about 25 million pounds on equipping the recruits.

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British police today issued a fresh appeal in the murder inquiry concerning an Indian-origin man who went missing in the West Midlands region eight years ago and was later found dead.

Surjit Takhar was 37 when he was reported missing from his home in Oldbury by his family in October, 2008.

Nearly seven years later, maintenance workers found his remains at the bottom of an embankment in Telford, Shropshire, in August, 2015.

West Mercia Police conducted a full forensic examination and a DNA profile, along with dental records, to confirm the remains were those of Takhar.

However, the cause of his death remains unexplained.

"Takhar's death is being treated as a murder enquiry and we are keen to speak to anyone who has any information at all about his disappearance in 2008 or his whereabouts at that time," said Detective Inspector Jim Munro, from Force CID.

"We particularly want to speak to someone who called police in January this year saying they had information about Takhar, but the call was cut off before the caller's name could be taken. I would urge that person to contact us again. The information they have could be vital in helping us to get the answers that Takhar's family deserve," he said.

Takhar has been described as a loving father to a son and twin daughters.

"Surjit Takhar was a genuine, one in a million individual who loved with all his heart and was loved by us all. Kind, thoughtful and helpful, who could light up a place like no other," said his brother-in-law Jasvir Sohl.

"We are heartbroken we will never see him again and know he would feel the same that he will not be able to see and embrace loving moments in this life with his friends and family. He will always live in all our and all his families' hearts just as we will in his. We can only pray his soul is at rest and has found peace," he said.

Takhar was reportedly dealing with financial problems at the time of his disappearance and had suffered from alcoholism.

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The UN Security Council has defeated a US-sponsored resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and three key figures in the conflict in the world's newest nation.

Seven council members voted today in favour of the resolution and eight abstained.

To be adopted by the UN's most powerful body a resolution needs nine "yes" votes and no veto by a permanent member.

US Ambassador Samantha Power told the council after the vote that the resolution "would not have been a panacea ... but the arms embargo would have had some significant effects" in stemming the flow of weapons.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly called for an arms embargo, warning that "If no action is taken, South Sudan will be on a trajectory towards mass atrocities.

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President-elect Donald Trump on today reportedly said he is fine with a nuclear arms race and exuded confidence that the US would outlast any another country in terms of atomic weapons.

Trump reportedly said this in an off-air conversation to Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the popular 'Morning-Joe' show on MSNBC, the channel said.

"Let it be an arms race...We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," Trump told Brzezinski in an off-air conversation as reported by her during the Friday morning show.

Trump's comments comes a day after he tweeted that "The US must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes".

The tweet raised concerns among foreign policy watchers.

Trump's spokesperson Sean Spicer told the channel that the tweet means that business as usual is over.

"There's a few countries around the globe, Russia being one of them, and China and others that have talked about increasing their nuclear capabilities. I think the president-elect's point is unless these guys come to their senses and recognise that this is not a smart move. Increasing the nuclear stockpile around the globe is not good for anybody but the US is not going to sit back," he said.

"It's not a reaction, it's a point that he's making which is domestically and internationally, business as usual is over. This guy is going to bring real change and that means that if our partners around the globe think the US is going to sit back they're sadly mistaken," Spicer said.

He said it is putting every nation on notice that the US is going to reassert its position in the globe.

"Make sure that if you act, the United States is going to act," he said adding that Trump during his campaign made it very clear that on every aspect of policy he's not going to sit back and wait.

In an interview to CNN, Spicer said expansion of nuclear weapons is unlikely to happen.

"It means that there are countries around the globe right now that are talking about increasing their nuclear capacity. And the US is not gonna sit back and allow that to happen without acting in kind. And I think the president-elect is very clear that he's gonna be very active in putting America's security first and foremost. And if another country wants to threaten our sovereignty or our safety, he will act," he said.

At the same time, he said he does not believe that expansion of nuclear weapons is going to happen.

"I will tell you this, but I do believe that it won't happen because I think what they have seen, domestically and internationally, is this is a man of action," he said.

"Yesterday, he put out a statement early in the morning talking about the resolution that was coming forward in the UN Security Council and the Egyptians and the Israelis called him afterwards, it got taken down. He's a man of action that is getting things done for this nation," Spicer said.

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VHP today asked the state government to identify and deport all Bangladeshi and Burmese nationals settled in Jammu by March 31, 2017, failing which it warned that the people of the region would be forced to decide their fate.

"We call upon the state government to identify all Bangladeshi and Burmese nationals settled in Jammu and Kashmir on or before March 31, 2017 and to deport them from Jammu," state VHP President Leela Karan Sharma told reporters here.

"Failing which the people of Jammu will be forced to decide how all these people, who are changing the demography of the region, are thrown out and the responsibility will be on the state administration," he said.

On the objection raised by Hurriyat and the separatists to the issuance of domicile certificates to the West Pakistan refugees settled in the state since 1947, he said the state government should provide a permanent solution for their settlement, giving them full rights like other citizens.

He said Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and every citizen had the right to settle anywhere in the country.

He claimed that the separatists had a problem with it even though the refugees were only being given domicile certificates, he said.

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Marxist Veteran V S Achutanandan today said the CPI(M)-led LDF government should immediately appeal against the Kerala High Court's decision not to demolish the apartment complex of real estate major DLF, built in an "ecologically fragile" area in Kochi.

A division bench of the court had on December 21 found that there was violation of CRZ norms in constructing some portions of the complex on the banks of Chilavanoor backwaters in Kochi, but had held there was no need to demolish the same.

The bench had directed DLF to pay a fine of Rs one crore to uplift the damaged environment.

In a statement here, Achuthanandan, Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, held that the government should go through the High Court judgement and file an appeal immediately.

Alleging that the Environment Ministry had filed an affidavit favouring those who violated environment norms, he said this was one of the factors which led to the verdict.

"If the central government is not prepared to rectify this anomaly, the state government should file an appeal," he said.

Achuthanandan alleged that the apartment complex on the banks of Vembanad lake violated CRZ norms and affected the lives of fishermen.

The construction had been undertaken after reclaiming 'wetland pokkali field' which had been classified as CRZ-I (ii) areas as it is an ecologically fragile area, he added.

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Meanwhile, KPCC President V M Sudheeran, urged the state government to file an appeal immediately against the High Court judgement in the DLF case.

In a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he said the judgement would have far reaching consequences as regularising the apartment complex, constructed violating CRZ norms after leving a penalty of Rs one crore, would lead to far reaching adverse impact.

It would not only set a wrong precedent, but also make the legal process irrelevant, he said.
A watchman of a residential school in Butibori here has been arrested for allegedly sodomising a 10-year-old boy, while its director was also held in this connection, police said today.

Watchman Homdeo Padole (27) and Arun Bhuskule, director of the institute, located on the city outskirts, were arrested yesterday, while the head mistress and hostel warden were also booked as co-accused with regard to the incident, a Nagpur (Rural) Police personnel said.

The victim, a class VI student, was staying in the school hostel and had been sodomised by the watchman for the past sometime, the officer said, adding that the accused used to threaten the boy of dire consequences if he disclosed anything to his parents or anybody else.

On December 19, the victim narrated his ordeal to his father upon his visit to the hostel, following which a case was lodged with Butibori police against the accused and the school authorities concerned for not taking cognisance of the alleged crime.

The case has been registered under sections 377 (unnatural offences), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, and also under relevant sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police said.

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Samajwadi Party's Kanpur Cantt. candidate for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh polls Atiq Ahmad said the party had sent him from Allahabad to contest elections from the seat to "uproot communal forces like the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)".

"The main rival of the Samajwadi Party is the BJP, and I have come here to uproot these forces," he said yesterday at a gathering at the Babupurva Idgah here.

The mafia don-turned-politician, Ahmed, was recently booked for allegedly assaulting the staff of an educational institute on the outskirts Allahabad.

He claimed apart from campaigning in Kanpur Cantt, he will work in other assembly constituencies to strengthen the Samajwadi Party.

Attacking the Congress and the BSP, Ahmad said, "In its 60-years in power the Congress has given people lollipops while the BSP has digressed from the ideology of the party's founder Kashiram."



The SP leader arrived in the city with a large cavalcade and supporters, which led to traffic jams.

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Amidst stiff Chinese opposition to banning of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar by the UN, India today said it does not want to "prejudge" the outcome at the expiry of the current "hold" by Beijing next weekend.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also reiterated that India's case against Azhar was very strong and there was no logic in not designating him a terrorist while his outfit- JeM- is proscribed by the United Nations since 2001.

Asked what will India do if China sticks to its position and continue with its "hold" beyond the expiry of current extension, he said, "Let's not prejudge the outcome of what happens...We will of course plan our strategy based on the outcome on that particular day."



Last week, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang in Beijing had said, "As for India's application for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and listing issue pursuant to resolution of 1267 (to list Masood as terrorist), China's position remains unchanged."



China had in October extended its "technical hold" on India's move to get Azhar banned by the UN. The current extension will expire this month-end and if China does not raise further objection, the resolution designating Azhar a terrorist could stand passed automatically.

On NIA charge sheeting Azhar and others in the Pathankot attack and how India can get him from Pakistan in the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries, Swarup said there are certain channels which were available but refused to give any further details.

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Chinese technology company Xiaomi has teamed up with VR (Virtual Reality) content provider Jaunt China.

According to the memorandum, Jaunt China will develop an app for Xiaomi's VR headset, which was launched in late October.

The companies will cooperate in technology and marketing.

Jaunt is a US company engaged in VR video shooting, editing, and distribution, state-run Xinhua agency said.

The company launched Jaunt China this year with Shanghai Media Group and China Media Capital.

"Xiaomi expects more high-quality VR videos produced by Jaunt on our platform", said Tang Mu, general manager of Xiaomi VR.

"The partnership with Xiaomi gives confidence," said Fang Gan, CEO of Jaunt China.

Fang added that the company is working with many studios to create original content for Chinese customers.

China's VR market in 2016 is estimated at 5.55 billion yuan, according to independent data analyzer iiMedia Research.

Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent are providing seed funding for VR startups, especially for content creators.

Competition is increasing as phone makers move into mobile VR.

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To commemorate 60 years of signing cultural agreements between India and Iran, a Yalda night showcasing Iranian music and literature, was organised here.

Hosted by the Iran Culture House here, the traditional Persian festival was brought to life by Iranian storytellers performing tales from the 'Shahnameh' in the oral Naqqali tradition.

"Shahnameh", the book composed by legendary Persian poet Ferdowsi, is a collection of pre-Islamic stories, history, myths and poems that have been narrated since centuries.

Considered to be the longest night of the year for Iranians, people hail the return of the sun on Yalda night and celebrate the victory of light over darkness during the festival.

"Being an important tradition in Iran, family members get together and stay awake all night. Dried nuts, watermelon and pomegranate are served, as supplications to God for increasing his bounties on us," said, Dr Ali Dehgai, Head of Iran Cultural House.

The celebration, which was held at India International Centre here, also witnessed musical performances, drama and storytelling by Iranian artistes Ali Nari and Mirza Ali, Mohsen.

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Europe's signed a firm contract on Thursday to sell 100 jets to IranAir, completing a return by Western plane giants and paving the way for deliveries to start next month, a year after sanctions against Iran were lifted.

The deal took weeks of shuttling between headquarters in Toulouse, France, and Tehran, complicated by a shortage of expert legal advice as Iran completes its biggest commercial deals with the West since its 1979 Islamic revolution.

Confirming details first reported by Reuters, said almost half the jets would be for short to medium routes and that deliveries would start early next year.

The contract includes 46 of the narrrow-body A320 family which includes the A321 model, 38 long-haul A330s and 16 of Europe's newest long-range model, the A350.

Such a deal would be worth $18-20 billion at list prices, depending on variants flown, but Iran is expected to receive steep discounts from foreign manufacturers as its aviation renewal coincides with a drop in demand elsewhere.

The head of IranAir was quoted earlier as saying the value of the contract would not exceed $10 billion.

It is expected to be followed by a formal deal to buy turboprop aircraft from ATR, half-owned by Airbus.

The breakthrough comes days after Iran signed a $17 billion deal with Boeing for 80 jets and is expected to sharpen efforts by the US company to persuade the incoming US administration to allow the trade to go ahead, aviation experts said.

The first jet, an Airbus A321 already painted in IranAir livery, may arrive before the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has opposed an deal to lift sanctions in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear activities.

"When Airbus and ATR aircraft start going into Iran, Boeing will point to that to argue that it should implement its own deal," said an aviation source who closely followed the talks.

Boeing declined to comment.

Moving Quickly

Despite rivalries, the Airbus and Boeing deals with Iran are unusually intertwined because each depends on continued US clearances for the sale of planes built with US parts.

"Everyone has an interest in moving quickly. The Iranian government wants to show results from the nuclear deal; Airbus wants to get deliveries moving and Boeing wants the leverage it can get from European deliveries to Iran," another source said.

The ability to renew Iran's ageing and accident prone fleet is widely viewed as a test of the pragmatist policies of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ahead of presidential elections in May.

Airbus said the deal was subject to US Treasury export licences granted in September and November 2016.

Republican critics of the nuclear pact want Trump to block the aircraft deals and have sought to hamper them by voting to tighten restrictions on use of the US financial system.

Airbus is expected to be paid in euros instead of the usual dollars and is likely to provide its own financing for the first few jets, adding to cash strains caused by a spike in customer financing for Turkey this year.

Planemaking chief Fabrice Bregier called the deal "a significant first step" in modernising Iranian aviation, adding it included training, airport operations and air traffic management.

However, both sides confirmed the Airbus A380 had been jettisoned from a provisional list first agreed in January.

Reuters first reported in June that the original proposal for 12 A380s  seen as a symbol of Iran's determination to catch up with Gulf rivals and a shot in the arm for Airbus as it struggled to sell the world's largest airliner  was threatened by domestic opposition in Iran.

US regulatory delays further reduced the order by six planes, lowering the total order to 100 from 118 jets.

(Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Dubai newsroom; Editing by Maya Nikolaeva and Ruth Pitchford)
- Indian banks' loans rose 5.8 percent in the two weeks to Dec. 9 from a year earlier, while deposits rose 15.9 percent, the Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement showed on Friday.

Outstanding loans rose 468.30 billion rupees ($6.91 billion) to 73.39 trillion rupees in the two weeks to Dec. 9. Non-food credit rose 386.90 billion rupees to 72.39 trillion rupees, while food credit rose 81.40 billion rupees to 999.20 billion rupees.

Bank deposits rose 735.20 billion rupees to 105.91 trillion rupees in the two weeks to Dec. 9.

Source text: (https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=39014)

(India Headline Team)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Manoj Kumar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The prospects of introducing a goods and services tax (GST) in India next April, its biggest tax reform, faded on Friday after central and state finance officials postponed talks on how to administer the tax after a two-day meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who aims to push the tax reform to replace various central and state levies with one tax, is facing resistance from states after his surprise decision last month to scrap high-value currency notes.

Many states including West Bengal and Kerala have said Modi's decision to scrap 86 percent of the cash in circulation had hit their revenue collections, as they collect value-added tax on goods and other duties.

The finance ministry and state finance officials have broadly agreed on a national sales tax and are making "reasonable headway" on a few contentious issues, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

They will meet again for two days from Jan. 3, Jaitley told reporters, but did not clarify whether a self-imposed deadline of April 1 for the launch of the tax could be met.

"I am trying my best," he said when asked about the April introduction of the tax.

"I am not going to bind myself to anything. Our effort is to do it as quickly as possible and I think we are making a reasonable headway," Jaitley said.

He assured the states that they would be compensated 100 percent for losses directly attributable to the GST implementation for five years.

The long-awaited GST is one of the most significant reforms since India opened its economy 25 years ago, and the most significant revamping of the tax system since independence in 1947.

"There is no way we can meet the April 1 GST deadline," K Pandiarajan, a minister of Tamil Nadu, told a TV channel after the meeting.

Officials said the new tax law would need to come into effect by mid-September when the old system of indirect taxation is due to lapse.

(Additional reporting by Nigam Prusty; Editing by Malini Menon)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it had successfully cut into its huge state budget deficit this year and will increase government spending in 2017 to boost flagging economic growth.

The deficit shrank to 297 billion riyals ($79 billion) in 2016. That was well below a record 367 billion gap in 2015, and below the government's projection in its original 2016 budget plan of a deficit of 326 billion riyals.

"Our economy, thank God, is sturdy and it has enough strength to cope with the current economic and financial challenges," King Salman said in a nationally televised address to introduce the budget for 2017.

The financial challenges for Saudi Arabia stem largely from the fall in the global price of oil over the past 2-1/2 years.

It is not yet been announced how the 2016 deficit stacks up as a percentage of the economy. It was 15 percent of GDP in 2015.

The drop in the deficit is nonetheless likely to reassure international investors worried about Saudi Arabia's ability to cope with an era of cheap oil. The riyal came under speculative pressure this year but currency jitters have eased in recent months.

Riyadh slashed spending on infrastructure and perks for civil servants to get its finances under control. For the first time in years, it kept its spending below its original budget projection in 2016; actual spending was 825 billion riyals compared with a projection of 840 billion riyals.

Revenues came in slightly higher than expected at 528 billion riyals instead of 514 billion riyals as the government raised cash with steps such as higher municipal and visa fees.

In its 2017 budget plan, Riyadh said it would increase spending to 890 billion riyals from the 840 billion riyals originally projected for 2016. But next year's deficit will shrink further to 198 billion riyals because of higher oil prices and non-oil revenues, the government said.

Economic growth slowed to 1.4 percent in 2016, far below the average of 4 percent in the past decade, as austerity measures hurt consumers' income and deterred private companies from investing - even though their investment is vital to diversify the Saudi economy beyond oil in the long term.

By increasing state spending on infrastructure, the 2017 budget aims to support economic growth, while a new system of cash payments to poorer citizens will offset the impact on them as the government gradually raises domestic energy prices to reduce its subsidy burden, the finance ministry said.

It gave no details of the planned subsidy cuts.

(Reporting by Marwa Rashad and Reem Shamseddine in Riyadh and Hadeel Al Sayegh in Dubai; Writing by Andrew Torchia Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As part of a post-demonetisation gift, the government could increase spending for the coming financial year in health, education, women & child development and related social sector schemes by 10-12 per cent, Business Standard has learnt.
With almost 70 per cent households in Uttar Pradesh dependent on agriculture, the sector becomes the most crucial for the socioeconomic development of the state, contributing more than 30 per cent of its share to the state financial kitty.

Keeping this fact in mind, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav recently launched one of its kind accident insurance scheme called the Samajwadi Kisan Evam Sarvahit Bima Yojana (SKESBY) to provide financial relief to almost three crore households in the state.

The responsibility for executing this insurance scheme has been entrusted on the Directorate of Institutional Finance, Insurance and Externally Aided Project.

Committees have been set up in all districts under the chairmanship of district magistrates to ensure that farmers get the benefit of this scheme. "The scheme has been launched and all arrangements are being made to ensure effective monitoring at the district magistrate level," said Shiv Singh Yadav, director general, Directorate of Institutional Finance, Insurance and Externally Aided Project.

(DIFI & EAP) As part of this scheme, accidental deaths of beneficiaries under any circumstances will be covered. Incidents not covered under the scheme include suicides and deaths resulting from liquor consumption and death in an accident taking place while committing a crime. Under the scheme, the insured family will be given a financial assistance of `5 lakh if the head/bread earner of the family meets an accidental death or is left with permanent disability following an accident. Assistance of Rs 2.50 lakh will also be provided towards the cost of artificial limbs, if required. After tenders were floated by the government, four insurance companies were selected for this scheme, namely; The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., The Oriental Insurance Company Limited, The United India Insurance and the National Insurance Company Limited.
Retail Excellence, the largest retail industry body in Ireland, believe retail trading has had a late rally and it is anticipated for most sectors, Christmas trading will be on par with 2015.

There has been noticeable difference in fortunes across sectors with the volatility experienced a clear indication of the challenges faced by the retail industry, according the organisation.



They claim footfall in many urban centres is up as consumers soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the Christmas experience.

However, mild weather in recent weeks has had a negative impact on sales of winter stock particularly in ladies fashion, footwear and childrenswear with a number of retailers entering sales pre Christmas. Online was the big winner this year with some online sectors experiencing double digit growth according to Retail Excellence.



Commenting on the trading, Communications Director, Lynn Drumgoole says, "Consumer shopping patterns are changing with savvy consumers researching online and instore for the best prices, discounting and ease of shopping experience. The impact of Black Friday cannot be ignored but with 2 full days of trading left and many people finishing work and travelling home we should see local stores benefit as people buy those last minute gifts."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
British Airways-owner IAG said it will start low-cost long-haul flights from Barcelona to U.S. destinations in June next year, in an apparent response to increasing budget competition on transatlantic routes.

The move comes after a summer in which low-cost airlines, lead by Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, have shaken up the Europe to North America travel market by offering ticket prices as little as half what rivals charge.

IAG's budget airline brand Vueling uses Barcelona El Prat as a hub, and IAG said on Friday that Vueling passengers could feed into its long-haul flights at the airport, adding that it had not yet decided whether to set up a new airline or use existing resources from its airlines.

IAG also owns British Airways and Vueling.

"Barcelona has become a significant airport hub and we believe that there is a demand for these flights from El Prat," IAG said in an emailed statement.

Destinations being considering for the long-haul plan are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Havana and Tokyo, IAG said.

That could bring the airline group into direct competition with fast-expanding Norwegian which is due to start budget flights between Barcelona and Los Angeles and San Francisco from next summer.

Analysts at CAPA Centre for Aviation said it looked like IAG was reacting to Norwegian's move.

"Plans by the low-cost carrier Norwegian to launch long-haul routes from Barcelona in 2017 may have had a catalytic effect on IAG's thinking," they said.

Long-established airlines like British Airways, American Airlines Group Inc and Delta Air Lines Inc are finding their formerly lucrative transatlantic routes tougher amid rising competition from budget newcomers like fast-expanding Norwegian, WestJet and Wow Air.

That has prompted the established or "legacy" carriers to develop their own low-cost exposure.

Earlier this year Lufthansa's Eurowings unit started flying long-haul to destinations such as Cuba, Thailand and the Dominican Republic from Cologne, and it said this week it would also consider long-haul flying from Munich.

Air France, part of Air France-KLM, said in November it wanted to launch a new long-haul unit with lower costs that would be staffed by Air France pilots and likely have a name that also contained the words "Air France".

CAPA analysts said IAG could use Aer Lingus planes as an initial platform for the long-haul plan as that airline is the lowest cost long-haul operator in its portfolio of brands. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
Chinese state media on Friday expressed alarm and warned of a "showdown with the U.S." after President-elect Donald Trump named Peter Navarro, an economist who has urged a hard line against China, to head a new White House National Trade Council.

And the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stressed that China-U.S. trade benefits both sides, warning Washington's new administration against moves that may hurt ties.

Navarro is an academic and one-time investment adviser who has authored books such as "Death by China: How America Lost its Manufacturing Base". The book was made into a documentary film about Beijing's desire to become the dominant economic and military power in Asia.

"That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration is no laughing matter," the official English-language China Daily said in an editorial.

"The new administration should bear in mind that with economic and trade ties between the world's two largest economies now the closest they have ever been, any move to damage the win-win relationship will only result in a loss for both sides."

China's Foreign Ministry said in reaction on Thursday it was playing close attention to Trump's transition team and possible policy direction and that cooperation between the two countries was the only choice.

Trump, a Republican, made trade a centrepiece of his presidential campaign and railed against what he said were bad deals the United States had made with other countries. He has threatened to hit Mexico and China with high tariffs once he takes office on Jan. 20.

Shen Danyang, spokesman for the ministry of commerce, told a news briefing in Beijing on Friday that the United States would continue to see mutual benefits from trade with China, and said the pattern of deepening cooperation would continue.

"Regardless of what changes happen in the U.S. government - president, commerce secretary, trade representative - common interests (between the United States and China) are greater than differences," Shen said.

But the United States needed to be careful not to repeat mistakes, Shen said.

"We oppose the idea of making others take medicine when oneself is sick. This has happened in the past and could happen in the future," Shen said, without elaborating.

Tough trade measures against China are often met with retaliatory actions, including countervailing tariffs or fines against U.S. companies in China.

China on Friday said General Motors Co's joint venture would be fined 201 million yuan ($28.94 million) for monopolistic pricing, ending speculation after the China Daily reported on Dec. 14 that China would fine a U.S. automaker.

Auto industry sources have told Reuters the investigation was already under way before Trump's recent comments, although it has raised fears that China could be seizing on the case to send a shot across the bow at the incoming U.S. administration.

The Global Times, an influential tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said Trump's choice of Navarro was "by no means a positive signal".

"China needs to face up to the reality that the Trump team maintains a hard-line attitude toward China. It must discard any illusions and make full preparations for any offensive move by the Trump government," it said in an editorial.

"China is powerful enough to withstand pressures from the Trump government. Beijing will get used to the tensions between the two countries. If Washington dares to provoke China over its core interests, Beijing won't fear setting up a showdown with the U.S., pressuring the latter to pay respect to China."

Navarro, 67, a professor at University of California, Irvine, advised Trump during the campaign.

As well as describing what he sees as America's losing economic war with China, Navarro has highlighted concerns over environmental issues related to Chinese imports and the theft of U.S. intellectual property. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
CAMEROUN :: Cameroon: Salute to honourable Joe Wirba

That, indeed, was the Voice of SCARM resonating from the rostrum of la repubiques national assembly. SCARM salutes the indomitable courage and bravery of her prodigal son, the Honourable Joe Wirba, the Warrior of Bagdad, for embracing the Zero Option that was adopted at the CAM General Assembly in Victoria on the 9th of December 1993, as you shocked la repubiques national assembly into a deafening silence with your bold denunciation of the axis of evil that is la republique du Cameroun and France. Thank you, Honourable, for rekindling the Resistance in high places.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue (Ps. 5:9)

Compatriots of the Southern Cameroons-on-Ambas,

At this opportune moment in time, and as we rally around the warriors call to upstage the Resistance in the support not only of the legitimate demands of our Common Law Lawyers and our Teachers Unions, but also of our determination to re-assert our God-given right to be masters of our own destiny; condemning in the strongest terms possible the criminal acts of barbarism and state terrorism visited on our citizenry by the forces of occupation of la republique du Cameroun and France; let us not lose sight of a number of very significant landmark achievements and developments affecting our territory. A number of truths which we have been speculating about over the past several years have since March 2003 been brought into very sharp focus. We speculated on the non-implementation of UN Resolution 1608 (XV), paragraph 5, of the 994th Plenary Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of 21 April 1961 on the Future of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Southern Cameroons Under United Kingdom Administration.

And the SCNC in its 9-man delegation Petition to the UN Secretary-General in June 1995, made the argument that because of the non-implementation of that UN Resolution, the Southern Cameroons became independent as from 1st October 1961. Our argument then and now had no basis in international law. It was as misleading as it was a false assumption, we regret to admit.

Recently, one of us, Professor Martin CHIA ATEH, a Philosopher, the Scientific Ambassador to Germany and Africa in 1987 of the International Institute of Philosophy (IIP), a scholar with an inside knowledge of the workings of the United Nations System, revisited the Southern Cameroons dossier and came out with the following truly startling findings that have taken the entire UN System by storm, and they have been adjusting:

1.That UN General Assembly Resolution 1608 (XV) of 21 April 1961, on the Future of the United Nations Trust Territory of the British Cameroons required that a TREATY of UNION between the Governments of the Southern Cameroons and of la Republique du Cameroun on the one hand, and the Territorial

Assembly of the Northern Cameroons and the Federation of Nigeria on the other, with the United Kingdom as Administering Authority of the Trust Territory, be worked out before 6 June 1961, in the case of the British Northern Cameroons, and before the 1st October 1961, in the case of the British Southern Cameroons.

2. The TREATY was to protect the interests of both the Southern Cameroons and la Republique du Cameroun on the one hand, and British Northern Cameroons and the Federation of Nigeria on the other.

3.The worked out TREATY would have been ratified by both the Southern Cameroons House of Assembly and House of Chiefs and the Parliament of la Republique du Cameroun on the one hand, and the British Northern Cameroons Territorial Assembly and the Federal Legislature of Nigeria on the other .

4. The Treaty should have been registered with, and a copy deposited at, the Secretariat of the Secretary- General of the United Nations Organisation in application of Article 102 (1) of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 102 of the UN Charter reads:

Article 102 (1):

Every Treaty and every international agreement entered into by any member of the United Nations after the present Charter comes into force shall as soon as possible be registered with the Secretariat and published by it

Article 102(2):

No party to any such treaty or international agreement which has not been registered in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article may invoke that treaty or agreement before any organ of the United Nations.

5. The Bakassi peninsula is in Southern Cameroons Territory: so how did the International Court of Justice (ICJ) entertain la republiques claim to our Territory, let alone rule in favour of LRC in the conflict over the oil-rich peninsula? LRC had no locus standi before the ICJ! The answer is simple: the president of the Court at the time was a Frenchman. QED!

6.The Non-Execution of UN Resolution 1608 (XV) of 21 April 1961, on the Future of the UN Trust Territory of the British Cameroons  for a Treaty of Union to be worked out between the Government of the Southern Cameroons and la Republique du Cameroun on the one hand, and the Territorial Assembly of the British Northern Cameroons and the Federation of Nigeria on the other, in the presence of the then Administering Authority of the Territory, the United Kingdom - meant strictly speaking in International Law, that the UN Trust Territory of the British Cameroons became and remains a United Nations Territory.

7. Consequently, the UN should have been, indeed should be, Administering the Territory.

8. The UN Flag should have been flying on the Territory to prepare it for full Self-Determination and Independence since 1 October 1961.

9. UN values (Respect for Human Rights, the Rule of Law, Democracy, Good Governance, Equality, Liberty and all fundamental freedoms) should be observed in the Territory.

10. Fortunately, in the long term interests of the Southern Cameroons, none of the TREATY obligations were ever worked out. It is today manifestly clear that a combination of providential commissions and omissions resulted in this outcome.

11. This means that a UN Transitional Administration should take over the Territory to ensure that the peoples of the Territory prepare themselves for their Independence and Future Government and Administration of their Territory.

12.The presence of the UN Administration on the Territory will not only ensure international peace and security, it will also reduce the unnecessary tensions between the peoples of the Southern Cameroons and la Republique du Cameroun in particular. War is not necessary.

So, on 21 March 2003, in a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation, supported by UNESCO, Professor Martin CHIA ATEH, in his capacity as a concerned citizen and an elite of the Southern Cameroons, and prompted by the misleading judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 02/10/2002 over the Bakassi Peninsula, revisited the Southern Cameroons dossier and brought into very sharp focus the unequivocal truth that the Non-Execution of UNO Resolution 1608 (XV) of 21 April 1961 on the Future of the Cameroons Under United Kingdom Administration violated the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations Organisation. It violated specifically, inter alia, * Article 102 (1 & 2) of the Charter and the Trusteeship Agreement signed between Britain and the UN General Assembly on 13/12/1946 to administer the Territory to Self-Determination or Independence.

No Treaty of the Union between the then Government of the Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun on the one hand, and between the Northern Cameroons Territorial Assembly and the Federation of Nigeria on the other, was worked out. So the extension of the administration of the Federation of Nigeria to the Northern Cameroons Autonomous Territory was from the onset  01/06/1961  illegal and illegitimate in international law and a violation of Article 102 (1) of the United Nations Charter. It was an invasion. It was a violation of Northern Cameroons right of Self-Determination and Independence. So the present administration of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari of the Federation of Nigeria on Northern Cameroons Autonomous Territory is still illegal and illegitimate in international law and a violation of Article 102 (1) of the United Nations Charter.

So also, Mr. Ahidjos extension of his administration to the Southern Cameroons Territory was from the onset  01/10/1961  illegal and illegitimate in international Law. It was an invasion. It was a violation of Southern Cameroons right of Self-Determination and Independence. So the present administration of Mr. Paul BIYA on Southern Cameroons Territory is still illegal and illegitimate in international Law and a violation of Article 102 (1) of the United Nations Charter.

Attempts by SCARM and Professor Martin Chia Ateh to form a Coalition of Southern Cameroons Liberation Movements to rally behind this concept were stoutly resisted by leaders of the home front and simply ignored at the Minnesota Conference of September 2003 and again at the Dallas Conference of April 2007. And so Professor Martin Chia Ateh readily found willing allies and diehard supporters from the former British Northern Cameroons and a few of us from the Southern Cameroons with whom he has painstakingly engaged the entire UN System in the process of Rectifying & Regularising the Independence and Sovereignty of the former UN Trust Territory of the British Cameroons. A few very concrete examples would illustrate this point:

a. The presentation on 20/05/2010, to Mr. Paul Biya in Yaounde, by the then President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Dr. Ali Abdesalam Triki, of TWO MAPS  the map of la Republique du Cameroun as it was on their achievement of independence on 01/01/1960 and admitted to membership of the UN on 20/09/1960, and the map of the UN Trust Territory of the British Cameroons .

b. The presentation again to Mr. Paul Biya, by the UN Secretary -General himself, H.E. Ban ki-moon, of TWO FLAGS (to go with the two maps)  the flag of LRC of green/red/yellow, without a star or stars, as it was on their achievement of independence on 01/01/1960 and admitted to membership of the UN on 20/09/1960.

c. The ID & Authorisation given to Professor Martin Chia Ateh by the UN Secretary-General, H.E. Ban Ki-moon, on the same occasion, to issue similar IDs to bona fide citizens of the former UN Trust Territory of the British Cameroons (the UNO State of Cameroon), which IDs have become legal tender in the Territory in spite of the shenanigans of the forces of occupation.

D. The planting and re-defining of the international boundary pillars between the former UN Trust Territory of the British Cameroons and la republique du Cameroun.

e. The presence of UN Peace Keepers in the Territory.

It is SCARMs prayer that the leadership demonstrated by SCARMs prodigal son, the Honourable Joe Wirba, would help to galvanise the citizens of the Southern Cameroons to rally around this process by the UN of Rectifying and Regularising the Independence of the former UN Trust Territory of the British Cameroons, a process that is already at its closing stages.

May the blessings of Joy that Christmas brings give solace to our bereaved families and comfort to the traumatised and the maimed, and hope for a New Year full of promise for the UNO State of Cameroon. For the Lord shall do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the wicked and the evil man shall
CATTU SG - Government Has Intenstion To Destroy Union Leaders Through Corruption Wilson MUSA

Barely three four days to the start of dialogue between Government of Cameroon headed by Paul Goghomu, Director of cabinet at Prime Ministers Office and representatives of Anglophone teachers Trade Unions in Bamenda on December 27,2016 , tongues are wagging on the possible bribing of teachers to accept governments offer. But teachers trade union leaders have assure the population that they can never be bought.

Speaking in Bamenda Thursday December 22, 2016, the National Executive Secretary of Cameroon teachers Trade Union, Wilfred Tassang says Anglophone Cameroonians should have confidence in him because he is incorruptible. He told reporters that he is aware that Government is preparing a huge package for him come December 27 during dialogue in Bamenda but that he cannot be bought.

He also reiterated that he is not afraid of death threats on his life.

He said We understand the fears of the people, we equally know and we can testify that the government has the intention to destroy the union leaders through corruption but for myself and my person I can tell my people that I am incorruptible. No amount of money can buy my conscience; if it could I would have already been somewhere offers which I have rejected in the past. As we speak I have been informed by our own informant in the system that government has packaged a very special envelope for my person that people are coming to corner me with it and that there are spies following to see if I will receive so that they will use to destroy me. Let our people be rest assured, we cannot sellout, I cannot sellout and no amount of money could stop us not even threats on our lives, so Atanga Njie keep his threats, we are prepared to die for this course.

The teachers who began an indefinite strike action last November 21, 2016 say if the government grants a major demand, they will suspend the strike action.
Thursday, December 22, 2016 at 7:59PM

As industry critics and tech media speculate whether the whole smartwatch market will last, Google isnt ready to throw in the towel for its initiative. According to The Verges interview with Android Wear Product Manager Jeff Chang, there will be two flagship smartwatches coming out early next year and both will be the first to carry the Android Wear 2.0. These wont be branded as Google smartwatches but will carry the names of the manufacturer who made them. Chang wont give the name of the company they collaborated with for the new smartwatches but he says this manufacturer has produced Android Wear devices before. Chang also adds that the collaboration with this brand is much like the Google Nexus smartphone program of recent past. You can expect more announcements in 2017 of new Android Wear 2.0 devices starting from CES in a few weeks and Baselworld later in the year.

This upcoming launch also signals the arrival of Android Wear 2.0 to some of the existing Android Wear watches. Not all of them will be getting the update but most of the recent models will (well list them down below). Some of the new features coming to Googles wearable platform include support for Android Pay and Googles voice-controlled Assistant as well as the arrival of standalone apps that can work without the use of a phone. Android Pay though wont come to all devices as it requires a specific hardware spec for it to work. The final developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 comes out in January. According to Chang, itll work with iOS devices and that Wear 2.0 on Android and iOS will have support for Android Pay.

The existing smartwatches that will get Android Wear 2.0 are:
"As a country it is trying to make up for the mistakes of the past; to not discriminate against others on the basis of race and to protect nature. I see Australians as enjoying life as true humans."
Matters came to a head in late November when a meeting between workers and senior figures in ACT Corrections, attended by more than 10 per cent of Community Corrections staff, heard allegations that complaints about management in the unit had been suppressed for years in an atmosphere of fear of reprisal and punitive measures against anyone speaking out.
The move is the first disposal in recent times by the acquisitive Altice group, which in the past two years has bought French mobile operator SFR; Cablevision, now called Optimum, and Suddenlink in the US; Portugal Telecom; and Oranges Dominican Republic business.

No reason has been given for the deal, which some see as indicating that Altice wants to focus on its larger operations.

The business it is selling is called Coditel Brabant, but it also uses the SFR BeLux brand. Liberty Global is buying the operation, subject to regulatory approval, via its majority-owned Telenet subsidiary in Belgium.

John Porter, Telenet CEO, said: We are very pleased with the acquisition of SFR BeLux as it would enable Telenet to extend its geographical footprint and offer approximately 90,000 customers in Belgium and 15,000 customers in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg the high-quality services for which our company has already won acclaim.

Telenet specialises in the supply of broadband internet, fixed and mobile telephone services and cable television to customers throughout Flanders and Brussels. In 2015it agreed to buy Base, the Belgian mobile operator, from KPN for 1.325 billion. That deal was completed in February 2016.

Telenet said that the acquisition means it will extend its cable footprint beyond the current Flemish and Brussels coverage areas to parts of Wallonia and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, while covering roughly two-thirds of the Brussels footprint post this acquisition.

Following the Base acquisition that was concluded in the beginning of the year, we have entered a new phase of growth and this acquisition is a next, very important step in this strategy, said Porter. Our ambition is to have the best networks  fixed and mobile  and the best services  landline and mobile telephony, high-speed internet, digital TV  in Belgium. We are also very delighted to be able to launch our great services in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on our own network.

Telenet said it intends to finance the acquisition through a combination of existing cash and cash equivalents and available liquidity under its revolving credit facilities. It plans to invest 12 million in 2017-18 on the newly acquired networks beyond the current capex plans.

Liberty Global owns a number of operations across Europe, including Virgin Media in the UK and Ireland, and Cable & Wireless Communications in central America and the Caribbean.
TKSAT-1 was launched in December 2013 and went in to operation the following April. According to the director of the Bolivian Space Agency (ABE) Ivan Zambrana, it is currently operating at 70% capacity.

Speaking to EFE, Zambrana said: We think that in another year we'll be above 80 or 85 percent, which is almost the commercial physical limit for a satellite ... But we haven't stopped meeting the objectives that led us to launch it, which is for all Bolivians to have communications services.

"That makes us think that we need a second satellite. And that second satellite, which is also going to be paid for within its operating life, is a highly viable project. With that criterion, we've started working on that project,"

The second satellite will launch in 2020 or 2021, and will be called TKSAT-2, although Zambrana said he expected it to cost less than the $300 million spent on TKSAT-1.

During its first year, TKSAT-1 produced an income of $7 million, although this figure topped $25 million in 2016.
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 ...
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In a follow up to a Public Interest Litigation, the Madras High court had ordered the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to ask all its affiliated schools to withdraw teaching an objectionable content in a specific portion to Class IX students.

Adhering to the direction, CBSE had also asked the schools to follow the order to that portion where Nadar the community, a community in south India, has been written about in an objectionable manner.

In a circular to all its schools a couple of days back, the Board has issued instruction to them to stop teaching the section - caste, conflict and dress change under the theme - "Clothing - a Social History" from Social Science textbook of Class IX students. Also, questions related to that particular section should be excluded in the upcoming exams, the circular said.

In its circular, CBSE said: "This is to bring to your notice that from the session 2016-17, the section 4.1, about Caste Conflict and Dress Change under the theme - 8 "Clothing: A social history" given in page number - 168 of in the textbook of Social Science of Class IX published by NCERT stands omitted from the curriculum."

Earlier advocates Forum for Social Justice submitted that in the social science textbook, published by National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), some wrong information was given in respect of evaluating the history of the Nadar community.

The petitioner claimed that after doing some research, it was known that the history narrated in the book was incorrect and some of the contents 'degraded' the entire Nadar community. So issued a notice dated September 14 asking authorities to rectify the mistakes in the book.

Objectionable Content in CBSE Textbook Raises PIL
Facing a financial crunch due to the fee exemption for special category students at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the group of insitutions have appealed to the government to replace the current policy. The replaced policy, IIT has suggested is direct reimbursements by the government to such students. It has also suggested replacing fee waiver with interest free loans to economically weaker students.

The cost incurred on such students is "adversely affecting the financial viability of the institutions and eroding their corpus funds", the recommendation from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to the government said.

"We are not against the policy and the social welfare decision taken on fee waivers... We are just pleading with the government to reimburse the gap," said Indranil Manna, director at IIT-Kanpur.

During the IIT-Kanpur 155th meeting for all IIT directors, it was in unison agreed to send these proposals to the IIT Council - the apex coordination body for all the 16 IITs chaired by the union HRD minister.

IIT Kharagpur Students Go on Hunger Strike After a Fee Hike News

A couple of months ago during an IIT council meeting headed by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, the nod was given to accomodate non - residential students into undergraduate and post graduate programs in a move to increase the total student strength to one lakh by 2020.

However, some of the IIT branches came up with challenges like lack of infrastructure and funds to achieve that goal. Seven IITs from Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Madras and Roorkee denied to agree with the idea.

IIT faces challenge in admitting non-resident students
School students who will be taking up the state board exams in Maharashtra were in for a pleasant urprise on Thurday as the state board has made changes in the time table of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam. The students were relieved after the announcement that there will be a break between science II, history-civics and geography-economics papers scheduled from March 20 to 22.

The science II paper will now be held on March 20, while the history-civics paper will be on March 22 and geography-economics on March 25. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) issued a new time table on Thursday.

Based on a feedback from teachers and students, the timetable is understood to have been changed. Earlier, the tentative time table was released by MSBSHSE on October 29. Then, a feedback forum was opened by the board for 15 days in order to raise concerns and recommend changes. Students were wirrued over not providing a gap between the three papers.

Later, the issue was taken to the board's notice and the required changes were made. The exam will now get over on April 1 instead of March 29. No change has been made to the schedule of HSC exam, which begins on February 28 and ends on March 25.

About MSBSHE

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education is also known as MSBSHSE. Maharashtra Board is an Autonomous Body working under Government of Maharashtra. It was formed in 1966 in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Its Head quarter is located the Pune City of State Maharashtra in India.

Board Exams Compulsory For CBSE Class 10 Students From 2018
Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to stiffen Germanys stance on Brexit negotiations, marking the auto industry as vulnerable to any British attempt to strike any market-access deals ahead of UKs exit from the EU.



Some industries might press for such accords with the UK government and political leaders should oppose them, said Merkel in a closed-door meeting with German lawmakers according to a report from Bloomberg.

More specifically, the idea of allowing UK banks doing business in the EU in return for Britain allowing market access to European car makers is a no-go, Merkel was quoted as saying by people who asked to remain anonymous because the meeting was private.

The German government is currently concerned that UK might try to sidestep the other 27 EU members and go looking for sector-by-sector advantages before Brexit talks have even begun.

With Merkel seeking to enforce the EUs insistence on a package deal, ministries in Berlin instructed officials to avoid back-door contacts with their UK counterparts. Merkel is rightly warning against special deals for individual industries, Heribert Hirte, a lawmaker in the chancellors Christian Democratic Union, said in an interview. We cant enable cherry picking.

The UK government on the other hand has persuaded Nissan to keep investing in their local facilities while Prime Minister Theresa May tries to balance between taking the country out of the EU and safeguard investments and jobs.

In 2015 UK produced 1.59 million passenger cars, including models from Toyota, Mini, Jaguar and Land Rover. Germany on the other hand made 5.56 million passenger cars by domestic manufacturers including VW, Mercedes and BMW.

Note: Minis Oxford plant pictured

PHOTO GALLERY
As the automotive industry is moving into the digital era, international auto shows are no longer seen by automakers as attractive for promoting new vehicles and technology.



This was proved over the last few years, when different automakers declined to participate to various events across the globe.

More recently, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ford, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Volvo chose not to attend the 2016 Paris Auto Show, while Porsche said that it would not spend a cent of their revenue on bringing cars to the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, focusing on reallocating resources to the NY and LA events instead.

With approximately nine months left until the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show opens its gates, Peugeot is following a similar path by announcing, through its Marketing Director, Guillaume Couzy, that it wont be attending the German event.

The company says that, instead of attending Frankfurt, they will redirect more money from the communication budget to digital platforms for promoting their models. The decision is also justified by the brands 1.7 percent market share in Germany.

[We will focus on] the events that enhance the ability to try the cars. This leads to choices that are sometimes a bit radical, such as the decision not to go to the Frankfurt show in 2017, Couzy said, cited by Autoactu.

Additionally, besides missing on the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, Peugeots chiefs have yet to determine whether the company will attend the 2018 Paris Auto Show.

PHOTO GALLERY
Shortly after Uber agreed to take its self-driving test vehicles off the streets of San Francisco, the company has quickly decided to relocate its fleet to Arizona.



According to Engadget, Ubers autonomous Volvo XC90s shipped out to Arizona thanks to one of the brands Otto trucks which coincidently, also has the ability to drive itself without any human intervention.

Whereas Uber was unable to test its self-driving Volvos in San Francisco as it failed to obtain a permit, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has given the firm the go-ahead to bring its fleet to the state and according to Uber, testing there will start in the next few weeks.

Uber made global headlines last week when it rolled out its self-driving fleet in San Francisco and shortly after, one XC90 was caught on dash cam driving through a red light. The Californian DMV soon stepped in and ordered Uber to take the cars off local roads and to apply for a permit. Despite this, Uber claimed it didnt need a permit as the vehicles couldnt operate themselves without a driver on board and decided to ignore the DMV.

Yesterday however, Uber conceded and stopped testing in San Francisco.

PHOTO GALLERY
Castanet is counting down the top stories of 2016. We'll count down the top 10 to Dec. 31 and feature our newsmaker of the year on Jan. 1.

Today is No. 9  a fast-spreading wildfire forces an evacuation during the middle of the night.

In August, campers at Bear Creek were forced to flee in the night as wind fuelled a wildfire.

Shane Hunter was in his camper at the campground when the night took a frightening turn. Tree branches knocked down by winds started pelting his trailer.

"And then we heard a big, loud bang," he said. "We could smell something, and then about two minutes later, we heard fire trucks."

When he looked outside, he saw the campground was in a panic.

"Everybody was just panicking, like leaving the campground in a hurry," he said. "There were fire trucks there, people were like, 'Evacuate, evacuate, get out,' and we just hightailed it out of there."

The fire grew quickly on Aug. 22, forcing more than 150 late-night evacuations in Bear Creek, Traders Cove and Okanagan Lake Resort areas.

Westside Road was also shut down.

Firefighters from West Kelowna, Peachland, Wilsons Landing, North Westside Fire Rescue as well as the BC Wildfire Service converged.

By the time the got there, the situation was extreme.

There were multiple structures at threat, literally surrounded by fire, said West Kelowna assistant fire Chief Brent Watson.

Fire crews fought as embers showered down onto the crews. Over the course of a few days, they managed to tame the fiery beast.

When all was said and done, 2016 was a relatively tame fire season in the Kelowna area.

Though the year had an ominous start nationally with one of the worst wildfires in Canadian history ravaging Fort McMurray in May, forcing more than 80,000 people out of the northeastern Alberta city for a month and destroying nearly 10 per cent of the structures.
Photo: UBCO

UBC Okanagan has received more than $1 million in federal grant funding for social sciences and humanities research.

The funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada applies across multiple disciplines. It will support social, cultural, economic, sustainability and arts-based research projects.

Award recipients will address a range of questions, from what it means to be kind in middle school, to the interdependence of creative and critical thinking in curriculum development.

Other research initiatives include: the role of social support systems, policies and practices for temporary migrant agricultural workers; engaging stakeholders to co-create sustainable rural communities; how families living with autism spectrum disorders can engage in safe and active recreation; and how indigenous performance art can contribute to decolonization.

The research council supports more than 8,000 research projects annually with over $100 million in funding. Of that, UBCO will receive $1.088 million.

These grants will allow our researchers and students to carry out studies across a range of disciplines and we are very proud of our facultys success this year, Dr. Philip Barker, vice-principal of research at UBCs Okanagan campus, said in a press release.

These awards are a strong acknowledgement of the breadth and depth of our research capabilities on the Okanagan campus and demonstrate that our research intensity continues to expand."

Fourteen UBC Okanagan researchers from the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Management, and the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences will share the grants.
Photo: Contributed

It appears that first responders in Penticton got a short break from the overdose epidemic on Wednesday.

Dec. 21 was the final Welfare Wednesday of the year, the day that income assistance cheques are distributed. In Vancouver, that translated into a surge in overdoses.

Almost 30 overdose patients were treated at a Downtown Eastside mobile medical unit, well above the previous record of 15 in one day. The DTES fire hall responded to another couple dozen overdose calls during the same time.

The B.C. Centre for disease control says rates of overdose deaths typically spike 40 per cent on the weeks that income assistance cheque are distributed.

However in Penticton, where the overdose crisis was slower to reach but hit just as hard, the local fire department say they didnt receive any overdose calls. Deputy Fire Chief Dave Spalding said he had to manually check the day's files when asked, because they have become so common the guys dont even mention them anymore.

BC Emergency Health Services says they responded to less than five, noting that they do not offer any further detail for numbers less than that, citing privacy concerns.

Earlier this week, the BC Coroners Service revealed 128 people died from an overdose in B.C. in November, 19 of who lived in the Interior Health region.
Photo: City of Armstrong.

The City of Armstrong is paying tribute to its Chinese heritage.

A bronze plaque recognizing the Chinese farmers of 'Celery City' will be placed in Huculak Park in the downtown area, once development of the park is complete.

"Armstrong's early agricultural success owes much to the hardworking Chinese immigrants who cultivated the city's fertile bottomlands," reads the plaque, which was unveiled at council this week.

As many as 500 Chinese labourers lived in huts and bunkhouses in Armstrong, many of them bachelors, growing celery and other crops that were sent across Canada.

"They faced restrictive immigration laws, a prohibitive head tax and were later barred from entering the country," the plaque reminds people.

Gail Salter, of Armstrong's heritage advisory committee, said the public and the remaining two families from the last of those immigrants were consulted about the project.

"We asked the city when they first looked at Hucaluk if we could put up some kind of monument to the Chinese farmers. Very few people know about them," Salter said. "A lot of them had worked on the railroad and then when they looked for other work, they ended up in agriculture."
More say on long-term care BC - 2:45 pm
Photo: Kate Bouey

Happy children greeted Santa Claus at the Village Green Centre Thursday, as he showed up to view the toys donated by generous citizens who want to help the less fortunate.

The Toy Drive is an annual event sponsored by Vernon Toyota which loans a truck that is stuffed full of donated toys and games and then is distributed to local charities.

It entails giving back to the kids in the community with the support of the public and businesses, said Kyle Johnson, Toyota sales manager. The toys are going to three different groups; the Salvation Army, Santa's Anonymous and Big Brother & Sisters.

Standing near the teddy-stuffed cab of the truck, Johnson said the event has taken place every year for the past five years.

While it is only days until Christmas, many of these toys will be held by charities until the big day rolls around again next year.
Photo: David Ogilvie

A car ended up facing the wrong direction on Highway 97 just west of the William R. Bennett bridge Thursday evening.

The crash happened just after 8 p.m., near the Westside Road overpass.

Emergency crews blocked off one lane in the westbound direction.

The nature of the crash and the condition of those involved is unknown.
Photo: AP

Dozens of people were injured in a fire at a highrise on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

The blaze broke out in a third floor apartment just before 5 p.m. Thursday and spread to the fourth floor before it was extinguished at about 6:30 p.m.

New York Fire Department officials said of the 24 people who were hurt, two people were critically injured and four had potentially serious injuries. The others, including several firefighters, had minor injuries.

Among the injured was a 7-year-old girl who was in cardiac arrest on the 21st floor, according to FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard.

He said she is now in good condition after firefighters carried her out of the building and revived her.

It wasn't clear what started the fire, but Leonard said open windows and high winds caused "very heavy smoke" to go into the hallways and rise up into the building's upper floors.

"Firefighters had a tough time getting across the hallway because of the wind," he said.

Nine people escaped to the roof to wait out the fire and were safely removed, said Leonard.
Photo: Google Maps

Iranian media says a 26-year-old man has gunned down 10 relatives in a rare shooting rampage.

The semi-official ISNA news agency reported the shooting on Friday, saying it occurred the night before in a rural part of southern Iran and that the suspect was still at large. It says another four people were wounded in the shooting.

ISNA says the man had repeatedly quarreled with his wife, who was also his cousin, and was not among those killed. It did not provide further details on the motive.

Gun violence is rare in Iran. Citizens are only allowed to own hunting rifles, which are rarely seen outside of rural areas.
Photo: The Canadian Press

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

Malta International Airport says operations are returning to normal after a hijacked plane from Libya was diverted there earlier in the day.

It expects its flight schedule to fully recover by the end of Friday. As of 6 p.m., three outgoing flights remained delayed and seven incoming flights that were delayed are expected later in the evening.

When emergency crews rushed to surround the hijacked plane, the airport building was closed for less than 30 minutes with a total of 44 flights affected. Nine incoming flights were diverted, while delays were registered across 20 departing flights and 15 arrivals.

The hijacking ended peacefully with all passengers and crew members freed and the Libyan hijackers surrendering to Maltese officials.

UPDATE: 9:05 a.m.

After hours of tense negotiations, two Libyans who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up surrendered peacefully Friday, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the plane before walking out themselves with the last of the crew.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was travelling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta midmorning on Friday.

Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them. All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3:44 p.m. local time.

They have "surrendered," been "searched and taken in custody," he tweeted.

The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the plane's doors to open at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

In a series of tweets, Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, then the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including 7 crew members, were on board the hijacked plane.

ORIGINAL: 6:35 a.m.

Hijackers diverted a Libyan plane carrying 118 people to the Mediterranean island of Malta on Friday and threatened to blow it up with hand grenades, officials said. Tense negotiations ensued and within a few hours at least 65 passengers were allowed to leave the plane, the prime minister said.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was travelling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta.

Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers on board had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them.

Emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the site of what the Malta airport agency called an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac. All flights into Malta International Airport were diverted.

Malta's National Security Committee was co-ordinating the hostage operation, a government statement said, and a negotiating team was on site.

An official from Afriqiyah Airways said the two hijackers had expressed a willingness to release the passengers but said they would keep the pilot. The company said there were 118 people, including the crew, on board.

The doors of the plane opened at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was moved over to its door before passengers began disembarking.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a tweet that 65 people left the hijacked plane so far. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

It was not clear why the plane was hijacked or what the demands of the hijackers were.

Serraj al-Fitouri also told Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV that one Libyan lawmaker was among the list of passengers. It was unclear whether the lawmaker, identified as Abdel-Salam al-Marabet, was actually on the flight.
Photo: Twitter

The Tunisian man suspected in a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan during a routine patrol, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

Italian police said Anis Amri travelled from Germany through France and into Italy after the attack, at least some of it by train. French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, despite increased surveillance on its trains after both recent French attacks and the Berlin massacre.

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers. But he also called for greater cross-border police co-operation, suggesting dismay that Amri was able to easily move through Europe's open borders despite being Europe's No. 1 fugitive.

Amri was identified with the help of fingerprints supplied by Germany.

"The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack," said Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack outside Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in which a truck plowed into a crowd of shoppers, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others. It also claimed the Milan shooting.

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert since the attack, with increased surveillance and police patrols. Italian officials stressed that the young officers who stopped Amri didn't suspect he was the Berlin attacker, but rather grew suspicious because he was a North African man, alone outside a deserted train station at 3 a.m.

Amri, 24, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped by two officers during a routine patrol in the Sesto San Giovanni neighbourhood of Milan early Friday. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identification and was killed in an ensuing shootout.

One of the officers, Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder and underwent surgery for a superficial wound and was in good condition. Movio's 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

Amri's death doesn't reduce the terrorist threat to Germany, the country's top security official said.

The threat "remains high" and security won't be scaled down, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said.

Amri passed through France before arriving by train at Milan's central station where video surveillance showed him at around 1 a.m. Friday, Milan police chief Antonio de Iesu said. A train ticket indicates that he travelled from Chambery, France through Turin and into Milan, an Italian anti-terrorism official said.

A Milan anti-terrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation, said Amri made his way to the piazza outside the Sesto San Giovanni train station in a suburb of Milan.

Two police officers became suspicious because it was 3 a.m., the station was closed and Amri was alone. He had no ID, no phone and only a pocket knife on him, as well as the loaded 22-calibre pistol.
Photo: Google Street View

Police say an American man killed his Canadian girlfriend inside a hotel room in upstate New York, then called 911 dispatchers to report the slaying.

Police in Syracuse say 38-year-old David Schmidinger called 911 around 11 a.m. Thursday from a street in the city, told a dispatcher he had killed his girlfriend and was waiting for the police.

Police Chief Frank Fowler says when officers arrived, Schmidinger directed them to the nearby Hampton Inn, where police found the body of 44-year-old Michelle Paterson, of Brampton, Ont.

Police say she was visiting Schmidinger and had arrived in Syracuse on Tuesday.

Authorities aren't saying how Paterson was killed.

Police say Schmidinger, from nearby Baldwinsville, had a long off-and-on-again relationship with Paterson.

Schmidinger pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge Friday.

His lawyer couldn't be reached for comment.
Photo: Kate Bouey Century 21's Bill Hubbard (centre) hosts annual breakfast.

A Salvation Army band played while homeless men and women sat eating syrup-covered pancakes and sausages as snow fell around them in downtown Vernon Friday.

Others went through a stack of warm clothes that were piled on a table.

The turnout for the 8 a.m.-12 p.m. free breakfast outside the Century 21 office on 32nd Street appeared to be much larger than last year, but realtor Bill Hubbard has seen even bigger numbers of the less fortunate attend the annual event.

We saw a huge need 12 years ago when there was a much bigger homeless problem and a much bigger drug problem in Vernon, Hubbard said.

One young woman, who said she had sat huddled against a building all night, sat shivering and clutching a cup of hot coffee.

I found out (about breakfast) at the Mission, said one man whose pancakes were swimming in syrup.

You're in my living room, laughed another.

Hubbard sat chatting with one younger man in a hoodie who was sporting a big black eye.

It's a good thing to do, Hubbard said about the breakfast. It shows our realtors there is another side to life.
Photo: CTV

A Victoria-area veterinarian who used naloxone to revive a puppy that ate some sort of opioid says she fears word of the successful treatment could put her clinic at risk.

Helen Rae says she was at the clinic in Saanich, just outside Victoria, on Dec. 16 when the owner of a barely six-month-old puppy brought in the wobbly pet because it had eaten something during a walk in a nearby park.

Rae says over the next hour, the pug-cross puppy became almost comatose and showed symptoms of a narcotic overdose, but it revived minutes after receiving a dose of naloxone.

It's only the second time in 18 years of practice that Rae has seen an opioid overdose in an animal and she adds there's no way of knowing which of the many types of opioid, from oxycontin to morphine to fentanyl, could have been involved.

The clinic stocks naloxone for treatment of other animal complications, but Rae is concerned that her timely use of the opioid-reversing drug could lead some to believe fentanyl or other drugs are on site, which isn't the case.

She says because of heightened concern about fentanyl overdoses and in the wake of media coverage about the revived puppy, staff worry the clinic may be targeted by someone in search of drugs.
Photo: Twitter

A Russian man who drove his car into an airport terminal and reached the departure gates says he did it for love.

The Kazan airport administration says an intoxicated man rammed through the terminal's door late Wednesday and drove around inside. Video footage shows a battered, Russian-made car drive past the check-in desk and into a departure gate before it reached a railway terminal outside.

News website Kazansky Reporter on Friday quoted 40-year old Ruslan Nurtdinov, who told a court hearing that he had planned his route carefully: "I had to get on the platform. I was fighting for love!"

Nurtdinov said his lady friend was arriving at the railway platform, and this was his way to greet her.

The airport said no one was hurt in the incident.
Photo: Contributed

A man from Puerto Rico has confessed to killing his two-year-old son and leaving the boy's body in a remote area in Florida's Panhandle, authorities said.

The child's disappearance might have gone unsolved if 27-year-old Gene Anthony Quinones-Rivera had not walked into the police station Wednesday and told officers that he killed Gediaelamir Rivera in June 2015, said Parker Police Chief Dennes Hutto.

"I'm glad he did come forward," Hutto told reporters Thursday. "If he hadn't, no one would have ever known what happened to this infant."

The News Herald reports (http://bit.ly/2i0fN0c ) that investigators have found the partial remains of a child in a remote part of Bay County described by Quinones-Rivera.

Quinones-Rivera of Guanica, Puerto Rico, was charged with second-degree murder. Court records show he was held on a $150,000 bond.

In an interview at the jail, Quinones-Rivera told the newspaper he had been smoking marijuana and was angry when he stuffed a sock into his son's mouth to stop him from crying. He said he had previously gagged his son in the same manner and taped his arms to his sides.

"My son was crying, and I was angry with him for that," he said. "That's the only reason I was angry with my son."

Hours later, he found that the boy had stopped breathing. He tried to revive the child with CPR and cold bath water, but Gediaelamir didn't respond.

Quinones-Rivera said he put the boy's body in a trash bag and left it in a wooded area without notifying authorities.

He said he came forward to confess after a religious conversion.
Photo: Orlando Airport

U.S. authorities say a Canadian man is in custody after driving a baggage-towing vehicle across the tarmac at Orlando International Airport.

Airport spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell told the Orlando Sentinel that United Airlines employees had barred the man from boarding his flight to Chicago because he was behaving erratically.

Fennell said the man climbed down to the tarmac through an emergency door in the jetway. She said he then commandeered a luggage tug and drove across a taxiway.

Airport ground crews followed the man, who was apprehended at the airport's fire station.

Fennell said the incident caused a "ground hold" for jetliners in the immediate area but it didn't cause any flight delays.

Orlando Police took the man into custody. Authorities have not released his name.
Photo: Twitter/CNN

Police say a Cleveland police officer's two-year-old son has died after apparently shooting himself with his father's service weapon.

A Cleveland police statement says officers responded to a home in the northeast Ohio city around 10:30 a.m. Friday. Police say the child was taken to a hospital where he died from his injury.

The names of the child and the father weren't immediately released.

The police statement says preliminary information indicates that the child got his 54-year-old father's gun and shot himself. Police say they are continuing their investigation.

They say the officer was hired by the department in 1993.
Photo: Flickr/RCMP

Cranbrook RCMP got into the Christmas spirit when they released information, Friday, about their rescue of a stranded family.

The family got stranded when their GPS led them astray in the back woods.

The following poem, in the theme of A Night Before Christmas, was written by Const. Katie Forgeron and Staff Sgt. Lee.

Twas three nights before Christmas when outside the city, people were stuck, so the police took pity.

Cranbrook RCMP received a 911 call from a family travelling from Calgary to San Francisco

The family had taken a GPS shortcut that took them on a route that might be used by a hobo

This wonderful technology took the family of four

On an adventure where their SUV became stuck, and over was the tour

A father of four set out on his mighty trek

To call for assistance, instead of receiving heck

The patriarch of the family walked for an hour,

Sunrise Forest Service Road was where he could finally get cell power

This was his most worrisome and quietest his day was going to be

And was praying and hoping to be found by the RCMP

The Mounties charged to Sunrise where the cellphone was pinging

When they arrived, no one could be seen, the only noise birdies singing

The Mounties were not discouraged and headed off to Gold Creek,

To the end of the Tepee FSR, to find and to seek

To find this family of four, Const. Hagen, Cpl. Sullivan and their faithful dog Denim

Went off into the night to find them and get them

They got stuck, they might have swore, but they didnt give up

When they came upon the vehicle, 20 kms up

The family of four were located safe and sound

They were impressed with the mounties

Who persisted like hounds

At the end of the day the family was glad

They got back on their way

(I bet THAT mom was mad!)

Tonight, the Grinch definitely did not steal holiday plans

Thanks to the Cranbrook Mounties  who always get their man

Although this story ends happily, there are many more stories that end in tragedy

The highway was bare, as bare as can be  why follow GPS technology?

Follow the road, its safer, you know

To get where youre going, go the route you know!

The family could hear a voice as they drove out of site

Happy Holidays to all and to all a safe night!
Photo: File photo

UPDATED: 7:42 p.m

"Star Wars" actress Carrie Fisher was in stable condition Friday after suffering a medical emergency, her brother said.

Fisher was "out of emergency" and stabilized at a Los Angeles hospital, Todd Fisher told The Associated Press.

He said he could not discuss any other details about what happened to his sister.

UPDATED: 2:45 p.m.

Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher is reportedly in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack while on a plane.

The veteran actress was onboard a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday when she went into cardiac arrest about 15 minutes before landing.

According to TMZ.com, a crewmember appealed for any medical personnel on board the flight to come forward, prompting an off-duty emergency medical technician to offer his help. He headed into the first class cabin, where Fisher had been seated, and performed CPR.

Paramedics were waiting to treat Fisher at Los Angeles International Airport and after the plane landed, she was rushed to a nearby hospital.

An emergency services insider tells the Los Angeles Times the actress was "in a lot of distress on the flight," although it's not clear why.

A representative for the star, the daughter of famous Hollywood couple Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, had yet to comment on the reports.

The 60-year-old actress, famed for her role as Princess Leia, has been traveling across the globe promoting her new memoir, The Princess Diarist.

She was previously hospitalized for issues relating to her bipolar disorder in 2013 after she began slurring her words during a performance on the Holland America Eurodam cruise ship in the Caribbean.

She later blamed the incident on an embarrassing medication mix-up.

"My medication had a little problem with itself," she told Extra. "I happened to be on stage with one of my dogs. It was a very eccentric moment, but you have problems with medication and you can have... It's a balance issue. I went out of balance in public."

ORIGINAL: 2:20 p.m.

The actress best known for her role as Princess Leia has suffered a massive heart attack, reports TMZ.

Carrie Fisher was on a flight from Los Angeles Friday when it happened.

Passengers on the plane were reportedly performing CPR.

She was rushed to hospital when the plane landed 15 minutes later at LAX.
Photo: Jon Manchester

UPDATE: 4:54 p.m.

Three people were taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital in two separate rollovers off the northbound lane of Highway 97 south of Vernon on Friday afternoon.

In the first incident, a Ford pickup went down an embankment on the south side of dump hill before 3 p.m.

"We had to extricate two patients who were then transported to hospital," said Vernon Fire Rescue Captain Rob Cucheran, confirming a man and a woman had been in the vehicle.

One person suffered some spinal injuries although the extent was not known, he said.

Shortly after that crash, emergency crews were again at the scene of a rollover, this one a half-kilometre south of Kekuli Bay.

"It was a single vehicle rollover in the northbound lane," said Cucheron.

The female driver was taken to hospital by ambulance but she was able to get out of her truck unaided.

"It created some traffic problems," said Cucheron who added that they had since been cleared up. "It is slippery out there. Crews have put salt down but that only does so much. I'd like to remind everybody to slow down."

UPDATE: 3:40 p.m.

A Ford truck tumbled about 100 feet down an embankment off Highway 97 on the south side of dump hill between Vernon and Lake Country, just before 3 p.m. on Friday.

The RCMP, Vernon Fire Rescue and an ambulance crew attended the scene.

A trucker directing traffic said two people were in the truck, a man and a woman.

Injuries are not yet known but the trucker said the man was able to walk while the woman was put in an ambulance after being extricated from the damaged vehicle.

Then, at 3:48 p.m., emergency crews were called out to another rollover from the northbound lane of the highway, south of Kekuli Bay.

A blue Tacoma truck was reported to have left the road.

Meanwhile, a southbound Ford Explorer was spotted in the ditch off the highway just south of Okanagan College's Vernon campus.

Conditions are described as extremely slippery.

UPDATE: 3:00 p.m.

Emergency crews are attending a vehicle rollover on Highway 97, south of Vernon, near Kekuli Bay.

A pickup truck is reported to have slid off a 100 foot bank. The vehicle landed in a backyard on Kalamalka Lakeview Drive, trapping two people, according to one report.

"Traffic heading north into Vernon is backed up and moving slowly," said Trevor Spannier who is stuck in the traffic.

Vernon RCMP reported some minor fender benders by mid-afternoon on Friday as snow continued to fall in the city, but there were no reports of any serious accidents.

"There have been some people going off the road and in a couple of cases they had to be pulled out of a ditch," said Sgt. Colby Attlesey. "So far so good, knock on wood."

Attlesey also asked drivers to be especially cautious of pedestrians.

"We are into the darkest part of the year and we are concerned for pedestrians. I would ask drivers to be especially careful."
JDecember 23, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Caterpillar Announces Vice President Retirements and Appointments

Moves Follow Previously Announced Changes in Caterpillars Executive Office

PEORIA, Ill.Following the previous announcement of changes and appointments in Caterpillars Executive Office, and due to the retirement of two long-serving vice presidents, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) announced today its Board of Directors has appointed three new vice presidents.

Kent Adams to Retire

After more than 38 years with Caterpillar, Kent Adams, 62, president and Chief Executive Officer of Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation and Caterpillar vice president of the Financial Products Division, has elected to retire.

Under Kents guidance since 2005, Cat Financial has been a stable source of earnings through challenging business cycles, including the global financial crisis, said Jim Umpleby, Caterpillar CEO-elect. Kent leaves a lasting legacy for Caterpillar through his relentless focus on improving the customer experience as well as developing and nurturing a people-focused culture for employees working for Cat Financial.

Adams joined Caterpillar in 1979 and performed various finance functions in positions of increasing leadership at Caterpillar Americas Co., the North American Commercial Division, Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd. and Caterpillar Brasil Ltda. before joining Cat Financial in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1998 as vice president responsible for European operations and marine vessel finance. He was a member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Board of Directors, the Financial Services Roundtable, the Nashville branch of the Federal Reserve Board of Atlanta, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Board of the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville.

Mike DeWalt to Retire

After more than 35 years with the company, Mike DeWalt, 59, vice president of the Finance Services Division, has elected to retire.

For more than 10 years, Mike has been the trusted face and voice of Caterpillar for the investment community, leading our Investor Relations group with a steady hand and a deep knowledge of every part of the companys global operations and the markets we serve, Umpleby said. Mike has provided effective leadership for a number of financial activities, including Corporate Treasury, Economics, Business Risk Management, Competitive Analysis, Strategic Planning and Strategic Investments, Umpleby added.

DeWalt joined Caterpillar in 1981 as an accountant and progressed to a series of positions with increasing responsibilities in accounting and finance areas. From 19962001, DeWalt was the senior finance leader for F.G. Wilson in Northern Ireland and Perkins Engine Company in Peterborough, U.K.  both wholly owned subsidiaries of Caterpillar. Following those assignments, he was named director of Strategic Investments, leading Caterpillars corporate mergers and acquisitions group, and was the director of Investor Relations from 20052012. In 2012, DeWalt became the corporate controller, and in 2013, he was appointed vice president of the Strategic Services Division.

Joe Creed Appointed Vice President of Finance Services Division

The companys Board of Directors has appointed Joe Creed, 41, to replace DeWalt as vice president of the Finance Services Division. Creed is currently chief financial officer for Energy & Transportation.

Joe brings deep expertise in the areas of financial reporting and accounting to this role, Umpleby said. Over the course of his nearly 20 years with Caterpillar, Joe has held leadership positions in accounting and finance with increasing levels of responsibility at the corporate level, as well as with business units in both our engine and machine businesses, Umpleby added.

Creed has a bachelors degree in accounting from Western Illinois University. He will assume his new duties January 1, 2017.

Zack Kauk Appointed Vice President of Excavation Division

Following the previous announcement that Bob De Lange will become group president of Construction Industries, Caterpillars Board of Directors has appointed Zack Kauk, 49, vice president of the Excavation Division.

Kauk is a 27-year veteran of Caterpillar, and during his career has held multiple leadership positions in engineering and product management roles in Europe, Asia and the United States. He is currently worldwide product manager for medium excavators and is based in Singapore.

Zack and his team have delivered innovative solutions to enable our customers to maximize productivity. He brings an extensive global product management and engineering background to his new role as the leader of the Excavation Division, Umpleby said.

Kauk has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Bradley University. He will assume his new duties January 1, 2017.

Dave Walton Appointed Vice President of Financial Products Division

The companys Board of Directors has appointed Dave Walton, 54, to replace Adams as president and CEO of Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation and Caterpillar vice president of the Financial Products Division.

Walton is a 28-year Cat Financial veteran and is currently vice president of Cat Financial Services Corporation with administrative responsibility for North America Sales, Cat Mining Finance and Cat Financial Commercial Accounts.

During his career, Dave has held leadership positions with Cat Financial serving customers across Europe, Asia and the Americas, giving him the broad global perspective required to lead the Financial Products Division. Dave has become known for his dedication to helping our customers succeed, Umpleby said.

Walton has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Indiana University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School in Chicago. He has served on the Asia Pacific Board of Directors for Junior Achievement International. He will assume his new duties April 1, 2017, and will relocate to the Financial Products Division headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jill Daugherty Appointed Chief Audit Officer

The Board of Directors has appointed Jill Daugherty, 46, currently Caterpillars corporate controller, as chief audit officer. In this role, Daugherty will work with the Board Audit Committee and Caterpillar Executive Office to ensure a strong internal control environment. Daugherty joined Caterpillar as an intern in 1990. She has held a series of positions with increasing responsibility in accounting and business support, including senior roles in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Daugherty has a bachelors degree in accounting from Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. She is a certified public accountant. Daugherty will assume her new position January 1, 2017. The current chief audit officer, Kim Doe, will assume a leadership role within Resource Industries.

Kyle Epley Appointed Corporate Controller

Following the announcement that Jill Daugherty has been appointed chief audit officer, Caterpillars Board of Directors has appointed Kyle Epley, 44, currently chief financial officer for Customer & Dealer Support, as corporate controller. In this role, Epley will have responsibility for business analysis, competitive analysis, economics, strategic planning and operating & execution model governance. Epley joined Caterpillar in 1996 and held a series of positions with growing responsibilities in accounting and finance. Epley has a bachelors degree in accounting from Bradley University and is a certified public accountant. He will assume his new position January 1, 2017.

About Caterpillar

For 91 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2015 sales and revenues of $47.011 billion, Caterpillar is the worlds leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.
Ireland: EPA to weigh in on Limerick plans

23 December 2016

Limerick Council has engaged consultants with a view to making an unprecedented submission over Irish Cements EUR10m Mungret plans, which will see fossil fuels replaced by the burning of tyres.

At this weeks metropolitan meeting, metropolitan district boss, Kieran Lehane, confirmed consultants had been appointed to carry out an appraisal of the air quality, health and climate change elements of the applications and further submissions.

The consultants report is expected to be completed this week and a decision will then be taken on whether a submission is to be made to the EPA.

Irish Cement has maintained that its planned changes will not see an increase in emissions into the local environment.

Asked if he felt there would be a conflict of interest, since the council is still deliberating on a planning application from Irish Cement, Councillor Daniel Butler said the applications were separate. The EPA will decide whether Irish Cement can use the tyres and waste, while the council will decide on the physical infrastructure.

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Algeria: Prime Minister urges greater exports to Africa

23 December 2016

Algeria's Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal, inaugurated the 25th Algerian Production Fair (FPA) and visited a number of its pavilions stressed the need to diversify the national production and increase exports, notably towards the African markets, in a bid to meet the objective of the government programme.

At the pavilion of the Groupe Industriel de Ciments d'Algerie (GICA), Mr Sellal stressed the need to achieve self-sufficiency in cement in 2017, through the launch of all scheduled plants in Setif, Biskra and Adrar.



He announced that production of the future cement plant at Adrar will be exported towards Africa, notably Niger.

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Culture Ministry invites applications for scholarship under Talent search scheme

UNI , Chandigarh | Published : 22nd December, 2016

The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training under the aegis of Union Ministry of Culture has invited applications for awarding of scholarship under the Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme 2017-18.

An official spokesman today said 650 new scholarships were awarded every year by the Centre at national level.

The spokesman said out of these, 100 scholarships have been marked for Tribal Culture/Scheduled Tribe children, 20 for differently-abled children, 30 for the children active in the field of creative writing/literary arts and 125 scholarships for the children of Traditional Artists Family which were continuously practicing Arts form for the previous three generations.

He said that the applications of only three students of a Guru or Institution would be considered for award of scholarships at a time. If more than one Guru/Teacher is working in the same institution, then also three applicants/applications of that institutions would be considered. He said that the applicant must apply in one subject only, as all applications of those, who apply in more than one subject, would be rejected.

He said the complete filled application forms alongwith photographs of child, relevant documents and their specimens of their latest original art work must reach the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi on or before December 31, 2016.

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The health-threatening winter smog in Beijing is often particularly extreme and robbs the sight of the city and its surroundings. The high particulate matter values are caused by a previously unrecognized chemical mechanism in aerosol particles.

In the aqueous phase of aerosol particles, nitrogen and sulfur oxides can react with each other and rapidly form high concentrations of fine particulate matter through a previously unrecognized mechanism.

Persistent haze consisting of fine aerosol particles shrouds Beijing and large part of China during cold winter periods, threatening the health of about 400 million people. In 2013, record levels of fine particulate matter including large amounts of sulfate were measured in Beijing, but the sources remained a mystery because the solar radiation required for normal photochemical production of sulfate is weak during haze events.

An international team led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry now revealed the origin of the high amounts of sulfate in the haze aerosols: A chemical reaction between the air pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO) and sulfur dioxide (SO) in the aqueous phase of the aerosol particles enables rapid formation and accumulation of sulfate independent of solar radiation and photochemical pathways. In the latest issue of the scientific journal Science Advances the researchers show that aerosol water acts as a chemical reactor where the alkaline aerosol components trap SO from the air, which is oxidized by NO to form sulfate. This mechanism is self-amplifying because the SO uptake and sulfate formation causes an increase of aerosol particle mass that entails further water uptake. The higher aerosol water content in turn leads to faster sulfate production and more severe haze pollution than was previously explicable.

We discovered that sulfate production increases together with the concentration of fine aerosol particles, states Yafang Cheng, group leader at the MPI for Chemistry and first author of the study. In January 2013, she and her colleagues analyzed surface based aerosol measurements in Beijing 2013. What puzzled the scientists most was that the sulfate production rate was six times higher during the most polluted periods than those during low-moderately polluted conditions. State-of-the-art air quality models relying on sulfate production mechanisms that require photochemical oxidants, cannot predict these high sulfate levels because the photochemical activity is low due to the aerosol dimming effect.

The enhanced sulfate production observed at reduced solar radiation levels indicated the existence of an unrecognized reaction pathway. After considering the standard pathways of gas phase, cloud and fog chemistry, there was still a large gap between modeled and observed sulfate explains Hang Su, also group leader at the MPI for Chemistry and co-corresponding author of the study.

Finally, the Mainz scientists succeeded in finding the missing link: Reactive nitrogen chemistry in aerosol water can explain the missing source of sulfate in the winter haze of Beijing. Water is a key component of atmospheric aerosols that enables a wide range of aqueous phase reactions, summarizes Hang Su. Comprehensive and strict emission controls of both SO and NO are required to avoid the build-up of heavy haze events conclude Yafang Cheng and Hang Su. The researchers expect that the findings will advance the development and implementation of air pollution control strategies effectively reducing the adverse effects of haze on public health in China.

The global relevance and perspectives of the groundbreaking study are outlined by Ulrich Poschl, director at the MPI for Chemistry: The results show how tightly coupled multiphase processes involving gaseous, liquid, and solid substances are in our environment. They also demonstrate how important these processes are for our understanding of climate change and public health in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene is the current era of globally pervasive and steeply increasing human influence on planet Earth.
A federal jury has ordered Costco Wholesale Corp. to pay $250,000 to a former employee at its Glenview store who alleged Costco failed to protect her from a customers sexual harassment. (Wilfredo Lee / AP)

A federal jury has ordered Costco Wholesale Corp. to pay $250,000 to a former employee who alleged the retailer failed to protect her from a customer's sexual harassment at a suburban Chicago store.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed the lawsuit in federal court in Chicago in 2014, claimed the Washington-based warehouse club created and tolerated "a sexually hostile work environment of offensive comments of a sexual nature, unwelcome touching, unwelcome advances, and stalking by a customer."

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Dawn Suppo, the former part-time employee who complained to the EEOC, worked as a front-end assistant, helping customers box purchases and returning items to shelves at Costco's Glenview location, according to court records.

Suppo alleged Costco didn't do enough to intervene after a customer, over the course of about a year, repeatedly asked her on dates, hugged and touched her without consent, filmed her at the store and continued harassing her after she reported the incidents to managers. She eventually sought a restraining order against the man, according to court records.

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Costco did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment on the Wednesday ruling. Suppo declined to comment through an EEOC attorney.

In court records, Costco denied any wrongdoing and said it "exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any alleged discriminatory or harassing behavior." Costco also accused Suppo of "unreasonable failure to take advantage of preventative or corrective opportunities provided by Costco or otherwise in a timely and effective manner."

Costco eventually advised the customer to shop at a different location, but it was after Suppo went on leave due to emotional distress in 2011, said Richard Mrizek, lead trial attorney for the EEOC. She was later fired under Costco's leave policy, according to the EEOC.

The jury declined to award punitive damages but did find Costco liable for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the harassment, Mrizek said.

lzumbach@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @laurenzumbach
A John Deere tractor stands in a field near Stillwell, Kan. in 2006. Moline, Ill.-based Deere & Co. has agreed to pay a former employee $275,000 to settle a whistleblower lawsuit. (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)

Deere & Co., the giant Moline, Ill.-based equipment manufacturer, has agreed to pay a former employee $275,000 to settle a whistleblower lawsuit.

The suit was brought last year by the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of a pipe fitter who alleged he was fired in 2012 in retaliation for reporting unsafe working conditions at the Moline facility and filing a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

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Deere did not admit any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay the pipe fitter $111,512 in back wages, $92,803 in compensation instead of rehiring him and $70,685 in damages. The agreement allows the company to pay the former employee in three installments through January 2018.

"The settlement of this case represents a true win for an employee who was willing to risk his job to ensure workplace safety for himself and his co-workers," Kenneth Nishiyama Atha, regional administrator for OSHA in Chicago, said in a news release Thursday.

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The unnamed former employee reported unsafe working conditions on three occasions to OSHA. Subsequent investigations by OSHA cited hazards at the facility in April 2010, January 2012 and May 2012, before he was fired in June 2012.

OSHA enforces whistleblower provisions that protect employees from retaliation for reporting safety violations. As part of the settlement, Deere is required to post OSHA's "Job Safety and Health: It's the Law" poster and OSHA's "Your Rights as a Whistleblower" fact sheet at all its workplaces.

Deere, which manufactures agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, generated nearly $27 billion in annual sales and a net income of more than $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2016.

A Deere spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday afternoon.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @RobertChannick
Michael Keaton, center, stars in "The Founder," the story of Ray Kroc of McDonald's. The movie is set to be released nationwide Jan. 20. (The Weinstein Company)

Ray Kroc opened his first franchised McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines in 1955. More than six decades and 36,000 restaurants later, moviegoers will get a chance to see a dramatized version of the burger giant's beginning, and a portrayal of a complicated, driven salesman-turned-self-proclaimed founder.

"The Founder," set to be released nationwide Jan. 20, stars Michael Keaton as Kroc, the man widely considered McDonald's creator.

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McDonald's tells the story of Kroc as a symbol of the American dream: a man who worked hard for everything he had, with an eagle eye for quality and hyperfocus on efficiency and execution. But the film touches on questionable methods Kroc used to gain control of the company.

The filmmakers characterize Kroc, who died in 1984, at times as a power-hungry, unscrupulous salesman desperate to expand the McDonald's brand, according to the film's trailer and publicity materials.

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The film's wide U.S. release comes at a critical moment for McDonald's. The company, under CEO Steve Easterbrook, is two years into an ambitious repositioning that has included the introduction of all-day breakfast, a new McPick 2 value menu, and the removal of antibiotics from chicken and preservatives from McNuggets. Next up is one of the most significant changes ever in the look and experience of eating at its restaurants  the introduction of kiosk ordering and Bluetooth-enabled table service  updates that will take shape just as a film is released that casts a shadow on the burger behemoth's beginnings.

Kroc, an Oak Park native, was a 52-year-old milkshake machine salesman when he first encountered McDonald's, opened by two brothers, Richard and Maurice McDonald, in California.

Amazed by the efficiency of the operation and speed of service, Kroc inked a deal with the brothers to open a franchise in Des Plaines in 1955. Other openings followed and within just three years, McDonald's had sold 100 million hamburgers. Within eight years, it had 500 restaurants. Today it has 14,000 U.S. locations and 22,000 more around the globe.

The details of the company's first years are disputed. In a number of interviews over the years, the McDonald brothers and their descendants said Kroc swindled them, eventually squeezing them out of the business.

I definitely think there are some individuals who are going to care, and that would be detrimental to McDonald's. But McDonald's will always have a market for what it serves.  Robert LaPata, founder and principal of restaurant consulting firm Forefront Hospitality

In his 1977 autobiography "Grinding it Out," Kroc wrote that the pair were difficult to deal with and battled his efforts to expand the business from the start.

"They were obtuse, they were utterly indifferent to the fact that I was putting every cent I had and all I could borrow into this project," Kroc wrote of one frustrating early restaurant construction. In 1961, Kroc paid the brothers $2.7 million for the rights to the McDonald's name.

"Ray has a vision of global domination for McDonald's and does not want the two small-town hamburger guys slowing him down," the filmmakers say in their plot outline. Keaton is getting Oscar buzz for his portrayal of Kroc. The actor was nominated for his leading role in 2014's "Birdman" but has never won an Oscar.

McDonald's declined to discuss the movie and its potential impact. The Weinstein Company, the film's production company, didn't return requests for comment.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Ray Kroc's first restaurant in Des Plaines, Ill., in 1955. (McDonald's)

McDonald's has seen popular culture take aim at its image before. The 2004 documentary "Super Size Me" led to significant changes not just under the Golden Arches but throughout the fast-food industry. At McDonald's, "super-sized" fries and drinks went away and the company's "Go Active" campaign promoting healthy eating and exercise was ushered in.

Most experts believe a dramatization of McDonald's founder, even an unflattering portrayal, won't dent the company the way "Super Size Me" did, although some say the film may further polarize consumers who already had a negative perception of the corporation's power and influence.

Moran Cerf, a marketing professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, said "The Founder" echoes recent high-profile biopics in the way it highlights a driven entrepreneur, and the dark side of that drive.

"Is (Ray Kroc) the good guy because McDonald's is one of the biggest employers in the country, or a bad guy because they have such super control of society?" Cerf said. "You could say that about Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs."

Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, was the main character in the film "The Social Network" and Steve Jobs was portrayed most recently in an eponymous film starring Michael Fassbender as the Apple founder.

With 36,000 restaurants globally, McDonald's has unrivaled influence on culture and eating habits around the world. It has three times the sales of its closest rival, Subway.

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"I can't think of many companies who are more of a mirror image of us," Cerf said. "It has become a symbol of American values all over the world."

A target of activists protesting everything from low wages to unhealthy food and agricultural practices, McDonald's has long had to balance the original vision spearheaded by the McDonald brothers and grown and nurtured by Kroc  an efficient, homogenous operation where a cheeseburger tastes the same no matter whether you're in Omaha or Ontario  with catering to the tastes of rapidly changing consumers, who want to know where their food comes from and increasingly prefer healthier options.

"You can attack them in so many different ways: the menu, the minimum wage. ... In a sense they are always in a war, it's just a matter of figuring out which one they're in," Cerf said.

McDonald's has taken a number of steps to quell anger directed at its iconic Golden Arches over the years, including everything from searing burgers and toasting buns longer, to raising wages at its company-run restaurants.

It's also made strides in recent years to make the brand more relevant with younger consumers who prefer "better burger" rivals. It soon will start testing delivery via UberEats in Florida. Next year, it is set to unveil mobile order and pay. And in 2018, it will leave its custom-built Oak Brook headquarters for the West Loop, putting it in the center of one of Chicago's trendiest neighborhoods.

Robert LaPata, founder and principal of restaurant consulting firm Forefront Hospitality, said the movie is most likely to hurt McDonald's reputation with consumers who already didn't like the company.

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"I definitely think there are some individuals who are going to care, and that would be detrimental to McDonald's," he said. "But McDonald's will always have a market for what it serves."

Darren Tristano, president of food industry data and research firm Technomic, believes if consumers perceive Kroc as a "villain" in the film, it may be an asset.

"Everybody loves a villain, right? Look at Darth Vader," he said. "If we take a look at Ray Kroc's journey, it portrays just how competitive the restaurant industry is  and that hasn't changed in 60 years."

Northwestern's Cerf believes the impact on McDonald's may be amplified more than people expect because in some ways, it mirrors the current political climate.

In the recent election, "we had this on the ballot, in a way: The story of a wealthy guy attacking another person and winning. Eight years prior, (the election of Barack Obama) said that if a bunch of 'small' people get together, they can fight the big guys and win," Cerf said. "Now, the big guy won. I'm not saying that's the good way or the bad way, but this movie is a story of that."

sbomkamp@chicagotribune.com

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United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz meets with the Chicago Tribune editorial board in 2015, soon after taking the chief executive post. Munoz spent the first part of 2016 recovering from a heart attack and transplant, so 2017 basically will be his first full calendar year as CEO. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

After years of focusing on its international flights, United will turn its attention to domestic routes in 2017.

The course correction is one of several developments for United as CEO Oscar Munoz embarks on what essentially will be his first full calendar year on the job.

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Munoz took over as CEO during fall 2015 after predecessor Jeff Smisek resigned amid a federal corruption investigation, but Munoz spent the first months of 2016 recovering from a heart attack and subsequent transplant. In the months after, United dealt with a proxy fight with investors and contentious labor negotiations.

But now, all United's domestic unionized employees have contracts that no longer divide them based on which airline they'd worked before United's 6-year-old merger with Continental. The airline has a new leadership team under Munoz and plans for a more reliable, more profitable United.

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That plan includes a renewed focus on domestic flight operations.

United Airlines hosts a media preview of its new Polaris lounge for international business class fliers at O'Hare. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Overseas routes are a larger chunk of the business at United than at competitors like Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, said Helane Becker, managing director and senior research analyst at Cowen and Co.

A few years ago, that made sense. Those international flights were more profitable. But over the last few years, the market has grown more competitive for both budget and first-class international travelers, Becker said. Carriers like Emirates have luxurious cabins for first-class travelers, while Norwegian Air Shuttle and Iceland's Wow Air offer budget-friendly transatlantic flights on a no-frills model similar to Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air in the U.S.

"United still wants to be a big international player, but that's a tougher market right now so they want to be bigger domestically, both because that's a good place to be and because they need it to properly feed the international market," said Seth Kaplan, managing partner of industry newsletter Airline Weekly.

As United works to win back market share from U.S. rivals in its domestic hubs, it will beef up routes that got stuck with smaller regional jets and less-desirable schedules while the airline's attention was elsewhere, airline President Scott Kirby said.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 9 Workstations are put to use during the media preview of United Airlines' new Polaris lounge for international business class fliers at O'Hare International Airport Nov. 30, 2016. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)

Plans for domestic hubs with more destinations, more flights and bigger planes will take years to complete, but some changes are already underway.

United will begin flying to new destinations out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport  mostly to smaller Midwest cities, but a few longer routes will include flights to San Jose, Calif., starting March 9.

The airline also expects to begin changing the way it schedules flights to make it easier for passengers to take connecting flights both east and west without long layovers. Under the new system, flights would arrive and depart in concentrated waves, rather than being spread evenly throughout the day.

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It's a more expensive way to operate, and airlines previously thought cities like Chicago were big enough that airlines could focus on local travelers rather than connectors, Kirby said. But United now thinks the potential revenue gains outweigh the extra cost.

"This isn't about carrying more passengers in nonstop markets, it's about competing for the sum of a whole bunch of small markets," said Kirby, who was at American Airlines when it brought a similar system to O'Hare a little over a year ago.

And while batching flights in groups of arrivals, followed by groups of departures  rather than mixing the two  might sound like a recipe for more hectic airports, Kirby argues it eases congestion on the tarmac and should help reliability.

Passengers also will start seeing extra options when booking tickets.

United's basic economy fares, which offer an economy seat without some of the standard economy perks like overhead bin space, are set go on sale early next year, with the first flights in the second quarter.

Basic economy is in part about fending off competition from budget carriers, but it's also a way to put a price tag on more in-flight services.

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But that doesn't mean fares will get cheaper. Basic economy fares likely will be similar to the cheapest economy tickets today.

"We consider the advent of Basic Economy as one of the industry's most creative revenue enhancements since the advent of bag fees," J.P. Morgan's airline analysts wrote in a report on United, praising the airline's decision to make its basic fares more restrictive than Delta's  and more likely to convince corporate travelers to "buy up."

At the other end of the travel spectrum, international fliers are starting to get a taste of United's updated long-haul business class service, called Polaris.

"We're finally giving customers the ability to pay for what they value on (the basic economy) end, and now we're also doing it at the other end," said Julia Haywood, United's executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Outfitting all United's planes with the new seats designed for Polaris will take time, but customers will start to see them in spring 2017, said Maria Walter, United's managing director of product and brand strategy. Polaris-specific lounges will be built in nine United hubs  one is already open at O'Hare  and major cities over the next two years.

There likely also will be new products in between economy and Polaris. Haywood said United wants to offer a premium economy class, but is still working out what that might look like.

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Additionally, the airline still is working on modernizing the technology it uses to set fares, with the first phase of changes expected in the second half of 2017.

Systems that can better assess how much passengers are willing to pay for tickets could lead to higher fares on peak travel day flights that often sell out, but could also mean lower fares on flights with empty seats, Kirby said.

United also said it is trying to catch up to rival Delta when it comes to getting passengers and bags to their destinations on time.

The share of United flights that arrive on time has been improving. But United officials say they still want to cut the time it takes to prep an arriving aircraft for its next flight  United takes about 6 percent longer than its competitors.

Basic economy could help by freeing up overhead bin space and reducing the number of bags checked at the gate, said Greg Hart, United's executive vice president and chief operations officer. United also is revamping its maintenance program to reduce equipment-related delays, he said.

"There have always been these questions about why United tends to lag the industry  is it something they can fix, or is it something structural?" Kaplan said. "Now we're really going to get a chance to see, because they have some of the best people in the industry running the place now."

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lzumbach@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @laurenzumbach
Walk by Miller's Pub, that iconic Loop haunt, now through New Year's Day, and the marquee lets you know it's a special time of year: "Tom & Jerry are here."

You won't find the cartoon cat and mouse inside the bar, as fun (or disturbing?) as that would be. The name refers to a drink, one that your Midwestern grandparents almost certainly know about. You don't? Time to learn.

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You're in particular luck this season: Right now, you can also find versions of the Tom & Jerry at Sparrow, The Duck Inn and Maple & Ash. Though, Sparrow bar manager Peter Vestinos schools me, don't try any bar's T&J until you've had the traditional at Miller's.

The drink starts with a carefully prepared batter, made from eggs, sugar (powdered and brown), cream of tartar, vanilla extract and enough spices to fill a Christmas stocking, including cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice. The batter traditionally lives in a punch bowl, to be ladled into mugs emblazoned with "Tom & Jerry" in old-timey script (pretty easy to find on eBay.) Add rum or brandy, then pour in hot water or milk, and stir quickly; the egg whites will rise to give the drink a foamy crown.

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Check eBay for vintage Tom & Jerry mugs like the ones used at Sparrow. (Michelle Kanaar / Chicago Tribune)

The Tom & Jerry is said to date to the 1800s  some historians credit the recipe to a British journalist, others an American bartender  but the drink isn't one you'll spot often these days, unless you often find yourself in a cabin in Northwoods Wisconsin or Minnesota. Why the Tom & Jerry has lived on in the Midwest is anyone's guess. It's a warm drink to fight the cold? Traditions never die here?

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At Miller's, they certainly don't; every year, crowds flock to the bar for a Tom & Jerry with zero pretense, served in a brown coffee mug that looks as if it should be next to a newspaper at a diner. The drink is perfectly made, with a pillow of spices hitting your lips before the rush of warm alcohol. The Miller's Tom & Jerry is what inspired Vestinos to serve the cocktail at Sparrow, where he spikes the thick batter with Cruzan Black Strap rum, Botran Reserva rum and Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac. It sounds boozy, but a careful 1.25-ounce pour, less than a shot, makes it just right to have a second.

The Duck Inn adds its own touch to the classic Tom & Jerry by bruleeing the top of the drink. (Kevin Hartmann)

Duck Inn bar director Brandon Phillips, a Wisconsin native, adds a modern touch to his Tom & Jerry, sprinkling a thin layer of sugar on top and torching it, creme-brulee style. And at Maple & Ash, bartenders use Spanish brandy, and a nice hit of cardamom in the spice mix. Both bars use hot milk in their recipes, making creamier versions than the classics at Miller's and Sparrow. Should you try them all? Absolutely. After all, it's tradition.

Miller's Pub, 134 S. Wabash Ave., 312-263-4988, www.millerspub.com

Sparrow, 12 W. Elm St., 312-725-0732, www.sparrowchicago.com

The Duck Inn, 2701 S. Eleanor St., 312-724-8811, www.theduckinnchicago.com

Maple & Ash, 8 W. Maple St., 312-944-8888, www.mapleandash.com

mconrad@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @marissa_conrad






Chocolate and beer come together in this lineup, from left: Caramelized Chocolate Churro Baltic Porter (Moody Tongue Brewing), Xocoveza (Stone Brewing), Chocolate Milk Stout (4 Hands), Mud Monster (Pipeworks Brewing), Shake Chocolate Porter (Boulder Beer), Chocolate Hazelnut Porter (Heretic Brewing) and Bomb! (Prairie Artisan Ales). (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

Water. Yeast. Malted barley. Hops.

And chocolate?

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While it's well-known to most so-called beer geeks, those who favor mass-produced light lagers might drop the lime poking out of their Corona to learn that chocolate and beer are merging with increasing and delicious frequency.

Walk into any store with a healthy craft beer selection, and you'll find a handful to dozens of examples of beer made with chocolate. Some prominently feature the ingredient in their names (Boulder Beer's Shake Chocolate Porter evokes, you guessed it, a chocolate shake) and some thread it subtly into the description (Prairie Artisan Ales' Bomb! is "an imperial stout aged on coffee, chocolate, vanilla beans, and ancho chili peppers.")

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Unlike ice cream, a candy bar and the other usual contexts in which we think of chocolate, a rich blast of sugar isn't what makes it such an attractive beer ingredient. Though some degree of sweetness is common, the best chocolate beers aren't too sweet or too syrupy. Instead, chocolate threads earthy, roasted and sometimes bitter (think: baking chocolate) elements into the mix. Done well, chocolate does to beer something similar to what it does in mole.

Jared Rouben, founder and brewmaster of Moody Tongue Brewing in Pilsen, estimates he has made 10 beers featuring chocolate between his current operation and his stint as brewer at the Goose Island brewpub on Clybourn Avenue. That includes one of Moody Tongue's flagship beers (Caramelized Chocolate Churro Baltic Porter) and one of his major annual releases (Bourbon Barrel Aged Chocolate Barleywine, released around Valentine's Day).

Rouben has been to Mexico in search of chocolate and is headed to Peru next. At an emotional and visceral level, chocolate is a useful ingredient, he said; it's something we come to prize as early as childhood and use, across our lives, to celebrate occasions both large and small. Its flavor and aroma make it one of the most evocative and intimate ingredients available.

But, at a technical level, it also works, with chocolate's inherently roasted character mingling with the element of roast in one of beer's four core ingredients: malt. In fact, a dark-roasted malt commonly used by brewers in imperial stouts is called chocolate malt (though there is no chocolate in the malt).

"The flavor we naturally find in the liquid is the same flavor we find in our pairing ingredient  which in this case is chocolate," Rouben said. "The challenge, as a brewer, is finding the right chocolate for your base beer. Just chucking it in there won't give you the results you desire."

Rouben tends to use whole cacao beans that he roasts in the brewery. Sometimes they are added whole and sometimes cracked. Usually they are added as a final step to achieve maximum aromatics and flavor, similar to the practice of adding hops to beer as a final step (called dry hopping), which wrings the most possible hop character into a beer.

Craft beer maker Finch Beer Co. will leave Finch Kitchen, the brewpub it opened this summer, and close its production brewery to move to the former Like Minds brewery. (Joseph Hernandez/Chicago Tribune)

The most popular version of infusing a beer with chocolate is cocoa nibs  beans that have already been roasted. Others use cacao powder. Others, like Spiteful Brewing, which co-founder Jason Klein estimates has made six or seven chocolate beers, do both.

"We do different things, but nibs seem to work best," he said. "Nibs are more like baking chocolate, and powder is more like a chocolate bar. We have used a combination too."

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The decadence of chocolate beer is especially fine during the colder months. Here are seven to watch for:

Bomb! (Prairie Artisan Ales)

Drinks marvelously smoothly for its 13 percent alcohol, and particularly ideal for the depths of winter. Despite the array of ingredients  coffee, chocolate, vanilla beans, ancho chili peppers  the chocolate does the heavy lifting, with the peppers and coffee hovering nicely at the edges.

Caramelized Chocolate Churro Baltic Porter (Moody Tongue Brewing)

An elegant beer with a lighter body and finish than expected, but with miles of chocolate depth.

Chocolate Hazelnut Porter (Heretic Brewing)

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A brewery newly distributed in Chicago, but if this beer is any indication, one to watch for. Milk chocolate dominates with faint notes of earthy nuttiness, tying together cleanly.

Chocolate Milk Stout (4 Hands)

Very much a "beer with chocolate" rather than a "chocolate beer." The bitter roast of the stout is prominent, but tempered with faint sweetness. If you're a beer lover hesitant to try a chocolate beer, this is the one to check out.

Mud Monster (Pipeworks Brewing)

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A thick body evokes chocolate syrup at cooler temperatures while finishing with a slight roasted bitterness. As it warms, saltiness tempers the sweetness. A limited release that should be on shelves in 22-ounce bottles during the coming weeks, but if you miss it, fear not. Pipeworks does a lot with chocolate, and it does it well.

Shake Chocolate Porter (Boulder Beer)

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More balanced on the palate than might be expected from the overwhelmingly chocolate aroma. Keep an eye out for the draft version carbonated with nitrogen rather than standard carbon dioxide. Heavenly.

Xocoveza (Stone Brewing)

Inspired by Mexican hot chocolate, this stout is made with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk sugar. Dangerously easy drinking.

jbnoel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @joshbnoel






The ads started popping up about a decade ago on social media. Instead of selling alcohol with sex and romance, these ads had an edgier theme: Harried mothers chugging wine to cope with everyday stress. Women embracing quart-sized bottles of whiskey, and bellying up to bars to knock back vodka shots with men.

In this new strain of advertising, women's liberation equaled heavy drinking, and alcohol researchers say it both heralded and promoted a profound cultural shift: Women in America are drinking far more, and far more frequently, than their mothers or grandmothers did, and alcohol consumption is killing them in record numbers.

White women are particularly likely to drink dangerously, with more than a quarter drinking multiple times a week and the share of binge drinking up 40 percent since 1999, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal health data. In 2013, more than a million women of all races wound up in emergency rooms as a result of heavy drinking, with women in middle age most likely to suffer severe intoxication.

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This behavior has contributed to a startling increase in early mortality. The rate of alcohol-related deaths for white women ages 35 to 54 has more than doubled since 1999, according to the Washington Post's analysis, accounting for 8 percent of deaths in this age group in 2015.

"It is a looming health crisis," said Katherine M. Keyes, an alcohol researcher at Columbia University.

Although independent researchers are increasingly convinced that any amount of alcohol poses serious health risks, American women are still receiving mixed messages. Parts of the federal government continue to advance the idea that moderate drinking may be good for you. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a division of the National Institutes of Health, is overseeing a new $100 million study, largely funded by the alcohol industry, that seeks to test the possible health benefits of moderate drinking.

Meanwhile, many ads for alcohol - particularly on social media - appear to promote excessive drinking, which is universally recognized as potentially deadly. These ads also appear to violate the industry's code of ethics, according to a Post analysis of alcohol marketing.

For example, when girl-power heroine Amy Schumer guzzled Bandit boxed wine in the movie "Trainwreck," Bandit's producer, Trinchero Family Estates, promoted the scene on social media. Young women responded with photos of themselves chugging Bandit. Within months, Trinchero said, sales of boxed wines - sometimes called "binge in a box" - jumped 22 percent.

"We saw it first with tobacco, marketing it to women as their right to smoke. Then we saw lung cancer deaths surpass deaths from breast cancer," said Rear Adm. Susan Blumenthal, a former U.S. assistant surgeon general and an expert on women's health issues. "Now it's happening with alcohol, and it's become an equal rights tragedy."

Alcohol marketing is regulated primarily by industry trade groups, but dozens of studies have found lapses in their record of enforcing the rules. As a result, an international group of public health experts convened by the World Health Organization's regional office in Washington, D.C., plans to call in January for governments worldwide to consider legislation similar to laws adopted a decade ago to sharply curtail tobacco advertising.

"The industry's system of self-regulation is broken," said Thomas F. Babor, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine who is aiding the effort. "The alternatives are clear: Either you have to take their system and put it into independent hands, or you have to go with a partial or full legal ban on alcohol marketing."

Officials with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), one of the largest U.S. trade groups, defend their record of oversight, saying it has received high marks from federal regulators.

"The Council's Code of Responsible Practices sets more stringent standards than those mandated by law or regulation, or that might be imposed by government due to First Amendment constraints," council Senior Vice President Frank Coleman said.

DISCUS tells members that ads should not "in any way suggest that intoxication is socially acceptable conduct." The Beer Institute tells members that their "marketing materials should not depict situations where beer is being consumed rapidly, excessively." And the Wine Institute prohibits ads that make "any suggestion that excessive drinking or loss of control is amusing or a proper subject for amusement" or that directly associate use of wine with "social, physical or personal problem solving."

But these rules appear regularly to be flouted, particularly on alcohol companies' websites and social-media feeds, which are soaking up a growing share of the more than $2 billion the industry is expected to spend on advertising this year. And the trade groups acknowledge that they do not investigate or act on possible violations unless they receive a formal complaint.

Normalizing drinking

Some of the edgiest ads appear on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - where they can be narrowly targeted toward the inboxes of the most eager consumers.

"They can be very specific," Facebook spokeswoman Annie Demarest said. "The ads could go to married women ages 21 to 60 who read about wine and leisure. They can also target the ads based on location, interests, demographics, behaviors and connections."

Jokes about becoming inebriated are common. One Twitter ad features a woman with a bottle the size of a refrigerator tilted toward her lips. Its contents: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

Women also are frequently shown drinking to cope with daily stress. In one image that appeared on a company website, two white women wearing prim, narrow-brimmed hats, button earrings and wash-and-set hair confer side by side. "How much do you spend on a bottle of wine?" one asks. The other answers, "I would guess about half an hour . . . " At the bottom is the name of the wine: Mommy's Time Out.

Another ad on a company website features a white woman wearing pearls and an apron. "The most expensive part of having kids is all the wine you have to drink," it says above the name of the wine: Mad Housewife.
Courtney Kashima and her husband, Hide, are raising two multicultural kids in Chicago. She identifies as a European mutt and was born and raised in Illinois, while her husband is a first-generation Japanese-American who grew up in Guam. (Annie Grossinger / Chicago Tribune)

It's often said that it takes a village to raise a child, and once upon a time, this was quite literal. The proverb has been attributed to African cultures where children were raised by the whole tribe in a village.

Today, our tribes look a lot different. Not only are grandparents, aunts and uncles spread across frequent-flier miles, but family units also can be a mix of two (or more) very distinct villages. The rate of multiracial marriages and, consequently, multicultural children in the U.S. is certainly on the rise.

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According to a 2015 Pew Research study, marriages between spouses of different races have increased almost fourfold since 1980. This has led to an even faster rise of the number of multiracial children. In 2013, among babies living with two parents, 10 percent had parents who were different races from each other, up from 1 percent in 1970, according to the same report.

So, not only are parents left to raise their children more isolated than before, but they also are confronted with blending cultures, values and traditions.

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"Parenting is tough as a baseline," said Christina Jones, a psychotherapist and consultant in downtown Chicago. "Couples have to learn and navigate how to be a team. Sometimes that cultural piece adds challenges."

The challenges can range from how to celebrate holidays to deciding whether to raise your children bilingually.

Courtney Kashima, 38, is raising two multicultural kids in Chicago. She identifies as a "European mutt" and was born and raised in Illinois, while her husband, Hide, is a first-generation Japanese-American who grew up in Guam.

"We both came from very small towns, so we feel committed to raising our kids in the city," she said. But, she relayed, the Japanese-American community isn't as vibrant here as it is in a place like Los Angeles or Vancouver. She said she's had to seek out support and cultural activities for her two children: Sachi, 2, and Jiro, 9 months.

The family joined the Japanese American Service Committee in Chicago, which hosts traditional events and a weekly class for children called Tampopo Kai. Kashima has also posted on message boards and Facebook groups to try to find other Japanese-American and hapa  or half-white, half-Asian  families in the area.

She admits it can be difficult to find a balance. "It's weird to pick and choose culture. If you came from a monoculture, like my mom, there were just certain traditions."

For Kashima, raising her children in Japanese culture means learning and embracing new ideas herself. Incidentally though, she pointed out, "I actually feel I lead (the push toward teaching the kids about their heritage) more than my husband."

Others are often influenced by grandparents or extended family.

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Lindsay Chuang, 31, of Chicago said, "The cultural stuff is more important for my in-laws. It's even more important to them than it is to my husband."

Chuang, who is black American, is married to a first-generation Taiwanese-American. They have two kids: Victoria, 3, and Emerson, 16 months. Her in-laws recently moved back to Taiwan, but they visit as often as possible.

Courtney Kashima and her husband, Hide, are raising two multicultural kids in Chicago. She identifies as a European mutt and was born and raised in Illinois, while her husband is a first-generation Japanese-American who grew up in Guam. (Annie Grossinger / Chicago Tribune)

"I really hit the jackpot of mother-in-laws," Chuang said. "These are their first grandbabies, so they're always ready to come and jump right in. When (my mother-in-law) comes to visit, she cooks and plays with the kids.  But when she comes, she'll stay for, at most, a month, and it's not enough time for language to catch on. I know that she wishes that was different."

"I do stay home with them, but I'm not the one that speaks Mandarin," she added.

On a visit earlier this year, the family celebrated Chinese New Year together. "We've celebrated the new year before, but if my in-laws are here, we'll absolutely do something."

Jones encourages parents to expose their children to their own culture and traditions, as it will likely help build a solid sense of identity.

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"The best way to approach that is in nonthreatening ways," she said. "Exploring food from different cultures brings people together. And music brings people together."

In the Tampopo Kai class at the JASC, parents and children learn Japanese songs. The class also incorporates dancing, arts, crafts and story time.

"We divide the program between Japanese and English," said Naomi Negi, the program coordinator. "There are tons of opportunities for parents and kids to pick up Japanese words. And, you'd be surprised  six months down the timeline  the kids start to pick up words; they absorb everything so quickly."

Similarly, the Old Town School of Folk Music, with locations in Chicago and satellite classes in the suburbs, offers a music program for children in Spanish.

"We really put a lot of love and importance on the Spanish Wiggleworms classes because the Spanish-speaking population is really growing in Chicago," said Erin Flynn, director of Wiggleworms and Kids Music Programs at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

"We're not teaching Spanish; we really understand that it is a music class, but it is an immersion experience," Flynn said. "We took a lot of time to find authentic music and songs that have a long tradition in Spanish-speaking countries. It really is about the music, culture and traditions through music."

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She said that, in the past, the school has offered classes in German, Hebrew and French, depending on teacher availability.

"We very earnestly believe that music connects people and builds community," she said.

Finding community helps us get back to the idea of raising our children by village, even if we all don't look the same.

"I don't think I noticed all the mixed-culture families until I started hanging out with other moms," Chuang said. "I was at a moms' night out event, and I noticed everyone was either Asian or married to an Asian. It was pretty cool. I'm really thankful for that stuff."

Emily Perschbacher is a freelancer.

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Five nights before Christmas, Mary Hayden Stehle is so deep into her Kindle jigsaw puzzle game, she barely registers the racket of the train as it hurtles southward from Washington. Across the aisle, her brother, Will, sits on his grandfather's lap, playing Minecraft. Neither child notices the dark forest outside, one seemingly filled with Wild Things.

But then, just beyond the woods, lights start to appear like fallen constellations. The youngsters set down their gadgets and drift over to the window.

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"See the candy canes?" asks their mother, Michele Stehle.

The Northeast Regional pulls into the Ashland, Virginia, station, in the bull's-eye center of town, and the Amtrak train becomes an insurmountable median on Railroad Avenue. Boarding passengers are privy to only one half of town (the section with the depot draped in white lights). Travelers already on board, however, can delight in the holiday display illuminating both sides of the iron rails.

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"Oh, look! There's a train made out of trash cans," says Michele, pointing at a metal sculpture decorated with fir trimmings and ornaments designed by schoolchildren.

The locomotive bell rings. Onward to Richmond.

The sights flicker past. Reindeer prancing on lawns. Christmas trees playing peekaboo between half-drawn curtains. Diamond-bright bulbs trimming eaves and picket fences. Gem-colored lights dangling like Chanel necklaces on bare branches.

"Do you like the colored lights or the white lights?" Michele asks her children.

"The colored lights," answers Mary Hayden, 5, after several minutes of speechless wonder.

"I like how the lights on the trees looked like they were flying," adds Will, 7.







Oh, Christmas lights. They're just plastic bulbs - yet they possess near-magical powers. They can transport you to the North Pole, or to a time predating Black Friday, or to a calm state guided by Zen Santa. We look at them and feel gooey and good, like a marshmallow floating on a cup of hot cocoa.

The good townspeople of Ashland, a Bedford Falls-like town about 18 miles north of Richmond, know this. And so they've bedecked their village streets with more than 100,000 sparkling lights for train travelers and freight crews to ooh and aah over.

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"What we've done with the lights is to dial up what has always been here," says writer Phyllis Theroux, who relocated from Washington more than 25 years ago. "Ashland really is a Christmas town."

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It's even more of a railroad town. The first train arrived 180 years ago. Each day, more than 60 trains - 22 run by Amtrak, 40 by CSX - clatter up and down Ashland's main drag. There's no "wrong side of the tracks" here. Two tracks run through the main thoroughfare like a dry, rocky tributary. If a train pulls up just as you were planning to cross the road, you'd better take a seat - this could take a few minutes.

"The train is such an integral part of our daily life," says Dan Bartges, an artist and board member of the Ashland Main Street Association. "We wanted to make the entire town twinkle for the train crews and passengers."

Through Jan. 3, railway passengers heading home for the holidays - or simply slogging through their daily commute - will coast through the mile-long Light Up the Track event. As for the blurring special effects, you can thank the train engineers. When you're moving at up to 35 mph, the lights do appear to sprout wings.

The dazzling illumination beams from shops, houses and yards paralleling the track. Most of the decor is traditional: white lights, red velvet bows, wreaths, electric candlesticks, a jigging snowman.

"It is so welcoming and nostalgic," says Ashland resident Stephanie Werner, the maternal grandmother of the Stehle children.

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Some locals, however, have apparently drunk from the whimsy punch. Yes, that is a carved-wood tiki head wearing a sweatband of red bulbs.

The lights surprise most travelers, who are typically staring into phones, computers or closed eyelids. Unless otherwise informed, they're not prepared for the diversion created on their behalf.

"If I knew ahead` of time, I would go 'ooh and aah,'" says Desiree

Sisitka, of Hampton, Virginia, "like I always do when I see lights."

On the trip up to Washington that Monday morning, Desiree had mentioned to her husband that she hoped the train would pass through towns decked out for Christmas. Unfortunately, the couple was traveling during daylight hours. Also working against them: The scenery along the northbound route is mainly forest, farmland and the backsides of towns. But they were returning in the dark and stopping in Ashland - so maybe, just maybe.

On occasion, the conductor announces the upcoming show. The staff might also share wisdom from their repeat rides through the display.

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"They're on both sides," an employee informs us at Washington's Union Station about the lights, "but I think this side has nicer ones." To clarify, "this side" means left (if you're heading south).

A staff member at the Richmond Staples Mill Road station advises us, now headed north, to sit in the cafe car. He demonstrates how you can easily swivel your head to see out both picture windows framing the festive scenery. Suddenly, a cellphone rings, releasing "Jingle Bells" into the air. The mood is set.

For passengers on the southbound train, the display starts with Randolph-Macon College, which demonstrates its merriment by wrapping white lights around lamp posts. Downtown follows. Then a row of Victorian houses. A few dark patches intervene before a stunning residence with a wide lawn bursts onto the scene like the Noel version of a Fourth of July fireworks finale.

"I want to see it by foot," says Sam Westrick, a PhD student in Pittsburgh going to visit his parents in Mechanicsville, Virginia, after the show.

The Sisitkas spend the final leg of the journey tossing out Santa-sanctioned ideas. Perhaps Amtrak could serve spiked eggnog, hand out candy canes and play Christmas carols over the P.A. Maybe the staff could don holiday gear. And how delightful if the train could park in Ashland for 15 minutes, so that passengers could disembark and experience the lights up close.

On this evening, however, the train has other plans and plunges back into the darkness. But Ashland's lights continue to burn bright, ready to greet the next load of passengers. Because without the decorations, it's just another night on the tracks.

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Heather Phillips, middle, of Exodus World Service, explains how her son Mason's (third from left) iPod works to Syrian refugee mother Nareman, right, during a visit to the family's apartment Dec. 18, 2016, in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Nareman's son, Mohammad, 5, is at left. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune)

For the past six years, the congregation at St. Pascal Roman Catholic Church in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood has collected Christmas donations for families in tremendous pain  a woman with breast cancer, a young mother who suffered a stroke, a police officer with a terminally ill son. Almost always, the recipients have been the family or friends of those in their pews.

But this holiday season the parish is turning its focus to strangers. Exodus World Service, a Christian ministry that welcomes refugees, will receive St. Pascal's gift at a time when displaced families around the world seek a new life in Chicago.

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The Rev. Paul Seaman, pastor of St. Pascal, said the parish's focus on refugees highlights the Christmas story, in which Joseph and Mary, who is about to give birth to Jesus, arrive in Bethlehem with no place to call home.

"Think of the innkeeper that rejected them a place inside. If he had accepted them we would know his name," Seaman said. "But he said no and ... he's kind of a minor villain in the story. So we need to decide who we want to emulate. Do we welcome or do we turn away?"

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Seaman admits he has been reluctant to push parishioners on what has been a topic of political debate. In November 2015, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner vowed to bar Syrian refugees  a largely symbolic threat since that authority resides with the U.S. State Department. President-elect Donald Trump also suggested during his campaign that the U.S. bar refugees from specific regions.

"I didn't want it to be construed as a political statement," Seaman said. Still, he believes the Advent fundraiser presented an opportunity to showcase the Catholic church's teaching on immigration and the importance of welcoming strangers.

"This is what the Christian message is," Seaman said. "It's about caring for the least among us, particularly at Christmastime. That's the challenge of being a Christian. There are really good churchgoing Catholics, but they don't know what to make of this immigration thing. That's where the rubber hits the road. You can pray and do all kinds of nice things. When it really comes to the concrete realities, are we really willing to walk the walk?"

Called Watch the Love Grow, the fundraising campaign at St. Pascal originated six years ago when longtime parishioner Jackie Cvikota borrowed an idea from Presence St. Francis Hospital where she works.

At the time, Seaman did not want decorations in the worship space during Advent. No poinsettias, evergreen boughs or holly until the joyous celebration on Christmas Day, he said.

Diane Fayard, left, and Mary Boss put up ornaments representing donations in St. Pascal Catholic Church on Chicago's Northwest Side on Dec. 11, 2016. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

But Cvikota suggested a few bare trees couldn't hurt. In fact, they could help. The parish would collect donations to support families in need. Each gift would be represented by a gleaming red orb hung from a low branch starting in the back. As donations rose, so would the sea of crimson ornaments. By Christmas, the trees would become a sparkling backdrop behind the altar.

The first two years, the parish raised money for two families to cover medical expenses. Other fundraisers supported the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, the Widow's and Children's Assistance Fund of the Chicago Fire Department and two mothers. Last year, the family of a Chicago police officer whose son was terminally ill received the donation.

The idea to support the refugee organization was inspired by Larry Basbas, a seminarian and member of St. Pascal's community, who decided in his late 40s to pursue ordination. Over the summer, Basbas and a mentor priest had volunteered for Exodus World Service, a Park Ridge ministry that has made welcoming and befriending refugees its sole mission.

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"Many times they come and have nothing," said Cvikota, who, along with other parishioners, chose Exodus World Service as the recipient of St. Pascal's gift. "These are people who are not trying to get handouts. They're here to better themselves, to gain employment. All they know is they want to be safe."

Basbas said he is moved by his home parish's show of support. He has shared with parishioners his compassion and concern for those forced out of their homelands by war, famine or persecution and appreciates that they have heeded his call.

"I've always felt we need to be like the Christians we are called to be, and we do it by recognizing Jesus in the faces of others," said Basbas, who is of Filipino descent.

Exodus World Service partners with more than 60 churches across the Chicago area to provide a personal connection for refugees who settle in Cook and DuPage counties. Since its founding in 1988, it has trained 140,571 volunteers to welcome and befriend 19,512 refugees.

Through its Welcome to America program, volunteers collect at least 65 household items  sheets, towels, dishes  to help refugees set up their first home. Through the New Neighbors program, volunteers undergo four hours of cross cultural training specific to refugee issues and maintain the personal connection with weekly or more frequent visits.

"A refugee's first day in America is a day they'll never forget," said executive director Susan Odom. "To be welcomed by a volunteer eagerly preparing for their arrival means a lot.  Often leaving their country is unplanned and unwanted due to a threat to their lives. They're often forced to leave suddenly their home, belongings, jobs, family, friends and community. One of their greatest needs is for relationship, friendship and connection."

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That's why when Syrian refugees Nareman and Anas arrived in Chicago with their two children nearly two weeks ago, it didn't matter how exhausted they were from the 13-hour flight. They were grateful to see Heather and Kevin Phillips waiting with their three sons to welcome them to their new home. The mothers forged an instant connection, as did their 5-year-old sons.

"I feel like I have a sister here," Nareman said through a translator. Exodus World Service asked that only first names be used given the trauma of their recent journey.

Moving to Chicago was the last thing on the Syrian parents' minds when they fled the violence in Homs, Syria, in 2012. They presumed they would return within days. But days turned into months and within a year they realized they could not go back. They eventually underwent the painstaking screening process to enter the U.S. as refugees, the highest level of security screening for any category of traveler to the U.S.

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"Politics aside, once they are here it is our job to be a good neighbor and to love them and show them that love that they need at this point," said Heather Phillips, a member of Willow Creek North Shore in Glenview and a volunteer with Exodus World Service.

Anas plays with his daughter, Haneen, at their family's Chicago apartment Dec. 18, 2016. They are refugees from Syria and have been in the United States less than a month. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune)

Odom said she has seen an outpouring of support in recent months, but also a flood of inquiries from people seeking reassurance that refugees are not a threat. She said the plight of refugees parallels the Christmas story in other ways beyond the journey of Mary and Joseph.

"In Christmas we see God, the creator of the universe, come in an ordinary way, in a small way, as a baby in a manger to an unwed mom," she said. "And that's often how God works  in these humble and small ways. We see that in refugee ministry, in hospitality where simple acts become powerful and the ordinariness of sharing a meal together, kids playing, sorting mail, going to the grocery store together  those become powerful witness of hospitality and welcome."

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So far, St. Pascal has raised more than $4,200 for Exodus World Service. But the parish's investment goes far beyond the church's donation, Cvikota said.

"Every time you turn on the news you see Aleppo. You see these war-torn countries," Cvikota said. "As a parish, we might not be millionaires, but we all have something to give. What better way to see the face of Christ in somebody else than to see the face of Christ in these refugees."

mbrachear@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @TribSeeker
Kong Zheng Lin, left, goes over questions with his instructor, Alan Louie, at the Pui Tak Center on Dec. 15, 2016, in Chicago. Louie is conducting a mock interview with Lin before Lin takes the test to become a citizen. (Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune)

Before Jin Xia Mou fled China, she worked as a bank teller, her husband as a bank manager.

Since coming to Chicago in 2008, Mou, now 46, stays home with their son because her husband took a job as a cook in a Chinese restaurant in Iowa City, Iowa.

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Many Chinese immigrants are limited to work in Chinese restaurants because they do not speak English, said David Wu, executive director of the Pui Tak Center, 2216 S. Wentworth Ave., in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood.

Offering free English as a second language classes and other programs, the Pui Tak Center is one of many local nonprofits that receive financial support through Chicago Tribune Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund.

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Through the occasional help of a Mandarin translator, Mou talked about her life in Shandong, an eastern Chinese province on the Yellow Sea.

"The U.S., they have the human rights," Mou said unaided. "It's not like China, and also freedom. China is not fair, everything is not fair."

Because her husband works, Mou is able to study English at the Pui Tak Center. In two years, she has advanced to the second of a five-book program, which typically takes four to five years to complete.

Classes are organized to meet the needs of the 700 to 800 students who sign up for each of the revolving sessions lasting about two months, but require about 10 months to complete each book, Wu said. For example, there were 700 students enrolled in the fall session that ran in November and December, he said.

Last year, the center spent about $1 million to educate about 1,300 students, many of whom enrolled in multiple sessions, Wu said.

Wu has served Chinese immigrants in Chicago since Pui Tak Center opened 20 years ago, he said. One of the changes he has witnessed over time is how much the Chinese understand English before they move to the U.S.

"China has really put in a big effort in people learning English," Wu said.

During enrollment, the center administers exams to determine the level of competency each student has with the language. Very often, they will know grammar and vocabulary but have very little conversational English, he said. However, for others with no exposure, the first book in the program begins with the English alphabet.

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"Every immigrant knows that if they don't learn English, they are pretty much stuck in an entry-level job and they won't be able to support their family," Wu said.

"Learning a language especially as an adult is not easy," he added. "They really need our classes."

That was true for Die Qing Lin, 58, of Chicago, who said he also left China for American freedom. While in Guangzhou, a port city northwest of Hong Kong, he supervised seven salespeople in a retail home goods store, he said.

After coming to Chicago, he worked in a Chinese restaurant. Having studied English at Pui Tak Center, he now works as a security guard in what he calls "the American sector," a business not owned by Chinese immigrants. His job requires him to write incident reports almost daily, which he completes in English, he said.

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"The English is important to me because I every day write something with English because my company uses English," he said without a translator. "The English helped me in life in America."

Wu said the class schedules are tailored to Chinese immigrants who are commonly shuttled from Chinatown to distant suburbs in what he called "a restaurant van." Often the van leaves at 10 a.m. and returns after 9 or 10 p.m., when the restaurants close, he said.

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For that reason, the center offers classes from 8:15 to 10 a.m., then again from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, he said. Because mothers want to stay with their children, it is more often that fathers work in the restaurants, he said.

"Mom tries to transition out of that to cleaning hotels or different occupations," he said. "(The class times) fit the schedule of newer immigrants coming to Chicago."

Mou said the classes, especially the one-on-one tutoring not only help her assimilate into American culture but also help her study with her 7-year-old son, who attends bilingual classes in Chicago Public Schools. Though her son was born in the U.S., the family speaks Mandarin at home. The Pui Tak Center allows her to help him do his homework in English, she said.

Through the help of a translator, Mou said she proudly completed the center's citizenship program before she started the English classes two years ago. She became a naturalized citizen last August.

Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter.
It's warm and dry, free of slush and knifing winds. But tourists and even many locals have no idea it's there. Even regular users sometimes get lost in its maze of corridors. Oh, yes  it has all the architectural panache of a suburban mall.

We're talking Chicago's "pedway" system, that convenient but confusing patchwork of underground tunnels and corridors that snakes beneath downtown.

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Even city officials acknowledge the pedway needs a reboot, which is why they're cooperating with a nonprofit group that's funding a $125,000 redesign of a pedway stretch beneath Randolph Street. The group will hold public meetings in January.

"The pedway is difficult for many people to navigate. It is not a unified system," said Howard Learner, executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law & Policy Center, which views a more heavily used pedway as a way to advance its agenda of promoting energy-saving alternatives to driving.

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Yet Learner and his cohorts are thinking bigger than just better signs and lighting. As improbable as it sounds, they're pushing for the pedway to follow the example of Montreal's underground, which has hosted concerts and art and film festivals. They also foresee an uptick in business for pedway retailers.

The pedway "can be an activated, interesting place for things to happen in Chicago," said Learner, whose efforts have the support of Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld.

But making Chicago's pedway as vibrant as Montreal's will require a major shift in attitude, especially among city leaders. Inside City Hall, for example, there are plenty of signs directing people to the pedway. There are none, however, on the building's exterior doors.

It's as though the system is for insiders only. A theater-going tourist on Randolph, caught in subzero cold and biting winds, might never know that a warmer path is just steps away.

Even when some privately owned buildings promote the pedway's presence, they do so with signs that are so small  and so poorly placed  that it's easy to miss them.

A blatant example is a tiny pedway decal, 6 inches high by 6 inches wide, on a door of the office building at 120 N. LaSalle St. The door, deeply recessed, might as well as be inside a cave.

Such useless signage raises an essential question: Who is the pedway for?

Does it chiefly exist to provide a climate-controlled thoroughfare for employees and customers of the property owners who developed it? Or should it be viewed through a more public lensas a piece of urban infrastructure, the subterranean equivalent of city streets?

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The pedway began in 1951 when the city built blocklong tunnels linking the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line and Blue Line subways at Washington Street and Jackson Boulevard. It now connects more than 50 buildings and is used each weekday by thousands of pedestrians. Aboveground passageways and building lobbies also are part of the system, which continues to grow incrementally as new buildings join.

Give the pedway this much: Linking all those tunnels, some of which thread through the foundations of skyscrapers and other buildings, was no small engineering feat. And in contrast to the sky bridges that connect buildings in downtown Minneapolis and other American cities, the pedway doesn't throw streets and sidewalks in shadow or block views.

Yet the system's geographic reach is limited. And the two prime pedway zones  an east-west strip that runs below Randolph and a cluster of tunnels in the Illinois Center and Lakeshore East developments  pile ineffective graphics atop aesthetic banality.

Consider the official pedway logo, a square containing a compass rose. It's supposed to suggest easy navigation, but there's little consistency in how the logo is shown. It's readily visible at a Lake Street entrance to the Illinois Center complex, displayed on a sign that's 20 inches high by 15 inches long. But the logo is nowhere to found on the exteriors of other buildings, including Macy's State Street store as well as City Hall.

Indeed, some of the most visible exterior pedway signs advertise underground shops rather than the pedway itself. These signs, visible at Block 37 and the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building, are done in a variety of styles, resulting a branding mish-mash that does little to promote the system as a whole.

The pedway itself is a kind of pedestrian purgatory. Most of its tunnels get no natural light. Some have only dim artificial light, a shortcoming that may compound the skittishness of those who fear running into the homeless people who use the system. Some of the wall decoration is comically bad, like the brown bulge that lines the beige walls of a pedway section beneath Illinois Center. And signage is inconsistent, despite a federally funded, nearly $1.5 million city push 10 years ago to upgrade the pedway.

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Some of the signs display street names and east-west or north-south arrows. That helps people to orient themselves. Yet other signs lack this feature, only providing arrows that direct pedway users to adjacent buildings. For tourists and other outsiders unfamiliar with those building, the arrows are likely to be of little use.

To be sure, there are exceptions to the pedway's dreariness  tall, wide spaces lined with stores and blessed with natural light, like the one at the bottom of Block 37's atrium. Another good one, the train station beneath Millennium Park, delights the eye with brightly lit, wavy ceilings and lines in the floor that suggest railroad tracks.

These examples hint that the pedway has the potential to be more than a tunnel. It can be urban and urbane, a place not just a passageway. But most of the system is not there yet  not close.

Last spring, with Scheinfeld's blessing, the Environmental Law & Policy Center convened a series of stakeholders to rethink the pedway's Randolph Street corridor. Among them were building owners; the Chicago Loop Alliance, a business group; city and cultural leaders; and representatives from Metra and the CTA, which have stations along the pedway.

"We applaud the ELPC's civic-minded vision and commitment to bringing resources and energy to the table," Scheinfeld said in a statement.

A team of consultants  Billings Jackson Design of Chicago, which specializes in designing navigation, or "wayfinding," systems; British engineers BuroHappold; and New York's Davis Brody Bond architects  are working on the plan and are scheduled to meet with stakeholders on Jan. 11 and 12. Members of the public can attend, Learner said.

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While Learner declined to discuss specifics of the emerging plan, he said the design team has been charged with re-thinking the pedway in the broader context of making better connections between it and such activity centers as the Riverwalk, Navy Pier and downtown train stations.

"We ultimately can develop a unified wayfinding system" for downtown, he said.

Before the designers tackle that ambitious aim, however, they need to make the pedway more accessible, more navigable and more inviting to the public.

Blair Kamin is a Tribune critic.

bkamin@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @BlairKamin
The Office of Inspector General recommended that 11 Chicago police officers  from rank-and-file patrol officers to command-level personnel  be fired for making false statements exaggerating the threat posed by Laquan McDonald. All the higher-ranking officers resigned or retired, leaving four officers and one patrol sergeant fighting for their jobs. Here is a look at all 11:

Officer Jason Van Dyke

Van Dyke, an officer since June 2001, shot McDonald 16 times seconds after exiting his squad car. He emptied his gun, firing most of the bullets after McDonald had fallen to the street. Van Dyke told police he opened fire after McDonald ignored his repeated commands to drop the knife and then raised the knife over his shoulder as he got within 10 to 12 feet of the officer. He said that McDonald appeared to be trying to get up after falling to the street. On the same day a judge ordered the video released, Van Dyke was indicted on first-degree murder charges. He refused to answer questions from the IG, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He continues to fight the murder charges in court as well as his dismissal before the Chicago Police Board.

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Officer Joseph Walsh

Walsh, on the force since June 1998 and Van Dyke's partner for only the second time that night, gave much the same account as Van Dyke. The IG found Walsh made numerous false statements and material omissions in his interview with police and the Independent Police Review Authority. "Walsh's actions embody the 'code of silence' that has no legitimate place in CPD," the report concluded. Walsh resigned from the department after the IG recommended his dismissal.

This excerpt from video released to the public shows the most complete version of the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. It is edited for length by the Chicago Tribune. Warning: This video contains graphic images. (Chicago Tribune)

David McNaughton

McNaughton, with the department since December 1991 and the highest-ranking officer at the scene as a deputy chief, told IG investigators that his initial reaction to seeing the video at the scene was "Oh, my God, you know this is, you know, something to see." But then he said he looked at it from "the perspective of a police officer" and concluded McDonald was the aggressor who approached Van Dyke and Walsh. The IG in particular faulted McNaughton for revising the department's news release on the shooting to say McDonald "continued to approach" the two officers. "I do not believe it is a false statement in my heart of hearts," he said in his IG interview. McNaughton retired after the IG recommended his dismissal.

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Eugene Roy

Roy, with the department since 1977 and the second-in-charge that night as commander of the Area Central detective division, attended a meeting two days after the shooting in which then-Superintendent Garry McCarthy raised concerns about the 16 shots fired by Van Dyke. Roy later told IG investigators he did not share those concerns. Despite what the video showed, Roy continued to maintain that the police reports on the shooting were truthful and accurate, but he disavowed any responsibility for their conclusions. Roy retired in September after the IG recommended his dismissal.

Detective David March

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March, the lead investigator into McDonald's shooting who joined the department in June 1982, viewed the video several times on a monitor in the police car whose dashcam captured the shooting, according to the IG report. He told IG investigators he interviewed not only Van Dyke and Walsh but also the additional eight officers at the scene at the time of the shooting. The IG in particular faulted March for falsely telling the medical examiner's office that McDonald had lunged at the officer with the knife. Under questioning by an IG investigator, March said he wouldn't change how he wrote anything in a supplementary police report. March resigned in August after the IG recommended his dismissal.

Sgt. Daniel Gallagher

Gallagher, who started with the department in October 2000 and was March's boss at the Area Central detective division, supervised the investigation into McDonald's shooting. Under questioning by an IG investigator, Gallagher said McDonald had taken 10 to 12 steps toward Van Dyke and Walsh before Van Dyke opened fire. Asked if video backed up Van Dyke's claim he continued firing as McDonald attempted to rise up from the street, Gallagher said, "Perception is reality in these cases. If that's what an officer perceives ... there is nothing in the video to refute that." Gallagher resigned in August after the IG recommended his dismissal.

Sgt. Stephen Franko

Franko, with the department since January 1994, supervised several of the first officers who responded to the incident. The IG alleged that several witnesses said Franko helped create the false police reports and approved another report that inaccurately said Van Dyke had been injured. In his interview with investigators, Franko said he had simply overlooked mention of the injury in the report and otherwise minimized his role at the scene. The IG also faulted him for failing to take appropriate action against officers under his supervision after learning none of the audio systems in their police cars worked. Franko is fighting his dismissal before the Chicago Police Board.

Officer Janet Mondragon

Mondragon, an officer since April 2007, had told police she heard Van Dyke and Walsh repeatedly order McDonald to drop the knife but that McDonald continued to wave the knife as he came closer and closer to the officers. She said she did not see which officer opened fire because she was putting the squad car in park  a claim that the inspector general scoffed at, noting it took Van Dyke about 14 seconds to unload his 16-shot gun. The IG also criticized Mondragon for remembering being served pizza later that night at Area Central headquarters but answering nearly 150 questions about the details of the shooting by saying she didn't recall. Mondragon is fighting her dismissal before the Chicago Police Board.

Officer Daphne Sebastian

Sebastian, Mondragon's partner that night and an officer since April 2007, gave a similar account. She had told police she heard Van Dyke and Walsh repeatedly order McDonald to drop the knife, but he continued to advance on the officers, waving the knife. Sebastian also said she didn't see which officer fired multiple shots, but she reported McDonald continued to move after falling to the street  a key detail that could have justified Van Dyke's continuing to fire at the prone McDonald. Yet the video shows that McDonald's lower body did not move at all, the IG found, and the small, intermittent movements to his upper body appear to be from the bullets striking his body. Sebastian is fighting her dismissal before the Chicago Police Board.

Officer Ricardo Viramontes

Viramontes, an officer since October 2003, arrived on the scene as Van Dyke was shooting McDonald. He had told police Van Dyke opened fire after McDonald had ignored repeated commands to drop the knife and turned toward the officer and his partner. Viramontes also said he saw McDonald continue to move after falling to the street. He went even further, saying McDonald attempted to rise to his feet with the knife still in his hand. After being shown the video, Viramontes stood his ground, saying, "The video might show me differently, but I believe what I stated is what I thought I saw." Viramontes is fighting his dismissal before the Chicago Police Board.

Officer Dora Fontaine

Fontaine, an officer since October 2001 and Viramontes' longtime partner on the force, was the only officer to challenge any statements attributed to her in police reports. She denied telling a detective that night that she had seen the knife-wielding McDonald raise his right arm toward Van Dyke as if he was attacking the officer. Still, the inspector general recommended Fontaine be fired for saying she heard Van Dyke and Walsh repeatedly order McDonald to drop the knife after video showed her just arriving at the scene as Van Dyke opened fire. Superintendent Eddie Johnson, however, did not seek her firing, saying the evidence against her was insufficient. It was uncertain what, if any, discipline was sought.
This excerpt from video released to the public shows the most complete version of the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. It is edited for length by the Chicago Tribune. Warning: This video contains graphic images. (Chicago Tribune)

Days after Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke shot Laquan McDonald 16 times, top brass watched a video of the fatal shooting at a meeting in which "everyone agreed" the shooting was justified, a lieutenant who attended the meeting said in sworn testimony.

Newly obtained documents of the city's Office of Inspector General investigation into the fatal shooting show that the department, from beat cops to command-level officials, quickly came to Van Dyke's defense, even after viewing dashboard camera video at the scene that contradicted officers' accounts. Command-level officers raised few concerns and signed off on their reports, the inspector general's investigation found.

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"There was never no question whether the shooting was justified," Lt. Osvaldo Valdez told investigators with the city's Office of Inspector General about the meeting of the top brass. "Everyone agreed that Officer Van Dyke used the force necessary to eliminate the threat, and that's pretty much it."

Among those who huddled at police headquarters for the meeting, about 10 days after the shooting in October 2014, was then-Deputy Chief Eddie Johnson, who was promoted to superintendent after Garry McCarthy was fired in the fallout of the video's release. Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi acknowledged that Johnson was at the meeting but said the superintendent "strongly disagrees" with Valdez's characterization of the briefing. Guglielmi declined to elaborate and Johnson referred questions to the spokesman.

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The details about the meeting are buried in thousands of pages of records obtained by the Chicago Tribune that document the inspector general's investigation and its findings that numerous officers at the scene falsified police reports and sought to cover up the facts of McDonald's killing.

The documents also contain Van Dyke's first-person account of why he shot McDonald.

"I think he's going to try and take my life away from me," Van Dyke told an investigator two days later.

When challenged in recent months about discrepancies between the video and their accounts, top officials as well as rank-and-file cops stood their ground, saying they had accurately described what happened the night McDonald was shot.

The records raise questions about Johnson's response to the inspector general's findings against his command officers.

The documents revealed that the inspector general recommended firing Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy and Deputy Chief David McNaughton in addition to nine lower-ranking officers. Inspector General Joseph Ferguson found that Roy, who had supervised the department's investigation into McDonald's shooting, was "incompetent in the performance of his duties."

Chicago police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy, right, gives First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante a hug outside CPD headquarters during Escalante's retirement sendoff on Sept. 6, 2016. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

While Johnson moved to fire several rank-and-file officers, the records show, he didn't act on the recommendation to fire Roy or publicly disclose his role, instead letting him quietly step down as he neared the mandatory age for retirement. McNaughton, the highest-ranking officer at the scene of McDonald's shooting, also retired.

Roy declined to comment, while McNaughton could not be reached.

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Officers recommended for firing by the inspector general and their lawyers either could not be reached for comment or declined to talk, except for Van Dyke's lawyer, Daniel Herbert, who said Van Dyke told the truth.

Herbert said Johnson's decisions about whom to seek to fire reflect an unwillingness to lay responsibility on command officers. He pointed to the meeting involving Johnson in which command staff purportedly agreed the shooting was justified.

"Nothing has changed, other than the heat has been turned up in this case," Herbert said.

Exaggerating McDonald's threat

For more than a year, Mayor Rahm Emanuel had fought the release of the video showing the white police officer repeatedly shooting the black teenager as he lay motionless in the street. The release of the video in November 2015 sparked widespread protests and exposed long-simmering grievances over policing in the city, particularly in minority communities.

Hours before the video's release, Cook County prosecutors made the rare move of charging a police officer in a shooting, announcing first-degree murder charges against Van Dyke. No other officers have been criminally charged in the matter, but a special grand jury is gathering evidence into whether officers orchestrated a cover-up.

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McDonald's killing prompted an ongoing U.S. Justice Department investigation into whether the Chicago Police Department has systematically mistreated citizens.

Emanuel has since pushed reforms in police training, departmental rules and discipline. After the mayor fired Superintendent McCarthy, he rejected the three finalists the Chicago Police Board had picked to succeed him.

Instead, Emanuel chose Johnson, an African-American who joined the department in 1988 and had not even sought the superintendent's post.

As City Hall made changes in the department, Ferguson's office was collecting evidence on the Police Department's response to McDonald's shooting.

Ferguson concluded that police made false statements and found that at least one officer engaged in a "code of silence," an unwritten rule that officers should lie to protect a colleague, investigation records show. He also found that the video contradicted official police accounts of McDonald's shooting and that officers exaggerated the threat posed by McDonald.

"The video footage of the shooting shows that, before Van Dyke shot McDonald, McDonald was walking away from Van Dyke ..." according to one of the inspector general's findings. "It shows that McDonald did not raise the knife he was holding over his shoulder, did not swing the knife toward the officers in an 'aggressive' manner, nor did he raise his arm toward Van Dyke as if attacking Van Dyke."

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Ferguson also found that  despite what officers wrote  the video shows that McDonald fell to the street after being shot and was not trying to get up.

Ferguson's office recommended that the department fire 11 officers in all. In August, Johnson moved to fire Van Dyke, as well as Officers Daphne Sebastian, Janet Mondragon, Ricardo Viramontes and Sgt. Stephen Franko. Johnson declined to move to fire Officer Dora Fontaine, saying the evidence against her was insufficient.

The other officers  several of them higher-ranking  resigned or retired, including the lead detective on the case, David March.

March told the inspector general that his investigation found that the actions of all the officers were "absolutely proper" and that Van Dyke was justified in killing McDonald, who had PCP in his system and damaged a police car while armed with a knife.

March emphasized to the inspector general's investigators that the department leadership's stance on the shooting shifted after the video was released and that in the meantime several command officers involved in the McDonald case had been promoted.

"Now, they are promoted and I am under investigation for separation from the department?" March asked. "As I said, no one voiced any reservations or concerns to me regarding this incident or this investigation. I was informed the entire command staff concurred with the findings and conclusions of my investigation."

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In Van Dyke's own words

Among the voluminous records is a transcript of Van Dyke  for the first time  offering his account of what happened in his own words.

Van Dyke was interviewed two days after the shooting by an investigator from the Independent Police Review Authority, the beleaguered agency known for clearing police in nearly every shooting.

IPRA investigator Brian Killen, who could not be reached for comment by the Tribune, told the inspector general's office that he had not watched the video of the shooting before questioning Van Dyke for about 20 minutes.

Van Dyke, according to a transcript of his account, said that he and his partner that night, Joseph Walsh, responded to a call for assistance from other officers. Van Dyke saw McDonald as they pulled up to the scene near Pulaski Road and 41st Street on the Southwest Side.

Van Dyke said McDonald was waving a knife and coming toward him, according to a transcript of the interview. Van Dyke said he backpedaled.

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"He's getting, he's getting closer to me," Van Dyke said. "I keep on ordering him: 'Drop the knife! Drop the knife! Drop the knife!' He doesn't drop the knife. He's still waving the knife at me. I'm thinking he's, he's going (to) do something to me."

Killen, according to the transcript, asked Van Dyke what he thought McDonald was going to do.

"I think he's going to try and take my life away from me," Van Dyke replied.

Van Dyke emptied all 16 rounds from his semiautomatic Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol and reloaded before he determined "the threat was eliminated," he said.

In charging Van Dyke with McDonald's killing, prosecutors said the officer opened fire seconds after exiting his squad car.

The inspector general's report casts doubt on the accounts given by Van Dyke and the other officers.

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In Officer Mondragon's case, the inspector general highlighted her claim that she missed key parts of the shooting, in part because she was putting a police vehicle in park. Van Dyke took about 14 seconds to empty his pistol, officials said.

Under questioning about the details of the shooting, Mondragon responded nearly 150 times that she did not recall, according to the report.

Mondragon did, however, remember there being pizza at the police station afterward.

"It defies belief that Mondragon does not remember whether or not she had seen anyone shot, but has a clear recollection of pizza," the inspector general's report stated.

Alleged witness intimidation

Multiple witnesses told the inspector general that detectives investigating the shooting refused to accept their accounts of what happened and threatened them. None of the 11 officers named in disciplinary recommendations so far were found to have intimidated witnesses.

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Witness Alma Benitez, for example, said she saw McDonald walking up the street from a nearby Burger King restaurant. As Benitez was readying to film with her phone, she heard gunshots and looked up, she said.

"I kept hearing gunshots, and then I yelled, 'Stop shooting! He's dead already!'" she said.

Benitez is suing the department, alleging she was detained and pressured to change her story.

Jose Torres, a motorist who said police shooed him away from the scene, told inspector general investigators he was talking to his wife on his cellphone when shots rang out. His wife heard the gunfire, he said.

Torres told investigators that McDonald appeared to be turning away from officers when he was shot. Torres said he grew upset in his car when he saw the shooting continue after McDonald fell to the pavement.

"I cussed in the car," he said. "I'm like, 'Why in the f--- are they still shooting him if he is on the ground?'"

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Torres said he contacted IPRA a few days after the shooting when police said McDonald had lunged at the officers.

"I couldn't live with myself," he told inspector general investigators. "I have two kids, two boys and they're about (McDonald's) age. If something like that would happen to my kids, I would wish somebody would come forward and say something."

In March 2015, detectives completed reports that repeated the contentions of Van Dyke and the other officers. The police reports were prepared by Detective March, Sgt. Daniel Gallagher and Lt. Anthony Wojcik, records show. All three left the department earlier this year, according to department records.

Earlier this month, the Inspector General's office went to court to try to force Wojcik to abide by a subpoena and testify in the office's investigation. Court records show that Wojcik objected because he is no longer a city employee.

His lawyer, Darren O'Brien, said Thursday that the Inspector General's office missed its chance to interview him before he retired in May.

"If he's so important, why didn't they talk to him when he worked there?" O'Brien asked. "Essentially, they waited too long," he said.

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Chicago police 8th District Cmdr. David McNaughton at a listening session hosted by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to discuss strategies to curb or prevent Chicago gun violence at the Metcalf Federal Building in Chicago on Jan. 10, 2013. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Supervisors sign off

The inspector general's investigation sought to hold command staff accountable in addition to the patrol officers.

On the night of the shooting, McNaughton, a deputy chief of patrol, was in bed before he received a call from Johnson informing him that he needed to go to the scene as the department's "on-call incident commander," records show. As the highest-ranking officer there, McNaughton's duties were to take charge of the scene, walk IPRA investigators through what had happened and interview Van Dyke.

The next day, McNaughton wrote in a report that the shooting was justified, records show.

"Officer Van Dyke fired his weapon in fear of his life when the offender while armed with a knife continued to approach and refused all verbal direction," McNaughton wrote in a report.

In recommending that McNaughton be fired, the inspector general alleged that he had approved false police reports submitted by Van Dyke, Walsh and a third officer and revised a police news release to falsely state that McDonald was shot after he "continued to approach" the officers.

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"I believed it that night and I believe it now, and if the definition of the word 'approach' is to come nearer to, then I don't think I was imprecise in that language," McNaughton told investigators. "I wish someone else could write statements. They could probably have crafted that better than I could, but it is there."

McNaughton, according to records, told investigators that he was fatigued that night after working long hours that day escorting President Barack Obama's motorcade and that may have affected his decision-making.

McNaughton retired this summer.

Roy, who joined the department in 1977 and supervised the detectives on the case, drew withering criticism from the inspector general's office.

Roy went to the scene and watched video of the shooting early on, according to the reports. He later took part in briefings for top command officers at which the video was viewed, the records show.

The inspector general placed blame for the detectives' allegedly false narratives on Roy, though Roy told investigators that responsibility for the reports fell largely to his subordinates.

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Nonetheless, he viewed the video with inspector general's investigators and said officers made accurate statements. He maintained that the video showed McDonald brandished the knife at officers and tried to get up after he was shot.

The inspector general disagreed, finding that Roy "let stand reports that contained materially false statements and put forth a false narrative, which served to exaggerate the threat McDonald posed at the time of the shooting."

Roy, however, said the inspector general was wrong to depend so heavily on the video.

"It's been a great deal of concentration on the video; however, that concentration ignores the fact the video is from the back of Laquan McDonald," Roy told the inspector general's investigators. "The videotape that you displayed and that I reviewed with you gentlemen is much farther away from Laquan McDonald than Officer Van Dyke or Officer Walsh were. The video cannot account for the perceptions and view of those who were actually present."

The inspector general recommended on Aug. 17 that Johnson fire Roy, who was within months of the department's mandatory retirement age of 63, records show.

At the end of August, Johnson moved to fire the lower-ranking officers.

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The Tribune, in late August, asked Johnson about Roy's role in the McDonald investigation and whether the department planned to seek to punish him. The superintendent responded that "CPD doesn't comment on open investigations."

Department records show Roy retired Sept. 15.

Roy was among the command officers that Valdez reported attended the meeting about 10 days after the shooting.

But there was an earlier meeting, two days after the shooting, that included then-Superintendent McCarthy, according to Juan Rivera, who at the time was chief of the Bureau of Internal Affairs. At that meeting, Rivera said, top department officials watched the video.

Rivera told the inspector general's investigators that he was concerned by the number of shots, and he suggested to McCarthy after the meeting that Van Dyke should be stripped of his police powers. McCarthy brushed off the suggestion, Rivera told the inspector general's investigators. Van Dyke was relieved of his police powers about 10 days after the shooting.

McCarthy could not be reached for comment.

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Superintendent Eddie Johnson listens to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as the mayor answers questions from the media after welcoming 100 new recruits to the Chicago Police Department at the CPD's Education and Training Academy on Dec. 13, 2016. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

While the Tribune obtained a department document indicating that Johnson was supposed to attend the meeting with McCarthy, he did not, said department spokesman Guglielmi.

Wayne Gulliford, then the department's chief of patrol, missed that meeting, as well, so a second briefing was held to watch the video and discuss the shooting, McNaughton told the inspector general's investigators. That is the meeting that Johnson attended, according to Valdez.

Asked by an inspector general's investigator whether anyone at that meeting voiced questions about the shooting's justification, Valdez replied, "Absolutely not."

Valdez and Gulliford declined to comment.

After his appointment in March as superintendent, Johnson was interviewed by two Tribune reporters who asked about the McDonald shooting.

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Johnson acknowledged that he had viewed the video at the time of the shooting, but he demurred at explaining his reaction to the video.

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"Did it shock you?" a Tribune reporter asked the new superintendent.

"I've been a cop for 27 years, and I've seen a lot of horrific things, not saying that that was one of them," he said of the McDonald video. "But I've seen a lot, and I know that we can learn a lot from not just that incident but different things that happen all across the city."

jgorner@chicagotribune.com

dhinkel@chicagotribune.com

tlighty@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @JeremyGorner, @dhinkel, @tlighty
A semi driver was killed and another person was injured Friday morning when the semi and two cars were involved in a crash on the Tri-State Tollway near Half Day Road, Illinois State Police said.

The crash happened just after 5:50 a.m. when a wheel came off the semi in the westbound lanes, according to the state police. The truck driver lost control and hit a Chevrolet, then struck the median and flipped on its side, ejecting the driver, state police said.

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The truck also hit a light pole, which fell into eastbound traffic and struck a Subaru, state police said.

The truck driver was pronounced dead on the scene, police said. The driver of the Chevrolet was taken to Condell Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

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Police closed three westbound lanes and one eastbound lane while investigating the crash.

Check back for updates.
Top row, from left: Lydell Strickland, Dennis Perez, Samantha Hughes. Bottom row from left: Inalia Rolldan, David Alcaraz-Ubiles, Leah Gigliotti. The six have been charged with various crimes in the kidnapping of two Chicago-area college students at the University of Rochester in New York. (Rochester Police Department)

Before four people were sentenced to prison this week for the kidnapping, torture and sexual assault of two college students from the Chicago area, testimony from the victims helped secure their convictions.

The two male students at the University of Rochester in New York were reported missing by their roommates Dec. 5, 2015, hours after they were seen near campus. The search ended the next day, when a SWAT team stormed a house about 4 miles away and freed the pair after they had been held against their will for 40 hours, beaten and assaulted.

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"One of the victims ... described for the jury something I'll never forget," said Matthew Schwartz, chief of the Special Investigations Bureau at the Monroe County, N.Y., district attorney's office. "He turned and told them, 'This sounds like something that you would only ever see in a movie. But this is real, and happened in real life.'

"Something particularly horrible like this ... sometimes it's worse than homicide. The torture that went on is almost indescribable," Schwartz added.

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One of the victims is from Northbrook; the other is from the Naperville area.

On Wednesday, the defendant believed to have orchestrated the kidnapping, Lydell Strickland, 27, was sentenced to 155 years to life.

New York Supreme Court Justice Alex Renzi told Strickland that he could find no redeeming qualities in him, according to published reports.

Another defendant, David Alcaraz-Ubiles, 25, received a 15-year sentence, which he will serve after he completes a 15-year term for an unrelated conviction. Two others  Inalia Rolldan and Ruth Lora  were each sentenced to seven years in prison in connection to the double abduction.

Five other people charged for their roles in the abductions took plea deals, officials said.

Schwartz said the perpetrators targeted one of the victims because they mistakenly believed he was the man involved in an earlier, drug-related robbery for which they were seeking retribution.

The perpetrators arranged for a woman to flirt with the victim on Facebook, and she eventually invited him to what she said was an off-campus party, the prosecutor said. He asked to bring a friend along.

"The second victim being involved was pure happenstance," Schwartz said.

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Two other women picked up the men and drove them to a home in Rochester. When the college students walked into the kitchen, they were surrounded by men in masks, Schwartz said.

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Over the next 40 hours, the victims were "repeatedly assaulted," both sexually and physically, Schwartz said. The assailants bound the victims with duct tape, forced them to urinate in bottles and, in one instance, fired a rifle next to one victim's head.

At one point, one of the men tried to make a break for the door and was shot in the leg, shattering his femur.

"It's incredible that he survived," Schwartz said.

The investigation into the men's disappearance led authorities to the women who had lured them to the house. After conducting surveillance, Rochester Police Department's SWAT team stormed into the home in a "military-style" rescue. Two people, a man and a woman, made a "feeble attempt" to obscure what had taken place by cutting the duct tape off the victims before attempting to flee, Schwartz said. Both were arrested at the scene; the seven other defendants were tracked down in the ensuing weeks.

Associated Press contributed.

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tbriscoe@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @_tonybriscoe
The October death of a man shot in 1992 in Chicago has been ruled a homicide, authorities said.

Manuel Guzman, 46, died primarily of heart disease but secondary causes were listed as pneumonia and chronic kidney disease from a gunshot injury that was exacerbated by the heart disease and diabetes, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

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The only information available about the shooting was that it happened in winter 1992, according to the medical examiner's office, which ruled Guzman's death a homicide. Police said he was shot on his Little Village block, where he still lived until his death.

On Oct. 4, 2016, Chicago police responded to help the Fire Department with a 46-year-old man who was not breathing in the 2800 block of West 21st Street about 9:35 a.m., said Officer Thomas Sweeney, a police spokesman.

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Guzman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:05 p.m. that day, said Sweeney and the medical examiner's office. He lived on the block where he was found, police said.
Jacele Johnson, then age 4, was shot in the head in the 7000 block of South Justine Street shortly before 8 p.m. May 22, 2015. Johnson is shown with her father, Marcel Johnson. (Provided by family)

Five-year-old Jacele Johnson doesn't remember the moment a bullet struck her in the head as a volley of bullets showered the car she was sitting in with an older cousin that May evening in 2015.

In the year-and-a-half since the shooting, as the girl continued to undergo therapy for a traumatic brain injury, Chicago police have been looking for two gunmen who opened fire on the vehicle, parked on an Englewood street outside a prom party. On Thursday, officials announced charges against a 32-year-old man in the case.

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Michael Clark, 32, already in federal custody on unrelated drug charges, made his first court appearance Thursday on state charges tied to the shooting. Earlier this month, he was quietly indicted by a Cook County grand jury on three counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting that injured Jacele, her 17-year-old cousin and a 15-year-old girl, police said.

That May 22, little Jacele was inside the car parked in the 7000 block of South Justine Street playing with her cousin, Romare Wilson, when the two gunmen inside a passing vehicle opened fire, striking the cousin and a second teen, police said. Police suspect that Clark, a member of the "S-Dub" faction of the Gangster Disciples street gang, fired on the vehicle because he'd seen it driven by gang rivals related to the girl earlier in the day.

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News of the criminal indictment came as a relief to the girl's mother, but it's taken a toll on the entire family, who moved in the wake of the shooting.

"Mentally, it's a struggle. We're all traumatized," Jacele's mother, Trennetta Gresham, told the Tribune from her home in Minnesota.

While the playful little girl astonished her doctors at Comer Children's Hospital with her quick recovery, her young family has had a slower time adjusting to life after they their lives were rocked by violence.

The girl has almost daily nightmares of being attacked and shot, creating sleepless nights for her mother, who also works and goes to school to earn a degree in accounting. For that reason, the girl also sees a counselor to sort through her feelings.

"She always gets up in the middle of the night crying out like 'Please don't kill me! Please don't shoot me!'" Gresham said. "She's waking up in cold sweats crying. And I'm putting her back to sleep for 30 minutes, an hour, (and) she's waking back up. I asked someone who's been shot, does this go on forever? How do I get past this?"

The shooting has also scarred her two older children. Her 9-year-old daughter remains scared of being outside at night or inside a car, while her 12-year-old son has become "overprotective of his entire family," lashing out at school to defend his sisters from any bullying they encounter from classmates curious about his little sister's injury.

Doctors were unable to remove the bullet that fractured her skull and she endures physical therapy four times a week to regain the use of her right side. Doctors replaced her fractured skull with a prosthesis.

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Gresham also finds herself coping with the loneliness of being away from her family, who still lives in Englewood, where she'd spent most of her formative years.

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"(Being in Minnesota is) OK, but it's nothing like being at home and able to be around my family," she said. "I think it's harder that I have to deal with everything alone because it's only me and my kids. The only help that I have to deal with this drama is therapy and case managers and things like that. It's always a part of me who wants to come home. It's not like I'm running away from what happened  it's still home for me."

But the 31-year-old mother said she has gained strength by her child's recovery, saying the little girl's smile and strong personality has gotten her through her toughest days.

"She's very strong, she had to urge to want more. I could have never been this strong," Gresham said. "Sometimes she lifts me up when I cry, because I get emotional a lot when we go to therapy. And she'll be like 'Mom, it's OK. I'm fine.'

"She's been my biggest strength through this all and motivation. She motivates me so much because I couldn't have done it. Me personally, I probably would have gave up a long time ago."

wlee@chicagotribune.com

Twitter: @MidNoirCowboy
Charles Russell was charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ordered held until a bond hearing in January 2017. (Illinois State Police)

A reputed Chicago Outfit soldier was arrested on gun charges this week after he was caught on undercover recordings bragging about plans to break into the home of an elderly suburban lawyer and force him to open a safe filled with hundreds of thousands of dollars, federal prosecutors say.

"Nothing gets my juices flowing like putting a gun to someone's head, taking their stuff, and making it mine," Charles "Chuckie" Russell was quoted in a court filing telling a government informant. "It will be a great Christmas, I'm telling you."

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Russell, 67, was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly went to a South Loop deli to purchase eight guns from a person who turned out to be an undercover federal agent, according to a 26-page criminal complaint unsealed Thursday. He was charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ordered held until a bond hearing in early January.

An alleged member of the Chicago mob's Grand Avenue crew, Russell was sentenced in 1992 to 35 years in prison for an aggravated criminal sexual assault conviction. He was acquitted of attempted murder in that case, records show. He was released on parole in March 2011.

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Last month, a confidential informant told agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that Russell had been bragging about being "a top ranking member of the mob," according to the complaint.

At a meeting at a coffeehouse on Taylor Street, Russell allegedly told the informant he was the head of a prolific gang of burglars called the "Bishop" boys that was responsible for hundreds of burglaries and home invasions over the past several years.

On Dec. 16, Russell met the informant along with an undercover agent at the Boundary Tavern and Grille in Wicker Park, according to the complaint. During the conversation, which was secretly recorded, Russell talked about plans for an upcoming robbery of a man in his 70s who was believed to have as much as $750,000 in cash in a safe in his home, the complaint said. Russell said he'd been casing the home for years and had an "ex-girl" who was on the inside and knew the location of the safe and other valuables.

"If he doesn't open it, we're gonna make him open it," Russell said, according to the complaint. "They always open for me, believe me. I bring my butane torch, put it on the bottom of their feet, they open it."

According to the complaint, Russell wanted help on the robbery. He told the informant and the undercover agent that his crew would be equipped with all the proper tools to avoid detection, including police scanners, masks and a change of clothes. He also said their biggest worry would be if the victim had a heart attack, because if "he (expletive) drops dead, we got a (expletive) murder," according to the complaint.

"The fun for me is the score," Russell allegedly said on the recording. "That's how I get my adrenaline. ... You know how long it takes to come to down for me? I counted money one night for so long my hands were filthy."

Later in the conversation, Russell talked about buying firearms from the undercover agent. On Monday, the three men met again at the Gale Street Inn in Jefferson Park, where Russell gave the agent a list of guns he was looking for, including an Uzi submachine gun and an AK-47, according to the complaint.

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During the meeting, Russell handed the undercover agent a driver's license depicting an African-American man and then showed him a cellphone photo of a car that was riddled with bullet holes. Russell said he was showing him "some decent work" of his, and that the man was "no longer with us."

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"All (expletive) blood and brain all over the (expletive) seat," Russell was quoted in the charges as saying. "Went right through his head and out that side. Take (the car) and drop it off in the black community, another black bastard gets caught with it."

Chicago police confirmed that the man depicted in the driver's license photo was killed in November, according to the complaint.

Russell's arrest marked the latest blow for the once-feared Grand Avenue crew made famous by colorful and violent leaders such as Joey "The Clown" Lombardo and currently believed to be headed by Albert "Little Guy" Vena, who is Russell's brother-in-law

In 2014, alleged crew members Robert Panozzo, Paul Koroluk, and others were arrested on sweeping racketeering charges alleging an array of crimes going back to at least 2007, from home invasions and armed robberies to burglaries, arson, insurance fraud and prostitution.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jmetr22b
A South Shore parolee was charged with theft after allegedly stealing two packages from a Bucktown home Thursday afternoon, police said.



Joseph Richmond, 28, was arrested after a brief foot pursuit about 1:30 p.m. near the 1900 block of North Honore Street, according to a Chicago Police Department news release.



Richmond, of the 6800 block of South Ridgeland Avenue, has multiple felony convictions and is currently on parole after being convicted of residential burglary in 2015, police said.



He is scheduled to appear in bond court at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Friday.
There is a North Side Housing & Supportive Services transitional housing shelter in the Preston Bradley Center, shown on Dec. 13, 2016, in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

After months of negotiations, the city has agreed to help fund an Uptown homeless shelter that was slated to close Friday through the end of 2017.

An agreement was reached earlier this week between Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services and North Side Housing and Supportive Services which operates the 72-bed shelter at the Preston Bradley Center.

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"We will continue working closely with NSHSS so they can begin to recalibrate services and resume their operations at full capacity  with the goal of helping them to sustain operations for as long as the need is there to support our homeless residents," said DFSS spokeswoman Jennifer Rottner in an emailed statement.

Rottner would not elaborate on how much funding the city will provide, but said funds will be matched by the shelter's multiple donors. The Tribune previously reported that the shelter needed an estimated $100,000 from the city to stay open in 2017.

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"I'm elated that the shelter is going to remain open and I think it's important for people to realize why," said Andy Thayer, an activist with Uptown Tent City Organizers. "It shows the value of community organizing and people depending on their own efforts to effect change."

According to the city of Chicago's 2016 Homeless Count and Survey, 5,889 homeless people lived in the city of Chicago. Of those people, 79 percent were located within shelters and 21 percent were unsheltered. The survey was done on the night of Jan. 26 by local government entities, local police and advocacy groups, service providers and more than 400 volunteers and staff, according to the report.

Uptown Tent City Organizers, North Side Action for Justice, Gay Liberation Network and other local community organizations are gathering at 10 a.m. Friday near the Lake Shore Drive Wilson Avenue viaduct to celebrate the victory. They are scheduled to march about a half mile to the shelter located 941 W. Lawrence Ave.
Joanna Wright, 33, went missing Dec. 18, 2016, on the South Side in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. (Chicago Police Department)

A 33-year-old woman went missing four days ago in the city's Chicago Lawn neighborhood, police said.

Joanna Wright was last seen Sunday in the 6400 block of South Washtenaw Avenue. Police said her family is concerned about her well-being.

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Wright is described as black with a light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 100 pounds. She also has tattoos on both arms, police said.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts should call the Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.
Gov. Bruce Rauner, seen here at the end of spring session in late May, does not have any meetings scheduled on a new state budget. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)

Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.

Topspin

A temporary budget to keep money flowing to universities and providers who care for the state's vulnerable is set to expire in one week, and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic legislative leaders still have no plans to resume their talks.

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Rauner isn't in Illinois, but "traveling out west with his family" spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. He "remains ready to return at a moment's notice if Democrats are prepared to present their balanced budget proposal," she said.

The governor had called for daily meetings to reach an agreement, but canceled the last planned gathering earlier this month. He said it was time for Democrats to put forth their own spending plan, despite rejecting several of those proposals in the past.

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The move underscores the politics at play. Both sides have said budget cuts and a tax hike are needed to begin to fix the state's financial mess, but neither side has said how deep the cuts must go or how high taxes should be raised.

A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan said Democrats believe it's up to the governor's office to come up with a budget outline.

"What we have been saying about that all along is that it makes more sense for the people who actually spend the money to tell us how they want to spend it and how much they want to spend," Brown said. "Any other approach is completely illogical."

As for Madigan's whereabouts heading into the holiday weekend?

"I don't comment on his schedule," Brown said.

Rauner aides said the governor's staff continues to talk with legislative staff about reforms Rauner is pushing, including talks on Wednesday about changes to the state's workers compensation system. Rauner has said he must win portions of his agenda before agreeing to a budget deal, which also includes a property tax freeze and term limits. Democrats say those ideas have little impact on the budget and should be considered on their own. (Monique Garcia)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel has no public events.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public events.

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*Editor's note: The Morning Spin will return after the new year. Happy holidays, everyone.

What we're writing

*Emanuel emails show powerful, connected not afraid to ask for things big, small.

*Haven't read through the emails yourself? They're here.

*Tribune exclusive: Top police brass defended Laquan McDonald shooting, records show

*Sen. Mark Kirk's exit interview: The Republican Party has changed.

*Rauner gives his campaign $50 million almost two years before election.

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*Pence to raise campaign cash in Chicago next week.

*Chicago's Valerie Jarrett reflects on 8 years in Obama's White House.

*Ex-congressman Schock wants trial moved to July.

*Cook County's longest-serving prosecutor becomes a judge at age 71.

What we're reading

*End of 'fly quiet' test means less silent nights for some O'Hare neighbors.

*Ex-employees allege nursing home tried to mislead inspectors on abuse.

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*The Gary mayor went on "Undercover Boss."

Follow the money

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Trump selects Kellyanne Conway for White House counselor position.

*In tweet, Trump calls for U.S. to 'greatly strengthen' nuclear capability.

*Syrian military says it has retaken control of key city of Aleppo.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence is scheduled to be in Chicago next week for a fundraiser hosted by a committee of some of Illinois' most prominent Republicans, including Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Tickets for the Dec. 30 event at the Chicago Club go for $2,700 per person or $10,000 per couple, according to an invitation.

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The event could be a sign that Rauner is starting to inch closer to the new Republican administration after sometimes shying away from even referring to President-elect Donald Trump by name in public.

Trump won about 39 percent of Illinois' vote on Election Day and wasn't always embraced by the Republican establishment in the state during his campaign. Rauner acknowledged speaking with the president-elect last month, saying they'd "talked about working together."

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Rauner's relationship to Pence has appeared tense at times, but for different reasons. As governor of neighboring Indiana, Pence has been on the receiving end of many of Rauner's promises to revive the Illinois economy, such as his pledge to the Tribune Editorial Board last year that he would "rip the economic guts out of Indiana."
Two Freedom of Information Act experts noted that because Mayor Rahm Emanuel settled the case with the Better Government Association, there was no legal determination that he violated state open records law. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

A day after striking a deal to release 2,700 pages of emails involving public business he conducted on his personal accounts, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he "wasn't perfect" when it came to transparency but had resolved a lawsuit with a "landmark" agreement.

A review of the mayor's settlement of a suit brought by a government watchdog group, however, shows that it contains loopholes that open records experts said could allow Emanuel to avoid turning over all the public records that the law requires.

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A double layer of Emanuel's lawyers  not a judge  decided which emails the public got to see and which ones remain secret. In doing so, the mayor's attorneys set up the rules to determine which emails were related to public business and would be released.

In turn, the lawyers applied those definitions to a universe of emails that was substantially smaller than what the Better Government Association sought in its lawsuit, in large part because many of the emails no longer existed.

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Left unsaid by Emanuel's legal team when it turned over the documents was that emails sent to the mayor's personal accounts were deleted after 90 days. That meant the only emails released were either preserved after the lawsuit was filed last year or could be tracked down via email accounts of City Hall staffers.

Beyond that, Emanuel and his attorneys maintained in the settlement that government-related emails on his personal accounts were not public records, despite Illinois law holding that government business conducted via email by a public official is subject to open records requirements. The mayor's position could allow him to continue to use his private email to conduct government business, experts who reviewed the settlement told the Chicago Tribune.

"The settlement says they disagree, that they don't think they're subject to the public records law," said David Cuillier, an associate professor of journalism at the University of Arizona who focuses on freedom of information issues. "Really, that's sad and unconscionable. They are basically going to put in writing that they don't agree with the law or the principles of accountability to the public. ... They think it's OK to sneak around the public's eyes."

Uncharted water?

While Emanuel has put the BGA suit behind him, the mayor still faces a Tribune lawsuit alleging that Emanuel violated the state's open records laws by refusing to release communications about city business conducted through emails and text messages on personal devices.

That ongoing suit is based on an open records request that sought electronic communications related to subjects that include the city's scandal-plagued red light camera program, as well as email and text correspondence between Emanuel and Michael Sacks, the mayor's close confidant and top campaign contributor.

The Tribune sued a month before the watchdog group brought its case against Emanuel in October 2015 over a blanket open records request that sought all official emails the mayor sent from a nongovernment account.

The mayor's Wednesday settlement with the BGA was announced 12 days after the Tribune won a round in its lawsuit. On Dec. 9, Cook County Judge Kathleen Pantle ordered Emanuel to produce an index of certain emails and text messages the mayor sent and received on personal devices, giving him until Jan. 27 to comply. The Tribune continues to seek those records in court.

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On Thursday, Emanuel discussed the settlement and repeated four times that he had been navigating "uncharted waters" when it came to determining whether he was allowed to conduct government business on personal email accounts.

"I think we finally, while there was a disconnect, synced up technology and transparency and have an agreement that kind of sheds a light going forward and sets a principle that not only applies to me, but all the city employees and gives people that information they need," the mayor said.

Emanuel was asked what was so unprecedented about the notion of not sending government messages on private accounts, given that email has been commonplace for two decades and that he has spent nearly his entire career working in government, including as a congressman and as a White House senior aide in the administrations of two presidents.

"An overwhelming amount of the emails are people coming to me. I would be taking a stab, but 3 out of 4 are people just coming to me," Emanuel replied. "They emailed me, and I forward it. Second, where I initiated it, I wasn't perfect. Now, you have a policy going forward, and that's it."

The mayor also said "sunshine was a good thing," but he worried about public officials becoming "insular."

"It is good to have that public policy," he said. "Know, though, it doesn't come, potentially, cost-free. It may actually deal with limiting people who want to talk to people in public life."

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Asked why some aldermen knew to email him on his private accounts rather than his official government email, the mayor responded, "I'm not speaking for them." Emanuel also was asked how some of the city's top power brokers knew to reach him at the rahmemail.com address.

"People communicated," Emanuel replied without elaborating.

Cuillier said he didn't buy the uncharted waters defense.

"He should have known better," Cuillier added. "I don't think he's a dummy. I assume he and his staff are aware of the right thing to do and the law, so it surprises me they would do something so flagrantly wrong."

A pair of Freedom of Information Act experts noted that because the BGA case was settled, there was no legal determination that Emanuel violated state open records law. Both experts contended that Emanuel's violation of the law was clear based on other rulings in similar cases around the nation.

"It would have been ideal to have a strong court ruling that clearly said he was in the wrong," said Cuillier, who added that it would have been better if a judge had reviewed all of Emanuel's emails and determined which ones were required to be made public. "That didn't happen in this case, so for all we know there were important communications that the public will never see that they should see."

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Maryam Judar, executive director of the Elmhurst-based Citizen Advocacy Center that has long focused on government transparency issues, said similar lawsuits litigated across the country show that the BGA lawsuit was "a losing case for Rahm Emanuel."

Getting a court order would have made that clear, she said.

"They are not saying from now on that all emails pertaining to business, even if on a personal email account, should be produced pursuant to a FOIA request," Judar said, referring to the settlement. "It's not a total victory."

"Basically, in the future, if someone wants to FOIA Rahm Emanuel's email, he could deny them all over again," she added, "and they could go through this whole process all over again, because it isn't a court order."

Deleted emails

But Don Craven, a Springfield-based media attorney who has brought similar cases downstate, said there's no guarantee that a judge reviewing the emails would have come to a different determination as to which ones were public.

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"In this case, the good news is even by means of the settlement, there is some indication, there is some recognition that the mayor's emails even on private accounts, private devices, are subject to FOIA, and that's a big step," Craven said. "As a practical matter, this will serve to help establish that point."

The mayor's use of the personal accounts first publicly surfaced among thousands of hacked emails from Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta posted by WikiLeaks this fall. A subsequent search for the mayor's email domain in 30,000 emails released by the State Department showed Emanuel used the same account to communicate with Clinton, including a 2012 email inviting her to appear at a public event with him in Chicago.

That email, an invite to a Chicago Ideas Week event, was not found in the 2,700 pages of emails Emanuel released. Among the hypothetically exempt types of communications listed in the settlement was invitations "to non-city public officials to speak at events that were not official city events." The definition doesn't mention that Emanuel attends such events in his official capacity or that they are frequently publicized by his government staff.

Craven and Judar questioned some of the scenarios listed in the settlement that lay out which emails Emanuel's attorneys consider private and not subject to FOIA and which are public and would be disclosed, noting gray areas like the Clinton email.

Another "hypothetical" type of communication that would not be public record, according to the settlement, are "emails with a political supporter solely discussing dinner plans." Craven said in that case, an alderman or other elected officials the mayor routinely discusses city business with could be deemed a political supporter, and the emails would not be made public.

In addition, it's unclear how many more emails the mayor's attorneys would have determined were public record had Emanuel not deleted them.

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At his Thursday news conference, Emanuel acknowledged that emails to his personal accounts were erased after 90 days. Asked why, the mayor did not answer.

Afterward, Emanuel spokesman Adam Collins issued a statement saying the mayor deleted his emails because he "paid attention to the cyber security briefings he received in the White House, and he took those threats seriously."

"Given the cyber attacks against businesses, actors and other public people it's clear how serious of a threat hacking is. So when the account was first set up it included a cyber security measure that purged emails after 90 days," Collins said.

Some emails older than 90 days were recovered, Collins said, because "the mayor frequently forwarded emails to city staff, preserving them on the city server."

Transparency under fire

Emanuel released the emails under pressure from lawsuits, his latest response to long-running complaints about his lack of transparency.

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During his first campaign for mayor, Emanuel pledged he would create "the most open, accountable and transparent government that the city of Chicago has ever seen." It's a theme he's often struck during the five-plus years he's been mayor, with the word "transparency" appearing multiple times each year in the flood of news releases that emanate from his office.

In addition to the BGA and Tribune lawsuits over government communications on the mayor's personal accounts, the Tribune has filed two other suits that triggered court orders to turn over more material this year.

In a third case, Emanuel for the first time released text messages that showed him conducting official business on his city-issued cellphone  a move that came in response to a Tribune open records request. The texts covered a period of time when the mayor was dealing with the fallout over police shootings.

In June, Emanuel's administration turned over about 1,500 Police Department emails of former police Superintendent Garry McCarthy after a judge ordered them released in response to a Tribune lawsuit. At the time, Emanuel was still trying to manage the fallout from the court-ordered release of the police dash-cam video showing an officer shooting black teen Laquan McDonald as he walked away.

In July, a judge ordered the Emanuel administration to turn over email chains sought by the Tribune related to the multimillion-dollar no-bid Chicago Public Schools contract that eventually resulted in the guilty plea of former schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett.

The BGA case also represents a legal setback of sorts for Emanuel. As a condition of settlement, Emanuel's administration must pay the watchdog group $96,275 in legal fees.

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In this photo provided by the United Nations, members of the United Nations Security council vote at the United Nations headquarters on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, in favor of condemning Israel for its practice of establishing settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. In a striking rupture with past practice, the U.S. allowed the vote, not exercising its veto. (Manuel Elias / AP)

In a striking rupture with past practice, the United States allowed the U.N. Security Council on Friday to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law. In doing so, the outgoing Obama administration brushed aside Donald Trump's demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

The decision to abstain from the council's 14-0 vote is one of the biggest American rebukes of its longstanding ally in recent memory. And it could have significant ramifications for the Jewish state, potentially hindering Israel's negotiating position in future peace talks. Given the world's widespread opposition to settlements, the action will be almost impossible for anyone, including Trump, to reverse.

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Nevertheless, Trump vowed via Twitter: "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th."

The resolution said Israel's settlements in lands the Palestinians want to include in their future state have "no legal validity." It demanded a halt to such activities for the sake of "salvaging the two-state solution." Loud applause erupted in the council chamber after U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power permitted the resolution to pass.

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Friday's condemnation, a day after Egypt suddenly postponed a scheduled showdown, capped days of frantic diplomacy in capitals around the world.

American officials indicated they would have been prepared to let the resolution pass, despite blocking such proposals for years. Israeli officials said they were aware of such plans and turned to Trump for support. The U.S. president-elect sent a tweet urging President Barack Obama to block the U.N. effort. Egypt then pulled its resolution, with U.S. officials citing fierce Israeli pressure as the reason. Israeli officials then accused Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a "shameful move" against the Jewish state. Washington denied the charge.

Most of the world is opposed to Israel's construction of Jewish settlements in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast War. The primary holdout at the U.N. has been the United States, which sees settlements as illegitimate but has traditionally used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block such resolutions on the grounds that Israeli-Palestinian disputes should be addressed through negotiation.

Underscoring that unity, Friday's resolution was proposed by nations in four different parts of the world: Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela. It is the first resolution on settlements to pass in 36 years, Malaysia's U.N. Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered several diplomatic steps in retaliation, recalling his nation's ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations and canceling a planned January visit to Israel by Senegal's foreign minister. He also ended Israeli aid programs to the African country.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, blaming Obama for failing to "protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN" and even colluding with the country's detractors. "Israel looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution."

By contrast, chief Palestinian negotiation Saeb Erekat hailed the result as a "victory for the justice of the Palestinian cause." He said Trump's choice was now between "international legitimacy" or siding with "settlers and extremists."

Explaining the U.S. vote, Power quoted a 1982 statement from then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan, which declared that Washington "will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements."

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"That has been the policy of every administration, Republican and Democrat, since before President Reagan and all the way through to the present day," Power said.

"One would think that it would be a routine vote," Power said. But she acknowledged that, in reality, the vote was "not straightforward" because it occurred at the United Nations, a body that has singled out Israel for criticism for decades.

In a statement, Secretary of State John Kerry said the vote was guided by one principle: "To preserve the possibility of the two-state solution."

In some ways, the American abstention served as a direct reflection of the deep distrust between Obama and Netanyahu. It followed months of intensely secret deliberations in Washington, including what one official said was an unannounced meeting earlier this month between Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, and a spate of fresh Israeli settlement announcements that have wrought exasperation and anger from American officials.

Trump has signaled he will be far more sympathetic to Israel's stances on the two territories, where some 600,000 Israelis live. His campaign platform made no mention of the establishment of a Palestinian state, a core policy objective of Democratic and Republican presidents over the past two decades. He also has vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would anger Palestinians and lack international support. Trump's pick for ambassador to Israel, Jewish-American lawyer David Friedman, is a donor and vocal supporter of the settlements.

The resolution is little different in tone or substance from Obama's view, with the exception of its language on the legality of settlements. Washington has long avoided calling the activity illegal, in part to maintain diplomatic wiggle room for a negotiated solution that would allow Israel to incorporate some of the larger settlement blocs.

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While the resolution doesn't impose sanctions on Israel, it enshrines the world's disapproval of the settlements. A reversal would require a follow-up vote that avoids a veto from the U.S., Britain, China, France or Russia  a highly unlikely scenario given the current stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

In Washington, Republicans were already threatening consequences. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who heads the Senate appropriations panel in charge of U.S. payments to the global body, said he would "form a bipartisan coalition to suspend or significantly reduce" such funding. He said countries receiving U.S. aid also could be penalized for backing the effort.

In a Hanukkah message Friday, Obama didn't mention the matter. He referenced Israel once, noting that Jews there and around the world would soon "gather to light their Hanukkah menorahs, display them proudly in the window and recall the miracles of both ancient times and the present day."

Associated Press
The Barack Obama Presidential Center is set to go in this area of Chicago's Jackson Park on the South Side. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

After turning over the White House next month to a successor who aims to scuttle some of his key initiatives, President Barack Obama and his foundation will embark on an epic endeavor  racing for mega-donors who can rocket-launch their fund drive for a presidential library and museum on Chicago's South Side.

The scale is daunting: While Obama's library planners decline to provide a cost estimate, the George W. Bush library and endowment broke records at more than $500 million, the latest example of skyrocketing costs. Adding to the pressure, the Obama project is the first to be built under sharply increased federal requirements for a sustaining endowment. Obama chose to add another hurdle by pledging not to personally raise money for the project during his term in office.

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So, the not-for-profit Obama Foundation faces a steep climb.

And a wild card hovers: What will the election of Republican Donald Trump mean for the fundraising campaign?

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The first post-presidential year will be pivotal, experts say.

"The success of a really big campaign like this hinges on a small number of very large gifts at the beginning," said David Jones, who raised money for former President George H.W. Bush's library in College Station, Texas, and now heads the facility's foundation.

He is among a number of observers who think Trump's stunning victory may actually assist with some of the heavy lifting that lies ahead for Obama's Democratic loyalists.

"His friends know there needs to be an institution that will keep his legacy and his accomplishments very much alive," Jones said. "If they don't do it through the library, the risk is his legacy could get dismantled. If I were involved in this campaign, that's what I'd be saying to the donor prospects."

The Hyde Park-based Obama Foundation declined to comment on fundraising efforts.

Typically, fundraisers for presidential libraries find their lead donors from among the biggest supporters to election campaigns and inaugurals. In Obama's case, the pool is deep. He lifted the bar for presidential campaigns, raising nearly $750 million in 2008 and $722 million in 2012.

"There are a lot of rich, liberal donors who ... will open up their checkbooks," said presidential library expert Benjamin Hufbauer, an associate professor at the University of Louisville.

As well, Obama "is going to be leaving the presidency with (robust) popularity numbers, and Michelle Obama is a rock star in her own right," said James "Skip" Rutherford, who was local planning coordinator for the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock.

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Over the course of his swift political rise, Obama garnered support from Hollywood giants like DreamWorks co-founders Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg as well as from business titans like Warren Buffett and George Soros. One of Chicago's Hyatt heirs, the billionaire Penny Pritzker, his commerce secretary since 2013, was a lead fundraiser for his first presidential campaign.

Early money for the library project has flowed from a coterie of friends and supporters, among them tech executives, venture capitalists, real estate developers and foundations, including one started by Star Wars creator George Lucas, whose own plans for a museum in Chicago fizzled this year. Among the big local donors, at $1 million each as of year-end 2015, are the media tycoon Fred Eychaner, the Joyce Foundation and hedge fund executive Michael Sacks, a close ally of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The mayor formerly served as chief of staff in the Obama White House.

Still, the fund drive promises to be arduous.

The money raised for former President George W. Bush's library and endowment exceeded $500 million, more than double the price tag for the Clinton library and more than quadruple the cost of the senior Bush's library. And this was achieved despite the younger Bush's low popularity ratings when he left office. The steep escalation is fueling speculation about the potential cost for the Obama center.

Some Washington experts think the change of political party in the Oval Office spells trouble for Obama's fundraising aspirations.

"Had a Democrat won in 2016, Obama would have access and direct influence over the White House and administration policies," said Craig Holman, an expert in government ethics with Public Citizen, a watchdog group. "With a Trump victory, Obama really is cast as an outsider once he leaves office. He doesn't have the means of providing much in return to donors."

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White House press secretary Josh Earnest in May rejected any suggestion that a donation to the foundation could guarantee access.

"The president has made a commitment that he will not be raising money for the foundation while he's still in office," Earnest said at a news conference. "What we have said about donors to the (election) campaign also applies to donors at the foundation, and it's simply this: Donating in support of the president's foundation does not guarantee you a meeting with the president of the United States. It also doesn't prevent you from getting a meeting with the president of the United States."

He was responding to findings this year by MapLight, a not-for-profit that tracks political contributions, that 15 of 39 named donors to the Obama Foundation visited the White House for small meetings or events with the president, including all donors whose family or foundation had donated more than $100,000.

The Obama Foundation has taken a number of steps aimed at avoiding the sorts of roiling controversies that have singed the Clinton Foundation's fundraising efforts.

While Obama remains in office, the foundation agreed not to accept contributions from for-profit entities, federal lobbyists, or foreign nationals or agents.

"We are limiting our fundraising now to a group of longtime supporters of the president and limiting the amount that they can contribute," Martin Nesbitt, chairman of the Obama Foundation, told reporters last summer. "But when the term is over, we will modify that in a way that facilitates us getting to our fundraising goals."

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The foundation also reports quarterly all donors and donations of more than $200. But the listing lacks many of the details present in federal election campaign disclosures, such as specific donation amount, hometown, occupation and employer. The donations are grouped by ranges, with the lowest one, for example, stretching from $200 to $100,000.

(Chicago Tribune)

"It's an improvement over what (some) previous libraries have done; however, it's not enough," Holman said. "I'm amazed that Obama is doing it like this  this has the same sort of opaqueness that the Clinton Foundation offered."

More specific information on major donors  addresses and donation totals  eventually becomes available on the foundation's annual tax returns. A total of $7.3 million was raised in 2014 and 2015, the first two years. The total to date in 2016 cannot be discerned from the donor list on the foundation's website.

The Obama Presidential Center, which will include a library, museum and offices in historic Jackson Park on the South Side, will be the 14th presidential library in a system founded in 1939 by the National Archives and Records Administration. Several more presidential libraries pre-date that program.

The system is kept afloat by public and private money. The national archive spent $67 million in the last fiscal year on library operations and programs, with additional support coming from privately funded library endowments. Local governments and universities often provide backing too.

The Obama Foundation will raise private funds for the center's construction and for an endowment to assist the National Archives' operation of the library and museum. The foundation must raise a sum equal to 60 percent of construction costs for the endowment, up from a 20 percent requirement previously in place.

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The University of Chicago, which put forward the bid that brought the project to Jackson Park, is not participating in the fundraising.

The city of Chicago is providing the land in Jackson Park at a nominal cost and plans to support the presidential center's development by directing part of its annual infrastructure spend to neighboring communities.

A number of observers question whether public resources should assist presidential library projects.

"We're a little bit duped as taxpayers to be providing government support for what are essentially publicity centers for presidents," said Hufbauer, author of the book "Presidential Temples."

Library archives also can be meaningful resources for scholars, Hufbauer acknowledged, though it can take many years until an individual president's materials are reviewed and released to the public.

Rutherford, of the Clinton library project, said the libraries also provide a window on the presidency for schoolchildren whose families may not have the resources for travel.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 30 Supporters gather as a construction crew breaks ground on the Obama Presidential Center site at Jackson Park on Aug. 16, 2021. (Vashon Jordan Jr. / Chicago Tribune)

"When we were working on the Clinton library, President Clinton told me that he wanted a replica of the Cabinet Room," Rutherford recalled. "He said, 'Skip, most kids from this part of the country will never get to Washington ... and for those who do, very few will see the Cabinet Room. So let's show 'em.' ''

Though the Obama library fundraising effort will span the nation and possibly the globe, it's likely to hold special appeal to Chicago's philanthropists, said a local fundraising specialist.

"It's our first, so it's very compelling," said Maree Bullock, a vice president of the Alford Group. "It's a platinum piece  high visibility."

And while Obama eschewed making personal appeals for library funding while in office, observers expect the engines are revved up. On Dec. 19, the foundation announced that it had hired a White House veteran under Obama, David Simas, as its chief executive officer.

"If there's not a lot already going on behind the scenes  lining up the major support, inviting the right people to the White House to cultivate their interest and talk about the library  if that's not already going on, it would be shocking," said Jones, chief executive of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation.

kbergen@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @KatherineSkiba
John McCain is fond of saying, "It's always darkest just before it goes totally black." According to a February report by Amnesty International, human rights "reached a nadir" in 2015. Not quite. The past 12 months prove that even when you hit bottom, there is always room to sink.

Few recent years have been so unrelievedly grim when it comes to freedom and democracy as 2016. Retreat from the values of human liberty and dignity was the norm. The bleak trend blanketed the globe like volcanic ash.

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Rare was the country showing progress. Even the United States succumbed to illiberal impulses  electing a president who takes leadership lessons from Vladimir Putin and Saddam Hussein, praises torture, wants to curb press freedom and endorses surveillance of "Muslim neighborhoods."

The government of China carried out a campaign against internal enemies, arresting hundreds to punish even the mildest dissent. "As an old-timer who's been studying China since the Mao era, I have to say it's the worst I've seen since then," University of California at San Diego scholar Susan Shirk told the Los Angeles Times.

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In Russia, President Vladimir Putin continued "a sweeping crackdown to silence critical voices that has included new legal restrictions on the internet, on freedom of expression, on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and on other fundamental freedoms," reported Human Rights Watch.

The CIA and FBI concluded that the Kremlin interfered in the American presidential election to help the Republican nominee. A Russian state TV news anchor exulted that "'democracy' and 'human rights' are absent from Donald Trump's lexicon."

Those terms are also not favorites of Putin's ally Bashar Assad. The Syrian despot invited prosecution for crimes against humanity in his waging of civil war, culminating in a murderous siege of the city of Aleppo. With hospitals inundated, a medical administrator told The Wall Street Journal, "death is a thousand times more merciful than being wounded."

After surviving an attempted coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government arrested dozens of Kurdish mayors and silenced every independent Kurdish news outlet  though the people blamed for the plot are enemies of the Kurds. Turkey now has more journalists behind bars than any other country, double the number in runner-up China.

In Egypt, hundreds of suspected dissidents vanished through "enforced disappearance," which involves secret imprisonment without trial and sometimes torture. Saudi Arabia opened the new year by beheading 47 prisoners on terrorism charges, though a poet given the same sentence for apostasy had his punishment generously reduced to eight years in prison and 800 lashes. Tunisia retained its status as the sole democracy in the Arab world.

Elected president of the Philippines in June, Rodrigo Duterte mounted an anti-drug campaign in which more than 6,000 people have been killed by police and vigilantes  an average of 36 per day. He bragged that as mayor of Davao City, he personally executed three criminal suspects on the street.

Poland's Supreme Court struck down a law restricting public demonstrations that critics regard as just one part of a systematic attack on dissent. Legendary Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, who helped liberate the country from communism, accused the right-wing government of destroying everything he fought for.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who has ruled for 22 years and once promised to rule for a billion, lost an election and agreed to step down, before changing his mind. Joseph Kabila, barred from running for a third term in the Democratic Republic of Congo, insisted on staying on after his second term expired, finally agreeing to leave at the end of 2017.

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Robert Mugabe, who has held power in Zimbabwe since 1980, announced he will run for re-election in 2018  for a term that would end after his 99th birthday. But Ghana, an exemplary African democracy, carried out its third peaceful transfer of power since 1992.

Cuba's Fidel Castro died at 90, but the persecution of dissent has continued under brother Raul. Venezuela's leftist regime, presiding over economic chaos, blocked a referendum that could have removed President Nicolas Maduro, who rules by decree. Said Venezuelan political scientist Maria Teresa Romero, a critic of Maduro, "The golden age of socialism in the 21st century is over in South America."

The golden age of democracy, when dictators were falling and freedom was on the march, likewise appears to have ended. In 2016, the world marked another year in an age of lead.

Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman.

schapman@chicagotribune.com Twitter @SteveChapman13
Syrians who left the last rebel-held pockets of Aleppo arrive Dec. 22, 2016 in the opposition-controlled Khan al-Assal region, west of the embattled city. (BARAA AL-HALABI / Getty-AFP)

WASHINGTON  The fall of Aleppo just weeks before President Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obama's abdication. For which he seems to have few regrets, however. In his end-of-year news conference, Obama defended U.S. inaction with his familiar false choice: It was either stand aside or order a massive Iraq-style ground invasion.

This is a transparent fiction designed to stifle debate. Five years ago, the popular uprising was ascendant. What kept a rough equilibrium was regime control of the skies. At that point, the U.S., at little risk and cost, could have declared Syria a no-fly zone, much as it did Iraqi Kurdistan for a dozen years after the Gulf War of 1991.

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The U.S. could easily have destroyed the regime's planes and helicopters on the ground and so cratered its airfields as to make them unusable. That would have altered the strategic equation for the rest of the war.

And it would have deterred the Russians from injecting their own air force  they would have had to challenge ours for air superiority. Facing no U.S. deterrent, Russia stepped in and decisively altered the balance, pounding the rebels in Aleppo to oblivion. The Russians were particularly adept at hitting hospitals and other civilian targets, leaving the rebels with the choice between annihilation and surrender.

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They surrendered.

Obama has never appreciated that the role of a superpower in a local conflict is not necessarily to intervene on the ground, but to deter a rival global power from stepping in and altering the course of the war. That's what we did during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Moscow threatened to send troops to support Egypt and President Nixon countered by raising America's nuclear alert status to Defcon 3. Russia stood down.

Less dramatically but just as effectively, American threats of retaliation are what kept West Germany, South Korea and Taiwan free and independent through half a century of Cold War.

It's called deterrence. Yet Obama never had the credibility to deter anything or anyone. In the end, the world's greatest power was reduced to bitter speeches at the U.N. "Are you truly incapable of shame?" thundered U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power at the butchers of Aleppo. As if we don't know the answer. Indeed the shame is on us for terminal naivete, sending our secretary of state chasing the Russians to negotiate one humiliating pretend cease-fire after another.

Even now, however, the Syria debate is not encouraging. The tone is anguished and emotional, portrayed exclusively in moral terms. Much less appreciated is the cold strategic cost.

Syrian President Bashar Assad was never a friend. But today he's not even a free agent. He's been effectively restored to his throne, but as the puppet of Iran and Russia. Syria is now a platform, a forward base, from which both these revisionist regimes can project power in the region.

Iran will use Syria to advance its drive to dominate the Arab Middle East. Russia will use its naval and air bases to bully the Sunni Arab states, and to shut out American influence.

It's already happening. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey convened in Moscow this week to begin settling the fate of Syria. Notice who wasn't there. For the first time in four decades, the United States, the once dominant power in the region, is an irrelevance.

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With Aleppo gone and the rebels scattered, we have a long road ahead to rebuild the influence squandered over the past eight years. President-elect Donald Trump is talking about creating safe zones. He should tread carefully. It does no good to try to do now what we should have done five years ago. Conditions are much worse. Russia and Iran rule. Maintaining the safety of safe zones will be expensive and dangerous. It will require extensive ground deployments and it risks military confrontation with Russia.

And why? Guilty conscience is not a good reason. Interventions that are purely humanitarian  from Somalia to Libya  tend to end badly. We may proclaim a "responsibility to protect," but when no American interests are at stake, the engagement becomes impossible to sustain. At the first losses, we go home.

In Aleppo, the damage is done, the city destroyed, the inhabitants ethnically cleansed. For us, there is no post-facto option. If we are to regain the honor lost in Aleppo, it will have to be on a very different battlefield.

Charles Krauthammer is a Washington Post columnist.

letters@charleskrauthammer.com

Washington Post Writers Group
"You understand this because you are Asian," one of my students quipped as I was assisting her on a math worksheet. It was a comment that I had heard before.

After emigrating from South Korea, I grew up in a predominantly white suburb north of Seattle, where virtually all of the public school teachers were white. Many of my teachers had trouble pronouncing my name, and a couple managed to mangle my moniker throughout the academic year. Some even assumed I was proficient in math because of my racial background: "You should know this math question  you are Asian!"

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In reality, my favorite subjects were in the humanities, and I struggled in quantitation-heavy fields such as mathematics. I started wishing for a more conventional name and internalized feelings of inadequacy at my inability to reach the academic standards reinforced by the "model minority" myth, which perpetuates the notion that certain minority groups achieve more success than other groups do. Instead of recognizing the societal systems that oppress people of color, I blamed the Asian-American community for seemingly imposing the unhealthy standards of academic success.

Fortunately, though my K-12 educational experiences were less than ideal, the academic support I received at Smith College helped me overcome my fear of math, and I graduated with a major in economics. By attending courses and forums on race and privilege, I gained the language and the background to start contextualizing my experiences as an Asian-American woman. Four years at Smith helped me relinquish the contempt in things labeled by the dominant culture as "Asian."

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Now I'm a math teacher in the Boston area, in a middle school where more than 80 percent of the student population identifies as Latino/Hispanic. Like the teachers I had during my adolescence, some of my students initially assumed that math came naturally to me because of my race, a far cry from the truth. When I tried to explain the detrimental effects of labeling Asians as "math wizards" to one student, he replied, "At least being good at math is a compliment. Because my family and I are Latinos, people think that we are lazy or rapists."

As a teacher, I can stop name-calling at the playground, but what can I do when the bully is on national TV, celebrated by millions of people around the country, and is poised to be our next president? Even at a young age, students of color are acutely aware of racial stereotypes and begin to internalize them, and I can only work on what I can change: my students' perception about themselves and the world around them.

And although I am their teacher, my students have taught me about their experiences  the awful labels that they must contend with and how these stereotypes feed their self-doubt. In turn, I tell my students about my earlier struggles with math for two reasons. First, I do it to show students that with effort and guidance, math can be conquered; second, I do it to educate my students about the pressures that other minorities face, particularly through the myth of the model minority, which pits communities of color against each other.

We can start deconstructing our racial assumptions about one another in the classroom through the implementation of culturally responsive teaching. Every week, my school offers an advisory period in which students engage in discussions around a current topic of importance to our community. Our advisory period allows students to process the world around them in a safe and supportive environment. Most notably, our discussions on the U.S. presidential election and the impending inauguration emphasized the importance of advisory to meet the socio-emotional needs of students. The day following elections, some students voiced their fears and uneasiness that half of the country voted for a man who vilified their neighbors, friends, and family members. A few even asked me: "Am I going to be deported?" Listening to students' apprehension was horrible, but I was grateful for the opportunity to assuage the students' concerns and demonstrate solidarity against the forces that sought to block the paths to my students' future success.

Devoting a portion of school to talk about worldly affairs and issues will help create a more welcoming space and a sense of belonging among both students and teachers. School should not be solely focused on grades and tests; rather, it should also aim to shine light on the problems of reality by incorporating the students' experiences.

As our nation becomes more diverse, educators must be willing to address race in the classroom so that students will be better equipped to face the inequalities and injustices after graduation. I can use my privilege as an educator to share my experiences as a person of color and provide an outlet for my students to do the same.

Yoo Eun Kim is a recent graduate of Smith College. She is a middle school math teacher in the Boston area.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act says citizens "are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees."

It does not say, "unless those affairs are conducted on a personal email account."

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So what to make of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's decision to release 2,700 pages of emails from his personal accounts to settle a lawsuit filed by the Better Government Association? The BGA had sued to obtain official emails sent or received by Emanuel on nongovernment accounts.

We're happy Emanuel has finally coughed up these records after stonewalling for more than a year. There is no question they should be open to public inspection. You can read them at chicagotribune.com/rahmemails.

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Are they complete? It's impossible to say. Emanuel's personal attorney  not a judge  determined which of the emails to release; the city's lawyers redacted them. That's a one-sided arrangement, with the public on the wrong side.

Reporters' requests for Emanuel's emails have typically turned up little communication on his official government accounts.

It's clear from the content and the volume of the newly released emails that Emanuel relied extensively on personal accounts to do public business. Why? To hide those communications from the public, perhaps. A mayor who conducts the bulk of his official business on a personal account that he insists isn't subject to the open records law invites that conclusion.

Releasing these emails is a de facto concession by Emanuel that this correspondence is public. The judge in the case already had made such a ruling, in fact. Yet the settlement includes a sentence explicitly stating that the issue is still in dispute. "The parties disagree about whether emails stored on personal, non-city email accounts related to the transaction of public business are subject to disclosure under (the Freedom of Information Act)," it says.

In other words, Emanuel is handing over his emails while refusing to acknowledge that the law compels him to do so.

Another judge in another lawsuit  this one filed by the Tribune  also has ruled that public business conducted on private devices is not exempt from disclosure. The Tribune had asked for electronic communications on a number of subjects, including the city's controversial red light camera program. Cook County Judge Kathleen Pantle has given the city and the mayor until Jan. 27 to produce an index of emails sent or received by Emanuel on private devices.

Emanuel's attorneys had argued that the Tribune's request was an unprecedented breach of privacy, but Pantle rejected that too. To quote the law again: "The disclosure of information that bears on the public duties of public employees and officials shall not be considered an invasion of personal privacy."

Emanuel surrendered that trove of emails sought by the BGA because he knows the public has a right to see them, yet he still insists the law doesn't require it. Here's what that means: We're giving up 2,700 pages of correspondence that was deliberately hidden from the public, but this action is voluntary, optional and not to be construed as assurance that we'll acquiesce to future FOIA requests.

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That's a terrible message, Mr. Mayor.

Want the public to take seriously your constant boasts about government transparency? Then acknowledge that yes, the Freedom of Information Act requires you to conduct official business in the open. And then do it.
Disability Services of Illinois CEO Reuben Goodwin Sr. arrives at court on the 24th floor of the Daley Center. Friday, December 16, 2016. (Brian Jackson / Chicago Tribune)

A man with developmental disabilities who had been missing since the state revoked the license of his group home provider weeks ago was found wandering Chicago's streets in the cold Wednesday night. Another man was discovered outside his old group home, attorneys for the state revealed Thursday.

Three people remain missing from the network of homes, and attorneys for the Illinois Department of Human Services leveled additional allegations that Disability Services of Illinois CEO Reuben Goodwin Sr. was obstructing the search.

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Those attorneys told a Cook County judge that the man found wandering had told a witness that Goodwin offered to find him a job if he avoided moving to a new group home managed by a different provider. That man also told the witness he feared being punished by Disability Services if he cooperated with caseworkers who had been searching for missing residents, attorneys for the state said.

Thursday's hearing featured the latest twists in the frantic effort to ensure that the former residents of Goodwin's homes were safe.

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Goodwin's attorney, Michael Kelly, said the allegations about the job enticement weren't true and that Goodwin has been cooperative with the search. Yet, the fact that a resident was found outside in the cold cast doubt on Goodwin's assertion that state officials were overreacting to the situation; he has said each of his former residents had left with their families for the holidays and were not out on the streets.

Other former residents told caseworkers last week that Disability Services employees said people were trying to kidnap them, told them to turn out the lights and hide when caseworkers came to the door of their group home and, at one point, spirited them away to a hotel in Indiana.

On Thursday, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Pantle ordered Disability Services to give state officials the money from Social Security disability benefit checks that it received this month for all of its former residents. Group homes use that income to offset some of the costs of providing services while setting aside $50 monthly for each resident.

Goodwin's business lost its license Nov. 28 over safety concerns, but Goodwin continued to collect the money. Attorneys for the state alleged that neither Goodwin nor his employees released the Social Security cards and other documents the former residents needed to transfer benefits to their new group home providers.

Michael Kelly, attorney for Disability Services, protested. But Pantle said the December federal payments belonged to the residents and could not be used to offset whatever amount the group home provider feels the state still owes.

"You can't hold their Social Security checks hostage," Pantle said.

The Tribune's "Suffering in Secret" series, published in November, exposed problems at Goodwin's group home network, which used to be known as Southwest Disabilities Services & Supports. After the Tribune shared findings with the head of Human Services, inspectors went to all of Goodwin's group homes. Concluding that the 45 residents who lived there at the time were at "imminent risk," the department revoked the business' license and began moving the individuals to new homes.

Not all of those residents have been accounted for, leading to a series of court hearings and sharp questioning of Goodwin about where those people might be.

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Pantle had asked state attorneys to file missing persons reports last week, and Homewood police subsequently identified one of the residents as 35-year-old Latrice Charleston. She was last seen leaving her group home in the 18600 block of Center Avenue on Dec. 1 with an "unidentified female." Police said "it is unknown if Latrice has her medications with her."

Latrice Charleston, 35 was last seen leaving her group home in the 18600 block of Center Avenue on Dec. 1 with an "unidentified female." (Homewood Police Department)

Anyone with information on her whereabouts should call Homewood Police at 708-206-3420.

The other two residents went missing from group homes in Chicago, but a Chicago police spokesman declined to release their names or identifying details.

Pantle on Thursday issued an order allowing police, state officials and caseworkers to access records that would allow them to track when and where the residents' food-stamps debit cards were used.

Last week, citing the possibility of "irreparable injury," Pantle ordered Disability Services to turn over 18 residents to caseworkers who planned to move them to safer homes managed by different providers.

Goodwin said six of those residents, who serve as their own guardians, left with family members, though he said he couldn't give the names or phone numbers of those relatives or even verify the date the residents departed. He told the judge Dec. 16 that residents functioned independently and could come and go as they pleased.

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"When they leave, they say, 'I'm going,''' he said last week in court. "When they're back, they say, 'I'm home.'''

Attorneys for Human Services in legal filings Thursday said the missing individuals required more supervision than that. They asked the judge to review privately the confidential service plans for the residents because they detail the disabilities and needs of the missing people.

Pantle agreed to review the plans; she also called for another hearing Friday morning and ordered that Goodwin and two of his employees be present.

pcallahan@chicagotribune.com

pmatuszak@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @TribuneTrish, @PeterMatuszak
A 34-year-old Aurora man has been charged in connection to the stabbing of a 46-year-old man Wednesday evening on the city's West Side.

Shaun Ramirez, of the 1300 block of North Glen Circle, was charged Thursday with attempted murder, armed violence and aggravated battery, according to Aurora police reports and police spokesman Dan Ferrelli.

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Ramirez and the man who was stabbed were engaged in an argument about 7:30 p.m., according to police reports. Police said Ramirez took out a knife and stabbed the 46-year-old several times through the open passenger-side window of a 2010 Lincoln MKZ he was sitting in.

The car's driver, a 33-year-old Batavia man, took off when he realized what was happening, Ferrelli said.

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The driver took the man who was stabbed to an Aurora hospital for treatment. From there, he was airlifted to a suburban Chicago hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries, Ferrelli said.

Police said Ramirez fled the scene after the stabbing but was arrested about 12:30 a.m. Thursday when police saw his car, a Mercury Grand Marquis, back at his home. Police said they recovered the knife used in the stabbing.

The man who was stabbed is expected to survive, Ferrelli said.

Police believe the stabbing was motivated by a personal dispute, Ferrelli said.

The charges were authorized by the Kane County state's attorney's office. Because Ramirez was on parole, a warrant was also issued by the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to police.

hleone@tribpub.com

Twitter @hannahmleone
Two long-time employees at Aurora City Hall have decided to leave early in 2017.

Brian Caputo, city finance director, will leave sometime in March after almost 19 years at Aurora to take a job at College of DuPage. Rosario DeLeon, director of public properties, will retire in February after 31 years, working mostly at the city's Central Garage.

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"Both of them have been great employees of the city of Aurora," said Mayor Robert O'Connor. "I worked with both of them from the alderman's side for years, and now briefly on the mayor's side. If you threw a question at either of them, they would either have the answer or get the answer right away."

DeLeon has lived in Aurora since he was 5 years old, having actually been born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of East Aurora High School and got an associate's degree in business management from Harper College. He started at City Hall in 1985, under then-Mayor David Pierce, as the superintendent of motor vehicle parking. He then became superintendent of streets before becoming director of public properties. For a while, he was director of neighborhood standards before going back to director of public properties.

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"It's been an interesting journey," DeLeon said.

In addition to Pierce, he worked under mayors David Stover, Tom Weisner and now O'Connor. DeLeon said the city has obviously changed in size and has grown during his time at City Hall, and the crime rate has "improved greatly." He said maybe the biggest change, more recently, "has been the image."

"A lot of people are more positive about saying they live in Aurora," he said.

DeLeon joked that one of the first things he's looking forward to, most likely in 2018, is taking a vacation somewhere warm in the winter. He has been unable to do that most of his career at City Hall because he was usually involved in the snow removal system.

"I had to be mindful of the snow operations," he said. "We view it like a public safety situation."

Caputo is going to become vice president of administration and treasurer at the College of DuPage. He also will be considered the chief financial officer. He will be responsible for finance operations, as he is now at the city, and will work in a similar public accounting system. But his duties also will include overseeing the police and emergency management offices, risk management and the school bookstore.

"I'm personally very interested in higher education," he said. "It's a calling, it's helping people enrich their own lives."

Caputo came to Aurora in 1997 from Mount Prospect, where he was finance director. Before that he worked at Price-Waterhouse, and before that was on active duty with the U.S. Army. Caputo is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

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He said he is scheduled to leave March 13, which he said would allow him to help with an orderly transition to a new director.

"I've achieved all the major objectives we set, I'm leaving the city in a good state, and it seemed like a good time to go," he said.

O'Connor said the city is likely to fill both positions on an interim basis from within. With Aurora having a mayoral election in April, and a new mayor coming in, O'Connor said it would make more sense for a new mayor fill the jobs permanently.

slord@tribpub.com
Aurora mayoral candidate Linda Chapa LaVia has made a call for more transparency in the city's government.

Chapa LaVia announced a policy initiative she said is "intended to increase accountability and public trust in government in Illinois' second largest city."

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"We live in a time when distrust of government is at an all-time high," she said. "I'd like to see Aurora lead the way for the rest of the state when it comes to creating a culture of accountability, transparency and trust."

Her plan includes:

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 Developing an "Ethics Act" code of conduct, which would include ethics training every year for city employees. She said employees have not had ethics training since 2012.

 Creating more transparency in the areas of procurement and bidding processes, by making both available online. She added the website needs to post who the city does business with and specifics about city contracts.

 Having more transparency online with the city's boards and commissions. Right now, the website posts names of the board members, but no other information, she said, including their meeting times and minutes.

 Developing performance measurements.

Chapa LaVia, who is a Democratic state representative from Aurora, said in developing her plan, she and her campaign staff looked at cities that do a good job of providing information online, such as neighboring Naperville, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

She said the city needs more accountability in such areas as public works projects and diversity plans that are tied to grants for projects that come from the state and the federal governments.

Many of those plans include set asides for minority business and women-run businesses, for example. But she said "none of that is disclosed" online.

She also said the city needs to better spell out its rules on what city employees can and cannot do as far as political involvement. She said those rules are vague right now.

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"People feel afraid of their jobs, if they do certain things, if they look a certain way," she said. "People need to think people are listening to them. This transparency thing is very important."

Other mayor candidates disagreed with its importance. Another mayoral candidate, Alderman Richard Irvin, at large, said transparency is important, and he said so when he announced for mayor last April.

But he said Chapa LaVia is focusing on "ancillary" issues to avoid real ones.

"The only plan she's come up with to move the city forward is term limits, changing how we do our boundaries," he said. "The issues we should be talking about to move our city forward are rebuilding downtown, creating a plan to fill empty spaces, continually keeping crime in check."

Mayor candidate Alderman Michael Saville, 6th Ward, said he is "all for transparency and accountability in government, and I think we've seen that at City Hall."

"If there's a better way, a better mouse trap, so to speak, I could support that," he said.

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Candidate Rick Guzman, the city's assistant chief of staff, said he "strongly" supports greater transparency and stricter ethics in government. But he said Chapa LaVia, whom he called "a Springfield insider" tied to Speaker of the House Michael Madigan "is the wrong person to push for greater transparency and a more ethical government."

"Whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, or neither, we can all agree that we have seen enough of that in Springfield and it does not belong in Aurora," he said.

slord@tribpub.com
Dr. Cahill Smith, assistant professor of piano at Lee University, has been signed to the Yamaha Artist Roster as a classical pianist.

The Yamaha Artist roster is an elite group of world class performing artists, chosen and accepted by invitation only, said Bonnie Barrett, director of the Yamaha Artist Services. To be a Yamaha Artist is a distinct honor and an acknowledgement of professional and artistic achievement, recognized throughout the world.

As a Yamaha artist, Dr. Smith is in the company of artists such as Byron Janis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Ilya Yakushev, Frederic Chiu, Alexander Kobrin, Abbey Simon, Chick Corea, and Hiromi.

Each Yamaha artist receives benefits such as the use of Yamaha facilities and concert pianos for performance and concert purposes, special professional discounts on Yamaha products, and priority technical support.

According to Ms. Barrett, Dr. Smith will be an advocate for Yamaha at Lee University, acting as an advisor for the acquisition of new instruments for rehearsal rooms, recording studios, and performance venues.



In addition to teaching at Lee, Dr. Smith performs regularly as a recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician in the United States and abroad. His recent performances include three programs at Carnegie Halls Weill Recital Hall in the past three seasons, as well as solo recitals and concerto performances in China, Ukraine, England, and Ireland.

While pursuing his doctorate at Eastman School of Music, Dr. Smith received the Douglas Lowry Award for Excellence in Performance, won the Eastman Concerto Competition, and was awarded the Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Smith also holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Smith's first commercial solo recording, recorded at the Yamaha Piano Salon in New York on the new Yamaha CFX, will be released in early 2017.
Aurora street cars were still drawn by mules when the oldest parts of what is now Hill Elementary School were built.

It was 1888, before the city began to pave most streets, Aurora Historical Society Executive Director John Jaros said. The Aurora City Hospital building, which would later become Copley Hospital and is now vacant, was built that year. A small schoolhouse, known then as the Pennsylvania Avenue School, sprang up at Pennsylvania and Illinois avenues on Aurora's West Side.

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"Aurora was just on the cusp of a lot of things happening," Jaros said.

The former Pennsylvania Avenue School has undergone name changes and additions over the decades. But 2017 will bring perhaps the biggest change to what is now the Hill building: students, staff and administrators will move next door into a new school, and the old Hill Elementary will be demolished.

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Hill Principal Mike Smith described the move to a new building as "super exciting."

Construction is ongoing on the new Hill Elementary School in Aurora. (The Beacon-News / Sarah Freishtat)

He is looking forward to a building with classrooms that he said will provide a better learning environment and where heating and cooling are better regulated. He is excited to have enough space for social workers' and psychologists' offices, flexible areas and programs such as preschool classes. There will be a larger gym and an elevator for students on crutches or in wheelchairs. Spaces for parking and student drop-off will improve, he said. There will be new playgrounds and more green space.

The classrooms in the current building aren't built for 21st-century-sized classes, Smith said. Heating and cooling the building consistently is difficult. Some staff park at a nearby park and take a shuttle to and from the school.

"In some cases, we don't know any better." Smith said. "We've never had an elevator here. We haven't had a stage."

Still, Smith said he respects that leaving an old building comes with mixed emotions. Second and third generations of some families have gone through Hill, a school of about 600 students that is a hub for bilingual classes, he said. Sometimes, visitors stop by the old building and remember when lockers were installed, or ask about a space that was once a theater room.

The new building will include some remnants of the old  some of the tile murals surrounding drinking fountains will likely move to the new building, as will artifacts such as plaques. The concrete block with the building name on the outside of the current Hill will move to the new building, and some new tiling will likely be reminiscent of the old building, Smith said.

Hill Elementary School in Aurora. (The Beacon-News / Sarah Freishtat)

Smith plans to bring over old Hill traditions, but said the move provides an opportunity for new ones. That could mean new partnerships, events such as a fun fair or classes for adults. School administrators have, in the old building, worried about parking and space to accommodate events.

"This year, in particular, gives us some really cool opportunities to do some things that maybe never would have been thought of before," he said.

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Though no specific timeline has been scheduled for the move, administrators are discussing bringing some items into the new building over spring break. District officials expect to have the new Hill Elementary open for the 2017-18 school year.

sfreishtat@tribpub.com

Twitter @srfreish
Weeks after being returned to Kane County from the Chester Mental Health Center, Quentin Moore faces another hearing to determine his ability to stand trial on Aurora murder charges from more than a decade ago.

Moore, 35, spent about eight months in Illinois Department of Human Services custody after Kane County Judge Linda Abrahamson decided earlier this year that the former Aurora man was unfit to stand trial. The March ruling indicated a belief Moore could be restored to fitness within a year through treatment at the DHS facility, according to court records, and Kane County Jail records show Moore returned in November. Evaluations and other reports related to his stay at Chester have been sealed in his court file.

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Abrahamson will preside soon over another hearing in the years-long effort to sort out the state of Moore's mental health and put him on track to be tried on one of three murders he is accused of committing. Moore, already serving a 23-year prison sentence for attempted murder, was charged in 2007 with three murders - the 2005 beating death of Jorge Caro and the 2001 killings of Larry Postelwaite and Sharon Paulette - as part of the Operation First Degree Burn indictments that led to multiple arrests in Aurora cold case murders. Prosecutors have elected to try Moore for Caro's death first.

Moore's saga has involved at least eight judges. Several different attorneys have represented him over the last nine years, with nearly all of them raising questions about Moore's ability to assist in his defense. Previous fitness hearings have led to Moore being judged unfit and fit at various times.

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In 2013, jurors deemed him fit after a multi-day trial which featured a doctor's assessment that Moore might have pretended to be delusional. Moore's attorney at the time countered by describing Moore's paranoid behavior and feelings.

The case has also been dotted by Moore filing multiple handwritten motions alleging poor medical care and other mistreatment, as well as a claim state officials owe him lottery winnings. Moore attacked his attorney in court during jury selection in 2010, while, at other times, he has refused to enter the courtroom for hearings.

Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
Elaine June Eagon, 88, of Waukegan is pictured in June after her graduation from elementary school in North Chicago. On Dec. 7, "the world came crashing down," she recalled of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Provided by Elaine Eagon)

Walking home from a Shirley Temple movie to her family's farm in Streator on Dec. 7, 1941, Millie Fricke and her two older sisters heard a man shouting that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.

As news spread, and the nation readied for war, locals sitting around the dinner table wondered when farm boys would head off to battle and about women's roles in the effort, Fricke, now of Elgin, said.

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The news shaped that Christmas season, Fricke, whose maiden name was Millie Hultman, recalled. As the bombing led to war with the Japanese, Fricke said she and her friends wondered how it would impact Christmas.

"We wondered if we would get the oranges, the nuts in a box, the pajamas and slippers we would always get," Fricke said. "There were plenty of somber questions. We wanted to know who these aggressive people were and why they did what they did."

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Christmas 1941 was a time of uncertainty for the nation. Just 18 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans were still reeling from the shock and devastating casualties suffered in the surprise attack.

Nevertheless, Americans found ways to celebrate that Christmas Day. Now, 75 years later, local residents from throughout the area share their recollections from childhood about that one Christmas, long ago.

"I noticed how much stronger people felt about their faith," Fricke said of that Christmastime.

That Christmas day, though, the Hultman family did return to a bit of how things had been.

"We did get our oranges, nuts, pajamas and slippers," Fricke said.

The nation's first wartime Christmas in 24 years was not a white Christmas locally, but a cloudy day with temperatures in the 30s.

Illinois Bell Telephone asked customers not to make long distance calls on Christmas day unless it was a necessity. The lines needed to be clear for national defense matters and calls to soldiers might be delayed for several hours.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill came to America, and spent the holiday with President Franklin Roosevelt at the White House. Pope Pius XII urged peace in his speech for the third consecutive Christmas, while Adolf Hitler spent the holiday with his troops in Russia.

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Church leaders at the time had mixed feelings.

Chicago Archbishop Samuel Stritch removed the ban on midnight masses and decried the war as "a crisis between Christian and ugly materialistic cultures."

But the Boston archdiocese prohibited midnight masses to avoid having hundreds of people out after dark in the event of an emergency.

One newspaper called it a "strange, dark Christmas," and said the only gift people really wanted was peace on Earth.

Meanwhile, Santa, donning a helmet and arriving by plane or jeep, visited US servicemen who could not leave their bases.

Art Nylen, 85, who grew up in Chicago's Roseland community, remembers that Christmas was kind of an escape from the worries of the world for people.

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"It was still a fun Christmas with all the trimmings," he said. "The war was out of your mind for a day."

Beverly Nylen, 82, Art's wife, was seven at the time and had also grown up in Roseland. She remembers all the fear and paranoia after the Pearl Harbor attacks and concerns about all the men who would be sent to war.

"I knew there was a war going on over in Europe and I was very fearful it would happen over here," Beverly Nylen said. "My big concern was that my daddy would be sent to war."

But, she said, health issues kept him from enlisting and he had reassured her throughout the war that everything was going to be OK.

In those days, Art Nylen said, stores were not as decorated for Christmas as they are today, except for the holiday windows at Marshall Fields.

Art and Beverly would put on their finest attire and ride the train downtown with their families to see the Marshall Fields windows and have lunch at the Walnut Room restaurant. That year was no exception.

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"That was the highlight of Christmas," Art Nylen said.

Americans would have embraced the holiday, because it was something that was "traditional and stable in a topsy turvy world," said David Golland associate professor and coordinator of history and social sciences at Governors State University.

"People looked to things like Christmas or Hanukkah and marriage as things that they could hold onto," he said, noting that there was "an astronomical uptick in the marriage rate" in the weeks following the attack.

Youngsters concerned about their future and men not knowing if they would be drafted, were looking for stability, Golland said.

Newspaper accounts from the time show people carried on their daily life as best they could.

Schools still held their holiday programs, chorale groups staged concerts, 750,000 cut trees arrived in Chicago, groups caroled on State Street, and newspapers were filled with full page ads promoting gift ideas. Black Friday did not yet exist, but deals were plentiful: slippers for 98 cents; a fur trimmed coat, $15; men's shirts, $1.49, and pure silk hosiery  eventually hard to come by  was 89 cents.

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One Dec. 19, 1941 headline in the "Star Tribune" proclaimed: "Retail Sales to Break All Records."

While people shopped they also came to grips with the reality of war.

Chicago Heights planned to create its own defense council and guard its water supply, the Navy relaxed its physical requirements, and the Red Cross recruited volunteers and stepped up fundraising efforts.

"We are the same people we were yesterday and yet we are different," an editorial comment in the Star Tribune noted.

People were urged to "avoid hysteria" and support the national effort. An ad from Citizens National Bank declared, "Nothing can take Christmas away from us."

In the women's pages, amid the club news, engagements and holiday recipes, was a headline "Society Weighs War's Effect on Holiday Parties," reporting that some folks struggled with whether to keep life as normal as possible or abandon plans for frivolity in such grave times.

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Elaine June Eagon, 88, of Waukegan, was a freshman at Waukegan Township High School and lived in North Chicago at the time.

Her father, Charles Bernhardt Manezke, moved the family from Chicago to Grayslake because there was no work. Then they went to Lake Bluff where in return for a home he took care of a judge's farm before eventually settling in North Chicago.

That Christmas they did have a tree  tiny with no lights and few ornaments, she said.

"Our tree was small and set in a bucket to keep fresh," she said. "We didn't have a lot of decorations on it. We made paper rings and that's how we decorated it. I don't think mother had any old Christmas ornaments."

Yet, people were generous.

In Chicago, the Good Fellows of the Traffic Club raised money to donate 400 baskets to needy families, according to news accounts.

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The Chicago Tribune invited readers to "adopt a Yank" and send cards and gifts to those in the service who could not go home for Christmas, and over 10,000 readers responded.

The post office hired more workers to handle the additional packages and cards being sent to soldiers.

Lee Tolksdorf, 91, was 16 years old and living on Chicago's South Side when he heard news of the bombings. He said the fear in those days was constant as the nation prepared for war.

"We had all seen it coming but we didn't want to because we were afraid of it," Tolksdorf said. "Once it happened then we faced reality and the American people came through."

But Christmas in 1941, at least for Tolksdorf's family, was "pretty much the same" as it had been in years prior.

Food rationing hadn't started, yet, so the size of holiday meals wasn't as affected as it would be in following years, he said. People hadn't yet started replacing some Christmas presents with war bonds to support the war effort.

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He recalls receiving many clothes as presents that year. Growing up during the Great Depression, Tolksdorf recalls, Christmas gifts were always clothes, not toys or bicycles. While the economy was doing better in 1941, Depression-era customs lingered, he said.

"I had been told my entire life that things were hard to come by," Tolksdorf said.

He was an only child raised by a single mother but he recalls happy times with his two uncles, aunt and three cousins during that 1941 Christmas season.

Elinor Richoz, then Elinor Radde, was 17 that Christmas and a senior at Elgin High School, where she was a hall monitor.

"We lived out in the country, at the end of Jefferson, with no electricity or running water," Richoz said. "We had lost our house in a tornado in 1933 and rebuilt. The well was a half-a-block away."

Her mother, Gertrude, worked in a garment factory, and her father, Vernon worked building houses in what would become Elgin's Sunset Park neighborhood. To keep up with what was going on in the world, the family would listen to the radio.

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"It was a little scary," Richoz said. "We'd hear bits and pieces of what was going on."

And for Christmas, Richoz said she, her sister Verna and brother Floyd received clothing made by their mother out of fabric remnants from the garment factory.

"My only gift was a Christmas dress," she said.

Even before Pearl Harbor, men were drafted based on quotas. While quotas were raised for the war, it did not happen immediately, and neither did the rationing of products, Golland said.

Richard Miller, 91, said he was a junior at East Aurora High School that year.

"It wasn't a happy Christmas," but the glimmer of hope was the country's show of unity, Miller said.

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Families already were already struggling, he said. Efforts began focusing on the war.

"Aurora at the time had all kinds of factories and everything went for war production. People joined hands. It was wonderful how the country united," Miller said.

Francis Barenbrugge was a 15-year-old high school student in December 1941, and the memories of learning of the Pearl Harbor attack and the anger he felt against the Japanese remain as vivid today as had they happened yesterday.

"I remember hearing President Roosevelt on the radio with my parents, and our reaction in the days that followed was, How could this happen?" said Barenbrugge, 90, a lifelong Naperville resident. "To me, it seemed impossible the Japanese could do that much devastation and that we didn't know anything about it beforehand or what they were capable of doing."

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Christmas that year was sedate, Barenbrugge recalled. Three family members were already in the military, he said. His only present was a pair of slippers.

"I had two older brothers named Joseph and Carl, and they had already been drafted into the Navy by then," Barenbrugge said. "One was on a submarine, as I recall, and th other on something like a cargo ship that was bringing other soldiers oversees. My sister had enlisted, too."

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World War II veteran G. William Moore, 99, of Aurora, was away from his family in Kentucky and living in Wilmington, Del., that Christmas. Moore, who eventually served in the Navy, was 24-years old when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened, and he had recently accepted a new job.

Moore said he was raised in a family of nine children so being separated from his immediate family already made it a difficult holiday for him.

"After Pearl Harbor everyone was ready to go fight. It brought the country together," Moore said. "The thought on people's minds that Christmas was that we have got to win this war."

Elgin Courier-News reporter Mike Danahey, Lake County News-Sun reporter Frank Abderholden, freelance reporters Frank Vaisvilas, Linda Girardi and David Sharos contributed.

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Elaine Spencer recalled the holiday season of 1941 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

The summer of 1941 was a particularly carefree one for Elaine Spencer, who grew up in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood. She spent much of it with her brothers at their aunts' property in Michigan.

"There was a lot of work to be done," Spencer recalled.

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"The adults were hauling sand so they could build cottages while the kids played," she said, holding up old photographs of her and her brothers, Don and John, dressed in cowboy costumes.

"At that point," she added, "we didn't know anything was going to be happening."

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But on Dec. 7, the whole world seemed to change, she said.

Spencer was 9 years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

"I remember hearing (President) Roosevelt's speech because we always listened to his fireside chats. That was a big deal," said Spencer, who currently lives in Smith Village continuing care community in Beverly.

"The average person thought that Roosevelt was God Almighty because he (instituted) Social Security," she said. "So when he talked, people listened."

She recalls hearing the news about the bombing over the radio. "I remember him saying 'A day that would live in infamy,'" she said.

"The attack was in the morning in Hawaii. So it would have been late afternoon or evening here when the news came," she said.

"Back then, we didn't know anyone who was Japanese," she said. "I don't remember feeling afraid but the adults seemed to be worried. We'd been hearing reports about the war in Germany. That was terrible, especially because most of our grandparents were from Europe. They called it the old country."

Still, she said, the general feeling up to the attack was that America didn't want to get involved in the war, she said.

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"Roosevelt had been trying to figure out how to help Europe without getting us involved," she said.

But the early morning surprise attack was a sure indication that the United States could no longer avoid the conflict.

"My grandparents owned a florist at 112th and Fairfield and a stand on the northwest corner of 99th and Western," she said. "They would work in their basement. That year, they were making Christmas wreaths. I remember my grandfather listening to Gabriel Heatter, a news broadcaster on the radio. He had this really deep voice and he was almost always giving bad news. I thought he was horrible. But my grandfather listened to him religiously."

Spencer said her family was renting the first floor of a house at 101st and Vincennes at the time. She remembers holiday shopping at an A&P, a meat market, bakery and drug store in the Washington Heights neighborhood.

"We didn't have a car, so we walked," she said.

It should have been a joyful Christmas, she said, because her mother was home from the sanatorium, after spending nine months there while she struggled with tuberculosis.

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"She came back in 1941 and we were able to get a refrigerator. I think we probably got one of the last ones made before the war started," Spencer said. "We were in seventh heaven because we could have Jello. The old ice boxes never got cold enough to make Jello."

On Christmas Eve, as the nation delved full-speed into war, the Barnard Elementary School fourth grader remembers her family carrying on its usual tradition of going from relative's house to relative's house before ending up at her grandparents' home.

"They had a huge tree. I don't know how they even got it in the house," she said. "And there was always at least one gift for each of us. Nothing really big. They might have cost a dollar or something."

Spencer's husband, Carl Spencer, whom she would meet after the war, had a different experience, she recalled.

Spencer remembers her late husband telling her about his early days in the Marine Corps.

Carl Spencer was a bike racer and in the summer of 1941, he'd entered a contest on the West Coast. He would turn 21 while there and, by law, was required to report to his draft board back in Oklahoma. A newspaper in his hometown reported that "he'd have to race really fast if he was going to beat Uncle Sam," Spencer said. "But instead of reporting to the draft board, he went and joined the Marines."

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Carl Spencer, 13 years older than his future wife, was shipped to Parris Island training base in South Carolina.

"Months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, he said his sergeant told the men that he was absolutely certain there was going to be a war," she said. "He told them to listen to everything he said, to learn the drills."

In the months after the attack, Spencer said, two of her uncles would enter the Navy.

"As kids you sort of know what's going on but you aren't really sure. You're aware of things you can't have, the things you can't do," she said.

Gas rationing made trips to her aunts' place in Michigan out of the question, she said. She said one summer, her aunt rode a bicycle all the way to her vacation home, more than a hundred miles away.

"During the war you couldn't get tires for your car either," she said. "As time went on, you saved cooking oil. Sugar was rationed. We used to go around gathering the aluminum foil out of cigarette wrappers. We used to go up and down the alley and collect the wrappers and glass bottles. You could get a couple of cents for them."

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During the war, her father worked at a company that made plumbing fixtures. He was a machinist and, to do its part, the factory converted to making pipes and plumbing things for the Navy ships.

"A lot of companies started to mobilize to help the war effort," she said.

Carl Spencer was stationed for a time in New Jersey, but when the war started, he was shipped to Chicago to join thousands of Navy sailors and Marines for aviation machinist mates training at Navy Pier, she said.

"There were converted ships in Lake Michigan. And pilots were learning how to land on them," she said.

After a medical issue kept him out of combat, Carl Spencer would be assigned to a writing job for the Marines. He would eventually make his way back to Chicago, to spend time with the Campbell family of Beverly, whom he had befriended during the war.

Spencer recalled that a lot of men went off to fight in World War II.

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In 1943, she said several of her military relatives came home on leave to attend her grandmother's funeral.

"One uncle had been training to be a tail gunner on a B29 but had an accident in California and got terribly burned and ended up in a wheelchair," she said. .

After the war, Spencer, a graduate of Morgan Park High School, met her future husband through a bike club that her two younger brothers joined.

"We had two dates, got engaged and got married," she said. She was 22; he was almost 35.

The couple went on to raise four boys, one of whom passed away this fall.

Carl Spencer was a salesman and manager for American Perforator Company until he and his wife bought it. She helped to keep the books.

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Today, one of Spencer's sons runs the business out of Frankfort.

Flipping through photo albums from the war era, Spencer said, "I didn't ask many questions back then, and to this day, I regret that."

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She has since been to Japan several times.

Much of the reason for the attack, she said, rested with America's attempt to keep Japan from building up its own military.

"But they ended up doing that anyway with the scrap metal we sent them," she said.

"To this day, when you fly in, you can look down from your plane window and see all these ships going in and all these ships going out. That's how it is there. They don't have many natural resources. Everything is imported and exported," she said.

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But, when it came to combat strategy back in the 1930s and '40s, she said, "They were very resourceful."

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Panduit Corp. is giving Tinley Park land at its former headquarters that the village will use for stormwater detention. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)

Panduit Corp. will donate to Tinley Park land the village plans to use for a detention pond.

The donation, approved at Tuesday's Village Board meeting, could ultimately help the company, which envisions an eventual redevelopment of its former headquarters and manufacturing facility northwest of Ridgeland Avenue and 175th Street.

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The 8.3 acres Panduit is donating are at the northwest corner of the intersection, and the village is seeking a permit from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to build the pond, which is projected to cost about $4 million.

Tinley Park wants the pond to provide off site stormwater detention for future development in and around the Oak Park Avenue business district, including a long-delayed apartment building south of the Oak Park Avenue Metra station and the anticipated development of the former Central Middle School property north of the station.

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Changes in stormwater detention requirements  temporarily holding rainwater runoff during storms to lessen flood risks  prompted the idea of carrying away runoff from a number of parcels and storing it at one location. The changes require developers to devote more land for containing stormwater, and the relatively small sizes of the properties would make them less desirable for development if too much of the land had to be set aside for on site detention, according to the village.

Residents at the board meeting questioned why the village would push ahead with the pond project if there is uncertainty about how quickly the developments that would benefit from it will materialize. The board also was questioned about whether those developers would later be required to chip in to cover the village's costs to build the pond.

Mayor Dave Seaman suggested to the audience that it's the pond that's driving the bus, noting the village "can't manage the downtown development without a place to put the water."

The entire Panduit property is 57 acres, and the company has 20 acres devoted to a research and development center. The remaining land, apart from what's being turned over to the village, includes mostly empty manufacturing and warehouse space that would, at some point, be demolished and the property redeveloped, according to the land donation agreement.

The pond would be made large enough to accommodate the village's detention needs as well as what would be required for the eventual redevelopment of the balance of Panduit's property. Revenue generated by a tax increment financing district that encompasses the entire Panduit, as well as adjacent homes, could help pay for demolition costs.

Founded in 1955, Panduit's electrical and network infrastructure products are used by customers to manage and automate communications, computing, power and security systems in a building or other physical location. Privately held, Panduit in 2010, relocated its global headquarters from the 175th and Ridgeland location to a site south of Interstate 80 and east of 80th Avenue in Tinley Park.

The land the company is giving to the village would return to Panduit if the village doesn't get the required MWRD approval, or if work on the pond doesn't get underway by June 1 of next year, according to the agreement.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

In other business, the Village Board recognized Robert Nolting, principal at Andrew High School since 2009, who has been named principal of the year for the 2016-2017 school year by the Illinois Principals Association.

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A 1991 graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Nolting initially studied business at the University of Wisconsin then later switched to education, according to a proclamation by the board. In 2004, he became

an associate principal at Andrew, then later spent three years as an assistant principal at Sandburg High School in Orland Park before returning to Andrew, according to the proclamation.

The board also approved the 2016 tax levy, for property taxes that will be paid next year, which is unchanged for the fourth year.

The total levy $25.5 million  the village's portion is $20 million and library $5.5 million. The library's levy is also unchanged.

The Village Board also approved ordinances abating $6 million from the levy that would have been collected to cover principal and interest on outstanding bond issues.

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Ariella Bernstein, center, stands with Holocaust survivors, from left, Brenda Huss, Yola Calamaro, Carol Shapiro and Sia Hertsberg. Bernstein made a video of the four women who live at the Weinberg Community for Senior Living in Deerfield. (Annette Leibovitz / Mitzvah Photography)

"Never again" were the words used by Holocaust survivor Yola Calamaro to explain why she tells her story.

Ariella Bernstein, a Shepard Middle School seventh grader, got the message. Bernstein assembled videos of four Holocaust survivors who currently live at the Weinberg Community for Senior Living in Deerfield. She presented the work to a gathering of more than 170 people on Dec. 11 in an effort make sure their stories are preserved.

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"It's important for my generation to tell these stories so they won't be forgotten," Bernstein said.

There are a number of Holocaust survivors living at Weinberg, according to Michelle Bernstein, who is Ariella's mother and Weinberg's community outreach liaison. Four of them were willing to share their stories. They were Calamaro, Sia Hertsberg, Brenda Huss and Carol Shapiro who range in age from 87 to 90 years old.

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Though they were willing to talk, it was not easy.

During interviews several days after the presentation, Hertsberg, who lived in Glenview before moving to Deerfield, Huss, a former Skokie resident and Calamaro, who came to Weinberg from Northbrook, all became emotional as they talked about family members who were murdered and the horrors inflicted.

At the age of 14 while living in Riga, Latvia, Hertsberg's life was turned upside down. She said she had a comfortable life as a schoolgirl with her parents and younger sister. Then Russian troops marched in. She is the only one of the four who survived the war and its aftermath.

"They took nearly everything we had," Hertsberg said. "Then came the Germans and they took the rest."

Forced to live in a fenced-in ghetto in Riga, Hertsberg said and her family was initially saved by luck and a school friend who was by then a Latvian police officer. When the elastic in her pants broke, she said her mother told her to hold it up with a pin. She pinned her top to the bottom. Then the police arrived to round up the town's Jews.

"A man said, 'I'll take her,'" Hertsberg said. "I knew what that meant. He grabbed me, put me on the bed and held me down. I screamed. He tried to pull my pants down but the pin held them up."

Before anything else happened, one of Hertsberg's schoolmates, then part of the Latvian police, warned his colleagues to leave because of impending danger. Then he had a message for Hertsberg and her family.

"He told us to run," Hertsberg said.

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Ultimately, Hertsberg said she and her family ended up in a concentration camp later liberated by the Russians. Her parents were killed in the camp while she and her sister survived. The pair was taken to a Russian hospital near Moscow where her sister died, she said.

"I couldn't walk for five months," Hertsberg said.

She ultimately went back to Riga, found a cousin and returned to school. In 1958, she immigrated to the United States.

Born in Poland, Huss said she was already an orphan when she survived the war and Holocaust by hiding in a cave with her remaining siblings. Her brothers went to nearby fields to steal potatoes while a baker occasionally snuck her bread when she ventured out. She saw her share of horrors before taking refuge in the cave.

Before fleeing to the cave, Huss said she and a sister were cared for by their grandmother before she was shot along with other Jews.

"They were lined up to dig their own grave," Huss said. "They made people dig their graves."

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Huss eventually immigrated to Skokie after making her way via Romania and Germany. She got more schooling and became a Hebrew teacher first in Germany, and then for many years in Skokie.

Calamaro was born in Greece in 1929. She said her family had a good life before the country was occupied. The peace was quickly shattered.

"There was a knock on the door," Calamaro said. "It was the Gestapo."

Separated from her parents, Calamaro said she survived doing odd jobs including working as a maid and being hidden from place to place. Her mother was sent to Auschwitz. She survived and they were later reconnected.

Before arriving in the United States, Calamaro said she spent time in Israel during that country's fledgling days of independence.

For Ariella Bernstein the project carries great significance.

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"I made these videos so my generation can tell what happened to other generations, and the videos will be here when no survivors are left," she said.

Steve Sadin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
An Ooltewah coffee shop has filed for bankruptcy protection shortly after moving out of the Cambridge Square development.

The Wired Coffee Bar was sued in Circuit Court by Barrier Properties, developer of Cambridge Square, shortly after its recent move to 5707 Main St. in Ooltewah.

Lisa Goolsby, owner, then sought bankruptcy protection.

The Wired Coffee Bar had celebrated its second anniversary at Cambridge Square in August.

It listed over $328,000 in debts, including to Millennium Bank in Ooltewah.

Other claims were by Barrier Properties.
A Hampshire man was charged with weapons offenses after he fired a handgun in a parking lot in Bartlett on Monday, according to a news release from the Bartlett Police Department.

Jose Alfredo De La Huerta, 42, of the 800 block of Karen Drive, was charged with a class 4 felony for reckless discharge of a firearm, a class 4 felony for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and a class A misdemeanor for aggravated assault.

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According to police, officers responded at 7:30 p.m. after a witness reported a man shooting a handgun into the air from an SUV in the parking lot in the industrial park near Graham Street and Comiskey Road. Bartlett officers stopped a white 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe and found a 9 mm handgun and a box of ammunition inside the vehicle. De La Huerta had discharged the handgun into the air while sitting inside the SUV and pointed it at a person standing outside the vehicle, police said. De La Huerta did not have a valid Illinois firearm owner's identification card, police said.

De La Huerta was taken to the Cook County court facility in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday to await his bail bond hearing, police said.
St. Joseph's parish is buying two city-owned lots from Elgin for $95,000 so that it can build a new church big enough to hold its growing congregation. (Mike Danahey / The Courier-News)

By a 7-1 vote, the Elgin City Council approved selling land adjacent to St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church to that parish for $95,000, a move that would allow the largest Hispanic parish in the Rockford Diocese to expand.

The lone opposing vote was cast by John Prigge. Council member Rose Martinez, who went to school at St. Joseph's and attends Mass there, abstained from the vote on the sale Wednesday.

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The sale of the land has been an issue since an Aug. 24 executive session of the City Council.

A memo from Elgin Corporate Counsel William Cogley on Aug. 25 states that on Aug. 24, "the city council has authorized staff to negotiate the sale of the above-referenced city-owned property for the sale price of $95,000."

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The notification that Elgin was considering selling the Center Street lot was published in a newspaper Sept. 15.

Prigge called the setting of a price in executive session "a masterpiece of mud" and a violation of the public trust. Prigge claimed the land in question, next to a Burger King, were "two prime lots." The city has been using the lots in recent years primarily to store equipment.

"We did steer this. This was for St. Joe's. This wasn't for Kmart. This wasn't for Burger King, and it wasn't for the Church of the Poison Mind," Prigge said, his later reference the name of a 1983 hit for the '80s band Culture Club. "It wasn't for anything but St. Joe's."

Prigge suggested the matter be tabled for 30 days to get bids, then have Realtors list the property  but he did not make a motion to table the matter. But other members opposed the suggestion.

"This is so ridiculous," council member John Steffen said in response.

Steffen said Prigge was twisting matters and was "beyond the pale. It's more grandstanding than anything."

Prigge claimed selling the land to the church would mean the city would not be getting any tax increment finance district money it might otherwise get if a business bought it. And he criticized the city for not putting up a "for sale" sign on the property but putting a legal ad in a newspaper.

"We followed the law and accepted an appraisal," council member Terry Gavin said.

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Gavin, with assistance from Cogley, said the project still has to clear hurdles, including an environmental report the church would have to pay for, zoning approvals it would have to seek and requirements of the historic district. City officials said the parish is in the midst of trying to fund the effort.

Cogley also explained that the contract gives the city the option to rebuy the lots in question if after five years St. Joseph's still hasn't built the new church.

St. Joseph's launched a yearlong drive in October to raise $1.5 million, which is half the estimated cost of building a bigger church that would connect to the existing downtown building. The new building would be able to hold 1,200 worshipers, while the old building holds 300. Any plans would have to come before the city's planning and zoning commissioners.

The parish has 3,000 registered families, and church officials estimate a total of 4,800 families attend services. It holds nine masses on Sundays and two on Saturdays.

"This still isn't finished," Gavin said Wednesday. "It's not final."

Gavin said having a bigger church that would draw more people downtown would be an excellent addition to the city and replace what has for years been empty lots.

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This fall, Michael Peddle, associate professor in the department of public administration at Northern Illinois University, told The Courier-News that public comments made by Prigge about the private executive-session discussion of a potential sale of city-owned land to help facilitate the expansion of St. Joseph Catholic Church are not illegal, but that Prigge's commenting can be seen as unprofessional.

"One possible reaction is that any time anything occurs behind closed doors, it doesn't serve the public's interests  that any discussion by elected officials should be in front of the public," Peddle said. "That's unrealistic and not a prudent way to conduct business. Sometimes officials are freer to discuss a sensitive issue in an executive session."

In the case of the lot near St. Joseph's, Peddle said there was no harm from such a discussion of the asking price taking place in closed session as long as it's part of the established process where the outcome is a public vote.

"(Prigge's) comments seem like much ado about nothing," Peddle said. "It seems they were discussing an asking price, not a sale price. And there will be opportunities for others to make offers on the lot and for the public and officials to make comments or raise objections during the process."

Also in the fall, Sonny Albarado, a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Committee and projects editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, said criticism from other council members that Prigge violated their trust shouldn't matter to the public.

He said the Illinois attorney general's guide to open meetings laws notes that public officials can't be sanctioned for disclosing closed-session discussions. While Elgin's City Council apparently followed Illinois' laws, open meetings laws in other states do not allow public officials to go behind closed doors to discuss real estate transactions, he said.

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Further, it's common for journalists to ask about closed-session discussions, Albarado said, and they should do so.

mdanahey@tribpub.com
To celebrate the 2016 Chanukah season, Chabad will be having a Car Menorah Parade on Monday, departing at 4:30 p.m. from the Center for Jewish Learning, 950 Vine St., traveling to the Chattanooga ChooChoo, and culminating in lighting an Ice Menorah at Ice on the Landing at 6 p.m.



The parade route will travel via 3rd Street and Market, in a Chanukah celebration promoting holiday awareness.



Officials said, "This year brings added significance as American Jewry marks 75 years since the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, came to America and laid the groundwork for the worldwide Hanukkah campaign that he set into motion in 1973.



"Today, the unprecedented public display of Hanukkah has become a staple of Jewish cultural and religious life, forever altering the American practice and awareness of the festival. This year, Chabad-Lubavitch will set up more than 15,000 large public menorahs in more than 90 countries around the world, including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin."

Also, to celebrate the 2016 Chanukah season, Chabad of Chattanooga will be hosting a Menorah Madness at Ice on the Landing after the parade.

Attendees will be treated on the ice rink with giant screens and Chanukah lasers on the ice. A giant ice Menorah that is constructed entirely of ice blocks, will be lit by Congressman Fleischmann.
Maintaining Waukegan's lakefront is no day at the beach.

A $60,000 grant recently accepted by the city council will allow the hiring of a consultant to help local officials and employees in the Waukegan Waterfront Working Group (WWG) to coordinate protection and maximize use of the shore areas, said senior planner Steven Sabourin.

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"We all want to be on board as to what's going on down there," Sabourin said.

The city oversees the WWG, and one of its members, Delta Institute, will be paid from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant to seek grants and organize other efforts, which are complicated by the various layers of bureaucracy surrounding the lakefront, Sabourin said.

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Earlier this year, the WWG published the "Beach Management Plan," a 75-page document detailing habitats, sand, and recreation at the 11-acre Municipal South Beach, the 15-acre North Beach, and the 50-acre North Beach Park. It addresses specific concerns as well as the relationship of those places to the larger ecosystem.

"By providing resting and foraging habitat to migratory birds," the plan states, "Waukegan's lakefront serves as an important link to Illinois Beach State Park and other natural areas extending northward along Lake Michigan."

An example of a concern is blowing sand, which needs to be contained to avoid expensive dredging, Sabourin said. Additionally, he said, dangerous bacteria can grow if water accumulates in pools created by drifting sand.

"Sand migration is not managed on a regular schedule," the plan states, "leading to sand accretion north of Johnson's Pier and sand starvation of South Beach, creating low points that hold standing water that have periodically become a public health concern."

The Waukegan council also accepted an IDNR $10,000 grant, $5,000 of which must be matched locally, for installing "wayfinding signage" at Waukegan Municipal Beach. Sabourin said this is important because North Beach visitors, like para-sailors from other cities, sometimes wander around, trampling piping plover and destroying nesting areas for wildlife.

"People get lost when they're trying to find the beach," he said.

A third IDNR grant, for $20,000, of which $6,700 must be matched locally, will pay Deigan & Associates, a WWG group member, to redesign the boardwalk.

"There's already and old, old plank boardwalk," Gary Deigan said. The new boardwalk will be built on a solid foundation left by Johnson Motors and will be handicapped accessible.

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Mary McIntyre is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
In this Nov. 16, 2016, file photo, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner speaks to reporters in Springfield, Ill. The emails recently released from Mayor Rahm Emanuel's private email account shed some light on Gov. Rauner, too. (Seth Perlman / AP)

If you want to see how Gov. Bruce Rauner's mind works, you should skim through the vast trove of e-mails from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's private account that a Better Government Association lawsuit finally forced into public view last week.

For instance, back in September of 2011, Rauner was the chairman of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau. Legendary Springfield insider Jim Reilly was the Bureau's CEO at the time.

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A state law designed to weaken labor union strength at the massive convention center had been tossed out by a federal judge, and Rauner was apparently arguing for "really kicking ass" with a "full court press" to ram new anti-union legislation through the General Assembly during the upcoming fall veto session. Reilly, however, was trying to negotiate an agreement with the unions. The reforms were first implemented when major convention center customers threatened to abandon Chicago over high costs.

Chairman Rauner told CEO Reilly on Sept. 30, 2011, that calls from hotels and restaurants had "accelerated." The future governor explained the entities were worried that a "negotiated partial restoration" of the stricken legislation wouldn't be enough. And, Rauner claimed, "They believe decisive, unilateral action that demonstrates unions don't have their old clout is the only way."

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Reilly did his very best to charm Rauner into submission. He started out by bluntly informing Rauner there was "no support in key quarters" for a legislative solution. Reilly and the mayor weren't passing up an opportunity, he explained, because, "There is no opportunity to pass up. It is an illusion!

"I know that you can say that maybe if we make a full court press we could force the issue," the experienced Springfield hand explained to the businessman Rauner, "but that is sort of like me saying that if we put enough money in some venture capital opportunity that looks good to me but you know just won't work, we might make a fortune."

Reilly also defended his and Mayor Emanuel's preference for talks. "We are not negotiating because it is easier or because the Mayor or me or anyone else involved lacks guts or doesn't understand what is at stake," he wrote. "We are negotiating because it is the best, perhaps the only, way to save the trade show industry in Chicago which, in my judgment, will come as close to collapsing or closer than it was in the spring of 2010 if we get through veto session with no resolution and have to wait until the appeal plays itself out sometime late this year or, more likely, sometime next spring."

Reilly then gave the compromise-averse Rauner a status update on the union talks. "In our negotiations, we are already home on the ability of exhibitors to do their own work in a booth of any size and which will be forever enshrined in state law free from legal challenge. No compromise here. This is huge!"

He also warned against another Rauner legislative idea, which he said couldn't be passed and even if it did, the law, "would almost certainly be challenged setting off another year or so of uncertainty which the negotiations route seeks to avoid."

Reilly assured Rauner that if the negotiations succeeded he had no doubts that the convention center would be back to where it was before that federal judge tossed all those reforms out the window.

"You talk of 'really kicking ass' but, Bruce, we were really kicking ass back then and we can be doing again soon but I sincerely believe that negotiation is our only possible route," Reilly explained.

Lake County News Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"I don't blame you for wanting a perfect world for the Chicago trade show industry. I would like that too but absolute perfection doesn't happen very often," Reilly wrote. "If it did, the world wouldn't need people like you and me to drag it along." A real charmer, that Reilly.

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So, to sum up, a total hard line stance against negotiating with unions, a rigid demand for a "full court press" to pass a politically impossible and likely unconstitutional legislative action that "really kicks ass" and a refusal to accept any compromise solution short of what he believed was "absolute perfection."

Sound familiar?

Less than a month later, Reilly wrapped up his union negotiations. Crain's Chicago Business reported that the agreements, "largely preserve work-rule changes enacted at the convention center last summer."

So, perhaps we could get out of this two-year impasse nightmare if the governor would just put Reilly on contract?

Nah. It'll never happen. The governor no longer has to listen to gray beards who could talk some reasonable sense into him.

Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Lake Zurich's first calendar-year budget reduces operating expenses by 27 percent from the previous eight-month budget and would cut them by 33 percent if the latter budget were prorated over 12 months, according to Village Manager Ray Keller.

The Village Board approved a $37.6 million operating budget for 2017 earlier this month as Lake Zurich transitioned from a fiscal year beginning May 1 to one following the calendar year, Keller said.

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The village was able to cut so many costs by directing departments to freeze or reduce expenses in any budget items not required to automatically increase, Keller said in a report to the board.

"Departments were directed to continue to hold or reduce contractual and commodity costs, and only those cost increases in which the village was contractually or legally obligated were included in the proposed budget," he said.

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The 2017 budget is balanced and contains a small general fund surplus of about $10,000, Trustee Jim Beaudoin said.

By restructuring the village's tax increment financing districts and associated debt, the general fund has been relieved of $700,000 to $1.3 million in annual contributions to the TIF districts, Keller said.

"The village's TIF areas are now well positioned to take advantage of new redevelopment opportunities, which will both enhance the downtown and accelerate the retirement of the village's debt obligations," he said.

No significant one-time revenue sources were included in the 2017 budget, Keller said.

"With the instability of the local and national economy and the current threat from the state of Illinois to reduce state shared revenues, our approach is to continue to budget conservatively on revenue estimates," he said.

Before the vote, Beaudoin said Lake Zurich was able to hold the line on expenses without sacrificing services.

"The proposed fiscal year 2017 budget continues the village's commitment to providing a high level of service to residents, businesses and guests, while responsibly managing the resources entrusted to the village," he said. "The proposed budget advances the community's strategic goals, particularly in the areas of financial and service sustainability and infrastructure development."

The budget includes more than $800,000 in major equipment purchases, including a $525,000 fire engine, three police cars, another fire vehicle and a public works truck, Village Treasurer Jodie Hartman said.

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Hartman said the process of shifting from an eight-month budget, which the village approved last year to close the previous fiscal year on Dec. 31, back to a 12-month cycle was "interesting."

"It definitely provided some challenges for staff to readjust and change our way of thinking, timing wise," she said. "It went really smoothly, all things considered. We worked really well as a team and were able to propose the $10,000 surplus for the general fund."

The village did not lay off any employees, but did eliminate one position that was vacated during the previous fiscal year, Hartman said.

"That's definitely a plus in our column," she said.

Lake Zurich was able to present such a lean budget, even with pension funding increasing by more than $500,000 in 2017, Hartman said.

"I think definitely some kudos go to the entire team on pulling it together, with that big of a change in the pension expense," she said before the board's vote. "There has been a lot wrapped into the budget without any major changes, so I want to thank the whole entire team and the board for your feedback at the budget meetings. It was very helpful."

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Phil Rockrohr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Nearly 300,000 Illinois residents will travel over the Christmas holiday, according to AAA Chicago, which is headquartered in Aurora. (Jay Janner / AP)

Many residents of the Naperville-area will be laughing all the way this holiday weekend, hitting the road to visit family or jetting off to sun themselves in such exotic locales as Polynesia and the West Indies.

And while an estimated 280 others will be unable to leave their beds at Edward Hospital in Naperville, hospital staff members say they hope to be making spirits bright there as well.

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An estimated 5.3 million Illinois residents will be traveling 50 miles or more this weekend, an increase of 1.1 percent over last year. The vast majority of them  4.9 million  will be driving, while 292,000 others will take to the air, said Beth Mosher, director of public affairs for AAA Chicago, headquartered in Aurora.

Donna Campbell, owner of the Travel Leaders agency on East Ogden Avenue in Naperville, said many local residents will be celebrating the official start of winter in far more summer-like surroundings.

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"My clients are in Hawaii (or) cruising the Caribbean," Campbell said Thursday. She declined to reveal how many people that included, but said she and her staff "have been busy both for Christmas travel and for booking travel (well into) the fall of 2017, with destination weddings and cruises."

"Cancun/Riviera Maya is a very popular destination" at the moment, Campbell said.

More than 103 million Americans  the most on record  are expected to travel between now and Jan. 2, Mosher said. That is a 1.5 percent increase, or 1.5 million more people traveling, compared to last year, she said.

The AAA.com-bookings website indicated the top five destinations this year, in order, were Las Vegas; Orlando, Fla.; New York; San Diego; and Anaheim, Calif., Mosher said.

It's probably safe to say few people would make a recovery room their holiday destination of choice, but Edward Hospital employees will be doing their best to make their patients' environs as festive as possible.

"December tends to be a very busy month for us in terms of surgeries, but this week it's starting to slow down because people want to be home with their families," said Patti Ludwig-Beymer, the hospital's vice president and chief nursing officer.

Just under 280 patients will be spending the weekend at the hospital, Ludwig-Beymer said. That number is typical of most weekends, "so we're staffing the way we would for a normal holiday weekend. We're fully staffed in all of our units, including our operating room."

Some find hospitals to be intimidating, lonesome places, particularly around the holidays. Toward that end, Ludwig-Beymer said Edward staff members "try to make the environment pleasant" for patients.

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"We have musicians coming in and going to the different units," playing Christmas carols and other seasonal music, she said. The popular "animal-assisted therapy" program also gets a yuletide spin, with patients visited by 'therapy dogs going into rooms in their Santa costumes."

"We also have turkey, special vegetables and pilaf on the holiday dinner menu," Ludwig-Beymer said. "And then we have great decorations," which include holiday characters and wintry scenes that have been hand-painted onto the windows of each patient's room by local artists, she said.

"We try to keep it cheery," she said.

Friends and relatives intent on visiting patients should be cheered by the weekend weather forecast, which calls for temperatures rising into the 50s on Christmas Night.

"There could be a little bit of snow Friday afternoon and evening, but it doesn't look like it's going to be a major (storm,)" said Gino Izzi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Romeoville. That accumulation should amount to "an inch or so" at most, he said.

Izzi said there could be "some fog or drizzle Saturday and Sunday, but we're really not expecting weather to impact travel this weekend."

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Temperatures should be "pretty seasonal, mainly in the 30s from Saturday to the beginning of Sunday, and then (it becomes) unseasonably warm, with temperatures shooting up into the 50s" Sunday night, Izzi said. There is even the possibility of a thunderstorm rolling through the area that evening, he said.

Gasoline prices in the metropolitan Chicago area currently average $2.53 per gallon, Mosher said. Gas sold for $2.12 a gallon last month in Naperville and now hovers around $2.49 per gallon here; and went for $2.10 a gallon in November in Aurora, although it has since risen to $2.46 per gallon there, she said.

Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, late last month announced plans to curtail crude oil production by 1.2 million barrels a day, effective in January, Mosher said.

That announcement "has pumped prices much, much higher, and between mid-November and today, prices have pretty steadily increased," she said. "It's hard to say how long that's going to continue, or if that's going to continue."

Nevertheless, American motorists received something of a "gift" during the first 11 months of the year, thanks to stagnant or falling crude oil prices and oversupply. Mosher said AAA estimates drivers have saved "more than $27 billion at the gas pumps so far this year, compared to the same period last year."

wbird@tribpub.com
Gorilla Games sells new, used and retro video games but also hosts Magic the Gathering, which is a trading game, and offers The Cage, where customers can play by the hour, try out new games, participate in tournaments or hold parties. (Daina Saleh / Naperville Sun)

Business: Gorilla Games

Address: 256 S. Route 59, Naperville

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Phone/website: 630-548-5423, www.gorillagamesil.com

Owner: Jonathan Wheat

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Number of years in business? 5 years

What does this business do/sell? "We sell new, used and retro video games," Wheat said. "We also do a lot of Magic the Gathering, which is a trading game. And we have The Cage (in the back), where customers, kids and adults, can come play by the hour, try out games. And we also do birthday parties and tournaments back there too. We do trades, so people can come in and trade their games."

What was the impetus for opening this store? Wheat was a game developer until he was laid off. "I didn't really want to move to California to get a job because that's where all the development jobs are. A buddy of mine owned one of these (Gorilla Games) in Florida, and he got me into it, and so that's why (my wife and I) decided to do it. I actually opened my first location in Wheaton. The location wasn't so great so about six months in we moved to Naperville to this great location here."

What's the best thing about being in Naperville? "It's just really busy, which is good for business. Our biggest age demographic is 18 to 35, and that's what's good for here."

What is the biggest challenge about Naperville? "Rent is really high. That's probably the biggest complaint. We paid a lot less at the other place, but that didn't work out. You pay for what you get."

When is your busiest time of year? "Right now. Christmastime is always pretty busy. And we stay pretty busy right up until school gets out. That's when it slows down a little."

What is the most popular thing you sell? "It depends on the time of the year. The new games are always hot. We do a lot of retro stuff, a lot of Nintendo and Super Nintendo, a lot of N64 stuff; that's been blowing up for the last two years. We also do a lot of Magic the Gathering here. Almost every night of the week, except for Monday and Tuesday. And then our video game tournaments; we do Smash Games every Saturday. And then we rotate games every Sunday."

What is a less popular thing you would recommend? "People know (we have 'The Cage'), but think we just use it for tournaments and birthday parties. But you can come in whenever. It's $6 an hour and you can just sit down and try games before you buy them. Anything on our shelves is pretty much available. Or you can just play away from home for a few hours."

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What item did you stock that turned out to be a dud? "We've got a whole bin over there that are full of games that we buy a bunch of copies of because it's the new game, and then it just falls flat. It just doesn't go anywhere."

What thing do you most like to do? "Probably the tournaments. Just the social aspect of it, getting people in here for the tournaments, playing games, playing cards. It's just fun."

What's your least favorite thing to do? "Probably sitting here with no customers. Sitting here, being bored, waiting."

What is the best thing about owning your own business? "Being your own boss. Being on your own schedule. Even though it's difficult at times I don't think I could ever go back to working for someone else."

What is the biggest downside? "There are a few things. The responsibility, the buck stops with you. It can be stressful at times, making the bills and so on."

What is the biggest misconception about your business? "People think we are Game Stop. We are not. We do a lot more than they do. We have The Cage, we carry the old stuff, which they don't do so much anymore. ... We have the tournaments. We do that pretty heavily. And we also do repairs on a lot of stuff."

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How would you describe your business philosophy? "Customers first. I want to create a community here. That's kind of our mantra. We want a place where gamers can be themselves."

What advice would you give someone thinking about opening a store or starting a business? "Oh gosh, a lot. It's a lot harder than it looks. You probably won't make any money in the beginning, and maybe a year or three. It's definitely not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. But do something you really enjoy."

Daina Saleh is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
Ice fishing tournament set for Jan. 14

If the weather cooperates, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will host its "Hard Water Classic" ice fishing tournament from noon to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14 on Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.

Winners of the top three catches of largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike and crappie will receive gift cards to local sporting-goods stores.

The angler with the largest fish overall will win a gas-powered auger or ice shelter. Participants will also have a chance to win door prizes.

Registration is $20 in advance or $25 at the event. Proceeds will support ranger-led recreation programs for special-needs groups, youth groups, scouts and community-resource centers in DuPage County.

Participants must bring their own gear and bait and carry valid Illinois fishing licenses.

DuPage Environmental Summit planned

The Conservation Foundation and DuPage County will present the DuPage Environmental Summit, a free seminar to those interested in learning about getting involved in local conservation activities.

"Landscaping for a Healthier Life" will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 19 at the NIU Naperville Meeting and Conference Center, 1120 E. Diehl Road.

It will feature environmental exhibits and workshops on the positive effect trees have on the overall environment.

Speakers include Lydia Scott, director of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative; Al Zelaya, urban forester at Delta Institute; Drew Hart, natural resource liaison at the U.S. Forest Service; and Geoff Roehll of the Hitchcock Design Group.

Registration can be made online at www.theconservationfoundation.org.

Forest Preserve cleanup dates set

The Forest Preserve District of Will County has set April 30 as a volunteer work day to help clean up Whalon Lake in Naperville.

Volunteers will clear away woody invasive species and undesirable plants from the preserves from 8 a.m. to noon. Participation is open to all ages.

In addition to the Naperville program, there will be work days at many other preserves in the district. To see the list, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org/about-us/volunteer/opportunities.

For more information, call volunteer supervisor Renee Gauchat at 815-722-7364 or email rgauchat@fpdwc.org.

Naperville Park District Students who participate in Naperville Park District's Preschool Academy are more focused on creative play and hands-on learning, district officials say. The district is holding information nights on its two preschool programs in January. Students who participate in Naperville Park District's Preschool Academy are more focused on creative play and hands-on learning, district officials say. The district is holding information nights on its two preschool programs in January. (Naperville Park District)

Park district preschool information nights

Parents can learn more about the Naperville Park District's preschool programs at one of two upcoming information nights.

The first will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, 305 W. Jackson Ave. The second is set for 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road.

Preschool staff will answer questions about the Naperville Park District Preschool Academy and Toadstools and Pollywogs Preschool.

The Preschool Academy emphasizes creative play and hands-on learning, focusing on individual growth, self-esteem, problem solving and social interaction. Toadstools and Pollywogs offers the same curriculum but with an emphasis on outdoor play and nature.

Registration forms for the 2017-18 preschool programs must be submitted at either the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, the 95th Street Center or the Knoch Knolls Nature Center starting Jan. 25. Nonresident registration begins Feb. 1 for any remaining spots.

Priority is given to children already enrolled in preschool this year.
From left, at Central Baptist Village in Norridge are, Karen Zdrodowski, Mary Biagioni, Tamara Straszynski, Rita Warzecha, Julie Stevens, Jan Sidor, Karen Batson, Mary Scheel and Dolly Vogt on Dec. 21 as part of a community project called Tidings of Comfort and Warmth to benefit premature children at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and those served at The Night Ministry via Acacia Park Lutheran Church in Norridge. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

The craft department at Central Baptist Village in Norridge completed what staff members are calling a labor of love of handmade scarves and beanies  45 scarves for the needy and 58 hats for premature babies.

"You can make a difference at any age," said Julie Stevens, Central Baptist Village director of sales and marketing.

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The Tidings of Comfort and Warmth community service project produced hats in a range of colors to benefit premature children at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

"I am very proud," said Jan Sidor, arts and crafts coordinator. "This was great, everyone working together."

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"It's just a feel-good experience, particularly around the holidays," Stevens said.

The scarves will be distributed by volunteers and members from Acacia Park Lutheran Church in Norridge as part of their regular outreach fellowship at van stops in Humboldt Park neighborhoods served by The Night Ministry of Chicago.

The 2016 Tidings of Comfort and Warmth community project was made possible by the Needlework Club at Central Baptist Village, Stevens said.

"This is the largest donation of handmade items the craft department has ever produced," said Stevens, who added that Central Baptist Village hosts a craft festival at the end of October annually, often featuring needlework items such as the ones slated to be donated this winter

"We have a really robust craft program," Stevens said, proudly. "We want to keep everyone warm this season.

Karen Batson, Central Baptist Village director of life enrichment, agreed a crocheted or knitted gift is like receiving a welcomed embrace.

"It's a very warm, kind, nurturing hug," Batson said. "And it keeps on giving."

The Needlework Club at Central Baptist Village began 15 years ago, Batson said. The arts and crafts program, a separate offering, meets regularly with about 30 participants. Of that number, this includes the five members of the Needlework Club. For the Tidings of Comfort and Warmth community service project, which has existed for several years as an outreach, members used donated yarn.

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"It's very calming," said Tamara Straszynski of Chicago, Central Baptist Village receptionist and a crocheter who learned how to needlework by a resident and staff member at the Village continuum of care home.

Dolores "Dolly" Vogt, a Central Baptist resident who had lived in Norridge at another address, made some of the donations, using purple and pastels.

"I did cross stitching for a while, and then I quilted," Vogt said, describing her needlework history, adding she has won blue ribbons too.

She currently crochets, she said.

"There's power in keeping that person warm," Vogt said, of the strength of handmade needlework artistry.

Karen Zdrodowski, a Central Baptist Village resident, said she loves choosing colorful yarn.

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"That's the fun part," said Zdrodowski, formerly of River Grove. "I do, I do [love color], so this is a chance to play with it."

Zdrodowski, a nearly seven-year member of the Needlework Club, likes to knit and crochet and began needleworking at age 7 or 8 thanks to the mentoring of her mother's helping hands. She said with a laugh, "I wouldn't have the least idea," of the number of items she has made over her lifetime.

Zdrodowski said most of the items she has crafted were given to others with love.

"In winter, I don't think there's any better gift than warmth," she said. "Whatever I can do, anything I can do. It's a win-win situation for me. It feels so good that you're helping. I enjoy it, it brings me a sense of stillness and calm."

Karie Angell Luc is a freelance photographer and reporter for Pioneer Press.
Police Officer Alex Diakoumis was sworn into the Harwood Heights Police Department during the Dec. 19 Village Board meeting (Annette Volpe)

The following items were discussed and/or action was taken at a special Harwood Heights Village Board meeting on Dec. 19.

New police officer sworn in; crossing guard appointed

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Alex Diakoumis was sworn into the Harwood Heights Police Department by the Police and Fire Board of Commissioners during the Dec. 19 Village Board meeting. The Village Board appointed Colette Scaletta as a crossing guard. Scaletta will start on Jan. 3, according to the village.

New street sweeper purchased

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The Village Board approved a lease for a new street sweeper for $227,979 plus interest paid over a seven-year period. An Elgin Pelican P Three Wheel Broom Street Sweeper was acquired through a lease purchase agreement with Tax-Exempt Leasing Corp. of Libertyville.

The old street sweeper was in disrepair for several months before the village pursued a lease for a replacement, according to the village.

Village Board approves new insurance coverage plans for 2017

The board approved insurance plans with the following providers:

 United Healthcare as the village's health care insurance provider.

 Standard Insurance Co. for life insurance coverage.

 United Concordia for dental coverage.

 VSP Vision Care for the 2017 eye care plan.

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The board approved the purchase of liability insurance from The Horton Group and a $296,361 policy for workers compensation insurance with the Illinois Public Risk Fund during the Dec. 8 meeting.

Next meeting scheduled

The next Harwood Heights Village Board meeting will be held Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 7300 W. Wilson Ave.

Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Three candidates running for the Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board of Education could have some big decisions to make regarding their participation in the next teachers contract negotiations if they are elected in April.

The candidates are each married to District 64 teachers whose salaries, benefits and other employment-related issues are covered under a contract that is developed between members of the school board and teachers union. Personnel-related expenses make up the bulk of the district's budget.

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Candidate Greg Bublitz, himself the director of student services in neighboring East Maine School District 63, is the husband of Kirsten Bublitz, a special education teacher at Carpenter School. Candidate Norman Dziedzic Jr. is married to Sonja Dziedzic, an art teacher at Emerson Middle School. Candidate Michael Schaab is the husband of Caroline Schaab, a fourth-grade teacher at Field School.

Patricia Whitten, chairwoman of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys Executive Committee, said it is not a legal conflict of interest for school board members to be married to an employee of the district they serve. But, when it comes to contract talks and approvals, they may want to take a step back, she said.

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"Even though something is not illegal, many people may look questionably on it," Whitten said. "We usually advise school board members in that position to abstain from voting on the teachers union contract."

As far as negotiations go, board members married to teachers could potentially face a legal challenge from taxpayers if they are perceived as advocating in favor of contract terms, Whitten said.

The advice of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys committee is that board members with relatives working for the school district abstain from contract talks and casting a vote on the final contract, she said.

The Code of Conduct for school board members, adopted by the board of directors of the Illinois Association of School Boards in 1976, states that board members "will avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety which could result from [the] position, and will not use [their] board membership for personal gain or publicity."

Ben Silver, an attorney with the Elmhurst-based Citizen Advocacy Center, a government monitoring agency, agreed that membership on a school board itself is not a conflict of interest for district spouses, but "when it comes to negotiating contracts, that's when we get into a tricky situation."

"Usually, the board member will recuse themselves when they are negotiating or voting on a contract," Silver said. "The problem is, if there are three board members [with spouses covered under the contract], you'll have a substantial part of the board not voting."

The current contract with the Park Ridge Education Association extends through mid-2020, putting negotiations and possible ratification of a subsequent teachers contract within the four-year terms of candidates elected in April 2017. The school board consists of seven members.

Bublitz said he would abstain from teacher contract negotiations and voting on the contract if he is elected.

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"Not every board member will be on the negotiating team anyway, so it's not like there will be a lack of representation on the board," Bubltiz said. "And in voting, my first inclination would be to recuse myself . That would be my commitment."

Schaab said he "probably would have to recuse myself" from negotiations and voting, but wanted to study the legalities more.

Dziedzic said he does not plan to recuse himself from negotiations or voting if he is elected.

"That's been deemed to not be a conflict of interest," he said, adding that collective bargaining covers a large group of people, not just one individual.

"If there's some legal decision to the contrary, then I'd follow the law," Dziedzic said.

Dziedzic and Schaab said they were not asked by the teachers union to run for the school board. In 2015, when Bublitz last ran for the District 64 board, the PREA president at the time said that Bublitz was a candidate union members had reached out to about running.

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Silver acknowledged that, as a matter of law, spouses voting on teacher contracts "is a pretty gray area right now," as the courts have not had many opportunities to weigh in.

"In the past, these members have recused themselves [from voting] in any instance that I've seen," Silver said.

Ultimately, it is up to voters to decide who they want representing them on their local school board, Silver said.

"To me, the really important thing here is that the voters know exactly what's going on and they have full information," he said. "These candidates should explain that they have spouses who are teachers and explain how they are going to handle these situations."

In addition to contracts, the board of education has also voted on disciplinary measures for teachers.

Other candidates running for four, four-year seats on the District 64 board in April are Rick Biagi, an attorney and current member of the Park Ridge Park Board; Larry Ryles, a Park Ridge mayoral candidate in 2013; Eastman Tiu, a teacher at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park; Alfred Sanchez; and Monica Wojnicki, a Franklin School PTO member and former adjunct professor of health careers at Harper College in Palatine.

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jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @Jen_Tribune
Pamela Newson brought a framed photograph of her son for the judge to see after she talked about how his murder had devastated their close-knit family.

"There are so many memories that I treasure, and that's all I have," she said. "When he left, a big part of me left."

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Newson said Robert A. Stone waited with the shooter, Alante Green, until her son, Iyuan Yarbrought, 23, stepped outside "where Alante could open fire in broad daylight."

Newson urged Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell to hold Stone accountable. "He made it easier for him (Green) to commit murder," Newson said.

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Stone, 24, of Chicago, who pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal, said that on March 31 he picked up Green in a red 2007 Honda in the East Hammond neighborhood. Stone drove Green to the 1000 block of Drackert Street in Hammond. As Yarbrought stood in the street, Stone drove past him and stopped as Green opened fire, he said. Yarbrought was shot eight times.

Boswell imposed a six-year sentence and ordered four years served in the Indiana Department of Correction, followed by two years on probation. A murder charge filed against Stone was dismissed under terms of his plea agreement.

Green, 24, pleaded guilty in October to murder in exchange for the minimum sentence of 45 years. His sentencing hearing is Jan. 5.

Court records indicate that Green told police his on-again, off-again girlfriend had dated Yarbrought, a rapper who had put out a song on social media that Green took as a threat, and the two men had words in the months leading up to the killing, the probable cause affidavit states.

Stone apologized to Yarbrought's family. "All I was trying to do was be a role model, a friend, someone to look up to, someone to call for advice. That backfired," he said,'

Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Valpo events to honor MLK

Valparaiso University will continue its tradition of honoring the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 11-19 with its 27th annual celebration centering on the theme "Conscious Humanity: What is Justice?" Events scheduled during the week include Young Aspiring Artists Artwork Exhibition Reception and Award Ceremony from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Harre Union, 1509 Chapel Drive. A Law School Lecture featuring Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig, UC-Berkeley, 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 12, Wesemann Hall, 656 S. Greenwich St. Community Conversations featuring readings of speeches by Martin Luther King Jr., from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 13 at various locations throughout Valparaiso. A screening of the documentary "13th," the Journey from Shackles to Prison Bars, 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 14 at Neil's Science Center, room 234, 1610 Campus Drive. The Law School's annual "Talk to a Lawyer" event, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 16, Wesemann Hall, 656 S. Greenwich St. Mock Trial: "Dress Code or Islamaphobia," 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19, Wesemann Hall, 656 S. Greenwich St. More information and registration for events is at valpo.edu/mlk.

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Cornel West MLK event keynote speaker

Cornel West, Ph.D., will be the keynote speaker at the convocation service during Valparaiso University's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 in the Chapel of the Resurrection, 1650 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso. A lecturer and activist, West is professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary and professor emeritus at Princeton University. He also has taught at Yale, Harvard and the University of Paris. West graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in three years and obtained his master of arts and Ph.D. in philosophy at Princeton University. His most recent book, "Black Prophetic Fire," focuses on 19th- and 20th-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. More information is at valpo.edu/mlk.

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Program to raise awareness of heart disease

The American Heart Association in Northwest Indiana has launched the Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign collecting knitted or crocheted red baby hats to raise awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country. Hats will be collected through Jan. 31. The American Heart Association requests that hats be in either newborn or preemie size, made of medium to heavy weight cotton or acrylic red yarn, and machine washable. Donations of yarn also will be accepted. The hats will be distributed to babies born in participating hospitals throughout the Northwest Indiana region during February, American Heart Month. Yarn or hat donations can be sent to the American Heart Association C/O: Amber Conniff  Little Hats Big Hearts for Northwest Indiana, 6500 Technology Center Drive Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278. More information and drop off locations are at www.heart.org/LittleHatsBigHearts.

MLK celebration at National Lakeshore

Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 100 North Lake St., Gary. Ranger Cliff Goins will present two armchair tours of many national park sites that commemorate the struggle for African American civil rights. Throughout the day, a variety of hands-on activities, volunteer opportunities and exhibits featuring national park sites will be available. More information is at 219-395-1882 or www.nps.gov/indu.

 Staff report
Women, dressed in hats and furs, are shown in the late 1930s enjoying lunch in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room in Indianapolis as a respite from their department store holiday shopping. (Photo Provided by Indiana State / Post-Tribune)

A large portion of our readership area is likely familiar with the Christmas season dining tradition under "the Great Tree" at the Marshall Field's Walnut Room, at what is now Chicago's flagship Macy's store on State Street.

But there are also a number of readers who have written or called me over the years about our Indiana Christmas counterpart for elegant dining in a very similar history-filled surroundings.

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The L.S. Ayres department store chain, which once graced our shopping landscape, started in Indianapolis when founded in 1872 by Lyman S. Ayres. The downtown Indianapolis flagship store opened in 1905 and a popular Tea Room for dining soon became a favorite draw during the holidays because of the decorations and special menu. The Marshall Field's Walnut room pre-dates its Indianapolis rival. Marshall Field's store employee Mrs. Hering, and her family's Chicken Pot Pie recipe was already a delicious fixture to shopping clients in the Windy City department in the late 1890s, which helped make The Walnut Room the landmark it is today. I've often been told the Walnut Room ranks as the very first restaurant in a department store.

Mr. Ayres was not born a Hoosier. He was one of six children born and raised on a small farm in the town of Oswego, New York. But since he never liked farming, he left home as a teenager and worked peddling wares, which he found he enjoyed, and achieved success, as a "natural born salesman." After starting his own general store in Ohio with a business partner, his first wife died and he decided to move to Indianapolis with his second wife, who also happened to be the sister of his business partner.

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His first dry goods store opened in Indianapolis in 1872. By 1874, the new store and company was named L.S. Ayres and Company. Despite success and prosperity with the hard work, he died in 1896 at age 71 while he was designing and building his new larger five-story "dream department store" on Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis. He is buried not far from famed gangster John Dillinger in the large Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

In addition to the large flagship story in Indianapolis, the department store chain expanded throughout Indiana and adjacent states, like Illinois and Kentucky, during the decades, and especially as shopping malls began to emerge in the 1970s. After Southlake Mall opened in Merrillville in 1973, L.S. Ayres was added as one of the large anchor stores by 1978. After the L.S. Ayres company was purchased by the parent company of Macy's on Sept. 9, 2006, the Merrillville location was rebranded to become Macy's.

The L.S. Ayres Indianapolis flagship store, with its large streetside clock similar to the Chicago Marshall Field's clock, closed in 1992. The Tea Room restaurant was closed two years earlier in 1990 due to a shift of less downtown economy as the suburban shopping business around the outskirts of Indianapolis blossomed.

Today the L.S. Ayres Tea Room menu remains a fond memory for Christmastime shoppers. Throughout the decades, the menu remained consistent with signature delicious favorites such as a chicken pot pie and the creamy chicken velvet soup, and special desserts for children such as a snowman created from scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Today, a version of the L.S. Ayres Tea Room has been re-created at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Guests can enjoy the same traditional menu, and the holiday decor and a number of the preserved serving trays, teapots, menus and other artifacts from the original tea room are on display.

The L.S. Ayres Tea Room in the museum is open for holiday dining through Jan. 1 and reservations are recommended. The Tea Room is also popular for private events, such as luncheons, board meetings, showers and other bookings. For more information, call 317-232-1637 or visit www.indianamuseum.org

When I was in Indianapolis years ago, I dined at the L.S. Tea Room and was fortunate enough to get a copy of the menu's signature recipe for the famed chicken velvet soup, which I'm sharing with readers today.

A very Merry Christmas to readers and their families!

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Columnist Philip Potempa has published three cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. Mail your questions to From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, IN 46374.

pmpotempa@comhs.org

L.S. Ayres Tea Room Chicken Velvet Soup

Makes 4 servings

1 1/2 sticks butter

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

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1 cup warm milk

1 pint plus 1 quart hot chicken broth (divided use)

1 cup warm cream or half and half

1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1/4 tablespoon salt

Dash of black pepper

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1. In a large pot, combine butter and flour, blending well.

2. Add warm milk, the pint of hot chicken broth and the warm cream.

3. When soup begins to thicken, add remaining ingredients and cook over low heat until hot.
South Shore riders tried a practice run last year on a car equipped with bike racks. (Carole Carlson / Post-Tribune file photo)

Calling a pilot program to allow bikes on South Shore trains worth pursuing further, the commuter rail service plans to add more cars where they can be docked and reduce the days when they were prohibited.

Mike Noland, head of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, or NICTD, told board members the line's first attempt at letting riders take bicycles on the trains, from April through October, worked fairly well.

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"We put our toe in the water," Noland said, not really knowing what to expect and doing little marketing of the initiative.

Cars equipped with bicycle facilities were marked with a yellow decal, and bikes could be docked with their riders sitting opposite if there was room.

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The effort will be expanded to include more weekend trains and NICTD is adding a weekday train to accommodate riders. It also will do more marketing and reduce the number of "blackout days," or days when bikes could not be put on trains, Noland said.

Bicyclists can use only stations with high level platforms. The NICTD website shows 10 stations between South Bend and Millennium Station in Chicago with "bicycle friendly" platforms.

Also, if NICTD gets federal approval and funding to double-track, or add a mainline track, even more opportunities will open for bicyclists to ride the trains, Noland said.

"I think we'll drive the demand that's out there," he said.

Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Carly Brandenburg, shown with daughter Fiona, became involved with a campaign for a human rights ordinance in Munster after she attended a meeting. (Provided by Carly Brandenburg / Post-Tribune)

Editor's note: To close out 2016, the Post-Tribune is taking a look back at the news through the eyes of people who helped make it.

After dabbling in community service, attorney Carly Brandenburg said she decided to step up this year to help advocate for Munster's human rights ordinance on principle.

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"We don't want anyone to feel like they would feel uncomfortable or excluded from our town," she said. "Because that's not the type of town that we are."

"I think sometimes in the wake of (the Religious Freedom Restoration Act) and in the wake of some of the things that were happening in Indiana, we need to cut against that direction," said Brandenburg, 34, a lawyer with Eichhorn & Eichhorn.

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Brandenburg joined We Are Munster, a grass-roots organization including former Munster resident Amy Sandler. She and her late wife, Niki Quasney, were instrumental in getting the state's ban of same-sex marriage overturned in federal court in 2014.

"I basically got taken to a meeting by a friend of mine," Brandenburg said. "I heard about it, and it sounded like something that would be important to be involved in."

After moving to Munster with her husband, Stephen, and daughter, Fiona, 5, Brandenburg has been involved with the arts and wanted to promote the town as a welcoming community.

We Are Munster argued the ordinance would have an economic boost and help draw younger residents to the town.

The town's ordinance  passed in April  made it illegal to obstruct someone from entering a business, entering into a contract, obtaining and maintaining employment, or participating in any type of program or service available to the general public on the basis of race, sexual preference, disability or gender identity in the town.

Religious worship and clergy while engaged in religious activities, non-for-profit clubs organized exclusively for religious purposes, and private gatherings not open to the public are specifically noted exceptions to the ordinance.

In crafting the ordinance, town officials avoided adding a layer to town government, such as a human rights commission, according to Reed. Anyone in violation of the ordinance could be fined up to $500 for each occurrence.

Statewide, other Indiana communities have human rights ordinances, including Indianapolis, South Bend, Bloomington, Carmel and Fort Wayne. Many of the communities passed the ordinances in the wake of the national criticism that rained down upon the state after the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015, which many perceived as giving business owners a license to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender citizens.

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Brandenburg said it was exciting to see a number of local businesses that publicly supported the ordinance, including large employers such as Community Hospital and Target, and locally owned businesses including Dance Gallery and Three Floyds Brewery, as well as the School Town of Munster.

She said she wasn't sure about public office someday but she could get involved in other local issues.

"I don't see any reason why I wouldn't if I believe in something, or it speaks to me," Brandenburg said. "It made me realize it's important to be involved in things at the grass-roots level."

mcolias@tronc.com
Patty Ledbetter stands in front of the home she decorated with her husband, Robin, at 1020 Richmond Court in Dyer. (Suzanne Tennant / Post-Tribune)

Editor's note: This is the final story in a weeklong series highlighting some of Northwest Indiana's most decorative homes during the Christmas season.

Robin Ledbetter like things to be precise. When he puts up his Christmas lights, he measures the distance between each string of lights wrapped around his house to ensure they're all 12 inches apart. It's clean and crisp.

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But Ledbetter has an answer to why his display is so tidy: It's his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

"I have OCD so that pretty much explains why my (Christmas lights) look the way they do," Ledbetter said. "I had a tape measure out there so I would accurately measure out the distance between the lights."

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But this modestly decorated home at 1020 Richmond Court, in a quiet Dyer neighborhood brings a calm to Ledbetter.

"It's peaceful for me to get out there and put Christmas lights up," he said. "It's something I've always enjoyed doing and I still enjoy doing it. It's therapeutic."

The Ledbetter home in Dyer lights up Richmond Court. (Suzanne Tennant / Post-Tribune)

Ledbetter said he prefers simplicity rather than some of the flashier Christmas lights displays.

"I don't like when it's over the top," he said. "It's too confusing. I don't like the dancing light and the music. It's not my style."

Ledbetter said he doesn't remember when he first started decorating his home but said it evolved because his wife, Patty, and two daughters enjoyed helping set up the display.

Ledbetter said his Christmas display changes every year.

"If you come back next year it'll be totally different," he said. "I have so much stuff in the attic and the garage so I just keep rotating things. I always try to get something different every year."

Patty Ledbetter stands in front of the home she decorated with her husband, Robin, at 1020 Richmond Court in Dyer. (Suzanne Tennant / Post-Tribune)

jaanderson@tronc.com

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Featured homes

The homes and their owners featured include:

Daniel Werner, 9108 Morton St., Merrillville

Andy and Ayden Bozak, 259 Lake Park Road, Burns Harbor

Thomas Pruitt Jr., 609 Partridge Path, Valparaiso

Rex and Ruth McCulloch, 2240 McCool Road, Portage

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Perry Ingersoll, 2140 McCool Road, Portage

Robin and Patty Ledbetter, 1020 Richmond Court, Dyer
By the earlier 1900s, Collier Lodge, shown here in 1909, was hailed as a popular boating, lodging and highly-sought destination for fishermen and sportsmen in Kouts. (Kankakee Valley Historical Society / Kankakee Valley Historical Society)

There's a plan for Collier Lodge.

A draft of a historic preservation plan for the former hunting lodge along the Kankakee River outside of Kouts is being submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office, and also is making its way to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

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At their Dec. 20 meeting, the Porter County Board of Commissioners, approved a resolution supporting the plan, among other measures necessary for it to move forward.

The draft plan offers four options for the building, built as a hunting lodge and general store in 1898: doing nothing; demolishing the structure and putting a historic marker in its place, because the site itself is on the National Register of Historic Places; deconstructing the building, salvaging as much of the material as possible, and rebuilding in the same place after archaeological study to see what's underneath it; or deconstructing it and rebuilding it with new materials in a different location on the site.

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The third option, deconstructing and rebuilding in the same spot, is the preferred option, said Tina Rongers, the grant administrator who's working with the Kankakee Valley Historical Society to bring the building's salvation to fruition. She also helped the historical society secure a $15,000 grant in March from the community and rural affairs office to pay for the preservation plan.

Once all the necessary reviews have taken place, a final version of the plan will be submitted to the community and rural affairs office for formal approval.

Restoring the lodge has been a longtime dream of John Hodson, president of the historical society, who founded the group with his wife, Mary. In 2002, some work, including a metal roof, was completed to stabilize the structure, but that was meant to be short-term.

"The thing is deteriorating fast. It's basically imploding," he said. "We don't have much time."

The final study, Rongers said, will shape how the historical society can pursue state and federal funding for the project, and feedback from the historic preservation office will inform the society on how the various options for the building might affect its historic design.

Possible uses for the future building include an education and community center; an overnight retreat center; and a vacation/ weekend rental property.

Deconstructing, salvaging and rebuilding Collier Lodge will cost around $1 million, Rongers said.

"The whole concept of the disassembly I like because it fits in with my scheme of things," Hodson said, which is to break up the cost over time.

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The historical society will have to continue to build partnerships for short-term funding and preservation, and for sustainability in the long term, Rongers said.

Some of that groundwork is already in place, she said, since the historical society already has partnerships with the Board of Commissioners, the county's park department, Ivy Tech and the University of Notre Dame.

"It will be a phased approach and we will have to find grants that support elements of the project," she said, adding there also are opportunities for private sector investment and individual donors.

"There's no quick single source. We're going to be piecing it together and making partnerships to make it happen," she said, applauding the grass roots approach of the historical society. "That's a passionate group of people."

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Cheryl Davis wants to know why she was ejected from a polling place at Boone Grove High School by two off-duty Porter County sheriff's deputies as she held a poll book for Julie Olthoff, a candidate for state representative.

"I know politics can get nasty, but this just makes me think the system is broke," said Davis, of Valparaiso. "If I did something wrong, tell me so I don't do it next time."

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Davis, who has filed a formal complaint to the county's election board, also sent a letter about what she said happened to members of the county council and the board of commissioners.

Ethan Lowe, the election board's attorney, said he was investigating the matter. Board member J.J. Stankiewecz, who saw Davis' letter, suggested reaching out to the deputies to find out what they did on Election Day.

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Olthoff, a Crown Point Republican, said a sliver of her district is in Porter County, and she wanted Davis, who is her sister-in-law, and her brother to serve as poll book holders for two precincts so that after the polls were closed, they could relay her vote totals.

"(Davis) was to get the final count at the end of the day and I could add it to my Lake County totals," Olthoff said, adding Davis and her husband did the same thing two years ago without problems.

They were not able to get the totals this year, Olthoff said.

"At the end of the day, for them to bring in the deputies and carry her away was unnecessary," Olthoff said, adding "trouble started" when Davis asked to get the vote tally after the polls closed. "Whoever is running the polling location should know what everyone is allowed to do and not to do."

According to the Indiana Secretary of State's website on election training, poll book holders can "simply observe the polls to see who has voted."

Davis said in a phone interview and in her letter to county officials that the day went off without a hitch as she checked the names of voters using an app.

"If a voter did need help and the table was swamped, I would get a judge," she said. "I was trying to be helpful."

Around 4:45 p.m., Davis said she told the poll inspector she wanted a tape of the results after the polls closed to take to Lake County as she'd done two years ago. The inspector went to verify if she could do it. Davis asked him for the results for Olthoff if she couldn't get the complete ballot tally.

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That, Davis said, set off a flurry of phone calls between her and local and state election officials, and between the inspector and local election officials. The inspector said Kathy Kozuszek, Democratic director for the county's Voter Registration Office, was going to call police and have Davis removed.

She was on the phone trying to straighten things out when two Porter County deputies asked her to leave but wouldn't tell her why, she said. She showed them her credentials to be at the polling place, provided by Porter County Republican Party Chair Mike Simpson, which she said one of the deputies crumpled and wouldn't return.

She has twice reached out to the sheriff's department about what happened and not gotten any response, she said..

Sheriff David Reynolds and Sgt. Jamie Erow, public information officer, said Kozuszek asked the deputies, who were off-duty and working security, to go to the polling place.

"We don't think we did anything out of bounds at all," Reynolds said. "I'm not saying she doesn't have a complaint, but if she has a complaint, she should bring it up with (Kozuszek)."

Kozuszek confirmed she asked deputies to intervene, but declined further comment until Lowe completes his investigation.

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Simpson said Davis' credentials to work as a poll book holder came from him at the request of Olthoff's campaign.

"I have no idea what happened other than to the best of my knowledge, the inspector felt she was in the way and she was asked to leave, and it escalated," he said. "Properly credentialed (poll book holders) have every right to be there and watch the process, but not to interfere with the process. It's disconcerting, but I don't know what went wrong to get to that level."

Davis doesn't blame the deputies for what happened, but would like an answer for why she was removed and an apology for the way she was treated.

"I'm not going to sue anybody," she said, "I just want people to be nice."

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Anastasia Downing, 3, of Shelby, talks to IDNR Conservation Officer Terry (Arlandson) Millefoglie and her K-9 Cinder at a recent holiday party at the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department. Millefoglie was recently named District 10 Officer of the Year. (Carrie Napoleon / Post-Tribune)

When conservation officer Terry Millefoglie and her K-9 Cinder walked into a Christmas party at the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department recently, the children instantly gravitated to her.

They peppered the Indiana Department of Natural Resources officer with questions while petting and hugging Cinder. The pair were on hand to participate in the Fire Department's annual community party and visit from Santa.

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"I'm the warm-up act," she said, laughing, saying the big star of the day really was Santa.

The visit is just part of the community policing aspect of her job. Earlier this month, she was chosen as the District 10 officer of the year by her co-workers, making her one of 10 officers eligible for consideration for the 2016 James D. Pitzer Award presented in early 2017 in Indianapolis.

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"It's pretty exciting. I was honored," Millefoglie said of her selection. She said the fact she was chosen by her fellow officers makes the honor even more special.

Danny East, director of the IDNR Law Enforcement Division, will chose the recipient. The James D. Pitzer Award is the highest award for an Indiana conservation officer and is named after Pitzer, who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Millefoglie said she went to college to study law enforcement but didn't imagine she would work as a conservation officer. Upon graduating, she returned to the area, and the opportunity presented itself. She was selected for a handful of open positions from a field of 700 candidates. She said she feels blessed to be working in a job that she loves and now cannot imagine working in a different branch of law enforcement.

"It's very rewarding," Millefoglie said.

Conservation officers enforce laws including federal fish and wildlife law, though their primary focus is on enforcing natural resource boating and off-road vehicle regulations.

"It is a little more proactive than reactive (policing)," Millefoglie said.

Conservation officers most often are tasked with anticipating where a violation may occur instead of responding to a crime. She said they try to anticipate where the activity for the day may be, such as a drunken boater on one of the bodies of water in her jurisdiction, which includes Lake Michigan, Cedar Lake and the Kankakee River, among others.

"The most challenging thing is being in the right place at the right time," she said.

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She has been working with Cinder for eight years. Cinder is trained in human tracking, evidence recovery and wildlife detection, and the pair have helped to find lost people, evidence including shell casings, and hidden game.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post Tribune.
Margaret Skrzypkowski, left, of Arlington Heights, and Alison Pearl, of Vernon Hills, talk about the risks of driving under the influence. (Rick Kambic/Chicago Tribune)

Local police departments frequently use the holidays as an opportunity to remind people about the dangers of drinking and driving.

It's a danger Vernon Hills resident Alison Pearl knows well.

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Pearl lost her childhood friend Monika Skrzypkowski in an alcohol-related car crash on Dec. 6, 2008. The 17-year-old driver of the car that struck her registered a blood-alcohol content of .063 percent, according to news reports.

The two girls grew up in the same condominium complex in Prospect Heights until Pearl's family moved to Vernon Hills in 1999. Pearl said they didn't see each other as often but they still kept in touch.

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"Monika liked to draw Japanese anime and I would make her custom birthday and Christmas cards based off the stuff she drew for me," Pearl said. "I wasn't as good as her, but she would still get so excited."

Skrzypkowski was 15 years old and Pearl was 14 years old at the time of the crash. They were in the process of making plans to bake cookies together for the holidays, according to Pearl.

Skrzypkowski was at her boyfriend's birthday party on Dec. 6, 2008 in Prospect Heights, and was crossing Elmhurst Road with two other friends when a car swayed out of its lane and into the median, according to news reports.

Margaret Skrzypkowski, Monika's mother, said the teens had been at a nearby park and were walking back to the house. Margaret said her daughter was struck from behind because the trio had already safely crossed those lanes and were waiting on the median.

The birthday party was low key and parents were involved, she said.

"From a mother's perspective, Monika was so obedient and well behaved," Margaret Skrzypkowski said. "We did everything right as parents, but we still lost her."

The driver pleaded guilty in 2010 to charges of aggravated DUI, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Pearl said she was not at the party, and learned about Monika's death a few days later while being picked up from Stevenson High School .

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"I was taken totally by surprise," Pearl said. "I never thought anything like that could happen to me or to anyone I know, especially a close friend. That kind of stuff is what you see in movies or on the news."

Police response

Vernon Hills police say they will show no mercy to anyone who gets stopped for drunk driving this holiday season.

Officers publicly disseminated an array of information about the consequences of driving under the influence in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Years.

Kim Christenson, a spokesman for the Vernon Hills police department, said people who know they will be drinking should create backup plans and then use those plans if they aren't fully capable of driving when the party is over. Likewise, he said other partygoers should pay attention and stop someone from driving drunk.

"Our officers will remain as diligent as ever in keeping Vernon Hills roadways safe from intoxicated drivers," Christenson said. "Also, should a motorists use poor judgment and make the decision to drink and drive, he/she would be greatly mistaken to think that an officer will be lenient because it is the holidays."

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Referencing the Illinois Secretary of State DUI Fact Book, Christenson said the average DUI conviction costs $16,580 and 90 percent of arrested drivers who had a valid license when arrested end up losing that privilege.

State statistics show 281 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2014, which Christenson said is the most recent data available.

"The only thing that will sober a person up is time," Christenson wrote in a news release. "Fresh air, coffee, showers or food will not help rid the body of alcohol. It takes about an hour for the body to metabolize one drink."

Christenson said many people don't realize that an individual with a blood alcohol content between .05 and .08 may be convicted of DUI if additional evidence shows the driver was impaired.

Raising awareness

At Monika's funeral, Pearl said she gently dropped into her grave a photo of the two girls dressed in traditional Polish dancing outfits.

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Pearl said she was emotionally distant for a while after Monika's death, and it was a creative writing class at school that helped her eventually open up to people again.

Now 22 years old, Pearl is a senior at Aurora University studying addiction counseling and driving to a treatment center in Joliet twice a week for an internship. She said she works with patients who have problems with both drugs and alcohol.

"I don't think I would have gotten into addiction counseling if this didn't happen," Pearl said. "Every time an impaired driver makes it home safely they feel more confident about doing it again. But eventually you get caught or someone gets hurt, and it's my goal to help them realize that before it actually happens."

Pearl said the advent of ride-sharing phone apps like Uber and Lyft make it incredibly easy to get a ride home.

Margaret Skrzypkowski now works for the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists as a victim advocate assigned to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan.

Skrzypkowski said she helps crash survivors or families of fatal victims during the criminal proceedings, as well as organizes DUI panels that convicted drivers are often court ordered to attend.

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Having been through the grieving process herself, Skrzypkowski said she also monitors the victims and arranges for help if a financial or emotional crisis arises.

"Sometimes it's the breadwinner in the family that dies or is unable to work anymore because of an injury," Skrzypkowski said. "Other times the stress and grief causes people to do poorly at work or damage important personal relationships."

Before choosing her career, Pearl said she was leaning toward a degree in education.

"Instead of working with high school students I get to help people help themselves," Pearl said. "Not everyone is confrontational or in denial. Some people actually want to change and need support."

rkambic@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @Rick_Kambic
The filing deadline for the April 4 election passed Dec. 19, with several of the races uncontested and some with too few candidates, but a few in which voters will have a choice. Here is a listing of some of the local races/

Western Springs Park Board

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With only caucus-backed candidates filing to run for the five open seats on the Western Springs Park Board, the election will be uncontested.

James J. Cirrincionewill be a newcomer on the park board. Cirrincione is president of Hinsdale Nurseries in Willowbrook where he has worked for 15 years. He looks forward to "making the parks the best they can be within the budget constraints we have."

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Another newcomer, Douglas Stoltz, is running to complete the final two years of Dicy Burton's term. Burton resigned in the fall because her family is moving to Virginia.

Stoltz, his wife, Lauren, and their daughters have lived in Western Springs since 2012, although the couple grew up in the western suburbs.

Stoltz works in commercial finance for United Airlines. He said he was encouraged to run for the park board by his neighbors after he spoke at village meetings about the infrastructure needs in Ridgewood, where he lives.

Current board President Christopher Dallavo is seeking re-election. Dallavo is an attorney whose Chicago practice focuses on civil litigation. He and his wife and their two daughters have lived in Western Springs since 2003.

Incumbents Angelo Velliotis and Matthew Krull also are running for a second term.

Krull works in software sales and cyber security. He and his wife, Karen, who have lived in Western Springs for 22 years, have four children. Krull serves as assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 12 in Western Springs.

Velliotis is self-employed working in the restaurant and real estate industries. He has an electrical engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a master's in business administration from DePaul University. He, his wife, Lina, and their three children live in the Timber Trails subdivision.

Thomas Ford Library

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The election for the Thomas Ford Memorial Library Board will be uncontested. Five of the seven trustee positions will be up for election in April.

The five candidates who filed are Kathleen Thometz, Carol Foster, Margaret Fahrenbach, Abbie Deneen and Patricia Pedersen.

Pedersen works in her family's contract cleaning business, but is getting ready to retire. She has never run for elected office before, but is a fan of the library, having raised three sons in Western Springs during the 37 years she has lived here. She has a degree in elementary education.

Deneen, has a degree in English, but worked for 10 years in the employee benefits insurance field, before leaving her career to be a homemaker. She and her husband, Tom, raised three children in Western Springs.

"We use the library a ton," Deneen said.

She was recruited by a caucus member who told her there was a need for candidates, and Deneen had friends who had served on the board previously.

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Fahrenbach is returning to the library board for a second term after a gap of a few years. An attorney who raised her four children in Western Springs, she responded to the caucus' call for candidates, due to the significant turnover on the board.

The library is very responsive to the community, offering not only reading programs for children, but informal continuing education for adults in areas such as new technology, Fahrenbach said.

"The library has done a great job of making materials available in a variety of media, such as iPads and audio books, Fahrenbach said. "Or you can just take a book and read by the beautiful fireplace."

Foster is a teacher, who taught in Western Springs District 101 and the Robert Crown Centers for Health in Hinsdale. Her previous community service included being a member of the District 101 Board. She and her husband, Robert, have lived in Western Springs for 32 years and raised their three children here.

Thometz is the founder of Doodle Art & Design in Western Springs, where she teaches art classes for children. Her undergraduate degree is in English literature, but while raising four children she went back to college for art.

"It took me 14 years to go through art school in three states," Thometz said. But she finished with a fine arts degree in sculpture from the Art Institute.

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A member of Thometz's book club recommended she run for the library board because she liked the books Thometz selected for the club.

"I'm a big proponent of reading," Thometz said. "I think having your children read is the single most important thing you can do for their education."

Indian Head Park

In Indian Head Park, three candidates filed for the three seats that will be up for election on the Village Board.

Incumbents Amy Jo Wittenberg and Brenda O'Laughlin each filed to run for a second term.

Heidi Lopez, who was appointed to complete the final two years of Village Trustee Tom Hinshaw's term when he was elected village president in 2015, is not seeking re-election.

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Sean Conboy is the third candidate. He served on the LaGrange Highlands District 106 School Board with Wittenberg and Hinshaw.

Conboy works for Honeywell, selling industrial automatic controls and sensors. He recently changed addresses within Indian Head Park, moving from Acacia to the 45-acres section west of Wolf Road.

kfornek@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @kfdoings
AIIB's headquaters in Beijing. [Photo/CFP]

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has approved a loan of US$600 million to finance an energy project in Azerbaijan.

The loan, the largest the bank has made, will be used to support construction of a natural gas pipeline from Azerbaijan through Turkey, known as the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project, the bank said yesterday.

Once completed, the project will transport natural gas from fields in Azerbaijan to Turkey and then onto markets in southern Europe. The construction will create jobs in Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The bank is co-financing this project with a number of other multilateral development banks, including the World Bank Group and other commercial entities.

The approval brings the total amount lent by the bank in its first year to US$1.73 billion in nine infrastructure projects across seven countries.
A Mobike is parked next to two Ofo bikes. [Photo by Guo Yiming/China.org.cn]

Shanghai Forever Bicycle joined with U-Bicycle Technology to march into China's internet-based bike-sharing market, China National Radio reports.

Founded in 1940, Shanghai Forever Co., Ltd was once the most famous bicycle brand across China. U-Bicycle founder and CEO Yu Yi said the two companies would provide a first batch of bicycles in Shanghai in early 2017 and planned to put some 2 million bicycles on the market throughout the next year and a half.

At present, Shanghai has already seen several bike-sharing brands including Mobike and Ofo bikes. However, in Yu's eyes, the current 150,000-200,000 bicycles can hardly meet the expected needs, since the total demand in the city is estimated to reach 500,000-800,000 according to Shanghai Bicycle Association.

Facing more serious competition, Mobike Shanghai General Manager Yao Chengwu remains optimistic. "Industry development asks for competition. Anyone who grasps the most stable technology and service will develop best. For bike-sharing market, the result will come out in the following one and two years."

However, the sudden increase of these bikes also caused mounting pressure on urban management. Wang Yi, director of legislative affairs office at traffic police corps of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, said, "Currently, the internet-based bike-sharing market has to face disorder development, which requires relevant governmental departments to conduct research and deal with existing problems."

Guo Jianrong, secretary-general of Shanghai Bicycle Association, confirmed that city management and public security departments in Shanghai are busy with making related guide and regulation on the issue, and industry and service standards are expected to be released in the first half year of 2017.
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A fisherman in Yantai, east China's Shandong Provine, caught a giant eel on Tuesday, attracting many citizens, according to a Xinhua report.

A giant eel is caught in Yantai, Shandong Province on Dec. 20, 2016. (Photo/iqilu.com)

The conger eel measuring 1.86 meters weighed about 13 kg, with its thickest part 38 cm in perimeter, according to fisherman Yan Qinglu.

"I'm surprised to have caught such a big eel, as I have fished many years and it was the first time in my life, " Yan said. Another 68 year-old fisherman who grew up by the seaside said he had never seen an eel heavier than 10 kg.

The conger eel, also called "wolf tooth eel" in Chinese, gets its name for its powerful jaw. They usually live 50 to 80 meters down in the sea.
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Nigerian government forces in the northeastern state of Borno have rescued additional 1,880 hostages from the den of terror group Boko Haram, the army authorities said.

The hostages, all women and children, were freed in recent military operations inside the Sambisa Forest, known as the largest training camp of Boko Haram in the country's northeast region.

In a statement reaching Xinhua on Thursday, Lucky Irabor, the combatant commander in Borno State, said the troops also arrested about 504 Boko Haram terrorists, among whom 19 of them willingly surrendered.

Irabor said troops had made a remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram, having intensified efforts to mop up all the areas in Sambisa Forest.

On Nov. 23, a total of 800 hostages in Boko Haram's custody were also freed in the ongoing anti-terrorism operations by the Nigerian troops.

Meanwhile, the army authorities have commenced construction of road network leading to the Sambisa Forest to ease troops' operations in mopping up Boko Haram fighters in their den.

Construction of the roads, according to Irabor, will assist fighting troops in their effort to rout the Boko Haram terrorists from their hideouts.

Nigeria's northeast region has been a stronghold of the extremist group Boko Haram.
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Britain plans to send 400 troops mainly comprising of medical and engineering personnel to boost the 12,000 strong UN peacekeeping force in war-torn South Sudan (UNMISS), a senior British official said on Thursday.

British Minister for the Middle East and Africa Tobias Ellwood told UN radio in the capital of Juba that his government will send the troops in March and also announced 100,000 British Pounds (81,300 U.S. dollars) in humanitarian support to South Sudan.

"We are just embarking on bringing 400 military personnel to join the UN mission here and I was pleased to learn details of that during this visit. But we are also wanting to encourage the national dialogue along with my colleagues," Ellwood said.

He added that "we are just finalizing the details but we look to see that it is happening in March these will be medical personnel, engineers working with the wide United Nations team."

Ellwood disclosed that Britain with other member countries of the Troika, are willing to support President Salva Kiir's recent call for national dialogue geared at healing and reconciling the warring parties in the country.

"I was here meeting the leadership to articulate that we want to see a peaceful transition, and welcoming the president's call for national dialogue which is a critical step forward in bringing stakeholders around the table," he said.

Ellwood revealed that no military solution would bring an end to the enormous violence and humanitarian suffering the country has endured in the more than three years of violent fighting.

"There can be no military solution to the current levels of violence that we are seeing and it is in everybody's interest to work together for the benefit of the country as a whole," he observed.

South Sudan has faced on-going challenges since a political face-off between President Kiir and rebel leader Machar erupted into full-blown conflict in December 2013.

Tens of thousands have been killed and more than two million displaced since late 2013, according to the United Nations.
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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday threatened to militarily defeat the rebellion if the armed groups refused to join the peace process.

"The cease-fire will elapse by end of current December, after which whoever refuses to respond to the peace call is only to blame himself," said al-Bashir when addressing a military training for the Sudanese army.

He reiterated the ability of the Sudanese army to militarily defeat the rebellion, saying "our forces will reach all rebel areas whether in the mountains or forests."

Al-Bashir declared last October extension of a cease-fire until the end of current December at all conflict areas in Sudan.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector at South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas since 2011 and the armed groups in Sudan's Darfur region since 2003.

Last August a newest round of peace talks collapsed between Khartoum and the SPLM rebels and Darfur armed groups.
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A year after Libya's rival parties signed a UN-sponsored political agreement, the North African country still suffers a political division and unrest.

The Libyan government of national accord was appointed on Dec. 17, 2015 in order to put an end to the political division in the country. However, Libya is still divided between two rival governments and parliaments.

Since the uprising that toppled leader Muammar Gaddafi's government in 2011, the North African country has been struggling to make a democratic transition.

"The unity government faces a number of obstacles, mainly its inability to control on the ground, as well as the growing influence of militias in the capital, Tripoli, which weakens the government and leads to hikes in foreign currencies prices," Mahmoud Karim, a Libya academic researcher, told Xinhua.

Al-Mabruk Khalifa, a Tripoli-based writer, believes that the failure of the political elite to reach a true agreement is one of the main obstacles that the unity government faces.

"The failure of parliament to amend the constitutional declaration to include this agreement in addition to the division of political factions and players on the military scene are the main obstacles that the unity government faces," Khalifa told Xinhua.

The authorities in Libya struggle to provide basic services to citizens, which were available for Libyans for free during the Gaddafi era.

Health care and education used to be provided for free to Libyans under the Gaddafi rule, and foodstuff was subsidized by the government. Today, healthcare, education, electricity, and other services are suffering due to lack of funds.

Moreover, the oil-rich country has lost billions of U.S. dollars due to years of closure of oil ports and attacks by militants on the oil fields.

The prices of U.S. dollar increased a year after the appointment of the unity government.

Also, crimes in the capital have also increased. Moreover, the unity government failed to expel militias from Tripoli.

Banks suffers from lack of funds.

"All these factors make the people reject the new government," Ashraf Azzabi, a political analyst, told Xinhua.

In the meantime in eastern Libya, Major General Khalifa Haftar's forces continue the fight against militant groups. Despite the ground success of Haftar's forces, they still don't have full control over the second largest city in Libya.

Haftar's forces managed to take over major oil ports in September after defeating the militias that were controlling them.

"After General Haftar took over the oil ports, his popular support has increased," said Karim.

"I think the inclusion and exclusion of Haftar in the political agreement in the past have changed drastically, especially in the statements of head of the UN support mission in Libya Martin Kobler, who indicated the need for Haftar's presence in the political scene," Azzabi said.

Political rivalry, faltering economy, and insecurity are among the main crises the North African country suffers.

The future of Libya remains unclear with the political factions not seeming to be willing to compromise.
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The United Nations on Thursday estimated that thousands of people still remain in eastern Aleppo as evacuations escorted by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continued overnight and throughout the day in the besieged northern Syrian city, a UN spokesman told reporters.

"While operations are ongoing, the evacuation is believed to be in its final stage," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here. "The UN estimates that thousands more remain in eastern Aleppo enclaves."

Since Wednesday night, UN monitors at the Ramouseh government checkpoint in Aleppo observed thousands of people departing from eastern Aleppo mainly in private vehicles that struggled to advance due to a snow storm and sub-zero temperatures, Haq said.

Overall, ICRC estimates that more than 34,000 people have been evacuated from the besieged neighborhoods in eastern Aleppo since Dec. 15.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Dec. 21, 435 wounded and sick had been evacuated, of whom 95 patients in critical conditions had been transferred to Turkey, others were transferred to hospitals in Idlib and in rural western Aleppo, Haq noted.

"Protection of civilians leaving these areas remains the biggest concern," he said. "The process for evacuation was traumatic, with crowding, and vulnerable people waiting for hours and exposed to sub-zero temperatures."

"All remaining civilians must be allowed to safely leave should they choose to do so," he said. "Access to people in need to provide them with life-saving humanitarian assistance is also urgently needed."

The evacuation is part of a deal concluded recently between Russia and Turkey. It included the evacuation of civilians from the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa, which are besieged by the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib.

It came as the Syrian army was on a crushing offensive against the rebel-held part of Aleppo, which resulted in wresting back control over 99 percent of eastern Aleppo.

The evacuation operation has been ongoing since last Thursday, and the rebels were leaving in buses and cars through the Ramouseh crossing south of Aleppo toward rebel-held areas in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo.
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The suspect of Monday's terror attack at a Christmas market in Germany's capital Berlin was shot dead in a neighborhood of Milan on Friday, local media reported.

Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti has confirmed the news, saying the person killed, "without a shadow of a doubt," is Anis Amri, the suspect of the latest terror attack in Berlin.

Amri was killed during an exchange of fire with police near a train station in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood early Friday.

According to the anti-terrorism police, Amri arrived in Italy from France. He went from the French town of Chambery to Italy's Turin and then took a train to Milan, where he arrived at around 1 a.m.local time.

He then continued to head for the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood, where he ran into two police officers at around 4 a.m. before he was killed in a shootout when they tried to conduct a routine stop-check, according to local media reports.

One policeman was wounded in the shoulder during the shootout and hospitalized, but not in serious condition.

Amri, who carried no documents with him, was identified on the basis of his appearance and fingerprints after the shootout, anti-terrorism police sources in Milan said.

Amri had been jailed for about three years in Italy for setting fire to a refugee center.
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An airplane flying a domestic route in Libya abruptly changed its course and landed in Malta on Friday, in what local sources said was a potential hijacking.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli, sources said.

Local sources said that two people on board the flight were threatening to blow up the aircraft. A total of 111 passengers and a crew of seven were on the plane.

Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on his Twitter account that he was "informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by."

Malta International Airport has instigated several emergency measures. Malta's Armed Forces have been deployed, including the counter terrorism unit.

The zone around the airport has been closed off.

Malta International Airport reminded passengers of keeping updated via its website, as other flights scheduled to land in Malta after 11.30 a.m. could be turned away.
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The first group of passengers, made up of women and children, are being released now from a hijacked Libyan plane, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

"First 25 passengers (are) released," he said in a separate Twitter.

The Libyan airplane with 111 passengers on board and flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed in Malta on Friday morning.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The hijacked airplane landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

It has 111 passengers on board, 82 males, 28 females, and one infant, Muscat said.
Ald. Moore To Rahm: 'Good News' That San Bernardino Massacre Distracted From Laquan McDonald

By Stephen Gossett in News on Dec 22, 2016 10:41PM



Photo via Ald. Joe Moore's Facebook page.

In an email last year to Mayor Emanuel pledging a level of support bordering on supplication, Ald. Joe Moore (49th) characterized coverage of then-newly released Laquan McDonald footage as an untrue cover-up narrative. Moore then went on to describe his preemption from an MSNBC segment about the case by news of the San Bernardino massacre as good news for you.

The correspondence was released as part of a massive email dump from Emanuel's private account on Wednesday evening, which was the result of a settlement between the city and the Better Government Association.

It's been a rough few days watching the media kick the shit out of you, especially when I know the cover-up narrative is completely untrue and your administration has made meaningful progress against police misconduct since you've been in office, Moore wrote in the Dec. 4, 2015, email. Before you let [former CPD Superintendent Garry] McCarthy go, it was just you and him out there by yourselves. Now it's just you. You desperately need third party validators-other voices to challenge the prevailing narrative in the local and national press that you were engaged in some sort of massive cover-up.

Moore goes on to defend himself to Rahm for not being a more vocal proponent in the press. In the day following the video's release the Washington Post called me, Moore wrote. I avoided returning the reporter's call not because I was unwilling to defend you, but because I didn't have enough information at my fingertips to be an effective defender.

But aside from Moores disavowal of a cover-up and a generally groveling tone, the most eye-opening detail is the aldermans characterization of being preempted by the San Bernardino shootings as a positive development.

He had agreed to discuss the McDonald case on MSNBC in the midst of the cable news feeding frenzy that was taking place, he wrote. I accepted their invitation because I felt they needed at least one talking head that wasn't crapping all over you.

But Moore never appeared on camera, he explains, because of news of the shooting in California. The good news for you is the anti-Rahm feeding frenzy ended, and the cable news outlets moved on to their next obsession, he wrote, before recommitting his loyalty.

Characteristic of his almost antagonistically terse replies throughout the email dump, Emanuel replied in full: "Ok thanks."

Moore told Chicagoist on Thursday that "the San Bernardino shootings... were obviously a horrific act and tragedy for the victims and families."

He said that his comments last year were "an illustration of the way the media covers news and politics these days: group think, pack journalism and having the attention span of a gnat. It was like, the new, shiny object entered the room. That's what I was observing."

He added that he still didn't think there was a coverup in the McDonald case.

"[Emanuel] and other folks were not responding to the narrative that almost immediately formed around the release of the video," Moore told Chicagoist. "I have a personal friendship with [Chicago Corporation Counsel] Steve Patton, who was at the center of this. He explained to me the circumstances around the settlement agreement as well as the reasons they didnt release [the McDonald footage]."

"It was longstanding city policy," he added.

Moore said he has not spoken with the mayor since the email was made public.

Other notable #RahmDump revelations include the mayor bragging about eliminating health care for city workers, a consultant's request to privatize half of the city's public housing, the self-motivated genesis for a recent lakefront-trail donation, and the donor class lobbying against progressive taxes and the CTU.

This post has been updated.
Photos: Protesters Marched To Rahm's House With Coffins To Decry Gun Violence Toll

By aaroncynic in News on Dec 22, 2016 3:56PM

Dozens marched to Mayor Rahm Emanuels home in Ravenswood Wednesday evening in a vigil for the more than 770 people killed in Chicago this year.

Carrying flowers, battery-powered tealight candles and several mock coffins with epitaphs for public housing, mental heath clinics and police accountability on them, they marched in a silent funeral procession from the American Indian Center to the mayors house after a series of speeches.

I am broken, Camiella Williams, who said she has lost nearly 30 loved ones, told the group. Words cannot describe my pain. I have given 10 years of my life as an 18 year old fighting for this city and all I got was 28 loved onesblack African-American males who had aspirations. They matter, their lives matter. The city is silent. They want to party, celebrate the Cubs. You mean to tell me that were at 771 homicides and they expect to give Rahm a pass.

The group included relatives of victims of violence, community activists, faith leaders, all who decried Chicagos violence epidemic. Chicago has seen the highest amount of homicides in more than 2 decades. And while city officials often appear flummoxed when it comes to solving the problem, many attendees said that its Emanuels policies that have exacerbated it. Though many homicides in the city are often portrayed or seen as random events, theyre interconnected, and a direct effect of the loss of public schools, mental health clinics, affordable public housing, and other policies that concentrate money and resources in already wealthy, mostly white areas while letting poor communities of color suffer.

Were gathered here tonight to tell the stories of how their deaths came to be, said community activist H. Demetrius Bonner. When we tell the story of our losses as a community, our compounding losses, we shouldnt write it as 770 discreet and disconnected tragic events. These deaths are more than just tragic events or headlines. These deaths are ongoingmake no mistaketheyre outcomes of political and economic processes that are making a growing number of our citizens especially black citizensdisposable.

The group left the coffins, covered in the flowers and electronic candles, on the Mayors front lawn.

When we want to talk about inter-communal violence, that comes out of poverty, said Kofi Ademola Xola of Black Lives Matter Chicago. That comes out of being colonized. Our young people have colonized minds. We all are fighting out of our colonial state because American culture and values are violent...We cant talk about why is violence happening in our community until we look at the mirror of American culture and values."


A Chinese consortium has bought a 49 percent stake in British data center company Global Switch for 2.5 billion pounds ($3.09 billion), in a strategic move aimed at sharing data center technology and locations.

The consortium was set up by data center company Daily-Tech Beijing, although the majority of the funding comes from Jiangsu Shagang Group, China's largest private steelmaker.

Wednesday's deal came as Chinese and Western companies expand into each other's markets, creating a big demand to store data in international locations.

The partnership allows both data center companies to follow their clients' expansion footsteps overseas and help them store data in convenient locations.

Global Switch has begun building data centers in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Singapore, using high quality technology to help Daily-Tech Beijing's clients store data.

John Corcoran, CEO of Global Switch, said the investment will help Global Switch's global expansion and, in particular, help it serve Chinese companies expanding overseas and Western companies growing in China.

Founded in 1998, Global Switch now has 10 data centers in Europe and Asia. The company is owned by the billionaire Ruben Brothers, who purchased it in 2004 for reportedly 585 million pounds, but have invested more than 1 billion pounds in expanding the business.

Daily-Tech Beijing was founded in 2009 and now owns five data centers in China, providing data storage for Chinese and multinational companies, including Schneider Electric, Johnson Controls, China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile.

"We believe that bringing together the high quality data centers and operational excellence of Global Switch with the rapidly growing demand from Chinese customers creates a perfect match that will deliver future growth opportunities," said Li Qiang, president of Daily-Tech Beijing.

Alan Barrell, entrepreneur in residence at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School, said the partnership will help Daily-Tech Beijing achieve a bigger international reach in data handling and storage and help Global Switch to grow its business with the new investment.

"There will also be synergy for technology development, to enable data centers to become ever more efficient and secure and enhance the quality of their offering," Barrell said.
China's Uber-type service for trucks Guiyang Huochebang Technology Co Ltd, also known as Truck Alliance, said on Thursday that it had raised $115 million in series B-1 funding, and expects to complete additional financing soon.

International Finance Corp and All-Stars Investment Ltd led the financing, and several new heavyweight institutions and existing investors also jumped on the bandwagon this time, according to the company, which is based in Guizhou province.

This was the largest ever round of funding so far among online long-haul logistics platform investments.

CEO Dai Wenjian said: "The funding will be used to enhance the platform of Truck Alliance and expand our truck service business."

"We will improve our algorithm to build up a more accurate matching system between truckers and shippers. We will expand the use of truck electronic toll collection cards to more clients."

So far, the company works with 2.3 million truckers and 350,000 shippers, and has about 1,000 service centers in more than 360 cities nationwide. It handles as much as 100,000 orders daily and processes up to $120 million in shipping fees every day.

Mou Xiaomin, senior investment officer at International Finance Corp, said: "Logistics is a highly complex industry. We believe that the online platform of Truck Alliance can help make the industry more efficient and environmentally friendly by substantially reducing a truck's empty miles and the waiting time between loads."

Li Zhaohui, investment manager at Tencent Holdings Ltd, the largest shareholder in Truck Alliance, said: "As one of the early-stage investors, Tencent attaches great importance to the integration of the logistics industry and the mobile internet."

In the trucking business, mutual trust between drivers and shippers is regarded as one of the key factors in driving its healthy development.

To cope with the challenge, Truck Alliance signed an agreement with the National Development and Reform Commission on building up a credit system in road freight transport in late November.

Under the agreement, Truck Alliance is expected to keep track of users' online transaction information.

Bloomberg contributed to this story.
World Bank Group member wants to increase its exposure in the area on the mainland

International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, will increase its venture capital investments in China's innovative startups sector next year, a senior company executive said.

Nikunj Jinsi, who heads IFC's venture capital global investment group, said at a time when the market is slowing down and people are getting a bit nervous about it, this is an opportunity for the company to come in and increase its exposure in the area.

"We will increase (investments) here, both to funds and to direct investments," he said.

Although his group did not have a fixed investment allocation for the future, Jinsi said he remains positive about the mainland.

"China has always been our largest market, for everything we do," he said.

Jinsi said he sees great opportunities in the healthcare, education and e-logistics sectors.

IFC's two main strategic goals in China were first of all to look for more advanced startups in need of series B funding or beyond, and to find good venture fund partners, according to Jinsi.

In these two categories IFC's average annual investments in China took 20 to 25 percent of its total venture capital fundor $200 million a year globally of the total funding.

IFC is a major global development institution, focusing on the private sector in emerging markets.

In China, it has been shifting priorities from financing that supports traditional industrial sectors to being a financing catalyst for innovations emerging in the new economy.

"Both labor force expansion and capital investment are receding as China's two major sources of growth," Vivek Pathak, IFC director of East Asia and Pacific, said at the China Innovation Forum in mid December.

"Instead, innovation is emerging as a new driver of growth and has the potential to contribute two to three percentage points of GDP growthworth an estimated $1 trillion to $2.2 trillion per yearby 2025," he said.

So far IFC's venture capital portfolios in China cover various sectors such as e-logistics, healthcare, financial technology, and resource efficiency.

For instance, IFC, together with other investors, led the latest funding in Guiyang Huochebang Technology Co Ltd, also known as Truck Alliance.

Established in 2008, Truck Alliance creates a mobile application to connect Chinese shippers with truckers.

This online long-haul logistics platform announced on Thursday it had raised $115 million in series B-1 funding exercise.

This investment, according to IFC, aims to improve the efficiency of the country's freight logistics, increase truck drivers' income and reduce shipping costs.

"Big data will play a significant role in increasing logistics efficiency in the future," said Richard Zhang, CFO of Huochebang.

Microvast Inc, another IFC portfolio investment, is also technology-oriented. The Huzhou-based company focuses on ultrafast charging and long-life electric vehicle battery systems.

"There are a large number of business-model innovations (in China) so far, but its technological innovation is thriving," Nikunj Jinsi said.

"Technology-driven innovation is a key driver for continued growth," he added.

Jinsi said his criteria for deal sourcing included an entrepreneur's ambitions, the potential size of market, what the team had executed so far, and a business leader's discipline on cash burn.
Rauner Has Donated $50M Of His Own Money To Re-Election Campaign

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Dec 22, 2016 10:14PM



Governor Bruce Rauner outside the Director's Lawn at the Illinois State Fair in August 2016. Photo by Aaron Cynic

Four more years of Gov. Bruce Rauner? Whether you want it or not, Rauner is moving ahead with his decision to run for a second term, donating $50 million of his own money into his campaign fund.

The billionaire Republican governor, elected in 2014 amid Illinois' growing pension deficit problem, contributed the money to Citizens for Rauner, Inc. this week, according to Illinois Board of Elections filings. It's the largest individual contribution to a campaign in state history, according to the Sun-Times, rivaling only Rauner's previous $10 million contribution to his own campaign in 2014.

Rauner also spent big in the most recent election cycle, donating over $30 million to various Republican campaigns and causes around Illinois. As a result, Republicans were able to break up the Democrats' supermajority in the Illinois House.

But in the nearly two years since Rauner took the governor's office, his approval rating has tanked thanks in large part to a year-long state budget impasse that kept funding from needy social service organizations while Rauner pushed for the approval a strict "turnaround" policy agenda. Rauner is still pushing that turnaround agenda, even as the state's temporary stopgap budget is set to expire with little sign that progress will be made.
Company will be world's third largest aircraft leaser following this and spate of recent deals

Bohai Capital Holding Co Ltd, a Chinese finance leasing company, plans to fully acquire US commercial jet leasing firm C2 Aviation Capital for $10 billion in cash, according to a statement from Bohai Capital.

Shares of Shenzhen-listed Bohai Capital resumed trading on Thursday, and the stock surged to the 10 percent daily limit and closed at 7.9 yuan ($1.14). The stock's trading has been suspended since September. It is reported that the deal is expected to close in early 2017.

New York-based C2, owned by US commercial lender CIT Group Inc's aircraft-leasing unit, is one of the leading companies that provides commercial aircraft leasing services to airlines.

Since 1999, the company has purchased airplanes directly from aircraft manufacturers.

As of June 30, C2 owned 307 aircraft and had orders for 132 jets. Its net assets are about $6.9 billion. Last year, C2 achieved sales revenue of nearly $1.2 billion, and net profit of $385 million, according to the company's earnings report.

The latest deal would add to a string of overseas acquisitions by privately-owned Bohai Capital, after its acquisitions of aircraft-leasing company Avolon Holdings, and the airplane assets of GE Capital Aviation Services. The acquisition is also expected to enhance the international competitiveness of Bohai Capital in the global aircraft leasing market and raise its global market share, the company said.

After the transaction, Bohai Capital is set to become the third-largest aircraft leasing company worldwide in terms of fleet size, following GE Capital Aviation Services and AerCap Holdings N.V. Ordinary S, according to the statistics of aviation information provider Flightglobal.

Meanwhile, the total number of customers of Bohai Capital is expected to nearly double to more than 150, with a more balanced distribution among Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. The company will also strengthen its ability to resist the risk of regional economic cycle fluctuations.

Bohai Capital said after the completion of the transaction the company will expand its market share and raise the scale of its business. It is expected to further improve its competitiveness in the sector, increase its profitability, and bring positive returns to the shareholders.
Officials cite dissimilar policies after a Chinese company opens a factory in the United States

It is "absurd" to blame the Chinese business tax system for a large glass manufacturer moving part of its operation to the United States, a senior official with the national tax bureau said on Thursday.

"China's business tax level is fair compared with other countries, and it has not imposed high taxes that threaten the operation of manufacturing companies," said a senior official with the State Administration of Taxation, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

He commented following media reports quoted Li Weiguang, a professor at Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, as saying that manufacturers find it hard to make profit under a combined taxation burden of close to 40 percent.

The report followed moves by Cao Dewang, chairman of auto glass manufacturer Fuyao Group, to invest $600 million in manufacturing in the US state of Ohio, in part to take advantage of lower US taxes and operating costs such as land and electricity. Fuyao completed work on a large plant there in October.

In an interview with China Business News last week, Cao said the overall tax cost for manufacturers in China is 35 percent higher than in the United States.

The decision caused heated discussion at a time when US president-elect Donald Trump has pledged to impose high tariffs on Chinese products. Trump also has said he considers China a currency manipulator.

Li Wanfu, a researcher with the Tax Science Research Institute under the taxation administration, said a lack of understanding of the different taxation systems in the two countries has led to misconceptions.

In China, more than 90 percent of taxes and fees come from enterprises, with little coming from personal income tax, according to Li Wanfu. But in Western countries, the direct tax burden on enterprises is lower since a large proportion of government income comes from personal income tax and social insurance programs.

The International Monetary Fund says China's corporate income tax rate, which is 25 percent, is higher than the world average of 23.7 percent. But Li Wanfu says the nation's overall tax burden, at around 30 percent, is far lower than the 42.8 percent average in developed countries, according to Li.

"China is actively implementing taxation reform, and its only move would be to lower the tax burden on businesses," said Li. He cited implementation of value-added tax reform, which officials estimated would reduce the tax burden for enterprises by 500 billion yuan ($73 billion) by the end of 2016.

The administration plans to solidify its value-added tax measures into law during the 2017 legislative sessions, according to officials.
Jia Yueting, CEO and founder of LeEco. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese internet firm LeEco said it is talking with strategic investors and that trading in shares of LeEco's listed company, Leshi Internet Information and Technology Corp, will continue to be suspended.

LeEco said it has already recruited a financial adviser to conduct due diligence and has prepared documents related to further negotiations with strategic investors, according to a statement of the company.

The statement also said that in order to ensure the important issues go smoothly and to avoid fluctuations of the stock price, trading of its listed arm will continue to be halted on Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Jia Yueting, CEO and founder of LeEco, said at the China Entrepreneurs Summit in Beijing on December 11, that its subsidiary LeTV Zhixin Electronic Technology (Tianjin) Co Ltd, which is responsible for LeEco's TV business, will finish a round of large-scale financing within one month. He added that this move will solve the company's cash flow crunch to a certain degree.

Its listed arm Leshi now holds 58.55 percent of the shares of LeTV Zhixin. The revenue of LeTV Zhixin reached 7.64 billion yuan ($1.1 billion), with a net loss of 56.87 million yuan in the first half of fiscal year 2016.

Zeng Qiang, the second-largest shareholder of Leshi and the founder of China Bridge Capital, said that because LeEco expanded too fast and the electric car costs the company a large sum of money, the company will pay a higher price for financing than ever before, according to a report from Southern Metropolis Daily.

If Jia doesn't change his concept, the capital chain of LeEco will still have problem, said Zeng, adding that LeEco doesn't lack money, but concentration and upgrading plans, said Zeng.

Shen Meng, director of Chanson & Co, a boutique investment bank, said: "What LeEco lacks is not the money, but the execution. Unless LeEco makes a significant reform in business and product, no strategic investors will enter into it," Shen said.

"It should cut down the businesses which burn cash and lack core competitiveness, shifting its focus to the R&D of key technologies of core products."

Shen added that smartphones, TVs and its content platform should be its core businesses. Apart from the price war, the company should enhance its technology and service to increase users' stickiness.

Jia said the firm's profits will also rise significantly next year, driven by the rapid growth of its video-streaming and TV businesses.

Trading in shares of Leshi was halted on Dec 6 at 35.80 yuan, having dropped 39 percent from about a year ago.
BEIJING - An official with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday expressed disappointment with the European Union for its intention to extend trade remedy measures on Chinese photovoltaic (PV) products.

Continued anti-dumping and countervailing duties will hurt the interests of Chinese companies, the long-term benefits of the EU and the world's efforts to combat climate change, according to Wang Hejun, head of the MOC trade remedy and investigation bureau.

PV products carry great significance for all countries to address climate change, Wang said.

"EU should put an end to trade remedy measures against PV products as early as possible to turn the PV market back to normal," Wang added.

As important strategic and trade partners, China and the EU should do more to create a sound environment for world economic growth and combating climate change, he said.

On Tuesday, the European Commission disclosed documents that recommended keeping anti-dumping and countervailing duties that have been in effect for more than three years on Chinese products.
China Telecom has been voted as "No 1 Overall Best Managed Company in Asia" in Euromoney's "Best Managed Companies Survey 2016".

In addition, China Telecom was also named as "No 1 Best Managed Company in Telecommunications Sector in Asia". This is the seventh year in a row that the company has won the award from equity analysts at leading banks and financial institutions across the globe.

Organized by Euromoney, a leading international financial magazine, "Best Managed Companies Survey" is one of the most reputable polls in Asia. This is the 17th year of the event and is highly recognized by capital market participants. In 2016, the Survey was based on the responses from 451 leading equity analysts at the leading investment banks and research institutes who were asked to nominate top listed companies in each region which were the most impressive across a number of factors including business strategy, corporate governance, senior management accessibility, financial information transparency, shareholder value and website content amongst others.

In a statement, a spokesperson for China Telecom said: "These outstanding awards and achievement reveal once again that investment managers, analysts and capital market participants affirm China Telecom's excellent execution capability and leading standard of corporate governance and transparency in Asia with outstanding management performance. China Telecom would like to thank all investors for their continuous support and trust".
Sino-US trade volume slips but bright future seen for economic ties

China will continue to develop mutually beneficial and complementary trade relations with the United States regardless of US change of administration, said Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang on Friday.

It is too early to predict whether bilateral trade will decrease in the next few years, though Sino-US trade volume fell slightly this year, he said at a news conference.

In the first 11 months of this year, total Sino-US trade declined by 1.7 percent year-on-year to 3.08 trillion yuan ($442 billion), according to the General Administration of Customs.

China's exports to the US also declined, by 6.6 percent in dollar terms, between January and November.

But the yuan-denominated volume remained roughly unchanged, said Shen.

He said that the two economies are complementary in many ways, such as natural resources, human resources, market, capital and technology.

Bilateral investment increased between January and November.

US investment in China rose by 15.1 percent to $2.21 billion, while China's nonfinancial direct investment in the US grew by 159 percent year-on-year to $18.63 billion.

"China and the US are mutually dependent. Economic and trade cooperation will benefit both, while confrontation only hurts both," he added.

Earlier this week, Trump appointed Peter Navarro, reportedly a hard-liner on trade with China, as head of the newly formed White House National Trade Council, a choice that aroused public concerns.

Experts say the two countries' economic and trade ties will see a bright future despite short-term challenges.

Lin Guijun, vice-chancellor of the University of International Business and Economics, said: "China and the United States should pursue a mutually beneficial solution to disputes through dialogue. It will produce a win-win situation for economic and trade cooperation."

Zhou Mi, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said bilateral economic and trade ties will remain close.

Zhou predicted that trade volume will increase early next year, spurred by a more robust US economic recovery.

Contact the writers at jingshuiyu@chinadaily.com.cn
Daniel Sennheiser, CEO of Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co KG. [Photo/IC]

China will soon be the biggest customer of major audio system producer, says its chief

Daniel Sennheiser, chief executive officer of Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co KG, one of the world's biggest audio system producers by sales revenue, cannot stop thinking about how many lower-tier Chinese cities his products have yet to reach, every time he visits the country.

The German group has made plans to deploy more resources and manpower in the markets of China's provincial capitals and lower-tier cities. It wants to speed up promotions of its products next year, including headphones, as well as meeting and conference sound equipment.

"We all know about the frustrating quality of telephone conference calls and we have a lot of solutions," said Sennheiser, who traveled to China four times this year.

The CEO said that a typical Sennheiser user is usually one that knows a lot about audio equipment or is an audio professional. "In the professional audio world we have 100 percent brand awareness," he said.

He said for music stars such as Adele, Pink Flloyd, David Bowie and Robbie Williams, when they are singing on stage, a Sennheiser microphone is often the only thing between them and the audience.

China will be his company's biggest market very soon and there is a huge opportunity to improve the quality of its communications and business, he said.

Germany used to be the company's largest market, because that is where it is from, while later the United States became bigger and still later on the company found that its biggest growth rates are in China.

Recently, the German came to China to unveil Sennheiser's very first immersive Sound Studio at The Peninsula Hotel in Beijing, and spoke with China Daily about the company's strategy and his management style.

The following are edited excerpts from the interview:

How do you promote your business in China?

The best way of doing that is being very close to our customers, and Sennheiser has always operated that way. We need to understand what our customers' problems are and what their product needs are.

When it becomes more complicated, we bring in our engineers with all their knowledge, but we also use local partners and implementation partners, in order to arrive at a solution that is valid there.

Sennheiser needs to work with what we call local integrators to bring a complete package to companies which don't want to choose just a microphone, but want to choose a full solution for their conference room.

What is your biggest achievement as Sennheiser's CEO?

It's not so long since I became the CEO, so maybe it's very premature to talk about my achievement. Usually you talk about 'achievement' at the end of your life. My brother and Ialready not very typicalare two brothers running Sennheiser together, both with the title of CEO. And what we provide is what the company needs: renewal.

And we really need to stay with very modern management methods at the top. We are also creating an organization where everybody needs to take responsibility. We've created an organization where everybody is empowered to do what is right for the company, which I think is the modern way of running a business.

What is the advantage of being a German family-owned company?

You are independent. You make your decisions based only on what you think is right for the customer. So we focus 100 percent of our time on science, on technology and on the customer. If we were not independent, we would need to discuss things. I would spend a lot of time with analysts, with banks, investors, with a lot of peopleand in the end it doesn't help the product. Now I can spend a lot of time with my end consumers, in product development, and in thinking about strategy, which I think is better for the company.

How do you encourage your employees?

I think one thing that remains globally valid is strong vision and good products. It's as simple as that. If you have a strong vision and everybody knows where you want to go, you have good products that people are proud of.

Once our people are proud of our products, you don't need to motivate them. Because I don't think I can motivate anybody. They need to be motivated by themselves.

What I can do is make sure that the vision is clear, the strategy is clear and that they have the autonomy or the empowerment to make their own decisions.

How do you manage your innovation activities?

A total of 7 percent of our turnover is always going into research, so we do basic research based on several vectors that we define, like transducers and microphone technology, and so on. Once these are already at a certain level, it's like having a product innovation cycle that's iterative, with us taking things step by step.

What is your plan to develop smart audio products?

We do have quite a lot of wireless products in our range already and we are integrating them with apps. When you're able to control the headphones with your app, it allows for adaptive noise canceling where you can really alter levels to what you need. So you're in very intuitive way of interacting with the product.

We are working on solutions to become smarter about situational awareness, while enjoying your music.

How do you see the potential purchasing power of China's rising middle class in your long-term strategy?

The country has very professional broadcast organizations here, including Beijing Satellite TV and China Central Television, which are very innovative. We are working very closely with them. A lot of times we come up with new products and they try them out, as I said earlier. We are providing tools and they are finding new applications. Therefore, that for us was an entry to the Chinese market.

As China opened more to Western brands, we were already there and able to show our headphones, so we had a very strong market share in China for the small company that we are.

When Chinese consumers spend their money, especially the rising middle class, they want to know that it's well invested. So this is exactly why they turn to Sennheiser, because you are really getting value from their money.

Sennheiser seems to be less known compared with Bose and Beats. What is your business strategy in marketing and branding?

We are a successful company and we are growing, so I'm not so worried about market share, because market share comes and goes and there are so many players, especially with headphones, right now.

We don't focus so much on competitors. We actually focus on customers, because customers are getting better and better educated. There is always a part of the market which is really interested in what Sennheiser is offering, and we focus on that part of the market.

How do you spend your off-duty time?

I love to travel and spend time with my family. We have a house in France where we drink wine and enjoy life. It's rather important to calm down. When I sit at my piano, I immediately understand that I'm just a very small being within the big universe.

Where are your favorite travel destinations?

I love Asia and spend quite a lot of time in Asia. I love different cultures and have been traveling to Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Laos, Japan and South Korea. To a European initially they look similar, but actually they are very different. I love to get a deeper understanding of different cultures.

CV

Age: 43

Nationality: German

Career:

2013 onwards: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co KG, CEO

2011-13: Member of the Executive Management Board, President of Strategy and Finance

2008-11: Director of strategic innovation

1999-2002: Various communications agencies in Munich and Zurich

Education:

Art Center College of Design in La-Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland

Pasadena in California, the US

Family: Married with two children
Xiaomi founder Lei Jun and China Mobile's Sha Yuejia pose at the launch ceremony of Mi Air 4G in Beijing, on Dec 23, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xiaomi, the tech company that has gained worldwide fame with its smartphones, concluded its new product rollout on Friday in Beijing with a notebook, the Mi Air 4G, after a tough sales year.

Liu De, co-founder and vice president of Xiaomi, said this computer could be connected to the internet anytime, anywhere as there is a module enabling network service via an independent internet of things (IoT) 4G channel provided by China's largest telecom operator, China Mobile.

He said hopefully this device will usher in the third era of how a computer can be connected to the internet. In the first era, the computer could be linked to the internet via a cable and in the second era, via Wi-Fi.

The 12.5 inch version of the Mi Air 4G, whose configurations are the same as its predecessor, Mi Air, is priced at 4,699 yuan ($676), while the 13.3 inch version, which features a new processor, the Intel i7-6500 U, is priced at 6,999 yuan, said Liu.

Liu added that the internet service will be free during the first year but admitted that whether the service will be charged in future years is undecided.

Liu De, co-founder and vice president of Xiaomi, speaks at the launch ceremony of Mi Air 4G in Beijing, on Dec 23, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xiaomi launched its first PC product, the Mi Air on July 27 this year. Liu said that the company had sold 220,000 units of Mi Air in the first three months. Mi Air was also the best-selling PC on Tmall during the 24-hour Single's Day shopping festival created by Alibaba Group.

Liu said the Mi Air 4G, which is to be on sale in January 2017, will be exclusively available at the outlets of China Mobile, which has promised to sell 500,000 units for Xiaomi in the next year.

Jacky Zhao, an analyst with IDC China, a market research firm, said that the embedded high-speed internet service is a good feature but it is hard to tell how the market will react to the new product. This feature might not be that attractive in China's key cities where Wi-Fi services are convenient, although not that safe, the analyst said. If the Wi-Fi environment improves a lot, Mi Air 4G may not be as attractive.

Liu admitted that the Mi Air 4G's edge might not be that obvious in big cities but might be a must-have for civil servants in villages who are also university graduates.

Compared to Mi Air, which is priced at 3,499 yuan and 4,699 yuan according to different configurations, Mi Air 4G might also lose its edge in pricing, Zhao said.

But he added that Mi fans might be willing to accept the higher cost so this pricing strategy might be good for an image lift.

Zhao said he is not sure about the logic behind the distribution arrangement of the Mi Air 4G but believes this will enhance its offline presence.

The Mi Air 4G will enrich Xiaomi's overall product lineup, but it will be hard for Xiaomi to change the layout of the PC sector as it has done to the cell phone sector, Zhao said.

"Because the PC sector had been rather mature when Xiaomi entered but the cell phone sector was to face a tremendous change as the smartphone was to prevail," the analyst said.
Members of China Standby Peacekeeping Police Force attend the force's founding ceremony in Dongying City, East China's Shandong province, Dec 22, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

JINAN - The China Standby Peacekeeping Police Force under the Ministry of Public Security has been formed in Dongying City in East China's Shandong province, according to an announcement on Thursday.

The force consists of more than 300 people, with an average age of 27, selected from border control forces around the country. The force is divided into two subordinate anti-riot forces.

The Border Control Department of the ministry is in charge of organizing the force. Organization work started in March.

All members of the first anti-riot force passed assessments organized by the UN on Oct. 12, and the force is ready to be sent abroad. The second force is preparing for the assessment.

Since 2004, the ministry has organized 12 peacekeeping anti-riot police forces. A total of 1,564 policemen have been sent abroad for peacekeeping missions.
Obama To Give Final Presidential Speech In Chicago Next Month

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Dec 23, 2016 4:36PM



Obama speaks at McCormick Place. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama has selected Chicago's McCormick Place as the site of his final presidential speech. He'll be returning to his hometown to deliver the speech Jan. 10, just days before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.



Politico, which broke the news, reports that Obama is planning to thank Chicago and Illinois for making his political careerbefore running for president in 2008, Obama served as an Illinois Senator and later a U.S. Senator. Obama also worked as a community organizer in Chicago and later a visiting fellow at the University of Chicago Law School.

Obama held his second-term election night victory rally at McCormick Place, the Near South Side convention center in 2012.

The Obamas plan to stay in D.C. for the immediate future after Obama leaves office, and they seem more likely to resettle in New York City than return to Chicago, where they still have a home in Hyde Park. But Chicago's Jackson Park was selected as the future site of the Obama Presidential Library earlier this year, so we expect we'll be seeing a little more of the exiting president around Chicago in the next few years.
People who lure or trick infants in order to abduct them will face heavier penalties, the top court announced.

In a new judicial interpretation, released by the Supreme People's Court on Thursday, acts that involve the abduction of children under the age of 6 through luring them away from their parent or guardian, such as tricking them with toys or coaxing them to play outside, will be defined as "infant stealing".

Under Chinese Criminal Law, people who steal infants will be sentenced to at least 10 years in jail, and serious circumstances, including stealing or treating babies in cruel ways, will result in the death penalty.

In the past, only people who stole sleeping babies were charged with infant stealing, "but such cases were rare", said a judge at the top court's No 3 Criminal Tribunal.

"In other words, the punishment for baby stealers did not play a significant role in the fight against such abductions," said the judge, who declined to be named.

Therefore, it is vital to update the interpretation, "as grassroots courts need practical measures to deal with abduction-related cases, especially a clear definition of infant stealing", he said.

The interpretation, which is to come into effect on Jan 1, stipulates that officers who sell children they look after in places such as medical care institutions or social welfare organizations will be charged with abduction.

Ruan Chuansheng, a criminal lawyer in Shanghai, praised the interpretation. "It will play a bigger and more practical role in solving abduction cases."

"The revision is to fight infant stealing by punishing the thieves more severely. People using tricks to take infants away from their parents is something that happens more frequently than people might think, which is why the top court expanded the definition," Ruan said. "Widening the definition of the crime will be more useful for threatening people who have such intentions."

Ruan spoke highly of various judicial measures against abduction over the past years, adding that the government's determination has been effective in controlling abduction.

From January to November, Chinese courts concluded 618 cases relating to the trafficking of women or children, charging 1,107 people, according to the top court.

The number of such crimes has been falling, it said. In 2015, courts across the nation concluded 853 abduction cases and charged 1,362 offenders. Both the figures were a 50 percent decline compared with 2012, it said.

In addition, the revised Criminal Law, effective since Nov 1, also increased penalties for those found guilty of buying women or children, in an effort to uncover the buyer's market.

However, Ruan said: "Social organizations should contribute more to the fight and provide more psychological support for those who have been abducted. Only relying on policies is far from enough."
Recently, I've noticed a sharp decline in the number of food stands in the streets around my community. These places usually serve cheap, instant food such as fried potatoes, pancakes and malatang (boiled vegetables and meat in a spicy sauce). Owing to concerns about hygiene I have never bought anything from them, but I always see crowds standing around them on my way home from work.

My neighbor told me that the authorities have been urging migrant workers who live in basements in nearby residential communities to move out for their own safety. However, the workers are the main customers of the food stands, so their sudden departure has resulted in a fall in business.

Most migrant workers make about 1,500 yuan ($216) to 3,000 yuan a month working in restaurants, shops or other unskilled jobs, so basements are probably the only places they can afford to rent and the food stands are their "restaurants" for every meal.

While I'm saddened that the workers have been asked to leave, and I hope they can find somewhere more pleasant and safer to live, people really should not be forced to live in basements in China.

When I studied in the United States, I rented an apartment in a converted basement. It was a half-sunken chamber with a small window, but the facilities were brand-new - a brightly lit bathroom, a dining room and a bedroom with carpet on the floor. Even so, after a few months I moved into an upstairs room in the same house.

In China's large cities, many apartment owners earn additional income by renting out their basements to migrant workers. The basements in my community haven't been upgraded into living spaces, though - instead, they are just dank, dark and unsafe rooms used to store infrequently used items. If a fire were to occur, it would be difficult to evacuate the room.

Of course, it's not wrong for the authorities to close this safety loophole, but for the individuals who come to Beijing and chase their dreams by working hard, higher rents are an extra burden they don't need.

So, why do migrant workers struggle on in China's large cities? My guess is "hope".

If you live in a small city in China for a while, you will discover that guanxi, or "connections", are extremely important, so people only help people they know. That means they tend to contact a relative or friend who works at a school or hospital before they send their children to study at that school or bring their parents to see a doctor.

Most of my relatives and former classmates in my hometown of Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province in North China, got their jobs through their parents or other connections instead of applying online like everybody else. My mom even asks an acquaintance to buy shoes on her behalf to avoid paying over the odds, and to guarantee quality.

People are used to the fact that China is a society based on guanxi, and they know that injustices occur sometimes, but if a person has no connections, it's hard for them to get things done.

Corruption is another obstacle that prevents ordinary people from realizing their life targets, although the situation is slightly different in Beijing and Shanghai, which provide relatively equitable ways for people to enroll in schools or get a job.

I believe that if people could find decent jobs in their hometowns and lead relatively prosperous lives, they would not choose to come to Beijing, risking their health in the heavy smog that blankets the city every winter.

"Big city disease" - overcrowding, pollution and a lack of social amenities - is an economic issue.

Only when enough cities are able to provide more land for construction and buildings for newcomers to live in, along with equal job opportunities and good education and medical care services, will migrant workers be freed from the ignominy of living in basements and desperately hoping that their hard work will allow them to live "upstairs" someday.
The civil aviation authority is considering long-term measures to guarantee aviation safety, a senior aviation official said on Thursday.

"The major target of aviation safety in 2017 is to prevent major aviation accidents, prevent hijacking, bombing and other terrorist attacks, prevent air force safety accidents and avoid aviation ground and maintenance accidents," said Feng Zhenglin, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, adding that all practitioners must be alert to potential safety risks and eliminate them.

"A safety campaign to eliminate potential hazards will be launched. Evaluations will cover all perspectives, and safety issues will be a priority in evaluating airliners," he said.

Feng made the remarks on the sidelines of the annual civil aviation industry conference in Beijing.

China's aviation industry has boomed in recent years. It is the second-largest country in the world in terms of total volume of passengers and cargo carried by air transportation behind the United States.

The CAAC estimated that passengers made 480 million trips in 2016, up 11 percent year-on-year.

"When a pilot's flight time increases, the risk of potential accidents rises; when the working time of a manager at a flight control department increases, the risk of making mistakes rises," said Li Jian, deputy director of the administration.

In October, two commercial planes nearly collided at Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport.

An investigation found that the accident was caused by an air traffic control officer. Based on the findings, the CAAC fired or reprimanded 13 staff members at its East China Regional Administration. It suspended the on-duty air traffic control officer and supervisor.

It was the most severe punishment in recent years regarding flight safety, Feng said.

China's civil aviation industry has tallied nearly 46 million flight hours since August 2010 with no major accidents or deaths.

This year, there were 3.95 million flights accumulating 9.46 million hours.

In recent decades, the country has had a respectable record in aviation safety, while developing the industry at a rapid rate, Liu Fang, secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organization, told Xinhua News Agency in July.

Its experience in this regard needs to be shared with other countries, particularly developing ones, he said.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn
Huang Zhiqiang (second from left), one of the four people who were sentenced to death for homicide, robbery and rape 13 years ago, speaks to the media as his father is overcome with emotion after the four were declared innocent in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, on Thursday.Wang Jianing / For China Daily

Jiangxi High Court found that the facts of the case were unclear and evidence was insufficient

After staying behind bars for more than a decade for homicide, four men in Jiangxi province were declared innocent on Thursday, the latest case of a wrongful conviction being corrected in the country.

The Jiangxi High People's Court withdrew all previous verdicts on Huang Zhiqiang, Fang Chunping, Cheng Fagen and Cheng Lihe as the court found the facts of the case were unclear and evidence was insufficient.

The court also said in a statement that the four might have been forced or tricked into making confessions, which resulted in the previous verdicts.

The four were sentenced to death at a local court in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, in July 2003 in connection with the murder of a man, as well as the rape, murder and dismemberment of a woman.

They appealed, and the Jiangxi High People's Court in May 2006 changed the punishment to death with a two-year reprieve, a sentence usually commuted to life in jail. The latest retrial was conducted on Nov 30 after repeated appeals from their families.

After the final verdict, Xia Keqin, deputy head of the court, made a face-to-face apology to the four men and informed them of their right to claim State compensation.

Zhang Weiyu, the lawyer representing Fang, said the four were released on Thursday and united with their families.

A court statement released after the verdict said: "As a judicial organ, courts should learn a lesson from the case."

The concept of protecting human rights should be enhanced, the principle of evidence should be upheld, checks and balances should be strengthened among judiciary departments, and a quick response and correction of wrong rulings should be carried out, it said.

Liu Weidong, deputy head of the Jiangxi Lawyers Association, said the overturning of the case will facilitate judicial progress across the nation and reinforce the credibility and authority of judicial departments.

"The protection of human rights should be prioritized in the process of clamping down on crimes," he said.

The authenticity, correlation and legitimacy of evidence are the key to a court ruling, Liu said, adding that no doubtful evidence should be used in a ruling, nor should a verdict be made without solid evidence.

Chinese media reported that the original ruling cited a police probe that said the four had confessed to the crime, but the men later said they were tortured into confessing.

In the latest retrial, the court ruled that based on new evidence, including forensic examinations, the confessions lacked legitimate grounds.

On Dec 2, the Supreme People's Court, the top court, exonerated Nie Shubin, a young man from North China's Hebei province, who was wrongfully executed 21 years ago for rape and murder.

zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn
Assessments of government performance tied to binding targets set out in 13th Five-Year Plan

China will begin annual evaluations of the ecological progress made by provincial, city and county governments starting in 2017, which will facilitate policymakers' pursuit of green growth.

The evaluations will be based on green growth targets, including resource utilization, environmental quality and public satisfaction, and should be finished by the end of August.

They will be conducted jointly by ministerial level authorities mainly from statistics, economic planning, environmental protection and personnel.

An additional five-year assessment will focus on binding targets in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), the overall road map for society, economy and environment.

If governments don't reach three or more binding targets, they will fail the assessment, said Wang Yi, deputy head of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Science and Development.

Leaders of governments that fail the assessment will be held accountable and required to solve relevant issues, the guideline said.

The guideline shows the country is connecting ecological development to the evaluation of official's performances, which will put more focus on environmental protection, Wang said.

"It's an innovative step to combine the annual evaluation and an assessment every five years, which have different focuses," he said.

The guideline is expected to motivate policymakers and improve the environment, researchers said.

Wang Jinnan, chief engineer of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, suggested the implementation of the guideline and other major supplementary policies such as the environmental inspection system, and an audit of natural resource assets, "will work better in promoting ecological progress".

The public will also play a bigger role, as their satisfaction will affect the official's annual evaluation, and they are invited to monitor the assessment results.

"The guideline has put the people at the center, which highlights the importance of their feelings on the environment and governance, thus making the results of annual and five-year evaluations more reliable and useful," said Dai Yande, head of the National Development and Reform Commission's Energy Research Institute.

zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn
China has reported two new cases of human bird flu infection, bringing the total this week to three, stoking fears about the spread of the deadly virus at a time when other Asian nations are battling to control outbreaks of the disease.

A man diagnosed with the H7N9 strain of bird flu in Jiangsu province is being treated in Shanghai, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning said on its website on Wednesday.

In Xiamen, a city in East China's Fujian province, local authorities ordered a halt to poultry sales in Siming district from Thursday after a 44-year-old man was diagnosed with the H7N9 strain of bird flu on Sunday, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday. The patient is being treated in hospital and is in stable condition, according to the Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The incidents come after Hong Kong confirmed an elderly man was diagnosed with the disease earlier this week.

Bird flu is most common in winter and spring, and farmers have in recent years improved cleaning regimes and animal detention techniques, while building roofs over hen pens and taking other steps to prevent the disease.

However, concerns remain about the spread of the disease as farmers in China are preparing for the year's peak demand during the Lunar New Year at the end of January.

In light of recent outbreaks in nearby countries, farmers in China are feeding their flocks more vitamins, while ramping up vaccines and hen house sterilizations to protect their birds.

Authorities said they would ban imports of poultry from countries where there are outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu.

China already prohibits imports from more than 60 nations, including Japan and South Korea.

The last major bird flu outbreak on the Chinese mainland, in 2013, killed 36 people and cost the agriculture sector about $6.5 billion in losses.

He Xiong, deputy director of Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, said there is no likelihood that the recently confirmed cases would evolve into a major bird flu outbreak in China, as the virus is not transmitted between people, adding that health authorities are well prepared for the control and prevention of the disease.

"People should avoid contact with live poultry to avoid being infected," he said.

"Information exchanges between different provinces and municipalities on new cases is important for the control and prevention of the virus."

Wang Xiaodong contributed to this story.
A Chinese student studying in the Business School at Rutgers University in New Jersey, got a thumbs-up from her schoolmates and teachers for her bravery in a stabbing incident, reports rednet.cn

In the afternoon of November 4th, a former Rutgers student broke into an office at the school's Livingston Campus and attacked a professor and a current student with a knife.

According to a crime alert issued by campus police, the former student slashed the two people "without provocation."

Xiao Yaqing from Hunan Province was in the office assisting her supervisor when the incident happened. Watching the professor being brutally hit, Xiao, without regard to the danger, tried to protect her supervisor and even covered him with her own body.

The Chinese student suffered severe injuries to her lungs and stomach, and was immediately sent to the ICU in a local hospital.

The suspect, later identified as Joshua S. Thompson, is now facing two counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Soon after the stabbing incident, Xiao's story spread widely on campus. At Rutgers, the Chinese student is considered a "hero" by her teachers and schoolmates.

Her hospital ward has been filled with flowers and greeting cards written to "a brave Chinese" or "Hero of Rutgers." Doctor Richard Edwards, Rutgers-New Brunswick Chancellor, hailed Xiao as the pride of the university.

Xiao, 28, graduated from Central South University of Forestry and Technology in 2006 in Hunan Province. She obtained graduate degrees at Colorado State University and Rutgers University in New Jersey. She started a course of study leading to a doctorate at Rutgers Business School in 2014.

The young woman, who has been already discharged from hospital, hopes to continue her studies as soon as possible.
Nomination for HK SAR chief executive election to begin on Feb 14

Xinhua | Updated: 2016-12-23 13:37

HONG KONG - Candidates nomination for the coming Chief Executive Election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is set to start on Feb. 14, 2017, the Electoral Affairs Commission said.



According to notices published Friday by the Electoral Affairs Commission, the nomination period will run from Feb. 14 to March 1.



Madam Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, has been appointed by the Electoral Affairs Commission as the Returning Officer for the election.

The Chief Executive Election will be held on March 26, 2017.



According to the Chief Executive Election Ordinance, a Hong Kong SAR permanent resident, who is a Chinese citizen with no right of abode in any foreign country, has reached 40 years of age and has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 20 years, is eligible for nomination as a candidate.



A candidate's nomination must be subscribed by not less than 150 members of the Election Committee, a broadly representative committee composed of 1,200 members from different sectors who were elected earlier this month.
YINCHUAN -- An arsonist, who set a bus on fire in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region in January that killed 18 people, was executed Friday, according to the regional government.

Ma Yongping was executed by the Intermediate People's Court of Yinchuan, the regional capital, after the Higher People's Court of Ningxia dismissed his appeal in September, upholding the initial verdict, sentencing Ma to death for arson.

Ma set the bus on fire, using gasoline, to vent his anger over a personal dispute, on Jan 5. The fire quickly turned the bus into a charred shell, killing 18 people and injuring 32.

Ma was caught by police on the afternoon of Jan 5.
Premier Li Keqiang meets with Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in Beijing on Friday. [Photo by LIU ZHEN / CHINA NEWS SERVICE]

The central government firmly adheres to the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and supports the Hong Kong government and its chief to govern the city based on the Constitution and the Basic Law, Premier Li Keqiang told the city's chief Leung Chun-ying on Friday.

Premier Li positively evaluated the economic and social performance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He said the region's government has maintained economic growth and a low unemployment rate over the past year amid a complicated and changing world economy.

The city has been an international center for the financial industry, but is seeing fewer visitors from the mainland, who had boosted consumption and spurred the local economy.

The central government will continue to promulgate policies to support Hong Kong's development and strengthen communication and cooperation between the city and the mainland, Li said.

Li said he hopes the Hong Kong government will grasp opportunities generated by the Road and Belt Initiative and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) to raise its role in the country's economic development and opening-up.

Leung said Hong Kong will actively link with national strategies, especially the Road and Belt Initiative as well as the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). Hong Kong will also boost efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship to maintain the city's prosperity and stability, Leung said.

Leung said earlier this month that he will not seek re-election next year, due to family reasons. This was his last work report to the central government as Hong Kong's chief.
5 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Holiday Weekend

Things slow down a bit as Christmas and Hanukkah fall together this weekend, but there are still some fun things to get out and do!

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).

SATURDAY DECEMBER 24

COMEDY FOR JEWS: Yeah, yeah, its Christmas Eve, but its also the first night of Hanukkah, and City Winery has a stand-up comedy show at 8 p.m. Chicago native Joel Chasnoff brings the show back home after three seasons in New York. Hell regale the audience with tales of his service in the Israeli Army from his comic memoir The 188th Crybaby Brigade. John Roy and Second City-alum Aaron Freeman join him on the bill. Tickets are $20.



SUNDAY DECEMBER 25: CHRISTMAS



Image courtesy of Slippery Slope.

MISFITS CHRISTMAS: If youre away from family and friends this Christmas, head to Slippery Slope at 7 p.m. for an Orphan Christmas. The Logan Square bar will have a Chinese takeout buffet, festive decor and plenty of company for Christmas misfits. (psst...they also have skeeball.) No cover.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF SING-A-LONG: Join others celebrating Hanukkah in a special sing-a-long showing of Fiddler on the Roof at The Music Box Theatre at 6 p.m. The Academy Award winning musical follows a Jewish family and their community struggling against growing anti-Semitism in 1905 Russia and features well-known songs like If I Were A Rich Man and Matchmaker, Matchmaker. Tickets are $12.
The central government firmly supports Hong Kong authorities to contain HK separatists in line with the Basic Law, President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

Xi made these remarks while meeting with Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who came to Beijing to report the HK government's annual work.

The central government fully acknowledges Leung's work in leading the HK government to contain HK separatists and deal with violent street activities in line with the law, Xi said.

Two legislators-elect, Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, insulted China with derogatory language while reading their oaths at a swearing-in ceremony in October. They also displayed banners proclaiming "Hong Kong is Not China." Hong Kong's High Court ruled last month that they must be disqualified as lawmakers.

Xi told Leung that the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, under which Hong Kong and Macao enjoy high autonomy, is in line with national interests and benefits Hong Kong people, and the policy should be firmly implemented and safeguarded by the HK government.

While meeting Fernando Chui Sai On, chief executive of Macau Special Administrative Region, Xi also urged him to steadily push for the "One Country, Two Systems" policy.

Xi also required the Macao government to diversify the region's recently declining economy, which has long relied on the gambling industry.

The president also extended New Year's wishes to Hong Kong and Macao people on behalf of himself as well as the central government.
Premier Li Keqiang meets with Macao's Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on on Friday in Beijing. [Photo by LIU ZHEN / CHINA NEWS SERVICE]

On Friday, Premier Li Keqiang urged Macao to promote economic and trade cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries and make the best of 23 favorable policies by the central government while building an international tourism and leisure center.

The premier made these remarks when meeting with Macao's Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on, who was reporting his work to the central government during an annual trip.

The central government firmly adheres to the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and supports the government of Macao Special Administrative Region and its chief to govern the city based on the Constitution and the Basic Law, Li said.

The Macao government continued to realize fiscal surplus and adequate employment for residents even while facing pressure for economic growth, Li said. Macao has also made progress in appropriately diversifying its economy apart from its world-famous casino industry, he added.

Premier Li met with Chui two months after he visited Macao in October to attend the fifth ministerial meeting of the Economic and Trade Forum between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Chui said a series of policies Premier Li announced in October has boosted Macao's social and economic development as well as opening-up and building cooperation with other countries. Macao will link with the country's national strategies and accelerate efforts in building a world tourism and leisure center and a platform to exchange with Portuguese-speaking countries.
Luobu, a 50-year-old doctor, rides on his horse heading for a sick villager's home in Nyemo county, Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, on Dec 10. Nyemo county is located 4,000 meters above sea level. Luobu takes care of health conditions of more than 370 residents of two villages in Nyemo county, which cover an area of 4 square kilometers.
By HU YONGQI and An BAIJIE | China Daily | Updated: 2016-12-24 05:14

The central government firmly supports Hong Kong authorities in curbing separatists who seek "Hong Kong independence", President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

Xi met with Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who came to Beijing to report on the SAR's annual work.

The central government fully acknowledges Leung's work in leading the Hong Kong government to contain the separatists and deal with violent street activities in line with the Basic Law, Xi said.

In October, two legislators-elect, Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, used derogatory language insulting the Chinese nation and displayed banners when taking oaths at a swearing-in ceremony.

Hong Kong's High Court ruled last month that the two must be disqualified as lawmakers.

Xi told Leung that the One Country, Two Systems policy is in line with national interests and also benefits Hong Kong people, and the policy should be firmly implemented and safeguarded.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Fernando Chui Sai-on, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Xi urged him to push forward the One Country, Two Systems policy.

Premier Li Keqiang separately met with the two chief executives on Friday.

The central government firmly adheres to the One Country, Two Systems policy and supports the Hong Kong government and chief executive in ruling the city based on the Constitution and the Basic Law, he told Leung.

Beijing will also continue to promulgate policies to support Hong Kong's development and strengthen communication between the special administrative region and the mainland, Li said.

Leung, who said early this month that he will not seek re-election next year, told Li that Hong Kong will align itself with national strategies, especially the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

Zhu Lijia, a professor of public administration research at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said the country's top leaders are sending a clear message to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity.

Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, a think tank, said Xi reaffirmed the central government's position to include Hong Kong in the country's overall development blueprint.

Since Hong Kong's future is closely linked with the country's advancement, those who advocate "independence" in Hong Kong will carry little weight and are doomed to fail, Lau said.

Luis Liu in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn
AIIB approves $600m loan for Azerbaijan

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has approved a loan of $600 million to finance an energy project in Azerbaijan. The decision was made by the bank's board of directors on Wednesday. The loan, the largest the bank has made, will be used to support construction of a natural gas pipeline from Azerbaijan through Turkey, known as the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project, the bank said on Thursday. Once completed, the project will transport natural gas from fields in Azerbaijan into Turkey and then on to markets in southern Europe. The construction of the pipeline will create jobs in Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Increased progress in structural reform
Another Christmas in China is fast approaching, with all its potential for boosting GDP. The holiday has penetrated every corner of the country. Christmas songs started playing in convenience stores and markets last month. Twinkling Christmas trees abound, and cardboard Santas, and reindeer, and elves beckon shoppers to empty their WeChat wallets.

In a Tianjin supermarket last week, I brushed past a full-size robotic Santa Claus and triggered its motion sensor. The white-bearded Jolly Old Elf began to dance and chuckle: "Ho, ho, ho!" What could I do? I took a selfie with him.

The religious overtones of Christmas have long since faded, supplanted by commercialism. But that's OK with me. Apart from wrecking my bank account for the good of society, the holiday provides an opportunity to renew friendships, connect with colleagues, express appreciation and interact with loved ones. These things are often accompanied by gift-giving. If buying them helps the economy, so much the better.
Despite of the tense cross-Straits relations, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are still maintaining exchanges through political party communications.

The Communist Party of China and Taiwan's Kuomintang held a dialogue on Friday in Beijing. Zhang Zhijun, the mainland's Taiwan affairs chief, met with the KMT delegation, led by the party's Vice-Chairman Chen Chen-hsiang.

They discussed party communication at the grassroots level, the protection of people's welfare and communication between youths on both sides.
The first highway bridge connecting China and Russia over the Heilong River is expected to trigger a development boom in the cross-border economic corridor - with positive effects for Mongolia, as well - as the flow of cargo and people increases.

A joint venture company will start construction of the bridge on Saturday, 28 years after it was first proposed. The model may prove instructive for the construction of other cross-border infrastructure, officials said at a news conference on Thursday.

The19.9-kilometer bridge about one-third of which is in China - stretches from Heihe, a border town in Heilongjiang province, to the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk.
The opera Jianzhen's Journey to Japan is now touring Japan. [Photo by Yoshinori Matsuda/For China Daily]

A China-made opera, Jianzhen's Journey to Japan, premiered in Tokyo on Tuesday, the anniversary of the Chinese monk's arrival in the country 1,263 years ago.

The opera's director, Xing Shimiao, calls it "a mere coincidence".

But the return of the Chinese monk caused a stir in Tokyo as Jianzhen, or Ganji as he is known in Japan, is a household name in the island nation. He is still revered as Japan's benefactor.

The production by Jiangsu Performing Arts Group made the full-house Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo's Shibuya roar, with former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama as the first person to stand and applaud.

"It is phenomenal that actors from Jianzhen's ancestral hometown of Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, put his story on Japan's stage tonight," says Hatoyama.

"What he had brought to Nara still has an influence on Japan today."

The opera highlights Jianzhen's six attempts to go to Japan from 743 to 753.

At the age of 14, Jianzhen became a disciple at the Daming Temple in Yangzhou.
An archaeologist excavates the Zhenjiang Building ruins at Sanjiangkou, Sanjiangpo village, Nanning city, Guangxi province, Dec 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]

The Zhenjiang Building ruins at Sanjiangkou in Nanning is in rescue excavation mode now and so far over 300 square meters have been unearthed.

Ten copper coins, black bricks from the building's base and some ceramic pieces for daily use were discovered at the site.

It is thought that people lived here during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), which coincides with the historical record that the army were always dispatched to the Zhenjiang Building. The place played an important military strategic role during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties.

In addition to the Zhenjiang Building ruins, four sites nearby and over 30 artifacts were also discovered.

As the Zhenjiang Building ruins were facing the threat of collapse and disappearance due to river bank dilapidation and rising water levels, archaeologists conducted a comprehensive survey in 2014 and started the excavation this year.
These Excellent Restaurants & Bars Are Open Christmas Day

By Stephen Gossett in Food on Dec 23, 2016 9:01PM

If you dont celebrate Christmas, or just have a healthy skepticism toward knee-jerk traditionalismor perhaps you just really hate doing dishesdining out on Dec. 25 can be a seriously appetizing proposition. There are a surprisingly large number of options available in Chicago, dozens actually. So rather than cripple you with paradox of restaurant choice, weve whittled it down to a handful of standoutsincluding some bars you might want to escape to when family time and Christmas cheer all get to be too much to bear. Heres where to head.



The interior of the Cape Cod Room. Photo via The Drake.

The Cape Cod Room

CCR is the kind of old-world, white-tablecloth hotel restaurant that doesnt seem long for these times. To be sure, the old-school seafood spot is in fact closing its doors at years end. Were sad to report that the room is now booked for Christmas Day, but we think its worth a call or two or five day of to cruise for cancelations. As our food writer noted when news of the closure arrived, the restaurant pendulum is swinging back appreciation for such yesteryear timelessness. If you can get the real deal, on a holiday no less, before some trendy hospitality group serves back the repackaged version, do what you can to make it happen.

The Cape Cod Room is located at The Drake Hotel, 140 E Walton Pl.

MingHin Cuisine

A bevy of restaurants in Chinatown are open on Dec. 25, for rather obvious reasons: grabbing Chinese food on Christmas Day is a traditional all of its own, particularly among Jewish people. Options include the great tapioca/smoothie spot Joy Yee Noodle, about which weve waxed poetic before, but you cant do better than this lovably boisterous, much-celebrated dim sum/Cantonese favorite. Whatever you do, make sure to try the Macau Style Roast Pork Belly, semi-legendary among aficionados.

MingHin Cuisine is located at 2168 S. Archer Ave.



Via Nico Osteria

Nico Osteria

The Italian favorite is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving brunch on both. (The Feast of Seven Fishes is a long-running, much-loved Eve tradition.) Christmas Day dinner menu offers regional classics and seasonal favorites, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Nico Osteria is located at 1015 N. Rush.

Replay Beer & Bourbon

Enjoy a retro vibe of a whole different kind than Italian and hotel-restaurant classicism this Lakeview barcade. (Note: Despite this being a Lakeview bar, you are neither required nor encouraged to binge drink, despite what trends indicate.) Replay opens its doorsand impressive tap list, bourbon shelves and free (!) arcade gamesat 7 p.m., serving as a self-professed Island of Misfit Toys. If you like a little joystick analog with your holiday joy, or just need a boozy break from the overwhelming enormity of the day, this is looks like a way to call timeout.

Replay is located at 3439 N Halsted St.



(Photo: Slippery Slope's Facebook)

Slippery Slope

For once, you might actually not have to arrive early on a weekend night at Logan Squares favorite skee-ball-themed dance club to avoid Slippery Slopes notorious lines. Or maybe itll be business as usual, with sweaty throngs filling the dance floor, regardless of time of year. The Slope, which is open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., might be the best option for a post-festivity rager. Expect lots of drinks, jams and Chinese food.

Slippery Slope is located at 2357 N Milwaukee Ave.

Travelle Kitchen + Bar

Michelin star-winning chef and Tru vet Tim Graham may have decamped earlier this year to forge his own venture, but the annual Christmas brunch at this swank, Mediterranean-focused Langham Hotel spot carries on. Now something of a new tradition after a few years, the buffet and/or cooked-to-order offering is one of the precious few pre-dinner options to stand out, running from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations recommended.

Travelle is located at 330 N. Wabash Ave.

photo via Vermillion

Vermilion

If youre bored of honey-glazed ham and not animated about playing host this upscale Indian-Latin fusion spot on the Near North Side offers a five-course herb-and-spice dinner for $50. (Their ham is mango coriander; beat that, Aunt Betty.) A vegetarian menu is available, as are Christmas cocktails, such as pumpkin horchata and coconut saffron crAme.

Vermilion is located at 10 W. Hubbard St.

Mercat a la Planxa

This South Loop staple is serving up excellent Spanish dishes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Daystop by for brunch before 3 p.m. for a price-fixed meal at $35 a person, or visit in the evening for a $75, four-course dinner featuring choices such as Roasted Suckling Pig, Block Cod and Grilled Lamb Chop. Make a reservation now if you want to make this your last-minute Christmas Day plan.

Mercat a la Panxa is located at 638 S. Michigan Ave.

Delilahs

When Christmas Day gets overwhelming, sneak out for a drink at this divey Lincoln Park spot. Delilah's is screening a Star Wars holiday special in the evening as a twist on their regularly-scheduled Sunday Film Night. A DJ will also be spinning later in the night.

Delilah's is located at 2771 N. Lincoln Ave.

Headquarter's

If you're like me and you remember Christmas being much more fun when you were a kid, Headquarters might just be the Christmas Day spot for you. This spacious River North arcade bar has dozens of vintage games and pinball machines to make anyone feel like a kid again, plus an extensive menu of drinks, bar snacks and burgers.

Headquarters is located at 213 W. Institute Place
People watch the performance at the National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing, Dec 22, 2016. Thursday marked the ninth anniversary of the National Center for the Performing Arts and the start of its annual public art festival. The one-day event featured 16 performances, five lectures and 10 exhibitions, which attracted thousands of visitors. [Photo/Xinhua]
Discover the best things to do in Beijing with our weekly roundup of art and exhibitions, music and performances, and the trending activities around the town.

Exhibitions:

In 'contact' with Andy Worhal

Get in "contact" with legendary American artist Andy Warhol and experience the world's earliest example of an immersive art installation at Beijing's cultural hub 798 Art Zone.

Titled Andy Worhal: Contact, the exhibition will run through Jan 7, 2017, at the M Woods museum.

A rare collection of some 100 major works of Warhol's pop art are on show, including the renowned interactive installation Silver Cloud and the 1963 silent experimental film Kiss.

If you go:

Date: Through Jan 7

Venue: M Woods, 798 Art Zone, 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang district

Ticket: 60 yuan
US President-elect Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a USA Thank You Tour event in Mobile, Alabama, US, December 17, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Because it is so emotionally charged, populism can be easily guided for a purpose. One example of this is the campaign rhetoric of Donald Trump about how foreigners have "raped" the United States by "stealing" many of its manufacturing jobs.

At the time, many Chinese were willing to laugh away such accusations against China as just more of the usual rhetoricthough more extremethat has come to characterize presidential elections in the US. Now, however, there is real cause for concern as the president-elect has named economist Peter Navarro, known for his anti-China alarmism, as his trade adviser.

Trump in a statement announcing the appointment of Navarro as head of a newly created White House National Trade Council, praised the clarity of Navarro's arguments. Which is perhaps not that surprising given the University of California-Irvine professor was the mastermind of the rhetoric Trump adopted during his campaign, and it had a similar tone to the apocalyptic language Navarro has used when accusing China of wiping out American manufacturing jobs and waging what he claims is an economic war against the US.

His appointment is another sign of the confrontational approach the incoming Trump administration seems intent on taking in relations with China.

It is an indisputable fact that China has not stolen jobs from the old manufacturing towns in the US, for those jobs were taken elsewhere by US companies who found that US consumers weren't willing to pay the price for made-in-America products.

A point that was highlighted again on Tuesday in a Bloomberg report, which said American-made Macs have become an "albatross" for Apple since it started assembling them in the US in 2013 to "score political points" and some engineers are now pushing to move production "back to Asia".

And the so-called economic war Navarro claims China is waging is the competition that has risen as China's economy has moved up the value chain. Indeed the revelations of Edward Snowden showed that it is the US that has been using unfair means to gain an economic advantage.

That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration, is no laughing matter. The new administration should bear in mind that with economic and trade ties between the world's two largest economies now the closest they have ever been, any move to damage the win-win relationship will only result in a loss for both sides.

Still, Chinese companies in the US should be on high alert to a more difficult business climate.
Workers sort packages after an online shopping spree in November in Fuyang, Anhui province. [Photo/China Daily]

A PROPOSAL for the draft of an e-commerce law attracted much attention during the ongoing meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee from December 19 to 25 in Beijing. China Youth Daily commented on Thursday:

Public opinion on the draft of an e-commerce law is quite favorable. The reason is very simple: In recent years, scams, fake products and leaks of consumers' personal information have been prevalent problems.

Whenever there is a special online shopping gala, the regulatory authorities issue consumer alerts, not only warning consumers to beware of a variety of traps or tricks, but also asking the platform providers to tackle the problems and to take preventive measures.

The repeated need for these consumer alerts shows how incorrigible these problems have been.

The first draft of the proposed e-commerce law may finally address them.

Of course, the development of e-commerce in China is still in its early days, and the legislation may not be perfect.

But it needs to be carefully considered, if the legislation is too impatient and improper, it will affect the development of the industry.

If effectively regulated to remove fraud and fakes, however, the shopping experience will improve for the better, which will have a positive impact on the development of the industry.
TEN LOCAL BANKS as well as many securities dealers and futures brokers are reportedly in line for their initial public offering in China's A-share market, raising concerns about the shrinking market liquidity for bricks-and-mortar enterprises and innovation-driven companies. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Thursday:

Financial enterprises at all levels are striving for a place in the stock market this year, each with different intentions in mind. Most small local banks want to raise funds, while securities dealers want to further expand their business.

They have good reasons to do so as IPOs in the A-share market have become smoother during the past few months. China Securities Regulatory Commission, the top securities regulator, approved 52 IPO applications last month, marking the highest monthly total this year.

Admittedly, all qualified enterprises should be given a green light to list on the stock market. But extra caution and scrutiny are called for when it comes to the IPO applications by credit institutions, especially those financial enterprises with high and risky leverage.

In other words, their expansion ambitions should be restricted to reduce the risks of capital shortage. More important, raising money via the stock market is not supposed to become a primary financing choice for banks and brokerages.

Under the approval system for public offering of stocks, the financing channels through IPO applications are limited. As such, priorities should be given to enterprises in urgent financing need, such as bricks-and-mortars and small- and medium-sized companies with a focus on cutting-edge technologies, rather than financial institutions.

A major obstacle to the development of the real economy is the limited direct financing options available for traditional enterprises, many of which have to go through intermediary institutions such as banks, which means extra costs. Widening financial players' access to direct financing would not only make it harder for enterprises in need, but also strengthen the role of banks as financing intermediaries.

That is hardly what the stock market is designed to achieve. Besides, the necessity of restricting financial companies' IPO applications is self-evident, because they have a great appetite for stock market capital and are more susceptible to speculative activities.
An employee counts yuan banknotes at a bank in Huaibei, Anhui province June 22, 2010.[Photo/Agencies]

The government made amazing achievements in 2016. At a press conference during this year's session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, in March, Premier Li Keqiang said the government had already abolished one-third of the unnecessary administrative licenses and will reduce them by half by the end of the year.

That promise has been fulfilled. By early December, the State Council, China's Cabinet, had canceled 222 unnecessary vocational licenses for employees and more than 50 approval procedures for investment programs.

The importance of simplifying administrative procedures can never be overestimated. Complicated administrative procedures not only impose additional economic costs on enterprises, they also force enterprises to spend more time to complete them. Just to open a small shop you have to purchase dozens of stamps. This time-and energy-consuming procedure is not conducive to doing business.

Unlike 2014 and 2015, the administrative procedure reform this year focused on reducing the requirements for investment programs, which was necessary because enterprises need a lower threshold for investment so as to have more vitality.

But the reduction of requirements allowed investors to save only time, not economic costs. The tax burden on domestic enterprises is still quite high. For example, Cao Dewang who runs a glass manufacturing business went online to complain about the burden of heavy tax on enterprises. Cao's video has been widely circulated on the internet and many entrepreneurs have voiced similar complaints.

So once the administrative procedures are simplified, the government should deepen the reform by cutting taxes to reduce the economic costs of enterprises, which in turn will boost the economy.

Easing the tax burden of enterprises is likely to be fraught with difficulties, because it will challenge some vested interests. So implementing the reform will be a test for the authorities.

Only when the authorities abolish the majority of the unnecessary administrative procedures and fees, and ease the tax burden can enterprises save both time and economic costs, and enjoy the dividends of the reform.

Next year, the higher authorities have to take several measures to expedite the pace of the reform. To begin with, they should instruct local governments to follow in the footsteps of the central ministries and departments, which have been simplifying their administrative procedures for years. Some provincial-and city-level governments, too, have been doing the same. But since lower-level governments deal more directly with the people than the higher ones, the administrative procedure reform will be a comprehensive success only when lower-level governments follow the central government's rules.

And since some officials could lose their powers because of the reform, they are reluctant to implement it and thus curbing economic growth and causing inconvenience to the people. Besides, some local officials idle away their working hours, slowing down the governance reform. The central leadership should take steps to remove these obstacles by more strictly regulating civil servants.

The author is a professor of public governance at Peking University. The article is an excerpt from his interview with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang.
Criminal justice: Felons convicted of serious corruption would be prohibited from seeking shorter sentences, under a third reading of the draft amendment to the Criminal Law. The amendment aims to "safeguard judicial fairness".[Photo/China Daily]

China launched a pilot program for supervision reform in Beijing, Shanxi and Zhejiang provinces in November with the aim of setting up anti-corruption bodies established by provincial-level people's congresses that will jointly work with Party disciplinary committees at the same level.

The effort to combine different tools and institutions to combat corruption is a welcome move as it will not only put more officials under supervision but also strengthen supervision, making the fight against corruption more efficient and authoritative. The pilot program will move from "strictly regulating Party members" to "strictly regulating all civil servants", including non-Party members.

For long, Party disciplinary committees at various levels have played the key role in preventing and curbing corruption, by mainly educating Party members to stay clean and launching investigations against those suspected of corruption. The method has been effective, but it has two problems.

First, most of the Party members are honest and principled; only a few are corrupt. So it will be a big waste of anti-corruption resources if disciplinary committees target only Party members. And second, some officials who are not Party members, too, could abuse their powers. So it is equally important to prevent non-Party-member officials from falling to the lure of corruption. However, the Party disciplinary bodies can hardly do anything against them because they are not Party members.

Corruption happens when people who wield power are not supervised or monitored, no matter whether they are Party members or not. Therefore, the disciplinary supervision bodies should oversee all civil servants, rather than just Party members.

The existing government supervision organizations have tried to plug the loopholes by also monitoring officials who are not Party members. But in the past they were not given enough power and their duties were rather limited. As a result, most of the corruption cases involving non-Party members were detected by procurators rather than government supervision bodies in the past.

That's why the reform is necessary. The anti-corruption committees established by the provincial-level people's congresses have more power and their official level is the same as that of the judiciary.

More importantly, the new committees have the power to supervise all public servants, as is clearly stated in the pilot scheme. All employees in government agencies, public funded institutions and State-owned enterprises are subject to the supervision of the new committees.

And the fact that the new committees will work with Party disciplinary committees at the same level shows the reform is aimed at making fight against corruption more efficient. Since many officials are Party members, both committees are authorized to supervise them; and by working together, they will avoid repetitive work and cannot shirk responsibilities.

Besides, there are multiple departments that can supervise officials, and their efforts need to be integrated under the leadership of the Party, so as to more efficiently combat corruption. Of course, the design needs to stand the test of practice and time, and that's why the program is on a dry run in Beijing, Shanxi and Zhejiang. Hopefully, it will provide precious experience to strengthen the future fight against corruption.

The author is a professor of anti-corruption studies at the Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University.
The father and sister of Nie Shubin react after hearing Nie is exonerated in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, Dec 2, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

The Supreme People's Court declared Nie Shubin innocent on Dec 2, 21 years after the resident of Shijiazhuang in North China's Hebei province was executed for "rape and murder" at the age of 21. The correction of the verdict against Nie, a milestone in the legal history of China, shows the promotion of the rule of law has made great progress.

Twenty-one years have passed since Nie was found "guilty of rape and murder" and executed in April 1995. And it has been 11 years since Wang Shujin, a suspect, claimed in 2005 that he had committed the crimes. The sentence given to Nie had attracted a lot of social attention at the time, yet the judiciary in Hebei where the case was heard made little progress.

So instead of asking the Hebei court to review the case, the Supreme People's Court assigned the job to the High People's Court of Shandong province, which eventually absolved Nie of the crimes.

That Nie's case has been corrected marks a giant step in China's efforts to comprehensively advance the rule of law.

There are several lessons to learn from Nie's case. According to the current regulations, if there is a problem with a court verdict and the defendant wants a retrial, he/she has to submit the application only to the court that passed the verdict, and the same court will decide whether it should review its own decision. The problem with this system is that the court that passes the judgment is trusted with finding its own mistake. In judicial practice, even after judges realize they have passed a wrong verdict, they tend to not correct it, and that's possibly why it took so long for Nie's case to be corrected.

The Supreme People's Court has set a powerful precedent by appointing another court to review the case, which should become the norm in the future. The correction of Nie's case also reaffirms the principle of "presumption of innocence", which means a person is considered innocent unless proven guilty.

In practice, however, some judges doubted the value of the principle because of their firm belief that no criminal should be at large. As a result, some judges declared defendants guilty without sufficient evidence. In a few cases, the defendants were given lighter sentences despite insufficient evidence, instead of being set free.

Now that Nie's case has been corrected, the judges will realize the significance of the "presumption of innocence" principle and always follow it. Nie's case has highlighted some of the problems that plagued China's judiciary in the past. For example, police used to play the leading role in the entire judicial process, and a suspect was more likely than not to be found guilty by the court. Lawyers, courts and procurators should learn from Nie's case and ensure no person is wrongly convicted.

Let's hope the case ushers in a new chapter of judicial reform, which will help the country to establish the rule of law comprehensively.

The author is a Beijing-based lawyer.
Editor's Note: In the wave of globalization and economic growth, a growing number of foreigners are coming to China in search of opportunities. With diverse purposes, some of them choose to work in the world's fastest growing economy, or some want to experience a cross-cultural environment and successfully integrate into it, while others go on to achieve their aspirations in China. Regardless, working or living in a cross-cultural environment isn't a walk in the park. At the end of the year, a time to reflect and start fresh, we rounded up some inspirational stories of six foreigners living in China. We hope these stories can inspire you in the start of the new year. Here is Ingrid Chen's story.

Ingrid Chen of Northern Ireland was 28 when she landed in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, for a five-week course in Chinese. Now 52, she found a family, a career and a purpose during her years in China.

A teacher of the deaf in Northern Ireland, Chen learned Chinese sign language in Kunming and then worked in a program that teaches sign language, crafts and sewing skills to people over 16 from the rural areas around Kunming with no educational opportunities..

To help local disabled people who struggle to find an education and a job, Chen and some partners from the NGO established their own company in 2002, Hearts & Hands, to sell products made in the traditional style of Yunnan ethnic cultures that are created by the deaf and sold overseas.

She's never taken a salary for her work, so her family's daily expenses are covered by her husband, who is a woodworker. But Chen has never regretted starting her company.

Ingrid Chen talks with a deaf worker to discuss sewing skills. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

I love the challenge of working in China. Having a background in teaching but finding myself running a small social enterprise makes life even more of a challenge. It seems each year comes with new developments and new problems, but all are learning opportunities.

In 2016, our small sewing business reached further afield, selling products to people in different European countries and to the Middle East. We joined a large online craft market that gave individuals all over the world access to our products. One major hurdle has been with logistics, shipping products quickly and making sure they arrive safely. They haven't always reached their destination, which is frustrating for customers and us alike.

One discovery we made was the WeChat store. WeChat has done a fantastic job making it easy to set up and run a store. With little idea as to how it would work we put some of our products in the store and with one click, I sent our store details to all in my contacts list. Supportive friends then passed that on and in the first day or so we had over 7,000 views of our products. We continue to have thousands of daily views of our products and many sales of our beautiful products have ensued. Our products are now going out to all parts of China. Through online shopping the world for us has definitely become smaller and more accessible.
Syrian army soldiers celebrate the evacuation of the opposition fighters in Aleppo, northern Syria, on Dec. 22, 2016. The Syrian army declared on Thursday the liberation of eastern Aleppo city in northern Syria, as the last batch of rebels left the city, making Aleppo city completely under the government control. [Photo/Xinhua]

ALEPPO, Syria - Celebrations prevailed Syria's northern city of Aleppo, just minutes after the army declared the city free of rebels on Thursday.

Honking their cars while waving the Syrian flags, hundreds of people thronged the squares of western Aleppo chanting slogans in support of President Bashar al-Assad and Aleppo.

"Here is Aleppo", and "Aleppo is back," chanted the demonstrators.

"I would like to say that today the victory in Aleppo, tomorrow in all of Syria. We tell the rebels that we are here and we are the victors," Qadri, a demonstrator, told Xinhua.

Sabah, another demonstrator, said "we are so happy. This happiness is indescribable and it's the best joy we have had in a long time. Now we are the happiest people in the country. Everyone here is happy, the boys, the men and women."

For his part, Shadi said "we have earned this happiness. We have been waiting for this day for a very long time. Thanks God the time of terrorists is over."

On Thursday evening, the Syrian army declared the liberation of eastern Aleppo city, as the last batch of rebels left the city, making Aleppo city completely under the government control.

The Syrian army declared the restoration of security and stability to all of Aleppo city, following the evacuation of the last rebel convoy from the eastern part of the city on Thursday evening.

"This victory constitutes a strategic turn in the war on terror, and deals a strong blow to the terrorist project and its backers," said the army in a statement.

"The victory constitutes the launching of a new stage in battling terrorism on all Syrian territories," the statement added.

The statement stressed that the victory in Aleppo will motivate the Syrian army to carry out its battles on the terrorists across Syria.

The evacuation of rebels and their families started last Thursday, as part of a Russian Turkish-deal to end the rebel presence in eastern Aleppo following a large-scale offensive. Aleppo has been under the rebel control since 2012.
Models for Eve show off the brand's new collections with embroidery patterns inspired from ethnic Miao works in Jidao village, Guizhou province.

Tucked away in the mountains, Jidao village is a three-hour drive from Guiyang, the provincial capital of Guizhou province. Here, the ethnic Miao people maintain their traditional lifestyle. They live in wooden houses, preserve meat in early winter and hold gatherings at the riverside to remember their ancestors every year.

On the face of it, all this might seem to have no connection with high fashion, but the community has been a source of inspiration for many designers and fashion houses, including fashion brand Eve.

The Chinese brand recently made a trip to the village to make an advertising campaign for its 2017 spring/summer collection, which features Miao embroidery.

Inspired by the sea, the collection features shades of blue on its suits, sweaters and coats. A smattering of embroidery adorns the classic suit silhouette.

The women's collection includes sleek qipao (traditional Chinese women's dress) and dresses that highlight nature-inspired embroidery.

While traditional Miao embroidery is intricate, Wu Chaohui, creative director of Eve's menswear line, says the brand has simplified it to cater to customers' modern-day needs.

"Traditional Miao embroidery is usually very rich and exaggerated, while modern menswear is understated. So we try to use it (the embroidery) in a selective, moderated way," he says.

"We want to revive this heritage by offering it to an urban clientele, and we hope this tradition will live on."
People walk around in the reopened Christmas market at the Breitscheid Square in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Dec 22, 2016. The Christmas market here attacked on Monday, was reopened on Thursday. [Photo/Agencies]

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday praised the German people for their "level-headed" response to the Berlin terror attack.

Her statement came as authorities carried out raids across the country in search for the prime suspect thought to have driven a truck through a Christmas market in the capital, killing 12 so far.

"In the past few days, I have been very proud of how level-headed the majority of people reacted to this situation," Merkel said, after a briefing with Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Justice Minister Heiko Maas.

De Maiziere, speaking to reporters after the briefing, said the investigation revolves around Ani Amri, a Tunisian national, whose fingerprints was found in the truck used in the attack.

Amri's immigration papers were also found inside the vehicle that ploughed through the Christmas market near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a landmark in west Berlin, on Monday evening.

Geman police were reportedly carrying out raids across the country on Thursday, including the capital and in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia where the suspect had spent time.

In Moabit district of Berlin, police raided a mosque listed as a hub for radical Islamists by Germany's domestic intelligence agency. Another raid was carried out on a refugee home in Emmerich in North Rhine-Westphalia, where the suspect lived for some time after arriving in Germany last July.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) takes a group photo with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L), Brazil's President Michel Temer (L), Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) and South Africa's President Jacob Zuma at the West Lake State Guest House ahead of G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, September 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

This week we are presenting a year-end review of the global economy, China's economy, society and diplomacy, and the international situation. Today four researchers review China's diplomacy and give their outlooks for 2017.

World Leadership | What is China's role in global governance?

Chinese President Xi Jinping presides over the opening ceremony of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

With global governance struggling to deal with increasingly thorny issues, such as Brexit and the sluggish global economic recovery, globalization has been in retreat this year. Given this fact, China's intensified efforts to engage in global governance seem like a silver lining.

The successful G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, in September added weight to the multinational bloc's legitimacy as the premier forum on international economic cooperation. Following the summit, China's top leader Xi Jinping called for closer cooperation to reform the global governance system, and advance peace and development in the world.

Read More

Belt And Road | Will initiative help build a fairer world order?

In the three years since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed it, the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) has attracted many countries aspiring for true win-win cooperation, as opposed to the West-centric globalization.

The rise of trade protectionism in some Western countries has cast a shadow over the already weakening global economic growth. The Beijing-led initiative, however, is gaining fresh support to serve as an apt alternative and cover areas long neglected by the West-centric globalization and help embattled economies tide over the continuing fallout of the global financial crisis.

Read More

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and South Korean President Park Geun-hye attend the sixth China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting in Seoul, Nov 1, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Regional Affairs | Why is Northeast Asia fraught with uncertainties?

For China-Japan-Republic of Korea relations, arguably the most important trilateral relationship in the region, this year has not been good. The recent impeachment of ROK President Park Geun-hye, besides dealing a heavy blow to her political career, has delayed the trilateral leadership meeting that was originally scheduled for the end of 2016.

Things started getting more complicated after Seoul allowed Washington to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system on the ROK soil, which Beijing is vehemently opposed to. While Seoul's decision on THAAD has further strained China-ROK ties, the ongoing political drama in the ROK is not at all conducive to rebuilding trust among the three neighbors.

Read More

US President-elect Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a USA Thank You Tour event in Mobile, Alabama, US, December 17, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Sino-US Ties | What more to expect with Trump in office?

The gap between China and the United States in terms of national strength and international influence has further narrowed this year. China's interactions with the US on the regional security and economic orders, combined with its political stability and relatively decent economic growth, speak volumes about Beijing's proposal at major events such as the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, to build an inclusive global order. And given the increasing number of economies recognizing the importance of China's proposal and Beijing's enhanced leadership capability, Sino-US ties are moving toward a more balanced state.

On its part, the US has a long way to go to address the deep divisions at home exposed by Donald Trump's election as the next president. The US' attempts to contain the rise of China, epitomized by the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement that Trump has vowed to scrap on his first day in office, have been futile and discarded by most regional powers.
MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism, the Kremlin press service said Friday.

In a telephone talk, "Putin and Netanyahu continued exchange of opinions on the current situation in the Middle East. They confirmed their readiness for further active cooperation in the fight against terrorism," it said.

The conversation, held on the Israeli initiative, was the second this week.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu offered condolences over the assassination of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov and said Israel was ready to boost anti-terrorism cooperation with Russia.
MOSCOW - On the birthday of Rossiya Segodnya Special Photo Correspondent Andrei Stenin, the international contest commemorating him is now accepting photos from young photo journalists around the world.

Applications can now be submitted to the stenincontest.com website through March 22, 2017. Photographers of 18 to 33 years of age qualify to take part. The Andrei Stenin photo contest was established by Rossiya Segodnya under the auspices of Russia's Commission for UNESCO. It is Russia's only platform to discover new names and supports young professional photographers.

The 2017 contest will showcase four categories for which young photographers can vie for awards: "Top News" and "Sport", "My Planet" and "Portrait. A Hero of Our Time". The 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes amount to 50,000, 35,000 and 25,000 rubles, respectively, with the Grand Prix set at 500,000 rubles. Even more important is the opportunity for young photojournalists to showcase their works at Russian and international exhibitions.

Alexander Shtol, Director of Rossiya Segodnya Photo Information Directorate, said: "The Andrei Stenin International Photo Contest is a chance for young photojournalists from around the world to make a name for themselves, to assess their skills and see what drives and thrills them most in this job and what they should pursue. The contest, with a jury of leading international photographers and photography experts, discovers new names and displays their works for the whole world to see. We are happy to welcome new contestants and wish them good luck!"

The 2016 contest was the largest ever since its establishment. The jury had to choose from among 6,000 entries by young photojournalists from 71 countries, including Russia. Winning photograps have been shown in Moscow, Istanbul, Cape Town, Cairo, Shanghai and Beijing, Rome, Berlin, Maribor and Ljubljana. The Grand Prix prize in the 2016 contest went to Italian photographer Danilo Garcia Di Meo for a photo series about paralyzed young woman, Letizia. The series won the hearts of the jury and, as a result, Letizia made her first ever foreign trip to Russia where she could tell her story in person and inspire those many people who live a similar life.

The 2016 contest is supported by major Russian and international media outlets, news agencies and photo societies. Its general information sponsors are: The Rossiya K TV Channel (Russia Culture), KP.ru, the news and information portal jourdom.ru portal and the Russian Photo portal.

The contest's international information partners are: Sputnik News Agency and Radio, the Askanews news agency, EFE news agency, EBC, Notimex news agency, RT TV network and portal, The Royal Photographic Society, Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG), Xinhua news agency, Independent Media, ANTARA Foto press photo agency.

The contest's professional information partners are: the Academy of Photography, the agency Geophoto.ru , the photography educational website photo-study.ru, the Moscow Union of Journalists, the Union of Student and Youth Media, the portal Young Journalists and the Uglich Photo Parade festival.
Updates: 22:53

Hijackers of Libyan plane surrender, detained

The two hijackers of a Libyan internal flight have surrendered, searched and taken into custody at the Malta International Airport, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

All of the 109 passengers and seven crew members had been released unharmed earlier.

The Libyan plane, flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

The Afriqiyah Airways flight had departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha in the morning, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Updates: 22:03

Hijackers release all passengers on board Libyan plane

Potentially two hijackers and some of the seven crew members still remained on board a Libyan plane, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

All of the 109 passengers have earlier been released by group.

The Libyan plane, flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

The Afriqiyah Airways flight had departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha in the morning, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

At this point, it is not known what hijackers' requests are.

Citing Arab sources, Maltese national TV station TVM reported that the two hijackers, armed with explosive devices, were from southern Libya.

Updates: 21:50

Hijackers releasing crew members of Libyan plane

Crew members are being released from a hijacked Libyan plane, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

The plane has 111 passengers on board -- 82 males, 28 females and one infant. It also has seven crew members.

People disembark from a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 on the runway at Malta Airport, December 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Updates: 21:17

Second group of 25 passengers leaves hijacked Libyan plane

The second group of 25 passengers is being released from a hijacked Libyan plane, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

The plane has 111 passengers on board, 82 males, 28 females, and one infant.

Updates: 21:03

First group of passengers leaves hijacked Libyan plane in Malta

The first group of passengers, made up of women and children, are being released now from a hijacked Libyan plane, Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

"First 25 passengers (are) released," he said in a separate Twitter.

The Libyan airplane with 111 passengers on board and flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed in Malta on Friday morning.

The Afriqiyah Airways plane departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The hijacked airplane landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

It has 111 passengers on board, 82 males, 28 females, and one infant, Muscat said.

Related: Hijacked Libyan plane lands in Malta with 118 people aboard

An airliner on an internal flight in Libya was hijacked by a man claiming to have a hand grenade on Friday and diverted to Malta, where it landed with 118 people on board.

The hijacker told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

It was unclear what the demands were. Some media reports said there was more than one hijacker. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

Troops took up positions a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac and no one was seen boarding or leaving it. The aircraft's engines were still running 45 minutes after it landed late in the morning, the Times of Malta said.

Some other flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

Large numbers of security officials could be seen at Mitiga airport after news of the hijacking.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta, a European Union member, is about 500 km (300 miles) north of Tripoli.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM".

The last major hijacking in Malta was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.
Countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should take the lead in disarmament, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Friday.

Hua made the remarks at a regular news conference while commenting on the recent remarks of US President-elect Donald Trump, who said on his twitter account that he wanted to strengthen his nation's nuclear capabilities.

"The countries that have the largest nuclear arsenals should bear special responsibility for nuclear disarmament," she said.

China is paying attention to the new American administration's policy on the nuclear issue, Hua told reporters.

Hua said China has always advocated for the ban and complete destruction of nuclear weapons.

Trump tweeted Thursday: "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."
ROME - The suspect of Monday's terror attack at a Christmas market in Germany's capital Berlin was shot dead in a neighborhood of Milan on Friday, local media reported.

Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti has confirmed the news, saying the person killed, "without a shadow of a doubt," is Anis Amri, the suspect of the latest terror attack in Berlin.

Amri was killed during an exchange of fire with police near a train station in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood early Friday.

According to the anti-terrorism police, Amri arrived in Italy from France. He went from the French town of Chambery to Italy's Turin and then took a train to Milan, where he arrived at around 1 am local time.

He then continued to head for the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood, where he ran into two police officers at around 4 am before he was killed in a shootout when they tried to conduct a routine stop-check, according to local media reports.

One policeman was wounded in the shoulder during the shootout and hospitalized, but not in serious condition.

Amri, who carried no documents with him, was identified on the basis of his appearance and fingerprints after the shootout, anti-terrorism police sources in Milan said.

Amri had been jailed for about three years in Italy for setting fire to a refugee center.
VALLETTA -- The two hijackers of a Libyan internal flight have surrendered, searched and taken into custody at the Malta International Airport, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday on Twitter.

All of the 109 passengers and seven crew members had been released unharmed earlier.

The Libyan plane, flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

The Afriqiyah Airways flight had departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha in the morning, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.
VALLETTA -- The two hijackers of a Libyan flight were found to be in possession of a hand-grenade and a pistol, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Friday.

A second pistol was found following a search of the aircraft, Muscat told a press conference after the surrendering of the two hijackers.

The two Libyan hijackers surrendered peacefully without making any conditions. They are being interrogated by Maltese authorities, he said.

The 109 passengers will be returned to Libya in the coming hours after they are questioned by police. Some of the six crew members are being questioned to ascertain course of events, Muscat said.

The Libyan plane, flying a domestic route in Libya, was hijacked and landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 a.m. local time.

The Afriqiyah Airways flight had departed the southern Libyan city of Sebha in the morning, originally on its way to the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Muscat said that the two hijackers had not made any demands.

The hijackers have not made any request for political asylum so far. But it cannot be excluded that they might make such requests in the hours to come, he said.

Citing Arab sources, Maltese national TV station TVM reported earlier that the two hijackers were from southern Libya and were supporters of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence since the uprising that toppled Gaddafi in 2011.
China employers must provide certain mandatory benefits to their China employees (both Chinese and expat), and failing to do so can expose them to serious risks. In this post, I discuss six common myths my law firms China employment lawyers often hear or get asked about regarding mandatory employee benefits.

Myth 1: Employers need not pay into an employees social insurance during the employee probation period. Wrong. Your obligation to contribute to your employees social insurance starts when the employment relationship commences. Do not delay setting up your employees social insurance account or completing the transfer from the previous employer.

Myth 2: Employers need not provide any social insurance benefits to part-time employee. In most places in China, employers are required to pay for a part-time employees occupational injury insurance. Whether or not an employer is able to enroll such employee in just this one type of social insurance, rather than the full set of mandatory social insurance program, depends on your locale. For how virtually everything regarding China employment law is localized, check out China Employment Law: Local and Not So Simple.

Myth 3: An employer registered in City A with an employee who resides and works in City B can pay the employee cash to cover the employers portion of social insurance contributions. Wrong. Very wrong. The social insurance payments must be made under the name of the employer or, to the extent permitted under the law in the relevant locale, under the name of a qualified HR company. Either way, paying an employee (full-time or part-time) cash is never the right way to go. Note that hiring employees in other cities implicates company formation issues and should always be coordinated with the human resource and social security bureaus of both the city in which your company is located and the city in which your not-so-local employee is located and companies that get this wrong usually pay a very steep price.

Myth 4: Employers decide whether to make housing fund contributions for their employees. Issues regarding employee housing fund contributions do not come within the jurisdiction of the local human resource and social security authorities, but rather are overseen by a different agency. However, this does not mean you as the employer can simply opt out of this program. You must make such contributions for your China employees and if you do not know what these contributions are all about, you should find out.

Myth 5: Employers need not pay into a non-Chinese employees social insurance fund. That depends. In some cities (Beijing and Shenzhen, for instance) you cannot contract out of such obligations for non-Chinese employees. However, in other cities (Shanghai, for example) employers can enter into a contract with their foreign employees that relieves them out of having to contribute social insurance for their foreign employees. Note though that this contract has to be a valid and enforceable one under Chinese law and our China attorneys rarely see one that qualifies.

Myth 6: Employers can stop paying social insurance for an employee on statutory sick leave. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Statutory sick leave is defined as a period when the employee gets to take time off to recover from a non-work related injury or illness without having to worry about being unilaterally terminated by the employer. The employment relationship is not severed by such a leave and that means you as the employer must continue making all required contributions during your employees statutory sick leave.

For more China employment law myths, check out Six Myths About China Employee Probation, Six Myths About Working Hours and Overtime, and Six Myths About China Employee Non-competes.
Abdul Latif Khan has played a major role in helping a Chinese carpet company to achieve growth in Qinghai province.

When he decided to move to China a decade ago after quitting his job in the United States, Pakistani textile expert Abdul Latif Khan surprised many.

Now, his friends know that he made the right choice, Khan says.

He has played a major role in helping a Chinese carpet company to achieve fast growth and has been recognized for his work.

Khan, 52, comes from a family with a tradition in textile making. He learned the craft from his father at a young age. Most of his siblings work in the industry.

He studied textile design in college in Pakistan, and has pursued a successful career in knitting and designing carpets.

Khan was with a carpet company in the US for five years before he joined the Qinghai Tibetan Sheep Carpet Group, where he has been the research and development manager since 2006.

His connection with the Qinghai companya big supplier of woolen carpets to his former US employerwas established thanks to product defects.

In 2005, he was sent by the US company to help sort out technical issues at the Chinese company after worms were found in a shipment.

"I was planning to stay in Qinghai for one week," Khan recalls.

But after he checked the factory in Northwest China, Khan realized the problem couldn't be easily resolved. So, he decided to stay longer so he could make a special machine and even go back to Pakistan to get the material needed to bleach the wool. After a month, the issues were resolved.

Back then, problems like floating hair were common for woolen carpets made in Qinghai, which harmed the company's image.

While Khan was in Qinghai, he taught the local workers to bleach and clean the products, and helped the factory to add procedures to deal with such problems in the future.

His professional approach impressed the Chinese company, which pleaded with him to stay.

But by then, Khan's former boss wanted him to return to the US. Faced with a dilemma, he decided to ask his family for advice.

"While my elder brother thought I was crazy to work in China instead of trying to get a US green card, my father suggested I stay in China, because of the country's good relations with Pakistan and its development opportunities," Khan says of the time when he resigned from the US company.

In the past, Tibetan woolen carpets were not very popular in the international market, compared with products from Iran, India and Pakistan, because of the traditional way of manufacturing that involved curing in the sun that led to loss of color and damage to fabric.

After Khan joined the Chinese company, he used his experience in bleaching, designing, dyeing and cutting wool to produce carpets.

For example, he introduced a traditional Pakistani plant-dyeing technique to enhance color schemes in carpets and improved the drying system at the Qinghai factory.

Chen Xuewu, a deputy manger at Qinghai Tibetan Sheep Carpet Group, says Khan has helped the company, which now has several branches around the country, not only to develop new products but also get patents.

"I have confidence that both our domestic and international markets will keep growing," says Khan, adding he is aware of customer preferences in different markets and the need to design carpets accordingly.
Veteran Chinese actor Chen Baoguo attends a promotional event in Beijing for an upcoming TV drama series The Last Visa on Dec 19, 2016.[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Czech-Chinese TV series Last Visa is scheduled to debut in China beginning from January 1st.

The story is based on true historical events that took place in 1938. It portrays the Chinese ambassador to Austria who saved thousands of Jews by helping them to get out of Europe.

Veteran actor Chen Baoguo plays 45-year old Chinese diplomat Lu Huaishan who worked in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Lu epitomizes Chinese people's commitment to world peace during war time as he continues to issue visas for Jewish people even after his wife was killed in an air strike by Japanese invaders.

Young up-and-rising actor Wang Lei co-stars with Chen, portraying another diplomat.

"When I first read the script, I felt it's far beyond a review of history, and the scenario is so vivid that it took me back to those years," Wang says.

Directed by Hua Qing and written by script writer Gao Mantang, the TV series also have scenes shot in the Czech Republic late last year.
(Photo : Getty Images) Mongolia's current government said it will no longer welcome the Dalai Lama in the country even for religious purposes.

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The Mongolian government on Wednesday said that the Dalai Lama would not be allowed to enter the country again as long as the current government is still in power.



"Under this current government, the Dalai Lama will not be invited to Mongolia, even for religious reasons," Mongolian Foreign Minister Munkh-orgil Tsend told the Mongolia's Unuundar newspaper on Wednesday as cited by Reuters.



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The ban comes after the Dalai Lama's four-day visit in Mongolia last month, an occasion that triggered uproar in China that drastically affected meetings and business initiatives between the two countries.



China, in turn, urged Mongolia to adhere to the promise and ensure that the Dalai Lama will not visit the country ever again.



ECNS quoted Hua Chunying, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that China is hopeful that the landlocked country learned its lessons and would now work in accordance with the interest of China.



"China urges Mongolia to honor its commitment and make efforts to improve bilateral ties," Hua said. "China attaches importance to the Mongolian foreign minister's explicit statement."



China has regarded the Dalai Lama as a separatist between the Tibetan and Chinese community. The Dalai Lama, however, disagrees with this arguing that his quest is to seek independence for his hometown in Tibet.



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Tagschina, Mongolia, Dalai Lama
(Photo : Getty Images) New Zealand Steel claimed that China extends subsidies ranging between 8 and 39 percent to its steel products.

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New Zealand Steel petitioned The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for probing galvanized steel coils imported from China. The ministry has now confirmed that it will investigate the issue of cheap Chinese imports.



In its application, New Zealand Steel, one of the biggest steel companies in the country, claimed that it has witnessed a "sharp downward trend" in the price of specific steel imports. The ministry will investigate if Chinese import prices fall under the category of "dumping," referring to the practice of exporting goods at lower price than the prices charged in the home country.



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Both the US and EU charge tariffs on Chinese steel products. However, China has constantly denied giving any preferential treatment to its products. New Zealand Steel claimed that China extends subsidies ranging between 8 and 39 percent to its steel products.



The application also stated that the same steel products are also being reviewed for anti-dumping measures in Australia. The company has asked the imposition of countervailing duties, equivalent to the subsidies offered by China.



Chinese authorities were intimated about the issue in October this year, which responded claiming that the "remarks from media and law firms had been used as a basis for a wild guess that China was subsidising its steel industry." The authorities also said that the application has not provided any accurate and sufficient evidence for proving its allegations.



New Zealand is looking to solve the issue without damaging its ties with China. The Trade Minister Todd McClay said that the investigation will be carried out in close collaboration with China.



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Tagschina, new zealand, The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(Photo : Getty Images) Snap Inc. is looking to boost its presence in China as the company announced opening a new office in the country.

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Snap Inc. is looking to boost its presence in China as the company announced that it is opening a new office in the country. The move comes despite the fact that Snap's flagship service Snapchat is banned in China. It is expected that the company's Chinese operations will mainly focus on Spectacles.



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According to a report released by CNN, the company has set up an office in the city of Shenzhen. The company already carried out assembling of its Spectacles in China. However, the new office is expected to focus on research and development work. Snap has already hired 20 people for the office.



Spectacles, which forms the company's first physical product, offers video recording facility. It also lets users transmit pictures using WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.



The news of the company's new office was first spotted through its job advertisements posted on WeChat. Snap's endeavor in China will help the company in learning more about the technological ecosystem prevailing in the country.



China is an attractive market for technology companies as it has the highest population in the world. The country also has the highest number of internet users in world. However, the country also has strict rules governing technology companies, especially the social media ventures. Snapchat is banned in the country, as is the Facebook.



Snap also has previous ties to technological companies in China. In 2015, Alibaba reportedly invested $200 million in the American firm. It is also rumored that Tencent also has stake in Snap through its $60 million fundraising round, which was carried out in 2013.



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Tagssnapchat, Spectacles, china
Kawai Musical's President and CEO Hirotaka Kawai (L) and Tang Jiuhong, CSCLF's Funding Department chief sign the deal to set up the Kawai Fund on Dec. 22, 2016, in Beijing. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

Japanese leading music instrument maker Kawai Musical plans to support music education in China by funding the training of primary and middle school music teachers. To achieve this purpose, Kawai set up a fund with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) on Dec. 22 and entrusted the latter with the specific operations.

The fund will be effective in January next year and last until 2020. Apart from training music teachers, Kawai Fund will promote music education in China and facilitate the China-Japan music exchange. Kawai hopes the program will raise the quality of music education in China while strengthening bilateral non-governmental exchanges, as it has successfully done in a handful of other Asian countries.

Kawai Musical's President and CEO Hirotaka Kawai said that to have a fund at the prestigious CSCLF, which is named after the wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, has been a constant wish for the company. He said that the company started the tradition of supporting music education following World War II, after perceiving "children's need for music."

He hopes that the joint effort with CSCLF will bring benefits to Chinese children and the music education they receive.

The CSCLF's Vice President Jing Dunquan acknowledged that Kawai's effort would play a positive role in stimulating children's interest in music, guiding them with music to find beauty and assisting their growth and development.

"Music is an art of emotion; it's a language that needs no translation. Music can bridge the heart and feeling of different peoples," said Jing, adding that the Kawai Fund is also a good dialogue platform for music lovers from both China and Japan.
(Photo : USAF) Last flight of thr US Air Force's last F-4 Phantom II jets Dec 2016.

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The last McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II supersonic fighters that symbolized U.S. airpower during the Vietnam War took their last flight as part of the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 21 at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.



This legendary fighter jet that began its career with the U.S. Navy in 1960 as a supersonic jet interceptor later morphed into a fighter bomber during the Vietnam War and a potent air superiority fighter that produced the last "aces" (pilots or weapon systems operators with five or more enemy aircraft shot down) for the Air Force and the U.S. Navy.



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Its front line combat role with the U.S. armed forces ended in 1996 when it was replaced by newer, fourth generation aircraft such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. Production of the Phantom II ended in 1979.



Despite no longer considered survivable in the modern battlespace, the F-4 soldiered on with the Air Force as a remote controlled target drone designed to be shot down to test new air-to-air missiles and surface-to-air missiles. It ended its service in this role.



The target drone Phantom IIs operated by the Air Force are designated QRF-4C, QF-4B, E, G, N and S.



The current variant of the Phantom II is the QF-4 unmanned aerial target. The remaining QF-4s are assigned to the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1 at Holloman.



The QF-4 program attained initial operational capability in 1997. The aerial target fleet is owned and operated by the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group of the 53rd Wing.



The 82nd Aerial Target Squadron operates the only full scale aerial target in the Department of Defense.



To date, the QF-4 has flown 145 unmanned sorties, and about 70 jets have been destroyed through the FSAT program. The QF-4 will be replaced by the QF-16.



Originally developed for the Navy, the F-4 first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. It was later entered service with the U.S. Marine Corps and the Air Force, and by the mid-1960s became a major part of their combat strength.



The huge Phantom has a top speed of over Mach 2.2, and can carry more than 8,400 kg of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles and bombs.



Holloman's 49th Wing and the Eglin Air Force Base's 53rd Wing, alongside veterans, retirees and Phantom community members bid farewell to the last active duty F-4 Phantom II jets in a historic retirement ceremony at Holloman.



Eglin's 53rd commander Col. Adrian Spain; Lt. Col. Lance Wilkins, commander of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron and the last active duty F-4 pilot, Lt. Col. Ron "Elvis" King of the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, were at the ceremony and praised the legendary F-4 Phantom II.



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TagsMcDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, vietnam war, Holloman Air Force Base, QF-4 unmanned aerial target, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron
(Photo : Getty Images) Chinese state media severely criticized Donald Trumps decision to appoint an anti-Chinese writer as head of the newly formed trade council.

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China's nationalistic tabloid has slammed Donald Trump's latest decision to appoint a hawkish Chinese author as head of the newly formed trade council. The hard-line stance taken by the state-owned tabloid stands completely in contrast to muted response of Chinese leadership.



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Peter Navarro, who has penned several anti-Chinese books, was unveiled on Wednesday as the head of White House's newly formed national trade council, which will be assigned with responsibility of overseeing trade and industrial policies.



The Global Times said that the appointment of Navarro is another proof "of the confrontational approach the incoming Trump administration seems intent on taking in relations with China."



It further said that appointment of a renowned anti-Chinese writer on an influential position "is not a laughing matter at all."



The article also sought to give a wakeup call to the Chinese government to prepare for a long-term war against the Trump administration.



"China needs to face up to the reality that the Trump team maintains a hard-line attitude toward China. It must discard any illusions and make full preparations for any offensive move by the Trump government," it added.



Apart from authoring many anti-Chinese books, Navarro was one of the influential thinkers in Trump's election campaign team and is believed to be the man who pushed Trump to unleash barrage of salvos against China's trade practices.



Analysts said that Trump's hard-line views were inspired by Navarro's hawkish attitude against China, which has been deeply dealt with in his several books. These books include "Death by China & Crouching Tiger" and "What China's Militarism Means for the World."



In these books, Navarro claimed that the American economy has been greatly harmed by China's growing affiliation towards capitalism. The hawkish author also asserted that the American government needs to adopt aggressive policies to win the on-going economic war against the Asian giant.



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TagsPeter Navarro, china, donald trump, Trump China
(Photo : Getty Images) Chinas state owned has issued a stern warning to India that it must stay away from China-Mongolia standoff. The standoff started immediately after the Dalai Lama concluded his four-day visit to Ulan Bator.

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China's state-owned nationalistic tabloid, The Global Times, warned India over its recent interference in China-Mongolia standoff. It advised New Delhi to stop taking advantage of the Dalai Lama issue to harm China's core interest in the region.



The blunt warning was issued in Thursday's open editorial, coming barely days after Mongolia offered an olive branch over the Dalai Lama issue. It announced that in the future it will no longer allow the controversial spiritual leader to visit the hill-locked Buddhist country.



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The open editorial slammed India's agressive stance in the recent China-Mongolia standoff. It took note of New Delhi's pledge to offer $1 billion credit line to the Mongolian government.



The editorial claimed that the promise of financial aid clearly reflected India's arrogance about its growing diplomatic stature.



It accused that the Indian government does not recognize "the gap between its ambition and its strength" and further alleged that it got carried away by "lofty crown of being the biggest democracy in the world."



The nationalistic tabloid advised India that it must take a leaf out of recent tension between China and US over the issue of Taiwan. It drew parallel between Trump's cautious response over Taiwan issue and New Delhi's open interference in the Mongolian spat.



"Even the US would have to think twice before it messes with China on such sensitive problems, so what makes India so confident that it could manage?" the tabloid argued.



The article also sought to link the recent meeting of the Dalai Lama and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee with the Mongolian standoff. It argued that New Delhi arranged the meeting for giving moral support to Mongolia, which was getting increasingly vulnerable in the wake of China's economic blockade.



The Dalai Lama's Visit to Ulan Bator Creates Tension



The current tension between China and Mongolia is a direct result of the Dalai Lama's four-day visit to the Mongolian capital city last month. The Chinese government issued a stern warning to the hill-locked country over the visit.



However, the Mongolian government shrugged off the warning by claiming that the government has nothing to do with the exiled spiritual leader's visit to Ulan Bator. It added that the visit was purely a religious affair.



China announced numerous trade restrictions on the predominately Buddhist country immediately after the Dalai Lama wrapped up his visit to the state capital. The restrictions included cancellation of investment pacts and levelling extra toll tax on Mongolian goods passing through Chinese territory.



Sandwiched between Russia and China, the geographic isolation has played a critical role in Mongolia's increasing dependence on China for trade and economic aid.



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TagsDalai Lama, China and Mongolia, Mongolia, china, China and India
(Photo : Getty Images) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government has been accused of cracking down on freedom of expression.

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An Egyptian author who had been imprisoned after a magazine published a sexually explicit excerpt of his novel, "The Use of Life," has been released on Thursday.



Ahmed Naji was freed after a court suspended his two-year sentence pending a review of his appeal on obscenity charges.



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Surrounded by friends and supporters, Naji was rushed into a waiting car and declined to speak to the press.



Ramy Yacoub, deputy director of the Tahrir Institute for the Middle East, said that Naji "opted not to be photographed once he left the police station."



"I will drive him home safely," Yacoub posted on his Twitter account.



Naji's year-long case has caused an international uproar, with many accusing the Egyptian government of cracking down on freedom of expression. His imprisonment was seen as a larger effort by the government of army-chief-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.



Prosecutors are accusing Naji of "violating public modesty."



The author had been previously acquitted, but an appeal by prosecutors led to a court handing him a two-year prison sentence.



Marcia Lynnx Qualey, a Cairo-based literary critic, told media that "Naji's imprisonment, like the closure of the Karama libraries, is terrible evidence of the narrowing space for public laughter, creativity, art and reading."



"As we pass the days until his appeal, we must continue to demand the space for his freedom," the literary critic added.



Two Cairo branches of the charity-founded Al-Karama library were shut down by Egyptian authorities earlier this month. No legal reasons were provided for the closure.



The libraries were founded by human rights activist Gamal Eid.



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TagsEgypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi
(Photo : Arms Control Association) Number of nuclear weapons in the world.

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Russian dictator Vladimir Putin says the numerically and technologically inferior Russian Armed Forces are the most powerful on the planet in a quixotic rant meant more to reassure ordinary Russians the huge sums being spent to rearm isn't going to waste.



"We can say with certainty: We are stronger now than any potential aggressor," he told an annual yearend meeting of Russian defense chiefs.



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"Anyone!"



Putin said Russia must react swiftly in "adjusting plans to neutralize potential threats to our country."



Putin's speech, however, is all bluster and bravado when set against the harsh realities on the ground. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has a combined strength of over 760,000 men, of which 455,000 belong to the Russian Ground Forces.



Russia claims to have 15,000 tanks but only 2,600 main battle tanks are operational. The rest are obsolete or hulks that have to be refurbished.



Of this 2,600, 1,900 are various models of the T-72 that form the armored backbone of the Russian Army.



More tellingly, the army only has some 600 T-72B3 MBTs in service. The T-72B3 is the most modern tank in the Russian Army, and is the latest upgrade of the T-72 tank that is now over 40 years old.



It will be the armored spearhead of any Russian attack against the Baltic States and NATO. Russia will not be attacking lone states in the next European war but a coalition of states under NATO and backed by the United States.



The army does not have a single operational T-14 Armata because this tank will only enter service in 2025.



Only in number of nuclear warheads is Russia almost at par with the West, and Russia, like the unlamented Soviet Union before it, will do all it can to avoid a nuclear war with the United States. But Putin is calling for a further strengthening of Russia's nuclear arsenal to improve his chances of blackmailing the West and bending it to his will.



For this reason, Putin said strengthening Russia's nuclear capability will be a chief objective in 2017.



"We need to enhance the combat capability of strategic nuclear forces, primarily by strengthening missile complexes that will be guaranteed to penetrate existing and future missile defense systems," the dictator said.



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TagsVladimir Putin, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Russian Ground Forces, NATO, T-72, Nuclear weapons
On December 11th, a suicide bomber killed at least 25 worshippers and injured 49 more during Sunday Mass at St. Peters Coptic Church in Cairo.

The attack was only the latest in a series of outrages committed against Egypts native Christian community. Less than three weeks ago, I told you on BreakPoint about a series of attacks in Minya, which is 150 miles south of the Egyptian capital.

Those attacks were described as part of a disturbing wave of [Islamist] radicalism that has emerged after the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.

This time, it was ISIS who claimed responsibility for the atrocity which was, they said, part of its war on polytheism, the Islamic epithet for Christian belief in the Trinity. ISIS has promised more of the same.

In a masterpiece of obtusenessor is it just invincible ignorance?the New York Times said that the attack suggested that ISIS was prepared to single out Egyptian Christians much as it did minority Shiites in countries like Iraq and Syria.

Uh well, notice who was missing from the Times list of targetsIraqi and Syrian Christians, not to mention Yazidis and other religious minorities.

For its part, the Egyptian government was quick to focus attention on what it saw as the real outrage: criticism by groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for its failure to protect Egyptian Christians from these kinds of attacks.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman accused human rights groups of demonstrating an unacceptable tolerance to terrorism.

Now if youre thinking Wait . . . what?well, welcome to the world of our Egyptian brethren. Copts have been, at best, second-class citizens since the 1952 coup that created the modern Egyptian state. Repression, discrimination, and violence have all been part and parcel of their existence.

While the Egyptian government obviously didnt attack the worshippers at St. Peters or attack Christians in Minya, the Egyptian government is largely indifferent to the fate of its Christian citizens.

Actually, its even worse than that. Mistreating Copts was the way that Egypts rulers, including the present one, have burnished their Islamic identity. And, until recently, virtually no one, especially in the West, said boo! about it. The sad truth is that Copts had to start dying in significant numbers for anyone to take notice, and that anyone includes their brethren in the West.

That was then, so what about now? Historically, the treatment of Christian minorities, in Egypt or elsewhere, has never figured prominently in American foreign policy. This is a bipartisan failing.

And if its going to change, we must take the lead. The outgoing administration was rightly criticized by Christians for its failure to address the issue. The incoming one is thought to be more receptive to our concerns. The fate of our brethren in places like Egypt and the rest of the Middle East is a good place to test our hypothesis.

In the aftermath of the American election, there were reports that the Egyptian government was gratified by the results, believing that the new administration would provide Egypt more assistance in its fight against the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS. Mind you, Egypt already receives nearly $1.5 billion in military and economic aid from the U. S.

And that means this: If the Trump administration says, You need to do more to protect Coptic Christians, the Egyptian government will have to listen.

Never forget, our first appeal on behalf of our Coptic brethren needs to be made on our knees. And after you pray, let President-elect Trump know how you feel.

How? I hear he checks Facebook and Twitter. And pretty soon, hell have a White House address.

BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions.

John Stonestreet, the host of The Point, a daily national radio program, provides thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.

Publication date: December 22, 2016
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs donates piles of books, maps and other educational materials to the Pakistan Embassy College Beijing (PECB), an international school inside the embassy to Beijing. [China.org.cn / photo by Wu Jin]

To deepen the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan on the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the ties between the two countries, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent piles of books, maps and other educational materials to the Pakistan Embassy College Beijing (PECB), an international school inside the embassy.

Founded in 1969 from a personal request of late Premier Zhou Enlai to then Pakistani President Ayub Khan, the college has grown and progressed from a primary school to a comprehensive and multi-functional international college, extending education from kindergarten to senior schooling.

Today, the college has 450 students from 52 different countries and a faculty of about 50 members with Master or Ph.D. degrees.

Masood Khalid, ambassador of Pakistan to China, said at the book donation ceremony held on Dec. 22 in the Pakistani Embassy of Beijing: "It is a simple ceremony and a simple event. But I think it is important as a generous offering of educational tools and resources to PECB."

Hou Yanqi, the deputy director general of the Department of Asian Affairs of Chinese foreign ministry, said the donation is what the Pakistani People deserve, as they're always on the top priority of China's foreign policies because they're an old friend of China.

By showing her enthusiasm, Hou said she felt much younger and more energetic when visiting the college, as schools are always where the beautiful memories linger on.

"Today's ceremony shows how close our relations are and how deep our friendship is," Hou said.

"The books are expected to bring happiness and inner-peace to young hearts and we'll take the opportunities with those books and materials to convey our best regards to the children."

Shagufla Saqib, the principal of PECB, said, "No doubt it is a rewarding opportunity for our students and they'll use [those books] for many years."
In the recent Tom Hanks movie Greyhound, the captain of a destroyer leads a convoy across the U-boat-infested North Atlantic during WWII. To say that the trip from the U.S. to Britain in 1942 was dangerous is not only an understatement of epic proportions, it offers context for the extraordinary composition of Benjamin Brittens Ceremony of Carols.

Britten was arguably the most important British composer of the 20th century. In 1942, after three years in North America, he found himself in the middle of the Atlantic aboard a Swedish cargo vessel, trying to return to his native England. Instead of panicking amidst the harrowing circumstances of the dangerous crossing, he wrote two choral works: the Hymn to St. Cecilia and the Ceremony of Carols.

As the name suggests, the Ceremony of Carols consists of ten carols framed by the chant Hodie Christus Natus Est (Today, Christ is born) at both the beginning and the end. The carols he employed date from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, and are sung in Middle and Early Modern English, as well as Latin.

One carol, Deo Gratias (Thanks be to God), sung in a combination of Middle English and Latin, tells the story of Genesis 3. While the text is primarily about the Fall, the carols musical energy and emphasis is on thankfulness, specifically to God for providing a Savior who sets things right.

The most beloved carol in the work is This Little Babe. Despite its sentimental-sounding title, the text describes the all-out battle the Babe of Bethlehem wages against Satan himself. The words were written by Robert Southwell, a Catholic priest who was hanged, drawn, and quartered by Queen Elizabeth I. Heres how they read: This little Babe so few days old, Is come to rifle Satans fold; All hell doth at his presence quake, Though he himself for cold do shake; For in his weak unarmed wise, the gates of hell he will surprise.

Jeff Spurgeon of New Yorks classical music station, WQXR, calls This Little Babe his favorite Christmas carol. In Southwells words and Brittens music, says Spurgeon, the battle between good and evil is won by a baby born in obscure poverty and is depicted not by a huge orchestra and massive voices, but by a harp and a choir of children.

Britten, the man who pulled this off musically, could hardly be described as an orthodox Christian, much less a devout one. His personal life, including his sexual proclivities, was the source of numerous controversies during his life and even after his death. However, if this work composed during a potentially deadly voyage in 1942 is any proof, he was at least a Christ-haunted man. Believe it or not, in this, Britten wasnt unusual. So much of the Wests greatest art was inspired by Christian themes. In fact, its impossible to imagine the Wests cultural heritage without Christianity.

Though much of great art was created by people of unquestionable faith, such as Johann Sebastian Bach, others were produced by people whose faith is unknown, or even nonexistent.

The power these works hold to move us is, at root, the power of the story that makes the work possiblethe story that explains where human creativity, like is evident in the talent of Benjamin Britten, comes from. And in this case, to use Spurgeons words, the story of Gods sneak attack on the forces of evil, which we will soon celebrate.

A version of this commentary was aired by John Stonestreet on December 23, 2016.

Publication date: December 18, 2020

Photo courtesy: David Beale/Unsplash

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Christian Headlines.

BreakPoint is a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. BreakPoint commentaries offer incisive content people can't find anywhere else; content that cuts through the fog of relativism and the news cycle with truth and compassion. Founded by Chuck Colson (1931  2012) in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. Today, you can get it in written and a variety of audio formats: on the web, the radio, or your favorite podcast app on the go.

John Stonestreet is President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and radio host of BreakPoint, a daily national radio program providing thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.
The Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro has initiated an international campaign to draw in donations for the restoration of Brazil's "Christ the Redeemer" statue, according to media reports.

The 98-foot-tall statue on Mount Corcovado in Rio, about 710 meters above sea level, is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

The statue is said to have been struck by lightning several times in the past, and has developed cracks which need to be repaired.

Economic crisis in the country has hit the donations for the upkeep of the statue. The site attracts around 3 million tourists per year. Entrance fees to the environmental reserve Tijuca National Park where the statue is located is 70 reais (approx. $21). The proceeds from sales of the tickets are used in maintenance of the park which costs around $1.5 million per year.

The money from tickets goes to the federal government which manages the park, and the archdiocese does not receive any money from the government for repairing the statue and paying around three dozen employees at the site.

The office of the priest said that businesses that usually donated money for maintenance of the statue are facing financial difficulties and might no longer provide support for its upkeep. Also, efforts by the Catholic Church to reach out to new partners have not been successful.

The statue was erected in the sanctuary atop the mountain in 1931, and was maintained with the help of charitable donations.

"For the past 85 years the monument has been maintained with the help of private donations and the Catholic Church's own resources," said Rev. Omar Raposo, dean in charge of the upkeep of the monument. "But unfortunately, with the economic crisis in Brazil, we need to appeal for more contributions to make ends meet."

"Up until today we've counted on the church's own resources and those of the private sector for maintenance," Raposo told local TV station Globo. "But with this big crisis in which we find ourselves today, we have great concern and need all of society to collaborate."
Russell Moore, the President of the ethics division of the Southern Baptist Convention has apologized for his comments on President-elect Donald Trump and evangelical Christians who supported him.

However, he is not taking back his criticism of Trump.

"There were...pastors and friends who told me when they read my comments they thought I was criticizing anyone who voted for Donald Trump. I told them then, and I would tell anyone now: if that's what you heard me say, that was not at all my intention, and I apologize," Moore said.

"There's a massive difference between someone who enthusiastically excused immorality and someone who felt conflicted, weighed the options based on biblical convictions, and voted their conscience," he continued.

The Wall Street Journal reported that some of the Baptist pastors are mulling over diverting funds from their churches to SBC or to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission headed by Moore, to express their disagreement with him and the agency over policy matters.

"Donald Trump will surround himself with whomever he wishes and already Dr. [Robert] Jeffress is there as is former Governor Mike Huckabee, whom are both influential Southern Baptists, so the question is why does this even matter?" said James Forbis, a young member enrolled at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, Kentucky.

"It matters to them because they're products of the old Religious Right and Moral Majority and they're worried about losing control within the SBC and Southern Baptist losing cultural relevancy," he continued.

William F. Harrell, Senior Pastor at Abilene Baptist Church, Augusta, Georgia, is one of the critics of the comments made by Moore. He said the ERLC was meant to be a conservative voice in Washington to challenge the liberal policies in Congress.

"The ERLC was intended to represent the views of the people of the SBC. It was not meant that it would evolve to become a platform for its President and his friends to use as a political tool to try to influence people to do as they wish. It was meant to represent our Convention and our spiritual and moral positions in order to bring soundness and wholeness to a world desperately in need of it," he wrote in his blog.

President of the Executive Committee at SBC, Frank S. Page, is arranging for discussions between Moore's supporters and opponents so that they can search for a conscientious common ground.

"There's got to be a humility on both sides to recognize that ... we've not always talked to each other; we've talked about each other too much," he said in an interview with Christianity Today. "There's got to be intention that we are going to build a bridge, not burn the bridge."
American Christians are less responsive to the Syrian crisis than they were a year ago, according to a World Vision survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs.

"It's disappointing to see America's heart closing to refugees. This is not the compassionate and generous nation I know we truly are," said Richard Stearns, president of World Vision. "And it's shocking that Christians, who are held to a higher standard by our Lord, are praying even less for refugees."

The online survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of World Vision on 1,096 American adults between September 8 to 12. Among the respondents, about 625 adults were committed Christians.

In 2016, the number of Americans who had taken concrete action to help refugees dropped by four percent from last year to only 33 percent.

Some 64 percent were willing to act on behalf of refugees this year, while last year 71 percent of the Americans wanted to help them.

More Christians wanted to help Syrians than non-Christians.

This year, 38 percent of Christians said they took action for refugees during the last two years, but last year 44 percent had said so.

The proportion of Christians willing to act on behalf of refugees in 2016 was slightly less (70 percent) as compared to last year (76 percent).

Overall, about 22 percent Americans prayed for the crisis in Syria while this year only 14 percent committed themselves to it.

People who shared or liked social media information about Syria increased two percent from 2015 to 14 percent.

The number of Americans who donated to Syrian refugee causes also increased two percent from last year to 11 percent.

In 2015, as many as 51 percent of the committed Christians said they wanted to pray for refugees, however, only 30 percent actually prayed. This year, less Christians expressed their willingness to pray for refugees (41 percent), and even fewer actually prayed (19 percent).

This year, the number of Christians who financially helped the victims of the war in the Middle East increased by 1 percent from 2015. Higher proportion of Christians donated to refugee crisis (12 percent) as compared to non-Christians (9 percent).
President-elect Donald Trump will attend an inaugural prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan 21, which is a day after the official swearing-in ceremony, according to the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

The national prayer service will be held at Washington National Cathedral and will be the last of the five-day events to mark his inauguration.

The cathedral will host the ceremonies in accordance with traditions but Trump also requested inclusion of multi-faith prayer to signal his dedication towards working with people of all faiths.

Speaking about the policy of the inauguration ceremony, Johnnie Moore, a member of Trump's evangelical advisory board, said that "it's going to be reconciliatory ... the president-elect's commitment to having a presidency for all Americans."

"This will truly be a powerfully uniting moment for the American people. We will celebrate our country, its diverse and patriotic heritage, our democracy and the inaugural process as the greatest display of a peaceful transfer of partisan power in the world. We will stand together as a nation behind President-elect Donald Trump and his vision of a better future for every American," said inauguration committee chairman Tom Barrack in a statement.

The Washington Episcopal Bishop and overseer of the cathedral, Mariann Budde, released a brief statement about the event:

"The Inaugural Prayer Service is a moment for our next president to pause and contemplate the incredible responsibility he has been entrusted with and to listen as the faith community offers prayers for the office of the president," said Kevin Eckstrom, the cathedral's chief communications officer.

The five-day festivities will begin on January 17, with dinners to honor the President-elect and Vice President-elect, and other cabinet members, followed by inaugural balls including a "Salute to the Armed Services" ball, and a "Make America Great Again!" celebration at Lincoln Memorial.

The celebrations will conclude with the national prayer service at the cathedral.
Last week, I opened my email to continue a conversation about the new Star Wars movie, and I was immediately derailed by breaking news about deadly violence. And then another headline appeared, informing me that American leaders were quickly condemning the violence.

My plans to discuss Rogue One suddenly seemed so trivial. So I scanned the official statement:

ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad. These terrorists  must be eradicated from the face of the earth.

On another occasion, I might have indulged the same impulse and said, Eradicate our enemies!

But a haunting gallery of faces appeared in my minds eye: Nine soft-spoken monks, gathered around a table in prayer, seeking Gods guidance. Back in 1996, in the Atlas mountains of Algeria, the French Trappist monks of Tibhirine offered a response to violent Islamic extremists. And what they did stays with me, challenging me to search my heart and ask what Christ would require of me if ISIS advanced on my home.

To be more precise, these faces I see are actually just actors from the 2010 feature film Of Gods and Men. Its a film that has made a lasting impression on me, altering the way I think about Christian responses to terrorism. And it isnt just any Christian movie. It has a 92 percent positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes, and it won a long list of film festival awards, including the Grand Prize and the Ecumenical Prize from the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. Im confident it will make an impression on you, too.

Of Gods and Men follows the true story of monks who were serving Algerian ...

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North Carolina Votes to Keep Commonsense Law HB2 Contact: Janae Stracke, Concerned Women for America, 712-269-1724, jstracke@cwfa.org



WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Wednesday night, December 21, North Carolina held its fifth special session of the General Assembly and adjourned the session without a repeal of House Bill 2 despite the rumors that the Republicans would vote for repeal.



Jill Coward, Concerned Women for America of North Carolina State Director had this to say: "The citizens of North Carolina highly support Conservative traditional common sense bills over such controversial progressive ideas that are grown with one intent, to broker votes for the Democrat Party. Concerned Women for America of North Carolina is proud that once again, our legislators have stood strongly for privacy, protection and the dignity that all citizens deserve.



"Although we may be falsely labeled as hateful by some, Evangelical Christians actually care for those who are confused about their identity. We believe every human is affirmed by the Creator of the universe who loves each one. And for each person to find fulfillment, he must seek out God, understanding His word and purpose for their lives, always seeking to grow in Christ-likeness." Penny Nance, Concerned Women for America CEO and President added: "This is a huge victory for North Carolina. HB2 is a commonsense law in favor of safety and privacy for women and children as they use public restrooms. CWA women of North Carolina fought tirelessly to see the bill signed into law and then continued that fight to see that it was not repealed. Our members across the country also applaud the legislators of North Carolina who chose to uphold this law as it sets a precedent for other states." For an interview with Penny Nance contact Janae Stracke at jstracke@cwfa.org or 712-269-1724.

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Catholic Schoolchildren Raise Thousands For Syrian Refugees

Syrian refugees forced from their homes due to war, conflict and persecution will receive a donation of more than 6,000 after pupils at a Catholic school in London were moved by their plight.

Students at Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith raised 6,603.49 in just three weeks for families affected by the crisis in Syria  one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

Pupils held bake sales and coin collections, sold handmade cards and took part in a sponsored silence. The school also held a Christmas-themed 'Bake Off' and a Christmas Jumper Day to raise more money.

"The pupils have done a fantastic job to raise money for refugee families," said school chaplain Vicky Lorenzato.

"We have been truly humbled by the generosity and enthusiasm of the local community who are committed to supporting the people of Syria."

The money will go to Catholic aid agency CAFOD, which will use it to give 660 Syrian families enough fuel, food, blankets and other practical support to see them through the winter.

"This Christmas, as millions of families have been forced to flee their homes and make their own difficult journeys, we would like to say thank you to Sacred Heart, and all those who supported their efforts," said CAFOD spokesperson Tony Sheen.

"This amazing fundraising will make a huge difference to lives of so many to help transform lives this Christmas and show kindness to those who have lost so much."

Official statistics from the UNHCR state that there are now more than 4.8 million registered Syrian refugees, and some 6.6 million are internally displaced within Syria.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 312,000 people have been killed by the Syrian conflict since it began in 2011.
Christmas Trees Are Idolatrous Say Israeli Rabbis

It's hard for most Westerners to think of anything less controversial than a Christmas tree  but for some Israelis they are symbols of an alien faith that threatens their religious identity.

The issue surfaces periodically; in 2013 the speaker of Israel's parliament rejected a request from a Christian MP to display a tree in the building to promote multiculturalism, while rabbis have attempted to stop hotels and restaurants displaying them.

This year a letter from the Jerusalem Rabbinate urged hotels in the city not to put up trees. "As the secular year ends, we want to remind you that erecting a Christmas tree in a hotel contravenes halacha [Jewish law] and that therefore it is clear that no one should erect [a tree] in a hotel," Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar wrote to hotel managers.

The letter also said it was "appropriate to avoid hosting" New Year's parties, as the Jewish New Year is properly observed at the beginning of the Jewish calendar.

In Haifa, Rabbi Elad Dokow from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology said on the conservative religious Srugim website students should not enter the student union building because there was a Christmas tree there.

According to the Jerusalem Post, he said: "The Christmas tree is a religious symbol  not Christian, but even more problematic  pagan.

"Halacha clearly states that whenever it is possible to circumvent and not pass through a place where there is any kind of idolatry, this must be done. So one should not enter the student union if it's not necessary to do so."

Dokow wrote: "This is not about freedom of worship. It's about the public space of the campus. This is the world's only Jewish state. And it has a role to be a 'light unto the nations' and not to uncritically embrace every idea."

Rabbi Rabbi Shlomo Aviner wrote in response that Israel needed to decide what its religious future would be.

"It must be decided once and for all, are we a Jewish state or a Christian state," he told Srugim, adding it was a mistake to think Christians were the Jewish people's friends. "Their hands are stained with Jews' blood over the course of centuries: Murders, destruction, expulsions and humiliations."

A prominent Israeli Greek Orthodox priest who works for the integration of Christian Arabs into Israeli society  including the military  took Dokow to task in a letter released yesterday and cited by the Jerusalem Post. Fr Gabriel Naddaf said: "Your God is also our God" and "We were all born in the image of God."

He said: "It's true that there were awful things against the Jewish people done in the name of Christianity, but this is not the state of Christianity today. And from you [Dokow], it's expected that you will act toward unity and not divisiveness and segregation."

Naddaf said the Christmas tree was a "symbol of light and hope that we're supposed to be sending out to the world".

Hostility to Christmas trees in Israel is by no means universal, however. Arizona cypresses for use as Christman trees are distributed annually from forests run by the Jewish National Fund. It says that "Christmas tree distribution prevents illegal felling of the trees and allows people to enjoy the festive presence of a Christmas tree."
Deaf Boy Fled Iraq After ISIS Said Disabled Children Should Be 'Liquidated'; Now He Faces Deportation From Britain

A six-year-old deaf Iraqi boy who escaped from Islamic State (ISIS) execution by lethal injection and who found refuge in the U.K. is now facing a new problem: Where to stay?

This came about after the Home Office informed Lawand Hamadamin and his family that they would be deported to Germany from their current residence in Derby, England on Jan. 9, The Daily Mail reported.

Lawand and his family were forced to flee their home in Iraq in 2015 when ISIS ordered disabled children to be "liquidated" by lethal injection. Lawand was born deaf and mute.

He and his family first found a temporary home in a refugee camp in Dunkirk, France before they were offered a place to stay in Derby. There, Lawand was allowed to enrol at the Royal School for the Deaf Derby, where he has started learning how to communicate using British Sign Language.

But now Lawand and his family have been told they have one week to pack their belongings before they are deported to Germany.

The school in Derby is now working with DeafKidz International in an effort to reverse the Home Office decision.

Lawand's father Rebwar pleaded for some consideration, telling The Mirror: "He could not communicate when he started here and now he has no problem. We can't thank the school enough. If we are deported we will have no home. All the progress Lawand has made will be lost. We are devastated."

A Home Office spokesman defended the decision to deport the family, stating that according to law, refugees must apply for asylum in the first country of safety they reach. But Britain was not the first country of safety that the family reached since their fingerprints were first taken in Greece and Germany, the spokesman pointed out.

"The U.K. has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, but it is only fair that we do not shoulder the burden of asylum claims that should rightly be considered by other countries," the spokesman said.

"Asylum seekers should claim in the first safe country they arrive in. Where there is evidence that an asylum seeker is the responsibility of another European country we will seek to return them there," he added.
Jackie Chan and cast members promote "Railroad Tigers" in Beijing, Dec. 22, 2016. [Photo/ China.org.cn]

There is a hidden role in Jackie Chan's new film "Railroad Tigers": the role is played by his son, drug offender Jaycee Chan.

Jaycee Chan, though he has the second most important role in the film, doesn't appear on any posters or promotional materials for the film and hasn't attended any promotional events for the film, even the premiere.

No one knew he was in the film until the press members saw him at an advanced screening on Dec. 22 in Beijing.

Jackie Chan refused to answer the question at the premiere regarding whether he helped his son return to movies with this film, diverting the question to director Ding Sheng.

"I felt Jaycee Chan was perfectly fit the role when I wrote script, " Ding said, "this is why."

The junior Chan was arrested by Beijing police for drug possession on Aug. 14, 2014, alongside Taiwanese actor Kai Ko. Police later found more than 100 grams of marijuana in a search of Chan's apartment.

In September 2014, the Beijing procurator's office approved the formal arrest of Jaycee Chan on suspicion of "accommodating drug users." Jaycee Chan was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 2,000 yuan (US$320). He was released from jail on Feb. 13, 2015.

At the same time, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television had issued a ban forbidding any actors, industry professionals and entertainers with convictions for drugs, prostitution and other misdeeds to appear on screen. Shanghai People's Congress set the ban limit at three years.

But Jaycee Chan returned to the movie scene as early as in 2015, when he appeared in the film "Monk Comes Down the Mountain" directed by Chen Kaige. The director negotiated with China's film watchdog to save Chan's scenes. Jaycee Chan never appeared in any of the film's promotional activities.

Jackie Chan's latest action comedy "Railroad Tigers," directed by Ding Sheng, was adapted from China's War of Resistance Against Japan classic "Railway Guerrilla" and will hit Chinese screens on Dec. 23.
'Defenceless' Followers of Christ Marking Christmas in Middle East 'Under Yoke of Genocide'

A Christian persecution watchdog group is reminding the world that believers still clinging for survival in the Middle East remain "defenceless" and still living "under the yoke of genocide" this Christmas season.

Writing for The Hill, Philippe Nassif, the executive director of In Defense of Christians (IDC), revealed that Syria's Christian population, who numbered two million before the civil war began in 2011, is now down to less than half of that.

Nassif said U.S. President-elect Donald Trump needs to take decisive action to save the Christian survivors of the campaign of genocide being waged by the Islamic State (ISIS) in the region.

"IDC calls on the incoming Trump administration to take swift action to protect the Christians of Iraq, Syria, and Egypt; to provide humanitarian aid and to urge governments to protect minorities; and to defeat ISIS  both militarily and by identifying and rooting out its ideological and financial bases of support," Nassif wrote.

He also called for the creation of an autonomous region in Iraq's Nineveh Plain, the historic heartland of Christianity in Iraq. Christians and other minorities could settle in the region where they can "rebuild their homes and restore their cultures without fear of death, torture or destruction," he added.

Nassif also cited other countries in the world where Christians are targeted for their faith. These include Pakistan, with its strict blasphemy laws, and Egypt, where the ISIS terrorist bombing of St. Peter and St. Paul's Church in Cairo recently took place, killing at least 27 people and injured 47 others.

"We should remember the people of Syria and Yemen, with hundreds of thousands killed, millions displaced, and millions more innocent civilians on the verge of starvation as the result of wars waged by regional actors without regard for innocent, defenseless human life," the IDC executive director said.

The world can no longer ignore what is happening, Nassif pointed out.

"Millions across the Middle East live on the front lines in the fight against ISIS. Most of them, like the Christians of Egypt, Syria, and Iraq are defenseless and are every year targets of ISIS and other Salafi jihadists at Christmas and Easter."

The ISIS campaign of terror has forced millions of people to flee their homes in the Middle East, creating a gargantuan humanitarian crisis. Its attacks have also reached major Western cities, including Paris, San Bernardino, Brussels, Orlando, and Berlin.
How Dickens Changed Christmas

A self-published book written in six weeks doesn't sound particularly auspicious, but when Charles Dickens is the author, magical things can occur. His 1843 novella A Christmas Carol  with its transformation of old miser Ebenezer Scrooge following a series of ghostly visitations  revivified Christmas with a sense of charity, making generosity fashionable and selfishness taboo (at least for the holidays).

It may be hard to imagine, but Christmas  now the world's leading holiday  was far less culturally significant in the early 19th Century. Nor was it always a family-centred affair of gift-giving and wholesome sentiment. In fact, the cities of America's former British colonies would see gangs of young men invade the streets to engage in alcohol-fueled violence, pandemonium, and looting. And "similar scenes of riot and mayhem are recorded in Canada, Australia, Newfoundland, and Britain", according to Gerry Bowler's book Christmas in the Crosshairs, which adds that Christmas was "almost utterly ignored" in Scotland, and that the holiday in England was in a "long, slow decline, kept alive chiefly in the rural areas".

The sea change took place with A Christmas Carol, which was instantly popular. The complete first edition of 6,000 copies sold out within days of its initial date of publication, 19 December 1843, just a few months after the author, contending with a growing family and a dwindling bank account, first sat down to write the book.

His publisher had rejected A Christmas Carol, so the embattled scribe used his little remaining funds to print the book himself. The timing was apt: amid the cold modernity of the rising Industrial Revolution, audiences were "in desperate need of spiritual renewal, ready to embrace a book that ended with blessings for one and all", as told by Les Standiford's book The Man Who Invented Christmas (a title that appears intentionally sensational).

The Dickens novella sold 15,000 copies within its first year, as London theatres began staging adaptations and unscrupulous publishers  unmoved by the book's uplifting message  began releasing unlicensed versions. Because of such piracy, the creator of Scrooge was getting Scrooged mightily on the profits, until he eventually embarked on reading tours. These events attracted huge crowds hungry for the Christmas spirit Dickens so aptly evoked.

Within a few years of A Christmas Carol's debut, workhouses in England were serving specially-made Christmas dinners and many businesses began to close for the holiday. Real-world change was taking place owing to a work of fiction that "interwove nostalgia for the past and anxiety about the present, and presented Christmas as a palliative to both", as related by Ronald Hutton's book Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain.

The Christmas novella also deeply impacted many Americans, including one New England factory mogul, who, after attending a Dickens reading, had his own conversion experience and decided to give every employee a free turkey and the day off on Christmas.

As thoroughly involved with Christmas as the book is, there is very little overt mention of religion and scholars have debated over the extent to which religious sentiment factors into the work. Dickens was baptised in the Church of England but was not raised in a very religiously observant household. As an adult, he would be critical at times of organised religion, but remained a Christian (however vague his denomination) in his outlook and writings, including The Life of Our Lord  a book that was written for the Dickens children only and did not see publication until more than six decades after the author's death.

In the years following A Christmas Carol, Dickens would publish four other Christmas books and many more Christmas-related short stories. But all these other works combined would not make anywhere near the impact of his 1843 endeavour, which has seen more theatrical and television adaptations than any other Dickens classic.

The famed writer certainly didn't invent Christmas, but he reinvented it with a needed dose of charity and goodwill  thanks to a quick little book that has never gone out of print since 1843. And, thankfully, its message has never gone out of style.

Ray Cavanaugh has written for such publications as Church Times, The Guardian, and The Washington Post.
'It Was A Miracle': The Incredible Story Of Hope In Thailand's Refugee Camps

"It was a miracle, actually."

Dr Saw Wado shrugs and explains how he survived three bombs dropped on his home.

Wado's father was a freedom fighter for the Karen National Liberation Army. Since 1949, a year after British rule ended in Myanmar, the ethnic minority group has battled the might of the national military in the world's longest-running insurgency.

More than 100,000 are still displaced and have fled into camps on both sides of the Thai-Myanmar border. And they are the lucky ones. One report said "state-sponsored" gang rape was a repeated tactic by soldiers to "demoralise and destroy the fabric of ethnic [minority] communities". Another found "systematic torture" being used by the army. Ethnic minorities in Myanmar like the Karen have seen whole villages lined up and shot. Experts have described the conflict as a genocide.

Fuelled by both ethnic and religious divides, the war is a toxic mix of a ruthless oppressor and determined minorities.

Like so many others before them, Wado and his siblings were punished for their father's resistance.

"Our house was rather small," he says simply. "So when they dropped three bombs on it, it collapsed." Incredibly the family survived, but he was forced to flee across the border into Thailand. That was in 1988, when he was just 13 years old.

Mae La camp is very different from when Wado arrived nearly 30 years ago as one of the early refugees. It has swelled from a population of just over 1,000 to nearly 40,000, dominating the local region of Tha Song Yang. Just a few miles from the Thai-Myanmar border in north-eastern Thailand, the camp is overseen by officials from the Thai Ministry of Interior (MOI). But in reality they act as nothing more than border police, tightly controlling who and what comes in and out of the camp.

Food, education and healthcare is provided in the camps with funding from donor governments and NGOs.

Thanks to Christian Aid, its partner organisation The Border Consortium (TBC) and other organisations, the education and healthcare provided inside the camps generally better than it is in surrounding rural Thailand. Refugee children can access primary education with most going on to secondary school and some even to college. The free healthcare gives the feel of apparent comfort. And far from a shanty town, the bamboo houses are well built and offer good shelter. On the surface, the camps are a haven.

But it is effectively a prison. The refugees are not allowed to leave the camp without permission from the Thai authorities and that is only given in exceptional circumstances. They cannot work, cannot earn money and cannot apply for citizenship.

They have sacrificed their freedom for safety, at risk of arrest if they leave and trapped if they remain. With nothing to hope for, it is no wonder that suicide and drug addiction have developed into major problems.

"The future has become too burdensome," Wado tells me as we sit in the oppressive heat of the late rainy season. "They are not motivated by what will happen in the future. It is too remote. So they kill themselves."

Wado is one of the few success stories. He went to high school in the camp and then to a Bible college in the camp. He later became the first resident of Mae La to achieve a PhD. Fittingly his thesis was on the "theology of hope".

But after receiving his doctorate from Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary in the Philippians Wado chose to return to Mae La. He felt called to "mobilise Karen churches to stand up" and resist the regime.

"We have been praying for positive changes to take place in Burma. I think the time for that change is here. It is on its way," he says.

Wado is excited by the election of Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The 2015 election was the country's first credible vote in decades. But the constitution means the military still controls 25 per cent of parliament and three vital ministries so the NLD's hands are tied.

However: "I studied the theology of hope, so I have hope," says Wado. "I am not just hoping in the abstract fashion. We also work."

"One day," he adds firmly.

Wado trains pupils in a non-violent theology of liberation, hoping they will spread its message throughout the Karen people.

"I take the model of Jesus in relation to poor people, in relation to women and children and those who are marginalised and people who are politically oppressed. We seek liberation from that perspective," he says.

Of his own father's more direct methods of combat he points to 60 years of conflict, countless deaths and lives destroyed. "Nothing has changed," he says simply. "So I am proposing the way of Jesus Christ in dealing with conflict."

As Wado talks, his otherwise laid-back demeanor becomes animated. He leans over and his voice becomes more urgent.

"Jesus was concerned for the poor and the needy  he put people who are marginalised, who are outside of society, into the mainstream and calls them blessed. When I say the word mainstream I mean he gives them a place! It's called the Kingdom of God. These people belong to the Kingdom of God. These people are supposed to be in the centre of society.

"Well, how did he do it? He tackled the dominant system by using a non-violent approach. He didn't fight back but he said love your enemy, turn the other cheek, go a second mile, give your under-garment if they ask for it.

"Those things are not just a passive way of dealing with conflict. It's a proactive way of doing it. But you don't dehumanise the oppressor. You also don't dehumanise yourself. You stand up. You show your humanity. Jesus used the spirit of service and humility to change society. That is the principle he advocated.

"Well I think at one point many people flocked to Jesus. The whole village went out to him. Sometimes the whole town. They were attracted by his non-violent approach and his way of changing society.

"If we follow the principle of Jesus and give the same expense and time to that as we give to war I think things will change. It will change for the positive.

"It should end on the table and not on the battle ground."
Laos Christians Exiled And Beaten For Their Faith

Seven familes have been exiled from their homes in Laos because they are Christian.

In addition, two further men were beaten and attacked in unsuccessful attempts to force them to deny their faith in Christ, according to the persecution charity Open Doors UK.

Laos, a landlocked country bordering China and Vietnam, has Theravada Buddhism as its predominant religion although there are small minorities of Christians, Muslims and Baha'i.

The families lived in Luang Prabang, which is in north-central Laos and whose name means Royal Buddha Image. It is an area known for its natural and also historic architectural beauty.

The families were exiled after being summoned to a meeting by local authorities where they were told they must go because "they may further create problems in the community due to their Christian beliefs," Open Doors reported.

The decision left them homeless and they complained, upon which they were told: "If you have nowhere to go, go out and live with Christ!"

An Open Doors worker said: "The police also told these families to deny Jesus and stop believing in Him since they don't like Christ to be these families' God.

"They hate Jesus and they don't want Jesus' name to be known in the village."

Open Doors is calling for prayers for encouragement and comfort for the seven families and the other two men, that essential identity documents taken from them will be returned, and for a change of heart by the authorities.
Police Say Australian Christian Lobby Explosion 'Not Religiously Motivated', ACL Is Not Convinced

The director of an Australian Christian group that campaigns against gay marriage has disputed police claims that an incident where a van exploded after being driven into its office was not "politically, religiously or ideologically motivated".

The Australian Christian Lobby said the police made this judgement after a "very short" talk with the driver of the van, that was filled with gas bottles. The driver is in hospital with serious burns.

Lyle Shelton, managing director, said he was praying for the driver, aged 35.

But he also said his staff had received many threats of violence and even death threats this year.

The lobby is a prominent conservative Christian group, speaking out for traditional marriage and against a state-funded LGBT education programme.

He was not convinced by the police statement that there was no religious motivation behind the explosion.

"I'm not convinced you can come to that conclusion so quickly. There are just too many coincidences. Why here? Why at the ACL office with multiple gas cylinders loaded up in your van? It just doesn't make sense to me.

"It's a coincidence of gigantic proportions for this to be plausible and concluded so unequivocally, so quickly, to me just seems strange."

Last month a motion to hold national vote on legalising same-sex marriage was defeated in the Australian senate.

Same-sex couples can register civil unions in most Australian states but they cannot marry.

Canberra Times reported that police said gas cylinders inside the van were ignited late on Wednesday night outside the league offices in Deakin, 2.5 kilometres from Parliament House. The driver then walked to Canberra Hospital. The van was destroyed and the two-storey building was badly damaged.

Shelton also criticised politicians who had labelled the league "bigots" and a "hate group", and said such language could help create a "permission structure" to people with an agenda against them.
'We Stand With You' Netanyahu Says To Persecuted Christians

Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians are thriving, the Israeli Prime Minister said in his Christmas address on Thursday.

Benjamin Netanyahu gave his video address outside the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem  one of the largest pro-Israel Christian ministries in the world.

Israel has a special bond with Christians, he said, "because we all know that this land of Israel is the land of our common heritage. It changed the story of humanity, it changed civilisation. What a magnificent heritage it is. Yet, we also know that it is under attack these days."

While people of faith in some parts of the world are subject to "barbarism" and Christians are attacked "with particular vehemence", Netanyahu said: "I'm proud of the fact that in Israel, this is the one place in the Middle East that the Christian community not only survives, but thrives and it's no accident. It's because of our commitment to religious freedom; it's because of our embrace of heritage; it's because of our embrace of our common future."

"We stand with you," he said to persecuted Christians.

"So please come to Israel. Come and visit me, I'm waiting for you."

Christians in the Holy Land will be unlikely to agree universally with Netanyahu's comments. The Kairos Palestine document, which was written by a coalition of Palestinian Christians says of Israel/Palestine: "Religious liberty is severely restricted; the freedom of access to the holy places is denied under the pretext of security. Jerusalem and its holy places are out of bounds for many Christians and Muslims from the West Bank and the Gaza strip."

Netanyahu last week praised US President-elect Donald Trump's controversial proposal to move the US Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, which critics have said would effectively rule out a possible two-state solution.

"Regarding the idea of opening the US Embassy to Jerusalem, I will respond to this in one word: Great," the Israeli PM said.
Why So Many Christians Backed Trump  And Why They Were Wrong

Bill Johnson, senior pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, California, sent shockwaves through the charismatic Christian world when he announced on Facebook he had voted for Donald Trump.

He was not alone. Dozens of other well known Christian leaders announced their endorsement of the Republican, to the confusion of other religious figures across the world.

Jerry Falwell Jr, Wayne Grudem, Robert Jeffress, James Dobson and Franklin Graham were among a long list of evangelical leaders to either explicitly or implicitly back the New York billionaire.

Although Grudem wavered when a video emerged in which Trump boasted of sexually harassing women, his support remained loyal.

For many evangelicals, the alternative was too horrific to consider.

Hillary Clinton not only embodied the liberal Washington establishment but more crucially for conservative evangelicals she was also the icon of the pro-choice, abortion-on-demand sentiment they so despised.

"I found that murder/abortion was wrong, which Clinton approves of even up to the point of delivery," Johnson wrote in his defence of voting Trump. "Changing the name from baby to fetus doesn't change reality. It's a baby. A woman has a right to decide what happens to her own body. But all of our rights stop when they violate the rights of another  in this case the unborn."

Trump guaranteed he would pack the US Supreme Court with conservative judges giving right-wing Christians more assurance in upcoming battles over gay and transgender rights.

So they turned a blind eye to Trump's multiple divorces and erratic temperament.

"They saw very deep values threatened by the Clintons," says Conrad Gempf, an American New Testament theologian and lecturer at the London School of Theology.

In an interview with Christian Today, he explained why a man who horrified many Christian leaders in the UK and Europe gained such strong and faithful support from evangelicals in the US.

"If you grant that legislation should be a description of Christian morality then you have a very hard time endorsing Clinton, who is going to push legislation that is more open, than you do with Trump who doesn't know what he is talking about and won't push anything," Gemf said.

An open supporter of Obama, Gempf added: "The problem is I don't think they have thought it through carefully enough.

"I think there is a problem with Christians trying to legislate morality. If you believe a certain kind of sexual behaviour is wrong, someone who is not a Christian has no way of knowing that at this point. So the most you can say is 'trust me it's wrong because I know'.

"That just isn't good enough grounds for dictating their behaviour."

Gemf added that democracy and legislation was a rigid and difficult thing to work into morality.

"If you had a referendum on homosexuality  should homosexuality be allowed or not  the Christian might answer one way if they're being asked 'do you think this behaviour is good'.

"And they might answer another way if they're being asked 'do you think this something we should enforce on everyone and punish them if they don't agree'.

"And it is difficult to know what the government is asking. Is it asking what would be ideal behaviour or is the government asking something else?

"Until you think about it really deeply I can see how you can come out and say there is no way I can support Clinton."
When Janet Stone lost half her life savings in the 2001 stock market crash and again in the national economic meltdown of 2008, she had enough with the banks and other financial institutions.

The 48-year-old San Francisco single mother and yoga instructor withdrew what was left of the nest egg shed been stashing away in a bank since she was in her 20s, invested in a home safe and hid the key somewhere she thought no one would ever find.

But in a shocking twist, Stone went bust for a third time.

On Dec. 14, a burglar pried open the door of her home near Mount Davidson Park, broke into the trusty safe and swiped her life savings of more than six figures as well as jewelry and precious family heirlooms. Even the contents of her two young daughters piggy banks were stolen.

I had been saving for over 20 years. I just crouched on the ground, put my head on the floor and cried, Stone said. I couldnt believe that could happen.

Despite the devastating loss, Stone said she looked around her ransacked home and was grateful that the thief left her Christmas tree intact.

The investigation of the crime is ongoing and, so far, no arrests have been made, said Officer Robert Rueca, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department.

There is no surveillance footage capturing the incident or witnesses, Rueca said, making it even more difficult to capture the bandit.

It felt like they knew exactly where the safe was. It felt like they were in the house before, Stone said, adding that she is very open with her home and often rents it out on Airbnb.

The burglar was able to find the key to the safe, which had been packed away in the back of a closet and zipped up in an ancient purse, Stone said.

She said she last pulled her money out of the bank in 2008 when she lost over half her savings in the national economic crisis.

She thought a home safe would better protect her earnings than a bank, but now, she said, shes forced to rethink her ways.

Anything that I was saving went into the safe, said Stone, who lives with her 10-year-old and 13-year-old daughters. We are just trying to make it. We dont have a lot of cushion for later or if my kids get sick or if I get sick, so thats really what that (money) was for.

Unless the culprit or culprits are caught, that money will never be replaced, Stone said, adding that home insurance doesnt cover cash.

In addition to losing the money, the burglar snatched her jewelry, including her grandmothers diamond wedding ring, a family heirloom shed been hoping to pass on to her children.

That stuff was really sentimental, those things mean a lot. I dont have photos of those things, Stone said of the jewelry.

Stone has been a yoga instructor in San Francisco for 15 years and teaches classes at Yoga Tree, which has studios throughout the city. She also teaches workshops for yoga instructors around the world  including Bali, Indonesia, India and Australia.

Since the burglary, the yoga community has rallied around Stone, organizing a GoFundMe page. One yoga studio in Canada added a fundraising campaign to its classes to help Stone recoup some of her losses, said Connie Engel, who works as a training coordinator for Stone.

When I first walked in and dropped to the floor, I lifted my head and was like, Thats so unkind, Stone said. But theres been such an outpouring in the community and I just kept putting my attention on the kindness.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
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Hollywoods obsession with remakes and reboots continued on the big screen and the small screen in 2016 with a handful of projects looking to inject new life into old creative properties.

For every confirmed hit like HBOs Westworld or big screen family film The Jungle Book there were some projects that didnt fare as well. Some were met with straight-up disinterest.

Who thought that an Uncle Buck TV series would be a good idea? Thankfully ABC canceled the Mike Epps vehicle after just a handful of episodes.

PHOTOS: 'Westworld' Characters Ranked From Worst to Best

We were inundated with press about the female-led reboot of Ghostbusters this past summer but audiences seemed to have preferred the first two classics from the 80s to Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon busting ghosts and cracking wise.

This one didnt seem to have a chance and it wasnt even the fault of the filmmakers.

Maybe a whole summer of media pundits writing scathing think-pieces calling people intolerant for not wanting to see the movie isnt the best way to get butts in theater seats. Many people probably opted to wait for Netflix or Redbox.

REVIEW: Who you gonna call? Sexism-toppling 'Ghostbusters'

The HBO series Westworld took the original premise behind Michael Crichtons 1973 film and expanded it into new and wildly-imaginative directions. Having a cast featuring Ed Harris, Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood didnt hurt either, and HBO has another Sunday night hit on its hands.

The show should be another HBO classic in the vein of Game of Thrones if subsequent seasons are handled correctly.

Remakes of The Magnificent Seven and Petes Dragon proved popular at theaters, but werent smash hits. Each films source properties might have still been a bit too vintage for 2016 audiences. Fans of dusty western shoot-em-ups dug seeing Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt as gunslingers though.

CBS rebooted the MacGyver character with Texas-born Lucas Till as Angus MacGyver some 30 years after the original Richard Dean Anderson series was released. By all accounts the new MacGyver has been rather entertaining.

I'M IN: 'Baywatch' Trailer: Boobs, Abs and Gunfire (Video)

Coming up in 2017 well be seeing a comic update on Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, a remake of 1979s Going in Style with Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, and a reboot of the Jumanji property with Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black fighting villainous wildlife.

Disney's live-action "Beauty And The Beast" remake looks like a surefire hit if the trailer is any indication.

Tom Cruise is also looking to restart The Mummy franchise for a new generation of audiences in early June. By our count hes now a part of three separate film franchises. If that long-rumored Top Gun sequel ever happens it will be four.

And of course David Lynch fans are waiting on pins and needles for 2017's big "Twin Peaks" relaunch with a star-studded cast.
No matter how much we love our families, an entire weekend of togetherness calls for a getaway with friends.

While most restaurants and several bars will be closed on Christmas Day, Chron.com managed to find some fun local spots that will be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
A Palace Museum-themed cellphone has aroused controversy over its exorbitant price, while the official online shop for Palace Museum products has denied any involvement, according to Beijing Youth Daily.

The cellphone has four colors and decorated with dragon pattern.(Photo/China News Service)

On Tuesday, a cellphone brand announced via its official Weibo account that it would partner with the Palace Museum to launch a limited edition cellphone on the first day of 2017.

It said there would be only 999 cellphones sold globally, each at 19,999 yuan ($2,878).

Claimed to be inspired by the Palace Museum collection, the cellphone is decorated with the traditional royal dragon pattern in 18k gold on its back, with cloud and wave patterns in calfskin at the top and bottom. There are four colors: black, blue, red and yellow. The screen of the phone is claimed to be covered with sapphire crystal.

Unlike many other Palace Museum-related cultural products that are welcomed as meaningful and useful, the cellphone has been called by many as gaudy and an abuse of the Palace Museum brand.

As part of its cultural business, the Palace Museum runs an official online shop on Taobao.com, selling themed products ranging from calendars, notebooks, phone cases to clothes and ornaments.

Despite the cellphone maker mentioning the online shop in its post, the latter has denied any relation to the product.

Beijing Youth Daily found that there are five companies running relevant businesses selling Palace Museum-themed cultural products, including the alleged partner of the cellphone company.

A staff member there told the reporter that the cellphone is expected to hit the market in the latter half of January 2017, but that the sales channel is still undecided.
When conservative group Turning Point USA published a Professor Watchlist last month, listing professors who allegedly discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom, faculty members nationwide worried the list would chill freedom of speech in the classroom.

Thirty professors at Trinity University in San Antonio have a different response: Add us.

These Trinity faculty aim to send the message that they will not be scared into censoring classroom dialogue. More important, they will not be coerced into changing one of their primary charges: to challenge students to critically evaluate their sources of information, their biases and their misconceptions, the group said in a statement released Thursday.

Trinity professors in disciplines including biology, anthropology, math and English signed the letter. They said the watchlist put forward old concerns about McCarthyism and censorship.

There are 162 professors on the watchlist, including nine professors from five Texas universities.

Matthew Lamb, Turning Point USA's director of constitutional enforcement and transparency, said last month that the group's website can serve as "another tool for students" as they evaluate whether to take a class or consider what to expect when they walk into a lecture hall.

He acknowledged that Donald Trump's election and recent focus on political correctness may give the site more attention than it otherwise would have. But he said the database will help students navigate an educational environment that he said doesn't hold professors accountable.

Turning Point, an Illinois organization founded in 2012, aims to attract young conservative voters with slogans like "big government sucks" and "I love capitalism."

Anyone can submit a "tip" to the group's website, sourced from news reports, firsthand experience and "word of mouth." Evidence is optional.

The Association of American University Professors has collected more than 10,185 signatories on an open letter supporting academic freedom in the wake of the November publication of the watchlist.

This type of monitoring of professors in which you are engaged can only inhibit the process through which higher learning occurs and knowledge is advanced, the letter said.
Five people convicted of minor crimes stemming back to 1983 were pardoned by Texas Governor Greg Abbott Thursday following recommendations by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. They are:

-- Melissa Kay Wade, 42, was sentenced to pay a $100 fine and $60.38 restitution for theft by check in 1991.
For 21 years, prostate cancer survivor Lane McKinney has looked forward to the annual Christmas party at the Cancer Center at Memorial Hermann Northeast. The gathering has become an annual ritual that borders on superstition for McKinney, because it's his chance to renew old friendships, and again say thanks to the "compassionate" staff that has helped him and others cope with the disease over the years.

McKinney also looks forward to getting the special Christmas ornament the Cancer Center gives to every survivor who attends the party. For the survivors, the ornament serves as a marker of sorts, signifying another year of life. Each party has its own unique Christmas tree ornament. This year, about 125 survivors attended the party.

"It's a symbol of their survivorship," said Gayle Bratsakis, CTR Program Coordinator for the Cancer Registry at the Center. Bratsakis has worked at the Center for 28 years and coordinates the annual event that allows her, and other staff, to reconnect with the patients they've treated.

Diagnosed in 1996 at age 43, McKinney received his first invitation later that same year to attend the Christmas party, held annually since the Cancer Center opened its doors in 1989.

"I went to the party and met Santa Claus and they gave all the survivors a Christmas ornament," said McKinney, regarding the first party he attended. "That was pretty cool. I've gone every year since then. After a couple years, I had several (ornaments), so I purchased a special tree.

"When I started hanging them on the tree it got to the point where I got kind of superstitious and I'd say to myself 'I've got to go get my ornament. I can't miss one," McKinney continued referencing a competition he had with another survivor for the most ornaments. "My wife and I would start to joke about it and she would ask 'are you going to set up your cancer tree this year?' and I said, 'let's find another name for that.' So, now we call it my Tree of Life."

Recently, McKinney received his 21st ornament commemorating his survivor's journey. He attributes his never-give-up attitude to the staff at the Cancer Center, which is accredited as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Daily, the Cancer Center at Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital brings together world-class skill, leading-edge technology and the most modern care available.

"They made everything so easy for me," McKinney said about the Cancer Center staff. "They put you at ease, but I watched how they treated everybody else. The care and compassion that they have is amazing. There's something about the Cancer Center. They wear their compassion right out front. It definitely made my journey a lot easier."

"How can anybody who deals with this day in and day out keep that attitude," McKinney asked rhetorically about Bratsakis. "She always has time for me. She's just a wonderful person. I see her once a year at the party and I look forward to it. I love her."

McKinney is introspective about his journey as a survivor. He says he doesn't worry about the "trivial stuff" in life anymore. Along the way, he has experienced a couple of false alarms like a scare in 2006 when a PSA test revealed he had elevated levels, and in 2012, when a lesion found on his pancreas raised initial fears of pancreatic cancer. He even wrote a pensive ballad, "Even the Rooms Look Different," about his journey that provides hope to other survivors.

"I know there are more important things in life," said McKinney. "I also know that every day above ground is a good day. I still live with it every day. One of the messages I try to give in the song is, 'I'm not going to give up. I know I'm going to win the race.' That sounds all brave and strong, but the truth is, there were days when I did want to give up. Sometimes I just got tired of it."

But McKinney continues to fight because of "life" and wanting to be here for his wife and son.

"Giving up is the easy way out," said McKinney. "It's sometimes harder to just keep going. Put one foot in front of the other and keep going. That's what I do. I'm still here."
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The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center congratulates employees Lisa Meisch and Curtis Herman on their years of dedicated service to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). Both were recognized at ceremonies in Austin by Mark Smith, Director of TSLAC, for their many contributions to the work of the Sam Houston Center and to the citizens of Texas.

Meisch began her position as the Center's archivist and curator in September 2000, after earning a master's degree from the University of North Texas the same year. Throughout her 15 years of service, she has been responsible for the preservation of the Center's historic records and artifacts, their preparation for use by researchers and their display in the Center's museum. Meisch also cares for the historic buildings on the Center's property.
A months-long online sting landed dozens of men in the Montgomery County Jail facing various child sex crime charges, including a Marine from the East Coast.

Keith Knight, 26, a drill instructor from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, is facing two second-degree felony counts of promotion of child pornography, which could land him in prison for up to 40 years.

Knight had been chatting with a 28-year-old woman on an Internet instant-messaging app in November, although the "woman" was really an undercover investigator from the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office, according to court documents.

Knight sent a nude photo of an infant, according to the affidavit.

As the conversation went on over a few days, Knight allegedly sent the investigator multiple photos and a video depicting young children performing sexual acts.

Search warrant

Working with Homeland Security Investigations through the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigators tracked Knight down in South Carolina.

They executed a search warrant on the Marine base there, Chief Prosecutor Mary Nan Huffman said.

"A lot of these (36) guys are local; but every once in a while, we'll stumble upon somebody who contacts one of our officers from far away," Huffman said.

"We believe that he was going to make the journey to come a meet a real child here at some point."

Knight's defense attorney E. Tay Bond said it is important to note that his client is not charged with producing any child pornography, and even more importantly that Knight and any alleged victim in the case were not from anywhere near Montgomery County.

"Montgomery County is dedicating substantial resources to prosecute these claims," Bond said. "The only actual tie to Montgomery County is it was sent to an Internet address that originated in Montgomery County. There was no actual defendant in Montgomery County, and there was no alleged child victim in Montgomery County.

"There is no evidence that the alleged minor portrayed in the child pornography was even in Texas, much less Montgomery County."

However, Knight allegedly messaged the investigator showing interest in coming to Texas to watch the purported 28-year-old woman perform sexual acts with a 5-year-old girl, court records show.

Huffman was unable to confirm how much Knight's extradition cost. He is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $200,000 worth of bonds.

'Operation Safe Holiday'

As for the rest of the men arrested in the sting, their charges range from online solicitation of a minor to attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child. Huffman said the sting, timely dubbed "Operation Safe Holiday," was a successful attempt at getting the alleged offenders off the streets.

"With kids out of school, we want them kept safe," Huffman said. "Parents need to be aware that these predators are out there."

The ICAC Task Force consists of officers from the Conroe Police Department, all five of the Montgomery County constable's offices, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Those arrested are:

Philip Lee, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child and promotion of child pornography

Carmen Silva, promotion of child pornography

Omar Elessawy, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child and promotion of child pornography

Julio Espinoza, online solicitation of a minor

Donald Burleson, online solicitation of a minor

Bryan Lovett, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child and promotion of child pornography

Alfonso Ruiz, online solicitation of a minor

John Contreras Jr., online solicitation of a minor

Philip Romolo, online solicitation of a minor

Raymond Ybarra Jr., online solicitation of a minor

Robert Mittelbronn, online solicitation of a minor

Williams Dolan, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child

Dwight Dorner, online solicitation of a minor

Alphonse Aguillard, online solicitation of a minor

Jake Lowe, online solicitation of a minor

Richard Guice, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child

Sadam Castellanos Reyes, online solicitation of a minor

Martin Moreno, online solicitation of a minor

Adam Rivera, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child

Carlos Valdez, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child

Justin Strickland, online solicitation of a minor

Joseph Blankenship, online solicitation of a minor

Lamont Cash, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child

James Flessas, online solicitation of a minor

Currie Byrd, online solicitation of a minor

Joshua Johnson, online solicitation of a minor

Garry Lay, online solicitation of a minor

Rodolfo Barrientos, online solicitation of a minor

Phillip Petty, online solicitation of a minor

Kyle Storie, online solicitation of a minor

Abel Garcia, online solicitation of a minor

Brandon Gasque, online solicitation of a minor

Jonathan Alvarez Castillo, online solicitation of a minor

Jerry Hutcheson, possession of child pornography
HUMBLE - The annual Awards Extravaganza presented by Stander and Company will honor many area citizens for their work in the community and with the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Overlook, at 20114 Pinehurst Drive in Atascocita.

Scott Brady with Joiner Architects will be honored as the 2016 Haden McKay M.D. Citizen of the Year; Guy Sconzo will be honored with the 2016 Spirit of the Chamber award; Corinn Price with Insperity will be honored with the 2016 Chairman's Award; Robyn Chioniere with Picture it Sold Real Estate Photography will be honored with the 2016 Rising Star Award.
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Two environmental advocacy groups have given a Pasadena refinery official notice of their intent to sue in federal court under the Clean Air Act on allegations the refinery spewed out illegal levels of particulate matter, by the hour, over the course of five years.

Environment Texas and Sierra Club said in a statement they intend file a suit within the 60-day grace period against Pasadena Refining System, Inc. or PRSI which is owned byBrazil, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., or Petrobras, the state-controlled oil company of Brazil, which has been a flashpoint in a political scandal in its home country. The lawsuit will allege the local refinery violated both hourly and yearly emissions standards, resulting in thousands of breaches of the Clean Air Act.

Petrobras officials in Houston and Brazil were not immediately available for comment.

This particular refinery near the Ship Channel has been troubled for years.

"(It) stands out among Texas oil refineries because of the huge amounts of particulate matter that are repeatedly belched from the facility, in violation of legal limits," said Neil Carman, Clean Air Program Director for Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter.

Carman noted that in early November the company had a seven-hour power outage that resulted in two emissions releasing three tons of particulate matter into the air. In July, a lightning strike caused the plant to emit 21 tons of potentially dangerous pollutants into the air and a shelter-in-place order was called for the Galena Park area. In March, a fire and explosion injured one worker. In 2011, the refinery had another fire.

These types of particulate matter are linked to increased emergency room and hospital visits, decreased life expectancy and aggravated asthma.

The EPA has said that 75,000 people live within three miles of the plant. There are eight nearby schools, a Headstart program and several daycare centers in the surrounding area.

"Sadly, this is not a new problem for this old refinery, which has violated emission limits, suffered fires and worker injuries, and operated recently for over two years without a valid federal Clean Air Act permit," said Luke Metzger, Executive Director of Environment Texas. "According to our Breakdowns in Air Quality report, PRSI released 92,994 pounds of unauthorized particulate matter in 2015, making it the second worst in the entire state of Texas for this type of illegal pollution."

The two groups accuse PRSI of thousands of violations of numerous hourly and annual limits on emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other air pollutants.

The PRSI lawsuit is the fourth filed since 2008 by the two environmental groups challenging oil refineries and petrochemical facilities along the Houston Ship Channel for violating emissions laws.

The state-controlled oil company, colloquially known as Petrobras, has owned the facility for ten years. The Pasadena facility has also been linked to the massive corruption scandal unfolding in Brazil known as "Operation Car Wash." the largest corruption scandal in the history of Brazil.
A plane headed to Ecuador from Houston made an emergency landing Thursday night at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, after reports of sounds inside the cargo area of the plane, according to a United Airlines spokeswoman.

A crew member reported unusual sounds coming from the cargo hold, said Maddie King, of United Airlines. Flight 1035 returned to Houston and landed safely.
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Paul Michael Slayton, better known to millions as Houston rapper Paul Wall, was arrested on a drug charge on Friday.

Slayton, 35, was charged with manufacturing/delivery of a controlled substance between 4 and 400 grams, a felony charge, according to the Harris Country District Clerk's Office.

Also arrested and given the same charge was fellow rapper Ronald Ray Bryant, known as Baby Bash. Both rappers made their bail, which were each set at $20,000.

TMZ reports Slayton and Bryant were among 10 people arrested when officers executed a search warrant on a Harris County location early Friday. ABC13 reports officers found the group with Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

Slayton spent Thursday night driving to various Houston locations collecting gifts for a holiday toy drive, according to his Instagram page.

On Friday afternoon, Bryant tweeted a message to his followers stating, "Got caught up with a lil Weed yall.. no biggie. Lol #cannabiscommunity."

Slayton's attorney, Jolanda Jones, released a statement Friday evening, stating that her client is "innocent until proven guilty." Jones wrote that she was "confident that after a thorough investigation of these allegations," Slayton would be found not guilty.

"I will fight vigorously to defend my client," she wrote.

Both Slayton and Bryant are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 27. At this time, it's unclear if Bryant has a lawyer.
Zheng, the man who made and sold counterfeit Disneyland tickets, was punished with a prison sentence of three years and three months on Dec 22. He was also given a fine of 10,000 RMB, according to the ruling of a local people's court in Shanghai.

The fake Disneyland ticket.[Photo/People's Daily Online]

Noting the popularity of the Disneyland resort in Shanghai, Zheng, who was born in Guangdong province, tampered with the registered information of his sister's online shop, using illegal methods to advertise his fake ticket business. An online record from April showed hundreds of transactions.

Before his scheme was discovered by local police, Zheng sold over 200 fake tickets to 38 people. His tickets were priced at 499 RMB for adults and 375 RMB for children, allowing him to earn illegal income of 68,000 RMB.

Zheng pleaded guilty in court. He claimed that his motivation was to repay his credit card debt and collect money for his mortgage. Following relevant compensation procedures, the 38 victims of Zheng's scheme were compensated by the online shopping website through which they purchased the tickets. Zheng said he has already repaid the website.

Police reminded visitors that they should buy tickets only from the official site of the Disneyland resort.
A series of fascinating archived photos show an infant Texas during the 1800s  including two rare photos of Sam Houston.

The collection  "Texas in Focus: Early Photographs from the State Archives"  shows "ordinary" Texas citizens alongside iconic figures in handcrafted images pulled from state archives by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Berkeley and Alameda area couple Jeff Becerra and Michelle Mahoney just ended their marriage of more than 20 years with what's possibly the most amicable outro: a "divorce party," attended by their family and friends last Saturday.

The two planned the party in an effort to alleviate "a little bit of the awkwardness" from the situation, and to make it clear to everyone they know that they're planning on remaining friends.

"We've had a lot of really good parties over the years and I thought let's have another one and let this be our last hurrah," Mahoney told "Good Morning America." "It would make people a little uncomfortable, but it will be fun."

One person not made uncomfortable by the decision to celebrate was one of the pair's 18-year-old daughters, Emma, who told GMA that she "didn't feel sad at all" and that "people that know [her parents] understand that this is something they would totally do." Mahoney and Becerra also have another daughter, 20-year-old Rylie, who was unable to be at the party due to an overseas college program.

And although Mahoney said the pair exchanged gifts  she received a toaster oven from her ex  she made it clear that that they aren't arguing about the division of the assets.

"It's just things," Mahoney said. "This girl [Emma] and her sister, who's not here, are the most important things to us."

Since news of the divorce party broke this week, Mahoney and Becerra have been weathering the media attention. When asked if the whole thing has been surreal, she told SFGATE, "Yes, I think post-election and possibly in general that people are ready for 'good/positive' stories."

But despite the accord between the two and the sudden publicity, they say there's no chance of a reconciliation.

More for you The year of the split: The biggest celebrity breakups in 2016

Mahoney told SFGATE that she has moved from the couple's home in Alameda to the Berkeley Hills  coincidentally to a street she lived on when she was younger  and Becerra stayed in Alameda, but moved into a cottage. They plan on selling their house in 2018, but that won't mean the end of a friendship; Mahoney says they still "want to do lots of stuff together as a family."

This article has been updated to include a quote and additional information from Mahoney.
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Former gubernatorial candidate and co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's New York campaign Carl Paladino is standing by controversial comments about Michelle Obama made in Buffalo weekly ArtVoice that have sparked outcry on social media.

In a lengthy statement released Friday afternoon, Paladino defended his comments that he would like to see the first lady "return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla."

He said his remarks have "nothing to do with race" and "tough luck if you don't like my answer." His statement slams "2 progressive elitist ingrates"  Barack and Michelle Obama  "who have hated their country so badly and destroyed its fabrice in so many respects in 8 years."

"Michelle hated America before her husband won," Paladino charged. "She then enjoyed all the attention, the multi -million dollar vacations, the huge staff and other benefits. Then when Hillary lost, she and Barack realized that without Hillary, there was no one to protect the little, if any, legacy he had. That's when Michelle came out and said there is no hope for America. Good, let her leave and go someplace she will be happy."

Paladino added that President Obama is "a yellow-bellied coward who left thousands to die in Syria and especially Aleppo and he gets on TV and says he feels bad he couldn't do anything about it."

Paladino's response to the Buffalo News was even sharper. He said the newspapers editors could "all go f themselves" and that "I made that comment just for" Rod Watson, one of the newspaper's black editors.

Paladino's original comments were published by ArtVoice as part of a package on what Western New Yorkers went out of 2017. The questions were:

1. What would you most like to happen in 2017?

2. What would you like to see go away in 2017?

3. Who would you like to see run for mayor of Buffalo in next year's election?

4. Should the new $50 million Amtrak station be at Central Terminal or Canal Side?

Here are Paladino's responses:

1. Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford. He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret, who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.

2. Michelle Obama. I'd like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.

3. Someone with a brain, a set of balls and a lack of fear who has enough money so as not to owe anyone anything once elected and who believes in a market economy.

4. We need a $50 million dollar train station as much as we need parasitic people like Lou Ciminelli, 80% of the school board and the dizziness of socialistic progressive politicians who never signed the front of a paycheck. At best 400 people a day take a train. They are not complaining about exchange or Depew. We are already the laughingstock of America for having the dumbest elected leaders ever. Why add to it.

A call to ArtVoice led to a message that said "the person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time." An email requesting comment from ArtVoice editors was not immediately returned.

Paladino is no stranger to controversy. During his 2010 run for governor, which he lost to current Gov. andrew Cuomo, the brash Buffalonian was thrust into controversy when emails he forwarded to associates that, among other things, depicted a horse having sex with a woman and President Barack Obama and the first lady as a pimp and prostitute were leaked.

Earlier this year, Paladino said on NPR that Donald Trump supporters are people frustrated with government "who want the raccoons out of the basement." He defended that comment amidst an onslaught of criticisms that the remark was racist.

Also as a Trump surrogate this year, the Buffalo school board member said at a conference of urban school leaders in Miami in October that "our minorities need to be brought along" in discussing the role of the federal government in ensuring school diversity, the Buffalo News reported. That comment elicited sharp criticism at the conference, the newspaper reported.

On Friday, the Buffalo Parent-Teacher Organization demanded that the state Education Department remove Paladino from the Buffalo school board "for persistently violating the BOE and Buffalo Public Schools Code of Ethics and NYS Dignity for All Students Act with hateful and racist remarks."

Here's Paladino's full response to the Friday controversy:

It has nothing to do with race. That's the typical stance of the press when they can't otherwise defend the acts of the person being attacked.

It's about 2 progressive elitist ingrates who have hated their country so badly and destroyed its fabric in so many respects in 8 years.

It's about them diminishing the respect for their country on the world scene, surrendering its status as the protector of human rights, disgracing the memory of its veterans who gave so much.

It's about demeaning and weakening what was the most powerful military in the world, firing hundreds of good soldier Generals and Admirals who refused Barack's illegal and irresponsible dictates.

Michelle hated America before her husband won. She then enjoyed all the attention, the multi -million dollar vacations, the huge staff and other benefits. Then when Hillary lost, she and Barack realized that without Hillary, there was no one to protect the little, if any, legacy he had. That's when Michelle came out and said there is no hope for America. Good, let her leave and go someplace she will be happy.

As for Barack, he's a yellow-bellied coward who left thousands to die in Syria and especially Aleppo and he gets on TV and says he feels bad he couldn't do anything about it.

He supported the mass migration without vetting of people from Muslim countries and the open borders, not for the people, but to expand the democratic base to a permanent majority.

He couldn't care less about the people. He just commuted the sentences of another 650 drug pushers responsible for selling poison to our kids.

It's about the middle class, silent majority, rising up to destroy the Republican and Democrat establishment in America.

It's about the end of an era when the people took all their information from the main street media, letting them tell us what the issues are and how to resolve those issues. People no longer trust the press.

It's about that fraudulent, shadow government with a lazy ass president who allowed non-Americans like Valerie Jarret to run the government on a day to day basis and order the Stand down in Benghazi and the later cover-up that does matter.

It's about Lois Lerner and the head of the IRS and the other criminal officials who haven't been prosecuted or even investigated because the leaders of the progressive movement are above the law.

It's about the end of the progressive movement and reset of the direction of America for the next 30 years.

It's about a president who interfered in a presidential election for his successor so flagrantly that he called Trump unfit for office.

It's about a president who for 8 years did absolutely nothing for black children in our urban centers held prisoner by the cycle of poverty and illegitimate black leadership more interested in power and preserving their voting base by keeping them hungry and uneducated in the inner cities.

And yes, it's about a little deprecating humor which America lost for a long time. Merry Christmas and tough luck if you don't like my answer.

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The China Standby Peacekeeping Police Force under the Ministry of Public Security has been formed in Dongying City in east China's Shandong Province, according to an announcement on Thursday.

Members of China Standby Peacekeeping Police Force attend the force's founding ceremony in Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 22, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Shao Kun)

The force consists of more than 300 people, with an average age of 27, selected from border control forces around the country. The force is divided into two subordinate anti-riot forces.

The Border Control Department of the ministry is in charge of organizing the force. Organization work started in March.

All members of the first anti-riot force passed assessments organized by the UN on Oct. 12, and the force is ready to be sent abroad. The second force is preparing for the assessment.

Since 2004, the ministry has organized 12 peacekeeping anti-riot police forces. A total of 1,564 policemen have been sent abroad for peacekeeping missions.
GALVESTON  A child severely burned in a massive fireworks explosion near Mexico City that killed at least 35 people was operated on Thursday at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston and is doing well, the chief of staff said.

"He is doing great," said Dr. David Herndon, who declined to identify the child, his age, or discuss the specifics of his case during a news conference at the hospital.
On Friday, the Multi-County Crime Stoppers released a list of their 10 featured fugitives of the week.

Of the 10 fugitives on the list, four are wanted on charges relating to driving while intoxicated. Two are wanted on a charge of aggravated robbery and another is wanted on a charge of robbery.
A man is in the hospital fighting for his life after he was shot early Friday morning outside along a street in west Houston.

The shooting happened about 12:30 a.m. in the 2800 block of Wallingford near Meadowglen, said Jimmy Dodson, a homicide investigator with the Houston Police Department.
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.
David Frum, the editor of the Atlantic, came out with an outstanding article , which seeks to explain Donald Trump's erratic tweets regarding China and the drone incident. On the face of it, Trump is being Trump, a random ignoramus, who doesn't know or care about diplomatic niceties or foreign policy geopolitical rules, and is just in general being crass. That makes sense, as that is how he essentially won the U.S. election. However, on greater probing, it bears considerable strategic maturity and a hint of grand strategy.

Readers will remember that I insinuated that Trump might be trying a Nixonian Madman Theory, although it would be surprising, since Trump hasn't betrayed even the slightest knowledge of strategic wisdom. Frum is of a similar opinion: That Trump might be aiming to follow Nixon's tested formula, only in reverse. So, Nixon wanted a detente with China and to oppose the Soviets. Trump wants to appease Russia and antagonize China. The reason, Frum infers, that Trump, or his advisors, figured out that China is the ultimate peer rival, and that Russia is therefore a civilizational ally.

Unfortunately, this analysis fails to convince for the following reasons. Firstly, it assumes that Trump indeed has a strategy. It is not yet clear that that is the case. Trump thus far has followed one single predictable pattern. That is, he responds well to people praising him  that's pretty much it. It is uncertain how he will respond when faced with structural obstruction for his planned detente with Russia. Or how he will respond if China reaches out to him via back channels with an offer that aims to redistribute global burden and leaves China's core interest zones untouched.

Secondly: This analysis by Frum is what we call a monadic analysis, that is it assumes how states will react in response to the leading power  that is the U.S. What if Russia doesn't agree to a detente and to antagonize China? What if Russian strategists calculate that China-Russia would be a far better partnership, leaving the U.S. alone and secluded in the Western hemisphere? Those factors are not taken into consideration.

Third, as Ali Wyne wrote in National Interest , there's a fundamental difference between people equating a China-.U.S clash to those that started previous world wars. They are not factoring the development of nuclear weapons and the MAD concept. States want to survive, and no regime wants a destructive nuclear war where there can be no victory.

Having said that, what should Beijing do? It is a curious dilemma, and Beijing should actually here emulate Washington. For example, up until now, Washington has played the role of a big mature adult while Moscow and Tehran have acted rashly. There was a sense of a historical inevitability and quiet confidence guiding American behavior.

Beijing should try to emulate that. I'm not saying Washington is like Moscow. America is governed by checks and balances, and therefore much more stable, regardless of whatever Trump tweets. However, Beijing should be careful not to fall into the trap of baiting. After all, the trends are that Asian geopolitics are moving in Chinese directions, and Chinese government has been clear about standing toe to toe to defend Chinese national interests as well. As long as that continues, Beijing should try to reach out to Trump via back channels for a deal. There are immediate areas of cooperation, like intelligence sharing, as Trump's team will be focused on Islamic terrorism and the Middle East. The art of the deal is what he understands most, and a deal is what he just might get.

Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Half a century ago, the editors of the Paris Review induced author Vladimir Nabokov to sit for a rare interview. The Russian emigre proceeded to offer a series of merciless judgments on literature, art, sociology, and psychology. None was more provocative than a word from his boyhood, poshlost (pronounced push-lost). He defined it as:

Corny trash, vulgar cliches, Philistinism in all its phases, imitations of imitations, bogus profundities . . . the journalistic generalities we all know. Poshlost speaks in such concepts as America is no better than Russia or We all share in Germanys guilt. . . . Listing in one breath Auschwitz, Hiroshima and Vietnam is seditious poshlost . . .The list is long, and, of course, everybody has his bete noire, his black pet, in the series.

At the time of Nabokovs pronouncements, poshlost was sporadically heard in the halls of academia and on the prattle of newscasts. But all too soon, politicians, professors, and talking heads began to issue bogus profundities like park benchers scattering breadcrumbs before pigeons. Now poshlost has become the rule, rather than the exception.

Of course, authorities no longer indict the United States by comparing her with Russiacertainly not since accusations that Vladimir Putin put his thumb on the scale of the presidential election. Cuba is more likely to be invoked as a moral equivalent of the American oppressor. Doesnt the U.S. maintain a prison at Guantanamo Bay, on the same island with the Castro regime?

Other dubious moral equivalents have been voiced by the outgoing president himself. During a 2014 address before the United Nations, Obama declared, In a summer marked by instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, I know the world also took notice of the small American city of Ferguson, Missouri, where a young man was killed and a community was divided. Thus the horrors of the Syrian war and the agonies of Eastern Ukraine were equated with the fatal confrontation between a robber and a policeman in the Midwest. Just before his death, Michael Brown was supposed to have shouted, Hands up, dont shoot. A riot ensued and the FBI stepped in. After a thorough investigation, the cop was found to have been justified in the use of his sidearm. The deceased, apparently, never spoke those four words. But by that time poshlost had been loosed on cable TV, the newspapers, and the White House, where sensational fiction overrode stark truth.

In his indictment, Nabokov also referred to a post-war Germany and the historically illiterate who believed the U.S. had been guilty of Nazi-like crimes. Didnt our armies bomb civilians? What about Dresden? Today, a different Germany, acutely aware of its past, welcomes thousands of Middle Eastern refugees without considering the consequences. Meantime, in the U.S., some 18 pugnacious sanctuary cities are ready to share in Germanys guilt. This, in defiance of federal law; this, regardless of the dangers that unexamined immigrants might present to other city-dwellers; this, though no other nation has welcomed so many foreigners over the course of the last 240 years.

As for morally repellent comparisons to Auschwitz, animal rights extremists are always willing to oblige. The president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) stated, Six million Jews died in concentration camps, but six billion chickens will die this year in slaughterhouses.

The parade of betes noir has grown exponentially since Nabokovs era. After all, he came before the invention of Twitter, Facebook, and the 24-hour news cycle. At present, there are many shortages around the globe, but the purveyors of poshlost are about to enjoy their best year.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The Black Lives Matter crusade against the police continued to cost lives and destroy civil peace in 2016. Two recent estimates of violent crime in the nations largest cities show that murders and shootings remained on an upward trajectory this year, as officers backed off of proactive policing. The Brennan Center for Justice projects that murders in the 30 largest cities will be 14 percent higher in 2016 compared with 2015, a stunning increase coming as it does on top of 2015s already massive homicide rise, which was 14.5 percent in all cities with populations over 250,000 and 20 percent in cities with populations from 500,000 to 1 million. The Wall Street Journal found that homicides increased in 16 of the 20 largest police departments in 2016. Meanwhile, gun murders of police officers are up 68 percent through December 23, compared with the same period in 2015.

Medium-sized cities that dont show up in the Brennan Center or Wall Street Journal analyses are also in distress. Clevelands murder numbers, for example, are up again in 2016 over 2015, which, with a 15 percent spike over 2014, was already one of the deadliest years in a decade. By early December 2016, Richmond had logged a 40 percent increase in homicides over 2015, making this year Richmonds deadliest in a decade. And even in some cities where homicides decreased modestly over the previous years violent crime surge, the drop may simply reflect the vagaries of emergency-room treatment, ambulance speeds, and gangbangers shooting skills. Non-fatal shootings are up in Baltimore, though homicides are down slightly compared with 2015. Measured on a per capita basis, 2016 will still be Baltimores second deadliest year in its history.

The media, academia, and some police officials are again twisting themselves into knots to deny that depolicing is responsible for the ongoing violent-crime increase. None of their alternative explanations fits the timing. The Wall Street Journal cites Yale sociologist Andrew Papachristos for the proposition that the demolition of Chicagos massive public-housing projects is resulting in more gang violence today: What we are seeing now is more mom and pop type of activity, he says. But the last of the projects went down in 2011. Chicagos homicides dropped significantly in 2013 and 2014. It was only in 2015, as race riots and virulent anti-cop protests spread across the country and as Chicago cops went fetal, in Mayor Rahm Emanuels words, that Chicagos homicides and shootings started spiking.

The Brennan Center cites long-term socioeconomic problems (high poverty, unemployment, and racial segregation) for the 2016 violent crime increase, the same explanation it gave last year for the 2015 crime spike. But such long-term socioeconomic problems have not worsened in the last two years. In implicit recognition of that fact, the Brennan Center this year has added an ad hoc supplemental explanation: cities with high poverty are more prone to short-term spikes in crime, the Brennan researchers allege without evidence. But last years national homicide increase was not some typical short-term blip; it was the largest in nearly 50 years. Virtually every population tranche of cities experienced it. The Brennan Center also cites gang violence as a cause of the rising violence in Chicagoa circular explanation.

University of Missouri, St. Louis, criminologist Richard Rosenfeld continues to propose that a loss in police legitimacy has made residents of high-crime areas less willing to cooperate with the police in solving crimes, and more likely to turn to retaliatory shootings in search of justice. But the no-snitch ethic has been the code of the streets for decades in minority areas. The young men who are gunning each other down in black ghettos at elevated rates were no more likely three years ago to fulfill their civic duties by helping solve shootings. What has changed is their likelihood of getting stopped and questioned by the police as they hang out on the corner; with the police backing off, they are more likely to carry and use guns.

The head of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, Darrel Stephens, cites the easy availability of firearms as a possible cause of the crime increase. Firearms were just as available in 2013 and 2014, however, before the Michael Brown police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, ignited the Black Lives Matter movement and its fawning media coverage. Stephens also cites the usual alleged root causes of violence: high poverty, high unemployment, low educational achievement. Again, however, they have not worsened since Ferguson.

The strong version of what I have called the Ferguson Effecta drop in proactive policing leading to rising crimeis the only explanation for the crime increase that matches the data. The country has just elected a new president who understands that the false narrative about the police has led to the breakdown of law and order in inner cities. If the crime situation improves in the coming year, it will be because Black Lives Matter calumnies no longer have an echo chamber in the White House and because cops on the beat believe that they will now be supported for trying to restore order where informal social control has broken down.

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Who speaks for Muslim Americans? The media have long offered a megaphone to grievance groups like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Contrarian, Western-oriented Muslims are rarely heard from. With the election of Donald Trump, however, their voices are growing louder. Some are political conservatives in the American sense. Others simply embrace the separation of secular and religious life. Both are fed up with the monolithic, condescending presentation of Muslims as victims.

Trumps election has opened a new space for such Muslim Americans to express themselves politically. Oppressive sharia codes are as much a threat to these reformers as they are to unprotected American traditions. The new crop of Muslim reformers seek express delineation between Islam as a religious belief system and Islamism as a socio-political regime. They understand the vital need for open and uncensored public debate. They realize that this discussion may determine whether America avoids the fate of Europe, which chose multiculturalism over assimilation and is paying a heavy price.

Former Wall Street Journal reporter Asra Nomani penned a recent op-ed in the Washington Post announcing herself as a Muslim, an immigrant, and a Trump voter. She has also warned Americans that campaigns like wear a hijab dayostensibly meant as demonstrations of solidarity with Muslim womenare misguided. Hijab literally means curtain in Arabic. It also means hiding, obstructing and isolating someone or something, she wrote. It is never used in the Koran to mean headscarf. Nomani says she doesnt buy the Islamic fundamentalist meme that men are weak, and cant withstand the temptation of seeing a womans hair. Nomani explains that such ideologies absolve men of sexually harassing women and put the onus on the victim to protect herself by covering up.

In 2015, more than a dozen Muslim dissidentsincluding Nomani, Zuhdi Jasser, Raheel Raza, and Tawfik Hamidannounced the formation of the Muslim Reform Movement. We are in a battle for the soul of Islam, and an Islamic renewal must defeat the ideology of Islamism, or politicized Islam, which seeks to create Islamic states, as well as an Islamic caliphate, the group said in a manifesto demanding freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equal rights for women, and separation of mosque and state. This declaration provides a philosophical basis for Muslim believers to interpret Islam in a societally constructive fashion. Physician Qanta Ahmed has suggested that President-elect Trump build an advisory team of insightful Muslim leaders to shape a national effort to unveil Islamism. Ahmed, author of In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctors Journey in the Saudi Kingdom, wants to assist in creating the framework to disable Islamism through frank speech. In appearances on PBS and CNN, she has called Islamism a destructive force that aims to subjugate all Muslims. She was critical of President Obamas reluctance to name the Islamists threat and she welcomes the serious, fresh opportunity to defeat Islamism that Trump may represent.

Shireen Qudosis blog bills itself The Voice of Muslim Reformers. A longtime California Republican, Qudosi is an eloquent defender of American constitutional standards and a vivacious feminist. Tawfik Hamid is a reformed Islamist radical who now declares that he is a Muslim by birth . . . Christian by the spirit . . . and a Jew by heart. Obama has called Islamic radicalism a perversion of Islam, but Hamid warns that Islamic violence is indeed rooted in religious ideology. He stresses the need for clear distinctions that isolate radical influences. Author Ayaan Hirsi Ali is no longer a Muslim. Born in Somalia, she rejected Islam in favor of Enlightenment ideals when she fled to the Netherlands in 1992. Recognizing that Islam is at a crossroads, Ali has called for leadership from the dissidents and emphasized that the reformers stand no chance without support from the West.

Muslim-American reformers have risked much and are targets of both leftists and Islamists. Recently, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled Jasser, a Phoenix-based cardiologist, anti-Muslim. It has called Ali an extremist. In fact, both are brave and eloquent defenders of liberty, freedom of conscience, unfettered speech, and individual rights. Trump would be wise to invite them into his administration, and consider their counsel.

Photo by Muslim Reform Movement
AO Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor anunta concurs pentru procurarea/elaborarea panourilor informative pentru Inspectoratul General al Politiei de Frontiera
Controlling the zone is a familiar term in aviation as well as sports. It refers to managing a protective space and governing that space to ones advantage.

The media has given President-Elect Donald Trump quite a bit of latitude when it comes to operating on his own turf in his own way, as a real estate titan and former political outsider. And Trump has effectively used his eponymous Midtown Manhattan skyscraper to further assert a sense of power and control.

The media, the public, and the political establishment are forced to negotiate the 58-story towers spaces, particularly the lobby, on Trumps terms. The resulting circus of power and influence has flooded the media space with awkward and provocative images.





Potential cabinet officers, political luminaries, policy experts, and celebrities traipsing through Trump Tower have made for powerful theater (or is it reality TV?) since Election Day. Many who are accustomed to operating with more discretion have interacted awkwardly with a phalanx of news photographers and videographers. The setting turns everyone who wants or needs to interact with Trump into real-life actors in a presidential transition drama.

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This cartoon by Matt Wuerker for Politico goes right for the jugular, positing how the cameras incessant gaze, and all the ascending and descending, is an homage to Trumps ego, as if visitors are demonstrating fealty to a lord.

The latest from the desk of Matt Wuerker. #trumptower #gop #republican #politics #cartoon A photo posted by POLITICO (@politico) on Dec 12, 2016 at 4:08pm PST







At times, the scene at Trump Tower feels literally like a show. Last August a man seeking an audience with Trump was arrested for scaling the outside of the building. On any given day, you might find Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, or a defeated, but still dancing Hillary.





Trumps M.O. is to make people come to him, to keep people off balance and mindful of whos in charge. Trump Tower helps him accomplish both. The buildings lobby spacemuch like the boardroom from Trumps NBC reality show The Apprenticeputs visitors on the spot, forcing them into a candid public situation with little protection.

Trump could arrange for dignitaries to come and go discreetlyif thats what he wanted. His chief strategist and senior counselor, Steve Bannon, for example, is hardly ever seen in the lobby. But thats not how Trump rolls with other visitors. In this photo, for example, Jim Brown and former Apprentice star Omarosa Manigault wait awkwardly to see Trump in front of the media pool while two unidentified men stand around just as uncomfortably.





Nobody has suffered harsher treatment running the Trump Tower gauntlet than Al Gore, the last popular-vote winner before Hillary Clinton to lose a presidential election. He came in earnest at the invitation of Ivanka Trump to meet with her and her father to discuss climate change. Presumably Gore had no idea the president-elect would name a climate-change denier as energy secretary the very next morning. The look on Gores face and the reflection of the photographers only exacerbates the cruel side of this spectacle.





From the beginning of his campaign, Trump used immigration and terrorism to stoke fear, casting suspicion on non-Christian, brown-skinned people from Asia to the Middle East. Michael Flynn, Trumps proposed national security advisor, has raised specific alarm for disparaging the entire religion of Islam as violent.

But in front of the cameras at Trump Tower, Michael Flynn poses happily with a Sikh man. Though Sikhs arent Muslim, whats provocative about the photo is that it seems to sanitize the incoming administrations xenophobic tendencies.





Former campaign manager and senior advisor Kellyann Conwaythe face of Team Trump on TVis especially solicitous of tourists and excited Trump Tower visitors. In contrast to her combative demeanor on talk shows and Twitter, Conway is frequently captured in newswire photos posing for selfies and even joking around with New York fixture and Trump admirer The Naked Cowboy.





Similar to the way he uses his Twitter feed, Trump will use the lobby, the assembled media, and attention-grabbing techniques to drive or alter the media narrative. Just when it seemed like Russias meddling in the election would lead the days news conversation 

Well, this isnt entirely surprising. #KanyeWest joined #DonaldTrump in Trump Tower this morning for a brief meeting with the president-elect. According to Trump, the pair discussed "life." : Drew Angerer/@GettyImages A photo posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Dec 13, 2016 at 8:33am PST





Trump appeared with Kanye West the morning after nominating Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, and the same morning he appointed the former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as his energy secretary. The Trump-Kanye appearance distracted from Tillersons close ties to Russia and Putin, the CIA bombshell that Russian hacking was aimed at tipping the US election to Trump, and Trumps delay of a promised news conference on how he plans to handle his business affairs while serving as president. Not surprisingly, the media (including Politico, ABC, CNN, Getty and Fox, just to name a few) lapped it up.

As much as Trump and his team visually control the zone, they are also encountering pushback. Because the lobby is public space, Trump and his team have no monopoly on political theater. Here, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, famous for his attempts to meet noteworthy figures, makes sure the cameras can see his request for an audience with The Donald.





The drama is not just confined to the lobby and main elevator banks. A jewelry shop near the building entrance sells Ivankas wares and has been an object of satire. With Ivanka using her fathers campaign and subsequent victory to boost her products and her personal brand, this photo subtly mocks her. Echoing the portrait of Ivanka on the store wall, the photographer captures a shopper similarly attending to her hair.





If there are criticisms of Trumps circus embedded in the mainstream images from Trump Tower, they are subtle. Not so for freelancers or citizen-journalists. The Instagram tag #themaninthetower, for example, mixes street photography with mockery and humor to showcase Trump Tower as a spectacle and to mock Trumps exercise of power. (It also may be a reference to The Man in the High Castle, a TV series loosely based on the Philip K. Dick novel.)

Freelance photographer Mark Abramson has used multiple exposures as a tool to offer commentary on Team Trump, the Tower, and its heavy-handed staging. Abramson was widely published during the campaign by Harpers, The New Yorker, Time, and Wired. In this case, he combines a photo of Vice President-Elect Mike Pence in front of Trump Tower, with a nearby Saks Fifth Avenue holiday window. Using costume display and the theme of masquerade as a metaphor for the transition show, one could debate how much hes exaggerating.





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Michael Shaw is publisher of the nonprofit visual-literacy and media-literacy site ReadingThePictures, an analyst of news photos and visual journalism, and a frequent lecturer and writer on news imagery, photojournalism, and documentary photography. Follow ReadingThePictures via Twitter and Instagram.
 Flash

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday again denounced a UN Security Council resolution passed in late November on sanctions to further curb its nuclear and missile programs.

Neither UN sanctions nor independent sanctions can ever work on the DPRK, which has already become a nuclear and space power, the director of the Department of Treaty and Law of the DPRK Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the state media KCNA.

The director denounced the newly adopted resolution, saying it "wantonly violates the sovereignty of the DPRK without any legality."

"The DPRK's legitimate self-defensive measure to defend its dignity and vital rights and protect genuine peace from the ever-more increasing nuclear war threat from the U.S. is the legal right of a sovereign state," said the statement.

The DPRK has claimed that it has been developing nuclear capability and missile technology only to cope with the growing military threat from Washington and other hostile forces.

On Nov. 30, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to tighten sanctions against the DPRK in response to the country's fifth and the largest nuclear test on Sept. 9. But Pyongyang has rejected the resolution and said it was a "violation of the DPRK's sovereignty."

The council sets an upper limit on the DPRK's coal exporting, saying the total exports from the country do not exceed 400.9 million U.S. dollars or 7.5 million metric tons per year, starting on Jan. 1, 2017.

In addition, the Security Council bans the sale of copper, nickel, silver, zinc and statues from the DPRK.
In the post-election conversation about echo chambers, NPR is turning the microphone back on itself.

The team behind the NPR One app published The Secret Sauce Behind NPR One: An Editorially Responsible Algorithm on Wednesday, raising the curtain on how the app curates what it puts in front of users. NPR One is an audio app that gives users a feed of news, stories, and podcasts from public radio.

NPR wants to set an example of transparency not just among news organizations, but for the social-media platforms as well. We are the enemies of filter bubbles, said Mike Oreskes, NPRs senior vice president of news. (Oreskes also sits on CJRs advisory board.)

The piece, written by Managing Editor Tamar Charney, Oreskes, and Chief Digital Officer Thomas Hjelm reveals, very broadly, how personalization works on the app. NPR One offers a mix of national headlines and local news based on your location, as well as what they call watercooler stories. Everyone using the app sees the most important stories, but when it comes to lighter fare, the app uses factors such as listeners previous activity to determine what might be of interest. The app also personalizes podcast suggestions; a users behavior, Charney said, is often far more reliable for offering what the listener might want to hear than their own choices.

The team is adamant that personalization shouldnt block listeners from being exposed to stories outside his or her usual interests. Algorithms are just another editorial tool, they said, and NPR Ones personalization is informed by editors decisions about what listeners should hear: If a user listens to a story with one particular perspective one day, they should be given the option to listen to something with the opposite viewpoint the next.

As news creation and curation becomes more automated, transparency is crucial. As Nicholas Diakopoulos writes in CJR, While such technologies enable an ostensibly objective and factual approach to editorial decision-making, they also harbor biases that shape how they include, exclude, highlight, or make salient information to users.

Sign up for CJR 's daily email

NPR One has another mechanism, built into the algorithm, to guard against a user hearing too much of the same: they will periodically double check youre not interested in, for instance, sports, or tech.

The algorithm has been refined since NPR One was launched in 2014. The team had certain assumptions about the order in which people like to hear things based on years of experience in broadcast radio. But tracking user behavior on the NPR One app gives much more granular data than, say, Nielsen ratings. They also are able to observe how users engage with the app and where they spend the most time. For example, Charney said he was surprised to learn users enjoyed having a lighter story closer to the top of their feed.

Understanding what listeners are interested in has even begun to inform how stories are presented on the radio, across NPR. The team collects this knowledge and shares it with member stations featured on the app.

Public radio sets practices in broadcasting not driven by business needs, Oreskes said. Commercial platforms have an incentive to allow or even encourage filter bubbles, [and] we see breaking up those bubbles as a new way to fulfill our original mission.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Nausicaa Renner is digital editor of CJR.
BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Bedford Heights police officer charged in a domestic violence incident has been suspended from the department three other times, including after an incident involving his ex-wife, records show.

Patrolman Douglas Dardzinski, 39, is serving an unpaid suspension as the Bedford Heights Police Department conducts an internal investigation into a suspected Dec. 9 domestic violence incident in Canton. Dardzinski is accused of choking a woman and slamming her head into a wall during that incident, according to a police report.

Dardzinski has served three suspensions and received more than a half-dozen letters of reprimand since joining the Bedford Heights Police Department on Oct. 25, 2004, a review of his personnel file shows.

The most serious of those suspensions came after officers found Dardzinski "acting strangely" outside his ex-wife's house Oct. 14, 2014 in Solon. A Bedford Heights supervisor later found prescription pills in Dardzinski's pocket, according to a Solon police report and documents included in the personnel file.

The incident did not result in criminal charges but Dardzinski received a two-week unpaid suspension for violating the department's standards of conduct and standard operating policy and procedures, records show.

"Your conduct on Oct. 14, 2014 seriously jeopardized the health, safety and welfare of you, members of your family and members of the public." Bedford Heights Mayor Fletcher Berger wrote in a Jan. 20, 2015 letter to Dardzinski.

Berger mandated that a doctor approve Dardzinski's return to duty. The personnel file does not include any mention of his return to work until Nov. 28, 2015.

Bedford Heights Law Director Ross Cirincione did not respond to a request for comment. Police Chief Michael Marotta is on vacation and could not be reached, a police dispatcher said.

Dardzinski was suspended two other times during his career in Bedford Heights:

Dardzinski surrendered three vacation days in lieu of serving a three-day suspension for backing his police cruiser into a concrete barrier Sept. 2, 2011.

Dardzinski served a one-day suspension after a man reported that Dardzinski assaulted him June 23, 2006 at King's Gym in Bedford Heights. An internal review determined Dardzinski's actions were improper but not criminal, records show.

Dardzinski's personnel file includes several letters of reprimand. On Dec. 15, 2006, the Bedford Municipal Court dismissed a case after Dardzinski failed to show up on time for a criminal trial, records show.

On Feb. 4, 2013, Dardzinski pursued a car through seven cities before the driver crashed Cleveland. The chase reached 95 mph and Cleveland officers called off the chase even as Dardzinski continued his pursuit, records show. He received a letter of reprimand for the incident.

The personnel file also includes several letters of appreciation from citizens and supervisors. Those include an April 1, 2016 letter from a resident thanking him for helping her change a tire and a Dec. 12, 2012 letter complimenting his performance in arresting a hit-and-run suspect.

The Bedford Heights Police Department is still investigating the Dec. 9 incident that led to Dardzinski being charged with domestic violence in Canton. He is also facing domestic violence and kidnapping charges in Akron in connection with the same incident.

The woman suffered bruises on her face, arms and shoulders, a Stark County Sheriff's Office deputy wrote in the report.

Defense attorney William Vasiliou said Tuesday that Dardzinski is planning to contest the charges. Dardzinski is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 9 in Canton Municipal Court; his next appearance in Akron Municipal Court has not been scheduled, records show.

"There are two sides to every story," Vasiliou said. "We look forward to being able to present our version of the events."

The woman who filed the domestic violence complaint said Dardzinski attacked her on several times after she told him she wanted to break up with him. Dardzinski also threatened to send private photos and videos to her coworkers if she reported the attacks, the woman told sheriff's deputies.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section.
ORANGE, Ohio -- Disorderly conduct (drunkenness), Orange Place: Police were called by management to the Extended Stay North around 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 18 for a disturbance, and while en route, learned that management had locked the front doors after seeing that one of the individuals now arguing outside had a handgun.

Upon arrival, police learned that the gun was seen in one man's waistband as he was leaving the hotel to continue arguing with a drunk man who had been harassing the front desk clerks about checking in, before turning his attention to the armed man and his girlfriend.

It turned out that the man believed to have a gun had driven off prior to the arrival of police, who then cited the drunk man, 28, from the Miles-Union Park section of Cleveland, who was found sitting in a 2016 red Mazda with illegal registration. In the early going, Woodmere police provided mutual aid.

Suspicion, runaways; Orange Place, Chagrin Boulevard: A man reported late on Dec. 20 that after he had parked in the Hampton Inn lot, someone approached and tried to get into his car.

The suspect then walked toward the Fairfield Inn, making the caller wonder if he was going to try to break into cars in that lot.

Less than 15 minutes later, the suspect was taken into custody at the Beachwood Shell gas station and turned over to Pepper Pike police as a runaway from the New Directions drug treatment facility.

Damage to private property, Brainard Road: Police responded on the afternoon of Dec. 15 to a private property accident at All-Prem Dry Cleaners where a Solon woman jumped the curb in a 2011 BMW 645 and hit the building, shattering a window. Both parties exchanged insurance information.



Shots fired, Brainard Road: A woman reported just before 7 p.m. on Dec. 20 that she had heard about 10 shots in the woods behind her house. She was not sure if someone was hunting deer and was otherwise a little worried. Police logged the vehicles seen parked in the area.

Suspicion, Jackson Road: Police determined that footprints discovered in the snow around noon on Dec. 20 appeared to belong to a meter reader from First Energy.

Departmental information, Orangewood Drive: A resident reported finding a driver's license and debit card belonging to a Bedford Heights man, 18, left inside her Infiniti QX60. With no sign of forced entry and nothing taken, and since she keeps her garage locked at home, she thought it may have been left behind by someone at a Beachwood fitness club.

Psychiatric situation, Lander Road: A mother requested an evaluation of her juvenile son on Dec. 15 after he did the dishes, but then drew the line at taking out the garbage, at which point an argument ensued.

Harassing communications, Orange Meadow Lane: After receiving a series of unwanted phone calls around Dec. 15, a couple was told by police to contact their phone company and have the suspect's number blocked. The were also told to call police if she shows up on their property.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
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Cleveland Heights police are investigating an armed robbery at a sandwich shop.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Detectives are searching for a man who robbed a Cleveland Heights sandwich shop at gunpoint.

The man took $670 during the Tuesday robbery at Grum's Sub Shoppe on Coventry Road near Mayfield Road, according to a police report.

No one was harmed in the incident.

Employee said the man entered the store just before 9 p.m. and ordered a sandwich. He then pulled out a handgun and forced an employee to hand over cash from a register, the report says.

The man also took an additional $120 after forcing two employees to empty their wallets, the report says.

The man then ran from the store toward Hampshire Road. A witness reported that he left in a black sedan.

Officers could not locate the man or the car. Investigators collected DNA at the scene and sent it to a lab for testing.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday overturned the aggravated murder conviction of a Maple Heights man convicted in a bar fight and shooting that left one dead.

The court in a 4-3 opinion ruled that Cuyahoga County prosecutors did not prove "prior calculation and design," or that the killing of Antwon Shannon was carefully calculated, when arguing that Dajhon Walker should be convicted of aggravated murder. The evidence presented at Walker's trial did not show that Walker planned Shannon's killing beforehand, wrote Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger.

Walker, Otis Johnson and Derrell Shabazz, were convicted for their roles in a bar fight on Feb. 19, 2012 at Tavo Martini Loft on Rockwell Avenue in Cleveland. Shannon, 27, of Garfield Heights, tried to break up the fight and was fatally shot in the back.

Common Pleas Judge Pamela Barker sentenced Walker, 28, to 25 years to life in prison.

Walker argued on appeal that the evidence, including surveillance footage, showed at trial did not support an aggravated-murder conviction, as the killing was not carefully planned. The majority of the justices agreed.

"The video recordings of the incident show nothing that was carefully planned once the fight began," Lanzinger wrote. "It quickly turned into a free-for-all with people outside Walker's original small group jumping in, two of Walker's original group fighting each other, and Shannon, Walker, and Shabazz slipping and falling on top of one another. In the middle of this fight, a single shot was fired in the presence of dozens of people."

Walker's case is expected to be sent back to Cuyahoga County, where he will be re-sentenced.

Justice Terrence O'Donnell wrote in a dissenting opinion that in viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the state, that the shooting was "a coordinated and preplanned attack."

The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals also vacated Shabazz's aggravated murder conviction. He was re-sentenced in June to six years in prison, down from 22 years to life.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments section.
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Marquise Hamilton was charged with having weapons under disability after a shooting.

(File photo)

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- An 18-year-old man was charged after shooting at several people Wednesday, according to police.

Marquise Hamilton was charged with having weapons while under disability, according to Garfield Heights police. He's expected to face additional charges, police added.

The case was bound over to a Cuyahoga County grand jury for review, according to Garfield Heights Municipal Court records.

Hamilton is accused of firing shots as he chased several men on Oakview Avenue near Eddy Road, police say. No one was harmed.

Officers surrounded an Oakview Avenue home shortly after 10 a.m. after they learned Hamilton might be inside. The Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force's SWAT team was called in to assist in entering the house, according to police.

Officers then learned he was hiding in a nearby garage. The SWAT team ordered him out of the garage and surrendered without incident, police say.

To comment on this story, please visit cleveland.com's crime and court comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cuyahoga County grand jury, with a recommendation of outgoing Prosecutor Timothy McGinty, declined to bring criminal charges against two Westlake police officers who shot and killed a man accused of robberies at several pharmacies in the Cleveland area.

Officers Stephen Krebs and Anthony Lavolpa shot and killed 26-year-old Devan Desnoyers after a pursuit that ended shortly after 9:30 a.m. Oct. 10 near Crocker Park when a fellow officer's cruiser struck Desnoyers' white Mazda.

The announcement came the same day McGinty released a 50-page report about the shooting. The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office assisted in the investigation.

"We do not believe that any reasonable judge or jury would find any criminal conduct in the police response to a suspect fleeing in his vehicle and drawing a firearm from his waistband," the report says. "Any reasonable officer, situated in a similar position and faced with similar facts, would have acted as they did..."

Subodh Chandra, attorney for the Desnoyers family, said in a texted statement that "the family is disappointed and sad."

Desnoyers was a suspect in the robbery of a CVS pharmacy on Detroit Road and Bradley Road. Investigators said that Desnoyers was holding a replica airsoft pistol when he was shot several times as he refused to get out of a car, the report says.

Krebs and Lavolpa fired seven shots in 1.1 seconds, the prosecutor's office said. It also said police didn't realize the gun was a replica.

Desnoyers went into the pharmacy and handed a clerk a note that said: "STAY CALM I have a Gun. Do not try to alert anyone and force me to hurt you or anyone in this store. Fill a bag with all the oxycodone in the safe. FAST," according to the report.

The pharmacist gave him 862 pills. A store employee called police and gave the dispatcher a code that indicated that someone was robbing the store. One of the employees would later tell police that she recognized Desnoyers as a man wanted in connection with a handful of other recent pharmacy robberies in Cleveland, Olmsted Township and Lakewood.

Krebs and Lavolpa responded along with officers Jason Carman and Joshua Riley.

Desnoyers led the officers on a short chase through the street of Westlake that ended with a crash at the intersection of Crocker Road and Detroit Road. Carman's cruiser clipped Desnoyers' car and brought the pursuit to an end, according to the report.

The officers would later tell investigators that Desnoyers was looking up and down as they approach the car, and he had the gun raised, according to the report.

Krebs and Carman tried to kick out the front driver's-side window of the car. Krebs backed away and reached for his gun, the report says.

In the dash cam video at this point of the incident, Krebs can be heard saying "he has a gun" or "has the gun." Krebs could not open the front driver side door and backed away when he thought Desnoyers reached for something, the report says.

Lavolpa fired a shot through the front passenger-side window. Desnoyers continued to look up and down as Lavolpa fired a second shot. Krebs fired a third shot through the driver's-side window. Lavolpa fired four more shots through the passenger side, the report says.

He suffered six wounds to the trunk of his body. Another bullet struck his left leg.

Riley kicked out the shattered driver's-side window. Desnoyers was taken out of the car, handcuffed and was given treatment. Paramedics took him to University Hospitals St. John Medical Center where he later died.

The incident from the initial robbery to the shooting lasted four minutes, according to investigators.

McGinty's statement about the shooting acknowledged Desnoyers' drug addiction, and the widespread abuse of prescription opioids, heroin and fentanyl that is killing people in record numbers throughout Northeast Ohio and the nation.

"The evidence shows that before a series of crimes in the last year of his life, he had no significant record," the statement says. "He became addicted to painkillers after an injury, and that addiction rapidly took over his life. He, too, is another victim of the opioid epidemic that has so devastated our community."
 Flash

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday praised the German people for their "level-headed" response to the Berlin terror attack.

Her statement came as authorities carried out raids across the country in search for the prime suspect thought to have driven a truck through a Christmas market in the capital, killing 12 so far.

"In the past few days, I have been very proud of how level-headed the majority of people reacted to this situation," Merkel said, after a briefing with Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Justice Minister Heiko Maas.

De Maiziere, speaking to reporters after the briefing, said the investigation revolves around Ani Amri, a Tunisian national, whose fingerprints was found in the truck used in the attack.

Amri's immigration papers were also found inside the vehicle that ploughed through the Christmas market near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a landmark in west Berlin, on Monday evening.

Geman police were reportedly carrying out raids across the country on Thursday, including the capital and in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia where the suspect had spent time.

In Moabit district of Berlin, police raided a mosque listed as a hub for radical Islamists by Germany's domestic intelligence agency. Another raid was carried out on a refugee home in Emmerich in North Rhine-Westphalia, where the suspect lived for some time after arriving in Germany last July.
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Two Westlake police officers won't be indicted in the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man in October.

(Evan MacDonald, cleveland.com)

WESTLAKE, Ohio -- The Westlake police officers who fatally shot a 26-year-old man in October will not face criminal charges.

Subodh Chandra, attorney for Devan Desnoyers' family, said the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office told the victim's mother today.

The prosecutor's office has yet to comment on the grand jury's decision not to indict Stephen Krebs and Anthony Lavolpa.

Desnoyers, 26, was shot shortly after 9:30 a.m. Oct. 10 along Detroit Road and Crocker Road in Westlake. He died at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center.

Desnoyers had an airsoft pistol with the orange safety tip removed, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

He crashed his White Mazda into a police cruiser while fleeing a robbery at CVS on Detroit Road at Bradley Road, according to police. The officer in the cruiser was not hurt.

The two officers fired shots at Desnoyers moments after the crash. They were not injured.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section.
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An Elyria woman returned home Wednesday to find her home ransacked and many of her children's Christmas presents missing.

(File photo)

ELYRIA, Ohio -- An Elyria mother of six returned home Wednesday to find it ransacked and many of her children's Christmas presents missing.

The break-in happened sometime between 8 p.m. and midnight at Heather Reyes' home in the 7600 block of West River Road, according to Elyria police. Reyes said that she came home to find the side door standing wide open.

The burglar got into the home through a bedroom window by pushing in the air conditioner, according to police.

"I had a friend of mine that had her home broken into right after Black Friday," she said. "I'm going to look into renter's insurance and get some alarms. I saved up all year for this."

The burglar took a tan purse that contained more than $400 in cash, $600 in gift cards, her driver's license and her Social Security card. Missing from beneath the tree was an RCA tablet and an Acer laptop that were wrapped and ready for Christmas, according to a police report.

The thief also stole prescription medication, a Nook tablet, a digital camera, five rings, three necklaces and another tablet, police said.

Reyes later noted that someone stole a ham and turkey from her freezer.

"The majority of them (items stolen) were Christmas presents," she told cleveland.com. "I'm a single mother."

Her children range in age from 3 to 18.

Reyes noted that there are no surveillance cameras in her neighborhood that might have captured the burglar. Police were unable to find any fingerprints, and no arrests have been made.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "It's like yin and yang," says Tonya Johnson, as she surveys her just-opened Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles.

She isn't trying to be philosophical about her new restaurant-bar, which brings Southern comfort food to downtown Cleveland. She's talking about the plate, of course.

"See, you have the sweet -- the waffles -- paired with the salty, the chicken," she says, pointing at the plate. "It might seem like an odd combo to some, but if you try it you will love it."

That's the bet.

Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles specializes in, well, you guessed it. It serves a number of version of the combo. The 150-seat spot also rolls an array of soul food staples, such as cheese grits, collard greens, yams and fried gizzards, livers and giblets. You can also get catfish in a variety of ways - followed up by peach cobbler and sweet potato pie.

But the menu sets out to broaden the appeal and the audience for what is seen as a niche cuisine by many - incorrectly, according to Johnson.

"Southern cooking has similarities with many other cuisines, including European," she says. "You know, chicken and waffles goes back to the 1700 and 1800s in the south and it took off after jazz musicians embraced it in Harlem in the 1920s."

Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles goes back to 2008, when Johnson opened her first location on the South Side of Chicago. She now runs two locations there, in the Bronzeville neighborhood and the village of Oak Park.

"We started real small, just word of mouth, and people really responded to the concept," says Johnson.

The concept includes an all-day menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner items. Just don't call it Waffle House.

"This kind of food is mistakenly associated with diners and waffle spots," says Johnson. "We're trying to bring comfort food into a new setting."

Crafting that 4,000-square-foot setting - formerly the home of the Rathskeller bar - took nine months or remodeling. The decor is a contemporary, airy take on the classic comfort food restaurant - with stylish booths and balanced lighting that neither too bright not too club-like.

In a nod to the musicians that made the cuisine famous, Chicago's will host live jazz bands 7-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

There's also a full-on bar that serves extensive beer and wine, along with an inventive martini and cocktail list.

I must say, I was tempted by the rum-based elixir known as The Waffle. Instead I went with the Harry's Addiction (Campari, Hennessy, Maple Syrup and Mint) complemented the Tonya's Choice plate - one of many chicken-waffle options - quite well.

The drink was as "yin-yang" as the plate - neither too sweet or too tart. It even went down well with the cornbread and potato salad. Time out here for an aside on the side: potato salad sounds simple and easy, yet why has is left me unsatisfied all too often?

"Well, I can tell you: People make it a variety of ways and often go too sweet or too tart with it - or the worst thing is when you feel like you're eating a sauce and can't even taste the potatoes," says Johnson. "We really try and balance our potato salad between being sweet and having some of that tartness you get from mustard."

You're noticing a theme here - the one about balance - you're correct. And not just when it comes to the food, drinks and lighting.

"I want to appeal to reach out to people with different tastes, but also different kinds of people - whether it's families or someone coming in for a cocktail," says Johnson. "A family of four can eat for $50 or $60 and none of our items are above $20 - and you will get filled up eating here."

OK, but one question: Why does a Chicago restaurateur make her first foray outside of the city into Cleveland?

"My husband has some family here and I fell in love with the city when I'd come to visit," says Johnson. "I've been watching it develop and grow. You know, our Chicago restaurants aren't located downtown - but we been seeing all these things happening downtown and decided this would be the place."

There's another reason - well, other than Johnson being a LeBron James and closet Indians fan.

"The people are so nice here," she says. "Chicago is bigger, so there's a lot of hustle and bustle and people don't have as much time for one another. But here? I've never seen nicer people."

Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles is located at 1144 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland. Hours are 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday (bar until midnight); 8 a.m.-midnight Thursday (bar until 1 a.m.); 8 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday (bar until 2 a.m.). For more info, go to chicagoschickenandwaffles.com or call 216-600-8600.
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The mobile home fire that killed a 9-year-old girl in Lorain was also occupied by the girl's grandmother.

(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

LORAIN, Ohio -- A neighbor of a 9-year-old girl who who died in an early-morning fire Friday tried to pull the little girl from the burning trailer.

James Hall said that his son Jason was awake at 3:30 a.m. when the blaze spread through the neighboring trailer in the 3900 block of Reid Avenue.

The child's grandmother ran through the mobile home park screaming and begging for help, Hall said. Luz Rodriguez, who lives across from the mobile home, heard her banging on their home. She said she gave her shoes to wear.

Jason Hall knocked down the front door of the home and flames bursted out, his father said. His son hurried off the porch because the roof started to collapse.

James Hall made his way through the flames into the middle bedroom.

"The fire marshal said I was about five feet from her," he said. "In 30 seconds I had to get back out I couldn't breath. There was so much smoke.

"The family has to go through this tragedy especially with the holiday."

The grandmother has been living there about two to three years, James Hall said, and it's not clear if the 9-year-old granddaughter lived there as well.

Lorain fire Capt. Tom Baker said he is not sure when more information on the cause of the fire will be released. The State Fire Marshal is assisting in the investigation.

James Hall said that it appeared that the fire started in the kitchen, but officials could not confirm this.

Delia Rodriguez, the manager of the mobile home park, would not comment on any details. She said the family is requesting privacy.
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This year, Strongsville received an early present under its Christmas tree outside City Council chambers -- $1.6 million in state assistance for a sanitary sewer project.

(Bob Sandrick, special to cleveland.com)

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - The city will likely receive $1.6 million in financial assistance for a sanitary sewer project estimated at more than $2 million.

That's what Mayor Thomas Perciak told City Council earlier this week. The financial help, from the Ohio Public Works Commission, would pay for more than half of the sewer project.

The project involves building sanitary sewers, for the first time, along the entire lengths of Bowman and Fetzer drives in Strongsville's southwest corner. Also, sanitary sewers are planned for Drake Road between Ash Drive and just west of Pearl Road, about 800 feet south of Bowman and Fetzer.

Perciak said the state assistance consists of a $617,000 grant and a $987,000 no-interest loan the city would pay back over 20 years.

Thanks to the grant money, residents receiving sanitary-sewer service for the first time would pay less for sewer connections. For short hookups, the bill would drop from $12,800 to $9,800, paid over 20 years. For long connections, the bill would drop from $17,800 to $13,500, Perciak said.

"Funding is unofficial until notices (from the state) are sent in February," Perciak said. "However, historically, the final recommendations do not vary from the preliminary rankings."

Under state rules, the city can't hire a contractor for the sewer project until July 2017, Perciak said. The city will start seeking bids in May.

Originally, city officials said they had hoped to start construction in October 2016. Obviously, the timeframe has changed.

In May, city officials said the estimated project cost was $2.6 million. Since then, the estimate might have changed, but it was unclear based on Perciak's comments Monday. City officials did not return emails Thursday and Friday to clarify.

In May, Lori Daley, Strongsville's assistant city engineer, said the Cuyahoga County Board of Health had determined that septic tanks serving homes in the Bowman-Fetzer-Drake area are failing.

The sewer project will also include construction of catch basins and manholes and a water line on Fetzer, city officials said in May. Also, the city will replace street pavement, driveway aprons, storm sewers and culverts where necessary.
Edwin Encarnacion

Over the last five years, Edwin Encarnacion has averaged 30 homers and 110 RBIs per season.

(Ted S. Warren, the Associated Press)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - OK, the Indians broke with tradition and opened their Christmas present early.

Now what do they do with Edwin Encarnacion after they came to terms with him on a three-year deal worth $60 million with an option for a fourth year worth another $20 million along with a $5 million buyout? One more thing, before we get into the details, there is no opt out clause.

It appears Encarnacion came to Cleveland to win, not leave through the back door at the first opportunity.

Here's a suggestion that I'm sure no one has thought about. How about writing Encarnacion's name in the middle of the lineup and leaving him there for about 145 games or so next season? That's how many games Encarnacion has averaged over the last five years.

He brings power as well. Encarnacion, over the last five years, has hit 193 homers with 550 RBI. That's an average of 39 homers and 110 RBI per season.

The Indians found out what that kind of power can do for a lineup deep in talent, versatility and speed. They reached Game 7 of the World Series last season with Mike Napoli filling that role. Napoli set career highs with 34 homers and 101 RBI as the Indians' cleanup hitter, but faded in September and the postseason.

Napoli, like Encarnacion, hit the free agent market this winter. He has yet to sign a contract.

Encarnacion, who turns 34 on Jan. 7, played 75 games at first base and 86 at DH last year for the Blue Jays. He has played 11 years in the big leagues, starting his career with the Reds and spending the last eight years with Toronto.

After getting burned by the free agent signings of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn in 2013, the Indians said they could no longer play in the free agent market with the big boys. In Encarnacion, however, they are not trying to build a core through free agency; they're complementing a team that is positioned to control the AL Central, and perhaps the American League, for the next several years.

The Indians finished second in the league in runs scored last season. They did so with Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez having career seasons and an outfield featuring platoons at all three positions. Santana can be a free agent after the 2017 season, but Kipnis is signed through 2019. Ramirez and Lindor are under team control for four and five more years, respectively.

Then there is the prospect of a healthy Michael Brantley rejoining the lineup. Brantley, the Indians' best hitter from 2012-15, played just 11 games last season because of a troublesome right shoulder. The Indians say he'll be ready to play by the time spring training opens on Feb. 12.

How does a lineup like this sound? 2B Kipnis, SS Lindor, LF Brantley, 1B Encarnacion, DH Santana, 3B Ramirez, RF Lonnie Chisenhall, C Yan Gomes and CF Tyler Naquin?

The Indians, as they are configured today, are the real deal. They can pitch as well as hit and score. They took the Cubs to seven games in the World Series with a rotation of 21/2 starters - ace Corey Kluber, Josh Tomlin and an injured Trevor Bauer. They are expected to open next season with a healthy rotation of Kluber, Carlos Carrasco (right hand), Danny Salazar (right forearm), Tomlin and Bauer (finger).

Behind the rotation is a bullpen that stood the postseason on its ear. The back end of the pen consists of Andrew Miller, Dan Otero, Bryan Shaw and closer Cody Allen. Manager Terry Francona, who opened a lot of people's eyes with his belief that games can be saved in the sixth and seventh innings as well as the ninth, is back for his fifth season as well.

The Indians, who finished 27th in attendance last season despite winning 94 games and their first AL pennant since 1997, aren't operating like a team counting its pennies. They traded for Miller last July and picked up the estimated $22 million left on his contract. Now they've come to terms with Encarnacion, who turned down a four-year, $80 million deal just before free agency.

The deal is spread evenly over three years at $20 million per season. The option is worth $25 million if the Indians exercise it. If not, Encarnacion will receive a $5 million buyout.

Besides money, Encarnacion cost the Indians the 25th pick in the first round. It's clear they are not only committing cold hard cash, but their player assets as well. They traded four prospects for Miller at and were willing to part with four more for catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who vetoed the deal.

Yes, the Indians took advantage of a buyer's market for right-handed free agent power-hitting first basemen. It looks like a good business move. We'll know more in three years, but taking advantage of a good business opportunity still takes commitment from ownership.

The Indians received that from Paul Dolan, who came so close to winning a World Series in November that he'd like another shot at it. Go time has arrived at Progressive Field.
WILLOWICK, Ohio - Willowick police continue their search for a teenage girl last seen Wednesday evening.

Zoe Sanborn

Zoe Sanborn, 13, was last seen about 7 p.m. Wednesday by her parents, Willowick police said in a Thursday night Facebook post. She told her parents she was going to a friend's house for a sleepover.

Zoe is about 5-feet 5-inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds, police said. She has brown hair and blue eyes.

The girl was last seen wearing dark jeans, a black coat - seen in the photo provided by police - and UGG boots.

Anyone with information about Zoe's whereabouts should contact Willowick police at 440-585-1234.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.
 Flash

Taliban key commander Mullah Sibghatullah has been killed as security forces ambushed his group in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province on Friday, security official Mohibullah Kohdamani said.

"Acting upon intelligence report, the security forces organized ambush early Friday in Baghlan Markazi district of Baghlan province as a result Taliban important commander Mullah Sibghatullah was killed and his men fled away," Kohdamani told Xinhua.

Sibghatullah was involved in organizing terrorist activities over the past few years in Baghlan-e-Markazi district and adjoining areas and his physical elimination could prove a major blow to the insurgents operating in Baghlan province.

Taliban militants have not commented.

Meantime, army spokesman in the northern region Abdul Khalil has also confirmed the report and contended that the "notorious Taliban commander Sibghatullah" was killed following ambush conducted by security forces in the wee hours of Friday and his body is with government troops serving in Baghlan.
The world's second-largest economy is slowly waking up to the fact that bilateral ties with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will be nowhere as easy as imagined.

Despite his aggressive China bashing throughout the election campaign, mainland officials long believed that Trump's business acumen would overshadow his sensationalist rhetoric. But that perception has now changed after the Republican chose Peter Navarro, an academic who believes China's capitalism is hurting U.S. interests, to head a newly created trade council on Thursday.

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Mainland state-media reacted strongly to the choice of Navarro, with the Global Times warning that it risked a full-blown conflict between the two heavyweight countries. "China needs to face up to the reality that the Trump team maintains a hard-line attitude toward China. It must discard any illusions and make full preparations for any offensive move by the Trump government," the newspaper said in an editorial published Thursday. The China Daily, meanwhile, warned that any moves to damage the U.S.-China relationship would result in a loss for both sides. Commenting on Navarro's appointment, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a press conference that economic and trade cooperation was crucial for not only the two countries, but for global prosperity as well. But the combination of Navarro and Wilbur Ross, Trump's pick for commerce secretary who is also hawkish on China, doesn't bode well for steady ties. "Ross and Navarro see the U.S. as already engaged in a trade war that the U.S. is losing...They are willing to do whatever it takes to get out a losing trade war, and that means enormously risky steps," Deborah Elms, executive director at Asia Trade Institute, told CNBC on Friday.

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Workers unload the numerals '17' as they arrive in Times Square ahead of the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, December 15, 2016 in New York City. Getty Images

For many people, the days leading up to New Year's Eve are filled with holiday shopping returns, ugly sweaters and eggnog. It's also the time to make some final moves to lower your 2016 tax bill. From making a last-minute charitable donation to an early college tuition payment, now is the last chance to reduce what you'll owe Uncle Sam.

So before the ball drops in Times Square, cross these tax moves off your list.

Donate

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The holidays go hand in hand with charitable donations. Contributions are tax deductible up to 50 percent of your income and will count for 2016 as long as payments are mailed by the last day of the year, according to the IRS. There are also options beyond writing a check. For example, if you are stocking up at the supermarket for a food-collection truck or purchasing winter coats for a coat drive, that's all deductible as well. Other noncash donations work, too: Cleaning out your closets and donating old clothing, books, toys, furniture and kitchen goods can count toward your charitable contribution (in that case, you can only deduct the thrift shop or fair market value, which is less than retail). In order to get the deduction, keep a receipt, a note of the organization's name, the date and fair market value of all noncash goods, said Kathy Pickering, executive director of H&R Block's Tax Institute.

Educate

Families saving for college should consider contributing to a 529 college savings account before the end of the year. While contributions to 529 plans are not deductible for federal taxes, over 30 states and the District of Columbia may offer a full or partial deduction or credit for those contributions, according to Robert Steen, director of complex financial planning for USAA. The deduction or credit can vary, depending on the state plan. More good news: Those with children starting college, graduate school or even taking a single class can prepay their tuition before Jan. 1 to get the tax benefit in 2016, according to Lisa Greene-Lewis, CPA and tax expert at TurboTax.

Spend

Check what's left in your flexible spending account or health savings account so you can spend that money before the year ends. Those are tax-free dollars that you can put toward new glasses, filling prescriptions or dental care that isn't covered by insurance, like a replacing a filling, said H&R Block's Pickering. And while you are looking at your medical expenses, add them up, Pickering said. You may have incurred enough to hit the medical expense threshold (which is 10 percent of your adjusted gross income if you are under age 65), and in that case, you can deduct everything you've spent over that figure  but you can't double dip. In other words, you cannot claim a tax deduction for medical and dental expenses you paid with funds from your flex spending or health savings accounts.

Save

Many people also make extra retirement contributions around now, and much of what you put toward your nest egg is a tax savings, too. "If you contribute to your 401(k), you lower your taxable income," said Greene-Lewis. If you are 18 or older, you can max out your contributions up to $18,000, and if you are over 50 you can put in an additional $6,000 for a total of $24,000. Those contributions must be made by Dec. 31. With IRAs you have until April 2017 to contribute up to $5,500, and if you are over 50 there's an additional $1,000. Those who are self-employed can make additional tax-deductible contributions to a Simplified Employee Pension account, or SEP IRA. (Those savers can contribute up to 25 percent of their net earnings for a maximum contribution of $53,000 this year and they also have until the tax due date to do it.) Then you can also profit from the Saver's Credit come Tax Day, which can be taken for contributions to a 401(k), traditional or Roth IRA or SEP, of up to $2,000 (or $4,000 if married and filing jointly), depending on your income. In this case, you can double dip, according to Greene-Lewis. That's what's called a "double benefit."

Distribute
"I guess I would describe it as magical," Jordan said. "Now, I can walk into a mall and instead of having to find a security guard, or find a kiosk desk, I can walk into the mall, click on Aira and say, 'Hi, what stores are in my vicinity, what stores do you see?'"

Jordan is one of 200 blind or visually impaired people who is testing Aira, an app that connects users to visual interpreting services.

Picking a bushel of bananas at the grocery store or throwing your trash in the nearest bin are banal tasks for most people. But for Candice Jordan, who is visually impaired, the ability to do these tasks independently has brought tears to her eyes.

Here's how Aira works: The visually impaired user opens the app or presses a button on their glasses, which calls one of 15 trained agents. With the help of a special dashboard, an agent can see the users' surroundings either through smart glasses or a phone camera. The agent can then verbally walk the user through what's around them and answer questions.

The users have an hourlong information session with agents when they adopt Aira. These sessions help personalize instructions (does the user prefer "slightly to the right" or "2 o'clock") and preferences (instead of reading a whole menu verbatim, the agent will know if Jordan loves seafood or is allergic to peanuts.)

Aira can also order from Amazon, give reviews from Yelp and hail Ubers.

Jordan said Aira's agents have given her the freedom to do things she could never do with a cane alone, or even with her guide dog, Austria. Jordan recently traveled to Washington, D.C., where she said she was able to move beyond getting from point A to point B and enjoy Aira's description of the trees, sights and sounds of the area.

Aira also allowed Jordan to do much simpler tasks and enjoy small conveniences and serendipitous moments that she hasn't had since she lost her vision at age 21.

Instead of putting all her trash in her backpack on her recent trip, the agent mentioned a trash can in Jordan's field of vision, something that would have been needlessly time consuming to find with a cane. When walking through New York City's Penn Station, Aira was able to guide her through a crowd that Austria would have shied from.

And instead of sending a courier or store associate to get her bananas, she can now pick herself the ripest bunch.

"I didn't even know that basil came in a tube now, until the agent described everything on the shelf," Jordan said.

The real-time streaming conversation with the agents is something that couldn't have existed five years ago, but works now thanks to advances in wearable technology and wireless bandwidth, said Aira CEO Suman Kanuganti. The company has done about 2,000 sessions with blind people, and is already working on a Siri-like artificial intelligence to help supplement the service as it scales.

Eventually, artificial intelligence and computer vision will be able to use indoor navigation technology to map out a users' most common routes, and even automatically guide users to the curb when they hail a car, Kanuganti said.

With advisors such as Google's John Lee, Aira is backed by venture capital firms like Lux Capital and Arch Venture Partners, and individuals like Benchmark's Scott Belsky. It is also exploring the possibility of getting Aira covered by insurance.

The company is in the process of raising more funding. Kanuganti said Aira may expand some day to help other groups like the elderly or those with autism.

Kanuganti said he's inspired to keep pushing Aira forward thanks to visually impaired friends who inspired the company, including serial entrepreneur Larry Bock, who invested in Aira before he died this year.



"Fundamentally approaching day-to-day stuff that we take for granted an applying that information is not something that companies are doing. That's where our investors get excited," Kanuganti said.
Truck bomb at Libya training camp

Libyans gather at the site of a suicide truck bombing on a police school in Libya's coastal city of Zliten, some 170 kilometres (100 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, which killed at least 65 people on January 7, 2015, in the deadliest attack. [Photo/China.org.cn] A car bomb killed at least 65 and injured up to 200 in a military training camp on the outskirts of Zlitan on January 7, 2016, about 170 kilometers east of the capital, Tripoli, according to various sources. The camp was a military base during the rule of ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The deadliest attack was the worst in the country since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. Hours later, a car bomb exploded in a checkpoint in an oil port of Ras Lanuf, killing six, including a baby. A car bomb killed at least 65 and injured up to 200 in a military training camp on the outskirts of Zlitan on January 7, 2016, about 170 kilometers east of the capital, Tripoli, according to various sources. The camp was a military base during the rule of ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The deadliest attack was the worst in the country since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. Hours later, a car bomb exploded in a checkpoint in an oil port of Ras Lanuf, killing six, including a baby.

Burkina Faso hotel attack

Soldiers are seen outside the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, January 16, 2016, after security forces retook the hotel from al Qaeda fighters who seized it in an assault that killed at least 29 people. [Photo/China.org.cn] At least 29 were killed after an Al-Qaida affiliate attacked the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, and took hostages there on January 15, 2016, according to CNN. Dozens of hostages were freed after Burkina Faso security forces launched an assault to recapture the hotel and rescue hostages. The Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the assault at the luxury hotel, which is not far from the capital city's international airport and often hosts Westerners, including UN staff and journalists. At least 29 were killed after an Al-Qaida affiliate attacked the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, and took hostages there on January 15, 2016, according to CNN. Dozens of hostages were freed after Burkina Faso security forces launched an assault to recapture the hotel and rescue hostages. The Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the assault at the luxury hotel, which is not far from the capital city's international airport and often hosts Westerners, including UN staff and journalists.

Suicide attacks at Nigerias refugee camp

This file photo taken on February 2, 2016 shows Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) mostly women and children waiting to be served with food at Dikwa Camp, in Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. [Photo/China.org.cn] Nearly 60 people were killed and 78 others injured in twin suicide bomb attacks at a refugee camp in northeast Nigeria on February 9, 2016. The explosions occurred in the Dikwa town, some 90 km from the city of Maiduguri in the Borno state. The victims were among the more than 50,000 people who had been forced from their homes by Boko Haram's rampage, only to be confronted with the same horror in the very place they had sought refuge. Nearly 60 people were killed and 78 others injured in twin suicide bomb attacks at a refugee camp in northeast Nigeria on February 9, 2016. The explosions occurred in the Dikwa town, some 90 km from the city of Maiduguri in the Borno state. The victims were among the more than 50,000 people who had been forced from their homes by Boko Haram's rampage, only to be confronted with the same horror in the very place they had sought refuge.

Grand Bassam beach resort attack

Police officers of the Research and Assistance Police (FRAP) stand on the beach in Grand-Bassam on March 15, 2016, a day after a jihadist attack killing at least 18 people in the resort town. [Photo/China.org.cn] Gunmen raided three hotels in southern Cote d'Ivoire's seaside resort town of Grand-Bassam on March 13, 2016, killing at least 18 people, according to Xinhua news agency. Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Grand-Bassam, a UNESCO World Heritage site located some 30 km southeast of Abidjan, is popular with both locals and foreigners. Gunmen raided three hotels in southern Cote d'Ivoire's seaside resort town of Grand-Bassam on March 13, 2016, killing at least 18 people, according to Xinhua news agency. Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Grand-Bassam, a UNESCO World Heritage site located some 30 km southeast of Abidjan, is popular with both locals and foreigners.

Brussels terror attacks

A Belgian soldier patrols outside Brussels Central Station as people are allowed in small group of ten to reach the station in order to take their commuter train following attacks in Brussels on March 22, 2016. [Photo/China.org.cn] At least 34 people were killed in a series of explosions at Brussels airport and a metro station close to European Union institutions on March 22, 2016. A Chinese national was among those killed in the serial terror attacks. The extremist group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the terror attacks, which put Belgium and other European countries on high alert. The blasts occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the terror attacks in Paris that killed 130 people in November last year.

Florida nightclub shooting

FBI agents investigate the damaged rear wall of the Pulse Nightclub where Omar Mateen allegedly killed at least 50 people on June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. [Photo/China.org.cn] Fifty people were killed and 53 others wounded in the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States and the nation's worst terror attack since 9/11. The gunman, identified as Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was found dead inside the Pulse nightclub after a shootout with the police. The media reports also said IS has claimed responsibility for the nightclub attack. Fifty people were killed and 53 others wounded in the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States and the nation's worst terror attack since 9/11. The gunman, identified as Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was found dead inside the Pulse nightclub after a shootout with the police. The media reports also said IS has claimed responsibility for the nightclub attack.

Istanbul airport terrorist attack

Ambulances arrive at Turkey's largest airport, Istanbul Ataturk, Turkey, following a blast on June 28, 2016. [Photo/China.org.cn] 41 lives lost on June 28, 2016 during a deadly suicide bombing attack on Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, one of the busiest in Europe, according to Xinhua news agency. The public prosecutor's office in Istanbul's district of Bakirkoy revealed that three suicide bombers arrived at Ataturk Airport by the same taxi. Two started shooting at the crowd with a Kalashnikov and a Glock rifle after forcing through the X-ray security check point at the entrance of the international terminal, while the third one went upstairs. The attack was allegedly launched by the Islamic State (IS).

Suicide car bomb attacks in Baghdad

An Iraqi woman reacts on July 4, 2016 at the site of a suicide-bombing attack which took place a day earlier in Baghdad's Karrada neighbourhood. [Photo/China.org.cn] Up to 126 people were killed and some 152 others wounded in bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on July 3, 2016, an Interior Ministry source said. The busy commercial district in southern Baghdad was hit by a car bomb at about 1:00 a.m. local time (2200GMT) when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden pickup truck outside a shopping center. Meanwhile, another car bomb went off in a market in northeastern Baghdad. The bloody bombings have been claimed by the Islamic State group. The IS has frequently targeted the security forces and areas where crowds of people gather, including markets, cafes and mosques across Iraq. Iraq has been hit by a wave of violence since the IS terrorist group seized large parts in Iraq's northern and western regions since 2014. Up to 126 people were killed and some 152 others wounded in bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on July 3, 2016, an Interior Ministry source said. The busy commercial district in southern Baghdad was hit by a car bomb at about 1:00 a.m. local time (2200GMT) when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden pickup truck outside a shopping center. Meanwhile, another car bomb went off in a market in northeastern Baghdad. The bloody bombings have been claimed by the Islamic State group. The IS has frequently targeted the security forces and areas where crowds of people gather, including markets, cafes and mosques across Iraq. Iraq has been hit by a wave of violence since the IS terrorist group seized large parts in Iraq's northern and western regions since 2014.

Nice truck attack in France

An injured individual is seen on the ground after 85 people were killed in Nice, France, when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday July 14, 2016. [Photo/China.org.cn] On July 14, 2016, a man plowed a heavy truck into crowds that were celebrating National Day in Nice, killing 85 people. The truck careered 2 km through mass of revelers before being stopped by police units who also shot dead the driver. The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack. Probing showed the 31-year delivery man had prepared his act for months with the help of accomplices. It also showed his "certain, recent interest to radical jihadist movements." On July 14, 2016, a man plowed a heavy truck into crowds that were celebrating National Day in Nice, killing 85 people. The truck careered 2 km through mass of revelers before being stopped by police units who also shot dead the driver. The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack. Probing showed the 31-year delivery man had prepared his act for months with the help of accomplices. It also showed his "certain, recent interest to radical jihadist movements."

Berlin Christmas market attack
The "Fast Money" traders debated on Thursday which stocks they would buy if the virtual reality market heats up in 2017.

While trader Guy Adami said he's confident Oculus' parent company, Facebook , will beat the other companies in the virtual reality space, it isn't a reason to buy the stock right now.

It's still too early to declare a winner in the virtual reality market, said trader Tim Seymour. Some companies may have more commercial appeal than others, but he agreed with Adami that it isn't a sufficient reason to buy a company's stock at the moment.

Trader David Seaburg said the technology is still young, but he believes it will catch on. If investors did want to jump into stocks, he said he would be looking at the chip stocks like Qualcomm .

Trader Brian Kelly said that if he had to pick a company that was best poised to reap the benefits of the virtual reality swell when it hits, he'd pick Facebook. He cautioned, however, that the technology doesn't seem to have enough market appeal right now.
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The suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a pre-dawn shoot-out with police in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday, Italy's interior minister said. "The man killed was without a shadow of doubt Anis Amri," Marco Minniti said, referring to the 24-year-old Tunisian who is suspected of driving the truck that smashed through a Berlin market on Monday killing 12 people. Minniti told reporters that Amri was stopped by two policemen at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) in front of the Sesto San Giovanni train station, north of Milan. When he was asked for his identification papers, Amri pulled a gun and shot one of the two policemen, lightly wounding him in the shoulder. He in turn was then shot dead by the police.

Italian police and forensics experts gather around the body of suspected Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri after he was shot dead in Milan on December 23, 2016. Daniele Bennati | AFP | Getty Images

"These two extraordinary, extremely young men, simply by doing their duty, have done an extraordinary service to our community," Minniti said. One of the two policemen had only just started service and was on his trial period. A judicial source told Reuters that police had a tip off that Amri might be in the Milan area and that additional patrols had been sent out to look for him. A rail ticket found on Amri's body indicated he had travelled by high speed train from France to the northern Italian city of Turin, the source said. Amri then caught a regional train to the Milan suburbs. Minniti gave very few details of the police operation, saying investigations were still in progress. He added that there could be "future developments". Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Berlin attack, in which the truck mowed through a crowd of people and bulldozed wooden huts selling Christmas gifts and snacks beside a famous church in west Berlin.

High alert

A man looks on who is purportedly Anis Amri., a 24-year-old Tunisian man, whom authorities suspect of driving a truck that smashed this week into a crowded Christmas market near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on December 21, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. T German Federal Criminal Office | Bundeskriminalamt via Getty Images

Amri was caught on camera by German police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit district early on Tuesday, Germany's rbb public broadcaster reported. He had originally come to Europe in 2011, reaching the Italian island of Lampedusa by boat. He told authorities he was a minor, though documents now indicate he was not, and he was transferred to Catania, Sicily, where he was enrolled in school. Just months later he was arrested by police after he attempted to set fire to the school, a senior police source said. He was later convicted of vandalism, threats, and theft. He spent almost four years in two different prisons in Italy before being order out of the country. The Berlin attack has put Europe on high alert over the Christmas period. In the early hours of Friday morning, German special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The men - two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31 - were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, police said. A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case. [nL5N1EI0A7] Amri had been identified by security agencies as a potential threat and had had his application for asylum rejected, but authorities had not managed to deport him because of missing identity documents.

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Hedge fund boss Bill Ackman and his wife Karen Ann Herskovitz are getting a divorce after 25 years, and their settlement could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a report from the New York Post's "Page Six" gossip column.



The duo, in what appears to be amicable split, began telling friends via email on Thursday, Page Six reported. The properties up for negotiation could include the family's $35 million apartment, their $22 million waterfront estate in Bridgehampton, New York, and their $90 million penthouse at the One57 buildiing.

"Bill and Karen are devoted to their girls but grew apart. There's no one else. They've been together forever, since he was broke, so this will be a very generous divorce," a source told Page Six.

Ackman, worth about $1.6 billion, is the founder and CEO of hedge-fund management giant Pershing Square Capital Management.

A spokesperson for Ackman declined to comment beyond asking for privacy for the family.



Read the full report at Pagesix.com here.
Credit Suisse had agreed in principle to pay U.S. authorities $2.48 billion to settle claims it misled investors in residential mortgage-backed securities it sold in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, the Swiss bank said on Friday.

Credit Suisse will also provide $2.8 billion in consumer relief over five years from the settlement, it said in a statement, adding the deal was subject to negotiation of final documentation and approval by its board of directors.

"Credit Suisse will take a pre-tax charge of approximately $2 billion in addition to its existing reserves against these matters. This will be taken in our 4Q 2016 financial results," it added.
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Deutsche Bank will be hoping for a fresh start in 2017 after reaching a $7.2 billion deal with U.S. authorities to settle allegations of the mis-selling of mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Germany's largest lender said on Friday morning it had agreed 'in principle' to pay a $3.1 billion civil fine to be supplemented with the payment of $4.1 billion in consumer relief overtime. The announcement of the fine comes amid a raft of banking stories related to the mis-selling of MBS which hit the wires before Friday's European market open. This included news that U.S. federal prosecutors would sue Britain's Barclays bank and that Credit Suisse had reached a provisional $5.3 billion deal, meaning the Swiss bank will take a pre-tax charge of about $2 billion. Of the total amount demanded of Credit Suisse, $2.48 billion would be an immediate fine to settle the claims and an additional $2.8 billion would be paid over five years for consumer relief.

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Deutsche Bank's agreement follows months of negotiations with the U.S.'s Department of Justice (DoJ) and ranks as the third-highest penalty imposed to date on a bank to settle claims of mis-sold mortgage-backed instruments. Although the $7.2 billion payment is far from negligible, investors may take some cold comfort from the fact it is less than $16.7 billion that Bank of America was required to stump up in August 2014 and the $9.0 billion charged to JPMorgan Chase in November 2013. Furthermore, of the full amount, only the $3.1 billion civil fine component is required to be imminently delivered in cash. The full penalty measures approximately half of the $14.0 billion figure claimed by the DoJ in late September, which spooked traders into sending the German bank's share price to a record low of 10.55 euro ($11.02). Since that nadir the stock has staged a bounceback to the tune of 68 percent to Thursday's close, although it still languishes over 20 percent below its price at the start of 2016. According to Filippo Alloatti, senior credit analyst at Hermes Investment Management, this settlement is important as it has come in a low lower than the worst case scenario. "For Deutsche Bank, it's a relief to be rid of such an overhang. Now back to executing and tweaking the strategy please," he told CNBC via email. Gildas Surry, senior analyst at Axiom Alternative Investments, agreed that it draws a line under the worst of the issues - namely, significant uncertainty - that had plagued the bank's management. Although pointing out that the German lender still faced litigation relating to trades in Russia and the potential for a seasonal increase in restructuring charges within fourth quarter results, he said his team viewed the outcome as very positive for Deutsche Bank. "It will give them the flexibility to continue paying coupons on their hybrids and the debt metrics will normalize promptly," he explained.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Meantime, Italy overnight approved a 20 billion euro ($20.9 billion) rescue package for crisis-hit Italian banks, with beleaguered Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena set to be the first patient attended to by the government's new fund, following admission that its hopes to raise 5 billion euro from private investors had failed. Paul Donovan, global chief economist at UBS Wealth Management told CNBC's Squawk Box on Friday morning that there was an interesting contrast between the situation of banks in Germany and Italy. "Both countries have banks in problems but if you see what is going on in Germany, banks are still lending. As an economist that's what I care about," he noted. "As individual banks, do what you like, but what I am interested about is do we have credit going into economy? Is this supporting normal activity? Whatever is going on with the German banking system, they are still supporting the economy. Italy is rather depressing to look at," Donovan concluded.
Shares of Fred's jumped more than 5 percent Friday in midday trade after Alden Global Capital unveiled a roughly 25 percent stake in the discount store operator.

Alden said in a filing it purchased the shared based on the "belief that the shares are undervalued and represent an attractive investment opportunity." The stake would make Alden the top shareholder in the company, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The activist investor also said it intends to speak with Fred's board and shareholders about the company's agreement to acquire 865 stores and certain assets of Rite Aid .

Earlier this week, shares of Fred's rocketed 81 percent after the company announced its plan to buy the stores. Alden was able to catch that upside as it had been building a stake in Fred's, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a source and document.

With Friday's gains, Fred's stock is up more than 24 percent this year.
Hijackers forced an airliner to land in Malta on Friday then freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody."

The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after one man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said one of the men had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to free all passengers if his demands were met. It was unclear what the demands were.

A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.

In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party."

Standoff on tarmac

MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.

Troops were positioned a few hundred meters (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.

The government of Malta said Prime Minister Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team was formed at the airport. Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.

The last major hijacking on the island was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.
Jacopo Landi | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Italy's government approved a state bailout for Monte dei Paschi di Siena on Friday, after the world's oldest bank failed to secure backing from private investors. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and his cabinet paved the way for a 20 billion euro ($20.8 billion) rescue fund to help the country's embattled banking sector, with BMPS, Italy's third largest bank, the priority. The troubled lender issued a statement shortly after Italy's parliament finished meeting and declared it would formally request a state bailout in an effort to stay afloat. "This will secure the capital needs of BMPS and allow the bank to pursue its industrial plan," Pier Carlo Padoan, Italy's finance minister, said in a brief press conference.



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"Italy's third-largest bank will finally return with force to operate in support of the Italian economy and in a context of full tranquility for its savers and its employees," he added.





Desperate times

Monte dei Paschi's desperate need for state aid followed an unsuccessful attempt to raise enough capital through private investment. The bank, which has been saddled with non-performing loans, raised 2.5 billion euros from retail and institutional investors, however, was well short of the 5 billion euros required by Thursday afternoon. BMPS' shares were suspended from trading ahead of the European open on Friday after falling to its lowest share price in the previous session. The European Central Bank (ECB) had previously rejected a request for BMPS to have its deadline to raise sufficient funds extended to January 20 in early December.

Monte dei Paschi was found to be the weakest of 51 European banks that went through the ECB's stress testing earlier in the year and was given until the end of 2016 to resolve its dire situation or face being wound down. "Italy is really rather depressing to look at," Paul Donovan, global chief economist at UBS Wealth Management told CNBC on Friday. "(In Italy, we have) negative bank lending In a modern capitalist society, if you don't have normal bank lending you don't have normal economic growth, it's that simple," he added.

Desperate measures
"Knowing your way to the Ivy League is not synonymous with knowing what you're doing. Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling and former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain are two of America's most notorious corporate villains. They both knew the way to Harvard Business School."

Most of us know you don't need to go to the right schools and come from the right family to change the world for the better. But, apparently, you do need to go to the right school if you want to change the world from Washington D.C.

By the time Donald Trump's term ends in 2020, the country will have been led by an Ivy League graduate from 19882020. That's 32 years of unbroken White House rule by graduates of schools that educate a statistically insignificant number of all college students. (It's also 32 years of rising income inequality.)

And when it comes to staffing the federal government, Ivy League alumni tend to appoint fellow alumni.

The Obama administration has appointed a disproportionate number of Ivy League graduates to important positionsbut educational elitism isn't just restricted to one party.

Donald Trump's version of Harry Hopkinsthe powerful advisor and right-hand manStephen Bannon, he of the vocally anti-elitist Breitbart News, is a Harvard Business School graduate. Three of Trump's four adult childrenarguably his closest advisorsall graduated from the same Ivy League school their father attended.

A First Family preference for the Ivy League is nothing new: during 20 of those 32 years (the administrations of George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama) the presidency was held by someone whose father also graduated from an Ivy League school.

From here to the Ivy League

In The Wire, there is a scene where a former felon is speaking with a young man who wants to change his life. The former felon tells the young man there is more to the world than what the young man sees every day on the corner, where he and his friends sell heroin.

After the young man hears that, he asks a question:

"Yeah, but how do you get from here to the rest of the world?"

The former felon answers with this:

"I wish I knew."

I didn't know how to get from my corner of the world to the Ivy LeagueI barely knew how to get to the local community college. But after finishing grad school at a (directional) state university my employer offered to pay for me to get two certificates in leadership and finance, through Cornell's distance learning program.

I am not an alumni of Cornell, and by the very nature of the programs they were the least impactful part of my education. They didn't teach me how to be a better writer or a more critical thinkerbut they did teach me the value of the Ivy League brand. Before I started my business the Cornell name was often the line on my resume that stood out most to potential employersand the bigger the employer, the more it stood out.

Sometimes an interviewer would see "Cornell", and the rest of my education would become irrelevant. A 6-week program became more relevant than the years I'd spent getting my actual degrees.

That's crazy.

Knowing your way to the Ivy League is not synonymous with knowing what you're doing.

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling and former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain are two of America's most notorious corporate villains.

They both knew the way to Harvard Business School.

Harry Hopkins knew how to help working people because of his experience in the poor neighborhoods of New York City, not because he learned the way to the Ivy League.

We need more people like Harry Hopkinseven if they didn't go to the "right" school.

This article first appeared on LinkedIn.

Commentary by Dustin McKissen, the founder and CEO of McKissen + Company, a strategy, marketing, and public relations firm based in St. Charles, Missouri. He was named one of LinkedIn's "Top Voices" in 2015 and 2016, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational and Industrial Psychology. Follow him on Twitter @DMcKissen.



For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCOpinion on Twitter.


JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says Donald Trump should not be vilified for putting business people in his White House and that the choices provide a "good reset" for how businesses are viewed

After a campaign filled with attacks on the wealthy and powerful, the president-elect has picked three alumni of the powerful financial firm Goldman Sachs, several billionaires and two chief executives of major American companies for his administration. Trump has defended his picks, saying they know how to create jobs.

Dimon, who will head Trump's Business Roundtable, said in a Bloomberg interview published Thursday that he was "dead wrong" before the election by thinking Wall Street would have a hard time getting into the next administration. He had expected the next president to be Hillary Clinton. Now, he says he is optimistic about Trump's business-heavy administration.
Stumped when it comes to what to give your favorite small business owner or startup guru? No worries. There's still time to buy the perfect gift for the entrepreneur on your gift list, and many of these can be purchased from the comfort of your chair:

Domain name Every business needs its own domain name. It's far more professional to have an email address like chris@chrisbusiness.com than a generic one. Fortunately, there are more than 1300 new domain extensions (or gTLDs  for generic top-level domains), such as .business, .guru, .shop, .online, .store, .photography, .agency, .fitness. Find and register domain names at a "domain registrar" such as Donuts, DirectNic, or Google .

Simple website Shockingly, about half of all small businesses do not have even a simple website. Building a website is now easy and inexpensive with templated small business website builders like Weebly, Squarespace, Wix, and Jimdo. Buy your entrepreneur a few months or year of hosting, and they can easily create their new website.



Company logo Your very special favorite entrepreneur doesn't have a logo yet? You can gift them the ability to choose a custom-made logo from a graphic designer from an online design service like 99Designs , Logoworks, or DesignCrowd, starting at about $299.



Online data storage Most startup entrepreneurs store all their valuable data on their laptops. Computers get lost or stolen, so it's critical to have cloud-based data storage. And a cloud-based storage service also helps your entrepreneur be mobile, stay organized and, as they build their company, collaborate with others. Three of the most popular are Dropbox, Box and GoogleDrive which starts at just $1.99 a month.



Email service Want to help your favorite entrepreneur grow their business? Gift them a year's worth of a simple email newsletter service, such as Emma, ConstantContact, or MailChimp. MailChimp even has a very good free plan, so your gift could be helping your entrepreneur set up their newsletter. Or you could help them learn a social media management tool like Hootsuite, Tweet Deck, or Sprout Social.



Session with a business consultant I'll bet at least one person on your gift list dreams of starting their own small business but hasn't yet taken the plunge. Help them take that first step. Search online for a business consultant and pay for an initial meeting or find your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and sign them up for a business planning workshop.



A connection Here's the most important thing you can give an entrepreneur: An introduction to someone who can help them grow their business. Know someone at the large corporation they've been trying to sell to? Arrange a lunch for the three of you. If your entrepreneur needs funding and you have any connections to potential funders  angel investors or VCs  introduce them. If you know someone in the media or other influencers, try to get publicity or an endorsement for your entrepreneur's product or business.

Gift certificate for a massage Whether your entrepreneur is hunched over a desk all day, travels constantly, or simply seems overly stressed, they could definitely use the chance to unwind and get the kinks out. That's my favorite gift.

A great-looking journal Most entrepreneurs have more ideas than they can possibly keep track of. A nice journal and good pen motivates them to jot down all those great plans and keep them in one place. Consider a Moleskine  they're all the rage with millennial entrepreneurs. A giant monitor

Are you willing to splurge? Your small business owner will love you if you get them a large monitor. After all, it's difficult, and tiring, to be working on a tiny monitor all day.


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The incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress will soon enjoy a tremendous opportunity to enact comprehensive tax reform, but one important, nearly 100-year-old investment vehicle may hang in the balance. "Like-kind" exchanges, otherwise known as section 1031 exchanges, have encouraged capital reinvestment for individual property owners, small businesses and large corporations since 1921. Under Section 1031 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, the exchange of certain types of property may defer the recognition of capital gains or losses due upon sale, and hence defer any capital gains taxes otherwise due. But after Congress' Joint Committee on Taxation estimated in 2014 a tax-revenue gain of $40 billion by repealing Section 1031 over 10 years, President Obama proposed a $1 million cap on 1031 tax savings in 2014 and then, in 2016, to completely eliminate exchanges of collectibles, artwork and other personal property, which are also allowed under a 1031 exchange.

House "sold" sign Peoria, Illinois Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a 1031 exchange, an individual or company can trade up older and less-expensive investment properties, or equipment such as rental cars and airplanes, for newer, pricier ones. By doing so, they can defer paying capital gains taxes until an eventual sale, allowing investors to reinvest in their businesses. If, at death, the asset has not been sold or exchanged, the cost basis is stepped up so no taxes are owed, as long as it falls under the threshold for owing estate tax. However, about 88 percent of 1031 exchange transactions result in eventual taxation, said Steve Chacon, vice president of exchange service operations for Accruit and president of the industry trade association Federation of Exchange Accommodators. Experts say caps or restrictions to 1031 exchanges would be chilling to the economy; airline, construction and rental-car companies save millions annually by exchanging older assets for new ones. Should their 1031 savings be capped, the cost of everything for the consumer would go up and the real estate industry would be hit hard, said Scott Saunders, FEA board member and senior vice president at Asset Preservation in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A 2015 analysis by Ernst & Young found that either repeal or limitation of like-kind exchanges could lead to a decline in GDP of about $8 billion annually. It accounts not only for stagnate business activity but also loss of work "ancillary" providers, such as brokers, appraisers, insurers, lenders, contractors and manufacturers.

More from FA Playbook:

Have a pension? Know your payout options

The hidden costs of buying your own home

Why advisors should care about the new fiduciary rule Last year a National Association of Realtors member survey found that 63 percent of Realtors participated in a 1031 exchange over the past four years. About 40 percent of respondents said that, without them, those transactions would not have occurred at all. About 56 percent said the projects would have been smaller in scale.

President-elect Trump has proposed that investments valued over $10 million and held until death would be taxed at the capital gains rate, with an exemption for "small business" and family farms. A Trump transition team spokesperson did not return an email for comment by publication time. Now's the time to start thinking about how a 1031 exchange may be used as an investment and estate-planning tool, particularly in real estate, with a few important considerations: 1. Make sure your investment is "like-kind." To be eligible for the tax benefits of a 1031 exchange, you must exchange "like" investments of equal or greater value, reinvesting the net equity and having the same or greater amount of debt. Most commonly it is investment property, though it could also be art, collectibles and equipment.

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The property must be held for investment and not for personal use, such as a primary residence or property rented to family members for less-than-market rent, said Nancy Grekin of Honolulu-based firm Grekin Law. "The courts, in recent years, have cracked down as what is 'like kind' for an exchange," said Crystal Stranger, an enrolled agent and president of 1st Tax, also in Honolulu. She cited the recent case of VIP's Industries & Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, which disallowed a 1031 exchange from leasehold property with a term remaining of 30 years to fee simple. 2. Be ready to quickly find replacement property. The IRS requires investors to identify, in writing, up to three replacement investments (more with certain market value requirements) within 45 days of selling their former, which is done by a qualified 1031 intermediary, who is required by law to handle reporting and compliance with the sale. The investor is not allowed to hold or have access to the money, so the intermediary needs to be brought in before the closing of the sale. You'll need to close on the new investment no later than 180 calendar days after selling the relinquished property, said Saunders at Asset Preservation. You can also do the transaction in reverse, having an entity owned by the intermediary buy the new property first, but only if you have liquid funds in the bank to loan to the intermediary and be reimbursed after the relinquished property is sold, Saunders said.

Never, ever go to a very small outfit. If they go bankrupt while they're holding your money, per the contract, you can't touch it. Nancy Grekin owner of Grekin Law

The replacement property must be equal to or greater than the one being exchanged, and you can switch out one larger property for several smaller ones, or sell several smaller properties to buy one larger one, Saunders said. If you don't reinvest all of the funds from the sale, those monies will be taxed on depreciation recapture, federal capital gains, state taxes and net investment income.

3. Choose a reputable intermediary. Although a few states do regulate 1031 intermediaries, the federal government does not, which means you'll want to choose the company that is handling your large chunk of money carefully, said Grekin at Grekin Law. Many large, nationwide title companies have 1031 intermediary subsidiary companies that are proficient in the transactions but do not "give the kind of structured advice that a tax lawyer would," she said.

Your funds should never be comingled with other funds, and make sure the intermediary is bonded and insured, she said. The FEA offers a list of qualified professionals on its website. "Never, ever go to a very small outfit. If they go bankrupt while they're holding your money, per the contract, you can't touch it. It should never be an individual holding your money," Grekin said. 4. Determine if you need a 1031 exchange (you may not). "If you don't have enough gain, it may not be worthwhile," Grekin said. That's because you'll have to pay an intermediary to handle the transaction (the average cost nationwide is about $1,250) and meet the timing requirements.
A daily morning look at the financial stories you need to know to start the day. STOCKS/ECONOMY -Stock futures are fla t and hitting Dow 20,000 doesn't look as likely today after yesterday's losses. New home sales numbers come out this morning. TERROR/ DEFENSE -Italy says Berlin terror truck rammer Anis Amri is dead after he got into a shootout with Italian police. -A hijacked Libyan jet with 118 people on board has landed in Malta and the hijackers are threatening to blow up the plane. Some passengers are being allowed to leave the airplane. TERROR/DEFENSE (cont.) -Lockheed Martin shares took a tumble late Thursday after President-elect Trump tweeted another complaint about the cost of the F-35 and called on Boeing to price out an alternative jet fighter. -President Obama has ended an immigrant registry program that mostly tracked Muslim men. OIL/ENERGY -U.S. crude prices are down one percent and back to the $52 a barrel level. Gasoline prices rose another penny overnight to $2.27 a gallon, national average. TRUMP TRANSITION -Chinese media outlets are openly complaining about Trump's choice of severe China critic Peter Navarro to head the White House trade team. -Trump's pick to be Secretary of HHS, Congressman Tom Price, is under fire for trading medical stocks while in Congress. MOVING AMERICA -Uber is simply moving its self-driving car program from hostile California to neighboring Arizona. A.I. MANAGEMENT -The massive hedge fund Bridgewater Partners is working on a software program that will give employees GPS-like instructions for every aspect of their work lives.

Pedestrians pass by the New York Stock Exchange. Getty Images
"Trump is making it even more clear that he sides with those who believe that an America that pledges never to use a nuclear weapon only increases the chances of nuclear war occurring one day."

The key part of the term "Cold War" is "Cold," as in, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. thankfully never got into a direct shooting, "hot" war. But after the U.S.S.R. collapsed, Russia remained and still remains the world's second biggest nuclear and conventional military power. And under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has greatly expanded its military presence, and meddling in places like the Baltics and Syria. This is all eerily similar to the kind of actions we saw from both the Soviets and the United States during the Cold War.

And, Trump's comments came just hours after Putin made a similar comment about Russia's nuclear capabilities. Of course, Trump didn't wait long to respond in kind.

Trump is making it even more clear that he sides with those who believe that an America that pledges never to use a nuclear weapon only increases the chances of nuclear war occurring one day. If we promise never to use nukes and solidify that promise by only having weapons that would cause the most mass destruction and loss of innocent lives, what's the deterrent against an enemy of any size using a weapon of their own?

As Hudson Institute Fellow Rebecca Heinrichs wrote earlier this year, that stance makes it look, "as if the primary goal of U.S. defense planners should be to deter the United States." It fits so much of the rest of Trump's public persona to pursue a nuclear policy where our enemies and allies alike cannot be sure we would never use a nuclear weapon. It's undeniably morbid and frightening, but who can deny that nuclear brinksmanship is the ultimate in deal-making?

Perhaps the most enduring lesson we're starting to learn from Trump's historic transition period is that this president is going to be very busy and very hard to read for some time. For months, he's looked like he's been willing to appease Putin and Russia. But on Thursday, he responded to them on nuclear weaponry. Hacking the Democratic National Committee sure seems like small potatoes in that context.



In short, the Trump-Putin relationship status has now been changed from "friends" to "it's complicated." It's all just like the scenarios we got used to during the Cold War when Russia moved into new countries and U.S. deployments of new weapons used to drive each side crazy. At the same time, U.S. presidents like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan managed to cultivate warm relations with Soviet leaders like Leonid Brezhnev and Mikhail Gorbachev even as they pursued combative policies. It sure looks like we're back to having that kind of relationship again.

Putin and Trump can look warm and fuzzy in public even as they take opposing positions with the highest possible stakes. And, like the original incarnation of the U.S.-Russian conflict, how this one ends is not going to be easy to predict.

Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.



For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
Shares of Synergy Pharmaceuticals skyrocketed more than 10 percent higher on Friday after the firm reported positive trial results for an irritable bowel syndrome drug.

The drugmaker said preliminary data for plecanatide, an experimental once-daily tablet, met the main goal in second phase 3 study on irritable bowel syndrome patients with constipation.

"We have been relentless in our commitment to develop innovative treatments for the [gastrointestinal] market. The successful phase 3 trials are a major step in our mission to better serve patients," CEO Gary Jacob said in a release.



Analysts at BTIG said in a Thursday afternoon note that they expect "larger pharma companies could see value in acquiring the Co. for plecanatide." The firm did not call out any specific suitors.

The Financial Times reported in September that Takeda Pharmaceutical had allocated up to $15 billion for acquisitions within the sector, and Citigroup reportedly said Synergy could be a target for the Japan-based firm.

Synergy did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

The firm's stock has been on a tear over the past six months, rising more than 35 percent during that time period.

SGYP 6-month chart

Source: FactSet
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The holiday shopping season is well underway, though both crowds in-store and an onslaught of e-mails trumpeting the latest deals can quickly eclipse shoppers' festive cheer. Thankfully, CNBC is on hand to run through the top ways retailers could make the shopping experience a little easier  or more exciting  in the coming year.



The 'Pokemon GO' effect

The beacon and geolocation technology that catapulted Nintendo's "Pokemon GO" game to success this summer could help stores better connect with consumers. "In retail, discounting has become so ubiquitous  that it has lost all meaning," said Catherine Cottney, manager of trends at market research firm Mintel. But, building on the "Pokemon GO" spirit of "urgency and playfulness," retailers would do well to introduce location and time sensitive discounts "in response to everything from the weather to political or cultural events to engage consumers through some unscheduled serendipity," Cottney said in a press release detailing key European consumer trends for the coming year. Helping to facilitate consumers' potential to "catch" the best deals is Swirl, a Boston-based firm which provides in-store mobile marketing technology for retailers. One of the company's mission statements is to help retailers "take advantage of proximity marketing," Rebecca Schuette, director of marketing at the firm, told CNBC via telephone.

A user playing "Pokemon GO" on a London street. Olivia Harris | Getty Images

Shoppers could  via "audience providers" such as Facebook or Twitter  receive personalized messages and offers based on their proximity to a particular branch, Schuette detailed. This is enabled by geo-location technology built into smartphones. Android is leading the way, with "Google the first major audience partner implementing this on a massive scale," Schuette explained. Swirl's clients include iconic department store Lord & Taylor and hipster clothing retailer Urban Outfitters. According to Schuette, 2016 was the year stores "moved from pilot schemes to national implementation," a process which looks set to have legs in the coming year.

Payment in 'just a movement of the wrist'

Consumers are turning from hard cash to new payment options in larger than ever numbers. With alternative payment options set to become more efficient and innovative in 2016, "it'll just be a movement of the wrist," Cottney told CNBC via telephone. Mintel's research found that 30 percent of U.K. consumers already feel comfortable about a completely cashless society, whilst 29 percent of those surveyed said that it was more convenient to make purchases using a smartphone above other payment methods. U.K.-based salad outlet Tossed was among the first of its kind to launch completely cashless stores earlier this year. Founder Vincent McKevitt told CNBC that ultimately, "people like interacting with computers," adding that during its first day of operation, one of his cashless outlets served 400 customers with only one person being turned away for not having an alternative form of payment. "Our phones are still our number one piece of tech," he explained, "they won't be gone for a long time."

A Tossed outlet with contactless payment terminals. Lisa Prisk at Tossed

Wearable technology is capitalizing on the growing appetite for cashlessness however, with FitBit working on embedding such technology into its devices.

But, with payments potentially requiring a little less thought in the future, the market gap for platforms which enable better money management is also widening. Take Monzo, for instance, a mobile spending platform which incorporates a Mastercard value-added card and smartphone app. Users receive push notifications when purchases are made, which can be categorized as, say, alcohol or eating out. "I like how Monzo tracks my spending without any extra effort," one user told CNBC.

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While the idea may seem like simple common sense, interest in the platform has been significant. Bailey Kursar, head of marketing at Monzo, told CNBC via telephone that the VC-funded start-up has a waiting list of 10-20 thousand people at any given time. "People are amazed by its functionality," she said, adding that the firm intends to launch a current account next year and expects 100,000 of customers to be using this by the end of 2017. Taking money management to a new extreme, however, is Pavlok, a firm which links its smartphone app to a wristband  with the power to electric shock users each time they indulge in a bad habit such as overspending. The company's website claims that more than 30,000 have been sold.

Talking shop

2017 will be the year "people increasingly speak to brands as easily and informally as they would with their friends," Cottney said in Mintel's press release. Employment of platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Snapchat and WhatsApp could enable them to better integrate with consumers' lives. According to Mintel's research, 59 percent of Italian consumers surveyed said that they would like to be able to contact consumer service through an instant messenger. In other European countries including France, Germany and the U.K., the popularity of similar platforms fell at roughly a quarter of those asked. Shop Direct, the U.K.-based online retailer behind littlewoods.com and very.co.uk, launched the Very Assistant earlier last month, a chatbot within its app designed to respond to customers' queries in a question and answer messaging format. The company intends to develop this into an Artificial Intelligence-fueled platform for release next year. Jonathan Wall, Shop Direct's eCommerce director, told CNBC via telephone that the company's focus was "helping customers to find products in a personalized way."

The Very Assistant, a chatbot aimed at consumers. Shop Direct
Donald Trump does not want to expand the nuclear arsenal of the United States, but instead advocates bringing the nation's nuclear capabilities into the modern day, James Woolsey, an advisor to the president-elect on national security, told CNBC on Friday.



Woolsey, an ex-director of Central Intelligence and a former nuclear arms treaty negotiator, said in a "Squawk Box" interview, "I think he's right because we have been degrading our nuclear capability over the last eight years." He added he does not think there's any commitment on the part of Trump to increased numbers of nuclear weapons.



But Trump's comments Friday morning seem to contradict, or at least, call into question that assertion. In an MSNBC interview, the president-elect said, "Let it be an arms race, because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."



On Thursday Trump tweeted about "greatly" strengthening and expanding America's nuclear capabilities, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a speech, called for a modernization of Moscow's nuclear program.



Read Trump's tweet.

Putin's saber rattling over nukes  not to mention incursions in Ukraine and an aggressive approach to the Syrian civil war  should be putting Trump on alert, Woolsey said.



"The Obama administration has done virtually nothing to modernize [nukes], and there's a lot of modernization that needs to be done," he contended. "You got to make sure your forces can't be taken out with a first strike. That takes money. That takes effort."


Police officers patrol at one of Germany's largest shopping and leisure centers on December 22, 2016, in Oberhausen, Germany.

Police say that two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion that they were planning an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany.



Police said that the men, ages 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region in the early hours of Friday. Authorities suspect that they may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen.

They say authorities are probing how far along the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved.

Police say they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip.
In May 2015, founder and CEO of Acuity Scheduling Gavin Zuchlinski decided to offer his employees six-hour workdays during the summer months, while still offering full pay and benefits.

"I wanted to let everyone enjoy the summer, but it just worked out well enough that we kept it throughout the year," Zuchlinski tells CNBC. "We've been doing this for nearly two years now and we have the same productivity that we had during the eight-hour days."

The online scheduling company, which Zuchlinski built from scratch a decade ago, places an emphasis on customer service.

In fact, "the biggest role in our company is customer support, which can be emotionally draining," the CEO says. "We're not just trying to grind people out for hours. You need to be able to have your time off to really be fresh, show your personality, and actually be a human while offering customer support."
The 2016 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Set includes the final three Presidential $1 coins in 10-year series.

First-day sales Dec. 14 for the five-coin 2016 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Set totaled 12,069. Through Dec. 19, cumulative sales reached 12,988.

The sets have no household ordering or product limits and are offered at $49.95.

While none of the 2016 coins in the set can be produced after Dec. 31, the U.S. Mint is not prohibited from selling the sets in calendar year 2017.

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This fivecoin set contains three Uncirculated 2016-P Presidential dollars; one Uncirculated 2016-D Native American dollar; and an Uncirculated 2016-W American Eagle silver dollar.

The Uncirculated 2016-P Presidential dollars feature individual obverse portraits of Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford and Ronald Reagan.

The portraits are paired with the common series reverse depicting a rendering of the Statue of Liberty by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Donald Everhart II.

The reverse of the Uncirculated 2016-D Native American dollar in the set commemorates the contributions of the Native American Code Talkers in World War I and World War II. The design features two helmets  one each of the type used in World War I and World War II.

Behind the helmets are two feathers that form a V, symbolizing victory, unity, and the important role that the code talkers played in both world wars.

The reverse is paired with sculptor Glenna Goodacres Sacagawea design used on the Sacagawea dollar obverse from 2000 through 2008 inclusive, and continued on the Native American dollar series beginning in 2009.

The Uncirculated 2016-W American Eagle silver dollar exhibits an edge inscription, 30TH ANNIVERSARY on one third of the edge denoting the series 30th anniversary. The remainder of the edge is plain.

The Uncirculated American Eagle silver dollar is also available as an individual coin option.
The issuer of this medal was the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish revolutionary organization founded in the United States in 1858 by exiles.

The Fenians prepared a highly original plan to attack the British, not at home but in the Western Hemisphere.

The Research Desk column from the Jan. 9, 2017, weekly issue of Coin World:

The 30-millimeter brass medal bearing a ship under full sail flanked by F  B and the legend IRISH REPUBLIC presents several mysteries to todays collectors.

A robust 2.5 millimeters thick and pierced for suspension, the medals reverse presents clasped hands between IRELAND and AMERICA, the date 1866 in a shamrock spray, and at base a radiant rising sun.

The issuer was the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish revolutionary organization founded in the United States in 1858 by exiles including the learned John OMahony and Michael Doheny. OMahony later joined one of the many Irish Brigades fighting with the Union Army in the American Civil War.

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The U.S. Army valued these hard-fighting volunteers, many of whom marched off from their mustering-out shouting Ireland Next!

The Fenians prepared a highly original plan to attack the British, not at home but in the Western Hemisphere. Armed with war surplus American rifles, Fenian volunteers would invade Canada and hold it, negotiating its return to Britain in exchange for Ireland.

This audacious plans success depended on benevolent neutrality of the U.S. government and cooperative blindness of the distinctly anti-British U.S. Army.

The raids were launched and spirited fighting took place. Both Fenian and Canadian volunteers fought valiantly, but the Irishmen failed to sweep the field.

A campaign bar FENIAN RAID was provided as the British award medal for this fighting.

The raid stimulated agitation for closer union among the Canadian colonies, which came together in 1867 as the Dominion of Canada.

In the U.S., the principal Irish revolutionary organization became Clan na Gael, which remained active through the Irish War for Independence, 1917 to 1922. The secret, oath-bound Irish Republican Brotherhood was born at the same time.

The principal numismatic relic of the Fenian affair is an elusive medal. The identity of engraver and manufacturer are not known with absolute certainty, though Leonard Forrer names SEWELL (Amer.). Die-sinker of New York, of Irish origin, by whom is a Fenian Brotherhood Badge, 1866  Lawrence Brown, British Historical Medals, 1837-1901, assigns this number 2863 and repeats the name Sewell. Both references provide concise histories of the Fenian movement.
Democrats call for Missouri gun legislation, say GOP has 'surrendered'

House Democrats penned a letter to the Republican governor and next Speaker of the House in the wake of a St. Louis school shooting.
CORNWALL, Ontario  The Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation extends warm thanks to Ontario Power Generation for an incredibly generous donation of $10,000 to our new Community Addiction and Mental Health Centre, just in time for the holidays. CCHF Foundation is grateful for OPGs support to help keep our community healthy.

The CCHF and the OPG wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
UNITED COUNTIES of SD&G, Ontario  The Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) ruled on Wednesday that broadband internet should be made an accessible utility in the same way as a home phone.

In its ruling the Canadian telecommunications regulatory body directed internet providers to begin working on ways to boost internet access and speeds in rural areas of the country.

The CRTC ruled that the minimum internet download speed should be 50 megabytes per-second and the minimum upload speed should be 10 megabytes.

For an example internet download speeds in Cornwall can range from as low as 800 kilobytes per-second at time of writing, or more than 50 times lower than the new CRTC recommended minimums.

The future of our economy, our prosperity and our society. Indeed, the future of every citizen requires us to set ambitious goals, and to get on with connecting all Canadians for the twenty-first century, said Jean-Pierre Blais, the CRTCs chair, at a news conference in Gatineau, Que. Todays decision signals a fundamental shift in our regulations for basic services from voice-related issues to broadband-related issues.

Organizations representing residents in rural Eastern Ontario applauded the decision.

On behalf of all rural residents across Eastern Ontario and those who travel to and from our region we applaud yesterdays ruling by the CRTC making access to mobile broadband and high speed internet services an essential service, said Peter Emon Chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus (EOWC).

The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) estimates that nearly one-sixth of Eastern Ontario rural areas are what is termed as a cellular deadzone.

It is what we had hoped they would do, stated Dave Burton Chair of the (EORN). When we made our submissions to the Commission last April EORN urged them help ensure that rural people and rural businesses get the same type of access to high speed internet services that our urban neighbours enjoy. We asked that the Commission also develop an ongoing fund to help organizations like ours to continue to work with the telecommunications industry and that is exactly what they have done.

The EORN is now seeking Provincial and Federal support for a $200 million infrastructure project that would cover 99 percent of the region and provide faster internet to nearly 72, 000 homes.

With this announcement and the funds that will be made available we think the time is right to act quickly on our project to improve cellular networks particularly in the rural areas of Eastern Ontario, stated EOWC Chair Emon.

We need to build new towers, improve existing ones as well as add coverage and capacity and we are confident given our experience on the first EORN project that we can create another success partnership with private sector companies in our region, concluded Burton, Chair of EORN.
As we look back at 2016, we see a world, a country and a province where things are constantly changing. While our new federal Liberal government is completing its first full year in power, our neighbours to the south are now just on the eve of a new regime taking over. It will be interesting to look back in a year from now to reflect on the anticipated changes the critics are highlighting as the Obama presidency comes to an end.

On the provincial scene, no issue shocked our community more than the release of the Pupil Accommodation Reviews in late September, recommending the closure of up to 20 local schools. This immediately rallied groups from all areas of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry in support of these important community hubs. Letters, petitions, and protests have garnered words of support for our rural schools from the Premier and the Minister of Education, but over the next couple of months, we will see if they are willing to back those words up with appropriate funding and the resolve to look at the funding models needed to support education in rural and Northern Ontario. While nobody suggests that none of the 600 schools slated for closure across the province are untouchable, it clearly shows that there needs to be a public discussion on education in Ontario.

We did see some positive moves in the province. First, we saw the government back off the closures of our local Service Ontario Centres, which are so critical as tough economic times require direct and timely access to provincial programs for more and more people. The cuts to autism services and the closure of provincial demonstration schools rallied parents from all corners of the province, as they saw these life-changing programs being cancelled. After weeks of denying the cuts to parents who literally had cancellation letters in their hands, the government finally reversed course and announced the continuance of these desperately needed programs. And finally, we are seeing positive action on my motion to shorten the 30-business day delay in returning drivers licenses after medical clearance, a clear indication that the government could not justify the delay.

As 2016 draws to an end, we continue to hear of the silent cuts to health care, education and other provincial services. Despite the doubling of the fees, taxes and debt, the years of waste, scandal and mismanagement have made life unaffordable and resulted in many companies leaving Ontario, taking their good-paying jobs with them.

The New Year will also bring in the largest change to our tax system since the Second World War with the introduction of the new Cap and Trade tax. As pointed out by the Premier of Saskatchewan, there has been no evaluation of the economic impact of this plan on our economy and its effect on our ability to continue to support the social programs that we so desperately need and deserve. The new tax was slammed by both the Environmental Commissioner and the Financial Accountability Officer in recently released reports, highlighting that this scheme is more focused on raising revenues rather than cutting emissions. Only 20% of the governments planned emission cuts will occur in Ontario, with California receiving billions of dollars for paper carbon credits generated by their emission reductions. This finding blows a hole in the governments clean air rhetoric. Ontario will only experience theoretical emission cuts, while our businesses fork out $8 billion within the next 3 years to California and about $2 billion per year thereafter for these credits. The costs will be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices, reduced supply and, potentially, fewer jobs. She estimates that it will increase the cost per household for electricity by an additional 23% by 2020. The increase will be devastating for residents and businesses. That $8 billion equates to 163,000 average Ontario annual salaries, removed from our economy by 2020 and sent to California. Does the government truly believe this wont shock our agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors? Should we not instead be working with our huge American neighbour and largest trading partner to introduce a revenue-neutral, broader continental plan, if we really are looking for realistic positive results?

As we welcome in the New Year, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year in 2017. The winter break will allow me to meet with many of you to listen to your issues and concerns so that I can be your voice at Queens Park.

Jim McDonell

Member of Provincial Parliament

Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry
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"Game of Thrones" is seven months away from its summer 2017 return, but spoilers are raining like cats and dogs for the seventh series. The last few months were spent by the series' actors filming in Spain, Croatia, and Ireland. Numerous leaks about certain characters and new plot developments are being discussed in internet forums and social media.

The previous season's finale saw Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) gaining more power following the Battle of the Bastards. Her brother Jon Snow's ascension as King in the North is one factor that will affect the development of her character in the seventh season of "Game of Thrones".

"At the end of the sixth season, Sansa gets a taste of power - and it's the first time that she's had that ever, really," the 20-year-old told Time magazine. Sophie shared her curiousness on how Sansa deals with new power in "Games of Thrones" season 7.

Turner looked back on the GoT scene when Sansa walked away after killing her ex-husband Bolton Ramsay. "Whether she enjoyed it. Whether it's a power trip. But she definitely is a lot more powerful, and it'll be very interesting to see how she handles that coming up this season."

Meanwhile, three actors who were in the sixth season of "Games of Thrones" were spotted having a night out in Belfast, Ireland where the HBO drama's principal photography is being made. They include Iain Glen (as Ser Jorah), Kristofer Hivju (as Tormund), and Joseph Mawle (as Benjen Stark). Their characters in GoT are known as some of the fantasy epic's burliest men.

The return of George RR Martin's Benjen or Coldhands is one development that will excite fans of "Games of Thrones". He was last seen helping his nephew, Bran Stark, and Meera Reed returning to the Wall. It is reported that Benjen might run into Ser Jorah and Tormund in season 7. How the three will key in the story remains to be seen next summer.

In the video below, "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner discusses her role as Sansa Stark, her co-stars, awards and more. Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Today, there has been an alert raised by researchers at the Campi Flegrei (Italian for Burning Fields) Supervolcano which is located in the Gulf of Naples that it's showing signs of a possible eruption. The said supervolcano is considered one of the most dangerous supervolcanoes in the world.

Campi Flegrei Supervolcano has been showing signs of reawakening under the city of Naples. Scientists reported that the caldera or Campi Flegrei is now potentially leading to an eruption for the first time in 500 years.

According to some scientists, the caldera is almost reaching a critical point, where low-pressure magma can trigger a release of gas and fluid and may result in a very dangerous eruption. The eruption could kill three million people living in the area.

Giovanni Chiodini, a volcanologist at the National Institute of Geophysics in Rome, said, "Hydrothermal rocks, if heated, can ultimately lose their mechanical resistance, causing an acceleration towards critical conditions." Way back in 2005, a tectonic uplift occurred in the area that caused underwater volcanoes get closer to the surface. Italian authorities already leveled up the alert from green to yellow which means Campi Flegrei requires constant monitoring.

Campi Flegrei last erupted in 1538 and burst enough material to form the cone mountain called Monte Nuovo. The caldera is said to be 39,000 years old and was also formed by a major eruption that's considered the most biggest and disastrous eruption in human history in the past 200,000 years.

Head of a drilling project to monitor the caldera, Giuseppe De Natale, said: "These areas can give rise to the only eruptions that can have global catastrophic effects comparable to major meteorite impacts." Chiodini also added that their study and research cannot predict when or if the supervolcano would erupt.

Nearby Campi Flegrei is Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that erupted in AD79 that killed thousands of Roman people and buried the city of Pompeii. A supervolcano is a volcano that has the force to produce a volcanic eruption with an ejecta mass greater than 1,000km3, which can kill residents nearby instantly since it's a thousand of times than a normal eruption.

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Believed to reduce the risk of mothers suffering hemorrhage, early umbilical cord clamping was introduced in the 1960s and has been followed throughout the years. However, new research has surfaced that proves this practice does not benefit the baby nor the mother.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology (ACOG) further suggests that doctors delay cutting the umbilical cord for up to a minute. This benefits not only term infants, but those who reach preterm as well.

According to results of the study, doing this new practice can help boost hemoglobin, the part of the blood that contains iron. This, in effect, helps bring up the baby's levels, preventing iron deficiency. In addition, there was no additional evidence that mothers had a higher risk of suffering from hemorrhage, Drugs.com reported.

Other organizations have shared their inputs as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that clamping should be done 1 to 3 minutes after births, as stated on Medscape.

On the other hand, the Royal College of Midwives takes it further and says that since the transfusion of blood from inside the uterus to outside when the baby is born, takes longer than a minute, clamping of the umbilical cord should be done after 3 to 5 minutes of birth. It takes about three minutes for the whole process to finish without being interrupted.

The umbilical cord plays one of the most important roles to the babies during pregnancy. It serves as a conduit that supplies fetus with food from the placenta.

Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping

In the light of the research, it was found out that delaying for a few minutes more may even help the child's neurodevelopment in the future, particularly in boys.

Additionally, other potential benefits of this practice are increased total blood volume, smoother cardiopulmonary transition at birth and increased levels of stem cells. Preterm infants also tend to have better blood pressure after birth and fewer risks of a life-threatening bowel injury.

More researchers found no statistical significance for concerns such as polycythemia and jaundice.

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The Ports of Auckland have commissioned a feasibility study to look at alternative methods for powering cruise ships when in port via shorepower off the country's power grid, according to a statement sent to media.

The study will also consider a range of alternatives including LNG or methanol-powered barges to generate ships power, and the use of low-sulphur fuels to reduce emissions.

Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson said :We have set ourselves the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025 and having zero emissions by 2040. This work will support both those goals. Initially we will look at the feasibility of providing alternative power just for cruise ships, but we aim to extend that across the whole port longer term.

In carrying out the study, we will work closely with Vector to understand the capability of the local grid, and with cruise lines to understand their capabilities and future requirements, he added.

The study is due to be completed by April 2017.
Star Cruises has announced that the SuperStar Virgo will homeport in Manila for a series of cruises in March, offering five-night/six-day cruises calling in Laoag, Kaohsiung and Hong Kong.

Star Cruises was the first major cruise line to recruit Filipinos 23 years ago for our cruise ships and now we are pleased to be the first international cruise line to welcome Filipinos on board Superstar Virgo as our guests from our homeport in Manila, said Ang Moo Lim, president of Star Cruises. Worldwide, nearly 25 million people have enjoyed a cruise in 2016 and we are extending this opportunity for Filipinos to join their ranks from Manila  and at an affordable price.

Benito C. Bengzon, JR, Under Secretary for Department of Tourism welcomed the move of Star Cruises, adding: The Philippine Department of Tourism extends its warmest congratulations to Star Cruises as it launches its latest program. We are confident that inclusion of the Philippines in the itinerary of SuperStar Virgo will help strengthen the country's position as a competitive cruise destination in the region.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the completion of the retrofitting of new exhaust gas cleaning systems (i.e. scrubbers) on the Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem.

Safeguarding the protection and preservation of the environment is a paramount core value at Norwegian Cruise Line, said Robin Lindsay, Executive Vice President of Vessel Operations for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. With three vessels successfully retrofitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems in 2016, Norwegian Cruise Line is proud to see this new technology in place to help maintain a clean environment for our guests to enjoy for generations to come.

Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement that it was the first cruise line to retrofit a vessel with a scrubber hybrid system while it is in service with the installment of Norwegian Jewels system, which was completed in early September. The new lightweight in-line scrubbers installed on all three ships this year are a hybrid technology are able to operate in dry mode, open loop and closed loop.

Five scrubbers were installed, one per engine, covering the whole propulsion system.

"The Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Pearls new technology will reduce the equivalent of approximately 1,500 tons of Sulfur Oxide, SOx, gas in the years to come as a result of this new technology. A lengthy two year project, retrofitting for each ship featured more than 100,000 man hours between numerous partner organizations to be completed," said Norwegian, in a prepared statement.

Norwegian now has five ships outfitted with scrubber technology, with the Norwegian Gem and Pearl joining the Norwegian Jewel as well as the Norwegian Escape and Pride of America.

The Norwegian Joy will feature hybrid scrubber technology as well when the ship is delivered in April 2017.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it is on track to meet its MARPOL Annex VI compliance goal of reducing its global sulfur cap from 3.5 percent to 0.5 percent by 2020. All Jewel-class vessels will soon be outfitted with scrubber technology, with Norwegian Jade slated to round-out the class installment in early 2017. The Norwegian Sun will also complete her retrofitting in the second quarter of 2017.
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BRIDGEPORT  Seagulls floated over the old brick buildings, across from where the Pequonnock River separates the downtown and East Side sections of Congress Street. Thin ice coated the black water.

The small park on the downtown side, a grassy spot with a few benches between the remnants of a dismantled drawbridge and the inactive traffic lights, is a tranquil area on a gray winter day.

But there are plenty of other tranquil spots in Connecticuts largest city. On Congress Street, Mayor Joe Ganim wants bustle. More specifically, cars and pedestrians crossing over a new Congress Street bridge.

Were going to make a real push for it, he said.

The city is moving ahead on borrowing $450,000 to study how best to restore the connection. The Ganim administration is also looking at lessening the construction cost by having that section of the Pequonnock declared off limits to the type of large boats that once required an expensive draw bridge.

We want to look at the possibility of a vehicle and pedestrian causeway versus a (movable) bridge, said Tom Gill, Ganims economic development chief. The businesses located north of the Congress Street Bridge, none of them have used any type of barging or boating in years.

Heavy traffic

Progress cannot come soon enough for members of the City Council who represent the East Side and adjacent neighborhoods. They used a vote this week to hire an engineering firm for streetscape improvements across town in Black Rock as an occasion to lobby for the rebuilding of the Congress Street Bridge.

For 15 years its been down, Councilman James Holloway told his colleagues and Ganim. Traffic in the East Side and East End has been heavy because of this.

Drivers must instead cross the Pequonnock farther north on East Washington Avenue or farther south on Stratford Avenue.

The Congress Street bridge got stuck in the open position in 1997, during Ganims first administration. He was re-elected last year. For some, it became a symbol of stagnation of an old manufacturing city, and the rusty hulk was finally torn down in 2010.

Over the years, the bridge has also been a popular stop for politicians promising to obtain money to help replace it.

Other areas of the downtown and waterfront areas have not been frozen in time, and have seen plenty of redevelopment. Officials feel that after years of promises, now is the time to reconnect the two sides of Congress Street.

As the downtown area continues to expand, we want to make sure theres good access to all the neighborhoods, Gill said.

He noted how Steel Point  the long-dormant development across on the East Side, across the Stratford Avenue bridge at the mouth of the Pequonnock  has over the past two years become home to the massive Bass Pro outdoor retailer store and smaller shops and restaurants. A hotel and housing are also planned.

From a traffic perspective, as Steel Point continues to develop, and more and more people start to use that (Stratford Avenue) bridge, it just makes sense to have Congress Street open again in some form, Gill said.

And, Gill said, from a public-safety perspective, it is better to have more than one direct route for emergency vehicles to access the East Side.

Eyeing a fixed model

In 2010, then-Mayor Bill Finchs administration estimated a replacement bridge would cost $40 million. Gill said that probably stands at $45 million today, and a causeway that did not move for boat traffic could be built at half that price.

Ganim, a Democrat, hoped that there would be substantial federal dollars available, given Republican President-elect Donald Trumps focus on trying to create jobs through infrastructure projects.

But the key, Ganim and Gill agreed, is to first convince federal and state officials to declare that portion of the Pequonnock non-navigable.

Its primarily (done through) the Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Gill said. Weve had contact with the state Port Authority and asked for their guidance. Weve also reached out to Congressman Jim Himes.

Councilwoman Milta Feliciano, another advocate for reopening Congress Street, said it has to happen.

We need to make it easier for our constituents to travel back and forth downtown, she said. Theres no reason for that bridge not to be open.
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SHELTON  The man who fought for the right to have a sign marking the winter solstice on the Huntington Green has been awarded the Activist of the Year Award by the state chapter of American Atheists Inc.

Jerry Bloom, a Shelton resident, fought for the right to mark the winter solstice, the date when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky, with a sign captioned Let Reason Prevail.

Last year I submitted an application and it was denied, said Bloom, who describes himself as a secular humanist. I was told that it was offensive to many.

Dennis Paul Himes, the state director for American Atheists Inc., said Friday "What especially impressed me about Jerry Bloom's actions, is that he took them without knowing that there's an atheist community in Connecticut to draw on for help.

He stood up for what was right and prevailed, even though he thought he was alone in his efforts, Himes said. Since then, the Atheist community and he have discovered each other, and we are now proud to call him one of us."

More News Christmas vs. solstice on Shelton town green

After being denied last year and with a lawsuit looming, the Freedom from Religion group working on Blooms behalf got city permission to erect the sign. It was put up last week and will remain for two weeks, said Cary Shaw, Fairfield County chairman of Freedom From Religion.

The text of the sign continues: There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that burdens our hearts and enslaves our minds.

Bloom had contacted the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which put him in touch with the national Freedom From Religion organization.

A lawsuit was filed and discovery was to take place in February, but the matter was resolved.

We explained that the Green is a public forum, and that we had a right, but the city refused to reconsider, Bloom said. We settled out of court.

Mayor Mark Lauretti said the problem with Blooms earlier request was that he wanted a specific location where signs are not allowed, but displays are.

Lauretti put up his own sign, practically touching Blooms, that reads Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all from the City of Shelton.

We do monitor and regulate these things, and we treat everyone the same, the mayor said. Im a Merry Christmas guy.

The signs are about 200 feet from the creche erected annually by Cub Scout Pack 24 and the Exchange Club of Shelton, on a neighborhood green ringed by churches. The creche displays the traditional Nativity scene, with Jesus in the manger and Mary, Joseph, the three magi and some animals surrounding him in the stable.
A ruling by the Florida State Supreme Court on Thursday could mean a former Chippewa Falls man, convicted double murderer Bill P. Marquardt, avoids execution.

A majority of justices decided all death sentences imposed before a key 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling can remain in place. This could clear executions for nearly half of the 386 inmates currently on Floridas death row.

The court declared in a separate ruling that anyone who received a death sentence after the 2002 decision, which would include Marquardt, could be eligible for a new sentencing hearing. This could lead to some inmates being released from death row if they are not resentenced to death.

We again emphasize this decision will only impact the sentence of death, not the conviction, the unsigned opinion says. The difference is not guilt or innocence but, instead, life or death.

Marquardt, 41, was found not guilty by a Polk County jury of the March 2000 murder of his mother, Mary Jane Marquardt, in her town of Eagle Point residence.

But evidence in that case was used in and led to the 2011 conviction of Marquardt in the 2000 murders of Margarita Ruiz, 72, and her daughter Esperanza Wells, 42 in Tarrytown, Florida. He was sentenced to death row in 2012.

The Florida Supreme Court in 2015 upheld Marquardts convictions in the murders of Ruiz and Wells.

Although the record contains no evidence with respect to motive, the record reflects that DNA from Marquardt was found inside the victims house, mixed with the victims blood. Additionally, the victims blood was found on clothes, shoes and a knife seized from Marquardt upon his arrest in Wisconsin, as well as in Marquardts car, the court ruled then.

A sharply divided court Thursday agreed to stop blocking the execution of Mark Asay, a Jacksonville man sentenced to death in 1987 for murdering two men.

The court halted Asays execution in March after the U.S. Supreme Court found Floridas death sentencing procedure was flawed.

Critics said they had warned prosecutors for years Floridas death sentencing law was unconstitutional.

Florida not only allowed judges to overrule juries, but allowed the death penalty to be imposed by a majority of jurors. State legislators this year changed the law to require a yes vote from 10 out of 12 jurors, but the state Supreme Court later ruled that a unanimous decision is required.

For over a decade, Florida prosecutors have known that non-unanimous jury verdicts were likely to be found unconstitutional and yet they failed to urge corrective action from the legislature knowing all the while that victims families and the taxpayers would pay the price for their careless decision, said Kenneth Nunn, a law professor at the University of Florida.

Floridas death penalty law was upended as a result of a case involving Timothy Lee Hurst, who was convicted using a box-cutter to kill a co-worker at a Pensacola Popeyes restaurant in 1998. A jury had divided 7-5 over whether Hurst deserved to die, but a judge imposed the death sentence. The state Supreme Court initially upheld his sentence, but the U.S. Supreme Court this past January declared the states death penalty sentencing law unconstitutional because it gave too much power to judges to make the ultimate decision.

Following that ruling the state Supreme Court halted two scheduled executions, including Asays.

While the court ultimately ruled 6-1 that Asays execution can go ahead, the ruling showed the courts remaining deep divisions regarding the death penalty. Some justices argued that all death row inmates sentenced prior to this years U.S. Supreme Court ruling deserved a new sentencing hearing.

Outgoing Justice James Perry, one of two blacks on the high court, issued a lengthy dissent in which he said Florida had applied the death penalty in a biased and discriminatory fashion and that there was no way it could be carried out in a constitutional manner. Perry, who is retiring at the end of the month, contends that all death row inmates should have their sentences commuted to life in prison.
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WASHINGTON  In normal presidential transitions, the choice of secretary for veterans affairs draws little notice outside the veterans service organizations and veterans themselves.

But whatever else it is, the ascension of Donald Trump to the White House is most certainly not a normal transition.

The New York real-estate deal maker and TV personality intends to run government like a business  and that includes the $180 billion Department of Veterans Affairs, roundly excoriated for incompetence and outright fraud.

Among those on Capitol Hill who intend to leave a major imprint on confirming a new veterans secretary is U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who steps down next month as the senior Democrat on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

The VA management structure has been sclerotic and fossilized, and has clearly lacked accountability, he said. There has been progress, but it still needs a lot of work.

Although Blumenthal is relinquishing his top Democrat seat to Sen. John Tester, D-Mont., who is senior in rank, he remains on the committee and expects to pepper the eventual Trump nominee with a long list of concerns.

Blumenthals name is attached to the recently enacted Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act, which improves education benefits for veterans and spouses, provides greater access to benefits for homeless veterans, and requires more research on the health effects of exposure to toxic substances on the battlefield.

Questions of mismanagement

Long-simmering management issues burst into the open in 2014 when the VA hospital in Phoenix was discovered to be covering up long health care appointment waiting times. Hundreds of veterans died while waiting a month for appointments, but officials there cooked the books to show prompt attention to patient needs.

During the campaign, Trump pledged to take care of our veterans like they have never been taken care of before.

And he also promised no more waiting in line. If youre a veteran who cannot get timely health care, youre going to go to a private doctor across the street, a private hospital across the street or nearby and youll be taken care of quickly and efficiently, Trump said.

Trumps indignation has given hope to Republican conservatives that the business-minded president-elect will empower the nations 22 million veterans  200,000 in Connecticut  to choose their own health care provider, whether in the VA system or outside.

But they bridle at the term privatization.

Increasing choice for veterans is not privatization,  said Dan Caldwell, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and is policy director of Concerned Veterans for America. People think the VA needs to manage health care because vets cant do it themselves. Its insulting.

CVA is funded by the conservative Koch brothers, who have bankrolled several organizations aimed at promoting Republican causes. Its influence is significant in the embryonic Trump administration, with two Trump transition team members having ties to the organization.

While Blumenthal and other Democrats agree VA management must be revamped and there is a role for outside care, they draw the line at any effort they see as destabilizing VA health care.

Privatizing is not the answer, Blumenthal said. Choice is an answer, but neither the veterans groups nor veterans themselves want to abolish the VA system.

Concerns about choice

Under current law, veterans who live more than 40 miles away from a VA facility or face wait times above 30 days can see a private health-care provider, with costs covered by VA.

As someone who fancies himself to be unpredictable, Trump may have a surprise or two in store for those who follow VA issues. Politico reported Trump is seriously considering Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove, an Air Force surgeon in the Vietnam War who is not among the VA bomb-throwers whispering in Trumps ear.

The VA in Connecticut appears to be on top of the management issues that have plagued Phoenix and other areas, Blumenthal said.

What I hear is there can be long wait times but theyre satisfied with the quality of care they receive, he said.

Connecticuts veteran population puts it at 34th among the states, with about 36,000 in Fairfield County. They are served by two VA hospitals in West Haven and Newington, and a string of primary care clinics throughout the state  including Danbury and Stamford.

Veteran service organizations monitor the VA system in Connecticut and elsewhere.

Our department service officers would let us know if they were seeing major problems, said Harry Butch Hansen, American Legion adjutant in Connecticut. Theyd be getting an earful.

Personally, if you lose the VA system, the veterans would be without a voice, said Hansen. We worked hard to create the VA system and its important to our vets. We dont want to lose that.

dan@hearstdc.com
West Haven police via Facebook

Three men committing the burglary at a West Haven home were interrupted by the home owner who caught them in the act.

The burglars got away, but not before the quick-thinking homeowner took a video of them fleeing the scene in dark green Honda Civic.
Overall not only is this an excellent offering, but in my opinion, succeeds in delivering a great Connecticut Shade cigar in a larger ring format.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (La Zona SA)

Toro Grande: 6 x 56

Price: $8.90

Review: Espinosa Crema Toro Grande

Brand Appearances on Countdown: 4 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)

Coming in at #16 is the Espinosa Crema Toro Grande. Over the past few years, many of Espinosa releases have focused around medium / medium to full offerings. With the Espinosa Crema, this cigar has a milder profile. With the Espinosa Crema, it is meant to offer what La Zona Factory Operations Manager Hector Alfonso has termed a gateway cigar  namely a cigar that could appeal to newer cigar enthusiast. At the same time, this is a cigar that can still appeal to all cigar enthusiasts looking to reach for a milder offering.

For Espinosa Cigars, this is the fourth consecutive year, the company has landed on the Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. It is also the third cigar on this years countdown from the La Zona cigar factory. Using an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, this is the first Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar to make this years Countdown.

The Espinosa Crema is not the first Espinosa offering to use a Connecticut Shade wrapper. Most notably, in 2012 the company released a Connecticut Shade offering under the La Zona name. In addition to the Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, the Crema incorporates Nicaraguan tobaccos for the binder and filler. The Toro Grande is the largest vitola in the line  measuring 6 x 56.

The flavor profile of the Espinosa Crema Toro Grande is going to be more on the traditional side as opposed to delivering something radically different. These notes include classic wood, cedar, citrus, black pepper, nut, and of course cream. The notes are start out on the mild to medium-bodied side before progressing to medium-bodied in the last third. Meanwhile the strength level is in the mild range before advancing to mild to medium in the last third.

Overall this short, the Espinosa Crema Toro Grandes 6 x 56 format worked quite well with this blend. The fact that the Crema is traditional in terms of flavor profile, strength, and body is what sets this cigar part. The bottom line is that Espinosa has succeeded in delivering its gateway cigar  and its one certainly a box worthy offering.

For details of the 2016 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2016 criteria.

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Imamoglu'na bir suikast ihbar daha: '8 kisilerdi, hepsi silahllard...'
In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!
After 40 years in journalism, huffing and puffing about every subject under the sun, I can claim to have had a direct impact on public policy only twice.

Once was in 1999, when I suggested in print that the heroism of the Royal Ulster Constabulary  which lost 319 dead and almost 9,000 injured during the Troubles  should be given lasting recognition by the Queen.

In a moment of inspiration, I proposed that the force should be awarded the George Cross, Britains highest civilian award for gallantry, which Her Majestys father had bestowed on the island of Malta for its valiant resistance to German attack during World War II.

A few weeks later, to my astonishment, the then Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson stood up in the Commons and declared he had recommended the RUC  for the George Cross!

I should reassure those who have yet to send in their tax returns for 2015/16 that they have until January 31 to complete them online. But the bad news for those who rely on the paper version is that the deadline for filing this passed on October 31

Of course, this may have had nothing to do with me. It could be that Mandy and I just happened to have the same brainwave at the same time. I should also admit that the slippery old swine took the edge off my delight when he announced, in almost the same breath, that he was winding up the RUC and setting up the Police Service of Northern Ireland in its place.

It had been no part of my plan that the George Cross should be posthumous. All the same, I like to think this richly deserved award was my idea.

But its my other dubious triumph that I want to crow about today. I was reminded of it by the story in yesterdays papers reporting a selection of this years more far-fetched excuses offered to Her Majestys Revenue & Customs for failing to complete a tax return in time to avoid the 100 fine for missing the deadline.

Before I go an inch further, I should reassure those who have yet to send in their returns for 2015/16 that they have until January 31 to complete them online.

But the bad news for those who rely on the paper version is that the deadline for filing this passed on October 31.

This brings me to the only other occasion in my career on which a government yielded to the power of my pen.

Now, I dont know if this is still the case today, since its ages since I last tried to complete a tax return before I gave up in despair and handed the job over to someone who knew what he was doing. But for a time, at least, I bore indirect responsibility for the design and wording of that hated form. I can only apologise.

It was way back in the days of John Major when I wrote a piece cursing the complexity of the return and its infuriating layout, which allowed only tiny spaces for filling in such details as the name and address of my employer.

Why, I raged, did I have to go through this annual torment, when HMRC already knew far more than I did about my financial affairs? After all, I had no freelance earnings and paid the tax on my salary upfront through PAYE. As for other sources of income, I had a handful of shares  bought during the Thatcher privatisations, when everyone told me Id be an idiot not to get a slice of the action  which paid dividends of well under 100 in total per year.

So why should anyone with finances as straightforward as mine be confronted every year by the choice between hours of anguish trying to understand that wretched form and employing an accountant, who would charge 400 for calculating that the taxman owed me 37.20?

Why couldnt they make the damn form simple enough for even a financial ignoramus like me to understand?

Shortly after that column appeared, I happened to bump into my old university friend Francis Maude, who was then the Financial Secretary to the Treasury and minister in charge of the Inland Revenue.

I read your article, Tom, and Ive set up a working party to redesign and simplify the tax return, he said.

My mouth fell open. You mean youve done this because of my article?

Yes, because of your article.

For weeks after that encounter, I made myself insufferable to my nearest and dearest, boasting that I was the man who Got Things Done, the hack before whom the mightiest in the land trembled and bowed.

I happened to bump into my old university friend Francis Maude (above), who was then the Financial Secretary to the Treasury and minister in charge of the Inland Revenue. I read your article, Tom, and Ive set up a working party to redesign and simplify the tax return, he said

But then came the end of the tax year, when the new-look form that Id inspired dropped through my letterbox ... and my inflated ego collapsed like a pricked balloon. Yes, the tax return was a different colour. Yes, it offered more generously sized blank spaces for names, addresses, facts and figures.

And yes, some of the language had changed, from incomprehensible jargon into the baby-talk so often adopted by modern officialdom when it wants to patronise the public.

But as far as I could see, you still needed a Nobel Prize in accountancy to complete the form correctly, while the explanatory notes were as obfuscatory as ever. For example, did I wish to claim any of the following, unpunctuated reliefs: Interest eligible for relief on qualifying loans, gift aid and payments under charitable covenants annuities relief claimed on a qualifying distribution on the redemption of bonus shares or securities?

Questions such as this may be easy enough to answer if you happen to know what a qualifying distribution on a redemption may be when its at home.

But if you dont  and I cant believe Im the only one of the ten million people in the self-assessment system who hasnt a clue  then the mysteries of the form remain as impenetrable as ever.

So it is that my heart goes out to those who missed this years October 31 deadline for pen-and-paper tax returns, sending their desperate excuses to HMRC in the hope of wriggling out of a fine.

Top of the list of rejected sob stories was a claim by a presumably well-heeled taxpayer that his completed form was destroyed in a fire on his yacht.

Mind you, I dont see why he should necessarily be disbelieved. Fires do break out, even on rich mens yachts.

Im slightly less inclined to believe the late filer who explained: A wasp in my car caused me to have an accident and my tax return, which was inside, was destroyed.

Im not saying its unthinkable that paperwork could be destroyed in a car accident. Its just that little detail of the wasp that sets my sceptical antennae quivering. As Ive found as the father of four not-always-truthful boys, its a general rule that the more elaborate the excuses, the less likely they are to be true.

Others again blamed spouses for their failure to deliver on time. My wife helps me with my tax return, but she had a headache for ten days, said one, while another claimed: I could not complete my tax return because my husband left me and took our accountant with him.

As for the bloke who claimed my dog ate my tax return  and all of the reminders  well, I dont suppose he expected anyone to believe that oldest chestnut of the lot.

My sympathies, anyway, are entirely with those who missed the deadline and find themselves facing automatic 100 fines on top of the unconscionable amounts of tax most of us have to pay.

Indeed, my hackles rise at the nannying tone of Ruth Owen, HMRC director general of customer services, when she says: Luckily, it is only a small minority who chance their arm.

Why should we have to grovel with excuses for being even a day late when the taxman so cheerfully allows vast multinational companies to escape billions they owe, with no question of fines for being years late?

In my book, every one of us has two impeccable reasons for being less than punctual with our tax returns.

One is that the Government will only spend our money on such fatuous projects as subsidising the Spice Girls of Ethiopia, to the tune of 5 million.

And the other? Like the tax system itself, the form remains too dashed complicated. But Ive long given up hope that any words of mine will change a thing.
As future head of the Anglican church, the Prince of Wales is absolutely right to highlight the appalling persecution of Christians across the Middle East.

On Radio 4s Thought for the Day, he gave a graphic description of how some of the worlds most ancient Christian populations are being driven from their biblical homelands in a ruthless wave of killings, kidnappings and expulsions.

Strangely though, he neglected to say who was to blame. No mention of the blood-thirsty fanatics of Islamic State and Al Qaeda  who have been responsible for the mass murder of Yazidis, Jews and Ahmadi Muslims as well as Christians.

The Prince must be aware the word populist has become a cheap slur  particularly used by the BBC  against those who voted by a significant majority for Brexit

Instead he attacked populist groups for religious intolerance  likening their growth to that of the Nazis. Such people, he said, were increasingly aggressive towards refugees.

This may have been meant as a humanitarian intervention but its hard to avoid the conclusion it was a somewhat worrying foray into politics. The Prince must be aware the word populist has become a cheap slur  particularly used by the BBC  against those who voted by a significant majority for Brexit.

The fact is theres huge compassion in this country for genuine refugees and Britain leads the world in supporting those displaced by the Middle East carnage.

But at the same time its indisputable that countless people seeking refuge in this country are not victims of persecution but economic migrants seeking a better life. Prince Charles seemed unable to make that distinction.

Its only because untrammelled migration over the years has brought such unbearable pressure on communities and public services that ordinary people now demand stricter border controls.

Yes, we admire the Princes compassion as he pens his missives in the luxury of Highgrove. But we do question his wisdom in entering such controversial political areas  especially as he seems to have so little understanding of the realities of the seismic changes across Europe.

Student censorship

Are universities becoming Britains most illiberal institutions? Following campaigns at several seats of learning to ban anyone who doesnt subscribe to their politically-correct orthodoxies, Kings College London is the latest to bow to its students intolerance.

The college removed former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey from a display of distinguished alumni after undergraduates said his opposition to same-sex marriage branded him a bigot.

Leaving aside that Dr Carey is a man of considerable stature  and that a large proportion of the country had misgivings about the gay marriage law  whatever happened to freedom of expression?

 First we revealed this week how the department for foreign aid had spent 9.2million promoting the career of Ethiopias Spice Girls.

Then we reported how more of our money than ever is going to the worlds most corrupt regimes.

Now we learn DfID officials are comfortably the highest paid in Whitehall. How exquisitely ironic that a department set up to splash your cash on the worlds despots should be paying its bureaucrats more than any other ministry.

Sergeant Alexander Blackman  cruelly convicted of murder for shooting a Taliban insurgent  will spend Christmas in jail after being refused bail. Meanwhile, Nigerian fraudster James Ibori will be living the high life after being freed half way through a 13-year sentence

 Sergeant Alexander Blackman  cruelly convicted of murder for shooting a Taliban insurgent  will spend Christmas in jail after being refused bail.

Meanwhile, Nigerian fraudster James Ibori will be living the high life after being freed half way through a 13-year sentence.
Years ago, you might have dreamed of opening a Tiffany bracelet or a designer watch on Christmas day, but now there's only one brand women want to receive - and the proof was in the queues of dozens of men and women outside Pandora's Exeter store yesterday.

Pandora, famous for its charm bracelets and stacking rings, has managed to double sales each year since 2000, with celebrities such as Millie Mackintosh and Abbey Clancy are frequently spotted wearing the brand.

And when you unwrap your presents on Christmas morning, it's highly likely there will be a Pandora trinket in there, given that the UK is the company's second biggest market behind the US - and it's the most searched jewellery brand on Google.

So how did the firm, which started as a small family venture in Copenhagen 34 years ago, explode into an empire valued by Forbes at 11.5 billion, making 2 billion in 2016 alone?

Queues formed outside the Pandora store in Exeter yesterday, as shoppers eager to pick up the perfect gift lined up

Star endorsement: On the celebrity front, this year Tess Daly was unveiled as the face of Pandora jewellery for a second campaign

Stylish socialite Millie Mackintosh is a big fan of the brand

Per Enevoldsen, who started Pandora in 1982 with his wife Winnie, says this is a question that he still asks himself today.

'At no stage did I ever dream Pandora would become what it has,' the highly-private businessman told Jeweller Magazine.

The incredibly popular brand is now worth an estimated 11.5billion and industry experts predict that the brand's rings will attract in excess of one million searches on Google this year alone.

The ubiquitous charm bracelet remains its top-selling item, but its rings - including stacking and birthstone designs - are also high on peoples' wish-lists.

Enevoldsen started out by importing jewellery from Thailand - and, after witnessing success on the wholesale market, he and his wife decided to start a retail venture.

In 1987, the company employed its first in-house designer to create original designs.

Abby Clancy has been seen wearing the popular brand several times

Former Spice Girl Mel B, pictured here at a Pandora brand event, is a big fan of their jewellery

Two years later, in 1989, the Enevoldsens decided to start manufacturing their jewellery in Thailand.

In 2000, Pandoras charm bracelet concept was first launched in the Danish market and it quickly caught on.

Reacting to consumer demand, the company entered the US market in 2003, followed by Germany and Australia in 2004.

Today its products are sold in more than 70 countries on six continents through over 10,300 points of sale, including around 900 concept stores.

The craze shows no sign of abating and a new factory will open in Chiang Mai in the New Year to meet demand

Put a ring on it: Today Pandora's products are sold in more than 70 countries on six continents through over 10,300 points of sale, including around 900 concept stores

This Christmas it's predicted that Pandora will be the most purchased jewellery brand in the UK.

A study, commissioned by US-based jeweller Karus Chain, reports that the company will even out-do Tiffany & Co and Swarovski.

Revealing one of the secrets to his company's incredible success, Enevoldsen concludes: 'I felt it important to control our growth and ensure we always delivered on product quality.'

Popular pick: Since 2000, Pandora managed to double sales each year and it is now worth an estimated 11.5billion

Another key to Pandora's popularity is its accessible price points. Indeed, the range starts from just 15 for an intricately-shaped silver charm.

It caps at 2,900, with a 14ct gold necklace appealing to the more affluent customer.

On the celebrity front, this year Tess Daly was unveiled as the face of Pandora jewellery for a second campaign.

Speaking about the coup, the TV presenter said: 'Im delighted to continue working alongside Pandora. I first fell in love with the brand when purchasing a charm bracelet for one of my friends years ago.
ingredients, to rustle up Christmas dinner with all the trimmings

Cheap and cheerful crackers with party hats inside and a roll of festive paper from the supermarket will be perfectly acceptable to most of us at Christmas.

But when money is no object, extravagant gifts wrapped in 20,000 gem encrusted paper and crackers containing real diamonds worth anywhere between 85,000 and 240,000 are the order of the day.

The eye-watering sums spent by the super rich to ensure their festivities have the wow factor are uncovered on Channel 5's Eamonn and Ruth: A Million Pound Christmas, which airs tonight.

The pair also reveal X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne once spent 38,000 to pay for two 60ft Christmas trees to be decorated and Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan is prepared to make his services available on the 25th. The restaurateur is happy to cook a festive feast with all the trimmings for 25,000 - excluding the ingredients.

Presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford with chef Richard Corrigan who said he would charge 25,000 - excluding ingredients - to come to their home on Christmas Day to cook turkey with all the trimmings

CHRISTMAS DINNER: 25-30,000

Chef Richard Corrigan, who has served the Queen at his Corrigan's Mayfair restaurant, said he is available on the day - at a price.

He told presenter Ruth Langsford: 'There would be very little change from 25,000 for me to come to your home on Christmas Day, excluding ingredients.'

These ingredients won't be cheap either as he only uses the very best money can buy, such as the world's finest oysters and cavier that costs 'a couple of hundred quid a sliver.' His canapes cost 20 per item.

The Michellin-starred chef said he has opened his restaurant on Christmas Day in the past but has to charge a lot to cover him and his staff having to give up their own Christmas Day to work.

He said: 'We are usually closed on Christmas Day, we have been asked to open in the past. We would charge 30,000 to open for 12 people just to have lunch.'

DECORATIONS: 50,000 PLUS

When time is money for the world's billionaires, they don't want to waste it decorating their mansions for Christmas themselves.

Like Sharon Osbourne once did, they can hire The Christmas Decorators to deck the halls for them inside and out, for a costly fee.

Sharon Osbourne once hired The Christmas Decorators to deck the halls inside and outside her London home for a pricey fee

Director and designer Clark Bearman said they will charge from 25,000 to 50,000 depending on requirements, adding that it could be much more depending on a client's budget and desires.

He said: 'For the top amount your house would look like The North Pole. The craziest request we had was for live penguins.'

The company said when they decorated the London home of The X Factor judge she really went to town.

He recalled: 'Her driveway was a quarter of a mile long and we lit every tree and bush. The whole front of house was lit in icicle lights with big wreaths and giant Nutcracker figures around the door.

'She had two 60ft trees which it took two guys five days to decorate at a cost of 38,000.'

Clark said that many of the homes they decorate aren't even seen in person by their wealthy clients.

He said: 'Many of the homes of the super rich we decorate at Christmas aren't even there for Christmas, they will be on their yachts in the Bahamas and just check it on their webcams.'

XMAS GIFTS FOR THE MEGA RICH 'Hero model' mobile phone, 35,000: Made of white gold, alligator leather and sapphire glass with a concierge service on speed dial

Antique peacock feather style diamond necklace, pictured right, 650,000

Handcrafted grand piano, 90,000. Don't know how to play it? Then get the Yamaha Discovery Inspire for 42,500 that can play itself controlled via an iPad

IWC Schaffhaisen Portugieser red gold and alligator leather watch, 29,950

Snow globe featuring a miniature sculpture of your family, 3,275 Advertisement

GIFT WRAP: 20,000

Once they've bought their expensive presents, the mega rich often want the gift wrap to reflect the extravagant contents.

They can hire 'international gift wrapping consultant' Arona Khan, who wraps presents for Selfridges, Dior and Sotherby's.

'International gift wrapping consultant' Arona Khan, talking to Ruth Langsford, wraps gifts for Selfridges, Dior and Sotherby's

Once wrapped, Arona's presents can look like pretty clutch bags and can be embellished with precious gems

Her gift wrap can cost up to 20,000 thanks to the materials and embellishments, such as decorating it with precious gems. Her stylish wrapping technique means presents can appear to look like pretty clutch bags.

Arona said such is the demand for her service, one wealthy client once sent a stretch limo to pick her up from her New York home and take her to Philadelphia to wrap all their presents, and then had her driven home again.

Arona said of her clients: 'They are expecting the wow factor. When you factor in the diamonds and gems used on the wrapping paper, we can be talking thousands (of pounds) but then think about the cost of the gift inside.'

CRACKERS CONTAINING A 240,000 DIAMOND

As they tuck into the festive feast, billionaires won't want to miss out on the tradition of pulling crackers.

VeryFirstTo can supply crackers containing diamonds, ranging in value from 85,000 to 240,000

They won't have to slum it with cheap paper hats or useless novelty gifts as prizes though, as online retailer VeryFirstTo can supply them with crackers containing diamonds.

Brand founder Marcel Knobil told Eamonn and Ruth how the crackers are a work of art in themselves. They are handcrafted in paper sourced from India and decorated with goose feathers.

Inside each is a cut diamond, ranging in value from 85,000 to 240,000.

ADVENT CALENDAR: 10,000

The super-rich can countdown to Christmas and gain a precious gift each day if they splash out on an extravagant advent calendar.

Maverick Drinks says this 10,000 advent calendar is good value as it contains rare and expensive miniatures of whiskey to enjoy every day till Christmas

One featured on the Channel 5 show costs 10,000 as it has rare and expensive whiskey miniatures behind each door.

Some of them are so expensive they are worth 50 a mouthful.

Michael Vachon, head of brand development, at Maverick Drinks, who produce the calendar, said the high price is actually a bargain.

He said: ' I know it sounds like a lot but when you consider in this calendar collectively if you bought all the bottles you would be spending over 130,000.'
Sometimes the timing is just bad  or you just dont realise what you have until its gone.

Usually it takes some time before you realise that person was the one that got away.

From wistfully looking at their pictures on Facebook years later to holiday romances that ended a little too soon, women shared stories about their lost loves with Body and Soul.

One woman revealed her one that the one that got away didnt go too far  and was actually her boyfriends friend.

Scroll down for video

Regret: Six woman have shared their stories of regret about the ones that got away (stock image)

She explained that when she met her boyfriend four years ago, his mate had actually been the one to catch her eye.

But he had been too shy to ask for her number while her now-boyfriend made a move.

While I am so happy with my boyfriend, there is definitely still chemistry between his mate and I and I cant help but imagine what might have eventuated if it was his mate that gave me his number first, she said.

Another woman revealed that she fell for her office crush  but he was in a relationship, albeit an unhappy one.

He would bring her coffee in the morning and leave her notes and theyd both find reasons to visit each others desks.

She said everything would have been perfect but for his girlfriend. But by the time he inevitably ended it, she had met someone else.

Do-over: One woman said she regrets not responding to letters from a man she met abroad (stock image)

Meanwhile, one woman revealed her school crush was the love of her life.

'While I had him for a while, he got away. We were obsessed with each other in that teenage love sort of way, but when he got a scholarship overseas, we tried long distance and it was just too hard.

'We both started seeing other people but even to this day, 15 years later, I feel pangs of regret when I see pictures of him on Facebook,' she said.

What could have been: Many are happily married, they still wonder about their lost loves (stock image)

Another woman lamented giving up on a Canadian man shed met on holiday in Vienna.

After spending a steamy week in Austria together, he told her he wanted to continue travelling with her and even come to Australia to visit her.

When she returned home, she found that he'd tracked down her address and written her letters - but she never replied because it was 'too much, too soon.'
A boy who trialled a unique cancer treatment never used on children before has been hailed a hero by the families of other children who have now been saved by the drug.

Blue Tobin, from Dover, overcame odds of 10:1 to beat leukaemia after taking the highly toxic and potentially lethal chemotherapy drug, and it was subsequently rolled out to countless other children across the country.

Now, parents have taken to Facebook to thank Blue and his mother Francesca Waite - shining a light on Blue's previously untold story of his courageous battle against cancer.

Doctors at the world-renowned Royal Marsden Hospital in London have also praised Blue for being brave enough to trial the drug. They admitted they did not think he would pull through.

Blue Tobin in hospital aged two. The toddler began bruising easily and suffering nose bleeds which led to a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in March 2011

Blue, then three, was was on the brink of death before doctors administered Cyclophosphamide and Etoposide, drugs which carried a 'high risk' of killing him if it didn't work.

But thanks to his mother Francesca Waite's decision to trial the treatment on her little boy, it is now being used to save other children too.

One mother, Nicki McClean, took to Facebook this week to thank them after her daughter Evie was treated.

'This brave little superstar, pictured next to Evie in my profile picture, was the first child to trial two chemo drugs that had only been used in adults,' she wrote.

Hailing Francesca's bravery, she added: 'Evie had the same chemo drugs because of this little man. Blue, you're our superhero with the cheekiest smile!'

Nathalie Barry and Ruth Larthwell also commented, thanking Blue and his mother for 'being so brave'.

Taking to Facebook earlier this week, Nicki McClean called Blue a 'hero' after her daughter Evie had the same chemotherapy drugs and thanked Blue mother for being so brave

HOW BLUE'S PIONEERING TREATMENT SAVED OTHERS Dr Mike Potter, Consultant Haematologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, explained: 'Cyclophosphamide and Etoposide were previously used to prepare a patient to receive a stem cell transplant, and not as chemotherapy drugs. 'The Royal Marsden and elsewhere in the UK had been using them as chemotherapy for adults for a number of years, but to our knowledge they had never been used on a child before we used them with Blue. 'His treatment involved very high doses of both drugs. I didnt think he was going to make it. 'Its not often we need to use these drugs on children, but thanks to Blue and other children who have followed him, they can be an option in someone we think will need a transplant.' Please visit royalmarsden.org/donate and give a gift today to fund pioneering clinical research that will help translate the latest drug discoveries into real-life clinical treatments for more patients Advertisement

Blue was just two years old when he began showing symptoms which led to his diagnosis in March 2011.

Francesca, 51, noticed her son was 'bruising easily and suffering nose bleeds'.

'I was told his cancer type and stage [mark 4] meant he had a less than average chance of survival,' Francesca told FEMAIL.

'It was devastating. I thought old people get cancer, not little children. I didnt realise then how common it is.'

To save Blue's life, it was vital that his acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) was put into remission so he could receive a bone marrow transplant.

Two gruelling rounds of chemotherapy appeared to have worked at first, but two months later the youngster's cancer had returned.

Blue meets Prince William, the patron of the Royal Marsden, for a charity event in October 2015. 'He insisted Prince William wear the Shaun the sheep hat,' said his mother Francesca

During his treatment, Blue became extremely fragile and lost vast amounts of weight. At one point he was in intensive care and his mother was warned he might not survive 24 hours

'One night in October [2011] I was giving him a bath when I saw bruises on his back and my heart just sank - I knew it was back,' said Francesca.

'We went to the Royal Marsden in for blood tests and the doctor called me that night and confirmed that hed relapsed.

'They had to treat him urgently and the aim was to get him into remission so that he could receive a stem cell transplant. So we spent that Christmas [2011] in hospital, which was hard.'

In February 2012, Francesca received the 'devastating' news that there was nothing more they could do for Blue, and that the family should take him home 'indefinitely' while the hospital organised palliative care.

'I wasnt ready to accept it,' she said.

Blue with his mother Francesca. Speaking of the news there was nothing more doctors could do, she recalled: 'I wasnt ready to accept it'. Luckily doctors came up with a solution

Blue in hospital. He was at that point extremely fragile, and spent two Christmases in hospital

But then the clinical team looking after Blue at The Royal Marsden hospital in London came up with a groundbreaking solution.

'Soon after wed been sent home, Blues oncologists Dr Mike Potter and Dr Mark Ethell called me back into the Royal Marsden and told me about these two drugs that had never been used on a child of Blues age before.

There was a high risk that they would kill him

'They were very open about it and told me that there was only a 10 to 15 per cent chance they would work, and a high risk that they would kill him.'

Francesca was told about the drugs  Cyclophosphamide and Etoposide  that had been trialled in adult cancer patients but had never been used together on a child of Blue's age.

'I was willing to try anything to save my child,' she said. 'It was take him home to die or take this small chance of survival. I had to try.'

At one point, Blue was fighting two life-threatening infections in intensive care and I was warned he might not survive 24 hours - but he gradually started showing improvement

At the time there were no guidelines on what dosage should be used, and the potentially high toxicity levels of the drugs meant that trying them on a child as small as Blue was a huge risk.

'He contracted every serious infection going

But, desperate to save her son, Francesca made the brave decision to allow the drugs to be administered.

Medics developed a 'unique' dosage for Blue, who was growing extremely fragile, and the toddler spent two Christmases in hospital.

'He contracted every serious infection going and his weight dropped to just 10kg,' said Francesca.

At one point he was fighting two life-threatening infections in intensive care and I was warned he might not survive 24 hours.

Francesca, Blue and sister Kizzy, 22, supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Today, Blue is seven years old and has been labelled a 'miracle' by his consultant

New start: This year, Blue is looking forward to spending the holidays with his mother and grandparents, and has asked for a dirt bike and a telescope

'But then in the morning his signs had improved and he pulled through.'

By May 2012 the drugs had put Blue into remission and he finally was able to undergo the stem cell transplant he needed to survive.

WHAT IS AML? . Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells called granulocytes or monocytes in the bone marrow . In the UK, around 2,900 people are diagnosed each year with acute myeloid leukaemia . It is most often diagnosed in older people, and is most common in people over 65 years old Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement

In 2013, he spent his first Christmas at home for two years. And in 2015 Blue got the chance to meet Prince William, who is patron of the Royal Marsden, at a charity event in London.

'Blue asked him to have his picture taken with him, then insisted Prince William wear the Shaun the sheep hat,' said Francesca.

'He didnt want to but Blue said: If you dont wear the hat I wont have my picture taken with you so he had no choice!'

Today, Blue is seven years old and has been labelled a 'miracle' by his consultant.

What's more, following the success of his health, the drugs are now available to help save other children's lives.

This year, Blue is looking forward to spending the holidays with his mother and grandparents, and has asked for a dirt bike and a telescope.
High street stores and mass market retailers have made it easy (and affordable!) to keep up with all the latest trends.

The downside? Everyone is wearing the exact same thing. In today's technologically advanced society, shopping a unique pair of shoes or a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, is just a click away.

Here, get to know four amazing international designers that are worth having on your radar.

JEWELRY DESIGNER: DENNIS P.

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Dennis P. is a self-taught jewelry designer from Zakinthos, Greece.

Since launching his brand Boudoir by Dennis P. five years ago, his custom creations (made with his own two hands!) have been featured in magazine editorials, on catwalks and on a slew of A-listers, including DJ Xenia Ghali (pictured below.)

'Almost anything can be a source of inspiration for me. Buildings, different cultures, people, my clients, music, fashion, love and the actual materials themselves.

Nothing is mass produced. Every piece is handmade and one of a kind,' he says.

'My designs combine Ancient Greek and Roman jewelry with geometry and edginess.'

In demand: Since Dennis launched Boudoir by Dennis P . five years ago, his custom designs (made with his own two hands!) have been featured in magazine editorials, on catwalks and on a slew of A-listers, including DJ Xenia Ghali

Heavily inspired by the diversity of America, Dennis says 'the many different cultures in the US create a beautiful mix of various fashion trends and styles.

As a designer, this is incredibly interesting for me to be around because the market is widely diverse and therefore I can experiment with my designs and be inspired by the different cultures, all at the same time.'

Original work: Nothing is mass produced. Every piece is handmade and one of a kind,' he says. 'My designs combine Ancient Greek and Roman jewelry with geometry and edginess'

Technology has made it a good time to be a designer.

'Social media has really enabled people in the fashion industry to showcase their work and talent to the masses. Creativity and art is now accessible to people from all over the world.

It really has broken the boundaries and restrictions which were caused by territories and distance. This has helped designers, fashion bloggers, stylists and many more become noticed, appreciated and found by thousands of people.'

HANDBAG DESIGNER: PAULA CADEMARTORI

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Why did Italy based designer Paula Cademartori (pictured right) start creating handbags? 'Because I love them!,' she says.

Paula launched her eponymous brand in 2010.

Producing her line in Italy has been really important to the Brazilian designer. 'It means craftsmanship, first-class material selection and attention to details, creativity and style requirements that lead to a perfect product.'

Though each bag is made in Italy, Paula incorporates her heritage into the collection through her use of color and the mixing of contrasting fabrics and textures.

Twiggy Shoulder Bag, price upon request; paulacademartori.com

She takes inspiration from all that evokes emotion - and it shows!

It would be impossible to look at one of her fun, eclectic designs and not feel happy, curious or intrigued.

In addition to being influenced by all that surrounds her, Paula says 'I love to observe women, see what they wear, and understand their taste in order to offer them a unique product.'

Left: Tatiana Shoulder Bag, price upon request; paulacademartori.com. Right: Carine Crossbody Bag, price upon request; paulacademartori.com

She finds the US market to be a good motivator. 'It rules the trends and style system and is constantly renewed,' says Paula. 'It's hard to keep up with the pace but at the same time, it is a challenge.'

'What I love about fashion today is that it's constantly changing; it's a mix of different trends that take inspiration not only from the time we are living in but also from the past, making them contemporary and original.'

While her collections change each season, they always have the same characteristics: 'contemporary, colorful, sophisticated, refined and cosmopolitan.'

Left and right: Dun Dun bag, price upon request; paulacademartori.com.

CLOTHING DESIGNER: CHRISTINA ECONOMOU



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Fashion designer Christina Economou (pictured right) was born and raised in Greece.

She attended Parsons School of Design in Paris, France, and Instituto Marandoni in London, England.

After working for Vogue Hellas in Paris and Giambattista Valli, she returned to Athens to launch her namesake ready-to-wear collection in 2013.

Her entire collection is produced in Greece.

'Greece is very much a part of my inspiration,' says Christina. 'I spent time exploring the busy alleys in the historical center of Athens looking for amazing vintage pieces in various flea markets.

I also spent a lot of my childhood vacationing in the Greek Islands of Amorogos, Spetses, the islands of the Ionian Sea and many more. I loved the contrast of the picturesque white village and the vivid colors of light summer clothing.'

When comparing the US market to the rest of the world, Christina reveals that American women are more experimental in their everyday attire.

'In the US, a woman's style is a bit more laid back with a bigger emphasis on daywear,' she says.

'I love how free fashion is right now. It's become less about what is on trend and more about mixing it up and finding your own personal style. The women I design for are confident in their skin - they want to feel good all the time, not just for special occasions.'

Left: Cut Out Crop Top, $156; christina-economou.com. Right: Open Back Top, $250; christina-economou.com

Left: Denim Straightleg Pants, $208; christina-economou.com. Right: Camo Straightleg Pants, $389; christina-economou.com

Left: Joanna Dress, $710; christina-economou.com. Right: Velour Slip Dress, $428; christina-economou.com

'For fall/winter the idea was to play with contradiction. Classic silhouettes paired with luxe, unexpected fabrics, traditional pieces with futuristic prints, substantial mixed with lightweight.

I wanted the collection to create balance between the past and the future by utilizing traditional fabrics such as brocade and velvet in combination with clean, minimal and angular silhouettes.'

Christina has four people working for her in-house and as the designer, she conceptualizes everything and works with the print maker.

'Fashion is about transformation. I love the idea that you can become someone else depending on what you are wearing, and I make clothing for women who don't like to put boundaries on themselves or their personal expression.'

SHOE DESIGNER: NAJEEBA HAYAT



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When it comes to shoe design, Najeeba Hayat (pictured right) was born with it!

'I've been sketching shoes obsessively since I was very young, it was my doodle of choice,' she says.

She launched her fanciful brand Liudmila in 2014.

Though Najeeba is from Kuwait, her design aesthetic is not influenced by her culture, but rather her 'highly escapist bookworm childhood sense of wonder.'

Left: Chee Kee, price upon request; liudmilafootwear.com. Right: Juba Short, price upon request; liudmilafootwear.com

Even the label's name, Liudmila, was taken from a dramatic character from Russian literature - Liudmila Rutilova, one of the sisters in Fyodor Sologub's The Pretty Demon.

'I am obsessed with Dickens and the skin-tight buckled, lace-up, heavily ornamented footwear I imagined his characters to be wearing,' says Najeeba.

Her fantastical collection  which as she describes is Victorian with a cartoon twist is fit for a princess. Embellished with feathers, gold braided straps and brocade fabrics, walking in a pair of her shoes is like living in a fairy tale.

Left: Primary, price upon request; liudmilafootwear.com. Right: Nyonya, price upon request; liudmilafootwear.com
With the continuous growth of social media and photo sharing platforms, 2016 has been one of the most incredible years for photography yet.

Whether it's professional snaps or stunning amateur shots, people have been exposed to millions of beautiful, inspiring, heartwarming and heartbreaking snaps over the past 12 months.

Among the most moving were those captured of parents and their children - whether it was intense birthing photos, intimate moments between mothers and their babies or heart wrenching final goodbyes.

Here, FEMAIL looks back at some of the most memorable parenting photographs of 2016.

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In November, American mother Lauren Vinje warmed hearts around the world when she shared a photograph of her premature baby girl smiling shortly after being born

In November, American mother Lauren Vinje warmed hearts around the world when she shared a photograph of her premature baby girl smiling shortly after being born.

'Our first daughter at five days old. 3 lbs 14 oz (1.7 kg), she was happy to be alive!' Ms Vinje wrote next to the heartwarming snap, which ended up being shared more than 500,000 times online.

'This picture was one I looked at often to get me through the ups and downs of our NICU days. Life is so precious.'

At just 1.7 kilograms, the little girl was well below the average weight of a newborn, which ranges between 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lbs) and five kilograms (11 lbs).

Jordan Blair's mother captured the moment he was able to hear for the very first time after being fitted with hearing aids

Despite this, the tiny girl was all smiles and was more than happy to flash a gummy grin for the camera.

And who could forget little Jordan Blair, whose mother captured the moment he was able to hear for the very first time after being fitted with hearing aids.

Jordan's mother Taryn Blair, from Perth, was brought to tears when she saw her then three-month-old son burst into laughter and start grinning when he heard her voice.

'I was crying, I wasn't sure what to expect going in because we still don't know the severity of the hearing loss,' Ms Blair told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Mother-of-two Kim Guiley, from California, also made headlines when she shared the captured the moment she found out her baby was a boy and not the little girl she thought she was having

'So when we saw his reaction and saw him laughing at the rattle we were just so happy.

Mother-of-two Kim Guiley, from California, also made headlines in November when she shared the captured the moment she found out her newborn baby was in fact a boy and not the little girl she was convinced she was having.

Captured by Ms Guiley's birth photographer, Susannah Gill Photographic Storytelling, the photo perfectly captures Ms Guiley's mixed emotions.

'After a lifetime of dreaming about one of each, but months of feeling so strongly that we were having another girl, this is the moment we discovered Theo's sex!!,' she wrote on Facebook.

Ms Guiley described the moment 'a minute or two after giving birth' where she 'opened the baby's legs to discover that we had welcomed a baby boy!

The Green For Premmies day saw parents post photos of their children who were born premature, including little Alyssa (pictured) who was born at 26 weeks and pictured later at 10 months

This little boy was born weighing just one kilogram, but is all smiles at 11 months

Another baby girl, Isabelle, was photographed holding a photo of herself when she was born at 28 weeks

'I was overcome with shock and joy, as you can see!,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Heartwarming before-and-after photos of premature babies have also filled news feeds throughout 2016.

Li'l Aussie Prems Foundation held an event in April titled Wearing Green For Premmies, where proud parents shared photos of their healthy children to show just how far they had come.

The Green For Premmies day saw parents post photos of their children who were born premature, including little Alyssa who was born at 26 weeks and photographed at 10 months old and a little boy who was born weighing just one kilo.

In April, Kelli Bannister , a 30-year-old photographer and blogger from Perth, Western Australia, shared a raw photo of herself cradling her sick little girl in the shower - and the photo was taken by her five-year-old son by chance

Another baby girl, Isabelle, was photographed holding a photo of herself when she was born at 28 weeks.

In April, Kelli Bannister, a 30-year-old photographer and blogger from Perth, Western Australia, shared a raw photo of herself cradling her sick little girl in the shower.

But what makes the candid photo even more incredible, is that it was taken by her five-year-old son on a mobile phone.

'She snuggled right into me and after a few minutes was calm and that's where we stayed for at least 15 minutes before my eldest son Taj came in with my phone to tell me I had received a message,' Ms Bannister told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

In February, Haddas Ancliffe, a 22-year-old mother from the Gold Coast, Queensland, won praise after sharing a snap of herself breastfeeding her baby at a wedding

Taj, five, then pressed the camera icon on the phone and took a few photos of his mother and sister snuggled into each other before he put the phone down on the bathroom sink and ran off to finish watching his movie.

'Not until I got Summer to sleep (laying on me on the couch), did I remember that Taj had taken some photos,' Mrs Bannister said.

'When I saw this particular image I was actually quite taken aback at how real and raw it was... a moment of pure exhaustion but an incredible bond of unconditional love between a mother and child.'

In February, Haddas Ancliffe, a 22-year-old mother from the Gold Coast, Queensland, won praise after sharing a snap of herself breastfeeding her baby at a wedding.

'Just me and my baby having a drink (Gotta do what you gotta do, wedding or not),' the stylish blogger, who goes by the name Dahsi, wrote.

For spreading Christmas magic far and wide, little Ethan Giampapa from Pennsylvania also makes the list

Ahead of his first ever Christmas, the little boy was photographed meeting Santa for the first time

The photo showed the glamorous mother breastfeeding Jonah while dressed up for the wedding and sipping on her own glass of water at the same time.

Mrs Ancliffe defended her post from any negative comments and asked: 'How can people not been ok with this but ok with a girl in a skimpy thong bikini or less?'

For spreading Christmas magic far and wide, little Ethan Giampapa from Pennsylvania also makes the list.

Ahead of his first ever Christmas, the little boy was photographed meeting Santa for the first time.

The awe is clear in the little boy's eyes as he stares wide eyed at Santa while dressed as a baby elf - before a second picture shows him bursting into laughter and giggling at the sight before him.

The First Hello Project by Sydney mothers Bel Pangburn and River Bennett explored human emotion at its deepest level as they shared photos of parents meeting their babies for the first time

'The first Christmas pictures came out better than expected. The magic in his eyes melts my heart,' his mother, Nicole Giampapa, told Daily Mail Australia on December 1st.

Mrs Giampapa's photo, which was taken by, Portraits by S&S, was then posted on the Facebook group, Love What Matters, and immediately captured the hearts of thousands.

'We're glad he's making people happy and putting everyone in the Christmas spirit but it's a bit bizarre seeing our baby pop up on some websites we didn't even know existed!' Mrs Giampapa said.

The First Hello Project by Sydney mothers Bel Pangburn and River Bennett explored human emotion at its deepest level as they shared photos of parents meeting their babies for the first time.

'There is nothing staged or posed just raw human emotion and capturing that is what we are most passionate about,' they said

'There is nothing staged or posed just raw human emotion and capturing that is what we are most passionate about. We always feel so honoured to be part of that moment in time,' they told Daily Mail Australia in June.

'There is nothing quite like seeing a baby being born. It never leaves you.'

Their powerful and emotional images are shared through Instagram, and in doing so they hope to celebrate life.

Although many photographs warmed hearts and spread joy, other photos highlighted some of the most bittersweet and heart wrenching moments parents have faced this year.

In late November, Johanna Morton, a mother from New York, captured the moment her baby girl Clara Ray saw snow fall for the first time, despite doctors saying she wouldn't be born alive due to severe heart conditions.

In late November, Johanna Morton, a mother from New York, captured the moment her baby girl Clara Ray saw snow fall for the first time, despite doctors saying she wouldn't be born alive due to severe heart conditions

'This is her seeing her first snow fall. She absolutely loved it. I can't explain the emotions we felt, as we watched that smile come across her face,' Ms Morton said

'This is her seeing her first snow fall. She absolutely loved it. I can't explain the emotions we felt, as we watched that smile come across her face,' Ms Morton said.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the time, Ms Morton said when she watched Clara Ray's reaction to the snow, her emotions were 'crazy.'

'The whole pregnancy and even now, I sing that song "All I want for Christmas is you" and I will always sing that song to her. I prayed to God for a Christmas miracle, and I got one!'

Now six-months-old, Clara Ray is still touching hearts with her contagious smile and her mother Ms Morton shares health and life updates on her Facebook page, Prayers for Clara Ray.

In January, Australian photographer James Day had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Nancy and Charlie McLean.

Nancy and Charlie McLean were photographed as they spent their last precious moments with their newborn son Edison, who was dying

But Mr Day never expected to be back with the couple just two months later, photographing them as they tragically said goodbye to their dying seven-day-old baby boy Edison.

'I received a call to say that Nancy and Charlies baby boy, Edison, wasnt doing so well and they asked if I could make the drive up to Royal Randwick Womens Hospital as they were going to have to say goodbye,' he said.

'I got up there as quickly as I could and documented some of the family coming to visit. I started simply taking still images, but quickly realised that Id need to quickly work out how to film (video) the moments that were unfolding in front of me.

'The words that people were saying were just too powerful not to be recorded in some way.'

Mr Day then spent the day capturing each precious moment the McLeans spent with their newborn son Edison - each photo and piece of footage highlighting the immense love they and their family had for the beautiful little boy.

Edison, the couple's first born son, was diagnosed with an extremely rare metabolic condition called non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia on the third day of his life

Edison, the couple's first born son, was diagnosed with an extremely rare metabolic condition called non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia on the third day of his life.

The couple said that while it's 'hard to find the positives in losing your child, Edison has taught us a beautiful lesson we need to share.'

'Cherish every moment you have with your loved ones. Love them like this is the last moment you will ever have with them. Never wait.'

In December, a mother from Queensland also shared the heartbreaking story of losing her baby, Evelyn Rose Ryan, just four short hours after giving birth.

Mel Ryan, from the Sunshine Coast, posted about the moment she greeted and said goodbye to her beautiful baby girl, and shared an incredibly moving photograph of their first and last hours together before little Evelyn died from TAPVR, a fatal heart condition.

In December, a mother from Queensland also shared the heartbreaking story of losing her baby, Evelyn Rose Ryan, just four short hours after giving birth (pictured during their last moments together)

'Weighing just two kilograms and measuring just 42 centimetres tall, she said: 'Our little girl gave us four short hours with her, she was struggling but she squeezed our fingers and looked at us the whole time,' Ms Ryan wrote.

'She was then placed on my chest as I admired everything about her. I wanted to remember every detail, her smell, her fingers, her nose. She looked so much like her older sister, but with hair.

'I never thought I could love someone as much as I did in that moment and I wanted to feel the weight of her on my chest for forever,' Ms Ryan said.
A seemingly simple video of a rotating mask has left the internet in a spin.

The clip, which shows a white mask turning in mid-air, challenges the viewer's power of perception as the hollow side appears to turn inside out.

But this is nothing more than a clever optical illusion that causes our brain to process it as protruding face - whichever side we are looking at.

This clip of a rotating mask has left the internet in a spin as it plays with viewers' power of perception by making the reverse, hollow side look appear to be convex

So why does this happen? According to educational website eChalk, who shared the clip, our brain cannot help seeing it in this way.

'We know from experience that faces are convex so our brain processes the image in a way that makes sense to us and matches our expectations,' they explained.

'This tendency is so strong that it is able to override the 3D depth information provided by our stereoscopic vision.'

According to the site, even when we are aware that we are looking at the concave, reverse side of the mask we cannot stop ourselves from perceiving it as convex.

'If you are looking at the concave, reverse side of a real hollow mask from some distance, the depth information about the mask is relatively weak (ie. the depth of the mask compared to your distance from the mask is a small ratio).

The white mask rotates in mid-air before appearing to turn convex. According to educational website eChalk , who shared the clip, our brain cannot help seeing the face this way

The face is still protruding as it turns. We know from experience that faces are convex, so our brain processes the image in a way that makes sense to us - and matches our expectations

As the mask rotates, the face appears to turn inside out; even when we knowwe are looking at reverse side of the mask, we cannot stop ourselves from perceiving it as convex

'However as you move toward the mask this ratio gets larger and so the 3D depth information gets stronger.

'There will come a point when you are so close to the mask that the depth information becomes too strong to ignore, and at this point you will then see the image for what it is; a concave mask.'

It is just the latest optical illusion to leave the internet scratching their heads after a clip of a dancer spinning went viral earlier this week.

The dancer video plays with the brain's visual perception - some see her spinning clockwise, counterclockwise or even switching between the two.

An optical illusion featuring the silhouette of a dancer doing a pirouette is playing tricks on our visual perception - some see her spinning clockwise, counterclockwise or switching between the two - and for years it used to test IQ and which side of the brain was more dominate

For years, the rotating figure was used to test intelligence and determine which side of the brain was more dominate.

Now, experts say it isn't about brain hemispheres, but most will see the dancer rotate clockwise because we tend to have a viewpoint from above and an attentional bias towards the right side of the body.

SPINNING DANCER The optical illusion was created by the Japanese Flash designer Nobuyuki Kayahara in 2003 and for many years, was used to determine whether people are right-brain (creative) or left-brain (logical) dominant. However, recent studies reveal that it does not deal with areas of the brain, but our perspective. Most people see her spinning clockwise because we tend to choose a viewpoint from above rather than below. Another reason for our clockwise bias is an attentional bias that leans towards the right side of the body. There is also a trick to see her switch between directions. 'Cover up everything but her foot touching the ground,' said Arthur Shapiro, a computer science professor at American University. Stay focused on the foot and the shadow beneath her as she spins. 'Now imagine you are physically moving up or down in space.' When you imagine yourself below the dancer she should spin counterclockwise and clockwise if you envision yourself above her. Advertisement

The optical illusion was created by the Japanese Flash designer Nobuyuki Kayahara in 2003 and for many years, was used to determine whether people are right-brain (creative) or left-brain (logical) dominant.

And apparently, people with high IQs can see the figure spinning in both directions.

Paul Spencer with Tonic contacted Arthur Shapiro and Niko Troje, a pair of scientists who dissect Kayahara's spinning girl in the forthcoming Oxford Compendium of Visual Illusions, to understand the truth behind this theory.

'That's just gibberish,' Shapiro, a computer science professor at American University in Washington D.C. and creator of the color wagon wheel illusion, told Spencer.

He explains that there is are much more complex reasons behind why we see her spinning in different directions.

The duo explains that this ballerina is deemed a reversible image in the class of optical illusions, meaning, even though she spins, she displays 'similarities to other static illusions'  like the Necker cube.

Just like the spinning dancer, the Necker cube can be viewed in two ways: either the lower right panel is in the front or people see it placed in the back.

Reversible images like the cube and dancer change at a moment's notice because they can be viewed in more than one way, explained Troje, director for BioMotion Lab at Queens University.

And the reason for the uncertainty is because these kinds of optical illusions do not reveal any clues about the image's depth to help us make sense of it.

When images aren't clear, your brain takes the initiative to fill in the gaps where information is missing.

Experts reveal that it isn't about brain hemispheres, but most will see the dancer spin clockwise because we tend to choose point of view from above and have an attentional bias towards the right side of the body

However, a second video adds small white contour lines in certain areas of the dancer's body, which allows our brain to 'solve the illusion faster', said Shapiro.

This is because your brain is able to gather more information from what is being presented.

Shapiro also reveals that you don't have to be a genius to see the dancer switch directins.

'Cover up everything but her foot touching the ground,' he said.

Stay focused on the foot and the shadow beneath her as she spins.

A second video adds small white contour lines in certain areas of the dancer's body, which allows our brain to 'solve the illusion faster', said Shapiro. This is because your brain is able to gather more information from what is being presented

The dancer is reversible image in the class of optical illusions, meaning, even though she spins, she displays 'similarities to other static illusions' like the Necker cube (pictured), which can be viewed in two ways: the lower right panel is in the front or it placed in the back

'Now imagine you are physically moving up or down in space.'

'If you want her to switch directions, look at her as if you're filming her from below.

'Now pretend to be filming her from above.'

When you imagine yourself below the dancer she should spin counterclockwise and clockwise if you envision yourself above her.

A 2010 study reveals that most people will see the figure spin around clockwise, as we tend to choose a viewpoint from above rather than below, reports BrainDecoder.

SOLVE THE 'IMPOSSIBLE ROOF' Kokichi Sugihara is famous for building 3D optical illusions that make viewers question the laws of nature, but are then blown away once the structure's true form is revealed. However, even after the hoax is revealed, viewers still see the same illusion after the structure is back in its mystical position. After studying different shapes, Sugihara realized that our brain will choose the most rectangular configuration when it attempts to decipher features that have different interpretations, reports New Scientists. He says our brains tend to interpret objects as symmetrical and it is just complete reality that facilitates the deception. The reason our brains are easily fooled is because images do not share its depth, which leaves our brains to fill in the missing pieces. Advertisement

And a study from 2015 says that the viewing-from-above factor is only the tip of the iceberg.

The paper suggests another reason for our clockwise bias, which is an attentional bias - humans tend to lean towards the right side of the body, researchers explain.

And Shapiro and Troje tell Tonic that the reason most people see the dancer spinning clockwise also has to do with the area of our brain that deals with fear, rage and panic  the subcortical system.

Most things that can harm us are more likely to sit on the ground, such as snakes and spiders, explained Troje.
Presenter asked if ban on taking photos at nativity plays is appropriate

Watching a child make their acting debut in the nativity play is a proud moment for parents, but more than two thirds have been banned from capturing the special memory on camera, according to research.

Now parents are hitting back at the draconian measure, implemented over fears that the images could fall into the hands of paedophiles if posted on social media.

Eamonn Holmes - a father of four - ignited a fierce debate onTwitter this week when he asked his 928,000 followers if parents should be allowed to capture their children in the nativity play or if it just 'provides material for perverts'.

Research by Families Online has found that 70 per cent of parents are against a ban, and as responses to the TV presenter's tweet flooded in, many did indeed appear to be furious about it.

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes ignited a debate on Twitter earlier this week about whether it's right to ban parents taking photos of children in the school nativity play

Joining the conversation @jillysargent wrote: 'Yes of course they should. Children are fully dressed. No problem.'

Mandypool1 added that it was a 'sad thing' to even be debating the issue.

Truffles6400 shared similar sentiments, insisting that parents should be able to take photographs of their children to treasure in the future.

'We wanted memories of our children and its so lovely to look back at them now as they are all grown up,' she said.

However, another camp highlighted the risk of photos falling into the wrong hands, especially after being posted on sites such as Facebook.

JSHKT20 explained: 'The problem in publishing is that you simply don't know if any child pictured needs to be protected or is "at risk".'

According to new research, more than 60 per cent of parents have been banned from taking photos of their children at nativity plays (picture posed by models)

And BC7280 pointed out that the issue is not merely 'just about "perverts" viewing the pictures.

'It is also about children under child protection and keeping them safe,' she explained.

Marietyrrell also pointed out that some children may be under protection orders, and that exposing them on social media can put the youngsters and their guardians at risk.

Eamonn Holmes, a father to three sons and a daughter, ignited a fierce debate on Twitter this week when he asked his 928,000 followers if parents should be allowed to capture their children in the nativity play or if it just 'provides material for perverts'

Adoption UK's chief executive Hugh Thornbery CBE has previously highlighted the issues around photographing children that might not immediately be apparent.

He told The Telegraph: 'Many parents will no doubt view the ban on photographs being taken at their children's nativity play as a draconian step.

'But by not taking this action, schools risk failing to understand the needs of some adoptive parents who have to protect their children from the risk that some birth parents continue to pose to their children.'

Wrapping up the debate, one disillusioned commenter concluded: 'It's a dreadful reflection of the times that people are so on edge about this.'

The Information Commissioners Office states photographs taken by parents at nativity plays do not breach the Data Protection Act so long as they are only for personal use

In some cases, there's no ban on photography but prohibited photos from being posted to social media.

In the FamiliesOnline survey, 70 per cent of parents polled said they didnt agree it was right to ban photos during special one-off nativity performances.

The Information Commissioners Office states photographs taken by parents at nativity plays do not breach the Data Protection Act so long as they are only for personal use.

In line with the recent research conducted by FamiliesOnline, many parents appeared furious about the photo ban

However, digital video and images shared on Facebook, Youtube and other social networking sites, need the consent from the parents of children in the photos.

In a bid to cut down on paperwork, it now appears that it's easier for schools to ban photography all together.

The NSPCC recommends that schools should develop a photography policy to safeguard students.
Filipino-American television presenter Megan Young was left red-faced after a low-cut dress she wore to present Miss World was heavily censored by a Thai television company.

Viewers in the Far Eastern country tuning into the Miss World beauty contest, filmed in Washington last Friday, saw host Young, 26, with a clearly blurred-out cleavage, after prudish television executives deemed her plunging neckline too shocking to be aired.

The decision by Channel 3 meant glamorous brunette Young, herself a former winner of the competition, bizarrely appeared with the pixelated area around her chest for the entire duration of the show.

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Indecent? Thai television broadcaster Channel 3 censored Miss World co-host Megan Young's plunging red carpet look

As Megan Young actually looked: the stunning former Miss World contestant turned host's plunging cleavage was deemed to indecent for Thai eyes

The controversial and highly glamorous event saw co-host Young, who claimed the title in 2013, wearing a close-fitting silver diamante dress with spaghetti straps by Filipino designer Jot Losa.

The sparkly frock clearly showed off the US-born model's curvaceous physique with her shoulders, decolletage and top of her breasts exposed.

The red carpet look left Thai producers airing the beauty pageant unsure where to look and, fearing their viewers might feel the same, they employed the censoring tool.

Whenever Young breezed into view, her chest area was entirely blurry to viewers.

Posting on Instagram about her dress, Young said the gown 'was a little more sexy than I would usually wear.

She added: 'I promised @adrianneconcept I would not object this time around. This wonderful @jotlosa gown shone on stage. Perfect for the opening number where all the ladies were wearing red, blue and white.'

A little more sexy...and too sexy for Channel 3: Megan Young posted an image of herself in the frock, with an explanation of how she was persuaded to wear it by her stylist

Young, who was born in the US, after winning the title herself in 2013

No pixelation required: Thailand TV executives didn't censor winner Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle despite her also wearing a plunging gown

The competition took place in Washington but is broadcast around the world and enjoyed a huge following in Thailand thanks to the last-20 appearance of local beauty Jinnita Dai Buddee.

The sight of a pixelated Young prompted calls of hypocrisy from some on social media, with many suggesting that Thailand's sex industry is well documented and often very visible in the country's streets.

When it comes to television though, Thailand has long been known for its strict approach to displaying too much flesh.
A man sitting alone in a Brooklyn cafe this weekend was treated to a romantic show with his cup of coffee.

Jerry Clayton said he was the sole customer sitting in the coffee shop on Saturday when the love story unfolded, and it was so gripping that he live-tweeted it for his followers.

'I'm the only one in this cafe and the girl employee just told the guy employee she has a crush on him, will update,' he wrote urgently on Saturday evening.

A large cup of love, extra whip! A Brooklyn man named Jerry live-tweeted a love story he witnessed in a cafe this weekend

Jerry was very quickly invested in the outcome of this relationship  as were the over 16,000 people who have since liked the first tweet in the series.

'He asked how long and she said six months,' he went on. 'GIRL MAKE YOUR MOVE.

'He said he needs to go to the back and think about what to say,' he went on. 'She's just stewing and I want more coffee but I dunno I feel for her.'

Apparently he didn't feel too bad, though, since he did ask for his refill while the male employee was still 'nowhere to be found'.

That's popular: Over 6,000 people have liked the first in a series of tweets

Finally, things picked up, with the two employees seemingly blissfully unaware that they had an audience.

'HE JUST CAME FROM THE BACK AND KISSED HER HOLY S***,' he wrote in all caps before adding that they male employee said: 'I didn't want to admit it to myself but I've always had a thing for you.'

Then they seemed to notice Jerry, and he tweeted his inclusion in their epic love tale: 'They just asked me if it was okay if they left for a few minutes OF COURSE ITS OKAY.'

Four minutes later, he added: 'They just came back holding hands and smiling, this is so beautiful. They keep telling each other how happy they are in between sips of cappuccino and I'm still in disbelief.

'They just kissed again but tried to do it discreetly so I wouldn't see these two are perfect.'

Jerry was even treated to a free muffin by the love-struck female barista before he left for the night..
However, the Prince appeared to leave the shop

Shoppers were out in mass panic buying for Christmas today and it appears that Prince Harry also nipped out for a mad dash.

The 32-year-old was spotted leaving the Opium shop in Chelsea, London, an Indian homewares shop selling antiques, colonial furniture, jewellery and crafts, which specialises in 'the art of bohemian living'.

He may have been looking for a last minute gift for his actress girlfriend Meghan Markle, 35, with offerings at the shop including delicate jewellery and women's kaftans.

Festive outing: Shoppers were out in mass panic buying for Christmas today and it appears that Prince Harry also nipped out for a mad dash

It turns out that Meghan is planning a trio to India in January to launch a girls programme she's been working on as part of her role as an ambassador for World Vision.

However, it appears that nothing took the Prince's fancy, as he left the shop empty-handed.

Currently Harry is preparing to celebrate Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham.

The festivities are for close family only, but although Meghan was not invited the Queen is said to be 'fully supportive' of her grandson's relationship with the actress.

He may have been looking for a last minute gift for his actress girlfriend Meghan Markle, 35, with offerings at the shop including delicate jewellery and women's kaftans

The Prince, who has been dating Miss Markle for several months, is said to have received the royal seal of approval from his grandmother.

Speaking to US magazine a source claimed to be a 'Buckingham Palace insider' said that Her Majesty is 'fully supportive' of Harry's romance.

They added: 'Shes delighted to see Harry in a loving relationship'. MailOnline has contacted the palace for a comment.

Harry and Meghan packed plenty of festive activities into their London break recently - going shopping together for a Christmas tree and attending The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time at a West End theatre.

However, royal duty beckoned for Harry this week, and Meghan jetted back to Toronto where she is based to spend the festive season apart from her boyfriend.

Only close family and occasionally friends join the senior royals at Sandringham.

It appears that nothing took the Prince's fancy, as he left the shop empty-handed

And it's thought to be too soon in Harry's romance with the Suits actress for her to be invited by the Queen.

However, Harry made sure to drop her off at Heathrow airport personally on Sunday morning.
A month after The Missing came to its dramatic conclusion there are still major secrets to be unearthed about the drama that left viewers utterly confused, yet enthralled, week after week.

According to the writers of the BBC thriller, brothers Harry and Jack Williams, the biggest twist of the entire series - that Alice Webster wasn't who she said she was - nearly didn't happen.

Jack Williams explained to Digital Spy that the brothers feared it was too 'complicated', saying: 'In episode one, we knew it was a person that came back. And then Harry just said, "What if it's not even her?" and I thought, "S***  that's cool... but does that make any sense?".

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Julien Baptiste, played by Tcheky Karyo (right), had to persuade everyone around him about the real identity of Alice Webster

After being rescued by Baptiste and Alice's parent Sam and Gemma Webster, Sophie runs to the cliff edge to jump off

In a scene that was cut from the final episode Baptiste witnesses her jumping to her death but it was set to be an hallucination from the former detective who was still suffering symptoms of his brain tumour

When 'Alice Webster', played by Abigail Hardingham, reappeared in the opening episode, her onscreen parents Gemma and Sam Webster, played by Keeley Hawes and David Morrissey, and her brother, were led to believe she was really their daughter.

It was only former detective Julien Baptiste, played by Tcheky Karyo, that figured out who she really was - another missing girl Sophie Giroux, and then tried to convince everyone around him of the truth.

'At first, we thought it was too complicated  many times we almost went, "Oh, it doesn't work!",' Jack said.

'But actually the more we talked about it, the more we realised that it gave rise to a very twisty-turny complex story all by itself, and that really worked to justify the moment.'

Adam Getterick, played by Derek Riddell, was unveiled in episode five, but the writers admitted they were unsure where to go next

Abigail Hardingham played fake Alice Webster and the real Sophie Giroux, but Harry and Jack Williams nearly didn't include the identity change at all

Viewers were shocked when 'fake' Alice, who was believed to have died in a fire in the Websters' garden shed, was revealed to be alive at the end of episode four.

It later emerged that the real Alice Webster was still alive at the end of episode seven.

The writers also admitted that after the girls' kidnapper - press officer Adam Getterick (Derek Riddell) - was revealed in episode five, they were worried about the rest of the series being an anti climax.

Moments after he was unmasked as the kidnapper, he murdered German police officer Jorn Lenhart with a drill, worried his secret was about to be discovered in a brutal and shocking scene.

David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes played Sam and Gemma Webster in The Missing, with David's character dying at the end

'We didn't know what we were going to do next, we had absolutely no idea,' Jack confessed.

But despite their initial reservations, they decided it was the right time for Adam's identity to be revealed, explaining: 'We just thought that would be exciting, rather than hold it off and tread water for two episodes.'

The series hurtled to a final climax, with most of the important mysteries unveiled - from Sophie's daughter with Adam, the murder of a young girl in Iraq that started Adam's descent into evil, and the link between Brigadier Stone and Henry Reid.

The writers, however, explained there were two scenes in the last episode that didn't make it in.

The Missing writers, brothers Harry and Jack Williams, at the closing ceremony of the 55th Monte-Carlo Television Festival in June 2015

They thought about putting a funeral scene for an unknown character at the start of the last episode to tease viewers with the death of one of their beloved stars.

However, the scene didn't make the cut but at the end of the episode there was a funeral for David Morrissey's character who was shot and killed in a dramatic stand-off with Getterick.

Another major sequence that was left on the cutting room floor was Sophie Giroux falling to her death after jumping from the cliff in her final scene with Baptiste.

The scene saw Baptiste witness her jump, but the writers had planned that it would be a hallucination by the former detective - who was still suffering with symptoms from his brain tumour.

The fate of Julien Baptiste is the only story line left unknown, he went in for brain surgery and was seen counting down before falling asleep - whether he wakes up will be kept under wraps until series three

The real Alice Webster was alive the entire series, but viewers only found out in a tense cliffhanger in episode seven

In the end they agreed they wanted to play it straight for viewers after a tumultuous eight weeks.

In the final episode that appeared on screens, viewers were left in the dark for nearly ten minutes about whether Sophie jumped from the cliff or not.

However, the Williams brothers couldn't resist one last cliffhanger, leaving viewers in the dark as to whether the much-loved Baptiste made it through brain surgery.

It is not yet clear whether there will be a third series of The Missing, despite its enormous popularity.

Jack told Digital Spy that there may not be another series unless they can come up with a storyline they are completely happy with.
Experimental artists can work with some strange mediums, but one Canadian woman's earning some buzz thanks to her particularly creative work.

Aganetha Dyck, a sculpture artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, uses beehives in her work, transforming old, broken objects she finds at secondhand markets with the waxy honeycombs.

In fact, the bees themselves are her collaborators, as she sets the scene before letting them get to work on 'mending' the broken objects with more beeswax.

Genius! Aganetha Dyck creates artwork using bees and beehives

Expert: The Manitoba-based sculpture artist has 20 years of experience

Objects: She finds old, broken items like sports equipment at secondhand stores

Methods: She then places them inside beehives and uses special materials to attract the bees to certain places

Aganetha has worked with beekeepers, scientists, and bees themselves for over 20 years and has a real understanding of the insect.

For her art, she scopes out secondhand markets for old, broken pieces. She then places them inside already-constructed beehives, adding special materials to attract the pieces to certain holes and crevices.

With patience, she allows them to get to work, filling in the cracks with more honeycomb figures.

Video courtesy of Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Teamwork: She works patiently with the bees, who create more beeswax honeycomb

The bees cover the objects with honeycomb and fill in some of the cracks and crevices

Natural: Each of the objects has a sort of reclaimed-by-nature look

Unique: She works with pieces of paper as well and lets the bees get to work

Looks cool: She especially likes to use figurines like these

The process gives the pieces she chooses  old figurines, sporting equipment, vintage accessories  a sort of taken-back-by-nature feel.

'Throughout my life Ive had an interest in figurines and collectibles. I wondered about dust and dusting of figurines and of the glass cabinets containing these untouchable treasures. These collectibles were beyond my reach as a child and adult alike,' she told The Creators Project.

'While working with honeybees I discovered their methods of construction and their ability to mend the hive's cracks and crevices with honeycomb, wax and propolis,' she went on. 'I thought of the vast number of damaged figurines in antique shops and second-hand stores. I knew honeybees were masters of mending and decided to give a selection of these now unwanted, damaged, figurines to the honeybees.

Not for wearing: Her work has been acquired by the National Gallery of Canada, Oakville Galleries and Winnipeg Art Gallery among others

A second life: She said her work transforms discarded items back into collectibles

Research: She has studied with beekeepers and scientists to work on her methods

Don't get stung: She added that the bees have routines and shouldn't be disturbed

Of course, each piece takes time, and she certainly can't rush the bees at their work  but she is OK with that

'My patience is due to the honeybees themselves. They have routines; they must not be disturbed any more than necessary and only for a few minutes at a time,' she said.
The first successful vaccine for the deadly Ebola virus has been developed by scientists.

A medical breakthrough has seen almost 6,000 people at risk of Ebola given the drug, with none going on to fall ill 10 days or more after vaccination.

This compared to 23 cases of Ebola in a similar sized group who were not given the vaccine.

An outbreak of Ebola killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa and left British nurse Pauline Cafferkey fighting for her life (pictured, Miss Cafferkey enters a medical isolation tent)

It follows an outbreak of the disease, which killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa and left British nurse Pauline Cafferkey fighting for her life.

The vaccine trial was led by the World Health Organisation, whose assistant director-general for health systems and innovation, Dr Marie-Paule Kieny(CORR), said: While these compelling results come too late for those who lost their lives during West Africas Ebola epidemic, they show that when the next Ebola outbreak hits, we will not be defenceless.

The vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, was trialled in an area of Guinea using a ring vaccination approach, the method used to eradicate smallpox.

When a new Ebola case was diagnosed, the research team traced all people who may have been in contact with that patient in the previous three weeks, and contacts of contacts.

Pictured: A photo of the deadly ebola virus under the microscope

The trial also shows that unvaccinated people in the rings were indirectly protected from Ebola  so-called herd immunity.
A drug that slows the progression of multiple sclerosis has been hailed a landmark by leading doctors.

Early trials have shown that Ocrelizumab slows damage to the brain by altering the immune system.

Doctors from Barts and the London have hailed the results as a significant breakthrough in tackling the disease.

A drug that slows the progression of multiple sclerosis has been hailed a landmark by leading doctors. Stock image

More than 100,000 Britons have multiple sclerosis, or MS, and it usually starts in adults in their twenties and thirties.

The condition occurs when the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the brain and spinal cord.

There is no cure and symptoms gradually worsen causing fatigue, walking difficulties and sight problems.

Although the disease itself is not fatal, sufferers tend to die earlier as they are more prone to complications such as chest infections.

A trial involving 732 patients found those taking Ocrelizumab were more mobile and were less likely to suffer a deterioration.

Only 33 per cent of those on the drug experienced a worsening of symptoms compared to 39 per cent who werent taking.

These patients could also walk 25 ft at a faster pace and had less brain loss detected on scans.

Professor Gavin Giovannoni, from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, who was involved in the trails said: The results shown by these studies have the potential to change how we approach treating both relapsing and primary progressive MS.

Early trials have shown that Ocrelizumab slows damage to the brain by altering the immune system. Stock image

Its very significant because this is the first time a phase three trial has been positive in primary progressive MS. he told the BBC.

The drug is not yet available in the UK as it is still being considered for license by the European Medicines Agency, the regulator.

A decision is expected next year but even if given the green light, it is unlikely to be funded by the NHS.

Doctors fear that NICE, the drugs rationing body, will decide it is too expensive.

Dr Aisling McMahon, the head of clinical trials at the MS Society said: This is really big news for people with the primary progressive form of multiple sclerosis.

The drug, taken as an intravenous drip every six months, has previously been hailed as a game changer after showing promise in earlier trials.
A pill for Alzheimers is on the way thanks to an unlikely source  Brussels sprouts.

Scientists say the festive food contains a nutrient which combats neurological disorders including dementia.

The experts from the universities of Durham and Aberdeen are creating a supercharged version of the acid produced by vitamin A rich vegetables like sprouts, carrots, spinach and tomatoes.

Brussels sprouts: Scientists say the festive food contains a nutrient which combats neurological disorders including dementia

Human trials could begin in the next two years.

In the body vitamin A is turned into retinoic acid, which then interacts with specific receptors and plays a vital role in the human central nervous system.

It is particularly important for the eye and brain as the embryo is developing.

In the adult brain retinoic acid is believed to play a different, more 'focussed' role and there are suggestions it could affect neural disorders, both degenerative and psychiatric.

Professor Peter McCaffery, of the University of Aberdeen, explained: When we eat Brussels sprouts it increases the amount of this acid in the brain.

We are not saying doubling your portion of sprouts over Christmas will stop you getting Alzheimer's. That would be the wrong message.

But they are good for the body, so that means they are good for the brain. The compound we are developing works on exactly the same receptors as the acid from Brussels sprouts.

A pill for Alzheimers is on the way thanks to an unlikely source  Brussels sprouts (file image)

The evidence is it will boost the number of neurons and the connections between them.

His team and experts at the University of Durham and chemical development company High Force Research are now set to begin a 250,000 two year project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

They have designed synthetic versions of retinoic acid that interact with the body's natural receptors in the brain in an even more powerful way than the regular type.

They hope to progress to therapeutics - mainly for Alzheimer's but potentially Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Another unique aspect of the study is the method used to screen the new synthetic compounds, making the process more efficient.

With the cost of drug discovery rising and the time to develop new drugs increasing, this new process is another important factor that contributed to the project being identified for further funding.

There are 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, a figure forecast to rise to more than a million by 2025, and over two million by 2051.

Last month it became Britain's biggest killer, overtaking heart disease as the leading cause of death in England and Wales.
Police in India's commercial capital Mumbai have arrested a gang of six people accused of stealing babies or convincing single women to sell their children in the latest bust in a series of baby trafficking rackets.

A police spokesman said the group, which included five women, sold the infants to childless couples in various states across India.

The arrests followed the rescue of five children - four boys and one girl - aged between four months and one year in the states of Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka, and came less than a month after a similar trafficking racket was busted in West Bengal.

Police in India's commercial capital Mumbai have arrested a gang of six people accused of stealing babies or convincing single women to sell their children (photo for representation only)

Officers are now investigating if the couples that purchased the babies, for between 200,000 to 400,000 rupees ($3k-6k), were aware that the children had been kidnapped or bought from their biological parents.

'The gang was operating for the last two to three years. We are still investigating the number of children they may have kidnapped and sold,' senior police inspector Naresh Kasale told our reporter.

'We suspect more people are involved in the racket.'

The police spokesman said one child has been reunited with its biological parent but the others were at a rescue home.

Local media reported that police were looking into whether the group was linked to cases of kidnapping in hospitals.

A police spokesman said the group, which included five women, sold the infants to childless couples in various states across India (photo for representation only)

Alarming Trend

Kasale said police first uncovered the racket in early December while investigating the case of a missing child in Sathe Nagar slum in Mankhurd, eastern Mumbai.

They found a woman from that slum was also missing and tracked her by her mobile phone to Goa where she was detained.

She told police she had sold the child and gave them details of the racket.

'She had told the couple that it was her own child and that her husband was dead and she wanted to re-marry. We rescued the child and have reunited him with his parents,' Kasale said.

Last month, 13 babies were rescued and the remains of two other infants discovered in a series of raids in the eastern state of West Bengal in what police suspect is an international child trafficking racket.

Eighteen people, including doctors, midwives and the owners of charities and clinics, were arrested, suspected of taking babies from women immediately after they had given birth and telling them their children were stillborn.

The babies found on Monday last week were allegedly taken in biscuit boxes to an adoption centre in Machlandapur (photo for representation only)

Adoption experts said that two gangs busted in quick succession is indicative that baby trafficking is becoming a widespread and organised crime in India.

'This is an alarming trend,' said Sunil Arora, president of Federation of Adoptive Agencies.

Arora said there are laws in place for women to give up their children if they are unable to keep them but single mothers are often unaware of these processes and, fearing social stigma, may hand over children to trafficking gangs.

Reports of human trafficking in India increased by 25 percent in 2015 to about 6,877 compared to the previous year. More than 40 percent of cases involved children being bought, sold and exploited as slaves, according to government data.
Najeeb Jung has resigned as Delhi's Lieutenant Governor with 18 months left of his tenure.

The move has taken many by surprise including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who has repeatedly accused the L-G of flagrantly eating into his authority.

While the reason behind his decision was not immediately known, the former IAS officer and one of the few UPA appointees that survived in the NDA dispensation, said he wants to return to his 'first love, academics'.

The Kejriwal-led AAP has been at loggerheads with Jung since he appointed several senior bureaucrats against the wishes of the CM

In a statement released by his office, Jung thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kejriwal for all the 'help and cooperation' he received during his tenure as the Lt Governor of Delhi.

He also thanked the people of the city 'for all their support and affection, especially during the one year's President Rule in Delhi, when he got much support from them and which in turn helped run the administration in Delhi smoothly and effortlessly'.

The Kejriwal-led AAP was at loggerheads with Jung since he appointed several senior bureaucrats against the wishes of the Chief Minister and overruled many Delhi government picks.

The party accused the L-G of acting as a stooge of Modi in undermining the Delhi government. 'Jung's resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavors,' the CM tweeted.

The unexpected development sparked a flurry of reactions and speculation on social media over whether, for instance, the Centre may elevate Jung to full-fledged governorship and that his successor would be a bigger bane for the AAP government.

The Kejriwal-led AAP was at loggerheads with Jung since he appointed several senior bureaucrats against the wishes of the Chief Minister and overruled many Delhi government picks

Retired bureaucrat and Vivekananda International Foundation member Anil Baijal, former city top cop BS Bassi who had several run-ins with Kejriwal, and Lt Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi who led the BJP's failed election campaign against the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly polls were some of the names that came up in Twitter discussions.

Expecting such a development, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken also warned the central government to not appoint a 'Sanghi' (a person with RSS links) to the position.

The party attacked the BJP and CM Kejriwal in the same breath, alleging a 'secret deal' between the two.

Maken asked Modi to explain Jung's 'unceremonious exit'. 'We need to know what the reason behind the exit of Najeeb Jung is.

'What's the deal between PM Modi and Arvind Kejriwal that has led to this?' said Maken.

'The grand old party will protest if the Centre appoints someone with RSS background as the new Lt Governor of Delhi.' Simi Malhotra, an adviser to the L-G, said, 'Jung's resignation is his own personal decision.
The titanic efforts to shore up Monte dei Paschi di Siena are more symbolic than anything else.

Closing down the world's oldest commercial bank is not seen as an option, despite numerous efforts at private sector rescues  all of which have failed.

The problem for the Italian authorities now is how to shore it up with state funds without robbing tens of thousands of ordinary Italians of their life savings.

Oppressive eurozone and state aid rules mean that bondholders, many of them citizen savers, will be required to fund the mistakes of the bank's managers unless some ingenious safety net can be constructed.

What the crisis at Monte dei Paschi highlights is the ramshackle condition of not just Italian banks, but the whole European banking system.

Doomed? The titanic efforts to shore up the world's oldest commercial bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) are more symbolic than anything else

The failure to address fundamental problems of bad loans and inadequate capital at the time of the onset of the financial crisis in 2008-09 has left behind a terrible financial and economic legacy.

Bloomberg estimates Italian banks would have to increase provisions for potential losses by 46billion to begin the process of cleaning up their balance sheet  much more than the 17billion rescue fund set up by the authorities.

The truth is that the whole Italian financial system is being held up by short-term funds of slightly more than 300billion rolled over by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

The ECB may be keeping the European banking system afloat, but it cannot make the fundamental reforms that would allow banks across the region to start lending again.

In the Anglo-Saxon economies, vibrant wholesale money markets mean the larger firms at least have many choices for raising funds. In much of Europe, the banks are the only source of credit.

So if the Italian banks can't lend, then firms cannot get the capital they need and output slumps. In Italy, among the results is surging youth unemployment, now at an alarming 37 per cent.

The refusal of Europe's leaders to recapitalise their nation's banks in 2008-09  seeing the sub-prime mortgage crisis as an American-created event  has cost them dearly.

Wall Street may still be among the ethical sinners, but the US banks have repaired their balance sheets and are away at the races when it comes to making loans and delivering earnings, building capital and dividends.

Saving the bit of financial heritage that is Monte dei Paschi is a well-meant gesture. But far bigger thinking is required if the great Ponzi scheme of eurozone banking is not to crumble under the burden of bad debts and recycled German funds.

Exotic cast

Donald Trump's attraction to billionaires knows no bounds. In his elevation of veteran activist investor Carl Icahn to his roster of advisers as 'regulations buster', he has picked the wealthiest and most conflicted of them all.

Icahn is known for past corporate raids on the airline TWA and the mighty US Steel, as well as Time Warner and AIG. He has a net worth of 13billion and describes the weight of regulation on companies as 'absurd'.

As a special adviser, Icahn will be working alongside academic economist Peter Navarro, a professor at the University of California at Irvine, best known in the wider world for his work Death by China.

His book accuses Beijing of unfair trading practices, currency manipulation and making dangerous products. These are themes raised by Trump on the campaign trail and on the stump.

Who the leader in trade policy will be is a trifle confusing. Navarro will head a new White House Trade Council, the billionaire investor Wilbur Ross will preside over the monster Commerce Department and Trump is still mulling who will be his special trade representative  the person responsible for making or breaking deals.

Add to this rich mix Gary Cohn, former number two at Goldman Sachs and now chair of the National Economic Council, and we can look forward to an amazing cacophony of voices and egos on the economy and trade.

A bit different from Barack Obama's economic team, which is so pallid you could be forgiven for thinking it doesn't exist.

Fighting back

Itused to be the case that many of the respectable newspapers would employ a Plantations Correspondent.

Stars of the sector include companies such as Singapore's Haw Par which found itself involved in a high-profile insider trading case after it fell under the malignant influence of Slater Walker Securities.

How nice to learn that this much-neglected sector still has a British champion in the shape of 150-year-old MP Evans, based in Tunbridge Wells.

The feisty palm oil firm, with a star-studded share register that includes Aberdeen and JP Morgan, has just seen off an unwanted bid from Malaysian rival KLK.

It ended up offering a whopping 76 per cent premium, but just 13 per cent of investors accepted.
Royal approval: Prince George in a piece of Cath Kidston knitwear

The quintessential British designs of lifestyle brand Cath Kidston are flying off the shelves in Japan and Thailand.

Overseas sales at the label, which launched as a single shop in Holland Park in 1993, jumped 44.3 per cent in the six monthsto September 24.

The firm has shot back into the limelight after Prince George was snapped wearing its soldier-print knitwear in 2014.

The roaring trade is the best start to a financial year Cath Kidstonhas experienced yet, and comes on the back of rapid expansion across Japan  where sales soared 30 per cent.
House arrest: Israel's richest man Beny Steinmetz

Two mining bosses have been arrested in a corruption probe which has embroiled British mining giant Rio Tinto.

Israel's richest man  tycoon Beny Steinmetz  and his associate Asher Avidan have been detained on suspicion of bribing government officials in the west African nation of Guinea.

It is the latest twist in a long-running saga between bitter rivals Rio Tinto and Guernsey-based firm BSG Resources over contracts awarded at an iron ore mine in Guinea.

Steinmetz was put under house arrest in Israel on Monday.

Israeli police also arrested ex-government official Avidan, formerly a top executive at BSG Resources, which was founded by Steinmetz and for which he is now an adviser.

Ironically, BSG had launched a multi-million pound lawsuit against Rio over claims that it had bribed officials.

This followed the sacking of two Rio bosses last month after the firm discovered evidence that 8.4million had been paid to a middle-man at the time mining contracts were being awarded.

BSG claims this back-hander prevented it from winning the mining contract and as a result lose out on millions of pounds in revenue.

The two giants have been battling for years to get their hands on the Simandou mine. It is able to produce up to 7 per cent of the world's iron ore needs for more than a quarter of a century.

The war over mining contracts dates back to 1997, when Rio Tinto was awarded exploration rights for four blocks in Simandou.

Two of those blocks were taken back by the government in 2008, which said Rio was not developing them fast enough. The blocks were assigned to BSG, which later sold 51 per cent to Vale.

But early in 2014, the new Guinean government concluded BSG had got the blocks through corruption  which it denied  and stripped the company of the rights.

The government then signed an agreement with Rio Tinto and its Chinese partner Chinalco to develop the two southern blocks.

The saga took a fresh twist in November, when Rio contacted authorities saying the mining rights might have been won by paying a middle-man.

It had become aware of emails from 2011 that referred to a payment of 8.4million to a consultant advising on the project.

It has since been alleged that the company's lawyers were aware of the correspondence more than one year earlier.

Two executives, Alan Davies and Debra Valentine, were sacked following an internal investigation.

BSG claimed this meant Rio had 'intentionally caused BSG a loss by unlawful means'.

Rio said its lawyers would respond to the 'accusations and claims' adding: 'If BSG ultimately brings a claim, Rio Tinto expects to defend itself robustly.'

Rio is now selling its entire stake in the Simandou project to its partner Chinalco, for up to 1billion.

Referring to the arrests this week, a BSG spokesman said: 'We confirm that Beny Steinmetz, an adviser to BSG, has been detained for questioning in Israel.

'This development is in the aftermath of ongoing and what BSG believes to be obsolete investigations against BSG, which were initiated by the government of Guinea since 2011 to expropriate its assets.
The US Department of Justice has launched legal action against Barclays over the sale of toxic mortgage-backed securities in the lead-up to the financial crisis.

It claims that Barclays misled investors about the quality of tens of thousands of the loans.

The DoJ said investors, which included credit unions, pension plans and university endowments, lost billions of dollars.

Barclays rejects the claims, saying they are 'disconnected from the facts'.

Hot water: Barclays is still paying for the mortgage-backed securities mess which started over ten years ago and which caused the financial crisis

The lawsuit document quoted what it said was an exchange in 2007 between two employees: 'Barclays' strategy throughout was to 'jam things in, you know, bob and weave and hope for the best.'

It claims that the lender falsely assured investors that it had excluded 'unacceptable' loans, and that it had conducted due diligence on the loan pools it had securitised, according to the complaint.

Two former Barclays executives - John T Carroll and Paul Menefee - were named as individual defendants in the lawsuit accused of playing key roles in the alleged fraud.

The DoJ has not specified a sum it is seeking from Barclays for settling the action.

According to reports Barclays is prepared to agree a settlement worth a total of around $2billion-$3billion, including the value of customer redress.

But it is much more likely to be in the region of $5billion, the Financial Times has reported.

Barclays is fighting for a settlement that it feels is proportionate with those incurred by US banks, which it believes inflicted more losses on investors.

According to the FT: 'Barclays has calculated that investors in the residential mortgage-backed securities it issued suffered half the losses of investors in similar products issued by Goldman Sachs and less than a third of those of Citigroup.'

Attorney general Loretta Lynch said in a statement: 'As alleged in this complaint, Barclays jeopardised billions of dollars of wealth through practices that were plainly irresponsible and dishonest.'

A Barclays spokesman said: 'Barclays rejects the claims made in the complaint. Barclays considers that the claims made in the complaint are disconnected from the facts.

'We have an obligation to our shareholders, customers, clients and employees to defend ourselves against unreasonable allegations and demands. Barclays will vigorously defend the complaint and seek its dismissal at the earliest opportunity.'

Global crackdown: The US Department of Justice cracked down heavily on the world's global banks for mis-selling mortgage-backed securities

The news has sent shares in Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered down by 1 per cent, as investors and traders hoping for a quiet session before Christmas this morning received a nasty shock.

Mike van Dulken, head of research, said: 'Those expecting a quiet-run in to the year-end are likely pleasantly surprised this morning after a host of news related to the exciting banking sector.'

Last night it was also revealed Italy's teetering banking system could need almost 50billion to stave off collapse, as its government prepares to rescue the world's oldest lender.

Ministers have already lined up a 17billion bailout package to keep the financial system afloat - but fears are growing this may not be enough.

It comes as Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the country's third-largest bank, prepares for taxpayer support after failing in a last-effort to raise cash from the private sector.

Its shares were suspended this morning as it confirmed a request for state aid from Rome, paving the way for a government recapitalisation that will also force losses on its junior bondholders under new EU bail-in laws.

Teetering: Europe and UK banks have struggled this over fears about Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Italy's financial sector which is crumbling under a mountain of debt

Separately, German lender Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $7.2billion as part of the DoJ's investigation into the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

The figure is considerably lower than the $14billion originally sought.

Credit Suisse has also reached a $5.28billon settlement.

Banks have reached multi-billion dollar settlements with the US government over the sale of securities that were promoted as safe investments in the lead-up to the housing market crash, but were in fact bundles of mortgages from borrowers unlikely to be able to repay their loans.

The first, in November 2013, was JPMorgan Chase, whose $13billion bill reflected huge liabilities assumed through the crisis-era acquisitions of Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns.

Citigroup then paid $7billion to resolve its case in the summer of 2014, followed by Bank of America, which paid a heavy $17billion to settle claims pumped up by the acquisitions of Countrywide and Merrill Lynch.
Pasquale Barbaro's accused killer allegedly agreed to a $500,000 payment to stage a pizza delivery and shoot a fellow gang member.

Abuzar 'Abs' Sultani, a senior member of the Rebels, was arrested late last month by heavily armed police over the execution of Mafioso Pasquale Barbaro, 35, on the streets of inner Sydney.

Fresh details have emerged on another execution Sultani was allegedly planning to execute former Rebels standover man Ricky Ciano, who has since walked away from the club, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

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Abuzar Sultani, a senior member of the Rebels, was arrested late last month by heavily armed police

The Rebels bikie allegedly agreed to a $500,000 payment to kill a fellow gang member in a foiled murder plot

A statement tendered in court claims Sultani would have been paid $500,000 to kill Mr Ciano at his Wamberal home on the Central Coast of NSW in 2015.

However when Sultani appeared at the home Mr Ciano didn't opening the door, and police soon after stopped a van linked to the plot and found weapons inside.

According to the statement, it is alleged highway patrol officers found ballistic vests, ballistic resistant face masks, two sawn-off shot guns, an automatic firearm with a silencer, two revolvers and a balaclava.

Police allege Sultani's DNA was found on a plastic water bottle in the van, which members of Sultani's group allegedly conspired to steal back to reclaim the firearms.

It comes after police executed a raid on an apartment in Concord.

Sultani was last month charged with the murder of Barbaro alongside alleged gang members Siar Munshizada, 28, Joshua Baines, 24, and Mirwais Danishyar, 23.

Police allege they found 13 guns, including an automatic assault rifle, pistols with silencers, three NSW Police shirts, ballistic vests, cable ties and five jerry cans full of petrol.

Barbaro was shot multiple times on an Earlwood Street, in Sydney's south, on November 14.

Police said a stolen Audi A7 pulled up before several gunmen jumped from the vehicle and opened fire on Barbaro, who was uncharacteristically without his bullet proof vest.

The bikie allegedly appeared at Mr Ciano's home in a mock pizza-delivery van containing several firearms

The alleged underworld figure is one of four men charged over the execution of Mafioso Pasquale Barbaro, 35, (pictured) who died late last month
from Weier. They will go to trial in the spring

Anissa Weier, the 15-year-old girl accused of trying to murder a classmate to please the fictional horror character 'Slender Man', appeared in court on Thursday looking almost unrecognizable.

Weier and 14-year-old Morgan Geyser are accused of stabbing classmate Payton Leutner 19 times in a Waukesha, Wisconsin, park in 2014, when they were 12 years old, reportedly to impress the internet horror character.

Weier appeared wearing a pink sweater over a white shirt, with long, immaculate hair, looking like she had just come from a math club - a world away from the rumpled clothes and tousled, greasy hair seen in her earliest court appearances.

She was present as father William Weier attempted to get the testimony she gave to police detectives after the attack thrown out of court, Fox 6 reported.

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Anissa Weier (right), 14, is accused, along with friend Morgan Geyser, of stabbing a classmate 19 times as a sacrifice to horror character Slender Man in 2014, when they were both 12

Weier (left, in arrest mugshot) and Geyser (right) are being tried separately. In court Thursday, Weier's father said an interview performed by police after her arrest should be thrown out

Payton Leutner (pictured) was stabbed, but managed to flee to safety. Weier's dad says his girl, then 12, didn't know what Miranda rights were, or why it mattered that she had waived them

Weier told police that they had attempted to kill Leutner in order to please 'Slender Man', a fictional horror character popular on the internet.

Despite suffering multiple wounds and being left for dead, Leutner managed to crawl through the isolated park to a road, where she was rescued by a passing cyclist.

William Weier told the court that after his daughter was arrested by police in May 2014, both he and his wife were barred from joining her interview.

He said that he wasn't allowed to see his daughter until hours after the then-12-year-old girl - who was investigated as, and is being prosecuted as, an adult - had waived her Miranda rights.

A video played in court shows Waukesha Police Detective Michelle Trussoni telling the girl: 'I'm going to read those rights to you, OK? The main point is I still don't know what happened and I need to know that today.'

During the video, the girl admits she does not know what Miranda rights are.

Weier's lawyers say the girl was too young to understand her right to remain silent and to have an attorney present.

When asked whether he had ever told his daughter about the importance of Miranda rights, William Weier asked: 'Why would any parent discuss with a 12-year-old what Miranda rights mean?'

'Not only Anissa, but all four of my children were taught to trust the police department,' he added.

'If you find yourself in trouble or in danger, find a firefighter, find a police officer. They are there to help you.'

William Weier said he was stopped from attending his daughter's interview until hours after she had finished being questioned, and that she had no idea what her Miranda rights meant

Detective Michelle Trussoni was seen in a video asking Weier if she knew what Miranda rights were. Weier said she did not. She waived the rights after they were read to her

Weier's lawyer said her parents 'tried to go to her and they were prevented from seeing her - and very few parents understand with a child under 18, if law enforcement wants to question them they will.'

Many states forbid police from interviewing juveniles without their parents' presence. Wisconsin does not.

Anthony Jurek, a forensic psychologist, also testified Weier didn't have an adequate understanding of Miranda rights.

He said that based on three interviews from June 2014, she believed that her right to remain silent ended when police started asking questions and that if she didn't answer that fact could be used against her.

She also believed that a judge could make her answer, he said, and that a lawyer could assist her at a trial.

A judge will rule in February.

Weier and Geyser are being tried separately, per a judge's ruling. They have pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

Their trials are expected to begin in the spring.

Dr Anthony Jurek testified that Weier believed her right to remain silent ended the moment police started asking questions, and that choosing to remain silent could be used against her
With a growing number of death's on the nation's roads this year one state is moving to block text messages from drivers' phones.

Victoria's road toll has already climbed to 281 in 2016, up 15.2 per cent from last year, and concerned police are looking to install equipment that would block drivers sending or receiving messages in a determined move to deter the distraction.

Victorian Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton spoke to 3AW discussing the initiative with Linfox and Telstra.

Victoria's road toll has already climbed to 281 in 2016, up 15.2 per cent from last year, and concerned police are looking to install equipment that would block drivers sending or receiving messages (Stock Image)

The equipment is installed below the steering wheel and when it senses motion it sends a message to the driver's mobile provider to block messages (Stock Image)

'Distracted driving is just horrendous. We've had people killed from distracted driving, people using mobile phones,' he told Tony Jones on 3AW.

'We are exploring matters at the moment to see whether we can prohibit you from being able to receive or make a text.'

'Either through the vehicle or through one of the carriers it is something we are exploring at the moment.'

Text blocking technology The technology is installed under the steering wheel

W hen the device senses motion it sends a message to the carrier notifying it to block all incoming or outgoing text messages

As soon as the car's ignition is turned off the mobile phone reactivates

Hands free phone calls and music can still function while driving

Truck company Linfox and telecommunications giant Telstra have seemingly agreed to trial the device Advertisement

The technology is installed below the steering wheel and when it senses motion it sends a message to the driver's mobile provider to block incoming or outgoing messages.

With both hands free calling and music still activated the device turns off as soon as the ignition is off.

The Victorian Police are looking to trial the device with truck operations Linfox.

With nearly 80 fines a day issued to motorists using their mobile while driving Road policing chief Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer called for children to make sure their parents know the dangers they face when texting while driving.

'It's recognising they have the most valuable asset sitting in the back seat, and knowing if they use their mobile phone they could well kill that most valuable asset,' Mr Fryer told The Herald Sun.

In 2014-15 data shows 22 fatal crashes were potentially caused by drivers texting or talking in Victoria.

The penalty for using your mobile phone in the car while driving is a $466 fine and three demerit points.
A young woman claims police made her suffer a miscarriage when she was held on the ground by officers after she was racially abused on a train.

Andrea Appleton, 24, was pinned to the ground by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officers at Embarcadero Station in San Francisco on July 29 this year.

She was with her 22-year-old boyfriend, Michael Smith, when they were allegedly harassed by a white man on the train.

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Andrea Appleton, 24, was pinned to the ground by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officers at Embarcadero Station in San Francisco on July 29 this year

The 24-year-old has claimed she miscarried two weeks after the incident due to excessive force used by the officers

The unidentified harasser repeatedly told Appleton and Smith - who are both black - they smelled, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The young couple got off the train at Embarcadero, but they were met by police after a passenger falsely reported Smith was armed and trying to rob people.

Video of the altercation was published by the San Francisco Public Defender's Office on Wednesday.

It shows the moment Appleton was taken to the ground and had a knee placed in her back by an officer.

The 24-year-old, who was in her first trimester at the time of the incident and was traveling to doctor's appointment with her boyfriend, was heard immediately telling the cop holding her down that she was pregnant.

She went on to tell the Chronicle she struggled with depression after the miscarriage, which came two weeks after the arrest.

She now hopes that no one has to go through the pain she did.

Video showed Appleton being taken to the ground and knelt on by an officer (right). Multiple times in the video she could be seen tilting her head to the side and saying she was pregnant (left)

'It's not right,' she said. 'It's not fair to me or my boyfriend to lose our child and to have to go through this'

'It's not right,' she told the newspaper.

'It's not fair to me or my boyfriend to lose our child and to have to go through this.'

In a statement, BART said it 'was not clear or known that the woman was pregnant' when she was taken to the ground.

Smith, who had been charged with four counts of battery on a police officer stemming from the incident, was found not guilty last week, according to San Francisco Public Defender's Office.

The jury - which did not have a single black person on it - ruled in favor of the 22-year-old.

Jeff Adachi, who represented Smith, said on Wednesday he hopes the release of the footage sparks further discussion about potential racial issues in the police force.

'We often talk about policy and the use of force, but this is an actual case where you can see how the system failed Michael Smith and Andrea Appleton,' Adachi said, according to the Chronicle.

Appleton (left, being told to get on the ground as an officer is seen with his gun out) and her boyfriend, Michael Smith (right) had been traveling to a doctor's appointment together. Smith was charged over the incident with police, however he was found not guilty

'We're here not to only look at one criminal case but how we can improve BART policy so this does not happen again in the future.'

San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi (pictured), who represented Smith, said he hopes the release of the footage sparks further discussion about potential racial issues with police

He went on to say the jury believed too much force was used on Smith.

'Jurors agreed that BART police officers used too much force and jumped to conclusions about Michael,' he said.

'They felt the situation could have been resolved without that level of violence.

'Michael had no idea why he was being stopped, or why officers had swept his legs out from under him and pinned him to the platform.'

Audio of the 9/11 call made to police that led to the incident with Smith and Appleton was also released on Wednesday. In it, a man was heard saying he had an altercation with 'two African Americans', claiming one tried to rob him and potentially had a gun.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has praised counter-terrorism police for foiling an 'Islamist terrorist plot' planning to target iconic Melbourne locations on Christmas Day.

Heavily armed police arrested seven people, aged between 20 and 26, after executing five search warrants at homes in Melbourne's north and west on Friday morning. Five men remain in police custody.

The terror plotters allegedly planned to attack Melbourne's Flinders Street Station and Federation Square on Christmas Day, according to Victoria Police.

'I want to thank the men and women of the police in Victoria for their work in thwarting this terrorist activity, which was an Islamist terrorist plot inspired by Daish or ISIL,' Mr Turnbull told reporters on Friday.

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has praised police for foiling an 'Islamist terrorist plot' planning to target iconic Melbourne locations on Christmas Day

Heavily armed police have foiled a terror plot to attack multiple locations in Melbourne's CBD on Christmas Day after raids (pictured) across the city

'This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that have been disrupted over the last several years'.

Mr Turnbull said the 'terrorists sought to disrupt' the holiday season where 'Australians come together in peace and love with families'.

'They have been thwarted. They are in custody. They are no longer a threat to Australians' security,' he said.

'What these criminals seek to do is to kill, but they also seek to frighten us, to cower us into abandoning our Australian way of life, they want to frighten and divide Australians'.

A total of five men remain in custody including a 24-year-old from Meadow Heights, a 26-year-old from Dallas, a 22-year-old from Campbellfield and two men, both 21, from Flemington and Gladstone Park.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said police had been watching the alleged plotters for some time, and believed they were preparing a multi-mode attack.

'This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that have been disrupted over the last several years,' Mr Turnbull told reporters on Friday

Mr Turnbull said the 'terrorists sought to disrupt' the holiday season where 'Australians come together in peace and love with families'

Premier Daniel Andrews said there will be extra police on the streets on Christmas Day to ensure the public feel safe

'Over that last fortnight that has accelerated,' Mr Ashton told reporters on Friday.

Police believed the threat had been neutralised through the raids, he said

Premier Daniel Andrews said there will be extra police on the streets on Christmas Day to ensure the public feel safe.

'(These alleged planned attacks) were not acts of faith - they were in their planning, acts of evil,' Mr Andrews told reporters.

Mr Ashton said police believe the plotters planned to use an explosion and other weapons in the attack.

'We believe it was certainly going to involve an explosive event,' Mr Ashton said.

Five people have been arrested, four of them were born in Australia, while a fifth is an Egyptian-born Australian citizen.

Four Australians and one Egyptian-born Australian citizen are in police custody and are expected to be charged for their alleged involvement in preparing to commit a terrorist attack

Police have foiled a terror plot to attack iconic Melbourne locations including Melbourne's Flinders Street Station (pictured) on Christmas Day

'These are self-radicalised... (but they were) inspired by ISIS and ISIS propaganda,' Mr Ashton said.

'If this had got under our guard this would have been a significant attack.'

Mr Ashton said police had gathered evidence in the raids that the plotters were planning to use explosives in their attack.

'We gathered the makings of an improvised explosive device,' Mr Ashton said.

'A substantial number of people could have been injured in the attack, from what we've seen.

Federation Square (right) and St Paul's Cathedral (left) were also to be targeted

'Certainly potential for quite a number of people to be injured or killed in this attack.'

About 400 police officers were involved in the raids, which started late on Thursday night.

'In relation to this particular plot we think we've got everyone who was involved,' Mr Ashton said.

Mr Andrews said people should go about their business safe in the knowledge that Victoria Police is protecting them.
Anti-Semitism is turning some of Britain's top universities into no-go zones for Jewish students, according to a top peer.

Baroness Ruth Deech, who once held the highest office for dealing with student complaints, said the situation stems from institutions failing to curb a perceived hatred of Jews because vice chancellors are afraid of offending potential investors from the Gulf.

As a result, the peer said Jewish students are gradually getting a feeling universities such as Manchester, Exeter, SOAS and Southampton are places they should avoid, which could be perceived as anti-Semitic.

Baroness Ruth Deech (right) , who once held the highest office for dealing with student complaints, said the situation stems from institutions failing to curb a perceived hatred of Jews because vice chancellors are afraid of offending potential investors

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, she said hostility towards Israel at universities across the country is at the heart of the problem, and added: 'Many universities are in receipt of or are chasing very large donations from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states and so on, and maybe they are frightened of offending them.

'I don't know why they aren't doing anything about it, it really is a bad situation.'

A spokeswoman for Exeter University told MailOnline the Baroness' claims were simply 'not true' and that Jewish students were welcome there.

She said: 'It is untrue to say that the University of Exeter is not a welcoming place for Jewish students.

A spokeswoman for Exeter University told MailOnline the Baroness' claims were simply 'not true' and that Jewish students were welcome there

The University of Southampton, pictured, has also been denied the claims of anti-Semitism

'The University of Exeter is an inclusive and friendly environment where all students are welcomed from all backgrounds.

'Anti-Semitic and racist behaviour in any form is not tolerated by the University.

'Exeter University not only has a thriving Jewish society, but teaches Jewish studies, the history of the holocaust and has a Jewish chaplain, as part of its multi-faith team.

'Exeter has philanthropic supporters of many faiths , including Jewish, Christian and Muslim.

'Exeter University works closely with Jewish organisations, including the Jewish Leadership Council, and this year co-sponsored with them a workshop on the study of Israel in British Universities.'

Tony Reese, the Jewish Chaplain of the University of Exeter, added:

'To say that Exeter is a no go zone for Jewish students is a parody of the truth. You could not find a friendlier campus where people of all faiths, and none, are welcomed and feel comfortable.'

A Southampton University spokesman told MailOnline: 'We would emphasise that the University of Southampton is home to a supportive, friendly and inclusive community that welcomes staff, students, alumni, collaborators and visitors from a wide variety of backgrounds, including people of all faiths and none.

'Additionally, the University of Southampton is very proud to host the Parkes Institute, the world's oldest and most wide-ranging centre for the study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations across the ages.

'The Institute was founded in the name of James Parkes, a tireless fighter against anti-Semitism.

'Today, this unique Institute is a hub of international activities and enjoys successful partnerships with many centres around the world.

'The institute also supports an extensive programme of research, teaching and outreach which includes adult education classes and cultural days, schools and colleges visits, public seminars and lectures.'

MailOnline has contacted the University of Manchester, pictured, but nobody was immediately available for comment

The chief executive of Universities UK Nicola Dandridge told The Telegraph there was no place for anti-Semitism while Exeter, SOAS and Southampton denied the claims.

A SOAS spokesman said: 'A wide range of opinions and views are expressed at events held at SOAS and it does not mean that the school endorses or supports the views.

'However, this does not permit the expression of anti-Semitic or other views that are illegal or incite racial hatred.

'We have a properly constituted procedure for managing the planning for and the conduct of events at SOAS.

'This is designed to ensure we maintain a neutral platform and ensure that all members of our diverse community are free to express their opinions in a mutually respectful and collegial environment.

'This can only be conducted effectively in an atmosphere of open enquiry, mutual tolerance and intellectual freedom.

The School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London denied the claims

'Earlier this year, our Director, Baroness Valerie Amos, met with a representative of the students union and the Chair of the Jewish Society.

'They discussed ways to ensure that Jewish students continue to feel welcome at SOAS and to make more visible the School's comprehensive approach to research, teaching and debate on the Middle East.

'SOAS has an active academic programme in relation to Israeli Studies, including the UKs first Professor of Israel Studies, Colin Shindler.

'Over the last 15 years, Professor Shindler has developed a very successful academic programme that has made SOAS a leading institution for Israel Studies in Europe.

'SOAS has been home to the Jewish Music Institute for more than 10 years and the School also now hosts the European Association of Israel Studies (EAIS), an independent, international and scholarly association devoted to the academic study of Israel.

'Our student community also includes an active Jewish Society and Israeli Society.

Manchester University could not be contacted.

Baroness Deech, herself an Oxford graduate and a former principal of St Anne's College, Oxford, said she felt compelled to speak out about her concern at the way her old institution had handled anti-Semitism claims earlier this year.

'I find it personally very difficult,' she told The Telegraph.

'I've been at Oxford for 45 years or something, and I owe my career to Oxford.

'But I can't believe that my own university is not setting up an investigation and being pro-active about this.'
Immigrant children often do well at school because their parents are more ambitious for them than British mothers and fathers, the outgoing head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw claimed yesterday

Immigrant children often do well at school because their parents are more ambitious for them than British mothers and fathers, the outgoing head of Ofsted claimed yesterday.

Sir Michael Wilshaw said immigrant pupils had boosted the performance of England in recent international assessments compared with results in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The other home nations had not embraced reform as well as England, he said, but even English parents still needed to adopt the educational expectations of immigrants.

He added: 'The family is the great educator. It's the family that provides children with the support they need.'

However, he was criticised for suggesting that Brexit could be bad for schools by reducing the number of high-performing immigrant children.

Critics pointed out that the country's schools, particularly primaries, are currently under huge pressure from immigration and rising birth rates among new arrivals.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Daily show, Sir Michael said: 'Immigrant families do well, both from the new Commonwealth and eastern European countries - both do very well in this country.'

Asked by interviewer Emma Barnett what impact he expected from Brexit, the former headteacher replied: 'Less immigration might mean actually lower standards because immigrant families want their children to do very well.

'They want a better education system than the one they experienced in their home country.

'That's one issue. And I know schools recruit teachers from abroad, as I did when I was a head. That could be a challenge in the future.'

But Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, criticised his stance.

He said: 'I have heard Brexit blamed for many things but it's far-fetched to suppose it's going to have an effect on the performance of children in our schools.

'If immigrant children do set a higher standard then there are plenty of them in our schools at the moment to be the catalyst.

'It seems more likely to me that given how stretched schools are for money that the increased numbers and the extra demands on teachers to assimilate children whose first language isn't English will be likely to have an adverse effect rather than bring about an improvement.'

Sir Michael was criticised for suggesting that Brexit could be bad for schools by reducing the number of high-performing immigrant children. Critics pointed out that the country's schools, particularly primaries, are currently under huge pressure from immigration and rising birth rates among new arrivals. File image

He pointed out that local authorities are already under 'great' pressure as there are not enough primaries to cope with the influx of pupils amid immigration and rising birth rates.

'Primary schools are having to increase class sizes and put in temporary classrooms,' Professor Smithers added.

During an earlier interview on radio station LBC, Sir Michael claimed that England is 'flatlining' in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results but highlighted its better performance than Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Sir Michael added that the other home nations had not embraced reform in the same way as England, acknowledging that the success of London had lifted the country overall.

He said that migrant children in the capital, whose parents were ambitious for them, were responsible for 'a lot' of this, and that English parents had to do the same.

Sir Michael also called for PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) to be 'reprioritised', with the subject taught by specialist staff.

Currently free schools and academies do not have to teach sex education or PSHE, but Education Secretary Justine Greening indicated at the weekend that the government was looking at making the subjects compulsory in all schools.

Sir Michael said: 'The big problem that inspectors find is that it's taught badly in schools.

'Often it's an adjunct, it's something that's bolted on to the school's curriculum. It's taught by people who are not specialists in teaching this important area of the school's curriculum and it doesn't work.

'If it's going to be made compulsory then it's got to be a discrete subject taught by specialist staff.

'We have not got enough of those sort of teachers, and it's always difficult to get really good people to teach sex education, British values and parenting and so forth.

'It's a tough subject to teach well, particularly with older pupils who need specialist staff to do that.'
This is the adorable moment a kindhearted stranger gave some food to a hungry dog - only for her to run off and feed it to her puppies instead.

The ravenous dog was given some meat on a stick by a caring animal-lover in Bangkok, Thailand, who expected her to wolf it down for herself.

But the dog scurried away with the food between her teeth - and was later seen handing it to her four children.

This is the adorable moment a kindhearted stranger gave some food to a hungry dog - only for her to run off and feed it to her puppies instead

The dog scurried away with the food between her teeth - and was later seen handing it to her four children

In the cute footage, the dog is seen happily taking the meat and running off through a market.

The kind stranger follows the dog as it scampers along, before eventually reaching a garage.

Four puppies then spill out of the building and start tucking into the dinner their mother has brought home.

After one particularly hungry - or selfish - youngster runs off with the treat, the other dogs run up to the man to thank him.

The man is seen stroking the family as they all wag their tails, with the mother dog looking up to him in hope of more food.

It is not clear when the footage was filmed.

Puppies spill out of a garage and start tucking into the dinner their mother has brought home
The men were filmed in the airport after arriving and did not comment about earlier incident

Lasner and Goldstein were removed from the plane and

However, one hour before that he wrote on Twitter: 'Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them'

The man's husband, Matthew Lasner, later tweeted: 'My husband expressed his displeasure in a calm tone, JetBlue staff overheard, and they kicked us off'

Ivanka ignored him and tried to preoccupy her children with crayons

He then began demanding to know why Ivanka was on the flight and not travelling on a private plane while she sat with her kids

The group was transferred to a private jet heading to Hawaii for a vacation

Ivanka, her three kids and husband were rushed off JetBlue flight that landed in San Francisco around 2:40pm (PT) after flying from New York Thursday

After being accosted while boarding a JetBlue flight Thursday morning, Ivanka Trump and her family made sure they didn't have the same experience exiting the plane that landed in San Francisco hours later.

The 35-year-old, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three children, were swiftly escorted by Secret Service officers off the commercial plane before any other passengers and were ushered into waiting SUVs, TMZ reported.

They were then driven nearby to board a private jet heading to Hawaii.

The private jet was apparently pre-scheduled and not a reaction to the incident that took place earlier on Thursday at JFK, where she was accosted by a Brooklyn lawyer who said her 'father is ruining the country'.

During the incident, the businesswoman made it very clear that she had no problem staying cool and calm under pressure, as she was with her entire family on the JetBlue flight and had Secret Service officers nearby as well.

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Swift exit: Ivanka (circled above), her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three children, were escorted by Secret Service officers off the JetBlue plane before any other passengers

Rushing: The family was ushered into waiting SUVs that took them to a nearby private jet that is heading to Hawaii

Moving fast: It appears as though Jared and Ivanka rode in separate SUVS to the private jet after they got off the JetBlue plane on the tarmac

Out of line: A passenger on a JetBlue flight heading to San Francisco from JFK early Thursday morning apparently accosted Ivanka Trump while boarding the plane

Still mad: Dan Goldstein (left) demanded to know why he was being taken off the flight with Lasner (right) after incident where some claimed Goldstein was screaming at Ivanka

Dan Goldstein, a lawyer from Brooklyn, who had a child in his arms according to TMZ, told Ivanka, 'Your father is ruining the country' as he boarded the plane in New York City on Thursday morning.

Goldstein then apparently began screaming out: 'Why is she on our flight. She should be flying private.'

Ivanka paid as little attention as possible and tried to preoccupy her children with some crayons to diffuse the situation until the flight crew escorted him off the plane.

After the family's JetBlue flight landed in San Francisco, Marc Scheff, a passenger on the flight who witnessed the exchange and sat directly in front of Ivanka said Goldstein appeared agitated.

Of the incident, Scheff told NBC Bay Area that while boarding, Goldstein said aloud, 'Oh my God. This is a nightmare. They ruin the country and now they ruin our flight!'

'The comments were definitely for everyone but he was directing them towards her,' Scheff said.

Scheff added that Goldstein did not yell or scream like earlier reports stated.

In addition, Goldstein's husband, Matthew Lasner, said on Twitter: 'My husband expressed his displeasure in a calm tone, JetBlue staff overheard, and they kicked us off the plane.'

After the family's JetBlue flight landed in San Francisco, Marc Scheff (above), a passenger who sat directly in front of Ivanka, said Goldstein appeared agitated during the incident and that the comments were definitely directed at Ivanka

Different story: The man's husband, Matthew Lasner, later tweeted: 'My husband expressed his displeasure in a calm tone, JetBlue staff overheard, and they kicked us off'

Contradiction: However one hour before that Lasner wrote on Twitter: 'Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them'

However, just an hour prior to that Lasner wrote on Twitter: 'Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil'

Lasner also took a photo of Ivanka sitting on the plane writing that they were kicked off for 'expressing displeasure about flying w/ Trumps.'

And while Goldstein was happy to go after Ivanka ,and Lasner was eager to defend his actions, neither of the men confronted Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner, who was right next to her on the flight standing in the aisle the entire time.

The plane was still boarding when the incident occurred, so the crew was able to get the two men and their child off the flight and avoid any further incident.

Goldstein began saying to the crew as they escorted him off the plane: 'You're kicking me off for expressing my opinion?!!'

It was after they were off the plane that Lasner then posted his tweets defending his husband and the photo of Ivanka sitting in her seat.

Those tweets were then deleted in less than an hour. An hour after that Lasner deleted his entire account.

JetBlue released a statement on Thursday morning saying: 'The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing a conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight.'

Happier times: Ivanka was all smiles a few hours prior leaving her Park Avenue apartment (above) to head to the airport, as she sported casual and comfortable clothing for the trip

It was then noted that Lasner and Goldsten were placed on the next available flight.

Members of Secret Service were on the flight with the family, but did not intervene and instead chose to let the airline handle the issue.

There was a third account of what happened as well from Marc Scheff, the man who was sat in front of Ivanka and with his young son and seemed to be minding his own business when Lasner snapped his photo.

He wrote: 'He didn't accost her directly. When he got on and saw her, sitting behind me, he said 'oh my god. This is a nightmare' and was visibly shaking.

'He said, 'They ruin the country now they ruin our flight!' (Context: Boarding and therefore the flight was delayed because they needed to get on first through some other way)

'He did not yell. He was also not what I would describe as calm. Agitated maybe. His husband behind him was very calm. His son is adorable and sharply dressed.

'When the JetBlue staff went back to speak to the man I overheard Ivanka say to them 'I don't want to make this a thing.' My assessment is that she was happy to let the man take his seat. Security made a different call.'

Not a fan: Lasner has been very vocal about his distaste for Trump on Twitter, writing shortly after the election about marching against the President-elect

Marching on: He also posted a video when he marched in Chicago with the hashtags '#notmypresident' and '#weslay'

Scheff later wrote: 'Honestly, if I was her security I would have made the same call. I don't _think_ the man was capable of violence, sure. But I would worry that he would leave his seat or cause a scene in some way.

'And his husband had tweeted that he planned on doing that. So, again you know my politics, but I would have made the same call here.'

Scheff later added about Ivanka: 'She handled the situation calmly and with class.'

The artist is married to actress Olivia Wilde's sister Chloe. Wilde was a vocal supporter of Clinton and opponent of Trump both before and after the election.

Lasner has been very vocal about his distaste for Trump on Twitter, writing shortly after the election about marching against the President-elect.

He also posted a video when he marched in Chicago with the hashtags '#notmypresident' and '#weslay.'

And he posted a photo on Instagram of himself with one of his protest signs, which read: 'RESIST! Autocracy. RISE UP!'

Lasner also retweeted a man who wrote on Twitter: 'Dear @IvankaTrump + @JaredKushner, there are swastikas being painted across America by people who support your father. PLEASE SAY SOMETHING.'

Lots of anger: Lasner posted a photo of a college student wearing an old Reagan / Bush shirt and wrote: 'Seeing this walking out of @packercollegiate this morning made seriously ill. It's disgusting that teenagers might find this amusing. As far as I'm concerned it's hate speech'

Rise: Lasner posted a photo on Instagram of himself with one of his protest signs, which read: 'RESIST! Autocracy. RISE UP!'

It does not end there either, as Lasner is not a fan of Ronald Reagan or George Bush.

Lasner posted a photo of a college student wearing an old Reagan / Bush shirt earlier this year without the young man's knowledge and then wrote: 'Seeing this walking out of @packercollegiate this morning made seriously ill. It's disgusting that teenagers might find this amusing. As far as I'm concerned it's hate speech. #idontheartthe80s'

According to his biography on the Hunter College website, Lasner 'studies the history and theory of the U.S. built environment, with particular focus on housing, and the relationship between housing patterns and urban and suburban form.'
Craig Vandewege (pictured) has been arrested for capital murder, according to authorities

A Texas man who told police he came home to find his wife and three-month-old son with their throats split has been arrested for capital murder in connection with the killings.

Homicide detectives got a warrant for 35-year-old Craig Vandewege, after authorities in Colorado nabbed him for speeding, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Craig then told police he had condoms in his pocket and was traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada.

His wife Shanna Riddle Vandewege, 36, and the couple's infant son Diederik had their throats slit the night of December 15 at their house in Fort Worth, authorities said.

Police are investigating the deaths as homicides.

Craig found the bodies after coming home from work that evening, according to Shanna's father.

On Wednesday night, police in Glenwood Springs received a call about a man with a missing license plate. The caller told a dispatcher the man, believed to be Vandewege, claimed to be trying to escape the authorities.

A car missing a rear license plate was later spotted and pursued by an officer - who saw the vehicle go to a gas station.

The suspect then screwed on a license plate, and drove off, according to reports.

Shanna Riddle Vandewege (left), 36, and her son Diederik (center) were found dead the night of December 15 at their house in Fort Worth, Texas. Shanna's husband Craig (right) found them both after coming home from work, according to Shanna's father

The officer made a traffic stop after the driver was clocked speeding - and the driver, Vandewege, claimed he was going to Las Vegas.

He reportedly said: 'It's been a long week, my wife and kid were murdered in Texas.'

Craig gave police an out-of-date insurance card and was later ordered to exit his vehicle but refused - yet did so after about five minutes and was handcuffed.

He had two loaded pistols on his person and showed a concealed carry permit, a report suggests.

A responding officer said: 'I did not observe a wedding band on Craig's left ring finger, but he stated a wedding ring was in his pocket along with numerous condoms.'

His vehicle was impounded. Authorities discovered ammunition boxes, an AR-15 style rifle, camouflage clothing, empty gas cans, a .22 revolver, and medication bottles, the Star-Telegram reported.

Fort Worth police said Thursday in a release that authorities arrested Craig on Wednesday 'in Glenwood Springs, Colorado after a citizen called the Glenwood Springs Police Department due to Vandewege acting suspiciously.

'Glenwood Springs placed Vandewege under arrest for speeding and no proof of financial responsibility (Insurance).

'After one week of continuous investigation homicide detectives were able to prepare an arrest warrant for Craig A. Vandewege, 10/22/1981.

'This warrant was for Capital Murder - Multiple Victims and was assigned a bond amount of $1,000, 000.

'Prior to bonding out on the charges from the Glenwood Springs Police Department Vandewege was held on the outstanding Capital Murder warrant from the Fort Worth Police Department.'

The couple had moved to Texas from Colorado earlier this year and welcomed their son after three miscarriages

Shanna and Craig had moved to Texas from Colorado earlier this year and welcomed their son after three miscarriages.

Craig is said to have traveled to Colorado for a funeral for Diedrik and Shannah.

He had spoken to police twice since the killing, with the most recent interview taking place on Monday.

Since leaving that meeting to call his lawyer, he hadn't had contact with detectives.

Vandewege's refusal to speak to police was hindering the investigation, according to a homicide detective involved in the case.

Fort Worth detective Matt Barron told the newspaper: 'It's standard and it's normal for us to try to exclude people close [to the victim] before we can move on and look elsewhere.

'It stalls our investigation if there's somebody that close that says flat out, 'No, I'm not going to do it."'

Shanna's father Mark Riddle told WFAA that Craig had found the home 'in disorder' on December 15 before he saw his wife's and his son's bodies.

Fort Worth police said they received a call around 9.30pm saying a man had come to the house on Cactus Flower Drive and found a woman and a child, both dead.

The baby died of an incised wound to the neck, the medical examiner said Friday. Authorities haven't announced a cause of death for his mother.

Craig Vandewege (left, with his son Diederik) has not spoken to police since Monday. He has retained the services of family law attorney Leslie Barrows (right)

The Fort Worth home where the mother and her son were found dead is seen above. Police have said that Vandewege's refusal to speak with them was hindering the investigation

Shanna, a registered nurse, and Craig, who according to Riddle father works at Cotsco, had moved to Fort Worth earlier this year.

The new mother was still on maternity leave.

The family home appeared in a picture published by CBS DFW with crime scene tape barring the entryway.

The pair had tried to have a child for a long time before conceiving Diederik.

Police told WFAA they had interviewed Craig and that he was cooperative.
An Insane Clown Posse fan in Wisconsin faces more than 12 years in prison after he chopped off a friend's pinky and drank her blood in a 'ritualistic memorial' for a fallen Juggalo.

Jonathan Schrap, 24 of Wisconsin, pleaded no contest Thursday to second-degree reckless injury over the August 27 incident at his house in Suamico, just north of Green Bay.

He faces up to 12 years in prison and $25,000 in fines at his February 24 sentencing.

In August, Schrap and a group of friends, including local rapper 'Bloody Ruckus,' were celebrating the life of a fellow Juggalo who had died a year before.

The group's only female, 27-year-old Shelby Neuens, told cops they had been talking about blood-drinking cult rituals  and reportedly volunteered to let Schrap drink her blood.

Jonathan Schrap (pictured), 24, could be sent to prison for 12 years after he chopped off a friend's pinky during a memorial for a fellow Juggalo, the name for fans of the Insane Clown Posse

Shelby Neuens, 27, (pictured) told cops the friends had been talking about blood-drinking cult rituals  and volunteered to let Schrap drink her blood

With her consent, Schrap  who proudly displays tattoos showing his devotion to the Insane Clown Posse  made a one-inch cut on her right forearm with a machete.

'She was bleeding profusely,' the criminal complaint states. 'Jon filled up a shot glass with her blood and drank her blood.'

Yet the group wanted more, and soon began to think about severing a finger.

Neuens  who told police she did not use drugs or alcohol before the event  volunteered her pinky.

Devoted fan: Schrap (pictured) took a couple strikes with the machete, taking the 'pinky clean off' on the second one

Schrap took a couple strikes with the machete, taking the 'pinky clean off' on the second one  'all the way to the palm,' the criminal complaint states.

Neuens only went to the hospital because her boyfriend's mom forced her after seeing her injuries

'Jon then placed the finger in his freezer where he said he would cook it and eat it later,' the criminal complaint says.

'The group then attempted to stop the bleeding by using a car cigarette lighter which failed. They then used a blowtorch.'

Neuens' boyfriend later saw the injuries, and his mother made her go to the emergency room.

Cops were called to Saint Mary's Hospital, where staff thought Neuens had been initiated in some sort of cult.

The 27-year-old insisted the ritual was voluntary and didn't want anyone to be charged.

Police arrested Schrap and his childhood friend Nick Laabs, who had been at the party. Laabs was released after questioning.

'Bloody Ruckus,' whose real name is Preston Hyde, apparently managed to escape and has not been charged with a crime.
Britain's bloated foreign aid department now hands out the highest salaries in Whitehall, it was revealed last night.

Pen-pushers at the Department for International Development have an average wage of more than 53,000 a year  nearly twice that of the average worker.

The figures come amid controversy over how millions of pounds of aid is given to the worlds most corrupt nations  where it risks being squandered, stolen or seized by terrorists.

Jacob Rees Mogg, MP, pictured, said, the Department for International Development presents the highest cost but lowest value to the British taxpayer and should be curtailed

Andrew Bridgen MP, pictured, said it was disappointing the cash was being 'frittered away'

There are also calls to switch some of the ministrys annual budget of 12billion to Britains crisis-stricken social care sector.

The Department for International Development, or DfID, appears to have bucked the cuts faced by many other Whitehall offices.

Not only is it the best-paying Government department, it is one of only three of the 19 to recruit staff, taking on 430 since 2010  an increase of 27 per cent.

Staff in total cost taxpayers 23million a year  enough to provide six million meals on wheels to the countrys elderly and vulnerable.

The figures, which were obtained by the Institute for Government think-tank, sparked fury last night. Critics claimed they showed that the DfID, which distributes the vast bulk of Britains foreign aid, had too much money at its disposal.

While Whitehall has endured the biggest cuts since the Second World War over the last six years, foreign aid has largely remained untouched.

Many Tory MPs and peers believe ministers should drop the pledge to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on aid.

Only yesterday it was revealed that aid handed to the worlds most corrupt nations had risen by almost 30 per cent. An internal review found there was a certain risk of some of the cash ending up in the hands of groups linked to Islamic State.

Britain has also given an extra 5.2million to an Ethiopian girl group so they can present a talk show.

DfIDs recruitment drive comes as other departments have had to make swingeing cuts, leading to frontline services being slashed. Across Whitehall, the civil service has seen its numbers drop by 20 per cent.

The two ministries in charge of social care  the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local Government  have endured some of the worst cuts, of 26 and 44 per cent respectively.

The extra officials employed by DfID saw it leapfrog the Department for Energy and Climate Change as the ministry which has taken on more staff than any other since 2010. The DECC has since been abolished. Only three departments saw staff increases  the other being the Cabinet Office  over that period.

An Ethiopian girl band called Yegna, pictured, have received 5.2 million to fund a talk show

Average salaries at DfID are more than double the average at the Department for Work and Pensions. The average wage for a full-time worker in the UK is around 28,000.

Last night Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for North West Leicestershire, said: It is deeply disappointing that the British peoples generosity on aid is being frittered away on inflated civil service salaries, not on aiding the worlds poorest people.

When Britain is facing problems funding domestic social care, these salaries will raise more questions over the size of our aid bill.

Jacob Rees Mogg, MP for North East Somerset, said: This is yet more evidence that the DfID has the highest cost but the lowest value. The only way to meet the 0.7 per cent target is through sheer extravagance.

The IfG figures show that average salaries at DfID are more than 5,000 higher than at its nearest rival, DECC.

Two other ministries  the Scotland Office and the Department for Transport  have average salaries of more than 40,000

The Department of Health average is 39,030 and the Department of Communities and Local Government is 37,430. The average at the Department for Education is 34,650. Bottom of the pile are the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence and, finally, the Department of Work and Pensions on 22,420. Separate figures show that the DfID headcount is now 2,030  up 27 per cent on the total six years earlier.

Last night John OConnell of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: People expect their money to be helping the worlds poorest and not inflating the pay packets of bureaucrats.

A DfID spokesman said department staff were paid in line with standard civil service rules. She added: We are tackling global challenges such as poverty, disease and instability at its source to best help the worlds poorest and at the same time keep Britain safe.

A source said the salaries at the department were high because, unlike ministries such as Work and Pensions, they did not have low-paid frontline staff such as job centre workers bringing down the average.

DfID also had fewer very highly-paid officials. Only one earns more than 150,000 for example. The source said, despite the rise in staff numbers, it remains a small department.
No 10 and the Palace have dismissed claims the Queen was left 'disappointed' by a briefing from Theresa May on Brexit.

Mrs May is said to have discussed Britain's departure from the EU on her first trip to Balmoral in September.

The Times today quoted an unnamed source, said to be close to the monarch, as revealing Mrs May stuck only to her 'Brexit means Brexit' soundbites.

Ukip MP Douglas Carswell today told MailOnline the claims were 'palpably nonsense' and questioned the motivation for them.

And a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'By long-established convention we never disclose details of discussions between the Queen and her prime ministers.'

Theresa May shakes the Queen's hand at Balmoral castle during her first stay in Aberdeenshire

The Queen has been left 'disappointed' by Theresa May's silence on Brexit

Prime Minister Theresa May (left) remained tight-lipped on her plans to leave the EU, leaving the Queen (right) guessing

The spokesman added: 'Nor would we comment on anonymously sourced conjecture of this kind.'

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'We never comment on private conversations with the Queen.'

Senior Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said the Prime Minister was right to be discreet about her plans.

He told MailOnline: 'The difference between Theresa May's No 10 and David Cameron's No 10, is May's does not leak.

'The ship of Government is the only ship that leaks from the top. Theresa May has been running a pretty tight ship so far.'

Conservative Michael Tomlinson said: 'One of the great advantages of a constitutional monarchy is that our Prime Minister has the privilege of regular meetings with Her Majesty the Queen.

'As her biographers have noted, the Queen is scrupulously discrete. The Prime Minister can meet secure in the knowledge that all is confidential and there is no danger of their conversations being shared with her subjects via Twitter.

'In my view this is a great strength and promotes responsible government - something we can rely upon with Theresa May and Her Majesty alike.'

Labour MP John Mann demanded the PM should 'stop dithering and spell out her plans to queen and country'.

The Balmoral Castle - summer residence of the monarchy

The claim about the Prime Minister's reluctance to fill in the Queen follows criticism of Mrs May for failing to give details on the terms of Brexit.

Her visit to Balmoral came just two months after she became Prime Minister on July 13th.

She had only been in the position for about a month before going on a two week summer walking holiday with her husband Philip to Switzerland.

They returned in late August and she had only been back in parliament for two weeks before her weekend in Scotland - an annual visit by the serving Prime Minister - and so was still in the early stages of discussing plans for Brexit.

Mrs May, who backed the Remain campaign, is unlikely to have decided on any clear plans or direction by then and had not even disclosed the timing of the process for the exit except to say it would not start this year.

Mrs May and the Queen had met for the traditional weekly audiences at Buckingham Palace but this was their first extended period of time together.

The Times reported that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had been interested to learn more about Mrs may's thoughts on Brexit.

But no details, such as her possible selections for the cabinet, were forthcoming, leaving both disappointed, the source said.

This could have included insights into her selections for the cabinet, including the appointment of Boris Johnson as foreign secretary. However, both were said to have been left disappointed, a source said.

The Prime Minister's unwillingness to speak in detail during her two-day stay in September meant their relationship did not get off to an ideal start

Mrs May has previously described meeting the Queen for the first time as 'a real moment'.

'She is such a fantastic example to us all in terms of her duty and steadfastness. She really is impressive,' she said, speaking at the time.

The Queen has had a lifelong interest in political gossip with the desire to be kept informed was apparent from the very start of her reign, her biographer Sally Beddell Smith.

She said Harold Macmillan and Harold Wilson would happily share their inside stories of life in Westminster.

'Her prime ministers quickly learnt that because of her scrupulous discretion, she was in the best position to hear the inside skinny they couldn't tell anybody else,' she said.
The 48-year-old man charged with the murders of two women in Western Australia's infamous Claremont serial killer case, as well as sex attacks on two other victims, appeared momentarily in court.

Bradley Robert Edwards was arrested at his Kewdale property in Perth on Thursday morning for questioning as part of the cold case inquiry.

Just before midday on Friday, he was charged with the murders of Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27, whose bodies were dumped in bushland in the 1990s, as well as sex attacks on two other women, aged 17 and 18.

Mr Edwards appeared in court on Friday wearing a red polo shirt - appearing calm - as he briefly smiled as he stood in front of a packed court room, Perth Now reported.

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Bradley Robert Edwards, 48, (pictured) was arrested at his Kewdale property in Perth on Thursday morning for questioning as part of the cold case inquiry

Childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23, (pictured) vanished after leaving a venue. Her body was discovered in bushland, south of Perth, in August 1996

In March 1997, Ciara Glennon (pictured), a 27-year-old lawyer, disappeared from a night out. Her body was found in bushland in Perth's north a few weeks later

A man was arrested at his Kewdale property in Perth on Thursday morning for questioning as part of the cold case inquiry and was charged on Friday

Mr Edwards only confirmed his name and claimed he understood the charges with the court appearance lasting only a few moments.

The accused will be able to apply for bail in the future, but not before Magistrate Evan Shackleton, with Mr Edwards to remain in custody until January 11 next year.

Police said the suspected murder of a woman believed to be the first victim in the Claremont killings, Sarah Spiers, 18, is ongoing.

WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said it would be alleged Edwards abducted Ms Rimmer, 23, in the early hours of June 9, 1996, after she had been on a night out with friends in Claremont.

The childcare worker's body was later discovered in Wellard, on August 3, 1996.

Police also allege he abducted Ms Glennon, 27, on March 14, 1997, after she too had been on a night out in Claremont.

The lawyer's body was discovered in bushland in Eglington on April 3, 1997.

He was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated sexual penetration and one count of indecent assault.

As well as those two murders, the Edwards has also been charged over attacks on two other women.

He has been charged with the abduction of a 17-year-old in the early hours of February 12, 1995, as she walked through a Claremont park.

'It will be alleged she was restrained and forced into a vehicle and then driven to a cemetery where she was sexually assaulted,' Mr O'Callaghan told reporters in Perth.

The man has also been charged with indecently assaulting an 18-year-old woman during a break-in at a Huntingdale home on February 15, 1988.

Mr O'Callaghan said the man allegedly entered the woman's bedroom and attacked her as she slept.

Police searched a house in Kewdale, Perth, reportedly connected with the infamous Claremont killings back in the 90s

Police were seen searching the home In Kewdale on Friday afternoon after the breakthrough

During a press conference on Friday, police said the investigation into the disappearance of the third woman in the Claremont killings, Sarah Spiers (pictured), is ongoing

Neighbour Jim Sheffield claimed he heard screams coming from the home around an hour before police stormed the property

On Thursday, a number of large bags were seen being removed from the property after the man's home was also searched by detectives.

Neighbour Jim Sheffield claimed he heard screams coming from the home around an hour before police stormed the property.

'About half past 6 and I heard a real loud yell and it sounded like a scream,' Mr Sheffield said.

'I didn't think that much about it. Came out about an hour later and there were a lot of police cars.'

Sarah Spiers, an 18-year-old secretary, went missing from a Claremont nightclub in January 1996. Her body was never found.

The deaths of three women between 1996 and 1997 sparked Australia's longest police investigation into what was dubbed the Claremont serial killings.

The man, who was arrested on Thursday, will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on eight charges later on Friday.

Forensic officers were seen removing items from the property on Friday

The house searched reportedly linked with the infamous Claremont killings in the 90s
The latest stage of a controversial rise in university tuition fees to 9,250 a year in England has been 'sneaked out' to avoid debate, critics claimed last night.

Details of the increase, affecting more than 500,000 students, were put on an obscure government website last week without any announcement from the Department for Education.

The move was condemned by Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, who said the DfE was trying to avoid public scrutiny.

Universities minister Jo Johnson announced in July that tuition fees would rise to 9,250 a year from next autumn and the increase could apply to students who have already started courses.

The latest stage of a rise in university tuition fees to 9,250 a year in England has been 'sneaked out' to avoid debate, critics claimed. Details of the increase, affecting more than 500,000 students, were put on an obscure government website last week without any announcement from the Department for Education. Above, students in a tuition fee protest

But the formal regulations enabling the introduction of higher fees were published last Thursday without being placed in the announcements section of the DfE's website that issues 'alerts' to interested parties.

The BBC's education website revealed last night that they were instead put on a government site, managed by the National Archives, where all legislation is held.

The DfE has denied suggestions it wanted to deflect attention from the increase, insisting the public could find the regulations on the government website.

But critics say people would be able to discover details only if they were tipped off to search this 'far-flung corner' of the legislation site.

The DfE 'explanatory memorandum' is in effect the second stage in the process of introducing the fee increase. It gives the Government 40 days to bring the regulations before Parliament. MPs have the chance to object and force a debate in the Commons.

Gordon Marsden, Labour's spokesman for further education, higher education and skills, accused the Government of trying to 'sneak out' the changes, claiming it was the 'increase that doesn't like to speak its name'.

He told the BBC: 'They are hell-bent on keeping this increase as low profile as possible as it's piling up debts on students.'

Universities minister Jo Johnson (pictured) announced in July that tuition fees would rise to 9,250 a year from next autumn and the increase could apply to students who have already started courses

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron added: 'This is a shabby little way to announce something, hiding it away in a far-flung corner of a government website.

'This shows the Government at their worst, avoiding scrutiny and debate. They sneaked this out a couple of days before Christmas.'

The DfE said: 'This was announced in July as a public statement to Parliament. To claim it has been "sneaked" out is ridiculous. Universities will not be able to increase their fees unless they have passed rigorous quality standards.'

The main deadline for 2017 admissions is a few weeks away.

In September it emerged that virtually every university in England planned to charge 9,250 fees next year in return for attempting to break a middle-class 'stranglehold' on places. Only two out of 123 higher education institutions ruled out increasing their charges from the current 9,000 a year.

In return for charging higher fees, universities will invest in helping minorities and working to recruit students from poor families.

Graduates in this country have the second highest average debt in the world after those in the United States, according to a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Trading Standards face legal action over claims they failed to protect families from death trap tumble dryers. Stock image

Trading Standards face legal action over claims they have failed to protect millions of families from death trap tumble dryers.

Consumer group Which? says officials have done too little to ensure the manufacturer, Whirlpool, fixed or recalled the appliances.

As a result, millions of the machines are still sitting in homes a year after they were identified as a fire risk.

Trading standards in Peterborough, where the firm has its UK base, stand accused of failing the public by effectively allowing Whirlpool to sort out the mess itself.

As a result, Which? says trading standards and Peterborough City Council have broken the law by failing to enforce product safety laws.

It has launched a judicial review in the High Court in an attempt for force the council to take action.

More than 750 fires have been linked to dryers sold under the Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda brands.

Investigations are ongoing to establish whether a number of house fire deaths can be blamed on the appliances.

And in August, the London Fire Brigade blamed a fire which ripped through an 18 storey high rise block in Shepherds Bush on one of the dryers.

Alex Neill, Managing Director of Home & Legal Services, Which? said: We believe that the way Whirlpool has handled the tumble dryer safety issue is absolutely appalling and to add insult to injury Peterborough Trading Standards has failed to do its duty to protect consumers.

We have decided to step in and take legal action because we want Peterborough Trading Standards to properly protect Whirlpool customers and carry out its role as an enforcer of product safety laws.

Which? expects trading standards to conduct a fresh, independent assessment of the risks and take legal action against the firm if necessary.

The group said there is a concern that trading standards departments are failing to protect consumers by challenging rich, multi-national companies like Whirlpool.

In August, the London Fire Brigade blamed a fire which ripped through an 18 storey high rise block in Shepherds Bush on one of the dryers. Stock image

Just last week, the National Audit Office warned that council trading standards departments have been savaged by spending cuts.

As a result, some areas of the country have just one officer responsible for policing 253 pieces of legislation.

Eight million suspect tumble dryers were sold over the past 11 years, including five million in the UK.

The company says more than one million have been fixed and it estimates that another one million have been junked. On that basis, approaching three million fire risk dryers could be sitting in UK homes.

The main issue is that fluff from drying clothes can accumulate and come into contact with the machine heating elements.

Engineers are being sent out to install a fix that is designed to stuff the fluff getting near the elements.

In the meantime, Whirlpool says people can continue to use the machines providing they make sure any fluff is removed from the filter before and after use. They also advise people not to leave the machines unattended.

Which? says this does not go far enough and trading standards should have insisted on a complete safety recall to protect the public.
Most reasonable people will surely agree it is not a good idea for the future King of England to make a coded attack on the next President of the United States

Most reasonable people will surely agree it is not a good idea for the future King of England to make a coded attack on the next President of the United States.

But that is what appears to have happened yesterday morning.

Prince Charless homily of three-and-three-quarter minutes on Radio 4s Thought For The Day had started so well.

He spoke movingly, as he has before, about the plight of persecuted Christians in Syria and Iraq.

A Jesuit priest whom he met had predicted that in five years time there may be no Christians left in Iraq.

The Prince then rightly suggested that other religious minorities in the Middle East and elsewhere, including Jews, were being persecuted.

He cited even more insidious forms of extremism that sought to eliminate all types of religious diversity  presumably a reference to the heinous Islamic State.

So far, so good.

What could be more natural than the future head of the Church of England, who is a religious man, fretting over the plight of persecuted Christians and others of minority faiths?

But then the Prince somehow veered off the rails.

Quoting United Nations figures, he said that in 2015 a staggering 65.3 million people had abandoned their homes  5.8 million more than the previous year.

He added: Their suffering doesnt end when they arrive seeking refuge in a foreign land.

One moment he was talking about persecuted Christians, the next he was referring to tens of millions of refugees.

His apparent implication was that a great number of them have been persecuted for their religion and continue to be so.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales tries on 'Google Glass' spectacles as he visits 'Innovation Alley' on May 21, 2014 in Winnipeg, Canada

This is not true.

The great tide of people which has been sweeping across Western Europe includes refugees displaced by the civil war in Syria and other conflicts, as well as many economic migrants.

Only a small proportion are the victims of religious persecution.

If this sudden swerve in his argument seemed a touch batty, the next jump in logic was breathtaking.

He spoke of the rise of many populist groups across the world that are increasingly aggressive to those who adhere to a minority faith.

This put him in mind of the dark days of the Thirties.

It is this passage that has been interpreted as a veiled lunge at Donald Trump  and for all I know it may also be a furtive dig at those supposed populist numbskulls who were rash enough to vote for Brexit.

What on earth is he talking about?

Trump (of whom I am no fan) has said he wants a temporary ban on Muslims coming to the United States, but we dont know whether he will ever put this plan into action.

Moreover, Islam is the second largest religion on the planet and can hardly be described as a minority faith.

Say what you like about Trump, he cant be put in the same category as the real religious persecutors of Islamic State who kill non-Muslims for sport.

Trump claims to be a believer, and so far as I am aware has never spoken ill of any religion.

Say what you like about Trump, he cant be put in the same category as the real religious persecutors of Islamic State who kill non-Muslims for sport. Trump claims to be a believer, and so far as I am aware has never spoken ill of any religion

As a student of Prince Charles over the years, I have sometimes agreed with his outbursts, and sometimes disagreed.

But even when I sympathise with what he says, I wonder whether it is wise for the heir to the throne to be divisive.

Sometimes  to be frank  he is simply dotty.

He has, for example, very strongly held views on climate change.

No harm in that.

But they have led him into the by-ways of eccentricity.

During a conference in Paris, he once suggested that climate change might be a root cause of the civil war in Syria.

Even more alarmingly to his future subjects who wish him well, he said in 2009 that we had only 100 months to act before damage caused by climate change became irreversible.

In 2015 he amended the deadline to 35 years. No doubt there will be a further extension in due course.

Im afraid there is evidence of this dottiness in his zig-zagging musings that took him from Christian persecution to an apparent coded attack on Donald Trump to his ludicrous invocation of the dark days of the Thirties in a matter of seconds.

He also demonstrated a degree of silliness in drawing a parallel between the Holy Family (who he rightly said were escaping violent persecution) and the Prophet Muhammad (who he claimed was seeking freedom for himself and his followers when he left Mecca for Medina).

It was hardly very apt, particularly at this time of year, to compare the peaceable Holy Family with the martial Prophet Muhammad, who some time after his arrival in Medina was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Jews.

And associating Donald Trump (assuming that is what he intended) with the intolerance [and] monstrous extremism of pre-War Europe was worse than barmy. As an admirer of the monarchy, I have to say it was daft and offensive.

More worryingly, our future King is playing with fire.

If I were a republican, I should be delighted by this latest princely excursion.

But as I am a monarchist, I am worried.

Quite soon Prince Charles will be King, as a photograph released this week of him standing masterfully by a sitting Queen eloquently conveyed.

The Queen looks most of her 90 years, and a little anxious.

The Prince appears healthy, good-humoured and loving.

The message of the picture is that he is ready and waiting to become our King.

It goes without saying that I fervently hope the Queen will live for many more years. Her death will be an unimaginable national trauma.

But sooner or later it must come, and Charles will succeed.

Of his many accomplishments and good works there can be no doubt.

But he cant seem to rid himself of his potentially fatal devotion to stirring up trouble by saying things a nearly monarch should not say.

In stark contrast, we know next to nothing about the Queens political views.

Had the Prince appeared on Thought For The Day and limited himself to talking about the persecution of Christians, there could have been no objection.

But he cant help himself. Opinions, dopey or otherwise, pour out of him like steam from a geyser.

The Prince of Wales helps make Christmas decorations during a visit to the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice near to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, which he visits regularly and is celebrating 30 years of royal patronage

Donald Trump at a rally in Mobile, Alabama on December 17, 2016

Let me tell him that while Donald Trump will probably shrug off the Princes disobliging insinuations, lots of ordinary people who have reasonable fears about uncontrolled immigration  though absolutely no desire to be nasty to genuine refugees and often have every wish to help them  may think he is getting at them.

And what personal experience, after all, does he have of mass immigration?

None at all.

He should be more careful before he risks demonising people who have had to put up with things he can only guess at.

Thats what I mean about the danger of being divisive.

As part of his campaign to put himself about a bit, theres probably not much harm in his making a recording for the 50th anniversary of Radio 4s Just A Minute, which will be broadcast on Christmas Day.

At least I cant imagine there is, though with the Prince you can never be sure.

But on all political matters he should keep his mouth shut  for his own good and the future of the monarchy.
Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood is calling for a change in the law to spare women the ordeal of travelling to and from clinics

Women should be allowed to have abortions at home by taking powerful drugs, a leading doctor says.

Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood is calling for a change in the law to spare women the onerous ordeal of travelling to and from clinics.

She also wants nurses to be allowed to sign abortion consent forms  rather than just doctors  because they are more likely to have spoken to patients.

Currently the forms can be completed only by two doctors yet bizarrely there is no legal requirement for either of them to have seen the woman.

Dr Goldbeck-Wood, the clinical lead for abortion services at Cambridge University Hospitals, said women wanting an abortion were facing an obstacle course.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, she called for major reforms to the abortion law, which she said creates too much stigma. But campaigners said that relaxing the legislation to make it easier for women to have terminations would put them at even greater risk.

The abortion industry has been in the spotlight this week after a damning report into Marie Stopes clinics by the Care Quality Commission. Doctors were found to be bulk-signing consent forms without assessing patients individual circumstances, and many nurses lacked basic training.

Vulnerable women were allowed to have abortions even though they did not fully understand the consequences and up to 2,600 serious incidents had been reported in a year.

Dr Goldbeck-Wood said that the industry was heading towards a crisis. She called for major reforms to the law, particularly concerning early medical abortions, which comprise 55 per cent of terminations.

Of the 185,824 terminations carried out in England and Wales in 2014, 55 per cent were early medical abortions (file image, posed by model)

These involve women taking two tablets up to 48 hours apart, which must be done under supervision at clinics. Dr Goldbeck-Wood said this meant they had to make two separate trips to clinics within a short time, often with small children in tow.

She said: That first pill could be taken at home and the second one too, in selective cases. This would make it less of an obstacle course. It would make it simpler for women who are already in a difficult situation to access something they do have a right to.

She also said nurses should be allowed to sign consent forms for these medical abortions rather than doctors.

Dr Goldbeck-Wood said: One healthcare professional needs to have a really careful conversation with the woman and I dont see why that has to be a doctor.

But Clara Watson, of the charity Life, said: Reducing the regulations surrounding abortions, including having women abort at home and having nurses delivering abortions, places the health and safety of women at risk.

While we understand the needs of the abortion industry to maximise profits by making abortion access easier with no questions asked, we also recognise the duty of the Government to act when necessary to protect women from exploitation.
Pictured for the first time, this is the interior of the mosque where Europe's most wanted man was allegedly seen just eight hours after driving a 25-ton lorry into a crowd at a Christmas market, killing 12 and injuring 56.

The property was raided by elite police commandos yesterday, who blew open the door with explosives and deployed stun grenades before entering the mosque in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood.

A neighbour reported hearing 'at least 40' gunshots during the raid. 'I used to be in the army and I know the sound of gunfire when I hear it,' he said.

Revealed: Pictured for the first time, this is the interior of the mosque where Europe's most wanted man was allegedly seen just eight hours after the Berlin Christmas market attack

Worship: Books were laid out on one of the tables inside the mosque in Moabit, Berlin

Shortly before 4am on the day after the attack, Amri was allegedly caught on a security camera as he stood outside a mosque in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood, pictured

A man, alleged to be Amri, was seen at the same mosque on two different days in the week leading up to the atrocity. Pictured, a man alleged to be Amir on December 14, left, and 15

The property was raided by elite police commandos yesterday, who blew open the door with explosives and deployed stun grenades before entering the mosque

Last night the door was seen hanging on its hinges, and a rudimentary attempt to fix it with pieces of wood and masking tape appeared to have been abandoned.

A window in the hall outside the mosque, which was covered with graffiti and dirt, had been smashed.

Inside, the place of worship was bare and dark, with no lightbulbs in the sockets. Islamic books, pamphlets and evangelical material were displayed on a table, and a traditional robe was hanging from a peg on the wall.

At the bottom of a flight of stairs leading to the cellar were three pairs of shoes on a rack, together with two suitcases. According to neighbours, the underground floor housed living accommodation.

Fugitive Anis Amri, 24, was caught by a surveillance camera entering the property shortly before 4am on Tuesday, nearly eight hours after committing the atrocity.

The raid has prompted speculation that police are closing in on a jihadi network that may have helped the killer escape.

Inside, the place of worship was bare and dark, with no lightbulbs in the sockets

Last night the door was seen hanging on its hinges, and a rudimentary attempt to fix it with pieces of wood and masking tape appeared to have been abandoned

Islamic books and pamphlets were stored in a cupboard inside the mosque in the Moabit area

A traditional robe was hanging from a peg on the wall of the mosque raided by police

Local people said that the mosque was used by a moderate Turkish group until two years ago, when it was taken over by a more radical organisation.

It was later raided as part of a police operation to arrest associates of Abu Walaa, a suspected ISIS recruiter who was arrested in November along with four associates, they said.

Amri and Abu Walaa, an Iraqi known as the 'faceless preacher' because he never showed his face in his videos, were reportedly in 'regular contact'.

Images obtained by German public broadcaster rbb showed a man in dark clothing and a cap, alleged to be Amri, standing in a doorway in the early hours of Tuesday.

A lone chair was left inside the mosque, where the floor was covered with an ornamental rug

At the bottom of a flight of stairs leading to the cellar were three pairs of shoes on a rack, together with two suitcases

A window in the hall outside the mosque, which was covered with graffiti and dirt, had been smashed

Local residents reported hearing gunshots when police raided the mosque. Pictured, the stairwell of the building

He was seen at the same mosque on two different days in the week leading up to the atrocity.

Elite commando units hunting for Amri, 24, blew up the front door of the mosque, threw in stun grenades and witnesses reported hearing gunfire.

The target was the 'Fussilet 33' association's building in Perleberger Strae in the south-east of the capital.

Neighbouring flats were also, according to German media.

It was raided in 2015 over allegations they were raising money for extremists in Syria. An imam was put under investigation.

Police raided the the 'Fussilet 33' association's building in Perleberger Strae on Thursday

Local people said that the mosque, pictured, was used by a moderate Turkish group until two years ago
A British backpacker who stalked and filmed at least 49 women in change rooms in various stages of undress was 'frustrated', he claimed in court.

Luke Thomas Robinson filmed women at Sunshine Plaza in Marrochydore, Queensland, throughout November and early December and was only caught when a worker at City Beach noticed and contacted police.

The 28-year-old, who has a girlfriend, pleaded guilty on Thursday to 54 charges of secretly filming and photographing woman and uploading the images onto Facebook under a fake identity, News Mail and The Courier Mail reported.

A British backpacker followed 49 women into change rooms at at Sunshine Plaza in Marrochydore, Queensland (pictured) to film them either above or below the barrier

Robinson admitted in court he would wait until he found a woman attractive before following her to the change rooms.

As they would try on clothes he would enter an adjacent room and slip his phone either over or under the separating barrier to record.

As Robinson shared the phone with his girlfriend, he would then upload the images under the profile name, Lucy Jenkins, on Facebook to delete them from the phone and avoid detection from his girlfriend.

His girlfriend of seven years, Amie Lambkin, was present at the court after stating she would support Robinson in a character reference statement.

Robinson's lawyer, Nathan Turner told the court, the 28-year-old's behaviour was the result of frustrations caused by staying in a mixed dormitory for accommodation.

The pair's relationship was deteriorating and intimacy was difficult, Mr Turner said.

The woman getting changed on the day Robinson was caught is the only victim identified.

Robinson was sentenced to a four-month community order under strict conditions but he is now in immigration detention and is expected to be deported

In a victim impact statement she is now scared and is constantly looking over her shoulder.

'I have random panic attacks, I can't stop crying, I get shaky and scared and feel like I have to keep looking over my shoulder...' she wrote.

Robinson was sentenced to a four-month community order under strict conditions he report regularly to corrective services and attend medical and psychiatric appointments.
A man has become a real-life wedding crasher after driving his vehicle through the front window of a bridal souvenir shop.

The 38-year-old man was driving down Ruthven Street in Toowoomba, Queensland, when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the shopfront of Premier Cane.

A witness claims the motorist was driving erratically in the early hours of Friday when he lost control of his car and almost hit a pedestrian before careering into the shop, the Toowomba Chronicle reports.

A man has become a real-life wedding crasher after driving his vehicle through the front window of a bridal souvenir shop in Toowoomba, Queensland

The 38-year-old man crashed into the shopfront of Premier Cane (pictured) in the early hours of Friday. A witness claims the motorist was driving erratically when he lost control of his car and almost hit a pedestrian before careering into the shop

A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that an investigation is underway into the incident, but that no charges had been laid against the man.

The driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and is expected to make a recovery.

For the owners of Premier Cane, a wedding shop and florist, the incident was an unwanted Christmas present.

Taking to social media the morning after the incident the store's owners showed the extensive damage caused to their shop.

'Big job cleaning for Christmas holidays,' the store wrote alongside a Facebook post.

Photos showed glassware, souvenirs and flowers scattered across the shop's floor.

An financial damage caused to the shop is not yet known but is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars.
Supporters of Marine A reacted with fury yesterday after it emerged that a 50million Nigerian conman had been released from prison on the same day the ex-serviceman was denied bail.

Fraudster James Ibori was let out on Wednesday half way through a 13-year sentence  despite refusing to pay back a penny of the money he stole.

On the same day Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was told he would be spending Christmas in jail after his application for bail was refused. This was despite him winning the right to a new appeal against his murder conviction for killing a Taliban fighter.

Crook: Corrupt James Ibori (right) is met by a friend after his release

Critics described the contrast between the two mens cases  both heard at Londons Royal Courts of Justice  as a perversion of justice.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd had tried to keep Ibori locked up until he had handed back at least 18million of the proceeds of his crimes. But the High Court ruled this was an abuse of her powers, and ordered Ibori to be freed.

Thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, who campaigns for justice for Sergeant Blackman, said: A brave Marine sergeant who fought for his country is cruelly kept behind bars, away from his family at Christmas, while a Nigerian fraudster who is refusing to give up his stolen money is let free half way through his sentence.

This is the sort of thing that makes my blood boil. Is British justice so degenerate that the civil rights of every conman, gangster and career criminal now outweigh those of a law-abiding citizen who made one mistake?

Sgt Blackman is serving life for shooting a wounded Taliban fighter on the battlefield. He was granted a fresh appeal by officials who concluded there was a real possibility his conviction will be quashed, but his application to be allowed home for Christmas pending the appeal was thrown out by the Lord Chief Justice on Wednesday.

On the same day, Ibori was celebrating as a free man after being allowed to thumb his nose at the law. The 57-year-old conman was pictured laughing and smiling with friends as he walked from Huntercombe prison, near Nuffield in Oxfordshire, on Wednesday evening.

He was only half way through his 13-year sentence for fraud and money-laundering. He has refused to give up the money he stole, and still owns a 2million three-bedroom apartment on Abbey Road in St Johns Wood, North London, opposite the recording studio used by the Beatles.

Veteran commando Sgt Blackmans bid for bail was rejected despite the Appeal Court hearing he had been a model prisoner with an exemplary service record before the shooting incident.

Last night Conservative MP Peter Bone said: The law is an ass at times, and clearly that is the case here. How can you keep in prison somebody who has served our country and put his life at considerable risk, and at the same time allow a Nigerian fraudster who stole 50million to walk out of prison without getting the money back?

Christmas apart: Alexander Blackman and his wife Claire

It makes no sense and its the sort of thing that drives my constituents completely up the wall. Tory MP Philip Hollobone added: If proof were needed that the worlds gone mad, then the contrast between these two cases provides it.

There is simply no way this Nigerian should be let out of jail until he coughs up, and I think a Marine who has served his country can be trusted to be with his family for Christmas without running for the hills. Ibori was jailed in 2012 after admitting his crimes following a Scotland Yard investigation.

His route to vast wealth began after he left his job as a cashier at a branch of Wickes DIY store in West London to return to Nigeria to enter politics and become one of Africas richest men as governor of oil-rich Delta State. He plundered Nigerian public funds to pay for a lavish lifestyle, including two homes in London.

When he became eligible for parole, Home Secretary Mrs Rudd tried to use immigration powers to keep him detained until a confiscation hearing next year. But the High Court rejected Mrs Rudds move as quite extraordinary.

Supporters of Sgt Blackman continued to express anger at his bail being refused. Julian Searle wrote on the campaigns Facebook page: Rapists, child molesters, burglars and it would seem every other criminal can have bail, but a man who has selflessly served his country cannot.
The young bank teller who took advantage of a banking glitch to spend $1.5 million has an Oscar winning producer knocking on his door.

Luke Brett Moore's, 29, dreamlike story of taking advantage of a banking glitch to spend millions of dollars only to be forced to move back in with his mum two years later has caught the eye of Oscar and Golden Globe producer David Klawans.

Back in 2010 Luke Brett Moore was on Centrelink and at just 22-years-old decided to open an overdraft account with St George bank.

After noticing the bank never put a block on his account, he took advantage of his unlimited pool of cash and splurged on lavish items including a Hyundai Veloceter for $32,000, an Aston Martin DB7 Vantage coupe for $91,000 and finally the Maserati at $36,000.

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Luke Moore (pictured), a Goulburn man who splurged $2 million on luxury cars, strippers and a host of luxurious items over two years

Moore withdrew funds to other bank accounts before going on a multi-million dollar spending spree, including this $36,000 Maserati and a $54,000 Stessl boat

By the time the bank realised what was going on, Moore owed them $2 million purchasing flashy cars, artwork, sport memorabilia and a boat.

The police were called in, he was arrested and his haul discovered along with money stashed away in accounts with other banks.

'I don't need to apologise, it was business,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'It's the price a bank has to pay for being irresponsible and lending a 22-year-old $2 million.'

After living a exuberant lifestyle of fast cars, strippers and cocaine Mr Moore was forced to move back in with his mum in Goulburn, according to the publication.

Moore's case began in 2010 when he took out an overdraft account and discovered that no limit had been placed on it (pictured, a $32,000 Hyundai he bought)

The 29-year-old man said the money was great while it lasted

Luke Moore spent money he withdrew on sport memorabilia including this signed Michael Jordan jersey

Music memorabilia was also part of his collection, such as this Michael Jackson signed album

The cheeky 29-year-old was sentenced last year to two years in jail, but after spending a few months behind bars his appeal was overturned.

With the backing of the court Mr Moore said ne never acted immorally or defrauded the bank, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Now the young go-getter has created a budding career in criminal law with just two years left in his degree and a potential internship.

But, incredibly David Klawans - producer of Oscar winning film Argo starring Ben Affleck - has contacted Mr Moore to discuss the Hollywood like story.

'One minute I'm in jail having reached the lowest ebb of my life and the next I'm talking to movie makers about a Hollywood blockbuster,' he said.

Luke Brett Moore is now studying law and is reportedly in discussions about a potential Hollywood movie with an award winning producer
A Tunisian failed asylum-seeker with known links to Islamist radicals is the chief suspect in the Berlin terrorist atrocity.

This depressingly predictable development confirms the fact that Islamic State seems to be making a terrifying reality of its promise to flood Europe with jihadist foot soldiers among the millions of refugees and economic migrants.

Already the group has claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 12 and left dozens injured, and we are told by U.S. security officials that the man being hunted, Anis Amri, had direct contact with ISIS in the past.

Anis Amri (pictured) has at times used six different aliases and three different nationalities as he avoided the attentions of European security services in the weeks leading to his attack

The ISIS killer behind Germany's worst terror attack since 1980 on Monday night has been given an 18 hour head start after police bungled the probe after arresting the wrong man

The truck killed 12 people and injured 48 as it careered through the Berlin Christmas market

Its goal in implementing this strategy is as simple as it is potentially catastrophic for Europes freedom and prosperity: to provoke deep social and religious divisions between overwhelmingly young Muslim male newcomers and the indigenous populations.

The hope from the puppet masters in Syria and Iraq is that this will culminate in chaos and even civil war, and the eventual triumph of their ruthless Islamist ideology throughout mainland Europe.

This is a long-term, malevolent and utterly determined strategy.

Amri was supposed to have been kicked out of Germany this year after his asylum application failed because of his fanaticism and links to an extremist preacher.

But because the authorities could not establish his identity beyond doubt, he was allowed to stay, though under surveillance. He is said to have used at least six different names and three nationalities.

Only on Wednesday did his home nation of Tunisia acknowledge he was from that country, and sent his passport to Berlin.

If Amri is, indeed, the culprit in this appalling crime, then a deeply disturbing pattern is emerging of Tunisian-born Islamists using vehicles to slaughter revellers.

The terrorist who mowed down innocent people celebrating Bastille Day this year in Nice, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, was also born in Tunisia. His truck, too, ploughed into a crowd, killing 84 people  including ten children and adolescents  and injuring 202.

Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel from Tunisia used this truck to kill 84 people in Nice, France

This serves to remind us that Tunisia, 90 miles from Italy, has provided a greater number of jihadis than any other country to the Islamist terror group in its self-declared caliphate straddling Syria and Iraq.

At home, too, these jihadis have caused endless mayhem, bringing Tunisias crucial domestic tourism industry  and therefore the local economy  to its knees.

Five major terrorist attacks claimed by Islamic State have taken place inside the country over the past few years  resulting, most devastatingly, in dozens of British and other tourists being massacred in 2015 in the capital citys most famous museum and on a beach near the resort town of Sousse.

It is these radicalised Tunisians who appear to be leading the onslaught against Europe.

German authorities have revealed there is a 100,000 reward for Amri's capture

According to German media reports, Anis Amri is likely to be one of as many as 1,750 jihadis whom intelligence officials acknowledge have made their way to Europe over the past year, intent on murdering innocents.

Many outraged Germans are now justifiably astonished at how he had his asylum application rejected, yet was still able to create such unimaginable terror in Berlin.

For all but the most blinkered observers, the answer to that question is not difficult to find.

The undeniable reality is that Europes breathtakingly reckless open-door immigration policy has provided a perfect cover for Islamic State to further its bloody, anti-Christian agenda.

Amri is thought to have journeyed across the Mediterranean from Libya four years ago and spent time in an Italian jail after setting fire to a school.

The terrorist groups steely determination to flood the Continent with jihadis starkly contrasts with European politicians extraordinary passivity.

Armed police patrolled in front of the nativity scene at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent due to the threat posed by Islamist terrorists in the few days before Christmas following Berlin

It is no coincidence that the Berlin attack on a Christmas market came weeks after the bombing by an Islamic State terrorist of the main cathedral in Cairo, resulting in the worst slaughter of Copts  Egypts Christian sect  in the countrys history.

On the Continent, and here in Britain, we should be under no illusion that the groups primary strategy is to slaughter Christians wherever they find them, to stir inter-religious hatreds.

Instead of addressing this sectarian reality and acting ruthlessly to stop it, impotent European politicans appear to be in the grip of a deluded obsession with a harmonious multicultural, open-bordered Europe.

After all, it has long been known that the vast majority of migrants arriving in Europe are undocumented  yet nothing whateover has been done to tackle the problem.

With many of them  and they are overwhelmingly young men  also carrying easily obtained false identification, there is simply no way of verifying who they are or even where they come from.

It is believed that this Metrojet Russian passenger jet was destroyed by jihadists

Worse, there is still no system to stop those who have been turned back from returning as soon as they have assumed another identity.

We saw the consequences of this madness when it emerged that two of the terrorists involved in the attack on the Bataclan concert in Paris last year had entered Europe on false Syrian passports through the island of Leros and had been registered as asylum-seekers by the Greek authorities.

With cold and calculated cynicism, they presented fraudulent Syrian documents to speed up their registration process  all with the aim of carrying out the worst terrorist attack in Europe since World War II.

Meanwhile, some optimistic observers are pinning their hopes on a rapid defeat of ISIS in its Middle East redoubts  Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria  assuming this would cut off the flow of jihadis sent to Europe.

The truth is that efforts to defeat the group militarily remain as haphazard as ever.

When U.S.-backed Iraqi troops launched an assault on Mosul two months ago, there was elation among experts that the end was nigh  especially after the liberation of Palmyra in Syria.

However, as usual the optimism proved short-sighted and hubristic. Iraqi forces have still to make any significant progess into Mosul, despite losing thousands of soldiers and battling an ISIS force made up of just a few thousand jihadis.

ISIS has reportedly retaken the ancient city of Palmyra after routing Syrian troops

Perhaps even more astonishingly, Islamic State have just retaken Palmyra right under the noses of Russian troops, who fled when challenged for fear of capture.

Elsewhere, in Egypt  the Arab worlds most populous country  despite an unprecedented deployment of tens of thousands of Egyptian soldiers to the Sinai peninsula, the ISIS-supported insurgency there continues to rage.

Egyptian generals and police officers are being slaughtered on an almost daily basis. This week the Egyptian government acknowledged that the EgyptAir plane brought down after taking off from Paris earlier this year was most likely bombed out of the air.

This means the country lost two planes to ISIS in a matter of months following the loss of a Russian holiday jet.

Meanwhile, the CIA estimate that 50,000 Islamic State militants have been killed in Iraq and Syria appears to be a preposterous exaggeration, not least because the CIA previously estimated the total number of ISIS fighters as only 35,000. I suspect the number killed is far lower.

As we head into 2017, both in its Caliphate homeland and throughout the Middle East, ISIS remains an extraordinary powerful, battled hardened fighting force that conventional armies are finding hard to defeat.

And as long as that is the case, it will have the power to unleash waves of foot soldiers towards Europe to join those already here and plotting more devastation.

As politicians wring their hands and lay flowers for Berlins dead  and Germany offers a 100,000 reward that will surely have little effect  the Islamists must be very pleased with themselves.

And while our leaden-footed and naive leaders continue to fiddle, Islamic States plans to cause havoc across Europe will continue.

JOHN R. BRADLEY is the author of four books on the Middle East.




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President-elect Donald Trump's boyhood home in New York City is going back on the auction block.

Paramount Realty says the 1940 Tudor-style house in Jamaica Estates in Queens is being offered January 17.

That's three days before Trump takes the oath of office and two months after the house was withdrawn from an auction after a mystery buyer plunked down $1.25million cash for the house last week.

But the buyer doesn't plan on living there, he wants to flip it.

Haghani said the buyer is a real estate investor who believes the house will be worth more than he paid.

Sellers restaurateur Isaac Kestenberg and his now-estranged wife, Claudia, who bought it in 2008 for $782,500, according to The New York Post. They originally had the house listed for $1.65million over the summer but couldn't find a buyer.

Don slept here: The auction of Donald Trump's childhood home was set to take place on Wednesday afternoon

It was slated to go to auction with an opening bid of $849,000 on October 19, but on a hunch that Trump might win the election, and the house's value skyrocket, the sellers pulled it.

Paramount Realty owner Misha Haghani says the property has 'intangible value that goes beyond just the real estate.'

The Post claims experts said it could be worth up to $10million if someone wanted to turn it into a museum.

In October, the house was slated to go to auction, but it was canceled due to the significant last-minute interest in the house.

Pushing it back: It was postponed due to potential buyers asking for more time to look at the residence (Donald's childhood bedroom above)

'Because the auction was getting so much press coverage a lot of bidders were contacting the firm to ask for more time to look at the property,' said Stina Dakers, a spokeswoman for Paramount Realty USA, who is listing the home.

And owner Isaac Kestenberg told ABC 7 that for the past few months countless tourists have been snapping photos of the residence.

Popular: There has also been a large amount of tourists coming to take photos of the home over the past few months according to the owner

Big money: The auction will now take place later this year, with the bidding set to start at $849,000

Then and now: Donald as a child (left) and on Wednesday night at the debate (right). The 3,600-square-foot house also features a finished basement with a second kitchen

Kestenberg said that he was not even aware that the Trump family lived in the home until after he purchased the property.

'I found out when I bought the house from the neighbors here. There was this lady Mary, an old lady, and she told me that Donald Trump was living here and that she was his childhood friend,' said Kestenberg.

The family did not move very far after they left either, building a larger home in a lot behind the house.

Trump lived in the home - built in 1940 by his developer father - from his birth until he was four years old.

The brick-and-stucco home has five bedrooms, 4 baths, an enclosed rear porch and a detached, two-car garage. The 3,600-square-foot house also features a finished basement with a second kitchen.

Living room: The brick-and-stucco home has five bedrooms, 4 baths, an enclosed rear porch and a detached, two-car garage

Big money: The house is expected to go for over $1million at auction

Neighborhood: Jamaica Estates is an upper middle class enclave of one-family Tudor, Victorian and Colonial style homes

Moving up: Trump lived in the home from his birth until he was four years old, at which time the family built a larger house in a neighboring lot

Jamaica Estates is an upper middle class enclave of one-family Tudor, Victorian and Colonial style homes .

Over the summer, the house was on the market for $1.6million before being reduced to $1.39million.
A huge bull shark has been spotted circling beneath surfers at Ballina, a popular New South Wales beach.

The shark was seen lurking just below the water at Boulders Beach, on the NSW north coast on Friday, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.

It was spotted by a Department of Primary Industries helicopter flying above, which triggered the alarm.

The shark was seen lurking just below the water at Boulders Beach, on the NSW north coast on Friday

The surfers, seen just metres from the shark, immediately left the water and escaped injury.

The shark sighting is just the most recent in a spate documented at beaches near Ballina.

Ballina, and nearby Byron Bay on the NSW north coast are Australia's shark attack hot spots with 18 incidents and three fatalities between them since 1990.

Following closely behind Byron Bay, Ballina has been named the second most prolific location for unprovoked shark attacks.

There have been five shark attacks recorded at Ballina beaches in the last two years.

Ballina (pictured) has been named the second most prolific location for unprovoked shark attacks

Cooper Allen, 17, was left with deep lacerations to his leg and torso after he was mauled by a shark in September

A teenage boy was attacked by a great white shark while surfing at a beach in Ballina in September.

Cooper Allen, 17, was left with deep lacerations to his leg and torso after he was mauled by the shark.

Local lifesavers said the teenager was lucky he was not more seriously injured in the attack.
The doors of Prince Charless Ayrshire mansion are still open for his friends from Spanish tile company Porcelanosa, despite an embarrassing cash-for-access row in the run-up to the Royal Wedding.

Eyebrows were raised when it emerged that Porcelanosa had covered a significant proportion of the costs of a lavish 2011 dinner at Buckingham Palace, after being awarded a Royal Warrant in 2005 for supplying Charles with tiles. The Prince needs to be more careful about blurring the lines between his good causes and big business, Labour MP Paul Flynn said at the time.

Despite the controversy, it seems the face of Porcelanosa, former model Isabel Preysler, maintains a close relationship with the Prince of Wales.

Generous: Actor Antonio Banderas poses with Santa at Prince Charles's Dumfries House

On Tuesday, Preysler, her daughter Tamara Falco and Preyslers partner, the Nobel Prize-winner Mario Vargas Llosa, attended a dinner for 50 guests at Charless Dumfries House near Cumnock, where they could admire the sanitary and kitchen furnishings Porcelanosa donated to the stately homes multi-million-pound refurb.

Charles hosted the intimate occasion to thank some of the most generous supporters of his charities for their donations.

The glamorous event  covered by Spains Hola! magazine  was also attended by actor-turned-fashion designer Antonio Banderas and his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, who are based in a 2.4 million home in Surrey while Banderas studies menswear at Central Saint Martins college. The Dumfries House website posted a festive photo of the Mask Of Zorro and Shrek star with Santa.

Antonio kindly dropped by to thank Santa for visiting Dumfries House this year, reads the caption.

Further Iberian star power came from Spanish models Nieves Alvarez and Paloma Cuevas, with Cuevass bullfighter husband Enrique Ponce.

Santa isnt the only one dispensing generous gifts at Dumfries House, of course.

Billionaire art collector Jurgen Pierburg, Eva Rausing, the late wife of the Tetra Pak heir, and Kansas philanthropist Julia Irene Kauffman all chipped in to Charless multi-million-pound whip-round to save the crumbling pile for the nation in 2007, and were thanked by the Prince for their generous support.

Charles rewarded Porcelanosas generous cheques to his charities with an invitation to Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding for the ceramics companys boss, Manuel Colonques, and his wife Delfina  the only Spanish guests other than the countrys royal family and the Spanish ambassador to Britain.

Kelly Osbourne has been rather indiscreet about Princess Beatrice in her new book, There Is No F***ing Secret: Letters From A Badass Bitch, which is due out in April. The 32-year-old daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne writes in her Dear London chapter: I remember once talking to Princess Beatrice in the powder room at one of Elton Johns parties, and shed told me how shed gotten grounded for taking the Tube. Everyone who has to take the Tube in London hates it, but thats all she wanted to do: buy a ticket and take a ride like everyone else out there.

Paris Hilton puts herself in a fashion blindspot

When hotel heiress Paris Hilton boarded a plane to Mauritius this week, it appears she also took flight of her fashion sense.

The 35-year-old model  whose younger sister Nicky wed British banking heir James Rothschild last year  is living proof that money does not always guarantee good taste.

The selfie-loving millionairess posed on the beach wearing an eclectic mix of accessories that included 210 Linda Farrow gold star sunglasses and banana-shaped earrings.

Never one to miss an opportunity for self-promotion, she captioned the picture Stars Are Blind in a nod to the pop song she released in 2006.

The 35-year-old model  whose younger sister Nicky wed British banking heir James Rothschild last year  is living proof that money does not always guarantee good taste

As we are serenaded by Christmas carols, is it possible that next weeks New Year Honours might include composer John Rutter, whose work includes so many modern seasonal classics? Rutter, 71, so far has only a CBE to his name, despite being widely regarded as Britains most popular writer of contemporary church music. He is also a favourite of the royals, having composed anthems for the 2011 Royal Wedding and the Queens Golden Jubilee. Would a knighthood for this modest, but talented, musician not be a judicious and happy decision?
Two brothers have been arrested in western Germany on suspicion of planning an attack at a shopping center where a popular Christmas market is taking place near the Dutch border, police say.

Special police units apprehended the two suspicious looking men in Duisburg at about 12:45am local time on Friday, as authorities say they may have been planning to attack the shopping center CentrO in Oberhausen.

'The 28- and 31-year-old brothers born in Kosovo are suspected of having prepared an attack on the CentrO in Oberhausen,' an Essen police statement reads.

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Two brothers have been arrested in western Germany on suspicion of planning an attack at the CentrO retail complex (file above) where a popular Christmas market is taking place near the Dutch border, police say

Special police units apprehended the two suspicious looking men in Duisburg at about 12:45am local time on Friday, as authorities say they may have been planning to attack the shopping center CentrO in Oberhause (file above)

It's unclear if the men are related to the attack that happened on Monday when a hijacked lorry claimed 12 lives and injured dozens of others when it crashed into a Berlin Christmas market (above)

'At the present time, it is determined at high pressure how far preparations have been made and whether other persons are involved.'

Authorities at the CentrO shopping center showed a heavy presence Thursday evening due to the threat of the situation.

'In civilian clothes and in uniform they controlled the area, clearly visible to visitors and customers,' police said in Friday's statement.

Authorities said they are still working to establish how far the preparations for the potential attack at the shopping complex went and if there are other individuals involved.

Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence services, police were deployed to the shopping complex and a nearby Christmas market in the western city of Oberhausen late Thursday, they said.

Carnage: The lorry was deliberately steered into the market, which was packed with shoppers on Monday night. Victims including children were sent flying like bowling pins and crushed under the lorry

The names of the brothers were not released, and the police provided no further details.

Germany is on high alert following the horrific attack on the Christmas market on Monday in Berlin that killed 12 and injured 49 people.

It's unclear if the men arrested in Duisburg are connected to the attack on Monday, where the suspect, Anis Amri, 24, is still at large.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the assault -- their deadliest yet carried out on German soil.

The CentrO shopping complex in Oberhausen is the largest mall in Germany with more than 250 stores.

It's located about 25miles from the border with the Netherlands just north of Dusseldorf.
A brave nine-year-old transgender girl who appeared on the cover of National Geographic has been targeted by trolls, some of whom have called for her parents to be 'exterminated'.

Avery Jackson, from Kansas, was born a boy, but announced to her mother Debi that she was a girl at the age of four.

The nine-year-old made history this month when she became the first transgender person to appear on the prestigious magazine's front-page.

Avery Jackson, a transgender girl from Kansas, has been targeted by trolls since she appeared on the cover of National Geographic

Avery's mom posted a picture of the cover online earlier this month, along with an emotional message for her daughter.

'I'm shaking so much I can barely type,' it read. 'Thank you for featuring Avery! #transisbeautiful.'

The edition of the magazine that Avery is on the cover of is dedicated to exploring 'the shifting landscape of gender'.

Debi went back to social media again after the cover was revealed, to heap further deserved praise on her daughter.

Debi Jackson has said Avery was so deeply unhappy living as a boy she feared the outcome. Debi also defended her daughter from offensive trolls

Avery (pictured with her brother) has been attacked on social media for appearing on the magazine cover

'I'm not sure what gets to me more... seeing Avery rock a major magazine cover on behalf of the beautiful trans community, or seeing my husband try to stifle his proud-daddy tears as he reads all the wonderful feedback about her,' she wrote on Facebook.

Avery's front cover of the magazine is seen. It goes on sale on December 27

However, not all the feedback has been positive, with a prominent Christian group leading the negative attacks.

'BE WARNED PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS!!! National Geographic shakes a fist at God and biblical authority on their radical mission to advocate gender confusion in upcoming issues,' a bizarre post on the American Family Association's Facebook page read.

'The biblical teaching of the truth about gender identity is confirmed by biological science. Human sexuality is binary by design. Binary means there are two and only two options... These are genetic markers which indicate Gods master design for humanity and create the capacity for human reproduction.'

The post then cited a bible verse.

The demeaning comment has been shared thousands of times, while others have added shocking comments. In addition to one person saying Avery should be 'exterminated', others said it was 'child abuse' and the pathway to pedophilia.

The American Family Association posted this status on its Facebook page about the magazine cover

However, Debi was quick to hit back against those trying to discredit her daughter.

'Its a bunch of internet trolls,' she told the Kansas City Star.

'This one particular group likes to target the trans community  a lot of them try to target people and harass them so much so that theyll commit suicide.'

She then went on to explain how she has also been targeted since the magazine cover, with some people calling for her to kill herself.

The nine-year-old girl created history by becoming the first transgender person to appear on the magazine's cover

Avery Jackson, from Kansas, was born a boy, but announced to her mother Debi that she was a girl at the age of four

'Theyve started a thread about me, (describing me) as a horrible and abusive parent who is using my child for fame and fortune, and obviously I have a twisted sexual deviancy issues to make my boy act like a girl,' Debi said.

'They found information (about our family) and put it out there. People later commented, "Yeah, shes definitely one who needs to be cyberbullied until she commits suicide".

'Its gone from, "Youre an abusive mom and people should call child protective services," to "You should be killed immediately  the only way your kids will be safe is if you are exterminated".'

National Geographic's Gender Revolution issue, which is out on December 27, explores different aspects of gender identity through various stories - including Avery's.
Melbourne's Anglican archbishop has called on Australians to defy terrorist threats by attending mass and continuing their daily routine.

Archbishop Philip Freier has spoken after Victorian police foiled an 'ISIS-inspired' terror plot to attack multiple locations in Melbourne's CBD on Christmas Day resulting in the arrest of seven people.

Abp Freier acknowledged 'Christmas time is always one of heightened alert' as Christians are targeted during festive celebrations.

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Melbourne's Anglican archbishop, Philip Freier has, calls on Australians to continue their daily routine and for Christians to attend mass after the unravelling of a an 'ISIS-inspired' terror plot

Police raided a number of properties after they foiled an 'ISIS-inspired' terror plot to attack multiple locations in Melbourne's CBD

The raids began on Thursday night and continued on Friday - resulting in the arrest of seven people

'Its very concerning, we know that in Indonesia and other places Christmas time is always one of heightened alert because its a time of when Christian celebrations are under more threat,' Abp Freier said.

He also noted that although the threats may feel imminent it was necessary for Christians to hold onto and express their beliefs.

'Were very conscious of holding onto the freedom we have and the freedom of religious expression particularly at the very important time of Christmas.

Abp Freier requested all Australians continue attending mass, especially at St Paul's Cathedral which was an alleged target for the 'ISIS-inspired' terror plot involving bombs, knives and guns.

'I would encourage people to come [to St Paul's Cathedral], we would really like to have the confident presence of Christians that worship at Christmas time, as a confident assertion of the things that really are part of who we are as people here in Melbourne.'

As thousands visit the Cathedral on Christmas, security is always present, however this weekend the presence by Victoria police will also be felt.

But Abp Freier emphasised that despite the fear instilled into the community by a few people, the public must not be afraid.

'Ive had contact with two people from the Islamic community this morning and they share our concern that the actions of a few would tend to polarise opinion in Melbourne and it would tend to make people more alarmed and suspicious and we would like people to do things they would want to do in confidence,' he said.

Federation Square (right) and St Paul's Cathedral (left) were being targeted
A woman has made what can only be described as a 'thriller' of a catch, reeling in a sand crab bearing an incredible resemblance to pop icon Michael Jackson.

Megan Short from Currumbin, on the Gold Coast, was out fishing on the Tweed River on Tuesday when she caught what initially seemed to be just a normal crab.

It was until the 41-year-old posted a photo of her catch to Facebook that her friends pointed out its freakish likeness to the man many regard as the 'King of Pop'.

Megan Short has made what can only be described as a 'thriller' of a catch, reeling in a sand crab (pictured) bearing an incredible resemblance to pop icon Michael Jackson

Ms Short told Daily Mail Australia that it wasn't until her friends began commenting on a Facebook photo of the crab (left) that she realised its likeness to the King of Pop (right)

if the facial resemblance wasn't enough, the crab even had one claw whiter than the other - in a similar way to how Jackson used to wear a white glove on his hand

'I was out on a houseboat fishing and I caught this crab, then took a couple of photos and released it,' Ms Short told Daily Mail Australia.

'I then went back inside and posted the photos to Facebook and continued fishing.

'It wasn't until I went back online I realised it had blown up and all my friends were commenting that it looked like Michael Jackson - or as they said: 'Michael Crabson'.'

Ms Short, who owns a pet shop in Currumbin, said her photo of the 'MJ' lookalike quickly began spreading across social media.

Before long the photo of 'Michael Crabson' was on the front page of a local paper and Ms Short was wishing she'd held on to the crustacean.

'I'm sort of regretting that I threw it back into the river now it's got all this attention,' she said.

'There's a lot of MJ fanatics out there, so I reckon I could've got some decent money on Ebay.'

But while she currently regrets parting ways with the famous crab, fishing fame seems set to continue following Ms Short.

A keen fisherman, Ms Short (pictured) said she is now regretting throwing the crab back in the water: 'There's a lot of MJ fanatics out there, I could've got some decent money on Ebay'.

The following day Ms Short was back out on the water catching this fish her friends said looked like Australian TV personality Bert Newton

A regular fisherwoman, the day after catching the crab she was back on the water, catching more celebrity lookalikes.

'I caught a fish the next day that people said looked like Donald Trump, and another one that looked like Bert Newton, so it's pretty funny,' she said.

And with plans to get back out on the water on Christmas Day, she said she 'won't stop 'til she gets enough'.
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson has said she is 'disgusted' politicians did not 'acknowledge the faith' of the terrorists after police foiled a plot to target iconic Melbourne locations on Christmas Day.

Counter-terrorism police arrested seven people, aged between 20 and 26, after executing five search warrants at homes in the city's north and west on Friday morning.

The terror plotters allegedly planned to attack Melbourne's Flinders Street Station and Federation Square on Christmas Day, according to Victoria Police.

Ms Hanson took to Twitter to condemn Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for not calling the attack an 'act of evil faith'.

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Pauline Hanson has said she is 'disgusted' politicians did not call the foiled Christmas Day terror plots in Melbourne an 'evil act of faith'

Ms Hanson took to Twitter to condemn Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for not calling the attack an 'act of evil faith' after he addressed the media on Friday

'The refusal of left wing politicians and journalists to acknowledge the faith of these ISIS inspired Islamic terrorists is disgusting,' she tweeted on Friday.

'I was disgusted by Premier Andrews. After the terrorists were foiled he should have said what this truly was, an act of evil faith'.

After police made the arrests, Mr Andrews chose to call the terrorist plot an act of 'evil,' rather than an 'act of faith'.

'What was being planned was not an act of faith, was not an act of religious observance, it was instead in its planning, an act of evil, a criminal act,' he told reporters on Friday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the 'terrorists sought to disrupt' the holiday season where 'Australians come together in peace and love with families'.

After police made the arrests, Mr Andrews (pictured) chose to call the terrorist plot an act of 'evil,' rather than an 'act of faith'

The One Nation Senator also took aim at 'left wing politicians and journalists' for not condemning the faith of the terror plotters in their reports

Police remained at a property in Meadow Heights on Friday following raids on Thursday night

'The refusal of left wing politicians and journalists to acknowledge the faith of these ISIS inspired Islamic terrorists is disgusting,' Ms Hanson tweeted on Friday

'What these criminals seek to do is to kill, but they also seek to frighten us, to cower us into abandoning our Australian way of life, they want to frighten and divide Australians'.

A total of five men remain in custody including a 24-year-old from Meadow Heights, a 26-year-old from Dallas, a 22-year-old from Campbellfield and two men, both 21, from Flemington and Gladstone Park.

The five people were known to police and had been under police surveillance for around two weeks, with police alleging they intended to target Federation Square, Flinders Street train station and St Paul's Cathedral with bombs, knives and guns.

Police Chief Graham Ashton said he believed the terror threat had been 'neutralised' following the anti-terror raids which uncovered an improvised explosive device.

Counter-terrorism police arrested seven people, aged between 20 and 26, after executing five search warrants at homes in the city's north and west on Friday morning

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the 'terrorists sought to disrupt' the holiday season where 'Australians come together in peace and love with families
A young man has had to have his arm amputated after trying to jump onto a moving freight train.

The 25-year-old is believed to have been trying to hitch a ride into Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, at 9.25pm on Thursday night when he jumped onto the train.

Falling heavily onto the train track, paramedics said they were forced to cut off part of his left arm at the scene before rushing him to hospital.

A young man has had to have his arm amputated after trying to jump onto a moving freight train (like pictured) outside of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory

'The lower part was amputated on scene,' St Johns Ambulance spokesman Craig Garraway told AAP.

'The upper part was quite severely injured and they may have looked at amputating it just below the shoulder.'

Late last night the man underwent surgery at Alice Springs Hospital.

However Mr Garraway said the severity of the injury may mean he needs to be transferred to the larger Adelaide Hospital.

'There's a chance he may be flown onto Adelaide by the Royal Doctor service,' he said.

After initially having the bottom part of his left arm cut off at the scene, the man was rushed to Alice Springs hospital (pictured) where the remainder of his arm amputated

NT Senior Sergeant Michael Gilby said the train driver was initially unaware the incident had occurred.

It was only that the man's friend was able to wave down a passing tourist after the accident that he received instant help.
Anti-Muslim protesters who left a dismembered pig's head at the site of a planned Islamic Centre in New Zealand have been branded 'gutless'.

Police launched an investigation after the pig was discovered on Friday in pieces at the planned site of first Muslim centre to be built in Marlborough on the South Island, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Race Relations Commissioner Susan Devoy called the act gutless and a terrible example of racism that exists in New Zealand today.

A pig's head was dumped on a site in Marlborough (pictured) where a new Muslim centre will be built

'Muslim New Zealanders deserve better than this kind of racist abuse,' she said.

'These kinds of gutless people who take part in anonymous attacks on mosques and synagogues don't reflect the majority of New Zealanders - it's up to us to call them out and to report them to police.'

The New Zealand Islamic Development Trust purchased the site and work on the new centre is scheduled to begin next year.

Practicing Muslims are forbidden from eating pork or any of its byproducts as it is written in the Qur'an.

Devoy urged anyone with information about the carcass dumping to talk with police, who confirmed they were investigating whether the dumping was 'an intentional act'.

Race Relations Commissioner Susan Devoy said the act was 'gutless' (stock Image)

Commissioner Devoy was furious after the incident (stock image)

NZ Muslim Association president Ikhlaq Kashkari also said he hoped that those who carried out the stunt would be brought to justice by police.

He admitted that these occurrences were seldom in New Zealand, but a similar case took place in Christchurch where a pig's head was left at a mosque there.

'New Zealand by far is a very tolerant society but there are these fringe elements,' he said.
Goldstein and Lasner arrived at SFO hours after Ivanka and her family as the two men quickly fled the airport

The group was escorted off first by Secret Service and transferred to a private jet to continue trip to Hawaii

The original JetBlue flight with Ivanka, her three kids and husband landed in San Francisco at 2:40pm (PT)

JetBlue staff removed Goldstein and his husband, Matthew Lasner, from the plane and accommodated them on the next available flight out

Ivanka ignored him, keeping up a calm composure as she tried to preoccupy her children with crayons

He then demanded to know why Ivanka was on the flight and not travelling on a private plane

Dan Goldstein, a Brooklyn lawyer, told Ivanka, 'Your father is ruining the country' while boarding plane

Ivanka Trump was accosted by passenger on JetBlue plane at JFK before take off Thursday morning

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The Brooklyn lawyer who was tossed off a JetBlue flight at Kennedy Airport for verbally attacking Ivanka Trump on Thursday morning quickly rushed out of the San Francisco airport once he arrived to the destination, hours after the future First Daughter.

Attorney Dan Goldstein, his husband, Matthew Lasner and their toddler were escorted by security through San Francisco International Airport when they finally touched down, having been forced to get another flight because of the confrontation.

JetBlue removed them from the plane after Goldstein started making abusive comments about the mother-of-three Trump - who was on board with her three children - and the president-elect.

According to TMZ, Goldstein, who was cradling a child in his arms, told Ivanka: 'Your father is ruining the country.'

He then apparently began screaming out: 'Why is she on our flight. She should be flying private.'

Once Ivanka's flight landed in San Francisco in the afternoon, to prevent any further incident, she and her family were rushed off the plane first by Secret Service and into SUVs that drove them to a nearby private jet bound for Hawaii.

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Attorney Dan Goldstein (above), his husband, Matthew Lasner and their toddler were filmed being escorted by security through SFO hours after being removed from their first flight from JFK when Goldstein verbally attack Ivanka Trump who was on the plane

Goldstein (left) and Lasner (right) refused to comment about the incident that caused them to get kicked off the flight by JetBlue staff

Out of line: Goldstein, a passenger on a JetBlue flight heading to San Francisco from JFK early Thursday morning, apparently accosted Ivanka Trump while boarding the plane

Ivanka paid as little attention as possible and tried to preoccupy her children with some crayons to diffuse the situation until the crew escorted him off the plane.

And Donald Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer told Fox News: 'To do that to a woman who was on there with her children, I don't care what your political background is or what your thoughts are, that's not the way we as Americans need to act.'

Of the incident, Lasner, said on his Twitter account which he later deleted that, 'My husband expressed his displeasure in a calm tone, JetBlue staff overheard, and they kicked us off the plane.'

However, just an hour prior to that Lasner wrote on Twitter: 'Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil'

Lasner also took a photo of Ivanka sitting on the plane writing that they were kicked off for 'expressing displeasure about flying w/ Trumps.'

And while Goldstein was happy to go after Ivanka ,and Lasner was eager to defend his actions, neither of the men confronted Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner, who was right next to her on the flight standing in the aisle the entire time.

The plane was still boarding when the incident occurred, so the crew had the two men and their child removed off the flight and avoid any further incident.

The great escape: Ivanka was photographed getting off the JetBlue plane in San Francisco with her family Thursday afternoon after the incident earlier in the day at JFK

The mother-of-three carried her oldest son in her arms while walking down the steps of the plane. Her daughter was just steps ahead of her to get off the plane which had just flown roughly five hours directly to SFO from JFK

Ivanka quickly got inside a waiting SUV, as her husband Jared carried a car seat where their youngest son was buckled into

Goldstein began saying to the crew as they escorted him off the plane: 'You're kicking me off for expressing my opinion?!!'

It was after they were off the plane that Lasner then posted his tweets defending his husband and the photo of Ivanka sitting in her seat.

Those tweets were then deleted in less than an hour. An hour after that Lasner deleted his entire account.

JetBlue released a statement on Thursday morning saying: 'The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing a conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight.'

Members of Secret Service were on the flight with the family, but did not intervene and instead chose to let the airline handle the issue.

Still mad: At the time of the incident, Dan Goldstein (left) demanded to know why he was being taken off the flight with Lasner (right). Some had claimed on the plane that Goldstein was screaming at Ivanka

Different story: The man's husband, Matthew Lasner, later tweeted: 'My husband expressed his displeasure in a calm tone, JetBlue staff overheard, and they kicked us off'

Contradiction: However one hour before that Lasner wrote on Twitter: 'Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them'

Swift exit: Ivanka (circled above), her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three children, were escorted by Secret Service officers off the JetBlue plane before any other passengers once it arrived at SFO in the afternoon

Rushing: The family was ushered into waiting SUVs that took them to a nearby private jet that is heading to Hawaii

Ivanka and her family made sure they didn't have the same experience exiting the plane that landed in San Francisco this afternoon around 2:40pm (PT).

The 35-year-old, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three children, were escorted by Secret Service officers off the commercial plane before any other passengers to be ushered into waiting SUVs, TMZ reported.

They were then driven nearby to board a private jet heading to Hawaii.

The private jet was apparently pre-scheduled and not a reaction to the incident that took place earlier on Thursday at JFK.

After the family's JetBlue flight landed in San Francisco, Marc Scheff, a passenger on the flight who witnessed the exchange Thursday morning and sat directly in front of Ivanka said Goldstein appeared agitated.

Of the incident, Scheff told NBC Bay Area that while boarding, Goldstein said aloud, 'Oh my God. This is a nightmare. They ruin the country and now they ruin our flight!'

After the family's JetBlue flight landed in San Francisco, Marc Scheff (above), a passenger who sat directly in front of Ivanka, said Goldstein appeared agitated during the incident and that the comments were definitely directed at Ivanka

'The comments were definitely for everyone but he was directing them towards her,' Scheff said.

Scheff added that Goldstein did not yell or scream like earlier reports stated.

Of Ivanka's reaction, Scheff wrote in a post earlier that, 'When the JetBlue staff went back to speak to the man I overheard Ivanka say to them 'I don't want to make this a thing.' My assessment is that she was happy to let the man take his seat. Security made a different call.'

Scheff later wrote: 'Honestly, if I was her security I would have made the same call. I don't _think_ the man was capable of violence, sure. But I would worry that he would leave his seat or cause a scene in some way.

'And his husband had tweeted that he planned on doing that. So, again you know my politics, but I would have made the same call here.'

Scheff later added about Ivanka: 'She handled the situation calmly and with class.'

Happier times: Ivanka was all smiles a few hours prior leaving her Park Avenue apartment (above) to head to the airport, as she sported casual and comfortable clothing for the trip

Not a fan: Lasner has been very vocal about his distaste for Trump on Twitter, writing shortly after the election about marching against the President-elect

The artist is married to actress Olivia Wilde's sister Chloe. Wilde was a vocal supporter of Clinton and opponent of Trump both before and after the election.

Lasner has been very vocal about his distaste for Trump on Twitter, writing shortly after the election about marching against the President-elect.

He also posted a video when he marched in Chicago with the hashtags '#notmypresident' and '#weslay.'

And he posted a photo on Instagram of himself with one of his protest signs, which read: 'RESIST! Autocracy. RISE UP!'

Lasner also retweeted a man who wrote on Twitter: 'Dear @IvankaTrump + @JaredKushner, there are swastikas being painted across America by people who support your father. PLEASE SAY SOMETHING.'

Marching on: He also posted a video when he marched in Chicago with the hashtags '#notmypresident' and '#weslay'

Lots of anger: Lasner posted a photo of a college student wearing an old Reagan / Bush shirt and wrote: 'Seeing this walking out of @packercollegiate this morning made seriously ill. It's disgusting that teenagers might find this amusing. As far as I'm concerned it's hate speech'

Rise: Lasner posted a photo on Instagram of himself with one of his protest signs, which read: 'RESIST! Autocracy. RISE UP!'

It does not end there either, as Lasner is not a fan of Ronald Reagan or George Bush.

Lasner posted a photo of a college student wearing an old Reagan / Bush shirt earlier this year without the young man's knowledge and then wrote: 'Seeing this walking out of @packercollegiate this morning made seriously ill. It's disgusting that teenagers might find this amusing. As far as I'm concerned it's hate speech. #idontheartthe80s'

According to his biography on the Hunter College website, Lasner 'studies the history and theory of the U.S. built environment, with particular focus on housing, and the relationship between housing patterns and urban and suburban form.'
Silvano Marchetto's wife of 12 years, Marisa Acocella Marchetto, is divorcing him, it emerged this week - which may have played a role in his famous restaurant, Da Silvano, closing its doors.

The couple's split was reported on Thursday by the New York Post.

Silvano, 70, is known for his New York City restaurant, an Italian eatery and longtime celebrity hot spot, which closed this week after 41 years.

He chose to shutter the Italian joint after his 55-year-old wife's attorneys wanted to see its financials as part of divorce proceedings, sources told the newspaper.

Silvano Marchetto's wife of 12 years, Marisa Acocella Marchetto, is divorcing him, it emerged this week. They are pictured together in this September 2015 file photo

Silvano Marchetto is known for his New York City restaurant, longtime celebrity hot spot Da Silvano, which closed this week after 41 years

A lawyer for Silvano, Steven B. Ross, told the Post: 'The closure of the restaurant had absolutely nothing do to with the divorce.

'It was because of the rent hikes, the increasing cost of labor and food.'

Silvano might go to Italy - he has two homes there - while Marisa, a cartoonist, is staying in New York, the newspaper said.

Da Silvano's rent was $500 per month in 1975, but skyrocketed to $41,000 per month this year, the Post reported on Wednesday.

Silvano told the newspaper: 'Last night was our last night. We are closed forever.'

Rihanna is pictured leaving the restaurant in May 2015 (left), while Lindsay Lohan is seen at the Italian eatery in 2006 (right)

On Wednesday, a photo of Silvano appeared on the restaurant's Instagram account.

The caption said: 'Cheers to the last 41 years. This became my home. You became my friends and my extended family.'

Da Silvano's website says: 'Located on the border of the West Village and SoHoright in the heart of Greenwich Villageit has been a favorite among neighborhood locals as well as visitors to Manhattan since it first opened in 1975.

'Chef and owner Silvano Marchetto is known for his commitment to innovation and high quality seasonal ingredients.

Anna Wintour and Calvin Klein are pictured at the restaurant in 2011 (left), while Yoko Ono and her son Sean Lennon are seen at Da Silvano in a 2009 photograph (right)

'The cuisine and wine selections have been at the forefront of the industry for decades.

'Marchetto was one of the first to introduce Americans to Tuscan cuisine and is responsible for bringing many of Italy's finest products to the forefront of Italian cuisine in America.'

The website says: 'Regulars like Donna Karan, Giorgio Armani, Jack Nicholson, and Anna Wintour come back because they are treated like family.'

Rihanna was another frequent customer, and was snapped leaving the restaurant 17 times over the last eight years, according to Vulture.

Pictured are DuJour Media Founder Jason Binn, Silvano Marchetto, Marla Maples, and Rory Hermelee in this file photograph
COLUMBUS  The driver of a black Mitsubishi Eclipse pulled out from the Behlen Mfg. Co. parking lot to head west on U.S. Highway 30, but didn't see the eastbound Toyota Tundra.

The vehicles collided, firing the Mitsubishi's airbag and smashing its front end.

The Tundra continued into the south ditch of the highway, crashing through the Behlen parking lot fence and into a parked Ford Explorer.

Emergency personnel were dispatched to the accident at 1:35 p.m. Friday.

The driver of the Mitsubishi was transported to Columbus Community Hospital with minor injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

Christine Cerny of Schuyler was cited for failure to yield following the accident.
The brothers of a man detained in relation to an 'ISIS-inspired' attack in Melbourne on Christmas Day claim they were assaulted by police officers during terror raids on Thursday night.

Mohamad Dabboussi, 20, and Ahmed Dabboussi, 31, claim counter-terror officers kicked them with steel-capped boots as they arrested their brother Zakaria, 21.

Zakaria Dabboussi was one of seven people arrested by armed officers in Melbourne's north and west on Thursday night and Friday morning. He has since been released without charge.

Mohamad Dabboussi (left), 20, and Ahmed Dabboussi (right), 31, claim counter-terror officers kicked them with steel-capped boots as they arrested their brother Zakaria, 21

Zakaria Dabboussi was one of seven people arrested during counter-terrorism raids. He has since been released without charge

The brothers, who live in Gladstone Park, say they and other family members were hurt by police officers when they stormed their home yesterday.

'I was assaulted by a policeman who was saying I was resisting arrest,' Mr Dabboussi told 9 News.

'I was kicked with steel-capped boots. I was playing PlayStation and all I heard was police rage in and say 'get on the ground' so I laid down, hands behind my back, and that's when they started assaulting me,' he added.

The younger Mr Dabbousi, who was seen standing over a blood-stained carpet, also claimed a police officer hit his nephew over the head with a gun.

IT worker Zakaria Dabbousi was arrested during the raids, but his brothers say he will deny the allegations.

'My brother's a keyboard warrior, he would've been defending his religion and his background [online],' Ahmed Dabbousi said.

'For example, [writing] 'we're not terrorists, enough of this racism' and that kind of stuff.'

Mr Dabboussi's father, Youssef, said armed officers beat down the door and pointed their weapons at two eight-year-old children inside, The Age reported.

Police said they managed to foil a terror plot to attack multiple locations in Melbourne's CBD on Christmas Day after raids (pictured) across the city

Police lined the street as the first man charged with terror offences faced court on Friday

Victoria Police said no complaints had been received in relation to the raids.

Four men, aged between 21 and 26, remain in custody and have started to be charged with preparing to commit a terrorist attack on Christmas Day after police allegedly uncovered evidence they were building an improvised explosive device.

Abdulla Chaarani was the first to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon charged with one terror-related offence.

Chaarani did not apply for bail and reportedly appeared calm as the court heard it would take weeks for police to process evidence collected in the raids.

Police will have to present the accused terrorist's legal team with more information on their case by March 17 before he reappears in court on April 28.

Police allege they uncovered the 'makings of an explosive device' during the raids

Police investigate the scene where a house was raided in Meadow Heights, Melbourne

Police allege the group were inspired by IS propaganda but 'self radicalised' before making plans to detonate a bomb at iconic Melbourne locations including Federation Square, Flinders Street train station or St Paul's Cathedral.

Police have alleged they uncovered knives and guns during the raid and understanding they were intended to be used to attack bystanders fleeing the explosion.

Four of the accused terrorists are yet to be formally charged.

Four of the men involved were born in Australia, while one is an Australian citizen but was born in Egypt.

A 20-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, both from Gladstone Heights, were among those arrested but have been released without charge.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australians should not be cowed by terrorist threats.
Mr Hope said his daughter has received

Talia Hope, 16, (pictured) hosted the party for her friends, which was supervised by her dad

The father of a 16-year-old girl says his daughter has received multiple death threats after her wild party descended into chaos, trashing a woman's investment home last weekend.

Up to 200 teenagers flocked to the Heathridge property on a quiet suburban street in Perth's north on Sunday night after a party was organised by Talia Hope, 16, and her father.

Daniel Hope, says his daughter has been called a 'skank' and a 'disgrace to the community' online after images of glass bottles strewn across the backyard and damage to the property surfaced.

'My daughter has been getting death threats,' Mr Hope told Daily Mail Australia.

'She's been called a skank, a disgrace to the community.

'People said they hope we never get another house.'

Talia had organised the event where she charged an entry fee to cover the costs of hiring a DJ, photographer and videographer.

But the party spiralled out of the control after gatecrashers stormed the property as the crowd spilled onto the street when police closed the event.

Empty glass bottles and rubbish piled up in the front yard of a rental property after tenants hosted a wild party that was shut down by police

Up to 200 teenagers flocked to the Heathridge property on a quiet suburban street in Perth's north on Sunday night

'Everybody left at about 10pm and went to a park across the road,' Mr Hope said.

'About an hour later someone threw a bottle at a cop car and it escalated from there.

'The teenagers were loving it, they thought it was great.'

Smashed windows and fences kicked in are just some of the damage after the party got wildly out of hand.

Mr Hope, who chaperoned his daughter's event, said it was one of the best parties he has thrown.

'Let's do it again,' he commented on Talia's social media photographs from the party.

Smashed windows can be seen from the front of the property- Mr Hope said the damage was not caused at the party

Police were forced to shut down the wild party at the property in Perth on Sunday night

Giselle Alliex (pictured) was far from impressed when she realised her investment property was turned into a party house

However, homeowner Giselle Alliex was far from impressed when she realised her investment property had turned into a party house.

'He [Mr Hope] had no remorse and said he would do it again,' Ms Alliex told Daily Mail Australia, adding that she was concerned the tenants would throw another party.

'So ruthless. Plus he said he had previous parties [at my home] so I feel bad for the neighbours who have to go through that havoc.'

The 25-year-old woman claimed the tenants were ordered to vacate the property in November but she decided to be lenient after the family claimed they were strapped for cash.

'They insisted they wouldn't be able to find a home for Christmas,' Ms Alliex said.

'I just felt bad because I know they have three children so I thought if I extended out until after Christmas, then I would ask them to leave.

'But when I saw the DJ at the party and the photographer, I felt so sad. I was pretty livid.'

Tenant Daniel Hope (pictured) who chaperoned his daughter's event said it was one of the best parties he has thrown

The wheelie bins are filled to the top after tenants organised a wild party over the weekend

Piles of rubbish remained on the front lawn four days after police shut down the wild party

Up to 200 revellers, including underage youths, attended an out-of-control party on Sunday

Police were forced to shut down the wild party at the property in Perth on Sunday night

Revellers were charged an entry fee to cover the expenses of a DJ, photographer and videographer the family had hired for the party.

Ms Alliex said she only realised her property was at the centre of the wild party after it grabbed national headlines.

'I saw it on the news as the reporter was standing in front of my house,' Ms Alliex told Daily Mail Australia.

'I was somehow wishing that he'd just picked any house to stand in front of and then I saw my tenant speak about his daughter's party - I felt so crushed.

'I never imagined such a mess could happen at my house.'

The 25-year-old woman claims the family had received rent assistance from the government and charities such as the Red Cross and St Vincent De Paul.

The teenage girl was seen cleaning up the empty bottles after the party got out of hand

A window taped up after it was smashed from the party attended by 200 teenagers on Sunday

Ms Alliex said the Prince Regent Drive property was her first investment home and she was managing it on her own to save money.

'I was trying to save money given I am paying the mortgage by myself but this stress and headache is not worth it,' she said.

'It's been mental stress more than anything and whilst financially it was hard too, the mental and emotional stress is so draining.

'I need a fresh start with this house for 2017 and I will need to get a property manager on board.'

Ms Alliex said she is yet to know how much the damage has set her back but is determined to get a bailiff to evict the family immediately.

Up to 200 teenagers flocked to the Heathridge property on a quiet suburban street in Perth

What the property looked like before the party: Ms Alliex said the rental home was her first investment property

Following Sunday night's antics, police charged two teenage boys with failing to comply with an order to leave.

A 16-year-old boy was also charged with possessing a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply.

Hundreds of revellers spilled onto the street as officers used a police dog to bring the mayhem under control.
Gary Holmes, a man suspected of fatally shooting a three-year-old boy in a road rage incident in Little Rock has been arrested, authorities say

A man accused of killing a three-year-old boy in a road rage had pulled over to allow the child's grandmother to drive in front of him before he fired his gun, police say.

Gary Holmes, 33, was arrested on Thursday over the incident in Little Rock, Arkansas.

He has been charged with capital murder and committing a terrorist act for killing toddler Acen King on Saturday.

Police say Holmes, who was traveling with his girlfriend at the time, grew angry at the child's grandmother for 'following him too closely'.

The girlfriend told police he pulled over to allow Kim King-Macon, Acen's grandmother, to go ahead of him.

When she stopped at a sign immediately in front of their car for a few minutes, the girlfriend said Holmes, who is a father himself, got out of their car and approached the child's to fire his gun.

Acen was sitting in the backseat and was fatally wounded. His grandmother only discovered the tragedy when she came to a stop again after speeding to a JCPenny store 10 miles away.

Another toddler, aged one, was also in the car but was unharmed.

A harrowing 911 call revealed Ms King-Macon screaming: 'I was at the stop sign and the guy blew the horn at me, and I blew it back.

'And he shot, but I thought he shot in the air. He shot at the car!'

Three-year-old Acen King (right) was in the backseat of his grandmother Kim's car. He was fatally wounded in the neck and died in hospital

The toddler's distraught grandmother drove for ten miles before she realized he had been injured

Holmes was arrested late on Thursday night after a five-day police search which involved the FBI. At one point authorities were offering a $20,000 reward for his whereabouts.

His parents are believed to have turned him over to officers.

The man has a daughter of his own. In a chilling social media post the day before the shooting, Holmes uploaded a photograph to Instagram which read: 'Gone insane. Back soon.'

Acen was wounded in the neck. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The grandmother told police that a black Chevrolet Impala had pulled up behind her while she was parked at a stop light.

Holmes, a father himself, was arrested on Thursday after a large police manhunt

The other driver honked his horn, and King-Macon honked back, the police report said.

'A black male then exited [the Impala] and fired one shot,' the report said.

Little Rock has seen two infants die in road-rage gunfire in the past two months.

In November, a two-year-old girl was killed while being driven by her mom, Shunta Johnson, 37, when the driver of a passing vehicle fired into it.

The shooter in that case hasn't been captured, and the girl has not been identified.

Police Chief Kenton Buckner said the road rage killings were frustrating for the police department 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 these senseless crimes in our city,' Buckner said.

He said he didn't know if the children's shootings were related.
Frustrated commuters were left stranded for an hour after 'urgent trackwork' brought trains at Sydney's Central station to a halt.

Trains ceased running between Central and Bondi Junction, and Central and the South Coast as crews attempted to a broken rail a broken rail, a Sydney Trains spokesperson said.

The halted services come at peak rush hour, as people traveled to and from the city on Friday evening.

A commuter posted this image of a crowd at Bondi Junction station who were affected by the urgent trackwork

Frustrated commuters were left stranded for an hour after a broken rail brought trains at Sydney's Central station to a halt (stock image)

Crews arrived on site and worked to fix the rail, while passengers were advised to delay their journeys or consider catching a bus.

About 17 train were affected in total, a Sydney Trains spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

They could not confirm the cause of the broken rail.

Services resumed after an hour, but delays will continue well into Friday night.

'Way to go again with the train delays to kickstart the Christmas weekend,' one commuter tweeted.

The delay comes following a power failure on Tuesday which left passengers were stranded on train platforms and some in packed trains

The power outage happened on Tuesday evening about 5.45pm during rush hour.

Some passengers are also believed to have been stuck on a train travelling between Town Hall and Wynyard when it lost power.

A Sydney Trains Spokesperson could not confirm the cause of the broken rail

Crews arrived on site and worked to fix the rail, while passengers were advised to delay their journeys or consider catching a bus

'Way to go again with the train delays to kickstart the Christmas weekend,' one commuter tweeted following the delays at Central station (pictured)

One passenger told Daily Mail Australia that some people had just been freed from a rear carriage about 7.30pm, after being stuck for an hour-and-a-half.

Another person posted on Twitter that passengers were forced to get off the train and walk along the tracks in Wynyard tunnel.

One commuter tweeted: 'It took me two hours but after two train changes and a bus from North Sydney, I'm finally home. I survived the great Wynyard power outage.'

Central station was also at the centre of major delays on Decmeber 13 after urgent repaired were carried out on a 'fractured metal pipe'.
A pool builder charged with stalking allegedly made about 400 to 600 phone calls a day to a former employee, a court has heard.

Dean Matthew Oliver, 44, was arrested and charged with stalking and extortion after allegedly harassing the man who left to work for a rival company.

Mr Oliver has been granted bail by a Brisbane magistrate, the ABC reports.

Dean Matthew Oliver, 44, was arrested and charged with stalking and extortion after allegedly harassing the man who left to work for a rival company (stock image)

It's alleged Mr Oliver threatened the ex-employee over the phone, allegedly making up to 600 phone calls a day via a smartphone app.

The alleged victim, 33, had since lost his job as a result, the court heard.

Mr Oliver appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday where he was granted bail.

He is not allowed to contact the ex-employee or speak about him on social media.

Oliver's lawyer told the court his client has no previous criminal history and was not 'someone with a history of this behaviour' and 'strenuously denied' the charges.

He will return to court in January 25.
David Wicks (pictured), a gas station attendant, has been killed after he was attacked and set on fire in Northern California

A gas station attendant has been killed after he was attacked and set on fire in Northern California.

David Wicks, 54, was sprayed with a flammable liquid by a person who walked into the Rocky Ledge Shell Station near Burney, a small logging community an hour's drive east of Redding, on Wednesday night.

Shasta County sheriff's Lt. Anthony Bertain said investigators are searching for the assailant and haven't identified a motive for the killing.

Paramedics found Wicks with severe burns and an air ambulance flew him to a hospital, where he later died.

Bertain said surveillance video shows the attacker wearing yellow rain gear, a black hoodie and gloves. Investigators say they found a bicycle outside the gas station.

Since the shocking attack, a nonprofit has revealed it is offering $10,000 to help find the attacker.

Secret Witness of Shasta County posted the reward Thursday.

Security footage shows the attacker walking into the gas station wearing yellow rain gear, gloves and a hoodie

The attack took place at the Rocky Ledge Shell Station (left) near Burney, a small logging community an hour's drive east of Redding, on Wednesday night. A black bike (right) was found at the scene after the incident

A tearful co-worker, Kris Cantrell, told the Record Searchlight Wicks never had anything bad to say. Cantrell said she had no idea why anybody would want to hurt him.

The store's co-owner, Devinder Sahota, also spoke out about the incident.

'We've never been in a situation like this before,' Sahota said.
Police have arrested two men at the mosque where Europe's most wanted man was allegedly seen just eight hours after driving a 25-ton lorry into a crowd at a Christmas market.

The men, one of whom was in traditional Muslim dress, wrestled with police, shouted expletives and lashed out at journalists and members of the public as they were bundled away.

They were held by police hunting fugitive Anis Amri, 24, who is suspected of being behind the wheel when a 25-tonne lorry careered into a crowd at around 8pm on Monday, killing 12 and injuring 56 others.

The arrests, in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood, came as it was revealed Amri was allegedly captured on CCTV at the mosque just eight hours after the atrocity.

Images show a man in dark clothing and a cap standing in a doorway in the early hours of Tuesday, German public broadcaster rbb reported. A man, alleged to be Amri, was also seen at the same mosque on two different days in the week leading up to the atrocity.

It comes as police this morning revealed a man matching the description of Amri had been spotted in Aalborg.

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Shortly before 4am on the day after the attack, Amri was allegedly caught on a security camera as he stood outside a mosque in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood, pictured

Images obtained by rbb show a man in dark clothing and a cap standing in a doorway in the early hours of Tuesday

A man, alleged to be Amri, was seen at the same mosque on two different days in the week leading up to the atrocity. Pictured, a man alleged to be Amir on December 14, left, and 15

Worship: Books were laid out on one of the tables inside the mosque in Moabit, Berlin

A far-right leader in Germany knew the suspect in the Christmas market attack was a Tunisian just two hours after the attack - despite police initially arresting a Pakistani man, it has emerged

Timeline: Anis Amri is believed to have been seen at a mosque in Berlin twice in the week leading up to the attack

Pictures show Islamic books and leaflets on a table and a door hanging off its hinges at the mosque, which is understood to have been raided on Thursday by police who used stun grenades as they entered the building.

It comes as separate dashcam footage showed the moment the lorry used in the attack careered along a road moments before smashing into the market at 40mph.

Meanwhile, German terror police this morning swooped to arrest two Kosovan brothers over fears they were plotting an attack on one of Germany's biggest shopping malls in the city of Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia.

However, they are not believed to have links with the Berlin attack.

Intelligence sources confirmed last night that they believed the man in the CCTV footage to be Amri, rbb said.

It comes as pictures emerged showing the interior of the building.

Last night the door was seen hanging on its hinges, and a rudimentary attempt to fix it with pieces of wood and masking tape appeared to have been abandoned.

A window in the hall outside the mosque, which was covered with graffiti and dirt, had been smashed.

Masking tape used to try and repair a broken door lay abandoned on a shelf inside

Last night the door was seen hanging on its hinges, and a rudimentary attempt to fix it with pieces of wood and masking tape appeared to have been abandoned

Islamic books and pamphlets were stored in a cupboard inside the mosque in the Moabit area

Revealed: Pictured for the first time, this is the interior of the mosque where Europe's most wanted man was allegedly seen just eight hours after the Berlin Christmas market attack

KOSOVAN BROTHERS ARRESTED OVER 'PLOT TO ATTACK MALL' Two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion they were planning to carry out an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany, days after a truck attack in Berlin that killed 12 people. Police said today that the men, aged 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region shortly after midnight. Authorities suspect the two men may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen. They are now probing what the pair's intentions were and whether anyone else was involved. Two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion they were planning to carry out an attack on a shopping mall in Oberhausen, western Germany, days after a truck attack in Berlin that killed 12 people Police said in a statement that they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip from 'security sources.' Officers in uniform and plain clothes patrolled the area, but the mall remained open. Centro is one of Germany's biggest malls, with more than 250 shops. It opened 20 years ago on the site of a former steelworks. There was no indication of any connection between the detentions and Monday's attack in Berlin. Authorities are searching for Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, as the suspected driver of the truck that ploughed into a Christmas market. Advertisement

Inside, the place of worship was bare and dark, with no lightbulbs in the sockets. Islamic books, pamphlets and evangelical material were displayed on a table, and a traditional robe was hanging from a peg on the wall.

At the bottom of a flight of stairs leading to the cellar were three pairs of shoes on a rack, together with two suitcases. According to neighbours, the underground floor housed living accommodation.

Elite commando units hunting for Amri, 24, blew up the front door of the mosque, threw in stun grenades and witnesses reported hearing gunfire.

The target was the 'Fussilet 33' association's building in Perleberger Strae in the south-east of the capital. Neighbouring flats are also being searched, according to German media.

It was raided in 2015 over allegations they were raising money for extremists in Syria. An imam was put under surveillance.

Commenting after the images emerged, Christian Lindner, head of the opposition Free Democrats told the Times: 'That makes me speechless. We have to investigate how gaps in the monitoring of such a threat can happen in our country.'

Local people said that the mosque, pictured, was used by a moderate Turkish group until two years ago

Police raided the the 'Fussilet 33' association's building in Perleberger Strae on Thursday

Local residents reported hearing gunshots when police raided the mosque. Pictured, the stairwell of the building

A lone chair was left inside the mosque, where the floor was covered with an ornamental rug

A traditional robe was hanging from a peg on the wall of the mosque raided by police

But interior minister told the newspaper: 'Everything is being done to apprehend this suspect with high professionalism and excellent co-ordination nationally and internationally.'

Last night, it emerged that Amri was heard by German security officials offering to carry out a 'suicide attack' - but he was written off as being an 'errand boy', Die Welt reported.

It was also revealed that he was jailed in 2010 for hijacking a lorry in Tunisia with experts saying he may have learned how to drive trucks following the theft.

Yesterday it emerged that Lutz Bachmann, who fronts the anti-immigrant PEGIDA group, had tweeted on Monday night that he had 'internal police information' about the nationality of the lorry driver who murdered 12 revellers in Berlin.

At the time, police had announced the arrest of a Pakistani asylum seeker - it was only when he was released that Tunisian Anis Amri was publicly identified as the chief suspect.

It comes as conspiracy theories surfaced online questioning how police missed the suspect's ID in the truck for 24 hours.

Lutz Bachmann, who fronts the anti-immigrant PEGIDA group, tweeted on Monday night that he had 'internal police information' about the nationality of the lorry driver who murdered 12 revellers in Berlin

When asked to explain how he knew this information, he wrote in a follow-up tweet: 'Just need the right connections and a whistleblower that is sick of the lies.'

Controversial Lutz Bachmann (pictured) tweeted his information on Monday night - two days before police officially confirmed that they were hunting a Tunisian suspect

Suspect: Amri made his way from Tunisia to Germany after entering Europe through Italy

Controversial Bachmann tweeted his information on Monday night - before police officially confirmed that they were hunting a Tunisian suspect.

He wrote: 'Internal info from the police leadership: The attacker is a Tunisian Muslim.'

When asked to explain how he knew this information, he wrote in a follow-up tweet: 'Just need the right connections and a whistleblower that is sick of the lies.'

Meanwhile, c onspiracy theorists have questioned the 'suspicious' discovery of the Berlin attack suspect's wallet in the lorry used to murder 12 people at a packed Christmas market.

German police named Anis Amri as the chief suspect in the attack after finding his ID - apparently abandoned by the asylum seeker in the footwell of the truck as he fled the scene.

Extreme measures to capture prime suspect The 100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Anis Amri, the Tunisian prime suspect in Berlin's deadly truck attack, is a rarity in Europe. Rewards in recent years have been offered over war crimes, a political assassination and a far-left group's assault on the US embassy in Athens. One example is notorious Serbian war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic, who eluded arrest for 16 years, saw his bounty go up to 10 million euros ($14 million at the time) before he was finally arrested in May 2011 to face trial in The Hague. However, no-one cashed in on the reward, for the 'Butcher of Bosnia' was tracked down through intelligence work. By contrast, in the United States the practice is well entrenched, going back to the Wild West days of Jesse James and Billy the Kid. The highest reward ever offered by the FBI was $25 million for information leading to the capture of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, killed in a US Navy Seal raid in Pakistan in May 2011. The United States last Friday matched that figure for the shadowy leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, more than doubling the $10 million originally on his head to $25 million. Advertisement

Will the lorry killer strike again? Police and the security services are hunting the terrorist behind the Christmas market attack

Conspiracy theories surfaced online with some questioning the 'convenient' discovery of the suspect's wallet - 24 hours after police had first scoured the truck

Conspiracy theorists have questioned the 'suspicious' discovery of the Berlin attack suspect's wallet in the lorry used to murder 12 people at a packed Christmas market

The discovery of the wallet was only made 24 hours after police had originally scoured the cab for clues and after wasting precious time questioning the wrong suspect

But the discovery was only made 24 hours after they had originally scoured the cab for clues and after wasting precious time questioning the wrong suspect - a Pakistani called Naved Baluch who had no blood on his clothes, no injuries and denied having anything to do with the bloodbath.

Conspiracy theories have since appeared online questioning the situation.

One wrote: 'Why would the driver of the truck that drove into the Berlin Christmas market leave his ID under the seat? Seems too convenient.'

Another said: 'It seems suspicious to me that Berlin truck driver that killed people would leave his wallet in the truck as he fled the scene.'

German police have been accused of a series of blunders in the investigation. They wasted valuable time having arrested the wrong man before realising the wallet of their chief suspect was in the truck.

Truck attacker was a troubled inmate in Italy Italian authorities say the Tunisian fugitive in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was a problem inmate when he was in Italy. The Italian justice ministry on Thursday confirmed media reports that 24-year-old Anis Amri was repeatedly admonished and transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct. Prison records say he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections. In all, Amri was held in six different prisons on Sicily, where he served three years for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other charges. But Italy apparently recorded no signs that Amri was becoming radicalized to embrace extremist violence. Amri reached Italy in 2011, along with tens of thousands of young Tunisian men who arrived by boat during the Arab Spring revolutions. Advertisement

At the time, police had announced that their chief suspect was a Pakistani asylum seeker - it was only when he was released that they turned their attention to Tunisian Anis Amri

German police have been accused of a series of blunders in the investigation. Pictures show the market from above this morning

Mourning: A market worker looks at some of the tributes left at the scene of the atrocity

Police launched a series of raids this morning amid reports four people have been arrested

The Christmas market reopened yesterday morning as the hunt for the attack suspect continued

They have also been accused of missing a number of opportunities after it emerged that Anis Amris, a lifelong criminal, should have been deported months ago.

The 24-year-old, who has a 100,000 euro reward on his head, was under the surveillance of German intelligence for several months following his arrival in the country in 2015.

He had been arrested three times this year and his asylum application was rejected, but deportation papers were never served and he disappeared.

The Tunisian radical was known to be a supporter of Islamic State and to have received weapons training.

He also tried to recruit an accomplice for a terror plot  which the authorities knew about  but still remained at large.

Death toll could rise as the injured fight for their lives Berlin's state government has said 12 people are still being treated for severe injuries after Monday night's truck attack on a Christmas market, and that an unspecified number of them are still in critical condition. Another 14 people with less serious injuries were also still hospitalized, while 30 others have been discharged. Manhunt: The ISIS killer behind Germany's worst terror attack since 1980 on Monday night has been given an 18 hour head start after police bungled the probe Twelve people were killed in the attack. Berlin's state health ministry on Thursday raised the number of market attack victims treated in Berlin hospitals to 56, up from 48. It said some victims had reached hospitals on their own after the attack. Advertisement

He was under investigation for planning a 'serious act of violence against the state' and counter-terrorism officials had exchanged information about him last month.

Reports suggest intelligence services might have even lost track of Amri as recently as just a few weeks ago after he went underground.

The potentially fatal mistakes heaped further shame on the German security services, who wasted several hours questioning an innocent Pakistani asylum seeker in the aftermath of the truck rampage, which killed 12 shoppers and wounded 48.

Meanwhile, i nvestigators say they have found fingerprints of the Tunisian suspect on the door of the truck that ploughed through the crowds on Monday night, according to reports in Germany.

The media did not name their source for the report about Amri's fingerprints and police declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Seconds from disaster: Dashcam footage shows the hijacked truck (circled in red) speeding past waiting cars as it careers towards the pedestrianised street
A campaign has been launched to spare the lives of two condemned huskies after they mauled a sheep to death.

Odin and Yogi, 18-months-old, were sentenced to death in the Heidelberg Magistrates Court in Melbourne after slaying the sheep in Eltham on October 21.

The dog's owner Sarah Paoli has launched an online petition drawing over 5,500 signatures to save their lives after pleading guilty to the attack, reports Herald Sun.

Huskies Odin and Yogi fatally mauled a sheep in Melbourne after escaping from their yard

Any dog that violently attacks a person or other animal, causing physical injury or death, is classed as a dangerous dog, and can in turn be ruled to be killed by the local council.

Ms Paoli wrote in the petition that while she regrets the attack the dogs should not have to lose their lives.

'We believe the onus is on us as owners and that our dogs should not have to suffer and certainly not lose their lives over it', she wrote in the petition.

She said a behaviourist report was given to the council showing the dogs couldn't be rightly declared dangerous.

'They mean the world to us and are fine around all our younger cousins and family members. They are highly social dogs and love going to all the local parks and beaches.'

About 5,500 people of the 7,500 goal have signed the petition to overturn the council's ruling.
A 20-year-old man died and an 18-year-old was in serious condition after they were shot in a confrontation at a suburban Sydney parkland, police said.

The deceased man was struck in the 'upper chest or head,' police said. The 18-year-old was shot in the left hand side of the chest.

The shooting happened around 5pm on Friday in a carpark near Lizard Log Park in Wetherill Park, a western suburb of Sydney, police said.

One person died and another was injured in a shooting in suburban Sydney on Friday, according to police

Police believe the two victims and three other individuals were in a parked vehicle when a number of other men arrived in a second vehicle.

A confrontation erupted between the two groups, which led to the two victims being shot, police told reporters at a news conference on Friday night, according to a Nine News live feed.

Police said reports of a possible third victim were probably incorrect.

Although police initially gave the victims' ages as 21 and 19, police later reported the two men were aged 20 and 18.

The second man was sent to hospital in critical condition to be treated for a chest wound

Forensic and ballistic specialists will examine the crime scene, and detectives from Fairfield Local Area Command and State Crime Command's Homicide Squad are investigating the shooting, police said

A police spokesman said investigators were looking into a possible gang connection, and said the two victims were 'known to police.'

About 10 bystanders are believed to have been in the vicinity when the shooting erupted, including a family with children, police said. The family is being interviewed by police.

'I was appalled that there were up to 10 people in the park at the time of the shooting; these are people who were going about their business, enjoying time together before Christmas,' said Fairfield Local Area Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter Lennon, in a statement.

'It is unacceptable that these people have been put at risk in what is  in reality  an incident I'd describe as gutless and appalling.'
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Chilling footage has been released of Berlin truck terrorist Anis Amri pledging allegiance to ISIS in a video released just hours after he was gunned down in a dramatic shoot-out with Italian police.

The Tunisian, on the run for four days after murdering 12 people in a lorry attack in Berlin, rants about 'crusader' airstrikes and vows to 'slaughter infidels like pigs' in the two-minute clip, published by Islamic State's news agency Amaq.

Speaking on a bridge in the north of the city, Amri can be seen wearing a dark jacket and with headphones in his ears as he warns 'infidels' he will 'hunt them down' and pledges allegiance to ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Hours before the video emerged, he was shot dead in Milan having pulled a gun from his backpack and screamed 'Allahu Akbar' as he shot at two police officers carrying out a routine ID check.

The 24-year-old ISIS fanatic was stopped after arriving in the suburb of Sesto San Giovanni in the northern Italian city of Milan at about 3am local time.

Two officers asked him for ID documents, at which point Amri 'immediately' pulled a gun from his backpack and shouted 'police b******s' as he shot one in the shoulder.

A firefight ensued with Amri cowering behind a car as he tried to flee, but the extremist was shot and killed by the second officer  a trainee who had only been in the job a few months. Witnesses said the two policemen had then crouched over Amri in a bid to keep him alive, but the Tunisian died after ten minutes.

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Crime scene: Berlin truck terrorist Anis Amri has been shot dead after a gunfight with police in Milan in the early hours of this morning

Shoot-out: Italian authorities said this morning that they had 'without a shadow of a doubt' killed the chief suspect in the Berlin massacre

ISIS has released a selfie-style video in which Anis Amri pledges his allegiance to the terror group and vows to slaughter infidels like pigs

Chief suspect: Amri (pictured) shouted 'Allahu Akbar' and 'police b******s' as he shot at police officers in suburb north of Milan

Evidence: The Tunisian pulled a gun from his backpack, screamed 'Allahu Akbar' and opened fire on two officers  hitting one in the shoulder  before being shot dead. Pictures from the scene appear to show a weapon lying on the road near a backpack

Line of fire: Christian Movio was shot in the shoulder by terrorist Anis Amri. His colleague, a trainee officer, then shot the Tunisian dead

The Berlin attack suspect Anis Amri (pictured) has been shot dead after a gunfight with police in Milan, Italian police have said

Pictures emerged this morning of the terrorist lying dead in the street having been shot by Italian police

ISIS news outlet Amaq today confirmed Amri's death - and that he carried out the market massacre in Germany.

Security chiefs believe Amri, who used at least six different aliases with three nationalities, was trying to flee to southern Italy where he had entered Europe illegally in 2011.

Police, who had received a tip-off Europe's most wanted man may have been in the city, approached Amri because they were suspicious that anyone was at the station at 3am.

The terminal had earlier been closed for the night and officials are trying to work out whether he may in fact have arrived in the suburb, north of the city, by bus.

When the patrol approached him, he said he had no ID papers, no phone and just a small pocket knife. But he then pulled a 22 calibre pistol from his backpack and shot one of the two police officers, Christian Movio, 36, in the shoulder.

Amri ran for cover and cowered behind a car in a piazza near the station before being shot dead by trainee officer Luca Scata, 29, who had only been in the job for nine months.

On Amri's body police found a train ticket that helped reconstruct the attacker's movements in Berlin, revealing how he took a train from Chambery in France and then from Turin to Milan. But it is not clear whether he had driven from Berlin to Chambery or taken a 1,000-mile train trip all the way to Milan via Frankfurt - the normal rail route to the south of France.

This morning, Scata was praised for his actions and had received hundreds of messages from wellwishers.

THIS IS VENGEANCE FOR AIRSTRIKES AGAINST MUSLIMS - WE WILL SLAUGHTER YOU LIKE PIGS Ranting into a camera as he shoots a selfie-style video, this it the Berlin lorry killer pledging allegiance to ISIS and vowing to punish 'pig eaters'. Anis Amri can be seen wearing a dark jacket and headphones and standing on a bridge over a river as he delivers his chilling speech, warning he wants to become a martyr. The brainwashed 24-year-old went on to slaughter 11 revellers enjoying a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin on Monday night. Anis Amri can be seen wearing a dark jacket and standing in front of a river as he delivers his chilling speech, warning he wants to become a martyr The video, which appeared to have been taken by Amri himself, shows him standing on a footbridge in the north of Berlin, not far from where he allegedly hijacked the truck used in the attack. The site is just a few hundred yards from a Berlin state administration office that deals with asylum matters. It is unclear whether Amri's case was handled there or whether the video, released online Friday, was taken before or after the attack. He also says: 'I pledge my allegiance to the caliph Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. I pledge to participate in jihad against the enemies of Allah. 'My message to those infidels who bomb Muslims everyday - we are going to slaughter you like pigs. We will avenge the Muslims you killed and continue to kill. 'And to my Muslim brothers all over the world, fight for this religion whether in your countries or in Europe if you live there, as mush as each of you can.' As well as his pledge of allegiance, Amri declared his desire to avenge Muslims killed in air strikes and called for attacks against 'Crusaders'. Amaq had earlier said the man shot dead by Italian police near Milan on Friday carried out the Berlin attack. Releasing suicide videos of terror attackers after their deaths is a common tactic by ISIS. In July fanatics were shot dead after murdering an elderly priest at a church in Normandy. A day later, ISIS news outlet Amaq published a video of the two perpetrators pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. As well as his pledge of allegiance, Amri declared his desire to avenge Muslims killed in air strikes and called for attacks against 'Crusaders' THE FULL TRANSCRIPT: 'All praise to Allah, and may He send blessing and peace upon his Prophet Mohamed. 'I, here, vow to obey the caliph Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi in whatever he orders me to do, even if it was to my disliking, and to continue to do so, unless I am ordered to do something that I know for sure is forbidden in Islam. 'I also vow to work for Islam to prevail; to judge and be judged by its rules; and to work hard until the Islamic State is well established and founded. Finally, I pledge to actively participate in jihad against the enemies of Allah as much as I can. 'And to those infidels, who bomb the Muslims everyday, I swear that we will hunt you and slaughter you like pigs for what you do to these Muslims. Did you think that what you do to them will go unpunished? 'There are masses of Muslims all over the world willing to avenge the Muslims you kill, and they will be avenged, for we are strong and determined to make you pay the price of your actions against them. 'And I call for my Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world to take part in jihad, and to fight for the dominance of this religion, as much as each of you can. If you can't join your brothers on the front lines, then fight for Islam in your countries. And if you live in Europe, then fight against those pigs, each to his own abilities. May Allah grant us success in [this fight].' 'I pledge myself to Allah and vow to shed as much blood as it needs for Islam to prevail. I pray for Allah to pave the way for me to kill those infidels who fight Islam and Muslims.' Advertisement

Scata's last Facebook post, put up shortly before he shot the terror suspect, stated: 'Only on the road the sun is shining and there are no shadows.'

It has since been inundated with comments from grateful Italians hailing him a hero and thanking him for his bravery.

It comes hours after two men were arrested at a mosque in Berlin where Amri is believed to have been seen both before and after his murderous rampage.

Today's events bring to an end a four-day manhunt that has heaped embarrassment on Germany's police and politicians. Shortly before the shooting German police still believed the terrorist was in Berlin.

German prosecutors said they were investigating whether Amri had accomplices and admit there were still 'many open questions' in the investigation.

Rookie officer Luca Scata has been named as the hero police officer who gunned Amri down yesterday morning

Hero: Luca Scata (pictured) has been named as the police officer who gunned Amri down this morning. His colleague was shot in the shoulder during the gun fight

Hero policeman Christian Moveo (pictured in bed) was recovering in hospital this afternoon having been shot by the most wanted man on the planet

Police officers Christian Movio (pictured right) is recovering in hospital after being shot in the shoulder by Anis Amri in the early hours of this morning

A weapon used in the shootout is marked as evidence as it lays on the ground. Police are investigating whether it was also used to shoot the Polish truck driver murdered by Amri

Italian police released this picture showing how a gunshot fired by Amri had hit the bullet-proof vest worn by officer Christian Movio

A shoot out took place at about 3am local time and Amri was reportedly heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar' as he tried to flee and police opened fire

Items left on the road included a pistol and a backpack. Amri's body was covered up as forensics scoured the scene

He is understood to have pulled a gun on a patrol after being stopped for a routine ID check and shot an officer in the shoulder leaving him seriously injured

Authorities believe Amri, who used at least six different aliases with three nationalities, was trying to flee to southern Italy where he had entered Europe in 2011

German chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured this afternoon) expressed her relief that the suspect poses no further threat

Amri was somehow able to travel unhindered through at least three countries before being gunned down in northern Italy.

Blundering German police today said they believed the Tunisian asylum seeker was still in or around Berlin just before he was shot dead almost 1,000 miles away in Milan.

Officers have been raiding addresses across Germany in the hunt for Amri, but after arresting the wrong man the ISIS terrorist was able to flee the country.

This morning, before his death was announced, a senior police source told tabloid Bild: 'We believe he is either in Berlin or in North Rhine-Westphalia'.

'WE ARE SHOCKED AND THE WHOLE FAMILY IS SICK': BROTHER REACTS TO TERRORIST'S DEATH A brother of Berlin truck terrorist Anis Amri has revealed the family feels 'sick' after the 24-year-old was shot in Italy. The brother told a journalist from the Deutsche Welle after Amri's death was confirmed by authorities in Italy: 'We are shocked and the whole family is sick. No comment.' The family had urged Amri to hand himself in to police when he was named as the world's most wanted man in connection to the killing of 12 people in Berlin The family had urged Amri to hand himself in to police when he was named as the world's most wanted man in connection to the killing of 12 people in Berlin. But his sister Najwa has said there was no sign he had been radicalised after he arrived in Germany in June last year. She told The Telegraph: 'He called us every day asking about the weather back home and what I was cooking for dinner, and how is everyone in the neighbourhood. 'He didn't look radicalised at all, he was so sweet all the time, smiling and laughing.' Following reports that his brother may have been shot dead, Walid Amri posted on Facebook: 'I am praying it won't be you.' Mustapha Amri, the father of Anis Amri, leaves his home after the death of her son in Oueslatia, central Tunisia Brother of the Berlin Christmas market truck attack suspect Anis Amri, shows a picture of Anis Amri (centre), in Oueslatia, Tunisia Nour El Houda Hassani, the mother of Anis Amri, reacts after the death of her son in Oueslatia, central Tunisia Mustapha Amri (second left), the father of 24-year-old Anis Amri next to his children Walid (left), Hanan (centre), and Abdelkader, with the truck killer's uncle (right) in front of the family house in the town of Oueslatia, Tunisia Anis Amri's father, Mustapha with the terrorist's brother Walid Amri in tears following his death in Milan in the early hours of this morning Mustapha and Nour-Houda Amri, the parents of 24-year-old Anis Amri, who was killed in Milan this morning after opening fire on police after being stopped during a routine stop Advertisement

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said Amri's apparent ability to travel from Germany to Italy showed that the Schengen system - which allows border-free movement between 26 European states - is 'a risk to public safety' and should be scrapped.

'If the man shot in Milan is the Berlin killer, then the Schengen area is proven to be a risk to public safety,' said Mr Farage. 'It must go.'

This morning, it emerged that the Polish driver of the hijacked Berlin lorry was shot in the head on Monday night with a similar-sized gun to the one Amri used in Italy.

Movio was taken to San Gerardo Hospital in Monza for emergency treatment where he is said to be recovering. Pictures of his protective vest show the impact of one of Amri's bullets.

'I asked him to open the backpack,' said Cristian Movio from his hospital bed hospital. 'The behaviour of my colleague on patrol has been exemplary - he reacted as soon as he pulled the pistol from his jacket and shot me.'

At dawn forensics officers removed the body and began photographing bullets strewn across the ground from the shoot-out. There were also blood-soaked clothes and tissues

Amri ran for cover and cowered behind a car before being shot dead by trainee officer Luca Sciappa who had reportedly only been in the job for a matter of months

Investigation: The body of Anis Amri was moved into a van at dawn this morning as officials examined the scene

On the run: Amri had been running from police since Monday night after going on the rampage with a lorry on Monday

QUESTIONS OVER BLUNDERS IN WAKE OF THE ATTACK The killing of Anis Amri comes after an embarrassing four days for German authorities. An hour after the mass murder, a 23-year-old Pakistani man was arrested, but police were later forced to admit he was not involved in the attack. It took more than 24 hours to identify Amri, despite him having left his wallet in the lorry which ploughed into crowds at the market. Just two hours after the attack happened, Lutz Bachmann, who heads the anti-immigrant PEGIDA group, tweeted that he had 'internal police information' that the perpetrator was a Tunisian Yet just two hours after it happened, Lutz Bachmann, who heads the anti-immigrant PEGIDA group, tweeted that he had 'internal police information' that the perpetrator was a Tunisian. The killer's eyes were hidden in pictures circulated by police, and he was identified as Anis A., potentially hampering efforts to track him down. When he was eventually identified as the chief suspect, it transpired that he was well known to intelligence services, and had even been reportedly heard offering his services as a suicide bomber. Despite being arrested three times this year, deportation papers were never served. He was killed in the early hours of the morning in Milan, despite German authorities announcing that he was still believed to be in Berlin. Advertisement

Photos of the scene this morning showed Amri's body lying on the ground surrounded by armed police. The corpse was later covered with a blanket and the square outside the station sealed off as a crime scene.

Interior minister Marco Minniti said there was 'no doubt' the dead man was Anis Amri.

He told journalists at a Rome press conference: 'This was a routine patrol and the officers saw what appeared to be the Berlin suspect.

'Without any hesitation he pulled a gun from his bag and fired at the police. Christian Movio was hit in the shoulder. The police officer Luca Scata responded and the suspect was killed.

'Without a shadow of a doubt this was Anis Amri'.

He hailed the two police officers as 'heroes' who had ensured 'all Italians can have a happier Christmas because of their bravery'.

German police appear to have completely misjudged the distance Amri was able to travel after the attack on Monday night.

HOW FOUR-DAY MANHUNT FOR BERLIN TERRORIST UNFOLDED Monday Between 3pm and 4pm: Polish lorry driver Lukasz Urban, 37, has his lorry hijacked. He was on his way back to his truck from a kebab shop when he was ambushed. 8pm - The truck is driven into a large crowd of people at outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the centre of Berlin. Urban's body was found in the passenger seat after the attackers fled. He had been shot and stabbed, but authorities believe he was alive when the truck ploughed into the crowd. 9pm - A man is arrested after being tackled fleeing the scene. Lorry driver Lukasz Urban (pictured above) was found dead in the passenger seat of is lorry after the massacre. He is believed to have fought to regain control of the truck from Amri as it sped towards revellers Tuesday 4am - Police raid a refugee camp at Tempelhof, believed to be where the Pakistani suspect resided. 8am - The suspect is named as Naved B, a 23-year-old man from Pakistan. 10am - German chancellor Angela Merkel confirms the attack is being treated as an act of terrorism. 12pm - Germany's interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere confirms that 18 of the 50 people hurt in the attack were 'very seriously injured'. 1.20pm - Police admit that they have arrested the wrong man. A senior officer says: 'The true perpetrator is still armed, at large and can cause fresh damage.' 6.50pm - Authorities confirm that the wrongly-arrested man has been released. ISIS claims responsibility for the attack, describing the lorry driver as a 'soldier' and praising him for 'targeting nationals of the coalition countries' Wednesday Angela Merkel confirmed it was being treated as a terrorist attack It is revealed that police are looking for a Tunisian man, named as Anis Amri, after his ID was found under the driver's seat. It emerged that the failed asylum seeker, who had a 100,000 euro reward on his head, had been under the surveillance of German intelligence for several months. He had been arrested three times this year, but deportation papers were never served. Reports in Germany suggest intelligence services had lost track of him weeks ago. A cousin of Naveed Baluch, the wrongly accused suspect, was 'mentally unfit' and had not been heard from since he was released. His cousin Waheed told MailOnline he was 'very worried' about the missing man. Thursday An Israeli woman became the first named victim of the Berlin lorry massacre. Dalia Elyakim, from Herzliya, Israel, was with her husband Rami when the atrocity happened. Rami was in hospital fighting for his life. Two of Amri's brothers, Walid and Abdelkader, said they believed he had been radicalised in prison in Italy, and Abdelkader told reporers: 'I ask him to turn himself in to the police. If it is proved that he is involved, we dissociate ourselves from it.' Two men were arrested after a police raid at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood, where Amri was allegedly captured on CCTV just eight hours after the mass killing. Dalia Elyakim, from Herzliya, Israel, was named as the first victim of the massacre. Her husband Rami, pictured with her, is fighting for his life Friday 3am - Amri was shot dead in Milan. Italian Interior minister, Marco Minniti, said Amri immediately produced a gun when approached by police and shot an officer during a routine patrol in the northern Italian city early on Friday. The Tunisian was then killed, and there is 'absolutely no doubt' that the man was Amri, Minniti said. Advertisement

This morning, before his death was announced, a senior police source told tabloid Bild: 'We believe he is either in Berlin or in North Rhine-Westphalia'.

German chancellor Angela Merkel this afternoon expressed her relief that the suspect poses no further threat.

Mrs Merkel said she has ordered a comprehensive investigation into all angles of the case, after it emerged that German authorities had tracked Amri for months this year on suspicion of planning an attack.

The German leader said 'our democracy, our rule of law, our values and our humanity' are the alternatives to 'the hate-filled world of terrorism', and would ultimately prevail.

Mrs Merkel also expressed her deep thanks to Italian authorities, and in particular to the two police officers who challenged Amri.

At dawn forensics officers removed the body and began photographing bullets strewn across the ground from the shoot-out. There were also blood-soaked clothes and tissues.

Earlier today police arrested two men at the mosque where Europe's most wanted man was allegedly seen just eight hours after driving a 25-ton lorry into a crowd at a Christmas market.

The men, one of whom was in traditional Muslim dress, wrestled with police, shouted expletives and lashed out at journalists and members of the public as they were bundled away.

Investigation: Forensics were called to the scene after the Berlin lorry killer was shot dead

Police had received a tip-off that Amri was in Milan before he turned up at a train station in Milan

The arrests, in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood, came as it was revealed Amri was allegedly captured on CCTV at the mosque just eight hours after the atrocity.

Images show a man in dark clothing and a cap standing in a doorway in the early hours of Tuesday, German public broadcaster rbb reported. A man, alleged to be Amri, was also seen at the same mosque on two different days in the week leading up to the atrocity.

This morning there had also been reported sighting of him in Aalborg, Denmark - but this now appears to have been a false alarm.

Amri was made Europe's most wanted man after being identified as the perpetrator, but only after German authorities initially detained the wrong suspect.

Pakistani refugee Naveed Baluch, 23,was taken in for questioning after being arrested around a mile from the scene.

However, he was subsequently released without charge, prompting fears that the real attacker was still at large.

Earlier today police arrested two men at the mosque where Europe's most wanted man was allegedly seen just eight hours after driving a 25-ton lorry into a crowd at a Christmas market

The men, one of whom was in traditional Muslim dress, wrestled with police, shouted expletives and lashed out at journalists and members of the public as they were bundled away

Amri was identified after his wallet was found in the cab of the vehicle, but the German police were slammed as to how this took so long to find, with many critics saying it was 'too convenient' as it had not been found sooner.

But Amri was further pinpointed to crime scene when his fingerprints were also found on the steering wheel of the stolen vehicle.

Amri has strong links to Italy because it was the first European country he claimed asylum in.

HERO POLICEMAN WHO KILLED LORRY TERRORIST WAS A TRAINEE Trainee policeman Luca Scata (pictured) is just a few months into the job yet still managed to chase down and shoot dead Europe's most wanted man Anis Amri, 24 Trainee policeman Luca Scata is just a few months into the job yet still managed to chase down and shoot dead Europe's most wanted man Anis Amri, 24. The Sicilian, who works in Milan, approached the killer outside Sesto San Giovanni station in the northern Italian city while on patrol with colleague Christian Movio. They asked for his ID because he looked like the Berlin terror suspect - Amri pulled a gun from his bag and opened fire, screaming 'Allahu Akbar'. Movio was hit in the shoulder and Amri ran through the square trying to hide behind cars while firing. Scata gave chase and shot him dead in the street. Christian Movio is in hospital but will survive the shooting, police said. Italian interior minister Marco Minniti said there was 'no doubt' the dead man was Anis Amri and paid tribute to the bravery of the officers, naming them in a Rome news conference. Luca Scata's Facebook page has since crashed because so many people are leaving messages of thanks and congratulations. Barbara Dalpozzo wrote: 'Luckily for Italy there are people like you.. Merry Christmas Luca' Ivobbello Triddick added: 'Thank you and congratulations! You're a hero, of the real ones, who devote their lives to the country! Long Live Italy!' Movio, speaking from his hospital bed, said: 'My partner's actions were exemplary, he reacted immediately when the pistol came out.' Interior Minister Marco Minniti telephoned the officers to congratulate them and said he would be visiting them to "personally give them a hug. 'At a very young age, these extraordinary men have done a huge service to the entire community, by doing their duty. 'Italians can be proud of them, they have ensured a much happier Christmas. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni echoed the praise as Scata's Facebook page was flooded with well-wishing messages from all over the world, with many demanding the government give him a medal. At home in Sicily, his father Giuseppe Scata said he was just happy his son was alive. 'He is a brave boy and he did his duty,' he told reporters. 'When we spoke to him on the telephone early this morning he still did not know that the dead boy was the attacker.' Advertisement

In 2011 he dodged prison in his native Tunisia after fleeing following a violent robbery. He was jailed for five years in absentia.

He arrived in Italy in 2011, arriving on the small island of Lampedusa amongst thousands of people fleeing the Arab Spring uprisings. He pretended to be a child migrant - even though he was 19 - but then rioted inside his detention centre, which was set on fire. He was then jailed for four years, serving it in two prisons on Sicily.

After his release Italy failed to deport him twice because Tunisia refused to take him back and he fled Italy via the Alps for Germany, meaning he probably went via Milan.

Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti, left, is flanked by Rome's prefect Franco Gabrielli as he speaks during a news conference in Rome

Italian police cordon off an area around the body of Anis Amri after a shoot-out with police

Amri was jailed by a court in Kairouan, in northern Tunisia, in 2010 for stealing a truck, according to German newspaper die Welt.

But he fled his home country for Europe the following year to avoid being sent to prison for other robbery and violence offences.

Amri was sentenced to five years behind bars in 2011 - but left the country to avoid jail and arrived illegally in Italy as a fugitive from justice.

He was later jailed for arson in Italy when he burned down a migrant reception centre during a violent protest on the island of Lampedusa - the entry point into Europe for hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing north Africa and the Middle East.

Amri was one of a number of migrants who set fire to their mattresses, which burned the migrant centre holding 1,200 refugees to the ground.

Many refugees were given permission to travel freely through Europe but Amri was ordered to stay in the overcrowded camp because he claimed to be an unaccompanied minor.

Amri was released four months early from his four year sentence, arriving in Germany in July 2015 where he remained under the surveillance of the intelligence services for several months.

He had been arrested three times this year and his asylum application was rejected, but deportation papers were never served and he disappeared.

The Tunisian radical was known to be a supporter of Islamic State and to have received weapons training.

With nowhere to go after his release, ISIS recruiters offered him protection before convincing him to sneak into Germany as a Syrian refugee, a source within Tunisia's anti-terror police revealed.

The source told MailOnline: 'Whatever he decided to do in Germany was started while he was in Italy.

'They gave him food and shelter and persuaded him to carry out a mission for them. It was in Italy that he was radicalised.

'He entered Germany posing as a Syrian refugee. He was a vulnerable young man and they showed kindness to him.'

But the terror he brought to the streets of the German capital is a far cry from a youngster who loved amateur dramatics and cookery, his sister told.

Seconds from disaster: Dashcam footage shows the hijacked truck (circled in red) speeding past waiting cars as it careers towards the pedestrianised street

A wanted notice for a Tunisian suspect in the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin says the man should be considered armed and dangerous

Close up: The shattered glass on the windshield of a truck shown after it ploughed through the Christmas market. A wreath and part of a market stall was embedded inside

AMRI'S LAST KNOWN LOCATION Prior to the shooting in Milan, Amri's last known location was a mosque in Berlin, where he was seen just hours after the atrocity. Amri was captured on CCTV outside the place of worship in the city's Moabit neighbourhood just eight hours after the Christmas market massacre. Images show a man in dark clothing and a cap standing in a doorway in the early hours of Tuesday, German public broadcaster rbb reported. He was also seen at the same mosque on two different days in the week leading up to the atrocity. Intelligence sources later confirmed that they believed the man in the CCTV footage to be Amri. Other pictures emerged of the mosque after it was raided by police who used stun grenades as they entered the building. The door was seen hanging on its hinges, and a rudimentary attempt to fix it, with pieces of wood and masking tape appeared to have been abandoned. A window in the hall outside the mosque, which was covered with graffiti and dirt, had been smashed. The door was seen hanging on its hinges, and a rudimentary attempt to fix it, with pieces of wood and masking tape appeared to have been abandoned A window in the hall outside the mosque, which was covered with graffiti and dirt, had been smashed Advertisement

Older sibling Najoua said: 'He did drink, but moderately, he took cooking and acting classes when he was in Italy, he liked his life before he was jailed [in that country].

She added: 'When he was a child in school I was university studying literature, he used to come to me and ask me to read him pre-Islamic poetry and explain to him what it meant. He really appreciated its beauty and he was passionate about it.'

Speaking from Tunisia this morning, Amri's brother Abdelkader is quoted as saying: 'We are shocked and the whole family is sick. No comment.'

He later told AP by telephone that he wanted to find out the 'truth about my brother.

The family ordered a crowd outside their house to leave when news of Friday's police shootout reached the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia, according to neighbor Wiem Khemili. Police stood guard around the impoverished town.

His brother Walid posted a photo of him on Facebook following the identification of Anis as the prime suspect.

The image of Anis stood by a lake was captioned 'I am praying you are safe and that these reports are not true.'

How Berlin Christmas market killer was able to flee across at least three countries thanks to Europe's wide open borders

By Martin Robinson, UK Chief Reporter for MailOnline

Europe's most wanted man Anis Amri travelled unhindered through at least three countries before being gunned down in northern Italy.

Blundering German police today said they believed the Tunisian asylum seeker was still in or around Berlin just before he was shot dead almost 1,000 miles away in Milan.

Officers have been raiding addresses across Germany in the hunt for Amri, but after arresting the wrong man the ISIS terrorist was able to flee the country.

This morning, before his death was announced, a senior police source told tabloid Bild: 'We believe he is either in Berlin or in North Rhine-Westphalia'.

Manhunt: German authorities offered a 100,000 euro (84,000) reward for information leading to his capture - but for 12 hours his face was blurred because of their privacy rules

Evidence: Pictures from the scene appear to show a weapon lying on the road near a backpack

Nigel Farage: Berlin's Christmas market attack proof EU free movement is a 'risk to the public' Nigel Farage, pictured in New York last week, has said the free movement zone in the EU must be scrapped after the Berlin market attacker fled across borders to France and Italy By Tim Sculthorpe Nigel Farage has said the free movement zone in the EU must be scrapped after the Berlin market attacker fled across borders to France and Italy. The ex Ukip leader said the ecape route of Anis Amri proved the Schengen zone was a 'risk to public safety'. Mr Farage has linked free movement and terrorism before. In the wake of the Paris attacks and ahead of the EU referendum, he said: 'The warnings were pretty clear. 'Isis said they would use the migrant tide to flood the EU with half a million jihadists. 'I would suggest 5000 is too many; 500 is too many it only took eight to cause that destruction in Paris the other night. 'This dream of the free movement of people, this dream for others of the Schengen area: It hasn't just meant the free movement of people, it has meant the free movement of Kalashnikov rifles. 'It has meant the free movement of terrorists, and it has meant the free movement of jihadists.' Advertisement

It heaps further embarrassment on Chancellor Angela Merkel, who yesterday said she believed they would arrest him 'soon'.

By the time the European arrest warrant was issued 30 hours after the terror attack, Amri had plenty of time to leave the country.

He travelled out of Germany and all the way to Chambery railway station in the French Alps.

He then took a three-hour direct train to Turin, and then on to Milan's Central Station where he arrived at 1am, and then on to the suburban Sesto San Giovanni station where he was killed by police at 3am.

It is not known how he got to France from Germany but if it was by train the quickest route would be from Berlin to Frankfurt, then on to Lyon.

One report said he may have gone to Paris before heading towards the Alps and Italy over the past five days.

Police will be searching for any abandoned cars in case he left Germany by road before switching to the railways.

Meanwhile, French authorities are refusing to comment on how the Berlin attack suspect apparently crossed into France and left again in the face of an international manhunt.

Milan police chief Antonio de Iesu said earlier that Anis Amri had 'surely passed through France' - a country that has been living in a state of emergency for more than a year after deadly Islamic extremist attacks.

France upped security on the road borders with Germany border after Monday's Christmas market attack in Berlin, and introduced extra security forces on trains last year after American passengers thwarted an attack on an Amsterdam-Paris route.

The Interior Ministry, prime minister's office and president's office would not comment on the Milan police announcement that Amri was found in Italy with a train ticket from Chambery, France the day before.

French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux visited a Paris train station Friday morning to inspect security measures ahead of Christmas holidays. He said more than 91,000 police and military forces are deployed across the country.

Nigel Farage has said the free movement zone in the EU must be scrapped after the Berlin market attacker fled across borders so easily.

Amri, 24, has strong links to Italy because it was the first European country he claimed asylum in.

In 2011 he dodged prison in his native Tunisia after fleeing following a violent robbery. He was jailed for five years in absentia.

He arrived in Italy in 2011, arriving on the small island of Lampedusa amongst thousands of people fleeing the Arab Spring uprisings.

He pretended to be a child migrant - even though he was 19 - but then rioted inside his detention centre, which was set on fire. He was then jailed for four years, serving it in two prisons on Sicily.

After his release Italy failed to deport him twice because Tunisia refused to take him back and he fled Italy via the Alps for Germany, meaning he probably went via Milan.

He looks to have followed a near identical route back - yet German police appear to have completely misjudged the distance Amri was able to travel after the attack on Monday night.

And the security services in German have already been heavily criticised for the way they have handed the investigation.

German authorities took a day to find Amri's wallet in the truck and only confirmed his fingerprints were inside yesterday

Police were raiding addresses all over Germany, pictured in Dortmund, when Amri had already left the country

First picture: Naved B, a Pakistani asylum seeker, was arrested after the attack - he had nothing to do with it but it took police 18 hours to work it out

Path to Germany: Amri fled Tunisia to avoid jail but was imprisoned in Italy for rioting in an immigration centre. He still managed to get to Germany after his release. He has been repeatedly arrested and watched by vanished two weeks ago

Nigel Farage said the ease with which Amri moved around Europe proved the Schengen Area was a 'risk to public safety'

First police arrested the wrong man in the aftermath of the attack - a Pakistani asylum seeker who accidentally jumped a red light near Breitscheidplatz.

Innocent man Naveed Baluch, 23, was flown across the country to Karlsruhe to be questioned, but was released 18 hours later after he was found to have no blood on his clothes and no injuries.

In that time Amri was allegedly caught on a security camera as he stood outside a mosque he was believed to have frequented in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood.

The next blunder came when German police took a day to find his wallet under the lorry's front seat and they only managed to confirm his fingerprints were on the wheel yesterday.

Amri's privacy was then placed above the public's need to identify him the number one suspect.

German media reports only ran his first name and second initial, and in all pictures his eyes were blacked out.

WHAT IS SCHENGEN? The Schengen Area is a zone covering 26 European states that have officially abolished passport checks at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single country for international travel purposes with a common visa policy. The policy is named after the Schengen Agreement struck in 1985. States in the Schengen Area have eliminated border controls with the other Schengen members and strengthened border controls with non-Schengen countries. Britain has an opt out from the Schengen zone meaning there are passport checks at airports, ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel Advertisement

Only after a 100,000 euro bounty was put on his head was his full identity revealed around 12 hours later. This was almost two days after the attack.

The country's security was placed under fresh scrutiny following revelations covert surveillance had been ditched against the 24-year-old after more than six months due to police finding nothing to substantiate an initial tip-off.

Yesterday it was revealed that wire taps grabbed two months ago showed Amri had told a hate preacher that he was willing to blow himself up - and had also inquired about buying automatic weapons from a police informant.

But German officers still did not believe they had enough evidence to arrest him, according to Spiegel.

A near-total ban on CCTV in public spaces also meant that German police and security services had no live footage of the Christmas market massacre or the killer driver fleeing the scene.

Draconian German privacy rules mean filming in public places is largely prohibited - and this year politicians blocked attempts to install cameras on Berlin's main squares.

It is a backlash against tyrannical control of the population by the Nazis and then state-sponsored surveillance by the Stasi in Cold War East Germany before the Berlin Wall fell.

One German journalist told the Mail: 'Then, the state knew everything about you. As a result, the public now fears it knowing anything about you.'

Police say it has gone too far and means that the driver of the truck who fled on foot from Breitscheidplatz square cannot be followed on camera.

Bodo Pfalzgraf of the German police union said after the attack: 'We need better and more intelligent surveillance in public places, and Monday's tragedy has shown precisely why.
COLUMBUS  The Platte County Board of Supervisors gave its approval Thursday to salary increases for some county employees.

Highway Superintendent Terry Wicht's salary will go from $59,074.62 to $60,800, effective Jan. 1.

The board voted 5-2 to authorize the increase, with Supervisors Hollie Olk and Ron Pfeifer opposing the wage adjustment.

Supervisor Jerry Engdahl, who made the motion for the raise based on a recommendation from the road and bridge committee, said the highway superintendent position is worthy of a pay increase.

The departments budget is larger than most others, he said, and the highway superintendent manages a large number of employees. Engdahl also said the pay should be competitive with other counties.

The increase is less than 3 percent, but Pfeifer questioned whether an appointed position should be making more than an elected position. Starting in 2017, most elected officials in the county will earn $58,000 annually, with the county clerk receiving an additional $1,500 as the budget-making authority.

Supervisor Jerry Micek said he doesnt compare elected and appointed officials, and he believes elected officials are paid well. He also said the highway department has a big responsibility to the public of maintaining safe roads.

Kaz Long, deputy public defender, will also get more money, but not as much as initially requested.

Platte County public defender Tim Matas requested that Long, who has been with the county for about a year, receive $55,500, an increase of $5,500 from his current salary.

Matas said Long deserves the 11 percent bump in pay because of his experience and performance over the last year. He also believes the increase was justified by the salaries earned by employees in the Platte County Attorney's Office.

Some board members thought it was too much of an increase for the amount of time Long has worked for the county. Long started with a $42,000 salary when he was hired and received an $8,000 increase in June.

The board voted 4-3 against the increase, with Micek, Pfeifer, Engdahl and Tom Martens opposing the raise.

Another motion was made to set Long's salary at $54,600, the same amount earned by the shortest-serving prosecutor in the county attorneys office. That motion passed 5-2, with Martens and Micek in opposition.

Micek and Martens favored setting Long's salary at $52,750 starting Jan. 1 then considering a jump to $54,600 after six months.

Other wages set by the board, effective Jan. 1, are:

 emergency manager, from $46,400 to $48,400,

 chief maintenance technician, from $22.10 per hour to $23,

 weed superintendent, from $15.50 per hour to $16,

 general assistance administrator, from $13.65 per hour to $14.05,

 veterans service officer, from $21.50 per hour to $22, and

 veterans services secretary, from $12.50 per hour to $13.50.

In other business, the board agreed to:

 reimburse Irvin Mueller $685.52 for mowing Granville Cemetery,

 approve amusement licenses for Shenanigans and Ron and Mari Melcher, owners of U.S. 30 Speedway, and

 purchase a dump truck for the highway department from Truck Center Companies in Columbus for $149,289 with $13,784 in options.
An Israeli official on Friday accused President Barack Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a 'shameful move against Israel at the U.N.' after learning the White House did not intend to veto a Security Council resolution condemning settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem the day before.

'President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the U.N.,' the official said.

'The U.S administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel's back which would be a tail wind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall occupied Palestinian territory' he said calling it 'an abandonment of Israel which breaks decades of US policy of protecting Israel at the UN.'

Earlier the official said Israel's prime minister turned to President-elect Donald Trump to help head off the critical U.N. resolution.

Relations between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been frosty for years and are likely to become impossible after Friday's UN Security Council meeting

The UN Security Council could pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, if the United States fails to exercise its veto power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is now accusing the Obama administration of colluding with the Palestinian Authority in order to hamstring Israel before Obama leaves office next month

Although the U.S. opposes the settlements, it has traditionally used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block resolutions condemning Israel, saying that disputes between Israel and the Palestinians must be resolved through negotiations.

But after eight years of failed peace efforts during the Obama Administration, Israel has expressed concern the outgoing president would take an audacious step to leave his mark on the region.

In recent weeks, the White House had been especially secretive about its deliberations.

The Israeli official's admission marked a final chapter in the icy relations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama over the last eight years, and signaled an era of close ties between Israel and the incoming Trump administration.

Israel knew even before the Egyptian draft resolution that the White House was planning an 'ambush' and coordinating it with the Palestinians, said another Israeli official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal diplomatic conversations.

Israeli diplomats believe they were misled by the U.S. during a meeting last week between high-ranking Israeli and Obama administration officials in which the U.S. side offered reassurances about its efforts to support Israel but declined to explicitly state that the U.S. would veto such a resolution if it came up.

The Israelis told their counterparts that 'friends don't take friends to the Security Council,' the official said.

Netanyahu tweeted that the US 'should veto the anti-Israel resolution,' a day before the vote was postponed at Egypt's request

Donald Trump, some of whose advisers are seen as strong pro-Israel Zionists, addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's policy conference in March

The Egyptian-sponsored resolution had demanded that Israel halt settlement activities in occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians and declared that existing settlements 'have no legal validity.'

But under heavy Israeli pressure, Egypt called off a planned vote in the Security Council hours before it was to take place. In the diplomatic activity ahead of the postponement, both Netanyahu and Trump issued nearly identical statements urging the U.S. to veto the measure.

'After becoming aware that the administration would not veto the anti-Israel resolution, Israeli officials reached out to Trump's transition team to ask for the president-elect's help to avert the resolution,' the Israeli official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was discussing behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity.

On Friday, Egypt said its president had received a call from Trump in which they both agreed to give the incoming U.S. administration a chance to try and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The call came hours after Egypt indefinitely postponed the U.N. vote.

A statement from the Egyptian presidency said the two men spoke by phone early Friday and agreed on 'the importance of giving a chance for the new American administration to deal in a comprehensive way with the different aspects of the Palestinian issue with the aim of achieving a comprehensive and a final resolution.'

A senior Palestinian official, speaking anonymously according to protocol, said Egypt didn't consult with the Palestinians about delaying the vote and it was a 'complete shock' for them. Egypt represents Arab states on the security council.

Egypt is the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, and the two countries have close security ties in a shared struggle against Islamic militants.

The Palestinian mission to the United Nations said the Security Council will vote later in the day on the resolution condemning Israel's settlement construction, now sponsored by New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela.

Israeli security forces take position near the settlement of Kadumim (background) during clashes following a demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum on Friday

Settlements in the West Bank

The U.S., along with the Palestinians and nearly all of the international community, opposes Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as obstacles to peace.

Some 600,000 Israelis live in the two territories, which the Palestinians seek as part of a future independent state. Israel captured both areas in the 1967 Mideast war.

Trump has signaled he will be far more sympathetic to Israel. His campaign platform made no mention of the establishment of a Palestinian state, a core policy objective of Democratic and Republican presidents over the past two decades.

He also has vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that would put the U.S. at odds with the Palestinians and almost the entire remainder of the international community, and his pick for ambassador to Israel, Jewish-American lawyer David Friedman, is a donor and vocal supporter of the settlements.

The proposed resolution would have been more than symbolic. While it did not call for imposing sanctions on Israel, its language could have hindered Israel's negotiating position in future peace talks.

A Palestinian protester takes his position in front of the Israeli settlement of Qadumim (Kedumim), near Nablus, in the occupied West Bank on December 9

Israeli troops fought in clashes with Palestinian protesters in the Palestinian town of Beit El of Ramallah, West Bank on November 11 of last year

Given the widespread international opposition to the settlements, it would have been nearly impossible for the Trump administration to reverse it.

It remained unclear Friday whether the measure would come up for a vote in the council before Obama leaves office.

In a Christmas greeting on Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: 'Despite the Israeli occupation, our presence in our homeland and the preservation of our cultural and national heritage are the most important form of resistance in the face of the darkness of a foreign colonialist occupying power.'

The possible condemnation has led to frantic diplomacy in capitals around the world for the last couple of days.

Posters reading 'Trump, Make Israel Great Again!' were seen in Tel Aviv, Israel in the months before the U.S. election

Israeli border police officers scuffled on Friday with Palestinian protesters, some of whom were are dressed as Santa Claus, during a protest in front of an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank city of Bethlehem

If the vote proceeds and the draft resolution is left unchanged, the U.S. may take a different tack.

Officials said the U.N. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, was already working on a possible 'explanation of vote' that she would read out afterward. They said the U.S. hasn't shifted its position in the last day, meaning an abstention would still be the likely course of action. The officials weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.

Israel knew the U.S. was coordinating an 'ambush' with the Palestinians, said another Israeli official, who similarly demanded anonymity.

A senior Obama administration official fired back, saying Egypt championed the resolution 'from the start' and crediting 'other Security Council members, not the United States,' for the renewed push on Friday. The resolution is now sponsored by New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela.

Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi said she is 'confident it will pass.'
Police are probing whether market massacre suspect Anis Amri was responsible for the murder of a young German boy in Hamburg two months ago.

The news comes as it also emerged that Amri was previously jailed for hijacking a vehicle in his home country of Tunisia.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the October 16 knife attack which claimed the life of a 16-year-old called Victor E.

Murder squad detectives are probing the similarities between Amri and the photofit picture issued following the murder of 16-year-old Victor E.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the October 16 knife attack which claimed the life of a Victor

A tribute to Victor on a banner reads: 'Our beloved friend, we think of you and miss you' next to river where he was stabbed

ISIS claimed responsibility for the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy beneath Kennedy Bridge in Hamburg

A sign reading, 'Victor - we miss you', placed at the site of the stabbing in Hamburg

ISIS news agency Amaq stated: 'A soldier of the Islamic State stabbed two individuals in Hamburg on the 16th of this month. He carried out the operation in response to calls to target the citizens of coalition countries.'

Victor's girlfriend, aged 15, was with him at the time and not stabbed but pushed into the waters of the Outer Alster Lake.

When she made it to dry land she called the emergency services but her boyfriend died shortly afterwards in hospital. She is currently under psychiatric care.

If the group was responsible it would be its first lethal attack on German soil. An Afghan refugee who pledged allegiance to Isis attacked people with an axe on a train in July and was killed by police but his victims survived.

Radicalised: After reportedly being brainwashed by extremists while sleeping rough on the streets in Italy, Amri arrived in southern Germany in July 2015 - 18 months before Monday's tragedy pictured

Suspect: German police suspect that Amri drove this truck into terrified crowds at the Christmas market. They are in a desperate race to detain him and have described him as being probably armed and 'highly dangerous' before any further terrorist attack

Wanted: Having served four years in jail in Palermo, which also housed mafia bosses and gangsters, career criminal Amri, pictured, was freed four months early in May 2015

And an Isis suicide bomber a week later killed himself with a DIY bomb outside a cafe in Ansbach, injuring 19 people with no fatalities.

Hamburg police said they are looking for a man of 'southern' appearance, estimated to be about 23 to 25 years old and about 1.80 to 1.90 meters tall. He has stubble and short, dark hair.

Murder squad detectives are probing the similarities between Amri and the photofit picture issued for Victor's killer at the time.

'This is another lead we are following,' said a police spokesman.

Police are carrying out further searches in Berlin after Amri was apparently spotted at a city mosque after Monday's attack.

Amri suspect offered himself up as an ISIS suicide bomber and took a sinister video of himself walking the streets of the German capital

And he had previously been sentenced jailed for hijacking a vehicle, it has emerged.

Amri was jailed by a court in Kairouan, in northern Tunisia, in 2010 for stealing a truck, according to German newspaper die Welt.

But he fled his home country for Europe the following year to avoid being sent to prison for other robbery and violence offences.

Amri was sentenced to five years behind bars in 2011 - but left the country before and arrived illegally in Italy in early 2012 as a fugitive from justice.

His father, Mustapha, said he was later jailed for arson in Italy when he burned down a migrant reception centre during a violent protest on the island of Lampedusa - the entry point into Europe for hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing north Africa and the Middle East.

Amri was one of a number of migrants who set fire to their mattresses, which burned the migrant centre holding 1,200 refugees to the ground.

Many refugees were given permission to travel freely through Europe but Amri was ordered to stay in the overcrowded camp because he claimed to be an unaccompanied minor.

Blaze: It is alleged that Amri became radicalised while sleeping rough in Italy after he was released from jail in Palermo following his sentence for arson on Lampedusa in early 2011

Burnt out shell: Amri was convicted of arson shortly after arriving in Italy for after a blaze on this migrant centre in Lampedusa, pictured, in September 2011

Jail term: Amri fled Tunisia where he was facing a five year jail term for robbery. After his release from prison for his part in the migrant riots on Lampedusa in 2011, security sources in in Tunisia say he was radicalised by ISIS fanatics while he was sleeping rough in Italy

Amri was one of a number of migrants who set fire to their mattresses, which burned the migrant centre holding 1,200 refugees to the ground

The fire, which destroyed three buildings, was reported to have been started by Tunisians, including Amri, who were told to go home after some were ordered to return to Tunisia.

Amri was released four months early from his four year sentence, arriving in Germany in July 2015 where he remained under the surveillance of the intelligence services for several months.

He had been arrested three times this year and his asylum application was rejected, but deportation papers were never served and he disappeared.

The Tunisian radical was known to be a supporter of Islamic State and to have received weapons training. He tried to recruit an accomplice for a terror plot - which the authorities knew about - but still remained at large.

He was under investigation for planning a 'serious act of violence against the state' and counter-terrorism officials had exchanged information about him last month.

With nowhere to go after his release, ISIS recruiters offered him protection before convincing him to sneak into Germany as a Syrian refugee, a source within Tunisia's anti-terror police revealed.

The source told MailOnline: 'Whatever he decided to do in Germany was started while he was in Italy.

His brother Walid (second from left, being interviewed) posted a photo of him on Facebook following the identification of Anis as the prime suspect

'They gave him food and shelter and persuaded him to carry out a mission for them. It was in Italy that he was radicalised.

'He entered Germany posing as a Syrian refugee. He was a vulnerable young man and they showed kindness to him.'

But the terror he brought to the streets of the German capital is a far cry from a youngster who loved amateur dramatics and cookery, his sister told.

Older sibling Najoua said: 'He did drink, but moderately, he took cooking and acting classes when he was in Italy, he liked his life before he was jailed [in that country].

She added: 'When he was a child in school I was university studying literature, he used to come to me and ask me to read him pre-Islamic poetry and explain to him what it meant. He really appreciated its beauty and he was passionate about it.'

His brother Walid posted a photo of him on Facebook following the identification of Anis as the prime suspect.
This is the moment Christmas went up in smoke for one family and their visiting relatives after a blaze tore through their Adelaide home.

Hayley Brooks, from the town of Munno Para West, uploaded footage of the fire to social media after it broke out at around 9.45pm on Thursday.

Police say 14 people inside the property, including 11 children, were able to escape uninjured but the house was completely destroyed.

This is the moment a fire destroyed a home in Adelaide including Christmas presents for two families after breaking out in the garage on Thursday

The damage bill is estimated to be $300,000, including the family's Christmas presents and food.

Six crews from the Country Fire Service and Metropolitan Fire Service were called to the property in order to help fight the fire, Adelaide Now reports.

Around 30 firefighters managed to stop the fire spreading to adjacent homes, but were unable to save the house where the fire broke out.

Officers are now investigating the cause of the blaze, and are asking for any witnesses to come forward.
A Taiwanese woman found just one crisp in a bag of Lay's she had bought.

The stunned costumer, from the city of Tainan, filmed the process of her sister opening the pack and shared the footage on social media this week, which quickly became popular.

She told MailOnline that she had decided to record the process because she thought the unopened bag of crisps 'felt extremely light'.

Surprise: A Taiwanese woman found just one crisp in a bag of Lay's she had bought this week

The woman, in her 20s, identified herself as Yu Qing. She works as a wedding planner and is a snack-lover.

She said she opened the bag of crisps in the evening of December 19.

She had bought a combo of four packs of potato crisps from her local Da Tong supermarket in the Eastern District of Tainan, on the same day. The pack in question was one of them.

When she took out the bag of roast rib-flavoured crisps, she 'felt strange' because it was surprisingly light, said Yu Qing to MailOnline.

She then decided to film the process of the pack being opened. She asked her younger sister to cut the bag open as she filmed the process with her mobile phone.

That's a light pack! The woman, from Tainan, said she thought the pack felt extremely light

Just one inside: So she decided to film the process of her sister opening the pack of crisps

The 28-second video was posted by Yu Qing to Taiwanese Facebook group Baoliao Commune on December 19.

In the post, she wrote: 'I can't believe it. I want to have crisps today. Lay's is so brutal to put only one crisp into the bag. Is it made of gold?'

The clip attracted over 207,000 views. Many commentators were surprised by the incident.

One user joked that Yu Qing had bought air and got a crisp for free free while another one said 'even the package itself is worth more than the crisp'.

Another user said: 'Just one crisp! This air is so expensive. You need to treasure it.'

Several users have also shared their similar experience.

One user named 'Pan Yizhen' said: 'At least there is one inside. I once opened an empty one.'

Another user named 'Rebecca Anne' wrote: 'I got empty bags several times.'

While 'Zeng Yanhe' noted: 'When you buy a combo of several bag of crisps, you would not be able to tell the weight of each bag. I have got a bag with only six crisps before.'

The consumer received a box of six bags of crisps as compensation from Lay's on December 21

A spokesman from PepsiCo, the parent company of Frito-Lay who owns Lay's, has confirmed the incident to MailOnline.

Lynn Lin, a press officer at the PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co., told MailOnline that the incident had been caused by a production mishap in the company's factory in Tainan.

Ms Lin said sometimes during the production, the rows of crisps would become stuck inside the packaging machine, which spins at high speeds. This means that no crisps or a wrong number of crisps would be delivered to the bag waiting on the assembly line.

Ms Lin said such was the case for the pack Yu Qing had bought.

She added that normally the 'underweight' packs would be picked up by staff, however this time the product managed to get onto the shelf.

This is a rare case according to Ms Lin.

She also if customers encountered similar situation, they could contact the company for free replacements.

Yu Qing said she had contacted the customer service of Lay's in Tainan on December 20.

The company sent her a box of six bags of crisps as compensation the next day.
A landmark deal banning most semi-automatic weapons in Europe has been reached - but calls to outlaw AK-47s has been thrown out.

EU bosses say the agreement by 28 states is a 'milestone', and believe it will help prevent future terrorist attacks.

But they stopped short of banning Kalashnikov weapons, with Finland arguing it would limit its ability to call on reservists for national defence.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said he would like the agreement to have gone further

The decision not to include AK-47s has been described as regrettable by the European Commission.

The new string of measures mean that legally-owned firearms can be traced more easily, to prevent them ending up on the black market.

They also mean people within the EU will have to undergo medical checks before they can get a licence to buy firearms.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European Commission, said in a statement: 'We have fought hard for an ambitious deal that reduces the risk of shootings in schools, summer camps or terrorist attacks with legally held firearms.

'Of course we would have liked to go further, but I am confident that the current agreement represents a milestone in gun control in the EU.'

Sweden and the Czech Republic also opposed banning Klalashnikovs, saying it would impede hunters.

The commission's call for a ban on assault weapons, and a 10-round limit on magazine sizes was also rejected.

NEW GUN MEASURES APPROVED BY THE EU Stricter rules to ban certain semi-automatic firearms, which will not, under any circumstance be allowed to be held by private persons, even if they have been permanently deactivated

Tighter rules to avoid the acquisition of firearms, key parts or ammunition through the internet

EU common rules on marking of firearms to improve the traceability of weapons

Better exchange of information between member states, for example on any refusal of authorisation to own a firearm decided by another national authority, and obligation to interconnect national registers of weapons

Common criteria concerning alarm weapons such as distress flares and starter pistols to prevent their transformation into fully functioning firearms

Stricter conditions for the circulation of deactivated firearms

Stricter conditions for collectors to limit the risk of sale to criminals Advertisement

But it said that the move would help prevent legally-held weapons falling into the hands of terrorists.

The measure is part of an overall tightening of EU rules that govern the purchase and sale of such weapons since two Islamist gunmen shot dead 12 people in the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January 2015.

Militants killed 130 people in attacks in Paris in November last year.

The EU has also introduced rules which will make it more difficult to convert decommissioned weapons back into lethal firearms.

Blank firing weapons which had been converted were used in last November's terrorist attacks in Paris.

The new regulations are set to come into effect next year.

Short and long semi-automatic weapons with loading devices over 20 rounds will now face a ban, along with firearms that can be folded or concealed.

Standardized marking will be introduced for weapons' components, along with the immediate registration of firearms sales, details of which will be kept in national police databases.
Labour MPs reacted with fury today after Baroness Chakrabarti abandoned the party's commitment to being 'tough on crime'.

The shadow attorney general complained that Tony Blair had started an 'arms race' in sentencing - and backed calls for the prison population to be halved.

The peer, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, also made an extraordinary claim that people were being sent to jail purely to fuel profits for private firms.

The comments came as Lady Chakrabarti gave what was condemned as a 'car crash' interview amid a wave of unrest in prisons.

The shadow attorney general (pictured in the Lords) complained that Tony Blair had started an 'arms race' in sentencing - and backed calls for the prison population to be halved

A riot at HMP Swaleside, on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, has finally been brought under control after prisoners ran amok smashing up a wing and starting fires. It is the fifth such insurrection in UK jails in just two months.

Pictures emerged of hooded prisoners brandishing makeshift weapons amid scenes of destruction.

Up to 60 inmates were involved in the chaos, which included starting fires.

On one picture posted on social media, two prisoners  one wielding a length of wood  kept their backs to the camera as they stood among tossed mattresses, debris and overturned bins.

Lady Chakrabarti - a former director of campaign group Liberty who was controversially given a peerage and drafted on to the front bench by Jeremy Corbyn - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there were 'long term problems' in the justice system.

CORBYN HAILS LOCAL BY-ELECTION WIN WHERE LABOUR GOT JUST 98 VOTES Jeremy Corbyn faced ridicule today after he hailed an 'excellent' council by-election result where Labour received just 98 votes. The veteran left-winger admitted that the results in parliamentary by-elections recently were 'not that good'. But he complained that local elections outcomes had not been 'reported' amid the focus on disastrous showings in Richmond and Sleaford & North Hykeham. 'While the results in Richmond and Sleaford and North Hykeham weren't that good, what wasn't reported on the same day was that we gained overall control of the Telford and Wrekin council by winning a ward that has never, ever been Labour before. We also had an excellent result in Lancaster in a council by-election there,' he told the Independent. The Lancaster by-election Mr Corbyn appears to have been referring to was in the University and Scotforth Rural Ward. Labour's candidate was elected with 98 votes, ahead of the Greens on 79 and Tories on 68. The Telford contest was in the Horsehay and Lightmoor ward, where Labour emerged victorious over the Tories after securing 358 votes. In Richmond Park, Labour lost its deposit after polling just 1,500 votes. In Sleaford the party was put to the sword, slumping to fourth place behind Ukip with just 3,363 ballots being cast in its favour. Advertisement

'I think this was caused by an authoritarian arms race in British politics,' she said, pointing the finger at former PM Tony Blair and ex-Tory leader Lord Howard for suggesting that 'prison works'.

The peer said people were coming out of prison with drug habits and no new skills.

Asked if she was suggesting that fewer criminals should be sent to prison, she said: 'I think what I am suggesting is in the 1980s we had about half the prison population that we have now.

'I don't believe that the sum of human wickedness has doubled in my adult lifetime.

'I think the biggest factor in this doubling has been the political arms race.'

Echoing a call from former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Tory grandee Ken Clarke this week for the prison population to be halved, Lady Chakrabarti said there had to be a 'different conversation' about criminal justice.

She also drew a link between the sentences being imposed and the fact that private companies were involved in running prisons.

'I question whether there should be commercial incentives to lock up more and more people,' she said.

Labour MP and former minister John Spellar posted on Twitter: 'Car crash interview on BBC Today as Shami Chakrabarti unilaterally abandons Labour's Policy of 'tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime'.'

Another ex-minister, Sally Keeble, warned it would take 'years' for Labour to recover after Lady Chakrabarti ditched its approach to law and order.

But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, another ally of Mr Corbyn, voiced support saying the peer had been 'great' and repeating her message about 'ending the arms race'.

Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn faced ridicule after he hailed an 'excellent' council by-election result where Labour received just 98 votes.

The veteran left-winger admitted that the results in parliamentary by-elections recently had not been 'that good'.

In Richmond Park, Labour lost its deposit after polling just 1,500 votes.

In Sleaford the party was put to the sword, slumping to fourth place behind Ukip with just 3,363 ballots being cast in its favour.

But Mr Corbyn complained that local elections outcomes had not been 'reported' amid the media focus on those disastrous showings.

'While the results in Richmond and Sleaford and North Hykeham weren't that good, what wasn't reported on the same day was that we gained overall control of the Telford and Wrekin council by winning a ward that has never, ever been Labour before,' he said.

'We also had an excellent result in Lancaster in a council by-election there,' he told the Independent.

The Lancaster by-election Mr Corbyn appears to have been referring to was in the University and Scotforth Rural Ward.

Labour's candidate was elected with 98 votes, ahead of the Greens on 79 and Tories on 68.

The interview drew a furious response from Labour moderates including former ministers John Spellar and Sally Keeble. But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott voiced support




Donald Trump's press secretary has slammed the lawyer who berated the president-elect's daughter as she boarded a flight with her young children claiming it is 'not American'.

Ivanka Trump was travelling on the JetBlue flight from New York's JFK airport to San Francisco with her husband Jared Kushner and their three children Arabella, five, Joseph, three, and eight-month-old Theodore.

However, when she was spotted by attorney Dan Goldstein, it is claimed that he started making abusive comments towards the new First Daughter and the president-elect.

Donald Trump's press secretary has slammed the lawyer who berated the president-elect's daughter as she boarded a flight with her young children. Pictured is Ivanka on the plane after boarding

It is alleged that Goldstein, who was travelling with his husband Matthew Lasner and their toddler shouted: ''Your father is ruining the country.'

He then apparently began screaming out: 'Why is she on our flight. She should be flying private.'

The lawyer was then escorted off the flight and Ivanka and her family made their way to San Francisco.

During the incident Ivanka is said to have paid as little attention as possible and tried to preoccupy her children with some crayons to diffuse the situation.

Donald Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer responded to the incident, saying 'it is not the way that we as Americans need to act'

And now her father's press secretary Sean Spicer has responded to the incident and slammed the harrassment of Ivanka Trump.

He told Fox News: 'To do that to a woman who was on there with her children, I don't care what your political background is or what your thoughts are, that's not the way we as Americans need to act.'

After the incident, Golstein's husband Lassner took to Twitter, where he confirmed that they had been removed from the flight.

In a tweet, that was later deleted, he wrote: 'My husband expressed his displeasure in a calm tone, JetBlue staff overheard, and they kicked us off the plane.'

However, just an hour prior to that Lasner wrote on Twitter: 'Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil'

Lasner also took a photo of Ivanka sitting on the plane writing that they were kicked off for 'expressing displeasure about flying w/ Trumps.'

At the time of the incident, Dan Goldstein (left) demanded to know why he was being taken off the flight with Lasner (right). Some had claimed on the plane that Goldstein was screaming at Ivanka

Attorney Dan Goldstein (above), his husband, Matthew Lasner and their toddler were filmed being escorted by security through SFO hours after being removed from their first flight from JFK when Goldstein verbally attacked Ivanka Trump who was on the plane

Yesterday, JetBlue released a statement saying: 'The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly.

'If the crew determines that a customer is causing a conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight.'

Members of Secret Service were on the flight with the family, but did not intervene and instead chose to let the airline handle the issue.

The great escape: Ivanka was photographed getting off the JetBlue plane in San Francisco with her family Thursday afternoon after the incident earlier in the day at JFK

Ivanka quickly got inside a waiting SUV, as her husband Jared carried a car seat where their youngest son was buckled into

After landing in San Fransico, the family of five were then driven nearby to board a private jet heading to Hawaii.

The private jet was apparently pre-scheduled and not a reaction to the incident that took place earlier on Thursday at JFK.
This is the shocking moment a man and a woman were caught on camera vandalising commemorative wreaths at the cenotaph in Manchester.

Police arrested the pair, both 20, after CCTV operators spotted people damaging the decorations at the war memorial in St Peter's Square in the city, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say two people were seen pulling artificial leaves and poppies from wreaths before throwing them on the floor and dancing on them.

Officers were alerted at around 2.40am and arrested a man and a woman 10 minutes later.

The CCTV camera captured a man and a woman approaching the cenotaph at 2.40am on Wednesday morning

The man and woman appear to be ripping apart the wreaths which have been laid on the cenotaph to remember fallen soldiers

The woman then starts dancing across the memorial, weaving in between the wreaths and the poppies

Both have now been bailed until next month pending further enquiries.

Officers were out early on Wednesday morning assessing the damage and cleaning up the mess.

City centre chief Pat Karney said: 'Dancing on a memorial that remembers people who gave their lives for us is disgusting behaviour.

'They need to apologise for this insult and do work for the British Legion Poppy Appeal.'

It is just one shocking incident at the cenotaph this year, with council chiefs forced to beef up security around the landmark, beside Manchester Town Hall.

In August, a man was caught on CCTV kicking wreaths at the memorial.

The woman makes her way through the wreaths and appears to be dancing, kicking out her legs and swinging her arms

The CCTV camera has been able to pick up multiple incidents on the steps of the Manchester cenotaph in recent months

It is not the first time the cenotaph has been the object of abuse. In February, a man was ordered to do 200 hours community work after urinating on the memorial

The smartly dressed man was captured kicking the wreaths and performing a 'running kick'.

He was fined 90 and offered to do voluntary charity work for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Just weeks later, a drunken woman was caught on CCTV kicking and trampling on poppy wreaths at the cenotaph.

Police said the 21-year-old 'couldn't believe her actions' when she had sobered up. She was issued with a caution for public order.

In February the same cameras caught a man urinating on the cenotaph.
Maliha Parveen has been jailed for benefits fraud as a judge said cheats should know they face prison terms

A teaching assistant who swindled almost 80,000 in state handouts will spend Christmas in jail after a judge warned benefits cheats to expect more than 'a slap on the wrist'.

Mother-of-three Maliha Parveen was previously convicted of scamming 12,000 from the taxpayer and given a community order - but began over-claiming just three years later.

The former council worker, 65, claimed a range of handouts while working at Redwood secondary school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

She called on the judge to spare her a jail term, insisting one of her daughters is in an abusive arranged marriage and another is unwell.

But Judge Jonathan Foster QC handed her an eight-month sentence, hitting out at cheats who think they can get away with it.

He said: 'This is not the first time this has happened and the long and short of it is you haven't learnt your lesson from last time.

'Benefit fraud is a prevalent offence and people think they can get away with it because they will only get a slap on the wrist.

'This money is intended for the provision of community services and paid for by every citizen like me and all the other people in court. You must know that not only from your conviction but also from your background.'

Parveen was previously convicted of cheating handouts but started again three years later

The judge added: 'The most important thing is for you to realise and for the public to realise that these offences will be punished by immediate imprisonment, whatever the mitigation.'

Julian Goode prosecuting said: 'Claims forms have tick box questions and she ticked 'no' to confirm she was not in employment.

'Yet she was working for Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council since 2004 and since September 2008 she was working as a teaching assistant at Redwood school which is for students with learning disabilities.

'Between 2008 and 2009 she was working 10 hours a week and between October 2009 and September 2015 she was working 15 hours a week.

'She was on average 8.43 per hour. The duration of the fraud was 409 weeks and four days. She was interviewed and accepted the claims were dishonest, claiming she did it due to the financial pressure she was under at the time.'

Judge Jonathan Foster QC said benefits cheats should know they face prison

The court heard Parveen had started claiming benefits in 2000 over a string of medical complaints including angina, high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol and depression.

In 2008 she got a job at the school - which helps pupils with learning difficulties - but failed to notify DWP that there had been a reduction in mobility restrictions and care needs.

From December 2007 to September 2012 she made false representations in relation to Income Support, where she failed to disclose she was working and between September 2012 to October 2015 she pocketed Employment Support Allowance.

Income Support fraudulently obtained was 13,852, Disability Living Allowance was 14,908, Employment Support Allowance was for 12,781, Council Tax benefits was for 2,424 and Housing Benefits totally 35,319.

Parvenn, who admitted benefit fraud charges, wept as the judge passed sentence.
Official IRA man: Joe McCann, 24, was shot dead in disputed circumstances in Belfast

One of the former soldiers facing jail over the killing of an IRA gunman more than 40 years ago claims he has been 'treated like a terrorist'.

The retired paratrooper, known as Soldier A, said he felt 'betrayed' by the British government he claimed has done nothing about a 'political witch hunt' against him and Soldier C.

The two men had twice been assured they would not be hauled before the courts for gunning down Joe McCann at the height of the Troubles nearly 45 years ago.

But the men, now 67 and 65, are expected to stand trial next year for the Belfast killing  and face jail if convicted.

Soldier A told The Sun: ' I'm being treated like a terrorist. It's disgusting and the Government's doing nothing about this political witch-hunt. I feel betrayed.

'A letter at the time said no action would be taken. Now I've been treated with contempt by the Northern Ireland prosecution system.'

Soldier A and Soldier C, are the surviving members of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment patrol that opened fire on the terrorist in 1972.

After the soldiers were told in May that their files had been passed to the PPS, Soldier C, a grandfather-of-one from Hampshire, said: 'How can this be justice? It is a disgrace.

'I was doing my duty in Northern Ireland, trying to protect the public and keep the peace. Now I am being thrown to the wolves.'

McCann, 24, was one of the Official IRA's most prominent activists. He was regarded by members of the security forces as a terrorist who would be armed and not hesitate to use his weapon to resist arrest.

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The men are likely to appear in court next year over the death of Mr McCann (pictured in 1971) - who became an IRA poster by thanks to this picture

On April 15, 1972  weeks after Bloody Sunday  two Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch officers recognised him near Belfast city centre and decided to arrest him.

Soldier A, Soldier C and a colleague on patrol nearby were ordered to help. As McCann fled, it is claimed the soldiers shouted at him to stop or they would shoot. When he failed to halt, the three paras opened fire and he was killed.

After an RUC investigation at the time, the soldiers were told they would face no further action.

In 2010, the troops were traced by Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team (HET), which reviewed the case then told them the matter was closed.

But its report in 2013 found the soldiers were 'unjustified' in gunning down the IRA commander, saying he was unarmed.

Prosecutors reviewed the case after the Northern Ireland Attorney General, John Larkin, referred it to the Director of Public Prosecutions in March 2014.

Mr Larkin had been pushed by the dead IRA commander's family for a fresh inquest. Soldier A and C will receive court summons in the next few weeks.

In revenge for the killing of McCann, which sparked days of riots, the IRA shot five British soldiers, killing three in Belfast, Derry and Newry.

Among them was Nicholas Hull of the Royal Anglican Regiment, who was shot by an IRA sniper in West Belfast. The marksman was never brought to justice for the crime.

Earlier this month, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon vowed to safeguard British troops from such witch-hunts.

It is thought to be the second historical military prosecution relating to the Troubles. Ex-Warrant Officer (Class 1) Dennis Hutchings, 75, was charged with attempted murder over the fatal shooting of an IRA suspect  later found to be innocent  in 1974.
COLUMBUS  An Omaha man accused of trolling the internet last spring to entice a 14-year-old Columbus girl for a sexual encounter pleaded guilty Wednesday to sexually assaulting a teenage Omaha girl in the fall of 2015.

James Bruno, 38, entered his plea to first-degree sexual assault in Douglas County District Court in connection with the assault of the Omaha girl on Oct. 27, 2015.

Bruno is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 17 on the charge, a Class 1B felony punishable by a mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum of life behind bars.

On Wednesday, Platte County District Court Judge Robert Steinke dismissed a local charge against Bruno of child enticement with an electronic communications device.

The Platte County Attorneys Office sought the dismissal of the local charge because Bruno agreed to plead to the charge in Douglas County, which included a much stiffer mandatory minimum sentence, Deputy County Attorney Jose Rodriguez said.

The enticement charge, a Class ID felony, carried a mandatory minimum of three years behind bars with a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.

The advantage for prosecutors to the plea agreement is the length of the mandatory sentence. It allows the Omaha victim to avoid the emotional trauma of going through the courts deposition process, Rodriguez said.

That was really the goal, the local prosecutor said.

In Platte County, Bruno was accused of going online to entice what he thought was a 14-year-old girl for a sexual encounter.

His arrest stemmed from a Columbus Police investigation that ended May 27 at a city park when the Omahan showed up to meet a teen he met on Craigslist.

The girl was actually a police investigator.

According to court documents, the teenage girl told Bruno several times over a six-week period that she was 14 years old and in the eighth grade during online communications. The investigation began April 11.

Columbus Police Sgt. Bret Streckers sworn statement supporting Bruno's arrest reported the defendant initiated communication about sexual acts and agreed to meet the girl at Centennial Park in Columbus.

Bruno indicated he would be driving a dark blue sport utility vehicle with tinted windows and via email reported when he arrived at the park, Strecker wrote in his statement. The SUV was pulled over by law enforcement authorities and the defendant was inside the vehicle, the sergeant said.

Bruno admitted to police that he wanted to hang out with the girl, saying if sexual contact happened, he was good with that, court documents show.

He admitted that he had a problem and had interest in younger females, the affidavit stated.

Brunos sexual assault case in Douglas County was pending at the time of his arrest in Platte County. He was freed from jail in Douglas County after posting a $100,000 bond, 10 percent allowed for release, in March.
The father of twin girls kidnapped by their mother two years ago says he suspects his daughters could be hidden away in an secret society.

Michael Watter, the father of twins Isabella and Bronte Watter, both nine and missing for more than two years, has claimed the girl's mother, Cassie Watter, is being supported by a mystery benefactor.

Ms Watter allegedly abducted the twins, with whom she has been on the run with since April 2014, when she's believed to have taken them from Hermit Park Primary School in Townsville, Queensland.

Before their disappearance Mr Watter had won legal custody of the twins, reports A Current Affair

Michael Watter suspects his daughters are could be hidden away in an alternate community after they went missing more than two years ago

'They might be on a farm somewhere, on a homestead, in a remote area. They might be in an alternate community where they're hidden away,' he said on the candid program.

'But it could equally be they are in suburbia.'

Mr Watter suspects people know where his daughters and their mother are  and may be supporting them financially.

'Someone can't support themselves and two children with no money and no car without having help from people.'

He said he fears his daughters are being robbed of a proper childhood and healthy development.

'They're definitely in danger in terms of developing as a normal adult or a normal childhood. It's out of the question while they're still on the run.'

Townsville father Michael Watter has made an appeal for the return of his twin daughter's after Queensland police release new computer generated images of the girls

Earlier this month Mr Watter made an appeal for members of the public with new information on the girls or their mother to come forward.

The appeal came as Queensland Police released computer-generated images of what the nine-year-old girls look like now.

He told the media: 'It's been nearly three years since my heart stopped beating the day that I found out that they had been taken.'

Isabella (left) and Bronte Watter, 9, (right) were allegedly abducted by their mother Catherine Watter, 43, in April 2014

Mr Watter said seeing the new computer generated images of his daughters reminded him that he had gone three years without knowing what happened to his girls.

'It's getting to the point now where I don't really know my children,' he said.

'When [I] go looking for Christmas presents and birthday presents for them soon... I think firstly should I be getting these presents because who knows when they are coming back,' Mr Watter said.

'And then I think what would I buy them? I don't really know what I could buy them cause I don't really know what they like now and it's been a long time.'

The heartbroken father said that his wish for this Christmas is that the girls are returned to their stable and happy home.

Mr Watter said that it was likely their mother had changed the appearance of the girls (Isabella on the left and Bronte on the right), which the Queensland police have also created alternative computer generated images of

Mr Watter said at the press conference: 'It's been nearly three years since my heart stopped beating the day that I found out that they had been taken'

Mr Watter said his daughters are registered as missing persons and a warrant has been issued for Catherine's arrest if she is found

'The most important thing for me is that they get back to a normal life and not be made to live on the run from the law as they have been for the last three years,' Mr Watter said.

'I'm not worried that they don't know how much I love them, I'm concerned they'll think I'm disappointed with them or angry with them that they're gone.'

The father added the girls were registered as missing persons and a warrant had been issued for Catherine's arrest if she was found.

He also said that it was likely their mother had changed their appearance.
Vladimir Putin, pictured today at his press conference in Moscow. He has boasted he always knew Donald Trump would win the US election

Vladimir Putin has boasted that he knew Donald Trump would win the US election but shrugged off knowing who hacked Hillary Clinton's emails.

The Russian leader has been giving his annual end of year press conference in Moscow, where he reflected on the events of 2016.

During the event, he was asked by a journalist from state media about Trump being elected to the White House.

And he claimed that he always knew that the billionaire would win the presidency ahead of his rival Clinton.

He told reporters: 'Certainly only we knew that he was going to win. No-one else did.

'He precisely felt the mood of the society and... went to the end, though nobody believed that he would win except us.'

Asked what he thought about support among some Americans for him, Putin said: 'I don't put it down to me, the fact that a large part of Republican voters support the Russian president.

'It means that a large part of the American people have the same idea of how the world should be, of our common dangers and problems.

'It's good that there are people that sympathise with us in our concept of traditional values.'

The Russian leader has been giving his annual end of year press conference in Moscow, where he reflected on the events of 2016

Some of the journalists hold up their hands wanting to ask Putin a question at the press conference

Putin also added he wanted to have a 'constructive relationship' with Trump but criticised the current administration saying Ronald Reagan would 'roll over in his grave' upon seeing recent poll results showing that more than one-third of Republicans view Putin favorably.

The Russian leader was also asked about the hacking of Hillary Clinton's emails in the run-up to the election, which has been attributed to Russian hackers.

However, he said 'who knows' when asked who hacked the emails adding that the US administration was trying to shift blame for Hillary Clinton's defeat by making claims of Russian interference.

A journalist holds a poster with portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, France's far-right National Front president Marine Le Pen, centre, and President-elect Donald Trump prior to the news conference

Asked what he thought about support among some Americans for him, Putin said: 'I don't put it down to me, the fact that a large part of Republican voters support the Russian president'

Putin added: 'Losers always look for ways to accuse someone else. The always forget the most important thing. Let's say some hackers hacked Democratic emails. As Trump said: 'Who knows who did it?''

'They are losing on all fronts and are looking for the guilty party on the side. That's beneath their dignity. You have to lose with dignity.'

He also suggested that the hackers behind the massive breach of Democratic Party emails did a public service by exposing 'true information' which is more important than the nature of the hack.

He explained: 'The most important thing is the gist of the information that hackers provided to the public.

Putin said he always knew that Trump, left, would win the election ahead of his rival Hillary Clinton, right

'What is the best evidence that the hackers unveiled true information?' he said. 'That after the hackers showed how public opinion is manipulated inside the Democratic Party... the chief of the Democratic National Committee (Debbie Wasserman Schultz) quit.'

'That means she admitted that the hackers showed the truth,' he said, but 'instead of apologising... they started to shout about who initiated the hack attacks.'

'Does that really matter?' Putin asked.

Relations between Russia and the US have deteriorated recently following disagreements over the Ukraine crisis, NATO and the Syrian civil war.
This is the moment Gaddafi supporters who hijacked a Libyan plane armed with hand grenades surrendered at gunpoint.

The two men had allowed all but the plane's pilots and other male cabin crew members to leave the aircraft, leading to fears they could be readying to take off.

However shortly after demanding political asylum in Malta, the hijackers peacefully left the plane along with the remaining crew.

They were then dramatically arrested, searched and taken into custody by armed forces.

Scroll down for video

The moment the two men were arrested, searched and taken into custody by Maltese armed forces was caught on camera

One of the hijackers is arrested while the other one drops to the ground as her surrenders

Both men were searched before being taken away by armed forces for questioning

Gaddafi supporters who hijacked a Libyan plane armed with hand grenades have surrendered, after all passengers and crew were safely released.

Female passengers were allowed to leave the plane first, before all those onboard bar the crew were released

A group of 25 women and children were initally allowed to leave after the two men took control of the aircraft as it flew over Libya, redirecting it to Malta.

A second group, numbering 40, was released shortly afterwards, before all of the remaining passengers of the Libyan Afriqiyah Airways flight were allowed to leave.

Earlier it had been reported that they were calling for the release of Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al Islam, who it was thought had already been freed in July.

Saif is the most prominent of Gaddafis eight children and was sentenced to death by a Libyan court in July 2015 as part of a mass trial of former regime officials.

He was said to have been released from house arrest in July after the sentence was quashed by Libyas new UN-backed government.

Al Arabiya claimed that a member of the Libyan House of Representatives had been present on the aircraft, as had been Libyan, Indian and Pakistani nationals.

A photograph said to have been taken onboard the plane appears to show one of the hijackers standing in the aisle

The two men were said to be part of the pro-Gaddafi group Al Fatah Al Gadida, and at one point waved a Gaddafi flag from the plane's front doorway

It is unknown whether this photograph of the hijacked plane's cockpit shows one of the hijackers or the aircraft's pilots

A man, who appears to be one of the plane's pilots, helps people to disembark from the plane

A Libyan passenger plane has been hijacked by two pro-Gaddafi supporters threatening to blow the aircraft up

The two men were said to be part of the pro-Gaddafi group Al Fatah Al Gadida, and at one point waved a Gaddafi flag from the plane's front doorway.

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

After the plane landed, the Malta airport authority said all emergency teams had been dispatched to what it called an 'unlawful interference' on the tarmac.

A tweet by the Maltese Prime Minister confirmed that there was 82 males and 28 females onboard, including one infant.

A Libyan security official said the pilot informed Tripoli Airport Control that hijackers were preventing him from landing in Libya before communication was lost.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 300 miles north of the Libyan coast.

Joseph Muscat wrote on Twitter that he has been told of a potential hijack situation of an internal Libyan flight diverted to Malta

The plan set off from Sebha in Libya and was due to land in Tripoli, but instead carried on to the island of Malta further north

Maltese troops survey a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 on the runway at Malta Airport

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

The last time a hijacked plane landed in Malta was in 1985, when EgyptAir Flight 648 was taken over by three Palestinian members of the terrorist group Abu Nidal.

Joseph Muscat wrote on Twitter that he has been told of a potential hijack situation of an internal Libyan flight diverted to Malta

The Malta airport authority said all emergency teams have been dispatched to the site of what it called an 'unlawful interference' on the airport tarmac

Armed Maltese soldiers stand guard outside the plane (left), which arrived in Malta on Friday morning

The subsequent raid on the aircraft by Egyptian troops resulted in the death of 58 passengers, with only one of the three hijackers surviving.

The hijacking of planes was a common tactic by terrorist organisations during the last 20th century, most notoriously when two aircraft were flown into New York's Twin Towers in September 2001.

In March 2015, co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked himself in a cockpit of Germanwings Flight 9525 when the captain went out for a rest.

He then started to descend the aircraft, and after eight minutes of falling it crashed into the Alps near the French village Prads-Haute-Bleone, killing 150 people.

A year later, in March 2016, EgyptCyprus Flight MS181 was taken over after a passenger said he was wearing an explosives belt and was diverted to Larnaca.

The hijacker surrendered after hours of negotiations with no causalities to passengers or crew.

Maltese armed forces were pictured surrounding the hijacked plane at Malta's airport
Ian Paton, 66, a part-time Crown Court recorder, died of smoke inhalation when his 1.2million third floor apartment in Bermondsey, London, was engulfed in flames

A leading criminal barrister died when a fire ripped through his luxury flat overlooking the Thames after fire alarms failed to go off, it was claimed today.

Ian Paton, 66, a part-time Crown Court recorder, died of smoke inhalation when his 1.2million third floor apartment in Bermondsey, south London, was engulfed in flames.

Neighbours who were evacuated claim that the smoke detectors in the apartment building failed to go off.

Residents were also questioned by police about whether they had seen anything suspicious amid fears the blaze could have been started in a revenge attack because of Mr Paton's job as a senior prosecutor.

However, a source told the London Evening Standard: 'This is no longer suspicious. This will probably go down more as misadventure. The cause is still being investigated, but there were candles in the flat.'

Mr Paton was pronounced dead at the scene moments after firefighters pulled his body from the building at 5.30pm on Tuesday.

A neighbour, who refused to be named, said her boyfriend was at home returned home to see smoke billowing out of Mr Paton's window, but was puzzled as no fire alarm had detected it.

She said: 'The smoke detector did not work. If they had been working it would have been fine. Nobody heard any alarm, it's really worrying.

'At 5pm my boyfriend arrived and saw lots of smoke coming out of the windows.

'He told the concierge who then started telling people to get out and called the fire brigade. We were evacuated and not allowed back in until 9pm.

The fire took place at this block of luxury flats in Bermondsey, south London

'The police were asking whether we saw anything strange outside and kept asking if there was somebody strange hanging around.'

The barrister, a member of QEB chambers, is believed to have been alone when the fire started.

Friend Sally Mertens, 46, said: 'I knew Ian as a part time judge and I had been in front of him as a barrister but I'd never been against him.

'He was a very nice guy, we had mutual friends at QEB and everyone knew him as a really respected guy. He was a gentleman. It's so sad, he really was at the top of his game.'

It took 21 fire fighters more than two hours to battle the flames on Tuesday and the cause of the blaze is currently under investigation.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson refused to comment on claims that the fire alarms didn't work.

In a statement the LFB said: 'Twenty one firefighters and officers were called to a fire in a flat on Bermondsey Wall West, Bermondsey last night.

'A man was rescued from the flat by firefighters but was sadly confirmed dead at scene. Part of the third floor flat was damaged by the fire.

'Four fire engines from Dockhead, Old Kent Road, Deptford and Dowgate fire stations were at the scene.

'The Brigade was called at 5.37 and fire was under control by 7.23. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade's Fire Investigation Unit and the Metropolitan Police.'

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'A post-mortem examination will take place at a venue to be confirmed on 21 December. At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained.

'The incident is being investigated by officers in Southwark and London Fire Brigade.
Europe's most wanted man Anis Amri travelled unhindered through at least three countries before being gunned down in northern Italy.

Blundering German police today said they believed the Tunisian asylum seeker was still in or around Berlin just before he was shot dead almost 1,000 miles away in Milan.

Officers have been raiding addresses across Germany in the hunt for Amri, but after arresting the wrong man the ISIS terrorist was able to flee the country.

This morning, before his death was announced, a senior police source told tabloid Bild: We believe he is either in Berlin or in North Rhine-Westphalia.

It heaps further embarrassment on Chancellor Angela Merkel, who yesterday said she believed they would arrest him 'soon'.

French authorities are also refusing to comment on how the Berlin attack suspect apparently crossed into France and left again in the face of an international manhunt.

Route out of Germany: Amri had travelled out of Germany and all the way to Chambery railway station in the French Alps. It is not yet known how he got there. He then took a train to Turin, and then on to Milan where he was killed by police at 3am

Shoot-out: Amri was shot dead in the street after a dramatic gunfight near a train station in Milan

Evidence: Pictures from the scene appear to show a weapon lying on the road near a backpack

Manhunt: German authorities offered a 100,000 euro (84,000) reward for information leading to his capture - but for 12 hours his face was blurred because of their privacy rules

Nigel Farage said the ease with which Amri moved around Europe proved the Schengen Area was a 'risk to public safety'

By the time the European arrest warrant was issued 30 hours after the terror attack, Amri had plenty of time to leave the country.

He travelled out of Germany and all the way to Chambery railway station in the French Alps.

Nigel Farage: Berlins Christmas market attack proof EU free movement is a risk to the public Nigel Farage, pictured in New York last week, has said the free movement zone in the EU must be scrapped after the Berlin market attacker fled across borders to France and Italy By Tim Sculthorpe Nigel Farage has said the free movement zone in the EU must be scrapped after the Berlin market attacker fled across borders to France and Italy. The ex Ukip leader said the ecape route of Anis Amri proved the Schengen zone was a 'risk to public safety'. Mr Farage has linked free movement and terrorism before. In the wake of the Paris attacks and ahead of the EU referendum, he said: 'The warnings were pretty clear. 'Isis said they would use the migrant tide to flood the EU with half a million jihadists. 'I would suggest 5000 is too many; 500 is too many it only took eight to cause that destruction in Paris the other night. 'This dream of the free movement of people, this dream for others of the Schengen area: It hasn't just meant the free movement of people, it has meant the free movement of Kalashnikov rifles. 'It has meant the free movement of terrorists, and it has meant the free movement of jihadists.' Advertisement

He then took a three-hour direct train to Turin, and then on to Milan's Central Station where he arrived at 1am, and then on to the suburban Sesto San Giovanni station where he was killed by police at 3am.

It is not yet confirmed how he got to France from Germany but if it was by train the quickest route would be from Berlin to Frankfurt, then on to Lyon.

One report said he may have gone to Paris before heading towards the Alps and Italy over the past five days.

Police will be searching for any abandoned cars in case he left Germany by road before switching to the railways.

Nigel Farage has said the free movement zone in the EU must be scrapped after the Berlin market attacker fled across borders so easily.

Today Amri, 24, had just stepped off a train from France when he was stopped by a routine police patrol in the suburb of Sesto San Giovanni in Milan.

The Tunisian asylum seeker screamed 'Allahu Akbar' and pulled a pistol from his bag and shot policeman Christian Movio in the shoulder.

A firefight ensued with Amri cowering behind a car as he tried to flee, but Luca Scata, a trainee police officer who had only been in the job a few months, gave chase before shooting him dead in the street.

Amri, 24, has strong links to Italy because it was the first European country he claimed asylum in.

In 2011 he dodged prison in his native Tunisia after fleeing following a violent robbery. He was jailed for five years in absentia.

He arrived in Italy in 2011, arriving on the small island of Lampedusa amongst thousands of people fleeing the Arab Spring uprisings.

He pretended to be a child migrant - even though he was 19 - but then rioted inside his detention centre, which was set on fire. He was then jailed for four years, serving it in two prisons on Sicily.

After his release Italy failed to deport him twice because Tunisia refused to take him back and he fled Italy via the Alps for Germany, meaning he probably went via Milan.

He looks to have followed a near identical route back - yet German police appear to have completely misjudged the distance Amri was able to travel after the attack on Monday night.

The Berlin attack suspect has been shot dead after a gunfight with police in Milan, Italian police have said

Luca Scata (pictured) has been named as the hero police officer who gunned Amri down this morning

German authorities took a day to find Amri's wallet in the truck and only confirmed his fingerprints were inside yesterday

And the security services in German have already been heavily criticised for the way they have handed the investigation.

German Green politician fought to protect Amri's privacy A German politician blocked police from posting an appeal for help in the search for the suspect in the Berlin Christmas attack on social media. Till Steffen, 43, head of the judicial authority of the city of Hamburg, reportedly believes that showing pictures of Islamist terror suspects incites racial hatred. The Green politician's stance meant that police in Hamburg could only post information about the search for suspect Anis Amri, 24, on their website - and even then without a photograph. It meant that Hamburg police were only able to post text about the fact that police had images of the suspect without actually posting the images themselves. The restriction was lifted by Hamburg's Social Democratic-Green coalition local government after 12 hours following media pressure. Advertisement

First police arrested the wrong man in the aftermath of the attack - a Pakistani asylum seeker who accidentally jumped a red light near Breitscheidplatz.

Innocent man Naveed Baluch, 23, was flown across the country to Karlsruhe to be questioned, but was released 18 hours later after he was found to have no blood on his clothes and no injuries.

In that time Amri was allegedly caught on a security camera as he stood outside a mosque he was believed to have frequented in Berlin's Moabit neighbourhood.

The next blunder came when German police took a day to find his wallet under the lorry's front seat and they only managed to confirm his fingerprints were on the wheel yesterday.

Amri's privacy was then placed above the public's need to identify him the number one suspect.

German media reports only ran his first name and second initial, and in all pictures his eyes were blacked out.

Only after a 100,000 euro bounty was put on his head was his full identity revealed around 12 hours later. This was almost two days after the attack.

The country's security was placed under fresh scrutiny following revelations covert surveillance had been ditched against the 24-year-old after more than six months due to police finding nothing to substantiate an initial tip-off.

Yesterday it was revealed that wire taps grabbed two months ago showed Amri had told a hate preacher that he was willing to blow himself up - and had also inquired about buying automatic weapons from a police informant.

But German officers still did not believe they had enough evidence to arrest him, according to Spiegel.

First picture: Naved B, a Pakistani asylum seeker, was arrested after the attack - he had nothing to do with it but it took police 18 hours to work it out

Police were raiding addresses all over Germany, pictured in Dortmund, when Amri had already left the country

Path to Germany: Amri fled Tunisia to avoid jail but was imprisoned in Italy for rioting in an immigration centre. He still managed to get to Germany after his release. He has been repeatedly arrested and watched by vanished two weeks ago

A near-total ban on CCTV in public spaces also meant that German police and security services had no live footage of the Christmas market massacre or the killer driver fleeing the scene.

WHAT IS SCHENGEN? The Schengen Area is a zone covering 26 European states that have officially abolished passport checks at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single country for international travel purposes with a common visa policy. The policy is named after the Schengen Agreement struck in 1985. States in the Schengen Area have eliminated border controls with the other Schengen members and strengthened border controls with non-Schengen countries. Britain has an opt out from the Schengen zone meaning there are passport checks at airports, ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel Advertisement

Draconian German privacy rules mean filming in public places is largely prohibited - and this year politicians blocked attempts to install cameras on Berlin's main squares.

It is a backlash against tyrannical control of the population by the Nazis and then state-sponsored surveillance by the Stasi in Cold War East Germany before the Berlin Wall fell.

One German journalist told the Mail: Then, the state knew everything about you. As a result, the public now fears it knowing anything about you.

Police say it has gone too far and means that the driver of the truck who fled on foot from Breitscheidplatz square cannot be followed on camera.

Bodo Pfalzgraf of the German police union said after the attack: 'We need better and more intelligent surveillance in public places, and Mondays tragedy has shown precisely why.
Scata chased after Amri and shot the suspect dead in the street

Amri then pulled out a gun, screaming 'Allahu Akbar' and shot Christian Movio

asked Anis Amri for his ID as he looked like the Berlin suspect

The hero policeman who fatally shot the Berlin Christmas Market massacre suspect was a rookie who was just a few months into the job.

But trainee officer Luca Scata still managed to chase down and shoot dead Europes most wanted man, Anis Amri.

The Sicilian, who works in Milan, approached the killer outside Sesto San Giovanni station in the northern Italian city while on patrol with colleague Christian Movio.

Police officer Christian Movio is recovering in hospital after being hit in the shoulder when Amri opened fire in the early hours of yesterday morning. The patient is seen smiling with friends

This bullet-proof vest that may have saved Movio's life can be seen with a clear bullet hole pierced in it

They asked for his ID because he looked like the Berlin terror suspect - Amri pulled a gun from his bag and opened fire, screaming Allahu Akbar.

Movio was hit in the shoulder and Amri ran through the square trying to hide behind cars while firing.

Scata gave chase and shot him dead in the street.

Movio, talking from his hospital bed where is recovering from the bullet wound, said: 'My partner's actions were exemplary, he reacted immediately when the pistol came out.'

Interior Minister Marco Minniti telephoned the officers to congratulate them and said he would be visiting them to 'personally give them a hug'.

The Sicilian, who works in Milan, approached the killer outside Sesto San Giovanni station in the northern Italian city while on patrol with colleague Christian Movio

Scata gave chase and shot him dead in the street while he partner lay wounded in the street (pictured left relaxing and right in his swimming trunks

Minniti said: 'At a very young age, these extraordinary men have done a huge service to the entire community, by doing their duty.

'Italians can be proud of them, they have ensured a much happier Christmas.'

The wounded officer was taken to hospital San Gerardo Hospital in Monza, came into the emergency room at around 4am, red code for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder.

Movio was then transferred to the green code in orthopedics and traumatology, where he remained under observation awaiting a two-hour surgery to remove the bullet from his shoulder.

The wound has been reported as superficial and the policeman is expected to keep all of the mobility in his shoulders and arms.

The bullet-proof vest that may have saved Movio's life can be seen in images with a clear bullet hole pierced in it.

Italian interior minister Marco Minniti said there was 'no doubt' the dead man was Anis Amri and paid tribute to the bravery of the officers, naming them in a Rome news conference.

Authorities in Germany were offering a 100,000 reward to help capture Tunisian Amri, who they believed was still in their country when news broke that he had been shot

Christian Movio is recovering in hospital after being shot in the shoulder by Amri following a routine ID check

Trainee policeman Luca Scata is just a few months into the job

Movio (pictured right while in uniform) was transferred to the green code in orthopedics and traumatology, where he remained under observation

Luca Scatas Facebook page has since crashed because so many people are leaving messages of thanks and congratulations.

Barbara Dalpozzo wrote: Luckily for Italy there are people like you.. Merry Christmas Luca

Ivobbello Triddick added: Thank you and congratulations! You're a hero, of the real ones, who devote their lives to the country! Long Live Italy!

The body of Amri is covered up in a bag following the shootout between police and the terrorist near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni railway station
The pilot, who was traveling as a passenger from India, was found to be in possession of more than $195,000 in undeclared currency and

A commercial airline pilot from Texas has admitted he smuggled more than $195,000 in cash into the US through New Jersey's Newark International Airport earlier this year.

Anthony Warner, 55, faces up to five years in federal prison when sentenced in April.

Warner, of Dallas, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Newark to a charge of bulk cash smuggling. Prosecutors did not identify the origin of the undeclared currency.

According to prosecutors, Warner participated in Global Entry, a US Customs and Border Protection program designed to speed up entry into the country for certain pre-approved travelers.

Anthony Warner, a pilot from Dallas, has pleaded guilty to bulk cash smuggling for bringing $195,000 in cash into the US through New Jersey's Newark International Airport (pictured)

On January 10, 2016, Warner arrived at Newark as a passenger on a flight from Mumbai, India.

That day, a Global Entry terminal at the New Jersey airport was down and Warner had to present his customs declaration to officials, reported NJ.com. He wrote on the form that he was bringing into the country nothing of value beyond the $180 in cash he was carrying.

Officers then examined Warner's laptop bag and discovered inside $195,736 in bills wrapped in a newspaper. He was also found to be in possession of 10 rings, four pairs of earrings and other assorted jewelry.

It is illegal to bring more than $10,000 into the US without declaring it.

Warner was originally charged with one count of bulk cash smuggling and one count of making false statements carrying a combined sentence of up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
A woman had to be rescued by firefighters after setting her boyfriend's house on fire over a quarrel.

After setting the rooms ablaze, she got trapped in the burning rooms on December 20 in Taizhou, China, according to local media.

The woman, who suffered injuries in the lungs and low blood oxygen, remains in critical condition.

Firefighers used a metal cutter to open the door in an attempt to save a trapped woman

A few minutes later, the door was opened and the woman was found lying on the floor

When the firefighters arrived at the house, they found a huge amount of smoke billowing from the gap of the security door, reported Kan Kan News.

They used a metal cutter to open the door.

A few minutes later, the door was opened and the woman was found lying on the floor near the door.

Firefighters immediately picked up the woman, who had been knocked into a coma by the smoke, and removed her from the burning house.

The woman had attempted to burn her boyfriend's bed after quarrelling with him in China

The 30 year-old woman, surnamed Xie, was sent to hospital for emergency treatment

The 30 year-old woman, surnamed Xie, was sent to hospital for emergency treatment.

She had a quarrel with her boyfriend, the owner of the house, and decided to burn his bed, the report said.

She tried to put out the fire by herself, but she couldn't. The fire soon spread throughout the house.

Staff from the property management company and friends of the woman were called to the scene. However, they failed to break into the burning house, so they called the firefighters.
President-elect Donald Trump raised the stakes on a potential new nuclear buildup Friday morning, telling MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski that he would welcome a costly new nuclear buildup if rival nations want to try to match the United States.

Trump's incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, appeared on MNSBC's 'Morning Joe' to defend Trump's unexpected and tweet on Thursday that the U.S. should 'expand its nuclear capability.'

During a commercial break for the show, Spicer put Trump on the phone with cohost Mika Brzezinski. When the show was back on the air, cohost Joe Scarborough asked Brzezinski what Trump had told her.

'The president-elect told you what?' asked cohost Joe Scarborough.

'Let it be an arms race, we will outmatch them at every pass,' Trump responded.

President-elect Donald Trump appeared to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin by saying the U.S. should have more nukes 'until such time as the world comes to its senses'

'And outlast them all,' Scarborough interjected.

'And outlast them all,' Brzezinski responded.'

Both hosts were wearing pajamas during the broadcast in keeping with the upcoming holiday season.

Trump suggested Thursday that the country needed more nuclear weapons.

'The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes,' Trump tweeted from his Mar-a-Lago resort, just a day after meeting key Pentagon leaders, some of whom are charged with overseeing the nation's nukes.

The comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his own country needed more nuclear weapons.

'We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems,' Putin said in a speech recapping Russia's 2016 military activities.

YULETIDE PERIL: MSNBC Cohost Mika Brzenski revealed Trump's about a new nuclear arms rae on Friday's episode of 'Morning Joe'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual news conference in Moscow that Trump's comment was 'nothing special'

The United States has 7,100 nuclear weapons, while Russia has 7,300, according to the Arms Control Association, a U.S.-based nonpartisan group.

President Obama has called for cuts in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, while also calling for upgrades to U.S. nukes that critics say could cost up to $1 trillion.

Spicer, who is set to take over as Trump's press secretary when he becomes president on January 20, predicted there wouldn't actually be an arms race 'because other countries would come to their senses.'

'Countries need to understand that if they  if they expand their nuclear capabilities this president is not going to sit back, he's going to act,' Spicer said, in his first televised interview since being named press secretary.

Asked whether he was specifically talking about Russia, Spicer mentioned 'a couple of countries.'

'There's a few countries around the globe, Russia being one of them, and China and others that have talked about increasing their nuclear capabilities,' he said.

'I think the president-elect's point is unless these guys come to their senses and recognize that this is not a smart move. Increasing the nuclear stockpile around the globe is not good for anybody,' Spicer said.

He resisted suggestions that Trump's comments were a reaction to Putin, saying they were instead 'putting every nation on notice that the United States is going to reassert its position in the globe.'

Incoming Trump communications director Jason Miller released a statement Thursday saying, 'President-elect Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable rogue regimes.'

Miller said Trump has 'emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength.'

President-elect Trump's incoming press secretary, spoke about Trump's arm race tweet before Brzezinski revealed Trump's off-air comment

Donald Trump called for more nuclear weapons, following remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin that suggested a similar uptick in weaponry

Trump also had some of the nation's most powerful and profitable defense contractors on their toes with a tweet Thursday about the F-35 aircraft, which Trump has called wasteful.

'Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!' Trump wrote, mentioning the major defense contractor by name.

The F/A-18 is made by rival Boeing, and is a mainstay of Naval aviation. The F-35 is to be a joint strike fighter capable of meeting the needs of multiple services, but has led to ballooning costs.

The F-35 is intended to be the next generation fighter jet, meant to keep the U.S. a step ahead of rivals in terms of stealth, firepower, and other capabilities.

NUCLEAR WINTER: The discussion of life-and-death arms proliferation came during a pre-holiday episdoe where hosts Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough were in their pijamas

Putin said Friday he was surprised by the statements from the Trump team, and didn't dispute that the U.S. was the world's most powerful nation.

I was a bit surprised by the statements from some representatives of the current U.S. administration who for some reason started to prove that the U.S. military was the most powerful in the world,' Putin said, Reuters reported.

'Nobody is arguing with that.'

Putin said Trump's statement about nukes  which lit up the internet right before the holidays in the U.S.  was 'nothing special.'

'He (Trump) spoke during his election campaign about the need to beef up the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the armed forces,' said Putin.

Trump's words are in sharp contrast to what President Obama hoped to be his own legacy  lowering the number of nuclear weapons in the world.

Within the first 90 days of Obama's administration, the young Democratic leader set goals for reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the world speaking to a crowd in Prague's Hradcany Square.

His aim, the Democrat said, was 'to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.'

However, when the Washington Post examined his record seven years later, journalists found it mixed.

Obama's Iran deal was a success, though politically problematic, with Republicans threatening its existence as the new administration comes on board.

The president had convinced about a quarter of the countries with loose nuclear materials to move those off their soil.

Additionally, along with Russia, Obama signed a new START treaty that included new weapons limits.

But the president also proposed, as part of the fiscal 2017 budget, deep cuts to spending on programs to stop nuclear proliferation.

On the flip side, military funding was left intact that allowed spending on a new generation of weapons.

'Presidents George W. Bush and Obama both noted during their campaigns that the United States and Russia are still postured on what they call a hair trigger,' former Sen. Sam Nunn told the Post in March 2016.

He had previously sponsored Senate legislation that would get the United States to assist Russia in securing its nuclear materials.

'We still have the ability to destroy each other in 30 minutes to an hour's time,' Nunn said. 'Both of them said they would improve that, and as far as I can tell, neither has.'

With these latest statements, it's more apparent that under new American leadership, neither will.

Trump was criticized over the course of his campaign for being a foreign policy amateur.

He shook up long held views on America's nuclear umbrella by saying on Fox News that Japan and South Korea should get nuclear weapons of their own, to defend themselves from the North Koreans who continually threaten U.S. allies in Asia.

Trump later retracted that statement.

In August, Trump's former buddy, television host Joe Scarborough revealed that the Republican nominee had asked a foreign policy expert why the United States couldn't use its nuclear weapons.

'Three times he asked at one point if we had them why can't we use them,' Scarborough said on his Morning Joe program.

Trump's campaign smacked down the Scarborough anecdote as a lie.
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A New York photographer has created these incredible mind-bending pictures in which he appears multiple times.

With the aid of an assistant, Johnny Tang, from Brooklyn, shoots himself posing dozens of times on a 35mm film camera, before painstakingly piecing the scenes together digitally.

Almost all of the photos are taken around the US, including Boston and New York City, apart from two recent exceptions, taken in China and Taiwan.

He has been working on his impressive project, entitled World of One, since 2010, and says it explores identity through self-portraiture.

He said: 'I prepare all the shots on a tripod, and instruct someone when to push the button. I choose to shoot these images on film, because the colors present in film (and absent in digital photography) remind me of pictures from my childhood.

'The color of the film is also nostalgic for an aesthetic of a different time, which is crucial to making the dreamlike world I'm presenting seem all the more familiar.

'While much of the ideas presented in these images are drawn from western philosophy, particularly postmodernism, my inspiration behind the visual composition of the elements is often drawn from Asian traditions, particularly those of Chinese scroll paintings and Japanese manga.'

The inspiration for the 'Yin Yang Whisper' came from the building around which it is framed. After walked past every day, Johnny knew he wanted to take a picture there

The Stranger, inspired by feelings of loneliness, was shot under a blossoming tree at Lars Anderson Park in Brookline, Massachusetts. The planned location for the picture had to be changed following the Boston Marathon bombing

In 'Hopeful Despair', Johnny hopes the real focus of the picture is that of hope, represented by the sole figure in black, rather than despair, overrepresented by the figures in white

This photograph is titled 'Curious Boredom' and was taken outside the Boston Public Library. It aims to explore the paradoxical relationship between contrasting emotions

Commodum was shot on a in Central Park in mid-April. It aims to represent 'the nature of opportunity', a subject that Johnny spend some time considering after struggling with an apartment hunt in New York

Johnny interprets this image, entitled Fearful Courage, as being about 'fighting self-doubt'. He said: 'It makes me feel a bit better about being afraid'

Johnny said 'this is easily the most expensive photograph I have ever taken'. 'Hide and Seek' was shot on 35mm Fujichrome color reversal film (which shoots positive, rather than negative images) at the Christian Science Center in Boston

War and Peace, a long thin images, deviates from the other images in the World of One series in many ways: it is shot indoors, the background doesn't actually exist in real life, and there are barely any Johnnys overlapping each other. However the theme, of creation and destruction, is common to a lot of Johnny's work

Glory of Shame was photographed early one morning on Manhattan's historic Doyer Street and in front of the oldest dim sum restaurant in New York, Nom Wah Tea Parlor. The image aims to show the contrast between glory/success and shame/defeat

Fortuna was shot at the Naumburg Bandshell in New York's Central Park, and was made to illustrate the point that 'our lives are made up of a mixture of good and bad luck, of winning and losing  none of which we have any control over'

This picture 'Angry Calm' symbolises staying calm under pressure. Johnny portrayed this by surrounding the laid back white suit with 'angry dark suits'

'Grounded Ambitions' is about 'setting realistic goals for yourself'. Johnny says that the picture 'is my way of illustrating the old adage: Reach for the stars, but keep your feet on the ground'

'Invictus' (Latin for 'unconquerable') explores the idea of being alone in a crowd, which is why the central white figure in the picture return the gaze of the crowd

Illusions of Progress is inspired by the feeling of 'being not quite sure if your efforts are paying off'. It was taken in Manhattan's Chinatown, on Courtlandt Alley

This image is titled Diligentia, which is the Latin word for persistence, and was taken soon after Johnny moved to Broolyn. 'Everything in this city is loud, confusing, and crowded, and I was feeling somewhat lost and fatalistic,' he said

'Pleasures of Pain' was shot in Brooklyn's Prospect Park after a long, snowy winter. 'We should not pick on others because we ourselves will inevitably get hurt in the process' Johnny says is the message behind this picture

Photographed at the reflection pool at the Christan Science Center in Boston, the concept for this picture was inspired by the story of self-obsessed 'Narcissus' from Greek mythology

Diligentia II revisits the same inspirations and ideas about 'persistence' as in Johnny's first Diligentia image. 'For me, persistence is the ability to force yourself to keep going,' he said

'Indecisive Battle' is a picture about indecision and personal conflict. Johnny rushed to plan the shoot when he heard that to four to 12 inches of snow was due to fall in Boston in late March

Shinobi No Kame was inspired by Ninja Turtles, Johnny's favorite tv show growing up, as well as by the legendary Life Magazine photographer Gordon Parks

This image, NSA, is designed to represent one of America's biggest fears  that the government is secretly recording from the shadows, all the while pretending to be our white knights in shiny suits

'A Waking Dream' directly draws its inspiration from the relationship between photography and our perceptions of reality. The question Johnny often poses through his work is 'Should photographs have so much authority over how we perceive reality?'

'This was by far the most painful shoot I've ever done', Johnny said. It was taken in New Hampshire, where he had to mould the dry, light, and fluffy fluffy snow into snowballs with his bare hands, using body heat to melt a bit of the snow

This picture, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, is called 'Odysseus' Rock'. It 'illustrates my feelings of being unemployed and searching for a better solution' said Johnny. 'Odysseus' name means 'trouble' in Greek

'Somnium', the title of this picture, is the Latin word for 'dream'. It can also mean daydream, fancy, and nonsense, and happens to be the title of the first science fiction book ever written

The composition and placement of the figures in 'The Paradox of Choice' was inspired by the last shot in the playground scene from the Matrix Reloaded

There are 91 frames collaged into 'School of Cambridge', roughly three times the number of other works. This was shot at MIT, in the outdoor seating area behind the Strata Center. It is named after Raphaels School of Athens. Boston is often referred to as the Athens of the United States because of its universities, but the most prestigious ones are across the river in Cambridge

Shores was taken in Sanya, a popular beach and resort destination on tropical island of Hainan, China. Migrant Shores was inspired by the recent work of Ai Waiwai, which deals with the migrant crisis currently facing Europe
MONROE  Kim Konz thought she was prepared for her trip to Nigeria.

She had been to developing nations before while traveling with her family.

This journey, though, was startling.

I knew what to expect, but it was probably the poorest country Ive ever been to. They are happy because they dont know any different. For us being American, though, it was an eye-opening experience, Konz said.

The Monroe woman went to Nigeria from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 through Rotary International, a service group that has a goal of eradicating polio.

New cases of the contagious, crippling disease were reported in the northern state of Borno earlier this year after Nigeria was free of the wild polio virus for two years. It mainly affects young children and can cause irreversible paralysis and death.

Rotary was forming a team of volunteers to travel to Nigeria to administer polio vaccinations to children. Konz, who has been a member of Noon Rotary in Columbus for two years, and a friend from Iowa jumped at the opportunity to help.

We are to the stage in our lives where we want to give back. Polio is something that has been on my heart for a long time, Konz said.

She was on a team of 10 people who traveled to Kaduna, Nigeria. They walked up and down the streets, knocking on doors, to give the liquid vaccination to children ages 5 and younger.

In the short time they were there, Konz and her team vaccinated 5,000 children.

Youths were often attracted to the group, Konz said, because they were the only white people there. Though they helped thousands, there was resistance from parents who thought the vaccination would sterilize their children.

There were constant reminders of why Konz went on the mission.

There are polio survivors on the street that are completely deformed. They are beggars. Im surprised there was as much resistance as there was, she said.

In addition to administrating vaccinations, the group also donated wheelchairs for polio survivors.

It changed their life, Konz said.

Some of the survivors couldnt use their legs and gained mobility by sitting or lying on a piece of wood with wheels. They used their hands to scoot across the ground.

The Rotarians also delivered supplies to hospitals and schools.

Polio is almost nonexistent. The World Health Organization reported 74 cases in 2015. But Konz, who is a photographer and owner of Memories by Kim, said the trip really drove home Rotarys mission of ridding the world of the disease.

The experience also brought a sense of thankfulness and gratitude for what she has in America.

It touched my soul, Konz said.
After carrying out the Berlin Christmas Market massacre Anis Amri fled back to the country where he was originally radicalised.

Amri was shot dead by a trainee police officer in Milan, Italy, where he had travelled to via France and Turin after carrying out the atrocity in the German capital.

Despite already being a troubled man, it is believed that he was converted from a hellraiser to an ISIS extremist following his release from prison in Palermo - on the island of Sicily - where he had served part of a four-year sentence for burning down a migrant reception centre.

However, conflicting reports suggest that he was being radicalised in prison, and that he even threatened behead a Christian inmate.

Anis Amri, posing at his parents' house in Oueslatia, Tunisia, before he made the journey into Europe

Authorities in Germany were offering a 100,000 reward to help capture Tunisian Amri, who they believed was still in their country when news broke that he had been shot

This map shows Amri's mission into Europe from Tunisia, before moving from Italy to Germany - but he returned to Italy after carrying out the attack

Throughout the four years of his sentence he was repeatedly transferred and reported to be behaving in an aggressive manner, including one case while being detained at Agrigento prison when he harassed a Christian convict and said: 'I'll cut your head off.'

Amri arrived illegally in Italy in early 2012 as a fugitive from justice after facing prison in his native Tunisia for violence and robbery crimes, including the hijacking of a truck similar to the one he used in Berlin.

His father, Mustapha, said he was later jailed for arson when he burned down the migrant reception centre during a violent protest on the island of Lampedusa - the entry point into Europe for hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing north Africa and the Middle East.

With nowhere to go after his release, ISIS recruiters offered him protection before convincing him to sneak into Germany as a Syrian refugee, a source within Tunisia's anti-terror police revealed.

It is alleged that Amri became radicalised while sleeping rough in Italy after he was released from jail in Palermo following his sentence for arson on Lampedusa in early 2011

Burnt out shell: Amri was convicted of arson shortly after arriving in Italy for after a blaze on this migrant centre in Lampedusa, pictured, in September 2011

The source told MailOnline: 'Whatever he decided to do in Germany was started while he was in Italy.

'He was sleeping rough on the streets of Italy after leaving prison and was shown kindness by those with ISIS sympathies.

'They gave him food and shelter and persuaded him to carry out a mission for them. It was in Italy that he was radicalised.

'He entered Germany posing as a Syrian refugee. He was a vulnerable young man and they showed kindness to him.'

But his prison file tells a different story, as the notes reference incidents where Amri showed signs of converting to Islamic terrorism, including the beheading threat.

He then moved to Germany, and was under investigation there for planning a 'serious act of violence against the state' and counter-terrorism officials had exchanged information about him last month.

There has been speculation that his attack on the Christmas market was triggered by last month's arrest of Abu Walaa - a figure known in Germany as 'the Faceless Preacher' as he does not reveal his face in radicalisation videos.

Suspect: German police suspect that Amri drove this truck into terrified crowds at the Christmas market. They are in a desperate race to detain him and have described him as being probably armed and 'highly dangerous' before any further terrorist attack

Radicalised: After reportedly being brainwashed by extremists while sleeping rough on the streets in Italy, Amri arrived in southern Germany in July 2015 - 18 months before Monday's tragedy pictured

Amri was known to be in close contact with Abu Walaa, and is even believed to have lived with one of the members of the Faceless Preacher's inner circle.

It is believed Amri may have been put up in Dortmund for some time with a suspect arrested and charged for terrorism offences alongside Abu Walla, named only as Boban S by German police, according to the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Bild also reports that he was seen at a travel agency in Duisburg where another preacher who was arrested in November, Hasan C, lives.

German authorities are investigating whether Amri had accomplices, as they warned the high threat level remained 'unchanged'.

Federal prosecutor Peter Frank told reporters that there were many open questions in the probe into the Tunisian national, who was killed when he opened fire on Italian police in Milan.

The body of Amri is covered up in a bag following the shootout between police and the terrorist near Milan's Sesto San Giovanni railway station

The shootout started when the officer asked for his ID because he looked like the Berlin terror suspect - Amri pulled a gun from his bag and opened fire, screaming 'Allahu Akbar'

'It is very important for us to determine whether there was a network of accomplices... in the preparation or the execution of the attack, or the flight of the suspect,' he said.

Frank said investigators also hoped to learn whether the firearm Amri used against police in Milan was the same weapon used to shoot dead the Polish registered driver of the truck that was hijacked to mow down holiday revellers in Berlin on Monday.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere later thanked Italian police for their swift action, saying the officers had been 'especially brave' and done 'excellent work'.

'I am very relieved that this attacker no longer poses a threat,' he said, adding that a team of German federal police were bound for Italy to assist in the probe.

He said the case demonstrated 'the enormous importance of European and transatlantic cooperation in the fight against terror'.
A car enthusiast has been left heartbroken after spending three years lovingly restoring a vintage vehicle only for it to be completely destroyed in a garage fire.

Phillip Smith, 66, from Bolton, was just two weeks away from completing the renovation of the 1952 Wolseley Six Eighty when the blaze took hold at around 10pm on Wednesday night.

He only had the seats, carpets and bonnet left to fit and was hoping to unveil his labour of love to friends and family on Christmas Day.

Phillip Smith, 66, from Bolton, was just two weeks away from completing the renovation of the 1952 Wolseley Six Eighty when the blaze took hold at around 10pm on Wednesday night

Devastating pictures taken after the fire show the burnt out wreckage of the car with all Mr Smith's hard work destroyed.

He had just bought an original stereo for the car on the day of the blaze and was planning trips to Scotland and Ireland once the car was finished.

Mr Smith, who has no idea how the fire started, said: 'I'm absolutely heartbroken. I'm devastated. That car was my obsession, I lived for it.

'I went up to bed and could hear these bangs like fireworks and I thought someone was setting fire crackers off.

'I checked out the window and could see smoke coming from the roof. I just thought 'oh no' and started to panic.

Devastating pictures taken after the fire show the burnt out wreckage of the car with all Phillip's hard work destroyed

'I ran outside and my neighbour came round and said there was a fire but I had already seen and just called the fire brigade.

'That time waiting for them seemed like forever, I just kept thinking about the car and I couldn't find my keys to open the garage.

'It was locked in there and the flames started coming through the roof. You just can't describe the devastation a fire can cause.'

Mr Smith's partner Jackie Ashcroft, 52, said: 'Flames were ripping through the roof, it was shocking.

'He put all his time into that car, night and day he would work on it to make sure it was perfect.

'You just feel absolutely awful when there's nothing you can do to help. It can't be replaced, it's completely gone and I'm heartbroken for him.'

Mr Smith, a retired window fitter, bought the car in 1983 and began doing it up the next year.

A fully restored Wolseley - this is how Mr Smith wanted his vintage car to look

However it spent more than 20 years in the garage before Mr Smith eventually got round to restarting the project.

He said: 'Once I bought this place it got put on the back burner, I put it in the garage and it's been in there since 1990.

'I kept telling myself I have to do it, I have to complete it. Then I started properly in January, 2014. I slaved away to make sure it was perfect and everything I bought had to be good quality because I'm a perfectionist.

'I ordered so many parts for that car and spent hours fiddling to make things work just right.

'I ordered three steering wheels and sent each one back if it didn't work perfectly. I must have spent thousands on it and now it's completely gone. I don't even want to look at pictures of it, it was so close to being finished.

'I have no clue how the fire started and the firemen say they don't know either because the whole garage is destroyed. It could have been anything but I was always so careful to even connect the car's battery and turn everything off.'
The star of the BBC comedy Mrs Brown's Boys has donated 2,800 Christmas dinners to struggling families.

Comedian Brendan OCarroll and his wife Jenny made the very substantial donation to the St Vincent de Paul charity - ensuring families across Ireland will have their turkey on Christmas Day.

Every year the star - who plays Agnes Brown in the show - raises money for the charity which helped his mother.

Brendan grew up the youngest of 11 in a tight-knit Dublin family raised by his mother after his father, Gerard, a carpenter, died when Brendan was young.

Comedian Brendan OCarroll (pictured as Mrs Brown), and his wife Jenny made the very substantial donation to the St Vincent de Paul charity

In 2014, Mrs Brown's Boys was the most-watched Christmas Day show with 9.69 million viewers, up from a live Christmas Day audience of 7.61 million

This year he also gave more than 23,000 (28,000) to the family of pregnant woman, Sarah Paino, who was killed in a car crash in Tasmania.

Miraculously her unborn baby survived and Brendan heard about the tragedy while touring there and felt he had to help.

Brendan's daughter Fiona, who plays Maria in the hit series, told Its Friday: People think charity work is a new thing for dad and he does it now because he is better known.

'Even when dad had no money and had nothing he still always participated somehow or another in charity. He felt that it was so important to do that.

When we were growing up we had to call upon the St Vincent de Paul for help from time to time and dad greatly appreciated that.

Fionas brother and Brendans son, Danny, who stars as Buster in the show, added: he is such a wonderful man and I am so proud of him and everything he does.

His family says the comedian has always given to charity, adding, 'He felt that it was so important to do that'

Every year the star - who plays Agnes Brown in the show - raises money for the charity which helped his mother

The donation, on behalf of the cast of the hugely successful show, means that vouchers for a Christmas dinner will be distributed to families supported by the charity dedicated to tackling poverty.

Liam Casey, president of the SVP East Region, said: We have seen an increase in requests for food this year and these vouchers will make a huge difference to many families.

'The vouchers, signed Brendan, Jenny and all the Brown and OCarroll families also make the vouchers themselves special.'

Calls for support to the St Vincent de Paul in the East Region have continued to hit record levels.

This year, the charitys office in the region will have dealt with more than 65,000 calls in the run-up to Christmas.

Brendan is pulling out all the stops to deliver two Mrs Browns Boys Christmas specials this festive season - after it was voted the best British sitcom of the 21st century.

In 2014, Mrs Brown's Boys was the most-watched Christmas Day show with 9.69 million viewers, up from a live Christmas Day audience of 7.61 million.
A postal worker allegedly opened dozens of letters before using a gift card she found inside one envelope to buy $100 worth of sex toys off Groupon, prosecutors said.

Iesha Conley, 48, was caught on surveillance camera at the US Postal Service Brooklyn Processing and Distribution Center in New York City, ripping open greeting cards before taking the contents inside, the New York Post reported.

Conley also tried to use the same American Express gift card to pay for her cable bill, according to a criminal complaint.

Iesha Conley, 48, (pictured) allegedly opened dozens of letters before using a gift card she found inside one envelope to buy $100 worth of sex toys off Groupon, prosecutors said

Conley is accused of opening dozens of greeting card envelopes from September 9 to December 20, according to the criminal complaint.

An investigation was launched after one woman complained that a greeting card she sent to her relative had been opened.

A $100 gift card from American Express that she purchased from Bed, Bath & Beyond had disappeared when the letter arrived in Long Island, New York, she said.

The woman called American Express, only to discover that the gift card had been used to purchase three adult toys which were sent to Conley's address in Brooklyn.

Surveillance footage at the processing center (pictured) also showed Conley taking a tray of mail before putting the cards inside a black sweater emblazoned with 'Got Jesus?' on it

The postal worker used her iPhone to place three orders totaling $94.68 on September 26 and tried to use the same gift card to pay for her cable bill, according to the criminal complaint.

Surveillance footage at the processing center also showed Conley taking a tray of mail before putting the envelopes inside a black sweater emblazoned with 'Got Jesus?' on it, according to the criminal complaint.

Conley, who faces up to five years in prison if convicted, was arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court.
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The outside world may change at a dizzying speed, but these people live largely as they have done for 20,000 years.

Extraordinary photographs taken from a helicopter flying over the Amazonian jungle show members of one of the worlds last uncontacted tribespeople.

The Indians exist in isolated nomadic groups in the depths of the Brazilian rainforest near the Peruvian border.

Hiding among the trees: Photographer Ricardo Stuckert captured the pictures of the Amazonian tribe who had previously been uncontactable

Ready to shoot: Mr Stuckert spotted them as he took a helicopter flight that was diverted and ended up travelling over the Amazon

When the helicopter first appeared low overhead earlier this month, they were panic-stricken  fleeing from their thatched shelters in a clearing to hide under the foliage.

Then the men took courage and fired volleys of primitive arrows at the noisy interloper.

The meeting of shy Neolithic man and his inquisitive 21st-century counterpart was pure chance.

Photographer Ricardo Stuckert was on his way to meet another tribe  which already has contact with modern man  in the north-western state of Acre.

But a thunderstorm forced his helicopter to divert  and he spotted these Indians. A second fly-past yielded more images.

Fear: One picture shows a man attempting to string what appears to be a bow and trying to fire the weapon at the helicopter

Confusion: In all of the the pictures, the tribespeople can be seen looking baffled as the helicopter soars overhead having been kept away from modern life

It is thought the men are from the same unnamed tribe observed from the air in 2008 and 2010.

They are believed to have moved on a number of occasions since then.

To think that in the 21st century, there are still people who have no contact with civilisation, living like their ancestors did 20,000 years ago  its a powerful emotion, Stuckert told National Geographic magazine.

They seemed more inquisitive than fearful. There was a mutual curiosity, on their part and mine. I felt like I was a painter in the last century.

The pictures show the tribesmen wearing very little save bright red body paint  which he assumed is camouflage. A colourful macaw parrot can be seen perched on a roof.

Remote: The Amazon rainforest on the Brazilian border of Peru, Bolivia and Colombia is thought to be home to around 100 tribes who live in isolation from the modern world

Isolated; Although Brazil enforces a 'no contact' policy towards the indigenous tribes, they are often threatened by encroachment from illegal loggers

We had always believed they all cut their hair in the same way, said Jose Carlos Meirelles, an official from Brazils indigenous affairs agency  who was accompanying the photographer.

But thats not true. You can see they have many different styles. Some look very punk.

No one knows what language they speak. But they appear healthy. Corn, manioc (a starchy tuber) and bananas were seen being grown in the clearing.

Mr Meirelles believes this particular settlement is capable of sustaining as many as 100 people. The extended local population could number as many as 300.
Two extremists were today found guilty of sending cash to a terrorist in Syria on the aid convoy taking Alan Henning to his death at the hands of ISIS.

Former probation officer Syed Hoque, 37, sent 4,500 to nephew Mohammed Choudhury, 26, to buy an elite Dragunov sniper rifle.

He and gas engineer Mashoud Miah, 27, also hoped to set up a 'night team' of terrorist marksmen in the war-torn country after infiltrating the deliveries of food and medicine by Islamic charities.

The first 3,000 was delivered on a Children in Deen convoy in July 2013 and another 1,500 was sent on the same convoy as Alan Henning.

Aid worker Alan Henning was taken to Syria on a convoy used by extremists, a court heard

Syed Hoque (left) and Mashoud Miah (right) face jail terms when they return for sentencing

Mr Henning, who had joined the Al-Fatiha Global convoy taking aid to Syrian refugees, was kidnapped soon after he crossed the border in December 2013.

The English taxi driver was kept hostage until he was beheaded by ISIS executioner Jihadi John on video in October 2014.

Father-of-four Hoque was convicted of two counts of entering into a terror funding arrangement, while Miah was found guilty of one charge by a majority of 11 to one.

Businessman Pervez Rafiq, 46, who had previously been interviewed by the BBC while driving an ambulance to Syria, told police he had been on the same convoy as Mr Henning and had taken part in an appeal for his safe return.

Hoque has been found guilty of sending money to his nephew in Syria to buy a gun

Prosecutors claimed he was the 'fixer' in a plan to send cash and equipment to Choudhury, who was then fighting with Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra.

But Rafiq, who claimed to have been offered 30,000 to act as an informant for MI5, along with Mohammed Hussain, 30, were acquitted of funding terrorism.

Choudhury is still thought to be in Syria, but detectives said they were not aware what he has been doing for the last two years. He left the UK for Cairo in September 2012 and did not return.

The court heard in July 2013 Hoque, Miah and Rafiq travelled on the Children in Deen Convoy which was stopped and searched at Dover. Miah did not return to the UK until May 2014.

Rafiq also went on the Al Fatiha convoy to Turkey in October 2013 before joining the same charity's convoy with Alan Henning on 21 December 2013.

Each denied the plot to fund terrorists, which was only uncovered when Hoque and his wife Nazia Khanom were stopped at Heathrow Airport on their return from Bangladesh on 5 August 2014.

Analysis of the contents of their phones later revealed Whatsapp chats to Hoque's nephew Choudhury discussing the purchase of a Dragunov sniper rifle, AK-47 and a nightscope.

Police found mobile phone exchanges between Hoque and his nephew, who is still thought to be in Syria

Choudhury wrote in February 2014: 'I will like to cut their heads... wrap their heads on my car and drag it along... it boils my blood when I see their faces. They are pigs.'

In his reply Hoque advised his nephew 'not mutilating, just beheading... and hate them for Allah's sake.'

Choudhury replied: 'All kuffar fighters must be killed whether male or female, we act upon Sharia emotions.'

He later told his uncle he had decided not to get married to a 16-year-old Syrian girl because he wanted to be a martyr instead.

A search of Hussain's home uncovered a notebook referring to 3,000 and a to-do list mentioning a satellite phone, SatNav, iPad, laptop and Kestrel range finder to help a shooter fire more accurately.

The group claimed they believed Choudhury was involved in humanitarian aid work and defending civilians from the Syrian military forces.

Pictures sent between Choudhury to Hoque include one of a fighter with a Kalashnikov

A photo of a Draganov sniper's rifle was also sent between the men. Prosecutors say they were attempting to help terrorists become 'night snipers'

Hoque said: 'He was part of military defence. Fighting in defence of those that could not defend themselves against Assad's regime.'

Miah admitted an idea to arm a team of snipers in Syria, but claimed it would be used to defend civilians from President Assad's forces.

Prosecutor Annabel Darlow QC told the Old Bailey: 'The defendants made use, or so it would appear, of aid convoys as a means of moving money and other property out of the United Kingdom to Syria.

'The prosecution do not suggest that the aid convoys themselves did not have an overall charitable purpose, or that those participating did not intend by the provision of food and medicine to help the civilian population suffering in Syria.

'However, the convoys would have provided a useful conduit for these defendants to abuse the spirit of the convoys to convey money and property to terrorists.'

The court heard the convoys Mr Henning was part of were charitable, but had been infiltrated

Miss Darlow added: 'This was not about helping orphans in Syria... this is about arms.'

Hoque, of Luton, denied three counts of entering into an arrangement to supply money or property to terrorists.

Miah, of Limehouse, east London, Hussain, of Limehouse, and Rafiq, of Basil Street, Huddersfield, all denied one count of entering into an arrangement to supply money or property to terrorists.
A former senior Liberal leader has told Tony Abbott to take a holiday after the former prime minister blamed Malcolm Turnbull for the party's fracture fears.

Former deputy Liberal leader Peter Reith suggested Mr Abbott take a six-month holiday, arguing attempts to split the party are not in the coalition's interest.

Mr Abbott this week wrote to Liberals telling them a split would doom the party, calling on Mr Turnbull to alleviate the internal tissues.

A former senior Liberal leader has told Tony Abbott to take a holiday amid Labour fracture fears

Former deputy Liberal leader Peter Reith suggested Mr Abbott take a six-month holiday

I accept that there are some people who would prefer to go back to Tony (Abbott) but I think going back to Tony is really a backward step,' he said.

'You want to get Tony back - what, make Cory (Bernardi) the treasurer would you? Bring Peta Credlin back in to run the country? I mean seriously.'

The Howard government minister said Mr Abbott should take a six-month holiday, noting it is the 'same old crowd' within the coalition agitating.

'Eric (Abetz) is not exactly a big name in Australian politics,' Mr Reith said

Conservative voices within the coalition like Eric Abetz are warning there are tough questions for the coalition in the new year as its support deteriorates in the polls.

Outspoken senator Cory Bernardi is reportedly preparing to leave the Liberal fold and create his own Australian Conservatives party, while Nationals MP George Christensen says he's loyal now but might not always remain inside the tent.

Mr Abbott this week wrote to Liberals telling them a split would doom the party

Cory Bernardi (left) and Nationals MP George Christensen are reportedly planning to break away




The FBI is being accused of singling out Chinese-American employees with an insider threat detection program.

The bureau has apparently stepped up its interrogation of employees, specifically those with Chinese backgrounds, after last year's hack of millions of government personnel files that was traced back to Chinese hackers.

Employees must submit to routine polygraphs every five years. Workers with foreign backgrounds may be asked to take part in more as part of an ongoing effort to try to reduce internal threats.

Since the hack last year, insiders claim agents conducting the tests have been more eager to identify 'counter measures': signs that a subject has tried to manipulate the result through a range of body movements or breathing changes.

FBI agents are being accused of singling out Chinese-American employees in internal threat detection programs

As a result, they are allegedly wrongly accusing more innocent employees of trying to cheat, according to Fox News.

Once accused of counter measures, the employee is placed on unpaid leave pending reviews and investigations.

Some say they have gone years without receiving any pay or any developments in their case.

Mark Zaid, an attorney representing a handful of former government workers who claim to be victims of the program, said the entire method for detecting threats was flawed, leaving too much room for nervous participants.

'All this device is doing is measuring your breathing, your heart rate, your galvanic sweat response.

The former workers say they were wrongly accused of trying to cheat on routine polygraph tests (file image above)

'And it's determining based on that if you're telling the truth or not and it's determining are you telling the truth depending on where your physiological response falls.'

The process was not only chipping away at the bureau's resources but devastating the lives of those accused, he added.

China's President Xi Jinping denied any involvement in the hack of millions of personnel files last year

'They're sacrificing tons, dozens and dozens of Americans who're doing nothing but their jobs.'

The FBI did not respond to requests for comment.

It told Fox News it looks at more than just a polygraph test result when determining employees security clearances and if they are suspected of orchestrating an insider threat.

More than 20million files were stolen from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) last year as part of the breach.

It was reported at the time that the hack had been traced back to Chinese officials.

But administrators separated themselves from the invasion, insisting it had been carried out by a group of civilian hackers and not ordered by Beijing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Democrats must learn to 'lose with dignity' after their electoral defeat, and said it was 'not important' who hacked Democratic groups during the U.S. elections.

Putin spoke at length about the U.S. elections during his annual news conference in Moscow, where he also addressed nuclear proliferation and other issues.

Once again, he dismissed charges of interference in the elections  even echoing President-elect Donald Trump's various claims that perhaps the hacking had been done a '400-pound guy' lying on his bed, 'some guy in his home in New Jersey.'

'Maybe it was someone lying on the couch who did it,' Putin said.

The U.S. government has concluded that Russia was behind the hacks of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, and The Washington Post has reported that the CIA believes the hacks were intended to boost Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday it doesn't matter who hacked Democratic groups in the elections and said of Democrats: 'They need to learn to lose with dignity'

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Putin cast Democrats as sore losers.

'Democrats are losing on every front and looking for people to blame everywhere,' he said in response to a question by a Russian TV host, the Washington Post reported.

'They need to learn to lose with dignity,' he said. He added: 'In my opinion it is humiliating.'

Putin pointed to congressional races that Democrats also lost as a way of denying U.S. responsibility for the election results.

'Did we do that, too?' Putin asked sarcastically.

'They are losing on all fronts, but looking for the guilty ones outside,' he said.

He also credited Trump for tapping into the national mood and defying critics.

'Trump understood the mood of the people and kept going until the end, when nobody believed in him  except for you and me,' according to the Post's translation.

He said it was 'not important' who did the hacking.

He referenced 'manipulation' contained in the emails, and even brought up Hillary Clinton's rival, 'Senator Sanders,' by name in his remarks.

He said instead of apologizing for the information contained in the hacked emails, Democrats have 'started screaming about who is behind the hacking. Is this important?'

Putin fielded questions from reporters during his annual December news conference in Moscow

Putin dismissed U.S. government charges that Russia was behind the hacking, and pointed to GOP victories in congressional races. ''Did we do that, too?' he asked

President-elect Donald Trump has said perhaps the hack was done by 'some guy' in New Jersey or a '400-pound guy' on his bed. Putin said perhaps the hacking was done by someone 'lying on the couch'

Putin's news conference dragged on for four hours

HACKS: Journalists at an annual news conference by Russia's President Vladimir Putin

'It's important that the information that was revealed was true  that is important,' he said.

Putin also referenced how the hack resulted in former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz stepping down from her post.

'What is the best evidence that the hackers unveiled true information?' he said, AFP reported. 'That after the hackers showed how public opinion is manipulated inside the Democratic Party ... the chief of the Democratic National Committee quit.'

Emails posted on WikiLeaks after the hack on the eve of the Democratic National Convention showed various internal efforts to boost Clinton, angering some supporters of rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Instead of apologizing for what was contained in the emails, Democrats 'started to shout about who initiated the hack attacks.'

'Does that really matter?' he asked.
A United Airlines flight from Houston to Ecuador returned to the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport amid reports of a passenger stowed in the cargo area of the plane.

The airline said the crew members on United Flight 1035 heard strange noises in the cargo hold after takeoff, KHOU reported.

Some passengers on board also said they thought there might be someone inside the cargo hold.

A United Airlines flight (pictured) from Houston to Ecuador returned to the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport amid reports of a passenger stowed in the cargo area of the plane. But United described the noises as a maintenance issue

But United described the noises as a maintenance issue.

Airline officials said a search in the cargo area revealed nothing unusual.

The flight to Ecuador departed from Houston at 5.39pm on Thursday.

Local media reported that the flight with 163 passengers aboard had been in the air about an hour before landing without incident back in Houston, ABC 13 reported.

The plane landed around 7pm.

About four hours later, the passengers boarded another plane and took off for Quito, Ecuador.
KEARNEY  Robert E. Kerby, 87, of Kearney, was called home to heaven on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, after a brief illness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 2407 W. 56th St., in Kearney, with the Rev. Paul Colling officiating. Interment will follow at the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at OBrien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home, 4115 Ave. N, in Kearney, followed by a 7 p.m. vigil service and rosary at the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. OBrien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He was born June 22, 1929, in Denver to Earl and Mary (Kranz) Kerby. Bob grew up living in various Colorado towns before settling in Colorado Springs as his parents constructed highway bridges throughout the state. At the young age of 17, Bob left home and went to work as a cowboy on well-known cattle ranches in northeastern New Mexico including the Bell Ranch. His passion for horses, the West and creating Western artwork was just beginning. Bob met Genon Micek (his wife of 63 years) at the Bear Trap Ranch in Colorado and they were united in marriage on Dec. 31, 1951, in Columbus. They moved to their current acreage in Kearney in 1958 where Bob started colts, trained horses, calf roped and began oil painting.

Bob graduated from then Kearney State College in 1963. He taught art at Walnut Junior High School in Grand Island for four years from 1964 to 1968. His interest and talent to create Western oil paintings continued to blossom and he turned to being a full-time Western artist. As the Artist of the American West he created over 300 oil paintings.

Bob and his son Clint started Bob Kerbys Longhorn Studio in 1988. Utilizing Bobs paintings, they produced a full line of Christmas cards, prints, two Western cookbooks and his popular Range Riders appointment calendar, which has been enjoyed and viewed by thousands of people nationwide. The 2018 calendar edition will mark the 30th year of production. Bob also stayed close to his love of rodeo and competed in team roping up until he was 74. He put on many jackpot ropings and practices at his arena in Kearney. He loved all children and adored his grandchildren and great-granddaughters, as they brought such tremendous joy to his life. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends who enjoyed his sense of humor, knew of his compassion and shared his passion for art, horses, roping and the Western lifestyle.

Survivors include his daughter Lori (Chris) Watters of Bettendorf, Iowa, and son Clint of Kearney; grandchildren, Valerie (Marcus) Wolfe of Papillion, Nicholas (Lucia) Watters of Vicenza, Italy, and Richard (Amber) Watters of Rolla, Missouri; great-granddaughters, Aurora and Audra Wolfe, Adriana Watters and Trinity Vroman; sister, Doris (Babe) Schum of Albuquerque, New Mexico; brother, Bill (Helen) Kerby of Halstenbek, Germany; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 2015, parents and one niece.

Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation on Bobs behalf.
Anis Amri murdered a Polish truck driver and shot an Italian policeman with a handgun freely available on the black market in Europe for just 150 euros.

The ISIS terrorist's 22 caliber pistol was photographed next to his body where he was shot dead after a shoot out in Milan at 3am today.

It raises questions about how Amri was able to secure the weapon despite being under surveillance by the German authorities and being arrested by police at least three times this year.

The 24-year-old was even recorded by the security services telling a hate preacher he was willing to be a suicide bomber two months ago.

Terrorists are finding it easier than ever to get guns because of the flow of illegal weapons flowing from the Balkans into the heart of western Europe.

Evidence: Tunisian Anis Amri pulled this gun from his backpack before being shot dead. It is the same weapon used to kill the Polish lorry driver who was hijacked in Berlin

Crime scene: Berlin truck terrorist Anis Amri has been shot dead after a gunfight with police in Milan in the early hours of this morning

Experts from the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey estimate there are between 3million and 6million guns left over from wars during the 1990s. Up to 1.5million of them are said to be in Serbia - a legacy of the break-up of Yugoslavia.

A simple hand gun is no more than 150 euros and more expensive weapons like AK-47s will cost as little as 700 euros and are delivered to you by criminal gangs.

Speaking in 2015, an arms dealer known as 'the German' described how guns are being sold to terrorists all the time.

He said: 'There are plenty of nooks and crannies in a car or truck where you can hide a disassembled gun. People hide them in the fuel tank.

'Silenced weapons cost more, sub-machine guns that are easier to conceal, they cost more. Pistols are still fairly cheap, around 150 euros apiece.'

Ivan Zverzhanovski, who runs a UN project in Belgrade to reduce gun crime said: 'You don't know where these weapons are, who holds them or how they are being used.

'You dont need hundreds of thousands of weapons. You just need enough to create havoc.

'The gun market operates on a very basic supply and demand system. Since about 2011, there has definitely been a significant increase of illicit weapons going from southeast Europe towards different parts of the EU'.

The Berlin attack suspect has been shot dead after a gunfight with police in Milan, Italian police have said

Revealed: Experts from the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey estimate these are the number of guns in the Balkans

Anis Amri became Europe's most wanted man after murdering 12 people and injuring 48 more by driving a lorry through a packed Christmas market on Monday.

But he had been involved in crime from the age of 17, including drug dealing and violent robbery, and had links to gangs who would have access to guns.

More recently, after he was radicalised and pledged to die for ISIS, he met and spoke with known hate preachers and extremists with links to violent jihad.

These groups will also likely have access to guns, or have to money to buy them, especially ones smuggled back into Europe by the thousands of ISIS fighters who have returned from Syria.

Amri had offered to carry out suicide attacks for Islamic State, it emerged yesterday.

Journey: Amri fled Tunisia before posing as a child migrant, arriving on the small island of Lampedusa. He was jailed in Italy then entered Germany under a false identity

The 24-year-old was recorded by the security services making the offer to a hate preacher two months ago, sources revealed.

But in yet another blunder by the German authorities, which were monitoring his movements, he was left at large.

It also emerged that Amri was sentenced to five years in absentia in his home country of Tunisia for an armed robbery after he fled. And it was reported that he was given a jail term there in 2010 for stealing a HGV similar to the one used to murder 12 and injure 56 at the Christmas market in Berlin on Monday night.

He arrived in Italy in 2011, arriving on the small island of Lampedusa amongst thousands of people fleeing the Arab Spring uprisings. He pretended to be a child migrant - even though he was 19 - but then rioted inside his detention centre, which was set on fire. He was then jailed for four years, serving it in two prisons on Sicily.

After his release Italy failed to deport him twice because Tunisia refused to take him back and he fled Italy via the Alps for Germany, meaning he probably went via Milan.
This is the horrifying moment a teenage girl was violently assaulted by school bullies.

The victim was slapped in the face, dragged by the hair and kicked in the backside by a group of young attackers.

The three-minute-long video, posted on Chinese social media, has again raised people's concerns over school violence in China.

The victim cried for help as the bullies held her against the wall and slapped her face in China

The video is believed to have been shot in a back alley in Leizhou, southern China.

A group of seven teenage bullies, aged around 15, forced the victim to stand with her back against the wall before brutally beating her.

The clip was posted to Weibo, a social media platform in China, today.

It is understood that the girl in Adidas tracksuit with a tattoo on her arm, is known as 'Short Sister'.

'Short Sister' forcefully held the pinned against the wall by grabbing her hair. In the mean time, she slapped her face continuously.

A gang of seven bullies gathered in a quiet backstreet and brutally assaulted the victim

It is unclear why the bullies attacked the victim. However, the victim repeatedly said 'I won't do this' in the video, begging the attackers to stop.

Three other girls grabbed the victim's hair and took turns to slap the victim's face.

Later in the video, a teenage boy in orange puffer jacket, allegedly to be the victim's ex-boyfriend, covered the her head with his jacket.

He then punched and kicked her brutally.

The victim's alleged ex-boyfriend launched himself on the victim before violently kicking her

The video footage was apparently taken by one of the gang members.

Chinese social media users were furious after the video became viral.

People from a group named Leizhou Citizen on WeChat, a Chinese social media app, decided to track down 'Short Sister' and posted her information including social media accounts and phone number online.
A man detained in anti-terror raids in Melbourne posted a bizarre video which branded Santa Claus as 'an evil demon of the north' in the weeks before his arrest.

Zakaria Dabboussi, 21, was detained on Friday as part of a series of raids across Melbourne. He was later released without charge.

In recent weeks Dabboussi had shared a video to his Facebook page criticising Christmas, The Age reported.

In the video, Santa Claus was referred to as 'the devil'.

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A report scrutinizing his online presence found Dabboussi had posted a video that depicted Christmas as an 'evil' holiday (pictured). Dabboussi was released without charges on Friday

Zakaria Dabboussi was one of seven people arrested during counter-terrorism raids. He has since been released without charge

Mohamad Dabboussi (left), 20, and Ahmed Dabboussi (right), 31, claim counter-terror officers kicked them with steel-capped boots as they arrested their brother Zakaria, 21

'When [the Germans] depicted him they depicted him with red fur.

'He had a red fur coat, and his base was in the North, and he was the essence of evil,' a preacher said in the video, according to The Age.

The video also accuses Christians of seeking to drink, party, and waste money, the Herald Sun reported.

In it Santa Claus is referred to as an 'evil demon of the north'.

Dabboussi's brothers said their family was assaulted by police officers during the raid against their house.

Mohamad Dabboussi, 20, and Ahmed Dabboussi, 31, claim counter-terror officers kicked them with steel-capped boots as they arrested their brother.

The brothers, who live in Gladstone Park, say they and other family members were hurt by police officers when they stormed their home yesterday.

'I was assaulted by a policeman who was saying I was resisting arrest,' Mr Dabboussi told 9 News.

Ahmed Mohamed, 24, is seen leaving Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday after he was charged with preparing and planning a terror attack

This picture shows alleged terror suspect Hamza Abbas, according to the Age. Abbas, 21, was charged with preparing for a terror attack

Abdullah Chaarani, 26, appearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday. Artist's sketch

Court sketches of Hamza Abbas and Ahmed Mohamed - Abbas is on the left; Mohamed on the right

'I was kicked with steel-capped boots. I was playing PlayStation and all I heard was police rage in and say 'get on the ground' so I laid down, hands behind my back, and that's when they started assaulting me,' he added.

The younger Mr Dabbousi, who was seen standing over a blood-stained carpet, also claimed a police officer hit his nephew over the head with a gun.

IT worker Zakaria Dabbousi was arrested during the raids, but his brothers say he will deny the allegations.

'My brother's a keyboard warrior, he would've been defending his religion and his background [online],' Ahmed Dabbousi said.

'For example, [writing] 'we're not terrorists, enough of this racism' and that kind of stuff.'

Mr Dabboussi's father, Youssef, said armed officers beat down the door and pointed their weapons at two eight-year-old children inside, The Age reported.

The four men who have been charged with preparing for or planning a terrorist act allegedly planned to inflict mass casualities by launching suicide attacks, bombings, and random stabbings, investigators believe.

Police accompany a woman wearing a hijab as they attend the scene where a house was raided in Meadow Heights in Melbourne

Women wearing niqabs are seen alongside police as they attend the scene where a house was raided in Meadow Heights in Melbourne

Abdullah Chaarani, 26, Hamza Abbas, 21, and Ahmed Mohamed, 24 - faced charges in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon.

A fourth terror suspect, identified only as a 22-year-old man from Broadmeadows, was charged later on Friday evening and is due to appear in court on Saturday, ABC reported.

Three others, including a 20-year-old woman, were also arrested but later released without charges. Among them was Dabboussi.

Police were hoping to wait another 48 hours before making the arrests, but decided to move in quickly after observing some of the suspects allegedly conducting surveillance operations near Melbourne landmarks Federation Square, St Paul's Cathedral and Flinders Street Station, police sources told the Age.

Police believe the suspects were planning to attack general duties police as the officers responded to emergency calls, according to the Age.

During the raids, investigators seized what Victoria's Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton called 'the makings of an improvised explosive device,' as well as computers, the Age reported.
The children of a married Israeli couple mown down in the Berlin massacre face the gut wrenching decision to stay at their critically-ill father's hospital bedside or leave and bury their mother, a family member has revealed.

Or Elyakim, 28 and his sister Chen, 26  whose mother, Dalia, was killed and father, Rami, remains in intensive care  are torn between their mother's funeral and the care for their father who is currently in hospital here, anaesthetised and ventilated, their uncle, Ofer Elyakim, told a press conference in Germany.

Dalia travelled to Berlin with husband Rami excited to experience the Christmas celebrations, and were said to be especially keen to try gluhwein.

She was killed when Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri, 24, shot dead a Polish lorry driver and careered the 35-tonne lorry into the Christmas market crowds on Monday. Rami was critically injured in the carnage.

Dalias body is expected to be repatriated to Israel for burial tomorrow, but Ramis condition is too serious for him to be transferred back home.

Tragedy: Mother of two Dalia Elyakim, pictured with her daughter Chen, was killed in Monday's tragedy when ISIS terrorist Anis Amri drove a truck into Berlin's Christmas market

Devastated: Dalia, left, from Herzliya, Israel, was with her husband Rami, right, as the truck rampaged through stalls at the market on Monday night in an attack that claimed 12 lives

Grieving: Their son Or, 28, from Israel, pictured with a female friend, is with his father and sister in Berlin as their mother's body is repatriated back to Israel to be buried

Their traumatised children are wrestling with the painful decision of whether to stay in Germany or travel to Israel, Ofer said.

He spoke for the first time of the terrible state that his brother was in after the attack, and said that he is desperately praying that he will regain his mobility.

I pray and hope, and it's not a prayer without basis, that at the end of the road, at the end of the process, he'll be able to heal and walk again, Ofer said.

The injuries are mainly in the pelvis and legs, he added, with no head or back injuries, giving cause for optimism.

Injured: Rami's brother Ofer said he learned that he had been caught up in the attack when he phoned his hotel Tuesday morning

But hope for his sister-in-law, Dalia, ended early yesterday morning. Until Wednesday, the family had been clinging to the fact that there were still wounded who were unidentified.

Then, Ofer said, yesterday, at some point, we understood that they had identified all the injured and she wasnt among them and all that remained was the process of identifying the fatalities.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, 48 hours of hope was extinguished, when Dalia was confirmed as among the dead.

Fighting back tears, a clearly emotional Ofer described how as soon as he heard that Dalia and Rami hadnt returned to their hotel room on Monday night, he raced to the airport in Israel.

He said: We heard about the terror attack on TV like everyone else on Monday evening. I knew that my brother and sister-in-law were here. We didnt think there was a connection [between them and the attack] but we naturally tried to contact them.

We couldn't reach them by phone but that night I went to bed thinking that by the next morning everything will probably be all right.

Family torn apart: Dalia was in Germany with her husband Rami, pictured with their children Or and Chen. Rami is in intensive care in hospital in Germany while his wife was killed

Carnage: Twelve people were killed and 48 were injured when Anis Amri shot dead a polish lorry driver and drove the truck into people enjoying the Berlin Christmas market on Monday

Devastation: Among the dead was Dalia who was killed when the 35-tonne truck driven by Amir careered through stalls leaving behind a trail of destruction in its wake

Early morning on Tuesday, we got the hotel representative to check their room and when we realised that they haven't slept the night there.

I immediately got organised, packed a back and booked a flight, before knowing anything, but thinking its its better to be here.

By the time he reached Germany at 6pm on Tuesday, it was clear that his family had been caught up in the attack.

Representatives of the Israeli embassy in Berlin were waiting for him at the airport, and revealed that his brother was among the injured.

Ofer said that he was frustrated that it took so long for his sister-in-laws death to be confirmed.

Truck terrorist: Berlin suspect Anis Amri, a Tunisian asylum seeker, 24, was shot dead in the early hours of this morning during a gunfight with two police officers in Milan

Everyone can understand that 48 hours to identify a person killed in an attack is too much, he said.

His brother is due to undergo another operation tomorrow, he added, and a further procedure early next week, and hopes that he is stable enough be moved to Israel by next weekend.

They were known as a couple who loved life, and Dalia especially liked to travel. She used to spend time circling travel adverts on the back page of a newspaper for trips she hoped to make.
A great-grandmother's body that had been donated to Alzheimer's research was instead sold by a company and used in a US Army blast test, records have shown.

Jim Stauffer cared for his elderly mother, Doris, of Surprise, Arizona, throughout her harrowing descent into dementia. In 2013, when she passed away at age 74, he decided to donate her brain to science. He hoped the gift might aid the search for a cure to Alzheimer's disease.

At a nurse's suggestion, the family contacted Biological Resource Center, a company that brokered the donation of human bodies for research.

Within the hour, BRC dispatched a driver to collect Doris' remains. Jim Stauffer signed a form authorizing medical research on his mother's body. He also checked a box prohibiting military, traffic-safety and other non-medical experiments.

Ten days later, Jim received his mother's cremated remains. He wasn't told how her body had been used.

Records reviewed by Reuters show that BRC workers detached one of Doris Stauffer's hands for cremation. After sending those ashes back to her son, the company sold and shipped the rest of Stauffer's body to a taxpayer-funded research project for the US Army.

Her brain never was used for Alzheimer's research. Instead, Stauffer's body became part of an Army experiment to measure damage caused by roadside bombs.

Doris Stauffer (pictured), of Surprise, Arizona, died in 2013 aged 74 after harrowing descent into dementia. Her son Jim decided to donate her brain to Alzheimer's research

Internal BRC and military records show that at least 20 other bodies were also used in the blast experiments without permission of the donors or their relatives, a violation of US Army policy. BRC sold donated bodies like Stauffer's for $5,893 each.

Army officials involved in the project said they never received the consent forms that donors or their families had signed. Rather, the officials said they relied on assurances from BRC that families had agreed to let the bodies be used in such experiments.

BRC, which sold more than 20,000 parts from some 5,000 human bodies over a decade, is no longer in business. Its former owner, Stephen Gore, pleaded guilty to fraud last year. In a statement to Reuters, Gore said that he always tried to honor the wishes of donors and sent consent forms when researchers requested them.

Jim Stauffer learned of his mother's fate not from BRC or the Army but from a Reuters reporter. When told, Stauffer curled his lip in anger and clutched his wife Lisa's arm.

'We did right,' Lisa reassured him. 'They just did not honor our wishes.'

Stauffer's story shines a spotlight on a growing but little-known industry: the trade in human cadavers and body parts.

The body-brokering business is distinct from organ transplantation, in which hearts, livers, eyes and lungs are carefully removed from the dead to extend or enrich the lives of the living. It is also separate from the business of using skin, tendon or bone from cadavers to repair joints or other parts of the body. Those practices are strictly regulated by US law. In contrast, the buying and selling of human bodies not used for transplant receives scant oversight.

Jim Stauffer hoped that donating his mother's body would aid the search for a cure to Alzheimer's disease. Stauffer is pictured at 16 years old

This handout photo of an Army experiment at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland, shows cadavers being used to test the impact of explosions on the human body. The photograph has been modified by the military to show only a blank outline of the cadavers, one colored orange, the other yellow

No federal law regulates body brokers like BRC, and no US government agency monitors what happens to cadavers pledged for use in medical education and research.

'It is not illegal to sell a whole body or the parts of a body for research or education,' said University of Iowa law professor Sheldon F Kurtz. He helped modify the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which has been adopted by 46 states.

The act was updated in 2006 but, Kurtz said, 'the issue of whole bodies or body parts for research or education never came up during our discussions'.

Since then, the body trade has become big business. Only one state, New York, keeps detailed records on the industry. According to the most recent data available, companies that did business in New York shipped at least 100,000 body parts across the country from 2011 to 2014. Reuters obtained the data, which have never been made public, from the state's health department.

The New York figures represent a fraction of the industry. Any company that handles bodies but doesn't do business in New York state is not included. A handful of other states either require companies to register with state health departments or seek approval to ship individual body parts across state lines. Most states compile no such records.

'We are in a complete vacuum,' said Michel Anteby, a Boston University business professor who has researched the trade in bodies. 'That's a real problem because we are treating bodies as a potential commodity like any other.'

Stauffer's body, contrary to her family's wishes, was sold and shipped to a taxpayer-funded research project for the US Army. Jim Stauffer and his wife Lisa are pictured

Brokers procure virtually all their cadavers for free from donors who believe the remains will be used for science. As a result, brokers can turn a profit of thousands of dollars on each body donated. 'It's about $2,500 to $3,000,' said John Cover, chief operating officer of Research for Life, a body broker based in Phoenix.

When bodies are subsequently dismembered and sold part by part, the profit margin can be even higher. BRC charged $5,893 for a whole body in 2013; a few years earlier, the company priced spines at $1,900, legs at $1,300 each, and torsos at $3,500, BRC documents show.

Cadavers and donated body parts provide vital tools to teach anatomy and medical students. They also serve as a cornerstone of the medical-device business. Artificial hips, dental crowns and surgical devices are best tested on real human tissue. Surgeons and dentists who implant the devices and use new tools have to be trained.

'There's no way any medical institution could function without the donation of cadavers,' said David Morton, a University of Utah School of Medicine professor and a board member of the American Association of Anatomists.

Most medical schools have strict rules for handling bodies, Morton said. Those quality controls and ethical guidelines, however, aren't always followed. This year, The New York Times reported that New York University buried an unknown number of donated bodies in mass graves. The school apologized and said it had changed its policy in 2013 to better protect donor wishes.

The BRC case is not the first time bodies donated to medical schools have been misused in military experiments. In 2004, Tulane University disclosed that bodies donated to the school were shipped to a broker who then provided them to the Army, which used them for landmine experiments. As happened with BRC, these donors had not consented to military use.

Federal authorities began investigating BRC in 2011. That year, a Detroit body broker from a company called International Biological Inc was stopped by US customs agents as he crossed the border from Ontario. He had 10 human heads with him. According to an FBI affidavit, agents traced one of the heads to BRC.

Within a year, investigators had identified at least 250 suspect body parts sold by BRC to the Detroit broker. Records from the Detroit and Phoenix cases show that thousands of bodies donated for research and education were dismembered and then sold or leased, often for commercial purposes.

In January 2016, the Detroit broker and his wife were arrested by the FBI on fraud charges related to their practices at International Biological. The broker, Arthur Rathburn, has pleaded not guilty and is jailed awaiting trial. His wife, Elizabeth Rathburn, pleaded guilty to a single fraud charge but has not been sentenced.

Arthur Rathburn leased human heads, torsos and other body parts for medical and dental training in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Greece and Israel, authorities said. In 2012, two coolers that contained eight bloody heads and were addressed to Rathburn were seized at the Detroit airport.

Government documents unsealed this year also allege that Arthur Rathburn's inventory included more than 100 body parts infected with hepatitis, HIV, sepsis, meningitis, the life-threatening bacteria MRSA, and the flesh-eating disease necrotizing fasciitis.

Rathburn's lawyer, Byron Pitts, said his client committed no crime. 'I think the government has overstepped and I don't think they are going to be able to prove their charges,' Pitts said. In a court filing this year, Pitts noted that the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act does not prohibit the sale of body parts and said Rathburn should not be held accountable criminally for paperwork errors or the actions of others, including BRC.

BRC also shipped infected body parts, according to Arizona state investigation summaries reviewed by Reuters.

These included portions of eye and ear tissue infected with Hepatitis B sent to researchers in Tucson; eyes from a body that tested positive for Hepatitis C to Utah for use by a biomedical firm; and a left foot infected with Hepatitis B to a podiatry training center near Atlanta.

Timothy Smith (pictured) took his own life in 2012. One of his arms was detached and used for a military experiment

In at least one case, BRC notified next of kin about the infections but failed to warn researchers who received the tissue or body parts, the records show.

When a 76-year-old woman died the morning of April 29, 2012, BRC staffers rushed to remove her brain by mid-afternoon and shipped the 13-pound package the same day to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center near Boston. In a standard industry practice, BRC also sent a blood sample from the woman's body to a lab. Three days later, the sample came back positive for Hepatitis C.

BRC promptly notified the woman's son.

'Unfortunately, we received an unfavorable report for infectious disease blood testing,' BRC staff wrote in a letter. 'These blood tests could not confirm that an infectious disease was present, but did prohibit us from using the body for safety reasons.'

BRC, however, did not warn Harvard researchers handling the diseased brain, records show. In fact, the researchers did not learn that the specimen was infected until nearly two years later, when Arizona authorities contacted them.

'We would never knowingly use [a brain sample] with a history of disease,' said Harvard brain donation coordinator Joseph Manzo. He said privacy rules restricted him from commenting further on a specific specimen.

In an email exchange with Reuters, Gore apologized for not notifying researchers. 'I simply have no excuse,' he said.

The risks of infection are real. Records of the Arizona state investigation show that one worker at the Georgia podiatry facility was accidentally stuck by a needle used with the hepatitis-infected foot. The worker had been vaccinated.

In emails to Reuters, Gore said that the troubles at BRC represented only a fraction of the work by the company, which served scores of research and training entities it supplied.

'BRC had an incredibly kind, professional and caring staff on all levels,' Gore said.

Because BRC sold bodies and parts to various Army subcontractors - and not directly to the military - Gore said he sometimes received different instructions about what BRC needed to provide. But he said he sent consent forms whenever researchers requested them.

'It is my belief that we did what we could to honor the donors' consent as we understood it,' Gore said.

When he was sentenced in 2015 for the charge related to misleading donors and families, Gore presented a letter to the judge explaining what went wrong. He said he created BRC because he had grown bored as an insurance salesman. Though he held no more than a high school degree, Gore had previously spent nine years at a local eye and organ bank, he said, working with donor families and assisting surgeons.

'This was never about financial gain but rather a labor of love,' Gore wrote. Instead of hiring a qualified medical director to supervise how bodies and parts should be used, Gore said he relied on books and the Internet.

'This was an industry that had no formal regulations to look to for guidance,' Gore wrote in his letter to the judge, 'and I believe that many times I was simply overwhelmed and I tried to do the right thing but often did not.'

Arizona prosecutors said in their filing that Gore's fraud misled those who had hoped to provide 'the most precious gift a person could bestow on society, their own body, to benefit scientific and medical research'.

In interviews, family members who signed BRC consent forms said they were focused on saving money and serving society. They said they didn't realize the bodies of their loved ones would be sold or used for commercial purposes.

'I had no money,' said Tina Johnson, who gave her husband Kerry's body to BRC when he died of liver failure in 2012. 'It was a free cremation.'

Mary Hughes, whose 52-year-old son, Grady Hughes Jr, died of cancer in late 2012, recalled that 'somebody from hospice gave us a pamphlet.'

'It was a good idea,' Hughes said. 'The cremation was free, and it was donating the body for medical purposes.'

Months after the donations, Johnson, Hughes and dozens of others received a vague form letter from BRC listing nine potential medical education and research uses. None cited military experiments.

Some BRC donors willed bodies with the expectation that they would be used for a specific disease. Jim Stauffer, for example, said he hoped his mother's brain would be used to study Alzheimer's.

'It shocks me that the military was involved,' he said.

The BRC consent form permitted the broker to sell cadavers and parts to almost any entity, including commercial ventures. Under current law, relatives have no right to learn what happened to their loved ones.

The Army's human-body experiments were part of a program to protect US soldiers from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

During wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army scrambled - with limited success - to fortify vehicles. Early this decade, the Army launched a long-term study of the biological impact of an IED blast that thrusts a vehicle into the air. The most vulnerable body parts are those already in contact with the inside surfaces of a vehicle.

'It's your feet, your butt in the seat, and to some extent your back,' said Randy Coates, the civilian engineer who directed the Army project, which is based at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

To study a blast's effect, the Army considered experimenting with crash-test dummies, the biometric mannequins used by engineers to improve automotive safety. But crash-test dummies have limitations: they enable researchers to collect data only on front, rear and side collisions common in traffic accidents, not from explosions beneath a vehicle.

When cadaver experiments confirmed that a crash-test dummy couldn't replicate battlefield wounds, the Army set out to create a mannequin that could show the effects of explosions. The project required experiments involving more than a hundred cadavers and included researchers from nine universities.

In addition to building the blast mannequin, the Army is using cadavers to obtain data to develop a virtual dummy for computer simulations.

Donated bodies are not obliterated in explosions, Coates said. But the blasts do break bones and snap spines. In an experiment witnessed by a Reuters reporter this year, two bodies wired to 100 biosensors flailed violently during an explosion and came to rest slumped, but intact.

Army policy requires that body donors or next of kin consent to the blast experiments. But records reviewed by Reuters show that the bodies or body parts of 34 people were shipped to the military without donor permission.

In 18 of the 34 cases, the donor consent forms neither mentioned nor offered any warning language about potential military experiments.

In the remaining 16 instances, the consent form presented an option to allow military and other violent experiments. Twelve of the 16 families explicitly rejected violent experiments. Four made no choice. All 16 were shipped to the Army anyway.

Among those shipped to the military were Nancy Culver's son and Marla Yale's grandfather.

'Oh, no. Oh, no,' Culver said when a Reuters reporter told her that the right arm of her son, Timothy Smith, was detached and used for a military experiment against her wishes. She donated his body two days after he took his own life in late 2012. 'I wanted something good to come of this,' she said.

Marla Yale recalled watching grandfather Kurt Hollstein sign a donor form two months before he died of cancer in 2013. Hollstein, an Army veteran, was so angry about the health care he was provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, she said, that on the consent form he checked 'No' to military experimentation.

Yale learned what really happened to her grandfather from Reuters.

'This is almost beyond belief that his entire body went somewhere else without his permission, and especially to a place that he absolutely did not want to be,' she said. 'To go to the Department of Defense is absolutely mind-boggling.'

According to Army policy, 'If it is clear that a donor prohibited the contemplated use, then the donor's cadaver will not be used.' The policy requires that authorization forms must explicitly state that donors or next-of-kin agree that their bodies may be used in explosions.

But the consent forms the Army examines are not necessarily the same ones signed by donors. In the BRC case, the Army said, the military reviewed 'heavily redacted forms or forms signed by an agent of BRC that indicated consent.'

Army officials said their first indication that something was amiss came in January 2014, after law enforcement authorities searched BRC. Coates, who oversaw the military project, said experiments were halted immediately. An Army safety officer then traveled to Arizona to compare the documents the military reviewed with those kept by BRC. In at least 34 cases, the forms did not match, records show.

Coates said that the Army acted in good faith because it believed the consent forms it received were valid. 'The Army was a victim of BRC business practices,' he said.

Even so, the Army said in a statement that it still relies on brokers to accurately represent the wishes of donors and does not review the original consent forms before experiments begin.

BRC records also show that in at least two cases, consent forms were amended after the donor died.

In each case, records show, an elderly widow agreed to countermand a husband's written instructions that his body not be subjected to explosive military experiments. Both widows made the change after being contacted by BRC, donor case files show.

In an interview with Reuters, one of the widows, Dona Patrick, said she didn't fully grasp what she had agreed to: that husband Conrad's head and spine would be severed and shipped to one of the universities conducting the military experiments, his case file shows. The call from BRC came less than 48 hours after her husband died, 'at a time when you are susceptible to anything just to get it out of your mind,' she said.

Patrick said yes to the BRC caller because Conrad's 'soul was already gone, and the body was nothing,' she said. 'Probably now if they would have called me, I would have said "no." But then, I didn't know what to do.'

BRC recorded the conversation for legal reasons and quality assurance.

On the call, the BRC employee asked: As next of kin, do you agree to amend the consent form to allow 'special non-medical projects that could involve exposures to destructive forces - for example, impacts, crashes, ballistic injuries and blasts' involving 'agencies such as the military'?

Patrick, her voice quavering, said, 'Yes, I do.'
Detectives are investigating the death of a British Army major and former United Nations consultant, after he was found hanged in a barracks.

The body of Cyrus Karumba who was originally from Kenya, was found in a bathroom of the house he shared with his wife on the site of an Army Defence Academy.

The respected 36-year-old major, who joined the British Army in 2003 and had served in Afghanistan, Kenya and Germany, and his wife Suchada Karumba, who was also from Kenya, had moved to the site in September.

A coroner has opened an inquest into Cyrus Karumba's death after his wife found his body at their home on the site of the Cormorant Defence Academy in Watchfield, Oxfordshire

A coroner has opened an inquest into his death after his wife found his body at their home on the site of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Watchfield, Oxfordshire, on December 7.

Assistant Coroner for Oxfordshire Nicholas Gardiner confirmed the major's name, age, address and cause of death registered following a post-mortem examination before he adjourned the inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court.

An Army spokesman said today: 'We can confirm that a service person died in the Defence Academy in Shrivenham on Tuesday December 6.

'Thames Valley Police is investigating and an inquest into the death will take place in due course.

The respected 36-year-old major, joined the British Army in 2003 and served in Afghanistan

'Aside from expressing our condolences to his family and friends, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.'

Mr Karumba was leading a professional development course for Army officers at the academy at the time of his death .

Mr Karumba was leading a professional development course for Army officers at the academy at the time of his death

He was the Army's Telecommunications and ICT Director for more than 10,000 of his comrades during a two-year stint in Kenya and was a web consultant for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification before he joined became an Army officer.

He had trained as an officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, Berkshire, and had also served in the Falkland Islands.

On the dead soldiers LinkedIn page a colleague wrote: 'Officer Cyrus is effortlessly ahead of the pack in physical tests and core military knowledge. A man of integrity who I trust implicitly.'

The rank of Major is the eighth highest in the British Army.

Out of the most senior ranks, the highest occupied by a black serviceman is that of Brigadier - but there is only one.

Brigadier is the fifth most senior rank below Field Marshall, General, Lieutenant General and Major General.
An eight-year-old girl has been reunited with her favorite stuffed animal just in time for Christmas thanks to the help of one kind airline worker.

Eleanor Dewald was getting ready for bed after her family flew from Dallas to Detroit on Wednesday when she realized her best friend Teddy wasn't by her side.

Teddy and Eleanor had been inseparable since she got him on the last day of preschool. He had gone missing before, but was always found.

This time the family had no luck, so Eleanor's mother Trish enlisted the help of Facebook.

Eleanor Dewald, 8, was reunited with her beloved Teddy, who she lost at the Detroit Metro Airport this week, thanks to the kindness of airline worker Steven Laudeman

Eleanor's mother had posted about Teddy on Facebook and Laudeman, who had gone to high school with her, decided to look for the stuffed animal before his shift started

After filing a lost items claim with American Airlines, Trish posted a photo of a very similar image to Teddy she found online and wrote a 'Missing' poster for him.

'How might one go about posting an Amber Alert for a missing Teddy?' it began.

'Last seen: Detroit Metro Airport North Terminal on 12/21/16 at 6.05pm'

'Looks similar to the one pictured though more...ahem..."loved"'.

'Name: Teddy, Sex: Nonconforming, Height: approximately 12'"

'Race: Bear, Weight: Negligible, Reward: Eight-year-old girl child's undying appreciation.'

'If seen, contact parental units of said girl child.'

'Authorities (DTW lost and found/airline lost and found) have been notified. #operationteddy'

The humorous post was a hit among Trish's friends, who began tagging others in the comments to see it and try and help Eleanor.

That's how it caught the attention of Steven Laudeman, who attended middle school and high school with Trish and had kept in touch.

Twelve hours had past and Laudeman wasn't sure he had a chance to find Teddy, but wanted to give it a try anyway before starting his shift as a ramp agent at Southwest Airlines.

Laudeman told Daily Mail Online that he first went to the American Airline baggage office, but no one had seen Teddy or heard about him at all.

He struck out with the airline's customer service desk as well, before remembering that Trish had said the family's bags came in from Spirit Airlines.

It would be hours before Laudeman could reunite Eleanor with her furry friend, so he decided that Teddy should have some fun in the meantime and take him on the job

Teddy got to sit right up on the control panel in a cockpit before having some water after a 'tiring first flight', Laudeman wrote in pictures he posted on Facebook

Laudeman then walked to their baggage office and showed the woman behind the desk a picture of the brand new Teddy that Tish had included in her Facebook post.

The woman had seen a similar looking bear just across the hall, right on top of the garbage can.

And that's exactly where Teddy was sitting when Laudeman went to find him.

'I had already walked around the baggage claim area once and walked right past him,' Laudeman said. 'It was pure luck I found the right person.'

It would be hours before Laudeman could reunite Eleanor with her furry friend, so he decided that Teddy should have some fun in the meantime.

Laudeman took Teddy with him as he worked throughout the day at the airport, sharing pictures on Facebook to entertain Eleanor and her family.

'This little guy liked the airport so much, he stuck around to help me work today,' Laudeman wrote in the caption for his first picture of Teddy.

Then Teddy got to sit right up on the control panel in a cockpit, learned how to push out the airplane, and got to meet the other stuffed animals in the terminal.

'Teddy gets all the ladies!' Laudeman wrote in one cute picture of the teddy bear surrounded by some big-eyed tigresses.

Laudeman joked that Teddy tried to push out the airplane, but was unfortunately too short

He also got to meet the other animals at the terminal, and Laudeman joked he was a hit with these tigresses

Laudeman had Teddy write a letter to Santa Claus, wishing to be reunited with Eleanor, before it was time to make that dream come true

Laudeman said many of his co-workers thought he was crazy for taking Teddy everywhere, but others understood how much the bear must mean to Eleanor.

'Two women I really interacted with at work about Teddy, thought it was great,' he said.

'They were reminiscing about how, when they were seven or eight, they would have been devastated if they lost their stuffed animal.'

And Laudeman, a father to seven-year-old twins, also knew how upset his boys would be if they lost their own special friends.

Laudeman had Teddy write a letter to Santa Claus, wishing to be reunited with Eleanor, before it was time to make that dream come true.

He went straight to Eleanor's home after work with the surprise in tow. In return, the little girl gave him a handwritten thank you note with an airplane drawn inside.

'It was great, I was happy that she was happy, I don't want her to be sad during Christmas,' he said.

'Her eyes lit up, she got her teddy bear back that she probably thought was gone forever.'
Julian Benstead, 48, (pictured) was ordered to pay more than 80,000 in compensation

The son of a crooked company director who killed himself as the jury considered their verdicts in a 20m Ponzi scheme trial must pay more than 80,000 in compensation.

Peter Benstead, 72, committed suicide days before jurors completed their deliberations on him, his wife Susan, 71, their son Julian and two accomplices in the foreign currency scam.

Benstead hid mounting losses while plundering customer cash from his companies Crown Currency Exchange and Crown Holdings Limited to fund a lavish lifestyle.

The trial heard how they bought luxury homes and went on a 36,000 cruise around the world, spending an extra 10,000 on board - yet claimed they lived a 'modest' way of life.

But while jurors were considering their verdicts against him and five others in London, Benstead was found dead in his car near his home in Cornwall.

A judge at the time said his suicide was an 'easy way out of his predicament without any regard to the consequences on either his loved ones or his victims'.

Benstead's gold investment company Mayfair and Grant also collapsed owing in excess of 450,000.

His son, Julian Benstead, 48, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Friday as a compensation order and confiscation order was made against him.

Andrew Bird, prosecuting, told the court there were '22 investors who invested money in Mayfair and Grant thinking they were getting gold'.

But the certificate telling them their gold was being held by the company was completely bogus.

Mr Bird said Benstead 'must have been aware' as early as October 2009 that the company was 'taking in money [but they] weren't buying gold with it.'

Mr Bird quoted Julian's predecessor at Mayfair and Grant, Andrew Beard, as complaining the company charged 'ridiculous' and 'extortionate' prices for gold.

Bureau de change boss Peter Benstead, 72, (left) killed himself while on trial for running a Ponzi scheme which robbed customers of their savings

Mr Beard said they had been told to lie to customers that gold was in stock, but that 'they would pay then we would order the gold.'

He said: 'By October 2008, when Julian Benstead takes the reins, the dishonest system is up and running.

'From the very first day he must have known they were lying to customers.'

Judge Michael Gledhill QC ruled that Benstead's criminality had, on the balance of probabilities, taken place over a more than six-month period, passing the test for deciding on 'criminal lifestyle'.

He said: 'On the balance of probabilities, I have come to the conclusion that the confiscation period in this case, namely the time that this defendant was knowingly participating in fraudulent trading, was the period as set out by the prosecution, namely October 2009 to September 2010.

'That is a period of more than six months, therefore this defendant has a criminal lifestyle and the relevant provisions apply.'

Julian personality benefited by 32,000 and must pay the rest of the money back for compensation to the duped investors.

He will served nine months in jail if the 86,600 is not paid in full.

Julian was found guilty of one charge of fraudulent trading but was cleared of a further charge of theft and was sentenced to 30 months in jail in June 2015.

Julian Benstead appeared at Southwark Crown Court (pictured) on Friday as a compensation order and confiscation order was made against him

Julian, of Ludgvan, Penzance, was found guilty of one charge of fraudulent trading.

Last November the former mayor of Glastonbury, Edward James, 76, was jailed for three and a half years for his involvement in the fraud.

James was described as the 'number two' to his long-term friend Peter Benstead.

Susan Benstead was guilty of converting criminal property and handed a two year sentence suspended for two years.

Peter Benstead's son-in-law Roderick Schmidt, 47, was convicted of fraudulent trading, stealing more than 220,000 and false accounting.
911 calls from a Reno high school shooting describe the 'chaos' which ensued after a police officer shot a 14-year-old special needs student for wielding kitchen knives in the cafeteria.

Logan Clark is fighting for his life in hospital after being wounded on December 7 at Hug High School in Reno, Nevada.

The teenager was filmed waving kitchen knives at fellow students outside the cafeteria before being shot by a school district police officer in shocking footage.

He slashed one student in the face before being gunned down.

Reno Police is still investigating the incident to determine whether the officer was right to have shot Logan. The teenagers parents say there was no need for him to fire his gun at their son who they claim was being bullied for days before the incident.

On Thursday the department released 911 calls reporting the shooting including an initial report from a school police officer who described the situation as 'chaos' and a frantic call from a young female student who, after fleeing the scene, said: 'I'm about to throw up'.

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Logan Clarke was shot by a campus police officer after waving kitchen knives at fellow students outside the cafeteria at Hug High School in Reno, Nevada, on December 7

They also reveal for the first time how police initially suspected a Hispanic male who was seen running across campus 'carrying a gun' immediately after the shooting.

In the first call at 11.26am, a school police worker calling herself Laurie reported the incident.

'We have shots fired with a student down.' Explaining that she didn't know where the suspect was, she added: 'We've got chaos right now'.

Three minutes later, a distressed female student reported the incident according to records obtained by KOLO TV.

Panting as she recovered her composure after running from the scene, she said: 'There's a shooting at Hug High School, someone just got shot!'

'I'm about to throw up': Student's frantic call to 911 after shooting Student: 'There's a school shooting at hug high school.' Operator: 'Are you student there?' 'There's a shooting at hug high school someone just got shot!' 'OK. Where's the shooter at?' 'I don't know, I'm off the campus.' 'You don't know who did this?' 'The police are coming.' 'Where are you right now?' (coughs) 'I'm about to throw up' 'Do you need an ambulance?' 'Huh?' 'Do you need an ambulance?' 'No. I kept running' 'You're not injured are you?' 'No I'm fine' 'This happened in the cafeteria?' 'It happened outside of the cafeteria' 'You didn't see who did this?' 'No I didn't, I just saw someone fall to the floor' 'We do have lots of help on the way' Advertisement

In between questions from the operator, she said: 'I'm about to throw up'. The next call came from a terrified mother whose daughter texted her to tell her the school was in lockdown.

'I just received a text message from my daughter telling me the school was on a code red lockdown and it's not a drill,' she said.

At 11.32, less than 10 minutes after her first call, the school police officer told dispatch how they were hunting a 'Hispanic man' who they believed was armed with a gun.

'He's a Hispanic male, southbound on campus towards Trip. He's the one with the 32. Black glasses, black backpack, black shirt,' she said.

A 1032 in police terms refers to a man with a gun.

The same description was later given to highway patrol officers who called in to offer their help.

At no point was there mention made of any school district police officer who may have been involved in the shooting.

Reno Police Department was not available for comment on Friday morning. The school district police office reverted any questions to the city's police.

Logan remains in hospital. He suffered a stroke after being admitted after the incident.

The 14-year-old was placed in an induced coma in hospital and has suffered a stroke since the incident

Logan's mother Cheryl Pitchford (above protesting at the police station after the shooting) says there was no need for the officer to fire his gun

'ARMED HISPANIC MALE' SUSPECT WEARING GLASSES AND A BACKPACK HUNTED After receiving the first reports of the incident, dispatch police issued a description of an armed Hispanic male who was seen running across campus after the shooting. In a call to operators at 11.32am, a school district police worker issued the first description. A transcript is below: Police officer: 'I have a description of our possible suspect ' Operator: 'OK. The outstanding suspect?' 'Yes.' 'OK Go ahead.' 'He's a Hispanic male, southbound on the campus towards Trip. He's the one that's with the 32. Black glasses, black backpack, black shirt.' 'We know what kind of 1032?' 'I do not.' The same description was later repeated twice; once by the same female officer and once by a dispatcher advising Highway Patrol. Asked if they should attend to assist, the dispatcher told Highway Patrol officers: ' I think we're pretty good. I got damn near every one of our guys heading up there plus Washoe County, they're locking down the school. 'They have one outstanding suspect, a Hispanic male that was armed with a gun, had a black backpack, running towards Trip across the hug high campus, currently running in a south east direction 'If you have troopers up that way if you guys wanna check the area.' Advertisement

On Thursday his mother ranted on Facebook about the police's handling of the case, claiming that excessive force had been used.

'Our so-called protectors have a duty to set an example themselves. When there is an out of control child, police have a legal and moral duty to subdue rather than shoot to kill or maim.

' What this boy needs most now are nurturing and the government's protection from the violence of bullies. So government has failed in two ways. First by harming him, and second by not protecting him in the first place,' she said.

'You don't shoot kids. You don't shoot our kids. That should be a last resort if any resort.'

Logan's father Justin previously told how he had brought the knives to school to arm himself against bullies.

'My son wasn't just some knife-wielding psychopath. It felt like he wanted to make sure he wasn't beat up and robbed,' he told Today.

He said Logan was reacting to having been hit in the face by an older, larger child, when he produced the knives.

'He just doesn't want to be attacked anymore,' he said.
North Korea sells fake and real US products and also has produced its own version of Coke called Cocoa

He says he has met Americans during his

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Fascinating photographs from inside North Korea have revealed how despite being sworn enemies with America, the country actually loves their consumer goods.

French photographer, Eric Lafforgue, has traveled to the communist enclave on numerous occasions to take spellbinding images of the secretive state.

Now he has written about how during his visits he has met Americans touring the sights of the hermit nation despite the US being considered the country's number one enemy.

The Worker's Party blames the Americans for starting the Korean war which cut the peninsula into two factions - North and South Korea.

The heated tensions between the separated nations show no sign of abating 50 years after the war but Americans are surprisingly allowed to visit the country.

'I met many American tourists during my 6 trips, and most of them were surprised as they were well welcomed by the guides and locals alike,' said Lafforgue.

'It was a far cry from the aggressive propaganda and menacing official statements issued by the regime.'

Shoot, bang, fire! A tourist pretends to shoot from the USS Pueblo - a naval ship captured by North Korean forces in 1968 in the Sea of Japan. The ship still sits proudly in Pyongyang's harbor and most scheduled tours of the country involve a stop off at the ship. 'The guide on the boat explains that the US soldiers wrote letters of apology,' said Lafforgue

A schoolgirl with a Mickey Mouse fan smiles for a photo. Many of the Western products are cheap imitations or are imported from China

Despite relentless anti-US rhetoric in North Korea, the country sells both real and fake American products. Above is the wrapper of a bottle of Ryongjin or 'Cocoa' the North Korean version of Coca Cola. However tourists who have tried the drink have commented that although cheap it tastes like flat coke kept out in the sunlight for hours

Although the internet is heavily restricted in North Korea, computers are available to use in universities while smart phone ownership has surged in recent years. Lafforgue was shocked when he saw computers running on Microsoft's Windows

A shop keeper in the country's showcase capital Pyongyang shows off her brightly-coloured goods. While holidaying in North Korea American visitors cannot leave their hotel without their designated tour guides and are taken to a select number of attractions

A cyclist pedals through a puddle laden street in Pyongyang. Frenchman Lafforgue has traveled to North Korea six times and says Americans have more travel restrictions when in the country than other visitors. 'The Americans were allowed to go everywhere except the homestays in the Chilbo area where tourists sleep in (carefully selected) local farmers seaside homes. There was no explanation given, just an it is not possible,' he said.

Anti-American propaganda shows troops on fire. 'Most of the propaganda posters depicting North Korea's hatred of the USA have been removed from the streets. Photographing the only such billboard I saw during my stay in Pyongyang was not easy as the guides always found an excuse not to stop the bus. ''too much traffic,'' they said, on an empty road,' Lafforgue said

'The only posters against USA I could find were in kindergartens and the old amusement park where people were shooting at mannequins dressed as US soldiers for fun,' he added. Above shows an American and Japanese soldier getting stabbed through their stomachs. Japan exercised colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945-the end of the WWII

An American troop is smashed by a North Korean fist in one of the few propaganda posters in Pyongyang. 'I was once having a conversation with an American citizen at a restaurant. My guide told me to end it, explaining that ''he is a fox, a spy.'' The North Koreans use the symbol of the fox, a dangerous, crafty animal, to represent Americans. When I asked why they allow Americans to enter the country if they are spies, he answered, ''well, they pay a lot of money,'' said the photographer

A soldier powers through the streets with a propaganda sign of Kim Il-sung in the background. Kim Il-sung was the first leader of North Korea and despite dying in 1994 he remains the country's eternal leader

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton who visited the country in 2009 described the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the two Koreas as 'the scariest place on Earth.' North and South Korea, which are technically still at war as no peace treaty was signed in 1953

North Korea claims to have recovered after going through a dreadful famine in the mid 1990s which was caused by a drop in Soviet Union support and economic mismanagement by Pyongyang

A female army officer strokes a dog in the street. Mandatory service in the country's 1.19-million-strong military already stands at 10 years, and is the longest conscription period in the world. Regulations put in place in 2015 forced women aged between 17 and 20 to join the service but they can leave aged 23
LINCOLN  A legislative committee called Thursday for tough funding decisions to be made to get the Department of Corrections back on track after years of neglect.

The Department of Correctional Services Special Investigative Committee issued 33 recommendations that Chairwoman Patty Pansing Brooks said were essential to addressing the chronic and systemwide challenges in the department.

At the same time, prisons Director Scott Frakes issued a progress report on the Department of Correctional Services' accomplishments in the past 23 months, since he took over leadership of the prisons, and said he is "very, very" optimistic about 2017.

The foundations for improvement are built, the department has a plan, and a "really good" budget request for the next two years has been offered up, Frakes said.

Everything that has been accomplished happened at the same time the department was trying to recover from past catastrophes, in sentence miscalculations and too-early inmate releases, and then new catastrophes, including a prison riot with deaths, an escape of two inmates and a spike in staff assaults.

"To have accomplished everything in this (progress) report and managed through all of those things, I'm incredibly proud of the people that I work with. Amazing work, phenomenal people," he said.

It was the investigative committee's role, after 10 hearings on topics covering staffing, crowding, mental health treatment, programs for inmates and solitary confinement, to note the challenges with which prisons continue to struggle.

Those challenges continue to create serious barriers to the well-being of correctional officers, the successful rehabilitation of inmates, and the public safety of communities, said Pansing Brooks.

The prisons have lacked sufficient funding for many years, she said, which has led to understaffing, low morale, inadequate programming and mental health care.

"Getting the department back to where it needs to be will require significant resources in the next legislative session and beyond," she said. "Our state can no longer be balanced on the back of corrections cuts."

The question remains how much of the needed funding will be available with a $900 million projected revenue shortfall for the next two-year budget.

Significant problems that remain include high staff vacancies and turnover, inmate crowding and inadequate programs to ensure than men and women gain skills and rehabilitation to become eligible for parole and able to make progress when they return to their communities, said committee member Sen. Kate Bolz.

Action is needed both by the governor's administration and the Legislature to implement the recommendations of the committee and stabilize the system as quickly as possible, she said.

Frakes said in an interview Thursday morning that in October and November there was a slight decrease in turnover. And recent salary increases will help the department expand the prisons' hiring pool.

"The numbers for starting wages I do feel now are very competitive within most of the markets, if not all of markets, here in Nebraska," he said. "So slow down the turnover, maximum number of people graduating from academy, we should make some good headway in terms of reducing those vacancies."

Highlights of the committee's recommendations included:

 Fully fund budget requests by the Corrections Department.

 Convene a group of attorneys to conduct a review of the Nebraska criminal code to address the numbers of people being sent to prison, which leads to crowding. The group should report its recommendations for changes by September 2018.

 Implement an effort to retain and recruit mental health and substance abuse staff and include increased wages, improved working conditions and a partnership with the Behavioral Health Education Network of Nebraska.

Frakes said after losing several psychologists in recent months, the department hired three psychologists in the past two weeks, and one or two more may be added soon. That would cut the number of vacancies in critical behavioral health areas in half.

And new medical director, Dr. Harbans Deol, will begin Jan. 3.

 Address grouping inmates with mental illness, and those with other needs, and ensure restrictive housing rules and regulations meet American Bar Association standards.

The absence of appropriate mental health care results in overuse of restrictive housing, or solitary confinement, the committee said. And inmates without proper treatment are more likely to reoffend, which affects public safety and exacerbates prison crowding.

Frakes' progress report said a new veterans' housing unit and a faith-based unit will be added at the prisons.

The committee report said the state is at risk of a lawsuit before 2020, even if the prisons' population is below 140 percent of design capacity within the next four years, because the focus of overcrowding litigation is on overall conditions of confinement. Capacity was at 157.6 percent in September.

The committee also said that until understaffing issues are resolved, the department should increase capacity as little as possible, and not build new facilities.

Take a closer look at the $75 million Residential Treatment Center being planned, the committee said, before moving forward with brick-and-mortar expansion.

A 100-bed unit will increase capacity at Community Corrections Center-Lincoln by September, and a second project will provide 160 more beds and programming spaces by February 2019.

Frakes said he will continue to aggressively push for a Reception and Treatment Center that combines the Lincoln Correctional Center and Diagnostic Center into one facility. This project, which is important to the department's mission, he said, addresses needs of seriously mentally ill inmates and improves intake, medical and food service areas with up-to-date spaces.

Pansing Brooks said the department should focus on the overcrowding issue and the vicious circle that is created when inmates can't complete needed programming -- because of lack of staff and space -- to qualify for parole. If they are discharged without programming and resources, they end up back in prison.

"All of this relates to a lack of sufficient resources ... to deal with the programming, to help people at the point of their parole," she said. "Even if you build another giant prison they are then going to have the same problems about programming."
Children in England are less fat than they were last year but almost half of primary school children in some parts of the country like London are still too heavy, according to official NHS data. Nationally, only one in 10 youngsters are now obese by the time they start Reception, compared to one in seven in the year Covid struck. Obesity rates also dropped in Year 6, with the proportion too fat falling to just one in five, compared to one in four last year. While obesity rates dropped compared to last year, the NHS Digital report revealed English children are still too fat compared to pre-pandemic. Shockingly almost half of Year 6 children in some parts of the country, like areas of London and Birmingham, are now obese. While obesity rates have been climbing for years, they shot up last year sparking alarm among childhood health experts. There were the Covid lockdowns had stopped children from exercising in public spaces like parks and disrupted PE lessons in schools, leading them to pile on the But NHS Digital has decided to stop calling children who are too fat obese or severely obese. Instead, the health service's data body has opted to refer to such children as those who are 'living with obesity' or 'living with severe obesity'. Health experts criticised the 'clumsy politically correct terminology' as trying to frame obesity as an 'affliction' rather than something people can change.
Demarkus Bush, 34, was arrested for public assault and intoxication

This is the disturbing moment a man dropped his pants and urinated on a woman sleeping on the ground at a Tennessee airport.

Demarkus Bush, 34, was caught on a surveillance camera stumbling through Memphis International Airport on Thursday before relieving himself inches away from a woman.

Bush, who told officials he downed several alcoholic drinks before arriving at the airport, was arrested for public assault and intoxication, according to WMCA.

Video footage of the horrifying incident shows Bush getting up from the ground and staggering through the waiting area of the airport before the security checkpoint.

Bush seemingly ran into a wall twice, stumbling backwards each time before he hobbled towards the woman who was was fast asleep under a row of chairs.

He can be seen lifting up his shirt and pulling down his pants before urinating on the ground just inches away from the woman's head.

Demarkus Bush, 34, (pictured) was seen stumbling through Memphis International Airport on Thursday before relieving himself over a woman sleeping under a row of chairs (right)

He can be seen in surveillance footage lifting up his shirt and pulling down his pants before relieving himself on the ground just inches away from the woman's head

As Bush staggered out of the frame, an airport employee appeared with a mop and woke the woman up.

She told police she was fine, although she did want to clean her coat.

Police arrested Bush, who they said was slurring his words and speaking loudly, WMCA reported.

He can be seen in the surveillance video sitting in a chair with his arms cuffed behind him, before falling to the ground and appearing to argue with police before he was hoisted to his feet and taken into custody.

Bush, who posted $1,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court on December 27.

As Bush staggered out of the frame, an airport employee appeared with a mop and woke the woman up
Ousted: Daytona Beach Deputy City Manager Gary Shimun, 60, tendered his resignation last Friday, two days after he allegedly came close to getting caught in a prostitution sting

A Florida deputy city manager has stepped down after investigators say he made an attempt to hire a female undercover officer posing as a prostitute for sex.

Daytona Beach Deputy City Manager Gary Shimun, 60, tendered his resignation last Friday, two days after the State Attorney's Officer launched an investigation into his alleged involvement in a sex sting.

According to a charging affidavit, Shimun, who is married, sent sexually explicit text messages to a sheriff's deputy and met up with her at a hotel with the intention of paying her for sex.

As of Friday morning, Shimun has not been charged with any crime. He could face a misdemeanor count of assignation under the prostitution statute, according to theDaytona Beach News-Journal.

The charging document states that it all started when the undercover sheriff's officer placed a classified ad under the 'escort' rubric of Backpage.com, inviting potential johns to 'come unwrap Santa's best present.'

The affidavit alleges the Shimun responded to the ad by sending the bogus escort several lewd texts. He also allegedly agreed to meet up with the woman for sex at a Daytona Beach Shores hotel.

Lure: An undercover sheriff's officer placed a classified ad under the 'escort' rubric of Backpage.com, inviting potential johns to 'come unwrap Santa's best present'

At the appointed hour, the 60-year-old assistant city manager arrived at the hotel room where he was met by the undercover female officer, who asked him to show her the money before they go any further, the affidavit state.

Shimun produced a handful of bills, but the fake escort questioned whether he had enough to pay for her services. That is when Shimun became suspicious and beat a hasty retreat back to his vehicle, according to the report.

Shimun was later pulled over by two police officers, but he refused to answer their questions and was allowed to continue on his way.

Gary Davidson, spokesman for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, explained that Gary Shimun was not arrested by the undercover deputy at the hotel because no money exchanged hands at that time.

Investigators later obtained the X-rated text messages that Shimun had allegedly sent to the undercover cop and filed the charging affidavit with the State Attorney's Office.

On December 16, Gary Shimun sent a letter to his boss, Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm, announcing his decision to step down from his post as deputy manager after two years.

In his letter, first obtained by HeadlineSurfer.com, Shimun writes, in part, that he plans to take some time to re-evaluate my commitment to the profession and to take some time to just be of service to myself.

Shimun, who is married, allegedly responded to the ad by sending the bogus escort several lewd texts. He also allegedly agreed to meet her at a hotel for sex

Shimun is pictured here in 2009 alongside a woman who is believed to be his spouse

He then goes on to say: 'our line of work is very stressful, and sometimes it makes sense to just step away for a while.'

Chisholm has accepted his deputy's resignation, which will go into effect after January 13.

A graduate of Northern Michigan University with a Bachelors degree in political science and the University of Akron with a Masters in urban planning, Shimun has been in city government for three decades first in Ohio, then in Michigan. Idaho, Montana and Florida, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Before he assumed the duties of deputy city manager in Daytona Beach, Shimun had worked as chief administrative officer in Plantation, Florida, for two years.
A hungry husband went upstairs to eat a snack in bed - and tragically choked to death on his cheese sandwich, an inquest has heard.

Married Martin Price, 29, had taken his lunch upstairs to his bed after telling his wife Victoria he was going for a midday lie down at their home in Stafford, Staffordshire.

But an inquest heard when he was checked on two hours later he was found lying face down, not breathing - with a piece of cheese sandwich stuck in his mouth.

The hearing in Cannock, Staffordshire, was told he was still clutching the other end of a cheese sandwich in his hand.

Martin Price, 29, took a cheese sandwich upstairs and he began eating it in his bed in Stafford

South Staffordshire coroner Margaret Jones was told an ambulance was called minutes later but tragically he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest heard Mr Price was a regular recreational drug user and that day - last August 11 - and a cocktail of drugs like heroin, quetiapine and lanzopen were found in his system.

The amount found in him was excessive but not fatal, but were enough to have suppressed his natural gag reflex which may have saved his life.

The hearing was told he had died from aspiration, breathing food into the lungs in this case, due to drug poisoning.

Recording a conclusion of drug-related death, South Staffordshire coroner Margaret Jones said: 'Martin had taken drugs but it was not the drugs alone that killed him.

'The effect of the drugs suppressed the gag reflex. It was the aspiration of the food which had caused his death.

'If he had not taken the drugs it is highly unlikely he would have aspirated.'

The court heard quetiapine is an anti-psychotic drug, while lanzopen is more commonly used to treat heartburn. Overdoses of them can cause drug-users to feel almost sedated.

He had been very isolated in his personal thoughts, had been living in Stone, Staffordshire, and been receiving treatment at St George's Hospital in Stafford (pictured)

PC Paul Smith said Mr Price's wife Victoria Price told police the couple had been married for three years and had been together for 10 years after meeting at college.

But Mr Price had become unemployed in 2013 after receiving an injury to his finger while working as a laser operator.

She said he had been very isolated in his personal thoughts, had been living in Stone, Staffordshire, and been receiving treatment at St George's Hospital in Stafford.

Health records showed Mr Price had been using heroin and crack cocaine and had been diagnosed with an unstable personality disorder.

The court heard the couple's relationship had been strained but had recently improved and he had been staying with his wife at her home in Stafford.

Mrs Price said in the early hours before his death, her husband had driven off to buy drugs and had used her bank card to draw out 200.

When he had returned he said he was going to bed and had taken with him a cheese sandwich.

Rachel Jones, a care support worker who assisted wheelchair-bound spina bifida-sufferer Mrs Price, said she was at the house that day when she popped up to check on him at 2.40pm.

Ms Jones found him lying face down on the bed and she could see he was holding a cheese sandwich and a bit of it was sticking out of his mouth.
Boyfriend charged: David Schmidinger, 38, from upstate New York, has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of his Canadian girlfriend, Michelle Paterson

A man from upstate New York is accused of murdering his Canadian girlfriend by beating her with a brick and strangling her in a hotel room, then calling police to report the killing.

Police in Syracuse say David Schmidinger, 38, called 911 at around 11am on Thursday from a street in the city, told a dispatcher he had killed his girlfriend and was waiting for police.

Police Chief Frank Fowler says when officers responded to the call, Schmidinger directed them to the nearby Hampton Inn on Erie Boulevard, where police discovered the body of 44-year-old Michelle Paterson, of Brampton, Ontario.

According to investigators, Paterson was in town visiting Schmidinger and had arrived in Syracuse Tuesday.

Police say Schmidinger, from nearby Baldwinsville, had a long on-again, off-again relationship with Paterson.

Crime scene: Police say Schmidinger confessed to the killing and led officers to Paterson's body in this Hampton Inn hotel in Syracuse

According to a criminal complaint cited by Syracuse.com, Schmidinger and Paterson were in a hotel room at around 9.15am on Thursday when he bashed her in the head with a brick and then strangled her.

Paterson's cause of death has been determined to be blunt force trauma and strangulation.

On Friday, David Schmidinger appeared in Syracuse court for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. A judge granted his lawyer's request for psychiatric evaluations.

Defense attorney Ralph Cognetti suggested that his client may be suffering from a mental illness and does not entirely understand what happened on Thursday.
Kimberley James, 35, received an award after saving a mother from

Shaun Keen died weeks after finding his girlfriend Kimberley James' (pictured) body

A policeman who competed for Great Britain in triathlons was found dead just weeks after he discovered the body of his policewoman girlfriend.

Devon and Cornwall Police officer Shaun 'Keano' Keen, who was described as a 'proud' family man, died on August 7, aged 49. His family paid tribute to him but would not release details of how he died.

PC Keen's death emerged at the inquest into his girlfriend, PC Kimberley James, who was found hanged at her home in July. Her boyfriend was the one to discover her body.

PC James' inquest was held in Truro on Wednesday.

It was revealed in the inquest that the heroic police officer killed herself after she battled with the stresses of her job and personal life.

Senior coroner Emma Carlyon returned an open conclusion at the hearing - saying evidence that she intended to take her own life was lacking.

The inquest heard that Mr Keen, who worked for Devon and Cornwall Police for 27 years, had left PC James' home following an argument the evening before her death.

He returned in the morning to find she had been hanged. Her family arrived soon after.

Devon and Cornwall Police officer Shaun 'Keano' Keen, who was described as a 'proud' family man, died on August 7, aged 49.

Mother-of-two PC James, who policed at Falmouth and then Truro, was described in the inquest as a 'naturally charismatic' athlete.

It was also revealed that she had asked to be taken off of frontline policing due to stress and felt the force's management was 'out to get her'.

The inquest heard she battled with relationship and financial issues at the time of her death but was thought to be getting better.

Ms James (pictured) was found dead in her home following concerns that she was not answering her phone

Mr Keen, of Plymouth, left behind his wife, Elaine Keen, 52, and their daughter, Bethany.

He previously worked as a detective sergeant based at Newquay police station in 2011 and more recently he worked in Plymouth.

The inquest heard PC James battled with relationship and financial issues at the time of her death

He was originally from Camborne and is believed to have attended Pool Comprehensive School.

A tribute read at the time of his death read: 'Shaun spent 27 years as a serving police officer with the Devon and Cornwall Police service.

'During that time he held various roles and was made a sergeant in 1999. This new position was challenging and very fulfilling.

'He was a positive individual and any task set he achieved with dedication and total professionalism.

'Shaun was a family man who worshipped his daughter. He also enjoyed watching and playing a variety of sports.

'He was a very proud man and will be sadly missed by all the family. Rest in peace.'

He had started doing triathlons in 2004 and competed in Iron Man events, won the South West British Triathlon Association Age Group race series and secured sponsorship with TriUK, which is the world's largest triathlon store.

Things had become so bad she had asked to be taken off frontline policing after being moved from Falmouth to Truro (pictured)

Mr Keen was a dedicated triathlete who even went to China to compete at an event.

His funeral was held at Treswithian Downs Crematorium, Camborne, on August 25.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on August 17. A date for the full inquest is yet to be set.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has written President-elect Donald Trump a letter with 'Christmas and New Year greetings' that also calls for strong bilateral cooperation in global affairs.

Trump's transition sent out the letter, quoting Trump as calling it a 'very nice letter from Vladimir Putin'  on a day when he and Putin were engaging in long-distance rhetoric about a potential nuclear arms race.

'His thoughts are so correct. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path,' Trump said in a statement.

Putin's letter offers warm personal greetings, as well as a call for acting together in a 'constructive and pragmatic manner.'

Trump called throughout his campaign for better relations with Russia, and he must decide within months of taking office whether to extend economic sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has written Donald Trump with 'Christmas and New Year greetings' and a call for bilateral cooperation

'Dear Mr. Trump, Please accept my warmest Christmas and New Year greetings,' Putin begins, in a letter dated December 15, a document that refers to the president-elect as 'His Excellency.'

'Serious global and regional challenges, which our countries have to face in recent years, show that the relations between Russia and the U.S. remain an important factor in ensuring stability and security of the modern world,' Putin continued.

'I hope that after you assume the position of the President of the United States of America we will be able  by acting in a constructive and pragmatic manner - to take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.'

'Please accept my sincere wishes to you and your family of sound health, happiness, wellbeing, success and all the best,' Putin concludes.

Among other things, Trump has called for joint U.S.-Russian efforts against ISIS. Russia has been aiding Syria's President Bashar Assad's military, which has overrun rebel forces in Aleppo in recent weeks.

Trump sent out Putin's letter Friday, even as the two leaders traded rhetoric about nuclear arms. He called it a 'very nice letter from Vladimir Putin'

Putin called for 'bilateral cooperation'

Trump raised the stakes on a potential new nuclear buildup Friday morning, telling MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski that he would welcome a costly new nuclear buildup if rival nations want to try to match the United States.

Trump's incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, appeared on MNSBC's 'Morning Joe' to defend Trump's unexpected and tweet on Thursday that the U.S. should 'expand its nuclear capability.'

During a commercial break for the show, Spicer put Trump on the phone with cohost Mika Brzezinski. When the show was back on the air, cohost Joe Scarborough asked Brzezinski what Trump had told her.

'The president-elect told you what?' asked cohost Joe Scarborough.

'Let it be an arms race, we will outmatch them at every pass,' Trump responded.

'And outlast them all,' Scarborough interjected.

'And outlast them all,' Brzezinski responded.'

Both hosts were wearing pajamas during the broadcast in keeping with the upcoming holiday season.

Trump took heat during the presidential campaign for his frequent praise of Putin, including hailing him as a stronger leader than President Obama, and his failure to condemn Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria.

The U.S. and allied nations imposed economic sanctions on Moscow following the country's incursion into Crimea.

Russia featured prominently in the elections, with U.S. intelligence agencies saying Russia was behind hacking of Democrats and Democratic groups, and the CIA reportedly saying the purpose of the hacks was to benefit Trump.

President-elect Donald Trump appeared to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin by saying the U.S. should have more nukes 'until such time as the world comes to its senses'

Trump suggested Thursday that the country needed more nuclear weapons.

'The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes,' Trump tweeted from his Mar-a-Lago resort, just a day after meeting key Pentagon leaders, some of whom are charged with overseeing the nation's nukes.

The comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his own country needed more nuclear weapons.

'We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems,' Putin said in a speech recapping Russia's 2016 military activities.

YULETIDE PERIL: MSNBC Cohost Mika Brzenski revealed Trump's about a new nuclear arms rae on Friday's episode of 'Morning Joe'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual news conference in Moscow that Trump's comment was 'nothing special'

The United States has 7,100 nuclear weapons, while Russia has 7,300, according to the Arms Control Association, a U.S.-based nonpartisan group.

President Obama has called for cuts in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, while also calling for upgrades to U.S. nukes that critics say could cost up to $1 trillion.

Spicer, who is set to take over as Trump's press secretary when he becomes president on January 20, predicted there wouldn't actually be an arms race 'because other countries would come to their senses.'

'Countries need to understand that if they  if they expand their nuclear capabilities this president is not going to sit back, he's going to act,' Spicer said, in his first televised interview since being named press secretary.

Asked whether he was specifically talking about Russia, Spicer mentioned 'a couple of countries.'

'There's a few countries around the globe, Russia being one of them, and China and others that have talked about increasing their nuclear capabilities,' he said.

'I think the president-elect's point is unless these guys come to their senses and recognize that this is not a smart move. Increasing the nuclear stockpile around the globe is not good for anybody,' Spicer said.

He resisted suggestions that Trump's comments were a reaction to Putin, saying they were instead 'putting every nation on notice that the United States is going to reassert its position in the globe.'

Incoming Trump communications director Jason Miller released a statement Thursday saying, 'President-elect Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable rogue regimes.'

Miller said Trump has 'emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength.'

President-elect Trump's incoming press secretary, spoke about Trump's arm race tweet before Brzezinski revealed Trump's off-air comment

Donald Trump called for more nuclear weapons, following remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin that suggested a similar uptick in weaponry

Trump also had some of the nation's most powerful and profitable defense contractors on their toes with a tweet Thursday about the F-35 aircraft, which Trump has called wasteful.

'Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!' Trump wrote, mentioning the major defense contractor by name.

The F/A-18 is made by rival Boeing, and is a mainstay of Naval aviation. The F-35 is to be a joint strike fighter capable of meeting the needs of multiple services, but has led to ballooning costs.

The F-35 is intended to be the next generation fighter jet, meant to keep the U.S. a step ahead of rivals in terms of stealth, firepower, and other capabilities.

NUCLEAR WINTER: The discussion of life-and-death arms proliferation came during a pre-holiday episdoe where hosts Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough were in their pijamas

Putin said Friday he was surprised by the statements from the Trump team, and didn't dispute that the U.S. was the world's most powerful nation.

I was a bit surprised by the statements from some representatives of the current U.S. administration who for some reason started to prove that the U.S. military was the most powerful in the world,' Putin said, Reuters reported.

'Nobody is arguing with that.'

Putin said Trump's statement about nukes  which lit up the internet right before the holidays in the U.S.  was 'nothing special.'

'He (Trump) spoke during his election campaign about the need to beef up the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the armed forces,' said Putin.

Trump's words are in sharp contrast to what President Obama hoped to be his own legacy  lowering the number of nuclear weapons in the world.

Within the first 90 days of Obama's administration, the young Democratic leader set goals for reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the world speaking to a crowd in Prague's Hradcany Square.

His aim, the Democrat said, was 'to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.'

However, when the Washington Post examined his record seven years later, journalists found it mixed.

Obama's Iran deal was a success, though politically problematic, with Republicans threatening its existence as the new administration comes on board.

The president had convinced about a quarter of the countries with loose nuclear materials to move those off their soil.

Additionally, along with Russia, Obama signed a new START treaty that included new weapons limits.

But the president also proposed, as part of the fiscal 2017 budget, deep cuts to spending on programs to stop nuclear proliferation.

On the flip side, military funding was left intact that allowed spending on a new generation of weapons.

'Presidents George W. Bush and Obama both noted during their campaigns that the United States and Russia are still postured on what they call a hair trigger,' former Sen. Sam Nunn told the Post in March 2016.

He had previously sponsored Senate legislation that would get the United States to assist Russia in securing its nuclear materials.

'We still have the ability to destroy each other in 30 minutes to an hour's time,' Nunn said. 'Both of them said they would improve that, and as far as I can tell, neither has.'

With these latest statements, it's more apparent that under new American leadership, neither will.

Trump was criticized over the course of his campaign for being a foreign policy amateur.

He shook up long held views on America's nuclear umbrella by saying on Fox News that Japan and South Korea should get nuclear weapons of their own, to defend themselves from the North Koreans who continually threaten U.S. allies in Asia.

Trump later retracted that statement.

In August, Trump's former buddy, television host Joe Scarborough revealed that the Republican nominee had asked a foreign policy expert why the United States couldn't use its nuclear weapons.

'Three times he asked at one point if we had them why can't we use them,' Scarborough said on his Morning Joe program.

Trump's campaign smacked down the Scarborough anecdote as a lie.
A fascinating new map has offered an insight into the collective psyche of residents in each of America's fifty states.

The map uses Google data to reveal the burning questions on the minds of American's in a state-by-state analysis.

Google Trends has regularly offered a strangely illuminating glimpse into what is on Americans' minds, and the data from 2016 is no exception.

The housing app Estately dug into the data and analyzed what individuals in each state across the U.S. disproportionately typed into Google's search bar, compared to their counterparts in other states.

The map shows what individuals in each state across the U.S. disproportionately typed into Google's search bar

The resulting map is not a measure of the most Googled questions across America, but rather a look at the unique deviations between states in what users are looking up.

In Alabama people wanted to know about author Harper Lee

Montana residents wanted to learn about Cupping therapy; people in Virginia wanted to see the Chardonnay Go! viral video; and in Massachusetts they wanted to know actor Robert De Niro's views on President-elect Donald Trump.

In Alabama, people wanted to know about Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird who died this year; and in New York people were concerned with the Panama Papers - the millions of leaked documents that detail financial and attorneyclient information for more than 200,000 offshore entities worldwide.

While in Georgia, people googled 'New Comey Letter', after the FBI director reopened the inquiry into Hillary Clinton's email server, and 'Harriet Tubman', the anti-slavery icon chosen to adorn new $20 bills.

In Missouri people were keen to find out more about McDonald's all day breakfast

People across the country searched for dead famous people, including David Bowie

Hungry Googlers in Missouri were keen to read more about McDonald's all day breakfast, a big move announced by the fast food chain in 2016; and in New Mexico people wanted to read up on Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for president in 2016 who won zero electoral votes, and they were also keen to find out more about Mars.

In Vermont, music icon David Bowie, who died in January, was the name on everybody's keyboards, and people in the state also wanted to see 'Orlando Bloom naked'; while stargazers in Hawaii wanted to know more about the Supermoon.

Although the subjects were many and varied, there were some unifying features.

Words and phrases related to the election, somewhat unsurprisingly, featured heavily. As well as 'Donald Trump' and 'Hillary Clinton' there were more niche searches, such as in Alaska, where people searched 'Pizzagate', wanting to know more about the debunked John Podesta email conspiracy theory.

Prince was one of the most Googled subjects in his home state of Minnesota

The theory speculated that the Clinton campaign chairman's emails, released by WikiLeaks, was sending covert messages about a human trafficking ring tied to a pizzeria in Washington, DC.

Death was also a common theme, with people across the country looking up dead famous people including David Bowie, Prince, and Muhammed Ali.

I was perhaps no surprise that in his home state of Minnesota, Prince's name was on those most often typed into the search bar.
Former British ambassador to Syria Peter Ford, pictured on the BBC, said David Cameron had taken the wrong stance on Syria and made the situation worse

Britain's policy on Syria has been 'wrong every step of the way' and made the situation worse, the country's former ambassador to Damascus has claimed.

Peter Ford, who served in the role from 2003 to 2007, said David Cameron had taken the wrong stance from the beginning of the crisis.

The former diplomat said Mr Cameron should either have been prepared to commit British forces onto the battlefield or refrained from 'encouraging the opposition to mount a doomed campaign which has only led to hundreds of thousands of civilians being made or killed'.

'We have made the situation worse,' he said.

'It was eminently foreseeable to anyone who was not intoxicated with wishful thinking.

'The British Foreign Office, to which I used to belong, I'm sorry to say has got Syria wrong every step of the way.

'They told us at the beginning that Assad's demise was imminent. They told us he would be gone by Christmas - they didn't tell us which Christmas so they could still be proven correct - but then they told us that the opposition was dominated by these so-called moderates, that proved not to be the case.

'Now they are telling us another big lie, that Assad can't control the rest of the country. Well, I've got news for them, he is well on the way to doing so.'

The Syrian regime took full control of Aleppo on Thursday for the first time in four years after the last opposition fighters and civilians were taken out of the war-torn eastern districts in buses.

David Cameron should have either made a full military intervention in Syria or steered clear of the war, Mr Ford said

Mr Ford said Assad's forces would need to consolidate their hold on Aleppo and defend against possible counter-attacks.

'However this is a time to welcome the fact that there is now a Christmas tree in the central square of Aleppo - there wouldn't be any Christmas tree if the other side had won,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today.

There has been widespread condemnation of the Assad regime, backed by Russia and Iran, over the bombardment of Aleppo but Mr Ford said similar attacks were being carried out in the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and in the conflict in Yemen without the West raising concerns.

Mr Cameron should have committed to the fight against President Bashar al-Assad (pictured) and has succeeded only in making things worse, Mr Ford said

Mr Ford said: 'I think we are very selective in our indignation about the Aleppo campaign. Similar bombing is going on in Mosul and in Yemen and we give the people there a pass.

'We don't talk about atrocities, we don't talk about war crimes although they are indisputably being committed in both those theatres. We don't talk about genocide, holocaust.

'We will be lucky if those campaigns end with the green buses - there were no green buses in Gaza, there were no green buses after the Nato bombing in Yugoslavia. I think we need to give the (Syrian) government a little bit of credit for what has been a relatively peaceful end to this terrible period.'
Police shot Stanley Eversol who aimed his crossbow (pictured) at them when they arrived at his house in Palm Harbor

A Florida man was shot and killed by police after pointing his crossbow at officers because he was angry his girlfriend didn't take him on vacation.

Stanley Eversol died in hospital on Thursday after the incident at his house in Palm Harbor, Florida.

The 55-year-old had been threatening his girlfriend, 53-year-old Lora Richter, with his crossbow for days before hand.

When police were called to the house by the daughter of one Ms Richter's friends, they found Eversol carrying the weapon.

They shot him 'three to four times' when he pointed in their direction and was taken to hospital where he later died.

Describing the incident in a press conference, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said police were lucky not to have been harmed.

Eversol was angry that his girlfriend had decided to take a girlfriend with her on a European vacation she won, Gualtieri said.

For days he had been threatening her with his crossbow and said he would harm her if she called police.

On Thursday night, Ms Richter was texting a friend but stopped suddenly, prompting the friend to send her daughter round to the couple's house to check on her.

When the daughter arrived, she saw Eversol walking around the front yard with the crossbow in his hand and called police.

' When deputies arrived at the residence, they made contact with Richter who had just returned home,' a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office statement said.

'While speaking with Richter outside the residence, one deputy went to the backyard and peered through a window at the home.

Eversol had been threatening his girlfriend with the weapon for days at their shared home (above)

'Deputies observed Eversole inside the residence with a crossbow in his hand. The crossbow was cocked with an arrow in it.'

He then exited the house and aimed the crossbow at Corporal Casey Hunter and Deputy Brian Sudbrink, the officers on the scene.

'Fearing that the deputy's lives were in danger, Corporal Hunter and Deputy Sudbrink both fired their semi-automatic rifles multiple times, striking Eversole three to four times.

'Eversole was transported to Bayfront Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The first time Ken Boettcher flew home on a plane filled with Vietnam vets, they landed in Seattle and walked into a gauntlet of protesters.

They called the soldiers baby killers, he said. Rapists. They spit on them.

The second time he flew home on a plane filled with Vietnam vets, returning to Omaha after an honor flight to Washington, D.C., in June, they were greeted with applause from an estimated 5,000 well-wishers. And with respect.

It was a totally different homecoming for us this time. You had 500 crying Vietnam veterans. Happy tears.

The long day left an impression on Boettcher. Hed been to Washington before, and hed visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, but there was something profound about this trip, about reading the names of those who fought and didnt make it home while surrounded by hundreds of men who fought and did.

You look at that wall with other vets, and its a totally different experience.

The Boyd County farmer wanted to help others to share that experience, so he and area vets who took the trip organized a fundraiser to help pay for the next flight.

They scheduled a soup supper in Spencer. They collected prizes to auction, including a double bale fork, mineral feeder and 80-acre aerial spraying. They booked the school choir to sing patriotic songs.

And on Veterans Day, nearly 400 people -- almost the population of the town -- poured into the community hall and raised nearly $40,000, three to four times what Boettcher expected.

We just appreciated being able to go last June, he said. And we thought it would be a great deal for some other people to go.

The organizers can use the money -- they just added another jet, making the May 1 trip the biggest yet. Four flights will leave Omaha long before the sun rises, carrying 620 Vietnam vets from Nebraska on a free trip to tour the nation's war monuments and memorials. They'll return to a welcome-home ceremony at the Lincoln airport.

It's not cheap. Add everything up, and the trip will cost about $900 per veteran, said organizers Bill and Evonne Williams. That includes $86,500 for each jet, and the cost to charter 16 buses for vets and volunteers in Washington and 10 buses back in Nebraska for spouses, who will be treated to a day of homefront activities, and all of the food, color-coded jackets and hats.

So the Omaha couple is grateful for the $38,000 from Boyd County, and the $5,500 raised by Guardian Angels Central Catholic High School in West Point, and the $3,325 collected in Lindsay.

These little towns, they get behind something and they go at it, Bill Williams said.

It also helps when a company like Lincoln's Sandhills Publishing pledges to pay for an entire plane, he said.

The couple has been finding money to orchestrate honor flights since 2008, taking 2,600 vets from World War II, Korea and Vietnam to the country's capital. But the trip in May is their last, Williams said.

This is it, he said. The final mission.

And demand is high. They've received 700 applications so far, more than they can carry. For the June trip, they took only vets who saw combat in Vietnam. For this one, they're placing a priority on combat service but will take those who served other roles in Vietnam during the war.

They have a crack at it, Williams said. But if they kept the enemy out of Topeka, Kansas, theyre not going.

As they did earlier this year, the couple enlisted the help of two combat vets and Nebraska attorneys -- James Martin Davis in Omaha and Jim Cada in Lincoln -- to sort through applications and determine the roster.

We're not qualified, Williams said. But they can sit there and look at battalions and units and that kind of thing. They could decide rather quickly if they go in the good pile or the bad pile.

The lawyers are studying discharge papers and other documents to make sure eligible applicants actually served in Vietnam.

Our main goal is to make sure they were there, Cada said. And that they served during war time.

Cada, who took the trip to Washington in June, has another goal: To convince Vietnam veterans about the power of an honor flight.

Like Boettcher from Boyd County, he'd been to the memorial wall before. And like Boettcher, he was moved by experiencing it with others who understood.

To see the wall with all of your fellow Vietnam veterans, it was really an emotional feeling, he said. You got to bond with guys you didnt even know, but there's that special bond you have with other veterans.

And there was something even more powerful when he stepped off the return flight to Nebraska, and was welcomed home by 5,000 people.

Which we didn't have when we came back, of course, he said. I was crying, I was laughing, I was smiling. I just had so much emotion. Im so glad I went.
Richard Hogh, 27, went for a pantless joyride at the Orlando airport

A pantless Canadian man arrested after driving a baggage-towing vehicle across the tarmac at Orlando International Airport on Friday, authorities said.

United Airlines employees had barred 27-year-old Richard Hogh,from boarding his flight to Canada via Chicago because he was behaving erratically, according to airport officials.

Hogh's odd behavior began when he boarded flight United flight 272 but sat in a seat first-class seat that wasn't his, police said.

He told the crew he was a pilot and demanded he be seated in the jump seat, records show.

Hogh was eventually escorted out of the flight.

Hogh's odd behavior began when he boarded flight United flight 272 but sat in a seat first-class seat that wasn't his

Once escorted off the flight, Hogh sneaked into a service elevator and made his way to the tarmac, which he reached through an emergency door. He took off his pants and went for a joy ride on a luggage tug vehicle

Once outside, Hogh sneaked into a service elevator and made his way to the tarmac, which he reached through an emergency door.

Hogh then took his pants off and joined an airport employee who was driving the luggage tug.

He told the employee he had a flight he had to catch.

The employee tried to confront the pantless Canadian, but eventually got off the vehicle.

Hogh then commandeered the luggage tug and drove across a taxiway.

Police at the Orlando International Airpot (pictured) took the man into custody

Airport ground crews followed the man, who was apprehended at the airport's fire station.

Airport officials said the incident caused a 'ground hold' for jetliners in the immediate area.

Hogh idn't cause any flight delays.
Rebecca Winters, 31, pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy who was receiving treatment at the Crossroads rehabilitation center in Delaware

A Delaware drug and alcohol counselor has pleaded guilty to rape after repeatedly having sex with a 16-year-old boy in her care over a three month period.

Rebecca Winters is accused of having a sexual relationship with the teenager who was receiving treatment at the Crossroads of Delaware counseling center last year.

The 31-year-old, whose mother was president of the counseling center, pleaded guilty to three counts of fourth-degree rape on Wednesday on the third day of her trial.

Winters, who is also known as Rebecca Adams, was arrested in August last year over the sexual relationship, which allegedly occurred over three months last summer.

She was charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust and providing alcohol to a minor.

Another patient at Crossroads was among those to testify in court this week, according to Delaware Online.

The 15-year-old girl said she had observed the relationship between the boy and Winters.

'He would text me and tell me basically everything,' she said. 'They had sex and she did things to him and he did things to her.'

Winters, who is also known as Rebecca Adams, was arrested in August last year over the sexual relationship, which allegedly occurred over three months last summer

Rebecca Winters, pictured with Calvin Adams, was arrested in August 2015

She was charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust and providing alcohol to a minor

The girl told the court Winters would regularly drive her, the victim and other patients to treatment.

She said Winters and the boy went to the beach and movies and would often ignore instances when rules were broken.

Winters will be sentenced in February.

Crossroads, a for-profit drug and alcohol counseling center, closed earlier this year.

A separate civil lawsuit has been filed against Crossroads seeking damages over the sexual abuse.

It claims Winters' mother and president of Crossroads Alberta Crowley should have known about her daughter's sexual relationship.

The lawsuit claims Crowley and the center failed to investigate and report the alleged sexual abuse.

A separate civil lawsuit has been filed against Crossroads claiming the organization and its president Alberta Crowley, who is also Winters' mother, failed to report the sexual abuse
David Bryson, 41, from Strathaven, Lanarkshire, has been spared jail despite admitting to stalking two women

A millionaire property developer who was convicted of stalking two women has been spared jail - after it emerged that he has rekindled his relationship with one of them.

David Bryson, 41, from Strathaven, Lanarkshire, began relationships with Heather Munro, 46, and Ciara Nelson, 32, after meeting them online and showered them with gifts - including a Rolex, 20,000 Mini Cooper and luxury holidays.

But after the relationships soured, he admitted to stalking the women at various locations.

However, since appearing in court in October, it has emerged that Bryson has rekindled his relationship with Miss Nelson.

Sheriff Marie Smart ordered him to undergo a course of therapy for his obsessive behaviour before returning to court for a progress report in February.

He breached his bail conditions by flying out to Tenerife and contacting Miss Nelson while on the island, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard.

The court was told there was 'nothing threatening' in the messages, but Miss Nelson 'became fearful' of his 'continued obsessive behaviour' towards her and police were informed.

Bryson evaded police on his return from the island by flying to Dublin and driving back to Scotland.

He was only caught after a tip off led them to the Dakota Hotel in Glasgow, where he had checked in under a false name.

He was spotted on CCTV with Miss Nelson. The court heard it was 'obvious' from the pair footage that the pair were in a relationship.

Depute fiscal Wendy McAdam told how Bryson had sent messages to Miss Nelson from Tenerife.

He began relationships with Heather Munro, 46, (right) and Ciara Nelson, 32, (left) after meeting them online and showered them with gifts - including a Rolex, 20,000 Mini Cooper and luxury holidays. It has emerged that he had rekindled his relationship with Miss Nelson

She said: 'There was nothing threatening in them but she found herself to be fearful of the accused's continued obsessive behaviour towards her and was in no doubt they were from the accused. They continued for some time and police were contacted.

'She was receiving other messages saying things like "Why are the police looking for me and terrorising me" and she replied telling him that bail conditions meant he couldn't contact her.

'He told her "Don't you dare get me in any more trouble" and the phone calls continued leading to her to change her number.

'The police then made extensive and unsuccessful attempts to trace the accused and it was found he had travelled to Tenerife.'

The court heard how Bryson dodged police on his return from the island and was only caught when they discovered he was staying in a hotel.

When the relationships soured, he admitted to stalking the women at various locations. However, he has not received a jail sentence after it was ruled that he needs therapy

Miss McAdam added: 'He was in the company of the complainer Ciara Nelson and it was obvious from CCTV the pair were in a relationship.'

Gordon Jackson QC, defending, said: 'The whole thing is strange. You gave him a very, very clear indication on what he could and couldn't do when he left here on bail.

'He left court with your words ringing in his ears, although obviously not loud enough, and went to Tenerife to recuperate.

'While he was there he became upset and contacted Miss Nelson again and sent her text messages.

'There was never anything threatening or abusive and she simply asked him not to contact her. They were in contact when he returned and they went to the hotel.'

He added: 'She now says she has no concerns about his behaviour and does not wish any kind of non-harassment order.

'He does need help and she wishes to support him in getting that and she is in court today to show that she supports him and wants to help. Miss Munro has simply fallen off his radar.'

Sheriff Smart, who previously warned Bryson he faced jail, said: 'Clearly things have moved on dramatically since the last time you appeared and were granted bail.

'You have had many stresses in your life that have made you act in this way.
A German politician is facing calls to resign over allegations that he prevented police from sharing pictures of the Berlin truck terrorist when he was at large.

Reports in Germany claim that Till Steffen prevented law enforcers in Hamburg from releasing pictures of Anis Amri, despite him being the most wanted man in the world after Monday's terror attack.

Amri, 24, was named as a suspect on Wednesday after his wallet was found in the lorry which ploughed into a crowd of people at a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people.

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Till Steffen has been criticised in Germany amid claims he prevented police from sharing images of terror suspect Anis Amri when he was at large

It has been alleged that Steffen, who is head of the judicial authority in Hamburg, prevented the pictures being circulated because he feared sharing images of Islamist terror suspects will incite racial hatred.

Newspaper Bild reported that police were able to give a description of the killer, but not show the public what he looked like because of privacy concerns.

Insiders claim he was worried the pictures of terror suspects incite racial hatred.

Joachim Lenders, chairman of Hamburg's regional police force, is quoted by Bild stating: 'It is incomprehensible that investigating authorities are thrown such truncheons.'

The Green politician, who is head of the judicial authority in Hamburg, only granted an exception after a call from the newspaper, following a 12 hour delay, it reports.

Amri was killed by police in Italy this morning, two days after he emerged as the prime suspect in the terrorist attack on a Berlin Christmas market

Website shz.de reports that authorities are concerned that abusive comments can be posted on Facebook appeals, because comments cannot be disabled.

It quotes Hamburg CDU politician Richard Seelmaecker, who said: 'Anis Amri has allegedly murdered twelve people, but instead of using all means to search for him, Hamburg's green lawmaker is more concerned about comments on Facebook.'

He called for a judiciary committee review to be called.

CDU faction leader Andre Trepoll branded Steffen a 'security risk' today, Bild reports, and the Alternative For Deutschland party (AfD) has called for him to resign.
Gene Anthony Quinones-Rivera (pictured), 27, on Wednesday confessed to killing his son 18 months ago, authorities said

A man from Puerto Rico has confessed to killing his two-year-old son and leaving the boy's body in a remote area in Florida's Panhandle, authorities said.

The child's disappearance might have gone unsolved if Gene Anthony Quinones-Rivera, 27, had not walked into the police station Wednesday and told officers that he killed Gediaelamir Rivera in June 2015, Parker Police Chief Dennes Hutto said.

Quinones-Rivera admitted to killing his son by stuffing a sock in his mouth at his Panama City, Florida apartment, according to authorities.

'I'm glad he did come forward,' Hutto told the News Herald Thursday. 'If he hadn't, no one would have ever known what happened to this infant.'

Investigators have found the partial remains of a child in a remote part of Bay County described by Quinones-Rivera.

Quinones-Rivera of Guanica, Puerto Rico, was charged with second-degree murder. Court records show he was held on a $150,000 bond.

In an interview at the jail, Quinones-Rivera told the newspaper he had been smoking marijuana and was angry when he stuffed a sock into his son's mouth to stop him from crying.

Quinones-Rivera (pictured during an interview in jail) of Guanica, Puerto Rico, was charged with second-degree murder. Court records show he was held on a $150,000 bond

He said he had previously gagged his son in the same manner and taped his arms to his sides.

'My son was crying, and I was angry with him for that,' he said. 'That's the only reason I was angry with my son.'

Hours later, he found that the boy had stopped breathing. He tried to revive the child with CPR and a cold bath, but Gediaelamir didn't respond.

Quinones-Rivera said he put the boy's body in a trash bag and left it in a wooded area without notifying authorities.

He said he came forward to confess after a religious conversion.

'Right now I don't have fear, but I know I needed to pay for that. I can't lie no more. I need to be free,' Quinones-Rivera said.
A Tennessee home was completely destroyed Thursday in a fire that appears to have started by Christmas tree lights left on while nobody was home.

Firefighters in Brentwood, just south of Nashville, were called to a home on the 900-block of Elmington Court just before 8pm on Thursday. No one was home at the time.

Crews battled the fire all night  at first trying to extinguish the inferno inside the home.

Firefighters in Brentwood, just south of Nashville, were called to a home on the 900-block of Elmington Court just before 8pm on Thursday. No one was home at the time

Crews battled the fire all night, at first trying to extinguish the inferno inside the home and later from outside once the roof began to collapse

Then the fire spread to the second floor and the roof began to collapse, forcing fire crews to work on the blaze from the outside.

Initial reports say the blaze apparently began on a corner of the house where the family's Christmas tree had been left on.

'The homeowner speculates, based on where the fire started, it could be related to a Christmas tree,' fire Chief Brian Goss told reporters. 'It was a live tree, and she thinks she left the lights on when she left.

'Be extra vigilant, this is a tragedy, two days before Christmas, and one that shouldn't have to happen.'

The house (pictured before the fire) was purchased by Christine and Andrew Grisham in 2002 for $418,000

A GoFundMe campaign for the Grishams (house pictured before the fire) had already raised nearly $26,000 as of Friday afternoon

The house, assessed to be worth about $619,000, was completely destroyed.

The property was purchased by Christine and Andrew Grisham in 2002 for $418,000, real estate records show.

A GoFundMe campaign for the family had already raised nearly $26,000 as of Friday afternoon. Its target is to reach $50,000.
Bill and Hillary Clinton haven't committed themselves to attending Donald Trump's inauguration, which looms less than a month away, after a bruising campaign that left the Democratic nominee and her former-president husband with bloodied reputations at Trump's hands.

So far Jimmy Carter, age 92, is the only former president who has said he will be there on January 20.

George H.W. Bush, just four months younger, has said he will not come to the inauguration, and cites his old age as the reason why, according to Politico.

George W. Bush won't make up his mind until January, his spokesman Freddy Ford told the newspaper.

Still crazy after all these weeks: Bill and Hillary Clinton haven't committed to attending Donald Trump's January 20 inauguration

Last time around: George W. Bush (right) and Bill Clinton (second right) attended Barack Obama's 2008 inauguration, but neither is guaranteed to be there for Trump's

Neither Bush endorsed Trump during the general election, following a primary season in which the president-elect relentlessly pilloried Jeb Bush as 'low energy.'

Carter endorsed Clinton. He announced this month during a Sunday school class he teaches in his home state of Georgia that he would be at Trump's inauguration.

Every living former president attended President Barack Obama's 2008 inauguration. That included Clinton, Carter and both Bushes.

But Politico reports that some in the Clinton camp are advising Bill and Hillary to stay away from Washington this time around.

Oldsters: George H.W. Bush (left) and Jimmy Carter (right) are both 92, but only carter has said he'll definitely be there to witness the transfer of power; neither man endorsed Trump

Others are counseling a stiff upper lip out of respect for the peaceful transition of power.

'It would be especially bad if the Clintons did not attend, because it seems like they do not support the transition of power,' a top Clinton donor told the newspaper.

'It would be petty, they have to suck it up. [Hillary] has to go as a former first lady. She will sit prominently.'
Support for Germany's anti-migration AfD party soared to a one-year high of more than 15 percent in the wake of the Berlin truck attack.

With a general election expected next September, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany recorded a 2.5-point boost to 15.5 percent compared to last week, according to the survey for the Bild newspaper by the Insa institute which will be released Saturday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats lost 1.5 points to hit 31.5 percent while the Social Democrats, junior partners in the ruling coalition, ceded one point to 20.5 percent.

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German populist party AfD supporters hold a placard reading 'Merkel must go' during a protest rally in front of the chancellory in Berlin in the wake of the terror attack

Demonstrators heap more pressure on the Chancellor with a protest two days after the attack

The poll was carried out between Wednesday and Friday among 2,083 eligible voters.

The prime suspect in the assault on the Berlin Christmas market which killed 12 people was a failed Tunisian asylum seeker.

The suspect, Anis Amri, who had been under surveillance as recently as September for suspected ties to the jihadist scene, was shot dead by Italian police in a gunfight in Milan earlier today.

In the immediate aftermath of the Berlin attack, the AfD blamed Merkel's liberal border policy, under which more than one million asylum seekers entered the country since 2015, for posing a serious security threat to the country.

One party official, Marcus Pretzell, even called the victims 'Merkel's dead', in a tweet later criticised by the AfD leadership.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to deliver a statement in Berlin today

At a news conference on Friday, Merkel pledged a 'comprehensive' analysis of what went wrong, and rapid reforms.

However she stressed that Germany would not sacrifice its principles in the fight against terrorism.

'Our democracy, our rule of law, our values, our humanity - they are the alternative to the hateful world of terrorism, and they will be stronger than terrorism,' she said.

MERKEL: BERLIN MARKET ATTACK A 'TERRIBLE DEED' 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. 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 '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. 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' '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

On Wednesday, a senior German politician has blamed the Christmas terror attacks on 'institutional political correctness', arguing that the suspect  a known ISIS fanatic who was on a deportation list  would not have been free to act if police had enforced the law.

The suspect, Anis Amri, 23, who was being monitored by police, would have been deported long ago if it wasn't for a liberal 'ideological agenda', he told MailOnline.

Hugh Theodore Bronson, the deputy leader of the Alternative For Deutschland party (AfD), said that German deportation law was ignored because the authorities were afraid of offending Muslims.

Hugh Theodore Bronson, the deputy leader of the Alternative For Deutschland party (AfD)

'The law as it stands is not being implemented,' he said. 'If it was, 12 people would still be alive, 48 people would not be in hospital, and there would have been no attack on Monday.'

Referring to the fact that the prime suspect, Anis Amri, had been arrested three times in Germany and was a known ISIS fanatic with weapons training who was due to be deported, Bronson added: 'There is a refusal by the authorities to implement German law.

'We are being too lenient in our implementation of the law. You can call it political correctness, you can call it an ideological agenda, but it cost 12 people their lives.

'I would be as bold as to say that if German law would be implemented as it should be, this attack wouldn't have happened.
Cumo said Paladino 'has embarrassed the good people of the state with his latest hate-filled rage'

Paladino, 70, was the co-chair of Trump's New York campaign and is a member of the school board in

The Buffalo businessman and school board member who chaired Donald Trump's campaign for president in the state of New York made shockingly offensive comments about President Obama and the First Lady in a recent interview.

Carl Paladino was asked by Artvoice what his hopes for 2017 were and said: 'Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford.

'He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret, who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.'

He did not stop there either, as he was next asked who he would to like to see go in the new year.

'Michelle Obama. Id like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla,' responded Paladino.

When asked by The Buffalo News soon after if he really made those comments, Paladine said: 'Of course I did. Tell them all to go f*** themselves.'

Carl Paladino (above in 2014 with Trump) said he hopes 'Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford'

Paladino He also said of Michelle Obama: 'Id like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe' (Obamas above in September)

Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement soon after, saying of Paladino's comments: 'Paladino has a long history of racist and incendiary comments. While most New Yorkers know Mr. Paladino is not to be taken seriously, as his erratic behavior defies any rational analysis and he has no credibility, his words are still jarring.

'His remarks do not reflect the sentiments or opinions of any real New Yorker and he has embarrassed the good people of the state with his latest hate-filled rage.'

Paladino met with Trump earlier this month at Trump Tower while the President-elect and his transition team were speaking with their potential government picks.

He later said his meeting with Trump was 'very warm,' but that he did not see himself finding any job that might interest him in the Trump administration.

'We talked about that. He knows. But I would have to have something to get my teeth into and be engaged. Otherwise, I've got a good job,' he said after leaving Trump's office.

Paladino is CEO and founder of the Buffalo real estate company the Ellicott Development Company.

Paladino met with Trump earlier this month during the transition period

He ran to be governor of New York back in 2010 but lost to Cuomo in the election.

Paladino managed to incite outrage back then as well when he said that he did not want children 'brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality' was acceptable by legalizing gay marriage.

He also said that these children should be kept away from Gay Pride marches because men wear 'Speedos and grind against each other.'

The comments were made at Brooklyn synagogue.

Paladino also came under fire in July when he tweeted that Loretta Lynch should be lynched.

He later deleted that tweet and said it was a mistake.

Paladino and his wife have two children and a third, their son Patrick, tragically died in 2009 after an automobile accident.
The home of Jacob Wetterling's pedophile murderer has been torn down 27 years after the child's death.

The 11-year-old was kidnapped by Danny Heinrich, 53, on October 22, 1989, as he rode home with his brother and some friends to their home in Annandale, Minnesota.

His death remained a mystery for decades until September when Heinrich, who had been arrested on child pornography charges, led authorities to where he buried Jacob.

Heinrich was jailed for at least 20 years and his small, white house was left abandoned by authorities who said they couldn't afford to tear it down.

The home of Jacob Wetterling's pedophile killer was torn down in Annandale, Minnesota, on Friday

Local property developed Tim Thone bought it for $57,000 with the sole intention of destroying it to let the community move on.

Jacob's mother Patty was among those in a crowd who turned out to watch it be ripped to the ground on Friday.

Heinrich was questioned in 1989 over Jacob's disappearance but was released without charge.

In 2015, police named him as a person of interest after reviewing the case.

They gained a search warrant of the property where they found child pornography.

He confessed to abducting, sexually assaulting and killing Jacob after being arrested and as part of a plea deal, took officers to where he had buried the boy's body in a pasture some 30 miles from the house.

In court, the predator told in chilling detail how he targeted Jacob when he saw 'three children on their bicycles with flash lights'.

Jacob was kidnapped in October 1989 by Heinrich (right in his 2016 mugshot). He was sexually assaulted by the pedophile and then shot

The house sat empty after Heinrich's sentencing. Neighbors tried to raise enough money to buy it to tear it down but were unsuccessful

He told Jacob's brother and friend to run and forced Jacob in to his car. His words to his killer were: 'What did I do wrong?'

Heinrich had installed a police scanner in his car to listen in to officers who would later search for the boy. He handcuffed Jacob to the car's front seat and told him to duck whenever they passed a patrol car, he said.

He then took him to the field where, after sexually assaulting him, he shot the boy and buried him.

Heinrich said he returned to the scene a year later to shift the remains after noticing Jacob's jacket had become visible.

He was jailed for a minimum of 20 years but told by a judge he would likely never be freed again and his house sat empty.

Jacob's mother Patty was among those who watched the property be destroyed on Friday. She is pictured above with property developer Tim Thorne (right) who bought it then demolished it

Mrs Wetterling celebrated in the crowd as the house was torn down 27 years after she last say her son

Neighbors tried to raise enough money to buy it to tear it down but couldn't, prompting Thone to step in.

'Our hearts broke for the Wetterling family. As parents, and as Minnesotans, it had a profound effect.

''I thought, "That house just can't be there",' Thone said earlier this year.

Thone and his wife were young parents when Jacob was snatched on his way home. It made them more cautious with their own family, he said, and haunted the entire town.
Developers of the popular Signal secure messaging app have started to use Google's domain as a front to hide traffic to their service and to sidestep blocking attempts.

Bypassing online censorship in countries where internet access is controlled by the government can be very hard for users. It typically requires the use of virtual private networking (VPN) services or complex solutions like Tor, which can be banned too.

Open Whisper Systems, the company that develops Signal -- a free, open-source app -- faced this problem recently when access to its service started being censored in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Some users reported that VPNs, Apple's FaceTime and other voice-over-IP apps were also being blocked.

The solution from Signal's developers was to implement a censorship circumvention technique known as domain fronting that was described in a 2015 paper by researchers from University of California, Berkeley, the Brave New Software project and Psiphon.

The technique involves sending requests to a "front domain" and using the HTTP Host header to trigger a redirect to a different domain. If done over HTTPS, such redirection would be invisible to someone monitoring the traffic, because the HTTP Host header is sent after the HTTPS connection is negotiated and is therefore part of the encrypted traffic.

"In an HTTPS request, the destination domain name appears in three relevant places: in the DNS query, in the TLS Server Name Indication (SNI) extension and in the HTTP Host header," the researchers said in their paper. "Ordinarily, the same domain name appears in all three places. In a domain-fronted request, however, the DNS query and SNI carry one name (the front domain), while the HTTP Host header, hidden from the censor by HTTPS encryption, carries another (the covert, forbidden destination)."

Their research revealed that many cloud service providers and content delivery networks allow HTTP host header redirection, including Google, Amazon Cloudfront, Amazon S3, Azure, CloudFlare, Fastly and Akamai. However, most of them only allow it for domains that belong to their customers, so one must become a customer in order to use this technique.

Google, for example, allows redirection through the HTTP host header from google.com to appspot.com. This domain is used by Google App Engine, a service that allows users to create and host web applications on Google's cloud platform.

This means that someone can create a simple reflector script, host it on Google App Engine and then use the HTTP host header trick to hide its location from censors. Someone monitoring user traffic will only see HTTPS requests going to www.google.com, but those requests will reach the reflector script on Google App Engine and will be forwarded to a hidden destination.

"With today's release, domain fronting is enabled for Signal users who have a phone number with a country code from Egypt or the UAE," Open Whisper Systems founder Moxie Marlinspike said Wednesday in a blog post. "When those users send a Signal message, it will look like a normal HTTPS request to www.google.com. To block Signal messages, these countries would also have to block all of google.com."

Even if the censors decide to ban Google, the domain fronting implementation can be expanded to use other large-scale services as domain fronts. If this happens, enforcing a ban on Signal would be the equivalent of blocking a very large portion of the internet.

The anti-censorship feature is currently present in the latest version of Signal for Android. It's also included in a beta version of the app for iOS that will be released in production soon.

The developers also plan future improvements that will allow the app to detect censorship automatically and switch to domain fronting even if the user has a phone number from a country where censorship is not normally present. This is intended to cover those cases where users travel to other countries where the app is blocked.

Signal is considered by security experts as one of the most secure messaging services around. It's open-source end-to-end encryption protocol has also been adopted by other popular chat apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

While the communication between users is encrypted end-to-end, the Signal app uses servers for contact discovery and these can be blocked by censors to prevent users from using the app.
A man accused of killing his wife before abandoning their five-year-old daughter at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City pleaded not guilty in court on Friday.

Elmer Gomez Ruano, 32, who was charged with murdering Dionicia Bautista-Cano and risking injury to a minor, appeared at the Superior Court in Stamford, Connecticut on Friday.

The judge also placed a protective order banning Ruano from approaching within 100 yards of his daughter, who is currently in the care of a foster family, the Stamford Advocate reported.

Elmer Gomez Ruano, 32, was charged with murdering Dionicia Bautista-Cano and risking injury to a minor. He appeared in court in Stamford, Connecticut on Friday (pictured)

The judge also placed a protective order banning Ruano (center) from approaching within 100 yards of his daughter, who is currently in the care of a foster family

Ruano is being held on $900,000 bond, and will not be able to contact his daughter either personally or electronically, according to Judge Auden Grogin.

His family, however, are seeking custody of the girl, according to defense attorney Darnell Crosland.

Officers first spotted Ruano's daughter on the second-floor concourse of the PABT on November 14, and took her home to Connecticut where they discovered Bautista-Cano's dead body.

The mother and the young girl had reunited with Ruano and moved from Flemington, New Jersey, to his home in Connecticut just one day before the murder, police said.

They even threw a party for friends and family at the Courtland Avenue apartment, but police called the couple's relationship 'very, very combustible.'

The couple got into an argument the next day over a love triangle, according to an arrest warrant cited by ABC.

Ruano (left) is suspected of killing Bautista-Cano (right) just one day after she and their daughter reunited and moved to his home in Connecticut

Police said he choked and smothered her with a wet towel for 30 minutes. He was later seen on surveillance footage leaving the girl at the terminal before fleeing the scene

Ruano told her to kill him so she and her new lover could be happy, and she grabbed a knife and allegedly cut him, the arrest warrant stated.

He eventually took the knife from her and said someone had to die before choking and smothering her with a wet towel for 30 minutes, the arrest warrant stated.

Ruano was later seen on surveillance footage leaving the girl at the terminal before fleeing the scene.

Investigators tracked him down through calls he made on cell phones borrowed from other people at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn's Greenpoint.

Police arrested Ruano later that week near the homeless shelter and he was extradited to Connecticut on Thursday.
Gerardo Damian-Rosas (pictured) is accused of 'purposefully' tying a dog to railroad tracks before leaving it to die in front of an oncoming train

A Georgia man is accused of 'purposefully' tying a helpless dog to railroad tracks before leaving it to die in front of an oncoming train.

Authorities said Gerardo Damian-Rosas was arrested on December 1 for the incident that took place in November.

He faces a charge of felony aggravated animal cruelty.

Mike Ledford, director of Hall County Animal Services, said in a press release that there 'was evidence that the dog had been purposefully tied to the tracks, which ultimately led to his death'.

'This was an egregious act of cruelty against a defenseless animal, and our department works tirelessly to hold those responsible for such acts accountable.'

The Hall County Animal Control responded to a call about a dog on the train tracks last month.

When they arrived to the section of track off White Sulphur Road in Hall County, the dog was already dead.

It's unclear what type of dog it was but authorities are still investigating the incident.

But Mike Weaver, the attorney for Damian-Rosas, believes the facts presented are 'not accurate at all'.

Weaver told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he was still investigating the case, but believes 'there's a lot of misunderstanding of what happened'.

'I am confident that down the road this case will be resolved,' the Weaver said.

Damian-Rosas was booked into the Hall County Jail, but he was later released on a $5,700 bond.
A nine-year-girl who was orphaned almost two years ago following a horrific plane crash has been adopted just in time for Christmas.

Sailor Gutzler was the sole survivor of a plane crash in Kuttawa, Kentucky in January 2015 that killed her parents, sister and cousin.

The little girl was officially adopted by her half-sister Kasie Dlubala and her husband Daniel on Thursday.

Sailor Gutzler, 9, (pictured with her new adoptive baby sister) was officially adopted by her half-sister Kasie Dlubala and her husband on Thursday just in time for Christmas

The couple had fought for legal guardianship and have been caring for Sailor since the deadly plane crash.

Sailor lives with Kasie and Daniel in their Nashville, Tennessee home with the couple's biological baby daughter.

She was just seven when the plane being flown by her father, Marty Gutzler, crashed into a forest killing her mom Kim, nine-year-old sister Piper and 14-year-old cousin Sierra Wilder.

The child had tragically tried to wake up her dead relatives, thinking they might be asleep.

Sailor has lived with Kasie and Daniel in their Nashville, Tennessee home with the couple's biological baby daughter ever since she was orphaned in a plane crash in January 2015

Sailor Gutzler was the sole survivor of a plane crash in Kuttawa, Kentucky in January 2015 that killed her parents, sister and cousin

Sailor's parents, Marty and Kim, her nine-year-old sister Piper (all pictured) were killed in the horrific plane crash. Her 14-year-old cousin Sierra Wilder also died

Marty Gutzler took of his daughters inside the plane a few days before the tragic accident

Sailor, who suffered broken bones in the crash, walked barefoot for almost a mile in the dark forest to try and find help.

Larry Wilkins found the bloodied girl on his doorstep and he immediately called 911.

'I opened the door and this little girl was standing there with bloody nose, bloody legs and bloody arms,' Mr Wilkins told NBC at the time.

'Her voice was quivering. She told me her mom and dad were dead and she was in a plane crash and the plane was upside down.

Sailor, who suffered broken bones in the crash, walked barefoot for almost a mile in the dark forest to try and find help after the plane crash

Sailor, who was seven at the time, tragically tried to wake up her dead relatives - including her parents, sister (left) and cousin (right) - thinking they might be asleep

She knocked on this home belonging to Larry Wilkins. He found the bloodied girl on his doorstep and he immediately called 911

'She was bleeding pretty bad, her legs were bleeding, her face had a bloody nose. She was barefoot, only had one sock on. She asked if she could stay here.'

The plane, a Piper PA-34, had engine troubles on the way from Key West, Florida to their home in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Officials investigating the crash dubbed Sailor a 'remarkable young lady'.
A national manhunt is underway for Army deserter John Blauvelt, 28, who allegedly killed his estranged wife in October

A national manhunt is underway for an Army deserter who allegedly killed his estranged wife more than a month ago and then ran off with a 17-year-old girl.

John Tufton Blauvelt, 28, allegedly stabbed Catherine Blauvelt, 22, to death on October 24 before disappearing weeks later with Hannah Thompson.

Blauvelt has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the US Marshals Service.

The active-duty Army recruiter, who often visited high schools, is now being classified as a deserter by the US Army.

Catherine Blauvelt was found dead inside a small concrete cellar in the basement of an abandoned home in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

The US Army veteran was reported missing after family members hadn't seen or heard from her for a couple of hours, according to WNCN.

Catherine's friends found her body in the house, which has been abandoned for 20 years but was a popular high school hangout spot, police said.

Authorities said Blauvelt was immediately a suspect in her murder due to the couple's past, which included a number of domestic abuse calls at their home.

US Army veteran Catherine Blauvelt was found dead inside a small concrete cellar in the basement of an abandoned home in Simpsonville, South Carolina

Before Blauvelt could be arrested, he disappeared with 17-year-old Hannah Thompson (pictured), who police said was his girlfriend

Blauvelt was questioned by police, but before they could arrest him he disappeared with Thompson - who authorities said was his girlfriend.

For weeks Blauvelt's last known location to police was at the Las Cruces, New Mexico border on November 15.

But then, on December 12 , Thompson went to a family friend's home in Eugene, Oregon and told her parents she wanted to come back.

Thompson told police she had last seen Blauvelt that day, but that he had left and abandoned her.

Simpsonville Deputy Chief Steve Moore said police are hoping Thompson will be able to 'fill in the blanks' of what happened since the pair disappeared.

Blauvelt (pictured) was an active-duty Army recruiter who often visited high schools. He is now being classified as a deserter by the US Army

Chief Keith Morton also revealed that Blauvelt had brought Thompson to the mortuary to view his wife's body, according to WYFF.

A second man, Charles Sidney Scott, has also been charged with Catherine's murder.

Scott, 31, was already in jail on another charge.

Charles Sidney Scott, 31, has also been charged with Catherine's murder

His arrest warrant was served on November 18, the same day Blauvelt was charged.

Authorities now believe Blauvelt is traveling alone and could be anywhere along the West Coast.

The US Marshals said in a statement that he is known to stay at camps, parks and areas that are often used by the homeless, according to the Arizona Republic.

Blauvelt is 5ft 8in, 185 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on his chest, left wrist and arm and right arm.

He may be carrying a military-style green camouflage backpack and known to go by the aliases Blue Blauvelt, John Bluefields, Vincent Mendoza and Victor Sacceti.

A reward of $2,500 is being offered for information leading to Blauvelt's capture.
Britain's biggest banks are facing multi-billion-pound penalties after two European rivals were hit with fines of more than 10billion in a crackdown on the mis-selling of toxic mortgages.

Barclays, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland are being pursued by the US Department of Justice over the scandal, which has been credited with starting the recession.

Deutsche Bank was yesterday hit with a 5.9billion bill for its part in the debacle, while Credit Suisse agreed to pay out 4.3billion.

Britain's biggest banks, including Barclays, are facing multi-billion-pound penalties after two European rivals were hit with fines of more than 10bn in a crackdown on the mis-selling of toxic mortgages

As well as Barclays, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland are being pursued by the US Department of Justice over the scandal, which has been credited with starting the recession

Laith Khalaf, of analysts Hargreaves Lansdown, said: The banks are paying the price for the financial crisis. But that was a decade ago and there are questions over why this has gone on so long.

Its an ongoing risk for banking and the problem is its an unquantifiable one  as an analyst you can provide estimates for dividends and earnings, but its very difficult to model what a regulator is going to pull out of the hat when it comes to fines.

Analysts believe NatWest owner RBS will be fined a similar amount. The bank is 73 per cent state-owned because of a 46billion bailout, meaning taxpayers will ultimately have to pay for any fine.

HSBC is also grappling with a justice department investigation, and Barclays is being taken to court over the issue after an attempt to reach a settlement broke down.

Deutsche Bank was yesterday hit with a 5.9bn bill for its part in the debacle, while Credit Suisse agreed to pay out 4.3bn

The lender claimed it was being told to pay far too much. Justice department documents allege Barclays knew its mortgage bundles were high-risk and deceived investors.

The bank denies wrongdoing and says it will fight the Department of Justice.

A spokesman added: We have an obligation to shareholders, customers, clients, and employees to defend ourselves against unreasonable allegations and demands.

City insiders have long been infuriated by what they see as an unnecessarily harsh approach to British banks by US watchdogs.
The UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements after the US abstained despite Donald Trump's calls for a veto.

America's abstention paved the way for the 15-member council to approve the resolution, with 14 votes in favour, to a round of applause.

The Obama administration's action broke with the traditional American approach of shielding Israel, which is Washington's long-standing ally, from such action.

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The United States on Friday allowed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements

The United States, along with Russia, France, Britain and China, has veto power on the council.

The resolution, put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew it under pressure from the Israel and Trump, was the first adopted by the council on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.

Israel and Trump had called on the Obama administration to veto the measure. Trump wrote on Twitter after the vote, 'As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th,' referring to the day he succeeds the outgoing President Barack Obama.

Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said, 'It is because this resolution reflects the facts on the ground and is consistent with U.S. policy across Republican and Democratic administrations ... that the United States did not veto it.'

Israel and Trump had called on the Obama administration to veto the measure

'It is because this forum too often continues to be biased against Israel, because there are important issues that are not sufficiently addressed in this resolution and because the United States does not agree with every word in this text, that the United States did not vote in favor,' Power added.

The U.S. abstention was seen as a parting shot by Obama, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and who has made settlements a major target of peace efforts that have proven ultimately futile.

The resolution demanded that Israel 'immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem' and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has 'no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.'

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in a 1967 war.

The U.N. action was 'a big blow to Israeli policy, a unanimous international condemnation of settlements and a strong support for the two-state solution,' a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Israel disputes that the Jewish settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of U.S.-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014.

The passage of the resolution changes nothing on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians and likely will be all but ignored by the incoming Trump administration.

But it was more than merely symbolic.

The Obama administration's action broke with the long-standing American approach of shielding Israel. Pictured, President Obama with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The resolution formally enshrined the international community's disapproval of Israeli settlement building and could spur further Palestinian moves against Israel in international forums.

Trump, who called for a veto along with Netanyahu, is likely to be a more staunch supporter of Netanyahu's right-wing policies. He named a hardline pro-Israel ambassador and vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

'It was to be expected that Israel's greatest ally would act in accordance with the values that we share and that they would have vetoed this disgraceful resolution. I have no doubt that the new U.S. administration and the incoming U.N. secretary-general will usher in a new era in terms of the U.N.'s relationship with Israel,' Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said after the vote.

AIPAC, the main U.S. pro-Israel lobby group, said it was 'deeply disturbed' by the Obama administration's unwillingness to use its veto in what it describe as a 'destructive, one-sided, anti-Israel resolution.'

'This cowardly, disgraceful action cements President Obama's richly deserved legacy as the most anti-Israel president in American history,' Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said after the vote.

The United States, along with Russia, France, Britain and China, has veto power on the council

Malaysia's U.N. Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said a bill being considered by Israeli lawmakers to legalize Israeli settlement homes on private Palestinian land had 'added further urgency for the council to send a clear signal on the issue of settlements.'

Dennis Ross, who previously served as a senior Middle East adviser to Obama, said the abstention showed the United States was 'adopting a posture it knows the next U.S. president rejects.'

Ross said the U.N. resolution could complicate future Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, pointing to a widely held view that any comprehensive deal would include Israel's absorption of some settlement blocs in exchange for mutually agreed-upon land swaps with the Palestinians.

A senior Israeli official said on Thursday that there was 'zero chance' the Israeli government would abide by the measure. Under the U.N. Charter, U.N. member states 'agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.'
Todd Fisher, Carrie's brother, revealed that there has been 'nothing new from doctors. No good or bad news'

outside the hospital along with actress' beloved French bulldog

is said to be on a

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Carrie Fisher's daughter has rushed to her bedside as the actress battles for her life in intensive care after suffering a massive heart attack while on board an 11-hour transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles.

A harrowing distress call made by the flight's pilot revealed that Fisher, 60, was kept alive with CPR administered by a fellow passenger after she stopped breathing for about 10 minutes.

Her 24-year-old daughter Billie Lourd was photographed along with her mother's beloved French bulldog Gary sitting outside the UCLA Medical Center on Friday afternoon as family and friends wait for an update.

The star's brother, Todd Fisher, told Variety in a phone interview that there was 'no good or bad news' from doctors, with reports that Fisher is currently breathing through a ventilator.

Prior to landing at LAX, the pilot of the United Flight told the control tower that passengers aboard the plane were helping an 'unresponsive passenger,' but did not name who it was.

He revealed that that at least one of the passengers who rushed to the aid of Fisher - best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise - was a nurse.

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Carrie Fisher (seen above on December 11 in London) suffered a massive heart attack on board an 11-hour United Airlines flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday

Her 24-year-old daughter, Billie Lourd (above in orange jacket), rushed to UCLA Medical Center to be by her bedside. Lourd was accompanied by an unknown woman at the hospital

In addition to Lourd, the actress's beloved French bulldog named Gary was also brought to the hospital (above)

Television crews stand outside the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles as the world waits for an update on the condition of Carrie Fisher

During the recording, an official from the control tower asks the pilot: 'United 935, I need the nature of your medical emergency, and also the sex of the patient and if there is medical personnel at the gate.'

'Yeah, we've coordinated medical personnel for the gate, we have some passengers, nurses, assisting the... unresponsive passenger,' the pilot replied.

'So they're working on her right now, we're going to have her seated in about two minutes and we should hopefully be on the deck in about five.'

The 60-year-old actress's medical emergency occurred about 15 minutes before landing and it is understood that paramedics worked on her for another 15 minutes before they were able to get a pulse, TMZ reported.

She was in the process of traveling home for Christmas having spent the last few weeks promoting her new memoir, called The Princess Dairies.

Her daughter Billie Lourd - herself an actress who starred in Scream Queens and had a cameo alongside her mother in The Force Awakens - is Carrie's only child with talent agent Bryan Lourd.



A nurse on board the flight rushed to help the starlet after flight attendants asked if anyone had medical experience. It's been claimed by fellow passengers on the flight that she was not breathing for '10 minutes or so'

Brad Gage, a passenger aboard the United flight sitting in front of Fisher, sent the above message on Twitter immediately following the incident

Another passenger, actress Anna Akana, said the actress was not breathing for 10 minutes or so and that CPR was administered on Fisher until the plane landed

Akana sent the series of tweets above about the incident involving Fisher

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said paramedics were standing by for the plane's arrival at 12.11pm (PT) and immediately provided 'advanced life support, aggressively treated, and transported' the patient to UCLA Medical Center.

The Los Angeles Times reported that 'the actress was in a lot of distress on the flight'.

A statement released by United Airlines said that medical personnel met the aircraft on arrival after the crew reported that a passenger was unresponsive.

'Our thoughts are with our customer at this time,' the statement read.

Actress and well-known YouTube performer Anna Akana was seated in front of the Fisher on the United flight. Akana said on Twitter that Fisher 'was not breathing for 10 minutes or so' and that CPR was administered on Fisher until the plane landed.

Akana wrote: 'Don't know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home.

'Hope she's gonna be OK. So many thanks to the United flight crew who jumped into action, and the awesome doctor and nurse passengers who helped.'

TMZ reported the 60-year-old actress's health episode occurred around 15 minutes before landing. Fisher is currently in the middle of a book tour for her biography, the Princess Diarist. She shared the photo above to her Twitter on December 21

There was no indication the actress was in poor health prior to the flight on Friday. She is pictured above in London on December 20 in a photo she shared to Twitter

Prior to landing at LAX, the pilot of the United Flight told the control tower that passengers aboard the plane were helping another 'unresponsive passenger.' She is seen above in a recent photograph with a friend during her London trip

'So they're working on her right now,' the pilot said in a public recording of the conversation in regards to trying to save the actress's life. Fisher shared the photo above to her Twitter account on December 19 in London with a friend

Outside of her Beverly Hills home, Fisher's housekeeper, Mike Gonzalez (above), told DailyMail.com: 'We don't know how she is yet. We had a Christmas meal planned here. Who knows what will happen now.'

A male caretaker (above) came out to confirm Fisher's mother, Debbie, is aware of the sad news, but insisted it was too early for her to comment. He said: 'We still don't know what's happened at the moment.'

Outside of her Beverly Hills home, Fisher's housekeeper, Mike Gonzalez, told DailyMail.com: 'We don't know how she is yet. We had a Christmas meal planned here. Who knows what will happen now.

'She didn't have problems with her heart - but it could happen to anyone, even kids can have heart attacks. I'm really shocked.

'She's really nice. I've worked with her for 15 years. When they said it was a heart attack this morning I was very worried.'

Fisher's mother, film legend Debbie Reynolds, 84, is awaiting news of her daughter's health from the home she owns next door to her.

Debbie was believed to be at her property in Beverly Hills this afternoon as reports of the dramatic health scare broke.

A male caretaker came out to confirm Debbie is aware of the sad news, but insisted it was too early for her to comment.

He said: 'We still don't know what's happened at the moment.'

The caretaker, who often looks after Debbie and her house, appeared in shock as he took a phone call on his cell phone and headed back inside the property.

In addition to Fisher's family rushing to her bedside at UCLA Medical Center, some of her close friends have also made their way to the hospital.

Fisher played the iconic role of Princess Leia when she was picked at just 19 years old for the film. She is pictured above in 1978 while playing Princess Leia in Star Wars as actor Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO, stands next to her

Close friend Patricia King, 69, told DailyMail.com that her husband Dennis, also 69, is currently with the Star Wars actress in hospital and that there has been 'no change so far'. Fisher is pictured above in 1980 for The Star Wars Episode V - Empire Strikes Back

Asked about Fisher's trip to London, King added: 'Carrie wants to be English, she just bought a home over there. She just loves it there.' Fisher is pictured above in 2015 promoting The Force Awakens with her dog Gary

Fisher is currently in the middle of a book tour for her memoirs, the Princess Diarist, which is based on diaries Fisher kept while filming Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Fisher is pictured above with her dog in June

Close friend Patricia King, 69, told DailyMail.com that her husband Dennis, also 69, is currently with the Star Wars actress in the hospital and that there has been 'no change so far'.

'My husband is with her at the hospital now but there's been no change as far as I know,' said King.

'We just love her so much  we saw her last month and she was so much fun, laughing and lovely. The whole family is praying for her right now  we are really hoping that she's going to be ok.'

Asked about Fisher's trip to London, King added: 'Carrie wants to be English, she just bought a home over there. She just loves it there.'

Fisher is currently in the middle of a book tour for her memoir, The Princess Diarist, which is based on diaries Fisher kept while filming Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Fisher is considered Hollywood royalty, as she is the daughter of famous couple Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. She is pictured above in 2015 attending European premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Actor William Shatner tweeted: 'I ask everyone to stop for a moment and send special thoughts to @carrieffisher.' (sic)

Peter Mayhew who played who played Chewbacca in Star Wars sent the above message about his co-star

E.L James first simply wrote: '2016, back away from @carrieffisher'.

The 60-year-old looked full of health and was busy shooting two new projects in the UK before her Friday heart attack.

She was working on the Graham Norton show as well as the TV series Catastrophe, and seemed to be enjoying England.

The episode in which she appeared on The Graham Norton Show that aired on December 9, she discussed her latest book.

On Twitter she documented her time in the country, with her most recent post on Wednesday at the Charles Dickens lounge.

The actress's representatives did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's requests for comment on Friday afternoon.

Fisher first played the iconic role of Princess Leia when she was just 19 years old.

Fisher has talked openly about her struggles in Hollywood, including mental health issues. She is pictured above with actors Harrison Ford (left) and Mark Hamill (center) in 2015

After the first tweet, James added the above message concerning Fisher

Screenwriter Gary Whitta wrote the above message to Fisher on Twitter

Fisher's co-star from Star Wars, Mark Hamill, tweeted the above message after hearing news of her heart attack

She is considered Hollywood royalty, as she is the daughter of famous couple Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher and was born in Beverly Hills.

The actress has both written and spoken about her struggles in Hollywood, including her mental health issues and the solution she found for treatment - radical-sounding electroshock therapy.

Fisher's most recent health problems come after the actress revealed that she dropped 35 lbs before playing Princess Leia in last year's Star Wars film, The Force Awakens.

She told Good Housekeeping that she was forced to drop the weight in order to reprise her iconic role in the movie.

'They don't want to hire all of me, only about three-quarters,' she said.

'Nothing changes, it's an appearance-driven thing. I'm in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance.

'That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that's how easy it is.'

Fisher told the magazine that she was able to lose the weight 'the same way everybody has to - don't eat and exercise more.'

Fisher's most recent health problems come after the actress revealed that she dropped 35 lbs before playing Princess Leia in last year's Star Wars film, The Force Awakens. She is pictured above in 2015 promoting the film

Fisher said that she was able to lose the weight 'the same way everybody has to - don't eat and exercise more.' She is pictured above in 1977 filming Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope

Alison Haislip sent Fisher well wishes and told her to 'stay strong'

CARRIE FISHER TALKS HARRISON FORD AFFAIR ON GRAHAM NORTON SHOW During her appearance on The Graham Norton Show that aired on December 9, Fisher discussed her latest book, The Princess Diarist. The 60-year-old actress shared that she forgot that she wrote the diaries decades ago when she was 19 years old and found them in a storage room. Fisher said that she did not edit the diaries and what's in her book is truly how she felt while she had an affair with her Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford. Norton said that the news of her affair with Ford has caused a 'sensation.' '400,000 news services picked it up, it became a little embarrassing for me,' Fisher responded. Norton then said he found it extraordinary how they had the affair roughly 40 years ago and how she claims they never spoke of it ever again. 'I became friends with his second wife then, so we saw each other a lot ... I can literally remember three times  I of course made some oblique reference to it, and he went 'urghhh'.' Norton noted how Ford is going to have to talk about it for the rest of his life. 'I never thought of that, leave it to Graham, and now I feel more guilty,' Fisher laughed. Later on during her appearance, Norton asked Fisher if their co-star Mark Hamill knew about the affair, to which she said he really didn't. 'When I told him, he was shocked, I think he felt a little betrayed quite honestly,' Fisher shared. She told Norton that no one involved with the film knew about her and Ford. Advertisement

'There is no other way to do it. I have a harder time eating properly than I do exercising,' she added.

'It's easier for me to add an activity than to deny myself something.

'When I do lose the weight I don't like that it makes me feel good about myself. It's not who I am. My problem is they talk to me like an actress but I hear them like a writer.'

Last month, the actress confessed to having a three-month affair with her co-star Harrison Ford while they filmed the movie.

She told People magazine: 'It was so intense. It was Han and Leia during the week, and Carrie and Harrison during the weekend.'

Fisher was 19 at the time of the alleged affair in 1976, 14 years younger than Ford, who was 33.

Since news of her heart attack broke, Hollywood A-listers have flocked to social media to offer their prayers for the star, including her Star Wars co-stars.

Actor William Shatner tweeted: 'I ask everyone to stop for a moment and send special thoughts to @carrieffisher.'

Jim Jefferies wrote the above message calling Fisher 'an extraordinary person'

Michael Rosenbaum said he was 'devastated' about the news and requested everyone to pray for the actress

Sharon Osbourne sent the tweet above saying that she and her husband, Ozzy, love Fisher

Ellen DeGeneres sent the above tweet asking for people to send Fisher positive thoughts and love

Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the iconic film, tweeted: 'Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now.. @carrieffisher'.

E.L James simply wrote: '2016, back away from @carrieffisher'.

Screenwriter Gary Whitta wrote: 'Be well @carrieffisher. Thoughts, hopes, and the Force are with you.'

Fisher had recently finished filming for 'Star Wars: Episode VIII,' which is the second of three new films in the massively popular series.

She first broke into Hollywood when she was cast in the role of Leia for the first Star Wars film, and then appeared in two sequels 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi'.

Her other film roles include appearing in 'When Harry Met Sally', 'The Blues Brothers', 'The Burbs', and 'Shampoo'.

The author and actress may be best known for her portrayal of Leia, but she is also an accomplished writer known for no-holds-barred accounts of her struggles with addiction and mental illness.

She entered a drug treatment center in the mid-1980s to battle addiction to cocaine and later wrote the bestselling novel, 'Postcards From the Edge,' that was adapted into a 1987 film version starring Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep.

Fisher also transformed her one-woman show 'Wishful Drinking,' which played on Broadway and was filmed for HBO, into a book.

Actress Bette Midler took to Twitter to express her concern about Fisher and send her well wishes for a speedy recovery

Actor George Takei sent the above message to Fisher and her family after quoting a tweet from Mark Hamill

Could Carrie Fisher's decades-long struggles with substance abuse and weight loss have caused her heart attack

The news that Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher, 60, has suffered a massive heart attack while on board a transatlantic flight has come as a shock to many.

But for those familiar with the star's own struggles in life, the horrifying announcement may not be unexpected.

Fisher is best known for her role as Leia, the Empire-busting space princess from the Star Wars movies, but she has long fought her own wars with drug addiction and weight loss.

Fisher was just 19 when she fought off Jodie Foster and Amy Irving, among others, to take the role of diplomat and rebel leader Princess Leia in 1977's Star Wars.

Weight issues: Fisher (seen left in 1983's Return of the Jedi and right in 2013 at the premiere of Gravity) struggled with weight issues. She was made to lose 10lbs to get the role of Leia

It was only her second movie, after Shampoo two years earlier, but it launched her to international stardom - and with it the Hollywood drug and party scene.

Fisher quickly became addicted to cocaine, the drug of choice in the late '70s, starting down a road she would struggle to leave for decades.

In an interview in 2010, while promoting her stand-up comedy show 'Wishful Drinking' in Sydney, she recalled how she had snorted the drug while shooting the movie's first sequel, The Empire Strikes Back.

'I didnt even like coke that much, it was just a case of getting on whatever train I needed to take to get high, she said, adding that she was shooting scenes set on - ironically - the snow-bound planet of Hoth.

In fact, she claims, her addiction got so bad that even famously Bacchanalian comedian John Belushi - who died at the age of 33 overdosing on a mix of cocaine and speed - told her to calm it down.

User: Fisher said that even the famously party-loving James Belushi told her to calm down her drug use. She admitted to taking cocaine on the set of Empire Strikes Back

'Slowly I realized I was doing a bit more drugs than other people and losing my choice in the matter,' she said.

'If Id been addicted to booze Id be dead now, because you just go out and get it.'

Despite mostly avoiding alcohol in her earlier years, she admitted to partying during filming, including one night spent with the Rolling Stones and co-star Harrison Ford at comedian Eric Idle's house.

She recalled how she broke her usual rule and decided to get drunk with the band, before rolling in to an early morning shoot on the set about two hours later.

'And we weren't hung over, we were still in our cups,' she said. 'And if you watch the movie you can see that: Harrison and I are smiling as we arrived in Cloud City. Doesnt that sound like a euphemism?'

Fisher was still using cocaine when the second sequel, The Return of the Jedi, was being shot.

In one scene, fans on Reddit noted, she has one fingernail longer than the others - leading to speculation that she used it to scoop up cocaine for her nose.

But Fisher blew that claim out of the water in spectacular fashion on Twitter: 'I never used my fingernail for drugs,' she said. 'I used dollars or tiny spoons like any other respectable former drug addict.'

Fisher jumped on and off the wagon for years, but in 2005 a shocking event pushed her back toward drugs.

R Gregory Stevens, a Republican lobbyist, came to her home along with a number of other people. He slept in her bed with her that night - and was dead by the time she woke up.

'And from the first moment I blamed myself,' Fisher told Vanity Fair in 2006. 'I thought Id put the pillow on his face. I was in shock for months.

'I thought I had killed him because it had happened on my watch and I had failed to save him.

Spotted: Fans suggested that Fisher's long nail, seen in The Return of the Jedi here, was used to scoop up cocaine - the drug that Fisher was heavily addicted to in the 1970s

Danger: Fisher denied the claim in a tweet, saying she 'used dollars or tiny spoons like any other respectable former drug addict'. Drug use and heavy weight loss can weaken the heart

'They say his body was so worn out from drug use that if it hadnt happened that night it wouldve happened on another one.'

The autopsy report said Stevens died due to 'cocaine and oxycodone use'.

But it also said chronic, and apparently previously undiagnosed, heart disease was a contributing factor - an echo, perhaps, of this week's dreadful news.

Fisher told Vanity Fair that her house became haunted by Stevens' ghost, until she had him exorcised. 'I was a nut for a year, and in that year I took drugs again,' she said.

The actress has always been very open about blaming herself, not the Hollywood environment for her addictions.

'It's always been my responsibility, she said. 'If it was Hollywood [that was to blame] then we'd all be dope addicts.'

It wasn't just drugs that haunted Fisher, however, but problems with losing and gaining weight.

Those struggles began early: She only got the part of Princess Leia in 1976 on the agreement that she would lose 10lb.

And the pressure to stay trim continued right up until the third film, The Return of the Jedi, when she famously wore a gold metal bikini, showing off her perfectly flat stomach.

Loss: Fisher was made to lose 35lbs to reclaim the role of Leia in 2015's The Force Awakens (pictured). She complained that they only wanted to hire 'three quarters' of her

'I have serious body dysmorphia issues,' she told The Daily Beast last year. 'But I must admit being somewhat proud looking back at [the Return of the Jedi] photos.'

Fisher's life was haunted by weight loss and body issues. In 2011 she told Us Weekly that she hated 'wearing big clothes' and joked 'they have to make a new alphabet for my bra size'.

She then became a spokesperson for weight loss company Jenny Craig, a role she has continued in up to the present day.

In a cruel echo of her experience on the first Star Wars movie, when she returned to the role of Leia - now a military general - in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, she was once more told to drop weight for Hollywood.

Despite being clad in military fatigues for the film, she was told to shed a whole 35lbs before shooting began.

'They dont want to hire all of me, only about three-quarters,' she told Good Housekeeping last year.

'Nothing changes, its an appearance-driven thing. Im in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance.
A migrant who is accused of raping one woman and assaulting five others said he could not find a girlfriend and 'wanted to have sex.'

The 26-year-old from Pakistan, identified only as Asif M., is alleged to have approached the women on the street in Berlin, before dragging them away to assault them.

The court heard that he allegedly pulled his first victim to the ground and grabbed her breasts before raping her.

The 26-year-old from Pakistan, identified only as Asif M., is alleged to have approached the women on the street in Berlin before dragging them away to assault them

Asif M. would try to engage the women in conversation, with his opening gambit being that he had just celebrated a birthday, the Berlin Regional Court heard.

The assaults are alleged to have taken place between April 29 and July 25.

Asif M., who came to Germany two years ago and got a job as a bar tender at a restaurant, confessed he had sex with one of the victims but claimed 'she had not resisted'.

He said that because she had done nothing, 'I thought she wanted it.'

The Pakistani migrant said he was ashamed and sorry for what he had done.

He added that he had not committed any offences while in Greece and Austria.

In a statement, he said: 'In Germany, it somehow broke out of me. It is hard to get a girlfriend if you are a refugee and have nothing to offer. I wanted to have sex.'

Asif M., who came to Germany two years ago and got a job as a bar tender at a restaurant, confessed he had sex with the woman but claimed 'she had not resisted' (file photo)

Describing the alleged rape, the prosecutor said: 'After he had just let go of her and she wanted to leave, the accused asked her to stay and undressed the female witness, which she endured for fear of further violence.

'Then the accused performed unprotected vaginal sexual intercourse against the will of the witness.'

According to the prosecution, most of his other alleged victims managed to fight him off, at which point Asif M. ran away.

The court had initially considered agreeing with the defence on a sentence ranging between three years and three months to three years and nine months.

However, due to contradictions in the statements of the defendant, the court chairman said she wanted to question some of the victims.
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Oil wells set on fire by ISIS are still burning four months after the terror group fled a jihadi-held area of Mosul.

The battle to retake the Iraqi city from the Islamic State group is leaving a legacy of environmental damage and health risks that will pose dangers to people for years to come.

ISIS set fire to oil wells before the Qayyarah area was recaptured by Iraqi forces in August, and these have burned for months, turning sheep that graze in the area black with soot.

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Fire crews work to extinguish a burning oil well on the outskirts of Qayyarah on December 23, 2016 in Qayyarah, Iraq

The fire crews, brought in from Kirkuk, have been working tirelessly with oil company representatives to extinguish the oil wells set ablaze by ISIS

The fire crews are currently working on their ninth oil well after extinguishing nearly all the wells close to the city of Mosul

The landscape has been left completely ruined as three few crew members work on a pipe ravaged by the flames

Iraqis have already paid the initial price from burning oil wells and a sulphur factory that ISIS set alight south of Mosul, Iraq's last jihadist-held city which is the target of a major military operation.

The fires, combined with water pollution and the potentially toxic remains of destroyed buildings, military equipment and munitions, will also present longer-term threats to people in areas around and inside Mosul.

'We are concerned about how the pollution will affect the health of local populations and negatively impact their capacity to rebuild quality, sustainable livelihoods within those affected areas,' said Jenny Sparks of the International Organization for Migration.

A United Nations report on environmental and health risks in the Mosul area said that 'hundreds of people were treated for exposure to chemicals, and millions are exposed to soot and gases from the burning oil wells'.

A member of the Federal police stands guard as fire crews work to extinguish a burning oil well on the outskirts of Qayyarah on December 23, 2016 in Qayyarah, Iraq

A firefighters stands on the roof of one of several fire engines in the smoke-filled area of Qayyarah, Iraq

The fire rages on the right hand side of the picture and the devastation of the flames can be seen in the foreground as five firefighters stand helplessly in the left of the picture

Glum looking firefighters appear defeated by the enormity of the task that faces them - to extinguish a seemingly ever-raging fire

Fire crews work to extinguish a burning oil well on the outskirts of Qayyarah on December 23, 2016 in Qayyarah, Iraq

Iraqi civil defence forces have been battling the Qayyarah fires, and while they have extinguished some, others are still burning

The crew, covered in soot and a tar-like substance gather around with some wearing masks as the flames continue to light up the sky

A lone firefighter stands with his back to the fires, which combined with water pollution and the potentially toxic remains of destroyed buildings, military equipment and munitions, will present longer-term threats to people in areas around and inside Mosul

'The events are occurring in an already environmentally degraded region, threatened by substantial environmental legacy risk from previous conflicts, coupled with serious desertification and land degradation primarily caused by unsustainable agricultural practices,' the report said.

A 16-year-old shepherd has spoken of the turmoil farmers face in the area.

'We can't sell our sheep any more. We have had some sheep die, other times people won't buy them because they look black,' said Jaber.
President-elect Donald Trump tweeted about the Berlin Christmas market attack Friday afternoon, calling it a 'purely religious threat' and asking when the U.S. and other nations would fight back.

Trump sent out his tweet hours after Italian police shot and killed terror suspect Anis Amri, who had been stopped for questioning at the Milan train station.

Authorities made the stop on their own, absent any direct information relating to the international manhunt for the man believed to have plowed into a busy market and killed 12 people, injuring dozens more.

'The terrorist who killed so many people in Germany said just before crime, "by God's will we will slaughter you pigs, I swear, we will slaughter you,"' Trump wrote.

'This is a purely religious threat, which turned into reality. Such hatred! When will the U.S., and all countries, fight back?'

President-elect Donald Trump tweeted about the Berlin attacks Friday, asking: ''When will the U.S., and all countries, fight back?'

President-elect Donald Trump tweeted about the Berlin attacks Friday afternoon

He called the attack a 'purely religious threat' and asked when the U.S. and other countries would 'fight back'

ISIS claimed after the attack that Amri was inspired by the terror group.

He shouted 'Alahu Akhbar' [god is great] during the attack.

In a video posted online before the Berlin massacre, Amri pledged allegiance to ISIS and called for global jihad.

' My message to the crusaders who bombard Muslims every day: With Gods will, I swear were coming to slaughter you, you pigs,' Amri said, ABC reported.

'I encourage all my Muslim brothers in every place to conduct jihad in the name of the religion.'

'My message to crusaders bombing Muslims everyday... Their blood will not go in vain. We are a nation behind them and will take revenge for them,' he said.

He invoked religion in the video, adding: 'I call on my Muslim brothers everywhere... Those in Europe, kill the crusader pigs, each person to their own ability.'

The comments left little doubt about his infatuation with religious ideas and interest in killing to support his worldview.

Crime scene: Berlin truck terrorist Anis Amri has been shot dead after a gunfight with police in Milan in the early hours of this morning

Shoot-out: Italian authorities said this morning that they had 'without a shadow of a doubt' killed the chief suspect in the Berlin massacre

German chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured this afternoon) expressed her relief that the suspect poses no further threat

Trump has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, and it wasn't immediately clear whether his calling the massacre a 'religious threat' might be in support of that policy.

Trump and some of his top supporters regularly speak about the need to identify the nation's leading terror enemies as 'radical Islamic extremists.'

Trump's tweets on the massacre came on a day when he also tweeted about nuclear arms, amid escalating rhetoric between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Amri was shot dead by a trainee police officer in Milan, Italy, where he had travelled to via France and Turin after carrying out the atrocity in the German capital.

The Tunisian, on the run for four days after murdering 12 people in a lorry attack in Berlin, rants about 'crusader' airstrikes and vows to 'slaughter infidels like pigs' in the two-minute clip, published by Islamic State's news agency Amaq.

Speaking on a bridge in the north of the city, Amri can be seen wearing a dark jacket and with headphones in his ears as he warns 'infidels' he will 'hunt them down' and pledges allegiance to ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Hours before the video emerged, he was shot dead in Milan having pulled a gun from his backpack and screamed 'Allahu Akbar' as he shot at two police officers carrying out a routine ID check.

On his body police found a train ticket that helped reconstruct the attacker's movements in Berlin, revealing how he took a train from Chambery in France and then from Turin to Milan

The 24-year-old ISIS fanatic was stopped after arriving in the suburb of Sesto San Giovanni in the northern Italian city of Milan at about 3am local time.

Two officers asked him for ID documents, at which point Amri 'immediately' pulled a gun from his backpack and shouted 'police b******s' as he shot one in the shoulder.
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Attacked: Dr Bevin McCartan was punched in the face by a drinken criminal

A drunken criminal who punched a female junior doctor in the face as she tried to help him in hospital has walked free from court.

Andrejus Sumilinas, 34, was blind drunk when he lashed out at Dr Bevin McCartan as she leant to check his heartbeat with a stethoscope.

The convicted criminal, who has a record for common assault and affray while drunk, struck the 38-year-old doctor in the mouth after he was brought into St Marys Hospital in Paddington, London, by ambulance after he had fallen over and banged his head.

There was fury yesterday as the Lithuanian alcoholic, who admitted he was prone to violence when drunk, escaped with a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates Court.

Katie Bryan, prosecuting, said the defendant was brought to the hospital on October 4 after he was involved in a disturbance.

She said: Initially it was reported the defendant had fallen over and banged his head.

Treatment: The convicted criminal was brought into St Marys Hospital (pictured) in Paddington, London, by ambulance after he had fallen over and banged his head

An ambulance arrived and took him to St Marys Hospital. He was examined by Dr McCartan. She assisted him in his chair so she could examine him with her stethoscope. He punched her using his right fist, hitting her in the chin and lower lip area.

He then removed his head restraint and refused to lie down. Officers intervened and then restrained him.

The doctor, who specialises in sport and exercise medicine, was not present in court to see her assailant sentenced.

Sumilinas, who is homeless, represented himself for the hearing, appearing in the dock wearing a leather jacket and a dark blue Christmas jumper with a reindeer pattern.

District Judge Nina Tempia told him: This is a serious offence and you appreciated that when you said sorry.

You punched a doctor in the face and she was trying to look after you. Thats something that she shouldnt have to endure when shes just doing her job in a caring way.

An all-Party parliamentary group on alcohol harm found that round-the-clock drinking laws brought in by PM Tony Blair (above) in 2005 had wreaked havoc on A&E departments

We have a vulnerable woman who was trying to listen to your chest. You were blind drunk and you effectively admitted to that.

In 2012 you were convicted of common assault whilst drunk. You have admitted in interviews that you become violent when you drink so you must stick to your alcohol treatment order.

Conservative MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the Health Committee in the House of Commons, said it was a 'shocking case'

Instead of jail, Sumilinas was ordered to carry out a 12-month community order which included a six-month alcohol treatment programme and 100 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also ordered to pay 85 costs, a 85 surcharge and 50 compensation to the victim.

The case comes days after a Unison inquiry revealed that the number of assaults on health workers has leapt by a fifth over the past five years  with over 70,000 attacks in the last year alone.

Earlier this month, an all-Party parliamentary group on alcohol harm also concluded that round-the-clock drinking laws brought in by prime minister Tony Blair in 2005 had wreaked havoc on A&E departments, where staff are being forced to hire security guards for nights and weekends, and fix televisions to walls to stop them being thrown.

Conservative MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the Health Committee in the House of Commons, said: This is a shocking case.

No doctors or nurses should have to put up with this type of violence.

We should look at the US model of tackling alcohol-related violence where offenders are forced to pay to be tested twice a day to make sure they are sober and if they fail they are immediately remanded into custody.
A young university student says she was forced out of school and thought about committing suicide after she was bullied for supporting Donald Trump.

Andi Moritz was a freshman at Bryn Mawr College - a women's liberal arts school in Pennsylvania - when she asked fellow students if they wanted to join her at an event in Springfield in September.

The 18-year-old posted a message in her college's ride share group on Facebook.

Andi Moritz (pictured) says she was forced out of school and thought about committing suicide after she was bullied for supporting Donald Trump

'Do you have anything to do this Saturday? Perhaps you wouldnt mind campaigning for Trump? Im headed into Springfield to do just that but Im carpooling with a guy I dont know. For obvious reasons, I dont want to go alone, so would anyone be willing to go with me?' the call-out read.

Almost immediately after publishing the post, Moritz was met by abuse.

'So, you want to feel safer on your way to make the world less safe for everyone else,' one person said.

'You want to go campaign for a man who has systematically oppressed entire ethnic/racial groups not to mention the LGBTQIA+ community and many others,' a student wrote.

Moritz was a freshman at Bryn Mawr College (pictured) - a women's liberal arts school in Pennsylvania - when she asked fellow students if they wanted to join her at a Trump event in September

Moritz (pictured with her boyfriend, Ethan DeFrank) asked for someone to travel with her because she did not want to go alone

'Why y'all doing this free labor for white supremacists tho,' one said.

'Nobody has the right to an opinion of bigotry. 0 tolerance for fascists!' another added.

The incident was first covered by a journalism student at the school in her blog.

Moritz deleted her post just hours after sharing it, shocked by the abuse that flooded in from people she passed in the hallways everyday.

A day later, still struggling with the situation, she called the school's suicide hotline.

Moritz had battled with depression and anxiety during her time at high school.

'I just needed to talk to someone,' she told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

'I was very sad. I wanted out of that college.'

'Do you have anything to do this Saturday? Perhaps you wouldnt mind campaigning for Trump?' the young student wrote. Trump is pictured at a Pennsylvania rally in September

Trump talks to members of the media after a meeting with military leadership at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, FL on Wednesday December 21

She dropped out two days later.

Moritz told the Inquirer she initially considered herself to be a Democrat, largely because the party lined up with her views on a range of social issues, such as: the environment, LGBT rights, and women's health rights.

However, she gradually became more conservative - as much of her family is, including her father who served in the military - because of the Republican stance on terrorism, gun rights, and national security.

The school issued a statement to the newspaper, reading: 'Freedom of speech and expression can lead to heated debate on campuses, and the Bryn Mawr campus has not been immune from the polarization of views that characterized the campaign.

'Ad hominem attacks have no place in these discussions and do nothing to help us learn from or better understand one another. We continue to strive to be a place that both affirms freedom of speech and promotes civil discourse.'

Moritz is still trying to cope with the lingering impact of her ordeal, and as a result she is not ready to return to a different school.

She added she hopes people from of all political persuasions find a way to talk to each other and about issues in a more respectful way.
A Chinese toddler girl is in a life-threatening condition after falling into a pot of boiling water outside her house, according to local media.

The two-year-old was reportedly playing by herself when the incident took place yesterday evening in Chengdu, south-west China.

She sustained serious burn injuries, mostly second to third degree burns, on more than 40 per cent of her body, reports said.

Critical condition: Two-year-old Yuanyuan fell into a pot of boiling water in China yesterday

Seriously burnt: The toddler sustains scalds on 40 per cent of her body due to the incident

The toddler, named Sun Yuanyuan, is two years and four months old, according to Huanqiu.com, an affiliation of People's Daily Online.

She fell into the container at around 5:30pm when she was playing outside her house unattended, said Huanqiu, which cited a report from Chengdu Business Daily.

Her grandparents, who are Yuanyuan's caretakers, were doing housework inside the house at the time.

The pot of boiling water had been left by their neighbour who runs a take-away business.

Li Chaozhen, the girl's grandmother, told a reporter that she heard her granddaughter screaming while doing housework. She rushed out and saw her neighbour holding Yuanyuan and washing her with cold water.

Stay strong: She remains in a life-threatening condition and is being treated in Chengdu

The woman, who is a sanitation worker, said her neighbour told her that Yuanyuan had fallen into boiling water.

Ms Li said she quickly took off Yuanyuan's clothes and saw the skin on her back had been seriously scalded. The little girl was screaming throughout the process.

She added: 'I was so scared. My legs felt like jelly and I dropped to the ground.'

According to the grandmother, their neighbour leaves a pot of boiling water by their door every day, and they must walk past the pot to get home.

Yuanyuan was taken to the hospital by ambulance immediately. At 9:30pm, she was transferred to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Department at the No. 2 People's Hospital of Chengdu for further treatment.

According to her doctor, Huang Zhiyong, Yuanyuan remains in a critical condition.

She suffers burns on more than 40 per cent of her body. Most of them are second to third degree burns and are on her back and limbs.

Doctor Huang said: 'Because Yuanyuan's body has not grown fully and her immunity is weak, these injuries are life-threatening to her.'

Plea for help: The girl's grandmother (pictured) said the family couldn't afford the medical bills

Impoverished family: The woman works as a sanitation worker and leads a frugal life

The girl's grandmother has made a desperate plea for help on media.

According to Ms Li, Yuanyuan was abandoned by her own mother when she was five months old and her father is working in another city as a food delivery man.

The woman said Yuanyuan's treatment would cost at least 200,000 yuan (23,488), but as a sanitation worker her live savings were merely 30,000 yuan (3,522).
A Chinese schoolboy who learned how to drive on the internet killed a pedestrian while testing his skills on a stolen car, according to Chinese media.

The 11-year-old reportedly fled the scene after hitting the victim in the city of Taicang, eastern China, on December 19.

The victim was a father-to-be and was about 30 years old.

An 11-year-old boy killed a father-to-be as he drove the car on the road in China (file photo)

According to Huanqiu, an affiliation to People's Daily Online, the suspect is a big fan of cars and learned how to drive by browsing the internet.

The child went to a car rental shop in the evening of December 19, hoping to find a car he could start, reported Huanqiu, citing a report from Taicang Daily.

The boy managed to start one of the cars, so he drove it a way without paying.

The hit-and-run accident happened in Taicang (pictured), a city of one million, on December 19

As he was near the crossroad of Shanghai Xi Road and Wuling Road, he wanted to overtake the vehicle in front of him, so he drove into the bike lane.

The victim was crossing the road at the time. The boy's car sped towards him and crashed into him.

After hitting the victim, the boy did not stop; instead, he fled the scene.

Neither the suspect or the victim has been identified by Chinese media.

The victim was sent to the Traditional Medicine Hospital of Taicang by ambulance at 6:40pm.

The victim's family members waited outside the ER as he was being saved. The father-to-be was pronounced dead on December 20

He was reported to be 30 years old and his wife was about to give birth in half a month.

The doctors tried to save the victim, but resuscitation failed. He was pronounced dead at 2pm on December 20.

The suspect has been detained by the police, who are investigating the case.
A massive gas explosion rocked a residential compound in Beijing today.

Flames engulfed the building following the blast in Chaoyang district at noon local time, reported Huanqiu.com, an affiliation to People's Daily Online.

The fire-fighting bureau dispatched 19 fire engines to the scene to put out the fire.

A massive gas explosion took place in a populated district in Beijing today

The explosion was caused by gas leak at the entrance of the Changying Wanxiang Xintian estate.

Flames quickly tore through the compound and engulfed the residential buildings, as a video released by Sina shows.

The Beijing fire-fighting bureau was alerted of the incident at 12pm, according to its social media post.

Flames engulfed the building following the blast in Chaoyang district 12pm today local time

The explosion was caused by gas leak at the Changying Wanxiang Xintian estate

Flames quickly tore through the compound and engulfed the residential buildings

The bureau sent five detachments and 19 fire engines to the scene.

Firefighters evacuated the residents nearby. They also built a buffering area between the burning area and the rest of the residential compound using water hoses.
Star Trek has long offered a utopian vision of a future where technology has allowed humankind to move beyond the conflicts of its past.

When it first aired in September 1966, the sci-fi classic depicted a universe where people of all races, colours and creeds took to the stars to seek out new life and new civilizations and to boldly go where no man - or woman - had gone before.

But how close are we to realising the once ultra-futuristic technology featured in the Star Trek universe?

Star Trek has long been a byword for science fiction, offering a utopian vision of a future where technology has allowed mankind to move beyond the conflicts of its past. Experts believe many of its technologies may soon become a reality

WARP DRIVE

The ability to travel faster than the speed of light is perhaps the most important step to allow humanity to explore beyond our own solar system and out into the universe.

To do so scientists would need to break, or at least bend, the rules of time and space famously laid out by Albert Einstein.

Perhaps the closest to the Star Trek vision of warp speed is the Alcubierre drive, first proposed by Mexican theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994 that allowed faster-than-light travel without contradicting Einstein.

Researchers at Nasas Johnson Space Center took the proposals seriously enough to investigate.

The space agency recently said it wants to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of space-time, gravitation, inertial frames, quantum vacuum, and other fundamental physical phenomena.

This will enable missions that are not feasible using current propulsion solutions, such as robotic interstellar missions.

The Alcubierre drive concept stretches space-time in a wave that causes the fabric of space-time ahead to contract while expanding the space behind, theoretically allowing 'faster than light' travel

HOLODECKS

While holographic rooms were designed for recreational use by a starships crew, they also allowed the plot of Star Trek to move into exotic and unfamiliar locations.

Although the idea of virtual reality (VR) has been around since the golden age of science fiction, it took until the 1980s for it to be embraced in popular culture.

And it was the 1990s before the first crude attempts at mass market VR headsets were released.

While these holographic rooms were ostensibly designed for recreational use by a starships crew, they also allowed the plot of Star Trek to move into exotic and unfamiliar locations

But with more affordable and powerful headsets like the Occulus Rift, HTC Vive, and Playstation VR being released in recent years, VR could soon become an everyday reality for home users.

Another key attraction of the holodeck was the ability it afforded the crew to physically interact with the holographic environment and characters they encountered.

Developments in haptic feedback have enabled users to interact with digital environments and products.

REPLICATORS

In later series of Star Trek, starting with 80s incarnation The Next Generation, crew members were able to use replicators to create meals by rearranging subatomic particles and combining their molecular components, seemingly out of thin air.

While not yet as advanced, 3D Printers are already being utilised to create edible products.

One chain of sweet shops in the US hit the headlines after using the first 3D printer to produce candy, while a London restaurant recently opened where everything from the tables to the food is created by 3D printers.

Food Ink claims to be the world's first 3D-printing restaurant where the food, furniture and cutlery are created with the technology. The 3D-printer used is made by 'byFlow', and can only process materials in the form of a paste (pictured)

And with Nasa exploring the potential for 3D printed food, it might not be long before astronauts on the International Space Station are also chowing down on meals created from cartridges of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

And printing at the molecular level may not be as far off as we might think, with BAE Systems announcing details of its Chemputer.

Originally envisaged for using chemical process to grow military hardware, it doesnt take much of an imaginative leap to apply this type of technology to food production.

TELEPORTERS

Originally devised as a cheap visual effect to avoid the need for more expensive ship landing sequences, the sight of the Enterprise crew beaming down to an alien planet below is perhaps one of the most iconic spectacles of Star Trek.

While this type of transporter may be a long way off, developments in the realm of quantum mechanics may offer some hope of a future breakthrough.

Professor Michio Kaku has previously said the discoveries needed to transport humans instantly have already been made.

Speaking to the Daily Express, he said:'Quantum teleportation already exists [and] I think within a decade we will teleport the first molecule.'

Originally devised as a cheap visual effect to avoid the need for more expensive ship landing sequences, the sight of the Enterprise crew beaming down to an alien planet below is perhaps one of the most iconic spectacles of Star Trek

Quantum teleportation depends on a phenomenon called quantum entanglement, which allows connections to be made between atoms, with their information being sent to others far away.

The entangled particles are connected in such a way that the action of one directly affects the others, even if they are separated over large distances.

Albert Einstein called this 'spooky action at a distance.'

Previous studies have shown atoms teleporting across a room, and light being teleported across the Danube River in Austria.

And two separate studies released in September 2016 have shown quantum teleportation is feasible through optical fibres across cities.

PHASERS

Military forces around the world have long been interested in energy weapons, since at least the 1980s.

Although they dont function in exactly the same way as the phasers of Star Trek, lasers have shown the most promise in this field and could result in the same kind of destructive force.

Pictured is a remote control based on Star Trek's famous phasers. Military forces around the world have long been interested in energy weapons since at least the 1980s

Tests have already shown that lasers can be used to successfully shoot down drones at a range of at least 22 miles.

The US military has announced it could have such systems mounted on army vehicles as early as 2017.

And the US air force hopes to test laser systems for use by supersonic fighters by 2019.
A new tomb that could hold the bodies of at least one unknown pharaoh has likely been discovered in Egypt, archaeologists have said.

The finding comes after part of a wall was unearthed during a project led by the University of Birmingham.

The 4,200-year-old tomb is also thought to have been an architectural support to another tomb, that contains the bodies of Harkhuf and Heqaib, governors of Elephantine Island during the Old Kingdom.

A new tomb that is thought to hold an unknown pharaoh has been discovered in Egypt. The finding comes after part of a wall (pictured) was unearthed during an archaeological project by the University of Birmingham

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE TOMB A 6.5 foot (two-metre) high ancient encroachment wall has been discovered below a visitors' pathway in the northern part of the West Aswan cemetery at Qubbet el-Hawa. The newly-discovered wall is thought to be the support for the known tombs of the first upper terrace, including those of Harkhuf and Heqaib, who were governors of Elephantine Island during the Old Kingdom. The support wall helped to secure the hillside, and thus lower lying tombs, which were accessible by a causeway leading to a second terrace. The stone wall has been dated circa 2278-2184 BCE, using the pottery shreds embedded within the mortar used to build it. Advertisement

Archaeologists from the University of Birmingham found 'compelling evidence' of the new pharaonic tombs at Qubbet el-Hawa in Aswan.

The researchers say the find is 'promising, adding that it is possible the tomb could hold a pharaoh.

The team will excavate the tomb further in April next year.

A 6.5 foot (two-metre) high ancient encroachment wall has been discovered below a visitors' pathway in the northern part of the West Aswan cemetery at Qubbet el-Hawa.

It follows an archaeological mission by the University of Birmingham and the Egypt Exploration Society (EES) Qubbet el-Hawa Research Project Group (QHRP), directed by Dr Martin Bommas of the University of Birmingham.

The newly-discovered wall is thought to indicate the architectural support for the known tombs of the first upper terrace, including those of Harkhuf and Heqaib, who were governors of Elephantine Island during the Old Kingdom.

Because of the landscape of Qubbet el-Hawa, the support wall helped to secure the hillside, and lower lying tombs, which were accessible by a causeway leading to a second terrace.

Carl Graves, a PhD student who worked alongside Dr Bommas on the project, said: 'The findings are dramatically altering our understanding of the funerary landscape in this area during the Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period in 2278-2184BC.

'I don't think anyone yet knows who the tombs might have belonged to.'

Nasr Salama, General Director of Aswan and Nubia Antiquities, describes the discovery as 'stunning' telling the Egypt Independent it is now only a matter of time until new tombs are uncovered within the important cemetery.

The archaeological mission by the University of Birmingham and the Egypt Exploration Society (EES) Qubbet el-Hawa Research Project Group (QHRP), directed by Dr Martin Bommas of the University of Birmingham (pictured left)

Archaeologists from the University of Birmingham found 'compelling evidence' of the new pharaonic tombs at Qubbet el-Hawa in Aswan, pictured on a map

The 6.5 foot (two-metre) high ancient encroachment wall has been discovered below a visitors' pathway in the northern part of the West Aswan cemetery at Qubbet el-Hawa (pictured)

Eman Khalifa, director of the pottery project within the QHRP, told the paper the stone wall was dated by the pottery shreds embedded within the mortar used to build it.

She said the crushed pieces include parts of carinated bowls, in a style typical of the reign of King Pepi II from the Sixth Dynasty, circa 2278-2184 BCE.

The find was part of the project's successful first field season, which included the recent discovery of the long sought causeway of Sarenput I, thought to have been the first governor of the area at the beginning of the Middle Kingdom.

The newly-discovered wall is thought to indicate the architectural support for the known tombs of the first upper terrace

The crushed pieces found buried in the wall include parts of carinated bowls, in a style typical of the reign of King Pepi II from the Sixth Dynasty, circa 2278-2184 BCE

The 4,200-year-old tomb is also thought to have been an architectural support to another tomb, that contains the bodies of Harkhuf, pictured in a relief from his tomb

Earlier this year, a 3,800-year-old ancient Egyptian mummy has been discovered in the same place, and may have been one of the most important figures in the civilisation's history.

Archaeologists unearthed the tomb in the necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa and believe it belonged to a woman called 'Lady Sattjeni', a key figure in the Middle Kingdom.

They say the body was found in extremely good condition, wrapped in linen and deposited inside two wooden coffins.

Dr Mahmoud Afify, head of the Ancient Egyptian Archaeology Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities, said at the time: 'The discovery is of a historic importance because Sattjeni is one of the most important figures in the Middle Kingdom, being the mother of Heqaib III and Amaeny-Senb - two of the highest authorities of Elephantine under the reign of Amenemhat III, around 1800-1775 BC.'
The idea of a firm whose employees' actions are completely dictated by a robot may sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster.

But the futuristic idea could soon be a reality for the world's biggest hedge fund.

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, is leading a project, called 'The Book of the Future' that would automate the firm's management.

The idea of a firm whose employees' actions are completely dictated by a computer may sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster. But the futuristic idea could soon be a reality for the world's biggest hedge fund (stock image)

HOW IT WORKS Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, is leading a secret project, called 'The Book of the Future' that would automate the firm's management. According to The Wall Street Journal, the system would send 'GPS-style directions' to employees, telling them how they should be spending their time, down to when to make phone calls. The system is under development, and details of the plans remain top secret. But one employee at Bridgewater Associates told The Wall Street Journal that the project was 'like trying to make Ray's brain into a computer.' The automated system will be built using data from a range of personality tests that Mr Dalio gives to employees. Advertisement

According to the Wall Street Journal, the system would send 'GPS-style directions' to employees, telling them how they should be spending their time, down to when to make phone calls.

The system is under development, and details of the plans remain top secret.

But one employee at Bridgewater Associates told the Wall Street Journal that the project was 'like trying to make Ray's brain into a computer.'

Mr Dalio is known for his unconventional leadership style.

At Bridgewater, meetings are recorded, employees are encouraged to criticise each other, and people are regularly probed on their weaknesses.

And Mr Dalio is very open about his tactics, blogging about this culture.

In a blog about his management principles, Mr Dalio wrote: 'Criticism is both welcomed and encouraged at Bridgewater, so there is no good reason to talk behind people's backs.

'You need to follow this policy to an extreme degree.

'For example, managers should not talk about people who work for them without those people being in the room.'

The automated system will be built using data from a range of personality tests that Mr Dalio gives to employees.

One of the tests determines managers' 'stratum' - an unconventional score for conceptual skills.

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, is leading a secret project, called 'The Book of the Future' that would automate the firm's management

Questions include: 'What is the biggest problem Bridgewater faces today?', and the highest marks go to those who have an innate ability to spot long-term trends.

Mr Dalio has the highest stratum score at Bridgewater, and according to the Wall Street Journal, one of the highest scores in the world.

Details of when the system may be put in place remain unknown.
Christmas can be an intense rollercoaster of activity and emotions so it may be no surprise that it actually has a major affect on our brains.

While the festive spirit and spending time with family can be good for us, overdoing the food and arguing over boardgames can also have negative affects on our health.

Kira Shaw, Postdoctoral Researcher in Neuroscience, University of Sussex, writing for The Conversation explains exactly how Christmas can affect the brain.

The joy surrounding Christmas may influence some of the chemicals in your brain (dopamine and serotonin) which affect your happiness levels. But overindulging has been shown to activate a pathway linking the hypothalamus in the brain to the immune system (stock)

Christmas is a time of year like no other; gifts are exchanged, little-spoken-to relatives are contacted, and appetising treats are consumed with great gusto.

Christmas can be both a time of stress and a time of relaxation.

But whether you love or hate Christmas it's pretty difficult to avoid  and so your brain may be altered by the experience one way or another.

Here are some of the main facets of the Christmas experience, and how they might affect your brain.

THE FESTIVE SPIRIT

The joy surrounding Christmas may influence some of the chemicals in your brain (dopamine and serotonin) which affect your happiness levels.

Dopamine is known to be involved with reward-driven behaviour and pleasure seeking and serotonin is thought to increase our feelings of worth and belonging.

So when people talk about 'Christmas cheer' they may be on to something.

In fact, researchers at the University of Copenhagen conducted an imaging study to try and find the 'centre' of the Christmas spirit in the human brain.

Here, participants were shown Christmas-themed images and, in those participants who actively celebrated Christmas, there was increased brain activation in the sensory motor cortex, the premotor and primary motor cortex, and the parietal lobule.

Previously these brain areas have been associated with spirituality, bodily senses and recognising facial emotions.

While these results should be interpreted with some caution, it is interesting to note the physical effects that feeling festive can exert on your brain.

STRESS

Not everyone finds Christmas an entirely joyful and festive time  many people find it very stressful.

In fact, the burdens of navigating through a busy shopping centre to find the ideal gift for your other half, or of cooking the perfect turkey for a house full of hungry people, is enough to rattle even the calmest person.

Stress releases cortisol, which has been shown to have a profound effect on the hippocampus, which may decrease your memory and ability to multitas (stock image)

Stress can exert a physical response in your body, with the automatic release of adrenaline and cortisol.

Further, cortisol has been shown to have a profound effect on the hippocampus, which may decrease your memory and ability to multitask.

GIVING GIFTS

The giving and receiving of gifts is an age-old Christmas tradition and there's no better feeling than seeing your loved one's eyes light up when you've found the perfect gift for them.

But why does giving make us feel so good?

Generosity has been linked with the reward circuitry of our brain, causing the release of dopamine and endorphins.

Researchers have described a 'helpers' high', which is experienced after giving.

Generosity has been linked with the reward circuitry of our brain, causing the release of dopamine and endorphins. Researchers have described a 'helpers' high', which is experienced after giving (stock image)

The chemicals that cause this high can reduce stress and increase your desire to repeat these acts of kindness.

So, while you may resent being out of pocket after buying your great aunt that pair of slippers, your brain at least ensures that you are compensated with a chemical reward.

BONDING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

The quintessential Christmas experience involves sitting around a table with your loved ones.

In fact, it's hard to even imagine the festive period without thinking of your family and friends.

The bond between you and those special to you can result in the release of a hormone called oxytocin in the brain.

Oxytocin  sometimes referred to as the 'cuddle hormone'  drives maternal behaviour, trust, and social attachment.

As such, this hormone may help towards explaining that warm, fuzzy feeling you get at Christmas when surrounded by those you love and trust.

OVERINDULGING

Indulging in our favourite food and drinks is all part of the Christmas experience  but overeating can affect your brain.

It has been shown to activate a pathway linking the hypothalamus in the brain to the immune system.

Go easy on the Christmas turkey: When overeating becomes a long-term issue, this inflammation can become chronic, and contribute to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease

This leads to an immune response and low-grade inflammation, which may explain why you can feel unwell after eating too much.

Of course, this doesn't do much harm to your body after one extravagant Christmas meal  but, when overeating becomes a long-term issue, this inflammation can become chronic, and contribute to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
While most of your Christmas dinner currently comes from the supermarket, one day everything from the Brussels sprouts to the turkey could be made using a 3D printer.

But while the technology is being developed, experts say that a fear of the unknown could prevent people from using it.

In an article for The Conversation, Deborah Lupton, Centenary Research Professor, and Bethaney Turner, Assistant Professor in International Studies, both at the University of Canberra, explain why people may be resistant to eating 3D-printed food.

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While most of your Christmas dinner currently comes from the supermarket, one day everything from the Brussels sprouts to the turkey could be made using a 3D printer (stock image)

WHY 3D-PRINT FOOD? News reports and industry blogs are very positive about what 3D food printing can offer. They have covered such events as Michelin-starred chefs experimenting with 3D food printers in pop-up restaurants in Europe. The media has also reported on the potential for 3D printing to cater for astronauts, air travellers and people in emergency situations. Nursing homes in Europe are offering 3D-printed food with jelly-like texture for residents with chewing and swallowing difficulties. Developers of 3D food printers claim that people will soon have these devices in their kitchens, helping them prepare tasty and healthy foods at home. But that's not all. There's also the radical idea of using insects and laboratory-grown meat in 3D-printed food as a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources. Meat and Livestock Australia also recently announced that it is looking into ways to use 3D printing to produce new meat products to extract the most value from animal carcasses. Advertisement

Could you imagine serving a 3D-printed turkey for Christmas lunch?

Or munching on a 3D printed pizza for an afternoon snack?

This is not as far fetched as it sounds.

While 3D printers have mainly been in the news for their ability to manufacture inedible goods, they are increasingly being used for culinary endeavours.

3D food printers extrude soft liquid edible matter through nozzles that build up layer by layer in patters directed by a computer program.

They can pump out everything from chocolates, confectionery, biscuits and pancakes, to pasta, pizza and other savoury snacks.

News reports and industry blogs are very positive about what 3D food printing can offer.

They have covered such events as Michelin-starred chefs experimenting with 3D food printers in pop-up restaurants in Europe.

The media have also reported on the potential for 3D printing to cater for astronauts, air travellers and people in emergency situations.

Nursing homes in Europe are offering 3D printed food with jelly-like texture for residents with chewing and swallowing difficulties.

Developers of 3D food printers claim that people will soon have these devices in their kitchens, helping them prepare tasty and healthy foods at home.

But that's not all.

There's also the radical idea of using insects and laboratory-grown meat in 3D-printed food as a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources.

Meat and Livestock Australia also recently announced that it is looking into ways to use 3D printing to produce new meat products to extract the most value from animal carcasses.

So it is not far-fetched to imagine serving a Christmas lunch with 3D-printed food made from red meat and poultry, or decorative edible items made from fruit or vegetable purees, sugar or chocolate.

3D printers have been used at events such as Michelin-starred chefs experimenting with 3D food printers in pop-up restaurants in Europe

BUT WOULD YOU EAT IT?

What do you think about 3D-printed food?

Would you try it, or offer it to family members or guests?

Despite industry enthusiasm and investment in research and development, few studies have actually asked these questions of consumers.

To investigate these issues, we conducted our own research with 30 Australians, using an online focus group.

The results highlight some interesting complications in the way many people perceive 3D-printed foods, and what might tempt them to try some.

First of all, we found that none of the participants had heard of using 3D printing technology to make food products.

3D food printers extrude soft liquid edible matter through nozzles that build up layer by layer in patters directed by a computer program

As 3D printing technologies were usually associated with inedible objects made from substances such as plastic, plaster or metal, it was difficult for our participants to understand how they might work with foodstuffs.

They were initially incredulous that this technology could be used for making food and couldn't imagine what kinds of foods would be produced.

This manner of food processing was viewed as highly unnatural, with several assuming that the resulting food would be somehow 'plastic' and therefore inedible.

Our participants were far more positive about 3D-printed carrots, pasta, pizza, chocolate and a meal with chicken and vegetables (made from 'real' whole food purees) than they were about 3D-printed sugar confections, meat and food made from food waste and alternative food sources such as algae and insects.

Cultural beliefs about what kinds of matter are considered tasty and appropriate to eat were central in our participants' responses.

While substances such as insects and algae fit consumers' preferences for natural ingredients, these foods were considered disgusting by nearly all of the participants.

They could not imagine eating them or serving them to others.

These materials were considered to be inedible according to the cultural norms of our participants, no matter how they are prepared or processed.

3D printers can pump out everything from to chocolates, confectionery, biscuits and pancakes, to pasta, pizza and other savoury snacks

3D PRINTING FOOD IN SPACE In 2013, a Nasa-funded project began to study how to make nutritious and efficient space food with a 3D printer during long space missions. Texas-based company Systems and Materials Research Consultancy (SMRC) will explore whether a 3D-printed food system will be able to provide nutrient stability and a wide variety of foods from shelf stable ingredients, while minimizing waste and saving time for space crews. The International Space Station now does have a 3D printer, however it is yet to print any food. Advertisement

So it wasn't that they were 3D printed per se, but what they were printed from that affected their attitude to the food.

Those participants who had ethical misgivings about eating conventionally grown meat liked the idea of 3D-printed meat products.

But most of the participants considered the process to be a little too much like 'Frankenfood', particularly if it involved using laboratory-cultured meat.

Here it was the process of making the ingredient that was considered 'unnatural'.

BUILDING FAMILIARITY

Many participants' lack of familiarity with the 3D printing process underpinned their reservations about the safety of using food materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste.

They were unsure about how the risks of food contamination and preservation would be dealt with.

Many of them also considered the healthiness of foods to be an important factor.

Our participants had no problem viewing 3D-printed sugar confections, pizza or chocolate as potentially edible.

But they did express concern about the healthiness of these foods, given their ingredients and current status as junk food.

So, if our results can be generalised to the broader population, it seems many people are interested in novel food products.

Most people see no problem in viewing 3D printed sugar confections, pizza or chocolate as potentially edible

They will try them if they can be assured of their edibility, healthiness and safety, and have an understanding of how these products are processed and what they are made from.

But our study shows that those wishing to promote 3D-printed food might have several challenges on their hands.

First of all, they may need to familiarise the public with how this process works and reassure them that it is safe.

Then they might need to emphasise that 3D-printed food is tasty, even if it looks unusual or is made from ingredients that are not normally considered edible by cultural standards.
Google has been quiet on the wearables front recently, but that's all about to change with two new flagship smartwatches confirmed for release in early 2017.

Teasing the upcoming launch, Jeff Chang, product manager of Android Wear at Google, confirmed the future watch plans in a recent interview.

But despite bearing flagship status, these watches won't be made by Google.

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No pictures have been released of the two new watches yet, but multiple sources involved in the project have revealed the specifications of a sporty, feature packed device as well as a lighter, stylish wearable

WHAT IS ANDROID WEAR? Android Wear is Google's proprietary software designed to run on touchscreen wearable gadgets. It's an offshoot of Android OS, the world's most popular smartphone software. It uses gesture controls to let users swipe through on-screen apps and menu options. Compatible with all recent Android phones, there's also limited support for iPhone owners. By contrast, the Apple Watch only works with Apple's handsets. Advertisement

Instead, they will be branded by the manufacturer that the firm has collaborated with on the new Android Wear powered devices.

Although this mystery manufacturer hasn't been named, Chang confirmed the company had previously made Android Wear devices.

This lengthy list could include firms such as Samsung, Huawei, Motorola and LG, or traditional watch brands including Tag Heuer, Fossil and Michael Kors.

As well as new hardware, Chang, speaking with The Verge, confirmed the new watches would be the first to run the heavily updated Android Wear 2.0 operating system.

Revamping the software's awkward user interface, the update will also introduce a number of new features.

These include Android Pay support, standalone apps that don't require a phone to work, and the recently released voice-controlled Google Assistant.

Despite having been overtaken by Apple and its Apple Watch at the top of smartwatch sales charts, Chang says Google remains 'quite optimistic' about the future of smartwatches.

Unlike Apple, Google doesn't make its own watches, instead partnering with third-party manufacturers and licensing out its software, a move it believes gives it the long-term edge.

Although this mystery manufacturer hasn't been named, Chang confirmed the company had previously made Android Wear devices. This lengthy list could include tech firms such as Samsung, Huawei, Motorola and LG. Pictured is Motorola's 360 2 smartwatch

'We've enabled a lot of diversity with our hardware partners to target different types of consumers and preferences,' Chang said.

'This is a marathon, not a sprint.

'This category of products is here with us to stay.'

Despite dodging manufacturing duties on the first Android Wear 2.0 watches, Google is no stranger to making its own gadgets.

Earlier this year, the company launched its first own-brand smartphone, the Google Pixel.

The new watches have been confirmed for release on an unspecified date in Q1 2017, a period that runs from January 1 to March 31.

With Mobile World Congress, the Barcelona-based mobile technology show, to run between February 27 and March 2, it's likely the new devices will make their first official appearance around this time.
The presence of a steady stream of tiny bubbles cascading upwards in a glass of champagne has long been lauded as a sign of quality by wine connoisseurs.

But new research suggests this widely held belief - that the smaller the bubbles in the champagne the better the drink will be - is not necessarily true.

Instead, scientists based in the heart of France's Champagne-Ardenne region have found larger bubbles may actually improve the way a sparkling wine tastes.

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Researchers have explored how bubbles affect the taste of sparkling wine. A few seconds after pouring, the surface of a champagne flute is covered with a layer of disperse millimetric bubbles, where bubbles arrange themselves in an approximate hexagonal pattern

THE PERFECT CHAMPAGNE The bubble size study is the latest in a long line of research by Professor Liger-Belair and his colleagues. Previously they have shown that chilling champagne can help to reduce the amount of alcohol carried up in each bubble. This can prevent more delicate flavours from being overpowered. Cooling a bottle of champagne to 4 degrees C (39 degrees F) can also help to reduce the speed of the cork as it leaves the bottle, preventing accidents, they found. Tilting the glass when pouring can also help prevent it from overflowing. Drinking from a flute rather than a wider coupe glass can also help to enhance the flavour due to the way the bubbles mix in a glass. Advertisement

They have discovered that the presence of larger bubbles, around 3.4mm (0.1in) across at the surface, dramatically enhances the release of aerosols into the air above the glass.

This means important aromatic compounds that give champagne its distinctive smell and flavour are flung into the drinker's nose when they take a sip.

Professor Gerard Liger-Belair, a chemical physicist at the University of Reims who led the research, said: 'This result is also remarkable as it undermines the popular belief that the smaller the bubbles, the better the champagne.

'Small bubbles were the worst in terms of aroma release.'

Around one million bubbles form in the average glass of champagne, according to Professor Liger-Belair.

The bubbles form due to the dissolved carbon dioxide, which forms in the wine due to a second fermentation process that occurs during production inside the sealed bottles.

When the bottle is opened, this gas is released, often explosively, causing the champagne to foam.

The remaining gas then gradually bubbles to the surface in the glass.

These bubbles form a 'raft' on the surface and then collapse, releasing a cloud of tiny droplets that produce the pleasurable experience when drinking champagne.

Using high-speed photography and imaging techniques, Professor Liger-Belair and his colleagues have been able to study precisely what happens to a champagne bubble.

In a study published in a special issue of the European Physical Journal Special Topics, they show that the bubbles form a regular hexagonal pattern on the surface.

When a bubble collapses, this creates a cavity that stretches and strains the neighbouring bubbles, producing a pattern that looks similar to the petals of a flower.

The team used laser tomography techniques to reveal the differences in how bubbles flow in champagne glasses. The coupe (pictured) has 'dead zones' around the edge of the glass

In the flute (pictured), vortices mix the liquid beneath the entire surface. The researchers say drinking from a champagne flute should be a more pleasurable experience

This, they say, increases the chances of the surrounding bubbles collapsing, creating an avalanche of tiny droplets being thrown into the air at the top of the glass.

Traditionally wine professionals often use bubble size as a marker of quality - with larger bubbles in cheap sparkling wines like Prosecco and Cava.

Professor Liger-Belair said bubble size in champagne and sparkling can vary from between 0.4mm (0.015in) and 4mm (0.15in) across.

The viscosity of the drink and the glass into which it is poured can all influence how big these bubbles are.

But they found bubbles with a radius of 1.7mm across resulted in the highest number of droplets evaporating at the surface of the drink.

He said the research could help lead to innovations that could improve the taste of sparkling wines.

This image shows the flower-shaped structure, frozen through high-speed photography, found during the collapse of bubbles at the surface of a champagne flute during the researchers' work

He said: 'We showed that decreasing champagne viscosity would improve drop evaporation.

'Additives that would change wine viscosity without changing the taste might be used.

'These results pave the way towards fine tuning of champagne aroma diffusion.'

It is the latest in a long line of research by Professor Liger-Belair and his colleagues.

Previously they have shown that chilling champagne can help to reduce the amount of alcohol carried up in each bubble.

This can prevent more delicate flavours from being overpowered.

This image shows the flower-shaped structure, frozen through high-speed photography, found during the collapse of bubbles at the surface of a champagne flute during the researchers' work

Cooling a bottle of champagne to 4 degrees C (39 degrees F) can also help to reduce the speed of the cork as it leaves the bottle, preventing accidents, they found.

Tilting the glass when pouring can also help prevent it from overflowing.

Drinking from a flute rather than a wider coupe glass can also help to enhance the flavour due to the way the bubbles mix in a glass.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phones have been banned from planes after reports of the handsets catching on fire.

Now the threat of one handset making its way on board a Virgin America flight almost caused the plane to be diverted.

According to one passenger on the flight, someone on board had changed their device's WiFi network name to 'Galaxy Note 7_1097,' prompting the crew to panic thinking there was a device on board.

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Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phones have been banned from planes after reports of the handsets catching on fire. Now the threat of one handset making its way on board a Virgin America flight almost caused the plane to be diverted. Stock image

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FLIGHT? Lucas Wojciechowski, a software engineer from San Francisco, recounted the tale on his Twitter feed. 'Open my laptop on the plane and notice a Galaxy Note 7 wifi hotspot,' he said. 'About an hour into the flight there's an announcement "If anyone has a Galaxy Note 7, please press your call button",' his Tweets said. He continued: '15 minutes later "This isn't a joke. We're going to turn on the lights (its 11pm)" and search everyone's bag until we find it'''. 'Apparently the plane is going to have to get diverted & searched if nobody fesses up soon,' he continued. 'Ladies and gentlemen, we found the device. Luckily only the name of the device was changed to 'Galaxy Note 7'. It was not a GN7,' the passenger concluded. Advertisement

Samsung has been dealing with issues with its troublesome handset since it was released in August this year.

The South Korean firm issued an update on 19 December that stops the handset from charging, rendering it useless.

In October, the US banned Galaxy Note 7s on board planes, in case of explosion or fire.

Other countries have also banned the handsets, including countries across Europe and Asia.

But on a Virgin America flight 358 from San Francisco to Boston, crew members thought someone had smuggled a phone onto the plane.

Lucas Wojciechowski, a software engineer from San Francisco, recounted the tale on his Twitter feed.

'Open my laptop on the plane and notice a Galaxy Note 7 wifi hotspot,' he said.

'About an hour into the flight there's an announcement "If anyone has a Galaxy Note 7, please press your call button",' his Tweets said.

'Apparently the plane is going to have to get diverted & searched if nobody fesses up soon,' he continued.

'Ladies and gentlemen, we found the device. Luckily only the name of the device was changed to 'Galaxy Note 7'. It was not a GN7,' the passenger concluded.

Samsung axed its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in October this year, stopping production of the faulty device a day after it halted global sales of the product and offering everyone their money back.

In October, the US banned Galaxy Note 7s on board planes, in case of explosion or fire. Other countries have also banned the handsets, including countries across Europe and Asia. A Swedish airport sign showing the banned phones, pictured

Open my laptop on the plane and notice a Galaxy Note 7 wifi hotspot https://t.co/y1csn9gOsZ pic.twitter.com/9Z5IJULuPs  Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

About an hour into the flight there's an announcement "If anyone has a Galaxy Note 7, please press your call button"  Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

15 minutes later "This isn't a joke. We're going to turn on the lights" (its 11pm) "and search everyone's bag until we find it"  Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

an additional 15 minutes later "This is the captain speaking..."  Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

Apparently the plane is going to have to get diverted & searched if nobody fesses up soon   Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

"I don't know if you've ever been diverted at 3am... Let me tell you, it is terrible. There is nothing open in the terminal. Nothing."  Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

"Ladies and gentlemen, we found the device. Luckily only the name of the device was changed to 'Galaxy Note 7'. It was not a GN7."  Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

The South Korean tech giant said it made the final decision to stop production for the sake of consumer safety, after a huge number of the phones overheated and spontaneously burst into flames (example pictured)

He continued: '15 minutes later "This isn't a joke. We're going to turn on the lights (its 11pm)" and search everyone's bag until we find it'''.

The South Korean tech giant said it made the final decision to stop production for the sake of consumer safety, after a huge number of the phones overheated and spontaneously burst into flames.

While Samsung originally put the problem down to the battery manufacturing process, reports earlier this week claim there was a fault in the phone itself.

A Southwest Airlines plane was evacuated after smoke coming from an overheated Samsung device filled the cabin

The latest reports say the fires were caused by an 'aggressive' design flaw that squeezed the phone's battery pack to dangerous pressure levels.

At the time of the axing, Koh Dong-jin, Samsung's mobile president, told reporters in Seoul: 'The flaw in the manufacturing process resulted in the negative electrodes and the positive electrodes coming together.'

But Anna Shedletsky, hardware engineer and chief executive of tech company Instrumental, was not satisfied with Samsung's explanation for the flaming phones.

This is because, after initial attempts to fix the problem, Samsung decided to recall every handset and cancel the product line.

'If it was only a battery part issue and could have been salvaged by a re-spin of the battery, why cancel the product line and cede several quarters of revenue to competitors?' Ms Shedletsky wrote in a blog post.

Ms Shedletsky and colleagues took apart one of the phones and found it did not leave enough space for the battery to swell when it expanded during charging.
A state-of-the-art James Bond-style craft that lifts above the water could make speedboats a thing of the past.

The Quadrofoil Q2S is a two-seater hydrofoil craft powered by an electric outboard motor.

Because the aluminium alloy vessel sits above the surface of the water, it suffers little resistance and can reach a top speed of 25mph (40km/h).

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A state-of-the-art James Bond-style craft that lifts above the water could make speedboats a thing of the past

QUADROFOIL Q2S ELECTRIC SPECS Height: 1.2 metres (3ft 11 inches) Length: 3 metres (9ft 10 inches) Width with foils: 2.5 metres (8ft 2 inches) Weight: 100kg (220lbs) Seats: 2 Speed: 25mph (40kph) Range: 62 miles (100km) on a full battery Batteries: 10KWh Cost: 17,586 ($28,144) Shipping date: First quarter 2017 Advertisement

The shape of the four foils creates lift, to haul the vessel above the surface of the water and travel with minimal water resistance and in turn very little noise.

While the boat has been in development for several years, the first 100 limited-edition boats have now been sold, expected for delivery globally early next year.

The craft costs 17,586 ($28,144) and is powered by an electric motor and will cost less than 80p ($1.30) an hour to run.

The battery gives the craft a range of 62 miles (100km) on a single charge.

A four-seater version of the boat is currently in development.

Marine engineers from Slovenia, who invented the craft, describe it as: 'A thrilling yet quiet and eco-friendly watercraft'.

'Its silent motor and zero emissions enable it to ride on lakes, rivers, seas & eco-zones where most motor boats and PWCs are not allowed,' they say.

According to its creators, the Quadrofoil is easy to operate and the steering wheel has an integrated touch screen display to show a user how much battery power the boat has left, as well as its range and speed.

The wheel will act as a detachable key, so that no one else can start the engine when it is removed.

The boat has an integrated steering system, which is designed to keep the craft stable, prevents drifting and makes the craft responsive.

The Quadrofoil Q2S is a two-seater hydrofoil craft powered by an electric outboard motor

Because the aluminium alloy vessel sits above the surface of the water, it suffers little resistance and can reach a top speed of 25mph (40km/h)

The shape of the four foils creates lift to drag the vessel above the surface of the water (pictured) and travel with minimal water resistance

WHAT IS A HYDROFOIL? AND WHY DO THEY CREATE LIFT? The Quadrofoil has four hydrofoils, which are wing-like lifting surfaces that operate in water. They look like airfoils used by aeroplanes and are mounted on struts below the hull. When speed is gained, they lift the boat's hull out of the water, decreasing drag and allowing for greater speeds. The foils are shaped to move smoothly through the water causing water flow to be deflected downward, which exerts an upward force on the foil. This turning of the water causes higher pressure on the bottom and reduced pressure on the top of the foil. This pressure difference is accompanied by a velocity difference, so the resulting flow about the foil has a higher average velocity on one side than the other. When used as a lifting element on a hydrofoil boat, this upward force lifts the body of the vessel, decreasing drag and increasing speed. While the boat has been in development for several years, the first 100 limited-edition boats have now been sold, expected for delivery early next year Advertisement

It is made to stay horizontal at all times because of the foil design, which places the centre of gravity eight metres (26 ft) above the vessel.

The lightweight hull is built from composite materials and weighs just 100kg (220lbs).

Despite claiming the Quadrofoil is unsinkable and super stable, the craft will come with two life jackets, a paddle and safety whistle.

The battery gives the craft a range of 62 miles (100km) on a single charge. A four-seater version of the boat is currently in development

The boat has an integrated steering system, which is designed to keep the craft stable, prevents drifting and makes the craft responsive




It may be three billion light-years away from Earth, but this distant constellation could be trying to contact us.

Six bursts of radio waves have been detected from the constellation Auriga, each lasting just a few milliseconds.

While the source of the waves remains unknown, some suggest they mysterious bursts of energy could be a sign of alien life trying to contact us.

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Six bursts of radio waves have been detected from the constellation Auriga, each lasting just a few milliseconds (stock image)

WHAT ARE FAST RADIO BURSTS? Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are radio emissions that appear temporarily and randomly, making them not only hard to find, but also hard to study. The mystery stems from the fact it is not known what could produce such a short and sharp burst. This has led some to speculate they could be anything from stars colliding to artificially created messages. The first FRB was spotted, or rather 'heard' by radio telescopes, back in 2007. But it was so temporary and seemingly random that it took years for astronomers to agree it wasn't a glitch in one of the telescope's instruments. Advertisement

The waves were detected by researchers from McGill University in Montreal, using the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, and at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

In their paper, published in The Astrophysical Journal, the researchers, led by Paul Scholz, wrote: 'We have detected six additional radio bursts from this source: five with the Green Bank Telescope at 2 GHz, and one at 1.4 GHz with the Arecibo Observatory, for a total of 17 bursts from this source.'

The detection follows 11 previously recorded outbursts from the same location, called FRB 121102.

This is the only known repeater of fast radio bursts (FRBs) - radio emissions that appear temporarily and randomly.

Despite there being a number of FRBs from the site, the origin of the bursts is an ongoing puzzle to researchers.

But the researchers say that the repeated outbursts imply that whatever is causing the radio bursts is not a one-time event, such as an explosion or collision.

Instead, they say that flares from a young neutron star  the dense core left behind where a star explodes  are a promising candidate.

The researchers added: 'Whether FRB 121102 is a unique object in the currently known sample of FRBs, or all FRBs are capable of repeating, its characterisation is extremely important to understanding fast extragalactic radio transients.'

The waves were detected by researchers from McGill University in Montreal, using the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia (pictured), and at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico

Previously when waves have been detected, astronomers have also asked Seti (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) to take a closer look at whether they could be a message from ET.

But it is unclear if the McGill researchers will ask Seti to help this time.

If there are any intelligent alien life forms out there, Stephen Hawking thinks we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them.

The physicist believes if aliens discovered Earth, they are likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet.

'If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans,' he said in an interview.

In the 2016 film, Arrival, a linguist is hired by the military to assist in translating alien communications. But if there are any intelligent alien life forms out there, Stephen Hawking thinks we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them

But co-founder and former director of the Seti Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn't think this will be the case.

She argues any aliens who have managed to travel across the universe will be sophisticated enough to be friendly and peaceful.

'The idea of a civilisation which has managed to survive far longer than we have...and the fact that that technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn't make sense,' she said.
A cargo plane emblazoned with 'Prime Air' descended from an empty sky at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Tuesday, ninety minutes from the bustle of New York City, loaded with crates of goods during the peak holiday shopping season.

It's one of 40 jets leased by Amazon.com for a new cargo service to meet delivery demand from the retail giant's customers.

Exclusive payload data reviewed by Reuters and interviews with airport officials around the country show that Prime Air planes are flying nearly full, but with lightweight loads, taking away valued business from FedEx Corp and United Parcel Service Inc.

Amazon's planes, branded 'Prime Air' fly into little known airport near major cities in the dead of night to allow evening orders to be loaded.

NIGHT FLIGHTS Flight data shows another way that Amazon is departing from cargo companies' road map in an attempt of its top goal: rapid delivery. Using FlightAware.com and similar websites, Reuters tracked the schedules of Amazon contractors and verified with airports which flights were on behalf of the retailer. Many of the company's eastbound flights leave the states of Washington and California unusually late at night: its flight from Stockton to Wilmington, Ohio departs close to 2:00 AM Pacific Time (10:00 GMT), for instance. FedEx instead schedules most eastbound service no later than 9:00 PM (5:00 GMT) to ensure arrival at its Memphis, Tennessee hub in time for sorting packages overnight. Advertisement

Expanding into transportation, from trucks to planes, is one of Amazon's most important endeavors as it strives to lure new customers with fast shipping while keeping costs under control.

The world's largest online retailer is sending more packages, more often, and later in the day to serve its estimated 35 million to more than 50 million U.S. members of Amazon Prime, a service that promises two-day shipping for $99 per year.

Bulky boxes with goods once purchased in stores, like toilet paper, are a revenue driver at UPS and FedEx. That's in part because they now are charging customers increasingly by boxes' volume rather than weight. Shipping its own big, light packages is helping Amazon dodge those rising fees.

To date, Amazon has only said it leased the planes to speed up shipping and to backstop cargo partners during the holiday season. FedEx and UPS have delivered items late for Christmas in recent years.

'Our own delivery efforts are needed to supplement that capacity rather than replace it,' Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman told Reuters. She declined to comment on eluding cargo airline fees.

Amazon's planes fly to at least 10 airports across the United States, supplying its warehouses nearby.

Officials at four airports said Amazon's flights are operating near capacity but landing with lower-than-average weight - meaning it is placing low-density shipments inside the jets.

Expanding into transportation, from trucks to planes, is one of Amazon's most important endeavors as it strives to lure new customers with fast shipping while keeping costs under control.

Amazon aircraft on a monthly basis handled only between 37 percent and 52 percent of their maximum loads by weight, according to an analysis of cargo, capacity and landing data from the four airports, with supplementary information from tracking website FlightAware.com.

By contrast, FedEx and UPS were at 53 percent and 56 percent capacity, respectively, according to U.S. Transportation Department data for the year ended September 2016, excluding weight carried for free.

'You're dealing with cargo that's big in dimensions, but in pure weight it's light,' said an airport ramp manager in California.

Airports in Tampa and Charlotte reported similar payload data for the carriers contracted by Amazon, but they did not specify whether the flights were full by volume or whether they were operated on Amazon's behalf.

Amazon's planes fly to at least 10 airports across the United States, supplying its warehouses nearby.

A seventh airport outside Chicago said the planes were not full, though daily flights only started in October 2016, and Amazon likely is learning the market, transport experts said.

The remaining airports did not comment.

FedEx declined to comment. Steve Gaut, vice president of public relations at UPS, declined to comment on Amazon's airline but said customers commonly handle parts of their logistics in-house.

Reuters could not determine the extent to which, if any, Prime Air had an effect on the bottom lines of FedEx or UPS to date. Reuters could also not determine how much Amazon has spent on aircraft leases so far, key to whether the fleet has cut its costs overall.

The payload figures Reuters reviewed do not include November or December, when contractor ABX Air, a unit of Air Transport Services Group Inc, paused flights for Amazon after a pilot strike.

Flight data shows another way that Amazon is departing from cargo companies' road map in an attempt of its top goal: rapid delivery.

Flight data shows another way that Amazon is departing from cargo companies' road map in an attempt of its top goal: rapid delivery.

Using FlightAware.com and similar websites, Reuters tracked the schedules of Amazon contractors and verified with airports which flights were on behalf of the retailer.

Many of the company's eastbound flights leave the states of Washington and California unusually late at night: its flight from Stockton to Wilmington, Ohio departs close to 2:00 AM Pacific Time (10:00 GMT), for instance.

FedEx instead schedules most eastbound service no later than 9:00 PM (5:00 GMT) to ensure arrival at its Memphis, Tennessee hub in time for sorting packages overnight.

The difference is that cargo airlines stop at airport hubs so they can fill up planes easily with boxes from many origins.

Amazon also saves time by flying to remote locations like Lehigh Valley, which are near cities and its warehouses but have little traffic.

Amazon does this much less.

But flying without a stopover is faster, helping Amazon cut shipping times from Prime's two-day standard, to a day or even hours.

Scheduling later departures has an advantage, too.

'Most people have a tendency to order packages when they're home' from work, said Brian Clancy, managing director of advisory firm Logistics Capital & Strategy LLC. Amazon is 'waiting for the orders.'

Amazon also saves time by flying to remote locations like Lehigh Valley, which are near cities and its warehouses but have little traffic. Expectations are for Amazon to stretch well beyond Lehigh Valley and the existing airports Prime Air serves.

'We're just seeing the beginning of this,' said Marc Wulfraat, president of logistics consultancy MWPVL International Inc.

'We could see Toronto. We could see Denver.
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It's deemed the biggest factory in the world  but when Tesla opened the doors to its 'Gigafactory' earlier this year, only 14 percent was complete.

Fast forward six months later, and new drone footage reveals that the electric carmaker has more than doubled the size by adding an additional 2.4 million square feet of space to the campus.

The north end of the massive building appears to be finished, making up about 4.5 million square feet of the overall 10 million square foot structure that is set to be done by 2020.

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It's deemed the biggest factory in the world  but when Tesla opened the doors to its 'Gigafactory' earlier this year, only 14 percent was complete. Fast forward six months later and new drone footage reveals that the electric carmaker has more than doubled the size by adding an additional 2.4 million square feet of space to the campus

GIGAFACTORY FACTS The factory's name stems from 'giga,' a unit of measurement that represents billions. One gigawatt hour is the equivalent of generating one billion watts for one hour  one million times that of one kilowatt hour. Tesla says the factory will be producing 35 gigawatt hours of batteries by 2018. That's the equivalent to the entire world's production in 2014. New York City uses around 52 gigawatt hours of energy per year. Advertisement

Matthew Roberts, a digital content creator and aerial videographer, shot the latest footage of the plant using a DJI Phantom 3 drone in 4K, reports Engadget.

The electric car maker has set a goal of 10 million square feet for the finished campus, but with multiple floors in the building it could end up finishing at 15 million square feet.

The massive structure, although far from completion, stands out among the dusty, barren landscape of Spark, Nevada.

Tesla broke ground for its Gigafactory in 2014 and will produce the firm's own lithium-ion batteries in a bid to reduce costs.

The firm foresees it will drive down the per kilowatt hour (kWh) costs of their battery pack by more than 30 percent.

And keeping with Tesla's green theme, the plant will also be powered by renewable resources, 'with the goal of achieving net zero energy,' Tesla says.

CEO Elon Musk said the factory could easily employ 10,000 people in the next three to four years.

The name Gigafactory comes from the factory's planned annual battery production capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours (GWh).

'Giga' is a unit of measurement that represents 'billions'.

The north end of the massive building appears to be finished, which is about 4.5 million square feet of the overall 10 million square foot structure that is set to be done by 2020. Matthew Roberts , a digital content creator and aerial videographer, shot the latest footage of the plant using a DJI Phantom 3 drone in 4K

One GWh is the equivalent of generating (or consuming) one billion watts for one hourone million times that of one kWh.

The Gigafactory is now producing battery packs but not yet creating the cells inside, Musk revealed.

The huge project is part of the billionaire's quest to drive down the cost of electric cars and create home battery packs to provide cheaper electricity.

Tesla broke ground for its Gigafactory in 2014 and will produce the firm's own lithium-ion batteries in a bid to reduce costs. The firm foresees it will drive down the per kilowatt hour (kWh) costs of their battery pack by more than 30 percent

The electric car maker has set a goal of 10 million square feet for the finished campus, but with multiple floors in the building it could end up finishing at 15 million square feet. The massive structure, although far from completion, stands out among the dusty, barren landscape of Spark, Nevada

The 13-year-old electric car company, which has never made a full-year profit, wants to transition from a niche maker of luxury vehicles to a full-line maker of affordable cars, pickups and even semi-trucks.

However, a major reason for this new facility is that Tesla needs batteries for its fourth electric car, the Model 3 sedan, will is expected to hit the market next year  its starting price is around $35,000.

Although it may seem like a hefty price tag to some, this is the firm's least expensive model, which is due to the reduction in battery cost.

A major reason for this new facility is that Tesla needs batteries for its fourth electric car, the Model 3 sedan (pictured), will is expected to hit the market next year  its starting price is around $35,000

Keeping with Tesla's green theme, the plant will also be powered by renewable resources, 'with the goal of achieving net zero energy,' Tesla says. CEO Elon Musk said the factory could easily employ 10,000 people in the next three to four years. Tesla has set 2020 for the official date of when its Gigafactory will be finished

Tesla is seeking to raise its global manufacturing capacity to 500,000 vehicles in 2018 from an expected production rate of about 80,000 this year.

The batteries for Tesla's current vehicles, the Model S sedan and Model X SUV, are made in Japan. To get the fund the construction of billion dollar Gigafactory, the car maker has partnered with Panasonic Corp, which has invested $1.6 billion into the project.
Minority Report-style crime prediction has edged closer to reality with a new AI software launched in Dubai.

Space Imaging Middle East announced that the Dubai Police force has deployed its Crime Prediction software, which analyzes patterns from police databases and attempts to spot when and where an event is likely to occur next.

The software uses sophisticated algorithms to make its predictions, and according to the firm, the data it generates is highly accurate.

Space Imaging Middle East announced that the Dubai Police force has deployed its Crime Prediction software, which analyzes patterns from police databases and attempts to spot when and where an event is likely to occur next

According to SIME, the technology can alert patrol teams to which districts may need more police attention in order to prevent a crime.

This software is uniquely intelligent in its capability to accurately discern intricate patterns of criminal behaviour in seemingly unconnected events and then predict the probability of reoccurrence, said Spandan Kar, Head of SIMEs GIS Division.

We are confident that these precise analytics, when combined with the knowledge and instincts of experienced police officers, will create a formidable force to deter crime.

The idea of using artificial intelligence has sparked controversy in recent months, as some have claimed it may come with unintended consequences, or even operate with racial biases.

In September, researchers published a report arguing that the technique will have a positive impact on crime prevention.

But, they warned it could also put millions of jobs at risk.

The prediction comes from a major piece of research called 'Artificial Intelligence and Life in 2030' by researchers at Stanford University.

Minority Report-style crime prediction has edged closer to reality with a new AI software launched in Dubai. A scene from the 2002 film is pictured

They say that 'predictive policing' will be heavily relied upon by 2030.

The report points out that machine learning, which allows computers to learn for themselves, is already being used, and could have major implications for fighting crime.

While police could use this method for catching criminals, it could also lead to an 'overbearing or pervasive' presence, the researchers warn.

AI could also lead to the loss of millions of jobs, although the researchers say that it will create new kinds of jobs.

In their paper, they wrote: 'But the new jobs that will emerge are harder to imagine in advance than the existing jobs that will likely be lost.'

COULD POLICE DRONES CATCH CRIMINALS ON MOPEDS? Sending drones to do a police officer's job could not only save lives, but police costs and time too. But there are several legal minefields that businesses or local bodies hoping to make the most of the technology need to navigate. Anyone can buy and fly a drone under 20kgs but using the tech for commercial purposes warrants a license from the Civil Aviation Authority. Under flying laws in the UK, those driving a drone in a public place must have the vehicle in their line of sight at all times. Drones must be kept 150m away from 'congested areas' and 50m away from a person while in flight, too. As with all new technology, drone laws are up in the air and a rollout of a police fleet in London's skies may be some time. Advertisement

AI is already being used to combat financially motivated crimes, such as fraud and to scan social media to 'prevent those at risk from being radicalised by ISIS or other violent groups.'

But as AI technology develops and becomes more advanced, the range of applications is set to grow.

The researchers said: 'Law enforcement agencies are increasingly interested in trying to detect plans for disruptive events from social media, and also to monitor activity at large gatherings of people to analyse security.

'There is significant work on crowd simulations to determine how crowds can be controlled.

'At the same time, legitimate concerns have been raised about the potential for law enforcement agencies to overreach and use such tools to violate people's privacy.'

In the 2002 film, Minority Report, police use a psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they commit their crime.

Surveillance cameras (stock image) could send alerts to police when they see a person lingering down a dark alley, which suggests they may be about to perform a crime

But the researchers say that the AI prediction tools will not be human biased, and instead will work by identifying trends in pre-existing crimes.

For example, surveillance cameras could send alerts to police when they see a person lingering down a dark alley, which suggests they may be about to perform a crime.

The team said: 'Machine learning significantly enhances the ability to predict where and when crimes are more likely to happen and who may commit them.'

But society's acceptance or resistance of AI technologies is what will determine their success, according to the researchers.

They added: 'If society approaches these technologies primarily with fear and suspicion, missteps that slow AI's development or drive it underground will result, impeding important work on ensuring the safety and reliability of AI technologies.
MailOnline Travel rounded up other examples of hot places freezing over

bizarre cold snaps have been photographed in Texas and Hawaii

It could be an alien landscape or a piece of modern art, but this bizarre white and orange swirling landscape is in fact the Sahara desert... covered in snow.

Amazing pictures have recorded the second time in living memory that snow has fallen in the African desert, with the last occasion being in February 1979.

MailOnline Travel has rounded up a selection of other times weirdly wintry weather has transformed hot dusty landscapes.

It could be an alien landscape or a piece of modern art but this bizarre white and orange swirling landscape is in fact the Sahara desert... covered in snow

Amazing pictures have recorded the second time in living memory that snow has fallen in the African desert, with the last occasion being in February 1979

The photographs were taken by amateur photographer Karim Bouchetata in the small Saharan desert town of Ain Sefra, Algeria, on Monday

The Sahara desert in warmer climes. It is the largest hot desert in the world, and the third largest desert in the world after Antarctica and the Arctic

Texas was gripped with ice on Sunday as temperatures plunged with Arctic air

Texas

There were temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius on Saturday in Central Texas. But on Sunday it was gripped by a biting cold snap as temperatures plunged with Arctic air.

Images taken by residents show fountains frozen mid-flow, creating impressive icicles, and bushes dripping with ice.

In deep south Texas, back in December 2004 , Arctic air moved south and intercepted a vigorous upper-level disturbance... creating a white Christmas.

In Brownsville the influx of the white stuff on Christmas day made it the first day of measurable snowfall since 1895.

In nearby Victoria the snowfall was the heaviest 24-hour snow on record, reaching depths of 12.5in.

Brrr: Bushes fell victim to Sunday's great freeze in Texas

Blue bonnet flowers flourish in Central Texas in warmer weather, brightening the green fields

Hawaii

Hawaii is best known for steamy jungles, volcanoes and surfing.

But in July 2013 snow blasted Hawaii in a dramatic fashion.

Images show the dormant volcano of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island - which rises 13,803 ft above sea level - covered in snow during the height of summer.

Images show the dormant volcano of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island - which rises 13,803 ft above sea level - covered in snow during the height of summer

Weather on Mount Kea (pictured without snow) is notoriously unpredictable but summer highs usually reach 40C with the average coolest temperature 25C

According to a rangers report the combination of passing thunderstorms and near-freezing temperatures led to 1.5in of snow and icy conditions.

Weather on Mount Kea is notoriously unpredictable but summer highs usually reach 40C with the average coolest temperature 25C.

Iran

Weather in the Middle East is normally associated with heat and dust but in February 2014 the worst winter storms in 50 years hit Tehran in Iran.

Seven feet of snow fell in some areas, leaving around 480,000 homes without power and some towns and villages entirely cut off.

In February 2014 the worst winter storms in 50 years hit Tehran in Iran - though many enjoyed the chance to make snowmen

The weather of Tehran can sometimes be unpredictably harsh. The record high temperature is 43C and the record low is 17C

In 2008 the snowfall was so bad the Council of Ministers was forced to officially declare a state of emergency and close down the capital on January 6 and 7.

The year 2005 also saw extreme wintry weather, with 10,000 bulldozers and 13,000 municipal workers deployed to keep the main roads open.

Cyprus

Despite being known for its warm climate and mild winters, the island of Cyprus often experiences snow in the winter  but only in the Troodos Mountains in the centre.

Despite being known for its warm climate and mild winters, the island of Cyprus often experiences snow in the winter  but only in the Troodos Mountains in the centre

A cold front in February 2015 brought unseasonably cold temperatures and plenty of snow, causing schools to be closed in many of the small mountain villages and roads to be rendered treacherous

Troodos is the largest mountain range in Cyprus and its highest peak is Mount Olympus at 1,952 metres (6,400 feet)

Troodos is the largest mountain range in Cyprus and its highest peak is Mount Olympus at 1,952 metres (6,400 feet). The mountains host four ski slopes, each with their own chairlifts and runs.

A cold front in February 2015 brought unseasonably cold temperatures and plenty of snow, causing schools to be closed in many of the small mountain villages and roads to be rendered treacherous.

Arizona

The Grand Canyon offered visitors a rare treat on New Year's Day 2015 when the Arizona national park was blanketed in snow after days of temperatures well below freezing.

Unfortunately, this seldom-seen weather proved to be problematic for the many tourists visiting the park during their vacation, with entire roads shut down because of the snow and icy conditions, and visitors urged to use four-wheel drive or snow chains while driving.

The Grand Canyon offered visitors a rare treat on New Year's Day 2015 when the Arizona national park was blanketed in snow after days of temperatures that fell well below freezing

Temperatures vary wildly throughout the year at the Grand Canyon in Arizona

Residents in Los Angeles suburbs also dealt with near-freezing temperatures and snow and ice when the blustery winter storm swept across the West. Further south, even Las Vegas suburbs were hit with unexpected snow flurries.

The winter weather came as an extremely unusual surprise for the two areas - which are both known for sunny weather and much warmer temperatures.

The northern Rockies

Residents of Utah, Idaho and Montana were perplexed when they woke up to snow in June 2014.

Residents of Utah, Idaho and Montana were perplexed when they woke up to snow in June 2014. The weirdly wintry weather in the Rockies prompted an array of confused tweets, with many locals posting images more compatible with Christmas than summer vacations

The ground is snow free in this autumn image of Glacier National Park in Montana

A swirling upper-level low left Alta, Utah, with nine inches of snowfall on June 17 - their third highest one-day snowfall total in June ever.
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'Going to the toilet wasn't easy and I suffered from hallucinations,' pro sea explorer Olly Hicks reveals as he details his latest gruelling adventure, which saw him kayak more than 1,200 miles from Greenland to Scotland.

The 34-year-old from Suffolk, who developed a passion for the water from an early age, completed the extreme paddling trip in September along with fellow explorer George Bullard.

He admits that the two-month-long expedition was pretty tough, with bathroom breaks and sleeping being a little tricky while bobbing around on the high seas.

'The kayak was adapted slightly and extended to give us enough room to lay down and it had inflatables buoys to keep things steady while we slept,' Hicks - a good friend of Prince William - explained during a talk at the South Kensington Club in London.

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Pushing on: Olly Hicks, 34, from Suffolk, kayaked more than 1,200 miles from Greenland to Scotland along with fellow explorer George Bullard, 28

Trip of a lifetime: It took the pair of adventurers two months to complete the arduous journey, which would see them battle poor weather and intense fatigue

He continued: 'We would row for about 17 to 20 hours a day. After all that paddling sleep wasn't a problem. It was a bit like lying in a rocking coffin with an inch of water in the bottom, which you have to keep pumping out.'

During the expedition, Hicks and Bullard lived off a variety of snacks including nuts, salami, chorizo, sandwiches, biscuits, chocolate and tinned fruit 'for a treat'.

Once a day they would boil water in between their legs to make a hot meal before bedtime, rustling up chicken curry, spaghetti Bolognese and beef stew from freeze dried ration packs.

On several occasions they also caught fresh fish for supper.

But - and this is the question everyone wants to ask but daren't - just how did they go to the loo?

Hicks willingly divulges their kayaking bathroom ritual, with a slight cringe as he goes.

He said: 'Our drysuits had special zips to permit ablutions - we had to pee in a bottle and do number twos on a tray where our seats were. We then had to be careful at extricating it from the cramped cockpit!'

Hicks said that the two-month-long expedition was pretty tough, with bathroom breaks and sleeping being pretty tricky while bobbing around on the high seas

Remote spot: The pair rowed for around 17 to 20 hours each day, taking moments out to admire the scenery

Goodnight: The kayak was decked out with inflatable buoys which helped stabilise the boat while the pair were sleeping

Hicks started planning the kayak trip earlier in the year with the aim of retracing the strokes of the Inuit during the 17th and early 18th centuries.

He was originally meant to tackle the route with another adventurer, Patrick Winston, but after Winston backed out, 28-year-old Bullard from Norfolk stepped in, saying 'yes' over lunch.

The two started their kayaking trip in the middle of Greenlands ice pack on July 1. The first leg across open water to Iceland went well, taking them 42 hours.

However, the remaining legs saw incredible battles with the weather, which changed from minute to minute.

One of the most difficult times came when they left Iceland to take a passage to the Faroe Islands, a very remote destination located just north of the British Isles.

Suddenly the clouds rolled in and they were warned by fishermen to get out of the water 'immediately' with serious gales imminent.

In an interview with Red Bull - one of Hicks' sponsors - the explorer explained: 'We agonised over the weather.

Making history: Hicks started planning the kayak trip earlier in the year with the aim of retracing the strokes of the Inuit during the 17th and early 18th centuries

Moment of reflection: With their plans hampered by the weather, the two kayakers changed their route and headed to the tiny island of North Rona where they spent six days

Dinner is served: During the expedition, Hicks and Bullard lived off a variety of snacks including nuts, salami, chorizo, sandwiches, biscuits, chocolate and tinned fruit 'for a treat' - on several occasions they also caught fresh fish for supper

'We had three different weather sources. Out there, youre so vulnerable to squalls. You feel small but you get used to it, no one can see you, but your perspective changes.

'But fear levels rise when theres anticipation of bad weather and the seas get worse. You realise when youre half the size of the swell how little control you have.'

With their plans were hampered by the weather, the two kayakers changed their route and headed to the tiny island of North Rona, where they spent six days.

Luckily, they found an old refuge hut stocked with whisky and other morale-boosting treats.

Once a window opened, the duo pressed on with their final leg, to Balnakeil Bay in Scotland. The expedition came to an end in the early hours of Sunday, September 4.

Hicks tweeted shortly after arriving in Scotland, saying: 'We've done it! Greenland to Scotland Challenge complete, what an amazing feeling!'

Asked how he felt after the taxing journey he replied: 'Actually we felt in good shape and elated to have finished.

Into the blue: Hicks revealed he and Bullard suffered from very intense hallucinations due to sleep deprivation and they started to see things in the water that weren't there

Well-earned break: The kayakers were forced to spend six days storm bound on to the tiny island of North Rona - luckily, they found an old refuge hut stocked with whisky and other morale boosting treats

Water baby: At the age of 23, Hicks became the youngest person to row solo from America to Britain in 2005, and he was greeted by Prince William on the quayside at Falmouth, Cornwall

'We'd had a lot of rest stops - enforced by bad weather conditions, making it impossible to paddle.

'However, along the way we did suffer from blisters and sores and I still can't feel my right foot or knee due to nerve damage I think!'

Hicks also reveals the pair suffered from very intense hallucinations due to sleep deprivation and they started to see things in the water that weren't there.

At the age of 23, Hicks became the youngest person to row solo from America to Britain in 2005, and he was greeted by Prince William on the quayside at Falmouth, Cornwall.

Solicitors son Hicks, a former pupil at 37,350-a-year Harrow School, met the Old Etonian Prince through a mutual friend several years earlier.
She's the radio star who split from her husband this year.

But Mel Greig is currently enjoying some much-deserved rest and relaxation on a sun-kissed holiday in Thailand.

The 34-year-old has documented her vacation with yet ANOTHER busty selfie, showing off her enviable assets in a zip down one piece.

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'Original sexy rashie': Mel Greig has posted another busty swimsuit selfie as she continues her holiday in the sun after split from her husband earlier this year

The curvy blonde flaunted her body in a picture posted to Instagram on Thursday.

The revealing snap shows Mel sitting on a boat wearing aviator sunglasses, her long blonde locks falling past her shoulders.

While she covers up from the sun in a long-sleeved black swimsuit, the costume's zipper is pulled down to reveal her sizable cleavage.

Vacation time: She is currently enjoying some much-deserved rest and relaxation on a sun-kissed holiday in Thailand

'Just doing the tourist thing for a day in a boat and my @une_piece came in handy for the snorkeling,' Mel captions the photo.

The blogger also added the hash-tags: 'holiday life', 'i'm on a boat', 'original sexie rashie', 'relaxed' and 'monkey beach'.

It's not the first sexy holiday selfie the radio star has posted.

On Wednesday she shared to Instagram a shot of herself reclining on a pool chair, putting on a very busty display.

On show! Mel Greig flaunted her assets when she stripped down to a one piece costume on Tuesday

'Bathers for days,' Mel captioned part of her shot.

'Keeping my curves in check,' she added.

Getting cheeky with her hash-tags, the blonde noted: 'few days between boob selfies' and 'relaxing.'

If you've got it! It comes after she shared a shot online of herself in a black and red bikini while also on holiday

It comes after she shared a shot online of herself in a black and red bikini while also on holiday.

'I'd like to thank the strategically placed hat covering my Endo (sic) belly and @amberlouise_brown for creeping over my shoulder to take the pic (sic),' Mel wrote.

The royal prank DJ - who has long been open about her struggle with endometriosis - is currently single having split with husband Steve Pollock recently.

She announced their breakup in April and this week revealed her heartbreak about their frozen embryos they have together, from their time doing IVF.

Single: The royal prank DJ - who has long been open about her struggle with endometriosis - is currently single having split with husband Steve Pollock recently

Mel said that although she doesn't intend to have them implanted, she also can't bring herself to destroy them.

'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.

Sad: She announced their breakup in April and this week revealed her heartbreak about their frozen embryos they have together, from their time doing IVF

'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.

Mel 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.
She's just returned to Australia after visiting the UK with her fiance and one-year-old son, Archie.

And it seems Magdalena Roze's baby boy is taking some time to recover from the long-haul flight and change over of body clock.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the TV personality was seen taking a stroll with Archie, as the doting mother tried to help the restless youngster get some shut-eye.

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'Despo': Magdalena Roze took an early morning stroll with her jet-lagged one-year-old son Archie in an attempt to get him to sleep

'The 3am desperate attempt to get our jet lagged baby to sleep,' the 34-year-old weather presenter captioned a snap she shared on Instagram.

'Archie finally got better at the end of our holiday, slept through two nights in a row (Christmas miracle!) and now we're back to square one!

'On a positive note, how warm is it?!' she joked after returning from the winter weather.

The blonde beauty added the hash-tags: 'jet lag', 'despo', 'it worked', 'mum life', 'glamorous' and 'killing it'.

The doting mum has been engaged to her celebrity chef fiance Darren Robertson since January, 2015.

Doting mum: Magdalena welcomed Archie with her celebrity chef fiance Darren Robertson in December last year

Baby abroad! The family returned to Australia from their UK holiday on Thursday

Darren proposed to his meteorologist girlfriend at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay after two years of dating.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the time, the she revealed the wedding ceremony will be 'something really beautiful' but also 'a real party for everyone'.

Magdalena recently revealed the happy couple are already talking about baby number two.

Wedding bells: Darren proposed to his meteorologist girlfriend at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay after two years of dating

'In the beginning, we couldn't even fathom the idea of a second baby because the first was so hectic,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'But now, we've reached this sweet spot we're starting to talk about it.

'I'm not sure when that will happen - we were planning to get married first, but we'll see. It'll probably in the next year or so,' she added.
A less than thrilled photo with Santa is a staple for many families this time of year.

That's no different for Hilaria and Alec Baldwin, who took their clan to meet Saint Nick at Macy's in New York on Wednesday.

There was quite the mix of reactions in the photo of the famous family.

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Christmas cheer? Hilaria and Alec Baldwin took their clan to meet Saint Nick at Macy's in New York on Wednesday, and got quite the mix of reactions from their children

Hilaria, 32, sat on Santa's right, smiling and looking down while holding Rafael Thomas, 1.

Carmen Gabriela, 3, got the seat of honor on Santa's lap, and Alec, 58, cradled their new addition, infant Leonardo Angel, seated next to the big guy on his left.

'So nice to meet you Santa!!' Hilaria wrote in a social media post shared with the photo, joking about her children's facial expressions as caught by the camera. 'Carmen was SO excited, Rafa...will hopefully be excited next year....and Leo in his happy, baby, chubby lala land.'

Picture time! The 'happy, chubby' little Leo turned 14 weeks old on Tuesday, and the doting mom shared a picture for the occasion the next day

The 'happy, chubby' little Leo turned 14 weeks old on Tuesday, and the doting mom shared a picture for the occasion.

Their bundle of joy looked adorable in a navy onesie with a polar bear under stars and snow, snuggled up in a beige knit blanket.

Hilaria's Instagram has been full of love this week, also including an up-close kissing selfie with her main man.

'Do you know you can buy mistletoe @kmart ?!?!?[kissy face emoji],' the mother-of-three captioned another post from Wednesday where she's seen planting a smooch on Alec.

Under the mistletoe: Hilaria's Instagram has been full of love this week, also including an up-close kissing selfie with her main man

After taking a week off, her actor husband returned to Saturday Night Live on Saturday with his Donald Trump impersonation in full force, but that didn't stop the family time.

Carmen may have gotten a Christmas pass for a later bedtime, as Hilaria and their daughter were in the dressing room before dad went about his performance for the night.

'Warming daddy up! Soon to be Live From New York! Tune in,' she shared with a funny video set to patriotic music. Alec smiled as he lifted the two up and down while pumping out a quick set of 10 mini squats.
He currently plays an ex-Marine sniper who performs his own daring stunts on USA Network's, Shooter.

So it was no surprise to see Ryan Phillippe jump in the wrestling ring on Tuesday for WWE's SmackDown Live, which also airs on USA.

The 42-year-old actor was motioned by pro wrestler Mojo Rawley to join him on the ropes after his win.

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Smack down! Ryan Phillippe jumped in the wrestling ring on Tuesday during WWE's SmackDown Live on USA Network to celebrate Mojo Rawley's victory

The Secrets And Lies alum was stationed ringside with the commentators as they watched Mojo beat his opponent, Curt Hawkins.

After his win, the wrestler invited Ryan up to the ring as the two celebrated his victory with a hug and threw their arms up in the air.

Ryan's biggest fan was also sitting in the audience - his 13-year-old son Deacon whom he shares with former wife Reese Witherspoon - as she snapped a photo to Instagram with the caption: 'That. Was. AWESOME!'

Come on in! The 30-year-old wrestler pointed out the 42-year-old actor in the crowd after he beat his opponent, Curt Hawkins, during the match

Ready to brawl: The Shooter star - who sat alongside the commentators during the match - gladly jumped into the ring

Hug it out! The duo shared a victorious hug after Mojo beat Curt during Tuesday's game

Victorious! Mojo and Ryan threw their hands up in the air as the crowd cheered

New tag-team partner? The two seemed to be getting along

'That. Was. AWESOME!:' The Secrets And Lies alum attended the game with his son, Deacon, 13, who took to Instagram to share his father's picture

The Cruel Intentions actor shot a skit with Mojo backstage earlier in the night, asking for Randy Orton, who recently guest starred on Shooter.

During the conversation, Curt interrupted, jumping into some trash-talking with the wrestler.

After the match, Mojo took to social media to post with his new favorite team partner and captioned the picture: 'Big win tonight on @WWE #SDLive!!! Made a new friend too! Shout out to my bro @ryanphillippe!!! Great meeting you and your son!!! Next time I see you, we are raging!!!!!'

Skit-ting around: The pair shot a skit backstage before the game

New friends: Mojo also took to Twitter and Instagram to share the victory with his 'new friend'

Meanwhile, Shooter's season one finale airs on January 17 and was just announced a renewal for season two on USA.

Ryan - who also raises 17-year-old daughter Ava with Reese - will star in upcoming fantasy thriller pic, Wish Upon.

The film also features Joey King and is slated to release 2017.

Father and son: The father-of-three raises Deacon with his former wife, Reese Witherspoon; pictured here in August 2015
Efforts to transfer the National Theatres sizzling new deconstruction of Henrik Ibsens Hedda Gabler  starring Ruth Wilson, in the performance of her career  into the West End are proving as complicated as the woman Wilson plays.

Director Ivo van Hoves scorching production of Ibsens 125-year-old tragedy (adapted rivetingly by Patrick Marber) is playing to packed houses at the Lyttelton  the run, which ends on March 21, is sold out.

West End theatre owners have been trampling over each other to move the drama from the South Bank, but Wilsons busy calendar is an obstacle.

Stunning: Ruth Wilson and Rafe Spall in the National Theatre production of Hedda Gabler

She and her representatives are trying to find a three-month window of opportunity in her schedule. But it needs to tie in with her collaborators  director van Hove, plus co-stars Rafe Spall, Kyle Soller, Chukwudi Iwuji and Sinead Matthews  and an opening at a theatre.

A spokeswoman for the NT could not confirm when Heddas move could happen.

Wilsons powerful portrait of the deeply vulnerable and lonely title character has proved potent for theatregoers.

On a recent Saturday night, the dashing Tom Bateman (from TVs Jekyll and Hyde) was sitting just down the row from me. And directly behind were Meryl Streep and Tracey Ullman, taking a break from rehearsals for director Rob Marshalls Mary Poppins Returns, which commences filming in late January (it stars Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda).

Wilson, who won Olivier awards for her Anna Christie at the Donmar and her Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire at the same venue, is a major draw, thanks in part to TV roles in The Affair (she and Dominic West play illicit lovers) and Luther.

In demand: West End theatre owners have been trampling over each other to move the drama from the South Bank, but Wilsons (pictured in the role) busy calendar is an obstacle

The Nationals Hedda is a jewel in one of the most memorable London theatre seasons in years. Glenda Jackson as King Lear; Harry Potter And The Cursed Child; Amber Riley and company in Dreamgirls; Charlie Stemp in Half A Sixpence; the kids in Andrew Lloyd Webbers School Of Rock; and a luminous Gemma Arterton as Saint Joan at the Donmar, have proved irresistible to theatregoers.

Philip Saville, one of the founding fathers of UK TV drama  he directed Armchair Theatre over three decades; filmed major series including The Cloning Of Joanna May, The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil and The Boys From The Blackstuff, as well as the movie Metroland  died yesterday, with his wife Nina and family at his bedside at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. His death follows that of another true gent, Michael Redington, who produced the original productions of landmark plays Pack Of Lies, Breaking The Code and 84 Charing Cross Road.

Funnyman Ralf gets serious for debut at the National

Dramatic turn: Ralf Little is ready for the National Theatre  18 years after he made his acting debut on The Royle Family

Ralf Little is ready for the National Theatre  18 years after he made his acting debut on The Royle Family.

Director Indhu Rubasingham has cast him in Ugly Lies The Bone, by American playwright Lindsey Ferrentino.

The drama stars Kate Fleetwood as Jess, a war veteran who, after three tours in Afghanistan, returns to her home on the Florida coast, to try to heal her severely burned body  and mend her damaged soul.

Talking to Little, I described Fleetwood as the plays leading lady and he swiftly, but politely, set me straight.

Yes, shes playing a soldier; and usually and historically in a play or film about soldiers returning from war, they are  usually and historically  men. You dont often see it done with women.

But Kate Fleetwood isnt the female lead. Shes the lead in this play. Quite right!

Ugly Lies The Bone runs on the Lyttelton stage from February 22. Little will play Stevie: an old beau of Jesss who stayed a home-town boy while Jess and saw the world and fought for her country.But coming home isnt easy. Jess has had countless skin grafts, but her physicians also use virtual reality (a game called Snowworld) to help her cope with the pain from her injuries.

Even though Stevie has moved on with his life, he still meets with Jess.

He once worked at Nasa  were never told what he did  but now hes a petrol station attendant, he told me. He observes that Ferrentino explores the physical, psychological and economic damage the war caused, with some welcome laughs along the way.

The actor knows a lot about comic timing, thanks to working on The Royle Family. I re-watched some episodes recently and was struck by its contemporary resonance.

I was delighted to be a part of it, Little said.

But if I had a huge hit next year, or in five years time, then Id be known for that.
She's known for her extreme body confidence and scantily clad displays.

So it came as no surprise that Jemma Lucy was invited to the casting of Miss Swimsuit UK at Oracle Nightclub in Leeds on Thursday night.

The Ex On The Beach star, 29, showed off her enviable frame in a super-tight dress which bared her toned leg with its daring thigh-high split as she applied her expert knowledge to the bevy of beauties.

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Offering her expertise! Jemma Lucy, 29, (left) flaunted her inked physique in a sexy figure-hugging thigh-split dress as she attended the Miss Swimsuit UK casting in Leeds on Thursday

The one-shouldered number, which just about contained her ample cleavage, hugged onto every inch of her sensational stats.

She worked her toned, inked legs in a pair of towering ankle boots as she modelled a piece of glitzy tinsel around her neck.

Clearly in high spirits, the reality sensation was joined by her equally glam pal, Becky Holt.

The tattooed, blue haired model flaunted her flat stomach in a glittery cream co-ord and matching heels which accentuated her height.

Sexy ladies: The Ex On The Beach star showed off her enviable frame in super-tight dress which bared her toned leg with its daring thigh-high split as she posed with model Becky Holt

Racy look: Blonde bombshells Love Island's Bethany Rogers and Sophie Dalzel also left little to the imagination in their very skimpy get-ups

She's got front! Model Sophie couldn't help but flaunt her eye-popping assets in a plunging black silk dress

The girls were also joined by blonde bombshells Bethany Rogers and Sophie Dalzel who left little to the imagination.

Love Island beauty Bethany dressed to accentuate her impossibly slim figure with an extreme, nude-coloured dress.

Her model pal Sophie couldn't help but flaunt her eye-popping assets in a plunging black silk dress.

An array of striking girls walking around in barely nothing also brought out the boys.

Here come the boys! X Factor's Ellis Lacy, Ex On The Beach's Chet Johnson and Love Island's Tom Powell looked in great spirits at the casting

Good time: The pals were clearly thrilled at the nature of the event

X Factor's Ellis Lacy, Ex On The Beach's Chet Johnson and Love Island's Tom Powell looked in great spirits for the casting.

Miss. Swimsuit UK will see seven regional finals before a winner will be crowned in a glittering ceremony in September.

The lucky lady will go on to represent the UK at the Swimsuit USA International competition in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
She gave birth to her first child, Paul, last December

And Studio 10 host Sarah Harris says 2016 has been a 'magical year' as she watched her baby boy grow.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Sarah said she's enjoying the festive season with her son, who celebrated his first birthday last Friday.

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Mother and son: Studio 10 host Sarah Harris has described 2016 as a 'year of firsts', as she has watched her son Paul- who was born in December 2015- grow up

'I bought him a little reindeer outfit, and we did a family photo. Its a time for firsts,' the star said.

Last Christmas Sarah revealed that she was adjusting to life with a newborn, so wasn't able to properly celebrate the occasion.

'Id only just got out of hospital this time last year, and I was in the throws of feed, sleep, change, repeat,' she revealed.

'Magical': Sarah is clearly relishing the Christmas season posting a snap to Instagram that featured her son and her perfectly decorated tree

But it's clear the Studio 10 host is relishing this silly season.

The star has just begun her summer break, taking time off filming the Channel 10 chat show, with Bachelorette Georgia Love filling in for her over the holiday period.

And Sarah has been spending time with her son, posting a series of amusing updates on Instagram.

Filling in: Bachelorette Georgia Love (right) is stepping in for Sarah on Studio 10 as the new mum takes a break

On Wednesday, the star posted a snap that showed her one-year-old approaching her perfectly decorated Christmas tree.

'Don't even think about it, kiddo,' she wrote, followed by the hash-tags: 'step away from the tree', 'busting my baubles' and 'loves shiny things'.

Last week she also posted a tribute to her son, who she shares with her husband Tom Ward, on his first birthday.

'My life is infinitely better with this smiley little man in it': Sarah posted a gushing tribute to her cute son last week as he celebrated his first birthday

My life is infinitely better with this smiley little man in it. Happy first birthday, Pauly x

Whilst 2016 has been one of Sarah's best yet, the star has revealed the one thing she wants more of in the New Year - sleep.

The presenter is expected to return to her seat on the Network Ten show early in 2017.
She's the international supermodel whose career has taken her around the world.

But on Thursday, Rachel Hunter returned home to New Zealand to spend the Christmas holidays with her mother.

The 47-year-old shared a photo with her sister Jacqui and mother Janeen, who is thought to be battling cancer.

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Home for Christmas: On Thursday, Rachel Hunter returned home to New Zealand to spend the Christmas holidays with her mother, who is thought to be battling cancer

In the heart-warming photo, Jacqui hugs Janeen from behind, as Rachel wraps her arms around the Christmas tree.

'Beautiful to be home for Christmas, with our Mum', Rachel wrote in the caption. 'She has been courageous this year'.

Rachel added the hashtag, 'F**k cancer', appearing to confirm her mother's health problems.

International supermodel: Rachel has had a modelling career spanning almost three decades

In the photo, Rachel appears to be enjoying spending time with her family over the festive season.

She smiles widely in the photo while wearing a loose-fitting sleeveless black dress.

Jacqui also looked casual chic, wearing a grey shirt, leggings and Nike trainers.

Back home! Rachel posed with her sister Jacqui at Auckland Airport

Janine also appeared delighted to be reunited with her daughters, smiling happily.

It is not the first time Rachel's family have personally affected by cancer, as Jacqui has previously battled melanoma.

The cosy living room in Auckland is a world away from the glamorous jet-set lifestyle Rachel usually leads.

Tight-knit: Rachel is close to her sister Jacqui (C) and mother (R), pictured in 2007

It seemed the model, who recently starred in a safety video for Air New Zealand, came without her two children, Renee, 24, and Liam, 22.

Rachel shares the children with her ex-husband, Rod Stewart.

Renee is a graduate of London Contemporary Dance School and appears to be following in her mother's footsteps by signing to a modelling agency.
Some people dream of being the object of a movie star's desires.

But a Brazilian reporter was left mortified after Vin Diesel got on his knees to creep towards her after telling her she is 'so f***ing sexy' during an extremely awkward interview.

During the chat, which started with the very merry actor singing to himself, interviewer Carol Moreira looked distinctly uncomfortable and glanced at her crew as he bluntly showered her with compliments before making his flamboyant gesture.

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Creep: Brazilian reporter Carol Moreira held her head in her hands as Vin Diesel crawled towards her during an interview posted on Wednesday

The most outrageous moment came when the interview finally was about to come to a conclusion, when she asked the 49-year-old Guardians Of The Galaxy star, who is old enough to be her father, to say 'I am Groot in Portuguese.

Father-of-three Vin instead used it as an opportunity to shower her with foul-mouthed compliments.

The bald star said: 'I love you. I love her. She's so f***ing sexy. I can't do this interview - look at her.

'Does anyone say this? Guys, what's wrong, am I the only one that's saying... look at her!

'She's so f***ing sexy': The meathead utilised an aggressive flirting style duirng their chat

Hiding her face: She did not know where to look as he dialed up his obnoxious behaviour

Come on guys: He tried to enlist the support of the other gentleman in the room

Grinning and bearing it: The reporter glanced at her crew and signalled she could handle the muscleman

'She's so f***ing beautiful you can't even do an interview with her 'cause you're just like...'

The star, who has been dating Mexican model Paloma Jimenez since 2007, then got on his knees and crawled towards her, singing, 'da da da da da.'

After Vin stood up and towered over her, the meathead added: 'Am I right or am I wrong? Someone save me. When did this turn into beautiful world? When did this turn into the most gorgeous girl in Brazil? When did this turn into I love you?'

At this point she finally called a halt to their chat, however he had hardly been shy earlier in the encounter with the YouTube movie reporter, which took place at the Comic Con Experience 2016 in Brazil.

Whatever next? It seemed anything could happen during the unhinged interview

Head in hands: The internet journalist seemed at a loss about how to rein him in

Power play: He continued to give her foul-mouthed compliments as he towered over her

They think it's all over: Thankfully this was the point Carol called time on their chat

Vin, who was supposed to be promoting xXx: Return of Xander Cage, kicked off his heavy flirting by saying: 'God, you're so beautiful. God she's so beautiful. Am I right or wrong? I mean look at her.

'How am I supposed to do this interview? Look at this woman. She's so beautiful. Talk to me baby.'

And when she tried to get friendly with the beefcake by talking about their shared love of Dungeons And Dragons, he saw another opportunity to win her over.

He told her: 'I'm anything like you because I love you. Guys, really? Look how beautiful she is. You guys think this is a joke.

'How am I supposed to do this interview': He claimed he was bewitched by her beauty

Going Brazil nuts: The bald star insisted he could not concentrate as she is 'the most gorgeous girl' in the South American country

Not amused: But it was clear her patience was running out with the unprofessional star

'How am I supposed to sit here when I'm looking at such beauty? She's so beautiful. I'm in love. I'm in love with the interviewer!'

During her introduction in Portuguese to their cringeworthy conversation Carol did not exactly return the compliments.

She said: 'He began to hit on me in the middle of the interview, say that I was pretty, and he interrupted the interview three times to talk about it.

'I was laughing, completely uncomfortable. I was not sure what to do. I just laughed because it was a very delicate situation.

A xXx conversation: He turned the air blue as he tried to promote his latest action film

Good sport: She tried to laugh her way through the uncomfortable interview

'I did not like it. At the time I did not know how to react, but you will see that I was uncomfortable, it was not nice that he interrupted my work.'

His antics will certainly add fuel to the fire to claims he is unprofessional.

Earlier this year Dwayne Johnson made a thinly veiled attack about the star on social media while they finished filming Fast 8, supposedly as he was infuriated by the stars obnoxious behaviour, which included regularly turning up for shooting.

He said: 'Some conduct themselves as stand up men and true professionals, while others don't. The ones that don't are too chicken s*** to do anything about it anyway. Candy a***s

'I was completely uncomfortable': She revealed she is unhappy their talk turned into a 'very delicate situation'
She's the jet-setting model who's married to Ksubi founder Dan Single.

And it appears Bambi Northwood Blyth isn't fazed with flashing onlookers while changing between outfits during a photo shoot on Friday.

The 24-year-old was spotted giving locals more than they bargained for, as she undressed while standing on the sand at Tamarama beach in full view of passers by.

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Model behaviour! Bambi Northwood Blyth was spotted flashing onlookers as she changed outfits during a photo shoot in Sydney on Friday

Without a change room in sight, the brunette wasn't shy about using the open space to swap outfits.

Showcasing Sir The Label's latest Summer attire, the slender model was seen working her best angles in a variety of mini dresses.

Her svelte frame was showcased in a blue dress, which featured panels of fabric that tied up at the back.

Sun-kissed: The 24-year-old didn't seem fazed as she used the open space as her change room

Lending a hand: The brunette was seen getting a hand to change out of her dress by an assistant

Out in the open: Without a change room in sight, Bambi got changed on the beach instead

Bambi's lithe arms and toned pins were on display, with the dress also featuring a large cut-out at the back.

The outfit change saw the Melbourne-born star sporting a striped dress, this time with the cut-out at the front to showcase her taut torso.

With her locks glistening in the sunshine and textured rocks behind her, Bambi was seen posing on the beach while a photographer snapped away.

Beach babe: The petite brunette showed off her sun-kissed complexion in a blue mini dress

Work it! The wife of Dan Single was seen working her best angles with the sun shining on her face

Down time: The model looked relaxed on the rocks while waiting in between takes

In her element: Bambi was seen waiting patiently alongside a stylist and photographer during the shoot

The model was seen making her way across the rocks and onto the sand, where she continued to pose in the linen dress.

The shoot's accessories were kept to a minimal, with just a pair of statement-making hoop earrings complimenting the laid-back styles.

The stunner was also barefoot for the photos, showing off her tattoo on her right ankle in some of the images.

Bronzed beauty: The Melbourne-born stunner showed off her golden tan in a strapless striped dress

Natural beauty: Sporting a dress with a cut-out at the back, Bambi was seen making her way between the sand and rocks

She's a natural: The model's toned arms were on display in the light Summery frock

Bambi's got back! It appears it was the model's final shoot before taking time off for the Christmas and New Year season

She was seen enjoying some down time in between takes, standing on the rocks with her hand on her hip.

It appears the shoot was Bambi's final project for this year, with the married beauty taking to Instagram to announce she was ready to wind down.

Sharing a snap of herself looking gorgeous in a white ruched dress, the petite model wrote: 'NOW WE START THE HOLIDAYYYZ. LAST DAY DONE , TIME TO HIT LE SHOPS THANKS TEAM (sic).'

'NOW WE START THE HOLIDAYYYZ': She wrote alongside an Instagram snap from behind-the-scenes of the shoot on Friday

Loved-up: Bambi is married to fashion designer and founder of Ksubi, Dan Single

Bambi and her fashion designer husband married in an intimate ceremony while surrounded by family and friends in 2013.

The couple became engaged earlier that year, when Dan proposed while they were on holiday in Thailand.

Dan presented her with a black onyx heart-shaped ring designed by Angus Logan.
He's the host of popular game show The Chase Australia.

And on Friday, Andrew O'Keefe was taking some time out from his presenting duties to enjoy a dip in the ocean at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

But the 45-year-old TV personality failed to keep a low profile thanks to his colourful choice of swimwear.

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Standing out! Andrew O'Keefe wore a pair of very colourful speedos as he strutted his stuff at Bondi Beach on Friday

The father-of-three wore a bright pair of speedos for his saltwater swim at the popular watering hole, showing off his trim physique.

Andrew looked in confident spirits as he walked along the sand with a yellow and white towel slung over his shoulder.

The Deal or No Deal host also carried a pair of yellow trainers as he looked for the perfect spot on the sand.

Feeling bright! The Deal or No Deal host, 45, also carried a pair of yellow trainers as he looked for the perfect spot on the sand

He also brought a white T-shirt with him to the beach.

After a swim, Andrew emerged from the water looking happy and refreshed.

The solicitor-turned-presenter has made no secret of his fondness for the ocean.

Speaking to Lawyers Weekly, the Channel Seven personality confessed it was one of his favourite ways to unwind.

'I swim everyday to clear the cobwebs': The solicitor-turned-presenter has made no secret of his fondness for the ocean

'I swim everyday to clear the cobwebs,' Andrew said.

His dip at Bondi Beach comes after the Weekend Sunrise host was accused of bias by One Nation senator Pauline Hanson.

Earlier this month, the flame-haired Dancing With The Stars contestant slammed Andrew as too left wing.

Biased? This month, One Nation senator Pauline Hanson slammed Andrew as too left wing

'Andrew O'Keefe's leftist bias is so extreme he is unwatchable. He's always pushing his agenda so I refuse to go on any of his shows,' Pauline tweeted.

The two have previously clashed while debating current affairs on TV.

In May, Andrew also had a fiery exchange with controversial former Labor leader Mark Latham in a debate about feminism.
She juggles her busy career with raising her twins Max and Emme, eight.

And Jennifer Lopez was spotted on a last minute Christmas shopping spree on Rodeo Drive on Thursday, no doubt picking up some presents for her loved ones, while wearing some personalised boots which had J-Lo written on the tongues.

The 47-year-old kept a loving arm around her producing partner and good friend Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas' shoulder as they got some last minute gifts on the posh Beverly Hills retail street.

Shopping spree: Jennifer Lopez was spotted on a last minute Christmas shopping trip on Rodeo Drive on Thursday with producing partner and good friend Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, no doubt picking up some presents for her loved ones

J-Lo looked hot as always in a pair of skinny jeans and her Timbaland boots.

She matched it with a scoop neck white top under a long, fur-trimmed beige cardigan.

Jenny from the block: She wore personalised Timberland boots

Her hair was pulled back in a tight pony, while she accessorized with pairs of diamond studs and mirrored aviators from Quay Australia.

She also showed off a snazzy Louis Vuitton purse, adorned with the designers famous patterned logo on one side and a bold statement red on the flip.

Shopping on Rodeo Drive is no cheap pastime - not that that is something that concerns Lopez, who this week rejected $1 million for a single night's work.

Jennifer had been scheduled to sing at Miami nightclub E11even but decided to cancel, according to TMZ.

Out and about: The 47-year-old kept a loving arm around Elain's shoulder as they got some last minute gifts on the posh Beverly Hills retail street

Smokin: J-Lo looked hot as always in a pair of skinny jeans and personalised Timberland boots

Nice: She also showed off a snazzy Louis Vuitton purse, adorned with the designers famous patterned logo on one side and a bold statement red on the flip

Style: She matched it with a scoop neck white top under a long, fur-trimmed beige cardigan

Hot: Her hair was pulled back in a tight pony, while she accessorized with pairs of diamond studs and mirrored aviators from Quay Australia

The club quickly snapped up Nicki Minaj to perform instead, reportedly for a lot less money too.

Meanwhile the site claimed that Nicki's rumoured ex Drake is now being connected to J-Lo romantically.

Rumours began swirling after the two worked together on an upcoming track.

Pricey: Shopping on Rodeo Drive is no cheap pastime - not that that is something that concerns Lopez, who this week rejected $1million for a single night's work
They've made a name for themselves in Hollywood.

But despite being based predominately in the States, a slew of A-list Australian celebrities have returned home for the holidays.

Rose Byrne, Rebel Wilson, newlywed Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman and Ruby Rose, are just a few to return to Aussie shores.

She's back! Comedian Rebel Wilson, 36, arrived at Sydney airport on Wednesday, in time for the holidays

Comedian Rebel Wilson, 36, arrived at Sydney airport on Wednesday, in time for the holidays.

The Pitch Perfect star cut a vibrant figure in a purple fitted frock, teamed with a black cardigan.

Rebel carried her belongings in a studded black shoulder bag, and concealed her eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses.

Wedded bliss: Newlywed Margot Robbie, 26, tied the knot last week at an intimate ceremony in Coorabell, Byron Bay

Prized bling: The Suicide Squad star was sure to show off her pear-shaped wedding ring to social media

Newlywed Margot Robbie tied the knot last week in an intimate ceremony in Coorabell, Byron Bay.

The 26-year-old invited just 50 guests to witness the special occasion, and feasted on an unusual menu of pizza and Coco Pops.

Margot stunned in a bohemian style frock, which was her mother's originally, and made sure to flaunt her stunning pear-shaped ring on social media.

They've arrived: Actress Nicole Kidman, 49, is currently in Sydney with husband Keith Urban (pictured) and their daughters Sunday Rose, eight, and Faith Margaret, five

Celebrations: The family are currently in Sydney and will celebrate Christmas with her mother Janelle and sister Antonia's family

Actress Nicole Kidman, 49, is currently in Sydney with husband Keith Urban and their daughters Sunday Rose, eight, and Faith Margaret, five.

The family, who were spotted at the beach last weekend, are currently in Sydney celebrating Christmas with her mother Janelle and sister Antonia's family.

Rose Byrne recently wrapped up a run of David Mamet's acclaimed Hollywood satire, Speed The Plough, for Sydney Theatre Company.

The 37-year-old has been photographed recently in Sydney with baby son Rocco, whom she shares with partner Bobby Cannavale, 46.

The Bridesmaids star will then stick around in the New Year to film the new Peter Rabbit movie with Margot and James Corden

Currently Sydney-based: Rose Byrne, 37, recently wrapped up a run of David Mamet's acclaimed Hollywood satire, Speed The Plough, for Sydney Theatre Company

Back on home soil: Ruby Rose, 30, was spotted on Thursday with girlfriend Jessica Origliasso, of The Veronicas, at a rainforest retreat in Queensland

Picturesque: The pair are staying at Secrets on the Lake, a retreat located in the hinterland of the Queenland's Sunshine Coast

Ruby Rose, 30, was spotted on Thursday with girlfriend Jessica Origliasso, of The Veronicas, at a rainforest retreat in Queensland.

The pair are staying at Secrets on the Lake, a retreat located in the hinterland of the Queenland's Sunshine Coast.

The couple officially announced they were an item early last month, and have been spending as much time together as possible.

Meanwhile, Hugh Jackman came close to playing an action hero in real life in Sydney on Friday.

Eventful: Meanwhile Hugh Jackman, 48, came close to playing an action hero in real life in Sydney on Friday

The 48-year-old narrowly escaped a shark scare during his morning swim at the city's famous Bondi Beach, as reported by Nine News.

The actor had gone for an early morning swim and was called out of the ocean around 8am as the shark alarm sounded.

Former Home And Away star Sharni Vinson, who recently enjoyed a vacation in the Maldives, has been inundating her Instagram account with pics from Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Time to unwind: The 33-year-old, who shot to fame in Australian soap Home And Away, has enjoyed success as an actress in the States

One particular snap saw the 33-year-old perched on a bike in just a pair of shorts and a tank, looking out along a picturesque view.

Teresa Palmer, who gave birth to son Forest Sage last week, returned back to her hometown of Adelaide, a few weeks prior.

The 30-year-old is joined by husband Mark Webber, his son Isaac from a previous relationship and two-year-old son Bodhi Rain.

Low-key: Teresa Palmer, 30, who gave birth to son Forest Sage last week, returned back to her hometown of Adelaide, a few weeks prior
Their father will remain behind bars for Christmas, after being jailed for insider trading in June.

But Roxy Jacenko is prepared to make the festive season as bright as possible for her young children, Pixie and Hunter.

On Friday, the Sydney socialite took her two kids to Nubo Play, a new play centre in Alexandria.

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Having a ball! Roxy Jacenko took her two children, Pixie (L) and Hunter (R), to a children's play area in Alexandria, Sydney on Friday as they prepare for a difficult Christmas period

Taking to Instagram, the Sweaty Betty PR founder posted a heartwarming photo of her children playing in a ball pit.

The photo showed her two-year-old son Hunter sliding into a pile of bright blue balls as he laughed with delight.

His sister Pixie, five, faced away from the camera as she made her way towards the ladder behind the slide.

Close siblings: Pixie, five, and two-year-old Hunter appeared to be in happy spirits, despite facing their first Christmas without their jailed father, Oliver Curtis

'Knows how to enjoy himself,' Roxy captioned the sweet family photo.

Hunter was dressed in a Ralph Lauren T-shirt, while Pixie looked cute-as-a-button in a patterned dress.

Pixie also wore a white bow in her hair, likely from her own range of accessories.

It is the silly season! Hunter looked to be enjoying himself ahead of Christmas. Roxy has previously said he is not completely aware of his family's sad situation

Other photos of Pixie and Hunter showed them clearly enjoying themselves two days before Christmas.

It seems Roxy juggled work and play on Friday, as she posted her daily elevator selfie before arriving at her PR office that morning.

She looked effortlessly chic in a black Scanlan Theodore dress as she displayed her plump pout for the camera.

'Casual Fridays': It seems Roxy juggled work and play on Friday, as she posted her daily elevator selfie before arriving at her PR office that morning

Roxy recently told The Daily Telegraph that rather than tell her children their father is in jail, she said he simply in China on business.

'Every parent is different, but one thing I have learnt since becoming a mum is that you need to parent in a way that works for your children,' she explained.

Oliver was jailed for insider trading in June and is half-way through what is expected to be a year in prison.
She recently celebrated reaching 500,000 followers on Instagram.

But Home And Away's Pia Miller has plenty more to look forward to as she arrives home in Melbourne for the Christmas holidays.

The actress is also spending the festive season with her boyfriend Tyson Mullane, as their relationship becomes more serious.

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Home for the holidays! Home And Away's Pia Miller returned to Melbourne on Friday to spend Christmas with family and her boyfriend Tyson Mullane

In several Instagram posts on Friday, Pia is pictured drinking coffee and walking through the streets of Melbourne.

In one photo, the Chilean-born beauty sips a latte in a trendy cafe.

Wearing a simple black dress, the 33-year-old looks happy and relaxed as she rests her elbows on the table.

'Home town': In several Instagram posts on Friday, Pia is pictured drinking coffee and walking through the streets of Melbourne

Getting serious? The brunette beauty has also been joined by her beau Tyson Mullane, a sign their relationship is becoming serious

On Wednesday, Pia celebrated reaching 500,000 followers on Instagram.

The model has is known for sharing candid photos of her family life with sons Isaiah and Lennox, and her beach dates with Tyson .

But it's her fondness for bikinis which have no doubt made her popular on the image-sharing website.

Loved up: Pia and Tyson have been dating for over a year, following her split from husband Brad Miller, a former AFL player

Milestone: On Wednesday, Pia celebrated reaching 500,000 followers on Instagram

She regularly poses in her impressive collection of bikinis, including her favourite brand, Coco Jane Swimwear.

Pia separated from her husband of 10 years, former AFL player Brad Miller, in October 2015.

She started dating film producer Tyson shortly after.
She's the daughter of 'The Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin known for her bubbly personality and passion for conservation.

But Bindi Irwin swapped her T-shirt and khaki trousers for a more glamorous look as she shared an inspirational message on Instagram on Friday.

The 18-year-old wildlife warrior beamed into the camera as she posted a message highlighting the importance of self-acceptance.

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'Life is about love': Bindi Irwin was feeling empowered on Friday as she shared a message of self-acceptance with her 1.3 million Instagram followers

Feeling contemplative the star wrote: 'Today's thoughts - You know, really, life is about accepting and loving who you are.'

She continued: 'There will always be people that will agree or disagree with who you are and what you stand for. However, life is about love.'

The reality TV star then wished she could give others the ability to see things from her perspective.

Old soul: Bindi, 18, revealed on Thursday that she sometimes feels like she is '83 years old'

'At the end of the day, you just have to love what you love and be who you are,' Bindi concluded.

In the snap, she styled her brunette hair in loose waves and showed off her natural beauty with minimal make-up.

'Amen sister!' wrote one follower, in response to Bindi's words of wisdom.

Long distance love: It appears Bindi isn't letting the absence of her boyfriend Chandler Powell over the Christmas holidays affect her spirits, after he returned to his home in the USA

'I love that even your selfie caption has character and substance,' read another comment.

It appears Bindi isn't letting the absence of her boyfriend Chandler Powell over the Christmas holidays affect her spirits.

The American-born wakeboarder headed back to the United States a fortnight ago.

It's unknown whether he will return to Australia for Christmas, or if they are spending time apart with their respective families.
She sat on the Studio 10 panel for the first time on Friday morning.

And in the afternoon, Georgia Love paid a visit to Santa Claus as she posed for a festive photo with her sister Katie.

The siblings smiled happily for the snap, which the 28-year-old former TV journalist later shared on Instagram.

Love in Lapland: On Friday afternoon, The Bachelorette's Georgia Love (R) paid a visit to Santa Claus as she posed for a festive photo with her sister Katie (L)

She captioned the snap: '28 years and counting.'

Georgia wore a floral dress while her sister opted for an off-the-shoulder black and white striped frock.

Earlier in the day, the former WIN News anchor made her debut on Studio 10, filling in for regular host Sarah Harris.

TV star! Earlier in the day, the former WIN News anchor, 28, made her debut on Studio 10, filling in for regular host Sarah Harris

Good career move! Georgia previously spoke of 'giving up' her TV career to find love on The Bachelorette, but she appears to be making a successful transition into national broadcasting

Georgia walked into an awkward situation during the Daily Dilemma segment, which posed the question of whether you would 'invite an ex to your wedding?'

She claimed only one of the 18 men she dated on The Bachelorette, Cameron Cranley, would be invited to her nuptials with Lee Elliott.

When asked if she would invite runner-up Matty Johnson to the ceremony, Georgia bluntly answered, 'No'.

Awkward! Georgia walked into an awkward situation during Studio 10's Daily Dilemma segment, which posed the question of whether you would 'invite an ex to your wedding?'

'I'm sorry Matty, but I don't think so,' the former reality TV star confessed.

However, Georgia said that handsome Perth firefighter Cameron, 26, would indeed be invited to the party.

'Cam and Lee are very, very good friends, and I think Cam would probably be invited,' she explained.

'I'm sorry Matty, but I don't think so': When asked if she would invite The Bachelorette's runner-up Matty Johnson to the ceremony, Georgia bluntly answered, 'No'
To be fair, they are probably sick of dining at Hilton hotel restaurants.

Paris and Nicky Hilton linked up with parents Rick and Kathy for a family dinner at Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday night.

Paris was dressed to impress in a chic black dress with a lace bodice, paring it with black pumps, a black leather purse and a deep scarlet lip.

Hiltons united: Paris Hilton linked up her sister Nicky with parents Rick and Kathy for a family dinner at Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday night

Gucci goo: Her little sis meanwhile looked a bit more casual - but no less expensive - rocking a $1,800 Gucci cashmere pink and black sweater

Her little sis meanwhile looked a bit more casual - but no less expensive - rocking a $1,800 Gucci cashmere pink and black sweater.

Reading 'l'aveugle par amour' French for 'blind love', it also featured a rather fetching visage of a cat.

Mom Kathy, who arrived with Paris, matched her daughter in an all black pantsuit, bringing along a vibrant red clutch for a splash of colour.

Back in black: Paris was dressed to impress in a chic black dress with a lace bodice, paring it with black pumps, a black leather purse and a deep scarlet lip

Snap: Mom Kathy, who arrived with Paris, matched her daughter in an all black pantsuit

Statement: She brought along a vibrant red clutch for a splash of colour

Dad Richard - AKA Rick - meanwhile got the one red item memo, pairing a tie with a navy blue suit and sockless black shoes.

Nicky was also joined by her husband of a year-and-a-half James Rothschild, who arrived most casual of all in a navy cardigan, untucked button-down shirt, jeans and trainers.

Obviously there was no sign of baby Lily Grace Victoria, whom the couple welcomed just five months ago.

Au Francais: Reading 'l'aveugle par amour' French for 'blind love', it also featured a rather fetching visage of a cat

Laid back: Nicky was also joined by her husband of a year-and-a-half James Rothschild, who arrived most casual of all in a navy cardigan, untucked button-down shirt, jeans and trainers

Night off: Obviously there was no sign of baby Lily Grace Victoria, whom the couple welcomed just five months ago

Of the family, Paris boasted the most impressive tan, having only returned from Mauritius a day earlier.

A spate of Instagram photos posted on Wednesday saw her frolicking about on a sun-drenched beach, baring her chiseled legs in a green swim dress.

Paris's name also cropped up this week in an interview with Sophia Richie, in which she was named her 'best friend'; her sister Nicole was once Paris's BFF and Simple Life co-star, but the two grew apart in a rift as the show came to an end.

Pops: Dad Richard - AKA Rick - meanwhile got the one red item memo, pairing a tie with a navy blue suit and sockless black shoes
Roxy Jacenko bid farewell to her Sweaty Betty 'clones' on Friday as her PR firm closes down over Christmas and New Year.

The 36-year-old posted an elevator selfie with members of her staff on Instagram - months after she was accused of only employing pretty, young blonde women.

In the photo, Roxy stands among her (mostly blonde) female staff as she celebrates a successful business year with the caption: 'We did it!'

She has a thing for blondes! Roxy Jacenko (C) bid farewell to her Sweaty Betty 'clones' on Friday as her PR firm closed down over Christmas and New Year

The photo of her staff of Sydney socialites will do little to dispel the accusation she's built an army of 'clones', which was raised after her 60 Minutes interview in August.

Despite the show covering her husband's sentencing, her cancer battle and how she balances business and family life, it was the staff of 'Roxy lookalike workaholics' at Sweaty Betty that caught the attention of viewers.

Footage from inside the company's Double Bay office prompted social media users, news outlets and radio personalities to pick up on bizarre 'Stepford Wives' aesthetic.

The boss: Roxy's latest post will do little to dispel the notion that she's built an army of 'clones', which was raised after her interview with 60 Minutes was aired in August

Clone army? A shot from inside Sweaty Betty's Double Bay office prompted social media users, news outlets and radio hosts to pick up on the bizarre 'Stepford Wives' aesthetic of her staff

The open plan office showed a number of women - all young, blonde, white and dressed in black - at their desks behind the company's founder.

News Corp jokingly suggested that Roxy's business 'secret' was out, stating that she'd successfully made an 'army of clones'.

Meanwhile, Twitter users said the office was like a scene from Star Wars film 'Attack of the Clones' and that 'if you're not female blonde or beautiful you need not apply'.

Strange: The open plan office showed a number of women - all young, blonde, white and dressed in black - at their desks behind the company's founder

Lookalikes: News Corp jokingly suggested that Roxy's business 'secret' was out, stating that she'd successfully made an 'army of clones'

'Brunettes are very welcome in our office': After the 60 Minutes special, Roxy responded to her critics on Instagram by sharing a photo of her staff

Roxy responded to her critics on Instagram by sharing a photo of her staff.

She wrote: 'For the half-wits who today suggested I have blonde 'clones' - a little research and you might discover that brunettes are very welcome in our office.'

Two weeks ago, Roxy shared a picture of her staff at Bar Machiavelli in Rushcutters Bay as she thanked them their 'wonderful' work in 2016.
Real Housewives of Melbourne's Gina Liano is known for her outspoken personality.

But it appears someone else was doing the speaking for her on Thursday night - and it did not go well.

The reality TV star appeared to have a Twitter autoreply bot installed to 'thank' her new followers, which led to her accidentally posting some VERY explicit tweets.

Whoops! RHOM's Gina Liano appeared to have a Twitter autoreply bot installed to 'thank' her new followers, which led to her accidentally posting some VERY explicit tweets this week

As more Twitter users realised the technical glitch, the situation became even more embarrassing for Gina - who appeared to not realise what was happening.

Twitter accounts with explicit names began to follow the 50-year-old barrister, as the autoreply bot unwittingly sent back friendly welcomes to each and every one.

'Juice in my p***y', 'My big beef curtains' and 'My c*** is moist' were all afforded polite 'thanks' for following Gina's popular account.

'My big beef curtains thanks for the follow!' Twitter accounts with explicit names began to follow Gina, as her autoreply bot sent back friendly welcomes to each and every one

Soon after, Gina's Real Housewives co-star Lydia Schiavello faced the same problem.

The 47-year-old Melbourne socialite warmly welcomed 'P***ydestroyer69', 'Hugh Janus' and 'Stinky c***o' to her Twitter account.

At one point, the lifestyle blogger even thanked an account named 'ISIS' for following her tweets.

A varied audience! RHOM's Lydia Schiavello also faced the same problem, as the Melbourne socialite welcomed 'P***ydestroyer69', 'Hugh Janus' and 'Stinky c***o' to her Twitter account

Both reality TV stars have remained silent on the glitch, which brought great amusement to other social media users.

Gina has since deleted her unfortunate tweets, and Lydia has turned her Twitter account to private.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Gina and Lydia for comment.
She recently admitted she would love to have a fourth child.

And Danielle Lloyd certainly looked broody as she cuddled her friend's newborn baby on their recent girls' holiday to Dubai.

The 33-year-old looked completely besotted with the sweet little girl as she endlessly played with her and her mother from the comfort of the hotel pool in the blazing sunshine.

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Besotted: Danielle Lloyd, 33, looked broody as she cuddled her friend's newborn baby during their recent girls' holiday to Dubai

Oh, baby! The 33-year-old looked completely besotted with the sweet little girl as she endlessly played with her from the comfort of the hotel pool

The mother-of-three could not tear herself away from the little one as she played during their relaxing day by the pool, to both the baby and Danielle's delight.

The former glamour model threw her head back in animated laughter as she first lifted the little girl up and down in the water, before embarking on a tender cuddle as she held her close to her chest.

Later joined by the girl's mother, the trio embarked on a set of ball games as they enjoyed the warm climate, giggling and splashing around excitedly during their relaxing break.

Natural beauty: The former glamour model threw her head back in animated laughter as she first lifted the little girl up and down in the water

Adorable: She then embarked on a tender cuddle with the sweet baby as she held her close to her chest

Having a ball! Later joined by the girl's mother, the trio embarked on a set of ball games as they enjoyed the warm climate

Girly getaway: The trio giggled and splashed around excitedly during their relaxing girls' break

Returning to the pool side with the adorable new born, Danielle revealed her womanly curves in her skimpy black bikini as she headed back to their sunbeds for a rest after their playful afternoon.

Plunging into a low triangle neckline and securing with a single string at the back, the two piece showcased her ample bust as well as plenty of her sun-kissed skin.

The matching briefs were of an equally skimpy style - cutting high at her rear to display her rounded and womanly derriere to all.

Sensational: Returning to the pool side with the adorable new born, Danielle revealed her womanly curves in her skimpy black bikini

Skimpy chic: Plunging into a low triangle neckline and securing with a single string at the back, the two piece showcased her ample bust as well as plenty of her sun-kissed skin

Adding a chic splash of colour to the black ensemble, the bikini was adorned with hot fuschia panels at the bust and hips, before each strap was secured with a chunky gold fastening for a hint of glitz.

Leaving her face bare to show off her naturally glowing complexion, the former Miss Great Britain finished her look with oversized mirrored sunglasses as she soaked up the glorious sunshine.

The holiday with her gal pal and new arrival comes after Danielle's recent admission to Closer magazine that she would love to have another baby.

Dare to bare: The matching briefs were of an equally skimpy style - cutting high at her rear to display her rounded and womanly derriere to all

Finishing touches: Each strap of the bikini was secured with a chunky gold fastening for a hint of glitz

She is already to three boys Archie, Harry and George with ex-husband Jamie O'Hara, who she split with after 3 years of marriage in 2015.

However, the beauty told the mag earlier this year: 'I'd love to get pregnant again so I can start the year off right and it would give me an excuse to stop drinking!

'Every single January I say I'm going to drink less or stop drinking altogether and every year I never stick to it.

She further revealed that her younger brood are already excited about the prospect, adding: 'The boys would love another sibling and keep asking me when it's going to happen - it's so sweet.'

Broody: The holiday with her gal pal and new arrival comes after Danielle's recent admission to Closer magazine that she would love to have another baby

Doting mum: Danielle is already to three boys Archie, Harry and George with ex-husband Jamie O'Hara, who she split with after 3 years of marriage in 2015

Brotherly love: However she told Closer than her boys are already excited about the prospect, adding: 'The boys would love another sibling and keep asking me when it's going to happen'

The Celebrity Big Brother star showed off her womanly curves for all to see on the getaway after fans questioned whether she had undergone breast enhancements - having sported a fuller looking bust at a charity lunch earlier this month.

However admitting she was surgery free, Danielle took to her Twitter page to dispel claims - penning her larger bust to her stone and a half weight gain since becoming engaged to beau Michael O'Neill.

She wrote on the site: 'Can I just say I have not had any breast surgery I've just put a stone and half on!! #sowhat #happy'.

Bust-ed? The Celebrity Big Brother star showed off her womanly curves for all to see on the getaway after fans questioned whether she had undergone breast enhancements
She's been spending an increasing amount of time in France with her boyfriend Jeremy Parisi.

But Kelly Brook was back on her home turf on Thursday night, taking her French partner for a night to remember at her London bar Steam & Rye.

The 37-year-old beauty kept her look casual for their festive date, keeping cosy in a fur-lined camel coat.

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Date night: Kelly Brook was back on her home turf on Thursday night, taking her French partner Jeremy Parisi for a night to remember at her London bar Steam & Rye

She highlighted her shapely legs thanks to figure-hugging leather trousers and set off the look with brown suede ankle boots.

Kelly wore her brunette locks pushed back from her face with a hairband, dressing up her look with silver earrings and a YSL clutch bag.

Jeremy embraced a smart casual look in black blazer paired with distressed denim jeans.

The model beamed as she left the bar, showing off a picture of her meet and greet with Santa Claus.

Low-key: The 37-year-old beauty kept her look casual for their festive date, keeping cosy in a fur-lined camel coat

She enthused: 'I Met Santa a while back and he kindly Framed this picture of us and dropped it off at my Bar for me!!

'Santa you didn't leave your Contact info so I'm assuming your back in the North Pole now Thank you so much for this amazing Early Christmas Present :)))

'Santa Really does EXIST and he's the BEST!!!'

The star also shared several snaps of her bar's cosy, festive decor after getting into the Christmas spirit on her night out.

Santa Baby: Kelly enthused, 'I Met Santa a while back and he kindly Framed this picture of us and dropped it off at my Bar for me!'

Cosy: The star also shared several snaps of her bar's festive decor after getting into the Christmas spirit on her night out

Kelly is set to appear on a Christmas special of Through The Keyhole alongside soap star Shane Ward and comedian Johnny Vegas.

Close pal Keith Kwasn't shy about teasing her, saying, 'Do you wake up and think I AM FIT?'

A modest Kelly replied: 'No I just think..no you know Ive got a good team. They give me nice clothes.

'I have hair and makeup. Youve seen what I look like in the morning!'

Keith nodded, joking, 'Yeh yeh yeh...', to which a horrified Kelly replied, 'Not like that! Not like that, at work. Were all normal.'

The Through The Keyhole Christmas special airs this Saturday at 10.30pm on ITV.
She left viewers hot under the collar when she shot to fame in a burger advert.

And while Charlotte McKinney has become a global star since, she hasn't lost any of her racy charm.

The stunning beauty, 23, has stripped off for one of her sauciest shoots to date, with her slipping her ample assets into skimpy lace lingerie.

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Feeling festive! Charlotte McKinney may have become a global star, she hasn't lost any of her racy charm as proven with her raciest shoot to date

The blonde stunner - who has moved into acting - then lies seductively on a bed in silk French knickers and a matching camisole.

Slipping into another silky garment, Charlotte works the camera in front of a window.

But it's not just on a modelling shoot that Charlotte turns heads.

The stunner was spotted strutting her way down Wall Street on Thursday, not letting a chill in the air put a damper on her fierce fashion.

Bed time! The blonde stunner - who has moved into acting - then lies seductively on a bed in silk French knickers and a matching camisole

Nice view! Slipping into another silky garment, Charlotte works the camera in front of a window

She certainly skipped the usual suit style worn but those working in Manhattan's Financial District.

The Carl's Jr. star instead donned a high waisted patent leather mini skirt with a black tank.

The Los Angeles-based model did make some concessions to the cold weather, wearing a furry checked jacket perched on her shoulders and adding some black semi-sheer tights.

Charlotte further accessorized her look with a pair of black mid-calf boots and a matching Versace handbag.

Making the look more glamorous, her hair was left out but had lots of volume and her makeup was in a classic sex kitten style with a smokey-eye and pout defining lipstick.

Hot to trot: But it's not just on a modelling shoot that Charlotte turns heads - the stunner brought some sex appeal to the sidewalk in New York this week

Lots of layers: The model wore a patent leather skirt with furry checked jacket perched on her shoulders and adding some black semi-sheer tights

Added extras: Charlotte further accessorized her look with a pair of black mid-calf boots and a matching Versace handbag

The model had only just flown into New York late the previous evening.

She celebrated her arrival with a sexy shot of herself wearing just a bathrobe.

Making sure to give the hotel a plug, she said: 'Early morning glam @editionhotels #NewYorkEDITION.'
Seinfeld fans Hamish Blake and wife Zoe celebrated 'Festivus' on Friday by wearing matching jumpers.

The US sitcom introduced the holiday, celebrated on 23 December, as a secular and non-commercial alternative to Christmas.

And the Blakes sported 'Festivus For The Rest Of Us' sweaters in an Instagram photo.

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'A Festivus For The Rest Of Us!' Seinfeld fans Hamish Blake (L) and wife Zoe (R) celebrated 'Festivus' on Friday by wearing matching jumpers based on TV sitcom Seinfeld

He captioned the pic: '...and may it bring out the bestovus!'

Both jumpers feature the image of actor Jason Alexander, who plays George Costanza in Seinfeld.

In the popular TV series, George's father Frank created the holiday after becoming disillusioned with Christmas.

The holiday, based on a family tradition observed by Seinfeld writer Dan O'Keefe, also involves replacing the Christmas tree with an aluminium pole.

TV tribute: Both Hamish and Zoe's jumpers feature the image of actor Jason Alexander, who plays George Costanza (pictured) in Seinfeld

Festivus: In the popular TV series, George's father Frank created the holiday 'Festivus' after becoming disillusioned with Christmas

This month, Hamish and his wife celebrated their fourth anniversary by returning to a place of special significance to their relationship.

The happy couple travelled to where they got married, The Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains.

They also made sure to document their romantic getaway on Instagram.

Wedded bliss: Earlier this month, Hamish and his wife celebrated their fourth anniversary

Zoe wrote in Instagram: 'Four years ago, on our wedding day, a magnificent floral arbor heart hung from that branch, but for some reason it's gone now??

'Weird. Anyway. We improvised a new heart using some elite level dork power.'

Hamish is a longtime 2Day FM radio personality and Zoe is a successful journalist and author. They share a son, two-year-old Sonny.
A new television series based on Picnic at Hanging Rock has faced criticism over its choice of directors.

The choice of Larysa Kondracki, who is Canadian, was particularly controversial as it was argued the role should have gone to an Australian.

But after protest, Fremantle Media announced on Friday an Australian woman will also be directing the project.

Row: The choice of Larysa Kondracki, who is Canadian, to direct a TV series based on Picnic at Hanging Rock was controversial as it was argued the role should have gone to an Australian

'Fremantle Media acknowledges the sensitivity around the selection of the creative team,' said Jo Porter, Fremantle Australia's director of drama.

'As a consequence, we have engaged with Screen Australia, Film Victoria, the Australian Director's Guild and the commissioning broadcaster, Foxtel, to move forward in a productive manner.

'We assembled two directors who will bring this iconic story to life and honour the incredible legacy of the Joan Lindsay novel.

'We now welcome the engagement of a third, Australian female director to work with Michael and Larysa on this landmark project.'

A classic: The film was released in 1975 and will be rebooted into a six-part television series

The Australian female director, whose identity has not been confirmed, will direct one episode of the six-part series.

In a Facebook post from Women in Film and Television (WIFT), a spokesperson for the group said their work had only just begun.

'This is further proof that strong advocacy is needed to ensure change occurs in our industry - without it change only happens at a glacial pace,' the post read.

Protest: Last week, Women in Film and Television along with the Australian Director's Guild, produced a video to express their concerns over a lack of a female Australian director

'We look forward to pushing for stronger participation and representation of women in our screen industries in 2017 and we hope you will join us on this quest!'

Last week the group, along with the Australian Director's Guild (ADG), produced a video to express their concerns over a lack of a female Australian director.

It featured a group of Australian female directors, dressed to resemble the lost schoolgirls who starred in the original film.

Intentional: The film aimed to highlight the homegrown talent that had been overlooked in finding a director for the television series

A media release from WIFT said this was 'a deliberate move to spotlight the number of available talented Australian directors who had been overlooked' for the job.

Earlier, the ADG's CEO Kingston Anderson released a statement opposing the visa granted to Canadian director Larysa.

'Australian directors are amazed and astonished at the choice of a foreign director to work on a classic, especially as it is not a co-production and is being fully financed in Australia,' he said.

Unmet requirements? Australian Director's Guild CEO Kingston Anderson also backed the protest, and said Larysa hadn't met the eligibility criteria for the visa she was granted

'The Net Employment Benefit test clearly states that to get a 420 Visa, there needs to be a net employment benefit for the Australian industry.

'As this production was always going to be shot in Australia and is fully financed by Australian money, including funds from Screen Australia and Foxtel, it clearly does not have any net employment benefit for Australians as one of the major jobs on the production is being given to a Canadian.'

He claimed the importation of foreign workers who didn't meet the requirements for their visas was an ongoing issue for Australian filmmakers, who lost out on work as a result.

'It is clear to the ADG that the government has no interest in supporting Australian creative talent by not upholding their own rules when it comes to visa approvals and being inconsistent in the way it applies the rules,' he said.
She is one of the hottest models in the industry.

And Winnie Harlow reveals she relishes being an 'inspiration' to her fans in a new interview with Elle Canada.

The 22-year-old - who suffers from skin condition Vitiligo - insists she hates being branded a role model, as people shouldn't want to emulate others.

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Wanna be on top! Winnie Harlow reveals she relishes being an 'inspiration' to her fans in a new interview with Elle Canada

She tells the publication: 'I feel like I am an inspiration. Thats the word I prefer.

'I dont believe that I have to be a role model, someone to be emulated. My mom inspires me, and I take great things from her, but there are things from my mom that I would never do.

'So I dont have my mother as a role model, but I do have her as a huge inspiration.'

The beauty - who shot to fame as a contestant on America's Next Top Model - certainly proves her worth in the accompanying cover shoot.

Candid: The 22-year-old - who suffers from skin condition Vitiligo - insists she hates being branded a role model, as people shouldn't want to emulate others

Street chic: She seduces the camera while working a series of edgy ensembles - but insists she still likes her 'hood' style of dressing

She seduces the camera while flashing her bra in one stunning image, before working a series of edgy ensembles.

But, despite having designers at her beck and call, Winnie - who grew up Toronto - says she'll always refer back to her roots in the style stakes.

She adds: 'My sense of fashion has developed a lot.

'[But] I still have my hood style  I still like to wear my gold chains and my grills.'

The February issue of ELLE Canada hits newsstands on January 5, 2016
Tessa James and Nate Myles took to Instagram on Friday to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.

The former Home and Away star shared a photo from their special day showing the newlyweds cuddling in the back of a car.

Nate also paid a tribute to his wife, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014, by posting a picture of her in hospital.

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Happy days: Tessa James (L) and Nate Myles (R) posted romantic photos on Instagram as they celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on Friday

In Nate's picture, Tessa is showing eating in her hospital bed. The NRL star wrote in the caption: 'Love you'.

Meanwhile, in Tessa's photo, she captures the romantic moment whispers into her ear on their wedding day.

Tessa, who started her TV career on Neighbours, simply captioned the snap with the date of their nuptials.

Anniversary: Nate marked the couple's wedding anniversary by posting a photo of Tessa in a hospital bed. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014

Fond memories: Tessa also shared a photo from the couple's wedding day in 2011 as Nate appeared to whisper something into his bride's ear in the back of a car

Longtime lovers: The 25-year-old actress accepted Nate's proposal when she was just 19

The 25-year-old accepted Nate's proposal when she was just 19.

The Manly Sea Eagles player presented her with a $2 pink ring he found in a toy store in March 2011, which Tessa vowed to 'keep forever'.

Nate later replaced it with a 1.5-carat yellow-diamond ring.

Proposal: The Manly Sea Eagles player presented her with a $2 pink ring he found in a toy store in March 2011, which Tessa vowed to 'keep forever'

Sparkler: Nate later replaced the novelty jewellery with a 1.5-carat yellow-diamond ring

Nate stood loyally by Tessa's side throughout her chemotherapy treatment after she was diagnosed in September 2014.

Twelve rounds of chemotherapy in six months concluded in February last year. Tessa was told she was in remission two months later, two days before her 24th birthday.

Nate bought a Wonder Woman costume for her to wear as she left hospital and Tessa told The Daily Telegraph just how important her husband had been.

She said: 'Nate always underplays his support he gives to me. He is my rock.'
It has turned out to be one of the nastiest celebrity divorces in recent history.

So it was no surprise Amber Heard looked glum as she stepped out in Los Angeles this week.

She ditched her usual glamorous look and instead went make-up free as she headed out for coffee near her home.

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Not in the festive spirit: Amber Heard looked glum as she stepped out in Los Angeles this week amid more legal wranglings with ex Johnny Depp

Her pensive appearance comes after her lawyers lashed out at her ex Johnny Depp after he demanded she pay $100,000 for his legal fees.

Papers filed in LA allege that Amber 'continues to needlessly litigate a case which has been settled, all while parading in front of the media in a desperate attempt to extend her 15 minutes of fame'.

If the 30-year-old fails to pay Johnny's attorney's fees and costs as sanctions, the 53-year-old wants the money deducted from his next equalization payment.

Amber's attorney, Pierce O'Donnell, called The Pirates Of The Caribbean star's request 'laughable.'

She ditched her usual glamorous look and instead went make-up free as she headed out for coffee near her home

Her pensive appearance comes after her lawyers lashed out at her ex Johnny Depp after he demanded she pay $100,000 for his legal fees

Still feuding: Papers filed in LA allege that Amber 'continues to needlessly litigate a case which has been settled, all while parading in front of the media in a desperate attempt to extend her 15 minutes of fame'

'It is just another lame attempt by Mr. Depp and his team to not pay my client the money she is owed.

'We look forward to prevailing in court - and to getting sick children and women in need the money that Mr. Depp is denying them.'

The divorce was settled in August, when Johnny agreed to a $7 million settlement, which Amber requested be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union and Children's Hospital Of Los Angeles.

But last week Amber's legal team filed a Request For Order with the Los Angeles Superior Court in hopes of imposing the settlement and expediting Johnny's payment.

Out and about: The new legal fracas comes after the 30-year-old - pictured at an event in October, left, and Glamour Woman Of The Year in November, both in LA - filed a demand for the payment he owes her amongst other things

They claimed that Johnny had not complied with the court-allocated timeline of various mandates, including the division of personal property, shipping her belongings from his private island in the Bahamas, transferring a Range Rover into Amber's name and more.

The new documents stated: 'Amber wants to maintain the media's attention and thereby preserve her own fleeting relevance, and Amber wants to secure a more favorable deal than she previously negotiated.'

The couple, who met on the set of movie The Rum Diary in 2011, married on February 2015. She filed for divorce 15 months later, on May 23, amid claims that the Hollywood star had physically abused her.
The Pennsylvania resident first appeared on the MTV series in 2010

at 15 - struggled with substance abuse in the past

was arrested just a week prior after attempting to flee police

Valerie Fairman was found dead on Wednesday after what is believed to be a drug overdose.

The mother of one was just 23 and starred on MTV's hit show in 2010.

Friends and family confirmed the reality star's death on social media Thursday.

Valerie has struggled with drugs for some time and despite a reported rehab stay, had also found herself in trouble with the law.

In recent years, she had been arrested for assaulting her mother and prostitution.

Last Wednesday, the 23-year-old was arrested for resisting arrest and making a false identification to law enforcement.

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Found dead: Valerie Fairman was found dead on Wednesday after what is believed to be a drug overdose. She leaves behind seven-year-old Nevaeh (seen her in an undated Twitter photo)

Rise to fame: The mother of one was just 23 and starred on MTV's hit show in 2010 (pictured)

Last photograph: Valerie was arrested last Wednesday by the Parkesburg Borough Police Department resisting arrest and providing false identification to law enforcement

According to the Parkesburg Borough Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop and during the stop, Valerie provided a false name.

When police officers questioned this and identified her as Valerie, officers said she attempted to flee on foot.

'After a brief foot pursuit, Valerie Fairman, of Oxford, was taken into custody for resisting arrest and providing false identification to law enforcement. Valerie was arraigned in front of the Honorable Nancy Gill and released on $1,500 unsecured bail,' the report concluded.

Valerie leaves behind seven-year-old Nevaeh - Heaven spelled backwards - who was in the care of the late star's adoptive mom.

Dailymail.com also understands that the former reality star was engaged, to local musician Russ Bosi.

MTV, the network behind Valerie's show, also confirmed her passing in a statement: 'We are saddened by the news of Valerie Fairman's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.'

The Ashley was the first to report the MTV star's death after numerous family members took to social media to express their grief.

Struggled: While the cause of the 23-year-old's death has yet to be confirmed she has long battled substance related issues

Found love: Dailymail.com also understands that the former reality star was engaged, to local musician Russ Bosi

Valerie had long struggled with substance abuse issues.

The 16 And Pregnant star's mother told TMZ that on Wednesday Valerie was at a friend's house in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, when her pal became concerned she had not returned from the bathroom.

When the friend broke down the door, they found the 23-year-old unresponsive.

In audio of the paramedics dispatch, obtained by TMZ, EMS were sent to a possible 'cardiac arrest' and someone was doing CPR on scene.

However, the dispatcher changed the call to a 'possible DOA [Dead On Arrival]'and told paramedics they would need containers for needles.

While overdose is suspected, her exact cause of death will not be known until after an autopsy.

Ups and downs: The couple (pictured last year) seem to have had a few breaks along the way after getting engaged in 2015

Sad end: The 16 And Pregnant star's mother said on Wednesday Valerie was at a friend's house in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, when her pal became concerned she had not returned from the bathroom. When the friend broke down the door, they found the 23-year-old unresponsive

Dedicated: The producer had the reality star's name permanently inked on to himself

Following her death, a woman identified as one of Valerie's sisters, took to Instagram to speak of her sad loss.

'My baby sister, my heart, my blood! Valerie you will forever be missed. I love you baby girl and I will always.'

Fellow Teen Mom stars Jenelle Evans and Farrah Abraham have paid tribute to Valerie on Instagram.

Farrah Abraham said she was 'deeply saddened' in a message posted alongside of a screenshot of a Daily Mail story

Jenelle Evans paid tribute to Valerie alongside a picture of the pair smiling into the camera

'Rest Easy Angel. #RIPValerie my heart is heavy and my prayers go out to your family and Nevaeh,' Jenelle wrote alongside a picture of the pair smiling into the camera.

Jenelle, who has also struggled with drug dependency, also tweeted: 'Oh my god. I just spoke to her a couple months ago and told her I'm proud of her and looks like she's doing good.

'This really upsets me... I told her to stay on track.'

While Farrah said she was 'deeply saddened' in a message posted alongside of a screenshot of a Daily Mail story.

'I feel so heartfelt with sadness of the struggles Valerie was going through I deeply am saddened by this tragedy and I wish that others around Valerie could have helped her and I pray nothing but protection, love and peace to her daughter through this very confusing holiday time,' she wrote on the social networking site.

Tough road: Valerie has struggled with drugs for some time and despite a reported rehab stay, had also found herself in trouble with the law. She is pictured in a 2015 mug shot after her arrest for prostitution

So young: Valarie starred on MTV's 16 And Pregnant in 2010 after falling pregnant at just 15 to her then boyfriend Matt

David Pryce - who has previously said he is Valerie's ex and also the uncle of her child's father - took to Facebook to tell people, especially those who sell drugs, to change their ways.

He wrote: 'I will always miss you Valerie and I am want to tell anyone who is selling s**t to people to stop.

'We have lost too many loved ones to what you are doing and I am going to start taking care of it.'

Shocked stars:Teen Mom stars - who were also on Valerie's second season of 16 And Pregnant - including Chelsea Houska, now DeBoer, expressed their sadness after hearing the news

In her shoes: Jenelle Evans, who has also struggled with drug dependency, had recently spoken to her

Teen Mom star Chelsea Houska tweeted, 'How incredibly sad. My heart goes out to her daughter and family. '

Valarie starred on MTV's 16 And Pregnant in 2010 after falling pregnant at just 15 to her then boyfriend Matt.

Their volatile relationship was followed during the second season of the series with Matt often claiming to not be the father of Valerie's daughter.
She's the sassy five-year-old daughter of Sydney socialite Roxy Jacenko.

And Pixie Curtis showed off her lively personality on Friday as she celebrated the end of the school year.

The Instagram star was filmed by her mother dancing to funky music in a social media post on Friday.

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Time to dance! Roxy Jacenko's five-year-old daughter Pixie Curtis showed off her personality on Friday as she celebrated the end of the school year

The caption read simply: 'Schools OUT'.

Earlier in the day, Pixie and her two-year-old brother Hunter went to Nubo Play, a luxury new play centre in Sydney.

Taking to Instagram, the Sweaty Betty PR founder posted a heartwarming photo of her children playing in the ball pit.

Having a ball! Earlier on Friday, Pixie and her two-year-old brother Hunter (R) went to Nubo Play, a luxury new play centre in Sydney

The photo showed Hunter sliding into a pile of bright blue balls as he laughed with delight.

His older sister Pixie faced away from the camera as she walked towards the ladder behind the slide.

'Knows how to enjoy himself,' Roxy captioned the sweet family photo.

Close: Pixie and Hunter appeared to be in happy spirits, despite facing their first Christmas without their jailed father, Oliver Curtis

Hunter was dressed in a Ralph Lauren T-shirt, while Pixie looked cute-as-a-button in a patterned dress.

Pixie also wore a white bow in her hair, likely from her own range of accessories.

Other photos of Pixie and Hunter showed them clearly enjoying themselves two days before Christmas.

It is the silly season! Hunter looked to be enjoying himself ahead of Christmas. Roxy has previously said he is not completely aware of his family's sad situation

It seems Roxy juggled work and play on Friday, as she posted her daily elevator selfie before arriving at her PR office that morning.

She looked effortlessly chic in a black Scanlan Theodore dress as she displayed her plump pout for the camera.

Roxy recently told The Daily Telegraph that rather than tell her children their father is in jail, she said he simply in China on business.

'Casual Fridays': It seems Roxy juggled work and play on Friday, as she posted her daily elevator selfie before arriving at her PR office that morning

'Every parent is different, but one thing I have learnt since becoming a mum is that you need to parent in a way that works for your children,' she explained.

Oliver was jailed for insider trading in June after a high-profile which saw Roxy flaunt her stylish outfits on herb way to court.

He is half-way through what is expected to be a year stint in prison.
Kanye West is 'battling health issues.'

A source told People on Friday that he needs to be back to fully well and fit before he will get the all-clear to work again.

'Fitness - physical and mental - are essential to him being able to be restored fully and cleared to work,' the source said, adding: 'He has health issues that need to be resolved prior to returning to work.'

Working to resolve: Kanye won't return to the stage any time soon, while he battles to resolve his health issues (pictured Nov 11)

Another source told the publication that the rappers impulsive behavior and fluctuating moods that have made it difficult to solidify future plans of any kind.

'He is mercurial. One minute he is here. One minute he is there. He is very very difficult to pin down. Things are changing minute to minute,' the source told them.

A month after canceling the remaining North American dates of his Saint Pablo Tour, it was revealed earlier this week that Kanye will not be moving forward with European shows.

Off stage: A month after canceling the remaining North American dates of his Saint Pablo Tour, it was revealed earlier this week that Kanye will not be moving forward with European shows (pictured June 2015)

TMZ claimed the 39-year-old rapper has pulled out of the European dates of the concerts after he was rushed to UCLA Medical Center last month for an apparent breakdown.

Sources tell the site that Kanye's psychiatric hospitalisation cut short the 2017 side of the tour, which was set to feature dates in Paris, UK and Germany.

The site reported that Kanye's camp contacted concert promoter Live Nation to explain that the second leg of the tour would not go ahead.

His rock: The star was seen with wife Kim Kardashian earlier this week at Giorgio Baldi; here they are pictured in May at the Met Gala

The shock move is set to cause few problems as no dates had been confirmed nor tickets sold, so refunds and rearrangements are not necessary.

News of the tour comes after it was claimed that hospital staff were 'hunting' for his medical information.

According to TMZ, they were 'curious' when the rapper was admitted and tried to gain access to the computer system - reportedly leading to 'several dozen' staff members being fired.

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.

Hi supporters: Kris Jenner and her beau Corey Gamble have also been looking after West

Kanye was hospitalised on November 21 after a series of bizarre incidents.

He had been taking part in a gym session at the West Hollywood home of trainer Harley Pasternak when he became agitated and allegedly began screaming that people were trying to kill him.

Dr Michael Farzam was called to the scene and West was placed on a 5150 hold, which allows a physician to forcibly admit a patient to hospital, before being taken to the UCLA Medical Center.

West is said to have been handcuffed to a gurney during the journey, which came two days after he launched a bizarre rant on stage in Sacramento, California, and 24 hours after he announced that he was canceling all remaining dates on his Life of Pablo tour.

He and wife Kim Kardashian are thought to have been arguing a lot in the run-up to his meltdown, while the armed robbery on her in Paris on October 2 is also believed to have contributed.

Downcast: Kanye was seen looking glum as he left Barneys New York on Thursday

Kim's world was torn apart when she was the victim of a terrifying $8.5 million heist back in October.

She has barely left the house for weeks afterwards - and removed herself from social media.

Kim and Kanye were seen having dinner together earlier this week, but emerged looking glum.

He was also seen on Wednesday looking downcast while leaving the Cinepolis Luxury Cinema in Westlake Village, California where he saw Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
She's often told off by her panellists for her saucy daytime chats.

But Katie Price was allowed to go wild with the innuendos as she took part in the Loose Women live pantomime on Friday, even referring to a lewd sex act with her ex-boyfriend Dane Bowers.

Given the role of Pricey Charming in Cinderella, the 38-year-old TV personality tested the boundaries of appropriate daytime language as she stormed on stage announcing: 'One hundred miles into London and I still see no sign of Dick!'

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Cheeky! She's often told off by her panellists for her saucy daytime chats. But Katie Price was allowed to go wild with the innuendos as she took part in the Loose Women panto on Friday

In comic stage whisper, Andrea McLean then announced: 'This isnt Dick Whittington,' to which Katie cheekily replied: 'I know, I've just always wanted to say it!'

Elsewhere in the saucy segment, Katie also made reference to her former flame Dane, after the ugly sisters  played by Kay Adams and Nadia Sawalha  tried to fit their feet into the 'glass slipper'.

As Kay squealed: 'She hasnt even got her big toe in there,' Katie fired back: 'Oh thats kinky!'

Her comments came after a video was recently released of the star stumbling on stage worse for wear as she revealed that her former flame Dane 'gave me a toe job'.

On the hunt: Given the role of Pricey Charming in Cinderella, the 38-year-old TV personality announced: 'One hundred miles into London and I still see no sign of Dick!'

'Kinky': Elsewhere in the saucy segment, Katie also made reference to her former flame Dane as the loose ladies joked about not fitting their toes into the glass slipper

Katie's cheeky comments come amid claims she is 'rebelling' against husband Kieran Hayler, much the same as she did during splits from husbands Peter Andre and Alex Reid.

'It's the men again,' a friend told The Sun. 'It is very clear that something is deeply wrong in her marriage and so she is rebelling.

'This is what she always does. Look at what happened with [first husband] Peter and [second husband] Alex.'

Crude: Katie's comments came after a video was recently released of the star stumbling on stage worse for wear as she revealed that her former flame Dane 'gave me a toe job'

Rebelling? Katie's cheeky comments come amid claims she is 'rebelling' against husband Kieran Hayler, as she did during splits from husbands Peter Andre and Alex Reid

Meanwhile, Katie defied her critics by celebrating her four year anniversary with Kieran.

The reality star posted a very loved-up selfie of her looking longingly into her former stripper partner's eyes as they celebrated the milestone.

She simply captioned the Instagram: 'Four year anniversary!'

Loved-up: Katie defied critics as she recently shared a smitten selfie with husband Kieran Hayler as they celebrated their four year anniversary

Their anniversary came just just days before she was reportedly removed from the hotel in Glasgow following an alleged episode of unruly behavior.

The Loose Women panelist was appearing at a Glaswegian nightclub last Saturday - Bar Budda - where she was being paid to attend one of their party nights.

According to The Sun, following the night out she returned to her hotel where she was swiftly removed for reported bad behaviour.

Given that she was stranded in a Scottish city, miles from her home in South East England, it is said that she tracked down the club promoter who had arranged the appearance and allegedly asked to stay with him until morning.

Ejected? Their anniversary came just just days before she was reportedly removed from the hotel in Glasgow following an alleged episode of unruly behavior

Reports claim Katie was paid thousands of pounds for the personal appearance, on top of her travel and accommodation.

It's not clear what took place in the hotel room - or whether or not the facts of the story are entirely accurate.

However, a spokesperson for the hotel has taken the unusual step to release a statement slamming the star's behaviour.

Mysterious: It's not clear what took place in the hotel room - or whether or not the facts of the story are entirely accurate

Abusive: Hotel management said: 'It is extremely rare for us to take the kind of action which results in a guest being ejected. The guest became extremely abusive'

Hotel management said: 'It is extremely rare for us to take the kind of action which results in a guest being ejected. The guest became extremely abusive towards the staff member and so the duty manager agreed to escort them to the room.

'Once the guest was granted access to the room, they continued to shout abuse and to make matters worse, threw plates at the duty manager, breaking these against the wall.

'The police were called. After the police spoke with the guest for almost an hour, the guest was invited to leave the premises.

'The hotel chose not to press any charges and simply wanted a quick resolution to the issue for the safety of our guests and our staff.'

Sorted: 'The hotel chose not to press any charges and simply wanted a quick resolution to the issue for the safety of our guests and our staff'

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 1.50am on December 11 staff at the Lorne Hotel in Glasgow asked police to attend.

'Upon attending advice was given and no complaint was made. No further action was taken.'

Katie has since vowed to change her ways and has claimed she will give up drinking for one year. Loose Women have confirmed she will keep her place on the show.

Teetotal: Katie has since vowed to change her ways and has claimed she will give up drinking for one year. Loose Women have confirmed she will keep her place on the show

These reports come after Katie revealed that she spent an evening partying with the likes of Eddie Redmayne and David Cameron.

'I don't get star-struck but it was a real A-list party and I couldn't believe they knew who I am,' she said of the occasion on Loose Women this week.

Fellow panelist Nadia Sawalha playfully said to her: 'Well you do get about a bit, Katie.'

The caramel-haired beauty admitted she gets nervous going to parties and 'hates all the small talk'.

She said: 'I don't walk in and shout, "Hey I'm here - WAHOO!". I'm quite quiet.'

The staff of her Glaswegian hotel might beg to differ.
He returned to The X Factor in a blaze of glory earlier this year.

Yet Louis Walsh had different plans for his 2016 TV career as he revealed he signed up to 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Out of Here!' this year - but Simon Cowell talked him out of it at the last minute.

The 64-year-old music manager revealed his plan to head Down Under was derailed by music mogul despite having signed on the dotted line.

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Change of scenery: Louis Walsh had different plans for his 2016 TV career as he revealed he signed up to 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Out of Here!' this year - but Simon Cowell talked him out of it at the last minute

Louis was axed from The X Factor last year after 11 years as a judge - leaving his devastated to be replaced by a rebooted judging panel complete with newbies Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.

The Irish star revealed he had negotiated a deal with the bosses of I'm A Celeb after he was dramatically dropped from the singing competition's panel last year.

Despite his readiness to star on the show, which saw Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt reign victorious this year, Simon soon stepped in to scupper his pal's plans.

Speaking on Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas, he said: 'I was offered the one in the jungle, 'I'm A Celebrity'.

The big boss: The 64-year-old music manager revealed his plan to head Down Under was derailed by music mogul despite having signed on the dotted line

Don't do it! 'Simon Cowell rang me and said: "Don't do it darling, don't do it, I've got another plan for you." He was obviously giving me the gig back.'

'Simon Cowell rang me and said: "Don't do it darling, don't do it, I've got another plan for you." He was obviously giving me the gig back.'

Despite his I'm A Celeb plans, Louis was always adamant he'd never sign up to its rival show 'Strictly Come Dancing' because he's awful at moving to rhythm.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said earlier this year: 'I would never do Strictly Come Dancing. I can't dance. You have to be really good.

'There's no hiding on Strictly you have to be really good. Those judges are tough, they're cruel but they know what they're talking about. It's a very feel-good show, it's a family show.'

He's back! Louis was axed from The X Factor last year after 11 years as a judge - leaving his devastated to be replaced by a rebooted judging panel complete with newbies Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw

Shortly before his Alan Carr appearance, Louis appeared on a one-off Christmas special of now-defunct show Blankety Blank, where he was cheekily goaded by host David Walliams.

And an exclusive clip from the returning show finds David, 45, poking fun at TV veteran Louis by presenting him with a gift-wrapped Zimmer Frame, much to his fellow guests amusement.

Louis I have a gift for you,' he tells him. 'Its wrapped up so you might not guess what it is.'

Seemingly unaware of what the unwanted gift actually is, The Factor regular asks: 'What is that? Is it a stool? Oh its a Zimmer Frame.. Im too young for that.'
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have taken their three children on vacation.

The very amicable exes - they split in June 2015 after 10 years of marriage - are in Montana enjoying their Christmas season, according to a Friday report from People.

Also with them is Jennifer's family from West Virginia. 'They all seem to have a good time together,' a source told the site.

Travel time: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have taken their three children to Montana for the Christmas season, according to a Friday report from People. Pictured 2015

Lovely: Jennifer and Ben were also in Montana last year, staying at the private, members-only ski resort in Big Sky

Together they have Violet, 11, Seraphina, eight, and Samuel, four.

Jennifer and Ben were also in Montana last year, staying at the private, members-only ski resort in Big Sky.

'Jen and Ben seem happy to be on vacation,' a source said last year. 'They both enjoy the privacy of Montana.'

Romantic: 'Jen and Ben seem happy to be on vacation,' a source said last year. 'They both enjoy the privacy of Montana.'

This comes after the family of five spent Thanksgiving together.

There has been much speculation about whether the A list actors are together romantically again.

People alleged that they grew close after a trip to Paris last year and that caused them to call off their divorce.

The kids: Ben with Seraphina and Samuel in LA in early December

But Jennifer has insisted that they are not back on and even joked she was dating Brad Pitt.

The former couple are still living in the family home in the Pacific Palisades.

During Ben's interview on TimesTalks with New York Times journalist Chip McGrath, he gushed about Jennifer, calling her the 'greatest mom in the world.'

The Live By Night actor said that his children were his biggest accomplishment: 'In my career or otherwise, it is the birth of my children. The entrance of my children into the world.'

He continued: 'It's a joy to hang out with them, I think the meaning of life is to make good people.'

Next year Ben can be seen opposite Gal Gadot in Justice League.
Matthew McConaughey spent an entire year faking an Australian accent.

On Thursday's episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, the Oscar winner revealed he's been a convincing performer for quite some time.

Upon returning to Texas from his stay abroad in Australia, the 47-year-old star kept up a fake Aussi twang for 12 whole months while in college.

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Good actor: Matthew McConaughey, 47, admitted on Late Night with Seth Meyers that he faked an Australian accent for an entire year on Thursday's show

The hilarious conversation began when the late night show's host questioned McConaughey about his character in the animated musical comedy Sing - an optimistic koala bear named Buster Moon.

'You played a koala. Famously Australian...I noticed no accent?' Meyers started.

In reply - picking up the accent - the Interstellar actor said: 'It would have been a little too literal, I decided not to.'

Executive decision: The actor decided that giving his koala bear character an Australian accent would be 'too literal,' so he 'decided not to'

The host steered the conversation towards Matthew's youth and the year he spent abroad in Australia between high school and college.

'Is it true you were one of those people that came back from abroad and you actually brought the accent back with you?' he questioned the Dallas Buyer's Club star.

'Damn right,' the father-of-three answered with pride.

'Were people into it?' continued Meyers.

Getting to the good stuff: The host steered the conversation towards Matthew's youth and the year he spent abroad in Australia between high school and college

'The ladies kind of were, which is why I was doing it,' confessed McConaughey, bursting out into hearty laughter.

'There's a lot of my fraternity brothers out there going, "You son of a b***h, you did fake that for a year!"'

The award winning actor returned to his Alma mater, The University of Texas, to teach a film class, which is going into its third year.

Giving back: The award winning actor returned to his Alma mater, The University of Texas, to teach a film class, which is going into its third year

When discussing the course, Matthew admitted: 'It's the class I wish I would have had when I was in film school.'

The star appeared on the late night talk show to promote the animated film Sing, which he admitted garnered him newfound respect from his young children.

He said they are happy with him because it's been a while since he participated in a movie they were actually allowed to watch.

Home for the holidays: The good-looking family recently hopped on a plane to Brazil to spend Christmas with Alves' relatives

'I'm my daughter's favorite character right now,' the actor funnily confessed later on in the interview, 'but I have a feeling it's temporary.'

The actor shares Levi, 8, Vida, 6, and Livingston, 3, with wife and Brazilian model Camila Alves.

The good-looking family recently hopped on a plane to Brazil to spend Christmas with Alves' relatives.

Check him out: Meanwhile, Sing hit theaters on December 21

The multi-talented star has a new film hitting theaters in the beginning of 2017 titled Gold and he just wrapped filming for the fantasy, The Dark Tower, which will be released in summer of 2017.

He will begin shooting for the crime-drama White Boy Rick next year.

Meanwhile, Sing hit theaters on December 21.
Khloe Kardashian arrived into Los Angeles on Friday morning.

The 32-year-old beauty was trying to go incognito in a black hoodie pulled up with large sunglasses on.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was arriving back in Southern California (presumably after a visit to beau Tristan Thompson, 25, of the Cleveland Cavaliers) to attend mother Kris Jenner's annual Christmas Eve bash at her Hidden Hills mansion.

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I'm back in town! Khloe Kardashian arrived into Los Angeles on Friday morning

Don't check me out: The 32-year-old beauty was trying to go incognito in a black hoodie pulled up with large sunglasses on

The workout diva paired her Tackman hoodie with black-and-white Adidas sweatpants and black velvet boots.

The E! princess carried a bright yellow Hermes Birkin bag.

And the always-ready-for-her-closeup star had on a heavy dose of beige lipstick.

Painted: The E! princess carried a bright yellow Hermes Birkin bag. And the always-ready-for-her-closeup star had on a heavy dose of beige lipstick

Unfortunately Khloe did not have Tristan trailer behind her, but he may have taken a separate flight.

This sighting comes the day after Kris showed off her Christmas decorations to Architectural Digest.

In her entrance-way the mother to Kim and Kourtney - as well as Kylie and Kendall - had a 22 foot tree that was decorated with red-and-white balls.

Kandyland-chic  Thank you @jeffleatham for helping me transform my home this Christmas!! I invited @archdigest to film the magical transformation! Watch the video on ArchitecturalDigest.com #christmas #besttimeoftheyear #happyholidays A photo posted by Kris Jenner (@krisjenner) on Dec 20, 2016 at 7:32am PST

The best time of the year!!! Happy Holidays, everyone! @archdigest @jeffleatham #blessed #happyholidays #christmasmagic #besttimeoftheyear A photo posted by Kris Jenner (@krisjenner) on Dec 21, 2016 at 10:58am PST

Thank you so much @archdigest, it was amazing to work with you!!! #christmasmagic #ibelieveinsantaclaus @jeffleatham you are a genius!!!! A video posted by Kris Jenner (@krisjenner) on Dec 20, 2016 at 2:33pm PST

Next to the tree was a shiny red polar bear.

In other parts of the home were wreaths and garlands.

Last year the party was attended by Jennifer Lopez, who used to be a neighbor, and Chrissy Teigen.

On Friday Kris seemed to be thinking of her eldest four kids as she shared a family photo to Instagram.

Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob are all posed together while wearing blue velvet near a piano. The girls have bows in their hair and Rob is still an infant.

Happy days: On Friday Kris seemed to be thinking of her eldest four kids as she shared a family photo to Instagram. Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob are all posed together while wearing blue velvet

'My little Christmas cuties!' the momager wrote in her caption. 'Best time of the year.'

Meanwhile, Kim has not been seen since she enjoyed a dinner with Kanye West at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Sunday.

According to People, the 36-year-old diva is in couples counseling with the rapper to keep their marriage intact. They have two children: North, aged three, and Saint, aged one.
All eyes were meant to be on the large aquatic mammals but this star stole the show.

Eva Longoria turned up the heat on a whale watching expedition in Mexico on Friday.

The 41-year-old continued to soak up the sunshine on her tropical getaway, this time in figure-flaunting two piece.

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Tropical fun: Eva Longoria turned up the heat on in a bright bikini in Mexico on Friday

For her boat trip, the Desperate Housewives star rocked a pink Brazilian cut bottoms with black edging.

She paired the cheeky bottoms with a matching pink and blue fixed triangle top.

The star threatened to spill out of the triangle bikini at any second but did not look too concerned as she smiled away.

Later as the whale hunt continued, the star threw on a Damascus print dress.

On the look out: The 41-year-old headed out on a whale spotting adventure

Eva has been on holiday for the last few days and her vacation has ensured she has been able to leave a rather stressful situation behind her.

On Monday, TMZ reported that a lawsuit has been filed against her Hollywood restaurant Beso.

Michael Paul Flores filed legal documents in Los Angeles claiming he had been beaten up by a member of the eatery's security staff while attending a movie after-party in June.

Quick cover up: As the whale hunt continued, the star threw on a Damascus print dress

No worries: Eva has been on holiday for the last few days and her vacation has ensured she has been able to leave a rather stressful situation behind her

According to TMZ Wednesday, Flores alleged he was struck him in the mouth, face and head multiple times before the assailant fled the joint, and that staff admitted his attacker worked there and was prone to violence.

Flores was at Beso to party following the screening of the movie Lowriders that starred Longoria.

According to the filing, Flores asserts that the restaurant should have been prepared for violence since the film 'dealt with the lowrider subculture of East Los Angeles.'

He also claims producers hired actors for the movie from car clubs that had rival gang ties.
She participated in a sexy photo shoot with some of the world's most beautiful women.

And Emily Ratajkowski showed off the results of a photo she took alongside stunner Bella Hadid in an Instagram story she posted on Friday.

The 25-year-old actress and model flaunted her impeccable bikini bod in a sexy two-piece as she lounged in the sand.

Bikini babes! Emily Ratajkowski, 25, posted a sexy snapshot on Friday with Bella Hadid, 20, during a photo shoot they took in the Bahamas last week

Emily - who shot to fame after stripping off for Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines video in 2013 - allowed her sculpted abs and ample cleavage to take centre stage in the sultry image.

Her sun-kissed skin looked radiant as she relaxed with what appeared to be a cold beer in one hand.

A pair of dark shades rested neatly on her nose and her ocean-drenched raven tresses swept back off her face.

Sun-kissed stunners! Bella and Emily posed up a storm while on jet skis

Eye-popping! The brunette beauty showed off her ample bosom in an tiny black bikini which held together by a small gold ring

She skipped the cosmetics, allowing her natural beauty and flawless complexion to shine through.

Bella, 20, showcased her phenomenal bikini bod in a black swimsuit with eyelet detailing as she relaxed next to the Gone Girl actress.

Last week Emily posed in several sultry bikini-clad Instagram photos with fellow stunners including Victoria Secret models Elsa Hosk, Bella Hadid, Hailey Baldwin, as well as Lais Ribeiro, Rose Bertram and Gizele Oliveira.

Originally, all of the models had been sharing images from the shoot but none of them dropped a hint what it was for.

Red hot! The Blurred Lines babe flooded her Instagram account with several smouldering swimsuit snapshots this week from the provocative photo shoot

Gorgeous gals! Last week Emily posed in several sultry Instagram photos with fellow stunners including (L-R) Hailey Baldwin, Bella Hadid, Elsa Hosk and Rose Bertram

Sandy bum! Emily shared this snap on Friday with a cheeky peach emoji

Hailey, 20, finally posted a picture of a simple orange square on her Instagram account which she captioned: 'So excited to announce #fyrefestival! Join me in the Bahamas.'

The bevy of beauties participated in a sexy photo shoot to promote the Fyre Festival which takes place during two weekends next year from April 28 through April 30 and May 5 through May 7.

While only a handful of posts have been shared to the festival's Instagram account, it teases an 'immersive music festival.'

It says the events which takes place on a remote and private island of Exuma on the Bahamas includes 'the best in food, art, music and adventure.'
Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell are set to shock Albert Square to the core with their dramatic final scenes, which will be aired on New Year's Day.

The EastEnders siblings, played by Samantha Womack and Rita Simons, will be met with a tragic end after a night of boozing and partying following Ronnie's wedding to Jack Branning.

Balancing on a wall over a bridge, Ronnie goes off the fetch more champagne - only to be met by a nightmare scenario on her return.

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Tragic ending: Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell are set to shock Albert Square to the core with their dramatic final scenes, which will be aired on New Year's Day

Everything seems hunky dory initially as the sisters, who are slightly worse for wear, are adamant on continuing their night full of celebrations.

With Roxy losing a shoe in the process, the girls take swigs from a champagne bottle as they leave the rest of the wedding party behind.

However, while Ronnie manages to save her sister from a few near-falls as they gather on the wall, it's a completely different story when she's left on her own.

Coming back to find her sister face down in the waters below, Ronnie plunges down to save her.

Sad: The Eastenders siblings, played by Samantha Womack and Rita Simons, will be met with a tragic end after a night full of boozing and partying following Ronnie's wedding to Jack Branning

Horrifying: Balancing on a wall over a bridge, Ronnie goes off the fetch more champagne - only to be met with her worst nightmare as she arrives back

Left to fall: While Ronnie manages to save her sister from a few near-falls as they gather on the wall, it's a completely different story when she's left on her own

And while viewers will have to tune in to find out what happens, the two blonde actresses announced their departure from the BBC soap back in August, just days apart from each other.

And the Mitchell sisters' demise has sparked outrage amongst many EastEnders fans, and has even angered the Soap's most iconic actress.

Earlier this month Dame Barbara Windsor slammed the show's bosses for killing off the two hell-raising sisters.

Celebrating: Everything seems hunky dory initially as the sisters, who are slightly worse for wear, are adamant on continuing their night full of celebrations

Chilling: With Roxy losing a shoe in the process, the girls take swigs from their champagne bottles as they leave the rest of the wedding party behind

Saying goodbye: While viewers will have to tune in to find out what happens, the two blonde actresses announced their departure from the BBC soap back in August, just days apart from each other

Responding to the death's of her on-screen nieces, part of a shake-up by the soap's new boss Sean O'Connor, the 79-year-old actress insisted it was a mistake.

She told The Sun: 'It wasn't the girls' choice. It's the new producer's decision.

'I'm sure he'll be good for the show, but that is a mistake. When I heard, I was shocked.'

And while Rita, 39, revealed it was the right thing for her to do, she spoke about her heartbreak in filming the final screen last month.

'It's a mistake': Earlier this month Dame Barbara Windsor slammed the show's bosses for killing off the two Hell-raising sisters

'We need to be strong for each other': While Rita, 39, revealed it was the right thing for her to do, she spoke about her heartbreak in filming the final screen last month

'They're my family': While she is close to her TV family, she knows she has to move on

Speaking to The Sun, she revealed: 'I know in my heart of hearts its the right thing to do. I needed to get out. I needed to spread my wings. But because theyre like my family there, you dont want to leave them.

'Ive spent more time with Sam than I have with my husband and my kids. The thought of leaving her breaks my heart. Shed have a day where she couldnt stop crying and I would be really cold and strong and I would look after her.

'Then the next day it would be me whod be set off by a packet of coffee or whatever and she would be strong. Weve taken it in turns to be upset because one of us needs to be strong for the other.'
She's never been shy about showing off her impeccable figure.

And Friday was no different for Zoe Kravitz as she flaunted her bikini bod during a sun-soaked holiday in Miami Beach with her new beau Karl Glusman, 28.

The 28-year-old model was seen passionately kissing the handsome actor as the pair splashed about in the ocean.

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Making waves! Zoe Kravitz was seen passionately kissing her new boyfriend Karl Glusman, 28, while on vacation in Miami Beach on Friday

Zoe - who is the daughter to A-listers Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet - donned a tiny two-piece that revealed her rock hard abs as she frolicked along the sand.

She flashed a hint of cleavage and gave a glimpse of her pert derriere in the black bikini.

Her platinum blonde braids cascaded all the way down her back and past her shoulders.

Beach babes! The 28-year-old model and the actor began dating in October and were not shy about showing off their love

Smoochfest! Zoe - who is the daughter to A-listers Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet - packed on the PDA

Hot couple! The pair was all smiles as Karl held his arm tightly around the svelte starlet

She skipped the cosmetics, allowing her natural beauty and flawless complexion to shine through.

The couple have been dating since October - following the time she was with her previous boyfriend, recording artist Twin Shadow.

Meanwhile, the Fantastic Beasts actress - who was signed on to the project last minute and appeared in a minor role - was recently announced as having a larger role in the second film.

Flawless! Zoe flaunted her enviable bod in a black bikini

She's ripped! Zoe's rock hard abs were on full display in the tiny two-piece

Beach bum! The multi-talented star showed off her pert posterior in black bikini bottoms

Director David Yates told CinemaBlend about Zoe's character return: 'Yes. Leta Lestrange comes into the second movie.'

'Shes quite complicated and damaged and confused, and Newt is absolutely still in love with her.'

He added: 'So, she has a kind of power over him, and she, yeah, shes a kind of tragic figure, so we will see a bit more of her in the second movie.'

Radiant: She skipped the cosmetics, allowing her natural beauty and flawless complexion to shine through

Passionate PDA! Zoe couldn't keep her hands off the hunky actor

Loved up: The lovebirds held hands as they strolled along the sand

Zoe will also make a turn to television starring alongside Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Alexander Skarsgard and Laura Dern in the HBO series Big Little Lies.

She will also appear in Rock That Body with Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore and Kate McKinnon, is slated to release in June 2017.

The film follows a bachelorette party in Miami, which goes horribly wrong when a male stripper ends up dead in the pool.

One of the guys! Zoe hung with Karl and a group of his pals
Carrie Fisher reportedly suffered a heart attack on board a transatlantic flight on Friday.

According to TMZ, The Star Wars legend was traveling from London to LA when she is said to have gone into cardiac arrest. Fellow passengers resorted to giving the 60-year-old CPR. The Los Angeles Times added the film vet is in critical condition at a Los Angeles hospital. Carrie's brother Todd Fisher, 58, has since told AP that the star is in stable condition now.

Soon after the news broke, celebrities took to Twitter to express their concern.

Mark Hamill, who plays her brother Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, said: 'As if 2016 couldn't get any worse... sending all our love to Carrie Fisher.'

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She is loved: Carrie Fisher reportedly suffered a heart attack on Friday when flying from London to LA. Soon after concerns from celebrities poured in. Pictured August

Concern: Soon after the news broke, celebrities took to Twitter to express their concern. Mark Hamill, who plays her brother Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, said: 'As if 2016 couldn't get any worse... sending all our love to Carrie Fisher'

Carrie and Mark have worked together since the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, in 1977.

The daughter of Carrie Fisher also appeared with Mark in 2015's The Force Awakens.

And the two were filming Episode VIII earlier this year.

The start of it all: The actress with Hamill (left) and Harrison Ford (right) in 1977's Star Wars

Verr close friends: Mark and Carrie at the Star Wars celebration in London in July. They have also worked together on Star Wars VIII due out in 2017

Sweet: Peter Mayhew, 72, who has played Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise, said: 'Thoughts and prayers for our friend'

Peter Mayhew, 72, who plays Wookiee Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise (and also worked with Fisher on Force Awakens), said: 'Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now.'

Gwendoline Christie from Force Awakens said; The whole world is sending you so much love!'

William Shatner, who did not work on Star Wars but rather Star Trek, also sent a note.

'I ask everyone to stop for a moment and send special thoughts to Carrie Fisher,' he noted on Twitter.

Back in the day: Chewbacca and Princess Leia, played by Carrie, in 1977's Star Wars

With her droid: The beauty with C-3PO and Chewbacca in Star Wars Episode Vi - Return Of The Jedi in 1983

Another Star Wars co-star: Gwendoline Christie from Force Awakens said: The whole world is sending you so much love!'

From another galaxy: William Shatner, who did not work on Star Wars but rather Star Trek, also sent a note. 'I ask everyone to stop for a moment and send special thoughts to Carrie Fisher,' he noted on Twitter

They go way back: Carrie and William, seen here in 2005, have been friends for decades

Christina Applegate added: 'So much love being sent to you @carrieffisher.'

Michael Rosenbaum said: 'I'm devastated. Everyone send their prayers to my good friend Carrie. I know she'll pull through.'

Author EL James tweeted: '2016, back away from Carrie.'

Courtney Love wrote: 'Send love prayers and the kitchen sink to my sister Carrie.'

Actor Corey Feldman added: 'My thought and prayers R with Carrie. RIGHT NOW! I pray God brings her back safely! She's a sweet woman, back doin what she loved!'

A note from a fellow writer: EL James tweeted: '2016, back away from Carrie'

Actor to actor: Michael Rosenbaum said: 'I'm devastated. Everyone send their prayers to my good friend Carrie. I know she'll pull through'

She's devastated: Courtney Love wrote: 'Send love prayers and the kitchen sink to my sister Carrie'

He was a fan too: Actor Corey Feldman added: 'My thought and prayers R with Carrie. RIGHT NOW! I pray God brings her back safely! She's a sweet woman, back doin what she loved!'

TMZ claimed the actress's health episode occurred around 15 minutes before landing.

She was rushed to hospital upon landing.

According to the website, a paramedic on board the flight rushed to help the starlet after flight attendants asked if anyone had medical experience.

In shock: Josh Gad from Frozen said, 'No. No. No. Praying for Carrie'

His words: Jon Cryer of Two And A Half Men said: 'Please please please be well'

He is on his knees: Kevin Smith included: 'I don't pray much anymore but I am praying for you right now'

He has her on his mind: Actor Dane Cook wrote: 'Sending Carrie positive thoughts'

Fisher is currently in the middle of a book tour for her memoirs, the Princess Diarist.

She has been updating fans with photographs from her travels on social media

The actress's representatives did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's requests on Friday afternoon.

Stay strong: Elijah Wood quoted an iconic Star Wars line in his well wishes

'We love you!': Sharon Osbourne sent kisses to the actress from her and her husband Ozzy Osbourne

Lots of love: Karl Urban wished Carrie a 'speedy recovery'

'Keep your hands off of Carrie Fisher!': Jeremy Scott was praying for the actress

'Glad to hear some positive news': Peter Mayhew said he was happy to hear the actress was in stable condition

The Princess Diarist is based on diaries Fisher kept while filming Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Fisher, whose starred in the iconic role of Princess Leia, was 21 at the time.

Last month the actress confessed to having a three-month affair with her co-star Harrison Ford while they filmed the movie.

The actress has been in London filming the U.K. sitcom Catastrophe.

Sharon Horgan - her costar - shared an image of the two on Instagram last week, captioning the photo, 'Me, General Leia and Kylo Rens hand on the set of #catastrophe3.'

Sending the best: Jaime King wrote 'light to our friend'

United: Jaime Primark tweeted 'Mothers all over need to life her up'

Shocked: Anna Akana said she didn't know 'how else to process this'

Family: Michael Varrati tweeted he knew 'not to underestimate the daughter of Debbie Reynolds'

Thoughts with family: Tiffany Vazquez sent her 'warmest thoughts' to Carrie's mother Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, Billie Lourd

Prayers: Bobby Rivers explained he 'lit a candle in church' for the Star Wars actress

Thoughts for the family: Twitter lit up with well wishes for Debbie and Carrie

Thinking of them: Twitter users expressed their concern for Reynolds

'Hopes for a speedy recovery': Twitter users reacted to the news by sending their well wishes
Trump calls on Boeing to offer quote for F-35 rival

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he had asked Boeing to provide a price estimate for a new F-18 fighter jet, after bemoaning the soaring costs of Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter.

"Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Trump tweeted.

His message came the day after he met with some of the US military's top brass to discuss ways of reducing costs, particularly for the F-35 program.

The F-35 is the most expensive plane in history, and costs are set to go higher still ADRIAN DENNIS (AFP/File)

Trump also met with Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson and Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

With a current development and acquisition price tag already at $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most of them destined for the Air Force -- the F-35 is the most expensive plane in history, and costs are set to go higher still.

Once servicing, maintenance and other costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs have been projected to rise to as much as $1.5 trillion.

The next-generation F-35 fighter has been under development since 2001 and both the US Marine Corps and the Air Force have already taken delivery of some of their first planes.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet does not have stealth capabilities and has been in use since the late 1990s.

Proponents of the F-35 tout its speed, close air-support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. One version boasts short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.

Lockheed Martin describes the plane's stealth capabilities as unprecedented, allowing it to evade the most sophisticated missile systems.

Trump last week tweeted that F-35 program costs were "out of control." He has also blasted Boeing over the costs for the replacement Air Force One presidential jet.
IS 'burns Turkish troops alive' after Ankara vows no let-up

The Islamic State jihadist group has released a video purportedly showing two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive, after Ankara vowed to fight "terror" in Syria in response to 16 of its troops being killed in battle.

The 19-minute video, showing two uniformed men being hauled from a cage before being bound and torched, was posted on jihadist websites and was supposedly shot in the IS-declared "Aleppo Province" in northern Syria.

Speaking in Turkish, the killer of the two men criticises Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and calls for "destruction to be sowed" in Turkey.

Speaking in Turkish, the killer of the two men verbally attacks Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and calls for "destruction to be sowed" in Turkey in purported assassination video ADEM ALTAN (AFP/File)

The shocking images recall the killing of Maaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian fighter pilot, who was captured by the jihadists when his plane went down in Syria in December 2014, and was later burned alive in a cage.

The IS-linked news agency Amaq said last month that the jihadists had kidnapped two Turkish soldiers, and the Turkish army separately said it had lost contact with two of its men.

The video's release comes a day after 16 Turkish soldiers were killed by IS fighters in Ankara's biggest loss so far in its unprecedented incursion into Syria.

They were killed in a succession of attacks around the Syrian town of Al-Bab on Wednesday that included three suicide car bombings.

The heavy toll showed the intensifying battle for the town, which Turkish forces have been seeking to capture for weeks in the biggest test of their four-month incursion into Syria.

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area.

At least 38 Turkish soldiers have been killed in the operation, which the Turkish government has dubbed Euphrates Shield.

Speaking earlier Thursday, Erdogan vowed no let-up in the ongoing campaign.

"Yes, maybe we will have to lay martyrs to rest," he said in a speech in Ankara.

"But we are determined to preserve their memory and protect what they left us and continue this struggle."

Turkey, he said, "is engaged in its most serious struggle since the war of independence" that led to the creation of the modern state in 1923.

Turkish television showed distraught relatives of the dead dealing with the news and putting national flags outside their homes.

- 'Difficult fight' -

The earlier stages of Turkey's campaign proceeded with lightning speed and the border town of Jarabulus was taken on the first day of the offensive.

But the army has suffered increasing casualties in the fight for Al-Bab -- 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the border.

Defence Minister Fikri Isik told parliament on Thursday that 1,005 IS jihadists and 299 fighters affiliated to the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) had been killed in the operation so far.

Ankara considers the YPG a terror group, even though it works together with the United States as an ally in the fight against IS.

The army said the latest clashes erupted around a weapons depot that had been used by IS for the last two years.

Al-Bab lies 35 kilometres northeast of Aleppo, which is now under control of government forces in the biggest defeat for rebels in the civil war.

Turkey has been a key backer of the rebels and insists the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad is the only way to bring peace to Syria.

But Ankara has stayed out of the most recent battle for Aleppo and worked with Assad's key ally Russia to broker evacuations from the city.

Turkish air strikes on Al-Bab meanwhile killed at least 47 civilians including 14 children and nine women, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

There was no immediate response from the government to the claim.

Turkey has also been hit at home by the bloodiest attacks in its modern history, which it blames on jihadists and Kurdish militants.

The government is also carrying out a wide-ranging crackdown following an attempted coup in July, which it says was orchestrated by the group of an exiled cleric, Fethullah Gulen.

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area Nazeer al-Khatib (AFP/File)
Sea Shepherd finds Japanese whaler 'hiding behind iceberg'

Activist group Sea Shepherd's fast new patrol vessel Ocean Warrior Friday intercepted a Japanese harpoon ship "hiding behind an iceberg" in thick fog as its annual high-seas battle against whaling kicked off.

Two vessels from the environmental organisation left Australia on December 5 bound for the freezing Southern Ocean in the Antarctic for its 11th campaign to disrupt the Japanese hunt.

It said Ocean Warrior, built with financial support from the Dutch, British and Swedish lotteries, had already found one of the harpoon ships which meant the rest of the fleet would be near by.

Activist group Sea Shepherd's Ocean Warrior has intercepted a Japanese harpoon ship at the start of the annual whaling season EMMANUEL DUNAND (AFP/File)

"The crews of the Ocean Warrior and the Steve Irwin have been battling through thick fog and ice to protect the whales in the Australian whale sanctuary," said Ocean Warrior captain Adam Meyerson, referring to the sanctuary around Australia's Antarctic territory.

"Finding one of the hunter killer ships hiding behind an iceberg in a thick fog means that the rest of the fleet is nearby."

He added that the group hoped to "have whaling in the Southern Ocean shut down by Christmas".

The Ocean Warrior has a powerful water cannon and is capable of outrunning the whalers.

Japan has previously sought court action to halt the anti-whaling campaigns, saying the activists ram their ships, snare propellers with ropes and harass crew with paint and stink bombs.

The Japanese fleet set sail on November 18 in defiance of a worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling and international opposition.

Japan is a signatory to the International Whaling Commission's moratorium in force since 1986. But it exploits a loophole allowing for whales to be killed for the purposes of scientific research.

Tokyo claims it is trying to prove the whale population is large enough to sustain a return to commercial hunting for a traditional source of food. But the meat from what it calls scientific research often ends up on dinner tables.

In 2014 the United Nations' International Court of Justice ordered Tokyo to end the Antarctic hunt, saying it found permits issued by Japan were "not for purposes of scientific research".
Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse said Friday they had agreed with US authorities to pay billions of dollars to settle a probe into their roles in the subprime mortgage crisis.

The German lender will pay a total of $7.2 billion - a $3.1-billion fine and $4.1 billion in relief to consumers, as part of the long-sought agreement in principle with US authorities, it said.

Shares in the German banking giant surged on the Frankfurt stock exchange on the heels of the announcement, which analysts said was a good outcome for now.

Deutsche Bank will pay a total of $7.2 billion -- a $3.1-billion fine and $4.1 billion in relief to consumers -- as part of the long-sought agreement in principle with US authorities, it said

In September, the US Department of Justice had sought a $14-billion fine from Deutsche Bank, sparking fears it might have to raise fresh capital.

Hours after the announcement Friday, Credit Suisse, said it too had struck an agreement with US authorities to pay almost $5.3 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

Both come a day after the DoJ sued British financial giant Barclays, accusing the bank of massive fraud in the sale of toxic mortgage-backed securities, which contributed to the 2008 global financial crisis.

Deutsche Bank's chief executive John Cryan had always insisted that the German lender would pay less than the initial US demand.

And the bank brushed off fears the consumer relief element would have a significant impact on its results.

'The financial consequences, if any, of the consumer relief are subject to the final terms of the settlement, and are not currently expected to have a material impact on 2016 financial results,' the bank said.

Deutsche Bank's share price plummeted in late September on news of the US fine demand to historic lows of 9.90 euros.

Investors feared their stakes would be diluted if the lender -- already struggling with a painful restructuring and a morass of legal entanglements around the world -- was forced to raise fresh capital to cover the fine.

At around 0945 GMT Friday, its stock was trading 2.2 percent higher, at 18.14 euros.

'Although today's settlement is not the end of the route, it has been a good short-term relief for investors, given that Deutsche Bank needn't raise capital to cover for legal charges in the immediate future,' said analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya, of London Capital Group, in a note to clients.

Credit Suisse said it would pay the US Department of Justice a civil monetary penalty of $2.48bn and provide consumer relief totaling $2.8 billion over five years

The bank will publish preliminary 2016 results on February 2.

However, the settlement does not resolve probes into whether the bank manipulated foreign-currency rates and precious metals prices, and allegations it facilitated transactions that helped investors illegally transfer billions of dollars out of Russia.

Deutsche also faces civil lawsuits related to claims that its traders manipulated key interbank interest rates. It remains unclear how much it will cost the bank to wrap up these cases.

It has already paid more than $9 billion in fines and legal settlements worldwide since the start of 2008, according to Bloomberg News data.

Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse were among several major banks implicated in the global financial crisis, along with Royal Bank of Scotland.

Also on Friday, Credit Suisse said it had reached an agreement with US authorities to pay almost $5.3 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

'Under the terms of the settlement, Credit Suisse would pay to the DoJ (US Department of Justice) a civil monetary penalty of $2.48 billion,' the Swiss banking giant said in a statement.

'In addition, Credit Suisse would provide consumer relief totaling $2.8 billion over the course of five years post settlement,' it said, adding it still needed approval by the bank's board.

But Thursday's US move to sue Barclays -- which rejects the allegations -- in open court stood out, with the DoJ choosing not to seek a mutually acceptable resolution, as it has in most cases when taking enforcement action against major financial institutions.

The outgoing US administration of President Barack Obama is also working to complete investigations of Wall Street firms for creating and selling the subprime mortgage bonds that fuelled the 2008 financial crisis.
88 dead in Turkish raids on IS-held Syria town: monitor

At least 88 civilians have been killed in 24 hours of Turkish air strikes on an Islamic State group bastion in northern Syria, a monitoring group said Friday.

A barrage of raids hit Al-Bab on Thursday, killing 72 civilians including 21 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Bombardment continued on Friday, leaving another 16 civilians dead, including three children.

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area Nazeer al-Khatib (AFP/File)

"Eighty-eight civilians have been killed in 24 hours," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

He said it was the bloodiest attack by Turkish forces that his monitoring group had recorded since Ankara began its intervention in Syria in late August.

The Observatory says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to their type, location, flight patterns and the munitions involved.

Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies have been seeking to capture Al-Bab, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the northern Syrian border, for weeks.

On Thursday, IS released a video purportedly showing two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive, after Ankara vowed to respond to 16 of its troops being killed in the fight against the jihadist group.

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area.
Anis Amri: small-time criminal turned Berlin truck killer

Anis Amri, the Tunisian suspect in the Berlin truck attack who was shot dead in Milan on Friday, followed the well-trodden path of petty criminal turned jihadist killer.

Security sources believe the rejected asylum seeker was radicalised during a four-year stint in an Italian prison before he murdered 12 people in Monday's attack on a Christmas market in the German capital.

Amri, who turned 24 years old while on the run Thursday, was hailed as a "soldier of the Islamic State" by the IS-linked Amaq news agency after the bloody assault.

German prosecutors issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for 24-year-old Anis Amri, offering a 100,000-euro reward for information and warning he "could be violent and armed"

When he pulled his gun on the Italian police early Friday before they shot him dead, Amri reportedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

In a growing security scandal in Germany, Amri had long been watched as a potentially dangerous jihadist but managed to avoid both arrest and deportation.

- Radicalised in jail -

Amri's journey began in Oueslatia, a poor desert town in central Tunisia. The youngest of nine siblings, he was known to police as a juvenile delinquent who drank and took drugs.

He was 18 when the Tunisian revolution erupted in early 2011 and overthrew long-time dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Amri took advantage of the turmoil to flee the country, escaping a four-year jail term handed down in absentia for robbery and burglary.

He also "left to get away from misery", his brother Abdelkader told AFP this week.

"He had no future in Tunisia and wanted at all costs to improve the family's financial situation. We live below the poverty line, like most families in Oueslatia."

Like thousands of other migrants, Amri made the dangerous Mediterranean crossing and landed in March on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, where he lied about his age and was taken as an unaccompanied minor to Sicily.

Soon after, Amri was arrested on arson charges for burning a school building which had been converted into a refugee shelter. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Not a model prisoner, he received no early release. It was behind bars that he was radicalised as an Islamic extremist, a classic phenomenon in Europe, local media reported.

Upon his release, Italy ordered him to leave the country, while Tunisia refused to take him back.

- Small-time drug dealer -

In July 2015 he headed to Germany, as tens of thousands of Middle Eastern and African migrants flocked to Europe's biggest economy.

His brother said Amri "worked as an agricultural labourer and things like that".

"He'd contact us on Facebook, saying he wanted to come back to Tunisia but that he had to earn some money to buy his own car and start his own business."

German security agencies say he quickly mingled in radical Islamist circles but evaded authorities by changing location frequently and using up to six different identities.

Amri repeatedly contacted Islamist "hate preachers" including the Iraqi Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A. alias Abu Walaa, who has since been arrested accused of seeking to recruit fighters for IS.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Counter-terror agencies were surveilling Amri and suspected he was preparing "a serious act of violence against the state," said Ralf Jaeger, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state.

Berlin prosecutors, who were in charge of the case, said Amri had been suspected of planning a burglary meant to raise cash to buy automatic weapons, "possibly to carry out an attack".

Surveillance had then however shown that Amri was working as a small-time drug dealer in Berlin and once had a bar fight with another dealer. The surveillance ceased in September.

Germany had meanwhile rejected his asylum request in June but was unable to deport him as Amri claimed to have no travel documents.

His deportation then got caught up in red tape with Tunisia, which long denied he was a citizen. The documents only arrived on Wednesday, two days after the Berlin attack, said Jaeger.

Amri's asylum-office papers for a stay of deportation were found in the cab of the 40-tonne lorry that cut a swathe of death and destruction through the festive crowd.

His shocked sister Najoua later told AFP that "he never made us feel there was anything wrong. We were in touch through Facebook and he was always smiling and cheerful."

Berlin attack suspect killed Jean Michel CORNU, Simon MALFATTO (AFP)
IS scored 'opportunistic' wins in Syria as Aleppo fell

The Syrian regime's all-out offensive to recapture Aleppo enabled the Islamic State group to regain territory elsewhere, including the historic city of Palmyra, and has dimmed prospects of defeating the jihadists, experts say.

"The resources deployed (by Damascus and its allies) to retake Aleppo have allowed IS to claim a series of opportunistic victories" in Syria, said Charles Lister of the US think-tank Middle East Institute.

During the assault by Syrian, Russian and Iranian forces on rebels in eastern Aleppo, IS jihadists recaptured the historic city of Palmyra on December 11 after losing it in March.

Syrian government troops patrol in eastern Aleppo on December 7, 2016 GEORGE OURFALIAN (AFP/File)

"Russia and Syria prioritised the defeat of the opposition in Aleppo city over the defence of Palmyra from IS, ultimately enhancing the threat posed by Salafi-jihadist groups in both northern and eastern Syria," Jonathan Mautner of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on the Washington-based think-tank's blog.

He said the recapture of Palmyra highlighted "the inability of pro-regime forces to establish security across the entire country without sustained support from Russia and Iran, notwithstanding their recent success in Aleppo city".

- IS 'the big winner' -

IS "appears the big winner from the fall of Aleppo," said Jean-Pierre Filiu, a professor at the Paris School of International Affairs.

Not only did the group recapture Palmyra, its propaganda benefitted from "international passivity in the face of Aleppo's suffering", which encouraged the group's followers to launch attacks one after the other in Jordan and Germany, he said.

A shooting rampage in the Jordanian city of Karak left 10 dead on Sunday, the day before 12 people were killed in the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. The main suspect, Anis Amri, was shot dead in Italy on Friday.

Still, IS controls only half the territory it seized in 2014 in Iraq and Syria, with its heaviest defeats coming this year at the hands of coalition forces.

In northern Syria, IS lost Kobane and Minbej, as well as Dabiq, a town of major symbolic importance to the jihadists because according to a Sunni prophecy, it will be the site of an apocalyptic battle between Muslim and Christian armies.

Al-Bab, its stronghold north of Aleppo, is under attack by Turkey, which launched an offensive four months ago to chase IS from its southern border.

But the jihadists still control Raqa, the Syrian capital of their self-proclaimed "caliphate".

They also control the banks of the Euphrates river all the way to the border with Iraq.

After the battle of Aleppo, "there is a de-facto division of Syria in two, with the Russians in the west and the Americans in the east," a European diplomat said.

Moscow is expected to continue supporting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to recapture territory from the Syrian rebels, while Washington continues its fight against IS.

"The Russians want to recapture 'useful' Syria and leave the 'IS-land' quagmire to the West," the diplomat said.

On December 14, US Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, who commands the air campaign of the anti-IS coalition, said that if the Russians do not try to retake Palmyra, the US-led coalition would "do what we need to do".

- Raqa remains a challenge -

But the main challenge remains the recapture of Raqa, the base from which IS has planned attacks in Europe and Arab countries.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an Arab-Kurdish alliance backed by US ground and air forces, launched an offensive to retake Raqa in early November.

The Kurds' leading role has set alarm bells ringing in Ankara, which considers the main Syrian Kurdish YPG militia a "terrorist" group. Turkey is currently waging its own offensive inside Syria, targeting both IS and the Kurds.

Turkey worries that the SDF offensive against Raqa could allow it to put down roots in the city.

Meanwhile, with Moscow "indifferent to the fate of Raqa and the United States bogged down in the battle of Mosul" -- the main IS stronghold in Iraq -- Turkey could be emboldened to step up its intervention in Syria, Filiu said.
Banks in focus as world stocks drift into Xmas break

European stocks and Wall Street traded nearly flat Friday in a quiet session before Christmas, with banks topping the agenda after huge US fines and a bailout in Italy.

London closed marginally higher in a half-day session, as upwardly revised data showed the British economy grew 0.6 percent in the third quarter despite Brexit jitters.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt and Paris hovered around either side of unchanged but Milan jumped, closing over one percent higher, on relief over a state rescue of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS) bank.

Germany's biggest lender Deutsche Bank has reached a $7.2-billion deal to settle a case with the US Department of Justice over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis DANIEL ROLAND (AFP/File)

US stocks finished modestly higher, with most pharma stocks rising. Still, the Dow came up short of 20,000 points, its latest failed push towards the landmark.

Analysts suspect the post-election rally may have run its course after Republican Donald Trump's election to president boosted hopes of a pro-growth agenda from Washington.

"The market still believes Trump's agenda will have positive effects, but it needs something concrete to go even further," said Gregori Volokhine, president of Meeschaert Capital Markets.

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agreed to pay a total of almost $12.5 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities during the global financial crisis.

Germany's biggest lender reached a $7.2-billion deal to settle a case with the US Department of Justice over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis. Credit Suisse agreed to pay nearly $5.3 billion.

US-traded shares of Deutsche Bank rose 0.5 percent, while Credit Suisse dipped 0.5 percent.

Barclays lost 0.9 percent after the DoJ announced Thursday that it was suing Barclays, accusing the British bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities which contributed to the 2008 crisis.

Barclays rejected the claim and said it will "vigorously defend" itself.

- BMPS shares suspended -

Meanwhile in Italy, the government approved a state-funded rescue of the world's oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), in a bid to shore up the country's beleaguered financial system.

The announcement by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni came after BMPS -- said it had failed to raise five billion euros ($5.2 billion) from the markets to shore up its capital.

The plan approved at a late-night cabinet meeting taps into a package of up to 20 billion euros approved by parliament on Wednesday.

Whether markets regard BMPS as on the road to recovery will not be clear for some time, with the resumption of trading in its shares after the Christmas break set to provide the first test.

But Friday's overall mood on the Milan stock exchange was upbeat, with the main index rising 1.2 percent.

- Key figures at around 2200 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 19,933.81 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.1 percent at 2,263.79 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.3 percent at 5,462.69 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,068.17 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.1 percent at 11,449.93 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 4,839.68 (close)

Milan - FTSE MIB: UP 1.2 percent at 19,345.02 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.1 percent at 3,273.82 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.3 percent at 21,574.76 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.9 percent at 3,110.15 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0454 from $1.0438

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 117.31 yen from 117.56 yen

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2291 from $1.2388

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 7 cents at $53.02 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 11 cents at $55.16
Gabon's Ping urges security forces to defect

Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping on Friday called on the police and army to join in his fight against the contested re-election of President Ali Bongo.

Ping has repeatedly declared himself the winner of the August election, but Gabon's constitutional court has upheld Bongo's victory.

"I join you in telling them (security forces): Join us in liberating Gabon", he told a crowd of supporters in Libreville, who refer to him as president-elect.

Gabonese opposition leader Jean Ping, pictured in October 2016, has repeatedly declared himself the winner of the August election Francois Guillot (AFP/File)

He promised he would soon be sworn into office, and spoke a line from the presidential oath: "I swear to dedicate all my strength to the good of the Gabonese people..."

Bongo has already been sworn in, taking his oath in September with a call for unity after the disputed election win that sparked deadly unrest and revealed deep divisions in the oil-rich country.

His re-election, which was validated by the constitutional court, is contested by the opposition and the European Union.

In its final tally, the court ruled Bongo had won 50.66 percent of the vote and Ping 47.24 percent, giving Bongo a paper thin lead to 11,000 votes over his opponent.

"I will serve only one term and none of my children will be made ministers in the government under my authority. None of my descendants... will succeed me directly as president of the republic," Ping said on Friday.

His comments were a direct attack on Ali Bongo who took over from his father Omar Bongo, who ruled for 41 years until his death in 2009.

Ping said he wanted to "use all appropriate means to get back the victory stolen from us."

"There are limits. If he crosses them, he will be arrested," government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze said, referring to Ping.

Gabon has large oil, mineral and tropical timber resources, and its per-capita national income is four times greater than that of most sub-Saharan nations.

But about a third of its population of 1.8 million still live below the poverty line -- the result, say specialists, of inequality, poor governance and corruption.
Israel rejects UN settler vote, lashes out at Obama

Israel lashed out at US President Barack Obama over a UN Security Council resolution passed Friday demanding it halt settlements in Palestinian territory, while vowing it would not abide by it.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

"The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it colluded with it behind the scenes," it said.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said GIL COHEN-MAGEN (AFP/File)

"Israel looks forward to working with President-elect (Donald) Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution."

In a rare and momentous step, the United States abstained from Friday's vote, enabling the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council.

The landmark move by the Security Council came despite intense lobbying efforts by Israel and Trump to block the resolution.

But the Obama administration has grown increasingly frustrated with settlement building in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied for nearly 50 years.

There have been growing warnings that settlement building is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They are constructed on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and have long been seen as illegal under international law.

The United States has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic shield, protecting it from resolutions it opposes.

But there had been mounting speculation that Obama would allow such a resolution to pass before he leaves office on January 20.

Obama and Netanyahu have had testy relations, but Israel's statement after the vote was particularly harsh toward the US administration, as were comments earlier in the day from an anonymous Israeli official.
Man arrested in Colorado for Texas slayings of wife and son

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  A Fort Worth man has been arrested in Colorado on capital murder charges for the slayings last week of his wife and their 3-month-old son at their Texas home.

Fort Worth authorities say 35-year-old Craig Vandewege was pulled over for a traffic stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, after police received a call Wednesday night that a man at a convenience store was talking about a murder. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (http://bit.ly/2hhSEt6 ) he was carrying two pistols and had two other firearms in his car.

Authorities aren't saying what evidence they have linking Vandewege to the deaths of his 36-year-old wife, Shanna, and their son, Diederick. Both had their throats slit. Their funerals were this week in Colorado.

Vandewege was being held Thursday on $1 million bail.

___
Pennsylvania man, 89, heads out to store, ends up in Alabama

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  A suburban Philadelphia man whose weekend trip to a neighborhood store somehow led to a 900-mile detour to Alabama is safely back with his family, thanks to breakfasting police officers who realized something wasn't right.

Haleyville, Alabama, Mayor Ken Sunseri said Thursday that 89-year-old Jody Tarbutton, of Boothwyn, Pennnsylvania, approached the officers at a restaurant on Monday and asked them where he was.

"They said, 'You're in Alabama, Haleyville, Alabama,'" Sunseri said. "And it sort of stunned him."

The officers took him to the police station and ran his driver's license, discovering that he had been missing for two days. They contacted authorities, notified his family and got him medical attention.

"We never, never, never expected to hear the news that he was in Alabama," his daughter Cindy Gatta said by phone Thursday night. She had contacted police in Pennsylvania and posted a plea on Facebook on Sunday in an attempt to locate her father.

Gatta, of Wilmington, Delaware, flew down to Alabama and reunited with him at a hospital, where he was treated for high blood pressure and dehydration. She said her father has never been clinically diagnosed with dementia and attributed his unexpected road trip to old age and forgetfulness.

"It's just been amazing that it all turned out so well," Gatta said.

Officials aren't sure what route Tarbutton took, but he would have almost certainly been driving through severe weather, Sunseri said. Police found a child-size drink and two hamburgers inside Tarbutton's pickup truck.

People in Haleyville helped Tarbutton's children get from the airport in Birmingham to the hospital, and are now working with the family to have Tarbutton's truck shipped back to his home.

Sunseri said he was "extremely proud" of the response by the officers and wider community.

"They were a tremendous help to the family," the mayor said.
Authorities: 'Godfather of Grass' arrested in Canada

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Authorities say a man known as the "Godfather of Grass" has been arrested in Canada after eight years on the run.

The U.S. Marshals Service says authorities sought John Robert "Johnny" Boone after they seized 2,400 marijuana plants on his Kentucky farm. The agency said he was arrested Thursday when information led authorities to a small town outside of Montreal.

Boone, who is about 73, spent more than a decade in federal prison after being convicted in the 1980s in what prosecutors called the "largest domestic marijuana syndicate in American history." They said he had 29 farms in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin. The group became known as the "Cornbread Mafia," and prosecutors said Boone was the leader.
Snatched in the night, Pakistani girl is enslaved for a debt

MIRPUR KHAS, Pakistan (AP)  The mother rummages through a large metal trunk, searching for a picture of her young daughter taken away in the night to be the bride of a man who says the family owed him $1,000.

Beneath the blankets, clothes and silver ornaments that she wears with her sari, Ameri Kashi Kohli finds two photos, carefully wrapped in plastic, of her smiling daughters.

Ameri tries to remember her daughter Jeevti's age; few of this country's desperately poor have birth certificates. With a grin at a sudden recollection she says, "I remember her sister, my youngest, was born when there was a big earthquake in Pakistan."

In this photo taken on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, Pakistani Hindu Jeevti sits in her husband's house in Pyaro Lundh, Pakistan. The night Jeevti disappeared, her family slept outside to escape Pakistan's brutal summer heat; in the morning she was gone, snatched by a wealthy landlord to whom her parents owed $1,000 dollars. She is one of the estimated 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls taken from their homes every year in Pakistan for supposed repayments of debt, most of them ending up married off to older men and forcibly converted to Islam. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

That was 2005. Jeevti was 3 years old at the time, Ameri says. That means the girl was just 14 when she disappeared into the hands of the land manager her parents were beholden to.

Her mother is sure that Jeevti paid the price for a never-ending debt.

Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid. "We started with a loan, and every time they said they were taking money for our loan, but no one gave us anything to show we paid." Instead, the debt doubled.

It's a familiar story here in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted.

In this world, women like Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment.

The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest and the young and pliable. Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can.

Ameri says she has heard stories of other workers whose daughters disappeared, in a country that sees an estimated 1,000 girls like them taken each year. Now, even though she and her family live elsewhere after being tossed out of their home, she's afraid that her 11-year-old could be taken too.

And like everything else in her life, as a Hindu in a Muslim country, as a woman who is among the poorest of the poor, she knows she will be powerless to stop it from happening.

"I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us," Ameri says. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife. "They told us, 'Your daughter has committed to Islam and you can't get her back.'"

___

Ameri works as a day laborer cutting sugar cane and feed for animals in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, a region dominated by powerful landowners whose holdings stretch for hundreds of acres.

Narrow dirt tracks weave through vast fields where Hindu women in colorful saris squat with small scythes to cut the crops. There's no talking. Occasionally the women stop for a drink of water. They make less than a dollar a day.

Like Ameri, they're often indebted to the owner of the land on which they work, kept as virtual slaves until they pay back their debt, which almost never happens.

More than 2 million Pakistanis live as "modern slaves," according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing.

"They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable," says Ghulam Hayder whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistan's bonded laborers.

Employers sexually assault the women and girls, marry them, force them to convert, and rarely will the police intervene, he says. He recalls a case in which a husband accused a landowner of sexually assaulting his wife. The landowner held him for three days, beat him and released him with a warning to tell no one.

An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organization.

"They always take the pretty ones," Hayder says.

___

The night Jeevti disappeared, the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says.

The family turned to activist Veero Kohli to help free the girl.

Kohli, who isn't related to the family, was born a slave. She fled bondage in 1999, walking for three days to safety and seeking out the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to help her before returning to the landowner to recover her children and free eight other families.

Since then, Kohli has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners, liberating thousands of families from bonded labor. She has been beaten; her home has been burned down. She has been arrested on trumped-up charges. Her husband has been arrested, and three of her sons have been jailed.

Kohli's defiance incenses many men in a country dominated by a centuries-old patriarchal culture: Whether victims of honor killings, forced into marriages or enslaved as a bonded laborers, a heavy burden falls on women in Pakistan.

"I know that they would like to kill me, but I will never stop fighting to free these people,' says Kohli, a strapping woman nearly 6 feet tall.

Five months ago, she went with Ameri to the Piyaro Lundh police station to find her daughter. "Her mother was crying in the police station to let her see her daughter," Kohli says.

They said the girl went willingly, Kohli says. "I told them: 'Let me talk to her. Let her mother talk to her if she went freely.'" They refused.

Instead, they called in the man who Ameri said had taken her daughter. Hamid Brohi came alone, without the girl. "He said, 'Anyway, she is payment for 100,000 rupees ($1,000) they owe me,'" Kohli recalls.

He said he had forgiven the family's debt and tossed them off his land, Kohli says.

Now Kohli is returning to the same police station, a small, grubby concrete room with two desks jammed together and a rickety wooden cabinet piled high with files held together with string.

Police officer Aqueel Ahmed thumbs through a dozen files, barely containing his anger at the activist.

Finally, he pulls out an affidavit. In it, the girl, who now goes by the name Fatima, said she had converted and married Brohi of her own free will. She also said she couldn't meet her mother because now she was Muslim and her family was Hindu.

Jeevti can neither read nor write; her signature on the statement she purportedly made of her own volition is a thumbprint.

There was no police investigation into Ameri's allegation that her daughter was kidnapped, Ahmed says, nor was there any investigation into her age in a province where the legal age for marriage is 18.

"There was no cause to investigate. She said she went willingly. She said there was no coercion," Ahmed says.

A second police officer, Riaz Hossain, says he knows of several other Hindu girls who converted willingly, too.

But Hindu activists say the girls are kept isolated until they have been forced to convert and are married - and then it's almost too late to do anything. In Pakistani marriages, the husband has to give a woman the right to divorce; without that, she has no right to leave him.

A law passed last month outlaws forced conversions, but human rights groups say it's practically impossible to prove that a conversion is forced because the girl invariably signs a statement saying she was willing. Police and judges almost never investigate, activists say, because many believe the conversions are a good thing and they would be defying their Muslim faith by even challenging one.

"So many girls, immature girls below the age of 18 years, mostly have been kidnapped," says Ramesh Kumar Vankwani of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

He says families are routinely threatened, and without police protection, they abandon their daughters.

Ameri, the mother, says she has been threatened by both the police and the man who took her daughter. She has gone to five different courts to get her daughter back, and failed each time. But she hasn't given up hope.

___

Police in a machine-gun-mounted jeep take Kohli, the activist, and a foreign reporter to visit the girl. Her mother doesn't come, too afraid, she says, to confront the police in person again.

Brohi, a sullen-looking man with a thin mustache, greets the police with an embrace. He angrily denies he took Jeevti as payment for the family's debt, despite his earlier boast to the activist that he had done just that. Instead, he insists he had an affair with the girl and married her. Kohli and her mother say there was no opportunity for that because Jeevti was always with her, even working in the fields.

Inside, Jeevti sits on a double mattress on the floor, her head wrapped in a black shawl. Brohi leaves his young wife alone but hangs outside the door, scowling at her.

Jeevti wears heavy eyeshadow and exaggerated bright red lipstick, like a child who has put on her mother's makeup - or one who is attempting to look older. It is the middle of the afternoon, yet she looks like she has just stepped out of a wedding, dressed in a glittery outfit. She looks out of place in the stark room, in a dusty compound surrounded by mud walls; none of the other women here are dressed or made up like her.

Although she doesn't seem afraid, her eyes dart to the door where her husband hovers. When she speaks, her words seem rehearsed and odd for a 14-year-old Pakistani.

"I married him because I wanted to," she says. "I myself asked him that as we are lovers, we should get married. So he said, 'Let's get married,' and I said yes."

She says she left her home freely and denies that she hasn't seen her mother since leaving. But she can't say when she saw her mother last - or even where she lives now. She says she would be happy to see her mother but is quiet when asked why her court affidavit says she refused to talk to her mother because she had converted to Islam.

She says she doesn't know what is in the court documents, although each one the police showed said Jeevti had spoken the words herself.

When asked about her name, she falters for a moment. She says that her Hindu name was Jeevti, smiling slightly, as if remembering her past. But now, she says, she is Fatima.

Finally, it is time to leave. Police, who have remained outside, sipping tea with Brohi's father and other men, escort the visitors back to the nearby village.

The visitors return the next day  without police escort.

Inside the compound where Jeevti was the day before, there are only women, and no one knows Fatima. They are friendly, but look confused when the girl is mentioned. The door to the room where she sat the day before is padlocked. It is as if the compound was but a stage set for the previous visit.

Within seconds, the police call a Pakistani colleague's cellphone: "Why did you go there? What do you want? Why did you not stop first at the police?"

Kohli says she will keep fighting for the girl in court but has little hope of getting her back.

At her new home, her mother looks at the trunk full of memories of Jeevti.

"I still have the clothes she wore, her dresses," she says. "I am her mother. She is my child. How can I forget her?"

In this photo taken on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, Hamid Brohi shows a court document as he sits with his wife Jeevti in Pyaro Lundh, Pakistan. The night Jeevti disappeared, her family slept outside to escape Pakistan's brutal summer heat; in the morning she was gone, snatched by a wealthy landlord to whom her parents owed $1,000 dollars. She is one of the estimated 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls taken from their homes every year in Pakistan for supposed repayments of debt, most of them ending up married off to older men and forcibly converted to Islam. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

In this photo taken on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, Ameri Kashi Kolhi, right, in tears remembering her daughter while holding her pictures of Jeevti, with her younger daughter Saveeta in Mir Pur Khas, Pakistan. Heartbroken Ameri Kashi Kolhi says a local Muslim strongman took her underage daughter, Jeevti, and made her his second wife after taking her to a local Muslim cleric, who converted her from Hindu to Islam. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

In this photo taken on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. Hamid Brohi poses for a picture with his wife Jeevti at their home in Pyaro Lundh, Pakistan. The night Jeevti disappeared, her family slept outside to escape Pakistan's brutal summer heat; in the morning she was gone, snatched by a wealthy landlord to whom her parents owed $1,000 dollars. She is one of the estimated 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls taken from their homes every year in Pakistan for supposed repayments of debt, most of them ending up married off to older men and forcibly converted to Islam.(AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

In this photo taken on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, Ameri Kashi Kolhi shows picture of her daughter Jeevti, right, in Payro Lundh, Pakistan. The night Jeevti disappeared, her family slept outside to escape Pakistan's brutal summer heat; in the morning she was gone, snatched by a wealthy landlord to whom her parents owed $1,000 dollars. She is one of the estimated 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls taken from their homes every year in Pakistan for supposed repayments of debt, most of them ending up married off to older men and forcibly converted to Islam.(AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

In this photo taken on Saturday , Dec. 3, 2016, Pakistani activist Veero Kohli cleans her awards at her home in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Kolhi who also was a slave, fled bondage in 1999 walking for three days to safety, searching out the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to help her before returning to the landowner to recover her children and free another eight of families. Since getting her freedom, Kolhi has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners freeing thousands of families from bonded labor. She has been beaten, her home has been burned down. She has been arrested on trumped up charges. Her husband has been arrested and three of her sons have been jailed. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
North Korean defector impressed by Seoul political protests

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A high-profile North Korean defector told South Korean lawmakers on Friday that the massive protests that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye still feel strange to him but he sees the demonstrations as the country's strength.

Thae Yong Ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to London, said in a closed-door briefing to lawmakers that he was impressed with the South's democracy because its government continued to function despite the protests, according to the office of Lee Cheol Woo, one of the legislators who attended the event.

Thae also saw as remarkable that powerful individuals linked to the scandal that brought down Park were grilled by lawmakers on live TV, Lee's office said. The briefing was also attended by Lee Byoung Ho, the director of South Korea's spy agency, the lawmaker's office said.

A high-profile North Korean defector Thae Yong Ho, No. 2 at the North's embassy in London, arrives for the National Assembly's intelligence committee in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. 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. (Kim Hyun-tae/Yonhap via AP)

South Korea's opposition-controlled parliament on Dec. 9 voted to impeach Park over the corruption scandal that saw millions of people protest in past weeks. The impeachment suspended Park's powers and pushed the prime minister into the role as government caretaker until the country's Constitutional Court decides whether she should permanently step down or be reinstated.

South Korean prosecutors have accused Park of colluding with a longtime confidante to extort money and favor from companies and allow the friend to manipulate government affairs.

Lee, the spy director, told lawmakers that North Korea's state media haven't been broadcasting video footage of South Koreans holding candlelight vigils against Park since her impeachment, because of concerns about protests images being spread among North Koreans, according to the lawmaker's office.

North Korean state TV did report on the South Korean protests on Dec. 7, but blurred the images of high-rise buildings and statutes on the boulevards in downtown Seoul where the demonstrations were held.

Lee also told lawmakers that North Korea appeared ready to conduct another nuclear test at any time, citing activity at the country's nuclear test site. He said that the North conducted a land-based ejection test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile earlier this month, according to the lawmaker's office.

North Korea this year carried out its fourth and fifth nuclear tests and also a slew of rocket launches as it continues to expand its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles program. North Korean efforts to develop submarine-launched missiles are also a concern for rivals because they would give the country a weapon that is harder to detect before launch.

In announcing his defection in August, the South Korean government said Thae came to the South with his family because of his disgust with the North's government under leader Kim Jong Un and worries about the future of his children.

Thae is the most senior North Korean diplomat to defect to South Korea. In 1997, the North Korean ambassador to Egypt fled but resettled in the United States.
China 'closely following' Trump comments on nuclear policy

BEIJING (AP)  China said Friday that countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should take the lead in disarmament, after President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin said they wanted to strengthen their nations' nuclear capabilities.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regular briefing Beijing is "paying close attention" to what nuclear weapons policy Trump's administration will follow.

After meeting with Pentagon officials and defense contractors a day earlier, Trump tweeted Thursday: "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

His comments came hours after Putin said he wanted to strengthen Russia's own nuclear capabilities in the coming year.

The U.S. and Russia hold the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons. China is also a nuclear power and in 1996, Beijing signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

According to the Washington, D.C.-based Arms Control Association, China has an estimated 260 nuclear warheads. Russia and the U.S. have more than 7,000 each.

Hua said that China advocates a ban on and destruction of nuclear weapons.
10 Things to Know for Today - 23 December 2016

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. BERLIN TRUCK ATTACK SUSPECT KILLED IN MILAN POLICE SHOOTOUT

Italian officials say the Tunisian man suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Christmas market is dead, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

A body covered in a thermical blanket lies on the ground the area is cordoned off after a shootout between police and a man near a train station in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood, Italy, early Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Italy's interior minister Marco Minniti says the man killed in an early-hours shootout in Milan is "without a shadow of doubt" the Berlin Christmas market attacker Anis Amri. (AP Photo/Daniele Bennati)

2. WHY A TRUMP CAMPAIGN TACTIC MIGHT MAKE GOVERNING DIFFICULT

As Donald Trump shapes his policy agenda ahead of next month's inauguration, his trafficking in ambiguity could be a high-risk doctrine once he takes office.

3. OBAMA'S MIXED FOREIGN POLICY LEGACY

The president opened a new era of diplomacy in his presidency while running headlong into limitations: His pragmatic approach to world affairs ultimately couldn't deliver on his promise to end wars.

4. ALEPPO CONFRONTS VAST DESTRUCTION LEFT BY 4 YEARS OF WAR

Brutal street fighting and punishing bombardments in Aleppo have destroyed thousands of homes, wiped out the city's industrial base and reduced ancient landmarks to rubble.

5. AUSTRALIA POLICE SAY CHRISTMAS DAY BOMB PLOT FOILED

Five men suspected of planning a series of holiday bomb attacks in the heart of the country's second-largest city have been detained.

6. HOW CHRISTMAS LOOKS IN NORTH KOREA

Trees, lights, a Christmas song or two, but no hint of the holiday's real meaning in a country with almost no practicing Christians left.

7. FINAL TEST RESULTS CONFIRM EBOLA VACCINE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE

It's a major milestone in the search for a vaccine to stop future outbreaks, like the one that killed thousands in West Africa.

8. WHERE WALKING WINTER STREETS REQUIRES FANCY FOOTWEAR

In Alaska's largest city, innovative entrepreneurs have created imaginative shoes, like boots that click like ruby slippers, instantly sending down titanium spikes to dig into slippery surfaces.

9. WHO'S THE NHL'S NO. 2 ALL-TIME LEADER IN POINTS

Florida Panthers forward and 44-year-old Czech star Jaromir Jagr got career point No. 1,888, breaking a tie with Mark Messier.

10. WHAT "OM TELOLET OM" MEANS

It's a meme that's fanning across social media, started by Indonesian children standing on the side of the road yelling for bus and truck drivers to toot their horns, which play a series of jingle-like beeps.

Smoke rises following a Syrian government air strike on rebel positions, in eastern Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Iranian guns down 10 relatives in shooting rampage

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iranian media says a 26-year-old man has gunned down 10 relatives in a rare shooting rampage.

The semi-official ISNA news agency reported the shooting on Friday, saying it occurred the night before in a rural part of southern Iran and that the suspect was still at large. It says another four people were wounded in the shooting.

ISNA says the man had repeatedly quarreled with his wife, who was also his cousin, and was not among those killed. It did not provide further details on the motive.
40 killed in Congo this week amid protests, UN official says

GENEVA (AP)  The U.N. human rights chief is denouncing violent repression by Congolese security forces against crowds protesting against President Joseph Kabila, saying 40 people have been killed over the past week.

Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein is urging Congo's police, defense and other security forces to use restraint, saying the "heavy-handed and irresponsible response to demonstrations risks provoking violence in return by demonstrators."

The U.N. human rights office says bloody incidents took place in the capital, Kinshasa, the southeastern city of Lubumbashi and beyond.
Cleveland, family to discuss settlement after woman's death

CLEVELAND (AP)  The city of Cleveland and the family of a mentally ill woman who collapsed and died after struggling with police officers have informed a judge they're willing to negotiate a possible settlement in the family's lawsuit.

Tanisha Anderson, 37, died in November 2014 after officers were called to her home. A medical examiner determined that she stopped breathing after officers put her on the ground on her stomach and that heart problems and mental illness contributed to her death.

Anderson's family hired former Deputy Los Angeles Police Chief Lou Reiter, who said in a July report that the officers acted "contrary to generally accepted police practices." He said their actions were "unreasonable and excessive for the circumstances."

The city denied allegations that police used excessive force.

U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent plans to hold a settlement conference Jan. 6, cleveland.com reported (http://bit.ly/2hg4IJJ ) Thursday.

The discussions come as the city, the U.S. Department of Justice and a monitor finalize new policies on how officers deal with people with mentally illness. The policies were required under a settlement between Cleveland and the Justice Department.

David Malik, an attorney for the Anderson family, said settlement discussions will include something other than a monetary settlement. He wouldn't elaborate. A city spokesman wouldn't comment on the pending litigation.

A criminal probe into two officers has lasted more than two years. The family has expressed frustration about the length of that investigation.

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2 more Ukrainian troops killed in eastern Ukraine

MOSCOW (AP)  At least two Ukrainian troops have been killed and three injured in the past 24 hours in renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine, an official said Friday.

Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,600 people since the conflict began in April 2014. A 2015 cease-fire deal did not completely stop fighting but did lower its intensity.

Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian defense ministry, said in a statement that Ukrainian casualties continue to mount after what Kiev says was a rebel offensive southeast of the rebel stronghold Donetsk.

A total of eight troops have been killed outside the town of Svitlodarsk since fighting began there Sunday, Lysenko said. Rebels have accused the Ukrainian government of launching an attack on their positions there.

Rebels and Ukrainian government representatives at talks mediated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Wednesday agreed on a new cease-fire across eastern Ukraine that is set to begin Saturday.

State Department spokesman John Kirby on Thursday lauded the agreement and said the U.S. hopes it "will mark the beginning of sustained quiet at the line of contact to allow Ukrainians on both sides of the line to live in peace and security."

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday said he hoped Wednesday's deal, which comes into effect on the eve of New Year's and Christmas festivities in Ukraine, "will help make the ceasefire permanent."
Arizona governor welcomes Uber fleet of self-driving cars

PHOENIX (AP)  Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday welcomed the arrival of a fleet of Uber self-driving cars delivered via a self-driving truck that transported them from California.

Ducey's office says the governor welcomed the truck carrying the self-driving Volvos at the State Capitol in Phoenix.

Uber announced Thursday that it was shipping the cars to Arizona after they were banned from California roads over lack of required permits.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, an Uber driverless car is displayed in a garage in San Francisco. Uber has pulled its self-driving cars from California roads. The ride-sharing company said Wednesday, Dec. 21, California transportation regulators revoke registrations for the vehicles. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

Uber made the announcement after Ducey on Wednesday and Thursday promoted Arizona as an alternative to California for the ride-hailing company to test its self-driving cars.

Uber has not announced when the cars will be tested, nor provided details about how many vehicles arrived in Arizona.

Uber previously had 16 self-driving cars registered in California.

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Minnesota cop's attorneys request new judge in Castile case

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Attorneys for the Minnesota police officer who faces a manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile are removing the judge who was assigned to the case.

Lawyers for St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez filed a notice Thursday to remove Ramsey County District Court Judge Edward Wilson. Under rules of criminal procedure in Minnesota, defense attorneys and prosecutors can each strike one assigned judge from a case without giving a reason. The requests are automatically granted.

Wilson, who is black, was initially assigned to the case because of his experience  he's been on the bench since 1987 and is the second most senior judge in the district.

FILE - This Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, file photo provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office shows Jeronimo Yanez. Attorneys for Yanez, who shot and killed Philando Castile, have filed documents Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, to remove the judge from the case. (Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

Defense attorney Earl Gray said they filed the notice to remove Wilson based on research. He did not elaborate further.

"We felt that we had to remove him. Simple as that," said Gray, who has previously tried a case before Wilson.

Castile, who was black, was killed July 6 during a traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The shooting's gruesome aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend, who was with him in the car at the time. Prosecutors have said the 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker was shot at seven times after telling Yanez he was armed and had a permit to carry.

Yanez, who is Latino, has claimed in court documents that Castile didn't say he had a permit. His attorneys are asking that the case be dismissed, saying Castile was negligent in his own death because he was high on marijuana and didn't obey Yanez's commands.

Ramsey County Chief Judge John Guthmann said Monday that he assigned Wilson to the case because of the judge's availability and experience. He said Wilson's race didn't play a role.

Gray said he expects Guthmann to assign a new judge within a week. Then, he said, the defense team can begin laying out its strategy.

"Obviously, this is a case that is going to have a lot of motions filed, and this is obviously a case that is going to go to trial, so we will find out from the judge we get what his schedule will be and then go from there," Gray said.
2 babies in Puerto Rico born with Zika-related defects

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Puerto Rico's health secretary says two babies have been born with defects as a result of a Zika infection.

Ana Rius made the announcement Friday and said that a total of seven babies have now been affected by the mosquito-borne virus. She declined further comment.

The U.S. territory is fighting a Zika epidemic with 35,870 cases reported, including 2,880 pregnant women. Officials said 314 people have been hospitalized.
Belarus court rules against AP reporter for Chernobyl story

MOSCOW (AP)  A court in the former Soviet republic of Belarus has ruled against an Associated Press correspondent in a lawsuit by a dairy company that claimed an AP article damaged its reputation. AP said it stands by his reporting and will seek to overturn the ruling on appeal.

The lawsuit stems from an April article about farmers using land contaminated by fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The article said tests by a Belarusian state laboratory on a sample of milk from a dairy farm showed 10 times the accepted level of a radioactive isotope.

Milkavita, the company that the dairy farm supplies, sued Minsk-based Yuras Karmanau, who wrote the article, saying he had damaged its reputation. The company makes cheese, primarily for export to Russia.

FILE - In this Monday, April 11, 2016, file photo, a radiation warning sign stands near a checkpoint in an exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, southeast of Minsk, Belarus. A Belarus court on Thursday Dec. 22, 2016 ruled against an Associated Press correspondent in a lawsuit by a dairy company that claimed an AP article about farming on fallout-damaged land hurt its reputation. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)

Judge Tatyana Sapega ruled in Milkavita's favor Thursday and ordered Karmanau to pay court costs and to tell AP about the ruling. She accepted the testimony of a laboratory representative who confirmed the test results but said Karmanau did not have specialist scientific knowledge needed to interpret them.

Ian Phillips, AP's vice president for international news, said the AP stands by Karmanau's reporting.

"The AP strongly disagrees with the court's decision and unreservedly stands behind journalist Yuras Karmanau," Phillips said in a statement. "Mr. Karmanau's reporting is a fair and accurate account of the lingering effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on Belarus 30 years after the accident. The court's refusal to consider key evidence in support of Mr. Karmanau raises serious concerns, and AP looks forward to vindication on appeal."

The independent Belarusian Association of Journalists expressed concern.

"The verdict in this trial substantially pushes the boundaries of freedom of speech in this country since it puts into jeopardy the very possibility of conducting important journalistic investigations in Belarus," the group said in a statement.

During the trial, which began in October, Sapega turned down Karmanau's key motions. He was not allowed to introduce as evidence the results from the laboratory test, or evidence showing how the milk sample was collected and tested. He also was not allowed to call some witnesses including an engineer from the dairy company and a scholar quoted in the article.

Karmanau's lawyers also argued that Article 52 of Belarus' media law holds that a journalist cannot be held responsible for publishing findings or information provided by a government agency, which the laboratory is. The judge did not address that argument in her ruling.
Inmate: Marshals left before courthouse cell sex assault

WASHINGTON (AP)  A Washington D.C. inmate identified by authorities as the victim of a sex assault in a court holding cell says three U.S. marshals left the area shortly before the incident.

In an interview with The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/2h9JoTe) through the D.C. jail's video visitation system, the 27-year-old man recounted his experience in the D.C. Superior Court cell. Court papers say security cameras captured part of the 12-minute attack. The Associated Press generally doesn't identify victims of sexual attacks.

"This happened in what is supposed to be one of the safest places. In the courthouse. Where marshals are supposed to protect everyone. Just steps away from a judge," the inmate said. "You would think you would be safer there."

The man said he heard one marshal say, "It's lunchtime," shortly before the three left and he didn't see or hear any other marshals. Officials from the U.S. Marshals Service and the court declined to comment on what happened on Veterans Day as the inmates waited to be taken back to the D.C. jail. The Marshals Service also would not discuss the staffing at the time, or how often marshals are required to check on inmates.

The inmate, who is accused of attacking a man with a box cutter at a liquor store, was at court that day for a judge-ordered psychological evaluation following his arrest last month. After a hearing, he was ushered into a holding cell. Jerome Holliway, 36, who had been arrested for violating his parole in a previous simple assault and obstruction of justice case, was already in the cell, according to court records.

Holliway asked the younger inmate several times why he was arrested, but he ignored he questions. After Holliway told him "I need to make sure you're not a cop," the younger inmate said Holliway threw him to the floor, then dragged him across the floor by the shackles around his ankles to a small area behind a metal divider where the toilet is located. Holliway choked, punched and bit him and then sexually assaulted him.

"He almost killed me. I thought I was going to die. I tried to fight back," the man said. "I tried to scream for help. I was panicked," he said. He said his assailant repeatedly told him to "shut up."

When marshals arrived five minutes after the attack ended they found the naked inmate curled into a fetal position with his orange jumpsuit around his ankles, according to court documents. Holliway, fully clothed, was sitting on a bench. Holliway told authorities the sex was consensual, according to the documents.

The younger inmate fell unconscious during the attack and was hospitalized for two days, he said. The assault left him physically and emotionally scarred.

"I don't feel how I normally would. I'm angry. But I'm not sure if how I feel is because of the attack or because of the meds I'm now on," he said.

Holliway is charged with first-degree sexual abuse. A spokeswoman for the D.C. Public Defender Service, which represents Holliway, declined to comment.

Last week, a D.C. Superior Court judge delayed a hearing in the younger inmate's assault case after a court psychologist found the man mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Tammy Seltzer, director of the D.C. Jail and Prison Advocacy Project, called the alleged assault "horrific."
Airport jewelry store giving ex-offenders a leg up

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)  Shoppers perusing the jewelry at a pop-up store in Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B can talk to a sales clerk who also made the baubles, but they might be surprised to learn the employee is wearing a different kind of bracelet  the kind that goes around your ankle and tracks your every move.

The store is part of a program for women recently released from jail or currently in the criminal justice system. They get job skills, some income and, perhaps most important, self-confidence.

It's the product of a union between a reverend, a film producer and a former governor all committed to easing a transition that can be daunting at best.

In this Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, photo, jewelry is displayed at a kiosk at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. The kiosk, which is in operation until the end of the month, features jewelry produced by former inmates through a society re-entry program by former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

"When you get out of prison, society doesn't let you out of prison, in a way," said Francine LeFrak, the film producer. "You have a hard time with every step of the way. People look at you as 'that person who was in prison.' But if you're managing a kiosk at Newark Airport and you're in contact with other people, you're feeling that dignity of, 'I'm worth it and now I can talk to anybody.' It's about skill-building."

LeFrak, daughter of real estate mogul Samuel LeFrak, formed Same Sky in 2008 as a way to help women in Rwanda by selling their handmade jewelry in the U.S. Her interest in helping America's burgeoning population of female ex-offenders dates back to the 1990s when she executive produced "Prison Stories: Women on the Inside" for HBO.

Three years ago, she partnered with former Gov. Jim McGreevey and the Jersey City-based New Jersey Re-entry Corp., the organization he chairs that provides links to education, job training, addiction treatment and other services. The third piece of the puzzle, Most Excellent Way Life Learning Center, offers housing and social services in northern New Jersey and is run by the Rev. Gloria Walton.

Barbara Murray was manning the Same Sky airport kiosk last week. She is a graduate of the Most Excellent Way and is studying to get a counselor's license. The 46-year-old had been jailed for shoplifting numerous times in Brooklyn, and found herself repeating the same destructive behavior.

"The times I got incarcerated back in Brooklyn I was never given any help," she said. "I just did my time, came out and went right back to the lifestyle. Today I'm not going back to the lifestyle."

The program "is affording her the opportunity to transform herself," Walton said.

For many people who have been incarcerated, the only jobs typically available when they get out are warehouse jobs, McGreevey said. Those can be physically demanding and difficult to juggle along with school and any parole or probationary requirements. In contrast, jewelry-making can be done at any time.

"What's wonderful about this work is that they can do work all day Saturday or at 8 at night," he said. "So they can earn money while going to college or attending employment training."

Victoria Keenan, also from Brooklyn and a current Most Excellent Way resident, wears an ankle bracelet while her child endangerment case is pending in court. She said making the jewelry is like meditating. The 23-year-old said she is going back to school in January in hopes of becoming a paralegal.

In this Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, photo, jewelry is on display at a kiosk at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. The kiosk, which is in operation until the end of the month, features jewelry produced by former inmates through a society re-entry program by former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In this Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, photo, Barbara Murray arranges jewelry for sale at a kiosk at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. The store is part of a program for women recently released from jail or currently in the criminal justice system. They get job skills, some income and, perhaps most important, self-confidence. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In this Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, photo, jewelry is displayed at a kiosk at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. The kiosk, which is in operation until the end of the month, features jewelry produced by former inmates through a society re-entry program by former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In this Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, photo, a traveler walks in front of a jewelry kiosk at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. The kiosk, which is in operation until the end of the month, features jewelry produced by former inmates through a society re-entry program by former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Appeals court tosses life sentence for $15 theft

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A Louisiana appeals court has tossed out the life sentence for a man convicted of grabbing $15 from a parked car.

Walter Johnson, 38, had three prior convictions when he was convicted for snatching the money from an SUV that turned out to be a "bait-vehicle" police were using to catch burglars. He was sentenced last year under a habitual offender statute mandating a life sentence for fourth-offenders.

"Thus, the sentence imposed on Mr. Johnson is 'legal' in the sense that it falls within the statutory range," Judge Paul Bonin said in the opinion for a three-judge panel of the state 4th Circuit Court of Appeal.

"Despite its legality, however, we find the life-without-parole sentence imposed upon Mr. Johnson unconstitutionally excessive."

The appeals court ordered a New Orleans judge to order a pre-sentence investigation, hold a new hearing and come up with a reduced sentence.

Judge Joy Cossich Lobrano dissented, arguing that the sentence should not be vacated until after a hearing is held to determine whether Johnson's case is truly unconstitutionally excessive.

All three judges  Bonin, Lobrano and Sandra Cabrina Jenkins  agreed to uphold Walters' conviction. They rejected Johnson's argument that he was entrapped when he snatched the cash through the open window of a car police were using to snare burglars.

As for the sentence, Bonin noted that none of Johnson's three previous convictions  for burglary, possession of heroin and distribution of cocaine  were for violent crimes. "We cannot condone a sentence which condemns Mr. Johnson to a life  and inevitable death  within prison walls, in light of his non-violent criminal history and the extraordinarily minor crime in this case."

Bonin's opinion noted language in the Louisiana Constitution prohibiting "any law that subjects an individual to "cruel, excessive, or unusual punishment."

The opinion did not strike down the habitual offender law. But it said a sentence under the law can sometimes be unconstitutionally excessive.
Senate Dems pledge close look at stock trades by HHS nominee

WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate Democrats say they will closely examine stock trades by President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Republican congressman Tom Price of Georgia traded more than $300,000 in shares of health care-related companies in recent years while backing legislation that could potentially affect them.

The Trump transition team says that Price has fully complied with all applicable laws and ethics rules, and will continue to do so if confirmed.

Democratic Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Patty Murray of Washington issued statements saying they will thoroughly examine any potential conflicts of interest as the committees on Finance, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, consider the nomination of Price.
Catalonia's pro-referendum block stages summit

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  Supporters of a referendum on Catalonia's independence met Friday to prepare for a vote in 2017 despite legal hurdles and the opposition of Spain's central government.

Spain's Constitution bans the secession of any territory, but regional leader Carles Puigdemont has promised to ask Catalans about the wealthy region's future with or without Madrid's permission.

Representatives of political parties, workers' unions and social groups attended the meeting in Barcelona, including the city's mayor, Ada Colau, who favors an agreement with central authorities before the vote.
Maryland officer who fatally shot armed man is 22 years old

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. (AP)  Police in a Washington suburb say the officer who fatally shot a man who pulled a handgun while sitting inside a car is 22 years old and has been an officer for a year and a half.

In a statement on Thursday, Prince George's County police identified the officer involved in Wednesday's shooting as Steven Tucker.

Police did not reveal the officer's race. The man he shot, 19-year-old Terrence Thomas Jr., was black.
AP FACT CHECK: Obama didn't ban Christmas cards to military

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A widely shared story claiming President Barack Obama ordered a ban on Christmas cards sent to the military is not true.

The story appeared Dec. 12 on the website tdtalliance using banners and logos from Fox News . The network never aired such a story.

Obama never issued such an order, White House spokesman Carl Woog said Friday.

"This story is not true and appears to be yet another example of so-called fake news," Woog said. "The president wishes service members celebrating around the world a Merry Christmas and thanks them for what they do every day to defend the United States."

The story claims that the White House said traditional Christmas greetings will upset Muslims in host countries and will have to be returned to the sender. Similar stories of a Christmas card ban also surfaced last year.

The White House's holiday website includes a link offering Americans the chance to send digital messages of thanks to active-duty military members.
A schoolgirl, who was paralysed after collapsing during a street dance lesson, has learnt to walk again - and even released a moving video of herself performing a solo routine.

Chelsea Fairhurst, 14, suffered nosebleeds, a numb arm and headaches in the run-up to her collapse, shortly before Christmas last year.

But her mum Vicki Fairhurst, 34, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire and the rest of her family, mistakenly thought she was just nervous about her `gold star two street dance exam.

In fact, Chelsea was living with a ticking time bomb - a knot of poorly-formed blood vessels in the left hand side of her brain, which could burst at any time.

Doctors said it was something shed been born with and although in some cases it can be genetic, it wasnt found to be genetic in Chelseas case.

While she was dancing, the clot burst, which was said not to have been triggered by the movement - but left young Chelsea paralysed on her right side and fighting for her life.

Chelsea Faurhurst paralysed

Now, a year on, Vicki has explained how her daughter fought back from the brink of death, re-learned to walk and even passed a dance exam.

Vicki was at work as a sales assistant when she received a phone call from Chelseas dance school telling her that her daughter had collapsed.

She was doing a warm up and some stretches when it happened."I raced straight there," Vicki explained. "Chelsea was shaking so much, and in and out of consciousness. It was so frightening."

Chelsea playing a game on Boxing Day with her mum's partner Carl and her granddad Michael (Collect/PA Real Life)

Mum and daughter were blue-lighted to Rotherham Hospital and Chelsea was immediately taken for a brain scan, which revealed the bleed.

There, doctors broke the news to Vicki that Chelsea had suffered an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a tangle of blood vessels with abnormal connections between arteries and veins in her head.

She was rushed to Sheffield Childrens Hospital within an hour for further brain scans which showed the bleeding had stopped.

Chelsea received a dancer of the year award weeks before she suffered a bleed on the brain last year (Collect/PA Real Life)

The next day though, on December 20, 2015, after another scan showed the swelling spreading to the right side of her brain, surgeons had to perform a four-hour operation to cut out the malformation, the knotted vessels.

"Wed put her symptoms, before she collapsed, down to nerves, her mum explained, urging other parents to be more alert. Ahead of her collapse, Chelseas arm felt numb, but we said she must have slept on it funny.

She was determined to keep going and pass her exam.

Huge thanks to EVERYONE who took part in #NationalElfService day! Fantastic effort by all!  pic.twitter.com/xboFRYfxac  Sheffield Children's (@SheffChildrens) December 16, 2016

It was an extremely stressful period for her family.

"We thought she was permanently paralysed," Vicki continued. "We didnt even know if shed wake up."

But on December 24, just hours before Christmas Day, 2015, Chelsea - still unconscious - moved her toes.

Chelsea having physiotherapy, December 2015 (Collect/PA Real Life)

It was the start of a slow but steady recovery, which saw her in hospital for six weeks.

When I saw that, I was so excited, Vicki recalled.

I was told to keep moving her leg for her, in the hope that her brain remembered to work the right side of her body, which doctors were worried about.

Chelsea Fairhurst paralysed

I did this and then, on Christmas Day, she moved her right arm and wiggled her fingers. We had dreaded Christmas, but this was the best news ever.

Having missed out on Christmas at home, her family threw her a fake get together in January.

Chelsea, who had started daily physiotherapy two days after her operation in hospital, has continued with her therapy on a weekly basis since.

Chelsea with her mum, and Vicki's partner Carl (Collect/PA Real Life)

Then, in July 2016, she was well enough to take her dance exam - which she passed with 96 per cent honors.

It was a proud moment for her mum.

Vicki continued: Shes the biggest inspiration they have at dancing, everyone loves her to bits.

"After what shes been through, and where shes got to, I couldnt be happier for her."

Chelsea at a surprise party held to celebrate her recovery, in September this year (Collect/PA Real Life)

Chelsea originally developed a taste for street dancing, after seeing a troupe on Britains Got Talent.

Training for five hours a week prior to the exam, she was determined to pass so she could teach other youngsters.

Her mum continued: There was nothing anyone could have done to stop the bleed from happening.

The stack of presents Chelsea opened over Christmas while in hospital last year (Collect/PA Real Life)

She continued: Doctors were worried Chelsea would be paralysed all down her right hand side if she had suffered brain damage.

They thought she wouldnt be able to walk or dance again. We were devastated and I knew she would be, too, so I didnt tell her.

Doctors wanted to wait and see anyway.

Chelsea posing at dance competition (Collect/PA Real Life)

Three months after she collapsed, a scan showed Chelsea had no more malformations on her brain.

I never sat down and told Chelsea at the time that she could have been paralysed, although I think she must have overhead conversations in hospital," Vicki said.

We never needed to have the chat because she started moving.

Chelsea Fairhurst paralysed

She continued: I think she struggled when she first went back to school and started training but shes worked hard and in July Chelsea took her exam and passed with honours.
A mum whose body attacks her babies because it thinks they are foreign bodies has given birth to a miracle girl - after undergoing weekly infusions throughout her entire pregnancy and fighting three bouts of meningitis.

Hospital staff nurse Laura Wilson, 28, of Colne, Wiltshire, did not realise her baby Raife, now two, had rare and potentially fatal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (or NAIT) disorder until after he was born.

Lauras body made antibodies which attacked unborn Raifes platelets because it treated him as a harmful invader.

Raife placenta

It led to him being born with a platelet count of just eight, compared to a normal newborn count of around 300.

While in the womb hed suffered a bleed to the brain and consequently developed cerebral palsy, a result of the NAIT.

Laura was told that any future children she had with 30-year-old husband Andrew would have NAIT, which was a devastating blow to Laura as she wanted four children.

Raife placenta

Her eight-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, who she asked not to name, is healthy.

But now, after an incredibly tough pregnancy, where she spent eight months in bed, Laura has given birth to a healthy girl called Roma, now five months.

Shes looking forward to celebrating her first Christmas as a family of five - but admitted if she was to have a final, fourth, child she would likely use a surrogate.

"Roma is wonderful," she said. "And Raife loves being a big brother.

"But it would be wrong to say the pregnancy with Roma was easy. It was exhausting."

Laura said she felt guilty when Raife was diagnosed with NAIT - and even more shocked to learn it was her body that was attacking him

'#Naitbabies are a patient organisation run by families affected by a serious #genetic #blood disorder most people have... Posted by naitbabies.org on Tuesday, November 15, 2016

"My baby was allergic to my body," she said. "My body, which was meant to nurture Raife, had attacked him.

"He had hardly any platelets in his blood because of me, so his blood couldnt clot.

"I felt so guilty."

Raife placenta

Born at Chippenham Hospital, Wiltshire, weighing 7lbs 1 oz, following a 30-minute labour, he initially appeared healthy.

"But Im a nurse and I thought his skin seemed mottled and grey," Laura said.

Hours after his birth a blood test was carried out the result of his older sister suffering meningitis at six weeks old.

Raife placenta

"Normally newborns dont have this, but he, thankfully, did because of his sisters illness," Laura said. "He was clear of meningitis but doctors were horrified by his platelet count."

After his blood test counts were received, he was immediately rushed to neonatal intensive care.

There, he was pumped full of platelet transfusions.

Raife placenta

Gradually his platelet count increased to 30 and then got higher and higher.

But the repeated attacks hed undergone in the womb had impacted on him.

Tests were carried out to determine the cause of his blood disorder but doctors struggled to diagnose him.

Raife placenta

It was only when they examined his parents blood, they realised what had occurred.

Raife was diagnosed with cerebral palsy just before his second birthday, and has increased spasticity in his lower limbs.

He learnt to walk at 23 months old, and can now manage to stand on his tip toes.

But running and playing games is out of the question, his mum said, explaining he had also worn glasses since five months old.

Keen to avoid having another child with NAIT, Lauras third pregnancy has been very different from her second.

On a weekly basis she had immunoglobulins - antibodies - fed into her blood so her body did not attack Roma.

rAIFE PICC LINE

She had a PICC line inserted to do this and permanent canula, which triggered three exhausting bouts of asceptic meningitis  a condition in which the layers lining the brain become inflamed.

"I spent eight months in bed," she said. "It was dreadful. I had a young son who needed quite a lot care and attention, which was impossible when I was so ill myself."

She underwent two lumber punctures but on July 27 gave birth to 6lb 9oz Roma after a C-section.

Raife blood

Thankfully, she had a platelet count of 120 - low, but better than her brothers had been.

Now, Roma is healthy and the family are looking forward to Christmas.

(MUST) The family are campaigning for Raife to have special treatment in Missouri, America, for which they need 45,000.

Raife blood

The operation is called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) and is used to improve spasticity in cerebral palsy.

Nerve fibres running from the muscles back to the spinal cord play a major role in maintaining muscle stiffness. By dividing some of these fibres, it is effective at significantly reducing stiffness and spasticity.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has sent out an upbeat Christmas message designed to cheer up Britons left downcast by a 2016 characterised by war, terror and division.

In a video message circulated on Twitter, Mr Johnson said that despite war in Syria and terror attacks in Europe, mankind as a whole was making progress in terms of health, education and longevity.

And he said that global Britain was leading the effort to continue the improvements.

Boris Johnson (PA)

Have a great #Christmas and a happy 2017 pic.twitter.com/mBwzWw40oC  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 23, 2016

Standing in front of a Christmas tree at the Foreign Office in London, Mr Johnson said: We come now to the end of 2016 and I know that lots of people will be looking back at some of the gloomier bits about last year.

We have still got a terrible civil war going on in Syria, we are seeing terrorist outrages taking place on our European continent.

But I want you to know that British diplomats, British armed forces, British security services, British intelligence services are working the whole time to keep this country safe and to tackle these problems at source.

Warmest wishes to the Jewish community at home and abroad. May you enjoy the Festival of Lights. Peace and joy to all. #Chanukah Sameach!  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 23, 2016

He added: In case you are feeling too downcast this Christmas, dont forget that overall the people of this planet are living longer, they are living in better health, they are better educated than ever before, particularly women.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has issued a Christmas plea for voters to be true to British values by offering a welcome to child refugees stranded alone in mainland Europe and seeking to come to the UK.

In a Christmas video message filmed at a child refugee centre in Paris, Mr Farron said that the values that had made Britain great meant it should offer sanctuary to the young people.

And he said that the Christian message too should encourage the UK to open its doors, as Mary, Joseph and Jesus too lived under the oppression of a wicked regime and were forced to become refugees from King Herod.

TIm Farron (Screengrab)

My Christmas message. Let us hope in 2017 we can be true to our British values and proud of our country. https://t.co/KS5L0GT9ZN  Tim Farron (@timfarron) December 23, 2016

As a Christian, I think Christmas is about a God who gave himself up for us and came to Earth in order to do that and urges us to follow him and to believe we should do to others what we would have them do to us, said the Lib Dem leader.

Imagine the UK was a war-torn and terrible place to live and imagine that Eritrea or Sudan or Syria were peaceful places. Lets imagine that we fled with our children or sent them on ahead because it was the safest or least risky thing to do.

What would we want those other countries to do for us? If you can imagine the answer to that, then you know what the right thing would be for Britain to do.

More than 750 unaccompanied children have been brought to the UK after ministers agreed to accept resettlement plans earlier this year. But Liberal Democrats said the Government had failed to live up to its word and take Britains fair share.

Mr Farron said the children were fleeing appalling circumstances and wanted to come to the UK because of Britains reputation as a place of peace and of security and tranquillity  somewhere you can start afresh after having witnessed appalling things at far too young an age.

He added: Im not at all squeamish about patriotism. I am very proud to be British. Thats why I want us to do what is in line with our values, what is consistent with our heritage, what has made us great as a country
Ford expands Australian R&D budget after manufacturing halt

SYDNEY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it will boost spending on design capability in Australia by A$150 million ($109 million) in 2017 at a plant where the company shuttered production in October.

Ford ended 91-years of making cars in Australia when it closed its production line in the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows amid a decline in Australian manufacturing and the dwindling popularity of the big sedans it made there.

The company will now spend a total of A$500 million on Australian research and development over three years, it said in a statement. It will spend A$450 million in 2017, an increase of A$150 million compared with last year, and A$50 million over three years to upgrade design and testing facilities.

Ford's Australian design facility is one of three "key centres" capable of full vehicle development worldwide, alongside Detroit, Michigan and Cologne, Germany, spokesman Wes Sherwood told Reuters.

Ford spent $6.7 billion on research and development globally in 2015, according to its 2015 annual report, and a fortnight ago announced it would borrow $2.8 billion to spend on developing new technology.

"Ford, like the other big carmakers in the US, got caught making too big cars that were a bit outdated and they're still scrambling to catch up," said Michael Rafferty, an associate professor at the school of management at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.

Rival auto makers GM Holden and Toyota are set to follow Ford and close down their Australian production lines next year, acting on decisions taken in 2013 when the Australian dollar was above parity against the U.S. dollar, making local manufacturing expensive.
OPEC monitoring committee to meet first half of Jan -Kuwaiti oil minister

By Amina Ismail

CAIRO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - An OPEC committee responsible for monitoring compliance with a global agreement to reduce oil output will meet in the first half of January, Kuwait's oil minister said on Thursday.

"We will meet... in January with OPEC and non-OPEC countries and we will coordinate over the method in which (compliance with) the cut will be implemented," Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) in Cairo.

"I personally think that the announcements coming from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Russia are all encouraging signs that they will abide by the cut and hopefully other countries will follow suit."

Marzouq later clarified that the meeting would take place in the "beginning" or "first half" of January.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC producers on Dec. 10 reached their first deal since 2001 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices.
Japan's Abe aims to send message of U.S. alliance strength at Pearl Harbor

By Linda Sieg

TOKYO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to use next week's visit to Pearl Harbor to send a message that the alliance between former foes Japan and the United States is firm and vital in an uncertain region.

Abe's Dec. 27 visit with President Barack Obama comes 75 years after the attack that thrust the United States into World War Two - and less than four weeks before Donald Trump becomes president.

When Obama in May made a historic visit to Hiroshima, target of the world's first atomic bombing, candidate Trump tweeted, "Does President Obama ever discuss the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor while he's in Japan? Thousands of American lives lost."

Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano said "not just Abe, but the whole foreign policy community in Japan, is desperate to send a message not just to the world, but to President-elect Trump, that the U.S.-Japan alliance is strong and can only get stronger."

Before the Nov. 8 election, Trump triggered concern with comments - since denied - on Japan possibly acquiring nuclear arms, demands to pay more to host U.S. forces or risk their withdrawal, and opposition to the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact.

Abe last month became the first world leader to meet Trump after the election. Following their hastily-arranged meeting in New York, Abe called him a "trustworthy leader.

The weaker yen triggered by the billionaire property magnate's election has given Japan's economy a fillip by making exports cheaper. And Softbank Group founder Masayoshi Son has visited Trump to pledge a $50 billion investment to create U.S. jobs.

FRAYING TIES?

Still, many Americans and Japanese worry future ties will fray. A December Gallup-Yomiuri newspaper poll showed 41 percent of Japanese think relations will worsen. Forty percent in the United States agreed, both up sharply from last year.

The two nations, however, have largely put the war behind them and the alliance has tightened under Abe.

"Our position is that the war is long over and Japan and the United States are now the strongest of allies," the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States said in a statement.

In contrast, the wartime legacy still plagues Japan's relations with China and South Korea.

"If Abe is looking for a symbolic gesture, he must go to Nanjing and to Korea to see 'comfort women'," said Andrew Horvat, a visiting professor at Josai International University. He was referring to Japanese troops' 1937 massacre of civilians in Nanjing and to women forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels.

Abe will not apologise for the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 that killed more than 2,000 military personnel, a government spokesman has said, a step that would irk his conservative base. Nor did Obama apologise for the U.S. atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The Pearl Harbor visit will "express the value of reconcilation between Japan and the United States", Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said this month.
Turkey detains 31 in operation targeting Islamic State - NTV

ANKARA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Turkish authorities detained 31 people on Friday suspected of links to Islamic State, broadcaster NTV said, as clashes between Turkish soldiers and the jihadist group intensified in northern Syria.

Turkey issued arrest warrants for 41 people in Istanbul for "being members of an armed terrorist organisation", NTV said. The remaining 10 suspects could not immediately be found, and were being sought after their homes were searched.

Turkey launched a military incursion into Syria on Aug. 24 in support of Syrian rebels to try to push Islamic State away from the border area, and has frequently carried out raids on suspected jihadist safe-houses in Istanbul and other cities.

Defence Minister Fikri Isik told parliament on Thursday that 35 Turkish soldiers had been killed since the start of operation Euphrates Shield, and 1,005 Islamic State militants had been "neutralised".
West Africa regional bloc says forces "on alert" for Gambia

BAMAKO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - West Africa's regional bloc has put standby forces "on alert" in case Gambian president Yahya Jammeh does not step down when his mandate ends on Jan. 19, president of the ECOWAS commission Marcel de Souza said late on Thursday.

Jammeh has vowed to stay in power despite losing a Dec. 1 election to rival Adama Barrow. ECOWAS has previously warned him that it would take "all necessary actions" to resolve the impasse.

Regional leaders are offering Jammeh an "honourable exit" but if he does not take it then forces could be deployed, De Souza said on Malian state television during a visit to Bamako.
Slovenian business sentiment rises to highest in 8.5 years

LJUBLJANA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Slovenia's business sentiment rose further in December, standing at the highest since May 2008 for a second straight month, the national statistics office said on Friday.

It said sentiment reached 8.5 points. That was 0.5 point higher than in the previous month and 2 points higher than in December 2015, mainly on account of improved confidence in manufacturing, construction and among consumers.

Analysts said sentiment could improve further in coming months as economic prospects in other European Union members, which include Slovenia's main trading partners, remain favourable while more investment is expected in Slovenia next year due to a higher inflow of EU funds.

Export-oriented Slovenia, which narrowly avoided an international bailout for its banks in 2013, returned to growth in 2014 and the government expects the economy will expand by 2.9 percent next year from 2.3 percent seen in 2016.
Singapore police investigate event HK activist addressed

By Fathin Ungku

SINGAPORE, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Singapore police are investigating a conference that Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong addressed via Skype without a permit, police and one of the event's organisers said on Friday.

Singapore issued new public speaking rules in October to clarify that foreign companies and individuals need a permit to sponsor or take part in certain events.

The government of the multi-ethnic island is sensitive about anything that it thinks could upset social harmony.

Wong, 20, who helped organise pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2014, spoke to a "Civil Disobedience and Social Movements" conference in November, organised by a Singapore group called the Community Action Network.

Jolovan Wham of the network said although police advised him Wong needed a permit, he and other organisers went ahead anyway as they considered it a "simple discussion about the role of civil disobedience, social movements and civil society activism".

"I didn't' think there was anything wrong with going ahead with the event. It's a very harmless event, it was for a discussion, so I don't understand why it should be restricted by these regulations," Wham told Reuters.

Wham said police had questioned him for 45 minutes.

Police said they were investigating.

"Police confirm that a report has been lodged and investigations are ongoing," said a police spokesperson who declined to be identified or give further details.

The Singapore foreign ministry did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

In October, Wong was denied entry and to Thailand where he was due to give talks on democracy, and sent back to Hong Kong. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said at the time his expulsion was a matter for China, not Thailand.

He was barred from entering Malaysia in 2015.

Wong's difficulties in travelling in the region have raised concern among human rights groups about China's influence.

In Hong Kong, Wong told Reuters that the Singapore police action constituted "political censorship" and he speculated that it was a result of Chinese pressure.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the Singapore government had taken the action and questions should be referred to it.

Ties between Singapore and China have been strained in recent months, particularly after the seizure of nine of the city-state's troop carriers by Hong Kong customs on their way back from a military exercise in Taiwan.
Malta hijack ends peacefully as Gaddafi loyalists surrender

By Chris Scicluna

VALLETTA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Hijackers armed with a grenade and pistols forced an airliner to land in Malta on Friday then freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered, after declaring their loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".

The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a man told the crew he had a hand grenade.

A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.

In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party."

STANDOFF ON TARMAC

MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.

Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.

After the standoff ended peacefully, Muscat told a news conference there had been talks between Maltese authorities and the Libyan hijackers.

"We were not willing to negotiate until there was a surrender," he said. The men had been carrying a grenade and two pistols and asked for two Maltese negotiators to board the aircraft, but this was rejected.

"There has been no request for asylum by the hijackers," Muscat said.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.

The government of Malta said Prime Minister Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone.
Colombia's Congress approves tax reform in bid to raise billions

BOGOTA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Colombia's Congress have approved a tax reform bill that seeks to raise billions of dollars in the coming years to make up for lost oil revenue and preserve the Andean nation's investment grade credit rating.

Lawmakers in the lower house approved the reform by 78-14 on Thursday, while the Senate voted 46-16 in favor in the early hours of Friday morning.

The reform, expected to bolster tax revenue by 6.2 trillion pesos ($2.07 billion) in 2017, is seen as crucial to preserving Colombia's BBB investment grade credit rating and is needed to fund anti-poverty programs. The government forecasts revenue will reach 24.1 trillion pesos by 2022.

The bill will raise value-added tax to 19 percent from 16 percent, excluding basic products such as food and medications, among other changes.

"This is a reform for future governments - it's not short-term," Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas said after the Senate vote. "This will help us starting now to preserve Colombia's credit rating - that is very important for the country and the economy."

Some details of the reform will be negotiated in meetings between lawmakers from both houses next week, before President Juan Manuel Santos signs the bill into law. The reform will be applicable from Jan. 1, 2017.

In a bid to stimulate investment and create jobs, the reform will gradually lower income tax on businesses to 33 percent in 2019, down from the 43 percent currently.

The bill will also stiffen penalties against tax evasion.

Revenue from state oil company Ecopetrol and taxes and royalties from other producers have all but disappeared as the global price of crude plunged over the last year.

Without approval of the reform, tax revenue next year would reach 126.9 trillion pesos, the government has said.

Economic growth will slow to an estimated 2 percent this year, according to the government, from 3.1 percent in 2015. Next year growth is seen at 3 percent.
Defying pressure, U.S. lets U.N. denounce Israeli settlements

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday allowed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, defying heavy pressure from long-time ally Israel and President-elect Donald Trump for Washington to wield its veto.

A U.S. abstention paved the way for the 15-member council to approve the resolution, with 14 votes in favor, prompting applause in the council chamber. The action by President Barack Obama's administration follows growing U.S. frustration over the unrelenting construction of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians want for a future independent state.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has encouraged the expansion of Jewish settlements in territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbors, said in a statement.

The U.S. action just weeks before Obama ends eight years as president broke with the long-standing American approach of shielding Israel, which receives more than $3 billion in annual U.S. military aid, from such action. The United States, Russia, France, Britain and China have veto power on the council.

The resolution, put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew it under pressure from Israel and Trump, was the first adopted by the council on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.

The U.S. abstention was seen as a parting shot by Obama, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Netanyahu and whose efforts to forge a peace agreement based on a "two-state" solution of creating a Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel have proven futile.

Obama also faced pressure from U.S. lawmakers, fellow Democrats as well as Republicans, to veto the measure, and was hit with bipartisan criticism after the vote.

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, took the extraordinary step by a U.S. president-elect of personally intervening in a sensitive foreign policy matter before taking office, speaking by telephone with Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi before Egypt, another major U.S. aid recipient, dropped the resolution.

Trump wrote on Twitter after the vote, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th."

"There is one president at a time," Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, told reporters, dismissing Trump's criticism.

Outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the resolution. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on Israel to "respect international law."

But Netanyahu said, "At a time when the Security Council does nothing to stop the slaughter of half a million people in Syria, it disgracefully gangs up on the one true democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and calls the Western Wall 'occupied territory.'"

Israel for decades has pursued a policy of constructing Jewish settlements on territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbors including the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Most countries view Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and an obstacle to peace. Israel disagrees.

'NO LEGAL VALIDITY'

The resolution demanded that Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

The White House said that in the absence of any meaningful peace process, Obama made the decision to abstain. The last round of U.S.-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014. The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

"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," Rhodes said.

American U.N ambassador Samantha Power said the United States did not veto it because the resolution "reflects the facts on the ground and is consistent with U.S. policy across Republican and Democratic administrations."

Successive U.S. administrations of both parties have criticized settlement activity but have done little to slow their growth.

The Obama administration has called settlement expansion an "illegitimate" policy that has undermined chances of a peace deal.

The Security Council last adopted a resolution critical of settlements in 1979, with the United States also abstaining.

The passage of Friday's resolution changes nothing on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians and likely will be all but ignored by the incoming Trump administration.

But it was more than merely symbolic. It formally enshrined the international community's disapproval of Israeli settlement building and could spur further Palestinian moves against Israel in international forums.

PALESTINIAN SAYS U.N. MOVE 'BIG BLOW' TO ISRAEL POLICY

Trump is likely to be a more staunch supporter of Netanyahu's right-wing policies. He has picked a hardline pro-Israel ambassador and vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in what would be a major reversal of long-standing American policy.

The U.N. action was "a big blow to Israeli policy, a unanimous international condemnation of settlements and a strong support for the two-state solution," a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

"This is a day of victory for international law, a victory for civilized language and negotiation, and a total rejection of extremist forces in Israel," Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters.

Israel's U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, said he had no doubt the incoming Trump administration and Ban's successor as U.N. chief, former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres, "will usher in a new era in terms of the U.N.'s relationship with Israel."
Egyptian police arrest Al Jazeera news producer

CAIRO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Egyptian police arrested an Al Jazeera news producer on Friday over accusations of attempting to overthrow the country's government and being a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, three security sources said.

The Qatar-based broadcaster, which Egypt accuses of being a mouthpiece of the Brotherhood, said it did not know where Mahmoud Hussain was being held.

Hussain was questioned for more than 15 hours at Cairo airport on Tuesday after arriving for his annual vacation, the broadcaster said on its website. He is currently based in Doha but worked in Egypt before Al Jazeera closed its office there in 2013.

He was arrested at his Cairo home on Friday, Al Jazeera and the sources said.

Officials from the Interior Ministry were not immediately available for comment.

Egyptian authorities have over the past two years arrested several Al Jazeera reporters, raising concerns over media freedoms in the country.

In May, a Cairo court recommended the death penalty against two of them, charged in absentia with endangering national security by leaking state secrets to Qatar.

The Brotherhood is a Qatar-backed movement that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has cracked down on since an army takeover in 2013 stripped former president Mohammed Mursi - a prominent member of the group - of power following mass protests against his rule.
Syria's Assad thanks Russia for being main partner in Aleppo

BEIRUT, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday for having been Syria's main partner in the retaking of Aleppo from rebel forces, and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process.
Aleppo sees shelling, air strikes again as Assad urges peace talks

By Lisa Barrington and Angus McDowall

BEIRUT, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo and air strikes resumed around the city on Friday as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents' withdrawal from the city could pave the way towards a political solution for the country.

A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district.

The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed. State television said at least three people died.

Insurgents seeking to oust Assad have shelled government controlled areas of Aleppo throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in eastern districts rebels held until this month.

Air strikes resumed in rebel-held areas of the countryside near Aleppo on Friday for the first time since the end of the evacuation operation.

Strikes hit to the west, south-west and south of the city, areas which had not been hit for at least a week. The Britain-based Observatory had no information on casualties yet.

After months of bombardment and a final few weeks of intense air strikes and Syrian army advances on the besieged, rebel-held part of Aleppo, a local ceasefire was reached on Dec. 15 which allowed thousand of civilians and then fighters to leave.

The last left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west. The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed.

Many of those who left are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed.

On Friday, the army and its allies, including Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels, to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported.

State television showed empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes in the al-Ansari district.

DAMASCUS WATER CUT

In the capital Damascus, the water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use reserves instead after rebels polluted the water with diesel, it said on Friday.

The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley northwest of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border.

The government controls much of the surrounding territory and on Friday carried out aerial attacks and shelled the rebel-held area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A military news outlet run by Hezbollah said the rebels in the valley had refused to leave the area and the Syrian Arab Army began an offensive against them on Friday morning.

Through a series of so-called settlement agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition around the capital.

PEACE TALKS?

During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad's forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah.

On Friday, Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria's main partner in the battle, and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process.

Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution.

Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State.
British High Commissioner James Dauris said today he thinks that the majority of Sri Lankans will be looking forward to having a new Constitution in 2017, One that will help create the right framework for really good long-term community relations.

In a Christmas and New Year message, he said The majority of Sri Lankans will, I think, be looking forward to having in 2017 a new Constitution, one that will help create the right framework for really good long-term community relations. They will be keen to see more advances towards reconciliation.

As 2016 comes to an end its a good time to take a moment to reflect on some of the things that Sri Lanka and the UK have done together and achieved over the past twelve months. And as we all look forward to the start of the new year, its worth taking a moment to reflect on the opportunities and challenges 2017 will bring for our two countries, and on what will be important to us and what we would like to achieve in the months ahead, Mr. Darius said.

Highlighting the assistance given to Sri Lanka in various fields, he said, We share the welcome given by people in every community in Sri Lanka to the many positive steps taken over the year to help achieve and advance reconciliation between communities. With reconciliation will come the confidence and trust that will help to bring sustained and enduring peace and prosperity to Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans.

He said it was not only the government that had taken the lead, but Parliament, regional and local authorities, religious leaders, civil society groups of all sorts and everyday people working together to bring about good outcomes.
The Annual General Meeting of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) was held recently, and the new executive council for the year 2017 was duly elected.

Yasas Vishuddhi Abeywickrama was elected as the President, whilst W K Prabath Samindra was elected as the Vice President.

The other members of the Executive Council are Secretary- Damith Hettihewa, Assistant Secretary-Dr. Malitha Wijesundara, Treasurer-Dr. Ajantha Athukorala, Assistant Treasurer- Parakum Amaranga Pathirana, Student Counsellor- Dr. T A Samantha Thelijjagoda, Publications Secretary- Enosh Praveen, and Council Members Dr. Dayan Rajapakse, Heshan Karunaratne, Buddhika Senasekara, and Sajith Sameera.

Yasas Vishuddhi Abeywickrama , a well-known industry activist has been with CSSL Executive Council for five years before becoming the President. He also has held leadership roles with the Australian Computer Society (ACS), and is the first ever Sri Lankan to be elected to the largest international federation in the Information Technology (IT) industry, called IFIP International Federation for Information Processing. The new President thanked the outgoing President Dr. Dayan Rajapakse for his successful two year term as President, where he guided the Society strategically to a new level. Abeywickrama presented his vision under five broad thrust areas. They are Engaging and Representative, Active, Thought Leader & Knowledge Platform, Recognition and Vocal, Present & Communicate. The new council will focus strategically on these five areas by implementing various events, activities, projects and initiatives. The CSSL was established in 1976 in Sri Lanka by a group of dedicated professionals for the purpose of promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and professionalism among those engaged in this field, and to maintain the highest professional standards among the ICT professionals. CSSL has played this role for over 40 years and is the apex body for ICT professionals in Sri Lanka. It is a not-for-profit body.

The CSSL is best known in Sri Lanka for hosting the National IT Conference (NITC) which provides a platform for national and international speakers to present papers. CSSL also organizes the National Schools Software Competition (NSSC) as well as the popular IT MasterMind Television Quiz Show that is nationally televised on ITN. These activities have collectively lead to a surge in popularity for the CSSL and also for a renewed energy in driving large projects for building awareness and capacity. The CSSL also provides networking opportunities as well as workshops and seminars that are organized on a regular basis.
About 1,000 farmers today staged a protest outside the Administration Complex in Hambantota, against government plans to lease lands in the Hambantota district to a Chinese company.

The farmers carrying mamoties, ploughs and other agricultural equipment, marched towards the Administration Complex where they staged the protest.

They displayed posters claiming that they would not vacate their ancestral lands under any circumstances.

National Trade Union Centre convener K.D. Lal Kantha and MP Nihal Galappaththi also took part in the protest. (Sanath Gamage)

Pix by Sanath Gamage
The Police Chief has suspended the police news sent daily to private media institutions through emails with effect from Wednesday, a senior officer at the Police Headquarters said today.

He said the Police Chief had instructed that the daily updates be sent only to state media institutions.

He said this step had been taken after the uproar in the country resulting from his telephone conversation during a recent meeting in Ratnapura. The news was telecast on a private media channel.

Police sources said the Police Chief had also instructed his officers not to invite private media representatives to any functions held at the Police Headquarters in the future.

He is reported to have discussed this matter with several police officers including his Staff DIG Ranmal Kodithuwakku recently prior to arriving at this decision. (Indika Ramanayake)
The LOLC group company, Sagasolar Power (Private) Limited (Sagasolar), announced the opening of the first-ever utility-scale solar power plant in Sri Lanka.

The plant, based in Baruthankanda, Hambantota, has the capacity to produce 10 MW of power that will be supplied to the national grid. Sagasolar is a subsidiary of the LOLC group and is a collaboration with Faber Capital Limited.

The development of this landmark plant is in line with Sri Lankas national energy policy, which has the key focus of converting fossil fuel used in electricity generation to sustainable renewable sources. Sri Lankas renewable energy journey began with hydropower, supplemented by wind power, where this landmark project has now embarked on generation through solar power, is arguably the most abundant and sustainable energy resource available in the country.

The 10 MW solar plant is built on 45 acres of land within the energy development area declared by gazette notice 1720/5 on August 23, 2011 under the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Act. This project, the first of its kind by the private sector, is over seven times the size of the largest solar project in Sri Lanka at present, which is the 1.3MW pilot project owned and operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority, located in Hambantota.

Hambantota has one of the highest levels of annual global horizontal irradiation (GHI) in Sri Lanka. After energizing, the project will supply approximately 20 GWh, which will be sufficient to provide the annual electricity needs of approximately 15,000 typical Sri Lankan homes. The project will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power generation in the national electricity system by a margin of 11,000 tonnes per year.

The power plant was ceremoniously opened on December 21, 2016 under the patronage of Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera. The project debt is financed by a banking consortium experienced in renewable energy projects, with DFCC Bank taking the largest exposure followed by Commercial Bank and Hatton National Bank.

The project is a collaboration between the LOLC group and Faber Capital Limited, the key equity providers.

At LOLC, we believe our achievements in sustainability are more than fulfilling a responsibility or a feather in our cap; it is embedded in our business model and has made us who we are today. In the recent years, renewable energy has gained prominence in the Sri Lankan economy and the LOLC group is poised to play a key role in enhancing our commitment in environmental stewardship. We are highly excited to venture into solar power generation, first of its kind and magnitude by the private sector, reflecting our true passion for a greener tomorrow, said LOLC Group Deputy Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara. Faber Capital Limited is a boutique investment bank which specializes in the implementation and financing of renewable energy projects in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Faber Capital Managing Director Dilshan Hettiaratchi said, We are indeed honoured to be involved in the development of Sri Lankas first utility-scale solar project. Generation of energy from solar power is the next frontier in Sri Lankas energy generation journey. The country has successfully harnessed sustainable resources for generation of energy needs for over half a century.

The main resources used were hydro, with wind supplementing generation capacity over the last decade. With this exciting project, solar has also been introduced to the generation mix.

We at Faber Capital invested in this landmark project over a year ago and combined the implementation and financing elements required to complete the project. We hope this project will be a catalyst to popularize energy generation through solar power, which is arguably the most sustainable green resource available in the country.
German authorities have revealed there is a 100,000 euro (84,000) reward for information leading to his capture

Associates of terror suspect Anis Amri the man suspected to be behind the truck attack in Berlin left 12 dead and dozens injured have been arrested in Germany as elite commando units raided addresses across the country as they searched for Europes most wanted man.



Anis Amri is now the subject of an international manhunt and an European arrest warrant issued on him was said to show he used six different names under three nationalities..Four men were held in Dortmund - where Amri once lived with a hate preacher. The men have reportedly had close contact with him in recent months.



A flat was also raided in Berlin, but was empty, and a shelter for asylum seekers was searched in Emmerich, eastern Germany, where one man was questioned. Checkpoints have been set up on the border between Germany and France and police are searching vehicles.



Earlier, German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said Amri was suspected of involvement in Mondays terrorist outrage but was not necessarily the man who drove the lorry into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital.His identity papers were found under the drivers seat of the lorry, Der Spiegel said. It has now been claimed his fingerprints were on the door.

Germany, (Daily Mail, London), 22 December 2016
By Chandeepa Wettasinghe

Despite the bullish attitude of the countrys finance minister, Sri Lankas import-driven economy is unlikely to experience any respite on its external front for a significant period of time, senior economists warned recently, compounding fears over the trigger of another economic crisis.

Sri Lankas official reserves had fallen from the US $ 6.5 billion levels that existed from July through September to US $ 5.65 billion in November, while the rupee had fallen by over 2.5 percent within the same period.

A billion will go out, another billion will come in from various ways, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said last week. He was this week quoted as saying that the rupee will remain stable in 2017.

Interestingly, he accused the stooges of the former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who still hold office in the Central Bank, were sabotaging the rupee and the foreign reserves. Large outflows have been experienced not only in Sri Lanka but also in other emerging markets due to the expectations of a US Treasury rate hikewhich became a reality last weekand the general short-term positive sentiment on Donald Trumps economic plans for the US. There is nothing surprising about this because we already know that short-term foreign exchange inflows are highly volatile and highly sensitive to global market changes, Colombo University Economics Department Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne told Mirror Business.

Ratings agency Moodys this week advised a rate hike to stop outflows and attract inflows to local deposits and securities while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had also advised of a rate hikethough for separate reasons of stopping runaway credit growth.

The Central Bank has so far in 2016 increased policy rates twice50 basis points eachin February and July. Despite such, the usual lag in policy transmission has only been able to partly cut the appetite for credit.

Prof. Abeyratne said that monetary policy tightening or new bond issuances wouldnt help the country. The Central Bank has already indicated that it would again look at the raising funds through an international bond issue in 2017. Sri Lankas foreign exchange problem is not a short-term one but fundamentally a deep-rooted long-term one, so that the Central Bank has nothing to do with that, Abeyratne added. Former Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. W.A. Wijewardena also told Mirror Business that monetary policy tightening, increased remittances, loans or investments would not protect Sri Lankas foreign exchange. Foreign exchange inflows from remittances, foreign direct investments and loan proceeds have not been sufficient to flood the markets and meet the demand for dollars.

Hence, the rupee cannot escape its downward slide, he said.

Foreign outflows, coupled with the trade deficit contributed to foreign reserves falling to US $ 5.3 billion in the first half of the year, before new borrowings helped boost the figure to US $ 6.5 billion in July.

Prof. Abeyratne noted that Sri Lanka has to move towards exports instead of remittances to boost its current account and opt for investments instead of borrowings to support its capital account.

As long as the country is trapped in this vicious cycle, the exchange rate is volatile in the short run and on downward path in the long run. In the coming year too, this will continue because the problem is more fundamental and requires long-term remedies through reforms, he said.

Frontier Research CEO Amal Sanderatne during a recent forum in Colombo noted that a US $ 2 billion fall in reserves over a period of one to two years is usually followed by a crisis, with further significant devaluation in the rupee.

The Sri Lankan government is attempting to increase trade and investments, with the signing of agreements to attract billions of dollars worth of investments, as well as free trade pacts with several countries, including China.

However, Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy recently noted that improvements to the ease of doing business in the country are moving slowly.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wijewardena noted that all Sri Lankans have to reduce consumption further to conserve foreign reserves.

This is a time all Sri Lankans should appreciate the need for thrift and refrain from having unnecessary galas. This should be from the very top to the lowest levels in society, he said. He added that funds from the sale of the Hambantota port infrastructure to China wont matter unless the country becomes thrift and implements reforms.

Money to be raised from Hambantota and Mattala would evaporate into thin air unless these economic reforms are implemented promptly, Dr. Wijewardena added.

In the short term, the government will raise US $ 1.12 billion from the 80 percent sale of the Hambantota port, while long-term gains expected from it stands around nearly US $ 10 billion in investments.

The government is under pressure to improve the foreign reserves since under the terms of the US $ 1.5 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan arrangement, the net reserves are required to improve by US $ 671 million at the end of this year from US $ 5.03 billion at the start of 2016.

The gross reserves at the start of the year had been US $ 7.3 billion, courtesy of a US $ 1 billion deposited by a mystery investor.
Employees of the Hambantota Port who are now facing the possibility of mass layoffs may be recruited by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority or the new owners of the port, China Merchant Holdings, depending on qualifications, a Sri Lankan minister said this week.

Its in the agreement (for the sale of the Hambantota Port) that depending on the qualifications, they (China Merchant Holdings) might recruit, because they also need workers, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said at a media briefing.

He also added that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority may also recruit individuals that it needs from the current workforce of the Hambantota Port.

Samarawickrama stressed that there is no conspiracy to layoff the 483 employees of the Hambantota Port. We have no intention of laying them off, and neither does that company (China Merchant Holdings). The two shareholders of the port, the Ports Authority and the company will negotiate and come to an agreement, he said. However, he refused to promise that all employees of the Hambantota Port would be given new jobs at either entity.

The Chinese state-owned China Merchant Holdings is expected to sign the agreement to purchase 80 percent of the shares of the Hambantota Port from the Sri Lankan government for US$ 1.12 billion on January 7th or 8th, Samarawickrama noted.

He had also revealed that over US$ 9.5 billion in investments, expected to employ over 400,000 Sri Lankans, are expected to realise from Chinese operations in the Hambantota Port and Special Economic Zones that would crop up around the region in the future.

The current employees of the port are working under the Magampura Port Management Company, which is a fully-owned subsidiary of SLPA, and had halted work and protested for over one week demanding that they be absorbed into the cadre of the SLPA.

The protests were also marked by the Sri Lanka Navy assaulting a journalist, which Samarawickrama refused to comment upon, and said that justice would work its course if the journalist has filed a complaint.
By Haadiyah Marikar

Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore in the mouth that doesnt go away and can be life-threatening if not treated in its early stages.



According to Assistant Secretary of the Sri Lanka Dental Association Dr. Vipula Wickramasinghe, oral cancer is the most common type of cancer found among Sri Lankan males.  Among females its the 6th most common type. The main cause for this is chewing betel with arecanut and smoking tobacco. Other types of substances which people chew such as beeda and babul, commonly seen in highly populated areas in Colombo, can also cause oral cancer. Drinking alcohol is also one of the main causes, when people both drink and chew betel it aggravates their chances of getting oral cancer. There are also unknown factors that could cause this type of cancer, which are accountable to genetics. Although not seen in Sri Lanka, exposure to UV radiation can also be a cause Dr. Wickramasinghe said.



He also said it mainly affected the middle-income group. It is seen mainly in people over 40 and is a common cancer among the middle-aged.



Speaking of the awareness programmes and prevention methods conducted, Dr. Wickamasinghe said, There is a separate institution called the National Cancer Control Programme in Sri Lanka. Since oral cancer is the most common cancer in Sri Lanka, they have conducted many programmes in order to mitigate it, one being opportunistic screening, where doctors or health professionals go to certain areas and screen people for other illnesses but in which you can see the scores for oral cancer.

The most important factor is detecting oral cancer in its early stages, which is the target of this programme. If identified in its early stages, it can be cured simply, or the condition can be reversed by preventing the habits that cause and aggravate it. Secondly, theres a model called the risk factor model. All dental surgeons in the country have been educated and trained to screen patients according to it. Through this, patients are screened and redirected to the appropriate specialized unit. According to the scores the model gives, patients are redirected to specialized units. Thirdly, we are conducting a programme to change the ingredients in the bulath heppuwa. Betel is a traditional leaf in our country and we cannot expect people to stop taking betel altogether. Thus keeping the bulath heppuwa in mind, we are conducting a programme to replace harmful substances such as arecanut and tobacco. A cancer register has also been introduced, where if a cancer is found anywhere, it has to be registered. Through banners and leaflets, we conduct awareness programmes in order to identify oral cancers in their early stages by doing a self-mouth examination. To conduct such an examination one must open their mouth before a mirror, wipe it with their finger and look for any abnormal colour change or any abnormal growth or longstanding wounds. School programmes are being conducted to make students aware of oral cancer, mainly to prevent them from taking tobacco and arecanut.



We have expanded our services for cancer detection and early cancer treatment as well as late stage cancer treatment such as radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy, in surgery care institutions.We are in the process of making legislative changes on the importing of arecanut to Sri Lanka, because most of it is imported from Pakistan and other South Asian countries, the expert opined.



Dr. Wickramasinghe further advised, If a person is a betel chewer, they must stop as soon as possible. If you cannot stop at once, it needs to trail off because betel chewing with arecanut is the main cause for oral cancer in Sri Lanka.



Secondly, conduct self-mouth examinations and if you see any abnormalities in your mouth go to a hospital and consult a dental surgeon, as it must be detected in its early stages. Thirdly, maintain proper hygiene by brushing twice a day with proper toothpaste. Finally, visit the dentist once in six months.
NEW DELHI AFP Dec22, 2016-According to the Walk Free Foundations 2014 Global Slavery Index, more than 14 million adults and children are trapped in modern slavery in India, the most of any country.



Indias official statistics grossly underestimate the crime with only 5,466 cases of human trafficking reported in 2014. Indian police said on Thursday they had rescued 70 victims of human trafficking, including 33 children, in a restive and impoverished region of central India. The victims, who had been sold to factories and brick kilns, were being transported on a bus when police intercepted the vehicle following a tip-off from anti-trafficking campaigners in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state on Wednesday. We have rescued 20 minor boys and 13 girls. Rest of them are adults and were sold as bonded labourers, Bastar child protection officer Vijay Shankar Sharma told AFP.



Police also arrested a five-member gang on trafficking charges.



All the victims are from tribes in resource-rich Bastar and adjoining districts.
President Vladimir Putin looked sorrowful as he attended a farewell ceremony for Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov (Daily Mail)

MOSCOW REUTERS Dec 22-Russia staged a sombre funeral ceremony on Thursday for Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey who was shot dead in Ankara by a man who shouted Allahu Akbar and Dont forget Aleppo.



President Vladimir Putin, who promised retribution after Karlov, 62, was killed on Monday, was among mourners, including relatives and fellow diplomats, who gathered at the Foreign Ministry building where the slain envoys body lay in an open casket in Russian Orthodox tradition.



Russia and Turkey say the assassination was a failed attempt to derail a rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara which has seen them co-operate more closely over Syria, even though they have backed different sides in the conflict.
By Tilakaratne Dissanayake

Randeniya Internatinal (Pvt.) Ltd received the award for Best Entrepreneur 2016 in the Western Province recently.

A leading manufacturer of white coconut oil, Randeniya International at present exports its products to 36 countries including Germany, Australia, the UK, Switzerland and Ireland bringing a colossal income of foreign exchange to the country. Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce said Randenya International (Pvt.) Ltd was adjudged the Best Entrepreneur 2016 in the Western Province for its status in the foreign market, environmental friendliness, productivity, employment opportunities and community services.

Company Director Nipun Randeniya received the award from Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce Chairman Tialak Godamanna was present at the occasion. Company Managing Director Noel Randeniya told the media that white coconut oil is manufactured with coconuts cultivated with organic fertilizer. He said he started the old white coconut oil industry in 1999 and now it has gained international recognition.
On 14 November the Human Rights Committee heard a case by an alleged torture victim, Roy Manojkumar Samathanam, against Sri Lanka, which dealt with the alleged ill-treatment and torture of Roy by officers from the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) while in detention.

Roy agreed to talk to the dailymirror  in an exclusive interview to a Sri Lankan newspaper. In reading the following article it is imperative that International Law has to be kept in mind so that the due process of law is upheld. In ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), under which the story below has been judged, Sri Lanka has accepted its authority.

By becoming a party to the Optional Protocol, the State party has recognized the competence of the Committee to determine whether there has been a violation of the Covenant and that, pursuant to article 2 of the Covenant, the State party has undertaken to ensure for all individuals within its territory or subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the Covenant and to provide an effective and enforceable remedy when a violation has been established.

However, what follows are still only the views of the Human Rights Committee, arrived at in the absence of response from the State Party. The Committee is merely a group of independent experts who monitor Human Rights and is not a judicial body. In light of the judgement of Nallaratnam Singarasa v. Attorney General (2006), this is not a case that has been heard within the domestic jurisdiction of Sri Lanka, by domestic courts, which have delivered a binding judgement on the parties.

Irrespective of the decision in that case, innocence until guilt is proven in a court of law with the views of both parties heard, is a resounding principle that has to be kept in mind, irrespective of the horrific nature of events described below and the purpose of this article is not to carry out functions of the judiciary.

This is Roys story.



15 Minutes

Roy Manojkumar Samathanam was born in Colombo but he went to Canada in 1990. In 2005, he returned to Sri Lanka to get married. His wife got pregnant so he planned to stay and go back to Canada with his wife and child after getting their visas.

From time to time, Roy would assist a friend to import goods for the friends shop. In September 2007, his friend imported 600 mobile phones to Sri Lanka, via Singapore, that Roy had to go to the Customs to collect and bring back to his house, for his friend to pick up the next day. On 14 September 2007 at 3.30 am around 15 officers of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) arrived at his home, and asked to inspect the boxes. I told them that they were phones that belonged to my friend. The officers had then told him that this was illegal due to the GPS capabilities. They had informed him and his wife and that he was to be taken to the TID Headquarters for questioning and that he would be dropped back in 15 minutes.

From that point onwards until 2010 Roy alleges to have been tortured at the hands of certain officers of the TID, charged under false accusations under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, not afforded a lawyer, not given medical attention and coerced to sign a confession to the crimes he was accused of.

Post-Apocalypse

He had returned to Canada in 2010 and had wanted to file a case there itself but hadnt been able to since those I was accusing were still in office. Therefore he had filed it in Geneva.

I did this, as much as for me, for those who were still being tortured since there has to be justice for them too. The Sinhalese who were imprisoned there were called Sinhala kotiyo. I was made to watch many of these tortures.I want justice. On occasion I have seen the TID assault people to extort money out of them only to release them the next day. The officers would get drunk at about 11.30 in the night and start assaulting prisoners till about 3.00 in the morning. In October 2007, UN Special Rapporteur Nowak visited the TID detention centre. However before he came the place was painted and the prisoner were given long sleeve shirts to wear.

However, on another occasion he came unannounced and with a camera which he used to document the state of affairs and has published a report on the situation. I saw all this since I was taken to translate from Sinhala to Tamil in some of these instances. People were so fed up that they would plead guilty to anything. These officers allegedly violate their own laws.

I want a response from the Sri Lankan Government. I want the Canadian Government to follow this up since I know the Sri Lankan Government will not do anything irrespective of what Geneva says. I might even file criminal cases here on in the USA since the present Government is not doing anything.

Roys story has been corroborated with official documents, including his testimony to the House of Commons of Canada, his complaint to the Human Rights Committee and its subsequent views. Excerpts from them follow.



The Writing On The Wall

During that period, I was handcuffed in the daytime, and at night I slept over the table or - Extracted from House of Commons, Canada, 41st Parliament, 1st Session, Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, Thursday, November 17, 2011. - downstairs, down on the floor. When they arrested me, they first punched me, and then later on, they didnt do anything. After about a week, they again said that I had to write a confession. They said that I had to confess that I was an LTTE member from Canada. They said that they knew there were a lot of LTTE people, Tamils, in Canada and that the Canadian government was helping the LTTE. They told me to say all of that and to write a confession in my native language of Tamil and sign it, and that they would then take it to court and release me. I told them that I was not going to do that. After about six months, they came during the night, about 15 officers from the terrorist investigation division and army intelligence. They started to beat me up. They kept on assaulting me for about 10 minutes and then left. Then the next day, the ICRC came in, and I complained to the ICRC about it.

In late July 2008, Mr. Samathanam was temporarily taken back to the TID Facility - Extracted from Individual Communication Concerning The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 13 November 2013.and headquarters in Colombo, where he was again handcuffed to...desk in Unit 2. There, Mr. Samathanam was interrogated. He was pressurised to confess to being a member of the LTTEs International Intelligence Wing. There was a point where Mr. Samathanam to acquiesce to their demands. After an hour of interrogation, Mr. Samathanam hand-wrote in Tamil a statement that...read aloud to him from his notebook, which stated that Mr. Samathanam had imported an illegal GPS device for the LTTE. Though he was taken to see the detention centres Junior Medical Officer on two occasions in late July and early August, Mr. Samathanam believes this was done in an attempt to show that his confession was not coerced. Mr. Samathanam was then sent back to Boosa.

The introduction given to this story must be qualified with the following:

Lack of cooperation from the State party Extracted from CCPR/C/118/D/2412/2014;Human Rights Committee; Views adopted by the Committee under article 5(4) of the Optional Protocol, concerning communication No.2412/2014*, **.

4.1 By notes verbales of 4 June 2014 and 22 February 2015, the State party was requested to submit information to the Committee on the admissibility and merits of the communication. On 27 August 2014, the State party informed the Committee that it was unable to provide the information requested, owing to its Supreme Courts judgment in the case of Nallaratnam Singarasa v. Attorney General of 15 September 2006, in which the Supreme Court stated that the Government of Sri Lanka by acceding to the Optional Protocol had violated the provisions of the Constitution; and that only courts and tribunals set up under the Constitution could vindicate the rights of the people of Sri Lanka.

The State party stated that it was imperative that it respected the judgments of its domestic courts. On 21 May 2015, the State party informed the Committee that following the Presidential election of 8 January 2015, its authorities initiated a process of consultations, taking into account the views of the Committee and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the possibilities to review the Supreme Courts decision mentioned above; and that a response pertaining to the communication would be submitted following this process.

4.2 By notes verbales of 15 June 2015, 22 December 2015 and 23 May 2016, the State party was again requested to submit information to the Committee on the admissibility and merits of the communication. The Committee notes that this information has not been received and that the State party has not provided any information as to the process of consultations mentioned in its note verbale of 21 May 2015. The Committee regrets the State partys failure to provide any information with regard to admissibility or the substance of the authors claims. It recalls that article 4(2) of the Optional Protocol obliges States parties to examine in good faith all allegations brought against them, and to make available to the Committee all information at their disposal.

In the absence of a reply from the State party, due weight must be given to the authors allegations, to the extent that they are substantiated. -

As such the the Committee has requested from Sri Lanka, information about the measures taken to give effect to the Committees Views within 180 days.

The State party is also requested to publish the present Views and disseminate them widely in the official languages of the State party



Need for Public Initiative

Dailymirror spoke to Dr Dinesha Samararatne who is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public and International Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo to get a legal analysis of the effects that these views will have on Sri Lanka. Human Right treaties, unlike bilateral treaties deal with how States should treat their own people. There is also no strict enforcement of them. The only body to do this internationally is the Security Council. Therefore even though States enter into Human Right treaties the enforcement of them is extremely limited.

The Optional Protocol of the ICCPR monitors Human Rights at a domestic level and declares if certain rights are violated. It then recommends a course of action to the State in question. If there is no report forthcoming all they can do is to constantly ask for one. Currently there are about 16-20 petitions of this nature where violations have been found. However no steps have been taken to date.

It must be kept in mind that the Committee is not a judicial body. Judicial functions are not functions of a treaty body since all this is based on voluntary ratifications allowing citizens to claim if rights have been violated. All the Committee does is to look at the evidence and make a finding.

In the Singarasa case it was held that Sovereignty was with the people and therefore judicial power could only be administered by judicial courts. This eliminates any view from the Committee because the learned bench interpreted the Human Rights Committee as a judicial body. Therefore this allows the Sri Lankan Government to say that submissions to the Committee cannot be made. This is the State consciously not going before it. The Government hasnt withdrawn from the Committee either and in 2006 and 2008 it bent over backwards and told the international community that the ICCPR would be respected. When the President asked the Supreme Court he was informed that most rights in the ICCPR were guaranteed domestically.

What has emerged from this confusion is that successive Governments are saying that they will respect rights but when it comes to individual cases they say they cant. Politically there are two standards. No cases have followed Singarasa though. For instance in CTC v Minister of Health it was held that the NATA Act would be interpreted in light of the relevant international treaty and in furtherance of international obligations.

Although all domestic remedies have to be exhausted in order to appear before the Committee the Committee itself has broadened this requirement to include effective remedies.

If we do not respond to these allegations it may become a problem in getting GSP+ since the EU wants ICCPR recommendations to be given its due respect. There are several ways Sri Lanka can handle this. We can see if the Supreme Court will re-examine a previous decision however difficult that may be. The AG can order an internal inquiry and file an indictment under the Torture Act. But in practice Sri Lanka can still disregard it. This is what we did last year. Postpone and buy time. However since the Claimant is from Canada the Government of Canada may exert political pressure.

Therefore it is up to civil society to take these issues up and strengthen the legislative process.

dailymirror also spoke to the Ministry of Justice regarding this matter but was informed that the matter was not one relating to the Ministry. The Foreign Affairs Ministry declined to comment on the issue stating that investigation on it had to be done before any comment could be given. However, when contacted previously by dailymirror,

the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the incident should be examined by the authorities, such as the Justice Ministry and the Attorney Generals Department.

Roy currently lives in Toronto with his family. He is unable to work due to PTSD.
(Daily Mail, London), 22 December 2016 - Saddam Husseins daughter has praised Donald Trump for his high level of political sensibility and his opposition to the war in Iraq. The 48-year-old, who now lives in Jordan after fleeing Iraq in 2003, also welcomed the President-elects opposition to the Iraq war. She said: He exposed the mistakes of the others, specifically in terms of Iraq, which means he is very aware of the mistakes made in Iraq and what happened to my father. Raghad said she blames the US for the chaos that still blighting Iraq, hopes that President-elect Donald Trump will be different from his predecessors, including then-president George W. Bush.Bush claimed that Saddams execution in December 2006 would not have been possible without the Iraqi peoples determination to create a society governed by the rule of law.



However, following his death, Iraq descended into an decade of sectarianism and violence.
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

December 28, 1956 remains a red letter day in the cinematic history of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). The maiden feature film of 37-year-old director Lester James Peries premiered at the upmarket Regal theatre in Colombo on that day. It was a black and white Sinhala film named Rekava. Though Rekava is spelt in English with both a V as well as a W, I am sticking to V because the original title shown in the film spelled it that way.



The film was hailed as a turning point in the decade-long evolving history of Sinhala cinema that began with the screening of the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa (Broken promise) on January 21, 1947. Veteran journalist Mervyn de Silva, writing about Rekava after the premiere, described it as the birth of Sinhala cinema.



The films Sinhala title Rekava was translated into English as the Line of Destiny when it was screened at the prestigious Festival De Cannes in 1957. It was most appropriate as Rekava was a landmark achievement that altered the destiny of Sinhala cinema.



This column intends focusing on the film to mark the 60th anniversary of Rekavas first screening on that fateful day. Most of the facts that I rely upon on this narrative are from the horses mouth itself via interviews given by Lester James Peries appearing in different books and journals. I, myself, have utilised these in some of my earlier writings and would now do the same for this article.



The renowned journalist, critic and writer Regi Siriwardena who was later associated with Lester in writing scripts for films like Gamperaliya, Delovak Athara and Golu Hadawatha was exhilarated after seeing it. He called it an event of tremendous importance in an excellent review written by him in the Sunday Observer. The following excerpt from that review sums up aptly the significance of the film -- And so, in the very first few moments of Rekava, you realise you are in an entirely different world from that of the Sinhalese film up to now. We are no longer watching preposterous puppets animated by synthetic emotions; this is life itself What Lester Peries has done is to tear down the artificial barriers that the Sinhalese film industry had erected between the screen and the real life of our own people.



Regi and Mervyn and many others who praised Rekava were impressed by the fact that the film dispensed with the melodramatic hallmarks prevalent in Sinhala movies since the pioneering Kadawuna Porunthuwa or Broken Promise made in 1947. The making of Sinhala films was heavily influenced by Hindi and Tamil films made in India which were derisively described as Masala movies or formula films. Rekava was, in that sense, a departure which contrasted sharply with the usual Sinhala films. Rekava belonged to the realist cinema category.



The actors and actresses in Rekava appeared on screen as real people whom one meets daily. They spoke simply and in a natural way, without stylised diction or expansive gestures. There were many shots where they did not speak at all with their expressions conveying emotions through the eloquence of silence. The greater part of the story was related not by words and songs alone but to a very great extent by a number of images and scenes with minimal dialogue.



Another remarkable aspect of Rekava was that it was shot entirely on location outside a studio. Until then, movies were mostly filmed in studios in India and Sri Lanka, in artificially-constructed sets. Also, a few of the filmy stories took place in a rural area. Lester changed all that by basing the films tale in a rural village. More importantly, he filmed the village-based story in real village surroundings with cameraman Willie Blake. Most outdoor scenes in Rekava were shot in natural light.



From Rekava (1956) to Amma Waruney (2006)

With the advent of Rekava in 1956, newcomer Lester James Peries made his mark. Subsequently, with other masterpieces like Gamperaliya (Village upheaval) and Nidhanaya (The treasure), Lester has become a national icon identified with the sphere of Sri Lankan cinema over the years. Lester James Peries is acknowledgedly the pioneer of authentic Sinhala cinema. It was he who created in every sense of the term an indigenous cinema in both substance and style. It was also he who first gained worldwide recognition for Sinhala cinema.



In a film-making career spanning more than five decades, Lester has made 20 feature films inclusive of Pinhamy in 1980. His final feature was Amma Waruney or an Elegy to a mother (released in 2006). Lester has also made eleven short films - most of them in documentary mode. The first of them was Soliloquy made in 1949 and the last Kandy Perahera filmed in 1973. The greatness of Lester James Peries however cannot be measured by the quantity of his output. It is the qualitative nature of his films that elevated him to commendable heights.



Lester James Peries was born on April 5, 1919 in Dehiwela to Catholic parents from an affluent westernised background. His parents wanted him to become a lawyer or doctor while his teachers wanted him to be a Catholic priest. Lester however wanted to study literature and began writing stories, poems and plays from his student days. He was also an incurable film buff. Lester dropped out of school at the age of seventeen and became a journalist. He worked at the Daily News and later at Times of Ceylon. Lester also reviewed books for Radio Ceylon. It was then that he began dabbling in drama by joining the theatre group Drama circle. It is said that the legendary Lionel Wendt realised Lesters creative potential and advised his parents to allow him to do whatever he wanted.



Lester went to London in 1947 to join his brother Ivan, a reputed painter. The brothers lived together for some years and apparently led a bohemian way of life. Lester wrote a column from Britain for the Times of Ceylon in Colombo, then edited by Frank Moraes (it was titled Letters on the Arts from England). While working as correspondent of Times of Ceylon, Lester also engaged himself in making short films and documentaries. Short film Soliloquy, made in 1949, won an award for artistic and technical merit from the Institute of Amateur and Research Filmmakers of Great Britain in 1951. He also produced another award winner Farewell to Childhood. It was based on a short story he had written when in Sri Lanka but on film he adapted it to English surroundings.



It was the eminent documentary filmmaker Ralph Keene who was instrumental in persuading Lester to return home. You should make films in your own country, about your own people, Ralph told him. Keene himself went to Colombo and invited Lester to join him. After spending several years in London working as a journalist for the Times, Lester returned home and began work at the Government film Unit (GFU) for one-fourth the salary he got in Britain. However, four years at GFU dampened his spirits as Lester felt rather stultified, presumably due to internal politics in office. Besides, the creative impulse in him wanted to make a fictional feature film. There was also this growing disdain for the melodramatic Sinhala films being churned out and the idealistic ambition of making a realistic Sinhala film.



It was at this juncture that destiny played a hand in the form of kinsman Christopher Peries, a successful businessman. Christopher made Lester an offer he could not refuse. Lester was told that a group of entrepreneurs and professionals wanted to form a company and produce a Sinhala feature film. Lester was requested to quit GFU and come on board where he would be given a free hand. Lester would produce and direct the film. The script was to be of his choice. He could select the cast and crew. The company would purchase state of the art equipment. It was also guaranteed that the company would produce at least two films.



Cinematographer Willie Blake and Editor Titus Thotawatte

Lester James Peries mulled over it and decided to grasp the offer. This was the opportunity he was waiting for. Two of his colleagues also opted to quit GFU and team up with Lester. One was the cinematographer William (Willie) Blake, and the other Editor Titus de Silva who was later known as Titus Thotawatte. The trio embarked on the challenging venture fired by the vision of making an authentic and realistic Sinhala film.



The production company was duly formed and named Chitra Lanka. The Chairman was wealthy tycoon Sarath Wijesinghe (uncle of Upali Wijewardene). Besides Christopher Peries, the others on the Board of Directors were eminent Lawyers George Chitty QC, H.W. Jayawardene QC (the younger brother of J.R. Jayawardene), cartoonist Aubrey Collette and Douglas Fernando (an insurance entrepreneur). The only hitch was that the initial offer of making two films had been downsized to one. It was stipulated that the second would be made if the first was a success.



The company got down to work. Several potential stories and scripts were perused including a synopsis of the historical novel Rohini by Martin Wickremasinghe. Lester however resolved that his venture would have a contemporary theme set in a rural environment. Three film factors deeply influenced and motivated Lester in this yearning to make a realistic film amidst a rural setting.

Firstly there was the semi-fictional documentary Nelungama made by Lesters boss at the GFU Ralph Keene. Lester had co-written the script and the dialogues for it. While filming, Lester was exposed to village life and longed to make a film in a rural environment. Secondly was the impact of Italian neo-realistic cinema, particularly the films of Vittorio de Sica, Luchino Visconti and Roberto Rossellini. Thirdly was the film Do Bigha Zameen (Two acres of land) by Indian Director Bimal Roy that brought rural life to the screen in a realistic manner.



Interestingly, Lester was not influenced by his great Indian contemporary Satyajit Ray when he made Rekava. Actually Lester had not seen Rays pioneering Pather Panchali at the time he made Rekava. Indias greatest filmmaker Satyajit Ray had burst upon the global film scene before Lester James Peries. Rays Pather Panchali was made in 1955 and Aparajito in 1956. Since Lesters Rekava was released in late 1956, many reviewers wrongly assumed that Ray had inspired Peries. Satyajit Ray himself considered Lester to be of the same mould as him and once referred to the Sri Lankan director as his closest relative East of the Suez. In spite of the creative affinity between the two, Peries was not influenced by Ray when he made his first film.



Regi Siriwardena once told me in an interview that Lester had not seen Pathar Panchali or Aparajito when he first made Rekava. Regi, who has worked as scriptwriter with Peries on some films, told this writer that the first Ray film viewed by Lester was Aparajito and that too was only after Rekava was made. It is a classic instance of two great Asian directors being of the same creative wavelength and proceeding on a parallel course independent of each other, Siriwardena said.



After much pondering, Lester decided he himself must write the story and script for his first feature and not rely on an outside contributor. He wrote the story which was a simple narrative tinged with elements of a fairytale or fable. Lester wrote the script himself, aided by K.A.W. Perera who later became a successful director in his own right making films like Kapatikama, Lasanda and Bicycle Hora. There was however much improvisation as shooting went on with new lines and words of colloquial usage being introduced. Veteran actor D.R. Nanayakkara helped to add colloquial words in vogue.



Siriyala - Where Superstition Reigns Supreme

The story of Rekava takes place in a rural village (named in the movie as Siriyala), where superstition reigns supreme. The narrative in essence is about two childhood friends  a boy Sena and a girl Anula. A stilt-walker cum soothsayer reads Senas palm and predicts he would become a great healer. Later, Anula loses her sight by an accident and even the Vedamahathaya (native physician) finds it unable to cure her. Anula however believes Sena could cure her by touching her eyes. She regains her sight later and is convinced it was due to Senas healing powers.



The story of Senas healing spreads, and the boys father, together with a money lender, exploit this by promoting the sons powers in a bid to make money. When a wealthy landowners son is brought for healing, Sena is unable to cure him and the boy dies. The village begins to turn against Sena. The monsoon rains fail and a drought sets in causing hardship and misery. The suffering villagers start believing that Sena is possessed by a devil and is bringing bad luck to the village.



A thovil ceremony to exorcise the boy is held but the devil dancers fail to detect any evil spirits in the boy. The mass mood turns ugly and at one point, the landowner even tries to strangle and kill Sena. And then it begins to rain! As the torrential life-giving rain pours down, the evil hopeless mood of the people transforms into that of hope and happiness. Peace descends on Siriyala.



The cast for Rekava was handpicked by Lester. When Lester was living in Moratuwa, near the Lunawa lagoon, he had a black Morris Minor. There used to be a little boy from the neighbourhood who used to come and stare wide-eyed at the car. Lester then used to think that the boy with expressive eyes would look good in a film. So when Rekava began, it was that boy Somapala Dharmapriya who was picked to play Sena. Somapala had large, dark eyes filled with the wonder of childhood, observes Lester. The girl Anula was played by Myrtle Fernando. She had already acted in the Sinhala film Ahankara Sthriya. The boy was a fresher. The children were given their dialogues, and rehearsals were done for about two weeks in a classroom at Lesters Alma Mater St. Peters College, Bambalapitiya. However, the boy found it difficult to memorise the lines while rehearsing, but proved to be a natural actor in front of the camera. Lesters way of directing children was different. Instead of imposing anything, he would leave it to the kids themselves to act as they wished, intervening to correct only when absolutely necessary.



The role of the mother Kathrina was acted by Iranganie Serasinghe nee Meedeniya. Her husband in the film Kumetheris was played by her spouse in real life Winston Serasinghe. As is well-known, both Iranganie and Winston were from the elite English theatre, though they have acted in many Sinhala films. Sinhala stage actors of the time like D.R. Nanayakkara, N.R. Dias and Romulus de Silva played the parts of Sooty, Podi Mahathaya and the village headman respectively. The versatile Sesha Palihakkara acted as Miguel, the stilt-walker. The young couple Premawathie and Nimal was played by Mallika Pilapitiya and Ananda Weerakoon who did not act in films afterwards. Sadly, the kids playing Sena and Anula are no more as they both died of cancer sometime later.



In keeping with the assurances given to Lester, the company did let him purchase modern equipment. While in London, Lester had seen Carol Reed use the new Arriflex camera for location shooting in his film A kid for two farthings. So Lester procured the blimped, 400ft magazine Arriflex model from Germany. This was the first such camera to be used anywhere in Asia at that time. Lester also bought an RCA Kinevox magnetic sound recorder from the USA. This was the second of its kind to be used in Sri Lanka; the first was used by the GFU.



Shoot The Film Outdoors On Location

Lester wanted to skip studios and shoot the film outdoors on location. To be really authentic, he wanted to film it in an actual rural village. This yearning to some extent had a personal dimension. Lester was from a privileged Westernised background. He was a Roman Catholic brought up in an urban atmosphere. He was more at home speaking in English rather than in Sinhala. Lester knew very little of Sri Lankas villages and village life when he began making films. The decision to go to a village and shoot there was a manifestation of the deep-rooted desire to experience the village personally. While shooting the documentary Nelungama in Mirigama, Lester had begun to discover his roots and become appreciative of the islands cultural heritage - something his upper-middle class anglicised existence had restricted earlier. In later life, some critics pointed out that his distance from the social and cultural milieu in which his films were rooted was a disadvantage. But Lester compensated for this purported deficiency by infusing his creations with a tremendous amount of empathy. As Lester himself stated, In film, the visual language is more important than the verbal. A filmmaker must master the language and syntax of the film. What is most necessary for a filmmaker is empathy, the ability to empathise with his subject.



Thus began the shooting of Rekava on location. There were two locations for the film, one in the hill country at Bandarawela and the other in the low country at Wewala. Since this was Lesters first attempt in making a feature and because the concept of location shooting was something novel, the film-making became a trial and error exercise. The experience of making the path breaking film, its release and aftermath would be related in a forthcoming article.



NEXT: From Bandarawela via Wewala to Cannes

D.B.S. Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com
A fundraising campaign for a man whose wife, son and mother-in-law perished in a fire yesterday has amassed thousands of dollars within 12 hours, the New Zealand Herald reported today.

Prominent refugee advocate Kaileshan Thanabalasingham was in a critical condition after a South Auckland fire claimed three generations from his family. His 5-year-old son, 39-year-old wife and her 66-year-old mother died in the fire at the Plantation Ave home in Flat Bush.

His 11-year-old daughter and father-in-law managed to get out of the blaze and have now been discharged from Middlemore Hospital.

A Givealittle page has raised more than $45,000 since it was set up after the tragedy.

Barrister Deborah Manning said Kaileshan Thanabalasingham had worked tirelessly for other people since he came to New Zealand as a refugee more than 10 years ago.

"He's got a great empathy for others. He didn't come to New Zealand to look after himself. He made sure he looked after as many people as he could.

"Everybody is just in a state of shock and stress and utter sadness for the loss of his beautiful wife and son."

Thanabalasingham is an executive officer of the Refugee Council of New Zealand and has dedicated his life in this country to helping the most vulnerable new citizens.

He is now recovering from hours of surgery in the hospital's intensive care unit after suffering burns to 40 per cent of his body.

Manning was "utterly shocked and devastated" when she found out what had happened to her friend and colleague. She rushed to the hospital to assist. He was in theatre at the time but Manning will go back today to support Thanabalasingham.

"It's an absolute tragedy for Kailesh and his family. He is really an exceptional person."

The Refugees as Survivors New Zealand members behind the fundraising page say Thanabalasingham's daughter and father-in-law have been left badly shocked by the ordeal.

"Refugees as Survivors New Zealand are involved because we respect and admire Kailesh for his work with asylum seekers and refugees in the community. If anyone was in trouble, day or night, he would help them.

"The least we can do is to help him in his hour of need."

The group says their badly injured friend and advocate now faces huge expenses including funeral, medical and practical costs.

As a sign of their love for him they were reaching out to the community to help a man who had given so much to others.

With the total quickly surging into the tens of thousands by mid-morning the group said it was heartened and thankful for everyone's generous support.

Family friend Sivaram Anandasivam said Thanabalasingham was a pillar of the Sri Lankan and wider ethnic communities and the news of the tragedy had stunned everyone.

"We are all very upset. Everyone is gathering at the hospital hoping for the best, said Anandasivam.

The injured father-in-law and his wife who died in the blaze were Canadian citizens.

Extended family was flying from Canada to New Zealand to support those who had survived the tragedy.

Refugee Council of New Zealand vice president Colin Henry had heard about the fire but didn't realize Thanabalasingham was involved until the media called at midday yesterday.

Henry said he was "at a loss for word. It is horrible for anyone, but when you know the person it has a particularly profound impact."

Henry said Thanabalasingham was deeply passionate about refugee rights. "He pretty much ran the administrative side of the council and ensured everything was shipshape."

Some of his notable work included successfully advocating for the increase of the refugee quota from 750 to 1000, which will take effect from 2018.

He also pushed for permission for more than one person in a family of asylum seekers to obtain a work permit while waiting for the determination of their refugee application. Previously only one family member was allowed a work permit.

Henry said the family was going to need a lot of support to help them through this tragedy. "The Sri Lankan community are rallying around and providing the immediate housing needs of the daughter."

It emerged Thanabalasingham's daughter bravely escaped the blaze to tell firefighters people were trapped inside.

Police said they were continuing a scene examination of the home and the deaths would be referred to the coroner. They do not believe the fire was suspicious, but the cause was still unknown. The Fire Service is investigating.
Last year it was a bra this year it is a tree; Sri Lanka apparently likes to finish the year off with a controversial bang. This year, the proposed Worlds Tallest Christmas Tree at Galle Face has managed to stir up quite a debate, a result that seems to plague recent projects on this stretch of beach.



The project started in August under the auspices of the Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga in an effort publicised as creating the Worlds Tallest Artificial Christmas Tree, a record which is currently held by GZ Think Big Culture Communication Co.,Ltd. (China), in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China for a tree of 180 feet. The cone-shaped skeleton is to be covered with a green mesh and inundated with an estimated one million pine cones. Its height; 320 feet. Keeping aside all the fame in 2004, Pope John Paul called the Christmas tree a symbol of Christ, exalting the value of life, and it reminds Christians of the tree of life of Genesis 2:9, an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity.



The attempt however came under heavy fire, notably from the Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo who called it a wasteful expenditure. However after both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance met with the Cardinal to discuss the matter, the project seems to have got the festively appropriate green light.



Irrespective of any blessings the project has received, the proposal has presented two issues. The general commercialisation of Christmas which has been an ongoing concern of a portion of society and the use of 12 million for a Christmas tree Guinness World Record.



The Project Chairman Mangala Gunasekara said he was hoping to finish the tree by Christmas Eve (today). Rs.1.10 million has been used up of the total budget of 12 million. When asked about how the project was being funded, Gunasekara said most of the funding was via the various raw material itself, with Multilac sponsoring the paint and SR Metals sponsoring the metal needed. The wood we used was that which was being discarded so we were able to purchase it for an extremely cheap amount. This was the case with most of the material we had to pay for.



The pine cones for example were bought from an impoverished village in Nuwara Eliya, so we were able to help the community as well through this process. When quizzed about the donors of the funding, Gunasekara responded that the full list of donors would be read out when the tree was to be unveiled. Mobitel was going to give us Rs.4.5 million for this project but this didnt happen when the project was put on hold, so we had to go behind people begging for money. The raw material used for this however will not be used again once the tree is taken down after being up for the planned 13 days, Gunasekara added.



With regards to the Guinness World Record aspect of the project, he said the report had to be given in before March.



I personally believe there are three benefits that will result from this project. Firstly, great fame and glory will be brought to Sri Lanka. Secondly it will have a great impact on tourism. For instance, a few days ago, an entire bus of tourists visited the site and said the only reason they would be staying back would be to see the erected tree. Thirdly, this project will showcase the artistic and creative ability of our people, said Gunasekara. He added that this was merely his personal opinion and that he didnt know how the rest of the public felt, nor as to the views of the Christian community in Sri Lanka since he was a Buddhist himself.



It had been reported previously that the Buddhist Society of the Ports Authority would be sponsoring the entire project but when Upali De Zoysa of the Society was spoken to about this, he said it was all a misunderstanding. We are not sponsoring the project. It is just that we gave a donation of Rs.10,000 initially as part of the Port Authority.



When one of the sponsors, Multilac, was contacted, they responded that they were not considering any bigger picture through the project, other than the statement that would be given to the public that Multilac was one of the 3 companies in the world to have led free paint.



The artist of the Christmas tree, Nanayakkara, described it not as a commercial project but as an artistic creation. We wanted to embark on this to uplift tourism in the country and to bring about religious harmony. Therefore, a team of 10 of us went and spoke to the Secretary to the Minister of Ports and Shipping who got us in touch with the Minister who agreed to help us out. The project started in August with a budget of 12 million. Nanayakkara says that with regards to the funding process, it was merely private companies using parts of their profits to give back to their country. When asked about whether the tree would be completed by today, Nanayakkara didnt sound optimistic, merely stating that the entire skeleton had been made and referred to the delay being due to the stoppage of work due to the concerns that were raised by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. I am a Buddhist but I think that religious feelings are felt more when decorations like this are seen by all. This is the same with Vesak lanterns for Vesak and crackers that are lit. Nanayakkara urged the general population to help in this project since there were almost 150 people volunteering presently. We are not being paid a salary and people generously provide us with meals.



Reverend Edmond Thilakaratne, media director of the Archdiocese of Colombo, clarified that the stance of the Cardinal had always been the same and that was that whatever had to be done should be in the true spirit of Christmas. He is not going to ask anyone to put up trees or to ask them to stop.



It is not just a decoration. The philosophy behind it is that the tree symbolises life during the winter period. Having the tree within ones home is a symbol of this life. In Church, we make use of the tree to understand this event. Therefore this tree is not out of place at all. It is within the framework of the spirit of Christmas.



According to Fr. Joseph Benedict, most rituals involved with Christmas were introduced by St. Joseph Vaz, Sri Lankas saint. This was after the coming of the missionaries to Sri Lanka. St. Joseph Vaz travelled around the country to find out how people had been celebrating Christmas and took the initiative to celebrate the feast of Christmas. Originally during the period of Christmas, people would read the Bible together and engage in a service to meditate on the coming of Jesus. On the new initiative, the use of certain objects, including the tree, were also revived. It is not just a decoration. The philosophy behind it is that the tree symbolises life during the winter period. Having the tree within ones home was a symbol of this life. In Church, we make use of the tree to understand this event. Therefore this tree is not out of place at all. It is within the framework of the spirit of Christmas as it

evolves devotion



Therefore, it seems as though all is festive on the beach, with the star on the tree being the possibility of a Guinness World Record. The cost benefit analysis can, however, only be made after the completion of the tree and balances on the assumption that the expense of 12 million will have positive and long-lasting impact on our tourist industry and arts and crafts of Sri Lanka. This is added with the probability that Sri Lanka does indeed receive the World Record next year. All in all several probabilities pitted against a sum that arguably would have had more evident benefits were they used for bigger social problems. But then again maybe Father Christmas has a stocking full of goodies coming our way!
If one were to assess President Barack Obamas global leadership in the past eight years in absolute terms, the scorecard will not be impressive enough to keep him on the pedestal of peacemakers or group him together with Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter -- men who were widely regarded as peace presidents.

But in relative terms, Obamas global leadership role is certainly better than that of his predecessor George W. Bush, but to what extent he is better is debatable. Also given his successor Donald Trumps outrageous policies, the shine on Obamas presidency is likely to last for many years to come.

His election victory in 2008 was historic. It was seen as a blow that brought down racial barriers in US politics. Many shed tears of joy, unable to believe that the dream of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. had finally come true. Yet it was during his presidency that the Afro-Americans came under more hate crime attacks, giving rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.

His election victory came on a seemingly anti-war platform and it generated hope worldwide. The Nobel Committee could not wait longer to accord him the 2009 Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee, which, for the first time in the Nobel Peace Prize history, chose a winner based on words instead of deeds, attached special importance to Obamas vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

But as he prepares to leave the White House in less than a month, he will hand over to Trump a war baton. The Nobel Committee might as well ask him to return the peace medal, for the committee which made the blunder wont be able to cite his peace record in vindication.

Far from being an anti-war president, Obama goes into history as another war president. He opposed Bushs wars not because he saw war as evil, but because he saw them as rash wars and dumb wars.

What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by [neocon officials] to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne, he said when he was a state Senator.

On January 19, Obama will end his two-term presidency with unfinished wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, True, they were not wars he started, but they are yet to end. He set a December 2016 deadline to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan, but in July this year, claiming that the security situation in Afghanistan was precarious, he said some 8,400 US troops would remain there and his successor could determine the next move.

A week before Christmas five years ago, Obama announced that the war in Iraq ends this month. But 5,000 US troops are taking part in military activities in the fight against terror outfit ISIS in Iraq. In addition, more than 5,000 security personnel are attached to the US embassy in Baghdad.

If these were Bushs rash and dumb wars, there are Obama wars. The war against Libya and the bloody mayhem that followed were Obamas legacies. As regards Syria, where more than 300 US troops are engaged in the fight against ISIS, Obama, however, defied calls from allies such as Britain, France and Saudi Arabia to use the full force of the US military to oust Bashar al-Assad. His reluctance was not due to any love for Assad or any desire to regain his lost anti-war credentials but because of fears that Islamic extremists would take over the country if Assad was removed.

Obama also continued the war on terror with as much vigour as Bush prosecuted it. His biggest war trophy was the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden during a raid by US special troops on a hideout in Abbotabad in Pakistan. This helped him win his second term. He dumped his commitment to uphold human rights in the White House storeroom, to be taken out and held high only when hostile or not-so friendly nations violate human rights. He approved drone attacks that killed thousands of civilians, including children, in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and other places. He also endorsed extra-judicial killings in the name of national security, lending credence to the allegation that the US adopts double standards and politicises human rights.

His biggest setback was not his failure to end Americas dirty wars or close down the Gulag-like prison in Guantanamo Bay. Rather, it was his failure to bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a way, Obamas inauguration on January 20, 2009 was baptized by Palestinian blood. It took place two days after Israels month-long attacks on Gaza ended. Aleppo pales into insignificance in comparison to the suffering of Palestinians during Israels 2009 Gaza war, which evoked little or no condemnation from the West though some 800 Palestinian children perished.

Upon assuming office, Obama gave hope to the suffering Palestinians. In June 2009, Obama, in a speech that was seen as a fresh attempt to reach out to the Muslim world, urged Israel to stop settlement building activities in occupied Palestine, while he also urged the Muslims to shun extremism, adopt democracy and respect human rights and womens rights.

His efforts to help Palestinians to achieve statehood were no political circus. Obama made Middle East peace a centrepiece of his foreign policy -- an audacious political gamble in the face of Israels non-cooperation. During his second term, in a last-ditch effort, he sent Secretary of State John Kerry to the region with a mission to achieve peace before an April 29, 2014 deadline. But the mission collapsed, largely due to hardline Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus intransigence and also due to the lack of political chemistry between Obama and Israeli leaders. Israel paid no heed to Obamas repeated calls that it should stop building settlements in occupied Palestine. Yet, during his last year in office he signed a US$ 38 billion aid package for Israel, displaying his inability to resist the Israeli lobby.

As Obama leaves office, the Palestinians face the prospect of war because Trump has picked as ambassador to Israel his bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman, who supports Israels illegal settlements and, like Trump, advocates that the US should shift its embassy to Jerusalem in occupied Palestine. But Obama proved he was no pushover with regard to China and Russia. He devised a Pivot-to-Asia policy to contain China, just as the US tried to contain the Soviet Unions growing influence in Asia during the Cold War. As part of his economic warfare to isolate China, Obama also floated an economic grouping called Trans-Pacific Partnership. His successor has vowed to dismantle the grouping.

As regards Russia, he renewed contacts on a positive note, which saw the two countries signing agreements on nuclear disarmament. But Russias wars in Georgia and Ukraine together with its support for Assad on the one hand, and Natos eastward expansion and its role in the Ukrainian coup on the other saw relations between the two big powers plummeting to at an all-time low since the end of the Cold War in 1991.

Criticism apart, on a positive note, Obama, hailed as the no-scandal president, can keep his Nobel peace medal, because of his support for the climate change treaty, his moves aimed at normalising relations with Cuba and the nuclear deal with Iran.
An abiding fear for Donald Trump is that the Middle East dictators successors in power will be militant Islamists who once elected will stop at nothing. At one time in the presidential campaign he threatened to nuke them. Even though the secular-minded President Bashar al-Assad appears to be winning the civil war in Syria the Islamists will sit on his tail. Violence-inclined Islamists point to the Koran and the Hadith to justify their violence. Indeed, there are sentences in both that are close to their interpretation. Even though they may hype up these passages and ignore other more peaceful ones the truth is that Islam does have a tradition of the hard school. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of Muslims today dont subscribe to it.



The Harvard professor, Steven Pinker, writes in his monumental study of violence, The Better Angels Of Our Nature, The laws and many practices of many Muslim countries seemed to have missed out on the Humanitarian Revolution. According to Amnesty International three-quarters of Muslim countries execute their criminals and adultery can be a capital crime. Every year more than a hundred million girls in Islamic countries have their genitals mutilated. Islamic countries were the last to abolish slavery and a majority of countries in which people continue to be trafficked are Muslim. (However, to balance that, the murder and crime rates today in Muslim countries are much lower than in so-called Christian countries.)



Historians and journalists continually point a finger at the demands and punishments of Sharia law. The Koran has passages that are bellicose and Islam from the beginning was a warrior religion, contravening the message of earlier religions, Christianity, Buddhism and Confucianism. Critics also point out that Islam, once far ahead in science, medicine, astronomy, mathematics and architecture, blew its lead when it rejected the new European constructs of the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment. Only recently have some Islamic states distinguished between the secular and the sacred.



In his best selling book, the Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington, wrote that, In Eurasia the great historic fault lines between civilizations are once more aflame. This is particularly true along the boundaries of the crescent-shaped Islamic bloc of nations, from the bulge of Africa to Central Asia But what is overlooked by such critics is that these are in most cases minority movements of fervent Islamists (and that includes Al Qaeda and ISIS) and their violence is rejected by an overwhelming majority. Indeed Islam is liberalising and has been loosening its strictures for a very long time.



A team from the University of Maryland examined the goals of 102 Muslim organizations in North Africa and the Middle East and found that between 1985 and 2004 the proportion of organisations that endorsed violence dropped from 54% to 14%. The proportion committed to non-violent protests tripled and the proportion engaged in electoral politics doubled. The Arab Spring, as it blossomed in Tunisia, Egypt, Oman, Jordan, Yemen and Morocco, even though in most cases it failed, was largely non-violent.If we go further back in history there is much that is positive that Western observers either ignore or are ignorant of.



Recall Saladins conquest of Jerusalem in 1187. For the next 700 years Jerusalem remained under Muslim rule. The churches were open and the Jews were given funds to rebuild their synagogues. This was in marked contrast to the way the Crusaders had ruled Jerusalem before when Muslims and Jews were mainly forbidden from living within the city walls.



Likewise, from the fifteenth century on, when the majority of Arabs lived under Ottoman rule, for its five hundred years of life Christians and Jews were recognised and protected. Many of the Jews who were expelled by Christian Spain were granted refuge in the Ottoman Empire. Likewise German, French and Czech Protestants fleeing Catholic persecution were given protection.We should also note that the kind of cruel punishment meted out in some Muslim countries has decreased quite sharply. As the late Umaru Yar Adua, the Muslim president of Nigeria, told me when there were threats of the execution of a young woman accused of adultery, Sharia law is open to wide interpretation. Moreover, three witnesses to her alleged crime are required and that is not possible in real life.



Today Muslim countries as varied as Nigeria, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Malaysia and Senegal (and include the 160 million Muslims in India) are democratic and Jordan, Oman and Morocco might well be on the way to being so.



When I look at Islam I conclude that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. It certainly has a less cruel and violent history than post-Constantine Christianity. Left to themselves Muslims will be compelled to deal with the militants without the need for outside intervention or military aid.
The move to provide vehicles to 58 parliamentarians under an operational lease at a total cost of Rs.2.4 billion, has been temporarily halted, UPFA General Secretary Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

The controversial move came under heavy criticism.

It ran into a snag when the Secretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Nimal Bopage refused to sign the document approving the issue of the vehicles. He said his refusal was based on several issues and that he was asked to Sign or resign.

Mr. Bopage said this proposal had not received the approval of the Technological Committee and that repayment was to be completed in 60 monthly instalments but the present parliament had only another 45 months to go and that he had no right to burden a future parliament with the remaining instalments.

Meanwhile, the 58 MPs were to hand over petitions to the President and the Prime Minister asking to remove Mr. Bopage from the post of ministry secretary. A government source said the MPs were of the opinion that Mr. Bopage should be removed from his post as he had opposed the Cabinet which had approved the proposal to provide the vehicles.

Earlier, Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted the fact that the 58 MPs were being currently paid a monthly transport allowance of Rs.200,000.
Corruption charges against the high and mighty in politics generally dont lead to their prosecutions. Most of the cases fall by the wayside before reaching denouement in court.

But peoples courts may not spare political bigwigs who escape the majesty of law. Recent history shows prime ministers have fallen by wayside fighting charges of corruption, even if unproven. Perception sways people in politics. People have brought down seemingly invincible to the ground from high pedestal.

So, there was a strong sense of deja vu when Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi stood at a public meeting in Mehsana, Gujarat to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of corruption.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recent history shows prime ministers have fallen by wayside fighting charges of corruption, even if unproven (Credit: PTI photo)

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Sahara group of Subrata Roy had paid Rs 40 crore to Modi during 2013-14 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. He said the matter came to light when the income tax department raided Sahara offices in 2104.Given the historical experience, one was compelled to think whether the Rs 40-crore bribery allegations against Modi would end in a denouement similar to Rajiv Gandhi?

In his live telecast speech, Rahul read out from papers in front of him. Claiming to quote from I-T documents, he said Rs 2.5 crore was paid to Modi on October 30, 2013, Rs 5 crore on November 12; Rs 2.5 crore on November 27; Rs 5 crore on November 29; Rs 5 crore on December 6; Rs 5 crore on December 19; Rs 5 crore on January 13, 2014; Rs 5 crore on January 28; and Rs 5 crore on February 14, 2014.

Having threatened with an earthquake in Parliament if he were allowed to speak and having claimed to have proof of personal corruption against Modi over a week ago, Rahul did indeed cause tremors at the Mehsana meeting.

He didnt say anything new as the cases related to Sahara and Birla payments are already in public domain, pending in the Supreme Court. So where was the tremor?

The tremor, however, could indeed be felt in the unprecedented manner in which the allegations of corruption were hurled directly and publicly at Prime Minister Modi. Never before has a leader of opposition has stood in public to name a serving prime minister of being a recipient of specific sums of money on specific dates.

The BJP has talked about culpability of former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh in various cases of corruption. But nobody accused Dr Singh of having received such and such amount of money and on such and such dates.

Rajiv Gandhi as prime minster came under cloud when the Bofors scandal broke out. But at no point did VP Singh directly accuse or name Rajiv Gandhi himself as a recipient of the kickback. Indira Gandhi as prime minister was charged by the opposition to be heading governments mired in corruption. But she was never publicly named as a recipient of bribes.

Rajiv Gandhis successor PV Narasimha Rao was convicted in corruption cases and later acquitted. Stock market broker Harshad Mehta, who gained notoriety as the Big Bull, claimed he had paid Rs 1 crore in a suitcase at the prime ministers then 7, Race Course Road (now, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg) residence.

Rao government was embroiled in much bigger cases of corruption than what Harshad Mehta had alleged. He faced trials, got convicted and was finally absolved. Rao lost the 1996 elections despite having transformed the country through paradigm-shifting structural reforms in the economy. Yet, his electoral loss was the result of his much diminished image on account of the slew of corruption cases in which he got embroiled.

No prime minister could manage to emerge unscathed once their image was tainted with the indelible ink of involvement in one or more corruption scandal/s. Indira Gandhi faced the peoples wrath after she defended corruption as a global phenomenon. She faced two of the biggest protest movements against corruption  in Gujarat and Bihar.

However, personally she wasnt accused of any major corruption scandal. The charges of electoral corruption against her that led to her conviction by the Allahabad High Court were minor. What mattered was peoples perception that she was trying to suppress campaign against corruption led by late Jayaprakash Narayan.

Likewise corruption charges against Rajiv Gandhi were not proved in court. But in the wake of VP Singhs campaign against payment of bribery in the Bofors gun purchase, people got convinced of the governments wrongdoing. Rajiv lost the 1989 election.

Modis own campaign in 2014 was built around allegations of corruptions against the UPA. He owes his resounding victory to peoples perception that Manmohan Singhs government was mired in corruption. Modi has been confronted with various allegations of acts of omission and commission as chief minister of Gujarat. Corruption wasnt among them. His clean image has been the BJPs trump card.

What has changed since then is that its the very image of Modi as a clean leader thats now under attack. None of the past prime ministers had corruption charges proved against them. But none could survive the storm created by perception that they were corrupt.

The Supreme Court is seized of the case in which charges of alleged payment of money to Modi by Sahara and Birla groups have been made. The court is set to examine further evidence in support of allegations submitted by lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

Allegations of corruption against Modi will continue in public until the court dismisses the case. Rahul Gandhi and opposition parties will continue to raise the issue in public. They will try to create a perception that Modi is no different: that Modi is not infallible as far as personal corruption is concerned.
Theres a thick tome in our family. Bound in red leather with gold lettering on the spine and crumbling pages, it is brought out and flipped through every time a child is born. The Pauranik Abhidhan is a mythological dictionary of words and names from ancient Hindu scriptures, published in 1958 by one Sudhirchandra Sarkar.

Thanks to this gentleman, every person born in our family since the 1960s has been blessed with an incredibly old-fashioned formal name. As if to compensate, each of us has been bestowed with ridiculously frivolous nicknames of affection.

At least

At least, they did not give us names that spark off social media furore, as Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor did by naming their son Taimur this week. At least, they had not gone into wordplays, like Shah Rukh Khan did when naming his third child AbRam, a mix of Prophet Abraham and Lord Ram.

Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khans first official picture with baby Taimur.

At least, they couldnt give us names that go down in history as 50 Ridiculous Baby Names, as an American couple did recently by naming their daughter Hashtag. Or as an Egyptian man did by naming his son, Facebook, to honour the social media platform for igniting the Arab Spring.

Wah Taj

Baby names are like the Taj Mahal to parents. If Shah Jahan could immortalise his love for Mumtaz Mahal with what became one of the seven wonders of the world, why cant parents of today celebrate their love for their children with glorious names?

The same reason why so many parents wonder if their children are super-special (a Chennai psychiatrist once told me that she was fed up of parents who came to her to find out if their children were prodigies.)

Name trend

Apparently, parents are choosing more unusual baby names now than a decade ago. According to Jean M Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, US, of the 325 million baby names surveyed between 1880 and 2007, about 40 per cent boys received one of the ten most common names in the 1880s, while now fewer than 10 per cent do. Similarly, for girls.

Parents who give unusual name are also likely to have a parenting style that fosters uniqueness.

Playing with baby names

To be fair, its a pure parental privilege. If two people decide to go through the experience of parenthood  the sacrifice, the relentless (unpaid and unappreciated) labour, the stress, the lack of privacy, the time poverty, the burden of being a role-model, the financial drain, not to mention the risk of having children one may not be proud of  they do absolutely have the right to play with their childrens names  in any which way.

No one else has a say in it but the parents.

Timurid mess

So why are we surprised when movie stars push the envelope further? They know they are special, they are different, they are creative, they are expected to defy conventions. How can their children have tedious everyday names?

Yes, Timur the Lame, the 14th Century Turko-Mongol military leader, had a penchant for piling human heads into towers. But which medieval ruler of feudal times would measure up to our democratic standards of justice and the Rule of Law?

Going by that logic, nobody should be named Richard because Richard III, King of England (despite Shakespeare) was a throne-robber, who in his two years (14831485) had hacked off far too many heads  of friends, family, including children  without the vestiges of a trial.
Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.
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.
The following companies are subsidiares of Laboratory Co. of America: 1957285 Ontario Inc. dba Quality Underwriting Services, 2089729 Ontario Inc., 2248848 Ontario Inc., 3065619 Nova Scotia Company, 3257959 Nova Scotia Company, 8165335 Canada Inc., 8348596 Canada Inc., 896988 Ontario Limited, 9279-3280 Quebec Inc., Accupath Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Assets of Pathology Inc, Beacon LBS IPA Inc., Beacon Laboratory Benefit Solutions Inc., CannAmm GP Inc., CannAmm Limited Partnership, Center for Disease Detection International, Center for Disease Detection LLC, Centrex Clinical Laboratories Inc., Chiltern, Clearstone Central Laboratories (U.S.) Inc., Clearstone Holdings (International) Ltd., Clinical Outreach Laboratory Services, Clipper Holdings Inc., Colorado Coagulation Consultants Inc., Colorado Laboratory Services LLC, Correlagen Diagnostics Inc., Covance Inc., Curalab Inc., Cytometry Associates Inc., Czura Thornton (Hong Kong) Limited, DCL Acquisition Inc., DCL Medical Laboratories LLC, DCL Sub LLC, DIANON Systems Inc., DL Holdings Limited Partnership, Decision Diagnostics L.L.C. (aka DaVinici/Medicorp LLC), Diagnostic Services Inc., DynaLifeDX, Dynacare - Gamma Laboratory Partnership, Dynacare Company, Dynacare G.P. Inc., Dynacare Holdco LLC, Dynacare Laboratories Inc., Dynacare Laboratories Limited Partnership, Dynacare Northwest Inc., Dynacare Realty Inc., DynalifeDX Infrastructure Inc., Envigo's nonclinical contract research services business, Esoterix Genetic Counseling LLC, Esoterix Genetic Laboratories LLC, Esoterix Inc., Execmed Health Services Inc., FirstSource Laboratory Solutions Inc., GDML Medical Laboratories Inc, Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratories GP Inc., Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratory Limited Partnership, HHLA Lab-In-An-Envelope LLC, Health Testing Centers Inc., Health Trans Services Inc., Home Healthcare Laboratory of America LLC, IDX Pathology Inc., Impact Genetics Corporation, Impact Genetics Inc., Kaleida LabCorp LLC, Lab Delivery Service of New York City Inc., LabCorp BVBA, LabCorp Belgium Holdings Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Canada) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (China) Inc., LabCorp Colorado Inc., LabCorp Development Company, LabCorp Employer Services Inc., LabCorp Health System Diagnostics LLC, LabCorp Indiana Inc., LabCorp Japan G.K., LabCorp Limited, LabCorp Michigan Inc., LabCorp Nebraska Inc., LabCorp Neon Ltd., LabCorp Neon Switzerland S.a.r.l., LabCorp Specialty Testing Billing Service Inc., LabCorp Specialty Testing Group Inc., LabCorp Staffing Solutions Inc., LabCorp Tennessee LLC, LabCorp UK Holdings Ltd., LabWest Inc., Laboratoire Bio-Medic Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America, Lifecodes Corporation, LipoScience Inc., Litholink Corporation, MEDTOX Scientific Inc., MNG Laboratories, MedAxio Insurance Medical Services GP Inc., MedAxio Insurance Medical Services LP, Medical Neurogenitics LLC, Medtox Diagnostics Inc., Medtox Laboratories Inc., Monogram Biosciences Inc., Monogram Biosciences UK Limited, Myriad Autoimmunes Vectra Testing Business, NWT Inc., National Genetics Institute, New Brighton Business Center LLC, New Imaging Diagnostics LLC, New Molecular Diagnostics Ventures LLC, Orchid Cellmark ULC, Ovia Health, PA Labs Inc., Paclab LLC, Path Lab Incorporated, Pathology Associates Medical Lab LLC, Pee Dee Pathology Associates Inc., Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc., Persys Technology Inc., Pixel by LabCorp, Princeton Diagnostic Laboratories of America Inc., Protedyne Corporation, SW/DL LLC, Saint Josephs-PAML LLC, Sequenom Biosciences (India) Pvt. Ltd., Sequenom Inc, Sequenom Inc., Tandem Labs Inc., Toxikon Corporation, Tri-Cities Laboratory LLC, Viro-Med Laboratories Inc., Visiun, and Yakima Medical Arts Inc..

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Banc of California, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California, National Association that provides banking products and services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, retirement, and interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing demand accounts, as well as certificate of deposits. It also provides various commercial and consumer loan products, such as commercial and industrial loans; commercial real estate and multifamily loans; construction loans; single family residential mortgage loans; warehouse and indirect/direct leveraged lending; home equity lines of credit; small business administration loans; and other consumer loans. In addition, the company offers automated bill payment, cash and treasury management, foreign exchange, card payment, remote and mobile deposit capture, automated clearing house origination, wire transfer, direct deposit, and internet banking services; and master demand accounts, interest rate swaps, and safe deposit boxes. Further, it invests in collateralized loan obligations, agency securities, municipal bonds, agency residential mortgage-backed securities, and corporate debt securities. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated 29 full-service branches in Southern California. The company was formerly known as First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. and changed its name to Banc of California, Inc. in July 2013. Banc of California, Inc. was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.
ICL Group Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty minerals and chemicals company worldwide. It operates in four segments: Industrial Products, Potash, Phosphate Solutions, and Innovative Ag Solutions (IAS). The Industrial Products segment produces bromine out of a solution that is a by-product of the potash production process, as well as bromine-based compounds; produces various grades of potash, salt, magnesium chloride, and magnesia products; and produces and markets phosphorous-based flame retardants and other phosphorus-based products. The Potash segment extracts potash from the Dead Sea; mines and produces potash and salt; produces Polysulphate; produces, markets, and sells magnesium and magnesium alloys, as well as related by-products, including chlorine and sylvinite; and sells salt. The Phosphate Solutions segment uses phosphate commodity products to produce specialty products; produces and markets phosphate-based fertilizers, as well as sulphuric acid, green phosphoric acid, and phosphate fertilizers; and manufactures thermal phosphoric acid for various industrial end markets, such as oral care, cleaning products, paints and coatings, water treatment, asphalt modification, construction, and metal treatment. It also develops and produces functional food ingredients and phosphate additives for use in the processed meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, beverage, and baked goods markets; and produces milk and whey proteins for the food ingredients industry. The IAS segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells fertilizers based primarily on nitrogen, potash, and phosphate, including water soluble specialty, liquid, soluble, and controlled-release fertilizers. It sells its products through marketing companies, agents, and distributors. The company was formerly known as Israel Chemicals Ltd. and changed its name to ICL Group Ltd in May 2020. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.
This is a current list of the top 250 companies by market capitalization on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Learn more .

Many investors understand the reasons for having a diversified portfolio. One way to accomplish this is to diversify within an asset class. For equity investors in the United States this can mean investing in both growth and value stocks.

It can also mean investing in international stocks. And when investors want to do this, they need look no further than our neighbor to the north. Canada has a range of stocks for investors to consider. This article will focus on strategies that investors can use when looking to invest in Canadian stocks.

Why Buy Canadian Stocks?

There are a few reasons for investors to consider Canadian stocks as part of their diversification strategy:

A Large Natural Resources Sector  The sheer size of the country and its location lets investors know that it is an area rich in natural resources. This also means that the country has a source of current and future wealth.

An Advanced Skills-Based Economy  In this regard, Canada is similar to other western nations. The difference is that it is not as common to find these skill-based professions in a country with so many natural resources.

Stability  Canada is not exempt from any problems that impact the global economy. However, the country is known for stable financial and business policies that have kept the economy relatively stable. This Goldilocks economy has meant that many Canadian stocks havent enjoyed the outsized growth of some U.S. equities. However, it also comes with a bit of protection against downside risk.

How Have Canadian Stocks Performed?

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, there was a time when U.S. stocks and Canadian stocks performed nearly identically. Heres a graph that shows the performance of the S&P 500 Index vs. the TSX Index



Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence

You can see that with a couple of exceptions, the two indexes performed remarkably similar. That all changed around 2012 and Canadian stocks became less attractive.

Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence

This disparity is widely due to one sector, technology. However, Canadian technology stocks have been on the rise. And in 2022, the country is benefiting from renewed interest in materials stocks as well as a spike in commodity prices.

What Are the Best Sectors of Canadian Stocks?

For different reasons finance, materials, and energy stocks are among the best performing stocks as of September 2022. Heres a brief overview of each sector and some of the top names for investors to consider.

Financial  Similar to the United States, Canada has a strong banking industry. Many Canadian banks have a track record of solid performance that can provide long-term value to a portfolio. And several of these stocks pay dividends with attractive yields for investors.

This sector makes up the largest percentage of the TSX at roughly 30%. And the Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY)is the top-weighted constituent in the TSX. Beyond the Royal Bank of Canada some of the other top-performing Canadian financial stocks include:

Materials and Mining  Canadian stocks can be an ideal choice for investors looking to diversify into gold and precious metals without owning the physical metal. Canada has a large natural resources sector. So, its not surprising that there are a number of gold mining companies with Canadian origins. This sector also gives investors exposure to other components in the mining and agriculture sectors. This sector makes up approximately 11.5% of the TSX. Some of the top Canadian materials and mining stocks include:

Energy  Canadian stocks offer both traditional fossil fuel-based energy stocks as well as some renewable energy stocks. This sector makes up approximately 18.5% of the TSX. Some of the top Canadian energy stocks include:

Technology  As mentioned earlier, technology stocks have largely been the domain of the United States. As evidence of this, information technology stocks make up only about 5.5% of the TSX. However, there are a few Canadian companies that have become stars in the new economy being created. Some of the more popular names include:

What Are the Risks of Investing in Canadian Stocks?

One concern about investing in Canadian stocks is that they can be heavily weighted towards cyclical industries. For example, as of February 2022 financials (33.5%), energy (14.8%) and industrials (11.7%) made up nearly 60% of the index. That may be too much for some investors particularly because those sectors all tend to correlate roughly the same way as the economic cycle. But as a long-term play, Canadian stocks are worth considering with a small part of your portfolio.

How to Buy Canadian Stocks

Buy Individual Stocks on a Stock Exchange

Hundreds of Canadian stocks have dual listings on either the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the NASDAQ. This is the most convenient way to get exposure to Canadian stocks because there are no barriers to stock ownership. These shares can be purchased in U.S. dollars directly from the exchange just like purchasing a U.S. stock.

However, for a full list of the best Canadian stocks, investors should look at the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The TSX is one of the oldest stock exchanges having been founded in 1852. Its also the third largest stock exchange in North America in terms of market capitalization.

The Toronto Stock Exchange includes approximately 1,500 companies. It allows investors to trade stocks, investment trusts, exchange-traded products, bonds, commodities, futures, options, and other derivative products. All transactions on the TSX are executed in Canadian dollars.

Invest in a Mutual Fund or ETF

There are many mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that supply exposure to Canadian stocks. Some funds supply exposure to both U.S. and Canadian stocks. Other funds hold just Canadian stocks. Some examples of those include:

BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF

Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF

Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap ETF

As with investing in any asset class, investors need to consider their investment objective, time horizon and risk tolerance before choosing a fund that fits their needs. Investors will also want to pay attention to the funds fee structure to ensure youre making the most efficient use of your capital.

The Final Word on Investing in Canadian Stocks

Investing in Canadian stocks is one way for investors to add diversification to their portfolio. MarketBeat provides a list of the top Canadian stocks that trade on the TSX. This is Canadas version of the NYSE or NASDAQ in the United States and includes many of the same stocks.

Thats one advantage of investing in Canadian stocks is that many have a dual listing which removes many of the obstacles that can come with investing in international stocks.

However, investors should be aware that many of the best Canadian stocks are in highly cyclical industries which can lead to underperformance when those sectors are out of favor. Still, due to their relative stability and in some cases an impressive dividend, Canadian stocks may have a place in an investors portfolio.
Morgan Stanley is the 6th largest financial institution in the US. The company is ranked 61st on the Forbes Fortune 500 list and is the 39th largest bank in the world. A financial holding company, Morgan Stanley provides a full range of financial services to clients around the world.

Morgan Stanley was formed in 1935 as a result of the Glass-Steagall Act. Glass-Steagall separated commercial and investment banking in a way that forced the then-largest bank J.P. Morgan & Co to split into two groups. J.P. Morgan & Co. chose to retain the commercial side of the business while partners Henry S. Morga, grandson of J.P., and Harold Stanley took the investment end. In its first year, Morgan Stanley did 24% of the IPO business and maintains a lions share of the market to this day.

The original company existed and grew through acquisitions until 1987 when it merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co. The new Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover & Co existed for 14 years until 2001 when the name was shortened back to Morgan Stanley.

The bank is credited in part with both beginning and ending the financial crisis of 2007/2008. The Process Driven Trading unit lost $300 million in one day due to a short-squeeze that popped the bubble in the housing market. After teetering on the brink of failure Morgan Stanley agreed to become a bank holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve, a key factor in the original decision to split from parent J.P. Morgan & Co. Ironically when given the chance, present-day J.P. Morgan refused to buy Morgan Stanley but that was for the better.

Today, Morgan Stanley operates through three segments via offices in 41 countries and employs more than 75,000 people. Revenue in 2021 topped $49 billion and total assets topped $1.15 trillion.

The operating segments are Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment is by far the largest and most profitable. It offers a range of services and products for businesses, institutions, and entities that include capital raising, strategic advisory, underwriting, advice on M&A, restructuring, and real estate. The Wealth Management segment provides brokerage and investment advisory services for individuals and employers. The services include brokerage, financial planning, company stock-plan administration, insurance, mortgage loans, lines of credit, and retirement planning. The Investment Management segment provides investment products to a range of institutions, organizations, corporations, and governments.
AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behcet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infection. It also provides CREON, a pancreatic enzyme therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Synthroid used in the treatment of hypothyroidism; Linzess/Constella to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation; Lupron for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and patients with anemia caused by uterine fibroids; and Botox therapeutic. In addition, the company offers ORILISSA, a nonpeptide small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain; Duopa and Duodopa, a levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel to treat Parkinson's disease; Lumigan/Ganfort, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension; Ubrelvy to treat migraine with or without aura in adults; Alphagan/ Combigan, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for the reduction of IOP in patients with OAG; and Restasis, a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant to increase tear production, as well as other eye care products. AbbVie Inc. has a research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois.
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. It also offers ProxyEdge, an electronic proxy delivery and voting solution; data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and omni-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information, as well as mutual fund trade processing services; data and analytics solutions; solutions for public corporations and mutual funds; SEC filing and capital markets transaction services; registrar, stock transfer, and record-keeping services; and omni-channel customer communications solutions, as well as operates Broadridge Communications Cloud platform that creates, delivers, and manages communications and customer engagement activities. The company's Global Technology and Operations segment provides solutions that automate the front-to-back transaction lifecycle of equity, mutual fund, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange-traded derivatives, order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral management, asset servicing, compliance and regulatory reporting, portfolio accounting, and custody-related services. This segment also offers business process outsourcing services; technology solutions, such portfolio management, compliance, fee billing, and operational support solutions; and capital market and wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York.
The following companies are subsidiares of PPG Industries: AIPCF V Texstars Blocker Inc., AkzoNobel, Alpha Coating Technologies LLC, Alpha Coatings Inc., Broad Range Development Limited, CG Holdings Manufacturing Co., Centro de Investigacion en Polimeros S.A. de C.V., Chemfil Canada Limited, Chorlton Trade Paints Limited, Comercial Mexicana de Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Comex, Comex Industrial Coatings S.A. de C.V., Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., Cristacol S.A., Cuming Microwave Corporation, Deutek SA, Dexmet Corporation, Dexmet Holding Corporation, Distribuidora Kroma S.A. de C.V., EPIC Insurance Co. Ltd., Eberle Design Inc., Empresa Aga S.A. de C.V., Ennis Canadian Holding Company, Ennis Paint Canada ULC, Ennis Paint Netherlands Holdings LLC, Ennis Paint U.K. Holding Company Limited, Ennis Traffic Safety Solutions Pty Ltd, Ennis-Flint, Ennis-Flint Inc., Foshan Bairun Chemicals Co. Ltd., Fpu Industrial S.A. de C.V., Grupo Comex S.A. de C.V., Hemmelrath Automotive Coatings (Jilin) Co. Ltd., Hemmelrath International Trade (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hodij Coatings B.V., Homax Products, Industria Chimica Reggiana I.C.R. SPA, Johnstones Paints Limited, Kalon Investment Company Limited, Kalon South Africa Proprietary Limited, Karl Woerwag Lack-und Farbenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Masterwork Paint, MetoKote Corporation, MetoKote Mexico Holdings Inc., MetoKote UK Limited, MetoKote de Mexico S. de RL de CV, Milamar Coatings LLC, OOO Tikkurila, PPG A P Resinas S.A. de C.V., PPG AC - France SA, PPG ALESCO Automotive Finishes Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PPG Aerospace Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Architectural Coatings (Puerto Rico) Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc./PPG Revetements Architecturaux Canada Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Ireland Limited, PPG Architectural Coatings Italy S.r.l, PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited, PPG Architectural Finishes Inc., PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd., PPG Business Services S.A. de C.V., PPG COATINGS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PPG Canada Inc., PPG Cetelon Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Cieszyn S.A., PPG Coatings (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, PPG Coatings (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., PPG Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Wuhu) Company Ltd., PPG Coatings (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings B.V., PPG Coatings Belgium BV, PPG Coatings Danmark A/S, PPG Coatings Deutschland GmbH, PPG Coatings Europe B.V., PPG Coatings Nederland BV, PPG Coatings S.A., PPG Coatings South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PPG DYRUP S.A., PPG Deco Czech a.s., PPG Deco Polska sp. z.o.o., PPG Deco Slovakia s.r.o., PPG Deutschland Business Support GmbH, PPG Deutschland Sales & Services GmbH, PPG Distribution S.A.S., PPG Europe B.V., PPG Finance B.V., PPG Finland Oy, PPG France Business Support S.A.S., PPG France Manufacturing S.A.S., PPG Guadeloupe SAS, PPG Hemmelrath Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Holdco SAS, PPG Holdings (U.K.) Limited, PPG Holdings Argentina USA LLC, PPG Holdings Latin America USA LLC, PPG Iberica S.A., PPG Iberica Sales & Services S.L., PPG Industrial Coatings B.V., PPG Industrial do Brasil - Tintas E. Vernizes - Ltda., PPG Industries (Korea) Ltd., PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Industries (UK) Ltd, PPG Industries Argentina S.R.L., PPG Industries Australia PTY Limited A.C.N. 055 500 939, PPG Industries Colombia Ltda., PPG Industries Delfzijl B.V., PPG Industries Europe Sarl, PPG Industries France S.A.S., PPG Industries International Inc., PPG Industries Italia S.r.l., PPG Industries Kimya a Sanayi VE Ticaret AS, PPG Industries LLC, PPG Industries Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Industries Lipetsk LLC, PPG Industries Middle East FZE, PPG Industries Netherlands B.V., PPG Industries New Zealand Limited, PPG Industries Ohio Inc., PPG Industries Poland Sp. Z.o.o., PPG Industries Securities LLC, PPG Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Investment (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Italia Business Support S.r.l., PPG Italia Sales & Services S.r.l., PPG Japan Ltd., PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes Canada LP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.K. LLP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.S. LLC, PPG Luxembourg Finance S.aR.L., PPG Luxembourg Holdings S.aR.L., PPG Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Packaging Coatings (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Performance Coatings (Hong Kong) Limited, PPG Powder Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Refinish Distribution Limited, PPG Romania S.A., PPG Reunion SAS, PPG SSC Co. Ltd., PPG Switzerland GmbH, PPG Trilak Korlatolt FelelosseguTarasasag (PPG Trilak Kft.), PPG Vietnam Co. Ltd., PRC-DeSoto Australia Pty Ltd., PRC-DeSoto International Inc., PT. PPG Coatings Indonesia, Painter's Supply, Paintzen, Peintures de Paris SAS, Plasticos Envolventes S.A. de C.V., Polymeric Systems Inc., ProCoatings B.V., ProCoatings BV, Protec Pty Ltd, Reno A&E LLC, Revocoat France SAS, Revocoat Holding SAS, Revocoat Iberica SLU, Revocoat S.A.S, Road Infrastructure Investment Holdings Inc., SEM Products Inc., Sealants Europe SAS, Sierracin Corporation, Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation, Sigma Marine & Protective Coatings Holding B.V., SigmaKalon (BC) UK Limited, SigmaKalon Group, Sikar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Spraylat International Ltd, Texstars LLC, The Crown Group Co., The Crown Group Inc, The Homax Group, Tikkurila Group, Tikkurila Oyj, Tikkurila Sverige AB, Traffic Safety Intermediate LLC, Traffic Safety Parent LLC, VF Specialty Products LLC, Vanex Inc., Vernisol S.p.A., VersaFlex Acquisition Corp., VersaFlex Inc., VersaFlex Intermediate Holdings LLC, Versaflex, Viasa S.A. de C.V., Whitford, Whitford B.V., Whitford Corporation, Whitford Jiangmen Ltd., Whitford Ltd. (HK), Whitford Ltd. (UK), Whitford Pte. Ltd., Whitford S.r.l., Whitford Worldwide Company LLC, and Worwag Coatings.

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Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail.

Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories.

The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name.

Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022.

Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG).

The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients.
Via DarknetMarkets.co: Carfentanil on the Darknet: China Denies Being the Main Supplier. Evidently 5 grams is going for US$500 at the moment. The full report:

Many major law enforcement agencies asserted that China was the primary source of fentanyl analogs. The fentanyl analog scare emerged after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized a 1kg package of carfentanil headed into Vancouver. After receiving the package, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) held a press conference where they announced that the package originated from China. The RCMP also issued warnings about carfentanil and fentanyls other cousins.

For instance, carfentanil (sometimes carfentanyl) is one of the most potent opioids. A team then created the drug as a wild animal tranquilizer under the trade name Wildnil. And that is where the drug performs as intended: taking down large wild animals. Fentanyl, one of the strongest opioids approved for medical use contributed to incredibly high death rates in 2016. Sufentanil, another fentanyl analog, is ten times more potent than fentanylbut falls far behind carfentanil in terms of potency.

The Darknet and Carfentanil

Canadian dealers typically purchase their orders on the Internet over the dark web. [Car]Fentanyl is usually imported in powdered form. Then mixed in Canada and pressed into tablet form, an RCMP official reported during a carfentanil hearing.

The RCMP, CBSA, DEA, and many US Senators spoke about the issue. A former assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs also voiced concerns. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio said, when introducing his USPS bill at a Senate floor speech, It [carfentanil] comes from our postal system and [Chinas] postal system into the United States. Unbelievable  the poison is coming in the mail to our communities.

In another joint announcement about his proposed STOP Act (Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Protection), Sen. Portman said:

The vast majority of these synthetic drugs are trafficked in places like China and India, often through the mail. If we need mail shipped through foreign postal services to send the same electronic advance data as private carriers like UPS or FedEx, we could save thousands of lives across the country. The STOP Act will close a gaping loophole in our mail security. And it will help stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped across our borders. This common-sense policy change will save lives, and the Senate should move to consider and pass it as quickly as possible.

The DEA

In a letter to the White House and DEA, Beijing denied being the main source of fentanyl analogs. Such claims lack the support of sufficient numbers of actual, confirmed cases, Chinas National Narcotics Control Commission told DEAs Beijing field office. They asked the US to provide substantial evidence about Chinas role in opioid importation. China similarly spoke about the lack help they received in their war against Ketamine.

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 another letter to AP.

The DEA acknowledged that China is not the only country where carfentanil and similar synthetic opioids come from. In September, the DEA busted a pill pressing lab in Utah where the perpetrators pressed carfentanil into oxycodone pills. US Customs reported seizing carfentanil from Mexico as well, but Mexico revealed that much of their seized carfentanil came from China.

Currently, DEA Officer Baer said that the DEA is investigating U.S.-based darknet vendors who sell both fentanyl and its analogs. In the same node, the DEA will investigate any Chinese company or vendor that uses US servers.
Sometimes, payback is a good thing.

Melba Campbell fills her week with committee and board meetings, fundraising, awareness lifting and spending time one-on-one at cancer centers and hospice homes. The retired sales and marketing executive is not looking for awards or honors, however; shes just doing unto others what others have graciously done unto her.

In my life, there have been so many times when people were so nice to me, times when they made all the difference in my life, Campbell said, sitting on a couch in her Keswick home. Im just so happy to give something back.

For the 70-year-old Cuban native, those are more than just words. Born in Cardenas, about 45 minutes from Havana, her life hit a speed bump at age 15 when her family sent her, a brother and a cousin to Cincinnati to go to boarding school after Fidel Castro took power and closed all of the private schools in the country.

About a year after Castro shut down the schools, my parents decided we needed to go to school, but the Cuban public schools were poor, so they sent us to the U.S., Campbell recalled. We were part of the Peter Pan children who came without parents. Luckily, my family had friends in Cincinnati and they let us stay with them because we got there after school had started. They said they enjoyed having us around, so we lived with them.

Campbell received her bachelors degree in secondary education from the University of Cincinnati, fell in love, married and began rearing a family.

She was a marketing executive with FedEx and her first husband was an executive with Procter & Gamble in Memphis when the next big bump came  her husband was diagnosed as having a cancerous brain tumor.

Her husbands employer, and hers, stepped up to the plate, along with their coworkers, and helped the couple and their children.

When youre in your 40s, you still feel like youre immortal, and it was totally unexpected, Campbell recalled. But people were so nice to us. I dont think I ever saw a medical bill because the people at Procter & Gamble took care of it all.

Campbell and her husband traveled to Cincinnati, where a doctor believed he could do surgery that would extend her husbands life and help him meet a goal of seeing their daughter graduate from high school.

The surgery, however, resulted in partial paralysis. FedEx sent an airplane to fly him home to Memphis. Too sick to make to his daughters graduation, the folks at Procter & Gamble sent an in-house video team to record it so he could be a part of it.

When he died at 44, Campbell was 40. With help from friends, coworkers and the company, the family made it through the crisis.

Those are the kinds of the things that happen in your life that just make you want to give back, Campbell said with conviction. Its not that you really think about it; you just do it because it becomes a part of you.

Giving her time and effort to causes is a big part of Campbells life. For the past five years, she has been a driving force behind the Hospice of the Piedmonts annual 5K race. When she started, the race raised $2,400. This year it raised $126,000.

This is a race of only 400 participants, so registration fees are a very small chunk of the money raised, said Rachel Palm, of the local hospice. Thanks to Melbas leadership and prudent budgeting, 95 percent of the proceeds from the race go directly to hospice services.

Palm said Campbells leadership and efforts on behalf of the organization and her time spent volunteering with clients is a cornerstone of the groups ability to provide care regardless of patients ability to pay.

Shes a champion for our services and leverages her relationships within the community to inspire and motivate people to take action and make a difference, Palm said.

Campbell appreciates the praise but notes that shes one among many.

Its not like its all my doing, she laughed. There are so many people on the committees that work hard to make it a success and so many companies that donate money and time, including the Keswick Club and Wegmans. Its a community effort, really.

Campbell served for more than a decade on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville. She also serves on boards and committees for the Piedmont Family YMCA and the University of Virginia Cancer Center.

Campbell said she believes in the Habitat for Humanity concept of sweat equity and has seen how much owning a home means to those the organization serves.

She also knows firsthand what a good cancer center means to families.

We have such a great asset in the cancer center and there is so much great research going on there that part of my job is to let employers and companies know whats available and whats happening. I want them to know how the center can help their employees, Campbell said. I know what its like to have to travel for treatment, and we have an excellent place right here so that people dont have to drive to Baltimore to Johns Hopkins or other places.

She doesnt stop at meetings, however. After going through training to be a hospice volunteer, Campbell spends time with hospice clients. Sometimes she chats. Sometimes she runs errands. Shes taken some to church and brought church to others.

People sometimes think that the hospice work is all sad and depressing, but I often leave from volunteering feeling like I really made a difference in someones life, Campbell said.

If I look at my life, it is wonderful to feel like Im giving something back in terms of helping others, she said. It makes me feel good to help someone like someone helped me.
Via The Guardian: Half of adult women in Brazil put off pregnancy by Zika virus  survey. This is both a demographic and a cultural upheaval. Excerpt and then a comment:

More than half of adult women of reproductive age in Brazil have actively tried to avoid pregnancy because of the Zika virus epidemic, according to a survey carried out there.

Brazil has confirmed far more malformations of the brain in babies born to mothers who were infected with Zika than any other country.

So far, there have been 1,845 confirmed cases of what is now being called congenital Zika syndrome; a further 7,246 cases are suspected but the link to the virus has not yet been firmly established.

The survey carried out in June, led by academics in Brazil, shows that 56% of women who responded have tried to avoid becoming pregnant as a result. The numbers are no different among those who describe themselves as having religious beliefs  58% of Catholics and 55% of Evangelicals in the survey said they were avoiding pregnancy.

In a letter to the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare, Dr Debora Diniz from the University of Brasilia and colleagues say there is an urgent need for Brazil to reconsider its policies on family planning and abortion, to help women who want to avoid the risk of having a baby with brain malformation.

As indicated by the high proportion of women who avoided pregnancy because of Zika, the Brazilian government must place reproductive health concerns at the centre of its response, including reviewing its continued criminalisation of abortion, they write.

The government should ensure better access to contraceptive methods and information, they say, arguing for a wider range of methods to be made available. Long-lasting reversible contraception such as intrauterine devices are scarce, they say, and hormonal implants are unavailable through the public services.

Given Brazil's current rule by right-wing crooks who impeached Dilma Rousseff, adopting such policies seems highly unlikely. But Brazil will live with the demographic consequences for decades.
A local couple will celebrate the holiday season with a big bundle of newborns.

Goochland County resident Margaret Baudinet, 31, gave birth on Dec. 4 to quintuplets at Dignity Health St. Josephs Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

The babies  four girls and one boy  were born one minute apart from each other. Their names are Ava Louise, Clara Catherine, Camille Millie Whitney, Luke Thomas and Isabelle Francis.

Margaret and her husband, Michael Baudinet  an attorney with McGuireWoods in Richmond since September 2012  moved to Phoenix in September to be close to a multiple-birth pregnancy specialist after finding out in mid-June that she was pregnant with five babies.

I know I was stunned and wasnt able to process it for a while, Michael Baudinet, 34, said. My wife handled it a bit better. We didnt want to get too excited just because we knew there were always things that could go wrong, and it was a hard road, so we just focused on one day at a time.

For my wife, it really wasnt until she got out of the hospital after giving birth that she really started to feel like, Wow, were here, we have five babies now.?

The couple pointed out that there are few advice books available for quintuplet births.

Its like feeling your way through a dark room, said Margaret Baudinet, a private college counselor who works in Richmond and Charlottesville.

Before the babies were born, Margaret Baudinet had experienced two miscarriages. She started receiving fertility treatment with a perinatologist in Phoenix before finding out she would give birth to five babies at once.

Through the pregnancy, she was largely bedridden. It required quite a bit more management than a typical pregnancy might, in part because she had to gain 80 to 100 pounds in the first 20 to 25 weeks.

You have to gain (the weight) quickly because at some point the babies are going to be so big that they press on your stomach and you cant eat as much, Margaret Baudinet said. Its like you have to prepare for hibernation.

She also had two doctors appointments every week since her 20th week of gestation, so almost every Monday and Thursday, she was in the doctors office.

And the last piece is that you get so much bigger because theres five babies in there, it takes a larger toll on the body, she said. The aches and pains are multiplied.

But she said that the day the babies were born she was able to walk, though it will still take several weeks before she starts feeling normal again.

The quintuplets were born at 32 weeks via Cesarean section. The Baudinet children were the first set of quintuplets born at St. Josephs in the hospitals 121-year history.

Typical of quintuplets, the babies will spend several weeks in the hospital nursery intensive care unit, so their parents have yet to bring them home.

So the hard part hasnt started yet, Michael Baudinet joked.

Though complications can arise with quintuplets, a hospital press release said the babies birth weights were higher than anticipated, ranging from three to four pounds.

Now theyre just working on getting bigger, Michael Baudinet said.

The couple are eager for when they can return to the Richmond region some time early next year and have a big family homecoming.

Since the couple moved to Phoenix, Margaret Baudinet said McGuireWoods has made everything very easy for them and supported them through the process.

We really couldnt ask for more, she said.
The continued push to cut funding to Planned Parenthood and other family-planning services, driven by anti-abortion fervor, does a disservice not only to us as individuals but to society as a whole.

None of us who supports choice is pro-abortion. We support the ability of a woman to confer with her health-care provider to determine what is best for her.

Lost in this debate is how to lessen the likelihood of a woman needing to even consider an abortion. The only way, of course, is to not get pregnant, and the most certain way of avoiding pregnancy is, of course, to not have sex  but we know how unrealistic that goal is. Second best is through appropriate contraception education and availability.

Virginia and national data (the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, Virginia Department of Health) find that 45 percent of all pregnancies are unintended, and 78 percent of Medicaid-covered pregnancies are unintended.

How does this affect society from a financial standpoint? In 2002, California initiated a program to expand its Medicaid family-planning demonstration project. Comparing pre- and post-enrollment contraceptive mix, 205,000 pregnancies were averted (Health Services Research, October 2007). Based on national data, this would have resulted in 94,000 births and 78,000 abortions, the remainder being miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies.

These pregnancies, if they had occurred, would have cost $1.1 billion (yes, billion) in public expenditures within two years and $2.2 billion within five years for medical and social service costs. The cost of the program, based on claims data, was $403.8 million. Thus, for every dollar spent on family planning, more than $5 was saved over five years.

Therefore, it is misguided to think that cutting family-planning funding will save money and reduce the budget. In fact, it is only going to cost much more over the long run. For those so concerned about abortion, cutting this funding could result in at least 78,000 more abortions.

If one truly wants to reduce abortion, supporting fact-based family planning is critical, as is easy and inexpensive access to contraception for those who wish to use it.

Remember, the primary goal of Planned Parenthood is to provide comprehensive, evidence-based health and contraceptive services and family-planning education.

David M. Heilbronner, M.D.

Charlottesville, VA 22902

 Public Savings from the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancy: A Cost Analysis of Family Planning Services in California; onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2007.00702.x/full
Via Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention, a guest post from Dr. Judy Guzman-Cottrill: Keeping Our Eyes on the Antimicrobial Stewardship Ball: Dr. Tom Price as the next secretary of HHS.

Many healthcare providers ponder what the incoming 2017 administration will mean for their work, including myself. Dan and Eli have already written several blog posts about public health funding threats. As my description above says, I'm a hybrid of sorts: a part-time pediatric infectious disease clinical faculty member at Oregon Health and Science University, and a part-time consultant to the Oregon State Health Departments HAI program.

First, weve all been thinking about our patients and their families. The next administrations plan for the Affordable Care Act seems to change constantly. During President-Elect Trumps campaign, he promised to completely repeal the ACA within his first hundred days in office. Post-election, he has suggested that the ACA will be repealed or amended. After meeting with President Obama, Mr. Trump has stated that he will maintain the continued coverage for preexisting conditions and young adult coverage on parents plans until 26 years of age.

Most recently, however, Mr. Trump selected Dr. Tom Price to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services. What will his leadership mean for our patients, including those who rely on Medicaid and Medicare? Dr. Price has also supported changes which would not require insurers to cover pre-existing conditions. Almost more concerning to me is that Dr. Price is a member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), an organization that vehemently opposes antibiotic stewardship legislation, has publicly opposed the IDSA Lyme Disease guidelines on several occasions, and whose executive director has publicly supported a potential link between MMR vaccine and autism as recently as 2015.

Important note: It is unclear to me which of these specific stances are also personally supported by Dr. Price. It would be good to know.

What about public health, MDRO prevention, and infection prevention? I already mentioned the AAPS opposition to antibiotic stewardship legislation. Will all of our hard work be left to the wayside? Over the past decade, I've been amazed by the accomplishments our field has made in improving judicious antibiotic use. Our surgical and critical care colleagues are finally starting to feel comfortable with shorter days of antibiotic therapy, and narrower spectrum. Hospitals are starting to fund physicians and pharmacists along with the informatics experts necessary to develop and maintain effective stewardship programs. During clinical rounds, even ID consultants are asking themselves, Does this patient really need more antibiotics? Or am I prescribing them a personal anxiolytic?!

Stewardship progress is everywhere, including NICUs across the country, partnering with the CDC, to decrease antibiotic exposure in neonates. I worry that Dr. Price, an orthopedic surgeon, will tout stewardship as needless control over physicians who should prescribe antibiotics to whomever, whenever they please.

ID clinicians and public health colleagues, lets all keep an eye on Dr. Price. We should be strong, vocal advocates for our at-risk patients and our public health programs, to ensure that our infection prevention and healthcare epidemiology work continues into the next decade.
An Elkwood man died Friday morning, possibly as a result of a single-vehicle crash.

According to the Virginia State Police, 66-year-old Floyd William Smith was traveling southbound on Route 620 at about 6:45 a.m. about a mile north of Angus Lane when his vehicle ran off the left side of the road.

The 2007 two-door Chevrolet station wagon crossed a field and struck a tree. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene; however, state police are still investigating whether he died as a result of injuries.

He may have had a medical condition that contributed to the crash and were not sure at this point what caused his death, said VSP spokesperson Sgt. Les Tyler.

Smith was the sole occupant of the car. He was not wearing a seat belt, Tyler said.

Trooper D.B. Daden is leading the ongoing investigation. He was assisted at the scene by the Culpeper County Sheriffs Office and the Richardsville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
A news release from WHO with some very good news: Final trial results confirm Ebola vaccine provides high protection against disease. And the Public Health Agency of Canada developed the vaccine, so Canadians can take a bow for funding the effort. Excerpt:

An experimental Ebola vaccine was highly protective against the deadly virus in a major trial in Guinea, according to results published today in The Lancet. The vaccine is the first to prevent infection from one of the most lethal known pathogens, and the findings add weight to early trial results published last year.

The vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, was studied in a trial involving 11 841 people in Guinea during 2015. Among the 5837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination. In comparison, there were 23 cases 10 days or more after vaccination among those who did not receive the vaccine.

The trial was led by WHO, together with Guineas Ministry of Health and other international partners.

"While these compelling results come too late for those who lost their lives during West Africa's Ebola epidemic, they show that when the next Ebola outbreak hits, we will not be defenceless," said Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHOs Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation, and the studys lead author.

The vaccine's manufacturer, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme, this year received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration and PRIME status from the European Medicines Agency, enabling faster regulatory review of the vaccine once it is submitted.

Since Ebola virus was first identified in 1976, sporadic outbreaks have been reported in Africa. But the 20132016 West African Ebola outbreak, which resulted in more than 11 300 deaths, highlighted the need for a vaccine.

The trial took place in the coastal region of Basse-Guinee, the area of Guinea still experiencing new Ebola cases when the trial started in 2015. The trial used an innovative design, a so-called ring vaccination approach - the same method used to eradicate small pox.

When a new Ebola case was diagnosed, the research team traced all people who may have been in contact with that case within the previous 3 weeks, such as people who lived in the same household, were visited by the patient, or were in close contact with the patient, their clothes or linen, as well as certain contacts of contacts. A total of 117 clusters (or "rings") were identified, each made up of an average of 80 people.

Initially, rings were randomised to receive the vaccine either immediately or after a 3-week delay, and only adults over 18 years were offered the vaccine. After interim results were published showing the vaccines efficacy, all rings were offered the vaccine immediately and the trial was also opened to children older than 6 years.

In addition to showing high efficacy among those vaccinated, the trial also shows that unvaccinated people in the rings were indirectly protected from Ebola virus through the ring vaccination approach (so called "herd immunity"). However, the authors note that the trial was not designed to measure this effect, so more research will be needed.
Pennsylvania-American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, announced last month that it had successfully acquired the wastewater system of the Borough of New Cumberland.

Not only that, Pennsylvania-Americans growing interests in the area will allow it to build a new headquarters in Lower Allen Township, the company announced.

Put simply, it appears that the overwhelming cost of upgrading and maintaining its treatment plant caused New Cumberland to seek a buyout, selling public infrastructure to a private company in order to avoid the future overhead costs of that infrastructure.

In an announcement about the sale, New Cumberland placed blame on federal and state environmental regulations, which the borough said required upgrades that its small user base was unable to pay for. New Cumberland has roughly 3,100 homes and businesses with wastewater connections.

Local boroughs and small townships do not have a large enough customer base to absorb the financial burdens of these mandates, nor the in-house staff to keep pace with increasing demands, the announcement read.

Pennsylvania-American bid $23 million for the entire infrastructure package, according to the borough.

Downsizing debt

Critically, this payment will allow New Cumberland to retire all of its outstanding debt  financing was procured to fund updates to the wastewater system. But repayments on bonds of such a size are hard to swing for a small municipality.

Local finance reports from the states Department of Community and Economic Development show that New Cumberland had borrowed $22 million since 2008, of which about $14.5 million was still outstanding.

As of 2014  the last available reporting year  the borough was bringing in $1,703,651 in wastewater user fees. But it was also spending $704,394 in operational costs for wastewater, and $1,155,717 in debt service.

All combined, wastewater and associated debt was eating through roughly 20 percent of New Cumberlands total $8,236,135 spend for 2014.

Pennsylvania-American offered considerable incentives. According to a news release from the company, it will invest a minimum of $2 million over the next five years in New Cumberlands wastewater infrastructure. Customers will also have their rates frozen until January 2018, Pennsylvania-American said.

The boroughs announcement noted that wastewater rate hikes of 40 to 60 percent would have been needed to give the borough enough cash to continue improvements on its own, and to continue to make debt payments.

Growing assets

While its a lot to New Cumberland, the $23 million transaction is a fairly small number for American Water, which listed $17.7 billion in net assets on its last quarterly report.

Late last year, the company also conducted a similar acquisition of Fairview Townships wastewater assets, which run adjacent to New Cumberland. Pennsylvania-American is also awaiting state approval to take over the wastewater assets of the Scranton Sewer Authority and the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport, the company said.

Buyouts of public utilities, and the rates set by those utilities are regulated by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission, which studies baseline operating costs for services and determines fair market rates as a check against the de-facto monopoly that most utility providers have.

But private acquisitions of such utilities have come under fire, given the companies like American Water, while subject to public oversight, still operate as for-profit entities.

American Water is a publicly traded company  the countys largest publicly-listed water and wastewater corporation. Its largest holders of stock, according to the companys security filings, are several Vanguard funds and other major investment vehicles used by pension and 401(k) accounts.

Like many companies, American Water is also heavily dependent on debt, tax advantages, and its own stock price.

The company listed $6.6 billion in net debt principal in its 2015 annual report  a burden which places it at a net deficit of working capital, the filing noted.

This position, the company wrote, means we can provide no assurance that we will be able to access the debt capital markets on favorable terms, if at all. Moreover, if new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks we now face could intensify, limiting our ability to refinance existing debt on favorable terms.

American Water listed $2.74 billion in revenue for 2015 from its regulated public utilities, plus another $434 million from its non-regulated service branches. But the company also noted that it claimed over $1.6 billion in net operating loss (NOL) against its state and federal taxes for 2015.

These deficits, carried forward from year to year, allow companies to significantly reduce or eliminate their tax burden, even though some of their operations may still be running in the black.

Taxes

This tax question has gained considerable national prominence since the New York Times revealed that current president-elect Donald Trump claimed $916 million in NOL carry-forwards on his 1995 tax returns, which likely allowed his company to pay zero tax for up to 20 years.

At the same time, American Water has reported consistent payouts to shareholders for many years, with last years dividend at $1.36 per share. The company also authorized a stock buy-back in the range of 10 million shares, according to its filings, in order to raise its stock exchange price.

American Water also raised base compensation for its CEO last year, from $700,000 to $800,000 in salary. Its chief executive is also eligible for up to an additional 100 percent of base pay in performance-based bonuses, and another 200 percent of pay in stock options.

Pennsylvania-Americans new headquarters will be located on Wesley Drive in Lower Allen, with a new building constructed next to the companys existing operations facility.

Approximately 80 employees will relocate from Derry Township to Lower Allen once the facility is completed in 2018, the company said in a release.

Pennsylvania-America serves roughly 39,000 customers in its water and wastewater network that runs through York and eastern Cumberland counties. The company serves 2.3 million customers statewide, and American Water all together serves 15 million people in the US and Canada.
Carlisles two Rotary Clubs hosted their annual holiday dinner and auction on Dec. 9 at the Comfort Suites in Carlisle, raising $35,300 from donations, sponsorships and matching pledges.

The auction success was a team effort between the members of both the Rotary Club of Carlisle and the Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise, event chairperson Cindy Gleim-Pool said.

Carlisle-Sunrise Rotarian Marv Salsman took the lead in soliciting numerous local and national businesses for donations. Along with fellow Rotarians, he generated 84 silent and live auction items. Carlisle Rotarian Bill Blankmeyer took the lead in soliciting sponsorships, generating over $9,000. It was a truly awesome effort.

Funds raised from the auction will be used to qualify for a Global Grant from the Rotary International Foundation to support water projects in Kilimambogo, Kenya, a poor community in East Africa. Funds raised by local Rotary clubs are multiplied by a factor of 3 times through the Rotary International Foundation Global Grant process, meaning the total amount available to support water projects in Kilimambogo will exceed $123,000.

The Kilimambogo project is led by Carlisle Rotarians Dr. Charles Stoup and Kathleen Stoup. Over the years, more than $200,000 has been raised through fundraising efforts of the two Carlisle Rotary Clubs and other clubs in the US, Germany and England, as well as matching funds from Rotary District #7390 and the Rotary International Foundation.

Money raised at this years auction will focus on clean water to support sustainable agriculture. With water for existing greenhouses, the Kilimambogo community will be able to produce its own food for HIV/AIDS orphans and hospital patients and still have extra produce to sell to support the hospital and orphanage. An additional project will be the purchase of solar panels to reduce dependence on costly and unreliable electricity.

The Rotary Club of Carlisles President Shawn Farr and the Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrises President Kevin Dowling invite community members to join one of the two Rotary clubs. The Carlisle-Sunrise Rotary Club meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:15 am in the Market Cross Pub.

For those not able to attend a breakfast meeting, the Carlisle Rotary Club conducts a lunch meeting at noon on Thursdays at the Comfort Suites. Additional information about the two clubs can be found at http://www.carlislesunrotary.com/ and http://www.carlislerotary.org/.
It brightens her day to watch the light bulb go on in a teenager who once struggled to grasp a concept.

I love teaching for the very fact I am able to see students experience something new, said Sherisa Nailor, one of six people across the country to receive an Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award on Nov. 30.

Presented by the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the awards recognize those members who are at the pinnacle of their profession in conducting high quality school programs.

I am honored and humbled, said Nailor, one of two agriculture teachers at Big Spring High School. She added the selection process for the award speaks more about the quality of the local program than to her individual success as a local educator since 2006.

Im very proud of our program, she said. Together we have been able to build great support within the community.

Nailor attributed the success of the program the backing it receives from parents, the community and the school board.

The award recognizes leadership ability in civic, community, agriculture, agribusiness and professional activities, according to a press release issued by Big Spring School District. Outstanding agricultural educators are innovators and catalysts for student success, the release reads.

The most fulfilling part of the job is when youths embrace the challenge and come to realize how lessons learned in the classroom can make a real-world difference when they take ownership of the future, Nailor said.

Her course offerings include Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Honors Animal and Veterinary Science, Food Science and Safety and Introduction to Agribusiness. Students who take the Introduction to Agribusiness course can earn college credit.

She is constantly updating her curriculum to include new labs and activities that are relevant to what is currently happening in agriculture, science and technology, the press release reads.

Nailor encourages each student to keep a project outside of class called a Supervised Agricultural Experience through which they can earn up to four credits toward graduation. They choose and design their own program to put what they learn to use, Nailor said. The projects can range from a job at the local grocery store to raising a herd of cattle or conducting scientific research.

The SAE part of the curriculum required her to establish relationships with local welders, veterinarians, food service companies and animal care facilities to provide employment and experiences for her students.

She has done a tremendous job of writing new curriculum and organizing student activities that support agriculture in the 21st century, said Richard Fry, superintendent of Big Spring School District. She has been able to accomplish this feat while respecting the fine moral and cultural values that have existed in our community for generations of dairy farms.

A Silver Spring Township native, Nailor wanted to be a teacher since she was a young girl. Both her parents were agriculture education students and members of the organization formerly known as Future Farmers of America.

I always heard about it growing up, said Nailor referring to her parents and their experiences in high school. She enrolled in the agriculture education program and FFA at Cumberland Valley High School in part because of the leadership opportunities the organization offered.

When I got into classes, it really sparked in me a passion for agriculture, especially in the animal realm, Nailor said. She met her future husband while they were students in the agriculture education program at CV.

She graduated from high school in 2001 and went on to earn her teaching degree from the Penn State University College of Agricultural Science. She and her husband own and operate a dairy farm outside Mechanicsburg.

School-based agriculture education programs are growing across the country, Nailor said. She said there are 140 programs across Pennsylvania including three in Cumberland County  Big Spring, Cumberland Valley and Shippensburg.

Though school districts across the state are facing budget constraints from rising pension and health insurance costs, Nailor is optimistic agriculture education programs will stand the test of time. For one thing, such programs offer a unique connection to real-world situations that give greater meaning to lessons learned in math and biology  areas that are emphasized in standardized testing, Nailor said.

She added one goal of public education is to prepare students for a future where one in five jobs are tied directly to agriculture and food supply. Jobs in those careers are going to need an educated workforce.
Maruti sales are high in rural areas despite the fact that a large percentage of people here prefer to buy new vehicle through cash when compared to urban areas.

New Delhi: Indian carmaker Maruti Suzuki on Friday said that after contraction in bookings in November due to demonetisation, it saw 7 per cent positive growth in December.

In rural areas Maruti saw a growth of 18 percent in sales in December against a dip of 11 per cent in November despite cash crunch in these areas.

Maruti sales are high in rural areas despite the fact that a large percentage of people here prefer to buy new vehicle through cash when compared to urban areas. The double-digit growth in sales in rural areas is contrary to reports of cash crunch following note ban.
New Delhi: Tata Motors today said it is likely to sign an agreement with the Indian Army for the sale of 3,192 Safari Storme SUVs after the Christmas holidays to replace the iconic Maruti Gypsy that has been serving the land forces for decades.

"We are now exchanging first draft of the contract. We hope that after the Christmas holidays we will be able to sign it," Vernon Noronha, Vice-President, Defence Business, Tata Motors Ltd, said here.

He said the Army was looking for a vehicle with a hard top that runs on diesel and has climate control. "Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra were the last two to be in the fray and when the envelope opened, we gave a better deal to the Army," he said adding that they have finished with the contract negotiation committee meetings.

While the initial number of vehicles is just 3,192, the Army has over 35,000 gypsies to be replaced. "We have set our eyes firmly on that," Noronha said. The Tata Motors official added that if the Army wants any variants, the company will be happy to provide.

Tata Motors is also eyeing the nearly Rs 70,000 crore project for future infantry combat vehicles (FICVs) for the Army. Two of the five private contenders in the fray, apart from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), will be selected for building the prototype.

The government will fund 80 per cent of the development cost. The best prototype will then be selected for mass production. The contenders are L&T, Mahindra, Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering and two consortium of Tata Motors-Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED-Titagarh Wagons. Once signed, this will be the second major order for Tata Motors this year. They had got a Rs 1,300 crore deal in January to supply high-mobility military trucks for the Army.
Mumbai: The bitter boardroom battle at the heart of Tata Sons has put a spotlight on the vulnerability of India's independent company directors who stand-up to, or take on a dominant shareholder.

Tata Sons is not only fighting former chairman Cyrus Mistry, who has complained of mismanagement and corporate governance failures within the company, but is now also trying to oust Nusli Wadia - one of the group's most fiercely vocal independent directors - after he publicly backed Mistry.

While Mistry has resigned from all listed Tata entities, Wadia was removed from the board of Tata Steel on Wednesday. Tata Motors and Tata Chemicals will vote on Wadia's ouster on Thursday and Friday.

Such corporate infighting is not rampant in India, but the latest events could set a dangerous precedent, suggesting an urgent need to relook at the role of independent company directors in the country, experts say.

"What is at stake right now is not an independent director. What is at stake is the independence of independent directors," said L. Iyer of LVV Iyer & Associates.

"If independent directors are under constant threat of being removed ... why would they act in an independent manner?"

In developed markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, independent directors are relatively protected as shareholdings are much more diffused. But in India, listed firms are dominated by a major shareholder, making it easier for the latter to stamp out dissenting independent voices.

Of the 1,594 listed and actively traded firms on India's main bourse, some 88 per cent have dominant shareholders with 30-80 per cent stakes, data from Prime Database shows.

TEST CASE

Tata Sons is the single-largest shareholder in the group companies where Wadia is an independent director. Mistry's Shapoorji Pallonji family owns about 18 per cent of Tata Sons.

To oust Wadia, Tata Sons needs to call for a special shareholder meeting and win a simple majority vote. The dominant shareholder, who is calling for the ouster, is not barred from voting on the issue.

"I think this particular case will be effectively the test case for how robust the regime (India's company law) is or whether any further changes need to be made to it," said Umakanth Varottil, an associate law professor at National University of Singapore.

India's market regulator SEBI, however, said there was no immediate need to change the norms around independent directors.

"I, at this stage, don't foresee any particular compelling reason to review that," Chairman UK Sinha has said.

India has only recently moved to recognise the role and the significance of independent directors. The function was formally introduced into the Companies Act 2013.

The law details the duties of independents - from looking after interests of minority shareholders to scrutinising management performance and providing objective views on strategy decisions and other matters.

"The institution of independent directors in India is quite nascent, so if you allow independence to be compromised at this stage, then things can go wrong," said Iyer.
The company said that the acquisition provides an upstream integration opportunity to Tata Steel to meet its metallic requirements

New Delhi: Tata Steel today said it has signed an agreement to acquire Odisha-based iron ore pellet manufacturer BRPL for Rs 900 crore in cash. Brahmani River Pellets Ltd (BRPL), which had a turnover of Rs 452 crore in 2015-16, owns a 4 million tons per annum capacity pellet plant in Jajpur and a 4.7 million tons iron ore beneficiation plat in Bardil, Odisha.

A 220-km slurry pipeline connects the pellet plant with the beneficiation plant. It manufacturers iron ore pellets for iron and steel industry. "The acquisition provides an upstream integration opportunity to Tata Steel to meet its metallic requirements and improving the feed mix for its Kalinganagar steel plant and Jamshedpur steel plant," the company said in a statement.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in four months. It also needs approval from RBI and other regulatory bodies to restructure BRPL's balance sheet, including shareholders loan and advances.

"The acquisition of the company is being made at an enterprise value of Rs 900 crore plus closing adjustment," it said. BRPL was incorporated on August 24, 2006 and is engaged in the business of acquisition and beneficiation of iron ore and the manufacture and sale of iron ore pellets.

Pellets are used as agglomerates in the iron making process. The company was originally established by the Moorgate Industries Group (MIG), which continues to hold a significant stake in BRPL through its shareholding in AMTC.

MIG was formed on demerger from the Stemcor Group of Companies as part of a UK court-approved restructuring in 2015.

"Tata Steel Ltd announces that it has executed definitive agreements to acquire 100 per cent equity shares of BRPL from Arya Mining and Trading Corp Pvt Ltd (AMTC) and other companies in the MIG," the statement said. The acquisition will be funded from internal cash flows of Tata Steel.

Koushik Chatterjeee, Group Executive Director (Finance & Corporate) and member of the Tata Steel board said: "The location of the BRPL assets makes this very strategic to Tata Steel especially to our Kalinganagar operations and has significant operating synergies to make our Kalinganagar plant even more competitive for the future."

The iron ore from Tata Steel's captive mine in the Joda and Khondbond region will be transferred in future through slurry pipeline to reduce freight costs significantly.

Also,the pellet plant and other infrastructure will enhance the operating efficiency and reduce costs of blast furnace and operations in Kalinganagar.

"To build a similar facility would have taken significant time and costs and therefore, this acquisition is very timely as we are looking to ramp up the capacity of the Phase-1 Kalinganagar.

This is also a demonstration of our commitment to the state and people of Odisha," he said. Tata Steel currently has an aggregate capacity to produce 28 million tons of crude steel and had a turnover of USd 17.69 billion in FY16.
Company said it reached an agreement and that US District Judge Charles Breyer had ordered settlement approval documents be filed with the court by the end of January.

San Francisco: Volkswagen has said it had reached an agreement in principle with owners of 3.0-liter cars affected by its emissions cheating scandal.

The announcement yesterday follows this month's USD 1 billion settlement with US authorities for the roughly 80,000 vehicles in the 3.0 liter category, involving the buyback, repair or cancellation of leases for the affected vehicles and helping the company inch closer toward putting the scandal behind it.

In a statement, the company said it reached an agreement and that US District Judge Charles Breyer had ordered settlement approval documents be filed with the court by the end of January.

Elizabeth Cabraser, lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the class-action suit, said in a statement that owners would receive "substantial compensation in addition to an emission modification or buyback, depending on the generation of vehicle."

Volkswagen admitted last year it had installed software in as many as 11 million vehicles sold worldwide to circumvent tests for emissions while enabling them to release up to 40 times the permitted amounts of nitrogen oxides during actual driving.

Volkswagen in October finalized a record USD 15 billion settlement for 2.0-liter Volkswagen and Audi vehicles but faces a pending criminal probe by US authorities into the emissions cheating case.
Credit Suisse would provide consumer relief totaling $2.8 billion over the course of five years post settlement

Geneva: Credit Suisse said Friday it had reached an agreement with US authorities to pay almost $5.3 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

"Under the terms of the settlement, Credit Suisse would pay to the DoJ (US Department of Justice) a civil monetary penalty of $2.48 billion," the Swiss banking giant said in a statement.

"In addition, Credit Suisse would provide consumer relief totaling $2.8 billion over the course of five years post settlement," it said.

The settlement, which still needs approval by the bank's board, would release Credit Suisse from "potential civil claims by the DoJ related to its securitisation, underwriting and issuance" of mortgage-backed securities, it added.

The business was mostly carried out from 2005 to 2007, it said.Just hours earlier, Germany's Deutsche Bank said it had agreed to pay a total of $7.2 billion (6.9 billion euros) to settle a case with the DoJ over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis.

On Thursday, the DoJ sued the British financial giant Barclays, accusing the bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities, which contributed to the global financial crisis of 2008.
As on December 1, state-owned Food Corporation of India had 27.55 milion tonnes of foodgrains, of which wheat was 16.4 million tonnes and rice was 11 million tonnes,

New Delhi: Amid tight supply of wheat in the domestic market, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today ruled out possibility of import of the grain on government account saying there is adequate buffer stock to meet the requirement under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The government has recently scrapped import duty on wheat to boost domestic supplies and curb price rise. The private players has imported more than 1.7 million tonnes of wheat so far and more shipments are expected at zero Customs duty.

Asked if the government would undertake wheat imports, Paswan said: "That situation may not arise as we have adequate stock in the central pool to meet the PDS requirement."

As on December 1, state-owned Food Corporation of India had 27.55 milion tonnes of foodgrains, of which wheat was 16.4 million tonnes and rice was 11 million tonnes, he told media while briefing about his ministry's achievement in 2016.

Although there is tight supply situation, the Agriculture Ministry has been maintaining wheat output to be higher at 93.55 million tonnes for the 2015-16 crop year (July-June),which the industry has countered and said the output has lowered to 86-88 million tonnes.

Explaining the reasons behind removal of import duty, Paswan said, "It was done purely to control prices.

We have enough stock for PDS requirement but in the open market there is tight position. The zero import duty will not be permanent." Asked if the Food Ministry believes the Agriculture Ministry's wheat estimate for 2015-16, the Minister said, "In every meeting, we have asked for accurate and realistic data.

They say the data is right. So,there is no question of not believing in the data of the other ministry." Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande said, "We did not take decision based only on the figures of the Agriculture Ministry. We have also taken into consideration that there is some issue with production. We took decision taking into account both Agriculture Ministry's estimate of around 94 million tonnes and industry's figure of 88 million tonnes."

While there are doubts about last year's wheat output data, there are concerns about this year's wheat crop as the Met Department has projected warmer winter. Although the acreage so far is higher, but experts said any rise in temperature during February-March may affect crop yields. The Agriculture Ministry is targeting a record 96.50 million tonnes of wheat output for 2016-17.
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Both the films have earned rave reviews for their original content and spectacular performances.

Mumbai: Indian biopics 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' and 'Sarbjit' have made it to the long list of 336 feature films eligible for the Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the list of films in contention for the best picture Oscar on Wednesday.

To make it to the 2016 Academy Awards list, feature films must have played in a commercial theatre in Los Angeles County between January 1 and December 31 for at least seven consecutive days. The exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format, must have a running time of more than 40 minutes.

Apart from the Sushant Singh Rajput and Randeep Hooda starrer films, Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair's directorial venture 'Queen of Katwe' is also part of the list. Starring Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and newcomer Madina Nalwangas, the film is based on real-life events and chronicles the inspiring story of an underdog from the streets of rural Uganda.

The list also include awards season favourites 'La La Land,' 'Moonlight,' 'Manchester by the Sea,' 'Silence,' 'Arrival' and 'Hacksaw Ridge.' Superhero movies 'Deadpool,' 'Suicide Squad,' 'Captain America: Civil War,' and 'X-Men: Apocalypse' also made the cut.
Mumbai: A lot many rumours regarding Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukones supposed break-ups and consequent patch-ups have been doing the round for the longest time.

The two, who are collaborating again, albeit not opposite each other, in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati, however, has thrown secrecy and caution to the wind and flown off to Dubai, to bring in Christmas and New Years, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Dressed in all-black attires, the two entered the plane, minutes apart from each other.

They reached the airport at around 10 pm. Ranveer, who was the first to arrive, posed for a few pictures. Deepika was spotted making a more hurried entry soon after. While the shutterbugs tried to coax them into revealing their destination, they evaded the question with a smile, Mumbai Mirror quoted a source as saying.'

'Padmavati' also stars Shahid Kapoor in the lead role.
Unlike Salmans previous girlfriends, Iulia sure knows how to keep him wrapped around her finger. Just when everyone was beginning to think that things arent all that great between Salman and Iulia, she is back in India and by his side.

Even the badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan is giving her the attention and respect that he may not have given to Salmans previous girlfriends. In the few months that Iulia disappeared from India, Salman got linked with Amy Jackson and even Urvashi Rautela. But with Iulia presenting an award to Shah Rukh recently and dancing to a few numbers on stage, Salman has made it clear that neither Amy nor Urvashi are his love interests. It is only the Romanian news anchor who holds his heart, for the time being at least.
One of the first screenings of the new Hrithik Roshan starrer, Kaabil, will be held for Rajinikanth, who showered praise on the actors performance in the films trailers.

Says a proud Rakesh Roshan, Im elated by Rajinis praise. If you remember, Hrithiks first film, Bhagwan Dada, was with Rajini. Hrithik was only 12-years-old when he faced the camera with the legend.

Bhagwan Dada had released in 1986, and was directed by Hrithiks maternal grandfather, J. Om Prakash. Little Roshan had played the protagonist Govinda, who reforms the criminal Bhagwan, played by Rajinikanth.

Hrithiks self confidence in front of the camera even back then had taken Rajinikanth by surprise, and he had predicted stardom for Hrithik. Says Rakesh fondly, That an iconic superstar like Rajini has complimented Hrithik makes me a very proud father. Weve been friends for years, and although we dont get the time to speak regularly, Rajini and I respect one another immensely, and this will never change. The last time Rajini spoke with me was during the release of Krissh, when he had complimented both Hrithik and me.

A special screening of Kaabil is on the cards for Rajini, announces Rakesh. Were going to show Kaabil to Rajini very soon. The movies Tamil and Telugu versions are all set for release simultaneously with the Hindi version on January 25.
Mumbai: 'Lion', which features an international cast like Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara and British actor of Indian descent Dev Patel, apart from Indian actors like Deepti Naval, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is nominated in four categories of the Golden Globe Awards.

The film had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival. Post which on 16th of November they held a premiere of the movie in New York as well.

Where the former President of America gave a surprise appearance to see the film with its star cast Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Priyanka Bose and Sunny Pawar, the eight-year-old Indian boy who plays the younger Dev Patel in the movie.

When asked Priyanka about her experience meeting the former president of the states she said, He shook everyone's hand and we thanked him for being there. After the film was over, Dev, Little Saroo and I went through the guarded exit to thank him again. He greeted the three of us with so much generosity. He told Dev, he was a big fan of his work. He told me, that my performance moved him to the core. But there's one thing he told Sunny, that I translated for him, that I will never forget. This would be etched in my heart and DNA forever. We will be nothing without the choices we make.

Lion is directed by Garth Davis and follows the story of a young Indian boy who gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, India, thousands of miles from home. He endures many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia and then, 25 years later, sets out to find his lost family.
Vjayawada: Protests erupted against the movie, Vangaveeti from different quarters. Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, son of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, met the Director General of police N Sambasivarao and raised his objections with the movie.

The movie, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, is said to be a biopic of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga who was killed in gang wars of Vijayawada during 1988.

The movie has landed into a major controversy from the date of its its announcement. The Radha Ranga Mitra Mandali, followers of Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, also raised objections over the film and warned of the consequences if the film goes against their sentiments. Director Ram Gopal Varma met Radha Krishna and his mother before the release of the film but the talks did not go off well.

Now when the film released on Friday the members of Radha Ranga Mitra mandali protested and raised slogans at Y Screens multiplex located in Pundit Nehru Bus Station against Varma and demanded the withdrawal of the title of the movie as it does not reflect the facts. Also at Santosh theatre in Ajith Singh Nagar the followers of Ranga staged protest by performing kseerabhisakam to Ranga portrait. Police have intervened and disbursed the mobs at both the locations.

Mr. Chandana Suresh, a close aid of Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, said that the movie is filled with half truths and does not depict the character of Mohana Ranga. Projecting Ranga as a Rowdy ignoring all the good work he has done is objectionable and we object the way the character of Ratnakumari is shown in the film, he said. We are planning to approach the court to seek censoring of objectionable content, he added.

Former MLA, Malladi Vishnu who has close association with Vangaveeti family, said that Ranga has worked for the peoples rights on various issues. He fought with the then dictatorial government and got killed for that. If all this is not reflected in the movie it will be only a publicity stunt by the director to attract the public attention, said Mr Vishnu.
People who help are known to live as long as seven to ten years more than they would have. (Photo: AFP))

Berlin: Older people who help and support others may live longer than those who do not, a new study has claimed.Researchers, including those from Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany, conducted survival analyses of over 500 people aged between 70 and 103 years, drawing on data collected between 1990 and 2009.

The researchers compared grandparents who provided occasional childcare with those who did not, as well as with older adults who did not have children or grandchildren

but who provided care for others in their social network. The results of their analyses show that this kind of care-giving can have a positive effect on the mortality of the

carers.

Half of the grandparents who took care of their grandchildren were still alive about ten years after the first interview in 1990. The same applied to participants who did not have grandchildren, but who supported their children - for example, by helping with housework. In contrast, about half of those who did not help others died within five years.

The researchers were also able to show that this positive effect of care-giving on mortality was not limited to help and care-giving within the family. The data analysis showed that childless older adults who provided others with emotional support, for example, also benefited. Half of these helpers lived for another seven years, whereas non-helpers on average lived for only another four years.

"But helping should not be misunderstood as a panacea for a longer life," said Ralph Hertwig from Max Planck Institute for Human Development. "A moderate level of care-giving involvement does seem to have positive effects on health. But previous studies have shown that more intense involvement causes stress, which has negative effects on physical and mental health," said Hertwig.

As it is not customary for grandparents in Germany and Switzerland to take custodial care of their grandchildren, primary and custodial caregivers were not included in the

analyses. Researchers think that prosocial behaviour was originally rooted in the family.

"It seems plausible that the development of parent's and grandparent's prosocial behaviour toward their kin left its imprint on the human body in terms of a neural and hormonal system that subsequently laid the foundation for the evolution of cooperation and altruistic behaviour towards non-kin," said

Sonja Hilbrand from the University of Basel in Switzerland. The study was published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour.
Washington: Coming back from a soothing trip can leave people in a refreshed state, but what awaited Erich Burger after a memorable trip to Zambia was something he had never anticipated.

When the Baltimore resident returned home, he headed to the community hospital after having chills and fever for a week. But what Erich thought of as malaria from his trip to Africa, was found to be a rare disease seen only 40 times in 50 years in the US when haematology technician took a close look at the blood tests.

The disease was not only rare but its lethal and is known to kill quickly. But while the disease was threatening Burgers life and he was in a race against time, there were people who did the right thing at the right time and managed help Burger.

While the doctors were looking for malaria parasites, they encountered a few rare parasites which were in low numbers on the slide and couldve been missed. The disease called trypanosomiasis has two forms and is spread by tsetse fly found in rural Africa.

The kind encountered in West Africa is known to kill in up to three years and the rarer east African variation kills in a matter of months. While Burger remembered being bitten on the trip as he said it was too hot to wear anything but shorts or t-shirts.

After the source of the disease was verified, the medicines had to be figured out, a medicine developed in 1920 called Suramin is used to care east African trypanosomiasis if its in blood, an in case it reaches the nervous system, a much more toxic arsenic called melarsoprol needs to be used.

To check whether the disease had infected the nervous system, a spinal tap had to be performed for examining the clear fluid surrounding the spine, but it was a risk in case the infection hadnt reached the spine, as inserting a pin in the spine could send parasites from the blood to the spine and eventually infect the nervous system.

Burger was given a dose of Suramin in order to reduce level of parasites in the blood, a treatment which lasted for four hours and once it was done, they checked the spine and were relieved when they didnt find any parasite or infection on the spine.

Elrich Burger was feeling better within days and was eventually discharged, but still needs to undergo one more treatment for rashes he developed and since the drug can be toxic to kidneys and liver. He also has to get a spinal tap done every six months for two years to make sure parasites arent in the nervous system.

He is grateful to the doctors and is even planning on faming the image of parasites found in his blood, although he isnt averse to the idea of visiting Africa again.
In the first procedure, surgeons will remove more than three-quarters of the patient's stomach (Photo: AFP)

Mexico: A Mexican man believed to be the world's most obese plans to undergo gastric bypass in the new year and reduce his 590 kilos (1,300 pounds) by half, his doctor said Wednesday.

The man known as Juan Pedro has diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic lung obstruction, and needs to reduce his weight dramatically to reduce his health risks, doctor Jose Castaneda Cruz said.

He said the man, who does not give his family names to media, would actually undergo a couple procedures along the way.

"It's surgery that is going to be done in two parts. That is because of the high risk of complications he faces. So it's going to be done in two parts, six months apart," Castaneda told reporters. In the first procedure, surgeons will remove more than three-quarters of the patient's stomach.

And in the second procedure, his remaining stomach will be partially blocked, helping to give a feeling of fullness. Juan Pedro would also undergo intestinal surgery, his doctor said.

Castaneda wants him to lose 59 kilos in the first six months, which alone reduces his risk of obesity-related cancer by 52 percent.

Juan Pedro, 32, has a good chance of losing half his body weight by about six months after his first surgery, according to his medical team.

"Slowly but surely, I'll get there," Juan Pedro told reporters.
Bengaluru: Thirty-five-year-old Wizdan Khadim from Iraq was suffering from severe headaches and dizziness for over two years that was being dismissed by local doctors as age-related.

After a visit to a multi-specialty hospital in Iraq when she started slurring and became forgetful, an MRI revealed that she had a tumour on the left part of her brain. The tumour was of the size of a small coconut and doctors back home told her chances of her survival post-surgery were very slim.

Iraqi doctors recommended a brain surgery, and they referred her to Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road. The tumour approximately measured 8 x 7 x 6 cm, said Dr Rajakumar Deshpande, Director, Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road.

His team opted for a brain surgery using a technique called computer-assisted Neuronavigation with the help of Advanced Neuro operating 3D microscope. Sodium fluorescent dye was used to pinpoint the location of the tumour. The tumour causes blood-brain barrier to break and portions that are accessible by the dye are the ones that are tumorous. This helps in keeping the healthy part of brain safe during surgery, he explained.

Computer-assisted Neuronavigation allows surgeons to navigate inside the skull with the help of specialised computers that process the scans of affected area in the brain and convert them to three-dimensional images. It also consists of an infrared dual camera system that tracks the surgeons instruments during surgery and displays their position. In the case of a tumour, the doctor is able to pinpoint the exact location of the growth and excise it with utmost precision reducing the harm to normal nerves and tissues nearby, he said.

There were risks of loss of vision in the left eye, given the size of the tumor. It took us more than 10 hours to operate and remove it, he said. The doctors had warned us about the risk of losing vision in the left eye, but I am happy that she can see now. Her right hand has gained mobility and legs are improving, said Wazims brother. Dr Deshpande also recently visited Iraq for a follow-up. She is doing fine now, he summed up.
Climate change has resulted in reduced snowfall is many parts of the world, and hence they may not enjoy a pretty white Christmas. (Photo: Pixabay)

This Christmasis not going to be a white Christmas for many. Yes, climate change has resulted in reduced snowfall is many parts of the world, and hence they may not enjoy a pretty white Christmas. But the reasons for a happy green Christmas is because of great returns some are enjoying with their green investments.

I remember when I was building Our Native Village, my 100% eco resort in Bangalore in 2005, everyone told me that green and sustainability concepts are foolish. In 2008 when oil hit $100 a barrel, I was suddenly declared a visionary! Most people still think that investing in green is foolish. This wrong view of green&sustainability investments needs to change, as the reality is far from the truth.

The World Research Institute (WRI), recently released a report where they debunked some of the prevailing myths in sustainable investing. They interviewed 115 investment professionals  including asset owners with $1.26 trillion under management  and found thatenthusiasm for sustainable investing is surging. Already, more than $8.7 trillion of investment capital is managed using environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in U.S. markets alone, a 184% increase since 2010. This reflects investments in green infrastructure, renewable energy, affordable housing and more, as well as investments that more integrate the broader ESG factors.

Morgan Stanley, in a report titled Sustainability Reality says that investing in sustainability has usually met, and often exceeded, the performance of comparable traditional investments. This is on both an absolute and a risk-adjusted basis, across asset classes and over time, based on their review of US-based Mutual Funds and Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs). The report studied more than 10,000 mutual funds found that sustainable equity funds usually had equal or higher median returns and equal or lower volatility than traditional funds.Investing in these solutions can be riskier over the short-term, but these managers have conviction they will achieve outsized returns over the long-term by bringing some of the early capital into companies creating the transition to a sustainable economy.

While all these respected entities have endorsed the idea of and shown the reality of green and sustainable investments, there is still a lot of doubt, confusion and scepticism among investors. I believe that this is because of ignorance of the facts. It is also comfortable and safe for investment managers to look at business as usual and follow the same kinds of proven investment strategies. This has to change.

Some of the scepticism is however based on the 2010-2011 clean tech bust when the likes of Sun Edisson went bankrupt. While this is grounded in reality, there is a difference in the fundamentals that govern the markets between then and now. The clean energy market as a whole is experiencing a surge. Installed capacity of wind and solar have grown annually by close to 40-50% over the last decade. Prices of storage in general and lithium batteries have dropped dramatically. For the first time, we have businesses committing to low carbon emissions, with more than 640 companies and investors committing to climate action through the We Mean Business coalition.

We are entering an unprecedented era in the world. Changes that we thought will never happen are becoming a reality. The investment ecosystem is also changing rapidly and will require nimble footed investment advisers to adapt fast. The smart and wise investors will see the trend and reap the benefits of a transforming world economy. The not so smart ones, stuck in the legacy of the past will lose out.

Which one do you want to be? Merry Christmas!
Some quirky, some funthese customs will remind you how the festivals are all about feeling happy and positive. In Puerto Rico, locals do the parrandas where they go door to door singing to wake their unsuspecting friends. After a small party at each stop, the owner of the house joins the brigade too. In Ukraine, following a folklore, the residents decorate their trees with webs to welcome good luck in the New Year.

In Spain at midnight on New Years its a tradition to eat 12 grapes  one with each chime to ensure 12 months of happiness and luck ahead. In Morocco during Hanukkah, revellers indulge in orange or anise flavoured doughnuts. In Mongolia, the Buddhists celebrate the lunar New Year (Tsagan Sar) by snacking in ul boov, a tower made from Shoe-sole shaped cakes.

In Finland, small tin horseshoes are melted for fortune telling. The liquid tin is poured into a bucket of cold water where it freezes. The new shapes are interpreted to predict the coming year. In Philippines, round foods which symbolise coins are eaten. They usher in prosperity.

 Source: www.mentalfloss.com
The victim revealed that Narsing assaulted her sexually and threatened her not to reveal about it to anyone.

Hyderabad: A 53 year old auto driver who allegedly raped a nine-year-old girl in Bowenpally was arrested on Thursday. Police said that the victim, daughter of a vegetable vendor, accompanied her mother to the vegetable market when she went to collect money from her customers. While the mother went inside the market to collect the amount, Narsing sexually assaulted the girl on the rear seat of the vehicle. Narsing was produced before court and sent to remand.

According to Police, the victims mother, a resident of Hasmathpet, makes a living by supplying vegetables to people in the market. On Monday morning, after supplying vegetables, in the evening she hired Narsings auto and went to the Seetharampuram market to collect the amount from the buyers. Her daughter a class IV student accompanied her to the market. After reaching the market, Narsing parked the vehicle behind the market and the victims mother went into the market to collect the amounts, while the victim stayed in the vehicle. After half an hour the woman returned and they drove home. On Tuesday the victim girl complained of severe stomach pain and when her parents took her to hospital, doctors confirmed that she was sexually assaulted.

Initially the girl could not tell anything to her mother as she was in shock. But on persuasion, she revealed to her mother about the incident. Bowenpally Inspector K Kiran said.

On further inquiry, she revealed that Narsing assaulted her sexually and threatened her not to reveal about it to anyone.

A complaint was lodged on Wednesday and a case under Protection of Children from Sexual offences act and on charges of rape were registered. Special teams nabbed Narsing on Thursday while he was moving in his vehicle. He was sent to remand and his vehicle was seized.
Chennai: A 19-year-old college student riding triplet with his friends was killed after cops involved in vehicle-check threw a lathi on him to thwart his attempt to evade the cops, on Ormes Road, Kilpauk, during the small hours on Thursday. The deceased identified as L. Mukilan, (19), resident of Nammalvarpet, Ayanavaram, and first year student from an arts college from the city, was riding with his two neighbourhood friends - Santhosh and Kishore, when the mishap occurred around 2.40 am.

Sources said Mukilan swerved the bike away when constable Purushothaman (Kilpauk police) tried to block them while home guard Siva leaped and hit Mukilan with lathi causing the biker to lose control. Mukilan who was riding without helmet fell down sustaining grievous head injuries. The cops rushed him to KMCH where doctors declared him dead on arrival. A WhatsApp message too went viral sparking outrage in social media. Kilpauk Police had registered a case of unnatural death under the provisions of CrPC and forwarded it to RDO to inquire.

Mukilan went out on his bike on Wednesday night telling me that he was going to eat out. His mother told me that he had gone for a night show. At 3 am, I woke up to find that he hadn't come home. Two hours later, a boy came home and told me that Mukilan was in an accident and admitted to KMCH. A few minutes later, cops too delivered the same message at my doorsteps. We dont know what happened. Some say that the police using lathi on him led to the accident. Cops are not saying much about it, Mukilan's father Leela Krishnan told DC.

Mukilan is survived by his father who runs a barber shop, mother and a techie-sister.

Though the instruction of the city Police top brass is clear on not to use of lathis during vehicle check, the said cop-duo had resorted to the use of the same. The issue is taken up for an internal probe. Earlier on November 7, two college students were grievously injured on Kamarajar Salai near Light House when a police constable used force to stop them for not wearing helmet.
New Delhi: Four-year-old son of CEO and editor-in-chief of a leading news magazine was allegedly molested on multiple occasions by his karate teacher in southeast Delhi's Lajpat Nagar, police said on Thursday.

The four-year-old boy told his parents the accused allegedly touched him inappropriately when he was in the change room, police said.

The boy was molested on a couple of occasions. The victim expressed reluctance about going to the karate classes and when he was prodded, he confessed to his parents about his teacher's act, they added.

The boy was always accompanied by his mother or maid-servant when he went to the classes and the accused used to molest him when he would go to the change room, police said.

The accused, identified as Deepak, is currently absconding, said a senior police officer.

Police sources said the accused had apologised to the victim's family and the matter has been settled. But since an FIR has been registered in the matter, only court can quash or dismiss it.
The agency added that investigation conducted by it so far "revealed the said firms are selling the illegally mined granite blocks in the international/domestic market in excess of the declared quantity and realised the sale proceeds. (Representational image)

Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday issued a fresh attachment order worth Rs 44 crore in connection with its money laundering probe in the Madurai granite scam case in Tamil Nadu.

The agency, in a statement, said it has "provisionally attached properties worth Rs 44 crores of Ms Aiswariya Rock Exports Madurai and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"The agency had similarly attached assets worth Rs 528 crore in the same probe case few days back.It booked a criminal case of money laundering in the latest case against two people and their firms after taking cognisance of three police FIRs.

"During the investigation under PMLA, it was noticed that one Sankaranarayanan and PKM Selvam were running two firms M S Granites and Ms Sri Aiswariya Rock Export and they have entered into a criminal conspiracy to illegally quarry multi-colour granite stones from the non-lease hold lands.

"They have also resorted to illegal quarrying from the government Poramboke lands by removing the boundary stones erected by the Revenue department.They used various machinery and explosive materials, without adhering to statutory obligations and safety precautions causing harm to human lives.

"They forged and fabricated documents for transporting illegally acquired granite blocks so as to cheat the statutory authorities and to camouflage illegally earned income," it said.

The agency added that investigation conducted by it so far "revealed the said firms are selling the illegally mined granite blocks in the international/domestic market in excess of the declared quantity and realised the sale proceeds.

"The same were re-invested in acquisition of the immovable properties, capital goods among others and got further additional revenues. Thus, the proceeds of crime were integrated and projected as money acquired through legitimate business," the agency said.

The two individuals, it said, "utilizing the said crime proceeds, acquired immovable properties in their personal names, in the name of their spouses and in the name of their firms.

It was also noticed that the crime proceeds were also invested in certain fixed deposits.

"Investigations revealed that proceeds of crime were invested in 31 immovable properties having a market value of over Rs 43 crores and in 37 fixed deposits to the tune of Rs 1.52 crores.

"As these properties are involved in money laundering, the said 31 Immovable properties and 37 fixed deposits have been provisionally attached under the provisions of PMLA," it said.

An attachment of assets action under PMLA is aimed to deprive the accussed from taking benefits of their suspected ill-gotten wealth and such an order issed by the agency can be appealed before the Adjudicating Authority of the said Act within 180 days.

The granite scam came to the fore after the then District Collector U Sagayam in a report in May 2012 pegged the loss to the exchequer due to illegal granite quarrying in the district at about Rs 16,000 crore.
Pune: To realise their dream to become wrestlers, four youths in Pune resorted to robbery and chain-snatching but their luck ran out as police arrested them finally.

Police seized gold ornaments, three motor cycles, 10 mobile handsets and cash worth Rs 5.24 lakh from their possession on Tuesday.

"All these accused were obsessed with wrestling and wanted to become wrestlers by joining traditional wrestling centre called 'talim' in Kolhapur, and in order to mitigate the expenses, they started robbing people on roads and resorted to chain snatching," an officer attached to Kothrud police station said toady.

The quarter is identified as Amar Karadkar (23), Bhagwan Margale (20), Kuldip Walmiki (23) and Nilesh Deshmane (23).

He said they used rob commuters on knife-point and had also targeted truck drivers on highways.

On Tuesday, police beat marshals found Karadkar and Margale's movements suspicious, who were on their bike in Kothrud area. "When the police personnel inquired, they started giving vague answers, but later spilled the beans and revealed names of their two accomplices," he said.

Investigation so far has revealed the youths have allegedly committed multiple offences of robbery in various areas in the city.
Jaipur: An additional superintendent of police of the Anti-Terrorist squad of Rajasthan Police allegedly shot himself dead after killing a woman on the outskirts of the city, police said on Friday.

Before killing himself with his service revolver, Ashish Prabhakar also allegedly shot dead a woman in his car. The bodies were recovered from his car Thursday night in Shivdaspura area, police said.

Prabhakar was disturbed for the last few days and left office early on Thursday evening and went to Shivdaspura area, they said.

Prima facie, Prabhakar shot the woman dead after some quarrel before allegedly committing suicide inside the car. He had also made a call to the police control room, saying two bodies were lying in a car, before taking the extreme step.

Efforts are on to identify the woman.

The bodies have been shifted to a hospital for post-mortem and the matter is being investigated, the police said.
Guwahati: After writing a hard-hitting letter to the Manipur Chief Minister, the ministry of home affairs on Friday rushed union minister of state home Kiren Rijiju to Manipur to review the law and order situation there.

The union home minister has taken serious note of Manipur chief ministers remarks accusing him of asking to release United Naga Council leaders. Authoritative security sources in the home ministry told this newspaper that Rajnath Singh had never asked or advised Manipur CM to release UNC leaders.

Kiren Rijiju was asked to convey a very strong message to the state government to end the deadlock at the earliest. Security sources said that Centre was also prepared to step in if chief minister continues to do dilly-dallying with the law and order issues. Security sources did not rule out the possibility of home ministry exercising its power of imposing Presidents rule in the state.

Asserting that from the day the problem started, there were 60 companies of paramilitary forces at the disposal of the state government, security sources said that additional 14 more companies of paramilitary forces were rushed to the state but they were not deployed judiciously to check the outbreak of violence in the state.

Security sources said that creation of a new district has been a 40-years old demand of Manipur hills but chief minister chose to revive this controversial issue knowing very well that Naga people would not take it kindly. The decision was aimed at to provoke the Naga community, sources in the home ministry said.

Indicating that union minister Mr Rijiju has been sent to convey the message of the home ministry to the state, security sources said that law and order has always been the state subject be it national highways or railways.

Security sources said that home ministry was of view that entire situation was precipitated by the chief minister who wanted to polarize a particular community of valley against the people living in the hills in the run up to the assembly elections next year.

Meanwhile, Mr Rijiju who met Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh on Friday at Imphal told reporters, This is a humanitarian crisis. We want that the Manipur government end the blockade as early as possible. Whatever assistance from the central government is required, we will give.

He also clarified, There is a constitutional duty of the state government to bring back normalcy and they should ensure that there is no blockade along the highway.
New Delhi: An undated letter of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung surfaced on Thursday in which he has written to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi apprising him he would be on a private visit to Goa from December 25 to January 1.

However, in a surprise move, Jung resigned on Thursday, three days before he was scheduled to go on the seven-day trip.

"I will be undertaking a private visit to Goa from December 25, 2016 to January 1, 2017. I will leave Delhi in the afternoon of Sunday, 25 December 2016, and will be back on evening of Sunday, 01 January 2017," Mr Jung has said in the undated letter.

In the letter to Union Home Secretary, Mr Jung says that in his absence, Delhi Chief Secretary would keep in touch with him about important developments.

"Chief Secretary will keep in touch with me about important developments, and where necessary, seek your advice," he has said.

Earlier in the day, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung resigned amid a protracted confrontation with the AAP government.

Without citing reasons, Jung's office said he has submitted his resignation to the Centre. Jung, 65, a former IAS officer, had assumed charge of Lt Governor of Delhi on July 9, 2013.

"Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has submitted his resignation to the Government of India. He thanks the Prime Minister for all the help and cooperation he received during his tenure," the LG's office said in a statement.
New Delhi: Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rajender on Friday said he received much clarity about GST law and the compensation that the Centre has promised for the state.

After taking part in the two-day GST council meet, Rajender said, "The central government has assured to compensate for the revenue loss once in every two months and make necessary adjustments to disburse a grant in case of a rise in compensation."

Seeking Telangana's third tranche of currency in lower denomination, he said so far 90 per cent of the currency Telangana received was in Rs 2,000 causing much difficulty for people.

"We have requested the union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the RBI also to release the third instalment in smaller denominations in Rs 100 and Rs 500," he said.

According to Rajender based on Telangana contribution to the GDP, the share of currency that the state should receive is pegged at around around Rs 30,000 crore.

However, he said, "The state has just received Rs 20,700 crore so far. We hope the remaining currencies would be released at the earliest."

The finance minister also said he offered some ideas to the union minister for increasing state and centre revenues.
Union minister for urban development M. Venkaiah Naidu hands over the Open Defaecation-free city award under Swachh Bharat to municipal commissioner S. Nagalakshmi in Delhi on Thursday. Minister of state for information and broadcasting Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is also seen.

GUNTUR: Guntur has become the first city to get Open Defecation-Free tag in Amaravati capital region. The Union government and Swachch Bharat Mission presented the ODF city certificate to Guntur Municipal Corporation.

However, the residents are demanding an end to the problem of overflowing drains and closure of open drains to switch the district headquarters into a Smart City. A major part of the Guntur city is inundated during rains and floods.

The absence of an underground drainage system and poorly built outfall drains are the main cause of inundation.

Guntur citizens believe that UGD and modernisation of outfall drains will save the city from inundation every time it rains. Construction of 7,160 individual household latrines and e-toilets have helped end the problem in Guntur.

There are about 180 slums in the city and open defaecation was identified in 18 of these. The GMC promoted individual toilets to end the menace. The GMC had constructed 7,160 toilets to meet the needs of 30,000 people who used to defaecate openly.

The Swachch Andhra Mission selected Guntur city to implement the pilot project following which the GMC conducted a survey and decided to build toilets in 7,160 houses in the first phase of Individual Household Toilets scheme.

Besides promoting toilets, the GMC also ensured water supply to ODF targeted areas of the city which gave good results. GMC officials said that the people of 18 localities used to go to open places, including burial grounds to answer natures calls. Ironically some used the drains for defaecations.

The officials said that Rs 15,000 per toilet was sanctioned to each beneficiary and further provided public water taps which turned the open defecation areas into ODF localities.

Residents of Gorantla said that the open drains were resulting in open defaecation and urination. They said that the city turns into a group of ponds during rains.
Hyderabad: Income-Tax officials have found Rs 7 crore deposited in a cab drivers account in the State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH) in the city. The money was in the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Investigation wings of the I-T, Enforcement Directorate and the CBI are grilling the driver who has not explained the source of the money to the satisfaction of the investigators.

CCTV footage shows two persons depositing the money in the cab drivers account. They have been taken into police custody. They confessed that they were accomplices of the cab driver. A source from the I-T department said that the cab driver transferred the amount to a bullion trader soon after the deposit.

Drivers account not used for long, says I-T

We are focusing on a bullion trader. We suspect money laundering behind the deposit and fund transfer. Although the cab driver says the money belonged to him, we are handing the case over to the ED in view of the money laundering, sources said.

Another official said that the cab driver wanted to pay tax on the amount under the Prime Minister's Gareeb Kalyan Yojana scheme. He should pay Rs 3.5 crore towards tax under the scheme. But some objections are mentioned in case the source of income is from crime-related activities. We are verifying this aspect of the matter, the official said.

During the course of the investigation, I-T teams found that the cab driver's account had been dormant and had not been used for months. The two accomplices of the driver have revealed that the money was spent on purchasing gold from the bullion trader, another source said.

The investigative agencies have also found that bank staff violated rules in accepting the deposit. Nationalised bank staff should inform officials if the deposits or fund transfers are of huge amount. We are verifying the role of the bank staff, an officer said.
Pakistan had in September approached World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under IWT. (Photo: Representational Image)

New Delhi: The inter-ministerial task force, set up by Modi government to look into strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, discussed ways to fast-track hydropower projects of 8500 MW-capacity in Jammu and Kashmir during its first meeting held in New Delhi on Friday.

Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principal secretary Nripendra Mishra, the meet was attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar as well chief secretaries of Punjab and J&K.

"The issues of fast-tracking implementation of hydroelectricity projects in Jammu and Kashmir were discussed during the meeting. We discussed what will be the ways of financing and structuring of the projects," top sources said.

These projects including Tulbul Navigation, intended at developing India's rights over both eastern and western rivers, will require consent of government of Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to get back to the task force next month on the issues discussed, they said.

"We will take it forward only when there is consent of the Jammu and Kashmir government. The state's representative did not have mandate. So, the representative will speak to their Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) and after that we can take the implementation forward," they added.

India has identified setting up hydroelectricity projects of a total of 18,000 MW capacity. Of these, 3000 MW have already been established.

The Centre now intends at further development of 1800 MW capacity projects including Ratle (850 MW) in the first phase. In the second phase, 5500 MW capacity projects are expected to be developed.

"These projects are on both the Eastern (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) and Western rivers (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum). We will develop capacities in accordance with our rights under the water distribution pact," the sources added.

Meanwhile, on asked about the government's meeting with World Bank expert to discuss Pakistan's objection overKishenganga (330 MW capacity) and Ratle projects being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said a communique to this regard is "awaited".

Pakistan had in September approached World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under IWT. It had then demanded the international lender to set up a Court of Arbitration to look into the matter.

Refuting the claims made by Pakistan, India had asserted that the project design is "well within parameters" of the treaty and urged the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert as the issue is a "technical matter" as suggested in the treaty.

The international lender had then set up two separate mechanisms of COA as well as the neutral expert, which India objected to. The mechanisms were then "paused" by the Bank in view of the objections.

The inter-ministerial task force was formally formed last week, nearly three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the 56-year-old water distribution pact with Pakistan in the aftermath of series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack.

In that meeting, it was also decided that India would exploit to the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers including Jhelum.

Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 and to which the World Bank is also a party, the global body has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
CHENNAI: Expressing shock at reports of Vice Chancellors of State Universities meeting V.K. Sasikala, confidante of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalihtaa, Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Thursday urged Governor CH.Vidyasagar Rao to remove them from their posts. He requested the Governor to initiate appropriate action in the capacity as Chancellor of universities under the relevant rules and regulations of their service conditions to remove them from the post of Vice Chancellors.

He wanted the Governor to effectively prevent the politicisation of the office of the Vice Chancellors and belittling the dignity of the autonomous status of the universities in the State in order to ensure quality higher education to the youngsters who are the future of this country. In a letter to the Governor, Stalin said Vice-Chanvellors of more than ten Universities in Tamil Nadu had met Sasikala and the Governor should intervene to uphold the decorum and dignity of the offices of Vice Chancellors.

Academicians who are the torch bearers of higher education in the State calling on a person who is not holding any public office is unethical, unwarranted and unconstitutional. Such attitude on the part of vice chancellors prove that their loyalty is neither for the academic excellence of the state nor for the Chancellor of the Universities, Stalin said. He said it is atrocious to read the comment of the just retired Vice Chancellor of Dr.Ambedkar Law University the vice chancellors felt that they should also extend support to the ruling party.

Though some of the vice chancellors claimed that they had been there to express condolence to the departed leader, the intention of the meeting is well articulated in the AIADMKs official print Dr Namadhu MGR. The paper had published a photograph of the academicians posing with Sasikala with a caption saying that they had called on her to urge her to take over the leadership mantle.
Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day's visit to Maharashtra on Friday, where he will lay foundation stones for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the metro rail projects in Mumbai and Pune.

Modi will inaugurate the newly-built campus of the National Institute of Securities Management in MIDC Patalganga in neighbouring Raigad district.

He will then proceed to the site in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast, where the state government is planning to build a mega memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The Prime Minister's visit assumes political significance as the high-stake elections to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are just a few months away.

The main feature of the Shivaji memorial, slated to cost Rs 3,600 crore, will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the iconic Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop, roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently said the 'Shiv Smarak' will not only be the tallest memorial in the country, but in the entire world. He had thanked Modi for "making it possible."

Later, Modi will address a public function at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) ground in suburban Bandra, after laying foundation stone for two Metro rail projects, Elevated Rail Corridors Project and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party is an ally of ruling BJP, is expected to share the dais with Modi at the MMRDA event.

The PM will then leave for Pune, where he will lay the foundation stone of the Pune Metro Rail project. NCP leader Sharad Pawar will share the stage with Modi at this event.

The memorial project has been facing stiff opposition from fisherfolk and environmentalists, who have alleged that it would affect marine life and ecology of the Arabian Sea.
Almora: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the Centre over demonetisation and called the move economic loot, while addressing a rally in Uttarakhands Almora.

Congress wants to remove corruption from the country. Any step taken by the Modi-led govt, be it big or small, it will be supported by the Congress party. But note ban was not a move against black money, neither was it a move against corruption. Note ban was an economic loot, Rahul said.

Because of the move, more than 100 people have died in the country. We were not allowed to stand in two minutes of silent for the deaths of these people in Parliament, he added.

Earlier, Rahul had called the move the biggest impromptu financial experiment undertaken by the Prime Minister and claimed it was only causing trouble to the poor.

Directly taking on the PM, Rahul said Modi had been attacking the poor people of the country for the last 2.5 years.

Gandhi asked the Prime Minister to name those "thieves" who own the black money stashed in Swiss banks.

"The Swiss government has provided the list of all black-money holders to the Modi government. Why does he not place the list of thieves before the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha? We want to know who are these thieves. You should put their names before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," he said.

"Why didn't you bring back (Vijay) Mallya and Lalit Modi from London?" he asked.

Gandhi accused Modi of snatching away the hard-earned money of the country's poor and giving them to banks to write off bad loans. He said demonetisation was introduced to waive Rs 8 lakh crore loans the "super rich" owe.

"Gareebon ka paisa kheencho, amiron ko seencho. 99 per cent imaandaar ka paisa kheencho, 50 pariwaron ko seencho. Yeh hai notebandi ki sachhai, (Take away the money from the poor and help the rich. Take away the money from the 99 per cent honest people and help the 50 super-rich families. This is the truth of note ban)." he said.
Jaipur: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying his decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was scripted to "execute a mammoth scam of Rs eight lakh crore".

The Prime Minister has demonetised high currency notes to waive off Rs 1.14 lakh crore loans of industrialists and he is now planning for another waiver of Rs 8 lakh crore, he said at a party rally in Jaipur.

The Delhi Chief Minister accused Modi government of sheltering Vijay Mallaya and allowing him to fly abroad in lieu of kickbacks. He also alleged that the Rs 1,200 crore loan of the beleaguered liquor baron has been waived.

"Birlas and Saharas were raided by I-T Department when Narendra Modi was the Gujarat Chief Minister. Huge cash was found but the probe is pending.

"Documents reveal that Birlas paid Rs 12 crore out of 25crore bribe amount whereas Sahara paid Rs 40 crore," Kejriwal claimed.

Loans worth crores of industrialists have been waived off by the Prime Minister but the poor farmers and small traders have not got any relief, he said, adding, in fact, demonetisation has adversely affected their business.

"If Modi wants to curb corruption and bring out black money then he must arrest 648 citizens who have their accounts in Swiss Banks," he said.

"I have 24 cases against me but in more than a month's time no case has been registered against me, which means I am speaking the truth," he said.

Countering audit exemption to political parties on depositing demonetised notes, Kejriwal claimed, BJP and Congress get 70 to 80 per cent of the donations in cash whereas AAP gets only 8 per cent.

"Why political parties should be exempted from audit. Before urging people to go cash less, Modi and his partymen should learn to refuse donations in cash.

He said, "I have researched and understood the Centre concept of demonetisation. Corruption and black money have not eliminated from the system at all.

"People were earlier accepting bribe in Rs 1,000 notes and now they are taking Rs 2,000 notes which is much easier to hoard. Due to demonetisation, only common man has suffered who had to stand in ATM and bank queues," Kejriwal added.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP today attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his allegations on Centre's demonetisation move saying many people are spreading "wrong information" about the move.

"There are many who are spreading wrong information about demonetisation. But, the people of this country are with the Prime Minister," BJP state president Ashok Parnami said in a statement.

He also advised Kejriwal to focus on Delhi.

"Though there is freedom to hold rallies and meeting anywhere in the democratic country, Kejriwal should serve his people in spite of trying to take political mileage," Parnami added.
CHENNAI: As they were scouring through his vast bungalow for incriminating documents and unaccounted cash, I-T sleuths on Wednesday confronted former Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao with an audio recording of his conversation with his friend J. Sekhar Reddy on December 6, the day late J. Jayalalithaa was cremated. The telephonic conversation Mr Rao had with Mr Reddy asking him to safe keep the cash seems to have led the I-T investigators straight to his doorstep.

Deccan Chronicle had on Thursday morning reported that innocuous phone call gave the vital clue to investigators about the link between the two. Income tax sleuths had kept Sekhar Reddys phone under watch. Sources in the I-T department told this newspaper that they confronted Rao with the audio recording during the raids at his residence in posh Anna Nagar in the city. The two, while in conversation, were using more code words. As of now we could not decode it. And Rama Mohana Rao was not ready to disclose much, sources said.

3 of his business associates arrested:

Following the arrest of PWD sand contractor J. Sekhar Reddy and his associate Srinivasalu on Wednesday after seizure of gold and cash Rs 131 crore cash including Rs 34 crore worth new notes by income tax department, the CBI arrested three more people, believed to be his business associates on Thursday. The arrested were identified as Rathinam of Vellore, Ramachandran of Pudukottai and Prem Kumar of Chennai. The three are believed to have helped Reddy to change old notes worth Rs 34 crore to new notes. All were booked under sections of criminal conspiracy, cheating and the prevention of corruption Act.

Rathinam and Ramachandran are partners in Reddys sand mining company while Prem Kumar handled the accounts of the company, sources said. All the three were produced in CBI court in Madras high court complex and were remanded to judicial custody till January 4.
New Delhi: India on Friday said it was ready for talks with Pakistan on any issue provided that the country creates an atmosphere for fruitful dialogue and stops taking help of violence and terrorism.

Reacting to recent comments made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Islamabad wants peaceful settlement of matters with India, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "We have never refused talks, but Pakistan has to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Pakistan needs to stop supporting terrorism. Pakistan should create a healthy atmosphere for talks."

Insisting that it was Pakistan which has to ensure that there are suitable conditions for bilateral talks, he said, "What we see is repeated incidents of cross-border firing at the LoC and terror attacks. Every other day, there are instances of infiltration. They are attacking our soldiers."

"It should create an atmosphere where they don't take the help of violence and terrorism. And then we are ready for talks with Pakistan on any issue," he added.

On Pakistan Foreign Ministry alleging that India was trying to change the demographic composition of Jammu and Kashmir, Swarup said that country has no locus standi to make such comments.

Asked about the comments by a senior Pakistani General that New Delhi should "shun enmity" with Islamabad and jointly reap the benefit of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, he said it was a Chinese initiative which goes through sovereign part of India and Indian concerns over the issue have already been conveyed to parties concerned.

The USD 46 billion CPEC aims to connect China's western parts with the Arabian sea through Balochistan's strategic Gwadar port. India has already expressed concern over the project that also passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The third, fourth and fifth grade students at West Elementary School in Park Hills joined together to raise $515 and collect more than 220 items for the Farmington Pet Adoption Center  all in about a weeks time.

Kara Wallace, library media specialist for Central and West Elementary schools, suggested the idea to some of her West students shortly after the schools successful canned food drive.

Being my first year in the library and with the holiday season, I wanted to do something to give back to the community, she said. We had just done the canned food drive last month, so we decided to focus on animals because theyre still in need this time of year as well. So we got together and I got the pet adoption center wish list of things they need.

They told me they have 179 dogs and over a hundred cats right now in need. So we put things together and I went out and got the hot 2016 'Hatchimal' toy  I thought that would bring in a crowd.

Students then bought tickets for one dollar each for a chance to win the toy, with all the proceeds going to the pet adoption center. Money was also raised by direct donations to the cause from students and their families.

To add some more fun to the effort and to create a bit of healthy competition, a class contest was launched to see which class could bring in the most physical items for the adoption center.

The class with the most items got a pizza party, said Wallace, which ended up being Jodi Jones fourth grade class with a total of 71 items collected.

Fourth grader Peyton Nier was the lucky winner of the Hatchimal and another fourth grade student, Suzannah Huddleston, won a $25 gift card.

Despite the short duration of the drive, Wallace said she was thrilled with the outcome.

We started a week ago, she said on Tuesday. Just one week. I was amazed at the generosity of the kids  I was overwhelmed at the response we got, especially doing this for the first time. And the student council also gave $100 towards helping out as well.

Even though there were some prizes to be won, students were more focused on why they were having the contests in the first place.

It was fun, Wallace said. And a lot of the kids said that it would be nice to win the Hatchimal, but they were excited about just being able to help the animals  It makes all of us feel good.

The Farmington Pet Adoption Centers mission is to find homes for the Parkland's homeless pets. According to its official website, the organization is a not-for-profit, no-kill animal shelter. At normal capacity, FPAC houses about 175 pets, most of which are waiting for adoption.

The shelter is supported solely through the generosity of the surrounding community and businesses, and the proceeds from its Second Chance Resale Store.

The adoption center and thrift store are both located at 2901 U.S. 67, about a mile and a half south of Farmington. For more information, visit farmingtonpet.org.
Coimbatore: Solar scam accused Saritha Nair on Friday said she would move a higher court against the three year sentence awarded to her by a court in Kerala on December 16 in a cheating case.

Saritha, who arrived in Coimbatore to depose before the sixth magistrate court in another cheating case, told reporters that she would soon appeal against the verdict in a higher court.

A court at Perumbavoor in Kerala had awarded three-year imprisonment to both Saritha and co-accused Biju Radhakrishnan and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 each on them.

The first class judicial magistrate there had delivered the verdict in a case filed by one K M Sajid, who was cheated by the duo, who took Rs 40 lakh from him assuring him that a solar panel system would be established for him in Tamil Nadu and near his house in Kerala.

Police had launched a probe against Saritha and Biju based on a complaint by Sajid in February 2013, accusing them of cheating him of lakhs of rupees.

The sixth Judicial Magistrate, before whom Saritha deposed on Friday, posted the case for January 10.

The scam is being probed by a judicial commission set up by the previous Congress-led UDF government.

The scam pertains to alleged duping of several persons to the tune of crores of rupees by Saritha and Biju by offering solar panel solutions.
MADURAI: Fearing divine wrath, people of Alanganallur village near Madurai observed a fast on Thursday, demanding the immediate intervention of the Central government to lift the ban on the traditional Tamil sport of jallikattu. The field (pottal area) near the temples where young tamers practice with bulls for the bull-taming event during the Pongal festival is empty. The village tanks or channels where bull owners train bulls for swimming to enhance their muscle strength and stamina are dried up.

Nature has already punished us without rain for not conducting jallikattu for the last two years. If we dont conduct the sport for the upcoming Pongal (in January 2017), our village deities will show their wrath by spreading disease, said 55-year-old farmer Malaiswamy who could not cultivate his five acres.

The apex court is passing judgments without understanding our culture and religious significance of jallikattu, said Veeramma (57) from the village. Women claim that more people are dying unnatural deaths in the last two-years in the village because they did not conduct jallikattu.

Even if the Central government does not lift the ban on jallikattu, we will conduct the sport this year, she said. The villagers buried their political differences to put up a united fight for the fast. The DMK Madurai rural district secretary P Murthy, local AIDMK and CPM functionaries participated in the protest. The villagers also decided to organize a yagam and vilakku poojai in front of the vaadivasal on Friday.
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said the state will have a network of national highways of total 5,303 km, once the existing projects are completed.

Beginning a short discussion on 'National Highways, Road and Buildings in the state', in the Legislative Assembly, KCR said the erstwhile governments had "neglected" the state when it was part of Andhra Pradesh, before division.

"The Centre has sanctioned new national highways with combined length of 2,776 km to Telangana. The total highways that were constructed during the past 70 years (from 1947 to 2014), were only 2,527 km. During the past 2.5 years, the state has managed to get sanctions from the Centre for laying 2,776 km of 18 new highways. The total length of the national highways in the state would increase to 5,303 km," Rao said.

Minister for Roads and Buildings T Nageswar Rao said Telangana had 24,250 km of roads at the time of formation of the state on June 2, 2014.

He said the state government has decided to develop 12,000 km of roads, including 357 bridges with an expenditure outlay of Rs 13,380 crore.

"The government has completed construction of 7,500 km long roads so far by spending Rs 4,000 crore," the minister told the Assembly.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare C Laxma Reddy said the government is mulling to start 'bike ambulances' in the state capital and remote tribal areas for the convenience of the people.
Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung is seen with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday described the resignation of Lt Governor Najeeb Jung a "surprise" move while his deputy Manish Sisodia said working with him was a "bitter-sweet" experience, but the AAP government and Jung did a "good job in Delhi together".

Kejriwal and Sisodia spoke to Jung over phone and wished him luck for his future. The Delhi Chief Minister said it was "good" working with him. "Jung's resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours," Kejriwal tweeted.

The Deputy CM said, "I spoke to him (Jung) who told me he was feeling tired and wanted to work for education. During the 49-day regime as well, we had bitter-sweet experience with him. In health, education, electricity, we and the L-G worked together."

"Despite all the bitter-sweet experiences, I can say that together with Najeeb Jung we have good job for Delhi," he tweeted.

On being asked about names of Puducherry's Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and former Delhi police chief B S Bassi doing the rounds for the post of the Delhi L-G, Sisodia said it is prerogative of Centre to depute Lt Governor.

"We want cooperation from the Centre. We will fight for the people's interest if there is no cooperation from the Centre," he said.

However, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party slammed Jung, saying he worked under the "influence" of the Modi dispensation.

"Good wishes to Najeeb Jung for his future endeavour. God should give some good sense to them who controlled him. Will the war continue even after Jung's (exit)?" Delhi minister Kapil Mishra said.

Senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas termed Jung's tenure "disgraceful".

Vishwas alleged the L-G troubled the Delhi government at the behest of Modi dispensation and took a jibe saying Jung would get a "better posting".

"The Modi government promotes its people. We hope, he gets a better posting after this. I am unhappy that his tenure was disgraceful. Now that he has gone, good luck to him.

"Najeeb Jung's behaviour was not his. He was under the influence of someone. We hope the next L-G gives priority to issues concerning people and does not work under anyone's influence," Vishwas said.

In a sudden move, Jung today resigned amid a bitter confrontation with the AAP government.

Without citing reasons, Jung's office said he has submitted his resignation to the Centre. 65-year-old Jung, a former IAS officer, had assumed charge of Lt Governor of Delhi on July 9, 2013.
New Delhi: Amidst stiff Chinese opposition to banning of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar by the UN, India on Friday said it does not want to "prejudge" the outcome at the expiry of the current "hold" by Beijing next weekend.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also reiterated that India's case against Azhar was very strong and there was no logic in not designating him a terrorist while his outfit- JeM- is proscribed by the United Nations since 2001.

Asked what will India do if China sticks to its position and continue with its "hold" beyond the expiry of current extension, he said, "Let's not prejudge the outcome of what happens. We will of course plan our strategy based on the outcome on that particular day."

Last week, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang in Beijing had said, "As for India's application for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and listing issue pursuant to resolution of 1267 (to list Masood as terrorist), China's position remains unchanged."

China had in October extended its "technical hold" on India's move to get Azhar banned by the UN. The current extension will expire this month-end and if China does not raise further objection, the resolution designating Azhar a terrorist could stand passed automatically.

On NIA charge sheeting Azhar and others in the Pathankot attack and how India can get him from Pakistan in the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries, Swarup said there are certain channels which were available but refused to give any further details.
She represents the Pamarru (SC) Assembly constituency in Krishna district and becomes the 21st MLA from YSRC to cross over to the ruling party since February this year. (Photo: DC)

Vijayawada: YSR Congress MLA Uppuleti Kalpana on Friday joined ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh in the presence of party national president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who formally re-admitted her into the party.

She represents the Pamarru (SC) Assembly constituency in Krishna district and becomes the 21st MLA from YSRC to cross over to the ruling party since February this year.

Kalpana was a member of the TDP and unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls twice in 2004 and 2009.

She joined the YSRC ahead of the 2014 elections and won the Pamarru seat.

Despite being in the opposition party, she maintained good relations with her former colleagues in the TDP and for the past few months had been toying with the idea of returning to the parent party.

With Chandrababu giving the go-ahead, she formally returned to the TDP today.

Kalpana said she joined the TDP to develop her constituency.

"As an opposition MLA, I couldn't develop the constituency and hence decided to return to my parent party," she claimed.

TDP state president Kala Venkata Rao was also present on the occasion.
New Delhi / Hyderabad: Passengers may soon be able to use biometric details for security checks at airports with the government putting in place the system after receiving good feedback for a pilot project that was run in Hyderabad.

Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told the news agency PTI that having biometric systems for passengers at airports appeared to be a good idea.

Biometric access was experimented at Hydera-bad (airport). The feedback was good... biometric system appears to be a good system security-wise, Mr Raju said.

Without much fanfare, the authorities carried out a short-duration pilot project using the biometric system at the Hyderabad international airport last year. Asked about the project, officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad said the biometric security check proved every effective.

It was tested out last year, and was available only for domestic travellers. Airport officers said it had received good response from passengers. The airport had also tried out e-boarding facility, which eliminated the need for manual stamping of boarding cards.

Asked whether the project for biometric systems would be rolled out at various airports, Mr Raju said a framework has been put up for the authorities concerned.

Modernisation is a continuous process and they will keep doing it. I am not at BCAS or DGCA... We have to give them the policy frame (work). That is what we have done and we are working, he said.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is responsible for security of the sector while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the sectoral regulator. Airports Authority of India had awarded a contract worth over Rs 110 crore to the public sector undertaking BECIL for providing biometric access control system at 43 airports. This contract basically pertains to access for employees through biometric systems.
NEW DELHI: In keeping with governments declared policy, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday okayed defence requirements with an eye to promote indigenisation.

In all, four acceptance of necessity (AON) proposals were approved, including procurement of 1,500 indigenously designed and developed modernised nuclear, biological and chemical protection systems for fitment in the Armys infantry combat vehicles for Rs 1,265 crore.

Infantry combat vehicle till now were equipped with nuclear, biological and chemical protection systems that had to be manually operated. These new automated systems would be equipped with sensors for the strike forces, said a source familiar with the move.

Bharat Electrical Limited (BEL) will be making these systems. The Indian Armys strike formations operate the Russian-origin Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty or BMP infantry combat vehicle for swift insertion of combat soldiers to the battle zone.

For the Indian Air Force, the defence ministry has approved another heavy transport C-17 Globemaster aircraft to further enhance the strategic airlift capabilities. India already operates 10 C-17 Globemasters that it had procured from the US in June 2011 for Rs 18,646 crore.

Valued at Rs 419 crore, 55 three-dimensional low level lightweight radars (LLLR) have been approved for the Army and the IAF. These DRDO-designed radars will be manufactured by BEL. The existing LLLRs have got only two-dimensional capability.
Hyderabad: Tax increase is a must to provide quality infrastructure and civic facilities for the city. The GHMC must increase its property tax, trade tax and other civic charges and stop relying on the government for funds, said Union minister Venkaiah Naidu here on Friday. The Union minister lashed out at the GHMC officers for being blind to illegal constructions and nala encroachments.

The GHMC should generate more revenue through its services. Citizens will not mind paying extra if quality service is provided. The GHMCs priority should be motorable roads, clean toilets, sufficient public transport, parks and playgrounds. Fines for open defecation should only be imposed when proper service are in place, he said.
New Delhi: The home ministry has asked digital payment and e-commerce companies to beef up their cyber security mechanisms to prevent any attack from the virtual world in the wake of surge in digital payments triggered by demonetisation.

Sources in the home ministry said that information technology ministry and other agencies concerned have been told to communicate the concerns of the government to the companies involved in e-commerce.

They said the threat of cyber attacks cannot be ignored especially when the government is asking people to adopt digital payments as the new way of life. The sources said cyber security of many companies is still vulnerable which gives the hackers an opening to attack them.

They did not make it clear whether they have any specific intelligence input about a possible cyber attack or whether the missive was a routine cautionary exercise to the companies to upgrade their systems.

Deputy national security advisor Arvind Gupta had recently red-flagged the vulnerability of banking industry that has rapidly gone digital over the years. In the recent past, he had said, several high profile attacks have taken place on the banks, and this is a worrying trend.

Cyber security issues are now top of the national security agenda and such issues are given more importance than even the nuclear issues that used to top the international security agenda, Gupta had said.

He also asked the banking industry to be more forthcoming in sharing the incidents of financial security frauds and help in chalking out a timely response.

Now, with India going towards a less-cash economy, major thrust for the government is to promote digital transactions, banking industry must make a robust infrastructure so that digital transactions are secured, he said.
St. Francois County Shop With a Cop held their make-up day at Desloge Walmart on Thursday afternoon and St. Francois County Sheriff's Department Shop With a Cop Coordinator Lora Henson said they had 88 kids participate.

We ended up adding some names at the last minute because we knew their circumstances and were notified yesterday about them, said Henson. I am happy with the end results of this years Shop With a Cop. We worked really hard this year and it went really well with getting donations.

Henson explained there are a lot of people who have moved into the county recently and had no idea about Shop With a Cop. She added being able to get out there and explain what the program is about during different events in recent months really helped.

Its been a really good year, said Henson. "This has been the biggest year for fundraising. The more the community hears about it the more it helps.

Henson stressed law enforcement hasnt been getting a good rapport and that is what the kids are hearing. So programs such as Shop With A Cop make a difference in the public perception and the community has given an outpouring of support to the program.

On top of that, the officers have been able to interact with the kids and they can see its not what they are seeing on the news, said Henson. So that has helped out a lot.

St. Francois County Paramedic T.J. Isgrig was able to take a couple kids shopping and his first shopper was a 10-year-old boy.

He is doing really well and is having a blast, said Isgrig. He said he doesnt get many toys, so he hasnt been in the toy aisle. He is just kind of looking at everything and he is being very picky about how much he spends on each thing so he gets the most bang for his buck.

Isgrig also took a young girl shopping who was not only thinking of herself. The 13-year-old was all over the store looking for the perfect gifts for her family with her 9-year old sister in tow.

I have done this once before and I am shopping for my whole family, she said. I did get myself something though, its a giant poop emoji.

St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock said the make-up day went wonderful from the looks of things.

It looks like another successful year and we have already started on 2017s Shop With a Cop, said Bullock. This was one of the largest fundraising years, and not only that ... we have also helped more kids than ever this year. We helped around 525 kids and it has been a wonderful success.

This is about all we can handle, when we get up about 500-550 that is about as much as we get done, said Bullock. I would like to thank all the businesses and citizens in St. Francois County. Without them and the donations they give to Shop With a Cop it would never happen.

Bullock also wanted to thank his department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri Department of Conservation, various municipal departments from around the county, the 911 center, EMS, fire departments and recruits from the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy.

Each year Shop With a Cop gives hundreds of children the opportunity to have $100 shopping spree while teaching kids that officers are people who care and want to help.

At the end of the make-up day Thursday the St. Francois County Shop With a Cop organization wrote a check to the store for $8,800.
The doctors said that the girls condition is critical. (Representational image)

Lucknow: In a shocking incident, a seven-year-old girl was raped and dumped in a thicket, right behind a police station in Ashiana Colony on Thursday night.

The victim, a Class III student, was found unconscious and bleeding profusely by passers-by who informed the police and then rushed her to the King Georges Medical University. The doctors said that the girls condition is critical.

According to the police reports, the girl lives with her parents in Kila Mohammad village near the Ashiana colony. Her father is a railway employee. The girl apparently left home on Thursday afternoon to buy toffees but did not return.

In another shocking incident, a 25-year-old nurse was allegedly gangraped in a private hospital by three staff members, including the hospital superintendent, in Mathura district.

The family members of the nurse have filed an FIR in the matter. According to police reports, the incident took place in the Chandra Kala hospital. Police said the victim had been sent for medical examination.

The nurse, according to the FIR, was dragged to a room of the hospital allegedly by the superintendent, Dr Kushal Pal, his brother-in-law Pramod, hospital staff Roop Kishore and Sri Krishna Upadhyaya, and then raped by them. She was later threatened with dire consequences if she reported the matter to the police.
New Delhi: Even as President Pranab Mukherjee expressed displeasure, the Centre on Friday promulgated for the fifth time an ordinance to amend the nearly 50-year old Enemy Property Act, which guards against succession claims or transfer of properties left by the people who migrated to Pakistan and China after wars.

Sources said that Mukherjee was unhappy over the fact that the government had to keep repromulgating the ordinance as Parliament could not function and the Bill could not be passed. Mukherjee had in January last advised the government that ordinances should be brought only under extraordinary circumstances.

To meet certain exigencies and under compelling circumstances, the framers of the Constitution deemed it necessary to confer limited legislative power upon the Executive by way of promulgation of ordinances when the Legislature is not in session and circumstances justified immediate legislation.

The framers also deemed it necessary to impose certain restrictions on this extraordinary legislative power by constitutionally mandating replacement of such ordinances within a timeframe by the legislators, the President had said.

The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill is pending in the Rajya Sabha and it could not be taken up as the entire Winter Session was washed out due to protests over demonetisation.

Mukherjee had made these remarks with regard to ordinances while addressing students and faculty of central universities.

The ordinance was repromulgated on late Thursday night. Issued for the first time on January 7, the Enemy Property Fifth Ordinance, 2016 had earlier been promulgated four times. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 9 but was subsequently referred to Select Committee of Rajya Sabha.

The move is being made to amend the nearly five-decade old Enemy Property Act to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan and China after wars.

Enemy property refers to any property belonging to, held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject or an enemy firm. The government has vested these properties in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India.

The Enemy Property Act was first enacted in 1968 after the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. An ordinance is promulgated again when Parliament is not in session and a bill to replace it is not passed.
Bengaluru: The Congress party is gearing up for one of its biggest organisational shake-ups in recent times, with high-level sources signalling that the long-awaited induction of Priyanka Gandhi as the partys general secretary is imminent.

This has been talked about for some time, but due to various reasons, Priyanka has not expanded on her area of responsibility beyond the two constituencies that her mother and brother represent in Parliament. But that will change, as key states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat go to the polls, sources close to these developments told this newspaper.

They said that the clamour within a section of the party to appoint vice-president Rahul Gandhi as president of the 131-year-old party, taking over a part of current Congress president Sonia Gandhi's responsibilities, had also been heeded, and his elevation to the top post was also very much on the cards. Speculation is rife that both appointments are expected to be made public on December 27, ahead of the anniversary of the party's founding in Mumbai on December 28, 1885.

While the story in Congress circles is that Mrs Sonia Gandhi will still be active behind the scenes, and work in tandem with other political parties of similar mind against the ruling BJP, given her indifferent health, the siblings will however be front and centre from now on.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi, credited with holding the party together after many of the stalwarts exited over differences with then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, and who has led the party to victory in two successive elections, is expected to retain her position, as chairperson.

Insiders said that Mrs Sonia Gandhi felt that it was time to bring in her daughter whose rapport with party workers in the two constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi in UP could be used to better effect. The Congress party has so far refused to confirm or deny these reports.
New Delhi: After the much-flaunted Opposition unity took a hit following Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the last day of the Parliament session, the 16 parties are coming together once again to show that their unity is intact.

This time, however, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is herself expected to lead the charge. On December 27, the parties plan to hold a discussion on demonetisation followed by a joint press conference, which is expected to be addressed among others by Mrs Gandhi.

The 16-party conglomerate will include the SP, BSP, JD(U), JD(S) and the Left parties. All these parties had been upset when Mr Gandhi had met the PM on the morning of the last day of the winter session in order to discuss farmers issues, even as they were supposed to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to complain against not being allowed to speak in Parliament.

Following Mr Gandhis meeting with the Prime Minister, many parties which include SP, BSP, JD(U), had boycotted the march to the President's house. BSP supremo Mayawati had led the protest against Mr Gandhi's meeting the PM, arguing that it was an issue connected with Uttar Pradesh, Congress vice-president had no right to appropriate it.

Samajwadi Party, her arch-rival in Uttar Pradesh, had also supported her and had boycotted the meeting with the president. Others who did not attend the meeting with the President included the Left parties, NCP and DMK.

Sources told this newspaper that the earlier plan was to hold a joint press conference against demonetisation at the Congress headquarters itself, but later it was decided to shift it to the Constitution Club after some of the parties raised objections.

The Trinamul Congress, which has been leading the charge against demonetisation along with the Congress, will also attend the joint press conference.

Though the joint press conference to show the Opposition unity was apparently being held as an initiative of the Congress, the Trinamul supremo, Ms Mamata Banerjee has also emerged as one of the leading faces to take on the PM.

Rahuls tirade on Modi continues

Continuing his scathing attack on the Prime Minister, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi termed demonetisation an economic robbery at a public meeting in Almora in the poll-bound state of Uttarakhand.

Accusing the government of letting off people like Lalit Modi, Mr Gandhi demanded the government should reveal names of people with Swiss bank accounts in Parliament. Mr Gandhi said the government should reveal names of people who have kept black money in foreign accounts.

Mr Gandhi also added that the poor have been the most affected post-demonetisation, while the real black money hoarders roam free. After quoting the poet Mirza Ghalib in Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, this time the Congress vice-president quoted Bashir Badr in the Almora public meeting.

Mr Gandhi said people get broken in building a house, mercy does not come to you before razing colonies. He also recited a dialogue from the Amitabh Bachchan movie Namak Halal to hit out at the Prime Minister.

Me Gandhi has been holding a string of back-to-back rallies and public meetings from Gujarat to Uttar Pradesh to Uttarak-hand and Himachal Pradesh. The high-octane campaign has seen him question the Prime Ministers integrity when he asked whether he got pay offs from Sahara and Birla group.
New Delhi: Terming Najeeb Jung's tenure as Delhi Lt Governor a "black chapter" on safety of women in the national capital, DCW chief Swati Maliwal today said they are now free from his "tyranny" following his resignation.

In a sudden move, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung resigned on Thursday, ending a nearly three-and-half-year-long eventful tenure, mostly marked by bitter confrontation with AAP government on a range of issues that virtually brought governance to a halt on many occasions.

"Double win for DCW. Delhi women freed from Jung tyranny. HC orderd release of 2 month DCW salary. Hope new LG will work toward women safety.

"Black chapter for women in Delhi over. Jung ji failed as LG. 6 rapes daily, didnt hold single meet on women safety, brutally attacked DCW," Maliwal said in a series of tweets.

Claiming that Jung had not convened a single meeting on women safety in the last one year despite instructions from he from the Union Home Ministry, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief claimed his sudden resignation proves all have to be accountable for women's safety in Delhi.

"Jung ji failed to even meet DCW. Last week 2 Notice issued on him by HC on DCW petition to explain why no meet in women safety in Delhi. LGs sudden resign proves all have to be accountable for women safety in Delhi. If you ignore and attack women, you will have to step down," she tweeted.

Last week the DCW chief had written to the Prime Minister, urging him to listen to "mann ki baat" of the women of Delhi and ensure that a high-level panel on women's safety is set up.

The women and girls of Delhi are paying the price of the tussle of governance between the Centre and the Delhi government. The L-G had not convened a single meeting on women's safety in the last one year despite express instructions from the MHA, she had said.

Yesterday, the Delhi High Court had asked the office of the L-G to apprise it whether any special task force on women's safety is in place in Delhi and if it did not exist then in how many days the L-G would do it.

The court's direction had come after the DCW chief expressed doubt over the existence of the task force, claiming the L-G has not called a meeting regarding women's safety in the national capital in last one year.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretariat member Anathalavattom Anandan has said that the chief minister is fully responsible for implementing CPM policy. The party has the power to rein in anyone who goes against the party policy, he said while expressing dissatisfaction over the manner in which a section of police officers were behaving in the state.

Anathalavattom Anandan made these remarks while participating in a programme of a regional channel. Some of the police officers are taking decisions which are not in consonance with the policies of the LDF Government he said and added that the party would strongly oppose the wrong steps of the police and initiate corrective measures.

Anathalavattom Anandan said it was not the policy of V.S. Achuthanandan, Sitaram Yechury, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan or S. Ramachandran Pillai but also that of Pinarayi Vijayan. The chief minister is mandated to implement the party policies and he is obliged to do that. It may be recalled that CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had also stated that certain police officers were acting against the LDF government's police policy and in violation of the Police Act. Kodiyeri had even demanded strict action against the erring officers.
As the newsbreak flashed across television screens last Saturday evening, December 17, that the Indian Army and the Air Force would have new Chiefs, Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat and Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa respectively, I immediately tweeted asking the Prime Minister as to why two or, perhaps, even three officers senior to Gen. Rawat had been superseded by his government. Even a week later, there are no answers forthcoming from the government, much less the Prime Minister. For quite some time, the social media, strategic community, veterans WhatsApp groups and even the langar gup (mess gossip) within the services was abuzz with speculation over the impending supersession. In the Armys case, the rumour that came true was that Gen. Rawat would be elevated to the chief over the heads of Lt. Gen Pravin Bakshi the Eastern Army commander, Southern Army commander Lt. Gen. Pattiarimal Mohamed Ali Hariz and Central Army commander Lt. Gen. B.S. Negi, who ostensibly became an Army commander before Gen. Rawat.

The first question is: Whether this deep selection or supersession was necessary? Whenever it has happened in the past it has left the institution deeply wounded. In 1957, Gen. K.S. Thimayya was selected over two senior lieutenant-generals  Sant Singh and Kulwant Singh. While the former put in his papers the latter stayed on. Again in 1983, Gen. Arun Kumar Vaidya was promoted over Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha, who promptly put in his papers. After that for a good 33 years the seniority principle held the field and perhaps for good reason. Without casting even a whisper of an insinuation on the professionalism or the brilliance of Lt. Gen. Rawat as either a commander or a solider, the source-based reasoning that has been put out by the government for its action have not been accepted by retired service officers.

Lt. Gen. Ike Singha (Retd) put out a Facebook post entitled Surgical strike on the Indian Army, where he critiqued the rationale of the government. It may be pertinent to point out that Gen. Singha was head of the peacekeeping mission in Golan Heights in Syria and Israel from 2012 to 2015. Similarly, Lt. Gen. Harwant Singh, the former deputy chief of Army Staff, concluded a piece in a national daily with the following lines: 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. In a tweet Lt. Gen. Tej Sapru put it as follows: Violation of norms of seniority by the govt. in selection of COAS, a sad day for the armed forces. Not good for the system. Lt. Gen. Panag in a piece concludes with the following advice to the government: Last but not the least, to partially undo the damage done to the Indian Army, the government should make use of the two eminent, superseded generals either in the proposed higher defence management structure or at any other appropriate level. It would be unfair to make them serve under a junior. Their loss of honour because of an ambiguous selection process, if not restored, will have an adverse effect on the morale of the Indian Army.

However, the profoundest rationale for not bypassing the seniority principle came from the former Vice-Chief of the Army, Lt. Gen. Vijay Oberoi. In an article he wrote: I need to narrate a discussion held on the sidelines of a seminar at the College of Defence Management Secunderabad, many years back. During a discussion I had with two cerebral military intellectuals  Gen. Raghavan and Air Vice Marshal Kak, the three of us discussed the pros and cons of selecting a service chief on the basis of seniority, as was the norm vis-a-vis an open-ended selection from the Cs-in-C. After weighing the issue with great deliberation, we came to the conclusion that there were more negatives in the latter, as 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. With such precedences, even appointments of Army and corps commanders may meet such a fate later, throwing professionalism to the winds.

It is, therefore, apparent that the logic of deep selection has not cut any ice with the retired top brass of the armed forces though it may be only fair to point out that some retired officials have also supported the selection/supersession. These are all grizzled military men, and not some politicos tilting at windmills. That brings us to the second question that the government and the BJP have been harping about and that is are political parties entitled to ask questions if the selection processes in the armed forces are a tad strange, if not irregular. This question becomes all the more germane because the government has been trying to run this gauntlet for a while that it is anti-national to question the BJP, seditious to question the government and, in fact, treasonous to even ask legitimate questions of the defence establishment whether they pertain to operations along the LoC or senior appointments in the three services.

This argument is not only insidious but also ludicrous, to say the least. In all democracies around the world, the principle of civilian supremacy in civil-military relations is well established, if not cast in stone. While the civilian leadership defers or should defer too the armed forces on operational imperatives, the broader trajectory of higher defence management is something that falls squarely to the remit of the civilian leadership. The strategic philosophy that should guide the defence leadership depends on a host of geo-political and geo-economic imperatives as well as relationships or the lack of it with other countries. In furtherance of this dictum, even Parliament has both standing and consultative committees that exercise oversight on the functioning of the defence establishment that is not limited to policy and budgetary matters. It is, therefore, imperative that both parliamentarians and political parties must ask the hard questions when required on matters that impinge on national security.
How many songs must a

balladeer sing

Before they award him the prize?

How many metaphors have to be mixed

Before theyre literature

disguised?

And how many lyrics must be classified as folk

Before you critics realise?

The answer, my friend, is in copyright

The answer is in copyright!

From Bheyj Dey Soney Aur Chandi Key Goley by Bachchoo

Has everything thinkable, sayable and tweetable been thought, said, written, emailed and tweeted about 2016? The year Britain decided it would reassert the conviction that wogs begin at Calais and Broadstairs men are suspect; the year the American electorate proved that to nurture an American dream, America has to be asleep; the year Russia questionably decided that genocide was the only guarantee of a repressive stability; the year which saw pre-scientific medieval theologies convincing the misguided to commit mass murder in pointless terrorist incidents. One could go on A century ago and then in two World Wars European civilisation tore itself apart. They were aptly named as the US and Japan, separated by oceans joined in and the Brits pulled in their Indian, Australian and South African vassals as cannon fodder. China was invaded; Africa and West Asia became the theatres of a fight in which they had no stake.

An Anglo-French agreement divided up West Asia into states  Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi etc. after World War I. After World War II, the carve-up of spheres of influence gave Russia Eastern Europe and led to the Cold War, the Berlin Wall and the Stalinistic Soviet states, which have consistently, and in complete defiance of Marxs intentions or definitions, been labelled communism. China, subject to atrocities in both wars emerged through a genocidal revolutionary process as another large chunk of the world calling itself communist, dedicated to the control of its peasantry and the rapid conversion of this folk-mass into a repressed capitalist proletariat. The world wars led, through the inclusion of parts of the world who didnt know who Archduke Franz Ferdinand was or where Sudetenland or Pearl Harbour were, to political globalisation.

The rest of the century and the one and a half decade of the present one consolidated the economic and infotech sequels. Through those decades I must confess that I have been wary or at least healthily sceptical of the contention that the condition of the countries of Africa or Asia are the fault of the colonial past, all the fault of whitey! The events of 2016, traced back in history, have somewhat eroded my scepticism. Maybe a lot can be laid at Europe and Americas door.

Globalisation has meant the export of capital to places where the labour force is the cheapest to train and employ. Donald Trumps election owed everything to his unsustainable promise to redeem the rust-belt, the areas of the US from which capital has fled to other parts of the world. Will he be able to bring back capital, employment and prosperity to the rusty towns? Will the worlds cows jump over the moon, cats learn to fiddle and the crockery run off with the cutlery? The adjunct to his promise to bring back globalised capital is his promise to stop the influx of labour, of people seeking to move from poorer Mexico to the US where they can offer their labour at cheaper rates than the white American working class. Again a vain promise.

In West Asia, the deals between the British and French in the last century, which drew straight lines to define states and put the sons of the Mufti of Mecca in charge of Syria, Iraq and Jordan with no regard for the sectarianisms of Islam, the centuries of rivalry between Shias, Sunnis and the mutual suspicion or hatred for Kurds, Yezidis, Alawis and others within the Islamic universe, have led to the slaughter we witness today. The refugee crisis of Europe, the attempt by millions of people from Syria, Afghanistan and Africa to leave poverty and devastation behind and make a life, however harried, in Europe, follows. The British vote to leave the European Union was a protest against the migration of European workers from less developed Europe  Poland, Hungary, Albania and Romania  into the UK. The threat of West Asian or African refugees legally or illegally entering Britain, real or scare-mongering, was also used by the Leave camp to tickle the xenophobic vein in the British body politic.

In Germany, Italy and France, the refugee question has led to the rise of far-right parties. The terrorist attack last week in Berlin, when a truck drove into a street market killing 12 people and injuring 50, has further undermined Angela Merkels liberal political stance. The biggest threat to Europe and possibly even to the continuation of the European Union is the health and survival of Algerias President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He is the cat keeping the Islamicist rats at bay, just as Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi were. Removing the latter two has led to the chaos of the ensuing years in Iraq and Libya and undoubtedly to the rise of the death cult, ISIS.

Bouteflika, in the tradition of Gaddafi and Saddam and using the same repressive methods  where two or three are gathered supposedly in His name, send in the police  has kept a relative peace. He is very ill and seldom seen in public. No strongman successor has appeared to take the reins. When he dies there promises to be an Islamicist and ISIS-influenced explosion. This could lead to another Syria or at the least to the instability of neighbouring Libya. It will mean thousands of Algerians attempting to enter France and an undoubted boost for the French fascistic party of Marine Le Pen whose central platform is opposition to immigration. Yes, one looks back in anger, but cheer up, the predictions may be wrong and well learn to live with Trump and Brexit, without Angela and perhaps with Mademoiselle Le Pen. A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Really?
Pandora (52 miles, 84 kilometers) across orbits Saturn just outside the narrow F ring.(Photo: NASA)

NASAs Cassini spacecraft captured the image during its closest-ever flyby of Pandora on December 18, 2016, during the third of its grazing passes by the outer edges of Saturn's main rings.

The image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft is one of the highest-resolution views ever taken of Saturn's moon Pandora.

Pandora (52 miles, 84 kilometers) across orbits Saturn just outside the narrow F ring.

The image was taken in green light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera at a distance of approximately 25,200 miles (40,500 kilometers) from Pandora. Image scale is 787 feet (240 meters) per pixel.

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Italian Space Agency. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter. The Cassini imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

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The smartwatch market is reportedly declining with the passing of years. However, tech giant Google still continues to support the smartwatch ecosystem. Long time leaker Evan Blass (evleaks) first revealed Googles plan to launch new smartwatches in October this year. He tweeted the expected date alongside pictures of the supposed watches codenamed Angelfish and Swordfish.

Now there is an official confirmation made by the company. According to Jeff Chang, product manager of Android Wear at Google, the company will be launching two new flagship smartwatches in the first quarter of 2017. In an exclusive interview with The Verge, Chang said that the new watches will be the flagship Android Wear 2.0 devices and will be the first ones to launch with the new platform.

However, these two flagship smartwatches wont be branded by Google or Pixel. They will be branded by the company that is manufacturing them. Chang says that Google collaborated with the manufacturer  which he wouldnt name, but said has produced Android Wear devices in the past  on the hardware design and software integration for the watches, The Verge report. He likened the partnership to Googles Nexus smartphone program in terms of collaboration and goals, the report added.

The existing Android Wear watches will be receiving an update to Android Wear 2.0 following the launch of the new devices. Here is the list of all the Android Wear watches that will be upgraded to Wear 2.0 next year: Moto 360 Gen 2, Moto 360 Sport, LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE, LG Watch Urbane, LG G Watch R, Polar M600, Casio Smart Outdoor Watch, Nixon Mission, Tag Heuer Connected, Fossil Q Wander, Fossil Q Marshal, Fossil Q Founder, Michael Kors Access Bradshaw Smartwatch, Michael Kors Access Dylan Smartwatch, Huawei Watch, Huawei Watch Ladies, Asus ZenWatch 2 and the Asus ZenWatch 3.

The new update is expected to bring numerous new features including support for standalone apps such as Android Pay, Googles voice-controlled assistant and others.

Google will release the fifth and final developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 in January, and it is expected to include support for both Google Assistant and Android Pay (on supported devices) in it. It will also work with iOS devices, and Chang confirmed that while there will be differences between Wear 2.0 on Android and iOS, Android Pay will work on both platforms, The Verge report further added.

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Country

Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
A flight in America was delayed after a passenger changed the name of their Wi-Fi device to Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

Earlier this year the US Department of Transportation banned passengers from carrying Samsungs Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on flight after the devices reportedly started catching fire. It appears like airlines certainly arent taking the ban lightly.

A passenger traveling by the Virgin America flight switched the name of their portable Wi-Fi hotspot to Galaxy Note 7_1097, which gave other passengers and the flights crew the impression that the Samsungs device was on-board and was actively being used. Lucas Wojciechowski was on Virgin America flight 358 from San Francisco to Boston and told BBC News he photographed the hotspot after noticing it when he opened his laptop, the BBC report read.

I dont know if youve ever been diverted at 3am..Let me tell you, it is terrible. There is nothing open in the terminal. Nothing, Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) tweeted.

This resulted in a call out for the passenger with the Note 7 to press their call button.

Mr. Wojciechowski subsequently tweeted the crew's announcements from the late night flight after the pilot warned passengers they would have to make an emergency landing, the report added.

As a result, the owner came forward and confessed that there was no Samsung Galaxy Note 7 onboard and that they had changed the name of their Wi-Fi to Samsung Galaxy Note 7_1097. Following which, the flight crew made an announcement saying, Ladies and gentlemen, we found the device. Luckily only the name of the device was changed to 'Galaxy Note 7'. It was not a GN7."

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Nokia shares were down nearly 5 per cent at 4.496 euros on Thursday

Finnish telecoms networks equipment maker Nokia said on Thursday it had filed a new set of patent lawsuits against Apple in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Nokia had said on Wednesday it was suing Apple, accusing the iPhone maker of violating 32 technology patents. It said on Thursday it had now filed 40 patents suits in 11 countries.

Nokia shares were down nearly 5 per cent at 4.496 euros on Thursday as analysts warned a legal battle with Apple could hold up royalty payments that are vital to shoring up the Finnish company's profits.

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Uber's self-driving program had been running in San Francisco for just a week now.

Uber on Thursday removed its self-driving test cars from California and put them on trucks bound for Arizona, shuttering the autonomous vehicle project in its home state after a week-long battle with regulators.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles on Wednesday revoked the registration of 16 cars in Uber's self-driving fleet, which the regulator said lacked the proper permits.

Arizona, however, does not require any special permits for self-driving cars, according to the state Department of Transportation. Autonomous vehicles have the same registration requirements as any other car.

Uber's self-driving program had been running in San Francisco for just a week, and all the while the company was embroiled in a dispute with the state DMV and attorney general. Both threatened legal action if Uber did not remove its self-driving cars from the road, which the company ultimately did on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, Uber loaded its cars onto long-haul trucks belonging to Otto - a self-driving truck company Uber acquired in August.

"Our cars departed for Arizona this morning by truck," an Uber spokeswoman said in a written statement. "We'll be expanding our self-driving pilot there in the next few weeks."

San Francisco had been selected as Uber's second testing ground for its self-driving cars after Pittsburgh, but the company immediately faced a backlash from the DMV, which requires that any company testing autonomous vehicles on public roads receive a permit.

But Uber refused to apply for the permit, arguing that state regulations do not apply to its cars, which require constant monitoring and interference by a person in the vehicle.

California defines autonomous vehicles as having the capability to drive "without the active physical control or monitoring of a natural person."

Amid the fray, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey invited Uber to bring its cars to his state.

"Arizona welcomes Uber self-driving cars with open arms and wide open roads," Ducey said in a statement released Thursday. "While California puts the brakes on innovation and change with more bureaucracy and more regulation, Arizona is paving the way for new technology and new businesses."

Alphabet Inc's autonomous car division Waymo is also testing in Arizona.

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Raghad said she has not been involved in politics and supports no groups or parties on the ground. (Photo: ANI)

New York: Raghad, the daughter of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has said that US President-elect Donald Trump has a 'high level of political sensibility' and hopes that he will be different from his predecessors.

Raghad, who blames the United States for the chaos in Iraq, said in an interview to CNN, "This man (Donald Trump) has just arrived to the leadership ... But from what is apparent, this man has a high level of political sensibility that is vastly different than the one who preceded him.

Praising Trump for his outspoken attitude, Raghad said, "He exposed the mistakes of the others, specifically in terms of Iraq, which means he is very aware of the mistakes made in Iraq and what happened to my father."

During his presidential campaign, Trump said he opposed the war on Iraq, however, he was publicly supportive of the invasion in interviews before and after the war.

And while saying that Saddam Hussein "was a bad guy," Trump has praised the former Iraqi leader's efficient killing of "terrorists".

Raghad said she has not been involved in politics and supports no groups or parties on the ground. However, the present Iraqi Government has accused her of supporting her father's Baath party, now outlawed, and has called on Jordan to repatriate her.

More recently it has accused her of supporting ISIS, an allegation that she vehemently denies.

Self-declared jihadist groups sprung up in Iraq under the banner of fighting US army "infidels," and the country became a magnet for foreign fighters.

ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, started as the Islamic State of Iraq in 2006 -- the year of Saddam Hussein's death -- and expanded to Syria in 2014, three years after the eruption of violence there.
Jody Tarbutton, 89, disappeared in Pennsylvania and ended up 900 miles away in Alabama. (Photo: Facebook)

Philadelphia: A suburban Philadelphia man whose weekend trip to a neighbourhood store somehow led to a 900-mile detour to Alabama is safely back with his family, thanks to breakfasting police officers who realized something wasn't right.

Haleyville, Alabama, Mayor Ken Sunseri said Thursday that 89-year-old Jody Tarbutton, of Boothwyn, Pennnsylvania, approached the officers at a restaurant on Monday and asked them where he was.

"They said, 'You're in Alabama, Haleyville, Alabama,'" Sunseri said. "And it sort of stunned him."

The Facebook post put up by Cindy Gatta. (Photo: Facebook)

The officers took him to the police station and ran his driver's license, discovering that he had been missing for two days. They contacted authorities, notified his family and got him medical attention.

"We never, never, never expected to hear the news that he was in Alabama," his daughter Cindy Gatta said by phone Thursday night. She had contacted police in Pennsylvania and posted a plea on Facebook on Sunday in an attempt to locate her father.

Gatta, of Wilmington, Delaware, flew down to Alabama and reunited with him at a hospital, where he was treated for high blood pressure and dehydration. She said her father has never been clinically diagnosed with dementia and attributed his unexpected road trip to old age and forgetfulness.

"It's just been amazing that it all turned out so well," Gatta said.

Officials aren't sure what route Tarbutton took, but he would have almost certainly been driving through severe weather, Sunseri said. Police found a child-size drink and two hamburgers inside Tarbutton's pickup truck.

People in Haleyville helped Tarbutton's children get from the airport in Birmingham to the hospital, and are now working with the family to have Tarbutton's truck shipped back to his home.

Sunseri said he was "extremely proud" of the response by the officers and wider community.

"They were a tremendous help to the family," the mayor said.

Tarbutton's daughter said she too is grateful to the officers and others, and is calling her father's safe return nothing short of "a Christmas miracle."
Washington: The United States under Donald Trump's presidency will not allow other countries to increase their nuclear capability without responding in kind, a spokesman for the president-elect said on Friday.

"There are countries around the globe right now that are talking about increasing their nuclear capacity," Sean Spicer, the incoming White House press secretary, told CNN.

"And the United States is not going to sit back and allow that to happen without acting in kind," he said, when pressed to explain a Trump tweet calling for the US to "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability."

"I think the president-elect is very clear that he's going to be very active in putting America's security first and foremost," Spicer said. "And if another country wants to threaten our sovereignty or our safety he will act."

Asked if he was referring specifically to Moscow, Spicer replied: "I'm talking about Russia it's not just about one country. It's any country."

Shortly earlier, Trump was quoted as having told an MSNBC host when asked to clarify his nuclear policy tweet that his administration had no reservations about entering "an arms race."

The network's Mika Brzezinksi said she spoke to the president-elect during a commercial break, after concluding an on-air interview with Spicer.

"This morning he told me on the phone, 'Let it be an arms race. We'll outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all,'" Brzezinski said.

Observers have been scrambling since Thursday to make sense of Trump's assertion that the US must massively bolster its nuclear capabilities, which he tweeted without providing details or context, a day after meeting a group of Pentagon top brass, and shortly after President Vladimir Putin called for Russia to reinforce its own nuclear capabilities.

"The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," Trump tweeted.

Talk of ramping up America's nuclear capabilities marks a jarring departure from the stance of President Barack Obama, who in a famous speech in Prague in 2009 called for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

But Russia's Putin on Friday said he found "nothing unusual" about Trump's call to boost America's nuclear capability.

"As concerns the new president-elect of the United States Mr. Trump, there is nothing new here," Putin said at his annual year-end press conference.

"During his election campaign he spoke about the necessity of strengthening the nuclear component of the United States, to strengthen the armed forces," the Russian leader said.
Despite the creation of a dedicated task force called Operation Macro, police could not make a breakthrough in the case in more than two decades. (Photo: Representational Image/AP)

Sydney: Australian police on Friday charged a 48-year-old man with the murder of two women more than 20 years ago in the city of Perth, ending the country's longest continuous investigation into a serial killing.

Bradley Edwards was charged with murdering Jane Rimmer, a 23-year-old whose body was found in August 1996, and Ciara Glennon, a 27-year-old lawyer. Both disappeared, six months apart, from the same upmarket suburb of the state capital Perth.

Edwards was not charged in relation to the disappearance of a third woman, Sarah Spiers, 18, who also vanished in the Perth suburb of Claremont in January 1996. Police suspect she was a victim of the same offender but her body has never been found.

"These crimes shocked the West Australian public," said Commissioner of the Western Australia Police Karl O'Callaghan.

Despite the creation of a dedicated task force called Operation Macro, police could not make a breakthrough in the case in more than two decades.

But unlike unsolved cases where investigations might be suspended, major public and political interest along with a series of leads kept investigations of the "Claremont killings" going.

"Operation Macro has been a massive body of work involving thousands and thousands of investigative actions. The commitment of the Western Australian police and its officers have never waivered. We never gave up," said O'Callaghan.

Western Australia's taxi industry became an area of focus for investigators after all three victims were seen leaving night clubs in search of transport home.

Under the spotlight of suspicion, thousands of DNA samples were taken, many of which were from licenced taxi drivers.

The murders of the three young women sent shock waves through the state. "People were horrified by it," Alannah MacTiernan, a former Western Australian state politician, told Reuters.

"There was massive efforts made to have not only CCTV but also security details all around that area."
German security agencies say Amri quickly mingled in radical Islamist circles but evaded authorities by changing location frequently and using up to six different identities. (Photo: AP)

Berlin: Anis Amri, the Tunisian suspect in the Berlin truck attack who was shot dead in Milan on Friday, followed the well-trodden path of petty criminal turned jihadist killer.

Security sources believe the rejected asylum seeker was radicalised during a four-year stint in an Italian prison before he murdered 12 people in Monday's attack on a Christmas market in the German capital.

Amri, who turned 24 years old while on the run Thursday, was hailed as a "soldier of the Islamic State" by the IS-linked Amaq news agency after the bloody assault.

When he pulled his gun on the Italian police early Friday before they shot him dead, Amri reportedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

In a growing security scandal in Germany, Amri had long been watched as a potentially dangerous jihadist but managed to avoid both arrest and deportation.

Radicalised in jail

Amri's journey began in Oueslatia, a poor desert town in central Tunisia. The youngest of nine siblings, he was known to police as a juvenile delinquent who drank and took drugs.

He was 18 when the Tunisian revolution erupted in early 2011 and overthrew long-time dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Amri took advantage of the turmoil to flee the country, escaping a four-year jail term handed down in absentia for robbery and burglary.

He also "left to get away from misery", his brother Abdelkader told AFP this week.

"He had no future in Tunisia and wanted at all costs to improve the family's financial situation. We live below the poverty line, like most families in Oueslatia."

Like thousands of other migrants, Amri made the dangerous Mediterranean crossing and landed in March on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, where he lied about his age and was taken as an unaccompanied minor to Sicily.

Soon after, Amri was arrested on arson charges for burning a school building which had been converted into a refugee shelter. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Not a model prisoner, he received no early release. It was behind bars that he was radicalised as an Islamic extremist, a classic phenomenon in Europe, local media reported.

Upon his release, Italy ordered him to leave the country, while Tunisia refused to take him back.

Small-time drug dealer

In July 2015 he headed to Germany, as tens of thousands of Middle Eastern and African migrants flocked to Europe's biggest economy.

His brother said Amri "worked as an agricultural labourer and things like that".

"He'd contact us on Facebook, saying he wanted to come back to Tunisia but that he had to earn some money to buy his own car and start his own business."

German security agencies say he quickly mingled in radical Islamist circles but evaded authorities by changing location frequently and using up to six different identities.

Amri repeatedly contacted Islamist "hate preachers" including the Iraqi Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A. alias Abu Walaa, who has since been arrested accused of seeking to recruit fighters for IS.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Counter-terror agencies were surveilling Amri and suspected he was preparing "a serious act of violence against the state," said Ralf Jaeger, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state.

Berlin prosecutors, who were in charge of the case, said Amri had been suspected of planning a burglary meant to raise cash to buy automatic weapons, "possibly to carry out an attack".

Surveillance had then however shown that Amri was working as a small-time drug dealer in Berlin and once had a bar fight with another dealer. The surveillance ceased in September.

Germany had meanwhile rejected his asylum request in June but was unable to deport him as Amri claimed to have no travel documents.

His deportation then got caught up in red tape with Tunisia, which long denied he was a citizen. The documents only arrived on Wednesday, two days after the Berlin attack, said Jaeger.

Amri's asylum-office papers for a stay of deportation were found in the cab of the 40-tonne lorry that cut a swathe of death and destruction through the festive crowd.

His shocked sister Najoua later told AFP that "he never made us feel there was anything wrong. We were in touch through Facebook and he was always smiling and cheerful."
Anis Amri was shot dead a few hours later outside a different train station in suburban Milan after he opened fire on police who asked him for ID. (Photo: AP)

Milan: Milan police Chief Antonio de Iesu says the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack passed through France before arriving by train at Milan's central station around 1 am Friday.

Italian officials say 24-year-old Anis Amri was shot dead a few hours later outside a different train station in suburban Milan after he opened fire on police who asked him for ID. They were suspicious because the station was closed at that hour.

De Iesu said Amri "surely passed through France," but he declined to provide further information about Amri's travels, citing the ongoing investigation.

German officials issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for Amri on Wednesday, after he was identified as the key suspect in the truck attack that killed 12 people and injured 56 others.
A lorry ploughed into a busy Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more in what police said was a suspected terror attack.

Milan: The Tunisian man suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan, ending a Europe-wide manhunt, Italy's interior minister said.

Checks conducted after the shootout showed "the person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the terrorist attack," Interior Minister Marco Minniti said.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Monday attack in Berlin, which killed 12 and injured 56 others.

Amri, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped by two officers during a routine police check in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood of Milan early Friday. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identity papers and was killed in the ensuing shootout.

One of the two officers was shot by Amri and is in the hospital, but his condition is not life-threatening, Minniti said. The other officer fatally shot Amri.

It was unclear how and when Amri traveled from Berlin to Milan. German authorities issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for him on Wednesday, two days after the attack.

Authorities say Amri, 24, has used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.

He left Tunisia in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings and initially spent time in Italy.

He was repeatedly transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with prison records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections. He served 3 years for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other things but Italy apparently detected no signs that he was becoming radicalised.

German authorities had deemed Amri, who arrived in the country last year, a potential threat long before the attack this week and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers and Tunisia initially denied that he was a citizen.
Police said on Friday that the men, aged 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region shortly after midnight. (Photo: AP)

Berlin: Two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion they were planning to carry out an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany, days after a truck attack in Berlin that killed 12 people.

Police said on Friday that the men, aged 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region shortly after midnight.

Authorities suspect the two men may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen. They are now probing what the pair's intentions were and whether anyone else was involved.

Police said in a statement that they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip from "security sources."

Officers in uniform and plain clothes patrolled the area, but the mall remained open.

Centro is one of Germany's biggest malls, with more than 250 shops. It opened 20 years ago on the site of a former steelworks.

There was no indication of any connection between the detentions and Monday's attack in Berlin.

Authorities are searching for Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, as the suspected driver of the truck that plowed into a Christmas market.
In this frame grab taken from television a hijacked Afriqiyah Airways A320 sits on the tarmac at Malta International airport. (Photo: AP)

Valletta: Two hijackers diverted a Libyan commercial plane to Malta on Friday and threatened to blow it up with hand grenades, Maltese authorities and state media said.

The office of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has confirmed that a negotiating team is on standby at Malta International Airport awaiting instructions from the prime minister, who is in a meeting with the National Security Committee.

Airport officials said the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 flight has 118 passengers on board. They also said all emergency teams had been dispatched to the site of what it called an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac. The plane's engines were still running Friday long after the aircraft landed at 11:32 am.

All flights into the Mediterranean island airport have been diverted. Maltese Premier Joseph Muscat said that those onboard included 111 passengers, 82 men, 28 women and an infant.

Muscat had tweeted earlier that there was a "potential hijack situation" involving an internal Libyan flight that was diverted to Malta and that emergency operations were underway at the airport.

Malta's National Security Committee was coordinating the operation, a government statement said.
An Afriqiyah Airways plane stands on the tarmac at Malta's Luqa International airport as passengers depart. (Photo: AP)

Valletta: Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane and diverted it to Malta Friday, before releasing almost all the passengers onboard. The hijackers soon surrendered themselves too and were taken into custody, the prime minister of the Mediterranean island said.

"Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody," the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted from his official account.

The Hijackers had reportedly sought asylum in Malta.

After more than an hour on the tarmac, the door of the Airbus A320 had opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending a mobile staircase.

"Crew members being released," Muscat earlier said on Twitter, adding: "Potentially 2 hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft".

Maltese government sources had earlier said only a single hijacker was believed to be on the plane.

The aircraft had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

"The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations," Muscat tweeted earlier.

"It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board: 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant," he said.

Muscat later spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's fledgling unity government, the Maltese prime minister's office said.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac surrounded by military vehicles and all flights in and out of the airport were initially either delayed or diverted to destinations in Italy, though some later landed.

'Negotiations under way'

A source from Libya's unity government spoke of "hijackers" on board the plane.

"Negotiations are under way to guarantee the security of all the passengers," the source said, without specifying who was negotiating.

An Afriqiyah Airways source said two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade.

Malta International Airport tweeted that there had been "an unlawful interference" but that operations had now resumed.

Flights from Brussels, London and Paris had been due to land at the airport on Friday and were delayed.

The flight from Paris has since been able to land, according to the airport's online arrivals board.

Outgoing flights were also shown resuming.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines -- banned from European airspace -- operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.
An Afriqiyah Airways plane stands on the tarmac at Malta International airport as an unidentified man waves a flag. (Photo: AP)

Malta: Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane Friday and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone onboard and surrendering to authorities, officials said.

Malta's Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, in a series of tweets, said the hijackers left the airplane along with its final crew members after freeing all the passengers. The hijackers, he said, "surrendered," been "searched and taken in custody."

The aircraft was on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said a hijacker had told the crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all passengers leave the Airbus A320 if his demands were met.

The hijackers had reportedly sought asylum in Malta. A Libyan television channel reported that it had spoken by phone with one of them, who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party.

Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.

Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.

The government of Malta said Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team had been formed and was at the airport.
An Afriqiyah Airways plane from Libya, left, stands on the tarmac at Malta's Luqa International airport. (Photo: AP)

Malta: The hijacked Libyan airliner that has landed in Malta has 111 passengers on board, including an infant, Malta's prime minister said on Twitter.

"It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant," Joseph Muscat said.

Two hijackers had threatened to blow up the Airbus A320, which had a total of 118 people aboard, outlets including the Times of Malta said. The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had earlier tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM".
Moscow: President Vladimir Putin said on Friday the recapture of the devastated city of Aleppo by Syrian regime forces was a "very important" step towards stabilising the war-torn country.

"The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalisation in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall," Putin told defence minister Sergei Shoigu in a meeting, Russian news agencies reported.

The Syrian army said on Thursday that it had retaken full control of Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory against opposition forces since the civil war erupted in 2011.

The Kremlin strongman said that after the ouster of rebels from Aleppo, Moscow will now look to end fighting across the country.

"Everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory," Putin was quoted as saying.

"In any case, we will strive toward this."

Moscow has been conducting a bombing campaign in Syria in support of long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad since September 2015.

Russia forged a deal with Turkey which supports groups seeking to topple Assad that saw rebel fighters and civilians leave Aleppo.

Shoigu said on Friday that some 34,000 people had been evacuated from rebel-held eastern Aleppo since December 15.

Russia's bombardment of Aleppo saw the West levelling accusations of war crimes that stung the Kremlin and further strained its fragile ties with the West.
Moscow: A Russian military court on Thursday sentenced a 21-year-old student, who tried to enter Syria after falling in love with an Islamic State jihadist, to four-and-a-half years in prison.

Varvara Karaulova was detained last year after she tried to cross into war-torn Syria from Turkey while still a philosophy undergraduate at the Moscow State University.

Judge Alexander Ababkov said in court that the criminal activity of the defendant continued for quite a long time and that Karaulova had a criminal intention.

He said she was a supporter of radical Islamist views and decided to join IS, aware of the jihadist groups aim to create an Islamic caliphate.

Karaulova was charged last year with preparing to participate in a terrorist organisation, but pleaded not guilty, saying she was motivated by love for a Russian jihadist fighting in Syria.

Karaulova, her dark hair in a pony-tail, looked calm as the judge read the verdict, watched by family members including her parents and stepmother.

Defence lawyer Sergei Badamshin said it was a very harsh, unjustified sentence and we have already appealed.

Prosecutor Mikhail Reznichenko said his side, which had requested a five-year sentence, was satisfied with the decision.

Karaulovas lawyers argued that the authorities are trying to make an example of her to warn off other young Russians from trying to head to Syria, where Moscow is conducting a bombing campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Her father Pavel Karaulov condemned the sentence as absurd.

He told reporters outside the court that he now regrets having gone to the authorities when his daughter disappeared, saying: I made a mistake... by turning to those who should protect our security.

Lawyer Ilya Novikov said the sentence sent a message to parents in a similar situation that you must not go to the FSB (security service), you must not believe the state.

Stupid escapade

In her last words in court on Wednesday, a weeping Karaulova said her attempt to cross into Syria was all a mistake, a very stupid reckless act.

I have realised all my mistakes and my stupidity, she said. I dream of making amends for my guilt for all this stupid escapade.

In 2012, while still a teenager, Karaulova met a man named Airat Samatov online and they wrote to each for three years without ever meeting.

Samatov went to Syria in 2014 and told her he was fighting for IS. Karaulova converted to Islam and began wearing a hijab.

She disappeared without warning in May, 2015, prompting a frantic search by her parents. They found that she had flown to Turkey and travelled to the border with other women hoping to join men fighting for IS.

Turkish border guards detained the group and she was forced to fly back to Russia with her father. Investigators initially said she was being treated as a witness before arresting her in October, 2015.
Moscow: Vladimir Putin praised US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, saying he had his finger on the pulse of US society, and launched a scathing attack on the Democrats, saying they had forgotten the meaning of their own name and were sore losers.

Speaking at his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia's president said that only Russia had believed that Trump would become the next president of the United States, but that did not mean the Democrats had the right to blame him for their defeat.

"The current administration and the leadership of the Democratic Party are trying to blame all their failures on external factors," Putin told reporters.

"(We are talking about) a party which has clearly forgotten the original meaning of its own name," Putin said, accusing the Democrats of "shamelessly" abusing their status as the ruling party to try to influence public opinion.

"Outstanding figures in American history from the ranks of the Democratic Party would likely be turning in their graves. Roosevelt certainly would be," he said.

The White House and U.S. intelligence officials have accused Russia of trying to interfere with the U.S. election by hacking Democratic Party accounts. Information from those hacks was leaked online, causing political problems for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Putin dismissed suggestions Moscow had helped Trump to victory in any way however.

"It's not like that," he said. "All of this (the accusations) speaks of the current administration's systemic problems."

Sore losers

The question of who hacked the US Democratic party was not important anyway, said Putin, but what the hacks revealed that public opinion in the United States was being manipulated was.

"They (the Democrats) are losing on all fronts and looking elsewhere for things to blame. In my view this, how shall I say it, degrades their own dignity. You have to know how to lose with dignity."

Putin, who spoke positively of Trump before his election win, said that Moscow had believed in his victory.

"Trump understood the mood of the people and kept going until the end, when nobody believed in him," Putin said, adding with a smile. "Except for you and me."

Putin addressed Trump's comments about the need to boost the U.S. nuclear arsenal, saying they were perfectly normal.

Trump's comments, made in a tweet on Thursday, alarmed non-proliferation experts who said that a boost to the U.S. arsenal could fuel global tensions.

But Putin said he was surprised by the fuss Trump's tweet had caused and how it had been linked to his own statements about Russia's plans to modernize its own nuclear arsenal.

Putin said on Thursday Russia's military was "stronger than any potential aggressor". He made clear on Friday he did not regard the United States as a potential aggressor.

"I was a bit surprised by the statements from some representatives of the current US administration who for some reason started to prove that the US military was the most powerful in the world," said Putin.

"Nobody is arguing with that."
In a country with a population of some 23 million before the war, the United Nations estimates around 6.6 million people have been internally displaced by the fighting. (Photo:AFP)

Beirut: Syrias conflict has killed more than 310,000 people, uprooted over half the population and left much of the country in ruins since it erupted almost six years ago.

Here are some key statistics:

Huge death toll

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said last week it had recorded the deaths of 312,001 people since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

Those killed included 90,000 civilians, of which 16,000 were children, the Britain-based monitor said.

In a country with a population of some 23 million before the war, the United Nations estimates around 6.6 million people have been internally displaced by the fighting.

And almost one million Syrians are besieged by the warring parties, according to UN aid chief Stephen OBrien.

In November, he said there had been a steep increase in what he called this deliberate tactic of cruelty, in particular by the Syrian regime.

Refugees

The war has forced 4.8 million people to flee Syria, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Neighbouring Turkey has taken in more than 2.7 million Syrians, the UNHCR says, and is now the main host country.

It is followed by Lebanon, with more than one million Syrian refugees, according to the UN.

Jordan, which the UNHCR says has taken in 655,000 Syrians, says it has accepted considerably more, at 1.4 million.

At least another 228,000 Syrians have taken refuge in Iraq and 115,000 in Egypt, the refugee agency says.

Syrian refugees have in increasing numbers travelled to or attempted to reach Europe, making the perilous journey overground or by sea.

Imprisoned, tortured

In August, Amnesty International said Syrian authorities were committing torture on a massive scale in government prisons.

It said more than 17,700 people are estimated to have died in custody since the conflict began.

But it said the real figure is much higher, pointing to tens of thousands of forced disappearances.

The Observatory, for its part, says at least 60,000 people have died over five years from torture or harsh conditions in regime prisons.

The monitor says half a million people have passed through regime jails since the start of the conflict.

And several thousand have died over the same period in prisons run by rebel groups or jihadists, it says.

In February 2016, UN investigators accused the regime of extermination in its jails and detention centres.

Economy in ruins

Experts say the conflict has set Syrias economy back by three decades, with almost all its revenues cut off and most of the infrastructure destroyed.

The education and health systems are in ruins.

In 2015, a coalition of non-governmental organisations said Syria was living almost without electricity, with 83 percent of lighting no longer working.

More than 80% of the population lives in poverty, according to a study published in April 2016 by the United Nations and Britains Saint Andrews University.

The study also said the Syrian economy contracted by 55% between 2010 and 2015.
Syrians flash the victory sign as they celebrate in the streets of Aleppo. (Photo: AFP)

Aleppo: Syrian troops cemented their hold on Aleppo on Friday after retaking full control of the city, as residents anxious to return to their homes moved through its ruined streets.

The army announced on Thursday it had recaptured the former rebel stronghold of east Aleppo following a landmark evacuation deal that saw thousands of opposition fighters and residents bussed out.

It was the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assads forces in nearly six years of civil war and a major win for his foreign backers, with key ally Russia hailing the recapture as very important step.

Braving the cold, war-weary residents crossed districts that had become infamous front lines, eager to return to neighbourhoods they had not seen in years.Civilians wrapped in coats trekked through the cold, some rolling their belongings on wheelbarrows. Weve been waiting five years for this. We have suffered, said Rana al-Salem, 29.
China said CPEC is an important part of China's One-Belt and One-Road (OBOR) also known as new Silk Road project. (Photo: Representational Image)

Beijing: China on Friday said it has an "open attitude" to India joining the USD 46 billion economic corridor but it wants to know New Delhi's response to a top Pakistani army general's offer to participate in the project.

"I wonder what is India's take on this whether this is a good sign from Pakistan," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when asked about Pakistan Southern Command Commander Lt Gen Amir Riaz's remarks that India should join the CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits.

"On China's part, the CPEC is a cooperation framework and we hope this programme can not only serve the interest of Pakistan but also Asia and the region as a whole," Hua said.

She said CPEC is an important part of China's One-Belt and One-Road (OBOR) also known as new Silk Road project.

"It is an open proposal and we are willing to work with Pakistan to discuss the participation of any third country under principle of wider consultation and joint contribution," she said.

Asked whether Pakistan has discussed India's participation with China, Hua said, "As (whether) China has negotiated with Pakistan on this, I have nothing to offer".

"I can tell you that this programme is very important part of OBOR initiative and China holds an open attitude for such cooperation. We have seen reports about other countries who are willing to join the programme. We want to discuss this with wider consultants and consensus," she said.

Hua's comments came as the state-run Global Times carried articles suggesting that India should accept the "olive branch" offered by Lt Gen Riaz and join the project.

India's concerns over CPEC being laid through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is one of the three major issues bedevilled the relations between the two countries besides China blocking Indias admission to Nuclear Suppliers Group, (NSG) and UN ban on JeM leader Masood Azhar.

The two countries have been holding talks on these issues and Riaz's comments were seen by officials here as an attempt to gauge India's reaction.
Beijing: Chinese state media on Friday expressed alarm and warned of a "showdown with the US" after President-elect Donald Trump named Peter Navarro, an economist who has urged a hard line against China, to head a new White House National Trade Council.

Navarro is an academic and one-time investment adviser who has authored books such as "Death by China: How America Lost its Manufacturing Base". The book was made into a documentary film about Beijing's desire to become the dominant economic and military power in Asia.

"That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration, is no laughing matter," the official English-language China Daily said in an editorial.

"The new administration should bear in mind that with economic and trade ties between the world's two largest economies now the closest they have ever been, any move to damage the win-win relationship will only result in a loss for both sides."

The previous day, China's foreign ministry said in reaction it was playing close attention to Trump's transition team and possible policy direction, that cooperation between the two countries was the only correct choice.

The Global Times, an influential tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said Trump's decision over Navarro was "by no means a positive signal".

"China needs to face up to the reality that the Trump team maintains a hard-line attitude toward China. It must discard any illusions and make full preparations for any offensive move by the Trump government," the Global Times said in an editorial.

"China is powerful enough to withstand pressures from the Trump government. Beijing will get used to the tensions between the two countries. If Washington dares to provoke China over its core interests, Beijing won't fear setting up a showdown with the U.S., pressuring the latter to pay respect to China."

Trump, a Republican, made trade a centrepiece of his presidential campaign and railed against what he said were bad deals the United States had made with other countries. He has threatened to hit Mexico and China with high tariffs once he takes office on Jan. 20.

Navarro, 67, a professor at University of California, Irvine, advised Trump during the campaign.

As well as describing what he sees as America's losing economic war with China, Navarro has highlighted concerns over environmental issues related to Chinese imports and the theft of US intellectual property.
The Supreme Court today termed as "virtually infructuous" a petition filed by a group of lawyers opposing the elevation of Justice J S Khehar as next the Chief Justice of India, observing that the President of India has already issued a notification in this regard.





"Since the notification appointing Justice J S Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India has already been issued, the petition has virtually become infructuous," a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and L Nageswara Rao said.



"There is nothing left in this petition as the President of India has issued the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI. Nothing is left in this now. If you want, we can allow you to withdraw the petition," the bench said.



However, the brief hearing witnessed an altercation among the members of the lawyers' body as its vice president urged the apex court to list the matter for hearing on December 30, while the others urged the bench for liberty to file a plea afresh.To this, the bench observed, "You are fighting among yourselves".



The vice president of the petitioner, National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, requested the bench that there was something which they wanted to argue and he would call for a general body meeting of the members to decide on these aspects. "But nothing remains in this petition now," the bench said.



Some members of the lawyers' body told the bench that there was no denial that the petition has become infructuous, so they should be given a liberty to file a fresh plea.



The bench noted in its order that the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI has been issued on December 19.



On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI. The present CJI Justice T S Thakur demits office on January 3 next year.



In its plea, the lawyers' body has said that instead of Justice Khehar, Justice J Chelameshwar, who is now the fourth senior-most judge in the apex court, should be elevated as he had given a dissenting view when the National Judicial Appointments Commission was struck down by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Khehar.
Najeeb Jung today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after springing a surprise by tendering resignation as Delhi's Lt Governor even as he said that he had wanted to quit earlier but was asked by the PM to continue.





Jung reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block here around 11.30 AM and spent a little over an hour inside.



Sources said it was a courtesy meeting. Yesterday, in his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked Modi for his help and cooperation.



Rejecting speculation that he quit as pressure was mounting on him, Jung was quoted as saying by NDTV that there is no politics behind his decision and that he wanted to quit earlier as well.



"I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on," he said.



"After three and a half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds," Jung was quoted as saying.



Jung also said that he would like to write a book. Over the last two years, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to Modi.



Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.



The Delhi Chief Minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for the breakfast meeting that came a day after Jung's sudden resignation from the post.



Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter- sweet times and spent some light moments.



Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also called on Jung. Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons."



Though publicly Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions, both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at personal level.



Asked about his meeting with Jung, Sisodia said, "We had a very good chat. He shared memories of the last two years and also of his days as a bureaucrat. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year.



"He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said that he could not quit due to things like chikungunya (outbreak in the city)."



Sisodia said he shared a "good rapport" with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation especially in areas of education. "We will work for the people if Delhi irrespective of circumstances be that easy or tough."



On who could be next LG of Delhi, the Deputy Chief Minister said many names are doing the rounds but nothing official has come up.



Sources close to Jung had said yesterday his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.



The Chief Minister was in Ranchi yesterday when the news of Jung's resignation broke.
All passengers were freed from a hijacked plane in Malta on Friday, but some crew remained on board with hijackers believed to be loyalists of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.





The aircraft was on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a man told crew he had a hand grenade.



Initial reports said a hijacker had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all passengers leave the Airbus A320 if his demands were met.



It was unclear what the hijackers' demands were. A Libyan television channel reported that it had spoken by phone with one of them, who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party.



Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.



Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.



After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.



MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.



Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.



A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.



"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."



The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.



The government of Malta said Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team had been formed and was at the airport. Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.



The last major hijacking on the tiny Mediterranean island was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.
The century-old University of Mysore (UoM) now has another feather in its cap. The varsity, which is into its centenary celebrations, launched the much-awaited commemorative coins of Rs 5 and Rs 100 denominations on Friday.





The coins were released by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. With this, UoM becomes the second university in the country to release commemorative coins, only after the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.



The chief minister officially released the coins at a programme held at Crawford Hall, the administrative block of the UoM. Siddaramaiah said the country has been lagging behind in higher education and universities must concentrate on providing quality education while laying emphasis on basic science.



He said that while 91% of people in Finland and 89% in United States had pursued higher education, India had a dismal rate of 21% which needs to be increased.



While Rs 5 coin is made of nickel brass, the Rs 100 coins are made of silver. The coins are commemorative as they have two design elements on the same side. While one side of the coin has Crawford Hall in the centre and the imprint of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the founder of the varsity, the obverse side has the National Emblem, the words Bharat and India and the denomination value of the coin.



While Rs 5 coins will be in circulation in the next three months, Rs 100 will be available only for numismatics and those interested in possessing it. The Rs 100 coin weighs 35 grams and measures 44 mm diameter in size and contains 200 serration at the edge.



Coffee-table book



The varsity has also brought out a coffee-table book containing 308 pages which documents the institutions 100 years.



The book contains magnificent memories right from the year 1833 when the Raja Free School was started till the 97th Convocation held on December 13, this year, in which the 14th Dalai Lama and Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, member of erstwhile royal family member, were conferred with honorary doctorates.



The coffee-table book has captured the most significant events tracing the history of the university.



Another book titled Centenary Lectures Chandelier of Ideas, that was brought out on the occasion, contains centenary lectures and talks delivered by eminent people and three constitutional heads, President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.



Besides these three speeches, it also has nine talks delivered which include four Nobel laureates Prof Muhammad Yunus, Prof Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Richard John Roberts and the Dalai Lamas 97th Convocation address.



In addition, the lectures delivered by Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman A S Kiran Kumar, distinguished Professor T P Singh, Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, spiritual Guru Jaggi Vasudev and Vice Chancellor of University of Mysore K S Rangappa are the other lectures that have been published.




When Facebook bought WhatsApp for more than $19 billion in 2014, Jan Koum, a founder of the messaging company, arranged to sign a part of the deal outside the suburban social services centre where he had once waited in line to collect food stamps.



Koum, like many in the tech industry, is an immigrant. He was a teenager when he and his mother moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1990s, in part to escape the anti-Semitic tide then sweeping his native Ukraine.



As Koum later told Forbes, his mother worked as a baby sitter and swept floors at a grocery store to survive in the new country; when she was found to have cancer, the family lived off her disability payments.



Tales of immigrant woe are not unusual in Silicon Valley. But Koums story carries greater resonance because his app has quietly become a mainstay of immigrant life. More than a billion people regularly use WhatsApp, which lets users send text messages and make phone calls free over the internet. The app is particularly popular in India, where it has more than 160 million users, as well as in Europe, South America and Africa.



Because its free, has a relatively good record on privacy and security, and is popular in so many parts of the world, WhatsApp has cultivated an unusual audience: It has become the lingua franca among people who, whether by choice or by force, have left their homes for the unknown.



This is happening as the world is increasingly at war over migration; 2016 was, among other things, a prolonged and pitched battle over the rights and privileges of migrant people, whether Syrians in Europe, Europeans in Britains fight over Brexit, or the issue of Mexican and Muslim immigration that dominated the American presidential race.



Beyond the headlines, what has often gone unnoticed in the politics of migration are the shifting dynamics of migrant life  particularly the surprising and subtle ways in which technology, especially smartphones and social networks, has altered the immigrant experience.



Immigrants use lots of different apps, of course, from Facebook to Skype to WeChat, which is popular in China. But for many, WhatsApp has been at the centre of a newfound connectedness. Wherever there are people leaving their homes for uncharted shores, you are likely to find WhatsApp. For migrants, it has become the best way to stay connected along a route, or, once they have landed, to keep in touch with the people they left back home.



Syrian refugees flooding into Europe have used WhatsApp to pass along tips, warnings and pleas for help to others along the journey. WhatsApp has turned up along the border between the United States and Mexico, where Donald Trump would like to build his wall. In the last year, a tide of Venezuelans has landed in Miami. The first thing many of them reached for when they landed was WhatsApp.



Even for people who have left their home countries voluntarily to pursue jobs and wealth in a new place, WhatsApp has thoroughly altered the contours of immigrant life. People who have been in the United States for decades told me that WhatsApp has eased the feeling of isolation and longing that is inherent to being an immigrant.



I do have much more of a sense of their daily lives, said Anne Reef, 55, a former English professor, who moved from South Africa to the United States in 1988. She now lives in Memphis, Tennessee, and has taught at, among other places, the University of Memphis.



Calling internationally was a costly affair during Reefs earliest days in America; she would rely on a once-a-week phone call for news from home. There were often letters, sometimes containing pictures of newborns and weddings. Faxing became a thing in the 1990s, and later she found email, Skype and Facebook. But it wasnt until she started using WhatsApp about a year ago that Reef began to feel a qualitative change in her connection with her far-flung family.



A relative who lives in Australia  the son of Reefs first cousin  recently had a baby. With WhatsApp, Reef said, she gets to see a stream of baby pictures. I feel much more involved with the babys life  I feel like I know him, and that hes become more than a third cousin to me, she said.



This might sound pedestrian; after all, baby pictures on the internet arent revolutionary. But WhatsApps innovations tend to be subtle. One of the secrets to WhatsApps growth has been a focus on simplicity. The app is purposefully unflashy, and it does just a few things  texts, voice calls and video calls.



As a result, it is supremely easy to use even for people who are neophytes to digital technology. This is one reason immigrants find it so powerful; it has given them access to a wider set of relatives who might have shunned the social networks that came before.



Curious pattern

Adoption of WhatsApp often follows a curious pattern  older relatives often suggest it to younger ones, rather than the other way around. My aunt, whos in her late 70s, was the one who really pushed me to get on it, Reef said. Now, she said, she uses it nearly every day; lately shes even gotten her children to use it.



WhatsApps ubiquity is also important. Because it has become essentially the primary mode of communication between people back in the motherland, for people who leave, it becomes something like a window into an old life.



For migrants who leave their homes out of desperation, WhatsApp offers another advantage that many other networks lack: Its secure. The app is encrypted, making it safe from government snoops. The company has also long been adamant about its opposition to advertising and some of the intrusions on privacy, though that stance has softened since the Facebook purchase.



WhatsApp said in August that it would begin matching its users with those in Facebooks database, a move that prompted an outcry from some privacy advocates (and that may result in a fine from European Commission).



WhatsApp itself does not keep tabs on how the app has been embraced by immigrants; a spokeswoman told me that because communications on the app are encrypted, the company has no way to know when people are communicating internationally.



But Koum, the companys chief executive, said in an email that immigrant users are an important constituency. A lot of us at WhatsApp were born in other countries, he said. We recognise how important it is for people to connect with family thousands of miles away, because its something we think about a lot. Every feature in the app, he added, was designed in part by someone living the immigrant experience every day.
In a bid to smoothen ruffled feathers, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been reaching out to Opposition leaders who had made common cause with the party to oppose the demonetisation decision of the Modi government during the Parliament session.



Sonia, who was indisposed for some part of the Winter Session, has proposed a show of Opposition unity on Tuesday by calling leaders of non-BJP political parties to chart the future course of action on taking on the Centre over demonetisation.



The Winter Session of Parliament, which concluded on December 16, had witnessed rare Opposition unity with arch rivals Trinamool and the CPM, SP and the BSP along with 10 other parties joining the Congress in protesting the implementation of the note ban.



However, the Opposition unity fell apart on the last day of the Winter Session when Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a memorandum to address the demands of Uttar Pradesh farmers. Besides Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel and leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad have been reaching out to leaders of the Opposition parties.



The leaders are also expected to address a joint press conference and announce their programme in the new year to protest demonetisation. As many as 15 Opposition parties used to plan joint strategy for the protests in Parliament as well as outside.



They had also planned to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on December 16, but Rahuls meeting with Modi angered others. The result  only the Congress, Trinamool and leaders of a few smaller parties went to meet the President to protest against disruptions in Parliament and the implementation of demonetisation.


In a fresh twist into boardroom and courtroom battle involving the $100-billion Tata Group, Wadia Group Chairman Nusli Wadia has filed a criminal defamation complaint against Tata Sons and its interim chairman Ratan Tata, among others, for what he said defamatory and offending contents of special notices ahead of Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) for voting him out of Tata companies.



The criminal defamation complaint was filed before a Magistrates court at Ballard Pier in Mumbai. Wadia was an Independent Director on the boards of three Tata Group companies  Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals and Tata Motors. Wadia, 72, the grandson of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, appeared to have extended support to Cyrus Mistry, 48, after he was ousted as chairman of the salt-to-software conglomerate  and positioned himself against his childhood friend, the 78-year-old Tata.



Besides Tata Sons and Tata, 10 others were named in the complaint are F N Subedar, Ishaat Hussian, Nitin Nohria, Ranendra Sen, Ajay Piramal, Amit Chandra, Vijay Singh, Venu Srinivasan, Ralf Speth and N Chandrasekharan. In the court, Wadia is represented by counsel Abad Ponda. In his complaint, Wadia referred to the November 10 board meeting of Tata Chemicals.



Ratan Tata breaks silence

Breaking his silence over the feud with ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry, Ratan Tata on Friday said there has been a definite move to damage his personal reputation in the last two months, but truth will eventually prevail howsoever painful the process may be.



Tata, who came back as interim chairman of Tata Sons, made a brief intervention at the meeting of shareholders of Tata Chemicals here to express his views. Over the last two months, there has been a definite move to damage my personal reputation and the reputation of this great group  the Tata Group, he said.
Kumarmangalam Birla, head of Indias leading industrial conglomerate Birla Group, on Friday refused to comment on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhis allegations that his group paid Rs 25 crore to the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.



I am not aware. I dont know about it and do not want to talk about it, Birla told mediapersons at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA). Birla is the chairman of the institute. The matter is sub judice and I would not like to say anything, he said on being asked again.



At a public rally in Mehsana on Wednesday, the Congress vice president alleged that Rs 40 crore was paid to Modi by the Sahara group and a computer file suggested that another Rs 25 crore was to be paid to the then Gujarat chief minister by the Birla group. Rahul went on to allege that the computer file suggested that Rs 12 crore had been paid to Modi.



Birla, who was visiting the campus after a gap of two decades, stayed there for two days to interact with students, faculty and management of the IIMA as its chairman. I could have never made it to the institute as a student but I am here now as its chairman, he said.

Enlisting his priorities for the IIMA, Birla said, My focus would be to see how best I can help increase the interaction between corporates and the IIMA.



On being asked his thoughts on how the IIMA can improve its rankings globally, Birla said he preferred that the IIMA educates more Indian students than foreign ones.



One of the criteria is how many foreign students you can attract on your campus. As an Indian, I would be delighted if IIMs train our own youngsters in the art of management. But this is purely my opinion, he said.



Speaking on the issue of autonomy to IIMs, Birla said he was in favour of maintaining complete autonomy. There is no question of any kind of change in the autonomy to institutes like IIMs, he said.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the central government over Income Tax officials going on raids with the cover of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.



On Friday, the I-T department raided a number of places across Kolkata as part of post-demonetisation operation. During the raids, the officials had taken the help of CRPF personnel to provide them with security.



However, this has not gone down well with the chief minister, who found the move unconstitutional and illegal. It is an attack on the federal structure, she said.



Letting her displeasure known to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a letter on Friday, Mamata said: It has come to our notice that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to make available 15 personnel of the CRPF for apparently providing security to Income Tax officials and staff deputed for operations in West Bengal. No communication in this regard has been received by the state government.



Making clear her objection to Rajnath, she said the decision is blatantly unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism.



She wrote that deployment of any central paramilitary forces in a state can only be done at the request of the respective state government.



The decision must be immediately revoked. The state government, with its police forces, will provide all necessary help and protection, Mamata stated in the letter.



A letter from the MHA to the director general of the CRPF, available with DH, dated December 20, mentioned deploying 15 CRPF personnel in West Bengal for security of I-T officials involved in raids in Kolkata and elsewhere.


In a snub to Narendra Modi, the Congress has performed a token bhoomi puja for the Pune Metro Rail project on Friday, a day before the prime minister was to preside over the formal function.



The grand puja would be performed in the presence of NCP president and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Saturday.



The Metro rail is one of the most awaited big-ticket projects for Maharashtras cultural capital, which is also a commercially expanding metro centre encompassing the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).



The total cost of the metro rail corridor will be Rs 11,420 crore and it is expected to benefit nearly 50 lakh residents of the city.



On behalf of the Congress, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan performed the puja. During his last few months in office, Chavan had argued bitterly with the Modi-led NDA government as to why the Centre chose to have the bhoomi puja for the Nagpur metro project when a similar scheme was pending in Pune.



The former chief minister clashed particularly with Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation M Venkaiah Naidu and Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.



However, the Congress-NCP Democratic Front alliance lost the subsequent Maharashtra elections to the BJP.



Speaking to reporters, Chavan said that Modis Mumbai and Pune visit has been carefully prepared as a pitch for the February 2017 municipal elections. The key question here is why the (Pune metro) project was delayed (by the Centre), he said.


The police late on Thursday night busted a high-profile booze party in a farmhouse on the outskirts of Baroda, and arrested former IPL chairman Chirayu Amin along with 260 guests.



We have recovered 103 bottles of hard liquor and 113 beer bottles worth Rs 1,28,950 from the spot. Many men and women appeared inebriated, so they were taken to hospital to collect their blood samples, Baroda SP Saurabh Tolambiya told reporters.



We have filed two FIRs, a non-bailable one against the farmhouse owner and his son under sections of the new prohibition law, which provides for 10 years jail for keeping and distributing liquor. The other FIR, under a section related to the consumption of liquor, has been filed against 127 men and 134 women, including two British citizens, Tolambiya added.



Also, under the new prohibition law in the dry state of Gujarat, consuming liquor is now punishable with a three-year jail term.



The police also seized 90 vehicles worth over Rs 18 crore from the venue. The party was held to celebrate the upcoming marriage of farmhouse owner Jeetendra Shahs granddaughter.



Shah and his son Abhay are being interrogated and will be produced before a court for remand, Tolambiya said. The men who were arrested at night were granted bail on a personal bond. The women were not arrested, and were given bail immediately. The blood samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar for further tests.



On Friday, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said that the state is serious about implementing prohibition.


Central government officials have said that Kannada could not be considered as one of the languages to write National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in 2017-18 because of the norms followed to select the regional languages for the screening test for undergraduate medical course.





Earlier this week, the health ministry announced that NEET for undergraduate courses in 2017-18 would be conducted in eight languages Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Telegu, Tamil, Hindi and English.



Officials in New Delhi said the language choice was based on two criteria  the state had to conduct a medical entrance examination in the vernacular language at least for three years and there should be a lexicon of medical terms in that language. These norms were worked out in consultation with a number of experts and state officials to ensure availability of teachers, who can examine the copies in these languages.



Karnataka never conducted the medical entrance examination in Kannada. The state officials who attended the health ministry meeting on November 25 through video conferencing did not raise any objections. They were satisfied with English as the preferred language for writing the NEET, sources told DH.



The controversy flared up with the surfacing of a letter from Jawaid Akhtar, principal secretary, Medical Education, Karnataka to the Union health secretary C K Mishra, requesting him to ensure that NEET is conducted in Kannada too.



Akhtar's letter dated December 14, 2016 was signed on December 20 and despatched on December 22. The health ministry sent its instruction to the Central Board of Secondary Education, which would conduct the NEET, on December 8, sources said.



Akhtar told DH in Bengaluru that when Mishra held a video conferencing seeking the state governments the necessity of conducting NEET in the regional languages, Karnataka had sought time to obtain approval of the state government before sending the request to the Centre.



Akhtar said, CET in Karnataka has never been conducted in Kannada as none of the students are desirous of a Kannada question paper. The state government, however, felt that the students should nevertheless be given an option. We are keenly pursuing this issue. So far, we have not received any complaints from the students.



Sources in the Union government said the language decision was taken way back in 2013 before conducting the first NEET. While the first nation-wide medical entrance test was a limited affair because of legal objections, the entrance examination could not be held in the next two years due to a verdict of the Supreme Court that ruled against the NEET.



After a favourable order from the apex court, the examination was re-started in 2016. As NEET was held at a short notice in 2016, only Hindi and English were considered then. It was decided that other languages would be included during subsequent exams.


The state government will set up district-level committees to look into misappropriation of funds in development works taken up by all the 17 state universities in Karnataka.





Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayaraddi told mediapersons here on Friday that these committees would be headed by deputy commissioners of respective districts. Zilla panchayat account officers and superintending engineers from PWD would be the members of the panels.



The minister said that in the last 10 years, the varsities had made payments in excess of estimated cost of projects. While Cabinet approval had to be obtained for projects with an estimated cost of more than Rs 5 crore, the rule had not been followed in a majority of cases. The extra payments made by the varsities total a whopping Rs 600 crore. The committees would be directed to submit their reports by January 15, 2017, he added.
A suspected burglar, who sneaked into a politicians bungalow under construction near Nagarbhavi I Block in west Bengaluru was shot dead by a security guard in the early hours on Friday.



The police gave the name of the dead as Bettaswamy, a native of Mathikere in Gubbi taluk of Tumukuru district. Security guard Mohan Kumar opened fire at Bettaswamy with his licensed 12 bore single barrel breech loading gun (SBBL) when the intruder tried to attack him.



The bungalow, the police said, belongs to Javarayi Gowda, a former corporator and a JD(S) leader. The construction work is on since 2007.



The police said that around 2.15 am on Friday, Bettaswamy and two others sneaked into the under construction bungalow to steal construction materials. While Bettaswamy was trying to break the lock of a room where the construction material was stored, the two others went around the premises trying to find other materials.



Kumar heard some sound near the storeroom. When he went there, he found Bettaswamy trying to break the lock.



Kumar approached Bettaswamy and asked him to surrender. But he tried to attack Kumar with a wooden log. Kumar warned Bettaswamy that he would fire at him. Bettaswamy ran towards Kumar, who was at some distance and tried to hit him. In self defence, Kumar opened fire at Bettaswamy, killing him on the spot, the police said.



Hearing the commotion, another security guard Parashuram and a driver Umesh, who were asleep in one of the rooms, rushed out and found Kumar shouting. They spotted two strangers and tried to chase them. The duo scaled the compound wall and managed to escape, the police said.



The Kamakshipalya police, who were informed about the incident, rushed to the spot. Officials from the Forensic Science Laboratory visited the crime scene and collected the fingerprints of Bettaswamy. The fingerprints will be used to check if he has a criminal history, mentioned the police.



Kumar in his complaint stated that he tried to nab Bettaswamy and opened fire in self defence. The SBBL gun is being examined by ballistic experts. The gun licence is being scrutinised, said a senior police officer.



Kumar works for a private security agency and has been deployed at the bungalow along with the other guard Parashuram.



The police have registered a case under IPC sections 457 (house-trespass or house break-in by night to commit offence), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 511 (attempt to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment) and 507 (attempt to murder). A team has been formed to nab the two men who escaped, the police said.


Dedoimedo interviews: KDE team

Updated: December 23, 2016

Behold, for we are doing it again. Several days ago, I've given you an interview with the MX Linux team developer Dolphin Oracle. It was a very interesting glimpse into how a small, passionate community runs their project.

Now, we will expand and look at the far end of the Linux spectrum - the KDE community, one of the oldest, largest, most prolific, and most influential software and technology houses in the open-source world. And we will not have just one interviewee, but two! Sebastian Kugler and Bhushan Shah. Let us commence.

I hope I got the genitive case right. And for those asking, Avus et Ursus? Grandpa and Bear! Dedoimedo!

Can you introduce yourselves, guys.

Sebastian Kugler (SK): I'm a software developer living in the Netherlands. I've been contributing to various KDE and other Free software projects for 15 years. I have worked on Plasma from when it was born. I work for Blue Systems, where I coordinate our KDE and Free Software related activities and manage daily operations. My favorite hobby is scuba diving, and I also enjoy photography, traveling, whale conservation, cooking, music, and of course technology.

Bhushan Shah (BS): I am KDE developer from India, I'm a relatively new contributor compared to Sebastian, I started contributing to KDE ~4 years back, from the start I worked on Plasma 5. I am currently employed by Blue Systems to work on Plasma Mobile. I am also one of the administrators of the KDE Student Programs team, which is targeted towards students who wants to participate in KDE development.

Bhushan, please tell us a little more about your involvement with the Indian community.

BS: Initially when I was still learning different aspects of KDE development, I was invited to conf.kde.in 2013 in Gandhinagar, India to speak about my experience with the KDE community. Ever since, I have been a part of the KDE India community. I am helping with the organization of conf.kde.in, and also we organize various workshops and promotional events.

Seb, what's the story behind KDE?

SK: We're basically a bunch of hackers with attention to detail and great determination. Kidding aside, KDE is one of the oldest and largest Free software projects in the world, it eases the daily lives of tens of millions of users and promotes Freedom and privacy in a very practical and effective manner. KDE is a great collaboration project and it brings people from so many backgrounds together to create and collaborate. It's built on solid values, practices and a shared sense of responsibility. It gives people a place to shine, to channel their creativity and to work with others and learn from each other. To me personally, it offers the working environment I feel allows me to strive and feel productive and proud of my work.

Bhushan, what is Plasma Mobile?

BS: Plasma Mobile is a free and open-source customizable platform for mobile devices. Currently Plasma Mobile is available for LG Nexus 5 as a prototype. Unlike other platforms, Plasma Mobile platform is open to 3rd party applications.

Kirigami is another project related to Plasma Mobile. Kirigami provides the set of components and various UI/UX patterns to develop the applications that can run on any mobile or desktop operating system.

Both of you guys, what is your perspective on how well KDE/Plasma is doing right now? Is it heading in the right direction? Is it achieving what it's supposed to be achieving?

SK: In general, I'd answer with a resounding yes. I think that we are in excellent place right now. Our heading is right as well, as projects like Kirigami, which really embodies our vision of modern user interfaces. I think we've also learnt to strike a better balance between functionality and visuals, improving the visuals in a sustainable manner, while not sacrificing functionality to "clean up the UI."

BS: I would agree with Sebastian, KDE's main vision is a world where everyone has control over their digital life and enjoys freedom and privacy. Projects like Plasma Mobile, which is a free and open platform, provides the user with full control over their digital life. So I believe yes, we are currently heading in the right direction.

Seb, what is the long-term strategy for Plasma?

SK: Basically, quality and flexibility. We want Plasma to be a highly reliable workhorse that allows being productive and do that in an elegant way. We want Plasma to be the best tool for the job, but also to breathe quality. At the same time, we want to make Plasma technology available on a wider range of devices, as this allows us to be more effective in our goal to help the user get work done. Plasma Mobile is one such project, Kirigami another good example.

With Free software having become the standard rather than the exception in for many users, we want to include privacy in our focus. Plasma should be a tool allowing the user to control her own identity, we think that this is perhaps the greatest contribution we can make to users' lives, and it is one that commercial competitors often cannot offer by their nature. Privacy is a threatened good, and we want Plasma to be a useful tool protecting it, elegantly.

In the past, I used to love KDE 3.5. Then KDE 4.0 can along, and it was merely okay. Plasma was amazing at first. Recently, though, I am struggling to find the same level of quality, appeal and magic as I used to only a year and a half ago? My perception is that there's too much happening, and just not enough resources to cover everything with sustainable, consistent quality. What would you say to that?

SK: Partly, yes. I think that this is part of a natural process, however. Things change at different rates over time, and for newer technology, it often takes a few releases to settle down, that is not something we can entirely avoid, as iterative improvement is at the very core of our creation process. On the other hand, we do realize that the amount of work (and thus change) that goes into Plasma may not match their, let's day, digestion capacity. This demand for continuity is one of the reasons why we have made Plasma 5.8 a long-term supported release.

BS: I agree with you that too much has happened over the period of one and a half year. But in my opinion that too much was to improve quality and user experience and not to degrade the overall quality. In the initial (5.0) release, our goal was to have a functional Qt5 based Plasma Workspaces, but as new versions were released, we've shifted focus towards the stability and fixing the pain points of the users.

Do you think Plasma has too much detail?

SK: Yes, but at the same time this flexibility is what makes us stand out. We try to improve the presentation of these features in an easy way, with the full power available when needed. Our mantra "simple when possible, powerful when needed" reflects this ambiguity and how we want to solve it well.

I do have to agree that Plasma has a lot of goodies, but it can be sometimes overwhelming. The balance is tricky.

Why is customization more difficult in Plasma than before?

SK: Could you give examples? In general, Plasma has become more configurable and flexible, both in smaller features, but as well in architectural ways, such as the switchable workspaces. This flexibility comes at the cost that now there are even more options, which does have a certain effect on how easy it feels to customize Plasma. It's partly inherent to our goal, but partly also about visual presentation.

BS: Personally this is the first time I am hearing this, in general I've received feedback saying Plasma is the most configurable desktop environment out there. And this is true both for distributions and the end-user... so yeah, as Sebastian asked, I also would be interested in examples.

DM: I believe some of the problems I have outlined in my recent reviews do clarify the issue at hand. Namely, it is very difficult to find new suitable themes and icons, lots of the available packages are broken, and Breeze light and dark cannot be blended.

Beautiful themes and icons cannot really be installed.

What will be the three killer feature of Plasma, or whatever its successor is going to be in 2020?

SK: Freedom, privacy and quality.

BS: *nods*

Do you think we will ever have the Year of Linux?

SK: That depends a lot. I have an economic background, so to me, it's mostly down to adoption rate and market segmentation. For Plasma specifically, I think we're in a pretty good position to increase market share: bigger architectural changes are mostly behind us, we can and will focus more on detail and quality for the desktop offering, and I hope that our mobile technologies pick up slack in its tail wave. Our technical foundations, collaboration processes, tools and infrastructure have been modernized in the past years. These are things that often lead to happier users in the long term, and that's really

what counts to the user: does the tool do the job elegantly. In a way, it's even a non-goal for us: privacy means that we allow the user to limit the trails of information, so perhaps the best case is that the Linux desktop happens without anyone noticing.

Seb, how do you work with the rest of the team?

SK: On a daily basis, we hang out in the #plasma channel on Freenode's IRC network. We also do video conferences quite often. In the past year, we've adopted phabricator in our development workflows, which has quickly become one of our cornerstones in collaboration on patches, design mockups, and task workboards. Our development process is open and mostly "agile," we review each other's code and discuss problems. A few times a year we meet each other, either during dedicated sprints, at conferences or somehow else, which gives us a more high-bandwidth way to work on more difficult problems.

Bhushan, how popular is Plasma in India?

BS: While it is not super famous in India, we have quite a lot KDE users and developers in India. In some parts of India (north-east), Plasma is used as a daily driver in various government offices and universities, We also have developers working on various parts of KDE. So about popularity, I would say that it's getting there!

If you compare all desktop environments, what are the good points that your rivals do and that you think you should also focus on creating or improving?

SK: I enjoy visual consistency across desktops, and there are a couple of interesting approaches around, especially in terms of attention to visuals. What I think all Free desktop environments should do a better job at is interoperability, especially with Wayland about to land in GNOME and Plasma, there's a great need for common standards, but too little mutual collaboration.

And then, the other way around?

SK: Mutual collaboration, as it cuts on both ends of the sword.

Best Sherlock Holmes, quick.

BS: Robert Downey Jr.

DM: Kids these days. Sob. Sigh. Jeremy Brett all the way!

Seb, what does a typical day in life look for you?

SK: I get up in the late morning, pour a pint of cafe latte with frothed vanilla milk and start reading my emails and bug reports. When I feel woken up enough to communicate, I check out what's going on in our chat, catch up with colleagues, hold a meeting on IRC or video chat, do code reviews, merge patches and take care of all the organizational bits that keep the shop running. In the early evening, my partner joins me for dinner and I take a few hours off for private things. One some days, I go for a nightly scuba dive in a local lake with friends, other times I meet friends for dinner, or just spend a quiet evening with my partner at home. In the late evening I often pick up the laptop again, go over emails and work on things that need longer periods of focus, such as programming, debugging, or testing. This often continues into the wee hours. My job also includes quite some traveling, and even at home, no day is the same and there's something new and exciting to wrap your head around every day.

Bhushan, I know you're involved with KDE student programs. Could you please share more on this endeavor?

BS: KDE always welcomes new contributors and helps them get started. One way of making it easier for new contributors, we participate and host several mentoring programs, Google Summer of Code, Google Code-in, Season of KDE, and Outreach program for Women (Outreachy).

These mentoring programs have a duration of 3 to 4 months, during which existing KDE developers mentor the participating students on various aspects of KDE development and participating students works on one specific project. Out of them, Google code-in, is slightly different; it is targeted towards kids in the age group 13-17 studying in schools.



Coincidentally, I started developing on KDE as a student in one of these programs, Season of KDE 2013, and my mentor was Sebastian. During this timeline I did some porting work from Plasma 4 to Plasma 5.

Final word

Regardless of what you feel or think about KDE, you cannot deny its power and influence, nor the fact that there has been a huge stream of cool, wicked innovation come out of its forges. Plasma is the latest, bold initiative, and for a while, it was my favorite desktop. The ride has been a little rougher lately, but I am confident that we will see Plasma burgeon again. I would also love to see Plasma Mobile succeed where so many others have failed. Uprooting the giants will not be easy, but it is definitely an effort worth failing.

I would like to thank Sebastian and Bhushan for their time and patience, even if they did not delight me with the Sherlock Holmes response. It is quite fascinating learning more about what KDE has in store, where the development is focused, what the challenges are, and what we should expect to see from Plasma in the coming years. Privacy will definitely play a big part. And then, let us not forget, it's all about people, at the end of the day. I'm quite happy, and I'm looking forward to fresh new experiments with Plasma and friends. Meanwhile, have a look at the year's best of summary, and send me any ideas you may have for future interviews. See you soon, and if you like this, do tell a friend.

Cheers.
All rights are reserved by Deshbandhu. Copyright @ 2022.           .
15 Bollywood Actors Who Have Never Won A National Film Award
Mona's Boyfriend Vikrant To Enter The house, Will Have A Face Off With Manu Punjabi!
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.
A schoolboy with type 1 diabetes is hoping to raise money for the condition by releasing a Christmas EP with his grandpa.

Ten-year-old Alex McGinty (pictured, left), who is a member of the McCallums School of Music in Scotland, has teamed up with his grandpa Joe (pictured, right) and fellow student Louiza Smith, aged 11, to release the tracks.

The trio have recorded four festive tracks and pledged all monies raised will be donated to charity Diabetes UK.

Alexs grandad, who is a retired lorry driver, told the Daily Record newspaper that his grandson has been a champion for the cause since his diagnosis three years ago.

The 60-year-old said: Hes got a great team behind him at Wishaw [General] Hospital and its just Alexs way of paying them back. I wrote the lyrics and played the backing track for them and we recorded Alex and Louizas voices.

We looked at the songs, especially the song Lets Build a Snowma, and realised it was more of a two-part song and decided all of them could be played as a two-part.

Then we brought them both i, got them in front of a big screen for a photoshoot for the CD with them posing and throwing snowballs.

Alex, who is a pupil of St Columbkilles Primary School in Ruthergle, Glasgow, has already gained a large Facebook following for his performances, having gained 25,000 likes on his page.

Also an actor, he has previously appeared alongside former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff in the pantomime Peter Pan.

He also won several talent competitions including Open Mics UK, Quest 4 Talent and Junior Talent Fest UK.

To find out more visit Alexs Facebook page here.

Picture: Daily Record
Nokia is planning to make its smartphones available in the first half of 2017

Nokia has filed a fresh set of patent lawsuits against Apple in Asia, Europe and the United States. The Finnish company had recently filed a lawsuit against California-based iPhone maker in the US and Germany.

Nokia had sued Apple for infringing 32 different technology patents and has now filed another 40 patent suits in 11 more countries, reports Reuters. Nokia's patent battle with Apple has sent shockwaves among investors with its shares declining nearly 5 percent. The shares of Finnish telecom network equipment maker and once a formidable force in mobile industry closed at 4.496 euros.

Reuters further notes that analysts have warned the legal battle with Apple could hold up royalty payments vital to shoring up the Finnish company's profits.

Nokia is staging to smartphone business in early 2017 and the company has already formalised licensing deal with HMD Global to restart its mobile business. Nokia had initially accused Apple of not agreeing to patent licensing deals but Apple in its counterclaim said patent entities are attempting to collect excessive fees for Nokia's patents.

It is unclear where this battle is going to head and Apple is known to have great appetite for patent lawsuits.
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The flight crew warned passengers of a an individual bag search when the Wi-Fi hotspot named Galaxy Note 7_1097 was discovered inside the aircraft.

A troll tactic resulted in an onboard scare and delay of a Virgin America flight out of San Francisco, US. Someone on the flight apparently renamed their Wi-Fi hotspot to Galaxy Note 7_1097, causing a frenzy amongst the crew and passengers of the flight. As per BBC News, the Wi-Fi hotspot name gave everyone on the flight an impression that a Galaxy Note 7 smartphone was on the aircraft. Lucas Wojciechowski, a software engineer, was onboard the Virgin America flight 358 travelling to Boston, when he discovered the Wi-Fi hotspot. He took a screenshot of the same and also Tweeted out the inflight announcement, an hour into the flight.

About an hour into the flight there's an announcement "If anyone has a Galaxy Note 7, please press your call button"  Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

After several announcements from the crew members asking the owner of the banned smartphone to step forward, the captain of the flight warned that if no one steps up, the flight would be diverted to Wyoming. The culprit eventually confessed to the prank and the aircraft landed late in Boston.

Remember, the Galaxy Note 7 was banned on all national, international flights after the smartphones battery explosion fiasco. If you have travelled anywhere in the past few months, you would have definitely heard inflight announcements warning against the use of Samsungs recalled smartphone.
The AIM-listed company, through its subsidiary United Telecom, bought Ello Mobile, which will be paid through the issue of 3.82m shares of 5p each, which were sold at 6.6p per share.

The acquisition will extend the companys reach in Belgium and add a brand with a loyal following.

Ello Mobile currently donates its entire profit to non-profit charity projects and has donated more than 1m since its inception.

United Telecom said that it will donate a minimum of 50,000 per year to charities for the next three years following the acquisition.

Ello Mobile generated revenue of 698,222 in the 2015 financial year. It made earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 181,670 and had net liabilities of 47,085.

Bart Weijermars, chief executive of Artilium, said: "With the acquisition of Ello Mobile and its customer base we are adding a very exciting brand to our business which is different from the big mobile brands. Our customers get a top service and contribute to charities at the same time."

The shares are expected to trade on AIM on 30 December and following admission the company will have a total of 309.9m shares in issue.

Shares in Artilium were up 3.7% to 7p at 1215 GMT.
Italys cabinet has approved a bailout of beleaguered lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena after it failed to raise $5bn from private investors.

The news comes after the government was given the go-ahead earlier in the week for a 20bn fund to support the countrys troubled banking sector.

The bank confirmed overnight that it would receive the necessary extraordinary and temporary financial support from the bailout package.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said earlier on Friday that his cabinet had approved the rescue and would be using part of the fund. He said the first step in the process will be to strengthen Monte dei Paschis ability to procure liquidity. In addition, Gentiloni said the bank can press on with a sale of state-backed bonds.

Monte dei Paschi said in a statement that its attempt to raise money from private investors had not ended with success.

In particular, there were no manifestations of interest on the part of an anchor investor who could have put a significant investment in the bank and this negatively affected decisions of institutional investors, it said.

Economy minister Pier Carlo Padoan said: ''This intervention will guarantee the capital requirement of Monte Paschi and will therefore allow the bank to proceed with its business plan, which European authorities will need to approve.

"It will be the third Italian bank which finally will return to operate at full throttle in support of the Italian economy and with the confidence of its savers and employees.''

IG's Joshua Mahony said: "The EU forced bail-in means that some 40,00 retail bond holders will have to take a hit in the process, which amounts to a large amount of unhappy voters. However, in the grand scheme of things, something has to be done to avoid contagion and with the bank better funded, they are likely to be able to raise capital more easily in the future."
London stocks ended a half-day session with a whimper rather than a bang on Friday amid holiday-thinned volumes, as investors digested an upward revision to third-quarter UK economic growth figures and some key news for the banking sector.

Meanwhile, oil prices retreated as investors booked some profits ahead of the holidays, with West Texas Intermediate down 1% at $52.42 a barrel and Brent crude 1% lower at $54.51.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the UK economy grew more than initially estimated in the third quarter.

Growth for the three months following the Brexit vote was revised up to 0.6% from a previous estimate of 0.5%. The pound briefly popped higher on the news, but stock markets showed no reaction.

Darren Morgan, ONS head of GDP, said: Robust consumer demand continued to help the UK economy grow steadily in the third quarter of 2016. Growth was slightly stronger than first thought, though, due to greater output in the financial sector.

However, year-on-year growth was revised down a touch to 2.2% from a previous estimate of 2.3%, as second-quarter growth was revised down to 0.6% on the quarter from 0.7%, while first quarter growth was revised to 0.3% from 0.4%.

Meanwhile, figures from the ONS showed the current account deficit widened in the third quarter to 25.5bn from 22.1bn in the second. The deficit in goods trade widened to a record 38.7bn, but trade in services hit a record surplus of 25.1bn.

Richard de Meo, managing director of Foenix Partners, said that at a glance, everything seems in order with todays data.

However, a closer inspection reveals very mixed messaging as Q1 and Q2 GDP data suffered downward revisions - leaving the annualised rate at 2.2% - and further contradictions are evident in the data breakdown. Very strong performance in the services sector, the sharpest rise in employee compensation in three years and outperformance in construction and industrial production are then firmly offset by very weak figures in household disposable income, continuing declines in business investment and a widening of the current account deficit.

Banks were in focus as the Italian cabinet gave the green light to rescue Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena after it failed to raise 5bn from private investors, and as Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agreed muti-billion dollar fines with the US Department of Justice.

In London, Barclays was under the cosh after the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the bank and two of its former executives on civil charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis.

Barclays said on Friday that it rejects the claims made in the complaint and considers that they are are disconnected from the facts, adding that it will vigorously defend the complaint.

CMC Markets Jasper Lawler said: The lawsuit is a surprise because it was assumed a reasonable compromise could be reached between the DOJ and the banks. Barclays appears to be playing the long game, hoping it can get a better result in the courts.

News about Barclays came as peers Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agreed to pay $7.2bn and $5.3bn in fines, respectively. Deutsche rallied as the fine was much smaller than the $14bn that had been expected, while CS fell as analysts had pencilled in a lower fine of around $2bn.

Royal Bank of Scotland  which has yet to settle with US authorities over its alleged mis-selling of mortgage-backed securities  was in the black.

Elsewhere, AstraZeneca nudged up after completing an agreement with Pfizer for the sale of the commercialisation and development rights to its late-stage small molecule antibiotics business, comprising the approved antibiotics Merrem, Zinforo and Zavicefta, and ATM-AVI and CXL, which are in clinical development.

Paypoint advanced after it said it will pay a special dividend as it announced the sale of its mobile payments business to Volkswagen Financial Services AG for 26.5m in cash.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,066.69 0.04%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,936.54 0.25%

techMARK (TASX) 3,354.90 0.33%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Capita (CPI) 521.00p 3.78%

Land Securities Group (LAND) 1,072.00p 2.19%

National Grid (NG.) 949.10p 1.67%

Hammerson (HMSO) 568.50p 1.52%

AstraZeneca (AZN) 4,407.50p 1.50%

Imperial Brands (IMB) 3,547.00p 1.31%

Whitbread (WTB) 3,750.00p 1.24%

Intu Properties (INTU) 277.60p 1.20%

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 456.20p 1.18%

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 230.60p 1.14%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 645.80p -1.43%

Barratt Developments (BDEV) 470.60p -1.13%

BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,257.50p -1.02%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,458.00p -0.95%

Barclays (BARC) 225.00p -0.88%

Intertek Group (ITRK) 3,386.00p -0.82%

Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 352.20p -0.79%

Kingfisher (KGF) 347.50p -0.69%

Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,061.50p -0.63%

Shire Plc (SHP) 4,536.50p -0.57%

FTSE 250 - Risers

SEGRO (SGRO) 456.50p 2.79%

Mitie Group (MTO) 225.40p 2.69%

Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 404.50p 2.41%

Beazley (BEZ) 389.60p 2.04%

Workspace Group (WKP) 761.00p 1.87%

Rightmove (RMV) 3,929.00p 1.84%

Derwent London (DLN) 2,783.00p 1.83%

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 86.00p 1.78%

PayPoint (PAY) 962.50p 1.74%

Evraz (EVR) 227.80p 1.74%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 381.80p -4.31%

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 134.70p -2.67%

Supergroup (SGP) 1,581.00p -2.47%

CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,538.00p -2.29%

JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 315.80p -2.20%

Ocado Group (OCDO) 252.30p -2.17%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 188.30p -2.13%

Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,271.00p -1.77%

Restaurant Group (RTN) 326.80p -1.57%

Entertainment One Limited (ETO) 227.40p -1.43%
European stocks wavered on Friday in the run-up to Christmas, as investors eyed the banking sector after Italy approved a state bailout for troubled lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena and as Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agreed billion-dollar settlements with the US Department of Justice.

At midday, the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index was flat, while Germanys DAX and Frances CAC 40 were both down 0.1%.

Italys FTSE MIB was outperforming its peers, up 0.98% to 19,309.46, with the FTSE Italia All-Share Banks index 1.54% higher at 9,863.87 after the Italian cabinet gave the green light to rescue Monte dei Paschi, as it failed to raise 5bn from private investors.

Volumes on the CAC were 41% lower than the 10-day average, while volumes on the FTSE MIB were a whopping 90% lower and volumes on the DAX were down 12%.

Earlier in the week, Italy's lower house of parliament and Senate approved a government request to borrow up to 20bn to underwrite the country's beleaguered banking sector.

The countrys other banks were all the green. Banca Popolare di Milano was up 1.06%, Banco Popolare Societa Cooperativa added 0.96%, UniCredit was up 0.91% and Unione di Banche Italiane was firmer 1.22%.

Monte dei Paschi was not the only bank in the spotlight. In London, Barclays was 1.32% weaker after the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the bank and two of its former executives on civil charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis.

Barclays said on Friday that it rejects the claims made in the complaint and considers that they are are disconnected from the facts, adding that it will vigorously defend the complaint.

News about Barclays came as peers Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agreed billion-dollar fines with US authorities to settle allegations of mis-selling mortgage-backed securities. Deutsche Bank will pay a $7.2bn fine, while Credit Suisse will fork out $5.3bn. Deutsche Bank was higher 1.59% but Credit Suisse was 1.04% lower as analysts had been expecting a much bigger fine of about $14bn for DB and a smaller $2bn fine for CS.

In other corporate news, AstraZeneca nudged up 1.29% after completing an agreement with Pfizer for the sale of the commercialisation and development rights to its late-stage small molecule antibiotics business, comprising the approved antibiotics Merrem, Zinforo and Zavicefta, and ATM-AVI and CXL, which are in clinical development

On the data front, the latest monthly survey from market research group GfK showed that German consumer sentiment is expected to remain positive into next year.

The overall consumer climate index is forecast to nudge up to 9.9 points in January from 9.8 points in December, beating economists expectations for it to be unchanged.

The index for Income expectations rose 11.1 points to 55.6, driven by the excellent condition of the labour market, and the propensity to buy index, which reflects consumers' readiness to spend on big items, declined to 48.0 points from 51.2 in November.

Elsewhere, according to statistics firm Insee, the French economy grew 0.2% in the third quarter from the second quarter.

Meanwhile, oil prices retreated as investors booked some profits, with Brent crude down 0.86% to $54.58 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate down 0.87% to $52.49 at 1137 GMT.
European stocks were little changed at the open in holiday-thinned volumes, with all eyes firmly on the banking sector as Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse gained following settlements with the US Department of Justice, and Itlay approved a bailout of Monte dei Paschi.

At 0850 GMT, the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index, Germanys DAX and Frances CAC 40 were all up just 0.1%. Italys FTSE MIB was outperforming its peers, up 0.8%, with the FTSE Italia All-Share Banks index 1.5% firmer after the Italian cabinet gave the green light to rescue Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, as it failed to raise 5bn from private investors.

As we head into the Christmas break, volumes on the CAC were 41% lower than the 10-day average, while volumes on the FTSE MIB were a whopping 90% lower and volumes on the DAX were down 12%.

Meanwhile, oil prices retreated, with West Texas Intermediate down 0.7% at $52.60 a barrel and Brent crude 0.6% lower at $54.75.

It wasnt just Monte dei Paschi in the spotlight in terms of banks on Friday.

In London, Barclays was weaker after the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the bank and two of its former executives on civil charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis.

Barclays said on Friday that it rejects the claims made in the complaint and considers that they are are disconnected from the facts, adding that it will vigorously defend the complaint.

News about Barclays came as peers Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agreed billion-dollar fines with US authorities to settle allegations of mis-selling mortgage-backed securities. Deutsche Bank will pay a $7.2bn fine, while Credit Suisse will fork out $5.3bn. Both stocks were in the black.

Naeem Aslam at Think Markets said: Deutsche banks agreement is less than what the bank feared and this is music to investors ears. The amount of $14bn which was initially expected by Deutsche could have put the bank under a lot of strain.

Elsewhere, AstraZeneca nudged up after completing an agreement with Pfizer for the sale of the commercialisation and development rights to its late-stage small molecule antibiotics business, comprising the approved antibiotics Merrem, Zinforo and Zavicefta, and ATM-AVI and CXL, which are in clinical development.

Investors were also digesting the latest monthly survey from market research group GfK, which showed German consumer sentiment is expected to remain positive into next year.

The overall consumer climate index is forecast to nudge up to 9.9 points in January from 9.8 points in December, beating economists expectations for it to be unchanged.

Consumers seem to be totally immune to a series of risk factors, such as the outcome of the US elections, Brexit, the flare-up in the financial crisis in Italy following the failed referendum and the resignation of Prime Minister Renzi, and the persistently high terror threat, GfK said.

Having fallen for three months in a row, the economic expectations sub-index increased to 16.4 points in December from 15.3 the month before. Meanwhile, the index for Income expectations rose 11.1 points to 55.6, driven by the excellent condition of the labour market.

Finally, GfKs propensity to buy index, which reflects consumers' readiness to spend on big items, declined to 48.0 points from 51.2 in November. GfK said that despite this slight decline, propensity to consume remains extremely high and the appetite to make purchases is still strong.
The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Barclays and two of its former executives on civil charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis.

Barclays said on Friday that it rejects the claims made in the complaint and considers that they are are disconnected from the facts.

Barclays will vigorously defend the complaint and intends to seek its dismissal at the earliest opportunity, the bank said.

The civil claim makes a number of allegations, including mail and wire fraud. Among other relief, it seeks unspecified monetary penalties.
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October 30, 2022

Holidays are about making memories and there are so many reasons why visiting Walt Disney World during the holidays is a must-do. Now more than ever, in this fast-paced world, its so important to take that time to give experiences to your families because in doing so, you will be creating memories that will last a
Abortion doctor sues to stop Indiana AG from accessing medical records

An Indianapolis doctor thrust into national news on abortion is suing to stop Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita from obtaining medical records.
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Many souvenirs sold in markets all over the world look like local crafts but really are imported from abroad. They may be cheaper but they don't help the local economy.



By ISMAaIL KUSHKUSH

Associated Press

BETHLEHEM, West Bank  Christmas is approaching and pilgrims and tourists have begun to arrive, crowding the souvenir shops that line the narrow streets and alleys of Bethlehem, the biblical town revered as Jesus' birthplace.

But when visitors choose to take a piece of the Holy Land back home with them, they better check the labels. Many souvenirs  including the West Bank town's trademark rosary beads  are imported from abroad, mainly China.





. . .
Subscriber content preview

NEW YORK (AP)  A subway line opening in New York City next year will have walls decorated with artworks by four celebrated contemporary artists.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement about Manhattan's Second Avenue subway line Monday at the Museum of Modern Art.





. . .
Talented students starting at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) in September 2017 can now take advantage of #DMUglobal High Flyers Award for a discount on international opportunities during their degree.

The award will mean that students with top academic qualifications applying to DMU in 2017 will be eligible for a discount of up to 1,000 towards a #DMUglobal opportunity.

Sophie Moss was in her first year of a Film Studies degree when she used her #DMUglobal High Flyers Award to visit Hong Kong Film Festival as part of her course.

Sophie said: It was an incredible experience and very different to anything I had experienced before. Hong Kong was really vibrant and colourful.

If it wasnt for the award I probably wouldnt have considered the trip to Hong Kong because I wanted to be able to attend a summer school in Japan with #DMUglobal.

The bursary allowed Sophie to attend the Japan summer school and join the trip to Hong Kong, where the group had the opportunity to go to the film festival, as well as being able to tour a film studio and a TV studio.

She added: Because of the award I had the opportunity to go to Hong Kong and Japan and I would consider trips in the future to be able to build my CV further. The opportunities definitely gave me a world-wide perspective, which I really wanted to get.

Fashion Buying student Robyn Pound-Wood was awarded a bursary last year and used the money to take part in the International Fashion Buying trip to Amsterdam.

She said: The bursary provided me with the funding to visit a country that I might not otherwise have been able to and I got to experience a different culture, while also making good contacts with companies that I might want to apply to work for in the future.

We also got to do some sight-seeing, go to museums and also visit the head offices of Rituals and O'Neill, which was a really good experience and got me looking forward to my placement year that I'd already secured.

RELATED NEWS

Students 'privileged' to be offered New York trip of a lifetime

Find out more about DMU at our Open Day

Where will your degree take you? See the latest #DMUglobal opportunities

The pioneering #DMUglobal programme aims to offer all students an international experience during their studies, to help to enrich their studies, broaden cultural horizons and to develop key skills valued by employers.

#DMUglobal trips can be academic or student-led, and can take the form of internships, volunteering opportunities or cultural experiences, with previous students visiting New York, Paris, Hong Kong and India.

You can read more about the award and find our terms and conditions here.
The Air Force Reserve Command concluded its final Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program training weekend of 2016 Sunday doing what it did in 16 prior events this year: promoting the well-being of reservists and their loved ones by connecting them with resources before and after deployments.

"I wasn't aware of the tremendous amount of support there is for military families," said Lateka Benson, wife of Tech. Sgt. Fabian Benson of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. "I'm more prepared for (his upcoming) deployment, and I have a sense of ease and comfort.

Yellow Ribbon began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist reservists and National Guard members in maintaining resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles.

The Bensons, married for six years, attended the training with their four children to prepare for the sergeants deployment, his second during the couples 10 years together and third overall. The 17-year Air Force veteran is a knowledge operations management Airman.

"It's going to be difficult to be the only one making our ship sail smoothly," "Teka" Benson said. "Making sure our kids get to their appointments and after-school activities will be a challenge while their father  is deployed."

In addition to attending group sessions and hearing a keynote speaker together, Yellow Ribbon attendees choose from a variety of break-out sessions such as Writing Effective Resumes, Work/Life Balance Workshop and 4 Lenses: Whats Your Color?

Teka Benson, who works as a nosologist for a health-care software company, said she found 4 Lenses the most beneficial session as she discovered a more in-depth understanding of personality traits she and her husband have. With a better understanding of how each faces challenges and what motivates them the most, she said shell be able to recognize why certain decisions are made and how the thought process is generated.

Her husband agreed about the effectiveness of that breakout, describing it as pretty cool, and said the Yellow Ribbon training overall was a great family experience.

"I'm very glad we took the opportunity to come to this one because of the holiday being so close, he said.

Yellow Ribbon has 12 training weekends already firm for 2017 with others to be added. In 2016, the Air Force Reserve program trained about 7,200 GIs and those closest to them in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more.

Were already busy preparing for events through next September, said Mary Hill, a retired Reserve colonel who is the Yellow Ribbon program manager at Reserve headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Everyone involved in the program is really honored that we get to support deployers and their families. Its really a privilege for us to be of service to them.
Belgium's Ontex to buy personal hygiene business of Brazil's Hypermarcas

Ontex Group NV, a Belgium-based producer of disposable personal hygiene solutions for babies, women and adults, today struck a deal to buy the personal hygiene business of Brazil's diversified pharmaceutical firm Hypermarcas SA (HM).

Ontex will pay an enterprise value of R$1 billion (286 million) for Hypermarcas personal hygiene business.

Ontex said that the acquisition of HM personal hygiene will extend its market position in the Americas to Brazil, increasing sales from Ontex-owned brands, and accessing a fast growing market for adult incontinence.

Over the past twelve months, HM personal hygiene has generated revenue of approximately R$1.2 billion (343 million1).

HM personal hygiene portfolio of local brands includes PomPom  a premium offering in the babycare segment with nearly 50 years of heritage, Cremer  a strong offering in the intermediate segment, Sapeka  a regional leader in the value segment, BigFral and AdultMax  the market reference in adult incontinence.

HM personal hygiene is the market leader in the adult incontinence category and holds a number 3 position in Babycare in Brazil, the 4th largest hygiene market in the world.

Ontex CEO, Charles Bouaziz said, "This business has achieved leading market positions in the babycare and adult incontinence categories, built on attractive brands which respond to consumer needs, and strong sales execution. Following the successful integration of Grupo Mabe in Mexico, adding this business to our Americas Retail Division will give us strong positions in 2 of the top 5 personal hygiene markets in the world."

HM is one of Brazil's leading producers of over-the-counter and generic drugs, while Ontex is a leading producer of personal hygiene products, ranging from baby diapers to products for feminine hygiene and adult incontinence.

Ontex, which employs over 8,000 people and has a presence in 25 countries, distributes its products in more than 110 countries.
Home Four wheelers When Custom Jobs Go Too Far  Dartz Prombon Black Alligator Is A Dictator-Spec Mad Mercedes oi-Dennis James

The Dartz Prombon Black Alligator is the latest creation from Latvia's craziest carmaker for whom the words 'Ultra Luxury' doesn't really cut it.

{photo-feature}
Norah Woods, Highfield Road, Dublin and formerly of Knockabbey, Louth Village, died peacefully on 1 December 2016. Born in 1920 in New York, Norah lived virtually all her life in Ireland and spent her working career in the Civil Service.

She was the second child of Thomas Woods and Alice Nulty. When she was four years old, the family returned to Ireland, lived in Louth Village before moving to Knockabbey. They were known as the Yankee Woodses!

Norah was a bright, hard working, responsible and articulate young girl. She went to secondary school in Saint Louis Convent in Carrickmacross and won a scholarship to university to UCD. However she was unable to avail of it as she was successful in securing employment in the Civil Service. She moved to Dublin and during her career worked in the Departments of Finance, Labour and Agriculture.

Norah opted to pursue night time study as a mature student in UCD and obtained her degree, making her parents incredibly proud. She had a huge love of literature and poetry, with a particular love of the work of Patrick Kavanagh, Yeats and Shakespeare. She regularly quoted Hamlets soliloquy until very recently. Norah also had an extraordinary power of recall and could quote poetry from her junior and secondary school days. She also loved nature, plants and botany.

Although she didnt marry family was very important to Norah. She was in constant contact with her siblings and nephews and nieces whom she visited in the UK, USA and Australia. On retiring, she enjoyed engaging in cultural activities, visiting art galleries, and also playing bridge. She was a crossword whiz even up to days before she died. She travelled extensively with friends, visiting Russia and Egypt and capitals of interest in Europe.

In her final days she was surrounded by love and gratitude of her family, who felt privileged to have had her for so long in their lives and thankful for all she did for them. Norah passed away in the gentle care of Sheila Dillon and the staff of Cedar House Nursing Home, Dublin.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Tommy and MJ, and sisters Sally and Regina. She is survived by her younger brother, Frank, Newry and younger sister, Carmel (Hogarth), Glasgow. Her passing is also deeply regretted by her brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great- grandnieces, great-grandnephews, relatives in Louth, Dublin and abroad in the UK, USA and Australia.

After reposing at Mc Geoughs Funeral Home, Jocelyn Street, Dundalk on the Friday, Norah was taken on Saturday to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Louth Village. Father Sean McArdle PP celebrated Mass and family members participated in bringing up the gifts and symbols of Norahs life, doing Readings and leading the Prayers of the Faithful. Norahs brother Frank recited a poem by Tennyson loved by both. Norah was interred in the adjoining cemetery where her parents and deceased siblings are laid to rest.

The family express their gratitude to Fr Sean and to McGeoughs Undertakers for the manner in which they carried out the funeral arrangements.

Norahs Month Mind Mass is on 8 January at 10am in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Louth.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD is delighted and relieved to confirm that permission has been granted by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) for Santa Claus to enter Irish air space this Christmas Eve. There had been worries that Storm Barbara may have interfered with the big mans travel plans, but the IAA have assured the Minister that Mr Claus is good to go.

It is believed that Mr Claus will be accompanied with a team of nine reindeer and a large flying sleigh, however it is not yet known whether he will be accompanied by Mrs Claus, who is sometimes in charge of navigation.

In addition Minister Ross said that the Coast Guard had issued a special Christmas Navigation Warning for all Irish coastal waters and the Irish Sea.

Minister Ross said; I have been informed that a large, jolly man on a low flying sleigh, assisted by reindeer and perhaps some elves, will be entering Irish air space tomorrow evening. I would therefore encourage all children to be safety tucked up in their beds as early as possible to ensure Santa and his reindeer can go about their work successfully.

I am happy to confirm that the countrys stock of milk, mince pies and carrots (for the reindeer) has been recently topped up. I have also just received a very important message from Mrs Claus who has asked that everyone take special care on our roads this holiday season and if youre having a festive drink, please leave the car at home.
Politics, books, history, foreign affairs, Caribbean, Middle East, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, China, Britain, United Nations, Oil For Food, Bush the Deserter, sex and rum and 1776 and tequilla and lots of fun things from someone who has more columns than the Parthenon.
By Tim Radford

The retreat of mountain glaciers nearly everywhere in the world over the last century can be put down to climate change. And scientists now think that they can say so with between 90 percent and 99 percent certainty in almost all cases.

They do so as a second research team analyze a set of devastating glacial collapses in Western Tibetcatastrophic events that killed at least nine herdsmen and sent 70 million cubic meters of ice hurtling down the mountainside to bury more than six kilometers of valley floor.

Researchers have been warning for years that glaciers are in retreat in both hemispheres and on all the great continents.

Local Landscapes and Climates

But attributing a cause has been tentative. Every glacier is a unique product of local climate and landscape. Each responds very slowly to changes in local climate, and there are variations from year to year. So one glacier is, on its own, a blunt statistical instrument, U.S. and European scientists report in Nature Geoscience.

It isnt easy to say why a glacier might retreat or whether that retreat is a product of global warming. But a team led by Gerard Roe of the University of Washington in Seattle has found a way to look at the big picture.

The scientists studied the pattern of behavior of 37 glaciers spread around the globe, in Austria, in Washington State in the U.S., in New Zealand, in Sweden and so on, and matched them with local meteorological trends.

Ideally, researchers would like to know about the changes in the mass of ice in a glacier, but measurements of these dont stretch very far back. But the retreat of the worlds glacierstheir terminals now compared with where they ended many decades agois well documented in paintings, photographs and alpine records.

5 Fascinating Google Earth Time-Lapse Images Show 32 Years of Climate Change https://t.co/SX8d0CtlSn @OneWorld_News @ClimateDesk  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) December 4, 2016

Prof. Roe and his colleagues said, The centennial-scale retreat of the local glaciers does indeed constitute categorical evidence of climate change. In other words, glacial retreat is one of the purest signals of climate change yet measured by statistical techniques: It could be seen at work in 36 of the 37 cases.

We evaluate glaciers that are hanging on at high altitudes in the deserts of Asia, as well as glaciers being beaten up by mid-latitude storms in maritime climate settings. The thickness, slope and area of the glaciers are different, and all of those things affect the size of the glacier length fluctuations, Prof. Roe said.

Glacier Collapse



Even though the scientific analysis arguably hasnt always been there, it now turns out that it really is truewe can look at glaciers all around us that we see retreating and see definitive evidence that the climate is changing, Prof. Roe said.

Thats why people have noticed it. These glaciers are stunningly far away from where they would have been in a pre-industrial climate, he added.

Meanwhile, in the Journal of Glaciology, Chinese scientists and a U.S. colleague have been studying two Tibetan glacier collapses that, they said, are unprecedented. In this case, the scientists are more concerned with understanding the collapse than ascribing a cause.

Climate model predicts melting of West Antarctic ice sheet could double sea level rise: https://t.co/1Jur5soEwg via @EcoWatch  NRDC  (@NRDC) March 31, 2016

The two glaciers are in the remotest parts of Tibet and unusually heavy snowfalls may have had a role. But meltwater, too, may have played a part in the sudden, lethal slide of ice.

It is all too easy to blame global warming for events such as these, but we know the temperature at the nearest weather station has risen by 1.5 C in the past 50 years, said Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State Universitys School of Earth Sciences, one of the authors.

The warming may have raised previously frozen glacier beds to the melting point. If our thinking is along the right lines, there is no obvious reason why other frozen-bed glaciers in the area or elsewhere for that matter, should not collapse. As of today, unfortunately, we have no ability to predict such disasters, Thompson said.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Climate News Network.
President-elect Donald Trump raised the prospect of a new global arms race on Thursday, after he suggested on Twitter he would increase the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Trumps tweet read, The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/statuses/811977223326625792

Trumps tweet came on the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country needed to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces. This morning, MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski said Trump told her today, Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

We speak to Annie Leonard, executive director of Greenpeace USA.

of President Trump. Lets go to that comment of Kellyanne Conway pointing to President Obamas nuclear plans.

Kellyanne Conway: I dont think the tweet was groundbreaking in this regard. It seems that President Obama himself has investedhas called for an upgrade in our capabilities. Ive read in one or two articles, up to $1 trillion is the price tag. So, we allyou know, President Obama, President-elect Trumpeveryone shares the same, I think, core value, and their first duty is to try to keep us all safe. And we know its a dangerous world, and that includes nuclear weapons.

Amy Goodman: So, there you have Kellyanne Conway defending Trump, saying hes not changing things that much. We have done many shows on Obamas trillion-dollar nuclear plan. What about this, Annie Leonard?

Annie Leonard: Well, just because one president made a mistake certainly doesnt give license to another president to make this mistake. Greenpeace and many of our allies, we fought against President Obamas military spending, and we will fight against President Trumps military spending.

Amy Goodman: And I just want to correct: Kellyanne Conway has been named counselor to the president.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Democracy Now!.
(Photo:  Peter Kenny)Berlin's Reichstag building on Aug. 26, 2015

Church leaders in Berlin have urged after to the lethal terror attack at a Christmas marker that people do not blame refugees.

Visitors on Dec. 22 went back to the Berlin Christmas market as it reopened three days after being struck by a deadly truck assault that shocked Germany and the world and for which the Islamist terror group IS claimed responsibility.

German officials were facing criticism after it became known that Anis Amri, the Tunisian suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack, was known to police. His fingerprints were reportedly found in the truck that killed 12 people Dec. 19.

Rev. Canon Christopher Jage-Bowler from St George's Anglican church in Berlin told Premier's News Hour the refugees his church was working with were now "obviously very concerned indeed."

He said, "They are feeling particularly vulnerable. Many of them have now got German friends and families who are now supporting them and that's just something we have to reinforce and we have to encourage.

"We are standing together as the people who live in Berlin and we're horrified at this attack. We're renewing our love and concern for each other."

Far fewer refugees have arrived in Germany in 2016, just over 200,000 compared to the 890,000 who were permitted to enter in 2015, The National reported.

Pastor Steve Dye from CrossWay International Church Berlin told Premier's News Hour the atmosphere had changed: "You hear about attacks of terror almost every day now, but when it hits the city that you love and that you live in, it affects you obviously in a much closer way."

Berlin International Community Church Pastor Andrew Mack told Premier people were "very disturbed and devastated."

Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, leader of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) said, "I want to be clear: We will not allow this confidence, this culture of shared humanity to be destroyed by these acts of brutality.

"We will not allow an atmosphere of fear, of hate, of distrust to spread in our country. We will not do violent criminals this favor."

Pope Francis sent a condolence telegram to the Archbishop of Berlin in which he said he is praying for the dead and injured.

In Geneva, World Council of Churches general secretary, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit said, "Once again, people going about their daily lives, in celebration of holidays and in worship, have suffered violent attack.

"We must join together, not just to condemn these actions but to strengthen our pursuit of just peace, and our resolve not to allow extremist violence to separate us from each other."
Close image caption

Trey Clayton, 19, sits on the porch of his home in Sarah, Miss. Clayton, a former student from Independence High School, suffered injuries he sustained from being paddled on March 10, 2011. He was called to the office for mouthing off to a teacher and a librarian and was disciplined with a paddle. The incident left Clayton - then in the eighth grade - with a broken jaw, a two-inch gash in his chin, and two missing teeth. "I was crying, all kind of stuff, because my mouth hurt. I was spitting teeth," Clayton said. "I do believe in discipline, but I believe there's certain things you can take to prevent stuff like that happening."

Yalonda M. James for Education Week






USPOULTRY Foundation awards US$21,957 grant to Mississippi State University

The USPOULTRY Foundation recently awarded a US$21,957 student recruiting grant to the Poultry Science Department at Mississippi State University in the US.

The grant was made possible by an endowing Foundation gift from Sanderson Farms, headquartered in Laurel, Mississippi.

The check was presented by Pic Billingsley, director of development and engineering for Sanderson Farms and a member of the USPOULTRY board of directors, to Mary Beck, professor and head of the Poultry Science Department. Joining in the presentation were students from the department.

"It is imperative that we strive to interest bright young people to study careers in the poultry industry. We need astute young managers to join our companies, as they will be the leaders of our industry. USPOULTRY Foundation student recruiting grants play a vital role in encouraging students to enroll in industry-related studies and in becoming future industry leaders of tomorrow," Paul Hill, chairman of USPOULTRY, says.

This year, the USPOULTRY Foundation board approved student recruiting grants totaling US$291,000 to 32 colleges and universities across the US with a poultry science department or industry related degree programme.

The USPOULTRY Harold E. Ford Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programmes. The grants are made possible by gifts to the Foundation from companies, individuals and families.

- USPOULTRY
If warranties are supposed to protect you when products fall apart, then what are you supposed to do when the warranty falls apart? It pays to make the most of what warranties will and won't allow, and to know what to do when you run into problems.

Here we present five strategies to help you deal with the common warranty problems you might face.

Deal With Bad Customer Service on Social Media

Reaching a customer service representative is hard enough. When you've got warranty issues to settle, there's an added urgency that goes into getting your voice heard.

Broadcast your horror story on social media, and some company worker bee may jump in before it becomes a buzz.

No one has a monopoly on mediocrity. And if customer service fails time and again in easing your warranty woes, there's one thing you can do: Take your gripes to social media. More companies are watching what's said about them nowadays, because their customers are, too. According to PwC's 2016 Total Retail Survey, more than two-thirds of U.S. consumers say social media influences their online shopping behavior, with reviews and comments being a top influence.

Broadcast your horror story on Facebook or Instagram, and there's more of a chance than ever that some company worker bee will jump in before it becomes a buzz.

Find the Part That Fits

With the explosion of high-tech consumer appliances, companies servicing your warranty may have a hard time locating your part. One way around this issue is to do your research first. YouTube videos can provide useful clues, and websites such as RepairClinic.com have exhaustive lists of parts for a multitude of appliances; you can search by product type, brand name, model, and part number. To whatever extent you can help your own cause, it pays to derail the operator's thousand yard stare before it starts.

Talk to Manufacturers

There's often no telling when you're going to run into an obstinate manager or someone who just doesn't get your problem. In that case, you can try going straight to the manufacturer, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC supplies a complaint letter template you can use in addressing your issue. Whenever possible, use the name of a real person when addressing your complaint, instead of a general department.

SEE ALSO: Your 9 Biggest Warranty Questions  Answered

Consider Your Legal Options

Still having warranty issues? You'll want to seriously consider going to small claims court. Here the FTC offers sound, simple guidance: "If your dispute involves less than $750, you can usually file a lawsuit in small claims court. The costs are relatively low, procedures are simple, and lawyers usually aren't needed." To get more details, contact the clerk of the small claims court in your municipality.

Save Your Receipts

In the quest to keep warranty disputes in check, you'll want to keep and file every item that bolsters your case. Start with your receipts, then save every email correspondence between you and the company (or companies) in question. If you've needed to foot the bill for your own replacement and repairs, keep those bills on hand as well, along with any written description of the service work you've paid for.

This isn't as hard as it might sound  the process is sequential and only builds up as warranty difficulties arise. Assuming you can work your way up the ladder to a manager or authority figure, all that paperwork will only help your case.

If you've needed to pay for your own replacement and repairs, keep those bills on hand.

Some product mishaps truly are our fault. (As much as you might want to, you can't hold the factory or merchant responsible for throwing your gaming console at a brick wall or washing your smartphone with your jeans.) But we need to keep retailers and manufacturers honest, too. The best way to address warranty problems is to stop them before they begin. Buy from reputable companies, research the products you're interested in, and read reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. Ultimately, the best warranty is the one you never have to use.

Readers, have you ever experienced a warranty headache? How did you resolve the issue? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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.
Global executions in 2016 - Countries with close links to the UK and EU continued to occupy the ranks of the worlds most prolific executioners in 2016, research by international human rights group Reprieve has found.





In Saudi Arabia, over 150 people were executed for the second year running, including 47 people in one day in January 2016. Among those killed were juveniles and political protestors. Fears remain for the fate of at least three people sentenced to death as children  Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher  who still await beheading.





In Pakistan, the authorities continued to execute scores of prisoners from the countrys 8,000-strong death row. A total of 419 prisoners have been hanged since a moratorium on the death penalty was lifted in December 2014. Concerns remained over the strong risk of miscarriages of justice in Pakistan: earlier this year, the Supreme Court found that two men who had been hanged were innocent . Pakistans government claims its use of the death penalty is a response to terrorism, but Reprieves research found that 94% of prisoners recently hanged in Pakistan had nothing to do with terrorism





In Iran, the government continued to hang hundreds of prisoners, nearly half of whom who were arrested for alleged drug offences. Reprieve continued to raise concerns that international funding for Irans anti-narcotics police may contribute to death sentences





China continues to keep the number of executions a closely-guarded secret, but is widely believed to remain the world leader, with the death toll estimated in the thousands. The UK this year signed an agreement to increase cooperation with China on security and crime, leading to potential risks that British assistance could contribute to the death penalty.





Other countries of concern





The torture and sentencing to death of political protestors, and juveniles, continued apace in several countries with close ties to the UK.





Of particular concern are Bahrain  where several protestors await execution on the basis of forced confessions  and Egypt. Reprieve has established that in the last three years, the Egyptian judiciary has sentenced 1,857 to death









Commenting, Maya Foa, a director of Reprieve, said:









#1 - China. Executed: Unknown (Est. +1,000) The number of executions is a state secret, and the executions reported in the media are likely to be a fraction of those that are carried out. China continues to execute more people than any other country in the world.



#2 - Iran. Executed: 534+ The actual number of executions is likely to be higher in Iran, given the governments underreporting of executions and the holding of secret executions. Reprieves research shows that at least 211 of the hangings that took place in 2016 were for drugs offences, in violation of international law.



#3 - Saudi Arabia. Executed: 154 This execution total is close to last years record high of 158. Among those executed this year were at least 4 juveniles who were killed as part of a mass execution of 47 people in January. One of them, Ali al-Ribh, was arrested in school, tortured into a false confession to protest-related charges, and executed.



#4 - Iraq. Executed: 101+ Ongoing armed conflict makes it impossible to obtain exact figures for Iraq, but Reprieve was able to establish that at least 101 executions took place in 2016. However, based on unconfirmed media reports, the real figure may be more than double this total.



#5 - Pakistan. Executed: 87 According to figures gathered by Reprieve, there had been 87 executions in 2016 as of December 6. This was a decrease since 2015, which saw Pakistan embark on an unprecedented execution spree, and leapfrog Saudi Arabia to become the worlds third most prolific executioner. The country lifted a six-year moratorium on the execution of civilians in December 2014.



#6 - USA. Executed: 20 The most prolific executioner



It is alarming that countries with close links to the UK and EU continued to occupy the ranks of the worlds most prolific executioners in 2016. From Saudi Arabia, Iran and China, to Pakistan, Egypt and Bahrain, we have found children on death row, innocent people hanged, drugs offences dealt with as capital crimes, and torture used to extract false confessions. Countries that oppose executions must do more in 2017 to ensure that their overseas security assistance does not contribute to others states use of the death penalty.The number of executions is a state secret, and the executions reported in the media are likely to be a fraction of those that are carried out. China continues to execute more people than any other country in the world.The actual number of executions is likely to be higher in Iran, given the governments underreporting of executions and the holding of secret executions. Reprieves research shows that at least 211 of the hangings that took place in 2016 were for drugs offences, in violation of international law.This execution total is close to last years record high of 158. Among those executed this year were at least 4 juveniles who were killed as part of a mass execution of 47 people in January. One of them, Ali al-Ribh, was arrested in school, tortured into a false confession to protest-related charges, and executed.Ongoing armed conflict makes it impossible to obtain exact figures for Iraq, but Reprieve was able to establish that at least 101 executions took place in 2016. However, based on unconfirmed media reports, the real figure may be more than double this total.According to figures gathered by Reprieve, there had been 87 executions in 2016 as of December 6. This was a decrease since 2015, which saw Pakistan embark on an unprecedented execution spree, and leapfrog Saudi Arabia to become the worlds third most prolific executioner. The country lifted a six-year moratorium on the execution of civilians in December 2014.The most prolific executioner among US states was Georgia, which executed 9 people this year. Execution numbers fell to a record low amid growing concerns about the effectiveness of capital punishment. 2016 saw public support for the death penalty fall to under 50%, death sentences drop to a record low and every FDA-approved pharmaceutical company oppose the misuse of medicines in lethal injections, causing many states to put executions on hold.

Figures correct as of 20th December 2016.



 For Your Information: Upon reading the above article, Alan Shadrake, author of "



Source: Reprieve, December 23, 2016. Reprieve is an international human rights organization.  For Your Information:Upon reading the above article, Alan Shadrake, author of " Once a Jolly Hangman, Singapore Justice in the Dock ", contacted Death Penalty News on December 23, and submitted the following comment: "They forgot to mention Singapore!"Source: Reprieve, December 23, 2016. Reprieve is an international human rights organization.

 | 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



Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!


An arrest has been made in the Greenville church burning.



Andrew McClinton, 45, of Leland, was arrested Wednesday for setting Hopewell Baptist Church on fire and scrawling "Vote Trump" on the side in spray paint, according to Warren Strain with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. McClinton has been charged with one count of first degree arson of a place of worship, Strain said.



Strain said the investigation was ongoing and declined to comment further. A motive has not been released.



The fire was set Nov. 1. The church is approximately six miles from McClinton's residence.



The church was a total loss, according to Greenville Fire Chief Ruben Brown Sr.



Two weeks after the fire, Brown said samples taken from the fire tested negative for accelerant but investigators still believe the fire was arson.



"We dont know if it was direct flame contact, contact with clothes or paper, but this here is an ongoing investigation and still remains to be an arson investigation, Brown previously said.



Brown could not immediately be reached for comment.



Police Chief Delando Wilson previously told The Clarion-Ledger that a person of interest volunteered to be interviewed. It is not known if McClinton was the person of interest.
Over 100 boxes donated to Reverse Advent Calendar appeal

Over 100 boxes of food were donated as part of an appeal to make sure everyone on the Island has enough food this Christmas.

The Isle of Man Food Bank asked the public to take part in it's Reverse Advent Calendar by putting aside one item of food per day in the run up to Christmas.

The charity announced it received well over 100 boxes, some of which have already been distributed to those in need in the north of the Island.

Items of fresh vegetables and mince pies will go to the homeless charity Graih, while other items have been sent to St Christophers.
Police urge Manx public to avoid coasts during storm

The Manx public is being advised to avoid the coasts and only travel if necessary during today's storms.

An amber weather warning has been issued by the Isle of Man Met Office as Storm Barbara moves in from the Atlantic.

The police are urging anyone who has to go outside during the storm to steer clear of the coasts, where it's expected water and debris will come over sea walls.

Officers also say they will post updates on road closures, fallen trees and any other disruption on their social media pages.

The worst of the weather is expected to hit between 9am and 3pm.
Roof, telecoms pole damaged by storm

Police are asking the public to avoid Castletown promenade after part of a roof came off a building.

Officers are warning that loose slates could also fall, making it unsafe for people to be in the area.

The owner of the building has been made aware.

Meanwhile, Manx Utilities have been investigating reports of power cuts in St Johhn's and the Eairy [pron: Eerie], while a telecoms mast is also down at the latter.

The effects of Storm Barbara are due to ease from 3pm.
LEBANON  Walls of the Teen Challenge building at 75 Tangent St. came tumbling down this week as Samaritan Health Services took initial steps toward development of a 10,000-square-foot 16-bed substance treatment facility.

Samaritan purchased the 26,000-square-foot building earlier this year and originally planned to renovate it into the new substance abuse facility. But upon closer review of the buildings, which were constructed in the 1940s, Samaritan decided it would be best to build a new facility.

Mid-Valley Gravel is in charge of demolition, which is expected to take until the end of the week.

Getting the building knocked down is the first step and we are finishing up the architectural drafting so we can move forward with permitting from the city, said Marty Cahill, CEO of Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. We will also send those plans out for competitive bidding from area contractors.

Cahill said he hopes ground can be broken in the next 60 days and said the tentative completion deadline is Oct. 1.

We cant submit an application for credentialing for an in-patient treatment facility until the facility can be inspected, Cahill said. That can take 30 to 45 days after the application is filed.

Cahill said Samaritan is working with the state to ensure the building plans conform to mandatory room sizes and other details.

He said the facility will be for adults only.

The main building will be about 10,000 square feet and include counseling rooms, kitchen/dining area and mens and womens dormitories.

We are also strongly considering a 2,000-square-foot outpatient treatment area, Cahill said.

Cahill said director Kelley Story has been developing policies and procedures as well as job descriptions. He said jobs will begin being filled in early summer.

Total estimated cost is $2 million.

The facility will accept patients without insurance as well as people with Medicare, Medicaid or private coverage.
Katie Holmes enjoyed a private trip to Cabo with Jamie Foxx before she celebrates her birthday with daughter, Suri Cruise.

Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx have been rumored to be in a relationship but they have never opened up about it. Just before the thirty-eighth birthday of the actress, they flew down to Cabo San Lucas for a romantic getaway, boosting the rumors. However, the big day celebrations took place with Suri Cruise, Holmes' daughter who she shares with ex-husband Tom Cruise.

Katie Holmes has shared a number of photos with her daughter that show them celebrating the thirty-eighth birthday of the actress, reports US Weekly. She has captioned one Instagram photo with the words "birthday vibes".

Also, another photo shows Suri smiling for the camera and mommy dear has captioned it with pink and red heart emojis. Holmes also thanked her followers saying that she appreciates their love.

However, it was not just a mother-daughter celebration for Holmes on her birthday. Just two days before the big day, she flew down to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico with her boyfriend Jamie Foxx for a private vacation in the resort city, reports E! News.

The duo left on Friday early in the day and stayed in one of the most private suites. According to sources, they wanted to be very discreet and had ordered for everything to be delivered to their room and were taken care of by a personal butler.

It was a quick trip in her honor and they returned on Saturday. Notably, the relationship of Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx has received much media attention because of its on-again-off-again nature. Two months back in October, tabloids were buzzing with stories that the couple has broken up and since neither of the two spoke about their relationship, the rumors got even more intense.

It was said that Jamie Foxx did not want to be committed and was averse to making their relationship public as well. Some also said that he was afraid of Tom Cruise's temper and did not want to rub the ex-husband of Katie Holmes the wrong way.

As for Katie Holmes, she was asking for commitment and her persistence made Jamie Foxx call it quits. However, now that the couple has taken a trip and does not seem to be bothered by what media is saying, it does look like they are in a secure place.
The rapid rise in suicide rates above 15 per lakh persons for teenaged males generated great public concern in Australia in the 1980s. Considered a crisis level, this led to an intense study of the causes of youth suicide as well as intensive efforts to devise public health programmes to assist young people at the risk of suicide. Reaching a peak in 1991, teenage male suicide rates have fallen steadily and are now less than 10 per lakh. In India, youth suicide rates vary greatly between states for males and females. For young males, suicide rates in 28, and for females in 12 states and union territories were at or above the crisis level. Yet there has been virtually no public recognition of the level or seriousness of youth suicide.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) has declared that trade and liberalization deals signed between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco were wrongly killed by an earlier decision by the lower General Court and ruled that the Liberalization Agreement was valid. In its press statement, the ECJ also noted that the Front Polisario is not concerned by the decision of the Council to conclude that agreement. The Court therefore rejects the Front Polisarios action on the ground of lack of standing. Moroccos Foreign Ministry welcomed the overriding of the earlier ruling, stressing that the ECJ had not called into question the legality and legitimacy of Moroccos international deals covering the so-called Moroccan Sahara region.

The court ruling appeared to sidestep a related diplomatic standoff with Morocco that suspended links with Brussels earlier this year after the General Court annulled the Association and Liberalization Agreements in 2015 based on a case filed in 2012 by the Polisario Front that challenged the status of two trade deals between Morocco and the EU. Following the General Courts decision, the Council, which brings together the EU Member States, appealed against the courts decision to cancel the deals that have been widely hailed as a way to improve ties with the strategically important North African country. Bilateral trade between the EU and Morocco is worth 37bn a year and 63 percent of Moroccan exports go to the EU. Fisheries are a major part of the mutual trade as Morocco sells fishing rights in its Atlantic waters to EU boats.

The latest ruling did not, however, come as a complete surprise since already in mid September, the ECJs Chief Advocate General Melchior Wathelet published an opinion piece in which he argued that the Polisario Front is not a legitimate organization for contesting the Morocco-EU trade agreements and called for the suspension verdict to be overturned  thus effectively paving the way for restoring EU and Morocco ties. Mr. Wathelet also questioned the validity of the groups right to plea at the ECJ on the grounds that the it is not recognized by the international community as a representative of the commercial interests of the population inhabiting the Western Sahara region, although it is considered as a party in the political process to find a solution to the conflict over the disputed territory. Though not formally binding, opinions and recommendations issued by the ECJs advocate generals are followed in 80 percent of the cases by the court.
Written by ACM

*(Investigative, Factual News-Viewpoint).- The Biggest Massacre of innocent Civilian People committed in Germany until now by Islamic Terrorism, which Killed 12 Victims and Wounded about 50 more, (a Dozen in a Life-Threatening situation), at Berlin's Christmas Market, might have been also an Attempt to OverShadow in International Media the unprecedented Murder of Russia's Ambassador in Ankara by a Turkish Policeman, in an Exceptionaly Important Context and Moment, earlier that Same Day.

Inter alia, the astonishing Fact that Berlin's Mass Killer used to Visit (even Before and After that Terrorist Attack) a Turkish Mosque controlled by the Government of Ankara, where the Russian Ambassador was Murdered by a Turkish Policeman, in Addition to that Same Mosque's reputation to serve mainly ..."ISIS" Terrorists' fans (See Infra), obviously adds also a possible Direct Link in real Practice between those 2 Tragic Incidents.



-------------------------





Berlin's Massacre, committed near one of the Biggest Railway Stations in the Capital of Germany, (and for a Long Time in the Past, the No 1), and in front of the Famous, Unique Christian Church kept as it had been Damaged by World War II Air Bombings, close to prestigious Hotels visited also by Foreign Politicians, hadn't, indeed, any obvious Reason in order to be committed in that specific Date, against the Biggest EU Member Country, at all. Apparently, from the point of view of Islamic Terrorism, it could have been done at any other moment, Earlier or Later, there or elsewhere, or even not at all.

Moreover, even some German Establishment's Newspapers' (as f.ex. "Zeit", etc) curious Stance to publish Earlier Front-Page Headlines claiming that ..."Aleppo has Fallen" (sic !), instead of "Aleppo was Liberated" from Islamist Terrorist Gangs, including "Al Queda"'s affiliates, etc., obviously did Not Help at all to be paid back with not even the slightest "sympathy" from Islamist Terrorists, as Facts proved...

-------------------------



On the Contrary, the Murder of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, (the Only one to be a Shameless Brutal Killing, openly committed in an obviously Provocative way, since the 2 World Wars' period of a remote Past, with the Exception of a probably Covert Killing of another Russian Ambassador in the 1990ies, elsewhere, but again in relation also to Turkey, apparently Disguised in a Strange "Accident"), was obviously Targetted, from Many Points of View.







F.ex. :



- Syria's 2nd Biggest City, Aleppo, was, then, notoriously in the process of being Entirely Liberated from various Armed Gangs of Extremist Islamists, supported by several Foreign States, including Turkey, after a Decisive Offensive of the Syrian Government's Army, helped by Russian aviation, Lebanese and Iranian Chiites volunteers, etc. (The Murderer himself loudly cried several threats against that Important Development, after Cowardly Killing the unarmed Ambassador with a Turkish Policeman's revolver from behind, during a Cultural event).



- That Murder occured just Before 2 Crucial and Unprecedented Political Meetings on Syria's Present and foreseable Future : One at Moscow, between Foreign Ministers, and another scheduled subsequently at Kazakhstan, between representatives of the Syrian Government and Oppositional Groups, on the Total Evacuation of Aleppo by Militants, etc., towards Idlib and/or Turkey, Exceptionaly Organized only with the Participation of Russia and Iran, to which was added also Turkey, (for the 1st Time Alone, without its usual sponsors on the Syrian Conflict, of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and USA, etc., i.e., comparatively in a Weaker situation than what it was accustomed in the Past).

------------------



- Ambassador Andrey Karlov held a Unique Experience on Foreign Interferences in the Bloody Syrian Conflict, particularly around open and/or covert Support to several Islamist Terrorists by Foreign Countries, with Funds and/or Weapons, etc, since he had been appointed to Turkey since 2013, i.e. when ISIL's Beheaders of civilian People had started to gain ground, including the Unprecedented Killings, by Turkish Airplanes and Gunmen, of 2 Russian Pilots Fighting against ISIL's Islamist Terrorists, and the recent Syrian Government Advances for Aleppo's Liberation from various Islamic Extremist Armed Gangs, (including Al Queda's regional offspring, and another ISIL-inspired Group, etc), all of which have their Leaderships hosted inside Turkey, at the other side of the Nearby Borders, (whose notorious Complicity, particularly vis a vis the ISIL, was largely unveiled also after that 2 Killings of Russian Airmen, etc).



+ Moreover, Karlov had personaly also a very Rare Experience of another, particularly "Hot" Global GeoPolitical Issue : that of Korea, after having Served there as a Diplomat for Many Years, (mainly at the North, but also in the South), knowing even the Korean Language, etc).

--------------------







- The most Scandalous Fact is that he was Shamelessly Murdered in Cold Blood, in front of a lot of People, by a provocative Turkish Policeman, who was supposed to Protect him, abused of his Trust and that of others by pretending to be a Guard, but, on the contrary, shot his Victim with a revolver 9 times behind his back and killing him like a Coward, (while Crying Aloud various Vociferations against the Liberation of Aleppo from Islamist Terrorists, etc).



An initial Attempt by Turkish Medias to Claim that the Murderer would have merely been a "Gullenist", already Fired and prosecuted by Ankara's Government recently, after that Short-lived, 6 Hours-long, Strange "Coup" Attempt of July 2016, which notoriously served (and is still Exploited for that, also Nowadays) as a Pretect for Massive Persecutions against various kinds of Political Dissidents, rapidly Failed :



- Indeed, that sly Killer was still in Posession of a Professional Card of Turkish Policeman, (that he had shown in order to be allowed to Enter the Room where an Exhibition was due to be Inaugurated by the Russian Ambassador, and even to Stand right Behind him, without having ever been Checked at the Entrance, while equiped with a loaded Revolver.

+ In Addition, he had even served at least 8 Times to Protect the Turkish President Erdogan himself during various events recently, After the July 2016 alleged "Coup" Attempt, (as Russian Media Denounced, when "Hurriyet" revealed those uncontested Facts).



Moreover, the Killer even repeatedly ...Posed, provocatively, pointing his Revolver over the Head of his Victim lying Dead at the Ground, in front of the Camera of a Turkish Photographer, Hired by USA Press Agency "AP", at whom he was curiously Looking Straight on his Eyes, (as several Published Photos reveal)...



(Etc).



=> So that, shortly after, even if controversial Turkish President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Cavusoglou persisted on their "Gullen" Story, (as Erdogan had recently done also with his "Coup" Claim, pretending that the 2 Killed Russian Airmen would have fallen Victims of "Putchists" Lobby), at least, the Initial Claim that the Murderer of the Russian Ambassador would have been "Fired" because of "Gullen" links, was later Droped.



Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim reportedly phoned to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev after the Murder, who Denounced "an Extraordinary situation in International relations", while Yildirim "expressed Condoleances". The Russian Prime Minister also launched a "Call ... to Find and Punish the Organizers behind the Attack", while its Turkish counterpart Limited his Reply only into simply noting that "an Investigation" was just "Starting", promissing to "personally oversee that case". Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglou "Decided to Press on" and Take Part into a Russian - Iranian "Meeting in Moscow" about Syria, confirming that "a Committee" will attend the Enquiry with some Russian representatives, and Claiming that the Turkish Policemen had Murdered the Russian Ambassador "in order to Harm Turkey"'s profitable relations with Russia.

---------------------------



But, at least for the Time being, there was Nothing to Find from the Murderer himself, an armed Turkish Policeman, since he would have been "Neutralized", (alias Killed), by his Collegues, i.e. other Turkish Policemen. Thus, the Turkish Government limited itself into simply "Arresting" all the Family and the Landowner of that Turkish Policeman's House...



During an astonishingly Long Series of recent Mass Deadly Attacks against Defenseless Civilian People committed in Turkey, (some more recent Attacks Targetting the Army and/or the Police being, comparatively, a Small Minority), Starting by a Massacre of Kurdish Students, Young Boys and Girls, during a Feast just Before their Scheduled Departure for the Syrian Kurdish martyr City of Kobane, in order to Plant Trees and Help Re-Build it, after a Destructive Invasion by ISIL's Islamist Terrorists, closely Followed, since Early Octover 2015, by the Biggest still Mass Massacre of more than 100 Civilians among Political Dissidents (Kurdish, Leftists, etc) Civilians Dancing and Singing for Peace in Ankara, icluding Many Women among the Victims, as well as a Grouped Killing of German Tourists at Istanbul (Constantinople), and/or at the International Section of its Airport, (etc.), Nobody was yet Found, Nor Punished, among the Istingators and Organizers of those cowardly Massacres targetting Civilian People, routinely attributed to Islamic Terrrorists, (despite iSIL's and other Armed Gangs' notorious Links to the Turkish Deep State), Always leaving the Instigators and Organizers UnhPunished.



------------------------------



+ Later-on, Arabic Medias published, according to mainstream Russian Press (widely cited by Many and various Medias from several Countries accross the World), a Revendication of the Ambassador's Murder by a New Islamic Extremist Gang of "Jaish al-Fatah", which has included particularly "Al Nusra"'s Terrorists, i.e. the local affiliates of "All Quaeda".

The News were reportedly published f.ex. by the well-known Egyptian News Website and printed Newspaper "Al-Youm Al-Sabea", which exists at least since 2008, and is Cited by "Reuters", "Tass", "The Guardian", and other Mainstream Medias, being the Most Visited News-Site in Egypt, according to "Wikipedia", and reportedly named as the Middle East's "Top OnLine Newspaper" twice by the prestigious "Forbes" magazine.

It was, on the contrary, Criticized mainly by Islamist Extremists, particularly related to the "Muslim Brotherhood", whose Leaders live notoriously Exiled in Turkey.



That Revendication of Andrey Karlov's Murder was a Written Document in Arab Language, reportedly in the Usual Format of "Jaish Al-Fatah"s Anouncements, which was Re-Published at the Web in Full.



"Al Nusra" had already Launched, since October 2016, clear Calls to Attack "Russian People" in retaliation of Moscow's Help to the Syrian Government, while "Rockets hit the Russian Embassy at Damascus".



Idlib City, at the North of Aleppo, and widely considered as the most Probable Next Target of the Syrian Government - Russia - Iran - Lebanon Coalition, (as Syrian President Assad himself recently Confirmed), is the main Stronghold of Jaish al-Fatah (including mainly Al-Quaeda's local affiliate : "Al Nusra"'s Terrorists). Idlib currently hosts an over-Concentration of about 50.000 Jihadists, and is the Nearest Rebel City close to Turkey, from where Armed Gangs notoriously receive Money, Recruits and/or Weapons from Foreign donors, as USA's main Press Agency "AP" warned just a few Days ago.



All these converging Facts, obviously Belied Erdogan Government's claims that the Murder of the Russian Ambassador in Turkey by a Turkish Policeman, would be only a sly move by Gullen, (a former Ally of the Turkish President, who has afterwards quarelled with him, and stays self-Exiled in the USA).



----------------------

Erdogan's Newspaper tries to Deny...

-------------------------------------



However, After that, a Turkish Media, "Daily Sabah", - which exists only Since 2014, is notoriously "Pro-Government" (of Erdogan), and "frequently called a Propaganda outlet for the ... Ruling ... Party (AKP)", as even "Wikipedia" observes - tried to Deny all that : It Claimed that another "Jaish Al-Fatah" Member would have Accused the previously Published "Revendication" to be "a Fake", basing its allegations Only to an obscur "Tweet"... Repeating also Erdogan's claim that the Turkish Policeman who Murdered the Russian Ambassador would have been only a "Gullen" Secret Agent (See Above), that Pro-Government Turkish Media, nevertheless, Failed to find anything more as alleged "Proof", but Only a mere ...2 Days Leave demand, back on July 16-18, i.e. Shortly After that Strange, Short-lived, 6-Hours long "Coup" Attempt of July 15, 2016, (that it pictures in a Web Copy of a relevant Authorisation, Signed at main Kurdish City of Diyarbakir, ...but curiously Hidding its own Date !)...



But that Turkish Newspaper's Claim was Only re-Published, (in a Strange, 100% "Copy and Paste" Total Imitation) by some UnKnown Websites such as "Middle-East eye", an outlet allegedly Registered in the UK, but Hidding any Address and/or Name whatever (not even an Email !), which Claims to have just been Created After 2014 (i.e., by an Astonishing Coincidence : Exactly at the Same Time as that pro-Erdogan's Newspaper "Sabah", and during ISIS' greatest Extension towards Establishing a "Khaliphat" in Syria/Iraq), and "Targets" Middle-East Readers, thanks to a Local Network of "Freelancers" located in the Middle-East. (I.e. Probably Similar f.ex. to that Sly Militant who had notoriously made a Fuss in some Western Establishment's Media, with a Photo of a Sad Child in Islamist Terrorist-Held Eastern Aleppo, but was Found, afterwards, to have also Video-Filmed the Atrocious Be-Heading of anOther, Syrian Child, by a Gang of Islamist Terrorists holding many Aleppo's Civilians as "Human Shields" and "Hostages", according even to UNO's International Agents' recent Denonciations).



Moreover, as mainstream "Voice of America" (VoA) Media recently observed, "Jaish al-Fatah" is, in Fact, an often Divided Conglomerate of more or less InFighting and Disparate Armed Groups, so that Contradictory Statements among Different Tendencies was a Frequent phenomenon, as far as those vartious Jihadists' Armed Gangs were concerned.



---------------------------



=> The Worst for such Shaky Claims by the current Turkish Government and its Pals, was, However, the Fact that, almost Immediately after the First News broke out on the Murder of the Russian Ambassador by a Turkish Policeman, Many Strong Denonciations of that Odious Crime Started to Arrive from a Fast-Growing Number of Top Political Leaders, Government Officials of Various Countries accross the World, (the New US President-Elect, Don Trump and Germany's Chancellor Angie Merkel included, as well as even the UNO, etc.



>>> And the available Time was, then, largely Enough for Both TV-News of that Evening, as well as for the Daily Newspapers which would be Published and Circulate from Next Morning, Everywhere accross the Whole World, to be Fully Focused on that Unprecedented Murder of Russia's Ambassdor by a Turkish Policeman in Ankara, naturally making a lot of Publicity to that Horrible Incident, which was obviously Ready to Captivate the most Attention of the World-wide Community, just one Day after...



This goes even more when one takes into account also Turkey's notoriously Bad Reputation about various Links to Islamist Terrorists, its Controversial Military Invasions inside both Syria and Iraq, as well as its Recently very UnPopular, Negative and Growingly Conflicting Tensions with EU Parliament, even CoE's PanEuropean Organisation, and Europe in general, as well as nearby UN Human Rights' bodies in Geneva, but also at UN New York Headquarters, (particularly about all those Unprecedented Massive Gross Violations of Human Rights by Mass Dismissals of Judges, Teachers, Soldiers, Policemen, Elected MPs and Mayors, Journalists and Medias, Kurds, etc., many Thousands of whom were notoriously Closed to Prison and/or Prosecuted, from various Areas of the Socio-Political landscape, Targetting Dissidents of any kind, in an obviously Excessive Way, (as Recently Condemned by several EU/CoE bodies, including "Venice Commission" of the PanEuropean Strasbourg's Organisation, etc., under Pretext of a Strange, Short-lived, Only 6 Hours-long, Failed "Coup Attempt" on July 2016, but, in Fact, even already Before that.



Therefore, at least from the point of view of Turkey's Interests, as well as of those Islamist Extremist Armed Gangs (incuding ISIS, Al Queda's local affiliates, etc), which have notoriously used that State as a Corridor for Money, Jihadists and Weapons in Syria and/or Iraq, added to their Sponsors inside Saudi Arabia, Qatar, USA and some other Western Countries, Obviously, it was Urgent to Find a Way to Prevent a Growing Public OutCry against Turkey's controversial Links with Islamic Terrorism, which Could Really Become Threatening for their Shady Interests served through Ankara's UnPopular policies, after that Cold Blood Murder of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov by a Turkish Policeman in Ankara...



-----------------------------------



In that Exceptional Context, the Sudden Massacre of 12 Civilian People in Berlin's Christmas Market, which also Wounded some 50 more Victims, undeniably came at a very ...Timely moment, for the above-mentioned purpose, since it Immediately made such a Big Fuss in all Medias accross the World, (both Mainstream and Alternative), that it practically Covered Up what had been previously the "No 1" News of that Day, about the Murder of the Russian Ambassador !



Indeed, the Attack in Berlin broke out about 3,5 Hours After the Murder in Ankara, (i.e. Between, approximately 4.50 p.m. and 8.20 p.m., in Local Paris/Berlin Time, for Each Incident's initial Report at the Media).



The Polish Driver of the Truck, (who was Afterwards found Murdered), hadn't Phoned back to his Company since After 4 p.m., approximately, and on 7h.45m that Truck Drove Away, withOut any Normal Reason, (since its Driver should have taken a Night Rest, then, after having Travelled from Italy to Germany), and after, curiously, Ommitting even to Deliver its Load of Heavy Structural Steel, Contrary to what had been Scheduled. The Distance between that Parking and the Christmas Market on which it Crashed, just a Few Minutes later-on, was rather Short, since those 2 Locations were situated not so far away inside Berlin, but towards the Same Side of the City.



Moreover, according to various Reports, it seems that the Murder of the Russian Ambassador was rather a Prepared and Planified Attack, (probably as also that of Berlin's Massacre, against a Famous Down-Town, Central Location, at one among the most Symbolic "Christmas Markets" of Europe, which had been already Targetted by Islamic Terrorists, as several Police Reports had Warned in various EU Countries many Weeks Earlier), so that the eventualy inter-related Perpetrators had, in Fact, Enough Time to objectively Coordinate, or, at least, Sequence their respective Actions.



In Addition, that unfortunate Polish Driver had reportedly made Previously a Round Trip to Berlin with that Truck, just a Few Days Earlier, and used to Eat in a "Bistro" (from which he send a "Selfie" Photo of himself, to his Family Business Headquartered at Nearby Poland, only a Few Hours before the Massacre, later in the Evening of that Same Day), before Parking and Delivering at apparently a Similar or even the Identical German "Company". It's also a fact that Both the main Suspect from Tunisia and the unfortunate Polish Truck Driver had Various Relations with Italy and Germany, (See Above) so that this could Facilitate things in practice.

+ Even more Important : The main Suspect had been seen, (and even his Photo cought on CCTV), just a few Days Before the Massacre (on December 14 + 15, etc), to repeatedly Visit a Muslim Mosque in Berlin's Moabit District, "at Perleberger street", reportedly Located Near the Truck's Parking, in front of ThyssenKrupp Company, which could be Easily Observed from there...

--------------------------------------



=> So that, for any Gang which might have Simply Followed the Polish Driver, (and the real Murderer seems to have been "Supported by a Local Shell" of Islamist Extremists, according to Experts cited by mainstream Medias), it would, normaly, be quite Easy to Kidnap him and his Truck, so that the Killer could Throw it, Soon afterwards, against the Nearby Located Christmas Market, which was very easily Accessible from the adjacent Roads and large Avenues, withOut Any Protective Barrier, (as MAPs published in German Medias clearly show).



+ Perhaps, the Most Important : To that purely "Technical" Feasibility of 2 eventually Coordinated, or, at least, Inter-Related Attacks, during the Lapse of approximatively 3,5 Hours' Time, as Briefly Described Above, are also Added certan Other relevant Facts, of Socio-Political Significance :

First of all, the main Suspect used reportedly to Visit a ...Turkish Mosque in Berlin, (both a few Days Before and even immediately After that Massacre), which belonged to "DITIB", i.e. the "Turkish - Islamic Union for Religious Affairs", which "is a branch of the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Ankara". That is to say "an Arm of the Turkish State", according to "Wikipedia"



I.e., Not at all an Independent, Local Religious Community of People who live in the Country which Hosts it, (unlike all Other Religious bodies), but only a Tool Directly Subordinated to a Foreign Government, that of controversial Turkish President Mr. Erdogan ! Indeed, f.ex., "the Imams and the religious teachers are Sent (f.ex. to Germany) from Turkey", which Trains, Selects and Appoints them, controlling everything from Abroad.

=> Thus, if anyone inside Turkey's "Deep State" might, eventualy, want something to be done in Berlin by those who are inside such a "DITIB"'s Turkish Mosque, (as that where used to go the main Suspect of the Massacre, at Berlin's Moatib District), he had just to press a button on his Phone...



In Addition, that precise Turkish Mosque, (called "Fussilet 33"), which was repeatedly Visited by the main Suspect of Berlin's Massacre, was, Notoriously, well known to be "The Mosque of the ISIS People in Berlin," (as many German Medias observed) !

So that the Existence of a possible Direct Link between the Berlin Massacre and the Murder of the Russian Ambasador in Turkey's Capital, Ankara, in undeniable in the present case...

-----------------------





++ Moreover, the main Suspect, a Tunisian irregular Migrant, (who came to Northern Germany on the occasion of the 2015-2016 Mass Influx from Turkey, and, even is his Asylum Demand was Rejected and he was Found to be Dangerous, nevertheless, he Scandalously ..."Ping-Ponged" between 2 Socialist-governed Regions, of NRW and Berlin, without being Expulsed, because of purely Bureaucratic reasons !), with a Petty Criminal Background (f.ex. already Condemned in Italy also for Violent acts, known in Germany for Drug deals, etc), had emerged from an Extremist Islamic Personal Context :

Indeed, he reportedly stemmed, according to a Tunisian Expert cited by the German Press, from an Area (Near a Famous, Historic Muslim Stronghold in Tunisia, since the Ottioman Invasion/Occupation times : Kerouin) which is Located close to the Border with Libya, and Known for its particular Links with the Armed Islamist Terrorist Group of "Ansar al-Sharia" :



That Same Armed Gang which has been Suspected to stand Behind the Unprecedented Brutal Killing of US Ambassador Stevens and other 3 American Servicemen at Benghazi, back on September 11, 2012, immediately After having met with a Turkish Diplomat, (an Incident often said to be Related with alleged illegal Arms Smuggling by Ship towards Syria-located Islamist Terrorists). "Ansar al-Sharia" reportedly had also a Similar Political Agenda as "ISIL"s Deadly Terrorists and atrocious BeHeaders even of innocent Civilian People, (i.e. mainly about Applying by Force a "Sharia Law" in a Trans-National "Islamic State", etc). It has been Cited, by various converging Mainstream Sources, as having even been Linked somehow, Partialy, to the very Creation, Emergence and/or Development of "ISIL" itself, to which, at least, it's Not Opposed, according to an US-Based NGO's 2015 Report on Islamic Armed Groups in Syria/Iraq, (many of whom are usually Funded also by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and/or Turkey). Finaly, it is usualy Located, in Northern Syria, Near to the Turkish Border.



I.e. close to Aleppo, Idlib, etc, which were notoriously Mentioned, Earlier that Same day, by the Turkish Policeman who Murdered the Russian Ambassador in Ankara...



=> In Brief, to put it in a Nutshell, in Other Words, converging Facts indicate that the main Suspect for this Unprecedented Massacre Targetting Civilians in Berlin, may, eventually, be even Politicaly Related (through Common Islamic Terrorism Links, as cited above) also with that Turkish Policeman who Murdered the Russian Ambassador in Ankara, 3,5 Hours Earlier that Same Day !



The fact that ISIL later Revendicated the Berlin Massacre, does Not Oppose such a Possible Link. On the Contrary : the Exact Wording Chosen now by ISIL, - f.ex. "a Soldier of the Islamic State", who was "Inspired by the Call to Target the People of those States which are part of the (US-led) International Coalition" supposed to Fight against ISIL, - has been notoriously used in various cases of Individuals who might loosely Gravitate Around ISIL, and/or be Influenced by its Messages, even withOut Being fully-fledged Members, Nor have any Concrete, Immediate and Direct Operational Link to that precise Terrorist Group. And, at any case, Both "Ansar al-Sharia" and "ISIL" are Opposed to any European Action (be it from an EU Country or Russia, etc) to Help an International Fight against Deadly Islamist Terrorism in Syria/Iraq, etc.



All these astonishing Facts and Logic reasons, clearly indicate that Investigations on these 2 Differend Islamic Terrosist Attacks against the two Biggest European Countries of Germany and Russia, should Better be also Coordinated somehow, in the most Adequate, Simpler and Efficient way - and, at Least, Never Lose Sight of the main Findings in Both these Parallel and almost Synchronous Cases - if Europe and the World really want to have a Chance to Discover all the Truth about what might be Hidden Behind such 2 Unprecedented Deadly Violent Incidents, openly Targetting Defenseless Civilian People the Same Day.

Unless such Tragic, Horrible Events, at last Stimulate all European and other Well Intentioned People's Firm Will to really Start Taking Together Efficient Action in order to put a Full Stop to such a Deadly Islamist Terrorism cowardly targetting unarmed Civilians, not only in Europe, but also Worldwide, as f.ex. the New US President-Elect, Don Trump, has just Denounced, by slaming these 2 Brutal Incidents as "Attacks against Humanity".

(../..)

***

(Partly UPDATED)
In recent days, a series of posts by Darwins atheists (Jerry Coyne, P.Z. Myers, Dan Arel) brandished a petition to ban teaching evolution in the U.S. The petition, which read like a parody to me, was addressed to VP-elect Pence. They presented this as evidence of what we can anticipate from the Christian Right under a Trump-Pence Administration.

And so it begins, intoned Emeritus Professor Coyne of the University of Chicago ominously. This is the kind of activism we can expect for the next four years, wrote Mr. Arel over at Patheos. Mike Pence will eat it up, Dr. Myers told his readers, adding that he received a link to the petition accompanied by an email concluding Merry Christmas to yall, from Joe Hannon, Republicans Abroad (Make America Great Again).

Everything about this was dubious, including the fact that Hannon sent his petition, ostensibly in search of anti-evolution signatures, to a group of atheists and Darwinists. If a legion of activists were likely to take up and run with such a (stupid) idea, why not direct your petition to them? The question doesnt seem to have occurred to Coyne or the others. The fact that the signatures it in fact garnered were almost all joke names contributed to the impression that there was no extrapolation here to what we can expect under Trump.

I called out the Darwin activists who were promoting this news, including Michael Zimmerman of the Clergy Letter Project. Well, theyre back and defending themselves and each other.

P.Z. Myers now agrees with me that Joe Hannon is a fake name  used, he informs us, by an often-banned Internet troll from Manchester, England, who haunts blog comments sections under a variety of pseudonyms. Myers cites University of Torontos Larry Moran, saying that Hannon is a holocaust denier. He used to run a business selling components  just nuts and bolts  to the Iranian nuclear and missile industries but it was shut down because of sanctions. Now he rants against British conspiracies. Oh. So hes not with Republicans Abroad, after all? Why didnt Professor Myers say so to begin with? Perhaps because that would have deflated the post he wanted to write.

P.Z. chides me. Uh, its a real petition. You can sign it and everything. Another Darwinist, Matt Young at Pandas Thumb, concurs.

The petition is not phony, at least not in the sense that Mr. Klinghoffer means it. I have received 3 e-mail messages directly from Joseph Hannon. The first of these was sent to approximately 30 other people, and all I can tell you is that I must travel in very good company.

Professor Coyne chimes in on this. He thinks Im hoist with [my] own petard: Matt Young and his commenters adduce evidence that Joe Hannon is not a hoaxer, but what one commenter called a delusional fanatic.' Ah, so Coyne and his friends were promoting, as significant and worrisome, a product not of deception but of mere delusion. Got it.

Michael Zimmerman is also upset with me, writing once again at the Huffington Post:

Interestingly, in a Catch 22 sort of way, one piece of evidence presented for this false flag conspiracy is the fact that I didnt ignore the petition entirely. And, by responding, Im accused of initiating my own publicity stunt by propagandizing for [my] organization.

I dont believe in conspiracies, and theres no need for one to explain what happened here.

Those who want to try to plumb the psychology of the masquerading Joe Hannon are welcome to do so on their own time. If Moran and Myers are right about this persons genuine identity, then theyve confirmed that this was fake news, pushed by Darwinists for their own reasons. Whether a random Brit would sincerely shut down evolution instruction in the U.S. if he could is of no importance. It is not in the least noteworthy. To pretend otherwise was silly at best, dishonest at worst.

The person behind Hannon, whatever his legal name might be, is real. The petition was not computer-generated. The rest of this  the scaremongering about Republicans and American Christians, the bootstrapping from a handful of joke names on an online petition to an advertisement for your pro-evolution group on the Huffington Post  is phony.

Update: As I was about to hit the Publish button on this post, I received an email from Joseph Hannon. I dont correspond with pseudonyms, but for what it may be worth, this Hannon, if its the real one, now says the petition was only semi-serious, a tongue-in-cheek wind-up, parodic. OK, enough of this.

Image:  delbars  stock.adobe.com.

Im on Twitter. Follow me @d_klinghoffer.
We should expect confirmation hearings for Donald Trumps Cabinet appointments to include scaremongering about science education. This weeks fake news about a petition to VP-elect Mike Pence, demanding a moratorium on instruction about evolution, gives a hint of what may be to come. Atheist activists jumped on the petition as evidence of what the semi-mythic Christian Right has in store for the next four years. The petitions creator, though, characterized it as tongue-in-cheek.

While Pence along with Trumps HUD pick, Ben Carson, have commented in the past on questions of evolutionary origins and intelligent design, the focus is likely to be on Mr. Trumps choice for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. In The New Yorker, outspoken atheist cosmologist Lawrence Krauss has already sounded the alarm (Donald Trumps War on Science).

As evidence against Mrs. DeVos, he cites her church membership and college majors (business administration and political science, rather than education). Krauss admits she has no record of saying anything at all about evolution, but her husband, Dick DeVos, in a run for governor of Michigan, had this to say:

I would like to see the ideas of intelligent design  that many scientists are now suggesting is a very viable alternative theory  that that theory and others that would be considered credible would expose our students to more ideas, not less.

The structure of the sentence by itself tells you that it was a casual remark. Granting Mr. DeVos the benefit of the doubt, it wouldnt be the first time that a political aspirant invoked ID in such a context without having researched what ID means or what its advocates say. Notably, Discovery Institute, the major force in supporting research on intelligent design, strongly opposes requiring ID in public schools, and always has opposed it. (See our Science Education Policy.)

Instead, we call for permitting teachers to challenge students with an approach to evolution that sharpens their critical skills, using mainstream scientific sources to examine the strengths and weaknesses of standard neo-Darwinian theory. Two states (Tennessee and Louisiana) and multiple school districts have adopted this policy of academic freedom, teaching about legitimate disagreements among mainstream scientists.

But when did a little thing like accuracy trouble a Darwin activist equipped with a media bullhorn? Krauss inveighs:

There is nothing respectable about the idea of teaching the controversy, as intelligent-design advocates describe it. We dont teach modern astronomy by suggesting to students that they feel free to decide for themselves whether the sun orbits Earth or vice versa; instead, we teach them how scientists discovered the realities of our solar system, despite considerable pressure to renounce their own discoveries.

The day that Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, senior biologists and other scientists were gathering at Londons venerable Royal Society, where Isaac Newton once presided, for a conference to discuss controversies rocking the study of evolution. Those include what the first speaker at the event, Austrian evolutionary biologist Gerd Muller, called the major explanatory deficits of textbook Darwinian theory. A teach the controversy approach would invite students to weigh those deficits. By the way, it might surprise Dr. Krauss to hear that approximately 10 percent of the scholars gathered for the three-day meeting were, in fact, intelligent-design advocates or sympathizers. (We know who they were and counted them.)

To compare these sophisticated, enlightening disagreements to whether the sun orbits Earth or vice versa, you would have to be either ignorant or dishonest. Since Krauss participated in a debate this year with ID advocate Stephen Meyer, author of Darwins Doubt and Signature in the Cell, he cant be utterly ignorant of what design theorists say.

Krauss goes on to demand that Mrs. DeVos be interrogated on her beliefs regarding ID:

During her confirmation hearings, DeVos should be asked whether she thinks its appropriate to teach intelligent design alongside evolution in biology classes, or whether young-Earth creationism should be presented alongside the reality of a 4.5-billion-year-old solar system in physics class. An answer in the affirmative to either question should disqualify her as the highest federal government official overseeing public education in this country.

By all means, lawmakers should ask her any relevant questions they care to, although the point about Young Earth Creationism would be mere badgering, intended to smear her. If shes queried on ID, though, what should she say?

First of all, it isnt the role of the Secretary of Education to dictate science education policy to states or localities. Ramesh Ponnuru at National Review Online makes this point, I hope DeVos will muster the patience to explain that the Department of Education does not (and should not) determine schools science curricula. Its because it does not that Krauss is unable to explain how DeVos could drive our educational system off a scientific cliff.' True, as far it goes. However, one hopes for an Education Secretary with some vision to impart, beyond merely setting policies.

Therefore, second, Mrs. DeVos could note the benefits of teaching students to think and write critically about a complex, fascinating scientific issue like evolution. Again, this is not about intelligent design, much less about Biblical literalist creationism. The unsolved problems of Darwinian theory include those highlighted by Gerd Muller: among them, how to explain phenotypic complexity, phenotypic novelty, and dramatic discontinuities in the fossil record.

It isnt just ID proponents who ask about these issues. Nor do you have to take our word for it on the benefits. As the worlds most distinguished science journal, Nature, has observed, [S]tudents gain a much deeper understanding of science when they actively grapple with questions than when they passively listen to answers.

Finally, Mrs. DeVos could note that academic freedom laws are called that because they are meant to ensure freedom for instructors to engage in creative pedagogy rather than merely regurgitating the same evolutionary talking points year after year. The aim is to protect excellent teachers from career retaliation, a threat always in the air when evolution is challenged.

Earlier this year, University of Chicago president Robert J. Zimmer won plaudits for a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Free Speech Is the Basis of a True Education. Among other welcome observations, he decried efforts to suppress discussion of Charles Darwins work. While he may have been thinking of the historical past, suppressing discussion is always a bad idea, and allowing open debate is always the basis of a true education.

Mrs. DeVos could cite Dr. Zimmer. Indeed, she could quote Lawrence Krauss himself in the same New Yorker article:

[S]tudents should be encouraged to understand that evolution is not some principle laid down on high by a conclave of scientists; they should explore the various empirical tests to which it has been subjected for more than a hundred and fifty years.

Right! And since its not some principle laid down on high, it should be fair game for criticism. Unfortunately textbook Darwinism has failed some conspicuous empirical tests, as scientists increasingly acknowledge, at least in their professional conclaves when they think the public isnt listening. Mrs. DeVos could and should advocate that this fact not be withheld from young people.

Photo: Betsy DeVos, by Keith A. Almli [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Im on Twitter. Follow me @d_klinghoffer.
The EUR to GBP exchange rate continued to advance on Friday afternoon as the days UK data failed to make a lasting impression on GBP traders.

Future EUR/GBP movement is likely to continue on its current trajectory in the coming week unless Brexit jitters worsen over the holiday period.

Next weeks German retail sales results and UK house price figures are unlikely to cause any shifts in EUR GBP exchange rates either.

Current Live Exchange Rates for Reference

The Pound to Euro exchange rate today (25/12/16): 1.17418.

The Euro to Pound exchange rate today: 0.85166.

The US Dollar to Euro exchange rate today: 0.95639.

The Euro to US Dollar exchange rate today: 1.04560.

The Euro to Pound rate continued to rise on Friday as Sterling sentiment was pressured by a new trade ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

With the mood towards the Pound remaining decidedly bearish the EUR/GBP extended its gains further ahead of the weekend.

The finalised third quarter UK GDP report encouraged further selling of the Pound, revealing that the current account deficit had widened markedly in the quarter.

Given the softness of Sterling this exacerbated concerns over the potential detrimental impact of the Brexit vote on the health of the UK economy and could be seen to raise the odds of the Bank of England engaging in further policy easing.

EUR GBP continued to trend upwards on Friday after the ECJ made a landmark ruling concerning a free trade deal with Singapore.

Eleanor Sharpston, the European Court of Justice Advocate General ruled that in order to ratify the trade deal it must be agreed upon by all member states, with a total of 38 national and regional parliaments being required to vote on the deal before it can be finalised.

This could complicate any of Prime Minister Theresa Mays plans for any trade deal with the EU once Britain leaves as the deal is likely to face the same process and caused further concerns for investors that a new deal could take years to pass through each parliament.

The ECJ said: While the Advocate General notes that difficulties may arise from a ratification process involving all of the member states alongside the EU, she considers that that cannot affect the question of who has competence to conclude the agreement.

Markets are also likely to remember the recent Canada-EU trade deal that almost collapsed after a region of Belgium opposed it back in October and may fear a similar situation will happen to a Brexit trade deal.

Euro Strengthens as Monte Dei Paschi Receives Government Bailout

The Euro has continued to climb against the Pound following the announcement that Italys oldest bank, Monte Dei Paschi would be receiving a government bailout after it failed to attract private investors in its 5bn cash call.

Markets were relieved by the bailout as it alleviated weeks of concerns surrounding Italys third largest bank and will hopefully allow the Italian government to focus on pushing through legislation to help reform its struggling banking sector.

Mike van Dulken of Accendo Markets explained, It allows savers to have a quieter break following an eventful week that saw the bank struggle and ultimately fail to raise funds privately. Now its a question of what price institutional bondholders have to pay and what sort of compensation retail investors will be offered to ensure the bailout follows new EU rules.

However there are still worries that the bailout could cause some political instability as taxpayers could potentially call for early elections if they feel that they will have to shoulder the burden of Italys failing banks.

EUR GBP Exchange Rate Forecast: Christmas Lull to provide little Catalyst for movement

Both the Euro and the Pound are unlikely to see much movement over the next week as a lull in data over the holiday period is likely to prevent any major swings in either currency.

However 'Brexit' jitters could cause Sterling to depreciate further as we move ever closer to the triggering of Article 50 and the formal beginning of 'Brexit' negotiations in March.
Hi

please can anyone help with advice. My husbands police report says "No live Trace" so CIC asked for paperwork evidence of any court papers or convictions. He only ever had a police caution and there was no paperwork. We spoke to ACRO who said that they are happy for Immigration to call them and get the info they need but nothing can be provided in writing or email! Immigration got an outside company to call ACRO on Dec 2 and ACRO did not know who they were so would not give any information. It has to be Immigration that call to get the info. Now they have given us 30 days to provide paperwork that does not exist or our application will be declined! We have been sending copies of emails from ACRO confirming that immigration can call them but no one seems to listen and we are so worried that our lives are about to be turned upside down!

Hoping someone may have had a similar experience and a positive outcome

Thank you
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.

A right delayed is a right denied.Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.

Martin Luther King Jr.

No one is born hating another person People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.

Nelson Mandela

We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist

James Baldwin

There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence.

Newton Lee

The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.

Albert Einstein
Thursday, December 22, 2016

Mark your calendars to attend the next Albuquerque Death Cafe, scheduled for Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Gail Rubins home.

The objective of the Death Cafe is To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. Its an interesting, unstructured conversation  open and free-flowing with no specific agenda and respectful of all points of view.

Its an opportunity to discuss whats on your mind or in your heart regarding mortality issues.

Refreshments will be provided. The event is free and donations are welcome. For more information about Death Cafes, visit this page at AGoodGoodbye.com.

RSVP to Gail through the contact page to get the address and directions.

You can also join the Albuquerque Death Cafe Meetup group to be kept apprised of upcoming events. Click here to go to the Meetup page.
From: Ad Council For Immediate Release: Dateline: New York , NY Thursday, December 22, 2016







Recently, the Ad Council hosted a panel at the

Empathy as a Universal Currency When it comes to how a company should choose a cause to support, all three panelists said the cause must tug at the heartstrings of both their employees and consumers. In other words, a company must find something that people can identify with and support. Ariels Share the Load campaign, headed up by Josy Paul, did just that. Instead of picking any cause to support, Ariel and BBDO searched within themselves and their society to see what cause would strike a universal cord of empathy. They found with everyone they talked to that there was a shared sense of discontent and guilt regarding the division of household chores between husbands and wives. And by identifying that empathy for the unbalanced workload that Indias mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters have to bear, Ariel was able to commit to fighting for equality within their consumers homes, rather than creating a mere communications campaign.

Create Acts Not Ads Similarly, the panelists warned that when brands choose to take on a social cause in their advertising, it must go beyond just selling your product. Brands must identify a key insight that connects their product to their consumers in a meaningful, authentic way. For Lexuss Inside Out campaign, Lexus identified that coming out as gay or bisexual means moving forward into uncharted territory, exactly what Lexus encourages consumers to do in their vehicles. By recognizing this synergy, Lexus was able to make their brand stand for more than just their products and allowed consumers to take action based on their ads.

See Yourself Reflected as You Truly Are Amy Law took on social good advertising for one of the biggest brands out there: America. The

We cant wait to see what next years 3% Conference hold. Did you attend the conference or our panel? Let us know what you thought in the comments!



The post

Recently, the Ad Council hosted a panel at the 3% Conference , an event that encourages female involvement in the advertising industry. Our panel titled, If Only Advertising Could Use Its Powers for Good, examined how major brands and top agencies all over the world are lending their expertise and ad dollars to advancing social causes. The panelists, Vida Cornelious, EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Walter Isaacson; Amy Law, Creative Director, Swirl Inc.; and Josy Paul, Chairmain & Chief Creative Officer, BBDO India joined our own Anastasia Goodstein, SVP, Digital, in a conversation about why social causes have a place in advertising. In case you missed the panel, here are three key learnings.When it comes to how a company should choose a cause to support, all three panelists said the cause must tug at the heartstrings of both their employees and consumers. In other words, a company must find something that people can identify with and support. Ariels Share the Load campaign, headed up by Josy Paul, did just that. Instead of picking any cause to support, Ariel and BBDO searched within themselves and their society to see what cause would strike a universal cord of empathy. They found with everyone they talked to that there was a shared sense of discontent and guilt regarding the division of household chores between husbands and wives. And by identifying that empathy for the unbalanced workload that Indias mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters have to bear, Ariel was able to commit to fighting for equality within their consumers homes, rather than creating a mere communications campaign.Similarly, the panelists warned that when brands choose to take on a social cause in their advertising, it must go beyond just selling your product. Brands must identify a key insight that connects their product to their consumers in a meaningful, authentic way. For Lexuss Inside Out campaign, Lexus identified that coming out as gay or bisexual means moving forward into uncharted territory, exactly what Lexus encourages consumers to do in their vehicles. By recognizing this synergy, Lexus was able to make their brand stand for more than just their products and allowed consumers to take action based on their ads.Amy Law took on social good advertising for one of the biggest brands out there: America. The #SeeHer campaign for the White House and the Association of National advertisers encourages the advertising industry to cast more diverse women in their commercials because as President Obama so wisely stated, You cant be what you cant see. #SeeHer encourages brands to allow women to be represented in advertising as they truly are, no matter their skin color, body shape, or background. This campaign shows us that not every campaign that achieves social good needs to have an expressly social good focus. Instead, brands can do their part to advance social causes by making diverse casting decisions, choosing not to play into damaging stereotypes, and connecting with consumers at a level that inspires them to take action.We cant wait to see what next years 3% Conference hold. Did you attend the conference or our panel? Let us know what you thought in the comments!The post Missed the 3% Conference? Read This. appeared first on AdLibbing.org


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San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp. will not sue the California city of Benicia after local officials denied the companys plan to build a rail terminal there to transport crude, according to Benicia city attorney Heather Mc Laughlin.

Valero lawyer Diane Sinclair called Mc Laughlin Monday to inform her that the company wouldnt pursue legal action against Benicia, Mc Laughlin said in an interview. Valero, which has a 165,000 barrel-a-day refinery there, wants to maintain a good relationship with the city, Mc Laughlin said she was told.

Its the best present ever, she said, laughing.

Valero did not respond to a request for comment.

On Sept. 20, Benicias city council voted 5-0 to deny Valeros request to build a crude oil rail terminal at its Benicia refinery. Valero attorney John J. Flynn III sent an Oct. 3 letter that accused the city of violating multiple laws and threatening legal action.

Valero is the largest refiner of oil in the U.S., processing over 2 million barrels of oil per day.

Mc Laughlin said she was getting all my ducks in a row in case Valero decided to pursue a legal case against the city, but is relieved she doesnt have to worry about the litigation now.

The fight over the crude-by-rail project opened up rifts in the community where the Valero refinery is a major employer, and Valero itself is a significant donor to local causes.

I think theyre probably working toward trying to bring us all back together again, Mc Laughlin said. A little tension is always good, I think it results in better projects.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

While this fight is over for now, Mc Laughlin said Benicias crude-by-rail issue could come back up in the future with all of the energy-related fights going on across the country now.

I think its such a big thing thats going on across the United States, I think there should be more regulations so  it could come back. But its hard to tell, she said.

rdruzin@express-news.net

@druz_journo
San Antonio smartphone-case maker Vysk Communications Inc. and a former financial backer cant seem stay out of court over their soured loan agreement.

Not long after Vysk and local investment firm Acequia ended legal spats in two different courts, Acequia is dragging Vysk back into court for allegedly missing a second of three payments it agreed to make under a settlement to repay $1.6 million in loans and settle up other expenses.

Vysk made the first payment of nearly $1.6 million on Nov. 1, but missed the second payment to cover interest and attorneys fees of about $367,000 on Nov. 30, according to Acequias suit. A third payment of $150,000 for an equity buyout is due next Friday.

Steve Chiscano, Vysks lawyer, said he could not comment on the latest dispute because the settlement contains a confidentiality provision. Vysk CEO Victor Cocchia didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Peter Selig, a local angel investor who heads Acequia, and his attorney also didnt immediately respond to calls and emails.

Vysk, which makes smartphone cases designed to prevent eavesdropping and hacking, said in a Monday court filing that it was unable to make the second payment because of financial constraints.

Although Vysk has been tremendously successful in its infancy, it is still a growing company having enormous demands on its cash flow to meet its world-wide growth, the company said in the filing.

Vysk added that given it was going to miss the second payment, it offered to immediately pay $5,000 to Acequia to cover any interest and expenses associated with getting a three-week extension on the $367,000 payment.

Instead, Vysk said, Acequia rejected the offer and demanded the final payment be doubled to $300,000. That translates to $7,100 a day Vysk would have to pay for the additional three weeks, it noted.

Vysk responded that it could not accept Acequias offer and said it would attempt to make the $367,000 payment by Dec. 21. Acequia filed its suit in Bexar County District Court the morning after the payment was due on Nov. 30.

The settlement said that Vysk approved the entry of an Agreed Judgment in the event it misses a payment. Acequia has asked court to enter such an order, but Vysk countered that Acequia cant obtain a judgment without first reaching an agreement on attorneys fees or having the issue decided by a judge.

Judge Renee Yanta held a hearing on the issues Monday but has yet to make a ruling, the court docket shows.

The settlement spells out that if Vysk misses a payment, Acequia is entitled to foreclose on collateral belonging to Vysk. It would be up to a judge to identify the collateral sufficient to satisfy the judgment.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The legal feud began on June 30 when Vysk filed suit over the nearly $1.6 million in loans it received from Acequia. The investment firm had declared that Vysk failed to fulfill its obligations under the loan, but Vysk said that it was really an attempt by Acequia to gain control of the smartphone-case maker and its intellectual property, according to a court filing.

Vysk dropped the case, but about a week later on July 28 Acequia sued Vysk and Cocchia for fraud in U.S. District Court in San Antonio. Acequia accused them of falsifying and concealing critical information to persuade Selig to make the loan.

Acequia described Vysk as a sinking ship with a rogue chief executive at its helm who has burned through nearly $15 million in innocent investor funds by making poor and reckless business decisions. The very next day, Vysk refiled its lawsuit in state court.

Both lawsuits were dropped in early November after the sides entered into the settlement agreement.

pdanner@express-news.net

Twitter: @AlamoPD
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President-elect Donald Trump has his eye on yet another Texan to take the helm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Elsa Murano, a former president and current professor at Texas A&M University, will be meeting with Trump about the post next week, incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters during a press call Thursday.

She's gonna be a candidate for Agriculture, Spicer said, adding that announcements were imminent on final unfilled cabinet and senior positions including agriculture secretary, Veterans Affairs secretary, U.S. trade representative and director of national intelligence.

I don't have additional information on how Ms. Murano came to the president-elect's attention, other than to say that she comes very highly recommended from information I have, Spicer said. Obviously her track record of running a major university really speaks for itself.

Her meeting with Trump would come on the heels of a Tuesday meeting between Vice-president Elect Mike Pence and Susan Combs, a West Texan who served as both Texas agriculture commissioner and Texas comptroller.

Her meeting with Trump would come on the heels of a Tuesday meeting between Vice-president-elect Mike Pence and Susan Combs, a West Texan who served terms as both Texas agriculture commissioner and Texas comptroller.

Trump is expected to also meet next week with current Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller about the post.

If any of the three are chosen, it would be the first time a Texan heads the federal agency since its founding under President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. Trump has already targeted Texans Rick Perry for energy secretary and Rex Tillerson for secretary of state.

Any Texan would be marvelous to have as secretary of agriculture, said Richard Thorpe, a Winters rancher who is president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

While the Texas Farm Bureau isnt endorsing agriculture secretary candidates and spoke favorably of Perry when his name was floated for the spot, spokesman Gene Hall said the Bureau had a good relationship with Murano during her time at A&M and felt her experience there was relevant to the job.

Shes certainly qualified, Hall said. Theres a lot of talent in Texas, and Texas being the second-leading agricultural state we are involved in a lot of program crops, we have a lot of things going on.

The secretary is the spokesman for agricultural policy in any administration, Hall added. So if youre a farmer in Texas or a rancher in Wyoming or wherever the person that articulates that policy and advises the president is very important.

The Cuban-born Murano, 57, served as undersecretary of agriculture for food safety under President George W. Bush, making her the highest ranking food safety official in the nation during the time of the mad cow disease scare that closed global markets to U.S. beef and was devastating to the cattle industry.

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She was named vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences before serving as A&Ms first female and Latina university president from 2008-2009. She resigned amid job performance criticism from then A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney, and currently specializes in food safety research and international food safety and policy.

She came to A&Ms Department of Animal Science from Iowa State University, where she was an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Preventative Medicine. She rose at A&M to associate director of the Center for Food Safety within the Institute for Food Science and Engineering and was director of the center from 1997 to 2001, when she joined the Bush administration.

A&M spokesman Jeff Pool said Murano would not be giving media interviews before the meeting.

lbrezosky@express-news.net
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There was a lot of change on the San Antonio theater scene this year. Magik Theatre founder Richard Rosen retired from the childrens theater; Frances Limoncelli is now the managing artistic director. George Green became head honcho at The Playhouse San Antonio. Jonathan Pennington opened the Roxie Theatre Co. And two ambitious smaller troupes, Viva Theatre Co. and Teatro Audaz, got off the ground, serving up a promising 48-hour play festival and a series of readings, respectively.

Heres a look back at some of the best of the years productions:

14, AtticRep: The dance-driven piece, conceived and directed by Roberto Prestigiacomo, explored the world of the generation born in the wake of the 9-11 terror attacks. Thanks in part to Stefano Di Buduos gorgeous video elements, it was one of the most visually arresting shows of the year.

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, The Playhouse San Antonio: The powerful, deeply moving one-act recreated a remarkable historical event from World War I largely through beautifully rendered a cappella music.

The Amish Project, AtticRep: Sarah Gise, a North East School of the Arts alum who is now a professional actress, came home to star in the piece, a series of monologues inspired by the real-life 2005 shooting at an Amish schoolhouse. Gise played all seven characters, deftly moving from one to the next in a bravura performance.

Asking for Change at Jump-Start Performance Co. and Trash Tree at the Overtime Theater: Stephan Gaeth created these thought-provoking movement-based works, which dealt with homelessness and the environment, respectively.

Creatures of the Night, Overtime Theater: Writer/director Emily Fitzgerald built a complete universe for this well-crafted tale in which detective Annabelle Valentine (Sarah Nixon Hemmi) tries to solve the murder of her partner while also coping with ghosts from her past.

The Diary of Anne Frank, Sheldon Vexler Theatre: The deeply humane staging vividly captured the dynamics within that tiny annex where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis, as well as all that was lost when they were betrayed.

The Diviners, Sheldon Vexler Theatre: The quietly marvelous production, directed with compassion by Dylan Brainard and Tami Kai, gracefully explored religion and small-town life during the Depression.

Divas of Eastwood, Renaissance Guild: One of the buzziest shows of the year was this dazzling immersive revue diving into San Antonios history as part of the Chitlin Circuit, a segregation-era network of clubs for African-American entertainers and audiences. Fans, take note: The sequel, titled Watch Your Step  The Men of Eastwood, premieres in January at the Little Carver Civic Center.

The Foreigner, Sheldon Vexler Theatre: Larry Shues comedy about tolerance got a whiz-bang staging, including some gut-busting work from Jared Stephens and Roman Garcia.

The Glass Menagerie, Cellar Theater of The Playhouse San Antonio: The bold staging, directed with clarity by Molly Cox, set Tennessee Williams classic memory play in a mental hospital. The approach  not to mention terrific performances by Sam Mandelbaum, Gloria Sanchez-Molina, Maggie Tonra and Tyler Smith  breathed thrilling new life into the piece.

The House on Mango Street, Classic Theatre: The production, an adaptation of Sandra Cisneros novel that captured the flavor of her writing vividly, was Classics first completely sold-out show. Those who missed it will get another chance to see it: The production is being revived for a two-weekend run in April.

Kinky Boots, Majestic Theatre: The much-anticipated San Antonio debut of the musical did not disappoint. The warm-hearted story of acceptance was a great beginning to the Broadway in San Antonio offerings for 2016.

Locolobo, Overtime Theater: Jen Rushings nutso musical  accurately billed as a punk rock Prometheus psych-wolf musical comedy  was a welcome burst of supernatural silliness, compelete with a mad scientist (Jules Vaquera) developing a monsterizer, a Sweet Caroline sing-along and a first-rate band.

The Marriage Play at Classic Theatre: Director Tim Hedgepeth, actors Andrew Thornton and Catherine Babbitt, a play by Edward Albee  all the elements were in place for a stellar show. The independent production lived up to its promise.

Memphis, Woodlawn Theatre: The musicals first local production, deftly directed by Rebecca Trinidad, was powered by rich performances and a first-rate band. Standouts included Marie Warren Bunch and Brian Hodges as a mixed-race couple fighting an uphill battle to make their relationship work as they navigate segregation inside and outside of the music business.

My Name Was Dorian...Dorian Gray, Overtime Theater: Derek Berlins passion project  which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in  was a spellbinding adaptation of Oscar Wildes The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

One Down, Overtime Theatre: Playwright Mike Pobletes moving and funny exploration of aging, dreams, loss and human connection boasted deeply felt performances by Benjamin Scharff and Yleanna Wooten.

One Man, Two Guvnors, Sheldon Vexler Theatre: Every actor onstage was terrific, including the audience plant required for a bit of audience interaction that ended (intentionally) badly. But Joshua Goldberg owned it with a terrific turn as a crafty fellow trying to keep various scams running.

School for Scandal, Classic Theatre: Director Diane Malones fresh staging belied the scripts age, presenting a laugh-out-loud 21st century take on the 18th century tale of gossip and treachery.

The Seagull, Classic Theatre: Chekhovs tale of aging, regret and artistic passion was in excellent hands, thanks to director Allan S. Ross and his gifted cast.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Woodlawn Theatre: Roy Bumgarner and Sara Brookes, as the title character and his landlady, delivered sharply calibrated performances that were well-matched by everyone else on stage in director Rick Sanchezs fantastic staging.

Tribes, Cellar Theater of The Playhouse San Antonio: Skillfully directed by John O'Neill, the piece featured a remarkable turn from Mark McCarver as a young deaf man struggling to find his place in the world and within his eternally squabbling family.

Two Sisters and a Piano, Cellar Theater of The Playhouse San Antonio: The top-flight cast  Maria Ibarra, Ailyn Duran, Victor Trevino and Paul Ramos  delivered vivid turns in this tale about two women under house arrest in Havana in 1991.

A Wolverine Walks into a Bar, Classic Theatre: Master storyteller Jaston Williams paid two welcome visits to Classic this year with his evening of well-crafted monologues in which barflies share stories from their lives.

dlmartin@express-news.net
Tanya Graves noticed something was not quite right with her son Robert when he was just a year old, while she was still living in California with her husband, Peter, who is in the Army Reserves.

The boy wasnt forming words like other children his age. He didnt walk until he was 14 months old.

I took him to doctors, but all they would say is that Robert was a late bloomer, that it was a boy thing, Tanya said.

Her son would later be diagnosed with autism. After relocating to San Antonio, Tanya would come to find out about a special program aimed at helping those in the military who may be at-risk for child abuse or neglect, owing to the stress related to military service and other issues.

The impetus for the program, funded by a grant through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, is new data showing an increase in the incidence of child maltreatment among military families. Historically, the rate of such abuse or neglect has been roughly half that of the civilian population  about 7 confirmed cases versus 14 per 1,000 children.

Since 2003, however, child maltreatment in military families has begun to outpace the nonmilitary statistics, a trend that coincides with a post-9/11 increase in overseas military operations, according to a study by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

While the grants focus is to help military families at risk of abuse or neglect, the program is free and voluntary, and the vast majority of parents, like the Graves, have nothing like that in their backgrounds. The assistance theyre receiving focuses on finding financial help and procuring proper autism treatment for Robert.

When Tanya moved to San Antonio with Robert and his younger sister Alexia three years ago, it was in the hope of finding better health care and other benefits in Military City USA, where old family friends also lived.

Two years ago, a pediatrician in Schertz noticed right away that Roberts delays werent normal, Tanya said. She referred Tanya to the Autism Community Network, where her son was formally diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

She was at a loss. Peter, who made good money working at an oil refinery, had stayed behind in California to care for his mother, who had late-stage cancer. Through the autism network, Tanya found out about Any Baby Can, a local nonprofit that provides an array of services, including help for parents with special-needs kids.

Within a week, case manager Angelica Ramos was guiding Tanya as she navigated the complex world of autism treatment, helping her advocate for special assistance for Robert at his elementary school and find other services. She also helped Tanya sometimes find aid for things like groceries, since Peter, still in California, was paying rent and living costs in two cities, making the family perpetually financially strapped.

Peter moved here in September, but the struggle wasnt over. His new job at a bakery pays $35,000 a year, so Ramos support remains crucial, helping the family locate rent and food assistance, enrolling the children in Medicaid and other services.

In the Army Reserves for 16 years, Peter suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder related to his two tours of duty in Iraq, he said. Ramos has helped Peter find services through Family Endeavors, a nonprofit that helps veterans as part of its mission. Hes currently on a wait list to see doctors through the Veterans Administration, he said.

I had no idea all these services where out there, Peter said about the help provided by Any Baby Can on one recent afternoon in the familys home in Schertz, as Robert, now 7, and Alexia, 4, played near a sparkling Christmas tree.

While the family had already been receiving help from Any Baby Can for two years, in December their case was moved under the umbrella of the military family grant, which is operated through the United Way. Any Baby Can is just one of eight local nonprofits that will use $4 million disbursed over five years to help military families that are at risk.

Helping at-risk military families

Various reasons may account for an increase in child abuse and neglect among military families, the study found  longer and often multiple military deployments, the separation of family members during deployments, a lack of stable support networks for transient military families, the stresses and responsibilities that fall on the nondeployed parent and other issues.

Then there are the often unseen wounds common to modern military combat experience: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental and physical injuries. Often, service men and women are loathe to seek mental health care because of the stigma and end up trying to quell the pain with alcohol and drugs. All these elements are risk factors for child maltreatment, the study found.

A goal of the grant at Any Baby Can, besides helping families, is to compile research on why military families might slip through the cracks of the social services safety net.

This is a pilot program that will help us see where the gaps are, said Crystal Calvillo, lead case manager. Why cant the military provide seamless care? What happens when people transition out of the military, or are still in but cant access services? Why are military families having to access food pantries?

The pilot program looks at all branches of the military, Calvillo said. Any Baby Can and the other participating nonprofits are required to report collected data to the United Way. In addition to case management, Any Baby Can offers parenting education classes and a weekly family support group to at-risk military families.

Tanya said having Ramos in her corner has made all the difference. Now Robert has four staff members helping him at John A. Sippel Elementary. He receives speech and occupational therapy and has his own special education assistant. If her son has a behavioral meltdown, he is able to spend time in a special room, where a trampoline, bouncing balls and other equipment helps him burn off energy.

And while Medicaid doesnt cover Applied Behavioral Analysis  an intensive and expensive one-one-one treatment that is considered the gold standard of autism treatment  Ramos has helped Tanya find a host of other assistance, especially with referrals to other nonprofit and agencies that have helped the family.

She just has this vast knowledge, Tanya said. I say that Any Baby Can is a backbone and a shoulder. Angelica is just a blessing, and she has given me so much peace of mind. With her, I know Im doing the best I can for Robert to make his life better.

mstoeltje@express-news.net
WASHINGTON - In 2001, Roskana Mun was a 16-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant living in one of New York Citys most diverse neighborhoods. After 9/11, the U.S. government started tracking foreign Muslim men and boys, and Muns neighborhood changed as men were detained and in some cases deported.

"Women had to juggle raising a whole family and face the threat of detention," Mun said. "Girls had to step up, and young people who were 13 or 14 years old had to quit school to work."

Mun now works for DRUM, a New York-based advocacy group for South Asian immigrants. She said the U.S. governments tracking of men from Muslim-majority countries for a decade had disrupted daily life, causing shops to close in neighborhoods like Midwood, Brooklyn, after hundreds of men were deported.

The tracking program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, required males 16 and older from 25 countries to undergo additional vetting in the interest of national security.

After 10 years and 13,000 deportations, President Barack Obama stopped enforcing the program in 2011. It hadnt caught a single terrorist.

On Thursday, the DHS announced that the regulatory framework for the system has been dismantled, effectively gutting a quasi-Muslim registry just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump enters the White House. The move prevents the dormant program from being quickly restarted to track the movements of certain Muslim men living in the United States.

"The Department of Homeland Security is removing outdated regulations pertaining to the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System program, with an immediate effective date," DHS spokesman Neema Hakim said in a statement. "DHS ceased use of NSEERS more than five years ago, after it was determined the program was redundant, inefficient and provided no increase in security. The intervening years have shown that NSEERS is not only obsolete, but that its use would divert limited personnel and resources from more effective measures."

The dissolution of the system comes just days after an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin rekindled Trumps interest in barring Muslim immigrants from entering the United States.

"You know my plans. All along, Ive been proven to be right," Trump said to reporters when asked about the market attack and the Muslim registry. "Whats happening is disgraceful."

If Trump wants to create a Muslim registry within the DHS, hell have to start from scratch and present the proposal for public comment, a process that takes time and opens the agency to additional scrutiny.

"When NSEERS was suspended it wasnt removed from the books," said Arab American Institute executive director Maya Berry, head of an advocacy group that has opposed the registry. Before Thursdays move, she said, Trump would only have had to name the countries affected to put the registry back to work.

Berry said the program was effectively a Muslim registry because 24 of the 25 countries involved were majority Muslim. The lone exception was North Korea.

Despite Thursdays news, Berry said Trump probably would try to implement a Muslim registry of some sort by requiring immigrants from Muslim-majority countries to undergo additional vetting.

"Regrettably, Im not hopeful about programs like this not coming back," Berry said.

Trump met with Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in recent weeks, an immigration hard-liner who presented documents to the president-elect that included plans to ensure "all aliens from high-risk areas are tracked" and to use "extreme vetting" for immigrants from countries considered high risk.

That proposal has been echoed by House Homeland Security Committee Chair Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who has called for "immediate suspension of all immigration from high-risk areas" such as Iraq, Syria and Yemen. McCaul was not available for comment Thursday, but earlier this month he told the conservative Heritage Foundation in a speech that "We should immediately suspend immigration from high-risk countries where we cannot confidently weed out terror suspects."

Trump recently nominated retired Gen. John Kelly as DHS secretary. Kelly was once in charge of the U.S. Southern Command and oversaw the detention center for terrorism suspects at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.



2016 McClatchy Washington Bureau

Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at www.mcclatchydc.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The San Antonio Zoo is celebrating its conservation teams breeding of a tiny, local endangered species.

Its the first time the aquatic Comal Springs riffle beetle reproduced at the zoo. And it may be small, but its just as important as other animals, said Tim Morrow, executive director and CEO of the zoo.

We believe that every species matters, and we lead, fund or participate in conservation programs on nearly every continent with efforts ranging from elephants in Africa and Asia to little-known aquatic aquifer species right below our own feet in our hometown, Morrow said.

Inside the darkness of a 52-foot modified shipping container, the zoo team installed special filtration systems with the same chemistry as water pumped from Edwards Aquifer springs to create a habitat favorable to the pale-colored riffle beetle. Also known as Heterelmis comalensis, the hard-backed insect thats less than a half-inch long was put on the federal endangered list in 1997.

Several weeks ago, two team members noticed that a couple of the beetles in the man-made habitat were spending more time near each other than usual. On closer inspection, the researchers discovered a larvae, one of the first births of the endangered species in captivity.

Dante Fenolio, vice president of conservation and research, said the larvae looks like a hairy worm and will go through several stages until its recognizable as a more traditional hard-backed beetle. He credited his team of four full-time members on the year-and-a-half project, working on a species 99.9 of the human population would never pay attention to.

Im proud of my crew for their strong attention to detail, he said. Im so proud of the dedication they have paid to a nondescript, tiny little brown beetle not easy to breed in captivity.

The initiative was part of a grant shared with the Edwards Aquifer Authority, SWCA environmental consultants and SeaWorld San Antonio to build labs and work with critically endangered groundwater species.

Fenolio said the team started from scratch, getting federal permits, dealing with paperwork and trying to develop breeding techniques.

They dont come with instruction manuals, he said, We read everything we could.

The project is scheduled to end Dec. 31, but Fenolio said the zoo will continue working with the beetles as well as blind cave crayfish, blind catfish and salamanders.

Morrow, the zoos executive director, said conservation efforts are essential.

The record rate of extinctions our planet is now experiencing is not exclusive to the charismatic mega fauna we often hear about in the news, Morrow said. What drives us at the San Antonio Zoo is a vision to secure a future for wildlife. All wildlife.

Fenolio said its important to care about all life forms, such as the tiny riffle beetle. They all play a role in the food web, made up of all the food chains in one ecosystem, he said. There are many nondescript species, amphibians and otherwise, that might be key in life-saving innovations in health and medicine, he added.

If we care about own future, we have to care about all of that, Fenolio said. Im not saying some human medicine will come from this beetle, but you dont know where its going to come from.

vtdavis@express-news.net
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Office of the United States Trade Representative is taking action against the European Unions (EU) unfair trade practices that discriminate against U.S. beef imports.

Acting on the request of the U.S. beef industry, the USTR has scheduled a public hearing and is seeking public comments in connection with the EUs ban on most U.S. beef products.

If the trade action resumes, the United States would reinstate industry-supported tariffs on a list of EU products imported into the United States.

Over the past two years the U.S. government has attempted, without success, to engage the European Commission in discussions about ways to rectify the situation.

According to the USTR, the EUs ban on U.S. beef is not based on sound science and discriminates against American beef farmers, ranchers, and producers.

WTO agrees

The WTO determined that the European Unions ban on U.S. beef imports violates its international trade obligations, said Ambassador Michael Froman. The EU has failed to live up to assurances to address this issue, and its now time to take action.

Background. In 1998, the EU lost a case at the WTO for banning American beef. In 2009, the U.S. negotiated an agreement to allow market access for specially produced beef that meets the EUs standards, but that agreement has not worked as intended, the USTR office says.

The European Commission had argued that this issue should be resolved through T-TIP, but European officials decided after their trade ministers meeting in September not to complete T-TIP this year.

The U.S. beef industry exports an average $6 billion per year.

Restrictive European Union policies continue to deny EU consumers access to U.S. beef at affordable prices, said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. For several years we have been asking the EU to fix an agreement that is clearly broken, despite its original promise to provide a favorable market for U.S. beef.

Over the past two years the U.S. government has attempted, without success, to engage the European Commission in discussions about ways to rectify the situation.

Next step

An interagency committee of trade experts and economists will participate in the hearing and review public comments on the particular products and EU member states that may be subject to the imposition of additional duties, with the goal of resolving this dispute.

The 20-year EU ban has been in effect far too long. It is not based on fact and should be lifted, said House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson. This announcement is welcome news for Americas beef producers.

The National Cattlemens Beef Association was elated at the news.

The European Union has left us no choice but to seek compensation for the long-standing mistreatment of U.S. beef exports, said President Tracy Brunner.

Our temporary agreement with the EU was meant to be an opportunity to build a bridge of trust between U.S. beef producers and EU consumers, and to compensate the United States for the losses we have suffered as a result of the E.U.s hormone ban.
WOOSTER, Ohio  For over 25 years, the Hershey family has gone all out, decking their farm in lights and Christmas-themed displays. But how long does it take to put up an elaborate Christmas display for the neighborhood to enjoy?

Daysweeksmonths, said Ted Hershey, of FHJ Farms in Wooster, Ohio. But its all worth when the farm is all aglow. The Hershey family has been decorating their Wayne County farm since moving there in the 1990s.

There was one year we decided not to do a display, said Anita Hershey. That was the year milk prices were in the tank. The farm was so dark and quiet that year, we decided we wouldnt ever do that again, she said.

Ted and Anita raised four children  Trent, Kerby, Jared and Tessa  on the 135-acre farm. While they no longer milk cows, they continue to raise around 30 head of Jersey heifers, mostly for show at the Wayne County Fair, and grain farm.

Setting up the lights

After harvest wraps up for the year, its time for the Hersheys to prepare for their holiday farm display. We dont like to dig anything out until the crops are off and the leaves fall, so we can get the yard cleaned up, said Anita. We start thinking about it the first of November and start setting up around Thanksgiving, she said.

And then its all hands on deck, as the whole family spends the next few weeks setting up displays, hanging lights, tweaking the mechanicals and figuring out the best ways to run the electrical cords without blowing breakers. We spend the first few days tweaking, driving through the display every night, checking lights and displays, she said.

This time of year, we all have electrical tape and extra light bulbs in our pockets, said Tessa Hershey. I usually put on my Carhartt for the first time and find a bulb or two in my pocket, she said.

The displays

There are over 30 different displays this year, each with its own Christmas theme. Driving up the farm lane, cutouts of Hershey Kisses read: Merry Christmas, from the Hersheys. That idea just came to me one year, said Anita, who couldnt believe she hadnt thought of it sooner.

A few years ago, the family decided their display needed a little more life, so they began experimenting with motorized displays. They built a kiddie land, complete with a working carousel, Ferris wheel and teeter-totter. The carousel itself took around 160 hours to complete.

Still in the works, and hopefully on display before the end of the year, the Hersheys are working on a mechanical slide. Fashioned from the conveyor of an old hay elevator, as the belt moves, wooden cutouts look like they are sliding down the slide. The conveyor needed a little more TLC than Ted and son Kerby had anticipated, but thats why the two of them are in charge of the mechanics, explained Anita.

Another new display this year is a scene from Frosty the Snowman, where Frosty carries Karen to the greenhouse to get warm. We had a small greenhouse already here, so we painted a backdrop to put inside, said Anita. She said the detail in the painting took them hours to get right and the Frosty cutout was made by using a projector and tracing the pattern onto wood.

In fact, most of their displays are created from homemade patterns and wood. Ninety percent of the displays are handmade, said Anita, noting there were a few items donated to the family from people no longer doing displays of their own and family members no longer needing some of their yard props. But the painting and creating is all part of the fun for Anita, her daughter, Tessa, and daughter-in-law, Andi.

A scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas, where Charlie Brown visits Lucy at her Psychiatric Help booth, was also added this year. We were looking at the booth we created for kiddie land and thought, hey that kind of looks like Lucys booth from Charlie Brown, said Jared Hershey, who heads up the music and computer animation displays. The display is complete with the famous Charlie Brown tree, drooping under the weight of one ornament on its branch.

Dont forget Santa

No Christmas display would be complete without Santa, and while the Hersheys have a few featured cutouts of Santa, new this year is a life-like animation of the man himself. Jared created this animation by using a projector he had bought a couple years ago and projecting a video up onto a frosted shower curtain. It looks like he is really walking back and forth in the window, he said.

Family affair

Everyone in the family has found a niche, coming together to bring the display to life each year, and everyone has ideas on what they want to add next year. I want an arch over the driveway, but theres some argument over whether its just an arch or a tunnel, Anita said.

The lights will continue to run every night at the Hershey family farm until Jan. 1. Its kind of depressing in January when we shut off the lights and it all comes down. Its just dark, said Tessa.

But the Hershey family looks forward to putting the display together each year. We do it because we enjoy it and the people like it, said Anita. And we do it because its something we can all do together.
Organic, natural, cage free, free range  the language of food labels is confusing for farmers and consumers alike.

Which words best describe your farm products? Which are free use, and which require certification approval?

Learning the language of food labels allows farmers to communicate with customers about their products. Food labels like Certified Organic can make your products stand out in a crowded marketplace, and reveal their true value to customers. Labels can help customers make purchasing decisions in line with their goals to eat healthier, boost the local economy or go green.

Organic. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) verifies farms through certifying agents and approves use of the Certified Organic Label. Organic food must be grown from organic seed. Organic animal products come from animals fed organic feed. Certified Organic products are not genetically modified.

Natural products are minimally processed and do not contain artificial ingredients or colors. Natural must be defined on a statement on the label.

Certified Naturally Grown is a peer-review certification. Like Certified Organic products, Certified Naturally Grown products are non-GMO and grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, http://www.cngfarming.org/.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is an organism that has been scientifically modified to achieve a desired trait. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate GMOs. In July 2016, a federal standard to label genetically modified food was signed into law; implementation timeline and information is available on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.

Non-GMO. The non-profit Non-GMO Project provides a label for verified products. Products bearing the label are made without GM ingredients, not grown from GM seed, and not from livestock fed GM feed. For more information visit, http://www.nongmoproject.org/.

Free range. According to USDA Food Safety and Inspection Services Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms, free range poultry has access to shelter and the outside.

Cage free poultry has access shelter and freedom to roam within an area; the area may be enclosed.

No hormones. Current federal regulations do not allow hormones in pork or poultry production. Beef producers must provide documentation that no hormones were used during production.

No antibiotics. Producers must provide the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service with documentation that antibiotics have not been administered (FSIS Aug 2015).

Chemical free is not allowed on labels.

Grassfed. In 2016, the Agricultural Marketing Service stopped verifying grassfed livestock operations. However, American Grassfed is an independent agency certification that approves use of the American Grassfed Label. Meat bearing the American Grassfed Label is from American livestock raised on grass and forage, without hormones and antibiotics.

Pastured raised. The USDA does not have a pasture raised label policy.

Humane. The USDA does not regulate use of the term. Animal Welfare Approved is an organization that provides animal husbandry standards, certification and an official label.

Sustainable describes production practices that enrich the environment, animals and humans overtime. The Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) and the Rainforest Alliance certify farms that employ sustainable production practices.

Locally grown. The USDA does not define local. Most states have an approved logo for products made and grown within their borders. Ohio Proud helps consumers find food and agriculture products made and grown near home.

Some farmers markets require products are made and grown within a distance of the market. Many farm to table restaurants print the name and location of producer farms on the menu. Local food hubs may list and link to producer partners on their website to provide transparency.

100% Pure is not a regulated term, but the FSIS Compliance Guidance for Label Approval advises pure is claimed truthful and not to mislead to consumers (Nov 2015).

Low-fat/cholesterol/sugar/sodium. The FDA Food Labeling Guide defines thresholds for all health, nutrient and function claims that may appear on packaging.

The Ohio State University Wilbur A. Gould Food Industries Center provides nutrition facts panel, ingredient statement, and allergen declaration for food products, http://foodindustries.osu.edu/nutrition-labeling.

Grade. The USDA grades eggs, dairy, meat, fruits, vegetables and specialty items. Grades verify quality, production practices, and product values. Download factsheet A Guide to AMS Grade Shields, Value-Added Labels, and Official Seals, https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/AMS%20Product%20Label%20Factsheet.pdf.
NDSU Extension offers advice for conditioning too-dry soybeans

Farmers may want to condition soybeans that were harvested at lower moisture contents.
The government has confirmed two wild birds in England have tested positive for H5N8 strain of Avian Influenza.

The two confirmed findings in dead wild wigeons from Somerset and Leicestershire follow confirmation of H5N8 in a dead wild peregrine falcon in Scotland today, and the finding of the same strain in a dead wild wigeon in Wales yesterday.

This is the same strain which has been circulating in mainland Europe and which was found at a poultry farm in Lincolnshire last week, although there is no suggestion the disease has spread from that farm.

The advice from Public Health England (PHE) remains that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency has made it clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

'Good biosecurity measures are essential'

Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said: Todays confirmed findings mean that avian flu has now been found in wild birds in widely separated parts of England, Wales and Scotland.

This is far from unexpected and reflects our risk assessments and the measures we have taken including introducing a housing order for poultry and a ban on gatherings. Well continue to work with ornithological groups to further strengthen surveillance and our understanding of the extent of infection in wild birds.

The risk to kept birds cannot be eliminated by housing alone. This virus can be carried into buildings on people and things to infect birds. Good biosecurity measures are essential. We also need people to continue to report findings of dead wild birds so that we can investigate.

It is important to reiterate Public Health Englands advice that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

The Government continues to closely monitor the situation in Europe and has implemented a series of other measures to limit the threat of spread to poultry. These include the declaration of a Prevention Zone on 6 December, requiring all kept birds to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds, and a temporary ban on poultry gatherings announced earlier this week.

Members of the public are encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks), or other dead wild birds such as gulls or birds of prey, to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has met with ministers to urge the Department for Transport to keep biofuel markets as open as possible for UK farmers to remain competitive with their European neighbours.

NFU North East combinable crops board chair Brett Askew met with Department for Transport minister John Hayes MP in Westminster to discuss the departments consultation on the future of biofuel policy in the UK.

The NFU urged the department to set the crop-cap at the EU maximum of 7%.

The cap is designed to limit the amount of crop-based biofuels able to be used on UK roads. The department also suggests 0% and 2% as options.

Mr Askew said: The biofuel industry represents a golden opportunity for UK farmers and we are urging Government to set the crop cap at 7%, anything less would constrict the UK market and would place us at a competitive disadvantage with our European neighbours.

At a time where farmers are facing great uncertainty, not least because of Brexit, we need security in our markets. This area provides stability for farmers and its vital it remains open and incentivised.

"Farmers need to make a return from the marketplace and I would strongly encourage the Government to reconsider their plans, especially if our European counterparts have a higher ceiling.

At a time of high stocks, the biofuel outlet provides a clear uplift to the market and has given arable farmers confidence and security that theres a destination for their product.

The animal feed as a result of biofuel production is essential for our livestock and dairy farmers who are facing rising feed costs proving that its vital and beneficial for all farmers that the crop cap is set at 7%.

A biofuel is a fuel derived from living matter, such as live feedstock like corn, sugarcane, and soy beans. There are three main types, ethanol, biodiesel, and biojet fuel. These three components provide a cheaper and supposedly environmentally cleaner production than those of fossil fuels.

When running at full capacity, the domestic biofuel market can use 2,2m tonnes of wheat and circa 40% of oilseed rape for biofuel processing is sent to EU member states.
Early reports of wheat rust, coupled with increased difficulties curing Septoria tritici, mean winter wheat growers 'must stay on the front foot against diseases' in 2017.

As the main UK wheat disease, Septoria tritici is always present. It is the most important wheat disease in the UK and the biggest yield robber. Losses of 50% have been reported in severely affected crops. This is largely because of the predominance of varieties which are susceptible to the disease.

But curing established infection has become much more difficult following its reduced sensitivity to key fungicides, notably azoles, says Syngenta field technical manager, Iain Hamilton.

Added to that, there have already been early reports of yellow rust affecting wheat varieties in Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire this season, he points out.

No parts of the country are immune to rust or Septoria, says Mr Hamilton. Although yellow rust cases have started off fairly isolated, its important to remember that these early sightings come on the back of a high pressure year.

The 2016 season demonstrated all too clearly just how difficult yellow rust is to control if its not prevented early enough. So its vitally important that growers learn the lessons from 2016.

Im not suggesting that crops in general need treating now. The winter weather will play a big part in how disease develops. But it will be important not to let any disease escalate. We saw in 2016 just how important a T0 fungicide can be for achieving this  even if crops look clean at the T0 timing, which is typically in March.

As part of a wider campaign in 2017, Mr Hamilton says Syngenta will be urging farmers to stay on the front foot against cereal diseases.

Although it is the upper leaves in winter wheat that contribute most to yield, the aim is to block disease getting up onto these in the first place, he explains.
NFU Cymru Conference: Farmers need more help to 'weather current storms'
The Obama Administration announced today that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is taking action against the European Unions (EU) unfair trade practices that discriminate against U.S. beef imports. Acting on the request of the U.S. beef industry, USTR has scheduled a public hearing and is seeking public comments in connection with the EUs ban on most U.S. beef products. The EUs ban on U.S. beef is not based on sound science and discriminates against American beef farmers, ranchers, and producers. If the trade action resumes, the United States would reinstate industry-supported tariffs on a list of EU products imported into the United States. USTR is particularly interested in comments addressed to the possible effects of reinstatement on U.S. consumers and small- or medium-sized businesses.





"The WTO determined that the European Union's ban on U.S. beef imports violates its international trade obligations," said Ambassador Michael Froman. "The EU has failed to live up to assurances to address this issue, and it's now time to take action. Today's action holds the EU accountable and is an important step in encouraging the Commission to come back to the table to ensure that American ranchers have access to Europe's market and that European consumers have better access to high-quality U.S. beef."



In 1998, the EU lost a case at the WTO for banning American beef. In 2009, the U.S. negotiated an agreement to allow a modest degree of market access for specially-produced beef that meets the EU's standards, but that agreement has not worked as intended. The European Commission had argued that this issue should be resolved through T-TIP. However, given that the EU stated in September that they did not view the completion of T-TIP this year to be possible, it is now time to take action.



The U.S. beef industry exports an average $6 billion per year. These exports produce an estimated $7.6 billion in economic activity and support 50,000 jobs nationwide. The American beef industry is essential to the overall strength of the nations economy, and to rural communities seeking ways to access new customers in foreign markets.



"American ranchers raise some of the best beef on the planet, but restrictive European Union policies continue to deny EU consumers access to U.S. beef at affordable prices. For several years we have been asking the EU to fix an agreement that is clearly broken, despite its original promise to provide a favorable market for U.S. beef, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The U.S. beef sector is vital to our economy. U.S. beef and beef product exports average $6 billion per year, producing an estimated $7.6 billion in annual economic activity and supporting nearly 50,000 jobs nationwide. The industry is essential to the overall strength of the nations economy, and to rural communities seeking ways to access new customers in foreign markets.

An interagency committee of trade experts and economists will participate in the hearing and review public comments on the particular products and EU member States that may be subject to the imposition of additional duties, with the goal of resolving this dispute. Complete information on the submission of comments is set forth in a Federal Register Notice that is published today on the USTR website and will be available shortly on the Federal eRulemaking Portal.



"There is no doubt that American beef products are safe. The 20 year EU ban has been in effect far too long. It is not based on fact and should be lifted," said House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson. "The beef industry is an important contributor to our nation's economy, especially rural economy. This announcement is welcome news for America's beef producers."



"The EU, our largest trading partner, unfortunately maintains numerous unscientific policies focused on protecting European agriculture producers from competition with American producers rather than promoting food safety, said Representative Adrian Smith, member of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the Modern Agriculture Caucus. It also closes off many more markets to U.S. producers in countries around the world which defer to the EU on these regulatory issues. I commend USTR for moving forward on this enforcement action, and I will continue to push the EU to adopt scientific regulations which will enhance trade and food security across the globe."



Additional Background Information





The beef industrys request is based on a 1998 WTO ruling in the EU beef dispute that the European ban on the import of meat and meat products from animals treated with certain hormones was not supported by scientific evidence and thus violated WTO obligations. In 1999, the WTO authorized the United States to impose additional tariffs on EU products with a total annual trade value of $116.8 million. Consistent with this authorization, the United States imposed additional duties on products from certain EU member States.



Click here to see more...
By Ryan McGeeney

2016 proved a difficult year for many Arkansas growers. Severe flooding in August impacted production to the tune of an approximately $50 million crop loss, and an unprecedented political season cast doubt on the future of international trade agreements and farm subsidies.

Based on an informal poll of agricultural experts across the state, here are our top 10 Arkansas agricultural stories of 2016:

1. Widespread reports of dicamba drift injury in soybeans, as some growers begin in off-label applications on new dicamba-resistant Monsanto crops. We covered the initial reports of drift injury in July, as well as some of the fallout, as the Arkansas State Plant Board weighed its options as Monsanto edged toward bringing a new dicamba-based herbicide technology to market.

2. Arkansas growers suffer nearly $50 million in crop losses due to significant August flooding, and a disaster declaration issued. After weeks of heavy, intermittent flooding in August, agronomists and economists with the Division of Agriculture estimated a significant economic loss for Arkansas producers. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson a federal disaster declaration for 12 counties.

3. Researchers with University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission begin tracking spread of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk throughout Arkansas. As reports of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk persisted, biological researchers in the state embarked in an effort to determine the location and prevalence of the disease in deer and elk herds in the state.

4. Tony Windham steps down as director of the Cooperative Extension Service after 28 years with the University of Arkansas System. After initially working with Arkansas growers as an economist in 1988, Windham was eventually appointed associate vice president for agriculture and director in 2010. Mark Cochran, vice president-Agriculture and head of the Division of Agriculture, named Dr. Rick Cartwright as interim director.

5. Arkansas officials visit Cuba as the U.S. considers lifting trade sanctions. As a major producer of both rice and poultry, Arkansas may prove particularly attractive to the island nation as a future trading partner.

6. The Division of Agricultures Rice Research and Extension Center unveils its new Foundation Seed Facility in Stuttgart. Replacing a facility that had stood since the 1950s, the Division of Agriculture opened its news Foundation Seed Facility in August.

7. Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal appears to stall as voters chose between two presidential candidates, both of whom stated they were against it. After months of diplomacy and wrangling, the wide-reaching trade agreement, which would broadly liberalize trade rules and tariffs, may ultimately fail to come to fruition. In March, Ambassador Darci Vetter of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative spoke about the proposed trade agreement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.

8. Arkansas cotton growers rebound from 2015s historic low acreage of 210,000 acres, planting about 57 percent more acreage. Although weve never strictly been the land of cotton, growers on the Arkansas side of the Delta came back strong with increased acreage.

9. Kudzu bugs expand in eastern Arkansas. After almost five years of waiting, the inevitable finally arrived: Kudzu bugs made their way across the Delta, into Arkansas, poised to begin affecting soybeans in the fall. Division of Agriculture etymologists and agricultural agents wasted no time in training county agents in identifying and controlling the pests, in an effort to arrest their further spread.

10. Arkansas growers abandon grain sorghum in 2016, after huge spike during the previous year. Easy come, easy go. Citing dismal market prices and an impending threat from sugarcane aphids, Arkansas growers quickly ended their single-season love affair with the row crops.
Chad, who sells his hay to Gilmac Pty Ltd in York, said despite warnings from other farmers of the challenges of growing hay, he is pleased with his first year.
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 44F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
Where to eat and drink in the Fayetteville area this weekend
Clean Bandit have been announced as the recipients of the official Christmas Number One 2016, with their massive smash hit single Rockabye racking up 589,000 combined chart sales (across both downloads and streams) since its release.

Clean Bandit take home the accolade / Credit: OfficialCharts.com

Presented with their Christmas Number 1 Award, the group told OfficialCharts.com: To have been Number 1 for seven weeks is something amazing in its own right that we are all incredibly proud of, but to now be Christmas Number 1 is mind-blowing. Its something we never imagined would happen with Rockabye when we were writing and recording it. Thanks to everyone who has made this happen! We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and New Year!

Clean Bandit cellist Grace Chatto added: We did think about making a Christmas version but, there wasnt any need!

Guitarist and keyboard player Jack Patterson also said: Its weird actually, my mum has got this theory about the song, about Rockabye, baby [in the lyrics] being about Jesus, and that Jesus is the baby. Shes talking about this woman whos looking after the child on her own and saying its a bit like Mary  she had the Immaculate Conception  and Joseph is kind of there But not.

Ben Cook, President of Atlantic Records (the label on which Clean Bandit are signed), concluded: This is the most highly contested Number 1 chart position of the year and Id like to congratulate Jack, Grace and Luke on achieving this incredible milestone and an impressive seven weeks at Number 1.

Credit also goes to Anne-Marie and Sean Paul for amazing vocal performances and Id like to thank the wider Atlantic and Warner Music teams who have worked hard to deliver the track so well here and aboard.

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe / Credit: OfficialCharts.com

Meanwhile, its Michael Ball and Alfie Boe at the top of the charts with their new album Together, taking the official UK Christmas Number 1 album.

They told OfficialCharts.com: Its a dream come true. Theres only one thing better than having a Number 1 album and thats having a Christmas Number 1 album. A huge thanks to everyone who bought the album. Our hearts go out to you all for Christmas. We hope we entertain you with the album for Christmas and lots of love to everyone.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Antonio Banderas partied with Prince Charles in Scotland this week.

Prince Charles

The actor was among 50 guests who were invited to Charles's Dumfries House near Cumnock, to thank supporters of his charities, with the entire event covered by Spain's Hola! magazine, the Daily Mail reports.

Antonio's partner Nicole Kimpel, Spanish models Nieves Alvarez and Paloma Cuevas and Cuevas's bullfighter husband Enrique Ponce were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, earlier this week Prince Charles has spoken out against religious persecution and warned that rising intolerance risks repeating the "horrors" of the Holocaust.

Speaking during BBC Radio 4's religious Thought for the Day segment, he said: "We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world that are increasingly aggressive to those who adhere to a minority faith. All of this has deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s.

"My parents' generation fought and died in a battle against intolerance, monstrous extremism and inhuman attempts to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe.

"That nearly 70 years later we should still be seeing such evil persecution is to me beyond all belief. We owe it to those who suffered and died so horribly not to repeat the horrors of the past."

Prince Charles urged listeners to remember "how the story of the Nativity unfolds with the fleeing of the holy family to escape violent persecution".

He added: "We might also remember that when the prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, he did so because he too was seeking the freedom for himself and his followers to worship."
Bangladeshi investors are keen to invest in the apparel sector of Ethiopia as it has easily trainable workforce, great climate and facilities like electricity and good road networks, said Bangladeshi ambassador to Ethiopia. Textile and garment companies from the US, China, India and Sri Lanka are also eyeing the textile sector of the African nation.

Swedish government owned development financier Swedfund and the Bangladeshi conglomerate DBL Group are also establishing a textile factory in Mekelle, Ethiopia, which will provide job opportunities for 4,000 people. This facility is expected to start producing apparel by mid 2017, ambassador Monirul Islam told Ethiopian news agency.

Labour intensive textile and garment industry sector can empower women by offering them financial liberty, said Islam. He also said that as compared to the traditional jobs, which generate minimum income, women can benefit more if they get the opportunity to work in the apparel and textile sector.

Bangladeshi investors are keen to invest in the apparel sector of Ethiopia as it has easily trainable workforce, great climate and facilities like electricity and good road networks, said Bangladeshi ambassador to Ethiopia. Textile and garment companies from the US, China, India and Sri Lanka are also eyeing the textile sector of the African nation.#

Bangladeshs textile sector employs about 4 million people, 90 per cent of which are women. He said that women can lead good lives by working in the apparel sector and Ethiopia can learn from Bangladesh about how to empower women.

The ambassador also said that Ethiopia can draw lessons from Bangladeshs experience in the apparel sector as both countries were at the same level a few years ago and now Bangladesh has become the second biggest textile producer after China with exports touching $30 billion. He also assured Ethiopia that Bangladesh is willing to share its experience with the country.

An agreement has recently been signed by four parties, viz. the Enterprise Partners, a programme of UK's Department for International Development (DfID), Trade and Industry Bureau of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute (ETIDI), and the Tenants' Association to source, recruit and train 30,000 people in the textile and garment industry for the newly launched Hawassa Industrial Park in Ethiopia.

Around 15 textile and garment companies from the US, China, India, Sri Lanka and six local companies are setting up their operations in the park. Once fully operational, the industries within the park will create a total of 60,000 jobs in double shift. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The recent inclusion of made-ups in the Rs 6,000 crore apparel package is a boost for the Indian textile industry. This will help increase exports of made-ups sector which includes towels, and decorative cotton products etc. It will also generate employment in rural areas and the government has recognised this potential while announcing the measure.

The apparel package was announced by the government in June this year.

The extension of apparel package to made-ups is indeed a major step by the textile ministry and will help the Indian industry withstand global competition. This will re-energise the entire value-chain and help the industry function efficiently. It is also important to address the issues of FTAs. The inclusion of home textiles in the package will provide logistics that will help us compete globally. With a dynamic textile minister and proactive measures being taken by the government, this is an opportune time for the industry to take path-breaking initiatives, BK Goenka, chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) national committee on textiles and chairman, Welspun India Ltd, told Fibre2Fashion.

The inclusion of made-ups in the Rs 6,000 crore apparel package is a boost for the Indian textile industry. This will help increase exports of made-ups sector which includes towels, bed sheets, and decorative cotton products etc. It will also generate employment in rural areas and the government has recognised this potential while announcing the measure.#

The textile industry welcomes governments initiative to support the made-ups sector. This will help India achieve a triple of creating huge employment, earning forex and creating traction for fabric and yarn sectors. The maximum sourcing for made-ups sector will also help in the implementation of Make in India plan of our prime minister Narendra Modi, said Binoy Job, secretary general, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).

Welcoming the initiative by the government, Siddhartha Rajagopal, executive director of The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) said, This is a good initiative by the government. The rebate of state levies on made-ups is a huge benefit. It is relief to the exporters of home textiles. This step will also promote the production of fabrics in the country, which will also boost employment. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
A visiting investors delegation from Shenzhen province in China have expressed interest in the Pakistani textile industry and have also shown a desire to purchase and also sell raw materials and finished textile products. The delegation made up of various Chinese companies urged promoting partnership and joint ventures with textile companies in Pakistan.Each of the sides gave presentations on their businesses and in the process identified areas of cooperation in import and export of textile products and raw material.

A visiting investors delegation from Shenzhen province in China have expressed interest in the Pakistani textile industry and have also shown a desire to purchase and also sell raw materials and finished textile products. The delegation made up of various Chinese companies urged promoting partnership and joint ventures with textile companies in Pakistan.#

Deputy director in the China Department of Commerce Zhang Shaoyun said that after doing due diligence, both countries would seek opportunities in partnerships or joint ventures, particularly in the textile sector. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Centric Software, the leading product lifecycle management (PLM) solution for fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods companies, has announced that Manzi, a well-known Chinese maker of pantyhose, socks, stockings, and associated products, has selected Centric PLM solution, and will be Centrics twentieth Chinese customer.With an annual sales volume of over $100 million, Manzis growth prompted a search for a PLM solution to rationalise product design, production, and sales.

Centric Software, the leading product lifecycle management (PLM) solution for fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods companies, has announced that Manzi, a well-known Chinese maker of pantyhose, socks, stockings, and associated products, has selected Centric PLM solution, and will be Centric's twentieth Chinese customer.#

Wangtintin, Manzi CEO said, We realised that we needed to invest in a product lifecycle management solution and began an intensive search for a PLM provider in September 2015. We examined several of the large PLM providers, but ultimately we were impressed by Centric teams knowledge and enthusiasm. After a year of searching, we feel that our PLM development is in the right hands. The Centric team provided a very in-depth demonstration of their solution. We have examined Centric PLM in great detail and we are confident that Centric can fulfil a smooth implementation and get our PLM system up and running in good time.Chris Groves, president and CEO of Centric said, We would like to welcome Manzi on board as our twentieth customer in China. We look forward to partnering with Manzi to enable users to design in greater detail, gain more control over production and ensure quality products going to market. We are proud to include them in the Centric family. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTERS 2016 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE





May the joy and peace of the Christmas season be with every Fijian. I wish you all a blessed and safe Christmas.

As Christians come together all across our nation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, my wife, Mary, and I are pleased to wish every Fijian a very happy Christmas.For Christians, Jesuss humble birth is a reminder that all human beings have equal value, and that no one is limited by the condition of his birth. And the Christmas season is a time for joy, reflection and expressing our love for one another.Jesus called on the people of the world to serve our fellow human beings  a lesson of special importance this Christmas season, as there are many who have been displaced and are suffering in the aftermath of the recent Tropical Depression. My Government is doing all that it can to assist those in need, and I ask those fortunate enough to be spared to join hands with Government to help our fellow Fijians. Together, we can overcome this challenge, emerge stronger and truly live out the Christmas spirit of love and kindness that Jesus sought to inspire in his life.Fijians of all faiths can share in that spirit of Christmas because the teachings of Jesus are universal. He asked us to us to love our neighbour, to forgive and seek forgiveness, to uphold justice, to show compassion, and to value the spiritual over the material. Those are values that Fijians of all faiths can embrace. And it is in that spirit that I encourage all Fijians to make this Christmas a national celebration of unity by working side by side to assist those who need it most.We have experienced great loss and great exhilaration this year -- the loss and suffering visited upon us by Tropical Cyclone Winston and the joy and pride we felt in the triumph of our Rugby Sevens team at the Olympics. We were united through adversity and triumph. As Christians believe that Jesus Christ overcame death to offer mankind eternal life, let us have faith in ourselves as a people, because we Fijians have shown that we can triumph over any adversity, meet any challenge, and chart the most ambitious course for our future.This Christmas, let us renew the spirit of hope, courage and compassion that brought us to where we stand today. Let us care for those who are less fortunate, let us protect those who are vulnerable, let us love and understand each other, and let us always uphold the high moral character that defines us as a people. And finally, let us always remember the lesson of Jesuss humble birththat greatness is defined by the value of our deeds, the strength of our character and the courage to always to do what is right.As I have every year, I also ask that we all keep our men and women serving the nation in our thoughts and prayers, especially those who cannot spend Christmas here at home. To our civilian volunteers, police and UN Peacekeepers: you represent the best of our nation, and we are all extremely grateful for your service and your sacrifice.
We had earlier reported that the cast of the show Beyhadh would be shooting in Mauritius for a romantic track. A week ago, the team was in Mauritius and they are now back. The shooting schedule was barely for 2-3 days and going by the pictures it looks like the team had a lot of fun.

The lead actors Kushal Tandon, Aneri Vajani and Jennifer Winget had shared some of the pictures from their Mauritius shoot on their social networking accounts. Right from the shooting to enjoying the scenic beauty of Mauritius, the team had a gala time. Have a look...

Kushal Tandon Kushal Tandon, who plays the role of Arjun on the show, shared a few pictures from Mauritius shoot on his social networking account. He posted this picture and wrote, "No monkey business #mauritiusisland #pullupurselftogether." Kushal Kushal shared another picture, in which he was seen getting a massage. He wrote, "A well deserved massage with a view.....#bliss#mauritiusisland." Kushal Relaxing Kushal was seen relaxing after a shoot. He shared this picture and wrote, "My kinda night ..... #beach#moon#peace#unwinding with a sound of wave." Jennifer Winget As Maya Sharing a picture Jennifer, who plays the role of Maya on the show, wrote, "kickstarting my Mauritius schedule ... love being back here! #workmodeon #shootlife." Jennifer Jennifer shared another picture, and wrote, "Flip flops  Sun hat  Beach bag Sunscreen  Swimmer Now...Take me to my beach!!! #onlocation #Mauritius." Kushal With Beyhadh Team Kushal also posted a picture snapped with his production team. He wrote, "Team Beyhadh ..... From producers to channel on location or say on vacation." Kushal & Aneri He shared a picture snapped with Aneri and wrote, "Shhhhh and it's a pack up ... #mauritius schedule ... Who is bigger .. You or me .... @vajanianeri ." Pack Up! Kushal also posted another picture snapped with his team after, wrapping up the Mauritius shoot. He wrote, "Pack up #mauritius #schedule killer it was #beyhadh." Perfect Sunset! Post pack up, Jennifer posted a picture and wrote, "Swallowing the sun. #beyhadh 's Mauritius leg wraps up with this perfect sunset. #itsawrap." Aneri With Kushal Aneri Vajani, who plays the role of Saanjh on the show, wrote, "And its a Wrap to our crazy Mauritius schedule ! Twining wid My Favourite! #Beyhadh #MeraDuffer #BeachLove #." Aneri Aneri shared another picture and wrote, "Log Creative ke Sar pe Nachte hain ,Main back pe nach ti hu! #Mauritius #Crazytime #beyhadh." Aneri In Mauritius Jennifer shared this picture and wrote, "Wid the Mad Parsi Bawi! She is sucha a sweetheart! #Mauritius#Sahara #Bawi."

Story So Far...

If you have noticed, Maya is seen wearing white, throughout the show. Arjun, who is now closer to Maya, wants to fill colour in her life. He even tries to add colour to her life, but Maya gets angry as she recalls her past. Ashwin used to torture her by using colours and it was one of the reasons why she hate colours.

Upon her mother Jhanvi's advice, Maya decides to tell Ashwin's truth to Arjun. It has to be seen, whether she will be able to tell the truth to him or not!

On the other hand, Arjun wants to know the truth behind Maya's colourless life.

Meanwhile, Ashwin is angry at Arjun as he is trying to fill colours in Maya's life. He gets information about Arjun and his family from his aide.

On the other hand, Arjun and Saanjh argue over Maya! Arjun feels guilty about misunderstanding Saanjh and decides to apologise to her. He gets a red dress. Arjun's brother Ayan misunderstands that the dress was for Saanjh and informs her!

When Saanjh asks Arjun about the dress, Arjun scolds Ayan for misguiding her. He reveals to him that the dress was for Maya and not Saanjh. On hearing this, Saanjh is disappointed.

Will Maya wear the red dress? What is that she wants to tell to Arjun about Ashwin? Will she be able to tell Arjun, before Ashwin causes any harm?

Stay locked to this space for the latest updates of the show...
Continuing Ontex's Transformation Journey

Regulatory News:

Ontex Group NV (Euronext Brussels: ONTEX) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the personal hygiene business of Hypermarcas S.A. (hereafter "HM personal hygiene") for an enterprise value of R$1 billion (286 million1

The acquisition of HM personal hygiene supports the Ontex strategy by extending our market position in the Americas to Brazil, increasing sales from Ontex-owned brands, and accessing a fast growing market for adult incontinence.

Over the past twelve months, HM personal hygiene has generated revenue2 of approximately R$1.2 billion (343 million1) in the growing babycare and adult incontinence categories in Brazil, with a portfolio of strong local brands including:

Babycare PomPom a premium offering with nearly 50 years of heritage Cremer a strong offering in the intermediate segment Sapeka a regional leader in the value segment

Adult Incontinence BigFral the market reference in adult incontinence AdultMax entry proposition to the category



HM personal hygiene is the market leader in the adult incontinence category and holds a solid number 3 position in Babycare in Brazil, the 4th largest hygiene market in the world. HM personal hygiene has outperformed the market since 2012.

Ontex CEO Charles Bouaziz commented: "We are very excited to welcome HM personal hygiene into the Ontex community. This business has achieved leading market positions in the babycare and adult incontinence categories, built on attractive brands which respond to consumer needs, and strong sales execution. Following the successful integration of Grupo Mabe in Mexico, adding this business to our Americas Retail Division will give us strong positions in 2 of the top 5 personal hygiene markets in the world. This is another major step forward for Ontex, confirming that our development into a leading international consumer company is fully on track."

Note 1: Ontex's payment obligations are denominated in Brazilian Reais. All amounts in this press release are computed at EUR/BRL rate of 3.5.

Note 2: Last twelve months revenue is pro forma revenue of Hypermarcas' personal hygiene business for the period October 2015 to September 2016 and according to Brazilian GAAP.

Financials and timetable

The contribution from HM personal hygiene, including synergies, is expected to result in double digit EPS accretion and a return on capital employed exceeding Ontex's cost of capital in the first year of ownership. After cost synergies, we anticipate modest growth in adjusted EBITDA margins for the enlarged Ontex Group in 2017.

We have full support from our lending banks for debt facilities to fund the acquisition. At completion we would expect net debt/last twelve months (LTM) Adjusted EBITDA to be in a range of 3.2x to 3.4x, within our stated leverage range for a strategic acquisition. We also expect continued cash generation to result in net debt/LTM Adjusted EBITDA of around 3.0x by the end of 2017. We will continue to actively manage the balance sheet to maintain an efficient, flexible and resilient capital structure.

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of customary conditions as well as certain transaction-specific conditions including completion of the carve-out of HM personal hygiene from Hypermarcas S.A. and related governmental approvals and confirmations, and is currently expected to take place in the first quarter of 2017.

Conference Call

Management will host a presentation for investors and analysts on December 23, 2016 at 8:00am GMT/9:00am CET. A copy of the presentation slides will be available at http://www.ontexglobal.com/.

If you would like to participate in the conference call, please dial-in 5 to 10 minutes prior using the details below:

United Kingdom +44 (0)330 336 9105 United States +1 719 457 2086 Belgium +32 (0)2 404 0659 France +33 (0)1 76 77 22 74 Germany +49 (0)69 2222 13420 Passcode: 4678303

A replay of the call will be available for 14 days from December 23, 2016 at:

United Kingdom +44 (0) 207 660 0134 United States +1 719 457 0820 Belgium +32 (0) 2 620 0568 France +33 (0) 1 70 48 00 94 Germany +49 (0) 69 2000 1800 Passcode: 4678303

About Hypermarcas

Founded in 2001, Hypermarcas is Brazil's national champion in pharmaceutical products. The company has 14% market share in units, ranking #1 in the market. It competes in all relevant segments of the sector, with leadership positioning in several of them.

For more information on Hypermarcas, please visit www.hypermarcas.com.br.

About Ontex

Ontex is a leading producer of personal hygiene products, ranging from baby diapers to products for feminine hygiene and adult incontinence. Ontex's products are distributed in more than 110 countries through Ontex brands as well as leading retailer brands.

The group employs over 8,000 staff and has a presence in 25 countries. Ontex is listed on NYSE Euronext Brussels and is part of the Bel20 and STOXX Europe 600.

DISCLAIMER

This press release includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements regarding or based upon our management's current intentions, beliefs or expectations relating to, among other things, Ontex's and the HM's personal hygiene business future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies or developments in the industry in which we operate. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied thereby. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding trends or current activities should not be taken as a report that such trends or activities will continue in the future. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

The information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice. No re-report or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of the information contained herein and no reliance should be placed on it.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161222005844/en/

Contacts:

INVESTOR ENQUIRIES:

Philip Ludwig, +32 53 333 730

philip.ludwig@ontexglobal.com

or

PRESS ENQUIRIES

Gaelle Vilatte, +32 53 333 708

gaelle.vilatte@ontexglobal.com
SOLNA, Sweden, Dec 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

NCC has signed a partnering agreement with BillerudKorsnas regarding the expansion of production facilities for the Next Generation project at Gruvon Mill in the Municipality of Grums, Sweden.

"This is our largest investment ever and our goal is to build the most modern production facility in the world for the production of liquid packaging board, cartonboard, food service board and white kraftliner. We have now found a strong partner to cooperate with for the construction aspects of the project," says Ulf Eliasson, project owner and Senior Vice President of BillerudKorsnas AB.

The assignment is its entirety comprises earth, foundation and concreting works for the new production facility. The works are estimated to cost approximately SEK 950 million.

"We are pleased and proud to be entrusted with carrying out this project and that BillerudKorsnas wanted to sign a partnering agreement at an early stage. With our broad experience from similar projects and strong project organization, we will jointly and efficiently implement the project," says Svante Hagman, Business Area Manager of NCC Infrastructure.

The assignment will be registered on a continuous basis in 2017, with the majority recognized in the first quarter of 2017 in the Infrastructure business area.

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

Maria Zimdahl,

Deputy Head of Division,

NCC Infrastructure,

+46 (0)70589 09 33

Anna Trane,

Head of Corporate Media Relations,

NCC,

+46 70 884 74 69

NCC's media line +46 8 585 519 00 or press@ncc.se

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/ncc/r/ncc-signs-agreement-with-billerudkorsnas,c2156354

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VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, December 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

In Future Market Insights' market report titled, "Automotive Aftermarket: ASEAN Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026", poor road infrastructure and extended vehicle life have been identified as profitable factors for the growth of the automotive aftermarket in ASEAN. On account of growing out-of-warranty car parc, the US$ 19.3 Bn ASEAN automotive aftermarket is predicted to surpass US$ 48 Bn in revenues by 2026 end, increasing at a healthy CAGR of 9.6% through 2026.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO )

Key Trends Impacting the ASEAN Automotive Aftermarket

Growing popularity of new, lightweight vehicle models

Advances in OEM technology and OEM globalisation

Adoption of remote vehicle diagnostic systems, growing awareness about self-inflating tyres, and widespread acceptance of electric vehicle technology

Online sales of automotive parts and accessories

Establishment of franchises in emerging countries, especially those where vehicle parc is steadily gaining traction

Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-as-661

Segmentation Highlights: Tyres Will Remain Highest Selling Parts; Indonesia to Remain the Largest Market

By type, tyres will continue to account for the largest revenue share. In the accessories segment, the interior accessories segment - which includes steering wheels, seat covers, seat belts, liners, floor mats, liners, gauges, dash boards, and shift knobs - will reportedly hold a major share of over 66%, crossing a value of US$ 9.0 Bn by 2026 end.

By service, general automotive repair is estimated at over 86% value share during the forecast period, maintaining dominance over automotive transmission repairs. By vehicle type, passenger cars will continue to attract higher revenues compared to commercial vehicles. Indonesia will remain the largest market accounting for 35% revenue share of the market in 2026. Thailand and Malaysia, the other key markets will collectively account for over 50% revenue share of the market.

Preview Analysis on ASEAN Automotive Aftermarket Segmentation By Category - Parts (Tires, Batteries, Filters, Starters & Alternators, Lighting, Exhaust Components, Spark Plugs, Lubricants, Collision Body, Wear and Tear Parts), Accessories (Interior, Exterior) and Services (General Automotive Repair, Automotive Transmission and Others); By Vehicle Type - Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicle: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/asean-automotive-aftermarket

Fundamental Shift in Consumer Preference and Driver's Choice Will Impact the Market

With driverless car technology and dashboard pyro techniques steadily gaining traction, consumers are likely to have more aftermarket channels to shop. Consumer behaviour is expected to shift from a conventional way of buying vehicle parts, accessing repair services, and selecting accessories. Moreover, evolving driver preferences also reflect a new set of revenue generation opportunities for automakers, auto part suppliers, repair shops, and accessory retailers. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the latest launched products and thus, will access a plethora of aftermarket product offerings to cater to their comfort, aesthetics, and infotainment-related requirements.

Speak with Analyst for any Report Related Quires: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-as-661

Key Players Focussing on Boosting Expansion Capacity

The key players highlighted in the ASEAN automotive aftermarket include Denso Corporation, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Continental AG, Delphi Automotive PLC, ACDelco, Faurecia SA, Magneti Marelli SpA, Robert Bosch GmbH, Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., and Bridgestone Corporation. Bridgestone, one of the top companies, announced expansion of its international manufacturing capabilities in Germany this year. Post-acquisition of Speedy France, the company also launched a new manufacturing plant based in Indonesia. Continental AG also opened its new production plants in India and China this year.

More From FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence:

Automotive Pumps Market Segmentation By Pump Type - Fuel Supply Pump, Fuel Injection Pump, Transmission Oil Pump, Engine Oil Pump, Steering Pump, Coolant Pump, Windshield Washer Pump, Vacuum Pump; By Vehicle Type - Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Vehicles; By Sales Channel - OEM, Aftermarket: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automotive-pumps-market

Segmentation By Pump Type - Fuel Supply Pump, Fuel Injection Pump, Transmission Oil Pump, Engine Oil Pump, Steering Pump, Coolant Pump, Windshield Washer Pump, Vacuum Pump; By Vehicle Type - Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Vehicles; By Sales Channel - OEM, Aftermarket: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automotive-pumps-market Automotive Lead Acid Battery Market Segmentation By Vehicle Type - Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles; By Sales Channel - OEM and Aftermarket; By Battery Type - Flooded, Enhanced Flooded and AGM: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automotive-lead-acid-battery-market

Segmentation By Vehicle Type - Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles; By Sales Channel - OEM and Aftermarket; By Battery Type - Flooded, Enhanced Flooded and AGM: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automotive-lead-acid-battery-market Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Market Segmentation By Drive Type - AC, DC, Servo; By Voltage Range - Low, Medium; By Application Type - Standard, Regenerative; End-Use Application - Pump, Fan, Compressor, Conveyor, HVAC; By End-Use Industry - Oil And Gas, Food Processing, Automotive, Mining and Metals, Pulp and Papers: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-variable-frequency-drives-market

About Us

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends.

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Regulatory News:

In accordance with the European Commission's decision to require Plastic Omnium (Paris:POM) to divest certain assets included in the recent acquisition of Faurecia Auto Exterior, the Group received a binding offer from US-Based Flex|N|Gate Group to acquire the 7 affected sites (4 in France, 1 in Spain and 2 in Germany), for an enterprise value of 200 million euros. On the basis of such offer, the Group has agreed to enter into exclusive discussions with Flex|N|Gate.

On July 11, 2016, Plastic Omnium was authorized to acquire Faurecia's Exterior Systems business subject to the disposal of certain assets. These assets represent approximately 700 million in revenue, split evenly between (1) the French and Spanish sites for the bumper business, and (2) the front-end module assembly business in Germany.

Plastic Omnium, ranked as the 29th largest supplier in the world after the acquisition of Faurecia Auto Exterior, committed to selecting a purchaser with the capability and expertise to acquire and continue the business, including its roughly 2,000 affected employees.

Flex|N|Gate was ranked in 2015 by Automotive News as the 10th-largest original equipment supplier in North America and the 38th largest supplier in the world. Flex|N|Gate employs more than 18,000 people at 55 manufacturing facilities and nine product development and engineering facilities throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, China, Japan, Brazil and Spain. Flex|N|Gate's major product lines include complete bumper assemblies, mechanical assemblies, exterior plastic trim, aluminum and steel modular stamped body-in-white and chassis assemblies, and complex welded structural assemblies for the light vehicle market. Flex|N|Gate is the number 2 in North America in the production of bumpers.

This proposed transaction must undergo the procedures relating to the staff representation bodies in the countries concerned, and then must obtain the authorizations from the European Commission and the competent competition authorities. It should be finalized during 2017.

Plastic Omnium is the world leader in automotive exterior components and modules, automotive fuel systems, and waste container solutions for local authorities and companies. The Group has 32,000 employees across 130 plants, 23 R&D centers and 31 countries worldwide. Plastic Omnium is listed on Euronext Paris, compartment A. It is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD) and is part of the SBF 120 and CAC Mid 60 indices (ISIN code: FR0000124570).

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161222005859/en/

Contacts:

Plastic Omnium

Financial Information

Tel.: +33 (0)1 40 87 66 78

Fax: +33 (0)1 40 87 96 62

investor.relations@plasticomnium.com
To:RNS

Date:23 December 2016

From: F&C Commercial Property Trust Limited



Disposal of Property

The Board announces that, on 22 December 2016,the Company completed the sale of its Freehold interest in 25 Great Pulteney Street, London W1 for 54.4 million, reflecting a net initial yield of 3.95 per cent. The propertycomprises a seven-storey building providing high quality, contemporary, Grade A office accommodation and is fully let to four tenants.The sale price compares to the valuation as at 30 September 2016 of 51.2 million.

25 Great Pulteney Street is a property that the Company fully redeveloped, completing in 2011. It was subsequently leased at high rents reflecting the quality of the building. The most recent re- letting achieved a rent of 96.50psf. The disposal crystallises substantial value for the Company, reduces its exposure to Central London and allows capital to be deployed into other opportunities.





All enquiries to:



The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St. Peter Port

Guernsey GY1 3QL

Tel: 01481 745324

Fax: 01481 745051



Richard Kirby

BMO REP Asset Management plc

Tel: 020 7499 2244



Graeme Caton

Winterflood Securities Limited

Tel: 020 3100 0268






OSLO, Norway, Dec 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Axactor AB has received a request to call for an extraordinary general meeting ("EGM") from the following shareholders who together represent more than 10 % of the shares in the company: Banca Sistema S.P.A, Diradi S.r.l, Vardfjell AS, Gvepseborg AS, Latino Invest AS, Fryden AS, Alpette AS, Andres Lopez Sanchez, David Martin Ibeas and Stefano Inguscio.

The EGM will be conducted on 20 January 2017, at. 1100 CET, at MAQS Advokatbyra Stockholm, Master Samuelsgatan 20, Stockholm, Sweden. Registration starts at 1030 CET. An English office translation of the Swedish original notice of meeting is attached. On the agenda is election of board of directors and election committee

Registration

Those who wish to participate at the EGM must,

-be recorded as shareholders in the Euroclear Sweden

AB share register 13 January 2017, and

-notify their intention to participate to the Company at any time before 1600 (CET) on 16 January 2017.

Notice of participation shall be made by email to: mark.kristoffersson@maqs.com or by regular mail to Axactor AB (publ), Extra Bolagsstamma 2017, c/o MAQS Advokatbyra, Box 7009, 103 86 Stockholm, or by telefax +46 8 407 09 10.

When giving notice of attendance, please include the shareholder's name, personal or corporate identity number, address, mobile phone number, number of shares, and possible assistant that will attend (maximum two assistants).

Shareholding in the name of a nominee

If your shares are so called "nominee-registered shares" you must in order to be entitled to participate at the EGM ask the trustee to temporarily register the shares in your own names, so that your shares are officially registered in the Euroclear Sweden AB share register as per 13 January 2017. Such registration may be temporary.

Shareholding registered in the Norwegian VPS system

Please note that shareholders who are registered in the Norwegian VPS system must in order to be entitled to participate at the EGM request a temporary entry as shareholders in the Euroclear Sweden AB share register. Shareholders who wish to participate at the EGM (by proxy or personally) must notify DNB about this by sending email to vote@dnb.no later than noon. 12:00 (CET) on 10 January 2017 (or by postal mail to DNB Verdipapirservice, PO Box 1600 Sentrum, 0021 Oslo) so that DNB can ensure an entry is made in the Euroclear Sweden AB share register at 13 January 2017 when such registration must be executed. After the EGM, DNB will procure that your shares are re-registered in the VPS system (Norwegian Central Securities Depository).

Attached is a proxy form that can be used by the shareholders who would like to vote at the EGM by appointing a proxy/attorney-in-fact.

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/axactor-ab/r/extraordinary-general-meeting-of-axactor-ab--publ-,c2156454

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Real World Evidence of PU Reduction Using Early-Detection Technology - An Attack on the UK's 2.1bn Health Problem

MANCHESTER,England and LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Using technology adapted from NASA's Mars lander as part of a large-scale bedsore reduction program, over half of the 13 participating hospitals were able to eliminate the occurrence of new bedsores completely; an additional 3 hospitals achieved reductions ranging from 11% to 90%.

Nurses dramatically cut bedsore occurrence by detecting damage developing under patients' skin early enough to intervene and reverse the damage. This marks a breakthrough in prevention of the chronic condition costing the UK 2.1bn annually, which claimed the life of Superman actor Christopher Reeve.

Bruin Biometrics ("BBI LLC"), which manufactures the early detection technology known as the SEM Scanner, enlisted 13 hospitals (including 10 NHS England Trusts) to participate in a novel Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program (PURP) incorporating SEM Scanner into existing care pathways for pressure ulcer prevention.

The findings from over 1200 patients scanned are the most comprehensive real-world evidence that this early detection technology enables nurses to prevent bedsores before they break through the skin, a conclusion that upends the prevailing view that bedsores cannot be diagnosed and treated until they have caused visible and irreversible damage to the skin's surface.

"These data challenge existing practice that looks for visual changes to skin to initiate bedsore intervention," BBI CEO Martin Burns said. "Scientific findings show that by the time damage is visible, it is far too late. Early detection changed the prognosis for millions of cancer survivors. A proactive approach to 'Act Before Red' is consistently doing the same for bedsores, on a large scale, across independent sites."

"We reduced pressure ulcers in the ward concerned to zero during our Scanner trial - an achievement that, if we rolled out across our hospital, we estimate could save our hospital nearly 600,000 and release 1,420 hours of nurse productivity annually," said Glenn Smith, a tissue viability and nutrition senior clinical nurse specialist/patient safety lead at St. Mary's Hospital, part of the NHS Trust on the Isle of Wight, which has a large elderly population at risk for bedsores due to immobility.

"In our pilot program, which included over 200 patients, we reduced bedsore incidence by 90%," said Rose Raizman, nurse practitioner, enterostomal therapist and pressure ulcer prevention at Scarborough and Rouge Hospital in Ontario, Canada. "SEM Scanner allows the clinician to 'visualise pathology' below the skin level before it becomes apparent at the surface, and should be used as the standard of care for pressure ulcer prevention."

"The vast majority of nurses participating in our Scanner program said the device provided valuable clinical information," added Parker Moss, chief technology and transformation officer at Virgin Care, which experienced a 95 percent drop in the bedsore rate during an evaluation of the device at Farnham Community Hospital in Surrey, where it provides services to the NHS.

SEM Scanner is a wireless non-invasive handheld device that assesses sub-epidermal moisture, or SEM, an indicator of early-stage damage beneath the skin surface as much as 10 days earlier than visual inspection by nurses.

SEM Scanner was conceived by Barbara Bates-Jensen, a wound care expert and professor at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and adapted from seismology technology used on NASA's Mars landing craft to interrogate beneath the planet's surface. Professor Bates-Jensen, Dr. Majid Sarrafzadeh, and Dr. William J. Kaiser, co-director of the UCLA Wireless Health Institute and a former engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratories, partnered with BBI to adapt the space technology into the SEM Scanner.

Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are chronic wounds to the skin and tissue that often develop in patients who are immobile.

Bedsores commonly lead to infection and death. In fact, bedsores kill more people annually than any form of cancer except lung cancer. There are nearly 500,000 bedsore cases annually in the UK.

Until now, diagnosis has relied on visual inspection by nurses, which is subjective and which can only identify bedsores once visible damage to the skin has already begun. With early-detection, experts believe that over 80% of early-stage pressure ulcers can be prevented.

"We've borrowed NASA's concept of 'Seeing the Unseen' to develop the first clinically-proven method for detecting unseen bedsores and alerting healthcare practitioners in real time when they begin to form under the skin," said Rachael Lester, BBI VP of Product. "With early detection, clinicians can initiate treatment before chronic damage develops. More and more clinicians are using the SEM Scanner and finding that they can overcome avoidable PUs, proving that ZERO is no longer Mission: Impossible."

Real-world evaluation data presented by St. Mary's Hospital (Improved Patient Safety with Use of the SEM Scanner) and Virgin Care (Chasing Zero. Results from a New Pressure Ulcer Prevention Bundle) at the Wounds UK annual conference November 14-16 in Harrogate and are now being released publicly for the first time.

About Bedsores

Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are a common medical problem that can lead to pain, disfigurement, infection and death. Pressure ulcers are an areaof localized damage to the skin and underlying tissue - usually around an area of bony prominence, such as the sacrum, coccyx, heels, and hips - that results from pressure involving shear and/or friction. Across Europe and the United States, it is estimated that 18%-25% of patients in both acute care and long-term care settings suffer from pressure ulcers, disproportionately impacting the elderly and patients with limited mobility. There are some 2.5 million pressure ulcer cases annually in the European Union, and nearly 500,000 in the United Kingdom, which spends 2.1bn, or 4% of the NHS budget, on the condition. In the U.S., some 2.5 million Americans develop pressure ulcers annually in acute care facilities, and 60,000 Americans die annually from pressure ulcer complications such as cancer, sepsis, cellulitis, and MRSA.

About BBI

Bruin Biometrics LLC, a pioneer in biometric-sensor based medical devices, is committed to the development of point-of-care diagnostic solutions for early detection and monitoring of chronic, preventable conditions. The company's first product is the SEM Scanner, a hand-held non-invasive device that assesses sub-epidermal moisture, a biomarker which has been found to detect early-stage pressure ulcers as much as 10 days earlier than visual observation. Pressure ulcers affect approximately 25% of acute care hospital and long-term care patients - typically the elderly and immobile. SEM Scanner is CE Mark approved and is currently in full commercial launch in the EU and Canada. SEM Scanner is not currently for sale in the United States.

BBI is also developing OrthoSonos, a non-invasive device for real-time orthopaedic joint monitoring and assessment of prosthetic implant failure; and P02M, the first device for monitoring tissue oxygenation at a specific location in real time. P02M is initially being tested for continual monitoring of tissue and vascular viability in the feet of diabetics. Diabetes can cause peripheral artery disease and peripheral neuropathy, putting patients at risk for foot ulcers.

BBI is based in Los Angeles and maintains a European office in Manchester, UK.

For additional information, visit www.bruinbiometrics.com. Follow BBI on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bruinbiometrics.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 23, 2016 Extended Stock Exchange Notice: EMAS Offshore Limited

1. INTRODUCTION

The Board of Directors (the "Board") of EMAS Offshore Limited (the "Company" or "EOCL", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") refers to the announcements released by the Company dated 4 October 2016, 11 October 2016, 13 October 2016, 19 October 2016, 28 October 2016 and 18 November 2016 in relation to, among others, the acquisition of shares in SJR Marine (L) Ltd ("SJR") from Perisai Petroleum Teknologi Berhad ("PPTB", and the initial acquisition of shares in SJR, the "Initial Acquisition"). Reference is further made to the announcements released by the Company dated 25 November and 1 December 2016 in relation to the extension of the put option (the "Put Option") held by PPTB to sell to the Company all of its remaining 51.0% equity interest in SJR (the "Put Option Shares"), and to the announcement released by the Company dated 8 December 2016 in relation to, amongst others, the Company's termination of the Put Option.

2. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

By a share sale agreement dated 30 November 2012 (the "Principal Agreement"), PPTB had inter alia agreed to dispose and the Company had inter alia agreed to acquire 50% of the equity interest in SJR upon the terms and conditions contained therein. An extended stock exchange announcement was released to the market upon signing of the Principal Agreement. As announced by the Company on 28 March 2013, the parties later agreed to reduce the said equity stake from 50% to 49%.

The Company and PPTB entered into supplemental agreements on 5 December 2012, 28 March 2013 and 28 June 2013, to vary the terms of the Principal Agreement (the Principal Agreement and such supplemental agreements collectively referred to as the "SSA"). The sale of the said 49% equity stake was completed on 26 December 2013.

As announced by the Company on 3 October 2016, the Company and PPTB were in discussions and working towards resolving various issues amongst themselves, including in relation to the Put Option. On 1 December 2016, the Company announced that it had reached an interim agreement with PPTB to defer the exercise of the Put Option to after close of business on 8 December 2016.

Despite efforts made by the parties, the Company and PPTB had yet to fully resolve the various issues amongst themselves. As announced by the Company on 8 December 2016, the Company on the same date issued a notification of termination of the SSA. On 8 December 2016, PPTB issued a letter to EOCL disputing the issuance of the termination notice and further issued a put option notice to EOCL seeking to exercise its Put Option rights, requiring EOCL to acquire the Put Option Shares. EOCL disputed PPTB's exercise of its Put Option rights.

Accordingly, the parties had actual and potential disputes, differences, claims and counterclaims against each other arising from or in connection with the SSA and/or the Put Option rights (the "Disputes").

On 23 December 2016, the Company and PPTB entered into a settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") to achieve a full and final settlement of the Disputes. The Settlement Agreement inter alia includes the following main terms:

At the Completion Date (as defined below) PPTB shall sell, and EOCL shall purchase, the Put Option Shares, and against delivery of the Put Option Shares EOCL shall pay part of the Consideration (as defined below) amounting to an aggregate amount of US$20,000,000 in cash to PPTB ("Completion").





in cash to PPTB ("Completion"). Subject to Completion, the total consideration ("Consideration") for the Put Option Shares shall be US$43,031,406.55 and the accrued Deferred Payment Interest (as defined below).





and the accrued Deferred Payment Interest (as defined below). The completion date (the "Completion Date") shall be the next business day, or any other business day as the parties may agree, following fulfilment (or waiver) of the last Condition Precedent (as defined below), which shall be within a period of up to four months from the date of the Settlement Agreement, or at the request of each party and with the consent of the other party at its absolute discretion, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, further extension of a period of one month per request, subject always to a maximum of four months in aggregate of extension (the "Long Stop Period"). Where PPTB requires any further extensions beyond the four months extended period, such further extensions may be granted with the consent of EOCL (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld in the case where such further extension is being sought to dismiss an appeal envisaged in the scenario of the Scheme (as defined below)).





Completion is inter alia conditional upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent within the Long Stop Period by PPTB and/or EOCL (as the case may be) (the "Conditions Precedent"):





PPTB shall provide EOCL with evidence that PPTB has obtained the approval of its board of directors and shareholders inter alia in respect of the sale of the Put Option Shares to EOCL.





PPTB shall provide EOCL with evidence of the binding agreement of its noteholders and financial lenders in respect of the restructuring of the S$125 million 6.875% Notes due 2016 issued by Perisai Capital (L) Ltd (the "Bond Restructuring"), and the restructuring of any outstanding indebtedness it owes to any such financial lenders or, in the alternative to any such approval or agreement, if a creditors' scheme of arrangement is required in relation to PPTB, PPTB shall provide EOCL with evidence that PPTB has obtained an order granted by the High Court of Malaya sanctioning a creditors' scheme of arrangement for the Bond Restructuring, or the restructuring of any outstanding indebtedness owed to any of its financial lenders ("Scheme").





6.875% Notes due 2016 issued by Perisai Capital (L) Ltd (the "Bond Restructuring"), and the restructuring of any outstanding indebtedness it owes to any such financial lenders or, in the alternative to any such approval or agreement, if a creditors' scheme of arrangement is required in relation to PPTB, PPTB shall provide EOCL with evidence that PPTB has obtained an order granted by the High Court of Malaya sanctioning a creditors' scheme of arrangement for the Bond Restructuring, or the restructuring of any outstanding indebtedness owed to any of its financial lenders ("Scheme"). EOCL shall provide PPTB with evidence that EOCL has obtained a US$20,000,000 secured term loan facility from an existing bank lender ("Existing Bank Lender") for the purpose of part financing and purchase of the Put Option Shares and a US$1,500,000 secured term loan facility from the Existing Bank Lender for the purpose of working capital (" US$21.5M EOCL Loan"), to be secured by way of a first ranking charge ("First Ranking Share Charge") over EOCL's interest in all of issued share capital of the shares of SJR.





secured term loan facility from an existing bank lender ("Existing Bank Lender") for the purpose of part financing and purchase of the Put Option Shares and a secured term loan facility from the Existing Bank Lender for the purpose of working capital (" EOCL Loan"), to be secured by way of a first ranking charge ("First Ranking Share Charge") over EOCL's interest in all of issued share capital of the shares of SJR. PPTB shall inter alia provide EOCL with a duly executed deed of waiver and subordination in relation to (i) the waiver of a US$13,815,579.71 shareholder's loan (the "PPTB Shareholder's Loan") with respect to an aggregate value of US$8,449,230.17 (the "PPTB Partial Shareholder's Loan"), unless PPTB elects to capitalise the PPTB Partial Shareholder's Loan no later than 10 days before the Completion Date, and (ii) the subordination of the PPTB Shareholder's Loan with respect to an aggregate of US$5,366,349.54 payable to PPTB (the "PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan") granted in favour of the Existing Bank Lender , which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in favour of the Existing Bank Lender has been fully settled, whichever is earlier.





shareholder's loan (the "PPTB Shareholder's Loan") with respect to an aggregate value of (the "PPTB Partial Shareholder's Loan"), unless PPTB elects to capitalise the PPTB Partial Shareholder's Loan no later than 10 days before the Completion Date, and (ii) the subordination of the PPTB Shareholder's Loan with respect to an aggregate of payable to PPTB (the "PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan") granted in favour of the Existing Bank Lender , which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in favour of the Existing Bank Lender has been fully settled, whichever is earlier. PPTB shall provide EOCL with a duly executed deed of priority and subordination in favour of the Existing Bank Lender where (i) EOCL's payment obligations in respect of the Deferred Payment Amount (as defined below) will be subordinated to EOCL's payment obligations owing to the Existing Bank Lender under the US$21.5M EOCL Loan) and all of EOCL's other outstanding loans or other indebtedness owing to the Existing Bank Lender; and (ii) the Second Ranking Share Charge (as defined below) will be subordinated to the First Ranking Share Charge over the shares in SJR granted by EOCL to the Existing Bank Lender as security for the US$21.5M EOCL Loan, and which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in favour of the Existing Bank Lender has been fully settled, whichever is earlier.





EOCL Loan) and all of EOCL's other outstanding loans or other indebtedness owing to the Existing Bank Lender; and (ii) the Second Ranking Share Charge (as defined below) will be subordinated to the First Ranking Share Charge over the shares in SJR granted by EOCL to the Existing Bank Lender as security for the EOCL Loan, and which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in favour of the Existing Bank Lender has been fully settled, whichever is earlier. PPTB shall provideEOCL with one or more duly executed deed(s) of subordination in favour of the certain other existing lenders of EOCL ("Other Existing Lenders") where EOCL's payment obligations in respect of the Deferred Payment Amount (as defined below) will be subordinated to EOCL's payment obligations in respect of certain other existing EOCL loans of not more than US$545,000,000 ("Existing EOCL Loans") owing to such Other ExistingLenders, which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in respect of the Existing EOCL Loans owing to such Other Existing Lenders have been fully settled, whichever is earlier. For the avoidance of doubt, the subordination of EOCL's payment obligations in respect of the Deferred Payment Amount as envisaged under this condition will not be applicable in the case where marine vessel Enterprise 3 is sold by SJR.





("Existing EOCL Loans") owing to such Other ExistingLenders, which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in respect of the Existing EOCL Loans owing to such Other Existing Lenders have been fully settled, whichever is earlier. For the avoidance of doubt, the subordination of EOCL's payment obligations in respect of the Deferred Payment Amount as envisaged under this condition will not be applicable in the case where marine vessel is sold by SJR. PPTB shall provide SJR with a duly executed deed of subordination in favour of the Existing Bank Lender where, the SJR's payment obligations in respect of PPTB's Remaining Shareholder Loan will be subordinated to (i) SJR's payment obligations owing to Existing Bank Lender under the existing US$20,500,000 loan granted to it by Existing Bank Lender and the additional US$3,500,000 loan to be extended to it by Existing Bank Lender and all of SJR's other outstanding loans or other indebtedness owed to Existing Bank Lender and (ii) EOCL's payment obligations owing to the Existing Bank Lender under the US$21.5M EOCL Loan, which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in favour of Existing Bank Lender has been fully settled, whichever is earlier.





loan granted to it by Existing Bank Lender and the additional loan to be extended to it by Existing Bank Lender and all of SJR's other outstanding loans or other indebtedness owed to Existing Bank Lender and (ii) EOCL's payment obligations owing to the Existing Bank Lender under the EOCL Loan, which subordination rights shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years only or until such time the indebtedness in favour of Existing Bank Lender has been fully settled, whichever is earlier. EOCL shall inter alia provide PPTB with a duly executed deed of waiver in relation to a US$8,449,230.17 shareholder's loan (the "EOCL Shareholder's Loan"), unless EOCL elects to capitalise the EOCL Shareholder's Loan no later than 10 days before the Completion Date.





shareholder's loan (the "EOCL Shareholder's Loan"), unless EOCL elects to capitalise the EOCL Shareholder's Loan no later than 10 days before the Completion Date. EOCL and PPTB shall execute a second priority ranking charge over the shares in the SJR (which ranks after the First Ranking Share Charge as security for the Deferred Payment Amount).





Subject to Completion, EOCL shall pay the remaining part of the Consideration in the following instalments:





on the date falling on the 15th year anniversary from the Completion Date or the date on which EOCL's payment obligations owing to the Existing Bank Lender under the US$21.5M EOCL Loan and all of EOCL's other indebtedness or where applicable, other indebtedness owing to the Existing Bank Lender and to the Other Existing Lenders under the Existing EOCL Loans have been fully repaid, whichever is the earlier ("Maturity Date"), EOCL shall pay an aggregate amount of US$23,031,406.55 (the "Deferred Payment Amount") and procure SJR to repay (i) the PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan and (ii) interest at the rate of one per cent. per annum of the PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan which shall accrue from the Completion Date to the date of actual payment of the PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan (the "PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan Interest"); and





EOCL Loan and all of EOCL's other indebtedness or where applicable, other indebtedness owing to the Existing Bank Lender and to the Other Existing Lenders under the Existing EOCL Loans have been fully repaid, whichever is the earlier ("Maturity Date"), EOCL shall pay an aggregate amount of (the "Deferred Payment Amount") and procure SJR to repay (i) the PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan and (ii) interest at the rate of one per cent. per annum of the PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan which shall accrue from the Completion Date to the date of actual payment of the PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan (the "PPTB Remaining Shareholder's Loan Interest"); and on the Maturity Date, EOCL shall pay to PPTB interest at the rate of one per cent. per annum of the Deferred Payment Amount which shall accrue from the Completion Date to the date of actual payment of the Deferred Payment Amount (the "Deferred Payment Interest").





If Completion does not occur by Completion Date:





the Settlement Agreement shall terminate in its entirety and the obligations of EOCL and PPTB shall cease provided always however that such termination shall not release EOCL or PPTB from any liability which at time of such termination has already accrued to any other party or parties or which may accrue thereafter in respect of any act, omission or breach prior to such termination, nor compromise any rights of the parties which have accrued to the parties; and





the rights and obligations under the SSA remain unchanged and the rights and obligations of EOCL and PPTB prior to the date of execution of the Settlement Agreement shall be restored to their respective position as if the Settlement Agreement was never executed by the parties.

3. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SJR

SJR is incorporated in the Federal Territory of Labuan, Registration Number LL05378, with its registered office at Level 1, Lot 7, Block F, Saguking Commercial Building, Jalan Patau-Patau, 87000 Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia.

SJR is a single purpose company which owns the marine vessel Enterprise 3 (the "Vessel"). Currently, the Vessel is not on contract.

The current board of directors of SJR are:

Dato' Dr Mohammed Ariffin Bin Hj. Aton

Adarash Kumar A/L Chranji Lal Amarnath

Datuk Zainol Izzet Bin Mohammed Ishak

Lee Chye Tek Lionel

SJR does not have any employees and all management functions have been carried out by EOCL and PPTB.

As at the date of this announcement, SJR has a total issued and paid-up share capital of US$ 4,000,000, comprising 4,000,000 ordinary shares of USD1.00 each.

Please find below certain key financial figures (all in US$mil):

Year ended Revenue Profit/ (Loss) Total Assets Total Debt









31-Dec-13 16.4 6.1 78.3 39.6 31-Dec-14 - -5.3 77.3 43.8 31-Dec-15 - -4.5 72.4 43.4

Source: Audited financial statements

4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO THE COMPANY

Subject to Completion, the entering into of the Settlement Agreement enables the Group to avoid a protracted legal dispute with PPTB which can be expected to be time consuming for the management and costly to the Group. It also seeks to remove market and operational uncertainties which would then allow the Group to focus on the business development opportunities such as procuring contracts for the Vessel. The commercial terms of the settlement, especially with the Deferred Payment Amount, also significantly reduces the cash upfront vis-A -vis what would have been under the previous terms of the put option.

5. AGREEMENTS WITH SENIOR MANAGEMENT OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

There are no agreements entered into, or that are planned to be entered into, in connection with the Settlement Agreement for the benefit of senior employees or members of the board of directors of the Company or for the senior employees or board of directors of SJR, save for potential appointments in the ordinary course of business necessary for EOCL being the 100% owner of SJR upon Completion.

This notice is made pursuant to the Oslo Stock Exchange's Continuing Obligations section 3.4 and is subject to disclosure in accordance with the Norwegian Securities Trading Act section 5-12.

The Company is dual listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and the Singapore Stock Exchange.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Hsu Chong Pin

EMAS Offshore Limited

Tel: +65 6800 1202

investor_relations@emasoffshore-cnp.com

23 December 2016

CONTACT:

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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.
The Diverse Income Trust plc

The Company advises that it will enter a closed period (in accordance with the provisions of the EU Market Abuse Regulation) on 25 December 2016 in relation to the announcement of the Company's results for the six months ended 30 November 2016.

The Company confirms that all inside information which the Directors and the Company may have had to the date of this announcement has been notified to a Regulatory Information Service. Accordingly, in the absence of any new undisclosed inside information arising, the Company is not prohibited from dealing in its own securities during this closed period.

23 December 2016
LAHOLM, Sweden, Dec 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Arise AB has signed a 4-year operations management agreement with Tellenes Vindpark AS. The Tellenes wind farm is located in Rogaland county in the south-west of Norway and it will have an installed capacity of approx. 160 MW once operational.

Arise will start to deliver services during the latter part of the construction phase in Q1 2017. The operations management services will start when the wind farm becomes operational which is expected to occur in the second half of 2017. The Tellenes wind farm is owned by funds managed by BlackRock.

"We are very happy to have entered into this agreement. It represents our first contract in the Norwegian market and our second deal with BlackRock", says Daniel Johansson, CEO Arise AB.

Including Tellenes, Arise now manages approx. 655 MW of wind power, thereof about 415 MW on behalf of external clients.

Halmstad 23 December, 2016

ARISE AB (publ)

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Johansson,

CEO Arise AB,

Tel: + 46 702244 133

Per-Erik Eriksson,

Head of Operations,

Tel: +46702409 902

This information is information that Arise AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 13.15 CET on 23 December 2016.

CONTACT:

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VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - December 23, 2016) - Balmoral Resources Ltd. ("Balmoral" or the "Company") (TSX: BAR) (OTCQX: BALMF) announced today that, effective immediately, Ms. Frances Petryshen has joined the Company as an Officer in the position of Corporate Secretary. Ms. Petryshen brings over 25 years of management experience with a specialization in corporate compliance and governance for public, private and not-for-profit organizations. She has been a Director and Officer of several public and private companies. Ms. Petryshen is an Accredited Director ("Acc.Dir.") and a Fellow with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators ("FCIS") where she currently serves as Director of the British Columbia branch of the Institute.

Ms. Petryshen will be replacing Ms. Sue Chipperfield who has retired after seven years with the Company. The Company would like to express its sincere gratitude to Ms. Chipperfield for her diligent efforts on behalf of the shareholders of the Company since its inception.

"While we are sorry to see Ms. Chipperfield retire we are very pleased to have been able to replace her with an individual as experienced and professional as Ms. Petryshen," said Darin Wagner, President and CEO of Balmoral. "We wish Sue all the best in her retirement and are confident that our shareholders will continue to be well served with Frances joining the team."

About Balmoral Resources Ltd. - www.balmoralresources.com

Balmoral is a well-funded, Canadian-based company actively delineating a series of high-grade gold deposits located along the Bug Lake Gold Trend on its wholly owned, 700 square kilometre Detour Trend Project in Quebec, Canada. The Project also hosts Balmoral's Grasset Ni-Cu-Co-PGE deposit and numerous other gold and base metal discoveries. Employing a drill focused exploration style in one of the world's pre-eminent geological and mining jurisdictions, Balmoral is following an established formula with a goal of maximizing shareholder value through the discovery and development of high-grade, Canadian gold and base metal assets.

On behalf of the board of directors of

BALMORAL RESOURCES LTD.

"Darin Wagner"

President and CEO

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements regarding the ability of the Company to advance its assets, the ability of the Company to derive value from its assets and the future direction of the Company are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those related to weather, equipment and staff availability; performance of third parties; risks related to the exploration stage of the Company's projects; market fluctuations in prices for securities of exploration stage companies and in commodity prices; and uncertainties about the availability of additional financing; risks related to the Company's ability to identify one or more economic deposits on the properties, and variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located on the properties; risks related to the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities on the properties; and risks related to the Company's ability to produce minerals from the properties successfully or profitably. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the latest technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States.

For further information contact:



John Foulkes

Vice-President, Corporate Development

Tel: (604) 638-5815 / Toll Free: (877) 838-3664

E-mail: info@balmoralresources.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - China has slapped a 201 million yuan or $29 million fine on a General Motors Co. (GM)joint venture for alleged monopolistic pricing behavior, the state-run China Central Television said. SAIC General Motors Corp. had reached a monopoly agreement with its dealers, setting a floor on prices of car models including the Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Trax and Buick Excelle, the CCTV report said citing the Shanghai authority overseeing prices. The fine is equivalent to 4% of the affected models' sales revenue in the previous year. SAIC General Motors Corp. is a 50-50 joint venture between GM and SAIC Motor Corp., China's largest auto maker by sales. GM said it fully respects local laws and regulations wherever it operate. It will provide full support to itsjoint venture in China to ensure that all responsive and appropriate actions are taken with respect to the matter. 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.
ALBANY, New York, December 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled "Advanced Materials (Ceramics, Glasses, Polymers, Composites, and Metals & Alloys) Market for Medical Devices, Automotive, Aerospace, Electricals & Electronics, Industrial, Power and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016-2024." According to the report, the global Advanced Materials market was valued at US$ 42.76 Bn in 2015 and is anticipated to reach US$ 102.48 Bn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 10.4% between 2016 and 2024.

Advanced Materials generally have superior properties than conventional materials available. They can outperform conventional materials, in terms of their applications. They are materials that are novel or have undergone modifications in existing materials to gain superior performance with respect to one or more characteristics that are essential for the applications under consideration.

The advanced materials products are segmented as follows: ceramics, glasses, polymers, composites and metals & alloys. Ceramics have been the popular choice of material for medical applications since the last few years. This trend is anticipated to continue in the next few years. Major reason behind high consumption of composites is that they can be mass-produced as per requirement and have a vast number of applications (such as construction, automotive, oil & gas), which are expected to continue to increase. The demand for advanced materials products is estimated to grow during the forecast period due to rising demand of high performance materials with properties such as high specific strength, stiffness, excellent fatigue and abrasion resistance.

Get Industry Research Report Sample for more Professional and Technical Industry Insights:http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7307

Major applications of advanced materials are observed in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electricals & electronics. They are also used in medical devices, power industry along with serving industrial purposes.

The automotive industry is currently tackling increasing demands for improvements in fuel economy and emission control. Therefore, there is a great deal of interest in the usage of advanced materials to produce lightweight vehicles. Electricals & Electronics, especially consumer goods, is a rapidly growing industry due to constant developments in mobile phones and laptops.

North America and Europe are major regions for the global advanced materials market. This is due to large production capacity available and sophistication with the advancement of technologies in these regions. The market in a region is dependent on its industrial developments. Different regions are expected to continue performing unevenly, with North America exhibiting the leading growth rate.

Browse Research PR: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/advanced-materials-market.htm

As climate change statistics are continuously rising, there's growing pressure from all areas - consumers, businesses, and governments - to search for more eco-friendly manufacturing techniques. This acts as another opportunity for advanced materials market because of always advancing technologies that are used for production of advanced materials. Advanced materials is a promising technology transforming the global manufacturing industry, especially in its replacement of plastics and metals with ceramics and composites in high-performance applications.

The market is anticipated to undergo constant changes due to emerging technologies in various segments, as any advancement carried out on existing products results in the inclusion of the modified product in the existing market. Limited number of players operate in the advanced materials market. Their share of R&D expenditure is expected to reflect on the overall investment in R&D for advanced materials.

Major players in the Advanced Materials market include 3M Advanced Materials, Morgan Advanced Materials plc, Huntsman Corporation, Hexcel Corporation, Hanwa Group, and Materion Corporation.

The Advanced Materials market has been divided into the following segments.

Advanced Materials Market - Product Analysis

Ceramics

Glasses

Polymers

Composites

Metals & Alloys

Advanced Materials Market - Application Analysis

Medical devices

Automotive

Aerospace

Electricals & Electronics

Industrial

Power

Others

Advanced Materials Market - Regional Analysis

North America U.S. Canada

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Europe Germany France U.K. Spain Italy Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa

&

Browse all Other Chemicals & Materials Research Reports:

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/chemical-market-reports-2.html

About TMR

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's 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.

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. ("Cornerstone" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE: CGP)(FRANKFURT: GWN)(BERLIN: GWN)(OTCBB: CTNXF) announces that it has entered into an agreement with two parties to provide investor relations services as follows:

1. By agreement dated January 1, 2017, Cornerstone agreed to retain Raymond M. Mullaney to provide communication services on behalf of the Company in Northeastern United States, which services will include communication of news releases and information about Cornerstone on Mr. Mullaney's web sites www.BostonMining.com and www.ThePerfectTrade.com, and assisting Cornerstone at PR roadshows across the northeastern United States. As consideration for these services, the Company agreed to pay to Mr. Mullaney a monthly retainer of US$1,000 and to grant him a stock option to purchase up to 200,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.16 per share, for a term of 18 months from the date of grant. 2. By agreement dated January 1, 2017 Cornerstone agreed to retain M13 Communications Financiers Inc. ("M13") to provide communication services on behalf of the Company in Eastern Canada, which services include, but are not limited to, communication of all news releases and information on the Company, including technical notes, posting on Twitter and Facebook, and assisting the Company at PR roadshows across 14 cities in Canada. As consideration for these services, the Company agreed to pay to MI3 a monthly retainer of C$1,500 and to grant a stock option to purchase up to 250,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.16 per share, for a term of 18 months from the date of grant.

The stock options granted to both Raymond M. Mullaney and M13 are subject to vesting provisions whereby 25% shall vest three months from the date of grant, with an additional 25% vesting every three months thereafter.

The terms of the agreements with both Raymond M. Mullaney and M13 are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Raymond M. Mullaney is based in North Kingstown, RI. Ray is a business, financial and economic analyst, a writer and a public speaker. Ray owned an NASD member firm for over a decade and has owned and been a partner in two registered investment advisory firms. He began investing in mining companies in the late 1970s, and has been a shareholder of Cornerstone for over a decade. Ray has raised capital for private placements for several dozen junior mining companies. He has served on boards of directors for over a dozen public, private and non-profit organizations, including 9 Canadian junior mining companies.

MI3 Communications Financiers Inc., based in Montreal, is a new-age financial communications company geared for today's fast-paced global economy. MI3 specializes in market awareness and market intelligence for Canadian public companies. During the last ten years MI3 has worked with over 185 small, mid-tier and large companies with projects all over the world.

About Cornerstone:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a well-funded mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The company's business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through partnerships.

Further information is available on Cornerstone's website: www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter.

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain 'Forward-Looking Statements' that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstone's plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words "potential," "anticipate," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "may," "project," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify 'Forward-Looking Statements.' Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these 'Forward-Looking Statements' are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views subsequent to the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Brooke Macdonald, President and CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

For investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations:

Email: ir@cornerstoneresources.ca




A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a+" of Travelers Insurance Company Limited (TICL) (United Kingdom). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.

The ratings of TICL reflect the support provided by St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (SPFM) in the form of an explicit guarantee covering all of TICL's liabilities arising from its underwriting activities. SPFM is a subsidiary of TICL's ultimate parent, The Travelers Companies, Inc. (Travelers). A.M. Best believes Travelers remains committed to TICL, which is its main underwriting operation in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The ratings also reflect TICL's solid stand-alone risk-adjusted capitalisation. Offsetting these strengths is the company's weak underwriting performance.

TICL maintains solid risk-adjusted capitalisation with a sufficient cushion to absorb higher-than-expected losses. Shareholders' funds fell to GBP 454 million in 2015 (2014: GBP 504 million) but are expected to increase by approximately 5-10% in 2016 supported by positive underwriting and investment earnings.

The company is a specialist underwriter of liability and commercial property business in the U.K. Gross written premium (GWP) is expected to decline by about 10% in 2016, reflecting sustained competitive conditions in TICL's core markets and its exit from certain classes to address profitability challenges. GWP is expected to show modest growth in 2017, supported by targeted rate increases and recently launched products.

TICL's underwriting record is weak as demonstrated by a five-year average combined ratio of 120%. A higher combined ratio of 132% in 2015 (2014: 119%) was due to flood losses and a high incidence of large claims, which offset the impact of remedial underwriting actions. Further remedial actions are expected to support an improvement in underwriting profitability in 2016 and beyond. An underwriting profit is forecast for 2016, driven by strong reserve releases in the company's property/casualty books. Although net expenses will reduce the expense ratio is expected to remain high in 2016, reflecting reduced premium volumes. Historically, pre-tax profits have depended on investment income but this has been dampened in recent years by the low interest rate environment.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best's Credit Ratings

A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- 2020 On-site, the only company bringing state-of-the-art mobile vision centers on-site to businesses, announced today that it has expanded to Chicago, enabling employees to get a comprehensive eye exam at their place of work in 15 minutes. 2020 On-site is headquartered in Boston, where it serves 300+ corporate clients including Wayfair, Microsoft, Ocean Spray, Pfizer and Uber. In Chicago, 2020 On-site is already working with nearly 20 businesses that took advantage of a beta program, including Elgin Sweeper, YMCA of Metro Chicago, GoHealth, Hydraforce, Griffith Foods, Freeborn & Peters and Flexera Software.

Vision is an essential element of health that many Americans forgo, even though most health insurance plans cover the annual vision exams recommended by the American Optometric Association (AOA). These exams are important for:

Vision correction - something 8 out of 10 U.S. adults require, whether they know it or not.

Detecting serious chronic conditions such as diabetes, MS, hypertension and high cholesterol.

Detecting and correcting Computer Vision Syndrome, also known as Digital Eye Strain - a condition resulting from focusing the eye on a computer, smartphone or other display device for long, uninterrupted periods of time.

Yet only 50 percent of Americans have had an eye exam in the past 12 months. While some very large companies have tried to address this issue by building health clinics at their locations, that is not an option for most organizations. 2020 On-site makes high-end vision care accessible to employees of companies as small as 50 employees by bringing the equipment and optometrist directly to their office.

Howard Bornstein founded 2020 On-site after experiencing his own frustration in obtaining an eye exam several years ago. "It was hard to find time during the busy work week to get an exam, and when I did, there was a lot of waiting around. It was also very expensive, and I had to go in person multiple times for the exam and then to pick up my glasses -- there was just a lot of friction," recalls Bornstein. "I thought, 'There has to be a better way to do this.' So we transformed an RV to a high-end optometrist's office, equipped it with state-of-the-art digital optometry equipment, and now we bring the eye doctor to your office." Appointments are booked online and take just 15-20 minutes. 2020 On-site offers a full selection of glasses and contact lenses on the truck, and orders are shipped to the patient's home. The process is completely paperless.

Bornstein says 2020 On-site decided to expand to Chicago primarily due to the density of mid to large businesses based there. "There are a large number of businesses with 200-2000 employees in Chicago, and that tends to be our sweet spot," said Bornstein. "Chicagoans also tend to have very long commutes, which makes it hard for them to get to the eye doctor, making 2020 On-site a really convenient option." The city also offers a friendly regulatory environment with respect to mobile businesses.

One of the first companies in Chicago to offer 2020 On-Site as a benefit to its employees was Elgin Sweeper. "We're always looking for ways to engage our employees in programs that will improve their health," said Trish McCormick, HR Administrator at Elgin Sweeper. "2020's service was so easy for us to execute and our employees loved it. We're excited to continue to work with them in the future."

To learn more about 2020 On-site's services or to schedule a vision care day at your business or school, visit www.2020onsite.com. 2020 On-site's local office is located at 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1230, Chicago, IL 60654. The company already employs a full medical team in Chicago, with more hires to come.

About 2020 On-Site

2020 On-Site is revolutionizing how vision care is delivered. 2020 is the only company bringing state-of-the-art mobile vision centers to businesses and schools so employees and students can get a comprehensive digital eye exam right outside their front door. Each mobile vision center is outfitted with a retail store that enables customers to purchase contacts and glasses on board. 2020 On-Site has more than 300 corporate clients in Boston, Atlanta and Chicago, and is continuing to expand across the country. For more information please visit, www.2020Onsite.com.

Media contact:

Michelle Faulkner

+1 617-510-6998

Email Contact




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- North American Nickel Inc. (TSX VENTURE: NAN) (OTCBB: WSCRF) (CUSIP:65704T 108) (the "Company" or "NAN") is pleased to report drilling and exploration results from the Fossilik area on their 100% owned Maniitsoq nickel-copper-cobalt-PGM sulphide project in southwest Greenland. Exploration in the Fossilik area in 2016 included drilling, prospecting, surface sampling and ground geophysical surveys. Drilling results for the P-053 and Mikissoq areas are also included.

Highlights include:

-- Intersection of high grade sulphide veins and stringers at P-058 confirm continuity of P-058 mineralization: -- MQ-16-131: 3.05% nickel and 0.22% copper over 0.50 metres -- MQ-16-131: 4.83% nickel and 0.40% copper over 0.30 metres -- MQ-16-129: 1.24% nickel and 1.62% copper over 0.65 metres -- Gradient Induced Polarization (IP) chargeability anomalies coincident with Fossilik intrusions -- New gossans at Fossilik returning values of up to 2.36% Ni, 0.41% Cu, 0.71 g/t Pt+Pd in surface grab samples

NAN CEO, Keith Morrison, commented: "The results from the 2016 drilling at P-058 have confirmed the continuity of high grade mineralization from surface to a depth of 350 metres and, importantly, increasing mineralized widths with depth. The P-058 mineralization remains open down dip and along strike and additional step-out drilling is planned in 2017.

The Fossilik norite is the largest known mineralized intrusion in the Greenland Norite Belt with drill intersected nickel sulphides occurring at P-058, P-059 and P-004. Exploration in 2016 has defined new surface gossans and geophysical targets within the intrusion, including a 600 metre long trend northeast of P-004. This emerging area compares favorably with the Imiak Hill Complex in potential to host multiple mineralized zones and both areas will be a focus of drilling in 2017."

During the 2016 exploration program, 30 drill holes and two hole extensions totalling 9,596 metres were completed to test nine mineralized zones and selected regional targets. This release summarizes the results for eight holes totalling 2,963 metres completed in the P-058 (Fossilik), P-053 and Mikissoq areas (Figure 1) and concludes the reporting for the 2016 drilling program. Drill collar information and a summary of assays are provided in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

Exploration carried out in the Fossilik area has confirmed the continuity of the P-058 mineralization over a vertical extent of 350 metres and has identified new exploration targets related to the large Fossilik intrusion for future drill testing. Step-out holes completed to test the main zone at P-053 have limited the strike extent, however, the zone remains open down plunge. Drilling at P-053 has also identified a second, deeper "footwall" zone of mineralization.

Further details of the drilling and of additional exploration carried out in the Fossilik area are given below.

Table 1: Drill Collar Information

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hole UTM Elevation Length Number UTM East North (m) (m) Azimuth Dip Target Area ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-129 473745 7248624 658 265.00 118 -52 P-058 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-131 473744 7248624 658 316.50 117 -64 P-058 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-112 474157 7248753 681 369.00 51 -52 P-004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-130 451565 7220074 363 345.00 25 -62 P-053 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-132 451466 7220045 393 423.00 24 -65 P-053 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-133 451661 7220035 337 369.00 0 -68 P-053 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-127 477923 7258181 448 447.00 139 -64 Mikissoq ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IP Target btw Spotty and MQ-16-125 478041 7257664 518 428.50 44 -55 Mikissoq ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes: Collar coordinates in UTM WGS84 Zone 22N

Table 2: Assay Results

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Target and Core Hole From To Length S Pt Au Number (m) (m) (m) Ni % Cu % Co % % g/t Pd g/t g/t Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fossilik Area ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- P-058: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-129 222.10 222.75 0.65 1.24 1.62 0.03 8.11 0.01 0.01 0.01 Main ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 229.35 229.65 0.30 0.61 0.15 0.15 18.20 0.18 0.00(i) 0.01 FW ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-131 225.55 225.85 0.30 0.18 0.84 BDL 1.87 BDL 0.00(i) 0.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 255.20 255.70 0.50 3.05 0.22 0.10 14.70 0.06 0.02 0.01 Main ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 275.20 275.50 0.30 4.83 0.40 0.12 28.20 0.05 0.02 0.01 FW ----------------------------------------------------------------- P-004: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-112 NSA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- P-053 Target ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-130 NSA ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-132 354.50 368.00 13.50 0.35 0.13 0.01 2.13 0.05 0.02 0.02 FW ----------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 356.00 358.00 2.00 0.53 0.12 0.02 2.97 0.07 0.03 0.02 ----------------------------------------------------------------- And 362.00 368.00 6.00 0.50 0.18 0.02 3.07 0.07 0.03 0.02 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 377.00 387.70 10.70 0.20 0.03 0.01 0.53 0.01 0.00(i) 0.01 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-133 NSA ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mikissoq ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-127 NSA ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IP Target Between Mikissoq and Spotty Hill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MQ-16-125 NSA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes:Intervals represent core lengths. FW = Footwall NSA - No Significant Assays (i) Assay values for Pd are between greater than 0.0 and 0.005 g/t, rounds to "0". BDL - Below Detection Limit of 0.005% for Co and 0.005 g/t for Pt

Fossilik Area Figures 2, 3 & 4

The Fossilik norite intrusion is located in the central portion of the Greenland Norite Belt and comprises a large, approximately four and half kilometre long, northeast striking norite intrusion with surface gossans and associated electromagnetic (EM) anomalies ("P-058", "P-059" and "P-004"). Drill testing of EM anomalies by NAN during the period 2012 to 2015, intersected mineralization grading 0.55% nickel and 0.27% copper over 21.50 metres at P-058; 1.16% nickel and 1.00% copper over 12.15 metres at P-059; and 0.59% nickel and 0.18% copper over 32.19 metres at P-004 (see news releases dated September 2, 2105 and September 26, 2013). Drilling earlier in 2016 returned up to 3.41% nickel and 0.28% copper over 10.20 metres while testing the down dip extent of the P-058 zone (see NAN news release dated October 12, 2016).

P-058

The P-058 target comprises a northeast striking and steeply northwest dipping panel of mineralized norite hosted in orthogneiss and cross-cut by parallel to sub-parallel mylonite zones. Mineralization consists predominantly of remobilized massive to breccia sulphide veins and stringers but locally includes disseminated to blebby magmatic sulphides. The Company previously reported the intersection of high grade drilling results from the P-058 zone (see NAN news release dated October 12, 2016).

Two additional holes (MQ-16-129 and 131) totaling 581.5 metres were completed to test a large moderate conductance borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) anomaly situated in an untested gap in the drilling to the northeast of previous hole MQ-15-077 (Figures 2 and 3). Both holes intersected narrow (less than 1m) remobilized sulphide veins and stringers at the expected target depth which returned values of up to 4.83% nickel and 1.62% copper. These intersections confirm the continuity of the P-058 mineralization which remains open down dip and along strike. Borehole EM results indicate that the Fossilik mineralization is laterally extensive and continuous from surface to a vertical depth of greater than 350 metres.

P-004

One hole (MQ-16-112) totaling 369 metres was completed to test 100 metres down plunge of known mineralization and related BHEM plates along an interpreted fold nose. At surface, mineralization in this area is observed to occur in fold noses along the norite stratigraphy. MQ-16-112 intersected norite but did not return any significant assays and is interpreted to have been drilled along the limb of a fold versus the targeted fold nose. A BHEM survey of this hole identified a low conductance off-hole anomaly.

Fossilik IP Survey & Surface Sampling

Prospecting and outcrop sampling was carried out in the Fossilik area in 2016 to follow-up gossan targets generated from the Worldview-3 satellite spectral data collected in 2015. This work identified a number of new gossan occurrences located on strike to the northeast of the P-004 area. Surface samples returned values of up to 2.36% nickel, 0.41% copper, 0.19 g/t palladium and 0.52 g/t platinum.

Based on these encouraging results, a 12.6 line km surface gradient IP survey was completed over the southeastern portion of the Fossilik intrusion. The survey identified a number of anomalies associated with the intrusion (Figure 4):

-- A 600 metre long sinuous chargeability anomaly slightly offset from but mimicking the trend of new surface gossans northeast of P-004 -- A strong chargeability high and resistivity low situated immediately east of P-004 in an area of historic drilling which intersected shallow norite-hosted mineralization -- A strong chargeability anomaly northwest of P-004 where a historic drill hole interested strongly magnetic gneisses which may explain the source for the anomaly -- Two unexplained weaker chargeability anomalies located northeast and southwest of P-058

Drill testing of Fossilik IP anomalies is planned for 2017.

P-053 Figures 5 & 6

Three additional holes totalling 1,137 metres were completed at P-053. Two holes (MQ-16-130 and 132) tested for the dip extent and eastern strike extent of the main P-053 zone hosted in the northern norite body and one hole (MQ-16-133) tested for mineralization at depth in the southern norite (Figures 5 and 6). No significant assays were obtained at the target depth of the main zone. These results have limited the strike extent of the main zone, however, it remains open down plunge. Hole MQ-16-132 intersected a mineralized interval, which returned 0.50% nickel and 0.18% copper over 6.0 metres, that is correlated with a second deeper "footwall" zone located 35 to 70 metres below the main zone. The footwall zone has now been intersected in four holes over a plunge extent of 150 metres and has returned values of up to 2.42% nickel over 1.25 metres in MQ-16-104 (see NAN news release dated September 20, 2016). Borehole EM results at P-053 support the interpretation of a footwall horizon with the area of best conductivity located adjacent to hole MQ-16-104.

Mikissoq

One hole (MQ-16-127) totaling 447 metres was drilled 45 metres along strike to the northeast of the newly discovered Mikissoq sulphide lens (see NAN news release dated October 31, 2016). The hole intersected a wide interval of norite hosting weakly disseminated sulphides which contained elevated nickel values of up to 0.11% but did not intersect the main zone of mineralization. The position of hole MQ-16-127 relative to the new Mikissoq sulphide lens is not accurately known as limited drilling to date (three holes on one section) does not allow for the plunge of the zone to be determined at this time. The BHEM response for the new sulphide lens at Mikissoq is dominated by high conductance responses that correlate with the existing drill intersections, however, additional weaker BHEM responses indicate the potential for down-dip mineralization. Additional drilling at Mikissoq is planned for 2017.

IP Target Between Mikissoq and Spotty Hill

One hole (MQ-16-125) totalling 428.5 metres was completed to test a gradient array IP chargeability anomaly located between Spotty Hill and Mikissoq. This hole tested 235 metres vertically below the peak of the anomaly and intersected a mixed sequence of orthogneiss, mylonite zones and mafic intrusive rocks but did not return any significant assay values. The source of the IP anomaly remains unexplained and further testing is planned in 2017 once detailed IP depth information has been collected.

Quality Control

The drilling was completed by Boart Longyear Canada utilizing two Boart LF-70 diamond drill rigs. Drill core samples (40.54 mm BQTK and 47.6 mm NQ) are cut in half by a diamond saw on site. Half of the core is retained for reference purposes. Samples are generally 1.0 to 1.5 metre intervals or less at the discretion of the site geologists. Sample preparation is completed at the ALS Minerals preparation lab in Ojebyn, Sweden. Sample pulps are sent by air courier to ALS Minerals analytical laboratory in Loughrea, Ireland. Blank samples and commercially prepared and certified Ni sulphide analytical control standards with a range of grades are inserted in every batch of 20 samples or a minimum of one per sample batch. Analyses for Ni, Cu and Co are completed using a peroxide fusion preparation and ICP-AES finish (ME-ICP81). Analyses for Pt, Pd, and Au are by fire assay (30 grams nominal sample weight) with an ICP-AES finish (PGM-ICP23).

Technical Information; Qualified Person

The Company is not aware of any legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the project other than those set out in its annual information form filed on www.sedar.com. Please see below under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements" for further details regarding risks facing the Company.

All technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Patricia Tirschmann, P.Geo, who is the Qualified Person for the Company and Vice President Exploration, North American Nickel Inc.

About the Company

NAN is a mineral exploration company with 100% owned properties in Maniitsoq, Greenland and Sudbury, Ontario.

The Maniitsoq property in Greenland is a Camp scale project comprising 2,985 square km covering numerous high-grade nickel-copper sulphide occurrences associated with norite and other mafic-ultramafic intrusions of the Greenland Norite Belt (GNB). The greater than 75km-long belt is situated along, and near, the southwest coast of Greenland accessible from the existing Seqi deep water port (See NAN News Release dated January 19, 2015) with an all year round shipping season and abundant hydro-electric potential.

The Company's Post Creek/Halcyon property in Sudbury is strategically located adjacent to the past producing Podolsky copper-nickel-platinum group metal deposit of KGHM International Ltd. The property lies along an interpreted extension of the Whistle Offset embayment structure. Such geological structures host major Ni-Cu-PGM deposits and producing mines within the Sudbury Camp.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of the Company. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the success of exploration activities; impact of mineralogy, estimation of mineral resources at mineral projects of the Company; the future economics of minerals including nickel and copper; synergies and financial impact facilities; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of the Company and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include variations in metal grades, changes in market conditions, variations in recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to the failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws.

Although the Company 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 not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed.

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbours created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the expected results. For further information on the project, please see National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) dated effective March 24th, 2016, titled "Independent Technical Report for the Maniitsoq Nickel-Copper-PGM Project, Greenland", available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or at www.northamericannickel.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mark Fedikow, President

North American Nickel Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the Figures associated with this release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1081273_figures.pdf

Contacts:

North American Nickel Inc.

Jaclyn Ruptash

Corporate Communications

604-770-4334

Toll free: 1-866-816-0118




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- Riverside Resources Inc. ("Riverside" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: RRI)(OTC PINK: RVSDF)(FRANKFURT: R99) is pleased to provide an overview of the Company's accomplishments achieved during 2016. This past year has been an up and down year for the junior resource sector with the underlying metals prices fluctuating significantly. Riverside has been successful in delivering a number of milestones without company share dilution, while still maintaining a strong corporate treasury.

The list below outlines some of the key outcomes from 2016:

-- Completed two-phase partner-funded exploration program at the Company's Thor Copper Project in Sonora, Mexico (partner: Antofagasta Minerals Plc.). -- Drilled approx. 1,200 metres at the Thor Project, with results expected in early 2017. -- Drilled multiple 6 g/t Au intercepts at the Tajitos Gold Project (available for option). -- Signed an Option Agreement with Centerra Gold Inc. to advance the Company's Glor Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. -- Completed significant partner-funded exploration work at Glor including: soil geochemistry, ground magnetics surveys, rock-chip sampling and trenching. Exploration results will be released in early 2017 with drilling expected to follow. -- Sold 3,000,000 Croesus Gold Corp shares for $650,000 in cash proceeds, while still retaining a strong share position and NSR on the Sugarloaf Peak Gold Project. -- Signed an option agreement with Silver Viper Minerals Corp. to advance the Company's Clemente Project in Sonora, Mexico. -- Staked and acquired the Ariel Copper Project in Sonora, Mexico (available for option). -- Re-acquired a 100% interest in the Company's Penoles Project, which was advanced with approx. 10,000 metres of drilling and an initial 43-101 inferred resource estimate while under partnership (available for option). -- Staked and acquired additional concessions in Mexico (titles pending). -- Sampled up to 7.24 g/t Au during initial exploration efforts at the Company's La Silla Project in Sinaloa, Mexico. -- Appointed two new directors (Carol Ellis and Walter Henry) and appointed new VP, Exploration (Ron Burk).

Riverside delivered multiple exploration programs, drill campaigns and new partnerships and will conclude the 2016 calendar year with roughly the same cash position ($3.5M) and same share count (less than 37.5M outstanding) that the Company started the year with.

President and CEO, John-Mark Staude, stated: "We are pleased with the progress of our Prospect Generator business and excited at the prospects for a new discovery and further value creation and portfolio strengthening in 2017. The Thor, Glor and Clemente projects will all deliver partner funded activity, with results from at least two drill programs in the year ahead. We will layout our goals early in 2017 and have the team in place pushing for transformational mineral discoveries. Riverside is in a much better place entering 2017 than a year ago and we are keen to capitalize on the momentum with several catalysts early in 2017."

Please visit www.rivres.com to sign up to receive press releases and corporate updates directly to your inbox and to view the Company's latest corporate presentation, project pages and more.

Options Granted:

On December 16, 2016 the Company granted 1,070,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to certain Directors, Officers and Consultants of the Company. The Options are exercisable at $0.42 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. Options granted to individuals in their capacity as a Director vest in three equal installments over 18 months and Options granted to Officers and Consultants vest in four equal installments over 12 months. The Options were granted pursuant to the Company's shareholder-approved stock option plan. The Options are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and any applicable regulatory hold periods.

About Riverside Resources Inc.:

Riverside is a well-funded prospect generation team of focused, proactive gold discoverers. The Company currently has approximately $3,500,000 in the treasury and less than 37,500,000 shares outstanding. The Company's model of growth through partnerships and exploration uses the prospect generation business approach to own resources, while partners share in de-risking projects on route to discovery. Riverside has additional properties available for option with more information available on the Company's website at www.rivres.com.

ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC.

Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology (e.g., "expect"," estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "plans"). Such information involves known and unknown risks -- including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Riverside Resources Inc.

John-Mark Staude

President, CEO

(778) 327-6671

(778) 327-6675 (FAX)

info@rivres.com

www.rivres.com



Riverside Resources Inc.

Joness Lang

VP, Corporate Development

(778) 686-6836

(778) 327-6675 (FAX)

info@rivres.com

www.rivres.com




TORONTO, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- At the request of IIROC, KWG Resources Inc. (CSE: KWG) (FRANKFURT: KW6) ("KWG"), would like to clarify disclosure in news release #250, issued December 22nd, 2016. The company would like to retract the following statement. 'This Press Release contains disclosure required and approved by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada which dictated that we remove an extrapolation of 30% chromite in 343.4 million tonnes into pounds of recoverable ferrochrome, or their in-situ value. However, we were required to add: "Please note, this reporting by the Globe and Mail, which we believe to be erroneous, does not meet the requirements for the reporting of mineral resources or mineral reserves as required by publicly reporting companies in Canada like KWG and Noront."'

M. J. (Moe) Lavigne, P.Geo., KWG's Vice-President of Exploration & Development, is the qualified person responsible for preparing, supervising and approving the scientific and technical content of this news release.

Shares issued and outstanding: 966,320,281

Contacts:

Bruce Hodgman

Vice-President

416-642-3575

info@kwgresources.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - As he prepares to leave the White House, President Barack Obama is planning to deliver a major speech in Chicago in early January, according to a report from Politico. Citing two sources with knowledge of the event, Politico said the Secret Service is surveying major venues for the speech, including McCormick Place or the United Center. Politico said the event is expected to be held on January 10th, a little more than a week before President-elect Donald Trump is due to be sworn in as the next president. Obama's remarks are expected to include a thank you to Chicago and the state of Illinois for launching his political career, Politico said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- 110 dogs have arrived safely in Toronto after being rescued from slaughter by Humane Society International and our partners at the Yulin dog meat festival in China earlier this year.

The 110 dogs were rescued from slaughterhouses in Yulin just days ahead of the annual dog meat festival that took place on June 21st. The animals received veterinary care and rehabilitation at an HSI-funded emergency shelter in China before arriving in Canada. Adoption of rescue dogs in China does take place, but it is not yet widespread, necessitating the transfer of the dogs out of China. HSI is actively working with our partner groups on the ground to promote a culture of adoption in the country.

Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of HSI/Canada, who greeted the animals upon their arrival in Toronto, said: "These dogs have endured a level of cruelty that most people can't even bear to think about. When we found them, the dogs were crammed into cages so tightly they could not move and they watched as other dogs were beaten and killed in front of them. They were dehydrated, emaciated, injured and miserable when rescuers arrived. But thanks to our amazing supporters, these dogs are recovering and will have a wonderful new life in Canada. Moreover, they will be ambassadors for our unrelenting campaign to stop the global dog meat trade."

The 110 dogs will be placed with three compassionate Canadian organizations: Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary (based in King City, Ontario), the Montreal SPCA, and BARK (an Ottawa based rescue group). Over the coming weeks the dogs will receive care from veterinarians, behavioural therapists, staff and volunteers before they are placed in forever homes.

Danielle Eden, co-founder - Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary, added: "It breaks our hearts to think of what these dogs endured prior to their rescue. Our mission here at Dog Tales is to seek out the dogs who we feel need our help the most, and it is incredibly meaningful to our entire team to be able to play a part in providing these dogs with a second chance at life. Our hope is that all of the dogs will find loving, permanent homes quickly. However, as a no-kill shelter, Dog Tales will be home to these dogs for as long as they need. While in our care they will receive training and rehabilitation, world-class veterinary attention, regular grooming, daily off-leash play, and will be able to enjoy long walks on our beautiful 100 acre property. We are helping these dogs in honour of the millions who were not so lucky, with hope that we will soon see an end to the Yulin festival and the dog meat trade. We are proud to support HSI in this important initiative."

Dana Margolis of The Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation, which provided crucial funds for the transportation of the dogs to Canada, stated: "We are so pleased to have helped make this rescue possible. Animals teach us to be compassionate and kind. These are traits that bring out the best in humanity. When faced with saving the life of an animal, there should be no hesitation."

The Yulin dog meat festival, initiated in 2010 to boost dog meat sales, results in thousands of dogs and cats slaughtered and eaten. International and national protest against the festival has reduced the scale of the event by 80 percent in recent years.

Polling (Horizon, 2016) reveals that, of those holding an opinion, 78 percent of people in China believe the Yulin festival should be ended and 73 percent support a national ban on the dog meat trade.

This rescue would not have been possible without the generous support of The Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation, whose commitment to animal protection has changed the lives of countless animals worldwide. HSI would also like to thank Sharp Transportation for donating warehouse space for the temporary shelter and invaluable assistance with ground transport, Air Canada for logistical support for the air transport from China and Kane Veterinary Supplies for their generous donation of dog food.

Please click here to download photos and video of the dogs; email or call media contact below for interview request and/or further information.

FACTS

-- An estimated 30 million dogs are brutally killed each year, primarily in Asia, for the global dog meat trade. Up to 20 million of those dogs are slaughtered in China. -- The government of China is working with local partners to enact and enforce new animal protection laws to curtail the trade. HSI has provided training and funding to local organizations in rescuing thousands of dogs bound for slaughter and has set up a command centre to coordinate these activities. -- HSI is also waging campaigns in South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and other Asian nations to stop the dog meat trade.

Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation, farm animal welfare and animals in research. HSI/Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International, which, together with its partners, constitutes one of the world's largest animal protection organizations. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide - on the Web at www.hsicanada.ca

Contacts:

Media contact:

Christopher Pare

438-402-0643

cpare@hsi.org




SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Starbucks will give away free espresso drinks at select U.S. stores during the next ten days, starting Friday. Starbucks said that its '10 Days of Cheer' campaign will happen at select U.S. stores, beginning December 23 and continuing through January 2, 2017, excluding Christmas Day. The coffee giant will host 1,000 Pop Up Cheer Parties over these ten days between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. local time at 100 participating stores daily. The locations will change daily and will be listed on Starbucks.com/cheer as well as on Twitter with the hashtags, FindCheer #10daysofcheer. During the special parties, Starbucks stores will give away one free tall handcrafted espresso beverage per customer. Customers can enjoy the free beverages, ranging from mochas to flat whites to chestnut praline lattes. In addition, customers visiting participating Starbucks stores will receive a 'cheer card' beginning December 23, while supplies last. The cheer cards will feature special offers that range from 50 percent off a Spiced Sweet Cream Cold Brew, Holiday Spice Flat White beverage or lunch item to a free holiday cookie or Cranberry Bliss Bar with the purchase of any size handcrafted beverage. The cheer card offers are redeemable through January 2, 2017. 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.
AUGA group, AB (hereinafter, the "Company") hereby informs that on 22 and 23 December 2016, Baltic Champs Group, UAB (hereinafter, the "Buyer") has made the relevant payments under the agreements on granting options in the future regarding shares in the Company, dated 2 September 2016 (including latter amendments thereof) and directly and indirectly acquired in total 68,527,924 shares of the Company, which constitute 36.57% of all the shares of the Company and votes, granted thereby in the general meeting of shareholders of the Company.After the acquisition - Baltic Champs Group, UAB holds in total 88,13 % of all the shares of the Company and votes, granted thereby in the general meeting of shareholders of the CompanyThe shares of the Company were acquired in the following order:1. acquiring from Vretola Holdings Limited, registered in the Republic of Cyprus, legal entity code HE270472, 100% of shares in the entity Valgertas UAB, legal entity code 304310540, which holds 27,511,660 shares in the Company;2. acquiring from UAB Eastern Agro Holdings, registered in the Republic of Lithuania, legal entity code 300125868, 8,728,512 shares of the Company;3. acquiring from Harberin Enterprises Limited, registered in the Republic of Cyprus, legal entity code HE 268672, 100% of shares in the entity Milguva UAB, legal entity code 304310533, which holds 2,000,000 shares in the Company;4. acquiring from Volemer Holdings Limited, registered in the Republic of Cyprus, legal entity code HE 268133, 100% of shares in the entity Velmatas UAB, legal entity code 304310565, which holds 28,440,895 shares in the Company;5. acquiring from Domantas Savicius, Marius Zutautas and Vladas Bagavicius 100% of shares in the entity Senandra UAB, legal entity code 304310558, which holds 1,846,857 shares in the Company.Price for the shares, acquired from the sellers, indicated in parts 1-3 above, is calculated by multiplying EUR 0.631 by the number of shares of the Company held by a relevant enterprise;Price for the shares, acquired from the sellers, indicated in parts 4-5 above, is calculated by multiplying EUR 0.588 by the number of shares of the Company held by a relevant enterprise.The total price for acquired shares is EUR 41,933,335.The Company further informs that after the Buyer has acquired the shares of the Company, as indicated above, the Shareholders' Agreement, on 15 April 2014 concluded by and between Volemer Holdings Limited, Vretola Holdings Limited, UAB "Eastern Agro Holdings", UAB Sauledra, Romualdas Antanas Petrosius, Aldona Petrosiene, Jurgis Petrosius, Marius Zutautas, Vladas Bagavicius, Domantas Savicius and Baltic Champs Group, UAB regarding management of the Company and other related questions became invalid (the Company has informed on conclusion of this agreement by the notification on material event, dated 15 April 2014).Vladas Bagavicius, Member of the Board Tel. +370 610 318 07
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- Belvedere Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: BEL) (the "Company") announces that its Finland subsidiary has sold mining claims and exploration licenses related to the Hirsi property, located in the Nivala area of Finland, that is has not been able to develop.

The sale of these mining claims and exploration licenses was to private corporation Northern Aspect Resources Ltd ("NARL"), of which the aforementioned Finland subsidiary of the Company is also a shareholder. The consideration received for such mining claims and exploration licenses was EUR60,000 plus VAT.

Given the challenges Belvedere faces in obtaining funding, reorganizing its preferred share position and the costs of its property holdings, the Company views this cash sale as the best method of obtaining value for those claims and licenses. The Company continues to seek strategic moves to reduce costs and optimize its own structure for the future.

BELVEDERE RESOURCES LTD.

Brian Hinchcliffe, Executive Chairman

Suite #404, Vancouver World Trade Centre, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3E2, Canada

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements in respect of among other things, the ability of the Company to obtain financing, identify and complete strategic actions or else restructure itself. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information provided or disseminated by third parties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this document, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis, a copy of which is filed on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com, and readers are cautioned that the risk factors disclosed therein should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements are made as at the date hereof and unless otherwise required by law, the Company does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Belvedere Resources Ltd.

Brian Hinchcliffe

Executive Chairman

+1 (914) 815 2773

bhinch3@gmail.com

www.belvedere-resources.com




MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- Yorbeau Resources Inc. (TSX: YRB.A) (the "Company" or "Yorbeau") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement of 7,576,922 flow-through common shares at a price of $0.13 per share for gross proceeds of $984,999.86. Secutor Capital Management Corp. acted as finder in connection with such private placement.

The Company will use the proceeds raised from the issue of the flow-through common shares to incur Canadian exploration expenses on its properties.

About Yorbeau Resources Inc.

The Company's 100% controlled Rouyn Property contains four known gold deposits in the 6-km-long Augmitto-Astoria corridor situated on the western half of the property. Two of the four deposits, Astoria and Augmitto, have substantial underground infrastructure and have been the subject of NI 43-101 technical reports that include resource estimates. Yorbeau and Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") have recently signed an option agreement providing for the grant to Kinross of an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Company's Rouyn Property (see press releases dated October 25, 2016 and December 14, 2016). In 2015, the Company expanded its exploration property portfolio by acquiring strategic base metal properties in prospective areas of the Abitibi Belt of Quebec and Ontario that also feature infrastructure favourable for mining development. The newly acquired base metal properties include Scott Lake which hosts important mineral resources. The Company also owns the Beschefer project immediately adjacent to SOQUEM's B-26 deposit and where, regionally, exploration interest has been increasing.

More information on the Company may be found on the Company's website at www.yorbeauresources.com.

Forward-looking statements: Except for statement of historical fact, all statements in this news release, without limitation, regarding new projects, acquisitions, future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Contacts:

Gerald Riverin, Ph D., P. Geo

President

Yorbeau Resources Inc.

griverin@yorbeauresources.com

819-279-1336



G. Bodnar Jr.

Vice President

Yorbeau Resources Inc.

gbodnar@yorbeauresources.com

514-384-2202

Toll free in North America: 1-855-384-2202




BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss stock market ended Friday's session with a slight decrease. The market got off to a positive start, but quickly slipped into negative territory and remained within a narrow, 30-points range for the rest of the session. Trading action was relatively subdued ahead of the long Christmas holiday weekend. The Swiss Market Index decreased by 0.06 percent Friday and finished at 8,232.64. The Swiss Leader Index fell 0.10 percent and the Swiss Performance Index slipped 0.02 percent. Credit Suisse declined 0.9 percent Friday. The bank settled a U.S. probe into mortgage-backed securities for about $5.3 billion. Credit Suisse will pay the amount over a period of five years. German lender Deutsche Bank also reached a tentative $7.2 billion deal to settle a federal investigation into its sale of toxic mortgage securities. Shares of UBS also weakened by 1.5 percent Friday. Lonza was also among the losers at the end of the trading week, falling 0.9 percent. Richemont surrendered 0.8 percent and Actelion lost 0.7 percent. Among the index heavyweights, Novartis and Roche gained 0.1 percent each, while Nestle dipped 0.1 percent. The insurance stocks were among the best performers Friday. Baloise climbed 0.8 percent, Swiss Re and Swiss Life each gained 0.7 percent, while Zurich Insurance added 0.4 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS--(Marketwired - December 23, 2016) - For the 8 th year running, Corporacion Dinant has received the prestigious ESR award for its outstanding commitment to local communities. Dinant is one of only 64 companies throughout the whole of Honduras to receive the title of Empressa Socialmente Responsible -- or "Socially Responsible Business" -- presented by FUNDAHRSE, a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization that seeks to promote respect for ethical values, local communities and the environment throughout business.

Dinant Spokesman, Roger Pineda, commented, "To receive this award for the 8 th straight year is a tremendous honor that our 7,200 hard-working staff thoroughly deserve. For example, Dinant's local Community Grievance Mechanisms are starting to make a real difference to the lives of our neighbors by resolving such problems as preventing dust in dry weather, controlling traffic, and constructing access paths across Dinant property. And we continue to support local Pech, Garifuna and Ladino ethnic communities by purchasing 100% of their Corozo palm harvest and providing technical support to ensure sustainable supplies for the future. I am delighted that our staff's tremendous efforts have been recognized yet again."

For many years, Dinant has supported local communities in numerous ways. The company supports community development projects on rural electrification, maintenance and access roads, water and sanitation. It funds over 8,000 free medical consultations per year for staff and local people. It finances the employment of 12 elementary and high school teachers in the Lean and Aguan valleys, providing direct education to more than 300 children per year and over 5,000 children since the program began in 1997. Since 1998, Dinant has funded four health clinics, recruited doctors and nurses, and provided essential medicines in some of the poorer areas of Honduras. Crucially, Dinant provides stable employment and good wages to thousands of people in some of the poorest parts of the country.

Mr. Pineda continued, "Dinant's employees have much to be proud of, not least the hundreds of hours that our staff volunteer to local communities every year through such initiatives as repairing local roads, planting trees, cleaning schools, and providing health education. This prestigious ESR award by FUNDAHRSE is testament to their hard work and dedication to the people of Honduras."

About Corporacion Dinant

Dinant is a family-owned consumer products manufacturer founded in Honduras in 1960. Its products are sold across Central America and the Dominican Republic, and exported to global markets. Dinant employs 7,200 people, supports over 22,000 livelihoods, generates millions of US dollars in exports for the Honduran economy, and contributes significantly to all communities in which it operates. Dinant rigorously benchmarks its operations against stringent international standards regarding the economic, environmental and social impact of its African Palm oil business.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/12/23/11G126084/Images/Dinant_ESR_award-201884c74956b5b29d0fd15792daaab1.jpg

Roger Pineda

roger.pineda@dinant.com

+(504) 2239-8800
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- Lloyd I. Miller, III announced the acquisition of ownership, control or direction over an aggregate US$100,000 principal amount of Senior Secured Convertible Debentures due 2020 ("2020 Convertible Debentures") of Gran Colombia Gold Corp. ("Gran Colombia"), that are convertible into approximately 769,231 common shares of Gran Colombia, representing an increase in Mr. Miller's securityholding percentage of approximately 0.12% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercises control or direction and no others. Mr. Miller acquired the foregoing 2020 Convertible Debentures through Milfam II L.P., a partnership of which Mr. Miller is the managing member of the general partner.

Prior to the acquisition, the number of outstanding common shares of Gran Colombia ("Common Shares") increased from approximately 252.9 million Common Shares as of August 11, 2016 (being the date Gran Colombia publicly disclosed its outstanding shares in its second quarter disclosure) to approximately 277.7 million Common Shares as of November 14, 2016 (being the date Gran Colombia publicly disclosed its outstanding shares in its third quarter disclosure). The increase in the outstanding Common Shares decreased Mr. Miller's securityholding percentage from approximately 36.38%, as previously reported, to approximately 34.36% after the transaction described herein, on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Convertible Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercises control or direction and no others. Assuming the conversion of all 2020 Convertible Debentures, Mr. Miller's securityholding percentage has decreased from approximately 13.83%, as previously reported, to approximately 13.64%.

The 2020 Convertible Debentures were acquired through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange and Omega for total consideration of US$82,000, which based on the Bank of Canada noon exchange rate on August 4, 2016 equals approximately CDN$109,888 in total consideration.

Immediately prior to the transaction described herein, Mr. Miller had ownership, control or direction over an aggregate principal amount of US$18,802,223 of the 2020 Convertible Debentures, and assuming conversion of the entire principal amount of the 2020 Convertible Debentures over which Mr. Miller had ownership, control or direction, such 2020 Convertible Debentures were convertible into approximately 144,632,485 Common Shares, representing 34.24% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercised control or direction and no others (13.57% of the outstanding Common Shares taking into account the outstanding Common Shares (as reported by Gran Colombia) and all of the outstanding 2020 Debentures; full conversion, partially diluted basis).

Immediately after the transaction described herein, Mr. Miller had ownership, control or direction over an aggregate principal amount of US$18,902,223 of the 2020 Convertible Debentures and assuming conversion of the entire principal amount of the 2020 Convertible Debentures over which Mr. Miller has ownership, control or direction, such 2020 Convertible Debentures are convertible into approximately 145,401,715 Common Shares, representing 34.36% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercises control or direction and no others (13.64% of the outstanding Common Shares taking into account the outstanding Common Shares (as reported by Gran Colombia) and all of the outstanding 2020 Debentures; full conversion, partially diluted basis).

The 2020 Convertible Debentures were acquired for investment purposes. Depending on the evolution of Gran Colombia's business, financial condition, the market, if any, for Gran Colombia's securities, general economic conditions and other factors, Mr. Miller and his joint actors may acquire additional securities of Gran Colombia, or sell some or all of the securities they hold, in the open market, by private agreement or otherwise, subject to their availability at attractive prices, market conditions and other relevant factors.

For inquiries or a copy of the related early warning report required under Canadian provincial securities legislation, a copy of which has also been filed on www.sedar.com, please contact:

Lloyd I. Miller, III Eric Fangmann 3300 South Dixie Highway 3300 South Dixie Highway Suite 1-365 Suite 1-365 West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida USA 33405 USA 33405 Telephone: (561) 287-5399 Telephone: (561) 287-5399

Contacts:

Lloyd I. Miller, III

3300 South Dixie Highway

Suite 1-365

West Palm Beach, Florida

USA 33405

Telephone: (561) 287-5399



Eric Fangmann

3300 South Dixie Highway

Suite 1-365

West Palm Beach, Florida

USA 33405

Telephone: (561) 287-5399




The global life jacket marketis expected to grow at a CAGR close to 5% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest report.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161223005262/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global life jacket market from 2016-2020. (Graphic: Business Wire)

In this report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global life jacket market for 2016-2020. By product type, this market is segmented into inherent life jackets and inflatable life jackets.

Inherent life jackets form the majority segment of this market with a share of 77% of the total market. These are made up of buoyant materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam and are usually bulky in design. This type of life jacket finds utility in industrial, commercial, and recreational end-user segments.

Technavio's research study segments the global life jacket market into the following regions:

Europe

North America

APAC

ROW

Europe: largest life jacket market segment

"The market for life jackets in Europe is forecast to showcase quick growth, posting a CAGR of 4.80% during the forecast period. The primary factor pushing the market growth is an increase in water safety regulations to ensure the safety of water related activities. Additionally, the demand for life jackets in European countries is driven by the growing adventure tourism industry, which is resulting in an increase in water-related recreational activities," says Sarah Haque, one of the lead market research analysts at Technavio.

The UK maritime industry is witnessing an increase in recreational boating, inland boating, passenger boat trips, coastal charters, and marinas and moorings. They are creating a significant demand for life jackets since water safety is of high concern, and the government mandates the use of safety gear for such activities. In 2014, British Marines, a membership organization for superyacht, leisure, and small commercial vessels in the marine industry announced an increase in leisure boat production by 4.3% in the UK, which will also bring in additional sales.

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=55226

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

North America: innovative vendor offerings attract consumers in the region

Life jackets greatly reduce the chances of fatalities in case of recreational boating accidents. Additionally, since the US government has mandated life jackets for coastal guards and law enforcement personnel, there will be a steady demand for new life jackets and replacement requests for old ones. Vendors in the market who are at the forefront of innovation and offer products with additional features such as whistles, hooks, and emergency light sticks as safety measures, gain a competitive edge in the market.

In 2015, the US coast guard responded to 19,790 search and rescue operations and saved 3,560 lives. It also conducted 919 escorts and patrols to aid 190 domestic US military cargo out-loads. Vessel traffic service controllers assisted 2,509 commercial ships at US ports. Such high volume of marine operations clearly demonstrates the need for life jackets.

APAC: fastest growing life jacket market segment

"The life jacket market in APAC is forecast to showcase the highest growth in the market with a CAGR of 5.39% through the forecast period. This is due to the steadily increasing penetration of life jackets in the markets of developing countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, and Sri Lanka. Also, countries such as Australia and New Zealand are contributing significantly to the life jacket market through both recreational and industrial consumption," says Sarah.

This region is seeing a new demand from commercial and small-scale fisheries for life jackets, driven by the governments in the region pushing for safety awareness for coastal workers. In 2016, Bangladeshi fishermen received 1000 life jackets through the Asia Pacific arm of the International Maritime Rescue Federation. In Australia, there was an initiative 'old for new life jacket exchange', to encourage possession of high quality life jackets and promote recreational boating, fishing, and water. Such initiatives are expected to fuel market growth in the region.

ROW: market segment with highest potential for growth

This region has some of the markets with the lowest product penetration. Regions like Africa, Middle East, and South America contribute a very small percent of the total revenue generated by this market. This revenue is mainly generated from the commercial segment, with contributions from offshore activities in the oil and gas industry. Vendors are viewing this segment as a high potential region, where an increased awareness, combined with strategic marketing can result in huge returns.

The top vendors in the global life jacket market highlighted in the report are:

Survitec Group

International Safety Products

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment

Browse Related Reports:

Global Diving Suit Market 2016-2020

Global Water Sports Gear and Equipment Market 2016-2020

Scuba Diving Equipment Market in South Korea 2016-2020

Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like health and wellness, outdoor gear, and furniture and home furnishing. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161223005262/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2016) - International Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ILC) (the "Company" or "ILC") reports that it is issuing this news release to clarify inadvertently omitted disclosure in the Company's Information Circular dated May 11, 2016, related to Mr. Gary Schellenberg a director and CEO of the Company.

The Company's circular for its 2016 annual general meeting of shareholders omitted required disclosure about a cease trade order for Golden Coast Energy Corp. ("GCE"), a company for which Mr. Schellenberg was a director at the time of the cease trade order. While a director of GCE, on December 11, 2015, GCE was subject to a cease trade order of the British Columbia Securities Commission for GCE's failure to file its audited financial statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended July 31, 2015. The cease trade order remains in effect. Mr. Schellenberg resigned as a director of GCE on March 24, 2016.

The inadvertent omission was identified during an internal review and audit of the Company's recent disclosures.

Following ILC's corporate principles to promote full and complete disclosure and to rectify the omission, the Company issues this clarification.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Gary Schellenberg

CEO, International Lithium Corp.

Phone: (604) 687-7551

E-mail: info@internationallithium.com

Website: http://www.internationallithium.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - December 23, 2016) - Further to its news release dated Nov. 25, 2016, Jericho Oil Corporation ("Jericho") (TSX VENTURE: JCO) (OTC PINK: JROOF) announces that it has raised an additional C$1,461,351 by way of a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 3,653,378 units ("Units") at a price of $0.40 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share (a "Share") and one half warrant (a "Warrant") with each full Warrant being exercisable into one additional Share at a price of $0.60 per Share for a period of 36 months from closing.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for acquisitions which are primarily proven, developed and producing assets, the continued development of Jericho's existing asset base in Oklahoma and working capital.

Completion of the Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date of issuance.

About Jericho Oil Corporation

Jericho is a growth-oriented oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of overlooked and undervalued oil properties in the Mid-Continent. For more information, please visit www.jerichooil.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from Jericho's expectations include risks related to the exploration stage of Jericho's project; market fluctuations in prices for securities of exploration stage companies; and uncertainties about the availability of additional financing.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACTS:



Tony Blancato

Director, Investor Relations

P: 918.986.7616



or



Adam Rabiner

Director, Corporate Communications

P: 604.343.4534

investorrelations@jerichooil.com
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- Dealnet Capital Corp. ("Dealnet" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: DLS) is pleased to announce that it has executed an agreement to acquire a portfolio of long term consumer finance rental contracts worth approximately $29 million from a prominent dealer who operates in one of the Company's key verticals.

The portfolio consists of approximately 3,000 individual consumer contracts for the rental of approximately 5,000 pieces of HVAC equipment located mainly in Ontario. This portfolio is consistent with Dealnet's existing portfolio, having historically demonstrated low default rates and predictable cash flows. Dealnet also expects to execute a separate funding agreement for ongoing new originations with this partner.

Total consideration for the portfolio will consist of a cash payment on closing of $22.5 million less certain adjustments, along with the issuance of 12,523,364 common shares valued at $6.7 million. On closing of the transaction, the Company will simultaneously securitize certain contracts from the portfolio to fund the cash portion of the transaction. The common shares issued pursuant to the transaction will be subject to a hold period of four months from the date of issue. Additionally, the common shares will be subject to a three year timed release escrow commencing on closing.

The acquisition is expected to close in early 2017, and is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law including statements regarding the Company. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

About Dealnet Capital Corp.

Dealnet is an engagement enabled consumer finance company that is initially focused on home improvement finance solutions including heating ventilation and air conditioning financing and leasing. Dealnet leverages its large scale customer service and engagement technology platform to attract home improvement dealers by providing front and back office services to them resulting in dealer origination growth.

For additional information please visit www.sedar.com.

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:

Dealnet Capital Corp.

Michael Hilmer

Chief Executive Officer

+1-855-912-3444

mhilmer@dealnetcapital.com



Dealnet Capital Corp.

Nicole Marchand

Investor Relations

+1-416-428-3533

nmarchand@dealnetcapital.com




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/23/16 -- Coro Mining Corp. ("Coro" or the "Company") (TSX: COP) is pleased to announce that, further to its announcement on December 14, 2016, it has today closed the previously announced private placement (the "Private Placement") and issued a total of 37,522,859 common shares, at a price of CA$0.14 per common share, raising gross proceeds of approximately CA$5,253,200. All common shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a statutory four month hold period.

Greenstone Resources L.P. ("Greenstone"), the Company's major shareholder, acquired 29,825,874 common shares pursuant to the Private Placement. Following completion of the Private Placement, Greenstone how holds approximately 55.9% of the Company's outstanding common shares.

The Company now has 483,425,039 common shares issued and outstanding. The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to build out the Berta facilities, for further exploration of the Marimaca project and for general working capital purposes.

CORO MINING CORP.

Alan Stephens, President and CEO

About Coro Mining Corp.:

Coro's strategy is to grow a mining business through the discovery, development and operation of "Coro type" deposits. These are defined as projects at whatever stage of development, that are well located with respect to infrastructure and water, which have low permitting risk, and which have the potential to achieve a short and cost effective timeline to production. Our preference is for open pit heap leach copper projects, where we will seek to minimise capital investment rather than maximise NPV, where we will prioritise profitability over production rate, and finally, where the likely capital cost is financeable relative to our market capitalization. The Company's assets include its 65% interest in SCM Berta including the Berta and Salvadora deposits; the Marimaca drill stage project; the Planta Prat project; the Llancahue prospect; and a royalty on the San Jorge copper-gold project located in Argentina.

For further information please visit the Company's website at www.coromining.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These forward looking statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities including, without limitation, statements relating to the use of proceeds from the Private Placement. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward looking information involves risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. Such risk and uncertainties relate to, among other things, management's discretion to re-allocate the proceeds of the Private Placement, as well as other risks disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coro undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Contacts:

Coro Mining Corp.

Michael Philpot

(778) 240 2555 or (604) 682 5546

investor.info@coromining.com

www.coromining.com



Renmark Financial Communications Inc

Francois Perron

(416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989

fperron@renmarkfinancial.com

www.renmarkfinancial.com




Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2016) - Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQX: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement today consisting of 2,500,000 flow-through shares at a price of $0.15 per share for gross proceeds of $375,000.

In conjunction with this private placement, Avalon paid finder's fees of $22,500 and issued 150,000 non-transferrable finder's warrants, with each finder's warrant being exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 for a period of 24 months from today. Pursuant to Canadian securities laws, the securities issuable under this private placement are subject to a hold period which expires on April 24, 2017. The proceeds from this offering will be used primarily to advance the Company's Separation Rapids Lithium Project, including as described below.

Avalon is planning a drilling program for early 2017 with the main goals of expanding the existing resource and exploring untested extensions to the resource along strike and to depth. This will include testing other lithium sub-zones that were not fully explored historically when the focus was on defining a resource of the lithium mineral petalite for glass-ceramics markets. One such sub-zone open for expansion to the east of the petalite resource contains lepidolite, a lithium-rubidium mica typically containing approximately 8% Li 2 O (lithium oxide), compared to the 4.0 - 4.5% Li 2 O typically contained in petalite. Testwork toward defining a flowsheet for efficiently extracting lithium and rubidium chemical products from a lepidolite mineral concentrate has already been initiated at an Australian laboratory.

Work continues on enhancing the performance of the petalite flotation process, where opportunities to reduce reagent consumptions are being investigated. Work on optimizing the lithium hydroxide production process is also progressing. Samples of high purity (>99.5%) lithium hydroxide crystals produced in the recent test programs have been sent to a major Canadian research facility for characterization and evaluation for use as a feed for lithium ion battery cathode material. In addition, Avalon continues to evaluate processes for recovery of valuable by-products, including tantalum and high-purity silica.

Don Bubar, Avalon's President and CEO, comments: "I am pleased with the progress we are making with the Separation Rapids Project following the completion of a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment in September. In addition to advancing our resource modelling and process flowsheet development, we continue to make progress on developing the markets for our products, environmental assessment work, infrastructure alternatives and community relationships. An appropriate site for the proposed demonstration plant has also been identified. Demand for new supply sources of lithium continues to grow rapidly along with the energy storage market, and Avalon remains well-positioned to bring a new supply of lithium to the market within the next three years."



This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. All currency reported in this release is in Canadian dollars.

The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Donald S. Bubar, P. Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company who is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (formerly Avalon Rare Metals Inc.) is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at ir@AvalonAM.com, or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at 416-364-4938.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to how the Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement, and that proceeds from this offering will be used primarily to advance the Company's Separation Rapids Lithium Project, that Avalon is planning a drilling program for early 2017, that this will include testing other lithium sub-zone, that demand for new supply sources of lithium continues to grow rapidly along with the energy storage market, and that Avalon remains well-positioned to bring a new supply of lithium to the market within the next three years. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well as those risk factors set out in the Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington, DC-based private equity firm, acquired Molecular Products Group, Ltd., a Harlow, Essex, U.K.-based manufacturer of advanced chemistry-based products serving the healthcare, defense and industrial markets.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The investment will support the companys expansion of their specialty chemical manufacturing capabilities and the commercialization of its pipeline of air purification products.

Founded in 1924 and led by Troy Rhudy, CEO, Molecular Products primarily specializes in the manufacture and supply of chemical technologies for the treatment of breathable gases serving its global customer base out of its two primary manufacturing facilities in Harlow, Essex, U.K. and Boulder, CO.

The company has over 130 employees with manufacturing operations in Harlow, Essex, U.K. and Boulder CO, and distribution offices in Australia, China and India.

FinSMEs

23/12/2016
When I first read the following tweet by Karan Johar about Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khans newborn son, I was flabbergasted:

My Bebo had a baby boy!!!!!!! Am so so happy!!!!!!! #TaimurAliKhan  Karan Johar (@karanjohar) December 20, 2016

This was equivalent to an Israeli Muslim naming his or her son 'Hitler'.

How could anyone in India name their son after a man who ordered so much bloodshed in India?

Then I thought, perhaps this was just the parents liking the sound of the name and that 'Saifeena' did not know of Taimur, the genocidal maniac who not just slaughtered tens of thousands of Hindus in Delhi, but massacred countless Muslims in Iran and Turkey ending up reducing the worlds population by five percent (17 million back then). Not even Hitler came close to being such a marauding hate-mongering symbol of racial and religious fanaticism.

However, Kareena herself quashed the benefit of doubt I gave to the parents. It has been widely reported that in a candid conversation with actor Neha Dhupia, Kareena revealed the background to naming her son Taimur: Saif is a historian and would want a traditional old school name.

What this says is that it wasnt some innocent affection of a nice sounding name that caught papas attention, but rather a well-thought out process to name his son equivalent to his own war-like name 'Saif Ali' (the sword of Prophet Mohammads son-in-law Ali).

Perhaps Saif overlooked the record of Taimur vis-a-vis Hindustan and Delhi, where he ordered the slaughter of 100,000 Hindus in just one night.

Justin Marozzi, in his 2004 book Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the world, writes:

The capture of the Delhi Sultanate was one of Timur's (Taimur) greatest victories, arguably surpassing the likes of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan because of the harsh conditions of the journey and the achievement of taking down one of the richest cities at the time. After Delhi fell to Timur's army, uprisings by its citizens against the Turkic-Mongols began to occur, causing a bloody massacre within the city walls. After three days of citizens uprising within Delhi, it was said that the city reeked of the decomposing bodies of its citizens with their heads being erected like structures and the bodies left as food for the birds. Timur's invasion and destruction of Delhi continued the chaos that was still consuming India, and the city would not be able to recover from the great loss it suffered for almost a century.

Notwithstanding the hatred Taimur had for Indians  Hindus and Muslims alike, the keeping of such warlike names for ones son is also contrary to the Prophetic traditions of Islam and a betrayal of Mohammads guidance to Muslims. The late internationally renowned scholar on Islam and Sufism, Professor Annemarie Schimmel in her book Islamic Names, quotes a saying (hadith) by Prophet Mohammad that among the three obligations a Muslim father has towards his son "to select a good name for him".

In suggesting a 'good name', the Prophets pronouncement was directed against ancient Arab custom of calling sons by frightening or harsh names like Harb (War), Sakhr (Rock), Murra (Bitterness). Or, may I add, Taimur (Steel).

Schimmel writes, As outward signs are supposed to reflect the inner condition, children bearing such (harsh) names were certainly unfortunate, for a beautiful name  so one thought  was also the expression of a beautiful character: Adi guzel tadi guzel (Whose name is nice, his taste is also nice), as the Turkish proverb has it.

Alas, in the Indian subcontinent, Allahs Islam is pitted against the mullahs Islam and more often than not, the latter prevails.

Just imagine the outburst of goodwill in India if newborn Taimur Ali Khan had been named Tagore Ali Khan instead

I am told that countless other Indians outraged at the honouring of Taimur by Saif and Kareena have no right to interfere in their personal matters. Im sorry, but unlike many star-struck Bollywood addicts, I consider critique of public figures, politicians or film stars; priests or princes fair game, especially when they are from my faith and when their actions have consequences on millions more.

This incident is not just about Taimur.

It's a reflection of a larger ailment in Muslim society inside the Indian sub-continent. Its their comfort level with mass murdering invaders who still believe are their heroes. As one Islamic cleric told me on Zee TV, he considered invaders and marauders like Mahmud Ghaznawi, Muhammad Bin Qasim as his heroes, that he considered the murderous jihadi Mughal emperor Aurangzeb a saint.

As an Indian born in Pakistan and a Punjabi in Islam, I have often scratched my head wondering what is it about the culture and history of Mother India or Hindustan that we Muslims find unworthy of a tight cultural embrace?

What is so offensive about Bharat that hardly any of us in the last 1,000 years has been given a name that reflects this ancient civilisation nurtured by the Indus, Ganga, Narmada and the Brahmaputra rivers and protected by the Himalayas that rise in the West from Balochistan in the Arabian Sea, tower over us in the north across the K2 and the Everest before sweeping down into the Bay of Bengal in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Charity, or in this case ignominy begins at home so let me start by my own name Tarek and Mahmood, my brother. Why would our parents give us names of two men who invaded and looted Spain and India?

We could have been named Dara (after Dara Shikoh) and Bulle (after Bulle Shah). A more daring Indian Muslim parents could even have named us Atish and Ashok, but no, both of us and countless other Muslim boys in the Indian subcontinents are given Arab, Afghan, Turkish, Uzbek, or Persian names, but never ever names rooted in Hindustans history. Not necessarily with Hinduism, but plain Indian culture.

For instance, there are countless boys names Shams (Sun in Arabic), but hardly any with the Suraj (Sun in Hindi, Punjabi etc). What is it about Shams that is so different from Suraj, I wonder? Could it be that we Muslims of the Indian subcontinent harbour contempt for the very land that gave the Prophets progeny sanctuary?

Around the world, Muslims of Indonesia carry Indonesian names; the Turks do too and the Iranians and Kurds as well as the Baloch and Bosnians have distinct names that are not Arab. After all Megawati Sukarnoputri and Brahamdagh Bugti are not lesser Muslim for not wearing Arab names not is Turkeys Erdogan or Irans Dariush Forouhar.

And considering the racism and insults that Muslims from India-Pakistan-Bangladesh suffer at the hands of Arabs in West Asia, it makes the rejection of Bharatiya names by us Muslims even more tragic. Of course it's the parents prerogative to name their children, but if Saif is a historian (as Kareena has claimed) and as a Muslim father, has sought a traditional Muslim name from history, I suggest he follow Allahs Islam and ensure he does not violate the prophetic guidance in naming names.

How about Mansour? The great medieval Muslim rationalist and Sufi saint Mansour Hallaj who gave his life for standing up for the truth and who is admired universally.

In addition, the name Mansour should be familiar to you, isnt it Saif? Or how about Tagore Ali Khan, that should ring a bell?
By Mukta Patil

Anjuna (Goa): Raju Lakhanis beachside restaurant here at this popular tourist strip in north Goa should have been packed this time of the year. But the tables at Moon Star are empty, and the restaurateur is a worried man.

We have no customers, he said. Almost 90 percent of tourists are leaving because of the inconvenience caused by demonetisation.

Lakhani said he now has no choice but to lay off workers. He is one of Goas many restaurant owners who are feeling the brunt of what is referred to as notebandi  the colloquial term for the ban on Indias Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, 86 percent by value of all bank notes.

At 2.8 percent, the travel and tourism sector in India grew faster last year than it did worldwide (2.3 percent). It contributed to 6.3 percent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP)including direct, indirect and induced contributions  and translated to Rs 8.3 lakh crore in 2015, according to this 2016 report by the World Trade And Tourism Council (WTTC), a forum for the travel and tourism industry.

Tourism is also a labour-intensive sector, creating 78 jobs for every million rupees invested, according to tourism ministry data. The agriculture sector creates 45 jobs for the same investment, and manufacturing, only 18.

Ever since 2009, the share of tourism in employment has consistently been over 10% of Indias workforce of 500 million workers. This means that the sector employs almost 50 million peoplemore than the population of Colombia.

Tourist woes: Cash crunch, long queues, exchange limits

In 2015, the number of foreign tourists visiting India was over 8 million, and earned the country foreign exchange earnings of almost Rs 1.35 lakh crore, a growth of 9.6 percent over 2014, according to tourism ministry data.

But if travel entrepreneurs like Lakhani start scaling down their businesses, all this could change.

In the weeks following notebandi, it was reported that foreign tourists were being inconvenienced. Bookings also fell rapidly in Kerala and Karnataka.

Will King and Hallam Baker-Howard, both UK citizens in their early 20s, landed in Mumbai on 28 November 2016  20 days after the imposition of notebandi. They found themselves in the midst of a cash crunch.

We went from ATM to ATM in Mumbai during our first three days in India and there were huge lines snaking outside all of them, King recounted. Once, after waiting for 45 minutes, we reached the front of the queue, and the cash ran out.

Governments of several countries, including the UK, Australia, and Canada, have issued travel advisories to their citizens about the money trouble they might encounter in India.

Its not just that we have to wait in line. Im being charged a fee for every transaction of almost Rs 120 (1.5 British pounds), said Baker-Howard. Earlier, I would have withdrawn a large amount but now I have to do so every day and this is costing me a lot of money for no reason.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that ATM charges will be waived for customers until December 30, 2016, but that does not apply to foreign bank-account holders like Baker-Howard.

The cap on withdrawal has affected not only incoming tourists, but also outgoing Indians, as Scroll reported on 2 December 2016. Visitors were unable to withdraw more than Rs 2,000 in foreign currency, which is not adequate.

RBI regulations also declared that foreign tourists could only exchange currency worth upto Rs 5,000 a week until December 15, 2016. However, before the move, foreign passport holders were able to exchange as much as $3,000 (Rs 200,000). This means that visiting foreigners can now only exchange 2.5% of what they could before notebandi.

Tourists were, however, allowed to use a "pre-paid instrument" in exchange for foreign currency tendered. But this does not help those who have run out of foreign currency. Tourists leaving the country post-demonetisation have been unable to change more than Rs 5,000 into their own currency, although the average demand for re-encashment is Rs 20,400.

Travellers willing to spend, but where is the change?

Wednesdays at Anjuna are usually a crowded affair with a weekly flea market underway. The lanes are lined with stalls selling everything from clothes, handicrafts, and jewellery to spices, curios, and food. On 14 December 2016, the whole market was deserted.

Abdul Qayoom and Ahmed Bhat sit outside A-Z Handicrafts waiting for customers. They have applied for a swipe machine so they can accept card payments. However, their requests have been repeatedly turned down for lack of residence proof.

Over 35% of tourists travel to India for leisure, according to 2010 tourism ministry data.

People come here to spend their own money but they cannot access it, said Qayoom. This is ridiculous.

Shack owners mostly set up shop during peak season and operate in cash. However, some, like the H2O bar in Calangute and Sunset Bar in Siolim, have ordered swipe machines. These are yet to arrive.

Indiaspend.com is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit
New Delhi: Shareholders of Tata Motors have voted to remove independent director Nusli Wadia from the board of directors.

In the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held yesterday, 71.20 per cent of the votes polled voted in favour of a resolution moved by promoter Tata Sons seeking his removal, according a regulatory filing by the company.

Of the 293.60 crore shareholders, 69.93 percent took part in the voting, of which 70.20 percent voted for Wadia's removal and 28.8 percent against.

Ratan Tata sat among the shareholders through the entire proceedings of over 4 hours.

Like Wednesday's Tata Steel EGM, Wadia skipped Thursday's meeting, but sent in a note to shareholders that was read in the beginning.

On Wednesday, Wadia was removed as independent director from the board of Tata Steel.

Wadia has termed the move to remove him as "inappropriately and shamefully stage-managed" by the Tatas. "I have chosen not to attend the meeting as I understand

that recent meetings held of other Tata companies have been inappropriately and shamefully stage-managed by the requisitionist (Tata Sons) controlling the entry into the hall, as also in the selection and choice of speakers as never before seen in Indian corporate history," he wrote to Tata Motors shareholders.

In his introductory remarks, Ishaat Hussain, who is on the board of Tata Sons and also the interim chairman of TCS, said as against Wadia's claim that he was asked to join the board by the late JRD Tata whom Wadia has described as his mentor and godfather, he was handpicked by Rata Tata himself and has been on the board for the past 23 years. Some shareholders said they wanted to sue Wadia for casting aspersions on the process.

"We have to seriously think whether we should not be suing Wadia for doubting our integrity and credibility. What locus standi he has to question the Tatas and us when he has been silent all these 23 years and never raised a finger against any of the activities that the company did?" said a shareholder from Pune.

However, some shareholders opposed the resolution to sack Wadia and also Mistry's ouster, saying neither the board nor Ratan Tata have given any evidence against them.

Last week, Wadia filed a Rs 3,000-crore defamation suit against Ratan Tata, Tata Sons and some of its directors. He flied the case in the Bombay High Court following the move by Tata Sons to remove him from the board of the three companies.

Wadia had denied allegations by Tata Sons that he was acting in concert with ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry. Besides, he has refuted claims that he was "galvanising" independent directors and mobilising opinion, forcing disruptions and issuing statements" which were contrary to the interest of the companies as "totally baseless and completely unsubstantiated".
Mumbai: The bitter boardroom battle at the heart of Tata Sons has put spotlight on the vulnerability of India's independent company directors who stand-up to, or take on a dominant shareholder. Tata Sons is not only fighting former chairman Cyrus Mistry, who has complained of mismanagement and corporate governance failures within the company, but is now also trying to oust Nusli Wadia - one of the group's most fiercely vocal independent directors - after he publicly backed Mistry.

While Mistry has resigned from all listed Tata entities, Wadia was removed from the board of Tata Steel on Wednesday. Tata Motors and Tata Chemicals will vote on Wadia's ouster on Thursday and Friday. Such corporate infighting is not rampant in India, but the latest events could set a dangerous precedent, suggesting an urgent need to relook at the role of independent company directors in the country, experts say."What is at stake right now is not an independent director. What is at stake is the independence of independent directors," said L. Iyer of LVV Iyer & Associates.

"If independent directors are under constant threat of being removed ... why would they act in an independent manner?" In developed markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, independent directors are relatively protected as shareholdings are much more diffused. But in India, listed firms are dominated by a major shareholder, making it easier for the latter to stamp out dissenting independent voices.

Of the 1,594 listed and actively traded firms on India's main bourse, some 88 percent have dominant shareholders with 30-80 percent stakes, data from Prime Database shows.

Test case

Tata Sons is the single-largest shareholder in the group companies where Wadia is an independent director. Mistry's Shapoorji Pallonji family owns about 18 percent of Tata Sons.To oust Wadia, Tata Sons needs to call for a special shareholder meeting and win a simple majority vote. The dominant shareholder, who is calling for the ouster, is not barred from voting on the issue.

"I think this particular case will be effectively the test case for how robust the regime (India's company law) is or whether any further changes need to be made to it," said Umakanth Varottil, an associate law professor at National University of Singapore.India's market regulator Sebi, however, said there was no immediate need to change the norms around independent directors.

"I, at this stage, don't foresee any particular compelling reason to review that," Chairman UK Sinha has said. India has only recently moved to recognize the role and the significance of independent directors. The function was formally introduced into the Companies Act 2013. The law details the duties of independents - from looking after interests of minority shareholders to scrutinizing management performance and providing objective views on strategy decisions and other matters."The institution of independent directors in India is quite nascent, so if you allow independence to be compromised at this stage, then things can go wrong," said Iyer.
By Jeffrey Dastin

| ALLENTOWN, Pa.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. A cargo plane emblazoned with "Prime Air" descended from an empty sky at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Tuesday, ninety minutes from the bustle of New York City, loaded with crates of goods during the peak holiday shopping season.It's one of 40 jets leased by Amazon.com Inc for a new cargo service to meet delivery demand from the retail giant's customers. Exclusive payload data reviewed by Reuters and interviews with airport officials around the country show that Prime Air planes are flying nearly full, but with lightweight loads, taking away valued business from FedEx Corp and United Parcel Service Inc.Expanding into transportation, from trucks to planes, is one of Amazon's most important endeavors as it strives to lure new customers with fast shipping while keeping costs under control. The world's largest online retailer is sending more packages, more often, and later in the day to serve its estimated 35 million to more than 50 million U.S. members of Amazon Prime, a service that promises two-day shipping for $99 per year. Bulky boxes with goods once purchased in stores, like toilet paper, are a revenue driver at UPS and FedEx. That's in part because they now are charging customers increasingly by boxes' volume rather than weight. Shipping its own big, light packages is helping Amazon dodge those rising fees.To date, Amazon has only said it leased the planes to speed up shipping and to backstop cargo partners during the holiday season. FedEx and UPS have delivered items late for Christmas in recent years."Our own delivery efforts are needed to supplement that capacity rather than replace it," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman told Reuters. She declined to comment on eluding cargo airline fees.Amazon's planes fly to at least 10 airports across the United States, supplying its warehouses nearby. Officials at four airports said Amazon's flights are operating near capacity but landing with lower-than-average weight -- meaning it is placing low-density shipments inside the jets. [For graphic-click tmsnrt.rs/2hZ8uZp]Amazon aircraft on a monthly basis handled only between 37 percent and 52 percent of their maximum loads by weight, according to an analysis of cargo, capacity and landing data from the four airports, with supplementary information from tracking website FlightAware.com. By contrast, FedEx and UPS were at 53 percent and 56 percent capacity, respectively, according to U.S. Transportation Department data for the year ended September 2016, excluding weight carried for free."You're dealing with cargo that's big in dimensions, but in pure weight it's light," said an airport ramp manager in California.

Airports in Tampa and Charlotte reported similar payload data for the carriers contracted by Amazon, but they did not specify whether the flights were full by volume or whether they were operated on Amazon's behalf. A seventh airport outside Chicago said the planes were not full, though daily flights only started in October 2016, and Amazon likely is learning the market, transport experts said.The remaining airports did not comment.FedEx declined to comment. Steve Gaut, vice president of public relations at UPS, declined to comment on Amazon's airline but said customers commonly handle parts of their logistics in-house.Reuters could not determine the extent to which, if any, Prime Air had an effect on the bottom lines of FedEx or UPS to date. Reuters could also not determine how much Amazon has spent on aircraft leases so far, key to whether the fleet has cut its costs overall.The payload figures Reuters reviewed do not include November or December, when contractor ABX Air, a unit of Air Transport Services Group Inc, paused flights for Amazon after a pilot strike.

FLYING LATER

Flight data shows another way that Amazon is departing from cargo companies' road map in an attempt of its top goal: rapid delivery.Using FlightAware.com and similar websites, Reuters tracked the schedules of Amazon contractors and verified with airports which flights were on behalf of the retailer.

Many of the company's eastbound flights leave the states of Washington and California unusually late at night: its flight from Stockton to Wilmington, Ohio departs close to 2:00 AM Pacific Time (10:00 GMT), for instance. FedEx instead schedules most eastbound service no later than 9:00 PM (5:00 GMT) to ensure arrival at its Memphis, Tennessee hub in time for sorting packages overnight.The difference is that cargo airlines stop at airport hubs so they can fill up planes easily with boxes from many origins. Amazon does this much less.But flying without a stopover is faster, helping Amazon cut shipping times from Prime's two-day standard, to a day or even hours. Scheduling later departures has an advantage, too."Most people have a tendency to order packages when they're home" from work, said Brian Clancy, managing director of advisory firm Logistics Capital & Strategy LLC. Amazon is "waiting for the orders."Amazon also saves time by flying to remote locations like Lehigh Valley, which are near cities and its warehouses but have little traffic. Expectations are for Amazon to stretch well beyond Lehigh Valley and the existing airports Prime Air serves. "We're just seeing the beginning of this," said Marc Wulfraat, president of logistics consultancy MWPVL International Inc. "We could see Toronto. We could see Denver."They're going to need a lot more planes," he said. (Editing by Peter Henderson and Edward Tobin)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Michelle Nichols

| UNITED NATIONS

UNITED NATIONS The United States on Friday allowed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, defying pressure from President-elect Donald Trump, Israel and some U.S. lawmakers who urged Washington to wield its veto.An abstention by the United States paved the way for the 15-member international body to approve the resolution, with 14 votes in favour, prompting applause in the council chamber."Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has encouraged the expansion of Jewish settlements in land captured by Israel in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbours, said in a statement.The Obama administration's action broke with the long-standing American approach of shielding Israel, Washington's long-time ally that receives more than $3 billion in annual U.S. military aid, from such action. The United States, along with Russia, France, Britain and China, has veto power on the council.The resolution, put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew it under pressure from Israel and Trump, was the first adopted by the council on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the resolution and Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on Israel to "respect international law."The U.S. abstention was seen as a parting shot by outgoing President Barack Obama, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Netanyahu and whose efforts to forge a peace agreement based on a "two-state" solution of creating a Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel have proven futile. His administration has argued that continued Israeli settlement building has undermined chances of a peace deal.Israel and Trump had called on the Obama administration to veto the measure. Trump wrote on Twitter after the vote, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," referring to the day he succeeds Obama.Israel for decades has pursued a policy of constructing Jewish settlements on territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbours including the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Most countries view Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and an obstacle to peace. Israel disagrees.The Obama administration has deemed settlement expansion "illegitimate." Successive administrations of both parties have criticized settlement activity but have done little to slow their growth.

INDEPENDENT STATE

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. The resolution demanded that Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."After the vote, the White House defended the U.S. abstention, saying that in the absence of any meaningful peace process, Obama took the decision to abstain. Criticizing Israels settlement policy, it said it had repeatedly warned Israel privately and publicly that settlement activity was increasing Israel's international isolation.Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, dismissed Trump's criticism, noting that Obama remains president until Jan. 20.

"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," Rhodes told a conference call.Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said, said the United States did not raise a veto because the resolution "reflects the facts on the ground and is consistent with U.S. policy across Republican and Democratic administrations."MORE THAN SYMBOLIC

The passage of the resolution changes nothing on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians and likely will be all but ignored by the incoming Trump administration.

But it was more than merely symbolic. It formally enshrined the international communitys disapproval of Israeli settlement building and could spur further Palestinian moves against Israel in international forums.The U.N. action was "a big blow to Israeli policy, a unanimous international condemnation of settlements and a strong support for the two-state solution," a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.Israel's U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, called the resolution disgraceful, adding he had no doubt the incoming Trump administration and Ban's successor as U.N. chief, former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres, "will usher in a new era in terms of the U.N.'s relationship with Israel"Israel has said the final status of the Jewish settlements should be determined in talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of U.S.-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014.Trump, who called for a veto along with Netanyahu, is likely to be a more staunch supporter of Netanyahu's right-wing policies. He named a hardline pro-Israel ambassador and vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Some U.S. lawmakers of both parties condemned the Obama administration's abstention. Republican Senator John McCain said the abstention "marks a troubling departure from our nation's long, bipartisan history of defending our ally Israel in the United Nations."U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who heads the Senate subcommittee that oversees American U.N. funding, threatened to pull financial support for the international body.The council last adopted a resolution on settlements in 1979, with the United States abstaining. Then it approved a resolution saying Israeli settlements had "no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East." (Writing by Will Dunham and Yara Bayoumy; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Lesley Wroughton and Susan Heavey in Washington, Matt Spetalnick in New York and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Editing by Bill Trott and Cynthia Osterman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi: CBI has asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat to appear before it on 26 December in connection with a probe into the purported sting operation involving him.

This is the second time that Rawat has been summoned by the CBI on a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) registered by it in last seven months. He had earlier appeared before the agency on 24 May during which he was questioned for nearly five hours.

The agency had registered a preliminary enquiry in connection with the alleged sting operation on April 29 purportedly showing Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress lawmakers to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly.

This may be a unique case where a sitting Chief Minister has been summoned by the CBI during its probe of a PE.

The PE is the first step during which the agency verifies the facts in the complaint received by it. During a PE, the agency usually only "requests" a person "to join the probe" and does not summon him, carry out searches or make any arrests.

If verification of facts shows need of further probe, it may register an FIR or else close the PE.

The CBI probe focuses on Rawat's relations with the owner of a news channel, alleged bribe proposal made to one dissident MLA by him and a minister in his previous cabinet, besides his claims on the purported sting video.

The reason for summoning him against, according to the sources, was because Rawat had not furnished full and complete details on many issues.

The case was registered on the reference received from the state government (during President's rule) and subsequent notification from BJP-led central government.

Rawat has denied the allegation and called the video fake after it was released by the rebel Congress legislators but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation.

After Rawat's victory in the floor test, the state cabinet had met on 15 May and withdrawn the notification recommending a CBI probe into the sting operation involving him.

Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject.

CBI had said the notification was rejected after taking legal opinion, which said there was no ground for its withdrawal and it was "not legally tenable".

The chief minister had failed to get a reprieve from Uttarakhand High Court also which had refused to quash the ongoing CBI probe into the sting operation.
Beijing: China will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as "supporting terrorism", Chinese official media said on Friday and suggested India to accept the "olive branch" extended by a top Pakistani military General to participate in the $46 billion economic corridor.

"Surprise aside (over General's call), New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," said an article in the state-run Global Times.

The comments came after Lt Gen Riaz, Commander of the Pakistan's Southern Command which is based in Quetta, this week reportedly said India should "shun enmity" with Pakistan and "join the $46-billion CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits".

"Such an opportunity could be transient. There is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the CPEC will quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if New Delhi does not respond in a timely manner to the General's overture," the article said.

"The best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus," it said.

It said that India could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the CPEC. In addition, the northern part of India bordering Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir will gain more economic growth momentum if India joins the project, it said.

Another article in the same daily said "Riaz's invitation, which came as a surprise to New Delhi, is mainly intended as a gesture. While he hinted at India's intervention in the CPEC, he welcomed India's participation in the project, demonstrating Pakistan does not want to exclude India."

At the same time, it said, "if any country wants to label Pakistan as 'supporting terrorism' and discredit the country, then China and other countries who uphold justice will oppose such behaviour strongly".

The article said that since President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in April, 2015, the CPEC has advanced considerably.

"However, some international forces, and India in particular, are accustomed to look at the CPEC and the One Belt and One Road initiative from a geopolitical perspective.

On one side, this is relevant to the geopolitical competition mindset they insist on, on the other, this is because of their excessive speculation on the strategic implications of the CPEC and the Belt and Road," it said.

"To ensure the smooth advancement of the CPEC, it is necessary for Pakistan to have a stable and peaceful domestic and periphery environment and a favourable profile," it said.

On anti-terrorism, the Afghanistan peace process, and the peace and stability of Kashmir, Pakistan is making efforts to show international society its wish to pursue peace, it said.

"The CPEC is not only a bilateral cooperation, but also a multilateral project in the long-run, which aims at regional economic integration. So it's open and inclusive, and China and Pakistan hope India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries can participate and become stakeholders," it added.
New Delhi: Fliers may soon be able to use biometric details for security checks at airports as the government works on putting in place such systems after receiving 'good feedback' for a pilot project.

Giving strong indications, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that having biometric systems for passengers at airports appear to be a good idea. The innovative idea, close on the heels of authorities doing away with tagging requirement of hand baggages at select airports, comes at a time when efforts are being made to ensure that aviation security procedures are more efficient and less intrusive. "Biometric access was experimented at Hyderabad (airport).

The feedback was good... Biometric system is appearing to be a good system security-wise," Raju told PTI in an interview.

Without much fanfare, authorities have carried out a short duration pilot project using biometric system at Hyderabad international airport recently. The exact details on how it is used could not be immediately ascertained.

When asked whether the project for biometric systems would be rolled out at various airports, Raju said a framework has been put up for the authorities concerned. "Modernisation is a continuous process and they will keep at it. I am not at BCAS or DGCA... We have to give them the policy frame (work). That is what we have done and we are working," the minister said.

Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is responsible for security of the sector while Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the sectoral regulator. Asserting that "safety and security" of the aviation sector can never be compromised, the minister said efforts on the cyber security front is a continuous process and keeps evolving.

"(With regard to) cyber security, what was acceptable a decade ago is not acceptable a decade later," he noted. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has awarded a contract worth over Rs 110 crore to public sector undertaking BECIL for providing biometric access control system at 43 aerodromes.

This contract basically pertains to access for employees through biometric systems. As part of efforts to ensure hassle-free movement of air passengers, the trial run of non-stamping of baggage tag has started at various airports, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

On the initiative, Raju said it would be gradually extended to other airports. "We took time to convince our people..., world over, it is happening. On an experimental basis, they have started it in the country. There is no earthly reason why it should fail. That is why I think it will slowly go to all other airports," he said.

Striking a cautious note, the minister said BCAS should also be comfortable in implementing the initiative. "Our security guys, the BCAS should be comfortable giving it. Like, if we keep overruling them, it does not make sense. So we need to take them along," he noted.
Muzaffarnagar: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh in a rally on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's motive behind the demonetisation decision was to destroy farmers.

"Demonetisation has created great problems for farmers and comman man. Modi's policy is anti-farmers and he wants to destroy the farmers," Singh said while addressing an election rally in Charthawal area of the district on Thursday evening.

Modi first failed to fulfill his promise of bringing black money from abroad and then came up with demonetisation. "And now has scrapped import duty on wheat to destroy the farmers," he said.

Singh alleged, BJP was tring to divide farmers on communal lines and creating communal tension to get benefit in polls.

He appealed the people to beat BJP in UP assembly polls next year.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and K C Tyagi also addressed the rally and attacked the NDA government's policies.
Almora: Escalating the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his note ban decision is not a fight against black money or corruption but is an "economic robbery".

Addressing a public rally at the University Campus College Grounds here, the Congress vice president said the Prime Minister has put "99 percent people" in the country to hardships and not targeted the "1 percent super rich" who "held all the black money".

He said his party wants to eradicate corruption and if "Modiji takes any step against the menace, Congress party will lend its hundred percent support".

"But this note ban step is not a decision against black money and corruption. This note ban is an economic robbery. It is an attack on the pooor of the country," he said.

Gandhi asked the Prime Minister to name those "thieves" who own the black money stashed in Swiss banks.

"The Swiss government has provided the list of all black-money holders to the Modi government. Why does he not place the list of thieves before the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha? We want to know who are these thieves. You should put their names before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," he said.

"Why didn't you bring back (Vijay) Mallya and Lalit Modi from London?" he asked.

Gandhi accused Modi of snatching away the hard-earned money of the country's poor and giving them to banks to write off bad loans. He said demonetisation was introduced to waive Rs 8 lakh crore loans the "super rich" owe.

"Gareebon ka paisa kheencho, amiron ko seencho. 99 percent imaandaar ka paisa kheencho, 50 pariwaron ko seencho. Yeh hai notebandi ki sachhai, (Take away the money from the poor and help the rich. Take away the money from the 99 percent honest people and help the 50 super-rich families. This is the truth of note ban)." he said.

He used an Amitabh Bachchan song to attack Modi and said his motive is "Ram naam japna, garibon ka maal apna".

"Suck the poor and serve the rich - this is the reality of the suit-boot wali sarkar," he said.

He also accused the central government of being callous to people's suffering and claimed the Opposition was not even allowed to mourn the "death of 100 people due to demonetisation".
New Delhi: Communal issues cannot be raised in the garb of environmental concerns, the National Green Tribunal has said while junking a plea for banning the use of Christmas trees and prohibiting the making of Santa Claus costumes.

The green panel, however, asked the Delhi government to ensure that there is no violation of environment laws and no pollution is caused due to the festivities.

"We do not see any dispute arising about the relevant provisions of Environment (Protection) Act. Law is the same for everyone without any discrimination on basis of caste, creed or religion.

"However, communal colour is being given in the name of schedule-I Act to the apparent grievances raised in the present application. We hope and trust Delhi government shall ensure implementation of Schedule I of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. Hence, dismissed," a bench headed by Justice UD Salvi said.

The order came on a plea filed by a religious group Ojasvi Party seeking directions to the Delhi government to prohibit the use of Christmas trees to save the environment from degradation claiming it involved plastic. It had sought a ban on the making of Santa Claus dresses to save wool and cotton from being wasted.

The petition had also sought prohibition on noise pollution which may be caused due to bursting of crackers on the eve of New Year and the use of loudspeakers after 10 pm.

A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer like pine or fir or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas.
New Delhi: President of Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) Ramjee Singh, arrested on 22 October for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 20 lakh for giving clearance to a college in Gujarat, was granted bail on Friday by a special court in New Delhi.

Special Judge Parveen Singh also granted the relief to suspected middleman Harishankar Jha, who was arrested along with Singh by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court granted bail to both the accused on a personal bond of Rs two lakh each and one surety of like amount.

The probe agency recently filed a charge sheet against the accused for the alleged offences of criminal misconduct by a public servant, receiving illegal certification and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

The CBI had arrested Singh, who also runs GD Memorial Homeopathy Medical College in Patna, and Jha on 22 October.

According to CBI, Jha was allegedly receiving the bribe amount, which was a part payment for the total amount agreed upon, from a hawala operator in Karol Bagh area.

A CBI official had said that a private university based in Rajkot (Gujarat) had applied for setting up a new Homoeopathy college.

"It was alleged that...the vice president of the said University was in regular contact with both the president of CCH and a private person for getting inspection carried out by such team of inspectors of CCH who would give favourable inspection report," the agency had said.

Others named in the FIR include RD Patel, assistant director, Homeopathy Department, Gujarat Government; Denish Patel, vice president of RK University, Bhavnagar, which was setting the Homoeopathy college; members of inspection team comprising Jabalpur-based Professor Rahul Shrivastava; Ashok Konar of National Institute of Homeopathy, Kolkata; and Ashwini Arya of JR Kissan Homoeopathy college in Rohtak.

It said RK University wanted to set up the homeopathy college for which mandatory clearance was needed from CCH, a statutory body for regulating education in the field, which accords it after inspection and deliberation among its various committees.

It was alleged that Denish Patel roped in RD Patel to get this done. RD Patel in turn approached Singh through Jha.

Singh allegedly deputed a team  comprising Shrivastava, Konar and Arya  which conducted the inspection in September, the agency had said.

The president of CCH had demanded illegal gratification and the part amount of which Rs 20 lakh was to be delivered in New Delhi and the same was to be collected from a hawala operator, the FIR alleged.

Jha had obtained an alleged bribe of Rs 20 lakh on behalf of the then president of CCH, CBI alleged in the FIR.

"Searches were conducted at Delhi, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Jabalpur and Kolkata, including (at) the official and residential premises of accused persons and others which led to recovery of incriminating documents.

"A sum of Rs 21.5 lakh (approx) was also recovered from the residence of a private person in Gurgaon," the agency had said.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday said India will provide help on the request of the mother of the boy, who has been taken away by the Norway authorities even as Norwegian embassy here asked for "restraint" in the case, assuring that it is being handled with "complete sensitivity and awareness".

Swaraj's reaction came a day after she had asked the Indian Ambassador in Oslo to send a report on the allegations made by the couple that the Norwegian authorities took away their five-year-old child on frivolous complaint of abuse. While father and son are Norwegian nationals, the mother is an Indian citizen.

"I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national," Swaraj tweeted.

Reacting to the case, the Spokesperson in Norwegian Embassy said the mission is aware and understands "the concerns on the ongoing child welfare case involving an Norwegian/Indian family in Norway".

"The Embassy would like to reiterate that child welfare cases are handled in accordance to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act, which includes directions from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"The Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their background, residential status or citizenship. The basic principle of the Act is that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

"Since child welfare cases are highly sensitive, the cases are therefore subject to a strict duty of confidentiality. The Embassy, therefore, requests restraint and assures that the Norwegian authorities are dealing with the case with complete sensitivity and awareness. When available and permissible, updates on the case will be provided to the media and the general public."

This is the third case since 2011 when children have been taken away from their Indian-origin parents by the authorities in Norway on the grounds of abuse.

In 2011, a three-year-old and a one-year-old were separated from their parents, prompting the then UPA government to take up the issue with Norway. The Norwegian court later allowed the children to be reunited with their parents.

In December 2012, an Indian couple was jailed on charges of ill treatment of their children, 7 and 2 years. Later, they were were sent to their grandparents in Hyderabad.

Later, briefing reporters, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the Indian Embassy in Oslo is following up the matter.

"Our Ambassador has already established contact with the father who is a Norwegian citizen as is the child. The mother, however, is an Indian passport holder. Following the custody of the child by Norway's Child Welfare Services (CWS), legal proceedings are currently underway regarding the continuation of such custody," he said.

The ministry has been informed that the father has engaged a Norwegian lawyer to pursue the matter in the court, Swarup said.

"Given the seriousness of the issue, should we receive a formal representation from the mother, who is an Indian national, our Embassy remains fully prepared to engage with local authorities to impress upon them that this is a humanitarian issue and that the separation of a child from his parents is a matter of distress to the entire family," he added.
A five-and-a-half-year-old boy was taken away from his NRI parents by Norwegian authorities on Wednesday, reports said. The officials accused the parents of beating the child. This is the third such incident in the past five years where a child was taken away by the Child Welfare Department of Norway. Speaking to The Indian Express, the father of the boy, Anil Kumar said that the authorities did not even give them prior information. The child, Aryan, was taken into custody on 13 December from his kindergarten school at 9.30 am. "They did not give us prior information. At 10 am, the same day, four policemen came to my house, took my wife into custody, and interrogated her from 11.15 am to 2.45 pm," said Kumar

Kumar, who is a citizen of Norway, moved to Oslo 26 years ago from Punjab and is a owner of an Indian restaurant. Speaking to CNN-News18, Aryan's father said that the authorities had absolutely no evidence against them and that the authorities did not have summons to take Aryan.

#BREAKING | Aryan's family speaks exclusively to CNN-News18, says "Have met the child only once, they refused to let us talk to our child" pic.twitter.com/PLPozmImz1  News18 (@CNNnews18) December 23, 2016

"Aryan cannot sleep. He cries all the time and he misses us. Aryan's mother (Gurvinderjit Kaur) hasn't stopped crying. We have never hit him, there is no evidence against us," Kumar told the channel.

Kumar, who also is the vice-president of the Overseas Friends of the BJP in Oslo, said that Aryan was sent to a childrens welfare home in Hamar, about 150 kilometres away from Oslo. Kumar is a Norwegian citizen and his wife holds an Indian passport. They have appealed to the Indian government for help alleging that their son was taken away without any evidence and is suffering at a children's home under the custody of child welfare department. External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj, on Thursday stepped in to help family.

I have asked Indian Ambassador in Norway to send me a report. https://t.co/666l9t91xD  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 22, 2016

I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national. https://t.co/zV6SIzpMpu  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 23, 2016

Sushma sought a report from Indian Ambassador in Norway on the allegations made by the Indian couple that the Norwegian authorities had taken away their five-year-old child on frivolous complaint of abuse. BJP leader Vijay Jolly had written to her and the Indian Ambassador in Norway after the couple sought his help in getting back the custody of their child. The parents also alleged that the authorities asked leading questions to the child. "How will a small kid know? The questions were leading. We have never hit our child," Kumar told News18.

Meanwhile, MEA officials said, "Our Embassy officials in Oslo have spoken to the boys father Anil Kumar Sharma and extended full support. However, Sharma informed the mission that he has hired a lawyer to represent him in the case. When contacted, Norwegian Embassy spokesperson said, "The Embassy became aware of this case yesterday evening. We have asked relevant authorities in Norway to provide us with further information, and are awaiting their response."

"We met the child welfare officials twice, on 14 and 16 December, and they havent been able to produce any evidence. They said they received a complaint from a person. We are not sure who registered this baseless complaint against us By doing this, he or she has ruined our family life," Kumar was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

In his letter to Indian Ambassador Debraj Pradhan, Jolly had raised concern on forcible custody of the boy Aryan by Child Welfare Department of Norway on baseless and fabricated complaint in Oslo on 13 December. Jolly said he has received a call from a senior MEA official saying that help will be given to the Indian couple.

The Indian embassy in Norway confirmed to News18 that Indian ambassador Debraj Pradhan has already spoken to the childs father. Quoting sources, the channel reported that Kumar has hired a lawyer to defend his family in court and "the ambassador will be meeting him again."

Norways child welfare department was tight-lipped on the exact facts of the case. News18 reported:

"When the channel (CNN-News18) emailed them to ascertain the status of the case and the charges against the parents they responded saying, "The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion is responsible for the general child welfare policy. However, the government does not have the authority to comment on or intervene in individual cases."

It is still not clear when the child would be returned to his parents. Government sources have indicated that the legal processes may take time.

This is the third case since 2011 when children have been taken away from their Indian-origin parents by the authorities in Norway on the grounds of abuse. In 2011, a three-year-old and a one-year-old were separated from their parents, prompting the then UPA government to take up the issue with Norway. The Norwegian court later allowed the children to be reunited with their parents. In December 2012, an Indian couple was jailed on charges of ill treatment of their children aged seven and two years old. Later, they were were sent to their grandparents in Hyderabad.

What does the Child Protection Laws in Norway specify?

The Norway child act places great importance on family ties and childs upbringing in a healthy atmosphere with their parents. According to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act is applicable to all children and their parents living in Norway, regardless of their residential status, religion and nationality. The general child welfare policy is mainly comes under the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion in Norway. The child welfare cases are handled by the local child welfare services and their job is to conduct family investigations in case of child abuse.

The Child Welfare Service in Nowray is also known as Barnevernet. Barnevernet is an independent body and no ministers can instruct the board in decisions related to the welfare of child. Reports cite many cases where the Barnevernet has been criticised by social workers and child psychologists who argued that they need to reform their methods. Every year nearly 53,000 such cases were handled by the child welfare service in Norway.

How common is the practice of separating children?

The Indian Express reported that over 80 percent of cases where the Child Welfare Services concludes that some kind of intervention is needed, they offer various kinds of assistance to the parents. In 2014, at least 43,000 families got assistance and were let of, while 9,611 children were removed  temporarily or permanently  from the custody of the parents.
Farmers' protest never gained as much steam. Recently in Odisha, more than 4,000 farmers under the banner of NavaNirman Krushak Sangathan, tried to congregate in Bhubaneshwar on 14 December to press for their three-point charter of demands  price, prestige and pension. However, even before they arrived in the city, many of them were driven back and the rest were apprehended by the police. NKS is a farmers' body that has no political affiliation.

Fifty platoons were on their toes not to allow the farmers enter the city precincts, leave alone reach the venue or agitate in front of the assembly that was in session. The DCP was so threatened to maintain discipline that he shot off a letter to the government that farmers behaviour during the protests could be embarrassing and lawlessness might rule the roost. His advisory worked and the farmers were hoarded into police vans as soon as they stepped into the city.

Through the year, these crop producers have been organising rallies in various district headquarters alleging raw deal from the government in assuring them proper pricing for their produce, security in the form of pension and recognition for their contribution to the states economy. Their demands included proper fixing of minimum support price, subsidy and sufficient mandis to keep their produce safe.

Stray incidents of farmers' suicides have trickled in from some parts of the state over the years but because the situation has not been as bad as in other parts of the country, no heed was paid. The agriculture minister feigns ignorance about anything affecting the farmers and easily passes the buck saying these issues dont come under his ministrys purview answering a question in the recently concluded assembly session. The minister and the ministry are not even aware about the number of farmers in the state.

While some surveys put the figure at more than 45 lakh, the agriculture census shows 32.79 in 2010-11. Add to it the Odisha Economic survey that puts the figure at 41 lakh. Going by the survey, the total number of cultivators is 67.4 lakh who make for 23.4 percent of the total workers.

At a time when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, too good at citing figures in interviews about his governments "achievements", leaves no opportunity to boast that the state that was recording -7.02 percent annual growth rate in the field of agriculture in 2000-2001 when he took over, has reached 13.24 percent by 2014-15. The state government, with pride, projects an average growth rate of agriculture and allied sectors in the state at 4.12 percent as against Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal which are at 4.11, 3.05 and 2.38 percent, respectively. Even the comparative productivity of foodgrains is shown to have grown 18.9 percent from 1950 till 2014, according to the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production, Odisha.

Isn't it imperative then for the government to look into the demands of the people who have made this "achievement" possible? Instead, it decided to throttle the same farmers who had come to the city to talk about their rights. The issue rocked the Assembly with the Opposition members staging walkout the same day. The House was adjourned and members protesting the decision of arresting scores of farmers including the advisor NKS, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, went to the governor to seek his intervention to release the farmers. Barring two leaders of the Sangathan, others were released the same evening.

It is shameful since the state that has been bagging the Krishi Karman award for productivity for consecutive years, does not allow the people behind the effort, into the capital city.

However, the members of the NKS have continued their agitation by wearing black badges and decided to be on a hunger strike on 3 January and intensify the stir it if the government still does not give them their due.

With the rural poll bugle sounded for February 2017, these incidents do not augur well for the Naveen Patnaik government. Calculated leniently, the 40-odd lakh farmers have the capacity to make the BJDs poll calculations go awry.
New Delhi: A day after Najeeb Jung resigned as Delhi's Lt Governor, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met him at Raj Niwas in Delhi.

Kejriwal reached the LG's official residence around 8 am and the breakfast meeting lasted for nearly an hour.

Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons."

On Thursday Jung's office, without citing reasons for his sudden exit, said, "he would be returning to academics".

Jung's decision had taken political circles by surprise. Sources close to him had said on Thursday that his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.

The Chief Minister was in Ranchi on Thursday when the news of Jung's resignation broke.

"Sh Jung's resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours," he had tweeted.

Sh Jung's resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 22, 2016

Kejriwal is scheduled to address a rally on demonetization at Jaipur at noon.
Maybe the purpose of religion is bigger than resolving existential dilemmas. Maybe religion is a way of life or the orientation of a lifestyle. Perhaps, religion is identity. And, the divine gain from it is as definite as it is abstract, as personal as it is general.

Is that the reason why those who have been displaced by religiopolitical violence still harbour a wish to practice or even preach a faith? On 27 November, Pastor Matthias Linke of the Evangelisch-Freikirchliche Gemeinde church baptised a newly converted Muslim refugee during a ceremony in Berlin. Reading reports about conversions to Christianity that are taking place in Germany, one of the spin-offs of what is the bloody modern day reality of Syria and Iraq, Cung Dawt feels the need to talk about the ironies of life.

A Burmese refugee from the Christian Chin community, Dawt lives in a ghetto in Janak Puri and has grisly tales to tell. "I was born a Christian in Burma and never felt safe in my country. Not all (Burmese) refugees are Muslim. If one religion uses state funds to propagate its tenets, other faiths will be wiped out," says the 30-year-old who was a student of BSc at Kaley University in the Chin region of Burma when Buddhist monks set his neighbourhood on fire during a demonstration.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are about 5,000 Chin refugees and asylum seekers living in the capital. Dawt got here in 2008. He says people come here from different Chin tribes, including Zomi, Tedim, Falam, Cho, Hakha, Mara and Mizo among others (Mara and Mizo tribes share their ethnicity with tribes from North East India). They live in urban villages in West Delhi like Hastsal, Vikas Nagar, Sitapuri and Bindapur. They mostly work in factories producing emergency lights, in mobile repairing shops, or as housemaids. Since the UNHCR "blue card" is not recognised by employers in the formal sector, most families are surviving on less than Rs 6,000 a month.

Earlier this month, The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) published a report titled Hidden Plight: Christian Minorities in Burma. This states that "Christian denominations strongly opposed the Religious Conversion Law, one of the package of bills for the so-called 'protection of race and religion'. Originally proposed and drafted by Ma Ba Tha and signed into law by President Thein Sein in 2015, each of the four discriminatory laws  regulating monogamy, marriage, birth spacing and religious conversion  restrict religious freedom and undermine women's rights. The Religious Conversion Law unlawfully restricts the right to freely choose a religion, interferes with proselytising, and could be used to criminalise such activities. Although the law is not currently being implemented  as there are no accompanying bylaws (usually required before a law can be enforced in Burma)  it is already having an indirect impact."

Deep inside Chin ghettos in the Indian capital, entire families live in rooms not bigger than five bathtubs put together. There are pictures Jesus Christ pasted on pink or green walls of the ghetto, several of them badly scratched by wind and time. You find shops barely stocked with blankets and bed sheets. Along the reedy streets, some of the refugees have spread out frogs cooked with bitter leaves, some offer fried batches of Burmese samosa (same filling as the Indian one but square-shaped). The community heads to the night bazaars for purchasing rejected vegetables at cheaper rates. A majority were below the poverty line even in Burma where the price of vegetables, fish, meat and rice skyrocketed along with the violence.

In the ghetto, tribal structures, offices, churches and pastors protect the community's sense of belonging. The Jesuit Refugee Society (JRS) is an international catholic organisation that provides assistance to refugees in 50 countries. In Delhi, it engages the Chin community in livelihood training programmes featuring skill-imparting courses in tailoring, computers and English. As per its observations, the Church is a unifying factor and every tribe is well-organised under the Churches.

Attending Church services is considered to be a sacred obligation in the lives of the Chins. Practically all the Chin members attend the Church services without fail. Some families also consider it a good Christian practice to give 10 percent of their earnings every month to the Church. Apart from fulfilling religious services, some pastors try to help the families in whatever ways possible.

"We, the Chins, have great community spirit. In our small homes, we meet and greet each other. Sometimes, our level of freeness and warmth is misunderstood by the landlords and they feel our women do business with their bodies," informs Dawt.

The community depends on landlords for their voter IDs along with electricity and water bills that have to be submitted to the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to get a residence permit. In some cases, the UNHCR card doesnt even help them secure a phone connection. The closest hospital is Deen Dayal Upadhyay, where, they say, doctors usually belittle their illnesses and prescribe paracetamols even in cases where they require serious medical attention.

Prem Kumar, assistant director at JRS (Delhi), points out that the difficulty in fully empowering the Burmese refugees is the language barrier; there is a diversity of dialects even among the tribes. Although they are free to attend government schools, Chin refugee children attend community schools set up by the Church. These schools do not have a fixed syllabus and children of different age groups learn together without gradations. The older the child is, the harder it is for him or her to gain working knowledge of either Hindi or English.

In 2013, JRS identified that among the Chin refugees in Delhi, the literacy levels of the children was lower than that of their parents.

Back in Burma, the USCIRF report goes on to state "there are no state-run universities in Chin State, and bureaucratic hurdles such as changing household registration documents plus other associated costs of relocating elsewhere in Burma for further studies are prohibitive for many Chin. Instead, many choose to study at Christian institutions in Chin State. However, the government does not officially recognise degrees and other qualifications offered by Christian theological colleges and universities, which means graduates from Christian institutions can't secure employment in the government sector."

It adds, "Kachin, Naga, and Chin Christian employees are routinely overlooked for promotion within the civil service and other government sectors in favour of Buddhists. For example, in the Chin State capital of Hakha, all but two of the department heads within the state-level administration are Burmese Buddhists. When Christians do hold government positions, they face sanctions if they refuse to support Buddhist activities. In some cases, the authorities take contributions from Christian civil servants' salaries for Buddhist activities, such as building pagodas and organising Buddhist New Year (Thingyan) celebrations, a practice continued from the time of military rule until today."

Some kilometres away from Janak Puri is Vikas Nagar where Rohingya Christians are giving tough competition to the Chins. The Rohingya Christians (not more than 150) live in 30 tents. These Rohingyas are converted from Islam to Christianity and hail from the Burmese Rakhine state. The plight, persecutions and trafficking of Rohingya Muslims, considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh by many in the Burmese state, is common knowledge.

Recently, a UN official said that Myanmar is carrying out "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims as stories of gangrape, torture and murder emerge from among the thousands who have fled to Bangladesh. The Rohingya Christians, however, are scattered and scarce.

Shona Mia, the leader of the community in Delhi, says he was born stateless in 1980. He informs that out of the 60 children in their community in Delhi, only six to seven attend school. Their language is different from the ones spoken by the Chins and hence their children benefit from the Chin community schools. Rohingya children work as rag pickers and the adults mainly segregate waste or work in paper factories.

In one of these tents, people with distinctly Muslim names  Anwar, Salam, Iman Husain  swiftly quote from the Bible while making Christmas decorations out of crumpled waste paper.

The bible saves us. It keeps us together in troubled times, they say.

However, for these believers, the Grinch has stolen Christmas and Santa doesnt exist.
Following the debacle with army deployment in her state earlier this month, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written a stern letter to the Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh over the presence of 15 CRPF personnel to provide security to income tax officers during raids in the state. Mamata, in the letter, said, "It has come to the notice of the state government that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the central government are making available 15 personnel of the CRPF, for apparently, providing 'security' to Income Tax officials and staff deputed for operations in West Bengal." Here is the copy of the letter

Mamata said this was never conveyed to the state government, even though the alleged MHA instructions were reported by the media. However, an advisory by the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 20 December to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), mentioned that 15 CRPF personnel would be deployed in the state.

"The matter has been considered in this ministry and it has been decided that CRPF shall make available 15 personnel to Income Tax Department, Kolkata, for providing security to officers and staff deputed for search and seizure operations to be carried out by the Income Tax Directorate," the advisory said.

The letter, addressed to "Dear Rajnath Singhji", said that the Banerjee government strongly objects to "this decision which is blatantly unconstitutional, illegal and against all principle of constitutional federalism. Stating that the deployment of any central police force of the Union to any state can only be done at the request of the state government, her letter said, "The decision must immediately be revoked. The state government and its police forces will provide all necessary help and protection."

Mamata had earlier this month accused the BJP government of "deploying the army" along a highway toll plaza at the second Hooghly Bridge, about 500 metres from the secretariat 'Nabanna' in neighbouring Howrah district, and said she would not leave till the army was withdrawn. "The state government has not been informed about this deployment by the Centre. This is clearly a violation of the rules and understanding (between the Centre and the state), when the army is deployed without informing a democratically elected government," Mamata had said a day later at a press conference.

With inputs from agencies
Mumbai: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation of the tallest Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, it is the politics of it that's grabbing more headlines.

Firstpost learned from informed sources that the requisite permission for the statue was received as early as 23 February 2015 but the Maharashtra government held off the event until now with the Mumbai civic polls hardly a couple of months away to give the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party a political edge over its alliance partner Shiv Sena.

A total of 12 permissions were required from various agencies, both central and state, for the statue which is proposed to be around 192 metres tall. Apart from the environment ministry, the nod to the statue were given by the Mumbai Port Trust, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, National Security Guard, Airport Authority of India, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Maritime Board, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport and Commissioner of Fisheries.

Sources told Firstpost that out of 12 clearances, 10 were already obtained during the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party regime in 2014 under then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. Incumbent Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis managed to get the nod from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in February last year.

Although partners at the Centre and in the state government, both the parties have not yet tied up for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls so far that would be held before 10 March 2017 in all likelihood. The BJP and Shiv Sena are ready with their own candidates for all the 227 municipal wards instead. Both the parties were together for over 15 years and each time Shiv Sena dominated the civic polls in the city.

However, this time bolstered by the aura of Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis the BJP has gathered enough confidence to attempt dethroning the Shiv Sena from the numero uno position. Both BJP MP Kirit Somaiyya and Mumbai BJP president and MLA Aashish Shelar believe that the party is now emerging as a stronger entity when compared to the Shiv Sena.

In the 2014 Assembly election, BJP won 15 and Shiv Sena 14 out of the 36 Assembly seats in Mumbai. Keeping this performance in mind, the BJP is demanding a 50:50 stake in the seat sharing ratio, a demand Shiv Sena flatly refused to honour. In the last civic polls, Shiv Sena had contested in 158 seats while the BJP in 69. At present, Shiv Sena has 78 corporators against 34 of the BJP.

However, there is still a little thaw left in the air as Fadnavis personally intervened and ensured that Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray gets to seat on the dias along with the prime minister along with 21 others.

Both the parties are trying their best to claim the event as their own success with Shiv Sena putting up hoardings saying that the proposed Shivaji memorial was a dream of late Balasaheb Thackeray while the BJP is showcasing it as a fulfillment of one of the poll promises.

"It is deplorable that and image of Shivaji is being grossly misused to meet political benefits by all political parties, institution, leaders and government machinery also. If imminent permissions were granted as back as year and half ago, then why did the government sit on the file till the time BMC election closes in. Definitely, the ruling side wishes to use the grand memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji to win BMC, Thane Municiapal Corporation and Pune Municipal Corporation," senior journalist and former Rajya Sabha memebr Bharatkumar Raut told Firstpost.

"I am also surprised that Shiv Sena is making political issue of invitation for the function. On one side Shivsainiks are loudly saying that BJP is not bigger than Ram but they have been trying to create a drama in who goes personally to invite Uddhav Thackeray," he said.

Early on Friday, a procession was taken out from Chembur to Gateway of India where Fadnavis himself took the holy water and sand collected from more than 50 rivers and 50 forts for the ceremony.

However, the procession was marked by some disappointment as Shivsmarak Committee president and MLC Vinayak Mete walk out of the rally claiming that it was more of a BJP show of strength for the upcoming civic polls rather than a celebration of Shivaji's life.

"It is sad to that the BJP is using Shivaji's name for political purpose," Mete said.

Work will be carried out in two phases to build the Rs 3,600 crore Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial that will be spread across 15.96 hectares on reclamation land. The cabinet has sanctioned Rs 2,300 for the first phase.

"Engineering service provider Egis in India started their initial work in March 2016. The duration for the project is 40 months of design and construction," said an official in the know of the matter. "There will be another 60 months that would be considered as defect liability period," he said.

Even before the first 40 months get over, the state will have its next Assembly polls in October 2019.

"The project report has been done and the tendering process started on 17 October this year. After the tender gets opened, the work would be given to the lowest bidder and it would start from January next year," said state Public Works Department Minister Chandrakant Patel.

Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in the Arabian Sea off Girgaum Chowpatty. Royal heirs of Shivaji, Udaynaraje Bhosale and Sambhajiraje Bhosale will also accompany Modi to the inauguration venue.

The prime minister will also lay the foundation stones for major infrastructure projects like two new metro lines, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and Kalanagar flyover and Kurla Vakola Elevated Road. These infrastructure projects are aimed to reduce overcrowding in suburban trains and provide some relief to the road.

"We plan to invite bids for the two metro corridors in January and work will start in October 2017," said Pravin Darade, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.
Najeeb Jung, who resigned as Delhi's lieutenant-governor on Thursday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. However, various TV reports suggest that the government has kept his resignation in abeyance.

Speaking to NDTV, Najeeb Jung claimed that he wanted to quit in 2014, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged him to carry on. He added that he requested the prime minister to relieve him after three years as Delhi L-G.

Delhi: Najeeb Jung who tendered his resignation from the position of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor yesterday, leaves PMO pic.twitter.com/4M0RSSeoXe  ANI (@ANI_news) December 23, 2016

The meeting comes hours after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal met Jung after the latter's resignation. The ex-Jamia Milia Islamia vice-chancellor put in his papers about 18 months ahead of his scheduled end of term. The move surprised many, triggering off a war of words between the ruling AAP, BJP and the Congress.

Meanwhile, media reports say that the Centre is already searching for Jung's replacement. According to The Tribune, two former home secretaries, Anil Baijal and GK Pillai, are the frontrunners to replace the ex-IAS officer.
After years of tussling with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung resigned on Thursday. The ex-Jamia Milia Islamia vice-chancellor put in his papers around 18 months before his term was to end. However, reports suggest that Jung's resignation has not been accepted by the Government of India.

"Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung has submitted his resignation to the Government of India. He thanks the prime minister for all the help and cooperation he received during his tenure," a statement released by his office said.

His resignation however led to sharp reactions from the political spectrum. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said a BJP delegation had met Jung on Wednesday over delimitation of municipal wards when the lieutenant-governor had "expressed" his displeasure with the Kejriwal government.

"Even then he was upset with the AAP government stalling work. But we did not foresee this. He told us that he was going on a week-long leave. Delhi needed him," Gupta said.

Meanwhile, the Congress that previously ruled Delhi between 1998 and 2013, termed Jung's exit "unceremonious" and sought an explanation from the BJP-ruled Centre. "Was he removed to bring in someone who is close to the RSS? Was it done considering the upcoming municipal polls? Jung is an able administrator," Congress leader Ajay Maken told reporters.

Another Congress leader PC Chacko suggested the resignation might be due to BJP pressure. "BJP never takes independent stand as far as the office of Governor is concerned and this is putting many governors in difficulty. Maybe this is behind the resignation," Chacko said.

The Aam Aadmi Party, seemed to have had a mellowed reaction to the former IAS officer's surprise resignation. Kejriwal termed the resignation 'surprising', while his deputy Manish Sisodia chose to let the past acrimony with Najeeb Jung stay in the past.

Sh Jung's resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 22, 2016

                             Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) December 22, 2016

However, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas chose to shift the blame on the constant tussle between Jung and Kejriwal on "someone's influence". "Najeeb Jung's behavior was not his. He was under the influence of someone. We hope the next lieutenant-governor gives priority to issues concerning people and does not work under anyone's influence," DNA quoted the Aam Aadmi Party leader as saying.

With inputs from PTI
Jaipur: With the Gujjar community threatening to launch a fresh agitation for quota, Rajasthan government has assured the communities under the special backward classes that it would go for appropriate solution within the framework of law to protect their interest.

The Rajasthan High Court had on 9 December struck down Special Backward Classes quota given to Gujjars and five other communities by the state government as the total reservation exceeded the permissible limit of 50 percent.

"State Government is waiting for a certified copy of the Rajasthan high court judgment so that an appropriate solution, within the framework of law, can be arrived at," a statement said.

The government said that it always showed its commitment to the welfare and uplift of Special Backward Classes (SBCs) of the state and concrete steps had been taken in the past.

"The decisions taken in the interest of the communities include convening a special session of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

"The chief minister had directed that all efforts have to be made to defend the legislation of 2015," the statement said.

The Rajasthan High Court has directed to suspend its 9 December order for a period of six weeks and that the appointments/admissions given by the Government of Rajasthan, pursuant to the 2015 Act, shall not be disturbed, it said

Even before the orders of the High Court were passed, the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to look into and address issues related to the welfare of SBCs, met several times, it said.

After the court order, the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti had threatened to launch a fresh agitation for quota.

On 28 November 2012, the Rajasthan Cabinet had decided to provide a separate five per cent quota to the SBCs without touching the 21 percent reservation available to Other Backward Classes and taking the overall reservation in jobs and education to 54 per cent.

This had left Gujjars dissatisfied as it was susceptible to judicial rejection since its inception.

Earlier too, an attempt was made to enhance five percent of reservation over and above the prescribed limit in 2008 which was not permitted by high court.

Then in 2009 and 2010, the high court had asked the OBC commission of the state to revisit the concession made by state government and after the study and recommendation of OBC Commission again, the Gujjars and five other communities were given five per cent extra reservation in 2012 that has been struck down.

The state has witnessed violent agitation by Gujjars several times since 2007, when the community members blocked national highways and railway tracks and were fired upon by the police.
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When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Mumbai on Saturday to lay the foundation stone of the Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial, a 192-metre structure off the coast, he would kill multiple birds with one stone. Not only would he hijack one of Maharashtra's most popular icons for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it was also supposed to be the most potent tool its ally Shiv Sena had in the run-up to the municipal elections next year. Moreover, he also delivers a stunning blow to the Congress-NCP combine, which had mooted the project in 2005 and used it as a poll plank for the 2009 and 2014 Assembly elections.

Though Congress and NCP are led by Maratha feudal lords who understand the tokenism and emotion of politics, they would see the BJP take credit for a 11-year-old idea they had come up with. And finally, the BJP would finally have the perfect opportunity to placate and pacify the Maratha community, currently agitating for reservations.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will take place early next year, and the Sena looks set to retain power. The pre-poll alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena, however, hasn't been finalised yet, and intense campaigning by the former to expose corruption in the municipal body has made the Sena jittery. If the two parties do go solo, it could well be that BJP emerges as Sena's strongest rival apart from the Congress. And if there is a fractured mandate, there might even be a post-poll alliance of the two saffron partners, similar to the one they agreed upon after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

But BJP, high on confidence after the general and Assembly election wins from two years ago, will hold Sena on a tight leash if the two parties are to have a pre-poll tie-up. All of which mean Sena is leaving no stone unturned to consolidate its position and hold on to the home turf. The party has put up hoardings claiming credit for the Shivaji statue project, terming it as a dream the late Balasaheb Thackeray had.

On the other hand, BJP is also making no bones of politically encashing on the project. Just a day before the prime minister will inaugurate the statue, there is still no clarity on the name of the invitees. The scene is similar to the high-profile ceremony held in Dadar to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar in April, when even Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray wasn't invited.

The ruling party has mobilised people from across the state to carry soil from the many forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and water from the state's major rivers, and bring it to the site of the ceremony, to ensure it becomes a pan Maharashtra event. A descendant of Shivaji, Sambhajiraje, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha after BJP came to power, will also be present at the event, just like how Ambedkar's grandson, Prakash, was invited to the April function.

The project includes a 192-metre statue, said to be the world's tallest, to be located three kilometres from Nariman Point in the Arabian Sea. It will have a museum, auditorium, amphitheatre, library, and a temple to Goddess Tuljabhavani. The project, when announced by the Congress-NCP government, was estimated to cost around Rs 1,000 crore, but now its costs have escalated to Rs Rs 3,500 crore. There are voices of dissent against the project, including a signature campaign questioning the colossal expenditure, while fishermen have also objected to the site of the project, which is breeding spot for fish. The fact that such a huge amount of taxpayers' money is being used in the project has had people complaining, and many have said the funds could have been put to better use.

The Congress and NCP are on the defensive, especially the latter, which has seen its top leaders under investigation for graft and one of its founding members, Chhagan Bhujbal, in custody for the disproportionate assets case.

Besides, the Maratha community is on the warpath over various demands including reservation, death penalty for the Dalit accused involved in the rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district, and for scrapping or reviewing the Prevention of Atrocities Act (POA) regarding alleged misuse by the Dalits.

The Marathas are also irked by the 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award conferred by the state government on Brahmin bard Babasaheb Purandare, which again highlights the discontent many Marathas have regarding Brahmins.

This uneasiness has grown ever since Devendra Fadnavis, a Brahmin, became the chief minister. The community has continued with its agitations even though some major demands were already taken care of. Fadnavis had already raised the maximum income limit for eligibility for economically backward class concessions for students to Rs 6 lakh per annum, filed a chargesheet in the Kopardi case demanding capital punishment, is fighting a case challenging quota for Marathas and evolving consensus on reviewing POA.

Obviously, continuation of the Maratha stir involving turnout of lakhs of people and expenditure of crores of rupees, hints at the discreet hand of Maratha elites who are uneasy. Especially over some measures initiated by the Fadnavis government, like banning tainted directors of cooperatives from contesting polls and appointing two state members on the board of directors of cooperatives. Since the Maratha elites draw their political power from cooperatives, which also serve as political hubs, their discomfort is obvious.

For the Sena, on the other hand, the upcoming civic polls are an uphill task, with the BJP a new political foe on the battleground. BJP has nothing to lose and would continue with Sena-style emotive issues for political gains, even if it means ditching an ally or playing with it as per convenience. Even if there is no alliance before the polls, the saffron partners may come together to fortify the saffron agenda. But if the Sena loses power in the BMC, it may spell its doom.
The winds of change are beginning to blow in Tamil Nadu. And one thing is clear, it is a very good sign.

The writing on the wall was clear after the income tax raids on chief secretary Ramamohana Rao's residence and 12 other locations in Chennai, Bengaluru and Andhra Pradesh. That it was time for Tamil Nadu to clean up its act. Within 24 hours, Girija Vaidyanathan, an officer with a no-nonsense work ethic, was appointed as his successor. The political class reportedly wanted to wait till an FIR was filed but was advised that the raid had already dented the image of the government and any delay would only reflect poorly on the AIADMK.

In appointing Vaidyanathan, the Tamil Nadu government has corrected the wrong that was committed in June when Rao, a 1985 batch IAS officer was appointed, superseding 17 officers. In fact, Vaidyanathan, who belongs to the 1981 batch, was superseded even when K Gnanidesikan of the 1982 batch was appointed as chief secretary before Ramamohana Rao. Gnanidesikan had superseded 12 officers when he was appointed in December 2014.

Vaidyanathan now is the senior-most IAS officer working in Tamil Nadu at the moment. Only Economic Affairs Secretary in the Government of India, Shaktikanta Das of the 1980 batch who is looking after the entire demonetisation exercise, is senior to her. In going by the rule book and avoiding whimsical arbitrariness, Tamil Nadu has done the right thing. What's more, Vaidyanathan at 57 has another two and a half years of service left.

The new chief secretary hails from an illustrious family from Nagercoil in south Tamil Nadu. She is the daughter of S Venkitaramanan, who was Reserve Bank of India governor from 1990 to 1992, in charge of India's central bank when liberalisation began. A PhD in health economics from IIT Madras, Vaidyanathan's forte has been the health and environment fields. Her colleagues in the bureaucracy give her credit for the fact that Tamil Nadu does very well on indices of fertility rate, infant and maternal mortality rate.

With Vaidyanathan's posting, the first step towards flushing out the muck has been taken. Things had gotten so rotten in Tamil Nadu's political and bureaucratic ecosystem that corruption had become a joint venture. Vaidyanathan's tenure is significant because this is an officer with honest reputation, and she now has the responsibility to win back the Tamil Nadu bureaucracy its badge of honour.

A look at the track record of Vaidyanathan's two predecessors would give you a sense of the rot in the system. It is not just Rao who is seen as having sullied the reputation of babu-dom in the state. Gnanidesikan was suspended after being removed as chief secretary, on charges linked to beach sand mining in southern Tamil Nadu. The fact that Jayalalithaa chose two allegedly tainted officers for the top job, reflects poorly on her judgement and the kind of government she ran.

Because Vaidyanathan's brother-in-law is BJP leader and popular actor S.Ve.Shekher, it is being speculated that the NDA government at the Centre may have had a hand in her appointment. Votaries of this theory say this is because Vaidyanathan never got plum postings during AIADMK regimes. But that would be belittling Vaidyanathan's abilities.

"Girija Vaidyanathan's appointment is a balm for the wounds of honest bureaucrats in Tamil Nadu. We have had too many of the pliable and wheeler-dealer appointments that operated like a mafia,'' says M G Devasahayam, former IAS officer.

Senior bureaucrats point out that many of Tamil Nadu's problems arise because the chief secretary also holds the position of the Vigilance commissioner. This means a corrupt chief secretary and officers who obey his diktat can get away with murder because there is no one to challenge them within the Tamil Nadu administrative system. The state, in the interest of transparency and to clean up the dirt, would do well to appoint another senior officer to the vigilance post to facilitate independent probes.

Over the years in Tamil Nadu, especially under Jayalalithaa, the post of the chief secretary was sought to be devalued with the Advisor to the government having a decisive say in matters of governance. Vaidyanathan has her task cut out to restore to the chief secretary's office its rightful place in the administration instead of being reduced to a mere post office between the chief minister's office and other departments.

Admittedly, Vaidyanathan takes charge at a difficult time. The state is in a state of political flux after Jayalalithaa's demise and the AIADMK's attempt to prop up VK Sasikala, not just as party chief but even as chief minister. O Panneerselvam is not seen as an assertive CM, even though he is seen to have New Delhi's backing. Vaidyanathan will have to hit the ground running.
A grand alliance of sorts is brewing in election-bound Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, the ruling Samajwadi Party is most likely to collaborate with the Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in the upcoming elections. TV channels reported that SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is in Delhi and it's most likely that an alliance will be announced in the next 48 hours.

The report on CNN-News18 said that the SP will set aside 100 seats for the two allies, while keeping the rest with it. That Congress, that has 28 seats in the outgoing Assembly, may fight 78 seats while Ajit Singh-led RLD, which won nine seats in the 2012 elections, may fight on 22 seats.

Even though details at this point are not confirmed, the channel also said that the Congress may get to appoint its own as the deputy chief minister.

The talks of a possible alliance to counter a BJP, which has gathered considerable steam in the state, has been going on for a while. There have been reports which speculated an alliance with SP and Congress, while other reports had said that a mahagathbandhan of SP-Congress-RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), is also most likely. However, that news remained a rumour. It may be recalled that a grand alliance of the JD(U), RJD and Congress triumphed in the Bihar Assembly elections of 2015.

According to an India Today report published on Wednesday, the Congress and SP have had back room negotiations on a possible tie up since a fortnight.

Earlier, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said that a possible alliance between the Congress and the SP may fetch 300 seats.
By Lisa Barrington and Angus McDowall

| BEIRUT

BEIRUT Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo and air strikes resumed around the city on Friday as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents' withdrawal from the city could pave the way towards a political solution for the country.A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district.The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed. State television said at least three people died.Insurgents seeking to oust Assad have shelled government controlled areas of Aleppo throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in eastern districts rebels held until this month.Air strikes resumed in rebel-held areas of the countryside near Aleppo on Friday for the first time since the end of the evacuation operation.Strikes hit to the west, south-west and south of the city, areas which had not been hit for at least a week. The Britain-based Observatory had no information on casualties yet. After months of bombardment and a final few weeks of intense air strikes and Syrian army advances on the besieged, rebel-held part of Aleppo, a local ceasefire was reached on Dec. 15 which allowed thousand of civilians and then fighters to leave. The last left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west. The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed.Many of those who left are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed.

On Friday, the army and its allies, including Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels, to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported.State television showed empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes in the al-Ansari district. DAMASCUS WATER CUT

In the capital Damascus, the water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use reserves instead after rebels polluted the water with diesel, it said on Friday.

The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley northwest of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border.The government controls much of the surrounding territory and on Friday carried out aerial attacks and shelled the rebel-held area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.A military news outlet run by Hezbollah said the rebels in the valley had refused to leave the area and the Syrian Arab Army began an offensive against them on Friday morning.Through a series of so-called settlement agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition around the capital.

PEACE TALKS?

During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad's forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah.On Friday, Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria's main partner in the battle, and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process.Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution.Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State.United Nations-backed peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year as violence escalated, particularly around Aleppo. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut and Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman; editing by John Stonestreet and David Clarke)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Emilio Parodi and Antonella Cinelli

| MILAN

MILAN Italian police shot dead the man believed to be responsible for this week's Berlin Christmas market truck attack, killing him after he pulled a gun on them during a routine check in the early hours of Friday. The suspect - 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri - travelled to Italy from France, triggering a spate of criticism from eurosceptics over Europe's open-border Schengen pact.A police chief said his men had no idea they might be dealing with Amri when they approached him at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) outside a station in Sesto San Giovanni, a suburb of the northern city of Milan.Amri is suspected of driving a truck that smashed through a Berlin market on Monday killing 12 people, and security forces across Europe have been trying to track him down.The truck mowed through a crowd of people and bulldozed wooden huts selling Christmas gifts and snacks beside a famous church in west Berlin.Militant group Islamic State acknowledged Amri's death and his suspected role in the German attack - for which it has claimed responsibility - through its Amaq news agency."The executor of the Berlin attacks carries out another attack on Italian police in Milan and is killed in a shoot-out," it said.Milan police chief Antonio De Iesu told reporters that Amri had arrived in Milan's main railway station from France at around 1 a.m. and had then travelled to Sesto San Giovanni, where two young policemen approached him because he looked suspicious."We had no intelligence that he could be in Milan," De Iesu said. "They had no perception that it could be him otherwise they would have been much more cautious."He failed to produce any identification so the police requested he empty his pockets and his small backpack. He pulled a loaded gun from his bag and shot at one of the men, lightly wounding him in the shoulder.

Amri then hid behind a nearby car but the other police officer managed to shoot him once or twice, killing him on the spot. Amri was identified by his finger prints.ITALIAN JAIL

De Iesu said that besides the gun, Amri had been carrying a small pocket knife. He also had a few hundred euros on him but no cell phone. Amri once spent four years in jail in Italy and police were trying to work out if he knew someone in Sesto.A judicial source had earlier told Reuters that police had a tip off that Amri might be in the Milan area and that additional patrols had been sent out to look for him. De Iesu denied that, saying only that the authorities had recently ordered tighter security and more identification checks across the country."The two policemen simply decided to check up on a foreigner," De Iesu said.

Leading eurosceptics were quick to blame the Schengen open pact for allowing the fugitive to travel easily."This escapade in at least two or three countries is symptomatic of the total security catastrophe that is the Schengen agreement," said Marine Le Pen, who leads France's far-right, anti-immigrant National Front party and is running for president."I reiterate my pledge to give back France full control of its sovereignty, its national borders and to put an end to the consequences of the Schengen agreement," she said.Amri had been caught on camera by German police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit district early on Tuesday, Germany's rbb public broadcaster reported. His movements thereafter are not clear.He had originally come to Europe in 2011, reaching the Italian island of Lampedusa by boat. He told authorities he was a minor, though documents now indicate he was not, and he was transferred to Catania, Sicily, where he was enrolled in school.

Just months later he was arrested by police after he attempted to set fire to the school, a senior police source said. He was later convicted of vandalism, threats, and theft.He spent almost four years in Italian prisons before being ordered out of the country after Tunisia refused to accept him back because he did not have I.D. papers linking him to the north African country. He moved to Germany and applied for asylum there, but this was rejected after he was identified by security agencies as a potential threat. Once again he could not be deported because of a lack of identification documentation. A spokeswoman for Angela Merkel said the German Chancellor will discuss the deportation of rejected asylum applicants during a phone conversation with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.The Berlin attack has put Europe on high alert over the Christmas period.In the early hours of Friday morning, German special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.The men - two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31 - were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, police said.A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin, Anneli Palmen in Duesseldorf, Emilio Parodi, Elvira Pollina and Ilaria Polleschi in Milan, Antonella Cinelli and Gavin Jones in Rome; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The Tunisian man suspected of carrying out the deadly Berlin truck attack at the Christmas market was shot dead by police in Milan on Friday, Italy's interior minister Marco Minniti said.

The minister told a press conference in Rome that Anis Amri had been fatally shot after firing at two police officers who had stopped his car for a routine identity check around 3:00 am (0200 GMT).

Identity checks had established "without a shadow of doubt" that the dead man was Amri, the minister said.

He said that Amri had coolly pulled the weapon from a backpack and began shooting. One of the officers was hit in the shoulder during the exchanges, the minister said. The officer was in hospital, awaiting surgery but not in any danger.

Italy had Amri's fingerprints on file as a result of him having been in prison in Sicily between 2011 and 2015.

Thought to be around 24, he had been on the run since escaping after Monday's attack which left 12 people dead.

He had arrived in Italy from his native Tunisia during the Arab Spring in 2011.

Shortly after his arrival he was sentenced to a prison term for starting a fire in a refugee centre.

He was released in 2015 and made his way to Germany.

Media reports in Italy say he was on anti-terrorism police's radar as a potential Islamist radical during his time in prison but was not considered a high-priority subject for monitoring.

'Systemic failure'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday she was "proud of how calmly most people reacted" to the country's deadliest attack in years.

But her assuring message failed to dampen criticism of what many politicians and newspapers slammed as glaring security failures leading up to Monday's attack.

Berlin public broadcaster RBB reported that police filmed Amri heading into a Berlin mosque on Tuesday  after the attack  at a time when the investigation was still focussed on a Pakistani suspect who was later released.

Officials earlier revealed that Amri was a rejected asylum seeker with a history of crime, had spent years in an Italian jail and had long been known to German counter-terrorism agencies.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Amri had been monitored since March, suspected of planning break-ins to raise cash for automatic weapons to carry out an attack  but the surveillance was stopped in September because Amri was mostly active as a small-time drug dealer.

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel's liberal stance on refugees, said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy that brought almost 900,000 asylum seekers to Europe's top economy last year.

"It's clear that a lot went wrong... it was a systemic failure," said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King's College London.

Neumann argued that German security services lacked the manpower to maintain around-the-clock surveillance of the 550 known radical Islamists in Germany.

"Germany's anti-terrorism structure is failing to match the scale of the problem," he told news channel NTV. "Once the dust settles, it will be important to have a fundamental rethink."

'In the crosshairs'

While the security debate rages, and is set to intensify in the election year 2017, many Germans were looking ahead to Christmas Eve on Saturday, the country's most important festival.

On Thursday, Berliners flocked to the reopened Breitscheid square Christmas market that was targeted in Monday's carnage.

The government has appealed for people to carry on as normal and not to give in to fear.

Organisers dimmed festive lights and turned down the Christmas jingles as a mark of respect for those killed.

Victims were also honoured with candles, flowers, letters of condolence and signs reading "Love Not Hate".

Among the dead were six Germans, 60-year-old Israeli Dalia Elyakim, and a young Italian woman called Fabrizia Di Lorenzo. Forty-eight others were injured.

On Friday, a memorial concert was planned at the iconic Brandenburg gate under the theme of "Together Berlin".

Germany had until now been spared the jihadist carnage that has struck neighbouring France and Belgium.

But it has suffered a spate of smaller attacks, including two in July that left 20 people injured, both committed by asylum seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group.

Merkel said Germany had "known for a long time that we are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism. And yet, when it happens... it is a totally different situation."
By Emilio Parodi and Antonella Cinelli

| MILAN

MILAN Italian police shot dead the man believed responsible for this week's Berlin Christmas market truck attack, killing him after he pulled a gun on them during a routine check in the early hours of Friday.The suspect - 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri - travelled to Italy from Germany via France, taking advantage of Europe's open-border Schengen pact to cross the continent undetected.As anger grew over the fact that Amri had escaped expulsion twice in 18 months thanks to bureaucratic loopholes, eurosceptic parties called for the reintroduction of border controls, while Germany said deportations had to be made easier.Amri is suspected of ploughing a truck through a festive Berlin market on Monday, killing 12 people. In a video released on Friday after his death, he is seen pledging his allegiance to militant group Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi."I call on my Muslim brothers everywhere... Those in Europe, kill the crusader pigs, each person to their own ability," he says in the video posted on Islamic State's Amaq news agency.Amri had arrived in Milan's main railway station from France at 1.00 a.m. (0000 GMT) and then travelled to the working class suburb of Sesto San Giovanni, where two young policemen approached him because he looked suspicious idling on a street.Milan police chief Antonio De Iesu told a news conference his men had no idea that they might be dealing with Amri. "They had no perception that it could be him, otherwise they would have been much more cautious," De Iesu said. "We had no intelligence that he could be in Milan."He failed to produce any identification so the police requested he empty his pockets and his small backpack. He pulled a loaded gun from his bag and shot at one of the men, lightly wounding him in the shoulder. Amri then hid behind a nearby car but the other police officer managed to shoot him once or twice, killing him on the spot, De Iesu said. Amri was identified by his fingerprints.

ITALIAN JAIL

De Iesu said that besides the gun, the suspect had been carrying a small pocket knife. He also had a few hundred euros on him but no cell phone and very few other belongings. Amri once spent four years in jail in Italy and police were trying to work out if he knew someone in Sesto, which is home to a sizeable Muslim community. "He could have carried out other attacks. He was a loose cannon," De Iesu said.Islamic State had previously claimed responsibility for the Berlin killings and on Friday it acknowledged the death of the man it referred to as "the executor of the Berlin attacks."

Leading eurosceptics were quick to blame the Schengen open borders pact for allowing the suspect to travel so easily."This escapade in at least two or three countries is symptomatic of the total security catastrophe that is the Schengen agreement," said Marine Le Pen, who leads France's far-right National Front party and is running for president.Beppe Grillo, the founder of the 5-Star Movement, Italy's main opposition party, said Schengen was allowing militants to cross Europe with impunity and had to be re-thought. He also said all illegal migrants had to be expelled from the country.Chancellor Angela Merkel, under increasing pressure inside Germany to take a much tougher line on immigration after opening the country's borders to waves of refugees in 2015, said the Berlin attack raised many questions and promised measures would be taken to improve security.Amri originally come to Europe in 2011, reaching the Italian island of Lampedusa by boat. He told authorities he was a minor, though documents now indicate he was not, and he was transferred to Catania, Sicily, where he was enrolled in school.

Just months later he was arrested by police after he attempted to set fire to the school, a senior police source said. He was later convicted of vandalism, threats, and theft.He spent almost four years in Italian prisons before being ordered out of the country after Tunisia refused to accept him back in 2015 because he had no identification papers linking him to the north African country. He moved to Germany and applied for asylum there, but this was rejected after he was identified by security agencies as a potential threat. Once again he could not be deported because of a lack of I.D.Merkel said on Friday she had told Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi during a phone conversation that her government wanted to speed up deportation of failed asylum seekers.The attack, which echoed one in Nice in July that killed more than 80 people, has put Europe on high alert over the Christmas period.Early on Friday, German special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the western city of Oberhausen.The men - two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31 - were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, police said. A police spokesman said there was no link with the Amri case. (Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber, Victoria Bryan and Joseph Nasr in Berlin, Anneli Palmen in Duesseldorf, Emilio Parodi, Elvira Pollina and Ilaria Polleschi in Milan, Antonella Cinelli and Gavin Jones in Rome, Mohamed El Sherif in Cairo; Writing by Crispian Balmer; editing by John Stonestreet)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
CAIRO Egyptian police arrested an Al Jazeera news producer on Friday over accusations of attempting to overthrow the country's government and being a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, three security sources said.The Qatar-based broadcaster, which Egypt accuses of being a mouthpiece of the Brotherhood, said it did not know where Mahmoud Hussain was being held.Hussain was questioned for more than 15 hours at Cairo airport on Tuesday after arriving for his annual vacation, the broadcaster said on its website. He is currently based in Doha but worked in Egypt before Al Jazeera closed its office there in 2013.He was arrested at his Cairo home on Friday, Al Jazeera and the sources said.

Officials from the Interior Ministry were not immediately available for comment.Egyptian authorities have over the past two years arrested several Al Jazeera reporters, raising concerns over media freedoms in the country.

In May, a Cairo court recommended the death penalty against two of them, charged in absentia with endangering national security by leaking state secrets to Qatar. [nL5N184087]The Brotherhood is a Qatar-backed movement that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has cracked down on since an army takeover in 2013 stripped former president Mohammed Mursi - a prominent member of the group - of power following mass protests against his rule.

Thousands of Brotherhood supporters including Mursi are in jail and Egypt has designated the group, which says it is non-violent, a terrorist organisation. (Reporting by Amina Ismail; Writing by Asma Alsharif; editing by John Stonestreet)

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Valletta, Malta: Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane and diverted it to Malta on Friday, before releasing almost all the passengers onboard, the prime minister of the Mediterranean island said. The prime minister also added that the hijackers surrendered after releasing all the passengers and crew.

"Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody," Muscat tweeted.

After more than an hour on the tarmac, the door of the Airbus A320 opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending a mobile staircase. Dozens more passengers were released minutes later.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in all 109 passengers had been released, which would leave only two passengers, possibly the hijackers themselves. Seven crew members were also on board the flight.

"Crew members being released," Muscat said on Twitter, adding: "Potentially 2 hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft".

Maltese government sources had earlier said only a single hijacker was believed to be on the plane.

The aircraft had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

"The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations," Muscat tweeted earlier.

"It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board: 82 males, 28 females, one infant," he said.

Muscat later spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's fledgling unity government, the Maltese prime minister's office said.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac surrounded by military vehicles and all flights in and out of the airport were initially either delayed or diverted to destinations in Italy, though some later landed.

'Negotiations under way'

A source from Libya's unity government spoke of "hijackers" on board the plane. "Negotiations are under way to guarantee the security of all the passengers," the source said, without specifying who was negotiating. An Afriqiyah Airways source said two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade. Malta International Airport tweeted that there had been "an unlawful interference" but that operations had now resumed. Flights from Brussels, London and Paris had been due to land at the airport on Friday and were delayed.

The flight from Paris has since been able to land, according to the airport's online arrivals board. Outgoing flights were also shown resuming.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country. Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015. Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country. A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines  banned from European airspace  operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.
Colombo: Sri Lanka's ties with India improved in 2016 with high-level exchanges and signing of agreements to give momentum to their relationship, even as issues over a proposed economic and technology pact, poaching by fishermen in each other's water and China's influence in the island nation remained a cause for concern.

Historically, bilateral ties have been fraught with controversies. In the 1980s, the Tamil question dominated relations and more recently differences have sometimes erupted over poaching by fishermen and Sri Lankas increasing dependence on China for investment.

But with a change in government in India and Sri Lanka last year, the ties in 2016 showed signs of maturity, breaking away from the past towards an era of synergy and understanding.

One of the defining moments in bilateral ties this year came when Sri Lanka pulled out of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit, which was scheduled in November in Pakistan, after India boycotted the meet over an attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based terrorists.

In November, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba visited Colombo during which he attended the Galle Dialogue - a meeting of regional navies at the southern coastal city. The visit was aimed at consolidating bilateral maritime security relations amid an increasingly assertive China in the region.

The increasing dependence on China for investment and military aid curtailed Sri Lankas ability to limit Beijing's influence in its economic and maritime policy. China has been keen to push its economic and infrastructure proposals to the Indian Ocean states.

India focused on economic consideration to boost ties with Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government too appeared interested in building the country through economic ties with India.

During his visit to India in the first week of October, prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka expected to sign an Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) with India by the end of this year.

Wickremesinghe appeared keen to fast-track the ETCA, given the needs arising from Britains decision to leave the 28-member European Union economic bloc. The ETCA advocates believe the pact was an imperative to mitigate the effects of Britain's exit from the EU.

The progress on ETCA has been discouraging, however, and some have doubted the benefits of the agreement. Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition has said the agreement was an "appeasement" of India, ignoring the greater largesses from China.

Opposition legislator, Wimal Weerawansa, said: "With the ETCA, it looks as if the government is keen to help India solve its unemployment problem. They are creating one million jobs for the Indians." But president Maithripala Sirisena defended his government's decision to enter into the agreement with India, saying protests against it were "politically motivated."
By Chris Scicluna

| VALLETTA

VALLETTA Hijackers forced an airliner to land in Malta on Friday then freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi.Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after one man told crew he had a hand grenade. Initial reports said one of the men had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to free all passengers if his demands were met. It was unclear what the demands were. A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm. After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party."

STANDOFF ON TARMAC

MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted. A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours. The government of Malta said Prime Minister Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team was formed at the airport. Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.The last major hijacking on the island was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed. (Additional reporting by Ahmed Elumami in Tripoli, Ayman al-Warfalli in Benghazi, Aidan Lewis in Tunis, Robin Pomeroy and Alison Williams in London; writing by Andrew Roche; editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Tuvan Gumrukcu

| SOKE, Turkey

SOKE, Turkey Those in the small Turkish town of Soke who knew Mevlut Altintas, the smartly dressed, clean-shaven young man who shot dead Russia's ambassador this week, recall a lonely taciturn boy twice rejected by university before leaving home and joining the police.Altintas was 22 when he shot Andrei Karlov in the back at an Ankara art gallery before being himself gunned down by police. Few in Soke would have recognised the figure in black suit and tie who stood over the diplomat's body screaming jihadi slogans. For his family, as for Karlov's, it was a tragedy."I have always admired their son," said a next-door neighbour, who spoke to Reuters from behind her closed door and from time to time broke down in tears. "He was respectful and calm, a very nice young man."When the police arrived at the door, we assumed he had been killed on duty and they were here to tell the family of his martyrdom. The mother was devastated when she heard," the neighbour said.The killing, for many, illustrated the turmoil in a country that has been transformed under Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has to contend with conflicts across the border in Syria and Iraq, and Kurdish insurrection and attacks by Islamic State at home.The police force Altintas served, as a member of the riot squad, is also in some tumult, its command and rank-and-file purged of what Erdogan calls traitors and terrorists after a failed coup against him in July. The Turkish police has long had secret networks and allegiances in its ranks, both Islamist and nationalist.Although constitutionally secular, the Turkish state has long relied on the "twin pillars" of Sunni Islam and nationalism, said Halil Karaveli, managing editor of The Turkey Analyst, a policy journal."The religious element was always very important in the recruitment and the formation of the cadres of the Turkish state, especially in the security services - not in the army - but in the police."EXILED CLERIC

Erdogan said the assassin was a follower of exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally, who had built a wide network in the police. Gulen denies this.Soke is in one of the most secular regions of Turkey, in the south-west. But Celtikci, the Soke neighbourhood where the Altintas family live, is filled with run-down buildings, where the paint is peeling and the walls are scarred by graffiti, often nationalist or religious. "Islam is the only way," reads one, "God should be bestowed upon Turks," says another. Altintas' family lives on the fourth floor and laundry could still be seen hanging out on the balcony, two days after police detained them for questioning. Media said they were later released.His father, Israfil Altintas, said he had spoken to his son by phone on the day of the attack. The young man's behaviour started changing after he became friends at police academy with a man identified as Sercan B.

"As far as I know, he was not a member of any terrorist organisation, religious network or group," Israfil Altintas told police, according to Turkish broadcaster Haberturk. "However, he started becoming focused on his prayers, more introverted and silent after he became a policeman."Israfil said his son had ignored his suggestion that he should remain in Izmir and had gone with Sercan to Ankara, where they lived in the same house.His mother, Hamidiye Altintas, said she had also called her son on the day of the attack."He asked, 'What are you doing, Mom?', and I told him I was on a visit and would call him when I was available. He then hung up, saying 'Alright Mom, be in God's care, give me your blessing'."My son was an introverted and silent boy," she said.Former acquaintances of Altintas recall a distant figure who spent much of his time with his step-sister and grandmother. No-one seemed to know of any open allegiance to Gulen in young adulthood."He was always in need of help," said Bahri Gokciyel, who was from the same neighbourhood and now works at a teahouse in Soke, a lower middle-class town of 117,000 overshadowed by the upscale resorts that dot the Aegean coast.

"He was a silent kid who had no friends all through school," he said, adding that Altintas twice failed to get a place at university.Whatever his academic shortcomings, Altintas planned the killing meticulously, scouting out the gallery in advance, calling in sick on the day of the attack and using his police ID to bypass security checks and get into the venue with a gun. While the slogans Altintas shouted suggest he was sympathetic to radical Islamist ideology, Gulen preaches interfaith dialogue. Whatever the motive, the killing capped a violent year for Turkey that includes a string of deadly bombings blamed on both Kurdish militants and Islamic State.Since the attempted coup, authorities have dismissed or suspended more than 100,000 people suspected of links to the cleric, and fired 40,000. NEIGHBOURS

Although Altintas lived in Ankara, he came home from time to time and was seen by neighbours."Mert stayed with his grandmother a lot, and we used to see him on the street when we played games," said 22-year-old Tolga Tosun, who grew up with Altintas, and now is involved in local politics for the main secular opposition party, the CHP, the dominant party in Soke.

"He never joined, and he never spoke to anyone. He was always alone and silent," Tosun added.National feeling also runs strong in Soke, with the nationalist opposition also boasting a solid presence. Tosun said Altintas' family were affiliated with the nationalist party and relatively pious. However, other neighbours could not confirm that and the local head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said the family were not members.SPILLOVER

Altintas' actions have also raised questions about the potential spillover from the Syrian crisis to Turkey. Some pious Turks, who for years have listened to Erdogan talk about the need to save Syria from President Bashar al-Assad, are now puzzled by his closer ties with Russia, Assad's main backer. "Since 2011, the high-pitched government rhetoric on Syria has shaped a Turkish constituency that is very sensitive to the tragedies unfolding in Syria," said Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat and analyst at Carnegie Europe."That constituency is becoming very uncertain and almost disillusioned."But in Soke, some of the locals see the dark hand of Gulen, which the government refers to as the "Gulenist Terror Organisation".Gokciyel, the former neighbour, said he believed that Altintas used Gulenist connections to enter the police academy. The government has long said Gulen's followers have used their affiliated schools to infiltrate the civil service and police.Whatever happens next, the people of Soke, like many Turks, feel things have been irreparably changed by the assassination."Killing an ambassador is shameful. Not just for the killer, but also for our country," said Yurdakos Elgun, an official at the local office of the CHP, the secular opposition."Our ancestors have always said that no cruelty can be done to guests." (Additional reporting by Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Giles Elgood)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
He is a figment of the imagination  of many imaginations  and yet he is real. That is the enduring appeal of Santa Claus, still the most ubiquitous symbol of Christmas throughout the world. He personifies the merriment and the spirit of giving that pervades the atmosphere this festival. If Santa Claus were to be a contemporary entity, he would be a valued brand. Something to give the likes of Google, Apple, Facebook and Coca Cola a run for their money!

Who is this jolly, chubby person, with a long white beard and red attire who takes over the popular imagination come December? Is he a commercial creation or a religious icon? Is he a messenger of goodwill or is he a reflection of our consumerist greed? Is he American in origin or is he European or did he come from Asia or from Africa?

There are no certain answers to these questions. The only possible assertion is that Santa as we know him now is a synthesis of multifarious influences and that he has evolved over many centuries.

As per a few extant theories, the earliest influences that could have metamorphosed into Santa's most magical elements probably predate the arrival of Jesus. There are references in Roman writings to 'Saturnalia', a celebration in December where gift-giving was an integral part of the festivities. Flying reindeer, another element of the Santa Claus story, was suggested in cave paintings dating back to over thousands of years, say some scholars.

Santa Claus has also borrowed many features from the Norse Gods Thor and Odin. Odin rode reindeer or a eight legged horse, while Thor had a long white beard, wore red clothes and descended down chimneys.

Santa's story definitely begins at least with the fourth century CE St. Nicholas who lived in modern day Turkey (he was the Bishop of Myra). Stories of his generosity, his compassion and his love for children are all part of modern lore. The Dutch celebrated this revered Greek saint on 6 December and gifts for children were left next to the fireplace in this honour. It is widely believed that they carried the tradition to America. In 1821, the book The Children's Friend was published in America, and it a 'Sante Claus':

Old Santeclaus with much delight

His reindeer drives the frosty night

O'er chimney tops and tracks of snow

To bring his yearly gifts to you.

In 1822, Clement Moore is believed to have penned a poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas, more popularly known as 'Twas the night before Christmas He fused the Dutch Sinterklass with elements from Germanic and Nordic mythology to create a new image of the Saint, and Santa Claus started coming into his own. In 1863, Thomas Nast featured an early illustration of Santa in A Christmas Furlough for Harper's Weekly, but it was his 1881 iconic illustration for the same magazine that is immensely recognisable even today.

Another precursor to Santa Claus is the British idea of Father Christmas or Sir Christmas introduced by Ben Jonson in 1616 in Christmas his Masque, and later built upon by Thomas Nabbes. "Father Christmas then was essentially concerned with the adult world, personifying feasting and games. He had no connection with presents, and he was not treated with much respect, being generally a burlesque figure of fun. Then Santa arrived and he established roots in Britain and merged with Father Christmas to become 'associated with children, bounty, and charity'."

Santa Claus then traveled to the rest of the world and was adapted and adopted by poets and writers, retailers and brands, and he is ever evolving. The myth and iconography of Santa Claus have since been enriched over the last two centuries. The future of Santa Claus has been debated for a long time  he has been under attack from many quarters. No one knows for sure where he came from  no one knows where he will go  but one hopes that with the childlike innocence and wonder beneath the many overpowering layers of his commercial form, the messages that are supposedly at the core of his legend are not lost: Be good and you shall be rewarded by Santa! Even more importantly, you can be someone else's secret Santa too! Hope your secret Santa fulfills your wish this Christmas.

Bibliography:

Flight of the Reindeer: The True Story of Santa Claus and His Christmas Mission by Robert Sullivan

Stations of the Sun by Ronald Hutton

Santa Claus: A Biography by Gerry Bowler

Garima is an independent business consultant and mentors startups. She is an Indic Studies enthusiast.

Author's Note: This piece is not meant to be an authoritative history of Santa Claus. It only mentions some of the important threads that are a part of the Santa Claus lore. Santa is referred to as "he" because a female Santa Claus does not seem to have caught on. Hopefully that will be the newest addition to the Santa stories!
By Timothy Mclaughlin and Renita D. Young

| CHICAGO

CHICAGO A Singaporean blogger who has stirred controversy in his home country is being detained by U.S. immigration officials, the Department of Homeland Security said on Friday.Amos Yee, 18, who was jailed earlier this year in the Southeast Asian city-state, was stopped by customs agents at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 16 as he sought political asylum in the United States, his mother said. "Amos is being detained in the US right now. He is seeking political asylum in the US. The matter is now with his lawyers. I will not be speaking to the press or anyone on this matter," Mary Toh, Yee's mother, said in a statement posted to Facebook on Friday evening Singapore time. Yee has been jailed twice in Singapore for online comments. His trials, which have been closely watched by rights groups and the United Nations, have fuelled the debate in Singapore over censorship and the limits of free speech.

Yee is in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pending federal immigration court proceedings, Gail Montenegro, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in an email. Montenegro declined to provide further details of why Yee was detained, where he was being held or if he had any legal representation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Ralph Piccirilli also said the agency had "encountered" Yee, but declined further comment.The Singapore embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In September, Yee pleaded guilty to six charges of deliberately posting comments on the internet - in videos, blog posts and a picture - that were critical of Christianity and Islam. He was sentenced to six weeks in jail. Last year, Yee was convicted on charges of harassment and insulting a religious group over comments he made about former premier Lee Kuan Yew and Christians soon after Lee's death. His sentence at the time amounted to four weeks in jail. (Additional reporting by Fathin Ungku in Singapore; Editing by Andrew Hay)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
BEIRUT Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo on Friday killing at least three people, media reported, as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents' withdrawal from the city could pave the way towards a political solution for the country.A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a Britain-based war monitor - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district.The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed, while state television said at least three people died.In the capital Damascus, authorities said on Friday rebels had polluted the water with diesel, forcing it to cut the supply for a few days. Reserves would be used until the problem was resolved. Insurgents seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have frequently shelled the areas of Aleppo that have been under government control throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in the eastern districts that rebels held until this month. The last of them left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west, under a ceasefire deal in which the International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed.

Many of those who left the city are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed. On Friday morning the army and its allies, including the Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported. State television showed footage of the al-Ansari district, including empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes.

PEACE TALKS?

During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad's forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah.On Friday Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria's main partner in the battle, and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process.

Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution.Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State.United Nations-backed peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year as violence escalated, particularly around Aleppo. (Reporting by Angus McDowall and Lisa Barrington; editing by John Stonestreet)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
With political shocks in Europe, burdensome new regulations at home, and a presidential campaign unlike anything we have ever seen, the year in economics has been quite an interesting one. Take a look back at E21s most-read commentaries of 2016.

1. Italexit Could Make Brexit Look Like a Picnic, by Desmond Lachman (December 2, 2016)

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi lost his proposed constitutional reformsand his jobin a referendum earlier this month. That has darkened the storm clouds over the Italian economy, which has not recovered fully from the Great Recession and struggles with an unemployment rate of 11 percent. The Italian economy, which is too large to bail out, might have to leave the Euro. As Italy is the currency areas third-largest economy, it is hard to imagine the Euro surviving an Italexit.

2. Sorry, Elizabeth Warren, Women Already Have Equal Pay, by Diana Furchtgott-Roth (July 27, 2016)

Senator Elizabeth Warrens speech at the Democratic National Convention resurrected an old myth: women are paid less than men for the same work. However, the so-called wage gap virtually disappears after researchers control for other factors such as skills and hours worked. Indeed, young, childless women actually earn more than their male counterparts. Yet Democrats have nevertheless insisted on burdensome regulation to address the issue: a solution in search of a problem.

3. UnitedHealthcares Exit Augurs Badly for Obamacare, by Diana Furchtgott-Roth (April 19, 2016)

UnitedHealthcare, the nations largest health insurer, announced this year that it would withdraw from most of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. The ACA was written so that young, healthy people would have to pay heavy premiums for health insurance in order to subsidize everyone else. So many young people simply did not sign upleading to an older, sicker pool of enrollees that are far more expensive to insure. Many insurance companies have simply pulled out of the market, proving that you cannot run one-sixth of the American economy by regulatory fiat.

4. What the New York Times Isnt Telling You About Social Security, by Charles Blahous (January 18, 2016)

The New York Times and other liberals have argued that Social Security is in no need of reform to reduce costs, and actually merits a benefit increase. But Social Security costs are unsustainable due to an aging population and a slow-growing tax base. Increasing taxes would hurt young and low-income people the most. While reducing the rate Social Security benefit growth is not a politically popular position, it is necessary to safeguard Americas fiscal future.

5. One Big Downside to Universal Basic Income, by Preston Cooper (April 28, 2016)

Universal basic incomegetting a check from the government every month in lieu of all other welfare programsis gaining popularity as an idea. But Social Security and Medicare provide a cautionary tale: universal programs, with hundreds of millions of beneficiaries, are quite difficult to reform. No one, especially not the government, gets it right the first time. If policymakers design basic income wrong, they may face insurmountable political barriers to changing it later on.

6. Californias Suicidal House Policies, by Allie Howell (October 10, 2016)

Silicon Valley earned the dubious distinction earlier this year of a median home price above $1 million. Environmental regulations and density restrictions have hampered construction in California, leading to sky-high property prices and rents. Affordable housing initiatives, too, have the perverse effect of driving developers away, which actually increases housing costs. While California is a desirable place to live, the states regulators seem to be doing everything they can to drive people away.

7. FDAs New E-Cigarette Regulations Will Kill, by Jared Meyer (May 5, 2016)

The FDA made quite the power grab when it decided to regulate e-cigarettes like tobacco products, despite their complete lack of tobacco. The new regulations will subject e-cigarette companies to millions of dollars in fees and thousands of hours in compliance times to bring their products to the market, a burden which could kill off up to 99 percent of the nascent industry. Despite a Royal College of Physicians finding that e-cigarettes are 95 percent safer than traditional cigarettes, the FDA went ahead with its regulatory crusade anywaysa move that will almost certainly cost smokers lives.

Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, E21 delivers a short email that includes E21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the E21 Morning Ebrief.
Google has confirmed the ongoing rumor which claimed the company will release two flagship smartwatches in 2017. In an interview with The Verge, the company has confirmed that it will release a pair of Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches next year.

These smartwatches will carry the brand of the company that will actually make the devices in partnership with Google, similar to the Nexus phones and tablets, Jeff Chang, Android Wear product manager told the publication. This means Google will not use the Pixel branding for these smartwatches.

According to earlier rumors, Angelfish, larger of the two smartwatches will be a sporty standalone variant with a 43.5mm diameter screen, 14mm thick and support LTE, GPS and heart rate tracking. It could sport visible lugs, with a smooth housing shape that curves where the watch band meets the body. It is said to feature 3 buttons similar to the LG Watch Urbane LTE. It is said to come in a matte dark gray color.

Swordfish on the other hand is said to be similar to Pebble Time Round, could feature a single button similar to most of the Android Wear watches, have diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 10.6mm. It will reportedly come in Silver, Titanium, and Rose gold color options.

Earlier this month, Google acquired smartwatch OS startup Cronologics to bolster its Android Wear efforts. Google announced Android Wear 2.0 in May this year.

Source
Xiaomi launched its first and only tablet dubbed as Mi Pad with a 7.9-inch display in India last year at Rs. 12,999. This device was relatively inexpensive offering from the Chinese handset maker considering its price and specifications.

A few months back, Xiaomi started rolling out MIUI 8 update officially for most of its smartphones leaving Mi Pad out of the league. Moreover, the name of the device didnt appear on the list of devices that will be updated to MIUI8 as well during initial days. Anyhow, worry not! Today, we have shared a simple guide to flash MIUI 8 recovery ROM on your

Xiaomi Mi Pad.

Xiaomi MiPad specifications

7.9-inch (2048  1536 pixels) display at 326 ppi with 4:3 aspect ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection

2.2 GHz NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor with 192-core Kepler GPU

2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, up to 128GB expandable memory with microSD

Android-based MiUI ROM

8MP rear camera with Sony BSI stacked sensor, 1080p video recording, f/2.0 aperture

5MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture

8.5mm thick and weighs 360 grams

WiFi 802.11/b/g/n/ac Dual Band (2X2 MIMO), Bluetooth 4.0

6700mAh battery

Requirements

Mi Pad with full battery charge

MIUI 8 Chinese Stable ROM file

Step 1: Download the MIUI 8 ROM file for Mi Pad to your PC from here

Step 2: Once it gets downloaded, create a new folder and paste it inside

Step 3: Rename the folder as update.zip

Step 4: Copy the folder and paste it in the root folder (Internal storage) of your tablet

Step 5: Now go to the updater app

Step 6: Tap on Choose update package and select the update.zip folder

Step 7: Now the installation process will take some time

Step 8: Once the process is complete, reboot the device and enjoy

The update will not change the Android version, so your device will still remain on Android 4.4 (KitKat).

Warning disclaimer: FoneArena is not responsible for any damage or loss caused to your Mi Pad
The Ministry of External Affairs has launched a new platform for customer service solution to provide real-time service delivery and user interaction globally. Dubbed as Twitter Seva, the service will enable Indians here and abroad, tourists and business travellers to tweet for speedy resolution to their visa and passport queries.



Twitter Seva service roll out will be supported by 198 Twitter accounts of Missions and High Commissions across the world and 29 Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) in India. The service is aimed at offering timely, transparent and large scale response to citizen tweets in real-time thereby enhancing scalability and expediting the process of dealing with requests by Indian and global citizens.

Citizens of India and Non-Indians can simply tweet their query with relevant MEA Twitter account. The queries can be anything ranging from a couple having trouble getting their child a passport, cry for help by migrant workers who have claims for unpaid wages to someone trying to get their relatives dead body home or simply a person seeking help with passport and visa documentation. The request will activate the concerned office nationally or across the world.

Twitter Seva, according to the micro blogging site is a customized live customer service delivery solution which is an effective mechanism to respond to public queries and grievances. It helps process large volumes of tweets, converts them into resolvable tickets, and assigns them to the relevant authority for real-time resolution.

GEN. (DR) V.K. Singh (Retd) said in a statement,

Over time, Twitter has proved to be a powerful tool for communicating and exchanging information especially in times of need. Our action-reaction process has witnessed a real time boost. With the adoption of Twitter Seva today, our commitment to serve our people in India and across the globe in an enhanced, timely and transparent manner will take a new leap forward.

Raheel Khursheed Head of News and Government Partnerships, Twitter India, said in a blog post,

Twitter is pleased to support the Ministry of External Affairs as a key platform for digital diplomacy. The Twitter Seva system is now tracking more than 750,000 Tweets across 11 large government partners in two countries with more than 7500 Twitter handles supporting the live delivery of services. Each Tweet stacks up as a metric of the Governments intent to deliver effective and transparent service.

Twitter Seva is currently being used for citizen engagement by the Ministry of Commerce (@DIPPGOI), the Ministry of External Affairs (@MEAIndia), the Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia), the Department of Telecommunications (@Dot_India), Department of Posts, MTNL, BSNL under the Ministry of Communication, the UP Police (@Uppolice) as well as the Bengaluru Police (@BlrCityPolice). The other police departments that are set to adopt this Twitter innovation are the Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice), Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) and Hyderabad Police (@hydcitypolice). Internationally Twitter Seva is in use at the Central Java province in Indonesia.

The latest initiative looks like an extension of the Twitter Seva service that was launched this year wherein citizens can lodge complaints against their telecom and postal services by tweeting @manojsinhabj.

Source
Check out FoneArena Daily video that gives you a daily dose of the latest technology news.

Google has confirmed that it will release two flagship smartwatches in 2017 running Android Wear 2.0. These smartwatches will carry the brand of the company that will actually make the devices in partnership with Google, similar to the Nexus phones and tablets.

Asus has launched ZenWatch 3, its third generation Android Wear smartwatch with a round dial in India. The Asus ZenWatch 3 with Rubber strap is priced at Rs. 17,599 and the version with leather strap is priced at Rs. 18,999. It is available for pre-order exclusively on Flipkart.

Xiaomi has announced Mi Notebook Air 4G in partnership with China Mobile. It has Cat.4 4G LTE support built-in with any SIM card that offers download speed of up to 150Mbps. The 13.3-inch 4G version has a faster Intel Core i7 processor compared to Core i5 in the standard version.

OnePlus 2 has received incremental OxygenOS 3.5.5 update that finally brings VoLTE support for the phone. It also brings new Battery Saving Mode, Gaming Mode and several new features along with stability improvements and bug fixes.

Todays deal  New Kindle Paperwhite for Rs. 8999.
(Photo: Romanian Orthodox Church / WCC)World Council of Churches meeting at the Caraiman Monastery in the southern Carpathian Mountains of Romania from June 18-23, at the invitation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the dominant confession in the eastern European country.

Romania is set to appoint Europe's first Muslim prime minister who will also be the nation's first woman in the leadership position following the nomination of a member of the country's little-known Tartar minority.

Sevil Shhaideh, a 52-year-old member of the Tatar Muslim minority and a low-key former public administration minister, was proposed by her political mentor Liviu Dragnea, leader of the left-leaning Social Democratic Party (PSD).

The PSD led by Dragnea took 45 per cent of the vote on election day Dec. 11, double any other party's share.

After consultations Dec. 21, the party is to assemble a new government in coalition with a smaller liberal partner.

But although Dragnea, is the party and would normally be appointed to become Prime Minister, he was found guilty of electoral fraud and given a two years' suspended sentence in April.

He is not banned from politics and he remains hugely popular among his party's base.

Incumbent President Klaus Iohannis was elected on an anti-corruption platform and has barred any candidate with a criminal record from becoming prime minister.

"It's a surprising choice," said Sergiu Miscoiu, a professor of political science at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, The New York Times reported. "People were expecting somebody controlled by Dragnea, but from the party's upper levels, not a relative newcomer."

Of Romania's 21.5 million people only one percent are Muslims with some 82 percent Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Shhaideh, is a former regional development minister and is married to a Syrian Alawite with property in the country. She was born in 1964.

She graduated in 1987 from the Economic Planning and Cybernetics Faculty of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, later attending several foreign training courses including in the United States, before specializing in information systems management.

She had her first political appointment in May 2012, when she was named Secretary of State with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration before becoming the office's Minister in 2015, a position she held until November.

Romania's parliament and President Iohannis still have to approve her appointment.
When it comes to bank stocks (or any stocks for that matter) it's important to distinguish between price and value. Image source: iStock/Thinkstock.

If you're an investor with an interest in the bank industry, then there are certain stocks that should be on your radar. Ten that come immediately to mind are the eight global systemically important banks together with two of the largest regional banks, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) and Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF).

But whether you can afford to buy any of these stocks depends in part on their share prices. With this in mind, here's a list of these 10 popular bank stocks ranked by share price.

Data source: YCharts.com.

A variety of options

There's a wide range of bank stocks both in terms of their respective share prices and their business models.

The standalone investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) tops the list, with a share price of $241. That's more than double the runner-up, credit card specialist Capital One Financial, with its shares selling for $90 each.

On the other end of the spectrum is the nation's second largest commercial bank, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), which has the least expensive stock by far within its peer group. Its shares trade for less than $23 a unit, which is roughly half that of the next cheapest bank stock, investment bank Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), which trades for around $43 a share.

Price vs. value

It's important to point out that a stock's price should play a smaller role in an investor's decision about whether to invest in it than valuation should. That's why I included the third column, showing these banks' price-to-tangible-book-value ratios. This is really what dictates whether a particular bank's stock is cheap or expensive.

It's by looking at this that you can see why Goldman Sachs' stock isn't as expensive as its share price would otherwise lead you to believe. Based on its valuation, in fact, Goldman Sachs is ranked fifth after Citigroup, Capital One, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley.

On the other end of the spectrum are banks such as Bank of New York Mellon, U.S. Bancorp, and State Street, which trade near or above three times their respective tangible book values.

Why are these three banks so expensive?

In U.S. Bancorp's case, a regional lender based in Minneapolis, it's the most profitable big bank in the country, run by some of the best in the business. And in Bank of New York Mellon and State Street's cases, both of which operate custodial banks (here are the five different types of banks you can invest in), their unique business models insulate them from the same degree of risk that most other banks face.

The point is, if you're looking to invest in a bank today, you need to look beyond its share price and consider not only its value, but also what it brings to the table in terms of its business model.

10 stocks we like better thanWal-MartWhen investing geniuses David and TomGardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter theyhave run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tomjust revealed what they believe are theten best stocksfor investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- theythink these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click hereto learn about these picks!

*StockAdvisor returns as of December 12, 2016The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.

John Maxfield owns shares of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, US Bancorp, and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Sometimes, it seems as if there are as many brokers as there are investments you can buy with a brokerage account. But rather than be dazed by the differences between them, we think that keeping a focus on a few of the differences can help you see how a broker can work for your portfolio.

E*TRADE and Charles Schwab are used by millions of investors, but how do they compare on some of the most important considerations? Let's break it down, item by item.

Trading costs and commissions

Truthfully, all discount brokers have relatively low commissions, especially when compared to the prices of full-service brokerage firms. In the table below, we've broken down each broker's commissions by trade type.

You should keep in mind that published rates can be different than your effective rate. Both brokers waive commissions on certain ETFs and mutual funds. In addition, investors should see if they qualify for special offers to open a traditional brokerage account, or an IRA account, which can substantially reduce your true cost to make a trade.

Commission-free ETFs and NTF Funds

Not every trade incurs a commission cost. In fact, E*TRADE and Capital One both have long lists of ETFs and mutual funds that you can buy and sell for free.

When combined, these brokers have nearly 7,000 investments that you can trade without paying a commission or transaction fee. If funds are your forte, either could be a good choice for you.

Account minimums

Minimum initial deposits vary by broker, but neither will require that you empty your bank account to open a brokerage account. Charles Schwab doesn't have a minimum requirement. E*TRADE requires only $500 to open an account.

Starting with a larger balance could be advantageous. Brokers frequently provide investors with cash bonuses and free trades for meeting certain deposit requirements. Learn more about special offers for brokerage accounts, as well as IRA accounts.

Trading platform

The Motley Fool always invests with a long-term view. We aren't traders, and therefore, we probably aren't the best people to ask when it comes to trading platforms. To us, a platform is just a means to an end -- a way to make a trade when we need to.

As with anything, personal opinion plays a big part in whether a platform is "good" or "bad." We suggest trying a platform for yourself, as different needs require different features. For the long-term investor, however, both E*TRADE and Charles Schwab make placing the occasional trade a matter of just a few clicks. Active traders may demand more from a platform, and should give a trading platform a test run to see if it fits their own trading style.

International stocks and ADRs

You can buy ETFs and mutual funds that own foreign stocks at either broker. In addition, E*TRADE and Charles Schwab enable their account holders to buy and sell American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

But as far as investing directly on foreign stock exchanges, only Schwab offers that capability. Schwab Global Accounts can trade electronically in 12 foreign markets, and its Global Services desk allows for trading in over 30 global markets. International stock trading frequently comes with higher commission prices that vary based on the particular market.

If foreign investments are an important part of your portfolio, the differences between brokers may be important to you.

Research quality and tools

Investors with a do-it-yourself mindset can generally benefit from the research tools and reports provided by online discount brokerages. E*TRADE provides analyst reports from S&P Capital IQ, Morningstar, Thomson Reuters, and others. Charles Schwab provides access to Schwab, S&P, and Morningstar reports. Both brokers also have a full line of stock and fund screeners to help you sort through potential investment ideas.

We've just skimmed the top of what both brokers have to offer in the research department. Frankly, it would be hard for any individual to run out of reports to read or screening tools to use at either broker, and depending on your needs, research provided by E*TRADE and Charles Schwab could be a big benefit to you.

Mobile app

Cell phones and tablets can be turned into trading stations just by downloading a brokerage app. Here's how each broker's users and clients rated their iOS and Android apps (as of 12/14/2016).

E*TRADE or Charles Schwab: Picking a brokerage account for your needs

Both E*TRADE and Charles Schwab have a lot to offer. Fund investors could find plenty to like about E*TRADE's niche commission-free ETF assortment, while others might prefer the simple indexes that make up most of Schwab's commission-free ETFs. The stock investor who is concerned most about costs might prefer Schwab's slightly lower commissions, whereas the active trader might prefer the volume discounts available to E*TRADE investors.

The point is that the "best" broker varies based on your individual portfolio. To be clear: The Motley Fool doesn't endorse any particular broker. Learn more about the current special offers for opening a traditional brokerage account or an IRA account at Fool.com's Broker Center and IRA Center, respectively.

10 stocks we like better than Wal-MartWhen 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, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click here to learn about these picks!

*Stock Advisor returns as of December 12, 2016The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.

Jordan Wathen has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends WisdomTree Investments. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
President-elect Donald Trump might be setting up a huge battle between fighter jets.

Trump has blasted Pentagon suppliers Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and Boeing (NYSE:BA) for cost overruns and now seems to be pitting the two companies against each other.

The incoming Republican president targeted Boeing for what he called out of control costsan estimated $4 billionto build two new Air Force One jets. He later called out Lockheed Martin, the worlds largest defense contractor, for high costs and delays associated with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

Trump met with the CEOs of both companies on Wednesday. A day later, Trump said he put in a request to Boeing: How much would it cost to build a new F/A-18 Super Hornet?

Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet! Trump wrote on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR).

Shares of Lockheed Martin fell as much as 2.3% on Friday morning, although the stock recovered some of its losses by midday. The Bethesda, Md.-based company was trading 1% lower at $250.21 a share.

Ticker Security Last Change Change % BA THE BOEING CO. 156.66 +9.35 +6.35% LMT LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP. 485.27 +3.65 +0.76%

We have committed to working with the president-elect and his administration to provide the best capability, deliverability and affordability across all Boeing products and services to meet our national security needs, Boeing said in a statement.

Lockheed Martin declined to comment.

In the wake of Trumps initial criticism, Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martins general manager for the F-35 program, said the company would welcome the opportunity to address any questions the president-elect has about the program. He added that Lockheed Martin continues to work on making the versatile fighter less expensive to build and maintain.

The F-35 Lightning II, the most expensive weapons program in U.S. history, has come under fire from Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The total bill has nearly doubled to $400 billion following production and design issues. The program is also running about four years behind schedule.

The U.S. military has said the F-35 serves a wide range of roles, different than those of the F/A-18. The F-35 was designed to replace multiple existing fighter jets, including the F/A-18, F-16 and A-10.

Although the F-35 has outlasted the F/A-18 in most of their recent battles for government contracts, Canada decided last month to cancel its order with Lockheed Martin. Instead, Canada will order additional F/A-18 from Boeing, citing the F-35s price tag. The country will still consider the F-35 as a long-term replacement in its fleet of fighter jets.
In this video fromMotley Fool Answers, Alison Southwick and Robert Brokamp welcome Motley Fool Chief Wellness Officer Sam Whiteside to the show, as she offers her best advice on how to make it through the holiday season without adding to your waistline.

Her first suggestion: Don't use the holidays as an excuse to drink too many of your calories!

A full transcript follows the video.

10 stocks we like better thanWal-MartWhen investing geniuses David and TomGardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter theyhave run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tomjust revealed what they believe are theten best stocksfor investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- theythink these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click hereto learn about these picks!

*StockAdvisor returns as of December 12, 2016The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.

This podcast was recorded on Nov. 22, 2016.

Alison Southwick:Today we are joined by the Fool's chief wellness officer, Sam Whiteside, and she brings us her best advice to maintain and not gain over the holidays. Hi, Sam.

Sam Whiteside:Hi, Fools.

Southwick:Thanks for coming back to the show.

Whiteside:Absolutely. It's been too long.

Southwick:It has been too long.

Brokamp:It has.

Southwick:So what I like about your "Maintain, Don't Gain" challenge that you do here at the Fool is the idea that, "Listen. We know you're going to overindulge. Just try to maintain. I'm not asking you to lose weight. Just try not to get fatter."

Whiteside:Exactly. It's more about being cognizant in the moment, and making sure that you're aware of the choices that you're making.

Southwick:Yeah, those choices. All of the choices.

Whiteside:All of the choices.

Brokamp:So many choices.

Southwick:Because many of those choices are around the holidays, and take place at a party or among friends and family, I think it only makes sense for us to eavesdrop, a little bit, on a get-together and discover what trips people up the most over the holidays. Shall we go eavesdrop on a party?

Brokamp:Let's do that.

Southwick:Let's!

[Door opens. Sounds of people talking at a party]

Brokamp:I love living in New Hampshire!

Southwick:Fill the pool with whiskey! Cannonball!

Brokamp:Cannonball!

[Door shuts]

Southwick:So, yeah. Drinking alcohol. That happens a lot around the holidays.

Whiteside:It sure does. Every single party [or get-together] I'm sure we will all attend this holiday season will have some sort of booze. Have you been to a party without booze during the holidays?

Brokamp:Not that I'm aware of.

Southwick:No. No. Maybe like a kid's birthday...

Whiteside:No ...

Southwick:... no, even kids' birthday parties these days have like ... beer. The funny thing about alcohol is not only does alcohol have a lot of calories, but the mixers have a lot of calories and then you end up eating all this horrible food after you drink alcohol. It's just horrible.

Brokamp:Did I mention eggnog yet? [00:08:57]

Whiteside:Well, it's a funny thing. Let's take a guess. How many calories do you think an average pour of eggnog has?

Southwick:Bro looks so sad right now.

Brokamp:[Sobs] Don't confront me with reality!

Whiteside:I'm going to tell you. It's 340 calories.

Southwick:Wow!

Whiteside:And 19 grams of fat.

Brokamp:But eggs are good for you!

Whiteside:Twelve grams of sugar ...

Southwick:Wow.

Whiteside:... in a typical eggnog concoction ...

Brokamp:Mm.

Whiteside:... so that brings me to my first point. The holidays -- don't use that as an excuse to overconsume and overindulge, specifically on alcohol. There are calories in those alcoholic beverages and just because it's liquid, it does not mean it doesn't count. It definitely goes into your total caloric intake.

And so I usually recommend trying some alcohol-free days, specifically during the week when you know that you have a party to go to that Friday or Saturday.

Number two. Every other alcoholic beverage -- maybe swap it out for a glass of water. Have that glass of water in your hand when you're walking around the party. That way someone won't come up to you and be like, "Hey, you don't have a drink in your hand."

Southwick:Oh, yeah. Fools do that.

Whiteside:How many times does that happen? That does happen a lot here.Your hands are empty!

Brokamp:Every day, all day long.

Southwick:No, not at work. Well, sometimes at work, but not often.

Whiteside:So that will reduce someone coming up to you and saying, "Your hands are empty. You don't have anything in your hand." You do, and every other drink is a glass of water.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For the past week, Donald Trump has been holding court with dignitaries, U.S. generals, and Fortune 500 CEOs at Mar-A-Lago, a sign the president-elect is turning his prized Palm Beach resort into a Winter White House that the citys tourism and business leaders believe will create a positive effect on the local economy during the next four years.

Its always great to have the president in your backyard, said Joe Cardenas, CEO of Aquaco Farms, a startup fishery in nearby Pompano Beach. From a tourism and business standpoint, I think its fantastic.

Cardenas, who is chairman of Discover The Palm Beaches, the official tourism marketing company for Palm Beach County, said whenever Trump and his family vacation in Mar-A-Lago, local restaurants, hotels, companies providing private limo and airline charter services could experience a modest increase in sales.

Having Trump in Palm Beach will definitely have a positive effect on companies that provide transportation, he said. There is already an additional influx just counting the media covering the president-elect at Mar-A-Lago.

In the last few days, Trump has hosted Mexican media mogul Carlos Slim, Boeing, Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson and Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg, three individuals who would definitely make use of private charter and limo services, as well as need extra private security on their way to and from Mar-A-Lago.

I certainly think there are more pluses and minuses to having Trump spend time down here, Cardenas said. Its a cautious optimism.

The region is already seeing record-breaking tourism numbers. About 7.2 million tourists are expected to visit Palm Beach County this year, according to the Palm Beach Post  a jump from last years record high of 6.9 million visitors.

Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of Discover the Palm Beaches, told FOXBusiness.com that Palm Beach and Palm Beach Island have long been a preferred leisure destination for heads of state and commerce, dignitaries and celebrities. Notably, Ben Carson, a former Republican presidential candidate Trump has tapped as housing and urban development secretary, owns a $1.2 million mini-mansion in West Palm Beach. Other famous names whom make the Palm Beaches their playground include industrialists David and William Koch, cosmetics titans Leonard and Robert Lauder, and shock jocks Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern.

The Palm Beaches deliver more best-in-class experiences than anywhere else in Florida, Pesquera said. And we look forward to welcoming folks from every walk of life who wishes to join us in the year-round sunshine.

Still, Palm Beach County hasnt benefitted from the mystique of a presidential part-time resident since John F. Kennedy was in office. Before the 35th U.S. president was assassinated in November 1963, he would spend vacations at the oceanfront Kennedy family compound in Palm Beach. Prior to his election in 1960 and while recuperating from back surgery, Kennedy worked on his 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book Profiles in Courage in his bedroom at the South Florida estate.

Trump planted his stake in Palm Beach in the mid-1990s when he purchased the historic Mar-A-Lago resort, which is also on the ocean and about five miles from the former Kennedy house. When he opened the private club in 1996, he turned the propertys bedroom wing and tower into a winter retreat for his family. Over the last two decades, Mar-A-Lago has become a destination for 1 percenters seeking refuge from harsh cold winter days in the northern U.S.

To be sure, Trump will likely split more of his time between the White House and his Trump Tower in New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio recently sent the Obama administration a bill for more than $35 million for providing heightened security at the 58-story gold and glass building. Palm Beach County officials are also seeking $250,000 in reimbursement from the federal government for providing extra security at Mar-A-Lago.

Palm Beach boosters expect a positive effect on the local economy as more tourists and visitors come to the area hoping to catch a glimpse of Americas new commander-in-chief and first family vacationing at Mar-A-Lago.

We could expect that the renewed media focus on the President-elects ocean front retreat during the holidays will raise the profile of The Palm Beaches, Pesquera said. And it will entice curious travelers to explore the vast array of recreational and cultural activities, innovative restaurants and award-winning hotels that headlining celebrities frequent during their regular visits.

During the Thanksgiving break, local NBC television station WPTV 5 interviewed bystanders gawking at Mar-A-Lago from the Intracoastal. Texas resident Kristen Winkler told the station that she and her family were already on vacation when they decided to add Mar-A-Lago to their itinerary.

They said he was going to celebrate Thanksgiving here, she said. So we decided to add that to our calendar so we could drive by and see where he lived.

Glenn Jergensen, executive director of the Palm Beach Tourism Council, said media coverage of Trumps stay at Mar-A-Lago will also provide the region with free advertising worth millions of dollars.

Since last Friday, all the news shows broadcasting live from Palm Beach have been showing our 85 degree weather while the rest of the country is experiencing bitter cold, Jergensen said. Its been a great opportunity to show people what a beautiful location Palm Beach really is.
An apparently drugged driver terrorized Russian travelers when he smashed into an airport terminal on Dec. 21 in an ill-fated attempt to evade police.

The 40-year-old ex-special forces police officer can be seen on videos shot by police and security cameras bashing through a door then driving through baggage claim and passenger areas of the Kazan airport.

According to RT, he broke open a water pipe, flooding part of the building, and caused over $100,000 in damage before bursting out of a terminal window and being subdued by police. Marijuana was found in the car.

Several officers were reported injured during the incident, and the driver charged with 20 crimes stemming from the rampage. He is being detained for 15 days while an investigation is conducted.

OKLAHOMA SPEEDER CAUGHT AT 208 MPH
Anthony Bourdain has been an outspoken critic of President-elect Donald Trump long before his electoral victory.

Now the Parts Unknown host has declared he will never dine at the two restaurants opening at Trumps newest hotel property in Washington, D.C.

In an interview with Eater, Bourdain blasted restaurateur Alessandro Borgognone, who is bringing New York Citys popular Sushi Nakazawa to the nations capital.

I will never eat in his restaurant. I have utter contempt for him, utter and complete contempt, Bourdain said in the interview published Wednesday.

The newly opened Trump International Hotel, located in the historic Old Post Office Pavilion, has been a site of controversy within the food industry since August 2015 when chef Jose Andres pulled out of his deal to open a hotel eatery after Trumps campaign trail comments about Mexican immigrants.

JOSE ANDRES ASKS TRUMP TO END LEGAL BATTLE, DONATE MONEY TO VETERANS

In May, it was announced that David Burke would open a location of his BLT Prime steakhouse in place of Andres restaurant.

In his interview with Eater, Bourdain also slammed Burke.

I mean, I never had the highest opinion of him in the first place, but I guess hes the last person in this life I should look to for principles, Bourdain said of the "Top Chef Masters" competitor.

Burke went in and took over [the space Jose Andres had originally occupied], and promptly tried to poach his staff, I hear. This was after Jose reached out and said "Everyone welcome him to Washington, dont hold it against him, just because I decided to pull out." So Burkes a steaming loaf of sh--, as far as Im concerned, and feel free to quote me.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN REVEALS SURPRISING FAVORITE NEW YORK CITY HOTSPOT

In October, Bourdain expressed his disdain for the Republican President-elect and said he would never share a meal with the businessman. He affirmed to Eater that he still doesnt think Trump is a good person and questioned his business practices.

Im not saying I know the guy personally, not like Id hug him, but Im saying that as a New Yorker, we pretty much are neighbors, he said. "And my many years of living in his orbit have not left me with a favorable impression, lets put it that way. Theres so many reasons to find the guy troubling. When Scott Baios the only guy you can find to show up at your convention, youre in trouble.

On Thursday, Bourdain tweeted that he is not boycotting the restaurants, rather he chooses not to patronize chefs who tacitly support deporting half the people they've ever worked with.

See the full interview on Eater.
Theres no better time than the winter holidayscue parties, cocktails and cooler weatherto warm up by sampling a new liqueur or spirit.

Whether mixed in a cocktail or drunk neat, the last six months have seen the debut of the first jalapeno-infused gin, a vodka with a tropical twist, a vegan faux cream and a gluten-free gin.

Could any of these spirits be the next Fireball whisky? That cinnamon-flavored spirit from the Sazerac Company has taken the American bar scene by storm since it crossed the Canadian border.

9 FESTIVE COCKTAILS FOR A HOLIDAY PARTY

When trolling the liquor-store aisles this month, or perusing cocktail lists at bars and lounges, you might see one of these new spirits-- so why not try something new?

1. DragonDance Gin

When rolling out the first jalapeno-infused gin (its about time, right?), The Revivalist Botanical Ginfrom Pennsylvania's Brandywine Branch Distillers called DragonDance Gin an adventurous journey of hot fresh pepper and bright botanicals. On the palate are notes of fresh lemon, grass and coriander, adding a lush and velvet mouthfeel" to any cocktail, says the company.

2. CIROC Mango Vodka

Launched by hip-hop artist Sean Diddy Combs in mid-October, CIROC Mango Vodkaanother option in CIROCs flavored-vodka lineadds instant tropical pizazz to any cocktail. It might even channel a little bit of island fever in the winter. The company suggests mixing it with different fresh fruit juices for a tropical treat any time of the year.

3. Mulholland New World Gin

A six-times distilling process using non-GMO corn creates this gluten-free gin from Los Angeles Mulholland Distilling. The distillery also produces a vodka and whiskyall three launched in early November, when the company debuted. Founder Matthew Alper partnered with actor Walter Goggins (Shane Vendrell on The Shield) to launch the brand. On the palate, this gins got a flavor profile of cucumbers and juniper, with a backbone of citrus and vanilla.

For the latest Food and Drink features follow Fox Lifestyle on Facebook!

4. Almondaire

Are you a vegan who loves the flavor of Bailey's? Worry not, now there's a vegan creme-style liqueur on the market. Almondairecrafted from almond milk, affording notes of chocolate, vanilla and almonds for a touch of subtle sweetness. It was launched earlier this year by Bar Napkin Spirits. Bonus: this drink is also gluten-free and, says the producer, is just 83 calories per serving, about half the calories of Baileys or Rumchata. Enjoy neat or blended in a cocktail, just like any other creme liqueur.

5. Boodles Mulberry Gin

Inspired by British sloe gin, Boodles Mulberry Gina sister product to Boodles British Ginwas issued in very limited releases last year before going national this fall. As its name suggests, the gin is inspired by mulberry trees, common throughout England and loved for the sweet-but-not-tart flavor profile. Expect notes of currants, mulberries and raspberries. The gin producers botanical blend of rosemary, sage and nutmeg gives balance to the whole spirit. Sip warm or coldwe recommend this gin for a unique twist on a party punch.

6. Appalachian Sippin Creams Butter Cream Liqueur

Packaged in Mason jars, these cream liqueursin addition to the Butter Cream, there's a Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream are both hipster and haute. Sugarlands Distilling Company in Eastern Tennessee launched the Butter Cream flavor this fall, blending vanilla with toasted praline, contributing to an aftertaste reminiscent of sugary, carmelized cream-- or what we know as creme brulee.
Want to grab something healthy for lunch but only have dollar bills in your wallet?

You wont be able to get your eat on at Sweetgreen.

The fast casual chain based in Washington, D.C. is about to go cashless at nearly all of its approxiemately 60 locations throughout the Northeast and California, reports Business Insider.

BILL MURRAY, BROTHERS TO OPEN 'CADDYSHACK' THEMED BAR

On Jan. 18, all Sweetgreen locations in New York, California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania will only accept payment via the eatery's own app or credit card. In March, locations in Maryland, Virginia and the nations capital will stop taking green for greens in March.

If you live in Boston and love paying with cash and coin, youre in luck. Massachusettes law mandates that businesses accept cash payments so Sweetgreen locations in Beantown are exempt.

So why the big move? Sweetgreen co-founder Jonathan Neman told Business Insider that the chain is always looking to simplify its business practices.

FOR THE LATEST FOOD AND DRINK FEATURES FOLLOW FOX LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK NOW!

Neman estimates that cutting cash transactionswhich account for less than 10 percent of the salad chains sales currentlywill speed up service by 10 percent since employees wont have to spend time laboriously counting bills and change. Plus, he says, not having money in the store will likely reduce the threat of a robberyand he thinks cashless is the way of future.

"The restaurant industry is so behind on this and so ripe for innovation," said Neman. "It's very, very exciting."

The chain says customers who order and pay online or via the app already make up 30 percent of its sales, so a lot of salad lovers appear to be onboard with the chain's digital platforms. However, Neman acknowledges there are some downsides to forgoing cash payments entirely.

SHAKE SHACK ROLLS OUT GLUTEN-FREE BURGER BUNS

New customers may get confused by the policy so he says restaurants will post clear signage at the front of ordering lines and have plenty of employees on hand to explain. He also knows that not everyone in the U.S. has a bank accountroughly 7 percent of the U.S. population. Neman says he plans to address this issue through continued community outreach and may explore different formats to cater to different neighborhoods.
Under its Rewards for Justice Program, the U.S. State Department is offering a $25 million reward for information leading to the location, arrest, or conviction of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Also known as Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri and Abu Du'a, al-Baghdadi is the senior leader of the terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS or Daesh.

Protecting the homeland and the American people is the top counterterrorism priority for the United States. Just as military efforts have been intensified against ISIS, the United States is increasing the means available to gain information on ISIS leadership and bring them to justice.

In June 2014, ISIS seized control of portions of Syria and Iraq, self-declared a so-called Islamic caliphate, and named al-Baghdadi as caliph. In recent years, ISIS has gained the allegiance of jihadist groups and radicalized individuals around the world, and has inspired terrorist attacks in the United States.

Under al-Baghdadi, ISIS has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East, including the brutal murder of numerous civilian hostages from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The group also has enabled or directed terrorist attacks beyond the borders of its self-declared caliphate.

In 2011, the United States named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. He was also sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council ISIS, or DAESH, al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. At that time, al-Baghdadi was the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, which ultimately morphed into ISIS.

If you have information on this man, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and the tip line at www.rewardsforjustice.net or e-mail information to info@rewardsforjustice.net. In North America, call 1-800-877-3927.

The U.S. guarantees that all reports will be investigated and the identity of all informants will be kept confidential. If appropriate, the U.S. is prepared to protect informants by relocating them.

Since its inception in 1984, the Rewards for Justice Program has paid in excess of $145 million dollars to more than 90 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. You can follow the Rewards for Justice Program on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Rewards4Justice.
Fidel Castro sucks; so does his brother Raul, his successor as ruthless, human rights trampling Cuban dictator. There, I got that out of the way, so dont hyperventilate for a minute and give me a chance to explain why I think it was perfectly appropriate, indeed smart, of the president to shake Raul Castros hand at the Nelson Mandela memorial services in rainy South Africa this past Tuesday.

Further, I hope the handshake is the gesture that accelerates a long overdue easing of the harsh U.S. policy toward Cuba, which since 1960 has been one of unrelenting hostility and confrontation. For 11 successive American administrations beginning with President Dwight Eisenhower, who ended diplomatic relations with Cuba and put in place the first economic embargo, and John F. Kennedy, who launched the failed 1962 Bay of Pigs invasion, we have sought to undo the Cuban revolution that overthrew Fulgencio Batista, another ruthless, human rights trampling dictator who was at least pro-American.

Fueled by a half century of resentment and bitterness over the uncompensated seizure of their homes and businesses by Castros communists, the exiles have been unrelenting in their insistence that the United States be as unforgiving as they are toward the Castro regime.  Geraldo Rivera

Having experienced two extended assignments in melancholy Cuba, the communist-ruled Pearl of the Antilles, I have a fair grasp of how sad things are still for the 11 million prisoner/residents on Castros island. Cut off from the two million Cubans who have managed to flee to the United States and elsewhere, island residents today are largely supported by that Diaspora, those sons and daughters of Cuba who live abroad. Since restrictions were modestly eased in 2011, Cuban Americans can now send food, cash and other aid to their oppressed and impoverished relatives still on the island. From Miamis Little Havana to Hudson County New Jersey, that $2 billion a year in family remittances have become one of the mainstays of the Cuban economy.

What is the point of what remains of the embargo? As then Senator Barack Obama said in 2004, The Cuban embargo has failed to provide the sorts of rising standards of living, and has squeezed the innocents in Cuba and utterly failed to overthrow Castro, who has now been there since I was born. It is now time to acknowledge that that particular policy has failed.

Similarly, Bill Clinton was scornful of the embargo. In his book The Clinton Tapes, Wrestling History, Pulitzer Prize winning historian Taylor Branch says President Clinton confided on tape that the embargo was a foolish, pandering failure. It had allowed Castro to demonize the United States for decades  The president said anybody with half a brain could see the embargo was counterproductive.

But like Bill Clinton, who was severely trashed by the Cuban exile community over his handling of the wrenching 1999 Elian Gonzalez controversy in which a refugee youngster was returned to his Cuban father over the objections of stateside relatives, President Barack Obama caved once he got into office, losing the courage of his earlier conviction about easing the 51-year-old embargo. Although both presidents felt that our embargo of Cuba was a counterproductive relic of the Cold War, they lost their nerve when it came to reforming relations with our neighbor 90 miles from Key West. They had seen the brute political power of the Cuban exile community, when almost single-handedly it wrenched the 2000 elections from the hands of Democrats in Florida.

Fueled by a half century of resentment and bitterness over the uncompensated seizure of their homes and businesses by Castros communists, the exiles have been unrelenting in their insistence that the United States be as unforgiving as they are toward the Castro regime. The result of their intransigence is the current hostility where they are still uncompensated; their family members on the island are suffering as much from embargo-related economic deprivation as from political oppression, and their adopted country, the United States, is ridiculed for a foreign policy out of step with virtually every other country on earth.

In 2013, the United Nations for the 22nd time passed a resolution condemning the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. The vote was 188-2. Of all the governments representing all the rest of the human race, only Israel sided with the United States. That score again, Cuba 188, the USA 2. The 188 who voted against us include Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Germany, Mexico and Britain, all major trading partners with Cuba.

Like I said at the top, Raul Castro is a ruthless, human rights trampling dictator. In that regard, he is much like the ruthless, human rights trampling dictators who run China, Russia, North Korea (where 34,000 Americans died in a brutal war) and Vietnam, (where another 50,000 Americans lost their lives in another brutal, decade-long war). In fact, Castro is more like the ruthless, human rights trampling dictators that run most of Asia and half of Africa. And yet we do business with all of them, except Cuba.

The handshake was smart. The embargo is dumb.
The recent theft of radioactive material from a commercial truck in Mexico is a nerve-wracking reminder of just how little knowledge we have of potentially dangerous materials traveling the highways of our southern neighbor and brings into question how well prepared we are to detect such material at our ports of entry.

The scary part is that authorities have no visibility on what the behavior of trucks or cars approaching our border looks like. Outside of sporadic intelligence reports, both the U.S. and Mexican authorities literally have no visibility until the vehicle arrives at the port entry.

With cutting edge aggregator software now available, shippers have more insight than ever about which ports are the most congested, when the best times to cross are and about the performance of their truck drivers.  Nelson Balido

U.S. border crossings are supposed to be equipped with sensors to prevent the passage of radioactive material through our ports. This is a good thing. Our ports of entry are our last line of defense preventing the entry of individuals or substances that could do us harm. But the Government Accountability Office in May shined a light on the failed procurement of what were supposed to be more sophisticated next generation detectors, a $200 million budget blunder by the Department of Homeland Security.

What if this truck had reached the U.S.-Mexico border? What if the container containing the material had been compromised? What if our Customs and Border Protection officers had been hurt, perhaps even mortally, by exposure to radioactive material?

Such scary scenarios should cause the U.S. and Mexico to continue to work on joint efforts to push cargo inspections away from the border ports and increase binational information sharing through tracking of merchandise that immediately warns if this type of theft is taking place.

Trusted shipper programs like the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) are designed to give CBP officers a peek into a shippers supply chain as part of an effort that is intended to result in preferential treatment at our congested ports of entry. That expedited service doesnt always happen, but the motivation behind the effort  better service in exchange for better information  is sound.

But there are plenty of trucks that make their way to the border every day about which no one knows much at all, including whos behind the wheel and whats in the trailer.

Technology exists that can give our inspection agencies better situational awareness about the cargo making its way towards the U.S. border, removing the guesswork that sometimes characterizes truck inspections at the border. New applications are allowing companies to look at their crossing patterns, inspection rates and other key behavioral characteristics in a whole new way, but are also giving inspection agencies a leg up.

With cutting edge aggregator software now available, shippers have more insight than ever about which ports are the most congested, when the best times to cross are and about the performance of their truck drivers. For CBP, such technology can allow the agency to observe anomalous behavior, such as when trucks containing hazardous materials have been particularly slow-moving or have taken strangely circuitous routes.

Missing radioactive material across our southern border could and should be the impetus for the U.S. and Mexican governments to embrace the technological tools like traffic monitoring software and new radioactive sensors that could prevent such events in the future. Relying on old methods to confront new, dangerous challenges could leave us vulnerable.

We potentially dodged a very big bullet, not having preemptive intelligence on what is happening on the other side of the border is bad. Lets not allow this lesson to go unheeded.
My defense of Phil Robertson starts with Alec Baldwin. While they come from different galaxies, both the fallen star of "Duck Dynasty" and the explosive brawler of "Saturday Night Live," "30 Rock" and the movies have fallen afoul of what Baldwin correctly labels the fundamentalist wing of gay advocacy.

Robertson, the 67-year-old Louisiana bayou-based, evangelical Christian patriarch in A&Es "Duck Dynasty," infamously put homosexuality in the same category as bestiality and promiscuity. Baited by his GQ magazine interviewer, good ole Phil also asserted that black field workers in the South were so happy in the Jim Crow era, they whistled while they worked. As a result of his crass and insensitive remarks, after an avalanche of criticism from organized gay, black and other progressive groups, the A&E network suspended him, despite the fact that he is the star of their most popular show.

[Phil Robertson] is a beloved figure who got hoodwinked by a clever reporter, who allowed Phil to be himself.  Geraldo Rivera

Baldwin is a different duck. The New York-based hipster actor, left wing paparazzi-basher was suspended and ultimately fired a month ago from his short-lived MSNBC talk show "Up Late" after a more visceral gay slur was caught on tape. You f***g, c***ing f**got, he blurted at one of the hyper aggressive photographers who routinely stalk him in the hope of provoking exactly the type of response Baldwin provided. MSNBC initially suspended him for two weeks before deciding, again in the face of an onslaught of criticism from organized gay groups to cancel his show.

Leading the charge against Baldwin was prominent gay blogger Andrew Sullivan, who called Baldwin a raging, violent bigot and Rich Ferraro, spokesman for GLAAD, the principal, long-time, gay, anti-defamation fighters, and the target also of Baldwins accusation. You've got the fundamentalist wing of gay advocacy  Rich Ferraro and Andrew Sullivan  they're out there, they've got you, Baldwin told a magazine. Rich Ferraro, this is probably one of his greatest triumphs. They killed my show. And I have to take some responsibility for that myself."

Also quick to anger, I have exploded similarly over the years, as some proud men do at the risk of seeming aggressive. You know the type, jaw extended, looking to get punched. But ask yourself how you would you react if someone was trying to get you to act out. Baldwin is a vulnerable setup itching to hit back. So was Phil Robertson. A born-again Christian with a naive openness. He told the GQ interviewer what every unsophisticated, or overtrusting, evangelical Christian will tell about his previous sinning ways and how the world of more than half century ago really was. Do you think what he said about his God sounds any crazier than what anybody else thinks? We all have our creationist myths.

Like I told my right-wing friend and colleague Sean Hannity Thursday night on his show, I voted for Obama because he was the candidate most likely to honor gay marriage. Liberal Baldwin has been one of the most consistently pro-gay public figures around. The blurted crazy talk from Baldwin and Robertson was benign and said with sincerity. Theirs had none of the mean-spirited creepiness of Martin Bashirs defecation-laced tirade directed at former governor Sarah Palin. GLAAD doesnt do itself any favors attacking Phil Robertson. Hes a beloved figure who got hoodwinked by a clever reporter, who allowed Phil to be himself.

Phil and Alex, two sitting ducks.
Herbalife has received glowing reviews from the financial community in their recent audit. Profits are up. Things are rosy. But, the question is, can we believe this?

Audits do not always tell us the full story. Just look at Bernie Madoff. Madoff also hired an auditor to certify his books, which came back glowing. Yet in 2009, Bernie Madoff was convicted of 11 counts of fraud and sentenced to the maximum 150-year sentence for operating the worlds largest pyramid scheme in U.S. history. The court estimated losses at $18 billion.

Its time for our leaders not to be lured by yet another companys appearances of financial success but to look beyond a simple document and closer at the lives of the people involved.  Chris Garcia

Looks are deceiving.

As a leader in the Latino community, I encourage our government officials not to just look at the financial audits of Herbalife. The truth is that Herbalife is making its profits on the backs of Latinos. Sales within the Latino community are responsible for more than 60 percent of the companys nationwide sales. Many insiders estimate the number to be closer to 80 percent.

These are hard-working people who have come to this country and are enticed by Herbalife with promises of fulfilling their American Dream but in reality it often becomes their nightmare. A 2011 Federal Trade Commission report finds that Latinos are 50 percent more likely to be victims of fraud, including illegal pyramid schemes. These victims rarely report abuses because of cultural and language barriers.

Pyramid scheme participants attempt to make money solely by recruiting new participants into the program, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. And that is how Herbalife appears to operate, as its participant incentives are to recruit rather than to sell product, leaving those at the bottom with no way to succeed simply by selling the product.

Most of Herbalifes members earn virtually nothing  despite how hard they work. While the Herbalife CEO made more than $10 million last year, the median income for sales leaders is roughly zero. In fact, over 99 percent of sales leaders who were lured into Herbalifes model last year made less than a living wage (on average, about $20 a week)  that leaves the top one percent to earn the vast majority of rewards.

These are not just abstract facts. These are real people.

Meet Hector. Hector immigrated to this country and wanted to live the American Dream. He worked for Herbalife for four years and never made a single dollar despite recruiting new members and selling products. They only paid him with more product. He now left Herbalife, and is starting his own business in order to fulfill his dream.

Meet Liliana. She began selling Herbalife because she wanted to purchase a home and send her daughters to college. She had to pay $4,000 a month and recruit 5-10 people a day in order to get paid. She never received compensation for her investment or time. Herbalife convinced her to attend one more extravaganza in order to get paid, but on her way to the extravaganza, INS stopped the Herbalife bus and she was deported for being undocumented. She is now back in the U.S., documented, but had to go back to Herbalife to pay off the debt. All in all, she lost tens of thousands of dollars.

These practices are a core part of their companys financial success. Should we just look the other way as people continue to lose thousands to this company so that their executives continue to get richer?

In California, I am a part of the Coalition to Stop Herbalife and we are asking Attorney General Kamala Harris to investigate these practices. In Nevada, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto is also being encouraged to look deeper into the companys predatory practices, and most recently in Illinois, Latino leaders called on Attorney General Lisa Madigan to do the same.

Its time for our leaders not to be lured by yet another companys appearances of financial success but to look beyond a simple document and closer at the lives of the people involved. The last thing anyone needs is another Bernie Madoff and an $18 billion loss.
Simply put, the 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers are the Latino-American equivalent of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and Navajo Code Talkers. The Borinqueneers must be recognized in like fashion with the Congressional Gold Medal, and take their rightful place in American history.

Hailing from Puerto Rico, the 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers were the largest, longest-standing (1899-1959), and only active-duty segregated Latino military unit in U.S. history.

The Regiment faced unique challenges due to discrimination and prejudice, including the humiliation of being ordered to shave their moustaches until such a time as they gave proof of their manhood.  Larry Bystran

Like the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, Women Airforce Service Pilots, Nisei Soldiers, and Montford Point Marines whove already been recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal, the Borinqueneers overwhelmingly distinguished themselves in service and heroism, all the while enduring the additional hardships of segregation, discrimination, and adverse circumstances.

The youngest of these remaining Latino-American heroes are in their 80s and 90s, having served in World War II and the Korean War.

New co-sponsors of bill H.R.1756 in the U.S. House of Representatives have put the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance at 204 or 70 percent of the 290 co-sponsors needed to further the House version of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Act, the alliance reported on December 30th.

The U.S. House of Representatives bill was introduced this past spring by Representatives Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR) and Bill Posey (R-FL).

Lagging behind, the U.S. Senate companion bill, S. 1174, was introduced in June by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), on behalf of himself and Senators Elizabeth Warren, Marco Rubio, Charles Schumer, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Casey, Bill Nelson, and Bob Menendez,. It has only 22 of the necessary 67 co-sponsors. Supporters particularly are being urged to immediately contact their two senators to become bill co-sponsors.

This type of legislation requires two-thirds of the membership of each chamber of Congress to become co-sponsors of the bills. This, and other Congressional protocols, must be completed before the end of 2014, for final passage of the bills and the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal.

A nationwide, non-partisan, all-volunteer group, the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance has been advocating the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to these elderly WWII & Korea veterans since late 2012. Made up of veterans, Latino-Americans, and like-minded patriots, the organization has worked closely with members of the U.S. Congress to facilitate the successful introduction and subsequent support of this special bipartisan legislation.

The alliances national chair, Frank Medina, a 2002 West Point graduate and Iraqi war Veteran, is coordinating intense efforts this winter to encourage individuals and organizations to reach out to additional Members of Congress to request their co-sponsorship of the bills.

In its early years, the unit was termed the Porto Rico Regiment of the American Colonial Army.

The Borinqueneers fired the 1st shot in defense of freedom at the onset of WWI when an armed German supply ship attempted unsuccessfully to leave San Juan Bay in Puerto Rico to resupply German submarines.

The unit defended the strategic Panama Canal Zone during WWI. While in Panama, 335 Puerto Rican soldiers were wounded by the chemical gas experimentation which the United States conducted as part of its active chemical weapons program.

During WWII, the 65th again defended the canal, and also saw action in North Africa and Central Europe. Gen. Douglas MacArthur had requested that the Borinqueneers be assigned to him in the Pacific during World War II. The Pentagon denied his request because of prejudice toward the 65th. MacArthur was glad to later have them in Korea.

During the Korean War, 2,771 Borinqueneers earned Purple Hearts. 750 of them were killed in action, and more than 120 are still missing in action. These soldiers never came home, living or dead.

Heroic successes include the last Regimental bayonet assault in U.S. military history, providing valiant rear-guard fighting cover for the U.S. Marines withdrawal to Hungnam, and many others.

As cited in the bills, the Regiment faced unique challenges due to discrimination and prejudice, including the humiliation of being ordered to shave their moustaches until such a time as they gave proof of their manhood; being forced to use separate showering facilities from their non-Hispanic Continental officers; being ordered not to speak Spanish under penalty of court-martial; flawed personnel-rotation policies based on ethnic and organizational prejudices; and a catastrophic shortage of trained noncommissioned officers.

The Borinqueneers also were forced to wear I am a coward signs, ordered to paint over their unit designation Borinqueneers on their military vehicles, and ordered to discontinue their rations of rice and beans, termed creole rations at the time.

During Korea, the unit also had some Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, Virgin Islanders, Filipinos and several other nationalities. The first and only Latino 4-star Army general, Richard Cavazos, a Mexican-American, got his start as a young Borinqueneer officer in Korea. There he earned his first of two Distinguished Service Crosses, our nation's second highest award for heroism.

Among the national organizations supporting the Congressional Gold Medal for the Borinqueneers are:

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), American GI Forum (AGIF), Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC), National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce (NPRCC), National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), and Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA).

In an August 23rd letter from LULAC to Members of Congress, LULAC national president Margaret Moran stated, It is with great pleasure that LULAC supports the 65th Infantry Regiment in their quest to achieve the Congressional Gold Medal, the nations highest civilian honor. Therefore, we urge you to Co-Sponsor the pertinent 65th Infantry legislation requesting the auspicious CGM recognition, Congressional bills H.R. 1726 or S. 1174. The Congressional Gold Medal will be the highest award ever for the 65th Infantry Regiment and for ALL Latino Veterans. This distinction will catapult Hispanic veterans into the national spotlight and will honor all Hispanic veterans past, present and future.

Another interesting fact is that of the 155 Congressional Gold Medal recipients since 1776, only one has been a Latino-American. That was 40 years ago.

Even though this will be a first for many of us, the alliance is asking everyone to immediately contact your one U.S. House of Representatives member and your two U.S. senators to request their co-sponsorship of the bills that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers. For more information visit Borinqueneers.org.
By authorizing illegal aliens to become licensed attorneys, California has once again blurred the line between immigrant and illegal alien, advancing a creeping state-level amnesty that encourages more and more people to come to the United States illegally.

This time the issue involved Sergio Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico who has crossed the U.S. border illegally at least twice, reportedly once as an infant and once again at age 17 after having returned home at age 9. His father, who also had entered illegally, obtained legal status through the 1986 amnesty. In 1994, when Sergio was reportedly just a few months shy of 18, the elder Garcia petitioned to legalize Sergio  something that citizens and permanent residents can do for their family members wishing to immigrate to the country.

If the Obama administration decided to enforce federal immigration law, Garcia could potentially face many years in jail and significant fines.  Jon Feere

But Sergio was already in the United States illegally. And visa processing isnt instantaneous. In fact, the type of visa he is seeking has a waiting period that is often lengthy due to high demand. Instead of returning home and waiting for his visa to become available, Sergio apparently concluded that he was above the law and remained in the United States illegally. The California Supreme Court has nevertheless decided that he is eligible to be a licensed attorney, finding that a federal law that was written to prevent states from issuing professional licenses and other benefits to illegal aliens (8 U.S.C.  1621) contains a clause that swallows the entire law.

Put another way, federal law bars states from issuing professional licenses to illegal aliens at least until states pass a law authorizing the issuance of such licenses. Yep, you read that right. On January 1, 2014 a new California law took advantage of that loophole, clearing a pathway to make Garcia a licensed attorney.

In any event, new lawyers must take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and must also pass an ethics exam. The California Supreme Court explained in its holding that it assumes that a licensed illegal alien will make all necessary inquiries and take appropriate steps to comply with applicable legal restrictions. The Committee of Bar Examiners explained that there is no reason to believe Garcia cannot take the oath and faithfully uphold his duties as an attorney.

It is unclear why the court and the bar examiners would assume such things. Illegal immigrants regularly fail to comply with a whole host of laws. Within Garcias own circle of family and friends one can identify a variety of potential legal violations, if media reports are accurate.

Garcia admits to working a number of jobs prior to law school, and depending on how he obtained the work, he may be liable under False Personation of a U.S. Citizen (18 U.S.C.  911), Fraud and False Statements (18 U.S.C.  1001), and Social Security Fraud (42 U.S.C.  408), just to name a few examples. We estimate that nearly half of working illegal aliens have filled out I-9 Forms and are likely in violation of these statutes. If the Obama administration decided to enforce federal immigration law, Garcia could potentially face many years in jail and significant fines. It is important to remember that these crimes often create real victims.

Amnesty advocates spread the cliche that we need illegal aliens because they do jobs Americans wont do. These advocates seem to believe that Americans arent interested in becoming lawyers. But the fact is there are not enough legal jobs for law school graduates. The American Bar Association reported that barely half of all 2012 law school graduates had full time, long-term legal jobs nine months after graduation.

Of course, theres no evidence that any profession is in need of illegal alien laborers. Americans in non-legal fields have been making this argument for years, finding it contemptible that Congress has been pushing to double legal immigration at a time when tens of millions of Americans are unemployed. Perhaps when American lawyers start seeing scarce jobs go to people who dont belong in the country and who are perhaps not going to be reporting taxes (and thereby willing to work for less), the legal field will come to the defense of legal residents. Unfortunately, the American Bar Association currently supports amnesty for illegal aliens and significant increases in legal immigration.

Congress should step up and clarify 8 U.S.C.  1621. Otherwise, pro-illegal immigration states like California will grant all sorts of benefits to illegal aliens in an effort to undermine federal enforcement efforts.
My great grandmother attended school for only three years, and my grandmother dropped out during eighth grade. Life circumstances limited their education. Bisabuela grew up in rural Puerto Rico during the early 1900s when public schools were virtually non-existent. Abuela came to New York as a toddler, but poverty forced her to drop out at 13-years-old so she could work to help support her family.

Thankfully, educational opportunities for Latinos have improved dramatically since then. My mother was the first high school graduate in the family, and I became the first college graduate.

The U.S. Department of Education released a study in 2012 that examined high school completion rates from 1972 to 2009. Overall, graduation rates have increased for all races and ethnicities, but Latinos have had the largest jump over the 27-year study. In 1972, only 56.2 percent of Latinos completed high school. That number jumped to 76.8 percent in 2009. During the same time period, whites went from 86 to 93.8 percent and African Americans went from 72 to 87.1 percent.

Experts cite several reasons for the increase in graduation rates. Factors such as accessibility of public schools, mandatory attendance laws, and better economic and social conditions that dont require teens to choose work over school have certainly made things easier over the generations. However, I believe the experts neglected one very important item in their lists; they neglected the influence and sacrifices of Latino elders.

Many of our Latino elders faced struggles due to their lack of education; however, a commitment to family provided them with the relentless desire to make things better for their children and grandchildren. Both my grandmother and mother stressed the importance of education because they wanted me and my cousins to have a better life than they did. These women endured hardship during their youth and recognized education was the only way out of poverty and helplessness. Therefore, they placed tremendous value on our schooling.

My mother surrounded both me and my brother with letters, shapes, colors and numbers when we were toddlers. During our early years, she read to us, taught us to print and allowed us to explore. She wasnt an expert in child development; she was a regular mom. We went to public schools and got healthy doses of you can do this and no excuses from her, mixed with life lessons about accountability and discipline. Thanks to her efforts, we are able to financially support our families in a way she never could.

My grandparents also focused on our education. Even though my grandmother had limited literacy, she kept copies of National Geographic around the house and encouraged us to read aloud. My grandfather read three newspapers a day, and he would talk to us about the stories during breakfast. Visits to their house always involved a slew of aunts, uncles and cousins as well family trips to zoos and museums. Although they couldnt provide this kind of experience for their own children, they more than made up for it with my generation. All 11 grandchildren graduated from high school, four earned college degrees, and one became a successful tradesman who now employs 20 people.

Even with family support and societal gains, experts say roughly one in four of todays Latino children will not graduate from high school and consequently, will face a lifetime of limited opportunities.

It doesnt have to be that way, and we dont need another government education initiative to solve the problem. I believe the solution lies within Latino families, just as it has in the past. Our children need our encouragement and attention if they are going to succeed. They need to see that we value all forms of education including high school, vocational training, apprenticeships, community college and universities. Most importantly, they need to understand the sacrifices our elders made so they could have the opportunity to learn and have a better life.

Gracias, mamas, papas, abuelas y abuelos.
From my house in San Antonio, its an easy hours drive up Interstate 35 to San Marcos, Texas, home of the San Marcos Premium Outlets. The sprawling complex offers a bevy of shopping options to discerning consumers. The stores there attract shoppers from all over South Texas and even from south of the border, where word has spread about the great deals and sought after brands. The holiday season was a busy time in San Marcos, as evidenced by parking lots full of cars with license plates from Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and beyond.

While simplifying a tax system is laudable (...) the country is seeing firsthand that raising taxes can and will cause a shift in consumer behavior as shoppers search for a better deal.  Nelson Balido

But the 2013 Christmas shopping season was a success not just in San Marcos and South Texas but all across the border region, thanks to a looming tax change in Mexico.

The Mexican Congress this fall increased its countrys border region sales tax rate from 11 percent to 16 percent, a reform that brought the border region into alignment with the rest of the country beginning New Years Day. As a result, it has put its northern retailers at a distinct disadvantage as they struggle to compete with their neighbors.

As you would assume, business groups in Mexico have protested the tax hike, prompting even a grassroots secession movement to sprout in Baja California. The tax hike is already bearing fruit on the U.S. side of the border, where sophisticated retailers have courted the Mexican shopper for years. Mexicos move to increase its sales tax makes U.S. border state shopping destinations like Las Americas, an outlet mall just beyond the San Diego and Tijuana border crossing that is managed by Simon Malls  the same company that manages the San Marcos center  even more attractive.

This mini-windfall to U.S. border retailers is a reminder of the importance for U.S. retailers, restaurateurs and tourism professionals not to lose sight of whats happening in Mexico or along the border and playing their cards right means additional sales in the foreseeable future.

Southern New Mexico businesses last year became the beneficiary of a Department of Homeland Security policy change that will allow Mexican nationals with a valid Border Crossing Card (BCC) to travel as far north as Las Cruces and Deming without having to pay for additional documentation. Before the policy change, border crossers were limited to a 25-mile zone unless they paid an additional fee and went through additional screening.

But there have been anecdotal reports of delays in Mexicans ability to renew their expired BCCs, thus cutting off their access to U.S. destinations, which means border businesses are losing access to their customers.

And of course there are always the ports of entry themselves, which are unfortunately consistently characterized by congestion and long lines. Advocates of improved border crossings have usually been industries with large cross-border logistics operations, but border state retailers and others dependent on travelers also have a vested interest in ensuring that our ports are working efficiently. Yet little is being done to improve trade and travel facilitation due to the lack of verifiable data and understanding of metrics per the Government Accountability Office (GAO) available to CBP to implement real change. Lets hope that will change soon.

Finally, theres a deeper economic lesson here that Mexico is learning firsthand. While simplifying a tax system is laudable, and while many of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto reforms deserve applause, the country is seeing firsthand that raising taxes can and will cause a shift in consumer behavior as shoppers search for a better deal. Mexico has taken big strides to increase its competitive standing internationally, but it should be careful not to hurt its own domestic job creators.
Puerto Ricos creditors, holding a meeting in New York Thursday to discuss their fears of an inevitable debt default, had this message for the islands administrators: youre not invited.

With more than $70 billion in outstanding debt, Puerto Ricos debt per capita is nearly $19,000 (not including unfunded liabilities, which puts per capita debt as high as $30,000), far higher than any state in the U.S. Much of this debt is held in the form of what was once Americas most attractive municipal bond, which means most American investors stand to lose if Puerto Ricos bonds lose value.

No matter what Puerto Ricos current funders decide, Puerto Rico can still become successful if it acts wisely and invests in what will ensure long-term growth, not short-term spending.  Justin Velez-Hagan

To be fair, this isnt the first time creditors have held closed-door meetings to express their concerns about Puerto Ricos ability to satisfy its debt obligations. Nevertheless, this may be the first time theyve met with debt restructuring specialists to consider how to handle the increasing likelihood that Puerto Rico will not be able to keep up with its payments. The fact that fiscal administrators werent invited to defend themselves might also suggest that lenders have lost confidence in management.

Numerous analysts have expressed their concerns for Puerto Ricos uninspiring economy in newspapers and websites across the country. (Ill admit, I even posted my own scathing review recently in Forbes.) However, few have offered advice that may serve to turn the economic tides. Heres my best shot.

If Puerto Rico wants to increase employment, it has to make it easier to employ. A few years ago, I investigated the viability of expanding a chain of senior living facilities in Puerto Rico, a project that would have increased employment and provided a valuable service to an aging population. At the time, it would have taken up to five years to obtain all of the licensing and permits necessary just to begin construction. Even the most labyrinthine of state bureaucracies requires one-fifth of the time. Needless to say, this investor was turned off. How many others have experienced the same?

Some reforms have been enacted, but with unemployment at staggering levels (more than double the U.S.) and an embarrassingly low labor force participation rate (just 2/3 of the new 30-year low that exists in the rest of the country), Puerto Ricos desperation should necessitate the easiest business climate on the planet ... at least until things turn around.

Puerto Rico has a tremendous number of advantages that should be better marketed to businesses around the world. Not only are there numerous tax benefits  investments in certain sectors have tax rates below 5 percent  but Puerto Rico also offers a highly educated, stable, and cheap labor force as well as one of the most beautiful work environments on Earth. Combined with a substantial list of personal tax incentives, the likes of which have attracted the attention of several American billionaires, it seems like an ideal location to operate in.

Despite all of the opportunities, the Puerto Rican economy isnt growing. I, for one, refuse to give in so easily and history gives me hope. Historical examples of successful economic turnarounds have provided economists with a roadmap for transforming an unproductive economy.

The initial step should be a more effective marketing campaign centered on the tax, labor, environmental, and Latin American and American market access opportunities that are second to none in the Western Hemisphere. Industrial manufacturers were once drawn to the island, making it the major manufacturing hub for pharmaceutical manufacturers that it is today, but an unstable economy and an increasingly unfriendly business environment has forced several to reduce operations or move away from Puerto Rico altogether. Puerto Rico has to guarantee the promise of long-term, low operating and labor costs, providing the necessary incentive of higher profits. There is no reason Puerto Rico cant poach manufacturers begging to retain their American identities, while seeking a greater competitive advantage.

Secondly, Puerto Rico should aggressively target marketing to companies in industries that are currently experiencing highly profitable growth. Outside of industrial jobs, attracting firms in the growing science, technology, and healthcare sectors will instigate job growth that is simultaneously synergistic with Puerto Ricos already educated and trained workforce. Even if this means providing permanent zero-tax holidays to investors, the long-term benefits resulting from increased employment will far outweigh the investment.

Once lower costs, skilled labor, quality of life, and global competitiveness begin to attract the investment needed for long-term economic growth, then it will be time to get creative. The lack of a passport requirement and ease of travel, should mean that Americans visiting the Caribbean shouldnt want to go anywhere but to the 'isla del encanto.' Yet, for some reason tourism is dwindling and young people are leaving the island at record speeds. Tourist attractions and quality-of-life improvements have to be updated to compete in the 21st century.

In the eyes of current bondholders and other lenders, it may be too late for Puerto Rico to push such an ambitious long-term plan in order to change the hearts and minds of those who hold the islands near-term economic fate in their hands. But, no matter what Puerto Ricos current funders decide, Puerto Rico can still become successful if it acts wisely and invests in what will ensure long-term growth, not short-term spending.
Last week I had the conversation about race Ive come to expect with each of my young children around Martin Luther King Day. This time it was with my six year old daughter Lourdes. As we waited for her 8 year old brother to be let out of their almost completely Hispanic school, she talked about the dreaded bus.

"Mami, it used to be that when you got on the bus, you had to sit in different places, depending on the color of your skin," she said in horror. I nodded, making a face of disgust. Then I waited for the inevitable. Mami, our family would all be split up! We could never ride the bus. Nene and Mana (our red-headed 8 and 16 year olds), they could be in the front row with Papi. You and Lucas would have to sit WAY back in the last row. And Nico I think could sit in the middle. And then her little face crumpled: I dont think theyd let me on the bus at all!

Our culture has grown increasingly utilitarian, categorizing people now as wanted or unwanted, their lives sometimes not worth living. This is no longer done on the basis of race, but on the basis of stage of development or physical and mental condition.  Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie

You see, Lourdes is our fifth child and we adopted her from China. So shes an Asian Latina. I tried to explain that to the census taker recently, but the lady was having none of that. Our Latino family is all mixed up, like many, if not most, of American Latino families. My black great grandmother descended from slaves, my grandfather they called El Moro from the southernmost part of Spain, my great grandfather James Hillary emigrated from New Zealand, and these contributed just some of the genetic material in my children. I would like to think that there is some Taino indian in there too, for completion.

A little lost to my children in the story of the bus is the message of Martin Luther King, the message that took hold of a country that needed desperately to learn it: Men are brothers, regardless of their skin color and origin, because they all share a common, splendid humanity. Or, as I explained to my little Lourdes: All people are human beings and therefore equally valuable, no matter their culture, color, or class. Dr. King would be very pleased that this idea has been widely accepted in the arena of race since his death. I know he would be happily stunned to see a black man in the White House, the leader of the free world.

But I also think he would be horrified to learn that the defense of human dignity has very sharp margins, and excludes the most vulnerable among us. Our culture has grown increasingly utilitarian, categorizing people now as wanted or unwanted, their lives sometimes not worth living. This is no longer done on the basis of race, but on the basis of stage of development or physical and mental condition. Some human beings are not considered persons at all, and their elimination by abortion is an established right of free women.

Abortion thins the ranks of minorities, especially African Americans, but also Latinos. Among black women, there are 501 abortions for every 1000 live births, and the ability to achieve this dizzying statistic is considered to be some kind of privilege! I believe Martin Luther King would be in total agreement with writer Ms. Mathewes-Green who said: Abortion is not a sign that women are free, but a sign that women are desperate.

The world has changed a lot since Americans sat in buses according to their race. Some of the changes have been wonderful, and have promoted the cause of human dignity immeasurably. In other ways weve regressed terribly. Womens desperation and hopelessness, the lack of fatherly responsibility, and most importantly, our loss of the ability to see in each pregnancy the tremendous human potential that lies just beneath the surface, are tragedies as painful as the ones Dr. King fought against.
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If having or sharing an opinion is all you have to do these days to get a full-throated measure of condemnation, then who among us will dare say anything? Once again, I must remind my media colleagues that controversial comments should be the beginning of a conversation, not the end.

Too often, mistaken or muddled palaver is followed by a career death knell; which is exactly what some in the gay community are sounding after hearing Juan Pablo Galavis unfortunate quote on The TV Page Sean Daly.

The fury over Galavis comment has been swift and vicious. Its aim clearly is to castigate rather than correct and its been filled with words meant to humiliate, like horrendous and embarrassing.  Rick Sanchez

I dont make a habit of sticking up for reality show stars, mostly because I dont watch them. However, I feel compelled to try and call off the attack dogs and ask for some compassion in the case of a fellow Latino who erred in not taking a true measure of the times we live in.

First, we must recognize that Galavis is famous because hes very attractive. His claim to fame? He scored the coveted role as The Bachelor. By all measures, he seems a simple man thrust into the bright glare of sudden fame. Its a scary place for the newly initiated where many have found themselves trapped by their own words.

So it is with Galavis, when he was asked whether there should be a gay edition of The Bachelor. Heres his answer:

"No ... I respect [gay people] but, honestly, I don't think it's a good example for kids..."

Galavis response may not be the most prudent retort, but its an honest response which is shared by many Americans.

An online gaming magazine recently asked parents what they thought was the most offensive thing in a video game. Among the choices were a graphically-severed human head or two men kissing. Which one did parents find most offensive? If you guessed a graphically-severed head you are wrong. Respondents said they found men kissing more offensive. Whether we like it or not, many Americans level of comfort with homosexuality is simply not where gay activists want it to be. Knowing that, what should their proper response be? Lets ponder that later, first lets get back to Galavis, who in a horribly broken English then goes on to say:

"People have their husband and wife and kids and that is how we are brought up. Now there is fathers having kids and all that, and it is hard for me to understand that too in the sense of a household having peoples Two parents sleeping in the same bed and the kid going into bed It is confusing in a sense."

Did you hear what he said? Its hard for him to understand, emphasis on HIM.

Asked a question, he gave an answer. Is it the right answer? Obviously not, but its based on his values and his life experiences. Wouldnt members of the LGBT community who are presently lambasting Galavis serve their cause better by trying to understand him, rather than condemning him? Isnt understanding a much sturdier tool for bridge-building than, say, humiliation?

The fury over Galavis comment has been swift and vicious. Its aim clearly is to castigate rather than correct and its been filled with words meant to humiliate, like horrendous and embarrassing.

Yes, Galavis did make this cringe-worthy comment:

"There's this thing about gay people ... it seems to me, and I don't know if I'm mistaken or not ... but they're more 'pervert' in a sense. And to me the show would be too strong... too hard to watch."

But he followed it up with this apologetic explanation:

The word pervert was not what I meant to say and I am very sorry about it. Everyone knows English is my second language and my vocabulary is not as broad as it is in Spanish and, because of this, sometimes I use the wrong words to express myself.

I take him at his word because, as a person who learned English as a second language, I understand that people make mistakes. I have many friends whose English is as imperfect as Galavis and I quite often find myself correcting them.

A young man who knows not the modern ways of American thinking, nor the nuances of our language, needs to be understood, not shamed!

Gay rights activists must grapple with finding the right response. Wouldnt they do well to teach and correct, rather than shun and humiliate?
A few years ago actor Russell Crowe was arrested in New York for throwing a telephone at a desk clerk. He was charged with felony assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Crowe not only faced years of jail time, but deportation from the U.S. as an aggravated felon, cutting off his ability to pursue his lucrative movie career in the U.S. In the end Crowe copped a plea to misdemeanor assault, avoiding a felony conviction, prison time, and a one-way ticket back to Australia. Appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman, Crowe described his behavior as "spectacularly stupid ... the most shameful situation I've ever gotten into in my life."

Justin Bieber, who is in the U.S. based on his status as an alien of extraordinary ability might want to take a moment to consider that legally he is a guest in this country. And a guest who wears out his legal welcome runs the risk of being shown the door.  David Leopold

Which brings me to Justin Bieber, who was charged in Miami Beach Thursday afternoon with drag-racing (apparently in a Lamborghini on a quiet residential street), drunk driving, and resisting arrest. Bieber also reportedly admitted to the police that he had been smoking marijuana, taking prescription drugs, and drinking. Not a good combination under the best of circumstances, but worse when it involves a foreign national like Justin Bieber, a citizen of Canada, who could face deportation as a result of his actions.

The good news for Bieber is that convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, and resisting arrest without violence, while certainly nothing to be proud of, will not likely lead to Biebers removal from the U.S. Thats because the Florida misdemeanor offenses do not fall under the provisions of the immigration law that govern deportation. When it comes to crime, the immigration law is chiefly focused on crimes involving moral turpitude and aggravated felonies, not regulatory or traffic violations.

And its a good thing for Bieber that while he allegedly resisted arrest, he wasnt violent with the police. In Florida, resisting arrest with violence is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in the state prison. Should Bieber have been charged, convicted and sentenced to a year or more in jail, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would have likely tried to deport him for conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or as an aggravated felon. Resisting arrest with violence could be interpreted by the government as crime of violence under the immigration law.

A conviction for a crime of violence coupled with a sentence of a year or more is considered an aggravated felony under the immigration laweven if the offense is a misdemeanor under state law, and even if the judge suspends any part of the sentence. Further, Bieber would have had to defend himself from inside an immigration detention facility. Thats because a noncitizen charged with deportation for an aggravated felony conviction is generally not eligible for bail until the deportation case is concluded.

But Bieber doesnt have to be convicted of a crime to endure adverse immigration consequences. He reportedly admitted to the Miami Beach police that hed been smoking marijuana. Such an admission could complicate Biebers ability to reenter the United States after traveling abroad or lead to the denial of future immigration benefits, such as a green card.

Thursday mornings Miami Beach incident follows a raid on Biebers Los Angeles home by detectives looking for evidence that he was involved in an egg-tossing vandalism incident which caused thousands of dollars in damage to a neighbors home. Although charges have not been filed in that case, a conviction for felony vandalism could lead to detention and deportation by immigration authorities.

Would Justin Bieber be treated any differently if he were not a famous pop-star? Imagine instead that he were an ordinary Latino or an African American male drag-racing at 4:00 a.m. in an affluent Miami Beach neighborhood. The answer to that question is far beyond the scope of this Op-Ed. But one thing is certain, Justin Bieber, who is in the U.S. based on his status as an alien of extraordinary ability might want to take a moment to consider that legally he is a guest in this country. And a guest who wears out his legal welcome runs the risk of being shown the door.
Respect for the rule of law is one of the many casualties of capital punishment. Public officials who cling to this practice most vociferously are often among the worst offenders.

Texas is a case in point. The execution of Edgar Tamayo Arias has drawn national and international attention. It highlights an aspect of Texas pride that can be endearing but sometimes raises troubling concerns.

In Texas where things are bigger, and true Texans say better, people say only half-jokingly that Texas is a sovereign nation unto its own. The Arias case makes you wonder whether this good natured boasting guides public officials decision making more than the law.

The United States and Texas are bound by the Vienna Convention. The Vienna Convention requires all countries who signed it to provide foreign nationals accused of a crime with notice and an opportunity to seek assistance from their consulate.  Diann Rust-Tierney, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Governor Rick Perrys spokesperson Lucy Nashed stated in response to concerns raised about the case:

It doesnt matter where you are from  if you commit a despicable crime like this in Texas, you are subject to our state laws, including fair trial by a jury and the ultimate penalty.

Well fine, except thats not the law.

The United States and Texas are bound by the Vienna Convention. The Vienna Convention requires all countries who signed it to provide foreign nationals accused of a crime with notice and an opportunity to seek assistance from their consulate. In Tamayo Arias case this assistance would likely have been critical. Language barriers and intellectual disabilities hampered his ability to receive a fair trial. It might have made the difference between an execution and a more appropriate means of holding him accountable.

The United Nations International Court of Justice ruled 10 years ago that Tamayo Arias and others should have their convictions reviewed. In 2005, President George W. Bush ordered Texas and other states to comply. The Supreme Court later ruled that President Bush lacked the authority to order Texas to review the convictions. But this did not change the States obligation to follow the law.

This is not a small thing. This country is bound together by laws designed to protect the rights of the individual and carefully balance concerns about federalism and local autonomy to accomplish that goal.

International agreements like the Vienna Convention create a framework setting basic standards for fair and humane treatment and rules of engagement in commerce and in war. Like the Constitution, these agreements are the bedrock upon which we rest our hopes for a fairer, safer and orderly world. We rely on these agreements to protect and advance the interests of U.S. citizens and our national interest. That is why Secretary of State John F. Kerry weighed in on the case, urging Gov. Perry to halt the execution.

Texas is not bound by the Vienna Convention. What about the U.S. Constitution? The Constitution places the authority to define and engage in foreign policy with the federal government. Some argue that by refusing to follow the dictates of the Vienna Convention, Texas is setting international law and policy. Practice in international law, as lawyers like to say, is precedent. In other words, what governments do defines the law.

If this is the case, Americans traveling abroad who get into trouble might not be able to rely on our internationally recognized rights to have our country notified of our detention and our right to receive help from our government, including legal assistance.

The Constitution also forbids the execution of people with intellectual disabilities. And yet in Tamayo Arias case, these issues were never properly vetted.

The Governors spokesperson must be most clearly understood to say:

It doesnt matter where you are from, [or who you are] if you commit a despicable crime in Texas you are subject to our state laws, including a fair trial by jury [as we determine it to be fair], and the ultimate punishment.

This single-minded pursuit of the ultimate punishment, despite compelling legal and moral arguments to the contrary, has always been the thing to be most feared about capital punishment. Respect for the rule of law where everyone is accountable  including public officials  is still our best defense against chaos and tyranny.

Sadly ironic that by asserting a near absolute right to enforce its capital punishment law in Texas, state officials may be killing the law piece by piece.
If you want to see what a recovering economy looks like, you need only look to Puerto Rico. Our island has enjoyed an economic turnaround and is emerging from recent challenges stronger and more successful than ever before.

The turnaround began with the Jobs Now Act, the first law I enacted after becoming Governor. This law provides new grants, tax exemptions and energy consumption credits to businesses, both local and foreign-owned, of all sizes. By encouraging business growth, the Jobs Now Act has helped create over 30,000 jobs, and my administration is committed to creating 20,000 more in the upcoming months.

What makes these successes so notable are the challenges we had to overcome. Years of kicking the can down the road and postponing tough choices meant historic economic problems for Puerto Rico.  Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla

But the Jobs Now Act was only the first step. Last year, the public employees retirement system was going broke. This was not a problem that called for small thinking. Instead, we took on a tough challenge and put forth an effective long-term solution. As a result, my administration has enacted the most comprehensive, meaningful and sweeping pension reform in Puerto Rico's history, saving the Commonwealth's Employees Retirement System and guaranteeing its solvency for decades to come. Our efforts have also reformed the retirement system for our Islands judiciary, protecting their retirement savings while stabilizing our economy. We hope to do the same with the teachers pension very soon.

Overcoming years of political inaction, we have weaned our public utilities off from state subsidies and helped them become self-sustaining businesses. These reforms have helped reduce the cost of electricity by more than 16 percent, as we diversify our energy portfolio and invest in renewable energy and natural gas projects which will lower the cost even more.

These and other fiscal measures have bolstered Puerto Ricos treasury. In fiscal year 2014, we enjoyed a revenue increase of $335 million  a full $79 million above previous budget estimates. At the same time, we have worked to aggressively reduce our deficit, saving $65 million between July and November of last year alone. I am pleased to report that we have already cut the deficit by 62 percent. Before my term in office, Puerto Rico had a projected deficit of $2.2 billion.

We have also made Puerto Rico a destination for people and businesses from around the world. Companies like Infosys, Eli Lilly, Puma, Seaborne, Propper International, Crowley, Coopervision and Bristol Meyers have all grown and invested in Puerto Rico in the last year alone. And for the first time, airlines like Avianca and Southwest fly to Puerto Rico. New routes from Air Europa, JetBlue, and Seaborne Airlines mean our Island is more connected to the world than ever before. To meet this rapidly-growing demand, our largest airport is undergoing significant renovations for the first time in years and hotels are opening at an historic rate across the Island.

What makes these successes so notable are the challenges we had to overcome. Years of kicking the can down the road and postponing tough choices meant historic economic problems for Puerto Rico. Weve had to overcome and make up for the 135,000 lost jobs and 40,000 bankruptcies that were ravaging our economy.

In 2012, the voters of Puerto Rico entrusted me with the honor and responsibility of guiding the Island through these troubled times. My administration has responded with vigor, and we have put our economy on track for sustainable economic growth. Our strategy of creating jobs and economic development has proved to be the winning model to rebuild our economy, and it is the model we will continue to follow in the months and years to come.
It was not so much as a Christmas miracle as it was a Christmas compromise, but the good news is the cross has been returned to the town Christmas tree in Knightstown, Indiana.

The cross had been removed from atop the towns Christmas tree several weeks ago after the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit on behalf of a local resident who was offended by the Christian symbol.

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This town has a big heart, Knightstown United Methodist Church pastor Curt Hunt told me. It felt like that heart got ripped out when that cross was taken down from that tree.

The ACLU faced a severe backlash from outraged citizens from across the country.

This was just concerned citizens coming together to defend the rights of everyone to express freedom of religion, the pastor told me. We decided we needed to draw a line in the sand and show the world we have those rights to express our religion.

As part of the agreement, the cross cannot be posted atop the tree, but it can be posted near the top and it can also be lighted  provided there are other lighted ornaments, Fox 59 reports.

And sure enough on Thursday the cross was posted just below the star that now adorns the tree top  much the delight of local residents.

It was very symbolic of the heart of this town, Pastor Hunt said.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

But theres more to this story.

The pastor told me the father of the young man who filed the lawsuit is dealing with a serious medical issue. So last Sunday, Christians from across the community got together to raise money and provide food to the family.

They showered the family at the heart of the controversy with love and compassion.

We felt it very important for the world to know that an appropriate Christian response to someone poking at what we believe is that we reach out to them in the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the pastor said.

I wrote about this concept in my new book, The Deplorables Guide to Making America Great Again. Its okay to stand for your faith  so long as you dont become a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.

Express your faith in a positive way so that the world knows that Jesus Christ is someone to follow and not someone to condemn or be offended by, he said.

Goodwill to men.

What a wonderful Christmas lesson from the good people of Knightstown.
The carnage in Aleppo is a much stronger reminder than we should have ever needed about the importance of a change in Western foreign policies.

President Obamas attempt to reorient U.S. foreign policy has in practice turned into the outright abandonment of the U.S. role in the Middle East. And the people of Aleppo are only some of those who have suffered or might suffer as a result.

Through its withdrawal from Middle Eastern affairs, the Obama administration has had a devastating impact on Western interests in the region. But perhaps more importantly, it has had a devastating effect on the civilian populations of the region, chiefly those of Syria and Iran.

In Aleppos final days, residents of the city reached international audiences with chilling accounts of pro-Assad forces murdering people on the streets. A city with a 6,000-year history and a defining role in the development of human civilization has been largely reduced to rubble. And all of this has been made possible by a Western policy of neglect.

Meanwhile, in Iran, the theocratic regime that came to power after the 1979 Islamic revolution is harvesting the fruits of a misguided nuclear agreement. The regime has sought to enrich itself with new Western partnerships, but has by no means diminished its anti-Western rhetoric or its threats against other nations in the region. Quite the contrary, that rhetoric and those threats have increased, and Iran has used its newfound wealth to deepen its involvement in the affairs of nearby countries, with Syria being especially prominent among them.

With this in mind, it is plain to see that Western policies toward Iran and toward Syria are closely connected, and that the crises in both of those countries are symptoms of the same mistaken thinking.

The crisis in Syria is obvious. It has killed as many as half a million people and has made millions of others into refugees.

It has allowed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to flourish in the midst of the chaos, while the backers of the Assad dictatorship have continued to focus their attention on moderate rebels like those who had held eastern Aleppo prior to this month.

The crisis in Iran is far less obvious to those who arent closely watching the country. But those who are understand that public discontent is at an all-time high, necessitating a persistent crackdown on political and civil activism, labor rights movements, and so on.

The crackdown has swelled the ranks of Irans political prisoners, and has helped the country to reinforce its reputation as the worst abuser of the death penalty, with the highest per capita rate of executions. However, it has not managed to snuff out the domestic discord, with dissident groups like the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) continuing to provide organizational structure and active network for activists while also helping to garner foreign support for the cause of regime change.

There is a need for a shift not only toward reengaging with the Middle East, but also toward engaging with the popular sentiment in those countries, often for the first time.

That sentiment isnt difficult to understand. The people of Iran want to be free of the repressive theocratic government that jails people for dissent or for being in the same room as someone of the opposite sex. And of course they also want their government to cease wasting Iranian resources in supporting the Assad regime and shedding innocent blood on foreign soil.

Meanwhile, the people of Syria want to be free of the madman who has used chemical weapons and barrel bombs against civilian populations and who even today is directing the wholesale slaughter of people living in rebel-controlled territory. And of course the Syrians, too, want an end to Irans destructive interference in the region.

It is perfectly reasonable to expect Western policy to help facilitate these goals, which are in line with Western values and ways of life.

In absence of Western leadership, a small handful of militant theocrats in Tehran are imposing their will on huge swaths of the Middle East. What recent Western policy doesnt seem to realize is that its involvement in the affairs of the Middle East does not have to mean imposing the will of the United States on foreign countries. There is no need for such imposition when popular movements like the Syrian opposition and the Iranian opposition led by Maryam Rajavi clearly want the same things as does the West, namely democratic governance and the freedom to live without fear of arbitrary violence.

People are dying in Aleppo; hundreds of thousands have died throughout Syria; and many more will die in the future if the international community continues to enforce a policy of willful neglect. At the same time, people are being tortured and imprisoned for their beliefs throughout Iran; and the situation will only get worse if the West continues to legitimize tyrannical governments while ignoring the voices of local peoples.

Current policies must change. The disease of erroneous thinking on Mideast policy must be cured before it manifests even more symptoms than the destruction of Aleppo and the enrichment of Tehran. These consequences are deadly enough, and they leave the whole of the West without legitimacy when countries on both sides of the Atlantic claim to be global defenders of democracy and human rights.
Former President Bill Clinton said in an interview days ago, Donald Trump doesnt know much. But one thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.

Thank you former President Bill Clinton for the endorsement of my book, Angry White Male. After his wife Hillarys devastating loss, I guess Bill had a lot of spare time on his hands for book reading.

Bravo Mr. Clinton. You finally got it right. It took you a while. First you blamed the FBI for your wifes defeat. Then Russia. Then the electoral college. But youve finally come to the right conclusion. It was in fact your Democrat Partys inability to appeal to angry white males that cost your wife the election.

Yes, angry white males won it for President-elect Donald J. Trump. Trump won white males by 32 points nationwide (63% to 31%).

But Trump didnt just win white males. He won a resounding victory among white people of all kinds. Trump beat Clinton among white women 53 percent to 43 percent. Among white voters without a college degree, Trump beat Clinton by a remarkable 72 percent to 23 percent. Trump won among white, non-college women 62 to 34 percent and white college-educated men, 54 to 39 percent. Income didnt even matter either- Trump beat Clinton among white people of all income ranges.

Yet Bill Clinton just revealed that Democrats learned nothing from their defeat.

Clintons comment about angry white males sounded bitter and derogatory. Just more disrespect from a leading Democrat. Unlike my book which spoke on behalf of white males and explained why were angry, Clinton was clearly insulting white males.

Clinton was insinuating Trump is a dumb white male with no talents, except for getting other white males to vote for him. More sour grapes and vitriol from one of the leaders of a bitter, defeated political party.

But think for a minute about what this kind of thinking really represents.

First, Clintons comments were racist. Can you even imagine if I said, Barack Obama doesnt know much, except how to get angry black people to vote for him. Every Democrat and civil rights leader in the country would denounce me as a racist. Bill Clinton sees white men as dumb and angry for no reason. He thinks they voted for Trump just because Trump is a man and white. How insulting. How racist.

Im a white male and I voted for Donald Trump because the policies of Obama and Hillary have wrecked the U.S. economy, killed middle class jobs, skyrocketed the price of healthcare, made it almost impossible to start or run a business, and theyve spent our country into unimaginable debt and bankruptcy.

Secondly, Democrats should be asking WHY did so many white males and white people abandon the Democrat Party. Instead of making fun of usor insulting usor writing us off like we dont mattermaybe Democrats should try to figure out why were angry and craft an agenda that appeals to us, resonates with us, provides solutions to our problems.

Maybe Democrats should come to the realization that if tens of millions of members of one group are angry, maybe theres actually a legitimate reason.

The truth is the Democrat Party offers not a single reason for any angry white male to vote for them. Theres not a single thing you offer to someone who works for a living. Theres not a single thing you offer to someone who pays taxes into the system. Theres not a single thing you offer to someone who desires no handouts from government. Theres not a single thing you offer to someone who pays for their own health insurance out of their own pocket.

Mr. Clinton, angry white males are angry at the Democrat Party for good reason. Your party left us a long time ago. You wrote us off. You left us for dead. You made us feel invisible. You made us feel like villains, for working hard, for earning an honest living, for achieving prosperity, for paying taxes, for asking for nothing from government.

Yes, were angry. Yes, we voted for Donald Trump. This is called payback.

But the good news is, we're not angry anymore. With President Donald J. Trump in charge, we feel vindicated. The future looks bright. We're going to make America great again- for people of all races, religions and genders.

So, from now on, please refer to us as...

HAPPY WHITE MALES.
There should be no doubt that Vladimir Putins regime tried to interfere in our elections and attempted to subvert our democracy.

We must respond to this unprecedented intrusion decisivelyand in a manner that will make Russia think twice about doing it again.

But even more importantly, we should recognize that weakness invites aggression.

These hacks were the culmination of a failed foreign policy, namely the Obama administrations blindness to the threat from Moscow and unwillingness to deter our adversaries.

There is an important lesson here for future presidents: if we do not shape the world around us, we will be shaped by it. That is why we need to project strength to protect our homeland.

Recall President Obamas response to Mitt Romneys assertion in the 2012 presidential debates that Russia was our number one geopolitical foe.

The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back, Obama scoffed at Mr. Romney. The Cold Wars been over for 20 years.

That combinationof willful ignorance and hesitationis the bedrock of the Obama administrations look-the-other-way national security strategy. And look where it got us.

When the Russians invaded our ally, Ukraine, Obama refused to arm them to rebuff the illegal incursion.

Putin himself must have been surprised by the muted response.

A year later, Russia brazenly intervened in Syria to turn the tide of war in favor of a brutal, anti-America despot slaughtering his own people. Again, Obama faltered.

Now the situation in Syria looks more intractable than ever, and weve lost most of our leverage.

President Obama defends his foreign policy approach as strategic patience. But when the leader of the free world stands on the sidelines, our allies and our adversaries see only weakness.

Make no mistake: Putin was emboldened by American indecision, which is why he felt confident enough to intrude in our democratic process.

The seriousness of Russian meddling transcends party lines. Moscows efforts may have disproportionately targeted Democrats, but next time it could just as easily be Republicans.

Either way, it cannot be tolerated.

Yet instead of responding, Obama administration aides appear more focused on mocking President-elect Donald Trump for expressing uncertainty about the hacking claims.

But this isnt about Mr. Trump, who was not commander-in-chief when these intrusions took place.

The man sitting in the Oval Office during this crisis was Barack Obama, who received a stream of sensitive updates on the hacks throughout the general election and had the power to take action.

So why did he do nothing? This is the real scandal.

President Obama failed to deter Russian aggression time and again, and so far, he has been negligent in responding to it right here at home.

In fact, despite knowing Russia was trying to interfere in our election months ago, he waited until weeks afterwardsonce his candidate was defeatedto even offer strong words about a potential U.S. response.

The delay is disturbing.

When I was first briefed on this behind closed doors, I urged administration officials to start pushing back against Moscow. But they demurred.

As a result, the Putin regime has learned there are no consequences for their actions.

There is an important lesson here for future presidents: if we do not shape the world around us, we will be shaped by it. That is why we need to project strength to protect our homeland.

We must immediately restore American power to deter adversaries like Russia from taking advantage of us.

We also cannot hesitate to advance U.S. interests abroad, nor should we apologize for it.

While there is always a chance that our actions will cause backlash, it is guaranteed that inaction will create a world that is more dangerous for America.

Sadly, Obamas hesitation has taught our foes a very different lesson: America can be bullied, our elections can be targeted, and our democracy is open to attack by feckless despots.

That is the staggering price of strategic patience.
A U.S. aircraft carrier was dispatched to the waters off Yemen Monday to join other American ships prepared to block any Iranian weapons shipments to Shiite Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen.

A Navy official confirmed to Fox News that the USS Theodore Roosevelt -- along with her escort ship, the USS Normandy, a guided-missile cruiser -- left the Persian Gulf on Sunday en route for the Arabian Sea, to help enforce the blockade. A massive ship that carries F/A-18 fighter jets, the Roosevelt is seen more of a deterrent and show of force in the region.

The U.S. Navy has been beefing up its presence in the Gulf of Aden and the southern Arabian Sea amid reports that a convoy of about eight Iranian ships is heading toward Yemen and possibly carrying arms for the Houthis.

The deployment comes after a U.N. Security Council resolution approved last week imposed an arms embargo on rebel leaders. The resolution passed in a 14-0 vote with Russia abstaining.

Tensions are rising in the region even as the U.S. and five other world powers scramble to strike a final deal with Iran on its nuclear program by the end of June. The fighting in Yemen, where U.S. ally Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of mainly Gulf Arab countries against the Iran-backed rebels, is complicating matters.

More On This...

Western governments and Sunni Arab countries say the Houthis get their arms from Iran. Tehran and the rebels deny that, although Iran has provided political and humanitarian support to the Shiite group.

The U.S. has been providing logistical and intelligence support to the Saudi-led coalition launching airstrikes against the Houthis. That air campaign is now in its fourth week, and the U.S. has also begun refueling coalition aircraft involved in the conflict.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, without commenting specifically on any Navy movements, said the U.S. has concerns about Iran's "continued support" for the Houthis.

"We have seen evidence that the Iranians are supplying weapons and other armed support to the Houthis in Yemen. That support will only contribute to greater violence in that country," he said. "These are exactly the kind of destabilizing activities that we have in mind when we raise concerns about Iran's destabilizing activities in the Middle East."

He said "the Iranians are acutely aware of our concerns for their continued support of the Houthis by sending them large shipments of weapons."

A written statement from the Navy on Monday said the two ships are joining others in conducting "maritime security operations" in the region.

"In recent days, the U.S. Navy has increased its presence in this area as a result of the current instability in Yemen," the statement said.

"The purpose of these operations is to ensure the vital shipping lanes in the region remain open and safe. The United States remains committed to its regional partners and to maintaining security in the maritime environment."

There are now about nine U.S. Navy ships in the region, including cruisers and destroyers carrying teams that can board and search other vessels, as well as three support ships.

The U.S. Navy generally conducts consensual boardings of ships when needed, including to combat piracy around Africa and the region. So far, however, U.S. naval personnel have not boarded any Iranian vessels since the Yemen conflict began.

Officials said it's too soon to speculate on what the Navy ships may do as the Iranian convoy approaches, including whether Iran would consent to a boarding request, and what actions the Navy would take if its request was refused.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that based on the tremendous cost overruns of Lockheed Martins F-35 program, he had asked the aerospace giant's competitor, Boeing, to "price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet."

Trump did not go into specific details about his Boeing inquiry, but it does appear to show his willingness to pit two major competitors for lucrative government contracts against each other on a public platform.

His tweet sent shares of Lockheed down 1.9 percent in after-hours trading while Boeing shares rose 0.7 percent.

When reached by FoxNews.com, a Lockheed spokeswoman did not comment on the tweet. Boeing told FoxNews.com in a statement that it is "committed to working with the president elect and his administration to provide the best capability, deliverability and affordability across all Boeing products and services to meet our national security needs."

Marcus Weisgerber, the vice president of the Pentagon Press Association, tweeted that you cannot compare the two jets. The F/A-18 is cheaper, but unlike the F-35, it is not stealth. He said the Trump move "turns up the heat" on Lockheed which is entering contact negotiations for the next 100 F-35s.

This really turns up the heat on @LockheedMartin entering contact negotiation for the next 100 F-35s. The price is really gonna fall now https://t.co/rErFiCQEFZ  Marcus Weisgerber (@MarcusReports) December 22, 2016

"The price is really gonna fall now," Weisgerber tweeted.

Trump met with CEOs from both companies Wednesday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. He has been a vocal critic about the cost of Boeing's work on two new Air Force One plans, as well as Lockheed's contract for F-35 fighter jets.

Following the meetings, both CEOs said they had discussed lowering project costs with the president-elect.

Thursday was not the first time a tweet from Trump affected shares of Lockheed.

Earlier this month, Trump tweeted that making F-35 fighter planes is too costly and that he will cut "billions" in costs for military purchases.

The F-35 program made up 20 percent of Lockheed's total 2015 revenue of $46.1 billion. And U.S. government orders made up 78 percent of its revenue last year. The F-35 program directly or indirectly supports more than 146,000 U.S. jobs, according to the company's website.

Lockheed said at the time that it has worked to lower the price of the F-35 by more than 60 percent and said it expects the aircraft to cost $85 million in 2019 and 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Sarah O'Grady and Dulce Ruiz are strangers with a lot in common.

Both say they have lost jobs for missing days at work or being late while they juggled responsibilities as single parents. Both struggled to find child care in Nevada, which is one of the least affordable states in the nation for it.

"It's coming down to being able to afford what [my children] need, O'Grady said.

President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he wants to help parents like them as part of his first 100 days. While the incoming president is best known for his tough talk on trade and terror and illegal immigration, he has vowed to reduce child-care costs for millions, with a proposal called the Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act.

As with other legislative proposals, Trump could benefit from a Congress that remains Republican-controlled. But the need for relief looms large for O'Grady and those like her. She candidly refers to herself as "working poor" even though she works full-time plus overtime shifts. "Child care wise, there's probably enough child care out there ... but not affordable child care," she said.

Marty Elquist at The Children's Cabinet, a nonprofit that works to connect parents with services, says it can take up a big chunk of the budget: "A mom who makes the median income in the state of Nevada with an infant and a pre-schooler would have to spend 54 percent of her income just to pay for child care."

O'Grady, who is on a waiting list to help cover formal daycare, says she has considered a second job. Ruiz gets some help with child care from her mother, but it's limited because her mother needs to work her own job. "It's stressful ... for the job, for them," she said.

At University of Nevada Reno Early Head Start, which serves families falling below federal poverty guidelines, staff said it is expensive to run because group sizes have to be small. The center, which faces closure due to a building sale, can only serve 3 to 5 percent of existing need.

A fact sheet produced by his campaign indicates Trump wants to reduce regulations and open up more family and community-based care options. This could make a difference in states like Nevada, which has child care deserts where no licensed care options exist  and people rely on family, friends and neighbors.

The core of the Trump plan aims to provide relief to families via the tax code. Under the proposal, individuals making less than $250,000 (or $500,000 for joint filers) would be able to deduct child care expenses, up to their state's average cost of care.

The same deduction, though, would apply for stay-at-home parents -- which raises questions. "There's no incentive to either go to work or not. Either way, you're getting some kind of deduction from this plan, said Alan Cole, an economist at the non-partisan Tax Foundation.

The Trump plan also would offer Dependent Care Savings Accounts that roll over year to year. People could start setting aside money before they even have children. And, the plan would guarantee six weeks paid maternity leave.

Cole estimates the proposal could run at least $500 billion to $1 trillion over 10 years, depending on what is included. "You've got to wonder what the pay-fors are, Cole said. Whether some other program that people also benefit from might be cut, or that kind of thing. There's no free lunch."

Trump, meanwhile, also wants to address the cost of care for the elderly. In Colorado, for example, the population of those above age 65 years old is projected to increase 68 percent by the 2030, according to a report prepared by the Keystone Policy Center. As with child care, Trump wants to establish pre-tax deductions to help offset the cost of elder care as well as the Dependent Care Savings Accounts.

Karen Brown, now CEO of Seniors Matter, points to her own story as an example of the financial challenges. She quit her day job in the oil-and-gas industry to be a family caregiver; her mother had significant savings for retirement, but a stroke and subsequent care derailed her finances. "If my family situation is any clue, the challenges we had were around two issues: money and caregivers," Brown said.

She has served on Colorado's Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging which has recommended legislation to allow care givers to receive compensation for four to 12 weeks of caring for an elderly person, so there can be flexibility at work.

Those in the elder-care sector point out labor is one of the biggest costs and challenges. "It's really critical that not only do you get somebody that can do the work, but that actually wants to do the work and wants to be a caregiver," said Doug Farmer, CEO of the Colorado Health Care Association. I think one of the things as Americans we don't tend to think about [is] what we'll do when we're not able to care for ourselves."
President-elect Donald Trump infuriated the Chinese by breaking with years of protocol in accepting a call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Now, members of the Iranian opposition are seeking a similar phone call  even a sit-down  with the incoming president, hoping he keeps to his campaign vows to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal and get tough with Tehran.

Fox News has exclusively obtained a letter being presented soon to Trump from a group of influential Iranian dissidents, asking him to follow through on reconsidering the deal, even as President Obama has cautioned against ripping it up.

"During the presidential campaign, we and millions of Iranians followed your forthright objection to the nuclear agreement reached between the Obama administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the letter reads. We sincerely hope that with your election, the new administration and the United States Congress will have the opportunity for the first time to review the regional and international outcomes of that disastrous agreement without any reservations, as was promised to the voters."

Signatories include several former Iranian political prisoners and human rights activists such as former political prisoners Ahmad Batebi and Siavash Safavi, also a member of the Iranian Liberal Students & Graduates.

"We hope under your leadership the United States helps the Iranian people to take back their country from the Islamist gang which has been in charge for the last four decades," they wrote.

Although not party to the letter, The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is widely seen as the most organized opposition group  and also is welcoming engagement with Trump.

"Obviously, the president-elect is preoccupied with forming his Cabinet and laying out a roadmap to meet the challenges his administration will be facing once he is sworn in. But the expectation is that the new administration would pursue a decisive policy vis-a-vis the Iranian regime and impose sanctions, as they relate to Tehran's gross violations of human rights of its citizens as well as its involvement in terrorism, including its role in the bloodbath we have been witness to in Aleppo in recent weeks. Any engagement should be with the Iranian people and not their oppressors," said Ali Safavi, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NCRI.

While the Iranian government calls the group terrorists, the NCRIs network of supporters in Iran helped the U.S. with intel during the Iraq invasion, and the group also helped expose Iran's nuclear weapons program.

Over the past several years, the pro-Iran nuclear deal lobby led by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) had the Obama administrations ear. Now, some are now hoping Trump will reach out to the myriad Iran opposition groups, ranging from the Monarchists to the Liberals.

The NCRI has supporters among some in Trump's circle, according to a source close to the Trump campaign and team.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source told Fox News that senior Trump advisers such as Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani and former ambassador John Bolton have "very close ties to the strongest component of the Iranian opposition, the NCRI."

"These advisers, though, will be pushing a cooperation with the Iranian opposition to force Iran to cooperate," he said.

Its unclear whether Trump has any plans to take a meeting with Iran dissidents and groups. The transition team has not responded to a request from Fox News for comment on whether any meetings had been held or scheduled.

The regime likely would be outraged by any such discussions, according to Saeed Ghasseminejad of the Foundation for Defense and Democracies in Washington D.C.

"In the short term [the mullahs] will show some anger and will test the new administration, but in the medium term, they understand the Trump administration is serious and will have to adjust their behavior knowing that [Trump] means business, Ghasseminejad said. Meeting with a diverse group of representatives of major opposition parties sends a strong message to the regime and Iranian people that the new administration supports democracy and human rights for Iran."

Lisa Daftari, an Iran and foreign affairs analyst and editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, believes it would be a positive move for Trump to meet opposition members from other groups so he can "get an accurate read on the people of Iran."

"In cutting a deal with Iran, President Obama went straight to the mullahs, leaving out the Iranian people, she said. It would be a strategically strong move for President-elect Trump to include the Iranian people -- a force of almost 80 million that continues to be the Achilles heel of its government."
Russian President Vladimir Putin followed up a warm letter to Donald Trump with a more terse message for U.S. Democrats Friday: Don't blame me for your November drubbing.

President-elect Trump on Friday released the Dec. 15 note from Putin, who Democrats blame for tilting the election Trump won against Hillary Clinton, and called it a "very nice letter."

In it, Putin wished Trump "warmest Christmas" greetings and expressed hope that Trump would "bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level."

In addition to praising the tone of the letter from Putin, Trump said, "His thoughts are so correct. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path."

But Putin, in a year-ending address from Moscow Friday, had a different message for Democrats as he offered his analysis of the American political scene.

Democrats are losing on every front and looking for people to blame everywhere," he said. "They need to learn to lose with dignity.

The Democratic Party lost not only the presidential elections, but elections in the Senate and Congress. .Is that also my work? he said.

He went on to ridicule Democrats for never-say-die efforts to overturn the Nov. 8 presidential election, first by calling for recounts, then trying to get electors to flip.

"The fact that the current ruling party called Democratic has blatantly forgotten the original definition of its name is evident if one takes into consideration unscrupulous use of administrative resource and appeals to electors not to concede to voters choice," Putin said, according to the Russian news agency Tass.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

The former KGB officer even invoked President Ronald Reagan, the staunch anti-communist who worked with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to end the Cold War in the 1980s.

"I think Reagan would have been glad to see representatives of his party winning everywhere," the president said. "And he would have been happy for the newly elected president [Donald Trump], who was sensitive enough to feel the moods of the society and worked exactly within that paradigm, going to the end, though nobody but you and I believed that he would win."

"Outstanding figures in American history from the ranks of the Democratic Party would likely be turning in their graves. [Franklin D.] Roosevelt certainly would be."

Supporters of defeated Democratic standard-bearer Hillary Clinton have cited alleged Russian hacking of the election for her surprising loss on Nov. 8.

Putin moved back his news conference a day to attend the funeral of his ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, who was assassinated at an Ankara art gallery in a brazen public shooting by a Turkish policeman shouting slogans about the war in Syria.
Retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) lambasted the Democratic National Committee in a Nevada Public Radio interview on Wednesday, calling the organization worthless.

A caller congratulated Reid for helping elect incoming Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D., Nev.) and then asked what he thought of the Democratic Partys prospects in 2018 for the Senate.

Reid responded that he and others proved in Nevada that the Koch Brothers could not buy the state, despite them saying they were going to embarrass the Reid machine. Reid described how he had built a strong state party and knew they were not going to beat Cortez Masto.

The retiring lawmaker then discussed the future of the Democratic Party by criticizing the DNC and its lack of organization during the 2016 election cycle.

The Democratic National Committee has been worthless, Reid said. They do nothing to help state parties. That should be the main goal they have. Ive developed everything in Nevada on my own. Their help was relatively meaningless.

Reid then opined on what the DNC should look for in the organizations next chairperson.

Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon.
Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told Fox News Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump would use social media as a "direct pipeline" to communicate with the American people.

Spicer, who was announced as press secretary earlier Thursday, told "The Kelly File" in an exclusive interview that Trump was unique among politicians because "he's not having to put everything through the filter of the mainstream media."

TRUMP PICKS SEAN SPICER FOR PRESS SECRETARY

It is absolutely fascinating and it makes every day, every hour just unbelievable," Spicer told host Sandra Smith. "Because you know youre having that conversation with the American people and they can have it back with him."

Spicer said he believed the Trump administration would still hold daily press briefings, despite occasional suggestions otherwise. However, he left open the possibility that they would exist in a modified form.

"Can we do things better? Can we be more effective? Can we put the American people first in some of these?" Spicer asked. "Its not a question of getting rid of certain things ... maybe we add an element to them. Maybe not everythings on camera, maybe we bring more people into the process."

TRUMP TEAM RESUMES BATTLE WITH PRESS, HINTS AT WH BRIEFING CHANGES

When asked how he would balance the president-elect's turbulent relationship with the media, Spicer responded, "I think theres a difference between calling people out and understanding the role that the press plays in a free society.

"The press has a right to go out and write stories ... but I think similarly, and what Donald Trump has proven ... is that when people are wrong, hes going to hold them accountable and hes going to correct the record."
With less than a month until the inauguration, Donald Trump is not waiting to exert his influence on everything from government contract negotiations to international affairs  taking a historically active role for a president-elect while the incumbent is still in office.

Trumps involvement in seeking changes early to U.S. policy could be seen in the dramatic and rapid-fire developments at the United Nations this week regarding a controversial resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Reuters reported the Israeli government asked Trump to apply pressure on the Obama administration and the United Nations to prevent a Security Council vote after failing to persuade the administration to veto. Trump put out a statement Thursday condemning the resolution and later reportedly spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi  who abruptly postponed the vote on the measure, which his country had proposed.

Nevertheless, the Security Council resumed deliberations and passed the measure on Friday, with the help of an abstention from the U.S. Republicans blasted the U.S. stance as "shameful," while Trump tweeted: "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th."

It wasn't the outcome Trump hoped for at the U.N. But his attempt to help the Israelis came after he ventured into difficult diplomatic territory elsewhere. He had a protocol-defying phone call with Taiwans president, while later blasting China for seizing a U.S. underwater drone, which China later returned. The Obama administration was actively involved in dealing with China over the drone, but Trumps commentary made him more than a sideline player.

The president-elect, meanwhile, already is trying to apply the art of the deal to government contract talks. He hosted the top executives from Boeing and Lockheed Martin for a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida this week after blasting the cost of two major projects under their direction  the new Air Force One, and the F-35, respectively.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

Trump tweeted Thursday that based on the tremendous cost overruns of Lockheed Martins F-35 program, he had even asked the aerospace giant's competitor, Boeing, to "price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet."

According to The Washington Post, Trumps actions and stances have riled the Obama White House.

But Sean Spicer, the Republican National Committee spokesman tapped to be the next White House press secretary, said Friday on "Fox & Friends" that Trump is getting things done already and hes not president yet.

Asked if Trump should be checking with President Obama before making major statements  such as a recent call to strengthen U.S. nuclear capabilities  Spicer said: No. Hes the president-elect. He doesnt need to check.

Spicer added, We respect the fact that theres one president at a time. But this presidents not going to sit back and just wait for things to happen.

The message, he said, is business as usual is over.

While the Cabinet-stacking and other transition efforts being undertaken by Trumps team are standard for a president-elect in the weeks before inauguration, his hands-on involvement in other areas appears to mark a departure. As during the campaign, Trump often is seeking to move the needle through his preferred mode of communication and negotiation, Twitter.

He tweeted Thursday that the United States should "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability" until the rest of the world "comes to its senses" regarding nuclear weapons.

His comments came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin said strengthening his country's nuclear capabilities should be a chief military objective in the coming year. Trump did not expand on the actions he wants the U.S. to take or say why he raised the issue Thursday.

On Friday, Spicer explained that Trump was putting other countries on notice.

"It was in response to a lot of countries. Russia, China and others are talking about expanding their nuclear capability," Spicer said on Fox News.

Spokesman Jason Miller said Thursday the president-elect had been referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation "particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes."

Some, though, have raised concerns about the impact any antagonism-by-tweet could have.

John Tierney, a former Democratic congressman and current director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said in a statement it is dangerous for the President-elect to use just 140 characters and announce a major change in U.S. nuclear weapons policy, according to the Post.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., put it bluntly on Twitter:

Dear Donald Trump. You're new to this so here's a list of things to tweet about instead of nuclear weapons.



1.) Literally anything. https://t.co/1FzIdzB1tV  Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 23, 2016

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Obama administration scrambled to resolve its remaining crisis-era megabank mortgage cases, striking a $7.2 billion settlement Thursday with Deutsche Bank over toxic securities, while separately filing a lawsuit against Barclays alleging more than $30 billion in fraud-tainted sales.

The dramatic back-to-back announcements show the urgency among senior Obama appointees in the Justice Department to resolve the outstanding probes of precrisis conduct at major banks before those officials leave office in mid-January. Part of the rush stems from a great deal of uncertainty about how a Trump administration might pursue, settle or drop the remaining probes, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The Deutsche Bank settlement is likely to bring some relief for the German banks shareholders, who earlier in the year worried about a much bigger penalty. The Justice Department had originally sought $14 billion from Deutsche Bank, The Wall Street Journal reported in September, raising concerns about whether the institution would be able to negotiate that down.

Less than half the settlement requires a cash payment that would have an immediate impact on Deutsche Banks bottom line. The settlement was divided into a $3.1 billion penalty and a pledge to pay $4.1 billion over time to a consumer relief fund to be distributed by the government.

The terms of that reliefincluding loan modifications to help consumersstill must be finalized between the bank and the government.

Click for more from the Wall Street Journal.
Israeli archaeologists digging beneath a parking lot in Jerusalem have uncovered fragments of a rare, 2,100-year-old stone bowl that was fashioned from chalk (a type of limestone) and had a name inscribed on it in Hebrew.

The bowl, which bears the name Hyrcanus, was found beneath the foundations of a mikvah, a small pool built into the ground that Jews used for ritual bathing, a practice that continues today among Orthodox Jews and many Conservative Jews.

"This is one of the earliest examples of chalk vessels to appear in Jerusalem, said Dr. Doron Ben-Ami of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Professor Esther Eshel of Bar-Ilan University, in a press release.

CONTENTS OF FIRST DISCOVERED PHILISTINE CEMETERY REVEALED

In the past, these vessels were widely used mainly by Jews because they ensured ritual purity. They were considered vessels that cannot become ritually unclean."

The bowl was discovered during an excavation of the Givati parking site in the City of David, a contested area of Jerusalem that has been settled by Israelis.

The researchers are fascinated with the name etched into the bowl because there are few archaeological records inscribed with names from the Hasmonean period. They cant tell if the inscription was a routine act or a special tribute, or if Hyrcanus was a high-ranking person or an ordinary citizen.

UNDERWATER HEBREW TABLET REVEALS BIBLICAL-ERA RULER OF JUDEA

The name Hyrcanus was fairly common in the Hasmonean period," Ben-Ami and Eshel said.

We know of two personages from this period who had this name: John Hyrcanus, who was the grandson of Matityahu the Hasmonean and ruled Judea from 135104 BCE, and John Hyrcanus II, who was the son of Alexander Jannaeus and Salome Alexandra; however, it is not possible to determine if the bowl belonged specifically to either of them.

The Givati parking site in Jerusalem Walls National Park is among the largest excavation areas opened in Jerusalem. Archaeologists have uncovered a wealth of artifacts from different periods at the site.
Cyclone Gonu battered Oman's coast Wednesday with fierce winds and torrential rains, forcing thousands from their homes and shutting down oil installations before heading toward the world's most important crude oil tanker route.

The storm  a rarity in the Middle East  weakened slightly and dropped below hurricane strength late Wednesday, according to the U.S. military's Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

It was expected to make landfall on the southeastern Iranian coast late Thursday, but it was likely to spare Iran's offshore oil installations that lie more than 120 miles to the west, the center and oil officials said.

In Muscat, the cyclone unleashed sheets of rainfall and howling winds rarely seen in the quiet seaside capital. Police and emergency vehicles could hardly move through the flooded streets, and authorities used text messages to warn people away from low-lying areas.

The storm caused little damage to Oman's relatively small oil fields. But raging seas prevented tankers from sailing from Omani ports, effectively shutting down the country's oil exports, said Nasser bin Khamis al-Jashimi of the Ministry of Oil and Gas.

Authorities also closed all operations at the port of Sohar and evacuated 11,000 workers, port spokesman Dirk Jan De Vink said.

To the north, the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates suspended all refueling and ship-to-ship supply operations the world's third-largest shipping fuel center. Ships were allowed to berth but other activities were halted, causing a delay in loading oil tankers, officials said.

A few ships were sailing through the nearby Strait of Hormuz despite 4- to 6-foot swells and strong winds, according to Suresh Nair of the Gulf Agency Co. shipping firm. About one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the narrow waterway at the entrance to the Persian Gulf.

"About 17-21 million barrels a day of oil are coming out of the Persian Gulf. Even if only some of the tankers are delayed, that could reduce the supply of oil and increase prices," said Manouchehr Takin, an analyst at the Center for Global Energy Studies in London.

But Tim Evans, an analyst at Citigroup Global Markets, said the storm shouldn't have a major impact on prices because while it may delay oil shipments, they will eventually get to their destinations. Oil prices rose 25 cents to $65.86 a barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange after initially falling.

As of 5 p.m. EDT, the storm was about 80 miles north of Muscat, moving north through the Gulf of Oman, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of about 70 mph  slightly below hurricane strength and much lower than the wind speeds that were recorded as the cyclone approached the Arabian Peninsula.

Even with the weaker wind speeds, Gonu, which means a bag made of palm leaves in the language of the Maldives, is believed to be the strongest cyclone to threaten the Arabian Peninsula since record-keeping started in 1945.

"Historical record in that part of the world doesn't go back that far because these types of storms are very, very unusual for this part of the world. It's likely that parts of Oman have never experienced storms like this," said Julian Heming, a meteorologist at The Met Office, a weather tracking agency within the British Ministry of Defense.

Electricity went out in Muscat on Wednesday, as 62 mph outter band winds battered the capital, and streets and some buildings were flooded. Health Ministry official Ali bin Gaafar bin Mohammed said rescue workers had trouble reaching affected areas.

Flights in and out of Oman's Seeb International Airport were canceled.

Vijayakumar Narayanan, operations manager of a Muscat company that provides call center outsourcing and medical transcription services, wrote in his blog for NowPublic that conditions Wednesday night in the capital were "really horrible and frightening."

"We are unable to go outside of our house. There is a fear of electrocution because there is knee-deep water and the power lines are unsteady. All of my rooms are leaking ... thank God we have enough groceries to get through the next few days, they are saying this is going to continue until tomorrow evening," said Narayanan, a father of three. The Associated Press began working with NowPublic, a journalism Web site, this year to obtain citizen journalism images and video for distribution to news organizations.

Brinda Toprani, an architect from Mumbai, India, who was visiting her parents in Muscat where her father's company is based, told the AP in a telephone interview that the storm seemed to be subsiding at 10:45 p.m. local time. Toprani said the rain had stopped and the wind was much calmer, although the streets remained flooded.

She said the Royal Oman Police, which have been sending text messages to cell phones throughout the duration of the storm, urged residents to stay inside until at least 4 a.m. local time.

Shareefa bint Khalfan, Omani minister of social development, said more than 20,000 people were evacuated and housed in government-provided dwellings stocked with medicine and supplies. Police said a body washed ashore in the coastal city of Sur, and there were reports of people trapped in homes in low-lying areas of the capital.

Oman's eastern provinces were cut off, with heavy rains making the roads unusable and communication lines severed. "We have no communication with them, nothing," said a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity as is customary for security officials in Oman.

The potential for flash flooding was high in Oman and in neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates, as rain washes down from mountains into the desert wadis, or dry riverbeds, that cut through the desert. Another potential worry are landslides and mud slides when the normally arid mountains get lashed with rain.

In Iran, authorities evacuated hundreds of people living in the port city of Chabahr on the coast of the Sea of Oman, believed to be next in the cyclone's path.

Iranian state television said floods caused by the heavy rainfall had cut off some major roads in southeastern Iran and winds gusting up to 69 mph had buffeted coastal areas.

"University and school students were moved to higher ground in the area to avoid the cyclone effects," said Hojjat Ali Shayanfar, head of emergency services in Sistan Baluchistan province.

Outer winds from the storm lashed the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, shattering windows, toppling billboards and trees, residents said.

Iranian officials said, however, that the cyclone was unlikely to threaten the country's oil platforms and installations in the Gulf because they are located far from its path.

"All Iranian offshore oil platforms in the Persian Gulf are working based on their schedule without any interruption," Bahram Narimanian, spokesman of Iran's Offshore Oil Company, told the AP. "However, we have prepared for any possible difficulty."

Click here for FOXNews.com's Middle East center.
Reports from Turkish media claim that Apple has been asked to help unlock an iPhone belonging to the Russian ambassador's assassin. The device, a relatively archaic iPhone 4S, was reportedly recovered from 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altntas, a 22-year-old police officer who shot and killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey .

The iPhone is said to be protected with a standard 4-digit passcode. In theory, and depending on the version of iOS installed on the device, the protection should be relatively easy to bypass. MacReports claims that Turkey has asked Apple for help unlocking the device, but "although Apple has not said anything yet, it is clear that Apple will not help." In addition to Apple's supposed support, Russia is also apparently sending a team of technical experts to Turkey to help examine the phone.

The case echoes the long-running Apple vs FBI battle over unlocking the San Bernandino killer's iPhone 5c earlier this year. There are important differences, however. Apple has historically complied with legal orders to unlock a device, within the limits of its ability. What it objected to in the San Bernandino case was writing software to specifically create a backdoor into iOS, which it said was a slippery slope that could fundamentally damage the security of iOS devices.

Depending on the version of iOS in question here, that may not be necessary. Older versions of iOS, lacking full-device encryption and without the hardware protection of the Secure Enclave chip, are far more vulnerable. The iPhone 4S can run iOS 9, although versions of iOS 7 and onwards tend to slow the device down so much that many users stay on older versions.
The Elko Daily Free Press is counting down the days until marijuana is legal in Nevada by answering questions concerning the law.

Q: Is marijuana a gateway drug?

Though opinions on the drugs effects vary, there is no definitive proof marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to the user seeking harder drugs, according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

It has been the concern of organizations such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse that marijuana can lead a user to want more illicit drugs as they seek a more powerful high.

PACE Coalition director Laura Oslund said she does not consider the drug a gateway drug but pointed out that addicts of harder drugs have to start somewhere.

Does marijuana actually cause people to go on to harder drugs? No. Do people who use marijuana quite often go on to harder drugs? Yes, she said. Instead of calling it gateway drugs, you may want to think of it as a starting drug.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has a similar viewpoint.

In the sense that marijuana use typically precedes rather than follows initiation of other illicit drug use, it is indeed a gateway drug, the report said. But because underage smoking and alcohol use typically precede marijuana use, marijuana is not the most common, and is rarely the first, gateway to illicit drug use. There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs.

Even though she does not consider marijuana to have a direct impact on someones likelihood of using harder drugs, Oslund is deeply concerned that another intoxicant has been legalized.

Im appalled, she said. I think it is one of the worst decisions that have been made in a very long time.

Recreational marijuana will only be sold to customers 21 or older but Oslund explained she was concerned about the possibility of the drug being more available to children. She was also worried that legalized marijuana could attract people to Nevada who have no intention of being productive members of society.

In addition to the social costs of legalizing the drug, Oslund thinks treating the marijuana users will hurt the states ability to put the tax revenue towards schools and other infrastructural improvements.

I dont think were going to see any of the tax benefit, she said. Its going to go into regulation and treatment and other social services.
Governments worldwide requested Facebook users' data nearly 60,000 times in the first half of 2016, a 27 percent increase over requests made in the second half of 2015, according to a Facebook bi-annual report published this week.

In addition to government requests for user data, the report details which content Facebook restricts for violating local laws. The company says it studies each request carefully to determine whether or not it has merit, especially in emergency cases where imminent risk of serious injury or harm is involved. It ultimately handed over data in 80 percent of cases.

The 27 percent jump for the latest reporting period compares to a 13 percent increase between the first and second halves of 2015, and 18 percent growth between the second half of 2014 and the first half of 2015. The majority of the requests came from law enforcement agencies in the US. Of those, the most common were related to search warrants13,742 out of 23,854.

Other categories in the US included subpoenas and IP address traces. There were also up to 499 secret requests made for data under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Companies are prohibited from disclosing detailed figures for FISA requests, and they must delay reporting the aggregate figures for at least six months.

Facebook reported an 84 percent decrease in worldwide requests to remove content that violated local laws, although the social network attributes most of the requests from the previous period to restrictions of a single image from the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.

"We do not provide governments with 'back doors' or direct access to people's information," Facebook Deputy General Counsel wrote in a blog post. "We'll also keep working with partners in industry and civil society to push governments around the world to reform surveillance in a way that protects their citizens' safety and security while respecting their rights and freedoms."

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was introduced at the end of World War I, but used throughout World War II and into Vietnam. This period photo of the author's great uncle, Corporal Louis Suciu, 104th Infantry Division, in Zschepplin, Germany in May 1945, carrying a M1918A2 BAR. (Collection of Peter Suciu)
Air travel and healthy eating dont have to be mutually exclusive  especially on Virgin America.

Charles Platkin, the director of the NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter College, recently developed a ranking system for airplane food that assesses it using 10 criteria, including calorie levels, nutrients, overall improvement of healthy offerings and cost, and found that Virgin Americas foods are the healthiest, with an average of 337 calories per food item.

Runners-up include Delta Air Lines, which provides vegan, gluten-free and kosher snacks, followed by Air Canada, which has meals that have fewer than 342 calories.

At the bottom of the list are budget airlines such as Spirit, which has an average of 383 calories per food item, and Frontier (380 calories).

Also, Platkin advises flyers to avoid small snacks such as nuts, which are high in calories and might not leave you full.

This story originally appeared on NYPost.com.
French-born architect Martin Duplantiers most recent design is not for the faint of heart.

Situated along a walking trail in Chinas famed Wulingyuan region (south-center part of the country), the project, which costs around $5 million, consists of bridges, which will appear in midair, spanning a few of the jagged quartzite sandstone columns. The scenery could not be more picturesque, which is why it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

Duplantiers design will make use of such materials as mirrored stainless steel and black stone, which becomes reflective when wet.

This will allow for an optical illusion of sorts, one that reflects all thats below and above the footbridge, in essence, making it disappear into thin air. One of the bridges has a section meant for only the boldest of visitors, as they will be able to lie down on a strong net, all the while looking straight down at the deep void below.

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Another section of the project will consist of several black stones, which, every seven minutes, will be covered in a thin haze through an artificially produced cloud (made from water nozzles placed on the bridge). Once the mist settles on the bridge, the wet stone will reflect all thats above it.

The project is coming at a time when China is building some of the boldest and most jaw-dropping architecture in the world, such as the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, which closed just 13 days after being open to the public.

There has been no announcement as to when improvements will begin.
A North Carolina woman was evacuated from a cruise ship off the coast of Miami Beach late Thursday after experiencing a medical emergency.

The woman, whose name has not been released, was aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas, reports WPLG, when she began experiencing a medical condition that required an immediate removal from the vessel.

After getting the emergency call, Miami Fire Rescue dispatched a fireboat to rescue the passenger, who was about four miles off the coast.

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Parademics escorted the passenger to a hospital near Bayside Marina but not before taking pictures with the lucky woman.

According to Miami Fire Rescue, the passenger said, This is one boat ride I will never forget.

A representative for Royal Caribbean was immediately available for comment.
Twenty-four people, including four New York City firefighters, were injured Thursday evening when a four-alarm fire broke out in an apartment building on the city's Upper West Side.

In a Twitter post, the FDNY said that six civilians had suffered "serious" injuries. Eighteen others, including the four firefighters, suffered minor injuries.

#FDNY COD Leonard updates media on 4-alarm fire at 515 W 59 St. 24 injures reported: 14 minor, 6 serious to civilian and 4 minor to FFers pic.twitter.com/kG5UHUF7Ib  FDNY (@FDNY) December 23, 2016

Among the injured was a 7-year-old girl who was in cardiac arrest on the 21st floor, according to FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard.



He said she is now in good condition after firefighters carried her out of the building and revived her.

The inferno started in a third-floor apartment in the 33-story building on West 59th Street near 10th Avenue at around 5 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing flames shooting out of the building's windows as the fire spread to the fourth floor.

It wasn't clear what started the fire, but Leonard said open windows and high winds caused "very heavy smoke" to go into the hallways and rise up into the building's upper floors.



"Firefighters had a tough time getting across the hallway because of the wind," he said.



Nine people escaped to the roof to wait out the fire and were safely removed, said Leonard.



One resident, Shruti Kulkarni, tweeted that the fire had forced her to stay inside her apartment on the 7th floor.

Later, Kulkarni tweeted that she was able to get out of the building and was safe.

Firefighters went floor to floor to check on the residents, who include medical residents and doctors affiliated with Mount Sinai St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital.



More than two hours after the fire began, the FDNY tweeted that the blaze had been "knocked down."

A woman who lived in the apartment where the fire started was able to get out of the building safely, her next door neighbor told the New York Post.

"She was completely covered with black ashes," the neighbor said. "I tried to have her go to the emergency room, but she was concerned about the damage in her apartment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Authorities say a man known as the "Godfather of Grass" has been arrested in Canada after eight years on the run.

The U.S. Marshals Service says authorities sought John Robert "Johnny" Boone after they seized 2,400 marijuana plants on his Kentucky farm. The agency said he was arrested Thursday when information led authorities to a small town outside of Montreal.

Boone, who is about 73, spent more than a decade in federal prison after being convicted in the 1980s in what prosecutors called the "largest domestic marijuana syndicate in American history." They said he had 29 farms in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin. The group became known as the "Cornbread Mafia," and prosecutors said Boone was the leader.

Boone is awaiting extradition to the U.S.
Authorities in the St. Louis area are searching for a 5-month-old girl after someone took off with the minivan she was in earlier this week.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (http://j.mp/2i090q3) the baby, Eden Brooke Hawthorne, was last seen in the 2006 Chrysler Town and Country van at a Church's Chicken in Normandy on Monday night.

Police say the mother rode to the restaurant with the baby and four other people. The mother and a man went inside the restaurant, and the minivan left with the baby inside.

The connection between the mother and the others in the van wasn't clear. A police alert issued Thursday describes their identities as "unknown." It's also unclear why the alert wasn't issued until Thursday or when the baby was reported missing.
A suburban Philadelphia man whose weekend trip to a neighborhood store somehow led to a 900-mile detour to Alabama is safely back with his family, thanks to breakfasting police officers who realized something wasn't right.

Haleyville, Alabama, Mayor Ken Sunseri said Thursday that 89-year-old Jody Tarbutton approached officers on Monday and asked where he was. He appeared stunned to hear he'd ended up in Alabama.

Sunseri says the officers took the Boothwyn man to the police station and soon discovered he'd been missing for two days. They notified his worried family he'd been found.

Tarbutton's relatives flew down to Alabama and reunited with him at a hospital, where he was treated for high blood pressure and dehydration.
Dec. 22

Michael E. Barnes, 23, of Carlin was arrested at 10th and Hamilton Street for driving under the influence and driving with a revoked drivers license. Bail: $2,280.

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Asay C. Crofts, 24, of Wheat Ridge, Colo. was arrested in District Court Two for revoked bail by the court. Bail: $115,000.

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Jennifer L. Ike, 37, of Elko was arrested at West Sage and Sewell Street for driving with a suspended drivers license. Bail: $355.

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Edward Jones, 55, of Page, Ariz. was arrested in the Montego Bay Casino for domestic battery. Bail: $3,000.

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Alisha D. Marin, 40, of Elko was arrested at Ninth and Court Streets on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $500.

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Harley D. Rough, 23, of Carson City was arrested in the Elko County Jail on a warrant for failure to appear on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $964.

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Sterlene M. Tresner, 27, of Salt Lake City was arrested at the Pilot Truck Center for trespassing not amounting to burglary and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail: $1,095.

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Richard A. Woods, 39, of Elko was arrested in Elko Justice Court on a warrant for failure to appear on a misdemeanor crime. No bail listed.
Federal prosecutors say a Detroit man accused of amassing weapons and buying explosives did so on behalf of the Islamic State and is backed by a group of supporters in Maryland.

The U.S. Attorney's Office made the claim in a court filing Thursday opposing a defense request to free Sebastian Gregerson from jail pending trial.

The Detroit News reports (http://detne.ws/2i6ZXAQ ) it's the first time prosecutors have alleged publicly that the 30-year-old Gregerson was part of a broader group of Islamic State supporters.

Gregerson is being held at a federal prison in Milan. Defense attorney David Tholen argued in a court filing that Gregerson could wear an electronic tether and be released so he can live with his wife and two children in Detroit or with his parents near Ann Arbor.

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Information from: The Detroit News, http://detnews.com/
Months after being sued, a small Massachusetts town has agreed to let a local Islamic group build a cemetery that some neighbors opposed.

Under a deal approved this week, the town of Dudley will permit the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester to buy a long-idle dairy farm and build a 6-acre cemetery at the site. In exchange, the group won't seek to expand the burial ground for at least a decade and will drop a lawsuit it filed against the town in July.

The society sued Dudley after a town zoning board denied plans for the cemetery in June, saying the group didn't have standing to seek a special permit. The group, which runs a mosque about 20 miles from Dudley, alleged that its constitutional rights were violated in the rejection.

During earlier meetings on the proposal, some residents had said they were worried the cemetery could contaminate groundwater because Muslims traditionally don't embalm bodies and bury their dead without coffins. They also cited concerns about noise, vandalism and increased traffic on the narrow road along the proposed site.

The group's leaders described those arguments as thinly veiled bigotry.

Both sides negotiated until October, when a lawyer for the Islamic group said talks had reached a standstill. But on Thursday, the town's governing body announced it had reached a deal.

Under the agreement, the Islamic group must return to the zoning board in early 2017 for a public hearing, but the cemetery proposal is to be approved. Once all its permits are granted, the group will drop its lawsuit. The deal says that Dudley won't make any settlement payments to the group or its attorneys.

Khalid Sadozai, trustee of the society, said in a statement that the group is going forward with the project.

"Today is a good day for citizens of all beliefs," he said. "Our right to practice our religion and honor loved ones in accordance with our Islamic faith has been affirmed."

The chairman of Dudley's governing body, Jonathan Ruda, issued a statement saying the agreement allows a fair, open application of the law.

"We want to stress that the town's sole interest and motivation has been for all parties to respect the legal and regulatory process, and has absolutely nothing to do with the religious affiliation of the applicant," he said.

Similar disputes have erupted across the country in states such as Texas, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. In some cases, opponents have defeated cemetery projects, while in others, Muslim groups have appealed and judged have cleared the way.
A prominent Chicago alderman has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges during an initial court appearance.

Willie Cochran appeared in federal court in Chicago on Thursday accompanied by several relatives. The 64-year-old Democrat stood in a pinstripe suit and purple tie with his hands folded in front of him as attorney Thomas Durkin entered the plea on his behalf.

The 15-count indictment includes bribery and extortion counts. It alleges Cochran extorted money from a store owner and pilfered funds from an activities fund to pay for gambling and his daughter's college tuition.

Durkin said later that there's no evidence Cochran sought to accept money for official actions. He said Cochran used some fund money but also put money back.

A status hearing is set for Jan. 11.
A judge has ordered a prominent Atlanta attorney to wear an ankle monitor and turn over his passport after the shooting death of his wife.

Claud "Tex" McIver is charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://on-ajc.com/2hjjKAl ) that a judge Thursday allowed him to be freed on bond.

McIver's attorney hasn't responded to requests for comment, but McIver has insisted the shooting was an accident.

Atlanta police have said McIver was riding in a rear seat of an SUV late Sept. 25 when a gun he was holding fired and the bullet hit his wife, 63-year-old Diane McIver, who was in the front passenger seat. She died at a hospital.

Diane McIver was president of U.S. Enterprises Inc., parent company of Corey Airport Services.

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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com
A Pennsylvania woman has been identified as a person of interest in the disappearance and murder of her 14-year-old daughter after authorities reported finding the girls dismembered remains, according to a report.

Fox 29 Philadelphia reported Thursday that Grace Packer was reported missing from her home on July 11. At the time police said she left her home with $300 in cash in her pocket.

County prosecutors said Graces dismembered body was found in remote woods on Halloween by two hunters.

How did this young girl disappear from her home in Abington Township and end up in a remote area of Luzerne County? Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele asked.

Bucks County prosecutor Matthew Weintraub said Sara Packer, 41, is a person of interest in the investigation. Police said she was the person who reported her daughter missing.

Packer was charged last month with child endangerment and obstructing the administration of law in connection with the disappearnce, Fox 29 reported. She is behind bars in lieu of a $10,000 bail. She has not been charged in her daughters murder.

Authorities say Packer knows more about what happened to her daughter than she has divulged, according to the station. She has been accused by authorities of hindering efforts to find Grace by withholding information, lying to detectives and keeping secret a move to another town.

The station also reports that Packer pocketed $3,600 in disability benefits for her daughter after the disappearance.

Click here for more from Fox 29 Philadelphia.
While much of the world's economy is in the doldrums, business is booming for Somalia's pirates, whose attacks on commercial ships sailing Africa's east coast are more frequent, violent and lucrative than ever.

Pirates took in an estimated $160 million in ransoms last year, and one study predicts the number will climb to $400 million by 2015, as the high seas thieves continue their brazen reign on the Indian Ocean. Efforts by shipping companies to beef up security, and by the European Union, which has mounted airstrikes on pirate ships, have so far been met with stepped-up attacks. Chillingly, pirates are now chopping off the limbs of captives in extreme cases when the airdrop of cash isn't made quickly enough to suit them.

"It's an established, structured model, where you have Somalis who are leading and financing operations and then you have pirates who actually go out to sea and conduct the activity," Brian Green, chief of the counter-piracy branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence, told FoxNews.com of the piracy industry. "They are, more or less, foot soldiers. They find targets of opportunity, attack them with the goal of hijacking and bringing that vessel back to Somalia."

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Piracy worldwide reached an all-time high in 2011, as 544 attacks against ships were reported to the International Maritime Organization, an increase of 11 percent from 2010. Nearly half occurred off East Africa, where Somali crews in small boats range hundreds of miles out into the Indian Ocean, boarding container ships sailing south toward the Mozambique Channel. Of the 17 hijackings reported to the International Maritime Bureau so far in 2012, a dozen have been off Somalia's coast.

Typically, they board the ship, overpower the crew and sail it toward any of the hundreds of islands that pepper the East African coast. They convey their demands to the shipping company, and wait. Pirates have been known to hold crews captive for months, waiting for the ransom payment. The initial demand is typically between $10 million to $20 million, eventually whittled down to $2 million to $5 million, usually after months of negotiation, Green said.

When the company agrees to meet the pirates' demand, a small plane or helicopter flies overhead, dropping a canister by parachute near the ship. They prefer to get paid in U.S. $100 bills, according to Green.

"It's a cash transaction," he said, noting that tracing the money later is all but impossible.

Last year, pirates took in 31 ransom payments, averaging just more than $5 million apiece. With so much money at stake, and so few other prospects for the lawless sailors of Somalia, consulting firm Geopolicity predicts that figure could skyrocket to as much as $400 million by 2015. The cost to the shipping industry, in extra security and lost time, will reach $15 billion by then, according to the study.

Somali pirates recruit their crews from among the teens that roam the streets of cities such as Eyl in the northern Puntland region. Promised a quick score, they sign on and learn the ropes at sea, according to Steve Collins, operations manager of Sea Marshals Ltd., a United Kingdom-based company that provides security teams for vessels in the pirate-infested waters of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. The teen pirates are often under the influence of khat, a drug made from a native plant that induces an amphetamine-like high when chewed, as well as unpredictable behavior.

From what we know, they are generally young men looking for a better life, Collins told FoxNews.com. They are told piracy is a quick way to become rich and get a part of the ransom. Basically, they are given an AK-47 and are thrown onto a vessel.

Robert Young Pelton, publisher of the watchdog website Somalia Report, told FoxNews.com that pirates primarily target low and slow vessels and are growing more desperate as shipping companies and crews fight back. Captains have also adopted best management practices, vastly improving security with features like safe rooms, barbed wire and high-pressure fire hoses.

The seafaring outlaws have answered by plowing profits into faster boats and better arms -- and becoming increasingly ruthless, Collins said.

With more vessels carrying arms, its getting harder for pirates to get what they want, he said. So they dont just stop because someone fires at them once. Two years ago, if you shot at the [ships] bridge, they would stop. It doesnt happen that way anymore. They are definitely getting more violent.

In January, pirates off the Somali coast sawed off the lower arm of a Taiwanese trawlers captain, Chao-I Wu, to extract a $3 million ransom, according to Somalia Report.

The Marine Police Force in Puntland, a region of northeastern Somalia that has become a pirate stronghold, has cracked down on piracy, recently arresting a suspect named Mohamed Mohamud Mohamed Hassan, known as Dhafoor, late last month. Dhafoor, 36, is believed to be the second in command of the pirate group that held a Danish family for six months before receiving a $3 million airdropped ransom last year. Jan Quist Johansen, wife Birgit Marie and the couples three children, ages 13 to 17, were captured 600 miles off the Somali coast along with two Danish crew members on Feb. 24, 2011.

The most well-known hijacking in recent years took place off Somalia in April 2009, when the Maersk Alabama, a Virginia-based ship, was overtaken by pirates. The five-day standoff, which ended when Navy SEAL snipers killed three of Capt. Richard Phillips captors, is now the subject of an upcoming movie starring Tom Hanks and a nearly $50 million lawsuit filed by more than half of the crew members who claim Phillips ignored warnings to stay at least 600 miles offshore from Somalia.

The surviving Somali-born pirate, Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse, was later brought to New York to face trial and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. Philip Weinstein, one of Muses attorneys, told FoxNews.com that a combination of total anarchy and few viable industries in Somalia contribute to a culture that makes piracy attractive to young Somalis like Muse.

Its very, very dangerous in the high seas, Weinstein said. But the payoff is big.

Green, the chief of the counter-piracy branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence, echoed that sentiment, predicting that Somali piracy will not end anytime soon. He characterized Somali piracy as a regional activity that is having a global impact, with coordinated international responses to piracy incidents and the alteration of shipping lanes to avoid known hotspots.

We have to keep our guard up to the possibility of pirates evolving their tactics and to respond accordingly, Green told FoxNews.com. A permissive environment, coupled with a lack of opportunity ashore, will continue to fuel Somali piracy.
The ISIS terror group kidnapped 88 Eritrean Christians from a people-smugglers' caravan in Libya last week, a U.S. defense official confirmed Monday.

The defense official confirmed initial reports of the mass kidnapping to Fox News after seeing a recent intelligence report. The independent Libya Herald newspaper reported that the convoy was ambushed by militants south of Tripoli before dawn this past Wednesday morning.

Meron Estafanos, the co-founder of the Stockholm-based International Commission on Eritrean Refugees, told the paper that the group of migrants included "about 12 Eritrean Muslims and some Egyptians. They put them in another truck and they put 12 Eritrean women Christians in a smaller pick-up".

Estafanos said that the militants had initially stopped the truck and demanded that the Muslims on board make themselves known. Everyone who responded was asked about the Koran and their religious observance in an attempt to catch Christians pretending to be Muslims.

The main body of the group was put back on the original truck. As the militants drove the vehicle away, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported that at least nine men attempted to escape by diving off the back of the truck. Estefanos said three of those who had escaped were safe, but still trying to get out of Libya. The fate of the others was not known.

Libya has become a jumping-off point for thousands of migrants from the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa who attempt the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to southern Europe. However, Libya's ongoing instability has led to an increased presence by ISIS and other terror groups, increasing the risk for Christians and other non-Muslims attempting the crossing.

In February, Libyan militants proclaiming loyalty to ISIS released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Two months later, another video showed the militants shooting and beheading an indeterminate number of Ethiopian Christians. Estefanos told the Libya Herald that the video released in April had been edited and that 64 people had been massacred, including several Eritreans.

"Ever since the kidnapping by ISIS in Libya last February," she said, "many are taking different routes. Some go from Khartoum [Sudan] to Turkey, then Greece. Others are now leaving via Khartoum to Cairo, then Alexandria and from there by boat to Italy. I think we will see an increase towards Turkey and Cairo instead of Libya".

ISIS on Tuesday also claimed that it seized a power plant near the Libyan city of Sirte, which supplies central and western parts of the country with electricity, Reuters reports.

"The plant ... was taken," ISIS said in a message on social media, while forces loyal to the self-declared government that controls Libya's capital, Tripoli, fled the area, a military source told Reuters. The source said three soldiers were killed in the attack.

Libya is divided between rival governments and hundreds of militias in the aftermath of its 2011 civil war that ousted dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

The violence has impacted the country's oil revenues heavily. U.N. envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon has warned that the country only has enough money to pay salaries for another six weeks, urging warring parties to agree on a unity government. Negotiators are currently meeting in Morocco to discuss a power-sharing agreement.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from the Libya Herald.

Click for more from the Daily Telegraph.
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North Korea is holding what is expected to be one of its biggest celebrations ever Saturday for the 70th anniversary of its ruling party's creation, an attention-getting event that is the government's way of showing the world and its own people the Kim dynasty  now in its third generation  is firmly in control and its military a power to be reckoned with.

The military parade kicking off the celebrations could hold some surprises for analysts abroad who will be watching its display of weaponry, particularly its growing fleet of drone aircraft and long-range missiles, very closely.

The guest list is shaping up to be less impressive.

While no world leaders will be attending  North Korean ally China is sending a senior Communist Party official, not its head of state, or even vice premier  the normally isolated and quiet North Korean capital has been flooded by tourists, international media and delegations ranging from ethnic Koreans living abroad to obscure Russian and Mongolian groups dedicated to studying North Korea's political ideas.

Right up to the last minute, North Korean officials refused to divulge details of the day's plans.

But open-source satellite imagery has been monitoring large-scale troop activities at the Mirim military air base in Pyongyang that has been rigged with a mock-up of Kim Il Sung Square, where the event will be held, and masses of Pyongyang citizens have for weeks been out in public plazas across the city practicing their roles for a torchlight parade in the evening.

For the finale, a stage has been set up on a river running through central Pyongyang for a late-night concert featuring North Korea's most popular musical group, the all-female Moranbong Band. Tickets for foreigners hoping to attend the concert were going for 100 euros ($114) a pop.

The spectacle promises to be the most elaborate since leader Kim Jong Un assumed power after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in late 2011, and the satellite imagery suggests the military parade could be the biggest ever.

It's not known if Kim himself will speak at any of the day's events.

Kim has yet to make a state visit abroad and although his visits to various farms and factories around the country are featured daily on North Korean news broadcasts, he rarely speaks at public events.

Though military parades were out of fashion until about a decade ago, North Korea's leadership often uses anniversaries to rally the nation behind the military or the party, while at the same time reinforcing the primacy of the leader himself.

On Friday, senior state officials led a mass gathering in Pyongyang singing the praises of the party and the leader.

Some foreign analysts believe the particularly strong emphasis this year on making the anniversary of the party's foundation such a lavish fete is a sign that Kim Jong Un is trying to build up his own stature along with that of the party relative to the military.

Though Kim's leadership and both institutions are strong, the power balance among various government organs in North Korea is a delicate one and maintaining that balance is a key to keeping Kim's regime solid and unchallenged.

North Korea maintains its "military-first policy," which it says is necessary to counter threats from South Korea and the United States, but officials have recently stressed the role of the party in improving the standard of living for the people, who are increasingly aware of how far they lag behind their affluent cousins south of the Demilitarized Zone and in economic giant China.

In the run-up to this year's anniversary, large-scale construction and development projects have been launched and hailed with great fanfare in the state media.

The projects include new hydropower plants and high-rise apartments, but it is unclear how much of North Korea's limited financial resources have been put into improving the lot of the majority of its citizens who are not fortunate enough to live in the relatively developed and affluent capital.
Thirteen Cuban migrants who arrived early Tuesday in the Florida Keys aboard a homemade boat are the first to land on U.S. soil since Fidel Castro died, U.S. authorities said, adding they're on alert amid an ongoing surge in sea crossings.

The migrants were all in good health after arriving on Big Pine Key around 4 a.m., Monroe County Sheriff's Office Deputy Becky Herrin said in an email.

The 10 men and three women are to be processed and released to an organization that helps refugees resettle in the United States, according to Norma Morfa, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman.

It's "the first known maritime smuggling event" from Cuba since Castro's death on Nov. 25, Morfa said in an email.

Under the so-called "wet foot, dry foot" policy, Cubans reaching U.S. soil generally can remain.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, fears about that policy potentially ending have been driving a surge in the numbers of Cubans attempting to reach U.S. soil since December 2014, when a resumption of U.S. diplomatic relations with Havana was announced.

Castro's death and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's hard-line stance on curbing illegal immigration have added to the uncertainty over that policy, which was enacted by the U.S. government after an exodus of Cuban rafters in 1994.

Coast Guard officials in Miami say it's too soon to tell whether the longtime Cuban leader's death has triggered an additional increase. Last week, 38 Cubans intercepted at sea by U.S. authorities were returned home.

"We're constantly patrolling the seas," said Chief Nick Cangemi of the Coast Guard's 7th District.

As of Dec. 1, 827 Cubans have attempted to reach U.S. soil by sea since the fiscal year began Oct. 1, according to Coast Guard statistics. Over 7,400 Cubans were intercepted in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30  a 60 percent increase from 4,473 tallied the previous year.

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The Berlin terror suspect who repeatedly slipped through the fingers of German authorities was reportedly on the U.S. no-fly list months before Monday's deadly attack.

German officials on Thursday continued to hunt Anis Amri, who is considered armed and dangerous. A fingerprint in the cab of the truck used in Monday's attack was found on Thursday to belong to Amri.

Amri piqued the interest of U.S. officials after it was discovered he had researched the construction of explosive devices and communicated with ISIS leaders on at least one occasion via the groups Telegram Messenger, officials told The New York Times.

ATTACK PROMPTS HIGH SECURITY IN U.S. CITIES

But while the U.S quickly moved to keep Amri out of the country, Germany couldnt get him to leave.

There were red flags galore surrounding the Tunisian-born Amri:

Amri, 24, left Tunisia in 2010 after stealing a truck, a crime for which he was sentenced to prison time in absentia, Die Welt reported.

He arrived in Italy but couldnt stay out of trouble, eventually landing in an Italian prison for setting fire to a school at a refugee camp, according to an interview with Amris father broadcast on a Tunisian radio station. News agency Ans reported the fire was part of a revolt against infidels.

Amri was transferred among several Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, The Associated Press reported. Prison records show he bullied fellow inmates and attempted to spark insurrections.

Amri applied for asylum in Germany in July 2015 and was denied in June 2016; however, he was never deported. Tunisia first claimed it could not find evidence he was a citizen of the country and then delayed in sending him a passport, German officials said.

Germany had hoped to deport Amri after learning he was plotting a serious act of violent subversion, an official told The Washington Post.

Amri was reportedly arrested in Germany on at least two other occasions after his asylum rejection, however, he was released each time.

German officials monitored Amris connections to extremists, and at one point investigators believed he may have offered himself as a suicide bomber, Der Spiegel reported. But due to Amris ambiguous statements, Germany was never able to arrest him.

Authorities began investigating Amri in March but ended the operation in September despite uncovering some troubling connections. He had lived with a suspected Islamic extremist and was allegedly a follower of an Iraqi-born German preacher who was later arrested due to connections to ISIS.

Officials again convened in November to share intelligence that Amri was connected to Islamist militants. A month later, Amri killed 12 people and wounded 48 when he drove a truck into a crowd at a Christmas market.

This is the smoking gun to show that the vetting process has major gaps in it, that intel is not being shared, that information about ideological extremism is not being adequately considered, said Ryan Mauro, a National Security Analyst for the Clarion Project. It shows that ideology is not playing a strong enough role in the vetting process, even in Europe.

The failure of German authorities to catch Amri before the ISIS-claimed attack mirrors their current struggle to capture the fugitive after the fact.

Amri wasnt identified as the prime suspect until Wednesday, despite leaving a wallet with identification papers behind in the truck he used during the rampage. In the first two days after the attack, Germany detained and questioned two other people, but had to release both due to insufficient evidence.

But Sebastian Gorka, author of "Defeating Jihad," placed the blame on the liberal policies of the German government, which allowed an influx of nearly a million asylum-seekers into the country around the time Amri entered.

Looking into what we know already, its less a function of bad vetting  its bad policy," Gorka told FoxNews.com

The facts are, the red flags were there but the policies of Berlin were such that the individual was released. He wasnt deportedThat is a function of policy, not policing.

Gorka said police were already fighting an uphill battle thanks to the country throwing open its borders to migrants.

The politicians have endangered their fellow Germans, not the policemen," he said. "Its easy to blame the operators, but the real responsibility lies with the politicians.

Two Americans were victims of the Monday massacre, and one of the unidentified individuals remained hospitalized on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy told Fox News. An update was scheduled for later in the day.

Fox News Greg Palkot contributed to this report.
The U.N. human rights chief is denouncing violent repression by Congolese security forces against crowds protesting against President Joseph Kabila, saying 40 people have been killed over the past week.

Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein is urging Congo's police, defense and other security forces to use restraint, saying the "heavy-handed and irresponsible response to demonstrations risks provoking violence in return by demonstrators."

The U.N. human rights office says bloody incidents took place in the capital, Kinshasa, the southeastern city of Lubumbashi and beyond.

Kabila's mandate expired Monday, though a court has ruled he can stay in office until new elections can be held.
Israeli police say an Arab lawmaker in the country's parliament is under arrest amid an investigation into suspicions he smuggled cellphones to Palestinians in prison serving sentences for security offenses.

Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Basel Ghattas is under arrest until Dec.26 after appearing before a court Friday.

He said Ghattas is suspected of "offenses of conspiracy, fraud and breach of trust" and "smuggling mobile phones and SIM cards" to Palestinians serving sentences for security offenses against Israel.

Ghattas is a member of the Balad faction, a party that has antagonized the vast majority of Israelis with provocative shows of support for the Palestinians and activism for their cause.

In 2007, Balad lawmaker Azmi Bishara fled Israel while facing charges of espionage for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Ghattas denied any wrongdoing.
The terrorist behind Monday's deadly attack on a Berlin Christmas market swore allegiance to ISIS before dying in a wee-hours shootout with police in Milan Friday, some some 675 miles from the scene of Monday's carnage.



Anis Amri, the 24-year-old Tunisian whose monstrous attack sparked a 72-hour manhunt and raised questions about Germany's inability to come to grips with radicals among its burgeoning refugee population, was killed in the Sesto San Giovanni district of the northern Italian city, police said.

Before his death, Amri pledged his allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and called for jihadists to take revenge on "crusaders" bombing Muslims, a video posted on Islamic State's Amaq website showed. It was not clear if the video was made before or after the Berlin attack.

"My message to crusaders bombing Muslims everyday... Their blood will not go in vain," he said. "We are a nation behind them and will take revenge for them," he said.

"I call on my Muslim brothers everywhere... Those in Europe, kill the crusader pigs, each person to their own ability."

After the shootout in Italy, the ISIS website confirmed via Twitter that the dead man was Amri.

Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti told reporters at a news conference that the dead man was "without any doubt" Amri. Monday's attack in Berlin, for which ISIS has claimed credit, left 12 dead and more than 50 injured, including two Americans.

The shootout occurred just after 3 a.m. local time, according to Italian police. Amri was seen "walking suspiciously," sources said, and was asked for identification. He pulled a .22 calibre gun out of his backpack and fired at a cop, police said. The police officer, identified as Critian Morio, was struck, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Morio and another police officer who was not injured "have done an extraordinary service to the community," Minniti said.

Authorities are retracing Amri's three days on the run, a trek that could raise even more questions about border security throughout Europe. After fleeing Germany, he made his way to the French region of Savoy and then took a train to Milan, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

German investigators were en route to confirm the identification, which Italian authorities reportedly made by matching the dead man's fingerprints to those taken from the cab of the hijacked truck Amri turned into a tool of terror.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni told reporters he had spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the shootout.

Amri had been in Italy before, having entered in 2011 amid the earliest wave of refugees from the Middle East and Northern Africa that has engulfed the continent. While there, he set a school on fire and served four years in prison, yet managed to remain in Europe when Tunisia refused to take him back.

In Germany, he had also been on police radar, reportedly having researched bomb-making and making contact with ISIS through the messaging service Telegram. German authorities sought to deport him in June, but failed to in a disastrous bureaucratic lapse that has enraged critics of Merkel's refugee policy.

German police initially detained an innocent man after Monday's attack, then launched a European-wide wanted notice for Amri on Wednesday. German authorities had offered a reward of $105,000 for information leading to Amri's arrest, but warned he could be "violent and armed."

Authorities say Amri has used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.
EXCLUSIVE: China has sent more surface-to-air missiles from the mainland to the South China Sea, and the U.S. intelligence community anticipates these new missiles will eventually go to some of Chinas disputed territories for the first time, two U.S. officials tell Fox News.

The new missiles have been seen by American intelligence satellites on Chinas provincial island province of Hainan. While Hainan is not part the disputed islands, officials say this location is only temporary and anticipate the missiles will be deployed soon to the contested Spratley Islands or Woody Island.

The two missile systems seen on Hainan island are known as the CSA-6b and HQ-9. The CSA-6b is a combined close-in missile system with a range of 10 miles and also contains anti-aircraft guns. The longer-range HQ-9 system has a range of 125 miles, and is roughly based on the Russian S-300 system.

This latest deployment of Chinese military equipment comes days after the Chinese returned an unclassified underwater research drone in the South China Sea. The Pentagon accused a Chinese Navy ship of stealing the drone, over the objections of the American crew operating it in international waters to collect oceanographic data.

The escalation comes weeks after President elect-Donald Trump received a congratulatory phone call from Taiwans president breaking decades-long one-China protocol and angering Beijing.

China has deployed surface-to-air missiles to Woody Island in the South China Sea before, as Fox News first reported in February.

It has yet to deploy missiles to its seven man-made islands in the Spratly chain of islands. Weeks ago civilian satellite imagery obtained by a Washington, D.C., based think-tank showed gun emplacement on all the disputed islands, but not missiles.

Earlier this month, Fox News first reported China getting ready to deploy another missile defense system from a port in southeast China. China also flew a long-range bomber around the South China Sea for the first time since March 2015 and days after Mr. Trumps phone call with his Taiwan counterpart.

Days before President Trumps call, a pair of long-range H-6K bombers flew around the island of Taiwan for the first time.

Beijing has long expressed interest in fortifying its seven man-made islands in the South China Sea.

Last year, Chinas President Xi Jinping pledged not to militarize the islands, in the Rose Garden at the White House.

This another example of the adventurous and aggressiveness of the Chinese in the face of an anemic and feckless set of policies that we've seen over the last eigh years, said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, former head of Air Force intelligence, in an interview with Fox News.

This month, U.S. intelligence satellites also spotted components for the Chinese version of the SA-21 surface-to-air missile system at the port of Jieyang, in southeast China, where officials say China has made similar military shipments in the past to its islands in the South China Sea.

The Chinese SA-21 system, based on the more advanced Russian S-400, is a more capable missile system than the HQ-9.
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Police say that two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion that they were planning an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany.

Police said that the men, ages 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region in the early hours of Friday. Authorities suspect that they may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen.

They say authorities are probing how far along the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved.

Police say they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip.
Iranian media says a 26-year-old man has gunned down 10 relatives in a rare shooting rampage.

The semi-official ISNA news agency reported the shooting on Friday, saying it occurred the night before in a rural part of southern Iran and that the suspect was still at large. It says another four people were wounded in the shooting.

ISNA says the man had repeatedly quarreled with his wife, who was also his cousin, and was not among those killed. It did not provide further details on the motive.

Gun violence is rare in Iran. Citizens are only allowed to own hunting rifles, which are rarely seen outside of rural areas.
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The Latest on the investigation into the deadly truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market (all times local):

11:15 a.m.

Italy's interior minister says a man killed in an early-hours shootout in Milan is "without a shadow of doubt" the Berlin Christmas market attacker.

Marco Minniti said after the shootout all the necessary checks were conducted and that "the person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the terrorist attack."

Minniti said German authorities were immediately informed.

He said the two police officers who were on patrol and stopped Amri "have done an extraordinary service to the community."

___

11:05 a.m.

A man killed in a shootout with police in Milan early Friday is the main suspect the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 people, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Italy's Interior Ministry called a press conference for Friday morning.

The shootout with suspect Anis Amri took place at 3 a.m. in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood during a routine police check, ANSA said.

He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identity papers and was killed in the ensuing shootout, ANSA reported.

A police officer was injured.

ANSA said various sources in Milan and Rome confirmed that the dead man was Amri, who German authorities believe drove the truck that plowed into the Christmas market Monday. Citing Milan anti-terrorism police, ANSA said authorities positively identified Amri from his physical appearance and fingerprints.
Donald Trump is reacting to a decision by the United States mission to the United Nations to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The president-elect took to Twitter following the U.N. Security Council vote Friday saying, briefly, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th."

Trump didn't elaborate, however the move by the Obama administration brushes aside Trump's demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

Trump told The Associated Press last December that he wanted to be "very neutral" on Israel-Palestinian issues. But his tone became decidedly more pro-Israel as the campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.
WASHINGTON  The fall of Aleppo just weeks before Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obamas abdication. For which he seems to have few regrets, however. In his end-of-year news conference, Obama defended U.S. inaction with his familiar false choice: it was either stand aside or order a massive Iraq-style ground invasion.

This is a transparent fiction designed to stifle debate. Five years ago, the popular uprising was ascendant. What kept a rough equilibrium was regime control of the skies. At that point, the U.S., at little risk and cost, could have declared Syria a no-fly zone, much as it did Iraqi Kurdistan for a dozen years after the Gulf War of 1991.

The U.S. could easily have destroyed the regimes planes and helicopters on the ground and so cratered its airfields as to make them unusable. That would have altered the strategic equation for the rest of the war.

And would have deterred the Russians from injecting their own air force  they would have had to challenge ours for air superiority. Facing no U.S. deterrent, Russia stepped in and decisively altered the balance, pounding the rebels in Aleppo to oblivion. The Russians were particularly adept at hitting hospitals and other civilian targets, leaving the rebels with the choice between annihilation and surrender.

They surrendered.

Obama has never appreciated that the role of a superpower in a local conflict is not necessarily to intervene on the ground, but to deter a rival global power from stepping in and altering the course of the war. Thats what we did during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Moscow threatened to send troops to support Egypt and President Nixon countered by raising Americas nuclear alert status to Defcon 3. Russia stood down.

Less dramatically but just as effectively, American threats of retaliation are what kept West Germany, South Korea and Taiwan free and independent through half a century of Cold War.

Its called deterrence. Yet Obama never had the credibility to deter anything or anyone. In the end, the worlds greatest power was reduced to bitter speeches at the U.N. Are you truly incapable of shame? thundered U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power at the butchers of Aleppo. As if we dont know the answer. Indeed the shame is on us for terminal naivete, sending our secretary of state chasing the Russians to negotiate one humiliating pretend cease-fire after another.

Even now, however, the Syria debate is not encouraging. The tone is anguished and emotional, portrayed exclusively in moral terms. Much less appreciated is the cold strategic cost.

Assad was never a friend. But today hes not even a free agent. Hes been effectively restored to his throne, but as the puppet of Iran and Russia. Syria is now a platform, a forward base, from which both these revisionist regimes can project power in the region.

Iran will use Syria to advance its drive to dominate the Arab Middle East. Russia will use its naval and air bases to bully the Sunni Arab states, and to shut out American influence.

Its already happening. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey convened in Moscow this week to begin settling the fate of Syria. Notice who wasnt there. For the first time in four decades, the United States, the once dominant power in the region, is an irrelevance.

With Aleppo gone and the rebels scattered, we have a long road ahead to rebuild the influence squandered over the last eight years. President-elect Donald Trump is talking about creating safe zones. He should tread carefully. It does no good to try to do now what we should have done five years ago. Conditions are much worse. Russia and Iran rule. Maintaining the safety of safe zones will be expensive and dangerous. It will require extensive ground deployments and it risks military confrontation with Russia.

And why? Guilty conscience is not a good reason. Interventions that are purely humanitarian  from Somalia to Libya  tend to end badly. We may proclaim a responsibility to protect, but when no American interests are at stake, the engagement becomes impossible to sustain. At the first losses, we go home.

In Aleppo, the damage is done, the city destroyed, the inhabitants ethnically cleansed. For us, there is no post-facto option. If we are to regain the honor lost in Aleppo, it will have to be on a very different battlefield.
The girl called Jeevti was just 14 when she taken from her family in the night to be married off to a man who says her family owed him $1,000.

Her mother, Ameri Kashi Kohli, is sure that her daughter paid the price for a never-ending debt.

Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid.

It's a familiar story here in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted.

In this world, women like Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment.

The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest, the young and pliable. Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can.

"I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us," says Ameri, who is Hindu. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife. "They told us, 'Your daughter has committed to Islam and you can't get her back.'"

More than 2 million Pakistanis live as "modern slaves," according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing.

"They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable," says Ghulam Hayder, whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistan's bonded laborers.

An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organization.

Hayder says, "They always take the pretty ones."

The night Jeevti disappeared, the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat here in southern Sindh province. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says.

The family turned to activist Veero Kohli to help free the girl.

Kohli, who isn't related to the family, was born a slave. Since fleeing bondage in 1999, she has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners, liberating thousands of families from bonded labor.

Kohli's defiance incenses many men in a country dominated by a centuries-old patriarchal culture.

"I know that they would like to kill me, but I will never stop fighting to free these people,' she says.

Five months ago, she went with Ameri to the Piyaro Lundh police station to find her daughter. They said the girl went willingly, Kohli says. "I told them: 'Let me talk to her. Let her mother talk to her if she went freely.'" They refused.

Instead, they called in the man who Ameri said had taken her daughter. Hamid Brohi, came alone, without the girl. "He said, 'Anyway, she is payment for 100,000 rupees ($1,000) they owe me,'" Kohli recalls.

Now Kohli is returning to the same police station, where police officer Aqueel Ahmed thumbs through a dozen files, barely containing his anger at the activist.

Finally, he pulls out an affidavit. In it, the girl, who now goes by the name Fatima, said she had converted freely and married Brohi of her own free will. She also said she couldn't meet her mother because now she was Muslim and her family was Hindu.

Hindu activists say the girls are kept isolated until they have been forced to convert and are married - and then it's almost too late to do anything.

Under pressure, police in a machine-gun-mounted jeep finally take Kohli and a foreign reporter to visit the girl. Her mother doesn't come, too afraid, she says, to confront the police in person again.

Brohi, a sullen-looking man with a thin mustache, greets the police with an embrace. He angrily denies he took Jeevti as payment for the family's debt, despite his earlier boast to the activist that he had done just that.

Inside, Jeevti sits on a double mattress on the floor, her head wrapped in a black shawl. She wears heavy eyeshadow and exaggerated bright red lipstick, like a child who has put on her mother's makeup - or one who is attempting to look older.

Although she doesn't seem afraid, her eyes dart to the door where her husband hovers. When she speaks, her words seem rehearsed.

"I married him because I wanted to," she says. "I myself asked him that as we are lovers, we should get married. So he said, 'Let's get married,' and I said yes."

She denies that she hasn't seen her mother since leaving. But she can't say when she saw her mother last - or even where she lives, now that the family has fled its old home. She is quiet when asked why her court affidavit says she refused to talk to her mother because she had converted to Islam.

She says she doesn't know what is in the court documents, although each one the police showed said Jeevti had spoken the words herself.

The next day, the visitors return  without a police escort.

Inside the compound, there are only women, and no one knows Fatima. The door to the room where she sat the day before is padlocked. It is as if the compound was but a stage set for a young girl's performance.
The U.S. military says its airstrikes have killed 28 al-Qaida militants in Yemen since September.

Central Command said in a statement Thursday that the airstrikes took place between Sept. 23 and Dec. 13.

Army Maj. Josh T. Jacques, a spokesman, said the strikes "pressure the terrorist network and hinder their ability to attack the U.S. and our allies."

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, as the Yemeni affiliate is known, has been behind a number of failed attacks on the U.S. homeland and is widely seen as the most dangerous branch of the global network.

The fight against AQAP has been complicated by Yemen's civil war, which pits the government and a Saudi-led coalition against Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to a former president.
A "shameful" abstention by the U.S. in a United Nations vote Friday allowed passage of a resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

The UN Security Council resolution was put forward by four nations a day after Egypt withdrew it Thursday under pressure from Israel and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Failure by the U.S. to veto the measure was seen as a double-cross of America's key Middle Eastern ally, and attributed directly to outgoing President Barack Obama, who has had chilly relations with Israel throughout his eight-year tenure.

Reaction from U.S. Republicans and Jewish leaders around the world was swift and sharp.

"It was to be expected that Israel's greatest ally would act in accordance with the values that we share and that they would have vetoed this disgraceful resolution," said Israel's Ambassador Danny Danon. "I have no doubt that the new U.S. administration and the incoming UN Secretary General will usher in a new era in terms of the UN's relationship with Israel."

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., blasted the Obama administration for undermining America's historic Middle East ally.

"This is absolutely shameful," Ryan said. "Today's vote is a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel."

Minutes after the vote, Trump took to Twitter to express his opposition.

"As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," Trump tweeted.

Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, said the contention that settlements, and not Palestinian terrorism, is the obstacle to peace is false.

"This UN resolution represents the Big Lie of modern anti-Semitism," Bayefsky said. "Palestinians' backers on the Council, New Zealand and Malaysia, made today's slander clear, claiming Jews living peaceful, productive lives on Arab-claimed land was the 'single biggest threat to peace" and "primary threat to a two-state solution.'

"Seven decades of violent Palestinian rejection of a Jewish state prove otherwise," she added.

The measure was adopted with 14 votes in favor, to a round of applause, after U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power abstained. It is the first resolution the Security Council has adopted on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

"The resolution is too narrowly focused on settlements when we all know, or all should know" there are other factors that contribute to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, Power said in an explanation for why the U.S. chose to sit on the fence, which ensured passage of the resolution.

The Obama White House, under heavy pressure from the Israeli government and its supporters to veto the resolution, kept everyone guessing until the vote whether it would stop shielding Israel from council resolutions and permit it to pass by abstaining.

After the vote, White House officials acknowledged on a conference that Obama made the decision himself after several rounds of discussions with top administration officials.

As for Trump, deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes pointedly said theres only one president at a time  and that the Obama administration was concerned the Israelis pace of settlement activity could put the viability of a two-state solution at risk.

Israel believes it has the right to expand settlements in the disputed territories as populations within them expand. Palestinians do not believe the settlements should exist at all, and world condemnation of expansion is seen as a possible first in that direction.



The resolution, warning that Israeli settlement expansion is steadily eroding the two-state solution and entrenching a one-state reality, calls on Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activity in occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. It repeated the longstanding UN position that all settlements on land Israel conquered in 1967 are illegal under international law.

A senior Israeli official accused the U.S. of a "shameful move" after learning that it did not intend to veto the text, the BBC reported.

The U.S., which has veto power as one the council five permanent members of the council, has traditionally sheltered Israel from condemnatory resolutions. But the Obama administration has long made clear its opposition to Israeli settlement-building in occupied territory and there had been speculation that in its final month it might allow a resolution against settlements to pass at the U.N.

A senior Israeli official told The Associated Press: "President Obama and Secretary [of State John] Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the U.N.

"The U.S. administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel's back which would be a tail-wind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall [the Jewish holy site in the Old City of Jerusalem] occupied Palestinian territory.

Most of those critical of the move by the U.S. painted it as a stab in Israel's back delivered by Obama.

This last minute political maneuvering is shameful," said Ric Grenell, former spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the UN and a Fox News contributor. "It is inconsistent with the long standing U.S. policy that no country or organization should be dictating solutions on the two parties.

"Todays abstention by the Obama Administration will make it harder to find a peaceful solution because it imposes outside positions on Israel without letting them negotiate directly, he added.

Wael Abu Youssef, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, told Reuters that Netanyahu's government "must not be rewarded" by the initial withdrawal of the draft resolution.

The resolution, although it reiterates long-held U.N. policy, could be more than symbolic. While it does not call for imposing sanctions on Israel, its language could hinder Israel's negotiating position in future peace talks. Given the widespread international opposition to the settlements, it would be nearly impossible for the Trump administration to reverse it.

Fox News' Eric Linton and Jonathan Wachtel contributed to this report
Juice It Up! Opens Newest California Location

Leading Raw Juice and Smoothie Chain Continues SoCal Expansion

December 23, 2016 // Franchising.com // IRVINE, California  Juice It Up!, one of the nations leading raw juice bar and hand-crafted smoothie chains, is excited to announce the opening of its newest Inland Empire location in Riverside, California. Just in time for the busy holiday shopping season, Juice It Up! is now serving its blended-to-order real fruit and veggie smoothies, fresh-squeezed functional raw juices, and nutrient-rich Smoothie Bowls to the shoppers of Galleria at Tyler. This new Riverside location is operating under the ownership of franchise group, Sadana Corp., which also owns the recently opened location in Northridge, California.

Were excited to open our newest Juice It Up! location, now open at the Galleria at Tyler Mall, and we couldnt be more pleased with the phenomenal response weve received from the community so far, said Daman Singh of Sadana Corp. Juice It Up! has a proven track record for success and we have seen that at our recently opened Northridge location. The companys product quality and level of support have far exceeded any competitors and were looking forward to a long and rewarding partnership as Juice It Up! franchisees.

All Juice It Up! products are designed to be both delicious and functional, meeting the nutritional wants and needs of guests at every level of health. Menu items include fresh-squeezed functional raw juices, blended-to-order real fruit and veggie smoothies, and nutrient-rich bowls loaded with superfruits Acai and Pitaya. With the recently-introduced Smoothie Bowls, as well as an expanded focus on the Bowl category, guests can transform their favorite Classic and Veggie Smoothie into a nourishing meal replacement, topped with fresh bananas, granola and a drizzle of honey. To supercharge any bowl or smoothie, Juice It Up! offers a Make it Green option by blending in raw kale and spinach to add an extra dose of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, as well as the new option of topping their bowl with a variety of over a dozen ingredients, further capitalizing on the customization trend that has been spreading through the restaurant industry.

With our newest mall kiosk location now open, we find it imperative to remind interested franchises of our more than 20 years experience and success in the raw juice and smoothie segment, said Carol DeNembo, vice president of business development for Juice It Up! Weve seen our franchise partners do incredibly well at high-traffic sites like malls, gyms and college campuses where there is little to no segment competition. Its clear that the Juice It Up! menu and overall guest experience is exactly what guests on-the-go are looking for; a quick and pleasant experience where they can grab something fast and still feel good about it.

The brand is currently awarding a variety of franchise opportunities including area development, single unit, and non-traditional store fronts such as college campuses, airports and gyms across all U.S. regions. Juice It Up! also offers franchise incentives for veterans of the U.S. military. Ideal franchisees possess an entrepreneurial spirit and a creative local store marketing mindset, and are passionate about living a healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about the benefits of owning a Juice It Up! straight from current franchisees, watch https://youtu.be/qkn3vxafNOI and visit http://www.juiceitupfranchise.com for additional franchising details.

About Juice It Up!

Juice It Up!, a leading raw juice bar and hand-crafted smoothie franchise, specializes in delicious and functional fresh-squeezed juices, blended-to-order real fruit smoothies and nutrient-rich options such as Acai and Pitaya Bowls. Founded in 1995, the Irvine, California-based lifestyle brand is focused on providing its guests with a variety of great-tasting, better-for-you food and drink choices designed with personal wellness in mind. With over 100 locations open or under development across California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Texas, the privately-owned company is showcasing a new restaurant design, a heavier focus on the growing demand for raw juice options and a menu refresh that reflects the brands active personality and motto to Live Life Juiced! An established lifestyle brand with unparalleled experience in the raw juice bar industry, Juice It Up! has been included in Franchise Times Next 300 Franchise Chains list three years in a row and named a 2017 Best for Vets Franchise by Military Times. For more information about becoming a Juice It Up! franchise partner, visit www.juiceitupfranchise.com.

Juice It Up! Social Media Pages

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juiceitup/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/juiceitup/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/juiceituphq/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/juiceitup/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/juiceitupcorp/

SOURCE Juice It Up!

Media Contact:

Chelsea McKinney

Powerhouse Public Relations

(949) 261-2216

Chelsea@powerhouse-pr.com

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The body of the 2016 election cycle wasnt even cold before Republicans with gubernatorial visions dancing in their heads started testing the 2018 waters in Nevada.

The wannabe gubers would replace term-limited, tax-hiking, #NeverTrump RINO (Republican In Name Only) Gov. Brian Sandoval who, despite his pearly white chompers and perfectly coiffed hair, has been an absolute disaster for the Republican Party and the conservative movement in Nevada.

Sandoval gave us the largest tax hike in history  including a new anti-business tax and Nevada IRS  grew government exponentially, and single-handedly killed the states landmark school choice program by not including a funding fix in Octobers special session before he lost his Republican majorities in both the state senate and assembly.

But his true damage wont even be realized until he leaves office, when his foolish Medicaid expansion begins to bankrupt the state as the feds cut their financial support.

Now, if you like Americas Worst Governor youll love Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison as his replacement. Sandovals second banana has reportedly been contacting various county GOP operations offering to sponsor Lincoln Day Dinner events and soliciting speaking slots to promote his guber bid.

Hutch is every bit the tax-hiking RINO as his boss. Although he didnt get to actually vote for the $1.4 billion tax hike, he was a supporter nonetheless. He was also a card-carrying #NeverTrumper.

Joining Hutch in reportedly already making exploratory phone calls to potential donors for a guber run is U.S. Sen. Dean Heller.

Heller has a pretty good voting record on fiscal issues, but hes been a moderate/populist on a host of other issues that would hurt him in a contested GOP primary vs. a viable conservative.

And while he wasnt a 100% #NeverTrumper, he was a self-admitted 99% #NeverTrumper  and Republican primary voters are gonna want to know how he ended up voting. That could be problematic.

On the other hand, Heller would be a slam dunk for re-election to his Senate seat. Theres simply no viable GOP or Democrat challenger that could touch him.

The danger is, if he gives up his Senate seat to run for governor itd be very possible for Republicans to lose the seat. Heller only barely won four years ago and Republicans failed to pick up Harry Reids seat this year.

For the good of the party and the state, Heller should stick with the Senate.

Others said to possibly be interested in a guber run are Congressman Mark Amodei, State Treasurer Dan Schwartz and Economic Development bureaucrat Steve Hill.

But the possible candidacy thats making Nevada conservative hearts go pitter-patter is Attorney General Adam Laxalt. The million dollar question is whether or not hes interested in making a run for governor while midway into his first term as AG.

My opinion: Run Adam, run.
Benjamin Ryan Motta, 14, of Hartwood Troop 1717, the son of Lynne and Gregg Motta of Stafford County, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.

The Eagle Scout medal was presented to Ben by Scoutmaster Jeffrey Tlapa in November at a Court of Honor held at the Hartwood Presbyterian Church, the proud sponsor of Troop 1717.

For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Ben worked with both the Stafford County Parks and Recreation Department and the city of Fredericksburg Parks and Fire Departments to build and install life ring buoy stands on each side of the Rappahannock River near the Route One Falmouth Bridge in an effort to stem the record number of river drownings there. Despite aggressive river safety public awareness efforts by area officials and The Free LanceStar, more than 93 people have drowned in the Rappahannock since the mid-1970s, many in the vicinity of the Route One Bridge. The project also included the construction of a personal flotation device stand and the purchase of 39 new life jackets for the Stafford side for park visitors using the river. Ben privately raised the funds for the project with support from many area businesses, including Mary Washington Healthcare, which underwrote the purchase of the life ring buoys. He led dozens of fellow Scouts and other volunteers to build and install the stands over the course of the summer. The project totaled more than 442 man-hours of work.

Each life ring buoy stand bears a dedication plaque to the memory of two Scouts, Robert W. Eicher of Pennsylvania and Edward S. Goodnow of Massachusetts, who tragically died in 1917 while attempting to save the lives of drowning victims and who were posthumously awarded the first Gold Honor awards in the history of the Boy Scouts of America. The plaques also bear the BSA lifesaving slogan of Reach, Throw, Row, Go with Support to remind visitors of the inherent dangers of attempting any water rescue unaided. The life ring buoys are alarmed to alert bystanders of their use and include instructions in English and Spanish on how to properly throw a life ring buoy.

Ben first joined Scouting through Pack 579 of Hartwood at age 7, where he ultimately earned Cub Scoutings highest award, the Arrow of Light. While a Cub Scout, he was selected as one of 10 essay winners in a nation-wide contest sponsored by the BSA on the topic of why the U.S. should continue in space exploration. Together with other winners, Ben toured the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas, where he spoke via radio to astronauts aboard the International Space Station as part of the Jamboree-On-The-Air celebration. In 2013, he was selected to serve as a member of an honor guard to place a wreath at the grave of President John F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery as part of the 50th anniversary remembrance of his assassination.

Throughout his Scouting career, Ben has served in several leadership roles, including Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Bear Claw Leadership Staff. He has earned 39 merit badges, while also earning the Ad Altare Dei religious award. He has served as an honor guard member for a number of inaugural History of Scouting hikes on the mall in Washington, D.C. In addition to visiting the 2010 Centennial BSA Jamboree as a Cub Scout, Ben has attended numerous Scout summer camps including Camp Cutler and Camp Aquehonga in New York, Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rhode Island, Henson Scout Reservation in Delaware, and Camp Powhatan and Camp T. Brady Saunders in Virginia.

Ben is a freshman at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, where he plays cello in the symphonic orchestra. He routinely serves as a human subject volunteer in Charlottesville for the University of Virginia School of Medicines artificial pancreas trial project. Ultimately, he hopes to earn a degree in medical engineering or computer science at UVA.
Meryl Rowley knows the arguments against cellphone bans for drivers.

Some naysayers, she said, simply do not believe the government should tell people what to do.

Well, if your kid died, you would want to tell people what to do, Rowley said.

Her son, Kyle Rowley, died in 2011 at age 19. He was struck by a car in Fairfax County, and authorities believe the driver was opening a text message at the time of the accident.

A judge dropped a reckless driving charge against the driver because, at the time, texting while driving was just a minor traffic infraction.

Now, more than five years after her sons death, Rowley says she hopes the Virginia General Assembly will finally pass cellphone restrictions with some teeth.

State Sen. Scott Surovell, a Democrat whose 36th District includes parts of North Stafford, this month filed a bill that would prohibit using cellphones while driving, with some exceptions.

A hands-free device such as a Bluetooth would be required to make calls behind the wheel, and drivers could listen to audio transmissions and display directions on their phones only if the devices are physically mounted to the car, according to the proposed legislation. Asked whether audio transmissions included things such as music and podcasts, Surovell said: I think that is how a judge would likely interpret it.

Penalties for the traffic infraction would be a $125 fine for the first offense, and a $250 fine for subsequent offenses. But if the bill passes, motorists could be charged with reckless driving if they commit an additional traffic offense or get into an accident while violating the cellphone law.

Currently, 14 states prohibit the use of handheld cellphones while driving, though no states have outright bans. Washington, D.C., also requires a hands-free device to make calls in the drivers seat.

Surovell said he spends a lot of time traveling on Interstate 95 and frequently sees motorists staring at the phones in their hands. Put simply, he said, hands-free needs to be the law.

With Rowleys case in mind, Surovell first took up the issue during the 2013 General Assembly session. He and Del. Benjamin Cline, RRockbridge County, filed a bill that would have prohibited drivers from using cellphones for anything other than a call. The bill stated that violators would be charged with reckless driving, a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

But lawmakers instead passed a bill to make texting while driving a primary offense, which allows police to stop drivers for texting alone. The legislation states that offenders can be fined, but will not face criminal charges as Surovell had proposed.

The law turned out to be ineffective because it is hard to prove drivers are texting unless they fess up, Surovell said.

A much cleaner enforcement structure, and I think a safer standard, is to say that people cannot have the device in their hands while the cars moving, he said. Thats the standard in a lot of other states. I think Virginia ought to join those other states.

Lt. Mike Presutto of the Fredericksburg Police Department said that while some drivers have admitted to texting, it can be hard to get that confession. Drivers could claim they were dialing a phone number rather than texting, he said.

But he noted that city police could cite drivers for failure to give full time and attention if they, say, rear-end a car while looking at their cellphones. The city adopted that traffic infraction years ago as part of its local ordinances.

Presutto declined to offer his opinion of Surovells bill, but he did say: I think being hands-free can only make things safer.

The percentage of drivers texting or visibly manipulating handheld devices increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Younger drivers have been observed using electronic devices at higher rates than older drivers, the report states. In Virginia, it is a secondary offense for drivers younger than age 18 to use cellphones, meaning they can be cited only if they are stopped for another infraction.

The effectiveness of handheld cellphone bans for drivers is a subject of debate.

A 2014 study co-authored by a University of Colorado Boulder economics professor found little evidence that Californias handheld ban, enacted in 2008, decreased car accidents. The simplest explanation is that drivers are not following the law, the study stated.

The study said more research on the topic is needed, including research on the effect of penalty strength or enforcement on accidents.

While this non-result may seem surprising to people accustomed to seeing drivers using cellphones doing careless or dangerous things on the highway, drivers were doing careless and dangerous things on highways long before the invention of the cellphone, the study stated.

Still, an increasing number of states are imposing more restrictive cellphone laws for drivers. Surovell said that he supported a handheld cellphone ban back in 2013, but knew it wouldnt pass.

And Rowley recalled telling Surovell that she did not think the no-texting law would have much of an impact. And he said, baby steps, baby steps. 

Now the Herndon resident is hoping lawmakers will take what she described as a giant leap.

Rowley said shes met a lot of people who, like her, have lost relatives to distracted driving. She calls them the wounded warriors, saying she plans to continue fighting for change as long as she can.

Losing a child, or any relative for that matter, is not something, believe me, you want to live with.

You can throw a bunch of statistics out there, but when you hear personal stories, that tends to have some kind of an effect on people.
If the federal government can be thought of as Santa Claus  something many people and institutions believe  then Nevada can once again expect to get a lump of coal under its Christmas tree.

Our state ranks near the bottom (43rd place) in the list of federal aid, according to the Tax Foundation. Nevada relied on the federal government for 25 percent of its revenue in the latest survey, compared with No.1-ranked Mississippi at 43 percent.

Relatively few gifts are sent here by Santa Claus, despite the state having plenty of suitable grazing land for his reindeer. So much of the state is public land  more than 80 percent  that a new category of aid was developed to make up for some of the deficit in tax revenue. PILT, or payment in lieu of taxes, is distributed to counties like Elko, where three of every four acres is owned and operated by the federal government. Last fiscal year Nevadas counties divided up a total of $25 million.

Will the flow of government goodies dry up under the new administration? President-elect Donald Trump has pledged not to cut entitlement programs but he has also promised to cut wasteful spending. Even before taking office, Trump is playing the Grinch when it comes to awarding federal contracts.

He shocked the nation earlier this month when he canceled an order for a new Air Force One jet, complaining that the $4 billion price tag was too high. On Wednesday, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg promised Boeing would get it done for far less. Well tip a glass of eggnog to that.

Cutting government waste is a gift that keeps on giving. We look forward to the year when there are no more $900 toilet seats under the tree.

Trump may be a Grinch from one point of view, but he is also making a point of using the C word. I go out of my way to use the word Christmas, he recently told a radio interviewer. Theres an assault on anything having to [do] with Christianity.

On his thank you tour of states that voted for him, Trump has been displaying the words Merry Christmas prominently on his podium.

So when I started 18 months ago, I told my first crowd in Wisconsin that we are going to come back here someday, and we are going to say merry Christmas again, Trump said at one event, irritating some liberal commentators.

The Washington Times last week ran a report titled Donald Trump says merry Christmas, Obama wishes happy holidays.

Fortunately, America is a big country and there is plenty of room for both sentiments. Regardless of personal beliefs, and regardless of what Nevada ends up with under its tree, we are happy to see the year end with the spreading of cheer.

With tragedies like the deadly terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, we need to believe that next year will be better and that more people around the world will be able to freely choose what they say and do.

We wish all of our readers a merry Christmas and happy holidays as we enter the final week of the year.
One of the first people that Sevy recruited for the BLFA board was Ned Palmer, a retired municipal finance expert and a leader on numerous nonprofit boards. Still a member and treasurer of the board today, Palmer recalled that early grant.

We issued a request for proposals in 2010. One of the [responses] was from the Hutch  making sure that patients had transportation and other support, he said. I am amazed and encouraged that we had a role in helping the Hutch do what it does so well.

Palmers initial interest in East Africa was personal: A friend from his undergraduate days  so close that he was a member of Palmers wedding party  was from Kenya. Palmer had been planning a trip there in 2009 to visit this old friend when Sevy, whom he knew from their mutual work in finance, contacted him about her new passion.

She came back [from Africa] with a burning desire to make a difference in treating these kids, he said. She was very persuasive. It kind of snowballed from there, in the best sense of the word.

Today, due to the Burkitt Lymphoma Projects comprehensive approach, just 8 percent of confirmed Burkitt lymphoma patients lose contact with treatment providers, compared with 32 percent before the project was implemented. One-year survival rates, once 30 to 40 percent, have risen to 51 percent. Data is now available to guide further improvements, and the project is sustained by other funding.

Diagnosing Burkitt lymphoma

For Kussick, the force of nature called in 2013. By then, the Burkitt Lymphoma Project had been up and running for a year. Sevy knew that one of the gaps it had identified was difficulty getting rapid and reliable diagnoses. That was Kussicks specialty.

At Sevys urging, he accompanied some BLFA board members and Seattle-area Rotarians on a reconnaissance trip to Uganda to assess pathologic practices and diagnostic expertise. The UCI-Hutch alliance had just broken ground for a state-of-the-art UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre to house laboratories, outpatient clinics and training facilities. After that trip, Kussick joined the BFLA board, and with PhenoPath generously donating his time, he has become heavily involved in advising on how to improve diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma at the Uganda facility and at clinics in western Kenya.

Previously, the type of diagnostic staining test used did not easily distinguish between Burkitt lymphoma and other common childhood cancers, hindering efforts to start patients on the right treatment. From the start of the UCI-Fred Hutch project, tumor samples from about half of the patients with suspected Burkitt lymphoma have been sent to two different pathology laboratories as a way to improve diagnostic accuracy. However, in practice, the two labs disagreed on diagnosis in more than a third of the cases that they reviewed.

Over the last year, the team introduced a limited immunohistochemistry panel of disease markers to more reliably diagnose the cancer. The Fred Hutch-UCI collaboration is working on establishing a histopathology lab in the now completed UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre over the next three years that would be able to run a full panel of diagnostic biomarkers.

It may be that the single biggest predictor of survival is whether you have the right diagnosis, said Dr. Suzanne McGoldrick, the Seattle-based Burkitt Lymphoma Project manager.

A new initiative: staging

Most recently, the BLFA made a new, $100,000 grant to the UCI-Fred Hutch program to help not just diagnose but to stage Burkitt lymphoma by adding additional tests, including CT scans, and assessing involvement of the cerebrospinal fluid and bone marrow. Knowing the stage, or extent of the disease spread, can help physicians make better treatment choices. The Uganda institute has a CT scanner but before now lacked the resources to pay for bone marrow biopsies, which require anesthesia and especially large needles. Kussick hopes to recruit pathologists to volunteer to review the results, which can be digitally transmitted.

The commitment inspired by the BLFA founder lives on.

This was a true founder-driven organization. Miriam decided what she wanted to do, and she convinced us. She was the proverbial force of nature, Kussick said. Weve got some traction. Fred Hutch is a great partner. For me, as a hematopathologist, its intellectually interesting. And this is a nice way to give back. For the $600 you can treat these kids for, we can give them a pretty full life.

Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
IC Media Direct - Representatives Participate At the Content Rising Summit in Boston

he first Content Rising Summit, otherwise known as The Brand Storytelling Conference, was held at the Westin Boston Waterfront, right in the middle of Boston's seaport and innovation districts.

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IC Media Direct, a New York and Washington, DC-based- public relations and reputation management firm, will join prominent marketing companies at Content Rising Summit to speak about techniques of the art and science of brand storytelling. Their team frequent many established marketing conferences and events, including ad:tech, Affiliate Summit, and LeadsCon, where they meet with other thought leaders in marketing to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss the most recent industry trends.

The first Content Rising Summit, otherwise known as The Brand Storytelling Conference, was held at the Westin Boston Waterfront, right in the middle of Boston's seaport and innovation districts. The 2016 event, named Forward, is scheduled at the same location on June 22 - June 23 of this year. Skyword, the creator of the event, is a leading content marketing technology company that has helped to push forward the significance of online content for businesses. Skyword Founder Tom Gerace created the company out of the realization that the marketing world has shifted, and innovative marketers need to collaborate, learn, and share in order to move the world's top brands ahead of their competition.

Speakers at the conference include trendsetters and visionaries such as Michael Brenner of Marketing Insider Group and co-author of 'The Content Formula', Fulbright Scholar and successful screenwriter Robert McKee, and Victoria Keichinger, who has used content to turn Coldwell Banker into one of the world's leading real estate brands. The theme of this summer's Content Rising Summit is 'fusion,' how the combination of two separate factors can result in something extraordinary. IC Media Direct is excited to reveal its newest methods that sync with one of the most powerful concepts in creative marketing today. The agency advocates an artful blend of visual media and thought-provoking content to produce stories that have impact and engage potential customers. "Well-developed content has the power to connect a business with targeted consumers," explains an agency spokesperson. "Our clients have been able to reach a broader base with an uplifting message, simply through the quality of the content they project." The long-standing public relations firm will convene with the most important minds in the business at Forward 2016 and looks forward to the innovation and inspiration that will certainly come from such an event.

IC Media Direct is a leading reputation management agency, specializing in online brand repair. Its extensive experience with successful online content marketing has helped companies and individuals project a positive image and build an efficient message with a strong impact on their audience. With office locations in New York and Washington, DC, the company serves a range of clients globally, including Fortune 500 companies, Olympic athletes, politicians, and celebrities. In 2015, it published a game-changing handbook on online brand repair and has been awarded the New York Excellence Award by the SBIEC for two consecutive years. IC Media Direct frequently attends the major industry conferences and acts as a guiding example in marketing and brand management for other, newer companies.

ICMediaDirect - PR and Marketing News: http://icmediadirectnews.com

ICMediaDirect.com - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGYnOjU3KEDbTn2xQR8Rltw

IC Media Direct -- Reputation Management -- How SEO and Reputation Management Will Change in 2016: http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstories/ic-media-direct-reputation-management-how-seo-and-reputation-management-will-change-in-2016/ar-BBpYYJa

For more information, please visit http://www.ICMediaDirect.com

Contact Info:

Name: ICMD

Email: pr@icmediadirect.com

Organization: ICMediaDirect.com

Phone: 800-595-0821

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3QHOeY8qAM

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/ic-media-direct-representatives-participate-at-the-content-rising-summit-in-boston/156552

Release ID: 156552

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Silo Beauty has entered the market with its first cosmetic applicator product, the SiloSponge, which offers the best possible way to apply foundation thanks to its unique design and manufacture.

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For many women, putting makeup on is a daily task. The products used are far from cheap, and yet much of it can be wasted by being dropped, or absorbed into the sponges and applicators used to get it evenly applied to the face. This waste can cost people significant sums over the course of a year. Beauty startup Silo Beauty is looking to change this, and has released a game-changing foundation sponge, the SiloSponge, to allow people to apply their makeup effectively while using just one third of the foundation they would ordinarily use.

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A spokesperson for SiloBeauty explained, "The new SiloSponge could change the way people put on their make-up, and allow them to save two thirds on their foundation over the course of a year, by reducing the amount people need to use to get the coverage they want. This product has been extensively tested and perfected over its design process, and we are excited to release it onto the market. There is a strictly limited first run of the product, so individuals should buy now to avoid disappointment. By ordering two or more at once, individuals can even get free shipping for the best possible value. Our product will be available at the upcoming Pink, Blue, Yellow."

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For more information, please visit https://www.silobeauty.com/

Contact Info:

Name: SiloBeauty

Email: Support@Silobeauty.com

Organization: SiloBeauty

Address: 4108 Crenshaw Blvd #1137, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Phone: (+1)614-333-0949

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/silo-beauty-startup-launch-new-silosponge-product-promising-the-best-foundation-application/156595

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A spokesperson for Products Hideout explained, "In 2016 we really saw an explosion of the online shopping market. With the market saturated with contenders looking to net customers, people can always find great deals, provided they have the time to look. We do that looking for them, so more people can get the best prices more easily. Online sellers are also rewarded for offering the best prices, because all our readers go straight to them. Before that can happen however, we have to independently assess the top performing products on the market to ensure we only recommend the best. We hope this helps transform the online shopping experience in 2017."

About Products Hideout: Products Hideout has been created to help consumers shop for the best products available in Malaysia online. The site is maintained by an expert panel of product researchers, who evaluate every item to provide only the best suggestions to readers. They also provide tips, reviews and price guides to help them with their decision making.

For more information, please visit https://productshideout.com/my

Contact Info:

Name: Rhys Lee

Email: hello@productshideout.com

Organization: PRODUCTSHIDEOUT



Source: http://marketersmedia.com/products-hideout-launches-in-malaysia-to-help-people-find-the-best-product-in-every-category/156643

Release ID: 156643

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Silk House Beauty Announces Innovative Anti-Aging Eye Gel For Women Over 40

The luxury skincare company is set to release the highly anticipated eye gel as part of their unique new line of premium anti-aging products.

--

Silk House by Emily Jean, a rapidly growing skincare company with a focus on using exceptional ingredients, has officially introduced their latest anti-aging solution for women over 40.

The company's newest creation is the Chill Out Anti-Puff Eye Gel, which was specifically formulated to tackle the three most common signs of aging that most women experience around their eyes: puffiness, heavy bags, and dark circles.

Silk House was inspired to create the Eye Gel after noticing that most wrinkle creams only help to solve one of these three issues, and many never deliver on their promises. To accomplish their goal of solving the "Big 3" signs of anti-aging around the eyes for women over 40, the company combined cutting-edge science with proven natural anti-agers.

"As soon as I hit 40, I noticed that the skin around my eyes was just lifeless, and I couldn't tame the puffiness no matter what I did," said Emily Jean, founder of Silk House. "The Chill Out Anti-Puff Eye Gel was really a labor for love for me, and we spent tons of time reformulating the product until it was truly perfect."

Emily Jean has dedicated her life to understanding the unique skincare needs of women over 40, and Chill Out is a great example of this dedication. Her goal has always been to create a gentle line of anti-aging skincare products that work at a cellular level to reduce wrinkles, restore vibrancy, and rejuvenate the skin without causing irritation.

Through countless hours of research, Silk House eventually found a specific combination of four naturally-occurring essential oils that soothes puffy eyes: Lavender Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Cypress Oil, and Mint Oil. When combined, these essential oils work to calm skin under the eyes, which reduces puffiness and promotes a more youthful appearance.

Another natural ingredient featured in the Chill Out Anti-Puff Eye Gel is Japanese Green Tea Extract, a powerful antioxidant known for its anti-irritant properties. The Vitamin K in Green Tea also helps to drastically lighten dark circles under the eyes. These natural anti-aging properties made it a perfect fit for this unique formula.

Perhaps the most important benefit of this revolutionary Anti-Puff Eye Gel from Silk House by Emily Jean is how it feels on the skin. Women over 40 with sensitive skin often avoid eye creams and serums because they can feel uncomfortably tight, in addition to causing breakouts, so Silk House made this a top priority during formulation.

"I've had sensitive skin my entire life, so not only did I hate those uncomfortable tightening serums, but they also made me break out like crazy," added Jean. "The Chill Out Anti-Puff Eye Gel was made for women with sensitive skin, so you can completely rejuvenate the skin around your eyes without the painful breakouts."

Silk House believes that their new Anti-Puff Eye Gel will completely change the way that women over 40 approach the anti-aging process. Instead of purchasing three different products to reduce puffiness, lighten dark circles and eliminate bags, women can now find all of these benefits in one unique formula.

The Chill Out Anti-Puff Eye Gel will be sold exclusively on the Silk House website beginning in January 2017. It is one of seven breakthrough anti-aging products being introduced by the company this year.

Silk House by Emily Jean is a luxury skincare company specializing in premium anti-aging products and systems for women over 40. To learn more, visit the Silk House website at http://shop.silkhousebyemilyjean.com

For more information, please visit https://shop.silkhousebyemilyjean.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Emily Jean

Email: support@silkhousebyemilyjean.com

Organization: Silk House by Emily Jean, Inc.

Address: 154 Cobblestone Ct Dr #202 , Victor, NY, 14564

Phone: (877) 867-4554

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/silk-house-beauty-announces-innovative-anti-aging-eye-gel-for-women-over-40/154974

Release ID: 154974

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Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Market Analysis and Global Forecast to 2027

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Market Information, type, Method, Source and by Procedure - Global Forecast to 2027

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Market Dynamics and Trends of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Market:

The intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring industry is now experiencing a period of rapid growth. This growth is majorly attributed to factors such as; rising number of spinal, cranial procedures, technological advancements, cost effectiveness, among others. The IONM techniques are widely adopted in developed countries, but due to low level of awareness, this technology is still in infancy in various developing nations. This can create opportunity for various market players to invest in such countries to achieve greater benefits.

Globally the market for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring was valued at $1.1 billion and anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2016-2027.

Request a Sample Copy @ https://www.mrfreports.com/sample-request/global-intraoperative-neurophysiological-monitoring-market-research-research-report-forecast-to-2027

Key Finding:

o The global IONM market and is expected to reach $3.1 billion by 2027.

o Electroencephalography (EEG) segment holds the largest share of around 60% of the total market.

o North America continues to be the leading market globally, holds the largest market share of around 65% in 2015.

o Globally, Asia-Pacific the fastest growing region and expected to grow at the rate of 9.3% during the forecast period.

o Nuvasive, and Medsurant Holdings, Cadwell Laboratories Inc, are some of the leading market players globally.

Access Report Details @ https://www.mrfreports.com/reports/global-intraoperative-neurophysiological-monitoring-market-research-research-report-forecast-to-2027

Summary:

Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) as the name suggests is a monitoring technique which refers to a group of procedures used during surgery to monitor neural pathways during high-risk neurosurgical, orthopedic, peripheral nerve, and vascular surgeries. These procedures assist surgeons in preventing damage and preserving functionality of the nervous system.

The technology is new to the market. In spite of that, rising adoption of these devices due to its advantages over conventional technology making the market to grow at a healthy CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period.

This research report provides in depth analysis of market segments and sub-segments, deep dive analysis of major geographic regions, along with detailed analysis of key players operating in this market.

Brief TOC for Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Market:

1 Introduction

1.1 Definition

1.2 Scope of Study

1.2.1 Research Objective

1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations

1.2.2.1 Assumptions

1.2.2.2 Limitations

1.3 Market Structure

2 Research Methodology

2.1 Research Process

2.2 Primary Research

2.3 Secondary Research

3 Market Dynamics

3.1 Drivers

3.1.1 Increase in Surgery Volume

3.1.2 Ionm Techniques Reduce Health Care Costs

3.1.3 Increase in Awareness of Ionm

3.1.4 Significant Reduction in Morbidity and Mortality Rates

3.2 Restraints

3.2.1 Shortage of the Skilled Personnel

3.3 Opportunities

3.4 Macroeconomic Indicators

4 Global Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Markets, by Type

4.1 Electroencephalography

4.2 Electromyography

4.3 Evoked Potentials

Continue...

Intended Audience:

o Medical Devices Manufacturers

o Neurosurgeons & Radiologist

o Manufacturers & Suppliers

o Contract Research Organizations (CROs)

o Research and Development (R&D) Companies

o Government Research Laboratories

o Independent Research Laboratories

o Government and Independent Regulatory Authorities

o Market Research and Consulting Service Providers

o Academic Institutes and Universities

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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.

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Market Research Future

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Maharashtra, India

+1 646 845 9312

Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com

For more information, please visit https://www.mrfreports.com/%20

Contact Info:

Name: Akash Anand

Organization: Market Research Future

Address: Hadapsar, Pune

Phone: +1 646 845 9312

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/intraoperative-neurophysiological-monitoring-market-analysis-and-global-forecast-to-2027/156663

Release ID: 156663

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3 Things To Expect When Winfluence Releases Search Engine Optimization Service

Winfluence releases teaser information on the upcoming launch of its new Search Engine Optimization service. Further information can be found at http://winfluence.net.

--

Winfluence today announced the official launch date of its upcoming Search Engine Optimization service in Dubai. Rumours are already starting to circulate among observers and insiders within the Digital Marketing world, as the 'Live' date of the Search Engine Optimization service draws near. Winfluence has also released three things businesses, reviewers and critics can expect from inception time in 2015.

The first thing folks should expect is a big improvement in visitors to their website and their sales. Winfluence makes this happen by drastically improving the online visibility of their clients. This is to be expected from a business who places this much value on the return on investment that the clients make in comparison to other forms of marketing and advertising.

As well as that, Winfluence will be celebrate the live day event by providing free consultations to potential clients. It is their hope that this will small businesses will see the sheer value that SEO can provide over other forms of marketing and advertising. In many ways it is the only long term strategy that - if done right - can provide businesses with a stream of purchase ready customers to their business throughout the year.

Finally, for businesses based in Dubai and around the UAE, they'll be interested to know what went into the creation of the Search Engine Optimization service. It has taken over 3 years to put together, from start to finish, from the initial idea to fully implementing the service. The Winfluence team wanted this to be by far the most advanced marketing service that is second to none and now they are confident that they have achieved the winning formula. Local businesses are gearing up to see how this service affects the local UAE market and the success stories that businesses will be able to achieve through this service.

For further information about Winfluence or the new Search Engine Optimization service, it can all be discovered at http://winfluence.net

For more information, please visit http://winfluence.net

Contact Info:

Name: Sam Richards

Organization: Winfluence

Address: Al Sufoh Road, Dubai United Arab Emirates



Release ID: 156548

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Free Freightnet Membership

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Listen as Fr. Jeff Lorig explains how CliftonStrengths and Q12 are fostering human formation and a more focused vision for the future at the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Nokia's Most Up To Date Mobile Device Nokia P Is Out! Details, Features, Specs And More Revealed!

The Nokia "P" is now underway. Talk has it that it will be one of the best android mobile phones Nokia will release in 2017. Could this forthcoming leader mobile device stamp their extraordinary return?

The world has been sitting tight for the great rebound of Nokia, the Finnish company that is known for its superb mobile phones. Furthermore, just as of late, reports in regards to its leader cell phone were spilled. How best in class could the Nokia "P" would be contrasted with different telecoms goliath?

As indicated by Forbes, the arrival of Nokia's name on cell phones is made conceivable with their authorizing concurrence with the HMD Global. Subsequent to closure their company with Microsoft, it is reported that the main Android-controlled handsets will be out in the first half of 2017.

In a meeting with Economic Times, HMD's Chief Executive, Arto Nummela, said that the Nokia mobile phones will be to a great degree focused with regards to valuing and specs. Such as, the Nokia "P" is said to include the Snapdragon 835, an outstanding processor for power and proficiency. Besides this, it is likewise anticipated that would have a 23MP back camera with Quad HD determination and Carl Zeiss optics. This first class includes, as what HMD said in their December official statement, will concentrate on development, quality, and experience that add to the iconic Nokia mobile phone traits of outline, vigor, and dependability.

Leaked images and specs of Nokia C1 and Nokia P emerge, phones may arrive soon https://t.co/5oRkgkE408 pic.twitter.com/tVMiDRtml1  Digital Trends (@DigitalTrends) December 19, 2016

As indicated by India Times, the D1C is one of the mobile phones to turn out in two variations - 2GB RAM form and a 3GB RAM variation. What's more, another top of the line model of Nokia cell phone which is the Z2 is additionally professedly in progress. Them two are said to be controlled by Snapdragon, as well.

Latest Leaks About Nokia's Rumoured 'C1' And 'P' Smartphones Suggest Two Monster Android Flagships To Be On ... - https://t.co/nO0XUQqoOb pic.twitter.com/xAgvAuR8NK  voxilltec (@voxilltec) December 20, 2016

Last December 14, 2016, Nokia surprised people in general with their official declaration of two "dumb" mobile phones which are the Nokia 150 And 150 Dual SIM. In spite of having 31-day battery life and the notable game of snake, individuals appear to be frustrated. Yet, now that news with respect to Nokia's most up to date devices are out, the company is picking up a considerable measure of consideration.


 ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.

 RASPBERRY (razbere) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer.

We hereby deliver:

 ROSES to Bond Starker, the president and CEO of Starker Forests, who has announced plans to step down from those roles with the company next year.

Starker will continue as chairman of the board. A search is on for a replacement for the CEO position; Starker says he hopes to retire after the April 22 board meeting, about a week before his 70th birthday.

Starker's retirement plans include a family trip to Hawaii and a boat trip around Crater Lake. He also hopes to find more time for his favorite hobby, photography.

Ever since T.J. Starker founded Starker Forests in 1936, it's been a first-rate operation; Bond and his brother, Barte, maintained that tradition, even after their father, Bruce Starker, died in a plane crash in 1975. (Barte Starker retired last year due to health problems.)

It says something about the company that it has laid plans for such a carefully planned transition. These transitions can be critical for smaller companies, and it's reassuring to know that Starker, such an important part of the fabric of Benton County, is proceeding with such care.

 ROSES, delivered, to Stutzman Services, a mid-valley company that went above and beyond during last week's ice storm.

Stutzman, which usually specializes in plumbing, pumps and landscaping, got a call last week from a customer with an unusual request: The customer said that the ice had made it impossible to get to the grocery store and asked whether the company could deliver her groceries.

The company agreed, and then took it a step further: It extended the grocery offer to all of its customers for the rest of the day.

Some customers took the company up on the offer. But, unexpectedly, many more people responded who wanted to know how they could help: Folks wanted to deliver groceries. Families asked if they could pay for groceries.

It was a refreshing reminder of how communities can band together to help each other during tough times. And a message the company sent out via email this week is worth keeping in mind in the new year: "Let's keep challenging each other to step up, find needs, and meet them."

 RASPBERRIES to scammers, who never cease to find ways to attempt to fleece us out of our hard-earned cash. This week, we heard about a new variation of a old scam that targeted a Corvallis business.

In this scam, the business got a call from someone purporting to be from Pacific Power. The message was that the business needed to pay $1,000 for a technological upgrade to the power meter. Since the business had ignored two "final notices" for payment, the caller went on, the electricity soon would be shut off, unless payment was immediately forthcoming.

By this point, you know the rest of the drill: Oftentimes, the only way to pay the bill is to go get one of those cash cards. In this case, the business owner knew that it was a scam, but noted that the scammers had enough detail to sound convincing  a common feature of these increasingly sophisticated schemes.

 ROSES to the Christmas Train Elves, volunteers who have labored to create the 2016 Christmas Train, a toy train display on display in the lobby of the Majestic Theatre.

This labor of love features five toy trains, dozens of model buildings and villagers, more than 700 model trees and thousands of lights. Read more about it in today's G-T. In the meantime, have a very merry Christmas. (mm)
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You cant talk about famous ghosts without mentioning the most beloved one in America; Abraham Lincoln. The haunting of the White House by Lincoln is a favorite story amongst historians and romantics in America. After all, when you have a parent that you trust and you believe is a good and honest person, then who replaces them? We have yet to have a president we regard in quite the same one as the man responsible for stitching America back together again. His early loss makes him an likely suspect to malinger (think of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe). Perhaps we're not ready to get rid of the ideals that put America on the map. But then, again, perhaps we sense that he really is still amongst us...



(From Wikipedia) President Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman have all claimed to have heard unexplained knockings on their bedroom doors. What made them think it was Lincoln is unknown. Calvin Coolidge's wife reported seeing on several occasions the ghost of Lincoln standing with his hands clasped behind his back, at a window in the Oval Office, staring out in deep contemplation toward the bloody battlefields across the Potomac. Carl Sandburg, Lincoln's biographer, said he did not see the ghost but "strongly felt his presence" when he stood at this same window during a tour of the White House. Eleanor Roosevelt often sensed someone watching her in the former Lincoln bedroom. Winston Churchill said he stepped out of the bath to the adjoining bedroom and saw Lincoln standing neare the fireplace. Lincoln's ghost made many apparitions during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Roosevelt was (coincidentally like Lincoln) president during war time. Maureen Reagan (President Ronald Reagans daughter) said she had seen ghost several times in Lincolns bedroom. The Reagans dog apparently would bark at the door but not enter. Lyndon Johnson supposedly spoke to the ghost of Lincoln, asking his advice. Senator McCarthy proclaimed that he entered Lincolns old office and a bust of the president flew across the room and nearly hit him.

The Roosevelt presidency saw the most activity and many conjecture that it was because he was a president during a wartime. Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands visited during Roosevelts presidency and she was awakened by a knock at the door to find President Lincoln there. Why do you suppose he showed himself for some and not for others? Was he a harbinger of some message to beware or was this a matter of just good timing, she was alert enough to hear it and answered?



Rapping on bedroom doors was reported by many presidential families. In a place like the White House such a thing would be a common daily activity by servants and the like, so its entirely possible that element is a residual memory of the building.



Following Trumans time in office, Lincoln has rarely been seen. Some wonder if it might be because of massive renovations or perhaps the time period has lengthened from his demise. Still, he has been seen in modern times, only less frequently.



Is this pure romanticism for the man and the sacred place in which these people reside? Is it because earlier generations identified with him more? If so, then Kennedy should have been seen wandering the halls for the yuppie-time presidents.



When I did my study of 50 haunted places, the White House was not a strong contender because it lacked a lot of traumatic history within its walls and the geology was weak. The buildings construction is promising. The thing that might outweigh all other factors is the symbolism of the White House. If a ghost of an average Joe can haunt his home because it was his beloved sanctuary, then surely an assassinated president could linger in a place he felt very protective of and very proud of.





LINK ) More witness accounts -





The first person to report a sighting of Lincolns ghost in the White House was Grace Coolidge, the first lady from 1923 to 1929, who believed that she saw him looking out the window of the Oval Office.



During a state visit to the U.S. in 1942, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands reportedly opened her bedroom door at around midnight, in response to a knock, and saw Lincolns ghostly figure. She was so frightened that she fainted, according to a 1973 New York Times article on paranormal happenings at the White House.



First Lady Eleanor Roosevelts maid, Mary Eban, reportedly looked into a room and then fled terribly wrought up after seeing Lincoln sitting on a bed, pulling on his boots, according to the Times article.

While staying at the White House in the 1940s, British Prime Minister Winston Churchillwho disliked sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroomemerged naked from a bathtub and walked into an adjoining room. There, he supposedly ran right into Lincoln, who was leaning on the mantle above the fireplace. They looked each other in the face, to Churchills embarrassment, and Lincoln abruptly vanished, according to an account in Mark Nesbitts book Civil War Ghost Trails: Stories from Americas Most Haunted Battlefields.



Clergyman Norman Vincent Peale didnt actually see Lincolns ghost himself, but he claimed that a prominent actor, whom he declined to name, had told him that hed awakened during a White House stay to hear Lincolns voice pleading for help. The actor sat up to see the lanky form of Lincoln prostrate on the floor in prayer, arms outstretched, with fingers digging into the carpet.
Article

Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
In the prestigious San Pellegrino Best Restaurant list , four of the top 10 chefs have spent time behind the scenes at Ferran Adrias former restaurant elBulli, located in a remote part of Catalonia, near the French border. Theres Massimo Bottura, who runs the worlds top-rated Osteria Francescana in Italy, and the Roca brothers from El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, which ranks second.

Ferran Adria (l) with Andoni Luis Aduriz and Ferran's brother Albert. Caterina Barjau

And there is also Nomas Rene Redzepi from Denmark, as well as Andoni Aduriz who heads Mugaritz, in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa. And if one looks further down the list among the top 50, quite a few more elBulli apprentices turn up.

But Ferran Adrias true legacy to haute cuisine goes far beyond best-restaurant lists  it encompasses an entire philosophy and approach to life, one that is revolutionary in the purest sense of the word.

Ferran and Arzak, together with Albert Adria and Aduriz, are still leading the revolution in Spanish cuisine

Nothing has been the same on the global gastronomy scene since the world-famous elBulli became one of Spains most unlikely success stories. Tucked away in a remote cove on the Girona coast and open for just six months out of the year  and then for dinner only  elBulli challenged the perceived supremacy of French cuisine with a cry for creative freedom.

Its status as the worlds best restaurant continued unchallenged for an entire decade until Adria decided to close it down in July 2011. These days, it is a case study in business schools, which hail it as a miracle.

Slightly weary of ovens and stoves, Adria has come to terms with both elBullis success and closure, reinventing himself by turning his attention to investigation and research.

In Adrias opinion, the scope of cuisine as a cultural and experimental phenomenon needs to be explored and, to this end, he has embarked on the interpretation of history through food.

The elBulli workshop is a space for research and creativity supported by the Telefonica Foundation. Caterina Barjau

These days he spends his time in a vast workshop in Barcelona, near Montjuic, where he has surrounded himself with biochemists, anthropologists, graphic designers, engineers, nutritionists, art history scholars, audiovisual technicians, sommeliers and, of course, chefs with different areas of expertise.

Working to a (more or less) strict timetable, Adria directs the operation from a plastic chair that commands a view of audiovisual rooms, meeting spaces, maps with formulas that include lists of tasks, and an archive where documents are stored, including the relics of an impressive past, old accounts and other details that have escaped the trash.

We are getting to grips with the essence of cooking. Most of us are chefs; we need to dig into the why of things, says Ferran, with the expression of a permanently inquisitive lizard. What are we doing? Should we create? Should we reproduce objects like artisans do? Should we communicate? Is it important to deconstruct food and cut open the melon, as it were? I dont know if we have invented anything. Nor can we go around with preconceived notions, when it turns out that the croquette is not Spanish and green sauce is not Basque.

From time to time, Adrias most revolutionary successors come to join him at the workshop: his younger brother Albert Adria, who inspired the chic Barcelona eatery Tickets, and Andoni Luis Aduriz, the chef at Mugaritz in Gipuzkoa.

Their method is to bombard themselves constantly with questions about the most obscure details and query everything

They are all on the same wavelength but all this thinking could drive one mad; this method of constantly bombarding themselves with questions about the most obscure details, questioning everything, from the most innovative invention to the most hackneyed concept.

We should use our freedom to exercise our critical faculties, says Aduriz. We have been slaves to the established line. What elBulli did was to break the rules, taking them all apart.

Our focus is on the generation that is now between 15 and 17 years old, says Adria. We should try to inspire them to be better than us. If there had been a previous generation helping us to think outside the box in the 1990s, we wouldnt have had to question so many things.

Is there hope then for the millennium babies, those fast-food victims and prisoners of pre-packaged fare? The future can be found to a great extent in the past, explains Adria, whose bold decision to close the restaurant triggered a new and personally rewarding phase in his life, including lectures at Harvard University.

Inside elBulliLab, 80 people research culinary history alongside brands such as Dom Perignon Caterina Barjau

The overarching goal is to ensure that his replacements, the people who will carry on his legacy, will be better than himself. Im excited to see that this is now happening, he says.

Nowadays, he enjoys exploring the mystery of the scallop as a hermaphrodite element, or understanding which of the 3,000-plus different varieties of tomato can be considered natural.

Its basically doing an autopsy to discover what no one can see he explains, while Aduriz insists on the importance of asking specific questions. Thats where you get clarity, he says.

The big mistake that has come back to haunt us is letting people believe elBulli was just a restaurant when it was more R&D, says Ferran, whose projects now receive funding from the Telefonica Foundation.

The complexity of elBulliLab makes this all too obvious, as do the diverse paths taken by Adrias successors. Albert has run with the pret-a-porter aspect of what we were doing, and Andoni has taken the most avant-garde route. We werent sure at first if taking elBulli to the people would be possible. But Albert showed us it was, says Ferran.

Nothing has been the same since that unlikely venture tucked away on the Girona coast shook up the restaurant world

Put simply, we are interested in the mystery of things. I have wondered at times why some people were so bothered by what we did. Particularly because, as far as experimentation was concerned, Adria had set clear limits. If what we came up with didnt make people happy, then it wasnt worth it, explains Aduriz.

This is something they also learned from their mentors, particularly Juan Mari Arzak. At 74, hes still out there with his edgy avant-garde approach. Its an ongoing lesson, says Adria.

But the famous Basque chef was also able to learn a thing or two from tasting elBullis concoctions. They left him feeling unsettled, as if there was something escaping him, and he needed to understand what it was. So he decided to stick around to watch Adria at work for 15 days  15 days that were to mark the start of a long, close partnership.

Together with Albert Adria and Aduriz, Ferran and Arzak continue to lead the Spanish cuisine revolution that kicked off in the 1990s. They move it forward one step at a time, without losing sight of the need to be constantly creative  a goal that has radically changed the face of cuisine around the world.

English version by Heather Galloway.
Xiaomi Yi 4K Action Camera 2

We want Xiaomi to launch its Yi 4K Action camera 2 in the Indian market. It's a must have imaging device for anyone who keep photography in his/her highest regard. Xiaomi's latest YI 4K Action Camera 2 is capable of shooting 4K videos at 30fps, full HD videos at 120fps and HD videos at 240fps.

The action camera features a Sony made 12MP image sensor, which has a 160 degree wide angle lens. It uses Ambarella A9 chipset, which is used by GoPro's Hero4 camera.

Honor Magic Smartphone

Chinese tech giant Huawei recently celebrated its sub brand's 3rd anniversary where the company announced its latest flagship smartphone- Honor Magic in China. While the handset packs in top-of-the-line specifications and an eye-catching design, it is the underlying software features that make the smartphone a tech gem.



The highlight of Honor Magic is its smart digital assistant that is deeply integrated into smartphone's software to improve the overall experience. Named Magic Live system, it tracks the owner's usage pattern and offers predictive information similar to Google Now offering traffic alerts and other useful information. It offers customized recommendations based on the user's social conversations via instant messaging apps. Honor hasn't said anything about the smartphone's launch in the Indian market but it is a device that we would love to have in our stores.

SEE ALSO: Honor Magic First Impressions

Glasses Free 3D TVs- Ultra D

We all love 3D viewing experience on big screens but the glasses to experience it only cause headaches. What if we tell you that there is a TV in the market that does not force you to wear those irritating 3D glasses to enjoy the 3D content? Yes, you heard it right. We are talking about StreamTV Networks that announced their 3D TV, which boasts a fully adjustable 4K glasses-free 3D panel. It was first showcased at the CES 2016 and is currently in production and is being manufactured by Pegatron. We have our fingers crossed on this one.

SEE ALSO: 5 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Smart TV

Xiaomi Mi Mix

Back in October 2016, Xiaomi introduced Mi Mix smartphone in its homegrown market China. The highlight of the Xiaomi Mi MIX is its near bezel-less display with curved edges on top. The handset has an amazing 91.3 percent screen-to-body ratio and features a 6.4-inch display with 2040x1080 pixel resolution. It also bears a ceramic body and features a piezoelectric acoustic ceramic earpiece speaker, ultrasonic proximity sensor and a 50 percent smaller front camera module.

Xiaomi cleared that the company is not launching the handset in the Indian market because it does not have the capabilities to market two flagship smartphones in the country. However, Hugo Barra, Vice President global operations, Xiaomi did reassure that this could change next year. So we might see the company launching a toned down variant or the original Mi Mix in the first quarter of 2017.

Kodak 360 degree camera

Kodak in CES 2016 showcased its updated Pixpro action camera called the SP360 4K. The highlight of this little cube shaped action camera is its ability to record near-360 video when used solo or in pair to have full 360-degree video. The camera features a 12.4MP CMOS sensor with the ability to shoot stills and videos. Other features include Wi-Fi, NFC, a 235-degree field of view lens and 128GB microSD card for storing your videos.

Moreover, the camera is also dust and water resistant, shockproof, and freezeproof. It's a great action camera that we would love to see in India.

Xiaomi Battery Enabled QiCycle

Another exciting tech product that we would love to see in the Indian market is Xiaomi's battery enabled QiCycle. It is company's first ever electric bicycle, which is priced at CNY 2,999, approximately Rs. 30,000 in China. The Qicycle weighing only 7 Kgs, is made of carbon fiber and packs a host of sensors. It is backed by a 250W 36V electric motor and uses Torque Measurement Method (TMM) to assist the rider's pedal power.

While the battery enabled cycles are not in trend in India, Xiaomi can start a new tech category if the company gets the pricing right.

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro Tango Smartphone

Last but not the least, we are eagerly waiting for Lenovo Phab 2 Pro smartphone, which is the world's commercial model based on Google Tango. It is Google's dream of weird and innovative products in mobile technology. As Google say, Tango lets you see more of your world. Just hold up your Tango-powered device, and watch as virtual objects and information appear on top of your surroundings.

The smartphone was supposed to launch in December in India, but there's no such news of a tentative launch till now. We expect the company to introduce the handset in early 2017.
HMD Global-Nokia

The most talked acquisition of 2016. Nokia, the Finnish company, sold its mobile phone business to Redmond-based tech giant Microsoft back in 2014. However, things did not go well for the company, and they announced the sale of Nokia cell phone division in May 2016.

What came as a surprising news is: HMD Global, a subsidiary of FIH Mobile was founded mainly to manufacture and sell Nokia branded mobile phones. The deal happened for a whopping $350 million, and it was completed in December 2016. The major news is HMD Global will release Android-powered Nokia smartphones in 2017.

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LeEco-Coolpad

LeEco and Coolpad both are Chinese smartphone brands. In June 2016, LeEco reportedly acquired stakes in its counterpart. Firstly, the company dealt for 18 percent of shares from Coolpad and later on in June 2016, LeEco further received 11 percent of stakes making it a total of 28.9 percent and the largest shareholder of Coolpad.

As of now, LeEco has invested a total of $488 million in Coolpad and recently quoted that they are running out of funds and will apparently raise the cost of their smartphones in future.

Microsoft-LinkedIn

This might be the most surprising acquisition of 2016. On July 11, 2016, Microsoft, the Redmond tech giant acquired the social networking platform LinkedIn for a whopping $26.2 billion. However, this is not an all cash deal or a complete payment deal. Microsoft will pay $196 per share for LinkedIn, and Jeff Weiner will be directly reporting to the Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, who is continuing as the chief executive officer of LinkedIn as well.

Logitech-Jaybird

Jaybird is well known for their computer peripherals and Bluetooth speakers, In a surprise move, Logitech acquired the Salt Lake City-based startup, Jaybird for an all cash deal of $50 million. This step came especially because Logitech wants to establish themselves in the audio category as well. As of now, there is no product released in collaboration.

Verizon- Yahoo

Another surprise sells off happened this year. Verizon, one of the pioneers in cellular network technology on July 22, 2016, acquired the search engine, Yahoo. Verizon currently has access to Yahoo's content, free activities, advertising, and search. Verizon is a lucky chap as they got rid of Yahoo for just $4.82 billion, and the deal was in all cash.

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Samsung- Harman Kardon!

Samsung, the South Korean smartphone giant, in an all-cash deal worth $8 billion, bought the US-based audio company, Harman. This acquisition is the Samsung's biggest deal made ever since its inception as a company.

Also, the company acquired Viv Labs, an AI based assistant, which was also founded by Siri former Apple Siri members for a disclosed amount. It is said that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will feature the company's Artificial Intelligence Assistant same like the Google Assistant and Apple Siri.

Facebook-MSQRD

After failing to acquire Snapchat a couple of years, Facebook, the social networking giant, at the start of this year has received the face-swapping application Masquerade, famously known as MSQRD. Facebook has a knack for buying the emerging services. MSQRD, in no time after its official roll out to the public, has achieved 1.6 billion users, which made Facebook acquire them. However, the deal amount has not been disclosed by either companies.

Fitbit-Pebble

Pebble is very well known as the brand that introduced the concept of modern smartwatches was shut down selling themselves to Fitbit, the fitness tracker company. Having said that, it just costs less than $40 million for Fitbit to acquire the assets of Pebble.

Snap-Vurb

If Facebook buys MSQRD, then Snapchat responded by purchasing the Vurb, a unique platform, which allows people to find and plan their routine life. The deal was done in August 2016 for a massive amount of $100 million. Various tech journalists criticized this move from Snap Inc.

Uber-OTTO

Uber, the leading network of providing cabs in August 2016 has acquired a relatively new company called OTTO to push themselves to make into the Uber Self-Driving car. Recently, the company introduced this service in some cities, however, revoked it again due to some regulatory issues. However, OTTO's employees were lucky to bag a deal of $680 million after starting the company just three months ago.

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Motorola Officially Rolls Out Android Nougat for Moto Z in India, Brings Google Daydream Onboard Features oi -Sneha Moto Z gets Android Nougat.

Nearly a month back, Lenovo had announced that they might roll out the Android Nougat software update for Moto Z and Moto Z Force. Keeping up to their words, Motorola has officially rolled out the Nougat update for Moto Z smartphones in India.

With the new Android OS version, the Motorola smartphone has received a wide range of added features along with extended battery life with 'Doze on the go' option. The Android Nougat update for Moto Z comes with the newer version NPL25.86-15, which makes the smartphone ready for Moto Z Google Daydream. Hence, the Indian Moto Z users can now use a VR headset with the phone and enjoy their very own virtual reality (VR) platform.

SEE ALSO: No 4G VoLTE Device Needed! Reliance Jio Extends Services to 2G and 3G Smartphones



Apart from the Daydream feature, Moto Z also gets several other significant improvements with the split-screen multitasking, customizable quick settings, improved Google keyboard, enhanced notifications and recent applications window, reports state.

BlackBerry Smartphones Made by TCL to go Official at CES 2017

Not only this, the new Android Nougat update also brings the 'Double Tap' option on the Recent button, which will enable the Moto Z users to switch between the two most recent apps with just a tap avoiding the hassle of going back and forth every time.

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During Barcelonas 2015 Mobile World Congress , Mark Zuckerberg was asked what made him a regular visitor to Spain. Probably the ham, he replied. Now, thanks to the pioneering enterprise of a Spanish business duo, it wont be long before the Facebook founder will be able to satisfy his passion for the Iberian delicacy without having to leave the comfort of his own country.

Manuel Murga in Texas. ACORNSEEKERS

More information Asi se crian en Texas los cerdos pata negra que sono Cristobal Colon

In 2013, Barcelona-based marketing executive Sergio Marsal and agricultural engineer Manuel Murga, from Seville, attracted a $3 million investment from Spanish companies to blaze a trail to the US.

The following year, 145 sows and five lucky boars of the highly prized Iberico breed boarded a transatlantic flight to be the first of their kind to set foot in the United States.

Jamon iberico de bellota, one of Spains top delicacies, is made from free-range Iberico pigs that graze on dehesas and feed on acorns. Until now, these pigs had been raised exclusively in the Iberian Peninsula.

Our civil servants are scared to put their signature to anything new

Sergio Marsal, Acornseekers

According to Marsal, records in Sevilles General Archives of the Indies testify to the fact that Christopher Columbus took eight Iberico pigs with him on his second journey to the Americas in 1493, although they didnt get further than Cuba. He is our inspiration, says Marsal.

Acornseekers, Murga and Marsals US company, has a 75-acre ranch in Texas where acorns are plentiful. They also have two breeding agreements with local farmers who raise the pigs at their own expense in return for a share of the annual profit.

Now numbering 3,000, these expensive and time-consuming animals graze freely on acorns in the winter oak belt that stretches from Jacksonville, Florida, to California.

Manolo, our technician, believes that the holm oaks were here before the Spanish came to America, but I prefer to think that we brought them with us, jokes Marsal.

Manuel Murga and Sergio Marsal at their Texas ranch. ACORNSEEKERS

And apparently, the US acorn is in no way inferior to its Iberian cousin. Its oleic acid content is perfect, says Marsal. The difference between it and the Quercus Ilex  the Spanish holm oak  is minimal.

Getting Iberico pigs to the US from Spain, alive or otherwise, has proved a long and complicated business. After years of struggling with red tape, Embutidos Fermin was the first company to manage the sale of cured bellota ham in the States in 2007.

Now Murga and Marsal have faced down Spanish bureaucracy  the main obstacle  to bring Americans the source of the product. Our civil servants are scared to put their signature to anything new, says Marsal.

Marsal also believes that the Spanish Iberico industry brought pressure to bear on the authorities to stop Iberico pigs leaving Spain. It seems that some people feel we are robbing the country of a national treasure when our philosophy is the opposite; we want to export the best of our gastronomy like the French did with their wine in Californias Napa Valley, says Marsal, who remembers his parents desperately trying to find a restaurant with a wine list in 1979 Miami.

Less than 40 years later, Americans consume more wine than any other country in the world, and more Spanish wine than anywhere outside of Spain.

Having raised the $2 million required to build a ham curing facility, Acornseekers hopes to be selling its first legs of ham in America by 2018 for an eye-watering $1,000 a piece  three times what they sell for in Spain.

However, Murga and Marsal are aware that they first have to educate the American palate and that profits may take some time to materialize. Meanwhile, they have been slaughtering Iberico pigs to be sold as fresh cuts of pork, something Americans are more familiar with.

It would be nice if one day they forgot about having turkey for Thanksgiving and put a leg of Iberico in the oven instead, says Marsal. It could be their own Iberico  Made in America  just the way they like it.

English version by Heather Galloway.
A Flight Allegedly Delayed On Spotting a Wi-Fi Hotspot Named Galaxy Note 7 News oi -Chakri Kudikala A passenger renamed his smartphones Wi-Fi hotspot name as Galaxy Note 7.

It looks like Airlines are not letting off to carry the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone into the planes that easily. A recently concluded incident is a further proof of this saga.

A passenger traveling in the Virginia America flight from San Francisco to Boston renamed his smartphone's Wi-Fi hotspot to 'Galaxy Note 7'. Another passenger on the same flight spotted the hotspot network from his laptop and informed the flight crew.

SEE ALSO: Smartphones That Can Charge Faster Than Others Get Rated

The flight crew department warned the owner of the smartphone saying that he should come out immediately and should hand over the handset to them. But, he never came out. However, after several warnings and threatening of immediate landing, the owner came out and said that there's no Galaxy Note 7 in the plane, but his Wi-Fi hotspot was named 'Galaxy Note 7'.

As we all aware of the fact that all the airlines in the ever country have prohibited the carrying of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone into the flights. The decision was immediately made after several Galaxy Note 7 units started catching fire due to some design issue in the smartphone that resulted in the phone's battery explosion.

SOURCE

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Motorola Moto C with Snapdragon 430 SoC Rumored to Launch Soon News oi -Chakri Kudikala The smartphone is expected to be unveiled at CES 2017.

Motorola, the Lenovo-owned company, has been doing an excellent job in recent times. The company's Moto Z Play is widely regarded as the best battery smartphone of 2016, and their Moto Z series of phones have taken the modularity to a whole new level.

Recently, the company launched the Motorola Moto M in India, and if the rumors are believed to be true, we might see another smartphone dubbed Motorola Moto C shortly. An Indian tech blog named Techdroider revealed the specifications of the phone.

SEE ALSO: Indian Women Use Their Smartphones More than Men, Says Report

The Motorola Moto C is expected to come with a 5-inch 720p display with a pixel density of 294 PPI. Having said that, the display will be the same one as seen on the Moto E3 Power. Under-the-hood, there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC along with support for 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

Imaging wise, the phone is expected to carry a 16MP rear facing sensor, which has support for a LED flash, and an 8MP camera can be seen on the front for selfies and video calls. Having said that, this entire package will be backed by a 3800mAh battery.

As of now, there are no details regarding when Motorola will launch the smartphone, but we are expecting them to launch the same at CES 2017.

Source

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Reliance Jio to Get 100 Million Subscribers By March 2017: Fitch Ratings News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu 100 million subscribers is possible for Jio!

Reliance Jio has a target of achieving 100 million subscribers by March 2017. Though this was doubted by many, with the free voice and data offers, it seems like Reliance Jio Infocomm might reach the targeted subscriber base, states Nitin Soni, Fitch Ratings' Director.

He further stated that the subscriber base might shrink considerably once the telecom operator ends the freebies and starts charging customers for their usage. It is said that Reliance Jio is adopting a great strategy of providing freebies until March to strengthen the subscriber base. As of now, the service provider has 52 to 55 million subscribers and has the potential to touch 100 million users by the end of March 2017.

Reliance Jio Extends Services to 2G and 3G Smartphones

Eventually, as long as the Jio service is free, a customer using Airtel, Vodafone, Idea or any other network will get a free Jio SIM to make use of the free services until March 2017. When Jio will start charging for its services from April 1, 2017, they might witness a drop in the subscription base by 5 to 10 percent, he stated.

Despite that there will be a drop in the number of subscribers of Jio after March 2017, he added that customers of Jio might decide whether to use the Jio SIM or retain their existing SIM based on the price. They will figure out how much they will pay per month to the service provider, and if Jio is cheaper, then they might move to Jio.

However, he further stated that Jio might come with a new set of offers after the three-month period to attract the subscribers towards its service in an attempt to avoid losing the premium subscribers. When it comes to the telecom space in India, Soni added that the industry can't afford over four or five participants.

With the entry of Reliance Jio, the competition in the industry has become intense. In fact, the competition is at its peak now. The consolidation is happening in the telecom industry as RComm has acquired MTS and merged with Aircel. At this point in time, some weaker telecom service providers are looking forward to exist the market. Soni added that they are expecting to see more consolidation in the industry.

Reliance Jio Starts Selling LYF Smartphones on its E-commerce Store

He believes that Idea Cellular might face many challenges as it lacks 100 percent 4G spectrum asset across the country. They might also attempt a merger or acquisition to strengthen the competition. It goes without saying that a new entrant will leave a negative impact on the weaker telecom companies. Eventually, he said that Idea is believed to be affected within 12 to 24 months.

Viewing the outlook of the sector as negative in 2017, he stated that the data tariff will drop by 15 to 20 percent due to the competition created by Jio. But, Airtel with a spectrum asset on 900 MHz is a well established player that can compete against Reliance Jio.

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Intel Committee Releases Declassified Snowden Report

US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Washington, December 22, 2016

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence today released a declassified version of its investigative report on Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who fled to China and then Russia after stealing an estimated 1.5 million classified documents. The report, including redactions for classified information, was the result of a two-year inquiry into Snowden's background, likely motivations, and methods of theft, as well as the damage done to U.S. national security as a result of his actions. The report was completed in September 2016 and submitted to the Intelligence Community for a declassification review.

Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said, "I'm gratified that, with the completion of the declassification review, the American people can now get a fuller account of Edward Snowden's crimes and the reckless disregard he has shown for U.S. national security, including the safety of American servicemen and women. It will take a long time to mitigate the damage he caused, and I look forward to the day when he returns to the United States to face justice."

Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff said, "Snowden and his defenders claim that he is a whistleblower, but he isn't, as the Committee's review shows. Most of the material he stole had nothing to do with Americans' privacy, and its compromise has been of great value to America's adversaries and those who mean to do America harm. Whistleblowers are important to proper oversight and we will protect them from retaliation, and those who engage in civil disobedience are willing to stay and face the consequences."

NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee Chairman Lynn Westmoreland said, "The American people have every right to know the extent of the damage Edward Snowden did to our national security, and I applaud the declassification of the House Intelligence Committee's report. Not only did Snowden endanger American servicemembers, threaten critical relationships across the globe, and reduce our allies' ability to counter terror attacks, but repairing the damage he did cost a tremendous amount of taxpayer dollars and more importantly, used up valuable time and resources that should be spent keeping our country safe. This extensive report shows Snowden is no hero, and that he should be brought to justice for his reckless actions."

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EU's top court rules UK's mass snooping of Brits illegal

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:16AM

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled as illegal the UK government's plan to conduct an indiscriminate mass gathering of data on British citizens.

"EU law precludes national legislation that prescribes general and indiscriminate retention of data," the court said Wednesday, in response to London's appeal to a similar ruling by the ECJ's Advocate General in July last year.

Last month, the British parliament approved a controversial bill that gave far-reaching mass surveillance powers to police and intelligence services.

Dubbed the Investigatory Powers Act (IP Act), the law requires communication firms to record the web browsing history of their customers and keep it for a year.

The European top court did not approve of retaining data from telephone calls and email, arguing that it "is liable to allow very precise conclusions to be drawn concerning the private lives of the persons whose data has been retained."

According to the court, such snooping measures were only justifiable in "fighting serious crime."

The ruling means London cannot implement the legislation as long as it remains a member of the European Union (EU).

The case was initially brought to the European Court by MPs David Davis and Deputy Labour Leader Tom Watson, after they achieved another victory against the law in the UK High Court.

"This ruling shows it's counter-productive to rush new laws through Parliament without a proper scrutiny," Watson said.

"At a time when we face a real and ever-present terrorist threat, the security forces may require access to personal information none of us would normally hand over," he added. "That's why it's absolutely vital that proper safeguards are put in place to ensure this power is not abused, as it has been in the recent past.

Davis withdrew from the case after Prime Minister Theresa May picked him as the Brexit Secretary, tasking him with taking the UK out of the EU following a June referendum.

Ironically, the ECJ's ruling could prove inconsequential once Davis completes the process, which according to May, may take two years.

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U.S. Lawmakers: Snowden In Contact With Russian Security Agencies

Mike Eckel December 22, 2016

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have accused the fugitive national security contractor Edward Snowden of communicating with Russian security agencies while he is exiled in Moscow.

The accusations were contained in a classified House Intelligence Committee report, parts of which were released publicly on December 22. The evidence backing up the specific accusations about Snowden allegedly communicating with Russian agencies, however, remains classified.

Seen as a heroic whistle-blower by some, and a selfish traitor by others, Snowden in 2013 leaked 1.5 million documents he acquired while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency, the premier U.S. electronic surveillance agency. The materials prompted a furious public debate about the legality of some of the agency's programs, about privacy concerns, and about U.S. snooping on its allies.

Snowden ended up flying to Hong Kong, and then to Moscow in June 2013, where he has lived in limbo since American authorities revoked his passport. U.S. prosecutors have charged him with violations of the 1917 Espionage Act.

Since that time, he has continued speaking about privacy concerns and made clear he wants to return to the United States if he gets certain legal protections.

Many in Congress, however, have excoriated him, and the newly declassified report by what is formally known as the Republican-led House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence reflected that continuing anger.

"Snowden caused tremendous damage to national security, and the vast majority of the documents he stole have nothing to do with programs impacting individual privacy interests," the report said. They "instead pertain to military, defense, and intelligence programs of great interest to America's adversaries."

The report said that since his arrival in Moscow, Snowden "has had, and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services."

The report redacts the source for this assertion, saying it is classified. But it also cites a National Public Radio interview conducted in June with Frants Klintsevich, who is deputy chairman of the defense and security committee in Russia's lower house of parliament. In the interview, Klintsevich was quoted as saying, "Let's speak frankly: I think that he did share intelligence. This is what security services do."

Snowden responded quickly to the report's release, posting a series of messages to Twitter dismissing its findings:

Snowden's case has generated sympathy among some privacy advocates, and his plight has been the focus of an Oscar-winning documentary and, more recently, a loosely fictionalized political thriller by renowned Hollywood director Oliver Stone.

In September, White House spokesman Josh Earnest brushed aside questions about whether Snowden might be pardoned by President Barack Obama, a call Stone made himself.

"Mr. Snowden should return to the United States and face the very serious charges that he's facing. He will, of course, be afforded the rights that are due to every American citizen in our criminal justice system, but we believe that he should return to the United States and face those charges," Earnest said.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/snowden-in- contact-russian-security-agencies-us lawmakers-report/28191721.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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Congressional Report Aiming to Smear Snowden, Surprisingly Exonerates Him

Sputnik News

22:16 22.12.2016(updated 00:34 23.12.2016)

A Congressional report aimed at smearing Edward Snowden has surprisingly exonerated him, and the whistleblower took to Twitter on Thursday to brilliantly explain the details.

The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee declassified a report claiming that Snowden is in contact with Russia's intelligence services.

The report claims that it had not established what information obtained by the whistleblower ended up in the hands of foreign governments.

"It is not clear which of the documents Snowden removed are in the hands of a foreign government," the report reads. Despite the lack of evidence of any information being given to foreign governments, the report goes on to claim that the whistleblower is working with Russian intelligence officials.

On Twitter, Snowden noted that after three years of investigating, according to the report, they have still not been able to find any evidence of harmful intent, foreign influence, or harm.

Snowden also pointed out that their assertion that he is working with Russia is based on a quote from Russian Senator Frants Klintsevich, who earlier this week claimed that NATO assassinated Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov.

"This is the standard of evidence the worst claims they level are based on, after three years and millions of dollars. But it goes on," Snowden tweeted.

The report also claims that the whistleblower visited China while he was in Japan.

"Never happened  not even transit. And USG knows this, because of passport control," Snowden wrote.

The report then claims that he attended a hacker conference and met Chinese hackers, and then told his coworkers at the NSA how great China is. Snowden tweeted that this claim is both "false and insane."

"Moreover, I never went to any hacker con during my time in government, IIRC. Think my first was HOPE, speaking alongside Ellsberg-- in 2014!" Snowden added.

The whistleblower called the report an "endless parade of falsity, so unbelievable that it comes off as parody," but noted that it is unintentionally exonerating.

"They document me going, again and again  over years, despite punishments  to superiors to report complaints of waste, fraud, and abuse," Snowden explained. "They characterize many of the best things I ever did  standing up for co-workers, reporting XSS vulns in TS/SCI systems  as wrongs."

He notes that the report does not mention that journalism based on his revelations won a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, helped to reform US laws, and changed even the President's mind.

"Yet they argue at length I should have gone to NSA's Inspector General. That he would end these abuses and protect whistleblowers," Snowden wrote.

The former NSA Inspector General in question, George Ellard, was, as we previously reported, recently fired for retaliating against another whistleblower.

The findings of his retaliation validate Snowden's claims that he feared going through official channels to report his concerns about NSA overreach, although it was confirmed that he had expressed his worries about domestic spying programs to his supervisors in a series of emails.

Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that the report admits that Snowden had purged and abandoned hard drives rather than bringing them through Russia  something he would have been unlikely to do if he had been working with Kremlin intelligence agencies.

"Final note: HPSCI's report admits I purged and abandoned hard drives rather than risk bringing them through Russia. Glad it's settled," Snowden wrote.

In 2013, after releasing the trove of information on the NSA global surveillance program, Russia granted Snowden temporary asylum for one year. In 2014, it was upgraded to a three-year residence permit to stay in the nation.

Snowden is currently facing charges for espionage and theft of government property that could result in a prison sentence of up to 30 years should he return to the US. His lawyers and supporters are campaigning for him to receive a pardon from President Barack Obama before the US leader leaves office.

 Sputnik

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Declassified US House Report Claims Snowden in Contact With Russian Intel

Sputnik News

17:52 22.12.2016(updated 19:31 22.12.2016)

The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said in a declassified report on Thursday that former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden is in contact with Russia's intelligence services.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  In 2013, Snowden leaked classified documents pertaining to mass surveillance practices carried out by US authorities around the globe. The same year, Russia granted the whistleblower temporary asylum for one year. In August 2014, Snowden received a three-year residence permit to live in Russia.

"Since Snowden's arrival in Moscow, he has had, and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services," the report stated.

The US intelligence community, including the National Security Agency (NSA), has not taken appropriate steps to prevent unauthorized information disclosure after Snowden leaked massive amounts of information, according to the declassified report.

"The Committee remains concerned that more than three years after the start of the unauthorized disclosures, NSA, and the IC [intelligence community] as a whole, have not done enough to minimize the risk of another massive unauthorized disclosure," the report stated

The report also claimed that the information obtained by Snowden could endanger US troops if Russia or China accessed the data.

"As of June 2016, the most recent DoD [Department of Defense] review identified 13 high-risk issues," the report stated. "Eight of the 13 relate to [redacted] capabilities of DoD; if the Russian or Chinese governments have access to this information, American troops will be at greater risk in any future conflict."

US authorities have not established what information obtained by Snowden ended up in the hands of foreign governments, the report claimed. "It is not clear which of the documents Snowden removed are in the hands of a foreign government."

At the same time, the US intelligence community, including the NSA, has not taken appropriate steps to prevent unauthorized information disclosure after the Snowden leaks, the Committee underscored.

In the United States, Snowden faces up to 30 years in prison on charges of espionage and theft of government property. Snowden's lawyers are currently trying to get a last-minute pardon from outgoing US President Barack Obama for him, fearing Trump's administration hard line in his case.

 Sputnik

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Air Force needs to grow to 350,000

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs , / Published December 22, 2016

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In ongoing efforts to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials explained why the service needs to grow to 350,000 active-duty Airmen over the next seven years.

The need to increase the end strength comes from the recognition that the Air Force is out of balance with ongoing and projected global demands for airpower, senior officials explained.

"The risk of manpower shortage is masked and placed on the backs of Airmen," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. "Because if you go back and look at the data and the way we measure readiness, did we taxi? Yes. Did we launch? Yes. Did we make the deployed destination and accomplish the mission? Yes.

"What's masked is the fact that the shortage of people has fundamentally changed the way we do business in terms of the operational risk day to day."

If sequestration caps are removed and additional funding becomes available, the Air Force will consider growing to 350,000 active-duty Airmen during the next seven years. The service is currently on track to grow to 321,000 by the end of 2017, and 324,000 in the following years.

The erosion of readiness started decades ago, but has been exacerbated by sequestration and a continuous high operations tempo, explained Air Force officials. Throughout the last 10 years, the Air Force made steep cuts in overall end strength, especially in the combat air forces.

The Air Force has balanced risk across the force while maintaining the agility, flexibility and readiness to engage a full range of contingencies, senior leaders said.

"Additional manning is needed not just to meet air requirements, but to support the joint fight," Goldfein said. "So when you look through the lens of growth in the United States military, we look through a joint lens and through that lens we see that the Air Force is always a part of every mission. Therefore, you can't have growth in one without growth in the Air Force."

Officials explained the Air Force must continue to grow the force to address key capability gaps and recover and sustain a stronger force for today's missions in the nuclear, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, maintenance and support career fields. It must also continue to resource growing remotely piloted aircraft and cyber mission requirements.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, the service plans to grow the active duty force to approximately 321,000 Airmen by 2018. Additional funding from Congress would be necessary for this growth, but details would have to be prioritized during future budgets submissions, officials said.

While the Air Force acknowledges the demand for more Airmen, officials also commented that it will take time to recruit, access and train additional Airmen.

"This is not something you can do immediately," Goldfein said. "It's actually something you've got to do over time. This is something we would build over the next seven years in a steady climb."

Ultimately, the Air Force wants to reduce stress on Airmen and ensure we have enough people to support the joint fight and accomplish the missions the nation requires, said Air Force officials.

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Deployed squadron flies combat ops 15 hours after arrival

By Master Sgt. Benjamin Wilson, 407th Air Expeditionary Group / Published December 22, 2016

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- When the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived at the 407th Air Expeditionary Group in early December, few people outside the two units would have expected them to generate combat airpower 15 hours after landing.

But that is exactly what the Airmen in Southwest Asia did.

"Typically it will take at least 48 hours to start running aircraft through and provide combat effective aircraft, but the nation called and asked us to produce those aircraft in a much shorter time frame," said Lt. Col. Brian Lepine, the 407th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron commander.

For Airmen already stationed at the 407th AEG, this was validation of the beddown capabilities they had worked hard to fine tune throughout their deployment.

"The whole time we have advertised that we can accept aircraft and generate combat airpower within 24 hours," said Maj. John Green, the 407th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander. "We've always said, 'we are going to set you up for success and you are going to be ready to rock when you hit the ground,' and that is what we've done."

Having aircraft and personnel ready to fly combat missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve less than a day after arrival is a more complicated task than it may seem on the surface.

One major challenge presented to the unit was the phased cycles of maintenance required by the F-16 Fighting Falcons. In addition to other incremental maintenance, these jets require an extremely detailed inspection after every 300 hours of flight. It is critical that aircraft deployed here hit that mark at staggered intervals to keep a healthy squadron in the fight.

"They are going to look at every nook and cranny and make sure that there is not chafing of the wires and look at areas that we don't typically look at post- and pre-flight," Lepine said. "Typically for a guard unit, that will be every year and a half. We are going to do every aircraft in the time we are here at least once on that phase line."

Knowing the F-16 would be flying so many more hours than usual, the unit did not want to bring jets that are due for major maintenance overhauls during the deployment. Because of this, an Air National Guard unit ordinarily has about 12 months to prepare for deployment  the 134th EFS had one month.

To ensure there would be enough capable jets available to meet the high demand for the air-to-ground capabilities the unit is providing, ANG units from across the nation offered to help. In addition to personnel from various units, Alabama, New Jersey and Wisconsin all provided F-16s for the mission.

"Those Airmen out there were doing that heavy maintenance for us as well, so it really was a collection of all of us pulling together," Lepine said. "When we called in those resources, they weren't just polishing canopies. They were making sure that the aircraft were ready to go."

While maintainers were prepping jets at home, the 407th AEG worked with an advanced team of Airmen from the fighter squadron to ensure the base was ready when they arrived. Many of those Airmen are full-time guardsmen who had to quickly leave their civilian lives behind to get here on time.

"Our Airmen had to drop all of what they were doing to do that," Lepine said. "They had to go to their civilian employer and say I am not coming to work in about a week."

But the Airmen encountered few problems in doing so.

"It was very heartwarming to know that the community where we live in the Burlington, (Vermont), area is so in support of us being here," he said. "That relieved a lot of the pressures from the Airmen."

One of the first teams to arrive in theater was the munitions unit.

"We have munitions in place, but we needed a team to get here to build the munitions up," Green said. "Those guys showed up and they were fired up and started building bombs."

During the condensed preparation phase, it was not uncommon to see and Airman working a 15-hour day according to leadership, but it was worth it in the end.

"It was very cool and rewarding to see our teams come together and accomplish the things that we did," Green said.

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Today Micaela Ruiz Tellez would be considered the founder of a successful startup. But in the mid 19th century she was just a clever woman who slaughtered pigs for the important families of Estepa, a town in central Andalusia. One day, she came up with an idea that would lead to a business and see her name added to the history books as a pioneer of an industry that is still booming today.

Workers pack mantecados at the 'Aromas de Medina' factory in Andalusia. PACO PUENTES

Ruiz thought that her husband, who transported goods to the city of Cordoba, could sell the sweets that she made with the lard left over from her other job. The main hurdle though, was that the sweets got hard quickly. So after some experimentation, she realized that if she dried out the flour, the sweets would be hard on the outside and tender on the insideperfect for transportation. It was with that that one of Spains favorite sweets, the mantecado, was born.

Today in Estepa, where 22 similar businesses have popped up, everyone knows the story of Ruizs ingenuity. In the town with a population of around 12,600, around 4,500 are currently employed in the Christmas sweets industry. Annually Estepa produces around 20,000 tons of Christmas sweets, bringing in sales of some 80 million, according to the council that regulates the trademark local products.

In Estepa were born with this smell. Starting in summer, just walking around its like eating a whole mantecado Sweets factory employee Pilar Espinosa



Estepa is just one of the Spanish towns that make a living off of special Christmas sweets. Medina Sidonia in Cadiz, Jijona in Alicante, and Sonseca in Toledo are other examples of where the lucrative industry has taken off.

In Spain, Christmas dinners and lunches are usually accompanied by purchased Christmas sweets. Besides mantecado, a baked biscuit that can feature cinnamon, almonds and chocolate, there are also polvorones, a type of Spanish shortbread, turrones, similar to nougat, usually featuring nuts, and marzipan. All have their origins in centuries-old recipes, but have been industrialized without losing their artisanal character. According to the Infoempresa business database, the top 32 turron manufactures are experiencing business growth, and last year they sold produce worth 440 million.

Beyond just making sweets, these towns have all reaped the benefits of becoming tourist attractions. People flock from all over to buy boxes of fresh sweets, learn how theyre made and get into the Christmas spirit.

Crisis, what crisis?

The streets of Estepa start to smell like lard, cinnamon and sesame seeds halfway through the month of August. Thats when the frenetic activity starts, and it lasts until the end of December with the towns 22 factories operating long enough hours for three shifts of workers to come in.

This year, the towns mayor, Salvador Martin, hopes that production will increase by 5%. During the second half of the year, he said, the unemployment rate usually slides from 15% to 7%. Spains overall unemployment rate is 18.9%, according to third quarter figures.

The mantecado is one of the economic bases of the region and during these months we even reach full employment, said Martin.

The Aromas de Medina factory in the town of Medina Sidonia. PACO PUENTES/EL PAIS (EL PAIS)

In Estepa were born with this smell. Starting in the summer, just by strolling around town, just breathing in the smell, its like youve eaten a whole mantecado, said Pilar Espinosa, 38, who has been working with the Enrique Moreno company for 20 years.

Women  who have been especially affected by Spains crippling economic crisis  represent most of the workers in Estepas sweets industry. Enrique Moreno, who leads of a Christmas sweets company that bears his name, said that in his business about 85% of the workers are women.

As Jose Maria Fernandez, secretary of the Regulatory Council for Mantecados and Polvorones, explained: Its a tradition in Estepa. Some people say its because womens work is more delicate but others point to its origin, and the fact that it was started by a woman.

English version by Alyssa McMurtry.
Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 22, 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 the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight strikes in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an oil wellhead.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike destroyed a decoy tactical vehicle.

-- Near Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL mortar system and suppressed a tactical unit.

-- Near Ayn Isa, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed three oil wellheads, three oil tanker trucks, an excavator and a crane.

-- Near Palmyra, a strike destroyed two bunkers and an ISIL artillery system.

Strikes in Iraq

Attack, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted eight strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Qaim, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

-- Near Bashir, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and a tunnel.

-- Near Beiji, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building and a generator.

-- Near Haditha, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building.

-- Near Kisik, a strike destroyed an ISIL-held building.

-- Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three mortar systems, an ISIL headquarters, a tactical vehicle, a command-and-control node, a munitions production factory and a bomb factory; damaged seven ISIL supply routes; and suppressed five tactical units and three mortar teams.

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 they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

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U.S. Forces Japan returns 9,852 acres of Okinawan land

US Marine Corps News

By Cpl. Janessa Pon | December 22, 2016

The Okinawa Defense Bureau hosted a land return ceremony Dec. 22 in Nago City.

The ceremony honored the return of approximately 9,852 acres of the Northern Training Area, which represents a 17 percent reduction in U.S.-administered land on the main island of Okinawa, the single largest land return on Okinawa since 1972.

"This ceremony is historic," said Maj. Gen. Joaquin F. Malavet, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. "Marines remain proud and always faithful to the imperatives of our U.S.-Japan Alliance. We  together  have guaranteed the peace, stability and security across the broader Indo-Asia-Pacific. We must reflect on how much Japan and America give to one another  our shared history, our rich cultures, and the primacy of our most precious way of life."

During the ceremony, representatives from the Government of Japan, Okinawa Prefectural Government, U.S. Forces Japan, and the U.S. State Department gave remarks regarding the significance of the land return to the Japan-U.S. alliance, as well as the preservation of Okinawa's rich environmental features.

"We must acknowledge the commitment of our governments to return land  respecting the grace and goodness of the Okinawan people," said Malavet. "Our shared friendship, shared strength and shared values have served to save lives, build peace, and guarantee prosperity throughout the region."

The return follows an approximately nine-year-long effort that will prove vital to Okinawa's environmental initiatives.

"The people of Okinawa are kind, generous and humble  you are strong and graceful," said Malavet. "Like you, your land is strong and beautiful. We Marines remain deeply thankful to have the opportunity to share our lives and friendships with the Okinawan people ... for the opportunity you have given us to share the goodness of this land, and to train and grow stronger with the Japan Self-Defense Forces hereso that our people, our children, and theirs may live more peaceful and prosperous lives."

As the ceremony ended, the representatives gathered on stage to take photos.

According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the GOJ aims to use the land in a way that will make the best of the beautiful natural elements of the returned land. It will further contribute to the goodness of the land in Higashi and Kunigami, Okinawa.

The return of land through current and future projects, which are slated to meet a 23-percent reduction in U.S. Forces-controlled land, will ensure stability in the bilateral relationship between Japan and U.S. Forces by allowing for further consolidation. The initiatives are designed to ensure the forces can together remain a robust, stable, forward presence, which is fundamental to treaty commitments and ensuring a peaceful and prosperous region.

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Navy Releases History of its Roles in Defense Reform

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS161222-18

Release Date: 12/22/2016 12:12:00 PM

From Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) released on its website an internally prepared paper summarizing defense reform and changes in the Navy's roles and authorities throughout its history, officials announced Dec. 22, 2016.

Written by NHHC historians Justin L. C. Eldridge, Ryan Peeks, Ph.D., and Greg Bereiter, Ph.D., the 20-page paper, and accompanying 60-page chronology, entitled Navy and Defense Reform: A Short History and Reference Chronology offers insight into how reform has affected the service and how its leaders have managed those changes.

Specifically, it:

* places defense and Navy organizational and institutional reform in the context of major historical challenges to the service and the nation,

* includes an examination of the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO) advisory role and the relationship between the Navy and the Department of Defense after 1947,

* captures nearly 200 defense and Navy reform-related events since 1798, and

* includes references to encourage further investigation into detailed aspects of defense and Navy reform.

The paper proposes that most calls for reform have been related to one or more of four themes:

* the degree of civilian control of the military with the advent of new warfighting capabilities,

* business management, acquisition, efficiency, effectiveness, and cost savings,

* improving unity of effort (i.e., joint operations), and/or

* significant shifts in national policy and strategy as a result of changing international circumstances.

According to Eldridge the paper is particularly timely as the nation and the Defense Department prepare for an executive branch transition that will likely result in calls for reform across government.

"Understanding how past attempts at reform have worked out, and how they are often accompanied by unintended consequences may give Navy and defense leaders insight into what works and what doesn't" said Eldridge. "For the public, who expect government officials to operate more effectively and efficiently, knowledge of the history of defense reform can help manage expectations of what's within the realm of the possible."

Eldridge emphasized that Navy strategist Peter Swartz and fellow historians Curtis Utz, Steven Wills, and Tom Hone, Ph.D. provided essential help in shaping the essay and chronology.

The Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage.

It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through our nation's history, and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services.

NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, nine museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.

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Alexandria visits Sasebo during Indo-Asia-Pacific Deployment

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS161222-08

Release Date: 12/22/2016 8:14:00 AM

By Lt. j. g. Justin Higgins, USS Alexandria Public Affairs

FLEET ACTIVITIES SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757) arrived at the Fleet Activities Sasebo Dec. 22 for a visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol.

The visit strengthens the already positive alliance between the U.S. and Japan through the crews' interaction with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. It also demonstrates the U.S. Navy's commitment to regional stability and maritime security in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

"Alexandria departed the shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire a little over one year ago," said Cmdr. Todd Santala, commanding officer. "Today the ship is at the front line of the United States Navy and the submarine force, ready to conduct any mission in the [Indo-Asia-Pacific region]. It is a privilege for me to share this experience with my crew and enjoy our first liberty port together in Sasebo, Japan."

Alexandria is an Improved Los Angeles-class attack submarine with some of the most advanced submarine systems in the world. Its speed, stealth, mobility, capability and sheer firepower make Alexandria one of the most powerful weapons in our nation's defense arsenal. This submarine is capable of executing anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, irregular warfare and mine warfare.

"The crew of the mighty warship Alexandria has performed exceptionally during these first months of deployment," said Master Chief Machinist's Mate Seth Voyce. "We are all excited to spend a few days ashore to visit with our families and strengthen our relations with Japan."

Many crewmembers are excited to experience the rich culture of Japan.

"I have been looking forward to visiting Japan for a long time," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Tyler Woline. "I think Japan has a very unique culture. I'm looking forward to seeing a different way of life and eating some great food that I have never had before."

Measuring more than 362 feet long and weighing more than 6,500 tons when submerged, Alexandria is one of the stealthiest submarines in the world.

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Pasadena visits Yokosuka during Indo-Asia-Pacific Deployment

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS161222-01

Release Date: 12/22/2016 7:40:00 AM

By Lt. j. g. Nicholas Douglas, USS Pasadena Public Affairs

FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752) arrived at the Fleet Activities Yokosuka Dec. 22 for a visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol.

With a crew of approximately 150, Pasadena has been conducting a multitude of missions and maintaining proficiencies of the latest capabilities of the submarine fleet. Pasadena's participation in exercises with various foreign navies from around the Pacific Rim will also aid in solidifying the U.S. role in international maritime operations.

"The crew and I are excited to visit Japan, one of our strongest and closest allies and to experience the region's rich heritage and culture," said Cmdr. Kenneth Douglas, commanding officer. "The crew has performed exceptionally during the first half of the deployment. Pasadena's presence in the Western Pacific demonstrates our commitment to the security and stability of the region and will help strengthen our ties with our partner nations."

Measuring 360 feet long and displacing more than 6,900 tons when submerged, Pasadena is one of the most capable and technologically advanced submarines in the world. The ship supports a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike and naval special warfare.

"The Pasadena Sailors look forward to enjoying the change of season Japan has to offer," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Matthew Kwiecinski, chief of the boat. "The officers and crew will enjoy some well-deserved rest prior to beginning the second leg of a demanding deployment. During the transit from San Diego to Yokosuka we had 10 first-time deployers earn and receive their submarine dolphins, which is a credit to their exceptional determination and strong work ethic."

The officers and crew of Pasadena are excited to be in Japan and on deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. This represents the culmination of years of hard work on the part of each crewmember.

"I'm very excited to be returning to Yokosuka," said Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Bishop, Pasadena's Junior Sailor of the Year. "I love the Japanese culture and lifestyle. I think I am very fortunate to be able to be in Japan again because this is an experience you cannot get anywhere else in the world."

Commissioned in July of 1991 and currently homeported in San Diego, Pasadena is the U.S. Navy's second Improved 688 class nuclear-powered submarine. Throughout its proud and illustrious 25-year history, Pasadena has deployed to and conducted operations in virtually every part of the world.

Today Pasadena continues to answer the call of duty in conducting yet another Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol, truly living up to its motto of "Anytime, Anywhere."

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Beijing starts civilian charter flights to disputed South China Sea island

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 3:36PM

China has begun daily civilian charter flights to an island in the South China Sea, which has long been at the center of territorial dispute between Beijing and its neighbors.

The first Chinese passenger plane touched down Thursday at the Sansha City airport in Yongxing Island, also known as Woody Island, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

"This will effectively improve the working and living conditions of civil servants and soldiers based in Sansha City," the report added.

Yongxing Island, with some 1,400 inhabitants, is the largest island of the Paracels chain, called Xisha in China, located off the coast of the southern province of Hainan on China mainland.

Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically-vital South China Sea despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbors.

China has reportedly deployed a missile defense system and fighter jets to the island.

Beijing hopes to turn the area around Yongxing into a "major tourist attraction," the state-run China Daily said in May.

The United States, which is opposed to China's growing influence in the region, has taken side with Beijing's rivals.

China does not look favorably upon the US military's presence in the region, saying Washington is only there to stir regional tensions.

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Trump urges veto of UN resolution on halting Israeli settlements

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 1:53PM

US President-elect Donald Trump has called for veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution that would halt illegal Israeli settlement activities on the occupied Palestinian land.

"The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed," the incoming Republican president said in a statement issued early on Thursday.

"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations," he said.

"This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis," Trump added.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution, drafted by Egypt, on Thursday.

Earlier, according to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the US veto the resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" because they are a "flagrant violation" of international law.

The resolution calls for "the cessation of all Israeli settlement activities is essential for salvaging the two-state solution," stating that the activities are dangerously imperiling" and threatening the viability of any future Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank.

Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. Tel Aviv has defied international calls to stop the settlements expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Recently, the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Yossi Cohen, secretly met with Trump's transition team, according to reports.

The meeting took place during Cohen's clandestine visit to the US, where he was accompanied by a delegation of the Tel Aviv regime's security officials, Israeli media reported Sunday.

Netanyahu reportedly put together the delegation, which was headed by Yaakov Nagel, head of the Israeli National Security Council.

The news of the high-profile meeting surfaced days after Trump nominated David Friedman, a hardline Zionist, as US ambassador to Israel.

The strategic choice would likely pave the way for a controversial decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

Trump is going to be "even more supportive of Israel's occupation of Palestine than previous US administrations," according to Joe Iosbaker, an American anti-war activist and political analyst in Chicago.

"This was already revealed when Trump nominated David Friedman to be ambassador to Israel. Friedman has raised millions to aid the apartheid regime as it builds more illegal Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank," Iosbaker, a leader of the United National Antiwar Committee, told Press TV on Monday.

"In his first statement accepting the nomination, he reminded the world that Trump has promised to move the US embassy to Jerusalem (al-Quds), which basically recognizes Israel's claim to the Palestinian city as their capital," he stated.

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U.S. Denies Israeli Claim Lebanon Gave Hizballah U.S. Armored Vehicles

December 22, 2016

The United States has denied an Israeli claim that U.S.-made armored vehicles seen being operated by Hizballah in Syria had been given to the Islamist militia by Lebanon's army.

Last month, footage emerged of Hizballah fighters operating M113 armored personnel carriers in Syria, where the militia -- blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organization -- is fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

On December 21, a senior Israeli military official told reporters that Israel believes these vehicles were drawn from stocks supplied by Washington to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

But in Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby said U.S. officials have investigated and do not believe that Lebanon has violated its agreement not to transfer the U.S.-supplied equipment.

"When this allegation was raised in November, the Department of Defense did a structural analysis of the armored personnel carriers in question at that time and concluded that these vehicles were not from the Lebanese Armed Forces. Our assessment remains the same now," Kirby told AFP.

"As we noted when this first came up, the Lebanese Armed Forces stated publicly that the vehicles depicted online were never part of their equipment roster," he said.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/israel -u-s-armored-vehicles-lebanon- hizballah/28190465.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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Boeing CEO Promises Trump Air Force One Will Be Less Than $4B

Sputnik News

23:55 22.12.2016(updated 03:44 23.12.2016)

US President-elect Donald Trump met with top executives from Lockheed Martin and Boeing on Wednesday to begin negotiating for new aircraft that the incoming President previously criticized for 'out of control" costs.

Trump's meetings with Boeing and Lockheed were held separately in Palm Beach, Florida, and included senior defense officials. The next Air Force One will have "the best capability" at an affordable price point, Boeing chairman Dennis Muilenburg claimed, following the meeting.

The aim of the talks was "to get costs down," Trump said, emphasizing "costs." The President-elect cried foul over a $4-billion price tag associated with the presidential plane, but Boeing is "going to get it done for less than that," the Boeing CEO said following the meeting. The Chicago-based aerospace giant must work with federal officials to create an aircraft to Pentagon specifications, including anti-missile defense systems. Boeing has yet to be awarded a contract for the physical production of the plane, but the company has started building out the plane's systems.

Government contracts analyst Kevin Brancato notes that the Pentagon has set aside $3.2 billion for the life-cycle of the two planes, from research and development to construction and acquisition.

The F-35 Saga Carries On

Trump and the Lockheed Martin CEO conversed on the ever-contentious F-35 fighter jet program, though Trump would not commit to having gained any victories during the negotiations. "It's a dance, you know" he said, indicating the discussions are still in the preliminary stages, adding that the F-35 program is "very, very expensive."

The self-proclaimed best deal-maker in the world assured reporters that F-35 costs will be reduced, however. "We're going to do it beautifully," he remarked.

The US currently maintains a fleet of 178 F-35As, 71 F-35Bs and 36 F-35Cs. Some lawmakers have called for the US to acquire more than 2,000 F-35s through 2038, according to recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) research. The CBO report indicates the Pentagon could dial back costs 29 percent over the next decade by adding the highest-tech versions of the older F-16s and F/A-18s fighters, instead of the beleaguered F-35s.

A recent investigation discovered that a mere loose bracket in the weapons bay of an F-35B caused the fifth-generation fighter to go up in flames. What's even more baffling is that not all F-35's have received the modified brackets, according to a senior defense official, creating ongoing unease for flight crews.

 Sputnik

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Serbia to Receive 6 Fighter Jets, 30 Tanks, 30 Combat Vehicles From Russia

Sputnik News

20:05 22.12.2016(updated 20:06 22.12.2016)

Serbia will receive six MiG-29 fighter jets, 30 T-72 tanks, 30 BRDM-2 combat reconnaissance vehicles from Russia as part of a military and technical cooperation assistance program, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said Thursday.

BELGRADE (Sputnik)  Russia and Serbia are working on creation of 3-year and 5-year plans of military and technical cooperation, the president added.

"Russia donated six MiG-29 fighter jets, first modernization stages of which would only cost us between 180 million euros [$187 million] and 230 million euros  That is incomparable to what we had before. We also received of 30 T-72 tanks, 30 BRDM-2 as a gift," Vucic said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held an informal meeting with Vucic in Moscow.

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Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

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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

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I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

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Latvia Parliament Extends Country's Participation in NATO Afghanistan Mission

Sputnik News

15:38 22.12.2016(updated 15:47 22.12.2016)

Latvia will prolong its participation in NATO's mission in Afghanistan until the end of 2020, a parliament representative told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

RIGA (Sputnik)  The Latvian parliament (Saeima) decided to prolong Latvian participation in NATO's mission in Afghanistan until the end of 2020, a parliament representative told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"The Saeima has extended the participation of the servicemen in the Afghanistan mission until 2020," the representative said.

NATO's Resolute Support mission has been deployed in Afghanistan since 2015. This mission succeeded NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which operated in the country in 2003-2014 to aid Afghan authorities in their fight against terrorists. Resolute Support servicemen train and assist local security forces.

Afghanistan remains in a state of political and social turmoil, with Taliban insurgents and other extremist factions operating in the country.

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Lithuania Signs Deal For $2Mln Worth of Used Dutch Military Equipment - MoD

Sputnik News

15:03 22.12.2016(updated 15:10 22.12.2016)

Lithuania signed an agreement with the Netherlands on acquirement of estimated 1.95 million euros used military equipment to be delivered by 2018.

VILNIUS (Sputnik)  Lithuania signed an agreement with the Netherlands on acquirement of 1.95 million euros (roughly $2 million) worth of used military equipment to be delivered by 2018, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said Thursday in a statement.

"Under this agreement, the Lithuanian Army will receive more than 200 units of various used military equipment in a few stages by 2018. The total value of acquired machinery and equipment is 1.95 million euros," the statement read.

Vilnius will receive off-road Mercedes Benz vehicles, DAF trucks, generators and other equipment.

Previously, the countries concluded four similar agreements. In 2012-2013, Lithuania bought vehicles and equipment for airports.

 Sputnik

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NATO Creeping Toward Russian Borders Citing Alleged Threat From Moscow

Sputnik News

08:48 22.12.2016(updated 13:48 22.12.2016)

In 2016 in the absence of any progress in the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, NATO with the United States at its helm continued its military buildup in close proximity to Russian borders in a move which Moscow has repeatedly denounced as nonconstructive.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  At the moment, NATO ensures the defense of the Baltic states through its Readiness Action Plan (RAP), which has been implemented since 2014, largely in response to what the alliance perceived as Moscow's aggression in Ukraine, and comprises various exercises and other activities close to the NATO's eastern borders.

RAP stipulates tripling NATO Response Force (NRF), which can fulfill operational and educational roles. The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) was created within NRF to handle the situations, which require extremely fast reaction. RAP assurance measures include surveillance flights and maritime patrol aircraft flights over NATO's eastern flank.

The plan also calls for the establishment of NATO Force Integration Units (NFIUs) in Central and Eastern Europe, of which six, in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania are already operational and two more, in Hungary and Slovakia, are expected to reach full capabilities in 2017.

While NATO members staunchly refuse to recognize Crimea's decision to reunite with Russia and the peace process to solve the conflict in eastern Ukraine seems to have reached an impasse, the military alliance continues to eschew collaboration with Russia and prefers to treat it as an enemy.

Moscow has repeatedly called for the political solution to the conflict between Kiev and pro-independence militia in eastern Ukraine, with Russian Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko recently urging the alliance to "exert pressure on the Kiev authorities to urge them to move from the practical sabotage of the political process to real steps  granting a special status to Donbass, holding a constitutional reform and local elections, adoption of an amnesty law".

Grushko also stressed that if NATO wanted a productive dialogue with Moscow, it had to relinquish its plans to contain Russia and stop building up its defenses in Eastern Europe.

Warsaw Summit Targets Moscow

On July 8-9, NATO held a summit in Warsaw, where the bloc members agreed on several key areas of cooperation, which included strengthening of the alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe. The summit served to consolidate the ideas that had been floated around by the alliance members before. It provided reassurance for some of the Eastern European NATO states in the form of a stronger military support along their borders with Russia, but not a solution for the Eastern Ukraine.

Ahead of the summit, the Russian Foreign Ministry explained the rearmament of the Russian Army as a reaction to NATO's activities.

"A proportionate response is taking place to the increasing military activities of NATO, which is moving its infrastructure toward Russia's borders with obvious persistence," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on July 7.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the opening of the summit that the alliance would deploy four multinational battalions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Stoltenberg thus confirmed his June 13 promise to deploy about 4,000 troops in the four Eastern Europe countries. NATO members also agreed to boost their presence in the Black Sea, one of Russia's key zones of interest.

US President Barack Obama said that NATO would not cooperate with Russia in the usual format until Moscow fulfilled its Minsk obligations on Ukrainian settlement. He named Russia, which "has violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent European nation  Ukraine  and engaged in provocative behavior toward NATO allies" as one of the challenges the alliance was facing.

Obama pledged that the United States would spearhead enhanced NATO presence in Poland to increase commitment to security of its Eastern European ally.

"We now have a continuous presence of US troops in Poland with our aviation detachment at Lask Air Base [and] we continuously rotate personnel and aircraft into Poland," Obama said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted to the outcome of the summit by saying it was looking closely at the decisions, which had been made, and which, according to the ministry's spokeswoman, showed "that the Alliance focuses on containing a non-existent threat from the East."

"Long-term negative consequences and risks posed to the entire Euro-Atlantic security system, which have emerged as a result of deliberate actions by Washington and Brussels directed at changing the given balance of power, including the accelerated implementation of US/NATO's missile defense plans in Europe, are still being consciously ignored," Zakharova said.

Russia's envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko noted that the NATO strengthening its positions in Eastern Europe went against the Russia-NATO Founding Act. Grushko added that the Russian side had impressed upon the alliance members its concerns over the encouragement that NATO's political and military support to Ukraine gives to the violent conflict in eastern Ukraine.

At the Warsaw summit, Stoltenberg summarized the alliance's two-pronged approach to the relationship with Moscow as a combination of strong defense and, at the same time, readiness for cooperation.

The dual approach could also be seen in press releases issued at the end of the summit. Russia's actions were branded as "aggressive" and "a source of regional instability," but the alliance expressed willingness to talk to Russia as long as its foreign policy was deemed non-threatening.

Troops and Tech for Europe

The buildup of the NATO presence and defense capabilities in the Eastern Europe is concentrated on the three Baltic States and Poland, with each receiving a roughly 1,000-men strong multinational battalion starting in 2017. This reinforcement is only the latest addition to the continuous bulking up of the military strength.

On December 14, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said that the United States would speed up the deployment of its troops to Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries. A US Armored Brigade Combat Team comprised of about 4,000 soldiers will begin its mission in Poland by the end of January 2017, while the multinational battalion promised by NATO will arrive in April. The ship with the US brigade's equipment will dock at the German port of Bremenhaven and the hardware will then be quickly sent out to the destinations in Poland, the Baltic countries and Romania, to test the speed of the delivery.

The same day, Latvia and Lithuania announced their pledge to reach the defense budget of two percent of GDP, as recommended by NATO, by 2018. Estonia, which is among the five NATO member states meeting the requirement, along with the United States, Great Britain, Greece and Poland, vowed to continue maintaining the same military budget.

Estonia's Defense Minister Margus Tsahkna called this decision "a very important signal," and seen in the context of NATO's aim to counter Russia through beefing up its presence on its borders, the signal might be intended for Moscow.

NATO is gradually amassing and diversifying its military technology in the Baltic countries. A group of six minesweeping warships arrived in Lithuania in November, while Abrams Main Battle Tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles from the US Army's 1st Armored Brigade were sent to the three Baltic countries in June as a gesture of support from the US Army.

In January, Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olekas shared his vision for Lithuania as a US logistics center, ready to expand infrastructure if it was needed to accommodate US military.

The leadership of the four countries receiving additional military aid welcomed it as a way to protect themselves from what they believe to be Russian land-grabbing ambitions.

On July 3, ahead of the Warsaw summit, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite explained, in an interview to the Financial Times newspaper, the necessity of NATO presence in the Baltic countries as a precaution against the Russians doing "whatever they want."

Grybauskaite also praised Berlin's involvement, as Germany was set to lead the battalion deployed in Lithuania.

"This is, for us, very symbolic: it means that Germany starts to understand its responsibility for European security," the Lithuanian president said, as quoted in the newspaper.

Estonia shares Lithuania's apprehension of Russia and thinks little of the possible reset of US-Russian relationship.

"We here in Estonia are rather skeptical that this [reset] could end in a success," Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser told Politico magazine in December.

Russia, in its turn, is also worried about missile build-up close to its borders.

"We consider Washington and Brussels' reluctance to adjust its missile defense plans symptomatic, despite reaching agreements to resolve the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear program," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in late September.

Grushko expressed concern over NATO's insistence on justifying its actions by the purported Russian threat. According to Grushko, this was evident in countering alleged cyberattacks and "hybrid" operations as well as in propaganda efforts.

"We are certainly concerned about this because such cooperation will inevitably generate new attempts to whip up the myth on the absolute need to defend themselves against Russia," the diplomat stressed.

However, some of the leaders of NATO countries are not enthusiastic about the arms race. In June, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov rebuffed Romanian suggestion to increase NATO presence in the Black Sea, stating that he would prefer the sea to remain touristic rather than militarized territory.

Ships in the Black Sea

Of six countries sharing access to the Black Sea, three are NATO members, one, Georgia, is striving to join, and the relationship between the remaining two, Ukraine and Russia, has taken a plunge in the last two years.

On October 26, Stoltenberg said the NATO would finalize details of its enhanced presence in the Black Sea at the defense ministerial meeting expected to take place in February 2017.

NATO chief added that Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, the United States and Turkey, the only country among the six that has an actual stake at the Black Sea, expressed readiness to join this initiative.

Stoltenberg's announcement came on the next day after the statement of US Permanent Representative to NATO Douglas Lute, who said NATO would "bolster" its presence in Romania, one of the Black Sea countries, by sending a multinational brigade.

On December 7, US Navy Staff Director Vice Adm. James Foggo told Sputnik that the US ships' mission in the Black Sea could be extended depending on situation, which tallied well with the US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus September mention of the US Navy's worldwide commitment.

"From the Northern Passage to the Straits of Magellan, from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, from the Gulf of Oman to the Bay of Bengal, and throughout the Pacific, the US 5 Navy will be present, as we have been for seven decades," Mabus said at the 2016 International Seapower Symposium, in a speech that echoed his June statement to the reporters that the US Navy had been in the Black Sea for 70 years and would keep up its presence.

US ships patrol the Black Sea as part of the operation Atlantic Resolve, which, according to the US Department of Defense, allows Washington to help its allies ensure peace and stability in Europe "in light of the Russian intervention in Ukraine."

Russian Foreign Ministry's Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control Mikhail Ulyanov stated in July that Russia does not see non-regional NATO vessels in the Black Sea as a valid security promotion measure, but has to take it into account in its military planning.

Ulyanov spoke during the naval phase of the US-led multinational Sea Breeze 2016 drills held near the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa in July, with the US Navy's USS Ross Aegis-carrying guided missile destroyer and the USS Whidbey Island dock landing ship among other vessels. Overall, the 2016 exercises involved about 2,300 personnel and 25 vessels from 13 nations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated in December that Russia disapproved of the involvement of non-regional forces in the decision-making process on the matters of security in the Black Sea.

The minister also called the idea to create a NATO permanent naval task force in the Black Sea a provocation.

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Cooperation Department was similarly opposed to the idea of the expansion of NATO's presence in the region.

"[Russia] will have to respond if such permanent unit with the presence of the NATO non-regional member states is created in the Black Sea," Andrei Kelin told Sputnik in December.

This idea, floated by Romania and Ukraine, would force the nations that do not have natural access to the Black Sea to rotate the ships they deploy as part of the permanent mission, as under the 1936 Montreux Convention, non-Black Sea state warships may stay in the Black Sea no longer than 21 days and their number may not exceed nine at the time.

Not Quite a Circle of Friends

NATO, one of whose main aims since its creation was countering the Soviet Union, has added 12 members since the dissolution of its onetime greatest threat and rival.

The organization itself explains that the world has grown even more dangerous since the end of the Cold War, citing violence in the Middle East and North Africa in the South and "assertive" Russia in the East as examples of modern dangers.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia and Montenegro are among prospective NATO members, with all four at the different stages of their accession process.

Montenegro seems closer to the goal than other NATO candidates. On December 14, Montenegro Defense Minister Predrag Boskovic said his country was likely to join NATO by spring 2017. According to Boskovic, the decision to join would be put to vote at the largely pro-alliance parliament, where it was likely to be passed.

The Montenegrin public opinion on the membership of NATO, however, is not unanimously favorable. In July, 46.1 percent of the population supported NATO membership, 38.9 percent were against it, and 15 percent were undecided, according to CDM local news outlet, which cited Damar research agency.

Montenegro's membership also depends on the US Senate's vote, which is needed for the United States to ratify the new member's accession. On December 6, the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Balkan state's bid for the membership, but the Senate still has to vote on that, and its decision may, in turn, depend on whether the vote happens under current administration or next year, when Donald Trump, famously skeptical of NATO's expediency for the United States, assumes office.

In early December, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said Montenegro was "dragged" into the alliance, seemingly, in attempt to have it join the bloc before the outgoing US President left office.

The three other candidates appear to face more significant obstacles to joining.

Macedonia's accession to NATO was blocked in 2008 by Greece, with whom it is embroiled in a bitter naming dispute.

Bosnia and Herzegovina would have to overcome the division between the two largely autonomous entities the country is made up of. The Republika Srpska with its Serbian majority might be less inclined to join the bloc than the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially if joining meant taking a stand against Russia, a long-time ally of the Serbs.

Georgia is determined to join NATO and maintains close contact with the bloc, but has to meet a number of requirements first, including the implementation of various reforms.

On November 10-20, NATO-Georgia drills that involved more than 250 troops took place at the Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) near the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, with the Russian Foreign Ministry expressing disapproval of the event as a threat to regional security.

Georgian bid for NATO membership is seen in Russia as a security concern as the two countries share a border. The situation is further complicated by the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both recognized by Russia as independent countries, but claimed by Georgia as part of its territory.

On November 29, NATO and Moldova agreed to set up a NATO Liaison Office in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau. Stoltenberg emphasized that the office was meant for political rather than military cooperation. Moldova has currently no plans to join the alliance.

While NATO says on its website that it is not "encircling" Russia, citing Russia's size as the reason why this would be impossible, the alliance is reinforcing protection on its eastern borders, which cannot but worry Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned NATO's process of decision making. According to the president, new NATO members could be swayed by the United States into deployment of missile defense and new bases.

"We must therefore take countermeasures I do not always understand the logic of our partners," Putin said in Oliver Stone's documentary "Ukraine on Fire."

Hope for Dialogue

All hope is not lost for the reset of Russia-NATO relationship, considering the statements made by the bloc's secretary general and representatives of several member states.

Speaking at a press conference at the Warsaw Summit, Stoltenberg stressed that there was no "imminent threat" to the alliance from the East. NATO chief added that the build-up of the alliance's presence in the East was partly in response to the possible threats from the Middle East.

The Warsaw declaration on Transatlantic Security stated that the alliance remained open to the dialogue with Russia and would like to continue building a "constructive relationship."

In December, Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis spoke out in favor of the dialogue between Russia and NATO and stressed its importance for the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and ensuring global stability, while Bulgarian President-elect Rumen Radev said that his country's membership in NATO did not translate into treating Russia as enemy.

Russia has attempted to bridge the gap by promising in August to provide foreign partners with more details about unscheduled drills, which was supposed to reduce tension.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov indicated that Russia was interested in resuming participation in military programs with NATO and in the exchange of information that could help counter terrorist threat.

As the most recent gesture of goodwill, Russia has pledged to invite NATO countries to participate in the International Army Games in 2017.

However, the Russian side remains wary of NATO's plans and attitude. According to Russia's envoy to NATO, the alliance seems disinclined to let go of the perception of Russia as a threat.

"So far, NATO continues to carry out the course that has been identified by decisions in Wales and Warsaw. Its point is to return NATO to the center of Euro-Atlantic security using the so-called Russian threat. For now there is no indication that NATO countries will recant," Grushko told RIA Novosti on November 29.

While Grushko later said that he was hoping for a sincere dialogue with NATO at the bilateral meeting in December, Chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov showed little optimism about the situation.

"The dialogue between the Russian Federation and NATO is frozen, military contacts minimized, the confidence between the alliance and Russia is at the lowest level since the end of the Cold War," Gerasimov said on December 15.

In October, the Russian president said that Moscow was provoked into taking certain steps, viewed as aggressive measures by NATO. Putin added that Russia was interested in reducing geopolitical tensions, but not at the price of "burying" its interests.

Ahead of the latest NATO-Russia Council, held on December 19, US Permanent Representative to NATO Douglas Lute said that he did not believe Russia was planning to attack NATO, but the alliance had a responsibility to reassure its members, especially those, who, like Estonia, border Russia.

This sentiment was reminiscent of the statement the US President made in August, addressing US disabled veterans.

"In the face of Russian aggression, we're not going to turn our back to our allies in Europe. We're going to stay united in NATO, which is the world's strongest alliance," Obama said, as quoted by the Guardian.

Following the council, Stoltenberg reaffirmed NATO's commitment to keeping the channels of communication open. However, the continuous implementation of the plans which openly admit countering Russia as their goal is probably not likely to speed up the reconciliation process.

Grushko described the recent meeting as "long and comprehensive," but added that he pointed out to the NATO representatives that active collaboration and joining efforts against security concerns that worry both sides would be impossible if the alliance pursued its confrontational policy.

 Sputnik

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Update: air strikes against Daesh

22 December 2016

British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh

Latest update

- Thursday 15 December  Tornados provided close air support in difficult weather to Iraqi forces fighting in eastern and northern Mosul.

- Sunday 18 December  A Reaper destroyed a Daesh armoured truck as it attempted to attack Iraqi troops on the northern outskirts of Mosul.

- Monday 19 December  Typhoons struck terrorist accommodation east of Tall Afar.

- Tuesday 20 December  Tornados bombed a machine-gun team firing on Iraqi forces in north-eastern Mosul.

- Wednesday 21 December  Tornados destroyed another machine-gun position in eastern Mosul, while Typhoons dealt with a stockpile of Improvised Explosive Devices north-east of Bayji.

Detail

Despite very heavy cloud over Mosul, Royal Air Force and other coalition aircraft have continued to provide support to the Iraqi ground forces advancing into the city.

On Thursday 15 December, Iraqi troops engaged a large group of Daesh fighters in close combat in eastern Mosul. A pair of Tornados worked in very close coordination with the Iraqi unit to establish both their precise positions and those of the terrorists. As a result, two Paveway IV guided bombs were dropped with great accuracy through the clouds. The Iraqis reported that they had scored direct hits, killing their opponents. The Tornados then provided assistance to troops fighting in the north of the city, who had encountered a building from where Daesh were directing rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine-gun fire. As before, the Tornado crews were unable to see the target themselves but were able to demolish the building with an Enhanced Paveway II guided bomb without injury to the nearby Iraqi forces.

A Reaper operated over the northern outskirts of Mosul on Sunday 18 December. Its crew observed a number of Daesh fighters on board an armoured truck which proceeded to drive at speed towards Iraqi positions just north of the city. A Hellfire missile from the Reaper brought the attempted attack to an immediate halt, knocking out the truck. The following day, two Typhoons armed with Paveway IV guided bombs attacked two buildings east of Tall Afar, which intelligence had revealed were being used by Daesh as accommodation blocks. One building was completely demolished, the other set ablaze by the strike.

Operating again in challenging conditions over Mosul on Tuesday 20 December, two Tornados were still able to support Iraqi forces as they engaged a Daesh light machine-gun team defending a building in the north-eastern area of the city. As with the attacks a few days earlier, the Iraqi troops were very close to the target, but our aircrew carried out a successful attack with a Paveway IV.

Wednesday 21 December saw Typhoons tasked with the destruction of a Daesh-held building some miles to the north-east of Bayji, where intelligence reports indicated a number of improvised explosive devices had been stockpiled by the terrorists. A Paveway IV levelled the building. In eastern Mosul, Iraqi troops came upon a heavy machine-gun team, once again fortified inside a building, and sought assistance from a Tornado patrol which was able to destroy the target with a Paveway IV.

UK contribution to the fight against Daesh



Map of UK forces committed to Operation Shader

Previous air strikes

Saturday 3 December: Very bad weather, including violent thunderstorms, seriously hampered air operations for several days. However, conditions improved sufficiently for a Reaper to resume operations over Mosul. It conducted one attack, using a Hellfire, against a mortar, and was able to alert other coalition forces to the location of a large number of civilians potentially at risk in the area.

Sunday 4 December: Another Reaper continued to provide close air support to the Iraqi forces as they engaged in intensive street fighting around Mosul. The Reaper's crew twice exploited the accuracy and small warhead of their Hellfire missiles to strike Daesh terrorists engaged in close combat with Iraqi troops, and also gave surveillance support to four successful attacks by coalition aircraft on heavily defended buildings, including one where a group of suicide bombers had mustered. Meanwhile, two flights of Tornados prosecuted Daesh targets in Syria: one pair joined other coalition aircraft in an attack on a large weapons factory which intelligence had established was being operated by Daesh some 15 miles west of Raqqah. The Tornados dropped three Enhanced Paveway II bombs which scored direct hits on their targets. In eastern Syria, the second Tornado flight used a pair of Paveway IV bombs to destroy a terrorist headquarters, plus an associated vehicle, located some 25 miles north-east of At Tibni.

Monday 5 December: With Iraqi forces continuing to clear Daesh positions in eastern Mosul, a Royal Air Force Reaper flew overwatch for the operation. It performed an important role in tracking the movements of civilian refugees through the area, allowing coalition attacks to be halted or delayed as necessary. The Reaper also identified a group of Daesh fighters who were subsequently struck by Coalition fast jets. The Reaper's crew then spotted a heavy machine-gun firing on Iraqi troops, and destroyed it with a Hellfire missile.

Wednesday 7 December: A pair of Typhoons, armed with Paveway IV guided bombs, and supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, attacked a Daesh bunker dug into the hills some 25 miles north-west of Haditha. After the attack, smoke rose from the tunnel entrances some distance away, proving that the strike was successful. A second pair of Typhoons operated north of Mosul, where they used a Paveway IV to destroy a Daesh-held building. Meanwhile, a Reaper continued close air support over eastern Mosul. An armoured truck was tracked as Daesh fighters attempted to hide it in a vehicle shelter, allowing it to be destroyed by coalition jets. The Reaper then conducted three attacks using its own Hellfires against groups of extremists engaged in close combat with the advancing Iraqi troops.

Thursday 8 December: Tornados and a Reaper patrolled over Mosul. The Tornados were able to use the small, highly accurate Brimstone missile to dispose safely of an armoured personnel carrier positioned close to a hospital in the south of the city. Meanwhile, the Reaper hunted targets in the city centre, using three Hellfire missiles to pick off groups of extremists caught moving in the open.

Friday 9 December: Another Reaper enjoyed similar success, when it also operated over central Mosul. It conducted three Hellfire attacks against Daesh fighters, including some armed with rocket-propelled grenades, and a mortar team that was spotted as it opened fire. In the east of the city, Typhoons assisted Iraqi forces as they fought a Daesh group holding a building at the end of a street. Particular care was taken in planning the air attack, as the Iraqi troops were very close to the target, but our aircrew were able to score a direct hit with a Paveway IV, which destroyed the building and removed the threat to the ground forces.

Monday 12 December: Intelligence analysis identified a set of buildings some miles north-east of Bayji, where Daesh were storing weapons and manufacturing explosives. A pair of Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager tanker, were tasked to attack the site. Our aircraft used three Paveway IV guided bombs against different buildings within the compound, and successfully destroyed each of these targets.

Wednesday 14 December: Operations to liberate Mosul continue, with Iraqi troops carefully clearing terrorists from areas in the east of the city. A unit encountered significant resistance from a group of Daesh fortified in a building. RAF Tornado GR4s were overhead, but unable to see the target due to thick cloud cover. Nevertheless, very careful coordination with the ground forces, who were very close to the terrorist strongpoint, allowed the Tornados to deliver a precision strike through the cloud cover with a Paveway IV which the Iraqi troops reported scored a direct hit on the building and eliminated the threat they faced.

Other RAF aircraft have continued to fly reconnaissance missions over both Syria and Iraq, with Airseeker and Sentinel surveillance platforms gathering vital intelligence on Daesh activity in recent days. Hercules transports have also continued their essential work, supporting the large British military training teams which are constantly working with coalition partners to help improve the capabilities of the Iraqi forces so that they are even better equipped to defeat the terrorists.

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Pakistan to Issue Visas to Afghan Patients at Torkham Entry Point

By Ayaz Gul December 22, 2016

Pakistan has decided to issue entry visas to Afghan nationals who want to visit the country for medical treatment.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced the decision this week during a visit to the northwestern Torkham border crossing where he inaugurated new immigration facilities.

Despite prevailing bilateral tensions over mutual terror allegations the Pakistani minister accompanied by senior military officials as a goodwill gesture stepped across the frontier and shook hands with Afghan border forces.

The Afghan commander welcomed Khan and informed him that patients seeking medical treatment in Pakistani hospitals are facing serious problems in seeking urgent visas due to new Pakistani border regulations. Khan assured him the issue will be resolved and told him Afghans visiting Pakistan for medical treatment will be granted visas at the Torkham entry point.

Security heightened

Pakistani authorities have recently tightened border controls on its nearly 2,600 kilometer long porous frontier with Afghanistan in a bid to deter terrorist infiltration. The new measures require all Afghans to enter the country with valid travel documents and Pakistani visas.

For decades, divided Afghan families and millions of refugees have enjoyed the freedom of undertaking cross border travels on special permits and cards issued to families displaced by the Afghan conflict or fleeing persecution.

Khan said, "We welcome them (Afghans) to visit us and we want to visit their country. When more than 3.5 million Afghans were in difficulty and needed our help (as refugees), Pakistanis generously welcomed them and will do so if, God forbid, they (Afghans) faced such problems in future. But the freedom of movement they were enjoying until now was being misused by terrorists."

Terrorist accusations from both sides

Khan again alleged that after fleeing military operations on the Pakistani side, terrorist groups have established bases in Afghan border areas and are plotting subversive acts in Pakistan.

"We have to focus now on them (anti-Pakistani militants)," he said. "These people sneak across the border, enter our country, and attack our people like cowards." .

Afghan officials reject allegations they are allowing anti-Pakistan militants to operate from their soil and in turn accuse Islamabad of harboring Taliban and insurgents linked to the Haqqanii network of terrorists fighting U.S.-led coalition and local forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials estimate about 30,000 Afghans used to to travel across the Torkham until new regulations were enacted in June.

Most of them were Afghan refugees traveling on special refugee cards or members of the divided families using "easement rights" granted to them by both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

But easement rights have been restricted, significantly reducing the number of travelers and have prompted more than 600,000 Afghan refugees, including undocumented families to return home since July.

Minister Khan said by 2020 Pakistan will have constructed six dedicated and automated border crossings with Afghanistan equipped with latest immigration facilities like those installed at Torkham crossing, enabling the control of all traffic between the two countries.

Thousands of additional paramilitary troops will also be deployed by end of next year to strengthen monitoring of the cross-border movement, he added.

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UN Vote on Israeli Settlements 'Indefinitely' Postponed

By VOA News December 22, 2016

Egypt asked the United Nations to "indefinitely" postpone a vote Thursday on a resolution demanding an end Israeli settlement building in Palestinian territories.

The U.N. Security Council had scheduled a meeting Thursday to vote on the resolution, which calls for the cessation of all settlement building in Palestinian territory, calling it "essential for salvaging the two-state solution," which would see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.

The resolution also says the existing settlements have "no legal validity" and are "a flagrant violation" of international law.

President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had urged the Obama administration to veto the U.N. resolution that would halt the building of settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations," a statement released by the transition team Thursday and posted on Donald Trump's official Facebook account read. "This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis."

The U.S. vetoed a similar U.N. resolution in 2011, but multiple sources told NBC news that the U.S. had planned to abstain from Thursday vote before it was postponed.

The State Department refused to comment on which way they would have voted following the announcement that the vote had been postponed.

"I am not going to preview, nor would we preview our views or our votes in advance of Security Council resolutions being voted on," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. "What we continued to try to do is work towards seeing a viable two-state solution realized...in that regard, I think we were interested to see how the debate and discussion would unfold and I think I'd leave it at that."

Early in his presidency, Obama warned that Israel's settlements in the Palestinian territories were undermining efforts toward peace in the region. "It is time for these settlements to stop," he said. President Obama has taken more of a hard-line approach with Israel than his predecessors, settlement construction over the past eight years actually exceeded the amount of building that took place during the Bush years, according to the Associated Press.

Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump has indicated he could break from U.S. precedent and strongly back the settlement construction, this month nominating David Freidman, a bankruptcy lawyer who is a strong advocate for Israeli settlements, as the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Friedman has expressed his opposition to a key tenet of U.S. policy in the region: the two-state solution of an Israeli and Palestinian state living peacefully side by side. He has also compared liberal Jews in the U.S. who oppose settlement construction and other policies to the Jews who helped the Nazis during World War II.

In a statement acknowledging his nomination, Friedman said he looked forward to doing his job "from the U.S. embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem." The U.S. embassy is in Tel Aviv, and although previous presidents have promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem, they failed to follow through on the pledge.

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DRC Ruling Alliance, Opposition Resume Talks

By William Clowes December 22, 2016

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, members of the presidential alliance and the country's main opposition coalition met again Thursday to try to hammer out a deal on delayed elections. Mediators from the Catholic Church say the two sides need to reach an agreement before Christmas, but so far neither side is showing signs of compromise.

The Archbishop of Kisangani, Monseigneur Marcel Utembi, took a firm line as he reopened the talks in Kinshasa.

Utembi said the church mediators are not inclined to look favorably on further undue postponements and delaying tactics. He expressed the church's firm wish that a compromise be found before Christmas.

Utembi is the president of CENCO, the organization that represents the Congolese Catholic Church, which is mediating the dispute over delayed elections. The talks were suspended Saturday while a delegation of Congolese archbishops visited the pope to seek guidance on the crisis.

During the break, at midnight Monday, DRC President Joseph Kabila's elected mandate expired. He intends to remain in office until polls can be held.

The leader of the Rassemblement, the country's main opposition coalition, Etienne Tshisekedi, responded by declaring Kabila "illegitimate" and calling the population to "peaceful resistance."

Security forces, heavily deployed since last week, put down sporadic demonstrations that started early Tuesday and continued into Wednesday in Kinshasa and other Congolese cities.

Human Rights Watch says security forces have killed 34 people and it is still verifying additional reports. The police have given a lower toll. A spokesman told reporters Wednesday that 21 civilians have been killed, most by stray bullets or while engaged in looting. The police said one of their officers was also killed.

But the Rassemblement has returned to the negotiating table.

The secretary general of Tshisekedi's party, Jean-Marc Kabund, spoke to journalists as the talks resumed.

He says, "We have come to find a solution as to the illegitimacy and illegality of Mr. Kabila. We have come to negotiate the departure of Mr. Kabila from power. That is all the population needs to know."

The Rassemblement boycotted talks earlier this year that provisionally set the presidential election for April 2018. The electoral commission says it needs time to prepare an updated voter roll.

Kabila has so far refused to agree to the Rassemblement's demand he publicly commit to not seeking a third term, which is forbidden by the Constitution.

The coordinator of the youth activism group the Fourth Way, Jean-Marie Kalonji, does not see the point of further dialogue.

Kalonji told VOA that CENCO must explain to the people why the negotiations are continuing because the people of the DRC are turning the page and Kabila is no longer president. He says the dialogue does not make any sense and that is why the Congolese youth protested on December 19th without the opposition calling for it.

Tensions do not look to be abating any time soon. A police spokesman said that the enhanced security presence will remain in place until the end of the year.

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Trump Asks Boeing to 'Price Out' F/A-18 Due to Huge Price Tag for New F-35

Sputnik News

02:45 23.12.2016(updated 03:34 23.12.2016)

President-elect Donald Trump said in a statement on Thursday evening he has asked the airplane manufacturer Boeing to list a price for the F/A-18 Super Hornet combat aircraft due to high cost of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fifth generation multirole jets.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The news comes after Trump met with the chief executives of two of the biggest US defense contractors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to discuss cost overruns for the F-35 fighter jet.

"Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Trump stated in the message via Twitter on Thursday.

According to CNBC, Lockheed Martin shares fell 1.7 percent after the Trump tweets about the F-35 and F-18 programs as Boeing shares climbed 0.6 percent.

After Trump's statements, Boeing endorsed president-elect's aspirations in a Twitter post.

"Ready to work with Donald Trump's administration to affordably meet US military requirements," Boeing tweeted late on Thursday.

Boeing's major rival Lockheed Martin is under pressure for cost overruns on the F-35 multirole jet program, which Trump is threatening to scale back amid cost estimates of nearly $1.5 trillion over the program's lifetime.

 Sputnik

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Australia Detains 5 in IS-inspired Christmas Day Bomb Plot

By VOA News December 22, 2016

Several people allegedly planning a series of bomb attacks in Melbourne, Australia, on Christmas Day have been arrested, and the plot was foiled, police said Friday.

"This is a significant disruption of what we would describe as an imminent terrorist event in Melbourne," Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin told reporters in Sydney. "We do believe ... that we have removed this threat in its entirety."

Originally, seven people, all in their 20s, were arrested, police said. But two people  a man and a woman  were released later Friday. Five men are still being detained, police added.

The suspects were "self-radicalized" and inspired by Islamic State propaganda, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said. He added they had planned to attack high-profile locations in Australia's second-largest city, including Flinders Street train station, Federation Square and St. Paul's Cathedral.

"Over the last fortnight ... we have had to conduct a criminal investigation relating to the formation of what we believe was a terrorist plot," Ashton told reporters. "We believe that there was an intention to conduct what we call a multimode attack, possibly on Christmas Day."

Officials said they thought the raids, which involved about 400 police officers, had neutralized the threat. The raids occurred Thursday night and Friday morning, Ashton said.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews told the French news agency AFP that extra police would be deployed in Melbourne on Sunday, Christmas Day, as a public safety measure.

The arrests in Melbourne came just days after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. IS has claimed responsibility for Monday's Berlin attack.

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China launches satellite to monitor global carbon emissions

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:44, December 22, 2016

JIUQUAN, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- China launched a carbon dioxide monitoring satellite via a Long March-2D rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert at 3:22 a.m. Thursday.

China is the third country after Japan and the United States to monitor greenhouse gases through its own satellite.

The 620-kg satellite TanSat was sent into a sun synchronous orbit about 700 kilometers above the earth and will monitor the concentration, distribution and flow of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, said Yin Zengshan, chief designer of TanSat at the Chinese Academy of Sciences micro-satellite research institute.

The satellite will help understanding of climate change and provide China's policy makers with independent data.

On a three-year mission, TanSat will thoroughly examine global CO2 levels every 16 days, accurate to at least 4 ppm (parts per million).

This was the 243rd mission of the Long March series rockets. Besides TanSat, the rocket also carried a high-resolution micro-nano satellite and two spectrum micro-nano satellites for agricultural and forestry monitoring.

FIRST-HAND DATA

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased from 280 ppm to 400 ppm over the past 150 years, leading to an increase in average global temperatures of about 0.7 degrees Celsius over the last century, according to Lu Naimeng, TanSat chief scientist.

The new satellite will enable China to obtain emissions data first-hand and share it with researchers worldwide, Yin said.

The Paris Agreement on climate change came into force on Nov. 4, with more than 100 countries committed to reducing their carbon emissions. The satellite can trace the sources of greenhouse gases and help evaluate whether countries are fulfilling their commitments. TanSat means a louder voice for China on climate change, carbon reduction and in negotiations with a bigger say on carbon trading.

Research on the CO2 flow will improve understanding of the carbon cycle, generate more accurate and reliable predictions of climate change.

China's CO2 emissions are to peak around 2030, with emissions per unit of GDP cut by 60 percent of 2005 levels by the same date.

A national carbon trading market will open next year.

WORLDWIDE SCOPE

Many countries are reducing emissions, but calculating how much they are actually doing is difficult. Ground-based monitoring cannot collect accurate data on a global scale, so satellites offer the best means of measuring CO2. Japan and the United States have their own monitoring satellites, but two are far from enough to assess the whole world.

"Since only the United States and Japan have carbon-monitoring satellites, it is hard for us to see first-hand data," said Zhang Peng, TanSat application system commander and vice director of the National Satellite Meteorological Center.

"Before, all our data came from ground stations. That kind of data is both local and limited, and does not cover the oceans," Zhang said.

"The satellite has worldwide scope and will improve data collection. Observing atmospheric CO2 by satellite demands cutting-edge technology, so TanSat is a major technological achievement for China," Zhang said.

"We hope TanSat will work with carbon-monitoring satellites of other countries and provide ample data for studying climate change," said Li Jiahong, chief engineer of the National Remote Sensing Center.

Researchers took almost six years to develop TanSat and its high-resolution CO2 detector.

"The TanSat has very good "vision," and can distinguish changes in atmospheric CO2 as small as 1 percent," said Yin. Cloud and aerosol detectors minimize interference, making observations more accurate.

The satellite has different modes for observing oceans and land, and can constantly adjust its orientation and position. To ensure the accuracy of TanSat, six ground-based observation stations will calibrate and examine observational data.

"We can now collect carbon data from all over the world, all year round, and record the carbon contributed by both developed countries and the developing countries," said Lin Chao who was involved in developing the detectors.

"As for China, we can have detailed analysis on emissions in different regions, provinces and cities, thanks to the satellite," said Lin.

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P.S. Retro: Vano Siradeghyan became a subject of discourse in HHSh (video)

Samvel Gevorgyan, a member of the Karabakh Committee, did not agree in the summer of 1998 that people began to hate the Karabakh Committee during the presidency of [first President] Levon Ter-Petrosyan. We came to power because people wanted it and perhaps we need not have taken the executive branch. However, Samvel Gevorgyan did not deny that neither the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) nor he was loved by Vazgen Manukyan and Davit Vardanyan, also members of the same Karabakh Committee. When the split occurred it was caused by their desire to be the first There was no ideological difference, said Mr. Gevorgyan. The HHSh had lost power several months before and no one was sure in Armenia whether the party was against or for Robert Kocharyans administration. Samvel Gevorgyan believed that they should become opposition. We are a minority, our ideology is shoved back, the same ideology with which we came to power, i.e. believe in yourself. The Kocharyan administration did not believe in themselves, moreover, they spoiled relations with Armenias neighbours who were trying to better relations with us. The president [Robert Kocharyan] received invitations from Turkey, Azerbaijan but he declined them all. That is an infantile policy which at the beginning of the century and even at the turn of the 19th century led us to destruction. Mr. Gevorgyan did not exclude that the HHSh might have secret contacts with the authorities. Moreover, he thought HHSh Leader Vano Siradeghyan, had contacts in the government. Disputes and disagreements are not ruled out inside a structure, yet it does not mean that one person can impose his will on others The personality of Vano Siradeghyan became a subject of discourse inside the HHSh. Ara Sahakyan and Karapet Rubinyan, both members of the HHSh, thought that the HHSh had become a one-person party. Sahakyan had been ousted from the party, while Rubinyan from its board. Mr. Gevorgyan agreed that they had been ill-treated. The party leadership should have invited them and listened to their explanations. I do not accept this kind of behaviour, he said. While the member of the Karabakh Committee agreed that Levon Ter-Petrosyan had made mistakes in domestic policy he thought Ter-Petrosyan had won in the Karabakh issue. Smavel Gevorgyan died of stroke in June 2014.
All PLA economic activities subject to scrutiny: regulation

People's Daily Online

(Global Times) 09:06, December 22, 2016

China has rolled out a revised regulation to streamline auditing practices in the military and tighten disciplinary supervision.

All economic activity of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the armed police is subject to auditing, and officials with economic duties must also be placed under scrutiny, says the regulation which was signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Officials with a lot of financial and logistics responsibilities, those who have been considered for promotion and those who are leaving their posts should be placed under particularly close watch, it said.

Military auditing agencies with powers to investigate and penalize must hand over disciplinary and legal violation cases in the financial sector to anti-graft and prosecution authorities for further investigation.

According to the PLA Daily, the official military newspaper, implementing the new regulation will be crucial in building a modern military audit and surveillance system. The report added the regulations will improve Party construction and enhance the anti-corruption campaign within the military through a strict and effective surveillance network system.

Guo Chunfu, the Auditor General of the Audit Office of the CMC, told the PLA Daily that "since 1934, we have issued five versions of auditing regulations, the last in 2007, and because of the fast development and change of our military forces in past 10 years, we need a new auditing regulation."

"In the past few years, during the military reform launched by Xi, we found there are many problems of corruption and many senior military officers were arrested," Xu Guangyu, a retired PLA major general and a senior advisor of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"These facts tell us that we have to improve the auditing and supervision system within the military to fix the problems," Xu said.

The new regulation has 11 chapters and 77 articles, covering the audit system, audit authorization, and audit process. The new regulation requires that the Auditing Office of the Central Military Commission must report to the CMC.

Xu said in the past, auditing and supervision were conducted by low-ranking agencies under the General Logistics Department, and many senior military officers had the power and authority to make decisions without supervision on using money, and cooperated with non-military sectors, such as companies.

"Therefore, in the past, there was room for corruption to occur and auditing couldn't find it due to a lack of authority," Xu said.

According to the new regulations, the auditing agencies within the armed police forces will be canceled and PLA auditing agencies will be responsible for the auditing and supervision of the armed police force, with the same standards.

Unlike the PLA, the armed police deal more with non-military sectors as its duties are very different, Xu said.

"The armed police are responsible for fire control, forest protection, and so on, thus they have more connections with society and this means the chance for corruption is higher."

Focus on 'tigers'

Among other things, officers with massive financial and logistics responsibilities, those who have been considered for promotion and those who are leaving their posts should be placed under particularly close watch, the regulation says.

Among the nearly 50 senior officials who were probed for corruption since 2013, some were from the general logistics department or in charge of the approval of real estate-related projects. The falls of Gu Junshan, former Deputy Director of the PLA General Logistics Department from December 2009 to February 2012, and Xu Caihou, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, were related to real estate projects they oversaw.

Military audit authorities will be authorized to check bank deposits, impose fines, publish the result of investigations and seek necessary assistance. Party and government organs are required to cooperate with military auditing units, and once authorities discover violations of Party discipline and laws, the case will be forwarded to discipline inspection and prosecutorial organs.

Song Zhongping, a military commentator, told the Global Times that "the improvement in the military auditing and supervision system can largely guarantee the defense budget will be spent correctly," and systematically prevent the abuse, waste and corruption of the defense budget.

This is the foundation for building a modernized world-beating military force, Song said, "In addition, the new regulation will coordinate with the systemic reform of Chinese military forces, and it will reasonably distribute resources to every unit based on the new structure of military forces and conduct auditing and supervision."

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China says ties with US face uncertainties

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:2AM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China's relations with the United States face new uncertainties, as a bumpy road is expected ahead for Beijing and an apparently China-bashing future US administration.

"China-US relations will face new complexities and uncertain factors," Wang said in an interview with the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily on Thursday.

He did not explain what the complexities were but said that, in spite of them, China-US relations would remain stable if there were mutual respect for core interests.

Without naming names but in a likely reference to US President-elect Donald Trump, the Chinese foreign minister also said that a single individual would not be able to impede Sino-American ties.

"Only if China and the United States respect each and give consideration to other's core interests and key concerns can there be long-term, stable cooperation, and effect win-win mutual benefit," Wang said. "This is a historical trend that can't be altered by an individual's will."

"Thick mountains could not stop the river from flowing into the sea," he said, citing an ancient Chinese axiom.

A real estate mogul with no background work in government or diplomacy, Trump has been exhibiting anti-China rhetoric since before he was elected president. During his campaign run, he said he would impose much higher tariffs on Chinese imports and criticized China for devaluing its currency.

After being elected, Trump caused a ruckus when he took a phone call from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, breaking from decades of US diplomatic protocol. Taiwan is a self-ruled territory that China claims sovereignty over. Under the so-called One China policy, most other countries, including the US since 1979, have been recognizing such sovereignty.

Trump later defended the phone call, saying he did not see why the US had to be bound by the "One China" policy unless Beijing gave certain concessions to Washington.

The phone call and the subsequent remarks prompted tough reactions from Beijing, which warned that peace in the Taiwan Strait would be at stake if Washington dropped the recognition of Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

But Chinese relations with the past and present US administrations have been adversarial, too, although they have been largely marked by conventional rationality.

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea between China and some of its neighbors have drawn in the US, which has invariably sided with Beijing's rival claimants. The US has been conducting "patrols" in the disputed sea to assert what it says is its right to freedom of navigation.

Last week, China seized a US underwater drone in the South China Sea, a development that Washington called "unlawful." Trump, who has not taken over as president yet, also joined the debate, saying online that China had "stolen" the underwater data-gathering machine. In a Twitter post, he wrote that China's seizure of the drone had been "unpresidented," misspelling "unprecedented."

The seizure of the drone prompted a formal protest from the United States, but the row was resolved when China later this week returned the vehicle.

Wang said in his Thursday remarks that defending China's sovereignty was a "sacred mission" for the country's diplomatic apparatus. He said a priority for next year would be a smooth transition in relations with the US in order to "open new cooperative prospects."

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UNSC Resolution Against North Korea Enables War - Pyongyang

Sputnik News

17:31 22.12.2016(updated 17:33 22.12.2016)

The UN Security Council resolution on new sanctions against Pyongyang is nothing short of a war declaration, and the countries that adopted it will have to face the consequences of this decision, the Foreign Ministry of North Korea said in a statement.

TOKYO (Sputnik)  On November 30, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a draft resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea as a result of a nuclear test in September and missile launches.

"In the situation where there are no systems and no legal mechanisms to prevent wars and armed conflicts, the latest UN Security Council resolution on sanctions is essentially a declaration of war, it makes war unavoidable," the statement read, as quoted by the state information agency KCNA.

The North Korean foreign ministry said that the United States and all other countries responsible for the adoption of the resolution will hold responsibility for all consequences of this decision.

The UN Security Council adopted the first resolution on North Korea in 1993. In 2016, the Council held 9 emergency consultations in response to Pyongyang's nuclear test and ballistic missile launches. This year the country conducted two nuclear tests and at least 25 launches using ballistic missile technology.

 Sputnik

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North Korea Sanctions Delay Lifesaving Medical Aid

By Brian Padden December 22, 2016

A humanitarian organization that treats deadly multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in North Korea is being impeded by delays because of heighten inter-Korean tensions and sanctions imposed on the Kim Jong Un government for its ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile development programs.

In addition to the two rounds of United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea this year, South Korea issued tougher unilateral sanctions in March, blocking virtually all shipments to the North, with no exception made for humanitarian assistance. Seoul also cut off all lines of communication with Pyongyang earlier in the year.

Eugene Bell

Since then the Eugene Bell Foundation, an American nongovernmental health care aid organization based in Seoul, has encountered difficulties getting South Korean government approvals and export licenses to send medicine and supplies into the North.

In March, the organization was able to send tuberculosis medication and supplies to treat 1,500 patients in North Korea, after waiting weeks for authorization from Seoul.

While South Korea has not formally banned humanitarian aid to the North that is intended for young children and pregnant women, it has scrutinized and granted approvals on an individual basis, slowing the process.

After appealing to South Korean authorities, Stephen Linton, the president of the Eugene Bell Foundation, thought an agreement was reached in August to allow his organization to continue its operation in the North.

But the organization's latest request to ship medical supplies in 2017 has again been put on hold by the Ministry of Unification in Seoul.

"I asked, 'What about the promise you made in August?' They said, 'You better ask Kim Jong Un about it,'" Linton said.

Tuberculosis

According to the World Health Organization, the mortality rate from tuberculosis in North Korea was 20 deaths for every 100,000 people in the population in 2014.

The Eugene Bell Foundation focuses on treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a more deadly form of the contagious bacterial infection that does not respond to standard TB drugs. The cost of multidrug-resistant TB treatment is also 100 times more expensive.

The American nongovernmental organization is funded by private donations from mostly South Koreans and Korean Americans.

Linton has called the outbreak of the multidrug-resistant strain of the disease in North Korea an epidemic, and he estimates that 4,000 to 5,000 people are infected every year. His organization operates 12 treatment centers in the country, and in 2015 treated 1,000 new patients. This year they have been able reach only half that number. Delaying and blocking the aid group from providing treatment, Linton says, will allow the disease to spread more rapidly.

North Korea

In April, Pyongyang also suddenly postponed a visit from a Eugene Bell delegation for two months without providing any explanation.

"It was a medical disaster. I wasn't sure if it was due to North Korea blocking access to foreigners due to tensions with South Korea, but our delegation's visit was delayed," Linton said.

Fortunately, he said, the current TB patients had sufficient medications to continue their treatment. Any interruption in treatment allows the disease to develop a stronger resistance to the drugs. The delay also meant the group could not treat any new patients during that period.

Pyongyang has reacted defiantly to the UN sanctions imposed this year, by accelerating its weapons development efforts, conducting 20 missiles tests and an unprecedented second nuclear test in one year.

United States

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sent Linton a letter in October saying the United States has worked closely with nongovernmental organizations that seek to provide food, medical aid and other humanitarian assistance in North Korea, and that concerns about the difficulties faced by the Eugene Bell Foundation "have not fallen of deaf ears."

Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

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Indian Commando Across Pakistan Border to Receive Lethal Weapon

Sputnik News

19:43 22.12.2016

Despite the lack of latest arms and equipment, India's Special Forces have conducted two successful surgical strikes in Pakistan and Myanmar. India now wants to make them more lethal.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  India's Special Forces will be getting more teeth as the Defense Acquisition Council's (DAC) December 23 meeting may approve the purchase of the latest assault rifles and lightweight long range machine guns equipped with night sights. The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) is India's highest decision making body for defense purchases and is headed by the Minister of Defense. The DAC may also approve the purchase of more M4 automatic rifles from the US.

The new equipment will be earmarked for the Special Forces that carried out `surgical strikes' across the Line of Control (the de facto border between India and Pakistan). According to the proposal, Special Forces will be equipped with sniper rifles and automatic general purpose machine guns along with approximately 1,000 personal automatic rifles. Apart from this, the purchase plan includes two dozen lightweight rocket launchers and 500 pistols.

According to sources, the Special Forces will be equipped with latest version of Carl Gustaf rocket launchers that are much lighter than the current version. New launchers will have intelligent-sighting system and programmable ammunition. Rocket launchers will be made in the Indian Ordnance factory and delivery may start next year.

 Sputnik

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India Plans Himalayan Web of Radars For Real Time Weather Info to Armed Forces

Sputnik News

18:59 22.12.2016

For Indian troops located on the heights of the Himalayas, weather is the biggest enemy. The Government plans to provide accurate weather for these troops posted on the borders with China and Pakistan with the help of a network of Doppler radars.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  The Indian Armed Forces deployed on the treacherous heights of the Himalayas will soon start receiving better weather forecasts. The government has planned a web of doppler radar across the country especially on the border with China.

Sources told Sputnik that the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Earth Sciences have planned for 22 doppler radars in strategically important locations in the Himalayas. The final aim is to replace all the weather forecasting systems with Doppler radars by 2019.

Sources say the Indian government had chalked out a $ 45 million integrated Himalayan Meteorology Program in August 2014 but the project is far behind schedule. The Indian Air Force is facing severe problems in this terrain due to unavailability of proper weather forecasts. The Doppler Weather Radar network currently operates at 145 locations including some Himalayan states. But most of the time they are non-functional due to failure of support systems or lack of critical spares parts. India has incurred a total of $37 million towards installation and repairs & maintenance of all Doppler Radar Systems since 2002.

"At times radars remain non-functional due to failure of support systems or critical spares parts. As and when non-functionality scenario develops, the said 24X7 severe weather surveillance is carried out through half-hourly updates of geostationary satellites and other polar orbital satellites covering India and its neighborhood," says Y S Chowdary, India's Minister of State for Earth Sciences.

However, India has placed an order to import of spares in November this year.

 Sputnik

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Charter on Citizens' Rights announces by Iran's President

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 19 December 2016 / 13:32

TEHRAN (ISNA) -In a decree, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced the issuing of citizenship rights charter.

He ordered subordinate bodies of the executive branch to make cultural and educational steps and also to build up the legal and structural grounds for precise executing of the announced decree.

The full text of declaration of the Islamic Republic of Iran's President is as follow :

And indeed, we have honored the human beings; and carried them on land and sea; and provided them the best things; and privileged them over most of our creations.

Holy Quran (17:70)

The great and wise people of Iran:

The contemporary history of Iran is a bright mirror of the aspirations and demands of the people of Iran. The history of more than one hundred years of the Iranian nation's search for freedom and justice has witnessed glorious examples thereof, such as the Constitution Movement and the Islamic Revolution. Throughout the vicissitudes of this era, the people of Iran were seeking respect for human dignity and integrity, and realization of their rights. Durability of the legitimacy and authority of a state is guaranteed through the consent of its citizens and realization of their rights. In the words of Imam Ali (peace be upon him): "The Almighty God has considered rights of humankind as a basis for His own rights; therefore, respect of human rights will lead to upholding the rights of Almighty God."

As the President has sworn to the Holy Quran before the Iranian nation to support righteousness and justice, and to protect freedom, human dignity and rights of the nation as enshrined in the Constitution:

Relying on Almighty God, following the traditions of the Great Prophet and the Immaculate Imams, furthering the thoughts of the Great founder of the Islamic Revolution, and the insistence of the Supreme Leader on the nation as the benefactor and observing the rights of the people;

Referring to the "Rights of the Nation" that have been clearly emphasized in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and in view of the fact that the government is obliged to observe and realize the rights to life, enjoyment of human dignity, justice, freedom and descent life for all citizens of Iran, including both the Iranians residing inside the country and abroad, irrespective of gender, age, wealth, economic or physical, mental and psychological health status, socio-political tendency, lifestyle, religious belief, race, tribe or language;

Whereas, citizens' rights are founded on principles such as human dignity, preservation of the inalienable rights and freedoms, sovereignty of people, equal enjoyment of all people of human rights, prohibition of discrimination, and equal protection of all individuals of the nation under the law;

Whereas, realization of civil rights and political freedoms, including freedom of thought, expression and access to information and exchange thereof, freedom of the press and media, right of criticism and expression of views and public scrutiny, right of residence and freedom of movement, right to hold the nationality, right to self-determination and right to good administration will be made possible by relying on the exercise of public suffrage through a sound, transparent and competitive election and free and fair referendum system; rights to form, administer, join and operate organizations, political parties and civil society associations and trade unions, right of free participation in assemblies and demonstrations is possible only through the commitment, responsibility and political will of the Government;

Whereas, participation of people in social life is subject to enjoyment, without discrimination, of citizens of the right to benefit from a transparent and competitive economic system, right to property, right to housing, and rights to healthy nutrition and clean water, rights to comprehensive welfare and social security, health and treatment services, work and employment, training and higher education and participation in cultural life;

Whereas, participation, cooperation and responsibility of individuals, groups and governments are required to realize the right to development, right to enjoy a healthy environment, right of cultural identity, right to peace and rejection of violence and hatred and right to communicate at national and international levels;

Whereas, the Government considers its duty to cooperate with other State branches to ensure freedom and security for all citizens, access to justice and a fair trial, inviolability of privacy from any illegal intrusion, prohibition against eavesdropping, and illegal search and seizure, inquisition, illegal disclosure of information, arbitrary arrest, and any type of torture or forced testimony or confession; and to uphold principles of the presumption of innocence, nullum crimen sine lege (no crime without law), competence of the judicial forum for trying the charge, transparency of crimes and observance of the rights of accused persons and convicts, particularly in political and media crimes, right to trials that are fair, public and without discrimination and differentiation, with the right to retain or be afforded representation of counsel;

Whereas, realization of citizens' rights will not be possible without the awareness, capability and responsibility of citizens regarding rights, duties and public interests;

A. I hereby declare that the Government is resolute to take action, in collaboration with other State branches and governmental organs within the scope of their competencies, resources and capabilities, and within the framework of the Constitution, with respect of the following:

To raise awareness, build capacity, promote public culture, and increase sensitivity, commitment and skill in governmental and non-governmental agencies for the upholding of citizens' rights;

To encourage, support and attract the participation of individuals, experts, organizations, civil and private entities to promote public culture, expand public demands, and confront any type of violation of citizens' rights;

To take into consideration the principles of non-discrimination and equality of all individuals and groups before the law, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion and socio-political affiliations, and to pursue implementation of this principle by other State branches and entities;

To resolve to uphold instances of human dignity, and to pursue observance thereof by the three branches of the State and institutions, including stringent prohibition of any type of degrading or humiliating treatment of people by authorities and officers;

To develop procedures and non-judicial methods to counter violations of citizens' rights, with the objective of facilitating an easy method of raising objections and complaints, and adjudicating them in the shortest possible time;

To expand studies and scientific and applied research for the purpose of identifying challenges and barriers to the realization of citizens' rights, for the purpose of finding practical solutions in the Iranian legal system, and adopting corrective and remedial measures;

To develop quantitative and qualitative indices for the purpose of monitoring and assessing activities of all executive organs in the area of citizens' rights;

To support public scrutiny, particularly by public entities and media, in identifying, criticizing and analyzing grounds of violation of citizens' rights, and preserving the state media environment, particularly the media using public funds, against immoral and irresponsible activities, disinformation, libel and slander, derision, and use of abusive language aimed at undermining the dignity, integrity and reputation of persons;

To plan and continuously strive, in collaboration with other State branches and sovereign organs, public authorities and non-governmental organizations for establishing coordination and consolidation in observing citizens rights, and in finding appropriate legal strategies;

To prevent the grounds for violation of citizens' rights, particularly systematic and recurring violations, using facilities of the executive branch, and in collaboration with other State branches and public and civil entities;

To mandate the executive officials and authorities to commit to observing citizens' rights in all planning, policymaking and decisions;

To take legal action against any abuse of power violating citizens' rights.

B. Whereas the President is vested with the duty to implement the Constitution and to safeguard, protect and promote freedom, human dignity and the rights of the nation:

Based on Article 134 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I declare this "Charter on Citizens' Rights" to be tantamount to the plan and guideline of the Government for the observance and advancement of the fundamental rights of the nation of Iran;

I will prepare bills regarding citizens' rights and submit them to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (the Parliament), and have confidence in the cooperation of other State branches for paving the grounds for their implementation;

In order to implement the Charter on Citizens' Rights, I attach serious importance to cooperating, with good and constructive interaction, with the Islamic Consultative Assembly (the Parliament), the Judiciary, the Expediency Council, the Council of Guardians, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Organization, the Armed Forces and the Police, City and Village Islamic Councils, High Council of Provinces and other bodies;

I request grand canonical authorities (Grand Ayatollahs), professors of seminaries and universities, specialists, experts, political parties, the media, non-governmental organizations and all citizens to assist the Government and other State branches and sovereign organs, through providing their views and feedback, in the realization and full implementation of the present Charter and in the enhancement and dissemination of citizens' rights discourse.

I instruct organs under the Executive Branch to develop the legal and structural grounds and the required cultural and educational endeavors for precise implementation of the Charter on Citizens' Rights.

I instruct the organs under the Executive Branch to take action, in collaboration with the non-governmental sector, particularly political parties, institutions and non-governmental organizations, for identifying instances and explaining citizens' rights within the domain of their activities, responsibilities and discretion; to identify the most significant and common instances of violation of citizens' rights, and to take legal measures required for realization of these rights, particularly through public education, dissemination of information, capacity building and promoting dialogue and interaction in the public.

I will take due measures, in collaboration with other State branches, for developing, strengthening and improving the capacities of existing institutions, whether governmental or non-governmental, for advancing citizens' rights.

I instruct organs under the Executive Branch to develop and adopt, within six months from the declaration of this Charter, a "Legal System Reform and Development Plan" in the area of their responsibility with emphasis on appropriate realization of citizens' rights, and submit to the President on an annual basis their periodical reports covering their progress, challenges, barriers and proposed solutions.

In order to implement the Charter on Citizens' Rights, I hereby appoint a "Special Assistant to the President in Citizens' Rights Affairs".

I trust that with the grace of Almighty God, support of the people, guidance of the Supreme Leader, cooperation of other State branches and coordination among governmental, public and civil entities, we will witness blooming and advancement of citizens' rights in our beloved country

Hassan Rouhani

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

End Item

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Iran Air inks deal with Airbus to buy 100 planes

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 4:7PM

The European aviation giant, Airbus, has sealed a contract with the Iranian flag carrier, Iran Air, for the sale of 100 aircraft, worth over $18 billion dollars at list prices, to the Islamic Republic.

On Thursday, Iran Air Chairman and CEO Farhad Parvaresh and Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Bregier finalized the accord, which was initially signed in Paris back in January 2016, the France-based plane maker announced in a press release.

The agreement covered 46 Airbus A320 planes, 38 A330 planes and 16 A350 XWB aircraft, with deliveries due to begin in early 2017.

Airbus is the world's Number 2 jet maker after Boeing, a US-based multinational plane manufacturer.

Bregier described the deal as "a significant first step in the overall modernization of Iran's commercial aviation sector," saying it also includes pilot training, airport operations and air traffic management.

Parvaresh, for his part, expressed delight at cooperation with Airbus, stressing it has paved the way "for more practical steps to follow for Iran Air's fleet renewal."

"Iran Air considers this agreement an important step towards a stronger international presence in civil aviation. We hope this success signals to the world that the commercial goals of Iran and its counterparts are better achieved with international cooperation and collaboration," he added.

The deal with Airbus received the go-ahead from the US Treasury Department in November.

Earlier this month, Iran Air finalized a deal for 80 jetliners from US plane maker Boeing Co., with the planes scheduled to start arriving in 2018.

The deals were made possible after the US removed a ban on selling Iran passenger aircraft and spare parts following the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Tehran and the P5+1 group of world powers, namely Russia, China, France, Britain, and the US plus Germany hammered out the nuclear accord in July 2015.

It went into effect in January and resolved a long-running dispute over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

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Daesh car bombs kill dozens in southeast Mosul

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 10:36AM

At least 30 people have been killed and 60 others injured in a series of car bomb attacks that hit the Iraqi city of Mosul on Thursday.

Separate attacks targeted a stadium, an outdoor market as well as the al-Rahman grand mosque in the southeastern Kokceli neighborhood of Mosul around noon, a security source said.

Women and children were among the casualties of the attack which came as the Takfiri extremists are losing ground in the face of operations by government forces and allied fighters to retake the city.

Pro-government fighters from Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, as well as counter-terrorism personnel were among the wounded as well.

Later on Thursday, the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group claimed car bomb attacks in the southeastern Kokceli neighborhood of Mosul.

Earlier in the day, Iraqi government forces uncovered a cache of 120mm mortar shells and Katyusha rockets in the Shalalat area, located about seven kilometers northeast of Mosul.

Daesh militants were apparently using the munitions to launch attacks against security forces. Iraqi soldiers also found several military uniforms and compact disks at the site.

Additionally, Iraqi army troops found and defused 45 improvised explosive devices, which had been planted on the southern outskirts of Mosul to slow the advance of government troops and their allies.

The Iraqi Defense Ministry further said 70 Daesh militants had been killed during a string of airstrikes across the northern province of Nineveh, the chief city and capital of which is Mosul.

The ministry said the precise aerial attacks struck a gathering of the terrorists south of the Tal Abta region, leaving 20 senior militant commanders and 50 extremists dead.

Iraqi fighter jets also carried out an airstrike in the Akashat desert area in the western province of Anbar, destroying an arms depot as well as a workshop used for making booby-trapping vehicles.

Another Daesh bomb-making workshop was bombed in the al-Sakrah village, situated about 240 kilometers northwest of Baghdad.

Iraqi troops, supported by fighters from Hashd al-Sha'abi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, are in the midst of a joint operation launched on October 17 to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.

The International Organization for Migration said on Sunday that 103,872 people have been displaced ever since the operations began.

Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday that Daesh terrorists in Mosul were deliberately targeting the civilians who declined to join their ranks in the fight against Iraqi forces.

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Two crew members killed in Libya fighter jet crash

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 7:24PM

A fighter jet belonging to Libyan pro-government forces in the northwestern city of Tripoli has crashed, leaving its two crew members dead.

The MiG-23 jet was on a training mission when it went down on Thursday near the town of Tarhuna, located about 60 kilometers southeast of Tripoli, said a military source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The plane had taken off from the airbase attached to Tripoli's Mitiga airport, the source said, adding that the cause of the crash was not immediately known.

The plane belonged to forces loyal to Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), which is facing off with rival factions for control of the chaos-ridden country.

Pro-GNA forces operate a fleet of aging fighter jets inherited after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gadhafi.

His downfall created a power vacuum in Libya, leading to disorder, chaos and the emergence of numerous militants, including Daesh Takifiri terrorists, who are concentrated in Iraq and Syria.

The aircraft carried out regular sorties against Daesh during an offensive against the terrorists earlier this month that flushed them out of their stronghold in the city of Sirte.

Libya has two rival governments; one based in the eastern port city of Tobruk and other, which is backed by the UN, in Tripoli.

Despite attempts to establish peace and order, stability is yet to be restored in Libya, which is stuck in political strife and violence.

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Law criminalizing illegal enrichment of state officials can be given retroactive effect (video)

The law criminalizing illegal enrichment of state officials can be given full retroactive effect irrespective of the claims that the Constitution does not allow it, says economist Vahgan Khachatryan. There is such an opportunity. They always cite the Constitution and never prove their truth. Many legislative acts are altered because the Constitution is interpreted in another way, he said today. Should the law be given retroactive effect, it would have a great significance in terms of curbing corruption. It would put state officials on alert and make them understand that in the end everything is determined by their work, the economist added. Vahagn Khachatryan then cited the example of Eastern Europe where the retroactive effect of laws was applied in the fight against corruption. Pro- government forces advise critics not to be pessimistic about the law from the very beginning and wait for the results. The economist explains why he is critical of the law. In many cases, we were silent and waited and our predictions come true in the end, he said. He says many laws in Armenia are passed in order to attract money from international organizations, rather than to improve life in the country.
South Korea Constitutional Court begins impeachment hearings for president

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:53AM

South Korea's Constitutional Court has commenced deliberations on a legislative impeachment vote against the country's embattled President Park Geun-hye over a major corruption scandal.

The court's first preparatory hearing on the high-profile case convened on Thursday.

South Korean lawmakers had voted by a large margin to impeach Park on December 9.

The first female president of the East Asian country has been accused of involvement in an influence-peddling case, in which she allegedly colluded with a long-time confidante Choi Soon-sil to pressure major corporations to contribute money to non-profit foundations that supported presidential initiatives.

Park did not appear in the Thursday hearing, during which the judges also decided to admit for consideration documents prepared by prosecutors  an early setback for Park's defense team, which had tried to block them.

Park, whose father ruled South Korea for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 coup, has denied misconduct in the case but nevertheless apologized for being careless in her ties with Choi, who is facing her own trial.

If the Constitutional Court confirms the impeachment vote, a process for which it has 180 days, Park will become the first elected president in the country to be forced out of office.

Her popularity has drastically declined to near record lows since the corruption scandal came to light, though some South Koreans had already held doubts about her leadership, partly because of a 2014 ferry disaster in which 300 people, mostly school children, lost their lives.

The Court pointed to that accident on Thursday, asking that Park account for her activities in the course of a seven-hour period when the disaster was unfolding, prompting her critics to accuse her of being negligent.

"We request the claimee report where she was in the Blue House during the seven hours that has become an issue, exactly what work she was engaged in," said one of the court's nine judges, Lee Jinsung.

The court said it would hold the next preparatory hearing on December 27.

Former aides to Park have also been charged and await trial in the case involving Choi.

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S Korea Conducts Drills to Practice Repelling Potential Attacks by Pyongyang

Sputnik News

15:24 22.12.2016(updated 15:30 22.12.2016)

The South Korean military conducted combined drills using tanks and armored vehicles to practice repelling potential attacks by North Korea in the winter time, local media reported Thursday.

TOKYO (Sputnik)  The drills were conducted at a shooting range in Yangpyeong, near the country's capital of Seoul, and involved about 40 units of the K-1 tanks, the K-21 armored fighting vehicles and other military equipment, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The South Korean servicemen practiced generating smoke screens, eliminated land mines and other barriers, and constructed an armored vehicle-launched bridge, according to the news agency.

Earlier this month, media reported that North Korea carried out military exercises simulating an attack on the official residence of the South Korean president in Seoul.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula intensified in September after Pyongyang claimed to have successfully tested a nuclear warhead, having previously detonated a hydrogen bomb in January.

 Sputnik

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Russian president calls for strengthening military nuclear potential amid NATO build-up

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 1:40PM

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called for reinforcing the country's military nuclear potential in response to NATO's planned build-up near Russian borders.

"We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems," Putin said at a Defense Ministry meeting in the capital, Moscow, on Thursday.

The Russian president warned that the planned military build-up by the US-led Western military alliance near Russia's borders could change the balance of power in the region.

"We must carefully monitor any changes in the balance of power and in the political-military situation in the world, especially along Russian borders, and quickly adapt plans for neutralizing threats to our country," the Russian leader said.

Senior Russian officials have stressed that NATO's planned enhancement of its military presence in the Baltics and Poland, near Russia, will not go unanswered. They say NATO is using an alleged Russian threat to expand eastward.

The Russian ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, warned in late October that the planned military build-up near Russia's borders has no anti-terrorism value and is not bolstering Europe's security, but it rather creates additional "obvious risks."

NATO and the United States are also engaged in an active exploration of the Black Sea waters with multi-functional combat platforms.

NATO suspended ties with Moscow in April 2014, after Crimea Peninsula voted in a referendum to join Russian territory a month earlier.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Putin said Russia's military had successfully shown its capabilities against terrorist groups in Syria.

"The Syrian army received considerable support, thanks to which it carried out several successful operations against militants," he said.

Russia has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria at the request of the Damascus government since late September 2015.

Russia's its special operations contingents have been also operating on the ground in the Arab country.

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Putin Says Russia 'Stronger Than Any Potential Aggressor'

RFE/RL December 22, 2016

President Vladimir Putin has asserted that Russia's military is now stronger than any possible attacker but must be prepared to "adjust plans to neutralize potential threats to our country."

"We can say with certainty: We are stronger now than any potential aggressor," Putin said on December 22. "Any."

Speaking at an annual end-of-year meeting at the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Putin said Russia needs to strengthen its nuclear potential and ensure it has missiles that can "reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile-defense systems."

Separately, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on December 22 called for the United States to expand its own nuclear capabilities.

Trump tweeted that "the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

A Trump spokesman, Jason Miller, said later that "President-elect Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it -- particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes."

Trump is vacationing in Florida before taking office on January 20.

The separate statements from Putin and Trump calling for strengthening of their respective nuclear capabilities comes despite both countries having committed to caps on their nuclear arsenals under the 2010 New START treaty.

Those commitments were one of main achievements of U.S. President Barack Obama's first-term effort to mend ties with Russia.

One U.S. nuclear arms expert, Steven Pifer, tweeted in response to Trump's message that the United States "has robust nuclear forces and plans to modernize strategic triad. No need to expand. Should instead engage Russia on reducing nukes." Pifer is director of the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank, and a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

Ties between Russia and the United States have chilled in recent years, notably with Russia's military seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and the war between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The separate statements by Putin and Trump also come despite recent signals from both leaders that they will seek to improve U.S.-Russian relations under a Trump presidency.

Much of Putin's end-of-year meeting at the Defense Ministry was shown on state TV.

Critics say Putin often uses talk of military might and what he says are potential threats from abroad to incite patriotism and draw attention away from domestic problems in Russia.

Putin said Russia "must carefully monitor any changes in the balance of power and in the political-military situation in the world, especially along Russia's borders."

He also called a missile-defense system the United States and NATO are building in Europe a threat to Russia's security, something Washington says is not the case.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the meeting that the military has successfully shown its capabilities in Syria, where a Russian air campaign has supported President Bashar al-Assad since September 2015.

The military has "tested 162 types of modern armaments during military campaign in Syria," including warplanes and helicopters, he said.

With reporting by AP, AFP, TASS, and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/putin-russia-stronger- any-aggressor/28191141.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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Kremlin Says Dialogue With U.S. 'Frozen;' No Quick Thaw Expected

December 22, 2016

The Kremlin's spokesman said that dialogue with the United States is currently "frozen" and that Moscow does not expect a quick thaw of ties when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

"Almost every level of dialogue with the United States is frozen," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia's Mir TV in remarks published on December 21. "We don't communicate with one another, or we do so minimally."

Peskov said the Kremlin does not expect Trump to quickly change two things that Russia has criticized: NATO's enlargement and stepped-up presence in eastern Europe, and sanctions imposed over Moscow's aggression in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 21 that the sanctions "divide states and prevent them from uniting their efforts in the fight against the common evil -- terrorism."

Trump has said he wants to improve ties with Russia and work with it to fight the Islamic State extremist group.

State Department John Kirby disputed Peskov's claim that communication is "frozen."

"Diplomatic engagement with Russia continues across a wide range of issues," Kirby said. "That we have significant differences with Moscow on some of these issues is well known, but there hasn't been a break in dialogue."

He noted that Secretary John Kerry just this week was briefed on Russia's Syria negotiations.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-complains- dialogue-with-us-frozen-no-quick-thaw-expect- trump-takes-office/28190416.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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Four New Russian Missile Forces With Yars Systems on Combat Duty - Minister

Sputnik News

14:03 22.12.2016(updated 14:11 22.12.2016)

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that four new regiments of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, were put on combat duty in 2016 said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Four new regiments of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, armed with Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) systems, were put on combat duty in 2016, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

"Four new regiments, armed with mobile Yars missile systems, were put on combat readiness," Shoigu said.

 Sputnik

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Saudi Arabia projects 2017 budget deficit of $53bn

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 2:48PM

Saudi Arabia has forecast that its budget deficit for next year will be about $53 billion despite economic measures adopted by the government in response to low oil prices.

According to a cabinet statement, the shortfall was predicated in the 2017 state budget released on Thursday.

Next year, Saudi expenses will reach $237 billion against revenues of $184 billion, the statement read.

It further noted that the 2016 deficit will stand at $79 billion, down 8.9 percent from an earlier estimate.

"This budget comes at a time of a highly volatile economic situation ... which led to a slowdown in world economic growth and a drop in oil prices that impacted our country," Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud told on official television at a cabinet meeting.

Earlier this month, King Salman acknowledged that some of the economic measures adopted by the government are "painful," but they are needed to avert more complicated financial woes.

The finances of Saudi Arabia, the world's second largest crude producer after Russia and largest oil exporter, have been hit by a downturn in oil prices that were above $100 a barrel in 2014, but sank below $40 two years later. The prices, however, recovered toward the end of 2016 and traded below $55 on Thursday.

The plunge in global oil prices prompted Riyadh to rein in public spending in a bid to save money. The kingdom's economic measures are being led by Salman's son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud.

Earlier this year, the Riyadh regime cancelled financial perks for public sector employees and slashed salaries of ministers and members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, also known as the Shura Council.

It further froze major building projects and made unprecedented cuts to fuel and utilities subsidies.

The cutbacks sparked concerns among retailers and residents.

The developments come amid the country's rising military expenditure, a large amount of which is being funneled into a military campaign against neighboring Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 with the purpose of reinstalling the country's former government, a close Riyadh ally.s

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Syria: US-backed war crimes panel flagrant interference

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:19AM

Syria has denounced the formation of a UN panel to gather evidence on war crimes in the war-ravaged Arab state, terming the measure as a flagrant interference in his country's domestic affairs.

Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari told the UN General Assembly that the proposed panel would scupper all available chances to come up with a political solution to the six-year-old conflict.

The General Assembly adopted the resolution drafted by Lichtenstein and co-sponsored by such countries as the US, France, Britain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are known for aiding militants in their bid to topple the Syrian government.

Ja'afari said the plan runs contrary to the campaign against terrorism, and only increases financial support for Takfiri militants wreaking havoc inside Syria.

According to the resolution, the panel will "assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the most serious crimes" in Syria.

Russia, China and Iran were among the countries that opposed the measure, coming the in wake of the Syrian government's liberation of Aleppo.

On Wednesday, France and Britain were reported to be pushing the UN Security Council to ban the sale of helicopters to Syria and to impose the first sanctions over the use of chemical weapons in the war.

A draft resolution reportedly calls for asset freezes and travel bans against four Syrian officials and 10 entities including a Syrian research allegedly center tied to chemical weapons development.

A vote at the council is expected as early as next week but diplomats said the measure is certain to be vetoed by Russia.

British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said there must be "significant measures" to follow up on the findings of a UN panel that blamed some units of the Syrian army for toxic attacks against three villages in northern Syria in 2014 and 2015.

"We'll be pursuing that with our council colleagues and circulating a draft shortly," he told reporters.

Russia, however, has said that the report's findings are "inconclusive" and not strong enough to warrant sanctions.

Under the proposed measure, the council would demand that all UN member-states "prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer" to the Syrian military and government of "any helicopters, or related materiel including spare parts."

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is investigating more than 20 alleged cases of use of toxic chemicals in Syria since August.

Syria destroyed its chemical weapons within weeks of acceding to the UN Chemical Weapons convention in October 2014 but gas attacks on civilians and government troops have never stopped.

The OPCW confirmed later that Damascus had surrendered its stockpiles of chemical weapons to a joint mission led by the organization and the UN following a chemical attack in Ghouta outside the Syrian capital the same year.

Last December, Ahmed al-Gaddafi al-Qahsi, a cousin of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, said the chemical weapons used in Ghouta were stolen from Libya and later smuggled into Syria via Turkey.

Damascus accuses Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia of supporting the foreign-backed militants, who have been ravaging the country since 2011.

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Russian Jets Launched 71,000 Strikes in Syria, Eliminating 35,000 Terrorists

Sputnik News

13:00 22.12.2016(updated 16:27 22.12.2016)

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that since the start of Russia's aerial campaign in Syria, Russian warplanes have launched 71,000 airstrikes and eliminated 35,000 terrorists.

The Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed over 700 terrorist training camps in Syria during its campaign, Shoigu said.

"Since the start of the operation, Russian jets have conducted 17,800 sorties, launching 71,000 strikes on terrorists' infrastructure, eliminating 725 training camps, 405 plants producing ammunition, 1,500 pieces of terrorists' military equipment, 35,000 militants, including 204 field commanders," Shoigu said.

Some 9,000 militants have laid down arms in Syria, the Russian defense minister said.

Russia's operation in Syria has helped stop the spread of terrorism in the region, keep the country united and break the "chain of color revolutions" in the Middle East and Africa, Shoigu said.

"In general, the operation [in Syria] allowed to solve a number of geopolitical problems: international terrorist organizations have been dealt a serious blow in Syria, their spread in the region has been stopped, the financial support of militant groups has been disrupted, the collapse of the Syrian state has been prevented, while the chain of 'color revolutions' in the Middle East and Africa has been broken," he said.

According to the defense minister, "the process of political settlement and reconciliation of warring parties has been launched in Syria. A total of 1074 settlements populated by some 3 million people have joined the ceasefire regime, while 108,000 refugees returned home; 9,000 militants laid down arms."

Russia has been conducting an anti-terrorist aerial campaign in Syria since September 2015 at Syrian President Bashar Assad's request.

 Sputnik

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Syrian Army Says Aleppo Has Been Retaken; US, UN Remain Wary

By VOA News December 22, 2016

The war-torn city of Aleppo has been recaptured, the Syrian army said Thursday, marking its biggest victory in the country's long civil war.

"The restoration of security and stability to Aleppo is a victory which forms a strategic juncture and important turning point in the fight against terrorism, from one point, and a blow to the terrorist project and its supporters from another," the army's general command said in a statement posted by the Syrian Arab News Agency.

President Bashar al-Assad's government has full control of Aleppo, the country's most populous city before the war, for the first time since 2012.

The rebel forces agreed to withdraw from the city after a monthlong army offensive drove them from 90 percent of their original territory.

The announcement came hours after the last convoy of residents was reported leaving the city, the last of a weeklong evacuation effort.

But the United States remained wary of the victory, citing reports of increased violence in other parts of the country as well as the future of those evacuated from Aleppo.

"Certainly, seeing these reports that they are claiming to have all of Aleppo, I am in no position to dispute that," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said. "But they bear responsibility for what they did to Aleppo and Aleppo's citizens."

The United Nations also echoed concerns over increased violence elsewhere in Syria. Speaking Thursday in Geneva, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura warned that Idlib, where many evacuees have gone, "could be in theory the next Aleppo."

The International Committee of the Red Cross said that by Thursday, about 34,000 people had left eastern Aleppo, which rebels held for four years in their effort to push Assad from office.

Hundreds more people have left Foua and Kefraya, the villages in Idlib that the government insisted be included in an evacuation agreement.

"Thanks to the blood of our martyrs and the sacrifices of our valiant armed forces as well as allied forces ... the general command of the armed forces announces the return of security to Aleppo after its release from terrorism and terrorists, and the departure of those who stayed there," the army said in a statement, according to the French news agency AFP.

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West Sidelined as Russia, Regional Powers Plot Endgame for Syrian War

By Jamie Dettmer December 22, 2016

A year ago, it would have been unthinkable that Russia and Turkey could hold cordial talks a day after the gunning down of a Russian diplomat in Ankara.

But Tuesday, there were no public recriminations over the slaying of ambassador Andrei Karlov as Russian and Turkish diplomats met in Moscow with Iranian envoys to produce a proposal for a cease-fire in Syria, part of an unfolding process that has Moscow, Ankara and Tehran working to plot a mutually beneficial end to the war.

Iran and Russia share an interest in ensuring the Assad regime, a long-term ally of both Moscow and Tehran, survives. For Turkey, the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad has taken a backseat to blocking the emergence of a Kurdish state in northern Syria, the very existence of which would encourage Kurdish separatists in Turkey itself, say Western diplomats.

Russia, Turkey appear closer

The December 19 assassination of Karlov by an off-duty Turkish police officer and apparent Sunni militant has, if anything, pushed Russia and Turkey closer together, adding greater momentum to a rapprochement between Moscow, Ankara and Tehran that has Western nations alarmed and apparently shut out of a Syrian endgame.

Following the assassination, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "quickly made it clear they see terrorism as the enemy, rather than each other," says Anna Borshchevskaya, who follows Russian policy in the Middle East for the Washington Institute.

Both leaders agreed the killing was "a provocation carried out by someone who wishes to disrupt newly-restored Russia-Turkish ties," she said.

Diplomatic reorientation

The eagerness to downplay the slaying by an assassin angry about Russian atrocities in Syria, and the cordiality of Tuesday's meeting between Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers, are the logical outcomes of a diplomatic reorientation that began to unfold in earnest in August when Turkey's Erdogan, who's been increasingly at odds with Washington over Western inaction in Syria and its use of Kurdish fighters in the war against the Islamic State terror group, visited St. Petersburg.

There he signed a pipeline deal and Putin and Erdogan agreed to restore economic ties damaged after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane that violated Turkish airspace in November 2015.

Since then, Turkish officials have muted their anti-Assad rhetoric, and Moscow, Ankara and Tehran have taken great care to cement relations, say analysts. Putin was among the first foreign leaders to denounce September's military coup attempt to oust Erdogan.

"The failed putsch also rattled Turkey's relationship with Washington," said Merve Tahiroglu, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank. Turkish authorities already infuriated with Washington over its support for the Kurdish militia, the Peoples' Protection Units, in northern Syria, allege U.S. complicity in the failed putsch, claiming it was orchestrated by U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey, to little avail, has demanded the cleric is extradited.

"Post-coup, the Turkish government's anti-Americanism is at an all-time high, and ties with the EU are reaching a breaking point as Erdogan continues a heavy-handed crackdown on dissent," said Tahiroglu.

A challenge to the West

For Putin, the rapprochement is helping a newly assertive Russia determined to challenge Western influence to "continue to project its imperial power in the world," argues David Patrikarakos, author of Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State, and an associate fellow at the University of St Andrews. "While at the same time ensuring that its puppet Assad remains in nominal control of the country, preserving Moscow's naval facility at Tartus in the process," he added.

Assad's survival now looks almost certain, thanks to Russian and Iranian support for the Syrian regime on the battlefield. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced midweek a consensus among the three countries that regime change isn't the priority in Syria. The Turks got what they wanted in a joint declaration issued Tuesday by the Russian, Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers committing their countries to observe the territorial integrity of Syria, meaning no Kurdish state in the north.

But some analysts question how long it will be before differences between Russia and Iran start to emerge, especially over who will wield the greater influence over Syria in the future.

Secret agreement?

Hamidreza Azizi, a professor at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, argues that Iran fears Moscow and Ankara may have reached a secret agreement on observing zones of influence in Syria, a fear prompted by Turkey's military intervention in northern Syria. That intervention, operation Euphrates Shield, which is aimed at driving both Kurdish militiamen and jihadists away from the Turkish border, was launched in August just days after Erdogan's St. Petersburg visit, prompting suspicion in Western capitals and Tehran that Putin had given it his blessing.

Another challenge comes with the widespread public disapproval in Turkey of Russian military actions in Syria. Erdogan's main supporters are conservative Sunni Muslims, and they have become increasingly angry at Russia's indiscriminate bombing of fellow Sunnis in Syria.

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Beijing could continue to lure away Taiwan's allies: experts

ROC Central News Agency

2016/12/22 15:52:34

Washington, Dec. 21 (CNA) China will continue to explore the possibility of luring away countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan in the wake of one of them severing official ties with Taiwan, two China experts have said.

Sao Tome and Principe, a small West African nation, announced Wednesday an end to its 19-year-old diplomatic ties with Taiwan amid reports that Taiwan has refused its request for US$210 million in aid.

Douglas Paal, a former Taipei Office director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said that before a planned visit in January by President Tsai Ing-wen () to four countries in Central America -- Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador -- China could explore the possibility of luring them away, either now or during her visit.

Paal, who visited both sides of the Taiwan Strait recently, said that there are some in Beijing who believe China should react more strongly to Tsai's Dec. 2 phone call to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump said later that he would not feel "bound by a one-China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade."

Walter Lohman, director of the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center, said that it must have been Sao Tome and Principe that took the initiative to get in touch with China, and that he believes Beijing will continue to explore the possibility of luring away Taiwan's other diplomatic allies.

Lohman pointed out that other recent incidents, such as Beijing seizing a U.S. underwater drone in the contentious South China Sea, are all part of China's reaction to the changes in the triangular relations among the United States, China and Taiwan.

The focus now will be on when China and Sao Tome and Principe will establish diplomatic ties, he went on, saying that the longer it takes, the more it will show that it was Sao Tome and Principe that took the initiative.

Lohman also said that China's attitude toward Taiwan has been consistent since Tsai won the presidential election in January, adding that he believes Beijing will continue to explore the possibility of luring away Taiwan's allies.

He pointed out that China certainly is not happy with Trump's recent moves, but he said Beijing will observe developments and try to sway the new U.S. government.

After losing Sao Tome and Principe, Taiwan now has two African diplomatic allies -- Swaziland and Burkina Faso -- among its remaining total of 21, most of which are Central American nations and Pacific island countries.

(By Tony Liao and Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J

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Sao Tome cuts ties and tolls bell for Taiwan 'diplomacy'

People's Daily Online

(Global Times) 09:23, December 22, 2016

African island nation Sao Tome and Principe announced Tuesday that it has cut its so-called "diplomatic" ties with Taiwan and acknowledged sovereignty of the People's Republic of China. Sao Tome is the first country to break "diplomatic" relations with Taiwan since Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen took office. Taiwan "diplomacy" has suffered its first setback after Tsai's phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump.

The Chinese mainland immediately gave positive feedback and stressed the universality of the one-China policy, but kept silent on the mainland's role in the event.

The diplomatic break is not accidental. It is obviously a punishment for Tsai's refusal to recognize the 1992 Consensus and her other provocations against the one-China policy, including the phone call with Trump. The event is also a response to Trump's wrong stance on the Taiwan question.

The Taiwan authorities cited Sao Tome's request for enormous aid for the diplomatic cut off, hoping to divert public attention from political reasons to economic ones and to help Tsai acquit responsibility. Sao Tome asked for $210 million from Taiwan, according to local media reports. In fact, Taiwan has long been providing aid to those small and poor countries that it has "diplomatic" ties with.

The number of countries that have "diplomatic" ties with Taiwan has dropped from 22 to 21. Sao Tome may start a new wave of "diplomatic breaks" with Taiwan.

Taiwan witnessed the first such wave last century when the People's Republic of China was founded and the mainland joined the UN and established diplomatic relations with the US. The number of countries that Taiwan has "diplomatic" ties with kept declining during Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian's terms, and stayed at a relatively stable level only during Ma Ying-jeou's term when Taiwan authorities acknowledged the one-China policy.

Tsai's rejection of recognizing the 1992 Consensus is a reckless move at a time when Taiwan's strength gap with the mainland keeps widening. As Taiwan is just the size of a province, it cannot compete economically or diplomatically with the mainland. The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) push for Taiwan independence will herald Taiwan's "diplomatic" suicide. Its attempts to make Taiwan look like a sovereign state will however see the island further abandoned and turn its so-called sovereignty into a laughing stock.

Trump calling Tsai "Taiwan president" won't change the situation that the world acknowledges the one-China principle. In fact, Trump didn't want to override the policy. He just wanted to use it as leverage and Taiwan as a pawn against the mainland in negotiations for economic interests.

In the near future, Taiwan will predictably have to see some other countries break "diplomatic" ties with Taiwan and seek to establish ties with Beijing. In the changing world, the mainland's One Belt and One Road initiative well responds to the development needs of developing countries, and the attraction of building a comprehensive relationship with the mainland far outmatches the short-term interests of Taiwan's economic aid. These countries will hardly stay for Taiwan's small favors if they are to be accepted by the mainland.

If the DPP continues to pursue Taiwan independence, Taiwan will lose all the countries that have the "diplomatic" ties with it. This is a blind alley and an insult that the authorities forced on Taiwan society.

The reunification of the mainland and Taiwan has already started. When the mainland was frail, Taiwan muddled around in the international community. But now that the mainland has grown strong enough to take Taiwan into its economic orbit, the two have been deemed by the world to be a bigger entity. The earlier Taiwan realizes and accepts it, the earlier its situation will be improved.

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MOD awards 46M to start Challenger 2 Tank life extension project competition

22 December 2016

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded new contracts to BAE Systems and Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmbH to progress the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project.

The agreements, worth 23 million each, signal the start of the competitive Assessment Phase. We are building the most adaptive force to meet the threats of the future and this phase will enable the companies to develop innovative upgrades which will keep the formidable Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, crucial for the delivery of a modern ground manoeuvre warfighting capability as part of Joint Force 2025, in service with the British Army until 2035.

Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin said:

"Modernising the British Army's Main Battle Tank under the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project involves partnerships across Defence exploring innovative solutions."

"Backed by a rising Defence budget and a 178 billion equipment plan, these tanks, just like the brand new Ajax armoured vehicle, are crucial to the British Army."

Challenger 2 has been in service since 1998 and has proven its worth in combat time and again; most notably during operations in Iraq in the 2000s.

Recent developments in electronics, computing and sight optics mean upgrades to several of the tank's components are now possible.

The total value of the Challenger 2 Assessment Phase is 53 million. This includes both 23 million Assessment Phase contracts and a further 7 million to cover additional work.

The MOD's investment will allow BAE Systems and Rheinmetall to undertake technical studies, produce detailed digital models and consider how upgrades will be integrated onto the current platform.

At the end of the Assessment Phase the companies will present their solutions to the MOD for consideration. The Demonstration and Manufacture Phases of the project will follow.

Chief of Materiel (Land) for Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, said:

"Challenger 2 is an excellent Main Battle Tank with an impressive operational track record."

"The Challenger 2 Life Extension Project will upgrade the vehicle with the latest technology to make it available for operations out to 2035."

Challenger 2 has a crew of four and carries a 120 millimetre main gun and two 7.62 millimetre machine guns, with a top speed of around 59 kilometres per hour.

It is currently in service with the Queen's Royal Hussars, the King's Royal Hussars and the Royal Tank Regiment.



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OSCE monitor warns of unprecedented surge in Ukraine violence

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 22, 2016 5:21PM

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has issued a fresh warning that a surge in violence in Ukraine's east is pushing the conflict to levels not seen in months.

The OSCE, which monitors the implementation of ceasefire agreements in Ukraine, warned Thursday of a "massive upsurge in violence" in eastern Ukraine, saying cases of truce violation committed by both Kiev's forces and pro-Russians have reached unbearable levels.

Alexander Hug, a top monitor of the OSCE, said in a statement that the organization had recorded a 75-percent increase in the number of ceasefire violations in recent weeks, adding that Ukrainian forces have lost at least eight soldiers since Sunday.

"Behind these dry facts lies a massive upsurge in violence," Hug said.

The warnings come just a day after the OSCE hailed the progress in negotiations between the two sides of the conflict toward a New Year's truce agreement. Pro-Russia forces are yet to approve the agreement, which the OSCE says could stop shelling for at least the holiday season.

Thousands have been killed since the conflict began in Ukraine's industrial east more than two years ago. The clashes followed some deep political developments in Kiev, where a Russian-backed government was ousted in 2014 to give the country's pro-Western forces the opportunity to seize power.

A broad ceasefire deal, reached in February 2015 between Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, and known as Minsk II agreement, reduced the hostilities on the ground. However, the OSCE says the two sides no longer respect clauses in the deal which prohibit them from using certain heavy weapons.

Kiev and Western governments have accused Russia of having a major hand in the conflict. Moscow denies the allegation.

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OSCE SMM Observers Record 75% Spike in Donbass Ceasefire Violations

Sputnik News

01:01 23.12.2016(updated 03:07 23.12.2016)

Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Alexander Hug has reported a huge spike in ceasefire violations in Ukraine's breakaway Donbass region with up to a thousand of mortar tank artillery and multiple launch rocket systems explosions in the last week.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The number of ceasefire violations in the conflict-torn eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass has increased by 75 percent compared to the previous week, Hug said Thursday.

"Last week the OSCE SMM recorded a 75 percent increase in the number of ceasefire violations compared to the previous week," Hug said at a briefing in Kiev.

Hug noted that the increase in the use of weapons prohibited by Minsk agreements increased by "approximately 300 percent."

"Last week our monitors recorded at least 985 mortar tank artillery and multiple launch rocket systems explosions. The previous week they have recorder 242," Hug said.

The eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk have been in turmoil since April 2014, when authorities in Kiev launched a military operation against Donbass militia. In February 2015, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire after talks brokered by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine  the so-called Normandy Format  in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

Both sides in the conflict, however, have consistently accused each other of violating the ceasefire.

 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.
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Two residential homes for troubled children in Gloucestershire have been closed after staff were reduced to locking themselves in an office for their own safety and police said that the situation at one home was "out of control and dangerous".

Ofsted inspectors found that a steady stream of agency staff were struggling to control behaviour in the homes which are based in residential properties in rural areas around the county and usually take in around four or five children at a time.

Inspectors said a decline in standards had left young people at risk of harm at two of the five homes run by Marlowe Child & Family Services Limited.

And local authorities, which pay around 3,500 to 4,500 a week depending on the needs of each child, were told to find alternative accommodation for the young people for the time being.

Both home A and B had their registration suspended after damning inspection reports which blamed most of the shortcomings on low staffing levels by agency workers who were not always suitably qualified or experienced enough to deal with the challenging behaviour.

According to Ofsted some agency employees refused to work at home A where staffing was "critically low" after a number of "serious incidents" had led to long term sickness.

"All the young people living at the home told the inspector they felt scared and did not feel safe," said the Ofsted report for home A which was littered with shards of glass and graffiti when the inspectors came to carry out an interim inspection.

"Young people's behaviours were noted by staff and police as 'out of control and dangerous'," said the report which also said workers had told police they had been forced to lock themselves in an office for their own safety.

The Ofsted inspector, who had criticised the lack of a homely, family atmosphere, added: "The staff lack the de-escalation skills to manage incidents safely.

"For example, highly dangerous behaviours by young people, including smashing most of the windows at the home, climbing onto the roof and using roof tiles as missiles, physically assaulting staff, causing extensive damage to the home and subjecting another young person to bullying, were not managed by staff and resulted in police intervention."

During the visit inspectors had to tell staff to help for a vulnerable young person with serious mental health issues who had gone without food and water for "a significant amount of time" and was too scared to leave a bleak, bare bedroom which had a boarded up window. Another child at risk of self-harm was found in a room with shards of glass from a broken window.

The most recent report said inspectors had returned to the home for a monitoring visit they were told the home was closed but would be re-opening in a few months time after building work had been completed and more staff recruited.

Inspectors also found a significant decline in standards at home B and blamed most of the problems on a very high staff turnover.

Between a full inspection in August and a follow up visit in November there had been 67 incidents and children had been restrained for 56 times, sometimes for as long as an hour and as many as seven times for one incident.

"Young people's behaviour have placed themselves and others at risk," said the report. "This has included windows being broken, climbing on roofs and staff have been physically assaulted.

"Staff have locked themselves in the office and in the house on occasions when these behaviours are taking place. Some staff reported that they feel some colleagues are scared of the young people."

One of the young people was staying in holiday accommodation in Scotland with an agency worker but no risk assessment had been carried out even though the youngster had previously assaulted staff and was at risk of sexual exploitation.

Inspectors said at the time of the visit there were 11 broken or boarded up windows and doors and numerous other examples of damage. "This does not provide young people with a comfortable, nurturing environment in which to live and thrive," they said after describing one young person's bedroom which had dirty bedding and was littered with broken furniture.

Marlowe run five homes for young residents who usually have emotional and/or behavioural problems and live in residential groups with round the clock care.

Usually the youngsters are taken by staff to Marlowe's own school in Hartpury and many are also supposed to have therapy to deal with their challenging behaviour.

The latest inspection report for home C said it was not judged because it had closed for three months after being told it required improvement. However the last Ofsted inspection report said staff were making "substantial progress" and overcoming problems highlighted in previous reports. The report into home D said that too required improvement.

But a fifth home run by the same company, which is based near Newent, was rated good with some outstanding features and was praised for low levels of anti-social behaviour, a homely atmosphere and helping children exceed educational expectations.

Neighbours say the critical Ofsted reports add weight to their claims about their lives being made a misery for years when the homes do not have enough trained staff to run them properly.

One resident who has lived by a Marlowe home for years said: "It always follows the same pattern. They trash the pool cars and then climb onto the roof and start throwing the slates down.

"You can hear all the windows being smashed and noise from the house being trashed inside and out and start thinking about what would happen if they came over here."

Councils in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, London, Lincolnshire, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and elsewhere place children in Marlowe homes.

What Marlowe Child and Family Service said:

They offered no comment when approached numerous times for a response.

On their website chief executive Steve Miller says the family owned company was founded 22 years ago to help some of the most vulnerable, disturbed and disturbing children in our society change and grow by providing them with a more 'normalised' living environment and the specialist help they need to deal with their issues.

He believes Marlowe can provide specialist care for the one percent of looked after children with highly disrupted educational and psychosocial development typically associated with multiple trauma and the most complex emotional, psychological and behavioural difficulties.

What Gloucestershire County Council said:

Since April 1 2016 the council has placed 18 children in independent residential children's homes with a range of different providers. The cost of placing a child can vary between 3,500 and 4,500 per week.

Linda Uren, commissioning director: children, commissioning and partnership said: "Here in Gloucestershire we do our very best to help children to live with their families or with foster carers.

"However, across the country, local councils sometimes need to place children in independent residential children's homes.

"The council is not responsible for these homes and they are monitored by Ofsted.

"We were recently made aware of issues at home A and home B so we are not placing children there for the time being."

What Gloucestershire Police said:

"We understand that the vulnerability of some of the young people living in the homes and the upheaval if they have moved from other areas means incidents are more likely in or near the homes.



""The majority of these are examples of anti-social behaviour that don't necessarily constitute crimes, such as noise and verbal abuse.



"While they don't tend to affect the community as a whole they can affect immediate neighbours and we understand how disruptive and distressing this can be for them.



"We are talking to the homes and people who live nearby to ensure matters are dealt with effectively and that we can all work together, recognising the important work the homes are doing but also reducing the chances that incidents will take place.

What Ofsted said:

Ofsted does not disclose any operational information about individual children's homes. This position is taken to safeguard and protect vulnerable children who are accommodated in children's homes.

Ofsted can confirm that it regularly inspects all registered children's homes in the South West and takes appropriate action where we think the quality of care provided by senior leaders, managers and the staff team compromise the welfare and safety of the children.

We continue to work with a number of operators of children's homes in the South West to ensure that they continue to bring about improvements and comply with regulations. Ofsted continues to monitor all such children's homes.

What the residents living nearby said:

Some say the disruption from neighbouring Marlowe properties has turned their dreams of living in the country into a nightmare.

"I'm 68 and my husband's 72 and at our age we shouldn't have to put up with this kind of thing in our own home," said one. "They call us NIMBYs and ask what we want them to do with these children, we don't know.

"But I don't want to be sitting in my house on a dark night listening to it all kicking off and worrying what would happen if they decided to come over here and do the same. They could easily say 'let's go down the road' and what would we do then. People on a sink estate would not have to put up with this.

"I went over there once to speak to the manager and could not believe the state of the place. It was all smashed up inside and out and I said 'You can't have kids living in this'.

"Someone just said 'They did it so they will have to learn to live with it'. That's not good. Kids need somewhere that's nice, safe and homely."

Another said she had seen a member of staff being beaten up, a female carer dragged along the road by her hair and what she describes as a full blown riot when 11 police cars and ambulances turned up. She says she has even witnessed armed police but blames the company rather than the children.

She points out that the Gloucestershire crime map shows 40 incidents in the normally quiet rural area between January and October and she claims many are associated with the home.

"It goes quiet for a while and you think it's going to be OK and then it starts again," said the neighbour who claims she now has to take medication to deal with the stress or it all.

"It's quite intimidating because the kids are now older and you start thinking 'what if they come over here?'.

"We had a really good manager for a while and we did not hear a peep out of them for 18 months but when they left it all started up again. They all do the same thing, trash the pool cars and smash up the house.

"The staff don't seem to set boundaries or tackle them before it escalates. They tell us they can't intervene but surely they are trained in restraint techniques.

"I was told the staff aren't allowed to call the police because they don't want to criminalise the children, but that means they don't know the boundaries. What will happen when they go out into society? I feel sorry for the children. This is not therapeutic care, it's containment. It's heartbreaking."
New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone.
Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Prophecy Development Corp. (Prophecy or the Company) (TSX:PCY, OTC:PRPCF, Frankfurt:1P2N) is pleased to announce, further to its press release dated November 24, 2016, the assay results of 22 samples collected from the Companys most recent Pulacayo underground exploration program. Samples were obtained by continuous chip channel sampling across the width of the vein mineralization at locations one metre apart.

ID Ag Zn Pb Area Method Width g/t % % 1912 1,400 18.4 >20.0 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1920 915 22.7 1.0 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1908 490 20.0 1.6 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1907 688 14.7 3.3 UG1 chip channel 0.6 m 1918 405 21.6 0.4 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1906 432 15.9 1.8 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1911 583 8.4 7.0 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1919 732 7.8 0.3 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1909 682 6.1 0.8 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1910 261 11.8 0.7 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1921 161 8.4 1.6 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1917 291 6.8 0.4 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1916 101 9.9 0.3 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1915 67 5.0 0.3 UG1 chip channel 1.3 m 1922 54 2.9 0.1 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1913 62 1.6 0.5 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1914 39 0.3 0.1 UG1 chip channel 1 m 1905 392 23.0 12.0 AVS chip channel 1 m 1904 284 17.6 6.6 AVS chip channel 1 m 1901 250 6.3 6.2 AVS chip channel 1 m 1903 96 7.7 2.7 AVS chip channel 1.5 m 1902 17 5.7 0.5 AVS chip channel 1 m

The samples including QA/QC samples were delivered to ALS Bolivia Ltda. located in Oruro, Bolivia, for preparation after which splits were sent to the ALS laboratory located in Lima, Peru (both locations together, referred to as ALS). ALS is an independent laboratory and was qualified and retains current accreditation by the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification (ICONTEC) and the Standards Council of Canada for the methods used during the time the samples were prepared and assayed. Normal QA/QC procedures were followed when handling and processing the samples as described in Prophecys Sample Procedures, Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) for Sampling manual (QAQC manual), National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers Exploration Best Practices Guidelines. These procedures included use of a chain of custody to document possession, delivery and security of the samples from Prophecy to the laboratory and secure storage until transported. The laboratory was assessed to ensure it has the technical qualifications for preparation and assay of the type of sample and range in mineral content, follows proper procedures to ensure correct sample identification and security, and maintains confidentiality of assay results. Quality control materials including a blank and certified reference materials were included with the sample group for assay. Duplicate assays were also performed. The quality control material assay results were found within acceptable limits of the known values and the duplicate assay results were within acceptable limits supporting acceptance of the assay results of the samples. Access to the analytical results was restricted to the chief executive officer, chief geologist, vice president of operations, and general mining manager. The information was verified by Christopher M. Kravits CPG, LPG. a Qualified Person through discussion with Prophecys chief geologist, review of documents, and comparison to known values. There were no limitations on verification. Mr. Kravits has reviewed and approved the data and records supporting the above statements.

The additional vein system (the AVS) is located approximately 200 metres west of the Rothschild shaft, at a level of 50 metres above the San Leon adit level (level 0, 4128m). The principal vein measures 1.0 to 1.5 metres in width. The strike and vertical extent of the principal vein are unknown. The location of the AVS is approximately 600 metres west of the San Leon adit and passes outside the western boundary of the area where Apogee Silver Ltd. conducted 70,000 metres of drilling between 2005 to 2012, and therefore was not included in the Pulacayo deposit resource estimate prepared by Mercator Geological Services Limited (Mercator) according to National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).

Pulacayo Mineral Resource Statement*  Effective June 16, 2015

Category Tonnes** Ag (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) Ag Eq. (g/t) Indicated 1,270,000 530 2.51 3.63 688 Inferred 350,000 419 2.47 4.58 620

*Base case resources are those reported at the 500 g/t Ag Eq. cut-off

**Tonnes are rounded to nearest 10,000

The mineral resource estimate was supervised by Michael Cullen, P.Geo., who is an independent Qualified Person as set out in NI 43-101.

This additional vein is within 100 metres of the surface and is accessible via existing tunnels. The AVS was known from historical mining records. Extensive sampling had taken place between 1936 to 1940 by the Hochschild Group (founded by Mauricio Hochschild), which recorded average grades of 180g/t Ag, 9.5% Zn and 2.7% Pb, but had not yet mined the location. Because of insufficient information, the AVS was not included in the Mercator 2015 resource estimate. The Company plans to continue exploration of the AVS to assess whether drilling is warranted.

Separately, the Company is completing final preparations for underground mining including detailed mine plans, staffing, and equipment purchases at Pulacayo for the area (UG1) in particular. A positive production decision would not be based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability so would carry increased uncertainty and the risk of failure as to the mining method and profitability. UG1 is located at level 0 approximately 110 metres east of the San Leon adit and within 100 metres from the Central shaft. UG1 measures approximately 117 metres in strike, 93 metres in width and 38 metres in height. Veins can be observed in UG1, where the following prior drill holes had intercepted the vein: PUD 032, PUG 051, PUG 052, PUG 058, PUD 140, PUD 188

Drillhole Number From (m) To (m) DW* (m) TW** (m) Grade Ag g/t Zn % Pb % PUD 032 207.00 211.00 4.00 3.36 216 12.3 1.7 PUG 051 128.40 128.90 0.50 0.45 340 0.9 0.9 PUG 052 176.00 176.27 0.27 0.25 750 22.2 16.9 PUG 058 137.30 137.65 0.35 0.27 810 9.4 8.2 PUG 058 137.65 138.00 0.35 0.27 350 2.2 2.5 PUG 058 158.33 158.55 0.22 0.17 2,420 5.8 34.3 PUG 058 158.55 159.00 0.45 0.34 390 1.2 5.6 PUD 140 188.00 189.00 1.00 0.79 665 0.8 0.7 PUD 140 209.43 210.00 0.57 0.46 1,465 0.6 1.9 PUD 188 194.52 195.52 1.00 0.58 645 2.9 1.9 PUD 188 233.00 234.00 1.00 0.58 376 7.6 7

*DW  drilled width, **TW  true width

Conclusion:

The Company believes the results are encouraging given the AVS is located in the shallow part of the deposit; it exhibits strong zinc and lead anomaly and represents a priority area for further exploration which could potentially add resources to the Pulacayo project. At UG1, the Company has identified a vein system that is immediately accessible via a 2.5m x 2.5m tunnel. This system exposed visible mineralization that is 4 to 6 meters in width and the sampling grades are consistent with drill results. UG1 is a priority area that is under preparation for mining. A positive production decision would not be based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability so would carry increased uncertainty and the risk of failure as to the mining method and profitability.

Lastly, the Company has extensive Pulacayo mining records from 1901 to 1957 compiled by the Hochschild Group, detailing historic mining, sampling and stope development at each of 25 individual vertical levels that span 700m in depth and 2.5km in strike. According to the records, there are more than a dozen areas with detailed sampling of mineral grades comparable to those Pulacayo resource grades estimated by Mercator, over appreciable strike (100m) but which had not yet been mined. The AVS sampling results appear to resemble the historic sampling results recorded by the Hochschild Group and the Company intends to closely examine the historic mining records to form exploration targets.

The sample pictures below are also available at www.prophecydev.com

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AVS Sample 1





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AVS Sample 2





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AVS Sample 3





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UG1 Sample 1





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UG1 Sample 2





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AVS Map





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AVS Vein 1





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AVS Vein 2





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AVS Tunnel 1





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AVS Tunnel 2



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UG1 Vein 1





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UG1 Vein 2





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UG1 Vein 3

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release was reviewed and approved by Christopher M. Kravits, CPG, LPG, who is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Mr. Kravits is a consultant to the Company and serves as its Qualified Person and General Mining Manager.

About Prophecy



Prophecy Development Corp. is a Canadian public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange that is engaged in developing mining and energy projects in Mongolia, Bolivia and Canada. Further information on Prophecy can be found at www.prophecydev.com.

Prophecy Development Corp.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

JOHN LEE



Executive Chairman

For more information about Prophecy, please contact Investor Relations:

+1.888.513.6286

ir@prophecydev.com

www.prophecydev.com

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, estimates, or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect managements expectations regarding Prophecys future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These estimates and assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies, many of which, with respect to future events, are subject to change and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by Prophecy. In making forward-looking statements as may be included in this news release, Prophecy has made several assumptions that it believes are appropriate, including, but not limited to assumptions that: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, such as due to labour disruptions; currency exchange rates being approximately consistent with current levels; certain price assumptions for coal, prices for and availability of fuel, parts and equipment and other key supplies remain consistent with current levels; production forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of Prophecys current mineral resource estimates; labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Prophecys current expectations; and that any additional required financing will be available on reasonable terms. Prophecy cannot assure you that any of these assumptions will prove to be correct.

Numerous factors could cause Prophecys actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including the following risks and uncertainties, which are discussed in greater detail under the heading Risk Factors in Prophecys most recent Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form as filed on SEDAR and posted on Prophecys website: Prophecys history of net losses and lack of foreseeable cash flow; exploration, development and production risks, including risks related to the development of Prophecys mineral properties; Prophecy not having a history of profitable mineral production; the uncertainty of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; the capital and operating costs required to bring Prophecys projects into production and the resulting economic returns from its projects; foreign operations and political conditions, including the legal and political risks of operating in Bolivia, which is a developing jurisdiction; amendments to local Bolivian laws which may have an adverse impact on the Companys operations; title to Prophecys mineral properties; environmental risks; the competitive nature of the mining business; lack of infrastructure; Prophecys reliance on key personnel; uninsured risks; commodity price fluctuations; reliance on contractors; Prophecys need for substantial additional funding and the risk of not securing such funding on reasonable terms or at all; foreign exchange risks; anti-corruption legislation; recent global financial conditions; the payment of dividends; and conflicts of interest.

These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Prophecys forward-looking statements. Prophecy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although Prophecy 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Prophecy undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/Prophecy12232016_0.pdfSource: Prophecy Development Corp. (TSX:PCY, OTC Pink:PRPCD, FWB:1P2N)

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Copyright  2016 Filing Services Canada Inc.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Dec. 23, 2016) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GXU) ("GoviEx" or the "Company") today announced that, further to its news release of December 19, 2016, it has closed the second and final tranche of its private placement financing (the "Private Placement"). In aggregate, the Company issued a total of 50 million Units between the first and second tranches at a price of C$0.10 per Unit, for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately C$5.0 Million.

The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to fund continued exploration and development activities on the Company's projects and for general corporate purposes. The funds also will enable the Company to pursue discussions related to strategic opportunities and potential transactions.

All securities issued under the second tranche of this Private Placement will be subject to a customary hold period and may not be traded before April 24, 2017. In addition, securities issued to subscribers in the United States will be subject to a hold period under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") and can only be resold in strict compliance with the applicable exemptions from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

Each Unit consists of one (1) Class A common share and one (1) Class A common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of the Company. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Class A common share of the Company for US$0.15 for five years from the date of issuance, until either December 19, 2021 or December 23, 2021, as applicable.

GoviEx insiders subscribed for a total of C$60,820 or 608,200 Units. The Company paid total finders' fees of approximately C$201,840 and issued a total of 2,018,400 finders' warrants, each allowing the holder to subscribe for one (1) Class A common share at an exercise price of US$0.075 until December 19, 2019.

The Private Placement remains subject to the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About GoviEx Uranium

GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of a diversified portfolio of uranium projects in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship Madaouela Project in Niger, as well as its Mutanga Project in Zambia, and its uranium-copper-silver exploration Falea Project in Mali.

Visit GoviEx's website: www.goviex.com

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include those with respect to Company's use of the proceeds raised under the Private Placement. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) GoviEx will be successful in its efforts to pursue the exploration activities referred to in this news release, (ii) GoviEx's management will not identify and pursue other business objectives using the proceeds of the Private Placement and (iii) the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's mining projects sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) the Company's failure to make effective use of the proceeds of the Private Placement, (ii) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations or other reasons, (iii) the Company's inability to obtain the necessary final regulatory approvals for the Private Placement, (iv) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations, (v) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations, (vi) accidents, labour disputes or the materialization of similar risks, (vii) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis and (viii) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.

In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Financial Risks and Management Objectives" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2015, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive there from. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Mital Ghandi, a parent from northern Virginia, regarding the tip line that Gov. Youngkin set up for people to submit complaints about the education system. While there was some positive feedback, the majority of the emails sent to the tip line were expressing anger or frustration with teachers, administrators and school policies. (Associated Press  Nov. 3, 2022)
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, nearly two years away from Election Day 2018, deposited $50 million into his campaign account this week in what party operatives billed as a "first installment" in the effort to win a second term for the wealthy former venture capitalist.The contribution -- nearly double what Rauner spent personally on his entire 2014 campaign -- is an early indication of the massive amount of money that's expected to be spent on the 2018 election, even as it remains unclear who will emerge on the Democratic side to challenge him.Made Tuesday and disclosed Thursday, the contribution comes as the Illinois Republican Party has already launched pre-emptive strikes against two Democrats considered potential contenders -- J.B. Pritzker, an entrepreneur and investor from a well-known Chicago family, and Chris Kennedy, a former owner of the Merchandise Mart and son of Robert F. Kennedy.Rauner spent a record $65.3 million -- or nearly $36 a vote -- in his 2014 campaign against then-Gov. Pat Quinn. Of that, nearly $28 million came from his own pocket. Since then, Rauner and his wife, Diana, have spent more than $32.5 million to support the Republican Party, GOP candidates and conservative groups in Illinois.Because the Tuesday donation was made more than a year from the 2018 primary election, it will not lift limits on campaign contributions to candidates in the race for governor.State government, meanwhile, appears headed for another showdown over the budget when a temporary spending measure expires Jan. 1. Tension between Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has only intensified since the most recent election, in which Rauner spent heavily to hammer home to voters a message that Madigan is the problem at the statehouse.Rauner operatives would not publicly discuss the $50 million donation.A spokesman for Madigan said the contribution only underscored that Rauner's primary focus is politics, not running the state."He's never been focused on governing," said spokesman Steve Brown, who added that the large amount of money raises questions about "whether he is running scared."Also on Thursday, Rauner's administration filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the state's largest employee union, arguing it has taken improper steps to prevent the administration from implementing its final offer after the Illinois Labor Relations Board ruled the sides were at impasse during contract negotiations.The administration is asking the labor board to award the state $2 million a day in damages, the amount it says taxpayers are spending because of a delay in implementing the new terms. That's a reduction from the "almost $3 million per day" estimate that Rauner floated to reporters earlier this month.At issue is a temporary agreement both sides agreed to as negotiations continued that kept in place the terms of the old contract. Rauner's office says that agreement has now expired with the labor board's ruling.Rauner's attorneys have taken issue with a temporary restraining order a St. Clair County judge issued earlier this month, after the union argued the administration took actions to impose its terms before the labor board's ruling was put into writing. An appellate court has since directed that the restraining order be reconsidered, but the lower court has yet to act."Continuing to stall, instead of working with us to implement our last, best and final offer that is substantially similar to the contracts agreed to by 18 other unions, only costs taxpayers more money -- approximately $2 million every day this drags on," Dennis Murashko, Rauner's general counsel, said in a statement.The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 dismissed the move as a "disgraceful attempt to intimidate union members from exercising their legal rights" and said Rauner should return to the bargaining table."The governor may wish to dictate not negotiate, but he is not above the law," spokesman Anders Lindall said in a statement. "The real waste of taxpayer money is Governor Rauner's stubborn refusal to negotiate with our union for nearly a year. All that time AFSCME members have been working hard to serve their communities."
Luck of the Draw

On the Merits

Limited Licenses

The seven lucky balls that popped out of the Arizona Department of Health Services lottery machine in October produced big winners  not in the states Powerball game, but in the competition to make money in the medical marijuana industry.The prize winners were granted licenses to open a medical marijuana dispensary in a state where patients with prescriptions to treat conditions such as glaucoma and cancer spent $215 million last year on marijuana products. Arizonas public health officials awarded most licenses based on rules designed to place new dispensaries within range of the greatest number of medical-marijuana patients. But when it wasnt clear which applicant was in the most patient-dense area, they used a lottery to randomly select the winners, hoping to sidestep conflict.States have struggled with how to give out potentially lucrative medical marijuana licenses  trying to balance public health concerns against an entrepreneurial spirit and avoid a bevy of lawsuits. Many want to ensure the businesses are well run and are supplying quality products. But even in states like Arizona where dispensaries are required to be nonprofits, competition for licenses can lead to a gold rush mentality and lawsuits as entrepreneurs eye a medical marijuana industry with $4.2 billion in sales in 2014.Theres a lot of cash that goes through these businesses, said Kris Krane with 4Front Ventures, a medical marijuana consulting firm. As [marijuana] becomes more legitimate and more legal, its only going to be a growth industry. People are looking to get in now because as the industry grows and expands theyre positioned to be market leaders.Medical marijuana businesses often have between $1 million and $5 million in sales annually, Krane said, though hes seen some that do more than $20 million.Twenty-eight states have medical marijuana programs, but Arizona is rare in that it awards some licenses by a lottery. About a dozen states have strict merit-based systems that award a small set of licenses to businesses viewed as the most qualified. Several have no limit on the number of licenses they give out and review companies through a rolling application process. Others are still developing their programs or have combined the licensing of medical marijuana with that of recreational marijuana businesses.Those involved in the cannabis industry, including legalization advocates and business consultants, say theres no perfect system for deciding who gets a license. States that grant them based on applicants business proposals produce intense competition and often bring cries of cronyism. Lawsuits pending in Maryland contend the system there unfairly factored in geography as part of its qualifications.Massachusetts switched from granting a few medical marijuana licenses to granting an unlimited number of licenses in 2015, but found its requirement that applicants get support from local leaders to open an outlet was leading to pricy contracts between businesses and the towns.Arizona has mostly avoided lawsuits by turning to the lottery to choose between applicants, but critics say infighting often begins among license winners with poorly vetted business plans.States have encountered many headaches in creating a legal, state-sanctioned business from what was the underground trafficking of a drug the federal government still considers illegal. When Florida first proposed awarding medical marijuana licenses through a lottery, in 2014, the state was sued.This ensures only that the luckiest eligible applicant, not best qualified eligible applicant, is approved, wrote Costa Farms, a nursery that grows marijuana, in its suit against the state. The suit prompted Florida to scrap its lottery and evaluate applications based on their businesses qualifications.But Arizona figured that using a lottery to dole out licenses was a way to avoid lawsuits, and it has used the system both times it has awarded licenses.The number of potential patients served by a business location wasnt a factor when the state began its medical marijuana program, in 2012, and that year more than 90 licenses were awarded by lottery. In both years, the application process has required potential dispensary owners to have basic qualifications, such as showing they can provide inventory tracking and security, but Arizona doesnt analyze business proposals the way other states do.We stress that were not doing a merit-based process. Were doing it by chance, said Tom Salow, who is in charge of licensing for the state health department, which oversees medical marijuana.Taylor West with the National Cannabis Industry Association said lotteries have some benefits. They make the decision less subjective and help allay concerns of political influence. But, she said, The problem with the lottery is it doesnt always get you your best results.The businesses have to all be meeting minimum requirements, but theres certainly an argument for trying to get the best, West said. A lottery doesnt reward the really diligent actors who give a lot of thought to the application and have done a lot of planning ahead of time and focused on building the best business possible.Ryan Hurley, a lawyer with the Rose Law Group who has represented several marijuana businesses in Arizona, said the lotteries have been successful in largely insulating the state from lawsuits. But, he said, they dont guarantee that businesses are ready to operate smoothly. He said hes seen conflict between partners once they get a license.Many applicants dont take the time to figure out and document their venture, Hurley said, and questions arise afterward over the investment, the order in which people will get paid, and even whos in control of decision-making.They rush, but then dont think what will happen if they actually won, he said. Theyve got dollar signs in their eyes. Then they get a license and think theyre millionaires and start fighting over who gets what.Krane, the industry consultant, said a qualified lottery system, such as the one the state of Washington used when it legalized recreational marijuana sales in 2014, lets states screen businesses before choosing the qualified candidates through a lottery. Though more subjective, the qualified lottery gives states a chance to closely review security plans, operational procedures and owners backgrounds.Though many in the marijuana industry, such as West of the Cannabis Association, see a competitive, merit-based application process as a better selection method, trying to evaluate and pick the best businesses brings its own complications.West said factors that allow states to look at the nuances of applications, such as judging business and security plans, also can expose states to complaints that personal connections have dictated some decisions. States such as Maryland have faced lawsuits challenging the criteria for judging applicants or how they were applied.Although states typically have tried to make the selections anonymous, West said, its not always possible and makes it harder to find the most-qualified applicants. If part of the judgment is whether you have experienced people on your team, you cant do that anonymously, she said. But it does interject personalities and conflicts and the potential for political influence.Maryland tasked Towson University with ranking anonymous applications for growing marijuana on factors such as financing and plans for storing data and providing security. But the system ran into trouble when the states medical marijuana commission chose some lower-ranked companies to have better geographic diversity.Edward Weidenfeld, a partner with Maryland Cultivation and Processing, one of the companies suing the commission, said the states system is good in that applications are ranked by a disinterested but knowledgeable third party. But he said the state erred in giving the commission too much power to ignore the rankings. Commissioners, he said, should only step in to ensure the identifying information from an application doesnt disqualify a business, such as including someone with a criminal record.How an application is designed can have unintended consequences. In Massachusetts, for example, the state required medical marijuana dispensaries to form as nonprofits and get letters of support from the towns where they were hoping to open. In some cases, the nonprofits, which dont pay property taxes under state law, agreed to make payments to the towns or turn over a percentage of sales to help cover a towns costs, such as extra policing.Those agreements became expensive for some businesses. According to reporting by the Boston Globe, a dispensary in Worcester agreed to pay $450,000 over three years, and another in Salem agreed to pay more than $82,000 the first year. A dispensary in Southborough agreed to pay a portion of its sales and contribute $50,000 annually toward substance abuse and mental health programs.Word got out fairly quickly, among mayors and city councilmen, industry consultant Krane said. They all started trying to outdo each other in terms of how much they could get in hosting agreements. Its where some people have been crying extortion.Massachusetts voters also recently approved recreational marijuana in a ballot measure that many elected officials said was flawed. A new commission created by the measure is directed to give licenses to companies with the most experience operating medical marijuana treatment centers and then by lottery among qualified applicants.The number of licenses states choose to award can change the way businesses pursue them.States that dont limit their licenses may give out hundreds of them to businesses the state views as qualified. Krane said these states regulate marijuana more like a pharmacy, making sure applicants meet strict standards before they are allowed to open. Colorado has given medical marijuana licenses to more than 500 centers and nearly 800 growers, which are licensed separately from those in the recreational market. States with a cap on licenses often give out fewer than 10 in a highly competitive process.It creates these incentives for organizations to spend more time drumming up capital and political influence so that they can corner these licenses that give them this huge market share, rather than developing the best business or best model for taking care of patients, West of the Cannabis Association said. In other states, its a little less clear that any one license is a golden ticket worth bending the rules to get.Costa Farms, the company that sued over Floridas plan for a lottery, later became one of the companies on a panel designed to help write Floridas medical marijuana regulations. According to the Miami Herald, a last-minute addition to a House bill requiring that licensees be in business since 1984  the earliest year Costa Farms has documentation of being a registered nursery  would have made it difficult for other companies to get a license. Pedro Freyre with Costa Farms said the company did not lobby for the provision.Industry advocates say the most important thing is just having enough licenses that patients dont have to travel far to get the medicine they need.Florida initially planned to have five licenses, though more are being added as nurseries sue the state. Krane said just a few licenses for a state can make sense when prescriptions are limited to noneuphoric marijuana for a small set of diseases, as is the case there.But Freyre said such restrictions also help ensure the program stays strictly medical.Policymakers approach has been, We dont want recreational by another name, which is what has happened in other states with sort of a wink, wink, nudge, nudge,
Description

GIS - 23 December, 2016: The Mer Rouge Oil Storage Terminal (MOST), which will be constructed to the tune of Rs 600 million, will come into operation at the end of 2017. The foundation stone laying ceremony will be presided over by the Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth.

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Mr Ashit Gungah, made this announcement yesterday in Port Louis at a press conference. Mauritian and Indian state enterprises will collaborate jointly in the construction of the Terminal and its infrastructures and the Indian government will be the donor agency, he said.

The Minister recalled that following the visit of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Jugnauth, in India, the Indian Government has agreed to grant a subsidy of 200 million dollars (Rs 7,2 billion) for the project, which will comprise the petroleum harbour, a jetty and a terminal. The Tank Farm will have a storage capacity of 25 000 metric tonnes.

Mr Gungah further pointed out that during his visit in India, he had met the Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas who has reaffirmed Indias financial and technical support to the project and the collaboration of Indian authorities for its realisation. A team of Indian professionals will be in Mauritius next year to carry out technical studies.

The need to increase the storage capacity of petroleum products for the country and maintain a comfortable leeway of four-day reserve was highlighted by the Minister. Hence the implementation of MOST which will be a partnership with the following firms Indian Oil, Vivo Energy, Total Mauritius, Engen Mauritius and the State Trading Corporation, he added.

Speaking about the achievements of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Mr Gungah expressed satisfaction with regard to the work accomplished and the decisions and measures taken during the last two years.

All these measures will consolidate and diversity our industrial sector, he concluded.
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GIS  23 December 2016: Twenty children, coming from the SEN (Special Education Needs) and ZEP (Zones dEducation Prioritaires) schools, were awarded prizes yesterday in recognition of their accomplishment at the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) 2016 examinations.

Speaking at the Prize giving ceremony at the MITD House, in Phoenix, the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, highlighted the importance of making efforts in life as nothing comes easy and freely. We always have to keep in mind that we are not competing with each other but are competing with our own self and we have to constantly surpass ourselves, she said.

According to Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun, it is necessary to always have objectives in life and despite having limits we have to make sure that we give the best of ourselves. The Minister also congratulated the best candidates for their success as they have been able to overcome their difficulties with the support of their parents and teachers, and have been able to attain their objectives. However, the greatest support comes from your own self, she added.

The CPE 2016 results were made public on 5 December 2016 by the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate. A total of 22 092 candidates were examined. The pass rate for the 1 244 candidates from ZEP schools is 44.4%.

Year 2016 marks the end of the CPE which will be replaced by the Primary School Achievement Certificate as from January 2017.
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GIS - 23 December, 2016: A National Cooperative College will be set up in 2017, said the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, yesterday at the launching ceremony of a brochure focused on the incentives, facilities and support services to cooperative societies in Port Louis. A National Cooperative College will be set up in 2017, saidthe

The aim of the College is to provide appropriate training to potential entrepreneurs so as to encourage them to group themselves into cooperative societies. Another objective is to bring visibility to the cooperative societies and federations so as to help them operate in an efficient manner.

In his address Minister Bholah pointed out that the brochure should serve as an important tool for the cooperative societies and cooperators so that they get acquainted with the necessary information for the smooth running of their respective cooperatives. The brochure carries information about the existing schemes provided by different Ministries, parastatal bodies and banks, which are unknown to many cooperative societies.

On that score, he appealed to the cooperative societies to make the most of the information in the brochure, that will be distributed to all the 1143 cooperative societies across the island.

The Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, has already put in place a 3-year Action Plan for the cooperative societies for which the target achieved so far is 85%. In this endeavour, Mr Bholah highlighted the role of the Cooperatives Division which according to him, aims at further promoting the cooperative sector and encouraging the development of the movement through the creation of a favourable and conducive legal and institutional environment.

As from next year online facilities will be available to cooperative societies for the registration of new applicants, said the Minister. He also dwelt on the existing incentives, facilities and support services, provided to the cooperative societies, which in turn have helped them become more productive.

There are at present 1143 Cooperative societies regulated by the Co-operatives Act 2005 that are operating in Mauritius.
(TNS) -- Backed with close to $300 million in government and research money, Manchester, N.H., inventor Dean Kamen pledged Wednesday to pull together disparate research efforts and create an industry to regenerate human tissue and organs  right in the Manchester Millyard.Kamen addressed a gathering of industry, government and academic leaders at the White House on Wednesday. He spoke after the Defense Department officials announced that Manchester would host the countrys 12th manufacturing innovation hub.The Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (or ARMI) will be located in Kamen property at 400 Commercial St.In a statement, the Defense Department said $80 million in federal funding and $214 million from industry, university, nonprofit and other sources would be devoted to the effort.Defense Undersecretary Frank Kendall said the acceleration of regenerative tissue research is especially important to the Defense Department. It will restore form, function and appearance to wounded soldiers and it will reduce the waiting time for organ transplant patients.During his remarks , Kamen stressed he knows little of the science behind tissue regeneration. He painted a picture of vibrant research underway in the field, but a lack of infrastructure to bring it to the manufacturing phase.We need to essentially make the printing press for the world of regenerative medicine, said Kamen, the inventor of the portable kidney dialysis machine and high-tech prosthetics. We will promise the government we will turn this science into an industry.In an interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader, Kamen said he expects 100 people will be working at the ARMI headquarters within a years time. He said hundreds of other jobs will eventually be created nearby at corporate offices, research facilities and entrepreneurial spin-offs.We are going to so vastly accelerate the access to advanced technology that this will be the biggest single change in medicine in the lifetime of the people here, Kamen told the White House crowd.During his presentation, he flashed a picture of the Manchester Millyard and noted how at one point it was the largest manufacturing entity in the country, but eventually closed because it did not continue innovation.The Defense Department said ARMI was selected in a highly competitive process to find an organization to lead efforts in advance tissue biofabrication. ARMI signed a seven-year contract with the Defense Department on Monday.The Advanced Tissue Biofabrication Institute is under the umbrella of Manufacturing USA, a government/industry collaboration started by the Obama administration. Twelve institutes have been established; others include a 3-D printing initiative based in Youngstown, Ohio, and a phototonics effort in Rochester, N.Y., which led to 800 manufacturing jobs.The Advanced Tissue Biofabrication Institute is comprised of 47 companies and 26 universities in 19 states. Players include Rockwell Automation, GenCure, Autodesk, Dartmouth College, Stanford University, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of New Hampshire.In a statement, UNH President Mark Huddleston said the universitys life sciences research, education and workforce development programs will take part in the effort.Our UNH Manchester campus in the Amoskeag Millyard is co-located with DEKA and ARMI headquarters, supporting efficient communication and coordination, he said.Kamen said ARMI will be a nonprofit organization that will coordinate efforts in the private sector. He will serve as the chairman of the organization; negotiations are underway for a chief executive officer.In a statement, U.S. senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte and Sen.-elect Maggie Hassan said the government grant further establishes New Hampshire as a hub for research and development.This award will bring good jobs to Manchester, complementing our regions emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. This is a very exciting opportunity for our states college graduates to work on the cutting edge of biomedical research, the statement reads.Mayor Ted Gatsas said he was unaware of the effort, but said he looks forward to speaking to Kamen in the coming weeks. He said it shows the commitment Kamen has to the city, noting his funding of the Junior STEAM Ahead program in city schools.Im sure the Millyard can handle it, and Im sure the work force is here to help him out, Gatsas said.
Safety concerns

Pending lawsuit

Ticket refunds?

(TNS) -- CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  A ban on traffic enforcement cameras could have side effects for Iowa cities that rely on the technology, including Cedar Rapids, which has the most robust camera program in the state.The specter of a ban has prompted Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz to not count on the $3 million to $3.5 million in annual revenue from speed and red light cameras in the citys fiscal 2018 general fund budget, which will be adopted by City Council in March and starts July 1, 2017.In order to be cautious we are going to exclude that revenue, Pomeranz said. The last thing we want to do is have the City Council approve a budget that is several million dollars short.The general fund pays for various city services and staff, such as police, fire, library, streets and garbage collection, while generating money from property taxes, which Pomeranz said wont be increased. Total property tax revenue wont be known for another month, so how to offset lost traffic camera revenue remains up in the air, Pomeranz said.Budgeting is just one of the possible ripple effects should state lawmakers ban traffic cameras . Traffic safety, pending lawsuits and ticket refunds could also crop up as issues.State Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told the Quad-City Times he expects legislation to ban traffic cameras to clear the House and Senate next month and then land on Gov. Terry Branstads desk. Zaun is among critics contending traffic cameras are simply a money making scam, in opposition to others who say they improve safety by calming traffic,The Cedar Rapids cameras have resulted in more than 500,000 speeding tickets being issued since 2010  the most in the state.Cedar Rapids and third-party vendor GATSO USA split the more than $30 million in proceeds during that time with a 2-to-1 split in favor of the city. City Council on Tuesday authorized extending the expiring contract with GATSO through Dec. 31, 2018.Pomeranz said his biggest concern with a potential ban on traffic cameras is safety.Cedar Rapids has seen a reduction in crashes and crash injuries and a near six-year absence of traffic fatalities on the S-curve on Interstate 380 through downtown where the busiest cameras have operated since 2010. A fatal collision leaving two dead and injuring two police officers last month ended the streak. The speed limit there is 55 mph.The main concern is the cameras slow down the traffic and the impact it would have on the safety of our officers and the traveling public if we lose the cameras, Pomeranz said.Meanwhile, a traffic camera ban could make a pending lawsuit a moot point. Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Muscatine  three of the six Iowa cities with traffic cameras on state roads  joined forces to sue the Iowa Department of Transportation.Iowa DOT had deemed three of the seven camera locations in Cedar Rapids out of compliance with administrative rules, which were adopted in February 2014 after much debate. Among the rules, cameras are required to have 1,000 feet separation from a speed limit change. Those rules also required cities to submit reports annually so Iowa DOT officials could justify continuing operation of each camera.Following a 10-month evaluation of all 31 cameras statewide, Iowa DOT ordered seven should be turned off and three others be moved or modified, while 21 others were justified. On I-380 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa DOT ordered the city to move the southbound cameras at J Avenue, which were deemed out of compliance, and take down northbound cameras at J Avenue. The J Avenue cameras issue 90 percent of all camera tickets in Cedar Rapids. The same ruling ordered the city to move the northbound cameras near Diagonal Drive SW, which were non-compliant, and to take down the cameras near First Avenue. In town, the speed detection portion of cameras at First Avenue SE and 10th Street SE were ordered off because they violated the distance rules.The cities appealed the order but lost, and then filed a lawsuit in district court in June 2015 contending Iowa DOT didnt have such authority. The cameras remain in operation. Depositions notices were filed this month, and a three-day hearing is expected in February.It probably will be a moot point if the legislation passes, and it sounds like it has support in both chambers, said Robert Rigg, a Drake University law professor. If the legislature bans them, its a done deal, whether you are a municipality or not. The legislature has the final word.Andrea Henry, a spokeswoman for Iowa DOT, agreed legislation banning traffic cameras would likely end the claims in the case.DOT attorneys expect to have discussions regarding these matters with the cities attorneys in the coming weeks, she said.Maria Johnson, a spokeswoman for the city of Cedar Rapids, said as of now the lawsuit is proceeding as planned.Arthur Bonfield, a University of Iowa law professor, has said a court ruling favoring Iowa DOT could open cities to owing refunds either by a judicial order or subsequent class action lawsuits. He said at the time, the cities were taking a gamble they wouldnt have to pay the money back by continuing to operate the cameras after the order by the state.Around the country where traffic camera use has been litigated, some cities have been ordered to refund past ticket collections after losing the case or as part of a settlement, including $1.3 million in Jefferson Parish, La. , and $5.6 million in St. Louis , according to news reports. Other cases have not involved a refund.If the Iowa DOT lawsuit becomes moot, refund prospects would be dealt a blow because the issue of whether the state had the authority to order the cameras off would remain unsettled.It would not resolve the issue as to if they were unlawful before the legislation, Bonfield said.In the event a camera ban becomes law before a lawsuit ruling, motorists might still have recourse to seek a refund, but they would have to first prove the cameras shouldnt have been operating and then make a case for compensation, he said. Because of the value of each ticket  typically $75 in Cedar Rapids  a class-action lawsuit would be the likely approach, he said.The current version of the legislation doesnt address past tickets and theres no retroactive ban language, state Sen. Zaun said. As written, the legislation would take effect July 1 with the start of the next fiscal year, he said.There is nothing in there in regards to refunds, Zaun said. I am not interested in putting a city into financial hardship. I dont know that I am interested in going back to the tickets issued years ago and paying those back. My interest is in stopping traffic cameras July 1 going forward.The proposed ban addresses red light, speed and mobile unit cameras operated by third-party vendors, Zaun said. The camera ban is not his top legislative priority, but it will be one of the first bills run through the Judiciary Committee, he said. The legislature convenes Jan. 9. Zaun is not interested in waiting to see how the lawsuit plays out before pushing the legislation, he said.
The IEA says that in the third quarter of 2016, the US shale industry became cash flow neutral for the first time ever. That isnt a typo. For years, the drilling boom was done with a lot of debt, and the revenus earned from steadily higher levels of output were not enough to cover the cost of drilling, even when oil prices traded above $100 per barrel in the go-go drilling days between 2011 and 2014. Even when US oil production hit a peak at 9.7 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2015, the industry did not break even. Indeed, shale companies were coming off of one of their worst quarters in terms of cash flow in recent history.

That all changed around the middle of 2015 when the most indebted and high-cost producers went out of business and consolidation began to take hold. E&P companies began cutting costs, laying off workers, squeezing their suppliers and deferring projects that no longer made sense.

By 2016, oil companies large and small had shed a lot of that extra fat, running leaner than at any point in the last few years. By the third quarter, oil prices had climbed back to above $40 and traded at around $50 per barrel for some time, replenishing some lost revenue. That was enough to make the industry cash flow neutral for the first time in its history.

That suggests that moving forward, the shale industry could move into cash flow positive territory. Oil prices seem to be trading safely above $50 per barrel for the time being, and OPEC cuts could induce more price gains. The industry is now focusing on shale plays that have lower breakeven prices, namely, the Permian Basin and some parts of the Bakken. That has companies like Concho Resources, Murphy Oil, Devon Energy, Pioneer Natural Resources and EOG Resources all stepping up their spending levels heading into 2017.

Wood Mackenzie suggests that $55 per barrel is a sweet spot for the oil and gas industry to rebound, a level that is only slightly above todays prices. At $55 per barrel, the shale industry is cash flow positive and will grow accordingly. If we stay (at $55 a barrel), the worlds biggest oil companies start to make money again. If we go back down to $50 (or lower) in 2017...then those companies are in the negative territory and they go back into survival mode where they have been in the last two years, Angus Rodger, WoodMacs research director for upstream oil and gas, said in a report. He estimates that OPECs cuts could succeed in pushing oil prices sustainably up to $55 per barrel. Even taking into account some cheating, WoodMac concludes that a 75 percent compliance rate with the promised cuts would get the markets to that price level.

Still, the seeds of disappoint have already been sownit is just a question of whether or not they will sprout. The US dollar is at its strongest level in nearly a decade, which will weigh on global crude oil demand. Also, hedge funds and other money managers have staked out the most bullish position on oil futures in more than two years. That has succeeded in running up prices this month, but it also sets up the market for downside risk. Should data emerge in the coming months that some OPEC members are cheating, the net-long positions could unwind. Those liquidations tend to happen quickly, so a sharp fall in oil prices is not out of the question.

If confidence around the compliance with cuts wavers, the market will necessarily correct lower, considering that it also faces the twin headwinds of resilient US production and a stronger dollar environment as the Fed begins to hike rates, Harry Tchilinguirian, an analyst with BNP Paribas, told S&P Global Platts.

And while the financial markets present risk, the physical market is also up in the air. Of course, OPEC cheating is a possibility. But with US shale producers already stepping up drilling, production could come back quicker than many expect. Weekly EIA data shows gains of nearly 300,000 bpd since the end of summer. On top of that, disrupted output from Libya and Nigeriatwo countries not subjected to the OPEC cutscould begin to come back. An oil tanker docked at Libyas largest oil export terminal, Es Sider, this week, was the first tanker to load up Libyan oil from that terminal in more than two years. Libya hopes to add another 300,000 bpd in output in 2017 after adding as much in 2016.

Even with those negative risks in mind, the shale industry is getting back to work. If oil prices can stay roughly where they are right now, the industry could become cash flow positive for the first time ever next year.

Link to original article: http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/US-Shale-Is-Now-Cash-Flow-Neutral.html
It changed my life forever, says Victoria Carlin Milstein about her month-long stay in a remote village in the West African country of Mali.

In February 2011, she went to visit her daughter, Dina Daines, who was serving a two-and-a-half-year stint in the Peace Corps, and came back a changed woman.

It took Milstein, primarily a portraiture artist (two of her recent works are of retired Supreme Court Justice Henry Frye and late U.S. Rep. Howard Coble) and teacher by profession, a full year to process her thoughts before committing to chronicle her experience via a series of a dozen large mural paintings, now called The Mali Series.

Meanwhile, Daines was concluding her Peace Corps service, which focused on cervical cancer detection, AIDS awareness and infant mortality. She organized a program to train doctors and midwives to screen for cervical cancer. A protocol she developed to detect cervical cancer was later adopted by the Peace Corps, and she was honored at their 50th anniversary banquet.

A gifted writer, she too was chronicling her life-changing experiences in a blog. Currently, she is completing work on her doctorate in midwifery, and soon afterward the mother-daughter team plan to self-publish a book  Daines words, Milsteins murals and both their photographs  on the harsh realities of life in a third-world country.

I found this incredible sense of community, in the face of such stifling poverty and the burdens of sustainability, oppressive heat and an even more oppressive political climate, explains Milstein. There is still a certain beauty and elegance in the people there. Thats what we both have tried to capture in our own ways.

The two mediums will soon coalesce not only in the book but in an exhibit at the African American Atelier in the Cultural Arts Center (200 N. Davie St.). It will debut March 3 and be curated by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams. Not only will Milstein and Daines be on hand to expand on their respective works that evening, but so will Milsteins son, Adam Carlin, who is the curator of UNCGs contemporary art space. A sculptor and social practice artist, he will demonstrate the pounding of the millet, Malis main food staple, using utensils he sculpted. The exhibits will remain there for a month, before heading to the Mali Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Anyone wishing to see the work before March, however, may view them at Milsteins gallery, VCM Studio, at 517 S. Elm St. It is the historic Dixon building (circa 1904), thats been converted into an inviting work and exhibit space.
Musician Cormac Roth has died at age 25 after a battle with cancer. He was the son of actor Tim Roth. His family said in a statement Monday that Roth died peacefully in the arms of his family who loved and adored him on Oct. 16. A graduate of Bennington College, Roth was a guitarist, composer and producer. He revealed on his Instagram account that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 germ cell cancer in November 2021. His family said "he maintained his wicked wit and humor to the end. Roth is survived by his parents, Tim and Nikki Roth, and his brother, Hunter Roth.
A couple of years ago, I wrote a handful of stories about a hypoallergenic peanut developed by a researcher at N.C. A&T. Heres one of those stories.

Peanut allergies are a thing these days, and this new peanut treatment had a lot of promise. Last I left the story, A&T had created a spin-off company and was trying to figure out how to make this work on a food-industry scale.

Fast forward to this week when the spin-off company, Alrgn Bio, popped up in the news. (Alrgn, by the way, is pronounced Allergin.)

The N.Y. Times featured the company in a science story about whether its possible to make a less allergenic peanut. (Spoiler alert: Maybe.) Heres the Times:

The peanut-cleansing method used by Alrgn Bio evolved from experiments dating back to 2005, when biochemists at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro started mixing peanut extracts with trypsin, an enzyme found in the human intestine, to see whether the enzyme could break down the proteins that Burks and others discovered were causing allergies. The university researchers later turned to Alcalase, an enzyme that can break down an even broader range of proteins and that is used in some foods like marinades. (Its also found in laundry detergent, where it chews up stains from protein-rich foods like eggs and gravy.) The Alcalase-treatment process now yields peanuts that look similar to those sold at the supermarket, aside from being a slightly darker shade. For the most part, the samples I tried tasted like ordinary nuts, though perhaps missing some of their earthy complexity. Alrgn Bio is still refining the process of altering its peanuts, which are currently called Safer Peanuts, to retain all their natural flavor.

The story mentions a couple of new developments.

First, it refers to Algrns research lab as a nearly windowless former school-cafeteria kitchen on the outskirts of Greensboro. I reached out to Ann Russell, the companys operations director, who told me the space described in the Times story is on the north campus of the Gateway University Research Park off Summit Avenue. (Alrgn Bio uses the old cafeteria from when the property was a state-run school for deaf children.) The company's corporate office remains on the south campus of the GURP, where the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is.

Second, Alrgn has a CEO  a New York real estate developer named Kit McQuiston. The story says that McQuiston was one of the companys first investors and took on the CEO role this summer.

Speaking of investing, the company just raised close to $1 million in outside investments, according to this story Wednesday on WRALs Tech Wire. Russell told me that Alrgn will use the money to continue its research, hire a chief scientific officer and upgrade the lab.

The next big step for the company, as noted in the Times story, is a mouse study being conducted at UNC-Chapel Hill. Russell said they should see preliminary data in February.

The Times story points out the challenges ahead to creating a truly safe peanut: People with peanut allergies react differently to exposure to the new peanut. Enzymes (like Alrgn uses) must be applied consistently to big batches of peanuts. (Can't miss any!) Genetic manipulation (not what Alrgn does) would have to be done to every variety of peanut. Federal regulators tend to be skeptical of blanket claims. And so on.

If youre interested in the intersection of science and business and consumers, you ought to read the Times story.

One more update, courtesy of Ann Russell: Jianmei Yu, the food science researcher who developed the Alrgn peanut treatment, remains on staff at A&T. Shes a consulting scientist for the company.

If you're looking for some more heavy-duty science reading, here is Yu's patent application.

Speaking of the holidays, this is my last post here at The Syllabus for 2016. After today, Im going to follow the rest of the higher ed world into winter break. Catch you in 2017. Cheers!

Want to make sure you see these blog posts? Like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.

Have something to say? Email me at john.newsom@greensboro.com.
DEAR MR. LANE: I am 8 years old. Some of my friends at school are saying that the Elf on the Shelf doesnt really travel to the North Pole each night in December to deliver secret messages to Santa Claus, and Im beginning to believe them because on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday our Elf on the Shelf, Chipper, didnt move from his spot on the bookshelf.

My father says, If you see it in the News & Record, its so.

Can you please tell me if my Elf on the Shelf is real?

Sincerely, Virginia

DEAR VIRGINIA: First, let me say that your father is a sensible man. He is correct to trust the News & Record  particularly after this past election where fake news has abounded so.

One must choose ones sources of information carefully, and if you read the News & Record, you can be sure your news isnt from some hapless blogger, partisan spin-doctor or even planted by the Russians, for heavens sake.

But back to your question: Yes, Virginia, the Elf on the Shelf is real. Chipper exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and as certainly as Santa Claus himself exists.

To borrow a few words from the famous column written by Francis Church in 1897 to another girl named Virginia: Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

As for the fact that Chipper hasnt moved for several days, all I can say there is: Try to forgive him. Im sure hes a good elf at heart, even if he may be a little on the lazy side. After all, it could be that Chipper doesnt have anything bad to report.

And its also helpful to keep in mind that all the elves on the shelves on all the shelves in the entire world are really not that important when compared to the birth of the Christ child  which is the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

And another thing: Be nice to your parents. Be sure to hug them and tell them how much you love them.

In recent years, Christmas has gotten more complicated, particularly since Elves on the Shelves have come along. And sometimes its hard for working moms, dads  and even elves  to keep up with everything that goes on during this hectic season.

So, Merry Christmas, Virginia, and Merry Christmas to all the Virginias out there who still believe!

Coming Saturday: Canceling church pays off for mom.
The weather has turned colder. The kids are cooped up indoors. Theyve colored every page in their coloring books, baked as many cookies as the family can eat and have enveloped the living room in blanket forts.

Its time to take them on a trip to the Greensboro Science Center, many families go-to destination for local winter fun.

When its too cold for outdoor adventures, kids of all ages will love spending time exploring the centers aquarium. In addition to seeing fishing cats, otters, penguins, sharks, fish and rays, educational talks are also available throughout the day. Join an educator for a penguin feeding, otter enrichment, shark reef dive or fish feeding for your chance to ask questions and get answers about these amazing animals and exhibits.

For a more in-depth look at the aquarium, Inside Tracks: Aquarium Adventures will take you behind the scenes for a look at animal holding spaces, a stop in the kitchen to see whats on the menu for aquarium animals and to the top of the shark tank for a view you wont forget. Youll even get a sneak peek at the animals coming soon to an expanded aquarium.

The tour is suitable for children ages 8 and older and cost $15 per person in addition to general admission or membership. Reservations are encouraged at www.greensboroscience.org.

In the museum, kids will burn plenty of energy in SciPlay Bay, an educational indoor playground designed with early childhood development in mind. Featuring a submarine, sunken ship, model food truck and fort-building area, there are plenty of opportunities for imaginative play. An interactive experience in SciPlay Bays Deep Sea Drama offers children the chance to speak with a submarine-driving red panda, learn about his native habitat and the ocean he explores.

Additional interactive shows are available in the Adventure Theaters. In Indiana Bones and the Kingdom of the Camarasaur, your help is needed to save Indiana Bones, his dinosaur and the science center from being taken over by robotic dinosaurs. In KATS: The Meerkat Musical, youll be transported to the Kalahari Desert, where a mob of meerkats will entertain you with songs and challenge you with trivia games.

Adventure Theater shows are free with general admission or membership.

The museum also features a dinosaur exhibit, a health exhibit, a weather exhibit and a vast array of snakes, turtles and lizards.

During your winter visit, be on the lookout for something new: Science on the Spot. At any given time in any random location, a spontaneous science demonstration may arise. Staff members will showcase some of their favorite science lessons  fossils, physics, animals, robots and more  on the spot.

For an additional fee of $3 or $5 per person, OmniSphere Theater shows can transport you anywhere in the world, including outer space or back to prehistoric times. The show schedule is the science centers website.

Out in the zoo, most animals are given access to their indoor, heated spaces on cold winter days. Some animals, like the tiger and red pandas, enjoy the cold weather and can often be seen in their exhibits. In addition, wildlife abounds around the zoo, so be on the lookout for a variety of native species and their tracks.

If you need help warming up during your visit, how about a winter workout on Skywild, the centers treetop adventure park? Use the promo code WINTER through Feb. 28 to save $10, making tickets as low as $30 for science center members. Reservations can be made at www.skywild.org.
GREENSBORO  Shivering in the nighttime chill, LoUna Russell stood in the asphalt parking lot in front of the makeshift fire pit.

She told those who had gathered around her of working two jobs to make the mortgage payments on her beige-framed Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro house  until the paperwork came in the mail this summer confirming that she had made her last payment.

Now I only have one job, because its done, the Guilford County Schools bus monitor said with a laugh before tossing a replica of her mortgage paperwork into the pits leaping flames in the parking lot of the Eastside Park Community Center.

And she was able to pay it off 14 years ahead of schedule.

Russell also made the last payment on that mortgage  which she took out in 2000 with the organization that helps working families buy a house  with the spare change she had collected over the years.

Do I hear an Amen and a Wooo-hoo?  the Rev. Maria Hanlin, the chief executive officer of the local Habitat affiliate, said of Russells story and those of others on paying off their loans. You inspire us.

The applause grew from the Habitat family of staff members and volunteers listening to Bank of Americas Derrick Ellington deadpanning the obvious.

Its yours, said Ellington, whose company is a long-time supporter of the program. You dont owe anybody.

These payoffs happen every year with Habitat, but not with such flare.

Habitat, which will celebrate 30 years in operation in Greensboro next year, largely builds residential communities in places where the earth is empty or dilapidated houses once stood.

The Greensboro chapter is widely known nationally from when it raised $1 million in a single campaign in 1997, making it the most successful fundraiser ever by a local Habitat affiliate.

Offering no-interest loans, Habitat draws broad support from community volunteers, whose help constructing the houses helps the nonprofit offer them at low cost. Experts are called in for work that requires professionals, such as the installation of heating systems.

About 200 people attend Habitat orientations each year, with about 60 who end up applying and 25 who are approved.

It is not a giveaway program  families accepted into the program must work on the house and must pay the mortgage. Current Habitat homeowners work a variety of jobs, including machine operators, Guilford County Schools bus drivers, custodians, assistants, warehouse workers.

Each monthly payment is recycled into the nonprofits operating budget to help finance future houses.

In the past two years, 24 families have paid off homes.

I know theyve persevered and gone through some things, said George Redd, Habitats director of family services and neighborhood outreach, as he looked across the flames during the ceremony at the families that gathered. For them to make their payments month after month and year after year says a lot.

ChesKesha Cunningham-Dockery, who stood nearby, used to ride her bike to the subdivision where her house was being built, to put in the required hours of sweat equity on the houses. Buses didnt go there and she didnt have a car at the time.

You figure out what you want and you work toward it, said Cunningham-Dockery, who had a wide grin as she watched her papers burn. I didnt want to rent forever.

Years into the loan, she was laid off from her job. She was single at the time, although she has recently married.

Cunningham-Dockery used her severance package to pay months in advance. Then she found a program through the N.C. Housing Coalition that helps homeowners stave off foreclosure, while she found a job.

I said, Oh, God, how am I going to do this,  Cunningham-Dockery said of the enormity of it. You have to prioritize.

Eventually, she paid off her mortgage months early.

A proud Angela Stewart, who taught financial literacy classes in the program, nodded her head. The nonprofit also held classes on do-it-yourself repairs and even how to cut costs while grocery shopping.

It takes work, but it can be done, Stewart said of making the payments.

Watching embers fly off from the fire, volunteer Rosalyn Posey, who paid off her Habitat house in 2013, recalled she was first turned down for the program. Now she encourages others who dont think they could ever hold the keys to their own home to not give up.

Posey, who put in hundreds of hours in sweat equity, remembers walking inside with her three young daughters when the construction of her house was finished.

My daughters went around and rubbed the walls and said, Mama, you helped build this house,  Posey recalled. I couldnt do anything but cry. I want others to know that feeling.

As she worked on the house that would be hers, Russell, the Guilford County Schools bus monitor, envisioned the extended family gatherings and the high school graduation parties that would take place in her backyard. Her two children were in grade school then.

I was here when they raised the first wall, Russell said of the immaculate three-bedroom home in one of the subdivisions of Habitat homes, now decorated for Christmas.

Actually, she was there when the foundation was laid.

After closing on the property in October 2000, she went home and emptied all the loose change in her pocket into a container, something she would repeat on a daily basis.

I had learned from my mother to save what you can, she said.

Russell, who was already working in retail, picked up the second job assisting special-needs children on school buses.

She had a monthly budget. One paycheck always went to the mortgage payment.

Sometimes, she was able to put extra money toward it, but it was never late.

I think it gave them a sense of security, she said of her children growing up there, surrounded by others who had invested as much for their homes.

Not only did those graduation parties take place, but also her daughters sweet 16 party and backyard cookouts.

When she got the payoff papers in the mail in June, she broke down in tears. Russell had paid every bit of the $48,000 herself.

And then, she quit the retail job, which means reclaiming her weekends and holidays. Like most other Guilford County Schools employees, she gets weekends and holidays off.

Now her focus is saving for retirement and work shed like done around the house, such as replacing the wooden rails on her porch with vinyl and having the steps redone.

Ive had the same carpeting since we moved in, Russell said. I know I cant get wooden floors but Im looking at laminated floors. I have, like, a list of stuff Id like to do.

As Hanlin helped the families celebrate that milestone, the nonprofit also got the promise of a $500 donation from Bank of America for every time someone in the program pays off a mortgage, starting in 2017.

That money will be reinvested in the program.

We want to help a lot of LoUnas, Hanlin said.
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The three-section independent film Moonlight appears to be racing toward multiple Oscar nodson Jan. 24.

Written and directed by Barry Jenkins from a story by Tarell Alvin McCraney, the film takes us into the life of its protagonist Chiron during three different phases of his life  boyhood in a tough section of Miami, the hazing he faced as a gay teen and early adulthood as a drug dealer in Atlanta who is hiding his homosexuality.

The way that Jenkins shows Chirons physical and emotional growth is slightly reminiscent of what Richard Linklater did in his 2014 hit, Boyhood. But instead of following one young actor for many years, as Linklater did, Jenkins uses three different but well-matched actors

After our Hearst Movie & a Martini screening at the Bethel Cinema, Penelope Forman, of Ridgefield, said she had feared the film would be another violent study of life in the world of drug dealers and addicts. But she was surprised and touched by the way Jenkins threw out film cliches in favor of a very intimate look at day-to-day life in a poor Florida community.

It was very realistic, but without the melodrama I expected. ... We see how the characters make lives for themselves under tough circumstances, Forman said.

Cathy Glazer, of Brookfield, also liked the way the final section of Moonlight stressed the small but definite victories in the characters lives. She was moved by the scene in which Chiron visits his childhood friend Kevin, who is happily employed as a cook in a Cuban restaurant. He says hes only working for shoe money, but he doesnt have so many worries anymore, Glazer said. Hes made it. Not rich in the Fairfield County sense, but he has a job he enjoys. A good life.

The group that gathered at Greenwoods Grille & Ale House after the film was unanimous in praising the movie and agreed that it deserves the awards it has won thus far. (Moonlight was named Best Film of 2016 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and Jenkins won the Best Director prize from the New York Film Critics Circle.)

The subtlety of the movie also impressed Margaret Mitchell, of Fairfield. I get so annoyed with movies that go too far with sex and violence. It was very nuanced.

Ken Staffey, of Bridgeport, agreed with critics who have likened the movie to Boyhood.

The difference is that Boyhood was about white suburban America and this movie is about the black urban experience, he said.

In addition to the male characters, Moonlight makes room for two major female figures  Chirons mother (Naomie Harris), who descends into drug addiction, and the kind neighbor Teresa (Janelle Monae), who becomes a surrogate mother.

Much of the story is conveyed silently through many close-ups of the pained protagonist and the people around him. The feelings are shown without the people saying anything, Mitchell said.

I liked the way the movie showed that there are all kinds of gradients of poverty and that the home lives are very different. ... Again, none of the cliches you see in this type of story, Forman said.

Everyone agreed that Trevante Jones was especially impressive as the adult Chiron in the third sequence where we have to read the characters bottled-up feelings for his old friend Kevin on Chirons face. Hes very innocent for such a big, brawny guy, Forman said. He just wants to be loved.

The next Movie & A Martini meet-up will be Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. at The Palace Theatre, 165 Main St., Danbury, to see Magnus. Buy your ticket and meet Joe Meyers in the lobby at 1:45 p.m.

jmeyers@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @joesview
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Sony has launched the Cyber-shot HX350 super zoom camera in Europe.

The successor to the HX300 comes with a massive 24mm to 1200mm (35mm equivalent) f2.8-6.3 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens with a 50x optical zoom. The lens is optically stabilized to reduce blur at the telephoto end.

Behind the lens sits a 20.4 megapixel EXMOR R sensor with a BIONZ X image processor. Other features include manual ring for zoom or focus adjust, custom button for quick adjustment, 3.0-inch tilting 921k dot LCD, 10fps burst mode, 1080p60 video, and HDMI out.

The Cyber-shot HX350 is priced at 449 and will be available in January 2017.

Source
You probably remember the Mi Notebook Air release in the summer. The ultrabook came in two sizes 13.3-inch and 12.5-inch, both with 1080p displays. Now the Chinese company announced upgraded version of the notebooks with 4G built-in support.

Even more - Xiaomi is partnering with China Mobile and the devices are pre-bundled with 4GB data plan/month for one year.

Both devices sport all-metal design and screens with 170-degree viewing angle. The 12.5-inch device is just 14.8mm thick and only 1.07kg but comes at a price - Xiaomi opted to go for lightness and portability so only fitted a Core M family processor. The 13.3 notebook is slightly heavier - 1.28kg, but comes with an Intel Core i5-6200U CPU, an NVidia 940MX GPU and 8GB DDR4 RAM.

The 12.5 notebook costs 4699 CNY or about $680 while its bigger sibling is priced at 6999 CNY or approx. $1010 with the data plan included.

Source




Haiti - FLASH : Revocation of the U.S. VISA of Moise Jean-Charles





Moise Jean-Charles, presidential candidate under the banner "Pitit Dessalin" one of the 3 protesters of the win of Jovenel Moise in the first round, confirmed that his U.S. Visa had been revoked by the U.S. Embassy, and he could no longer travel to the United States, while minimizing the impact of this revocation "As long as a man has not discovered something for which he would be ready to die, he is not able to live. Haitian people as I have always told you, a Visa is a courtesy, it does not make me hot or cold [...] revoking the Visa of Moise Jean-Charles will not prevent the movement to continue until the end [...]" without, however, explain the reasons for such revocation.



What is known is that Moise Jean-Charles was convened Wednesday to the U.S. consulate where he was told that his 5-year visa that had expired last November and that was the subject of a renewal had been revoked



Let's recall that Moise recently announced a series of demonstrations, in front of the American Embassy on Saturday 24 and Thursday, December 29, 2016, in protest against the publication of the preliminary results of the elections, while the American ambassador said that these Elections were credible. However, there is no indication that this announcement is related to this revocation of Visa.



For his part, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince did not give any information on the case, explaining that the Embassy never commented on a person's Visa affairs.



SL/ HaitiLibre


















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.

17:38, 3 NOV 2022
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged two men behind a phony day-trading firm with pocketing more than $1.4 million in deposits from hundreds of defrauded investors worldwide.

The SEC alleges that Naris Chamroonrat of Bangkok, Thailand, recruited Adam L. Plumer of Las Vegas to help him lure investors to day-trade through an unregistered brokerage firm called Nonko Trading with promises of generous leverage, low trading commissions, and low minimum deposit requirements. According to the SECs complaint, rather than using a live securities trading platform, Nonko Trading provided certain investors with training accounts that merely simulated the placement and execution of trade orders. So when these investors sent funds to Nonko Trading and proceeded to place trade orders, they were never actually routed to the markets. The SEC alleges that investor money was instead used to fund Chamroonrats personal expenses, pay Plumer and other associates, and make Ponzi-like payments to investors who asked to close their accounts.

According to the SECs complaint, the scheme deliberately targeted investors who were inexperienced and more likely to place unprofitable trades, making them less likely to ask to withdraw funds from their accounts.

As alleged in our complaint, Chamroonrat defrauded investors in more than 30 countries by using a trading simulator to deceive them into believing they were involved in legitimate securities trading rather than victims of a $1.4 million fraud, said Joseph G. Sansone, Co-Chief of the SEC Enforcement Divisions Market Abuse Unit.

In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey today announced criminal charges against Chamroonrat.

The SECs complaint charges Chamroonrat and Plumer with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b), 15(a)(1) and 20(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The SEC is seeking injunctions and the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest and penalties.
Torniainen, the prosecution argues, committed the act as part of an organisation engaged in racist activities and has demonstrated his disregard for the law with his history of violent crime.

The prosecution is demanding that the young man accused of a deadly assault in Helsinki in September, Jesse Torniainen, be sentenced to a minimum of five years and six months in prison for aggravated assault and grossly negligent homicide, reports Helsingin Sanomat .

The assault occurred as the victim was walking past a protest organised by the Finnish Resistance Movement, a branch of the Nordic Resistance Movement, at Helsinki Railway Square on 10 September.

The defendant has admitted to kicking the victim in the chest but contested the charges of aggravated assault and grossly negligent homicide, arguing that a single kick does not satisfy the elements of aggravated assault or cause the death of a 28-year-old man.

The force of the kick caused the victim to fall down and hit the back of his head on the pavement. He died one day after his release from hospital care, on 16 September.

Torniainen left the scene shortly after the assault, explaining in court that he had no interest in being locked up. He also rejected allegations that the motive for the attack was racist and insisted that his intention had only been to remove the 28-year-old man from the site of the demonstration.

His defence counsel estimated that a suspended prison term of six months would be an appropriate punishment for the act.

The entire incident was captured on a security camera.

The District Court of Helsinki is scheduled to deliver its verdict in the trial on 30 December, 2016.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen  Lehtikuva
The holiday season is a busy time and more and more people are finding their way to the internet to do their seasonal shopping. However, maybe you are a seasonally-spirited person. Maybe you prefer to wander past beautifully decorated stores with Jingle Bells playing on the speakers. Maybe you prefer to search for gifts by wandering through the shops, holding up clothes and checking the sizes, or by simply letting the displays catch your eye. If this sounds like you, you might prefer to wrap up in a warm scarf and cloak and make your way to the city center to visit Kauppakeskus Forum.

Forum was the first shopping center in Finland, with the original building ready for the 1951 Finnish Winter Olympics and the current location opening in 1985; now the 31-year-old mall has been declared by the Nordic Council of Shopping Centers to be the best mall in Finland in 2016. If you stop by to have a look, you might understand why. After a recent renovation, Forum is now 8000 m2 bigger and has added another twenty shops to reach a total of 140 different stores. We were so happy and proud, said Pia Rosvall, Forums marketing manager, of the victory. In May of 2017, Forum will go on to compete for the best shopping center in the Nordic countries.

However, the real reason to visit Forum in December is for that Christmas feeling, as their board put together an incredible visual display that, when combined with the right music, makes the mall into a wonderland of its own. Though Finland may not have a booth where children can meet Santa Claus  for that youd have to visit Rovaniemi  First Christmas decorations are nevertheless breathtaking, as thousands of twinkling lights greet you as you enter the central region of the shopping center, glimmering yellow and gold from every angle, as well as the decorative balls hanging from the ceiling. Shoppers are constantly pausing at the balconies, taking a moment to enjoy the general splendor. The board members of Forum voted for this choice 11-0 when we had three different [options] to choose from, Rosvall explained. The decorations were provided by First Christmas, who also decorate Dubai Mall, one of the largest and most well-known malls in the world.

Currently, Rosvall says that Forums highlights include Finlands first-ever Victoria Secret shop, as well as the Fazer Cafe, the Moomin Shop, Marimekko, among others. When asked what will attract shoppers to Forum as opposed to the other malls in the Helsinki-Espoo-Vantaa region, Rosvall explains: Forum has the best location and its easy to coordinate. We are easy to approach and very friendly. Like a family atmosphere. We are the best!

In fact, if youre looking for a family-friendly environment, Forum may be just the place for you. Not only is the third floor largely dedicated to child-oriented shoppers, but they now have a Moomin-themed play area, in case the kids need a break during their outing. There are seats for nursing, parking spots for strollers, puzzles and colorful decorations on the walls, as well as places to doodle pictures or watch Moomin videos.

Forum is currently partnering with Joulupuu, a charity that involves Helsingin Keskustan Nuorkauppakamari, as well as Helsinki City. This is their thirteenth year, gathering donations from 98 companies to give presents to the poor.
Tuxedo School on the market

The historic Tuxedo School is on the market and among the ideas a real estate agent and a prospective buyer have floated are a microbrewery, artist lofts and vacation condos.



Its a very sturdy brick building, said Verna Shipman, the listing agent. Its not in great repair. The entire thing probably needs to be scraped and repainted.

It needs a new heating system, too. But if an investor can sink the money into repairs, the 1920s Erle Stillwell building is ripe for a renovation, the agent says.

Its got the beautiful wood floors, Shipman said. Its such a great piece of property. They have their own fire department (within less than a quarter mile). Now they have the park. They have access to the lake plus theres enough land to expand.

Located just off the U.S. 25 connector, the property is easy to reach from Asheville, Hendersonville and the South Carolina Upstate.

One prospective buyer looked at the 15,000-square-foot building for use as microbrewery and pub, renovating the second floor as artists lofts. Shipman thinks vacation condos would be marketable.

Everybody has their own idea of what would be good, she said. The great thing about that piece of property is that you have all that land for wonderful parking and expansion of that facility if you want.

The Henderson County School Board sold the property to Shane Shipman in 2008. Later, his grandfather, Clifton Shipman, bought the property.

He never had any plans for it, the real estate agent said. He just wanted to own it. It was a place where he could go piddle. Hed go mow the yard.

Its now owned by Clifton Shipmans widow, Delores J. Shipman.

Although tax records and the MLS listing date the school to 1924, research by William Mitchell dates the architectural drawings to March 1930. Mitchell, a retired architect and author of Buildings as History: The Architecture of Erle Stillwell, called the school a small version of Stillwells typical two-story bick school, with five classrooms and an auditorium on the first floor, and three classrooms and a study hall on the second.

Tuxedo Elementary School closed in 1991, when the student body was moved to the new Upward Elementary School. The building was used as the Tuxedo Extended Day School until 2003, when that program was moved to the Balfour School building. The school building and property are assessed for tax purposes at $76,700.
Sherlock is back in the sequel to Enola Holmes and tonight Henry is attending the premiere in New York City with the cast and crew. Look fo...

The Enola Holmes 2 junket interviews are starting to come in and this is where we'll be posting them! View this post on Instagram ...

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A barber suffering from chronic pain due to osteoarthritis was caught growing 16,000 worth of cannabis plants at his home.

Shane Byrne (44) said that he was using the drug for medicinal purposes to give him pain relief.

The father-of-three has great difficulty working because of the pain and has only worked intermittently over the past number of years, the court heard.

He was described by his solicitor as a "decent man struggling with difficulties".

Gardai searched Byrne's home two years ago and found many cannabis plants of various different growth stages.

"He has a serious addiction to cannabis and realises the seriousness of what he did," his solicitor Patrick Branigan told the court.

"His arrest has had a serious strain on him, his family and his work and he had a breakdown afterwards but is doing well now."

Abusing

Byrne, of Fancourt Heights in Balbriggan, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to the cultivation of the cannabis plants at his home on December 3, 2014.

Byrne further pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of cannabis on the same date.

Judge Dermot Dempsey said no doubt the defendant is aware his mental health won't be helped by abusing cannabis to which Mr Branigan said: "It helps with his chronic pain but he knows the law of the land that it is illegal, although politicians are in discussions to consider allowing the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes."

Byrne had previously told the court he "wants to get back to work" but has stopped attending counselling.

The barber was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years for the cultivation of the cannabis plants at Balbriggan District Court.

Judge Dempsey also fined Byrne 100 for being in unlawful possession of cannabis.
Gardai will be on red alert over the coming week as notorious burglary suspects are temporarily released from prison for Christmas.

The move usually leads to a spike in burglaries, said a source close to the gardai.

The situation is made worse because homes full of expensive Christmas gifts are often left unoccupied as people go out to enjoy time with family and friends or attend office parties.

Last year, of the 3,700 prison population, 204 were temporarily released for the festive season.

Sources have revealed gardai in south Dublin fear at least half a dozen prolific burglars will be freed over Christmas.

However, they are hopeful that a special operation carried out by Dublin Eastern Garda Division in Tallaght last week against one of the country's most prolific burglary gangs will help stem the flow of criminals into the area. Three houses were raided amd one arrest was made, according to sources.

A total of 242 prisoners were granted temporary release for Christmas in 2014

"It is a cause of concern and these individuals will need to be closely monitored," a source told the Herald.

South Dublin has among the worst burglary rates in the country despite major garda initiatives to tackle the problem.

Epidemic

This included the use of heat map technology analysis in an attempt to combat the epidemic and the setting up of a special 14-man burglary response unit.

In total, there were 2,290 burglaries last year in the Dublin Eastern Garda Division, which covers south Dublin.

But it is understood that these shocking figures have been reduced this year, in part because many of the main players are behind bars.

There has been a 31pc drop in the level of burglary crime nationwide in the first half of 2016, according to Central Statistics Office figures released this week. There has been a significant reduction in south Dublin as well.

Last year, the area policed by Dundrum Garda Station had a 32.48pc increase in burglaries with 775 occurring there.

The situation was not much better in the nearby areas which are policed by Cabinteely and Blackrock Garda Stations.

Here, there were increases of 20.34pc and 18.7pc respectively, meaning a total of 845 burglaries were investigated by officers from these two stations last year.

In the same division, there was a 31.1pc increase in burglaries in the Shankill Garda Station area meaning that 251 of these crimes happened last year.

The area covered by Dun Laoghaire Garda Station saw the lowest percentage rise in burglaries at 11.4pc but there was still 419 instances of that crime in 2015.
Lily Rose Kenny with her loving grandfather Paddy at home in Thurles, Co Tipperary Picture: Colin O'Riordan

The beautiful baby girl whose mother died in a tragic car crash the day after she was born will be the centre of attention this Christmas.

Pictured for the first time, Lily Rose Kenny is now four months old and thriving in the care of loving grandparents Ann and Paddy.

People all over Ireland were saddened when details surrounding the death of young mum Nicola, from Thurles, Co Tipperary, emerged in early September.

Nicola had been travelling to Dublin's Temple Street Children's Hospital where Lily Rose had been taken the day she was born because of concerns over her health.

On the way, her phone rang and Nicola and her mother, Ann, and aunt, Irene, who was driving, pulled on to the hard shoulder of the M8 to take the call.

It was from Temple Street with the good news that Lily Rose was in good health and could be taken back home.

Fate

As Nicola, who was sitting in the back, relayed the happy news to her mother and aunt, a truck crashed into the back of the car. Nicola was killed, and both Ann and Irene were badly injured.

The Kennys now face their first Christmas without Nicola, and their first with Lily Rose.

"Christmas was Nicola's favourite time of the year," said Ann as little Lily Rose chuckled on Paddy's lap.

"We don't really have the heart for it now but we will do something for Lily Rose and her two cousins.

"You love your grandad, don't you," she added loudly in the direction of the couch where Lily Rose smiled back wide-eyed, in the protective arms of her doting grandfather.

In the warmth of the living room it is plain to see that the little tot is enveloped with love.

While the Kennys say they will be glad to see the end of 2016, they have good reason to look forward to 2017 because Nicola's brother, Paddy Jr, will become a father for the third time in March.

"The new baby and Lily Rose will be very close in age so they will grow up together and she will have a playmate," said Ann.

Lily Rose has a great appetite and is well able to smile and giggle and hold up her head.

"They're thrilled with her in the clinic. They say she is thriving," said Ann.

She and Paddy have both had to give up work to look after Lily Rose. Paddy looks after the night feeds so that Ann can get some rest.

In that sense, they are more parents to Lily Rose than grandparents, thrust into the parental role once more by a cruel twist of fate.

Their daily routine now revolves around Lily Rose and she is the centre of her family's hearts, and a vital link to her mother Nicola who they miss so much.

"It still doesn't seem real. We're dealing with it as best we can, and Lily Rose keeps us occupied," said Ann.

"She's like a daughter rather than a granddaughter in many ways, and she's very like Nicola.

"Everyone has been very supportive. Nicola's friends and her colleagues in Tesco where she worked, and everyone in the town, are great, as well as Pat's sisters and our neighbours. There is no shortage of offers of babysitters and help."

While not able to talk yet about the crash that claimed Nicola's life, Ann said she and her family have received tremendous and overwhelming support from people all over the country.

"People we don't know and never met have been sending us cards and letters. Pat goes through them but I haven't had the strength to read them yet. They are all in a box and I will go through them one day," she said.

"We also have a box of memories of Nicola to give to Lily Rose when she is older. Nicola was so looking forward to being a mammy, she loved children," Ann added.

Beautiful

Ann suffered a broken collarbone and facial injuries in the crash, and is still receiving treatment and physiotherapy.

Nicola worked in the local Tesco store where manager Robert Foley said everybody knew her.

At the time of the crash, Mr Foley said telling the staff what had happened was a incredibly difficult.

"She was a beautiful, bubbly, friendly young lady. She had been working here since 2008 so everybody knew her and she knew all the customers. We were like a second family to her I suppose.

"The one thing I remember is just how friendly she was, with a constant smile. If there was ever a time I'd be pulling her up on something I wouldn't last a minute because she would just be smiling at you all the time.

"She could get away with anything," he said.
No sooner had the news broken that Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, had been assassinated than the comparisons to 1914 began to flow. Google searches for Franz Ferdinand briefly spiked. Bill Kristol tweeted that the headlines had an alarming 1914-ish feel, and Owen Jones of the Guardian caught a whiff of 1914 that is too pungent to be ignored. That year, Bosnian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, setting in motion events that would result in World War I, a globe-consuming fight that left 17 million dead and Europe in ruins.

Given the uncertainty of the current moment and the players involved, the pull toward such analogies is strong. But there is a real danger here, a danger that exists in any historical analogy that draws surface comparisons while ignoring particulars. Such analogies give us a false sense of security, even when the antecedents are horrific: a sense that we know whats coming next and how to respond, that everything is knowable and under control. But the reality is that we have no idea what comes next, and if we act too assuredly, too trapped within the analogy, the odds of miscalculating grow exponentially.

Lets take that World War I analogy. In 1914, Europe was a tinderbox in search of a spark. A system of alliances that had kept peace, more or less, for a half-century had failed to adapt to the new realities of expanded empires, modern warfare and decaying monarchies. What had once granted stability now almost assured chaos. The empires involved were too insecure to allow the moment of Ferdinands assassination to pass. And when the dominoes fell, they fell with unimaginable consequences.

There are echoes with today, to be sure. Both Turkey and Russia are led by authoritarians anxious to show their power. Turkey is a member of NATO, an alliance system erected to counter Russian aggression. Add to that the instability in Europe and the United States, as well as the palpable fear that instability has created, and surely 2016 is 1914 redux.

But here is the problem with such analogies: They latch onto similarities, flattening the particulars of each historical moment. Which is why historical analogy is so dangerous in times like this. Russia is not itching for war with NATO. When it comes to testing NATO, Russia prefers to nudge the edges of the alliance, not strike at the heart of it. Witness Vladimir Putins actions toward Ukraine. The annexation of Crimea is alarming, but Putin was unwilling to risk war by grabbing the rest of Ukraine, which he believes to be properly part of Russia. And in Syria, where Russia has been supporting the Assad regime, Putin was slow to enter the fight, preferring to offer political and munitions support for the first several years of the war rather than direct involvement. Why would he pick a fight with Turkey, a valuable U.S. ally and NATO member? If he does declare war on Turkey, he will not be acting predictably but in a manner entirely out of line with his recent actions.

The other issue with historical analogy is that it ignores, well, history. Before World War I, an alliance system had never resulted in such catastrophic outcomes. The very fact of the war  the knowledge every actor in the drama now carries  changes the calculation every player makes. In 1914, no one knew something like the Great War, with its destructive, devastating results, could happen. Now, everyone does.

We are in a season rife with historical analogy, with many Americans glancing fretfully toward Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, drawing on the experience of those decades to illuminate this one. But historical analogies can often obscure rather than enlighten, assert rather than explain. Easy historical analogies lead us to think we understand more about the world and the future than we do.

The truth is, we dont know what will happen next, nor the best way to respond. History provides lessons for the present, not spoilers for the future. As such, it should inform our understanding, not dictate it. Those who fail to learn from the past may be doomed to repeat it, but those who over-learn are doomed, as well.
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.
They are two elderly gentlemen in their 90s who like to wear WWII veteran caps and go out for breakfast together on a regular basis. The two are Art Witkov, (my father), and Norm Bercoon. Their longtime friendship dates back to before the war.

Art and Norm were high school graduates when they met at the N. Shure Company, located on Adams Street in Chicago. The two of them were both new employees, hired at the not-very-robust-wage of 35 cents an hour. My dad and Norm were among many who filled and packaged customer orders for shipping. They hit it off right away. The year was 1941.

In December of that year, all the N. Shure employees were required to work seven days a week filling Christmas orders. Both Norm and my dad were together working side-by-side that "infamy" Sunday when news broke that the Japanese had attacked Pear Harbor.

So Art and Norm, two members of what has been referred to as the "Greatest Generation," went to war. Norm served as an artillery forward observer. My dad fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

During the war, Art and Norm were in different units. But their paths did cross while stationed in Europe when the war was over. They ran into each other walking down a street in Salzburg! After that, they were able to get together a couple of times, even attending a makeshift Rosh Hashanah service in the Mozarteum (a well-known music hall in Salzburg).

When World War II ended, a multitude of ships transported millions of American armed forces back to the States. When it was my dad's time to go home, he departed from Marseille, France, on the Eufaula Victory ship. Once onboard, to my father's surprise, Norm was on the ship too! It was an amazing coincidence.

Yes, the war was over. The servicemen (and servicewomen) were coming home. They were attending college on the G.I. Bill and returning to the American workforce. They were moving on with their lives, marrying, buying homes, and starting families. My father met and fell in love with my mother, Beverly. They were married in 1947. Norm was the best man at their wedding. Norm fell in love with Lorraine and married her in 1953. Over the years, the four of them enjoyed many good times together.

Norm and Lorraine also shared numerous family celebrations with my mom and dad, including weddings, bar mitzvahs, baby namings, and even my parents' 50th wedding anniversary party. Just like he did 50 years earlier, Norm toasted the bride and groom.

Today, Art Witkov and Norm Bercoon.

In April of 2015, my mother passed away. Since my mom's passing, my father and Norm have been going out for breakfast every week. Their longtime friendship has been incredible, and is still as strong as ever. Whenever I see Norm I enjoy telling him, "Norm, what can I say, you were my dad's best man at his wedding, and you are still his best man today!"

Art and Norm are two special people who grew up during the depression, fought in World War II, made productive lives for themselves, and made it into their 90s. They have wonderful loving families and, of course, the friendship of each other. Today, both my father and Norm are remarkably independent, and yes, they still drive too. They have been truly blessed and we are all so lucky to have them around.
You are selling your car. A prospective buyer offers your advertised price of $4,500. You say yes. It's a verbal acceptance. A few minutes later (before anything is put in writing), another prospect arrives and offers you $5,500. Do you honor your acceptance to the first buyer, take the higher offer from the second person, or attempt to negotiate for more money from the first buyer?

This is just one in a series of ethical dilemmas discussed recently with a teen group from Congregation Ohev Shalom and a group of seniors at Village on the Green senior living community. Four groups, each comprised of both teens and seniors, debated ethical issues-finding that there are no easy answers to difficult questions. "I'd like to be outspoken more and stand up for what's right," noted one female high school student, talking on the subject of bullying. "But it's so hard. Even if it's wrong, it's easier to be quiet."

"Quiet" was not a word to describe the group discussion, however. On a question relating to telling "a little white lie" regarding lying about age for a reduced rate ticket, one senior noted that she doesn't mess with the truth. "It's a matter of kavod-of showing respect (to self and others)," she noted. Across the room, a teen agreed with her, but added that in real life, there's a lot that's not so black-and-white. "Yeah, I might really need the money for school," he said.

A big conclusion from the entire group was the need for anyone to adhere to time-tested values such as truth, integrity and even tikkun olam (repairing the world). "Sometimes you have to prioritize the values that are at stake," noted Amy Geboff, director of COS's Youth and Family Education and moderator of the program. "You might have to actually think about which action will cause the least harm."

So what of the "truth" dilemma posed by the two car buyers? All four groups said they would tell the first buyer that they had received a higher offer from another buyer moments later, and give the first buyer the opportunity to match the $5,500 price. If the first buyer refused to negotiate, the majority of both seniors and teens said they would honor the first offer that had been made.

This program was one in a series of inter-generational programs sponsored by The Jewish Pavilion and Ohev Shalom synagogue. The Jewish Pavilion program was supported by generous funding from The Cherna Moskowitz Foundation; Ohev Shalom's "Dinner, Daber and Dvar" is in conjunction with JTEN of the Jewish Federation. At the request of both teens and seniors, a next program posing ethical dilemmas is scheduled for next month.
I started my genealogy research 18 years ago with the information I had available-not much. My maternal grandparent's marriage record included the names and birthplaces of their parents. The name for that great-grandfather, Joseph Rosenberger (1851-1899), happened to be the same as my mother's brother, so I felt I was on the right track. I was not aware of my great-grandfather having any siblings on either side of the Atlantic, and could find no mention of siblings in any census records since his arrival in 1869. The birthplace information in the marriage record of my great grandparents immediately took me from New York City, where most of my known family lived and where I had focused my research, to a place called Zebau, Austria. The family lore was that my grandfather's family was German, but much as I looked in the New York records for further documentation of that, I could find none. I finally went to the JewishGen.org's Town Finder/Jewish Communities Database to discover that Zebau was the name of the town back when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but it was now Cebiv, in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. I joined the Austria-Czech SIG (Special Interest Group) on JewishGen.org to see if I could learn more.

After another few months of making no progress, and not envisioning an overseas trip with so little information to go on, I learned through the SIG of a genealogist in Prague who could be engaged to do research. I emailed Julius Muller what little information I had. The combination of Julius' expertise and the well-kept Czech records yielded a substantial family tree going back to 1742, the year of the birth of my fourth great-grandfather, also Joseph Rosenberger. Julius' research revealed that my great grandfather had three brothers.

Several years later, my husband and I travelled to Prague on a vacation visit. I engaged Julius to take us to Cebiv where the Rosenberger family had lived and to the house in the early record. One history lesson learned-the town of Cebiv is located in what was referred to as Sudetenland, border districts with Germany that were part of Austria until the end of World War I and formerly inhabited primarily by ethnic German speakers. When Czechoslovakia was reconstituted after the Second World War, the Germans were expelled and Czech speakers moved in. Therefore, no one living there now has any knowledge from the time my family lived there. Nor, for that matter, did they have memories of any of the Jews that had lived there and their fate during the Holocaust. The house still existed on a small property. I was glad to be able to see it and the area, but without family there, it didn't come alive for me. We also visited a nearby cemetery-sadly neglected of course. The rain dampened my ability and enthusiasm to examine the graves more closely, though I did locate matzevoth of some family members.

Having the family records Julius found dating to 1742, along with what I found in Cebiv was most exciting. There were clearly family members left behind when my great grandfather immigrated to the US. I really didn't know where to start to look for them. How had they fared in the Holocaust? Were there survivors or subsequent generations? The Yad Vashem database yielded some names that I could tentatively connect, but the writers of those testimonies had since died. Time passed. The brick walls remained, and I put genealogy aside for another day.

Matzevah of Sara Rosenberger (nee Kohner), third great aunt, birthdate unknown, date of death Nov. 23, 1881. Sara was buried in the same cemetery as her husband and two of his brothers who were siblings of my second great grandfather. It was restored and reset in the Jewish cemetery of Bezdruzice by the Tachov Archives and Museum Society in the Czech Republic, whose Chairman, Vaclav Fred Chvatal, was one of the translators at IAJGS 2016. This important contact enabled me to add some tangible documentation to my family history, and makes my ancestors a bit more real.

Retirement in June 2016 allowed me to fulfill my promise to myself to get back to the family tree. I registered for the IAJGS (International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies) 2016 Conference in Seattle, put my family names in the Family Finder part of the registration, and sat back to wait for July. I was then contacted by Randy Schoenberg, the lawyer renowned for his successful fight against the Austrian government to reclaim Klimt paintings for the Ferdinand and Adele Bloch-Bauer family. Schoenberg is moderator of the Austria-Czech SIG on JewishGen.org. He persuaded me to join Geni.com, for which he is a "curator." Energized by the speakers and exhibitors at the IAJGS Conference, I returned home to tie myself to the computer for days on end. When I put my information in Geni.com, I found that we are indeed cousins. In addition, I have found more cousins and connections to a substantial part of the family that I never knew. While there are still a few family puzzles to solve, and some sadness to see how much of the family had perished in the Holocaust, I have found new cousins to engage with and perhaps to meet in the years ahead.

You can learn how to access many important resources at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando's (JGSGO) "My Jewish Roots" workshops. The next one is "Native Country Research" featuring IAJGS President Marlis Humphrey on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at Central Florida Hillel, UCF, 3925 Lockwood Blvd., Oviedo. The workshop is free and open to the public. Bring your own laptop to participate in the lab portion. It is also possible to attend via the Internet. Pre-registration is required. Pre-register for either in-person or online participation at http://www.jgsgo.org/MyJewishRoots.
(The Nosher via JTA)Every year I create a new latke recipe for the Chanukah season. Potatoes are so last year, but inspiring roots and vegetables is the trend now.

Plantain chips are among my favorite treats; put a bag in front of me, and its over. I blame my East Coast childhood for my addiction to Latin flavors. Sweet and salty plantains, deep flavors of paprika and sazon, and rice and beans are all my jam.

So with my deep love affair with Latin cuisine, I took this idea as inspiration for this years latke creation. Plantains fry up beautifully, as most may know from eating crispy plantain chips or tostones. To add a bit of depth, smoky chipotle and paprika are added to the shredded batter and as a complement to the savory latkes, a creamy avocado crema to dip the latkes in. Is there anything better?

A few cooking tips: The plantain mix will be a bit sticky, so when frying the latkes, oil the back of your spoon or spatula to gently press the latkes down so they dont stick too much. The thinner the latkes, the crispier they will be, and crispy plantains are exactly what you want.

Ingredients

For the plantain latkes:

2 green plantains

1/4 of a large yellow onion (or  small yellow onion)

2 garlic cloves, grated

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon smoked chipotle

1 whole egg, whisked

1/4 cup matzah meal

Salt and pepper, to taste

Canola or grapeseed oil, for frying

For the avocado crema:

1 ripe avocado

1/4 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt is a good substitute)

1 lime, juiced

Small bunch of fresh cilantro leaves (about  cup)

Small bunch of fresh parsley leaves (about  cup)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons water (for consistency)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

First prep your ingredients. Use a paring knife to peel the tough skin on the plantain and chop into smaller pieces, but large enough to fit through the feed of a food processor (or you can use a hand grater if you prefer).

Using a food processor with the small shredding blade, shred the plantains and the onion. Then add the mixture to a bowl and grate 2 garlic cloves, add the egg, matzah meal and spices, and mix everything together well.

Next, heat a large frying pan with enough canola oil to coat the bottom and allow to come up to about 360 F, or you can test it with a small piece of batter and if it sizzles, its ready.

Then spoon a tablespoon-sized amount of latke mixture into the pan, and slowly add it to the hot oil. Lightly grease the back of your spoon and gently press down on the latke so it fries up evenly. I add about 3-4 latkes to a large skillet.

Fry on first side until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes, then use a spatula to carefully flip over and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until crispy.

Once done, remove to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt as soon as they are done frying.

To make the avocado crema, add the avocado, sour cream, lime juice, herbs and spices to a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth. Add a bit of water to make it a creamier consistency.

When everything is done, serve the latkes with avocado crema and garnish with additional cilantro.

Samantha Ferraro is the food blogger and photographer for The Little Ferraro Kitchen. Samantha comes from a diverse background and is originally from Brooklyn, New York, until she turned to the island life and moved to Hawaii.

The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com.
Leslie S. Strasberg, age 73, of Longwood, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at his residence. Born on January 21, 1943, in Youngstown, Ohio, Les was one of three children born to the late Roy and Shirley Leavitt Strasberg. Following high school, he attended Ohio State University before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He relocated to the Orlando area from Ohio in 1977. Les and his brother Jim, worked together in real estate development.

Les is survived by his brother, Jim (Carol) Strasberg of Longwood; his sister, Jean (Kenneth) Fibus of Delray Beach; and his nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved dog, Abraham.

A memorial service, with military honors provided by the Marine Corps, was held at Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel with Rabbi Arnold Siegel officiating. Further services will take place at Rodef Sholom Cemetery in Youngstown.

In memory of Les Strasberg, the family requests contributions to the Jewish Pavilion, 421 Montgomery Road, Suite 131, Altamonte Springs 32714 http://www.jewishpavilion.org Arrangements entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 640 Lee Road, Orlando 32810.
NEW YORK (JTA)-When Northwestern University's student Senate passed a resolution in February 2015 asking the university to divest from six corporations they said contributed to the violation of Palestinians' human rights, freshman Ross Krasner was hurt and surprised.

The rhetoric of the measure, portraying Israel as an oppressor, was more extreme than what he had expected. Krasner decided to become more involved with the campus pro-Israel group, Wildcats for Israel, and became its president that May.

A year and a half later, he feels confident the university won't heed the resolution's divestment call, and Krasner has shifted his extracurricular focus on campus-serving as a student senator, a forum where he can advocate for a range of causes he supports, including but not limited to Israel.

"We knew the whole time the university wasn't going to divest," said Krasner, now a junior. "Because it passed, it's never going to be brought up again." Anti-Israel activists, he said, have "lost their rallying cry. They've lost their thing to mobilize around."

The vote by Northwestern's Associated Student Government Senate was one of three huge campus victories scored by the BDS movement-which aims to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel-within two weeks in February 2015. It was preceded by similar votes in the University of California Student Association, representing all U.C. students across the state, and in Stanford University's Undergraduate Senate.

But nearly two years after the BDS three-peat, the wave seems to have receded. Of about a dozen BDS resolutions passed since November 2015, only two or three have come at major universities. A BDS resolution at the University of Michigan failed three weeks ago.

Perhaps most significant, not one university has actually divested from Israel or companies targeted for doing business in the West Bank. After its College Council passed a divestment resolution in April, the University of Chicago released a statement saying an Israel boycott "would only diminish the University's distinctive contribution."

Hillel International President Eric Fingerhut told JTA that the organization has reached out personally to university presidents to lobby them against BDS and has found open ears.

"We have been in touch with university leaders, trustees and administrators to help them oppose, to help them understand why any kind of academic boycott or divestment would be the wrong thing to do," he said. "They've all agreed with that position."

Kenneth Waltzer, executive director of the Academic Engagement Network, a 350-member group of university faculty who oppose BDS, said divestment is a nonstarter for many university boards of trustees because it would violate their commitment to invest funds in a way that would best serve the school. There is not enough consensus on divestment, he said, for it to override concerns of fiduciary responsibility.

"University presidents are responsible," said Waltzer, an emeritus history professor at Michigan State University. "Students can get as excited as they want for a particular issue. They don't have a responsibility for where it goes. Do we want to cut off all our ties with Israel? It's a much more complicated issue."

National pro-Israel groups have invested millions of dollars in fighting BDS since 2010. In June 2015, Sheldon Adelson, the casino mogul, Jewish philanthropist and Republican megadonor, raised a reported $20 million at a summit launching a new group to fight BDS on campus. That same month, the Israeli government pledged some $25 million in anti-BDS funding over 10 years. In soliciting the money, leaders of national organizations portrayed BDS movements as the central threat to Israel on campus.

Pro-Israel groups now believe the threat has shifted as BDS has failed to make concrete gains in terms of divestment. They say that anti-Israel groups have pivoted from pushing divestment resolutions to protesting, and in some cases disrupting, pro-Israel events and speakers on campus.

But Ben Lorber, campus coordinator for the pro-BDS Jewish Voice for Peace, said divestment resolutions and protests at events serve the same purpose: sparking conversation about Palestinian rights. He predicted that BDS resolutions would re-emerge next semester with the approach of the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab states, as a result of which the West Bank came under Israeli control.

"The larger goal is to educate the community as a whole," Lorber said. "Divestment is so effective because it gets the whole campus talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and looking into these issues. Students are continuing to exercise their free-speech rights to protest injustice on campus and in the world around them."

Wendel Rubinstein, a 2016 University of Chicago graduate who campaigned for divestment, said that BDS activism may have scaled back as students-especially following the election of Donald Trump-are refocusing their efforts on demonstrating on behalf of immigrants and vulnerable minorities.

"I think what students have been focused on this year, especially in light of the election results, is building coalitions and solidarity," Rubinstein said. "There's not an actual campaign to push a specific initiative right now" on pressuring the university to divest from Israel.

Last month, more than a year and a half after its student divestment vote, Northwestern announced the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility. The committee will advise the university on how to vote at shareholder meetings, and will include four student representatives among its 10 voting members.

Krasner is concerned that anti-Israel students will be appointed to the committee, but still isn't worried that his school will divest from Israel. More troubling to him is the marginalizing of pro-Israel students in campus social justice movements-something he has experienced.

Last year, when students at the University of Missouri were protesting issues of racial injustice on their campus, Krasner co-wrote a resolution supporting the protests as a Northwestern student senator. But he was pressured to withdraw his name from the resolution, he said, after a senator supporting the campus African-American student group, as well as the campus Students for Justice in Palestine, objected to his pro-Israel activism.

Krasner called the incident "a very hurtful thing that happened to me."

"I'm constantly learning about what it means to be an ally to marginalized communities," he said. "As someone who says, 'No, I don't support BDS,' it's a challenge I wasn't prepared for coming in."
Imams, rabbis, and Jewish and Muslim lay leaders posing for a group photo at Congregation Tifereth Israel in Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2016.

WASHINGTON (JTA)-A year ago, when several dozen Washington-area Jewish and Muslim religious and lay leaders jostled for spots in a group picture, the mood was convivial.

The most novel item on the agenda for that November 2015 confab was bringing in non-Middle Eastern Muslims into the Jewish-Muslim dialogue. The meeting and the venue-an Indonesian-American Muslim center in Silver Spring, Maryland-helped "dispel the myth that Muslims are inherently of Middle Eastern descent," a release said.

On Sunday, the meeting of the third Summit of Greater Washington Imams and Rabbis was better attended-a hundred or so leaders were on hand at Tifereth Israel, a Conservative synagogue in the District of Columbia, about 30 more than last year-and the group picture was just as friendly. But in that anxious "we're in this together" way.

Following an afternoon packed with tales of Muslims enduring taunts, vandalism and bullying in schools, the host rabbi, Ethan Seidel, sang a Hasidic melody to calm the rabbis, imams and lay leaders as they scrambled into place ("short folks in front!").

What changed? The name some said they could hardly mention: Donald Trump, the president-elect.

"Think of the rhetoric of a person I won't name," said Ambereen Shaffie, a co-founder of the D.C. chapter of the interfaith Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, addressing the group after the photo shoot.

Shaffie described Thanksgiving break at her parents' Kansas City home, when all 40 people in her extended family said they encountered hostility in recent months, from bullying in schools, where younger relatives were called "terrorists," to a fire set on her parents' porch, to a bullet through the window of a male relative's home.

She blamed Trump's campaign, and his broadsides against Muslims, which included what an aide described as launching a database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, a ban on all Muslims from entering the United States, a pointed religious-based attack on the family of a Muslim-American Army captain killed in Iraq and Trump's unsubstantiated claim that he saw "thousands and thousands" of Muslims cheering as the World Trade Center collapsed on 9/11.

Similar tales of harassment and threats against Muslims abounded at the summit, an initiative of several local dialogue groups and the New York-based Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

And throughout the event, the Trump impact was often implied, if not explicitly cited.

The first session broke the gathering into lunch groups, and participants found printouts on their tables asking them to discuss how Jews and Muslims should "respond to the present social and political climate."

"Basically, they want us to react to the results of the last election," said Dr. Ira Weiss, a physician who is involved in the Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society of Greater Washington, tossing the printout back onto the table. "Some of what Trump said during the campaign was not only intolerant but dangerous."

The coming-together, where rabbis and lay leaders represented the spectrum of Jewish religious streams, was "especially significant at a moment of increased bigotry, when both communities are feeling vulnerable," Seidel said in the release announcing the summit.

Police in Maryland's Washington suburbs have reported a spike in vandalism, particularly in schools, that invokes Nazi imagery. Nationally, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center have reported an increase in incidents since the election targeting blacks, Muslims, immigrants, the LGBT community and women. The latest FBI hate crimes report showed a 67 percent rise in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the past year.

In the roundtable discussions and in plenary sessions, participants struggled to pin down what they could do to ameliorate the current climate.

Participants described initiatives, like mosque and synagogue twinnings, that began after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when there was more of a national consensus that Muslims in America deserved protection from counterattacks. But these initiatives had been in place for years and had not prevented the acceleration of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.

What went wrong? Participants seemed at a loss to understand.

Rabbi David Shneyer said his progressive congregation, Kehila Chadasha, had a post-election meeting with a strong turnout-50 members from a 100-family community-and that one of its conclusions was to "hold media more accountable."

"What does it mean, holding media more accountable?" Seidel asked.

"I can't explain at this point," Shneyer said.

Some participants said the rabbis, imams and lay leaders needed to break out of their bubbles of mutual affection and travel to the America that had elected Trump.

"We need to reach out to communities where the likelihood of a difference of opinion exists at a higher rate," said Abdul Rashid Abdullah, representing the National American Muslim Association on Scouting and sporting a scoutmaster's shirt.

Abdullah said he had been raised a Roman Catholic and converted to Islam when he was 18.

"I came from a household that's probably supporting Trump," he said. "By God's will, I'm not on that route-but I could have been."

Rabbi Sid Schwarz, a senior fellow at Clal: The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, outlined to the larger group what his lunch table came up with, including volunteering to register as Muslims should Trump make good on his campaign proposal to set up a national Muslim registry. (The ADL's CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, proposed the same idea last month at his organization's plenary in New York.)

But Schwarz also voiced a sense of helplessness that permeated the discussion.

"There's got to be a more proactive agenda to counter the way Trump has characterized Islam as radical," he said.

"How do you get out of the vacuum?" a participant asked.

"Reverse freedom rides," someone else said. "We take our bubble into the hinterlands."

Some practical ideas emerged, including synagogue members appearing outside mosques during Friday prayers bearing signs expressing support, and setting up volunteer systems that would accompany children to school who had been subjected to harassment there.

Rabbi Jason Kimmelman-Block, the director of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, spurred participants to sign his group's petition urging President Barack Obama, before he leaves office, to dismantle the National Security Exit-Entry Registration System, an existing structure that Trump could use to facilitate a Muslim registry.

Walter Ruby, the Muslim-Jewish relations director for the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, said a 10-person steering committee would be chosen from those attending the meeting. Rabbi Gerald Serotta, the executive director of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, circulated an outline of a rapid response system should hate crimes occur.

Shaffie said Muslims and Jews should set an example by broadening the current paradigm of "utilitarian" collaborations-joining in legal challenges, for instance-to establish deeper friendships. She described how the women in her group, the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, visit each other's homes "when babies are born, when someone passes."

"Loving someone else for the sake of God," she said, is a means of "standing together as protectors, not defined by common victimhood, but a common heritage of dignity and love."
This week, the Jewish Academy of Orlando kindergarten students visited Savannah Court in Maitland. Every year, the students perform songs for Chanukah at the senior living community.

"It is amazing to see the smiling faces," said teacher Andrea Gould. "Our kids' songs and dances seem to really affect the residents of the community-in a way that only kids and music can."

Head of School Alan Rusonik added, "Our students visit Savannah Court several times a year. It is part of us teaching mitzvot and giving back at the various holidays."

Parents support this as part of the school's mission. In fact, it is usually a full house with all of the parents who come and watch.

"Not only did it warm my heart to see these delicious children perform, it melted my heart watching them interact with their elders," said parent Amanda Jacobson. "I am happy that my daughter is learning how to give back to her community."

To get involved or for any questions, please contact Alan Rusonik, Head of School, at 407-647-0713.
Please join the Jewish Pavilion on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m. at Sheraton Orlando North (Maitland) for their Gems and Jeans Gala, as they honor Board members and community 'gems,' Geanne Share and Ruth Darvin, for providing exemplary volunteer assistance to Orlando's elder-care community. Slip on your favorite pair of 'dressy' jeans, and the Pavilion will provide the sparkle, with an evening of gourmet dining, live music, silent auction and a celebration of friends, with proceeds benefitting seniors served in more than 70 assisted-living and skilled-nursing facilities. Motivational speaker Bethanne Weiss will share how the Orlando Senior Help Desk and the Jewish Pavilion have impacted her parent's lives, from their choice of senior living community to year-round holiday celebrations. Register now online at http://www.jewishpavilion.org, special events, or call 407-678-9363 for more information.

While Jewish Pavilion Gala honoree, Geanne Share, first began volunteering with Orlando's seniors, almost 20 years ago, she noted that she began her charitable work "while practically still in the womb." Share said that her parents, the late Myron and Inez 'Teddy' Snyder, have served as her inspiration, and that growing up in Brookline, Massachusetts, she absorbed their philanthropic nature, with her mother founding the Northeast Chapter of Hadassah, as well as serving as the president of Jewish Memorial Hospital. Share has done her parents proud, and serves not only on the Jewish Pavilion Board, but has also served on a host of other nonprofit boards, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, Temple Israel, and the Orlando Ballet. She is the current president of the Kinneret Apartments, as well as the Kinneret Council on Aging. Additionally, she founded the Ethel S. Danoff series, a celebration of the arts at Trinity Preparatory School in Orlando, and has volunteered with the Morningstar Catholic School auxiliary for the past 17 years.

The lifetime volunteer became interested in spending time with elders as early as middle school.

"I would play Sinatra music and dance with patients at Jewish Memorial Hospital," Share said.

After relocating to Orlando in1998, she joined her mother, a Kinneret resident, as a "Kinneret Angel." Share attended her first Jewish Pavilion luncheon with Teddy, "discovering a community of friends," becoming an active volunteer and joining the Pavilion Board in 2009.

When daughter, Olivia, chose to sing to elder-care residents with the Jewish Pavilion for her bat-mitzvah project in 2005-2006, Share joined in, volunteering by her side. Share helped the program directors in whatever was needed, but most enjoyed enlivening the festivities by keeping the residents on the move, dancing and swaying with them to the music. Share was a frequent visitor and companion at Westminster Towers, where she volunteered with her mother, who later became a resident

As a Pavilion volunteer, Share has combined her love of dance and spending time with the elderly, visiting a handful of the senior living communities served by the nonprofit.

"I love to dance with seniors. Human contact and touch is so important. I even slow dance with the older ladies, and many share that it's been ages since someone has held their hand, or touched their shoulder."

Since surviving breast cancer seven years ago, Share has found the power of healing in the human touch and hopes to pass this on to the elders she engages.

"Recently, I asked an elderly man in a wheelchair if he would like to dance or sway to the music with me. He replied, 'I don't dance anymore, but I'd like to hold your hand while you do,'" she commented.

Share also enjoys sharing the Jewish holiday cycle with the elderly residents.

"L' Dor V' Dor, From Generation to Generation. I love sharing our traditions with the older generation. Many of them were taught by rote, so we have had some wonderful conversations about why we celebrate the way we do. Many times I have heard wonderful memories from the past that are stimulated by their Jewish Pavilion experiences. I learn who sat at their holiday table growing up, or how a certain event triggered a childhood memory."

Like many volunteers, Share noted that "I get much more back than I give." She loves to learn from the older generation "who has seen everything", and can offer "great and supportive advice."

The Gala co-honoree remarked that she is "thrilled to be honored by the Jewish Pavilion, and that it really is a double honor to share this event with fellow honoree, Ruth Darvin."

She "can't wait" to include her family in this gala event, including husband, Adrian, along with her three children.

"My motivation was always to honor my parents in what I do. It is especially poignant to receive this honor after the recent passing of my mother," Share stated.

"We are so fortunate to have Geanne as an advocate of the Jewish Pavilion and the seniors we connect with in more than 70 senior living communities," stated Nancy Ludin, Jewish Pavilion executive director. "Geanne is an Orlando treasure and has impacted so many through her involvement with the greater community. Please join us at our "Gems and Jeans Gala" as we honor Geanne, along with Ruth Darvin, two women who have added sparkle in the life of so many."
A man holds a sign promoting an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory across the street from the former World Trade Center site on Sept. 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Nearly 70 percent of the major attacks against American Jews and their institutions during the last five decades have been carried out by white supremacists and Islamic terrorists, according to an unprecedented new report released by the Community Security Service (CSS), a Jewish security organization.

"What is most concerning is that those who intend to harm the Jewish community are becoming increasingly brazen in their attacks," said Yehudit Barsky, the author of the report, which was released Dec. 12.

The report, titled "Terrorist Incidents and Attacks against Jews and Israelis in the United States 1969-2016," catalogues the 104 most violent attacks against American Jews over the course of the last five decades by focusing on the patterns and trends in those incidents.

Jason Friedman, executive director of CSS, told JNS.org that the report aims to raise awareness not only among Jewish leaders, but also the wider American community and law enforcement agencies on attackers' trends and tactics as well as the security threat the Jewish community faces.

"We hope that readers understand the nature of the threat, the ideologies and impulses behind the threat, and that this leads to greater emphasis on security within the [Jewish] community," he said.

Friedman noted that a report of this specific nature had never been previously compiled.

"We saw this type of research had never been done before, and we wanted to better understand the patterns of attacks over the last five decades to inform our own-as well as our law enforcement partners and other security partners'-operations and training," he said.

According to the report's analysis, attacks against the Jewish community "have increased in their intended severity and have, or would have, claimed many more victims than in previous decades."

The report reveals that Jewish houses of worship were the most-targeted location, accounting for roughly 51 percent of attacks, followed by Jewish communal institutions (14 percent), individual Jews (13 percent), and Jewish educational institutions (10 percent). Among these attacks, the report finds equal frequencies for arson, shootings and the use of explosive devices.

Further, the report extrapolates several lessons and recommendations that could inform general law enforcement. For instance, the report notes that going after Jewish targets often serves as a precursor to larger attacks-including for the perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, who were first involved in anti-Jewish incidents, and the 2009 Arkansas military recruiting center shooting, whose perpetrator first carried out attacks on anti-Jewish targets.

"Now, in the second decade of the twenty-first century, we find ourselves in an era where those who promote anti-Jewish rhetoric and instigation have the technical tools to reach a broader audience in less time than ever before. In fact, as recently as March 2016, the Islamic State in Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) publicly encouraged its followers to attack Jews and their allies, 'wherever they find them,'" the report states.

For American Jews, the CSS report comes at a time marked by various challenges such as surging anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric and attacks on U.S. college campuses, the rise of the alt-right movement, and the threat of Islamic terrorism. Friedman said he hopes the report will provide "some critical perspective" for the Jewish community.

"The Jewish community does not exist in a vacuum and is subject to the social, political and economic forces that affect all Americans. In many cases, these forces can affect the Jewish community more intensely," Friedman told JNS.org.

"We are certainly feeling this effect right now," he said.

Friedman also hopes the report will underscore the importance of security awareness and investment in security infrastructure.

"Every Jewish community has the responsibility to be aware and take proactive steps to prevent attacks," he said. "Having trained volunteers from within the community ensures that no matter how law enforcement resources and security guard budgets are allocated, the community has a sustainable and effective means of security."
Israeli intruder charged with assault for breaking into Arizona home, holding child

(JTA)An Israeli man has been arrested in Arizona after he broke into a strangers apartment and was found holding the familys 2-year-old child.

The suspect, Oren Aharon Cohen, claimed he did not harm the toddler, whom he had drunkenly thought was a midget.

An unnamed man in Tempe, Arizona, woke up to a find a stranger holding his crying daughter early morning last Thursday, The Washington Post reported. Cohen, 34, told the homeowner that he was his friend, tossed the child onto a couch and attempted to run away. The father caught Cohen, and police arrested him for second-degree burglary, aggravated assault and kidnapping.

Police found Cohens shoes, coat and passport in the childs bedroom and discovered that the Israeli had used a bathroom in the apartment and drank orange juice from the refrigerator.

In his court appearance on Friday, Cohen offered an unusual explanation for his actions: He had been drunk and therefore had gone into the wrong apartment, where he had mistaken the child for a midget.

I went to visit a friend. Her name is Carolina. She lives in this complex. We were drinking a lot over there in her house. We went outsideI went outside [to] smoke a cigarette. I guess I got blacked out. I went to the wrong door and thats why you guys charge me [with] burglary? For going to the wrong apartment.

He continued: Now after that I didnt realize it was dark, I didnt realize what was happening. And I guess, thats when I saw this midget. It looks like a midget and I thought its [a] midget.

Cohen alluded to the possibility that he had touched the child inappropriately: I would never do anything like that. My dad is a sex offender. I would never do anything even close to that.

Cohens explanation was not enough to sway the judge to change his bail, which was set at $250,000. He is being held at a Maricopa County jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

Website targets Jewish community in white supremacists hometown

(JTA)A white supremacist website has called on its readers to troll Jewish residents of Whitefish, Mont., home to white supremacist leader Richard Spencer.

The Daily Stormer, a white supremacist publication, published a call Friday to take action against Jews in Whitefish by writing and calling them with anti-Semitic messages. The post included the names, phone numbers and addresses of Jewish Whitefish residentsin addition to the Twitter handle and photo of a child.

The post also included photos of Jewish residents of Whitefish emblazoned with yellow stars. Along with using a number of anti-Semitic slurs, the post warned readers against using violence or threats of violence or anything close to that.

The post claimed that Jewish residents were threatening Spencers mothers business.

Spencer is president of the National Policy Institute, a white supremacist think tank. Last month, he spoke at a white supremacist event in Washington, D.C. celebrating President-elect Donald Trumps victory. At the event, Spencer said Hail Trump! and was greeted by Nazi salutes.

One of the Jewish residents named by the Daily Stormer, Rabbi Francine Green Roston, is a member of Love Lives Here, a local anti-discrimination group. Roston, who moved to Whitefish with her family from New Jersey in 2014, told CNN last week that Whitefish is way bigger than Richard Spencer.

Hes not powerful, she said. Hes just spreading a message of hatred. And we have to keep calling that out, and showing that that is not representative of this country, certainly not representative of this community.

The local government of Whitefish, which has 6,000 full-time residents, has rejected Spencers ideas. Recently, the Whitefish City Council reread an anti-discrimination ordinance passed unanimously in 2014 that supports the dignity, diversity, and inclusion of all of its inhabitants and visitors, and condemn ideologies, philosophies and movements that deny equality of human rights and opportunities and challenge our Constitutional freedoms granted by the United States and the State of Montana.

Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines tweeted Sunday that the anti-Semitic post was repulsive.

Colleagues of Rostons from around the country have deluged her Facebook page with expressions of support. Dear Friends, thank you for your messages of love and support, she responded Monday. Im moved to tears easily these days and I am incredibly moved by our friends standing up to hate.

Israelis open San Franciscos latestand now onlykosher bakery

(JTA)An Israeli-owned restaurant has opened as the only kosher retail bakery in San Francisco.

Israeli friends Isaac Yosef, Avi Edri and head chef Yanniwho goes by one nameheld a soft opening for their bakery Taboon in the citys SoMa neighborhood last week, the San Francisco Gate reported.

As Oaklands Grand Bakery gets set to close this week after 55 years of operation, Taboon will become the citys only true kosher bakery. Izzys Brooklyn Bagels, which is kosher-certified, has locations in Palo Alto and East Palo Alto.

Taboon offers challah, pita, bagels, babka, rugelach, bourekas, sufganiyot for Hanukkah and more. The recipes are taken from Yannis great-grandfather, an Iraqi Jew who migrated to Israel and owned a bakery in Jerusalems Machane Yehuda Market.

The bakery has been churning out 1,000 pitas a day and selling out of most of its items daily.

All of my life, I was dreaming to open my own bakery, Edri, a former diamond merchant, told the Gate. Its a dream come true.

Two other kosher-certified bakers, Irvings Premium Foods in San Francisco and Vital Vittles in in Berkeley, do not have retail locations but supply baked goods to stores and restaurants.

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hollywood socialite who was married 9 times, dies at 99

(JTA)Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, a Hollywood socialite who had nine marriages, has died at the age of 99.

Gabor, whose given name was Sari and who was known for calling everybody dah-link in her Hungarian-accented English, died on Sunday, less than two months shy of her 100th birthday.

Though Gabor was a practicing Catholic, her parents were Jewish, and her family reportedly was once members of the Dohany Street Synagogue in Budapest. Her mother, Jolie (Janka Tilleman) Gabor, escaped Hungary after the Nazis occupied Budapest in 1944.

Gabor appeared in more than 30 movies but is best known for her performances in films such as Moulin Rouge and Lovely to Look At, both in 1952, and Lili in 1953.

Gabor was married nine times; seven marriages ended in divorce and one was annulled. At the time of her death she was married for 30 years to Frederic von Anhalt. Other husbands included hotel mogul Conrad Hilton, and British actor George Sanders, who later married Gabors sister Magda. Her sister Eva Gabor started on the TV comedy series Green Acres.

In 1989 she was jailed for three days after slapping a Beverly Hills police officer during a traffic stop for an expired license tag.

Gabor reportedly had plans to move to Hungary to live out the rest of her days, with reports saying her husband planned to celebrate her 100th birthday in California and then move to Hungary. Variety reported in its obituary of Gabor that she had been on life support for the last five years, before dying of a heart attack.

Benjamin Gilman, who served more than 30 years in Congress, dies at 94

(JTA)Benjamin Gilman, who served as a Republican congressman from New York for more than 30 years and who was a pro-Israel voice in Congress, has died.

Gilman died on Saturday at a veterans hospital in New York at the age of 94.

Gilman was first elected to Congress in 1972 and served 15 full terms until 2003, representing the lower Hudson Valley area north of New York City. He announced his retirement after redistricting and reapportionment in the wake of the 2000 census would have forced him to run against a sitting Republican.

Gilmans parents were German Jewish immigrants. In 1933, Gilman accompanied his father to Berlin to persuade an aunt to come to the United States, where he saw Nazi storm troopers marching in the street, according to the Washington Post. The aunt refused to come and later was killed by the Nazis.

Gilman graduated from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946 and from New York Law School in 1950. He served in U.S. Army Air Forces and flew 35 bombing missions over Japan, for which he was awarded military medals.

Gilman had a private law practice and served in the New York State Assembly before being elected to Congress.

He was a founder of the House Human Rights Caucus and worked behind the scenes to help free political prisoners, including Natan Sharansky. In 1994 he became chairman of the House International Relations Committee, now the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Gilman voted to increase aid to Israel during his years in Congress. He took a hard-line approach toward the Palestinians, and spearheaded legislation in 2000 that would have cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority if it unilaterally declared a Palestinian state.

At the time of his retirement, Gilman was the oldest sitting representative in the U.S. House.

When Gilman retired in 2002, admirers recalled how he would set aside Fridays to meet with Orthodox and Russian constituents in Monsey, N.Y., to hear their concerns. He would hold court, Joseph Halfon, a longtime supporter and friend of Gilmans from Rockland County, which is part of Gilmans district, told JTA. He was an icon in the community.

Charleston church shooter wont call mental health experts, calling psychology a Jewish invention

(JTA)Dylann Roof, who considers psychology a Jewish invention, said he will not ask jurors to consider his mental health when they decide whether or not to sentence him to the death penalty for the murders of nine black worshipers at a Charleston, South Carolina church.

Roof, 22, who is acting as his own attorney during the penalty phase of the trial, said in a handwritten note to the court that he will not be calling mental health experts or presenting mental health evidence.

While the note did not specify the reason, his journal, filed with racist and anti-Semitic rants, which was introduced as evidence during the trial, says he considers psychology a Jewish invention.

It is a Jewish invention and does nothing but invent diseases and tell people they have problems when they dont, Roof wrote, according to reports including from the Associated Press.

Roof, who is white, was convicted on Thursday of 33 charges of federal hate crimes in the 2015 massacre of African-American worshipers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. A separate trial on state charges in the nine killings in the church shootings is scheduled for next year.

In a 2,500-word racial manifesto published on a website that was registered in his name, Roof said that the Jewish problem would be solved if we could somehow destroy the Jewish identity. The website was blocked shortly after the shootings.

Roof devotes most of the manifesto to a discussion of blacks, who he calls the biggest problem for Americans, and who he says are stupid and violent. He discusses segregationRoof said it was not a bad thing. It was a defensive measureas well as slavery, the flight to the suburbs and racial mixing.

Roof calls Jews an enigma, adding, I dont pretend to understand why jews [sic] do what they do. He said he believes that the majority of American and European jews are White.

In my opinion the issues with jews is not their blood, but their identity. I think that if we could somehow destroy the jewish identity, then they wouldnt cause much of a problem. The problem is that Jews look White, and in many cases are White, yet they see themselves as minorities. Just like [the N word], most jews are always thinking about the fact that they are jewish, Roof wrote.

He added: The other issue is that they network. If we could somehow turn every jew blue for 24 hours, I think there would be a mass awakening, because people would be able to see plainly what is going on.

French chief rabbi offers condolences, prayers after deadly Berlin Christmas attack

(JTA)The chief rabbi of France, Haim Korsia, offered condolences to the people of Germany following an apparent terrorist attack in Berlin.

At least nine people died and dozens were wounded in the incident Monday evening, which police representatives in Berlin said was likely a deliberate attack. It involved a truck that hit pedestrians at a Christmas market at the Berlin square of Breitscheidplatz outside Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Associated Press reported.

In July, more than 80 people died and hundreds were wounded in similar circumstances in Nice, France, where an Islamist drove a truck through a crowd of people on a busy promenade.

With all my heart with the people of Berlin and all the people of Germany, French Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia wrote on Twitter. My prayers accompany you, he wrote, adding the hashtags #Berlin, #Breitscheidplatz and #ichbineinBerliner a quote which means I am a Berliner from a 1963 speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in West Berlin.

Police in Germany said the driver of the truck initially fled the scene, according to the BBC and other European news outlets. A man suspected as the driver was later arrested near the site of the attack. A second man who was in the drivers cabin died during the incident, according to the Bild newspaper.

After the July 14 incident in Nice, the Islamic State terror group claimed that the attacker, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, was one of its soldiers.

Footage from the scene of the incident in Berlin showed the black truck with its front end wedged between the market stalls amid upturned boxes and crates.

Last month the U.S. Department of State warned travelers that there is a heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe during the holiday season.

The Department of State wrote on their website: U.S. citizens should exercise caution at holiday festivals, events and outdoor markets.

In recent months, Western European intelligence agencies added some churches to list of at-risk locales which for years have included synagogues and other Jewish institutions.

In July, two assailants who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State killed a priest during an attack in a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of Rouen about 65 miles northwest of Paris. They shouted Allahu Akbar, or God is great in Arabic, before slitting the priests throat, according to reports.

In 2012, a jihadist killed four Jews, a rabbi and three children, at a Jewish school in Toulouse. In 2014, four people were murdered at the Jewish Museum of Belgium, in what Belgian prosecutors said was a terrorist attack perpetrated by the French Islamist Mehdi Nemmouche. He has denied the charges and is standing trial in Belgium. And last year, four Jews were killed in a jihadists attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris.

Bulgarian Jews raising money for Muslim victims of train explosion

(JTA)Bulgarian Jews donated some $6,000 to victims of an explosion inside a heavily populated Muslim village, in one of the most successful fundraisers in the history of their impoverished community.

The fundraiser organized by the Shalom Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria was for victims of the Dec. 10 accident in Hitrino, in northeastern Bulgaria. Seven people were killed and more than 20 injured in a fire that raged through the village as a result of the explosion of a derailed tanker train.

The donations are still coming in, and we have extended the fundraiser by one more week, Alexander Oscar, the president of Shalom, told JTA Monday. He noted that $6,000 is a lot for Bulgaria, where the average monthly salary is $500. I think the response has been amazing, said Oscar.

We have pensioners, who donate 10 percent to 15 percent of their monthly stipend, he said. We have children giving up their Hanukkah pocket money and its just an uplifting experience to see this spirit of giving and mutual assistance, crossing faiths and ethnicities, communities.

Bulgaria is home to approximately 2,000 Jews, according to the World Jewish Congress.

The donations raised in Shaloms fundraiser came from private individuals, not organizations, Oscar added, which is remarkable considering that the culture of philanthropy is not well-developed here.

The Bulgarian Red Cross has collected close to $1 million in its campaign for Hitrino, the Sofia Globe reported.
The Central Conference of American Rabbis has announced that Rabbi Cindy Enger will become the Reform Movement's director of Rabbinic Placement, effective July 1, 2017. Rabbi Enger will be the first woman to ever hold the position of director of Rabbinic Placement in any Jewish movement.

Rabbi Enger comes to the directorship with a wealth of experience as a congregational and organizational rabbi, a lawyer, and a lay leader. Prior to her ordination from HUC-JIR, she served as an attorney in Chicago, first in a large law firm and later as an Associate Public Guardian on behalf of abused and neglected children and disabled adults. At that time, she also served as president of a Chicago-based congregation when it initiated its search for its first rabbi. Later, Rabbi Enger served as a congregational rabbi in Bellingham, Wash., and in Chicago, Ill., as well as an organizational rabbi at the FaithTrust Institute in Seattle, Wash. At the FaithTrust Institute, Enger established and directed the Jewish Program, working with rabbis, congregations, and Jewish organizations.

"Rabbi Enger's experience as a rabbi, an attorney, and a congregational lay leader make her a perfect match for the position," said Rabbi Steven A. Fox, CCAR's chief executive. "Her broad understanding of the Jewish world and Reform Jewish life, and her deep knowledge of the sacred and complex relationships between a community and its rabbi, are extraordinary assets for the ongoing work of rabbinic placement, and the Reform Movement as a whole. We are excited to welcome her to the CCAR senior leadership team."

Rabbi Denise L. Eger, president of CCAR and Rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood, Calif., noted that Rabbi Enger is joining a CCAR senior staff team that has another woman rabbi, Rabbi Hara Person, publisher of CCAR Press and director of Strategic Communications. "Both Rabbi Enger and Rabbi Person are the first women to ever hold their respective positions, making them the two highest ranking women rabbis in the Reform Movement."

"Rabbi Enger brings an incredibly rich level of experience to the position," said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. "Her work with the FaithTrust Institute gives her a deep, nuanced understanding of the relationship between rabbis and their communities, and having served as a Temple President, she is very familiar with both sides of the equation when it comes to rabbinic placement."

"I'm very proud of the way in which Rabbi Fox designed a process, created strategic outcomes, and engaged our Movement partners in the search for the new Director, especially members of the Reform Placement Commission," said Rabbi Eger. "This was an intentional, thoughtful search process that serves as a model for congregations and other Jewish organizations. The appointment of Rabbi Enger moves the Reform Movement forward in important ways, emphasizing the depth of services we offer our colleagues, congregations, and the Jewish community."

Rabbi Enger succeeds Rabbi Alan Henkin, who will transition to his new position as CCAR special adviser as of July 1, 2017.
Haim Saban is wrong when he says Minnesotas U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison is unqualified to head the Democratic National Committee. Ellisons anti-Israel and anti-Semitic lineages do not disqualify him from the position. They more than qualify him.

It is Ellison, not Sabanthe Israeli-American mega-donor to both the Democratic Party and pro-Israel causeswho represents the Democrats true colors. The party has been abandoning support for the Jewish state for well over a decade. Recent studies by Brookings, Gallup, and Pew reveal a growing gap of support for Israel between Democrats, independents, and Republicans. Israel, an issue that should never be partisan, is strongly supported by Republicans and independents. Democrats? Not so much.

When there are anti-Israel demonstrations and anti-Semitic activity on our college campuses, it is not the Young Republicans declaring allegiance to the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas. Progressives are chanting, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. This call for the destruction of Israel and murder of the Jewish people comes from leftist groups, not Christian organizations.

This is the party that generates more sackcloth and ashes over a Jew building an extra bathroom in eastern Jerusalem than an Iranian building a nuclear device in Tehran. Democrats remain silent over the murder of gays in Iran and inhumane treatment of women in Saudi Arabia, while condemning Israel when they defend their citizens from rocket attacks launched from Gaza.

President Barack Obama supported the Muslim Brotherhood while it forcibly imposed a sharia law-oriented government on the Egyptian people. This is the party that was virtually silent as the Islamist government of Mohammed Morsi persecuted and murdered Coptic Christians. This is the party that wanted Morsis regime restored after millions of Egyptians took to the streets to demand his removal.

When the Egyptian military, under former military leader and now President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, took control of the government from the Islamists, the Obama administration still clung to the Islamists.

This is the party that overthrew the stable government of Libya and gave us a failed state that now serves the interests of the Islamists and has become an open door for Muslim refugees fleeing to Europe.

On Jan. 21, 2009, Agence France-Presse reported that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbass spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, quoted the newly elected President Obama as saying, This is my first phone call to a foreign leader and Im making it only hours after I took office.

In view of the palpable anti-Israel and anti-Semitic vitriol that permeates large segments of the Democratic Party, the question that I am most commonly asked by intelligent, politically astute gentiles is, how can Jews continue to vote for the Democrats?

The answer is complicated. Most American Jews are leftists first and Jews second. There is also a mistaken Jewish notion of tikkun olam, the responsibility to repair the world, which is invoked most frequently in Reform and Conservative denominational circles. In todays America, tikkun olam has come to mean following Democratic policies of redistributing wealth.

Ellisons bid to become chair of the DNC would be entirely fitting. He embodies the growing anti-Semitism and prevailing anti-Zionism of the real Democratic Party, not the one Saban tells himself exists so he can sleep at night.

Perhaps, with Ellison at its head, Jews will no longer be able to deny what the Democratic Party really stands for when it comes to issues that are crucial to their very existence as a people with both a spiritual and Zionist identity.

Saban is correct in his assessment of Ellison as an anti-Israel anti-Semite. But would Ellison really be a disaster for the relationship between the Jewish community and the Democratic Party, as Saban predicts? No. It would be more of wake-up call for a stiff-necked people.

Abraham H. Miller is an emeritus professor of political science, University of Cincinnati, and a distinguished fellow with the Haym Salomon Center. Follow him on Twitter @salomoncenter.
When students at Torontos Ryerson University Hillel proposed to their Student Union that the university participate in the broader Canadian Holocaust Awareness Week, they did not anticipate the jeers, snickers, and eventual walkout to prevent a quorum from approving the motion. Nor did they anticipate that this hateful behavior would be led by members of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

Hillel students assumed SJP would respond as Hillel and most groups would respond were any minority group to propose an event promoting awareness of a tragedy that affected that community. Were someone to propose Native American Land Loss Week, or an event commemorating the Armenian or Rwandan genocide, Jewish groups would be (and have been) first to endorse and participate.

But Jewish students and their supporters were wrong to expect SJP supporters to conduct themselves in a civilized fashion. SJP is not about moral, decent behavior.

Ryerson student Tamar Lyons experienced firsthand the real agenda of SJP as well as the Muslim Students Association (MSA). An Emerson fellow with the Israel advocacy group StandWithUs, Lyons found herself feeling threatened while she stood in line at the Student Union meeting, waiting to voice her support for Holocaust Education Week.

In a conversation, with the Haym Salomon Center, Lyons explained, The president of MSA and the vice president of SJP stood in front of me as I went to speak in support of a motion to have Holocaust Education Week. Knowing that I am a proud Jew and Zionist, they both glare at me and very aggressively tell me, You need to sit down because there are too many of you, referring to Jews.

The extent to which SJP will go in order to conceal its anti-Semitic agenda cannot be overstated. The groups social media pages, including at Ryerson, claim that SJP rejects and condemns any form of hatred or discrimination against any religious, racial, or ethnic group.

SJP is the driving force behind the infamous Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on campus, which attempts to compare the State of Israel to the South African system of apartheid. Anyone who has seen Arabs and Jews working together in businesses across Israel, or watched Arab and Jewish patients treated equally in the nations hospitals, knows that this is bigotry. Indeed, it inverts reality: Israel is the only country in the region to not engage in ethnic cleansing. All of its neighbors now have less than 10 percent of their Jewish populations of a century agonot so much because Jews wanted to leave, but because they were driven from their homes.

There is one metric by which BDS is an unqualified success: inciting anti-Semitic hatred. Earlier this year, the AMCHA Initiative conducted a groundbreaking survey of more than 100 public and private U.S. colleges with the largest Jewish undergraduate populations. While anti-Semitic incidents were found on a disturbingly high 16 percent of campuses, that percentage rose to 99 percent on campuses with anti-Israel groups, including 100 percent of campuses with an SJP chapter. The presence of anti-Israel activity virtually guarantees anti-Semitic incidents.

Students must understand that SJP aligns itself with such paragons of human rights as Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In testimony before Congress earlier this year, Jonathan Schanzer, a former U.S. Treasury Department official, traced the links between the murderous Hamas terror organization and leaders of American Muslims for Palestine, the off-campus funding source of SJP. Indeed, the AMP national campus coordinator recently called for Israels destruction and for individual Israelis to be murdered.

No one should realistically expect SJP members to behave in a moral or decent fashion, especially toward Jews. The disturbing reality is that it isnt necessary for SJP activists to show any respect toward Jews because on college campuses and in many areas of polite society, anti-Semitism is part of the new normal.

Anti-Semitism has become a socially accepted norm, a permissible form of hatred. And that is not okay, Lyons, the Ryerson student, told the Haym Salomon Center. The fact is that we are too afraid to call it what it isafraid to say this is anti-Semitism, this is Jew-hatred.

The impact of BDS and its proponents such as SJP may be losing ground in terms of their stated goals. But if Jews, especially millennials, refuse to call them out for being the bigots they are, it will only be a matter of time before they achieve world stage victories. And those consequences will be deadly.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is a contributor to the Haym Salomon Center news and public policy group. He is director of Project Genesis (Torah.org) and co-editor of Cross-currents.com, a journal of Orthodox Jewish thought and opinion.
John Kerry and J Street are worried. They see their cherished dream of a Palestinian state slipping away.

Kerrys criticism of Israel at the Saban Forum Dec. 4 attracted a lot of attention. But the transcript of the U.S. secretary of states remarks reveals an important moment that the media overlooked. Just as he was about to denounce Israels policies, Kerry suddenly turned to the audience and said:

By the way, just let me ask a question. Raise your hands. I mean, I know some of you may not want to acknowledge, but how many of you believe in a two-state solution, believe two states is critical? Okay, its the vast majority of people here.

Kerry is so worried that public support for Palestinian statehood is slipping away that he desperately sought affirmation from the obviously sympathetic audience.

And hes not the only statehood advocate who is worried. J Street last week sent a letter to its supporters in which it complained that the Republican Party left Palestinian statehood out of its platform this year, and that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee reportedly left the issue out of a talking points sheet that it recently distributed.

Heres another reason for Kerry and J Street to worry. Speaking at the Jewish Media Summit in Jerusalem Dec. 4, Member of Knesset Michael Oren said that the election of Donald Trump spells the end of the two-state solution. Oren is not some extremist. He is the widely respected former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., a representative of the moderate Kulanu Party, and himself a supporter of Palestinian statehood (with certain limitations).

Its time to read the writing on the wall: Palestinian statehood is an idea whose time has passed.

There have been 12 U.S. presidents since 1948. Only two (George W. Bush and Barack Obama) advocated creating a Palestinian state. Im not including those who advocated Palestinian statehood after they left office, namely Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. When presidents are in office, they need to deal with the real world, which is why a cockamamie idea like creating a Palestinian state has never come to fruition. Once presidents no longer have to deal with real-world consequences, they feel free to advocate any irresponsible policy that suits their post-presidential convenience.

There have been 12 different Israeli prime ministers since the Jewish state was established in 1948. Only two of them (Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert) advocated creating a Palestinian state. Im not including Benjamin Netanyahu, because his concept of a fully demilitarized Palestine that accepts Israel as a Jewish state is so far removed from what the Palestinians and their supporters demand, that his position is really only hypothetical.

There have always been two arguments in favor of creating a Palestinian state. Neither of them has withstood the test of time.

The first was that Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Arabs had given up their goal of destroying Israel and had forsaken terrorism. According to this argument, they had changed their ways, so they could be trusted with their own state in Israels backyard.

This argument faced two major tests, and failed both times. President George H.W. Bush accepted this argument shortly after his election in 1988, and recognized Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Eighteen months later, when a major PLO faction tried to attack Israeli beachgoers in Tel Aviv and the nearby U.S. embassy, Bush realized he had been wrong and ended his relationship with Arafat. Then the U.S. recognized Arafat and the PLO a second time, after the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993. That blew up when Arafat tried to smuggle 50 tons of weapons into Gaza on the Karine A in 2002.

The second argument for a Palestinian state was what became known as the demographic time bombthe claim that because of the high Arab birthrate, Israel will need to agree to a Palestinian state or it will become an apartheid-like ruler over the Palestinians. Yitzhak Rabin resolved that problem. In 1995, he withdrew Israels forces from the cities where 98 percent of the Palestinians reside. Now they are residents of the Palestinian Authority, and they vote in Palestinian elections. They will never be Israeli citizens, will never vote in Israeli elections, and will never threaten Israels Jewish demographic majority.

So Arafat settled the first debate. And Rabin settled the second debate. The debates are over. It is now plain as day that the Palestinians have not given up terrorism or forsaken their goal of destroying Israel, and would use a Palestinian state to advance that goal.

There may be no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in our generation; not all international conflicts have solutions. One thing has now become clear: a Palestinian state next to Israel is not the solution.

Stephen M. Flatow, a New Jersey attorney, is vice president of the Religious Zionists of America and the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered by Palestinian terrorists in 1995.
The concept is vague and messy in a number of ways. Where does the Wild East begin? On the eastern border of what was Israel prior to the 1967 war? With or without the expansion of Jerusalem legislated by Israel but not recognized by other countries?

Another vagueness is how many Israelis have moved beyond those lines in the first and second of those conceptions.

Estimates range up to 800,000, with about half in the parts of Jerusalem defined as especially unkosher by the friendly part of the international community, Officially, those countries consider all of Jerusalem to be something other than an Israeli city, but they are especially annoyed by the expansion that Israel declared in 1967.

Official documents issued by the Jerusalem Consulate of the United States indicate that they come from Jerusalem. Note the absence of Israel. The Tel Aviv Embassy issues documents in Tel Aviv, Israel.

In practical if not legal terms, the U.S. and other friendly countries accept that Jerusalem is an Israeli city. They wont call it Israels capital, but they treat it as Israels capital, with national leaders coming to Jerusalem to meet with Israeli officials. Some even go to the Western Wall, even though it is beyond the lines of 1967.

There seems to be three levels of the Wild East who are of varying sensitivity. Theres nothing official in this reckoning, only an assessment of what brings forth greater or lesser squawks and counter pressures.

Most offensive is what even some Israeli officials consider to be illegal settlements. These are tiny places, typically with trailers and expansions on hilltops throughout the West Best, often with less than a couple of hundred settlers. Most of these settlers came as singles or young couples, are intensely religious and nationalist, convinced that they are doing the Lords work by occupying the Promised Land.

Although not officially recognized, these settlements benefit from service provided by Israeli government units dealing with electricity and water, and they are protected by Israeli security personnel. Some of these settlements have existed for decades, and are viewed as kosher, permanent, and admirable by politicians and activists with power in the Knesset and Cabinet.

Less objectionable are the major settlement blocks, which have been around for decades, some with tens of thousands of residents, and rendered partly kosher by comments of Palestinian negotiators that they could be transferred to Israel in exchange for equivalent territorial compensation. The administration of GW Bush came close to recognizing them as almost Israeli, but the Obama administration backtracked.

Israeli centrists tend to consider these settlement blocks permanent features of Israel, but serious leftists will neither reside in or even visit them. Intellectuals and performers have declared their boycott of the university in Ariel.

What qualifies as a major settlement block and what is outside the conception is its own fuzziness. Locales and approximate populations generally thought of as in the concept are Maale Adumim (40,000), Ariel (20,000), Efrat (8,000), Gush Ezion (20,000), Beitar Ilit (40,000), and Modiin Illit (46,000), but not so certain is the status of Beit El and its 6,000 residents.

Also providing a modicum of permanence is the security wall that Israel constructed through much of the West Bank in response to the violence of the Second Intifada that began in 2000. Yet a number of locales outside the wall are generally thought of as places that Israel will resist giving up.

The U.S., EU, and UN tend to object whenever Israel issues building permits for areas of Jerusalem annexed in 1967, but there are also levels of opposition depending where the construction is about to occur. Especially problematic are areas planned for hundreds of housing units that abut Palestinian communities or would hinder the easy movement of Palestinians between their towns or between the northern and southern areas of the West Bank.

Especially messy is a current squabble provoked by the Supreme Courts declaration of the end to its patience, its rejection of a proposed delay, and its insistence that the settlement of Amona be vacated by December 25th.

Amonas principal defenders in the Cabinet and Knesset have been Naftali Bennett and his colleagues in Jewish Home. In the air were threats of leaving of the coalition, causing a government crisis and election if something was not done. The matter is still not finalized, but Bennett et al have retreated from an absolute protection of Amona where it is to accepting a proposal that has passed through some but not all Cabinet and Knesset approvals, but still has the Attorney General saying that he cannot defend it when it will come before the Supreme Court.

Details include the creation of a new Amona elsewhere, composed of trailers supplied by authorities. Theres talk of asking the Supreme Court for an extension of 30 days to facilitate the move, but the justices may laugh that idea out of court. Moreover, the move will not come without resistance, with moderate violence, by residents and their supporters who feel themselves betrayed by Bennett and Jewish Home.

Legal protection provided to some 4,000 housing units built on land claimed as owned by individual Palestinians, with financial compensation made available to those Palestinians who can convince a court that they are the proper owners.

Likud MK Benny Begin voted against this proposal, and was punished by a suspension of certain Knesset rights for breaking party discipline.

Begin, along with the attorney general, is among those who see the proposal as likely to cause more problems for Israel on the international scene.

Optimists see support coming from Donald Trump. Pessimists fear that Donald Trump will not be as friendly as president as he was as campaigner.

Palestinian claims of ownership and counter claims by Jewish residents are among the messy elements of the Wild East. Experts quarrel about documentation of land registration and the papers ostensibly signed by owners giving over the land to developers who then subdivided it for sale to individual families.

Also in the air are disputes among Israeli activists and officials about the propriety of any settlement beyond what was Israeli prior to 1967. The conventional international view, accepted by a number of Israeli activists and attorneys is that any construction over the 1967 lines violates international law. Yet another view is that international law is muddied by the sequence of the Ottoman Empire, British Mandate, UN decisions, the 1948 war, and Jordanian occupation. Such people view the area as disputed rather Palestinian land occupied by Israel, and say that it is open to Israeli settlement.

Reinforcing the pro-settlement view is the rejection by Palestinians of several proposals to compromise, offered by Israeli officials and reinforced by foreign mediators. Theyve had their chance is a summary of this view, with Israeli activists feeling that history can neither be turned back nor frozen.

Comments welcome, including proposals old and new, assuming that there might be ideas for these aged issues that we have yet to consider.

Irashark@gmail.com.
As the BDS movement grows on college campuses, and as anti-Israel and anti-Semitic activities increase in high schools and in our communities, the American Jewish community is losing ground, losing time, and losing connection to Israel of our Jewish youth. Getting Jewish teens, ages 16 and 17, to Israel en masse, including and following up with Israel advocacy training before they go to college, will equip them to fight anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, and particularly the BDS movement. Key to attracting Jewish teens en masse to go to Israel is to offer them a two-week, fully subsidized teen Israel experience that will educate, train and inspire them to be Israel advocates in high school, during their college years and beyond.

This can be accomplished by forming a trifecta funding partnership of Birthright Israel Foundation, the Government of Israel, through Mosaic United, and Jewish Federations, with support from local philanthropists, with each organization contributing $2,000 per teen, to fund the all-in, per-teen cost of $6,000, which includes the two-week Israel trip, Israel advocacy training and administration. This trifecta partnership will: dramatically increase the number of teens having an Israel experience before they go to college; forge strong connections between American Jewish teens and Israel; build a strong, proud, pro-Israel army of boots-on-the-ground to fight BDS on college campuses and counter the advances of Students for Justice in Palestine; and provide a life-changing Jewish experience for disengaged, unaffiliated, and underserved Jewish youth. For teens who desire a longer Israel experience with their Jewish camps, schools, youth groups or temples, vouchers for the equivalent of $2,000 per person from each organization will make the longer teen Israel experience more affordable.

The American Jewish Community must urge Birthright Israel Foundation, the Government of Israel, through Mosaic United, and Jewish Federations, with support from local philanthropists, to form a trifecta funding partnership to get teens to Israel en masse if we are to be successful at fighting BDS on college campuses.

We urge individuals to add their names to a petition by emailing TeenstoIsrael@LappinFoundation.org.
On one of my first assignments abroad as a rookie journalist back in the early 1990s, I found myself in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, just as the violent disintegration of Yugoslavia was getting underway in earnest.

One afternoon, sitting with a group of journalists and writers in a cafe in the city center, I was drawn into a long conversation with an Israeli professor who was temporarily teaching in Belgrade. We began comparing nationalism in the Balkans with nationalism in the Middle East, and an observation he made has stuck with me ever since. I think the Croats should have an independent state for the same reason as the Palestinians, he said, as we sipped Turkish coffee along with shots of the lethal local plum brandy. Its much better to get screwed over by your own leaders than by someone elses.

A quarter of a century later, Croatias achievement of independence seems like a distant memory, yet full national sovereignty still remains elusive for the Palestinians.

True, the Palestinian Authority (PA), created in 1994, is widely regardedincluding in Israelas a stepping stone on the path to negotiated statehood. But successive Israeli prime ministers, among them Ehud Barak of Labor and Ehud Olmert of Likud, have offered serious concessions to the Palestinian leadershipin essence, a state in more than 90 percent of the West Bank and Gaza, with land swaps also part of the bargainonly to have these rebuffed for one simple reason: neither the late Yasser Arafat nor his successor Mahmoud Abbas, never mind the Islamists of Hamas, have been willing to make peace, philosophically or politically, with the legitimacy of Israels presence in the region as a Jewish and democratic state.

In some ways, this persistent pattern suggests that my Israeli interlocutor all those years ago was wrong: even if you dont have an independent state, you absolutely can get screwed over by your own leaders, when those same leaders decide to blame someone elses leaders for your ongoing misfortune.

Im not, of course, overlooking the polling data which shows that large numbers of Palestinians regard Israels leaders as their greatest enemies and remain opposed to any compromise with Israel, even tactically. The two-state solution, which has been the foundation of international efforts to bring a solution to this particular corner of the Middle East, has been obstructed by many factors, most of all Palestinian discomfort with the very idea of a Jewish state in what Hamas and others consider the Dar al Islamthe domain of Islam. That viewpoint, and not the promise of peace based on economic cooperation as envisaged by politicians as varied as former Israeli President Shimon Peres and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has counted for far more.

But the most tangible result of this rejectionism has been to freeze negotiations on Palestinian independence. The result is that two other solutions, both of them fraught with risk, are now in the mix.

The first solution involves elements of both Palestinian unilateralism and international pressure on Israel; in essence, recognizing a Palestinian state without Israeli consent, and pressuring Israel to concede territory that it currently controls. In the final days of the Obama administration, its an approach that is again being mooted in the context of the United Nations Security Council resolution which the U.S., in an absolute break with its policy of solidarity with Israel in U.N. forums, would support.

Will this resolution be a gift of sorts to the Palestinians from the departing administration of President Barack Obama? Concern about that prospect has been widespread, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among others, forcefully restating the importance of achieving peace through direct negotiations between Israel and the PA.

Those concerns were heightened with the recent publication of a New York Times op-ed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, a proponent of the slander that Israel is evolving into an apartheid state, calling for American recognition of Palestine through a U.N. Security Council resolution that would define the end of result of negotiations before they begin, and punish Israel for not following these measures to the letter. The concerns were further solidified by the rather bitter recent comments of Secretary of State John Kerry, in which he portrayed Israeli settlements rather than Palestinian eliminationism as the key obstacle to ending the conflict.

Here is where we come to the second solution. In a speech to the Brookings Institution, Kerry highlighted the remark of Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett that Israel had reached the end of the two-state solution. That internal Israeli discussion, which doesnt change the fact that government policy remains committed to a secure state of Israel alongside a demilitarized Palestinian state, has attracted a good deal of attention, especially now that certain aides to President-elect Donald Trump have been expressing sentiments similar to Bennetts. A Wall Street Journal report on the issue even cited the head of a leading Palestinian think tank observing that, in this political climate, There are people who say lets have members in the Knesset from Nablus, Hebron and Ramallah.

Israel should resist international pressure for an imposed solution. At the same time, Israeli politicians should be more wary of the implications of rejecting a two-state solution. The relationships that Israel has developed with Sunni Arab countries confronted by growing Iranian power are of major strategic value; the question, then, is whether it is worth risking those relationships further enhancement with provocative statements which suggest that Israel has turned its back on Palestinian statehood.

Kerry himself addressed this point. There will be no separate peace between Israel and the Arab world. Let me make that clear to you, he declared. There will be no advance or separate peace in the Arab world without advancing the Palestinian issue. Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality.

Leaving aside the hint of wishful thinking here, it is important to prove Kerry wrong. By developing closer relations with Israel, Arab states might in fact exercise positive influence on the Palestinian leadership.

This is a leadership which still cant accept that the Palestinian question is no longer at the heart of the Middle East conflictwhich is one reason why it pursues offensive and self-defeating initiatives like securing an apology from the U.K. government for the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which promised a Jewish national home in Mandatory Palestine. If the outside world wants to be useful, it should start cultivating a new generation of Palestinian leaders who grasp this strategic reality, paving the way for a solution that enables Jews and Arabs alike to live with dignity and opportunity.

Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org & The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He is the author of Some of My Best Friends: A Journey Through Twenty-First Century Antisemitism (Edition Critic, 2014).
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Editors Note: This is the first in a three-part series about school security and safety in Catawba County.

HICKORY  From the Columbine High shooting in Colorado in 1999 to the knife attack at Ohio State University in November, security and safety are ongoing issues of concern at public institutions.

The trend for public school systems is focused on better planning and more barriers.

The Hickory Daily Record recently sat down to talk to the three school districts in Catawba County about the adjustments theyve made in the last decade to make their facilities as secure as possible.

Hickory Public Schools

Superintendent Robbie Adell said school safety should be seen as the number one job of public school employees.

It absolutely outranks any academic achievement. Our job from day to day, is to ensure we send home (students) in the same form and fashion we receive (them) in the morning; so we take that very seriously, Adell said.

Locked Doors

The first step for Hickory Public Schools (HPS)  as with every other system in the state  was turning what were once open buildings into citadels. In the last decade-plus, parents and visitors have seen more locked doors, more security cameras and as the face of security for all middle and high schools, School Resource Officers (SRO).

We have it so all of our exterior doors are locked and all of the schools pretty much, you have to be buzzed in before youre allowed to enter the school building, Hickory Public Schools director of student services Angela Simmons said.

Simmons admitted updating the entrances for some of the older schools in the district was a challenge.

Hickory High was a tough one. Youll notice outside Hickory High, the breezeway that goes from the main building to the gym area there are fences, gates to enclose that area, Simmons said. We worked with Adam Huckabee, our director of facilities, and they worked with an architect to see how to do some of those new doorways and lock things up better at the high school.

It used to be, you could go in a couple different doors and like most schools youd have access to everything, but theyve now added double doors that remain locked so now when you go into Hickory High the only door you can enter is into the office and all the exterior doors are locked.

For newer schools, security issues are addressed on the front-end of designing a new building.

Longview Elementary off Highway 70 is the newest school in the system and is a good example of this.

Their intercom system is built into their door locks so if a certain code is called all of the doors automatically lock for the exterior and it automatically calls security systems, Simmons said, adding the system has looked for ways to create more deterrents to an intruder.

All the systems schools are also required by legislation to have panic buttons in place to alert local law enforcement in case of an emergency.

Training and Planning

Since 1999, school systems have constantly looked for ways to anticipate and prepare for any emergency. The North Carolina Center for Safer Schools was started in 2013 by Gov. Pat McCrory and provided school systems critical incident response plans and training plans for school faculty and staff.

It covers scenarios when school staff and students should evacuate, go into a lockdown or when to shelter-in-place.

Adell added all the staff in the district talk about what it would look like when they shelter in place or when there is a full-scale lockdown.

Then we bring people in and have roundtable discussions, fire departments, police departments, emergency medical people, school people all sit down and talk about the different scenarios, Adell said.

A good one for Hickory would be what if you had a train on the tracks right up the road here that turned over and leaked hazardous stuff and had a gas container and it leaked gas in the air. What would you do and how would that impact the school district?

Essentially, the system is just a phone call away from initiating a detailed plan of action, including an active shooter.

Thats all evolved really within the last 10 years, Adell said.

When you have Sandy Hooks and really tragic things like that occur, youve got to think outside the box, Adell said. By and large, schools are open and similar to a church so when people come in who actually mean to do harm, its sad that we have to resort to having all these different safety procedures to monitor traffic in our building, but it is a necessity.

Patrolling the Halls

The most visual security change in HPS is the addition of more School Resource Officers (SRO), in partnership with the Hickory Police Department. The system has one stationed at each middle and high school.

The middle school SROs also serve the elementary schools, with the exception of Southwest which has a Longview Police Officer assigned to it. Hickory Police Departments Lt. Scott Hildebrand from the Community Services Unit oversees the SRO program for the school system.

Along with school security, middle school SROs also are Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructors (D.A.R.E).

The issue of school safety changed dramatically for police after the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. Hildebrand points out when he was in high school there werent police officers assigned to schools.

Training began to actually change for law enforcement at that time because how we did our job related to shooting situations then, Hildebrand said. It had to change after that because people were shocked by what happened at Columbine and then it just seemed like a long string of situations after that.

For Hildebrand, SROs arent meant to be just deterrents in schools.

They have the ability to be mentors to young people no matter what the issues are thereit doesnt necessarily have to be about criminal issues, it could be anything, he said. Young people have the ability to speak to teachers, the ability to speak to counselors, the ability to speak to police officers in schools and that could be a good situation for them.

He added parents should remember the SROs are an additional asset for parents as well.

Parents have contacted SROs and explained situations they have heard about at schools, dangerous situations that may take place, Hildebrand said.

Adell added its important for parents to keep their contact information up to date.

If we get into an emergency situation we want to be able to notify parents and get the information out to them as quickly as we can, Adell said.

Hickory Public Schools uses Parentlink and Blackboard Connect to send messages out to parents on their phones and through email.
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Hinduism Today Magazine is a nonprofit educational activity of Himalayan Academy with the following purposes: 1. To foster Hindu solidarity as a unity in diversity among all sects and lineages; 2. To inform and inspire Hindus worldwide and people interested in Hinduism; 3. To dispel myths, illusions and misinformation about Hinduism; 4. To protect, preserve and promote the sacred Vedas and the Hindu religion; 5. To nurture and monitor the ongoing spiritual Hindu renaissance; 6. To publish a resource for Hindu leaders and educators who promote Sanatana Dharma.
Major Mohommed Ali Shah first acted in a play when he was six years old. He always knew he wanted to be an actor, he says, but he joined the Indian Army because it was a family tradition (his father had also served in the army). The same could be said of acting because Shah is the nephew of veteran theatre and film actor Naseeruddin Shah.

Now, at 37, Shah is back on stage with a one-man show: The Major Actors Assorted Monologues. The one-hour long performance, which draws from poetry, plays, stories and letters in Hindi, Urdu and English, will be seen in Delhi for the first time on Sunday.

Shahs monologues are a collection of things he has read and loved over the years -- Im My Own Grandpa, a funny song on convoluted family relationships; an excerpt from Mohan Rakeshs acclaimed novel, Aadhe Adhure; an Urdu rendition of the Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex; Mirza Ghalibs letters; Faiz Ahmed Faizs poems; and even some of Shakespeares famous soliloquies.

It was a while before Shah got around to his childhood dream. Only after a five-year stint in the army and, then, a career in management, did Shah move to Mumbai to pursue acting. He has since acted in Bollywood films such as the Saif Ali Khan starrer Agent Vinod and Vishal Bharadwajs adaptation of Hamlet, Haider. He has also appeared in several plays.

But The Major Actors Assorted Monologues is his first solo performance. Although the show is a medley of sorts, Shah says, each of the monologues is linked to the one that follows it. He chose a monologue over a scripted play with multiple actors, he says, because the former is more challenging, especially when it comes to holding the audiences attention.

What: The Major Actors Assorted Monologues

Where: Epicentre, Apparel House, Sector 44, Gurugram

Nearest metro station: Huda Metro

When: December 25, 6 pm

Buy tickets online

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In 1950, a young artist called Shankar Palsikar excitedly went to his art guru JM Ahivasi, the then dean of JJ College of Fine Arts, to show his painting Sinners Divine. It had won the prestigious gold award by the Bombay Art Society.

Palsikar was shocked at his teachers response: Ahivasi was sad that a painting that broke Indian painting traditions had won an award.

What saddened Ahivasi actually marked the beginning of a new era in the Bombay School of art, says Suhas Bahulkar, director of National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai. The painting introduced a new language, merged different aesthetics and used symbols to tell a story.

Read: You dont need formal training to be an artist; it comes from within, says Manu Singh

Palsikar (1916 to 1984) is called the father of contemporary art in Mumbai. To celebrate the centenary of his birth year, the NGMA has organised an exhibition of 60 of his works. Some are from the gallerys own collection, others are borrowed from collectors and the Bombay Art Society. Sinners Divine is up too.

Ahiwasi was hugely influenced by the Rajput style of miniature painting and hence for him creating a good work would involve sitting in a certain way, then drawing fine lines and creating forms borrowed from Indian traditions only, says Bahulkar

Read: Bandra to get new Bollywood Art Project graffiti

You can see why Sinners Divine upset him. Yellow, the colour of the auspicious turmeric, is evident in the work that shows a newly married couple, standing at a distance from each other. But look closely. Their eyes are red. This is a symbol of the burning desire to become one, says Bahulkar.

On the rectangle on the right you can see a sun and the moon indicating the eternal bond of marriage and that the husband and wifes vow to stay together in good or bad times. But at the same time the foot prints in the middle of the painting indicates that it takes a lot of work to make a successful marriage. Here is a beautiful blend of traditions and a new, personal thought, says Bahulkar. Even the figures are influenced by Egyptian art and not miniature style.

WHAT: An exhibition titled Shankar Palsikar (1916-1984) - A Centenary year of Artists Birth

WHERE: National Gallery of Modern Art, Sir Cowasji Jahangir Public Hall, M G Road, Fort

WHEN: December 24 to January 31. 10.30 am to 6 pm. Closed on Wednesday

CALL: 022 2289-1969

ENTRY: Rs 10
The income tax (I-T) department has identified nearly 400 bank accounts in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh each of which has received deposits of Rs 1 crore or more since demonetisation of high value currency notes on November 8, Abrar Ahmed, principal chief commissioner of I-T for the two states said here Thursday.

An amount of Rs 1 crore or more -- in some cases even Rs 4 crore or Rs 5 crore --- have been deposited in 400 bank accounts of people in MP and Chhattisgarh, post-demonetisation, Ahmed said.

We have started the process of sending notices to holders of these accounts seeking explanation about the source of money, Ahmed said.

To a query, the official did not rule out the possibility of such transactions taking place in the accounts of politicians, but added that since investigations were on, it was not proper to comment over it.

Asked why his department has not yet disclosed the outcome of searches at the eight business and residential premises of BJP leader Sushil Vaswani and his relatives, Ahmed said the investigation wing was still working on it. We might come out with the result of the searches on Friday, he added.

The officer denied that they were under pressure in the case given that the BJP governments were at the Centre and the state.

Sources in the department confirmed that they were still assessing the documents pertaining to several properties and eight bank lockers owned by Vaswani and his family members.

Weve begun the process of opening the eight lockers in three banks, including at the Mahanagar Nagrik Sahkari Bank, which was set up by Vaswani. We have found jewellery and bullion in some of the lockers, said a senior I-T official.

The cooperative bank founded by Vaswani has around 10,000 accounts. Each account is being scanned to find if black money was parked there after demonetisation, he added.

Deposit old notes under PMGKY

Principal chief commissioner of I-T for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Abrar Ahmed Thursday said the taxation and investment regime for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) has commenced from December 17 and will remain open till March 31 next year. He said that under the scheme, the people can deposit demonetised Rs 500 and Rs1,000 notes till December 30. Under the scheme, declaration can be made by any person in respect of undisclosed income in the form of cash or deposits in an account with bank or post office or specified entity, he added.
Under a small, dark and dingy shade within the Hamidia hospital premises in Bhopal, a number of patients lay with rats scurrying and ants crawling around them.

These are patients who have undergone treatment at the hospital and have nowhere else to go so they are forced to stay put within the hospital premises.

The pathetic situation prevailing at the hospital premises came to light after rodents gnawed on a dead body of an old woman recently. Though the incident took place 12 days back, but came to light on Wednesday after reports in a section of media.

This was the third such incident in the state, including two earlier ones reported from Bhopal and Indore.

The 60-year-old woman Gulab Bai was infested by rats after her death. She along with a number of other destitute people was staying under a shed erected by Share and Care, a not-for profit organization within the hospital premises. The hospital is a teaching hospital of Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal.

Before her body could be cremated by another NGO, rats infested her body, nibbled at the dead skin, face, neck and other parts and gorged out her eyes.

When HT visited the hospital on Thursday, hapless patients were seen lying around with rats scurrying and ants crawling around them.

The Share and Care NGO that operates out of the makeshift shed, cares and treats patients with their limited resources. Presently, 18 patients who have no attendants are being treated at the makeshift facility.

Despite making a number of arrangements with limited resources, we cannot get rid of the ants and rats at the shade, says Syed Sohail Hussain, founder of Share and Care Society.

We were allotted the small space in 2011 by the then state home minister Babulal Gaur. As we do not get any aids or funds from anyone, we have to spend from our own pocket, he tells Hindustan Times.

The day this happened (rodents gnawing at the dead body) we brought rat killers bars and sprays but unfortunately the old woman died that very day at 10 pm.

He further says that volunteers and patients complain that leftover food dumped by the hospital authorities, is responsible for increasing number of rats and rodents within the premises.

Only proper flooring and cleanliness can help patients, says A Khan, a volunteer. We tried shifting patients on the bed but most of them are old and they fell down from their beds and got injured so we are forced to keep them on floor, on mattresses, he says.

Shortage of doctors and nurses was the reason why these patients couldnt be attended in the hospital, says Hussain.

The hospital administration has been very supportive but due to shortage of healthcare staff to take care of these patients who do not have any family members or attendants, we have also brought the issue to notice of minister of state for health and medical education Sharad Jain, who assured us that things will get better soon but unfortunately situations have not improved.

Minister Jain says that he will take action. The incident was very heart rending. Proper facilities will be provided for these patients.

Meanwhile, Union minister of state for health and family welfare Faggan Singh Kulaste on Thursday said that it was not possible for the healthcare authorities to keep watch on the movements of rats.

Kulaste, responding to a query from local media persons in Mandla on the incident in which rats gnawed at the dead body of a woman with the Hamidia Hospital premises, said steps will be taken to control rats in hospitals.

He, however, added that it was a crime to kill rats and no one has control over rodents.

The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted a three-member committee headed by additional chief secretary of the state medical education department Prabhanshu Kamal to look into the incident.

Previous cases

On January 2, 2016, a 65-year-old woman Jadia Bais body was nibbled by rats in the mortuary of the BHEL-run Kasturba Hospital in Bhopal.

On June 7, 2016, a newborn girl died at the MY district hospital in Indore, allegedly due to the negligence of doctors, and then her body was attacked by swarms of ants
A four-day workshop organized to empower women village heads of Madhya Pradesh ended on Thursday, with participants sharing their myriad experiences.

During the meet, the village representatives from Satna, Sidhi, Rewa, Shahdol, Katni and Balaghat districts also formed an association  Jagrati Mahila Panchayat Janpratinidhi Sangthan  to connect with one another. The association was much-needed as it will help the panchs and sarpanchs to consult with each other on common issues faced by them at home and outside. There are some women, who take decisions on behalf of villagers but back home they have no say. This association has helped them gain confidence, said Shibani Sharma, state coordinator, The Hunger Project.

Ratia Marawi, 50, sarpanch representing the Baiga tribe said, It is very difficult to convince people to change their habits. To stop them from defecating in open was no mean task. Water crisis is another issue that is stopping them from building toilets. People start questioning whether they should fetch water to drink or to wash themselves.

Vaishakhi, 43, sarpanch of Baihar block, said: Education is a real challenge in rural parts of MP. The district officials do not visit or maintain the aanganwadis and schools. Now, we can jointly put pressure on the authorities to improve the conditions.

Ahilya Bai, sarpanch of Badwara block in Katni district, on the other hand, shared her experiences at home. Four years ago when I became a sarpanch, my husband used to look for excuses to stop me from attending gram sabhas and panchayats. My neighbours started bad-mouthing me. I had to put up a brave face and fight all odds. Things have changed now and my husband is my biggest support. I go to workshops, meetings and field visits and he takes care of children and home after his work.

Several other issues like government schemes, hygiene, government campaigns and law & order were also discussed at the meet.
Actor Ayushmann Khurranas brother Aparshakti could be jailed for up to five years for fighting with CISF personnel at an airport in October.

Mumbai police have filed a chargesheet against the actor which will be presented in court this week, according to a report in The Indian Express.

Actor Ayushmann Khurranas brother Aparshakti could be jailed for up to five years for fighting with CISF personnel at an airport in October. (Subi Samuel)

Aparshakti is a radio jockey-turned-actor who also plays an important role in Aamir Khans latest release, Dangal.

The CISF staff was trying to stop Aparshakti from entering a restricted zone when the entire fiasco happened. He was already angry at his luggage getting lost. He then threw a tantrum and got into a fistfight with the guards.

He dashed into the restricted area but a few passengers caught him and he was arrested immediately by the Sahar Airport Police, an eyewitness revealed.

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Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan was discharged from the Breach Candy hospital Thursday afternoon, two days after she was blessed with a baby boy. The parents and the newborn, Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi, have returned to their Bandra residence. The star couple posed for the media after they reached home.

Saif and Kareena pose for the shutterbugs alongwith their newborn. (PTI)

Saif Ali Khan was seen holding the baby when the star couple reached their Bandra residence. The actors waved at the media giving them a glimpse of Taimur.

Papa with Baby Taimur A photo posted by Kareena Kapoor Khan FC (@kareenakapoorkhanbegum) on Dec 22, 2016 at 3:45pm PST

Too much happiness in pictures #FamilyGoalsOfTheYear A photo posted by Kareena Kapoor Khan FC (@kareenakapoorkhanbegum) on Dec 22, 2016 at 3:47pm PST

Kareena and Saif taking baby Taimur home!!!!!   @saif_alikan #kareenakapoor#saifalikhan#beautiful#agoodwoman#like#comment#desi#punjabi#indian#bollywoodactress#bollywoodindia#bollywoodmakeup#bollywoodstar#bollywooddance#bollywoodstyle#bollywoodisgold#beboispregnant#bollywoodactress#bollywood#bebo#mommytobe#babyishere#congragulations#mubarakho#lovethem#saifalikhan#cuties#taimuralikhan#kareenakapoorkhan A photo posted by Fan account (@bollywood_star28) on Dec 22, 2016 at 2:44pm PST

Taimur is Kareenas first child with Saif, who already has two children, daughter Sara and son Ibrahim, from his previous marriage to Amrita Singh.

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Actor Randeep Hooda, whose film Sarbjit has made it to an initial list of 336 feature films eligible for Best Picture in 2016 at the upcoming 89th Academy Awards, is hoping that it wins the Oscar.

The film, directed by Omung Kumar, is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates at a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.

Randeep, whose performance as the title character was critically acclaimed, told IANS via email: It feels great to have ones work appreciated by the Academy Awards, which, I feel, mostly recognises cinematic excellence. A lot of people had, at the time of release, deemed this particular performance Oscar-worthy and then one hears this.

Not only that, I hope it goes on to win it. But as far as I know, there is a lot lobbying required to get to that point. As you can see, Im not good at all at that, he added.

The 40-year-old actor says if the film makes it to the final list, he would like to attend the awards gala and would want to take a few key people in his life.

Randeep has congratulated the entire cast and crew of the film, which also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Darshan Kumar.

To make it to the 2016 Academy Awards list, feature films must have played in a commercial theatre in Los Angeles County between January 1 and December 31 for at least seven consecutive days.

The exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format, must have a running time of more than 40 minutes.

This, and nothing else is required for a film to be considered for nominations.

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I didnt know how one bought a ticket at Liverpool Street station This upfront confession sets the tone for Farrukh Dhondys memoir (fictive and otherwise) of university life in the England of the sixties. Arriving from Pune on a JN Tata Endowment scholarship, Dhondy was to discover soon enough that life in good old Blighty was very removed from what the Endowments Director had led him to expect. His initial encounters with students, the college porter, and his twitchy-eyebrowed, sherry-dispensing tutor established, life moved on in the manner characteristic of the Oxbridge experience. It was part idyll, part rude awakening, olde worlde stuffiness commingling with new age informality, and frequent reminders that ones colour could and did matter in the world outside academia.

Life before Cambridge blends into his life there, especially when his sweetheart has to be smuggled into England via a contrived marriage to an English buddy and Dhondy in turn grows used to the far from glamorous pecuniary realities of being a Tata scholar. Dhondy has long been known for his versatile engagement with the arts, moving deftly from writing (fiction and drama) to screenplay to commissioning for independent television. So it is perhaps inevitable to find Cambridge Company brimming with references to its thinly-disguised narrators forays into journalism (syndicated pieces for an unnamed agency to earn money), theatre (directing, writing, acting), poetry readings and even, once, some vigorous between-the-scenes romps with the sets designer.

The clash between the old world order and the new, public school and grammar school, at a time when young men and women from the latter were making their way to Oxbridge in greater numbers, is detailed at some length as is the resultant conflicts of ideologies and the narrators own struggle to identify his position. To his credit it is the plebeian donkey jackets that win him over eventually as does the rhetoric of Paul, an Irish scholarship boy at the public school whose mission it was to abolish the system that afforded him charitable emancipation on the grounds that he was smarter than the rest of the boys he played with.

Farrukh Dhondy in New Delhi in October 2012. (Sonu Mehta/HT)

The Sixties were the era of not just the Mods and the Rockers as the blurb says, but of campus revolts around the world. In Oxbridge these often took on a laboured if essentially idealistic flavour: protests against the wearing of subfusc, the sit-ins at Clarendon, marches to London to protest American imperialism, the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, apartheid (picketing Barclays even if one secretly banked there). Dhondy/the narrator had apparently been an atheist by the time he was 13 and a Communist in spirit at 14, a reaction to the poverty, famine, flood, earthquake and drought in India that killed the poor and left the rich untouched and which was all attributed to the work of God. In the seductive climate of Oxbridge radicalism nearly everyone who wasnt a Tory was left-wing, and it comes as no surprise to read how several of those who people Cambridge Company were to turn leftish and even virulently Marxist and profess to be the most dedicated of Bolsheviks or Maoist disciples of Joan Robinson (what is surprising however, is that while these virulent Marxists dont merit even a glimmer of irony Joan Robinson is actually described as a Sinophile).

Watch more: Farrukh Dhondy on literature and criticism

Episodic and vividly detailed, the memoir zips through scenes from university life, be it the grand European theatre tour which ends in near disaster, the rejection of racist landlords who wont rent to wogs, or the all too familiar experience of being an Indian in Cambridge at Christmas: I suppose I must have known about Christmas vacations, but until they crept up on me, I had not realized that the natives would go home, the colleges would be deserted and that a handful of Indian and Pakistanis would survive the winter in friendly nationalistic groups at hostels and boarding houses. Dhondys refreshing irreverence homes in on, among other things: waiting outside Kings for a glimpse of EM Forster; having old college friend Jumpy Irani, now with the Indian consulate, rescue him from custody in Iran; being gullibly propositioned by a gay man; being thrown out of his digs when his girlfriend stays the night; and the must-have experience of inebriated punting on the Cam after a May Ball. In that final scenario, where a woman is photographed wearing nothing but her knickers and a hat, the narrator absurdly strikes a deal to write a feature called Cambridge Madness and agrees to go fifty-fifty on other articles, including one on a pop group with a strange name: Dont know what it means, he is told, but thats pop bands for you. They call themselves Pink Floyd.

Pink Floyd in August 1968 in Los Angeles. (L-R) Nick Mason, Dave Gilmour, Rick Wright (center front), Roger Waters. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Cambridge Company is what is generally described these days as a good read. Dhondy occasionally touches on the incongruities of situations but stops short of actual analysis. When he goes the extra mile one gets heartbreaking cameos like the account of the woman who tutored him in Middle English and Chaucer and who wanted no payment, only everything he could tell her about the theory of karma. This bizarre request conceals a commonplace academic tragedy, her affair with a Professor that went horribly wrong, leaving her with a son and guilt at the pain shes caused her lovers wife. At her funeral after she dies of cancer Dhondy reads what she had wanted him to, a passage from the Gita and twenty specific lines from Chacers Wife of Bath. Large, blonde Catherine, her usually unkempt hair bunched and tied with a flamboyant ribbon near the end jumps out of the pages in a way the other characters dont. Real life people whom most Mumbaikars and Puneris would be familiar with, they remain incidental, mentioned now and again but never really fleshed out.

Vrinda Nabar is an author, critic and a former Chair of English, Mumbai University.
Demonetisation has given a big boost to digital payments, and also to the threat of cyber attacks in the country.

American technology services company Cisco has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the governments Computer Emergency Response Team(CERT-In) to tackle issues related to cyberattacks in the country. Indias currently doesnt have a national encryption policy,

CERT-In is a nodal agency under the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY), which deals with cyber security threats such as hacking and phishing. It also strengthens security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain.

In light of rapidly evolving cyber tactics and shared risks in cyberspace, the need to work side-by-side with industry partners on pressing cyber-challenges becomes important. Our collaboration with Cisco looks to enhance the security of Indias digital infrastructure and speed up digitalisation of India electronics and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Cisco will open a security operations centre (SOC) in Pune, a cyber range lab in Gurgaon and a security and trust office (S&TO) to enhance cyber security capabilities. The announcement is as a part of the $100-million investment, which chairman and ex-CEO John Chambers had announced earlier in the year.

The SOC will provide a broad range of services, from monitoring and management to comprehensive threat solutions and hosted security, which can be customised to meet customer needs, said Dinesh Malkani, president for India and SAARC, Cisco. The facility will have 24-hour continuous monitoring and advanced analytics capabilities, he added.

Cisco currently has three SOCs globally, in Poland, the US and Japan. The company has also signed similar MoUs with the French and German governments.

Most cyberattacks or breaches take an average detection time of 205 days from the time of breach, Malkani said, adding, nearly 35 records are breached every second globally.

Earlier in the month, Prasad had said that e-wallet usage has seen an 271% increase in volume and 267% in value. e-Wallets used to see 17 lakh transactions daily just before the demonetisation exercise was announced. But in just one month, wallets are seeing 63 lakh transactions per day. In terms of value, daily transactions rose from R52 crore to R151 crore daily.

Malkani said the government has asked Cisco to train startups to help create more security solutions from India. This training will be provided by the cyber range lab.

While the SOC will be operational next quarter, the cyber range lab is already functioning.

A significant amount of investment has gone into the facilities, and nearly 1,000 people, or 20% of our cybersecurity workforce, operates already from India. We can scale this up as the need arises, he said.

Till date, Cisco has acquired 28 cybersecurity companies. The company expects India to have 702 million smartphone users and 670 million unique subscriber base by 2020.

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Industrialist Nusli Wadia has filed a criminal defamation complaint against Tata Sons, Ratan Tata and the board of directors of the Tata Group, for hurting his reputation by making false allegations.

According to the criminal complaint filed with the additional chief magistrate, Mumbai, by Abad Ponda, counsel for the complainant, the defamatory and offending contents of special notices (issued by Tata Sons for convening special shareholder meetings) have caused severe prejudice to the reputation and goodwill of the complainant as also affected his status as an independent director not only in the Tata Group companies, but as a director in various other companies; and will continue to have a cascading effect on the complainants reputation and goodwill in business circles within India and abroad.

Tata Sons in their notices for the EGMs had said that Wadia is being sought to be removed for his collusion with ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry and for acting against the interests of the boards of group companies.

Based on these notices, at the recently-held EGMs of Tata Steel, Tata Motors shareholders of these companies voted Wadia out. Shareholders of Tata Chemicals are voting on Friday on a similar resolution.

Apart from Tata Sons and Ratan Tata, the complaint names Tata Sons board members Ajay Piramal, Amit Chandra, Ishaat Hussain, Nitin Nohria, Ranendra Sen, Vijay Singh, Venu Srinivasan, Ralph Speth, N Chandrasekaran and FN Subedar.

The complaint has been filed under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant provisions of the Act, which cover criminal act with common intention. The provisions of this section are punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or both.

The complaint sought the courts direction for compensation as per the provisions of Section 357 of Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, that accused be directed to pay cost of the litigation in pursuing the present complaint as per provisions of Section 359 of Code of Criminal Procedure, and for grant of any other and further relief as the court may deem fit and proper in the nature and circumstances of the present complaint.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia separately met lieutenant govenor Najeeb Jung at his residence on Friday, a day after Jung announced his resignation.

Often on the opposite ends of the argument, Kejriwal and Jung met for an hour over breakfast. Later, Kejriwal told reporters that the L-G had quit due to personal reasons.

Kejriwal said on Thursday that Jungs resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours.

The 65-year-old Jung was locked in several public spats with the city government after the Aam Aadmi Party returned to power with a crushing majority last year. Jung and Kejriwal had showdowns over control of police, bureaucracy and clearance of files.

Government sources said the CM, who was in Ranchi on Thursday, had wished to meet L-G Jung for breakfast. The chief minister reportedly spoke to Jung on the phone as the news broke.

Read | Najeeb Jungs sudden exit as lieutenant governor keeps Delhi guessing

Sisodia, who met Jung after Kejriwal, said the outgoing L-G had pondered over his decision for quite a while before calling it quits. He (Jung) is not upset, the AAP leader added.

He (Jung) said that he was thinking of quitting the post for the last one year, he said, adding his meeting with Jung was a nice one.

Many believe Jungs sudden move was a surprise to the Centre as well. A day before his announcement, Jung had met the Union home secretary and informed him about a seven-day leave to visit Goa.

In his official announcement, Jung thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his help and cooperation and Kejriwal for his association. He also thanked the people of Delhi for all their support and affection. He didnt cite any reason for his decision.

Kejriwal has often alleged that Jung was acting as an agent for the BJP-led Centre. Jung said the state government was disregarding established protocol.

However, a Delhi high court order this August upheld the lieutenant governor as the administrative head of the national capital territory.

The government has yet to accept Jungs resignation or appoint his successor. Among those believed to be strong contenders are former Union secretaries GK Pillai and Anil Baijal. Former Delhi Police chief BS Bassi, who was the police commissioner for about three years, is also in the fray, sources said.

Read | Najeeb Jung vs Kejriwal govt: 5 issues over which they fought over

Also read | Administrator, actor, academician: Delhis L-G Jung is a man of several talents

(with agency inputs)

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered a case against four officials of the Vaidyanath Cooperative Urban Bank Ltd and some others, including a doctor from Mumbai, for entering into a conspiracy and illegally transporting Rs 25 crore in demonetised currency for changing it to legal tender.

Pritam Munde, BJP MP and sister of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde, is a director of the bank. The case came after searches conducted by the CBI at 11 official and residential premises of the accused persons in Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad and Beed, said CBI officials.

The CBI booked managers of the banks Pimpri-Chinchwad and Ghatkopar branches, two other bank officials, a doctor from Mumbai, and some others. According to CBI officials, the bank officials along with some others transported Rs 25 crores in old notes from Beed to Mumbai to convert them into new notes.

It was alleged that the accused entered into a conspiracy and fraudulently transported Rs 25 crore in demonetised currency from the head office of Vaidyanath Cooperative Urban Bank, Beed, Maharashtra, to their Ghatkopar Branch on November 19 for changing it to legal tender. Of the said amount, a sum of Rs 15 crore was allegedly deposited with Maharashtra State Urban Co-operative Bank and the balance amount of around Rs 10 crore (ie Rs 10 lakh in new currency of Rs 2,000/- denomination and the balance in old denomination of Rs 500/-) was being transported back to Beed, when they were intercepted by the state police on December 15, said a CBI spokesperson.

Headquartered at Parli in Beed, the stronghold of Munde family, the bank has 41 branches across the state and its website claims the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde as its inspiration.

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Thakur Dutt Joshi, the legendary hunter of Kumaon who killed more than 50 man-eaters, died Thursday evening. He was 82. He was unwell for last few days and died while being taken to Delhi. He was cremated in Ramnagar on Friday.

Joshi, popularly known as Mini Corbett after legendary Jim Corbett who made man-eaters of Kumaon famous through his works, had joined as a forest guard in Uttarakhand forest department in the late 60s. He made his first kill in the early 70s shooting down a leopard that had turned man-eater. Since then, the forest officials started summoning him every time they needed a hunter to put down a man-eater.

With age he had started losing eyesight, but in September this year, when this correspondent asked him if he was ready to again pick the gun, Joshi said, Main sher ki ankhon mein ankh dalkar dekh sakta hun, mein darta nahi (I can stare down a tiger. I dont get scared).

Among the hunters in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Joshi was celebrated as one who had impeccable knowledge about the big cats. As per the forest department sources, Joshi had killed 51 big cats, including 15 tigers

Such was his reputation and marksmanship that even after he retired from the forest department in 1996 after nearly four decades of service, he was regularly called by the government officials and other hunters for assistance.

We learnt a lot from him. Joshiji shared tips that came in handy when I went out looking for leopards, said Lakhpat Singh, a hunter from Garhwal, who has 49 kills to his credit.

Joshi last assisted Lakhpat in killing a tigress that had turned man-eater in October this year. The legendary hunter had told HT that he had taken a pledge to kill all the man-eaters.

I had once killed three tigers back-to-back near Garjia (Corbett). It was difficult, but I have pledged to kill all the man-eaters Joshi had said.

With him an era has ended. His death comes days after the Uttarakhand High Court passed an order that big cats cannot be killed or declared man-eaters. Few years ago Joshi penned a book --- Kumaon Ke Khaufnak Aadamkhor. Perhaps, the future generations will remember Mini Corbett by reading his tale.

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BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday urged the people in poll-bound Uttarakhand to vote for the saffron party in the upcoming assembly election for better development. Shah accused the Harish Rawat-led Congress government in the state of failing to put the mountain state on the development trajectory.

In Dehradun to inaugurate a private multi-speciality hospital, the BJP chief credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for carving out the hill state in 2000. Shah also hit out at the ruling Congress and the Samajwadi Party for opposing the creation of Uttarahkand.

It (Uttarakhand) will now be nurtured and developed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi if our party is voted to power, he said.

He said the BJP-led Centre, on its part, had already begun the process of development in the region. Referring to Modis proposed visit to Dehradun on December 27, Shah said: During his visit, he (PM Modi) will lay the foundation stone for the 11,000 crore all-weather road in Chardham, which will pave the way for the development in the state.

Once the safe and secure all-weather road network is complete, people will be able to visit the now disaster-prone Chardham areas round the year, including during the rainy season.

Uttarakhand Himalaya, endowed as it is with unparallel natural beauty, has the potential to be developed into a world-class tourist destinationBut this state has failed to achieve its potential as it was neglected all these years, he said, while blaming chief minister Harish Rawat for the sorry state of affairs.

Earlier, Union health minister J P Nadda accused the Rawat government of failing to utilise the central government funds. We sanctioned 266 crore for improving the health sector in this state, but this (Rawat) government managed to spend only 97 crore, he alleged. Nadda also accused the Rawat government of failing to utilise the central funds released for purchase of medicines.

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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 43-minute speech in Almora on Friday, saying Modis policy was to siphon off money from the poor and help the rich.

Gareebon se kheencho aur ameeron ko seencho (take from the poor and give to the rich) is now the buzzword in the present government, Gandhi said, addressing the crowd at the SSJ ground.

The Modi government waived off loans worth `1.4 lakh crore of 50 super rich families of India. Now, they have loans of `8.5 lakh crore that are to be waived off again, but the banks do not have money for this purpose. The Modi government thought of an ingenious scheme under which they imposed demonetisation and pulled your money to banks. Now, this money will be used to waive off the 8 lakh crore. Just wait and watch and you will see the loans being waived off in a few months, he said.

He added, Dont you know why the 2,000 notes were made that size? Because ATMs wont dispense them and banks wont give change. This way they want to keep your money in banks for a longer duration so as to use it for the super rich.

Quoting poet Bashir Badr, Gandhi said the two lines  Log toot jaate hain ek ghar banane mein, tum taras nahin khaate bastiyaan jalane mein  summed up Modis decision.

Explaining what he called the real reason behind the note ban, Gandhi said, Only 6% of the black money is in cash and the rest 94% is in real estate, gold and Swiss Bank accounts. The Swiss Banks said they have given names of the black money holders but they are not being made public as these are the 50 super rich families of India that made Modi Prime Minister by backing him.

The Congress vice-president also critiqued the Modi government for not allowing two-minute silence in Parliament in memory of those who died in bank queues after demonetisation.

Fridays rally was successful in gathering huge crowds and surpassed BJP national president Amit Shahs rally at the same ground a month ago in terms of participation of people.

Addressing the gathering earlier, chief minister Harish Rawat said he was a disciple and soldier of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Gandhi family and was committed to ushering development in Uttarakhand.

Congress Uttarakhand in charge Ambika Soni, state president Kishore Upadhyay, revenue minister Yashpal Arya and other party MLAs were present on the occasion.
From the bylanes of Daryaganj to the power corridors of Delhi, 65-year-old Najeeb Jung has always been on the move.

Jung, a former bureaucrat and educationist, became the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in July 2013 when the Congress was in power. Unlike other governors, appointed by the Congress government, Jung was not replaced by the Narendra Modi government after 2014.

But Jung wasnt the home ministers first choice back in December 2012 when the UPA started to look for someone with administrative experience to replace the then L-G, Tejendra Khanna.

Read | Najeeb Jungs sudden exit as lieutenant governor keeps Delhi guessing

Five senior IAS officers, who had retired from top positions in the administration were there. Former chief election commissioner SY Qureshi figured in this list. So did former chief secretaries of Bihar (GS Kang) and Rajasthan (Salauddin Ahmed).

But the selection process was stalled due to the mid-December gang-rape of a young physiotherapy student.

The file finally moved nearly six months later. The then home secretary RK Singh was told to propose Najeeb Jungs name. He did. And it was quickly cleared.

Three years and five months after his appointment, in a surprise turn of events, he resigned on Thursday to go back to his first love academics.

Before becoming the administrative head of Delhi, Jung served as the vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia. He took over the post in 2009 and worked there till 2013, before moving to the Raj Niwas.

Jung was born on January 18, 1951. He belongs to a well-known family of Old Delhi.

Read | My generation failed Dilli-6: L-G Jung reminisces about Old Delhi

He did his schooling from St. Columbas School, Delhi, and went on to study History at the St Stephens College. He holds one postgraduate degree in History from Delhi University and another Masters degree in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics.

Jung joined the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in 1973 and belongs to the Madhya Pradesh cadre. He worked as a bureaucrat for 22 years in different capacities in Madhya Pradesh and with the Indian government. He served at various posts such as district magistrate, managing director of two public sector companies and joint secretary with the government.

After quitting the civil services, Jung worked with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a senior advisor on energy. He was also a senior visiting fellow and research scholar at the Oxford Institute for Energy, Oxford University, for seven years.

Jung has also served as the chairman and member in various committees related to education such as the senate of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, a core committee constituted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to look into different aspects of higher education and the general council of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Read | Najeeb Jung vs Kejriwal govt: 5 issues over which they fought over
On a day Delhi woke up to its usual December fog, lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung had a change of schedule. Instead of rushing for his usual meetings, he was busy attending a battery of visitors.

And, ending a two-year spell of acrimony, Jung had breakfast with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday.

A day after throwing a surprise by tendering his resignation from the post, Jung also visited the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) where he spent over an hour.

Before leaving his residence to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jung hosted Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia. Kejriwal told reporters that Jung had invited him over for breakfast.

Jung met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an hour today. Talking to Hindustan Times, Jung said : It has been an exceptional honour to work with a visionary PM like Shri Narendra Modi. In my 45 years of experience, I have not experienced such unstinted support at this level. I thank PM for all the support in the past two-and-a-half years.

Kejriwal was in Ranchi on Thursday and spoke to Jung over the phone after the resignation was announced.

Asked why Jung might have quit, Kejriwal said, He resigned due to personal reasons. Kejriwal made these comments after his meeting with Jung.

Always holding opposing grounds, Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions. But both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at the personal level.

Sisodia, who met Jung after Kejriwal, said the outgoing L-G pondered over his decision for some time before calling it quits.

Sisodia said he shared a good rapport with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation, especially in the area of education.

He shared memories of the last two years. He is not upset. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year. He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said he could not quit due to issues like chikungunya (outbreak in the city), Sisodia told reporters.

Though Jung did not have the burden of clearing the daily stack of government files, officials at the L-G secretariat said the beeline of the whos who kept Jung busy even after he returned to office from the PMO.

The list of visitors included minister Gopal Rai and Imran Hussain, Delhi chief secretary, senior police officers, vice-chancellors and senior bureaucrats and officials from the Delhi Development Authority, an official said.

All routine meetings and appointments were cancelled on Friday, the official said.
Repeated confrontations and public spats over administrative jurisdiction have been punctuated the relationship between the office of lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal ever since the Aam Aadmi Party came back to power in February 2015.

Senior politicians and bureaucrats, who have served Delhi for long, said that though differences existed between these two offices even during the previous Congress and BJP regimes, they never went beyond making headlines for a day or two.

Senior Congress and BJP leaders said the current crisis exists because the Aam Aadmi Partys focus, unlike previous governments, is not solely governance.

Unlike the current dispensation, we were able to get even contentious issues cleared by the L-G. It was only through discussions as at the core of it was governance. Rules have always favoured the L-G, but it never came to such a pass. Controversy broke out when the Delhi government wanted to transfer the sewerage system from the MCD to the Delhi Jal Board. The then L-G was appointed by the NDA government, but our government was able to sail through as we convinced the L-G, said former Delhi minister and Congress veteran AK Walia.

Read | HT Analysis: Rise and fall of the Delhi CMs powers in Capitals turf war

Senior BJP leader and a minister in Madan Lal Khurana and Sahib Singh government, SP Ratwal, shared similar experiences when certain people friendly decisions were implemented by the BJP government, irrespective of the laws in place.

The rules have remained same, with the L-G being the administrator. But that never affected the routine functioning of the BJP government as governance was at its core. (Former) Chief minister Madan Lal Khurana was able to prevail upon the Congress governments at the Centre and in Haryana to get the bills for water supply from Yamuna waived off, Ratwal said.

A senior bureaucrat, who has served in the L-G office too, recalled how a file on revising the circle rate led to a confrontation between then chief minister Sheila Dikshit and L-G Vijai Kapoor, who was appointed by the NDA government. The matter was settled soon after the government was able to convince the L-G, the official said.

AAP leaders, however, said while governance and delivery of electoral promises has been the sole target of the ruling party, the repeated confrontation between the Delhi government and L-G office is a result of a vicious and revengeful style of Jungs functioning.

Read | Wanted to quit earlier, but PM Modi told me to carry on: Najeeb Jung

It has been proved on several occasions that Jung was following the mandate of his political masters. His equation with the top AAP leadership and the government has had a marked difference when we were in power for 49 days and after we returned following the historic mandate, an AAP functionary said.

Political analysts described the political slugfest as a clash of two personalities and interpretation of the same rules in their individual ways.

The rules have never been interpreted word by word the way it has been done over the past two years. Both sides have given it deep meaning and rightfully so. The chief minister thinks he heads a popular government so his views should prevail. The L-G is right when he interprets that his view should prevail as he is the constitutional head. In that context, the acrimonious fallout is largely due to the clash of two personalities, more than anything else, Sanjay Kumar of CSDS told HT.

Read | Day away from files, Jung breaks bread with Kejri
A woman, whose 15-year-old daughter was allegedly gang raped by four men over a period of six months, was shot at in south east Delhis Jamia Nagar on Friday morning.

The police are yet to nab the alleged rapists.

The 47-year-old mother of the rape victim was reportedly shot at by a man who was riding pillion a motorcycle. They sped away after shooting her

The woman was on her way to a local hospital with her daughter at the time of the incident. Locals alleged that four men, including a local builder against whom the teenager alleged rape, could be involved.

The woman is undergoing treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Police officials said that the four accused in the rape case are absconding. Only one of them has been identified. Raids are being conducted at their possible hideouts.

In Fridays incident, the men who fired at the woman are not known and could be anybody. It is a matter of investigation to find out if the accused of these two cases are connected in anyway, said DCP (southeast) Romil Baniya.

The firing took place at around 8.45 am. A case of attempt to murder has been registered, police said.

The president of the Residents Welfare Association (RWA), however, said that the builder involved in the rape forcefully entered the familys house, shot at the mother and fled. The accused had allegedly been threatening the victims mother to withdraw the complaint.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal visited the victim at AIIMS and said the womens panel will set up a committee to look into the incident.

It is very shocking that in the capital of this country a 15-year girl was gang-raped and then the accused in this case had the audacity to attack her again after 10-15 days of the incident. Apparently, he shot at her but the bullet hit the mother, who is the only person supporting the victim in the case, said Maliwal.

Police sources said that the victim was three weeks pregnant and broke the news to her mother in the second week of December.

The mother then approached the police through an NGO. The police registered a case of rape against the accused only after local residents and NGO workers intervened.

The teenager is a Class 9 student at a government school. She reportedly met the builder through her classmate, who is a common friend, police said.

The accused allegedly made her MMS and started blackmailing her. He also threatened to upload it on social media websites if she told anyone.

The accused, along with three other men, allegedly raped the victim in his flat over six months, police said.
Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jungs resignation on Thursday might have come as a surprise to many but official sources said that it was in the offing.

The decision was seemingly already made a couple of weeks ago and the government was looking for his successor. It was mutually agreed, said sources.

A home ministry official attributed Jungs decision to hang his boots to war weariness. He was tired of the endless feud with the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government and couldnt take it anymore, he said.

Another source in the government confirmed, saying that the L-G was finding it increasingly difficult to live up to the NDA governments expectationsin the national capital where the BJP lost to the Aam Aadmi Party in 2015 assembly elections.

His tumultuous tenure was marked by a continuous standoff with the AAP government over jurisdictional issues, be it the transfer of bureaucrats or rolling out of schemes and projects. The Supreme Court is now seized with the matter.

Read | Najeeb Jung vs Kejriwal govt: 5 issues over which they fought over

Jung, said sources, intimated his desire to quit to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi some time back.

Modi, sources said, had a dinner meeting with home minister Rajnath Singh in the evening, where the matter was discussed.

The NDA government was also inclined to bring a new face to change the perception about the Centres nominee not allowing an elected government to work. Jung was not wrong but he should have handled the AAP government better, said a senior BJP functionary.

Home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said on Thursday evening that the L-G had met him on Tuesday but gave no inkling of his intention to resign.

I met him on Tuesday to discuss few issues of Delhi and he was supposed to come to meet me on Friday as all issues could not be discussed. During Tuesdays meeting, the L-G didnt give any clue about his intention to resign, he said.

Sources said Jung had told a senior Rashtrapati Bhawan official last week, I dont think I would continue here for long.

He was appointed by the UPA government and was among the very few who survived in the gubernatorial bungalows after the Narendra Modi came to power two and a half years back.

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A day after Najeeb Jung resigned as Delhis Lieutenant Governor, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal met him at his residence in Civil Lines followed by another meeting with deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. The Sisodia meeting lasted for about an hour.

After the meeting, Sisodia told reporters that the outgoing L-G had been contemplating resignation for quite some time and the decision was well thought out. He is not upset and resigned due to personal reasons as he wanted to spend time with his family and also expressed his desire to return to academics, he told reporters

He said that Jung wanted to resign much earlier but could not due to the outbreak of chikungunya and other important issues that cropped up in Delhi. Kejriwal, the national convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had refrained from visiting the L-Gs office after the two had differences over administrative jurisdiction of the Capital.

Kejriwal, who had expressed surprise on Thursday at the sudden move, said Jung had not given him any details about his decision. However, while leaving the L-G house after the meeting over breakfast, the CM said that Jung told him he had quit because of personal reasons.

Jung was appointed the Lieutenant Governor on July 9, 2013 when the Congress-led UPA government was in power. The NDA government had retained him even as it replaced most governors in the states. Jung is a former IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre and was earlier the vice chancellor of Jamia Islamia University.

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Najeeb Jung called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, a day after springing a surprise by tendering resignation as Delhis Lt Governor even as he said that he had wanted to quit earlier but was asked by the PM to continue.

Jung reached the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) at South Block in New Delhi around 11.30 am and spent a little over an hour inside.

Sources said it was a courtesy meeting. On Thursday, in his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked Modi for his help and cooperation.

Rejecting speculation that he quit as pressure was mounting on him, Jung was quoted as saying by NDTV that there is no politics behind his decision and that he wanted to quit earlier as well.

I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on, he said.

After three and a half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds, Jung was quoted as saying.

Jung also said that he would like to write a book.

Read: What does Najeeb Jungs departure mean for Delhis governance?

Over the last two years, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to Modi.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.

The Delhi chief minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for the breakfast meeting that came a day after Jungs sudden resignation from the post.

Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter- sweet times and spent some light moments.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia also called on Jung.

Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, He resigned due to personal reasons.

Though publicly Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions, both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at personal level.

Asked about his meeting with Jung, Sisodia said, We had a very good chat. He shared memories of the last two years and also of his days as a bureaucrat. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year.

He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said that he could not quit due to things like chikungunya (outbreak in the city).

Sisodia said he shared a good rapport with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation especially in areas of education. We will work for the people if Delhi irrespective of circumstances be that easy or tough.

On who could be next LG of Delhi, the deputy chief minister said many names are doing the rounds but nothing official has come up.

Sources close to Jung had said on Thursday his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.

The chief minister was in Ranchi when the news of Jungs resignation broke.

Read: Who will become lieutenant governor of Delhi after Najeeb Jung
Financially strained IITs have sought replacement of fee concessions given to students from socially and economically backward sections with reimbursements and interest-free loans.

The recommendations were made to the IIT Council after a recent meeting of the institutes directors.

The existing system of giving exemptions without any reimbursement of the cost incurred on such students is adversely affecting the financial viability of the institutions and affecting their corpus funds, said a source privy to the meeting.

Wherever the government wants to give free education to SC/ST/PwD students, the cost can be reimbursed to IIT using the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system, either by the ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment or by the MHRD, the source said.

A final decision on the matter would be taken at a meeting of the IIT council, the highest decision-making body of the countrys premier technology institutes.

Earlier this year, the government had increased the IIT fees from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2 lakh per annum.

While announcing the hike, the human resource development (HRD) ministry had exempted students whose annual family income was below Rs 1 lakh from paying the fee. Students from families with an annual income between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh were given a two-thirds remission.

Sources said following this, there was a sharp rise in under-graduate students seeking exemption from paying tuition fee, and the revenue, rather than going up, started dropping.

The directors have also suggested giving interest-free loans to economically backward sections instead of the current full or partial waiver policy.

The existing policy for five-year interest subvention can also be replaced by four-year interest subvention till the student is studying in the institution, the source said.

There are 10, 500 under-graduate students in 23 IITs. According to sources, 301 of the 860 BTech students at IIT Delhi were not paying any fees as they either belonged to SC/ST category or had been given a waiver on economic grounds. Another 100 students have sought full waiver.

Similar waivers were sought at almost all the other institutes following which the IITs decided to verify the income status of these students.

The IITs receive government funding but it barely covers maintenance costs, sources said. The institutes depend on fees from students to upgrade labs, hostels and other facilities.

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From now, the students of classes 5 and 8 at state-run schools would have to take the examinations at their respective institutions. The Madhya Pradesh school education department has issued new guidelines according to which there will be no external examination centres for such students.

The guidelines, in the form of a circular, has been sent to all district education officers (DEOs), district project coordinators (DPCs) and school principals.

Yes, new guidelines have been issued for primary and middle school examinations. Letters have been sent to all the concerned authorities, Akshay Singh Rathore, DPC Indore told the Hindustan Times.

Rathore said that the DEOs of have been made the nodal officer for examination in their respective districts . The respective DEO will head a committee, which will decide and approve the whole process pertaining to the examinations, added Rathore.

As per the new guidelines, the students will take the examination in their own schools but the principals will be sent to other schools as examination centre chief.

Also, the answer-sheets would be sent to other schools for evaluation. Contacted DEO Anurag Jaiswal said that he was yet to receive the circular. Results of these examinations will be declared by the end of April.
With assembly elections barely over a year away, the Congress leadership in Karnataka is grappling with a severe leadership challenge. And the situation is something of its own making.

The crisis for the party is unfolding in Nanjangud, a quaint temple town just 23 km from Mysuru famously known as Dakshina Kashi or the Kashi of the south. Till October, the Nanjangud constituency was represented by a powerful Congress leader with a huge following among Dalits and other marginalised communities  V Srinivas Prasad.

Six months ago, 69-year-old Prasad, who held the significant revenue portfolio in chief minister Siddaramaiahs cabinet, was asked to step down during a reshuffle. He was replaced by someone with a similar political profile: Then speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, who represents the Sagar constituency. Thimmappas political life spans six decades and he too like Prasad is a socialist who is immensely popular among marginalised communities.

Infuriated by the CMs move, Prasad quit the Karnataka assembly and resigned from the primary membership of his party, declaring that he would avenge the humiliation. Now with the resulting bypoll to Nanjangud assembly around the corner (likely in January), the entire state is watching Prasad as he has signed up to be the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. Siddaramaiahs followers claim that they are unconcerned about the potentially explosive fallout of the reshuffle.

Read: Karnataka: Siddaramaiah sacks 14 ministers, inducts 13 members into council

Prasad, a staunch Ambedkarite whose base as a minority leader spans the old Mysore region of Mysuru, Nanjangud, T Narasipur, Chamarajanagar among other towns, has, since his resignation, addressed three rallies in and around Nanjangud town. This region has stood by Prasad through his political career, which included stints in the Congress, Janata Dal(United), Samata Party, Janata Dal(Secular) and finally, the Congress once again.

The current political scene in Karnataka makes for an interesting triangle of a political battle: JD(S) led by HD Devegowda and Kumaraswamy, Congress led by Siddaramaiah and the BJP led by BS Yeddyurappa. It is a turf that will see two former CMs and one sitting CM go head to head, and is expected to be a test run for the state elections next year. CM Siddaramaiah never anticipated that the real challenge to his position would originate from his own district of Mysuru.

This bypoll is expected to be a two-way indicator. One, this is a challenge to Siddaramaiahs leadership and charisma. Nanjangud constituency has been one of the largest beneficiaries of social welfare schemes and is also a melting pot of different communities with clashes between Dalits and Lingayats. Second, since this is happening at the fag end of Congress tenure in Karnataka, this will be a surefire indicator of how things are warming up for Lingayats and the BJP, especially since Lingayats form the main base for the BJP apart from Dakshina Kannada.

Nanjangud is known for its Shiva temple, strong religious beliefs and volatile caste dynamics. Beneath the surface, embers of caste hostilities are always simmering. The memories of the 1993 caste clash between Lingayats and Dalits, on the pretext of a rejuvenation of a temple, in nearby Badanavalu in Nanjangud taluk are still etched in the minds here.

Prasads love-hate relationship with Congress

This will not be the leaders first association with the BJP. During his years with the JD(S), Prasad had served as the minister for food and civil supplies in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government between 1999 and 2004.

Essentially a Congress leader, though, even at the peak of his career he has had a love-hate relationship with his first party. He started his career with the Congress but switched to JD(S) to teach Congress a lesson. A little over a decade later, he is back at it wanting to teach the party a lesson again.

Political circles say the result of the forthcoming bypoll will be seen as a test of Siddaramaiahs leadership skills and his ability to steer the party to victory in the 2018 assembly elections.

Siddaramaiah hails from the same region as Prasad and commands high confidence among its voters. Old Mysuru has always supported the current chief minister though he too switched from the JD(S) to Congress as a mark of protest against the dictatorship of HD Devegowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy.

It is believed that Siddaramaiah will use the void created by Prasad to nurture another, younger Dalit leader in the region  most likely minister HC Mahadevappas son, Sunil Bose, who has worked closely with Congress honchos.

Old Mysurus backward communities will be deciding factor

Siddaramaiah has represented Varuna and Chamundeshwari constituencies, the core of Old Mysuru. He belongs to the Kuruba community, which along with the Vokkaligas and Lingayats, dominates the region. These communities are strong enough to tilt political equations in any part of the state, with the Kurubas having the clout to forge alliances with other backward communities. Religious institutions of these communities, once they are assured of benefits by political parties, are known to issue election diktats to their followers.

Sources within the JD(S) claim that Prasad would have stood a better chance at the bypoll if he re-joined the party or stood alone as an independent candidate, but the JD(S) failed to tempt Prasad. It is no secret that in Mysuru region, JD(S) had, in the last general elections, advised its supporters to align with the BJP to avenge Siddaramaiahs switch to the Congress. That may no longer be the case.

Had he gone to polls alone, we would have supported him. Now that it is certain he will join the BJP, we are sure to field a candidate and make it difficult for him, say sources close to JD(S) chiefs and former chief ministers, Devegowda and Kumaraswamy.

Congress leaders admit that Prasad has a strong Dalit base that elected him to both the Parliament and Legislative Assembly. He still commands a considerable amount of support in these constituencies. So he is surely going to pose a strong challenge to the Congress leadership in these polls, says a staunch Prasad supporter who did not wish to be named.

Clocks ticking for Siddaramaiah

There is no doubt that Siddaramaiah will have a tough time taking on the challenge posed by Prasad. He has just about a year left at the helm before he gets into campaign mode for the assembly elections.

The bypoll will give him an opportunity to test various caste equations and assess the prowess of his political enemies and rival parties. The results will allow him to make last-minute tweaks that will help the Congress face the assembly polls. And the fact remains that for the Congress party, this bypoll will mean a major test of their CMs strength before they make last minute arrangements to face the state polls in case he fails to ensure victory for his candidate.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (L) with AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi (C) and state home minister G Parameswara during a rally in Belgavi in Karnataka. (PTI file photo)

After CM Siddaramaiah lost his son Rakesh to multiple organ failures in Belgium, most visitors who came to condole and pay their respects were from the Nanjangud region. Rakesh was a popular and accessible leader in the area, according to party workers. They say that when the CM campaigns in the area he will be able to tap into this association to seek support for Sunil Bose.

According to the Congress, its central leadership is not worried about the local bypoll. According to highly placed sources in the party, it is banking heavily on the state governments pro-poor schemes  better access to education, food and shelter  to strengthen its support base. Siddaramaiah enjoys total confidence among the partys top leaders. They do not see why he should be disturbed from his position despite the negative media coverage. At the national level, the Congress high command is focusing on building its image to deal with the 2019 general elections, says the source.

The Congress might try to play it down but the result of the bypoll will likely set the roadmap for the states future. Congress leaders say that it will certainly give a new direction in Dalit politics in the state since the earlier generation of leaders is likely to be replaced with younger men and women who will have a longer shelf life in state politics.

The BJP has not yet made clear its strategy for the bypoll, but it will certainly be a test of Yeddyurappas leadership skills. He was cleared of corruption charges recently by the courts (he has been jailed in the past), but there is a question mark over his future  as per BJP norms no senior leader will be allowed to retain office past 75 years of age.

Yeddyurappa turns 75 in 2018, the year the state goes to polls. The party will have to start wooing big communities such as Lingayatas, Vokkaligas and others to rebuild its brand in the state.

In a sense, the Nanjangud bypoll will result in much more than just an interim arrangement  it will be a marker of the states political future.

(Published in arrangement with GRIST Media)
China will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as supporting terrorism, Chinese official media said on Friday, while also suggesting India to accept a top Pakistani military generals offer to participate in a $46 billion international economic corridor.

Surprise aside (over Generals call), New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said an article in the state-run Global Times.

The comments came after Lt Gen Riaz, commander of the Pakistans Southern Command based in Quetta, reportedly said this week that India should shun enmity with Pakistan and join the $46-billion CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits.

Such an opportunity could be transient. There is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the CPEC will quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if New Delhi does not respond in a timely manner to the Generals overture, the article said.

The best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus, it said.

Read | China-Pak economic corridor could become another East India Company: Lawmakers

It said that India could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the CPEC. In addition, the northern part of India bordering Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir will gain more economic growth momentum if India joins the project, it said.

Another article in the same daily said Riazs invitation, which came as a surprise to New Delhi, is mainly intended as a gesture. While he hinted at Indias intervention in the CPEC, he welcomed Indias participation in the project, demonstrating Pakistan does not want to exclude India.

At the same time, it said, if any country wants to label Pakistan as supporting terrorism and discredit the country, then China and other countries who uphold justice will oppose such behaviour strongly.

The article said that since President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in April, 2015, the CPEC has advanced considerably.

Read | Pakistan allows Russia use of Gwadar Port under China-Pak Economic Corridor

However, some international forces, and India in particular, are accustomed to look at the CPEC and the One Belt and One Road initiative from a geopolitical perspective. On one side, this is relevant to the geopolitical competition mindset they insist on, on the other, this is because of their excessive speculation on the strategic implications of the CPEC and the Belt and Road, it said.

To ensure the smooth advancement of the CPEC, it is necessary for Pakistan to have a stable and peaceful domestic and periphery environment and a favourable profile, it said.

On anti-terrorism, the Afghanistan peace process, and the peace and stability of Kashmir, Pakistan is making efforts to show international society its wish to pursue peace, it said.

The CPEC is not only a bilateral cooperation, but also a multilateral project in the long-run, which aims at regional economic integration. So its open and inclusive, and China and Pakistan hope India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries can participate and become stakeholders, it added.
Around 10 pm almost every alternate day, Ahmedabads west zone becomes abuzz with activity. The most preferred destination for party-goers has seen a different group of youngsters gather recently: tree-lovers.

While revellers party through the night and the rest of the city sleeps, these young collegians and professionalsarmed with hammers, ladders and pluckersgo from tree to tree in a particular area zeroed for that night pulling out advertisement boards and banners nailed to the trunks and branches.

Ask why, and pat comes the reply: The question should be Why should we not do it?

Ritesh Sharma, a founding-member of Highly Energised Youth for Helping Indians (HeyHI), says by removing the nails, they add years to the trees lives.

It is general knowledge that the rust that a nail gathers spreads poison in trees reducing its life by many years, he explains.

Tree plantation is a good idea but where is the place left in cities? So we rather try to save the existing trees that may not survive the full life owing to man-made reasons, he says.

HeyHI, which takes up social projects, launched the Rescue Tree drive in October. In two months, they have covered over 2,800 trees and removed nearly 100 kg of nails.

While the drive happens at night on weekdays, on weekends they do it during the day. WhatsApp and Facebook act as media of communication, and once a message is sent, in no time the youngsters gather at the mentioned place and time.

However, the drive has not been easy.

Every time we go out, we carry with us the permission letter from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation granting permission for the drive as sometimes people oppose when we remove their illegal advertisements, says Harsh Suthar, a 23-year-old student.

HeyHI also found that in west zone, one of the five in Ahmedabad, the number of damaged and mutilated trees stood at around 24,000. The figure was reached through an informal survey conducted based on pictures of trees having advertisements sent by volunteers.

While they cover about 70 trees between 10 pm and 1 am removing about 25 big nails, the number remains as low as 14 trees in educational hubs like Gujarat University and nearby areas.

On LD Engineering College campus, where trunks and branches have become billboards for PGs and private hostels, on an average 100 nails were removed. In three hours, we could cover only 14 trees, said Sharma.

The group has set a six-month deadline to cover each area of west zone following which it plans to file a public interest litigation (PIL) in Gujarat High Court.
BJP MP Roopa Ganguly was admitted to a city hospital on Friday after she complained of severe headache and partial loss of vision.

A release issued by the hospital in Salt Lake said Ganguly had a small haematoma in the brain and she is absolutely stable but required complete rest.

Hospital sources said the actor-turned-politicians vision in the left eye is disturbed and she is currently under observation.

A medical board has been set up for round the clock monitoring of Ganguly.

Senior BJP leaders visited her at the hospital.
Calling Indias demonetisation drive as immoral, Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, said it also amounted to theft of peoples property.

The November 8 move to spike the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had damaged the Indian economy, future investment and was also an assault on the privacy of common man life by inflicting more state control.

Indias government perpetrated an unprecedented act that is not only damaging its economy and threatening destitution to countless millions of its already poor citizens but also breathtaking in its immorality, the respected magazine said.

Demonetisation has triggered an unprecedented cash crunch across the country, forcing millions to stand for long hours in queues at banks and ATMs to withdraw money.

Without any warning India abruptly scrapped 85 per cent of its currency. Thats right: Most of the countrys cash ceased to be legal tender. Shocked citizens were given only a few weeks notice to take their cash and turn it in at a bank for new bills, the magazine said.

Forbes pointed out that governments do not create resources, people do.

What India has done is commit a massive theft of peoples property without even the pretence of due process -- a shocking move for a democratically elected government.

Not surprisingly, the government is downplaying the fact that this move will give India a onetime windfall of perhaps tens of billions of dollars.

Forbes compared the demonetisation with the forced-sterilization drive undertaken by the then Indira Gandhi government during her Emergency regime of 1975-77.

Not since Indias short-lived forced-sterilization programme in the 1970s -- this bout of Nazi-like eugenics was instituted to deal with the countrys overpopulation -- has the government engaged in something so immoral.

It claims the move will fight corruption and tax evasion by allegedly flushing out illegal cash, crippling criminal enterprises and terrorists and force-marching India into a digitized credit system.

India is the most extreme and destructive example of the anti-cash fad currently sweeping governments and the economics profession.

Countries are moving to ban high-denomination bills, citing the rationales trotted out by New Delhi. But theres no misunderstanding what this is truly about: attacking your privacy and inflicting more government control over your life.

By stealing property, further impoverishing the least fortunate among its population and undermining social trust, thereby poisoning politics and hurting future investment, India has immorally and unnecessarily harmed its people, while setting a dreadful example for the rest of the world.

The magazine said the economic turmoil in India had been compounded by the fact that the government didnt print a sufficient amount of the new bills, lest word leak out as to what was about to take place.

The new bills are also a different size than the old ones, creating a huge problem with ATMs. Even though India is a high-tech powerhouse, hundreds of millions of its people live in dire poverty.

Saying Indias economy was based mostly on cash, Forbes condemned the stringent rules and taxation policies of India.

Moreover, much of it operates informally because of excessive rules and taxes. The government bureaucracy is notorious for its red tape, lethargy and corruption, forcing people to get by on their wits.

Coming down heavily on the reasons cited by the Modi government for the note ban, the magazine said: Human nature hasnt changed since we began roaming this planet.

People will always find ways to engage in wrongdoing. Terrorists arent about to quit their evil acts because of a currency change.

As for the digitization of money, it will happen in its own good time if free markets are permitted.

And the best cure for tax evasion is a flat tax or, at the least, a simple, low-rate tax system that renders tax evasion hardly worth the effort.

Make it easy to do business legally and most people will do just that.

As a remedy, the magazine suggested: What India must do to fulfill its desire to become a global powerhouse is clear: slash income and business tax rates and simplify the whole tax structure; make the rupee as powerful as the Swiss franc; hack away at regulations, so that setting up a business can be done with no cost and in only a few minutes; and take a supersize buzz saw to all the rules that make each infrastructure project a 100-year undertaking.
DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was on Friday discharged from a private hospital in Chennai after a week-long treatment for breathing difficulty caused by throat and lung infections, with doctors advising him complete rest.

The course of antibiotics for the 93-year-old DMK chief has been completed and he has recovered well from breathing difficulty due to throat and lung infections, Executive Director of Kauvery Hospital Dr S Aravindan said.

Karunanidhi was hospitalised on the night of December 15. The next day, he underwent tracheostomy to optimise breathing and the hospital had declared him as being stable.

Dr Aravindan, in a statement today, said, Doctors have advised him complete rest and restriction of visitors.

He said Karunanidhi needs tracheostomy tube for a few more weeks and added that medical and nursing care would continue to be provided at his home by the hospital.

The DMK patriarch was given a warm welcome by senior party leaders and cadres when he arrived at his Gopalapuram residence.

Earlier soon after his hospitalisation, there was a marked improvement in his condition and he even watched Rajinikanth blockbuster Batcha on his laptop.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former union minister P Chidambaram, AIADMK leaders M Thambidurai and D Jayakumar, among several other leaders, had visited him during his hospitalisation.

Karunanidhi was in the same hospital between December 1 and 7 for drug allergy treatment.

On October 25, DMK had announced that Karunanidhi was suffering from allergy caused by a medicine he has been using and advised rest by doctors.

Though active for his age, the veteran DMK leader is not seen regularly in public and has been reacting to key issues and developments through his statements.

The DMK general council meet scheduled for December 20, where party treasurer M K Stalin was expected to be declared working president, had to be cancelled in view of Karunanidhis hospitalisation.

The DMK chief also had to skip campaigning for the November 19 polls to three constituencies in Tamil Nadu and instead appealed to voters through a statement to vote for his party.
Defending its move to grant domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees, the Centre on Friday swatted off charges that the move had a Hindutva agenda behind it, asserting that the nation owes it to them to ensure for they get dignified means of livelihood.

Speaking to ANI here, Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh said that the state govt in consultation with the Home Ministry devised a mechanism where each of the refugees could be provided a proof of identity, so that he or she could be enabled to apply for government jobs.

This is a group of refugees who have been languishing without employment, livelihoods for the past 70 years since independence. Whereas their counterparts who chose to settle down in other parts of the country rose to occupy the highest government offices, including that of the Prime Minister of India Sri Gujral and after that Manmohan Singh ji, both of them were from West Pakistan, he said.

Asserting that the nation owes it to the refugees to ensure they have a dignified means of livelihood, Singh clarified the charges by separatists and certain faction in the opposition, saying that this move had no connection with religion whatsoever.

I think those who are opposing this, would do well to first address themselves to the issues of some of the foreign nationals who have over the last few years, chosen to settle down. This has got nothing to do with Hindu or Muslim. The entire nation owes it to give a dignified life and to given some sort of identity proof so that they can at least get jobs, the MoS PMO said.

However, several political parties have reacted sharply to the Governments move saying it is an attack on States special position.

State Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the Chief Minister should have called an All -Party meeting first to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, separatists have also strongly objected to the development saying it was an attempt to change the demography of the state.
The organisers of Goas first Muslim childrens festival have withdrawn controversial preacher Zakir Naik as a personality to be emulated at a fancy dress contest following protests from Muslims.

Asif Hussain, a spokesperson for the Board of Islamic Education Centres, told IANS that Naiks name from the list of 20 Muslim personalities to be emulated during the fancy dress contest had been withdrawn.

The organisers have withdrawn Naiks name from the competition keeping in mind the reservations some people have regarding him, Hussain said.

Naik has contributed a lot towards the enlightenment of Muslims and focussed a lot of commonalities of faiths... But in recent developments surrounding him and the reservations expressed from some quarters we have withdrawn his name from the list, he said.

Born in Mumbai, Naik is the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation and a television preacher who is now under the radar of Indian security and enforcement agencies allegedly over his extremist views and funding of his organisations.

Goas first ever Muslim childrens festival Taare Zameen Par from December 26-30 is being organised by the Board of Islamic Education along with the Hikmah Foundations House of Wisdom.

The fancy dress competition is one of the several events in the festival where boys are expected to emulate personalities who have contributed to Islam or Muslim community and expected to dress and introduce them.

Others in the list of Muslim personalities to be emulated include Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Tippu Sultan, Adil Shah, Aurangzeb and Ibn Batuta.

BJPs minority cell chief Sheikh Jinnah told IANS that the inclusion of Naik was unfortunate in the first place.

His views do not represent the views of Muslims in India. By asking children to emulate him, we might be sowing the wrong kind of ideas among young minds, he said.
To facilitate cashless payments, government has exempted imported Point of Sales machines from mandatory BIS-labelling till March 31 to expedite their shipments.

The ministry of electronics and IT has given nod to a proposal of finance ministry to allow the import of non-labelled BIS registered Point of Sales terminals complying to certain conditions.

The merchant will be given clearance for import if he presents valid registration number issued by BIS for particular model of PoS being imported along with manufacturers details. Also, the merchant will need to label products at the port before the release of consignment.

In order to facilitate the implementation of cashless digital payment and to allow the import of non-labelled BIS registered PoS terminals, this Ministry has granted special exemption till March 31, 2017 for import of non-labelled PoS terminals, MEITY said in its letter to the excise and customs department.

The letter said that Ministry of Finance had requested MEITY to provide special exemption to PoS machines as they are being imported in country to promote cashless and digital payments eco-system.

An SBI research report said that the country has 15.1 lakh PoS machines but may need an additional 20 lakh more if digitisation has to gain traction.

As per rules, it is mandatory for PoS Machines that are imported in the country to BIS certification and accordingly bear BIS standard logo for clearance at Indian customs for sale in the country. BIS is implementing agency. Customs department allows import of goods covered under it as per direction of MEITY and BIS.
Patidar leader Hardev Patel was on Friday arrested here and he tweeted that a police officer told him that this was done because of danger to his life.

Patel said he was arrested on landing at the Jaipur airport.

Jaipur Police cited threats to my life as the reason he was taken into custody, Patel said. He quoted an unnamed senior police officer as saying that there were orders from above to arrest him.
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel on Friday claimed he was arrested by the Rajasthan police at the Jaipur International Airport, a charge the police denied as rumour saying he was escorted for safety reasons.

On the instructions of the Vasundhara Raje government, the Jaipur Police arrested me as soon as I got down at the Jaipur airport, he said in the first of a series of tweets.

However, the police denied the claims saying he was just escorted for his own safety.

He was neither detained nor arrested by the police. He was escorted owing to safety reasons. He had left for Udaipur right after landing at Jaipur Airport. It is purely a rumour (that he was arrested), DCP East Kunwar Rashtradeep told PTI.

After landing at Jaipur airport, Patel, in multiple tweets alleged he was arrested and the Rajasthan government and other BJP-ruled states were trying to snatch freedom (from people).

He tweeted, Jaipur police said the reason for my arrest, is threat to my life.

In Independent India, attempt to snatch freedom is being made in every BJP-led state, he alleged in another tweet.

The Patidar leader also tweeted, The Jaipur DCP said we have orders from higher authorities, you have to come with us.
The Indian government will represent the mother of a five-year-old child in Norway who has been separated from his parents who have been accused of beating him up, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Friday.

I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national. https://t.co/zV6SIzpMpu  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 23, 2016

She said that she has received a report she had sought from the Indian Ambassador in Norway regarding the case.

According to reports, the child was taken from his kindergarten school on December 13 without the parents being informed and is being kept at a childrens welfare home some 150 km away from Norwegian capital Oslo.

His mother, Gurvinderjit Kaur, was also taken into custody and was subjected to interrogation.

The childs father, Anil Kumar, who runs an Indian restaurant, has denied all the allegations and said that his son was asthmatic.

This is the third such case in Norway involving Indian children.

In 2011, a three-year-old and and a one-year-old were separated from their parents but were later reunited when the UPA government took up the issue with Norwegian authorities.

In another case of alleged child abuse in December 2012, a seven-year-old and a two-year-old were separated from their parents. The mother got a 15-month prison term and the father was jailed for 18 months.

The two children were sent to the custody of their grandparents in Hyderabad.
The rape and murder of a missing four-year-old girl, whose eyes were gouged out and hands chopped off, brought back horrors of witchcraft in Jharkhand where killings linked to superstitious beliefs are rampant.

The mutilated body of the girl, missing since December 15, was found near her village in East Singhbum district on Thursday. Villagers suspect a sorcerer was behind the gruesome crime.

Police didnt rule out the involvement of family members or people known to the girl.

They said organ trafficking gangs could be involved too, but the girls autopsy must confirm if any of her kidneys is missing. Also, stray dogs could have scraped out the eyes.

This is the second such crime in Jharkhand in a week after a 19-year-old girl was raped and burnt to death in Booty Basti under Ranchi Sadar police station on December 16  on the fourth anniversary of the brutal gang rape and murder of a paramedical student in New Delhi. Police have yet to track the Ranchi suspect.

JMM parliamentarian Sanjeev Kumar and legislator Amit Mahato met Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Friday and demanded a CBI investigation into the brutal rape and murder of the BTech student from Ram Tahal Chowdhary Technical College in Ranchi.

In East Singhbum, police initially refused to look for the girl when her parents reported her disappearance. They lodged a missing complaint four days later.

Angry villagers assaulted the assistant sub-inspector before a police team rescued him with the promise of strong action against the culprit.

Someone close and known to the victim appeared to be behind the act because had there been outsiders or a racket been involved they would not have dumped the body in the village. But we are probing every lead and not ruling out any angle, Shailendra Barnwal, the Jamshedpur rural superintendent of police, said on Friday.

The girls father, who is a farmer and a daily wage worker, has not named any suspect in his complaint. But several women in the village told police that a sorcerer from a nearby village, who was spotted on an adjacent hillock for the past six months, could be involved.

Villagers are also talking about two young men on a motorcycle, alleging that they drugged the girl when she was playing outside her house on December 15 and committed the crime.

(With input from Sanjay Sahay in Ranchi and Probal Sanatani in Ghatsila)
Queues with no more than seven to eight people outside ATMs in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi were like a mirage. For travellers from Delhi, who have seen nothing but mile-long lines since the government scrapped the Rs 500/1,000 notes on November 8, this was nothing short of a miracle.

We watched (in shock and awe) as people went in and came out counting their cash.

Locals in the city  that will go to polls in the new year  were quick to point out that cash crunch was eased as soon as news of its MP, no less than the Prime Minister of the county, Narendra Modi was expected to make a quick dash to his constituency.

Modi ji ke aane ki khabar sunte hi note bhi aa gaye, (The notes arrived with the news that Modi ji will be coming), our driver Deepak pointed out.

Elsewhere in the city, the stress of having no loose change, or looking for digital payment options was conspicuous by its absence. There are no advertisements for digital payment wallets plastered across the city nor have banks put up posters nudging people to switch from cash payments to cards.

Ramji, a sales person at one of the big sari stores in the city, says most of their clients now use plastic money, but he senses distress among the poor weavers.

This (demonetisation) seems like a good move. The big fish are finally getting caught, he laughs. Big fish is a euphemism for the corrupt.

Read | Varanasi, Allahabad had zero good air days last year

He throws in names of a few  a lady doctor, a government official, a businessman  who made it to the citys headlines for having amassed wealth beyond their known sources of income.

The drive against the big fish has won the Prime Minister admirers in the city of moksha (liberation). Most here are not interested in the other consequences of demonetisation: the snuffing out of counterfeit currency or the so-called death blow to terror and drug outfits as claimed by the government. For them it is just a move that cracks down on the corrupt and somehow ensures a level playing field.

The rich were getting richer. No one was thinking of the poor. Now the black money will come out and be distributed among the poor, says Cheddi Lal, our boatman.

He says demonetisation has not affected his business much, but his owner has been complaining. He is not sure about switching to digital payment platforms and says he would rather stick to cash.

I work from morning till night. Going to the bank is not easy for me. These things should be for the rich who have people (helpers) to run errands, he says.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other BJP leaders at a meeting of party workers, in Varanasi. (PTI Photo)

His fellow rower Shyamji too believes that the confiscated money  from those who stashed bundles at home  will somehow reach the poor.

The description of black money is the quintessential narrative of ill-gotten wealth sewn into mattresses and concealed in secret lockers built in walls, as Hindi movies have us believe.

They are not alone. There are many in the city who either do not know or do not consider not paying taxes as an offence.

Demonetisation and its impact on elections may be the mainstay for political punditry in the metros, but for most people in the PMs constituency, polls are not seen through the prism of political or administrative decisions.

Criticism of the move is evident in some quarters. In Lallapura, where looms shuttle non-stop, demonetisation has brought in a lull. Most weavers here say they can only weave on the machines, as opposed to using the handloom and using inexpensive yarn.

A host of people in the city that thrives on its weaves and religious tourism, talk of continuing support for the PM and their reasons are mostly drawn from an affinity to a Hindu party. There is no mistaking the religious undercurrent.

This city, the oldest known civilisation, has its own equivalent of the Ram temple - Babri Masjid dispute: the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque issue is a simmering cauldron that is stirred at regular intervals.

Read | Post demonetisation, banknotes still call the shots in cashless villages

Outside the temple, the issue comes up several times which, the locals say, is fostered by politicians.

One look at the structure and you know its a temple. You dont need to be an expert. But look what these politicians do, says a shop owner who doubles up as a guide.

He wants to be around to see the structure restored as a temple, but adds wistfully, Even Modi ji cannot do it. It is gone now.

Development, jobs, cleaning the city and its lifeline -- the Ganga -- healthcare and education, which were the promises that the BJP made, make perfunctory appearance in conversations.

Modi ji ordered a six-lane highway from the airport. The Akhilesh Yadav government had no option but to speed up the metro construction after Modi ji began to monitor it, says Dharampal, a cab driver.

He says by 2019, people will see a shiny new city. The ghats, which are being cleaned, are light years away from the developed river fronts that were sold to people at the time of signing agreements with multiple countries.

The narrow lanes with houses cheek by jowl are still full of waste, with signs of waste collection and segregation remaining largely ignored.

Read | Modis demonetisation has parallels with Indiras bank nationalisation

Incessant honking, rash driving, spitting in public are a reminder that Varanasi has not changed, not yet, at least.

Political and caste lines are drawn, and religious territories earmarked. But few complain. They dont blame the government. For them, this is familiar, this is the city they know.

On the surface, most seem content, just as you would expect in the city that teaches detachment and finds nothing macabre in showing off its cremation grounds as a tourist destination.

What do you want from your MP, I ask Deepak. Modi ji ne bola khud ko sambhalo, desh khud hi samabhal jayega...wohi kar rahen hai (Modi ji said you take care of yourself, the country will be taken care of. That is what we are doing, he says, squirting red betel nut juice from his mouth.

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A Nigerian national travelling to Coimbatore was detained at the Delhi airport on Friday morning, when he was found carrying a large stash of old and new currency notes. Airport sources said the passenger reached terminal Terminal 1D of the Indira Gandhi International airport at around 2:35 am to board his Indigo flight to Coimbatore.

During his check in, approximately Rs 53.78 lakh in new currency notes(500 and 2000) and Rs 4.29 lakh old currency notes(1000 and 500 ) were detected. His flight to Coimbatore was scheduled to depart at 6:40 am. He was allowed to board flight by the Air Intelligence Unit of Income Tax, said a CISF official.

Sources said that IT officials at Coimbatore have also been informed and they will interrogate him there. The man will be interrogated how he managed to hoard the new currency notes when the government has fixed a withdrawal limit of Rs 24000 a week.

Post demonetisation, CISF was asked to keep a tab on passengers travelling with cash and inform such cases to IT.
Sharia courts have once again come under the scanner after the Madras high court this week banned all unauthorised courts in mosques across Tamil Nadu, in response to a petition filed by a non-resident Indian (NRI).

In response to the PIL, which was filed after Abdul Rahman claimed that the Sharia council at Chennais Makkah Masjid had passed an order divorcing him from his wife, the HC observed that all centres of worship could only be used for religious practices and not as quasi-legal bodies.

It is difficult to ascertain just how many Sharia councils are operating in Tamil Nadu. While every mosque is expected to maintain one, there are no figures of how many actually do and how many pass orders and judgements.

What is known is that practitioners of Islam frequently go to these courts for advice and counsel, usually in matters of matrimonial disputes or property issues.

The Makkah Masjid, located on bustling Anna Salai, denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

Read: Madras high court bans unauthorised Sharia courts in Tamil Nadu

We are just a counselling centre. When members of our community run into marriage problems or property disputes they come here for advice. We are definitely not a kangaroo court, Hazir Mohammed, the caretaker of the mosque, says.

This is our Shariah council, Mohammed continues, pointing to a small room.

Bare except for a few chairs and a long desk, the council is comprised of the imam and his deputy, a womans rights activist, and even an advocate from the high court.

Rahman has made this into an issue by taking it to the court because the council advised his wife to divorce him. This is another false accusation and we will plan how best to respond to it, Mohammed says.

A Sirajudeen, the senior counsel overlooking Rahmans proceedings, thinks otherwise.

We have submitted documents along with our petition that indicate the council was acting as a legal body. Dated court summons, evidence of adjudications, written in the language of the law, he says.

They operated like a quasi-legal body in matrimonial matter and property disputes, R Rajaramani, the advocate representing Rahman, adds.

In the case of my client, the council passed judgement hours after they heard from both him and his wife - which is a violation of the guidelines laid down by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which says there has to be at least a three month gap between hearing and fatwa, he adds.

Read: Sharia courts have role to play in dispute resolution

For many, Shariah councils are an essential part of not only their faith but their lives as well.

The council here gave me important advice in an issue I had with some land, Fariq Hussein, a local trader, says.

But for others, the rulings of the councils are harsh and discriminatory.

When Ilma (name changed) received a letter from a Jamaat five years ago saying that her husband had divorced her, she began a fight for a more equitable outcome. I did what I thought I should do. I went to a Sharia council for mediation and assistance, she says.

What she found instead was a general unwillingness to help her, escalating at times to full-blown harassment.

I wanted justice and a fairer ruling for me and my son. But each council and each Jamaat I went to were not interested in helping. Members of the Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam found me and harassed me constantly, saying that it would be difficult for me to live in Chennai if I continued to pursue this, she says.

More than the councils, it is the Jamaats who cause the most harm, according to senior advocate Bader Sayeed.

The Jamaats hear the husband and get him to sign a document of divorce. They then issue the divorce decree whenever they feel like it. Its almost like they are pronouncing triple talaq themselves, the veteran campaigner against triple talaq says.

Fatwas issued by Islamic judges have no legal weight, Sayeed says.

These councils operate like khatta panchayats and kangaroo courts. Their rulings invariably violate the fundamental rights of women, and the state if legally bound to enforce the Constitution, she adds.

Because the rulings of the Shariah councils mainly focus on divorces and the granting of the controversial triple talaq, Sayeed maintains that opposition to them has little to do with religion and more to do with gender justice.

Five years later, Ilma has managed to get some orders passed by the court to her benefit.

But its a small comfort to her. I feel if I was not a Muslim maybe I would have gotten fairer treatment, she says.

This is not about being against Sharia law but against how it is being misused against women, she adds.

Its changing the lives of Muslim women and their children - and not for the better.

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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi at a rally in Almora on Friday, saying Modis policy was to siphon off money from the poor and help the rich.

Gareebon se kheencho aur ameeron ko seencho (take from the poor and give to the rich) is now the buzzword in the present government, Gandhi said.

The Modi government waived off loans worth `1.4 lakh crore of 50 super rich families of India. Now, they have loans of `8.5 lakh crore that are to be waived off again, but the banks do not have money for this purpose. The Modi government thought of an ingenious scheme under which they imposed demonetisation and pulled your money to banks. Now, this money will be used to waive off the `8 lakh crore. Just wait and watch and you will see the loans being waived off in a few months, he said.

He added, Dont you know why the `2,000 notes were made that size? Because ATMs wont dispense them and banks wont give change. This way they want to keep money in banks for a longer duration so as to use it for the super rich.

Quoting poet Bashir Badr, Gandhi said the two lines  Log toot jaate hain ek ghar banane mein, tum taras nahin khaate bastiyaan jalane mein summed up Modis decision.

Explaining what he called the real reason behind the note ban, Gandhi said, Only 6% of the black money is in cash and the rest 94% is in real estate, gold and Swiss Bank accounts. The Swiss Banks said they have given names of the black money holders but they are not being made public as these are the 50 super rich families that made Modi PM by.
NRIs and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) converging in Bangalore for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas should be allowed to exchange banned Indian currency, a global organsation representing them said.

One group that will be hit hard by the governments restrictions will be hundreds delegates reaching Bengaluru for the Pravasi convention from all over the world, said Sunny Kulathakal of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO).

Many of them have in their possession demonetised currency notes that they may find difficult to exchange on arrival in India, he said adding that GOPIO has requested the government to facilitate the exchange of these notes at various Indian embassies or other means.

NRIs and PIOs should be allowed to exchange whatever amount they have as long as they show the proof of past conversion of foreign currency to Indian currency in the last 10 years, said Thomas Abraham, chairman of GOPIO International.
Despite a complete halt to bilateral talks between India and Pakistan, 439 Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails will return home in two batches, a pressure group said on Friday.

The move would bring good cheer to the fishing community as the first batch is scheduled to be home on Christmas.

Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) spokesperson Jatin Desai said that while 220 fishermen would be back on Sunday, the remaining 219 would return on January 5, 2017.

The release is important as there is no bilateral talks and there is complete pause on the dialogue, he added.

Desai said the PIPFPD has even urged the Indian government to reciprocate by releasing Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian prisons.

Currently, there are 516 Indian fishermen nabbed and put in Karachi jails, while 80 Pakistani fisherfolk were put in prisons in Gujarat.

The India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners (IPJCP), set up in 2008 must meet urgently, Desai said pointing out that both countries must pursue a No Arrest Policy as far as fishermen were concerned.

They should also release all the confiscated fishing boats as it was their only means of livelihood, he added.

The IPJCP used to meet regularly every six months, but did not meet since the BJP-led government assumed power, Desai said.
A petition filed by a group of lawyers opposing the elevation of Justice JS Khehar as next the Chief Justice of India was termed by the Supreme Court on Friday as virtually infructuous, observing that the President of India has already issued a notification in this regard.

Since the notification appointing Justice JS Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India has already been issued, the petition has virtually become infructuous, a bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and L Nageswara Rao said.

There is nothing left in this petition as the President of India has issued the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI. Nothing is left in this now. If you want, we can allow you to withdraw the petition, the bench said.

However, the brief hearing witnessed an altercation among the members of the lawyers body as its vice president urged the apex court to list the matter for hearing on December 30, while the others urged the bench for liberty to file a plea afresh.

To this, the bench observed, You are fighting among yourselves.

The vice president of the petitioner, National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, requested the bench that there was something which they wanted to argue and he would call for a general body meeting of the members to decide on these aspects.

But nothing remains in this petition now, the bench said.

Some members of the lawyers body told the bench that there was no denial that the petition has become infructuous, so they should be given a liberty to file a fresh plea.

The bench noted in its order that the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI has been issued on December 19.

On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI. The present CJI Justice TS Thakur demits office on January 3 next year.

In its plea, the lawyers body has said that instead of justice Khehar, justice J Chelameshwar, who is now the fourth senior-most judge in the apex court, should be elevated as he had given a dissenting view when the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was struck down by a five-judge constitution bench headed by justice Khehar.
Major military reforms are in the offing with defence minister Manohar Parrikar slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi early next month to discuss the mandate of a proposed chief of defence staff (CDS).

Work has begun on creating joint commands to optimise resource utilisation among the three armed services; the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

South Block sources told Hindustan Times that the Modi government has decided to appoint a CDS, a single point military adviser to the political leadership in matters of acquisition, procurement policy and resource rationalisation.

The mandate for the proposed CDS will be decided by defence minister Parrikar in consultation with the PM and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The new post of CDS will not be used for parking slots for super-ceded generals and a new man will be tasked with the job once work profile is clearly defined, said a senior official.

Parrikar is currently studying the report of retired General DB Shekatkar on making military more effective with better teeth-to-tail ratio.

The Shekatkar committee has also identified areas where there is redundancy, and downsizing of the military could be undertaken without compromising combat effectiveness.

For example, a couple of hundred signal troopers had been deployed to listen to radio broadcasts in 1962. This unit is still functional despite it being technologically redundant. Similarly, the National Cadet Corps could be downsized by more than 50% by hiring retired soldiers, said the official.

After preferring merit to seniority in appointment of Army Chief, the defence ministry is now examining the case for a joint command as a step towards integrated theatre commands.

The army, air force and navy currently operate in silos with each protecting its turf and operations. The ministry now is looking towards creating integrated structures where all three services are synergised towards military operations.

For example, it is proposed that Northern Command could come under one overall commander from any one of the three services, with overall control of all military and air assets. This does not mean that top level vacancies will be reduced. Only that there would be one overall commander in one theatre and future roles of military chiefs being redefined and refocused. Essentially, the reforms will be close to what has been done in US Armed Forces with tweaking on ground, said a senior official.

However, top defence analysts are sceptical about the theatre command concept as it not only required dedicated military resources but also command synergy at the cutting-edge levels. According to them, maybe the first step could be formation of tri-services battle groups before the theatre command concept is followed.

US has global armed presence and hence the theatre command concept works with dedicated land, air and naval assets earmarked for each command. In India, we have flexible air and naval assets that are earmarked as per operational requirement, said an analyst.

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A political blame game has erupted between ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Karnataka over non-inclusion of Kannada among the languages for holding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for admission in medical colleges for the academic year 2017-18.

As chief minister Siddaramaiah sought to put the onus on the Centre, union minister Ananth Kumar hit back citing the state government had written to the Centre suggesting that the exam be held in English.

Our government had written a letter stating that NEET exams should be held in Kannada also, still it has not been done. I have asked the Chief Secretary to write a letter, Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said, It is wrong. We have written a letter, but what are our BJP ministers (at the Centre) and MPs doing? Dont they have the responsibility? They have won from Karnataka... what are they doing?

The Union Health Ministry on December 21 had said NEET exams for admission in medical colleges will be held in eight languages - Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu.

Taking strong exception to Kannada being left out, the Chief Minister said, Omitting Kannada... is a wrong thing, we are writing a protest letter also.

However, Ananth Kumar held the state government responsible for it.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he said, When the Centre asked the states about the language for NEET exams in their respective states in November, Karnataka governments medical education department had clearly said in writing that the exams be held in English.

It is only three days ago that they have awakened and sought that the exams be held in Kannada, he added.

The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has called the move to exclude the language a great injustice to seven crore Kannadigas.

Karnataka is considered to be the home for highest number of medical colleges in the country.
Going cashless is the latest fad. Ever since PM Narendra Modi began exhorting his countrymen to go digital following his demonetisation drive, several states have been competing with each other to embrace it.

Every second day, a village in some corner of the country is being declared cashless.

As the PM extols the virtues of cashless transactions vigorously, the rush to declare villages cashless has only gathered pace. The states invariably showcase the villages as a milestone in fulfilling Modis vision. Armed with credit cards and e-wallets, HT reporters travelled to several cashless villages across the country to determine how cashless they actually were on the ground.

Badjhiri (Madhya Pradesh)

They (the authorities) say our village is the first cashless village in the state. The truth is we are really becoming cash-less, laments Shyam Sharma, the ex-sarpanch of the roadside village of about 400 households some 25km away from Bhopal.

Read | A month of demonetisation: From peoples pain, job losses to political war

Earnings, Sharma and other villagers say, is down at least 50% following last months demonetisation.

State finance minister, Jayant Malaiya, declared Badjhiri cashless last week with much fanfare. But days later, less than half of the two dozen shops in the village have got swipe machines for cashless transactions.

Minister for finance Jayant Malaiya on Tuesday dedicated first digital cashless village Badhjhiri, 25 kms from Bhopal, to the public. (PTI)

Even those who have the machines complain not many villagers are willing to use them. They dont trust cashless transactions, pointed out a grocer.

Shop owners say despite being the states first cashless village, they have their own compulsions in not insisting upon online payments. Our business is already down. We cant afford to turn away customers, pointed out Vinod Verma, the owner of a general store.

Moolchand, a farmer, felt the PM has erred. Jaldi ka kaam Shaitaan ka. Notebandi achchha decision tha, par bahut jaldi me kiya Modi ji ne, woh bhi bina taiyari ke(Acting in haste is the work of devil. Demonetisation was a good decision by Modi, but he did it without much preparation and in haste), he pointed out.

Scorecard: HT checked out 4 outlets: Grocery, vegetable vendor, fertilizer seller, tea vendor: Two had swipe machines.

Tailor Dilip Jangdeea in Badjhiri village, nearly 25 kms from Bhopal on Bhopal-Sehore road. (Praveen Bajpai/Hindustan Times)

Read | MP to get its first cashless village on Bhopal outskirts

Lanura (Jammu & Kashmir)

Grocer Shabir Ahmad Lone had to wait for his first online transaction for a week, until the HT reporter walked into his shop to buy chips using Paytm.

He and the other shopkeepers of this village in Budgam district have been taught to handle online payments and also have e-wallet app ready for use on their smart phones.

But none of the locals have used this mode of payment since Lanura, 25 kms from Srinagar, was declared cashless. Yes, we have been trained. But on an everyday basis, a cashless economy is not functional in this village. People are using cash, regrets Lone.

Read | Long ATM queues not for them: Moneyless Kashmir calm over note ban

A press release issued by the state government boasted last week about the cashless feat. At least one member of each household has been trained to use the electronic payment system, it boasted. Villagers, however, say a majority of them dont have smart phones. Their mobile phones are also not linked to their bank accounts.

Scorecard: HT checked four outlets: grocery, tailor, gas cylinder dealer and pharmacy. All four are using cash though 2 had Paytm facilities.

Firdous Ahmed, who runs a pharmacy in Lanura, has a tablet and a PAYTM account  but villagers buy medicines from him using cash. (Waseem Andrabi / Hindustan Times)

Ibrahimpur (Telangana)

The sleepy village in Siddipet district some 125km away from Hyderabad made national headlines early this month when union informational technology minister Ravishankar Prasad hailed it as South Indias first cashless village in a tweet.

T Harish Rao, the Telangana irrigation minister and nephew of CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, had formally declared Ibrahimpur as cashless on December 5.

Two weeks later, the village of 270 households is struggling to live up to its reputation. A majority of the locals have bank accounts and debit cards, but cash is still the norm.

Read | Telanganas Ibrahimpur becomes first cashless village in south India

Some auto drivers are accepting online payments, but most dont. Shops have got electronic point of sale (POS) machines, but women shopkeepers say they do not know how to use them. Only men of the village know, one of them said. An official of Andhra Bank, overseeing the digitisation initiative in the village, admitted the teething troubles would be overcome soon.

Scorecard: HT checked out three general stores and a tea vendor. Online payments worked at only two of them.

Jhatipur (Haryana)

Jagdish Singh, a farmer, is stumped when told that his village in Panipat district has gone cashless. Really? What does it mean, he asked in bewilderment.

Chander Sekhar Khare, the Panipat deputy commissioner, had no such doubts while declaring Jhatipur cashless last week. He said the village is ready to transact through e-wallets while swipe machines will be made available to all retail outlets over coming days.

Read | Demonetisation: E-wallet apps upgrade features to tighten up security

The local pharmacy still has a only cash sign prominently painted on its wall. Sarpanch Ashok Kumar pointed out that though many shopkeepers have opened PayTM accounts, most preferred to accept cash. Ranbeer Singh, who runs a general store, said cash was in circulation in the so-called cashless village. As of now we are selling in cash and the officials are saying they will make our village cashless. Lets see what happens next, he said.

Scorecard: HT visited 4 outlets: None had online transaction facilities.

Jhatipur village in Haryana is officialy cashless, but a sign at this medicine shop gives away the reality. (HT photo)

Jariya (Chhattisgarh)

It has been a week since the local media and social media have been abuzz with two tribal villages of the state going cashless: Jariya bordering the neighbouring state of Odisha, and Palnaar in Dantewada district.

Predominantly tribal, Jariya has just seven shops. Yet, ensuring cashless transactions at the handful of shops is proving to be a challenge.

The local sarpanch, Sanjay Kishore Lakda, claims every household has a bank account and an ATM card. Shop owners have also installed e-wallets on their phones. But online transactions are still few and far between. Only 23 customers made transactions through SBI Buddy the entire week, pointed out Amit Sagar, a grocer.

Sab to nahi lekin bahut log use kar rahe hain aur unko labh bhi mil raha hai ( Not everyone but many people are using the application and are being benifited), added Lakda.

The authorities say swipe machines will shortly reach the shops, allowing them to accept credit and debit cards. But not everyone in the village is impressed. This was just a gimmick, said Santosh Chaudhary, a local journalist.

Scorecard: HT checked out a tea stall, ration shop, vegetable vendor and fertilizer dealer. Only the tea vendor was using e-wallet.

Read | Demonetisations ever-changing rules: a complete history

(With inputs from Neeraj Mohan in Haryana, Srinivasa Rao Apparasu in Telangana, Ritesh Mishra in Chhattisgarh, Neeraj Santoshi in MP and Abhishek Saha in Jammu&Kashmir)
President Pranab Mukherjee is believed to have raised questions on the Centres move to push another ordinance to allow a department to continue to hold sway over enemy properties in the country. However, Mukherjee has cleared the ordinance for the fifth time.

The legislation related to the ordinance could not be passed for at least three years, prompting the Centre to go the ordinance route to maintain a status quo. Sources told HT that the President questioned why the government was unable to pass the bill and was pushing ordinances one after another.

The law provides that all properties belonging to persons who had left the country and gone to Pakistan or China  the two countries that had waged war against India  were by definition enemy properties and had to be taken over by the government.

The custodian of enemy property for India is an Indian government department that is empowered to appropriate such property in India. After the India-Pakistan war of 1965, the Enemy Property Act was promulgated in 1968.

Both the erstwhile UPA government and the NDA has struggled to pass the bill in Parliament.

In the recently-concluded winter session, the government could not get the bill passed as the Opposition resorted to disruptions to protest against demonetisation.

The last time, when an ordinance was proposed on the legislation, the President was unhappy and wanted to know why it was not passed for such a long time, said a source.

The source added that Mukherjee maintains that ordinances should be used only in rare cases and Parliament should debate and clear bills.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recommended demonetisation of 500- and 1,000-rupee banknotes hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the surprise move in a televised address to the nation in the evening of November 8.

The government and the RBI have kept the consultation process that led to the decision to demonetise 86% of Indias cash in circulation a closely-guarded secret. Both, however, have insisted that the demonetisation plan had been under discussion for long and consultations were being held.

Economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters on November 8 that there was no need to go into the process which led to this decision. I think what we should be focusing on is the outcome and the decision itself.

The governments shock move has led to a severe cash crunch, forcing millions of people to line up at banks and ATM kiosks for more than a month. Cash withdrawals have been restricted, but most banks are unable to provide even that. The Oppositions protests over the demonetisation move have washed out the winter session of Parliament.

The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, empowers the Union government to demonetise any series of banknotes. The government, however, cannot take this decision on its own, but only on the recommendation of the RBIs central board.

In response to a right to information request, which Hindustan Times has sought, the RBI said the banks central board of directors made the recommendation at its meeting in New Delhi on November 8. Only eight of the 10 board members attended the crucial meet.

Apart from RBI chief Urjit Patel and economic affairs secretary Das, the meeting had RBI deputy governors R Gandhi and SS Mundra, Nachiket M Mor, the country director for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bharat Narotam Doshi, former chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services Limited, former Gujarat chief secretary Sudhir Mankad, and financial services secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal.

Read | The governance of Reserve Bank of India

The law provides for a 21-member board, including 14 independent members, but the central bank has been operating with less than half.

Between the RBI board meeting and Modis demonetisation announcement, the government just had a couple of hours to process the banks formal recommendation.

Read | Remove the veil of secrecy around demonetisation decision-making

Prime Minister Modi had convened a meeting of his cabinet later in the day when they were told about the decision. The ministers  who had to leave their mobile phones outside  were told to stay back till his address was telecast.

It isnt that the RBI or the government hadnt been making preparations for the mammoth notes recall exercise. The bank had already printed Rs 4.94 lakh crore in Rs 2,000 notes by November 8.

But former RBI officials said this implies that the boards approval was a formality.

The way the demonetisation decision was taken was highly irregular, said a former top RBI official, who didnt wish to be named. He said he did not believe the government and RBI had taken adequate steps to minimise harassment of people.

Another said he was concerned at the large number of vacancies in the central board. Of the 14 independent directors, the board has just four.

According to the RTI reply, only three of them were present (at the meeting). That is the quorum, he said.

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The external affairs ministry on Friday described as completely factually misleading reports that more than 150 bodies of people from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were lying in various hospitals and mortuaries in Saudi Arabia.

Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also asserted that there are only about 10 cases that pertain to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

This report is completely factually misleading. The report refers to 150 bodies from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In reality, there are only about 10 cases that pertain to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. And the total number of bodies is nowhere near that number, he said.

He was reacting to a report which said at least 150 bodies of residents of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are piling up at mortuaries in Saudi Arabia for nearly a year with families unable to bring them back to Hyderabad for last rites and the Indian embassy in Riyadh has been of little help.

Noting that there are more than 2 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, Swarup said on average, there are 3-4 death cases registered every day on account of natural reasons.

Most cases are clear cases in which, as per the local norms, it takes around three weeks to send mortal remains even if the documents are in order, the spokesperson added.

In cases of unnatural death, like suicide, murder and industrial accident, and also in those cases wherein the families doubt the circumstances of death, the investigation procedure is very lengthy, causing delay in completion of documentation/transportation of mortal remains, he said.

Swarup further said in some cases, the families demand release of compensation first, before the dispatch of the mortal remains, whereas compensation is a legal process and takes a year.

In other cases of delay, DNA samples from the families back home are needed to identify the body and complete the local procedures, he observed.

So at any given time there would be a number of cases, of all categories, being processed. The Embassy proactively follows all death cases on top priority. In fact, NOCs are issued by the Embassy on 24x7 basis.

In the Kafala system (sponsorship) being followed in Saudi Arabia, it is the responsibility of the sponsor to complete the paper-work and dispatch the mortal remains to India. Despite this legal position, the Embassy steps in wherever there are delays in the transportation of mortal remains, Swarup said.
Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday met Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh over the economic blockade by Naga groups, and said the Centre will extend all assistance to restore normalcy in the state.

Rijiju visited the state with senior home ministry officials to review the law and order situation in the wake of the economic blockade by the Nagas, who are opposing the creation of new districts from areas inhabited by Naga people.

I have come to Imphal to see what kind of assistance that can be given to state government under current circumstances. Under the federal structure of Constitution, law and order is a state subject. However, the Centre is ready to extend all assistances in the larger interest of the people, Rijiju told reporters after the meeting.

He said, Two national highways -- NH 2 and NH 37 -- targeted by the Nagas for blockade as they were the lifeline of Manipur, shall remain open so that no people suffer.

Disclosing that the Centre has already sent 150 companies of para military forces in Manipur, Rijiju said: At the request of the state government, seven additional companies are on their way.

The economic blockade which entered its 52nd day was started by Naga groups when the Manipur government was planning to make Jiribam and Sadar Hills fullfledged districts.

The blockade and protest intensified after the government ignored the agitation and went ahead to declare Jirbam as a fullfledged district. The state government also created new districts of Kangpokpi, Tengoupal, Pharzol, Kakching, Noney and Kamjongin.

However, they could not make Sadar Hills a new district because of the strong opposition by the Naga inhabitants.

Rijiju said the economic blockade is not acceptable and essential items should be freely available.

According to informed sources, 500 trucks and oil tankers left for Imphal on Friday to transport various items from Assam. All the stranded vehicles were escorted by CRPF personnel.

The state authorities also relaxed the curfew during the day in Imphal East and Imphal West districts.
The bitter boardroom battle at the heart of Tata Sons has put a spotlight on the vulnerability of Indias independent company directors who stand-up to, or take on a dominant shareholder.

Tata Sons is not only fighting former chairman Cyrus Mistry, who has complained of mismanagement and corporate governance failures within the company, but is now also trying to oust Nusli Wadia - one of the groups most fiercely vocal independent directors - after he publicly backed Mistry.

Read: Wadia skips Tata Steel EGM, says independence of directors at stake

While Mistry has resigned from all listed Tata entities, Wadia was removed from the board of Tata Steel and Tata Motors this week. Tata Chemicals will vote on Wadias ouster on Friday.

Such corporate infighting is not rampant in India, but the latest events could set a dangerous precedent, suggesting an urgent need to relook at the role of independent company directors in the country, experts say.

What is at stake right now is not an independent director. What is at stake is the independence of independent directors, said L Iyer of LVV Iyer & Associates.

If independent directors are under constant threat of being removed ... why would they act in an independent manner?

Read: I have resigned to protect all stakeholders: Cyrus Mistry tells HT

In developed markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, independent directors are relatively protected as shareholdings are much more diffused. But in India, listed firms are dominated by a major shareholder, making it easier for the latter to stamp out dissenting independent voices.

Highlights Cyrus Mistry was removed as the chairman of Tata Sons on October 24, after which Ratan Tata returned as its interim chairman. Ousted Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry stepped down from the boards of all its listed companies on December 19. Nusli Wadia was removed from the board of Tata Steel and Tata Motors this week after he publicly backed Mistry. Tata Chemicals will vote on Wadias ouster on Friday. In India, listed firms are dominated by a major shareholder, making it easier for the latter to stamp out dissenting independent voices.

Of the 1,594 listed and actively traded firms on Indias main bourse, some 88% have dominant shareholders with 30-80% stakes, data from Prime Database shows.

TEST CASE

Tata Sons is the single-largest shareholder in the group companies where Wadia was an independent director. Mistrys Shapoorji Pallonji family owns about 18% of Tata Sons.

To oust Wadia from Tata Steel and Tata Motors, all Tata Sons needed to do was call for a special shareholder meeting and win a simple majority vote. The dominant shareholder, who is calling for the removal, is not barred from voting on the issue.

Also read: Nusli Wadia voted out from Tata Motors board of directors

I think this particular case will be effectively the test case for how robust the regime (Indias company law) is or whether any further changes need to be made to it, said Umakanth Varottil, an associate law professor at National University of Singapore.

Indias market regulator SEBI, however, said there was no immediate need to change the norms around independent directors.

I, at this stage, dont foresee any particular compelling reason to review that, chairman UK Sinha has said.

India has only recently moved to recognise the role and the significance of independent directors. The function was formally introduced into the Companies Act, 2013.

The law details the duties of independents - from looking after interests of minority shareholders to scrutinising management performance and providing objective views on strategy decisions and other matters.

The institution of independent directors in India is quite nascent, so if you allow independence to be compromised at this stage, then things can go wrong, said Iyer.
Days after a row erupted over the army drill at toll plazas in West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday objected to the Centres move to deploy CRPF personnel for providing security to income tax officials during search operations in the state.

Banerjee demanded that the decision be immediately revoked.

Describing the decision as unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism, Banerjee shot off a one-page letter to Union home minister Rajnath Singh in which she said deployment of any central police force to any state can only be done at the request of the state government.

The decision must be immediately revoked, she demanded, adding, The state government and police forces would provide all necessary help and protection if so requested by any central government agency for any legitimate action on their part.

Stating that no communication in this regard has been received by the state government, Banerjee said, A copy of such instruction as reported in the media is enclosed.

Respective legislative and executive jurisdictions of the state governments and the central governments are clearly delineated in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and public order and police are within the domain of List II (state list), the letter said.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to all state chief ministers.

A row had erupted over the deployment of Army personnel at toll plazas in the state with Banerjee and the Centre trading charges.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar also dashed off a stinging letter to Banerjee, saying her allegations against the army can adversely impact the morale of the force and the Trinamool Congress chief hit back over his wild assertion.
The four-day training of the BJP state office bearers concluded in Indore on Thursday with a message that the party needs to work hard to win the 2018 assembly election.

This is our prime goal and each one of us has a role to play and contribution to make towards this goal, BJP state unit president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan said in his concluding speech. He drew anecdotes from past on how shortcomings of the party resulted in electoral losses in some bypolls.

Other speakers insisted on better coordination between the party and the state government.

The training session began in presence of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday. About 150 BJP members took part in training which was organised with a view to motivate them for the assembly poll.

BJP national general secretaries Kailash Vijayvargiya and Ram Madhav; national general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal and senior leader Vinay Sahastrabuddhe were among others who addressed 16 training sessions. Lok Sabha speaker and Indore MP Sumitra Mahajan was also present.

Those participated in the training included BJP state unit executive members, morcha presidents, MPs, ex-MPs, mayors, chairmen of different government corporations, boards, state conveners of BJP cells.
Alkem Laboratories plans to invest about Rs 700 crore and will set up a unit in Pithampur special economic zone (SEZ), state industry minister Rajendra Shukla said on Thursday. The government is allocating 40-acre land in the SEZ for which the company has already deposited 25% of the amount, he said.

Shukla was in Indore to review the status of investment proposals made during the global investors summit held in Indore in October 2016.

Ajanta Pharma, which plans to invest about Rs 400 crore, has applied for 32-acre land.

Syntex Ltd also plans to set up an auto ancillary unit and has applied for 200-acre land. Mylan Pharma is also setting up a unit in SEZ while Patanjali group has been allocated 40-acre land in Pithampur.

The Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam (AKVN), Indore is also in the process of allocating land to Cadila, Hettich, Ceat Tyre and Shrinath Packers.

AKVN managing director Kumar Purushottam said that work on infrastructure development of smart industrial project on 1,200-acre land near Pithampur is also progressing smoothly. He also gave a presentation on the other development works including the Rs 300 crore Narmada water supply project to Pithampur.

The minister also reviewed the progress of expansion of the Crystal IT SEZ in Indore. The minister was told that at present four private companies - TCS, Infosys, Impetus and Infobeans - are developing IT SEZ in the city.

AKVN officials said that 3,000 acre developed land has been allocated to the industries while an additional 1,500 acre land is under development. The AKVN has allocated 150 acre land after investors meet in October and aims to allocate an additional 350 acres by March.
Raising the pitch of her tirade against Narendra Modis government, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday called upon members of her party, the Trinamool Congress, to draw up a list of people who lost their livelihood because of the Centres demonetisation policy. Alleging that the decision rendered almost 10 crore people jobless, she said she would submit the list to the President.

We will follow only one slogan  Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao. Everywhere, right from the block-level, our party workers will build up this movement in the peoples interest, the Trinamool chief said. She also instructed all party MPs to further sharpen their attack against the Prime Minister and the BJP both in and outside Parliament, and gave Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy the responsibility to oversee the preparation of the list.

Hinting that her fight will now extend beyond the borders of Bengal, she said, Nearly 100 people have already died after the decision the country is moving towards a cash famine. Between January 1 and January 8, we will celebrate the foundation day of our party with cultural event and, simultaneously, spread the anti-demonetisation movement.

Laying emphasis on the need to prepare the list of people who have lost their jobs, Mamata said the list will include the names of those who were forced to return home from other states after losing their jobs in the backdrop of demonetisation.

A senior Trinamool leader told HT, The preparation of this list indicates that she is trying to involve all the victims of demonetisation, including the worst-sufferers, in the movement.

Party sources said district unit presidents will prepare the lists in their respective districts and submit them to Sukhendu Sekhar Roy. Roy will scrutinise and then submit them to the party chief who will then take it to the President. The tentative deadline for the list to be prepared is December 31.

Soon after the Modi governments decision to scrap old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, Mamata had called on President Pranab Mukherjee with a delegation of opposition leaders and submitted a memorandum to him opposing the governments move. Mamata Banerjee was the first leader in the country to oppose the demonetisation policy, correctly predicting that it will affect a vast number of people. Today, almost all opposition leaders are echoing her, Roy said.

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Political tension between India and Pakistan is a major hindrance for archaeologists involved in exploring the ruins of Indus Valley civilisation as a number of major sites are situated along the border, said Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, an Indus Valley researcher.

Indo-Pak friendship is crucial for proper and extensive excavation and research on Indus Valley civilisation. I would like to see Indian students researching in Harappa and Pakistani students in Dholavira. Sites identified with the Indus Civilization are situated across an area twice the size of each of Mesopotamia or ancient Egypt. Cross-border research is essential for better understanding of the civilisation, said Kenoyer, an American citizen who was born in Shillong and brought up in Silchar.

He is unsure whether Indian scholars would be able to attend the seminar on Mahenjodaro and Indus Valley Civilisation on the sites of Mahenjodaro scheduled in February.

A professor of anthropology in University of Wisconsin  Madison, US, Kenoyer is just back from Pakistan after attending the 2nd Harappa International Conference between December 18 and 20.

There are ample evidences of ornaments, textiles, and pottery and copper items used by the people of that era though no weapon was found. Even their images have no reference of conflict between man and man. Not a single image showing man killing man was found, whereas many images depicting conflict between man and animal were found, Kenoyer said during his speech at a seminar titled Recent Research on Indus Civilisation  a view from Harappa and other sites. It was organised by the Indian Museum on Thursday.

He has been doing a research on Harappa for three decades. The talk was organised at a time when the museum is in the process of reopening its Harappa gallery that was closed nearly 15 years ago.

He also pointed out that the Indus Valley civilisation comprised about 10 regions integrated by ecosystem and not war. Every city in Indus Valley civilisation had standardised weight measurement system and rates, he said, adding that Harappans enjoyed maritime trade with central Asian countries.

There are evidences of practising the vastu but it was not a rigid form of the practice that later emerged in the shastra. The kitchens are mostly found in the northeast corner of houses, whereas the dumping grounds and cemeteries lay mostly in the south or southwest. This practice, however, was more based experiences of living in nature. Since the wind blew from north, it would have been unwise to have the dumping place or cemeteries to the north, whereas the sun rises in the east. That was how northeast became holy, he said.

While the Indus Valley scripts are yet to be deciphered, Kenoyer believes the inscriptions found on pottery vessels, seals and amulets were written in different languages. The scripts, too, changed with time as many signs and symbols of the early era were absent in later era scripts, while new signs and symbols were included.

I doubt whether well ever be able to find long texts reflecting on their society and whether the Harappan people produced long texts at all, he said.

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Dress up for lunch at Thalassa. We didnt, and we felt it. Dozens of decked out ladies-who-lunch occupied the alfresco backyard and the air-conditioned interiors. It was too warm to sit outside  so everyone who walked in got the up-and-down.

Pretty, check. Mediterranean, check.

The Greek restaurant, a recent import from Vagator, has neither the sea views nor the susegad vibe of Goa; it has Khars traffic sounds and selfie-taking urbane people instead. But gosh, its pretty! And its pretty different from the place Mariketty Grana opened 10 years ago on a beach, encouraged by the excitement her rolls and kebabs received at night markets. Thalassas Mumbai outpost has cane ceilings and vintage keys on the walls. It invokes Santorinis bright whites and rich cobalts rather than the cobblestoned labyrinths of Granas native Corfu.

Read:Food, music, theatre: 10 things to do in Mumbai this Christmas

The food takes you right back to Vagator. Granas interpretation of Hellenic fare is full of flavours that are familiar and fond to us: tomatoes, spice, garlic, lemon, cheese, vegetables, meat. As it is with the prawn saganaki, perfectly cooked plump crustaceans in tomatoes and garlic, with crumbled-over feta, and warm pita on the side.

Tiro-kaf-teri, literally spicy cheese is a dip of chillies in crumbled creamed feta. Its as delicious as it sounds, and an ideal counterpoint to a fruity smoked orange and pomegranate martini.

Tiro-kaf-teri, literally spicy cheese is a dip of chillies in crumbled creamed feta. Its as delicious as it sounds, and an ideal counterpoint to a fruity smoked orange and pomegranate martini.

Food doesnt get more Greek than lamb moussaka and dolmadakia; both dishes here are exceptional. The rice-stuffed grape leaves are packed with texture and tang. Thalassas kalamata olive oil makes its presence felt alongside mint and dill. In the aubergine and ground-meat dish, each layer is high on flavor. The rich, mousse-like bechamel on top is good enough to eat by itself.

Why would you get a burger at a Greek restaurant when there are gyros. (Granas menu is otherwise determinedly focused.) We picked chicken wraps, and got strips of meat coated with a fragrant spice mix of thyme, chillies, cumin, coriander and more, surrounded with fries, sliced onions and tomatoes, and lush, tart tzatziki. Our friendly server told us the wraps would be DIY; this worked well because we could each build them to taste.

The lamb moussaka is exceptional.

Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts or yiaourti me meli sounds like a dish you could eat at any time instead of only at dessert, and indeed it is. At Thalassa, the yogurt tastes like regular dahi which defeats the purpose. Instead have the mosaiko or mosaic balls, spheres of no-bake chocolate cake stippled with biscuits.

Three years ago, when Thalassa popped up briefly at Olive Mahalaxmi, we wondered why Goa has a Greek restaurant and Mumbai doesnt. Were glad Grana decided to make things more permanent, even if it means we need to dress up for Khar.

(HT pays for all meals and reviews anonymously)

What: Thalassa

Rating: ****

Where: 21st Street, off Carter Road, next to Cafe Coffee Day and Hotel Shubhangan, Khar (West)

When: Daily noon to 4pm, 6pm to 11.30pm

Cost: Rs 3500 for a meal for two, with a drink each.

Call: +91 9820004018
Instagram is a sea of beautiful images of food, fashion, travel, comics and memes. But once you untangle yourself from the flood of perfectly curated accounts and celebrity selfies, you can relax during your commute by looking at these adorable dog Instagram feeds. These fun accounts are managed by the pet owners, who use the social media site to flaunt their adopted familys cuteness!

With quirky captions and funny quotes , pet accounts are becoming a feel-good fad. This weekend, this is the most relaxing thing you can do: just lie back and scroll through these melt-your-heart dog accounts.

Kira - The Golden Retriever: This one is Mumbais own Golden Retriever who loves the outdoors. The account is full of the daily adventures of Kira.

A photo posted by Kira The Golden Retriever (@thegoldenkira) on Dec 13, 2016 at 6:25pm PST

Flower pup Olive: A puppy full of spirit and energy! This young gals account has such witty captions that will make you want to like all her posts instantly - and moreover she has a promo code for a special discount on her account as well!

Brad and Pitt - The Lab brothers: If the names are not enough to make you take an instant shine to the brothers, there is double the fun and adventure.

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Wolfie The Husky: This one is called Wolfie, and hes a fluffy boy! The feed is curated by his adoptive father who documents this Huskys fun travel life on Instagram.

Nolan (The Earful): This hilarious account tells you a lot about this Mutts chewing habits. As the username suggests, her ears are a source of constant jokes: My body is finally catching up with my ears. Everything is a chew toy for me.

Her adorable feed captures moments of her silly attempts to understand the world.

Cherry, The Beagle: Cherrys feed tells us how he shares his home with his sister - PRINGLES, who is a CAT. The account is a fun mix of this unique familys moments.

Bruno-Angel: They call themselves, brothers from the same mother, and live in Mumbai. The older one is Bruno, a Lhasa apso and, Angel who is a Labrador.

A photo posted by BruNgel (@brunoangelove) on Dec 14, 2016 at 3:19am PST

Cherry, the Pug: This pug carries off being lazy like no other adorable creature on social media. Her feed stands true to his description in the bio, lives in India and also in your heart.

And hes also the perfect candidate for the campaign to stop crackers.

COOKIE: This Instagram account documents the daily life of this cuddle and bundle of cuteness. This 3-year-old Labrador also flaunts his good looks and charm!

Keeping updated on my Instagram  #cookie#cookiepaws#fablabs #dog#labrador #dogsofinstagram #labsofinstagram#happiness#cute#fluffy#picoftheday#dailypuppy#justlabradors #cuteandcuddly #petsgram#photooftheday#furry#ilovemydog #spoiledrotten#mydogisfamily#laptop #instagram#techdog A photo posted by Cookie Paws  (@cookiepaws_thelab) on May 16, 2016 at 3:04am PDT

While dogs have always been mans best friend, Instagram has now definitely became a dog-lovers best friend to flaunt their pet-family!

Heres to PAW POWER!

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Kaththi Sandai

Director: Suraaj

Cast: Vishal, Tamannaah, Vadivelu, Soori, Jayaprakash

Rating: 1/5

Some months ago, a young man stalked a woman executive and, eventually, when she did not reciprocate his love, murdered her on a busy railway platform. Sadly, Tamil cinema continues with stories that lionize men stalking women in an attempt to woo and win them over. Writer-director Suraajs Vishal-starrer, Kaththi Sandai, is no different with the hero, Arjun, stalking Divya (Tamannaah), the sister of a Deputy Commissioner of Police. That Arjuns intentions are not exactly what they seem to be and that he has an ulterior motive to get close to Divya are revealed mid-way in the movie.

But the path to this revelation is stupidly circuitous with banter and buffoonery dished out by Soori (playing a cowardly goonda, Deva) and Vadivelu turning himself into a strange-looking psychiatrist, Dr Boothri. If this was not enough to bore us to death, Kaththi Sandai draws from Special 26 (the scene about a fake CBI team raiding the top cops house to find crores of rupees) and Manjhi -- The Mountain Man (a village whose nearest hospital is miles away).

In the end, the film seems like a canvas of confusing images and ideas. There is romance between a still wooden Tamannaah and a rather stiff Vishal (where is the chemistry, please?) with the heroine sporting skimpy costumes in dances that border on the vulgar. There is the plot of corruption in high places -- policemen and legislators hand-in-glove in looting huge sums of money meant for the development of a hamlet. And then there is Robin Hood out to retrieve that booty, but this Robin Hood also has superhuman strength to get beaten to pulp, only to emerge unscathed moments later to take on dozens of baddies in battles where bullets buzz and knives knock out lives.

The Robin Hood theme is done to death in popular Tamil cinema.

If this is the kind of cinema that producers feel will attract footfalls, they may well be mistaken. For, I saw about a dozen people, lots of college kids included, walk out of the movie expressing disgust. Maybe, it is time for a rethink. For, the ticket-paying public may not be in a mood to take anything that is handed over, least of all a corny cocktail of bullets, bloodshed and buffoonery.

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop
The city lost one of the oldest animals at its national park as a 16-year-old male leopard breathed his last on Friday.

Ahmednagar, the leopard, had been kept in captivity at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) for nine years now.

SGNP veterinarians said that the big cat had stopped eating for the last two days and vomited on Friday morning. His condition became critical after this and he passed away at 11am.

As of now, we can say that the leopard died because to old age as the average lifespan of the cat is between 12 and 14 years. He lived well beyond his lifespan and started showing symptoms of illness, recently, said Shailesh Pethe, veterinarian, SGNP, adding that pathologists from the Bombay Veterinary College will be conducting a post-mortem on Saturday morning and the results will be disclosed over the weekend.

The male leopard was trapped from Ahmednagar in 2007 with severe injuries. It was seven-years-old then.There are 15 leopards  eight female and seven male  now at SGNPs leopard rescue centre, of which four  two male and two female  are between 14 to 16 years while Krishna, a female leopard, is the eldest at 18.

READ MORE

In Mumbai: Forest officials trap male leopard in Aarey colony, wildlife activists furious

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Actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab have filed a contempt petition in the Bombay high court against late actor Jiah Khans mother Rabia Khan.

In their plea filed on Thursday, Pancholi and Wahab have urged the court to initiate action against Rabia for continuing to make defamatory statements against them and their son Sooraj Pancholi.

The couple has claimed that despite Rabias statement before the HC to refrain from adverse references over Sooraj, his family and his relationship with her daughter, she continues to do so through her Twitter account which has more than 3500 followers.

They said that Rabia has been defaming them by using foul and abusing language on various social and media sites.

Jiah Khan was found dead in her flat on June 3, 2013. Sooraj Pancholi was charged with abetment and arrested ten days later. While he is currently out on bail, the sessions court is yet to frame charges in the case.

In 2014,Soorajs family had filed a case against Rabia for making defamatory statements in interviews to journalists and on Twitter. They had also filed a Rs100-crore defamation suit against her in the HC. She had agreed to refrain from defamatory comments against the family, according to the plea.

This is the second contempt plea filed by the Pancholis against Rabia on the same ground.

In June last year, they had filed the first contempt plea alleging that Rabi had been making disparaging and damaging remarks against Sooraj and his family.

READ

Jiah Khan case: Bombay HC allows intervention plea by Sooraj Pancholi

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Vietnamese and Cambodian provinces representatives sign cooperation deal. (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, in the 2016-2020 period, the two sides will maintain exchanges; enhance trade, service and tourism promotion activities; encourage investment links in agricultural production and the consumption of agricultural products; and make favourable condition for pupils, students and officers to join training.

Between 2011 and 2015, the two sides exchanged experience and knowledge in cultural, social, commercial and agricultural production areas; and encouraged Dong Thap provinces businesses to invest in agriculture in Cambodia in general and in Banteay Meanchey province in particular.

In 2013, Dong Thap province supported eight tons of rice seedlings for overseas Vietnamese and people in Banteay Meanchey province to help them resume production and promptly stabilise their lives; and assisted the Cambodian province with nearly VND5 billion to build the Military Command headquarters and to buy equipment.

During the signing of the cooperation deal, Deputy Chairman of the Dong Thap provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Hung stressed that the province always attached great importance to building external relations, including with Banteay Meanchey province, adding that it considered the Cambodian province a traditional partner having great potential in agricultural development.

The signing of the deal presents additional opportunities for the two provinces to boost cooperation and investment, contributing to pushing socio-economic development and reinforcing solidarity between the two provinces, satisfying the leaders and peoples aspirations, he said.



Banteay Meanchey provinces Chief Suon Bovor recognised Dong Thaps assistance, expressing his hope that the two sides would strengthen the cooperation relation, and increase links among businesses to set up new projects, in order to boost socio-economic development and build up long-term solidarity and friendship between the two provinces./.
Fishermen in Maharashtra protesting against a proposed Shivaji Maharaj memorial off Mumbai coast have decided to withdraw their agitation, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone.

Fishermen have agreed to withdraw their agitation against the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial bhoomipujan, a senior official said, after a meeting between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and fishermen association leaders here on Thursday night.

Fishermen agree to withdraw their agitation against Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial Bhoomipujan on assurance by CM @Dev_Fadnavis to... pic.twitter.com/4NiMWVFGAq  CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) December 22, 2016

..to constitute a joint committee to resolve their issues.CM thanked fisherman associations.Minister Mahadeo Jankar & MLA Ram Kadam present. pic.twitter.com/4ARJcdn1PQ  CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) December 22, 2016

Fadnavis assured fishermen that the government will look into their concerns.

At the meeting, it was decided to constitute a joint committee to resolve their issues. The CM thanked fishermen associations, the official said.

The main feature of the memorial will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore of Mumbai.

Members of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti (AMMKS), an association of fishermen from Cuffe Parade, Machhimar Nagar, Geeta Nagar (near Navy Nagar), near Raj Bhawan and Backbay Parade, had said they will fly black flags on their boats and homes as a sign of protest.

Fisherwomen were to form a human chain from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty, holding black flags, ahead of Modis arrival for the inauguration, said AMMKS leader Damodar Tandel.

The livelihood of 1.5 lakh fishermen residing across five villages in south Mumbai, who have 1,500 large boats and 450 small boats, will be affected by the construction, he had claimed.

READ

Five things you need to know about Shivaji memorial off Mumbai coast

Maharashtra to bring water from its rivers for Shivaji memorial bhoomipujan

Narendra Modis day out in city: BJP aims to please Mumbai and Marathas
In its first year in Maharashtra, the popular Sunburn festival has run into trouble with rightwing Hindutva organisations including the Shiv Sena raising objections to it while the BJP-led state government says there is nothing unethical about the music fest.

The state tourism ministry on Friday made it clear that it has offered non-financial support to the event in order to attract tourism. After being held for nine years in Goa, the 10th edition of the electronic dance music (EDM) event is scheduled to be held at Kesnand near Pune from December 28 to 31.

According to minister of state for tourism Jaykumar Rawal, it was on the invitation of the state government that the Sunburn organisers decided to hold the festival in Pune. The minister said no illegal practices would be allowed at the event. What is not permissible under the law will not be allowed at Sunburn or any other festival, Rawal said.

The Sanatan Sanstha, the Hindu Janjagriti Samiti and the Shiv Sena have objected to the organisers getting space free for unethical practices. The outfits have alleged that people participating in the festival freely consume drugs, the reason why it was shifted out of Goa.

Shalaka Sahasrabuddhe of Sanatan Sanstha said, The Goa government banned Sunburn due to its obscene nature. Now that they have shifted to Pune, we will oppose them here.

Shiv Sena MP Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil also wrote to Pune rural police as well as the district admission requesting them not to issue permissions to the Sunburn festival organisers. Patil said, The history of the Sunburn speaks of blatant drug abuse and vulgarity. It is unfortunate that the festival, which has been denied permission by Goa government, has gathered support from the state.

The organisers  Percept  clarified that no illegal practices take place at the event. There is no place for narcotic substances at Sunburn. Besides, strong police presence will be keeping close eye through 200 CCTV cameras at the venue, said Manuj Agarwal, CEO, Percept. He added that to come out of the negative perception that the organisers faced in Goa, they decided to shift venue. Villagers of Kesnand, where festival will be held, have convened a gram sabha on Monday to discuss whether to give the go-ahead for the event.

Forest dept complains against event contractor

The forest department has filed a complaint against a contractor, who illegally carried out digging activity on forest land to provide easy access to the site in Kesnand village where Sunburn festival is to be held. The forest officials have seized two poclain machines owned by the contractor.

About the festival

Sunburn is a four-day-long electronic dance music festival organised during the day

Started in 2007, the festival for nine years was held in Goa with around 4.5 lakh people participating in it every year

This years, organisers shifted venue to Kesnand near Pune

It will be held from December 28 to 31 on a 50-acre ground with 15,000 people expected to attend it each day

Many right-wing organisations including Shiv Sena, Sanatan Sanstha, Hindu Janjagriti Samiti, are opposing the event saying it offers free ground for consumption of narcotic substances and vulgarity

But the state tourism department has offered non-financial support to the event.

Read

India now has countless music festivals: Monica Dogra

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The new Ram Mandir station turned into a political battle ground on Thursday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena workers resorting to sloganeering, both claiming credit for the station.

The spat intensified to such a level that railway minister Suresh Prabhu  who inaugurated the station  and state transport minister Diwakar Raote could not be heard over the din. The programme had to be wound up in a haste to avoid a tussle.

The incident has also illustrated the growing bitterness between the ruling alliance, weeks before the crucial Mumbai civic polls. The parties have not yet decided whether to continue the alliance for the civic polls, as both are eyeing a larger share of the power.

Apparently, both sides wanted to claim credit for the new station and its name. The station, on the western line, was earlier meant to be named Oshiwara, after the surrounding area. However, it was renamed Ram Mandir after a nearby temple, following demands by the BJP and Shiv Sena.

The fracas started as workers of the BJP, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal started shouting slogans such as Jay Shri Ram, Modi and Bharat Mata Ki Jai as the start of the event. Shiv Sena workers  who were present in sizeable numbers  responded with slogans such as Udhavaji ki Jai and Shiv Sena Zindabad. Leaders from each party blamed the other for the chaos.

Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar and BJP leader Vidya Thakur each credited their own parties for naming the staion.

Not just the station, but the lane leading to the station was also packed with political workers, causing a traffic jam.

The much-awaited suburban station was inaugurated after being delayed twice. Earlier, the construction of the station was delayed owing to a lack of land. It was delayed once again after being completed as political parties were arguing over the name.

Located 1.75km from Jogeshwari and 2km from Goregaon, the project, worth Rs28 crore, was commissioned by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) in 2011 to decongest Jogeshwari and Goregaon stations.

Read

Whats in a name? Lots during election season

Maharashtra govt names Oshiwara railway station Ram Mandir

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Cracks appeared among the agitating fishermen outfits as the Maharashtra government claimed that they have withdrawn their stir against the proposed Shivaji Maharaj memorial off the Mumbai coast whose foundation stone will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

Earlier, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had tweeted that fishermen have called off their protest against the memorial.

Fishermen agree to withdraw their agitation against Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial Bhoomipujan on assurance by CM @Dev_Fadnavis to... pic.twitter.com/4NiMWVFGAq  CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) December 22, 2016

..to constitute a joint committee to resolve their issues.CM thanked fisherman associations.Minister Mahadeo Jankar & MLA Ram Kadam present. pic.twitter.com/4ARJcdn1PQ  CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) December 22, 2016

A prominent agitating outfit, Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti (AMMKS), distanced itself from the agreement announced after talks between Fadnavis and fishermen associations and said it will go ahead with its protest.

After the meeting on Thursday night, a senior official said fishermen have agreed to withdraw their agitation against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial Bhoomipujan.

Fadnavis assured the fishermen that the government will look into their concerns. At the meeting, it was decided to constitute a joint committee to resolve their issues. The CM thanked fishermens associations, the official said.

However, soon after this announcement, AMMKS leader Damodar Tandel said his association was not a part of the agreement.

The government is trying to split the fishermen. We will continue our protest today by showing black flags and taking out a bike rally from Colaba to Girgaum, Tandel said.

The livelihood of 1.5 lakh fishermen residing at five villages in South Mumbai, who have 1,500 large boats and 450 small ones, will be affected by the construction, Tandel claimed.

The memorials main feature will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore of Mumbai.

READ

After Fadnavis intervention, fishermen withdraw agitation against Shivaji memorial off Mumbai coast

Shivaji memorial: Mumbai bike rally begins, may bring traffic to a halt on Eastern Express Highway

Five things you need to know about Shivaji memorial off Mumbai coast
Gold seizure at the Mumbai international airport has plummeted this month owing to increasing crackdowns in the wake of demonetisation, data from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) revealed.

An average of 5kg of gold was seized each month from September to November this year. It has come down to 2.5kg until now in December, said a senior AIU officer on the condition of anonymity.

The cash crunch in the country has had a direct effect on the smuggling module. Flights arriving from Dubai, Bangkok and Singapore are under the scanner of the AIU. The precious yellow metal is also smuggled into the country from Colombo, Muscat, Kuwait, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong, Madagascar, Mauritius and Nairobi.

Moreover, the AIU has intensified their checks at departure. There are passengers who carry foreign money to buy gold from places such as Dubai and Bangkok . The AIU has nabbed several people carrying huge amount of foreign currency, which can be carried out of the country provided a passenger has exchanged it from a recognised and registered forex dealer, officials said.

Although syndicates have been pumping black money into gold, crackdowns by several agencies have proved to be a dent for them. Gold smugglers have slowed down owing to demonetisation. We believe that his may continue for some more time, added the officer.

Notwithstanding the slump in the gold smuggling, the AIU will continue to monitor people who try to bring back their black money from abroad to legalise it. Since the demonetisation move, sources said, foreign currency has been in demand and some may try to hoard it.

Further, there are inputs that people are converting their old currency to foreign currency and are flying abroad with it. On their return to the country, they declare the foreign currency to the customs to legalise it, source said.

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6-cr cash, 15 kg gold seized at Delhi airport after note ban

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At a time when people are grappling with cash crunch after the scrapping of high value notes, Mumbais teachers have complained of harassment from school managements. Reason: Schools are asking their teachers to deposit large sums of money into the latters bank accounts.

Since the Narendra Modi governments November 8 decision, accusations against schools indulging in such malpractices have been pouring in to a mobile application launched recently by a parents organisation.

At least six teachers anonymously complained that their school management gave them money to deposit into their own accounts, and later asked them to withdraw cash in the new currency and bring it back to them. The teachers were answering a survey conducted by the Forum For Fairness in Education, India, which launched the app last month.

A few parents even reported that some schools are demanding fees to be paid in Rs100 notes. The school authorities informed me over the phone that the fees must be paid only in cash. They refused to accept online payments or cheque. I was surprised by this (treatment), said a parent.

Jayant Jain, president of the forum, which runs as a non-government organisation, said this is the new modus operandi followed by school managements to convert their black money into white.

Schools make a lot of under-the-table income through donations and exorbitant fees, said Jain.

Adding that teachers and parents are afraid to speak out as they fear losing their jobs or schools targeting their children, Jain said, We will report it to the education department on their behalf.

Close to 900 parents and teachers have downloaded the app so far and a majority of the complaints are against schools hiking fees arbitrarily, capitation fees and collecting money under different heads such as activity charges. According to the state law, schools must collect only tuition and term fees.

Another parent complained that a private school in Dombivli has hiked fees by 50% to allegedly fund a new school building. The school initially told us the hike was so that teachers can be paid Sixth Pay Commission salaries and later on they changed it to the school development fee, said the parent. Parents of students studying in a Mankhurd school said that their children are being harassed for not paying such fees.

Parents even reported schools charging hefty donations  Rs2 -3 lakh in some cases  during admissions. According to the rules, donations are banned in Maharashtra and schools face heavy fines and even imprisonment for violations.

Activists said that such cases show the government failure to implement the new Maharashtra Educational Institutions (School Fee Regulation) Act 2011. It stipulates that parent-teacher associations (PTAs) must approve fee hikes six months before the new academic year. If there is a difference of more than 15% in the fees fixed by the management and the amount approved by the PTA, the dispute must be filed in divisional school fee regulatory panels.

READ

Demonetisation: Fee payments in Maharashtra may soon go cashless

Demonetisation: Maharashtra govt employees demand two months salary in cash

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The Mumbai forest range trapped a male leopard at Mathai Pada, near unit 25 of Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon, on Friday. The sudden move has infuriated wildlife activists.

This is the second leopard-trapping incident in two months after an eight-year-old male leopard was caught and shifted to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) from Hiranandani, Powai, by the forest department in November.

According to forest officials, the local tribal (adivasi) community residing near the area had filed a complaint with the Mumbai and Thane forest range several times over the past one-and-half months. The department had set up a trap cage in the area earlier this week, after getting clearances from the chief wildlife warden, forest department, Nagpur.

The leopard had been moving dangerously close to residential areas within Aarey and this posed a threat of man-animal conflict, said Santosh Kank, range forest office, Mumbai. We had no option but to set the cage for the security of the Aarey tribals.

The leopard was trapped around 6pm from Aarey and kept in the trap cage for more than two hours and then transferred to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivli. We will be keeping the leopard at an isolated location in the park. A medical test will be conducted the animal will be released into the wild thereafter, said Anwar Ahmed, chief conservator of forest, SGNP.

Meanwhile, members of the tribal settlement at Aarey denied that they had complained to the forest department. We treat leopards like family members and no big cat has attacked us in years. The forest department asked us for information and we told them that the leopard had been frequenting the area. However, we did not want it to be trapped, said Prakash Bhoir, Aarey resident and leader of the tribal groups. Some slums have cropped up in Aarey and they complained to the department.

Wildlife activists said that the move was strange and sudden. There is some serious disconnect on the forest departments end. If a conflict has to happen, there is nothing anyone can do, said Vidya Athreya, wildlife biologist. If there has not been a serious case or even an animal death in the area, there is no reason why the big cat should be moved away from its habitat.

It has been over three years, there has been no attack. A mere sighting does not mean that the leopard is a threat. Aarey has been a leopard habitat for a long time, said Krishna Tiwari, founder, forest and wildlife conservation society. There needs to be an immediate investigation into the matter, else we will lose our natural wildlife this way.

Forest officials added that the municipal corporation had not been clearing the trash from near the tribal settlements, which was attracting leopards to find easy prey. We cannot wait for a conflict to occur and act after it. We are following a mandate where we are protecting humans by trapping this leopard some untoward happen, said KP Singh, chief conservator of forest, Thane.

Living with leopards

A study undertaken by Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) from December 2014 to April 2015, found 35 free-roaming leopards across 140 square km, including areas outside SGNP, the Nagla forest block across the Vasai Creek and the Aarey Milk Colony.

Nikit Surve, a student of WII who conducted the study, said he had spotted three leopards, two females and one male, in and around Aarey Colony. The leopards have their home ranges inside Aarey colony. We had got images of civets and jungle cats and many bird species and snakes.

In another study conducted by leopard expert Krishna Tiwari in 2013, four leopards  two males, one female and one of unidentified sex  were found within Aarey Colony. Both the studies were conducted by using camera traps.

List of guidelines to avoid conflict

- Be alert after dark (when leopards are active). Put on music on the mobile phone so that the big cat knows that you are human being, which it goes out its way to avoid.

- Do not move about alone after dark.

- If a leopard is sighted, give it way and allow it to move peacefully. - Mere sightings of leopards do not translate into danger.

- Do not form a crowd around the animal.

- Ensure that the garbage is disposed and no feral dogs are present in the locality.

(Source: Sanjay Gandhi National Park)

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Dont kill big cats that become man-eaters. Tranquilise and relocate them

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To the relief of 17 lakh students, the Maharashtra state board revised the upcoming Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam timetable on Thursday, keeping at least a days gap between all exams including the three papers- science II, history civics and the geography-economics papers, which were back-to-back earlier. This means that the exams -starting from March 7- will now continue till April 1. They was to conclude on March 29 previously.

Changes have been made based on the feedback received from students, teachers and members of the legislative council to the timetable announced on October 29. They had raised concern that the three consecutive papers- between March 20 and 22-will increase students stress as they wont get time to revise.

We decided to revise the SSC timetable after looking at the feedback, said Krishnakumar Patil, secretary of the state board. But the HSC exam timetable remains unchanged.

According to the new timetable, students will get a days gap between the science and technology-II paper (on March 20) and the social science-I (history and civics), which will now be held on March 22, instead of March 21.

Similarly, social science-II (geography and economics) is pushed to March 25 from March 22, giving two days extra revision time for students. As a result, the information and communication technology (ICT) paper, will move ahead to March 27 from the previously scheduled March 23.

Teachers said that leaving a gap between the papers will benefit students. Students need a day or two to revise and refresh their minds before the next paper. It is, in fact, a practice that the board follows every year, said Uday Nare, teacher, Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri,

Board officials said that they were unable to keep gaps between all papers in the previous timetable because of the impending elections in different parts of the state.

Students can access the revised timetable uploaded on the board's website: https://mahahsscboard.maharashtra.gov.in/hsc_online/notification/SSC_mar_17_REVISED.pdf

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The anti-robbery and dacoity cell (ARD) of the Mumbai crime branch recently arrested a criminal wanted in several robbery, dacoity and attempt to murder cases in Maharshtra and Gujarat.

The history sheeter, Karan Rajaram Nishad, 38, used to frequently change his residential address after committing an offence, police sources said.

Nishad is a native of Banda district in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and came to Mumbai in 1999, a police officer said. He had not visited his native place ever since, he said.

In 2016, Nishad along with his five accomplices barged into a private firms godown in Oshiwara, Andheri, after threatening a watchman at gunpoint. They assaulted and locked the watchman in a room, and fled with Rs14 lakh in cash. The Mumbai police later nabbed five suspects but Nishad was absconding. The Oshiwara police booked him under MCOCA but he remained at large.

The unit 10 of the Mumbai police had arrested Nishad in 2014 under the arms Act case, but after being released on bail, he went off the radar.

In another case in 2015, Nishad threatened a courier boy (angadia) at gunpoint and fled with cash in Kandivli. He had also fired in the air to threaten passers-by when they tried to nab him, the official said. His caper did not end there.

Later, he fled to Nagpur and robbed another person, who used to transport money, of Rs11 lakh.

After the Mumbai police started a major manhunt for him he fled to Gujarat where he was arrested by the Kamrej police station under the arms Act. Out on bail, he again fled from Surat, returned to Mumbai and started staying in Nalasopara.

Following a tip off, a police team under the supervision of KMM Prasanna, additional commissioner of police (crime), and Ashok Khot of the ARD cell nabbed Nishad from Dharavi.

He was earlier with a robber named Ashok Nayak. After learning tricks of the trade, Nishad parted ways from the gang, formed his own gang and started committing crime in Maharashtra and Gujarat, added an officer.
The deadline to pass the citys Development Plan (DP) 2014-34 has been extended by another three months. The planning committee, which is preparing a report on citizen objections, will now submit its report by March 7 and the civic body will have to pass it by March 20. A proposal to this effect was passed by the civic body late on Thursday.

This is the second extension sought by the committee consisting of three corporators and three state-appointed experts. The original deadline was November 26, 2016, which was postponed to January 15, 2017, by the civic corporation earlier. The DP is the blueprint for the citys infrastructural development for the next two decades.

Constant delays to the plan have caused a lot of distress, confusion and anxiety in the real-estate sector, which is juggling between two plans, the DP 1991 and DP 2014. A revised plan was ordered by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis as the plan was riddled with errors. With projects getting delayed and some not starting, the corporation is likely to suffer losses owing to a drop in development charges.

Sena corporators said an extension was sought owing to the impending code of conduct from the first week of January.

Yashodhar Phanse, Sena corporator and member of the committee, said, The plan cannot be passed once the code of conduct sets in.

A code of conduct is a set of rules for elected representatives before the elections. The Mumbai civic elections are set to be held in February 2017, post which the new corporation has to be formed on March 8, 2017.

However, officials from the DP department said the workload is extensive. The planning committee is still working on the report. It would be difficult to do justice to the hearings with such tight deadlines, said a DP official, who did not wish to be named.

After postponing the formation of the committee for more than three months, the hearings for 12,000 citizen-objections were held between October 16 and December 17. The committee heard objections filed by politicians, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), builder associations and citizens. The revised DP was released on May 27, 2016, with a 60-day window for citizens to provide their suggestions and objections.

Citizen activists said the BMC is holding the city at ransom by these constant delays. Sitaram Shelar from the Hamara Shehar Mumbai Abhiyaan (HSMA) said, Is the Shiv Sena scared of bringing out the plan before elections? The BMC has betrayed citizens. They keep delaying their work, but when citizens ask for an extension, they do not give us even one extra day. HSMA has been working towards making the DP inclusive.

Congress corporator Pravin Chheda, who opposed the extension, said, The Sena has to clarify how many extensions it is going to take before passing the plan? They have been delaying the crucial plan for more than a year now. What are they trying to hide?

Read more: 12,000 objections to DP in Mumbai, but only 3,400 turn up for hearings

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Mr. Bui Thanh Son (middle) speaking at the session

This was announced by Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for APEC 2017, in a plenary session for the event on December 21st.

In addition, the National Committee for APEC 2017 will intensify popularization of events on the sidelines of the forum, including the publication of Book APEC Vietnam 2017: 50 things to know and the proposal for launching an English version for foreigners.

The committee also gave proposals and suggestions on issues related to completing infrastructure, participation of enterprises and training staff to support the forum.

APEC 2017 will be organized in 10 localities of Vietnam. Activities will run from the beginning of the year, with the highlight being the senior week in November 2017 in Da Nang with the participation of 21 APEC member economies.

Around 200 events, conferences and workshops will be held across the country in the framework of APEC 2017. Vietnam has prepared for hosting the event since 2013, when it was given the task at the Indonesian summit./.
Security was beefed up, special police teams were deployed, trial runs done and the bomb detection and dog squads conducted recons on Friday to get Mumbai ready for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit today.

The PM arrives in Mumbai on Saturday for the foundation ceremony of the Shiv Smarak, a memorial in the Arabian Sea for the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Authorities have said there will be no traffic diversions on Satuday.

The police have been deployed at different points. We are taking utmost care as far as security is concerned. Along with the local police, special forces such as the SRPF and QRT will also be part of the security arrangements, said Ashok Dudhe, deputy commissioner of police and Mumbai polices spokesperson .

Girgaum Chowpatty is the PMs first stop, from where he will take a hovercraft to head to the site where the memorial statue will be built.

He will take part in a bhoomipoojan and jal-poojan there, after which he will head to the MMRDA grounds at Bandra Kurla Complex.

His rally at the MMRDA grounds is likely to take place around 3.30pm.

Sources said this route between Girgaum Chowpatty and BKC will see heavy security during the day.

The State Reserve Police Force and Quick Response Teams will coordinate with the local police stations and senior IPS officials as the PMs convoy moves from Girgaum to BKC.

On the ground, Mumbai traffic polices personnel from south Mumbai and the western suburbs to ensure the roads the VIP convoy takes are not crowded. Traffic police officials have been divided into teams to manage these areas.

There wont be any diversions for traffic. The PMs visit is unlikely to cause inconvenience to motorists. The traffic will be held up for a couple of minutes only when the PMs convoy is moving, said a traffic official, not wishing to be named.

Officials said traffic snarls are unlikely as it is a weekend, when fewer vehicles are on the Western Express Highway.

Police teams also carried out a dummy bandobast on Friday to ensure preparations are in order and that there are no loopholes.

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Narendra Modis day out in city: BJP aims to please Mumbai and Marathas

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A five-hour procession from Chembur to the Gateway of India, saffron flags all along the route from Marine Drive to BKC the landmark Bandra-Worli sea link doused in saffron lights, and traditional live music and dance performances all along the way  the BJP government is leaving no stone unturned in capitalising on the bhoomipujan (foundation-laying ceremony) of the Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial and a clutch of other showpiece projects, making it a show of its own strength.

The party is looking to kill two birds in one stone  visibly show how it can bring developmental projects to Mumbai ahead of the Mumbai civic polls and pacify a restless Maratha community, which has been protesting for quotas in government jobs and education. Significantly, the BJP has not taken its alliance partner Shiv Sena along while organising the two-day event.

Besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will conduct the bhoomipujan on Saturday, a number of other BJP Union cabinet ministersNitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu, Manohar Parrikar and Venkaiah Naidu  will also attend the event, filling the dais with BJP faces.

While BJP leaders continue to insist that the grand preparations are above party politics and should be seen as honouring Chhatarapati Shivaji, in the same breath they emphasise on how it is the BJP government that has sped up the Rs3,600-crore project, stalled for years.

BJP minister Chandrakant Patil said, The plan for a grand memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was in the works for many years. However, it was only after the BJP government came to power that the project gained speed. We got all the permissions, finalised the design and called for tenders. Now, we are at such a stage that the bids will be opened in January for the first phase of the construction, which will be completed in three years.

The BJP-led governments ambitious bhoomipujan plan is not limited to just the cutting of a red ribbon on a plaque, followed by a public address about the governments achievements and plans. It is a two-day gala, involving a procession of BJP leaders and Chhatrapati Shivajis supporters from across the state in Mumbai, followed by the actual ceremony and a public address at BKC with the entire city decked up in saffron flags. Groups of people from across the state will bring water from Maharashtras rivers, and soil and stones from Shivajis forts, for the bhoomipujan. Across the state, the government has also launched an advertisement campaign through audio-visual media and hoardings at various places.

Shivaji is held as an icon by the Maratha community, which constitutes 33% of Maharashtras population. Lakhs of members from the community took to the streets in organised silent protests across the state earlier this year. While the protestors claimed they were not against any one particular political party, the BJP, being the ruling party, felt the strongest shock waves.

The grandiose bhoomipujan plans are especially noteworthy considering a clutch of municipal corporations across the state such as Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Thane, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Amravati and so on are headed to polls next year. While the Congress is looking to consolidate the Muslim and Dalit votes, the BJP does not want to lose any Maratha votes from its pie.

Incidentally, Maratha organisations were in the process of planning the Mumbai chapter of their massive protests, which so close to the civic polls would have worked against the BJP. Instead, with the bhoomipujan plans, members of the community will now march on the streets of the states capital along with the government.

Incidentally, even the BJPs ally Shiv Sena has always projected Chhatrapati Shivaji as its icon. However, the party has had very little participation in the entire planning, even as Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has agreed to attend the event, after much drama where he demanded appropriate respect.

A slighted Sena legislator from the Marathwada region said, We were at the forefront of the protests for the Maratha community. We have always tried to voice their demands and guard their rights, but in all this preparation of arranging material and support for the bhoomipujan, we have not been consulted even once. Everything is being done only by their [BJPs] legislators and supporters here.

Similarly, while Mumbais guardian minister for the suburbs Vinod Tawde will greet groups of people carrying material for the bhoomipujan at Chembur along with senior BJP ministers Patil and Prakash Mehta, the guardian minister for the island city, Senas Subhash Desai, is not likely to be present.

Tawde said, We are trying to do all this going beyond the party and politics. We are not doing anything keeping any election in mind.

However, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan from the Congress said there was no doubt the BJP was trying to make this more of a party event than a government one. Even basic protocol of government functions is not being followed. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is an icon for the entire state and not just any one party. Earlier, the Sena usurped his name for its own political purposes and now the BJP is doing it. The BJP is desperate because its demonetisation move has backfired and it now wants to veer attention away to something else, he said.

Chavan said it was his government that had revived and accelerated the project in 2013, when he as chief minister formed a committee under Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and then cabinet minister Jayant Patil to draw up a plan, and a chief secretary-led committee to monitor approvals.

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The Centres demonetisation drive has motivated the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take several steps towards a cashless economy.

To start with, the civic body has made it mandatory for organisations to pay license renewal fee and amount charged for opening new business in the city online. Currently, the process involves people from the organisation visiting the building and factory department spread across the 24 wards and making the payment there.

The BMC transacts with citizens for payment of property tax, water bills, octroi etc, which can also be paid online through one mobile application. They also receive payment from developers as development cess, penalties and deposits among others, most of these transactions are by cheques, an official said. Officials said that they are mulling over online transactions in all scenario.

Among other measures, the BMC launched a mobile application last year allowing citizens to complain about potholes from June 1, along with the payment getaways for property tax and water bills.

Another was creation of Twitter handle @MCGMswm, which, along with disseminating best practices to compost and segregate waste, is also tackling citizen complaints.

Other than the mobile application, the civic body introduced a tab on its website called Online Services for water department after facing majority of complaints related to water connections and supply. through this tab, citizens can now apply for new connections, check status and pay water bills.

Other than the monsoon preparedness, civic body earlier this year launched website www.removalofencroachment.com to tackle encroachment related complaints. Another project to provide unique number to each building in the city is also in pipeline to solve similar queries.

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No more touts, vehicle registrations, driving licenses in Mumbai to go online soon

After demonetisation, Mumbai civic body takes steps to go cashless

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The Nerul police on Friday arrested a 40-year-old businessman, who owns eight jewellery stores in Navi Mumbai and three in Kerala, for allegedly attempting to murder his wife.

According to the police, the accused, Sudhir Kumar, from Nerul suspected that his 29-year-old wife had an extra-marital affair. He had a fight with his wife on Thursday night following which he attacked her with sharp objects.

His wife is from his home town in Kerala and they have been married for more than seven years. The couple has three children  two sons and a daughter, said S Poladkar, assistant police inspector of Nerul police station.

The suspicion led to frequent quarrels between them. Just a few days ago, he found someones number on her mobile phone and started abusing her. On Friday night, when they were discussing these things with some other family members, the accused took his wife to a room on the upper floor of the duplex flat. They had a fight there. Later, he closed the door from inside and attacked his wife with some sharp objects, he said.

The wife suffered severe injuries to her head and other parts of her body. She was rushed to DY Patil hospital by some family members and she is still recuperating.

They have booked the accused under sections 498a (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 307 (punishment for attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is now in police custody.

We are trying to find out if there were any other reasons behind the attack. So far, we have not found any criminal records against the accused, another police officer said.

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Man held for assaulting daughter and pregnant wife in Mumbai

Affair outside marriage by husband or wife amounts to cruelty: Delhi HC

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People whose children attend the TreeHouse preschool chain have filed a complaint with the economic offences wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police on Thursday, demanding that their fees be refunded by the institution, which shut its centres without prior notice last week.

In the complaint, the parents said it is the schools responsibility to continue teaching till the academic year 2016-17 ends, as they have already paid Rs27,000 to Rs35,000 in fees. They are also demanding a full refund of the fees paid in advance for the academic year, 2017-18. Many parents had deposited next years fees in the TreeHouse Education bank account, said Vikas Pandey, a parent and national media co-ordinator, Indian Youth Congress.

The complaint was filed by the parents, whose children attend TreeHouse centres in IC Colony, Duttapada and Kulupwadi in Borivli, Maratha Colony and Anand Nagar in Dahisar. We met the joint commissioner and deputy commissioner of the EoW. They took statements of all the parents, said Pandey.

TreeHouse director Rajesh Bhatia did not respond to HTs calls. His phone remained switched off. In a statement issued earlier, Bhatia had said, There are five to 10 branches, where the most noise is coming from. He asked parents not to create a panic and pandemonium.

Students of several TreeHouse-owned centres across India were left in the lurch in the middle of the academic year after the centres shut without prior notice. Staff protested as the company hadnt paid their salaries. They were also not reimbursed for expenses incurred while running the centres. Following this, parents from various centres approached the local police, but their complaints fell on deaf ears.

According to the complaint, parents are having a hard time moving their kids to other preschools. The TreeHouse students were not given score cards or completion certificates (report cards), documents that are required while switching to a new school.

Parents said a refund will help them pay the fees of other schools. Some parents have paid two years fee in advance. They dont have money to pay donations to other schools, said Pandey.

The complaint alleges that there might be a bigger scam behind these incidents. If Rs 32,000 is collected on an average from each centre and there are 70 centres in India, the chain earns Rs22 crore a year, excluding fees paid in advance, reads the complaint.

Though parents were uncertain whether more centres would close, many hosted Christmas parties for students this week, before closing for the winter break. "Our centre heads havent heard anything from management. We are unsure if we will reopen after the vacation. So we wanted to throw a party for the kids," said a parent from a centre in Borivli. Similar celebrations are also planned at the centres in Malad and Charkop.

Read

Preschool director says protesting teachers will be paid

Regulate preschools: Mumbai think tank to Maneka Gandhi

Mumbais preschools burdening kids with heavy academics: Study

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Decision to redevelop a property is a collective decision of the majority members of the cooperative housing society and the dissenting minority members cannot question it, unless it is fraudulent and smacks of mala fides, the Bombay high court said while paving the way for redevelopment of a dilapidated cooperative housing society building at Chembur.

Justice SJ Kathawalla has appointed a court receiver to, if needed, forcibly take possession of flats in of Subhash Nagar Rajeshwari Cooperative Housing Society from seven non-cooperating members and hand them over to the developer. also, Justice Kathawalla has allowed the court receiver to break open three flats, the whereabouts of whose occupants are not known, take inventory of articles inside and hand over the flats to the developer, RRB Realtors Private Limited.

The developer had approached high court after seven members of the housing society refused to vacate their flats to not let the developer revamp the building, although 26 of the total 36 members had vacated their flats a year back and shifted to transit tenements.

The court said dissenting minority members are bound by the decision of the majority in a co-operative society. The obstructive attitude of respondent nos. 2 to 8 (dissenting members) is causing grave and irreparable harm, loss and prejudice not only to the petitioner (developer) but also to all the other members of the society who have vacated their respective premises, the court said.

The building was constructed in 1954 by MHADA for lower income group occupiers. Besides, the judge noted that the developer had invested Rs7.77 crore in the redevelopment project and he had agreed to provide alternate accommodation admeasuring 480 square feet to each member in lieu of their 180 square feet tenement. Moreover, the developer had increased the amount to be paid to each member from Rs 3 lakh to Rs5.40 lakh.

The condition of the building is also deteriorating. In case of a collapse, grave loss would be caused to the life and property of occupants of the said building and also to the individuals who are in the vicinity, the court added.

Read

Now, tenants too have redevelopment rights in Mumbai

A year on, Maharashtra govts towering housing for all claim falls flat
Fridays preparations for the ceremony (bhoomipujan) planned on Saturday to start work on the mid-sea memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji have added turbulence to the choppy relations between allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena.

The BJP irked both its ally and some Maratha community leaders by the way it totally dominated Fridays functions. The entire area around the Shivaji statue in Chembur, where BJP leaders welcomed people carrying pails of water, soil and stones from across Maharashtra for the bhoomipujan, was decked up with the partys flag. Senior BJP ministers such as Vinod Tawde and Chandrakant Patil, and party functionaries Raosaheb Danve and Ashish Shelar, dominated proceedings.

The procession rally that followed was also dominated by BJP flags and placards with the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will carry out the bhoomipujan on Saturday.

This was supposed to be an event organised by the Maharashtra government, of which the Shiv Sena is a part. The party was absent at the Chembur event as well as in the procession. Instead, Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray had a meeting with party leaders on the upcoming BMC elections.

Sena leaders put up their own hoardings around the partys headquarters in Dadar, attributing the implementation of the Rs 3,600-crore Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in the Arabian Sea to the late party supremo Bal Thackerays efforts. The hoardings, with a photo of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Thackeray with the proposed design of the memorial in the background, proclaimed, He Shiv Smarak vhave hich Shiv Sena pramukhanchi iccha. (That this memorial should materialize is the only wish of the Shiv Sena chief.)

The five-hour-long procession saw bikers sporting saffron turbans and waving BJP flags escort a decorated truck bearing the map of Maharashtra on which all the cauldrons carrying material from across the state for the bhoomipujan were kept, district wise. At the Gateway of India, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accepted the cauldrons and put them in one container, which he will handover to Modi.

Sena leader Sudhir More said the Shiv Sena leaders were not taken on board for any of the preparations. Except for extending an invitation to our party chief, they have forgotten the Sena. Party Chief Uddhav Thackeray plans to attend the actual bhoomipujan on Saturday, travelling with Modi to the islet where the memorial is proposed to come up. Thackeray, who had earlier said he would attend the event only if given due respect, will also share the dais with Modi at a public gathering at the Bandra Kurla Complex.

The Sena and the BJP have had a blow-hot, blow-cold relationship of late with the BMC elections less than two months away. While the Shiv Sena, reduced to being a junior partner at the state level, is looking to guard its home turf, the BJP is aggressively trying expand its presence in the countrys financial capital.

The BJPs strategy to reach out directly to the Marathas, who has been demanding reservation, has irked some community leaders denied a chance to share the limelight. Shiv Sangram outfit leader Vinayak Mete, who was closely involved in finalising the memorials design and planning the bhoomipujan, was present at Chembur on Friday morning, but disappeared soon after. Referring to the BJP flags and the partys imprint on the whole event, Mete said, What can one say? The BJP should have ensured that everyone is included...Despite being insulted I am happy that my dream for building Shivajis memorial is coming true, Mete said.

Similarly, Rajendra Kondhare, general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Maratha Mahasangh, said, We are happy that the memorial is finally taking shape, but no political party should try to usurp this for its own purposes. Leaders from the Maratha community took active interest in the project planning and bhoomipujan preparations, but today they were all overshadowed by the BJP. The party completely hijacked the whole thing.

Senior BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil, however, maintained that the government has taken care to make this event an inclusive one, and has appealed to everyone to join in. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not a political topic for us. It is an emotional issue. The government appealed to all the gram panchayats in every district and a lot of Shiv Sainiks have also participated at the grassroots in good numbers in getting the whole thing together.

The memorial project has also been attracting criticism for the massive Rs 3600 crore expenditure involved. The fisherfolk in Mumbai are also protesting against the memorial saying that the project would affect their traditional fishing activity.

However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the criticism over constructing the memorial will not deter the state government from completing it. Nothing can stop the state government from constructing King Shivajis memorial. We are ready to invest any amount to complete memorial of our deity, said Fadnavis while addressing the gathering at the Gateway of India event. Slamming those opposing expenditure on the memorial, Fadnavis said he is not surprised as Shivaji also had to experience opposition during his rule.

He then targeted the erstwhile Congress-NCP government and said it was unfortunate that the previous regime couldnt get requisite permissions for completing the memorial from the Centre in the last so many years. I am thankful to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting all the permissions, he pointed out. A grand cultural event was organized at Gateway of India where soil brought from forts built by the Maratha warrior and water from rivers across Maharashtra were transferred in a single container by the chief minister.

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was also not far behind in its criticism. Party workers whitewashed an advertisement for the bhoomipujan painted on the compound wall of the under-construction Kohinoor Square in Dadar. Sandeep Deshpande, the partys corporator from Dadar, said, The wall of the Kohinoor complex has always been used by MNS to put its political banners. On Thursday night, without even informing us or asking us, the BJP completely whitewashed our advertisement and painted theirs. So we did the same to their advertisement. Whatever has been happening today is completely a gimmick ahead of BMC polls.

Read more: Mumbai: Security tight for PM visit on Saturday, but few curbs on traffic
Even though the Union environment ministry has allowed construction of Shivaji memorial in Arabian Sea, experts claim movement of boats from Nariman Point to the project site will lead to marine pollution and damage the coast.

As the project area is more than 15 hectares, it will affect fish and other marine biodiversity, said E Vivekanandan, senior scientist and marine consultant, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). The boats are bound to cause a lot of pollution combined with fear of hazards like oil spills.

The state had earlier submitted the environment impact assessment (EIA) reports prepared by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), outlining the impact of the project. The reports give sufficient evidence, both scientific and environmental, and suggest mitigation measures to ensure protection of marine environment, said a senior official from the state government.

Vinay Deshmukh, marine biologist and former chief scientist of CMFRI, said the study had been undertaken only for two months (October and November 2013) before the reports were formulated. The model does not depict the impact of the project during the four months of monsoon in Mumbai. Strong tidal currents and north-south reversal of currents could be disastrous for visitors, he said, adding, While it is clear there will be large drop in fish catch, the report only mentions the species spotted during the two months of research, which is not sufficient.

Environmentalists said the state had not put together a disaster management plan for the project. While there are plans for auditoriums and libraries during high tide and rise in moisture levels at sea, there is no plan to evacuate people in case of a disaster, said Anand Pendharkar, environmentalist. The blueprint of the project does not reveal how the state would manage sewage, which if released without treatment, could be detrimental to marine life.

There is a requirement for very high-level quality checks and specifications before starting the construction, said Pankaj Joshi, executive director, Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) Mumbai.

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The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday rejected a bail plea of Mohammed Haneef, a priest from Kerala who was arrested on August 13 for allegedly influencing a city-based man to join terror outfit ISIS.

In the bail plea filed before the special court, Haneef had pleaded that he has been falsely implicated in the case. As per Islamic religion and custom he was professing the religious work as imam in the Masjid for leading prayer five times apart from the said duty he was assigned to spread Islamic values amongst the Muslim community. There cannot be any offence for preaching or giving knowledge about religious speech under any law, stated his plea.

NIA had opposed his plea contending that forensic analysis of Haneefs mobile phone revealed his association with youngsters from Kasargod and Palakkad districts in Kerala who have left to join the ISIS. The premier investigation agency claimed the bail plea should be rejected as their investigation was in progress and they were yet to file a charge sheet in the case.

Haneef radicalised a group of Muslims into extremist jihadi ideology while working as the imam in Salafi Masjid at Padne, Kasargod, in Kerala. He worked in the mosque till August 2015. He used to send voice messages on the ideology and forward messages he received on a WhatsApp group, Haneef Maulavi Classes, NIA had said in its reply to the bail application.

Considering the objections raised by the agency the special court on Friday rejected the plea.

Read

Police look for Haneefs links to 7 or 8 more ISIS recruits

Haneef made internet calls to ISIS men: Cops

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htmetro@hindustantimes.com

State authorities will ensure there is no violation of noise pollution norms during Christmas and on New Years Eve, the Maharashtra government assured the Bombay high court on Friday.

The government counsel informed the high court that it has procured 1,843 decibel meters and distributed them across all police stations to measure noise levels on both days.

The state also urged the Bombay high court to not award any sentence yet to former additional chief secretary (Home) KP Bakshi, whom the court had held guilty on contempt charges last week.

The court was hearing a bunch of PILs seeking directions to the government to rein in violations of noise-pollution norms during religious festivals and processions. In May this year, the court had issued a contempt notice against Bakshi for wilful and deliberate breach of previous court orders relating to procurement of decibel meters.

Then, on December 16 this year, a bench of justice AS Oka and justices Anuja Prabhudessai held Bakshi guilty of contempt of court, saying that despite repeated assurances by way of affidavits, the government had failed to procure decibel meters to measure noise decibel levels during festivals, processions and other events to ensure compliance of noise pollution rules and regulations. The bench had summoned Bakshi and had said at the time that it would award him a jail term on the next date of hearing.

On Friday, senior counsel Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, who appeared for the state government, told the bench that now that the decibel meters had been procured and distributed, the court must wait at least until the state files its compliance report.

We have also imparted necessary training on using the decibel metres to the police officers concerned. The authorities will ensure there is no violation of noise pollution norms on December 25 and December 31, Kumbhakoni said.

The government will file a compliance report on the next date of hearing. If the court is not satisfied with this report, then it can go ahead with awarding the sentence. We will not ask the court to show leniency then, he said.

The high court is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on January 24 next year.

Read

Noise pollution: Mumbai began to quiet down in 2016

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TURKEY. Europe is now only 15 mins from Asia. On Tuesday, 20th December, Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the first road tunnel under the Bosphorous, linking Kazlcesme and Goztepe, after his preview visit in October 2016.At 5.4 km long -3.34 km of which under the Bosphorous- the Avrasya (Eurasia in Turkish) should mark an end to the endless bottlenecks on the bridges linking the two sides of the Straits and reduce the travelling time from (at least) 100 minutes to 15. The project also includes a total of 14.6 km of access roads from the European and Asian sides.The city's 18 million inhabitants are now spoilt for choice, depending on their level of patience. According to the local authorities, the tunnel should see a throughput of around 120,000 vehicles per day in each direction. It will also be the quickest route between the city's two airports, Ataturk (on the European side) and Sabiha Gokcen (on the Asian side). Speed will come at a cost, however, since tunnel use involves a toll, paid by means of an electronic pass (no option to pay by cash or credit card).An alternative to the bridges of which a third, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge was opened in August, 2016  existed since October, 2013, with the inauguration of the Marmaray Rail Tunnel , 14 km long, of which 1.4 is under the water.
Indrani Mukerjea, accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora, wants to donate 75% of her wealth for the cause of women and children and to some religious organisation working for Krishna Consciousness. Mukerjea revealed this before the trial court on Thursday and also said she intends to donate her organs.

On Thursday, after Indranis lawyer Sudeep Pasbola finished addressing the special CBI judge HS Mahajan on framing of charges the court adjourned further hearing of the case. At that moment, Indrani raised her hand and sought the judges permission to speak. I have decided to lead the simple life. I am not sure whether I will ever come out of jail or sent to gallows, Indrani told the special judge. I dont know what will happen next, she went on, adding, Hence I have decided to donate 75% of my wealth for the welfare of people. She said she also wants to donate part of her wealth for the welfare of children and women and to ISKCON. She also said she would like to donate her organs. I am in jail and I dont know how to go about things, she told the special judge, adding, I am in your custody, hence I need your permission.

The special judge replied saying she need not take permission for such things, but in case if she wants she should file an application and it would be considered by the court.

The judge later asked her husband, former media baron, Peter Mukerjea if he wants to say something. Peter responded mocking his wife: All my organs are fine and I dont want to donate it.

Meanwhile, the court permitted Indrani to perform the last rites of her father, Upendra Bora, in Mumbai under police escort. Indrani sought permission to visit Guwahati after her fathers death. However her son Mikhail, who was adopted by Upendra, had objected to the plea.

Considering the objection, Indranis lawyer Gunjan Mangala, pleaded that if not to Guwahati, she should be given permission to perform the rituals in Mumbai. The CBI had, however, objected saying that she can perform all the rites in the jail.

After hearing arguments, the court allowed Indrani to perform rituals from morning till evening on December 27. She is allowed to choose a place of her choice for the rituals, the court said. The court, however, restrained her from speaking to the media or any other person. The court also has put a condition that she should not engage in any activities, which would hamper the case.

READ

Court allows Indrani to perform last rites of her father in Mumbai on December 27

Sheena Bora murder: Mekhail objects to Indranis last rites plea
The Noida Authority approved the funding pattern of NoidaGreater Noida Metro Rail Project at its Board meeting in Lucknow on Wednesday.

The 14.958 kilometre metro lines between Sector 71 to Knowledge Park 5 via Greater Noida West will be built at a cost of Rs 2,668.16 crore.

Around 10 per cent of the cost will be borne by Greater Noida Authority and five per cent by Noida Authority. Forty-five per cent of the cost will be taken as loan from banks, 12.95 per cent equity will be given by the central government and 12.95 per cent equity amount will be given by the state government.

The Noida Board has given approval for Rs 126 crore and Rs 81 crore for development of two metro stations.

The route will have nine stations -- two in Noida and seven in Greater Noida.

Projected date of project completion is 2020-21. Daily passenger volume is expected to be 1.23 lakh.

The project has been inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on December 14.

It will be elevated metro rail on entire route. First station in Noida will be Sector 122 and second Sector 123. In Greater Noida, metro stations will be at Sector 4, Ecotech 12, Sector 2, Sector 3, Sector 10, Sector 12 and Knowledge Park.

Read more: UP approves 15-km metro link to realty hub Greater Noida West
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a part of the main....... never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. There is no doubt that these words of poet John Donne echoed subliminally in the mind of every soldier, sailor and airman as he watched TV footage of a man, who once headed the worlds fourth largest air force, being led into a Black Maria to be lodged in the company of criminals in jail. Given the position he held, the arrest of Air Chief Marshal (ACM) SP Tyagi by the Central Bureau of Investigation and his detention for custodial interrogation has shaken the armed forces community to the core and it should also stir our collective conscience.

Read: CBI arrests former air force chief SP Tyagi in AgustaWestland chopper case

This piece is not being written in defence of the man, but as an expression of anguish by a senior citizen and a cry of dismay by a veteran at this insensitive act of the State.

Investigations into allegations of corruption relating to the purchase of VVIP helicopters from M/S AugustaWestland of Italy have been going on since early 2013, with bursts of sporadic activity and publicity being triggered by the actions of Italian courts. The manner in which investigations have suddenly acquired urgency is an indication of the high political stakes involved.

In the steadily worsening relationship between the two national political entities, the helicopter scam may well become the deus ex machina that not only serves to settle high-level political scores, but may also tilt crucial electoral balances in the 0 2017 state elections and 2019 general elections.

It is this complex web that ACM Tyagi seems to have wandered into, inadvertently or otherwise. The two main charges against him relate to manipulation of the helicopters specifications to favour a particular company and the alleged subsequent quid pro quo. The procedure in the case of acquisitions by the ministry of defence (MoD) is clear. The specifications, proposed by the concerned (user) Service, require approval of the MoD and once approved can be changed only with express sanction of the defence minister.

Read: Tyagi arrest: Limit discretionary power to tackle corruption in defence

The case of the VVIP helicopter acquisition was unique. The machines were to be operated and maintained by the Indian Air Force, but the end user was the PMO; with the National Security Adviser and the Special Protection Group having a major say in drawing up and/or changing specifications on its behalf.

Even if the IAF did suggest changes in the specifications, they would have required approval of the MoD and the PMO. The bottom line is that the three Service Chiefs have not been invested with any responsibility, authority or financial powers by the Rules of Business 1962, which guide the conduct of the Government of India. Under these rules, it is the defence secretary who has the responsibility for the department of defence  to which the Service Chiefs are adjuncts and, occasionally, advisers. So why try to pin all blame on a former Air Force Chief?

From all accounts, ACM Tyagi has, so far, promptly responded to summons and cooperated fully with the investigating agencies, spending days under interrogation. Surely three years are long enough for the CBI and other agencies to have taken all concerned documents into their possession and examined his financial affairs with a fine toothcomb. There must also be adequate legal provisions, available, to restrict his movements and to ensure his continuing availability for further questioning  for as long as required.

Against this background, the invocation of custodial interrogation makes no sense, unless some medieval methodology is being contemplated. On the other hand, a respectable citizen who is incarcerated in jail, even for a few days, is publicly branded and mentally scarred for life. Whether he is eventually convicted or not, a jail term is punishment enough.

Read: Chopper scam: CBI to produce former IAF chief SP Tyagi before court today

This piece is not just about the fate of ACM Tyagi, it is about a much larger issue; the self-esteem of the armed forces fraternity, which has received several blows of late. Every time Tyagis name or photograph appears in the media or he is paraded as a detainee, every serviceman will feel diminished and demoralised.

Is this what we want to inflict on our gallant armed forces at this juncture?

At the same time, it is vital for the nation that the armed forces remain shining exemplars of ethical conduct and moral rectitude; their good name unblemished by any allegations of corruption. This requires that, setting aside, political considerations, ACM Tyagi be given bail and brought to trial at the very earliest.

Let him prove his innocence or the State his guilt, without delay, in a court of law.

Admiral Arun Prakash is a former Navy chief

Views expressed are personal
As the evacuation of rebel-held eastern districts of the Syrian city of Aleppo continues, a new order seems to be emerging in West Asia. The UN Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously called for UN officials and others to play a role in observing the evacuation of people from the last rebel-held slivers of eastern Aleppo. 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 UN officials and others to carry out adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations.

Syrian rebel groups had set fire to a number of buses intended to evacuate residents of mostly Shia villages in Syrias Idlib province last week and killed one bus driver. The buses were part of a deal to allow for the mutual evacuation of civilians from formerly rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo and regime-held villages in Idlib. Difficulties in implementing the deal for the evacuation of eastern Aleppo, hammered out by Turkey and Russia, led France to push for a UNSC resolution allowing international observers to monitor the evacuations.

US secretary of state John Kerry, however, had to call the Russian and Turkish foreign ministers to talk about Syria and discuss Mondays assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey. It was the only way Washington could get an update since the two diplomats pointedly did not invite him to participate in talks being held with Iran in Moscow to hash out next steps in Syria.

Read | Theres no global leader who can provide therapy to West Asias trauma

The US state department put a gloss over it by suggesting that the ministers provided the secretary a sense of how the discussions went, but if not having us in the room can lead to finally a cessation of hostilities that can actually matter, then Kerry  publicly at least  is okay with that. But Washingtons exclusion is a profound rebuke after two years of American bombing, and months of fruitless diplomacy between Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. It also underscores the growing irrelevance of the US in the unfolding drama in the region.

For his part, for the first time since being elected president, Donald Trump pledged to create safe zones in Syria for civilians. When I look at whats going on in Syria, its so sad, he told a crowd in Pennsylvania. Its so sad, and were going to help people. He said he would ask the Persian Gulf nations to put up money for the project, adding, well build and help build safe zones in Syria, so people will have a chance. It is not clear if Trump plans to establish a no-fly zone in northern Syria, and if American aircraft would defend the area from Syrian and Russian airstrikes.

The presence of the Russian commandos in Aleppo shows just how important it is for Moscow to have Aleppo under the control of the Syrian government by time Trump takes office in January, when the US government is expected to move to work more closely with Moscow on a range of issues. Moscow doesnt see any reason for Russian or Syrian forces to get engaged in any negotiations before the fall of Aleppo and it wont be with an Obama administration, which is now in lame duck mode.

Read | Snowden has had, continues to have contact with Russian intelligence

However, the new role Russia is playing in West Asia comes with a price tag. Moscow may be a new power broker in the region, but the assassination of Russias ambassador to Turkey has underscored the growing costs of this role.

As Americas influence has shrunk, Russia has taken the place the US long occupied in the minds of many people in West Asia: An alien imperialist power seen as waging war on Muslims and Islam. Even as protests against Washington have dwindled in West Asian capitals, thousands of protesters converged this month outside Russian missions from Istanbul to Beirut to Kuwait City  where they chanted: Russia is the enemy of Islam. Russian warplanes have operated with the regime in Syria to pound civilian targets  especially in Aleppo  since September 2015. It has been estimated that Russian airstrikes in and around Aleppo killed over 1,000 civilians in November alone.

Read | Aleppo liberated: What shaped Syrias war-torn city since March 2011

Left out of the efforts by Russian and Turkish officials about fighting terrorism in Syria is any mention of the US. This week Russia, Iran and Turkey kicked off a new round of meetings in Moscow aimed at finding a resolution to the civil war in Syria. While foreign ministers from the three countries huddled in one part of the Russian capital, a separate meeting brought together defence ministers from the same trio, where Iranian defence minister Hossein Dehghan praised military cooperation between Ankara and Moscow in Syria. Iran says its now sharing a base with Russia in Syria. Irans Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani told Iranian media that its advisors in Syria are working out of a shared facility with Russia. The subject of Russian bases and Syria has been a touchy one for Iran ever since Russias revelation that its jets had used an airbase in Iran to support its air campaign over Syria. Iranian officials reacted strongly to the announcement, saying that the Russians violated their trust and revoking their access to the facility. But Russia and Iran continue to work together to achieve their aims in West Asia.

Read | Syria: Russia, Iran, Turkey cast themselves as deal-makers in the war-torn land

It is quite clear that the old order is crumbing the region. And unlike in the past when the West was the lead player in shaping the strategic environment, it is Russia which seems in the driving seat today.

Harsh V Pant is a distinguished fellow at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi and professor of international relations, Kings College London

The views expressed are personal
The fact that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued almost 60 notifications since November 8, laying down, clarifying, modifying and in some cases even reversing the rules and regulations regarding the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes is symptomatic of the ugly nature of the demonetisation exercise.

The latest fiasco over the imposition of a Rs 5,000 limit on deposits of old currency on December 19 and its subsequent rescindment on December 21, has eroded the RBIs credibility, both in the eyes of the public and also the bank employees, who were being unfairly directed to play the role of tax officials and investigating agencies. The RBIs credibility had been dented by the inadequate supply of fresh currency notes, which has led to the prolongation of the stringent withdrawal limits from banks and ATMs.

Read: Post demonetisation, banknotes still call the shots in cashless villages

The RBI Act in its preamble specifies securing monetary stability as a basic objective of the bank. Maintaining the credibility of the central bank is vital in retaining public trust in the currency and securing monetary stability. The arbitrariness and ineptness shown by the RBI in discharging its function as the principal currency authority, militates against its foundational objective.

The blame for tarnishing the credibility of the central bank must be borne, to a large extent, by the prime minister and the finance minster. The November 8 gazette notification by the finance ministry, issued after the PMs televised address, stated that the central board of directors of the RBI had recommended the withdrawal of legal tender status for the specified bank notes. However, it remains unclear whether demonetisation was recommended by the RBI Board to the government or whether it was the PM who had taken the decision and instructed the RBI Board to act.

Read: Demonetisation may sound death knell for Delhis historic Regal Cinema

The BJP has claimed since November 8 that demonetisation has been the PMs decision, in order to fight unaccounted wealth, counterfeit currency etc. and the decision-making process had to be secretive, in order to make a surgical strike against the hoarders of black money.

If it is indeed so, the Centre should have verified the state of preparedness of the RBI in managing the post-demonetisation process, before announcing the decision. The lapses on the part of the RBI cannot be deemed to be only that of its central board, if the decision itself was taken at the level of the PM and the finance minister. The veil of secrecy around the decision-making process needs to be removed in order to fix proper accountability for the ongoing mess.

Suspicion regarding the veracity of the finance ministrys November 8 notification, as to a prior recommendation of the RBIs central board vis-a-vis proscribing the specified bank notes, gets strengthened from the reluctance of the RBI in endorsing the mechanism through which unaccounted cash was meant to be detected through demonetisation.

Read: D for Demonetisation. W for Why?

On the one hand, senior ministers, the Attorney General and others like the chief economic adviser of the SBI, are on record suggesting that at least Rs 2-3 lakh crore of unaccounted cash would not return to the system by December 30, which can then be considered as extinguished liability by the RBI and transferred as dividends to the government. The RBI Governor, on the other hand, has ruled out the possibility of transferring dividends to the Government through his press conference on December 7.

The MoS finance had reported the total face value of proscribed currency notes as Rs 15.44 lakh crore in the Rajya Sabha on November 29. On December 13, the RBI reported that Rs 12.44 lakh crore of old currency notes have returned to the system since November 8. Thus 80% of the proscribed currency had already returned.

Why has the RBI not reported the data on old currency returned, since then? Is it because there have been data misestimation or would the latest figures knock-out the remnant credibility of the entire demonetisation exercise? Efforts to shift goalposts now will further expose the decision makers of the government.

Prasenjit Bose is an economist and activist

The views of the author are personal
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday put repatriation of an ED official on hold against which a lawyers body had petitioned high court.

Lawyers for Human Rights International, an NGO, has moved an application before the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking stay on a recent order of repatriation of Gurnam Singh, deputy director of enforcement directorate (ED) at Chandigarh.

The lawyers body had claimed that Gurnam Singh is part of the investigation team probing Jagdish Bhola drug racket case. However, ED on Friday morning told Punjab and Haryana high court that this official was not part of the investigation team probing Bhola drug racket case following this the high court bench of chief justice S J Vazifdar and justice AB Chaudhari adjourned hearing for January 9 further recording that matter be put before the regular bench looking in to Bhola drug racket case.

The application was filed in a petition in which high court special bench of justice Surya Kant and justice Sudip Ahluwalia is monitoring investigation by ED and the Punjab Police into various cases registered into multi-crore Jagdish Bhola drug racket case.

The NGO has stated that the investigation into multi-crore money laundering racket is at the final stage. Since Singh had been a part of the probe team since beginning, his repatriation would hamper the case investigation at this stage. Gurnam Singh joined ED at Chandigarh in 2012 and is due for retirement on November 30, 2017, the plea says.

The court was also apprised that on January 21, 2015, the HC had stayed transfer of Niranjan Singh, an assistant director with ED, Jalandhar, a key officer in the probe. He was transferred from Jalandhar to Kolkata. Another transfer into the matter stayed by high court was of Suresh Batra, EDs prosecutor, on August 24, 2015.
Local unit of Congress is consulting legal aid over filing a complaint with the state election commission and Chandigarh administration over tampering of electronic voting machines during counting of votes for municipal corporation polls.

The senior Congress leader Sandeep Bhardwaj said they are consulting the experts and will file a complaint soon. He added that the victory does not appear as simple as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to project. The other candidates also said they all will get together and file a petition as in some booths the number of votes polled were more than the voters registered.

Meanwhile, the unrest within Congress continues after the local unit chief Pardeep Chhabra resigned. Though the final word is yet to come from the party high command on the resignation, the names of prominent leaders for the post are already doing the rounds.

Congress leaders are now discussing the names for the probable president, including senior leaders Pawan Sharma, Rampal Sharma and former councillors Chander Mukhi Sharma and Mukesh Bassi. Chhabra in his resignation has also forwarded a report pertaining to the elections, what factors led to Congress defeat and tampering of EVM has also been mentioned . An independent candidate, president of Manimajra Beopar Mandal, Malkeet Singh, who contested from ward number 25 is also considering filing a complaint regarding tampering of the voting machines.

Nominated councillors yet to be announced

The UT administrator VP Singh Badnore is yet to hold a discussion to finalise the names of nine nominated councillors. The sources in the administration said with BJP getting the mandate in the MC polls, the names are being re-considered and the administrator is not in a hurry to finalise the names. The discussion is also on whether some decision needs to be taken pertaining to nominated voting rights in the mayoral polls.

MP Kirron Kher interacts with newly-elected councillors

MP Kirron Kher interacted with the newly-elected councillors from her party. The Congress councillors were not present during the meeting. MP advised the councillors to do holistic development of the area.
A local court on Thursday acquitted Rattandeep Singh acquitted the main accused in the June 1999 bomb blast case outside the passport office in Sector 34, Chandigarh.

Recording his statement in the court on December 2, Rattandeep had claimed that he was not involved in the bomb blast.

He was facing trial under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosives Act.

The Punjab Police arrested him from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh in September 2014.

THE CASE

On June 30, 1999, a bomb blast took place in the parking area of the old passport office in Sector 34 at around 12:30 pm. Four people were injured in it.

Rattandeep was identified as he owned the scooter used for carrying the bomb. The police identified him after the chassis number and registration number of the scooter was intact.

The registration and licensing authority, Panipat, had registered the vehicle (HR-06-A-5079). On July 3, 1999, Rattandeep managed to escape from police custody in Jind, Haryana by opening fire.

It was alleged that he was trained in Pakistan by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and was made head of a revived Khalistani group.

He hails from Rohar in Jind district of Haryana.

Apart from the bomb blast at the passport office, he also faces charges of planting improvised explosive device (IED) on the railway tracks on the Shahabad Markanda bridge in Kurukshetra district.He is also wanted in a case of recovery of arms and explosives in Jind.
Such has been the clout of Jalandhars Chaudhary clan in Dalit politics of Doaba that the family has contested every Punjab assembly election since 1936. Not only that, in every Congress government formed in the state, at least one Chaudhary from the family has always got the opportunity to serve as a minister, holding important portfolios.

It was late Master Gurbanta Singh, revered as Dalit icon of Punjab, who laid the political foundation of the Chaudhary family. Master Gurbanta landed in the Ad Dharm movement  the first big movement of Punjab Dalits  at the tender age of 20. Master  the name he got while serving as a teacher in a Jalandhar school before joining active politics in 1936  became the backbone of this movement and served as its secretary, with Mangu Ram at the helm of affairs.

The sarpanch of Dhariwal village situated on the outskirt of Jalandhar city, unsuccessfully contested the Punjab assembly polls, under the British India, from Jalandhar (then Jullundur reserved) segment in 1936.

After winning from this segment in 1945, Gurbanta never looked back and kept winning till 1972, barring in 1967 when he was defeated by a Republic Party of India (RPI) candidate from Kartarpur. In 1972, he was elected unopposed.

Gurbanta, who held all-important portfolios during various Congress regimes in the state, had Babu Jagjivan Ram as mentor at the Centre and had direct access to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and later Indira Gandhi.

(Left) Former Punjab minister Late Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, eldest son of Master Gurbanta Singh; and his son Surinder Chaudhary. (HT Photo)

As per a study done by a Guru Nanak Dev University research scholar, Asha Kumari, in 2013 (Master Gurbanta Singh  his contribution in Punjab Politics), he was such a towering personality among Dalits that even upon facing opposition from the Scheduled Caste Federation (SCF) established by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and thereafter its new version RPI, he managed to maintain his winning spree.

In the first general elections held in 1952 when Dr Ambedkar had himself come to Punjab to campaign for his candidates, Gurbanta defeated the SCF candidate with a huge margin, mentions the study.

PASSING THE BATON

After winning unopposed in 1972, Master, before his death in 1980, passed the political baton to his eldest son, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, who by that time had become sarpanch of their ancestral village and also the zila parishad chairman.

However, Jagjit lost the 1977 polls during the Janata Party wave, but created a sort of record by winning the next five polls continuously till 2002 from Kartarpur. According to few arch rivals of Jagjit, he continuously managed to win the polls playing various poll tricks but fell far short of becoming a towering Dalit personality and was embroiled in corruption.

Gurbanta was revered among Dalits of Doaba, but Jagjit lowered the status of the family. Jagjit was a leader full of lust (for money), whereas Gurbanta didnt indulge in corruption. Jagjit amassed huge wealth using illegal means, alleged Dr Ram Lal Jassi, a Congress leader, who had unsuccessfully contested against him in 1997 on the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket.

During 2002-2007, when Jagjit served as a minister in Captain Amarinder Singh government, his name figured in the Ludhiana City Centre scam and he faced various allegations, compelling one of his critics and former Congress leader Bir Devinder to term him mother of all corruptions during an assembly session. This was the reason that the last two elections -- 2007 and 2012 -- he fought from the family citadel in Kartarpur witnessed his loss. For the Congress, Jagjit used to liaison with all prominent Dalit deras, but never officially declared his son Chaudhary Surinder Singh as his successor.

Had he been alive today, he would have definitely contested the coming assembly polls as well. This was the difference between him and his father. The father announced Jagjit as his successor after officially retiring from politics but Jagjit never did so even at the age of 82 and never nurtured his son properly, says Tarsem Sagar, an educationist and member of Ambedkar society. Surinder, 61, who became zila parishad chairman in 2006, is likely to be the Congress candidate from Kartarpur only on the basis of his family legacy.

ANOTHER SON-RISE IN THE FAMILY

Lok Sabha member from Jalandhar Chaudhary Santokh Singh, 64, is Gurbanta Singhs youngest, and got huge success in politics without being this fathers official successor.

The MP says he is proud of his fathers achievements, but his own rise in politics has remained full of struggles.

I could not become the official family nominee, as I was the youngest among the brothers, 17 years younger to Chaudhary Jagjit Singh. I started from the Youth Congress, and later became Jalandhar district president during militancy, before becoming Phillaur MLA in 1992, said the MP.

Jagjit never wanted Santokh to rise in politics and when the latter established himself, the differences between the brothers came out in the open. On one occasion, when the two had issues over running educational institutes established by their father, the matter reached the police.

I was always an organisational man, whereas Chaudhary Jagjit had joined politics as the family heir. Its the reason I always wear kurta pyjama whereas Jagjit Saab used to wear suit and tie. My son Vikramjit Chaudhary, 39, a former Punjab Youth Congress president, is also an organisational man. The two families have different legacies now, said Santokh, whose son is a contender for the Congress ticket from Phillaur.

The Congress high-ups have also used the rift between the brothers to make power balance in Doaba. During the governments of the last four Congress chief ministers  late Beant Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, late Harcharan Singh Brar and Captain Amarinder Singh  both the brothers were made ministers.

Santokh, a decent man who many say is more deserving than Jagjit, is not as financially strong. My father has not made a single penny in politics. I can proudly say we are carrying forward that legacy, said Vikramjit.

THE POWER BASE

Its the Ravidassia community that has remained the power base of the Chaudhary clan. Jagjit was a fanatic when it came to work related to Ravidassias. Whenever he ran any ministry, he ensured that officers at the helm of affairs were from the community, said Tejinder Bittu, a former Jalandhar Improvement Trust chairman and a close aide of the late minister.

Even as Doaba witnessed the rise of other Dalit leaders within the Congress, including former minister Darshan Singh Kaypee and his son and former Punjab Congress chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee, the Chaudhary family continue to remain at the helm of affairs in the region.

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The city is getting ready to host lakhs of devotees expected to attend the annual three-day Shaheedi Jor Mela starting on Sunday at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Jyoti Sarup.

The administration has issued several orders for public employees and private businesses. Police have beefed up their manpower and made plans for smooth traffic flow, while health department has made arrangements at the venues to address any kind of medical emergency.

State government on Thursday announced a district holiday on December 27. Public employees have been barred from taking leaves except emergency.

3,300 cops, six traffic diversions

Over 3,300 police personnel have been deployed to keep vigil in event venues during these three days. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harcharan Singh Bhullar issued a route plan, which includes six diversions that may lead to congestion on outer roads. The Chandigarh traffic will be diverted from Badali Ala Singh and Bhaironpur bypass to different routes to join Amloh, Khanna and Ludhiana, Malerkotla via the Shamsher Nagar chowk and Madhopur chowk to the Patiala-Sirhind national highway. While Daffeda Mor will lead the way toward Morinda and Ropar. The Patiala traffic will be diverted via Sadhugarh from Badali Ala Singh.

While traffic coming from Morinda and Ropar via Bassi Pathana will be diverted from Saheedgarh and Jalkhera chowk toward Gobindgarh, Khanna, Malerkotla and Ludhiana. Up to 20 free parking lots have been set up at Attewali, Shamsher Nagar Chowk, Madhopur road, near Moti Ram Mehra gate, and Khanpur.

Other restrictions

The administration has banned the usage, storage and consumption of liquor within three kilometre of Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib from December 25- 27. Also, no one will be allowed to carry or use poison, arms and other weapons, except by the defence and security personnel or by those who have the freedom to do due to their religious customs. Prohibition has also been imposed on sale of tobacco and non-vegetarian items during the mela.

MEASURES TAKEN 3,300 police personnel to keep vigil in the venues Public employees have been barred from taking leaves Ban on the usage, storage and consumption of liquor within 3km of the venues sale of tobacco and non-vegetarian items during the mela Prohibition on carrying or using poison, arms and other weapons

Legal literacy

District Legal Services Authority will organise a three-day legal literacy camp during the mela. The camp will be led by DLSA secretary Prashant Verma and a penal of lawyers and para-legal volunteers will be available during office time to guide people on legal affairs. Apart from that, volunteers will distribute pamphlet and booklets among devotees.

Something for art lovers

A kavi darbar (conference of poets) will be held at district administrative complex from 10:30 am onward on December 25. Two plays, Sirhind Di Deewar and Main Tera Banda, depicting the Sikh history in Sirhind will be staged in Aam Khas on December 25 and 26 respectively. Apart from that an exhibition will be held on all three days at the complex on agriculture, arts, literature by government departments and private companies.

The mela is held to remember the sacrifice of Mata Gujri and two younger sons (Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, 9, and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, 7) of Guru Gobind Singh who were bricked alive here on December 26, 1704, on the orders of then Sirhind governor Wazir Khan during the regime of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
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
Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh seems to have set the rules of the ticket distribution game, even if he may not be able to have his way on candidate on every seat.

The second list of 16 candidates announced by the party on Friday showed that no exceptions are being allowed to Amarinders two diktats  one family, one ticket and swapping of only reserved seats.

As part of the first rule, the Congress has tossed between youth and experience. It has bet on Sukhpal Bhullar (39), son of former state minister Gurchet Bhullar in the Khem Karan seat and renominated Samrala MLA Amrik Dhillon (74), whose 26-year-old grandson Karanvir Dhillion, too, was in the fray. From Kartarpur, it has fielded Chaudhary Surinder Singh, son of late Chaudhary Jagjit Singh.

But the party has played its most ambitious gamble on the Dalit seats. In a bid to reclaim its traditional vote bank, it has dropped two MLAs  Joginder Singh Panjgrain from reserved seat of Jaito and Tarlochan Singh Soondh from Banga citing the winnability factor.

Soondh had made headlines during the last session of the Punjab assembly in September this year by hurling a shoe at the treasury benches which narrowly missed deputy CM Sukhbir Badals brother-in-law and revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia. It has tried to replace the duo by playing some musical chairs. Soondh has been replaced by Satnam Singh Kainth, who had lost from the Adampur reserved seat in last polls.

Panjgrain has been replaced with Mohammad Sadique, partys legislator from Bhadaur reserved segment who was not doing well in survey reports from his own seat. The other Dalit MLA whose seat has been swapped is Ajaib Singh Bhatti who has been moved from Bucho Mandi to Malout.

On general seats, the four other sitting MLAs who have been retained on the second list will defend their own turfs. Other than Amrik Dhillion from Samrala, Indian Youth Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring will recontest Gidderbaha and Karan Kaur Brar has been able to secure her Muktsar seat.

Jagmohan Singh Kang has been able to retain his Kharar seat despite not looking good in the survey reports. With this, the total number of sitting MLAs renominated by the party has reached 35 out of 43, including Rajnish Kumar Babbi who had won as a rebel in the 2012 polls.

VOLATILE SEATS CAN WAIT

But Amarinder may have to wait for seeing those who he brought into the party fold on the list. Like the first list of 61 candidates, the party has once again steered clear of naming MLAs and leaders who have joined the Congress from ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), in face of open revolt by partys Rajya Sabha MPs, Interestingly, the party has fielded more leaders from erstwhile Peoples Party of Punjab whose chief Manpreet Badal is now the Congress candidate from Bathinda (urban). Former PPP leaders Harwinder Singh Laddi is Bathinda (rural) candidate and Darshan Singh has been pitched from Balachaur. With this, the PPP tally on the Congress list has reached five, of which four are reserved segments. Another new entrant, former BSP MLA Nirmal Singh Nimma has bagged Bhadaur.

The seats of former BJP and Akali Dal MLAs -- Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Pargat Singh, Inderbir Bolaria, Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Rajwinder Kaur -- do not find a mention on the list. These include those of Akaliturned-Congress leaders such as Deepinder Dhillon who is eyeing Dera Bassi and Harry Mann, who wants Samana, indicating that the Congress wants to keep the most volatile ones for the last.

The seats on which the screening committee has yet to reach a consensus are also pending.

These include Ludhiana north seat of MLA Rakesh Pandey and Sanuar seat of MLA Lal Singh.

With polls yet to be announced, the Congress too seems to be in no hurry to release names.

It held back four names finalised in the meeting of the central election committee headed by party president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, including Jalandhar North, Bhoa, Shahkot and Sahnewal from where singer Satwinder Bitti is a contender.

Congress second list: All 16 names

Gurdaspur: Barinderjit Singh Pahra

Youth candidate

Khem Karan: Sukhpal Singh Bhullar

Troubled legacy

Bholath: Gurwinder Singh Atwal

New challenger

Kartarpur (SC) : Surinder Chaudhary

Debut in fathers bastion

Banga (SC): Satnam Singh Kainth

Dalit crusader

Balachaur: Darshan Lal Mangepur

Former PPP leader

Kharar: Jagmohan Singh Kang

Manages to hold fort

Samrala: Amrik Singh Dhillon

Old warhorse gets lucky

Gidderbaha: Amrinder Singh Raja Warring

Youth Congress chiefs 2nd test

Malout (SC): Ajaib Singh Bhatti

Batting on new turf

Muktsar: Karan Kaur Brar

Reclaiming Brar bastion

Jaitu (SC): Mohammad Sadique

Same tune, different place

Bathinda rural (SC): Harvinder Singh Laddi

Manpreet Badals protege

Sunam: Daman Thind Bajwa

ex-Punjab NSUI chief

Bhadaur (SC): Nirmal Singh Nimma

Former BSP MLA

Amargarh: Surjeet Singh Dhiman

Lost seat in 2012

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The Jamshedpur Womens College, slated to become Jharkhands first womens university, has become the top institute in the country for developing and registering the highest number of volunteers to work as master trainers for the Centres cashless economy mission.

Volunteers from the college have already covered six panchayats in the district to train villagers in cashless transactions and the institute itself will become totally cashless by January 12, officials said on Friday.

Chief minister Raghubar Das has sent a congratulatory SMS to JWC principal Shukla Mohanty from Singapore through state IT secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal after being informed about the colleges top position in the Union ministry of human resources development (MHRD) listing.

The MHRD list states that the JWC was at the top by registering 1,597 digital literacy volunteers followed by the Graphic Era Hill University with 1,161 volunteers, the National College, Trichy with 819 volunteers among the top ten institutions across the country.

The other institutes in the list include the Central University of Haryana with 651 volunteers, followed by the Government College of Commerce and Business Administration, Chandigarh with 572, the Marian College Kuttikanam with 553, Lovely Professional University with 458, Chitkara University with 389, Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology with 369 and Narayana Pharmacy College with 364.

Institutes with the maximum number of students as volunteers include Haringhata Mahavidyalaya with 3432 registrations, followed by Shri Ram Parasd Bohra Post Graduate Mahavil in Jhunjunun with 1,090 and the Central University of Haryana with 916 registrations.

The number of volunteers from institutes like J NU, Delhi University, IITs and IIMs is less than many colleges and MHRD officials expected that student participation from these colleges to increase in the coming days.

Following the Centres demonetisation of high-value banknotes, the ministry launched a month-long digital literacy missionVittiya Saksharta Abhiyan, on December 12 to spread awareness about cashless transactions among university students and teachers across the country.

Within just a weeks time we have registered 1,597 volunteers who are going out to villages and training local people on cashless digital transactions. Our students have so far covered six panchayats under the mission in Potka block, Mohanty told HT, after receiving the CMs congratulatory SMS.

He further said that the JWC will itself become cashless in all its transactions by January 12, 2017. The Bank of Baroda has given us point of sale (PoS) machines and now we will take admission and examination fees by swiping debit or credit cards. Similarly, the colleges canteen, book shop, stationary shop will have PoS machines and there will be no cash transactions.

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Bethlehem, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is the little town where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born. The holy city attracts thousands of pilgrims every year during Christmas.

Located just 10 kilometres from Jerusalem, and hosting holy sites of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, it has not been spared the fallout of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

This Christmas, know the birth city of Jesus a little more:

Sacred city for three religions

Nuns visit the Grotto in the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on December 20, 2016. (AFP)

Bethlehem is the cradle of Christianity, the site of the Church of the Nativity, which contains an underground cave where Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. A 14-pointed silver star beneath an altar marks the spot and the stone church is a key pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims alike.

The emperor Constantine the Great and his mother Helena had it built around the year 338.

Over the years the church has been sacked and undergone several transformations, and it is now administered jointly by the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic authorities.

A space reserved for Muslim prayer has been set aside in a southern wing.

Bethlehem is also home to the tomb of Rachel, wife of Jacob who was Abrahams grandson. It is Judaisms third holiest site, after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The tomb of the biblical matriarch is sacred for Muslims as well, and Jewish and Muslim women visit regularly to pray for safe and smooth pregnancies.

The first mention of Bethlehem in the Old Testament is in the book of Genesis, under the name of Ephrat, where

Rachel dies while giving birth to her son Benjamin. Her tomb is at the northern edge of the city.

Unesco heritage sites

The scene of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem as depicted in the Bible. (Shutterstock)

In June 2012, the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route along which the traditional Christmas procession heads were designated a world heritage site by the UN cultural organisation UNESCO, despite stiff opposition from Israel and the United States.

Palestinians hailed the decision as historic.

In October 2010, UNESCOs executive council had termed Rachels tomb also as the Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque.

Israel reduced its cooperation with the cultural organisation in protest.

Christmas in Bethlehem

A Palestinian man walks past a Christmas tree at the Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity, revered as the site of Jesus Christs birth, on December 20, 2016 in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem. (AFP)

Adjoining the Church of the Nativity is the Franciscan church of Saint Catherine, where Christmas Mass is celebrated each year at midnight.

A tall Christmas tree is put up in early December outside the church in Manger Square, signalling the start of the festivities, and its lighting is often accompanied by a message of peace from the city to a troubled region.

On Christmas Day thousands of tourists and Palestinians -- Muslims and Christians alike -- line the so-called pilgrimage route to watch a procession led by the Catholic patriarch who begins in Jerusalem and passes through the wall that separates the West Bank from Israel.

Scout marching bands escort the cleric to the sound of drums and bagpipes. The square is the site of many other multi-coloured processions.

Other denominations also celebrate Christmas in various parts of the city, though in the Orthodox and Armenian church calendars, Christmas comes in January.

The wall and unrest

Streets of Bethlehem, West Bank. (Shutterstock)

The Israeli separation wall is part of a project begun in 2002 during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, that is to extend around 700 kilometres (450 miles) once completed. It is a stark symbol of the occupation for Palestinians, and in Bethlehem, where it has been covered by graffiti and street art, it has become a gathering place for militants from all over the globe.

Pope Francis visited the site in May 2014, laying his hands on the wall and celebrating Mass in Manger Square.

Bethlehem has suffered meanwhile from the intifada unrest and a clampdown by Israeli security forces. In 2002, armed Palestinian fighters holed up in the Church of the Nativity for 38 days.

Main tourist site in Palestinian territories

The narrow Pope Paul IV street is the central street of the city. (Shutterstock)

The district of Bethlehem, home to about 210,000 Palestinians, includes the city of Bethlehem, which has a population of 32,000. Other major towns are Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, in addition to some 30 villages and three refugee camps.

Although the population was predominantly Christian a half century ago, it is now predominantly Muslim, but Christians are still present in key economic sectors.

Tourism is the biggest economic activity, with the Church of the Nativity drawing some two million pilgrims each year.

Last year however, the number of visitors slumped amid violence and protests in the region that left around 150 people dead.

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Syrias conflict has killed more than 310,000 people, uprooted over half the population and left much of the country in ruins since it erupted almost six years ago.

Here are some key statistics:

Huge death toll

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said last week it had recorded the deaths of 312,001 people since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

Those killed included 90,000 civilians, of which 16,000 were children, the Britain-based monitor said.

In a country with a population of some 23 million before the war, the United Nations estimates around 6.6 million people have been internally displaced by the fighting.

Read | Aleppo liberated: What shaped Syrias war-torn city since March 2011

And almost one million Syrians are besieged by the warring parties, according to UN aid chief Stephen OBrien.

In November, he said there had been a steep increase in what he called this deliberate tactic of cruelty, in particular by the Syrian regime.

Refugees

The war has forced 4.8 million people to flee Syria, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Neighbouring Turkey has taken in more than 2.7 million Syrians, the UNHCR says, and is now the main host country.

Syrian refugees have in increasing numbers travelled to or attempted to reach Europe, making the perilous journey overground or by sea. (AFP File Photo)

It is followed by Lebanon, with more than one million Syrian refugees, according to the UN.

Jordan, which the UNHCR says has taken in 655,000 Syrians, says it has accepted considerably more, at 1.4 million.

At least another 228,000 Syrians have taken refuge in Iraq and 115,000 in Egypt, the refugee agency says.

Syrian refugees have in increasing numbers travelled to or attempted to reach Europe, making the perilous journey overground or by sea.

Imprisoned, tortured

In August, Amnesty International said Syrian authorities were committing torture on a massive scale in government prisons.

It said more than 17,700 people are estimated to have died in custody since the conflict began.

But it said the real figure is much higher, pointing to tens of thousands of forced disappearances.

The Observatory, for its part, says at least 60,000 people have died over five years from torture or harsh conditions in regime prisons.

The monitor says half a million people have passed through regime jails since the start of the conflict.

And several thousand have died over the same period in prisons run by rebel groups or jihadists, it says.

In February 2016, UN investigators accused the regime of extermination in its jails and detention centres.

Economy in ruins

Experts say the conflict has set Syrias economy back by three decades, with almost all its revenues cut off and most of the infrastructure destroyed.

The education and health systems are in ruins.

In 2015, a coalition of non-governmental organisations said Syria was living almost without electricity, with 83 percent of lighting no longer working.

Experts say the conflict has set Syrias economy back by three decades, with almost all its revenues cut off and most of the infrastructure destroyed. (Agency File Photo)

More than 80% of the population lives in poverty, according to a study published in April 2016 by the United Nations and Britains Saint Andrews University.

The study also said the Syrian economy contracted by 55% between 2010 and 2015.

In pics: After over four years of fighting, battle for Aleppo comes to an end
A 67-year-old Greek grandmother has given birth to her daughters baby girl, becoming the worlds oldest such surrogate mother, her medical team said Friday.

This is a heroic grandmother, supervising obstetrician Constantinos Pantos told state television ERT.

The baby girl was born on Tuesday via caesarian section after a 7.5-month pregnancy, weighing 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds).

I feel more like a grandmother than a mother, said Anastassia Ontou from a village near Larissa, central Greece, adding that she faced few problems during the pregnancy.

It was an easy decision for me -- my daughter was heartbroken after not being able to carry the baby herself, she told private TV station Star.

Pantos said that based on international records, this is the oldest surrogate mother who is also a grandmother, based on her daughters medical condition.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest mother is Maria del Carmen Bousada Lara from Spain, who was 66 years and 358 old when she gave birth to twin boys in Barcelona in 2006.

She passed away from cancer in 2009.

Ontous daughter Constantina, 43, said she thought her mother was crazy when she offered to carry the child.

I told her shes crazy... we havent cried like this in years, said Constantina, who had seven failed pregnancy attempts.

Pantos, who heads a fertility clinic in Athens, said he had personal reservations about the pregnancy but was convinced to go ahead after a Larissa court approved it.

Because of the grandmothers age, its the first time such a ruling has been issued, he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Friday of an enduring terror threat, despite the killing of the suspected perpetrator of the Berlin Christmas market attack.

We can be relieved at the end of this week that the acute danger is over, Merkel told reporters, welcoming the news that the Tunisian suspect, Anis Amri, had been shot dead overnight by Italian police.

However the danger of terrorism in general endures, as it has for several years. We all know that, she said.

Amid fierce criticism that authorities let Amri, a rejected asylum seeker with known ties to the jihadist scene, slip through their fingers, Merkel pledged a comprehensive analysis of what went wrong.

The Amri case raises questions -- questions that are not only tied to this crime but also to the time before, since he came to Germany in July 2015 from Italy, she said.

We will now intensively examine to what extent official procedures need to be changed.

Merkel said she had ordered justice and interior ministers at the federal and state level to analyse every aspect of the case and present their conclusions as soon as possible so reforms, where needed, can be speedily implemented.

Merkel said she had also spoken with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi by telephone on Friday to discuss anti-terror efforts and inform him that Germany would be signficantly accelerating deportation of rejected asylum seekers.

She said it was the primary duty of the government to protect its citizens.

Read | Islamic State says man shot in Milan was Berlin attacker

However she stressed that Germany would not sacrifice its principles in the fight against terrorism.

Our democracy, our rule of law, our values, our humanity -- they are the alternative to the hateful world of terrorism, and they will be stronger than terrorism, she said.

Amri, 24, is believed to have killed 12 people and wounded dozens more in Mondays assault on the Christmas market, which has been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

Italys interior minister Marco Minniti told reporters in Rome that Amri had been fatally shot after pulling out a pistol and firing at police who had stopped him for a routine identity check around 3:00 am (0200 GMT) near Milans Sesto San Giovanni train station.
Ignoring calls from President-elect Donald Trump and lobbying by Israel, the UN Security Council on Friday demanded an end to Israeli settlements, in a resolution adopted after the United States abstained from voting on the contentious measure.

The resolution was passed 14-0.

The resolution moved by Egypt was to come up for vote on Thursday, but was postponed because of Trumps personal intervention  he spoke to the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

While Egypt agreed to hold the resolution, its co-sponsors New Zealand, Senegal, Malaysia and Venezuela put it to vote on Friday. It required nine votes to pass, and it got 14.

Any one of the permanent members could have stopped it with a veto, but no one did.

The Obama administration, which has been extremely frustrated with the continuing settlement constructions, ignored Trumps open call on Thursday and intense lobbying by the Israeli government.

Trump said in a statement, The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed.

As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations.

This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.
Syrian troops cemented their hold on Aleppo on Friday after retaking full control of the city, as residents anxious to return to their homes moved through its ruined streets.

Syrias army announced on Thursday it had recaptured the former rebel stronghold of east Aleppo following a landmark evacuation deal that saw thousands of opposition fighters and residents bussed out.

It was the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assads forces in nearly six years of civil war and a major win for his foreign backers, with key ally Russia hailing the recapture as very important step.

Braving the cold, war-weary residents crossed districts that had become infamous front lines, eager to return to neighbourhoods they had not seen in years.

An AFP correspondent saw civilians wrapped in coats trekking through the cold, some rolling their belongings on wheelbarrows.

I came to check on my house, which I havent seen in five years, resident Khaled al-Masri said. I really hope my home wasnt badly damaged.

The evacuation operation ended more than four years of ferocious fighting inside Aleppo, which had been divided between government forces in the west and rebels in the east.

A ball of fire rises following an air strike hits insurgent positions in eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo. (AP File Photo)

Opposition forces remain in control of areas west of Aleppo and on Friday at least one civilian was killed in the first wave of rebel rocket fire on the city since it fell under government control, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Nothing left

Eight people were also wounded in the fire on the Al-Hamdaniyeh district, the Britain-based monitor said, while state news agency SANA reported three killed.

The evacuation agreement was brokered by rebel backer Turkey and regime supporter Russia, which said it would strive to end fighting across Syria.

The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalisation in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory, Putin said. In any case, we will strive toward this.

Read | Aleppos fall will change US and Russian roles in Syria

The Kremlin also announced that Putin had signed an order to expand Russias naval facility in the Syrian city of Tartus.

On Friday morning, government fighters moved into Ansari and al-Mashhad, two neighbourhoods they had not entered since mid-2012.

They searched for improvised explosive devices and mines, clearing buildings in anticipation of civilians returning, the Observatory said. ;

In Bustan al-Qasr, a heavily damaged neighbourhood near Aleppos famed old city, small bulldozers removed rubble from the streets.

A man cries while holding the body of his son near Dar El Shifa hospital in Aleppo, Syria. (AP Photo)

As the army moved through Al-Myassar district, Umm Abdo, 42, said she had found her former home but it had been destroyed.

Theres nothing left... but houses can be rebuilt, she said.

Syrias war transformed Aleppo from the countrys industrial hub to a worldwide symbol of bloodshed and devastation.

Read | Aleppo liberated: What shaped Syrias war-torn city since March 2011

The armys statement on Thursday announced the return of security to Aleppo after its release from terrorism and terrorists, and the departure of those who stayed there.

Celebrations in west Aleppo

Thousands of people in west Aleppo erupted in celebration at the declaration, chanting slogans in support of Assads regime amid blaring car horns.

It came after state television said the last convoy of four buses carrying rebels and civilians had left east Aleppo and arrived in the government-controlled Ramussa district south of the city.

The evacuation deal, overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent, put an end to a month-long offensive waged on Aleppos east by pro-government forces.

The ICRC said the operation had seen 35,000 people bussed out of the last rebel-held pocket of territory in the city.

Syrians celebrate in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. (AFP Photo)

Another 1,200 people were also evacuated from Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shia-majority towns in northwest Syria that had been besieged by rebels, as part of the agreement.

The evacuation was a pivotal moment in a war that has triggered a major humanitarian and refugee crisis.

Nearly six years in, the conflict has killed more than 310,000 people and displaced half of Syrias pre-war population.

As well as a major strategic gain for Assad, the armys win in Aleppo has put the spotlight on the role of powerbrokers Russia, Iran and Turkey, which agreed this week to guarantee new peace talks and backed expanding a ceasefire.

Syrian rebel fighters are evacuated from Aleppo towards rebel-held territory in the west of Aleppo's province. (AFP Photo)

Repeated attempts at peace for Syria have failed, but UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has said he hopes to convene fresh talks in Geneva in February.
After the governments capture of the rebel-held east of the city, heres a look at key events in Aleppo since the start of Syrias uprising nearly six years ago:

2011: Demonstrations begin against Bashar Al Assad

March: Protests erupt in the southern city of Daraa over the detention of a group of boys accused of painting anti-government graffiti on a school wall. On March 18, security forces fire on a protest in Daraa, killing four people in what activists regard as the first deaths of the uprising. Demonstrations spread, as does the crackdown by President Bashar Assads forces, eventually igniting a full-scale civil war.

Protests erupted in Daraa in March 2011. (Reuters Photo)

2012: Rebels seize eastern Aleppo

July: Rebel fighters seize eastern Aleppo, dividing the city. The intense fighting that follows, including almost daily barrel bombs dropped by government warplanes on the poorer and more densely populated east, causes an estimated 1 million civilians to flee. Another half million are displaced inside the eastern part of the city in the first year of the conflict.

October: The UN negotiates a short-lived truce during the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday. Fighting damages cultural and historic sites, including the Grand Umayyad mosque, which both sides sought to control.

December: Rebels launch an offensive that expands their presence in Aleppo province and secures supply lines to the Turkish border. They seize a number of military and air bases, increasingly isolating government forces. All flights from Aleppo airport are suspended after al-Qaida-linked fighters threaten to shoot down civilian planes.

Syrian rebels hunt for snipers in Aleppos suburbs after anti-Assad forces swooped into the city in July 2012. (AFP Photo)

2013: Government begins an unprecedented campaign of dropping barrel bombs on Aleppo city and surrounding areas

January: At least 147 bodies wash up on the banks of Aleppos Queiq River, apparently killed by government security forces.

April: Aleppos ancient Citadel, used by government forces as a base, comes under rebel fire. The government targets the Umayyad mosque minaret, suspecting rebels were using it. Amid the fighting, passageways between the two sides of the divided city emerge, allowing an informal link for residents, but also turning deadly at times, as sniper fire kills many.

August: Insurgents gain control of the Aleppo-Damascus highway, tightening the siege on the government part of the city. Residents of eastern Aleppo take food to relatives in western Aleppo.

October: Poor coordination and infighting weaken the rebels ranks. That winter, Islamic State group militants clash with the rebels, establishing a presence in the eastern part of the city.

December: The government begins an unprecedented campaign of dropping barrel bombs on Aleppo city and surrounding areas, driving more people out. IS expands its presence in the eastern part of city.

Government forces targeted on the morning of Sunday 22 December, 2013, the highway in Masaken Hananou neighbourhood. (Reuters Photo)

2014: Government intensifies its barrel bomb campaign on rebels who united against IS

January: Rebels unite against IS, driving the extremists out of Aleppo. Government forces exploit the fighting to push the rebels back.

May: Using a new tactic, rebels tunnel beneath a hotel used as a government command and control center and blow it up. The government intensifies its barrel bomb campaign.

Civil defence members and civilians search for survivors under the rubble of a site hit by what activists said were barrel bombs dropped by forces loyal to Assad. (Agency Photo)

2015: Insurgents cause heavy damage to Assad, Russia joins the campaign bolstering Assad forces.

March: Insurgents blow up the Air Force Intelligence building in Aleppo after digging a tunnel, a symbolic victory. The newly formed Army of Conquest, which brings together rebels and al-Qaida-linked fighters, seizes Idlib city to the northwest.

October: Russia begins launching airstrikes to bolster Assads forces. Syrian troops launch an offensive around Aleppo. Iraqi, Lebanese and Iranian militias also throw their weight behind the government, setting the stage for a wider offensive against Aleppo that would continue until the following year.

Smoke billows following a reported airstrike by Russian fighter jets on the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. (Reuters Photo)

2016: After a fierce battle between the rebels and Assad led coalition, Aleppo is liberated. Civilians are evacuated but the fighting leaves a deadly mark on the city and the residents.

February: Russia and the US broker a cease-fire that excludes extremists. Signs of normal life return to Aleppo.

April: The cease-fire collapses, bombing resumes, and the Castello road, the only road out of eastern Aleppo, becomes a death trap.

July: The government and allied forces impose a full siege on eastern Aleppo, with some 250,000 still in the enclave. Rebels break the siege for a few weeks, but government force seal the city off again by August.

September: A cease-fire negotiated by Russia and the United States holds for a few days, but talks to bring in aid go nowhere. An airstrike hits a humanitarian aid convoy north of the city.

October: Russia announces it is suspending its airstrikes on eastern Aleppo and designates humanitarian corridors, urging the rebels and residents to leave the eastern enclave. The rebels reject the offer, no one uses the corridors and the U.N. says it cannot carry out medical evacuations due to security concerns. The government continues its air raids.

November: The government launches a renewed, intensified air campaign. In late November, Syrian troops and allied forces launch a major ground offensive, rebel defenses crumble and thousands flee.

December 14: A cease-fire, brokered by Turkey and Russia, is announced for the evacuation of rebels and civilians from the tiny remaining sliver under opposition control, effectively surrendering the city to the government. But it fails to take hold, government shelling continues.

December 18: World powers reach a deal to allow the evacuations to resume, and over next days buses ferry out thousands of civilians and hundreds of fighters across government-held areas to rebel territory in Aleppo province. Rebels agreed to allow government forces to evacuate civilians and the sick from two Shia villages under siege in rebel-controlled Idlib province.

Opposing fighters leave last remaining areas in East Aleppo. The regime declare complete control of Aleppo.-Fatemah  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) December 22, 2016

December 22: Under heavy snow and freezing conditions, the last people leave eastern Aleppo. The Syrian military announces that it has re-established security across the city.

Civilians and rebel fighters evacuate as Assad forces take full control of Aleppo. (Reuters Photo)
The Syrian armys recapture of Aleppo has dealt a setback to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two supporters of rebel forces whose struggle to oust President Bashar al-Assad appears increasingly fruitless.

Along with fellow US ally Turkey, the two wealthy Gulf countries have backed armed groups fighting government forces in Syrias civil war.

But with forceful military support from its traditional ally Russia and fighters from Iran and Lebanons Shiite Hezbollah movement, the regime has made significant gains in recent months.

The retaking of Aleppo, which the army announced on Thursday after a withdrawal deal saw thousands of fighters and civilians evacuated from the last rebel-held areas, was the biggest victory yet for Assads forces.

It marked a turning point the war, not only on the ground in Syria but for outside players like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, analysts said.

The fall of Aleppo has weakened the negotiation position of the Syrian opposition and their allies, said Ibrahim Fraihat, a conflict resolution professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

Assads regime has over the years agreed to several rounds of peace talks with the opposition, including the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee.

And with the opposition -- which has long complained of a lack of serious military support from its allies -- losing ground, the diplomatic path is the only way forward, Fraihat said.

Russia, Turkey, Iran take lead

Gulf backers should engage in pursuing a political settlement... as a military solution to this conflict has become less likely than ever before, Fraihat said.

At the same time, they should supply the rebels with sophisticated weapons, including air defence systems to prevent further imbalance of power that would make a political solution even less likely, he said.

For Mathieu Guidere, Middle East expert at the University of Toulouse, the fall of Aleppo has more dramatic consequences for Gulf backers.

The destiny of Syria is no longer in the hands of Gulf countries, he said, pointing to the evolving cooperation between Turkey, Russia and Iran.

The trio agreed this week to guarantee Syria peace talks and have backed expanding a ceasefire, laying down their claim as the main powerbrokers in the conflict.

Ankara and Moscow also brokered the Aleppo evacuation deal.

After the fall of Aleppo, the challenge for the Gulf countries is not Assad himself, but the new alliance between Russia, Turkey and Iran, Guidere said.

In a severe power imbalance situation the powerful party loses the incentive to compromise and instead becomes tempted to pursue a zero-sum war, he said.

The largest remaining rebel bastion after Aleppo is Idlib province, controlled by a coalition dominated by extremists from a former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

In the south, rebels control most of Daraa province along the borders with Jordan, except for Daraa city itself. They also hold onto pockets east of Damascus, and in the central province of Homs.

US-Russia arrangement?

Emirati political science professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla said that Turkey is repositioning itself, shifting away from the side that had wanted to topple Assad.

He who had bet on a Turkish-Saudi-Qatari alliance has lost, he said on Twitter.

Turkey has regular troops inside Syria near its border after launching an offensive in August against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia forces.

Turkeys cooperation with Russia also asserts the leading powerbroker role assumed by Moscow in Syria, a position that could get stronger under US President-elect Donald Trump who is considered to hold pro-Russia views.

Saudis and others know that under President Trump the Western drift toward Assad will accelerate, according to Gulf expert Neil Partrick.

This means that the goal of a Sunni-led Syrian client state, in which Saudi Arabia would contest with the Turks and their junior Qatari allies for weight, is over, Partrick said.

He said that Gulf states now realise that Washington may now try to get an arrangement with Russia on what happens next.

He said such cooperation could mean that their arch-rival Tehran would have less weight in determining the situation.

The United States and Europe have long insisted that a political settlement in which Assad agrees to step down is necessary to end the fighting.

If Saudi Arabia was wise it would be sending signals to Assad now, as the Turks and Egypt have been, Partrick said.
Anis Amri, the Tunisian suspect in the Berlin truck attack who was shot dead in Milan on Friday, followed the well-trodden path of petty criminal turned jihadist killer.

Security sources believe the rejected asylum seeker was radicalised during a four-year stint in an Italian prison before he murdered 12 people in Mondays attack on a Christmas market in the German capital.

Amri, who turned 24 years old while on the run Thursday, was hailed as a soldier of the Islamic State by the IS-linked Amaq news agency after the bloody assault.

When he pulled his gun on the Italian police early Friday before they shot him dead, Amri reportedly yelled Allahu Akbar (God is greatest).

In a growing security scandal in Germany, Amri had long been watched as a potentially dangerous jihadist but managed to avoid both arrest and deportation.

Hanan Amri, the sister of 24-year-old Anis Amri, looks on as she cradles his portrait on December 23, 2016 in the town of Oueslatia, in Tunisia's region of Kairouan. (AFP)

Radicalised in jail

Amris journey began in Oueslatia, a poor desert town in central Tunisia. The youngest of nine siblings, he was known to police as a juvenile delinquent who drank and took drugs.

He was 18 when the Tunisian revolution erupted in early 2011 and overthrew long-time dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Amri took advantage of the turmoil to flee the country, escaping a four-year jail term handed down in absentia for robbery and burglary.

He also left to get away from misery, his brother Abdelkader told AFP this week.

He had no future in Tunisia and wanted at all costs to improve the familys financial situation. We live below the poverty line, like most families in Oueslatia.

Like thousands of other migrants, Amri made the dangerous Mediterranean crossing and landed in March on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, where he lied about his age and was taken as an unaccompanied minor to Sicily.

Soon after, Amri was arrested on arson charges for burning a school building which had been converted into a refugee shelter. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Not a model prisoner, he received no early release. It was behind bars that he was radicalised as an Islamic extremist, a classic phenomenon in Europe, local media reported.

Upon his release, Italy ordered him to leave the country, while Tunisia refused to take him back.

The body of Anis Amri, the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack, is seen covered by a thermal blanket in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan, Italy December 23, 2016. (Reuters)

Small-time drug dealer

In July 2015 he headed to Germany, as tens of thousands of Middle Eastern and African migrants flocked to Europes biggest economy.

His brother said Amri worked as an agricultural labourer and things like that.

Hed contact us on Facebook, saying he wanted to come back to Tunisia but that he had to earn some money to buy his own car and start his own business.

German security agencies say he quickly mingled in radical Islamist circles but evaded authorities by changing location frequently and using up to six different identities.

Amri repeatedly contacted Islamist hate preachers including the Iraqi Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A alias Abu Walaa, who has since been arrested accused of seeking to recruit fighters for IS.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Counter-terror agencies were surveilling Amri and suspected he was preparing a serious act of violence against the state, said Ralf Jaeger, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state.

Berlin prosecutors, who were in charge of the case, said Amri had been suspected of planning a burglary meant to raise cash to buy automatic weapons, possibly to carry out an attack.

Surveillance had then however shown that Amri was working as a small-time drug dealer in Berlin and once had a bar fight with another dealer. The surveillance ceased in September.

Germany had meanwhile rejected his asylum request in June but was unable to deport him as Amri claimed to have no travel documents.

His deportation then got caught up in red tape with Tunisia, which long denied he was a citizen. The documents only arrived on Wednesday, two days after the Berlin attack, said Jaeger.

Amris asylum-office papers for a stay of deportation were found in the cab of the 40-tonne lorry that cut a swathe of death and destruction through the festive crowd.

His shocked sister Najoua later told AFP that he never made us feel there was anything wrong. We were in touch through Facebook and he was always smiling and cheerful.
Mark Zuckerberg envisions a software system inspired by the Iron Man character Jarvis as a virtual butler managing his household.

The Facebook founders dream is about artificial intelligence, which is slowly but surely creeping into our daily lives, no longer just science fiction.

Artificial intelligence or AI is getting a foothold in peoples homes, starting with the Amazon devices like its Echo speaker which links to a personal assistant Alexa to answer questions and control connected devices such as appliances or light bulbs.

Analyst Carolina Milanesi of the research firm Creative Strategies said 2016 was the year about raising awareness, and exposing consumers to the idea of AI in a more mass market way.

Milanesi said it may take time for the technology to fulfill its potential, noting that companies need a strong hook to bring large numbers of consumers into this world.

Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimates that Amazon has sold more than five million of its connected speakers such as Echo since 2014, in a market now heating up with competition from Google Home, and others likely in development.

Major developments in artificial intelligence this year. (AFP photo)

Google is also using its AI prowess to make smartphones smarter -- its Allo messenger can, for example, suggest a meeting or deliver relevant information during a conversation. Among other tech giants Apple has been quietly ramping up the capabilities of its Siri digital assistant and Facebook its Messenger platform.

Driving the car

AI is also the key driver for autonomous vehicles, around which Google, Uber, automakers and others have expanded efforts in the past year.

And Amazon is seeking to put AI to work in the supermarket -- testing a system without cash registers or lines, where consumers simply grab their products and go, and have a bill tallied by artificial intelligence.

Stanford University AI researcher Alexandre Alahi, said he sees a future where intelligent machines are omnipresent in our daily lives.

An Uber driverless car in San Francisco. (AP file photo)

We will see robots in the home and (powering) self-driving cars, but also in railway stations, hospitals and elsewhere in cities, he said.

This could include delivery robots or devices to help mobility for blind people, he noted.

Safety, health, productivity

These technologies will help improve our safety, our health, and our productivity, Alahi said.

A system of sensors for example, can monitor a hospital patient 24 hours a day, and may allow elderly people to remain at home with better medical surveillance.

These systems rely on powerful computers which can crunch, analyse and interpret data.

One example of this comes from IBM, whose Watson supercomputer systems are offering cognitive health programs which can analyse a persons genome and offer personalized treatment for cancer, for example.

Meanwhile Google recently announced it had developed an algorithm which can detect diabetic retinopathy, a cause of blindness, by analysing retina images.

While Alahi said AI systems designed to recognise and interpret data from images are close to human performance, more work needs to be done to improve social intelligence, or understanding the subtleties of our everyday decisions.

A self-driving car, for example, can easily navigate around Googles home base in Mountain View, California, but may have more problems around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where driving behaviors are less predictable.

Alahi said robotics needs to understand the unwritten social behaviours used in daily life, which can vary from one culture to another.

A robot, for example, might cut through a group of people in a train station to find the most efficient path, unknowingly violating social rules on personal space.

There are situations where technology is not yet capable of understanding human behaviour, said Alahi, who is part of a research project using a robot, with the aim of understanding pedestrian behaviour.

These kind of robots may be technological marvels, but they also raise fears that they could get out of control, concerns heightened by movies like Terminator.

Its all scary, but this is going to take years to happen, and by the time its done, well be ready for it, said Milanesi.
Police in Australia have detained five men suspected of planning a series of Christmas Day bomb attacks in the heart of the countrys second-largest city, officials said Friday.

The suspects had been inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbournes Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square and St. Pauls Cathedral, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said.

The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people. A manhunt is underway for the person behind that attack, which prompted increases in security around the world.

Two of seven people initially arrested in raids Thursday night and Friday morning in Melbourne  a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman  were released without being charged, police said.

Five men between the ages 21 and 26 remained in custody and would be charged later Friday with preparing a terrorist attack. They were not identified but police said four were born in Australia and the fifth was Egyptian-born with Egyptian and Australian citizenship.

Police had been watching the alleged plotters for some time, and believed they were preparing to use explosives, knives and a gun, Ashton said.

Police believed the threat had been neutralized through the raids on five Melbourne premises, he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that have been disrupted over the last several years.

Islamist terrorism is a global challenge that affects us all. But we must not be cowed by the terrorists, Turnbull told reporter.

We will continue to go about our lives as we always have. What these criminals seek to do is to kill. But they also seek to frighten us, to cow us into abandoning our Australian way of life. They want to frighten Australians. They want to divide Australians. They want us to turn on each other. We will not let them succeed, he added.

Since Australias terrorist threat level was elevated in September 2014, the government says there have been four extremist attacks and 12 plots foiled by police.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the plotters had moved very quickly from a plan to develop a capability to attack.

In terms of events that we have seen over the past few years in Australia, this certainly concerns me more than any other event that Ive seen, Colvin said.

We believe that we have removed the bulk of this particular cell, this group, he said.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said there will be extra police on the streets of Melbourne on Christmas Day to make the public feel safe.

About 400 police officers were involved in the raids.

Ashton described those arrested as self-radicalized and inspired by Islamic State propaganda.
A man believed to be the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a shoot-out in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday, a security source told Reuters.

Italys interior minister was to hold a news conference at 10.45am (0945 GMT), the ministry said.

A short video posted on the website of Italian magazine Panorama suggested the shooting happened before dawn, with police gathered around a cordoned-off area in the dark.

The report was one of several conflicting accounts on the whereabouts of the 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri.

Read: Stay strong and carry on: Berlin Christmas market opens in show of defiance

This handout picture released by the German Federal Police Office (BKA) on December 22 shows an arrest warrant in Arabic for a Tunisian man identified as Anis Amri, suspected of being involved in the Berlin Christmas market attack that killed 12 people. (AFP)

A man matching his description was seen in Aalborg in northern Denmark, the Danish police tweeted on Friday, saying people should keep away from the area as it had an ongoing operation there.

Amri was also was caught on camera by police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlins Moabit district early on Tuesday a few hours after the attack, Germanys rbb public broadcaster reported.

Amri was not a suspect at that time, and on Thursday morning, when police raided the mosque, they could not find him, rbb said.

German investigators had said they believed Amri was still lying low in Berlin because he is probably wounded and would not want to attract attention, Der Tagesspiegel, reported citing security sources.

In the early hours of Friday morning, special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, police said in a statement.

The men -- two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31 -- were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, they said.

A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case, which has been claimed by Islamic State.

Read: Missed chances: How Berlin attack suspect slipped through the police net

Berlin attack: Pakistani man released after arrest, IS claims responsibility
When the world triumphantly celebrated the signing of the landmark Paris climate pact last December, it was hard to imagine that only a year later it might face an existential threat.

Then again, who could have predicted at the time that a self-promoting reality TV impressario -- and avowed climate sceptic -- was months away from capturing the White House?

The Paris Agreement was bound to be tested sooner or later, said Myles Allen, head of the climate research programme at the University of Oxfords Environmental Change Institute. It has just come sooner than most expected.

Campaign promises to cancel the 196-nation deal notwithstanding, there are reasons to think that US President-elect Donald Trump will not seek to derail it, or that he would fail if he tried.

For one thing, the first universal action plan for curbing global warming -- in force since last month -- has already been ratified by the US and 116 other countries.

That makes pulling out a highly visible and lengthy process, lasting at least four years.

Overtly withdrawing has a cost, both political and economic, said Princeton international affairs professor Michael Oppenheimer.

Countries deeply invested in the agreement -- including China, the European Union and almost all the worlds developing nations -- would likely register displeasure in other arenas.

The idea of a carbon tax on US goods, for example, has been mooted.

Lost opportunity

But should the US turn away from the global transition to clean energy, the highest cost would be lost opportunity.

In 2015, renewables outstripped fossil fuels globally for the first time in attracting investment, and overtook carbon-rich coal as a source of electricity.

Trump may find that his options within the US are also limited.

Domestically, he has threatened to scrap Barack Obamas Clean Power Plan, defang the Environmental Protection Agency, and shelve incoming regulations designed to push down US greenhouse gas emissions.

US President-Elect Donald Trump. (AFP file photo)

Under the Paris Agreement, Washington has pledged to cut US carbon pollution 26-28% by 2025 compared to 2005 levels. US emissions have declined in recent years, albeit slowly.

But the main drivers have come not from the federal government but the market and individuals states, and these forces are likely to dominate no matter what Trump does, analysts say.

Trump will have little effect on trends in the US power industry, where coal is being rapidly replaced by natural gas and renewables, said William Sweet, an energy expert at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

Pouring money into new coal-fired power plants -- a sector Trump has vowed to revitalise -- no long makes economic sense, Sweet and others said.

Market momentum, however, is not enough to win the race to cap global warming under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the do-not-cross red line set down in the Paris treaty.

An increase so far of 1 C (1.8 F) compared to pre-industrial era levels has already caused on uptick in deadly storms, droughts, wildfires and flooding.

Leadership vacuum

National carbon-cutting pledges annexed to the Paris pact would, at best, yield an unliveable 3 C world.

On top of all this, virtually all of the climate-saving scenarios laid out by scientists depend on technologies for sucking carbon out of the air that dont even exist yet.

This suggests that political will -- at a national and global level -- remains critical for continued progress.

And that could be a problem.

There is a real risk of a leadership vacuum, said Thomas Spencer of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations in Paris.

The G20 meeting next July in Hamburg, Germany will offer the first clear clue as to whether Germany, China -- if any nation -- can step up to fill the void if the US disengages, he said.

A Trump administration hostile, or simply indifferent, to climate change action could dim the odds of preventing dangerous warming.

A small globe above flames of a gas ring to illustrate global warming. (AFP file photo)

In the US, the auto-industry has already indicated it will try to water-down impending fuel efficiency standards, while stringent rules on capping gas-industry methane leaks are likely a dead letter.

Even if Trump doesnt do a complete about face on climate, we are likely to see a slowing down of progress compared to what would have happened if Clinton had been elected, said Oppenheimer.

Internationally, he said, this will have repercussions.

Countries could say, if the US is not going to take their (emissions reduction commitments) seriously, were not going to either.

Scientists point to recent red flags.

Shattered temperature records in the Arctic; evidence that Greenlands ice sheet, which could raise sea levels by six metres (20 feet), is far more sensitive to warming than thought; an unexplained surge in emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2 -- all of which suggest that the margin of error has largely disappeared, they say.

Nature will have surprises in store, Allen said.
A tweet from President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday pledging to greatly strengthen and expand US nuclear capability triggered talk of the start of another arms race that once had the world on edge for decades.

The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes, Trump wrote in the tweet which he did not explain.

But it was said to have come in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins remarks Tuesday about the need for his country to enhance the combat capability of strategic nuclear forces, primarily by strengthening missile complexes that will be guaranteed to penetrate existing and future missile defence systems.

But as experts parsed Trumps tweet for meaning amidst speculation and alarm that he was signalling a radical change in a long-time US policy of nuclear arms reduction pursued by presidents from both parties, the transition team followed up with a statement.

Read | Trump calls for expanded US nuclear capability until world comes to its senses

Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent itparticularly to and among terrorist organisations and unstable and rogue regimes, communications director Jason Miller said in a statement.

He went on to say that the President-elect had, as in the past, emphasised the need to improve and modernise our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength.

Though meant as an explanation, Millers statement seemed more like reeling back Trump from a sticky spot as has become the practice, but did nothing to help quell fears of a renewed nuclear arms race, started this time by a tweet in 118 characters.

Can a tweet start and arms race? This one just might have, Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund and a nuclear arms expert, told Mother Jones, a news site.

He added, There are groups like Heritage (Foundation) arguing to expand our nuclear arsenal. If Trump was reflecting their thinking for not just new weapons but more weapons and new missions, we are entering new and very dangerous territory.

Many others warned of a new nuclear arms race as well.

Read | Clouds of uncertainty hover over Trumps foreign policy

The US and Russia have the worlds largest nuclear arsenals with 7,000 and 7,300 warheads respectively, according to one estimate, followed by France (300), China (260), UK (215), Pakistan (130), India (120) and Israel (80).

All of them combined are said to hold 15,350 warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a non-profit that works on disarmament, down from 70,300 at the peak of the arms race during the Cold War.

While China, India, Pakistan and Israel are believed to be increasing their arsenals, especially Pakistan which has been on steroids, the other four stopped and decided to focus on modernising and upgrading theirs with an eye on the future.

In the US, there has been a bilateral consensus on reducing nuclear warheads, with Republican presidents leading the way. President George W Bush has been the most aggressive, cutting the arsenal by half.

Is Trump planning to upend this long-lasting consensus? Or was the tweet just an opening gambit in a coming war of nerves against an adversary he has admired? Or, as some experts have suggested, he still doesnt get it, the nuclear bit!
An experimental vaccine has been found to be highly protective against the deadly Ebola virus in a major human trial in Guinea, the World Health Organisation has said.

The vaccine is the first to prevent infection from one of the most lethal known pathogens and the findings add weight to early trial results published in August last year. (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)61117-5/abstract).

The fatal disease has reportedly killed 11,315 people since the first death was reported in March, 2014 in six countries  Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the US and Mali. Close to 30,000 people were infected.

However, in January this year, the WHO declared the last of the countries affected, Liberia, to be Ebola-free.

The vaccine called rVSV-ZEBOV was studied in a trial involving 11,841 people in Guinea during 2015. Among the 5,837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination, according to results published in the medical journal The Lancet. In comparison, there were 23 cases 10 days or more after vaccination among those who did not receive the vaccine.

The trial was led by the WHO, together with Guineas ministry of health, Medecins sans Frontieres and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with other international partners.

While these compelling results come too late for those who lost their lives during West Africas Ebola epidemic, they show that when the next Ebola outbreak hits, we will not be defenceless, Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHOs assistant director-general for health systems and innovation and one of the lead researchers in the trial, said.

The vaccines manufacturer, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme, this year received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and PRIME status from the European Medicines Agency, enabling faster regulatory review of the vaccine once it is submitted.

Since Ebola virus was first identified in 1976, sporadic outbreaks have been reported in Africa. But the 2013-2016 West African Ebola outbreak highlighted the need for a vaccine.

The trial took place in the coastal region of Basse-Guinee, the area of Guinea still experiencing new Ebola cases when it started in 2015.

Initially, only adults over 18 years were offered the vaccine but after interim results were published showing the vaccines efficacy, the trial was also opened to children older than 6 years.

Ebola left a devastating legacy in our country. We are proud that we have been able to contribute to developing a vaccine that will prevent other nations from enduring what we endured, Dr KeIta Sakoba, coordinator of the Ebola Response and director of the National Agency for Health Security in Guinea, said.

To assess safety, people who received the vaccine were observed for 30 minutes after vaccination and at repeated home visits up to 12 weeks later. Approximately, half reported mild symptoms soon after vaccination, including a headache, fatigue and muscle pain but recovered within days without long-term effects.

Two serious adverse events were judged to be related to vaccination (a febrile reaction and one anaphylaxis) and one was judged to be possibly related (influenza-like illness). All three recovered without any long-term effects.

Additional studies are ongoing to provide more data on the safety of the vaccine in children and other vulnerable populations such as people with HIV.

The rapid development of rVSV-ZEBOV contributed to the development of WHOs R&D Blueprint, a global strategy to fast-track the development of effective tests, vaccines and medicines during epidemics.

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From the Panama Papers to the impeachments of presidents of Brazil and South Korea, 2016 was a year marked by corruption scandals, and by rising public outrage over graft.

The question is, will that translate into a lasting demand for cleaner politics?

A new phenomenon is being seen, said Jose Ugaz, a renowned Peruvian lawyer and the chairman of Transparency International, a Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog, who expressed cautious optimism.

What we are facing today is very different to what we were facing 27 years ago, when Transparency International was founded, he said.

Around the world we are seeing this kind of corruption that affects the people -- and we are seeing a mobilisation of the people against it, he said.

I think it has been a difficult year -- but at the same time, it gives hope for the future.

South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye, whose powers were suspended on December 9 when the National Assembly voted to impeach her. (AFP file photo)

The Panama Papers leak in April -- an unprecedented data dump -- triggered much of the outrage early in 2016. Offshore companies used by many of the worlds famous, wealthy or powerful, or kin or aides close to them, were exposed.

Among them were the leaders, or relatives of the leaders, of Saudi Arabia, China, Malaysia, Syria, Pakistan, Argentina and Ukraine. Also implicated was a close friend of President Vladimir Putin, as well as current or former government officials in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East -- more than 140 politicians and public officials in all.

The revelations forced Icelands prime minister to resign and embarrassed Britains then prime minister David Cameron.

Read: Panama Papers effect: Iceland PM quits, Paks Sharif forms probe panel

China, although in the midst of an anti-corruption drive that has netted more than a million officials, suppressed the Panama Papers information relating to Xis family in domestic media and online forums. It bolstered suspicions among observers that relatives of the Communist Party elite remained untouchable in the crackdown on graft.

There is a double standard, said Willy Lam, professor of politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The publication of the Panama Papers reminds us of the rapid expansion and power of transparency, head of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim told a London anti-corruption summit in May.

He urged more transparency, stressing that corruption is, quite simply, stealing from the poor.
An Indian-American engineer has been elected as Mayor of South San Francisco city in the US state of California.

Pradeep Gupta, an IIT Chennai alumni, was sworn in as the Mayor of the city early this month, a media release said.

With this he has became the second Indian-American to be elected as the Mayor of the Californian city.

It is my honour to step up and continue the work that former Mayor Mark Addiego has started, Gupta said.

We have a great group of people on our Council, many who have served the City for years. Im eager to lead this Council and our City during such exciting times, he said.

Gupta was appointed to the South San Francisco City Council for a one-year term on December 31, 2012 and was elected to a full four-year term in November 2013.

Prior to his appointment to the City Council, he was on the South San Francisco Planning Commission for three years, serving as the Commissions Chair in 2011.

He has a Masters degree and a Doctorate from Purdue University in Electrical Engineering, specialising in the area of energy efficiency and long term planning of electric utility systems.

Guptas professional career spans over thirty years of working with electric utility industries both in the US and abroad.

He earlier served as Vice Mayor of the City.

This election season, Savita Vaidhyanathan was elected as the new Mayor of Cupertino in California.
An Indian citizen living in New Jersey wrote notes to a woman apologising for fondling her on a flight from India to Newark, calling it a moments stupidity.

Federal prosecutors say 40-year-old Ganesh Parkar, of Robbinsville, moved from his ticketed seat in business class on Wednesday and sat next to a woman in economy class on an Air India flight from Mumbai. They say he touched one of her breasts after she fell asleep.

Investigators say he apologised in two short notes written while on the flight.

Parkar was charged on Thursday with abusive sexual contact and was released on a $50,000 bond, but was put under home electronic monitoring and ordered to relinquish his passport.

The charge carries a maximum two-year prison sentence.

Parkars attorney says his client asserts his innocence.
The Iraqi air force dropped four million letters over Mosul the US-led coalition has said, in a move aimed at providing empathy and support for residents of the Islamic State-held city.

The air drop comes after the international Institute for War and Peace Reporting started a campaign called Letters to Mosul on October 17, the day Iraqi forces began their operation to recapture Mosul from IS jihadists.

The letters of empathy and support for Mosul residents were written by Iraqis from all over the country, the coalition said yesterday in a statement.

This initiative by the people of Iraq reassures the residents of Mosul, held hostage by ISIL (IS) for more than two years, that they have not been forgotten and that the rest of Iraq is standing with them, waiting to welcome them back in solidarity when ISIL is defeated.

According to the coalition, the letters are based on 2,160 hand-written notes penned in the days since the Mosul offensive began.

Read | Mosul: Iraqi children battle trauma after life under IS rule

To our dear people ... we are with you in everything and our hearts to you, and we feel what you feel of cold, hunger, and the harshness of days and you should be patient and endured that victory is close, God willing, one letter states, according to the coalition.

Some 100,000 people have fled Mosul since the Iraqi operation against IS began, and aid organizations have said they fear it could result in the displacement of more than a million people.

The government has encouraged civilians in Mosul -- where a million or more people may still live -- to stay in their homes if possible.

What began as a rapid push into the city has turned into a hellish block-by-block war with IS inflicting high casualty rates on advancing Iraqis.
The Islamic State group said that the man shot dead by Italian police near Milan on Friday carried out the deadly truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market.

The Berlin attacker carried out a new attack against an Italian police patrol in Milan and was killed in an exchange of fire, the IS-linked Amaq agency said, referring to the fatal shooting of Anis Amri, the prime suspect in the Berlin attack, by Italian police.

Twelve people were killed when the Polish-registered articulated truck, laden with steel beams, slammed into the crowded holiday market late Monday, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims.

Amaq said Tuesday that a soldier of the Islamic State had carried out the attack in response to appeals to target citizens of coalition countries.

Germany is part of a US-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria.

An Italian police officer shot Amri dead near Milans Sesto San Giovanni train station on Friday, four days after the attack which had triggered a Europe-wide manhunt.

Amaq also posted a video showing the Berlin attacker pledging his allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and calling for Islamic State supporters to take revenge of crusaders bombing Muslims.

The two-minute, 42-second video showed Amri speaking directly to a camera while standing outdoors wearing a winter coat and earphones.

It was unclear exactly where or when the video was filmed.

Read| Stay strong and carry on: Berlin Christmas market opens in show of defiance
A JetBlue airline passenger, who media outlets and a witness described as making angry remarks at the sight of Ivanka Trump on his flight, was removed from the plane on Thursday by the airline.

JetBlue Airways Corp confirmed in a statement that a passenger had been removed from a flight set to depart from New Yorks John F Kennedy International Airport, bound for San Francisco, but provided no other information about the incident.

Another passenger on the flight, Marc Scheff, said that, when the man saw US President-elect Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka, he did a double take and said Oh my God! This is a nightmare.



JetBlue said in a statement: The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. In this instance, our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight.

Reuters was not able to identify the passenger who was removed. Matthew Lasner, a Twitter user cited by TMZ, said his husband was going to confront Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, at the airport.

Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial, Matthew Lasner (@mattlasner) wrote in a tweet, which has since been deleted. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil.

Lasner, a professor at New Yorks Hunter College, did not respond to requests for comment directed to his Twitter account, which has since been taken offline, or to messages left at his office or sent to his Facebook account.

To do that to a woman who was on there with her children, I dont care what your political background is or what your thoughts are, thats not the way we as Americans need to act, Trump spokesperson Sean Spicer said on Fox News.

Scheff, 40, who told Reuters he was sitting in the row in front of Ivanka Trump on the flight, said the passenger who was later removed from the flight started shaking.

He said that after JetBlue staff approached the man to make sure he was calm, the passenger said: They ruin our country, now try (to) ruin our flight!

Scheff said the passenger was clearly agitated but did not scream or yell.

Ivanka Trump was en route to Hawaii for a vacation with her family, according to ABC News.

Donald Trump and his family are spending the Christmas holidays at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
All 109 passengers on board a hijacked Libyan airliner en route to the capital, Tripoli, were released Friday, hours after two men claiming to be carrying explosives forced the plane to divert to Malta, the islands prime minister said.

Read: Libyan airliner with 118 on board hijacked, lands in Malta

Here is how the event unfolded:

8.15pm: Hijackers of Libyan plane surrender, searched and taken in custody, tweets Malta PM.

8.12pm: Malta PM says that the final crew members are leaving the aircraft with hijackers.

8.04pm: Libya plane hijackers asking for asylum in Malta, says minister

7.54pm: Hijacker tells Libyan TV he is head of Pro-Gaddafi party

7.25pm: Muscat said a total of 109 passengers had been released from the hijacked Libyan plane which landed in Malta on Friday. Two hijackers and some crew members are still believed to be on the plane.

6.29PM: Passengers have begun disembarking from hijacked aircraft, reports AP

6pm: The office of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says the premier has spoken to his Libyan counterpart, Fayez Serraj, about the hijacking of a Libyan plane.

5.15pm: The hijacker told crew he was pro-Gaddafi and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

5.12pm: It was unclear what the demands were or whether the hijacker was acting alone. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

5.10pm: Malta state TV says two hijackers on diverted Libya plane have hand grenades and threatening to blow up aircraft .

5.08pm: Tripoli confirms hijacked Libyan plane diverted to Malta.

5.05pm: The Malta airport authority said all emergency teams had been dispatched to the site of what it called an unlawful interference on the airport tarmac.

4.46pm: Maltese government sources told AFP there were 118 people on board the plane, including seven crew.

4.45pm: Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by - JM, Maltas PM tweeted from his official account.
The girl called Jeevti was just 14 when she taken from her family in the night to be married off to a man who says her family owed him $1,000.

Her mother, Ameri Kashi Kohli, is sure that her daughter paid the price for a never-ending debt.

Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid.

Its a familiar story in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted.

In this world, women such as Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment.

The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest, the young and pliable. Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can.

In this photo taken December 1, Ameri Kashi Kolhi shows the picture of her daughter Jeevti, right, in Payro Lundh, Pakistan. (AP)

I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us, says Ameri, who is Hindu. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife. They told us, Your daughter has committed to Islam and you cant get her back.

More than 2 million Pakistanis live as modern slaves, according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing.

They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable, says Ghulam Hayder, whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistans bonded labourers.

An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organisation.

Hayder says, They always take the pretty ones.

The night Jeevti disappeared, the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat here in southern Sindh province. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says.

In this photo taken on December 1, Pakistani Hindu Jeevti sits in her husband's house in Pyaro Lundh, Pakistan. (AP)

The family turned to activist Veero Kohli to help free the girl.

Kohli, who isnt related to the family, was born a slave. Since fleeing bondage in 1999, she has devoted herself to challenging Pakistans powerful landowners, liberating thousands of families from bonded labor.

Kohlis defiance incenses many men in a country dominated by a centuries-old patriarchal culture.

I know that they would like to kill me, but I will never stop fighting to free these people, she says.

Five months ago, she went with Ameri to the Piyaro Lundh police station to find her daughter. They said the girl went willingly, Kohli says. I told them: Let me talk to her. Let her mother talk to her if she went freely. They refused.

Instead, they called in the man who Ameri said had taken her daughter. Hamid Brohi, came alone, without the girl. He said, Anyway, she is payment for Rs 100,000 ($1,000) they owe me, Kohli recalls.

Now Kohli is returning to the same police station, where police officer Aqueel Ahmed thumbs through a dozen files, barely containing his anger at the activist.

In this photo taken on December 3, Pakistani activist Veero Kohli cleans her awards at her home in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Kolhi who also was a slave, fled bondage in 1999 walking for three days to safety, searching out the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to help her before returning to the landowner to recover her children and free another eight of families. (AP)

Finally, he pulls out an affidavit. In it, the girl, who now goes by the name Fatima, said she had converted freely and married Brohi of her own free will. She also said she couldnt meet her mother because now she was Muslim and her family was Hindu.

Hindu activists say the girls are kept isolated until they have been forced to convert and are married - and then its almost too late to do anything.

Under pressure, police in a machine-gun-mounted jeep finally take Kohli and a foreign reporter to visit the girl. Her mother doesnt come, too afraid, she says, to confront the police in person again.

Brohi, a sullen-looking man with a thin mustache, greets the police with an embrace. He angrily denies he took Jeevti as payment for the familys debt, despite his earlier boast to the activist that he had done just that.

Inside, Jeevti sits on a double mattress on the floor, her head wrapped in a black shawl. She wears heavy eyeshadow and exaggerated bright red lipstick, like a child who has put on her mothers makeup - or one who is attempting to look older.

Although she doesnt seem afraid, her eyes dart to the door where her husband hovers. When she speaks, her words seem rehearsed.

In this photo taken on December 1, Ameri Kashi Kolhi, right, remembers her daughter while holding pictures of Jeevti with her younger daughter Saveeta in Mir Pur Khas, Pakistan. (AP)

I married him because I wanted to, she says. I myself asked him that as we are lovers, we should get married. So he said, Lets get married, and I said yes.

She denies that she hasnt seen her mother since leaving. But she cant say when she saw her mother last - or even where she lives, now that the family has fled its old home. She is quiet when asked why her court affidavit says she refused to talk to her mother because she had converted to Islam.

She says she doesnt know what is in the court documents, although each one the police showed said Jeevti had spoken the words herself.

The next day, the visitors return  without a police escort.

Inside the compound, there are only women, and no one knows Fatima. The door to the room where she sat the day before is padlocked. It is as if the compound was but a stage set for a young girls performance.
North Korea on Friday mocked outgoing United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon over his apparent ambitions to run for South Korean president, calling him an opportunistic chameleon in a human mask whos dreaming a hollow dream.

The Norths state-run Uriminzokkiri website said Bans alleged presidential ambitions were absurd because the way he handled his job as UN chief for the past 10 years has left him living in criticism and shame.

The article said Ban had a bad reputation in South Koreas domestic politics because hes an opportunist who sets sail wherever winds blow and changes colours by the circumstance.

There is an old saying that you stretch your feet no longer than your blanket will reach, and his harbouring presidential ambitions despite living in all sorts of criticism and shame could only described as an incomparably hollow, silly dream, Uriminzokkiri said.

Ban, who steps down as UN secretary general at the end of the year after two five-year terms, has not officially declared an ambition to run for South Korean president, but he has not denied his interest either.

In a meeting with South Korean reporters in New York earlier this week, Ban said he was ready to burn his body in devotion for South Korea, his strongest hint yet of a presidential bid.

The spotlight is on Ban because theres a possibility South Korea could hold a presidential election in the coming several months as the countrys opposition-controlled parliament on December 9 voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal.

South Koreas Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide whether Park should permanently step down or be reinstated. Her presidential powers are suspended until then, with the prime minister assuming the role of government caretaker. If Park is formally removed from office, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

If he does make a run for the presidential Blue House, Ban is likely to represent a new conservative party created by defectors from Parks Saenuri Party. More than 30 anti-Park members of Saenuri have announced plans to leave the party next week and create a new party.
The US government is cancelling an inactive registry program for visitors from countries where extremist groups are operating, a plan similar to a Muslim registry considered by President-elect Donald Trump.

The department of homeland security is formally ending the National Security Entry-Exit Registration Systems program, known as NSEERS, by removing outdated regulations, spokesperson Neema Hakim said on Thursday.

The rule change will be published in the Federal Register on Friday and takes effect immediately.

DHS concluded that the program, which was suspended in 2011, was redundant and inefficient and did not provide increased security. Begun a year after the September 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks on the United States, the program expanded within a year to require registration from visitors from 25 countries, most of them with majority-Muslim populations.

The intervening years have shown that NSEERS is not only obsolete but that its use would divert limited personnel and resources from more effective measures, Hakim said.

Trump was asked on Wednesday whether he would support a Muslim registry, similar to the dormant DHS program, and he would not confirm or deny his plans to do so.

Several Trump transition aides have told Reuters the incoming Trump administration will not resurrect the program, although a key Trump immigration adviser, Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, has advocated the idea.

The announcement came as a growing number of prominent tech companies including Facebook, Twitter and Apple have told various news organizations that they would not help the Trump administration build a Muslim registry.

Earlier this month, employees at dozens of technology companies also signed an online pledge vowing not to help Trump build a data registry to track people based on their religion or assist in mass deportations. The petition has been signed by more than 2,500 employees.

Failed program

The Obama administrations decision to formally end the program drew praise from critics who said it was discriminatory.

I applaud President Obama for his decision to dismantle NSEERS, the idle and ineffective federal registry that targeted Muslims and undermined our core values, New York attorney general Eric T Schneiderman said in a statement.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee welcomed the decision, calling NSEERS a failed program rooted in discriminatory profiling.

At one point in his campaign, Trump called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country as a means of fighting terrorism. That drew widespread criticism at home and abroad, and Trump revised his proposal to suspending immigration from regions deemed as exporting terrorism and where safe vetting could not be assured.

Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway was asked on Thursday if the president-elect has backed away from the idea of a Muslim registry.

Well, he said during the campaign long after he had originally proposed that, that this would be more strictly tied to countries where we know they have a history of terrorism Conway said on ABCs Good Morning America.

This is not a complete ban, added Conway, who was named Trumps White House counsellor on Thursday.

Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state who helped write tough immigration laws in Arizona and elsewhere, told Reuters last month that Trumps policy advisers had discussed drafting a proposal to reinstate a registry for immigrants from Muslim countries.

Kobach helped design NSEERS while working in the Justice Department under President George W Bush.
Just hours after Russian president Vladimir Putin said unequivocally he doesnt want a nuclear arms race, President-elect Donald Trump indicated he was ready for it, and was confident the United States will win it comprehensively.

Let it be an arms race, he reportedly told an MSNBC news anchor, when asked to explain his tweet from Thursday about enhancing US nuclear capability. He added, We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

But Trump struck a conciliatory note in a statement later in response to a letter he had received from Putin more than a week ago. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path, Trump said.

Putin wrote in the letter that he hoped that after Trump assumed office, Russia and the US will act in constructive and pragmatic manner, take real steps to restore bilateral ties and take international cooperation to a qualitatively new level.

But Trumps tweet? Seen to be upending a longstanding US policy of reducing nuclear warheads that has enjoyed bipartisan support from presidents of both parties, the outburst had also triggered fears about a fresh round of arms race.

Though Trump had assigned no reason or context for the tweet, it seemed to have come in response to remarks earlier on Thursday by Putin about the need to enhance the combat capability of strategic nuclear forces of Russia. But addressing his annual year-end news conference in Moscow on Friday, the Russian president was categorical he doesnt want an arms race. If anyone is unleashing an arms race its not us. We will never spend resources on an arms race that we cant afford.

In fact, he added, it was Trump who spoke about the necessity of strengthening the US nuclear arsenal, and strengthening the armed forces. Theres nothing unusual here.

In his tweet on Thursday, the president-elect had said, The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

As he didnt elaborate, the cryptic tweet was seen to be signalling a complete overhaul of a long-standing US policy of nuclear arms reduction, pursued by a succession of presidents from both parties, starting with Republican Richard Nixon.

Another Republican president George W Bush turned out to be the most aggressive of them all, according to the Federation of American Scientists, an independent body that advocates disarmament, reducing the US arsenal by half. The cuts have slowed down under President Barack Obama, FAS has said and put the blame equally on opposition to further reductions from both US congress and Russia, despite the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).

The US and Russia have the worlds largest nuclear arsenals with 7,000 and 7,300 warheads respectively, according to FAS, followed by France (300), China (260), UK (215), Pakistan (130), India (120) and Israel (80). All of them combined are said to hold 15,350 warheads, down from 70,300 at the peak of the arms race during the Cold War.

Does Trump want to start another one? He seemed to be ready for it, according to his remarks to the MSNBC.

But his aides had taken a different line clarifying his Thursday tweet. Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes, his communications director Jason Miller said in a statement.

He went to say the president-elect had, as in the past, emphasised the need to improve and modernise our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength.

Though meant as an explanation, Millers statement seemed more like reeling back Trump from a sticky spot as has become the practice, but did nothing to help quell fears of a renewed nuclear arms race, started this time by a tweet in 118 characters.

Can a tweet start and arms race? This one just might have, Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund and a nuclear arms expert told Mother Jones, a news site.
A Russian military court on Thursday sentenced a 21-year-old student, who tried to enter Syria after falling in love with an Islamic State jihadist, to four-and-a-half years in prison.

Varvara Karaulova was detained last year after she tried to cross into war-torn Syria from Turkey while still a philosophy undergraduate at the Moscow State University.

Judge Alexander Ababkov said in court that the criminal activity of the defendant continued for quite a long time and that Karaulova had a criminal intention.

He said she was a supporter of radical Islamist views and decided to join IS, aware of the jihadist groups aim to create an Islamic caliphate.

Karaulova was charged last year with preparing to participate in a terrorist organisation, but pleaded not guilty, saying she was motivated by love for a Russian jihadist fighting in Syria.

Karaulova, her dark hair in a pony-tail, looked calm as the judge read the verdict, watched by family members including her parents and stepmother.

Defence lawyer Sergei Badamshin said it was a very harsh, unjustified sentence and we have already appealed.

Prosecutor Mikhail Reznichenko said his side, which had requested a five-year sentence, was satisfied with the decision.

Karaulovas lawyers argued that the authorities are trying to make an example of her to warn off other young Russians from trying to head to Syria, where Moscow is conducting a bombing campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Her father Pavel Karaulov condemned the sentence as absurd.

He told reporters outside the court that he now regrets having gone to the authorities when his daughter disappeared, saying: I made a mistake... by turning to those who should protect our security.

Lawyer Ilya Novikov said the sentence sent a message to parents in a similar situation that you must not go to the FSB (security service), you must not believe the state.

Stupid escapade

In her last words in court on Wednesday, a weeping Karaulova said her attempt to cross into Syria was all a mistake, a very stupid reckless act.

I have realised all my mistakes and my stupidity, she said. I dream of making amends for my guilt for all this stupid escapade.

In 2012, while still a teenager, Karaulova met a man named Airat Samatov online and they wrote to each for three years without ever meeting.

Samatov went to Syria in 2014 and told her he was fighting for IS. Karaulova converted to Islam and began wearing a hijab.

She disappeared without warning in May, 2015, prompting a frantic search by her parents. They found that she had flown to Turkey and travelled to the border with other women hoping to join men fighting for IS.

Turkish border guards detained the group and she was forced to fly back to Russia with her father. Investigators initially said she was being treated as a witness before arresting her in October, 2015.
At least seven Pakistani sailors are feared dead reportedly after an unidentified fighter jet hit their ship in Yemeni waters earlier this month.

According to human rights activist Ansar Burney, motor vessel Jouya 8 - a general cargo ship registered in Iran - was reportedly targeted off the Hodeidah coast when it was en-route to Egypt from Dubai.

A crew of eight, all of Pakistani origin, was on-board under the command of Captain Syed Anisur Rehman, reports the Express Tribune.

One sailor, identified as Kabir Khadim, survived somehow by jumping off the ship and swimming to the Hodeidah port, Burney said, adding that he was hospitalised and is being given medical care in the same city.

He said another sailor Suhail Ahmeds body is also at the same hospital. However, Khadim was unsure about the fate of the rest of the crew.

The date of the incident is not yet clear as the lone survivor, according to Burney, is in trauma and cannot recall how, where and when did this happen.

However, Yemens state-owned Saba news agency reports that a boat carrying 12 Pakistani sailors was hit in a Saudi air raid off Mukha coast in the Yemeni province of Taez earlier on December 4.

In this incident, six sailors were killed while as many others were still unaccounted for, the news agency reported.

Burney said since the incident was reported to him through his sources, he requested the Saudi, Iranian, Turkish and Russian governments to help find the missing sailors.

He also appealed to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take notice of the matter and ascertain the facts.
Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo on Friday, killing three people, state television reported, a day after insurgents finished withdrawing from their last pocket of territory in the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, said about 10 shells had fallen in al-Hamdaniya district in southwest Aleppo.

Rebels seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have frequently shelled the areas of Aleppo that have been under government control throughout the conflict, which began in 2011.

The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in the eastern districts that rebels held until this month.

The last rebels left the city late on Thursday for the countryside immediately to the west of Aleppo, under a ceasefire deal in which the International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed.

Many of those who left the city are now living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed.

On Friday morning the army and its allies, including the Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported.

State television showed footage of the al-Ansari district, including empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes.
Multiple ground assaults and a deluge of air strikes shrank the Islamic State groups caliphate to a rump and decimated its fighters in 2016 but the organisation remains a potent threat.

The jihadists have squandered close to half of the land they controlled in 2014 and many of their losses came this year, which saw major operations by myriad forces and countries.

The loss of symbolic bastions such as Fallujah in Iraq or Dabiq in Syria dented ISs aura, revealing it could not defend places it once vowed were impregnable and central to its own mythology.

The jihadists were driven out of Ramadi, the capital of Iraqs vast western province of Anbar, as well as Manbij in Syria -- strategic areas crucial to the caliphates territorial continuity.

Earlier this month, they also lost Sirte, their last major bastion in Libya, a country the jihadists had hoped could drive the expansion of the caliphate.

In October, tens of thousands of Iraqi forces backed by air strikes from a US-led coalition launched a massive operation to retake Mosul, the city where IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed his state in June, 2014.

The going has been tough for the security forces in the booby-trapped and sniper-infested streets of Iraqs second city but there is little doubt the vastly outnumbered jihadists will eventually lose their stronghold.

Shaping operations for a similar assault on Raqa, the only other major urban centre in IS hands, were subsequently launched in Syria setting up a battle that could be the caliphates last stand.

Syrian pro-government forces patrol the northern embattled city of Aleppo. (AFP file photo)

The loss of Raqa will mean the end of ISs state-building project and would leave the group with no territorial symbol justifying its name of Islamic State, said Mathieu Guidere, a Paris-based professor of Middle East geopolitics.

Western powers, Turkey, Iran, Iraqi and Syrian Kurdish forces and militias and paramilitary outfits have played a part in the surge against IS in 2016.

Terror attacks

Despite the formidable arsenal IS seized from regular forces and the fear it instilled in the world with its campaign of well-publicised atrocities, the jihadist group stopped expanding and eventually buckled.

According to the Pentagon, at least 50,000 IS fighters have been killed since 2014, twice the number of fighters the coalition estimated the group had when the caliphate was proclaimed.

Almost three million people and more than 44,000 square kilometres of territory have been liberated from IS in 2016, coalition commander lieutenant general Steve Townsend said.

But coordination between the various, sometimes rival anti-IS forces is still lacking and the jihadists have shown in two months of Mosul fighting they would not be defeated easily.

Their urban tactics are well-honed and their seemingly endless supply of suicide bombers is a threat even the best-trained and equipped forces on the ground fear like no other.

IS has also launched a number of diversionary attacks in both Iraq and Syria in an effort to stretch their opponents ranks and retain some level of initiative, at least in the media.

Omran, a four-year-old Syrian boy covered in dust and blood, in an ambulance after being rescued from the rubble of a building hit by an air strike in the rebel-held Qaterji neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in August. (AFP file photo)

Those came in the shape of a spectacular commando raid on Iraqs oil-rich and Kurdish-controlled city of Kirkuk and earlier this month with the recapture of the Syrian oasis city of Palmyra from regime forces.

Observers have long warned that territorial reconquest would not spell the end of the Islamic State group, which will find in both Iraqs and Syrias instability a fertile ground for future attacks.

2016 was the year of IS decline but its influence is still great because there is no political solution in sight... especially for the Sunni population in both countries, Guidere said.

The remnants of IS could in some ways be harder to fight once they have fully reverted to a clandestine insurgent group focused on terror attacks.

The feared mass return of the caliphates routed foreign fighters is also a huge source of concern at the end of a year that saw attacks claimed or inspired by IS in the United States, France and Belgium.

The group has been laying the groundwork to outlast its territorial defeats, framing such losses as temporary setbacks in Iraq and Syria and arguing that the Islamic State is a state of mind as much as it is a governing state, the Soufan Group consultancy said earlier this month.
President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he had asked Boeing to provide a price estimate for a new F-18 fighter jet, after bemoaning the soaring costs of Lockheed Martins F-35 stealth fighter.

Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

His message came the day after he met with some of the US militarys top brass to discuss ways of reducing costs, particularly for the F-35 program.

Trump also met with Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson and Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

Read | Donald Trump meets military brass to discuss cutting F-35 fighter jet costs

With a current development and acquisition price tag already at $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most of them destined for the Air Force -- the F-35 is the most expensive plane in history, and costs are set to go higher still.

Once servicing, maintenance and other costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircrafts lifespan through 2070, overall program costs have been projected to rise to as much as $1.5 trillion.

The next-generation F-35 fighter has been under development since 2001 and both the US Marine Corps and the Air Force have already taken delivery of some of their first planes.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet does not have stealth capabilities and has been in use since the late 1990s.

Proponents of the F-35 tout its speed, close air-support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. One version boasts short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.

Lockheed Martin describes the planes stealth capabilities as unprecedented, allowing it to evade the most sophisticated missile systems.

Trump last week tweeted that F-35 program costs were out of control. He has also blasted Boeing over the costs for the replacement Air Force One presidential jet.

Lockheed was down 1.90 percent at $248.00 in after-hours trading at 22:45 GMT, while Boeing was up 0.82 percent at $158.75
US president-elect Donald Trump on Friday released what he said was a very nice letter from Russias President Vladimir Putin calling for a thaw in ties between the rival powers.

Relations between Washington and Moscow are at their worst since the end of the Cold War, and President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions over Russias interventions in Syria and Ukraine.

But Trump, who takes office on January 20, called several times during his election campaign for improved relations and suggested he could work with Putin to jointly oppose Islamist extremism.

Putins letter, according to a translation released by Trumps office, said relations between Russia and the US remain an important factor in ensuring stability and security of the modern world.

And it called for real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas.

Trump responded by declaring: A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct.

I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path, Trump said, a day after both he and Putin vowed to boost their countrys nuclear arsenals.
At least 88 civilians have been killed in 24 hours of Turkish air strikes on an Islamic State group bastion in northern Syria, a monitoring group said on Friday.

A barrage of raids hit Al-Bab on Thursday, killing 72 civilians including 21 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Bombardment continued on Friday, leaving another 16 civilians dead, including three children.

Eighty-eight civilians have been killed in 24 hours, observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

He said it was the bloodiest attack by Turkish forces that his monitoring group had recorded since Ankara began its intervention in Syria in late August.

The Observatory says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to their type, location, flight patterns and the munitions involved.

Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies have been seeking to capture Al-Bab, about 25km from the northern Syrian border, for weeks.

On Thursday, IS released a video purportedly showing two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive, after Ankara vowed to respond to 16 of its troops being killed in the fight against the jihadist group.

Turkish troops entered Syria on August 24 in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from the border area.

Turkish forces regularly carry out air strikes in support of the ground operation in Syria, but officials insist that the utmost is done to avoid civilian casualties.
Police have arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning an attack on one of the Germanys biggest shopping centres, authorities said on Friday, four days after a jihadist killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market.

Police said they had arrested two men, aged 28 and 31, originally from Kosovo, and were trying to establish how advanced the plot was and whether other people were involved.

Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence services, police were deployed to the shopping complex and a nearby Christmas market in the western city of Oberhausen late Thursday, they said.

The mall that was targeted, CentrO, is one of the largest in Germany with around 250 shops that are usually packed in the run-up to Christmas.

The arrests come as police frantically hunt for the Tunisian suspect accused of ploughing a truck through crowds packing one of Berlins most popular Christmas markets on Monday.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the assault -- their deadliest yet carried out on German soil.

Police commandos on Thursday raided three homes and a long-distance bus, prosecutors said, as they cast a wide dragnet for 24-year-old Anis Amri.

Police say they are certain it was Amri who steered the 40-tonne lorry after finding his identity papers and fingerprints inside the cab, next to the corpse of its registered Polish driver who was killed with a gunshot to the head.

Authorities have issued a Europe-wide wanted notice over the attack, offering a 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward for information leading to Amris arrest.

In Tunisia, a brother of the fugitive appealed to him to surrender.

If he is listening to me, I tell him: Present yourself so the family can rest easier, Abdelkader Amri told reporters.

If my brother is behind the attack, I say to him You dishonour us, he said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was proud of how calmly most people reacted to Germanys deadliest attack in years and voiced confidence Amri would be arrested soon.

Police secures the area near the Schoenhauser Allee shopping mall in Berlin (Reuters)

Systemic failure

But Merkels assuring message failed to dampen criticism of what many politicians and newspapers slammed as glaring security failures leading up to Mondays attack.

Officials have revealed that Amri was a rejected asylum seeker with a history of crime who had spent years in an Italian jail and had long been known to German counter-terrorism agencies.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

And Berlin prosecutors said Amri had been monitored from March until September, suspected of planning a burglary to pay for automatic weapons to carry out an attack.

However, when authorities failed to find evidence of the plot and watched Amri operate as a small-time drug dealer, the surveillance was stopped.

They knew him. They did nothing, ran the scathing headline of Berlins B.Z. tabloid.

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkels liberal stance on refugees, said the case held up a magnifying glass to the failings of her migration policy.

Germany took in more than a million refugees last year, many of them fleeing violence in Syria, North Africa and the Middle East.

Its clear that a lot went wrong... it was a systemic failure, said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at Kings College London.

Neumann argued that German security services lacked the manpower to maintain around-the-clock surveillance of the 550 known radical Islamists in Germany.

Germanys anti-terrorism structure is failing to match the scale of the problem, he told news channel NTV.

Police secures the area near a mall in Berlin (Reuters)

In the crosshairs

While the security debate rages, and is set to intensify with an election next year, many Germans were still looking forward to Christmas Eve on Saturday, the countrys most important festival.

On Thursday, Berliners flocked to the reopened Breitscheid square Christmas market that was targeted in Mondays carnage.

The government has appealed for people to carry on as normal and not to give in to fear.

Organisers dimmed festive lights and turned down the Christmas jingles as a mark of respect for those killed.

Victims were also honoured with candles, flowers, letters of condolence and signs reading Love Not Hate.

Among the dead were six Germans, 60-year-old Israeli Dalia Elyakim, and a young Italian woman called Fabrizia Di Lorenzo. Some 48 others were injured.

Germany had until now been spared the jihadist carnage that has struck neighbouring France and Belgium.

But it has suffered a spate of smaller attacks, including two in July that left 20 people injured, both committed by asylum seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group.

Merkel said Germany had known for a long time that we are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism. And yet, when it happens... it is a totally different situation.
It was one of the most momentous events in the battle against poaching: 11 giant pyres of elephant tusks going up in flames in Kenya as the world looked on.

The largest-ever destruction of ivory, which took place in April, was the pinnacle of efforts to jolt mankind into stopping the slaughter of wildlife, while sending a powerful message to poachers.

As 2016 draws to an end, awareness of the devastation of poaching is greater than ever and countries have turned to high-tech warfare -- drones, night-goggles and automatic weapons -- to stop increasingly armed poachers.

We obviously still have a very long way to go, but the level of political awareness we have reached is remarkable compared to 6 years ago, said John Scanlon, secretary-general of the International Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Poaching was somewhat of a niche concern until around 2010 when the massacre of elephant and rhino began reaching such levels that conservationists and wildlife activists realised more had to be done to give the problem wider attention.

High-profile names including Britains Prince William were recruited to the cause, while calls grew louder for a total global ban on the ivory trade.

The move is slowly paying off, and 2016 saw hopeful signs that people may no longer be willing to watch as extinction goes unchecked.

China is the main source of global demand for ivory and in March the government announced a ban on new ivory imports.

Then, in early October, CITES strengthened protection of other threatened species, including sharks, pangolins and grey parrots.

Charismatic species

Debates still rage over how best to fight elephant poaching, but conservationists unanimously welcomed CITES refusal to grant Namibia and Zimbabwe special authorisation to sell their ivory stockpiles in order to fund elephant protection.

They argued that any legal sale stimulates demand and therefore the illegal trade.

Elephant and rhinoceros, known as the charismatic species, are often the poster children for the anti-poaching movement, tending to draw the most attention.

A caregiver calms Sudan, the last known male of the northern white rhinoceros subspecies at the Ol Pejeta conservancy in Laikipia County -- at the foot of Mount Kenya -- that is home to the planet's last-three northern white rhinoceros. (AFP file photo)

The elephant is a flagship for the wider ecosystem, said Kelvin Alie of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

When you protect the elephant and its habitat, all the species living in this habitat benefit from this action.

According to a World Bank study, international donations to combat wildlife trafficking have increased tenfold over recent years, from about $25 million (24 million euros) in 2010 to as much as $250 million (240 million euros) in 2016.

Worth more than gold

However some argue the future still looks gloomy.

We should not think that the problem is solved because we have recorded a few successes here and there, said Mark Gately of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Studies reveal a varied picture.

Elephant populations are stable, or even increasing, in South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, parts of Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi or the W-Arli-Pendjari complex extending over Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger.

But elsewhere they are declining rapidly, and sometimes catastrophically.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the African elephant population has recorded its biggest drop in a quarter century, with an estimated population of 415,000 elephants, 111,000 fewer than a decade ago.

And the killing continues at the dizzying pace of about 30,000 elephants a year.

The rhinoceros fares worse. Black market rhino horn sells for up to $60,000 per kilogram -- more than gold or cocaine -- and in the last eight years alone roughly a quarter of the world population has been killed in South Africa, home to 80% of the remaining animals.

CITES estimates the illegal wildlife trade to be worth $20 billion a year, making it the fourth biggest illicit activity after guns, drugs and human trafficking.

Some African countries have made the fight against poaching a priority, but others believe there are more important problems on which to spend scarce resources, such as ending conflict, poverty, unemployment or hunger.

Officers from Cambodian customs display some of the 1.3 tonnes of African elephant tusks seized from containers shipped from Mozambique, at Kandal port, Cambodia. (AFP file photo)

I think its unfair just to leave it to African countries to take care of that problem, its an international issue... and it applies to thousands of species across the planet, said Richard Vigne, director of the private Ol Pejeta conservancy in Kenya.

As an example, with attention fixed on elephant and rhino and gorillas, there was widespread shock as it emerged this month that the humble giraffe had seen numbers plummet by 40 percent and was now also vulnerable to extinction.

Good news

The good news is we now know what we have to do, but we have to multiply the scale of our actions, said Scanlon.

Part of that is the increasing use of technology, intelligence and weaponry as well as coordination with customs and police services, the adoption of laws with heavy penalties for poachers and a growing number of cross-border agreements to halt trafficking.

We need a holistic approach. If we deploy armed rangers on the ground, we also need to reduce the demand for ivory and explain to local communities there is economic interest in protecting wildlife, primarily through tourism, said Andrew McVey of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

An elite anti-poaching unit embarks on an evening patrol on foot at the Ol Pejeta conservancy in Laikipia County, at the foot of Mount Kenya. (AFP file photo)

Across Africa drones, night-vision equipment, helicopter-borne intervention teams, automatic weapons and special forces trainers are all being brought in to stop the poachers.

This is a war, this is an unfortunate part of conservation ... We cant walk around in the bush with a stick, gently asking the poachers to drop their AK-47, said Damien Mander, an Australian ex-soldier who heads the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF).

Humans are capable of reacting quickly and strongly if they have been pushed far enough in the corner. I dont think we are far enough in the corner to spark that reaction.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari returned to Pakistan on Friday after 18 months in self-imposed exile, promising supporters of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that it would again rule the country.

Addressing supporters atop the same truck that had carried his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, when she returned from exile in 2007, Zardari also said the Pakistani flag has become the symbol of freedom for Kashmiris. Kashmir will become part of Pakistan, he said.

Zardari abruptly left Pakistan in June last year after a hard-hitting speech that criticised the military establishment for overstepping its domain, thereby offending it. Since then, he had divided his time between his homes in Dubai and London.

The PPP chiefs phone call to the new army chief, Gen Qamar Bajwa, had paved the way for his homecoming, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Zardari told PPP workers he had brought hope, not despair, with him. His programme would give Pakistanis new hope as there is a sense of despair in the country, he said. His son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was part of the large crowd that welcomed him at Karachi airport.

Pakistan is secure with the efforts of the masses and the armed forces and will never face failure, Zardari said.

He said his critics had accused him of running away from the country even when he was the president. I want to tell them that we (PPP leaders) will be buried in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, he said, referring to the village in Sindh province where Benazir Bhutto and other members of the Bhutto family are buried.

He expressed happiness at the thriving democracy and democratic culture in Pakistan. We will keep moving forward with the spirit of democracy and as only democracy has the solution for Pakistans problems, he said.

A rally planned for Zardari was cancelled by the PPP at the last moment because of security concerns.

The massive rally organised by the PPP to mark Benazir Bhuttos return from exile in October 2007 was targeted by two suicide bombers, resulting in the death of 140 people. She was later assassinated in another suicide attack in Rawalpindi two months later.
A recent comment by Russian President Vladimir Putin has depicted that Russia is now fully equipped with the most modern weapons and military capability. Even it is strong enough to give a direct and prompt answer to its potential foes.

Actually, Putin had attended the annual meeting with the defense ministry and uttered, "We can say with certainty, we are stronger now than any potential aggressor". President Vladimir Putin made this comment to indicate the military strength of Russia.

It is now a known fact that the tension between the Russia and the west already increased thousand fold after the interferes of Russia in Ukraine and Crimea. In 2014 the annexation of Russia in Crimea created a great uproar.

Even Russia's involvement in the conflict in the eastern parts of Ukraine also intensified the tension between Russia and the west.

Last year Russia supported the President of Syria, Bashar Assad, and began an air force operation, that ultimately created a tension between the US and the Russia. The operation was very significant as it produced the strength of the military power of Russia.

This year, Both Russia and NATO members performed the military drills close to the Russian border. Russia has clearly clarified the aim of this military drill. It is said that Russia conducted the drill to avert the NATO threat, and to protect the border as well as the sovereignty.

According to Shoigu, the Defense Minister of Russia, it was for the first time that Russia has tried to cover and protect the complete border of the country. Even he declared that Russia is going to send more troops to the Arctic region, and south- west border.

It is a clear fact that Russia always tries to have a strong foothold in the world arena. Even persons who are aware of the cold war can easily understand that the aim of Russia is to be a key part of the world power.

Putin also added that Russia should respond quickly in "adjusting plans to neutralize potential threats".

It is a proven fact that every super power country always tries to keep its domination in the international arena. Russia, as a superpower country also tries to have this dominating power.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The suspect of the deadly attack on Berlin market was killed in a police shootout in Milan, Italy. Identified as Anis Amri, he refused to cooperate with local police after he was pulled over and was asked for identification.

Two Italian police officers flagged down Amri some 675 miles from Berlin, Germany. When asked for identification, he instead pulled a .22 caliber pistol and fired at the cops hitting one of them. The unhurt cop fired back killing Amri instantly.

German investigators are currently en route to Italy to verify the identity of the suspect. But Italian Interior Minister Marco Manniti confirmed his identity after his fingerprints match those taken from the vehicle he hijacked and turned into a tool of terror.

Authorities have been tracking Amri for three days who escaped the crime scene in Berlin leaving 12 people dead and 50 others were injured. German police have launched a European-wide search for Amri while offering a $105,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Amri has at least six different names and three nationalities, giving him a seamless access to travel across Europe.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits.

Tuesday, October 25, 4:30  7 p.m.

Orr Area EMS Open House

Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798.

Orr Fire Hall

4540 Lake St., Orr

Tuesday, October 25, 12  6 p.m.

Essentia Health Job Fair

Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org.

901 9th St. N., Virginia
One of the most common concerns expressed by IT teams is that they are seen as the people you call when the

printer stops working. Changing the perceptions of IT  from fixer to strategic business partner  demands that communication is not an afterthought, but an integral part of every project from the get-go. Brenda ONeil, head of the Dubai-based Right Consultancy FZE, explains how to improve this vital connection.
HOTELS magazine hosted its annual Hotelier of the World Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, where Editor-In-Chief Jeff Weinstein announced James McBride, Managing Partner of Nihiwatu, was voted Independent Hotelier of the World by industry peers for 2016. Lowes Hotel & Resorts Chairman Jonathan Tisch received the honor of Corporate Hotelier of the World for 2016.

Upon its acquisition in 2013, American entrepreneur and investor Christopher Burch partnered with McBride to overhaul and expand Nihiwatu, located on the island of Sumba in southeastern Indonesia (a 50 minute flight east of Bali), earning the resort several recent honors including Travel & Leisure's #1 Hotel in the World, Conde Nast Traveler's Gold List, Asia Spa's Resort of the Year, and Pure Life Experiences winner for Best in Design.

The Hotelier of the World awards recognize leaders in hospitality who go far beyond growing their portfolios, focusing more on developing their internal teams and supporting the communities in which they operate, as well as the hotel industry at large.

"The redevelopment work McBride [and Burch] has done [on Sumba] has not only brought an award-winning resort to a new and growing hotel company, but it has helped support the local community and preserve its traditions, which are infused throughout Nihiwatu and which McBride considers a key part of its' identity," reads the cover story in the November issue of HOTELS. "The luxury resort partners with a local foundation to build and staff health clinics, mitigate malaria and supply schools, and invites guests to tour its projects. It's [these] more holistic approaches to business that no doubt resonated with the readers of HOTELS."

"[James is] extraordinarily creative and incredibly detailed," said Burch in an interview with HOTELS. "I feel lucky that he can think through many layers of a customer's needs. He thinks about the heart."

A native of South Africa, McBride started his journey globally at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he remained for fourteen years. His work is the focus of a Harvard Business School case study that remains the number one best seller taught in many academic programs "that details a new hotel launch, focusing on the unique blend of leadership, quality processes, and values of self-respect and dignity, to create award-winning service."

McBride was then selected to run two of the most preeminent properties, in quick succession: In 2002, he became General Manager of The Grosvenor House of London's Park Lane; and in 2003 he was appointed by Rosewood Hotels as Managing Director of The Carlyle in New York. His six years with Rosewood Hotels included the Regional Directorship of all Caribbean Resorts. McBride seized another international opportunity when he was approached by Asia's YTL Hotel Group to assume the role of its global President. It was in Asia that McBride's lifetime network, resources, and original concepts all culminated for him to pursue another revolutionary phase: Nihiwatu. The resort's experiential approach "On the Edge of Wildness" acknowledges the changing travel habits of today's consumer who seeks a new type of luxury: activity-driven, cultural, philanthropic, and with attention to the details that encourage guests to discover the very best adventure, immersion, and fun with an opportunity to give back.

"This is a very meaningful award," said McBride. "Because there are so many people in the industry, past and present, who have had a huge influence on me and helped me arrive where I am today. I am so grateful for my experiences and my peers. I owe this honor to them all."

Read more about the 2016 Hoteliers of the World Awards here.
One of the biggest ex-beneficiaries of PrivatBank (Dnipro), Ihor Kolomoisky, has commented on the nationalization of the bank, the website of TSN.ua has said.

"I want to thank the Cabinet of Ministers and personally Volodymyr Groysman. As you know, as a result of the latest wave of customer panic provoked, first of all, by the NBU's (National Bank of Ukraine) actions, we were forced to turn to the Cabinet of Ministers with a proposal to hand over the PrivatBank to the state. I think that the premier and his team have shown real courage by taking this difficult decision. If they had not dared to take this step, it would have endangered the entire financial system of Ukraine," Kolomoisky said in written comments.

He also said that the PrivatBank has become the victim of the NBU's arbitrariness.

"The loan portfolio was provided and balanced in the PrivatBank, which is confirmed by the international audit. However, the NBU was constantly changing its own regulations, inventing ever new ways of artificially reduced capitalization of the bank. Then they began talking about the mythical hole of $150 billion, 97% of tied loans, and that all the money was stolen or moved offshore. But all these figures are the result of an arbitrary change in the accounting policy. Normal central banks usually help banks in difficult times, such as economic crises, occupation or war. But our regulator used all possible tricks to put pressure on the PrivatBank, the former beneficiary said.

Kolomoisky said: "During the negotiations we all bore in mind that the most important thing  the PrivatBank's customers. We defended our bank to the last, up until the moment, when we saw the threat to our customers."
The Peninsula Bangkok is pleased to welcome Mr Joseph Sampermans as the new General Manager of the hotel. Sampermans returns to the Thai capital after almost a decade, having been Director of Food & Beverage at The Peninsula Bangkok from 2004 to 2007. A Dutch national, Sampermans graduated from Limburg Zuyd University in the Netherlands with a bachelors degree in finance. Before joining Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH), the owner and operator of The Peninsula Hotels, he undertook leadership roles at international luxury hotels in Cambodia, Germany and Thailand. Joseph Sampermans joined HSH in 2004 to take up the role of Director of Food & Beverage at The Peninsula Bangkok. In 2007, he moved to Japan to become the pre-opening Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage at The Peninsula Tokyo, and one year later he was promoted to the post of Resident Manager. In 2010, Sampermans transferred to The Peninsula Hong Kong, the groups flagship hotel. Two years later, in October 2012, he moved to Mainland China to oversee the landmark transformation of The Peninsula Beijing, which was unveiled in June 2016.
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The fifth edition of the Adria Hotel Forum will be held held on February 8th and 9th 2017 at the Sheraton hotel in Zagreb with the following theme: INVESTMENTS IN HOTEL INDUSTRY: Development and beyond

In business environment, the Forum is defined as the only regional conference that global hotel professionals monitor. For this reason, in the fifth edition, AHF has decided to talk about more prominent theme of current changes in the world and their influence on the tourism industry, infrastructure development as well as continental tourism.

Adria Hotel Forum 2017 confirmed panelists are:

Marc Finney (Head of Hotels & Resorts Consulting, Colliers International) offers clients a full suite of services from concept and feasibility to operational advice to investment negotiation and corporate finance. Marc has worked throughout the UK, Europe, Africa, Russia and CIS countries, and the Caribbean. At Colliers International, he has directed in excess of 300 consultancy and project finance assignments and is highly valued by each client for his expertise, guidance and experience across a vast array of project types and requirements.

Jason Wischhoff (Vice President of Development for Europe and Africa, Dream Hotel Group) has nearly two decades of experience in executing hotel development. He joins Dream Hotel Group from Accorhotels, where he served as VP of Development, UK & Ireland for four years, and Wyndham Hotel Group, where he spent five years as a Senior Development Manager for the UK, Spain and Portugal markets.

Gari Cappelli (Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia) business career before he became minister of tourism includes his position as a mayor of Mali Losinj and the President of the Tourist Board of Mali Losinj. He was Chairman of the Management Board of Adriatic Luxury Services, Dubrovnik and Consul of Economic Affairs at the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in the Italian Republic in Trieste. Besides, he worked as a manager of the RI Adria Bank Branch in Mali Losinj and as a Director of the Cappelli tourist agency founded by him.

For more information about panelists and AHF details, please visit: www.adria-forum.eu

Early-bird registration fee is valid until Dec 31th.
The Sheffield band were spotted together in their hometown over the last few days, prompting rumours that they might be working on a new album.

Since the release of AM in 2013 and the subsequent tour, the band have been busy with side-projects  with Matt Helders playing with Iggy Pop for the Post Pop Depression album and tour, while Alex Turner released an album and EP with The Last Shadow Puppets.

Rumours of the band heading back to the studio first emerged back in the summer, while Turner maintained that they were in no hurry to record.

However, this morning the BBCs Shamir Masri tweeted: Alex Turner told me during an interview for BBC Sheffield they are coming back to Sheffield to pen a new album  it IS happening.

No dates have yet been confirmed for Arctic Monkeys sixth studio album.

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In his message, which he delivered earlier this afternoon, the current Taoiseach said: "We need to look after each other, as individuals and communities."

He went on to say, "Let me assure you that Ireland will remain an open and tolerant republic," before bringing attention to the homeless situation in Ireland, commenting that, "We will continue to work hard to address the ongoing problem of homelessness and issues affecting the daily lives of all our citizens."

He went on to mention the people who helped commemorate the 1916 Centenary, when Ireland took its "fledgling steps" as a nation.
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Oil and gas companies this month filed the fewest bankruptcies in two years as climbing oil prices ease financial pressures and the long-awaited recovery appears to gain traction.

Since OPEC said in late November that it would cut oil production by 1.2 million barrels a day, prices have risen and largely held above $50, a level that is profitable for many companies. Crude settled in New York at the highest price in 17 months, closing at $53.02 Friday.

Only two oil production and services companies, Stone Energy Corp. and Advanced Solid Controls, filed for bankruptcy in December, down from a peak in May, when 25 drillers and services providers filed.

Analysts say the pace of oil and gas bankruptcy filings will likely drop further next year.

"The recovery of oil prices probably saved a few of them," said Eric Rosenthal, an analyst at the New York credit rating agency Fitch Ratings. (Fitch is majority-owned by the Hearst Corp., the parent of the Houston Chronicle.)

The energy industry, while still battered from the worst oil bust in 30 years, has improved slowly but steadily in recent months, with mass layoffs largely coming to an end and employment stabilizing. U.S. drillers have begun to send rigs back into North American oil and gas fields.

The number of oil and gas rigs active across the U.S. rose by 16 this week, oil field services company Baker Hughes said Friday. It's the third week in a row the rig count has grown in double digits. So far, the industry has put 85 rigs back to work at U.S. oil patches in the last month, and more than 200 since the rig count hit bottom at about 400 in May.

It has been a long wait for a rebound. More than 220 drillers and oil equipment makers across North America filed for bankruptcy during the bust, with nearly two-thirds of those companies filing in 2016, according to Dallas law firm Haynes & Boone. The list of casualties included midsized Houston oil companies such as Linn Energy, Energy XXI and Halcon Resources Corp. All told, drillers and service companies took nearly $80 billion in debt with them into legal proceedings.

The hard times are not entirely over yet. On Friday, three small oil companies said they're preparing to file for bankruptcy. Houston-based oil company Memorial Production Partners said it plans to cut $1.3 billion in debt as part of an agreement with investors that would require filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the coming weeks.

Forbes Energy Services, a services company in Alice, plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on or before Jan. 23 as part of a prepackaged deal with creditors. A third company, Bonanza Creek Energy of Denver, plans to cut $850 million in debt in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings starting next month.

Defaults on debt payments - which don't always lead to bankruptcy filings - also climbed this year as anemic crude prices dragged into the second full year of the bust, making it difficult for U.S. drillers to pay off the more than $250 billion in high-interest corporate debt they ran up in the years of the shale boom.

In 2016, U.S. energy companies defaulted on nearly $39 billion in high-interest debt securities, called junk bonds because of their highly speculative nature, according to Fitch.

But Fitch believes the industry's prospects will improve next year. It expects just 3 percent of U.S. energy companies to default in 2017, on about $6 billion in debt.

"The worst is over with oil prices moving up," Rosenthal said. "Prospects are a lot better than they were a year ago."
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On your once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Bethlehem, will you buy a wooden nativity scene made in China to save a couple of bucks off a better-made set by local Palestinians?

Do you really want to cheap out in one of the holiest places on earth?

Apparently a lot of tourists do, according to a recent story by The Associated Press. Local shopkeepers estimate half their shelves are filled with cheap, poor quality goods made in China because that's what visitors want.

"There's a big influx of imported products, and a lot of traditional crafts are declining gradually," said Samy Khoury, founder and general manager of the Visit Palestine Center, located in a 200-year-old house a few hundred yards from the Church of the Nativity.

I've visited the Church of the Nativity and enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Palestinians who live in Bethlehem. No matter what you think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, these are good people trying to keep their oldest traditions going. Selling hand-made goods to pilgrims has kept the city's economy going for more than 1,500 years.

Now the Chinese are using mass production and low-cost shipping to put Palestinians out of the few jobs they've got. Sound familiar?

Regular readers know that I am a vocal advocate of free and fair international trade. I like NAFTA, and I think the Trans-Pacific Partnership would fix many of NAFTA's problems. I also know we need rules, and more importantly, we need to enforce them.

Consumers, though, must also take responsibility for their decisions. If you really are worried about fair trade, or you want to support American workers, then you should shop for American goods.

Personally, I try my very best to avoid anything Chinese made and buy American whenever I can. With all of the so-called artisanal goods out there, many made by young men and women in Brooklyn, it's not that hard.

Like in Bethlehem, though, you will have to pay more. Quality goods made locally will always cost more.

So no, I don't think the government should close our borders to trade and force consumers to pay more for goods in order to protect American jobs. But I do think American consumers should take it on themselves to put their money where their values are.

If you really care about protecting American jobs, at least look for Made in USA.
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 you're right - and that's 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 very early days of the 1960s, back when the Soviets were outpacing us in the race for the moon. It takes place, not in Houston, but in NASA's Virginia headquarters, which is important, as this was the South before civil rights.

In a very 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 is foreign to our modern understanding.

All three of these real-life women all 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 of people assigned to double check NASA's mathematical calculations.

More Information 'Hidden Figures' Rated PG: for thematic elements and some language Running time: 127 minutes Opens: Sunday xxxx 'Hidden Figures' Rated PG: for thematic elements and some language Running time: 127 minutes Opens: Sunday xxxx See More Collapse

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 it's 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 as "hidden figures." Though they achieve professional respect and security in their positions, people don't fall over themselves to tell them how right and wonderful they are, and the movie doesn't 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 it's neither.

Henson, Spencer and Monae all excel, conveying the intensity and worthiness of these women's 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 it's right that movies to celebrate where they can.

Kevin Costner is nicely cast as Al Harrison, Katherine's 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 mid-century vibe like nobody else. It's more than just short hair and a white shirt, but rather a whole way of being, an attitude, the life history.

In a way, he's the most authentically 1962 thing in the movie.

Speaking of 1962, the late John Glenn missed seeing "Hidden Figures" by a few days, and that's 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 that's the beauty of film in a sentence.

If nature won't give you a full head of hair, Hollywood can at least correct the oversight.
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Let us close 1986 with a look at Chronicle photos from the month of December. Personally, I look back on that year with fondness, considering this 10-year-old's life focused mainly on the Astros, Rockets and schoolwork, in that order probably. And 1986 was a good year to be a Rockets and Astros fan.

Here's a little of what went down this month three decades ago.

* At KTRK (Channel 13), Shara Fryer joined Dave Ward on the 6 p.m. anchor desk. Fryer, who joined the station in 1980, was already co-anchor on "Live at Five."

Here's an excerpt from Ann Hodge's profile on Fryer:

Dave Ward and supporting cast have been No. 1 for so long that the confirmation of that top spot by November's ratings sweeps was a yawning what-else-is-old?

Ward is the last of the big-time solo anchors in Houston. He's carried the show for Ch. 13 at 6 and 10 p.m. since the late '60s.

Now, he has a new partner at 6. Shara Fryer has quietly slipped into the co-anchor chair.

Ward will still do the 10 on his own.

"Dave was very much a part of this decision," assured Ch. 13 news director Jim Topping. "It's because we have the hour-long newscast that we decided to take a look at doing it this way.

"When we started the hour, we had a lot of questions about whether one person would be able to do the whole thing. It's a lot to ask," Topping said. "This is an attempt to lighten the load."

Fryer has been doing the national news block at 6 for some time, Topping notes, so viewers are used to seeing her at the anchor desk.

She'll continue to do "Live at Five," as co-anchor with Bob Boudreaux.

"For a while, anyway," Topping added. "We think she can handle both shows. We'll see how it works out."

"I think it's a good move," said Ward. "They've been talking about doing something like that for a long time. Shara is good, and I think she'll do well there."

"I've never had anything this wonderful happen before," said Fryer. "This is the best city in Texas, and I'm right where I want to be."

* As you can see, touring bands like Big Audio Dynamite and Book of Love dropped by the Houston area that month. Here in Texas though, the Houston music scene was largely anemic in 1986, according to Marty Racine.

But there were some highlights, says this Dec. 28, 1986, Chronicle article by Racine. Boy, did I miss out.

Club of the Year: Rockefeller's, while it lasted (its future is uncertain), due to a great variety of showcased touring acts. Oh, the club has its detractions, but no venue hosted such consistently fine performances, especially during a four-month stretch beginning in August. Otherwise, the Ale House, Anderson Fair, Chelsea's 804, Wunsche Bros., Fitzgerald's and Blythe Spirits deserve credit for their persistent support of local and regional talent.

Independent Promoter of the Year: Richard Tomcalla, for bringing in top new bands to Rockefeller's and other venues.

Concert of the Year: Jean-Michel Jarre's "Rendezvous Houston: A City in Concert". A historical event.

Concert of the Year - The Summit: John Cougar Mellencamp. The little brat from Indiana suddenly grew up and found a reason to believe. Runners-up: Lionel Richie, George Strait, Journey.

Concert of the Year - Southern Star Amphitheater: Bob Dylan/Tom Petty. Runners-up: Jackson Browne, The Cure.

Concert of the Year - nightclubs: A toughie. How about Robert Cray/John Lee Hooker at Rockefeller's? Stevie Ray Vaughan showed up for a late-night jam, placing five monster guitarists (including Hooker's boys) onstage at the same time. Another 50-60 shows left precious memories, among them: Mason Ruffner, Chelsea's 804; True Believers, Ale House; Bugs Henderson, Backstage Club; Greg Brown, Lyle Lovett and Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Anderson Fair; XOX (Halloween show), Blythe Spirits; Dwight Yoakam, Gilley's; Big Audio Dynamite, Numbers; Roomful of Blues (Nov. show), Rodney Crowell, BoDeans (first appearance), Bonnie Raitt (Nov. show), Screaming Blue Messiahs, Loudon Wainwright, Del Lords, Smithereens, Neville Brothers, David Bromberg, Beat Farmers (both appearances) and Dwight Yoakam/Lee Roy Parnell, all at Rockefeller's; George Thorogood and Jason & the Scorchers/Georgia Satellites, Cardi's; Nick Gravenites, Juke Jumpers, Tailgators, Steve Earle, Miss Molly & the Passions, Omar & the Howlers (several times), Blasters (several times) and Lonnie Mack/the Commandos, all at Fitzgerald's.

Albums of the Year - rock: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's Live 1975-85, Paul Simon's Graceland and Timbuk 3's Greetings From Timbuk 3. Country - Dwight Yoakam's Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. and Steve Earle's Guitar Town. Blues - Robert Cray/Johnny Copeland/Albert Collins' Showdown! and Robert Cray's Strong Persuader.

Texas Band of the Year: The Fabulous Thunderbirds could do no wrong.

* Seems like only in Houston could we cut a 6,000-square-foot, 3-story home in half and transport both sections on the freeway to its new location downtown. And leave it up to the folks at Cherry Moving to pull it off without a hitch.

But first it had to get there from its original home at 421 Westmoreland. You'd think the house could be moved from Montrose, through Midtown, to the park, but the Pierce Elevated wouldn't allow it. So, on the freeway it went.

From Rad Sallee's article on Dec. 15:

"Here comes the tricky part," announced John Cherry, his eyes darting cautiously at the strange apparition looming bigger by the minute in the mists ahead.

Half of an old-fashioned three-story house was being pulled by two big tractor-trailers driven by two very careful drivers Sunday morning.

The other half, delivered earlier in the day, was resting near its eventual site in Sam Houston Park on the west edge of downtown Houston.

Cherry explained why the quarter-mile of elevated concrete that remained to be traversed by this second, and slightly larger, section was crucial: The roadbed has a sharp sideways slope.

A banked curve is great at highway speeds, but pure hell when you're trying to ease a 39-foot-tall mansion down a freeway exit ramp at 1 1/2 mph.

Like most sane adults, the folks at Cherry House Movers would have preferred to avoid the elevated freeway, but you can't get to the park from 421 Westmoreland in the Montrose area, where the house had sat since 1905, without running up against an overpass.

So the house was routed up the West Dallas exit ramp to Interstate 45, along its southbound lanes to the McKinney exit and down again.

"Seven degrees (of tilt) is critical," said Cherry, as the house assumed an attitude slightly reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. "She's probably about 3 degrees now."

By about noon, though, the move was a success. Participants said the 6,000-square-foot house was the biggest residence and third biggest building ever moved in Texas, trailing only the Fairmont Hotel in San Antonio and an office building in Denton.

These days you can visit the 1905 house -- known as the Staiti House -- in Sam Houston Park, where it's managed by the Heritage Society.


The expansion of EU exports quotas for Ukrainian goods is a top priority for the Ukrainian government, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine's Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska has said.

"We are working with the European Parliament and EU member states to accelerate making the decision. We expect that in the near future when the European Parliament returns from holidays, committees will discuss it and then we will be able to say that the situation is moving The government jointly with colleagues from profile Verkhovna Rada committees are working with European parliamentarians to make the decision a top priority of the agenda. We consider it as a top priority for us," she said at a briefing in Kyiv.

She also positively assessed the adoption of bill No. 2142a dated June 22, 2015 on providing the aggressive exports expansion of Ukrainian manufacturers via insuring, guaranteeing and cheapening of exports crediting that envisages the creation of the export-credit agency in Ukraine.

"We had considerable frictions with the authors [of the bill], and the government did not support it. At the last stage, thanks to personal participation of Volodymyr Groysman and Stepan Kubiv, we reached some compromises with the authors In general, the bill creates a good legislative base for the creation of the agency," she said.

"The important moment that consultants, with whom we worked under the [export-credit agency] project  Germany's KfW, are ready to work with us in the project in the future and help us to quickly finish everything," she said.
Gordy Bunch, 44, is the new chairman of The Woodlands Township's governing board, a position akin to mayor. His colleagues selected him after November's election produced a slow-things-down majority on the seven-member board.

Bunch's enthusiastic supporters praise him for being aggressive and outspoken in defending the quality of life in the township. Critics call him rigid and uncompromising, attributes that work well for an activist but less so for a politician, they say.

Here are five things to know about Bunch:



Gordy isn't short for Gordon

His full name is Richard Finley Bunch III. He was on the chubby side as a kid, so his mother nicknamed him "Gordito," a Spanish term of endearment. Although he grew taller and leaner, "you can't switch from Gordo to Flaco," which means skinny, he said. So his mother started calling him Gordy.



He has a "degree in life"

At 19, Bunch drove from College Station to San Diego to join the U.S. Coast Guard. Over the next four years, he responded to hurricanes and floods, helped rescue ships in the Bering Sea and intercepted drug smugglers and human traffickers. He then returned to Texas and got a job selling insurance. He took classes at night for three years but didn't see an academic degree as necessary for his career. In 2001, he started his own insurance agency, which has grown into one of the largest in the nation.



His house is on shaky ground

Bunch and his wife, Michelle, are among dozens of homeowners who filed suit against The Woodlands Development Co., accusing the developer of negligently constructing their houses on active fault lines. A Harris County judge ruled in favor of the company in February, but Bunch said the couple is appealing. Meanwhile, they are building a new home about a mile away.



Politics run in the family

Michelle Bunch's uncle was the Montgomery County judge in the 1970s and her father, Fred Thornberry, ran unsuccessfully for Texas agriculture commissioner and for Congress. A quadriplegic since crashing his car in 2009, Thornberry is living with the Bunch family. He gave a pep talk to his son-in-law on the day Gordy announced his opposition to the county's $350 million bond measure for new and improved roads. "Your job is to represent the people who live within the boundaries of your office," he told Bunch. "If you do that, you're doing it right."



The president-elect is a "very nice guy"

In 2015, shortly before Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president, Bunch paid $25,000 to share a table with him at a fund-raiser for the Texas Patriots PAC, a local tea party group. Bunch said Trump was approachable, intelligent and observant, noting improvements The Woodlands Country Club could make. When Trump returned to the township for a campaign rally months later, he autographed the podium placard for Bunch. The sign is going into the flag room of Bunch's new house.
SERBIN - Meandering through the pleasant, wooded countryside where Rabb's Creek trickles down from the small line of hills known as the Yegua Knobbs, I feel a little bit like my nephew Matt, a Big Foot true-believer. I know I'm not going to see one of the big guys - Matt tells me they hang out in the Pacific Northwest, mostly - but at this time of year I'd love to spot another legendary creature known in years past to haunt the stands of mature cedar and gnarled post oaks near this tiny farming community southwest of Giddings. Locals call him Rumplich, and unlike bashful Big Foot, he has a habit of making a ruckus around homes on Christmas Eve.

Rumplich arrived with the Wends, a Slavic people from Prussia and Saxony who landed in Galveston in 1854 and put down roots in Lee County. Along with the Wendish language, the immigrants brought with them their conservative Lutheran beliefs, their respect for education and hard work and their folk customs, including intricately decorated Easter Eggs, a tasty way with noodles and black wedding dresses symbolizing the grief and hardship of marriage. (These days Wendish brides wear white.)

The folk tradition of Rumplich - sort of a Wendish "bad Santa" - also has faded away, although Joyce Bise, executive director of the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum in Serbin, misses the rancorous fellow. "Santa Claus is now the expectation of presents," she says, "while Rumplich was the expectation of good behavior, without rewards."

Rumplich was one of the young men of the community chosen each Christmas to carry a large gunny sack and to disguise himself with a homemade mask and garish, striped costume. Accompanied by a half-dozen or so of his pals, also in costume, Rumplich stomped around on front porches and beat on doors and windows until allowed inside. Children brought before the fearsome visitor faced a ritual interrogation. Could they correctly recall a Bible verse to prove they'd been good? Could they recite a prayer?

For nice children, Rumplich reached into his bag and bestowed a treat of fruit or nuts. The naughty? Well, they ended up in the gunny sack. "Der Rumplich wird kommen!" ("The Rumplich will come!"), parents warned throughout the year.

"He tried to put me in one time," a Serbinite told the Houston Chronicle's Sig Byrd long ago. "I lost a year's growth, but he didn't get me in that bag."

"It was quite frightening," said Bise, who encountered Rumplich in the 1950s during her childhood on the family farm between Serbin and Warda. "But it was good incentive for good behavior year-round, not just two weeks before Christmas."

Most Texans, I'm guessing, have never heard of the Wends - who also call themselves Sorbs - in part because they settled among Central Texas Germans and quickly began to assimilate. Those who spoke Wendish also spoke German, the Wends' primary language by the early decades of the 20th century.

"I grew up with the firm conviction that I was German through and through," said Richard Gruetzner, a retired Travis County deputy sheriff who drives over from his home in Burnet one weekend a month to volunteer at the museum. His maternal grandfather revealed the family's Wendish ties after coming to live with the Gruetzner family in Austin. "That piqued my interest," he said," and got me started on a genealogical search that's still ongoing today."

Gruetzner's Wendish ancestors were descendants of a group of Slavic tribes that spoke a common language and in the 10th century occupied a large swath of Central Europe, despite never having a nation of their own. By the 19th century, invading armies had forced them into a small area of eastern Germany called Lusatia. Living under Prussian rule, the Wends were forbidden to own land, were barred from membership in craft guilds and were pressured to abandon their language. When the authorities tried to combine their Lutheran churches with the Calvinist Evangelical Reformed Churches in a state-regulated Protestant body, they began seeking a place to start anew.

In the fall of 1854, a group of nearly 600 Wends set out for Texas under the leadership of the Rev. Johann Kilian, a scholar whose translations of religious texts into Wendish helped keep the language alive. The group traveled by rail and steamship to Liverpool, where they boarded a three-masted English vessel called the Ben Nevis. Although the emigrants didn't realize it, a number of them had contracted cholera in Liverpool, and 15 died before the ship reached Ireland. Another 23 died during a three-week delay in Queenstown, Ireland, to remove the sick and fumigate the ship. Eighteen more died at sea. When the Ben Nevis finally reached Galveston in December, a yellow-fever epidemic was raging. More Wends died.

The 500 or so survivors spent Christmas in Houston, where a few decided to stay, while the rest set out on a two-week trek by foot and oxcart to New Ulm, Frelsburg and Industry. Two men went on ahead and purchased a league (4,428.4 acres) of grazing land and a labor (177.1 acres) of crop land in what's now Lee County. The newcomers set aside 95 acres for a church and school.

After erecting their tiny log church, St. Paul Lutheran, the original settlers built crude dugout dwellings, divided up the land for farms and founded Serbin. The community prospered for a few years, but decline set in when the railroad spurned Serbin for nearby Giddings in 1871.

Today Serbin is little more than a road sign and a scattering of farm houses, but the rural church and school are thriving. The dignified house of worship is plain to the point of starkness outside, but inside it's a riot of color. The walls and ceiling are bright blue, with gilded chandeliers and orange stenciling atop the wooden pillars. This week, two huge Christmas trees frame the high pulpit.

While Gruetzner was showing me around the museum, Mildred Moebus, 87, dropped by with her daughter, Rachel Haberer. From 1954 to 1971, Moebus's late husband was St. Paul's school principal and church organist, and she taught for a couple of years in the two-room schoolhouse, first through fourth grade in one room, fifth through eighth in the other. "The people were just wonderful here," she recalled. "They're family here."

Moebus, 87, gave me instructions about cooking noodles the Wendish way: Place noodles, cold water and chicken broth in a big covered pot; simmer for about an hour, strain and enjoy. (Of course, she would have made the noodles by hand.)

Bags of dried noodles are on sale at the museum gift shop, but if you want to taste what the experts do with them, make your way to Wendish Fest, an annual celebration held at Serbin every fourth Sunday in September. A venerable Rumlich or two likely will be in the crowd enjoying a plate of noodles and sausage, but he'd never let on. Rumlich is a relic of hard times, hard lives. For the Wends, things are better now.
Michael Hill feels some peace after finding out Houston police have arrested someone who might be responsible for fatally striking his son with a vehicle almost a year ago.

Hill said Thursday the pain is present, even though the suspect was arrested.

"There is no bringing back my son," Hill said.

Emmanuel Salgado, 25, was arrested Monday and is out on a $30,000 bond. He faces a felony charge of failure to stop and render aid. When Hill learned Salgado had made bail, he was discouraged.

"That was like reliving the accident again," he said.

The accident, which occurred Jan. 8, is one with which Hill is coming to terms. His son, also Michael Hill, was hit around 12:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Westheimer near Taft, as he left his apartment to meet friends. Hill had just gotten off work at a restaurant and headed to his apartment to change clothes. Hill said Michael spoke to his friends over the phone and told them he would be right there. Witnesses told police the driver didn't slow for the red light and failed to yield to Hill, 21, even though Hill had the right of way to walk across the street.

Shortly after the accident, Matthew Alan Putterman, 28, was charged with failure to stop and render aid for striking Hill. Canadian border patrol agents became suspicious of Putterman because his car was damaged on the front left side.

He also told authorities he was going to Canada to fix his car after being involved in an accident near Katy.

The charges against Putterman were dropped, though, when the Harris County District Attorney's office concluded from surveillance video at his parent's business that his car was not damaged 12 hours after the car-wreck.

Hill had been living in Houston for less than a year before the accident occurred, his father said. Originally from South Carolina, he moved to Houston and began working as a waiter.

The elder Hill said his son, whose middle name was Alexander, was interested in politics and believes his son would have pursued a political career.

"Alex was a sweet man," he said. "He had a great smile."

He remembers raising honeybees with his son in South Carolina, and said his son liked outdoor activities such as kayaking and hiking.

He hopes his son's death can bring attention to fatal hit-and-runs, and spur change from government officials.

"The sooner the city of Houston gets serious about these issues," he said. "The sooner there will be a reduction in them."

Will Axford and Brian Rogers contributed to this report.
A Houston doctor accused of molesting a child will not face a new trial after a state appeals court ruled Thursday that two Harris County prosecutors intentionally forced a mistrial last year because they thought they were losing the case.

Citing the constitutional protection against double jeopardy, Houston's 14th Court of Appeals agreed that two Harris County assistant district attorneys had goaded Dr. Robert Yetman's defense lawyers into asking for a mistrial by suggesting the judge was biased and improperly injecting race into the trial of a white doctor accused of fondling a black 7-year-old boy.

"At the end of the trial, the prosecutor made an argument that the (child) was victimized because of his race," said Yetman's attorney, Stan Schneider, who said he objected to the statement. "The judge properly sustained the objection and then the prosecutor made a gesture and said, 'See what the victim is up against,' suggesting that even the judge was biased."

State District Judge Stacy Bond declared a mistrial because of the prosecutor's actions, and in a hearing afterward, castigated her and her co-counsel, ruling that the case should be dismissed because of double jeopardy. On Thursday, a three-judge panel at the court of appeals agreed.

"The trial court made specific findings that trial was going poorly for the State and those findings support an inference that the prosecutor was aware trial was going poorly for the State and (Yetman) might be acquitted," the appeals court said.

One juror undecided

Although the Harris County District Attorney's Office could appeal the ruling, that decision would be made by incoming district attorney Kim Ogg.

Ogg last week fired the two prosecutors involved in the Yetman case, Tiffany Johnson and Angela Weltin, along with almost 40 others. The two prosecutors did not return calls for comment Thursday.

The district attorneys office did not respond to a request for comment.

The appeals court cited affidavits from three jurors who were critical of the prosecutors' tactics and said a straw poll between 12 jurors and 2 alternates was almost unanimous to acquit Yetman. Only one of the 14 was unsure, they said.

In affidavits submitted to the court, one juror said she believed the child's family was trying to extort money from the hospitals. Another called the trial a farce.

If convicted of the second-degree felony of indecency, Yetman, 56, could have faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

'I am innocent'

The boy's family first approached Memorial Hermann Hospital to accuse the doctor of fondling him on Jan. 11, 2014. The hospital investigated and discovered that Yetman only saw the boy once, while making rounds with three other doctors.

When the family went to the authorities and Yetman was arrested, Memorial Hermann and University of Texas Health Science Center, where he is a professor, suspended him.

They also released a statement saying they found no evidence of wrongdoing.

"Robert Yetman, M.D., is a well-respected physician," according to a statement released by the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston after the arrest. "An internal investigation of the alleged incident did not find any evidence of wrongdoing."

At trial, officials with both hospitals, and other medical professionals, testified on Yetman's behalf.

On Thursday, he released a statement saying he was happy about the decision.

"I am delighted that the Court of Appeals has upheld Judge Bond's ruling," he said. "I am most appreciative of the work done by my attorney, Stanley Schneider, and for the unwavering support of my friends and colleagues who know that I am innocent."
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President-elect Donald Trump is considering former Texas A&M University President Elsa Murano to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Trump transition team said Thursday.

"Her track record of running a major university really speaks for itself," Trump spokesman Jason Miller told reporters. She plans to meet with Trump next week.

Murano, 57, was the first woman and first Hispanic to be Texas A&M's president. Her hiring initially was seen as a progressive move for the college, as it tried to become one of the nation's top public research universities.

But she was forced to resign in 2009 after only 17 months on the job. Her departure followed a dispute with then-Chancellor Mike McKinney, who criticized Murano's decision-making, integrity and rapport with A&M's board of regents.

Those regents were appointed by then-Gov. Rick Perry, whom Trump's team has nominated to be the next energy secretary.

More than a decade ago, Murano worked in the ag department. She served from 2001-2004 as undersecretary for food safety under President George W. Bush. Now she's a Texas A&M professor in the nutrition and food science department and directs the university's Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture.

Thursday's announcement means three Texans are in contention for the ag secretary post, one of the last unfilled positions in Trump's cabinet.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller also is in the mix. He plans to meet with the Trump's transition team before the end of the year. "He's definitely still in the hunt," Miller's spokesman Todd M. Smith said. Also in the running is former state agriculture commissioner and Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, now a West Texas rancher. She met with Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Tuesday, the Trump team said.
PITTSBURGH - A Philadelphia teenager who drowned trying to save a friend in the tidal currents of the Delaware River was one of 19 people honored with Carnegie medals for heroism on Thursday.

William Wilkinson died on May 25, 2011, after jumping from a pier into the river to help his teenage friend Jennifer Torres, who had fallen into the water and was carried away by the strong currents. Wilkinson, 17, reached Torres but was unable to rescue her before they were separated by the currents.
Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland last year asked City Council for $105 million over five years to hire hundreds of new officers, a request that came on the heels of a report that showed his department leaves thousands of cases uninvestigated because of a lack of personnel.

Seven months after McClelland first sounded the alarm about staffing, he reminded City Council of the request at a budget hearing in May.

"We're not in crisis in the sense that I'm saying that something bad, really, really bad is going to happen in this city if I don't have more staffing immediately," McClelland said. "But I can't do the extra things when people call me up and say 'Chief, can you put in more extra patrols in my neighborhood,' there is no extra. It's death by a thousand cuts. It's just a slow, slow bleed."

HPD has said current staffing levels have left the department struggling with quick response times to serious crimes, the ability to send two officers out on dangerous calls for service - a top priority for union leaders and a national best practice - and regularly performing traffic enforcement, among other challenges.

But McClelland's plan is just that without political backing and significantly more funding, and he has picked up little of either heading into the fiscal year that starts July 1. Mayor Annise Parker's proposed budget does not fully realize McClelland's request, nor have most City Council members pushed for immediate action.

McClelland's hiring plan calls for the city to fund five cadet classes per year for a projected net increase of 590 officers by 2020. Even that $105 million plan still would not produce the same citizens-per-officer ratio HPD had in 1998, nor would it staff the police academy to its maximum capacity of seven cadet classes per year, but it would be a start, the chief said.

Policing ratios

The so-called Justex report HPD commissioned said that the city has about 5,300 officers to police a population of 2.2 million. That is less than half the size of the police force in Chicago, a city of 2.7 million with 11,900 officers. In Dallas, there are about 3,500 officers for 1.2 million residents. But experts caution that there is no magic police-to-population ratio - the geography and density of cities varies widely and so, too, do staffing needs.

Term-limited Parker said that because she will leave office at the end of the year, any mammoth investment in police personnel would best be left to her successor. She proposes to fund four cadet classes.

"I think that every council member understands exactly what the staffing issue is in police and fire, and I think everyone of us would like to see more officers hired," Parker said. "But we also understand that in order to do that with the way the revenues are currently it would mean wholesale cuts in other programs. One third of our general fund budget - one third - goes straight to the Houston police department, so no one can say that we don't prioritize public safety."

Councilman and mayoral hopeful Stephen Costello, however, has proposed amending Parker's budget to move one cadet class from the fire department to HPD. That amendment, along with dozens of others and the overall $5.1 billion budget itself, are expected to be voted on this week.

Costello said council should act on the third-party analysis it already has on the police department's needs and delay staffing decisions in the fire department until a similar study, already in the works, is finished.

"It is a bad business practice to commission a study, ignore it, then commission another study and start spending before we even have any recommendations back," he said.

Parker dismissed Costello's idea, saying she has made it a priority to fund both fire and police cadet classes.

"We are more severely understaffed in police than in fire," she said, "but if you've just had a heart attack and you're waiting for an ambulance, you want that ambulance to be there."

'Failing to respond'

That decision doesn't sit well with Larry Hoover, a Sam Houston State University criminologist who worked on the Justex report. He said it is "regrettable that the mayor and City Council are failing to respond in a truly meaningful way."

Hoover said McClelland's recommendation to fund five cadet classes was obviously drafted with the city's budget struggles in mind, but funding the maximum seven classes would be best. HPD "critically" needs more investigators, he said, but the department must first add young officers so people are available to fill the jobs vacated when seasoned patrol officers are promoted to investigative roles.

"I realize there are real budget issues with the city," Hoover said. "But police and fire service certainly should be at the forefront of budget considerations."

The 2014 HPD report Hoover worked on found that 15,000 burglaries and thefts, 3,000 hit-and-run crashes and 3,000 assaults the year before went without a follow-up investigation. HPD said they had inadequate staffing to review those cases, even when there's a promising lead.

Crime statistics show HPD's clearance rate for theft, burglary and auto theft was 11 percent in 2013. Adding 27 investigators to the burglary and theft division would lead to a 25 percent increase in the number of cases with leads that are investigated, the report said.

Last October, McClelland formally called for more staff, laying out his plan before the city's Public Safety Committee to add officers as well as more civilians to free up other officers for field work.

"It's something we know cannot be resolved in one budget year or two budget years," the chief said at the time, "but we do have to put a plan in place to address it."

Felt staffing woes

Meg Poissant, a civic club president in Westwood Grove near Washington Avenue, said her neighborhood has acutely felt HPD's staffing woes. Since Poissant moved into the neighborhood in 1993, the Washington Avenue corridor has transformed into a nightlife hub, with packed bars and restaurants.

Patrons that park and drive in Poissant's neighborhood have caused a laundry list of problems, she said.

Her neighbor's fence has been run over. She's watched drivers get into accidents and then speed away from the scene. Recently, a rash of car break-ins has put neighbors on edge.

Poissant said police response has been inconsistent. Sometimes they show up promptly, but often they do so one to two hours later or simply not at all, she said. Poissant doesn't blame the officers but wishes the department had the funding to do more regular patrols, anticipating problems rather than simply responding to them.

"The past five years have a been a nightmare," Poissant said. "We don't expect the police to come out for a noise complaint when they've got a shooting or something more serious. But we wish they were around more often because neighborhood patrols remind people they're there and prevent some of these things."

Councilman C.O. Bradford, a former HPD chief, said he was sympathetic to neighborhood complaints and McClelland's request. But he isn't prepared to fund more HPD staff without first reviewing how officers are currently deployed, he said.

"It's time they entered a paradigm shift," Bradford said. "We have technology today that we didn't back then. We need more foot and bike patrols. We should have officers doing that in neighborhoods and in places that are well suited for it. We still have a lot to talk about before we spend any more money."
A dozen of the Houston Police Department's top commanders were among 123 officers who filed paperwork this week indicating they plan to retire in the first half of next year, senior City Hall and HPD sources said, a sign that a rumored exodus driven by unease about possible pension reforms may be underway.

As of last month, the department's retirements for 2016 were on pace with the attrition rates seen in recent years. However, the number of officers now expected to leave by July 1  the earliest a new pension structure would take effect, if Mayor Sylvester Turner can get the proposal passed at the Legislature  far outstrips the typical volume of about 50, HPD spokesman John Cannon said.

Officers can retire at any time, but Wednesday was the deadline for those who wish to enter a program called "phasedown" in which employees effectively retire but retain some benefits of employment while using up accumulated vacation days and other paid time off.

The uptick in retirement filings comes as city officials and law enforcement experts acknowledge the police department already is understaffed. HPD has fewer officers on the street today than it had to police a much smaller city 15 years ago, and a recent operational study recommended ramping up hiring to improve the rates at which crimes are solved.

City leaders long have been concerned that huge numbers of first responders are eligible to retire, as many were encouraged to stay on the job by the pension benefit increases Turner now is working to roll back. About 37 percent of police officers and 25 percent of firefighters are eligible to begin drawing a pension.

The mayor cast the number of retirement filings as a positive, saying it was lower than some had predicted.

"Considering there are 1,900 officers eligible to retire, I view this as a positive response to the pension reform," Turner said. "These numbers are in line with what we normally see. They are definitely far lower than the hundreds of retirements some had speculated we would have. Instead, we have hundreds who are staying. I want to thank them for their commitment and vote of confidence in the pension reforms."

He added that he hoped the five cadet classes included in this year's budget and five more planned for next year's budget could let the city finish 2017 with more officers than it has today.

Likewise, Police Chief Art Acevedo, who left his post atop the Austin Police Department to take the helm at HPD on Dec. 1, said he was encouraged that the 123 figure was lower than some had expected. Acevedo has predicted he could lose 400 to 600 officers by next summer.

Turner's reform proposal would eliminate Houston's nearly $8 billion pension under-funding in 30 years, assume more realistic investment returns, avoid $2.5 billion in future costs through benefit cuts, and narrow the funding gap still left after those cuts by issuing $1 billion in bonds.

Many senior HPD chiefs face a fairly obvious decision to retire because of a provision that essentially drops the salaries on which their pension payments would be calculated to that of captain. The effect is similar for some lower-ranking officers, as well.

"Folks have to make decisions based on their personal financial consequences if they were to stay, and I understand that," Acevedo said. "I'm confident that regardless of the numbers, our men and women are up to the challenge and are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep Houston safe, which is as simple as starting an overtime program where all hands will be on deck, working patrol or whatever other function needs to be worked."

Acevedo also was unphased by the prospect of losing as many as 13 of HPD's top 17 commanders, the number sources said filed retirement papers Wednesday, in part because he intends to flatten the command structure.

"You hate to see a lot of good people leave, but the sky's not going to fall," he said. "With the retirement of good people, it creates opportunities for other good people who are full of energy, ready to lead and probably will bring a new, fresh creativity to their position. We'll get through it."

A 35-year HPD officer now in an investigative division was among those to file retirement papers this week because he estimates the reforms would reduce his pension check by $500 per month. He acknowledged he could have waited until it was clear whether the reform would pass in Austin, but noted this week was the deadline to sign up for the phasedown program.

"I was not thinking about leaving for several years. I still think I've got a few miles left in me," said the officer who declined to give his name because he is not authorized to talk with news media. "I'm not happy about it at all. None of us are, because we wanted to leave on our own terms, and now the reality is we're all leaving based on speculation as to what the law might be."

City Councilman and former Houston police officer Mike Knox said he expects more retirements, within HPD and by other city employees anxious about the proposed pension reforms.

"It is a concern for the city  we're losing a lot of experience along with a lot of years of service," Knox said. "It takes a policeman a good 10 years to become truly effective for the community they serve, so when you drop off at 25, 30 years, you're losing that experience which is no longer available to the younger officers coming up behind them."

Still, Knox said citizens should not worry about a crime spree following widespread retirements.

"We may see longer response times for less serious crimes than we already have, which are pretty high. That's going to be disconcerting for many of our residents," Knox said. "But as far as serious crime or violent crime or things that are happening in progress, I don't think we'll see much of a difference."
Houstonians give millions of gifts annually to nonprofits and other good causes, although few are able to give million-dollar gifts. As this traditional season of giving closes, it's worth asking ourselves if there's a way we can structure our generosity to have more impact in the new year.

No matter the size of the gift, Houstonians should consider conducting some research to make sure their donations are not wasted. Steve Rosencranz, founder of the nonprofit The Woods Project, commits his charitable dollars to "organizations that are well-managed, have a track record of success and don't continually call to ask for more." We appreciate Ronsencranz's latter concern. We love our charities, but committed givers should not feel brow-beaten.

Entrepreneur Patrick Talley uses these criteria to decide where to direct his donations: "(1) which charity doesn't pay its CEO a huge salary; (2) what tugs at my heart strings, and (3) what helps Houston."

Emotion and personal interests aside, we all want to know that a charity is fiscally responsible and transparent with its decision-making.

The nonprofit Guidestar is a good place to learn whether a charity is sound. Guidestar is a free service that provides information about the mission, legitimacy, impact, finances and governance of many U.S. nonprofits. Volunteering with the nonprofit is another way to find out whether its management merits your confidence, advises businesswoman Maria Mutmansky.

Another tool to enhance impact is consolidating your donations. Teacher Romie Jimenez-Garza limits her donations to her students and their families. Many years ago Jeffrey Hill, community volunteer, combined all her small gifts into one, and she now gives to a nonprofit that serves women and children transitioning from homelessness.

Palacios resident Margaret Doughty supports only literacy. "It is the foundation for all education and therefore all success in life." Having a charitable focus also helps cut down on your angst when you have more requests than your pocketbook can fulfill.

Another way to increase the impact of your gifts is to involve your children, as does former Houstonian Lauren Butler Bergier. The family sorts through their belongings and gives gently used clothing and toys at the beginning of each season. "It's hardest to give the things we like," Butler Bergier notes.

Keeping track of giving is a project in and of itself. Jolyn Brand, college consultant, uses a spreadsheet not only for family gifts but also for those she thanks around the holidays - the mailman, housekeeper and hair dresser. Itemizing her gifts allows Larissa Lindsay at Planned Parenthood to prioritize them. She allocates the larger amounts to nonprofits that have a place in her heart.

From a charity's standpoint, no donation is too small. As pointed out by attorney Martha Williams, "I know having broad support from regular folks can help a charity get other funding from major donors," so don't feel bad about a nominal donation.

While on the one hand we want our donations to have an impact, it's important not to overthink our strategy. "The only danger is doing nothing while we ponder which approach will be more likely to save the world," Judge Martha Hill Jamison told us.

Or as expressed by Joseph Cooper, CEO of Vita-Living, Inc., the most important thing about a giving program is to give.
State-run Oschadbank and German-Ukrainian Fund (GUF) have signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation. The bank would receive a credit line to finance micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), the bank has said in a press release.

The bank would receive technical assistance to develop banking products and modernize crediting processes for MSME.

The bank has not specified the size of the credit line.

The program envisages support of business via consultations on doing business in Europe. Crediting of energy efficient projects and clean energy will be under a different program.

"Partnership with Oschadbank would help to considerably expand geography and presence of GUF programs to support financing of MSME all over Ukraine thanks to the branchy network of Oschadbank. Development of micro crediting procedures and technologies in Oschadbank would help to cut the cost of credits for MSME and credit rates. It would increase accessibility to them," GUF executive director and director of the financial controlling department at the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Oleh Strynzha said.
In the friendly little fictional town of Mayberry, the county jail seemed like a nice place to spend some quiet time in the company of Sheriff Andy Taylor and his redoubtable deputy, Barney Fife. Once in a while, the town drunk Otis would stumble in and slam the door behind himself for a good night's sleep on the comfortable cot inside the small-town slammer. When the jail got a little too crowded with moonshiners, the sheriff sent Otis to stay at his house under the watchful eye of Aunt Bee.

Alas, Houston isn't Mayberry and the Harris County Jail is a complex of buildings housing thousands of prisoners accused of everything from public intoxication to sexual assault to homicide. Running that facility is a mammoth security challenge and a huge administrative task. And yet, Texas still clings to an outdated organizational model that assigns the burden of running our county lockup to the county's top law-enforcement officer.

Next month, we'll have a new sheriff in town. Ed Gonzalez will take command of the largest sheriff's office in Texas, the third-largest in the nation, with more than 4,600 employees responsible for serving and protecting the estimated 4.5 million people who call Harris County home.

It would be nice if our new sheriff and the law-enforcement professionals under his command could focus all of their attention upon making our homes, streets and neighborhoods safer. Unfortunately, the biggest headache Gonzalez will face is running the perpetually troubled county jail.

On an average day, the jail houses more than 9,400 inmates, about 80 percent of whom are locked up while awaiting trial. More than a quarter suffer from some sort of mental illness, essentially making the Harris County Jail the largest de facto mental health facility in Texas. It's already so overcrowded, outgoing Sheriff Ron Hickman recently asked the state jail commission for permission to let nearly 200 inmates sleep in plastic cots on the floor. Other prisoners have been shipped to private, for-profit jails at a cost of up to $1 million a month. Meanwhile, the county has spent close to $15 million on overtime pay this year to cover staff shortages, adding to the tab of more than $10 million paying for temporary medical help in the clinic and mental health wards.

The harrowing story of a mentally ill rape victim who was incarcerated at the behest of a prosecutor and mis-classified as a suspect, a scandal that may have helped convince voters to oust the incumbent sheriff and district attorney in last month's elections, was only the latest outrage involving the county jail. A series of stories in the Chronicle earlier this year detailed how guards have brutalized inmates and tried to cover up their actions but rarely lost their jobs. Jail workers have had sex with inmates, smuggled in contraband and hid relationships with prisoners.

Now, once again, county officials are talking about reforming the way the jail is managed.

Texas law assigns the task of running county jails to county sheriffs. But Commissioner Steve Radack, who's spent years beating the drum for a jail boss answering directly to commissioners court instead of the sheriff, plans to lobby for state legislation requiring a licensed administrator to take over the jail. Even if the proposal dies in Austin, Radack plans to press Gonzalez to hire a professional jail executive, advice the new sheriff would be wise to follow.

Our state's requirement that sheriffs run county jails is a 19th-century concept that doesn't necessarily fit in the 21st century. Maybe it still makes sense in small Texas counties with comparatively few inmates, but it's not the best way to administer the complex of jails in Harris County.

We can't run our jail the way they did in Mayberry. We need an administrator who's focused entirely on managing the jail and a sheriff who's focused entirely on enforcing the law. Our state lawmakers should help our county leaders make that a reality.
Aging shopping malls

Regarding "Genius is needed to refresh, reinvent old malls" (Page B1, Tuesday), no matter what is done or how and with very few exceptions, the era of the large shopping mall is dead or in the process of dying. There are many reasons for it, but suffice to say they were done-in by the rise of the super-sized box stores, warehouse stores and technology.

Many of the old malls in the Houston area have been either demolished or should be. No matter what is done, they can never be close to what they were in their heyday. Many have reputations for being dangerous places to go, often well-deserved.

P. D. Withers, Houston

Let fairness prevail

Regarding "Vote change" (Page A13, Tuesday), to do away with the Electoral College is to say that greatly populated states such as California, New York and Illinois would possibly determine our president - and less populated states such as Idaho, Wyoming and North Dakota would have little to contribute. They might as well not vote! And we all know those populous states tend to vote Democratic.

I hope we never change the Electoral College. It's the only fair way!

Rosemary Colvin, Katy

Looking for A-list talent

Regarding "Trump Inauguration Panic: Mark Burnett Throws 'Hail Mary' Staff Shake-Up" (Chron.com, Thursday), maybe if he'd back away from some of his more controversial ideas, people wouldn't be so uncomfortable about being associated with him. A pledge to defend the rights of Muslims, women, immigrants and the LGBT community would likely go a long way.

Jordan Dickerson, posted via Facebook

Hired to disrupt

Regarding "Cabinet picks serve notice to Washington" (Page A1, Sunday), it's important to recognize why Donald Trump can make such Cabinet selections. He isn't indebted to labor unions, environmentalists, trial lawyers or professional politicians.

The Times article is also highly relevant because presidential administrations come and go, but high level bureaucrats continue from administration to administration. One of the most relevant appointees is "Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma state attorney general who was picked to lead the EPA  and has built his career on fighting environmental regulations."

It's several years past time to curb overzealous EPA administrators.

Neil Stovall, Houston

Traffic accidents

Regarding "4-year-old boy dies in accident" (Page A3, Dec. 13), as a resident who does a lot of driving daily, I am concerned with safety on Texas roads and highways.

Each day I see countless people on their phones, reading or writing texts as they are driving in this heavy traffic, including on the highways. There is no way to maintain control of a vehicle or stop suddenly, if a person is concentrating on their phone.

I believe this is a serious problem, especially given how reckless and fast drivers seem to be driving.

I hope state lawmakers take action to rectify this dangerous problem on our roads. One suggestion would be fines for those who text and drive.

JoAnn Johnson, Tomball
What could turn out to be President Barack Obama's most effective economic policies only happened in the twilight of his presidency: ending the 40-year ban on U.S. crude oil exports and approving construction of terminals to export U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). And the advent of a Donald Trump presidency likely means an expansion and acceleration of those efforts.

Last December Congress passed a $1.1 trillion spending bill that included the crude oil export ban repeal. The president opposed the repeal, but the bill also extended the wind and solar energy tax credits, so he took the compromise. By contrast, liquefied natural gas export terminals only require Department of Energy approval. And even though permits have been slow in coming, several have finally been approved.

That action has jumpstarted the U.S. oil and gas export business, with Texas LNG terminal projects underway in Freeport, Corpus Christi and Brownsville.

In the first five months of the year, the U.S. exported half a million barrels of crude oil per day to 16 countries - including several in Europe, South and Central America, Israel and even China- according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Meanwhile, the first U.S. tanker with LNG departed from Louisiana last February. In the first six months of the year, some 50 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas has been exported. One Forbes.com energy analyst estimates the U.S. will be exporting about 7 Bcf per day by 2020 and 17 Bcf/day by 2040. The U.S. currently produces about 80 Bcf/day.

The nascent energy export industry is important for several reasons.

First, while the U.S. still consumes more oil than it produces, the EIA projects the U.S. will become a net gas exporter in the second half of 2017. The U.S. needs markets for that abundance of natural gas.

Second, exports enhance economic efficiency. For those who wonder why U.S. companies would export crude oil when the country still imports 24 percent of its oil, the answer has to do with efficiency and refining.

Most U.S. refineries are set up to process very heavy oil. But most of the oil coming from shale formations, comprising about 52 percent of total production, is what's called light sweet crude, which requires a different, less-intensive refining process. While some refineries are starting to adapt to the lighter crude slate, that refining transition isn't quickly or cheaply made.

In addition, the closest refineries may be operating at or near capacity. Instead of having to discount or store a regional oversupply of crude oil, it may make more sense for oil producers to export it to refineries abroad that have the capacity to handle it.

Third, U.S. exports could help meet the energy needs of some or our allies - especially those dependent on oil and natural gas from countries like Russia, which use energy supplies as a geopolitical hammer.

The European Union depends on Russia for about a third of its energy needs, and the EU would love to have an affordable alternative.

Finally, exporting crude oil and natural gas will jumpstart economic growth and reduce the U.S. trade deficit.

Energy experts Daniel Yergin and Kurt Barrow, writing in the Wall Street Journal in 2014, estimated that ending the oil export ban would:

Lead to a production increase of 2.3 million barrels of oil per day and $1 trillion in new investment;

Create 860,000 more jobs, many of which would be high-paying blue-collar jobs; and

Add $3 trillion in federal revenues - important for a country about to pass the $20 trillion mark in total federal debt. The energy boom over the past eight years provided real economic benefits during a time of sluggish economic growth. Without it, the country might well have fallen into recession.

Oil and natural gas exports will allow us to extend and expand that boom and become the world's energy-producing powerhouse. But doing so requires faster approvals of LNG terminals and an easing of federal opposition to drilling offshore and on federal lands, both of which President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to do.

Matthews is a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation in Dallas.
A Cabool teenager facing six warrants, including felony assault of a law enforcement officer, was arrested Thursday night.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Joshua D. Eisenhouer, 18, was apprehended at 10:49 and taken to the Texas County Jail. All six warrants were from Texas County. Along with the assaulting the officer charge, they were:

Felony resisting arrest.

Felony possession of a controlled substance.

Felony attempted escape from custody.

Misdemeanor DWI drug intoxication.

Misdemeanor traffic violation.
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Dont let the financial burden of sick employees weigh your business down. Influenza costs companies an estimated $10.4 billion in direct medical expenses and another $16.3 billion in lost earnings every year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is all the more reason to protect yourself and your co-workers with flu shots. Employees do have a say in their companys wellness programs. If your company is not currently offering flu shots to employees, you can make a difference by voicing the need for on-site employee flu shots. Heres how to help get a yes from your manager to offer free flu shots and make sure that your company is protected. Present a Solid Plan Developing a robust plan will make it easy for your manager to say yes. Have a plan created before going to your manager. This way, your manager will only have to agree to a plan rather than taking the time to come up with a plan on his/her own. You may need to do some homework. You should have all of the details of an on-site flu shot clinic ready to go so that you will be prepared for any questions your manager might ask right away. The details should include the cost of flu shots and the basics behind how the clinic would work. Be sure to stress how easy it is to bring flu shots to employees and that hosting an on-site clinic will not take as much time and effort as your manager may think. Lay out the Busi...
National energy company Ukrenergo, the systemic operator of Ukrainian power grid, has presented the renewed company brand and its vision of development of the energy sector.

The company said that U letter in the new logo means the symbol of Ukrainian energy system, and the leaf in the form of E letter means global directions of the energy sector development evolutionarily moving towards green energy.

Ukrenergo acting director Vsevolod Kovalchuk said that global energy is being transformed now towards renewable energy and this opens new opportunities and sets new tasks to the company.

"Global energy is being transformed towards green energy  production of electricity from clean energy sources  water, sun, wind and biomass. Ukraine is not keeping aloof these processes. The increasing share of renewable energy, taking into account the specifics of operations of these power plants, brings reliability of power lines operation to the new level, changing the conventional power grid management paradigm," he said delivering a lecture at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

Kovalchuk recalled about the companys plans to start introducing Smart Grid starting from 2018.

"We should learn to balance the system, where the share of renewable energy is 20% and more. This is the vector for developing European energy in coming years," he said.

The introduction of new technologies requires the rebuilding of IT infrastructure, large investment and mobilization of thousands of best specialists.

"We should not only transmit electricity in the required amount to consumers, but also create conditions for consumers for their development. We plan to permit everyone to select the time and volume of consumption, save and earn. This is a new philosophy of Ukrenergo reflected in our new slogan: ITellectual energy," he said.

Kovalchuk and Kyiv Polytechnic Institute President Mykhailo Zhurovsky signed a memorandum of cooperation. Representatives of the institute will be involved in designing and implementing promising projects of the company.
Keep employees healthy today to keep them in the office tomorrow One of the top business challenges HR and Benefits Managers face today is how to design competitive benefits packages to attract and retain top talent while maintaining or even cutting company costs. For most organizations, benefits are the second largest expense behind compensation and with the annual increase in medical costs estimated at 6.5% again for 2017 (1) it is important to find new, effective solutions to manage healthcare costs. Optimizing the use of your dental benefits may be just the solution for organizations that are trying to drive down costs while improving the health and productivity of their employees. Sound too simple to be true? Research published in peer-reviewed journals and by well-respected organizations such as Optum/United Healthcare and United Concordia Dental/Highmark have shown significant cost savings. Through dental channel utilization, employees can realize savings within their existing benefits by preventing and treating early-onset periodontal (gum) disease among employees who have both a chronic disease and periodontal disease (2) (3). The challenge to do more with less is compounded by the rate of progression of chronic diseases among U.S. adults. Today, nearly sixty-four percent of U.S. adults are overweight (BMI >30), twenty-nine percent of adults have hypertension (4), approximately thirty three percent of U.S. adu...
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TORONTO110 dogs have arrived safely in Toronto after being rescued from slaughter by Humane Society International and our partners at the Yulin dog meat festival in China earlier this year.

The 110 dogs were rescued from slaughterhouses in Yulin just days ahead of the annual dog meat festival that took place on June 21st. The animals received veterinary care and rehabilitation at an HSI-funded emergency shelter in China before arriving in Canada. Adoption of rescue dogs in China does take place, but it is not yet widespread, necessitating the transfer of the dogs out of China. HSI is actively working with our partner groups on the ground to promote a culture of adoption in the country.

Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of HSI/Canada, who greeted the animals upon their arrival in Toronto, said: These dogs have endured a level of cruelty that most people cant even bear to think about. When we found them, the dogs were crammed into cages so tightly they could not move and they watched as other dogs were beaten and killed in front of them. They were dehydrated, emaciated, injured and miserable when rescuers arrived. But thanks to our amazing supporters, these dogs are recovering and will have a wonderful new life in Canada. Moreover, they will be ambassadors for our unrelenting campaign to stop the global dog meat trade.

The 110 dogs will be placed with three compassionate Canadian organizations: Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary (based in King City, Ontario), the Montreal SPCA, and BARK (an Ottawa based rescue group). Over the coming weeks the dogs will receive care from veterinarians, behavioural therapists, staff and volunteers before they are placed in forever homes.

Danielle Eden, cofounderDog Tales rescue and sanctuary, added: It breaks our hearts to think of what these dogs endured prior to their rescue. Our mission here at Dog Tales is to seek out the dogs who we feel need our help the most, and it is incredibly meaningful to our entire team to be able to play a part in providing these dogs with a second chance at life. Our hope is that all of the dogs will find loving, permanent homes quickly. However, as a no-kill shelter, Dog Tales will be home to these dogs for as long as they need. While in our care they will receive training and rehabilitation, world-class veterinary attention, regular grooming, daily off-leash play, and will be able to enjoy long walks on our beautiful 100 acre property. We are helping these dogs in honour of the millions who were not so lucky, with hope that we will soon see an end to the Yulin festival and the dog meat trade. We are proud to support HSI in this important initiative.

Dana Margolis of The Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation, which provided crucial funds for the transportation of the dogs to Canada, stated: We are so pleased to have helped make this rescue possible. Animals teach us to be compassionate and kind. These are traits that bring out the best in humanity. When faced with saving the life of an animal, there should be no hesitation.

The Yulin dog meat festival, initiated in 2010 to boost dog meat sales, results in thousands of dogs and cats slaughtered and eaten. International and national protest against the festival has reduced the scale of the event by 80 percent in recent years.

Polling (Horizon, 2016) reveals that, of those holding an opinion, 78 percent of people in China believe the Yulin festival should be ended and 73 percent support a national ban on the dog meat trade.

This rescue would not have been possible without the generous support of The Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation, whose commitment to animal protection has changed the lives of countless animals worldwide. HSI would also like to thank Sharp Transportation for donating warehouse space for the temporary shelter and invaluable assistance with ground transport, Air Canada for logistical support for the air transport from China and Kane Veterinary Supplies for their generous donation of dog food.

FACTS

An estimated 30 million dogs are brutally killed each year, primarily in Asia, for the global dog meat trade. Up to 20 million of those dogs are slaughtered in China.

The government of China is working with local partners to enact and enforce new animal protection laws to curtail the trade. HSI has provided training and funding to local organizations in rescuing thousands of dogs bound for slaughter and has set up a command centre to coordinate these activities.

HSI is also waging campaigns in South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and other Asian nations to stop the dog meat trade.

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Media contact: Christopher Pare: 438-402-0643, email: cpare@hsi.org
An online petition is calling on the federal government to scrap the renewal process for Indian Status cards.

The renewal process is too lengthy and unnecessary and un-accommodating, says Edward Martins petition on Change.org. After two months, the petition has collected more than 6,200 signatures.

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A status card is government ID that gives "registered Indians" access to some benefits, such as tax exemption for certain purchases made on-reserve and for the PST segment of the HST in Ontario.

Imagine having to renew your SIN number, Martin said in an email to The Huffington Post Canada. Its the same thing.

Originally from the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation on the Quebec-New Brunswick border, Martin was in the middle of moving to Victoria, B.C. in August when his status card expired.

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Two months earlier, he drove more than 350 kilometres from North Bay, Ont. to Gatineau, Que. to renew his status card at the Indigenous and Northern Affairs office. When he got there, Martin said he was told he needed to provide a passport photo, scan of his birth certificate, and a declaration signed by a lawyer to prove his identity.

I was upset and realized something needs to be done, he said. The renewal process is just another attempt to keep us jumping through hoops.

The requirement to renew status cards is consistent with other official identification documents, such as passports and drivers licenses," according to the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada website. Renewal can be done in person or by mail, but the applicant must pay for all document printing and mailing costs.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada did not respond to HuffPost Canadas request for comment about Martins petition.

Imagine having to renew your SIN number ... It's the same thing."

The status card is NOT a passport, Martin wrote in his petition. A persons registration number never changes, so to renew it is redundant, he told HuffPost.

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The federal government started defining who is legally Indian with the Indian Act in 1876. At the time, anyone who went to university would lose their status, as would any woman who married a non-status person.

'A form of apartheid law'

The Assembly of First Nations as well as other leaders and academics have described the Indian Act as a form of apartheid law, according to the University of British Columbia's Indigenous Foundations website.

The concept is based on the assumption that indigenous people are children requiring control and direction to bring them into more civilized colonial ways of life," it explains.

In 1969, then prime minister Pierre Trudeau tried to abolish the Indian Act and dismantle the Department of Indian Affairs.

While many indigenous people agreed that the act was problematic, the move wasnt supported. The policy was overwhelmingly rejected by indigenous people who said that assimilating into mainstream society would not create meaningful equality.

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Odesa Port-Side Plant is in the hardships today due to the unfavorable situation on the global fertilizer market, ineffective management and using it in the corruption purposes and for various frauds, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.

"Now we see the fact of ineffective management of the plant, including by the State Property Fund. We are looking for a new approach to clean up the enterprise from debts and removing it from the loss-making condition," he said in parliament on Friday.

He said that the current cost of the plant's products is unacceptable, taking into account the situation on the market.

"We are looking for right options that would ensure its rhythmic operation. It is important for us to find the right decision to recover Odesa Port-Side Plant and make it operating well. We will work on this," the premier said.

MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said that among possible options of settling the situation with the plant is its transfer to management of a subsidiary of Naftogaz Ukrainy  Ukrgazvydobuvannia or the switch to the tolling production scheme. The prime minister avoided to name concrete solutions.
Kevin O'Leary says removing "all that crap" from Ottawa in the 2019 federal election will be a difficult procedure, but he insists he has the tool necessary for the job.

A big spatula.

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O'Leary showcased the tool during a live stream on Facebook Friday in which he announced an exploratory committee for a possible Conservative leadership bid.

That group includes ex-Ontario premier Mike Harris as well as Marjory LeBreton, the former Conservative leader in the Senate.

O'Leary is perhaps best known among Canadians from his work on the CBC television show "Dragon's Den" and later it's American equivalent. He's also worked as a commentator on CTV and BNN in recent months, but no longer.

"As a result of today's announcements that Kevin O'Leary has formed exploratory committee for a Conservative leadership run and has launched a website, he will no longer be a contributor to BNN or CTV News,'' a spokesman for Bell Media said in an emailed statement to The Canadian Press.

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O'Leary said the committee is a team he needs to "guide him through this journey" of a possible leadership bid.

"Remember, the exploratory committee, they'll come back to me with a plan to win the leadership and then, in 2019, this goes to Ottawa," he said, holding up the "spatula," which looked more like a burger flipper.

Thrilled to announce my exploratory committee for CPC leadership this morning. Go to olearyforcanada.ca / olearypourlecanada.ca and tell me if I should run! Posted by Kevin O'Leary on Friday, December 23, 2016

O'Leary also bashed the Liberal government's "faulty" carbon tax and accused it of hemorrhaging "hundreds of thousands" of jobs.

"Most Canadians know this is an absolute mess," O'Leary said, before brandishing his alleged government-cleaning tool.

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"This is a device we're going to need."

'It's going to be war'

Earlier this month, O'Leary unofficially kicked off his bid for the party leadership at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, where he spoke to around 30 Tory MPs.

The "Shark Tank" star told the crowd that he could beat Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who he referred to as a "surfer dude."

The Conservative party is set to choose its new leader in May.

With files from Althia Raj

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Tiny potions that say "drink me," accompanied by cookies that read "eat me" are served as stilt walkers tower above and mounds of fabric wrap around women to form elaborate dresses with voluminous trains. It's opening night at the Marrakech International Film Festival, a week-long celebration of global cinema patroned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI that beckons you to tumble down the rabbit hole.

And it's under this hazy spell that I meet Montreal actress Suzanne Clement, who has made a name for herself in French cinema as an award winning actress in Lawrence Anyways and I Killed My Mother. Clement was invited as a member of the festival's jury, which awarded top honors to Chinese filmmakers, including the Grand Prix to Chinese feature The Donor. I ask Clement why she agreed to do the festival, and for her way it was a way to reconnect with Morocco, a country that conjures fond memories of camping out in the Sahara desert while gazing at stars. It was also a way to give back to what she called a "liberal North African country."

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Indeed, Morocco has taken steps to become one of the more progressive and stable Muslim countries in the region, following the Arab Spring of 2011, King Mohammed VI announced constitutional reforms to transfer more power to parliament. Pressure to give women more rights has been mounting and events like this film festival aim to bridge western and Middle Eastern cultures through film and art.

Every night at the Palais des Congres, stars walk the red carpet and an international film is presented by an Arabic-speaking woman and a French-speaking gentleman beneath English subtitles. For Clement, watching the presenters is an epiphanous moment that demonstrates how different cultures can live in harmony.

"It's very simple just to hear both of them presenting, so it's not like [our different languages are something] that we're asked to put aside or it's a thing that is so dangerous and violent," says Clement. "This for me is opening our minds and pushing these boundaries that the world is potentially creating for nothing."

Reflecting on Clement's words, perhaps her point is even more evident when walking the maze-like quarters of the Medina, Marrakech's medieval market where Jews, Muslims and ancient Berbers blend together, selling brass lights, tanned leather, glass tea sets and wool carpets.

Back at La Mamounia hotel, Paul Haggis, London, Ontario-born director of the films Crash and Million Dollar Baby, delivered a Master Class on cinema and talked about this cultural melange. He said Morocco has seemed to "figure out" what the rest of the world hasn't been able to figure out -- how all the various ethnicities and religious factions seem to coexist quite peacefully, contrary to the tensions often felt in America and many other places right now.

At a time when anti-immigrant and anti-globalization sentiment is sweeping across the western world, I didn't expect to find a beacon of tolerance and progress in Morocco, though the North African country has taken steps to open itself to the world and hosted the latest major summit on global climate change, COP22, in November.

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The Marrakech International Film Festival concluded it's 16th run this month, and one of my final memories was of walking through the Palmeraie, an oasis of palm trees on the outskirts of the city with a group of journalists. A gang of kids on bicycles yelled out suspiciously to stop taking photos when Salima Yacoubi Soussane, a local journalist, began answering them in Arabic. They were surprised and immediately made peace, learning about our different nationalities and cultures.

Soussane, a pentalinguist, encouraged them to learn more languages at school. The kids began shouting out different languages and bragging about siblings who were bi of trilingual.

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My favourite answer was from a boy who insisted his brother could speak Arabic, French ...and Chinese.

It's a good sign when multingualism gives you street cred on the playground.
It's official. After hitting send to more than 2,680 news releases this year, the B.C. government's Communications and Public Engagement Office is now scraping the bottom of the barrel for an excuse -- any excuse -- to trumpet the government's prowess.

If you're not on the distribution list, you may not appreciate the leave no stone unturned -- Todd or otherwise -- gusto they bring to the job.

The Ministry of Education has issued 273 releases in 2016, including 50 in one 10-hour span alone celebrating new dust collection systems, upgraded floors and air conditioning systems at various schools across the province.

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Dawson Creek Secondary School -- in Minister Mike Bernier's riding -- is getting new floors.

News releases for school improvement projects in government-held ridings also came with tailor-made quotes from the local MLA.

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA, Donna Barnett, noted that a school's new dust collection system will make it "a healthier, more comfortable place to learn."

Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Linda Reimer said the new air conditioning system at another school would make it "a more efficient, healthier place to work and learn."

And West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan remarked that the new windows at Cleveland Elementary will make the school "a more comfortable environment in which to work and learn."

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With all these improvement projects, is it any wonder that the B.C. Liberal party gave a shout out to Bernier in a recent update to party members for "knocking on more doors in more ridings than any other member of #TeamBC2017 to date."

John Yap -- who, seemingly, has issued more news releases as Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform than he ever did as a minister -- sent out one this week headlined: "Get cozy with your cocktails at B.C. hotels and resorts."

It prompted the official opposition to finally call for a moratorium on future liquor announcements.

The big daddy of news release saturation is the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with more than 400 to date.

Earlier this month, the ministry patted itself on the back for moving forward with "cleaner, modern facilities" -- better known as toilets -- at the Last Spike's historic rest station along the Trans-Canada Highway near Craigellachie.

According to the government's release the project "will include brushing of the grounds around the structure."

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In case you're wondering Shuswap MLA, Greg Kyllo, thinks all the improvements "are great."

Thinking ahead to next May's election, the transportation ministry is also inviting the public to submit ideas for 75 new stops of interest signs, each undoubtedly with its own news release and photo-op.

Think of it as 75 quick wins.

Many of the ministry's improvement projects, of course, need signs to remind the public of the progress of the improvements as they progress.

A constituent of Delta South Independent MLA Vicki Huntington wondered about the cost of the second round of signs for the Massey Tunnel project.

Huntington was forced by the most open and transparent government in Canada to file a freedom of information request to find out.

The signs rang in at $60,598 for production and installation.

Then there's the unknown and ongoing cost of keeping all the signs clean.

Given the government's propensity for issuing news releases, it's a wonder they didn't issue one when they placed the order.

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The tag line could have read: "As a result of B.C.'s fiscal discipline and balanced budget, the government can place an order for full-colour signs."

How far overboard has the government gone in the news release saturation department?

Since the last election, they've issued more than 7,700 releases.

Dig a little further back into their online archive and under former premier Gordon Campbell, the government made do with 2,130 news releases from 2001 to 2005.

Some of the difference could be attributed to pruning for the archives, but even that would say a lot about the more than 5,000 releases that would have been pruned.

Perhaps the news release overkill by the current government can be explained by the annual budget for the Communications and Public Engagement Office.

While most ministries scrape by, since 2010/11 the communications office has seen its budget jump by 43.3 per cent to $37.9 million.

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Chris Helgren / Reuters A sign warning of the subterranean presence of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Pipeline in seen in ranchland outside Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada November 16, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

As the year draws to a close, it's worth looking back at some of the public policy issues that made headlines over the past 12 months, and that have a good chance of being in the news during the next 12 as well. Here are three such issues that matter to the wealth and well-being of Canadians going forward.

1. Corporate Subsidies: Bombardier Will Be Back for More

After securing the Quebec government's assistance in October 2015, to the tune of a $1.3-billion "investment" in the company's CSeries aircraft, multinational aerospace and transportation company Bombardier set its sights on the federal government in 2016. A deal has not yet been struck with Ottawa, but Brazil, home to rival Embraer, has just announced it plans to launch a WTO challenge over the company's government support.

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Will 2017 be the year when the federal government cuts corporate subsidies?

As my colleague Mathieu Bedard argued earlier this year, such experiments in "state capitalism" have a poor track record. Furthermore, they put taxpayer's funds at risk without their consent. Will 2017 be the year when the federal government cuts corporate subsidies and tells companies like Bombardier that they have to fly under their own power?

2. Oil Pipelines: let the market decide

The federal government recently gave the green light to the expansion of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline connecting Edmonton, Alta. to Burnaby, B.C., and to the project to replace Enbridge's Line 3 between Hardisty, Alta. and Superior, Wis. This is good news for the Canadian economy, but at the same time, the government is asking the National Energy Board (NEB) to reject a third pipeline, the Northern Gateway project.

Looking ahead, the NEB hearings for a fourth project, TransCanada's Energy East pipeline to bring Alberta oil to New Brunswick, needs to be restarted as soon as possible. Despite the opinion of certain vocal opponents like Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, the recent approvals do not mean Energy East is no longer needed.

As my colleague Youri Chassin recently wrote, just because Alberta oil will soon have an easier time getting to the Pacific Coast and the U.S. Midwest doesn't mean it no longer needs to get to the Atlantic. It's up to market actors to determine if a particular project is economically worthwhile. Let's hope they get the chance to do so in 2017.

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3. Health Care: It's Not about the Money

With Ottawa and the provinces having just failed to reach a deal on health spending, many Canadian patients may be wondering what 2017 will hold for them, as federal health transfer increases are set to revert to three per cent per year as of April 1. These transfers had been increasing at an annual rate of six per cent since the last health accord was reached with former Prime Minister Paul Martin in 2004.

Yet more money is not the cure for what ails Canadian health care. Fundamental reforms are needed to implement the kinds of changes that have proven successful in other OECD countries. For instance, over a decade ago, Germany began requiring all hospitals to publish structured quality reports every two years in order to provide more transparency and facilitate evidence-based decisions.

Yet more money is not the cure for what ails Canadian health care.

This kind of transparency leads to continuous improvements in the quality of medical treatment. Other reforms would complement this one, like funding hospitals based on services rendered and giving them greater administrative autonomy.

As our country marks its 150th anniversary, Canadians have a lot to be thankful for, it's true. But that doesn't mean we should be complacent. Reining in the corporate subsidy beast, developing our energy resources responsibly and proactively, and learning from other countries' best health-care practices would be three great ways to celebrate this special birthday.

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The countdown is on! Hopefully you're already enjoying days in pajamas and curling up by the fire, or maybe you're wrapping up before your holidays start. I love this time of year because it always means lots of time with family and a guaranteed good chunk of time with my sister Kristi, her hubby Sean and my ridiculously fun and cute niece, Mila. Usually they come to Canada for a white Christmas, but this year our whole family packed up to visit them there and help them celebrate their first Christmas in their new house!

One of my favourite holiday traditions growing up was lazy Christmas mornings. I can't say it was always like this, I definitely remember earlier years just counting down the seconds until we could go jump on our Mom and Dad and see if Santa had eaten out cookies and milk! I'm guessing that this year, with a two-and-a-half-year-old in the house, will be more along those lines which is why this recipes is perfect for Christmas morning brunch.

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It seems fancy and decadent, but it is so easy to throw together! Once you get your veggies diced up, which you could even do the night before, it's pretty much throwing ingredients into your pan and then leaving the flavours to simmer away while you enjoy Christmas morning with your loved ones. Whether this is lazy mornings spent in PJs, drinking coffee and Baileys and listening to Christmas tunes, or chasing little ones around and seeing their excitement as they ponder the magic of Old St. Nick, having delicious food to add to the cheer doesn't have to mean slaving away in the kitchen all day!

With a big turkey dinner on the horizon, this will satisfy the need for a celebratory brekky without the heaviness so you are ready to go when that bird comes out of the oven!

I love serving this dish with a nice piece of warm, toasted sourdough bread. Perfect for soaking up all the extra sauce :)

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Sending lots of love to you and yours and don't forget to take some time to relax and take it all in amidst the craziness.

Shakshuka (a.k.a. Eggs in Purgatory)

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

- 1 Tbsp olive oil

- 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

-  tsp dried chilli flakes

- 1 red pepper, diced

- 1 x 796 ml can diced tomatoes

-  cup tomato sauce

- 4 eggs (Add more if desired)

- Coarse salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

-  cup grated parmesan

-  cup fresh basil, thinly sliced

- 4 slices multigrain sourdough bread, toasted

- Optional Spices: I like this dish simple and spiced as is but a bit of smoked paprika or cumin are also delish if you want to spice it up a bit!

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in cast iron skillet or large frying pan, allowing it to get hot, approx. 1 minute. Add garlic and chilli flakes stirring, for 1-2 minutes, until it becomes fragrant. Add the red pepper and saute an additional 2-3 minutes.

2. Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, stirring to combine and let it come to a boil. At this stage you can leave it simmering while you relax or if you are ready to eat, time to add the eggs!

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3. Create little divots in the sauce to crack the eggs into. Add the eggs, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and partially cover the pan, allowing the eggs to steam and cook. Cook for approx. 5 minutes for runny yolks, or until desired yolk consistency is reached.

4. Remove from the heat and serve. Sprinkle with basil, a drizzle of olive oil and more parmesan cheese, salt or chili flakes if desired. Dunk your toasted sourdough in and you are set.

Enjoy!

P.S.- Have you heard?! I've just opened the doors to a new FREE Eat Well Live Well Facebook Community with daily tips, recipes, support and motivation. I'll be checking in regularly to answer your questions and create awesome content just for you! All you have to do is click on this link and hit the "Join" button. Can't wait to you inside!

For more recipes and kitchen inspiration, check out www.lindsaypleskot.com or find Lindsay on Instagram here or Facebook.

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By Dr. Vandana Ahluwalia, MD, FRCPC, Chief, Division of Rheumatology, William Osler Health System

Patients hear it all the time: "It's just arthritis. There's nothing you can do about it." But for rheumatologists - physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating arthritis and other conditions that affect the joints, muscles and bones - and their teams, there is no such thing as "just arthritis." In fact, there are more than 100 different forms of arthritis and, while there is no cure, there are many treatments available that can help patients reduce their pain, manage their condition and avoid permanent damage and disability, particularly in the case of inflammatory arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to produce harmful antibodies that attack healthy tissue in the joints and occasionally other parts of the body as well, causing pain, swelling and inflammation. It is often confused with osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear to the joints.

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According to the Arthritis Society, approximately 300,000 Canadians live with rheumatoid arthritis, one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis. It affects women two to three times more often than men, and can develop at any age. As of right now, there is no known cause, although researchers believe there may be a genetic predisposition.

Symptoms and what to look for

The early symptoms of inflammatory arthritis are generally feeling unwell or tired, and soreness and swelling in a few joints. From there, symptoms can worsen quickly and progress to involve multiple joints with pain and swelling, symmetrical symptoms on both sides of the body, morning stiffness, rashes, psoriasis, and potential internal organ involvement affecting the eyes, mouth, lungs and kidneys.

Best results if diagnosed early

Much like with heart attacks and strokes, timing is everything for people with inflammatory arthritis. The sooner after symptom onset that a patient receives a diagnosis and begins treatment, the better the long-term outcomes: less pain and stiffness, managed symptoms, and less risk of permanent damage. If left untreated, inflammatory arthritis invades the cartilage and bones and causes irreversible deformity of the joint, potentially leading to disabilities affecting mobility or trouble with fine motor skills like eating or holding a pen.

It's recommended that patients see a physician within four weeks of symptom onset and, within the following six weeks, be referred to a rheumatologist and begin treatment. However, in Ontario it can take more than a year to see a rheumatologist as it is an underserviced speciality.

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Putting together a good team

To help cut down on the wait time and improve access to care, many rheumatologists have taken a team-based approach.

At William Osler Health System's (Osler) Musculoskeletal Program: Early Arthritis Clinic, for example, Advanced Clinician Practitioners in Arthritis Care (ACPAC) - physiotherapists and occupational therapists, trained as extended role providers - triage the patients: collect medical histories, do joint exams, order lab and diagnostic imaging tests, and ensure the patient sees the right specialist at the right time. With all of this preliminary work taken care of in advance, rheumatologists can focus on diagnosing and putting together treatment plans. Thanks to this team-based approach, patients referred to Osler's Early Arthritis Clinic usually begin treatment within six weeks of referral.

Treating inflammatory arthritis

Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin. Medications are available to reduce inflammation, manage painful joint symptoms and reduce long-term damage to the joints.

Patients with inflammatory arthritis are educated on their disease through group education programs, and also work individually with physiotherapists and occupational therapists to help manage their condition through physical exercise, healthy eating, relaxation techniques, and learning how to protect their joints.

With the correct diagnosis and treatment, patients with inflammatory arthritis can manage their condition and improve their quality of life. All they need to do is take that first step.

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If you or anyone you know is experiencing joint pain or any other symptom of arthritis, visit your family

physician as soon as you can as early treatment makes a difference.
littlehenrabi via Getty Images Traveler woman with backpack standing near big tropical river at sunny day

Canadian employers, recruiters and postsecondary admissions staff are beginning to recognize the value of taking a gap year, but just taking time off from school or work doesn't quite cut it.

As the trend continues to gain traction in Canada, those who spend their time sifting through resumes and applications have recognized that some gap years are better spent than others.

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Some approaches look better on a resume or application than others.

"Personally, I have always found details about what someone opted to do during a gap year or when volunteering to be quite insightful, telling me a story about what makes the applicant tick," said Beverly Marinucci, the director of service delivery for Workopolis.

Gap years are also no longer just limited to students entering university. A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. citizens by Hostelworld found that over a quarter of respondents had taken a gap year, and nearly 60 per cent of them were taken after university.

"[Gap years] do help set them apart a bit more," said Carrie Kelly, the director of the graduate program office at the Goodman School of Business at Brock University. Kelly oversees all admissions for applicants to the business school's graduate diplomas and degrees. "They just seem to be more committed, more settled down, more sure of what they want."

While there are many ways to spend the time off from work or school, Marinucci and Kelly agree that some approaches look better on a resume or application than others. Here are eight ways to make the most out of your gap year.

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Don't just go on vacation

You'd hope it would go without saying, but Kelly says she's seen it on student applications in the past; taking a gap year is different than going on vacation, and anyone who looks at your resume will quickly identify the difference.

"If they were to just be travelling on vacation, maybe spent a few months in Europe backpacking, that doesn't hold much weight," she said.

Experience different cultures

That's not to say that travel isn't a highly valuable asset for those taking a gap year, but some travel is considered more valuable than others.

"International experience and international exchanges are becoming a lot more common," said Kelly. "Just having international volunteer or work experience, knowing multiple languages, especially in business, that can add to the value of the application."

Find work experience that is relevant to your career ambitions

Whether you're seeking work experience at home or abroad, the more relevant it is to your career ambitions or field of study, the more beneficial it will be when submitting an application or resume.

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"That strongly indicates that that's their area of interest; that they've worked in that area and they're more certain that's the area they want to pursue," said Kelly, adding that there's a practical reason why admissions staff prefer seeing relevant work experience. "They're statistically more likely to continue in the program once they get in. The dropout rate won't be as high."

Furthermore, Kelly explains that students are typically able to find more prestigious placements in co-op programs if they've already completed an entry-level position in that field. She adds, however, that any work experience is better than no work experience, even if it's not directly relevant.

Make sure you get a positive reference

No matter how relevant the position is to your future career or educational ambitions, it's vitally important to leave on good terms. After all, applicants who have taken a year off are commonly asked to prove they were productive during that time, and a negative review could suggest they just aren't ready to return to school or work just yet.

"What you don't want to see is students that use their employers for references and they're not very favourable," said Kelly. "That has happened a lot, surprisingly."

Keep track of your accomplishments

For many, the gap year is a dizzying period filled with unique experiences and accomplishments. No matter how they spend that year, however, many will find themselves struggling to put all of those experiences into words at the end of it all, said Kelly. Instead she suggests keeping track of accomplishments as they happen, making it easier to translate those experiences onto an application when the year comes to an end.

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"We even talk to our students about making sure everything they're doing, if they're volunteering, working, or going the extra mile, that they document it and they keep a record of it," she said. "Anything that adds value to your resume will make a difference, so you don't want to forget it."

Find a cause that's meaningful to you

While there may be seemingly infinite ways to give back during a gap year, Joel Nicholson, founder of UniversityHub.ca -- an online resource that provides support to tens of thousands of university-bound students -- suggests favouring opportunities that are personally meaningful above those that might look better on an application.

"You can find awesome programs that focus on any cause that you can think of," he said. "Find something that really resonates with you, and that way you'll become even more passionate to make a change."

Learn a freelance-able skill

While there are also infinite job opportunities for those pursuing a gap year, finding a skill that can earn money over the Internet provides a number of advantages over a traditional, in-person job, suggests Nicholson.

"Once you learn a skill -- whether its social media marketing or blog post writing or detailed data analytics -- you can go online onto these freelancer communities and get hired," he said. "You can earn great money, and the benefit of that is you can do it anywhere, particularly somewhere with a very low cost of living, so your net profit for that year would be higher than if you worked a traditional part-time student job with the cost of living you would endure back home in Canada."

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Keep an open mind

While volunteer and work experiences will help get students and job applicants further along during the application process, employers and admissions staff often expect those who have taken a gap year to demonstrate superior self-awareness and adaptability when they sit down for an interview.

"The number one skill is allowing yourself to be articulate about what you seek out of your university experience in terms of what you actually want to get out of it, what kind of person you want to become," says Nicholson. "If you can do that, that separates you from 99 per cent of the people applying to university."

"Each individual activity one undertakes during a gap year ultimately helps build this intangible quality," adds Marinucci. "These are all characteristics that display a 'well roundedness' that we hope to see in students entering post secondary education, our companies as our newest employees, and our communities as future leaders," she said.

See also:

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In light of the global youth unemployment crisis, what the world really needs is to put its best foot forward and bring up the next generation in a positive and inspiring way.

Forget about just sitting in a classroom and funneling young people into those humdrum everyday jobs - our youth have the power and the drive to do exceptional things and we should be encouraging them to follow their dreams, not to just follow their elders.

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In the UK, youth unemployment is high and the same is mirrored in other European states, in fact, cities around the world.

This is why I support youth entrepreneurship. Even if a start-up business venture doesn't lead to a full time job, the skills gained in venturing into enterprise are invaluable and certainly, I believe, contribute to a young person's employability skills.

That's why I am so pleased to introduce you to Walid Ijassi, a talented 19-year-old social entrepreneur who is the winner of the 2016 #AdamStart Entrepreneurship Challenge. This year I launched the competition to give young businesspeople a break, some grassroots support and to share my lessons learned. I've done this for nearly four years now and love it. Being able to give back is so important; to create that ripple effect of entrepreneurship and social value creation along the way.

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Image: Supplied

Find out more about Walid and his venture through my website and social media links. I'd also like to congratulate runner up Arinze Obiezue who was our Highly Commended Runner Up. A panel comprising of myself and a number of business experts and young people met at Plum + Spilt Milk, a fabulous restaurant and bar in Central London, to deliberate on our decision.

Image: Supplied

Whilst I'm writing, it's always important to express gratitude to your team. Meet Tevin Shepherd, a 23-year-old originally from Saint Lucia who is studying international development in Norwich at the moment. He is a Chevening Scholar, Queen's Young Leader and exceptional young person who we have the pleasure of working with.

Image: Supplied
PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia in the period from January 1 to December 20, 2016 increased the balance of funds on current accounts from UAH 3.2 billion as of January 1 to UAH 7.5 billion as of December 20.

According to the company press service, simultaneously it reduced the credit portfolio by nearly UAH 5.4 billion. Ukrzaliznytsia intends by the end of the year to reduce it by almost UAH 1 billion. So, at the beginning of 2016 the credit portfolio amounted to UAH 46.9 billion, whereas its size decreased to UAH 41.5 billion on December 20. At the same time, the company managed to reduce financial commitments by UAH 1.3 billion, to UAH 4.9 billion (excluding the debt of Donetsk Railways).

"The current balance of funds on the current accounts of Ukrzaliznytsia today completely covers the size of its financial liabilities, whose time of performance has come, and guarantees the stable operation of the sector. In particular, thanks to the balance on current accounts the company can promptly make capital investments, repair rolling stock, infrastructure, procure goods and services, and conduct a balanced financial policy. It managed to increase the balance of funds by optimizing costs and a prudent fiscal policy," company board member Oleksandr Buzhor said.
Neil Hall / Reuters

At 4am this Friday morning, officers from Essex police and UK Border Force set off for the Stansted airport as part of Operation Limelight.

Limelight is in its third year. It takes place at various airports targeting in and outbound flights to 'countries of prevalence' for female genital mutilation (FGM). It undertakes a combination of preventative work and intelligence-led checks on passengers.

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Over the holiday periods, girls are particularly vulnerable to being taken abroad - often to the family's country of origin and subjected to mutilation.

The flight destinations today were Portugal, Italy and Turkey, selected in conjunction with UK Border Force on the basis that they are either hub destinations for onwards flights to high risk countries, or involve known routes taken by people to avoid detection sometimes with two different airlines.

TALKING

The purpose of today's operation was education and awareness raising.

On previous operations plain clothes officers have spoken to those who seemed most relevant - families with young girls. However, today officers were in uniform and spoke to everyone on each flight. People seemed more receptive, perhaps feeling they could not so easily turn away.

The officers explained what FGM is, that it is illegal in this country and that, crucially, it is illegal to take girls aboard for FGM.

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The officers spoke to people confidently and sensitively. Some passengers were aware of what it is although all seemed to appreciate having their understanding enhanced. Others said they had little or no idea what it was about. Many were surprised by its prevalence in high risk countries. A woman on route to Portugal said she was sure it was still practiced in Portugal. One group of teachers with their own children said they were well aware of it as they teach modules in schools. For others, school provides no information. One man, travelling with his girlfriend, who seemed to trivialise the officers efforts was eventually politely disabused of any notion of FGM being a frivolous issue.

The officers will monitor incoming flights at the end of the holidays. This is a much tougher exercise as it is not just awareness raising but trying to identify girls who may have been subjected to FGM.

INCOMING CUTTERS

PC Fiona Clements, who led today's operation, explained that the new and next challenge is incoming cutters. Ironically and sadly the relative success of awareness raising about taking girls abroad means families are now pursuing other methods of practising FGM without leaving the country.

One methods is for families to organise "FGM parties" for which a cutter will specifically travel into this country. Presumably this way of doing it is also far cheaper than flying a family elsewhere.

Incoming cutters are terribly difficult to identify. Some are relatives of one of the girls, seemingly on a benign family trip. Others may be nurses or midwifes - as one officer noted, traditionally thought of as being caring trustworthy people.

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There is currently no straightforward legal means by which they can be dealt with. This autumn the Met Police applied to the High Court to try to block the entry of a high profile Sierra Leone woman, referred to as a "celebrity cutter". The Judge had to refuse it saying it was for the Secretary of State and in the interim the woman got wind of the Met's application and decided not to come to this country.

Normally however the police have to rely on intelligence or luck with bag searches which may revela traditional equipment for FGM, knives, razors and "blessed" water.

Police are also now aware that similar equipment is being sent into the country via the post, presumably for use by domestic based cutters.

But there are also other aspects of harmful cultural practices which are barely known of and for which there is no specific protection, such as breast ironing, a practice in which a girl's breasts are beaten and burned to stop them developing. The UN estimates that 3.8m girls worldwide are affected. Its especially prevalent in West African countries and it is thought that approximately 1000 girls in the UK have been subjected to the practice. Public awareness is very low but the effects are devastating.

MORE RESOURCES

Today awareness of FGM was split amongst the people spoken to today but reception of the information was positive and the officers felt the day had gone really well . Ideally these operations are multiagency with police and border forced accompanied by health experts and grass roots NGOs or activists.

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To improve their work officers said they needed more intelligence about where FGM is being perpetrated and for communities ot help identify what else can be done. Ultimately that requires more resources and better education - particularly in schools aimed at boys as well as girls.

Activists know that publicly displayed information makes a difference. Survivors have spoken openly about how they stopped the practice for their daughters on seeing information in public places. Essex police at Stanstead were able to give a leaflet to each passenger but other police forces have had a lot of resistance at other air ports to running operations - and this must be commercial reasons.

Officers spoke to passengers on four flights today. But as school break up thousands of flights are leaving this country and with them thousands of girls some of whom are at vulnerable age and headed to countries of high risk.
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The Home Office has demonstrated yet again that, when it comes to drug policy, it is more concerned with political posturing than public health.

On Monday, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) published the findings of a study into the recent increase in drug-related deaths in the UK. The annual number of opioid-related deaths in England rose by 58 per cent between 2012 and 2015. Shockingly, deaths linked specifically to heroin and morphine increased by 107 per cent during the same period.

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In the report, the ACMD recommends that the Home Office counter these rising deaths with a range of measures that reduce the harms of drug use, including the introduction of medically-supervised drug consumption clinics, and by funding heroin assisted treatment (HAT). HAT allows people who are dependent on heroin, and have found alternative opioid substitution therapy to be ineffective, to be prescribed safe quantities of it.

The Home Office issued an immediate response, part of which stated:

"Drugs can cause untold harm and this government is acting to reduce their devastating impact. [...] This government has no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms but recovery will remain at the heart of our approach. We are grateful to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs for their advice and will respond in due course."

In other words, the Home Office will continue its uncompromising and deadly approach of pushing people to become drug-free; an approach that lowers the likelihood of people encountering harm reduction services, and therefore increases the chance of death.

"Death," the ACMD explains, "is the most serious harm related to drug use".

The fact that they must explain this to the Home Office may be the most damning indictment of UK drug policy in the whole report.

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One must admire the ACMD's resilience.

The group of health professionals, academics, and criminal justice experts undertake study after study, write report after report, and implore the Home Office to implement evidence-based, harm-reducing, life-saving drug policies. And then the Home Office ignores them, changes nothing, and drug-related deaths rise, ad infinitum.

If the Home Secretary truly intends to reduce the harms of drug use, a good starting point would be for her to stop perpetuating policies that kill people who use drugs.

While the government is "acting" to reduce the impact of drugs, the total number of drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales has reached the highest since records began, and there were 2,677 opioid-related deaths in the UK last year. Perhaps the Home Secretary should consider listening to experts who know how to reduce those figures.

Indeed, HAT and consumption clinics diverge most significantly from the Home Office's traditional drug policies as these proposed initiatives involve treating people with addictions as human beings with a right to life, and because they're rooted in evidence rather than empty rhetoric.

The effectiveness of HAT at reducing the harms of drug use is demonstrated daily by well-established programmes in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as by the results of a HAT trial in the UK.

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Evidence shows that HAT reduces both the risk of fatal overdose and the spread of infectious diseases through needle-sharing. It is undeniable that HAT saves lives. It also has a broader societal benefit, even for those who do not use drugs, as it reduces the likelihood of someone buying heroin from the illegal market - thus putting a dent in organised crime and significantly reducing criminal activity.

Similarly, consumption clinics provide safe spaces and sterile equipment for people who use drugs, and they are staffed by health professionals to prevent fatal overdoses from occurring. They also provide mental and social care services to help people manage their addictions.

Perhaps the most convincing testament to drug consumption clinics - which can now be found in many parts of Europe and Canada - is that nobody has ever died from a heroin overdose in one.

Unfortunately, despite the mass of evidence in favour of both HAT and consumption clinics, it would be wishful thinking to expect their implementation in the UK.

The Home Office is regurgitating the same moralistic attitude towards drug policy that it has done for decades, regardless of which party has been in power: facts don't matter, evidence is irrelevant, and experts are to be disregarded, if not scorned.

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This approach - tried, tested, and failed in almost every country on earth - will inevitably lead to thousands more opioid-related deaths in the UK. As far as the Home Office is concerned, these mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters are mere collateral damage in their moral crusade.
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I have always been pretty skeptical about the role of technology in dementia care and support. I've attended numerous meetings where I've pointed out that no product or device can replace human interaction. It might be cheaper, or more efficient, but human to human contact is invaluable and transformative.

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My viewpoint has been tested in recent weeks though. Having met with James Ashwell, founder of Unforgettable, and learnt more about the role of technological products to help people to live well with dementia, I have a more positive opinion for two main reasons.

Firstly, Unforgettable aren't just another technology company capitalising on the national rise in prominence of dementia. There have been so many companies who fall into this category, bombarding me with requests to promote their wares and in the process severely and very negatively affecting my opinion of the role of technology in dementia care. Unforgettable have a social mission - to improve the lives of all those affected by dementia - and offer advice and support, not just a catalogue of products.

On the point about selling things, yes, they have many items available to buy, but Unforgettable are a Certified B Corporation, which means they are a business that meets a higher standard of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. They believe business should be a force for good, and to this end they also donate to the Unforgettable Foundation.

The second reason I'm a fan is the many similarities between my motivation for my work and James' motivation for his. James' mum had younger onset dementia, and he gave up his career to care for her. His experiences with his mum have underpinned everything he's put into creating and now running Unforgettable.

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James and his mum, Fay

I've no idea if James' mum (who died in 2011) and my dad (who died in 2012) would have got on, but there is no doubt that they have both left a legacy that their respective son and daughter cherish and honour. We both share a motivation to help people affected by dementia to live as well as possible, which I hope shines through in everything we do.

On a practical level, the most important way in which Unforgettable can fulfil this aim gets to the heart of what people with dementia continually tell policy makers that they want - the ability to remain living at home for as long as possible. Anything that can help people to achieve this is crucial, and with the understanding we have now about modifying environments and using products and technologies to enable people to continue with their daily life as THEY want to, retaining as much independence as possible, there is more chance of living well with dementia in your own home than ever before.

One of the aspects of the Oscar winning film 'Still Alice' that I was most critical of was how the filmmakers failed to show the many strategies for how a person can live well with dementia at home - a little knowledge, and quick visit to the Unforgettable website, could have been transformational for Alice, but of course in Hollywood we need drama more than we need information and inspiration.

I hope the future is a bright one for Unforgettable - they have certainly grown at a rapid rate, recently winning the Outstanding Dementia Innovation award at the 7th National Dementia Care Awards. Having just been named in Nominet's top 100 Tech for Good companies theirs is certainly a rising star.

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James picking up Unforgettable's award at the 7th National Dementia Care Awards
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Prisoners riot and protest for the same reason anyone else does: because they are not being heard. In the past two months riots have swept through five prisons, inmates have sawed their way out of their cells to escape and one prisoner has been stabbed to death. Our prisons are in desperate, heart-breaking crisis and the disturbance at HMP Swaleside last night was yet another act of desperation from prisoners who feel they have no voice. We need to stop pointing fingers and start listening before any more violence takes hold.

As a criminal barrister I have worked with many prisoners and represented those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences at Parole Board hearings. They tell me how few prisons provide for their basic hygiene needs, how poor the food is, and how they do not have access to the rehabilitative courses they are required to go on. They are incarcerated, but they are still human and they still have the same basic needs as everyone else, and they have the right to be treated as such. Our prison service has become so stretched it is at breaking point and we are failing to meet the most basic of prisoners' needs; let alone assist in their rehabilitation. How then can we expect them to do anything but protest?

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Government cuts and privatisation have seen the number of prison officers in the UK fall as the prison population grows and outbreaks of violence and insecurity are the inevitable result. In the last year, the number of assaults in prisons has risen by one third, while those on staff have gone up by 40 per cent. The rise in self-inflicted deaths was up almost one third and self-harm has increased by 27 per cent. These injuries and deaths are often preventable and highlight the inadequacies in mental health and information gathering that takes place. Inmates and staff are dangerously vulnerable and never has the argument for bringing the prison service back into public hands been stronger. Privatisation is once again failing those who are the most at risk.

Just one week ago the worst riot in a British prison in a decade gripped HMP Birmingham as 600 inmates took control of a wing for 12 hours, resulting in one prisoner being taken to hospital. In response Liz Truss, the Justice Secretary, said those responsible "will face the full force of the law". This statement gives away Truss' utter failure to grasp the problem and a lack of insight into the reasons behind the crisis. If we are serious about addressing the problems facing our gaols we must reduce the number of people in them. Increasing custodial sentences for those who commit infractions in prison is only making the problem worse: instead we should be asking why those inmates took the action they did in the first place.

Our aim should be to close prisons because there is so little demand for them, as is happening in the Netherlands. On top of ending threats to lengthen the sentences of inmates who riot, we must urgently work to release prisoners serving IPP sentences, many of whom have served many months or years longer than their minimum term. It is utterly unjust and unjustifiable that almost 4,000 people are still trapped in prison beyond their release date, many of whom committed crimes attracting very low sentences in the first place. The Government's failure to act is responsible for people's lives being wasted behind bars. There is no excuse for continuing to detain people who have served their time, four years after IPP sentences were abolished.

The most important task we face is to address why people end up in prison in the first place. The failed model of short prison sentences should be scrapped immediately and replaced with community rehabilitation, reducing the strain on prisons, administering community based punishments whilst also equipping often vulnerable people with the life skills they so desperately need to prevent reoffending. Of course in cases of serious offending prison is the appropriate punishment, however in cases of less serious offending, prison is rarely the place that positive change can take place. It is also of fundamental importance to recognise that we need to invest in education and tackle poverty and inequality. Prevention is, of course, better than cure.

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Orbis

I think if I wasn't an anaesthetist, I would have liked to have been a pilot. There's a lot of similarities, in terms of responsibility, it's a practical role, it's science based. In the end though - I like my patients. Most of my anaesthetic practice is with children. It's incredibly rewarding. Often they are unwell through no fault of their own, and they need life-changing surgery unfeasible without general anaesthesia. I like being an integral part of the team that makes that happen.

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My job and my interest in aviation combine perfectly through the charity I volunteer for - Orbis, which fights avoidable blindness across the world, with its in-country programmes and unique Flying Eye Hospital. I first became involved with them because I respect their ethos and their values. They are non-profit, non-aligned, non-religious. I like that they focus on education and building strength, not dependency.

Blindness is an area where people can make a real difference to the needless suffering of millions of people. There are 285million people in the world who are blind or visually impaired, and 90% of these people live in developing countries where access to eye care is scarce. Blindness has far-reaching implications; children can no longer go to school, adults can no longer contribute to their families or communities. In some cultures, blind people are shunned or discriminated against or even left to die. And frustratingly, 80% of blindness is either treatable or avoidable.

Since I started volunteering with Orbis, I've been on six sight-saving expeditions - and the majority of these have been with their Flying Eye Hospital; the only ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft.

The Flying Eye Hospital is more than just a high tech concept. The environment enables us to share knowledge and skills with local medical professionals in a totally unique way across the medical specialities; for example, the operating room broadcasts surgery to those we're training in the 46-seat classroom at the front of the plane, in 3D and in real time.

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It enables us to go to places where other charities don't or can't. In the past it has been to Syria, Cuba and Taiwan. In its history, the Flying Eye Hospital has visited 78 countries on hundreds of missions. When we were in China recently, we were just 180 miles from the North Korean border. The plane itself is an ambassador and it attracts attention wherever we go. It gives us a spotlight to raise awareness and help prevent avoidable blindness. We often have visits from high ranking governmental officials who are keen to tour the plane and meet the crew and volunteers. I know that Fidel Castro spent time on board the Flying Eye Hospital during one of its visits to Cuba. There are even rumours that he dressed up in a bunny suit to entertain the children waiting for surgery - but of course we can neither confirm nor deny this.

I'm amazed by the people we treat. The children are always rewarding. They are usually very brave, many have not seen an aeroplane before, let alone an anaesthetist, yet very few cry or get scared. At the opposite end of the scale I remember anaesthetising one 82 year old lady in Cambodia which was unusual. She was remarkably stoical and sailed through her surgery and anaesthesia - proving that you have to be good to get to 82!

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be a volunteer during the first programme of the new 'third-generation' Flying Eye Hospital which took place in Shenyang, China. Not only had the brand new plane only just launched in June, but it was the 40th Flying Eye Hospital programme in the country.

The anaesthetist that we were training during the programme - despite being qualified - had never had the opportunity to provide local anaesthetics for eye surgery. As the week went on she made rapid progress, eventually doing just that - and very successfully. Not only were these techniques safe, but crucially they are sustainable and used equipment from the local hospital. We always try and bear in mind that one size does not fit all, and we listen to local medical professionals and give them the training they need to work within their own environments.

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One of the things Orbis always focuses on is teaching current evidence-based best practice, from maintaining hand hygiene to adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) surgical safety checklist. In a lot of places we visit, teaching is given a back seat to service delivery. Medical professionals have a huge workload and don't get the time, funding and encouragement for professional development. Orbis helps change this, ultimately meaning that more people in more countries can access quality eye care.

I'm pleased to report there were surprisingly few teething problems with anaesthetising on the new plane. Everything worked well, and thankfully we didn't have to test out any of the state of the art resuscitation equipment! The only omission I could find was a decent cup of coffee - but I am assured that this is work in progress. I look forward to finding out when volunteering on my next Flying Eye Hospital programme! www.orbis.org.uk
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With Christmas adverts on TV, presents in every shop window, and festive songs on repeat, you could be forgiven for forgetting that this time of year - far from being magical for all families - can be a lonely time for those without a home of their own.

All around the country, foster carers are doing their bit to make sure that this Christmas will be a special one for the children and young people they care for. Having grown up with many foster brothers and sisters, I know all too well that the winter holidays are especially hard for children growing up in care. At this time of year, they are in need of all the extra love and support we can give them.

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And we know this year has been especially difficult for many. We've all seen the headlines about the journeys so many families have made to reach the UK, and the arrival of unaccompanied children from Calais. Some of these children are among the most vulnerable in society, and that's why we recently committed to publishing our plan that sets out in even greater detail how they should be kept safe when they reach this country.

According to the Fostering Network, every twenty minutes across the UK, a child comes into care in need of a foster family. We always need more foster carers to come forward and open their homes to vulnerable children - especially for certain groups, such as teenagers and sibling groups, like those who have been living in the Calais camps.

These children deserve the very best that we can offer them and communities across the country can really get behind them and help make sure they feel safe and supported. Everyone has a part to play, and it was wonderful to hear the news of the policewoman from Huddersfield whose appeal for Christmas presents for two children in foster care has resulted in thousands of gifts being sent in. This will really make a difference to these children and hopefully will mean they have a happier Christmas. Growing up in care should be no barrier to anything that other children may take for granted, and for some children this year will be their best Christmas yet, in the company of their wonderful foster families.

As a government we're working closely with councils to help them recruit more foster carers who can meet the needs of these children. We have also quickened the approval process and provided money to trial new approaches to foster carer recruitment through our children's social care innovation programme.

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I know first-hand from my own family just how difficult this time of year can be for vulnerable children and those without a home of their own. Together with the public, and the many talented and dedicated people who work with vulnerable children and families, I want to continue to support children in care and help make sure they have a brighter, safer Christmas.

And, to anyone who has fostered a child, I want to thank you personally for the commitment and love you bring to parenting some of our most vulnerable children.
I met Josh Taylor in an Afghan restaurant. We broke the ice over a 'couple's selection' of charcoal grilled meat, dhal and some obligatory naan. We share a passion for Central and South Asia, having met the year before in Kyrgyzstan, as you do.

Josh has made some pretty interesting life choices, despite his modesty, and so I sheepishly asked if I could interview him for this blog. I found his initial experiences and subsequent decisions immensely re-assuring, as I saw parallels with my own. I hope others will too, and can draw inspiration and confidence from his happy ending.

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 Josh Taylor

Josh 2.0 - the charity-worker

A rough-sleeping prevention officer, Josh currently works for New Hope Trust, a Watford-based charity. There, he spends his mornings preparing breakfasts and chatting to his service users, and in the afternoons meets with clients individually and visits areas where he knows his they congregate. His passion for his job is obvious as his face lights up when I ask why he works there; he feels like he is 'doing something worthwhile every day' and can measure his achievements in terms of literally changing the lives of those less fortunate. He loves building relationships with people and understanding what 'makes them tick.' As he continues I realise that he is referring to mental health issues, rather than innocuous personality quirks.

I realise that my ideas about homelessness and why people are homeless might be somewhat divorced from reality. So I ask him to tell me about his experiences of why people find themselves in such horrendous situations, and to correct any misconceptions I may have. Josh gets pretty animated, telling me how so many of us assume that all homeless people are 'criminals, drunks, drug addicts and people with no future or real hope.' It seems this is far from the truth. I trust him - of all people, he knows.

These people are just like everyone else, but have been hit by unfortunate circumstances and have been through tragic situations that most of us will never experience, but they don't have the support networks in place to get them through.

He highlights the importance and seriousness of mental health as a major issue when people don't have family or close friends to fall back on. They slip through the net society is meant to provide as they aren't vulnerable in as much of an obvious way.

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He finds it difficult to compartmentalise the things he hears and sees in his work from his personal life, though says it is completely worth it. Josh is also more than willing to accept the 50% pay cut. Why? Because the sense of fulfillment he feels from his job and having a positive direction, in his and others' lives, more than compensates for it.

Josh 1.0 - the lawyer

Josh comes from a family of lawyers, and relished in 'debating and playing devil's advocate' so much growing up that he never questioned what seemed like the obvious career path. What parents wouldn't want their child to grow up to become a lawyer? It is a well-paid and prestigious career, and so he merrily skipped off to university to study for his LLB.

It is easy to ignore that voice in the back of your head that initially goes off like a fire alarm when you feel that something is wrong. But the more it is ignored, the quieter it can get. The voice can be placated and seduced into thinking it is mistaken. The weight of expectation, though often well-intentioned and unspoken, is heavy and it is easy to be distracted by the highs and lows of life, especially when you are young and enthusiastic students (enthusiastic for things other than our studies in many cases).

 Josh Taylor

Josh placated his by the thought that while he may not be the best law student, when it came to doing the actual job, he would enjoy it far more. So after graduating, it seemed nonsensical to not try and become a fully qualified solicitor.

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So the next life stage followed, and he won a place on a trainee scheme at a commercial solicitor's firm. It started with sleepless nights, but soon the voice was back and this time it could not be disregarded as easily. 'Within four months of starting I knew I would quit the minute I qualified,' two years away. The realisation that the last five or six years would be a 'waste' though was difficult to bear. Slowly, the sleepless nights got worse and Josh began to explain how during that time he felt as though he was 'wasting' his life.

As he went into more detail, we ignored the dessert menu now in front of us.

Despite muddling on through, he describes that time as 'hellish' and that he became a 'different person, far less sociable and confident, always thinking about and dreading work.' Josh described how a lack of confidence could to affect every part of your life, how you become resigned to your situation but still live in a constant state of panic.

What he is depicting is something I am familiar with, the knowledge that you are desperately unhappy on a daily basis but not knowing how to take control of that. It's like he has watched my experience over the past year and is repeating it back to me. I had not realised until this conversation that I was not alone, and that was more comforting than any sympathetic shoulder during that time had been.

Then he said it - 'I was depressed.' I don't think he meant in the clinically diagnosed sense, but it certainly sounded not too far off. Josh's body language had changed, his face was more downcast and shoulders hunched, it was easy to see the physical impact of feeling this way, and it was something that, again, I could relate to.

But then came the golden moment - 'on the day I qualified, I stuck to my word and quit.' Josh spent three months travelling through Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, China and then Central Asia - where I met him. Afterwards, he moved back home and spent six months volunteering for a range of ex-offender charities in Manchester and eventually got his job as a rough-sleeping prevention officer.

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As we pay up he tells me that he thinks life is about enjoyment. Josh 2.0 shines through and poignantly advises me that I choose something for the experience and enjoyment, not the salary.

One thing that was certainly become clear over the evening was that it is our social relationships with friends and family that are important, far more so than material possessions - all too frequently the lack of the former seemed to lead to the lack of the latter, not the other way around.

 Josh Taylor

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Josh works for the charity, New Hope Trust.

Emma Rosen taking a radical sabbatical and trying 25 careers before turning 25, and is interviewing inspiring people along the way. You can view her website and blog here
At the end of the year, my thoughts always turn to my travel plans for the year ahead. My wishlist for the first part of this year includes Mauritius, South Africa Santorini and St Bart's, with many more destinations for later in the year hopefully.

To give you some inspiration for next year's travel plans, here are some key new hotel openings to keep on your radar.

Four Seasons at 10 Trinity Square

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Photo provided by the hotel.

Four Seasons at 10 Trinity Square opens on 26 January 2017 in a Grade II listed building, overlooking Tower of London in the City of London.

Expect an exquisite restoration of a beautiful building and a welcome addition to the London luxury hotel scene.

The hotel will offer 100 rooms as well as 41 private residences and three dining options, including home to the three Michelin-starred Chef Anne-Sophie Pic's first London restaurant. There will be a luxurious spa, state-of-the-art fitness centre and beautiful indoor pool.

Rosewood Le Crillon, Paris

Originally built in 1758, Hotel de Crillon has a fantastic location overlooking Place de la Concorde in Paris. The restoration under Rosewood should see the introduction of a contemporary style to the hotel while retaining the hotel's traditions and character.

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While details have been kept under wraps, Karl Lagerfeld has designed a select number of suites.

Hotel Eden, Rome

Perfectly positioned with panoramic views of Rome, the Eden Hotel is currently undergoing an extensive restoration project of its 98 guestrooms and suites and is due to reopen in April 2017.

Full of classic Italian style, the hotel's redesign and refurbishment will offer a luxurious and classical feel with fine fabrics and elegant artwork, offering a relaxed and homely feel in a refined setting.

Almanac Barcelona

Photo provided by the hotel.

Almanac Hotels is a new hotel group where the first luxury hotel to launch in the summer of 2017 will be Almanac Barcelona (92 rooms and suites), located on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes.

Expect a stylish and contemporary decor using a wealth of textures, different materials and a palate of grey, beige and gold tones throughout with accents of oak and walnut.

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Oetker Collection's Palacio Tangara, Sao Paulo

Photo provided by the hotel.

Built in the surroundings of the Burle Marx Park, Palacio Tangara will open its doors in the spring of 2017. The hotel will offer 141 spacious guestrooms - including 55 suites - all with beautiful views overlooking the park.

Additional facilities will include 11 function rooms, including a ballroom for up to 360 guests with terraces overlooking the park.

Raffles Europejski, Warsaw

Hotel Europejski originally opened in 1857, immediately stepping into the spotlight as one of the most luxurious hotels in the Russian Empire. During World War II, however, it was almost completely destroyed and then re-built in stages throughout the 1950s.

The restoration team has worked closely with the local conservation body to ensure the hotel's heritage and character are preserved.

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Raffles Europejski Warsaw will offer 103 elegant guestrooms and suites; a restaurant with an outdoor terrace with seasonal menus showcasing Poland's culinary heritage; a bar and cigar lounge; and a luxurious spa complete with treatment rooms.

Where will your travel plans take you in 2017? Comment below to let me know!
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Last Saturday (10th December) marked Human Rights Day. Instigated by the UN, the day encourages people across the globe to "stand up for someone's rights today".

In the UK, human rights are often seen as an international issue - one enacted in dusty prisons in foreign lands - rather than one that affects us closer to home. However, it can be argued that older people in the UK are one significant part of the population that routinely has its human rights denied...

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No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

The answer to a question recently tabled in parliament revealed that up to 11,000 care home residents are not being properly fed, or left without food and drink. And this sort of neglect is routine in care homes up and down the UK. It doesn't get much more basic than the right to food and water, and yet this most fundamental need is being denied to older people every day. And it's not just neglect that's the problem.

Older people are often actively harmed, often by those who are meant to be caring for them. Such stories are nauseating and all too frequent. The care workers who psychologically tortured dementia patients in Manchester. The nurse in Cornwall who threatened her patient with morphine to shut her up. The carer in Fareham who punched an older gentleman for wetting the bed. These are scenes you may have expected in Victorian ages, not in suburban care homes in Britain in 2016. Is it any wonder then, that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission has previously gone on record noting that the treatment of older people in the UK actually meets definitions for torture?

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation.

We all have the right to a family life. Yet older people, especially those living in residential or care homes, often find obstacles put in the way of their relationship with their loved one. This usually manifests itself by their relatives being banned from visiting them, usually because - most inconveniently - they have complained about standards of care. Indeed, so grave is the problem that in October of this year the Care Quality Commission (CQC) released guidance on visiting rights to care homes and stressed that family members should not have to "live in fear" of raising concerns.

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Right to life

And in some cases, older people are even denied their right to life. In 2011, we conducted an investigation into the Liverpool Care Pathway. We found cases of DNR orders being placed on patients with no consultation with either the patient or their families, and one instance of a gentlemen who died after a DNR note was mistakenly placed in his file. We compiled this dossier because while the CQC was completing its duties in uncovering the failure of the application of the Liverpool Care Pathway, it was doing very little to actually protect the older people who were in - quite literally - mortal danger.

And unfortunately, there is evidence that this is still the case. The Liverpool Care Pathway was, quite rightly, withdrawn in 2013. However, things still don't seem to have changed that much. Nurses at the Royal London Hospital interviewed by CQC inspectors said they had not been given new advice on the care of potentially palliative patients and were trained to use only the pathway. What this means in practice is that, yet again, euthanasia is slipping in via the backdoor. Older lives - by both some in the medical establishment and in society more widely - are perceived as being worth less than the lives of younger people and thus are more likely to be truncated prematurely. With, it seems, very few repercussions.
Fashion students join forces to call for a transformation of the industry at large.

'I'm so sick of the word sustainability'

'I want to be proud to work in this industry'

'Why are we causing long lasting damage with short lasting trends?'

'#GETYOURSHITTOGETHER'

The battle cry of 12 fashion students who are fed up with fashion and ready for change rang loud and clear, at this year's Beyond Green Symposium. An annual, signature event by the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, held in collaboration with Circle Economy.

The fashion industry has come under increased scrutiny and hot criticism. As the second most polluting industry in the world, after oil, and in the wake of the Rana Plaza collapse, the consensus continues to grow; fashion needs to change how it operates, and fast.

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As this change bubbles just below the surface, education must step up to the plate and acknowledge the profound moral responsibility it has in shaping the future of fashion.

STOP BUSINESS AS USUAL

Reforming our values

Despite its dubious reputation, fashion has a magnetic pull, and each year thousands of hopefuls apply to fashion universities, eager to be a part of the thriving $1.5 trillion USD industry.

There is an undeniable pressure on universities to ensure that graduates are fully equipped to step into the commercial world of fashion. However, today, more than ever, fashion universities must ensure that they are not training students for, what many perceive as the sinking ship that is 'business as usual'.

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Education can no longer shy away from the vast and damaging impact the industry has and must equip the next generation of fashion professionals with the values, perspectives, knowledge (and audacity!) needed to mend this ship we have set sail on, or to build a smarter, vehicle for change. While education traditionally reflects and echoes what is happening in the industry, it must now critically react and work against it and lead us toward a fairer fashion future. This means calling into question basic assumptions around the logic of mass production and consumption, the role of the designer in society and our predominate definitions of 'value'.

ENOUGH STUFF

Questioning the logic of mass consumption and production

Our endless cycle of consumption has led us into a major economical and ecological crisis. At this point we might well question the need to make more at all. Can design and craft be taught in other ways? Is a 6 piece collection necessarily needed to graduate?

Too often, a fashion student's relationship with waste begins in the classroom; process books, portfolio's, sketchbooks, toile after toile after toile. These methods, can beget a mindset which instills habits that are hard to shake. The relentless pace of the industry is also often mimicked by universities, with many projects lasting an intense 4-5 weeks. With such a quick turnaround, the depth of research and development as well as quality of execution can be compromised.

At the latest Beyond Green symposium in Amsterdam, AMFI graduates Zil Vostalova and Tamara Koch shared their insights on a 'phygital' way of working; moving between the physical and digital worlds. The Amsterdam Fashion Institute has embraced this approach by teaching students to digitally render their designs, using advanced 3D modelling programmes such as Clo3D and Lectra, therefore massively displacing production waste.

DESIGNING WITH INTENT

Creating value, not products

An estimated 80% of a product's environmental and economic costs are committed by the final design stage, before production even begins. We must teach designers to design with intent, and purpose; asking not only what mark they are making on this world, aesthetically, but also, what positive environmental and social mark they are making. The next generation of makers must think systemically, considering and facilitating a product's end-of-life, and viewing them in terms of material cycles, not one-off-trend items destined for the trash heap.

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU BUY

A holistic approach to fashion education

A student's connection with the industry begins long before they enrolled as a fashion student. It begins the minute they invested their pocket money in their first 'fashion' item because of want rather than need. We do a grave disservice when we do not directly address the dual role we play, as both designers and as consumers.

It is this belief that bred the activist collective 'HELLO-GOODBUY', which functions as a support system for fellow fast-fashion swallowers who want to pull their heads out of the sand and move towards more thoughtful consumption. The collective encourages members to take a long hard look at their buying habits and commit to a 4-part consumer manifesto.

'I became a different person. Because I faced myself, I faced my behaviour and I understand what to do now.' - Emilija Bertasiute, AMFI management student

Students themselves recognise that this is a conflicting and difficult transformation for educational institutes to undergo. "On the one hand they do want to go in that direction, and on the other hand it is an unpaved path...how to guide such a process?", one AMFI student and Hello-Goodbuy activist, Karlijne Opmeer explained.

COLLABORATION IS KEY

It is critical for the next generation to be actively engaged in this topic, and an open line of communication is needed between education and industry. With this in mind, 150 AMFI AMFI students joined forces with 150 leading industry players including G-star, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, VF corporation, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition at the latest Beyond Green, to design new solutions for the age-old problem of textile waste.

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In a two hour, fashion hackathon during Beyond Green, curated teams worked together to create innovative business models, strategies and designs for Orta Anadolu, Mud Jeans, Boer Group and The Next Closet.
DTEK Energy, the largest Ukrainian private energy holding, has achieved an agreement with the holders of eurobonds and creditor banks on the long-term restructuring of the loan portfolio, according to a press release of the holding.

The agreement with eurobond holders was achieved at a meeting on December 19 and approved by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales on December 21, 2016.

The restructuring of securities involves the exchange of both issues of eurobonds worth $750 million with a coupon rate of 7.875% per annum and $160 million with a rate of 10.375% per annum for new equities with the maturity of up to December 31, 2024. At the same time, the repayment of new eurobonds will be carried out in two equal installments: 50% in December 2023 and 50% on the expiration of the circulation period.

The coupon rate for new eurobonds is set at 10.75% per annum. In 2017-2018 coupon payment in cash will be 5.5% per annum, in 2019 some 6.5%, in 2020 some 7.5%, in 2021 some 8.5%, in 2022-2023 some 9.5%, and in 2024 some 10.75% per annum.

The remaining part of the coupon, not paid in cash, will be capitalized and added to the principal amount of eurobonds on a quarterly basis.

It is expected new eurobonds will be issued on December 29, 2016.
DAJ via Getty Images

Our schools could learn a thing or two about how to teach sex ed from porn, namely the inclusion of pleasure in the overall picture - this was a takeaway message from an event hosted last week in London by Love Matters, an organisation behind a network of online platforms that engage young people in conversations about love, sex and relationships.

Timed to promote new research on sex ed in the digital age, in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Love Matters invited a group of activists, journalists and industry experts to The Pleasure Portal. There people were blindfolded, tickled and fed chocolate. We were introduced to new sex toys and asked about our sexual super power. Interspersed with these more "fun" elements was less pleasant content - a woman spoke about her experience of female genital cutting, sketches took on the issue of HIV and consent, and one woman recounted her story of coming out to her parents.

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This warts and all approach was the night's raison d'etre - to show that we can't talk about the negatives of sex without looking at the positives and vice versa.

"By weaving together real audience testimony with theatre, research and storytelling, we sought to create a playful and safe space where our guests could experience first-hand the power of a pleasure-positive approach to educate," said Hannah Walace Bowman, Lead Creative at Love Matters.

Although Love Matters do not work directly with a UK audience, Bowman later tells me that their research and experiences on the ground in a variety of global settings could still be applicable to the way in which schools here address the subject.

Sexual education in the UK has come under fire recently, and for good reason. A condom on a banana; a lesson on syphilis - this was pretty much the entirety of my sexual education when I came of age around 2000. Turns out, the government guidance for sex ed hasn't changed since then.

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"Young people are getting information about sex and relationships in a world before social media existed, before smartphones, before equal marriage or Civil Partnerships. It is wholly unfit to prepare them for the realities of sex and relationships in 2016," says Alex Phillips, Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) lead at Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity.

"It's very difficult to apply the knowledge they are currently learning in the classroom to real sexual situations," adds Bowman.

Sex ed's current inability to say little more than don't has led students in the UK to deem it out of touch with their own lives, so much so that they switch off during the lessons.

Bowman terms the UK's shying away from sex ed as a "British stiff upper lip approach."

"If you don't talk about it, it's not happening."

The outcomes of shying away are not exactly ideal. In lieu of an engaging classroom, many receive their first lesson in sex from porn. According to research by the National Union of Students (NUS) from 2015, 60 percent of students consult pornography, at least in part, as guidance. Nearly three-quarters say they know it's unrealistic, which still leaves a lot who don't know that and whose sexual horizons are being conditioned by the industry's often warped standards. (A study of 50 of the most watched pornographic videos found that 88% of scenes included physical aggression, with the majority of the aggressive incidents being directed towards women, who were shown as either enjoying it or unfased by it.)

It's hardly surprising then that while teenage pregnancy has lowered in recent years, rates in the UK are still higher than a number of Western European countries. There's also been a surge in STIs, especially for men who have sex with men, and stories of sexting gone wrong, revenge porn and abuse at school are rife.

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But instead of shunning porn, the industry might actually be able to help.

"We should harness some of the power porn has to engage young people and lots of that power is not being afraid to talk about the sexy part of sex," Bowman says.

That doesn't mean glossing over the bad. Rather, it means confronting the bad, understanding why it exists and engaging more with the industry's good aspects. After all, not all porn is damaging. There are feminist porn makers, as well as pornographers who promote safe sex, such as Porn4PrEP, a group that uses porn to stimulate conversations and bridge gaps in sexual health.

As Pauline Oosterhoff, who leads the IDS research on sex education, says:

"We need to try to understand the gender and power dynamics at play both online and offline if we want to reduce revenge porn and prevent other types of digital violence. With increasing access to online porn, young people should be able to access information to understand their own sexual rights, pleasure and consent, whether they live in the UK, India or anywhere else in the world."

What's more, a growing body of research suggests that looking at the positives of sex can be very constructive. A study in 2006, for example, showed that the more women felt they were entitled to pleasurable sex, the more confident they were in discussing contraception. Another study, in 2008, compared Dutch teenagers, who receive comprehensive sex ed with a focus on relationships and consensual and pleasurable sex, with American teenagers, whose barebones approach is more akin to what we have in the UK. The Dutch had higher rates of contraceptive use and lower rates of STIs, unwanted pregnancy and abortions than their American counterparts.

Phillips tells me that if we aren't taught that sex should be enjoyable and what consent means, it is harder to identify abuse.

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"Sex is supposed to be pleasurable; if it's not pleasurable you're not consenting. Young people need to understand the balance between safeguarding themselves and the nice things about sex," she says.

I discussed the topic with a friend, a former secondary school science teacher. Frustrated by how little sex ed was on offer, she instigated her own lesson where the students could ask her anything. After a few awkward moments and lots of sniggers, the students became very engaged. One girl asked whether sex was painful. Another sensible question was whether you could get pregnant from anal sex.

We can't rely on the occasional plucky teacher to take this initiative. Nor can we assume that everyone wants to chat about these intimate issues with their teacher. But what we can assume is that there's an appetite to learn much more about sex and that far from being bad, a pleasure-based approach is actually very good.
Fintech North, the one day festival that focuses on digital innovation in the financial services industry, is set to return to Leeds in 2017 following a successful inaugural event this year.

Significant? Yes. Why? For three inter-connected reasons. Firstly, the government is supporting the 2017 showcase, which will be held as part of Leeds Digital Festival. This in turn emphasises the government's commitment to grow the Fintech industry as a key part of the Northern Powerhouse agenda (indeed following the recent Autumn Statement two Fintech envoys to promote the sector in the North of England were appointed). Thirdly, Fintech North is further evidence of why the government's investment in this sector in locations such as Leeds City Region is far from misplaced.

Fintech is undoubtedly one of the major growth sectors for Leeds City Region. Indeed, as an existing centre of excellence for both finance (as the UK's second centre for banking, home to over 30 national and international banks) and technology, we are primed and ready to capitalise on the opportunity.

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As a report by Leeds City Council has found, Leeds and the wider Leeds City Region have a number of inherent advantages when it comes to Fintech. These include already being home to a large number of companies playing a pioneering role in innovative Fintech arenas, including Panintelligence, Contis, WorldPay and Nostrum Group, and several leading universities producing a pipeline of high quality graduates in this space.

And with recent news that the North of England has lost 310,000 graduates in the last 10 years in a so-called north to south 'brain drain', I believe that in the Fintech and wider digital sectors, Leeds City Region is bucking this trend and is actually witnessing a trend towards north-shoring. In other words, many companies are leaving London to set up offices here instead where talent is in abundance - we have the largest concentration of STEM graduates in the UK - office space is a lot more affordable and quality of life is first rate.

Let's also not forget we have an exciting list of existing strengths from which to draw on, further evolve, and confirm our position at the top of the Fintech table.

Chief among these is our financial services sector. This is the best in the UK outside London, and it is characterised by both tradition and innovation. The region has been home to leading financial institutions since the 18th century, when the first building society outside of the Midlands was established in the city. It is also the birthplace of the first telephone bank in the UK, First Direct.

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Alongside this our strengths within the specific areas of payment processing, data analytics and cyber security; set the City Region apart with firms such as BJSS, TSYS and ECSC.

A natural convergence of traditional financial services providers and new Fintech players is inevitable - indeed is already underway - with Leeds and the City Region ideally positioned to host and nurture the next generation of financial services businesses that will emerge as a result.

By actively leveraging our native advantages, which also include the highest concentration of digital, data and technology innovators in the UK, we are already realising our vision.

Couple this with the work of organisations such as the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, and our City Region becomes a highly attractive place for global Fintech providers to invest and grow.
The headlines seemed to be filled with "influencer marketing" this year. From mergers and acquisitions, like Collective Bias' own with Inmar, Inc, to Google's purchase of Famebit, and companies like Conde Nast partnering with IBM's Watson to find influencers, there has been a scramble on all fronts to jump on the influencer marketing bandwagon. Fueled by success stories and ad blocking, influencers became the answer to so many brands' needs. So, we asked some industry pundits to lend their opinions for what's in store for 2017.

Allisha Watkins, Mars Chocolate NA, Shopper Marketing Team Lead, Walmart

Influencer marketing will continue to be an important component of CPG's shopper marketing strategies in 2017. It's proven to be a powerful engine for shopper marketers to connect with consumers on an emotional level. As the market becomes more saturated with content, we continue to rely on targeted paid media to get the right content in front of the right audience at the right place and time. Shopper behavior will continue to evolve in 2017 as new technologies emerge, but I believe one thing will remain the same - the power of leveraging influencers to drive business results.

Rick Wion, Kellogg, Senior Director of Consumer Engagement

Influencer marketing will continue to be a key aspect of social marketing for many organizations, but as with any popular mechanic of engagement, a rush of "me too" type of activations will lead to poor executions. Influencer marketing is already at a saturation point, which creates risk for both influencers and marketers. Influencers need to be very discerning and only accept programs and concepts that are a good fit for their individual brands and audiences. Brands also need to be discerning in selecting influencers that share their values, build toward their goals and will execute in a way that creates positive experiences for their audiences.



When it comes to measurement, influencer marketing should be evaluated based on what metric is most important to a particular brand or program. For tracking sales, influencers should be equipped with tracking pixels, discount codes and other conversion tracking tools. For measuring things like perception changes, influencer marketing programs should include audience surveys to understand what type of impact was achieved.



Aki Spicer, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Chief Digital Officer

Influencers are increasingly the new freelance creative army to the agency. We are quickly going beyond the Celebrity-Endorser/Distributor Model - where we used to just plant the product inconspicuously on the "influencer" in their photo...it is empty brand presence and audiences see through it. We have increasingly brought influencers closer in to truly co-create ideas with the agency (and clients). Like freelance creatives. Many influencers are experts in a category, on the product and we have started to tap their value as co-creatives. It's really taking some our work to deeper levels of insight and authenticity.

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Phil White, Geometry Global, EVP, Head of Strategy, New York

One of the challenges with influencer marketing has always been proving the direct impact on behavior change and sales. Word of mouth is still disproportionately more influential than other "touchpoints" across most categories (especially high value or high risk purchases) than "word of mouse" - but is almost impossible to quantify and validate at scale. In other words, what people say, talk about and recommend to each other is still much more influential in daily dialogue than the tsunami of content and distractions we encounter in the never ending show-reel of social media, but is still largely immeasurable.



But times are-a-changing. The ability to tag, track or trace a referral, recommendation, like or impression as a distinct "event" that triggered a decision, action, online purchase or even at shelf can now be evaluated, dash-boarded and dissected. As traditional bricks and clicks retailers vie for omnichannel supremacy and try to out-Amazon Amazon, the ability to drive conversion from a conversation is fast becoming the only real cultural and commercial currency that matters.

Faith Popcorn, Brain Reserve, Founder

Influencers are brands within themselves. The problem with having PR or social media companies manage them is that companies are not owning the whole brand. In our omni-channel world, you need an integrated message across social media, PR, events, content - everything. We're pioneering a holistic approach that works better - one that lets us drop the DNA of a brand into the culture. In this InCulture work, we are the managers for the strategy and it's our job to be sure all the other agencies are doing a fab job messaging for a client via their channels.

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Of course, sales and brand health is mega-critical but in our current and emerging climate, likes, follows, reposts/shares and comments determine whether your business will be here in two or 10 years. You've got to do both brilliantly.



David Armano, Edelman, Global Strategy Director

Influencer Marketing, not unlike Content Marketing, is today's jump ball for innovators both on the brand and agency side. The reality is that it's way more complex than it seems and requires integration to do right. Contracts must be bullet proof, brands must be comfortable co-creating with influencers and it must become part of a brand's modern marketing mix. Leadership must come from either the communications or marketing side of the house and can collaborate with multiple disciplines and specialties. The best leaders will end up driving influencer marketing strategy and execution.
Several weeks ago, while visiting the US, I attended a Shabbat dinner of 15 very intelligent and kind adults, including Jewish professionals and rabbis. The conversation quickly moved to politics. Everyone assumed we were all voting for Donald Trump.

Opinions were strong and unequivocal. I felt very unwelcome.



Recently I attended several conferences in the US for Jewish Professionals. The conversations quickly moved to politics. Everyone assumed we had all voted for Hilary Clinton.

Opinions were strong and unequivocal. I felt very unwelcome.



I called this article - an Un-Soulful Election - not because of the candidates, who were both deeply flawed in different ways, but because of the attitudes reflected in my 2 experiences.

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How could these two groups of intelligent and kind adults, with heightened senses of morality, assume that their choice was the only option? Why did they assume that their choice was so obvious for everyone else? For both groups, it was inconceivable that a thinking moral person would even consider the other candidate. Both groups were extremely passionate, verging on self-righteous anger.

During the two experiences I mentioned above, the voice inside me kept whispering: "Do you really think that 50% of the US voting population is 100% wrong? There are so many issues involved - domestic policy, foreign policy, economy, social rights, supreme court, trust and honesty - aren't you making this decision a bit too easy for yourself?"



I asked many of these people if they had friends or knew people they respected who voted differently than themselves. Almost always the answer was an emphatic "No", accompanied by a look of astonishment, as if just knowing someone who voted for the other side was contagious and made them culpable of a heinous crime.

The deeper problem of invalidating the other side is the becoming oblivious to the pain countless individuals are feeling. I wonder how well the members of the two groups I mentioned above could sincerely articulate what they think the pain the other side is feeling. Would they mock and ridicule them? Would they set them up as 'straw men' to easily knock down? In this last election, millions of people voted for their candidate not because they were oblivious to his/her flaws, but because of the significant pain they were feeling.

What happens when both sides of the electoral divide become oblivious to the pain the other side is carrying?

 What happens to a country so divided that they can't have contact with each other?

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Over twenty years ago, 1994-1995, Israel faced a national division and breakdown of horrific proportions. Two sides were deeply committed to their truth, with no understanding, valuing, or appreciating of the other side. On both sides opinions were strong and unequivocal, passionate and self-righteous. This national breakdown eventually spilled over into violence and the tragic assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Now, a generation later, a new form of remembering that dark national time has emerged. Started by youth groups, they call this day - "Yom cheshbon u'zicharon" - A Day of Reflection and Remembrance." These youth groups remember the day of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by convening groups from all segments of Israel's society, groups that often have very little contact with each other.

The groups spend the day listening to each other. They don't try to score points, persuade others, or validate their own political views. The youth wisely recognize that we naturally gather with people that agree with us, read newspapers that identify with our values and beliefs, and listen to news stations that validate our opinions. The youth understand that this tendency, so present in all societies today, can eventually lead to both a shallow understanding of the layeredness of the issues and a demonization of the other side.

Perhaps we can all learn something from the wisdom of these young people.



If Ayeka could offer something to today's political climate in the US, it would be an invitation to begin the healing process of a broken country:

Find someone who voted differently and listen without judgment or trying to persuade. Not a debate. Not a validation.

Bring together a group of people from both sides and just listen.

Read news articles and listen to news broadcasts that reflect the other side.

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It can be uncomfortable, and perhaps even chilling, to consider that the other side, so readily demonized, may also have elements of truth. But the present pantheon of self-validation will only continual to fracture society and diminish any hope for its well-being.

No, I do not envision this will heal the deep and treacherous national divide. But the national breakdown that we all witnessed during the election process may be even more significant than the final outcome of the election. Instead of continuing to hurl vindictiveness and post self-validating articles, there is a need to begin the process of reflection and healing.

The soul of Ayeka teaches that we are all works-in-progress; we are all in the process of becoming. We want and need to become - Soulful Educators, Soulful Parents, Soulful Organizations, and Soulful Individuals.
By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - China is making impressive diplomatic achievements by using its powerful economic power as strategic weapon. Besides, there is a strong possibility that China will be more active in the future. It seems that China will be a de facto candidate for G1, following hard after the US in terms of diplomacy.

This observation is well proved by a series of recent Chinese diplomatic achievements. According to the Dec. 22nd reports of the People's Daily and other state-run media outlets, one of the achievements will be African island nation Sao Tome's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan. On the eve of the day, Taiwan's presidential office said Taiwan regrets China using Sao Tome and Principe's financial woes to push its "one-China" policy. We can conclude that Sao Tome, who had asked Taiwan for financial aid in March, turned its back on Taiwan who refused to use money as a tool of competition in diplomacy.

We should also take a look at the recent relationship with neighboring Mongolia. According to Chinese media, Mongolia had been in conflict with China for a nearly a month after it allowed the Dalai Lama's entry to the country on Nov. 18. China had condemned the Dalai Lama's visit to Mongolia and canceled several bilateral meetings between executives of the two countries in retaliation. Besides, it also made it tougher for Mongolian cargo trucks to enter Chinese territory. Nevertheless, Mongolia took a firm stand did not offer an apology until Dec. 21 when it revealed that it will no longer allow the Dalai Lama to visit the country. We could say that Mongolia raised the white flag to surrender before its immediate economic gain.

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[An island in the South China Sea where the Philippines proposed joint development with China. This is a clear symbol that shows that the Philippines fell a victim to China's diplomacy armed with silver bullets./ Source: China Daily]

China's relations with the Philippines has become so close that it raises concerns among the neighboring countries that the Philippines could become one of China's allies. It seems that China's promise of an enormous investment of $13.5 billion during President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to China in the end of October finally became effective. This seems why Duterte is responding actively to China. He proposed China to jointly develop the South China Sea. This can be seen as the Philippine's actual acknowledgement of China's sovereignty over the South China Sea and its hope to get a piece of the action. China is responding positively. For instance, it expressed support for the Philippine government's campaign against the illegal drug trade in October.
Muslim refugee holding his baby looking through a fence

Two months ago, an aging but deadly Russian aircraft carrier laboriously lumbered through the English channel, under the watchful escort of an increasingly privatized Royal Navy. The task force it leads has since joined the Assad regime's Grozny-esque siege and storming of Syria's second city of Aleppo. Refugees desperately continue to flee their homes, extrajudicial executions and disappearances rise, and barrel bombs and artillery barrages reduce a once prosperous metropolis to rubble; the brutality of a dying city re-ignites a fierce debate among Western publics on the legal and moral legitimacy of international humanitarian interventions.

Pragmatic Hesitations vs. Hysteria

The debate has been as vigorous as it is multi-faceted, and there has been informed and valid concerns with any attempts to intervene. International law fully recognizes that state sovereignty is not a complete, blanket right but limits. That's the entire point of collective security and both the international humanitarian intervention and the right to protect doctrine.

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Like many who are passionate about international human rights, I am a fierce critic of the endless and accountability-free "war on terror" as well as immoral and illegal invasions and military actions. Yet such deplorable uses of force are separate from international humanitarian interventions, which can be both legitimate and moral under certain conditions. A particularly illustrative framework is international legal scholar's Harold Koh's six conditions for intervention:

1. There have been gross and egregious human rights breaches leading to the loss of hundreds or thousands lives and amounting to crimes against humanity. These atrocities are carried out by the central government or because the government has collapsed and cannot prevent them 2. The crimes against humanity result from anarchy in the state. The government consistently refuses to comply with the UN. 3. The Security Council is unable to take any action due to disagreement or the use of the veto. 4. All peaceful avenues have been explored 5. A collective group of states take action with the support (or at least non-objection) of a majority of UN member states 6. Force is used for the sole purpose of ending the atrocities and restoring human rights.

While what constitutes a "humanitarian intervention" can be in the eye of the beholder. Koh addresses that point though in his fifth condition. Together, I believe his six conditions lays out a very reasonable framework for a legitimate humanitarian intervention.

With regards to the establishment of a no fly zone, legitimate concerns include the contours and scope of establishing a no fly zone, include the potential for conflict with Russia. Yet the reality is quite clear: A no fly zone in Syria would actually not be such a radical, reckless, or dangerous proposal. Indeed with "Operation Euphrates Shield", Turkey has already established a de facto no fly zone covering 630 square miles of territory liberated from ISIS control, with no problems from either the Russians or the Assad regime. How unrealistic would it be for the US, NATO, and other allies to work together to expand that zone to all territory recaptured from ISIS? Especially if that zone can then become a safe haven for those fleeing both atrocities from ISIS and the Assad regime?

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The downside to such a no fly zone is the possibility of diplomatic squabbles as to the exact contours of and rules of engagement within the no fly zone, plus dealing with the fact that frenemy forces occasionally attack each other in addition to fighting ISIS. It is certainly a complicated battlefield. However, the upside is saving thousands of lives from indiscriminate bombings, allowing thousands of refugees the opportunity to return home, and beginning the process of rebuilding a shattered nation. The opportunity to help create a sense of normalcy in a land that has seen no such thing for five years is compelling, to say the least.

Humanitarianism: All in or All Out

Yet rather than engage in such sober analysis of potential solutions to end this bloodbath, far too many people have engaged in self-serving fear-mongering and hysteria. "A no fly zone is the path to World War III!" we have repeatedly been told, from both sides of the political aisle-even when the situation on the ground demonstrates otherwise.

Sections of both the right and the left have been equally guilty of this, for different reasons. The right alternates between adoring and deploring dictators like Putin and Assad-not based on these autocrat's actions, but depending on whether they support whoever is currently occupying the White House or 10 Downing Street. Indeed said President or Prime Minister can either be "too soft" on Russia or supporting baby-eating terrorists and inviting World War 3 in the same week. Such blatantly self-serving flip-flopping simply has no antidote, except to call it what it is: Political nihilism. A pox on that house. All the poxes.

Yet more frustrating is the selective empathy and convenient apathy from segments of the left. It's amazing to see many of those who always claim the moral high ground becoming apologists for some of the most brutal dictators in the world, and are often willing to write a blank check for their abuses. Why? For the critical distinction of being "anti-Western." Corruption, ineptitude, and violent crackdowns by the unpopular Venezuelan government? It's a Western/World Bank conspiracy! Blatant Russian aggression towards its neighbors? Hey it's "their backyard"-the US and Europe need to back off! Tinpot dictators and mafia dons who torture, shoot, and carpet bomb their own people? They're just getting bad press because they oppose American hegemony!

Tyrant Selective Memory Syndrome (TSMS)

There of course must be an acknowledgment that history is written by the victors, and thus for centuries has had a very Western-centric framing. As I myself have repeatedly advocated, there is certainly plenty of room for nuanced analysis and critical reflection. Yet when the pushback to the Western-centric narrative is so zealous that it glosses over or outright absolves massive human rights abuses, historical truths become displaced by yet another version of revisionism.

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The most serious manifestation of this revisionism is Tyrant Selective Memory Syndrome (TSMS), in which humanity's testimony to horrific misdeeds of unelected tyrants are conveniently ignored because of their defiance to Western powers.

TSMS is no recent phenomenon, but has existed throughout the ages. It's why some leftist circles were so slow to condemn the genocidal Khmer Rogue , even as evidence of horrific killing fields where thousands of people were murdered daily began mounting.

Slobodan Milosevic, Saddam Hussein, Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, Muammar Gaddafi...Indeed Gaddafi in particular serves as a stunning contemporary example. Gaddafi apologists are happy to shout from the rooftops "Gaddafi gave citizens free healthcare, free electricity, and homes for newlyweds!"

What is conspicuously missing: Gaddafi also gave his citizens absolutely no political freedoms. He detained and tortured dissidents to death for decades. When his people dared to stand up and demand their rights, he was then was willing to shoot and bomb them into submission. Since when was human life and dignity more valuable than free cars, houses, or jobs?

No leader-elected or authoritarian-is perfect But seriously, Gaddafi? Towards the end of his four decade reign he should have been committed for psychiatric care, not running a nation. Believing that the citizenry of the Global South somehow simply can't have better leadership is the embodiment of the soft bigotry of low expectations: international edition.

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Politicizing Heroism and Acquitting Evil

In the Syrian context, perhaps the most stunning example is the fact that even the vaunted White Helmets-who just missed out on a Nobel Peace Prize despite a massive global campaign on their behalf-have not been safe. Some Assad apologists have gone so far as to paint the White Helmets as "covert jihadi" fighting against Assad's secular Baathist paradise. Simply because they have also called on the international community to stop a government from mercilessly bombing its own people.

Here's the rub: Anyone, anywhere in the world, who daily risks their own life to rescue innocent civilians and pull the shattered bodies of babies and the elderly from rubble absolutely has the right to call on the world to stop jets and helicopters from dropping those bombs in the first place.

In such a brutal conflict which has dehumanized so many, the White Helmets remain some of the main heroes. While they go on with their live-saving work, they have every right to use whatever energies they have left to advocate for an end to the brutality; and they have that right and responsibility just as much as the people of Gaza, Yemen, Pakistan/Afghanistan, etc. do. But leave it to Assad apologists, anti-Western pro-Putiniks, and the "no use of force, ever" crowd to find reasons to besmirch their name. Acquitting a mass murderer in favor of condemning selfless heroes.

Matters of international human rights and foreign policy should not be pigeonholed in ideological boxes or ensnared by geo-political loyalties. They should be evaluated on a case-by case basis, with the guiding principles affirming the universal right of self-determination and advocating for publics and civil society over national politics and geopolitical alliances.

Positions of Privilege

I've written about Syria's agony before. When President Obama seemed to be on the verge of finally doing something after the regime used chemical weapons to murder 1,500 of its own citizens, I wrote about how the international community has a compelling shared interest in preventing mass atrocities. We must act to prevent evil, lest one day we need protection from it.

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At this point, I must admit that I have a bias when it comes to international humanitarian intervention and the Responsibility to Protect (RTP) doctrine.I was born in Bangladesh and whose parents and other family members lived through the 1971 genocide. After nine months of unprecedented rape, torture and killings, India launched a decisive intervention on both humanitarian grounds and to further its own geopolitical interests. Yet the motivations of the latter does not invalidate the ethnics and righteousness of the former.

I am fully aware that if it wasn't for India's decisive intervention, in all likelihood I would not have the life I have today as a privileged American studying in London. Indeed given how brutal the levels of killings already were (and the fact that they would no doubt continue to rise as Pakistan's military capabilities continued to grow including nuclear assets), there is a strong possibility I may not even have been born.

I acknowledge and embrace my bias. Yet in this case, I think that bias is also a valuable source of perspective. That perspective tells me an unpleasant truth: The ability to remain wedded to the conviction of "no use of military force, ever" is borne out of a position of privilege: The privilege of never having to resort to force in order to fulfil your people's universal right to self-determination. The privilege of never having to endure and survive a campaign of extermination, or had family and loved ones who have.

Indeed if it was up to the "force is never justified, ever" crowd, both of the countries of which I am a citizen would never exist: Bangladesh and the United States.

Our Lives Matter

It's true that since the dawn of colonization and into the Cold War, time immemorial, many Western governments have had a horrible track record with regards to genuinely promoting human rights. Given this track record, a healthy dose of skepticism and even cynicism with mainstream media depictions of international events is certainly valid. Yet the brutal conflict in Syria has been raging for five years now. To be frank, I believe anyone who is still on the fence about whether:

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1. The Assad regime is a horrific force of nature or

2. Whether at least a significant portion of the people opposing the regime are legitimately enacting a struggle for self-determination and survival

Simply haven't been paying sufficient attention-especially from organic voices on the ground. From the perspective of the majority of the Syrian populace, ISIS and Assad are two sides of the same horrifying coin, with the difference being that Assad and his allies have the capacity of killing more people in a month than ISIS can dream of killing in a year.

Anyone who tries to excuse a government which has been doing this to their own people for five years-or tries to somehow slander the very people that government has targeting-really needs to re-evaluate some basic premises. Such as: If this was happening in Colorado rather than "over there", would I even question anyone who opposed it?

Even the most progressive-minded people have their biases and predilections. We all do-it is human nature. But our lives matter too-and it shouldn't matter if the people bombing us are being helped by Russia and we're being aided by the US or vice versa. All of that geo-political and ideological baggage doesn't mean a damn thing when the bombs start flying.

The latest movie in the Star Wars franchise will be released this week. We will once again learn that we live in a world where millions of people will flock to see every Star Wars movie and adore the Rebel Alliance, but in the real world think "meh...there are no good guys in Syria/it's too complicated" WTF...open your minds people. If Spain's "messy" civil war could still have good guys (i.e. the anti-Fascists), then so can Syria's (i.e. the anti-Assad and anti-ISIS opposition).

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Real talk: We live in a world where white faces and voices ultimately matter more than the rest of ours. The first step to using yours is to build genuine empathy and solidarity. In such a highly politicized and ideology-driven world, put down all the stuff from the theorists, pundits, and ideologues. Instead, start paying attention to what the people themselves are saying. While there's still voices left willing and able to tell their stories.

A rally by the Syria Solidarity Campaign and The Syrian Campaign outside the Russian Embassy in London
President-elect Donald Trump should expeditiously restore the legislative veto upended by the Supreme Court in INS v. Chadha (1983) to downsize the mammoth regulatory state. He can do so by unilateral executive action. (A legislative veto would empower one House of Congress to block or repeal major agency regulations by voting a resolution of disapproval that does not require the concurrence of the other chamber and is not subject to the President's veto).

The President-elect's campaign promises include eliminating 70 percent of federal regulations. His nominees are professedly committed to deregulation, for example, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Truitt nominated to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. They can be expected to implement the President-elect's deregulatory directives. The American people repudiated the same old same old last November.

At present, the annual costs of federal regulatory compliance may be as high as $2 trillion, a substantial fraction of the entire $4.3 trillion federal budget. Downsizing the regulatory state is thus a game well worth the candle.

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Thousands of agency rules are issued every year. Approximately 80-100 ordinarily qualify as "major," i.e., estimated to have an annual effect of $100 million or more on the economy.

Limitless congressional delegations of its legislative powers and the absence of political accountability have fueled regulatory overreach for 80 years. To hide from responsibility, Congress characteristically empowers executive agencies to issue rules and regulations in "the public interest." Having served as general counsel to the Federal Communications Commission, I can testify that very little imagination is needed for an agency to discern some public interest in everything it does.

Moreover, the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Chevron U.S.A. v. NRDC (1984) sustains virtually every agency regulation short of imbecility. Members of Congress, nevertheless, are eager to make wholesale public interest delegations compounded by Chevron to avoid voting on difficult decisions that an opponent might attack.

Agencies receiving vast delegated authorities from Congress also evade accountability. The executive branch is hydra-headed and sprawling. Except for the President, its members are appointed. The public is unlikely to hold the President accountable at the polls because an agency goes off the reservation. Thus, the regulatory state has grown like bamboo under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Congress has pointed its finger at the agencies. The agencies have pointed their fingers back at Congress. And the American people have been bewildered as to who is responsible.

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President-elect Trump has it within his power to downsize the regulatory state by creating a legislative veto power via agency regulations. The Chadha precedent held only that Congress may not grant itself legislative veto power over agency operations. It left undisturbed the discretion of the executive branch to do so. The "Baker Accord" of 1989 provides the model.

Congressional funding of the Nicaraguan resistance was controversial at the outset of President George H.W. Bush's administration. Then Secretary of State James Baker negotiated an agreement by which Congress would appropriate $50 million in humanitarian aid to the Contras on the condition that nothing would be expended without the approval of certain committees and party leaders.

Building on the Baker Accord, President-elect Trump should require all agencies to issue regulations that would empower either the House or the Senate to veto any new "major" substantive rule through a resolution of disapproval within 180 days of the rule's promulgation. Old "major rules would be grandfathered unless either congressional chamber voted a resolution of disapproval as to one or more of them within 12 months of President Trump's inauguration. In that event, the disapproved rules would lapse.

By this process, President Trump would make Members of the 115th Congress responsible for every major federal regulation.



As a man's knowledge that he will be hanged in a fortnight concentrates his mind wonderfully, a Member's knowledge that he confronts accountability for every major regulatory rule with an economic impact exceeding $100 million will concentrate his mind wonderfully against the ill-conceived ones.

Creating a legislative veto by unilateral executive action would be a landmark legacy of the Trump administration turning back decades of federal regulations spawned by congressional cowardice.

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2016 was a watershed year for Make Music Matter. We primarily work in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to address the prevalence of sexual violence and the subsequent trauma. We believe in, and have witnessed, music as an integral part of a community-driven, holistic healing model that values the intersection of innovation and research within the treatment pathway. At its core, our Healing in Harmony music therapy develops the potential for transformative change in traumatized populations and their communities, and in the broader community of practice. Participants include survivors of sexual violence, abandoned children, children of child-headed households and other vulnerable populations. We recognize participants as artists, not patients.

We celebrate the quantifiable healing power of music to re-stitch the soul, validate one's feeling and emotions, and cohere communities regardless of prevailing circumstance. Whether it was within our expanding programming in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Panzi Foundations DRC and USA, or in Rwanda with local partners Uyisenga, doing outreach in Canada, or our recent exploration at the Syrian border, Make Music Matter is continuing to use this artful medium as a tool enabling individuals to recover from traumatic experiences.

We have worked with more than 1000 women, girls, and boys - each one a survivor of sexual violence or a vulnerable community member - in our music therapy program at Maison Dorcas, the aftercare facility at Panzi Foundation DRC in Bukavu with partners Panzi Foundation USA. Maison Dorcas and Panzi Foundation DRC is a sister organisation to the famed Panzi Hospital, founded by Dr. Denis Mukwege. Current trends in our research analyses reveal ground breaking and promising results with improvement across all three primary mental health dimensions: anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Women in our program are twice as likely to have an improvement in their anxiety scores and 80% were more likely to have an improvement in their PTSD scores than women who did not participate.

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The songs our artists write and record have also become strong tools for advocacy over the last year. On a recent tour of local radio stations in Bukavu, I inquired whether the broadcasters had any notable feedback from listeners. One broadcaster reported that during the morning rush hour, members of the Congolese armed forces had been calling the station to state that they had not been responsible for perpetrating the rapes highlighted in the songs. They wanted to assure audiences that these soldiers who raped were a minority and that it was predominantly in the past. It is a testament to the power music has in affecting civil society and shifting cultural landscapes

Throughout 2016, we also implemented a testing phase at Panzi's field hospital in the rural area of Mulumba. The positive feedback from medical staff and the community at large during this period has led us to commit to its full implementation in 2017. This expansion emphasizes that local, culturally appropriate psychosocial models are critical for restoration of traumatized populations. It is exciting to watch our Healing in Harmony music therapy program grow and I am thrilled to return to Mulumba to construct and officially launch our latest studio in the coming year.

We were also able to launch two specific programming streams in Rwanda with our partner, Uyisenga N'Manzi. One focuses on the education of youth regarding the health risks of contracting HIV/AIDS and the second centres upon the reduction of trauma in children of child-headed households. These targets benefit not only direct participants, but also the larger community through the dissemination of the music across Rwanda. I am thrilled to report that three of the songs have been receiving significant spins on a major Kigali radio station.

A media project created by Panzi Foundation USA with renowned photographer Platon which includes the Healing in Harmony music therapy program also began in 2016 with a rollout expected to begin in February 2017. In June 2016, Make Music Matter and Panzi Foundation USA were featured by the United Nations at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul where we were able to host a wide variety of guests at an immersive booth that demonstrated our unique model of healing. At this summit I had the personal pleasure of meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and shared program objectives and methodology. He engaged with us directly, and listened to one of our signature tracks, "My Body is Not a Weapon," from our project at Panzi.

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As we look towards 2017, our main endeavour is to continue expanding our reach, leverage and capacity. To that end, we are thrilled to report we were accepted, as partners of Panzi Foundation USA, for the Humanitarian Innovation Fund's Journey to Scale program. This opportunity will see Healing in Harmony expand to four sites in the DRC within the next two years. With this new level of support, we will be developing and refining our methodology towards creating a franchise model approach to replicate our program in different contexts in the hopes of eventually reaching a global scale.
Introduction

Donald Trump's recent naming of key cabinet and agency appointees (which still must be approved by Congress) raises the question of the scientific qualifications for persons serving in high-level public office.

Some say that scientific qualifications are only important for positions directly relevant to scientific research, such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, and their equivalents in other nations. But this is very short-sighted. After all, science and technology are increasingly central to:

Energy: Finding practical and economically viable alternatives to fossil fuels, which involves research in mathematics, high-energy physics and materials science, is essential to avoid potentially cataclysmic long-term effects of climate change.

Defense: A large portion of the defense budget in any nation is connected to the procurement and management of state-of-the-art technologies -- weapon systems, fighter jets, information management systems, communications systems and more.

Health: The only way to contain spiraling health costs is through the aggressive use of medical technology and integrated medical data systems to improve the productivity of medical providers. And it is essential that all levels of the medical world thoroughly understand principles such as evolution, DNA, antibiotic resistance and the necessity of vaccination.

Homeland security: Technology and scientific research are central to detecting and countering terrorism, and also in long-range planning for calamities such as coastal flooding due to climate change.

In fact, it is hard to think of any aspect of government that does not crucially rely on modern science and technology. In any event, let us examine a few of Trump's appointees:

Rick Perry, to head the Department of Energy

Trump's pick for Secretary of Energy is former Texas Governor Rick Perry. He would oversee a $32.5 billion budget, which includes $12.8 billion for basic science and energy research and $12.9 billion for nuclear security (maintenance of the nuclear stockpile and improving physical and cybersecurity). It is worth emphasizing that DoE's basic science budget ($5.6 million) is significantly higher than the total budget of the National Science Foundation.

Perry would succeed Ernest Moniz, a distinguished nuclear physicist from MIT, and, before Moniz, Stephen Chu, a Nobel-Prize-winning physicist who was formerly the Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. But aside from a bachelor's degree in animal science, Perry has no significant scientific credentials.

Perry's past statements on scientific topics such as evolution are also a concern. In 2011, Perry responded to a question by saying "[evolution] is a theory that's out there, and it's got some gaps in it," but "in Texas we teach both creationism and evolution in our public schools." Needless to say, his dismissive characterization of evolution is completely inappropriate and unscientific. But even his statement about teaching evolution in Texas is wrong -- in spite of numerous attempts to include creationism or intelligent design or to insist on "equal time," Texas biology textbooks and science curricula present only evolution. If a teacher presents creationist material, he/she is clearly out of order, since such material has been prohibited by the U.S. Supreme Court in several key rulings.

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Of equal or greater concern are Perry's past comments about climate change, which is a topic directly related to his future role in overseeing energy research and development. In his 2010 book Fed Up!, he wrote

[Perry's opponents] have seen the headlines in the past year about doctored data related to global warming. They know we have been experiencing a cooling trend, that the complexities of the global atmosphere have often eluded the most sophisticated scientists, and that draconian policies with dire economic effects based on so-called science may not stand the test of time. ... And it's all one contrived phony mess that is falling apart under its own weight.

Needless to say, Perry's hostility to the fact of global warming is at odds with very well established scientific facts. The ten warmest years (in global land-ocean temperature) in the 136 years since accurate record keeping began have all occurred since 1998. 2015 was the warmest year on record, by far, and 2016 is on track to be even warmer than 2015. And the evidence that human activities are a primary cause of global warming is, at this point time, compelling. And with regards to Perry's suggestion that the field of climate research, with multiple international teams of highly trained scientists using the most sophisticated data gathering, data analysis and computer simulation tools available, is suspect and "falling apart," many would beg to differ.

Scott Pruitt, to head the Environmental Protection Agency

Like Rick Perry, Scott Pruitt is a also a climate change skeptic. Earlier this year he wrote in the National Review, "Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind."

Pruitt is currently the Oklahoma attorney general, and is a close ally of the fossil fuel industry. In 2014 he wrote a letter to the EPA accusing federal regulators of greatly overestimating the amount of air pollution caused by natural gas drilling operations in Oklahoma. However, it was later revealed that the three-page letter was written entirely by lawyers for Devon Energy, a large oil and gas company. In any event, it is clear that Pruitt plans to aggressively roll back environmental restrictions on oil and gas exploration.

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Other appointments

Trump's selection to head the Department of interior is Ryan Zinke, U.S. Representative from Montana. He is also in favor of repealing Interior regulations, such as to limit methane waste from oil and gas wells. With regards to climate change, he acknowledges that climate change may be real. As he recently said, "If you go up to Glacier Park and have your lunch along the glaciers, you will see the glacier recede while you eat lunch." But he questions that human activities are a primary cause of the warming. As Zinke declared in 2014, "It's not a hoax, but it's not a proven science, either."

Trump's selection for Secretary of Education is wealthy philanthropist Elisabeth DeVos, daughter-in-law of the founder of Amway, and a strong advocate of school choice and vouchers. She appears to be an intelligent woman, but she brings no significant scientific credentials to the all-important task of improving U.S. educational performance in STEM fields, which is essential if the U.S. is not to fall behind in international competitiveness and productivity.

NASA plans

Although no one has yet been proposed for NASA Administrator, Trump appears to favor eliminating climate research at NASA. Trump adviser Bob Walker said that there was no need for NASA to perform "politically correct environmental monitoring."

Along this line, on 14 December 2016 Trump Adviser Anthony Scaramucci told CNN's Chris Cuomo, "Look, I know that the current president believes that human beings are affecting the climate. There are scientists that believe that that's not happening." When Cuomo responded that there is an overwhelming consensus that there is such an impact, Scaramucci dismissed it by saying "there was an overwhelming science that the Earth was flat, ... and there was an overwhelming science that we were the center of the world."

Scientific reaction

Needless to say, many scientists are discouraged by these appointments. If there is any common thread here, it is that connections, dealmaking skills and business acumen are important, but that scientific knowledge and technical experience are not. As physicist Lawrence Krauss explains, Rick Perry "has not demonstrated that he is the person for this job." Krauss added, "we need someone who is better prepared to handle the challenges. ... Maybe not a rocket scientist, but not someone who likes to think that the laws of physics can be played with at will."

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Climate scientists are particularly concerned with these developments. At this year's American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco (12-16 December 2016), the atmosphere was described as one of panic. Researchers are particularly concerned that valuable climate data might be discarded under a Trump administration, and are feverishly attempting to store backup copies away from federal government computer systems.

Eric Holthaus, an Arizona meteorologist, personally doesn't think that the Trump administration would intentionally delete data, but he is concerned that budget cuts would place the storage and maintenance of that data in jeopardy. He explained, "I see our efforts as a firewall against a hostile administration."

Winning the battle, but losing the war

While these developments may be disheartening, especially to scientists, it should be recognized that in a larger sense scientists themselves are possibly reaping the whirlwind from decades of cloistering themselves in their laboratories and not paying much attention to the public. As a result, we have reached a point where a large fraction of the public is not only ignorant of science, but is also hostile, or at least deeply ambivalent, to the field. One can argue that the current developments are simply a political manifestation of this ambivalence.

So what can scientists do to reverse this trend? Here are some ideas:

Start a blog.

Visit schools.

Run for public office.

Write articles for science news forums.

Study creative writing, arts and humanities to sharpen communication skills.

Recognize those who do reach out in hiring, promotion, tenure and research funding decisions.

Yes, doing things like the above takes effort and time, and time certainly is not a commodity that the typical harried scientist has much to spare. But the alternative is yet another generation ignorant of and hostile to science. These tensions might well increase as technology developments such as self-driving cars and trucks threaten more jobs.


Business leaders have a choice during the next few months in the way they speak publicly about political affairs. The Brexit referendum, the U.S. presidential election, and the growing support for nationalism in many countries have all made it impossible to ignore politics-- because every aspect of major businesses is affected by globalization. Top business leaders are reacting to these developments in a variety of ways: They are intrigued by the business opportunities or the presumed reduction in taxes; concerned about the impact on diversity; uncertain about the effect this will have on their access to global markets; disheartened or pleased personally. No matter what their perspective, they may be inclined to share their views openly or they may be tempted to remain silent. Either choice could make things better or worse within their companies. It all depends on how they do it, and how well they understand the personal responses triggered by these political events at levels below explicit consciousness.

For example, many organizational leaders have worked hard in recent years to develop more inclusive cultures; they recognize that people need to feel that they're part of the same group to collaborate, especially across national boundaries. But the elections of 2016, and the associated public displays of nationalism, ethnic isolationism, and suspicion of outsiders, have reinforced deeply ingrained biases in people's brains. No matter how inclusive your organization may be, and no matter what your employees' political perspectives, you will probably see an increase in "us-versus-them" antagonism, and a corresponding reduction in trust, collaboration, and creativity. Just when companies need to innovate faster than ever to compete globally, they face the daunting prospect that millions of employees will work alongside colleagues whose presence subconsciously agitates them.

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At the NeuroLeadership Institute, where we study the neuroscience underlying successful leadership, we have concluded that the approach one takes to engaging employees on this issue can matter a great deal. What you do in coming days and weeks can make or break your organization's spirit for years to come. Here is a way of framing your outreach efforts more effectively, to make the most of your company's talent, and of people's commitment, in these times of uncertainty.

Start by recognizing the effect of these elections on attitudes, particularly those embedded below the level of conscious attention. One of the most prevalent is known as similarity bias. The brain quickly and automatically classifies almost every new person as friend or foe largely according to the degree to which they outwardly seem like us. Every day, based on surface appearances, we unconsciously classify some people into an implicit in-group (composed of people we trust and want to collaborate with) and others into an out-group (composed of people we feel we need to be careful of). The criteria we use can be based on national, ethnic, or religious background, but they can also be ideological. For example, one study shows people are more opposed to having family members marry someone from an opposing political party (pdf) than they are someone of another race.

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When a foe from an out-group is detected in our environment, we experience a threat response: We are alerted to potential dangers, our amygdala becomes more active, and we have fewer mental resources available for executive brain functions, such as long-term planning, impulse control, reasoning, and cognitive flexibility. Under greater threat, our prefrontal cortex shuts down, which means we have less ability to process complex issues; we become less creative and less collaborative.

We generally tend to feel less empathy with out-group members (pdf). For example, when watching a sporting event, if someone on the opposing team gets hurt, we may experience pleasurable sensations in the brain (pdf). Other cognitive processes make it relatively difficult for someone to understand what an out-group member might be thinking or feeling. We have tendencies to misread social cues and to hoard information. In one study (pdf), people reported liking out-group members less, as a whole, than in-group members. These factors all reduce our ability to collaborate effectively with people we perceive as different, and to increase the likelihood of conflict.

Globally, there will probably be more politically charged incidents in everyday life, similar to the November 11, 2016, confrontation on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. An argument over the presidential election between two passengers_--_one a white male, the other a woman of color_--_persisted until the pilot defused the situation over the intercom by asking for "the common decency to respect each other's decisions." The pilot's action inspired a round of applause from other passengers. And open conflict may similarly subside in most places. But the general level of suspicion and resentment of other groups will remain higher than it was before 2016.

This trend poses a major problem for leaders. It's an even bigger problem for the women and minority employees_--_people of color, LGBT individuals, and those with diverse ethnic backgrounds_--_whom companies seek to recruit. Although some public discourse renounces diversity efforts as "politically correct," most large organizations are championing fundamental changes in their human capital practices so that people with a broader range of identities and perspectives will be recruited, paid equitably, and promoted to leadership roles.

This isn't a partisan issue. Research clearly indicates that diverse and inclusive teams and organizations are more successful. Already, Microsoft president Brad Smith, outgoing Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, and other prominent business leaders have come out saying the political climate will not shift their resolve to build diverse and inclusive cultures. Leaders clearly need to make these statements in a way that furthers the success of their enterprise, helps them recruit highly skilled people from all backgrounds, and enables everyone in the organization to work together productively.

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In the past, similar post-election tensions have dissipated rapidly on their own. That is unlikely this time; the tensions reflect an extreme similarity bias and other deeply held attitudes. For example, the election of Donald Trump (along with movements like Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter and the Bernie Sanders campaign) may spur a generation of activists on the left to coalesce, similar to leftists in the 1960s. Meanwhile, many people on the right are already coalescing, excited about having top government leaders espouse points of view that reflect their own and recognizing how many people quietly agree with them.

Each party can't understand what's wrong with the other group, or why they can't see "the truth." This reflects another type of ingrained bias known as experience bias (or naive realism [pdf]), which causes people to discount evidence that contradicts their point of view. Because we feel we see the world accurately, we assume that contradictory evidence can't be true. This bias is a particularly challenging problem when people have competing world views and identities. Instead of listening to their friends, family members, or coworkers, they assume automatically that other points of view are wrong. One recent research project found that subjects with any point of view felt morally superior to others who disagreed.

It could be tempting for a CEO to decide the safest route is to ask people to suppress their emotions and limit their conversations about politics. This could backfire as well. Several studies show that suppressing emotions tends to intensify them and reduces the cognitive resources needed for other tasks. It appears that people keep talking just as much_--_only inside their head_--_if they are stopped from vocalizing their thoughts.

What happens when a single workplace is home to a variety of people, some feeling upbeat and vindicated, others feeling deeply disturbed, threatened, and angry? What if both parties feel passionately self-righteous, and are subconsciously inclined to dismiss the feelings on the other side as invalid? If some employees feel their CEO (or any other boss) shares their position, they might assume they won't be penalized for behavior (like subtle workplace bullying) that they might have suppressed in the past. Others will feel more at risk. The CEO who ignores this dynamic may find simmering tensions rising to a boiling point far too quickly.

Here are three steps you can take that may help. In line with research on neuroscience and leadership, they play to people's cognitive biases while also enabling them to tolerate one another's disparate points of view.

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1. Acknowledge there is a problem

The emotions that people in the U.S. felt in response to the 2016 presidential election results are likely to be some of the strongest experienced for a long time. The "SCARF" model of brain activity states that five experiences tend to provoke intense "fight-or-flight"-style reactions. These are sudden gains or (especially) losses in status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness. Both Democratic and Republican voters in the U.S. were profoundly affected by the election in this way, more than they probably realized.

The Democrats, like the "remain" voters in the Brexit election, experienced a negative jolt: a sudden, severe loss in all five SCARF domains. Members of groups that felt targeted by Trump supporters_--_which included many women, immigrants, Muslims, Latinos, people of color, Jews, members of the LGBT community, and those with disabilities_--_had to cope with strong negative feelings, including feelings of being vulnerable to threat. In organizations where these individuals were disproportionately rare, they already may have felt that they were being treated unfairly. Now those feelings have been intensified.

Negative emotions, such as fear, anger, worry, and suspicion, tend to be felt more intensely than their positive counterparts. Moreover, unexpected traumas are felt more intensely than expected ones, and collective or shared emotions are stronger as well. All of these factors have led to severe, almost physical pain in large portions of the population. Although they have gotten used to the election results, some individuals are still not sleeping well; they can't quite think as clearly as before, and they may still be operating at diminished capacity.

On the other side, many members of groups that support Trump have never felt better. This group includes Republicans; many white, working-class, middle-aged men and women; people living outside cities; and evangelical Christians. For years, many of them felt angry and resentful, ignored by the elites, and regarded as "deplorable." Now, like their Brexit-supporting counterparts in the U.K. before them, they are experiencing the SCARF jackpot: higher status, more certainty, a greater feeling of control, a sense of connection to their leader, and a feeling that life finally got fair again after many unfair years. This sense of validation and reward can feel, in the brain, almost tangibly delicious; and yet, because of the intense reaction from the other side, some still feel unaccepted and scorned.

As an enterprise leader, you must recognize the intensity of emotion in both groups. It doesn't matter which side is right or wrong, since in almost every case, your company needs to move beyond these issues to bring people together. You may wish you could ignore the conflict altogether, thinking it will subside in time. But you run the risk that people will interpret inaction as support for one side or the other, and thus associate their strong feelings with your company. People in a threat state can misread neutral and even positive cues as dangers. Employees might thus interpret your silence to mean you don't care about them, or possibly that their jobs are in danger, and they will start to plan their exit.

In short, without supporting one side or the other, you can recognize in your own mind that post-election mistrust may be a lingering problem in your company, affecting the productivity and effectiveness of your workforce.

2. Label the experience for everyone

When you first speak publicly about the election results, label the emotions both sides are feeling. Let people know you sense their pain, or their excitement, and that you appreciate the strong feelings both sides have experienced. These feelings are psychologically real to employees.

A top executive who takes the time to explicitly talk about the intensity of an election's impact (a process psychologists call labeling) will reduce the overall distraction happening in the firm. Furthermore, even-handed and calm leadership can be a relief for everyone, because people tend to take on the emotions of the dominant person in a group.

Labeling doesn't have to be elaborate; it's simply explicitly recognizing and giving a name (a label) to people's experience. ("Of course many employees still have strong negative or positive feelings about the election results. But that hasn't changed the way we feel about the opportunities in this company.")

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Many studies show that when people simply feel heard, strong emotions can subside. Showing people that you understand how strongly they feel makes a difference. Hostage negotiators do exactly this to bring people back from the brink.

3. Focus on common goals and values

Perhaps the most important thing a CEO can do is create common goals at an organizational level. Many studies show that creating and working on common goals has a dramatic effect on how people collaborate. When people share a common identity or purpose, primitive systems of the brain are triggered that can overcome other barriers (pdf). This can turn foes into friends, or at least collaborators. And it's why George W. Bush's approval ratings shot up dramatically after 9/11; he led the country against a common foe: Al Qaeda and the terrorism it sponsors.

The goals you set should be specific, actionable, and relevant to everyone in your company, spanning all political points of view. You could identify a competing organization as a common enemy. You could refocus on a key business initiative that requires deep collaboration, one that has a lot of downside if you fail, and a lot of upside if you win. Getting your people focused on difficult tasks that require collaboration will help focus people in the right direction. You could even take on the challenges raised by Brexit and the U.S. election: figuring out the next leap forward in logistics, investments, energy, or healthcare, navigating new uncertainties_--_in a way that involves everybody in finding the solution. If you can find a goal that inherently makes the world a better place, or frame your business objectives in such a way, the goals may be even more intrinsically rewarding.

This is also a time for you to refine and restate your organization's values. Research suggests that thinking about one's values_--_"how and why we do things the way we do"_--_creates strong positive emotions. Organizations espousing values such as acceptance, diversity, inclusion, or collaboration will be put to the test. People will be watching their leader. The wise leader will use this time of crisis not only to remind people what their corporate values are, but to demonstrate them clearly with visible, easy-to-interpret actions that create strong positive emotions. The key will be to focus on values without alienating any group.

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Although the outside world might not give much credence to these efforts_--_they are relatively small efforts, focused on common goals and making a difference in small ways_--_these are the measures that will help us all get back to work. This will help give people a sense of purpose and meaning in a time of great uncertainty.

The best leaders will not just stand by and hope this crisis passes. They will use it to bring their people together even more than before. As you take this path, watch your own biases and responses. You may need to put aside your personal politics, and perhaps even some deep-seated biases, to help everyone rise above the noise.

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Some eight trucks from the regional office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine (UNHCR) has driven into the territory out of Ukraine's control in the east of the country through the Novotroyitske checkpoint (Donetsk region) on Friday morning.

The vehicles delivered hygiene kits for a total weight of nearly 89 tonnes to the residents of the Donetsk region, the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said.


photo from JVP Western Mass, Springfield, MA

On Wednesday evening, Dec. 21st, in 25 cities across the United States, Jews, Muslims, and other communities joined together to say with clarity and strength: No to Islamophobia; No to Racism: Yes to Justice; Yes to Dignity for All Communities. Organized to coincide with the holiday of Chanukah, which begins Saturday evening, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and its Network Against Islamophobia (NAI), together with JVP chapters and partners, initiated the actions to reignite their commitment to challenging all forms of Islamophobia and racism.

Written on eight candles in the shape of a Chanukah menorah, the commitments were read aloud for all to hear and take in. Among the commitments:

We condemn state surveillance of the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities.

We fight anti-Muslim profiling and racial profiling in all their forms.

We protest the use of Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism to justify and perpetuate Israel's repressive policies against Palestinians;

We challenge, through our words and actions, institutionalized racism and state-sanctioned anti-Black violence.

In Kingston, New York, participants braved the cold to join the action called for by the newly created Hudson Valley JVP chapter. In Sacramento, hundreds of people stood together for a creative program ending with a question from the organizers, "How will you follow through on your commitments?"--and suggestions of opportunities, educational events and actions.

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In Austin and New Haven, in Ithaca, Portland, and Raleigh--and in cities large and small-- community members held their candles, visibly and with conviction.

In Chicago, the local JVP chapter partnered with American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other groups to call upon Governor Bruce Rauner to reverse his position of pausing the relocation of Syrian refugees and, instead, to welcome and support their resettlement with all the resources at his disposal.



A vibrant march co-organized by JVP Boston made its way through the streets of downtown Boston. Hundreds of people participated, and the large group of social justice groups* that cosponsored the event expressed a commitment to addressing a wide range of issues.



photo from CAIR FL, Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

And in Miami Beach, where I live, CAIR FL and JVP joined to create an event that brought many communities together. In addition to music and readings, a number of children read signs they had made with words of "compassion," "justice," "respect," "equality," and "a world without Trump," in response to being asked what words came to mind when they thought of the world they wanted to live in.

The Chanukah actions are part of a broader commitment to engage in this work thoughtfully and consistently and to stand against all forms of Islamophobia--whether it is a hate crime in the street or violence resulting from US domestic or foreign policies. JVP's Network Against Islamophobia has as its foundational principles being accountable partners in the larger movement led by Muslims and those who have been directly impacted by Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, and, at the same time, doing the work within Jewish communities to bring these issues to the forefront. That also means engaging within our communities in learning together through workshops and discussions about the multiple ways in which Islamophobia is manifested and how we can do this work most meaningfully and effectively.

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Muslim communities and other impacted groups have been organizing for a very long time. The very positive recent decision by President Obama to dismantle the regulations that enable the NSEERS (Special Registrations) program to exist grows out of years and years of organizing by groups like DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving) in NYC and by other groups that have been directly targeted by these government policies and programs. As that organizing continues to grow, JVP and NAI hope to be genuine partners in this work.

Community-building was also a key part of Wednesday's actions, something that is much needed at this time. Participants made their commitments, not just for the evening, but as part of long-term, sustained, collaborative work for justice.
Pro-Beijing demonstrators gather outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council on November 13, 2016, during a rally in support of an interpretation of the city's constitution -- the Basic Law -- by China's National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), over the oath-taking attempts by newly elected lawmakers Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching at the Legislative Council last month. Thousands of people attended a pro-Beijing rally in Hong Kong on November 13 in support of China's decision to effectively bar two pro-independence legislators from taking office, as fears grow of the city's freedoms being under threat. / AFP / ISAAC LAWRENCE (Photo credit should read ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/Getty Images)

Hong Kong remains the freest economy on earth and enjoys the kind of growth one would expect as a result. Its people also exercise the most political and civil liberties of any territory controlled by the People's Republic of China. But the freedom to challenge the PRC's authority there is shrinking as Beijing targets dissident legislators.

Hong Kong has been sui generis, a Chinese territory both free and secure, since Great Britain seized it as a colony in 1898. But when the 99-year lease headed toward expiration, London and Beijing negotiated Hong Kong's return.

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Great Britain could have played a high-risk game of international chicken with the still weak Chinese government, which had only recently escaped the Cultural Revolution and begun to reform its economy, and held a referendum on Hong Kong's future. But the PRC was unlikely to respect such a result; conflict almost certainly would have resulted sooner or later. So the Thatcher government agreed to the colony's return, as a Special Administrative Region.

Beijing agreed that Hong Kong would retain its relative autonomy, preserve the liberty of its inhabitants, and eventually provide for election of its Chief Executive through universal suffrage. In short, the former colony would continue to look more like its former ruler, Great Britain, than its new master, the PRC.

Observers wondered how long Beijing would stay out of Hong Kong's internal affairs. Nervous residents with money sought an escape hatch, gaining citizenship abroad when possible as insurance. Yet even China critics in Hong Kong generally admitted that the communist regime had kept its bargain. Britain probably intervened more in the press than did the PRC, one journalist told me a couple years ago.

However, the good times appear to be coming to an end. Chinese President Xi Jinping, once thought to be a reformer, has proved to be a tough authoritarian at home, campaigning against liberal freedoms. His diminishing patience in dealing with obstreperous critics is evident in Hong Kong as well.

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Two years ago Beijing announced its election plan: nominees would be chosen by a panel controlled by the PRC. Residents could vote, but only for candidates approved by Beijing. Call it democracy with Chinese characteristics.

This sparked the "Umbrella Revolution," as demonstrators, mostly young, took over a roadway for weeks. Their demand for genuine elections was never realistic--the PRC's leaders are committed to ruthless party rule and will never allow people to choose differently, even in an autonomous SAR like Hong Kong. The protests lasted for 79 days, but eventually were dispersed, avoiding the possibility of Chinese military intervention, ala Tiananmen Square in 1989, feared by some.

Then the PRC kidnapped or lured into captivity five dissident Hong Kong publishers who produced books banned in China. They all ended up in the PRC under mysterious circumstances, confessing to various dubious offenses. Four returned to Hong Kong, most repentant for their past conduct; only one revealed what had happened to him. Another remains missing.

Obviously Beijing does not like criticism and demonstrated that it will not allow Hong Kong's borders to prevent it from imposing its will. What are the limits, residents now must nervously ask?

The issue of Hong Kong's relationship to China exploded again with Legislative Council, or Legco, elections in September. Several independence-minded candidates won. Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus "Baggio" Leung, leaders in the 2014 protests, refused to state the oath as prescribed by China, adding the "Hong Kong nation"; one also used an obscenity in referring to the PRC. The Legco rejected their oaths, but gave them an opportunity for a redo (though the controversy sparked unseemly brawling by contending lawmakers).

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However, Hong Kong's government filed suit to block them from taking office. Then the PRC's National People's Congress announced strict new guidelines for oath-taking which also would bar the two. In effect, the NPC required a pledge of loyalty to Beijing. Even a properly recited oath could be rejected if judged to be "insincere."

Although the territory's Basic Law, or quasi-constitution, allows the NPC to offer its interpretation, the body never has done so in a matter before Hong Kong's courts (in four other instances it was asked for its opinion). The judge subsequently backed rejection of the two candidates' attempts to retake the oath; his decision was upheld on appeal.

Traditionally Hong Kong courts have been independent, but suspicions abound that the jurists considered politics as well as law. The NPC's Li Fei said Beijing would show "no leniency" toward those advocating independence: "Breaking 'one-country two-systems' is violating the law, not voicing a political view." Indeed, he added, Beijing "is determined to firmly confront the pro-independence forces without any ambiguity." Li left no doubt as to his feelings: "All traitors and those who sell out their countries will come to no good end."

Zhang Xiaoming, head of Beijing's liaison office, was similarly uncompromising: "Pro-independence speeches and behavior have seriously breached the bottom line of the 'one country, two systems' principle, the country's constitution, the relevant Hong Kong laws, as well as harming the country's unity and sovereignty." As a result, said Zhang, the PRC "would absolutely not allow pro-independence advocates [to] become lawmakers."

So much for separate decision-making in Hong Kong. Warned University of Hong Kong law professor Johannes Chan: "This is the most brutal form of intervention with a judicial interpretation." He explained that the NPC was not supposed to make Hong Kong law. "Apart from the fatal blow to the judicial system," he asked: "how could anyone have confidence in one country, two systems" any longer?

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Now the territory faces an even sterner test. Although Zhang admitted that "it could be complicated to disqualify lawmakers who had finished their oaths," the Hong Kong government, presumably at the PRC's behest, is seeking to oust another four legislators whose oaths had been accepted by the Legco.

All used the correct words, but protested in other ways, such as reading the oath very slowly or while holding a yellow umbrella, the symbol of the 2014 demonstrations, or adding their own comments before or after taking their oaths. One of those challenged, 23-year-old Nathan Law, charged that the case was part of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's "reelection campaign to prove his loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party." Others in Hong Kong shared Law's suspicions, since Leung is expected to run again next year in a process dominated by Beijing.

But it's not clear that the attempted purge will stop here. Last month Chinese officials warned that another 11 pro-democracy legislators could be ousted under the new standards. Whether Hong Kong will challenge them, and the territory's supposedly independent courts will uphold the government, are yet to be seen. But Beijing obviously is less willing to accept Hong Kong's autonomy.

The PRC's attack on Hong Kong's independent decision-making has restarted public protests, though they remain smaller than those of two years ago. Many people criticize what they view as juvenile behavior by the newly elected legislators, but fear Beijing may be prepared to intervene on more than simply who serves in the Legco. Last month the Chinese government announced that it would punish pro-independence activities "according to law," whatever that means. Chief Executive Leung promised to implement the new diktat.

Potential for civil conflict is rising. Residents of the city, especially the young who have never known life in China, feel increasingly apart from the mainland. A recent poll found that nearly four of ten young people favored independence.

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Despite its assurances adopted as part of the 1984 Basic Law negotiated with Great Britain, little other than Beijing's self-restraint assures enforcement of the promise to respect the city's autonomy for 50 years. And the PRC appears less willing to exercise such restraint. Beijing-friendly Legco member Regina Ip said "there is a sense among Chinese officials that the authority of the central government has been kept at bay," that they "have been oppressed by the Hong Kong people and haven't been able to assert their authority as outlined in the Basic Law." Once the PRC government starts asserting itself, it isn't likely to stop.

China long pointed to Hong Kong's relative autonomy in attempting to attract Taiwan into a dependent relationship. However, with the Taiwanese people identifying ever less with the mainland and electing their own independence-minded government, persuasion by the PRC is unlikely to have much effect. Thus, Beijing may see less need for gentleness in handling Hong Kong.

At the same time, the rule of law and protection of individual liberties provide the latter with an important competitive advantage in competing for global business. However, while Hong Kong remains an important financial center, the mainland has advanced dramatically over the last three decades. A couple decades ago Hong Kong accounted for a quarter of China's GDP. The figure now is three percent.

With cities such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen becoming major, even world-class business locations, the PRC no longer needs rely so heavily on Hong Kong. And with people in the latter growing more, shall we say, "disagreeable," the Chinese leadership may attempt to redirect business, investment, and trade elsewhere. In time it might be prepared to sacrifice Hong Kong's economic strength for political ends.

There's little the rest of the world can do in response to rising Chinese interference in the territory's internal affairs. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission recently warned about Beijing's misbehavior, causing the Chinese Foreign Ministry to respond that "Hong Kong's matters are purely China's internal affairs. We strongly object to any foreign institutions criticizing and intervening in Hong Kong's matters in any way."

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Legislation has been introduced in Congress to penalize the PRC for intervening in Hong Kong's affairs, but no government of a major power will yield its sovereignty to the demands of a foreign nation. In fact, those who have spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the matter say he is unusually passionate in criticizing Hong Kong's independence movement.

If China could be browbeaten into compliance, Congress would have freed the mainland long ago. Efforts to intervene are complicated by the fact that Washington wants many things from the PRC: help on North Korea, a new investment agreement, concessions on trade, restraint in the South China Sea, and more. In practice, human rights in Hong Kong will never top the list.

Ultimately, the question for Hong Kong's residents is how to best fight to protect their basic liberties. While the objective of independence is eminently reasonable, it also seems utterly unobtainable. Unfortunately, protests to that effect risk encouraging a crackdown that would threaten far more than this particular protest movement. Gratuitously provoking Beijing almost certainly is counter-productive.

However, active assertion of civil and political liberties also is required for their preservation. Hong Kong legislator Claudia Mo predicted that "Hong Kong will become even more vibrant on the political front. You could easily see Umbrella Movement, Part 2." Beijing officials need to realize that they would pay a price for further limiting freedoms in Hong Kong. However, protesters need to wisely pick their battles.

Hong Kong remains an important test of China's future plans. Will Beijing maintain this alternative system, despite what it sees as offensive provocations, as promised? Or will it decide to sacrifice its word as well as the liberties which help make the city so successful?

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Padua - Paint of Jesus Cleanses the Temple scene in the church Chiesa di San Gaetano and the chapel of the Crucifixion by unknown painter form 17. cent.

Those of us working on environmental and social causes are finding it hard to celebrate Christmas this year, with Aleppo at the front of our minds and social, political and planetary destabilization all around. To find something to be grateful for we must go all the way back to the reason Christmas is celebrated in the first place. -On the day we commemorate Jesus' birth, whether you believe he was the son of God or not, there is a lot to admire about the life of historical Jesus relevant to social and environmental movements today.

Jesus was the ultimate non-conformist, as were Buddha and Muhammad. All of them rallied against their local prevailing belief systems and founded the three largest religions on Earth. Jesus' critics considered him scandalous because he surrounded himself with sinners and women. Author Lee Anna Starr claimed, of all founders of religions and religious sects, Jesus stands alone as the one who never encouraged the disparagement of women. In this way, Jesus' attitudes about women and patriarchy were pioneering, as were his views on caring for the poor and less fortunate.

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One of Jesus' most controversial actions occurred around 30 AD shortly before his death when he caused a disturbance in the Temple in Jerusalem and accused authorities of thieving, naming poor widows as victims. This resulted in an embargo on commerce in the Temple, which ultimately contributed to Jesus' arrest and execution as a threat to public order. As Professor Marcus Borg said, "Historically, Jesus did not die "for the sins of the world" but rather "he was killed by the powers that ruled his world." Roman authorities and Temple elites saw Jesus' message as a threat to their political and economic stability and conspired together to stamp out the flames of that ideology.

We may presume the world has evolved so the brutal execution of one man or woman for their nonconformist ideas would be unlikely now, yet it continues all over the world. Last March, Goldman Environmental Prize Winner Berta Caceres was executed in her home in Honduras for her campaign to stop the construction of the Agua Zarca dam on the Gualcarque River, making her the 120th human rights defender murdered in Honduras in the last 4 years.

Between 2010 and 2015, Global Witness reported over 767 people died in conflicts against extractive industries and poachers. Last year marked the highest annual death toll on record with 185 environmentalists murdered in 16 countries. These activists refused to conform to the idea of economic gain at the expense of everything else. In doing so, they mirrored the story of Jesus by paying the ultimate price for their efforts to protect the most vulnerable.

As social inequality and environmental devastation reach an all-time high, we desperately need more outspoken non-conformists to come forward. Half of global wealth is now retained by only 1% of the world's population, and many of our decision makers sit comfortably in that 1%. -US President-elect Donald Trump's 17 cabinet members collectively retain more wealth than one third of American households. Meanwhile, lead poisoning has become a national epidemic in the USA due to lax environmental regulations. Without human rights defenders working on behalf of the socially vulnerable, our systems will continue to benefit the privileged minority while the well-being of the majority and their progeny is cast aside.

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If Jesus' non-conformity fails to inspire, we can take a cue from nature instead. The beauty we perceive in nature is due to its diversity and lack of conformity, yet we continue to drill, frack, extract, and pave over most of it. Last week, The Guardian reported rampant road building across the globe has divided the Earth's land into 600,000 fragments, most of which are too small to support significant wildlife. Mass migration of those fleeing climate and weather-related disasters is becoming the "new normal" as nature refuses to conform to our needs and we can only react and retreat in response.

Now more than ever, we need the attitude of a messiah to fight against the herd behavior keeping us trapped in broken economic, social and environmental systems. This Christmas, we commemorate the birth of a person who was not afraid to walk alone, to think alone, and to act alone in protecting the most vulnerable of society. If there is little else in the world to celebrate this season, at least there is a lesson in refusing to conform to the systems that benefit so few.

For more information on Human Rights Defenders, see Friends of the Earth International's HRD programme.


A Christmas market in Berlin was attacked Monday when a truck plowed into a crowd, leaving 12 dead and 48 injured. This was similar to a truck attack that left 80 dead in occurred in Nice, France in July. Also on Monday, Russia's ambassador to Turkey was shot by a madman at an art gallery, who made sure to shout out "Do not forget Aleppo!"

I could go on and on listing events like these, but you get the point.

Listen, I completely understand the concept of blowback - the idea that when a government harms people in other countries it will produce people wanting to retaliate - but these kinds of terrorist attacks are just completely beyond the pale.

Not to mention the fact that Germany has been especially accommodating with taking in refugees and certainly never invited any kind of response like this.

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Unfortunately, we live in a world now where even talking about this makes you an "Islamaphobe" to some people.

We are not allowed to simply point out that these crimes were committed in part due to blowback but also in the name of one specific religion.

Our current president, Barack Obama, refuses to even say the words "Islamic Extremism."

Look, I know that just saying those words isn't going to magically cure the world of all of these terror attacks.

However, it does allow us to clearly define our enemy and it likewise provides the opportunity to differentiate between those who use the religion as justification for murderous acts and the vast majority of Muslims who are peaceful, wonderful people.

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Nobody believes all Muslims are terrorists and separating the "extremists" from the rest of the religion merely reinforces that fact.

Thankfully, our President-elect, Donald Trump understands this and is going to ensure that we call these madmen out for what they truly are.

He realizes that the battle is with these extremists and not with the entire religion. He also recognizes that we must destroy terror groups like ISIS and their cells but we can do this by cooperating with other nations and without involving our country in more pointless nation-building exercises that led to quagmires like Iraq and Libya.

This is why, for all the hand-wringing Democrats are doing about our President-elect supposedly being too friendly with Russia and Vladimir Putin, I can't see why this is a bad thing.

For starters, I don't know about you, but I'm not exactly eager to antagonize a country with nuclear weapons. In addition, Putin is invested in wiping out our enemies in Syria and seems intent on doing exactly that.

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So why not let him?

This doesn't mean Putin is a good guy or that we are his best pal. It simply means that on most occasions, cooperation is better than conflict.

And that is the best strategy for eradicating the terrorists who wish to do us harm: cooperation. If we needlessly bomb and nation-build, we create more enemies. If we work with others to systematically target the actual perpetrators rather than innocent bystanders, we accomplish the dual goal of keeping our own country safe while ridding the world of these truly evil monsters who wish so badly to destroy us.

It's important we get our priorities in order and employ all the right strategies in the war on terror.
By Kira M. Newman

For many of us, mindfulness is a relaxation tool--a way to cultivate calm and slow down in a frantic world.

But that's not all it can do. "Sometimes when I meditate, I can't stop smiling," a longtime practitioner told me recently. "I just want to jump up and go after my dreams!" And she could be onto something: According to a new study, one of the ways mindfulness improves our well-being may be by encouraging us to act authentically, according to our values.

A group of Australian researchers surveyed more than 800 people, mostly undergraduate students, about their levels of mindfulness, well-being, and "values-based action."

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Values-based action reflects how much progress you're making toward the things that matter to you--your goals, self-improvement, and purpose in life--and how much you get distracted or discouraged along the way. For example, if you value compassion, you would rate yourself higher if you took time out of a busy week to check on friends who are struggling. The mindfulness measured here was participants' ability to stay focused, minimize distraction, and avoid judging their thoughts and feelings.

In their analysis, the researchers found that more mindful people had higher well-being--with much of this link accounted for by their acting more in line with their values. This was the case for the various types of well-being measured in the survey, including the participants' overall satisfaction with life, how much positive and negative emotion they experienced recently, and how positive they felt about their relationships, themselves, and the future.

In other words, one of the reasons mindfulness may be so beneficial is because it helps us translate our values into action, to live authentically.

Although this study can't prove that mindfulness causes more authentic behavior, which in turn causes greater well-being, there's reason to believe this might be the case. Lead author Alison Christie's follow-up work (as yet unpublished) is showing evidence of a causal link, where mindfulness training seems to increase values-based action, which in turn is linked to higher well-being in the future.

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When we pursue things that matter to us--whether it's a new career or a budding romance--we sometimes feel overwhelmed by fear or self-doubt. Mindfulness could help us recognize these feelings and work through them, rather than getting stuck and paralyzed by inaction. Mindfulness could also help us notice opportunities and carefully consider them--she mentioned that her company's hiring; maybe I'd be a good fit?--rather than moving forward on auto-pilot, rarely straying from our current path in life.

And mindfulness might give us the extra thoughtfulness we need to remember our values in everyday situations--to say no to commitments that will exhaust us, to remember to be patient with our kids, or to take care of our bodies.
By Jill Suttie

A friend of mine recently told me about an incident involving students at Berkeley High School. On the first day of classes, African-American juniors and seniors were being asked by their honors course teacher to show him their schedule when they entered the classroom. The teacher, who was white, apparently assumed the black students were lost and in the wrong room, and his gesture made them feel unwelcome and humiliated.

This is an example of implicit bias--a behavior that arises from subconscious associations, which may even contradict someone's explicit values. Implicit racial bias plays a role in many classrooms and schools with potentially devastating effects. In one recent experiment with preschool teachers, researchers found that when teachers were primed to look for behavioral problems while watching a classroom video with black and white children (none of whom were misbehaving), teachers gazed much longer at black children than white children, as if anticipating the behavioral problems would come from the black children.

In another experiment from the same study, teachers read a vignette about a behavioral problem with a preschooler randomly identified as a black boy, black girl, white boy, or white girl, and then were given details about the child's background or not. Providing the background information on the child increased the severity of suggested disciplinary actions when the race of the teacher didn't match that of the child, supporting the idea that we are more inclined to punish those with who look different from us.

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In fact, disciplinary actions are more likely to be perpetuated against African Americans--boys, in particular--than any other group of students, regardless of the infraction. And while it's understandable that teachers would want to prevent disruptions in the classrooms and take actions to avoid them, some seem to have little idea of how to do that without turning to ingrained biases.

Of course, teachers are not alone in having racial biases. Their behavior reflects how social messages are hard to escape, even for people of color. But studies like these show how racial disparities can be perpetuated in classrooms, too. If left unchecked, this kind of biased treatment can haunt a student well into elementary school and beyond, making the promise of "schools as the great social equalizers" a false one.

The good news is that teachers can learn to combat their prejudice, even the implicit kind, if they become more aware of it and take steps to actively fight it in themselves. Here are some of the ways that might help educators treat all of their students with dignity and care.

1. Cultivate awareness of their biases

Teachers are human and therefore influenced by psychological biases, like the fundamental attribution error, when we assume that others who behave in a certain way do so because of their character (a fixed trait) rather than in response to environmental circumstances. In-group bias leads us to assign positive characteristics and motivations to people who are similar to us.

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Biases like these are natural, used as cognitive shorthand for making quick social judgments in ambiguous situations, especially those involving people from unfamiliar ethnic or social groups. They become a problem when we're not aware of their impact on other people. And if we're part of a majority group with more social, economic, or political power than a minority one, then accumulated unconscious bias can be extremely destructive, limiting the life opportunities and hurting the well-being of the minority group.

Many researchers believe that becoming more aware of our biases can help us improve our interactions with others, decrease our sense of unease in interracial contexts, and make better decisions. Though most of this research has been done with other professional groups or the general public, the same lessons are likely to apply to teachers.

However, many teachers feel pressures not to cop to those biases, perhaps out of fear they will be accused of racism. This leaves them blind to the ways that biases work at an unconscious level. Pretending to be colorblind is not helpful and in fact adhering to a color-blind philosophy has been shown to increase implicit bias, at least in college students. Admitting that we are all subject to biases creates a safer space to examine them more carefully and to take steps to fight them.

2. Work to increase empathy and empathic communication

Empathy--the ability to understand another's perspective and emotions--is important in all human social encounters, including teaching. Yet, often teachers have little understanding of the communities where their students live and have trouble understanding their perspectives, leading them to treat these students more harshly.

One solution: learning about the lives of students and showing that you care. At least one study has found that actively trying to take the perspective of another person--as opposed to trying to be "objective"--increased one's ability to not fall prey to stereotypical views of others. Actively inducing empathy for another person has been tied to a willingness to consider environmental circumstances more closely when handing out punishments for misbehavior. And, one recent study has found that training teachers in empathy cut down student suspension rates in half.

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Though perhaps more research has been done on empathy in other professionals (such as physicians and police officers), teachers may want to take note of the ways that they have learned to increase their empathy through a combination of stress reduction, learning how to manage difficult emotions, and practicing empathic communication. Treating students with kindness and consideration is a sure way to bring out kindness in them, too.

3. Practice mindfulness and loving-kindness

Mindfulness practices--such as paying attention in a nonjudgmental way to one's breath or other sensations--has been shown to decrease stress in teachers, which can indirectly have an effect on reducing bias. But according to some research, mindfulness may also have a direct effect on bias reduction as well.

In one study, young white participants who listened to a 10-minute audiotape with instructions in mindfulness showed less implicit bias towards blacks and older people than those who listened to a 10-minute discussion of nature. This suggests that nonjudgmental awareness, even when not specifically focused on reducing prejudice, can help reduce unconscious biases.

Loving-kindness meditation--a practice that involves consciously sending out compassionate thoughts toward others--may also help. In a recent study, the random assignment of a short-term loving-kindness meditation reduced implicit bias toward a targeted group, though it didn't decrease implicit bias for other groups not targeted by the meditation.

4. Develop cross-group friendships in their own lives

While it's important to take steps in the classroom, the relationships we form outside of the classroom can also have an impact on bias.

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Cross-group friendships have been shown in several studies to decrease stress in intergroup situations, to decrease prejudice toward outgroup members, and to decrease one's preference for social hierarchy or domination over lower-status groups. These findings alone might encourage teachers to seek out cross-group friendships in their lives so that they can be more receptive to the diverse students they find in their classrooms.

Another reason for teachers to consider developing cross-group friendships is that they may influence their students to do the same. When people see cross-group friendships working out in positive ways, they tend to be more willing to engage in cross-group friendships themselves.

In addition, positive cross-group friendships can have contagion effects in other people within social groups, turning whole communities into warmer, more receptive spaces for cross-group interactions. All of this bodes well for teachers role-modeling the kind of behavior they want to see in their students.

Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean teachers should indiscriminately approach someone just because they are from a different racial group. Instead, teachers can reach out to colleagues at work, or get involved in activities or perhaps attend events where people with different backgrounds and perspectives come together for a common cause. Developing friendships can be one of the best ways to break down barriers of prejudice, and it's more easily done when people have some common interests.

Is this a lot to ask, given all the burdens our society heaps on teachers? Perhaps. Teachers should get more support than they do, and, ideally, school districts should make reducing implicit bias a priority backed up with money, policy, and training. Individual teachers can only do so much.

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By Mariah Flynn

Earlier this fall, incoming students at the University of Chicago received a letter from school administrators. In it, the freshmen were welcomed to the University and congratulated on their acceptance into this school. They also felt it necessary to make a statement:

Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called 'trigger warnings,'... and we do not condone the creation of intellectual 'safe spaces' where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.

What is a trigger warning? The term, often used interchangeably with "content warning," is a heads up that readers may encounter distressing content--and in recent years, trigger or content warnings have become controversial. To some, like University of Chicago administrators, such warnings keep students from being challenged or engaging with provocative course materials. Others feel that such warnings are useful tools that keep learners from having a strong emotional response to certain kinds of content, usually depicting physical or emotional violence.

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For all of the excitement around trigger warnings, they're actually quite rare. In an effort to gather more information about their use on college campuses, the National Coalition Against Censorship conducted a survey of over 800 educators from the Modern Language Association and the College Art Association--and found that only one percent reported that their institutions had adopted a policy on trigger warnings. Moreover, only fifteen percent of respondents said that students had asked for warnings.

In many respects, framing content warnings as a "censorship" or "free speech" issue is not helpful to professors or students. There is no evidence that they lead to the widespread suppression of troubling material or class discussion. At worst, warnings are merely gratuitous for a majority of students. At their best, however, content warnings can actually help students engage with course material and develop a caring relationship with their teachers.

When warnings don't work

Although the terms "content warning" and "trigger warning" are often conflated, they aren't the same thing.

A "content warning," much like a PG-13 or R movie rating--or a NSFW at the start of an email that, well, you really shouldn't open at work--warns the consumer of the material to prepare for potentially graphic content ahead. It's an alert to students that they may encounter something mature or challenging, so that they're not surprised when that content appears.

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A "trigger warning," on the other hand, refers specifically to psychological triggers that might cause an extreme and unconscious reaction for people who have experienced trauma, like physical or sexual assault, combat, or natural disasters. About three-fourths of us will experience trauma over the course of our lifetime. About ten percent of those people will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), experiencing symptoms like flashbacks, memory gaps, depression, or hyper-vigilance.

Avoiding triggering topics--a very common strategy for people with PTSD--isn't the best way to process traumatic events. Avoidance of triggers is a symptom of PTSD, not a cure. In fact, exposure therapy (a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy where patients are exposed to physical or mental reminders of their trauma) is not only most common method for treating PTSD; it's also one of the most effective.

This research might lead some to suggest that perhaps we don't need to be so concerned about student's exposure to triggering content, if exposure is the best way for them to process past traumatic events. However, exposure therapy works best under the care of a trained therapist. Even though exposure is an effective way to deal with PTSD, instructors aren't therapists and the classroom is not an appropriate place for such a therapy.

Trigger warnings are also challenging to implement, because identifying potential triggers isn't easy. Individuals with past trauma are often triggered by seemingly neutral things that have nothing to do with the content an instructor might present in class--the scent of a certain type of cologne or hearing a song associated with the traumatic event they experienced. Educators won't always know what might trigger a student who is a victim of trauma and can't possibly provide a warning for everything that might be a trigger.

Dani Behonick, a health science professor at Canada College, acknowledges the difficulty in determining which material might trigger students.

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"No matter how mindful I am about stuff that's likely to trigger my students," she says, "I can never know the extent of what they have going on, so I must be prepared for them to be triggered by something I never saw coming and be ready to hear and support them when it happens."

While Behonick may "sometimes precede content by acknowledging, in some way, that folks may find it challenging," she doesn't use formal trigger warnings in her courses, which cover issues like abortion, cancer, and food insecurity. Instead, Behonick focuses on her relationships with students so she can support them if they are negatively affected by subject matter.

"This is why I consider it so important to try to establish a relationship with each student that at least allows them to feel safe talking to me one-on-one before anything comes up," she says. "That, to me, is just as, or even more, important than trigger warnings."

The right way to warn students

So, if trigger warnings aren't all that effective, and they're also hard to implement, is it worth using warnings at all?

Ideally, content warnings aren't meant to serve as a "get-out-of-this-assignment-free" card or an excuse to not engage with course material (as the University of Chicago letter implies); their purpose serves to give the reader the opportunity to mentally and emotionally prepare for consuming the content.

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Students are entering higher education with varied backgrounds, including those from low-income or minority backgrounds, or having served in the military. At least some of the students will have experienced trauma. Providing content warnings may show care and concern for the emotions of your students, enhancing the teacher-student relationship--and they may serve as an alert that they're about to encounter material that demands special attention, and possibly preparation. In this way, content warnings can help students to fully engage with the content.

So how can educators warn students about potentially troubling content without stifling discussion or discouraging participation? Here are some tips.

1. Be upfront about what students can expect from your course.

Namwali Serpell, an English professor at the University of California, Berkeley, offers one content warning on the class syllabus: "Please be advised that all readings and screenings in the course are required; some texts include graphic violence and sexually explicit subject matter."

If you cover specific topics that you anticipate could elicit a strong emotional response, you may want to provide a similar warning about the emotions students might experience, so they can be prepared. As part of setting expectations, you can let them know that they can come to you with any questions or concerns, opening the door for a caring relationship.

2. Consider alternative readings or activities.

Obviously, there are times when an alternate exercise won't do. When teaching about World War II, students will have to read and engage in conversations about war. But if your point can be made using a different reading that doesn't contain the same graphic content, it would make sense to do so--or at least provide a range of optional reading.

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You may also consider extending flexibility in terms of where class assignments are completed. Can students watch a graphic video in another setting--perhaps their own home, or with a trusted friend--instead of in the classroom?



3. Offer information on other coping strategies and self-care.

Most professors are not trained therapists and shouldn't be expected to play that role. However, educators can still provide information on self-care and coping strategies.

You might invite students to take a moment before or after engaging with the content to consider their inner emotional response to the material. Carnegie Mellon University reminds instructors they can "send a positive signal of support for students' learning and well-being" by include the following message in their syllabus:

A note to remind you to take care of yourself. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress. All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone.



Beyond this, you could also invite students to come up with their own list of self-care strategies at the start of the semester. Refer back to these lists throughout the semester so students remember to turn to them in times of stress. And of course, make sure to share the information for the campus mental health center, for students who may need more serious help.



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As we inch towards the end of 2016, we'll see the usual lists of news highlights from the year, including the crises that captured our attention. Here are some of the biggest stories that didn't make the news - the international crises that were crowded out, forgotten, or ignored.

Not only do these crises cause human suffering, they also remind us why sustainable development is crucial: to help vulnerable people get back on their feet as quickly as possible and to achieve the Agenda 2030 goal of ending extreme poverty.

Putting the spotlight on these crises is often the first step to mobilising political action, financing and other international support to resolve these crises.

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1.

Internally displaced people

These are the 'invisible majority' of people displaced globally. Of the 65 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, a record 40.8 million--or more than six out of ten--are displaced within their own national borders. These people have fled for many of the same reasons as refugees: to escape conflict or violence, persecution or environmental degradation. But since they have not crossed an international border, they are excluded from the specialized international protection given to refugees. This is why UNDP, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons released an open letter in September, calling on leaders to live up to their responsibility to protect and assist the internally displaced. We must tackle the issues that lead to displacement and give internally displaced people access to services, social protection, jobs and dignity.

2.Lake Chad Basin

Here we've seen a devastating double punch of Boko Haram-related violence and chronic food insecurity. More than nine million people need humanitarian assistance including 6.3 million people who are food insecure at "crisis and emergency levels". Now Boko Haram is targeting civilians with raids and suicide bombings. The region also faces an environmental catastrophe, with Lake Chad losing around 90 per cent of its surface area over the last 40 years due to climate change and other factors.

3.Democratic Republic of the Congo

Few crises are as drawn-out and complex as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), after years of armed conflict, sexual violence, widespread poverty and abuses against civilians. Recently, the UN has reported a further deterioration in food security, child health, access to clean water and other indicators. At least 49 people were recently killed during a demonstration on 19 September 2016. Development grinds to a halt in any area with such protracted conflict.

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4. Central African Republic

If you were born in the Central African Republic (CAR), your average life expectancy is just 50.7 years, according to UNDP's Human Development Index. On top of that, violent conflict over the last few years has left 2.3 million people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. The volatile security situation could undermine any small steps forward in development in recent years and jeopardise the country's chances of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. But there are opportunities for recovery and peacebuilding, with more than USD 2.2 billion pledged at an international donor conference in Brussels last month to boost security and support health, education, economic opportunities for women and girls, and food security.

5.Ukraine

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has dragged on for two years now. It's already forced the closure of mines, factories and other industries and people are sliding into debt after exhausting their savings. In the non-government controlled area, six in ten households now rely on the pensions of retired relatives to survive. In the government-controlled area, more than one in three of the internally displaced and one in four of those still in their homes earned no income over the last month.

These are some of the biggest underreported stories of 2016; there are many more. Of course it is primarily up to political leaders to resolve or prevent conflict. But agencies such as UNDP can also work with governments to create job opportunities, improve peace and security and social cohesion and maintain basic services such as electricity and water.

This type of development response helps to prevent future crises and ensures more people move out of poverty and into a life with dignity.

So let's all make a New Year's resolution to squeeze some space into our news bulletins and social media feeds for the underreported stories. Because very often, no news is far from good news.

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President Teddy Roosevelt called Thomas Paine a 'Filthy Little Atheist,' a phrase with as many errors in it as words, since Paine was fastidiously clean, stood taller than most of his contemporaries at five feet ten inches, and was a professed believer in God.

Paine was often called an atheist by Christians. Why?

Let's back up and remember who Thomas Paine was. Born in England, he was sent to America to make his fortunes by none other than Benjamin Franklin. In America Paine became sympathetic to the American urge for independence from England and wrote highly persuasive pamphlets encouraging revolution. John Adams said that without Thomas Paine's pen George Washington's sword would never have defeated the Brits. It was Paine who suggested the name 'United States of America' and 'USA' for the fledgling nation. Paine was one of the 'fathers' of America and he personally knew all the other fathers. He went on to assist in the French revolution too. Along the way he wrote voluminously (collected now into a shelf of volumes). One book alone brought Christian fury to Paine's doorstep: The Age of Reason. Why the fury? Because no other book dislodged so many thousands from the ranks of Christianity.

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Anyone interested in the history of modern religious skepticism must read this book as well as Paine's published defenses of it. Here is a very, very brief summary of The Age of Reason:

Paine states almost immediately in the book that he believes in one God, as evident to him in the majesty of the physical universe.

Paine does not believe in any of the existing churches (by which he means all religions). As each existing church accuses all the others of unbelief, Paine disbelieves them all. 'My mind is my own church,' he says.



Paine challenges the idea of any religion based upon a special message from God offered in a revealed holy book. The only revelation from God, and the only script from God, is nature itself. Paine critiques the concept 'revelation' and says a revelation that's given to one person is thereafter 'hearsay' to all others and not bound to convince anyone of its veracity. He criticizes the notion of a 'revealed holy book' by saying the 'words of God' cannot be accurately conveyed in a book to a humanity with many thousands of languages and dialects. God communicates only with the universal language of nature.

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A large part of The Age of Reason is given to meticulously close readings of biblical books, producing conclusions remarkably similar to what university biblical scholars would come up with a hundred years after Paine. Paine could see anachronisms and varying writing styles that proved Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch was impossible. He could see that the purported dates of biblical authorship were all wrong. He could see that the entire cannon of the bible was not arranged in chronological order. He felt that God was defamed in biblical books because God was depicted as a brutal, vindictive monarch. He could see that the gospels were not written by eye witnesses. He exposed the artificial use of Old Testament 'prophecies' in the story of Jesus. He suspected Paul was not the author of many letters attributed to him. And much more. He could identify contradictions in the bible. All this had a jarring effect on his Christian readers.

With a scoffing tone, Paine also itemized and deconstructed every single Christian belief, calling each an improbable fiction and attaching the name 'mythologists' to Christian theologians. Some Christian ideas were outright immoral to Paine, as the supposed atoning death of an innocent man, and God's purported need for blood to satisfy God's injured sense of justice.

Paine advocated a simple 'Deism,' a non-dogmatic belief in a Creator God who deserves our private worship and expects us to be decent to one another. 'To do good is my religion,' says Paine.

But goodness was not enough and Christians could not imagine belief in God without the Christian apparatus for that belief. And so they utterly denied that Paine was a theist, against Paine's own words. Paine suffered for his 'atheism' in his lifetime, and he indirectly made others suffer for it too, decades after he died: booksellers, publishers, printers, pressmen, even shop girls, were sent to prison for years because they produced The Age of Reason.

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Teddy Roosevelt received letters from around the world asking him to retract the 'Filthy Little Atheist' remark. Roosevelt wouldn't do it. But why would Roosevelt, living more than a hundred years after Paine, even venture an opinion of Thomas Paine? Here's why. The Age of Reason was in a new loop of fame in the early twentieth century and the vice league lawyers could no longer suppress the book: booksellers and printers and type-setters and shop girls could not be jailed any more. How then to muffle the influence of the most damaging book Christianity ever faced? Simple. Get a United States President to slander the author. Get a President to refuse to retract three big inaccuracies in three small words: Filthy Little Atheist.
William Eaton (his real name) isn't sure he and his dog will survive the winter in Chicago. Eaton, 66, lives in a 2- year-old RV in the driveway of a friend who is kind enough to let him stay there. For now.

"Everything I hold dear and precious is going to go away," says Eaton.

It's been a rocky ride for him since he was a young man, and talking to him, hearing his history, one can draw a reasonable conclusion that there is more to his current circumstances than just bad luck.

He flunked out of college, said he was a witness to a murder at the Chicago bar where he worked, had a breakdown, and didn't make it as an artist. The "turning point," he says, was being arrested in Chicago in 1993 for allegedly stalking Nelson Mandela (no charges were ever filed).

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And like tens of millions of other Americans over 50, Eaton is in trouble financially. "I don't really have much of a future. It looks damn bleak."

Patricia, 50, waits patiently among dozens of others in the church basement on West 86th Street in Manhattan that serves as the West Side Campaign Against Hunger headquarters.

College educated and working full time, she says, since she was 14, she now claims to have disabling back pain that have left her with no income, $300 in the bank, and living in a room in Harlem with a family that, she says, is a year behind on its rent.

So like the other 33,000-plus people who come to this pantry style program for more than one million meals each year -- which allows people to choose from dozens of food choices as opposed to the more familiar soup kitchen format -- Patricia waits for her number to be called.

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She talks about trying to be an actress, working hard, and staying optimistic, but then she starts to cry when asked about her future.

Also waiting for his turn, Antonio Levin, 59, laments that he is too old to do the construction work he did for decades, so now he does painting, cleaning and the like when he gets work.

"I could do the job," he insists, but "when you hit 50, nobody wants to hire you," he grimly states.

These may -- or may not -- be people at the extreme of the more than 35 million Americans over 50 who have quite literally no money. None. And for the remaining 65 million Americans over 50, the average net worth is a paltry $104,000, which can easily run out after three or four years of even frugal living.

But even for those in less dire circumstances, it is hard to see where the tunnel ends and light begins.

"The trends are such that there's a large group of people who don't have skills for new economy and they will be negatively impacted," no matter what social or retraining programs are made available by the government or the private sector, says Ravi Kanbur, T. H. Lee Professor of World Affairs, International Professor of Applied Economics and Management, and Professor of Economics at Cornell University.

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You don't have to tell that to Rita (not her real name), in her 60s, who has lived in suburban Denver for many years and despite a masters degree in choreography -- "which doesn't do me much good these days" -- now does housecleaning to pay the bills as best she can.

She has no money saved, and had to care for her son after he returned as a "wounded warrior" so "I just kind of take whatever job comes my way, so I'm surviving, but just barely."

This massive problem, which I have called "senior poverty" in the past, but which really needs a more descriptive name, persists and grows, and while there are some organizations paying attention to it, such as The WorkPlace in Bridgeport, CT, run by the indefatigable Joe Carbone, the problem is clearly outpacing the solutions.

For every William Eaton, there is the laid off factory worker, the no longer relevant middle manager, the woman -- or man -- burdened by a crippled by punishing divorce, the educated freelance artist who falls ill without health insurance.

Stewart Desmond, executive director of the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, proudly presides over his program, but when one sees how many people wait for their turn for food, it is hard to be overly optimistic.

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Cornell's Kanbur, who admits he is more adept at framing the issue than proposing solutions, says that the notion the laid off steelworker can become a well-paid computer programmer is "laughable," and that the programs for helping the long-term unemployed are ineffective.

For the short-term, taxing the highly paid "computer programmer" to pay for the "unemployed steelworker" may be the best we can do while trying to come up with broader answers, Kanbur suggests.

That will certainly not be enough to solve the larger problem, and will likely not be soon enough to help William Eaton, Patricia, Antonio Levin and Rita.

"I'm not suicidal or anything, but I'm living in the moment," says Rita. "I make it into a game," she says, "How can I make these limited resources work?"

For Eaton, making it into a game isn't an option. He lives on food stamps and Social Security, and has to find $450 to pay his storage space bill or they will sell off his possessions.

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Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen were killed when Ukrainian military positions in the Svitlodarsk arc area in Donbas came under fire, Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff spokesman Vladyslav Voloshyn said.

"The situation was not quiet either last night. As of 7:00 a.m., nine instances of shelling were recorded across the zone of the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO). Six of them targeted our positions in the Svitlodarsk arc area," he told the 112. Ukraine TV channel on Friday morning.

Nineteen strikes were recorded in the ATO zone over the past day, with most of them seen in the Svitlodarsk arc district, he said.

"The situation remains complicated there. All in all, 19 instances of shelling were recorded in the ATO zone in the past 24-hour period. Most of them occurred in the Svitlodarsk arc area. Yesterday, militants undertook two storming attempts under the cover of mortars, as well as artillery. They stepped up the intensity of strikes at 10:00 p.m. last night as well," Voloshyn said.

Ukrainian soldiers were killed, he said, adding that further details would be provided later.

"Unfortunately, there are losses among the Ukrainian military. The Defense Ministry's spokesman for ATO issues will report them a little later. But it has been said that yesterday militants used 152mm artillery against populated locality for the first time in a long period. There were three such strikes - two of them were carried out in the first half of the day, and the populated locality of Myronivsky came under fire in the afternoon," he said.
Sig Sauer, Inc., the gun company in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, made a massive deal last year to sell $266 million worth of rifles and guns to the Mexican military and police - the same institutions implicated in serious crimes of executions of civilians and drug trafficking. With an openly anti-Mexican incoming U.S. president who's pledged to arm this country against Mexico, will the United States complete the deal to deliver thousands of military-grade firearms to Mexican police and army units?

The question becomes more acute in light of a new journalistic investigation that found that the Mexican army initiated and participated in the attack that disappeared 43 students from Ayotzinapa as part of a drug recovery operation. The investigation by Mexican journalist Anabel Hernandez was published December 1 by Penguin Random House. Hernandez cited officials who say that President Enrique Pena Nieto directly suppressed an internal report that discredited the subsequent investigation of the Ayotzinapa crime.

The September 2014 attack by Mexican army and police on Ayotzinapa students that resulted in the forced disappearance of 43 of them was carried out to retrieve a two-million-dollar shipment of heroin hidden in the luggage compartments of two buses in which the students were travelling, unbeknownst to the students, according to Hernandez's exhaustive journalistic investigation. An informant that Hernandez said was "proven reliable" over the course of her 15-month investigation said that a drug capo called the Army about the missing heroin, but did not order the students' disappearance. Their disappearance, says Hernandez, occurred after students saw soldiers unloading drugs from the baggage compartment, to eliminate witnesses.

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Mexican federal officials then staged an elaborate version of what happened to the Ayotzinapa students. The official narrative held that police turned the students over to a local drug gang, who killed them, burned their bodies at a dump in the town of Cocula, and threw their ashes in the San Juan River, but that version has been widely discredited. A group of independent experts appointed by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission - known by its Spanish acronym GIEI - showed the story to be physically impossible.



Police and navy officers tortured dozens of policemen and alleged gang members who confessed to the official version, according to both the GIEI and the book by Hernandez, The True Night of Iguala (La Noche Verdadera de Iguala). The GIEI experts disclosed documents showing that 17 gang members detained for the Ayotzinapa disappearances were tortured while in custody, and cited another study that concluded that nearly 80% of the more than 100 detainees were tortured. Hernandez adds to the record through interviews of detainees and family members about their treatment, including suffocation with plastic bags, electric shocks to genitals, and punches to the chest and stomach. The alleged torture led to signing confessions the detainees said had been written beforehand by authorities and presented to them.

The director of Mexico's federal Criminal Investigation Agency, Tomas Zeron, brought one of the tortured witnesses to the river a day before evidence of burnt bones of one of the students was supposedly found by Navy divers in the river, but Zeron never entered the prior visit to the river into the judicial record, a violation leading many to believe that the evidence was planted in the river. Family members of the 43 missing students demanded Zeron's dismissal, and in September he resigned - and was appointed as technical secretary of the National Security Council.

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According to Hernandez's account, President Enrique Pena Nieto directly suppressed a report by an internal affairs inspector that found the government's investigation invalid and recommended investigating army and federal police officials, as well as Zeron. The report, signed in September 2016 and parts of which were published last week, also identified 95 reports of torture of detainees in the case. When the inspector declined to alter his report, the president ordered him to resign, according to the book by Hernandez, who was interviewed on CNN Spanish on November 28. The news weekly Proceso published a summary of the inspector's report, which ran more than a thousand pages.

Pena Nieto also promoted to the post of Army Inspector General, General Alejandro Saavedra Hernandez, the commander of the region in charge of the Army's 27th Battalion in Iguala, which had command control of police and other government forces the night of the attack on the students, Proceso reported on December 1.

U.S. Weapons to Mexico's Army and Police



The State Department notified Congress last March of its approval of the Sig Sauer deal for $266 million worth of rifles and pistols destined for use by the Mexican army, navy, and federal and state police forces. In 2015, Sig Sauer delivered nearly 7,400 weapons to Mexico, including more than three thousand assault rifles, 505 machine guns, and 3,814 pistols, according to Mexico's declaration under the Arms Trade Treaty. These 2015 deliveries nevertheless represent only a small fraction of the massive arms deal.

Normally arms dealers have four years after State Department approval to complete an international sale, and with a sale this large, it is likely taking place over a period of time. That means that Congress and the State Department may still be able to stop further shipments of weapons to Mexican army and police forces.

Other weapons sales also have been approved recently, including: more than 11,000 Glock pistols worth $3 million for the Mexican military, approved in February 2016; more than a thousand Colt carbine rifles for Mexican state-level police forces, approved in April 2015; and grenade launchers and machines guns produced by U.S. Ordnance, Inc. approved for sale to the Mexican Navy in February 2016. In July, the Mexican Navy also got approval of a sale of more than two thousand rifle scopes produced by Trijicon, Inc. (Here is the full list of arms sales approved in 2015-2016, produced by the State Department Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers.)

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The Quaker organization American Friends Service Committee has just published a report, Where the Guns Go, on U.S. arms and their impacts in Mexico's context of corruption, human rights abuses and impunity. The report was based on government documents and firsthand testimony from human rights victims gathered in June, and concluded that arm sales "are a pivotal element of U.S. policy with regard to Mexico." The military approach to combating drug trafficking, the report said, "has led to a dramatic escalation of homicides in Mexico since 2007, making it the second-most deadly armed conflict in the world in 2015." They called on the United States to end arms sales and military assistance to Mexico and reorient drug policy to address addiction as a public health issue.
"Oh, no, a trade war," moaned the Republican establishment for the umpteenth time recently, as Donald Trump suggested a 35 percent tariffs on goods made in U.S. factories that have moved offshore.

"Tariffs?" it seemed to ask. "You'll start a trade war...destroy global supply chains...hurt the very American companies and workers you want to help...The sky is falling!"

Apparently, President-elect Trump's call for tariffs on outsourced U.S. manufacturing goods is a bridge too far for editorial boards, business journalists, pundits, and even new friends like Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The House Speaker says that, rather than revamping faulty U.S trade policy, the solution for America's manufacturing woes is simply to enact "comprehensive tax reform."

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It's a view shared by other GOP stalwarts, including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and the Club for Growth's David McIntosh. According to McIntosh, tariffs and trade wars would make the U.S. economy "tank again." Instead, the prescription to him is obvious: "Tax cuts and deregulation."

Here's the problem with this predictable, longstanding GOP remedy for our trade problems: It just won't work.

The foreign trade stratagems put in place to hinder America's exports have simply grown too voluminous and complex to surmount simply by lowering the corporate tax rate and cutting regulations.

China's illegal export-boosting policies are a prime example, although Beijing is far from alone in the trade cheating category. Since its 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), China's trade surplus with the United States has climbed by $284 billion.

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Why? Because Beijing has based its export-led growth on predatory practices such as currency manipulation, massive subsidies, and large-scale dumping of industrial commodities like steel. Significantly, these tactics violate Beijing's WTO and IMF commitments. But, to date, the United States simply hasn't found the political will to enact the broad array of policies needed to counter Chinese cheating. The occasional WTO lawsuit is hardly an adequate response.

It would be humorous, if it weren't so distressing, to hear otherwise intelligent Republicans warn of a coming trade war--when the United States has already been suffering the ill effects of one-sided attacks for the past 40-plus years.

Certainly, the recent toll is obvious--with millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs lost to China and other competitor nations since 2001. And so it's strange that House Republicans would fear reprisal when so much damage has already been inflicted, and it is the U.S. that needs to retaliate to preserve its manufacturing base.

There is one area, however, where Republicans may finally be seeing the proverbial light, and that involves the issue of a Value Added Tax (VAT). Currently, the United States is the only major industrialized nation not to employ a VAT system. As a consequence, foreign VAT taxes not only impose a surcharge on U.S. exports to a VAT country but also subsidize that country's producers with rebates for their own exports. They do so legally under trade rules, while America has chosen to take it on the chin rather than respond.

Notably, these foreign VAT systems amount to a stealth tax on American-made goods. And, when combined with the egregious currency manipulation and rampant subsidies practiced by countries including China and Japan (which also employ VATs), it builds an enormous protective wall against U.S. exports.

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The challenges posed by the current, tilted VAT system seem to have finally reached even ardent free-traders like Paul Ryan, though. The House speaker's recent Blueprint for Tax Policy, co-authored with Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), recognizes that America's "major trading partners raise a significant portion of their tax revenues through value-added taxes." The two conclude that the overseas VAT system imposes a "unilateral penalty on U.S. exports" while also providing a "unilateral subsidy" on imports.

This realization is a major step forward for Republicans: Ryan, Brady, and others finally grasp the competitive advantages bestowed by a VAT system and understand that the U.S. must counter it to be competitive in world markets. Specifically, their blueprint calls for a consumption-based, border-applicable tax/rebate system allowing the United States to "counter the border adjustments that our trading partners apply in their VATs."

Correcting the VAT inequity won't solve all of the challenges facing U.S. exporters, but it's a significant start--and one that can help to bring revenue into the federal treasury without saddling domestic businesses. Of course, there are already howls that the Republican proposal may be illegal under WTO trade rules, but these should not deter the Republicans from moving forward. Let's legislate now, then litigate later at the WTO, if necessary.

Ryan and his colleagues should be commended for forward thinking. The next step for the Republican Congress and President Trump is to design, pass, and sign legislation codifying the initiative. With potentially sweeping changes afoot in U.S. competitiveness policy, it's entirely possible that such a tax system could be enacted, along with other measures--with penalizing currency manipulation chief among them--to rebalance trade flows, advantage U.S. manufacturers, and fulfill the president-elect's promise to restore lost middle class jobs.

Kevin L. Kearns is president of the U.S. Business & Industry Council, a national business organization advocating for domestic U.S. manufacturers since 1933.
Money will not save Aleppo's children, but true love will. Yet, they will have none until we nurture it among us.



In the last few months, the horrid humanitarian crisis in Aleppo has surpassed the worst atrocities we have seen coming out of Syria since the inception of the civil war there in 2011. It is true that "Aleppo's fall is Obama's failure," as Leon Wieseltier wrote in The Washington Post. It is also true, as even chairwoman of Meretz, Zehava Gal-On, admitted on her Facebook page, that "We should give credit to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his insistence not to become involved in this war." However, there is an inseparable connection between Israel and the tragedy in Aleppo.

Today in Israel, thousands of people are rushing to aid the stranded civilians of Aleppo. In just two days, Israelis have donated more than $100,000 to help the Syrian children whose lives have been devastated as they were used as pawns in the tug-of-war between Assad and the rebels, Russia and the US. Unable to flee, they have been sitting ducks waiting to become another harrowing image on the pages of newspapers and social media.

Yoav Yeivin, one of the lead organizers of the donation campaign, told The Times of Israel, "As an Israeli child I grew up asking where the world was when we needed them most [during the Holocaust]. As a Jew, I always knew that I was expected to be there, to help and lend a hand. There is no nation that knows better than us how lethal apathy can be." I sympathize with Yeivin's compassion and I understand how the memory of the Holocaust makes us more sensitive to other people's suffering.

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Yet, no amount of money can change what is happening in Syria. Even worse, no amount of compassion can alleviate the suffering or prevent it from worsening until its cause--the evil in human nature--has been uprooted. This task--transforming human nature from wickedness to kindness--is the sole task of the Jewish people. If anything positive should have emerged from the terror of the death camps, it is the commitment of our nation to transform human nature. As long as we stall, we are inadvertently inflicting suffering upon the world. This is why it hates us.

The preeminent 20th Century luminary of Kabbalah, Rav Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag, known as Baal HaSulam (Author of The Ladder), for his Sulam (Ladder) commentary on The Book of Zohar, understood this responsibility well and tried to awaken Jews to their task. In The Writings of the Last Generation & The Nation, he stated, "I have already conveyed the rudiments of my perception in 1933. I have also spoken to the leaders of the generation. Alas, it made no impression. Now, however, after the atom and hydrogen bombs, I think the world will believe me." David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, expressed his appreciation of Baal HaSulam's commitment to the goal of transforming society and human nature in a letter to his son, who was also my teacher, Rav Baruch Shalom Ashlag, who continued his father's work. Ben Gurion wrote, "I wanted to talk to him about Kabbalah, and he with me--about socialism" (Diaries, August 11, 1958). Another time, Ben Gurion wrote (January 6, 1960), "I view with tremendous importance the completion of the works of Rav Ashlag (Baal HaSulam)."

Baal HaSulam did not settle for meetings with only the Prime Minister. He met with many leaders and social activists in the Jewish state. Among them were Zalman Shazar, Moshe Sharet, Chaim Arlozorov, Moshe Aram, Meir Yaari, Yaakov Hazan, Dov Sadan, and the acclaimed poet, Chaim Nachman Bialik. His intention was to convince these opinion leaders to build the state of Israel as a society that endorses unity and promotes the transformation of human nature. Had he succeeded, the Jewish people would have become the light unto nations we are intended to be and the massacre in Aleppo, as well as all the other atrocities that our world has seen since the end of World War II, would not have happened.

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If we had shown the light of unity to the world, people would have known how to transcend their egos and unite. In the absence of this ability, they have invented neoliberalism.

Why Specifically Us?

There are two reasons why Israel and the Jewish people are the involuntary messengers of the necessity to modify human nature. The first, and most obvious one, is what Yoav Yeivin and Baal HaSulam mentioned earlier--the Holocaust. In The Writings of the Last Generation & The Nation, Baal HaSulam writes, "Because we suffered from tyranny more than all other nations, we are better prepared to seek counsel that will eradicate tyranny from the land."

However, there is a deeper reason, on which I have elaborated several times before. Wherever you look in nature, there is perfect harmony. All of reality runs on the balanced interaction between two forces--positive and negative. These forces create distinct atoms whose particles are nevertheless connected, distinct molecules whose atoms are nevertheless connected, distinct cells whose molecules are nevertheless connected, and distinct organisms, such as human beings, whose cells are nevertheless connected. The harmonious balance between connection and distinction enables life to evolve toward greater unity and at the same time greater distinction, and enables people to become more unique the more they are connected.

In his article, "The Peace," Baal HaSulam defines the evolutionary process just described as the "Law of Development," which describes the interaction between the two forces just mentioned. Notably, this law also determines that humanity, too, will consist of distinct individuals who are nevertheless connected.

But we are not there yet. Instead, we are trying as hard as we can to justify the words of the Torah: "The inclination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen 8:21), and "Every inclination of the thoughts of [man's] heart was only evil" (Gen 6:5). In other words, our bodies exist through the same balance between the positive and negative forces, but our psyches seem to operate almost solely on the negative force. The revelation of the atrocities in Syria should warn us that we have stretched the system to the brink of collapse. If we do not add the positive force of our own volition, the Law of Development will soon do it for us.

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In fact, the system is already stretched so thin that it is beginning to snap. The results of the US election, Brexit, and the referendum in Italy, all point to the fact that people can no longer tolerate the facade of political correctness and liberalism. They need real connection.

This is where we Jews come in. We may not like it, but the world thinks that their problems are our fault. This is why since its inception in 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Council resolved more resolutions condemning Israel than on the rest of the world combined. Even retiring United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon admitted in his departing speech that there is a "disproportionate volume of resolutions, reports and conferences criticizing Israel."

We Are in a Unique Position to Succeed, or Fail

On the one hand, it is very uncomfortable to be blamed for everything that is wrong with the world. On the other hand, this puts us in a unique position to help the world heal from the hatred that is ruining it. Since we are already under constant scrutiny, if we prevail over our division and hatred we have for one another, the world will notice instantaneously. Moreover, if we were not divided, we would not have anything to overcome, and therefore would not be able to serve as an example of how to prevail over divisions.

Since ancient times, our forefathers have known that the Law of Development leads toward ultimate connection. For this purpose, they developed methods to overcome hatred and create a unified body. Abraham did so through the quality of mercy, which he and his wife, Sarah, taught, as the Midrash tells us (Beresheet Rabah). Moses knew this, too, and took us out of Egypt where we united "as one man with one heart" and thereby became a nation. King Solomon wrote about it when he said, "Hate stirs strife, and love covers all crimes" (Proverbs 10:12), and Rabbi Akiva said that if you love your neighbor as yourself, this is the whole of the Torah.

Over the centuries of exile, our sages and leaders have written about the power of our nation to heal the world through unity. In Revolution of the Spirit, David Ben Gurion wrote, VeAhavta lere'acha kamocha (Love your neighbor as yourself) is the utmost commandment of Judaism. With these three words, the humane, eternal law of Judaism has been formed, and all of the literature on ethics and morals in the world could not say more. The State of Israel will merit its name only if its social, economic, domestic, and foreign policies are based on these three eternal words."

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In his essay, "A Speech for the completion of The Zohar," Baal HaSulam writes that we have been given the land of Israel, "but we have not received the land into our own authority." The only way the world will recognize the value of the State of Israel and of the Jewish people is if we embrace unity above all differences.

If we choose to do so, the world will see that there is a way to triumph over hatred. This will truly be our contribution to the suffering people in Aleppo, Yemen, Sudan, and the depressed and the oppressed the world over. As The Book of Zohar tells us (Aharei Mot): "And you, the friends who are here, as you were in fondness and love before, henceforth you will also not part, and by your merit there will be peace in the world."

"Speaking from the perspective of the wisdom of Kabbalah, with its thousands of years of antiquity, and error-free record of predictions throughout Jewish history, I highly recommend that the President-elect help the people of Israel unite."
If you don't like lawyers, here's a story guaranteed to make you like them even less.



I'm a lawyer by training, and I didn't even like myself once I heard this story.

Meet Muhammad Alasgarli, first in his 12th grade high school class, in the 99th percentile on the ACT.

He and his family immigrated to the United States from Baku, Azerbaijan, an oil-rich, corrupt country with no freedom of speech or social mobility.

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Alasgarli decided, all the way back in 8th grade, that he wanted to be an attorney when he grew up.

Maybe living in a country without justice will do that to you.

So he got hired as an intern by one of the top attorneys in his state.

For the next three summers, young Alasgarli would sit next to his attorney in court, jot down notes during the voir dire, the process of jury selection, and make recommendations as to which jurors to seat or to strike.

Remember, the kid was just 14 when he started doing this.

He says he did such a good job that he got invited back each summer, where he would work 30 hours a week -- for no pay, of course.

The payoff was supposed to be a letter of recommendation from his highly regarded attorney, but now that letter isn't going to happen.

Why?

Alasgarli's family had hired a contractor who, as contractors often do, absconded with the cash without finishing the work.

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Young Alasgarli represented himself in small claims court.

He prevailed and won a judgment of $200.

Then he went to figure out how to get the judgment enforced.

To his astonishment, he discovered that there is no way to collect judgments in the State of Missouri, a fact that transforms small claims court decisions into wallpaper.

This struck Alasgarli as something that could happen in his native Azerbaijan but just simply couldn't happen here.

So he wrote an opinion piece about his experience, which a newspaper published this past September 15.

Not a bad accomplishment for a high school kid.

Only one hitch.

Even though Muhammad described himself as a high school intern, the newspaper described him as a "law clerk" and then named the firm for which he worked.

You know newspapers.

That's when the blowback began.

Judges from all over and across the state--and I mean appellate judges, not small claims court judges--called the attorney for whom Alasgarli interned and read him the riot act.

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Who was this kid to question the legal system in the State of Missouri?

The attorney did not give Alasgarli that recommendation letter after all that hard work.

There went three summers' worth of 30-hour weeks, down the drain.

"If I had published that article in Azerbaijan," Alasgarli says, "my report would have been considered seditious."

Alasgarli has set his sights on Harvard, but he's concerned that without a letter of recommendation from his attorney-employer, he won't be able to substantiate the three summers he spent seated alongside the attorney, studying jurors and performing other tasks.

If you want to find the article, you can, but only in print, maybe at a public library somewhere.

That's because Alasgarli says the attorney for whom he worked called the paper and successfully demanded under the pretense of lawsuit that they take it down.

Within a few hours, according to Alasgarli, the newspaper removed the online version of the article from their website.

Alasgarli protested; he said the newspaper stood by its spiking of the story.

I don't know if anybody on the admissions committee at Harvard reads this column, but if they do, now they'll know what Muhammad Alasgarli did with his summers, and why he doesn't have a recommendation letter to back it up.

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If a socially-concerned sixteen year old student lost his letter of recommendation because he wrote a newspaper article, then the judiciary of Missouri should be ashamed of themselves for piling on a deserving kid.
By Kevin Voigt

Former U.S. Sen. William Roth was a champion of Reagan-era tax cuts, known for his investigations into $640 Pentagon toilet seats and his penchant for bringing a Saint Bernard dog to public events. But today he is perhaps best known for the eponymous retirement product his legislation created: the Roth IRA.



"Bill was a big-picture guy," recalls Don Kirtley, a longtime advisor to the Republican Delaware senator. "He said he wanted to create 'a culture of savings rather than spending' ... he saw the Roth IRA as a way to do that."

The Roth IRA was created in 1997, and unlike a traditional individual retirement account, it's based on post-tax dollars -- meaning you don't pay taxes on your savings and earnings when you withdraw them in retirement. That can save thousands of dollars, as this Roth IRA calculator shows.

The bill that created the Roth IRA marked the apex of Sen. Roth's 34 years in the U.S. Congress. But it was a Democrat who suggested the retirement product should carry Roth's name, says his widow, Senior Judge Jane Roth of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

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"As the legislation was about to go into effect, [former U.S. senator] Pat Moynihan said, 'This was Bill Roth's idea; we ought to call it the "Roth IRA,'" Judge Roth says.

"I think having a Congress that could have members of different parties work together for the good of the country is something that we're lacking right now, and I think the Roth IRA is an example of what can be accomplished when members of Congress work together," she says.

When the senator was told about the plan to name the product after him, he smiled and said, "Oh, well, that would be OK," says Verna Hensley, who worked for Roth for more than 20 years as a press secretary and later head of his Delaware office. "He was a soft-spoken, mild-mannered guy who was this legislative giant in terms of programs that had an impact on people's lives," recalls Hensley, who is now vice president of public affairs at Easter Seals Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore.

A champion of tax cuts

Roth, a corporate attorney, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1966 and to the U.S. Senate in 1970. He built his career as a champion for tax cuts and a sleuth for government waste, such as "high-profile inquiries into both alleged taxpayer abuses by the Internal Revenue Service and Pentagon overspending that uncovered the infamous $9,600 wrench and $640 toilet seat," the Los Angeles Times noted in his 2003 obituary.

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"What people forget is before Bill came around the top tax rate was 70%, for people making Frank Sinatra kind of money," says Kirtley, who was Roth's first chief of staff. The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 -- also known as the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut -- dropped the top tax bracket to 50% (the rate now hovers around 39%).

"Roth believed if you reduced the tax rate that savings would improve," Kirtley says. The Roth IRA was created over Roth's concern about working- and middle-class fortunes as the era of lifetime employment and company pensions fell away, he says.

"Bill grew up in Helena, Montana, and his parents weren't wealthy; he went to the University of Oregon and Harvard on a ROTC scholarship, and later finished his degree [after World War II] on the GI Bill," Judge Roth says. "He realized how important and difficult it was for people to save money ... one of his aims was to find incentives and methods to help people save."

An ongoing legacy

Vice President Joe Biden, who represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate with Roth earlier in his career, spoke highly of his former colleague at a 2003 memorial service for the senator, noting Roth's commitments to the environment and to civil liberties.

"Bill Roth was so much more -- so much more -- than cutting taxes," Biden said at the time, adding that Roth "understood that the federal government was both dangerous and a necessity ... and he never had any trouble distinguishing between the two. He was not driven by an ideology that blinded him to the needs of the people of his state and of the nation."

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Roth's work was not without its critics. As the LA Times obituary notes, tax cuts he championed were blamed for "spiraling national deficits under President Reagan." But the legacy of the Roth IRA can be measured by its popularity -- 28.5% of retirement savers have a Roth IRA, according to a 2015 Employment Benefit Research Institute study.

"When I hear 'Roth IRA,' I think of my grandson, who was born about the time the Roth IRA became law," says Judge Roth. "I told my son, he should have called him 'Ira' ... but he went with Charlie, which is probably for the best. But every time I see him, I think of the Roth IRA."
The Paris Agreement came into force at record speed, signaling a global commitment to tackle climate change head on. Countries, cities and companies have heard the call to action, and can help mitigate climate change. We can do more with less and convert challenge into opportunity by turning energy consumers into energy producers.

Aarhus, Denmark, is often called the Smiling City, and for some time now its citizens have had one more reason to smile: What was once the city's largest energy consumer is now, itself, an energy producer.

The Marselisborg catchment area in Aarhus has achieved 100% energy surplus production - by minimizing consumption throughout the whole water cycle and maximizing energy production from its wastewater facility. It has been achieved without adding external carbon to the operation and without any use of external energy sources.

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This demonstrates how energy neutrality goes beyond simply optimizing facilities; energy reduction is possible at every step of the water processing cycle. It is an exceptional example of how, globally, we can take action to achieve energy neutrality.

Water demand projected to rise

An increasing population of 7.4 billion people, which is expected to rise by 80 million per year, and the resulting urbanization and industrialization that follow, mean an increasing demand for water and energy. What we often forget is that the two are closely linked.

The US currently uses 40% of its freshwater resources on energy production and will, along with the rest of the world, experience a growing demand for water in the energy sector. The demand is predicted to increase by 70% in Asia by 2030. And by 2040, almost 20% of countries are anticipated to experience high water stress. In the United States, 40 state water managers expect water shortages to occur in their states over the next 10 years.

Demand for water will continue to rise over the next 25 years, and the water sector is currently responsible for around 4% of global electricity consumption; an amount equal to the total consumption of Russia.

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These numbers show that shortages in one sector can have serious ramifications for the other. Insufficient water can lead to an energy shortage, which in turn will affect other basic areas of infrastructure. Likewise, inadequate supplies of energy mean an inability to process enough water to meet the needs of human populations, industry and agriculture.

In its Global Risks of Highest Concern report for 2016, the World Economic Forum lists 'failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation' and 'water crises' as the top two risks facing the planet in the next ten years. At the same time, the World Energy Outlook report for 2016 includes a chapter specifically dedicated to the water-energy nexus, highlighting several water-energy linkages and the ripple effect they have on achieving other Sustainable Development Goals that go beyond the environment.

Turning the water sector from challenge to opportunity

The scientific community agrees that humans are responsible for climate change. If humans are responsible, we also have the tools to fix it. Indeed, 2016 has been an important year for discussions on this matter. The Paris Agreement came into force this quarter, signaling a global commitment to tackle these concerns.

While we have made great strides in renewable energy generation, a recent report by McKinsey looks into the role water management plays in this regard. It states that whether we look at water as a resource or a product, we can do better at adhering to the zero-waste imperative that is the backbone of any circular economy. It further discusses the many technologies that already exist to help balance supply and demand.

This December, we kick-started a forum taking place at the European Parliament, entitled "Engineering the Energy Union. How electric motors and water systems help in achieving our policy goals." In 2017, we will host two more briefings, in Washington and Beijing, to discuss how water and energy are not only connected, but together can be a very powerful solution to help mitigate climate change.

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While the Paris Agreement is an agreement between countries, we see it as a call to action for businesses to put their best foot forward, not just in implementing more sustainable practices internally, but also to work with each other to develop more sustainable solutions.

The Smiling City of Aarhus is just one example - another is just outside of Chicago, where the Glenbard Wastewater Facility is scheduled to open in 2019. Glenbard will not only ensure better quality of the treated water, but will also reduce the energy consumption substantially and be a step towards reaching our common global goal of energy neutrality.
This is the fourth of a series of conversations with brilliant young professionals that I have met. I believe they are all great role models for other young fellows, who can learn from them as they briefly talk about their path and experiences along initial steps in their careers.

Samuel ("Sam") George is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and holds a master's degree in international economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington. He joined the Bertelsmann Foundation in 2012 to develop the Global Economic Dynamics portfolio.

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Highlights of his work include the introduction of the "Pacific Pumas" concept, which relates to the advancements and opportunities of key countries in Latin America, and "The Crossroads" video series, which investigates critical fault lines in global economics. His studies on international economics have been cited in the Financial Times, the Economist and the Washington Post. Increasingly, Samuel has focused on producing video content that helps bring the Bertelsmann Foundation's data and research to life.

Here I ask him to tell us about his development of multi-media skills as a complement to his background in economics, as well as about his book on the "Pacific Pumas". Full versions of his videos on Brazil, Cuba, Argentina and Colombia can be seen here.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And we thank Adelia Azeredo for her great direction/editing job.
At a post-mortem forum on the 2016 U.S. election, Mexico's former president Vicente Fox had choice words for those who elected Donald Trump. Yearning for the manufacturing glory days of yesteryear, American workers were seduced by a sloganeer who promised to "Make America Great Again." But, said Fox, the world has moved on, and their jobs with it. Instead of attending community colleges to pick up critical skills and proficiencies that would have enabled them to transition into jobs of the future, American workers "went home to down a few beers."

A sardonic critique from a politician on the other side of Trump's 'great wall' designed to keep jobs in and emigres out? Not so.

Donald Trump perpetuated the destructive myth about our nation's infallibility held by many in Middle America, especially workers in Coal Country and the Rust Belt whose family fortunes rose in the 1950's when the United States dominated manufacturing and production while other nations crawled out from under the rubble of World War II. Trump made them believe that the jobs in the factories and mills will magically return with the stroke of his presidential pen.

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This is a lie. Fox said manufacturing jobs of the Fifties are gone forever, and the American worker has wasted precious time by failing to get on the train to a better future.

In the years following the World War, defeated and underdeveloped countries (many with their own storied histories of innovation) have leaped over the 20th century and into the 21st, with high-tech infrastructures and ambitious, gritty workforces eager to compete in global manufacturing and commerce. If you need proof, just catch a bullet train out of Tokyo, pass through the airports in Singapore or Beijing or visit a high-tech factory in Tijuana.

Resting on its laurels during the latter half of the "American Century," the United States took a noblesse oblige attitude toward STEM education. Kids with a penchant for science, technology, engineering or math were pejoratively called nerds or geeks. Less rigorous majors became the gentile aspiration of many kids heading into college. Short-sighted state governments have underfunded their classrooms, cut courses that fostered critical thinking and creativity, failed to require a STEM certification for K-8 grade teachers and limited access to STEM literacy courses that would move the entire high school class - not just those kids who were bound for universities - toward meaningful STEM jobs that do not require college.

Meanwhile, American workers, and the governments they elected, remained rapt in Fifties mythology and buying, not making became the false floor of the American economy.

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Recently released PISA scores are sounding alarm bells: they show that the United States had an 11 point drop in the average score for math and has a flat score in reading and science. Our ability to compete in the global marketplace is in peril. And even before he takes the oath of office, Trump is steering our ship of state even closer to the rocks.

The majority of Trump's cabinet picks are on record as anti-labor, anti-education and science-averse, with no experience governing in a federal system. Alarmingly, his nominee for Secretary of Education, billionaire Betsy DeVos is openly antagonistic toward public education upon which millions and millions of Middle America's families rely and which she pejoratively refers to as "government schools." DeVos plans to divert our tax dollars to private, religious or charter schools. Education historian Diane Ravitch says of DeVos, "[N]ever has anyone been appointed to lead in the past 150 years who was hostile to public education."

If confirmed, Ms. DeVos will be embolden by a latter day Know-Nothing Congress that has opposed spending on major education reform and investment on our national infrastructure for decades.

I have written that as a matter of national security, we must educate our entire workforce to become STEM literate and proficient in 21st century skills and build a futuristic infrastructure that can sustain competition in a global economy if we are to avoid further economic and societal decline. Trump's democratic opponent, Secretary Hillary Clinton called for a massive retraining program for our workforce and developing an infrastructure to support 21st century enterprise. Trump and Congress needs to heed her call and change their course before it is too late for all of us.

Changing course requires a massive investment of trillions of dollars, and Trump's intention to lower taxes for the rich shows reckless disregard for the future of this country and the working people who elected him. The tax bracket for the wealthiest among us has been in decline since 1956 during the much-vaunted Eisenhower Administration when the top tax bracket was between 80-90%. Today, when our education and infrastructure investment needs are the greatest in history, the highest tax bracket is at 39.6%. Unconscionable.

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If we are to regain a modicum of the preeminence enjoyed in the Fifties, we need to pay to play. The top 20 percent of our society must pay a greater percentage in taxes, and tax incentives for businesses should not line the pockets of those in the C-Suite, but create rewards for retraining and hiring local workers of all ages.
The topic of abortion is one that seems to have been discussed a lot more in recent months. With the soon to be inauguration of president elect Donald Trump; who made his stance on abortion abundantly clear during his presidential campaign. Along with a potential change to Ohio state law which prevents abortion taking place after 20 weeks, regardless if the pregnancy is a result of incest or rape; abortion is dominating headlines the world over.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on abortion. You have people in the pro-life camp and others staunchly in the pro-choice camp, all certain their beliefs are correct. All have their reasons for believing so.

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It's an emotive subject for sure. One that many find impossible to debate and perhaps impossible to understand. I truly believe you cannot fully appreciate the magnitude of an abortion unless you've been through one yourself.

This week the subject of abortion cropped up for a slightly different reason. It wasn't just because some bloke in Ohio (again) vetoed a bill that would ban abortions after six weeks (yes really, despite women often not knowing they're pregnant until they've passed the 6 week mark). It was because of a woman called Lena Dunham.

Lena Dunham is an American actress who has often resumed the role of unofficial spokesperson for the pro-choice cause. Never one to shy away from controversy she is unapologetic when it comes to her views. Until this week that is, when she made what she has described as a "distasteful joke".

During an episode of her weekly podcast, Ms Dunham discussed a recent visit to Texas Planned Parenthood; a reproductive health care provider for women. She commended the bravery of women who have undergone abortions. Words I'm sure were meant with good intent. I applauded her for using her high profile to raise awareness of a sensitive subject. Until she muttered the following, immortal words.

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She concluded by saying: 'Now I can say that I still haven't had an abortion, but I wish I had.'

Um, what? You wish you'd had an abortion?

Of course, those 5 words she publicly declared at the end of her podcast ignited a raft of condemnation. So much so, after a short spell of silence Lena issued an impassioned apology on Instagram, informing her almost 3 million followers that she had made a distasteful joke and that her words were spoken from a sort of "delusional girl" persona she often inhabits.

Delusional indeed Ms Dunham, because I fail to understand how someone who has never had an abortion, someone who can never appreciate the horrendous experience an abortion entails, would ever wish to have the procedure themselves.

Making the decision to end a pregnancy will single handily be one of the hardest decisions a woman will have to make. That I am sure of.

I've spoken; albeit briefly, in the past regarding my own decision to have an abortion. It's a decision I don't regret, but that doesn't negate just how horrific the experience of a termination can be. Or rather, it was. I'd happily start my life over without the memory of abortion. At no point throughout my abortion experience was I happy to be receiving a termination.

Of course I was relieved. Relieved that I resided in a country where I was able to take control of my own destiny without fear of criminal proceedings brought against me. Relieved that at no point did I encounter prejudice.

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It's personal, an incredibly personal choice, a choice I am so pleased many women in the world have. My heart bleeds for those women who do not have autonomy over their own bodies and are made to feel like criminals because they wish to end a pregnancy. To me it is as abhorrent as it is tragic. And I only wish that when my time on this planet is up, I leave behind a world that supports women to make the right decision for them regarding their bodies. No matter the country they reside in.
Yes, there is no doubt that religious minorities suffer a lot in Pakistan but there is a category (which has various sub-categories) which has suffered even more in Pakistan. This category is not a fixed category as the basis for inclusion in this category varies a lot. This is the category of Muslims who are assumed by some or majority to be Non-Muslims. In fact, literally everyone is potentially a member of this category in the eyes of some.

The biggest "crime" in Pakistan is to be what I call, "Non-Muslim" Muslims. Often such people are called "heretics". So if you are an Ahmedi, Shiite, and even a believer in some Sufi Saint you will invariably be called Non-Muslim or "heretic" by some. However, this is not just a harmless thing as it has dire legal and more importantly even life threatening consequences.

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After all, Pakistan is a country where Shiites have been massacred and Ahmedis are under constant threat despite the fact that the latter have already been declared as Non-Muslims. It seems that those who are considered as Non-Muslims have no right to call themselves as Muslims.

In one of my articles I had criticized the Second Amendment which declared Ahmedis as Non-Muslim. I got a lot of feedback, mostly from those who disagree with me. Their premise was that Ahmedis are not Muslims because they have different view about the finality of Prophet hood.

In my opinion, this business of trying to define or categorize is dangerous and has caused a lot of bloodshed in Pakistan and for that matter in other Muslim countries.

The most dangerous question to have been asked in the public sphere is: Who is a Muslim? Asking this question is dangerous and trying to define a Muslim is futile and would invariably lead to exclusion of many who do not belong to the sect of the person who is asking the question.

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And yet this question is raised again and again. To some extent this has its roots in the very genesis of Pakistan. When you create a country for "Muslims" and moreover try to form a constitution in the light of Sharia, with clauses that actually prevent Non-Muslim to be the Head of the State, then perhaps defining a Muslim becomes inevitable.

Pakistan was not built around the concept of civic nationalism but of ethnic nationalism where religious identity served the function of ethnicity.

The focal point of civic nationalism is the nation-state promoting the belief in a society united by the concept and importance of territoriality, citizenship, civic rights and legal codes transmitted to all members of the group.

On the other hand the focal point of ethnic nationality is not voluntary but by birth and native culture, considered an inherent characteristic defined by descent as opposed to choice. By making a country for Muslims, Pakistan opted for ethnic nationalism, where ethnicity was defined in terms of religion of birth.These two concepts can actually become blurred in real life as a modern nation state grows in complexity. In Pakistan's case its independence movement was based on ethnic nationalism defined in terms of Muslim identity.

Here the complication is that whereas ethnic nationalism defined in terms of language and racial ethnicity is relatively less complicated ( though still enough complicated), nationalism defined in terms of religion is even more complicated particularly when the followers are divided into sharply conflicting sects.

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The question, "Who is a Muslim" assumes importance because exclusion is going to be based on the definition. And since inclusion/exclusion is highly linked with state sanctioned benefits or lack thereof, this no longer remains a merely legal or constitutional question but has definite material effects. To declare some sect as Non-Muslim is one of the "best" ways to impact material harm. And when the question as who is a Muslim becomes important in the public domain then rival sects vie to get each other declared as Non-Muslim.

And such efforts can manifest themselves in violence. As I pointed out in my one of my articles that the main rationale behind anti-Ahmediya riots of 1953 and 1974 was the demand that they be declared as Non-Muslims. The widespread rioting stopped only when government of ZAB buckled under pressure and the constitution of Pakistan was amended to exclude Ahmedis from the definition of Muslims.

However, the misery of Ahmedis did not stop there. Once excluded from the "definition" of Muslims, they were subject to state sanctioned discrimination through draconian laws and ordinances. Moreover the declaration further solidified their image as heretics in the collective public imagination. It also emboldened all the hard core sectarian elements in the society that through violence they can force a government to concede.

Ahmedis were a small minority and due to the relative nascence of their sect, were not strong enough in the society. It is a far different case as far as Shiites are concerned. Though a minority, they are still sizeable in Pakistan and moreover are intertwined with Sunnis through intermarriages. My own family from the maternal side is a mixture of Shiites and Sunnis. In fact in some cases, husband is a Shiite and wife is a Sunni. It won't be easy to pressurize the government into doing that.

Yet, the question- who is a Muslim- continues to cast its deadly shadow. There are militant Sunni organizations whose objective is to get the Shiites declared as non-Muslim and today the bloodbath unleashed by them is a tool to put pressure on the state. The message is clear: if you don't declare them as apostle then we will inflict our verdict which is of death to the infidels.

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As mentioned earlier that due to the very nature of Pakistan movement and its dynamics, the question is perhaps inevitable. It is the answer which is now being contested.

Should state define a Muslim? Here lies the biggest problem. The Justice Munir report which investigated the anti Ahmedi riots of 1953 noted:

"Keeping in view the several definitions given by the Ulema (clergy), need we make any comment except that no two learned divines are agreed on this fundamental. If we attempt our own definition as each learned divine has done and that definition differs from that given by all others, we unanimously go out of the fold of Islam. And if we adopt the definition given by any one of the Ulema, we remain Muslims according to the view of that alim but kafirs according to the definition of everyone else."
Ukrainian military positions in Donbas came under fire 22 times in the past 24 hours, the press center for the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) in southeastern Ukraine said on Facebook on Friday.

According to ATO headquarters, the attacks occurred mainly in the Donetsk sector. The positions of the Ukrainian military in the Luhanske area came under fire from 122 mm and 120 mm caliber artillery and mortars. Avdiyivka, Novhorodske, Verkhniotoretske and Luhanske came under fire from 82 mm mortars and grenade launchers of various systems.

According to the center, the enemy made two attempts to attack positions in the Svitlodarsk bulge area and both attempts were repulsed by returning fire. Additionally, the enemy opened fire on the populated area of Myronivka three times using 152 mm artillery.

Press centre says there were attacks using 120 mm and 82mm mortars against Krasnohorivka, Starohnativka and Vodiane.

According to the report, the enemy opened fire on Krymske in the Luhansk sector using anti-tank missile systems and 82 mm mortars. Grenade launchers were used in attacks on Popasna and Zhovte.
Ten weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt enacted Executive Order 9066, which called for the internment all people of Japanese ancestry living in America.

Most of those jailed were U.S. citizens and many were children. Jailing them was seen as a way to "protect ourselves" against Japanese. Said one broadcaster, "We are protecting ourselves without violating the principles of Christian decency." (http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/11/17/502442853/renewed-support-for-muslim-registry-called-abhorrent) Few Americans, Christian or otherwise, spoke out against this mass imprisonment.

That same fear was stoked after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in this country. Months after that attack, a program called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System was put into place by the U.S. government. It required anyone entering the United States from a few selected countries to undergo "thorough interrogation and be fingerprinted." Ten years later, in 2011, the program, which is known by the acronym NSEERS, was suspended, but with the recent terror attacks in this country and abroad, the incoming presidential administration is promising to bring it back.

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If not the same program, persons related and attached to the Trump transition team say a similar program is necessary to "protect" America. The target this time is Muslims, all Muslims, and while President-elect Trump has promised that there will be "extreme vetting" for immigrants who want to come to America from countries labeled as hotbeds of anti-Western terrorism, the thought of the establishment of a so-called "Muslim registry" has Muslims nervous and social activists on edge.

During the campaign, Mr. Trump said that he "would certainly implement" a law that would require Muslims to add their names to a national database." (http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/11/17/502442853/renewed-support-for-muslim-registry-called-abhorrent) Although groups have denounced even the idea of the establishment of the database, constitutional attorneys say that its establishment, while repugnant to some, would not be illegal.

Churches and immigrants-rights groups have been quick to object, calling the move "hateful, divisive and racist." There is now a national call to President Obama to completely eliminate NSEERS before he leaves office. A mass rally and march was held in Washington, DC this past Monday for that reason. The president has not yet responded to the demand.

A statement put out by the Fellowship of Reconciliation said, "in response to the incoming administration's hateful potential for increasingly oppressive policies, the Fellowship of Reconciliation will expand efforts to promote a culture of nonviolent resistance to the triple evils of racism, militarism and materialism."

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FOR said in its statement, which is accompanying a video it has produced decrying the proposed registry, "We will continue to support and strengthen grassroots efforts by providing education and training in nonviolent organizing and activism. We will raise a louder voice of hope and compassion through our ongoing nonviolent narrative, and to promote spiritually-grounded principles of nonviolence as a way of life." (www.forusa.org)

Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, himself a Muslim, slammed the proposed registry, saying "that if the Trump administration moves forward with the racist and divisive policies his team have been advocating for, we will be the first ones to stand up to him. We will be the first ones to tell him, 'no.'"

Telling him "no" may not make much difference. Fear of terrorism is driving the push to isolate Muslims and keep them out of the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said that in New York, since 2002, New York City police officers have been "engaged in religious profiling of Muslims in New York and beyond." The report said that Muslim neighborhoods, mosques, community centers, student associations and businesses have been under surveillance. (https://www.aclu.org/other/factsheet-nypd-muslim-surveillance-program) Although the program was supposedly disbanded, reports indicate that aspects of it are still continuing.

The terrorist attacks in Europe and in San Bernadino have only served to stoke the fear which is bubbling below the surface in many cities and countries. There have been reports of increased attacks on innocent Muslims in this country and beyond. (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/houston-florida-mosques-worshipers-shooting-beating/)

In spite of threats, cities, churches and universities are setting up sanctuaries for Muslims in this country. In spite of the possibility of losing federal dollars for some of their programs, mayors of cities are stepping forward and proclaiming that they will continue to protect their immigrants. (http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/bill-de-blasio-nyc-immigrants-protect/2016/11/16/id/759246/)



It took 37 years for the United States to apologize to the Japanese for their internment. President Ronald Reagan said on August 10, 1988, "No payment can make up for those lost years...Here, we admit a wrong. We reaffirm our commitment as a nation to equal justice under the law." He issued the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which acknowledged that the order to jail all Japanese were "fundamentally wrong." Congress responded to a push from Japanese-Americans who decried the internment, and came up with a report that said what America had done to the Japanese a "grave injustice." The Japanese were given an apology and $20,000 was also give to each victim.

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Those who are watching the fear and frenzy grow around Muslims are remembering how fear drove America to violate the rights of Japanese and are hoping that their work and passion for there not to be a repetition of history will pay off, stifling the growing call to isolate and further discriminate against Muslims.
Republican President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York, New York, U.S., November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Driving this a.m., the radio is filled with discussions about the incident on a JetBlue plane last evening, in which a passenger verbally confronted Ivanka Trump. Both the man who complained to Ivanka Trump that her father was ruining the country, and Ms. Trump herself, were travelling with their children. The radio callers seem to concur that this type of behavior was rude at best, and many seem quite appalled. The majority seem to share the sentiment that it is unfair and inappropriate to harass a mother in front of her child.

There are several issues that are nagging at me as both pundits and the public weigh in. First, I too, am appalled when adults engage in rude, aggressive, or inappropriate behavior in front of children. We are, whether we like it or not, role models, and our children cannot learn respect if we don't exhibit it. They cannot learn restraint if we don't control our impulses. They cannot grow to be responsible and caring beings if we don't show them how, through our actions.

The bad examples of adult behavior and particularly of respectful discourse, did not begin on a plane last evening. This political season provided too many brutish remarks, too much infantile tantrumming, too frequent use of verbal barbs that wounded and demeaned. In the twitter-verse, and on TV and radio, politicians, celebrities and athletes, are providing way too many examples of language that is crass at best, and not at all an exemplar of civil comment or conversation. We need to show our children that disagreement need not be expressed in a disgusting manner, that our democracy, and our humanity, require that every voice be heard. And we need our children to hear that our voices, whether we are speaking to friends, or enemies are reasoned, reasonable, and well-mannered.

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Of course, that the most recent example of a breach of civil discourse occurred in front of young witnesses makes it particularly disconcerting. However, I believe it is important for us to acknowledge that bad behavior is bad, regardless of to whom it is directed, or who witnesses its occurrence. I have a similar concern when I read institutional or company policies that express zero tolerance for abuse of others based on gender, religion, race, sexual preference, and other factors. Certainly, it is critically important that those individuals and groups vulnerable to abuse be specifically protected. I hope, however, that we realize that abuse of anyone, whether vulnerable or not, is heinous. So when radio listeners are incensed that a mother was verbally harassed in front of her child, I hope they recognize, that no one deserves being verbally harassed.

Last night's snipes on a plane are, unfortunately, not an isolated incident. Many are struggling with doubt, real and significant pain, anxiety, passion, and have powerful beliefs that they are searching for the vehicle and means to express. In no way am I suggesting that we quiet ourselves, or relinquish our voices. Rather, I choose to believe that we can be grown-ups, and we can stand up for our beliefs, defend those who need it, criticize those who do wrong, all in a way that demonstrates our understanding that words have power, and we will wield that power with care and wisdom.
Last night, the regime raided Eastern Aleppo and committed mass field executions, killing entire families and burning civilians alive. The international community has provided no meaningful response to the crimes amounting to genocide being committed by the Assad regime and Russia in Syria, and most recently in Aleppo.

Currently, 50,000 people remain besieged in Eastern Aleppo within a 2 kilometer radius. To date, they have withstood systematic and ongoing violence in all forms, including starvation, mass executions, barrel bombs, airstrikes, and bunker buster bombs.

Syrian organizations have paused work, and announced a national day of strike, as an outcry against the international community's continuous inaction against the crimes of mass proportion occurring throughout Syria and most notably in Aleppo. Syrian staff in large U.K. and U.S.A funded programs have also joined the strike, demanding that international programs protect their staff, their beneficiaries, and partners.

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The listed demands include, securing a safe passage for the 50,000 people who remain trapped in Eastern Aleppo and international pressure to stop the ongoing crimes in Aleppo, including the field executions, enforced disappearances, and forced military conscriptions.
The so-called "War on Christmas" has been prosecuted for the past few years around the United States. It started with community leaders removing nativity scenes from town squares because of complaints from non-Christians, mostly atheists. Then came Walmart's notorious instruction to employees to wish people "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." Last year, when Starbuck's changed the design of their holiday cup (which changes every year), some people saw it as another sneak attack on Christmas.

Whether any of this denotes a war on Christmas is a matter of debate. Non-Christians think their Christian counterparts need to stop being so paranoid, and some Christians agree. The popular Christian author Rachel Held Evans made light of Christians who feel persecuted because someone wished them a happy holiday rather than a merry Christmas: "You are not being persecuted," she wrote. Yet others disagree, claiming that the "War on Christmas" is just one battlefield in a larger war on Christianity.

Is there really a war on Christmas? It is hard to be sure. We may be witnessing an intentional assault on Christmas or we may just be seeing the collapse of Christian traditions generally, brought on by stress or old age, crumbling like a medieval cathedral. That is just the kind of thing Malcom Muggeridge predicted in his prophetic lecture series from 1978 entitled "The End of Christendom." As Christendom collapses under its own weight, valued traditions will inevitably fall with it.

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Whether we are currently living through a "war on Christmas" may be up for debate, but there can be no debate that Christmas has been victimized by war in the past. It was on December 25, 1647 that Christmas was reportedly killed.

"Christmas" (probably an assumed name) was a demonstrator in Ipswich, England, who had taken to the streets to protest a law passed in June of that year that made the celebration of Christmas a punishable offence. "Christmas" was reportedly killed by police in the ensuing riot, just as Christmas had been reportedly killed by an act of Parliament in the House of Commons.

In London on that same day, a crowd of laborers decorated the water tower with holly and ivy. When the police ordered them to disperse and they refused, troops were sent in to quell the riot. On that same day in Canterbury, where Christmas celebrations were an integral part of the city's identity, rioters smashed the windows of shops that opened on Christmas Day.

The war on Christmas had begun eighty years earlier in the anti-popish Kirk of Scotland. There was a truce in the early 1600s, but it broke out again with a furor in the 1630s. In 1642 there was a genuine civil war between the king and Parliament, in which the royalists upheld the celebration of Christmas and the Parliament, led by Cromwell and others, rejected it.

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The fascinating thing is that both sides, the pro-Christmas demonstrators and the anti-Christmas legislators, insisted that their views represented a biblical perspective. Unlike the current so-called "war on Christmas," this one was being waged by so-called Christians. The celebration of the birth of Christ had become the occasion of violence against Christians, and had done so without any help at all from antagonistic "heathens."

If we are indeed going through another war on Christmas, it is hardly the first. Christmas has been attacked by Puritans in England, by atheists in France (who referred to it as "Dog Day" after the revolution), by Soviets in the wake of Red October, by Chinese communists and many others (including, incidentally, the City of Boston during the late 17th century).

What should people who care about Christmas do when they see its importance being challenged? They should remember the distinction between Christmas and the event it celebrates. Throughout history, the celebration of Christmas has been marked by absurdities from within and violence from without. It has experienced the ebb and flow of popularity. But the event it commemorates stands undiminished. No assault on Christmas can ever undo what has been accomplished through the birth of Christ.

And that's something to celebrate.
The Sri Lankan government notes that this was a "proposal made by [His Excellency] H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation." The goal is to improve "peace, harmony and fraternity among people and to implement various programs in all schools, media, public and private institutions demonstrating the importance of national integration."

Indeed, a reconciliation week is unlikely to truly help conflict-affected people or to meaningfully promote reconciliation. If the government wants to give people confidence that it's serious about reconciliation, it could make more significant gestures. It could, for example, finally release (or at least bring to trial) all remaining Tamil political prisoners. More broadly, it could make a more concerted effort to improve the quality of life in the Tamil-dominated Northern and Eastern Provinces. Or it could categorically denounce hateful, majoritarian rhetoric from the Sinhala-Buddhist community, including Buddhist monks. Yet the government is not doing any of those things. Perera believes that this move by the government could be an attempt to influence the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in March 2017. And he's definitely not the only one who is thinking along these lines. Sri Lanka's compliance with a previously passed HRC resolution will be examined during the March session. Regrettably, Colombo has largely failed to implement the resolution and major positive changes are not expected in the coming months.
Terrorism experts have long warned of the danger posed by young men like Anis Amri, the suspected perpetrator of the Berlin Christmas Market massacre, shot dead in Milan this morning. That threat does not, however, come from ISIS operatives hiding among the thousands of refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War. Like the mastermind of the 2004 Madrid bomber, Amri was a North African radicalized in a European prison.

To the relief of many Germans, especially Angela Merkel, Amri did not arrive with the more than 900,000 refugees her government has taken in over the past year. The Tunisian man came to Italy in 2011 to seek his fortune. He soon became involved in petty crime and spent time in an Italian prison, where, according to his father, he was radicalized by other inmates. Upon his release in 2015, he traveled to Germany, where he sought asylum. The authorities denied his request because of his suspected connections to terrorists, but they failed to deport or even detain him.

Amri was not the first young Muslim man to follow this path to destruction. Jamal Ahmidan was a Moroccan-born drug dealer who immigrated to Spain. Like Amri he was radicalized in prison. He was a major figure in planning and carrying out the 2004 Madrid Train bombings. He and two other suspects blew themselves up in their apartment when cornered by Spanish police.

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Terrorist analysts have long warned of the threat posed by angry young men. New arrivals to Europe, away from home, family, and friends, are particularly vulnerable to terrorist recruitment, especially if they become involved in illegal activities. The prisons where some of them end up are not only universities of crime; they are schools for radicalization.
The European Council at the ministerial level will approve a suspension mechanism of the visa-free regime with Ukraine in the next few weeks, Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok has said.

He said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine that the availability of such a mechanism is not unique to Ukraine, they have such a mechanism with each country with which they have visa relations. He said there is nothing special in it - the issue is in the process of solving now. The European Parliament, Brok said, adopted a decision on the suspension mechanism of a visa-free regime and it would also happen [the decision would be taken] in the European Council at the ministerial level in the coming weeks.

Brok said he does not dramatize the situation in the matter of granting a visa-free regime to Ukraine, adding that sometimes the European Parliament takes decisions slowly, but sometimes, Ukrainian politicians slow down the process and this is a common problem.
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.
J. Cliff Eason, chairman of the board of directors of RGA, said it took them several years to plan for the CEO succession in anticipation of Woodrings retirement.

Speaking about the new CEO, Eason commented: Anna is a seasoned professional with outstanding business acumen, a deep understanding of the industry, and strong technical skills. Over the past year, since being named president, she has been working more closely with Greig to ensure a smooth transition upon his retirement.

The Board is confident that she is fully prepared to take the helm and lead RGA forward. In addition, RGAs strong and deep management bench is well-positioned to support Anna and to successfully execute the companys growth strategies.

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The efforts to raze the building had started back in 2014.

Onota Lake Caretaker's House Once Again Slated For Demolition

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The former caretaker's house on Onota Lake is once again eyed for the wrecking ball.

The building is one of six lined up to be demolished in January. The city is currently out to bid for the demolition of the following properties: 193 Dewey Ave., 538 Lakeway Drive, 266 Onota St., 88 Robbins Ave., 173 Robbins Ave., 14-18 South Church St. The work is expected to be under way in January.

The caretaker's house on Lakeway Drive, on the outskirts of Burbank Park, was acquired by the city in the late 1980s and served as the home of a semi-retired city employee who lived there rent free in exchange for providing security and maintenance at Burbank Park.

He was laid off and evicted in 2007 when former Mayor James Ruberto reorganized the Department of Community Services and placed the park maintenance and security under the Department of Building and Maintenance.

The city held onto the property with the hopes of renovating the small home but ultimately that didn't happen and the vacant building rotted out. In 2014, the building was supposed to be demolished but that too never happened.

On Tuesday, Mayor Linda Tyer announced the newest group of properties slated to be razed that includes the Burbank Park building.

The caretaker's house and 193 Dewey Ave. are the only two on the list in which the city owns. The other four are privately owned and the city has gone through a lien and legal process.

"One of the properties has been on the list for over seven years. The owner is deceased and the property has been a target for vandalism and squatters. Community Development has paid to secure the property twice and for the safety of the community, it is our responsibility to demolish the property," said Laura Mick, community development specialist.

The list was created by what City Hall is calling the "code enforcement task team" that meets once a month to discuss issues of blight. In June, four other properties were razed and these six are the next in line.

"Demolition of a property is not a task the city takes lightly, however, the impact of blighted properties is far-reaching in our community. We know that business and neighborhood blight diminishes property values. Moreover, properties that have fallen into disrepair hurt neighborhood pride and provide a place for activity detrimental to our community's well-being," said Tyer in a prepared statement.

"This is a crucial measure in helping to ensure our city provides a thriving quality of life for our residents and visitors and is also a welcoming place for all those interested in our city. In many of these cases, there is a clear and present challenge to public safety."

Each demolition cost between $35,000 and $40,000 and are being paid for through the city's federal Community Development Block Grant program and the attorney general's Abandoned Housing Initiative. In total, the work will cost some $245,000.

"It's important for the public to know the city is continually working on the many vacant properties that are problematic and continuing to set aside federal funds to deal with them. It's unfortunate that some of these properties have to meet this demise, but it's better in the long run for the health of the neighborhood and the city," said Community Development and Housing Program Manager Bonnie Galant in a statement.

Tyer had campaigned on taking a strong effort against blight but saw some resistance from the City Council once in office. The council rejected a proposal to increase the amount the city spends on building demolition during the budget process. The mayor had asked for an increase in the city's budget for property demolitions by $25,000 . That would have supplemented the CDBG funds of some $185,000.

Instead, the council cut that line down to $25,000, the same as the year before and half of Tyer's request. That money would have taken down an additional two blighted buildings.
North Adams Library May Seek Historic Grants for Repairs



The trustees discussed the condition of the building last week and welcomed new members Robin Martin and Nicole Gordon. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The library may tap the Massachusetts Historical Commission for funds to mend structural issues in the older part of the building. However, it would need to raise funds to match the grant.

Library Director Mindy Hackner told the trustees last week that architect Thomas Bartels, who was involved in the renovation and addition in 2003, surveyed the building and was concerned with the condition of the building's structure.

"He was concerned about the building 13 years ago, now he is really concerned about it," Hackner said. "The entire envelope of the exterior of the old building needs to be sealed and everything needs to be repointed because water getting in anywhere means long term very serious damage."

She said there are three options: do nothing, which Bartels said was criminal; make emergency repairs that would be costly and inconvenient; or seek a Massachusetts Historical grant to seal up the building.

It would likely be a five-year process and but Bartels had told her the project would most likely be accepted.

"He said this is the kind of project they love," Hackner said. "They know this building and in light of what is going on in the city with St. Francis, this grant is not going to be a problem."

The 150-year-old St. Francis' Church had to be demolished this year after its tower deteriorated.

She said the grant would most likely have to be matched by the city or some other funding source and if the city administration is not on board the project may be dead in the water.

Hackner said she did meet with Mayor Richard Alcombright and Administrative Officer Michael Canales and although they supported the project, they were reluctant to commit because of limited funds and other projects in the city. The mayor had said recently that the city could apply for a grant along with funds for Notre Dame, which also had structural issues.

"So things can be at the top of the list but in a city like North Adams, if there is an emergency, suddenly it just gets dropped and back down to the bottom," Hackner said. "But they didn't say stop and they understand there is money out there."

Hackner said she is unsure of the scope of the entire project and how much it would actually cost. She said depending on the final dollar amount and how much Mass Historic would throw in, they might be able to start a fundraising campaign.

Trustee Rich Remsberg said if the price is right he thinks they should start an aggressive fundraising campaign because letting the building go really is not an option.

"Unless we are talking about an extraordinary amount of money then I think we should figure out how to come up with it because I would hate to see things be put off," he said. "If the city can help thats great but I would be interested in raising it on our own. We dont want the building to continue to fall apart."

Hackner noted that residents may be hesitant to donate to the library because the community already provided nearly $3.5 million for the renovation. She added the renovation never really addressed the structural issues now facing the building and was mostly about the addition.

She said the only structural improvements were emergency patches.

Hackner added that there is county interest in the building and maybe even national interest because the library is the first private home to be converted into a public library. The Blackinton Mansion was purchased by the city's first Mayor Alfred C. Houghton and donated in memory of his brother, Andrew.

Hackner said the next step is to hire an architect to create an architectural summary that will shed more light on the details of the project. She said she will keep the trustees posted and floated the idea of creating a crowd-funding website.

"Like with St. Francis, a lot of people are really feeling the burn and if we don't do something about this 1865 building it could be a similar problem," Hackner said.

In other business, the trustees welcomed two new members, Robin Martin and Nicole Gordon. They replaced former Nicole Prokop and Joan Owaczarksi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the visa-free travel regime between Ukraine and the European Union but said that Europe should also grant work permits to Ukrainians.

"I wholeheartedly support this. What is more, I believe that the visa regime in Europe is a Cold War anachronism and it should be rid of as soon as possible," Putin said at a press conference on Friday.

"If Ukraine, Ukrainian citizens are given the right of visa-free travel to Europe, I believe it would be a right step in the right direction," the Russian president said.
The treats for humans are yummy but two South County bakers have turned their attention to the canine crowd.

Biz Briefs: South County Bakers Develop Treats for Dogs

Gone to the dogs: The two-woman pastry team at The Old Inn on the Green and its casual sister property The Southfield Store -- Amanda Perreault and Cynthia Walton -- spend their days creating a dizzying array of sweet treats for humans. Their cakes, tarts, pies, cookies, breakfast goodies and more are lusciously displayed at The Southfield Store every day, are featured on the dessert menu at Old Inn and are available by special order.



But recently, the two women developed a new treat designed for canines: Chapman's Frozen Yogurt for Dogs. Their simple and healthful recipe combines ripe bananas and creamy peanut butter in a frozen yogurt base. The product, unveiled earlier this month, is named in memory of the Old Inns beloved mascot, Chapman, a rescue hound who cheerfully greeted guests and diners for many years before passing away of old age in August.



A guaranteed pup pleaser, this high quality, small batch treat is available in pints ($7.95) or two-ounce Pup Cups ($2) at retail. Wholesale accounts are also welcome. Each container is adorned with a photo of Chapman. Call 413-229-5050 for further information.

New management: Williams College has selected a real estate and hospitality company to help design and then manage a new Williams Inn. In preparation, the Olympia Companies, based in Portland, Maine, will begin managing the existing Williams Inn beginning July 1.



Olympia officials said they look forward to welcoming staff members of the current inn as they work together toward a seamless transition. Employees who choose to transition to the new management company will experience no staffing changes through at least the first six months of Olympia's management.



In 2014, the college purchased the inn from longtime local innkeepers Carl and Marilyn Faulkner. At that time, Main Street Hospitality Group was brought in to manage the inn.



Olympia will contribute its expertise to the planning underway for the building of a new Williams Inn at the base of Spring Street in Williamstown. That design work is being led by the firm Cambridge Seven Associates.







Adams Free Library Director Holli Jayko accepts the Adams Community Bank donation.

Doing good: Adams Community Bank donated $5,000 each to the Adams Free Library, the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, the Berkshire Food Project and the St. John Paul Charity Center.



Bank President and CEO Charles P. OBrien said his staff excels at community outreach and loves everything about those they serve in the Berkshires. Adams Community Bank is an independent, community savings bank located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and headquartered in Adams.

More doing good: The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank collected $14,700 during fundraising efforts for their 2016-2017 United Way Campaign. Soon after all employee contributions had been tabulated, the bank's Board of Directors announced that it would match the staffs donation, thus bringing the campaign's total to $29,400.



J. Jay Anderson, president and CEO of the Pittsfield Co-op, said 97 percent of the bank's workforce made a financial contribution.



From Lenox to Times Square: Gulliver's Gate, the most technically advanced and interactive miniature world experience anywhere, announces the hiring of three best-in-class companies as partners: Event Network (for retail operations), FareHarbor (for attraction ticketing) and Magic Memories (for souvenir photography).
SVMC Northshire Campus Adds Two Providers to Medical Staff

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Southwestern Vermont Medical Center's Northshire Campus welcomes Carolyn E. Goodwin, FNP-BC, CDE, and Arlene R. Law, FNP-BC, MBA, CCRN, CEN, CPEN, to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians. Both providers will serve existing and new patients.



Goodwin has worked for the last 15 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She graduated from Monmouth University with a master's in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2001 and is board certified with the American Nurses Credentialing Center.



Goodwin worked in primary care for nine years caring for patients of all ages with both acute and chronic illnesses before specializing in diabetes and endocrinology. She worked for the Rutland Regional Diabetes and Endocrinology Center for five years before opening her own practice in Dorset as owner of Green Mountain House Calls. She has been a faculty member of the Community College of Vermont and has participated in training Nurse Practitioners from University of Vermont.


CHP Names Two to Board

GREAT BARRINTON, Mass.  Community Health Programs (CHP) has named two new members to its board of directors: Chuck Leach of Lee and Allyson Holmes of North Adams.



Leach is president and CEO of Lee Bank, and previously worked for Berkshire Bank and TDBank throughout New England and New York. He also serves on the boards of Berkshire United Way and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.



A graduate of Colby College and Claremont Graduate College Business School, he is also an avid mountain biker.



Allyson Holmes is an associate at the Pittsfield law firm Smith, Greene & Gold, where her work involves estate planning, elder law and real estate. A Berkshire native, she returned to the region after spending nine years in Boston. She also serves on the North Adams Planning Board, and participates in Running with the Law, a nonprofit raising money for local causes with road races around the country.



"Chuck and Allyson are excellent additions to our board, with their business expertise, community roots and commitment," said Jodi Rathbun-Briggs, chair of the CHP Board. "We look forward to having their input as we move CHP into our next steps of providing excellent health care and family services in our region."
SVMC Welcomes Doctor to Hospital Medicine Department

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Southwestern Vermont Medical Center has welcomed hospitalist Thet Soe, MD, MRCP, to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Medical Group.



Dr. Soe has worked as director of Hospital Medicine at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Massachusetts since April 2015. Before that, he was a hospitalists at both Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and at North Adams Regional Hospital. He was chief of medicine, Department of Medicine, and the director of Hospital Medicine at North Adams from 2011-2014.



Dr. Soe is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the Royal College of Physicians. He completed residency in Internal Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine in Connecticut. He completed his medical training in the United Kingdom from 1999-2002 and in Burma in 1996-1997. Dr. Soe received his medical degree, M.B.B.S from Burma in 1998.



Southwestern Vermont Medical Center hospitalists offer medical-surgical care, telemetry and intensive care services to as many as 99 patients. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission and is the state's first Magnet Center for Nursing Excellence, a designation it has held since 2002.




iciHaiti - FLASH : End of year schedules of the Consulate of Haiti in Miami





The Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti in Miami informs the public in general and the press, in particular, of the hours of operation at the Consulate for the end of the year.



Friday December 23rd, 2016 : 8:00am until noon ;

Saturday December 24th & Monday December 26th, 2016 : Closed ;

Friday December 30th, 2016 : 8:00am until noon ;

Saturday December 31st, 2016 & Monday January 2nd, 2017 : Closed.



The Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti in Miami thanks you for your understanding.



IH/ iciHaiti


















Normandy Format could be more efficient but losing it will lead to deterioration of situation - Putin

The Normandy Format that includes Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France is currently not good enough to efficiently resolve the crisis in Donbas and it works slowly but the loss of this mechanism would be harmful, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"The Normandy Format doesn't actually show the super-efficiency. We can only regret that it works so slowly. But there is no other," Putin told a press conference in Moscow on Friday.

Still, the work must be continued in the format, he said.

"If we lose this mechanism, then the situation will degrade very fast, which we wouldn't want," Putin said.
Two members of the Ukrainian armed forces have been killed and three others injured in Donbas over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman for the military operation in southeastern Ukraine Andriy Lysenko said.

"Two of our soldiers have been killed and three others injured in action over the past 24 hours," Lysenko said at a news briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

One serviceman was killed and another one wounded in Avdiyivka, and one serviceman was killed and two others wounded in Luhanske, he said.

In Luhansk sector, five short-lived acts of armed provocation were recorded near the communities of Zhovte and Krymske and also in the Popasna district, Lysenko said. The enemy once used mortars near Krymske, he said.

In the Donetsk sector, the enemy fired mortars, grenade launchers, and firearms at Ukrainian armed forces positions in Avdiyivka starting from 4:00 a.m. Friday. Luhanske was shelled twice, and one armed incident was recorded in Novhorodske and Verkhnyotoretske each, he said.

In the area of the so-called Svitlodar bulge, militants continued attempts to capture Ukrainian armed forces' positions under cover of artillery and mortar fire and armored vehicles, Lysenko said. In particular, the enemy fired over 100 mines and projectiles, but Ukrainian armed forces repelled the assault, he said.

Immediately after the assault attempt was thwarted, the enemy fired 152mm artillery upon civilian homes in Myronivka. This village was also shelled twice later in the day, he said.

A total of nine instances of shelling have been recorded in the Donetsk sector over the past 24 hours, including six times using heavy weapons, he said.

In the Mariupol sector, the number of ceasefire violations has been declining, Lysenko said. The enemy fired five times upon Ukrainian forces' positions near Krasnohorivka, Starohnativka, and Vodyane, including four times using mortars, he said.

Militants also attacked an observation outpost near Vodyane in the morning (the attack was rebuffed) and fires small arms in Hnutove in the evening, Lysenko said.
Imperial Valley News Center

Energy Department Announces Investment in Wave Energy Test Facility

Washington, DC - The Energy Department today announced the award of up to $40 million, subject to appropriations, to design, permit, and construct an open-water, grid-connected national wave energy testing facility. The facility will be constructed in Newport, Oregon, by the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Oregon State University and will support innovations in wave energy technologies capable of harnessing the significant wave energy resources along United States coastlines.

More than 50 percent of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of coastlines, offering America the potential to develop a domestic wave energy industry that could help provide reliable power to coastal regions. The Departments investments in marine and hydrokinetic energy technology will encourage domestic manufacturing, create jobs, and advance a new technology that uses an untapped renewable resource to help achieve the nations energy goals.

Testing innovative wave energy devices at full scale in open water is an important step toward harnessing one day a reliable energy resource. Anyone who has swum or surfed in moderate ocean waves knows something of the power they represent, said Franklin Orr, Under Secretary for Science and Energy at the Energy Department. This new facility will help us to advance the science and technology of wave energy devices, and to identify the challenges we will ultimately need to overcome in order to achieve commercial deployment.

The new test facility, called the Pacific Marine Energy Center South Energy Test Site, will be constructed with a combination of federal and non-federal funds. The planned facility, to be completed by early 2020, includes four grid-connected berths where researchers can test full-scale wave energy conversion device concepts. Prototype testing is essential to gather critical performance data to address technical risks, lower costs, and inform future designs to accelerate the commercialization and deployment of mass-produced wave energy technologies.

The pre-permitted site was designed to meet the Departments specifications as well as industry and community needs, letting researchers focus on the technological challenges inherent in testinginstead of permitting and regulatory matters. The site is expected to be a flagship test facility for wave energy converters globally, playing a critical role in advancing wave energy technology into commercial viability.

Recent studies estimate that America's technically recoverable wave energy resource ranges between approximately 9001,230 terawatt hours (TWh) per year, distributed across the coast of Alaska, the West Coast, the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. For context, approximately 90,000 homes can be powered by 1 TWh per year. This means that even if only a few percent of the potential is recovered, millions of homes could be powered by wave energy as the technology progresses.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy accelerates development and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and market-based solutions that strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality. To learn more about our Water Power Technologies Offices funding opportunities and efforts to develop innovative wave energy technologies, visit Energy.gov.
Consultations between the U.S. Department of State and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Washington, DC - On December 21-22, the U.S. Department of State and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met for its inaugural annual bilateral consultations at the State Department in Washington, DC. The annual consultations will enable greater U.S.-OIC dialogue and collaboration on shared regional and global challenges.

The consultations were chaired by Acting U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC Arsalan Suleman and Acting Director General for Political Affairs and Director of African Affairs Ambassador Yahaya Lawal. Coordinated by the Secretarys Office of Religion and Global Affairs, the bilateral consultations included participation by senior officials from various regional and functional bureaus in the U.S. Department of State. The OIC delegation included senior officials from the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the Office of the OIC's Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations.

The two sides exchanged views and information on priority regional issues across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. They also reviewed existing collaborative efforts and ongoing challenges in countering violent extremism, conflict resolution, promoting human rights and gender equality, and encouraging refugee and humanitarian assistance.

The two sides pledged to continue to work together and welcomed the initiation of the annual bilateral consultations as a further step in deepening U.S.-OIC engagement and cooperation in addressing shared challenges on the basis of mutual interest and respect. A fact sheet providing further details on the U.S.-OIC relationship was also developed.

The annual bilateral consultations between the U.S. Department of State and the OIC will alternate locations between Washington, DC and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Fairytale of New York is a drunken hymn for people with broken dreams and abandoned hopes. It is, therefore, a perfect contrast to some of the perkier perennial favourites we wheel out each Christmas.

The song begins with its narrator, an Irish immigrant, being thrown into a drunk tank to sleep off his Christmas Eve binge.

Hearing an old man sing the Irish ballad The Rare Old Mountain Dew, he begins to dream about his memories of the female character in the song, and so begins the story of two people who fell in love in America, only to see their plans of a bright future dashed.

Some of the best songs combine uplifting instrumentation with lyrics that are downright miserable, and such is the case for Fairytale of New York. It has none of the gooeyness of Mariah Careys All I Want For Christmas Is You or Wham!s Last Christmas.

Shane MacGowans slurring, bitter delivery of those opening vocals is played out over romanticised piano chords. Then to those wonderful, jaunty strings and Terry Woods mandolin.

MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl really get into their roles, and their call and response lyrics are brilliant, filled with sass. He calls her a slut and a junkie, she calls him a punk and a maggot... and theres an underlying, albeit dark humour through it all. As it closes the chorus each time, you can picture the two characters staggering around the city, screeching at each other.

In 2007, Radio 1 removed the words slut and faggot from the song, backtracking when the move received criticism from the public and MacColls mother, who said censoring the words was too ridiculous. However, in recent years more radio stations have chosen to play a censored version, mostly due to the homophobic context of the word faggot.

There are differing views on how Fairytale of New York came to be. MacGowan, who was born on Christmas Day in 1957, claimed that Elvis Costello bet him that he wouldnt be able to write a Christmas duet to sing with bass player Cait ORiordan (Costellos future wife).

Accordion player James Fearnley claimed that their manager Frank Murray suggested they cover the Bands 1977 song Christmas Must be Tonight.

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It was an awful song, Fearnley writes in his memoir Here Comes Everybody: The Story of The Pogues. We probably said. F**k that, well do our own.

(Getty Images)

It took more than two years to perfect, and was recorded, oddly, in the sweltering heat of July 1987, at RAK Studios near Regents Park in London. The original plan to record with ORiordan fell through when she married Costello and left the band. Costello was replaced with Steve Lillywhite, who brought in his wife (MacColl) to record the test vocals so they could see how the duet would work. They were so astounded by her performance, however, that they had to keep it.

The title was chosen after the song had been written and recorded, lifted from the title of Irish American author JP Donleavys novel A Fairy Tale of New York. The books main character, Cornelius Christian, refers to New York as the city that is too rich to laugh at and too lonely and too ruthless to love and where happiness is a big cat with a mouse on a square mile of linoleum.

The video is as much part of the song as the music itself; Kirsty MacColl leaning nonchalantly over the piano and telling Shane MacGowan how useless he is. It was decided that he would sit there instead of Fearnley, who said that he was humiliated, particularly when he had to wear MacGowans rings for the close-up shots of his hands.

A young Matt Dillon stars as the cop who has to arrest MacGowan  he was already a big fan of The Pogues and reportedly so nervous about manhandling him in the scene that MacGowan snapped: Just kick the s**t out of me and throw me in the cell and then we can be warm!

The song provided a launching pad for the mainstream success of both The Pogues and MacColl, the latter of whom had ambitions of being a pop star but was crippled by severe stage fright. The song never made it to the Christmas number one spot in the UK, but remains one of the most popular festive songs of all time.

This article was originally published in 2017
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Maybeshewill were an astonishing example of what five friends could accomplish with a whole heap of ambition on a shoe-string budget. Constantly striving to write and record sweeping, cinematic, swathes of stirring, emotionally-charged music, they always managed to pull off incredible feats without ever compromising their DIY ideals. The band announced their plans to tour one last time in September 2015, with their final show taking place at Koko in London, a venue the band expected to sell half the allocated tickets for, maybe two-thirds if they were lucky.

The show sold out months in advance, which came as a surprise to nobody but the band themselves, as people flew in from all over the world to see them play for the very last time. The show was a triumph, a 90 minute celebration of the music that had soundtracked these 1,500 peoples ecstatic highs and despondent lows for the previous decade  effectively, Maybeshewill wrote music that provided a perfect backdrop to life itself.

They also were a band unafraid to express their opinions, particularly when it came to political, sociological or environmental issues  for these five boys from the city of Leicester, it was always vital to raise their voices rather than stay mute. Their final move as a band is indicative of their career as a whole. Beautifully shot footage of their last show is available to stream for free, but for those who would like to download and own their own copy of this momentous occasion, they can do so by following this link and giving a small voluntary donation to Friends of the Earth. An international network of environmental organisations in 74 countries, Friends of the Earth our working to provide a peaceful and sustainable world based on societies living in harmony with nature and the environment.

Guitarist John Helps had the following to say about the bands last show, the footage and their decision to support Friends of the Earth.

When we announced the last tour we knew we wanted to document the final show at Koko. Partly that was for us - to have something to look back at in ten or twenty years and remember that moment - but we were also humbled by how many people wanted to see us one last time, and we know there are many who couldnt. Were incredibly lucky to be in that position.

Weve worked on this with our long time collaborators WeTheConspirators, who have put so many hours in to getting it just right, and we cant thank them enough for that. Our very own Jamie Ward has slaved over the audio to make sure the mix is as good as it can possibly be, and we think it sounds amazing. We never imagined we could produce something this ambitious on a shoestring budget, keeping everything within the small team we built up over the last decade. We hope its an adequate substitute for the real thing if you werent there, and an accurate document of that evening if you were.

Were streaming the whole thing for free, but should you wish to download and keep a copy in HD, with uncompressed audio  that looks and sounds amazing  you can do just that. In return all we ask is a small voluntary charity donation, 100% of which will be sent to Friends of the Earth.

At this particular point in time more than ever we think its important to acknowledge the impact that we as humans are having on our planet and its climate. As a band our carbon footprint is embarrassingly large  predominantly through more air travel than we care to remember and thousands of miles in vans between shows - and if we can go some small way to offsetting that, we believe we should.

Maybeshewills final show can be downloaded in exchange for a small contribution to Friends of the Earth
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Sheffield rockers Arctic Monkeys are reuniting to work on a new album.

The news is reported to have been confirmed by frontman Alex Turner after images capturing the quartet together in Sheffield surfaced online.

BBC filmmaker Shamir Masri tweeted a message suggesting they were back in the city with the intention of penning a sixth record - their first since 2013 chart-topper AM.

Rumours surrounding album number six have been rife since the summer with reports claiming they were already back in the studio.

Turner, after performing as part of The Last Shadow Puppets at this year's Glastonbury Festival, remained coy when questioned on the subject, simply stating that there was "no rush."

Arctic Monkeys went on hiatus after a year-long tour with album AM which became their fifth consecutive number one record in 2013.

Drummer Matt Helders has also been making the most of the band's break having appeared on Iggy Pop's latest release Post Pop Depression alongside Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme.

Alongside Turner and Helders, Arctic Monkeys is comprised of guitarist Jamie Cook and bassist Nick O'Malley.

Despite there being no current word on release date, news of a sixth record is the perfect Christmas gift for any Arctic Monkeys fan.
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The worlds fishing fleet will catch an estimated 25 billion fewer fish a year by the end of the century if global warming continues on its current path, scientists have said.

If countries live up to their current pledges to reduce greenhouse gases, the planets average temperature is set to rise by about 3.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100  well beyond the point at which climate change produces significantly more dangerous weather conditions.

Rapid ocean warming has already contributed to the collapse of cod fisheries in the Gulf of Maine and other changes in the marine world, the researchers said.

After considering the effects on 892 different species eaten by humans, they concluded that each degree of warming could potentially result in a 3.4 million ton fall in the weight of fish caught every year, they reported in the journal Science.

The global fish catch is currently about 109 million metric tons.

One of the researchers, environmental physicist Dr Thomas Frolicher, of the ETH Zurich University, said there was a clear relationship between greenhouse gases and a reduction in fish catches.

Changes in ocean conditions that affect fish stocks, such as temperature and oxygen concentration, are strongly related to atmospheric warming and carbon emissions, he said.

For every metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, the maximum catch potential decreases by a significant amount.

The effects would vary dramatically between different regions of the world.

For example, fishing boats in the Norwegian Sea might initially see an increase in their catches as the temperature rises.

But the Indo-Pacific region  heavily reliant on fishing as a source of income and food  is projected to lose nearly half of its fisheries if global warming reaches 3.5C.

Professor William Cheung, of the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia, said: In some regions, they are really sensitive to this warming. If we move beyond 2C, the levels of impacts on fisheries will increase much more rapidly.

The populations in coastal communities [of the Indo-Pacific] are strongly dependant on seafood for essential nutrients for their health.

With that decrease in the size of the potential supply of fish, that might put them at risk of nutritional insecurity. People are strongly dependant on fish for food and their livelihoods.

Professor Cheung, who is science director of the Nippon Foundation-Nereus Programme, said their research showed the importance of trying to stick to the Paris Agreement on climate changes ambition to restrict global warming to as close to 1.5C as possible.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

This would see the global catch fall by 2.5 per cent, compared to 8 per cent if it hits 3.5C.

In an associated commentary in Science, Dr Elizabeth Fulton, of Tasmania University, wrote the world was still some way off achieving the lower target.

Current climate pledges under the Paris Agreement do not provide the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions needed to keep temperatures below 2C, let alone 1.5C, she said.

But for those people relying on the close to 25 billion seafood meals lost each year if we let temperatures rise by 3.5C, the imperative to act seems clear.

Humans today are better equipped to make evidence-based decisions than at any point in our collective history, and all that evidence tells us that deferring the decision to act is a costly course to take.

 Climate change: It's "game over" for planet earth

Bev OKane, fisheries scientist at the Marine Conservation Society, called for action.

The difference between our world heating by 1.5 degrees and 3.5 degrees is stark, she said.

It is therefore crucial that commitments to limit temperature rise are followed through.

Reduced catches and changes of species found in world oceans will most keenly affect developing nations with coastal communities who depend on fishing, but given that the majority of our seafood in the UK is now imported, with bigger changes to global oceans, we can expect fewer fish catches and more expensive seafood options in the future.

 'Dangerous' climate change could arrive as early as 2050

Barry Deas, chief executive of The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, said the biggest impact on UK fisheries had been the reduction in the numbers of fish caught, which had seen many species recover significantly.

We recognise this [climate change] is a major factor for the future, but that is kind of outwith our hands as the fishing industry per se, he said.

We dont dismiss it, but its not an immediate concern for us. We arent seeing effects that would make us anxious about the immediate future.
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France has unveiled the world's first solar panel road in a small village in Normandy.

The road, called Wattway, was inaugurated by ecology minister Segolene Royal, who said earlier this year that she wanted to build 1000 km of solar panel roads in France.

Colas, part of the telecoms giant Bougyes, developed the Wattway panels over five years.

(Getty (Getty)

The route - financed by the state - is covered with 2,800 sq m of electricity-generating panels and crosses the village of Tourouvre-au-Perche. The electricity generated should be able to power the street lighting in the village of 3,400 inhabitants.

Expected to be used by an average of 2,000 motorists a day, the highway will now undergo a two-year testing phase.

Despite the price of silicon - a primary component of photo voltaic cells - dropping dramatically over the last 10 years, the cost of such a project is still very high.

Marc Jedliczka, vice-president of Network for Energetic Transition (CLER), told Le Monde: Its without doubt a technical advance, but in order to develop renewables there are other priorities than a gadget of which we are more certain that its very expensive than the fact it works.

A number of countries are experimenting with solar panels on roads. The Netherlands have 70 metres of solar road in operation since 2014 in the form of a bike path.

Piers Barnes, a Physics research associate at Imperial College London, told The Independent that cost and durability were the two main factors impeding the development of solar panel roads.

As cost of solar panels comes down, increasingly interesting and innovative applications will be created in places one would not otherwise consider, he said.

He did however, add that the UK was intrinsically more expensive when it came to solar panels due to its poor levels of sunshine.
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Sitting in the west of South East Asia, sharing borders with Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Laos and India, Burma has spent much of its history cut off from the rest of the world. However in the 1930s, when George Orwell wrote about a country suppressed, ruled by colonial Britain which exiled its royal family, interest was sparked and continues to flourish. But all of it is permeated with the suffering of its people under one of the worlds most repressive regimes.

2013 saw a lift of Western sanctions on the country against its political rule, and it has since welcomed an influx of tourists looking to explore its lost temples and colourful history, where the 21st century has barely left a footprint. We have selected some of the best books for both intrepid and armchair travellers. From former political prisoner and now prominent politician Aung San Suu Kyis Letters from Burma to Guy Delisles comic book Burma Chronicles, these all help to tell the story of one of the worlds most traumatised but beautiful nations.

1. The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh: 8.99, HarperCollins

Bringing the secluded Burma of the 1880s to life is Indian writer and master storyteller Amitav Ghosh. The Glass Palace recounts the true story of the countrys royal family, which was overthrown and forced into exile in India after the arrival of the British. Told through the eyes of Rajkumar, a poor boy, the story begins with the fall of the Konbaung Dynsasty in the capital of Mandalay and pans through to the Second World War. It sees his life journey follow the social and economic booms of the 20th century across Asia, as the country fights to find its own identity as a nation.

Buy now

2. Letters from Burma by Aung San Suu Kyi: 9.99, Penguin Books

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, a former prisoner of conscience and now prominent politician, Aung San Suu Kyi paints a picture of her native land through a series of 52 letters that were originally written for a Japanese newspaper, in an attempt to restore democracy in her country. She evokes the beautiful customs, celebrations and traditions that she loves, including how to serve tea and Thingyan, the countrys New Year celebrations. But she also celebrates the people who have fought against repression, and support her political party, the National League for Democracy. It gives a sharp insight into what Suu Kyi and others like her are really fighting for in Burma.

Buy now

3. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason: 8.99, Pan Macmillan

As a medical student studying malaria on the Thai-Burmese border, Daniel Mason wrote in-between lessons, and gained inspiration after passing a remote village on the river, where he heard the notes of a piano being played. His tale of fiction has now been published in 27 countries and is set in the British-dominated era of 1880s Burma. It focuses on a piano tuner, Edgar Drake, torn from his mundane life in London and commissioned by the army to repair a rare grand piano in the middle of the jungle for an eccentric English army surgeon. Mason presents the compelling idea that music can foster a form of solace during war.

Buy now

4. Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin: 8.99, Granta Books

Emma Larkin recounts the year she spent in Burma following in the footsteps of George Orwell, using his life and work as her only guide. The American journalist was born and raised in Asia and studied the Burmese language at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Her unusual travelogue, which mixes biography, history and politics, visits the places Orwell worked and lived, connecting it with the present-day situation. It allows her to highlight how the marks of colonial rule over Burma are still visible today, long after the country gained independence. She also makes the case that Orwells 1984 and Animal Farm, along with Burmese Days, form a trilogy commenting on Burmas situation.

Buy now

5. Burma Chronicles by Guy Delisle: 12.99, Jonathan Cape

Stepping away from novels, we have Canadian cartoonist Guy Delisles comic book. He is known for his graphic novels telling tales of his travels, and this one is based on the year he spent in the Burma with his wife and son. It depicts the struggles of survivors of repression and human rights abuse under General Ne Wins military regime, which ran from 1962 to 2011, through simple but effective black and white illustrations. Its insightful and is able to carry the weight of Burmas troublesome history, enabling the reader to learn about the real lives of Burmese people, through a mix of current affairs and, surprisingly considering the subject, humour. Split into chapters, each focuses on just one issue, from government censorship to the elected leader of the country being under house arrest.

Buy now

6. Burma: A Nation at The Crossroads  Revised Edition by Benedict Rogers: 8.99, Rider

Offering a brief overview of the country on the brink of change, based on first-hand experience, Benedict Rogers shows modern Burma has shaken off its military regime ruling, and for the first time since independence from the British in 1948, is actually able to make decisions for itself. The author concentrates on telling the true stories of the daily struggles faced by its inhabitants  from the fight for justice to facing extreme poverty across the country. In this updated version coming three years after it was originally published in 2012, Rogers pays tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won a majority in the landmark elections in 2015.

Buy now

7. Under the Dragon: A Journey Through Burma by Rory MacLean: 11.99, I.B. Tauris

In 1998, author Rory MacLean travelled into the heart of the Burmese golden triangle  where the borders of Burma meet with Laos and Thailand. It was a decade after the 1988 uprising against General Ne Wins military rule. From Rangoon to Mandalay and on to Pagan, he gives an insight into Burma as a land or paradoxes, where people love their country but are surrounded by hate and fear. But there is also a sense of hope for people who are struggling to survive. MacLeans narrative illuminates the nation in a heart-breaking and historical portrayal, meeting ordinary local people, including child labourers, who have suffered under their countrys metaphorical dragon  the repressive regime.

Buy now

8. The River of Lost Footsteps by Thant Myint-U: 10.99, Faber & Faber

One of the best books on understanding how Burma is emerging as a country today, The River of Lost Footsteps attempts to unravel the Burmese story. Its colourful history, aside from hosting one of the worlds longest civil wars, is often forgotten. To tell it, Thant Myint-U weaves together the stories of his ancestors, who served the royal family of Burma, to give a voice to the people of Burma including his grandfather who began his career as a small town school teacher and later became the UNs secretary-general. Its part history, part memoir, and part travelogue.

Buy now

The Verdict: Burma books

The Glass Palace is a literary work of art and uses historical facts to fuel its central love narrative which is captivating and fascinating, with an insight into one of Burmas most poignant moments in time. Elsewhere, Burma: A Nation at The Crossroads gives the most up-to-date offering on the countrys history and political past and it is the best choice for an introduction on the country.
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Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse have agreed to pay billions in fines relating to the collapse of the US housing market that contributed to the financial crisis, striking deals before Donald Trumps administration takes power.

The lenders are among many financial institutions investigated over dealings in discreditable mortgages in the run-up to the financial crisis. The US government has accused the banks of misleading investors about the quality of their loans. The inquiries related to deals done between 2005 and 2007.

Recommended Deutsche Bank fears rattle stock market as shares hit record low

After months of negotiations with the Department of Justice (DoJ) , Germanys Deutsche Bank agreed to pay a $7.2bn (5.9bn) fine over an investigation into mortgage-backed securities. Meanwhile, Swiss bank Credit Suisse will pay a $5.3bn deal to settle its own dispute with US authorities over similar alleged actions.

The deal came as federal prosecutors also announced they were suing Barclays for alleged mortgage security fraud.

They claim that from 2005 to 2007, Barclays repeatedly misrepresented the characteristics of the loans backing securities they sold to investors throughout the world, who incurred billions of dollars in losses.

Barclays denied any involvement.

The bank said in a statement: Barclays considers that the claims made in the complaint are disconnected from the facts.

We have an obligation to our shareholders, customers, clients, and employees to defend ourselves against unreasonable allegations and demands.

Barclays will vigorously defend the complaint and seek its dismissal at the earliest opportunity.

US authorities originally threatened Deutsche Bank with a $14bn settlement.

Deutsches payment will be made up of a civil penalty of $3.1bn, as well as $4.1bn in consumer relief.

Credit Suisse said it will pay a civil penalty of $2.48bn and, in an agreement similar to Deutsches, provide consumer relief to the tune of $2.8bn over the course of five years.

The DoJ has taken a tough stance in settlement negotiations with other banks, requesting sums higher than the eventual fine.

In 2014, it asked Citigroup to pay $12bn to resolve an investigation into the sale of shoddy mortgage-backed securities, sources said. The fine eventually came in at $7bn.

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In 2013, JP Morgan Chase was fined $13bn following allegations that it overstated the quality of mortgages being sold to investors, while Bank of America paid $16.7bn in similar charges.

And in another case, rival Goldman Sachs agreed in April to pay $5.06bn to settle claims that it misled mortgage bond investors during the financial crisis.
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Youth homeless charity Centrepoint has thanked our readers for helping the Young and Homeless Helpline appeal pass 2m before Christmas.

The fundraising milestone comes just over a month after Prince William, the charitys patron, launched the appeal asking people to save young lives by donating to help them escape homelessness.

Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin said everyone at the charity had been touched by the scale of kindness from The Independents readers.

He said: We still have much work to do. 25,000 young people are at risk of homelessness this Christmas. There could be many thousands more across the country that dont ask for help and find themselves taking desperate measures to avoid a night on the streets.

Your support means that we are making progress towards our goal of ensuring that no young person will need to face homelessness alone.

More than 150,000 vulnerable young people seek help for homelessness from local authorities each year  but up to a third are turned away with no help or advice.

The online, text and freephone helpline will be able to give young people aged between 16 and 25 facing homelessness or already sleeping rough expert advice and support to find safe shelter.

It will also refer them to services funded by the appeal dealing with wider issues including mental health, addiction and family breakdown.

The Independents proprietor Evgeny Lebedev said: It is incredible that such a large amount of money has been raised so fast. As a result, young people who may have fallen through the cracks will now receive the support they need when they need it. I can't thank everyone who has backed this appeal enough. This is an amazing achievement.

As well as the remarkable number of donations from The Independents readers, the appeal has also been supported by a number of corporate backers and organisations.

The latest is the Asos Foundation, which has given an incredible 450,000 to help turn the helpline into a reality.

Sponsorship for the London Sleep Out  where celebrities including Downton Abbey actress Daisy Lewis and fashion designer Sadie Frost joined more than 1,000 fundraisers on the Greenwich Peninsula  raised an incredible 520,000.

Responses to the Safe Christmas advertising campaign that is further boosting the appeal total for Centrepoint has received a further 700,000.

Centrepoints regional manager for central and west London Matt Carlisle said: The generosity just totally totally blows me away  and everyone who has given should know its going to help save lives.

Young people who are homeless make a lot of rash and dangerous decisions because they dont have a choice  this helpline will give them swift and expert advice to help them make a better and a safer choice.

The amount of money we have raised so quickly  its like a Christmas miracle  I dont think any of us thought it would be so fast, so thank you so much everybody.

Its vitally important we get support for other services too. The tighter economics are in the country the more we rely on the short of our donors.

What extra services could be funded

As well as funding the training and resources required to provide the Young and Homeless Helpline, money raised by the appeal will fund other vital Centrepoint services.

Donations will not just support the launch of the Helpline, Centrepoints chief executive Seyi Obakin told The Independent, but will also help to fund essential Centrepoint services.

From healthcare to skills and employability, we help young people to get back on their own two feet through numerous support activities.

Vital services supported by money raised in the appeal include:

Mental health

Centrepoint provides short and long-term counselling to the young people accessing services.

Following the trauma often experienced by young homeless people, residents are offered mental health assessments within the first month of their stay.

They have access to long-term counselling to help them learn the tools they need to deal with the stresses and strains of homelessness.

One of the young people featured in our campaign, Brookemorgan Henry-Rennie, 18, was suffering from depression when she went to Centrepoint and was offered one-to-one counselling.

I was in a dark place. she said. When I came to Centrepoint I had depression; I was very angry and closed off from everyone.

Young people are not educated properly on mental health so they dont know how to get help.

Centrepoint offered me opportunities and support. I needed my own space and that is what I got here.

Healthy living

Centrepoint support workers provide education and workshops centred on healthy lifestyle choices.

The charity focusses on empowering the young people to take control of their wellbeing.

Residents have access to classes on nutrition and cookery to help build foundations for a balanced and healthy life.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined young people in one of the classes to make chickpea burgers as he backed our appeal.

Nadeen Haidar, healthy living advisor at Centrepoint, said: As well as them learning to eat healthily, it teaches them budgeting and skills to live independently. Through the interaction with other residents, we also find it can help build their confidence in social situations.

Functional skills

Disruption to education and training is one of the biggest barriers to homeless young people. 40 per cent of the young people who come to Centrepoint have no qualifications when they arrive.

Centrepoint provides one-to-one sessions teaching basic maths and English skills to the level required by employers.

Journalist Poppy Noor, 26, was just 16 when she moved into a Centrepoint hostel.

With the support of the charity, she used the time to study for her A Levels and was accepted into Cambridge University.

Had I not found the hostel, Im sure I wouldnt have got the straight As that got me into Cambridge, she said.

My friends did not all have the same opportunities as me.

Basic life skills

A lot of the young people Centrepoint works with missed out on childhood and teenage years most take for granted.

The charity runs a host of life skills lessons which include training sessions helping young people learn how to budget and pay bills on time.

For Andrea Brown, who was just 17 when she became homeless, these lessons were vital.

Born in Ivory Coast, she did not have permanent residency in the UK despite living here since the age of five.

Centrepoint helped her to go through the complicated process of applying for her residency  which was approved in September.

I was frightened and didnt know who to turn to. I didnt give up but others might, she said.

Centrepoint gave me so much support and advice. They have help for everything.

Work advice

The charity helps young people prepare for job interviews and applications when they prepare to enter the world of work.

Residents are encouraged to take part in work experience, often organised by Centrepoint, as well as workshops, talks and advice from professionals and experts.

The charity encourages young people to pursue career goals and recently hired ex-Centrepoint resident Samia Meah, 26, to photograph Prince William for the homeless helpline campaign.

After being homeless at 16, Samia went to live at a Centrepoint hostel before going to university to study photography.

Now she works for the charity as a project assistant and holds exhibitions of her photography work.

Its hard to make it in London but Ive always had help, especially from Centrepoint, and kept trying. It feels like its coming together.

Additional reporting by Chloe Chaplain
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Donald Trump has stormed into fresh controversy over the deadly attack in Berlin - saying it was a purely religious attack and asking when will the US and all countries fight back.

In language that sought to position the effort against radical extremism in religious terms, Mr Trump referred to a video in which the Tunisian man suspected of the attack had vowed to slaughter you pigs.

This is a purely religious threat, which turned into reality. Such hatred, Mr Trump said in two tweets on Friday afternoon.

When will the US, and all countries, fight back?

During the election campaign, the 70-year-old repeatedly criticised President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for what he claimed was a refusal to use the phrase radical Islam.

While Ms Clinton eventually used the phrase, Mr Obama said that while it was correct to talk of the fight against radical extremism, labelling a religion as extremist, threatened to undermine such efforts by insulting those communities required to help in the battle.

Indeed, critics of Mr Trumps latest comments said that his remarks were very dangerous.

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, told The Independent: During his entire campaign and pending presidency, he appears to have been adopting the false Isis worldview of a clash between Islam and the West.

This feeds into their narrative and should be avoided by any sensible elected official.

 Donald Trump says 'let it be an arms race' after nuclear expansion tweet

Twelve people were killed and more than fifty injured earlier this week when a truck was driven through a Christmas market in Berlin. The man suspected of carrying out the attack, Anis Amri, 24, was shot dead in Milan in a clash with police.

His mother, Nour El Houda Hassani, told reporters in Tunisia that she wanted to know who had been "behind him" but feared they would never know. Within him is a great secret. They killed him and buried the secret with him," she said.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump called the assault in the German capital an attack on humanity.

Speaking in Florida, where he is spending the Christmas holidays, the President-elect told media gathered at his Mar-a-Lago residence: It's an attack on humanity. That's what it is, it's an attack on humanity and its got to be stopped.

In a written statement on Monday issued in the wake of the attack, he said that Isis and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad.

CNN said that during the election campaign Mr Trump frequently highlighted attacks on Christians in the Middle East and called for a ban on Muslims from entering the US as a response.

He did so partly to cement his position among evangelical Christians. He has since called for a ban on individuals from terrorist-prone countries and has called for extreme vetting,

Asked on Wednesday if the Berlin attack caused him to re-evaluate his ban, Mr Trump said: Youve known my plans all along and its, they've proven to be right, 100 per cent correct. What;s happening is disgraceful.
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A New York developer and leading supporter of Donald Trump, is at the centre of outcry after he said he hoped Barack Obama died of mad cow disease that the First Lady moved to Africa and lived in a cave with gorillas.

Carl Paladino, the co-chairman of Mr Trumps New York campaign, defended his comments that appeared in a free weekly newspaper published in Buffalo. Artvoice asked several leading figures from the city for their hopes for 2017.

Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Hereford (cow). He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarrett, said Mr Paladino, who failed in an attempt to become New York governor.

He added that he would like to see Ms Obama return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.

There was rapid and widespread criticism of the comments.

 Donald Trump says 'let it be an arms race' after nuclear expansion tweet

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the remarks were incredulous.

If they were made by him there can be no room in our civil discourse for such hate and anger, he said.

This is not the first time Mr Paladino has been at the centre of controversy. During his 2010 run for governor, which he lost to current Governor .Andrew Cuomo, emails that he had forwarded presenting Ms Obama as a prostitute, were leaked. On Friday, Mr Cuomo was among those to accuse Mr Paladino of racism.

Earlier this year, Mr Paladino said that Mr Trump supporters were people frustrated with government and who want the raccoons out of the basement. He defended that comment amidst claims it was racist.

M Paladino, a Buffalo developer who is chairman of the Ellicott Development Co, has reportedly been among those visitors to Trump Tower in New York, apparently in search of a position with the incoming administration.

The Times Union newspaper said that on Friday afternoon, Mr Paladino defended his comments in a lengthy statement.

Michelle hated America before her husband won. She then enjoyed all the attention, the multi -million dollar vacations, the huge staff and other benefits, he said. Then when Hillary lost, she and Barack realised that without Hillary, there was no one to protect the little, if any, legacy he had. Thats when Michelle came out and said there is no hope for America. Good, let her leave and go someplace she will be happy.
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The campaign of Donald Trump has made a lot of strange comments over the month. This week was no different.

On Thursday, the campaign issued a statement claiming that Mr Trump had shattered the glass ceiling for women. Even though Mr Trumps surprise victory in the November election blocked the US choosing its first woman president, the President-elect appears to believe he is breaking new ground in regard to gender.

The reason seems to be his promotion of Kellyanne Conway, his campaign advisor, to the position of counselor to the president. In that role she will be the highest ranking woman in the White House.

Kellyanne Conway has been a trusted advisor and strategist who played a crucial role in my victory. She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message, Mr Trump said in a statement. I am pleased that she will be part of my senior team in the West Wing.

 Donald Trump says 'let it be an arms race' after nuclear expansion tweet

The campaign claimed that Mr Trumps victory on November 8th also shattered the glass ceiling for women. Conway is the first female campaign manager of either major party to win a presidential general election.

ThinkProgress pointed out the apparent irony of Mr Trump claiming to have broken the glass ceiling, when he beat Hillary Clinton. During the campaign, Mr Trump repeatedly accused his rival of playing the womans card.

He was also accused of sexual assault by numerous women - allegations he denied - and was caught on camera boasting about how he could get away with such assaults because he was a celebrity.

The website said that while it was correct that Ms Conway is the first woman campaign manager to preside over a presidential victory, Al Gores 2000 campaign was managed by Donna Brazile. Like Ms Clinton, Mr Gore won the popular vote but lost in the Electoral College after the intervention of the Supreme Court.
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The build-up to Donald Trump's inauguration, which is now less than a month away, has been plagued with reports of difficulties of securing performers for the historic event.

At Barack Obama's 2008 inauguration, Beyonce sang a rousing rendition of Etta James "At Last" while Aretha Franklin wowed the crowds with her iconic vocal. Various celebrities were spotted amongst the huge crowds.

So far, Mr Trump has confirmed Americas Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho, the Radio City Rockettes dance group and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

President Donald Trump life in pictures Show all 16 1 /16 President Donald Trump life in pictures President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump poses in a rocking chair once used by President John F. Kennedy at his New York City residence Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump with his new bride Marla Maples after their wedding at the Plaza hotel in New York Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Celina Midelfart watch the match between Conchita Martinez and Amanda Coetzer during U.S. Open. She was the date whom Donald Trump was with when he met his current wife Melania at a party in 1996 Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas serving as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500, speaks to Donald Trump and Melania Knauss on the starting grid at the Daytona International Speedwa Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump talks with his former wife Ivana Trump during the men's final at the U.S. Open Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and his friend Melania Knauss pose for photographers as they arrive at the New York premiere of Star Wars Episode : 'The Phantom Menace,' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire real estate developer Donald Trump talks with host Larry King. Trump told King that he was moving toward a possible bid for the United States presidency with the formation of a presidential exploratory committee Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump answers questions as Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura looks on in Brooklyn Park. Trump said on Friday he 'very well might' make a run for president under the Reform Party banner but had not made a final decision Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump makes a face at a friend as he sits next to Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso before the start of the 2003 Miss Universe pageant in Panama City Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Entrepreneur Donald Trump is greeted by a Marilyn Monroe character look-a-alike, as he arrives at Universal Studios Hollywood to attend the an open casting call for his NBC television network reality series 'The Apprentice.' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Simon Cowell present an Emmy during the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Megan Mullally perform at the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump, poses with his children, son Donald Trump, Jr., and daughters Tiffany and Ivanka Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump told Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner on Tuesday she would be given a second chance after reported misbehavior Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump holds a replica of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as his wife Melania holds their son Barron in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. property mogul Donald Trump stands next to a bagpiper during a media event on the sand dunes of the Menie estate, the site for Trump's proposed golf resort, near Aberdeen, north east Scotland Reuters

Sir Elton John, Celine Dion and reportedly Andrea Bocelli have all denied rumours they would perform at the event with Sir Elton clarifying: It is completely untrue."

Despite the very public distancing of high-profile celebrities from Mr Trump and his inauguration, the President-elect is giving another version of events on Twitter claiming that, actually, they are all desperately vying for tickets.

In another middle-of-the-night Twitter outburst, he also claimed that despite the supposed interest from these celebrities, he does not want them there anyway  he just wants "the people".

Reports that the Trump administration are struggling to find celebrities to attend the event are unsurprising given that high-profile endorsements were an area where Mr Trump struggled throughout his entire presidential campaign.

His rival Hillary Clinton regularly wheeled out the likes of Katy Perry, LeBron James and Bruce Springsteen at campaigns and also had Beyonce and Jay Z perform at a concert for her just a week before the election.

Mr Trump, on the other hand, relied on the public support of people including veteran actor Jon Voight and former Happy Days actor Scott Baio.
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A porn producer has been fired after adult film star Nikki Benz claimed she was violently assaulted during a horrific shoot.

The actress said she had been choked by director Tony T while filming scenes for pornographic website Brazzers. He denies any wrongdoing.

Ms Benz claimed he had ignored her when she repeatedly called Cut! during an alleged violent shoot after becoming unhappy at the situation. She described the incident as a "rape scene".

In a series of tweets, Ms Benz said the experience caused her to go into shock and cry on set  the first time this has happened in her 13 years in the porn industry.

She wrote: On set bullying, rape and violence should never happen. No means no on camera, off camera.

The ordeal had left her traumatized, Ms Benz added.

Brazzers confirmed it has now ended its association with the producer of the scene.

The company said: "We took immediate measure to sever our relationship with the producer in question.

"Not only have we terminated all existing professional engagements with the producer, but any possibility for any future endeavours with this producer have also been quashed."

The company said it had also refused to purchase the scene in question.

Ms Benzs well-being and security are a paramount concern to us, the company added, saying it had made numerous attempts to contact her about the allegations.

People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015.

In an earlier statement, Brazzers, which directly employees Ms Benz as one of its biggest stars, said it respected the rights of its actors.

It said: Brazzers considers performers consent, boundaries and limits and safety to be fundamental and paramount issues and unequivocally stands for the respect of the performers. Brazzers does not condone nor does it tolerate conduct by producers that would jeopardise a performers security or well-being.

Ms Benz was not happy with the company's original response, branding it a "PR stunt".

A representative for Tony T told gossip website TMZ he denies the allegations and laments the actions taken by Brazzers. He is reported to be confident his name will be cleared.
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A series of attempts to carry out lethal attacks on Christmas markets and shopping centres across Europe, including Britain, were foiled before the Berlin murders. The security operations, according to senior sources, were carried out in direct response to information about terrorist threats linked to Isis.

In Britain, counter-terrorism officers stated that a significant plot inspired by Isis had been halted. The alleged targets, say security sources, were one or more shopping centres crowded in the run-up to Christmas. Four men in Derby, another one at Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire and a woman in London, aged between 22 and 36, were arrested ten days ago in connection with the alleged plot, with the recovery of material which could be used for making bombs. On Thursday, two of the men, aged 22 and 27 and from the Derby area were released without charge. The other four people remain in custody.

The strong possibility of terrorist acts during the Christmas period has been mentioned publicly by government bodies and repeatedly in exchange of intelligence between allied security agencies. Isis has also been publicly exhorting its followers to carry out attacks.

The failure of the German authorities to prevent the murders of 12 people, despite these repeated warnings, will raise further questions about their conduct, already being severely criticised, over what has unfolded.

Five men, aged 26 to 37, were arrested last month in Marseilles and Strasbourg five days before the opening of a Christmas market, annually attracting two million visitors, in Strasbourg.

French authorities said the suspects, of North African background, were planning an imminent attack under the direction of an Isis commander based in Syria who sent his orders via encrypted mobile apps. Police found pistols and a sub-machine gun in their raids. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve disclosed that an investigation had been launched following a tip-off by a partner country, refusing to specify which one it was.

 Who is the prime suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack?

Ten young men, most of them in their teens, were arrested in Belgium last week allegedly for plotting to attack a Christmas carnival. Eric Van Der Sjipt, a spokesman at the office of prosecution, claimed the suspects had received instructions online on making an explosive device as well as various methods which can be used to kill.

Germany had already experienced a recent attack, albeit a failed one, before Berlin. A 12 year old boy, of Iraqi origin, was arrested earlier this month in Ludwigshafen after attempting to detonate a nail bomb in the towns Christmas market.

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

Last month the US State Department warned American citizens travelling to Europe of possible terror attacks. It said credible information indicates that the Islamic State (Isis) al-Qaeda and their affiliates continue to plan terror attacks in Europe with a focus on upcoming holiday season and associated events.

Isis leaders have called for attacks to be carried out at crowded places such as markets and shopping centre. Last month the groups magazine, Rumiyah, even suggested the use of a vehicle to carry out atrocities, specifying the Bastille Day massacre in Nice, in the summer, in which a truck was used to take 86 lives, as an ideal template to cause maximum damage behind enemy lines.

With a photograph of a Hertz rental truck and the annual Thanksgiving Day parade in New York on the front cover, the magazine pointed out that though being an essential part of modern life, very few actually comprehend the destructive capability of the motor vehicle and its capacity of reaping large numbers of casualties if used in a premeditated manner.
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A British mother being held in an Iranian prison has been told she can either keep her two-year-old daughter with her in jail or give up custody.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in April on unspecified national security charges as she was travelling back to Britain from Tehran after a trip to visit family.

The British-Iranian was with her two-year-old daughter Gabriella at the time. The child, now three, has since been living with her grandparents.

The 37-year-old from Hampstead in north-west London, made the revelation in a recent phone call with her her husband, Richard Ratcliffe.

She told him that she had been ordered by Revolutionary Guard officials to choose between having her daughter stay with her in Tehran's Evin prison for up to three days a week, or sign a document saying she does not want the right to be with her young daughter.

Evin prison authorities imposed the choice in an attempt to counter negative publicity caused by the 37-year-old being separated from her toddler, according to Amnesty International UK.

This is yet another turn of the screw for Nazanin," said Kathy Voss, the right's groups' Individuals At Risk campaign manager. "What kind of refined cruelty is it that would involve presenting a mother with a 'choice' to either jail her own daughter or give her up entirely?

The Iranian authorities should release Nazanin and end this cruel charade of justice immediately. Meanwhile, up until she's released, Nazanin should be allowed extended contact with her daughter.

"All along the Iranian authorities appear to have been playing politics with this case. We need to see the UK Government stepping up its efforts to unlock things politically and see that Nazanin is released as soon as possible."

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told The Independent: We are deeply concerned by reports that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been sentenced without confirmation of the charges made against her. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both raised her case with their counterparts in Iran and will continue to do so.

We have been supporting her family since we were first made aware of her arrest and the Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, has met the family to reassure them that we will continue to do all we can.

"While we continue to press the Iranians for consular access and for due process to be followed, we also stand ready to help get her daughter back safely to the UK if requested.

The Iranian authorities announced earlier this year that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's arrest was linked to her alleged involvement with a network of bloggers imprisoned in 2014 for taking part in journalism training courses.

On 15 June Irans Revolutionary Guards released a statement saying she had participated in devising and carrying out media and cyber projects aimed at the soft overthrow of the government.

Three months into his wifes detainment, Mr Ratcliffe delivered a letter to No 10 begging for the Government to intervene, saying he found it astonishing that no British minister has publicly criticised Tehran for arresting one of their citizens.

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

Following a five-day hunger strike his wife staged in protest of her imprisonment in November, Mr Ratcliffe said she was being treated as a "bargaining chip" and accused the UK Government of not having [his] familys best interests at heart.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a media charity worker for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which receives some UK government funding, and previously worked as Project Assistant for the BBC development charity, BBC Media Action.

She was initially held in solitary confinement for several weeks and allegedly denied access to either a lawyer or her family.
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Three British women were treated like A-list celebrities after finding themselves the only passengers on a British Airways flight meant for 150 people.

Laura Stevens, 34, Sarah Hunt, 35, and Laurie-Lin Waller, 33, drank champagne and took selfies in the cockpit after being upgraded to business class when they turned out to be travelling alone on a flight from Gibraltar to London Heathrow.

The friends were on their way back to the UK after a three-day break but found their flight delayed by three hours. Having found out about the delay online, they decided to go to the airport late in order to make the most of their time abroad.

Recommended British Airways strikes on Christmas Day and Boxing Day suspended

On arrival, they were told the other passengers from their plane had all been squeezed onto an earlier flight  leaving the trio as the only travellers on the 150-seat plane.

The friends were allowed to sit in business class and given top-range hospitality by airline staff, despite only having paid 80 for an economy seat.

Ms Stevens, a television producer, said they felt like A-listers after being treated to a three-course meal and unlimited champagne.

She said: It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience that we'll never forget.

We felt like celebrities, especially when we were given champagne  it was the best Christmas present ever, we couldn't believe how kind and lovely everyone was.

We were the only people in the departure lounge so staff let us use the executive suite, which is usually reserved for business flight passengers. The captain even let them take selfies in the cockpit flight after announcing he had never flown such an empty flight.

British Airways upgraded the friends to business class after realising they were the only passengers on the flight

British Airways staff also opened up airport shops so the friends could do some Christmas shopping for friends and family.

Ms Stevens said: It was as though we'd hired out the place just for us.

The celebrity treatment continued on board when we were given front row seats and a private safety talk.

The plane took off really quickly because it was so light, it felt like we were on a private jet.

The cabin crew were laughing and even the pilot made an announcement stating he'd never flown a commercial flight with so few people.

The women got through ten small bottles of champagne during the 2.5-hour flight

The trio got through 10 mini-bottles of Champagne during the two-and-a-half hour flight and said they were pleased when fog delays prolonged their time on board.

Ms Stevens said: We put on our shades and had a great time partying on board. We joked about being a girl band and took videos of us strolling up and down the aisles.

Cabin crew warned us that the fog meant it could take a while to land but we were having such a fantastic time we told them to take their time - we wanted the flight to go on forever.

People pay thousands for the kind of experience we had but we got it all for the cost of an economy ticket - it was a real one-off.
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Boris Johnson has released a Christmas message to cheer up Britons left downcast by a year of war, global terrorism and political division.

In a video message posted to social media, the Foreign Secretary said that despite war in Syria and terror attacks in Europe, the lives of people around the world were still improving.

Britain was at the forefront of efforts to improve the lives of the people of the planet, he said.

The Former Mayor of London re-introduced the idea of releasing a Foreign Secretary's Christmas message, after Philip Hammond decided not to produce one in 2015.

Standing in front of a Christmas tree at the Foreign Office in London, Mr Johnson said: We come now to the end of 2016 and I know that lots of people will be looking back at some of the gloomier bits about last year.

We have still got a terrible civil war going on in Syria, we are seeing terrorist outrages taking place on our European continent.

But I want you to know that British diplomats, British armed forces, British security services, British intelligence services are working the whole time to keep this country safe and to tackle these problems at source."

He added: In case you are feeling too downcast this Christmas, don't forget that overall the people of this planet are living longer, they are living in better health, they are better educated than ever before, particularly women.

I can tell you that global Britain is leading that effort. So I hope that cheers you up.
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Britain faces a monumental tussle with the EU that could last years beyond Theresa Mays 2019 Brexit target and involve bitter court rows over unpaid bills, a group of academics has warned.

Their report suggests attitudes in Europe towards the UK have actually hardened since the referendum, with many in the EU believing British politicians are still "living on fantasy island" in hoping for a beneficial outcome from Brexit talks.

It comes as a new poll commissioned by a pro-Brexit group suggested that more than half of UK adults now want the country out of the bloc as soon as possible.

A group of academics working on the UK in a Changing Europe initiative highlighted that a crunch issue in Brexit talks will be the "divorce bill", the measures the European Commission has indicated it will hit Ms May with once Article 50 talks begin.

LSE professor Iain Begg, among the group, said: "I suspect that the money issue is going to be far more potent than has been allowed so far. We've heard whisperings of a 50bn to 60bn divorce bill coming out of the negotiations.

He went on: "[European Commissioner Michel] Barnier comes along and says 'Here's a bill for 60bn. Britain says get lost'. Barnier says, if you don't pay, we'll sue you'. 'Fine, sue us'. That's the kind of contest it could end up being, which people haven't really envisaged."

Cambridge University EU law professor Catherine Barnard said any legal battle over the size of the payment may have to be settled by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which would take "years and years".

 Theresa May refuses to comment on suggestions Brexit deal will take 10 years

Angus Armstrong of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said there was "little or no evidence that EU member states have moved beyond their reflexive - and understandable - rejection of the UK's desire to 'have its cake and eat it'."

He argued that the key moment in Brexit talks will not be Ms May's tabling of Article 50, but the EU's response to it.

He said: "If the continental consensus is that the UK is still living on fantasy island, we could be heading for a showdown sooner than anyone expects."

London School of Economics assistant professor Sara Hagemann said that Ms May's post-referendum tour of EU capitals "seems to have generated little support for the British cause".

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

She added: "The UK Government is seen as working opportunistically with only UK interests in mind and little consideration for wider European issues and priorities.

"Therefore, support for the British has declined significantly even amongst London's erstwhile friends."

Meanwhile, the ICM poll of more than 2,000 adults conducted for the Change Britain pro-Brexit pressure group, suggested that six months after the referendum more than half of Britons, some 54 per cent, want Ms May to get on with implementing the result "as soon as possible".

More than a quarter, 26 per cent, of those who voted Remain in the June 23 referendum agreed that the Government should kick-start the process of leaving the EU by triggering Article 50 quickly.
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The Queen was reportedly disappointed by the Prime Ministers refusal to discuss plans for Brexit during her first stay at Balmoral.

Theresa May stuck to her Brexit means Brexit line during the visit to Scotland in September, rather than giving the royals an insider briefing on how she intended to negotiate Britains way out of the EU, a source close to the monarch told The Times.

The Tory leaders secrecy allegedly upset the Queen, who is said to consider the Prime Ministers autumnal visit to Balmoral a chance to develop a closer and less formal relationship with whoever is running the country.

Ms Mays visit was somewhat ill-timed, however, coming just two months after she took over from David Cameron, when the Government was still recovering from the upheaval wrought by the referendum.

The Prime Minister, who quietly backed the Remain side but largely abstained from campaigning, is unlikely to have formulated clear plans for the process at that stage. But even so, the Queen was reportedly hoping for more insight.

The women had met for weekly audiences at Buckingham Palace but according to biographer Robert Lacey, the Queen considers a visit to Balmoral as an opportunity to extend the audience process between Prime Minister and monarch, and to further develop trust.

But Ms May, who has said she does not want to give a running commentary on Brexit, is said to have declined the opportunity to confide in the royals.

The Times emphasised there was nothing to suggest the Queen and Ms May did not get along on a personal level or that they had political disagreements, but their relationship did not get off to a great start because the Queen and the Duke had been looking forward to hearing more about Ms Mays thoughts on Brexit and were left disappointed.

The weekend is a non-negotiable fixture of the Prime Ministers political diary  even Margaret Thatcher, who initially described the trips as akin to purgatory, could not get out of it.

According to a source who was close to David Cameron when he was at No 10, the Queen had a good rapport with her 12th prime minister, who enjoyed the visits and would have confided his innermost thoughts knowing there was no danger that they would have leaked. He would have quite happily taken the Queen into his confidence," the source told The Times. I know that he would have been quite open.

Tony Blair, meanwhile, was reportedly so comfortable in the castle that his fourth son Leo was conceived there, when his wife Cherie forgot to pack her ordinary contraception.

Queen's properties from throughout her reign Show all 7 1 /7 Queen's properties from throughout her reign Queen's properties from throughout her reign 1. Buckingham Palace Getty Queen's properties from throughout her reign 2. Windsor Castle Getty Queen's properties from throughout her reign 3. Sandringham Palace Corbis Queen's properties from throughout her reign 4. Balmoral Castle Rex Queen's properties from throughout her reign 5. Palace of Holyroodhouse Getty Queen's properties from throughout her reign 6. Hillsborough Castle Rex Queen's properties from throughout her reign 7. Delnadamph Lodge Creative Commons

Previous accounts of Ms Mays visit were more positive. One newspaper suggested that the two women got on famously, adding: There hasnt been a PM since Harold Wilson who entered so gamely into the outdoor pursuits, parlour games and well-regulated rituals.

Both Buckingham Palace and Downing Street refused to comment on the claims about Ms May.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman told The Times: By long-established convention we never disclose details of discussions between the Queen and her prime ministers. Nor would we comment on anonymously sourced conjecture of this kind. Downing Street said: We never comment on private conversations with the Queen.
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Tory and Labour MPs have been accused of a cynical attempt to turn back the clock with a bid to scrap the PR voting system that gives smaller parties seats in the London Assembly.

As well as being seen as a bid to squeeze out smaller parties, some critics say the plan, brought forward by 12 male MPs, will slash the number of women on the capital's ruling body.

The Electoral Reform Bill 2016 would scrap the proportional additional member system in the elected assembly, which holds the Mayor of London to account, and revert its elections to the non-proportional First Past the Post (FPTP) system.

Recommended MPs reject bill to bring in proportional representation

Introduced by Hampshire Tory MP Ranil Jayawardena, the bill would likely consolidate power between the Tories and Labour in the capital  and erase gains made by smaller parties, whose voters are normally not represented under FPTP.

In elections earlier this year Labour won 12 of the 25 seats in the Assembly with 40 per cent of the vote, while the Conservatives won eight seats with 29 per cent. The Green party won two seats with 8 per cent of the vote, Ukip won two seats with 6.5 per cent, and the Lib Dems won one seat with 6.3 per cent.

Under FPTP the seats would have been split only between Labour and the Conservatives, however  despite around 30 per cent of voters voting for smaller parties.

Clive Lewis, Labours shadow business secretary who has previously voiced his support for proportional representation, criticised the plan and said such voting systems should be extended rather than abolished.

A large number of people have felt completely left behind by politics in this country in recent years. When it comes to general elections, too many people feel that their vote does not matter, he said.

The solution is a fair, proportional voting system in which every vote matters equally and Parliament fairly reflects the electorate.

Such a system is already used in the London Assembly to great success. Attempting to dismantle it is not helpful; it's a cynical attempt to turn back the clock for party-political gain.

Sian Berry, London Assembly Member for the Green Party, who was elected through the system, said voters had backed the PR system when it was introduced in 1998.

The Assembly elections are fairer than most and don't need to change. Having our members elected proportionally makes sure no one party can dominate, that we have more diverse members and that the scrutiny work we do reflects the views of all Londoners, she argued.

When we have a far higher share of female members than Parliament, why would we want to change to a failing system? Our PR elections were backed by a large majority of Londoners in the 1998 referendum that set up the Assembly and these male MPs should stop interfering.

Sian Berry, Green Party London Assembly member (PA)

Under the PR system 40 per cent of Assembly Members were women, while those elected to the FPTP seats in the assembly were 72 per cent men. Campaigners have long argued that the nature of PR electoral systems improves gender balance in parliaments..

Sophie Walker, leader of the Womens Equality Party, described the plan as retrograde.

At our first party conference last month, members of the Women's Equality Party voted unanimously to pass a motion calling for proportional representation, the best way to achieve equal representation for all, she said.

PR systems lead to more equal gender representation as well as minority representation in parliaments. We need greater diversity at all levels of politics to ensure those who are elected to govern us do so with an understanding of everyone's needs.

Clive Lewis has called for proportional representation to be extended (Rex)

This proposed bill is a retrograde step designed to protect the interests of the privileged few, and we will fight to ensure the UK, and its capital, moves towards a more enlightened and fair system of representation.

Frances Scott, founder of 50:50 Parliament campaign, which works for the equal representation of women in Parliament, argued that it was alarming that some MPs are pushing for changes that will make more gender balanced, inclusive, elected assemblies less likely. Klina Jordan of Make Votes Matter said the MPs backing the proposal dont understand or dont care about the impact it would have on representation.

Tory MP Mr Jayawardena told Parliament in support of the bill: While many in this House appreciate the benefits of first past the post, that appreciation is sadly not replicated across our country.

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 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. 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Some say that the effect of PR can be mitigated through, for example, the additional member system, but it does no such thing. While people may know their constituency member, they are less likely, through no fault of their own, to contact their regional members, so the latter have all the powers of their counterparts who were elected by first past the post but, having been appointed from a party list, have less accountability and connection to the people they represent.

The bill passed its first reading in the House of Commons in December and will face its second reading on 13 January.

The co-sponsors of the bill are Andrew Rosindell (MP for Romford, Conservative), Chris Evans (MP for Islwyn, Labour), Chris Philp (MP for Croydon South, Conservative), Christian Matheson (MP for City of Chester, Labour), David Mackintosh (MP for Northampton South, Conservative), Jim Fitzpatrick (MP for Poplar Limehouse, Labour), John Penrose (MP for Weston-Super-Mare, Conservative), John Stevenson (MP for Carlisle, Conservative), David Nuttall (MP for Bury North, Conservative), Robert Flello (MP for Stoke-on-Trent, Labour) and Robert Neill (MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, Conservative).
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Jeremy Corbyn has explicitly disclosed for the first time that he will instruct his MPs to back an early general election if the Prime Minister wants to call one.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, the Labour leader said his party will give Theresa May the parliamentary numbers she would need to bring about an election before 2020.

The move comes as Ms May attempts to push through Brexit, one of the most difficult constitutional changes the country has ever seen, without having ever won a personal mandate at the ballot box. It also has echoes of the gutsy 2007 bring it on challenge that David Cameron made to Gordon Brown, another premier who had never won an election.

Mr Corbyn said he was positive about improving his partys poll ratings and its performance at the ballot box, but also risked disappointing some senior Labour MPs by dismissing the radical idea of a progressive alliance with the Liberal Democrats.

The Labour leader said he is well aware Labour could face the prospect of a general election earlier than 2020  despite the Prime Ministers insistence that will not be the case.

If she [Ms May] calls an election, she calls an election, Mr Corbyn said.

Were ready for it. Weve got more members than weve ever had before, weve paid off all our debts to the party, we dont have any mortgages, we are in a very strong, organised position.

Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act rules dictate that general elections are held every five years, meaning there can be no election before 2020. But there has been speculation that some MPs on Conservative benches believe a snap election following the referendum could be desirable  especially to assert the authority of a new leader.

 Conservatives win Sleaford by-election

In order to unpick the legislation and call for a snap election, the Conservatives would need the support of around two-thirds of MPs in the Commons.

Asked whether he would instruct his MPs to overturn the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, he replied: I personally am slightly sceptical about the Fixed-Term Parliaments Acts anyway she has not said shes going to do that but that is what Im saying is one possibility.

If theres a vote to dissolve Parliament then obviously we will vote with it.

In 2007, David Cameron rattled Gordon Brown in Downing Street by telling him to call an election if he wanted one. The move exposed Mr Browns indecision and marked a slow decline to his loss in 2010.

The comparison is not watertight given Ms May has said she does not want an election. But many believe she may be forced to call one as political pressure mounts while she tries to make controversial changes to the country without ever having won a personal mandate at the ballot box.

However, it is now clear that Mr Corbyn will face some sort of evaluation of his own earlier than he had previously expected. Just hours before the interview Jamie Reed, a persistent critic of the Corbyn project and the Labour MP for Copeland, announced his resignation from Parliament triggering a crucial by-election early in 2017.

I heard about it a little bit ahead of time, said Mr Corbyn of his colleague who had accepted a job to work for the nuclear processing site Sellafield.

I thanked him for his service  he has worked very hard improving infrastructure in Cumbria, very hard on drawing attention to rural communities  I had a very agreeable conversation with him about that issue some months ago.

Does he agree with me on many other issues? No, he doesnt and hes made that very clear.

On 12 September 2015 at 11.43am  a minute after Mr Corbyns victory in his first leadership contest was announced  Mr Reed had, in a single tweet, congratulated the new leader and announced his resignation from the frontbench as shadow health minister.

But Mr Corbyn described this as a slight misnomer. He added: That resignation on the day I was elected was kind of an unresignation because he didnt hold any position at that point  nobody did.

The Labour leader went on to set out his views on a progressive alliance with the Liberal Democrats, stating that it is not a credible path for Labour after the smaller partys six-year record in coalition, including its support for welfare cuts.

 Jeremy Corbyn confronts Theresa May on how much social care budget has been cut

Going further, he said the world should be reminded that the Lib Dems partnered up with the Conservatives in 2010.

Whats progressive about alliances with a party that spent six years slashing welfare spending in Britain, reorganised the health service and wasted 3bn in doing it  forgive me, what is the progressive bit with the Liberal Democrats?

He added: So when people say to me you should form a progressive alliance with the Liberal Democrats, I just ask, what is progressive about them?

I will work with opposition parties in Parliament to try and defeat this Government, but the idea that the Labour party should throw in its lot with the parties that support austerity Britain I think is not really credible.

His comments are likely to disappoint some of his colleagues on the frontbench, who have previously called for such electoral pacts. During the Richmond by-election last month Clive Lewis, the shadow Business Secretary, had urged his party not to field a candidate in order to give the Lib Dems a clear path to victory.

Jonathan Reynolds, who is also on the frontbench, and Lisa Nandy, a former Shadow Cabinet minister, joined him in his call for the experiment with the radical concept. It was a call rejected by Labours high command.

In the interview the party leader, who was re-elected to his position three months ago with an even greater mandate from the members, also agreed with Diane Abbotts recent prediction that Labour will close the gap with the Tories in the next 12 months.

Since the summer the party has been languishing in the polls reaching near historic lows. Rarely have the Conservatives been fewer than 10 points ahead of Mr Corbyns Labour in this period.

But the shadow Home Secretary, a loyal ally of the Labour leader, indicated the party would soon regain ground now that the rebellion in the partys ranks has failed.

Mr Corbyn, too, is optimistic, saying: We had an improvement in the polls recently.

While the results in Richmond and Sleaford and North Hykeham werent that good, what wasnt reported on the same day was that we gained overall control of the Telford and Wrekin council by winning a ward that has never, ever been Labour before. We also had an excellent result in Lancaster in a council by-election there.

While Im not pleased with the results in Richmond or in Sleaford, I just point out that there are other areas where weve had some very good results.

Despite early predictions in the marginal constituency that had been held by Mr Reed, of an apocalypse for Labour  the bookies already have the Conservatives as favourite  Mr Corbyn remains confident.

Asked whether he could predict the party increasing its margin at the by-election, which is likely to be scheduled for February 2017, he replied: Well see what happens. If he loses the seat, however, it will be the first time a governing party has won a by-election since 1982.

Speaking in his constituency office in Islington North  an area he has represented since 1983  Mr Corbyn revealed one of the ways he would attempt to turn around the polls in 2017 would be to focus on the economy.

In the New Year the party will launch a series of nationwide economic policy conferences, led by his long-time ally and shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. They will be sort of a grassroots upwards economic thinking, which will also be online. Its going to be very exciting well get a lot of people involved.

Were going to be out there campaigning on economic justice issues and we will take the fight to the Tories because there is a choice to be made: do we want to live in a society based on individualism and private provision, or do we want to defend the principles of the national health service and properly fund social care?

It is clear that part of Corbyn and his teams strategy over the coming months and years is to attempt to exploit the anti-establishment sentiment that contributed to the delivery of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as the next American president.

On 9 November, just hours after the US result became clear, his team sent out a press release condemning the divisive rhetoric used by team Trump and added his solutions are clearly wrong.

But, they added: Trumps election is an unmistakable rejection of a political establishment and an economic system that simply isnt working for most people. It is one that has delivered escalating inequality and stagnating or falling living standards for the majority, both in the US and Britain.

This is a rejection of a failed economic consensus and a governing elite that has been seen not to have listened. And the public anger that has propelled Donald Trump to office has been reflected in political upheavals across the world.

 Corbyn: Donald Trump should 'grow up' over immigration

Emily Thornberry, the shadow Foreign Secretary, then went on to claim that while the two leaders had very different values there were similarities between them. Mr Corbyn himself describes it in a slightly different way.

The similarities are hard to find, he said. The differences are easier to identify.

I look around the Shadow Cabinet we have and I dont see any trillionaires, or millionaires, I see hard-working people trying to present politics in a good way.

Donald Trump for all his populism of being anti-establishment in reality is a product of frontier capitalism by the USA and others.

Trump ran a campaign claiming to an outsider and claiming to be a populist for ordinary Americans as he termed it. In reality, he blamed Muslims and Mexicans and women for the problems in society. He didnt actually make any specific economic proposals other than one of essentially an isolation into the USA and endlessly blaming minorities for the problems of the USA.

Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Show all 6 1 /6 Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Fashion tips for the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been described as too untidy, too scruffy for the tastes of many voters Rex Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Fashion tips for the Labour leader One of Mr Corbyn's appealing qualities is that people believe he is truthful. He should keep that central to his image and dress to suit his personality Rex Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Fashion tips for the Labour leader Beige is not the colour to choose when trying to come across as the most powerful, assertive person in the world Rex Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Fashion tips for the Labour leader There's no need for Jeremy Corbyn to go to Savile Row for a pinstriped suit. All thats required is a little sharpening up  from geography teacher to headteacher perhaps Rex Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Fashion tips for the Labour leader Mr Corbyn has been described by one of his own activists as the only man who buys his clothes at the Dalston Co-Op Rex Jeremy Corbyn: Sharpening up his style Fashion tips for the Labour leader By wearing a tie Jeremy Corbyn shows he knows how to conduct himself in business meetings or dealing with foreign leaders AFP

Jokingly, he added: I was running past Trump towers in New York last year, and I stopped my run in order to take in the full spectacular presence of Trump towers and then continued on my way.

But he ends the interview on a positive note. On Brexit, he believes Labour is there for the 100 per cent not for the 48 per cent or 52 per cent who voted to Remain and Leave at the EU referendum. Politics is about peoples lives, he added. About their confidence that things can change and improve and their confidence in the political system. There are several million people who dont vote in elections. A lot of young people dont bother so we do a number of things.

One is we obviously appeal to natural Labour supporters to recognise the importance of NHS, housing and employment issues. But we also appeal to those people who feel very marginalised and left behind that we are serious about reaching out to every part of the country.
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Jeremy Corbyn has called out Donald Trumps presidential election politics, accusing him of replacing an economic strategy with blame for Muslims, Mexicans and women.

Mr Corbyn, who has already called on Europe's socialists to solve the problems of working people being wooed by right-wing parties, said the US President-elect had won his election by blaming minorities for society's problems.

His comments came in an interview with The Independent, in which he said his party would be ready for an early general election if the Prime Minister wished to call one.

The Labour leader continued: Trump ran a campaign claiming to be an outsider and claiming to be a populist for ordinary Americans as he termed it. In reality, he blamed Muslims and Mexicans and women for the problems in society.

He didnt actually make any specific economic proposals other than one of essentially an isolation into the USA and endlessly blaming minorities for the problems of the USA.

Mr Corbyn said the President-elect ought to examine the structure of the US economy and realise the massive contribution that Mexican migrants make to it.

For example, what he plans to do in the future on trade and other issues  very unclear. I want us promote trade arrangements, which are fair but also do promote environmental, sustainability and human rights. So I dont think these are going to be high on Donald Trumps agenda from anything hes said so far.

He added: His many statements on world affairs are often very contradictory

On the morning it became clear Mr Trump had won the Presidential election in the US, Mr Corbyn had labelled the event as a unmistakable rejection of the political establishment and an economic system that has delivered escalating inequality.

He added in a statement at the time: This is a rejection of a failed economic consensus and a governing elite that has been seen not to have listened. And the public anger that has propelled Donald Trump to office has been reflected in political upheavals across the world.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow Foreign Secretary, added that while Mr Corbyn, her party leader, and Mr Trump had very different values there were similarities between them.

But in the interview with The Independent, Mr Corbyn described it in a slightly different way. The similarities are hard to find, he said. The differences are easier to identify.

I look around the Shadow Cabinet we have and I dont see any trillionaires, or millionaires, I see hard-working people trying to present politics in a good way.

Read the full interview with Jeremy Corbyn here
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Labour is no longer in the authoritarian arms race in politics that has resulted in the crisis in British prisons, Baroness Chakrabarti has suggested.

Appearing to signal a break in stance from the New Labour era, the Shadow Attorney General - also the former head of civil rights organisation Liberty - urged for the role of privately run prisons to be assessed.

Her comments were applauded by the Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott who said Baroness Chakrabartis interview was great, adding: Time to end the criminal justice arms race.

The political battle  triggered in the 1990s when Michael Howard was declaring prison works as Home Secretary and Tony Blair's Labour was vowing to be tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime  had led to overcrowded, understaffed prisons, the Shadow Attorney General said.

Recommended Call to cut prison population by half in England and Wales

Baroness Chakrabarti, who was nominated as a peer by Mr Corbyn in July after he praised her for a career of public service, told BBCs Radio 4 Today Programme that the role of private security firms needed to be assessed, adding: We need to ask questions about whether it is right that there are companies profiting from incarceration.

Private prisons are exempt from freedom of information so we can't deliver the same scrutiny in relation to G4S as we can in relation to public sector prisons.

I question whether there should be commercial incentives to lock up more and more people.

Her comments come after three senior politicians called on the prison population in England and Wales to be reduced by 40,000  almost a half  to levels seen under Margaret Thatchers premiership in the 1980s.

The call from the former Tory Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke, Liberal Democrat MP Nick Clegg, deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government and Jacqui Smith, who served as Labour's Home Secretary between 2007 and 2009, urges the Government to act to curb the escalating prison population, in a letter published in The Times.

In her interview Baroness Chakrabarti added: In my adult lifetime I have seen a doubling of the prison population. I think this is caused by an authoritarian arms race in British politics, particularly between the two parties.

After my background I wouldn't have joined this Labour Party or this shadow cabinet if I didn't think there was an opportunity to at least reflect on what's been going on for nearly a quarter of a century.

She said most people, when they reflect and they have a serious conversation that isn't just about headlines and trading insults between politicians about who is soft and who is hard on crime, want a criminal justice system that maintains the rule of law, keeps the peace and offers reasonable opportunity for meaningful rehabilitation for those who need to be imprisoned.

But her comments were branded a car crash by Labour backbencher John Spellar, who said the Shadow Attorney General had single-handedly abandoned Tony Blair's totemic promise to be "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime".

"I dont believe the sum of human wickedness has doubled in my adult lifetime"

Another former Labour minister, Sally Keeble, who was MP for Northampton North from 1997 to 2010, said it would take the party years to recover from that Shami Chakrabarti outpouring, adding: Tough on crime, tough on causes of crime no more.

In a message on Twitter, the former minister said: Car crash interview on BBC Today as Shami Chakrabarti unilaterally abandons Labour's Policy of 'tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime'.

A G4S spokesman said Chakrabarti was wrong to claim private firms had a financial incentive to see an increased population behind bars. We are paid by the taxpayer per available prison place, not per prisoner, so it's inaccurate to suggest we have an incentive to see more people locked up, said the spokesman.

In fact we run some of the most progressive programmes in the country aimed at reforming and rehabilitating prisoners in the hope that they turn away from crime on release.

Nor is it true to say that our prisons business is not subject to Freedom of Information (FoI). We provide the Government with information all the time to satisfy FoI requests regarding the facilities we manage.
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Rebels in the Parliamentary Labour Party have been warned to isolate themselves from Jeremy Corbyn to retain their seats in a "lifeboat strategy".

According to the Daily Telegraph, around 20 moderate MPs have been sent the 16-page briefing note from James Morris  a former Ed Miliband adviser.

The newspaper quotes the document as claiming: Need Lifeboats for MPs [who know] how to run locally in challenging context and isolate from Jeremy without increasing perception of division.

Real Labour MPs with own position on free movement and strong local listening/advocacy [are needed]."

It also warns Labour MPs, who see Ukip as a threat in their constituency, to avoid claiming free movement should continue after Britain leaves the European Union.

The research, which also used focus groups, added: The only thing that stands out is hes got his little spin doctors around him that tell you this and tell you that, like a sheep.

The report comes just two days after Jamie Reed, a persistent critic of the Corbyn project, quit Parliament and triggered a by-election in his Copeland constituency.

At the last election Mr Reed won his seat with 16,750 votes to his Conservative rivals 14,186, with Ukip in third place on around 6,000 votes.

Though the seat has elected a Labour MP since its creation in 1983, the ensuing by-election will likely be a test of Mr Corbyns leadership, with current national polls suggesting it may not be invulnerable to capture by another party.

It also comes as Mr Corbyn told The Independent he would be ready if Theresa May reversed her position and decided she wanted to hold an early general election.

If she [Ms May] calls an election, she calls an election, Mr Corbyn said.

Were ready for it. Weve got more members than weve ever had before, weve paid off all our debts to the party, we dont have any mortgages, we are in a very strong, organised position.
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The ex-British Ambassador to Syria has accused the Foreign Office of lying over the countrys civil war and said British policy there has "made the situation worse".

Peter Ford said the Whitehall department led by Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond before him had "gotten Syria wrong every step of the way", and was now falsely claiming Bashar Assad could not control the country when he is "well on the way to doing so".

It comes after the Syrian army reported that it had taken full control of Aleppo following weeks of heavy bombing and fighting in and around the city.

Recommended Syrian army says it has retaken Aleppo

Mr Ford, who was Britain's ambassador to Syria from 1999 to 2003, claimed that the UK had misread and misrepresented the situation in the country since the start of the conflict.

He said: "The British Foreign Office to which I used to belong, Im sorry to say has gotten Syria wrong every step of the way.

"They told us at the beginning that Assads demise was imminent. They told us hed be gone by Christmas. They didnt say which Christmas, so they could still be proven correct.

"But then they told us that the opposition was dominated by these so-called moderates. That proved not to be the case and now they're telling us another big lie  that Assad cant control the rest of the country. Well Ive got news for them  hes well on the way to doing so."

Mr Ford said that when the conflict started the UK should have either "put everything, including our own forces on to the battlefield, or if in our judgement  as it would have been my judgement  that was not realistic, refrain from encouraging the opposition to mount a doomed campaign."

He claimed the UKs tough talk on one hand, followed by little action to back rebels in Syria on the other had preceded a rebellion that had "only led to hundreds of thousands of civilians being maimed and killed".

 Interview with Syrian mother of killed children

"We have made the situation worse."

He added: "It was eminently foreseeable to anyone who was not intoxicated with wishful thinking."

In a statement last night the Syrian army said it had "returned security to Aleppo" and called it a "crushing blow" for rebels.

The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed "all civilians who wished to be evacuated have been, as well as the wounded and fighters".

Mr Johnson said after a meeting in Paris earlier this month that there could be no military solution to the war in Syria, while the UK has consistently taken the line that Assad cannot be a part of Syrias future.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The UK continues to believe in a Syrian-led political settlement. A political solution and transition away from Assad is the only way to end the suffering of the Syrian people. The Assad regime has the blood of hundreds of thousands on its hands. There is no way it can unite and bring stability to Syria.

"The UK has pledged more than 2.3bn to support those affected by the Syrian conflict and sought to reduce the suffering with every diplomatic lever at our command."
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A bloc of West African nations has issued a deadline to Gambia's stubborn incumbent President Yahya Jammeh, after which they have vowed to invade the country and remove him by force.

Marcel de Souza, the president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said members had agreed that neighbouring Senegal would lead any military intervention.

He said on Friday that Mr Jammeh has until 19 January to admit defeat and hand over the reins of power.

Mr Jammeh, who came to power in a military coup 22 years ago, lost a historic election in Gambia on 1 December. He initially said he accepted the result, before one week later declaring unspecified irregularities had rendered the election void.

Mr De Souza spoke to reporters in Bamako, Mali, as ECOWAS diplomats continued to push for a peaceful solution.

The deadline is 19 January when the mandate of Jammeh ends, Mr De Souza said. If he doesn't go, we have a force that is already on alert, and this force will intervene to restore the will of the people.

The overwhelming call from international leaders has been from Mr Jammeh to step aside and allow Adama Barrow, the victorious opposition coalition candidate, to become President.

But one week ago soldiers loyal to Mr Jammeh seized control of the electoral commission's offices, and the incumbent has mobilised troops across the tiny country.

The UN Security Council this week urged Gambian security forces to demonstrate maximum restraint and again urged Mr Jammeh to accept defeat.

High commissioner for human rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein said the troop deployment was deeply worrying, given the record of human rights violations in 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.
(Xinhua) 08:12, December 23, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Researchers with the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered simple CRISPR systems, or gene-editing tools, in previously unexplored bacteria.

The advance in CRISPR, short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, using the Cas9 protein as the scissor, formulating what is known as CRISPR-Cas9, has revolutionized biology in recent years.

The new systems, similar to CRISPR-Cas9, are highly compact, befitting their presence in some of the smallest life forms on the planet. If these systems can be re-engineered like CRISPR-Cas9, their small size could make them easier to insert into cells to edit deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), expanding the gene-editing toolbox available to researchers and physicians.

When targeted to a specific sequence of DNA, the Cas protein binds and severs double-stranded DNA. The new discovery nearly doubles the number of simple and compact CRISPR-Cas systems potentially useful as laboratory and biomedical tools.

Referring to the findings reported Thursday in the journal Nature, Jill Banfield, a UC Berkeley professor of earth and planetary sciences and of environmental science, policy and management, noted "these are particularly interesting because the key protein in these CRISPR systems is approximately the same as Cas9, but is not Cas9. It is part of a minimal system that has obvious potential for gene editing."

"The important thing here is that we found some of these CRISPR systems in a major branch of the bacterial tree, opening the door to a whole new world of microbes that are not cultured in the lab, so we don't really know what they are and what their habits are," said Jennifer Doudna, a UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology and of chemistry and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, and co-author of the study.

The new CRISPR systems were found by scanning metagenome databases Banfield and her team have acquired over the past 15 years, in search of gene sequences similar to the sequences that code for the Cas9 protein. The database contains thousands of microbial genomes, the majority uncultivable bacteria and archaea.

One of the new CRISPR proteins, dubbed CasY, was discovered in a massive group of recently recognized bacteria that live in geysers and in soil several feet underground. Another new one, CasX, was found in bacteria from known phyla living in groundwater and sediment. The two groups of nanoarchaea found to contain CRISPR-Cas9 were first described by Banfield from acid mine drainage.

To date, only three compact Cas proteins, called Class II systems, have been experimentally shown to cut DNA: Cas9, Cpf1 and C2c1. A fourth, C2c2, cuts RNA, while a putative system, C2c3, may cut DNA.

"People have found dozens of CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria, but not Class II systems. That is the critical piece of this research," Banfield was quoted as saying in a news release from UC Berkeley. "These simple systems are as rare as hen's teeth. We searched a massive amount of data that included 155 million proteins and only found two: CasX and CasY."
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Indigenous Amazonian people have publicly banned an oil company from their land and warned them that they are willing to physically block the drilling from happening if necessary.

At the beginning of December the Peruvian government approved Santiago-based company GeoPark Ltd to produce oil in Block 64, which is home to dozens of indigenous people.

The move is part of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynskis drive to remove red tape and generate profit from the regions natural resources.

The Archuar federation, FENAP, which represents 45 communities within Block 64 in the northern Peruvian Amazon, has issued a public ban on the Chilean oil company entering their territory.

The Archuar have pledged to physically block the company  previous attempts to do this have resulted in dozens being killed.

We have lived through the bad experience of damages to our habitat, health, and life as a result of activities related to the Northern Peruvian Oil Pipeline and activities of the oil company Talisman, from which there continue to be environmental liabilities, in part within our territory, that to date have not been remediated, the Achuar said in a statement.

Given this we have taken the firm decision to not permit any oil activity within our territory.

We stand by the firm decision of keeping our territory clean and conserving it for future generations.

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Block 64 has around 40 million barrels of oil in proven and probable reserves. GeoPark partnered with Purvian fuel company Petroperu to try to exploit it two years ago, yet the previous government was hesitant.

Although the Archaurs ancestral lands span around two thirds of oil production, many of the settlements do not have formally own the land, Reuters reported.

The Archuar have called on courts to annul the 1995 creation of Block 64 and rescind approval for GeoPark to enter the territory.

One lawyer for FENAP, Raquel Yrigoyen. said both actions were illegal because the government did not consult the Achuar  a stage required by laws protecting indigenous people.

In a statement issued earlier in December, GeoPark said it respects the rights of indigenous people and would not seek to develop areas where local populations are opposed to drilling activity.

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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

Yet FENAP refuted the comments, saying GeoPark had expressed implicit interest in expanding exploration and extraction throughout Block 64 belongs to FENAP.

PetroPerus environmental and safety record has been strongly criticised following multiple oil spills.

While President Kuczynski has acted to strengthen his ethical credentials through founding a non-profit company for distributing clean water, while previously serving in the cabinet as energy minister he was entangled in controversy for providing large tax breaks to foreign oil companies.

Drilling in the Amazon has long been fought by those living in the area. In 2009, conflict broke out on the Devils Curve, a motorway near Bagua after thousands of indigenous people gathered to block oil company access to the jungle.

President at the time Akan Garcia sent in the military to deal with the process, and at least 32 died in what was later known as the Bagua massacre.
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Artists are demanding Donald Trumps daughter, Ivanka, remove their work from her luxury apartment because they are embarrassed to be associated with her and her father.

The New York artists have formed a group called the Halt Action Group (HAG) and launched a campaign, "Dear Ivanka", in protest at the 35-year-olds support for her fathers policies.

Ms Trumps social media accounts include numerous photos of her posing in her New York apartment in front a range of paintings, sculptures and designer furniture.

But many of the artists whose work is displayed are unhappy about being linked to the President-elects daughter.

One, Alex Da Corte, commented on a photo of Ms Trump posing in front of one of his paintings saying: Dear @Ivankatrump please get my work off of your walls. I am embarrassed to be seen with you.

Another, Alex Israel, commented on a different post demanding Ms Trump: Stand with artists and so many people around the world who believe that America means equality for all people."

The HAGs website states: Dear Ivanka, we need to talk about your dad.

"Racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, and homophobia are not acceptable anywhereleast of all in the White House.

"Hate has no place in the White House. We refuse to "wait and see". We look to you as the voice of reason."

Ivanka Trump frequently posts pictures of her art collection on social media sites (Instagram: dear_Ivanka)

The group was formed by Alison Gingeras, a curator, Bill Powers, an art dealer, artist Jonathan Horowitz and several others.

Mr Powers told Bloomberg: I think there are a lot of artists that are uncomfortable now being incorporated, or leveraged, as part of the Ivanka Trump brand.

Ms Gingeras said the group wanted to thwart the normalisation of what was unfolding in front of our eyes and force Ms Trump "to answer for some of the hypocrisy she embodies.

The HAG held a rally last month outside the Puck building in Manhattan where Ms Trump lives with her husband, Jared Kushner. Over 500 protesters held placards reading Dear Ivanka your Daddy is scary as hell and Putin? Really?

They also wrote postcards to Ms Trump bearings messages such as, Dear Ivanka, are you going to help anyone that doesnt look like you?" and, Dear Ivanka, bigotry is not in style.

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

Some of the artists said the new-found influence of Ms Trump had made them think more carefully about who their work is sold to and seen by.

Ivanka Trump has been the subject of several protests since her fathers election in November as the next US President. Last month calls for a boycott of her clothing brand led several shops to drop the line from their stores.

Her close involvement in planning for Mr Trumps presidency has also raised questions. The President-elect announced following his election that his children, including Ivanka, would run his businesses while he is President to avoid him suffering a conflict of interest.

Since then, however, Ivanka has taken part in Mr Trumps conversations with the Japanese Prime Minister and Argentinian President  both countries where the Trump family has business interests.

Mr Trumps team denied any business matters had been discussed during the talks.
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A seven-year-old boy who asked for an honorary job at McDonald's is earning money to buy Christmas presents for other children.

Trenton Gardner from Bicknell, Indiana, cried when he was told he was too young to become an employee. But his fortunes changed when he was later told he could get tips from customers for wiping the tables instead, and use the cash to buy gifts for his neighbours over the holidays.

"I can do this forever. When I wipe the tables and customers are at the table I get paid for it," he told a local news outlet.

"It is the coolest job Ive ever done," he added.

The restaurant's general manager, Rhonda Butler, said Trenton was so upset when he was told he could not work at the outlet that she was forced to reconsider.

She said he always asked if he had been hired for a job when he came in to the restaurant, which prompted her to eventually award him title of "honorary" employee.

The money he raised has gone towards buying gifts like dolls, Crayola crayons and a bike, which he helped his parents pack into their car and deliver around the neighbourhood.

His mother, Lindsey Gardner, said she was pleased her son was willing to work hard at a young age, and that it was a positive sign for his future.

"I don't know where me and his dad went with this, but we're just so glad that we raised him up this way," she said.
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US President-elect Donald Trump has said: Let it be an arms race, MSNBC said on Friday.

We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all, Mr Trump said in an interview with MSNBCs Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski, the network reported. He did not specify which countries he was referring to.

The Republican leader had sparked fears about a new global nuclear arms race a day before when he called on the US to expand its nuclear arsenal in a Twitter post.

He said the US must greatly strengthen and expand its stock of atomic weapons until the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

The President-elect gave no other details about his plans. But his comment immediately triggered fears that he will reverse decades of policy in which the nation has, in tandem with Russia, sought to reduce its atomic arsenal.

Following the controversial post, a Trump spokesperson attempted to explain the Republicans remarks, claiming he was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it  particularly to and among terrorist organisations and unstable and rogue regimes.

Minutes after Mr Trumps remarks were reported on MSNBC, Trump secretary Sean Spicer said in several television interviews that there would not be an arms race because the President-elect would ensure that other countries trying to step up their nuclear capabilities, such as Russia and China, would decide not to participate.

Hes going to ensure that other countries get the message that hes not going to sit back and allow that, Mr Spicer told NBC. And whats going to happen is they will come to their senses, and we will all be just fine.

In his annual news conference on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed suggestions there was a risk of a new cold-war-style weapons race, dismissing comments made by the US President-elect as nothing new.

He added that if Mr Trump sent him an invitation, he would be willing to visit the US.

But he also said his recently announced plans to bolster Russias nuclear weapons was a necessary response to the US missile defence system.

Its not us who have been speeding up the arms race, Mr Putin said, claiming that the Russian militarys nuclear missiles can penetrate any missile defence.

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

During the campaign, Mr Trump had suggested the US expand its arsenal and he also suggested that better off other countries, including Japan and South Korea, should have nuclear capabilities.

He said that would mean that the USs traditional allies might not be so dependent on Washington.
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Donald Trump is creating a conflict of interest by seeking foreign worker visas for his Virginia winery, according to experts.

The president-elect, who has applied for special temporary visas for six employees, is president of the Charlottesville vineyard. He will also soon be president of the United States, and will hold authority for granting visas.

Norm Eisen, a former ethics lawyer for president Barack Obama, said the visa situation was "a classic conflict of interest".

"This is a powerful example of why Donald Trump needs to make a definitive break, not just with his operational interests but his ownership interests, by appointing an independent trustee to liquidate all that," he said, as reported by the Washington Post.

Richard Painter, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and former ethics lawyer for president George W Bush, urged Mr Trump to divest from the business, or to make sure none of his White House staff had any say on the visas.

Mr Trumps request for H-2 visas was filed on 2 December and posted online by the Labour Department.

 Prince Charles issues veiled warning over Donald Trump and return to 'dark days of 1930s'

The workers would prune vines on the 1,300-acre estate and paid $10.72 per hour for 40 hours, the application said, from 7am to 2.30pm through the week and until noon on Saturday, with an unpaid lunch break. The six positions are set to last for six months starting January 2017.

The application comes just two days after a special envoy from the United Nations said there were concerns about the visa program, which could put workers at risk of exploitation and human trafficking.

The Washington Post reported that around 8,000 temporary agricultural worker visas were requested across the US in the fiscal year of 2016, and the Labour Department granted 8,300 of them.

Mr Trump has applied for temporary visas in 2014, 2015 and 2016, amounting to 19 foreign visas, not including the six most recent applications.

The president-elect also sought to hire 513 foreign workers over the last three years for his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort and other businesses.

Mr Trump is president of the Trump Vineyard Estates, on which the winery sits.

The winerys website says it is a registered trade name of Eric Trump Wine Manufacturing LLC and "is not owned, managed or affiliated with Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their affiliates."

Eric Trump is part of the government transition team and has sat in on important meetings with tech executives and others.

Mr Trump reportedly gave the winery to his son in 2012. Yet at a press conference in March his father said: "I own it 100 percent, no mortgage, no debt."

Kerry Woodward, the general manager of the winery, and Mr Trumps spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, were not immediately available for comment.

Mr Trump has delayed a speech on his businesses and how he plans to avoid a conflict of interest until January.

The announcement was first scheduled for 16 December.
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Donald Trump has claimed that concerns over potential conflicts of interest in selling access to his daughter will prevent his son from raising money to treat children with cancer.

"My wonderful son, Eric, will no longer be allowed to raise money for children with cancer because of a possible conflict of interest with my presidency," he wrote on twitter.

"Isn't this a ridiculous shame? He loves these kids, has raised millions of dollars for them, and now must stop. Wrong answer!"

His elder daughter, Ivanka Trump, was offering to go for a coffee with the winner of the auction.

The auction was intended to benefit the Eric Trump Foundation, which raises money for terminally ill children at the St Jude Research Hospital.

Bidding reached around $70,000, but the date was removed from the internet.

Eric Trump told the Washington Post on Wednesday that "no new money" would be coming in to his foundation's bank account.

He told the newspaper he could step away from the foundation, which he said has raised $15 million for children, and allow it to continue without him. A hunting trip with him or his brother, Donald Trump Jr, worth $500,000, and a photo op for up to 16 people alongside the president-elect for $1 million, were also scrapped.

Eric Trump told the AP that raising money for sick children was his "passion" and he said he would resume his cause after his father had stepped out of office.

The coffee with Ms Trump was removed last week following a New York Times article which raised ethical concerns about whether the future daughter of the president should be sold for access.

Bidding started on 5 December for $8,000.

The meeting would last between 35 and 40 minutes, the advert said, in either New York or Washington DC.

It was being promoted by CharityBuzz.com, a website which frequently auctions off celebrity access for good causes.

One of the highest bidders was Russell Ybarra, the owner of chain restaurant Tex-Mex, who wanted her father to repeal his strict proposals on immigration as he relied on foreign workers.

Mr Trump has delayed a meeting until January to announce how he plans to deal with conflicts of interest between White House matters and his real estate and business empire.

In recent weeks Mr Trump has been criticised for seeking foreign visas for temporary seasonal workers at his winery in Virginia and other businesses, as well as his new hotel in Washington DC, where his staff hosted groups of foreign diplomats.

He has been urged to divest from his businesses by former ethics lawyers to president Barack Obama and George W Bush.

Mr Trump said his business assets would be managed in a blind trust by his children, but his older children have sat in on meetings with world leaders and top tech executives, and are part of the Trump transition team.
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A Jewish family that was wrongly blamed for complaining about a Christmas school play have said they were worried about their child's safety after the story was picked up by right-wing and extremist news outlets.

The Centerville Elementary School in Pennsylvania cancelled its rendition of A Christmas Carol this year after the principal decided it would take too much time outside of classroom hours.

Yet a Jewish family told Lancaster Online that it had removed their child from the school due to concerns about their childs safety amid backlash after the cancellation, and had gone on a planned holiday.

The Hempfield School District said the production of the school play was cancelled because the district could not afford the hours outside the classroom. They said it was not because of rumours that the family complained about the line God bless us, every one! as previously reported.

The false reports of the Jewish family being to blame were picked up by the likes of right-wing broadcaster Fox News and white supremacist outlet Breitbart, who declared the school was carrying out a "war on Christmas".

A Fox News opinion piece by Todd Starnes wrote: "I'm afraid Tiny Tim's goose has been cooked by the Ghost of Christmas Intolerance. Bah, humbug indeed." The writer was later corrected.

 Trump walks out of interview after being asked about racism and sexism allegations

"One rumour we've been addressing is that one or two families influenced this decision. That's just not true," said the schools principal, Tom Kramer. "The instructional time issue was our primary concern."

He said it would take 15 to 20 hours outside of the classroom. The decision put an end to the play after three decades of tradition.

The family told Lancaster Online on the condition of anonymity that they had not complained about the play and had only asked their child to be excused from the performance, and the school granted the request.

The parents also told Lancaster Online, however, that their child was "harassed by classmates" since the play was cancelled in November, and have left the region due to the alleged bullying and an incident where a man burst into a restaurant to destroy what he wrongly thought was a paedophile ring run by Hillary Clinton.

The school got at least 200 calls in support and in objection to the cancelling of the play.

Comments on the growing news story reportedly frightened the family, including the following comment on the Breitbart story: "It would be nice if we had the addresses of those concerned citizens and, I bet, this info is known to people living in the area."

The blow-up comes shortly after a fascist website posted contact and personal details of Jewish families in a small town in Montana, where white supremacist Richard Spencers mother lives, and urged a "call to action".

The Anti-Defamation League denied the reports, saying the family had left on holiday.

"News reports alleging that a Jewish family has 'fled' Lancaster County are untrue and damaging," Nancy Baer, the Anti-Defamation League's regional director, said in a statement.

"We spoke with the family, who explained that they went on a previously-planned vacation for the holidays."

The parents, who declined to talk further to the local newspaper, said in the first interview that they hoped their child could return to the school.
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A 21-year-old man allegedly told police he killed his girlfriends cousin and sexually assaulted her corpse, because he wanted to know what it was like to kill somebody.

Police in Okeechobee, Florida, claimed Christopher Shows murdered mother-of-four Amanda Suarez, inside her home in order to experience murdering someone.

In his confession, it was just he wanted to know what murder was about. Unfortunately, it was no rhyme no reason. He just wanted to know what murder felt like, the countys sheriff-elect, Noel Stephen, told WPTV.

Police claim Christopher Snows wanted to experience what it was like to kill someone (Okeechobee County Sherrif)

Mr Snows was arrested on Monday over the December 7 killing of Ms Suarez. The womans two-year-old son was home at the time of the attack, the station reported.

It is not clear whether Mr Snows has been formally charged, whether he has entered a plea, or if he has a lawyer.

Reports said Mr Snows had gone to the womans apartment where he made advances to her. When she rejected them, he took a rifle from his vehicle and allegedly shot her in the back.

Ms Suarez has left a husband and four children (GoFundMe)

He then allegedly dragged her body into the kitchen, positioned her in the form of a crucifix, and sexually assaulted her.

When police arrived at the scene, they discovered that Ms Suarezs cellphone was missing. It was eventually tracked to a nearby church.

Officials said Mr Shows may have dropped the phone on the side of the road after he fled the victims home. The phone was covered with blood, and police said it contained a photograph moments before Ms Suarez was shot.

Ms Suarezs family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses. The family of the murdered womans husband are now caring for him and the four children.

Leah Suarez told the Okeechobee News that her daughter-in-law had always been focussed on getting her high school diploma and having a family.

She was a good mom and never had any ill will toward anyone, she said. She never had a drivers licence. She was perfectly content being home and being a mom.
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President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has declared for every five Americans, three are idiots".

The flamboyant leader made the comments after receiving international condemnation for his claims that he enjoyed driving around killing people during his term as mayor of Davao City.

The problem with these white people, Mr Duterte told an audience in mixed English and Tagalog on Thursday, these American blockheads, is that for every five Americans, three out of five are idiots, and only two are in their right minds".

You Americans should just shut up, he added, according to Philippine TV outlet ABS-CBN.

The US has threatened to halt a major aid package to the country over concerns about extrajudicial killings in the leaders war on drugs, which has left at least 6,000 dead.

In response, the leader threatened to tear up an agreement that allowed US troops to visit the Philippines.

On Thursday the Philippine independent rights watchdog said it will begin a probe into Mr Rodrigo's claims of personally killing people. It comes after the UN human rights chief called for an official investigation.

The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, dont go into that, even if youre a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, Kill me  AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life I was separated from my wife. Im not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA

Head of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights Jose Gascon said he had formed a team of investigators to look into alleged past killings by Mr Duterte.

And the UN's Zeid Raad al-Hussein said the countrys authorities must demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rule of law and their independence from the executive by investigating the President.

It was unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer, he added.

Philippine justice secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre II, has defended Duterte by saying the President often exaggerates stories of killing drug lords to discourage criminals.
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Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to burn down the United Nations, after it condemned his bloody crackdown on suspected drug dealers.

Since he took office in June, around 6,000 people have been killed by police, vigilantes, and mercenaries in the south-east Asian country on Mr Duterte's instructions.

You go and file a complaint in the United Nations, I will burn down the United Nations if you want," Mr Duterte said, speaking at an army base in the country's southern city of Zamboanga. "I will burn it down if I go to America."

UN human rights experts have been asking the Philippine government to address extrajudicial killings of drug users in the country since August.

In response, Mr Duterte has said he is considering taking the Philippines out of the UN, withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, and ending a major pact with the US.

On Thursday, he called the UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein an idiot, in response to a suggestion by the diplomat that Mr Duterte be investigated for murder after the president said he personally gunned down at least three people when he was a city mayor.

"Id go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around, and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also," he said. "I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill."

Mr Zeid called on Tuesday for the authorities in the Philippines to begin an investigation after Mr Duterte's boasts.

It is unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer," Mr Zeid said in a statement.

But Mr Duterte, who is still well-liked within the country, appeared to be enraged by the remarks.

Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence Show all 10 1 /10 Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266268.bin REUTERS/Erik de Castro Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266266.bin REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266265.bin REUTERS/Erik de Castro Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266264.bin REUTERS/Erik de Castro Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266262.bin REUTERS/Erik de Castro Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266260.bin REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266269.bin REUTERS/Erik de Castro Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266270.bin REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266271.bin REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed in election violence 266272.bin REUTERS/Erik de Castro

You there in the United Nations, you do not know diplomacy, he said, during a news conference in Manila, the capital, on Thursday. You do not know how to behave, to be an employee of the United Nations. You do not talk to me like that, you son of a bitch.

You idiot, you do not tell me what to do, he continued. Your understanding of international law is lacking. We are the ones contributing to the United Nations. You morons! You sons of whores! And I pay your salaries. Do not open your mouth there. I employ you.

The Philippines is among the 141 members of the 193-member UN who have paid their 2016 dues - in this case $4.11 million - in full.
A school in east China has been criticised online after it introduced a course to stop young boys from acting 'delicate' and 'emotional'.

However, the course at Xincheng Middle School in east China's Jiansgu province has been defended by students' parents who think their children need the course.

This comes just months after a textbook was released in Shanghai with the aim of increasing masculinity among boys.

A school in Zhengzhou teaches boys to be more masculine in 2010 (File photo)

According to CCTV News, teachers at Xincheng Middle School in east China's Jiangsu province expressed concern that boys were unable to cope with mandatory military training in August this year.

The teachers claimed that their male students were becoming more 'effeminate'.

Tang Chao, deputy principal of the school told CCTV News: 'I remember a boy who was actually in a good physical condition. But he tried to find every excuse to escape the military training.'

The new course labelled 'boy class' aims to teach male students how to 'live up' to their assigned gender.

In October, a textbook was published in Shanghai titled 'Xiaoxiao Nanzihan' or Little Men in English which aimed to teach fourth and fifth graders on 'embracing masculinity'.

Despite parents of the students backing the school, many people online have criticised the school.

One user commented: 'How about the boys that didn't attend the class? They are still boys.'

While another asked: 'What's being masculine? How can we define it?'

And one user wrote: 'A healthy family is more important.'

Pupils attend a flag raising ceremony at their school in China (File photo)

While CCTV News reported that parents defended the class.

One parent of a student that signed up for the class said: 'This is such a serious issue. Gender education should be part of school education a long time ago. This is a life-changing course.'

While another parent told the People's Daily: 'Currently the problem of boys acting delicate is very prominent in society. The schools should adjust their policy to emphasize more on gender education. It's a big issue for the children.'

According to CCTV, a similar class was held in Suzhou Foreign Language School for girls in 2007. The female students were taught mannerism, elegance and how to play instruments.
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A woman has reportedly been beaten for resisting molestation by two men in a town in the east Indian region of Mainpuri.

One man has been arrested and an investigation is underway to find two more people in connection with the incident.

Video of the altercation which was shared on Facebook shows a struggle involving the woman and a man in a striped shirt.

Another man begins to hit her violently with a stick on the head, back and shoulder.

In pictures from after the incident, the womans head is shown bleeding and her young daughter, who was at the scene, is shown sobbing in distress.

The woman was with her husband in a busy market in the village of Kishani when one of the men pulled at her dupatta  a cloth arranged over the chest and shoulders  and groped her, according to reports.

She said she had asked the men for directions when they insisted she enter a building with them.

I asked him to talk with respect. But he started abusing us and started fighting. The person used a stick to beat my husband, but hit me instead, the victim told Asian News International.

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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Police Superintendent Sunil Saxena told the agency, We have registered the case and after that the medical checkup was done.

We have taken the preventive action by arresting the accused.

The accused was arrested within hours of the incident and after that a special team has been made to arrest the remaining culprits.

We have made a team which includes the surveillance team and sub-inspectors. I am monitoring that; soon we will complete the remaining proceedings.

Uttar Pradesh, among other states in India, is holding elections in the coming months and the videos have been used by opposition to the ruling Samajwadi Party, who claim they are not doing enough to tackle crime in the region.

"There is a complete breakdown of law and order. The chief minister can launch as many new schemes as he wants, but till the police and people are scared of unruly elements who have state protection, nothing will work," said Vijay Bahadur Pathak, a senior BJP.
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An Italian policeman has been hailed a hero after shooting dead the Berlin attack suspect just nine months after starting work as a police officer.

Luca Scata, originally from Sicily, was three months into his probation period in Milan when he shot Tunisian national Anis Amri during a gun battle in the early hours of Friday morning.

He and his colleague Cristian Movio were reportedly patrolling in Sesto San Giovanni, where it was tipped the suspect could be, at 3am local time when they stopped a man matching Amris description and asked him to show his ID documents.

At that point, without hesitating, the terror suspect took a pistol out of his rucksack and began shooting at the police, according to Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The patrol immediately responded to the shooting. A police officer was injured but fortunately he is recovering in hospital, Mr Minniti told a press conference.

Investigations have revealed that the person killed, without any shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri. Mr Movio is currently recovering from minor injuries in hospital.

Mr Minniti said the two officers had done an exceptional service to the community by shooting the suspect, who he described as the most wanted man in Europe.

These two extraordinary men, of a very young age, simply doing their duty, have done an exceptional service to the community, he said.

This was the most wanted man in Europe and we immediately identified him and neutralised him. This means our security is working well.

Italy is grateful to them. Thanks to people like them, Italians will have an even happier Christmas.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni also publicly thanked the two men, tweeting: Thanks to Cristian Movio and Luke Scata, two young officers who do honour to all law enforcement, while the Berlin Police wrote: Thank you and speedy recovery to the wounded colleagues.

Since the news broke, a Facebook page set up in Mr Scatas name has been flooded with messages from Italians and other social media users from across Europe, thanking him and Mr Movio for their bravery.

One wrote: You were great! You and Cristian Movia are the image of Italy we would like, while another said: You're just a boy... youve risked your life to make that of others more secure, for a salary that of course doesn't reward the sacrifices.

To do this under these conditions, it just takes a great sense of duty. Thank you.

Meanwhile another Facebook user, from the UK, said: From the UK thanks to two brave officers keeping the public safe.

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

Mr Scata shot Amri in a square near Sesto San Giovanni railway station, Il Giornale reported, suggesting he had recently arrived.

The reason for Amri's arrival in Italy was unknown and there was speculation he may have been attempting to reach an Islamist network who could give him cover.

Investigations by counter-terror police in Milan have shown the 22 calibre pistol Amri used to shoot officers was likely the same gun used to kill the driver of the lorry that ploughed into the German Christmas market.
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A crowdfunding appeal set up to help the family of the Polish driver who died in the Berlin terror attack has now passed 110,000.

The fund was started by British trucker Dave Duncan from Otley, West Yorkshire and almost 7000 people have donated already.

Lukasz Urban was found dead in the passenger seat when his lorry was hijacked and driven through Breitscheidplatz market. Twelve people died and 48 others were injured in the attack.

Mr Urban, a 37-year-old Polish national wrestled the driver for control of the steering wheel despite being stabbed, according to investigators.

The trucker was reportedly on his way home to his wife, Zuzanna, and their 17-year-old-son when the incident took place.

Although I did not know Lukasz, the story of his untimely departure shocked and disgusted me, and I cannot comprehend how his family feel at this awful time, Mr Duncan wrote on the gofundme page.

So, as a fellow trucker, I decided to reach out to the trucking community and beyond to help in some small way.

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 is not yet clear if Mr Urban's family is aware of the fundraising campaign.

The suspected Berlin attacker, Anis Amri, has been killed in a shootout with police in the Italian city of Milan after more than three days on the run.
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The suspected Berlin attacker has been killed in a shootout with police in the Italian city of Milan after more than three days on the run as the most wanted man in Europe.

Peter Frank, the German federal prosecutor, said investigations into Anis Amris associates and a possible wider terror network in Germany would continue, after he was linked with two jailed extremist preachers convicted for supporting Isis.

The terror group acknowledged his death with a statement praising another attack on Italian police, in an attempt to spin the shooting to their advantage.

Isis also released a video of Amri pledging allegiance to its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Arabic and claiming he wanted to avenge Muslims killed by Western air strikes, to punish pig-eaters and become a martyr.

It remains unclear whether Amri was inspired by Isis propaganda, which tippedhas called for followers to carry out lorry rammings and other attacks, or had direct contact with the group.

Italian police stands next to a covered body at the scene of a shootout between police and a man in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighbourhood, early 23 December 2016 (EPA)

Marco Minniti, Italys interior minister, said officers were conducting a routine patrol at 3am local time (2am GMT) when they stopped a man resembling the fugitive.

At the moment he was stopped, the man without hesitating took a pistol out of his rucksack and shot the police after they asked him for identification documents, he told a press conference.

The patrol immediately responded to the shooting. A police officer, Cristian Movio, was injured but fortunately he is recovering in hospital.

State police officers responded and the person who attacked our patrol was killed.

Investigations have revealed that the person killed, without any shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri.

Local reports said he shouted Allahu Akbar while shooting at two police officers, hitting Mr Movio in the shoulder, before hiding behind a car and trying to flee.

The uninjured Italian police officer, 29-year-old Luca Scata, then chased Amri down and shot him dead. He was only nine months into his job.

A train ticket discovered in Amri's backpack suggested he had evaded authorities in at least three countries despite being the subject of a Europe-wide manhunt.

German police presence has been increased since an attack on a Christmas market that killed 12 people (Reuters)

It indicated he had travelled by high speed train from Chambery in France to the northern Italian city of Turin, before catching a regional train to the suburbs of Milan, a source told Reuters.

He said police were tipped off that Amri could be in the area, triggering additional patrols.

Amri was shot in a square near Sesto San Giovanni railway station, Il Giornale reported, suggesting he had recently arrived.

The reason for Amri's arrival in Italy was unknown and there was speculation he may have been attempting to reach an Islamist network who could give him cover.

Investigations by counter-terror police in Milan showed the .22 calibre pistol Amri used to shoot officers was the same gun that killed the driver of the lorry that ploughed into the German Christmas market. The attack killed 12 people and injured around 60 more.

Amri is believed to have hijacked the vehicle from its Polish driver, Lukasz Urban, as he was parked up in Berlin on Monday afternoon.

The lorrys GPS showed it moved backwards and forwards as if someone was learning how to drive it before it drove around six miles to the Christmas market, accelerating to plough into stalls packed with locals and tourists.

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

Almost 100,000 has been raised for Mr Urbans family, including his wife and teenage son, amid reports he gave his life fighting the hijacker in a desperate attempt to stop the attack.

Recommended Crowds defy terror by returning to Berlin Christmas market

The market reopened on Thursday, with crowds returning in their droves in a show of defiance against the terror wreaked just days before.

Amri fled after the lorry came to a stop, leaving Mr Urban dead in the cabin with knife and bullet wounds. The gun was not recovered, prompting warnings during he was armed and dangerous from German prosecutors.

They offered a 100,000 (85,000) reward for information leading to Amris arrest and it was unclear if the money would be paid out.

No suggestion the suspected Isis supporter was in Italy was made public, with reports of the shooting coming as Danish police hunted a man matching Amris description in Aalborg.

German authorities had attempted to deport the 24-year-old in June after rejecting his asylum application but a bureaucratic dispute with Tunisia over missing documents proving Amris nationality meant he could not be ejected from the country.

Revelations that he had been put under surveillance for six months after being linked to a previous terror plot stoked anger against security services for letting him slip through the net.

The Christmas market next to Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Getty)

Angela Merkel acknowledged the attack had raised a lot of questions in a press conference following Amri's death, amid right-wing protests against her refugee policy and criticism from political opponents.

The German Chancellor said the investigation continued and any accomplices would be found, after a numerous security blunders were revealed.

We can be relieved that an acute danger has ended, Ms Merkel added, warning that terror risks continue in Germany.

Wherever there is a need for political or legal changes, we will quickly implement the necessary measures in government.

Ms Merkel, who is running for her fourth term as Chancellor, also said she had spoken to her Tunisian counterpart and the countries would be increasing cooperation to speed up deportations.

Amris brothers believe he may have been radicalised while serving a prison sentence for arson in Sicily, while he was wanted for armed robbery in Tunisia.

He was also known to deal drugs in Berlin and had been involved in a violent brawl, fitting the profile of young criminals frequently targeted by Isis recruiters with the offer of redemption.

Separately, German special forces arrested two brothers suspected of planning a terror attack on a shopping centre in the city of Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Police said the operation in Duisburg had no connection to Amri and the Berlin attack.
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Anis Amri reportedly shouted Allahu Akbar while shooting at police in Italy after being stopped during a routine patrol.

The suspect was shot dead during the gun battle in Milan in the early hours of this morning, being found with the same weapon used to kill the driver of the lorry hijacked in Berlin.

He is thought to have travelled to Italy from France after a train ticket was discovered in his backpack, suggesting he evaded authorities in at least three countries despite being the subject of a Europe-wide manhunt.

It indicated he had travelled by high speed train from Chambery in France to the northern Italian city of Turin, before catching a regional train to the suburbs of Milan, a source told Reuters.

He said police were tipped of that Amri could be in the area, triggering additional patrols.

Three suspects have been arrested because of alleged links to Anis Amri (AP)

Amri was shot in a square near Sesto San Giovanni railway station, Il Giornale reported, suggesting he had recently arrived. The reason for Amri's arrival in Italy was unknown and there was speculation he may have been attempting to reach an Islamist network who could give him cover.

Investigations by counter-terror police in Milan showed the .22 calibre pistol Amri used to shoot officers was the same gun used to kill the driver of the lorry that ploughed into the German Christmas market.

Recommended Berlin attacker Anis Amri killed in police shootout in Milan

Marco Minniti, Italys interior minister, said officers were patrolling in Sesto San Giovanni at 3am local time when they stopped a man matching Amris description.

At the moment he was stopped, the man without hesitating took a pistol out of his rucksack and shot the police after they asked him for identification documents, he told a press conference.

The patrol immediately responded to the shooting. A police officer was injured but fortunately he is recovering in hospital.

State police officers responded and the person who attacked our patrol was killed.

Investigations have revealed that the person killed, without any shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri.

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

Amri is believed to have hijacked the lorry from its Polish driver, Lukasz Urban, as he was parked up in Berlin on Monday afternoon.

The lorrys GPS showed it moved backwards and forwards as if someone was learning how to drive it before it drove around six miles to the Christmas market, accelerating to plough into stalls packed with locals and tourists.

Almost 100,000 has been raised for Mr Urbans family, including his wife and teenage son, amid reports he gave his life fighting the hijacker in a desperate attempt to stop the attack.

Amri fled after the lorry came to a stop, leaving Mr Urban dead in the cabin with knife and bullet wounds. The gun was not recovered, prompting warnings during he was armed and dangerous from German prosecutors.

They offered a 100,000 (85,000) reward for information leading to Amris arrest and it was unclear if the money would be paid out.

Reports of the shooting came as Danish police hunted a man matching Amris description in Aalborg.

German authorities had attempted to deport the 24-year-old in June after rejecting his asylum application but a bureaucratic dispute with Tunisia over missing documents proving Amris nationality meant he could not be ejected from the country.

German police presence has been increased since an attack on a Christmas market that killed 12 people (Reuters)

Revelations that he had been put under surveillance for six months after being linked to a previous terror plot stoked anger against security services for letting him slip through the net.

Amris brothers believe he may have been radicalised while serving a prison sentence for arson in Sicily, while he was wanted for armed robbery in Tunisia.

He known to deal drugs in Berlin and had been involved in a violent brawl, fitting the profile of young criminals frequently targeted by Isis recruiters with the offer of redemption.

Investigations into Amris associates and a possible wider terror network in Germany continue, after he was linked with two jailed extremist preachers convicted for supporting Isis.

Separately, German special forces arrested two brothers suspected of planning a terror attack on a shopping centre in the city of Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Police said the operation in Duisburg had no connection to Amri and the Berlin attack.
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The mother of the Berlin attack suspect killed by Italian police has said she fears the world will never know why he allegedly committed the atrocity.

Anis Amri, 24, is believed by police to have driven a truck through a Christmas market in the German capital, killing 12 people and wounding 56.

He was shot dead in Milan in a clash with police.

His mother, Nour El Houda Hassani, said: Within him is a great secret. They killed him and buried the secret with him.

Speaking in his impoverished Tunisian hometown of Oueslatia, she begged for his remains to be brought home.

I want the truth about my son. Who was behind him? she said.

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

Amri's brother Abdelkader wept as he said: "My brother is dead. Bring us his remains, even one of his fingers, and I will put it in my pocket.

They killed him when he was still only a suspect. Why?"

The family want his remains to be sent to Oueslatia and asked authorities for details about his role in the attack.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bouraoui Limam said he expected the body to be repatriated but that it would "take a while" because Italian, German and Tunisian investigators needed to carry out examinations first.

 Angela Merkel reacts to shooting of Berlin market attack suspect

Amri appears to have recorded a video message pledging allegiance to Isis and vowing to take revenge on European "crusaders" for bombing Muslims, according to footage released by the Isis-affiliated Amaq agency.

In the video, a man claiming to be Amri says: "My message to crusaders bombing Muslims everyday... Their blood will not go in vain. We are a nation behind them and will take revenge for them.

"I call on my Muslim brothers everywhere... Those in Europe, kill the crusader pigs, each person to their own ability.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Far-right politicians across Europe have blamed the continents open borders policy for enabling the Berlin market attacker to evade capture for four days.

Anis Amri, 24, is suspected of driving a lorry into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital on Monday evening.

He was shot dead by armed police in a suburb of Milan, Italy, on Friday morning, having travelled from Germany through France and then into Italy.

Recommended Husband of murdered MP Jo Cox criticises Farage over Berlin comments

Sources said a rail ticket found on the Tunisians body suggested he had caught a high-speed train from France to the northern Italian city of Turin and then taken a local train to Milan.

Right-wing leaders across the continent said the ease with which the alleged terrorist appears to have crossed borders highlighted the failings of the Schengen pact, which established open borders between its member states. Germany, France and Italy are all members of the agreement, along with most other EU states.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front in France, said: "This escapade in at least two or three countries is symptomatic of the total security catastrophe that is the Schengen agreement.

Without permanent national borders, France and its neighbours are reduced to learning that an armed and dangerous jihadi was probably wandering on its soil only after the event.

"I reiterate my pledge to give back France full control of its sovereignty, its national borders and to put an end to the consequences of the Schengen agreement."

Her comments were echoed by Nigel Farage, the former leader of Ukip.

He said: "If the man shot in Milan is the Berlin killer, then the Schengen Area is proven to be a risk to public safety. It must go."

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

In Italy, meanwhile, populist leader Beppe Grillo said the Schengen pact must be reviewed.

He said: Italy is becoming a parade of terrorists, we are not able to recognise and report that. Thanks to Schengen they can cross our border undisturbed."

Mr Grillo suggested it was crazy that two Italian police officers had had to risk their lives to deal with a terrorist wanted by half of Europe.

The Schengen agreement should be temporarily frozen in the case of a terrorist attack in Europe, he said.

Other far-right leaders also voiced their objections to the policy.

Geert Wilders, leader of the right-right Dutch Freedom Party said: So Anis Amri enters EU as asylum seekers, commits terror in Germany and travels to Italy. And closing our borders is a bad idea, Minister President?
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Finland is to introduce a basic income for some citizens from next month, becoming the first country to adopt the policy.

Two thousand unemployed people will be given 560 (480) every month for two years, without any restrictions or conditions attached. Leaders hope the move will improve life quality, reduce unemployment and create jobs.

Recipients will not need to prove they are looking for work and the money will be given regardless of any other income the person earns.

The Finnish government is planning to study whether the policy helps recipients find work. It suspects many unemployed people are put off getting a job because they will lose unemployment benefits and therefore be worse off financially  a similar problem to that which tax credits were designed to solve in the UK.

The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health said in a statement: The Government proposes the implementation of a basic income experiment. The experiment [will] be carried out in 2017 and 2018, and its aim is to show whether basic income can be used to reform social security so that incentive traps relating to work are eliminated.

The primary goal of the basic income experiment is related to promoting employment. The experiment, including follow-up research, aims to find out whether basic income promotes employment."

The 10 happiest countries in Europe Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 happiest countries in Europe The 10 happiest countries in Europe Denmark Coulourful houses and boats seen in the Nyhavn district in Copenhagen The 10 happiest countries in Europe Switzerland The 10 happiest countries in Europe Iceland Iceland, Northern Lights The 10 happiest countries in Europe Norway Wheel deal: cycling in Norway Visit Norway The 10 happiest countries in Europe Finland Getty The 10 happiest countries in Europe The Netherlands The 10 happiest countries in Europe Sweden AFP The 10 happiest countries in Europe Austria Sean Gallup/Getty Images The 10 happiest countries in Europe Germany Getty Images The 10 happiest countries in Europe Belgium The city hall on Brussels' Grand Place is illuminated during a light show, December 30, 2015 Reuters

The 2,000 unemployed people will be selected at random. They will not have a choice as to whether they take part in the trial but will automatically be given the money each month.

If successful, the experiment could lead to a basic income being given to more Finnish people.

A number of other countries are believed to be exploring the idea of a universal basic income. Earlier this year the Swiss government held a referendum on whether to pay every citizen around 2,500 Swiss francs (2,000) per month, but the policy was decisively rejected by Swiss voters.

In the UK, John McDonnell, Labours Shadow Chancellor, has expressed support for a universal basic income but the Conservatives have called it "unaffordable".

There are different variations of a universal basic income but the core principle is the government giving everyone a certain amount of money each month.

Supporters of the idea claim it will enable people to work less if they choose to, reduce inequality and cut total welfare spending.

Others say it is likely to be excessively expensive and disincentivise hard work.
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Two hijackers who diverted a Libyan passenger plane to Malta claiming to have a grenade have surrendered peacefully following hours of tense negotiations.

There were 117 people, including six crew members, on board the hijacked Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, which was on an internal flight from Sabha in south east Libya to the capital city of Tripoli.

The hijackers, who declared loyalty to Libyas late leader Muammar Gaddafi, were carrying two pistols and a hand grenade, according to the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. He later said that initial forensic examination showed the weapons were replicas.

Mr Muscat effectively broke the news on Friday, tweeting: Informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by.

All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately cancelled or diverted and emergency teams, including security officers and negotiators, were sent to the airport tarmac.

The passengers  82 men, 28 women and one child  were allowed to leave the plane before the hijackers walked out themselves with the last of the crew.

Mr Muscat told reporters the hijackers wanted negotiators to go on board but his government refused and insisted that all passengers and crew be released.

Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody, wrote Mr Muscat at 3:44pm local time, two hours after the planes doors opened and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafis now-defunct state.

The flag was adopted in 1977 by Libya when Gaddafi became the countrys leader through a coup detat, until his death in 2011.

People disembark from a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 on the runway at Malta Airport (Reuters)

Libyas Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh.

Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.

In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: We took this measure to declare and promote our new party.

Libya, a sprawling oil-rich north African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes, since Gaddafis death.

Western nations view the newly-formed UN-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libyas parliament, which meets in the countrys far east, has refused to accept it. Amid chaos, Isis and al-Qaeda affiliates have gained a foothold over the past year.

Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized an Isis stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.

In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte Isis fighters parade through in Sirte in 2015 In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on the outskirts of Libya's western city of Sirte AFP/Getty In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte A photo of a billboard in Sirte, Libya, listing seven rules for women's clothing, saying they must be loose-fitting and undecorated HRW/social media In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte Isis militants process down a street in the coastal city of Sirte in Libya this week; the group has heralded Libya as its strategic gateway to attack Europe AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte An Isis lecture on Sharia at the Ouagadougou complex in Sirte, Libya, in 2016. HRW/social media In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte A sign reading "The city of Sirte, under the shadow of Sharia" as smoke rises in the background while forces aligned with Libya's new unity government advance on the eastern and southern outskirts of the Islamic State stronghold of Sirte on 9 June. Reuters In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte Fighters loyal to Libya's GNA prepare to launch attacks against Isis as they continue their resistance on the outskirts of the western city of Sirte Getty In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government are seen during clashes with jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) on the western outskirts of Sirte on June 2, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Sirte Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government fire during clashes with Isis around 14 miles west of Sirte on June 2, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Isis in Libya

Airport security in Libya can be poor and is not always under state control, according to BBC journalist Rana Jawad.

Every airport in Libya is poorly secured and technically run by one armed group or another, outside state control, she wrote on Twitter.

Ms Jawad also said the mayor of Sabha in Libya had said a preliminary investigation had found one of the hijackers was called Musa Shah and he was possibly seeking political asylum.
The successive terrorist attacks in Turkey and Germany on Monday have spurred worldwide condemnation of the violent acts of terrorism. Once again, people have realized the necessity to join hands to fight terrorism.

So far, the motivations behind the incidents are not quite clear, but the occurrence of such cases does reflect the changed situation in international anti-terrorism work.

With 2016 coming to an end, terrorism has shown signs of globalization, localization, fragmentation and online operation. The two major terrorist groups, ISIS and Al Quaeda, compete with each other in terrorist attacks, resulting in an increase in worldwide terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, the international anti-terrorism work is held back by power politics by major countries, especially the disagreement between the US and Russia, thus preventing the formation of a joint force to crack down on terrorism.

The assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey reminded people of the terrorist attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012, which caused the death of the US ambassador.

The US and Russia have huge differences on several regional agendas since the turmoil broke out in West Asia and North Africa, but both of them have had to deal with this common challenge. It was regrettable that over the past years, the common challenge didnt encourage their anti-terrorism cooperation.

Not long ago, the Middle East witnessed two major battles: One was the Mosul attack started by Iraqi government, and the other was the Aleppo battle participated by Syrian government forces with the support of Russia. Both of them have something to do with counter-terrorism.

Both ISIS in Mosul and al-Nusra Front occupying Aleppo are terrorist groups listed by the UN, but the Western countries have adopted different attitudes toward the two wars. On the one hand, they supported the Mosul battle and sent reinforcements to crack down on terrorism in a hope to make up for their reputation damage caused by the Iraq war; on the other hand, they tried to stop Aleppo battle by defending the al-Nusra Front. They even accused Russia and Syria of undermining humanitarianism.

Though many Western governments condemned the attack soon after the assassination of the Russian Ambassador, some media still showed their bias against Russia by emphasizing in their reports that the incident was related to Russias support for Assad government and bombing of Syrian civilians.

Terrorism is a common threat to all human beings, which means it is the common task for each country to fight against terrorism. But in fact, some countries have adopted double-standards toward anti-terrorism, or even mixed their hidden agendas in the process. They sometimes even pocketed extra benefits by using counter-terrorism as a tool.

It will lead to catastrophic consequences if each country only focuses on their petty schemes in facing this global threat. Both Russia and Western countries are victims of the two attacks.

The Western countries and Russia have divergences on a series of issues in Syria and Middle East, but the terrorists have launched indiscriminate attacks on them. It proves that no one alone can win against extremism and terrorism. It is imperative and necessary for all the stakeholders to put aside their differences and join hands to maintain world stability.

Historian Niall Ferguson, when talking about the fear of terrorism, wrote that the demons described by Dostoevsky would return to the world after the short peace. Looking into the future, the key to global counter-terrorism cooperation lies in the Syrian and Iraqi crisis since one priority is to stop the terrorists from rebuilding bases in the two states.

At the same time, the world has to curb the spread of terrorism mindset, stay alert against the lonely wolf attacks, and increase efforts to solve religious confrontations and geopolitical competition that tend to be manipulated by terrorist groups. In order to prevent demons, all of the nations should come together to fight against terrorism.
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Two brothers have been detained on suspicion of plotting a terror attack at one of Germany's largest shopping centre.

The arrests come as an international manhunt continues for Anis Amri over the Berlin Christmas market truck attack that left 12 people dead and 48 others injured.

Police said the Kosovan-born brothers, aged 28 and 31, were held in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region in the early hours of Friday.

They suspect the pair may have been planning an attack on the CentrO shopping centre in nearby Oberhausen.

After receiving a tip from the intelligence services, police dressed in civilian clothing attended the shopping centre and a Christmas market nearby late on Thursday.

Authorities are investigating what stage of preparation the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved, Essen police said in a statement.

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

CentroO shopping centre has around 250 shops that are usually crowded before Christmas.

Police did not immediately mention any connection to the Christmas market attack in Berlin on Monday.

Press Association contributed to this report
 Close People exit hijacked plane in Malta

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Two hijackers who diverted a Libyan passenger plane to Malta claiming to have a grenade have surrendered peacefully following hours of tense negotiations.

There were 118 people, including seven crew members, on board the hijacked Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, which was travelling from Sabha in south east Libya to the capital Tripoli.

These were The Independent's live updates as the situation unfolded:

:: Libyan plane lands in Malta in 'potential hijack situation'
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Vladimir Putins defence minister has compared the British army to Nazi Germany, as relations between Russia and the West continued to deteriorate.

Sergei Shoigu claimed British troops had started to use Russian-made tanks and Russian military uniforms in training exercises to designate the enemy.

The general also dubbed Nato exercises anti-Russian and said the military alliance had doubled the intensity of its training drills, reports AFP.

"The last time this training method was used was by Nazi Germany during the Second World War," he said.

None of the exercises held by foreign states has passed unnoticed.

His comments were made during a meeting of senior officials at the Russian defence ministry.

An army spokesman told AFP that claims British forces had used Russian-made tanks and Russian uniforms were not true.

 Russia: No country will have military superiority over Russia - Sergei Shoigu

The British Army uses a number of generic enemy forces in order to train for potential circumstances, the spokesman added.

They are only, ever, specific during a mission rehearsal exercise such as those for recent Afghan and Iraqi campaigns.

'A new phase in the arms race is unfolding' says Putin Show all 2 1 /2 'A new phase in the arms race is unfolding' says Putin 'A new phase in the arms race is unfolding' says Putin 15619.bin EPA 'A new phase in the arms race is unfolding' says Putin 15611.bin Independent Graphics

Tensions between Mr Putin and the West have been rising ever since Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea, in the worst deterioration of relations since the Cold War.

Russia has revealed plans for major military expansion in 2017, with its army expected to receive an extra 900 tanks.

Although Donald Trump has previously been full of praise for Mr Putin, the President-elect has also said he is willing to engage in a new nuclear arms race once he takes office.
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Events of 2016 have brought the sheer might of the Russian military into sharp focus.

The country's involvement in bombing campaigns over the Syrian capital of Aleppo caused international outrage, and American intelligence agencies now believe that Russian military hackers influenced the US election in Donald Trump's favour by releasing emails which were damaging to his rival Hillary Clinton.

For all their controversy, both cases have been strategically successful for Russia, with Aleppo now conquered by Russian-backed government forces, and Donald Trump installed as America's president-elect.

The country's military history is, however, dotted with a number of significant failures as well as successes. The following is a collection of some of the most ambitious military projects that resulted in spectacular failures.

8. The T-14 Armata tank was billed as the "world's first post-war, third-generation tank." There was great disappointment, therefore, when the new, high-tech piece of military hardware broke down during a 2015 rehearsal for the Victory Day parade in Moscow and had to be towed with ropes by another vehicle.

7. It was not Russia's only tank failure. The Soviet Union's T-80 was the first production tank to be equipped with a gas turbine engine when it was introduced in 1976.

Russia's T-80 battle tanks entered service in 1976. Around 550 are still in use by the Russian military (OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images)

However, soldiers operating the tank during the First Chechen War (1994 - 1996) found the machines unfit for the purpose of urban warfare, which they had been bought for. When the side armour of a tank was hit, unused ammunition inside the machine's autoloader exploded and destroyed the entire machine. The tank was such a failure that the Minister of Defence agreed never to order the tanks again.

6. The history of Russia's failed experiments with tanks goes back even further. The Tsar tank has achieved almost mythical status since the unusual vehicle was first tested in 1914. The armoured vehicle had a tricycle design, with two 9 metre spoked wheels and a smaller one behind.

(Wiki Commons (Wiki Commons)

Due to weight miscalculations, its tricycle design often resulted in its back wheel getting stuck while its lack of armour left its operators exposed to artillery fire. The machine did not get past a testing stage, and only one was ever made.

5. The Raduga Kh-22 air-to-surface missile was designed as a long-range anti-ship missile to counter the threat of US aircraft carriers and warships.

(Wiki Commons (Wiki Commons)

What it was not designed to do was hit friendly territory, but that's exactly what happened in 2002 when one of the rockets misfired during Russian military exercises and struck the Atyrau region of western Kazakhstan, to the great embarrassment of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov.

4. The Mikoyan Project 1.44 (MiG 1.44) was the Soviet Union's answer to the US's development of its fifth-generation Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) in the 1980s.

(Wiki Commons)

Thirty years later and the status of the MiG 1.44 remains something of a mystery  it performed its first and only flight in February 2000, when engineers reportedly identified mechanical problems. The only known prototype was put in long-term storage in the hangar of Gromov Flight Research Institute in 2013, where its status remains unknown.

3. Russia's flagship, the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, is the only Russian aircraft carrier in active service, having been fully operational since 1995.

The colossal Admiral Kuznetsov is assisting Russia's attacks on Syria (AP)

It played a prominent role in Russia's bombing campaign in Syria, serving as the base for fighter jets involved in airstrikes, but it has been beset with problems over the years given its considerable age. In November 2016, one of Russia's MiG-29K Fulcrum crashed while attempting to land on the carrier. Weeks later a similar incident occurred, when a Su-33 jet crashed into the sea following a failed landing.

The carrier has been beset with problems for a long time. Due to problems with its powerplant, tugs usually accompany the ship whenever it is deployed to tow it back to port. In 2009, a short circuit aboard the vessel caused a fire that killed one crew member, before an attempt to refuel the vessel at sea a month later caused a large oil spill off the coast of Ireland.

2. On February 17, 2004, President Vladimir Putin boarded the Arkhangelsk, an Akula-class submarine, to watch the test launch of a newly developed ballistic missile.

Unfortunately, the R-29RMU Sineva missiles failed to launch from the nuclear submarines Novomoskovsk and Karelia because of unspecified technical problems leaving a lot of red faces all around. Putin subsequently ordered his defence minister to conduct an urgent review of the programme.

(Wiki Commons (Wiki Commons)

1. Perhaps the most bizarre of Russia's recent military mishaps occurred in 2013, when shocked sunbathers on Russia's Baltic coast were confronted with a giant military hovercraft bearing down on them. A spokesperson from Russia's navy said the beach was supposed to have been cleared for the exercise.

Read more:

 The most spectacular Russian military failures of all time

 Putin says the Russian economy is on the mend

 How Amazon can become the world's first trillion-dollar business

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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Holocaust survivors have called on the international community to indict those responsible for mass deaths in Syria, and to act immediately to end the violence there.

The atrocities must stop now, a Canada-based group of octogenarians and nonagenarians told a crowd in Toronto on Wednesday.

Howard Chandler, 88, said aspects of the situation in Syria today reminded him of what he experienced in Poland during the Second World War.

"We are asking the international community to please intervene before it is too late," he told CBC News.

"Today when I turn on the news I see once again that the world is standing by," he said. "Scenes from Aleppo in Syria are sickening."

He added: People who commit crimes have to know that, at the end of the day, if they're still alive, they will have to account for their activities."

Mr Chandler was 10 and living in Poland in 1939 when the Nazis occupied the country, and murdered almost his entire family. Only he and his brother were left alive when the Second World War ended in 1945.

Thousands of fighters and civilians have left Aleppo and the surrounding area in buses this week, after Syrian government forces and their supporters took control of the rebel-held areas of Aleppo this month, razing entire neighbourhoods.

The evacuation had stalled after rebel forces said pro-government militias fired on a convoy carrying evacuees and robbed them.

About half a million people have been killed since the start of Syria's civil war five years ago.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 4.8 million people have fled the country, and about 74,000 refugee children are living without their fathers or both parents.

Vera Schiff said watching the scenes in Aleppo on television make her cry.

"After my liberation in 1945, I thought the world would have learned its lesson yet here we are again watching news from Aleppo," said the 90-year-old, who was sent to a concentration camp when she was 15. She spent four years detained there and lost every member of her family.

You see those pictures come out of there with all this heartbreak with those maimed and crying children. It breaks my heart because I can see the replay of those children, of our children which were lined up to be gassed in the camps and the mothers who could not save them, Ms Schiff said.

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

She added that she feels it is her duty to speak out to try to prevent further atrocities against innocent civilians.

That this is still allowed to happen, that people look at horrible pictures, shrug their shoulders and go about their day  it's not permissible," she said.

Gerda Frieberg, 91, said she knows what it is like to be all alone, like the children orphaned in Syria.

After what we went through, we thought the world would learn something, but I see they didn't," she said. "That's the worst that could happen.

Avi Benlolo, president and CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies, which invited the survivors to speak, said the atrocities must stop.

If we don't speak out, and speak out forcefully, against these atrocities I'm concerned it's going to become normalised, Ms Benlolo said.

In 20 years from now, we're going to look back at ourselves and say, 'Where were we? Why didn't we speak out?'
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Israel has said it rejects a UN resolution declaring its settlements in occupied Palestinian territories illegal, and says it will not abide by its terms.

The UN Security Council voted to call for an end to the settlements after the US refused to use its veto to block the resolution.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms," a statement from the office of Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The Israeli Prime Minister said his administration was looking forward to working with Donald Trump to negate Friday's resolution.

In other reaction, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the adoption of the resolution, his spokesman said.

"The secretary-general takes this opportunity to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to work with the international community to create a conducive environment for a return to meaningful negotiations," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Israel earlier said it expected Mr Ban's departure as Secretary-General, as well as the inauguration of Mr Trump, to herald a new era of UN-Israel relations.

Given the world's widespread opposition to settlements, the action will be almost impossible for anyone, including Mr Trump, to reverse.

Nevertheless, the president-elect vowed via Twitter: "As to the UN, things will be different after Jan 20th."

The resolution said Israel's settlements in lands the Palestinians want to include in their future state have "no legal validity". It demanded a halt to such activities for the sake of "salvaging the two-state solution".

Loud applause erupted in the council chamber after US ambassador Samantha Power permitted the resolution to pass.

Additional reporting by agencies
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In a rare condemnation of Israel, the UN Security Council has said its settlements in occupied Palestinian territories have no legal validity.

The vote on Friday only passed because the US declined to use its veto - as its has dozens of times in the past - and instead abstained from voting. In doing so, the Obama administration not only permitted Israel to be rebuked, but also rejected a call from both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, to block the move.

The resolution was put forward at the 15-member council for a vote by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew the measure under pressure from Israel and the US President-elect.

It was adopted with 14 votes in favour, to a round of applause. It is the first resolution the Security Council has adopted on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, said: Today the Security Council reaffirmed its established consensus that settlements have no legal validity. The US has been sending the messages that the settlements must stop, privately and publicly, for nearly five decades.

Our vote today is fully in line with the bipartisan history of how American presidents approach both the issue and the role of this body.

The resolution says Israels settlements on Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity. It demands a halt to all Israeli settlement activities, saying this is essential for salvaging the two-state solution.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of his optimism for working with incoming US President Donald Trump (Screenshot via 60 Minutes ) (Screenshot via 60 Minutes)

Israel's ambassador to the UN criticised the US's failure to veto the vote, and said the country looks forward to a new era of UN-Israel relations under the new US President and new UN Secretary General.

The UN action as a whole was "a big blow to Israeli policy, a unanimous international condemnation of settlements and a strong support for the two-state solution," a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The US abstention was seen as a parting shot by Mr Obama, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Mr Netanyahu and who has made settlements a major target of peace efforts that have proven ultimately futile. Last year, Mr Netanyahu was invited to address the joint houses of Congress, where he condemned Mr Obamas deal with Iran.

 Netanyahu congratulates Trump

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. Israel disputes that the settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of US-led peace talks collapsed in 2014.

Reuters said that passage of the resolution will likely change nothing on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians. It is also likely to be ignored by the incoming Trump administration.

At the same time, it may have been more than merely symbolic as it formally enshrined the international communitys disapproval of Israeli settlement building and could spur further Palestinian moves against Israel in international forums.

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz has said the US has abandoned Israel by abstaining in a UN Security Council vote demanding an end to Israeli settlements.

He told Channel Two News: This is not a resolution against settlements, it is an anti-Israel resolution, against the Jewish people and the state of the Jews. The United States tonight has simply abandoned its only friend in the Middle East.

Mr Trump also later weighed in, saying on Twitter that things will be "different after January 20".
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The UN Security Council has postponed a vote on a resolution that demands Israel stop all settlement activities that are deemed to be a violation of international law, after the country's leader persuaded Donald Trump to intervene.

An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned to the President-elect to help head off the resolution after learning the White House did not intend to veto the measure.

The Egyptian-sponsored resolution had demanded that Israel halt settlement activities in occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians and declared that existing settlements have no legal validity.

But under heavy Israeli pressure, Egypt cancelled the planned vote in the Security Council hours before it was to take place.

The official, speaking to Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said that after becoming aware that the Obama administration would not veto the resolution, Israeli officials reached out to Trump's transition team to ask for the President-elect's help.

Diplomats have said there is no timeframe for when the vote will now take place.

Mr Netanyahu also apparently placed pressure on Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi to have the resolution pushed later, according to Haaretz.

Egypt will be conducting additional meetings with the Arab League to work on the wording of the resolution.

The initial resolution called for states, to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 and for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction.

US President-elect Donald Trump took to Facebook and Twitter to say America should veto the resolution.

As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations, Mr Trump said.

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

This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.

President Obama had previously vetoed a resolution presented by the Palestinians against settlements in 2011.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
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A woman has been arrested in Sharjah, a city in the United Arab Emirates, for giving birth to a baby out of wedlock.

The 30-year-old maid, originally from Ethiopia, had reportedly been working illegally in the city, which is connected to Dubai, when she became pregnant, a police spokesman told Gulf News.

She was taken to hospital already in labour and arrested shortly after delivering a baby boy, when she confessed to hospital staff that she was not married.

The hospital quickly contacted the authorities and reported the illegitimate birth.

A police spokesman said the authorities should have been informed immediately.

They [the hospital] should not accept such cases of unmarried pregnant women, a spokesman said.

The Al Qasimi Hospital where the woman was treated said in a statement she needed urgent medical care when she arrived.

She was in labour so she was admitted immediately, a spokesman said, adding there was no time to inform the police.

The woman was transferred to a women's prison in Sharjah two days after the birth last week.

Her baby is being held with her in the prison nursery. She is allowed to visit him to breastfeed only, an official said, adding that the case has been referred to the public prosecutor for further investigation.

It is illegal for any unmarried woman to have a baby in the United Arab Emirates.

Women in the past have been jailed or deported for breaking the law.

The countries with anti-women laws Show all 5 1 /5 The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws

The UAE has a poor human rights record, but it is a particularly bad place to be a woman or a migrant.

In November, a 25-year-old British woman was arrested in Dubai for being raped.

She was on holiday in the city when she was allegedly attacked by two British men.

When she reported the rape at a police station, she was detained and charged with extra-marital sex, a crime punishable by jail, flogging and stoning to death in the strictly conservative country.

She was later released, but only following international outcry.
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It may sound like an unlikely holiday destination, but tens of thousands of tourists explore the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone every year.

It was 1986 when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine suffered a catastrophic meltdown, releasing 400 times more radioactive material into the air than was unleashed by the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima 40 years previously. The plant, and the nearby town of Pripyat, have been deserted ever since. They are within a designated Exclusion Zone where radioactive fallout was as its highest level and public access is restricted.

But that hasnt stopped curious travellers from entering the zone to see the ghostly remains for themselves.

One of those people is Darmon Richter, a travel blogger who specialises in dark tourism. Here, he shares his pictures from his visit to Chernobyl and tells us why he thinks you should see it for yourself.

What made you want to visit Chernobyl?

Throughout the rest of the former Soviet Union, countries and cities have had the chance to evolve, to move on and shed their former politics and symbols. So for me, a history lover growing up in the late Eighties and Nineties, the USSR was almost like a ghost. It was something I could imagine, something that had a huge effect over modern politics and cultures, but ultimately Id never see or experience it for myself. So the idea of a Soviet city, abandoned and apparently frozen in time after the accident, intrigued me. It felt almost like an invitation to travel back in time.

Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was covered in November with a new protective sarcophagus (Darmon Richter)

How did you arrange your trip?

The first time I went, the trip was arranged for me by a local friend. I went in with a group of Russians and Ukrainians  the whole tour was in Russian. I didnt understand a lot of what was being said. Ive been back with an English-language tour group since then. I used the group Chernobyl Zone, who have been running English-language tours of Chernobyl for over a decade. They offer one-day tours for around 80, though a two-day, overnight trip like mine costs closer to 220 per person for the whole package  including transport, meals, and a hotel stay inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Mural design on the side of the Wormwood Museum: a memorial complex in Chernobyl (Darmon Richter)

How far into the Exclusion Zone did you go?

Our guided tour took us all the way into the heart of the Exclusion Zone. The most radioactive area, around the reactor itself, is also perhaps the busiest place  as its staffed by scientists and engineers, working on rotating shifts so that no one ever spends too much time in the contaminated areas.

For the most part, Chernobyl is not dangerous for a short visit. The real risk is coming into contact with irradiated particles left over from the time of the accident. For that reason visitors are advised to stay out of dusty, undisturbed places. Guides carry radiation meters at all times, and the sound of them beeping tends to serve as a reminder of the potential dangers.

How did it feel to be there?

The experience of visiting Chernobyl was not exactly what I expected. The place is actually quite popular  it reportedly receives around 30,000 tourists a year now, and some of the most photogenic spots can feel almost crowded, depending on when you visit.

Tourists are not required to wear protective clothing when visiting Chernobyl, but some choose to bring their own anyway (Darmon Richter)

Having said that, on my last visit in September 2016 I accidentally got separated from my group in the abandoned city of Pripyat. That was when the scale of the place really sank in, as I walked through the empty streets on my own, in silence. It felt almost post-apocalyptic, and it made the tragedy that much more tangible.

Not far from the reactors, a sign points the way to the abandoned workers city of Pripyat (Darmon Richter)

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of making the trip themselves?

A visit to Chernobyl is a fascinating and worthwhile experience. It offers a window into a world that no longer exists  like a modern-day Pompeii  but it also serves as a powerful illustration of the loss and devastation felt by those connected to the place. While short visits are generally quite safe, its crucial that you always listen to your guide. These people are trained and experienced, and its their job to ensure that you avoid all the very real dangers still present in the Exclusion Zone. I have heard of people deliberately giving their guides the slip, to go off taking photographs alone  and honestly, I cant imagine anything more stupid.

Darmon Richter is author of The Bohemian Blog.

Click here for the latest travel offers from Independent Holidays
Thursday marked the eighth anniversary of the launch of the Chinese Navy's escort mission at the Gulf of Aden, the body of water to the north of Somalia in the Horn of Africa, an area of frequent pirate activity.

On the same day the PLA Navy finished its 1,000th task by escorting a Singaporean merchant ship to the eastern sea area of the Gulf.

Since 2008, 25 batches of escort formations, including 78 naval vessels, 54 helicopters, and over 21,000 officers and soldiers, have convoyed nearly 6,300 ships from across the world to destinations safely. Altogether 60 ships that got into difficulty have been assisted.

The Navy has kept its record of 100% security of both the escortees and themselves.

The escort fleets are five times faster today than they were eight years ago in completing an anti-pirate deployment. The time helicopters need to react to an emergency situation has shrunk to one third of that of 2008. The speed of Special forces deployment has also doubled.

The Navy is not exclusive to the Gulf of Aden area, but is made available when emergencies occur in other regions. For example, it went to the Mediterranean Sea and escorted 20 batches of Syrian chemical weapons, along with vessels from Russia, Denmark, and Norway.

The PLA has also taken the initiative in offering humanitarian assistance, escorting 10 ships from the World Food Program, sending fleets to help locate the missing Malaysian flight of MH 370, and helping to provide fresh water for the people of the Maldives.
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The quality of life in any country significantly drops when personal safety is at risk.

This is whether it is living somewhere that is rife with crime, to being under threat of terrorist acts.

And so Mercer, one of the world's largest HR consultancy firms, releases its Quality of Living Index each year, part of which ranks the safest cities to live and work in.

It looked at data for the whole of 2015 so any recent terrorist attacks in Europe have not been accounted for. These will be taken into consideration for next year's ranking.

However, the list is one of the most comprehensive of its kind and is carried out annually to help multinational companies and other employers to compensate employees fairly when placing them on international assignments, according to Mercer.

Mercer says the personal-safety ranking is based on the cities' "relationship with other countries, internal stability, crime, and law enforcement." In other words, it should come as no surprise that war-torn cities or those rife with crime rank the lowest.

Mercer looked at 450 cities and then made a list of 230 cities that are the safest for workers. While a host of European cities are listed as being among the safest in the world, others surprisingly rank very low in the index.

This may come as a surprise that some of Western Europe's biggest and most affluent cities are not leading the list for being the safest cities on earth but this is mainly due to a number of terrorist attacks and threats over the last year that have dragged them down the rankings.

Other issues like petty crime or threats to national security have also made an impact on some of the cities.

Business Insider went to the bottom of the list to find the 12 most unsafe cities in Europe:

12. Paris  The city ranked 71st after a series of terrorist attacks. In November last year, suicide bombers and gunmen attacked multiple locations in France's capital, including cafes, restaurants, and a music venue, killing 130 people and injuring hundreds of others.

11. London  It may be a surprise to see London in the list, but Mercer ranked Britain's capital 72nd. Ellyn Karetnick, head of Mercer's International Mobility Practice in the UK, said, "In Europe and beyond terrorist attacks and incidences of civil unrest are closely monitored and analysed, and any impact on quality of living for expatriates is reflected in the rankings."

Armed police officers patrol a closed road during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. The London Metropoltan Police have closed roads for the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace and will step up security over the festive period following the 19 December truck attack in Berlin (Reuters)

10. Bucharest, Romania  Violent and organised crime is quite low in Romania's capital, but the city ranked 79th because of widespread corruption and petty crime.

9. Zagreb, Croatia Like Zagreb's other major Eastern European counterparts, corruption drags the city down  it ranked 79th.

T=7. Riga, Latvia  Apart from anti-immigration protests starting to dominate the streets, Riga is ranked 82nd on the index for its thriving organised crime and prostitution syndicates.

(GETTY)

T=7. Rome  The city dropped to 82nd after Rome, and other Italian cities, were put on high alert for terrorist attacks similar to the Paris attacks in November.

6. Madrid  The city ranked 84th in Mercer's list for its social unrest resulting from countrywide austerity measures that led to massive unemployment levels, especially among its youth population.

5. Budapest, Hungary  The city dropped to 93rd in the index after a massive increase in social unrest in the city since the refugee crisis. Chaos at train stations and protests in the streets have erupted several times as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has tried to curb the flow of migrants in and through the country.

A passer-by looks at an area cordoned off by police near the scene in central Budapest (EPA)

4. Sofia, Bulgaria  A high level of social unrest has pushed the city into 118th. People in Bulgaria, which is the European Union's poorest member, continually protest against the government over benefit and pension cuts as well as against corruption.

3. Athens, Greece  After extensive and prolonged austerity measures, poverty and crime has increased giving Athens a ranking of 124. Furthermore, "the recent political and economic turmoil in Greece, which resulted in violent demonstrations in Athens and other cities in the country, has undermined its safety ranking," says Mercer. The influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants is also exacerbating the city's safety position.

Greek riot police officers scuffle with a protester during a demonstration

2. Belgrade, Serbia  Violent crimes are low in the city, but Belgrade sinks to 131st in the index for its wide-scale corruption and bribery issues as well as from theft and vandalism.

1. Kiev, Ukraine  The country's capital ranks 189th because of civil unrest and its pugilistic relationship with Russia. Though the UK foreign office says Kiev is "calm" compared with the Russian-annexed region of Crimea, Kiev is rife with theft, vandalism, and violent protests that have killed or injured hundreds of people.

The Ukrainian capital Kiev is rife with theft, vandalism, and violent protests (AFP/Getty Images)

Read more:

 The most spectacular Russian military failures of all time

 Putin says the Russian economy is on the mend

 How Amazon can become the world's first trillion-dollar business

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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My childhood followed a pretty familiar pattern  an Anglican baptism, weekly Sunday school until a confirmation at 14 and a Church of England secondary education. For years, I pretended those years of Bible study and church attendance hadnt had much effect on my DNA  especially as I kept getting married and divorced  but these days Im comfortable being described as a Christian, albeit one that finds the Church of England anodyne and its leaders irrelevant.

These days, admitting you pray regularly in some social circles is like coming clean about having herpes. Belief is something that most Christians (unlike Muslims who are proud of their faith) keep quiet about, even though, when asked, the majority of Brits confirm they believe in some form of higher power.

Last month, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said that bosses should not stop workers celebrating Christmas for fear of offending other religions and the Prime Minister (a vicars daughter) agreed, even though employers laughed off the notion as political correctness gone mad. Even so, a growing number of Christmas cards now say Happy Holidays, as if we arent celebrating the birth of Christ just a couple of days off work in front of the television.

Recommended Politicians are to blame for terrorist attacks by not eliminating Isis

A large number of those who opted for Brexit (and many of Trumps supporters) are old-fashioned Christians who dont really talk about their faith  just as they refused to blab about their voting intentions. Christianity is still important in the lives of so many quiet people, even though you will not find fashionable media acknowledging that  its easier to talk about Islam being the fastest growing religion on the planet and to demonise controversial groups like evangelical Christians as gay-hating reactionaries.

In the spirit of Christmas, can I offer a non-denominational prayer or two? Firstly, can we work harder at talking to those we disagree with instead of hurling vitriol and abuse? The Trump campaign exemplified this new hatred, from placards to provocative soundbites which talked about dealing with immigrants and Muslims. During the presidential campaign, something revolting was unleashed in the name of patriotism that requires close inspection  rabid intolerance. In the past year, every time Ive written something you might disagree with  whether its supporting council houses for large families, the expensive folly of cycle lanes, or the war between black taxis and Uber, Ive been targeted with screaming tweets and personal abuse by the bucketload from Katie Hopkins clones. Social media makes some people use the equivalent of block capitals every time they want to make a point. And then it gets repeated day after day and sent to everyone they know. Whatever happened to conversation, or agreeing to disagree? In some ways, were becoming as inflexible and tunnel-visioned as the fanatics governments are hunting down in a self-appointed war on terror that can never be won. My prayer is that we learn to speak in a whisper, a hushed tone, not a shout. And if were wrong, we should not apologise (like patriotic columnist Katie Hopkins did, for libelling an innocent Muslim family) at 2am on Twitter, but out in the open for all to see.

My second prayer is that we stop focusing on addicts  be it those in the grip of drink, drugs or overeating  and take a look at ourselves before casting the first stone. How many of us are addicted to shopping and unnecessary consumption  is it any different? Earlier this year, a senior executive at Ikea said he reckoned wed reached peak stuff. At this time of year, clueless consumerism is rampant  Christmas presents bought out of duty rather than knowing the recipient actually needs them. Christmas is a time for permitted over-indulgence on a huge scale  food, drink, snacks, wrapping paper and decorations. I admit its hard to curb  we have ended up celebrating the birth of a baby born in poverty by buying a 20 pound turkey, a ham, a load of sausages, mince pies and a pudding washed down with a bucket of booze. Dont call me Scrooge, but next year I plan to scale it down. Maybe 2017 will be the time to devise a ten step plan to grapple with my addiction  spending money on extraneous stuff. Lets not forget, that this kind of spending is a first world problem. A lot of what we buy has been made by people who earn in a month what we splash out on a single festive meal. Is it time to redress the balance slightly?
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European political leaders are making the same mistake in reacting to the massacre at the Christmas fair in Berlin, in which 12 died, as they did during previous terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. There is an over-concentration on the failings of the security services in not identifying and neutralising the Tunisian petty criminal, Anis Amri, as the threat he turned out to be. There is too little focus on bringing to an end the wars in Syria and Iraq which make this type of atrocity unstoppable.

In the aftermath of the killings the visibility of Amri, who was shot dead in Milan this morning, as a potential threat looks misleadingly obvious, and the culpability of those who did not see this appears more glaring than it really was. The number of possible suspects  suspected before they have done anything  is too great to police them effectively.

No politician or security official wishing to retain their job can tell a frightened and enraged public that it is impossible to defend them. Those in charge become an easy target for critics who opportunistically exploit terrorism to blame government incompetence or demand communal punishment of asylum seekers, immigrants or Muslims. At such times, the media is at its self-righteous worst, whipping up hysteria and portraying horrifying but small-scale incidents as if they were existential threats. This has always been true, but 24/7 news coverage makes it worse as reporters run out of things to say and lose all sense of proportion. As the old American newspaper nostrum has it: if it bleeds, it leads.

 Video surfaces of Berlin attack suspect Anis Amri

But in over-reacting, governments and media play into the hands of the terrorists who want to create fear and demonstrate their strength, but whose greatest gains come when they provoke an exaggerated self-destructive response. 9/11 was the most successful terrorist attack in history, not just because it destroyed the Twin Towers but because it lured the Bush administration into invading Afghanistan and Iraq. Subsequently, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, rendition, torture and targeted killings (otherwise known as assassination campaigns), all justified by 9/11, have acted as recruiting sergeants for al-Qaeda type organisations.

The war on terror has failed more demonstrably than most wars: al-Qaeda numbered in the hundreds in 2001, but today  along with Isis  it has tens of thousands of fighters and supporters spread across dozens of countries.

Political leaders are not blameless, but they tend to be blamed for the wrong thing. Contrary to talk about lone wolf terrorism, most people like Amri turn out to have had sympathetic or supportive connections. In his case, US officials say he had communicated with Isis and was in contact with a Salafi preacher. He would have needed little more than inspiration and encouragement, since driving a truck into a crowd of people celebrating Christmas requires no special expertise.

Isis remains crucial to the present wave of terrorist attacks in Europe because it provides ideological motivation and justification and can, as in Paris and Brussels, control and sustain a terrorist cell. So long as there is a well-organised de facto Isis capable of providing these things, terrorism cannot be defeated; there will always be a breakdown in security to be exploited.

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 continuing existence of such a state is proof of the failure of US and European leadership. It is they who created the original conditions for the rise of Isis by invading Iraq in 2003. They allowed Syria to be torn apart by civil war after 2011 and believed the consequent anarchy could be confined to Iraq and Syria. It was only in 2014 and 2015  after the creation of Isis, the flood of migrants fleeing to central Europe and the terrorist attacks in France and Belgium  that politicians and officials really took on board the potential danger.

Yet two-and-a-half years after it was first declared, Isis is still in business. Some 2,885 Iraqis were killed in November alone, most of them as a result of fighting between Isis and the Iraqi security forces. Over the last month international focus has been on the fall of east Aleppo and too little attention is given to the fact that Isis has been holding its own in Mosul and has recaptured Palmyra in Syria.

There is a dangerous disconnect in the minds of governments and news organisations between what happens in the war in Iraq and Syria and the long-term consequences this has on the streets of Europe. When the Iraqi armed forces and their Kurdish allies began on 17 October their advance on Mosul, by far the largest urban centre held by any of the Salafi-jihadi groups, it was widely believed that Isis was about to be defeated in its last lair.

It has not happened. The elite units of the Iraqi armed forces, notably the 10,000 strong Golden Division, have suffered as much as 50 per cent casualties. They are being ground down by skilful tactics in east Mosul whereby mobile Isis units rapidly shift their positions in built-up areas using holes cut in the walls of houses and a network of tunnels. They avoid permanent fixed positions where they can be located and targeted by artillery and the US-led air coalition. They ambush the Iraqi military forces in their vehicles as they move through narrow streets. The UN says that almost 2,000 members of the Iraqi security forces, including paramilitary Shia units and Kurdish Peshmerga units, were killed in November alone.

The offensive is largely stalled and still has not reached the main part of Mosul city on the west bank of the Tigris River. Districts in east Mosul captured weeks ago have to be captured again. The main thrust of Iraqi government forces attack on Mosul was meant to come from the south, but this front has not moved for six weeks. Isis is even reported to have sent 500 fighters from Mosul across the desert to retake Palmyra, in the first important territorial gain by Isis for 18 months.

This is not an organisation that is going out of business fast, or even at all. The failure of Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham and other insurgent groups to defend east Aleppo more resolutely and successfully will probably lead to a haemorrhage of the most experienced and toughest fighters to Isis. It will have the advantage of being less dependent than the other rebel groups on outside support from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar who are close to accepting defeat in Syria. This may not save Isis in the long term because of the sheer number of its enemies, but it has shown once again that it is more resilient than the Pentagon had supposed.

There are serious consequences here for Europe: Isis can keep going for years with the low-level terrorist attacks like that which just happened in Berlin. It does not have to do much by way of exhortation or material aid to achieve this. When a terrorist incident does take place it is capable of shifting the political agenda in a country as large as Germany. Isis knows this and while it exists the terrorism will not stop.
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When Donald Trump and his wife swept down the escalators of Trump Tower with an ambitious announcement, nobody took them seriously. He did not really want to run for the White House, Mr Trump announced with a theatric flourish of purported modesty, but the state of the country left him no option.

Our country is in serious trouble. We dont have victories anymore. We used to have victories, but we dont have them, he declared.

Eighteen months and a million light years later, that day at his eponymous skyscraper in New York, seems so strange; the boisterous, barnstorming host of The Apprentice, a multi-billionaire keen to show off his mansions gaudy, gold fittings, is Americas President-elect, carried to victory on a wave of impassioned, anti-establishment anger, the depth of which, his which his rival, Hillary Hillary, repeatedly underestimated.

So much has been written about the remarkable upset that Mr Trumps victory represented, that one of the most pertinent aspects of the win is often overlooked - this was less about Donald Trump than it was about an electorate that in large swathes of the country felt disconnected and overlooked.

The 70-year-old celebrity television host, may have been a brilliant, if unlikely platform to give voice to that frustration, but that was all he was. He victory had less to do with his fame or policies, than an ability to claim the ultimate insider was somehow a vote against the elites who had run the country and prospered at the expense of others.

A number of his supporters may have been attracted by his bigoted and frequently racist rhetoric against Muslims and Mexicans, his vow to build a wall. White supremacists have certainly been celebrating since his win.

But the majority appear to have been drawn to him out out desperation, and in a rejection of mainstream politics.

An insight came during the first primary campaign in Iowa in January. On a freezing night in Davenport, the Adler Theatre was packed with people who have come out - many through curiousity - to see a man they only know from television and the recent debates.

Eric Bowen, 53, a plumber, said he has changed his registration from independent to Republican after seeing Mr Trump on television. Eight years ago he voted in the general election for Barack Obama, but he had never before taken part in an Iowa caucus to choose a nominee. That week, he was backing Trump. We need a businessman, he said. I think a businessman can get things done.

 Donald Trump says 'let it be an arms race' after nuclear expansion tweet

Two weeks later, at a university stadium in Plymouth, New Hampshire, a couple carrying a placard listened at Mr Trump talked about water-boarding terror suspects, how he had beaten Ted Cruz in the most recent debate, but most importantly about helping those who had fallen by the way side.

Toby and Wendy Shaw said they were tired listening to politicians promising to change things. People are fed up with the lies, said Mr Shaw. How many years have we had these politicians? Its time for someone with a backbone to stand up and do what needs to be done.

Similar scenes played out across the breadth of the country, from cities such as Weirton in West Virginia, still struggling to find a raison detre since the decline of the steel industry, hastened by the introduction of Nafta, which saw 16,000 industrial jobs reduced to fewer than a 1,000.

Not so far away, in Grundy, Virginia, a town, which by percentage of its population may have voted more overwhelmingly for Mr Trump than anywhere else, people bemoaned the end of the mining industry, something the tycoon, who had never dirtied his hands with a blue collar job in his life, said he would revive.

Mr Trump's victory surprised most political observers (AP)

And so it went on: the privileged playboy who five times secured a deferment for the draft for Vietnam, said he was the champion of veterans, but not those such as Senator John McCain who had the audacity to be taken prisoner by the enemy.

On issue after issue, while Mr Trumps rival appeared far better prepared and experienced, millions of voters rejected the establishment politician in choice of the untried wild card, with a model as his wife and his own jet.

Most of Mr Trumps supporters appeared as aware of the many inconsistencies he presented, as his opponents and the media.

If you asked them why he produced his Trump brand ties in China rather than the US, they would say it was probably because American manufacturing had been destroyed. But it was not something they pushed at too hard.

Likewise, if you raised the issue of his alleged sexual assaults of women - something he repeatedly denied - or the emergence of a video in which he appeared to brag about the issue, they dismissed it as old news at worst, and probably concocted.

The point was, his voters were not unaware of the ugly, toxic aspects of his campaign. Some said they were attracted by his willingness to speak his mind and his belief that he was not beholden to be politically correct.

Rather, they had calculated that despite the flaws, the advantages that he offered them as a candidate, were greater than the drawbacks.

And that, very simply put, was that he was not a politician, but rather a maverick who just might be able to shake things up. His lack of political experience was seen as positive, his confidence to break with Republican orthodoxy on issues such as free trade, taken as proof that he was not beholden to establishment elites in Washington.

They decided that they had had nothing to lose by opting for this unlikely candidate. And they felt it as keenly as the many millions who felt utter despair and anguish when he won.

At the end of a year which has he seen a rise in nationalist populism in Europe and other parts of the globe, this hugely divisive candidate is just days away from occupying the most powerful political office in the world. He has promised so much to so many. Those people, along any everyone else, are watching very closely.
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We were told in June that the Democratic National Committee had been hacked by Russians. We were told in October that material subsequently passed on to WikiLeaks came from the same source and that President Obama was considering a response.

Numerous articles were written about these leaks and about Donald Trump's many Russian connections. And yet no one was really outraged until now. Why? I have a theory: until you have seen for yourself how 21st-century disinformation works, you laugh at the very idea of it. Once you have understood its power, you stop laughing.

If I was slightly ahead of the curve, it's because - like everyone who ever wrote critically about Russia - I saw early on how it worked. A couple of years ago, I was the focus of a smear campaign, elements of which could have been lifted out of a spy novel. In the wake of the invasion of Crimea, I was writing quite a bit about Ukraine, when nasty little articles about me started appearing on Russia-based websites.

The technique was the same as that used by people who later dressed up the stories from the emails of the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta: mix truth and lies - my book contract and royalties were described as mysterious income from questionable sources - make ludicrous claims, pass on the lies to other Russian-backed websites, and then pass it on again.

 Barack Obama: US will act on election hacking by Russia

There was no way to correct the stories - to whom would I complain? - and as I'm not running for president, frankly who cares? But it was eye-opening to watch the stories move through a well-oiled system, one that had been constructed for exactly this sort of purpose. Eventually, the articles about me were echoed or quoted in a dozen places: on quasi-respectable websites with ties to Russian business, on Russia Today, on Ron Paul's Institute for Peace and Prosperity website. The trickle continued until months later - I genuinely don't know why - WikiLeaks in November 2015 tweeted one of the articles to its 4 million followers.

But I learned a lot. As I watched the story move around the Web, I saw how the worlds of fake websites and fake news exist to reinforce one another and give falsehood credence. Many of the websites quoted not the original, dodgy source, but one another. There were more of them than I'd realized, though I also learned that many of their "followers" (maybe even most of them) are bots - bits of computer code that can be programmed to imitate human social media accounts and told to pass on particular stories.

In my case, it didn't matter, because nobody I know cared about the stories. But during the U.S. election campaign, with millions and millions of bots at work, hundreds of fake stories in circulation and many volunteers joining the troll factories and botnets, maybe Kremlin-generated lies and Kremlin-created echo chambers did make a difference. The same techniques were at work as in my case: take a "truth" revealed in a hacked email, twist it into a scandal, pass it on via fake-news sites, troll factories and botnets, and see whether it sticks.

The Russians understood the power of such networks to fool people before anybody else. They also understood that the global information space, accessible to all, offered a cheap way for an impoverished ex-superpower to meddle in other countries' politics. But of course there was nothing to stop others from using the same techniques. Trump clearly did so, and the Russian propaganda state assisted him.

But this brings us to a deeper question, one that takes us beyond this ugly campaign and the possible Russian role in it: why are Americans so vulnerable to fake news, even when generated by a hostile foreign power? Why do they consume it and pass it on?

The fault is partly that of the Republican Party, which told people for years to hate and fear "Washington" and has now created a constituency that actually prefers information generated by the Kremlin or white supremacists. The problem also lay with Hillary Clinton, who was hardly a trusted figure to begin with.

But it is also true that we are living through a global media revolution, that people are hearing and digesting political information in brand-new ways and that nobody yet understands the consequences. Fake stories are easier to create, fake websites can be designed to host them, and social media rapidly disseminates disinformation that people trust because they get it from friends. This is true not only in the United States and Europe but around the world. Half of all Filipinos are active Facebook users, and millions of them shared the scare stories and fake news that helped elect President Rodrigo Duterte, a populist who claims he has personally carried out nonjudicial executions.

There are precedents. The printing press, praised by Martin Luther as "God's highest and extremest act of Grace," led to the Reformation, the Counter-Reformation and a century of religious wars. The invention of radio made possible the rise of Hitler and Stalin, both of whom understood the propaganda value of the new medium before anyone else. Eventually equilibrium was reached, and someday we will reach equilibrium, too.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post
Chef Neven Maguire has conceded his Border town restaurant faces a "disaster" if a hard border is reintroduced with Northern Ireland.

He said the possible reintroduction of custom controls on the island of Ireland would be awful for his eaterie, MacNean House and Restaurant, due to its location in the Border village of Blacklion, Cavan.

A significant number of 60-strong staff are from Co Fermanagh, while thousands of Ulster-based diners fill up the tables and guestrooms every year. And with a return of a hard Border, the 43-year-old said he will be keeping a watchful eye on the implications of Brexit.

"I think it could be a disaster for us if border controls came back," he said. "A lot of our staff come down to work from up the road in Fermanagh and we get a lot of customers who travel down from Belfast and other parts of the North to have dinner and stay over."

But despite his fears over Brexit, the award-winning TV chef said the past year has been one of his busiest to date, with nearly all weekend sittings booked up until the end of 2018.
Richard Cullen, former MD of Aran Candy, received a 10.12m windfall when he sold his remaining shareholding in the company

Jelly Bean king Richard Cullen received a 10.12m windfall in July when selling his remaining shareholding in the Dublin gourmet sweet firm he set up with his father 18 years ago.

Aran Candy, based in Blanchardstown, was established by father and son Peter and Richard Cullen in 1998. They identified an opportunity in the European confectionery market for an American-style high-quality jelly bean.

In May 2014, Swedish confectionery firm Cloetta acquired 75pc of Aran Candy, owner of the Jelly Bean Factory brand, for 15.5m in cash.

Now, after a stellar year for the Jelly Bean Factory in 2015, when pre-tax profits increased by 50pc to 3.9m, Mr Cullen, who served as MD of the firm, and fellow director, Triona Byrne, sold up the remaining 25pc shareholding for 11m in July.

In the deal, Mr Cullen received 10.12m, while Ms Byrne received around 880,000 with the windfalls subject to tax.

The purchased was confirmed in the latest quarterly report for Cloetta which stated that on July 4, "Cloetta Ireland Holding Ltd. acquired the remaining 25pc of the outstanding shares in Aran Candy Ltd, resulting in the settlement on the contingent consideration arising from an option agreement for an amount of 106m krona (11m)".

The purchase was also confirmed in the latest accounts for Aran Candy Ltd filed with the Companies Office which confirmed that Mr Cullen stepped down from the board early last month.

Ms Byrne resigned from the board in October.

The two sold their 'A' shares as a result of a call option by Cloetta to acquire the remaining shares and the holders had a put option to sell their interest, both at a price determined on earnings for the year ended December 2015.

The value of the options almost doubled in one year based on Aran Candy's performance last year where revenues increased by 14pc going to 14.6m.

Separate accounts filed by Cloetta Ireland Holdings Ltd showed that the put and call option facility concerning the 'A' shares was valued at 11m at the end of December last year - up from 6.5m at the end of 2014.

Aran Candy exports 96 per cent of its production to 60 markets around the globe, with its main market in the UK.

The firm exports to the US and Canada as well as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea.

Numbers employed by the firm at its facility in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, increased further last year, going up from 77 to 81.

Sixty one are engaged in production, 18 in administration and two are directors.

Total pay to staff, including directors last year, reduced from 2.65m to 2.55m.

The chief factor behind the drop was the amount paid to directors declining sharply, going from 678,307 to 422,261.

Accumulated profits last year increased from 7.2m to 10.7m. The firm's shareholder funds totalled 11.7m.

During the year, cash went from 892,063 to 1.15m. The profit takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 398,063, with operating leases going up from 360,000 to 522,446.

The company recorded a post-tax profit of 3.48m after paying corporation tax of 420,070.
Thanks to efforts from both China and Russia, construction of the first bridge across the boundary river of the two countries will officially begin on Dec. 24.

The project was jointed proposed by both countries in 1988. It took 28 years to finally realize the construction of the bridge, however. Since 2013, the provincial government of Heilongjiang in China and the state government of Amur in Russia have been actively accelerating the process by focusing on funding, which led to a major corporate contribution.

The bridge will become the first modern highway bridge connecting two countries along their border. At one end is Heihe in Heilongjiang province, and at the other is Blagoveshchensk, Amur in Russia. The total length of the bridge is 1,283 meters. It is scheduled to open to traffic in October 2019, requiring an estimated budget of 2.47 billion RMB.
Nokia Corp said on Wednesday it had filed a number of lawsuits against Apple Inc for violating 32 technology patents, striking back at the iPhone maker's legal action targeting the one-time cellphone leader a day earlier.

Nokia's lawsuits, filed in Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Munich, Germany, and the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, cover patents for displays, user interfaces, software, antennas, chipsets and video coding.

"Since agreeing a licence covering some patents from the Nokia Technologies portfolio in 2011, Apple has declined subsequent offers by Nokia to license other of its patented inventions which are used by many of Apple's products," Nokia said.

Apple on Tuesday took legal action against Acacia Research Corp and Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc, accusing them of colluding with Nokia to extract and extort exorbitant revenues unfairly from Apple.

"We've always been willing to pay a fair price to secure the rights of patents covering technology in our products," Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock said.

"Unfortunately, Nokia has refused to license its patents on a fair basis and is now using the tactics of a patent troll to attempt to extort money from Apple by applying a royalty rate to Apple's own inventions it had nothing to do with."

Acacia and Conversant did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Nokia was not immediately available to comment.

The legal action by Nokia and Apple appeared to mark a revival of the "smartphone patent wars" that began five years ago when Apple filed a series of patent infringement cases against Samsung Electronics.

Apple's lawsuit against Acacia, Conversant and Nokia was filed one day after Ottawa-based Conversant named Boris Teksler as its new chief executive. He was Apple's director of patent licensing and strategy from 2009 to 2013. Acacia is a publicly traded patent licensing firm in California.

One of its subsidiaries sued Apple for patent infringement and was awarded $22m (21m) by a Texas jury in September. Conversant, which claims to own thousands of patents, said last week that a Silicon Valley jury had awarded one of its units a $7.3m (6.9m) settlement in an infringement case against Apple involving two smartphone patents. (Reuters)
The statue of Sallustio Bandini, an economist and politician, stands in Piazza Salimbeni in front of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA bank HQ in Siena. Photo: Bloomberg

The world's oldest bank is heading for nationalisation after failing to find private sector backers for a 5bn rescue.

Italian lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is set to turn bondholder and will probably fail to lure sufficient demand for a capital increase, leading to what would be the country's biggest bank nationalisation in decades, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The Italian cabinet led by Paolo Gentiloni (inset), the prime minister designate, was expected to meet as early as last night to approve a bank decree that would include measures to cover any funds missing in Monte Paschi's recapitalisation, a senior official said, asking not to be identified before the decree was presented to cabinet.

No anchor investor had shown interest in the stock sale, the Siena-based bank said late Wednesday. Two debt-for-equity swap offers would raise about 2bn by converting bonds into equity, the lender said.

The interest would probably be insufficient to pull the deal off, said the people, who asked not to be identified before a final assessment.

"Nationalisation after five years of restructuring, two state bailouts and 8bn of wasted private funds is at the very least a missed opportunity, if not an outright failure of both the private and public sector," Fabrizio Bernardi, an analyst at Fidentiis Equities, said.

Monte Paschi ceo Marco Morelli had crisscrossed the globe looking for investors to back the bank's reorganisation plan, which included a share sale, a debt-for-equity swap and the sale of 28bn worth of soured loans.

A nationalisation of Monte Paschi would be the biggest in Italy since the 1930s. It could be followed by rescues for lenders including Veneto Banca and Banca Popolare di Vicenza as part of a 20bn government package.

The government would back lenders that fail to raise money privately, using a fund that would intervene if needed, and the banks would not be named specifically in the text of the decree, the official said.

The European Commission has approved the plan, the official said, adding that shareholders would be hit, but the aim was to limit losses for stockholders and bondholders.

The lender's subordinated bond risk is at a record amid concern the securities will share in the burden of a bailout. Monte Paschi's 379m of junior notes due in September 2020 fell 2c to trade at an all-time low of 46c per euro, according to data compiled by Bloomberg - pricing in steep bondholder losses.

State intervention and a hit to bondholders is the most likely scenario for Monte Paschi, which "could reduce the systemic risk for the sector," Manuela Meroni, an analyst at Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, said in a note to clients yesterday.

Qatar's sovereign-wealth fund, which had considered an investment, hasn't committed to buying shares, people with knowledge of the matter have said.

Other institutions that were considering buying shares have indicated that they would put funds in the troubled bank only if it's able to raise 1bn from cornerstone investors, according to the people. (Bloomberg)
Carrie Fisher poses for cameras as she arrives at the European Premiere of Star Wars, The Force Awakens in Leicester Square, London, December 16, 2015. REUTERS/Paul Hackett/File Photo

Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher is being treated in a hospital intensive care unit after suffering a medical emergency on a London to Los Angeles flight.

Her brother Todd Fisher said his sister is receiving excellent care but that he could not classify her condition.

He had earlier told The Associated Press that she had been stabilised and was out of the emergency room. In a subsequent interview he said many details about her condition or what caused the medical emergency are unknown.

Celebrity website TMZ, which first reported the incident, said anonymous sources told them the actress suffered a heart attack.

Todd Fisher said much of what had been reported about the incident was speculation.

"We have to wait and be patient," he said. "We have so little information ourselves."

Fisher's publicists and representatives for her mother, Debbie Reynolds, and her daughter, Billie Lourd, did not immediately return calls from the AP.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said paramedics administered advanced life-saving care to a patient at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday and transported the person to a nearby hospital. He did not identify the patient.

United Airlines said a passenger on flight 935 was "unresponsive".

A spokeswoman for police at LAX airport said: "Los Angeles police responded at 12.15pm to Terminal 7 regarding a female victim who went into cardiac arrest.

"Upon arrival the LAFD (Los Angeles Fire Department) was already performing CPR on the victim and the victim was transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment."

It was reported that Fisher was given CPR by passengers on board before the plane landed at LAX, where paramedics tried to resuscitate her for 15 minutes before finding a pulse.

Video of the Day

A large gathering of media personnel was camped outside Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles hospital, where TMZ and the Los Angeles Times reported she had been taken.

US YouTube star and actress Anna Akana tweeted about seeing the 60-year-old, who starred as Princess Leia in the sci-fi franchise, fall ill.

She said: "Don't know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home. Hope she's gonna be OK.

"So many thanks to the United flight crew who jumped into action, and the awesome doctor and nurse passengers who helped."

Fisher's co-stars and celebrity friends sent messages of support upon hearing the news.

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker alongside Fisher, said: "As if 2016 couldn't get any worse ... sending all our love to carrieffisher."

Talk show host Graham Norton said: "carrieffisher Don't even think about it!! This planet needs you on it! Sending so much love xxx"

Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew, who starred as Wookiee Chewbacca, tweeted to say: "Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now.. carrieffisher"

Game Of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie, who starred in The Force Awakens as Captain Phasma, tweeted: "The whole world is sending you so much love! Sending you the universes most powerful Force XXXXX"

Fisher has been on tour promoting her memoirs titled The Princess Diarist.

The actress made headlines recently with a revelation from her book claiming she had an ''intense'' affair with her co-star Harrison Ford during the making of Star Wars.

She claimed she had a three-month romance with Ford - a married father-of-two at the time - which she kept secret for 40 years.

She told People magazine: ''It was so intense. It was Han and Leia during the week, and Carrie and Harrison during the weekend.''

Fisher was 19 at the time of the alleged affair in 1976, 14 years younger than Ford, who was 33.

She returned to the role to star in 2015's Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens and is set to reprise it for Star Wars VIII which is scheduled for release in December 2017.

The actress was born in Beverly Hills, California, to actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher, who also found fame hosting his own television show.

She made her acting debut in 1975 in Shampoo, starring alongside household names such as Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn.

Following her role in the first instalment of the Star Wars Trilogy, Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977 , she went on to appear in the 1980 hit, The Blues Brothers.

During the same year (1980) she graced the cover of American music magazine, Rolling Stone, alongside her Star Wars co-stars, as they promoted The Empire Strikes Back.

Appearing on the Graham Norton show earlier this month, she referenced her comments about her alleged affair with Ford, saying she thought her revelation had "bugged" him as he is notoriously private.

She told Norton: "I had no idea it would cause such a sensation - 400,000 news sites picked up on it and it became a little embarrassing.

"They made a lot of things up which I now have to talk about - I never said he was bad in bed."
An empty office space in Sligo, believed to be owned by NAMA, has been occupied by homeless activists.

The building's location is being kept secret for the time being.

A building now being occupied in #Sligo due to the homeless crisis. Brilliant to see. Following the footsteps of #HomeSweetHome #apollohouse pic.twitter.com/NVvPfAG837  Paddy O Gallchobhair (@o_gallchobhair) December 21, 2016

According to activist Gary Smylie, who initiated the occupancy, 13 people have spent the night there on Wednesday and Thursday.

For whatever reason, they end up on the street, in a doorway, in an alley way or even sometimes sleeping in those large bins and wheels, Mr Smylie told OceanFM.

If theres a property being unused, I dont see why it shouldnt be used to keep people off the streets, and its safer.

I am keeping the location a secret for as long as possible and just hoping theyll be out of the winter for as long as possible.

The offices have no water or electricity but locals in Sligo have donated blankets and mattresses to the group.

Food is also being provided to those present.

Look at what you started? A peaceful revolution. Now we feel we can do this every where, Gary Smylie posted on the Keep Apollo open Facebook page.

On Wednesday, the High Court ordered those occupying Apollo House in Dublin City Centre to leave the premises by noon on January 11.

The ten-storey office building on Tara Street has been empty since the middle of last year.

But last week a group of housing activists entered the premises and have been providing accommodation to those who need shelter.

The receivers of Apollo House, Mazars, visited the building yesterday for the first time.

The Peter McVerry Trust also visited the residents on behalf of Dublin City Council to give them a one-to-one assessment.

Brendan Ogle, co-founder of the Home Sweet Home group, which campaigns to tackle homelessness, said "there were great developments" after the visit of Mazars.

Home Sweet Home had been occupying the building, and wants vacant properties to be used as emergency accommodation for the homeless.

"The receivers and their whole team looked at the building in terms of insurance, in terms of fire and in terms of their expectations in relation to their property rights," Mr Ogle said.

"I don't want to put words into their mouths, but we are very happy with how that meeting went. We think they are pleasantly surprised from what they've seen."
The receivers of Apollo House, Mazars, visited the building yesterday for the first time.

The Peter McVerry Trust also visited the residents on behalf of Dublin City Council to give them a one-to-one assessment.

Brendan Ogle, co-founder of the Home Sweet Home group, which campaigns to tackle homelessness, said "there were great developments" after the visit of Mazars.

Home Sweet Home had been occupying the building, and wants vacant properties to be used as emergency accommodation for the homeless.

"The receivers and their whole team looked at the building in terms of insurance, in terms of fire and in terms of their expectations in relation to their property rights," Mr Ogle said.

"I don't want to put words into their mouths, but we are very happy with how that meeting went. We think they are pleasantly surprised from what they've seen."

Resolution

Mr Ogle said they haven't thought past Christmas and therefore do not know what will happen with the January 11 eviction date ordered by the court on Wednesday.

"The receivers are working with the various parties involved to ensure an orderly resolution as envisaged by the court," a spokesperson for Mazars said.

Meanwhile, Peter McVerry said there were not enough beds at the Merchant's Quay facility for the homeless.

"Suitable accommodation is not a bed rolled out on a floor surrounded by 20 other people," volunteer Justin Casey, who has worked in Apollo House every night since its opening, said.

"We feel that Apollo House is totally unsuitable for residential accommodation," Dublin City Council deputy chief executive Brendan Kenny said.

Speaking on RTE Radio One yesterday, Mr Kenny said: "We don't agree they [the residents] feel safe there.

"We'd like to talk to them on an individual basis and we'd like to show them the quality accommodation that has been provided only in the last few weeks in Dublin city."

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: "There are sufficient bed places to address the needs of rough sleepers."
A young mother who feared she would die during a violent attack by her former partner has said he should have been charged with attempted murder.

Jessica Bowes (33) begged for her life during the "merciless" beating by Jonathan McSherry (34) in the days before Christmas last year.

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McSherry, who this week received a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence for assault, breached a barring order to go to Jessica's home to assault her, and was high on cocaine when he repeatedly punched and kicked her, fracturing her eye sockets, face and skull.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally said that McSherry's "brutal acts of violence" left Jessica unconsciousness and in "a very perilous position".

McSherry, of Cedarbrook Walk, Cherry Orchard, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Grange View Way, Clondalkin, on December 20, 2015, and was given a three-and-a-half-year sentence with 12 months suspended.

Jessica believes he should have been charged with attempted murder.

"He waited outside my house for 45 minutes for me to arrive home. He was kicking the door and damaged my car. He set out to hurt me that night. He was there to kill me," she said.

"The maximum he could have got after being charged with assault was five years but he pleaded guilty and then did the whole Coolmine drug treatment thing, so that was used to reduce his sentence."

"But if he was charged with attempted murder he would have got longer I think," she added.

Jessica was also critical of McSherry for using the services of a residential drug treatment facility in Coolmine, accusing him of playing the system.

"Jonathan was never an addict. He was a man who liked to socialise and drink and recreational drugs came with that.

"He played the system well by getting the drug treatment after being arrested but it didn't work in that he still got a jail sentence," she said.

"I just hope that this sends out a message to people, especially at this time of the year when I think there is a greater risk of domestic violence, that violence is wrong," Jessica added.

Footage of the attack, played in court, showed McSherry punching Jessica to the ground, kicking her at least four times and then dragging her along the ground and continuing to punch her.

She lost consciousness after the first punch and then a second time during what she described as a merciless attack.

"I told him he was going to kill me but he kept going. I eventually managed to escape him when he chased my friend.

"I banged on a neighbour's door and then dived under their car to get my head away from him. I knew if he hit or kicked me in the head again I would die," Jessica said.

"It was always the same with Jonathan. If we had a row he would scrape my face or threaten to throw acid in my face if I ever did anything on him.

"My head or face is the first place he'd aim for."

The court heard there were fractures to Jessica's skull, eye sockets and cheek bone.

The imprint of a shoe was left on her face and there were boot marks under her chin.

She had a metal plate put into her face. Her memory was impaired and she relied on her 10-year-old daughter to remind her of the younger children's birthdays, the court heard.

Jessica said she was now overprotective of her children and in a constant state of anxiety.

She had nightmares about McSherry and became paralysed with fear and "trapped in a nightmare".

Counsel for McSherry, who has two young children with Jessica, said he had no words to express his remorse for his actions.

"He has done everything he can to make amends, to try to change himself, for the sake of his family."
Garda forensics at the scene of the shooting in the Ronanstown area of west Dublin. Inset: Noel Kirwan, left, with Gerry The Monk Hutch

The deadly Kinahan-Hutch feud erupted once more last night as a lifelong friend of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch was shot dead.

Noel Kirwan (62) was gunned down shortly after 5pm at St Ronan's Drive in Ronanstown, west Dublin.

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A lone gunman approached Kirwan as he sat in his Ford Mondeo vehicle outside his home.

His partner, who he was living with at the property, was with him at the time and saw the shooting, according to gardai.

Superintendent at Lucan garda station Dermot Mann said Kirwan's partner is "uninjured but obviously very distressed".

Several shots were fired at the victim, including several to his head, before the assailant ran to a waiting van, where there was a getaway driver.

It is understood Kirwan's killing is linked to the feud between the Kinahan cartel and the Hutch criminal gang that has now claimed 11 lives. The Irish Independent has learned the victim's life was under threat and he was formally warned by gardai just days after he chaperoned 'The Monk' to the funeral of his brother, Eddie Hutch Snr, in February.

Read more: Who was Noel Kirwan - Dublin's latest gangland victim?

Kirwan knew his life was in danger and had an elaborate CCTV system installed in his west-Dublin home after detectives warned him of the threat.

His killer lay in wait for him at St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin and shot him multiple times in the head and body. Gardai have launched a major manhunt for the gunman.

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Forensic officers arrived at the scene shortly after 7pm yesterday as a tent was placed over a car outside the driveway of the home. A small van believed to have been used in the shooting was found burnt out at Neilstown Shopping Centre a short time later.

Vicious

Sources say that gardai believe Kirwan was definitely targeted by the Kinahan cartel and it is the 11th murder linked to the vicious feud that was sparked by the shooting of Gary Hutch in September 2014.

It previously emerged that Kirwan's family home in Kilbarrack was targeted by members of the Kinahan cartel in August.

Nicknamed 'Duck Egg', Kirwan had a number of serious brushes with the law and he was previously arrested for firearms offences. There was shock in Dublin's inner city when it emerged that Kirwan had been gunned down in Ronanstown.

A former low-level criminal in his younger years, Kirwan had long turned his back on crime, according to locals.

"He would have grown up with some of the Hutch family, and it is my guess he was murdered because of this. There is no way he should be a target," a source said.

It is understood Kirwan moved to Kilbarrack some years ago and more recently had been living with his partner in Ronanstown.

His father worked in the docks and it is believed Kirwan inherited his father's unusual nickname from him.

Local TD Gino Kenny said "the tentacles and violence of this feud really are out of control" and an extra 10,000 gardai wouldn't stop it. "Someone is eventually going to have to say down the line that it has to stop because it's just leaving a trail of misery across Dublin."

Speaking on Friday morning, local residents expressed deep shock today at the murder in their midst.

Lights were on inside the house where the woman friend of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan resides. She was with him in the car when the killer pumped bullets into her boyfriend's head.

A local man, a 38-year-old father-of-one, said today "It's dreadful. I heard the sirens last night and saw the garda helicopter overhead. A man living in the area went across the road after the shooting to try to help.

"After the shooting, the woman was in the car holding the man's head.

"People are saying that the gunman used a silencer on his gun because people didn't hear shots."

A 67-year-old local woman said : "It's shocking that it happened so close to Christmas. She is a really nice lady.

"The police came to my door after it happened and I told them that I saw nothing," she said.

A 39-year-old mother-of-two said "I looked out the window and saw all the police cars and Special Branch cars all over the place. The guards were everywhere.

"I didn't hear any shots.

"I'm just relieved that there were no children out on the road when it happened.

"I'm not living here long. No one wants this happening on their door steps," she said.
Dr Awadalla, who worked as a locum consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Midland Regional Hospital during 2010, now lives and works as a consultant in the Sudan. Photo: HSE

A doctor has been found guilty of poor professional performance in failing to diagnose cervical cancer in an 80-year-old patient.

A Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry heard the patient, Mary Hughes, was in severe pain before she received a diagnosis two years after her initial symptoms began.

She died from the disease in May 2011, seven months after the eventual diagnosis.

The committee of inquiry found Dr Mukhtar El Siddig Awadalla (53) had failed to properly carry out a procedure in May 2010 which could have led to an earlier diagnosis.

It rejected the doctor's defence that any tumour may have been too small to detect at that time. Ms Hughes, a mother-of-four from co Longford, suffered from a number of medical conditions, the inquiry heard.

She had a good quality of life until 2008. At that time, she began to suffer from bleeding and abdominal pain, and her health deteriorated.

In March 2010, when Ms Hughes was 80 years old, she met with Dr Awadalla. The inquiry found that Dr Awadalla had failed to arrange a hysteroscopy in a timely manner but that there were "clearly deficiencies in the procedure for making such arrangements". As a result the committee said it does not regard the failure as serious.

A hysteroscopy was eventually performed on Ms Hughes on May 14, 2010.

It was alleged that Dr Awadalla failed to pay attention to Mrs Hughes's endocervical canal, where a tumour may have been located.

The committee found that it constituted poor professional performance. It said an ultrasound and bleeding indicated a tumour was present.

It also found Dr Awadalla guilty of failing to take a biopsy during the procedure which could have led to an earlier diagnosis of the cancer.

The committee also found the doctor failed to keep adequate notes in relation to the patient but ruled that this breach was not serious enough to count as poor professional performance.

The committee will now make a recommendation to the Medical Council on the appropriate sanction.

Dr Awadalla, who worked as a locum consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Midland Regional Hospital during 2010, now lives and works as a consultant in the Sudan.
Tallaght Hospital in Dublin is still battling an outbreak of the superbug Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) months after it first emerged in the adult section

The number of people struck by one of winter's nastiest bugs is dramatically on the rise - prompting an appeal by hospitals to anyone suffering symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea to stay at home.

The upsurge in the winter vomiting bug, known as the norovirus, has already seen struggling hospitals shut down beds, worsening the trolley crisis.

Victims of the bug, which is highly contagious, can suffer projectile vomiting and diarrhoea within minutes or hours.

There have been 2,586 laboratory-confirmed cases up to the middle of this month and 124 outbreaks, including an outbreak of the bug at the Slieve Russell Hotel, forcing its closure this week.

Public health specialist Dr Paul McKeown said patients and visitors who have symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea should not attend hospitals or other facilities and instead phone their GP or ask a pharmacist for advice.

"This bug, while often unpleasant, rarely causes serious problems for healthy children and adults," he said.

"It can, however, be a serious problem in hospitals and residential facilities where it can lead to ward closures, postponed operations, and, worryingly, can result in very serious illness for patients in hospital who are already weakened by other medical conditions.

"The levels circulating in the community are highest during the winter season. Every few years, we get unusually busy (upsurge) seasons with particularly high levels of norovirus - this season is likely to be especially busy.

"In general, if somebody feels they may have norovirus, they should stay away from hospital, nursing homes, the GP's surgery, hotels, restaurants, work, college and school until they have recovered and are symptom-free for 48 hours.

"Healthy adults and children who contract this infection need to rest. There is no specific treatment for norovirus apart from sipping plenty of clear fluids such as water or flat lemonade. The worst of the symptoms are over in a day or two."

And there was further evidence of winter's bite yesterday after figures showed 50 patients were admitted to hospital last week suffering from the flu, including eight who were placed in critical care.

One death from flu has so far been recorded this winter.

Meanwhile, Tallaght Hospital in Dublin is still battling an outbreak of the superbug Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) months after it first emerged in the adult section.

A spokeswoman said all appropriate precautions and screenings are being undertaken and the number of cases is decreasing.

Patients are asked to contact their GP before coming to the emergency department.

The hospital has said that patients can expect to face delays during very busy periods.
An official from the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria slammed Western media on Dec. 22 for spreading disinformation that the 102 bags of "plastic rice" recently intercepted by Nigerian Customs were smuggled from China. The case is now under investigation.

Mainstream media in Nigeria largely chose not to speculate on the origin of the rice, but local news site Naij quoted the Korea Times, which argued that the case might be related to China. Western media, too, has speculated. The BBC reported that the source of the rice is currently unclear, but plastic rice was spotted in China last year. The AFP cited an official from Nigerian Customs who expressed doubt that the rice was made in China.

An official from the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office of Nigeria's Chinese Embassy told the Global Times that news about plastic rice in China has been proven false. He believes that even the reports of plastic rice in Nigeria could be untrue. Nigeria is a rice-rich country, he pointed out, adding that it's a not economically sound to smuggle fake rice from thousands of miles away.

The official noted that plastic rice was previously reported by Nigerian media in October and November, but no evidence could prove that it came from China. This new round of speculation by Western media is total nonsense, he added.
Amy Loughrey (inset) was on her way home from work when the fatal incident occurred

A family were given "the worst possible news ever" when two policemen arrived at their door to say their daughter had died in a car accident in Co Donegal.

Amy Loughrey (25) from Co Derry was killed when her car collided with another in Fahan, Co Donegal on Thursday night.

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The young woman was on her way home from work when the fatal incident occurred.

"Instead of her daughter at the door, two policemen gave her mum the most terrible news imaginable. That her young daughter had been killed in a car crash," local priest Fr Michael Canny told Independent.ie.

"She was on her way home from work. It's a terrible tragedy.

"When I went to see the family today they were in the middle of taking down their Christmas decorations. It just seemed so inappropriate to have them up during this time of grieving. Christmas is supposed to be a family time and now they're faced with terrible grief and sadness."

Local councillor Hillary McClintock Alderman (DUP) said it was a "terrible loss".

"My sympathies go out to the family at this time. It's terrible for something like this to happen, especially at Christmas."

Ms Loughrey was a popular member of staff at the Red Door, a favourite restaurant of celebrity couple Snow Patrols Johnny McDaid and Friends actress Courteney Cox. The restaurant closed and cancelled Christmas bookings as a mark of respect.

People from all over the world posted tributes to the young woman, who had worked abroad, online.

Patrick's Bar in Gran Canaria wrote; "With a heavy heart I'd just like to say that all OV us at Patricks bar are devastated at the news of a beloved member of our team passing away today.

"You were and always will be one in a million Amy. Thank you for all the years you worked for us and all the joy and memories you brought to our lives ...... RIP Sweet girl and love to all your family at this sad, sad time [sic]."

One person wrote; "Desperately sad news. Such a loss so close to Christmas. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Sadly missed."

Others wrote about how she was a "beautiful soul", "a beautiful person" and a "beautiful girl".

Foyle International School, where Amy worked as a summer school teacher, wrote; "It is with the greatest sadness that we share the tragic news of the death of one of our summer school teachers in a road accident in Donegal.

"Amy Loughrey will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with her family and friends."

In County Leitrim, a female pedestrian (74) was killed in Drumshanbo on Thursday night.

Gardai say the collision occurred at Acres in the town at approximately 7.15pm.

The car collided with the woman on the Carrick on Shannon road out of Drumshambo(R207). She was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene and her body has been removed to the morgue at Sligo General Hospital.

The female driver (50) was uninjured. There were no passenger in the cars.

The road was closed to facilitate a Forensic Collision examination but has since reopened.

Witnesses to either collision are asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Meanwhile, a man has died in a serious one-vehicle crash on Friday afternoon that closed the M1 in Northern Ireland in both directions near Tamnamore, Co Tyrone between junctions 13 and 14.

The crash happened at around 12.35pm and involved a grey Honda Civic.

Police advised drivers heading to Belfast to exit at junction 15, Stanmore, those heading towards Enniskillen have been told to exit at junction 12 and travel via Armagh.

John McPoland from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said they were alerted at 12.37pm of a single vehicle RTC on the citybound on the M1 between junctions 13 and junction 12.

Paramedics attended the scene but no one was taken from it.

UUP councillor for Dungannon Walter Cuddy said a friend of his daughter's had witnessed the crash and believed one man was involved.

"It looks like a man driving towards Belfast lost control of his car completely. A friend of my daughter's was in the car behind and seen it all happen," he said.

"She's 25 and would be a balanced young girl and called it a horrendous accident, she's in a really bad state as she saw it all first hand."

RSA confirmed to Independent.ie that the latest two road deaths in the Republic of Ireland now bring the 2016 road death toll to 184 fatalities, meaning 27 more lives have been lost than in the same period in 2016.
The German national, who is 46 years old, was taken to St Vincents Hospital after the arson attack. Stock photo: PA

A homeless man who was sleeping rough in a car has been treated for burns in hospital after the vehicle was set on fire.

The German national, who is 46 years old, was taken to St Vincent's Hospital after the arson attack.

The incident happened outside the Hume House office block on Pembroke Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin, at 11.15pm on Wednesday.

Gardai are investigating if the victim of the attack may have earlier been involved in a disagreement with another man who may also have been homeless. It is understood the car that was set on fire was owned by the victim.

Gardai are waiting to interview the victim of the fire which badly damaged the outside of the car. Dublin Fire Brigade responded to a 999 call to deal with the fire and transfer the injured man to hospital.

He was treated for minor burns and kept in overnight for observation, but it was expected he was due to be discharged last night.

No arrests have yet been made but gardai are following a definite line of inquiry in relation to the incident. The incident happened as homeless services battle with accommodating large numbers of people sleeping rough in Dublin.
An Irishman arrested at the Rio Olympics and charged with ticket touting has returned to Ireland, his lawyer has confirmed.

Kevin Mallon was given his passport back earlier next week and told he could return home for Christmas.

Lawyer Franklin Gomes said this morning that his client is already in Ireland with his family, having left Brazil yesterday, after more than four months.

His passport was held by Brazilian officials since his release from Bangu maximum security prison in August, and he has spent the interim period living in an apartment in Leblon, Rios beach district.

A judgement published on November 22 allowed for the release of his passport, upon payment of a bond of R$1.5million (440,000).

However, his legal team managed to get this amount reduced by 50%, claiming that he 36 year old did not have resources to pay such a hefty bond amount.

Expand Close Kevin Mallon outside a Rio court. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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The bond of the lower amount of R$750,000 (220,000) was lodged to the Brazilian courts on Tuesday, the same day the Brazilian judicial system entered into its annual summer recess. Regular courts will re-open in Brazil on January 6, 2017.

Mr Gomes said a judge providing emergency cover to the courts agreed last Wednesday to release the passport, once Mr Mallon signed an agreement to continue to fully engage with and co-operate with the ongoing legal process in Brazil.

He said his client had been getting worried as Christmas approached, without his passport being returned. But, he said, the judge showed good sense, and allowed for his passport to be given back to him. We still have some judges with good sense here in Brazil.

Mr Gomes said the legal team had been focusing on getting Mr Mallon back to Ireland to spend Christmas with his infant child, and family.

Now that Mr Mallon has left Brazil, his lawyers will focus on other aspects of the case.

Mr Gomes said there have been several unnecessary delays as the case was moved around the city, between the Special Court for Supporters and Large Events, located near Rios international airport, and the public prosecutors office in downtown Rio.

Critical of the prosecutor involved in the case ticket touting case, Mr Gomes says Marcus Kac acted irresponsibly in laying down charges in this case.

In a Habeus Corpus case filed with the Court of Justice in Rio de Janeiro, to have the case against Mr Mallon shelved, due to a lack of just cause, it is claimed that charges laid by the prosecution in the case are generic and superficial, based on fantasy and speculation.

Responding to these claims in Rio de Janeiro last week, Marcus Kac said: Its the right of the defence to say whatever they want.

"Normally, when the defence has nothing to say, they disqualify the professional work of others. In 21 years Ive never made up charges against anyone, Im not going to start now.

Kevin Mallon maintains his innocence on all cited charges, and his lawyer says he will cooperate 100% with the ongoing legal process in Rio de Janeiro. Kevin will return to Brazil when he is called by the courts.
Cabinet member Regina Doherty has been accused of trying to organise a protest against her own Government after saying she would encourage civil disobedience as part of an effort to stop overground electricity lines passing through her constituency.

The TD is vehemently opposed to EirGrid's plan for a North-South Interconnector, which will see pylons erected along a route from her constituency in Meath to Co Tyrone.

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said a decision by An Bord Pleanala this week to give the 135km project the green light was "independent".

However, in a statement, his chief whip said: "We are about to enter into a stage of civil disobedience to hamper a decision made by An Bord Pleanala and I fully support the farmers and landowners in that action."

Fianna Fail's Thomas Byrne, who shares her constituency and also opposes the overground lines, said Ms Doherty was effectively organising a protest against herself.

"I think the Government badly needs a Christmas break when a minister is suggesting supporting civil disobedience against her own Government. It would be like Phil Hogan taking charge of the water protests," he told the Irish Independent.

"Civil disobedience is not necessary here and I'm not encouraging it. All that is needed is a change of policy from the Government itself. This will bring us into line with what is happening on the continent."

Mr Byrne noted that Germany and Belgium are currently building an underground interconnector and said Ms Doherty's job is to convince her Cabinet colleagues to follow a similar route.

"My fellow Meath East TD Regina and her Government colleagues have the power to do this here too.

"So, the Government should simply change the policy and stop distractions like suggesting protests against themselves," Mr Byrne said.

But Mr Kenny said there had been "10 years of discussions and protests and negotiations about this particular development". "I made the point that we've an all-island energy market. These kinds of facilities are important for our economies, north and south. But it's not for me to adjudicate on the independence of An Bord Pleanala.

"And while I understand that this will go for a judicial review, that is also independent in the determination of its outcome," the Taoiseach said.

The EirGrid plan involved almost 300 above-ground pylons passing through parts of Meath, Monaghan, Cavan and Tyrone. The pylons will range in height from 26m to 51m. An Bord Pleanala received objections from more than 200 landowners, saying the development was a strategic necessity.

A spokesperson for Ms Doherty said she had "nothing to add" last night, but Fine Gael senator Ray Butler attempted to defend his colleague on RTE's 'News At One'. He said she had "always been consistent on this issue" whereas Fianna Fail were "like the Wombles".

"When they were out of government they wanted them underground and when they were in government had no problem putting them overground.

"Regina has always had her view and she has always been adamant. She's passionate about it," Mr Butler said.

"When I went to look at the Programme for Government, there was everything from bogs to bees in a 132-page document but there wasn't one thing about the North-South Interconnector.

"We'd a lot of people banging their chests over the years, saying they were going to stop it and if they got into government in any shape or form they'd do something. They've done nothing," he said.
Earlier this year, Waterford TD John Halligan claimed he had secured 10 million in principle for the building of a new runway. Photo: Tom Burke

Waterford Airport - which has no scheduled air services - has been handed a 1m grant by the Department of Transport to help pay its bills.

The money has been given to Waterford Airport on top of an 870,000 allocation made to it in September to fund safety and security improvements.

The airport was told that it would not receive any of that 870,000 until it had a scheduled service again.

The Department of Transport - headed by Minister Shane Ross - confirmed that the latest allocation made to Waterford is to provide assistance towards safety and security operational costs at a time when the airport has virtually no income.

The airport is used as a base for a search and rescue helicopter, and also used by private pilots. The Department said that security and safety costs covered under the latest 1m grant to Waterford Airport had already been incurred and that the money would be paid immediately to the airport.

Waterford Airport has had no scheduled services since losing a link to London Luton in June. It was operated by now-bankrupt Belgian airline VLM.

The airport could struggle to secure a fresh air link given that it's less than a two-hour drive from Waterford to either Dublin or Cork.

The Government originally committed 28m in its 2016-2022 capital plan for the country's four regional airports, at Waterford, Donegal, Kerry and Knock.

It then earmarked an additional 10m. The money is administered by the Department of Transport.

The Department will begin to allocate the 10m next year.

Earlier this year, Waterford TD John Halligan claimed he had secured 10 million 'in principle' for the building of a new runway.

However, it later emerged the funding had not been earmarked for the runway. In fact, in the latest funding round for the country's four regional airports, the Department of Transport has allocated a total of just under 2.8m.

Waterford has received the biggest chunk of the funds.

Ireland West Airport Knock got 868,000; Donegal Airport got 320,000; and Kerry Airport got nearly 563,000.

"This support is very important for these smaller airports and for the role they play in promoting a level of international connectivity to support the tourism and business sectors in their regions," said Mr Ross.

Waterford Airport has been trying for months to secure new services. VLM went into bankruptcy soon after cancelling its Waterford route. VLM chief executive Hamish Davidson told the Irish Independent earlier this year that he did not think sufficient demand existed for larger jet use at Waterford.
Some 177 prisoners will be released over the Christmas period, the prison service has confirmed.

In a statement the Department of Justice confirmed that the inmates will be granted varying periods of temporary release.

This figure represents approximately 4pc of the overall prisoner population.

However, Independent.ie has learned that most of the high-profile criminals, including wife killer Joe O'Reilly and murderer Graham Dwyer, will remain behind bars over the festive season.

The number is less than in previous years. The corresponding numbers released for Christmas in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were 249, 242 and 203.

A source said that this was largely due to the smaller number of people in Irish prisons.

According to the statement many of the prisoners being released are nearing the end of their sentences and "the overriding concern when considering the applications is the safety of the public".

The statement continues: "In addition to compassionate and humane considerations, other criteria taken into account include the nature and gravity of the offence, length of sentence served to date, prior record on temporary release, behaviour while in custody and previous criminal history."

The periods of release vary from a few hours, in some cases accompanied by another responsible person, up to seven nights.

"All releases are subject to stringent conditions and any offender who breaks these conditions may be arrested and returned immediately to prison by the Gardai."

In previous years small numbers of prisoners have failed to return at the end of their period of temporary release.
A huge wave crashes against Castlerock pier as professional surfer Al Mennie waits on a break in the swell in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Dublin Airport has confirmed there are several flight delays on one of the busiest days of the year due to storm Barbara.

Due to a change in the direction of strong winds, airport officials have had to switch runways.

All flights delayed in #DublinAirport. It's pretty packed here in terminal one @DublinAirport pic.twitter.com/vpxwoGigpT  Cian Og (@_C_O_G_) December 23, 2016

There are about 245 flights between noon and 5pm today and 50 of them are delayed.

However a spokesperson said the average amount of time people will wait is about 40 minutes.

The spokesperson said the weather is expected to improve in the afternoon.

There are some delays at the minute, but they are currently not significant, said a Dublin Airport spokesperson.

Dublin Airport later tweeted; "Some flight delays @DublinAirport due to high winds, weather expected to improve in the afternoon. Check with your airline for latest info [sic]."

Earlier the Irish Coast Guard has issued a stark warning ahead of the Christmas Holiday period.

Storm Barbara will bring winds of up to 120km/h when it "side-swipes" parts of Ireland today.

In a statement the Coast Guard said: "Storm Barbara, which will give rise to stormy conditions, is forecasted to blow through today and there is a risk of some stormy weather returning on Christmas Day."

They have issued a warning to all water enthusiasts to be careful in the high tides and dangerous seas.

"The Coast Guard is requesting members of the public planning on engaging in any coastal activities to first check that it is safe to do and to be mindful of the risks and life threatening dangers that can arise without warning.

"Many people will be engaging in outdoor activities along the coastline, be it on exposed coasts, cliffs, piers, harbour walls, beaches, promenades or other coastal areas.

"The simple safety message is; Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry."

Met Eireann says a status orange weather warning is in place for coastal regions and high grounds of Donegal, Galway and Mayo.

The forecaster is predicting that there will be southerly winds, later west to southwest of 65 to 75 km/h with severe gusts between 100 and 120 km/h.

A status yellow wind warning is in place for the rest of the country.

A number of ferry services from the UK have been cancelled today as a result of the weather.

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Passengers are advised that they can be accommodated on the Ulysses cruise ferry services at other times and to check notices.

Stena Line, which operates from Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard, warned that some of its services may be affected.

"Winter Storm Barbara is set to bring wet and windy conditions to the UK," it said.

"Unfortunately this may cause disruption to some of our scheduled sailings this Friday and Saturday."

The Road Safety Authority urged drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to exercise caution.

The Coast Guard has advised that a general improvement in weather conditions conducive to outdoor activities, is forecasted from St Stephens Day.

"Christmas Day Swims are a popular pursuit and the Coast Guard is urging the public to only participate in organised swims where medical support and lifeguards are available.

"Lone swimming should be avoided and all swimmers should be cognisant that time in the water should be kept to a minimum as even the most experienced of swimmers can easily succumb to cramp or cold water shock."

The three Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centres based in Malin, Valentia and Dublin, along with the Coast Guard Helicopter service and Coast Guard Volunteer units will remain operational over the holiday period.

Dublin Fire Brigade have seen the lighter side of Storm Barbara, posting this hilarious message:
A dad who couldnt see his three toddler sons for months due to life-saving cancer treatment is hoping to go home for Christmas as hes doing really well.

Richard Chute (26) from Cork was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia earlier this year when he began complaining with swollen lymphs and was admitted to Cork University Hospital.

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The navy officer was diagnosed in May and has only been able to see his twin sons Joshua and Elijah (2) and Luke (1), a couple of times due to the risk of infection.

"He went into hospital one day and he never came home," his wife Valerie (27) told Independent.ie.

Valerie hopes there will be some Christmas magic and Richard will be able to spend Christmas at home with his family.

We didnt know what Christmas would be like this year because we just have to wait and see. We are hoping Richard will come home to Cork for a few days at Christmas and then go back into hospital for more treatment. Hes doing really well, so Christmas at home looks like a possibility, Valerie said.

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Hes a bit apprehensive because he feels so fragile but hes so excited to be home with his boys. He missed them tremendously.

In November, Richard underwent a bone marrow transplant in Dublin and has been doing really well ever since.

Valerie made the heartbreaking decision to leave her three young sons in the care of her family in Cork so she could be with Richard during his treatment.

"Our consultant said give us one year of your life and well give you the rest of your life to be with your babies. Hopefully the boys will have their dad the rest of their lives."

Expand Close The hardest part for Richard as he battles cancer is not being able to see his sons / Facebook

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Whatsapp The hardest part for Richard as he battles cancer is not being able to see his sons

Valerie said they soon became homesick as they were so far away from their friends and family in Cork.

When Richard was admitted it was a strange feeling being here, because we felt a million miles away from our home in Cork.

It's easy to take for granted being able to call someone for a coffee and chat or to meet for a quick lunch. We both started to miss our friends and family a lot.

Valerie described Richards bone marrow transport as anti-climatic but after a few days, Richard began to deteriorate.

A few days after things started to get bad for Richard but we were prepared for the worst.

Some days felt endless as he couldn't get comfortable and the only thing I could do was sit by the bed doing nothing but praying.

Richard gradually began to improve and was discharged from hospital to a nearby Dublin apartment.

He's doing ok and they want him to keep doing what he's doing and, all going well, we could get home for a weekend to see our little men before Christmas.

Thinking about the kids kept us going. We were so thankful that my family is looking after them because it makes it easier for us knowing that they are loved.



To be honest we felt more sorry for all of them who were minding them and their mental sanity, Valerie joked.

If it wasn't for Richards mind being able to focus on getting home to those three, I think it could have been a lot different.

Valerie said that Richard continued to stay optimistic, despite his intense treatment.

God gave him the strength to carry this cross and in the same time looked after our kids. Richard kept praying to God to be a father to my kids.

Valerie thanked everyone who has helped her family raise vital funds for Richards treatment.

The help we have gotten from everybody has made this journey so much easier. Honestly we are so grateful. The support we have had was incredible.

We know that this journey is still ongoing and will be for a while but Richard can honestly say the help and support that he has received from everybody gives him the strength to go on.

You can donate to Richards GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/2h5w43w
Mary Cahill greets her daughter Sarah at Shannon Airport as she arrives home from London

Christmas travel plans have been thrown into disarray by Storm Barbara, with six of today's Irish Ferries' crossings being cancelled.

Met Eireann issued an orange alert, with coastal regions and high ground in Donegal, Mayo and Galway expected to be worst hit by gale-force winds gusting up to 120kmh.

Storm Barbara is expected to sweep over the country from the south and west, bringing milder temperatures but heavy rains with the gales.

A short statement on Irish Ferries' website said that certain ferries were being cancelled "due to adverse weather conditions on the Irish Sea".

It added: "Irish Ferries apologises for any inconvenience caused by this disruption."

Swift services from Dublin to Holyhead have been cancelled along with the planned service on the Oscar Wilde at 10.45am, as have ferries operating back from Holyhead.

Passengers are advised that they can be accommodated on the Ulysses cruise ferry services at other times and to check notices.

Stena Line, which operates from Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard, also warned that some of its services may be affected.

Read more: Christmas travel chaos: Storm Barbara causes cancellation of multiple ferry crossings

"Storm Barbara is set to bring wet and windy conditions to the UK. Unfortunately this may cause disruption to some of our scheduled sailings this Friday and Saturday," it said.

Meanwhile, flights from three London airports were hit by delays after fog shrouded the English capital.

Festive travel plans were disrupted after Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports all experienced a raft of hold-ups due to the weather.

A spokesman for Heathrow said some early-morning flights were pushed back and knock-on delays could take place throughout the day, adding that there has yet to be any cancellations.

British Airways said on its official Twitter feed: "We are sorry for the difficulties caused by the poor weather and will do all we can to minimise the effect it has on our operations."

It comes as Britain braces itself for the arrival of Storm Barbara, which is set to batter the country with strong winds.

Scotland is predicted to be the worst hit by the weather, with gusts of up to 140kmh forecast in places.

Pockets of Northern Ireland, North Wales and the north of England are also due to feel the force of Barbara, which will roll into the UK today.

Met Eireann has an Orange Wind Warning for coastal regions and high ground in Donegal, Galway and Mayo.

It predicts that Christmas Eve will be mild, breezy and mostly cloudy with some rain.

Christmas Day will be mild and breezy at first but "rain will become widespread and heavier, during the evening and early night".
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a joint press conference with his Myanmar's counterpart Aung San Suu Kyi after their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, April 5, 2016.

Despite of a turbulent international environment, China, by comprehensively advancing a major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, has become a stabilizer of world peace, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when summing up the nations diplomatic work in 2016.

Under the leadership of the CPC with President Xi Jinping as the core, China has led the way in global governance by holding a big picture in mind among the international turmoil, seeking development amid the world economic transformation and opening a new chapter in diplomacy, Wang said.

A more mature China has approached the center of international stage, becoming the stabilizer that injects positive energy in global turmoil, Wang added.

The international governance system has entered a key stage of transformation. Because the global balance of powers is witnessing historical changes, a reform on global governance system will be inevitable.

Against such backdrop, China took initiatives to push forward a more fair and reasonable global political and economic system by contributing Chinese solutions on global governance, Wang said.

The G20 Hangzhou Summit chaired by President Xi held in September has yielded a series of ground-breaking, exemplary and institutional achievements, said Wang, adding that it also effectively accelerated G20s process to transform from an emergency-response mechanism to a long-term governance one.

He stressed that at the APEC meeting held in Lima in November, President Xi not only sent Chinas voice to reject protectionism and seek more inclusive and all-benefited economic globalization, but also put forward Chinese solutions in building the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and an open Asia-Pacific economy.

China has maintained a more stable political relationship with major states, deepened practical cooperation, and saw an increase in the number of friends, the foreign minister underlined.

Hailing the progress of Chinas ties with major countries, Wang said that the conversation between President Xi and his US counterpart Barack Obama during the G20 Summit can be regarded as an in-depth strategic communication that enhances mutual trust and disperses doubts.

China and the US expressed the wishes to seek better ties in the telephone conversation between President Xi and President-elect Donald Trump, sending out a message about the smooth transition of China-US relationship in the future.

Wang admitted that the complicated China-US ties would definitely encounter uncertainties, but they will not hinder the development direction as a whole.

China and the UScan only realize sustained cooperation, mutual benefits and win-win outcomes by respecting each others core interests and major concerns, Wang emphasized, adding that it is the only right choice.

The heads of state of China and Russia held five meetings in 2016, elevating bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, said Wang.

The good-neighborly friendship between China and its neighboring countries has also been further reinforced, said Wang, citing China-Philippines ties as an instance.

According to Wang, the newly-elected Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte changed the previous confrontational attitudes towards China and took the initiative to improve bilateral relations. Dutertechose China as the destination of his first visit beyond the ASEAN and Xi welcomed him with great hospitality.

The transformed bilateral relationship has not only dispelled the dark could shrouding the two countries, but also cleared the way for deepening China-ASEAN cooperation, Wang said.

Such diplomatic advancement with neighboring countries occurred frequently this year. For example, President Xis state visit to Cambodia made it clear that China values, cherishes and supports its old friend, which is good news for those countries that deal with China-related issues with justice and fairness.

It is the scared mission of diplomats to protect national sovereignty, security and developmental interests, said Wang.

This year, China strongly refuted the so-called South China Sea arbitration initiated by the former Filipino administration, and pulled the issue back on right track of dialogue and consultations among parties directly concerned, which safeguarded national sovereignty, dignity and regional stability.

China has achieved a series of important progress in the construction of the Belt and Road initiative, which is deemed as an international public product for opening up and win-win cooperation, Wang added, saying that like a high-speed train, the initiative drives en-route countries towards a bright future and common prosperity.

Speaking of the diplomatic work in 2017, Wang said China will hold the 19thCPC National Congress and after entering the critical stage of the 13thFive-Year Plan period (2016-20).

China willstay focused amid the international turmoil, seize opportunities in the ever-changing situation and keep fostering a new pattern for the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Wang listed priorities in next years diplomacy. First of all, China will bear the big picture in mind and create an enabling environment for the 19thCPC National Congress.

Secondly, the country will forge ahead and prepare for the two major home-field diplomatic events in the coming year, namely the international cooperation summit forum on the "Belt and Road" initiative and the 9th BRICS Summit.

Thirdly, China will maintain its strategic focus in order to realize a smooth transition of China-US ties and tap new cooperation potential while building a more healthy and stable framework for major-country relations to further expand Chinas friendship with other countries.

Fourthly, China will put peoples interest in the first place, continue its efforts in building overseas livelihood projects and better serve national development, opening up and reform.

All in all, the Chinese diplomacy will strive for new success and make new contributions to realizing the Chinese dream, that is the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Wand added.
Aer Lingus has given an unforgettable gift to three Irish families - flying their loved ones home for Christmas.

Earlier this week, Ryanair launched a Christmas ad (#XmasEscape, see below) poking fun at sentimental Irish homecomings.

Aer Lingus has swung the opposite way entirely with its own seasonal offering, orchestrating three emotional family reunions.

The homecomings are captured in a short film released today.

Three travellers were chosen based on the compelling reasons they gave to Aer Lingus about their desire to come home for Christmas, the airline says.

Tracey Donegan, her husband and two boys were flown from San Francisco to surprise her parents, Joan and Tony, in Glasnevin, Dublin.

James Lambert was brought home to Dundalk, while Brendan Donohoe travelled to Lusk, Co. Dublin - both are now living in New York.

The families were unaware of the surprise in store even when filming the opening section of the video, Aer Lingus says.

Last year, Aer Lingus organised a similar festive fling, flying five ex-pats home to emotional scenes and tearful mammies (watch here).

For a wee bit of balance, here's Ryanair's approach...

What do you think? Do you prefer Aer Lingus's unashamedly sentimental take, or Ryanair's hilarious dose of Christmas realism?

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Only through significant and adequate policing, and the help of a community with confidence in the abilities of gardai, will this epidemic of callous violence be brought to an end (Stock picture)

Once again, the scourge of gangland crime has struck in our capital city. The year began with the military-style assassination in the Regency Hotel and has now ended in the 11th murder in a gangland feud that long ago got utterly out of control.

The list of the murdered over the past 15 months features:

Gary Hutch, murdered in Costa del Sol, Spain, in September 2015;

Darren Kearns (33) shot dead in Cabra in December 2015

David Byrne, murdered in the Regency Hotel in February;

Eddie Hutch Senior, murdered in Dublin city in February;

Noel 'Kingsize' Duggan, murdered in his home in Ratoath, Co Meath, in March;

Martin O'Rourke, murdered on Sheriff Street in a case of mistaken identity in April;

Michael Barr, murdered in Sunset House pub, north inner city, in April;

Gareth Hutch, murdered at Avondale House flat complex in north inner city in May;

Daithi Douglas, murdered in the Liberties area of Dublin in July;

Trevor O'Neill, murdered while holidaying in Spain in a case of mistaken identity in August;

Noel Kirwan is shot dead in Ronanstown, west Dublin.

Whether the victims were involved in crime themselves, related to criminals, innocent bystanders or mistaken for others doesn't matter: they were all murdered and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

Only through significant and adequate policing, and the help of a community with confidence in the abilities of gardai, will this epidemic of callous violence be brought to an end.

Giving to charity vital to help society's vulnerable

A staggering 3,000 people queued from early morning to receive Christmas food parcels from the Capuchin Day Centre, run by Brother Kevin Crowley and his team.

The so-called 'festive season' is the busiest time of the year for the centre and demand has gone up a whopping three-fold since last year. In their thousands, people queued from as early as 5am in the cold to receive two bags containing perishable and non-perishable goods.

Centre workers had put together 3,000 bags with chicken, butter, bacon and sausages in the parcel. Tea, sugar, cereals, tinned beans, chocolates, tinned fish and custard were found in non-perishable bags. These are basic necessities - not luxuries for any family.

The crowds are so big that gardai are required to keep the queues flowing, but these people wait patiently in line to collect a package.

The raison d'etre of the operation is simply to ensure nobody goes hungry this Christmas and help comes in from right across the country.

The economic downturn has cast so many people into the margins of society that charities like the Capuchin Day Centre and the Society of St Vincent de Paul are now an absolute requirement to ensure many can get by on a day-to-day basis. The homeless crisis is a vivid reminder of the problem but there are so many more who have a roof over their heads but can't support themselves.

Your help for these established charities does not go astray.
Andrea Roche and her daughter Sophie. Picture: Instagram

Andrea Roche now: She swapped her high heels for life behind the camera with her agency, AR Models.

TV Now Awards 2009: This time around, Andrea Roche opted for a more classic look.

Model boss Andrea Roche has welcomed her second child.

The former Miss Ireland welcomed her new arrival - a baby boy - earlier in the week.

Little Alexander is the second child for Andrea and her husband of five years, Rob White.

The Tipperary woman took to Instagram on Friday to share a photo of her new bundle of joy.

A new little brother for Sophie just in time for Christmas Welcome to the world baby Alexander A photo posted by Andrea Roche (@andrearocheagency) on Dec 23, 2016 at 3:47am PST

"A new little brother for Sophie just in time for Christmas. Welcome to the world baby Alexander," she captioned the adorable snap.

Andrea and Rob welcomed their first child, daughter Sophie, in March 2014.

This year I get to enjoy Christmas through the eyes of a child - and it's just magical so far A photo posted by Andrea Roche (@andrearocheagency) on Dec 19, 2016 at 11:33pm PST

The Tipperary woman runs the successful AR Agency, which represents some of Ireland's most popular social influencers and models, including Pippa O'Connor, Roz Purcell and Rosanna Davison.
US president Barack Obama has been attacked by Israel after the US abstained over a UN resolution condemning settlements

US president Barack Obama has been attacked by Israel after the US abstained over a UN resolution condemning settlements

The United States has allowed the UN Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law.

In the striking rupture with past practice, the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama brushed aside Donald Trump's demands that the US exercise its veto.

It also provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

The decision to abstain from the council's 14-0 vote is one of the biggest American rebukes of its longstanding ally in recent memory.

It could have significant ramifications for the Jewish state, potentially hindering Israel's negotiating position in future peace talks.

Given the world's widespread opposition to settlements, the action will be almost impossible for anyone, including Mr Trump, to reverse.

Nevertheless, the president-elect vowed via Twitter: "As to the UN, things will be different after Jan 20th."

The resolution said Israel's settlements in lands the Palestinians want to include in their future state have "no legal validity". It demanded a halt to such activities for the sake of "salvaging the two-state solution".

Loud applause erupted in the council chamber after US ambassador Samantha Power permitted the resolution to pass.

Friday's condemnation, a day after Egypt suddenly postponed a scheduled showdown, capped days of frantic diplomacy in capitals around the world.

American officials indicated they would have been prepared to let the resolution pass, despite blocking such proposals for years. Israeli officials said they were aware of such plans and turned to Mr Trump for support.

The president-elect sent a tweet urging Mr Obama to block the UN effort. Egypt then pulled its resolution, with US officials citing fierce Israeli pressure as the reason.

Israeli officials accused Mr Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a "shameful move" against the Jewish state. Washington denied the charge.

Most of the world is opposed to Israel's construction of Jewish settlements in lands it seized in the 1967 war.

The primary holdout at the UN has been the United States, which sees settlements as illegitimate but has traditionally used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block such resolutions on the grounds that Israeli-Palestinian disputes should be addressed through negotiation.

Underscoring that unity, Friday's resolution was proposed by nations in four different parts of the world: Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela. It is the first resolution on settlements to pass in 36 years, Malaysia's UN ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim said.

Explaining the US vote, Ms Power quoted a 1982 statement from then-US president Ronald Reagan, which declared that Washington "will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements".

"That has been the policy of every administration, Republican and Democrat, since before President Reagan and all the way through to the present day," she said.

Settlement activity, she added, "harms the viability of a negotiated two-state outcome and erodes prospects for peace and stability in the region".

She noted that until Friday, Mr Obama was the only president in the last half-century that did not have a Security Council resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict pass on his watch.

"One would think that it would be a routine vote," Ms Power said. But she acknowledged that, in reality, the vote was "not straightforward" because it occurred at the United Nations, a body that has singled out Israel for criticism for decades.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat hailed the result as a "victory for the justice of the Palestinian cause". He said Mr Trump's choice was now between "international legitimacy" or siding with "settlers and extremists".

But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office voiced anger.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms," it said, blaming Mr Obama for failing to "protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN" and even colluding with the country's detractors.

"Israel looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution," the statement said.

In some ways, the American abstention served as a direct reflection of the deep distrust between Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu.

It followed months of intensely secret deliberations in Washington, including what one official said was an unannounced meeting earlier this month between Mr Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, and a spate of fresh Israeli settlement announcements that have wrought exasperation and anger from American officials.

Mr Trump has signalled he will be far more sympathetic to Israel's stances on the two territories, where some 600,000 Israelis live.

His campaign platform made no mention of the establishment of a Palestinian state, a core policy objective of Democratic and Republican presidents over the past two decades.

He also has vowed to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would anger Palestinians and lack international support. His pick for ambassador to Israel, Jewish-American lawyer David Friedman, is a donor and vocal supporter of the settlements.

The resolution is little different in tone or substance from Mr Obama's view, with the exception of its language on the legality of settlements.

Washington has long avoided calling the activity illegal, in part to maintain diplomatic wiggle room for a negotiated solution that would allow Israel to incorporate some of the larger settlement blocs.

While the resolution does not impose sanctions on Israel, it enshrines the world's disapproval of the settlements. A reversal would require a follow-up vote that avoids a veto from the US, Britain, China, France or Russia - an highly unlikely scenario given the current stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

In Washington, Republicans were already threatening consequences.

Senator Lindsey Graham, who heads the Senate appropriations panel in charge of US payments to the global body, said he would "form a bipartisan coalition to suspend or significantly reduce" such funding. He said countries receiving US aid also could be penalised for backing the effort.

In a Hanukkah message on Friday, Mr Obama did not mention the matter.

He referenced Israel once, noting that Jews there and around the world would soon "gather to light their Hanukkah menorahs, display them proudly in the window and recall the miracles of both ancient times and the present day".

AP
Pol ice in Melbourne have arrested seven suspects who allegedly planned a series of bomb attacks in the heart of Australia's second largest city on Christmas Day.

Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told reporters on Friday the seven had been inspired by the Islamic State group and had planned attacks on Melbourne's Flinders Street train station, neighbouring Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral.

Mr Ashton said police had been watching the alleged plotters for some time, and believed they were preparing to use explosives and other weapons.

Police said they believed the threat had been neutralised through the raids on Thursday night and Friday morning.
A body is covered in a thermical blanket as Italian police cordon off an area after a shootout between police and a man in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood, early Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Italy's interior minister Marco Minniti says the man killed in an early-hours shootout in Milan is "without a shadow of doubt" the Berlin Christmas market attacker Anis Amri. (AP Photo/Daniele Bennati)

Italian police cordon off an area around a body after a shootout between police and a man in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood, Italy, early Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Italy's interior minister Marco Minniti says the man killed in an early-hours shootout in Milan is "without a shadow of doubt" the Berlin Christmas market attacker Anis Amri. (AP Photo/Daniele Bennati)

Police patrols at the reopened Christmas market near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin. Photo: Clemens Bilan/Getty

Anis Amri reportedly shouted Allahu Akbar while shooting at police in Italy after being stopped during a routine patrol, according to reports.

The suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a pre-dawn shoot-out with police in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday, Italy's interior minister said.

"The man killed was without a shadow of doubt Anis Amri," Marco Minniti said, referring to the 24-year-old Tunisian who is suspected of driving the truck that smashed through a Berlin market on Monday killing 12 people.

Minniti told reporters that Amri was stopped by two policemen at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) in front of the Sesto San Giovanni train station, north of Milan.

Expand Close Police say fingerprints found in the truck match those of suspect Anis Amri. Photo: PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police say fingerprints found in the truck match those of suspect Anis Amri. Photo: PA

When he was asked for his identification papers, Amri pulled a gun and shot one of the two policemen, lightly wounding him in the shoulder. He in turn was then shot dead by the police.

"These two extraordinary, extremely young men, simply by doing their duty, have done an extraordinary service to our community," Minniti said. One of the two policemen had only just started service and was on his trial period.

A judicial source told Reuters that police had a tip off that Amri might be in the Milan area and that additional patrols had been sent out to look for him.

A rail ticket found on Amri's body indicated he had travelled by high speed train from France to the northern Italian city of Turin, the source said. Amri then caught a regional train to the Milan suburbs.

Minniti gave very few details of the police operation, saying investigations were still in progress. He added that there could be "future developments".

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Berlin attack, in which the truck mowed through a crowd of people and bulldozed wooden huts selling Christmas gifts and snacks beside a famous church in west Berlin.

HIGH ALERT

Amri was caught on camera by German police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit district early on Tuesday, Germany's rbb public broadcaster reported.

He had originally come to Europe in 2011, reaching the Italian island of Lampedusa by boat. He told authorities he was a minor, though documents now indicate he was not, and he was transferred to Catania, Sicily, where he was enrolled in school.

Just months later he was arrested by police after he attempted to set fire to the school, a senior police source said. He was later convicted of vandalism, threats, and theft. He spent almost four years in two different prisons in Italy before being order out of the country.

The Berlin attack has put Europe on high alert over the Christmas period.

In the early hours of Friday morning, German special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The men - two brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31 - were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, police said.

A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case.

Amri had been identified by security agencies as a potential threat and had had his application for asylum rejected, but authorities had not managed to deport him because of missing identity documents.

Meanwhile Two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion that they were planning an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany.

Police said the brothers, aged 28 and 31, were held in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region in the early hours of Friday. They suspect they may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen.

They say authorities are probing how far along the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved.

Police say they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip.

The hunt for 24-year-old Tunisian Amri intensified when his fingerprints were found in the cab of the vehicle used in Monday's attack.

Germany's interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the fingerprint discovery strengthens the case linking Amri to the massacre at the Christmas market near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

German authorities have issued a wanted notice for Amri, describing him as potentially violent and armed.

Mr de Maiziere spoke after visiting Germany's federal criminal police office alongside chancellor Angela Merkel.
On December 19, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the Resolution 2328 that aims to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Syria and support UN to play a coordinative rolein the future. The hard-won consensus is the first one on Syrian crisis adopted by UNSC after months of disagreement.

The Syrian government and opposition groups have waged a series of battles in Aleppo after the outburst of Syrian civil war. International community has paid high attention to the updates in the city, but each party held different interpretations.

Russian and Syrian governments believe that their actions have not caused large-scale bombing and siege of civilians in Aleppo, saying the liberation of the city will restore peace in the region. However, Aleppo has been described as hell by western media who claim that military actions by Syrian government have led to humanitarian crisis.

The so-called civil-defense organizations such as Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and White Helmets have been publicizing the daily death toll in the east of Aleppo, quoting the accusation from the so-called "humanitarian workers under flying bullets".

Not long ago, a Canadian female journalist revealed the hidden side of Syrian war:The US and Western countries on one hand signed the ceasefire agreement, butassisted terrorist groups on the other hand.

They beautified terrorists in Aleppo as the "mild" opposition groups and described their mass killing as "mild" resistance. In addition, some Western media even concealed the terrorist attacks on local hospitals, claiming that the buildings were bombed by Russian air force.

Recently, Egyptian police arrested a man who made a girl pose for filming in blood-stained white dress atop the rubble with a ragged doll in her hand. The arrested man planned to upload the video onto the Internet and fake a humanitarian tragedy happened in Aleppo.

Whats worse, the offices of the above-mentioned organizations including the Observatory for Human Rights are located thousands of miles away in London, and the so-called "humanitarian workers under flying bullets" are just a group ofclicktivists.

Humanitarian situation is severe in Syria after six years of turmoil. With basic consensus among members of the UNSC, the UN could have taken actions to relieve the crisis.

However, some countries had politicized thehumanitarian issue and ignored other countries' reasonable concerns. Such practice has detained measures that could have been taken by the UNSC.It was of no benefit for the relief of Syrian humanitarian crisis and hurt the authority of UNSC as well.

During the negotiation on the resolution 2328, China has adopted a constructive manner and mediated among other members of the Security Council. It called on relevant parties to meet each other halfway, striving for maximum consensus.

China's efforts have played a positive role in the negotiation: The resolution was unanimously approved by all its 15 members of the council, which would not only relieve the humanitarian crisis in Syria, but also protect the unity and reputation of the council.The organ's tradition to settle hot-spot issues through negotiations has been maintained, relieving the confrontation on Syrian crisis by related major countries.

UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said after the approval of the resolution that the UN hopes to start a new round of peace talks on Syrian crisis in Geneva in February. It will bring a new opportunity to the political negotiation that has been halted for nearly half a year.

International community should cherish this hard-won agreement and make positive progress on Syrian crisis, bringing peace and stability to the people who had long been tortured by wars and chaos.
Hijackers forced an airliner to land in Malta on Friday then freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".

The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after one man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said one of the men had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to free all passengers if his demands were met. It was unclear what the demands were.

A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.

In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party."

STANDOFF ON TARMAC

MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.

Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.

The government of Malta said Prime Minister Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team was formed at the airport. Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.

The last major hijacking on the island was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.
The prime suspect in the Berlin terror attack showed off the twinkling Christmas lights of Berlin to his sister via a video phone call just weeks before he allegedly went on to kill 12 people in a market truck rampage, his family said.

Anis Amri (24), who left Tunisia in 2011 to escape a jail sentence for vehicle theft, wandered through the city's streets talking to his sister, Najwa, late one evening in November.

"He said he had parked his bike somewhere and was walking around saying, 'let me show you the lights in the streets that people put up for Christmas', then he just said, 'let's talk later, I can't find my bike anymore'," she said.

Najwa, who is a lawyer, added that she didn't believe her brother could be responsible for the attack, but appealed for him to give himself up to police "guilty or not". His family explained that Amri had been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for stealing a truck in the coastal city of Gabes in March 2011. His family maintain he was innocent.

He fled to Europe in February 2011, crossing the Mediterranean on a migrant boat, landing first in Lampedusa. A friend, who asked not to be named, said that on the day that Amri left port two boats had departed for Italy but the first had capsized drowning everyone aboard. But the second boat, carrying Amri, made it safely to Italy.

Amri is the youngest son of nine siblings and grew up in poverty in Oueslatia, a small town 200km from the capital of Tunis. One of Tunisia's poorest towns, Oueslatia has high youth unemployment.

Amri's mother, Nour El Houda Hassani, said she talked to her son last Sunday. He had asked her to try to resolve his problem with the Tunisian police and hire a lawyer to handle his case so he could return to Tunisia.

His sister Najwa said the family has "nothing to do with terrorism" but acknowledged Amri "is no angel".

The family produced letters from Amri written from prison in Italy after he was jailed for four years for an arson attack on a migrant holding centre. At one point, he sends his love to his father and asks his parents to "forgive me, and all the problems I have caused".

His record in Italian jail was a litany of petty offences, including violence and intimidation of fellow inmates, according to a report by the Italian news agency ANSA, although authorities said there was no evidence so far of Islamic radicalisation during his prison term.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Candles and flowers have been placed at the scene of the Berlin Christmas market attack which left 12 people dead. Photo: Reuters/AP

Anis Amri, the suspect in the Berlin terrorist attack, was overheard by German intelligence offering to carry out a "suicide attack" several months ago, it was claimed yesterday.

But no order was given to arrest Amri and investigators wrote him off as an "errand boy".

A surveillance team monitoring a well-known extremist preacher intercepted a call from Amri in which he made the offer, according to the highly respected 'Spiegel' magazine.

It was claimed last night that Amri had been seen entering a Berlin mosque that had been under police surveillance in the hours after the attack.

An image of the suspect leaving the mosque was released by regional broadcaster RBB. The mosque, which was searched earlier in the day, had reportedly been shut down by authorities.

Police also raided apartments and mosque complexes yesterday in a manhunt for the 24-year-old Tunisian, who is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Expand Close Police say fingerprints found in the truck match those of suspect Anis Amri. Photo: PA / Facebook

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Prosecutors also said they had found Amri's fingerprints on the lorry which ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday night, killing 12 people and injuring 49.

"We believe that Anis Amri was steering the truck," Frauke Kohler, a spokesman for the federal prosecutors, said.

"We can tell you today that there are additional indications that this suspect is with high probability the actual perpetrator," Thomas de Maiziere, the German interior minister, added.

The day began with pre-dawn raids in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Amri made a failed application for asylum and had spent much of his time in Germany. Police stormed flats and houses in several locations, blowing the door off one apartment, but they were unable to locate Amri.

'Spiegel', which often publishes details leaked from inside official investigations, claimed that police knew Amri wanted to carry out an attack, but that he was never taken seriously as a threat.

Warned

The claims were supported by a report in 'Focus', a rival publication, that a regular informant warned police Amri was planning an attack as long ago as July, but that he was allowed to slip away.

Both sets of claims centre on the immediate circle of Abu Walaa, an Iraqi known as "the faceless preacher". The cleric, whose real name is Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A, was arrested in November on charges of recruiting volunteers to fight for Isil.

According to the reports, Amri was in contact with Abu Walaa and a number of others in his immediate circle. It was his proximity to this group that first put him on the radar of anti-terrorism police, according to 'Spiegel'.

When prosecutors were preparing their case against Abu Walaa's group in North Rhine-Westphalia, a surveillance team picked up a call in which Amri offered to carry out a "suicide attack".

Around the same time, a regular informant separately warned police that Amri was openly talking about an attack in Germany, according to 'Focus'. But it appears neither warning was taken seriously enough.

No order was given to arrest Amri. He was not on the list of targets in the federal prosecutors' case against Abu Walaa.

According to 'Spiegel', prosecutors wrote him off as an "errand boy".

But they did pass his file to police in Berlin, where Amri was by then living. Police in the capital believed he was planning a robbery to buy weapons for a terrorist attack, and put him under surveillance. But no evidence of a planned attack was found, and the operation was called off.

There was one more opportunity to stop Amri, when he was stopped near Lake Constance on the Swiss border for carrying a false Italian passport.

The local authorities detained him, but the refugee office where he had made his rejected asylum application ordered his release.

Amri could not be deported as he didn't have the right identity papers, and Tunisia was disputing that he was its national.

After the Berlin surveillance was dropped, Amri seems to have disappeared. The next police knew of him was when a forensics team investigating the lorry that ploughed into the Berlin market found his identity papers under the driver's seat.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Police patrols at the reopened Christmas market near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin. Photo: Clemens Bilan/Getty

Two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion that they were planning an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany.

The arrests come as an international manhunt continues for Anis Amri over the Berlin Christmas market truck attack that left 12 people dead and 48 others injured.

Police said the brothers, aged 28 and 31, were held in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region in the early hours of Friday. They suspect they may have been planning an attack on the Centro mall in nearby Oberhausen.

They say authorities are probing how far along the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved.

Police say they increased their presence at Centro and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip.

The hunt for 24-year-old Tunisian Amri intensified when his fingerprints were found in the cab of the vehicle used in Monday's attack.

Germany's interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the fingerprint discovery strengthens the case linking Amri to the massacre at the Christmas market near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

German authorities have issued a wanted notice for Amri, describing him as potentially violent and armed.

Mr de Maiziere spoke after visiting Germany's federal criminal police office alongside chancellor Angela Merkel.
Two Libyan men who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up have surrendered peacefully, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the aircraft before walking out alongside the last of the crew.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was travelling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta on Friday morning.

Malta state television said the two hijackers possessed hand grenades and had threatened to detonate them.

All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3.44pm local time (2.44pm GMT).

They have surrendered, been searched and taken into custody, he said.

The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the plane's doors to open at 1.44pm (12.44pm GMT) and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

In a series of tweets, Mr Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, followed by the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including seven crew members, were on board the hijacked plane.

Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers had asked him to head to Rome.

He identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, Libyans who other officials said were in their twenties.

The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called "the New Fateh".

Fateh is a reference to former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who led the Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969.

After many of the hostages left the plane on Friday afternoon, someone, apparently a hijacker, waved the old green Libyan flag from the plane's doorway.

Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes. Gaddafi was ousted and killed by a mob in 2011.

Western nations view the newly-formed UN-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libya's parliament, which meets in the country's far east, has refused to accept it.

Amid the chaos, Islamic State (IS) and al Qaida affiliates have gained a foothold over the past years.

Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized IS's last stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.

Mr Muscat later said the two Libyan men had a hand grenade and a pistol, with a second pistol found later on the plane during a search by Maltese soldiers.

He said the 111 passengers on the plane will be returned to Libya in the coming hours after they are questioned by police, while the hijackers are being interrogated.

Libya's transport minister has defended airport security in the country.

Milad Matouq said security breaches happen everywhere and Libya is no exception, adding that this is the first such incident since the 2011 revolution.

He said Maltese authorities are questioning the passengers and carrying out security checks in case a hijacker is among them.

Passenger Ibrahim Bashir told Al-Nabaa TV that the passengers were "trapped" inside the buses and not allowed to leave.

The head of Libya's state-run culture agency said a total of 25 artists, writers, and intellectuals from southern Libya were among the passengers and were heading to Tripoli to participate in a culture forum.
A woman walks with a photo of Martina Almazan in front of the coffin that contain her remains, in Tultepec (AP)

President Enrique Pena Nieto has pledged to help rebuild a Mexican fireworks market where explosions killed at least 35 people and reopen it next year.

The promise came after he visited the injured in a hospital near Tultepec, in Mexico State, where chain-reaction blasts destroyed the country's best-known fireworks market on Tuesday, while a Roman Catholic church held funeral Masses throughout the day.

Investigators have still not announced the cause of the tragedy, which was the third explosion at the market since 2005 and cast a pall over Mexico's Christmas season.

Mr Pena Nieto visited the injured in a hospital near Tultepec. But it was later at an anniversary ceremony for one of Mexico's independence heroes that the president spoke about the future of the San Pablito fireworks market.

"We commit to support all of the artisans, the 300 vendors from this market, to recover or to support them so that they can restart their normal activities next year and we can achieve the reconstruction of that market," he said.

Vendors have said that while they recognise the dangers of the fireworks market, it is their only way to make a living and they would return to work there.

Safety measures were put in place after the previous two explosions at the market but were apparently ignored.

Investigators were focusing their attention on reports that vendors displayed fireworks outside their concrete stalls in the passageways which were designed as safety buffers to prevent exactly the sort of devastating chain-reaction explosions that occurred.

Refugio Leon, whose family ran seven stalls in the market, said vendors commonly stacked displays of bottle rockets and firecrackers outside their establishments in the passageways in violation of the rules.

"Everybody did it," he said, speculating that it may have played a role in the rapid spread of the explosions.

Video and photos of the stalls from previous years show concrete-block enclosures with open dirt passageways between them. Later photos show the passageways filling up with fireworks and awnings.

Because it was the holiday season, the market was packed with fireworks and bustling with hundreds of shoppers when the blasts reduced the market to a stark expanse of ash, rubble and scorched metal.

Dramatic video of the disaster showed a towering plume of smoke that was lit up by a staccato of bangs and flashes of light.

On December 12, the city of Tultepec had issued a statement calling San Pablito "the safest market in Latin America". It said 100 tons of fireworks were expected to be sold during the high season, which runs from August to New Year's Eve.

The city quoted Juan Ignacio Rodarte Cordero, director of the state's Fireworks Institute, as saying: "The stalls are perfectly designed and with sufficient space between them to avoid any chain of fires." City officials said the stalls were equipped with trained personnel, sand, shovels and fire extinguishers.

But during a recent visit to the market, little of that safety equipment could be seen. And when Tuesday's explosions began, vendors and customers did not have time to look for it - or even, in many cases, to run.

Deadly fireworks explosions have also occurred elsewhere in Mexico, including in 2002 when a blast at a market in the Gulf coast city of Veracruz killed 29 people.

In 1999, 63 people died when an explosion of illegally stored fireworks destroyed part of the city of Celaya, and in 1988, a fireworks blast in Mexico City's La Merced market killed at least 68.

In 2013 a rocket struck a truck loaded with fireworks for a religious procession in Tlaxcala state, killing 17 people.

AP
Swedish home furnishing giant Ikea said it has reached a "tentative settlement" in a case involving three families in the US whose children died after the firm's chests and dressers tipped over.

Group spokeswoman Johanna Iritz said "it would be inappropriate to comment", adding the settlement is pending US court approval.

Ikea will pay $50m to the families of the three young boys. All three of the toddlers - from Pennsylvania, Washington and Minnesota - were two years old.

Philadelphia-based law firm Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernter, Tanner, Weinstock and Dodig, which represented the families of toddlers who were killed in accidents, had announced a $50 million dollar settlement with Ikea.

The separate accidents took place in 2014 and 2016 with dressers from Ikea's MALM line.

In June, Ikea recalled some eight million dressers and chests, and 21 million other similar models in the US.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin fired the starting gun on a new nuclear arms race yesterday as they both vowed to launch a major strengthening of their countries' arsenals.

Mr Trump, the US president-elect, wrote on Twitter: "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

That appeared to be a response to sabre-rattling remarks hours earlier by Mr Putin. Speaking at an end-of-year meeting with his defence chiefs, the Russian president said bolstering nuclear capability should be a chief objective for 2017.

"We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defence systems," Mr Putin said.

He added: "We must carefully monitor any changes in the balance of power and in the political-military situation in the world, especially along Russian borders, and quickly adapt plans for neutralising threats to our country."

He added: "We can say with certainty - we are stronger now than any potential aggressor. Anyone."

Expand Close Kellyanne Conway, who Trump announced as one of his key White House counsellors. hoto: Getty / Facebook

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Whatsapp Kellyanne Conway, who Trump announced as one of his key White House counsellors. hoto: Getty

Russia and the US jointly account for over 90pc of the world's nuclear weapons, fielding an estimated 7,300 and 7,100 respectively. Both countries' arsenals are regulated by a series of bilateral arms limitation treaties that place strict limits on the numbers and kinds of warheads and delivery systems they can field.

A rapid expansion of either nation's forces could shatter that arms control regime and plunge the world back into an era of Cold-War-style nuclear arms race.

P resident-elect Donald Trump called for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities on Thursday, in a tweet that alarmed nonproliferation experts who said that a boost to the U.S. arsenal could fuel global tensions.

Asked about the tweet, Trump spokesman Jason Miller later said Trump was "referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it - particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes."

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, also has "emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength," spokesman Jason Miller said.

Miller told Reuters that Trump was not advocating the use of nuclear weapons, and said Trump's comments were not meant to be read as a new policy proposal.

Experts wondered whether Trump's brief tweet meant he wanted to breach limits imposed on U.S. strategic weapons and delivery systems by the 2011 New START treaty with Russia - or planned to expand the non-deployed stockpile.

"It is completely irresponsible for the president-elect or the president to make changes to U.S. nuclear policy in 140 characters and without understanding the implications of statements like 'expand the capacity,'" said Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, a leading proponent of arms control based in Washington.

"He must have leaders around the world trying to guess what he means," Kimball said in an interview. "This is bush league."

If Trump and Putin both want to expand nuclear weapons, that would effectively end arms control efforts underway since the Nixon administration, said Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a foundation that works to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons.

"This is how arms races begin - with a battle of words," Cirincione said, urging Trump, a real estate mogul, to "make the biggest deal of his life" and negotiate cuts to the nuclear arsenal with Russia.

"Neither side needs to be spending hundreds of billions of dollars on nuclear weapons we don't need," Cirincione said.

'FARCICAL'

The United States is one of five nuclear weapons states allowed to keep a nuclear arsenal under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The others are Russia, Britain, France and China.

Trump's "farcical" tweet failed to communicate a "rational deterrence policy" and risks fueling arms race dynamics with Russia and China, said Miles Pomper, Senior Fellow at the Washington-based Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

The United States needs to do more to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands, rather than creating more materials, Pomper told Reuters.

"Expanding our nuclear arsenal will do nothing to prevent nuclear proliferation or prevent nuclear terrorism. We have more than enough nuclear weapons as it is," Pomper said.

Trump, who was elected on Nov. 8, campaigned on a platform of building up the U.S. military but also pledged to cut taxes and control federal spending.

Most of the U.S. arsenal was built between 25 and 62 years ago during the arms race with the former Soviet Union, and has been patched and otherwise refashioned many times to extend its lifespan.

During the next decade, U.S. ballistic missile submarines, bombers, and land-based missiles - the three legs of the nuclear triad - are expected to reach the end of their useful lives. Maintaining and modernizing the arsenal is expected to cost at about $1 trillion over 30 years, according to Independent estimates.

Trump's tweet came the day after meeting with a dozen Pentagon officials involved with defense acquisition programs.

He also met with the chief executives of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co, the country's two largest defense contractors, about high-profile projects he said cost too much.

Late on Thursday, Trump said on Twitter that he had asked Boeing to "price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet" because of the "tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35."
[File photo]

A motherless toddler in Chengdu, Sichuan province sustained severe burns after falling into a boiling cauldron while left unsupervised. Her suffering has drawn attention to the living conditions of China's leftover children, compelling several Good Samaritans to raise funds for the girls treatment.

The 2-year-old girl, Sun Yuanyuan (pseudonym), fell into a cooking cauldron set near her neighbors doorway while playing outside by herself on Dec. 21. Though the neighbor, who owns a snack stall, instantly administered first aid to the injured girl, Sun still sustained severe burns covering 40 percent of her body. She was later sent to No. 2 Peoples Hospital in Chengdu, and her condition is not yet stable as of press time.

Due to the severe burns on her back, limbs and legs, the girl is now suffering from burn shock. She is too young to recover from such injuries, and her immune system is too weak. The girl is in grave danger and may not survive, Huang Zhiyong, the girls doctor, told Chengdu Business Daily.

According to Huang, Suns treatment fees will amount to 200,000 RMB at minimum, which is a huge burden for her impoverished family.

Suns mother left when she was only 5 months old. Her father works as a deliveryman for a restaurant, while I am only a sanitation worker. My life's savings are only 30,000 RMB, which is definitely not enough to cover my granddaughters treatment, said Li Chaozhen, Suns grandmother.

In order to help the injured girl, media outlets and social media platforms have been calling for donations since Dec. 22. Many netizens have expressed sympathy for the toddlers suffering, with some condemning her guardians carelessness.
US president-elect Donald Trump has re-opened the debate over nuclear proliferation, calling for America to "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability" until the rest of the world "comes to its senses" regarding nuclear weapons.

His comments on Twitter came hours after Russian president Vladimir Putin said strengthening his country's nuclear capabilities should be a chief military objective in the coming year.

Mr Trump's statement also followed his meetings a day earlier with top Pentagon officials and defence contractors.

The president-elect did not expand on the actions he wants the US to take or say why he raised the issue. On Friday, a spokesman said Mr Trump is putting other countries on notice.

"It was in response to a lot of countries. Russia, China and others are talking about expanding their nuclear capability," spokesman Sean Spicer said on Fox News.

On NBC's Today, Mr Spicer said: "We're not going to sit back and watch other nations threaten our safety."

"But just to be clear: the president isn't saying we're going to do this. He said, 'unless they come to their senses'. It's a warning to them that this president isn't going to sit idly by."

MSNBC reported that Mr Trump said: "Let it be an arms race, because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."

The network's Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski said Mr Trump made the statement in a phone call with her.

Asked about those comments, Mr Spicer said on NBC: "But other countries need to be put on notice that he is not going to sit back and allow them to undermine our safety and our sovereignty. He (Mr Trump) is going to match other countries and take action."

Spokesman Jason Miller said the president-elect had been referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation "particularly to and among terrorist organisations and unstable and rogue regimes."

He said Mr Trump sees modernising the nation's deterrent capability "as a vital way to pursue peace through strength".

If Mr Trump were to seek an expansion of the nuclear stockpiles, it would mark a sharp shift in US national security policy.

President Barack Obama has made nuclear non-proliferation a centrepiece of his agenda, calling in 2009 for the US to lead efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons - a goal he acknowledged would not be accomplished quickly or easily.

Still, the US has been moving forward on plans to upgrade its ageing nuclear arsenal. Earlier this year, US defence secretary Ash Carter said the Pentagon planned to spend 108 billion dollars (87 billion) over the next five years to sustain and improve its nuclear force.

The US and Russia hold the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons.

In 2010, the two countries signed the New START treaty capping the number of nuclear warheads and missile launchers each country can possess. The agreement is in effect until 2021 and can be extended for another five years.

The state of the US nuclear arsenal was rarely addressed during the presidential campaign. Mr Trump's vanquished Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, repeatedly cast the Republican as too erratic and unpredictable to have control of the nation's nuclear arsenal.

The president-elect's transition website said he "recognises the uniquely catastrophic threats posed by nuclear weapons and cyber-attacks", adding that he will modernise the nuclear arsenal "to ensure it continues to be an effective deterrent".
Dwayne Jaquan Means Jr., also known as Rude Boy, 24, a known Blood Nation gang member, was arrested on Thursday morning, Dec. 22, by investigators with the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Salisbury Police Department and the Winston-Salem Police Department at an apartment in Winston-Salem.

Means had been placed on the Rowan County Sheriffs Office Most Wanted list. Means was charged with possession of a stolen firearm and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin. These charges are connected to a search of a residence at 255 Long Bow Road in Salisbury on Dec. 5 by investigators with the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, Salisbury Police Department, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Means is pending an appearance before a Rowan County Magistrate Judge.

The case originated on Dec. 5 when the law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at 255 Long Bow Road in Salisbury. Investigators located a stolen firearm and three grams of heroin.

Means was identified as a suspect in the investigation, and warrants were issued for his arrest.

Means has previous convictions for injury to property, second-degree trespassing, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor assault on a female and resisting a public officer. Additionally, Means has pending charges for larceny of a motor vehicle, robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree burglary.

Also related to the case, on July 31, 2015, when Quamesha Djonte Sifford, age 23, a resident of 1221 North Long St. in East Spencer, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine. This charge was the result of a traffic stop in Salisbury by the Rowan County Sheriffs Office.

Subsequently, Sifford was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of North Carolina, and charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.

A warrant for her arrest was issued on Aug. 30. Authorities do not know Siffords present location and are seeking assistance in finding her.

Sifford only has a previous conviction for disorderly conduct.

On Dec. 1, the Rowan County Sheriffs Office executed a search warrant at 380 Alan Circle in Salisbury and located evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing. Based on evidence uncovered during the search, arrest warrants were issued for Jonathan Dwayne Sellers, 32, a known Blood Nation gang member, and Brandy Michelle Flowers, 34, both residents of the home. Sellers and Flowers were each charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling methamphetamine, possession of precursor materials, and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Seller and Flowers are likely traveling together, and their present location is unknown.

Flowers has previous convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer, misdemeanor larceny and attempted trafficking of opium or heroin.

Sellers has previous convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor larceny and attempted trafficking of opium or heroin. Additionally, Sellers has a pending possession of precursor material charge from an incident in China Grove on May 28.

A reward is offered for information leading to the capture of the three remaining individuals. Contact Rowan County Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Black at 704-216-8693 with any information. To remain anonymous and possibly collect an award of up to $1,000, information can be submitted 24/7 via the website http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers. org/ or by calling the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.
the payment, e-commerce, internet, consumer products and services and financial services industry.

seller marketing, new business initiatives.

At Amazon.in he led the 3P business to launch Amazon.in for Books and Movies categories.

Payoneer enables millions of businesses and professionals from more than 200 countries to grow globally by facilitating seamless, cross-border payments. Additionally, thousands of leading corporations including Airbnb, Getty Images, Google and Upwork rely on Payoneers mass payout services. With Payoneers fast, flexible, secure and low-cost solutions, businesses and professionals in both developed and emerging markets can now pay and get paid globally as easily as they do locally.

How is the recent government announcement on demonetisation impacting your business in India? What changes or trends are you witnessing in the market from say six months ago and now?

Please tell us about your presence in India. Who is your target audience?

How are you benefiting from demonetisation? Have you taken steps to cash in on the move? If yes, please tell us about it.

Tell us about your global footprint. How do we compare with our global counterparts?

How do you plan to address concerns over online security with a cross-border payment platform?

How do you plan to add on to your customer base given that Indians are traditionally known to prefer cash transactions?

How has your experience been in doing business across the country?

In your opinion, what are your strong areas where you can claim to be a game changer?

Who are your competitors in this space and what in your opinion gives you an edge over them?

What is your vision for the company for FY18 - FY20?

and has over 18 years of experience inAs Payoneers Country Manager, he leads the efforts to empower professionals across all industries by connecting businesses and professionals with Payoneers innovative cross-border payments platform. Prior to joining Payoneer, Rohit Kulkarni worked with Amazon.in where he led theIn previous positions, he has led sales and business development for Yahoo Small Business, managed sales and product management at GE Money, and was a member of the start-up team at Sodexho Pass in India.He has a Diploma in Hotel Management from the Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Economics from University of Pune.Replying to Priyanka Sharma of IIFL,said, Risk assessment is in our DNA. Over time, our strong focus on B2B cross border payments across so many markets and our investment in machine learning has helped us to come up with an algorithm that allows our customers and their clients to trust us in moving their money.To begin with, we are a cross border, B2B focused company. So the demonetisation did not affect us and our customers directly. We enable our customers to get paid from their clients across multiple countries and currencies in a fast and cost efficient way. All this is done digitally and the benefits were already accruing to our customers even before demonetisation.We now have a local office in India with a market development team focusing on helping customers learn about the benefits of our platform and onboarding them on to it. Our customers really are a diverse set - from SMEs and individuals, to goods exporters, IT & ITES providers, marketing companies and freelancers. Some of them work on marketplaces like Amazon.com, Upwork.com, Airbnb.com, and Google.com, and some of them get paid from their direct clients across countries like the US, UK, Europe and Japan.Well, as I said earlier, we have already taken the advantages of digitization to our customers even before demonetisation. But we see that the overall ecosystem is now gearing up for adopting the digital method of paying and getting paid. This transformation is seen by us as a very positive step in driving awareness, adoption and an overall better customer experience to all businesses in India.We are the leading cross border B2B payment provider in the world today. We operate in over 200 countries, across 150 currencies and do billions of dollars in transactions every year. We offer multiple ways of paying like a bank transfer, credit card and e-checks. We also work with some of the best names in the Industry like Amazon, Google, Airbnb and Getty Images, to name a few of our 2000+ mass payout clients.Risk assessment is in our DNA. Over time, our strong focus on B2B cross border payments across so many markets and our investment in machine learning has helped us to come up with an algorithm that allows our customers and their clients to trust us in moving their money. We are not only compliant across all geographies with the local law of the land, but we also have our own security checks to keep ourselves safe from all the possible bad elements.One of the unique features we specifically developed for India market was the auto withdrawal system to the customers local rupee account. What it effectively means is that the customer does not have to bother with their clients currency, its conversion and other processes involved. We not only receive funds on their behalf in the foreign currency, but we also convert them at mid-market rates and then credit them to the customers local rupee account. So it is not only fast and cheap, but also hassle free. Our customers understand the value of digital transfers and they love the fact that their cash flows are well funded with the technology we provide.We already have thousands of customers from India who have signed up for Payoneer. They are exporters, service providers and freelancers. We have grown by 400% since our India country launch. Having said that, we believe there will be challenges on many fronts and we have the appetite to invest in overcoming them. For example, we are investing in driving education about digital and cross border payments through our own events, outreach through partners and creating help videos, etc.Our strength is our platform, which allows hassle-free payments for businesses in India across countries and currencies, whether they get paid by marketplaces, or direct clients, or both. Our pricing is extremely customized for the SME sector and it can be as much as 70% cheaper than banks and other players. Our team on the ground is always looking to learn and improvise, to provide a better solution to our customers.One of the leading payment industry consulting companies did a benchmarking study comparing us with our competitors in India. While the entire report is available on their website, here is a table which compares our performance across price and speed.Our vision in India is very simple: to transform the way businesses in India get paid for their cross border transactions. The transformation is about bringing to the users a cutting-edge technology to do their remittances. Its aimed at reducing their cost structures massively. Its about bringing parity between any businesses, anywhere in India, with the right product or service to be able to operate at a global sphere.We want to reach every such businessman from across the hinterland of India. We will empower the handicraft seller from Bhuj, and the shoe manufacturer in Agra, the freelancer in Guwahati, and the software provide in Hyderabad, or Bangalore. With Payoneer, they will be able to offer their products and services to customers worldwide, and get paid securely, quickly and at the lowest rate in a very smooth way.
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
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Local police in Suzhou, Jiangsu province have four suspects in custody after the suspects poured over 2,000 tons of household garbage into the Yangtze River, contaminating more than 10 kilometers of the water.

According to an announcement released by local police on Dec. 23, from Dec. 17 to 18, the suspects carried over 2,000 tons of garbage from Haiyan, Zhejiang province to Taicang, Jiangsu province, and then discarded the garbage in the Yangtze River. Garbage soon began to float along the river, posing a great threat to local residents' water supply.

Local authorities have dispatched a special team to investigate the incident. They have also sent experts to evaluate the damage to the local environment. As of press time, emergency plans had been initiated to protect citizens drinking water, with new water sources being opened for locals. Most of the garbage has been collected and disposed of.

The four suspects have confessed that they were hired by Zhejiang-based Tianshun Garbage Disposal Company, which instructed them to discard garbage from Zhejiang in other provinces. The companys two legal representatives have been arrested, and the case is now under investigation.
The Ningbo Coast Guard in Zhejiang province released news yesterday that Ningbo has cracked the case of a maritime accident involving foreign suspects. A crew from the Philippines has been approved for arrest by the Procuratorate in Ningbo's Beilun district.

The bulk cargo ship Catalina was being piloted by its second officer on the way from Lianyungang to Indonesia on May 7, 2016. At about 3:34 a.m., as the ship was traveling through the Xiangshan area in heavy fog and with poor visibility, it collided with the fishing vessel Lurongyu 58398. By failing to judge the collision risk in a timely fashion and driving at an unsafe speed, the second officer violated provisions of International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

Evidence from the voyage data recorder (VDR) on Catalina and analysis of their trajectories show that the vessels shared an overlapping position when the accident took place, and Catalina navigated away without making any efforts at rescuing the Chinese fishing vessel, according to the Ningbo Coast Guard.

The second officer has been detained since Oct. 28. He will be sentenced in the near future.
Winter, our favourite season, brings along lots of fun and merriment with it. Apart from the festivities and all the foggy mornings, the season is also about delicious dishes. Of course, what better weather than this to satiate your cravings!

In case you are confused and looking for some inspiration, here is a list of our favourite comfort food that will keep you warm this season.

1. Oats noodle soup

Pinterest

Oats noodle soup is another dish which comes with the goodness of oats and the warmth of soup. It is a perfect winter companion if you want to slurp on something steamy and also munch on something crunchy.

2. Oats vanilla and lemon waffle

Pinterest

Did you guys really think that we would come up with a list of warm comfort food without our favourite waffle? It warms you up and also tastes heavenly. You could also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make the dish more interesting.

3. Oats figs and honey muffins

Pinterest

This soft, succulent muffin is loaded with honey and chunky bits of figs. It goes best with hot chocolate on a cold and foggy morning.

4. Oats pancakes with nuts and fruits

Pinterest

Oats are the best alternative to every days meals, especially when they come loaded with honey and fruity treats. How can someone say no to this delicious dessert?

5. Oats pizza muffin

Pinterest

And then God said, ''Let there be Pizza Muffin.'' Two of our favorite dishes combined together makes us delirious every time we take a hot cheesy bite.

6. Chocolate baked oats with chocolate chips

Pinterest

Treat yourself to your favourite chocolate cake this season. This soft cake is loaded with yummy chocolate and is rich with the goodness of oats. It will surely melt in your mouth. Tip: Add chocolate chips to enhance the taste.

Want to make this winter happy and joyous for others as well? Let's do it with Quaker Oats who have pledged to feed food to thousands of underprivileged children in India. So, let's open our hearts and arms for these kids and pledge along with Quaker so that no child is left unfed this festive season. Let's spread love and happiness by pledging here here to #QuakerFeedAChild. After all, life is all about sharing and spreading merriments. Want to know more about this noble initiative? Watch this video.
We dont know whether to laugh or cry! On Tuesday, a software engineer turned on his MacBook, searching for open Wi-Fi networks inside a Virgin America flight in the US when he spotted a Wi-Fi network named Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

As witnessed through a series of tweets from Lucas Wojciechowski, the situation escalated so quickly that the captain of the flight actually threatened to divert and land the plane if whoever was carrying the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 didnt switch it off.

After an hour into the flight, Wojciechowski tweeted that there was an announcement made over the flights PA system, asking anyone who had a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to press their seats call [flight attendant] button. The prankster, obviously, wasnt going to relent so easily, so he continued with the joke and kept the Wi-Fi hotspot on, broadcasting with the Samsung Galaxy Note7_1097 SSID.

Apparently the plane is going to have to get diverted & searched if nobody fesses up soon   Lucas Wojciechowski (@lucaswoj) December 20, 2016

When no one came forward to comply with the request, things got real serious real quick on the Virgin America flight. The captain spoke next and he obviously explained that it wasnt a joke, that he was instructing the flight crew to turn on the lights (at 11 pm) and search everyones bags to find the explosive Samsung Galaxy Note 7 device. The captain even threatened to divert and land the flight since it was an emergency situation.

Why all the fuss? Because the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been officially banned by the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) in the US, following which India also banned the device on all commercial flights in the Indian airspace. Its a criminal offence in the US to carry a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on flight, something the prankster may or may not have known, because his joke was jeopardising everyone elses flight plan.

The BBC later reported that the owner came forward confessing that it was an elaborate prank, and that there was no Samsung Galaxy Note 7 onboard, and that they had changed the SSID of their wireless hotspot to the name of 'Samsung Galaxy Note 7_1097 which led to all the ensuing panic.

Oops. Also, epic Samsung Galaxy Note 7 prank is truly epic!
If the wounds of war inflicted upon them by their own people werent enough, nature added to the misery of already broken Syrian who now have seen snowfall in various parts of the war-torn country. Syrias northern province Deir Ez Zor received snowfall for the first time in more than 25 years adding massively to the woes of those affected by the battle between the insurgents and government forces.

Reuters

The snowfall has hit the evacuation process of the people. Though amid these under these heavy snow and freezing conditions, the last people have left eastern Aleppo, the government forces have announced that it has re-established security.

Efforts are being made to move the refugees to al-Hawl, located north-east of Syria and is reportedly better suited to displaced persons. However, many such displaced people have to now endure cold because of the freezing temperatures and lack of adequate shelter.

Reuters

Nearly 50 centimetres of snow has fallen on Mount Singar, endangering the lives of the refugees there, said Mahma Khalil, the towns mayor was quoted in news outlet The Independent.

Khalil has asked helped from Baghdad as over 9000 refugees who are in need of aid to keep them safe from cold. People have been tweeting out the plight of refugees who are stuck in the snow.

AFP

Parts of Saudi Arabia have also witnessed snow and in January 2016, the region had experienced snowfall after 85 years.

The evacuation of the Syrian citizens comes under the agreement between government supporter Russia and rebel supporter Turkey, made in presence of the Red Cross. In the deal, the rebel supporting citizens had to leave the area within two days of the deal.

AFP

All citizens have been moved from the hospitals as none remain functioning in Aleppo. Over 25,000 have been ushered out of the country since last week.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has won his biggest victory yet in the nearly six-year-long civil war after the army announced on Thursday that it has retaken full control of Aleppo.

AFP

The announcement came after a landmark evacuation deal that put an end to a ferocious month-long offensive waged on east Aleppo by government forces and allied militia. Reuters reported the military as saying that "safety and security" have returned to the city of Aleppo.

Earlier, the Red Cross said more than 4,000 fighters had left rebel-held areas of the city in the final stages of an evacuation.

Also Read: Aleppo, A City That Was. A Picture Story On How The City Has Been Ravaged By War

The loss of east Aleppo is the biggest blow to Syria's rebel movement in the nearly six-year conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people.

It puts the government in control of the country's five main cities: Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Damascus, and Latakia.

AFP

President Bashar al-Assad's victory in Aleppo is a boon for his allies in Moscow and Tehran and a defeat for the opposition's backers, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Western states.

Because of the intensity of these global rivalries -- particularly between Russia and the United States -- the international community struggled for years to respond to the bloodshed in Syria.

Also Read: In Their Final Push For The Control Of Aleppo, Syrian Army Has Killed At Least 82 Civilians, Says UN

"The liberation of Aleppo is not only a victory for Syria but also for those who really contribute to the fight against terrorism, notably Russia and Iran," state news agency SANA quoted Assad as saying before the army announcement on Thursday.

AFP

The evacuation effort had been hampered by heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, leaving evacuees waiting in unheated buses for hours.

"Overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, in one of the last stages of the evacuation, more than 4,000 fighters were evacuated in private cars, vans, and pick-ups from eastern Aleppo," said Ingy Sedky, the spokeswoman in Syria for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Also Read: Bana, The 'Twitter Girl' From Syria Has Been Evacuated From War Torn Eastern Aleppo

She said about 34,000 people had left rebel areas of Aleppo under the evacuation plan.

The United Nations said it had deployed observers to monitor the final evacuations, under a Security Council resolution adopted on Monday.

Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency, said 31 staff had been assigned for monitoring at the crossing point at Ramussa, the government-held district of southern Aleppo through which evacuation convoys have been leaving.

AFP

"It's been a very difficult night. The weather is really harsh, and people are leaving in hundreds of private vehicles at different levels of disrepair," he told AFP.

Heavy snowfall from Wednesday, which blanketed Aleppo and the surrounding countryside, had slowed down the evacuations.

"The bad weather, including heavy snow and wind, and the poor state of vehicles... mean things are moving much more slowly than expected," Sedky said.

Also Read: Egypt's Police Arrest Five Persons For Making Fake Videos Of Injured Children To Show Atrocities In Aleppo

Rebel forces, who seized control of east Aleppo in 2012, agreed to withdraw from the bastion after a month-long army offensive that drove them from more than 90 percent of their former territory.

The deal was brokered by Russia, which launched air strikes in support of Assad's regime last year, and Turkey, which has supported some rebel groups.

As part of the Aleppo evacuation deal, it was agreed some residents would be allowed to leave Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shiite-majority villages in northwestern Syria that are under siege by the Sunni Muslim rebels.

AFP

About 1,000 people have been able to leave the villages in recent days.

The evacuation of Aleppo's rebel sector is a pivotal moment in a war that has triggered a major humanitarian and refugee crisis.

As well as a major strategic gain for Assad, the rebel withdrawal from Aleppo has given fresh impetus to international efforts to end the conflict.

Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed this week to guarantee Syria peace talks and backed expanding a ceasefire, laying down their claim as the main powerbrokers in the war.

Also Read: Things Get Worse In Syria, Now Buses Arriving In Aleppo For Evacuation Are Being Burnt

Repeated attempts at peace have failed, but UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has said he hopes to convene fresh talks in Geneva in February.

Formerly the beating heart of Syria's commercial and cultural industries, Aleppo has been split since July 2012 between rebels in the east and the government in the west.

East Aleppo became a powerful symbol for Syria's opposition, which set up its own administration to run schools, electricity, and water there.

AFP

Opposition fighters lobbed rockets into government-held territory, and regime forces battered the east with air strikes and artillery.

Moscow's military intervention in support of Assad marked a major turning point in the war.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday the Russian air force has killed 35,000 fighters in Syria since it began in September last year.

Turkey launched its own campaign in Syria in late August in support of pro-Ankara rebels, with the aim of ousting Islamic State group jihadists as well as Kurdish militia from areas near its border.

AFP

Turkish air strikes killed at least 47 civilians including 14 children Thursday in the IS-held town of Al-Bab, which Turkish forces have been seeking to capture for weeks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

The raids came a day after 14 Turkish soldiers were killed by jihadists around Al-Bab, in the country's biggest loss of the campaign so far.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed Thursday to press on, saying: "Turkey is in the midst of a great struggle -- our fight against terror continues both in our country and outside our borders."
An airliner on an internal flight in Libya was hijacked and diverted to Malta where it landed on Friday, Maltese media reported.

The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for state-owned airline Afriqiyah Airways with 118 people aboard, the reports said. The two hijackers had threatened to blow the plane up, outlets including the Times of Malta reported.

Reuters

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM".

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) 23 December 2016

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

Some of the women and children who were onboard were released after negotiations began.
(Xinhua) 18:59, December 23, 2016

China on Friday called on the United Statesto take the lead in cutting nuclear weapons after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump used Twitter to propose the expansion of his country's nuclear capabilities.

"The world's largest nuclear stockpile country should take the lead in making substantial cuts to its nuclear arsenal so as to create conditions for total elimination of nuclear weapons," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Friday in response to Trump's tweet.

Trump tweeted Thursday that the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capabilities until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

Hua said that the United States, as the country with the world's largest nuclear stockpile, bears special and primary responsibilities in nuclear disarmament.

China always stands for and advocates complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, she said.
Courts should not harass a rape survivor by asking her for corroborative evidence to prove her allegations if her testimony is trustworthy, the Supreme Court held on Thursday.

INSIDEWORLD/representational image

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and A M Sapre said the testimony of a victim in cases of sexual offences is vital and the accused can be convicted solely on the basis of her statements. It said that courts could seek corroboration of her statements only in rarest of rare case and when there was compelling reasons to do so.

Also Read: Delhi High Court Has Ruled That Children Born As A Result Of Rape Will Now Get Compensation

"Seeking corroboration to a statement before relying upon the same as a rule, in such cases, would literally amount to adding insult to injury. The deposition of the prosecutrix has, thus, to be taken as a whole. Needless to reiterate that the victim of rape is not an accomplice and her evidence can be acted upon without corroboration. She stands at a higher pedestal than an injured witness does," the bench said.

AP

Justice Sikri, who wrote the judgment for the bench said that evidence of the girl or the woman who complains of rape or sexual molestation should not be viewed with "the aid of spectacles fitted with lenses tinged with doubt, disbelief or suspicion".

"If the court finds it difficult to accept her version, it may seek corroboration from some evidence which lends assurance to her version. To insist on corroboration, except in the rarest of rare cases, is to equate one who is a victim of the lust of another with an accomplice to a crime and thereby insult womanhood. It would be adding insult to injury to tell a woman that her claim of rape will not be believed unless it is corroborated in material particulars, as in the case of an accomplice to a crime," it said.

MASHADA/representational image

The bench passed the order while sentencing a man to twelve years of imprisonment for raping his nine-year-old niece. It set aside the order of Himachal Pradesh HC which had acquitted the accused on the ground of minor discrepancies in the statements of the girl and her mother.

The HC had held that there was delay in lodging an FIR by the victim's family as the case was registered three years after the incident. Setting aside HC order, the bench said that a rape complaint could not be declared as false because of delay in lodging the case as the reluctance to go to the police was because of social stigma associated with such cases.

Kawanku/representational image

"A decision to lodge FIR becomes more difficult and hard when accused happens to be a family member. In fact, incestuous abuse is still regarded as a taboo to be discussed in pubic. This reticence hurts the victims or other family members who struggle to report. After all, in such a situation, not only the honour of the family is at stake, it may antagonize other relations as well," the bench said.

"Various studies show that in more than 80% cases of such abuses, perpetrators have acquaintance with the victims who are not strangers. The danger is more within than outside. Most of the time, acquaintance rapes, when the culprit is a family member, are not even reported for various reasons, not difficult to fathom," it said.
If the surgical strikes carried by Para commandos of Indian Special Forces on September 29 didnt satiate your quest for heroics of Indias Special Forces, here is another story of from 1971 war when brave commandos had carried the first raid after their formation by entering enemy territory and eliminating their artillery guns.

IndianDefenceReview

'Operation Mandhol, they call it was the first operation carried out by Paras and it wasnt a cake walk at all. The operation carried out by 9 Para Commandos unit in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir was the only classical commando raid executed by special forces in the war.

Chandigarh-based Colonel (retd) K D Pathak was then a captain and second-in-command of the company of 120 men who had carried out the remarkable operation, which made Pakistan change its war doctrine.

Operation 'Mandhol' is also part of the curriculum at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, where cadets are trained as future officers of the Army.

Recalling the night of December 13 and 14, 1971, Col Pathak, 73, said his unit was posted at 'Nangi Tekri' post at the height of 4,665 feet in Poonch sector and was assigned the task of destroying Pakistan's artillery guns positioned near Mandole village, which was around 19km southwest of Poonch. Six 122mm Chinese guns of Pakistani battery were creating trouble for 93 and 120 infantry brigades of the Indian Army.

IndianDefenceReview

"We started around 5.30pm on December 13 with one company comprising six officers and around 120 men of 9 Para Commando unit led by Major C M Malhotra," Col Pathak told TOI.

Pathak further revealed that it was a cold night and they had to cross waist-deep water of Poonch river to reach Mandole.

IndianDefenceReview

When the Paras reached Mandhol village, they found that the village was completely deserted. But the raiding party located the enemy guns with the help of an old man. After tracing the gun positions, the party was split into six groups with each attacking one gun. After a fierce battle with the enemy, all guns were destroyed with the help of pencil-cell connected timer explosive.

During the fight, many soldiers of Pakistan army were killed while several fled. The raiding party of Indians lost two of its men while 20 were wounded."It was also an uphill task to return to our territory with wounded soldiers and the body of a soldier. Cots, taken from villages, were improvised and turned into stretchers to carry the wounded soldiers. We reached our post at 6.30am," Pathak recounted.

IndianDefenceReview

He, however, has one grouse that their feat was recognised only when the delegations of the Pakistan Army, after the ceasefire, narrated the heroic act carried out by the Indian troops at Mandhol.

"The act of the raiding team did not fetch it many gallantry awards, but for the overall operations in the Poonch sector, the Para Commandos were awarded the 'Battle Honour' in the 1971 war. What can be more proud for the Para Commandos that the operation carried out by them is part of the curriculum of IMA," Pathak said.

The 'Mandhol' operation had so deep an impact on the Pak Army that it had to raise the second line of troops to secure their artillery guns thereby making a change in its war doctrine.
Anis Amri, the prime suspect in Monday's Berlin Christmas Market attack, has been shot dead by police in Milan.

Reuters

Marco Minniti, Italy's Interior Minister, told a news conference on Friday morning that Amri was killed during a shootout with the police at 3 am. Amri opened fire during a routine check when he was asked for his identity documents by police in Milan who had saw him acting suspiciously.

He shot and injured an officer and was himself killed in the exchange of fire that followed.

Reuters

Since the attacks that killed 12 people, an international manhunt has been underway for the 24-year-old Tunisian. According to German media, he travelled by train to Milan via France.
Thousands of Syrians are in dire need of humanitarian aid after Jordan decided to close its borders to protect itself against security threats.

Reuters

Jordans Foreign Minister, Nasser Judeh said it was necessary to take this to protect people against threats to Jordans security.

Closing the border, however, has resulted in limiting the amount of food and medical aid that is delivered to more than 75,000 displaced Syrians stranded in the no-mans land. This zone is called berm and lies on the Syrian-Jordanian border. Syrian side of the berm is held by rebels, who arent providing support to residents on their side of the line.

Reuters

Now thousands of Syrians face starvation and death, warn medics. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been forced to close its clinic at the Zaatari refugee camp because patients were stopped from being treated even though at least 70 war casualties including children were in need of surgery that would otherwise result in their deaths.

MSF was lending medical support to refugees but after Jordan closed its border in June, medical evacuations from Syria stopped and now its wards are almost empty.

Reuters

Marjan Besuijen, MSFs project coordinator in Zaatari, said, Knowing that there are probably patients dying just a few kilometres away on the other side of the border because of lack of access to essential medical care is shameful.
For Palestinians, Zionism Only Means One Thing By Ramzy Baroud December 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The British government of Theresa May officially adopted on December 12 a new definition of anti-Semitism that includes legitimate criticism of Israel. The definition was adopted earlier in the year by a pro-Israeli group IHRA, although it was considered but abandoned by the European anti-racism agency in 2005. It is also a rather dangerous move which will most likely lead to an expanding chasm between British civil society and Britains political elite. Israeli and pro-Israeli groups in the West have always been keen on conflating genuine racism and genuine criticism of the state of Israel, which stands accused of violating scores of United Nations resolutions and of war crimes in the occupied territories, especially Gaza. Adopting the new definition comes on the heels of a manufactured crisis in British politics, in which the Labor Party under Jeremy Corbyn was falsely accused of being "soft" on anti-Semitism among its members. This "crisis" was engineered by pro-Israeli groups to detract from genuine campaigning among Labor supporters, in order to bind Israel to its international obligations, and end the siege and occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Last October, a cross-party group issued a report that contributed to the confusion of ideas, condemning the use of the word "Zionist" as pejorative, and claiming that such a use has no place in civil society." While efforts to protect Israel from freedom of speech in Britain are still gathering steam, the debate in the United States has been stifled long ago. There is little room for any criticism of Israel in mainstream American media or "polite" society. Effectively, this means that US policy in the Middle East remains beholden only to Israeli interests, the diktats of its powerful pressure and lobby groups. Following suit, the UK is now adopting that same self-defeating position, an issue which is hardly new. In fact, Friday of last week was an anniversary of great relevance to this very issue. On December 16, 1991, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 46/86, a single, reticent statement : The General Assembly decides to revoke the determination contained in its resolution 3379 (XXX) of 10 November 1975. This was a reversal of an earlier resolution that equated Israels political ideology, Zionism and racism. The longer text of the initial resolution , 3379 of 1975 was based on a clear set of principles, including UN resolution 2106 of 1965 that defined racial discrimination as any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, color, descent or national or ethnic origin. The reversal of that resolution was the outcome of vigorous US lobbying and pressures that lasted for years. In 1991, Israel had insisted that it would not join the US-sponsored Madrid peace talks without the disavowal of 3379 first. With the UN being one of the Madrid Talks sponsors, the US pressure paid its dividends at last, and UN members were obliged to overturn their early verdicts. However, equating Zionism with racism is not the only comparison that is often conjured by Israels critics. Recently, Ecuadorian envoy to the United Nations, Horacio Sevilla was adamant in his comments before a UN session, marking November 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. After he repudiated with all our strength the persecution and genocide unleashed by Nazism against the Hebrew people, he added, "but I cannot remember anything more similar in our contemporary history than the eviction, persecution and genocide that today imperialism and Zionism do against the Palestinian people." The tirade of condemnations that followed was expected, as Israeli officials seized yet another opportunity to hurl anti-Semitic accusations against the United Nations for persistently targeting Israel , while, supposedly, excluding others from censure. As far as Israel is concerned, any criticism of the state and its political ideology is anti-Semitic as are any demands for accountability from Israel regarding its military conducts during war. But why is Israel so concerned with definitions? At the heart of Israels very existence lurks a sense of vulnerability which all the nuclear warheads and firepower cannot redeem. Outlawing the use of the term Zionism is ludicrous and impractical, if not altogether impossible. For Israelis who embrace the term, Zionism is many things, while for Palestinians, who learned to loathe it, it is, ultimately a single ideology. In an article published in 2012, Israeli author, Uri Avnery, acknowledged the many shades of Zionism  early socialist Zionism (obsessed with the color red, and mobilizing around Jewish-only unions and Kibbutzim); religious Zionism which sees itself as the "forerunner of the Messiah"; right-wing Zionism which demands a Jewish state in all of historical Palestine, and secular, liberal Zionism as envisioned by its founder, Theodor Herzl. For a Palestinian whose land was illegally confiscated, home demolished and life endangered by these very "Zionist" forces, Avnerys itemization is insignificant. For them the term "Zionist" is essentially pejorative, and is anyone who advocates, participates in or justifies Israeli aggressive actions based on his/her support and sympathy for political Zionism. In his article, "Zionism from the Standpoint of its Victims", the late Palestinian Professor Edward Said elaborates: It is not unreasonable to find that the entire Palestinian-Arab experience seems unanimous about the view that Zionism visited upon the Arabs a singular injustice, and that even before the British handed Palestine over to Zionist settlers upon which to establish a state formally in 1948, Palestinians universally opposed and variously tried to resist Zionist colonialism. Many countries share the Palestinian perception of Zionism as a form of colonialism, and that prevailing perception is a historical fact, not a product of collective anti-Semitic illusion. The reason why the question and debate of Zionism must not waver to any intimidation is that the essence of Zionism never matured, evolved or changed from its early, colonial version. Israeli historian Ilan Pappe agrees . "The Zionist ideology and strategy has not changed from its very beginning," he wrote. "The idea was We want to create a Jewish state in Palestine but also a Jewish democracy". So the Zionists needed to have a Jewish majority all the time .. Therefore, ethnic cleansing was the only real solution from the Zionist perspective .." This remains the main driving force behind Israeli policy towards Palestinians, and Israels refusal to break away from a 19th century colonial enterprise into a modern, democratic state for all its citizens. To do so, would be to sacrifice the core of its Zionist ideology, constructed on an amalgam of ethno-religious identities, and to embrace a universal form of democracy in a state where Jews and Arabs are treated as equals. Dr. Ramzy Baroud has been writing about the Middle East for over 20 years. He is an internationally-syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com. His books include Searching Jenin, The Second Palestinian Intifada and his latest My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gazas Untold Story. His website is www.ramzybaroud.net. Egypt delays U.N. vote on illegal settlements after Trump, Israel urge U.S. veto: ; Egypt postponed a U.N. Security Council vote on Thursday on a resolution it proposed demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, diplomats said, after Israel's prime minister and U.S. president-elect Donald Trump urged Washington to veto it. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
The third plenary meeting of the 25th session of the 12th Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) is held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2016. Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
Obama Is A f**kin Liar And U.S. Is Inflicting Human Suffering in Syria

Video - By Jimmy Dore

Pres. Obama Offers Hilarious Reasons For Why We're In Syria

Posted December 22, 2016

Syrian Ambassador to U.N. Reads Names of Spies and Intelligence Agents Trapped in East Aleppo : Video - Syrian Ambassador to U.N. Reads Names of Spies and Intelligence Agents Trapped in East Aleppo
An al Qaeda Christmas

How Hate Figures Became American Heroes





By Chris Floyd

December 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Youre al Qaeda. Youre 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.? Thats easy: as Patrick Cockburn noted this week, you simply make the zones you control so dangerous for reporters  killing them, kidnapping them, etc.  that they dont 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, thats how those who murdered Americans have become Americas newest heroes, the brave defenders of freedom in Syria. Whats 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, youve lost your foothold in Aleppo, where for years you systematically persecuted people and forcibly prevented them from leaving. But Americas 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, lets not forget what Americas 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 couldnt ask for a better friend, could you?]
The Radical Jesus: How Would the Baby in a Manger Fare in the American Police State?





By John W. Whitehead

Jesus is too much for us. The churchs later treatment of the gospels is one long effort to rescue Jesus from extremism.author Gary Wills, What Jesus Meant

December 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Jesus was good. He was caring. He had powerful, profound things to saythings that would change how we view people, alter government policies and change the world. He went around helping the poor. And when confronted by those in authority, he did not shy away from speaking truth to power.

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 2,000 years later? How would Jesus life have been different had he be born and raised 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, a police state in its own right, 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, how many toilets are in your home, etc. The penalty for not responding to this invasive survey can go as high as $5,000.

Instead of being born in a manger, Jesus might have been born at home. Rather than wise men and shepherds bringing gifts, however, the babys 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 been born in a hospital, his blood and DNA would have been taken without his parents knowledge or consent and entered into a government biobank. While most states require newborn screening, a growing number are holding onto that genetic material long-term for research, analysis and purposes yet to be disclosed.

Then again, had his 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 Victorias Secret. Theres quite a lot of money to be made from imprisoning immigrants, especially when taxpayers are footing the bill.

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 dataincluding his biometricswould have been documented, tracked, monitored and filed by governmental agencies and corporations such as Google and Microsoft. Incredibly, 95 percent of school districts share their student records with outside companies that are contracted to manage data, which they then use to market products to us.

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, from animal rights groups to poverty relief, anti-war groups and other such extremist organizations.

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 Securitys 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.

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 todaycalled informantsoften 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 against his will for a mandatory involuntary psychiatric hold with no access to family or friends. One Virginia man was arrested, strip searched, handcuffed to a table, diagnosed as having mental health issues, and locked up for five days in a mental health facility against his will apparently because of his slurred speech and unsteady gait.

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.

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, many on unsuspecting Americans who have no defense against such government invaders, even when such raids are done in error.

Instead of being detained by Roman guards, Jesus might have been made to disappear into a secret government detention center where he would have been interrogated, tortured and subjected to all manner of abuses. Chicago police disappeared more than 7,000 people into a secret, off-the-books interrogation warehouse at Homan Square.

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.

Either way, whether Jesus had been born in our modern age or his own, he still would have died at the hands of a police state. Indeed, as I show in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, what Jesus and other activists suffered in their day is happening to those who choose to speak truth to power today.

Thus, we are faced with a choice: remain silent in the face of evil or speak out against it. As Nobel Prize-winning author Albert Camus proclaimed:

Perhaps we cannot prevent this world from being a world in which children are tortured. But we can reduce the number of tortured children. And if you dont help us, who else in the world can help us do this?
Russian Hacking: The CIA Never Lies? By Joe Clifford



December 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Be honest now. Did you believe the US intelligence agencies when they claimed it was a Slam Dunk Iraq had WMD? That bit of propaganda cost 5,000 American lives, and more than a million Iraqi lives. To make matters even more horrible, 600,000 children under 5 years old died because of brutal sanctions.



They sold that war using fake, distorted evidence, and outright lies, to support their need for a war. They even introduced forged documents from Niger to sell the war. Tragically the US public bought it, hook line and sinker, even though there were knowledgeable people who saw through the ruse. Experts who knew the intelligence was baseless, were ignored by mainstream media, and the propaganda by government and its mouthpiece, mainstream media, went unchallenged. These intelligence agencies were the very same who did not foresee the fall of the Berlin wall until it was on the ground in pieces, nor did they see the destruction of the WTC until it too, was on the ground. And this would be the same CIA who this week, submitted a written apology to the Turkish government for making false claims about Turkey oil trading with Daesh. Now we are told the Russians interfered with our elections, but this time it is different. They dont offer any evidence or proof whatsoever, let alone fake evidence. Their claims are based on anonymous sources, unnamed sources, and terms like consensus view, with not a shred of absolute proof. Based on the Iraq lies, they learned you can sell the US public anything, if you just keep repeating the lie. The Big Lie theory is alive and well today. If you repeat something enough, it becomes fact. The intelligence agencies refused to brief congress, and they refused to brief the electors before voting for President. Why?



There certainly are experts in the field who should know about the alleged hacking, but they are not allowed to disrupt mainstream medias Russophobe frenzy. Bet you never saw William Binney on mainstream media. Who is Binney? He is the guy who put together the NSAs elaborate worldwide surveillance system. He has publicly stated on alternative news sites, that if something was hacked, the NSA would instantly know who, when, and whether the info was passed on to another party. He designed the system. He argues, there was no hacking for that very reason. Binney insists the e-mails had to have been leaked by an insider who had access to the data. Never heard him on mainstream media huh? Next comes Craig Murray a former US Ambassador who claims he knows who leaked the e-mails, because he met with the individual in Washington D.C. Never heard him on mainstream media either huh? Finally, Julian Assange, the man who released the e-mails. He insisted all along he never got the e-mails from Russia. Another no show on mainstream media. Whatever happened to the journalistic adage of going to the source? Assange is the source, but no mainstream media journalist, and I use the term very loosely, has ventured to speak with him. The accusation has been repeated countless times, without any evidence, or consulting with any of the above three experts.



Because the big lie has been repeated so many times by corporate media, about half of the US public, according to a recent poll, believes Russia interfered, even though there is not a bit of evidence to support it. Once again they take the bait; hook, line, and sinker.



For believers of Russian hacking, I offer the following analogy. It might, but I doubt it will help, because you cannot undo the effect of propaganda. You are put on trial for murder that you did not commit. The prosecutor and judge simply say they have reached a consensus view, the phrase offered by intelligence agencies, that you committed the murder and are guilty. You ask for proof. They offer none. They just keep repeating that you did it. You challenge and ask how do you know I did it? Answer: we have anonymous sources, but we cannot tell you who they are, nor can we show you proof.



Just as in the fake run-up to the Iraq war, the expert voices of the opposition are not tolerated on mainstream media. Do these folks really want a war with Russia? Are they so upset with Trumps pronouncement that he wanted better relations with Russia? What sane person would not? Hmmm.



It appears there is a war already raging between the Russophobes, who do not want better relations with Russia, and are doing their best to smear and demonize Putin, and those who do. This is the same tactic used with Manuel Noriega of Panama, Muarmar Gaddafi, and Saddam Hussein, before they made war on all three. Demonize, then make war.



Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Shame on those who buy into propaganda without any proof.



Think about it and use a little logic. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
President Duterte Of The Philippines For Dummies By Andre Vltchek December 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ascended to power in 1999, almost no one in the West, in Asia and even in most of the Latin American countries knew much about his new militant revolutionary anti-imperialism. From the mass media outlets like CNN and the BBC, to local televisions and newspapers (influenced or directly sponsored by Western sources), the information that was flowing was clearly biased, extremely critical, and even derogatory.



A few months into his rule, I came to Caracas and was told repeatedly by several local journalists: Almost all of us are supporting President Chavez, but wed be fired if wed dare to write one single article in his support.



In New York City and Paris, in Buenos Aires and Hong Kong, the then consensus was almost unanimous: Chavez was a vulgar populist, a demagogue, a military strongman, and potentially a dangerous dictator.



In South Korea and the UK, in Qatar and Turkey, people who could hardly place Venezuela on the world map, were expressing their strong opinions, mocking and smearing the man who would later be revered as a Latin American hero. Even many of those who would usually distrust mainstream media were then clearly convinced about the sinister nature of the Process and the Bolivarian Revolution.



History repeats itself.



Now President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines is demonized and mistrusted, ridiculed and dismissed as a demagogue, condemned as a rough element, mocked as a buffoon.



In his own country he is enjoying the highest popularity rating of any president in its history: at least well over 70 percent, but often even over 80 percent.



Show me one woman or man who hates Duterte in this city, smiles a city hall employee of Davao (located on the restive Mindanao Island) where Duterte served as a Mayor for 22 years. I will buy that person an exquisite dinner, from my own pocket ... that is how confident I am.



People of the Philippines are totally free now to express their opinions, to criticize the government, explains Eduardo Tadem, a leading academic, Professorial Lecturer of Asian Studies (UP). He says: they want to protest? Good! People can rally or riot without any permit from the authorities.



Like in the days of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, in the Philippines, the press, which is mainly owned by right-wing business interests and by pro-Western collaborators, is now reaching a crescendo, barking and insulting the President, inventing stories and spreading unconfirmed rumors, something unimaginable even in a place like the U.K. with its draconian defamation laws.



So it is not fear that is securing the great support of the people for Duterte in his own country. It is definitely not fear!



I visited some of the toughest slums of the nation; I worked in the middle of deadly cemeteries, just recently battered by crime and drugs, where people had been literally rotting alive, crying for help and mercy in absolute desperation. I also spoke to the top academics and historians of the country, to former colleagues of Duterte and to overseas workers in the U.A.E. and elsewhere.



The louder was the hate speech from abroad and from local mass media outlets, the stronger Dutertes nation stood by its leader.



Men and women who were just one year ago living in total desperation and anger were now looking forward with hope, straight towards the future. Suddenly, everything seemed to be possible!



In my first report this month I wrote: There is a sense of change in those narrow and desperate alleys of the Baseco slum in the Philippines' capital Manila. For the first time in many years a beautiful, noble lady visited; against all odds she decided to stay. Her name is Hope.



I stand by my words, now more than ever.



However, I also feel that I have to explain in more detail what is really happening in the Philippines and why?



My only request, my appeal to all those people all over the planet who know nothing or very little about this part of the world in general and about the Philippines in particular, would be: Please do not pass judgments based only on what you read in your own language and especially in English, and from the sources that have been, on so many occasions, and so thoroughly discredited. Come by yourself, come and see and listen. Like Venezuela many years ago, what is taking place in the Philippines is an unknown territory, an absolutely new concept. Something different and unprecedented, is developing, taking shape. This is like no other revolution that took place before. Do not take part in ridiculing it, do not help to choke it, do not do anything damaging before you come and see for yourself, before you face those pleading eyes of the millions of people who were defenseless and abused for so long and who are all of a sudden standing tall, facing life with great hope and pride.



Do not participate in depriving them of their own country. For the first time, after centuries of brutal colonialism, it is truly theirs. I repeat: for the first time. Now!



Do not deprive them of hope: it is all that they have, and it is much more than anything they ever had in decades and centuries.



Fidel Castro used to say: Revolution is not a bed of roses.



Revolution is a tough, often very hard job. It is never perfect; it could never be. To destroy any deeply rooted evil system takes guts, and inevitably, blood is spilled.



Duterte is not as poetic as Fidel. He is a Visaya, a brilliant but rough, candid and an outspoken man. Often he is hyperbolic. He likes to shock his listeners, followers and foes.



But who is he, really? Who is this man who is threatening to close down all US military bases, to reach permanent peace with the Communists and Muslim insurgents, to realign his foreign policy and ideology with China and Russia, and to save the lives of tens of millions of poor people of the Philippines?



In search for the answers, lets listen to those who really matter  the people of the Philippines.



Lets silence the toxic waterfall of insults and selected pieces of information, coming from defunct Western media outlets; lets silence it by adopting Dutertes outrageous but honest lexicon: You propaganda media of the West, you animal, fuck you!



*



Who Is President Duterte, Really? Why Does He Swear So Much, Why Does He Insult Everyone, From President Obama To Such Mighty Institutions Like the U.N., the EU, Even the Pope?



He comes from the South, explains Ms. Luzviminda Ilagan, a former member of the Congress, and one of the countrys leading feminists:



He is a Visaya. In Luzon, they speak Tagalog, they are well-behaved, and they look down at us. Politically, here we say imperialist Manila. Ironically, Mindanao contributes greatly to Manilas coffers: there is extensive mining here, there are fruit plantations, rice fields; but very little is shared with us, in terms of the budgets.... And suddenly, here comes a Mayor from Davao, from the South, and he is even speaking the language that they hate. He is angry at the situation in his country, and he is swearing and cursing. It is cultural; after all, he is Visaya! In Manila and abroad, it is all misinterpreted: here you dont swear at somebody; you just swear, period. Yes, he is different. He tells the truth, and he speaks our language.



Why should he not be angry? Once the richest country in Asia, the Philippines is now one of the poorest. Its appalling slums are housing millions, and further millions are caught in a vicious cycle of drug addiction and crime. Crime rate is one of the highest on the continent. There is a brutal civil war with both Muslim and Communist rebels.



And for centuries, the West is mistreating and plundering this country with no shame and no mercy. Whenever the people decide to rebel, as it was the case more than a century ago, they are massacred like cattle. The US butchered 1/6 of the population more than a century ago, some 1.5 million men, women and children.



Dynasties are ruling undemocratically, with an iron fist.



In the Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, some 74% of the seats are taken by members of local dynasties, explains Prof. Roland Simbulan. This is according to serious academic studies.



Before President Duterte came to power, most of the social indicators were nearing the regional bottom. The country lost its voice, fully collaborating with the West, particularly against China.



An angry man, a socialist, President Duterte is outraged by the present and the past, but especially by the ruthlessness of Western imperialism.



He talks but above all he acts. He takes one decisive step after another. He pushes reforms further and further, he retreats when an entire project gets endangered. He is steering his ship through terrible storms, through the waters that were never navigated before.



One error and his entire revolution will go to hell. In that case, tens of millions of the poor will remain where they were for decades  in the gutter. One wrong move and his country will never manage to rise from its knees.



So he swears. So he is moving forward, cursing.





Why Does The West Want To Overthrow Duterte?



First of all, how could the United States and Europe not hate someone who is so out-rightly rejecting imperialism and the horrid colonialist past to which the Philippines was subjected for the centuries? To the past, however, we will return later in this essay.



A legendary academic, Prof Roland Simbulan, from the Department of Social Sciences of the University of the Philippines, explained, during our daylong encounter in Manila:



Duterte reads a lot, and he admires Hugo Chavez. He is actually holding very similar positions as Chavez. He is strongly critical of Western imperialism in such places as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. He cannot stand how the West is treating his own country.



He was always persistent in his anti-imperialist policy. Even as Mayor of Davao he banned all US-Philippine military exercises. The US negotiated; it offered plenty of money. It wanted to build a huge drone base in Mindanao, but Duterte refused.



As punishment, two bombs exploded in Davao: one at the pier, one at the international airport.



Lately, he ordered to stop all US-Philippine joined military exercises and he keeps threatening to close all US military facilities on the territory of his country.



A couple consisting of leading Philippine Academics, Eduardo and Teresa Tadem, have no doubts about direction of Dutertes foreign policy:



The trend is clear: away from the West, towards China and Russia. We think that he will soon reach a territorial agreement with China. Plenty of goodwill is now coming from President Xi Jinping. Things are done quietly, but some great concessions are already visible: our fishermen are allowed to return to the disputed area. China is pledging foreign aid, investment, and it is promising to make our railways work again.



All this is a nightmare for the aggressively anti-Chinese foreign policy of the West, particularly that of the United States. Provoking still the militarily weak China, eventually even triggering a military conflict with it, appears to be the main goal of Western imperialism. If the Philippines reach a compromise with China, Vietnam will most likely follow. The aggressive Asian anti-Chinese coalition hammered together by the West, would then most likely collapse, consisting only of Taiwan, Japan and possibly South Korea.



Duterte is just being sensible. What China is doing is defensive. The West is behind the confrontation, explained a leading historian Dr. Rey Ileto:



Just to put this into perspective: Gloria Arroyo  she visited China ahead of the US. She moved closer to China. They got her indicted for corruption! Only Duterte released her...



To the West, Dutertes Philippines is like a new Asian contagious disease; a virus that has to be contained, liquidated as soon as possible. Countless independent (at least on the paper) but in reality controlled and humiliated nations of the region could get otherwise inspired, rebel, and begin to follow Dutertes example.



The West is in panic. Its propaganda machine is in full gear. Different strategies on how to unseat the unruly president are being designed and tried. Local elites and the NGOs are collaborating shamelessly.



Is Duterte Really A Socialist?



Yes and no, but definitely more yes than no. He is actually a self-proclaimed socialist, and for years, he has been forging extremely close links with the Marxists.



Prof. Roland Simbulan explains:



When Duterte was a college student, he joined KM, the leftist student organization. He understands the ideology of the left. He also understands the roots of the insurgencies in his country, both Communist and Muslim. He keeps repeating: you cannot defeat the insurgency militarily: you have to address socio-economic problems that has led to it.



He invited Marxists into his administration, even before they asked him to join. He is gradually releasing political prisoners, who were captured and locked up during the previous administrations.



Professors Teresa and Eduardo Tadem agree:



Social reforms are part of the peace talks. The fact that a Communist leader used to be Dutertes professor is also helping. Duterte introduced a moratorium on land conversions, so the land of the peasants could be preserved for agriculture. Labor is also enjoying many good things. He is bringing an end to short contracts, to so called contractualisation. Basically, the government is trying to make sure that after people get hired, they get benefits, immediately.



There are many positive changes taking place in such a short time: environment, social issues, social justice, education, health, housing, science...



Duterte recently sent his Health Secretary to Havana, to study the Cuban model. The visit was so successful that he is now planning to fly an entire government delegation, including the ministers, to the revolutionary island.



However, while he is certainly putting great accent on social justice and independent anti-imperialist foreign policy, there are still finances, trade and economic policies firmly in the hands of the pro-market ministers.



When Duterte was a mayor, explains Prof Simbulan, he acted as a pragmatist, valuing harmony above all. However, one thing has to be remembered: whenever there arose some irreconcilable conflict between labor or indigenous people or the poor and big business or plantation owners, at the end hed always take the side of the small people. This is how he managed to convince the left that he is one of them.



In the brutal Baseco slum, built from rotting metal sheets and containers around the docks and shipyards, everyone seems to agree that the new President brought both hope and long overdue changes.



Now people have free education here, explains Ms. Imelda Rodriguez, a physiotherapist employed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development:



There are also free medical missions in this settlement, where people can get all sorts of check-ups and consultations. We also get certain cash allowances. The government creates jobs. Of course much more still has to be done, but there is undeniably great progress, already.



Social progress is evident in the city of Davao, where Duterte served for 22 years as a mayor. Once a crime-ridden hellhole with collapsed social structure, Davao now is a modern and forward looking city, with relatively good social services and improving infrastructure, as well as new public parks and green areas.



So many things got better for the poor people here, explains the driver, taking me from the Municipality to my hotel. In just two decades, the city became unrecognizable. We are now proud to be living here.



At the City Government of Davao, Mr. Jefry M. Tupas showers me with the information and data I came to request: the resettlement areas for the poor and homeless people, the public housing for the rebels who recently surrendered, slum improvement resettlements; the number of projects is endless.



Like in the revolutionary countries of Latin America, the enthusiasm of the people involved in the process is contagious and pure. At the medical centers doctors and nurses speak proudly about new immunization plans, free medicine for diabetes and high blood pressure, treatment of tuberculosis and family planning centers.



Now we also hope that things will improve economically as a whole, if we dont depend on the US, anymore, says Ms. Luzviminda Ilagan. If we now open up to much friendlier countries like China and Russia, there is great hope for all of us! Before, in Mindanao, we only had Western mining companies: from places like Australia and Canada. As a result, all profits went abroad, and Mindanao people are still dirt poor. Under President Duterte, all this is dramatically changing!





Is Duterte Really A Mass Murderer?



If you read (exclusively) the Western and local right-wing press, you could be excused if you start to believe that Duterte is personally responsible for some 5.000+ murders in what is now customarily labeled as his war on drugs.



However, talk directly to the people of the Philippines, and youll get an absolutely different picture.



The Philippines before Duterte were overwhelmed by crime rates unseen anywhere else in Asia Pacific. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in 2014 the homicide rate of the country stood at a staggering 9.9 per 100.000 inhabitants, compared to 2.3 in Malaysia, 3.9 in the United States, 5.9 in Kenya, 6.5 in Afghanistan, 7.5 in Zimbabwe and not much below war-torn countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (13.5).



Drug gangs used to control the streets of all major cities. Very often, the military and police generals and other top brass were actually controlling the gangs.



The situation was clearly getting out of control, entire communities living in desperation and fear. For many, the cities were turning into real battlegrounds.



A driver taking me to the South Cemetery in Manila recalled: In my neighborhood, we just had a horrid killing: a teenager got decapitated by a drug pusher...



Profs Teresa and Eduardo Tadem explained:



In Davao, the crime rate was horrible. Generally, in this country, people are so fed-up with crime that theyd support anything ... Duterte encouraged the police to act. He is a lawyer, so he tries to stay within the legal limits. He says: If they surrender, bring them in, if they resist, shoot! More than 5.000 died so far, but who is doing the killings? Often it is vigilantes, motorcycle gangs ...



Prof Roland Simbulan clarifies further:



Many killings are taking place ... We can never be sure who actually kills whom, whether for instance some rival drug lords do the killings in order to destroy their competition. In the Philippines we have terrible corruption, and even officers and generals are involved in the drug trade. Police periodically conducts raids, and then recycles captured drugs. Even the BBC interviewed gangs that confirmed the police gave them a list of whom to murder. What makes Duterte so vulnerable is his language, his strong words. What he says is very often misinterpreted.



In the slums and cemeteries inhabited by the poorest of the poor, an overwhelming majority of the people would support much tougher measures than those implemented now. As I am told by the South Cemetery dwellers:



Here we hate those who are investigating so called extrajudicial killings. They only care about the rights of the suspects. But we, good citizens who have been suffering so much for decades, werent protected at all, before this President got elected.



In Davao, Ms. Luzviminda Ilagan is standing by her President, determinately:



It is totally understandable why the President is waging a war on corruption and drugs. And if the opposition talks about the extrajudicial killings, it should be obliged to prove that they are actually committed on the orders of the authorities... Could it be proved?



The situation is complicated, of course people are getting killed. But look at the numbers: they are much lower now than those during Benigno Aquino: during his administration, farmers, indigenous people and the urban poor were constantly murdered  people who were fighting for their basic human rights ... And under Gloria, mining companies were actually given permission to enter the country and to kill those who stood in their way ... Under the previous administrations, things got even worse: the military received an exceptional permission to deliver security services to the mining companies. All this is now changing!



Even the most vitriolic critics of President Duterte, who are claiming that his war on drugs killed over 5.000 people, now have to admit that the itemization of the killings is slightly more complicated. As reported by Al-Jazeera on December 13, 2016:



Police records show 5,882 people were killed across the country since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office on June 30. Of that number 2,041 drug suspects were killed during police operations from July 1 to December 6, while another 3,841 were killed by unknown gunmen from July 1 to November 30.



So around 2,000 people died during battles between police and drug gangs, which are the deadliest and the most heavily armed in the entire Asia Pacific. Fair enough. Who are those unknown gunmen and why is the mainstream press immediately pointing fingers at the president, relying only on the statements coming from his archenemies like Senator de Lima?



Isnt the coverage of the Philippines by Western mainstream media becoming as ridiculous, propagandist and one-sided as that of Aleppo and Syria, as well as of the Russian involvement there?



Also, are Philippines local narcos being just mercilessly slaughtered, or should a little bit more be added to the story? Isnt there something being constantly left out?



Peter Lee writes on the rehabilitation of drug addicts and on Chinas help:



Another area of potential Philippine-PRC cooperation is PRC assistance in a crash program to rehabilitate the Philippine drug users who have turned themselves in to the police to avoid getting targeted by the death squads.



Though virtually unreported in the Western media, over 700,000 users have turned themselves in.



Let me repeat that. 700,000 drug users have turned themselves in.



And they presumably need to get a clean rehab chit to live safely in their communities, presenting a major challenge for the Philippines drug rehabilitation infrastructure. Duterte has called on the Philippine military to make base acreage available for additional rehab camps and the first one will apparently be at Camp Ramon Magsaysay.



Duterte has turned to the PRC to demand they fund construction of drug treatment facilities, and the PRC has obliged. According to Duterte and his spokesman, preparatory work for the Magsaysay facility has already begun.



Theres an amusing wrinkle here.



Magsaysay is the largest military reservation in the Philippines. It is also the jewel in the diadem, I might say, of the five Philippine bases envisioned for US use under EDCA, the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement that officially returned US troops to Philippine bases. It looks like the US military might be sharing Magsaysay with thousands of drug usersand PRC construction workers.





Duterte And Marcos



What shocked many recently was Dutertes decision to re-bury former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes Cemetery.



Has the President gone mad? asked some. Is he joining some right-wing cult? exclaimed others.



None of the above! President Duterte is a left-wing revolutionary, but he is also perfectly well aware that in the morally debased society controlled by vicious political clans and corrupt military and police officers and generals, one has to be a great chess player in order to survive, while pushing essential reforms forward.



The move was not at all ideological, clarifies Prof. Rolan Simbulan:



It was clearly a pragmatic move. He took some money, and he openly admitted that he took some money for his election campaign ... Then, in exchange for some votes he promised the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes Cemetery. Marcos Junior wanted to run as his Vice-President, but he lost to Leni ...



Dr. Reynaldo Ileto, a leading historian, adds: the Cemetery has bayani or the hero name, but in fact it is a cemetery for almost all former presidents ... The focus of the opposition on the Marcos burial is deliberate, it is to avoid real and important issues.



Duterte is stubborn, Eduardo and Teresa Tadem told me:



He made his promise to the Marcos family and he kept it ... Does he admire Marcos? If he admires him for anything, it is only for being strong and uncompromising. Marcos brought the country to ruins, but after him, things never improved, and so he is judged positively by some sectors of society. But overall: Dutertes decision to burry him at Bayani Cemetery was a gross miscalculation.



What is this never-ending obsession of so many people in the Philippines with Marcos? I asked a leading left-wing journalist and thinker Benjie Oliveros. Could it be compared to Peron in Argentina?



Oh yes, he replied. That seems to be a good comparison.



Duterte, a supporter of Marcos? Luz Ilagan rolls her eyes:



During the martial law, he was a prosecutor in Davao. He always protected the activists here. Release them to me! he often ordered. He saved lives. His father served as a minor minister in Marcos government, before the martial law, but his mother played a very important role in the protest movement. She was a vocal, a fearless woman ... She had huge influence on her son.





Does Duterte Really Despise Women?



Again, it has to be remembered that Duterte is a Visaya man. He is outspoken, often graphic and definitely politically incorrect.



Duterte made comments about the attractiveness of the knees and legs of his Vice-President Leni Robredo, and he accused his vocal critic Senator Leila de Lima of sleeping with her driver (it was later proven that the liaison really existed).



In this staunchly Catholic country, Duterte annulled the marriage with his first wife (they parted amicably), had several affairs, and now lives with his commonlaw wife.



All this is too much for some, but surprisingly, he is actually admired by most of the women.



When he makes jokes about women, in Manila they cant take it, laughs Luz Illagan, who is one of the leading feminists in the country:



But we always compare his words to his deeds, to what he has done for our women. He always helped; he always protected us. His Davao got awards for being a women-sensitive city. He created the integrated gender development office, the first one in the Philippines, and other cities are now copying the concept. Every year, before the Womens Day celebration, women evaluate the performance of the office, and they submit a new agenda. Everything is very transparent.



In an international hotel in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, I spoke to a group of women workers from the Philippines. What do they think about their new president?



While answering (and they did not hesitate to answer for one second), I realized that two of them had tears in their eyes:



For the first time in our lives, we feel proud to belong to our country. Duterte gave us our dignity back. He gave us hope. To say that we support him would be to say too little. We love him; we feel enormous gratitude. He is liberating us; he is liberating our country!





Duterte And The Past Of The Philippines



President Duterte is not only outraged about the present, he is furious about the past.



American scholarship in the Philippines  it created an entire mindset, explained Dr. Reynaldo Ileto to me in Manila. The America-Philippine War is a non-event; people dont know about it. Everything was sanitized.



We still have not recovered from the hangover caused by US colonialism, sights a novelist Sionil Jose.



US colonialism was nothing less than genocide.



Alfonso Velazquez wrote:



Between the years 1899 and 1913 the United States of America wrote the darkest pages of its history. The invasion of the Philippines, for no other reason than acquiring imperial possessions, prompted a fierce reaction of the Filipino people. 126000 American soldiers were brought in to quell the resistance. As a result, 400000 Filipino "insurrectos" died under American fire and one million Filipino civilians died because of the hardship, mass killings and scorched earth tactics carried out by the Americans. In total the American war against a peaceful people who fairly ignored the existence of the Americans until their arrival wiped out 1/6 of the population of the country. One hundred years have passed. Isn't it high time that the USA army, Congress and Government apologised for the horrendous crimes and monstruous sufferings that were inflicted upon the peoples of Filipinas?



Gore Vidal confirmed:



The comparison of this highly successful operation with our less successful adventure in Vietnam was made by, among others, Bernard Fall, who referred to our conquest of the Philippines as "the bloodiest colonial war (in proportion to population) ever fought by a white power in Asia; it cost the lives of 3,000,000 Filipinos." (cf. E. Ahmed's "The Theory and Fallacies of Counter-Insurgency," The Nation, August 2, 1971.) General Bell himself, the old sweetheart, estimated that we killed one-sixth of the population of the main island of Luzonsome 600,000 people.



Now a Mr. Creamer quotes a Mr. Hill ("who grew up in Manila," presumably counting skulls) who suggests that the bodycount for all the islands is 300,000 men, women, and childrenor half what General Bell admitted to.



I am amused to learn that I have wandered "so far from easily verified fact." There are no easily verified facts when it comes to this particular experiment in genocide. At the time when I first made reference to the 3,000,000 (NYR, October 18, 1973), a Filipino wrote me to say she was writing her master's thesis on the subject. She was inclined to accept Fall's figures but she said that since few records were kept and entire villages were totally destroyed, there was no way to discover, exactly, those "facts" historians like to "verify." In any case, none of this is supposed to have happened and so, as far as those history books that we use to indoctrinate the young go, it did not happen."



It was reported that in September 2016, at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit which was also attended by President Obama, Duterte produced a picture of the killings done by American soldiers in the past and said: "This is my ancestor[s that] they killed."



I visited several bookstores in Manila, including National and Solidaridad. In both places the staff looked baffled when I asked about books dealing with the massacres committed by US troops on the territory of the Philippines.



All this may change now, soon. Duterte is openly speaking about US colonialist wars and invasions, about the massacres in Luzon and Mindanao Islands.



For decades, the US was portraying itself as the liberator of the Philippines. Now, Duterte depicts it as a country of mass murderers, rapists and thieves. According to him, the countries of the West have no moral mandate to criticize anybody for violations of human rights. He described President Obama as a son-of-a-bitch. He shouted Fuck you! at the European Union. He has had enough of hypocrisy.



In this part of the world, such emotional outbursts could ignite rebellion. I have worked in Southeast Asia for many years, and I know what a thick blanket of lies covers the history of the region.



Southeast Asia lost tens of millions of people in the midst of outrageous, brutal European colonialism. It lost millions in Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) during the so-called Vietnam War (or American War as it is known in Vietnam). Between 1 and 3 million Indonesians vanished during the US-sponsored coup in Jakarta in 1965/66, and the genocide in the Philippines took nearly 1.5 million fighters-patriots, but mostly civilians. The East Timorese lost around one third of its entire population, after Indonesia invaded, backed by the US, UK and Australia.



Such history is as explosive as dynamite. I have spoken to hundreds of people in this part of the world. They keep quiet, but they remember. They know who the real murderers are, who their real enemies are.



President Duterte is not only playing with fire. He is also re-writing and changing the entire twisted Western narrative. The whole region is watching, breathless. Both horror and hope are detectable in the air, and so are the strong smells of blood and dynamite.





PH Not A Vassal State: Duterte



"I am anti-West. I do not like the Americans. It's simply a matter of principle for me." Thats how President Duterte sees the world: it is simple, reduced to the essence. He further clarifies:



"The PH is not a vassal state, we have long ceased to be a colony of the US. Alam mo, marami diyang mga columnista they look upon Obama and the US as we are the lapdogs of this country. I do not respond to anybody but to the people of the Republic of the Philippines. Wala akong pakialam sa kanya. Who is he to confront me, as a matter of fact, America has one too many to answer for the misdeeds in this country."



He said to Chinese officials, during his visit on October 20, 2016:



I announce my separation from the United States, both in military but economics also. America has lost now. Ive realigned myself in your ideological flow. And maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. Its the only way.



A deafening applause followed.



Duterte actually talked to President Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting in Lima, Peru, in November 2016.



The new era for the Philippines has begun: cooperation with China, Russia, Cuba, and Vietnam. A growing distance between this huge and important archipelago, and the West.



He calls Americans "sons of bitches" and "hypocrites", and he tells the superpower straight in the face:



We can survive without American money. But you know, America, you might also be put to notice. Prepare to leave the Philippines, prepare for the eventual repeal or the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement... You know, tit for tat. It ain't a one-way traffic. Bye-bye America."





What About Trump?



These days, to be a friend of the West is a terrible liability. A leader from a colonized country could be easily discredited by just one friendly phrase, one friendly gesture towards some US or UK official, towards the Western regime, or its corporation.



The Western mass media is well aware of it.



That is why, when President Duterte spoke on the phone with President elect Donald Trump, it immediately began reporting that the two men are on a similar wavelength.



Hardly. Once Mr. Trump begins his reign, President Dutertes close ties with China, Cuba and other socialist countries will soon reinstate his name on the extended hit list of the Empires regime. He already is on it, under Obamas administration (even the coup attempts plotted from the US were already exposed and stopped). It would be a miracle if the racist and anti-Chinese/anti-Asian Donald Trump would actually decide to spare an anti-imperialist Southeast Asian leader.



Duterte and Trump are still talking politely. Duterte even offered a compliment to his US counterpart: "I like your mouth, it's like mine". Well, hardly a proof of warming-up of the relationship between two countries.



My Filipino colleagues kept warning me: Please do not read commentaries of the pro-Western media. If you want to judge, demand the full transcript of the conversation ... Is there actually any transcript available?



In the meantime, Washington is sugarcoating the obvious bitterness of the relationship between the US and the Philippines. The new US envoy, Ambassador Sung Kim, a Korean-American, is all smiles and respect:



For me the most meaningful, the most fundamental is the deep and extraordinary warmth in the peoples of the two countries ...



What could President Duterte reply to this? Definitely not: Fuck you, son of a bitch! In Asia, courtesy is met with courtesy. However, no matter what, each week, the Philippines are moving further away from the West, as planned and as foretold.



Who Hates Duterte And Who Is Afraid Of Him?



As we established earlier, the West hates him, and especially those there who are trying to trigger wars with China and Russia. Duterte admires both countries, saying that China has "the kindest soul of all", while openly admiring Russian President Vladimir Putin. "(Russians) they do not insult people, they do not interfere," Duterte declared.



Big multinational corporations hate him, particularly those huge mining conglomerates that were operating in the Philippines for years and decades, murdering thousands of defenseless Filipino people, plundering natural resources and devastating the environment. President Duterte is putting a full stop to such, feudal, fascist lawlessness.



He is hated by the mass media, at home and abroad, for understandable reasons.



He is hated by many local and international NGOs, often because they are simply paid to hate him, or because they mean well but are badly informed about the situation on the ground (in his country), or simply because they are accustomed to using the Western perspectives to judge occurrences in all corners of the world.



Some victims of the Marcos dictatorship hate him, but definitely not all of them. Many present-day activists have actually too close ties with the West, at least for my taste. Ms. Susan D. Macabuag, who is in charge of Bantayog ng mga Bayani (A Tribute To Martial Law Heroes and Martyrs) and a person whom I met on several previous occasions, is not hiding her antipathy towards the President:



It is pity it is Duterte who is saying things that he says about the US ... If another person would say it, it would go a long way.



She then made several statements illustrating her dislike of China. Later she added:



My son lives in the US. Many of us have families in the United States. We are very concerned about the situation ...



For a while, I was trying to figure out what exactly she meant, but then I decided to let it go.



At a small but iconic intellectual bookstore Solidaridad, I met the most respected living novelist of the Philippines, F. Sionil Jose, who was just celebrating his 92st birthday. For a while, we spoke about Russia, about Indonesia, about the modern literature. Then I asked him point blank: Do you like President Duterte?



I like him, and I dont like him, replied an iconic author, evasively, while smiling. But I have to say: he is a narcissist.



Ms. Leni Robredo, Dutertes vice-President (and former MP and HR lawyer), hates her boss. Constitutionally, he couldnt fire her as a Vice-President, so he at least blocked her from attending his regular cabinet meetings earlier in December. (He doesnt trust her, anymore. He believes that her party tries to depose him). Later she resigned from her position as a chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), and began gathering forces against Dutertes administration.



"There are so many of us against the policies of the president. I hope I will be able to portray the role of unifying all the discordant voices," Robredo told Reuters in an interview at her office in Manila's Quezon City.



Ms. Robredo is an important figure in the yellow Liberal Party. As early as on September 13, 2016, Inquirer reported:



Without directly mentioning the LP, Duterte on Monday accused yellow forces of mounting moves to impeach him by highlighting the issue of human rights violations under his administration.



Lets not fool ourselves. Do you know whos behind this? Its the yellow, the President said, referring to the LPs political color.



On December 5th, I met historian Dr. Reynaldo Ileto in Manila, who said: Leni is tugging the same (Western) policy on the South China Sea...



We discussed the color revolutions triggered by the West, and the pattern: Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, and Arroyo in the Philippines, after she dared to move closer to China. Will Robredo try to do to Duterte what Temer did to Dilma? Is there going to be yet another revolution in the name of some anti-corruption drive or human rights?



Dynasties, powerful political and business clans, also hate President Duterte. Of course they do! In the past, I got to know them, gained access to some. I was shown how they operate: shamelessly, brutally and with total impunity.



The dynasties had been killing and raping those who stood in their way. They have been plundering the country for centuries. Like in Central America (the Spanish and US colonialist legacies) they never hesitated to sacrifice thousands, even millions of peons.



The top military brass, educated in the United States and elsewhere in the West, hates him. It actually hates him passionately.



He is hated by millions of Filipinos living in the United States. He has to be careful while dealing with some of them. Recently, in the city of Davao, President Duterte declared:



Better be careful with the word we separate or severed, severed our diplomatic relations. (It) is not feasible. Why? Because the Filipinos in the United States will kill me.



In fact, he is hated by so many from the elites and by so many in the West, that it appears to be a miracle that he is still alive and in charge.



The coup plots have been exposed. Entire Western mainstream propaganda apparatus has been employed in order to weaken and to discredit him.



He does not care. He is now 71. His is in poor health. He does not believe that he will make it till the end of his term. He is a warrior. He never kneels in front of the former or present colonizers. Recently, he said:



I do not kneel down before anybody else, except the Filipino in Quiapo walking in misery and in extreme poverty and anger.



That is what Chavez, Morales or Fidel would say. That is what gets people murdered by the Empire, by the Western regime. As simple as that!



*



The Empire knows what is at stake. The Philippines is a nation with more than 100 million inhabitants, strategically located on some of the most important maritime routes. It used to be one of the most obedient, and resigned countries in Asia Pacific.



It is no more! Its people are suddenly waking up, defiant and angry. The West has been killing, plundering and humiliating them for centuries. The education had been twisted to glorify invaders. The culture was stripped of its essence, and injected with deadly doses of Western pop.



Again and again I was told that if President Duterte is killed or deposed, the country would explode. There would be a civil war. Once rebellion ignites millions of souls, no way back is possible.



Unless some people have failed to notice by now, this is a genuine revolution. It is an extremely slow and painful revolution. It is not a beautiful, or operatic revolution. But a revolution it is.



If Duterte moves too fast, he will be overthrown by the military, uttered Prof Roland Simbulan.



Duterte says Bye-bye America! He is cancelling common military exercises, while he is also talking to Donald Trump, politely. The atmosphere is extremely tense. Anything could happen at any moment: an assassination, a coup ... It is a minefield all around him, almost right there, under his feet.



He is aware of it. This is how history is written; with blood, with ones own blood.



What is taking place in Manila now is not a board meeting of some Western-sponsored human rights NGO. It is a striking, shocking image of a huge, scarred, tortured nation, getting up from its deathbed, still covered by blood and puss, but suddenly daring to hope for survival, angry and defiant but determined to live, to prevail.



In order to live, it will have to dare, to fight, perhaps against all odds.



In the middle of the horrid cemeteries inhabited by the wretched human beings, I witnessed hope. I testify that I did. Those who dont believe me, those who do not understand, should go and see with their own eyes. They should go to the horrendous Baseco slum, and to the city of Davao. Then they can speak. Otherwise, they should be quiet!



I testify that the Philippines is a country in rebellion, galvanized by one man and his tremendous determination and courage.



Is he a saint? No, he is not. He himself says that he is not. Anyway, I dont believe in saints, do you? Duterte cannot afford to be a saint. There is more than one hundred million men, women and children behind him, clinging to his back, right now ... most of them very poor, most of them robbed of absolutely everything.



If he gets through the storm, most of them will survive, will benefit. Therefore, exhausted and injured, he is marching forward. His fists are clenched, he is cursing. He has no right to fail or to fall. He has to, he is obliged to get through: in the name of one hundred million of his people.



As he hears insults, feels punches, as he envisions assassins waiting for him all along the way, most likely he keeps repeating in his mind what his great hero, Hugo Chavez used to shout until the very end: Here No One Surrenders!



Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. Three of his latest books are revolutionary novel  Aurora  and two bestselling works of political non-fiction:  Exposing Lies Of The Empire  and  Fighting Against Western Imperialism . View his other books here. Andre is making films for teleSUR and Al-Mayadeen. After having lived in Latin America, Africa and Oceania, Vltchek presently resides in East Asia and the Middle East, and continues to work around the world. He can be reached through his website and his Twitter . The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
An 89-year-old man in Philadelphia, USA, whose weekend trip to a store in his neighbourhood somehow led him to another state  Alabama, 900-miles away  is safely back with his family, thanks to breakfasting police officers who realised something wasnt right.

On Thursday, Ken Sunseri, Mayor of Haleyville in Alabama, said that 89-year-old Jody Tarbutton, of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, approached the officers at a restaurant on Monday and asked them where he was.

They said, Youre in Alabama, Haleyville, Alabama,' Sunseri said. And it sort of stunned him.

The officers took him to the police station and ran his drivers license, discovering that he had been missing for two days. They contacted authorities, notified his family and got him medical attention.

We never, never, never expected to hear the news that he was in Alabama, his daughter Cindy Gatta said by phone Thursday night. She had contacted police in Pennsylvania and posted a plea on Facebook on Sunday in an attempt to locate her father.

Gatta flew down to Alabama from Delaware and reunited with her father at a hospital, where he was treated for high blood pressure and dehydration. She said he has never been clinically diagnosed with dementia and attributed his unexpected road trip to old age and forgetfulness.

Its just been amazing that it all turned out so well, Gatta said.

Officials arent sure what route Tarbutton took, but he would have almost certainly been driving through severe weather, Sunseri said. Police found a child-size drink and two hamburgers inside Tarbuttons pickup truck.

People in Haleyville helped Tarbuttons children get from the airport in Birmingham to the hospital, and are now working with the family to have Tarbuttons truck shipped back to his home.

Sunseri said he was extremely proud of the response by the officers and wider community.

They were a tremendous help to the family, the mayor said.

Tarbuttons daughter said she too is grateful to the officers and others, and is calling her fathers safe return a Christmas miracle.
Italys interior minister has confirmed that police in Milan were involved in a gunfight with the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack and that the suspect has been shot and killed.

Tunisian immigrant Anis Amri was the subject of a massive manhunt after his asylum documents were discovered in the cab of the truck used in the attack.

Authorities had first detained a different asylum-seeker the day of the attack but later released him from lack of evidence.

Since sounding the alarm about Amri, much has been discovered about his troubled past that should have been a red flag to authorities.

Amri had been the subject of terror probe but the surveillance was dropped when no conclusive evidence of an imminent attack could be determined. Prior to that he had spent time in jail for burning down a refugee center and was ordered to go back to Tunisia, a command he disobeyed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now facing tough questions on her enthusiastic call for refugees to Germany. She has been blamed by some on the recent attacks that have hit her country in recent times.

The horrific attack on Germans shopping and celebrating in the traditional Christmas market killed 12 people and injured 48.
The successful partnership between Lagos and Kebbi states that gave rise to the local production of LAKE Rice (Lagos-Kebbi Rice) has been applauded by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement by Femi Adesina, Buhari particularly saluted the commitment of Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Atiku Bagudu in bringing to fruition the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in March 2016 on substantially meeting the countrys rice requirement.

He also expressed delight at the relatively cheaper price of LAKE Rice especially at this period of recession. Lake Rice is being sold for N12,000 per 50kg bag.

It gladdens my heart to get reports of our citizens rushing to purchase this cheaper local rice to enable them and their families enjoy the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the President noted.

According to President Buhari, what the two states have done is evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue.

The President recalled that in his 2017 Budget presentation before the National Assembly, he said that a new era is rising in which we must grow what we eat and consume what we make, adding that the LAKE Rice achievement is in furtherance of the goal.

He urged other state governments to replicate the laudable example of LAKE Rice in producing other staple crops and dairy products.

He also pledged the Federal Governments readiness to continue to support such initiatives by providing the enabling environment, policies and incentives for agriculture to thrive in order for the nation to achieve food security.

The President remains optimistic that Nigeria will attain rice sufficiency by 2019.
Two unidentified Libyan men who hijacked an airplane with 118 people on board on Friday morning and diverted the plane to Malta have been arrested peacefully by police. Maltas Prime minister, Joseph Muscat said the men released all the passengers without making any demands.

They were asked to surrender any weapons in their possession. They were found to be in possession of a hand grenade and a pistol. Nevertheless the armed forces of Malta are currently conducting a full search of the aircraft and a second pistol has been found so far. The search is ongoing. The two hijackers have been detained in custody and interrogations are ongoing.

The rest of the crew ad passengers are also being questioned to ascertain events.

The aircraft was enroute from the oasis city of Sebha to the capital, Trip, a trip which usually takes just over two hours.

More details soon.
A thief in China got punished in style after he made the wrong decision by stealing a phone from a man who apparently is a martial artist.

The victim of the theft, a truck driver, handed a flying kick to knock the thief off his motor scooter.

Security cameras in Foshan, Guangdong Province, were recording on Saturday when the scooter rider climbed up on the side of a parked truck and made off with the drivers cellphone.

The driver was unable to stop the man, but soon noticed he was doubling back to pass by the scene of the theft.

The video shows the truck driver jump into the air to kick the rider and his bike to the ground.

Local reports said the thief fled a second time after returning the drivers phone.
Nigerias health minister, Isaac Adewole has debunked rumors that some bags of rice seized by the Nigerian Customs Service a few days ago was plastic rice.

The Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu had said on Wednesday that the bags of rice seized were fake and certainly did not seem safe for consumption. Mr Mamudu had said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and only God knows what would have happened if people ate it.

Professor Adewole disclosed that some samples of the plastic rice had been taken for preliminary tests by NAFDAC. He went on to say that the nothing in the report supports the claim that the seized bags are dangerous or unusual.

I have just been briefed by DG @NafdacAgency on Plastic Rice reports. Preliminary test results reveal there is no evidence backing claims /1 pic.twitter.com/Ezgo018fnj  Prof. Isaac Adewole (@IsaacFAdewole) December 22, 2016
Nigerian newspaper headlines December 23, 2016.

Punch

The foreign trips of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the State House headquarters will gulp about N1.05bn in the 2017 fiscal year.

Vanguard

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, yesterday, allayed fears over purported circulation of plastic rice in Nigerian markets, saying preliminary laboratory tests revealed there was no evidence to back up the claims.

Guardian

Aero Contractors yesterday resumed scheduled flight operations after about four months of suspending domestic services.

Thisday

A gang of armed herdsmen has been arrested by the police in connection with the kidnap of Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, Orhifi Orovwagbarha Agbarha-Ide Ememoh II, on Wednesday.

Leadership

Long queues yesterday emerged in most commercial banks across the country following noticeable cash withdrawal scarcity and inability of customers to obtain cash to embark on Christmas shopping.

Premium Times

Thousands of Lagos residents, Thursday, besieged various centres across the state to buy LAKE rice, a locally produced rice borne out of a partnership between Lagos and Kebbi states.

The Sun

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of N552.74 billion to be paid in batches to all the states owed excess deductions for external debt service.

The Nation

Five hundred ex-militants are undergoing training in advanced farming as part of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday in Abuja inaugurated the recently constituted joint investigative panel on the Dec. 10 legislative re-run elections in Rivers.

The 15-man panel, headed by Damien Okoro, consists of officers of the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) with investigative, forensic and technical expertise.

The panel which is to conduct its investigation in conjunction with a team from the DSS has the following terms of reference:

Conduct a thorough investigation into the role of security agents before, during and after the election;

Examine the role of any police officer or security agent whose actions or activities individually or collectively was detrimental to the good conduct of the elections;

Conduct a forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara Reporters as it concerns the election.

Examine any other matter that is relevant to the conduct of the elections, and make recommendations and implementation strategies to guide future elections.

He also charged the panel to probe the violence that marred the exercise in which two police officers were gruesomely murdered.

He noted that the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws empowered the police to conduct investigations into criminal matters across the entire country.

The Police boss gave the committee 30 days with effect from Dec. 17 to submit its findings.

Mr. Idris said four suspects had so far been arrested in connection with the murder of two officers, while two rifles had been recovered.

The IG said police was an apolitical organisation that must not get involved in politics, adding that its interest was to ensure hitch-free elections.

He solicited the support and cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians, especially INEC and the Rivers State Government, to enable the panel succeed in its assignment.

Responding, Mr. Okoro thanked the I-G for the confidence reposed in the committee, adding that they will be guided by relevant extant laws in the discharge of the assignment.
Former Delta state governor, James Ibori who was convicted of money laundering in the UK was released earlier this week. He spent four years in prison and his political allies have been unashamed of celebrating his release.

In a video which has quickly gone viral, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi boasts about how Ibori made Saraki president of Senate, Okowa governor, made him a Senator, made his daughter a member of house of assembly, and made Igbuya speaker of the House


2016 was a banner year for Nine-Digit Defects. Outages at airlines, hacks of political emails, an IoT-based DDoS attack disrupting Internet service, and on and on. Will we have more 9-digit doozies in 2017? Of course we will. To liven up New Years revelry, here are 10 improbably possible predictions with 9-digit implications.

10. More SQL will be injected than drugs.

SQL injection is still among the most common flaws exploited by hackers for stealing confidential personal data. In fact, the scars of multiple SQL injections can be seen on far too many customer-facing applications. Developers will spread the epidemic by reusing infected software. By mid-2017 the US Justice Department will declare a War on injected SQL. Nevertheless, it will fail because CIOs have become addicted to the flood of cheap SQL entering the country from overseas.

9. Agilistas will declare a free state in California

Led by Extremist Programmers, hordes of Agile Developers will declare Silicon Valley a free state in March 2017. Mayors will be replaced by City Masters who advise but do not govern. All architects will be deported to North Dakota. Daily stand-ups will be held in all local coffee houses to share trade secrets. All new buildings will be constructed in a succession of modules built in two-week hammer-sprints. In December 2017, buildings throughout the valley will collapse from a 2.0 earthquake when it is discovered that none of the representatives describing the modules they wanted actually stated requirements for a foundation.

8. Large banks move all credit card operations to Novosibirsk

To co-locate credit card operations with credit card data, large banks will close all US sites in Q1 and relocate all credit card operations to Novosibirsk. Banks will cite Russias large talent pool with experience in rapidly acquiring and distributing credit card numbers. Vladimir Putin hails the acquisition as a major success from Russias investment in computer science education.

7. Berkshire Hathaway acquires "The Cloud"

With his longstanding habit of acquiring major stakes in industries with strong cash flows, CEO Warren Buffet will announce in Q2 that Berkshire Hathaway will acquire all assets constituting The Cloud. In late 2017 the US Justice Departments Antitrust Division will block Berkshire Hathaways bid to acquire the US National Security Agency claiming its merger with The Cloud would constitute a monopoly on personal information.

6. Apple announces release of the iHouse

In 2017 Apple CEO Tim Cook will shock the world by unveiling the iHouse. The iHouse is a visually stunning structure whose Gorilla Glass exterior allows dwellers full exposure to their surroundings. All switches and appliances can be operated from across the room with gestures the dweller can discover through trial and error  ushering a new era for IoT and smart software. Apple is confident that dwellers will be so taken with the beauty of their abode, they will ignore its learning curve. To ensure a supply appliances for the iHouse, Apple will acquire Sears and Roebuck and merge it into the App Store.

5. President Trump announces Buffer Dams as the foundation of his homeland security policy

Having been informed that buffer overflows are a major security threat to all Americans, President Trump will announce shortly after his inauguration that I will not allow any American to be drowned in the overflow of a buffer that the previous Administration did not inspect and secure. Within the next 60 days I will order the construction of buffer dams all across our country to protect Americans from the ravages of overflowing buffers. We will make buffers great again. He will further assign US Homeland Security agents to guard every major buffer in America from terrorists.

4. Reuse will increase productivity by an order of magnitudereally, I promise this time!

During the 2017 holidays the MIT Computer Science Department will publish the following letter in the New York Sun. Yes, Virginia, there really is reuse. It exists as certainly as compilers and keyboards and COBOL exist...Alas! How dreary would be the world without the promise that reuse will free us from programming drudgery!...Not believe in reuse! You might as well not believe in defect-free software!... No reuse! Thank Turing it lives and it lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10 thousand years from now, it will continue to make glad the hearts of programmers with the eternal promise that this is the year reuse changes everything.

3. Self-driving cars will be arrested for DWIs in Missouri

In May 2017, Missouris Attorney General will declare that a self-driving car is itself the primary driver of the vehicle. The Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard Act requires all gasoline sold in the state to contain 10% ethanol. After googling ethanol the state police will realize it is another name for ethyl alcohol, or grain alcohol. Any self-driving car being refueled in Missouri is therefore over the states legal limit of .08. Consequently, all self-driving cars stopped on Missouri roads will be arrested and cited for driving while intoxicated.

2. IBM announces Watson will run for the US Presidency in 2020

In late 2017, IBM will announce that Watson will seek the Presidency of the United States in the 2020 election. Since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision grants corporations the ability to participate in the political process, IBM will establish a Political Action Committee backing its favorite cyber-son, Watson. To satisfy constitutional mandates, IBM will provide documented evidence that Watson was naturally conceived in the United States on a foundation of intellectual property that is over 35 years old. President Trump will lead a contingent of birthers claiming that Watsons hardware components were born in China.

1. 3D Printing decimates the Internet porn industry

No explanation required.
Northern Distri ct of Indiana  The Beachwaver Co. of Libertyville, Illinois commenced intellectual property litigation in the Northern District of Indiana asserting infringement of patents pertaining to a rotating curling iron.

Defendant is T3 Micro, Inc. of Venice, California, which is accused of infringing Beachwavers U.S. Patent Nos. 9,398,796 (the 796 patent) and 9,504,301 (the 301 patent). These patents have been issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Both patents are titled Hair Styling Device. One of the two patents was the subject of at least one additional lawsuit in Indiana recently. That lawsuit, filed in October, covered only the 796 patent but included counts for both direct and induced infringement. In contrast, in this litigation, Indiana attorneys for Plaintiff list only one count of infringement for each of the two patents-in-suit:

Count 1: Direct Infringement of the 796 Patent

Count 2: Infringement of the 301 Patent

Plaintiff asks the court for damages, including treble damages, as well as costs and attorneys fees.

The case, Case No. 3:16-cv-00858, does not appear to have been assigned yet to a specific judge.

1-main
This content is from: Video

Inflation remains the primary concern for the worlds central banks, which have engaged in the broadest and fastest tightening regime in history, according to Alejandra Grindal, chief economist at Ned Davis Research.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 37 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Dec. 23.

Armenian army was using 60-millimeter mortars.

The Azerbaijani army positions located in the Jafarli village of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located on nameless heights of the Ijevan district of Armenia.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani army positions located in the Aghbulag village of Azerbaijans Tovuz district were shelled from Armenian army positions located in the Chinari village of the Berd district of Armenia.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Goyarkh, Chilaburt villages of the Tartar district, Bash Gervend, Yusifjanli, Sarijali villages of the Aghdam district, Kuropatkino village of the Khojavand district, Garakhanbayli village of the Fuzuli district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Goranboy, Tartar, Khojavand, Fuzuli and Jabrayil 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.
Shares of Tilray Inc. (TLRY) skyrocketed this week after the British Columbia-based company announced it received an approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to import marijuana to the United States for medical research. Since hitting the U.S. public market on the Nasdaq with an initial public offering (IPO) price of $17 in July 2018, Tilray shares have risen in excess of 1,300%, compared to the S&P 500's 3.3% return over the same period. Tilray's recent surge has led the company to surpass Ontario, Canada-based Canopy Growth Corp. (CGC) to become the world's largest cannabis company with a market capitalization at roughly $14.4 billion.

(See also: Tilray Receives DEA Nod For Pot Imports For Medical Research.)

Thiel-Backed Fund Sees Big Gains

Tilray's rally has lined the pockets of a Seattle-based private equity fund backed by billionaire entrepreneur and angel investor Peter Thiel. An early investor in cannabis ventures, Privateer Holdings, holds a 76% stake in Tilray, now worth approximately $12 billion, as reported by Bloomberg. When including Tilray's unlisted Class 1 shares, Privateer's stake rises to almost 75 million shares, worth nearly $15 billion.

In December 2014, Thiel's Founders Fund became the first institutional investor in the cannabis industry through Privateer Holding's $75 million Series B funding round, according to the private equity firm's website. Thiel, who founded e-payments pioneer PayPal Holdings Inc. (PYPL) in the 90's, is known for his bold investments, backing industry disrupters such as Facebook, sharing economy giant Airbnb, Elon Musk's aerospace company Space Exploration Technologies Corp., and ride-sharing platform Lyft Inc. (See also: Top Marijuana Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds)

Tilray Burns Short Sellers

While Tilray posted just $20 million in revenue for 2017, bulls view the expected legalization of cannabis in Canada and new interest in the weed market from blue chip consumer companies like Coca-Cola Co. (KO) and Diageo Plc. (DEO) as representing long-term revenue growth opportunities. In a recent interview in New York, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brendan Kennedy indicated that rather than being taken over by a larger corporation, he envisions his company warranting a $100 billion market value on its own, as reported by Bloomberg.

Tilray currently focuses on medicinal marijuana in 12 countries across five continents. In Canada, the firm has inked deals with pharmacies such as Shoppers Drug Market to sell its cannabis products.

"Our long-term vision is if a patient walks into any pharmacy in any country in the world that has legalized cannabis that patient should be able to obtain a Tilray product. Thats our global goal, said Kennedy told Bloomberg.

Not all are so bullish on the Canadian weed producer. Prominent short seller Citron Research stands firm in its bet against Tilray, writing that the stock's valuation is "beyond comprehension" in a tweet on Wednesday.

Tilray shares are up 52% as of Wednesday afternoon at $268 per share. Short sellers have been burned by the stock's recent strength, as the limited number of its shares also add to the stock's volatility.

(See also: Marijuana ETF Attracts $22 Million in August.)
Consumer staples giant The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) has a long history of beating earnings per share (EPS) estimates. Daily and weekly charts show downside risk after the stock set its all-time intraday high of $146.92 on Nov. 9, 2020.

Key Takeaways Procter & Gamble has beaten earnings estimates in 23 consecutive quarters.

The daily chart for P&G suggests that a death cross formation will likely form over the next few weeks.

When P&G stock set its high on Nov. 9, that day was a key reversal.

P&G has a negative but oversold weekly chart.

Procter & Gamble stock is in correction territory at 13.5% below its all-time intraday high of $146.92 set on Nov. 9, 2020. The stock is also in a bull market at 34.7% above its low of $94.34 posted on March 23, 2020. Overall, the stock is down 8.6% year to date. The stock is overvalued with a P/E ratio of 23.13 and a dividend yield of 2.46%, according to Macrotrends.

P&G is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Go to any supermarket, and you will find the company's beauty, grooming, health care, personal hygiene, and infant care products as you walk through the aisles. Given the 2020 global crisis and lockdowns, some of these products are being hoarded by many consumers.

The Daily Chart for Procter & Gamble

Beware of a potential death cross. Refinitiv XENITH

The daily chart for Procter & Gamble shows that the stock has been above a golden cross since July 31, 2020. A golden cross occurs when the 50-day simple moving average rises above the 200-day simple moving average.

Note that Nov. 9 was a negative key reversal day. The stock set its all-time intraday high at $146.92 that day and then closed below the Nov. 6 low of $142.38. The stock has been below its 200-day simple moving average since Jan. 27. As the 50-day simple moving average falls toward the 200-day simple moving average, a death cross could be confirmed within a few weeks.

The horizontal lines at $134.01 and $137.21 are the semiannual and annual pivots, now considered risky levels. The lower of the three horizontal lines is this week's value level. A gap below this key level would be considered a breakdown.

"Tip" A moving average (MA) is a stock indicator that is commonly used in technical analysis.

The reason for calculating the moving average of a stock is to help smooth out the price data over a specified period of time by creating a constantly updated average price.

A simple moving average (SMA) is a calculation that takes the arithmetic mean of a given set of prices over the specific number of days in the past; for example, over the previous 15, 30, 100, or 200 days.

An exponential moving average (EMA) is a weighted average that gives greater importance to the price of a stock on more recent days, making it an indicator that is more responsive to new information.

The Weekly Chart for Procter & Gamble

P&G is oversold. Refinitiv XENITH

The weekly chart for Procter & Gamble is negative but oversold, with the stock below its five-week modified moving average at $131.42. The stock is well above its 200-week simple moving average, or reversion to the mean, at $104.99. The stock was a buy at this moving average when it was $94.77 during the week of March 27, 2020.

The 12x3x3 weekly slow stochastic reading declined to 10.46 last week, well below the oversold threshold of 20.00. If this reading declines below 10.00, the stock will be considered too cheap to ignore.

Trading strategy: Buy Proctor & Gamble stock on weakness to its 200-week simple moving average at $104.99. Reduce holdings on strength to the semiannual and annual pivots at $134.01 and $137.21. A gap below the weekly pivot at $126.17 is a technical warning.

Technical guidelines: The closes on Dec. 31, 2020, were inputs to my proprietary analytics. Quarterly, semiannual, and annual levels were calculated based upon the last nine closes in these time horizons. Monthly levels for February were established based upon the Jan. 31 closes. New quarterly levels occur at the end of each quarter. Semiannual levels are updated at mid-year. Annual levels remain for the full year.

My choice of using 12x3x3 weekly slow stochastic readings was based upon backtesting many methods of reading share-price momentum with the objective of finding the combination that resulted in the fewest false signals. I did this following the stock market crash of 1987, so I have been happy with the results for more than 30 years.

The stochastic reading covers the last 12 weeks of highs, lows, and closes for the stock. There is a raw calculation of the differences between the highest high and lowest low versus the closes. These levels are modified to a fast reading and a slow reading, and I found that the slow reading worked the best.

The stochastic reading scales between 00.00 and 100.00, with readings above 80.00 considered overbought and readings below 20.00 considered oversold. A reading above 90.00 is considered an "inflating parabolic bubble" formation, which is typically followed by a decline of 10% to 20% over the next three to five months. A reading below 10.00 is considered "too cheap to ignore," which is typically followed by a gain of 10% to 20% over the next three to five months.

Disclosure: The author has no positions in any stocks mentioned and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
The identity of some of the 11-strong governing board who raised concerns ahead of the official unveiling of the measures was not revealed though the commission went on to approve by consensus the new rules, according to the minutes.

One member questioned moving the loan-to-value limit to 90%, saying a lower limit would be more appropriate.

Central Bank governor Philip Lane told the meeting the number of houses changing hands was still below normal levels and the regulator would act if there was evidence of house prices growing more quickly than anticipated.

Following the decision of Finance Minister Michael Noonan in his October budget to offer tax incentives to first-time buyers, many analysts have said that the Governments and Central Banks measures will only increase house prices.

The Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee had written to Mr Lane on concerns by the Department of Social Protection over negative interest rates for government deposits, the commission also heard.

It heard the Central Bank was recruiting 129 extra staff for a head count of 1,620 at the end of this month.

Approving a budget of 283m for 2017, the Central Bank plans to increase spending from 223m this year. Commission members and officials at the November 23 meeting included Mr Lane, Alan Ahearne, Patricia Byron, Blanaid Clarke, Sharon Donnery, John FitzGerald, Derek Moran, Des Geraghty, Cyril Roux and Michael Soden.

Fianna Fail finance spokesperson Michael McGrath has said the Central Bank has no record of the number of SME loans sold to vulture funds by Nama or by other Government-controlled lenders.

We know a very significant number of SME business loans have been sold on by banks, the IBRC special liquidator and Nama in recent years and these have generally been bought by private equity funds or so-called vulture funds, he said.

The dynamic of the lender-borrower relationship changes when the loan is owned by a fund as opposed to a bank.

Typically, these funds adopt a shorter time horizon when making decisions and may well be more inclined to move on the borrower in order to get control of the business or the underlying assets, Mr McGrath said.

It is vital the Central Bank collates this information so we can measure the outcomes when loans are sold in this way.
The latest industry barometer from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) shows that two-thirds of hoteliers are intending to increase marketing spend next year, nearly 90% plan to invest in refurbishment work, and 41% are set to boost staff levels.

One of the strongest years for tourism since the downturn also showed an 82% rise in business from domestic consumers, suggesting a real upturn in the economy.
Mr Ross, 79, is best known here as the buyer of Bank of Ireland shares at 10 cent a share during the crisis and who made many millions when he sold the stake over two years ago.

Mr Ross, whos worth about 2.78bn made big bets on other troubled European banks after the financial crisis and has reaped handsome profits in the UK too.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

Trend:

Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his birthday.

Dear Mr. President, I am honored to extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes to you on the occasion of your birthday, said Xi Jinping in his letter.

Relations between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan have been constantly developing in recent years, noted the Chinese president. Mutual political trust between the two countries is strengthening, cooperation in economic, trade, humanitarian and other areas is stably developing, traditional friendship is strengthening day by day.

I attach great importance to developing relations between our countries. I am looking forward to making joint efforts for strengthening frank cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan, he added.

President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev also congratulated the Azerbaijani president.

Your Excellency, please, accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your birthday, I wish you good health and success in your highly responsible work, said Plevneliev in his letter.

I avail myself of this pleasant occasion to express my belief that with joint efforts the strategic cooperation between our countries will continue to develop and enrich for the benefit of our peoples, he noted. Please accept, honorable Mr. President, the assurances of my highest respect to you.

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko congratulated President Aliyev on the occasion of his birthday.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, please accept my most sincere congratulations on the occasion of your birthday, said Lukashenko in his letter.

I am very happy to see overall achievements of Azerbaijan  dynamic development of the economy, improvement of the societys welfare and the countrys strengthening image and statehood in the world. I highly value and cherish our friendly and trusting relationship, which further strengthened after my recent fruitful visit to your beautiful country, noted the Belarusian president.

I am confident that our striving for the elevation of Belarus-Azerbaijan cooperation to a qualitatively higher level will give tangible results in the nearest feature in the best interests of the brotherly peoples of our countries, he added. Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wholeheartedly wish you, your relatives and loved ones further success, robust health and happiness.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko also congratulated Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

Your Excellency, please accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your birthday. Your presidential activities aimed at ensuring future successful progress of modern Azerbaijan, rapid development of society, and the strengthening of the countrys influence on the international arena has won approval in Ukraine and across the world, said Poroshenko in his letter.

I believe that based on the principles of trust and mutual understanding, Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation will continue develop in the years ahead, and our joint efforts will contribute to restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, noted the Ukrainian president.

I am sure that the continuation of our sincere dialogue during your forthcoming visit to Ukraine in 2017 will give new impetus to the mutually beneficial cooperation and fruitful partnership between the two countries, he said.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wish you robust health, peace, inexhaustible zeal and new successes in your high state activities for the prosperity of the friendly people of Azerbaijan, added Poroshenko.

Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, on behalf of the government of the Russian Federation and on my own behalf, I extend my congratulations to you on the occasion of your 55th jubilee, said Medvedev in his congratulatory letter.

I would like to note your personal outstanding contribution to strengthening of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation, which is based on the principles of good neighborliness and strategic partnership. You always pay attention to the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and implementation of large-scale joint projects in the fields of industry, infrastructure and energy, he noted.

I am confident that the strengthening of practical mutual activities, expansion of regional cooperation and business relations is in full conformity with best interests of Russia and Azerbaijan, said Medvedev. I warmly recall our meetings with you that have always been held in an atmosphere of constructiveness and confidence. I would be happy to maintain our fruitful contacts.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wish you good health, well-being and new success in your responsible state activities, he added.
Safehaven Marine MD, Frank Kowalski, launched his newest and fastest naval patrol, and search and rescue (SAR) vessel, Thunder Child, at the Port of Cork yesterday.

He put the 60-ft high-speed boat, which wouldnt look out of place in a James Bond film, through a series of self-righting tests at the port.

But with several storms bearing down on Ireland, he is set to put the vessel through speed and storm tests in Cork harbour over the coming days in preparation for his long-way-round circumnavigation of Ireland record-breaking bid next summer.

Almost one year in development and manufacture, Thunder Child is equipped with wave-piercing technology and surface-drive propulsion, and boasts HD radar, high-spec thermal night vision cameras, shock-mitigation seating, and surface-drive propulsion.

It is built of advanced lightweight cored composite materials, making it both strong and light. It is powered by a pair of Caterpillar C12.9 turbocharged, supercharged and intercooler diesel engines which produced 1,000hp each.

It is propelled by surface drives manufactured in Italy, and can reach speeds of up to 60kts, and is fitted with long range fuel 5,000 litre fuel tanks allowing a range of over 750 nautical miles.

A crew of 10 can be comfortably seated - six on hi-tech shock mitigation seats and four on fixed-seats in the main cabin.

We have been designing and building boats here in Cork for almost 20 years now, and our vessels are in use worldwide in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia, Frank said.

We continuously innovate to build faster, stronger, more effective, multi-functional boats that are not only built for the incredibly difficult conditions at sea, but also high speed marine operations.

Frank said setting a new record for the circumnavigation of Ireland via Rockall is a real challenge for any vessel.

The route involves a 1,000km open-ocean crossing into the North Atlantic, one of the roughest and most notorious seas on the planet, he said.

But for Thunder Child, I am confident that we will set a new record and have a safe, albeit nail biting, trip.

The trip will involve several hours navigation in the dark and will inevitably encounter rough conditions which will put incredible stress on both vessel and crew.

As an internationally recognised designer and manufacturer of high speed commercial craft, Safehaven Marine based in Youghal and Little Island, has already built a reputation for exceptional sea keeping capabilities, stealth and strength.

The companys boats are deployed internationally for search and rescue missions, security and patrolling in open water and piloting in harbours as well as military and naval operations.
Mr Kenny said he has no plans to cancel USC cuts, State pension increases, and self-employed tax credit rises when faced with claims the moves could stall Irelands economic recovery.

Speaking to reporters as part of a wide-ranging Christmas round-table interview, Mr Kenny said Brexit, Donald Trumps election as US president, and EU divisions must be addressed in 2017. However, despite calls for a retreat on popular financial moves, he vowed to push ahead with the initiatives and said any external problems will not negate their value.
Based in Blanchardstown, Aran Candy was established by father and son Peter and Richard Cullen in 1998 after they identified an opportunity in the European confectionery market for an American-style high-quality jelly bean.

In May 2014, Scandinavian confectionery firm Cloetta acquired 75% of the Cullens Aran Candy, owner of the Jelly Bean Factory brand for 15.5m in cash.

After a stellar year for the Jelly Bean factory in 2015 where profits increased by 50% to 3.9m, Mr Cullen  who served as managing director of the firm and fellow director, Triona Byrne  sold the remaining 25% shareholding for 11m in July.

In the deal, Mr Cullen received 10.12m while Ms Byrne received around 880,000 with the windfalls subject to tax.

The acquisition is confirmed in the latest quarterly report for Cloetta, which states that, on July 4, Cloetta Ireland Holding Ltd acquired the remaining 25% of the outstanding shares in Aran Candy Ltd, resulting in the settlement on the contingent consideration arising from an option agreement for an amount of 106m krona [11m].

The purchase is also confirmed in the latest accounts for Aran Candy Ltd filed with the Companies Office which reveal Mr Cullen stepped down from the board early last month. Ms Byrne resigned from the board in October.

The two sold their A shares as a result of a call option by Cloetta to acquire the remaining shares and the holders had a put option to sell their interest, both at a price determined on earnings for the year ended December 2015.

The value of the options almost doubled in one year based on Aran Candys strong performance last year, when revenues rose by 14%to 14.6m.

Separate accounts filed by Cloetta Ireland Holdings Ltd show that the put and call option facility concerning the A shares was valued at 11m at the end of December last year  up from 6.5m at the end of 2014.

Aran Candy exports 96% of its production to 60 export markets around the globe with its main market in the UK.

The firm exports to the US and Canada while it also exports to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea.

Numbers employed by the company at its facility in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, increased further last year, going up from 77 to 81.

There are 61 staff are engaged in production, 18 in administration, and two are directors.

Total pay to staff  including directors last year  reduced from 2.65m to 2.55m.

The chief factor behind the drop was the amount paid to directors falling sharply from some 678,307 to 422,261.

Accumulated profits at the firm last year increased from 7.2m to 10.7m.

The firms shareholder funds totalled some 11.7m.

During the year, the firms cash increased from 892,063 to 1.15m.

The companys profit last year takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 398,063 with operating leases going up from 360,000 to 522,446.
Santa Claus impersonators and operators of Christmas grottos and Lapland-themed events have been warned that they must declare all seasonal income to Revenue.

Ireland has seen a proliferation of for-profit Christmas-themed businesses in recent years, with pop-up Santa grottos, Christmas caves, and Lapland locations appearing in many cities and towns from late November.

The lucrative sideline, which sees families shelling out up to 25 a head, has taken over from the traditional community-driven event such as the annual bazaar in the parish hall.

However, as takings reach their peak, Revenue has warned Santa and his little helpers to make a list and check it twice.

Santa doesnt file a special tax return, nor do any of his many helpers and, therefore, there is no statistical data available in this respect, said a Revenue spokesperson.

However, I can confirm that, even at this very busy time, all Santas helpers, elves, and grotto operators need to make sure all the books and records are kept up to date and all taxes are paid. Of course, whether they operate as a sole trader or a company, they know that even income that is occasional in nature, such as seasonal income, is taxable.

Income derived from the operation of a Santa grotto, including entrance fees, is subject to tax, and the amount of taxable income is computed and charged to tax in the normal manner.
He did not have a word of English.

Last night, however, he was applauded at an awards ceremony in Limerick where he was one of eight students named winners of the JP McManus Sexton Street CBS Scholarships.

And his dream on completion of automobile technology studies at Limerick Institute of Technology is to travel to Germany, work with one of the big car firm, and own a BMW M5  which currently retails from 135,000.

The student scholarships are worth 6,750 for each year spent at third level, and are awarded to the top eight Leaving Certificate students at the school.

A gala dinner was hosted by JP McManus at Limerick Race Course to celebrate the 20th year of the scholarships at his alma mater. A special guest was Pat Hartigan, a former CBS boy and a 1973 Limerick All-Ireland hurling championship winner.

Education Minister Richard Bruton, Finance Minister Michael Noonan, minister of state Patrick ODonovan, TDs Willie ODea and Jan OSullivan, and Mayor of Limerick City Cllr Kieran OHanlon were also present. Broadcasting legend Micheal O Muircheartaigh was guest speaker.

Mohammed said: Since I entered Sexton Street in second year, I found the teachers to be exceptionally helpful and caring. I hope to travel to Germany and work with one of the big automobile companies there and, one day, have my own BMW M5. It is my hope to provide a comfortable life for my parents and four sisters.

Eventually, I would like to return to my home country of Somalia where my knowledge of technology will hopefully help those less fortunate than I have been.

The seven other scholarship students were Trevor Daly, Shane Hartigan, Jordan Madden, Keith Quinn, Zakariye Ali, Junior Obinne Echeruwe, and Daniel ORiordan.
Christmas has always been a time of festive good cheer and who better to keep the levels of merriment topped up than a comedian?

Irish people arent short on humour but at this time of year, despite the tinsel and party poppers, many will be in need of a good laugh to get them through the endless shopping, present wrapping and the stress of cooking an extraordinarily large bird while trying to ensure it stays moist on the inside and crisp on the outside.

So instead of downing the whole sherry bottle in one go at the very thought of rustling up Christmas dinner, we asked four of Irelands funniest guys to give us their thoughts on the festive season.

Neil Delamere

The comedian and broadcaster, plans to watch TV, peel a few potatoes, and eat as much as he can.

Morecambe and Wise Christmas specials always make me laugh at Christmas, they, unlike the rest of us, age very well. That and my Da losing his mind when I ask him trivia questions from a quiz book and deliberately change the answers. Riyadh is not the county town of Longford, apparently.

This year Ill be shuttling between in-laws and my own family. Weve worked out a routine that seems to suit everyone  but it doesnt feel like Christmas until Im driving home trying not to hear Chris Rea playing in my head.

I dont plan to stay healthy over the festive season  Im not even going to pretend. I may turn down the third plate of dinner but thats just to leave room for a selection box. Because I believe if we cant celebrate the humble beginnings of Christmas by slipping into a diabetic coma, we are not doing it right.

I will help with the cooking but my brother does most of it these days. Im assigned to the simplest of tasks, peeling spuds and the like, to ensure dinner is not entirely ruined for everyone. To entrust me with the turkey or stuffing would be the most foolhardy of enterprises.

Someone who shall remain nameless got me a lamp one year  a bedside lamp. I mean, I value not having to get out of bed to turn off the main light as much as the next man, but I expected a little bit more than that. It wasnt even the jokey ancillary present to the main Yuletide gift. That was it. It was wrapped though. Were not barbarians.

Christmas cracker: How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizza? Deep pan, crisp, and even.

Neil Delameres new tour, Handstand, kicks off December 27 and runs until April. For dates and bookings, visit neildelamere.com

Oliver Callan

Comedian, satirist, and impressionist, Oliver enjoys cheesy Christmas TV but still feels bitter over a gift he received as a child.

I love commentating on bad blockbusters that populate TV schedules. Theres always a complicated father-son theme at the heart of big action films. Either a blockhead father wants to succeed as a parent or a sexually frustrated son who wants to win the affection or approval of the patriarch. Women are there to smoulder at the edges, occasionally take their clothes off, or to be rescued from some silly calamity.

I also love the predictability of Christmas. My father barges into the sitting room to find someone eating Roses. Who ate all the effing sweets? I only got one. Or my mother falling asleep during a show on RTE  she fell asleep during my first TV review of the year in 2013 and the repeat which was on during the day. Eventually my sister put it on the Player for her. She was unconscious after 10 minutes but concluded it was very good.

I will be spending Christmas with the family in Monaghan and, being a farming lot, there are always a lot of chores to be done. The hand-numbing foray into the cold stoney fields of Farney brings you right out of your overfed reverie. It also helps justify more over-indulgence all the way to New Years Day.

I engaged in a full Advent  no drink for November, tiny breakfasts and a lot of walking, so Im positively feverish at the thought of eating my way through the back end of December.

Christmas is a glorious time of year and its pure tacky. I revel in its lack of class. Its meant to be a celebration before the cold sturdy embrace of January.

 I still havent recovered from the Christmas of 1986 when I got a Britains model Ford tractor and my brother got the much cooler Renault one. It was like someone today watching a sibling unwrap an Xbox and youre handed a bag of mala (plasticine). The Renault was orange and had mudguards plus a single-chop silage harvester. My Ford had a two-blade plough. In the 80s, the silage men were cool while the ploughman was lame. Its practically Top Gears Stig versus Francis Brennan  so I will never recover from Santa Clauss horrible mistake.

Christmas cracker: With regard to jokes  the simpler the better, so my favourite one is: Two snowmen are in a garden. One says to the other, Can you smell carrots?

Colm ORegan

The comedian, writer, and broadcaster, finds humour in the chaos of the season.

Apart from my Irish Mammies books and my latest book Bolloxology, what makes me laugh has to be watching the last-minute shopping on December 23, even if Im part of it myself. Looking at people pick up a product, turn it over a few times, and then their face takes on a Feck itll do them grand expression and they just buy it.

Other things would be the panicked men buying perfume and being guided gently by the staff who are asking questions like, What does she like? and they reply with I dont know, Fruity stuff maybe?

I will be spending the festivities with my wife and baby daughter and dividing it between various branches of family. There will definitely be walks or we will all go mad. Last year, the weather was pure cat and no one stirred on Christmas Day so by St Stephens Day, I was injecting myself with the babys vitamin D.

With regard to helping out, I prefer to work in supply chain rather than production  plates, cutlery, serviettes, crackers, general hovering, and hoovering before hopefully being dismissed to watch cartoons.

The worst present I ever got at Christmas was the storm of 95. It took slates off the roof so I was in the attic stuffing old jumpers into it to keep the rain out as I was the only one small enough to creep into the space.

Christmas cracker: My favourite seasonal joke has to be this one: How did Scrooge score a goal? The ghost of Christmas passed.

Jason Byrne

The radio host and comedian has a tongue-in-cheek take on the festivities but is serious when it comes to exercise.

Every year when I have to take the tangled Christmas lights out of the box, my wife and I have such a laugh as I try to unravel them, finally laying them out down the hall. Then we cry and howl laughing as we try to find the loose bulb that is causing all the trouble.

I travel all year so I wont be moving for the whole of Christmas  staying put with my family in my home. I will read lots of books, watch a lot of TV, and prepare the garden for the next season. I will also cook a lot with the family  we love to bake together.

I run a lot and do sports, as do all the family. We have an assault course that I put together in the garden and over the Christmas period, each morning at 6am, we will be there rain, sun, or frost, running that assault course until we get our times down, then into the house for an hour of meditation and porridge. Last years times were just not good enough so Ill be pushing the family harder this year.

Im the main cook in the house, I dont mind my wife joining in, but I just dont agree with a lot of her sauces  mind you there was a big disaster recently when I served cabbage with a fish bake  a big no, no in the cooking world.

The worst Christmas present I ever received was a cuckoo clock with no cuckoo  when it hit the hour the doors opened and no cuckoo came out. Luckily enough over the holidays, I found a dead bird in the garden, wrapped it in Sellotape, and glued it to the spring in the cuckoo clock, hey presto, one fixed cuckoo clock  or more precisely a dead-sparrow-wrapped-in-tape clock.

Christmas cracker: How much did Santa pay for his sleigh? Nothing, it was on the house!
Asia Thai Court Revokes Bail of Activist Who Shared BBC Story

Jatupat Boonpattararaksa speaks in Khon Kaen, Thailand, May 5, 2016. / Amy Lefevre, / Reuters

BANGKOK  A pro-democracy activist in Thailand was re-arrested Thursday after his bail was revoked in a case accusing him of sharing online a Thai-language BBC story about the countrys new king.

The courts action has drawn more than the usual attention because of the contrast with the release on bail earlier in the week of two people sentenced to death in a murder case.

The arrest of Jatupat Pai Boonpattararaksa for sharing the BBC story on Facebook was the first under the countrys tough lese majeste law since King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun ascended the throne on Dec. 1 after his fathers death in October.

Lese majeste, or insulting the monarchy, carries a penalty of three to 15 years in prison. Jatupats case has not yet come to trial, and he faces charges in other separate cases for his political activities opposing Thailands military government.

The BBC story included mentions of the kings personal life and other material considered too sensitive to be published in the Thai press.

The court in Khon Kaen province revoked Jatupats 400,000 baht ($11,100) bail after police reported that he was still using social media in ways that could complicate his case and had taunted officials by suggesting that the bail procedure was mainly a way for the government to get money during an economic slowdown.

The court acted the same week that a court sentenced to death a woman for the murder of her husband and the lawyer who helped to hire the gunmen. Their treatment is likely to revive debate over whether the wealthy and well-connected have a large measure of impunity in the Thai justice system.

Nitiwadee Pucharoenyos was sentenced Monday and released on bail the next day after the Appeals Court concluded she was not a flight risk because she was a doctor with an established residence. The court also approved the release on bail of lawyer Santi Thongsem, who was sentenced for hiring the gunmen who killed Nitiwadees husband in 2013.

Thai courts seldom grant release on bail in lese majeste cases, citing national security, even though most cases involve speech that does not go beyond a small circle of friends. Critics of the law say it is often abused to silence political dissent.
Burma Activists Decry Lack of Peace Progress Under NLD Govt

State Counselor DawAung San SuuKyi meets with the UNFC ethnic armed alliance in Rangoon on July 17, 2016. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy

Some of Burmas longtimepoliticalactivistsadmitted in a conference on Thursday in Thailand that progress in the countrys peace process has been more challenging under the current National League for Democracy (NLD) government than they had anticipated.

At a panel discussion entitledBurma Under Aung San SuuKyi: Current Human Rights Situation and the Peace Process in Chiang Mai, longtime observers and activists said that many of State CounselorDawAung San SuuKyisinitiatives in the peace process are surprisingly similar to those of the former regime, but that she wields little to no influence over the Burma Army.

Human rights abuses, they say, continue to be perpetrated by security forces in a similar manner as they were carried out in the past, which has surprised observers and players who expected a different scenario from an administration led by a pro-democracy icon who herself spent more than 15 years under house arrest at the hands of the old regime.

Speakers described DawAung San SuuKyis approach as bureaucratic, and highlighted the difficulties in setting up peace-related meetings with her governments negotiation body, the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC).

KhuensaiJaiyen, a veteran Shan journalist and an advisor to the ethnic Shan rebel group the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), said that ethnic leaders ironically find DawAung San Suu Kyitougher to negotiate with than theformer governments peace team.

They [the ethnic leaders] thought it would be easier to deal with her, compared to the previous government, because the previous government was from the military, said Jaiyen. But, they have found that it is more difficult.

KhunsaiJaiyen who also works at Pyidaungsu Institute, an ethnic research center, said that conflicting policies by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burma Armys chief, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, also pose challenges to collaboration. Ethnic leaders feel that they have to put in double the effort in order to work with each the government and the army.

They feel like they have two governments, some said: one led by the State Counselor and another by the Snr-Gen.

The activists also said that trust in DawAung San SuuKyi among ethnic communities is faltering, as she has failed to speak on behalf of those the suffering in conflict zones, or to stop the Burma Army from launching offensives.

Even though they [the government] held peace talks and is working on the NCA [nationwide ceasefire agreement] process, there more offensives in our areas. They keep sending more troops to our area. So, how can we trust that peace process, the NLD government, or the military?asked Nang Moon Li, a longtime Kachin activist from the Kachin Womens Association Thailand (KWAT).

According to a recent report by KWAT on human rights abuses, amid escalating fighting in Kachin State, Burma Army has deployed over 100 battalions over the past year, numbering 15,000 troops, with increasing use of fighter aircraft.

Before the KIO signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994, there were only 24 Burma Army battalions in Kachin State. Burma Army increased its battalions to over 50 after 1994 and now the Battalions are over 100, according to the KWAT report.

DawKhinOhmar, aprominent exiled Burmese activist who has been campaigning for political change for decades, said that Burmas transition is well-designed for a win-lose political game by the military in which opposition has no chance to win.

She was once allowed by the previous Burmese government to return to her homeland, but has since been returned to the administrations blacklist.

[An official] said,the return of you and dissident activists was just for the governments political game. You will be allowed to return only when they want something from you. What was interesting is that he said those times are over, meaning that we are no longer needed [to them], said DawKhinOhmar.

With the military, there is no win-win solution. You win or you die. You win or you lose. The militarys agenda is that there should be no decentralization, she said.
Burma Bishop Says Mong Ko Church Damaged by Government Air Strikes

Preparations to repair St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Munggu after it was damaged in early December. / Nang Seng Nom / The Irrawaddy

A Catholic Bishop in Lashio rejected claims by the Burma Army that joint ethnic armed group forces were to blame for a church damaged on Dec. 3 in the town of Mong Ko in Shan States Muse Township and maintained that it was bombed during Burma Air Force air strikes.

Bishop Philip Za Hawng stated in a letter dated Dec. 22 that reports that St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Munggu was used to store ammunition by the Northern Alliance were fabricated and the Burma Army previously took responsibility for bombing the building.

A Burma Army tactical commander in Mong Ko called the churchs Fr. Dau Hkawng to his office on Dec. 8 to say that the church had been hit during air strikes on Mong Ko and that the military would take responsibility for repairing the building, according to the Bishops letter.

According to the letter, the defense ministry issued a statement on Dec. 18 stating that the church was destroyed by explosives and ammunition secretly stored by the Northern Alliance.

This was fabricated news and it could cause the general public to understand that the Catholic Church is involved in the fighting along with the rebels, said the letter.

The Bishop reports that the situation in Mong Ko is stable and residents who fled across the border to China have returned but Burma Army soldiers are still stationed in the church compound.

On Nov. 20, the Northern Alliancea coalition of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Arakan Army (AA) forceslaunched a two-week offensive in northern Shan State, attacking Burma Army positions in several townships including Muse, Kutkai, and Hsenwi.

Northern Alliance forces retreated from Mong Ko village, Muse Township, following air strikes by the Burmese air force in the first week of December.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

The year 2016  which is coming to an end  has been successful for foreign policy of Azerbaijan, Arye Gut, Israeli expert on international relations, told Trend Dec. 23.

Gut, who is also chief of the Israel branch of Baku International Multiculturalism Centre (BIMC), said that Baku carries out quite pragmatic foreign policy, which is based on the national interests of the country.

Azerbaijan was able to establish very good relations with the regional states, with Russia, Turkey and Iran, Gut said.

He said that the historic visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Azerbaijan took place this year and this once again confirms the importance of cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan.

Gut added that this year may also be considered successful in the context of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

April of 2016 saw a serious clash between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, and the Azerbaijani army responded with a counterattack with the use of a lot of Israeli technological innovations, Gut noted.

The military clashes in April showed that Azerbaijan is not the country it was in the 90s of the last century, he added. Today, Azerbaijan is ready to liberate its occupied territories. Baku will never agree with the status quo and doesnt recognize the creation of a second Armenian state in the South Caucasus.

The expert added that the key to the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not in Yerevan, but in Moscow.

The recent events in April this year showed that Russia is well aware what country it must deal with, Gut said. Azerbaijan is a very important economic and industrial partner for Russia. Moscow only invests money in Armenia, and actually gets nothing in return.

On the night of April 2, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The firing resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population.

Azerbaijan responded with a counterattack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry had said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
Burma Bus Crash Kills Seven on Rangoon-Mandalay Highway

Rescuers pull passengers from the bus wreckage, Dec. 22, 2016. / Myanmar Fire Services Department

RANGOON  Seven people were killed and 38 were injured in a Thursday night traffic accident on the Rangoon-Naypyidaw-Mandalay highway.

A Mandalar Minn company bus was traveling from Naypyidaw to Rangoon when it struck a traffic island and rolled over near milepost 91 around 7:15pm. The bus was carrying 45 passengers.

The injured passengers22 men and 16 womenwere transported to Myochaung General Hospital and Pegu General Hospital. The dead included four men and three women, according to the Myanmar Fire Services Department.

The Rangoon-Naypyidaw-Mandalay highway, notorious for its high number of fatal traffic accidents, is sometimes called the Death Highway.

Through the end of November, at least 494 accidents have occurred on the highway this year, resulting in 76 deaths and 927 injuries.
Burma Imprisoned Shan Farmers Will Appeal their Trespassing Convictions

Farmers protest in Twante Township, Rangoon on June 8, 2016, demanding the vice-presidents central committee of land disputes return their 900 acres of confiscated farmland. / Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Seventy-two imprisoned farmers will appeal a court verdict in which they were found guilty of trespassing on military-owned land in Shan State, their lawyer said Friday.

A township court in Taunggyi, the Shan State capital, sentenced the 40 male and 32 female farmers to a month in prison under trespassing charges which were brought by the Burma Armys Eastern Command. It was the first time that a Burmese court delivered this type of mass verdict against farmers.

The Army argued that the farmers continued to work on some of the 5,000 acres of land which are owned by the Eastern Command. The farmers disputed that the Burma Army was the rightful owner.

On Thursday, the court sentenced six elderly farmers and a 17-year-old girl to pay a fine, and then they were released. The remaining 65 farmers are in jail.

Daw Khin Moe Moe, a lawyer with Peace and Justice Legal Aid, told The Irrawaddy that they are preparing to appeal the farmers case to Taunggyi District Court because the verdict against the farmers was unjust.

In Burma, there has never been a verdict against such a large number of farmers, Daw Khin Moe Moe said.

She said this trespassing case was also the first case against farmers in Shan State since March 30, when the National League for Democracy (NLD) government came to power.

Early in its tenure, the NLD government formed a Central Review Committee on Confiscated Farm Lands and Other Lands that was chaired by Vice President Henry Van Thio in May.

The committee is tasked with monitoring state and divisional governments handling of land disputes and enabling the return of land to dispossessed farmers from government ministries, state-owned enterprises, and private companies.

The committee had said that they would settle all land grabbing cases in Burma within six months. But nearly nine months on, while ceremonies marking the return of confiscated land to dispossessed farmers were held, land dispute cases are still ongoing.

Lawyer Daw Khin Moe Moe argued that the cases against 72 farmers should be handled by the governments Central Review Committee on Confiscated Farmlands and Other Lands instead of charging them under criminal trespass laws and imprisoning them.

She added that she is not very hopeful about the appeals process because the plaintiff is the Burma Armys Eastern Command.

I would like to urge the regional government, lawmakers, and legal departments to assist on this and request at the Parliament to resolve the land disputes in a fair way for farmers, she said.

The Upper Houses farmers affairs committee revealed in April that some 200,000 acres of farmland had been confiscated nationwide in recent decades.

The situation has not gotten better under the NLD government, said farmers rights activist U Zaw Yan. We never hear that those people who confiscated the land from farmers ever face legal action. Instead, the Army brings more cases against farmers.
Burma Public Responds to Assault on Rangoon Public Transit

A crowded street in Rangoon. / J Paing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  After outraged commuters responded to a bus conductor who allegedly beat a passenger, the Rangoon Division public transit regulatory body told commuters to file complaints in line with the law.

Last week, a video of a bus driver and bus conductors beating a passenger went viral. According to those who shared the file, a group of five men from the No. 236 bus line beat a commuter on highway No. 3 in Rangoon the second week of December.

The video shows a group of men beating a commuter. Other commuters onboard stopped the incident, but did not physically respond.

However, some netizens, outraged by the video, waited for a response from concerned authorities. After a few days with no response, a few people decided they would take matters into their own hands.

According to a Facebook group of more than 1,500 members created to report traffic violations by buses, angry netizens decided to issue their own warning to the bus conductor and driver of the same bus line on Dec. 18.

We are investigating the No. 236 bus line [operators] regarding this case. As to the beating [by the bus driver and conductors], well see if the victim will file a complaint against them, said Rangoon Regional Transport Authority Secretary U Hla Aung.

The video of the commuters lashing back against the driver and conductor went viral, with many people showing support for their actions.

There have been increased cases of physical assault by bus drivers and conductors toward commuters and taxi drivers this year. Most of those who commit assault are not officially registered with the citys public transit regulator body, known by its Burmese acronym Ma Hta Tha.

Daw Kyi Pyar, a lawmaker representing Kyauktada Township in Rangoon divisional parliament, told The Irrawaddy that there had been debate over the disciplinary actions against bus drivers and conductors but that the divisional government was weak in its response.

I myself have experienced the misbehavior of bus conductors. The government seems to have difficulties handling them. But, I dont want the public members to retaliate. I am concerned that individuals will suffer if they do, said Daw Kyi Pyar.

Actions against drivers and conductors are taken under traffic rules and regulations as well as existing laws for their violations of traffic rules and misbehaviors, said U Hla Aung.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko
Burma UNFC Official Tours Shan State to Push Peace Process

UNFC vice chairman Naing Hong Sar (4th from right) stands with UWSA and Northern Alliance representatives in Panghsang on Dec. 22, 2016. / UWSA news team

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  A top leader from the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) is now touring northeast Burma to discuss approaches on how to boost participation in the peace process.

Naing Hong Sar, vice chairman of the UNFC, visited the UNFCs member groups in Shan State. The UNFC has taken on a leading role in negotiating the peace process between its seven ethnic member groups and the Burmese government.

On Thursday, Naing Hong Sar met representatives of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Panghsang, the UWSA capital. The UWSABurmas largest ethnic armed grouprecently condemned the Shan State parliaments decision to label ethnic armed groups of the Northern Alliance as terrorist organizations.

This meeting is a way for us to discuss further collaboration, said Khu Oo Reh, the UNFC secretary. We need to find a way to work together with the government on the peace process.

Maung Maung Soe, an ethnic affairs analyst, told The Irrawaddy that the UNFCs effort to hold meetings with ethnic armed groups in northern Shan State is a preparation to negotiate with the government with a collective voice. Many of the ethnic armed groups that have not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) are based in the far northern, eastern, and southeastern sections of the country.

In recent weeks, planned informal meetings between the Northern Alliance and the government have been delayed, reportedly because the Northern Alliance members demanded that the UWSA be allowed to send observers to the talks. The Northern Alliance consists of four ethnic armed groupsthe Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Arakan Army (AA).

The KIA is the chair of the UNFC, said Maung Maung Soe. If the government focuses on building a ceasefire with the four groups of the Northern Alliance, we expect a signing of the NCA could then become possible. But the current problem is they have not been willing to sit at the negotiating table.

Since Nov. 20, planned negotiations between the UNFC and the government have been postponed over disagreement about an appropriate date to hold the talks, said Khu Oo Reh. But he expects the two sides will meet before the second round of the 21st Century Panglong conference, which is slated for February.

Hla Maung Shwe, a Peace Commission advisor, told The Irrawaddy that the government planned to continue the political dialogue process, both formally and informally.

The government has proposed a meeting with the UNFC around Jan. 5.

While the KIA and its Northern Alliance partners are engaged in conflict, they have left the remaining members of the UNFC in a state of limbo. Those other armed groupsthe New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Wa National Organization (WNO), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), and the Arakan National Council (ANC)now must wait to advance the peace process.

On Monday, UNFC officials attended a meeting of the Joint Coordination Body (JCB) for Peace Process Funding, whose aim will be to allocate funds from international donors for peace-related programs. The JCB will consist of eight representatives from the government and eight from the ethnic armed organizations, including NCA signatories and non-signatories.

Mondays meeting was also the first time in four months that UWSA officials attended a peace process event, according to Maung Maung Soe. In September, UWSA representatives walked out of the Union Peace Conference complaining about unfair treatment of their delegates.

Attendees at the JCB meeting discussed principles for ceasefire implementation, negotiation and dialogue, peace-supporting development, and a national reconciliation and peace center. The next JCB meeting is scheduled for Dec. 28.
News Muslim Interviewee Found Beheaded in Maungdaw

The victim, U Shuna Myar (center, in long-sleeved white shirt and green longyi) speaks with 13 journalists in Ngakhura village of northern Maungdaw, Arakan State. The Burmese text at the top of the photo states, Shuna Myar (in the white shirt) talks to the media. / Myanmar President Office / Facebook

RANGOON  The beheaded and slashed body of a Muslim man was found on Friday in Arakan States northern Maungdaw Township, the State Counselors Office Information Committee has said.

Villagers discovered the body of U Shuna Myar of Ngakhura village on the outskirts of Doe Dan village. Col. Thet Aung, deputy head of the border police, spoke to The Irrawaddy on Friday and confirmed the mans death before the information committees statement was released, but said that the body was found on Thursday. He declined to provide further information about the incident.

Burmese reporters who participated in a three-day government-organized trip to northern Maungdaw beginning on Dec. 20 told The Irrawaddy on Friday that U Shuna Myar was one of their interviewees from the Rohingya Muslim community in Ngakhura. The State Counselors Office Information Committee reported in a statement on Friday evening that U Shuna Myar returned home on Wednesday after answering the journalists questions, but left again in the evening and did not return.

The information committees statement said that during the interview, U Shuna Myar had said that there were no rapes, arson, or arbitrary arrests carried out by the government security forces during recent clearance operations in Maungdaw. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the information, as the organizations reporters were not invited on the tour.

The Irrawaddy obtained some short video clips in which U Shuna Myar had conversations with the media, but the segment described by the State Counselors Office Information Committee was not included.

In one clip, U Shuna Myar said that more than 1,000 villagers had fled during the conflict and that they are still missing.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 24

Trend:

December 24 is the birthday of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev was born in Baku on December 24, 1961. He entered the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1977 and graduated it in 1982. Upon his graduation, Ilham Aliyev continued his education as a postgraduate student at MGIMO and received a Ph.D. degree in history in 1985.

He taught at the Moscow State University of International Relations between 1985-1990. From 1991 to 1994 Ilham Aliyev was involved in the private business sector, heading a number of industrial-commercial enterprises.

He was vice president, and later the first vice president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) from 1994 to 2003. He was actively involved in the implementation of Heydar Aliyev's oil strategy.

Ilham Aliyev was twice elected to the Milli Majlis (parliament) ofAzerbaijan in 1995 and 2000, and resigned from his post in 2003 due to his appointment to the post of prime minister.

In addition to his existing responsibilities, Ilham Aliyev has been presiding over the National Olympic Committee since 1997. Ilham Aliyev was re-elected to this post in 2016.

He has been elected deputy chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party in 1999, first deputy chairman in 2001, and party chairman in 2005.

He headed the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) from 2001 to 2003.

Ilham Aliyev was elected deputy chairman of PACE and member of the PACE bureau in January 2003.

Ilham Aliyev was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan after his candidacy was approved by the countrys parliament August 4, 2003.

Ilham Aliyev was elected president of Azerbaijan on October 15, 2003, gaining over 76 percent of total votes. He assumed his post on October 31, 2003. He was re-elected as president for the second term, gaining 88 percent of votes in the elections, held on October 15, 2008. He assumed the duties of the presidency on October 24, 2008.

On October 9, 2013, Ilham Aliyev was elected for a third term by an overwhelming majority of voters (84.54 percent) for the next five years. He assumed the post on October 19, 2013.

The Azerbaijani people made their choice, voting for political stability, prosperity and sustainable social and economic development.

The unity of the Azerbaijani people and the countrys president was once again demonstrated in 2016. The valiant Azerbaijani army under the leadership of the Supreme Commander of the countrys Armed Forces, President Aliyev gave a rebuff to Armenian aggressors in April 2016.

By having liberated a large area occupied by Armenia and having added another glorious page in the countrys history, the Azerbaijani army has shown the world the power and aspiration of Azerbaijan for returning the occupied territories at any cost.

These events once and forever changed the recent situation and proved the unacceptability of the status quo in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

By having voted in a referendum on amendments to the countrys constitution in September 2016, the Azerbaijani people supported President Aliyevs initiative, which has become a guarantee of the countrys political and economic stability.

The act of referendum signed by the Azerbaijani president envisaged the amendments to 29 items of the constitution. The referendum results reflected the Azerbaijani peoples will. The Azerbaijani people voted for each of 29 items, which became the beginning of a new stage of Azerbaijans development.

The staff of Trend Agency sincerely congratulates President Aliyev on his birthday.
After decades of battle against Yellow Fever, Angola finally declares victory against the disease. This latest announcement came today after a nationwide vaccination effort led by the U.N. (United Nations), and coordinated by the WHO, resulted in the eradication of the disease.

No new reports of the disease in were reported in 6 months after 25 million people were vaccinated. This is a great victory that resulted from the overwhelming joint effort including the response activities from local health workers, WHO (World Health Organization), and health authorities.

The nationwide and international efforts were strengthened after the December 2015 outbreak wherein 962 were confirmed cases and 400 people died in total.

Originating from the capital city, Luanda, the outbreak spread throughout the country and even to parts of the closest neighboring country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The epidemic continued to ravage these regions, largely affecting the population for months, Relief Web reports.

Yellow Fever is a mosquito-borne disease, much like Malaria and Dengue fever. "Yellow" in its name is attributed by the color of jaundice seen in most patients. Other symptoms include headache, fever, and vomiting.

To respond to the urgent need for A global stockpile of vaccines from various health organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, UNICEF, and WHO. With 41,000 volunteers and 8,000 vaccinating teams, 15 million Angolans and 10 million Congolese were given treatment for Yellow Fever.

The vaccination activity drained the global stockpile of the vaccines which prompted the doctors to use only one fifth of the required dose to. This shift in dose will likely give only temporary protection according to WHO as reported in Yahoo.

The outbreak was contributed largely to the shift in climate such as the El Nino as warm weather provides a favorable environment for the mosquitoes to propagate. Urbanization also accounted for the epidemic as it provides opportunities for the disease to spread even faster.
Just when the Huawei P9 and Mate 9 are still getting the worlds attention, thanks to its greatness and quality. Some leaks regarding the upcoming flagship Huawei P10 has just come out, revealing some incredible changes that show the Chinese companys intentions of achieving the highest success in 2017, and conquer the U.S. market.

The Huawei P10 Could Wear A Curved Dual-Edge Display

According to Phone Arena, a Weibo user named reviewer-xiaokang said that the Huawei P10 will sport a curved dual-edge display just as the Porsche Design Model Mate 9, which represents a great surprise for Huaweis lovers since it wasn't expected that the company made this move with its upcoming flagship. Naturally, wearing this kind of display will get this phone into the major leagues, given the fact that only the most important flagships will use it.

Also, another important change that the customers will see in the Huawei P10 is that this phone will feature the Home button in the front unlike the previous model. Although this move might be a little bit weird, considering that using previous details is not a common denominator in smartphone manufacturing, the company is doing this because its expected to relocate the fingerprint sensor from the back side to under the physical Home button.

The Huawei P10 Would Include A Wireless Charging

As reportd by GSMARENA, the Huawei P10 would also include a wireless charging, which would be a feature that will turn this phone into an incredible device that would make the company increase its power and influence in China, and become the most dangerous threat for Samsung and Apples smartphones.

In fact, the only mobile device that is expected to come with this revolutionary feature is the iPhone 8, which means that the Chinese company is betting everything in the Huawei P10 in order to be the most incredible revelation and the market conqueror in 2017. Huaweis chief previously confessed that the companys main objective in midterm is to beat Apple and become the second biggest smartphone in the world, and believe it or not, the Huawei P10 could be the first big step in this ambitious journey.
Though the company has yet to release an official statement, it is speculated that Microsoft is already working on the Surface Pro 5. The successor to the highly praises Surface Pro 4 is expected to come with several new enhancements. Latest reports indicate that it may even be fitted with an eSIM, which might just change the landscape of the company's hardware altogether.

The report, which comes from Yahoo!, states that the tech giant has partnered with Transatel to produce eSIMs that will sell in Microsoft Stores. However, no hardware from the company currently supports this feature. As such, it is estimated that the upcoming Surface Pro 5 will carry the same.

If this is proved to be correct, the Surface Pro 5 will already be so much better than its predecessor. The eSIM cards will allow the device to have its own internet connection, without having to rely on Wifi. Furthermore - because eSIMs are universal - roaming charges will be minimized. This last point is mostly for business professionals, which might be the focus group of the device.

Furthermore, it is estimated that the Surface Pro 5 will run on Windows 10 and powered by Intel's latest Kaby Lake processor, which might provide a 19 percent performance bump. The Kaby Lake processor will also allow the hybrid device to support 4K video quality. Battery life will be improved as well and the device is expected for release sometime in May 2017.

If Microsoft continues to make these game-changing innovations, there is no doubt that consumer sales and the company's profits will continue to grow. Top Examiner notes that the tech giant has recently confirmed that the holiday should be good for its sales. November, in particular, was generous to the company. A company executive even claimed that more and more Mac users are switching to the Surface Pro.
Despite the current lack of interest in smartwatches, Google will still attempt to enter the market and hopefully make some noise.

Google is on the right track so far with the announcement of not one but a couple of new flagship smartwatches. In an interview with The Verge, Android Wear product manager Jeff Chang confirmed that the new Android Wear 2.0 platform will debut on the said smartwatches.

The two smartwatches will not be exactly made by Google, though.

The software company struck a deal with an anonymous manufacturer which will be responsible for creating the devices. Chang said that the devices will not bear Google's name but that of the mysterious manufacturer. He also divulged that Google's collaborator has produced Android Wear devices before.

According to Engadget, this deal is similar to the one Google has with Nexus. The Nexus program involves Google providing the software for those in charge of the hardware. Google, of course, partnered with a hardware manufacturer that could make what the software giant wants in its phones exactly. With that in mind, Google has found the company that would create the smartwatches for their Android Wear 2.0.

Aside from the two still unnamed smartwatches, a number of Android Wear smartwatches will get an upgrade to Wear 2.0 in 2017. They are the following:

Asus ZenWatch 2

Asus ZenWatch 3

Casio Smart Outdoor Watch

Fossil Q Wander

Fossil Q Marshal

Fossil Q Founder

Huawei Watch

Huawei Watch Ladies

LG Watch Urbane

LG Watch Urbane 2 nd Edition LTE

Edition LTE LG Watch R

Michael Kors Access Bradshaw Smartwatch

Michael Kors Access Dylan Smartwatch

Moto 360 Sport

Moto 360 Gen 2

Nixon Mission

Polar M600

Tag Heuer Connected

Android Wear 2.0 will provide new features to the said devices. The update will allow standalone apps to run without the need for a phone. It will also have support for Android Pay and for Google Assistant.

The two flagship smartwatches with Android Wear 2.0 are up for release early next year and is poised to challenge current wearables in the market such as Samsung Gear S3 and FitBit Charge 2.
The upcoming Xbox Project Scorpio has been developed and designed from the ground up to be the next big step in Microsoft's gaming hardware, even if the company does state that it's going to sit alongside the Xbox One and Xbox One S.

But, despite all the hype and attention that the console is having as of the moment, nobody really knows what Microsoft's upcoming hardware is going to contain. Ever since the introduction of the Xbox Scorpio during the recently concluded E3 2016, there are still a lot of questions that were left unanswered. One particular question that has been neglected was, 'is the Xbox Scorpio the Last Microsoft console?'

The difference of the Scorpio

We are already knowledgeable that, with the Xbox Project Scorpio, Microsoft is attempting to try a different approach to console gaming. Just like Sony's PS4 Pro, the Scorpio is a mid-generation console release that is poised to be a huge leap in overall power and potential, despite it still being completely compatible with the old Xbox One titles and hardware.

But with all that said, Microsoft sees Scorpio as something different.

According to Greenberg

"For us, we think that the future is without having any console generations," Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg said in a recent interview. "We think that the potential to build a library, a community, to be able to iterate with the hardware - we're placing a pretty big bet on that with Xbox Scorpio."

"What we're basically saying is that 'this isn't a new generation; everything you have continues forward and it would still.' We think of this as a family of devices."

Microsoft to continue producing consoles

It seems like Microsoft has learned from its mistakes around doing too much way too soon with its Xbox One, and is being somewhat reserved about its approach towards the future of consoles. But with all things said, It's safe to say that, though the Xbox Scorpio is truly a revolutionary console, it would definitely be not the last console that Microsoft would be introducing.
An unfortunate event unfolded last Dec. 19. when a Russian ambassador was assassinated. The perpetrator was later killed in a shootout with the authorities after which an unlocked iPhone 4s was recovered from the shooter. Now they are asking Apple to help in their investigations.

The shooter's iPhone 4s is protected by a standard 4-digit passcode. According to BGR, the security code could be bypassed rather easily but authorities are still asking the tech giant for assistance.

Mac Reports stated that both the Turkish and Russian governments want to unlock the phone to get leads on why the young police officer took the life of a foreign diplomat and ended losing his as well. The report also said that Russia is sending a special technical team to Turkey to try to crack the phone's Pincode.

Most reports say that Apple has already been contacted for help but seems unlikely to lend a hand. However, 9to5Mac later posted an update on its original story saying that the authorities have not actually asked Apple to unlock the iPhone in question.

This case is reminiscent of Apple's refusal to help crack the phone used by one of the killers in the 2015 San Bernardino shooting wherein 14 people were killed and 22 seriously injured. The FBI and NSA were initially unable to unlock the killer's iPhone 5C and asked Apple to help out. The company refused, however, citing its security policy.

The Turkish shooter was a 22-year old off-duty police officer by the name of Mevlut Mert Altintas while the victim of his atrocious act was Andrei Karlov, the Russian envoy to Turkey. Both people were at an art gallery in Ankara. Karlov was giving a speech when Altintas, who got into the event using his police ID and by pretending to be the envoy's bodyguard, pulled out his gun and shot him from behind.

Videos later surfaced showing the shooting as it unraveled.
Are you thinking of a gift to give someone that has almost everything? This year, one option is an iPhone 7 encased in solid gold, encrusted with diamonds and bearing the face of the US President-elect Donald Trump.

A Gold-Plated Donald Trump iPhone For $151,000

There are very wealthy, high-net-worth individuals all over the world and sometimes its very difficult to buy gifts for them because they have everything, said Frank Fernando, Goldgenies managing director.

According to KTLA, the price of this gold-plated Trump iPhone 7 is around $151,000. It is just one example of the mind-blowing bling sold by Goldgenie, a store in the United Arab Emirates where the super rich do their shopping. All the stores of Fernando in Sharjah, a city near Dubai, are either solid gold, gold plated or diamond encrusted. But the idea for the golden Trump Apple iPhone came from a customer only recently.

So far, there are 10 of those 1 percenters who have already taken the holiday plunge and forked over the six figures for the Trump iPhone, CNN Money reported. The first customer is a Chinese woman who specifically requested the pimped-out version of Apples flagship gadget.

The Chinese Woman And The Gold-Plated Trump iPhone

As stated by Fortune, the gold-plated Donald Trump iPhone came into existence after a Chinese woman walked into a Goldgenie store located in Sharjah, UAE. Sharjah is a United Arab Emirates city on the Persian Gulf. Traditionally more conservative than its southern neighbor, Dubai, Sharjah is widely considered the nations cultural capital.

The Chinese woman asked for a device with the president-elect's face, Fernando told CNN Money. The woman hoped to give the iPhone to Trump after his inauguration next month, Fernando added. "If they do, the phone would fit well with the famously golden decor at Trumps penthouse apartment in New York City. Since selling that first Trump iPhone, Goldgenie has received a further nine orders for gold-plated ones bearing his face."

Is Trump Willing To Buy The iPhone?

No word on whether Trump himself is one of those customers, according to Market Watch. But, considering his deep fondness for all things gold and, of course, his own brand face on the iPhone itself, it wouldnt be surprising to see the president-elect fire off a few over-the-top tweets endorsing and recommending these mobile devices.

As of now, we still have to wait for further reports whether Trump will avail this highly anticipated iPhone. I am sure Goldgenie or Fernando will make an announcement regarding it. Before we know it, let as first know what Goldgenie is as a company.

What Is Goldgenie?

Goldgenie is a company that specializes in providing customization of household items. The service is primarily used to customize mobile phones, games consoles, and household items with gold, copper, nickel, chrome and platinum plating, solid gold, Swarovski crystals, and diamonds. Customers order products via the Internet or send their own items to be customized.

Aside from the gold-plated iPhone 7, Goldgenie also offers gold-plated iPhone 7 diamond collection, iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy series, BlackBerry phones and HTC phones. The company is also offering limited edition gulf state collection, 24k Gold iMac 27 inc 5K, 24k Gold Macbook Pro, 24K Gold Shisha and much more.
Thirsty grains may lead to hungry humans. A Hydrologist, in Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, Inge de Graaf. Developed a model that could stimulate the regional groundwater dynamics and withdrawals from 1960 to 2100.

Graaf reaserch predicts groundwater scarcity

She found out that California's agricultural powerhouses,Central Valley, Tulare Basin and southern San Joaquin Valley that produces an enormous amount of food supply may run out of ground water in the 2030s. India, Spain and Italy could also dry up in the 2040s to the 2060s.

Graaf presented results of her research last week, in American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco. She stated, that those that are soonest to dry up, are those that has a lot of consumers and less of groundwaters available.

According to National Geographic, since 1960 excessive usage of groundwater has been happening worldwide. Graaf added, with the rapid increase of population and the global warming, groundwater supply will ascend. This will cause the water level in aquifers to drop below 300 feet. This will mean that users may have a hard time to pump up more water from it.

Satellite observations found out who are behind the excessive usage of ground water

Based on a study in 2015, via satellite observations, 21 out of 37 large aquifers, all over the world, tend to drain faster than they can refill. Researcher Carole Dalin reported that Pakistan, India and United States are the ones accountable for the two-thirds of the excessive use of ground waters.

Tim Benton of the United Kingdom's Global Food Security Program in a 12 February panel discussion at the 2016 AAAS Annual Meeting stated that there is no assurance that this thing will happen but there are possibilities that it will. He added that climate change may lead to more intense storms and floods to heat waves and droughts.

Benton is also working with the government to work on how to prepare for the upcoming drought and scarcity of the supply of food. Researchers are calling for an international action that may deal with this problems. Including warning systems and informational systems.
There won't be an Ebola outbreak in the world anymore. After multiple clinical trials, researchers proved that the newly developed Ebola vaccine, rVSV-ZEBOV, which was partially designed at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory is 100 percent effective.

Ebola was first identified in 1976. It is one of the deadliest diseases with 80 percent mortality rate. It is also feared for its grotesque nature of deaths -- internal and external bleedings. The largest Ebola outbreak to date occurred in West Africa from December 2013 to January 2016 with 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths.

In 2015, researchers started clinical trials for the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine. The researchers identified people who came in contact with an infected person. At first they were divided in two groups, one group was vaccinated right away while the control group was vaccinated after three weeks. The favorable initial results led the researchers to give the vaccine to all persons at risk immediately.

The results of the trials were published in a medical journal, The Lancelet, on Thursday, Dec. 22. No Ebola cases were recorded from 5,837 people who received the vaccine, 10 days or longer after the vaccination. The vaccine is not approved by the authorities yet but a stockpile of 300,000 doses has been readied in case of an outbreak.

"There should never be another outbreak like the one in West Africa," one of the researchers who worked on the initial vaccine, Gary Kobinger, told CBC News.

"This vaccine is one tool that [many researchers] are now very much hoping will be available and will contribute to controlling the next outbreak much faster and much more efficiently."

The clinical trial was a collaborative effort of the World Health Organization, Norway's Institute of Public Health, Guinean Health Ministry, and other health institutions. The Ebola vaccine has been researched for more than a decade but it was only in 2014 that a vaccine with no major side effects to humans was developed.
Testosterone is not only a key sexual hormone but also important in cognitive and bodily growth of males especially during puberty. However, a third of elderly males suffer from hypogonadism, a condition in which the body produces abnormally low levels of testosterone. A recent study reveals hypogonadism can now be treated through stem cell.

Levels of testosterone in males naturally decline with age but extreme low levels lead to frequent mood swings, decreases in bone and muscle strength and decrease in sex drive. Male hypogonadism is commonly treated through testosterone replacement therapy but this procedure has a number of side effects -- including prostate and cardiovascular complications such as blood clot formations.

A new development stem cell suggests an alternative method of treatment, which involves transforming adult skin cells into Leydig cells, which are responsible for producing testosterone. In a study published in Stem Cell Reports on Thursday, Dec. 22, researchers from Jinan University in China tested the possibility of using direct cell programming in rodents to create Ledyig cells.

The researchers successfully reprogrammed the mouse skin cells of testosterone-deficient rats by transplanting Ledyig cells into the testes. The cells survived and the testosterone level of the rats also returned to normal.

"Our study is the first to report a method for generating Leydig cells by means of direct cell reprogramming. This alternative source of Leydig cells will be of great significance for basic research and provides the attractive prospect of clinical application in the field of regenerative medicine," one of the researchers, Yadong Huang said, according to Medical News Today.

The researchers are now closely studying the detailed mechanisms of the reprogramming of the skin cells to Leydig cells. They added that they hope the research findings can make way for more developments of the regenerative approach of using stem cell to treat testosterone deficiency in men.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

The visa issuance process can be simplified for foreign nannies and housekeepers, who are traveling with the families, which arrived in Azerbaijan from abroad (mainly from the Middle East), reads the strategic road map for development of tourism industry in Azerbaijan, published by the countrys official press.

The strategic road map was approved by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs decree dated December 6, 2016.

The visa issuance process will be simplified if nannies and housekeepers, who came with the family, are not the citizens of the country from which the family arrived, the document said.

According to the document, the visas will be issued to nannies and housekeepers at the airport in Azerbaijan if they have the work authorization in the country.
You shouldn't anthropomorphize computers: They don't like it.

That joke is at least as old as Deep Blue's 1997 victory over then world chess champion Garry Kasparov, but even with the great strides made in the field of artificial intelligence over that time, we're still not much closer to having to worry about computers' feelings.

Computers can analyze the sentiments we express in social media, and project expressions on the face of robots to make us believe they are happy or angry, but no one seriously believes, yet, that they "have" feelings, that they can experience them.

Other areas of AI, on the other hand, have seen some impressive advances in both hardware and software in just the last 12 months.

Deep Blue was a world-class chess opponent -- and also one that didn't gloat when it won, or go off in a huff if it lost.

Until this year, though, computers were no match for a human at another board game, Go. That all changed in March when AlphaGo, developed by Google subsidiary DeepMind, beat Lee Sedol, then the world's strongest Go player, 4-1 in a five-match tournament.

AlphaGo's secret weapon was a technique called reinforcement learning, where a program figures out for itself which actions bring it closer to its goal, and reinforces those behaviors, without the need to be taught by a person which steps are correct. That meant that it could play repeatedly against itself and gradually learn which strategies fared better.

Reinforcement learning techniques have been around for decades, too, but it's only recently that computers have had sufficient processing power (to test each possible path in turn) and memory (to remember which steps led to the goal) to play a high-level game of Go at a competitive speed.

Better performing hardware has moved AI forward in other ways too.

In May, Google revealed its TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), a hardware accelerator for its TensorFlow deep learning algorithm. The ASICs (application-specific integrated circuit) can execute the types of calculations used in machine learning much faster and using less power than even GPUs, and Google has installed several thousand of them in its server racks in the slots previously reserved for hard drives.

The TPU, it turns out, was one of the things that made AlphaGo so fast, but Google has also used the chip to accelerate mapping and navigation functions in Street View and to improve search results with a new AI tool called RankBrain.

Google is keeping its TPU to itself for now, but others are releasing hardware tuned for AI applications. Microsoft, for example, has equipped some of its Azure servers with FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays) to accelerate certain machine learning functions, while IBM is targeting similar applications with a range of PowerAI servers that use custom hardware to link its Power CPUs with Nvidia GPUs.

For businesses that want to deploy cutting-edge AI technologies without developing everything from scratch themselves, easy access to high-performance hardware is a start, but not enough. Cloud operators recognize that, and are also offering AI software as a service. Amazon Web Services and Microsoft's Azure have both added machine learning APIs, while IBM is building a business around cloud access to its Watson AI.

The fact that these hardware and software tools are cloud-based will help AI systems in other ways too.

Being able to store and process enormous volumes of data is only useful to the AI that has access to vast quantities of data from which to learn -- data such as that collected and delivered by cloud services, for example, whether its information about the weather, mail order deliveries, requests for rides or peoples' tweets.

Access to all that raw data, rather than the minute subset, processed and labelled by human trainers, that was available to previous generations of AIs, is one of the biggest factors transforming AI research today, according to a Stanford University study of the next 100 years in AI.

And while having computers watch everything we do, online and off, in order to learn how to work with us might seem creepy, it's really only in our minds. The computers don't feel anything. Yet.
In early December, Carnival Corp. told about 200 IT employees that the company was transferring their work to Capgemini, a large IT outsourcing firm. The employees had a choice: Either agree to take a job with the contractor or leave without severance.

The employees had until this week to make a decision about their future with the cruise line.

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By agreeing to a job with Paris-based Capgemini, employees are guaranteed employment for six months, said Roger Frizzell, a Carnival spokesman. "Our expectation is that many will continue to work on our account or placed into other open positions within Capgemini" that go well beyond the six-month period, he said in an email.

"We believe this is an opportunity to strengthen and improve our IT operation, but also a better long-term option for our IT employees to have employment with a top IT firm," Frizzell said.

But Frizzell was only speaking for Carnival. A Capgemini spokesperson said the firm is not at liberty to discuss the work done on behalf of its clients.

And the view among employees is sharply different. They expect to participate in a "knowledge transfer," which involves training someone else to do your job. They expect that this transfer will help move the work overseas, that they will have no guarantee of employment and that their employment will be shorter term.

One employee, Matthew Culver, a senior IT engineer at Miami-based Carnival, saw how this decision was affecting his co-workers. They were shocked, stunned and upset. He felt for them, and started to speak out, but he took a different approach.

Culver gave an interview to to the CBS news channel in Miami about Carnival's outsourcing decision. The Miami Herald, part of a newspaper chain that moved its IT work offshore, which it didn't report, published an article on Carnival's outsourcing.

The Carnival employees are talking to Sara Blackwell, a Florida attorney who is representing former Disney IT employees in their outsourcing-related layoff. She helped organize a rally for the Carnival IT workers to protest the decision.

Under its agreement with Carnival, Capgemini, an IT services and consulting company, sent an employment offer to the Carnival IT employees. Culver, in turn, responded with a counteroffer to Capgemini that reads like a protest against offshore outsourcing.

Culver's letter began by asking for a base pay of $500,000 annually.

"This is calculated based upon a figure of $100,000 (the rough, annual pay estimate for my position) times 5 (the number of years for which I would estimate that it would take to create a similar job in the U.S., once you outsource this position to a more 'cost-effective' country of your choosing)," Culver wrote.

Culver also asked for "a one-time, $100,000 donation to a charity of your choice, as long as they participate in providing services to the unemployed American workers."

The counteroffer also included a provision asking for "a personal, signed apology letter from both the CEO of Capgemini, as well as the CEO of Carnival Corporation, to each of the families who have been affected by this decision."

There was also a request in his letter that no other employees be affected by offshoring. Culver concluded: "I appreciate your time and attention to this matter, and I sincerely hope that you can fulfill these terms, so that I may begin my consideration of a happy and productive future with Capgemini!"

Capgemini declined the counteroffer, Culver said.

Carnival's decision to move IT work to a contractor "is not a cost-savings initiative," Frizzell, the cruise line's spokesman, stated.

"Our core business is cruising, and by taking this action and working with a world-class IT firm like Capgemini, will provide us with the ability to significantly strengthen our IT operation for our company and our guests," he said. He added that there is more opportunity for Carnival's IT employees at Capgemini than at the cruise line.

Capgemini employs 16,600 workers in North America, or about 9 percent of its total workforce of 180,600, according to its 2015 annual report. The company, however, gets 31 percent of its revenues from North America.

Capgemini expanded in 2015 as a result of its acquisition of iGate, a U.S.-based IT services firm with 33,000 employees, most of whom are overseas.

Severance will be provided to those who accept a job with Capgemini "but are later released" from employment, Frizzell said. The actual transfer to Capgemini is scheduled to take place in early February.

"It is important to us that we always treat our employees with dignity and respect, and our goal here is to provide a transition and smooth landing for them with this process," he said.

Employees who spoke to Computerworld said they believe that if they leave without accepting the Capgemini offer and seek unemployment benefits, Carnival will contest their benefits because they made a voluntary resignation. "There is a gun to our head to sign the contract," said one employee, who asked not be named.

Carnival was asked whether the employees' concern was accurate but there was no immediate answer.

Blackwell doesn't see how it is possible to contest unemployment benefits for these employees. An employer can't tell someone whom "you have to work for, or else you don't get the benefit of unemployment. That's not their decision," she said. Blackwell also runs an advocacy group on the H-1B issue, Protect U.S. Workers

If employees are being pressured to take jobs with a contractor, it's due to the business model, Blackwell said. "This business model requires employees to train foreign replacements for it to be successful," she said.

Culver said the decision by Carnival has put IT workers in a difficult spot.

"Right now their motivation is to make sure they have gainful employment through the holidays and make sure their benefits are protected," Culver said, "and the only way that is being offered is by signing with Capgemini."

"It's a tough situation," he said. Referring to receiving this news just before Christmas, he added, "they stunned people at a time where it has a lot of emotional psychological impact."
Looking back at this year in technology there were a number of things we should have, but didnt, talk about. In some cases, we were distracted by other things, in other cases no one wanted to say something negative about a strategy that promised a lot of success, and, finally, in some cases it probably just didnt occur to us that we were missing the big picture.

Let me go through each.

U.S. cybersecurity is a bad joke

We focused like a laser on Hillary Clintons email server, but what about the security that allowed it to exist in the first place? Seriously how the heck do you miss a rogue email server for a whopping four years? Particularly one that is sending and receiving things to NSA, CIA and FBI email servers. At the very least it should have been flagged as an unknown and potentially hostile email server and vetted. Yet it wasnt.

After being made aware that Russia was hacking the election process the President told Putin to cut it out. Since when is it a proper response to an active cyberthreat to have the CEO call the attacker and ask them to stop it. What is particularly annoying is that the U.S. has been meddling in foreign elections for years and doesnt apparently have a good defense when one of these now pissed off governments returns the favor. This is seriously stupid.

Virtual reality

If the market rejected 3D largely because it didnt like the idea of $100 glasses, why do folks think virtual reality (VR) will be successful with $800 headsets that make you blind to all around you? The damn things arent just expensive, they are dangerous  you can trip on the cord or fall over furniture. And if you thought glasses made you look stupid just how do you think you look in a that huge headset? The hot tech gift this Christmas wasnt a VR headset it was the Amazon Echo.

Echo

Speaking of the Amazon Echo how the hell did Apple miss this product opportunity? It is basically a big iPod with a Siri-like digital assistant built in. Apple should have been able to do this product in its sleep, yet it is instead focused on autonomous cars, because Apple knows a ton about how to make a car. How the heck does Apple, who took the smartphone market from Palm and RIM, miss Amazon doing the same thing to it in music?

Presidential analytics

President Obama used analytics effectively against both McCain and Romney in the elections. This allowed him to better deploy resources and more effectively get the vote out resulting in two wins. Clinton worked for Obama for four years after he outperformed her as well in the democratic primary. Obama supported Clintons candidacy. So why didnt Clinton use Obamas analytics team to assure her election outcome? It was like she started from scratch.

Oh, and given that pretty much the entire tech industry supported her, why didnt they actually help her get it right. Donald Trump had one guy, Peter Thiel, and outperformed Clinton. How is that even possible?

Fake news

There is a ton of focus on Russia being the source of fake news even though we know Googles ad engine pays for it. In fact Methbot is generating a whopping $3 million a day for these fake sites and stories and that is likely an understatement. So, rather than pounding on Russia, and telling them to cut it out, wouldnt a better fix be to call up Eric Schmidt, who is the chairman of Google and a personal friend of the President and ask him to stop paying these guys? If the incentives go away might that not reduce the amount of fake news?

Just the tip of the iceberg

These are just a few of the things I think we should have been talking about and didnt over this last year. Im a tad worried about the U.S. government which seems increasingly clueless about cybersecurity even though, given the nations tech dominance, we should be best at it. In the end, though, Ill be glad to say goodbye to 2016 and Im looking hopefully ahead to a better 2017. Here is hoping you have a wonderful holiday season and a great new year!
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

Trend:

Representatives of Heriot-Watt University (HWU) conducted next scheduled written exams of the winter term at Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) for Petroleum Engineering and Chemical Engineering second, third, fourth and fifth-year students. The examinations based on the HWU academic programs were arranged simultaneously with those held at HWU, taking into account the time difference. This practice is used to prevent the students of the two higher educational institutions from exchanging answers by using online resources.

The Heriot-Watt University team visiting BHOS was comprised of representatives from the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences (EPS) including International Relations Officer Kevin McCullough, Professor Graeme White, Associate Director of Studies for Engineering Alexander Bell, Teaching and Learning Manager of EPS Student Support Office Patricia Duncan and Advisor of the EPS Student Support Centre Irene Fox. Assistant Professor of the HWUs Institute of Petroleum Engineering Dr Gillian E. Pickup also was a member of the delegation.

Under an agreement with Heriot-Watt University, those Higher Schools students who successfully pass the examinations will be able to participate in the BHOS joint program with HWU and receive Dual Award certificates. According to the agreement, HWU representatives make regular quality assurance visits to BHOS and participate in all aspects of the arrangements for the examinations, including external invigilation of the exams. The written answers are then sent to HWU for review and evaluation. Organized in such a way, this practice ensures full transparency and unbiased assessment of the results.

It shall be noted that BHOS is the only higher education institution in Azerbaijan where assessment of students knowledge is made by foreign university experts.
Brad Pitt kids can only spend Christmas with their father for a brief four-hour visit to deliver his gifts. The "Allied" actor requested for a longer visitation even only during Christmas. But his ex-wife Angelina Jolie refused to allow the actor. She said he is only allowed four hours with the kids as she is following the provision of the custody agreement.

Brad Pitt has to endure the limitation and has to see his kids with a happy face despite his painful situation. Being an actor, it is possible for him. The "World War Z" actor has to go to Malibu where his former family rents a mansion as per Inquisitr.

The former Hollywood power couple is now battling for the custody of the kids. Pitt wants joint physical custody while Jolie wants to have a sole custody of the six young children.

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce last September because of irreconcilable differences. A jet plane incident pulled the trigger to kill the marriage. The mother-of-six claimed that the actor physically abused their eldest son, Maddox.

However, upon investigation, the actor was exonerated of child abuse, drinking, and drugs. He then requested that he be given longer visiting hours. But it was turned down by the therapists taking care of the children.

The conjugal properties of the couple are now being settled amicably in the court. The divorce proceeding is still on-going.

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie is reportedly suffering the downside of the divorce as her weight plummeted to a mere 79 pounds, much too light for her tall frame. However, Jolie's father Jon Voight stated that his daughter is doing fine and gets along well with the kids.

Brad Pitt kids are now slowly moving on from the unfortunate incident and trying to live a normal life with their mother. Stay tuned for more updates on the couple's divorce from the courts.
Hedge funders were arrested and charged with fraud in New York. Officers of Platinum Partners including its founder are now facing a $1 billion fraud case.

Mark Nordlicht, Platinum's founding partner, and chief investment officer was taken into custody at his home in New York. Platinum's co-chief investment officer David Levy and the former president of the company's signature fund were also arrested.

According to Business Insider, Platinum is liquidating its hedge funds. Two of the funds have filed for bankruptcy.

The court records state that since 2012, Levy, Nordlicht, Levy, and Landesman planned a scheme to fool Platinum investors by putting an excess value to illiquid assets held by the fund.

It has resulted in a liquidity crisis. Platinum tried to remedy by availing of high-interest loans between its funds. They used the proceeds of the loans to pay off some investors ahead of others. In this way, investors will not panic.

Nordlicht and Levy defrauded the Texas energy company's bondholders. Jeffrey Shulse, the former chief executive officer of Platinum's majority-owned Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC was one with Levy and Nordlicht.

This year, Platinum funds were liquidated in August because a Cayman Islands courts found the company to have committed fraud.

Murray Huberfeld, a Platinum associate but was known as another founder was charged with bribery. He was arrested for bribing the New York City prison guards' union's head Norman Seabrook, to secure a $20 million investment. FBI raided Platinum's Manhattan offices for another fraud investigation.

Aside from the above-mentioned hedge funders, Joseph Sanfilippo, Daniel Small and Joseph Mann were also indicted. Sanfilippo used to be the Chief Financial officer of Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund LP. Mann is an employee in charge of Marketing and Small is a Managing Director.
Making hiring decisions are often complicated since the hiring manager stringently evaluates and makes a complex judgment after the hiring process. The need to concretely assess each applicant is as exhausting as receiving various questions regarding the application.

Most of the job seekers would demand a feedback with their curiosity in line where they lack or what needs to be improved. Though, it is pretty normal for job applicants to know whether they are hired or they failed to get the position. It is also part of the hiring process to encounter these occurrences. There are times, however, that they fail to respond to the applicants' queries and insistence.

Hiring decisions usually come from distinct perception and evaluation. It is difficult to explain why they came up to that certain decision or why they chose the other over you. Since there are people who qualify in a certain skill they are applying for, the common downside is there is still lacking. The applicant could be lacking awareness and approach in the field.

It would be totally crucial to teach people common sense and intuition. Furthermore, people can be taught things they are not knowledgeable about, but it would be difficult to teach people things that they are unaware of its existence. That is usually the biggest challenge for them since it is more convenient for most companies to hire employees that are already aware of the job. This will also save time and effort for the hiring team.

According to the Forbes, there are various reasons why hiring managers do not hire some job seekers. The primary reason involves the applicant's skeptic of answering the questions during the interview. Most hiring managers will find the answers insufficient or vague because they are more focused on pleasing their interviewer.

In an interview, it is also important for the interviewee to maintain a substantial and powerful impression that could move the process to a higher degree. The approach should also be different and convincing which most job applicants misses. Throwing back questions to the interviewer may seem impolite, but it is actually effective.

Before going on to an interview, people should not only care about how they will look in front of the hiring manager. Rather, they should also plan and study how they will respond and act when questions are being thrown their way. Supporting an idea with a credible opinion is one thing and getting physically and mentally ready is another thing.

Hiring managers prefer job applicants who leave a great impression on them. Thus, it is important to consider the things that must be observed before an interview, especially the attitude and approach.
The world renowned coffee brand Starbucks just didnt rose up to the top of the chains with just simple magic. Tons of skills and ideas were incorporated for them to achieve that success.

Starbucks one vision led to the success of their brand. With more than 21,000 stores in 65 countries, Starbucks became one of the fastest-growing businesses in America. And there are no signs of them on planning to slow down.

Value of the Product

Bean Market stated that Chinas Starbucks are priced much higher than those of other countries. Why? Its just that Chinese people tend to adore Western products more than theirs with the thought of being cool and going with the flow of the trends. Thats why people tend to buy products because they know the value. Since China values Western products more, Starbucks made their value in China greater. The more value your product has, the higher the pay you would get.

Capture the Ideal Coffee Shop

Every person dreams of an ideal something. Be it coffee, of course, people imagine what they want to drink. Jerome Conlon, VP of Brand Planning from Starbucks said that they captured the ideal vision of a perfect coffee shop with an experiment wherein results ended similarly. The atmosphere and the coffee were made from that fact. Businesses should always put in mind what they will be perceived as to the public. There is also nothing wrong with asking help from other people.

Introduce a New Wave

Change is essential to any business. Starbucks even incorporated free Wi-Fi during 2010. Nowadays, they only introduce new waves of coffee and promos. Trends change also but peoples likings last long but still change. They also offer planners with knowing that their regular customers are busy persons. Introducing new coffee lines would then provoke people to try their business more and explore.

Go Against the Current

Starbucks has tons of competitors all over the world. This is why they covered almost all the entire areas with their coffee shop. In every mall, no Starbucks would be missed. This is done intentionally for people to recognize their business more. This is a big risk obviously, but sometimes it might be good for your business.

Incorporate Social Media

With tons of people buying Starbucks cups, taking a photo and posting it on social media like Instagram and Facebook, applying social media strategy would truly work. There would be a 90 percent chance that if you post your business online, people will see it. Starbucks also used this strategy with using Instagram to tell their brand story.

Achieve the Starbucks business dream with these steps. If you learned from this article, check out Personal Branding and why you should invest in it by Jobs and Hire.
Honda's 2020 self-driving cars may be run by Google's Waymo's autonomous driving technology if Honda Motors Co. and Waymo are able to strike a deal.

Waymo is the autonomous driving unit of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc., and it is currently in talks with Honda about putting the former's self-driving technology in the latter's vehicles, reports Bloomberg. Two other automakers attempted to make a deal with Waymo last year, but no agreement came out of it.

After having recently unveiled a photo of their artificial intelligence-powered electric car, Honda announced its plans that in 2020, it would release self-driving cars that are capable of operating on highways. It currently has Honda Sensing, a semi-autonomous technology package that has lane keep assist capabilities, as well as adaptive cruise control features.

Partnering with Waymo could mean that a more advanced autonomous driving vehicle could be developed. It could also steer the car manufacturer into other and more diverse technological directions.

On another note, this is not the first time for Waymo to enter the automobile industry. Formerly called as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, it has partnered with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, equipping its 100 Chrysler Pacifica minivans with computers, sensors, telematics, and other systems.

According to Michell Krebs, who is an analyst for Cox Automotive's Autotrader.com, it would be more difficult for Apple and Google to get into the automobile industry than it is to supply the technology for it. This news then shows that the tech company plans to further develop its autonomous driving technology and make a name for itself alongside the likes of vehicle maker, Tesla, which has already made developments in autonomous driving and is set to release Model 3 next year.

In an announcement made by Alphabet, Waymo is intent on changing the transportation industry. It may be that very soon, Honda and Waymo will be competing with Teslas self-driving cars.
Google is being sued by one of its product managers for allegedly stopping employees from calling out the company for certain failures. The lawsuit would be another smear to the technology giant especially since it concerns employees' freedom.

ComputerWorld reported that Google has committed wrongdoing and did not follow California laws for telling employees not to call out conducts that are against the law. Google employees were also allegedly told not to raise any issues concerning any product effects that could endanger the public.

In addition, Google also prohibits employees from getting in touch with government, attorneys or media people and talking to them about any issues within the company. Even telling spouses or friends about internal issues at Google is not allowed. The tech giant reportedly put up the restrictions to prevent the government from looking into the issues.

Google's restrictions are also part of its project to stop other companies from getting their hands on company secrets. Employees are reportedly asked to report anyone who asks about Google's products, employees and other internal information. Newsweek reported that the employee who filed the lawsuit wants to stop Google from implementing its "spying program."

Several companies have confidentiality agreements for their employees. However, it seems that the Google employee who filed the lawsuit finds the tech giant's restrictions excessive. Another example of restriction is that writing novels or articles about Google cannot be done without the tech giant's consent.

Google maintains that it has not done anything wrong in imposing the confidentiality agreements. The tech giant claims that the restrictions are there to protect information relevant to its business. It also claims that it actually has an open internal culture and it only prohibits employees from discussing terms and condition of employment or other internal concerns outside of the company. Jobs & Hire previously reported that Google is fighting a separate battle against Oracle, which affects its operations and employees.
Google will release two new Android Wear smartwatches early next year, and it will be branded by the manufacturing company. It includes apps that do not require phone connection and can work for both iOS and Android devices.

In an exclusive interview with the Product Manager of Googles Android Wear, Jeff Chang, The Verge found out that there will be two new smartwatches coming out in the first quarter of 2017. These watches will contain an upgrade called Android Wear 2.0, which has a lot of features that its previous and existing watches do not have.

The most interesting among them so far is the fact that Android Wear 2.0 can connect and work with both iOS and Android devices. There will be differences between the two platforms, but it will function nonetheless.

The smartwatches will also contain standalone apps that do not require a phone to work. Support for Android Pay and for Googles voice-controlled assistant are also included.

Unfortunately, not every existing android watch will be updated with the 2.0 version because some watches do not have the hardware for it. Those that will receive the update are Moto 360 Gen 2, LG Watch Urbane, Fossil Q Wander, Nixon Mission, Michael Kors Access Bradshaw Smartwatch, Huawei Watch, and Asus ZenWatch 3. For a full list see here.

This flagship is part of Googles endeavor to convince consumers that smartwatches are still in demand. According to The Verge, it has been having difficulty with it after it has spent more than two years trying to make Android Wear successful, but these kinds of watches are still quite new in the market.

Collaborating with the manufacturing company and have the latter brand the watches are one way for Google to reach different types of consumers. The tech company is optimistic of the future of the product and are determined to make it stay.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Financial Monitoring Service of Azerbaijans Financial Markets Supervision Authority has added Russian citizen Rustam Aselderov to the list of persons subject to international sanctions for their support of terrorism, said a report of Financial Monitoring Service posted on its website.

Aselderov is wanted by the authorities of the Russian Federation for terrorism crimes, the Financial Monitoring Service said in its message.

He leads a group of over 160 terrorist fighters, which operates in the Republics of Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia of Russian Federation, according to the message.

This is the 19th change made to the list in 2016. The list is updated in accordance with the UN Security Council's decisions and the information received from regional organizations.

According to an order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, the list is approved and updated on the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.23



By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:



The volume of petroleum import from OPEC countries averaged 3.439 million barrels per day in the first nine months of 2016, as compared to averagely 2.821 million barrels per day in the same period in 2015, according to the Monthly Energy Review of the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).



The average volume of petroleum import from OPEC stood at 3.389 million barrels per day in the first nine months of 2014, said the report.



The highest volume of petroleum import from OPEC countries in the first nine months of 2016 was recorded in July (3.803 million barrels per day), while the lowest level was observed in January (3.052 million barrels per day), according to the EIA.



This figure averaged 2.894 million barrels per day in 2015, as compared to 3.237 million barrels per day in 2014.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
The number of all-cash home sales remained on a downward track in September in the Winston-Salem metropolitan statistical area, according to a CoreLogic report released Wednesday.

About 31.4 percent of homes in the five-county region were bought solely with cash, down from 35.7 percent a year ago, but up from 30.1 percent in August. The MSA includes Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin counties.

CoreLogic, a real-estate research data company, typically issues the cash-buyers report without commenting on local markets.

Cash buyers include institutional investors acquiring properties to initially rent before selling them during a future rise in housing prices.

In the Greensboro-High Point MSA, cash buyers represented 29.9 percent of home purchases, down from 30.9 percent a year ago, but up from 29.6 percent in August.

The number of cash sales in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA dropped year over year, from 26.5 percent to 24.5 percent. The rate was 23.6 percent in August. That MSA, until recently, had been among the top markets in the nation for institutional investors.

CoreLogic said it did not have data on cash sales for the Raleigh-Cary MSA for September. Cash sales were 35.9 percent in August.

For North Carolina as a whole, the percentage of all-cash sales was 38 percent. Nationally, it was 31.7 percent.

If the cash-sales share continues to fall at the same rate it did in September, the share should hit 25 percent by mid-2019, CoreLogic said of the national market. Thats the same percentage as right before the housing bubble burst in 2007.

The rate of all-cash home purchases by private-equity groups reached its high in January 2011 at 46.6 percent.
Five Wells Fargo & Co. financial-services units have been fined a combined $5.5 million by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

The federal agency said Wednesday that it has fined 12 firms a total of $14.4 million for significant deficiencies relating to the preservation of broker-dealer and customer records in a format that prevents alteration.

Wells Fargo Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Prime Services LLC were jointly fined $4 million. Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC and First Clearing LLC were jointly fined $1.5 million.

Other firms fined were: RBC Capital Markets LLC and RBC Capital Markets Arbitrage SA, jointly $3.5 million; RBS Securities Inc., $2 million; SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc., $1.5 million; LPL Financial LLC, $750,000; Georgeson Securities Corp., $650,000; and PNC Capital Markets LLC, $500,000.

The firms neither admitted nor denied the charges, but consented to the entry of FINRAs findings.

Richard Craver

KeraNetics sets $1.25 million securities offering

KeraNetics LLC, a Winston-Salem biotechnology company, submitted Wednesday a new offer of equity, stock options or warrants, and other securities worth up to $1.25 million.

The company said a first sale of the offering has not yet occurred. It projects that $275,000 of the gross proceeds would go toward paying the salary of Kim Westmoreland, its chief executive and managing director as an employee, and not as members of the board of directors.

KeraNetics offered in March 2015 up to $4 million worth of securities. In March 2016, the company said it has sold just under $3.4 million and plans to sell the remaining $601,857.

The previous offering also provided salary to Westmoreland.

KeraNetics is a biomaterials company. At last count in December 2014, it had 23 employees, including eight with doctorate degrees.

Richard Craver

Carolina Bank shareholders approve sale

Shareholders of Carolina Bank Holdings Inc. approved Tuesday the proposed $93 million sale of the Greensboro bank to First Bancorp of Southern Pines.

The banks said Thursday they have received approval for the merger from the N.C. Commissioner of Banks.

A federal regulatory review is underway.

First Bancorp expects to complete the deal in late 2016 or early 2017. It would gain two Winston-Salem branches and eight overall.

At six branches, Winston-Salem would be First Bancorps largest market when using that measuring stick. However, it is likely to close one branch between a former First Community branch and a Carolina Bank branch that are less than a mile apart off Stratford Road and Knollwood Street.

Richard Craver
A fire department crew was unable to unearth any clues Thursday to the cause of a large fire at former Brown Elementary School, fire officials said.

Conditions at the abandoned building, which was ablaze in a sea of flames Tuesday night, were too dangerous to conduct a full search, assistant fire chief Harry Brown said.

That place is really unstable, said Brown, who was on-site Thursday. There are walls leaning over, pillars collapsed, its very unsafe.

Crews have not been able to venture into the areas of the building  which is near 12th Street and Highland Avenue  that suffered the most damage.

A team of structural engineers is being summoned to assess the building, and a demolition crew will likely also be needed to conduct a full search, he said.

The parts of the building they were able to search didnt turn up anything, he said.

The investigation is ongoing and will likely not be resolved until next week.


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Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec. 23

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Priority in the fuel and energy complex of Turkmenistan, along with the traditional export of raw materials, is given to the creation of high-tech industries, providing the output of products with high added value, online newspaper of the Oil and Gas Complex of Turkmenistan said in a message.

Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries, which includes enterprises in the cities of Turkmenbashi and Seydi produces dozens of popular products. They include high-octane motor gasoline, aviation and technical kerosene, diesel fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum coke, polypropylene, multi-purpose oils, road and construction bitumen.

The construction of petrochemical plants for the production of polymers is the priority sphere. A plant for the production of polypropylene film with a capacity of more than 20,000 tons of products per year is underway at the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries.

A complex, which includes a delayed coking unit and tar deasphalting unit is also being constructed at the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries. Petroleum coke is used as fuel and reagent in the ferrous and nonferrous electrometallurgy, the manufacture of electrodes.

p>

Tender bids should be sent to the following address: TCOR, Turkmenbashi city, Balkan province, Turkmenistan.

For more information call: +993243 2-48-49, 9-62-79, 2-50-91 (Tel./fax: +993243 2-22-04  for sending applications).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Kazakhstan's National Security Committee completed a special operation to neutralize Takfir wal-Hijra religious extremist organization in the country, the Security Committee said in a message Dec. 23.

The operation was initiated on Dec. 21.

Thirty-three people were detained on suspicion of inciting religious hatred and being involved with Takfir wal-Hijra, the message said.

Religious materials, CDs, computer equipment and large sums of money were found as a result of searches at their houses and meeting points.

Most of the detainees admitted their guilt and expressed desire to cooperate with police. They informed the police about secret meetings, where a radical ideology was promoted. The activity of the religious group was controlled from abroad.

Operative measures were carried out in Almaty, Aktobe, Atyrau regions and Almaty city, according to National Security Committee.

According to the committee, members of Takfir wal-Hijra organization propagandized the principles of the ideology of Al-Qaeda, Islamic State (aka IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) and other terrorist groups.

Takfir wal-Hijra was listed as an extremist organization upon a Kazakh court decision in 2014. Its activity is prohibited in the country. Takfir wal-Hijra is listed as a terrorist organization in the US, Russia, China, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other countries.
JURIST Guest Columnist Jean-Marie Kamatali of Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law discusses the benefits of investigating French officials role in the Rwanda Genocide

On November 29th the Prosecutor General of Rwanda released a statement announcing the start of a formal criminal investigation of 20 French government agents/officials in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Although this statement did not give the names of the officials under investigation, the fact that it came following the release by the Rwanda National Commission for the Fight against the Genocide (CNLG) [PDF] of a list of 22 French military and diplomatic officials for their involvement as direct perpetrators or as accomplices in the genocide indicates the link between these two announcements.

The list established by the CNLG is very elaborate. It contains names and titles of each person as well as their detailed contribution in genocide. Among the high profile officials on this list include General Jacques Lanxade, Frances Army Chief of Staff from April 1991 to September 1995, General Christian Quesnot, Special Chief of staff of President Mitterrand from 1991 to 1995, and General Jean-Claude Lafourcade, the top commander of the French forces engaged in Turquoise, Frances intervention in Rwanda from June 22 to August 22, 1994. The involvement of these officials ranges from supporting the pre-1994 Rwandan army through military training and supplying them with weapons, to training, arming and shielding the Interahamwe militias, the forces behind the 1994 Genocide.

The release of this list by the CNLG and the announcement of the General Prosecutor of Rwanda have been viewed by some as a retaliation by the Rwandan government against Frances recent announcement to reopen its investigation on the April 1994 shooting down of the plane that killed everyone on board including the then Rwandan President Habyarimana, the Burundian President Ntalyamira as well as its French pilots. This shooting marked the beginning of the Genocide. In early October 2016 two French investigating magistrates, Nathalie Poux and Jean-Marc Herbaut, announced the reopening of this investigation although in July 2014 judge Marc Trevidic had closed it by reversing the conclusions of his predecessor, judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere. The latter had concluded that Paul Kagame, the current president of Rwanda ordered the shooting of this airplane.

No matter the political reasons behind the Rwanda General Prosecutors announcement, two observations are clear: First, the details and documentation included in the CNLG list proves that Rwanda has been, for a long time, working on gathering evidences against its targeted 20 French citizens and officials, and therefore the General Prosecutors announcement should not be dismissed as just a retaliatory act; Second, if the judiciary of both these two countries can cooperate in this investigationboth sides have committed to thisthey are both likely to benefit from its outcome.

The French militarys involvement in Rwanda has been well recorded both in France and Rwanda. In its 1998 fact-finding report the French Parliamentary Commission admitted that the 1990 French military intervention in Rwanda which was initially aimed at protecting French citizens was redirected to help the governmental forces indirectly by giving them technical assistance and weapons so as to prevent the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front from winning. The 2008 Government of Rwanda report known as Mucyo Report illustrated with much specifics, however, that Frances role was more than indirect in its help to governmental forces. The report details Frances direct participation in the fighting and involvement in the training of the Interahamwe militias, who are the notorious ring leaders in genocide; and Frances sustained support to the regime it knew was involved in genocide. This report was followed in 2010 by another Government of Rwandas report known as Mutsinzi Report, which had concluded that the hardliners in the Genocide regime are responsible for shooting down the presidential airplane.

Obviously no one should expect the French government to easily accept Rwandas accusations. Genocide is a very serious crime, a crime of crimes, with several legal and political consequences. Thats why no country or individual can freely admit to it. The establishment of such an extreme crime is better left to courts. It should, therefore, surprise no one if Rwanda, after numerous unsuccessful political and diplomatic attempts to bring the attention to France on its role in Genocide, is taking the only path remaining: The court option. In pursuing this option Rwanda had two alternatives: Bring France before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine its responsibility in Genocide or indict French officials/agents based on the available evidence of involvement in Genocide.

Although the first path could be more direct and effective, it is also likely to be the most difficult. The reluctance of the ICJ to be persuaded in the Bosnia and Herzegovina v Serbia and Montenegro case, in which the Bosnia and Herzegovina knew about Serbias involvement in Genocide and had much clearer facts in the case, proves the challenges Rwanda was likely to confront should it have privileged the ICJ path. In this case, although the ICJ found that Serbia violated its obligation to prevent genocide, it ruled that Serbia has neither committed genocide nor incited or acted as an accomplice in the Bosnia and Herzegovinas genocide.

Bringing domestic courts to determine the individual criminal responsibilities of French officials/agents in the Genocide is therefore the best alternative. Rwanda is currently seeking to investigate these officials/agents for their role as perpetrators or accomplices in the Genocide. Rwanda should, however, consider broadening the net to include their role in aiding and abetting in Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. As the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has stated in the Akayesu case, [C]omplicity requires a positive act, i.e. an act of commission, whereas aiding and abetting may consist in failing to act or refraining from action. Both the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) have plenty of jurisprudence on this crime. For example In the Blagojevic and Jokic case the ICTY Trial Chamber held that aiding and abetting genocide is defined by the following element (s) the accused carried out an act which consisted of practical assistance, encouragement or moral support to the principal that had a substantial effect on the commission of the crime. The ICTR in the Bagilishema case has held that this support may be deducted from the high regard the perpetrator of genocide put on the person accused of aiding and abetting. Furthermore, in the Blaskic case, the ICTY Appeals Chamber agreed with the the Trial Chamber statement that the actus reus of aiding and abetting may be perpetrated through an omission, provided this failure to act had a decisive effect on the commission of the crime and that it was coupled with the requisite mens rea. The facts included in the Mucyo Report and numerous pictures of French soldiers being cheered by the Interahamwe militias are sufficient to build an indictable case for French soldiers/officials in aiding and abetting genocide.

Obviously Rwanda should not expect France to extradite its citizens to Rwanda. Although no law specifically forbids France from extraditing its citizens, France has consistently responded to foreign extradition calls that France never extradites its citizens. This is not, however, a serious handicap because under the principle of aut dedere aut prosequi, if France is not willing to extradite its suspects, it has the duty to prosecute them. Already, one person on the list established by Rwanda, is being investigated by the French justice: Captain Paul Barril who has been described as military advisor of Rwanda in 1994 and was involved in an arms deal with the regime responsible for genocide. Since 2013 Captain Paul Barril has been the subject of investigation by the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris for Complicity in Genocide. With the recent French offer to cooperate with the Rwanda National Public Prosecution Authority in its investigation, the list of people under investigation by this tribunal is likely to increase.

Now that the judiciary machinery has been ignited, it is hoped that diplomacy and politics will let it take its course in determining the individual responsibility of each French officer under investigation and how high this responsibility ascends in the French chain of command. The results of this investigation and possible prosecution by either Rwanda or France may not bring these two countries to a perfect relationship but at least it will set a forum in which those on this list could clear their names and for the victims and survivors to have justice. Furthermore, Frances responsibility in the Genocide against the Tutsi could be established or cleared and therefore allow both countries to move forward with a shared legal narrative on what really happened during the pre-April 1994 French military cooperation in Rwanda.

Jean-Marie Kamatali teaches International Human Rights Law, Legal Issues in Transitional Democracies, International Comparative NGO Law, and Immigration and Nationality Law at Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law. After the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, Professor Kamatali was appointed dean of the only law school in Rwanda at that time. In this position he oversaw the rebuilding of the legal education system in Rwanda and was involved in the institutional and legal reform of the post-genocide Rwanda, including Gacaca system, constitutional and legal reform as well as national reconciliation.

Suggested citation: Jean-Marie Kamatali, Investigating French Officials Role In Rwanda Genocide Beneficial to Rwanda and France, JURIST  Academic Commentary, Dec. 18, 2016, http://jurist.org/forum/2016/11/Jean-Marie-Kamatali-Rwanda-Genocide.php
The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit [official website] on Thursday ruled [opinion, PDF] that State Technical College of Missouri [official website] cannot continue mandatory drug tests for all students. After preliminary injunctions and a permanent injunction were reversed, an en banc panel of the Eighth Circuit determined that such a universal and mandatory policy is unconstitutional and affirmed the district courts grant of a permanent and prospective injunction. However, the panel also affirmed the district court ruling that a program-by-program analysis was appropriate, permitting the college to require drug tests in five current programs that are identified as safety-sensitive programs. The class action lawsuit against the school was filed in 2011 by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and their Missouri branch [official websites]. In a statement [press release] after the decision, one attorney stated, Our victory should serve as a warning to colleges and universities across the country: mandatory, suspicionless drug testing of the entire student body is inefficient, ineffective, and grossly unconstitutional.

Similar universal, mandatory drug policies in other atmospheres have come under fire in recent years as well. In December 2014 the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit [official website] ruled that a Florida law mandating welfare applicants undergo drug tests before receiving benefits is unconstitutional [JURIST report]. In August 2013 North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory [official website] vetoed a bill [JURIST report] that would have mandated drug testing for some public benefit applicants in the state. In April 2012 a judge for the the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida [official website] blocked an executive order [JURIST report] that mandates Florida state government agencies provide pre-employment drug screening for all prospective employees and provide for random drug testing of all current agency employees regardless of classification. In March 2012 the ACLU of Pennsylvania [official website] sued a school district [JURIST report] in the state on behalf of an 11-year-old girl regarding a school policy that required students who participate in extracurricular activities to submit to random, suspicionless drug tests.
Deutsche Bank [official website] on Friday announced a $7.2 billion settlement [Reuters report] with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] regarding the sale of toxic mortgage securities that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis [Britannica backgrounder]. The terms of the agreement are not finalized but are expected to be in early January, prior to President-elect Donald Trump taking office. Under current terms [press release], the settlement would cover a $3.1 billion civil penalty as well as $4.1 billion in consumer relief expected to be primarily in the form of loan modifications and other assistance to homeowners and borrowers  delivered over a period of at least five years. However, Deutsche Bank stated that there can be no assurance that the [DOJ] and the bank will agree on the final documentation. The announcement comes within a day of the DOJ filing similar charges [Reuters report] against Barclays PLC [official website].

Several banks have faced legal challenges [JURIST backgrounder] stemming from the financial crisis of 2007-08. In September the US National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) [official website] said that the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) [official website] will pay $1.1 billion [JURIST report] after it allegedly solid toxic mortgaged-backed securities. In July 2014 Citigroup, Inc. agreed to pay $7 billion to settle a federal inquiry [JURIST report] into mortgage-backed securities sold by the bank prior to the countrys financial crisis. In November 2013 the DOJ announced that a $13 billion civil settlement [JURIST report] with JPMorgan & Co. [official website] has been finalized, resolving federal and state claims arising from the banks risky mortgage practices which helped lead to the 2008 financial crisis. In August 2013 the DOJ filed suit [JURIST report] against Bank of America (BOA) [official website] in the US District Court for the Western District of North Carolina [official website], claiming the corporation misled investors about securitized loans worth more than $850 million.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution [text, PDF] Wednesday to establish an independent panel to investigation possible war crimes in Syria. The resolution, approved by a vote of 105 to 15 against, with 52 abstentions, will establish the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in [Syria] since March 2011. The mechanism will work closesly with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. The resolution:

Calls upon all States, all parties to the conflict as well as civil society to cooperate fully with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to effectively fulfil their respective mandates and, in particular, to provide them with any information and documentation they may possess, as well as any other forms of assistance pertaining to their respective mandates.

The Commission of Inquiry has repeatedly called for referral to the International Criminal Court, which has been blocked by Russia and China.

The war in Syria [JURIST backgrounder] continues to have a devastating impact, particularly for the war torn region of Aleppo. Last week UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein accused Syrian pro-government forces of going door to door and systematically killing civilians [JURIST report] in at least four Aleppo neighborhoods. The Russian/Syrian coalition committed war crimes in Aleppo during September and October, Human Rights Watch said [JURIST report] in early December. Earlier this month UN officials urged [JURIST report] the international community to unite with the UN Security Council to protect civilians in the war-torn eastern Aleppo region of Syria. US Central Command concluded [JURIST report] in November that airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition near Dayr az Zawr, Syria, in September did not violate international law. Also in November a group of German lawyers announced [JURIST report] the filing of charges against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, alleging that he committed war crimes in Aleppo.
About 71 percent of human trafficking victims are female and one-third are children, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) [official website] said in a report [materials] released Wednesday. Though many are victims of sexual exploitation and forced labor, many are reportedly used as beggars, for sham marriages, benefit fraud and pornography. The report emphasizes the connection between the presence of armed groups and human trafficking. People escaping from war and persecution are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking. The urgency of their situation might lead them to make dangerous migration decisions, said [press release] UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov. The armed groups also engage in the trafficking by coercing young men to engage in combat or labor and women and girls are forced into marriages or sexual slavery. Over the past 13 years 158 countries have criminalized human trafficking, but Fedotov warns that the rate of convictions is too low, and he called for more resources to identify and assist trafficking victims.

Human trafficking [JURIST op-ed] is one of the most controversial issues affecting the international community. In October the Egyptian Parliament voted to enact new legislation [JURIST report] aimed at combating the growing number of human traffickers along its coast. In September UNICEF released a report [JURIST report] showing millions of children have been driven from their homes due to violence and conflict, facing dangers such as malnourishment and dehydration, trafficking, kidnapping, rape and murder. In February UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed [JURIST report] that increased funding and international cooperation are needed to successfully combat human trafficking. With a vote of 14 in favor, the UN Security Council last year introduced [press release] a resolution to allow the EU to inspect and seize vehicles suspected of smuggling migrants. Authorized under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the resolution permits certain nations to board ships in order to prevent human trafficking [JURIST report]. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced in 2015 that the Department of Justice will fund [JURIST report] a $44 million grant to fight human trafficking.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov met with Kazakhstans Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov, who paid a working visit to Uzbekistan, the Uzbek Foreign Ministrys Jahon news agency reported.

The Kazakh Ambassador in Uzbekistan Yerik Utembayev also took part in the talks.

During the meeting, the parties paid special attention to the cooperation between the two countries foreign ministries within international and regional organizations.

The sides confirmed the mutual interest to further deepen the dialogue in various areas including the revitalization of the bilateral cooperation institutions.
FrieslandCampina, the Netherlands-based dairy group, is looking to expand the geographical presence of infant formula brand Dutch Lady in China in 2017.

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The co-op launched Dutch Lady in China in September and the formula is on sale in more than 50 Chinese cities, in [the] Hunan, Sichuan and Chongqing markets, a spokesperson for the companys Chinese business said.

This year, FrieslandCampina, which manufactures the Dutch Lady on sale in China locally, is planning to try to grow the presence of the brand further, hoping to benefit from changes in regulations governing the countrys infant formula sector. In 2017, we will expand into five more provinces in east and south China, the spokesperson said. The new registration regulations of infant formula product would provide Dutch Lady a golden chance to grow, since many brands may disappear from the trade.

The Dutch Lady range, which includes formula for different ages, is available in the baby-store channel and on the Tmall online platform. The range is manufactured in the north-eastern city of Shenyang through a joint venture with China Huishan Dairy Holdings Co.

The spokesperson said FrieslandCampina is hoping local production will increase Chinese consumers trust of domestically-manufactured formula after a series of safety scandals in recent years.

Since we established the JV in China in April 2015, we have strictly and thoroughly tested and optimised every step of the production process, from feed to farm to milk to factory to final product. By taking control over the entire production chain, we can ensure the same product quality as from the Netherlands. With this approach, we hope to bring Chinese customers our high-quality products and bring back [the] trust of the Chinese consumer in locally-manufactured infant formula products from China.

Related Companies
Spanish food manufacturer Palacios Alimentacion has confirmed its acquisition of two companies  one in Spain and another in the US  aimed at strengthening its position as a supplier of Spanish-origin products.

Palacios said it had acquired all share capital in Spains family-owned Precocinados Fuentetaja, for an undisclosed sum. The deal will allow Palacios to consolidate its leadership in chilled foods, the company said.

Fuentetaja is a producer of refrigerated Spanish omelettes sold under its own brand and own labels by food distributors in Spain, Europe and the US. Fuentetaja, established in 1993, also produces refrigerated pizzas and other pre-cooked dishes from its production centres in Segovia and Madrid.

Palacios, meanwhile, said its acquisition of Florida-based Elore Holdings Quijote Spanish chorizo brand reinforces its international presence. Elore manufactures and distributes its own branded products as well as importing and distributing Palacios-branded chorizo through retailers, wholesalers and foodservice companies in the US and Mexico.

The entire capital of Quijote comes from an individual shareholder who set up as a Palacios distributor some time ago, Palacios said.

Palacios said both deals fulfil some of the objectives it was set, when it was acquired last year by the Carlyle Group, to enhance the companys growth and diversify the business through a greater international presence and other categories of prepared food.

With these acquisitions, Palacios will now report more than EUR200m (US$209m) in sales, generating more than 25% from international markets, the company said.

Palacios CEO Pedro Dominguez told just-food: Quijote especially strengthens our presence in the US, where there is a strong demand of high-quality Spanish provenance products.

Both deals have already been given the green light by regulators, including the Spanish Competition Authority, without conditions, Dominguez said. Neither of the acquisitions are expected to result in job losses or consolidations of facilities, he added.

Dominguez said: We continue to look for different growth opportunities, organic and inorganic. The rationale of the acquisitions is to underpin revenue. For example, the presence of Quijote in the US will allow Palacios to increase revenues from other Palacios products in the US market.

He added: The company has grown approximately 10% in the past few years and we expect to be able to continue this pace in the future.
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Details added (First version posted on 10:32)



Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23



By Emil Ilgar  Trend:



Iranian and Kyrgyz officials signed five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on the sidelines of a meeting between the visiting Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev in Bishkek Dec. 23, IRNA reported.



The signed documents include cooperation in communication and information technology, fighting drugs, cultural ties, cooperation in the areas of health, medicine and medical equipment as well as social and labor spheres.



Rouhani, who is on a tour to three regional countries, arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Dec. 23 after leaving Kazakhstan.



Iran and Kazakhstan also signed five MoUs Thursday.



The signed documents include MOU for animal quarantine, a document for cooperation in the field of shipping in the Caspian Sea, a MoU on facilitating tourism, a cooperation document between the Central Bank of Iran and the National Bank of Kazakhstan for boosting mutual trade and a MoU on cooperation in the field of labour and social security.
Instead of our regular roundup of the most-read stories on just-style during the week, we thought a fitting end to the year would be to take a look at the top news stories on just-style in 2016. Cutting edge innovations, Africa growth, Brexit, worker safety, key apparel and footwear trends, and minimum wages were just some of the issues that made the headlines.

Ethiopias flagship industrial park in Hawassa city, south of the capital Addis Ababa, opened last week, with facilities dedicated solely to the textile and apparel sector.

Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar continue to attract huge interest as apparel supply bases  and a new report from just-style aims to make it easier for retailers, brands and importers to evaluate the key advantages and challenges of sourcing and manufacturing in each country.

US speciality fashion giant Gap Inc has told just-style it is collaborating with unions, governments and industry associations to improve working conditions in the factories that make its clothes after a study found violations at suppliers in India, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Brexit and its likely implications for UK manufacturing were a key talking point at this years Fashion SVP event, held just days after the UK voted to withdraw from the European Union (EU).

In what is being claimed as a major breakthrough in clothing manufacturing, a Seattle-based start-up has used an industrial robot to sew together an entire T-shirt for the first time.

Labour rights groups say they are disturbed after a fire that broke out at a Bangladesh garment factory supplying fashion retailers H&M and JC Penney that was on track with remedial action following an inspection by the US-based Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.

Marks & Spencer has published its first supply chain map for clothing and its first human rights report as part of the retailers ethical commitments detailed in its first Plan A update under new CEO Steve Rowe.

The global apparel and footwear industry grew by 5% in value last year, according to new research, with the internet, sportswear and fast fashion players contributing to the gains.

US apparel giant Gap Inc has published the names and locations of the factories which manufacture garments for its namesake, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta brands.

US clothing giant PVH Corp, owner of the Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands, will begin manufacturing its clothing products in Ethiopia this summer, just-style has learnt.

Fashion retailers Next Plc and H&M have admitted to finding Syrian refugee children working in their supplier factories in Turkey, prompting calls for other brands to take a closer look at their supply chains to take action to ensure minors are not being exploited.

British value fashion retailer Primark has opened its third US store in the north east of the country as the fashion retail giant looks to build its presence stateside.

Chinas clothing manufacturing sector is bracing itself for interruptions in fibre, dyed fabric and finishing supplies as regulators temporarily close textile mills to reduce pollution during the upcoming G20 Summit.

The United States has joined governments in the UK, Australia, Canada to advise against all non-essential travel to Ethiopia due to ongoing unrest the country.

Price competition between fast fashion retailers Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) and Primark has now reached an equilibrium in the UK, according to an analyst evaluation, with Primarks prices now consistently around 60% lower than that of its rival.

Israel-based tailored clothing manufacturer Bagir Group has shipped the first trouser exports from its new manufacturing site in Ethiopia, completing a test order for fast fashion giant H&M.

Price negotiation is a critical, and often stressful, aspect of sourcing. It is also integral to the health of any brands bottom line, so getting this right is crucial, according to a new market research report from just-style.

Retailer Marks & Spencer has been named as the highest performing FTSE 100 company for monitoring and reporting on modern slavery in its supply chain, with luxury brand Burberry scoring third, in a report that also highlights a deficit in action by many UK-listed firms.

Vietnam labour groups and businesses have agreed on a 7.3% increase in the national minimum wage  just a week after proposing a freeze on salaries for the countrys garment workers. But the rise is the smallest rise since a minimum wage system was first introduced in 1997.

US sporting giant NIKE says it has completed the transition of all core yarn for its Flyknit shoes to recycled polyester as it revealed a number of sustainable performance milestones achieved since the performance-engineered footwear was launched four years ago.

Click on the links below to read more of just-styles Top 20 lists

Top 20 analysis articles on just-style in 2016

Top 20 comment pieces on just-style in 2016

Top interviews on just-style in 2016
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 22



By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:



The latest statistics on Irans automotive industry indicate a considerable surge in the countrys largest non-oil sub-sector of economy in the post sanctions era.



The industrys output over the first eight month of the current fiscal year (starting March 20) surpassed 820,000 vehicles indicating a 35.9 percent growth year-on-year.



In the meantime, the country produced 759,871 passenger vehicles - 52,129 pickups - 616 busses and mini trucks as well as 7,353 trucks. Over the mentioned period, the production of passenger vehicles witnessed a 138-percent growth.



Coming to other vehicles, the output of pickups over a period of one month between October 22 and November 21 has increased by 76 percent, with buses growing by 22 percent.



Mini buses, however, experienced 46 percent fall in the period of one month as only 33 mini busses were produced compared to 62 ones in the same period of last year.



Taking into account the considerable growth in the countrys vehicle output, it seems that the last years historic nuclear deal which was implemented Jan 16 has, so far, had a positive impact on the industry as there are indications suggesting that the countrys car market is climbing out of a deep recession.



According to the countrys economic development plan, Iranian carmakers are expected to produce three million cars per year by 2025.



In the meantime, the car part makers are projected to make $25 billion worth of car parts and export $6 billion worth of car-related products.



However, there are still some concerns to be addressed in particular some issues regarding car part making sphere.



An Iranian car part maker has earlier called for immediate investment in the industry, describing the situation as "dire".

Arash Mohebinezhad, the secretary of an Iranian union of car spare parts makers, has said the country needs to invest two billion euros over the next one year to help the industry survive.



Car part makers complain that the domestic investors are reluctant to put money in the car part making industry due to the dire situation of the producers.



On the other hand, lack of funds has made the producers ignore the needs for increasing their technical knowledge and improving their equipment.



The 12-year sanctions have inflicted a serious harm to Irans automotive industry causing Iranian producers to lag behind their rivals.



Nevertheless, a handful of deals with international manufacturers aimed at renewing Irans automotive industry have kept alive the hopes that the countrys second largest sub-sector of economy will again turn into a modernized industry.



On Thu, Dec 22, 2016 at 3:53 PM, Konul <[email protected]> wrote:
Dallas, TX, USA, 12/16/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/

On December 14, 2016, Texas highest criminal court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, reversed the convictions of a husband and wife who were convicted at trial of bribery of a judge, reports Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms. In State of Texas v. David Cary and State of Texas v. Stacy Stine Cary, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that the evidence at trial was insufficient to prove bribery under the Texas bribery statute.

The trials took place in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. The Carys were convicted of bribing former State District Judge Suzanne Wooten. The States theory was that the Carys directed payments to Ms. Wootens campaign manager, who used the funds to pay campaign bills at times when the campaign had not yet raised the money to pay the bills. Ms. Wooten ran against incumbent judge Charles Sandoval, who was presiding over a highly contentious child custody matter involving Mr. Cary and his ex-wife. There was evidence that the Carys wanted someone to defeat Judge Sandoval, who was widely regarded as highly vindictive, but there was no evidence that Ms. Wooten knew about the Carys relationship with her campaign manager. Ms. Wooten ultimately defeated Judge Sandoval in the election.

John Helms, a criminal defense attorney in Dallas, represented the Carys on appeal. He argued to the high court that, as charged, the Texas bribery statute required the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the payments to the campaign manager were NOT campaign contributions, but in fact, under a proper interpretation of Texas law, the State had actually proved that they WERE campaign contributions. Because the jury was not charged and instructed on a theory of bribery by campaign contribution (which requires a much higher level of proof that the State did not meet), the States proof was insufficient. The Court of Criminal Appeals agreed and ordered that the Carys must be acquitted of all charges.

The ruling from the states highest criminal court effectively ends a multi-year nightmare for the Carys, who maintained their innocence from the beginning. The Carys are obviously very relieved and very happy this is over. Justice is finally served, added criminal defense attorney Helms.

If you or someone you know has been charged with bribery or any serious criminal offense, contact Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms immediately. Call 214-666-8010

Read more about this victory in the Dallas Morning News

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source: http://johnhelms.attorney/dallas-criminal-lawyer-helms-wins-acquittals-texas-highest-criminal-court/

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23



By Emil Ilgar  Trend:



Irans automatic air defense missile system opened fire at a helishot drone around the house of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Dec. 23.



The system is established in a no-fly zone of the Engelab street, close the house of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.



Before, ISNA quoted Mohsen Nasj Hamadani, Tehran Provinces deputy official in charge of police and security as saying that the system probably shot several times at at unclear target, which may have been "a bird".



He said that the accident is under investigation.



However, an hour after that, Hamadani told Tasnim that the object was a helishot drone, belongs to state TV.



Another Iranian agency, ILNA also reported that the system shot at a helishot drone, belonging to a documentary filmmaking company, and which has deviated from its territory unintentionally.




Tehran, Iran, Dec. 23

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Irans Foreign Ministry published seven resolutions of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on its website December 23.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has requested holding the next session of the JCPOA Joint Commission on January 10, 2017.

President Hassan Rouhani on December 13 ordered the Foreign Ministry to pursue the US breach of its obligations in the JCPOA.

The Joint Commission of the JCPOA held several meetings before execution of the nuclear deal and after that.

The JCPOA was reached between Iran and the group 5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) in 2015 to curb Irans nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions on the country. It was put into practice in January 2016.
Tehran, Iran, Dec. 23

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

The leaders of the post-2009 election opposition had worked in cooperation with opposition abroad in advance to create the hectic situation that ensued after the election, Iranian MP Mojtaba Zonnuri said.

Months before the election, some leaders of a nationalist-religious group went to the US and made plans in a meeting with opposition activists there. The outcome of the meeting was allegations about election rigging and pushing for annulment of the election, he said, ISNA news agency reported December 23.

The MP then said that the house arrest of the post-election opposition leaders is not an act of injustice, but a demonstration of Islamic forgiveness.

If the house arrest is to end, the substitute for it would be hanging, not freedom, he stressed, rebuking calls to free Mirhossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi.

The two disputed the 2009 presidential election that returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to office, and protests broke out across Iran. They have been held under house arrest since February 2011.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 22

By Dalga Khatinoglu  Trend:

While Iran plans to start delivering 49 oil and gas projects to foreigners based on newly designed contract model to absorb at least $80 billion of foreign investments by 2020, UK-based consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie believes the figure would be far below than Irans forecast.

Iran unveiled the generalities of newly designed oil and gas contracts, called Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) in November 2015, offering 49 upstream oil and gas projects to foreigners.

The country plans to start issuing tenders in early 2017.

In the IPC model, Iran keeps sovereignty over its hydrocarbon reserves, but payment of all direct and indirect expenses, as well as finance and operation costs will be dependent on allocation of a portion (maximum 50 percent) of products or proceeds based on current day sale prices.

Iran's IPC will replace the old buy-back contracts. It is being advertised as a risk service contract which includes integrated exploration, development and production.

Iran says it needs $100 billion of investment to develop the upstream oil and gas sector based on IPC by 2020, of which 80 percent is expected to be attracted from foreign companies.

"We do not expect a major inflow of foreign investment in Irans upstream sector in 2017. However, 2017 will be the year of a few major contracts being signed in the country, the front-runners being South Pars Phase 11, South Azadegan and Farzad B," Homayoun Falakshahi, Middle East Upstream Analyst for Wood Mackenzie told Trend.

He added that "between 2017 and 2020 (including 2020) we believe Iran may be able to attract upstream capital investment of between $2 billion and $13 billion under the IPC, depending on the timing and the number of signed deals".

Iran has already signed MoUs with foreigners on South Pars Phase 11, worth $4.8 billion, aimed to produce 56 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) of gas, as well as South Azadegan oil field whose recovery rate is only 6 percent, to boost both this index to 20 percent and increase production level.

However, the long-delayed talks on Farzad B gas field continue without any results.

Iran has signed 15 MoUs and heads of agreements (HOA) with foreigners on dozen of fields, while it plans to seal another HOAs on development of Tousan, Alfa, Esfandiar, the second phase of Soroush, Band-e Karkheh, Kouhmand, Kaki, Boushkan, Sumar, Sepehr, North Yaran, Kish, Farzad B and Zagheh in 2017.

Iran says it is producing 3.7 million barrels of crude oil, 560,000 barrels of gas condensate as well as nearly 800 mcm/d of gross natural gas. It plans to increase these volumes to 4.2-4.7 mb/d, 1 mb/d and 1.25 bcm/d respectively by 2021.

"Including condensate, we believe Iran will reach close to 5.7 mb/d by 2025, not by 2021," Falakshahi said. "Crude oil production will reach 4.5 mb/d by 2025 in our base case view, although there is an upside if Iran is able to strike more deals."

"Sales gas production could reach close to 23 bcfd (650 mcm/d) by 2021 but is dependent on finding new markets. Gross gas production (including re-injected and flared gas) could reach close to 35 bcfd (1 bcmd)," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the situation in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Kremlin press service informs, Sputnik reported.

The telephone talks were held at the initiative of the Israeli side.

"The exchange of opinions on the current situation in the Middle Eastern region continues. Readiness for further active cooperation in the sphere of the fight against terrorism was confirmed," the Kremlin press service said in a statement after the talks.
German police have detained two people in the city of Duisburg on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack, Sputnik reported.

According to the news magazine, police believe they were planning an attack on a shopping center in Oberhausen. Police are now investigating whether other people could be involved in the suspected plot.

All Christmas markets and shops were closed at the CentrO mall on Thursday evening as police conducted a special operation at the shopping center, according to Der Spiegel. On Monday, a truck rammed into the crowd at a Berlin Christmas market on the Breitscheidplatz square, killing 12 people and injuring over 40 others.

The country's Interior Ministry considers the incident a terrorist attack. A nationwide manhunt continues for Anis Amri, a 24-year-old asylum seeker from Tunisia, whose residence permit was found in the hijacked Polish truck.

Police also found his fingerprints on the door of the truck.
The presence of the world-famous Coca Cola truck on the Parade caused a stir in the council chambers when the matter was debated at the last meeting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District.

Cllr Malcolm Noonan of the Green Party have brought forward a motion calling on the county council to introduce a draft policy for the appropriate use of the Parade, Mayor's Walk and Canal Square.

He stressed that such a policy would outline a range of options for members to consider; relating to the appropriate use of these important civic spaces, their use during festivals and the consideration of a sliding scale fee for the use of the spaces by commercial organisations or companies.

Cllr Noonan said that the council should in drafting such proposals seek the views of members of the public and local business and refer the draft policy to the Public Participation Network to seek views prior to it being considered for adoption by elected members.

Fianna Fail Cllr Andrew McGuinness added that he had queued patiently with his young son and while he had a lot of concerns he pointed out that while it had concerns there were also clear benefits to the arrival of the big, red truck.

I would have lots of concerns but since we refurbished the Parade we have wanted activity on it and know we have it.

I know that there are sensitivities around the presence of the Coca Cola truck but Butler House and the High Street were packed and the local restaurants were thriving and were delighted with the footfall. We need activity on the Parade and we need positive activity, added Cllr McGuinness.

Meanwhile Councillor Breda Gardner (Ind) said that she could see the positives and the negatives of the Coca Cola van although she stressed she is not a Coca Cola drinker herself.

The main thing is to have the Parade used and to encourage people back. We need a real balance. Before people felt that it is was too expensive to trade in the Parade. We must sit down and work with the traders and make it work.

Cllr David Kennedy (Sinn Fein) also shared with members that he is also 'not a Coca Cola drinker'. He said that he had reservations about supporting the motion and added that the Parade was one of the main attractions of the city to have this civic space.

Cllr David Fitzgerald (Fine Gael) pointed out that the Coca Cola truck was part of the Yulefest and had 'express permission from the local authority to be there'.

I have yet to see any event in the Parade that I have had any significant objections to and I think that the Parade is going from strength to strength.

Director of Services, Tim Butler said that the view had been taken that Yulefest and the Coca Cola truck were synonymous with Christmas.

No one is allowed to use the Parade without permission, he said adding that there had to be 'a benefit to the community'.

Senior Executive Officer, Brian Tyrrell said that he would circulate the uses to the members.
The excellent work of the Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service in preventing and responding to emergencies is respected by all who live in Kilkenny.

Many will have noticed the facelift that the Kilkenny City Fire Station has received in the form of new Fire Appliance Bay doors. The motivation behind this and other changes has been the desire to improve the station both as a place to work but also to conserve energy and reduce emissions.

John Collins, Acting Chief Fire Officer explains the background: "The station was built in the 1950s and was originally a station and a home to the Assistant Chief Fire Officer and his family. Extensions were added in the 1980s and 1990s and like in a lot of buildings of its time the heating and lighting were not what they could be. The boiler was old, working flat out and not heating the station properly. The lighting was poor and lights were nearly turned on all year round; there was no natural light in many areas.

John has overseen a complete transformation of the work environment for himself and his colleagues. He explains the added, external, motivation: Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service has a responsibility to help meet the national target of 33% energy reduction for all Local Authorities to be achieved by 2020. John and his colleague Ray Regan, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, identified the Better Energy Communities (BEC) programme run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland as a good fit for their needs. All of the stations energy saving improvements over the last 3 years have been grant aided under a BEC programme co-ordinated by Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency (CKEA).

An energy efficient boiler was installed which, combined with the replacement of single glazed windows and doors with thermally efficient counterparts, has generated significant energy savings. The shining new automatic Appliance Bay Doors offer a superior level of airtightness. Less visible are the newly installed solar photovoltaic panels on the roof which will meet some if not all of the energy needs of the station. There are other lower tech measures which increase the comfort of the fire and rescue staff such as the clothes drying system which dries the fire fighting clothing from the inside out and the newly placed roof lights reducing the need for artificial light.

John Collins admits that the BEC programme has tight deadlines and stringent standards but is enthusiastic about the outcomes, including verified savings on energy costs. But it is the impact on the Fire and Rescue team which he really notices: One of the many differences is in the attitudes of the personnel working in Kilkenny City Fire Station, everyone now is cognisant of the fact that energy reduction is a large part of our lives in work and at home. Not only is the station looking better and working better, there is improved morale and a sense of ownership and pride in our Station.
At least 24 people, including three firefighters, have been injured in a fire at a high-rise building on Manhattans Upper West Side, CBS reported.

Residents were trapped on a roof others were stuck inside when the four-alarm fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building on Manhattans West Side, the FDNY said.

The fire started around 4:55 p.m. Thursday at 515 West 59th Street near the intersection with 10th Avenue.

A final search of the building found a number of people sheltered in place.
Andrew T. got a big surprise after his father died. His divorced father's will left the bulk of his money to his other three brothers but left no lump sum to Andrew (who asked that his real name not be used). More mystifying, one of the sons, who had a stormy relationship with his father, was left more than the others. Since Andrew, 41, was the only brother doing well financially, he says it's possible his father thought he didn't need the money. But Andrew will never know.

Parents have the right to do whatever they want with their money. That said, there may be consequences if parents get creative with their estate plans.

Wills can be emotional, with money equated with love. Getting less, for instance, may be confirmation in a child's mind that "Dad always loved you more" or "Mom always spoiled Sarah rotten."

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Who gets what can impact family relationships. Bad blood often occurs when one child gets more than another or, for whatever reason, children perceive the distribution isnt fair. One way to help avoid future family angst is to explain your decisions in a heartfelt conversation with your loved ones now or in a letter included with your will. You might say, "We understand we have paid a lot more for your sister over the years, but her needs have been greater" or "I love you but don't feel you have the same needs as your siblings." A conversation or letter can give heirs insight into, and an understanding of, your actions, which may lessen or head off potential dissension among the children.

When Charles Henry's clients tell him they don't intend to split their assets equally, the Woodbury, Conn., estate lawyer discusses their reasoning and then sums up the conversation in a letter. If disgruntled heirs come calling, he will take out the letter and say, "Here it is in writing." Often, it defuses the situation. "Everyone understands what was important to the parents and why," he says.

Most people don't keep a tally of what they spend on each child during their lifetime, but instead gift according to need. But when death do us part, estate lawyers say the majority of parents treat their children equally in a will. That may mitigate resentment among heirs. "There will be exceptions, but that's the place to start. Then you can layer on considerations of each child's needs and circumstances," say Evelyn Moreno, an estate lawyer at Nixon Peabody, in Boston.

Patricia Cain, a professor of law at Santa Clara University, is familiar with both the even-Steven and the needs-based approaches: "I see this as the big divide. One side says, 'I am going to treat my children equally in my will,' while the other says, 'Their needs are different. If I were still alive, I would respond to the child with the greatest need. That's what I want to do in death, too.' "

The question of the proper division of your assets is a personal one, of course. Sometimes there are unique circumstances. For example, it may be that you cant leave an equal amount to a special-needs child because such a legacy would interfere with her eligibility for government benefits or, conversely, you need to leave her more because she cant support herself. In such a situation, you may want to put money in a special-needs trust so that child will have the money for extras.

Different Situations and Solutions

What happens if you've given one child much more than his siblings over your lifetime? You might have felt he had deserving circumstances, such as health expenses, a job loss, the need for a down payment for a house or even money for his kids' education, and you wanted to chip in. A parent might want to treat the payments during her lifetime as a gift, or she could consider the money as an advance against her heir's inheritance. Perhaps your hedge-fund son is financially successful (like Andrew T.) and self-sufficient compared with his siblings. Should that son get less than his schoolteacher and social worker siblings? "While there is no one answer, it is universally true that parents must tackle these situations carefully and with sensitivity," says Henry.

It's helpful to discuss these issues thoroughly with a professional adviser, such as an estate-planning lawyer, who deals with families and estate plans. Be ready to listen and be flexible in arriving at, and accepting, the solutions that work best for you and your heirs.

Sometimes, fairness is not the only issue. For instance, you may have a loved one with a substance abuse or gambling problem. You could consider a carefully crafted trust that gives someone responsibility to invest the inheritance and distribute the money according to your objectives.

Of course, "fair" and "equal" may not be the same. Say you give your daughter $100,000 to invest in a house, and ten years later, the house is worth $300,000. In your will, do you give your other daughter $100,000 or $300,000? The takeaway: You can't always be dollar-for-dollar equal. "Determining what is fair is very subjective. It can mean different things to different people," says Moreno.

Take into account the location of your money, because the tax consequences for heirs can be very different. A sibling who receives $100,000 in stocks from a brokerage account will get a "step up" in basisany appreciation up to the date of death won't be taxable. A child who gets $100,000 in an IRA will owe tax on the money as it's taken out. "The best thing to do," advises Henry, "is to have equal beneficiaries on all accounts so that these inequities never arise."

RETIREE TAX MAP: States With Estate and/or Inheritance Taxes

Whatever you decide, remember that your decisions today have repercussions down the road. Taking time to create the estate plan that works best for you and your family can pay future dividends of harmony and good will.
By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - CBOE Holdings Inc Chairman Bill Brodsky will step down after two decades leading the board when the exchange operator closes a planned $3.2 billion deal for Bats Global Markets Inc , CBOE said on Thursday.

Chief Executive Ed Tilly will replace him as chairman.

Brodsky's departure marks the end of an era for CBOE, which he transformed from a member-owned exchange into a for-profit company best known as the home of Wall Street's favorite fear index, known as the VIX.

A company spokeswoman said Brodsky, 72, had not made plans to have any formal role with the company once he quits the board. He was CBOE's chairman and chief executive from 1997 to 2013 and remained chairman after Tilly, 53, took over as CEO in 2013.

"We owe Bill an incredible debt of gratitude," Tilly said in a statement, noting that Brodsky had served as CBOE's chairman for nearly half of the company's history.

CBOE became dominant in the options industry under Brodsky as he fought off rivals to its exclusive options on benchmarks - such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index - and to the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX - the well-known gauge of investor anxiety.

In 2010, Brodsky, a former Chicago Mercantile Exchange boss, oversaw CBOE's initial public offering. After quitting the board, he will join an investment firm run by his son, according to CBOE.

Two other longtime CBOE directors, Susan Phillips and R. Eden Martin, are also stepping down to make room for three incoming directors from Bats' board.

CBOE has said it expects its Bats acquisition to close in the first half of next year. (Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Andrew Hay)
By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Creditors and Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris have proposed issuing warrants as part of an alternative restructuring plan for Brazilian phone carrier Oi SA , a move that would give certain bondholders better returns on investment.

The warrants would give creditors the right to purchase a number of shares equivalent to 5 percent of the firm's total equity capital after a planned capital injection, according to a term sheet dated Dec. 16 seen by Reuters.

The exercise date on the warrants would be after January 2018 and only investors owning bonds secured by Telemar Norte Leste SA, one of the seven Oi units which filed for creditor protection in Brazil, would be eligible.

Oi bondholders represented by Moelis & Co , which own about 10 percent of the company's total outstanding debt, unveiled the plan last week to rescue the debt-laden carrier. Under the proposal, the bond holder group would consider the warrants and a $1.25 billion equity offering.

This group, backed by strategic investor Orascom TMT Investments SARL, a firm owned by Sawiris, have committed to underwriting the entire new offering if no other investors step forward. In exchange, the new money providers would be entitled to a 7.5 percent backstop fee.

Oi, Moelis and majority shareholders in the company declined comment for this report. Karim Nasr, the executive representing Sawiris, was not immediately available for comment.

The proposal comes weeks after a dissident group of Oi creditors, who until mid-November had been negotiating with Moelis as advisors, organized and retained Sao Paulo-based G5 Evercore in an effort to maximize recoveries for bondholders without Telemar guarantees.

A source close to Moelis said the warrants structure was the "least traumatic" option for the creditors within this group, which is also comprised of non-Telemar bondholders. But the source agreed that if Oi meets certain performance targets, the Moelis proposal would give the Telemar bondholders an additional four basis points of recovery.

The Moelis plan underscores efforts by certain Oi creditors to double bondholder recoveries to about 40-45 cents on the U.S. dollar from some 18-20 cents under Oi's original reorganization plan, presented on Sept 5.

However, the proposed warrants re-ignite inter-creditor tensions because guarantees provided by a company in bankruptcy "are worth zero," said an investor referring to Telemar. He added the backstop fee is "unusual."

The Moelis plan, which has yet to be negotiated with Oi, entails an immediate debt-for-equity swap whereby creditors would convert 24.82 billion reais ($7.54 billion) worth of bond debt into a 95 percent stake before the new equity offering. ($1 = 3.2920 Brazilian reais)

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Andrew Hay)
SHANGHAI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - China's central bank will inject 90 billion yuan ($12.95 billion) into money markets on Friday through seven-day reverse bond repurchase agreements, 50 billion yuan through 14-day reverse repos, and an additional 5 billion yuan through 28-day reverse repos, traders said.

Central bank open market operations will inject a net 375 billion yuan for the week, compared with a net injection of 250 billion yuan a week earlier.

In early trade on Friday, the volume weighted average of the seven-day repo rate , considered the best indicator of general liquidity in China, was at 2.25 percent, down 29.65 basis points from the previous closing average rate.

Injection Drain Net _____________________________________________________________

Bills

Repos

Reverse repos* 1005

Bills maturing

Repos maturing

Reverse repos maturing -630 _____________________________________________________________

TOTAL 1005 -630 375

($1 = 6.9473 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by the Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
HANOI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0151 GMT.

Dec 23 Dec 22 USD/VND mid-point 22,155 22,152

USD/VND interbank 22,759/22,761 22,755/22,760 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.57/36.29 35.62/36.34

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 23 (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 0406 GMT.

Dec 23 Dec 22 USD/VND mid-point 22,155 22,152 USD/VND interbank 22,755/22,764 22,755/22,760 USD/VND unofficial 23,150/23,230 23,300/23,330 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.59/36.31 35.62/36.34

Interbank offered rates Overnight 3.0-4.6 4.0-4.6

1 week 3.5-4.7 4.4-4.8

1 month 4.7-5.3 4.9-5.4

3 months 5.0-5.3 5.0-5.5

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)
MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Urals differentials weakened in a Surgutneftegaz tender because of higher than expected supply in January, though trading activity was quite low before the long Christmas weekend in Europe.

The preliminary Urals loading plan for January, released late on Thursday, was nearly unchanged from December exports.

However, some traders had expected exports to be lower, believing the schedule might be topped up with extra volumes later. Surgutneftegaz awarded a tender on Friday to sell 300,000 tonnes of Urals loading from Primorsk and Ust-Luga in mid-January at discounts from $2.20 to $2.45 a barrel to BFOE.

The highest price was in line with the recent levels, but the lowest was about 25 cents less. In the Platts window there were no bids or offers for Urals on Friday, traders said.

Premiums for Azerbaijan's Azeri Light fell sharply on Friday.

In the Platts window SOCAR offered 80,000 tonnes of Azeri Light crude oil loading from Ceyhan or Supsa on Jan. 4-8, but failed to find a buyer, traders said.

Most recently Azeri Light was assessed around dated Brent plus $1.70-1.80 a barrel.

Azeri Light differentials fell under pressure from a 10 percent rise in loadings in January compared to December while the supply of alternative grades in the European market was also ample. CPC Blend remained unchanged, but traders thought the grade may get cheaper next week due to ample supply of light grades in Europe and low demand from Asian buyers.

In the Platts window Itochu bid for 85,000 tonnes of CPC Blend loading on Jan. 13-17 at a discount of $1.35 a barrel, but withdrew the bid.

TENDERS

Poland's PKN Orlen closed a tender to buy 100,000 tonnes of Urals loading from Baltic ports on Jan. 6-10 for delivery to Butinge, traders said. The tender closed on Friday, but results were slow to emerge.

(Reporting by Olga Yagova; Editing by Adrian Croft)
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) - Analysts expect the amount of silver extracted from the ground to decline in 2017 largely due to less metal mined as a by-product of gold and base-metals operations.

Less than a third of global silver supply comes from primary producers  those specifically targeting silver. The bulk of silver is mined as a by-product of other metals, not only base metals but gold.

CPM Group projects that 2016 mined silver supply is likely to fall to around 866.1 million ounces from 889.9 million in 2015. Rohit Savant, director of research with the New York-based consultancy, told Kitco News that he anticipates another decline will occur in 2017.

Metals Focus anticipates that 2016 silver production will fall back to 879 million ounces from 885 million in 2015. The London-based consultancy looks for the tally to slip some more to 874 million ounces in 2017.

HSBC anticipates that mine supply will ease by 12 million ounces to 872 million in 2017, with a similar decline coming in 2018.

Mined silver production rose for 13 consecutive years, increasing nearly 40% between 2005 and 2015, said HSBC in its most recent outlook report for silver. Much of the rise since 2012 was due to higher output from primary silver mines, the bank continued. However, in 2016, mined silver supply is expected to have declined for the first time since 2004, HSBC said.

Mine supply from primary and by-product mine output is likely to contract slightly this year and in 2017, lending support to prices, HSBC said.

Savant put primary production around 27% to 28% of total silver output, with the rest by-product supply. Metals Focus and HSBC estimated primary mining at roughly 30% of overall output.

This makes silver production more a function of base metals and gold output than of underlying silver prices, HSBC said.

And, said the bank and others, these other sectors are denting silver supply at the moment.

There is a base-metals component, which we think is going to negatively affect silver-mine supply, Savant said in an interview. We did have some base-metals mines stop producing.

For instance, HSBC analysts estimated that zinc output will contract 5.1% in 2016 because of mine closures, although a bounce is expected in 2017 due to the resumption of larger operations and growth in China.

The expected slowdown in base-metals output growth from which silver is derived as a by-product is an important element in our expectation for tighter silver mine supply and moderately higher prices longer term, said HSBC.

More significantly for silver, less supply of the metal is coming from gold mines, even though overall production of gold itself has remained stable, said Oliver Heathman, head of mining research with Metals Focus, in an interview with Kitco News. Silver as a by-product from the gold sector is concentrated in a handful of mines.

As an example of the drop in silver supply from these operations, he cited Goldcorps Penasquito mine in Mexico. Goldcorps third-quarter earnings report cited less July-September production at the mine from a year ago due to a lower grade as a result of mine sequencing, with output of 121,000 ounces of gold and 5.24 million ounces of silver, down from 236,000 gold ounces and 7.47 million ounces in the same period of 2015.

Heathman added that primary silver producers also appear headed toward less output as well, although he attributed this to operational nuances with some moderation in production from some mines that had strong output in 2015, rather than the start of a new downward trend.

Down the road, there is potential for silver-mine supply to stabilize, Heathman related.

Going forward, we expect output from the lead-zinc sector to remain stable, he said. If you see a significant pick-up in price, there might be scope for companies to open some of these shut mines, in which case youd see that production come back onto line.

Still, HSBC sees potential challenges for mine supply.

The modest decline in output this year marks a myriad of changes in underlying silver output, the bank said. While increases are coming from some countries such as Peru, other producers such as Russia, Australia, Poland and Argentina will likely see output decline.

This leads us to believe the trend of rising production for the last 10 years is slowly reversing, HSBC said. While primary silver mine output is likely to remain steady, prices at around $20/oz or lower may not be enough to encourage additional investment by some higher-cost producers, which may require $25/oz.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Follow @KitcoNewsNOW




MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Russia's finance ministry and the central bank managed to minimise the market impact from the privatisation of oil giant Rosneft , which required conversion of foreign currencies into roubles, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Friday.

Russia said earlier this month it sold a 19.5 percent stake in Rosneft to the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and commodities trader Glencore . The deal had raised concerns that the transaction could boost the rouble volatility.

"We and the central bank had a task to minimise the impact from bringing foreign currency resources into the country. We met the challenge," Siluanov said.

President Vladimir Putin said earlier on Friday that the Russian state budget had received a payment from the QIA and Glencore for the state stake in Rosneft.

Officials did not disclose details of the deal, such as how the foreign entities bought the stake in Rosneft and how the proceeds from the deal were transferred to the budget.

Speaking to reporters, Siluanov also said that his ministry is planning to issue the first-ever treasury bonds for households next year. He said the finance ministry aims at selling up to 30 billion roubles ($489.6 million) worth of bonds, known as "OFZ for people", in the first quarter.

Commenting on economic prospects, Siluanov said gross domestic product may grow by up to 1.5 percent next year, which is more than had been expected earlier. This year, the economy is on track to contract by around 0.6 percent. ($1 = 61.2710 roubles)

(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; writing by Andrey Ostroukh; editing by Polina Devitt)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23

Trend:

Latest on the Libyan plane hijacking

20:21 (GMT+4) Hijackers have freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libyas late leader Muammar Gaddafi, Reuters reports.

Following media reports and live footage depicting one of the suspected hijackers in handcuffs escorted by security services, Maltas Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wrote on his Twitter that hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody.

17:46 (GMT+4) Hijackers have allowed a group of passengers, including women and children, to walk off an Afriqiyah Airways flight in Malta, Sky News reports.

The prime minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, confirmed that 25 people had been released from the aircraft.

Initial reports said two hijackers had hand grenades and threatened to blow up the aircraft with 111 passengers on board - it is not clear what the demands are.

16:37 (GMT +4) Hijackers aboard a Libyan plane that landed in Malta have agreed to give up their weapons and let the passengers on board free, Malta Today reports.

Early reports suggest that the two hijackers are pro-Gaddafi supporters who have threatened to blow up the plane with a hand-grenade, and keep the passengers hostage onboard unless certain, as yet unknown, demands are met.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a tweet that there are 111 passengers on board  82 males, 28 females and one infant.

Earlier today, Muscat said that he has been informed of a potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta.

Security and emergency operations are standing by, he said.

15:32 (GMT +4) A Libyan passenger plane has been forced to land in Malta in what the Maltese prime minister called a "potential hijack situation", BBC reports.

The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for airline Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted, local media report.

There were two hijackers involved, who threatened to bomb the plane, according to initial reports.

Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said security forces were standing by.

Malta International Airport confirmed on Twitter that there had been an "unlawful interference" at the airport.

It said emergency teams had been dispatched.

Darrin Zammit Lupi, a Reuters news agency photographer based in Malta, told the BBC he could see a number of soldiers and special forces vehicles at the scene.

15:11 (GMT +4) Maltese news agencies have reported about a hijacked Libyan aircraft that had been forced to land in Malta.
(Kitco News) - The bears have a slight upper hand on both Wall Street and Main Street in the weekly Kitco News gold survey.

Wall Street Bullish Bearish Neutral VS Main Street Bullish Bearish Neutral

Seventeen traders and analysts took part in a Wall Street survey. Six voters, or 35%, see gold prices rising by next Friday. Seven, or 41%, expect prices to fall, while four, 24%, look for a sideways market.

Meanwhile, 402 participants took part in the Main Street survey. A total of 139, or 35%, called for gold to rise, while 186, or 46%, saw lower prices. The remaining 77, or 19%, were neutral.

In the last survey, 56% of Main Street respondents looked for gold to fall this week, while the largest bloc  at 44% -- of Wall Street participants forecasted a bounce in prices. Just before 11 a.m. EST, Comex February gold was down $3.50 for the week to $1,133.90 an ounce making Main Street right, so far.

Still, going back to mid-May, Wall Street and Main Street alike have been right more often than not. During that time, Wall Street forecast correctly 21 times and was wrong 10 times, a winning percentage of 68%. Main Street had an 18-13 mark during this period for 58%.

We might see some short covering going into the end of the year, said Charlie Nedoss, senior market strategist with LaSalle Futures Group.

Ken Morrison, editor of the newsletter Morrison on the Markets, anticipates a modest $15-$20 rally in the final week of 2016.

Beyond next week, the similarities of the current market to year-end 2015 are striking, Morrison said. In both cases, gold is making its low for the year and open interest at 400,000 futures is nearly identical to year-end 2015. Bullish sentiment at 9% now compares to 8% on gold's final day in 2015. As we enter 2017, there are high expectations and optimism policy changes will drive economic expansion, but there is also an underlying current of uncertainty regarding the new U.S. administration. Gold may need a few more weeks of basing within a narrow trading range, but I won't be surprised if 2017 price trends repeat 2016.

Adrian Day, chairman and chief executive officer of Adrian Day Asset Management, sees an eventual rally, but not quite yet.

Next week is likely to be flat to down in a continuation of recent trend, Day said. But we remain quite bullish a little further out as it becomes obvious that the Federal Reserves words remain stronger than its bite and as the euro crisis -- with Brexit negotiations, French elections, a new Italian government, and the immigration crisis -- all come to the fore. This is all positive for gold, which is oversold on negative sentiment.

Adam Button, of Forexlive.com, sees gold lower next week, anticipating some minor selling into year-end before the January effect takes over and pushes gold higher next month. Jim Wyckoff, senior technical analyst with Kitco, said the technical charts remain firmly bearish for now.

Richard Baker, editor of the Eureka Miner Report, said that he is optimistic that gold will regain its mojo in the coming year, falling in a range of $1,125 to $1,320 per ounce. However, for the rest of December, he said there may be more pain ahead although gold at the $1,115-per-ounce level would be a tempting buy."

Meanwhile, Colin Cieszynski, chief market analyst in Canada for CMC Markets, looks for gold to be neutral in a quiet market during a holiday-abbreviated week. Action in defensive plays is more likely to gravitate toward the Japanese yen, with Japanese economic figures dominating the news calendar, he said.

Kevin Grady, president of Phoenix Futures and Options LLC, is also neutral on gold for next week, commenting that there have not been a lot of fresh shorts entering the market lately, with much of the pressure coming from bullish participants liquidating positions. I dont see anyone putting on large bets going into the New Year, he said.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Follow @KitcoNewsNOW
Once again I emulate the annual Fairfax predictions, with my own. Heres my 20 for 2017:

Jacinda Ardern will be elected MP for Mt Albert in the by-election No one from the 2014 National intake will be made a Minister before the election The 2017 election will be at a later date (during the year) than the 2014 election The second highest ranked male candidate on Labours list (excluding those in seats Labour is expected to win) will be Trevor Mallard Winston Peters will poll higher than Andrew Little as Preferred PM in most polls in 2017 The 2016/17 year will end in a surplus of greater than $1 billion The official cash rate will rise in 2017 National will poll higher than Labour and Greens combined in at least 90% of public polls Shane Jones will stand for NZ First and be ranked in the top three on their list Helen Clark will return to New Zealand to become Vice-Chancellor Auckland University John Key will be knighted in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honours Steven Joyces first Budget will deliver tax cuts Labour will lose at least one of the six Maori seats they hold Labour and Greens will do a dirty (their former terminology) deal in Ohariu NZ First will get more votes on election night than the Greens US President Donald Trump will visit New Zealand Malcolm Turnbull will be rolled by his own caucus in 2017 The Greens will again declare more large donations than Labour in their annual return to the Electoral Commission David Seymours euthanasia bill will be drawn from the ballot Cameron Brewer will be selected as Nationals Helensville candidate



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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 42F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 42F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Details added (first version posted on 15:11)

Hijackers aboard a Libyan plane that landed in Malta have agreed to give up their weapons and let the 118 passengers on board free, Malta Today reports.

Early reports suggest that the two hijackers are pro-Gaddafi supporters who have threatened to blow up the plane with a hand-grenade, and keep the passengers hostage onboard unless certain, as yet unknown, demands are met.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a tweet that there are 111 passengers on board  82 males, 28 females and one infant.

Earlier today, Muscat said that he has been informed of a potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta.

Security and emergency operations are standing by, he said.

The plane, Afriqiyah Airbus A320, landed in Malta at around 11:32 am. It is one of three A320s that Afriqiyah, a state-owned airline based in Tripoli, owns.

The plane, flight number 8U209, left Sabha in south-west Libya for Tripoli at 10:10 am. It was scheduled to arrive in Tripoli at 11:20 am, but was instead diverted to Malta International Airport at 11:20.

The Malta International Airport said in a statement that there was an unlawful interference at the airport and that all emergency teams have been dispatched to the site.

Flights leaving the MIA have been delayed, while planes scheduled to land at the airport are being diverted to Catania.
17:46 (UTC/GMT+4) Hijackers have allowed a group of passengers, including women and children, to walk off an Afriqiyah Airways flight in Malta, Sky News reports.

The prime minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, confirmed that 25 people had been released from the aircraft.

Initial reports said two hijackers had hand grenades and threatened to blow up the aircraft with 111 passengers on board - it is not clear what the demands are.

16:37 (GMT +4) Hijackers aboard a Libyan plane that landed in Malta have agreed to give up their weapons and let the 118 passengers on board free, Malta Today reports.

Early reports suggest that the two hijackers are pro-Gaddafi supporters who have threatened to blow up the plane with a hand-grenade, and keep the passengers hostage onboard unless certain, as yet unknown, demands are met.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a tweet that there are 111 passengers on board  82 males, 28 females and one infant.

Earlier today, Muscat said that he has been informed of a potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta.

Security and emergency operations are standing by, he said.

15:32 (GMT +4) A Libyan passenger plane with 118 people on board has been forced to land in Malta in what the Maltese prime minister called a "potential hijack situation", BBC reports.

The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for airline Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted, local media report.

There were two hijackers involved, who threatened to bomb the plane, according to initial reports.

Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said security forces were standing by.

Malta International Airport confirmed on Twitter that there had been an "unlawful interference" at the airport.

It said emergency teams had been dispatched.

Darrin Zammit Lupi, a Reuters news agency photographer based in Malta, told the BBC he could see a number of soldiers and special forces vehicles at the scene.

15:11 (GMT +4) There have been reports about a high-jacked Libyan aircraft that had been forced to land in Malta.


By Kim Tae-gyu

Foreigners own 232 square kilometers of land in South Korea as of the end of June, or 0.2 percent of the country's total land area, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) said Friday.

Compared to last December, the size of foreign owned land inched up 4 square kilometers, or 1.7 percent, but its total value dropped 310 billion won to 32.3 trillion won ($26.9 billion).

China's Anbang Insurance Group played a key role in the increase of foreign ownership as it took over 2.5 square kilometers of land initially owned by its newly-acquired Korean unit, Tong Yang Life Insurance.

Broken down by nationality, Americans owned the most land at 51 percent followed by Europeans with 9.2 percent, Japanese with 8.1 percent and Chinese with 7.2 percent.

A majority of the foreign owners were ethnic Koreans with foreign nationalities or joint ventures between Korean and offshore companies.

Foreigners own land mostly in Gyeonggi Province with 38.4 square kilometers, closely followed by South Jeolla Province with 38 square kilometers and North Gyeongsang Province with 34.8 square kilometers.

By contrast, foreign investors held just 2.7 square kilometers of land in Seoul.

"Land in Seoul is so expensive and not much of it is up for sale. By contrast, the surrounding Gyeonggi Province is spacious and much of its land is available," an MLIT official said.

Of note is that foreign ownership of land on Jeju Island, the country's southernmost province, went down by 218,000 square meters during the January to June period, the first decrease since 2002 when the government started to compile related data.

Over the past years, Chinese have snapped up land on Jeju Island  the scenic tourist attraction where they can stay for up to 30 days without a visa  en masse which led to an abrupt appreciation of property prices there.

The size of Chinese-owned land in Jeju plunged by around 510,000 square meters during the first half of the year as resentment by Jeju residents sprang up against the Chinese shopping spree for land.

Still, of foreign investors, Chinese owned the largest amount of land on Jeju Island at 41.9 percent followed by Americans with 18.1 percent and Japanese with 11.6 percent, accounting for 1.1 percent of its total area.
Police in the Belgian capital Brussels destroyed a bomb in front of a Turkish community center on Friday, Anadolu reported.

Omer Zararsiz, the head of Turkish Federation of Belgium said that a suspicious package was found in front of the building in the afternoon.

He said a federation member noticed the package and police was alerted.

According to Belgium media, Denis Goeman, spokesman for Brussels prosecution office, confirmed that there was an explosive -- a gas tube and an ignition system -- in the package.

Belgium is on alert since suicide attacks were carried out in March at Zaventem Airport and the Maelbeek subway station in Brussels, killing 32 people.
By Nam Hyun-woo



The government and ruling Saenuri Party agreed Friday in a meeting at the National Assembly to prepare a supplementary budget for 2017, possibly by as early as February.



They also decided to frontload spending of the regular budget earmarking 60 percent of it for the first half, including 2.3 trillion won ($1.91 billion) in funding to support lower-income earners.



"Even with the government boosting spending in the first half, this may not be enough to pump up the economy," Rep. Lee Hyun-jae said.



"As the government has collected its targeted 2016 tax revenue, the party urged it to draw up a supplementary budget by February, which was received positively." Lee said the actual amount will be discussed later.



The government initially planned to set up a supplementary budget in the first half of next year after reviewing the economy's first-quarter performance. A day earlier, Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said the administration would consider additional spending "if next year's growth rate is projected to be lower than 2.5 percent."



In response to this the ruling party asked the government to consider earlier execution, saying political events such as a possible presidential election are scheduled in the first half of the year, which could have economic consequences.



"If the economy collapses, enormous efforts will be required for recovery," Lee said. "Since the outlook for next year is not optimistic and timing is important in implementing additional spending, the party strongly called on the government to draw up a supplementary budget by February."



While accepting the ruling party's suggestion, the government is however considering a more prudent approach. "Setting up a supplementary budget requires a broad review of the economic situation early next year," Deputy Finance Minister Lee Chan-woo said after the meeting. "The government has yet to decide when to draw up a supplementary budget."



The administration will also hold meetings with the opposition parties on the timing of any additional spending, as a supplementary budget could be controversial.



During Friday's meeting, the government decided to pay 50 percent of the transportation costs for egg imports to stabilize egg prices, which are soaring due to the country's deadliest outbreak of avian influenza. It will also reduce tariffs on some imported eggs.




By Nam Hyun-woo



With a batch of companies seeking to become holding firms next year, expectations are rising that they will become new investment destinations in the stagnant domestic capital market.



So far, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Maeil Dairies, Orion Confectionery, Crown Confectionery and several other large firms heralded their plan for turning themselves into holding firms. Samsung Electronics is also reviewing the possibility of such a transformation.



Companies have been making such announcements since November, sparking expectations that this will likely take place in the first half of next year.



Market watchers say they are accelerating efforts because now is the "golden time" to transform. From July next year, the minimum assets for a holding firm will be raised from 100 billion won to 500 billion won.



Also, a series of bills regulating companies becoming holding firms have been tabled by opposition lawmakers. Experienced observers expect the bills to be "highly passable," as the opposition could win next year's presidential election.



Another factor for the companies to expedite their efforts is the so-called One-Shot Act. The act is aimed at helping corporate restructuring and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of businesses by streamlining the processes of stock-swaps. Since the law is effective for only three years from Aug. 13, 2016, now is a favorable timeframe for companies to enjoy the benefits of the act.



Generally, a company transforming itself into a holding firm allows the owners to have stronger control and to pass on their ownership without any extra tax burden. In the process, treasury stocks contribute a lot in enhancing owners' control because those stocks gain voting rights during the transformation. This helps a holding firm better control its subsidiaries.



At the same time, it is a way to win more investor confidence by improving its valuation and increase the transparency of the current ownership structure.



According to Oh Jin-hwan, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment, 48.1 percent of 27 companies that announced spin offs to create holding firms since 2007 have seen an average 1.83 percent increase in their market caps within a month.



When the period is extended to nine months, 96.3 percent of those companies have experienced an average 90.86 percent of increase in their market cap.



"The cases of holding companies in the past 10 years show that there were significant increases in the market cap for those companies, even though their corporate value stayed the same," Oh said.



For example, Samsung Electronics shares shot up to record high after it said it was mulling creating a holding company.



Oh said that companies which have high treasury stock ratio will see increases in not only their market cap but also their net assets. "Investors should pay more attention to companies with high treasury stock ratios while the largest shareholders' stake is relatively low."




The cover of "Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion," written by British author and

social activist Tansy E. Hoskins. British writer and social activist Tansy E. Hoskins.

/ Courtesy of tansyhoskins.org

By Kim Jae-heun

American comedy-drama film "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006), starring Meryl Streep as powerful fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, portrays a demanding boss tormenting her new co-assistant Andrea Sachs about her dowdy fashion from the first day of work.

According to British writer and social activist Tansy E. Hoskins, fashionistas like Meryl Streep can perhaps be devils. She argues the industry is all about exploitation of labor, destruction of the environment and sex and gender discrimination.

Her book "Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion," first published in Britain in February 2014, has just arrived in Korea and went on sale at local bookstores on Friday. The book addresses various social issues about the fashion industry that were rarely captured in the media. Throughout the 10 chapters, Hoskins raises concerns about such issues as animal abuse, which is fairly well known to Koreans nowadays, and the inclined market structure where 35 giant brands form a monopoly to own 60 percent of the global market.

The problem of fast-fashion brands exploiting labor in underdeveloped countries to produce products at competitive prices is not a new story. But people are losing interest in the topic because of a hectic modern life. Only ethical consumers search for and purchase the brands that practice fair trade with manufacturers and laborers in the third world.

Hoskins argues that these issues not only apply to fashion lovers but also to ordinary consumers as people all wear clothes. The writer concludes that the fashion industry involves many social ills because it is operated under the capitalistic system.

The social activist alleges that the fashion media remain silent about their role as a watchdog. She said they encourage consumers to buy products in vogue. She believes fashion defines the social standing of those who wear it and thus an inequality starts with fashion.

The fashion industry employing anorexic models is another example of the fashion malady suggested in the book. She says Fashion Week in Paris and New York refuse to hire non-white people, which is a racist act. She also says it is not widely known that the founders of luxury house brands like Christian Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss and Balenciaga were or are fascists, or at least their accomplices are.

The garment industry is the oldest and one of the biggest businesses in human history. However, it destroys the environment as it takes 2000 liters of water to make a cotton T-shirt. As a result, she says the lakes dry up and rivers get polluted.

Hoskins ends the book leaving a question about how such issues can be solved. She says "there is no way to avoid fashion on the planet." Although she imagines a beautiful world with fashion detached from capitalism, to some extent, history shows that several attempts to correct the wrongs have failed and the industry even turns that resistance movement into its fashion products.

Her friend says "it is unethical to not do anything about it and wait for a rebellion" about ethical consuming, while the author lashes back "trying to reform capitalism only distracts people from seeing the truth."
Korea's bakeries are experiencing an egg shortage crisis after the nation killed over 24 million egg-laying birds in a month, including chickens and ducks, because of bird flu. It is the fastest culling rate since the nation's first avian influenza outbreak in 2014. / Korea Times file



By Ko Dong-hwan

With Christmas and the year-end holiday season just around the corner, Korean bakery shops are facing a critical egg shortage because of the country's worst bird flu epidemic.

Franchise stores are more fortunate than mom-and-pop stores that have borne the brunt of the government's cull of over 24 million egg-laying birds in about a month  a record since the nation's first avian influenza outbreak in 2014.

A desperate mom-and-pop bakery owner in Seoul on Wednesday contacted a food ingredient distributor surnamed Jung in the city of Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province  about 100 kilometers south of Seoul  in search of eggs. He even offered to pay the freight charge of 100,000 won ($83), which was more than the eggs cost. But Jung said he could not find eggs for him.

Normally, Jung receives about 150 cases a day, each containing 30 eggs. The number of cases was reduced to 20-30 recently in the aftermath of the massive culling that started mid-November.












By Kim Hyo-jin



A group of lawmakers planning to break away from the ruling Saenuri Party is speeding up its preparation to create a new party next month.



While naming their envisioned party the New Conservative Party for Reform, they laid out a post-breakup roadmap, including the date of establishment.



Thirty-five anti-President Park Geun-hye lawmakers are set to give up their party membership, Tuesday, following a factional feud with Park loyalists over the corruption scandal that brought about the impeachment of the President.



"The new party will be officially established around Jan. 20," said Rep. Hwang Young-cheul, the spokesman for the anti-Park faction, after its first preparatory meeting.



"Right after leaving the party, we plan to form our own parliament negotiation group and select a new floor leader."



The minimum requirement to form the negotiation body is 20 incumbent lawmakers.

Hwang added that the new party intends to be a new force to represent conservatives, while embracing the significance of reform and change.



Following the meeting, Hwang quit his post and Rep. Oh Shin-hwan, a two-term lawmaker, will replace him on the preparatory committee.



The committee will devise a draft party platform and policies by Wednesday and hold an open discussion with the public to collect their opinions, Hwang noted.



The Park dissenters opted for an exit from the party amid worsening power struggle with lawmakers supporting the President.



The rival factions have been at loggerheads over who should take the initiative in reforming the embattled party amid the corruption scandal involving the President and her confidant Choi Soon-sil and the fallout of Park's impeachment.



The anti-Park faction's exit was accelerated after its bid to put forward Rep. Yoo Seong-min, a former Saenuri Party floor leader, as interim party leader fell through due to opposition from the Park loyalists.



With high-profile politicians  Yoo and former party Chairman Kim Moo-sung  leading the move, more lawmakers are expected to quit the party by Dec. 27, according to party officials.



The number could reach up to half of the 128 Saenuri lawmakers, Hwang earlier noted.



Observers, however, view that the new party may have difficulties under the shared leadership of Yoo and Kim.



Kim, who gave up his bid to run in the presidential election last month, is expected to focus more on how to expand the new party's influence by absorbing other political forces.



He has viewed positively a possible alliance with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is scheduled to come back to the country next month, as well as with non-mainstream opposition lawmakers.



But Yoo, who could possibly run in the upcoming presidential race, has remained reluctant about such a move.



"I wonder what kind of solution Ban has formulated for the country's reform, considering he has stayed overseas for a long time as a diplomat and chief of the U.N.," Yoo said.



Meanwhile, Park loyalists appointed pastor In Myung-jin, a former chairman of the ethics committee of the Grand National Party, the precursor of the Saenuri Party, as the party's interim leader.



"In is believed to be the one who can embody the morality and responsible politics for the conservative party," said Rep. Chung Woo-taik, a pro-Park Saenuri floor leader.




Korea's ruling Saenuri Party nominated a nongovernmental organization leader and former head of its ethics panel as its interim leader Friday.

In Myung-jin, 70, a co-representative of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, was named to head the emergency leadership committee of the party, which has been reeling from the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and ensuing factional fighting.

The 70-year-old former pro-democracy activist recently led a lawsuit to suspend Park from presidential powers and commented that Saenuri is "a party that should disappear."

Around 35 dissident lawmakers announced this week they will leave the party next Tuesday after the mainstream faction rejected their demand to name Rep. Yoo Seong-min, a prominent anti-Park politician, for the position.

Also a pastor, In chaired the ethics committee of the Grand National Party, a predecessor of Saenuri, from 2006-08, and served as an adviser to former President Lee Myung-bak on the national unification issue.

"We are going to bring in the former chairman as the emergency committee chief who will lead the innovation of conservatives and grand unity through revolutionary reforms," said Rep. Chung Woo-taik, the floor leader.

Saenuri will convene a national convention to approve his appointment as soon as possible, he said.

Opposition parties expressed regret over the nomination of the NGO leader to head the conservative Saenuri.

"He would be heading a party of lawmakers which opposed the impeachment to the last moment," the main opposition Democratic Party said. "He should clarify his stance on Park's impeachment." (Yonhap)
Cheong Wa Dae is seen from the government complex in Seoul in this photo taken on Dec. 6, three days before President Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly for a corruption and influence-peddling scandal. Park is currently conducting a legal battle, through her attorneys, at the impeachment trial in the Constitutional Court, which asked her, Thursday, to clarify what she was doing during her seven-hour absence at the time of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. / Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon



By Jun Ji-hye

It is true that even if President Park Geun-hye had actively engaged in ordering what to do in operations to rescue victims of the Sewol ferry that sank on April 16, 2014, she might not have changed the outcome dramatically.

Even so, whether she, as head of state, was doing her best to have all possible resources mobilized for rescue operations is a critical issue.

This is apparently why whether she was responsible for the loss of life in the Sewol ferry disaster remains the hottest and the most controversial issue in her impeachment trial.

Opposition lawmakers and some legal experts say that if Park fails to prove that she fully performed her duty as the country's leader on the day of the disaster, it would be a violation of the President's constitutional duty to protect the lives of the people, which could meet the requirements for a guilty verdict.

The parliamentary impeachment motion, approved with overwhelming support Dec. 9, also stated that Park violated Section 10 of the Constitution that stipulates the President's duty of protecting the people's right to life, as she was absent for seven hours when the ferry was sinking.

This was one of 13 charges cited in the motion that also included alleged bribery.

Park, through her attorneys, claimed that she worked "normally" on the day and that the issue cannot be a cause for her impeachment.

The presidential office also said Park was working at her residence inside the presidential complex and carrying out her official duties on the day of the disaster, noting that Park received about 30 briefings and issued directives related to the tragedy.

But neither her attorneys nor the presidential office presented tangible evidence to prove those claims.

Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and a former presidential chief of staff in the Roh Moo-hyun administration, said that if she stayed in her residence, she did not come to work.

Lawmakers complain that Park has refused to cooperate in explaining her whereabouts during the disaster when they were drawing up the impeachment motion.

Owing to the lack of an explanation about why the President appeared at the emergency measures headquarters seven hours after the tragic incident began, rumors have abounded that she might have been receiving a Botox wrinkle treatment or other cosmetic procedures.

Cheong Wa Dae and all witnesses believed to be involved keep denying the allegations, but nobody has clearly said what she was actually doing.

The only thing, which has been revealed regarding her whereabouts so far, was that Park spent 20 minutes getting her hair done before attending an emergency meeting. This was what the presidential office explained after the media reported that she spent 90 minutes having her hair styled by a popular hairdresser.

Cheong Wa Dae used the word "only" when it said Park spent 20 minutes on her hair. But this just showed that she lived in an ivory tower as 20 minutes would have been the most precious time for the victims and their relatives in the early stages of the disaster, according to opposition lawmakers.

Now, the Constitutional Court has come forward.

On Thursday, the top court, which is currently conducting the deliberations on whether her impeachment is constitutional, called on Park to expound upon her alleged seven-hour absence hour by hour.

"Most citizens remember what they did on that tragic day as it is one that carries a crucial meaning," Justice Lee Jin-sung said. "Having said this, the President should also have a special memory of the sinking."

The court then asked Park to submit relevant material that can prove where she was and what orders she issued during the disaster.

Park's legal representatives said they would request related documents from the presidential secretariat and submit them to explain about the seven missing hours.

Rep. Park Jie-won, the floor leader of the second largest People's Party, said the President should sincerely comply with the court's request.

The lawmaker added that the parliamentary hearings failed to reveal anything related to Park's whereabouts as witnesses including Park's former chief of staff and nurse only said "I don't remember" or "I don't know."

Korea University Law School professor Jang Young-soo said, "The President is responsible for protecting the people's life and safety. If she spent seven hours in doing things that cannot be accepted by the people, it would be a violation of the President's constitutional duty and a cause for impeachment."
Army nurse Capt. Cho Yeo-ok, left, accompanied by her fellow nurse, Capt. Lee Seul-bee, leaves a National Assembly hearing, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon



By Jun Ji-hye

The Ministry of National Defense denied allegations Friday that it has monitored Army nurse Capt. Cho Yeo-ok, one of the key witnesses in the mystery of President Park Geun-hye's seven missing hours during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

The ministry said it had never ordered anyone to monitor Cho while she was appearing before the fifth National Assembly hearing into the corruption scandal involving the President the previous day.

The suspicion of ministry surveillance came as Cho was accompanied by another army nurse, Capt. Lee Seul-bee, to the Assembly.

The hearing is part of a parliamentary investigation into the high-profile political scandal, which brought about the impeachment of President Park earlier this month. Lawmakers are looking into the corruption and influence-peddling scandal involving Park's close friend Choi Soon-sil, as well as Park's seven hour absence while the ferry was sinking.

Capt. Cho, who was stationed at Cheong Wa Dae in 2014, was regarded as a key witness who could tell what Park was doing during the ferry disaster.

Rep. Park Young-sun of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said, "Lee was following Cho around all day long and monitoring her."

Park made the comment at the latter stages of the hearing late at night after watching the two.

In response, Lee said that she and Cho are close friends and that she only came to the hearing to support her.

"I took a holiday for a private reason, and then I heard that Capt. Cho was to attend the hearing," Lee said. "So, I came with her."

Then she made a controversial comment, saying that the army hospital where she is currently stationed told her that it would designate her day off as an "official holiday," which is given to public servants when they are performing duties related to their official obligations.

When Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the ruling Saenuri Party, the chairman of the special committee in charge of the parliamentary investigation, asked if the head of the hospital ordered Lee to accompany Cho to the hearing while giving her an official holiday, Lee responded, "No."

But questions still remained unanswered about why Lee mentioned an official holiday.

A ministry official explained Friday on condition of anonymity that Lee took holidays from Dec. 21 to 28 for private reasons, and Cho asked Lee to attend the hearing with her because she was nervous.

About the question regarding an official holiday, he said, "Lee might have misunderstood the situation. Her holiday was a personal holiday, not an official one."
South Korea's arms procurement agency said Wednesday it has placed an order to build two 2,800 ton frigates ahead of schedule to support the ailing local shipbuilding industry.



The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it signed a contract worth 700 billion won ($585.6 million) with Hyundai Heavy & Industries on Tuesday, which calls for the construction of two warships.



The two will be the third and fourth vessels belonging to the second batch of the Navy's new Ulsan-class frigates. Seoul aims to build a total of eight Ulsan frigates for its second batch.



South Korea is currently in the process of building new frigates and corvettes to replace older vessels in its fleet. The three-stage project, which kicked off in 2006, will run till 2026.



DAPA said that it has decided to place an order to build them three months earlier than scheduled in a bid to support local shipbuilders and their contractors, which are struggling from an industrywide slowdown.



The frigates will be equipped with a low-noise hybrid propulsion system and state-of-the-art weapons, including anti-submarine weapons, as well as anti-air and surface-to-ground guided missiles.



"They will be operated as the main frigates capable of defending the South Korean waters and attacking the enemy in times of conflict," said an official at the agency.



DAPA also added that it plans to quicken the process of building the fifth and sixth frigates of the class with an aim at picking a shipbuilder in the first half of next year.



It will, moreover, kick off the project to construct the third batch of Ulsan-class ships with a displacement of 3,000 tons one year earlier than scheduled. The total number of ships in this batch could reach six.



South Korea's Navy already operates the first batch of the Ulsan frigates, with a displacement of 2,300 tons. (Yonhap)




By Jason Lim

I've been a Korea watcher for a long time in formal and informal capacities. During that time, I've noticed that many Korea analysts, including me, display a form of confirmation bias. Most Korea analysts' confirmation bias is twofold when it comes to evaluating North Korea.

One, we believe that South Korea is the norm and that North Korea is the anomaly. This should be reversed.

In fact, it's South Korea that's the anomaly when you examine the context and flow of Korea's history as it transitioned from the Joseon Dynasty through Japanese colonialism and the Korean War to the modern era. We readily admit South Korea's unique journey when we tout South Korea as one of the very few countries that has successfully industrialized and democratized at the same time.

Like it or not, this was largely possible due to the strong and consistent American presence in the country, providing a solid platform of security, stability and opportunities to engage the international community both economically and politically as South Korea matured. Besides Germany, South Korea is probably the only country with such a long-standing American presence. I don't mean to say that Americans have been altruistic, but their presence, for the most part, has been collaborative and benevolent.

Despite such a singular historical situation that made today's South Korea possible, however, we continue evaluating North Korea using South Korea as the baseline default for what "Korea" should be. But when you take a step back, it's pretty obvious that North Korea more closely represents the inherited historical flow of the Joseon Dynasty. It actually still calls itself "Joseon."

North Korea is still essentially a monarchy with hereditary kings who rule in conjunction with a tight-knit group of elites mostly interrelated by blood and whose original elite stature was given through their forefathers' participation in the original struggle that inaugurated the new country.

North Korea's original struggle happens to be Kim Il-sung's battles against Imperial Japan in North Manchuria and Russia and the purge of Japanese collaborators afterwards.

In essence, North Korea is a new monarchy born out of the collapsing old order, bloody resistance to foreign imperial powers and a strong reaction against the suffocating socioeconomic injustices of elitist rule in the latter half of the Joseon Dynasty. This narrative was internalized in the person of Kim Il-sung as he established the new country as a totalitarian socialist dictatorship in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Two, we believe that North Korea wants to become a "normal" nation. This is an extension of the first confirmation bias because, by "normal," we believe that North Korea is motivated to want to be just like South Korea, integrated into the international trade and financial community, committed to the international world order, adhering to the various rules and regulations that govern nation-state activities, and participating in international bodies. In return, North Korea would receive all the goodies of being a good global citizen in terms of political legitimacy, trade, access to the international financial system, honored in polite society, and other benefits.

Countless times I've heard respected North Korea watchers repeat this fallacy as a part of their public comments. I admit that North Korea wants to become a "normal" nation, but their definition of "normal" is not our definition of "normal." We can't project our sensibilities onto North Korean leadership as to what motivations may drive them.

When we take off our "normal" lens, we can see much more clearly what North Korea wants: they want the political status quo. In other words, they want the current monarchy system to continue intact without influence from the outside. That's the nature of monarchy. No matter its origins, monarchy always boils down to an incestuous web of infighting among the pretenders who only come together in the face of an existential threat from an external enemy.

Everything North Korea has done, including nuclear and missile development, is aimed at perpetuating the political status quo. This means that North Korea doesn't want to become "normal" as we think of the word. In fact, our "normal" is their death knell. They know this much better than we do.

In fact, by offering them an opportunity to become "normal" as our main negotiating thrust, they probably believe that we are passive-aggressively threatening their very survival and will react to this belligerently. After all, we are not the only ones who interpret intentions through the "normal' lens that we wear.

Jason Lim is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. He has been writing for The Korea Times since 2006. Reach him at jasonlim@msn.com, facebook.com/jasonlimkoreatimes or @jasonlim2012.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have expressed satisfaction over the successful liberation of the Syrian city of Aleppo, which has created the conditions for the launch of a peace process, the Kremlin press service said in a statement, Sputnik reported.

Both leaders agreed in phone conversation on Friday that the end of the operation created the conditions for a transition to a political settlement in the war-torn country.

"Satisfaction was expressed from both sides over the successful conclusion of the operation in Aleppo. Thus favorable conditions have been created for the launch of a peace process that stipulates a ceasefire over the entire territory of Syria and a transition to a political settlement," the Friday statement said.

On December 16, the Russian Defense Ministry's center for Syrian reconciliation said that the Syrian army operation to liberate the eastern neighborhoods of the Syrian city of Aleppo was over.

On Thursday, the Syrian army declared victory in Aleppo as the last convoy with militants left the city's east.

Putin and Erdogan also talked on the progress in the investigation of the murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov, who was killed at an art gallery exhibition opening in Ankara ealier this week.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held phone talks today. The Turkish president informed Vladimir Putin about the progress in the investigation of the murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov," the statement said.

The statement noted close cooperation between Russian and Turkish law enforcement bodies and security agencies on the issue.
Defector rapper Kang Chun-hyok rehearses ahead of his showcase for the single "For the Freedom" at a basement bar in Hongdae, Seoul, last week. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-soo



Rapper Kang wants S.Koreans to know N.Korea's reality



By Kim Ji-soo



Rapper Kang Chun-hyok's showcase was not held in the trendy Cheongdam-dong area in southern Seoul. Two years after he became known to the public as the defector rapper, Kang performed his first single "For the Freedom" at a quaint bar on the outskirts of Hongdae, AMS.

Several hours before the performance, Kang, 30, was preparing with fellow rappers in the basement venue.

Kang's first taste of fame came when he appeared on season three of the cable TV survival hip-hop show, "Show Me the Money," in 2014. He made it through the first round; but pulled out of the program because he got too nervous in the second round. He did have plans to release a song then, but then became wrapped up in art exhibitions for the next two years.

When he is not rapping, he is an artist holding exhibitions, but also doing menial work to make ends meet. Kang has joined the myriad of single South Korean young people living alone.He lives in Sinwol-dong, eastern Seoul. After arriving in the South, he went through turbulent teenage years.But he made it to and graduated from the prestigious Hongik University in Seoul as a painting major. Kang identifies himself as an artist rapper, rather than either one alone, and in that order too.

Practicing ahead of his showcase, held with the support of the civic group the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, Kang was at intervals casual and engaging with friends.

Asked to evaluate his rap performance, he said "I am still an amateur." Did he learn from anyone? Kang looked a little sideways and said "It's a little funny to ask a rapper who he learned from. Rappers learn and train by themselves; they don't learn."

However, he likes and listens to other rappers such as Nas, J-Cole and Eminem. Among Korean rappers, he named YDG (Yang Dong-keun) who was a judge on the survival hip-hop show.

"This is a tragedy, it shouldn't be happening no more," begins the song for "For the Freedom." The single is largely about his life; his crossing of the Tumen River at age 12 in 1998; and living undercover in China and then in Southeast Asian countries. He arrived in South Korea with his family in 2001.

"There, Ri Sol-ju is the nation's mother, but she is not my oemeonni (mother). My mother, she got tuberculosis from Aoji Mine. With money collected from mines, you make nukes," he sings in the music video for "For the Freedom." It is the same line he spoke during the 2014 audition show, but Kang's voice and rap flow is much more solid this time.





Two emcees announce the beginning of Kang Chun-hyok's showcase last Friday in Seoul. The Citizens'

Alliance for North Korean Human Rights supported Kang's single and showcase.

/ Courtesy of Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights



Kang then raps about how his eyes almost popped out when he first arrived in China and how he clung to his last bit of integrity and guts to survive amid the hunger and living like a deaf person, and a target of extortion.

He has another music video, "The Untold Stories," on YouTube; a song with lyrics he had meant to perform at the 2014 show and also a promotional one for Reserve Guards. In that video, his paintings of the North Korean situation are harsher than the lyrics. Asked why he toned them down, he replied: "If I were to sing directly about what I experienced in the North, I could go too far."

In testimony he gave at an international conference  the 4th International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees held in Prague, the Czech Republic in March 2003  he gave a stark but placid account:

"I took it for granted when my friends couldn't come to school because they were too feeble from starving so much. When I was in my third year, a fellow student, Oh Eun Kyung became sick after eating a bowl of wild apricots. For hours she twisted and turned out of agony until she died untreated, medical help being out of reach for her. The only outlet allowed for us was to sob together in silence...

"I cannot even count the number of people who died in our village in 1996 and 1997. Every morning I would wake up to the sight of dead bodies being carried away next door or in the neighboring village, and people began to escape to China."

Now, older and more integrated into South Korean society, he draws and raps to tell his story and the tale of fellow North Koreans. He wants to make an appeal for the hunger and the human rights in North Korea.

"For North Koreans, there is still a threat to life, human trafficking for the North Koreans that flee,"Kang said.

"They say that 30,000 North Korean defectors have settled in the South, but people (still) do not know much about us," he said.

At the showcase, he performed with fellow rapper 3mm. Other bands also performed that night to raise funds to help better the human rights of North Koreans.

Kang's songs have been released more online, rather than in physical form.

His goal with this song? "Just that I want people, the young people in the South, to know North Korea correctly, to shed the biased view, and to create a common bond," he said. "We fled a society but we are one people, and we should prepare for a unified country; and for that goal, young people should know and share a common bond," Kang said.

He said he was not looking to sign up with a talent agency; he wants to be independent.

"I would be the type that would fail utterly in a company for example, I want to work alone, don't want to be tied to something."
By Yoon Ja-young



Hundreds of handicrafts, archives and photos that belonged to Albert Taylor, a correspondent for the Associated Press (AP) who reported to the world the realities of life in Korea under Japanese occupation, have returned to Seoul.



According to the Seoul Museum of History, Jennifer L. Taylor, a granddaughter of the journalist, donated a total of 451 items belonging to her grandparents. They are of significant importance as they provide a glimpse of life in Seoul while it was under Japanese colonial rule.



Born in the United States in 1875, he came to Korea with his father who was engaged in gold mine development. In 1919, he reported on Koreans' March 1 Independence Movement to the world after finding a document of the Declaration of Independence at Severance Hospital where his son, Bruce, was born. Korea independence movement leaders were there preparing for the massive movement.



He also reported on the massacre of Koreans at Jeam-ri in Hwaseong.



The Taylor family lived at a house they named Dilkusha, which was at that time the biggest brick house in the country. They lived there from 1923 until 1942 when they were expelled by Japanese. Taylor was even jailed for six months by the Japanese for resisting expulsion. He passed away in the United States in 1948, but is now buried at the cemetery for foreign missionaries in Seoul.



The historic Dilkusha, which still stands near Sajik Tunnel's western entrance in Jongno-gu, is undergoing restoration to be opened to the public in 2019, commemorating the Taylor family's dedication to the country's struggle for independence.



Jennifer L. Taylor has already donated 57 items during a visit to Seoul.



Among the donations this time is a photo album that depicts a 1930s-era gold rush in Korea. Albert Taylor took photos of a gold mine in Gangwon Province while his wife made drawings of people's daily life there.



A draft for "Chain of Amber," a book by Mary Taylor depicting life in Seoul, as well as her amber necklace were also donated to the museum. In the book, Mary Taylor wrote in detail on people's lives, folk rituals and traveling to Geumgang Mountain. She also left portraits of Koreans who helped with the family's housework.



"The items donated by the Taylor family are closely related with major incidents of Korean history," an official at the museum said. "It will also help with restoration of Dilkusha."




The man Living in our House has wrapped up its 16 episodes. While the array of new series of k- pop drama awaits the new year, Yeo Joo (Jo Bo Ah) is a welcome face on social and celebrity print media as she says hello to the avid fans of the series signifying that it is too bad the show has ended according to allkpop.

She laments that she wasn't able to deliver the role with her full energy per socialfeed ( rephrasing, she must have second thoughts on how well she has played the role). Categorically, she is the anti-hero, a villain in short in the drama.

The anti-hero

How well she reprises that girl running after rich men to hook up with now comes for a review. Villains in films and tv dramas recognize they make their mark when people notice them, get mad at them or even prefer they did not exist to secure the lead actor's life very miserable.

Staying put

The intensity of her presence as a character cannot be underplayed. In fact, her inclusion in the plot makes specific characters a stack out against the virtuous or otherwise.

Na-Ri touched a point in rejecting her having ruined her commitment to the ex-fiance. Her condition moreover sells the poetic justice to the seemingly mismatched pair in Na-Ri and Jo Dong-jin,

Plot-wise, her bearing constructs a setting where actions command decisions in the most climactic portions of the drama (Na-ri meeting Nan- Gil, her pursuit of other men, her bouts with co-workers who dislike her among a few). It made Na-Ri go back to her mom's house. The return gained her the realization that she had neglected the house she grew up in.

She too (Yeo Joo) gave Na-Ri a space to discern she could be loved by a man sans the limitations of time and no test of infidelity on the side. Her demeanor too accentuated Na-Ri as an all forgiving character.

Sticking it out

As a performer, she lived up to the villain role through and through. She was always running after men who are moneyed.

Was she ever good at putting up a facade of being poor like the script says?Yes, she was!

Continuously, she made herself up and be presentable to all the man she likes to be connected with. She was resolved in fulfilling a mission, that of taking charge of her ailing father.

To that extent, she would build relationships among men who have the bucks she can benefit from. Her gait likewise boosts the fact that Deok-bong, despite being so suspicious about Nan-Gil at first, Yeo Joo made her very likable.

There is something in her that men would really run after. Yeo Joo lingers as the villain and will stay well as far as the audience would remember.

This won't escape the followers' thoughts: how mean Nari could have been when she pulled her hair and pinned her down on the floor ( in her mind's eye!) when she realizes, her fiance was not for her to marry after all. That, the climax seized so strongly.

Jo Bo-ah, no doubt earned the hate from the followers of The Man Living in Our House. The energy (contrary to how she feels), she put into the series cannot be disputed.
One supporting character in the tvN drama Guardian/Goblin which fascinates audience is the goddes of birth. The actress Lee-El shares her experience to play the old lady in the drama including a long preparation.

As a goddess of birth, her timeline move in reverse order. She was pictured as a very old lady in the early episode of Goblin, but later she become a voluptuous young lady. The actress who played the character Lee-El shared her experience as reported by Hankook Ilbo.

The 34-year old actress said that she must put on a make up and prosthetic for five hours to perfect her transformation as a very old lady in the Guardian which is also known as Goblin drama. She also shared her concern to play a woman whose age is almost three times her age. However, after the first shooting she became more confident because the scriptwriter Kim Eun-Sook praised her.

"After the first take, the writer praise me and told me that I was doing great. Then, all the worries washed away," Lee said.

In order to immerse in her character, actress whose real name is Kim Ji-Hyun learn to walk slowly like the very old lady in the Guardian drama. While the creative team guided her to lower the tone of her voice to the precise pitch of an old lady. She has successfully surprised many audience when she appeared as a young woman as she passed by Duk-Hwa.

Prior to this project, she was also played in other tvN drama Entourage as reported by Seoul Daily News. She has no problem to play in the drama because she played as herself, the actress who was approached by Lee Ho-Jin to persuade her to work with the main character Young-Bin.

In the Goblin Lee-El showed her acting skills to play two characters with a very long age gap. Watch a slight of her performance in the six minutes preview of the drama below:


UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has called "unacceptable" the fact that UN observers haven't got access to east Aleppo, adding that world powers now have to start working to support national ceasefire in Syria with a further goal of switching to a political settlement of the ongoing crisis, Sputnik reported.

Johnson has called for the presence of UN monitors in the recently liberated Syrian city of Aleppo.

"It is unacceptable that the UN has still not been given access to eastern Aleppo to assist those who remain and carry out monitoring," Johnson said in a Friday statement.

On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a draft resolution on monitoring evacuations in Aleppo after it held extensive consultations the day before. The resolution in based on French and Russian proposals regarding the best way to implement and monitor evacuations on the ground.

"The international community  including Russia and Iran  must now work to support a nationwide Cessation of Hostilities to help create the environment for a political settlement based on genuine transition," Johnson said on Friday.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday that the evacuation of people from Aleppo had been completed. Some 40,000 people, including militants, left the city since evacuations began a week ago following consultations between Russia, Turkey and Iran.

On December 16, the Russian Defense Ministry's center for Syrian reconciliation said that the Syrian army operation to liberate the eastern neighborhoods of the Syrian city of Aleppo was over.

Syrian government forces have been fighting against multiple opposition and terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (IS, also known as Daesh, which is banned in Russia and a number of other counties) and Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or Nusra Front. The Syrian civil war has been ongoing since 2011.
Forty Daesh terrorists were neutralized during the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield in Al-Bab in Syria since Thursday night, according to the Turkish military Friday, Anadolu reported.

Turkish General Staff said in a statement that 18 Daesh terrorists were neutralized in Al-Bab. The terror group's military headquarters was also destroyed.

In an earlier statement, the Turkish military said 22 Daesh terrorists were also neutralized in Al-Bab. According to the military, 51 Daesh targets were hit and 37 buildings, including those used for accommodation, weapon emplacement and defense purposes, three armories and one logistics center were destroyed in the city alone.

The Turkish military usually uses the term neutralized to refer to dead or injured or captured terrorists.

The Turkish army supports the Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters to liberate Al-Bab from Daesh, a strategic city for the terrorist group. Friday marks the 122nd day since the city was surrounded in order to liberate it.

The operation is part of the Turkey-led Operation Euphrates Shield which began in late Aug. to improve security, support coalition forces, and eliminate the terror threat along Turkeys border using FSA fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets.

Since the launch of the Operation Euphrates Shield, the Turkish explosive ordnance disposal teams neutralized 2,208 handmade explosives and 42 mines in areas cleaned from Daesh.
Commuters walk past a poster advertising Taobao services in a subway in Shanghai. (Photo : Getty Images)

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has filed a lawsuit against Shatui.com, the country's biggest e-commerce operator, in Hangzhou West Lake District People's Court, seeking damages worth 2.16 million yuan ($310,000).



According to Bloomberg, Alibaba's lawsuit sheds light on fake reviews and purchases on its website, as the company pushes for greater credibility to attract more brands.



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The company worked with Chinese authorities to search Shatui's office and confiscated the accounting books.



The report said that Shatui allegedly links merchants with people who are willing to make false purchases and write bogus comments about it to drive the sellers' rankings up Alibaba's website.



Companies called brushing operators pushed the merchandise volume of Alibaba for years but now, they threaten to undermine the company's efforts to boost its credibility. As Alibaba is now expanding into new business and focused on sales rather than transactions, it is now trying to crack down on dubious practices on its website.



"Alibaba wasn't as stringent about brushing before its IPO, but it's really cracked down on the malpractice in the past year," Ray Zhao, an analyst at Guotai Junan Securities Co, said. "It's quite essential for the company to maintain its credibility and keep the system healthy as they want to attract larger and high quality brands."



In a statement, Alibaba said that it will cut the credit scores of erring merchants or shut down their businesses.



According to the report, Shatui's site was already deactivated, as searchers are now re-directed to an e-commerce website. The company also did not answer calls to its listed offices.



Alibaba is not alone in combating fakes and counterfeits as Amazon.com is also trying to suppress false reviews while Facebook is battling fake news.



But Chinese operators have taken their method to the next level by outsourcing the tasks to several people, even thousands. Xinhua reported that Shatui has recruited more than 5,000 people on its site.



Brushing is a method used to trick a website, such as Taobao, to make it appear that a purchase was made. Using messaging apps such as QQ, the fake buyer communicates with merchants. A merchant works with a brushing company whose members make the purchase and confirms the delivery of goods, even though nothing was shipped. The brushing company pays the member through virtual currency, which they can re-use or exchange for cash, as well as payment for their labor.



Alibaba said that it has been working to rid its website of fictitious transactions which they have detected using several methods that include big data analysis but others are even openly promoting their services.



Hiwinwin, an operator, advertises brushing services on its website, with videos that instruct beginners how to learn the trade. It also has its own virtual currency to smooth transactions, and a test to ensure that brushers do a good job.



Merchants who cannot pay for brushing services are affected by fake orders and urged Alibaba to prevent the practice and instead take care of merchants who are willing to pay huge money for advertising.



Jian Weiqingwho has been selling cosmetics on Taobao for 11 years, felt the effects of not brushing. She has also spent about 5 million yuan a year on advertising in Taobao.



"It's practically impossible for a newcomer to start a shop on Taobao these days without resorting to brushing," Jian added. "Our business is hurt."


The Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness learned this week that it will receive $946,000 in federal funds this fiscal year. The alliance serves Greene, Christian and Webster counties. The money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds will support homeless services during the next year, with a focus on housing.

In addition to continuing to provide preventive services for those at risk or experiencing homelessness, local organizations will be able to provide additional affordable housing options for families, chronically homeless individuals, veterans and youth. said Michelle Garand, deputy director, Affordable Housing and Homeless Prevention, Community Partnership of the Ozarks.

The first-tier award totaling $901,775 will fund eight local programs through the Missouri Department of Mental Health/OACAC, Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, and The Kitchen, Inc. A Bonus Project through The Kitchen, Inc. was awarded $44,277 that will provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless veterans.

Regarding HUDs second-tier awards, The Kitchen, Inc. was not awarded renewal for its Housing First Support and Operations project. This is a funding loss of $47,452 intended to support case management and wrap around case coordination for the chronically homeless participating in the organizations Housing First program.

For a full understanding of organizations that received funding through this grant opportunity, visit https://www.hudexchange.info/onecpd/assets/File/2016-missouri-coc-grants.pdf

.

Community Partnership of the Ozarks has facilitated the local Continuum of Care program since 1995 when HUD established the program nationally in an effort to coordinate housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness, the communitys local Continuum of Care, serves as the planning body to address homelessness in Springfield and Greene, Christian and Webster counties.
An underwater drone similar to the one seized by China from a US Navy ship. (Photo : Twitter)

An underwater drone seized by the Chinese Navy from a United States Navy ship has been returned by the former to the latter on Tuesday.



The Chinese defense ministry said in a statement that the drone has been returned to the U.S. Navy after a series of "friendly negotiations." In their own statement, the U.S. also confirmed the transfer of the equipment, the Washington Post reported.



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A Chinese Navy submarine rescue ship intercepted and took possession of the drone from the oceanographic research vessel USS Bowditch. The incident happened 50 miles off the coast of Subic Bay in the Philippines, where the latter ship was operating.



The U.S. said that it asked the crew of the Chinese vessel to return the drone, but the latter refused to comply. U.S. officials added that the drone was merely used to collect unclassified data on ocean water condition that might affect navigation.



Washington also sees the move as a provocation. Republican Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee chairman John McCain said that the move is a "flagrant violation" of international sea laws.



On the other hand, Yung Yujun, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman, said that its ship is merely preventing the device from harming its navigation.



Chinese experts also hinted on the possibility of the drone having been used for espionage.



Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said that, while China had also seized underwater drones in the South China Sea in the past, the one confiscated in the incident appears to be a far more advanced model, the Global Times reported.



Li added that the U.S. raising the issue might have been a ploy to cover up the fact that it is spying in the region.



Prior to the return of the drone, incoming U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial remarks on Twitter when he lashed out against China for the incident. He later added that the Chinese should just keep the drone if they want to.


'Making a Murderer' is a Netflix docuseries about Steven Avery, who has been convicted of raping and killing photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005. (Photo : YouTube/What's Trending)

Millions of people are now looking forward to know what will happen next to "Making A Murderer" Season 2 after the initial run became an instant commercial and critical success. Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi, the writers and directors of the docuseries, have already confirmed that the second season is on its way.



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[WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS OF MAKING A MURDERER SEASON 2.]



"Making A Murderer" Season 2 will see more developments in the case of convicted Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey over the killing and rape of Teresa Halbach in 2005. In 2016, Avery's new lawyer Kathleen Zellner promised to bring new suspects and forensic evidences that will finally release the convicted.



In November, Dassey was supposed to be freed, but the state attorney field an appeal and he would not be released until it has been reviewed. Despite the popularity of the Netflix docuseries, it is also criticized by people attached to the case, including Avery's ex-girlfriend Jodi Stachowski, who believes that that the "Making A Murderer" star is guilty.



As to when "Making A Murderer" Season 2 will premiere remains a big question because a Netflix source told TV Guide that they have not decided yet when it will be shown. However, the insider confirmed that there are a lot of new developments in the case that they will bring when the new season premieres.



Just recently, state attorneys argued in their filing that detectives did not coerce Dassey to say admit his participation in the murder of Halbach. They also mentioned that they did not offer Avery's nephew benefits in exchange of his confession to the police.



The attorneys also wrote that the detectives were lenient with their questioning despite that Dassey did not answer many of their inquiries. They wrote that Dassey was not pressured during the interrogation. The filings also mentioned that Dassey gave details that they never told him that include Halbach's cream, timing of the events and motivations.



The filing proved that Dassey's confession to the detectives are true and voluntary. With the developments of the case, it is more likely that it will be included when the "Making a Murderer" Season 2 returns.



On the official website of Zellner, it is written that the "Making a Murderer" Season 2 release date is set to concur with the attorney's appeal. The show is available for streaming on Netflix.



Watch some updates on "Making a Murderer" here:






Historic ties of north Meck span throughout region Though the north Mecklenburg area didnt see significant population growth until a few decades ago, its rich history dates back to the Revolutionary War. That was the basis of...

An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE  Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at...
SEGA reveals The Four Commanders of the Rus Empire in "Valkyria Revolution." (Photo : YouTube/SEGA)

"Valkyria Revolution" gets The Four Commanders trailer, which introduces the characters. Their details have also been revealed.



According to the official Japanese website of the video game, SEGA released the latest character trailer, which can be viewed below, that showcases all of the four commanders of the Empire. It also showcases the boss battle gameplay against these commanders and their big robots.



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The Rus Empire's Four Commanders group consists of Gilouche Benckendorff, Viktor Timashev, Gustav Mecklenburg, and Balthus Greppenberg. Each of them has their own big robots and they also handle a section of the Empire's military.



Viktor Timashev is the head of the Army General Staff Headquarters and is number two of the Four Commanders group, according to another post on the official website of the video game. He serves as the Minister of Home Affairs and he is a skilled general who has mastered the art of strategy. He is also a sharp person who no sooner than Claudius' Empire enthronement developed a strategy to expand it.



Timashev participated in the orphanage raid incident and he is the enemy of Amleth and the company. His first priority is Claudus, but anyone else is expendable, which is where he gets his cold personality. He uses the Snake Magic Arts Machine.



Gilouche Benckendorff is the first one of the Empire's Four Commanders and he is the head of the army. His rank is of a general and serves as the Minister of War. He has been a loyal follower since Claudius was made crown prince. He also participated in the orphanage raid incident.



Benckendorff is a lively general with great bravery and leadership abilities. He also uses the Guardian Magic Arts Machine in battle.



Gustav Mecklenburg is the number three of the Empire's Four Commanders and is the head of the Navy, which he also serves as Minister of the Navy. He was entrusted with the newly formed navy as recognition of his abilities, but he always complains that he wants to return to the army. With his skills, he can increase the navy's size and can even manage to secure Northern Europe's control of the seas.



Mecklenburg is frivolous, aloof, and has no sense of humor. He uses the Whale Magic Arts Machine in battle.



The fourth Commander of the Empire in "Valkyrie Revolution" is none other than Balthus Greppenberg, who is an admiral and also serves as the minister of Foreign Affairs. He is the youngest of the group and assists Gilouche in the army. He uses the Dragon Magic Arts Machine in battle.



Check out the "Valkyria Revolution" The Four Commanders Character Trailer video below:






The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

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PRESS RELEASE

China To Connect Its First High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor to the Grid in 2017

Dec. 22, 2016 (EIRNS)According to a news release by Tsinghua University, reported by the Peoples Daily today, Chinas first commercial High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTR), a fourth generation reactor capable of generating 600 Megawatts of electrical power, "is now undergoing the installation and commission stage," and will be hooked up to the grid in 2017.

Often described as a "meltdown-proof reactor," the 600-Megawatt HTR is a pebble-bed reactor that uses helium gas as the heat transfer medium, and runs at very high temperatures up to 950C. The pebble-bed reactor was developed in Germany at the Julich Research Center, and was then known as the AVR reactor. The first of its kind operated at 46 megawatt thermal power, about 13 megawatt electric power.

For the Chinese reactor, which will be the only commercial HTR in operation at the time of its commissioning, a German company, SGL Group, is supplying the billiard-ball-size graphite spheres that encase thousands of tiny pebbles of uranium fuel.

"Seven high-temperature gas-cooled reactors have been built, but only two units remain in operation, both relatively small: an experimental 10-Megawatt pebble-bed reactor at the Tsinghua Institute campus, which reached full power in 2003, and a similar reactor in Japan,"

Peoples Daily reported.
In the years after the American Revolution, Seminole Indians built an arsenal of weapons acquired from Cuban and British traders that allowed them to defend their lands as an alternate and well-armed Underground Railroad in what was then Spanish-controlled Florida. To the horror of Deep South elites, the Seminoles shielded and supplied guns to Panhandle communities of Black Seminoles, small villages peopled by plantation runaways, intermarried tribal members and freed slaves of the tribe themselves.

Together they resolved to keep white Americans and their slave catchers out of Seminole territory, historian David Silverman writes in Thundersticks: Firearms and the Violent Transformation of Native America. An alliance of militant Indians and black maroons supported by European resources was the materialization of a nightmare that had haunted white southerners ever since the seventeenth century.

Written in an accessible and at times swashbuckling style, the book is in many ways a retelling of the U.S. Indian Wars from the 17th to the 19th centuries, with a twist. It cracks the mystery of how Colonial-era Native American tribes came to master a continent-spanning, gun-running network in smoothbore flintlock muskets, often decades in advance of European settlement.

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Colonial-era Native American tribes mastered a continent-spanning, gun-running network.... often decades in advance of European settlements.

For the most part, Silverman avoids anthropological explanations for Native American tribes fascination with guns  save for the books title, which comes from a literal translation of the Narragansett word for gun, pesckunk. To explain the indigenous arms race that once gripped the continent, Silverman uses military history and political economy to chip away at Jared Diamonds Guns, Germs, and Steel narrative, in which Europeans with superior weapons technology marched triumphantly through the Americas.

Instead, Silverman uncovers a history in which Indians quickly cornered a gun market, shocking European and American militaries with the breadth and superiority of their arms, most of them made in Britain or France. This indigenous arsenal explains why the Seminoles were able to repel the U.S. Army over three wars, spanning 1816 to 1858. Unable to best the tribe on the battlefield, the American military resorted to scorched-earth techniques  burning Seminole villages to the ground, destroying cattle herds  to starve the Seminoles and drastically reduce their population.

In contrast to a military that relied on the bureaucracy of purchase orders and shipping caravans to distribute its arms, the Seminoles decentralized backwoods armory lay scattered across the humid peninsula in dry, bark-lined underground caches. The tribe made dugout canoe runs to Cuba to restock guns while raiding Florida sugar plantations for their lead-lined vats, which were melted down for ammunition. As the wars raged on, tribal leaders set up pseudo peace talks with military officials as a ruse to have their younger warriors sneak off into the bushes to buy guns from the opportunistic traders who followed U.S. military campaigns. Most notorious, tribal warriors seized muskets from the battlefield dead.

Among North American tribes of the colonial period, the Seminoles were far from alone in one-upping colonial powers to master a multinational supply network of arms. Silverman calls this phenomenon a gun frontier, a nimble, intertribal network of trade that created an arms race on the American continent, often decades before the arrival of sizeable numbers of Euro-American settlers

For instance, Spanish settlers newly arrived in Taos, N.M., in the 1770s were humbled to realize that the Comanches of the Southern Plains were not only fearsome horseback warriors but also the regions sole purveyor in guns, powder and shot. Less powerful tribes  Cheyenne, Kiowa, Pawnee and Wichita  served as middlemen for the Comanche, crisscrossing the continent as goods brokers for American merchants back east and French fur traders to the south. These middlemen tribes ferried everything from buffalo robes to slaves, to be traded in exchange for muskets and flintlocks.

None of this ends well, of course. During the 19th century, warfare with whites and smallpox outbreaks decimate tribal numbers just as settlers start streaming into the West en masse. But that story is well known and often told.

Far lesser known is the chain of political and economic events that led the gun-rich Iroquois to drive out rival tribes and establish a vast empire across the Great Lakes in the 17th century. Or how the Nootka built a gun-running fiefdom on Vancouver Island that gave them the economic might to push out Russian traders and establish an otters for arms fur trade with British outfits that enabled new trade relationships with China. Its why a German naturalist, writing in 1802, was awestruck that one can now buy the best English arms on this part of the Northwest coast of America more cheaply than in England.

Its worth noting that Silverman didnt stumble on a new trove of documents to write Thundersticks. As his end notes demonstrate, all the evidence has been right there under our eyes for centuries, in expedition narratives, ship manifests, military correspondence and the testimonials of Euro-Americans who spent time as captives of American Indian tribes. It just required a prolific synthesizer who saw the big picture  that the gun frontier was a creation of Indian savvy and power, not white American Manifest Destiny.

Sanchez has written for the Village Voice, the Stranger and the American Prospect. He is a contributing writer to Pasatiempo, the weekly arts and culture magazine of the Santa Fe New Mexican.

::

Thundersticks: Firearms and the Violent Transformation of Native America

David J. Silverman

Harvard University Press: 400 pp., $29.95
A Chinese state newspaper on Friday accused a trade advisor picked by President-elect Donald Trump of anti-China alarmism and warned both sides would suffer if commerce is disrupted.

The China Daily editorial was more forceful and openly critical of economist Peter Navarro than Chinas foreign ministry, which appealed Thursday for cooperation.

Navarro, picked by Trump to run a new National Trade Council at the White House, has accused China of effectively waging economic war against the United States. The UC Irvine professor also will be director of trade and industrial policy.

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There is real cause for concern as the president-elect has named economist Peter Navarro, known for his anti-China alarmism, as his trade adviser, said the China Daily, which is aimed at foreign readers.

A statement by Trumps transition team said the creation of the trade council demonstrates the president-elects determination to make American manufacturing great again.

That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration is no laughing matter, said China Daily. Any move to damage the win-win relationship will only result in a loss for both sides.

Trump has blamed China for the decline in American factory employment. U.S. manufacturers have cut 5 million jobs since 2000.

Trump has threatened to raise import duties on Chinese imports to 45% and to label Beijing a currency manipulator, a status that can lead to trade penalties.

Asked by reporters Thursday about Navarros appointment, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing has been observing the incoming U.S. administrations transition and its policy direction.

As two major powers with broad mutual interests, cooperation is the only correct choice, Hua said without naming Trump or Navarro.

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Sophie Turner attends the premiere of HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' Season 6 at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Alberto E. Rodriguez)

"Game of Thrones" Season 7 is currently in production and it will see the return of key cast members such as Sophie Turner, Kit Harrington, Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage. Turner has recently revealed that the cast members have acknowledged that the show is ending and how it has affected everyone on set.



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According to the actress, the actors have been discussing amongst each other what gifts they could give the producers and what activities they may have planned for the final day of shooting. She further stated that the realization that the show is ending has become quite real for the people involved.



"It's definitely emotional. We can really feel everything slowly coming to an end," Turner told Vulture. "It's quite somber on set, but everyone's just trying to enjoy it as much as possible. Trying to get the most out of it. Trying not to take anything for granted."



It was further pointed out that Turner and Maisie Williams' matching tattoos were quite popular amongst their fans. The actress then stated that there is a plan for all of the actors whose characters survive to Season 8 to get matching tattoos as well. She also pointed out there was no guarantee her character, Sansa Stark, would reach that point as Sansa could be killed off during Season 7.



Fans of genre films and television programs such as "Game of Thrones" will recall that the cast members of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, particularly the actors who portrayed the members of the Fellowship of the Ring, all got matching tattoos as well. This excludes John Rhys Davies who had his stunt double get the tattoo in his stead.



According to Cinema Blend, the mood affecting the series' end also reflects the future of the cast members. While actors like Kit Harrington and Sophie Turner can look forward to getting new projects there are many cast members with smaller parts who might not be just as fortunate in the future.



No official launch date has yet been announced for "Game of Thrones" Season 7. HBO has confirmed the show has been delayed to Summer 2017.






Two utilities want California regulators to delay talks about reopening a case involving the San Onofre nuclear plant until disputes are resolved with the manufacturer of the faulty equipment that led the facility to close.

The nuclear plant was permanently closed in 2013, and a settlement with Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric left consumers on the hook for $3.3 billion in shutdown costs. But consumer advocates want a full investigation into what went wrong at the plant and how the settlement was reached.

Meanwhile, the two utilities expect a decision in early 2017 about arbitration claims filed against Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which made the troubled steam generators that led to the plants permanent closure. A decision could mean billions of dollars in benefits to ratepayers.

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The utilities are suing the Tokyo-based manufacturer for $7.6 billion over the steam generators.

Half of any money the utilities collect from Mitsubishi will go to the benefit of their customers. Complying with consumer advocates now  reopening the investigation and settlement before negotiations with Mitsubishi are complete  could harm the potential benefits to consumers, Edison said.

Edison and SDG&E, which jointly own the closed nuclear operation, issued notices to consumer advocates Friday, informing them that the utilities would seek a delay in reopening the San Onofre investigation.

On Dec. 13, an administrative law judge ordered Edison and SDG&E to begin discussions with consumer advocates about reopening the case by the end of January and to complete the process by April 28.

Southern California Edison believes it just makes sense to know the outcome of the [Mitsubishi] arbitration because half the proceeds would go to customers, Ron Nichols, Edisons president, said in a statement. We believe the meet and confer process directed by the Dec. 13 ruling would likely be more productive for all involved if the outcome is known before the initial session.

Consumer advocates  led by San Diego lawyer Michael Aguirre, a former city and assistant U.S. attorney  had asked the commission to reopen investigations into the shutdown of the nuclear plant.

Aguirre said that any agreement the utilities reach with Mitsubishi can be taken into consideration, but that theres no reason to delay the case any further.

Up till now, the biggest problem is that there hasnt been a proper investigation for the responsibility Edison has in regard to the steam generators, Aguirre said. What we really need is to stop charging the ratepayers and start putting their interest first. The time for delay is over.

The request followed revelations that officials at Edison engaged in wrongful talks with an official at the commission before the multibillion-dollar settlement.

In particular, Michael Peevey, who was then commission president, and Stephen Pickett, who was Edisons vice president for external relations, met during an energy industry junket in Warsaw, Poland.

In December 2015, regulators fined Edison $16.7 million for failing to report the talks.

ivan.penn@latimes.com

For more energy news, follow Ivan Penn on Twitter: @ivanlpenn

UPDATES:

Dec. 26, 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated to clarify that Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric expect a decision in early 2017 about arbitration claims filed against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Southern California Edison said the utilities are not in talks with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

This article was originally published on Dec. 23 at 3 p.m.
The gig: Karina Drees, 40, is chief executive and general manager of the Mojave Air and Space Port, a commercial flight test and research facility. It is the birthplace of innovative aircraft like the Voyager, which flew around the world in 1986 without stopping or refueling, and SpaceShipOne, a civilian space plane that won the $10-million Ansari X Prize for suborbital spaceflight in 2004.

The center serves about 150 customers, including companies such as Scaled Composites and Stratolaunch Systems. Drees is the first woman to serve as CEO.

Moving west: The daughter of farmers, Drees was born in Iowa but moved to Nebraska when she was still an infant. After graduating from high school, Drees followed her sister to Arizona, where she worked and attended classes at a community college. She eventually transferred to Arizona State University and graduated in 2003 with a bachelors degree in finance.

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Finance and accounting always made sense to me, Drees said.

Early space memories: One of Drees most vivid memories in elementary school was watching the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger on a classroom television when she was 8 years old. Drees remembers her teacher turning off the TV after the explosion, unsure of how to respond.

The wide range of emotions in that single day ingrained the disaster in her memory. It also led to her interest in space, along with an appreciation for its challenges and that there are still people that are willing to risk their lives to be part of it.

Space connection: Drees interest in space didnt intersect with her professional career until she became an MBA candidate at the MIT Sloan School of Management in 2005. There, she heard X Prize Foundation founder Peter Diamandis give a talk about the origins of the organization, which sponsors cash-prize competitions on topics like creating a spacecraft that can land on the moon, travel about 1,640 feet and transmit images back to Earth. That inspired her to consider the commercial space industry. Drees ended up doing an internship with the X Prize Foundation, which helped her make inroads in the space community.

People pursue MBAs because they want to go into investment banking or consulting ... and that just never interested me, Drees said. I wanted to pursue the MBA because I wanted to run companies. I just happened to have this passion for space.

Road to Mojave: Looking for more hands-on experience, Drees was persistent in asking then-CEO Stuart Witt for a monthlong internship at the Mojave Air and Space Port. In January 2007, she came to Mojave and helped Witt with a project looking at how the desert town could become a base for commercial space operations. The two kept in touch.

This place tends to draw in a certain kind of person who is so focused on making a difference in aviation and aerospace, Drees said. I find [it] very inspirational.

Desert dwelling: After graduating from MIT, Drees attended an International Space University summer session in China to learn about various aspects of space, including policy, engineering and business. She then spent a few years working at tech start-ups spun off from the University of Maryland. Then, she got a call from Witt, who needed help managing the business development side of the Air and Space Port. Drees was the first to apply. She served initially as director of business development and later as Witts deputy general manager.

Because of the success of SpaceX and other companies, ... I think investors are seeing this is really a viable industry, she said. I think the average American looks at space as something that NASA does. But nobody really took into consideration that there are new technologies being developed all the time that can help the industry.

Looking toward the future: When Witt decided to retire, Drees applied for the position and was selected. She officially took over as CEO in January.

One of Drees plans is to help space launch companies not only test in Mojave, but operate from there. We have the ideal climate for this kind of activity, and were far enough out in the middle of nowhere that were not so concerned about noise pollution and the things that might be concerning in a big city.

Personal: Drees lives in Mojave with her husband, Todd Quelet, and her two children, ages 3 months and 2 years. When not working, she likes to spend time with her family, whether its going on trips to the Los Angeles Zoo or to the Natural History Museum to see dinosaur bones.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

For more business news, follow me @smasunaga
Japanese investors have bought the landmark hangar in Playa Vista, now leased by Google, where mogul Howard Hughes built his Spruce Goose aircraft in the 1940s.

Los Angeles developer Ratkovich Co. and its financial partner Penwood Real Estate Investment Management sold the four-building Hercules Campus West that includes the voluminous hangar and three smaller buildings, real estate services firm Holliday Fenoglio Fowler said.



For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that the deal involved two hangars and two smaller buildings. It involved one hangar and three smaller buildings.

The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, but according to a Westside real estate expert familiar with the transaction but not authorized to speak about it publicly, Japanese corporate investor ASO Group paid more than $300 million for the property.

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The four buildings are fully leased to Google, whose parent company is Mountain View, Calif.-based tech giant Alphabet Inc. Googles commitment to rent the buildings for the next 16 years made them a secure investment, according to marketing materials for the property sale.

Hercules Campus West offered a rare opportunity to replicate a 16-year Google bond that is not available in the market today, the marketing memorandum said.

The hangar will be the centerpiece of Googles Southern California campus. Inside the cavernous seven-story-tall hangar, Google plans to build structures containing nearly 525,000 square feet in three stories and a mezzanine floor.

Google bought 12 acres directly north of the hangar for $120 million in 2014 and rents other buildings on the former Hughes campus that were not part of the recent sale. Google has the right to buy the Spruce Goose complex when its lease expires.

Hughes set out during World War II to build a seaplane capable of carrying 750 soldiers nonstop from Honolulu to Tokyo. He couldnt use materials considered crucial to the war effort, such as aluminum. He decided to use wood and settled on birch, which made the popular nickname Spruce Goose irksome to him.

The plane, officially named Hercules, had a 320-foot wingspan, weighed 200 tons and flew just once  for about one minute in 1947.

Ratkovich and Penwood bought the 11-building, 28-acre former Hughes campus for $32.4 million in 2010 and announced it would spend an additional $50 million to turn it into offices for tenants in creative fields.

roger.vincent@latimes.com

Twitter: @rogervincent

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SAG Awards nominations come from two panels  one for film, one for TV  comprising roughly 2,500 randomly chosen voters from within the membership. But every SAG-AFTRA member in good standing  121,546, per the groups count (nearly 5,000 more than last year!)  chooses the winners. That kind of volume usually results in safe choices, particularly on the television side. Here are my predictions for the Jan. 29 ceremony:

CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

 The trailer for Moonlight.

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The nominees: Captain Fantastic, Fences, Hidden Figures, Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight

And the winner is: Manchester scored the most individual nominations, but, with its triptych structure, the beloved Moonlight stands apart here as a true ensemble picture.

Unless: The strong work of the three Manchester nominees  Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges  sways voters. Fences cant be counted out, either.

See the most-read stories this hour 

MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The nominees: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea; Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge; Ryan Gosling, La La Land; Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic; Denzel Washington, Fences

And the winner is: Washington is now one of five actors with four SAG Awards noms. The other four  Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn  have won. Now its Washingtons turn.

Unless: All the accolades for Affleck keep momentum on his side.

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The nominees: Amy Adams, Arrival; Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train; Natalie Portman, Jackie; Emma Stone, La La Land; Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

And the winner is: In a coin-flip between Stone and Portman, Ill go with Stone, as probably more voters will know her movie.

Unless: Awards voters penchant for picking biopic-ish performances prevails, putting Portmans Jackie Kennedy in the winners circle.

MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The nominees: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight; Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water; Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins; Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea; Dev Patel, Lion

And the winner is: Ali, also among the Hidden Figures ensemble nominees, is the clear favorite here.

Unless: Its a Manchester sweep, benefiting young Hedges.

FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The nominees: Viola Davis, Fences; Naomie Harris, Moonlight; Nicole Kidman, Lion; Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures; Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

And the winner is: Davis is the lock of this awards season.

Unless: Davis comes out and says that her work in Fences is really a lead turn and that shed greatly appreciate it if no one voted for her here.

ENSEMBLE IN A TV DRAMA SERIES

The nominees: The Crown, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Westworld

And the winner is: Its hard to see a consensus coalescing around any of the three new shows. Its also difficult to wrap our minds around Downton winning again. So finally, on its fourth time around, Thrones wins.

Unless: Its a Downton three-peat, sending the series out in style.

ENSEMBLE IN A TV COMEDY SERIES

The nominees: The Big Bang Theory, black-ish, Modern Family, Orange Is the New Black, Veep

And the winner is: Veep has never been better and, remarkably, has never won this award. With politics on everyones minds, that should change this year.

Unless: SAG-AFTRA voters cant resist the dozens and dozens of credited names in Oranges super-sized ensemble and reward it for a third straight year.

MALE ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA SERIES

The nominees: Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us; Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones; John Lithgow, The Crown; Rami Malek, Mr. Robot; Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

And the winner is: Lithgow, who won twice on the comedy side for 3rd Rock From the Sun, gets some love for playing Winston Churchill. Its about time an American wins for playing a Brit and not the other way around!

Unless: Voters do a make-good for not giving Malek this award last year.

FEMALE ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA SERIES

The nominees: Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things; Claire Foy, The Crown; Thandie Newton, Westworld; Winona Ryder, Stranger Things; Robin Wright, House of Cards

And the winner is: Foy. SAG-AFTRA cant stop crowning The Crown.

Unless: Opinions vary on Westworld, but just about everyone can agree that Newtons force-of-nature Maeve has been the best thing about the first-year show.

MALE ACTOR IN A TV COMEDY SERIES

The nominees: Anthony Anderson, black-ish; Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Ty Burrell, Modern Family; William H. Macy, Shameless; Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

And the winner is: Tambor repeated at the Emmys and should do so here too.

Unless: Its a big night for blacki-ish and Anderson prevails.

FEMALE ACTOR IN A TV COMEDY SERIES

The nominees: Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black; Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie; Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep; Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

And the winner is: SAG Awards voters have never been as taken with Louis-Dreyfus work on Veep as their Emmy counterparts, giving her this award just once. Still, its hard to see Aduba winning for a third consecutive year, so Louis-Dreyfus is the safe pick.

Unless: Uzo Aduba, how could we ever have doubted you?

MALE ACTOR IN A TV MOVIE OR MINISERIES

The nominees: Riz Ahmed, The Night Of; Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson; Bryan Cranston, All the Way; John Turturro, The Night Of; Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson

And the winner is: Vance. O.J. still has juice.

Unless: Ahmed, with a high profile thanks to his turn in the new Star Wars movie, surprises for his Night Of transformation.

FEMALE ACTOR IN A TV MOVIE OR MINISERIES

The nominees: Bryce Dallas Howard, Black Mirror; Felicity Huffman, American Crime; Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emersons Bar & Grill; Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson; Kerry Washington, Confirmation

And the winner is: Paulson is the TV sides version of Viola Davis. Or the other way around. You dont bet against either of these women.

Unless: Theres no unless! Werent you paying attention?

glenn.whipp@latimes.com

Twitter: @glennwhipp

UPDATES:

Jan. 27, 12:30 p.m.: This article was updated with new picks for lead actress in a television drama, and the addition of Fences as a possible winner in the cast in a motion picture category.

This article originally published on Dec. 22.
Signs around the Hotel Bel-Air, where Martin Scorsese likes to stay when hes in Los Angeles, make their decorous hopes known. The painted-on directives throughout the canyon retreat strongly encourage quiet  an apt message for a man who just made a movie called Silence.

Yet coming upon the auteur in a shaded courtyard suite on a recent afternoon, a reporter finds him with plenty to say.

I like it here, its very peaceful. You want the bustle when youre younger. Of course, when you have kids, then theres always bustle. And if you have a child when youre older, like I did, youre always around it, Scorsese said in his machine-gun stream-of-consciousness voice you would recognize even if it was speaking Mandarin. But sometimes you just want a little peace and quiet. Sometimes silence is good, even if youre busy. I guess thats a little bit of a contradiction.

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The director has embodied numerous paradoxes throughout his career. Hes a child of American cinemas 70s rebel movement (Oh, yes, Brian and George and Steven, he says, referring informally to his time with contemporaries De Palma, Lucas and Spielberg. during that decade) who has nonetheless spent much of the 21st century making movies for studios. Hes a purebred New York auteur whose violence-spackled movies go over well in Middle America.

With his new movie, starring Andrew Garfield, the filmmaker offers up perhaps his greatest self-contradiction: Silence distills the concerns Scorsese has been investigating for decades  sacrifice, loyalty, guilt, identity  yet channels them not into a blood epic but far rarer waters of serenity and spirituality (and, granted, some violence).

 Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Tadanobu Asano, Ciaran Hinds and Liam Neeson star in Martin Scorseses Silence.

I remember sitting on set one day after I had shot all my takes, just off to the side having a snack, recalled Garfield. And I looked over at Marty working, and he was in a courtyard, sitting there in what looked like a prayer position. And on the monitor in front of him is an image of Christ. And I thought, Thats his life. His whole life. Cinema and Christ. Its everything. 

Based on Shusaku Endos historical novel about 17th century Jesuit missionaries in Japan, Silence tells of two Portuguese men of the cloth, Sebastiao Rodrigues (Garfield) and Francisco Garrpe (Adam Driver).

Learning that a mentor (Liam Neeson) has turned apostate to avoid martyrdom, they set off from Macau to track him down. When the pair arrive, they find the minority Christian population persecuted for their beliefs, particularly at the hands of the so-called Inquisitor Inoue Masashige (Issey Ogata). The high-stakes question  for them and consequently for Christianitys future in Asia  is whether to renounce Jesus or die a martyr. Where previous spiritual forays Kundun and The Last Temptation of Christ looked at religion in a given place, this examines the collision between the two, an east-meets-west battle over how the world should worship.

At an energetic 74 and five decades into a career that shows no sign of abating, Scorsese has made a movie about an epic quest.

It took a similar effort to bring the film to fruition.

Scorseses long Silence journey, by now familiar to many Hollywood insiders, began in 1989, when he read the novel and found himself moved: It evoked his own Roman Catholic childhood in New Yorks Little Italy and (mostly favorable) experience as an altar boy.

He optioned it, then began developing a movie. Financing seemed imminent at various points. I think I prepared the movie five times, said production designer Dante Ferretti, who has made nine films with Scorsese. I was in Japan, North Carolina, California, New Zealand. And then, at the last moment, it was [always], Sorry, we have to postpone. 

Financiers would drop out, or a lawsuit would come in. (The film faced many legal hurdles, both due to the books long chain of title and because several Italian producers had a longstanding suit against Scorsese for not making the movie in the 1990s.) Scorsese would at times also be unhappy with the script, co-written with Jay Cocks. He thought hed finally arrived in 2009, telling his team that he would make Silence right after he finished Shutter Island. Instead, he ended up making Hugo, then The Wolf of Wall Street.

After Wolf, though, Scorsese meant it.

Marty is very exacting in every aspect of his life, and particularly his filmmaking. And here he was willing to make some hard decisions, to compromise.  Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Silence producer

He said, Forget the budget I want  tell me what it takes to get the movie made and Ill do it,  said producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff, who has worked with Scorsese on half a dozen films. And that was something I had never heard before. Marty is very exacting in every aspect of his life, and particularly his filmmaking. And here he was willing to make some hard decisions, to compromise.

The auteur agreed to make the epic for $23 million after incentives and $46 million before them, some tens of millions less expensive than earlier incarnations. At the suggestion of Ang Lee, he agreed to shoot in Taiwan, a less expensive locale than Japan. He went to the market at the Cannes Film Festival and did a dog-and-pony show for foreign distributors to raise about half the budget, then didnt panic as another investor fell out weeks before shooting, leaving the project about $10 million short. (OK, so he also wasnt told about that one until the cash was found elsewhere.)

That headstrong ferocity, which Scorsese retained even as his high-powered manager and agent kept trying to steer him toward more commercial fare (It got to the point where my reps didnt want me to go near it), might seem mysterious. Why was it so important for the king of gritty urban Americana like Taxi Driver and Goodfellas to spend nearly 2 hours with religion-debating Jesuits in period Asia?

Scorsese cant explain it except to say that he felt impelled by a personal force.

What Ive been trying to get at for a long time is the idea of forgiving yourself, he said. I was able to do it at the end of Raging Bull, when Jake [LaMotta] recited the soliloquy from On the Waterfront. I was able to do it on film. But I wasnt able to do it in life. And I needed this movie to do it in my life.

He is vague, as he is about much in his personal affairs, about what he needs to forgive himself for, whether it pertains to his relationships (he has been married five times) or other matters.

But he does suggest that his profession is involved. It had to do with my belief about my vocation as a real way to live, said the director. Its really tricky if youre a director  theres a lot of ego and a lot of bombast and a lot of selfishness. And theres something beyond that in life. Or at least Im looking for something beyond that.

He says he has concealed religious preoccupations in his films for too long, camouflaging them in the codes of Mafia men and police officers. No more hiding, he said. Not with this movie.

That helps explain why the film has such an overtly religious feel to it. Silence is a movie (title notwithstanding) about talking, even if words are used as a weapon, and even if actual weapons are sometimes used too. But maybe more central than any other idea is the importance of symbols and spaces in representing belief. In the movie, Christians struggle with whether to commit apostasy by stepping on a medallion image of Christ called the fumie. And, indeed, the films big question  of whether Japan will turn Christian  suggests the directors embrace of geographic conceptions of the holy and profane.

As I was ready to shoot a scene, Marty walked in front of me, said Ogata, who plays the Inquisitor with an unexpected comic touch. And then he quickly said, Sorry, this space is yours, and went behind me. He felt like he shouldnt go in front of me because it was a sacred space where the scene would take place. It was magical. It felt like Martys spiritual view of the world.

Not that Silence didnt face some very human challenges.

The scene where Andrew is captured by the samurai, it was 90 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, 90 percent humidity, I look over and Marty is directing in his socks. It was hilarious, sad Tillinger Koskoff. And then the next day when a character is supposed to be getting tortured on the beach and its a monsoon. And its 4 a.m. of the day we were going to shoot and one of the assistant directors called me to say its thundering and lightning and the hair-and-makeup tents are blowing off the mountainside and everyone is huddled by the bus. And I said to Marty we cant shoot and Marty said no no, put out the rain gear and shoot.

Part of that indomitability may come from a personal sense of faith. And part of it may derive from him keeping an eye on different kind of divine presences.

Off on the side in our edit room, not in our eyeline but in a way you feel is there, Marty often has Turner Classic Movies on, said editor Thelma Schoonmaker, for whom Silence is her 18th movie with Scorsese. Theres no sound, but sometimes when were working, hell just say, Wait, look over at this actor or this director; hes going to do a great thing in just a second. Its inspiring.

Schoonmaker also brings up the spiritual aspect -- how, in a time of religious persecution, Silence will resonate anew. Indeed, while Scorseses Silence journey began more than 25 years ago, the film is reaching the public at an urgent moment  when Islamic State and secular armies battle in the Middle East and tensions mount between liberal values and religious freedom laws in this country.

Scorsese offers no easy answers. He does not impugn religion but, unlike a Mel Gibson, he also doesnt venerate martyrdom for its own sake. Viewers will make up their own minds whether those who choose to become apostates are doing the right thing.

Ultimately, he said, he can speak confidently only about his own life and the movies cleansing power on him. And even though he will return to familiar ground  The Irishman, a mob story with Robert De Niro  for his next film, he feels a certain reset has taken place.

You know, I interviewed Jerry Lewis onstage once. And Jerrys a tough man. But he said, If Im not enjoying myself, Im doing something wrong,  Scorsese recalled.

Through the process of the work, the composition, theres a searching. If you believe youve been given a gift and use it to tell stories, it can be purifying. Now that I made Silence, the next movies will be like starting from zero. And Im going to make them with forgiveness and enjoyment.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

On Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT
Among the many holiday traditions we have imported from the United Kingdom, neither the oldest nor the most cherished is broadcasting the Doctor Who Christmas Day special on Christmas Day.

Time was when these episodes would show up any old time. But the increasing popularity of the series here has brought worldwide schedules into sync, and now American families can fill their bellies with figgy pudding and gather round the telly to await the Tardis, like their cousins across the pond.

That said, youll probably record it. Because its Christmas.

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Most previous Who Christmases have played off Anglo-American yuletide themes and images  Victorian settings, variations on A Christmas Carol and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, your classic Santa Claus, and snow or something that looks like snow but might be sadder or more sinister.

Written by show runner Steven Moffat, The Return of Dr. Mysterioso, Sundays episode, is by contrast short on tinsel and absolutely bereft of snow. It does begin at Christmas, though not even a cold one by the standards of New York City, where its set. The Doctor is mistaken briefly for Santa Claus, and a contraption he has cobbled together is described as looking like a Christmas tree. (Of course it does, the Doctor says, its science.) But it has the right seasonal uplift and a beautiful line near the end about renewal that I will leave you to hear for yourself.

(And as in the original Christmas story, theres a baby whose male caretaker is not his actual father. But that may be stretching a point too far.)

The story takes up the thread after the highly emotional last Christmas special, The Husbands of River Song  there have been, unusually, no new episodes in between. Nardole (Matt Lucas), whom we last saw living in the abandoned body of the tyrant King Hydroflax, is himself again, reunited with his own old body by the Doctor to serve as companion, co-pilot and comic foil and, in a small but insistent way, conscience. Momentarily without emotional entanglements  there are just enough references to his inner life and personal history to remind you that he has them  the Doctor is free just to gibe and joust.

Moffats new big idea here is to bring the Doctor up against superheroism of the comic-book, caped and masked sort. Without going into great detail, there is a Clark Kent type named Grant (Justin Chatwin), in unspoken love with a Lois Lane stand-in, called Lucy (Charity Wakefield), and evil afoot in a corporate setting  a favorite device both of Russell Davies, who brought the series back from the beyond in 2010, and of Moffat, who has steered it since 2010.

Beyond that, the episode is the usual mix of the extremely local and the greater than global, with the Doctor changing individual lives on the way to saving all the lives. Moffat devotes more time here to the romance and domestic comedy than to the alien threat  two domestic comedies if you break out the scenes between the Doctor and Nardole. Indeed, the Earth-threatening elements of the plot are standard and familiar. But they are also not the point. (And like Christmas, whats predictable about it is also whats satisfying: Its getting the present you hoped for.)

Indeed, the episode plays very much to Moffats strengths. He has a talent for fast-paced farce, with characters going in and out of doors and portals in space and time the episodes central engine, the difficulties of managing a secret identity, is a classic situation-comedy situation  and for crafting banter of both the light and glancing kind and of the kind that intimates deeper feelings below.

Among 21st century Doctors  does anyone who has read this far need to be told that the Doctor is a regenerating time-traveling alien who every so often, when practical considerations demand it, changes into another actor  Peter Capaldi is the most elegant and mature. (Literally he is, at 58.) But hes also as mad a swashbuckler as any of his predecessors. You are completely out of your mind, observes Nardole.

How is that news to anyone? the Doctor replies.

Doctor Who

Where: BBC America

When: 9 p.m. Sunday

Rating: TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children)

robert.lloyd@latimes.com

Follow Robert Lloyd on Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd

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Carolina versus Oscar. In a battle pitting two grand names in American fashion  Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta  Herrera has sued de la Renta in the Supreme Court of the State of New York over a young designer who has helped each brand inject a more youthful air into their collections: Laura Kim, who founded the Monse brand with Fernando Garcia.

Herrera on Wednesday filed a lawsuit seeking to block Kim from joining de la Renta as co-creative director with Garcia. The duo was named creative directors in September, and Herrera wants the court to stop Kim from joining until April. Kims and Garcias first collection for de la Renta would be for fall 2017, which would be shown during New York Fashion Week in February.

Carolina Herrera Ltd. released the following statement Wednesday, Carolina Herrera is pleased the court today granted a temporary restraining order that upholds the non-compete agreement we signed with our former senior designer. As the court ruled, the non-compete agreement was fair and plainly worded. At all times, Carolina Herrera was faithful to the letter and spirit of our agreement, and we will continue to ethically and forcefully protect our business interests. Our focus remains on continuing to introduce new collections that embody the spirit of timeless elegance and refinement for which Carolina Herrera is known.

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A spokesperson for de la Renta declined comment.

But Herreras suit makes juicy reading  and does not hide plans to transition out the 77-year-old designer and replace her with a younger creative director. The suit comes at the end of a year when Herrera has been celebrating the 35th anniversary of her fashion house.

According to the suit, Herrera chief executive officer Francois Kress in July offered Kim, who the suit says was then a vice president of the house, a salary of $1 million to become senior vice president of design of the Carolina Herrera brand. Kim allegedly turned the job down, though, and left to join de la Renta.

Kim and Garcia had been hired as consultants at Herrera in October 2015, joining that company after Kim left de la Renta, where she had been employed for 12 years working directly with the late de la Renta himself. Her final job there was design director.

Sources said while de la Renta executives were not concerned about Kims joining Herrera, even as a consultant, there was some worry that she had worked so closely with the late designer himself for so long and had deep knowledge of the houses aesthetic. While Herrera and the late de la Renta were personal friends, there has long been a business rivalry between the two fashion houses. Herreras is much larger, approaching $1 billion based on the successful fragrances developed by her parent company Puig, although de la Renta has a more recognized apparel and accessories business.

An affidavit filed with the suit by Kims lawyer Neil Capobianco says that at the end of 2015 and in early 2016, she started having talks with the House of Herrera about becoming creative director. Based on the promise that Herrera herself would be transitioning out if that role, the affidavit says, Kim agreed to give it a try.

Her start date was to be Feb. 29, 2016.

Capobianco declined comment Wednesday, but the affidavit filed on behalf of Kim says that once she began working at Herrera, she realized that nobody had informed Ms. Herrera that she was being transitioned out and that Ms. Herrera intended to run CH as if she were the creative director. According to my offer letter, I was supposed to be reporting to CHs president and chief executive officer Francois Kress. However, I soon learned that Ms. Herrera frequently took charge, without objection from Mr. Kress. Indeed, in a Fashionista article published February 26, 2016, Ms. Herrera is quoted as saying, The creative director is myself. They [Laura and Fernando] are coming to join me.

Sources said Herrera expressed that same sentiment to many people, often describing Kim and Garcia as consultants while she was the main designer of her brand.

Kims affidavit said that she tried to work around the tensions inherent in a surreptitious transition plan, but realized the conditions were untenable and unworkable and resigned on July 8. She offered to work out her three-month notice period, but Kress turned the offer down and said Kim and Garcia did not have to come into the office any longer. A letter from Kress reproduced in the affidavit states that, and Kress signs off with have a nice weekend.

At this time, Mr. Kress informed me and Mr. Garcia that Carolina Herrera (the person) did not like our designs for the upcoming show [for spring 2016] and that she felt she could finish the collection in a way that was appropriate for her brand. In fact, Carolina Herrera said to me at that time: Nobody knows you and nobody knows that you are here. I am more famous than you and have more powerful friends.

The affidavit says that Herrera did substantially change the designs. It also states that Kim told the Herrera company that she was leaving because it would not make Garcia co-creative director and because CH would not agree to support Monses development as a brand, adding that Kim did not feel that this was a positive environment for creative input.

News of Kim and Garcia joining de la Renta broke in early September and five days later Kress sent Kim a letter invoking the six-month non-compete agreement.

The Herrera suit claims that the brand has lost business since Kims departure and that the fall collection shown during New York Fashion Week in February has been a dud at retail.

The suit contends Kim was a unique employee who is very adept at creating designs that are what commercial clients are interested in stocking in their stores, adding that the resort 2016 collection Kim helped design was the most commercially successful ever in its 35-year history.
A woman said to be a boss in a drug trafficking ring has been charged with taking a courier hostage in Sinaloa, Mexico, and extorting ransom money from the victims mother in San Diego.

Maria Dolores Romero Sandoval was arrested Saturday; she appeared in federal court Thursday for a bail hearing.

The victim, who has not been identified, was working for Romeros organization when he or she picked up drugs in San Diego earlier this year, delivered them to New Jersey, then returned with $21,000, according to the complaint filed in San Diego federal court.

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On May 16, the victim was stopped by U.S. authorities and the $21,000 seized. A man then contacted the victim on June 27 with instructions to travel to Culiacan, Mexico, to discuss money owed to the organization, according to the complaint.

On July 3, the victim and a friend  who is not involved in the drug trade  crossed from San Diego into Tijuana and flew to Culiacan.

Both are U.S. citizens.

Once there, they were taken to a house where gunmen took their clothing, wallets and phones and bound their hands and feet, according to the complaint.

Romero arrived at the home the next day and promised the friend that he or she would not be hurt. For several days, the victim was taken into a separate room to make ransom calls to his or her mother in San Diego, threatening to kill the victim unless $100,000 was paid.

The mother contacted the FBI, which logged more than 50 phone calls from the kidnappers between July 4 and 11.

The hostage-takers also threatened to cut up the victim and mail him or her back to the mother and to kidnap more of the mothers children if the ransom wasnt paid.

At one point, the kidnappers took photos of the victim appearing to be tortured and sent them to the mothers Facebook account. The photos showed the victim bloodied, bound with duct tape, with a knife at the throat and ear, pliers around the fingers and a gun to the head. The FBI later learned the photos had been staged.

That same day, the mother drove to Tijuana at the direction of the kidnappers and left a $12,400 payment. The kidnappers told her that it was not enough to gain her childs freedom.

She made another payment of $12,190 a few days later in Tijuana. The mother handed the cash to a woman who left in a Honda registered to Romero, the complaint said.

The victim and friend were released after that, but Romero reportedly told the victim that $50,000 was still owed.

Davis writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com
An electrical line in a tree sparked a devastating summer wildfire in central California that killed an elderly couple and destroyed hundreds of homes, investigators said Thursday.

Insulation from the electrical line rubbed the tree and wore down over time, dropping hot, molten material into the dry grass below that sparked the fire, officials said.

The fire raced up a Lake Isabella hillside prone to burning, said Kern County Fire Chief Brian Marshall. But this year, firefighters couldnt stop the flames, which eventually scorched 75 square miles and turned 280 homes into tangled rubble.

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This is one for the record books, Marshall said. Its not anything we ever want to occur again.

The fire began in late June in the community of Lake Isabella, an hours drive east of Bakersfield in the southern Sierra Nevada.

The conditions were ripe for a fire, said Marshall, noting that five years of drought had dried out the mountainous landscape covered by grass and dead trees. Wind and hot weather drove the flames, he said.

An elderly couple trying to flee from the flames were overcome by smoke outside their home and killed. In other neighborhoods, mobile-home residents raced to safety through thick smoke and roaring flames.

Everything they had was destroyed, Marshall said. They literally escaped with the clothes on the backs.

Fighting the fire cost $23 million, a figure that Marshall said doesnt account for the property lost by hundreds of residents, some still homeless.

Federal officials will provide new homes for 27 residents in a rebuilding process that Marshall said will take time. Several agencies collaborated on the investigation pinpointing the fires cause, he said.

Gabe Garcia, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, said his agency will next determine who is responsible and if criminal charges should be filed.

The fire started on private property, and officials did not name the owner. Garcia said that determining the next steps in the investigation could take weeks or longer.

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Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher was spending Christmas in intensive care at UCLA Medical Center two days after suffering a cardiac episode during a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Fishers mother, entertainer Debbie Reynolds, said on Twitter on Sunday that her daughter was in stable condition.

If there is a change, we will share it. For all her fans & friends, I thank you for your prayers & good wishes, Reynolds tweeted.

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Fisher, 60, was rushed to the hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics shortly after noon Friday, after her 11-hour flight touched down at LAX.

A source who was not authorized to discuss the incident said the actress was in a lot of distress on the flight.

Hospital officials have not provided any details about Fishers condition. But family members have suggested doctors have been able to stabilize her.

Shes obviously a very tough girl whos survived many things, Todd Fisher, Carrie Fishers brother, told KABC-TV Channel 7. I encourage everyone to pray for her.

A statement released by United Airlines said that medical personnel met Flight 935 from London on arrival Friday after the crew reported a passenger was unresponsive.

Our thoughts are with our customer at this time, the statement read.

Just prior to arrival, a pilot told the control tower that passengers who were nurses were attending to an unresponsive passenger.

Theyre working on her right now, the pilot said in a public recording of the conversation on liveatc.net.

According to the Los Angeles Airport Police, officers responded to Terminal 7 around 12:15 p.m. to a call of a female passenger in cardiac arrest. On arrival, they found paramedics performing CPR on the victim, according to Officer Alicia Hernandez.

Fisher, who rose to stardom as Princess Leia on Star Wars, recently published an autobiography titled The Princess Diarist, her eighth book.

She is the daughter of famous Hollywood couple Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

Fisher, who has written and spoken openly about her struggles in the movie business, is considered Hollywood royalty. She took on her prickly relationship with her mother in the book-to-movie Postcards From the Edge. Shes also been outspoken about her mental health issues and the solution she found: radical-sounding electroshock therapy.

News of Fishers condition sparked an outpouring of support and sympathy on social media.

Many of her Star Wars co-stars wished her well on Twitter, including Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca; Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker; Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO; Dave Prowse, who acted as Darth Vader; and Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian.

Im shocked and saddened to hear the news about my dear friend. Our thoughts are with Carrie, her family and friends, co-star Harrison Ford said in a statement Saturday.

Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now.. @carrieffisher  Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) December 23, 2016

as if 2016 couldn't get any worse... sending all our love to @carrieffisher  Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 23, 2016

At last I know what I want for Christmas. The galaxy's beloved Princess, fully functional once more. And soon.  Anthony Daniels (@ADaniels3PO) December 24, 2016

All I want for Christmas...  love, Bill pic.twitter.com/wMI5nK8Zx9  William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 24, 2016

My wishes to U Carrie Fisher, are a complete & speedy recovery.Your Princess Leia is a true and beloved national treasure.  carl reiner (@carlreiner) December 24, 2016

Sending love and well wishes to 'our Princess' @carrieffisher. The Force is strong with you... #YubNub x pic.twitter.com/TP1Z0msUjO  Warwick Davis (@WarwickADavis) December 23, 2016

richard.winton@latimes.com

joe.serna@latimes.com

Twitter: @LAcrimes and @JosephSerna

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In her unflinching The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher revisits her Princess Leia days and her affair with Harrison Ford

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From the Archives: Star Wars hails the once and future space western

UPDATES:

Dec. 25, 1 p.m.: This article was updated with more news about Fishers health.

Dec. 25, 12:30 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Debbie Reynolds.

Dec. 25, 6:45 a.m.: This article was updated with the latest on Fishers health and more reactions.

Dec. 24, 5 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Fishers siblings.

Dec. 24, 10:30 a.m.: This article was updated with new tweets from well-wishers.

Dec. 24, 7:30 a.m.: This article was updated with details that Fisher is in the intensive care unit at the hospital.

Dec. 23, 4 p.m.: This article was updated with more details on Fishers condition.

Dec. 23, 3 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Hamill and Mayhew.

Dec. 23, 2:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about the pilots conversation with ground control.

Dec. 23, 2:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from LAX police and United Airlines officials.

This article was originally published on Dec. 23 at 1:35 p.m.
Holiday travelers heading to LAX can expect traffic gridlock and possibly delays Friday as winter storms delay flights heading to the West Coast and departing flights have to wait for their planes to arrive, airport officials said.

More than 130 flights are expected to be delayed before noon at Los Angeles International Airport Friday, said airport spokeswoman Mary Grady. Approximately 91 arrivals and 47 departures are delayed through noon, she said.

When youve got that number of arrival delays, the departure delays are because theyre waiting for equipment to arrive, Grady said.

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At least nine flights were cancelled Friday going to or from LAX, according to flightaware.com.

Previous estimates of 400 delayed or cancelled flights on Friday provided by LAX officials were inaccurate, Grady said.

1 / 11 Holiday travelers line up for security screenings in Terminal 7 at LAX on Thursday. Airport officials said nearly 230 flights have been either canceled or delayed. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 11 Jetliners line up to park at gates in Terminal 1 at LAX on Thursday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 11 A traveler pauses beside a Southwest Airlines sign board showing dozens of flights to be delayed at LAX on Thursday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 11 A TSA agent guides holiday travelers through a security checkpoint in Terminal 2 at LAX on Thursday, one of the busiest travel days of the year. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 11 Travelers make their way through a crowded Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX on Thursday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 11 Holiday travelers line up for security screenings in Terminal 7 at LAX on Thursday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 11 Crowds jam security screening lines in Terminal 5 at LAX after unattended baggage was found in a restroom on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 11 A police canine team sweeps through Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police responded to the discovery of several suspicious packages in three separate terminals on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 11 Traffic outside Terminal 5 at LAX backs up after unattended baggage was found in a restroom on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 11 Security screening lines in Terminal 5 at LAX back up after unattended baggage was found in a restroom on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 11 A heavily armed police officer stands guard at Los Angeles International Airport, where security personnel responded to the discovery of several suspicious paackages on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Fridays traveling issues continue what has been a week complicated by weather and by security scares at the airport.

Airport officials said nearly 230 flights in and out of LAX were canceled or delayed as the first of two rainstorms caused gridlock for hours and forced authorities to switch flight operations on Wednesday and Thursday.

Instead of flying west toward the ocean, planes were forced to head east over urban areas due to high winds, Grady said. The switch, she said, slows things down.

The delays and cancellations were partly attributed to snow and rain across the nation, which caused a ripple effect for air travelers. Amid the delays, LAX officials warned that terminals were packed with holiday travelers.

The airport is at capacity, Grady said earlier this week.

As passengers flock to the airport, more equipment has been brought in to help with inspections. Daily takeoffs increased from 1,750 to 1,900.

And if that wasnt enough, lost and forgotten luggage is causing major disruptions.

On Wednesday, police evacuated passengers from three terminals after an unattended package was found.

As the day went on it started to back up, Grady said.

Any time unattended baggage is spotted, airport workers are required to report it to police, Grady said. That triggers a massive response, including bomb-sniffing dogs, she said.

In the rush of the holidays, its easy to misplace items, Grady said. She asked passengers to keep their possessions close and make sure their baggage is with them at all times.

Travelers can avoid headaches, she said, if they plan ahead.

She advised passengers to check the status of their flights before they start to the airport. They should also monitor weather or delays at their intended destinations.

And dont forget to use these same tips and plan ahead on Jan. 2 and 3  those are the airports busiest days.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

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The assailant, concealed in yellow rain gear with a black hoodie and black gloves, appeared to say nothing before dousing David Wicks in a flammable liquid.

Before Wicks  a 54-year-old gas station clerk working the evening shift in Burney, a small rural town Shasta County  had time to act, he was set aflame Wednesday night.

The person who ignited him then casually walked out, hopped on a black beach cruiser-style bicycle and rode west into the night. The entire encounter lasted no more than 20 seconds, authorities said.

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But the attack left Wicks, 54, so severely burned that the only information he could provide for the responding Shasta County sheriffs deputies was an affirmative nod when asked if the attack was intentional. He died at the hospital soon after.

Now authorities are asking for any tips that can lead to Wicks killer. Wicks, local media reported, was married and well-liked by his customers.

This guy was known in this very small community, hes very nice, Shasta County Sheriffs Lt. Troy Clegg said.

Wicks worked at one of the gas stations that sheriffs deputies used to refuel their cruisers, Clegg said.

All the deputies knew him, he said.

Some customers made a point to visit his gas station instead of others when theyd be on the road.

I couldve stopped by three or four other places, but I knew the manager, I knew him, Mike Gulizia told the Redding Record Searchlight. Kind of makes you sink a little, right before the holidays too.

The motive for the attack is unclear, Clegg said. The attacker didnt steal anything, and it didnt appear any words were exchanged before Wicks was doused and lit on fire.

This is a very disturbing case and it has affected the community a great deal, Clegg said at a news conference.

The attack took place at the Rocky Ledge Shell Station in Burneys Johnson Park neighborhood about 7 p.m.

According to investigators, the person walked in and started a horrific chain of events.

Security camera footage shows the person enter the store, holding what appears to be a water bottle, approach Wicks as hes behind the counter and splash him with an unknown flammable liquid, soaking Wicks and the area around him, authorities said.

As the suspect starts to back out, the victim David Wicks emerges from behind the counter area, authorities said. The suspect continues to spray fluid on the floor. The suspect then ignites the fluid causing a fire. The fire engulfs Wicks and the surrounding area.

The attacker walked directly to Wicks and splashed him without looking around and did not take anything, Clegg said.

I mean, this doesnt make sense, he said of the lack of apparent motive.

I cant imagine somebody, knowing Dave, why would anybody do this? said Wicks co-worker, Kris Cantrell, according to the Record Searchlight.

Wicks was found outside with severe burns over most of his body. A second clerk at the rear of the building didnt see anything, Clegg said.

The attacker was reported to be 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 9-inches tall, but no other detailed description was available. The black bicycle was found nearby.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

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UPDATES:

4:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the attack.

3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with a description of the assailant, details from a news conference and the reaction of the victims co-worker.

This article was originally published at 9:20 a.m.
A Victorville mother was arrested Wednesday morning after her 2-year-old son was found standing in the rain wearing only a soiled diaper and surrounded by a pack of dogs, authorities said.

Cassandra Violet Bustamante, 26, was taken into custody on suspicion of child cruelty following the incident, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department in Victorville.

About 10:14 a.m., deputies received a report of a 2-year-old boy who was surrounded by dogs at Brentwood Park in the 14000 block of Hook Boulevard.

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When a sergeant arrived at the park, he found seven dogs circling the toddler.

The dogs seemed to be very protective of the toddler when the sergeant approached him to get him out of the rain and cold weather, the Sheriffs Department said in a statement.

The sergeant managed to scoop up the boy. Then he and other deputies searched for the toddlers home, which was around the corner from the park.

When deputies got to the home, they found the front door open and the pack of dogs was inside, according to the Sheriffs Department.

The boys mother was sleeping and didnt realize her son had slipped out of their home, deputies said. The boys two siblings were also inside the home.

During the investigation, one of the dogs became aggressive and tried to bite the sergeant, according to deputies. The dog was shot and was recovering Thursday.

Due to the conditions inside the home, the San Bernardino County Department of Children and Family Services took the children away from their mother, the Sheriffs Department said.

The children were later released to their father.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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There are Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson boulevards in Los Angeles, Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive in Manhattan and Gerald Ford Drive in Rancho Mirage.

Now, state Sen. Anthony Portantino has introduced a resolution to name a portion of the 134 Freeway that runs from Glendale and into Eagle Rock the President Barack H. Obama Freeway.

Obama is no stranger to the area, having attended Occidental College in Eagle Rock in 1979 before transferring to Columbia University in 1981. The roughly three-year stay in the area was enough for Portantino, who represents Californias 25th Senate District, to move forward with a dedication to the departing 44th president.

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California has a long history of designating our freeways as reminders of the accomplishments of important leaders who have shown character, strength and passion, Portantino said in a statement. President Obama is a laudable person to showcase and for Southern Californians to appreciate.

The proposal comes on the heels of Pasadenas tribute to Obama: a commemorative plaque on the small apartment he called home while at Occidental.

The idea for a highway dedication came to Portantino last Saturday during a Democratic club meeting. Shortly after the Pasadena plaque ceremony, Portantino met with Pasadena Councilman Steve Madison, who shared his excitement about Obamas apartment plaque.

Also in attendance were community activists from Portantinos district who made the initial highway suggestion to the state senator.

Everybody said, You know what? Why dont we take this one step further and memorialize his presence in Southern California  in particular in Eagle Rock  by naming a freeway after him?  Portantino said. What a great idea.

With the support of Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, Portantino quickly turned the suggestion into resolution SCR 8. If adopted, the 134 Freeway route between the 2 and 210 freeways will carry Obamas name.

Part of my job is to be approachable, Portantino said. Im linked to the community and residents of the district, and I want to break down the barriers between representatives and the folks. If someone comes up with a good idea, Im going to run with it.

jeff.landa@latimes.com

Landa writes for Times Community News.

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A remarkable pictograph site that could date back to the 1700s is hidden on the side of a large boulder in one of the most secluded places in San Diego County, Native American art experts say.

Dozens of drawings cover the 26-foot-wide rock in the heart of a massive former land grant called Rancho Guejito in northeastern San Diego County. One drawing appears to be a conquistador raising a sword and wearing an armored chest plate. Beneath him, perhaps protected by a group of eagle feathers, is a stick figure that could represent a Native American who has been slain or is being threatened.

Its an incredibly unusual design, said Steve Freers, a Native American art expert who  along with former San Diego Museum of Man curator Ken Hedges  was hired earlier this year by Rancho Guejitos owners to examine the pictographs.

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The ranch is the last undeveloped, privately owned Mexican land grant left in the United States. The pictographs are in an area of the property thats an hours drive from the nearest paved road. The drawings originally were documented by an archaeologist in 1960, then largely forgotten.

Its a site we had heard exists but havent had access to for all these years, said Hedges, who also is an archaeologist. Its really exciting to see it.

Some of the drawings  representing three different styles and Native American cultures  suggest that the area may have been used as as a haven for Indian tribes trying to escape the European invasion that began in 1769.

The ranchos chief operating officer, Hank Rupp, said the pictographs appear to capture a pivotal time in the regions history.

I believe what youre seeing here is a depiction of Native American unhappiness with the Spanish invasion at San Diego, Rupp said. The Spanish conquistadors  came with their church and attempted to foist it on the Native Americans.

A report prepared by Freers and Hedges said speculation that the figure could be a Spanish soldier is plausible.

They said the drawings could be analogous to Kumeyaay paintings in Baja California determined to have been painted around the same time the conquistadors would have been around.

The hand implement could be a sword raised in dramatic display, they said in the report, noting that the body started out as a stick figure but was broadened in the torso area, possibly to give the impression of armor.

Both men have strongly recommend that further studies be done on the drawings to verify their origin. If the pictographs had been found on public land  a state park for instance  state archaeologists would take control. But because the ranch is privately owned, further study would have to be done at the owners request.

Rupp said more studies are planned, in consultation with experts and local Native American tribes.

We are cataloging numerous archaeological sites on the ranch for the purpose of knowing where they are, determining what, if anything, needs to be done to preserve them, and to communicate with our Native American partners, Rupp said.

He said Rancho Guejito  which sits roughly between state routes 76 and 78 in Valley Center  works hard to keep out trespassers and others who might damage culturally significant areas.

We patrol the ranch with armed guards, Rupp said. We are going to do everything we can to protect Native American and California history.

The sprawling property has changed little over the last few centuries, since Spains King Charles III directed Gaspar de Portola in 1769 into what is now present-day California. Accompanied by a group of Franciscans led by Junipero Serra, the plan was to establish a string of missions along the coast from San Diego to Monterey Bay.

One of the prime reasons for creating the mission system was to convert the regions indigenous population to Christianity. Anywhere from 133,000 to more than 700,000 Native Americans  representing more than 100 tribes  were contacted by the Spanish over the next 50 years, according to historical records.

Rupp said De Portolas march up the coast, from 1769 to 1770, would have taken place about eight miles west of where the drawings were found on Rancho Guejito.

The next step in documenting and studying the pictographs will be carbon dating, to determine when the art was created, Rupp said. Freers and Hedges also have recommended that experts assess the area and search for signs of a village.

Usually villages are associated with rock art within a quarter-mile, Freers said. This is too remarkable to be just a stop on a trail.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com

Jones writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune
Michael Manning, an Inland Empire priest who brought Catholic teachings into peoples homes through an evangelical television ministry and later spread the word via smartphone apps, has died at the age of 75.

The Diocese of San Bernardino said Manning died Dec. 14 of complications from cancer.

Manning produced hundreds of programs at a San Bernardino studio that were aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which has a global reach and offers a largely evangelic lineup that was dominated by the late Paul and Jan Crouch, the flamboyant husband-and-wife team who preached a prosperity gospel and staged telethons that raised enough money to afford them a private jet and a pair of mansions in Newport Beach.

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Im the token Catholic, Manning conceded in a 1988 interview with the Riverside Press Enterprise. I know I could be used. Im not naive.

Squeezed in amid the end-times preaching of the Crouchs, Manning offered a sunny menu of Bible stories and life lessons. He wore a cardigan sweater, smiled broadly and was referred to as a spiritual Mr. Rogers, a comparison he told the Press Enterprise he found flattering.

Mannings shows, which included The Word in the World, were produced by Wordnet Productions, a nonprofit media company he founded in 1978.

His interest in using media to reach as large an audience as possible led him to develop apps for smartphones, including iGod Today and Dios Habla, which offered brisk mini-sermons and Bible readings in Spanish and English.

Manning seemed drawn to the spotlight. He was a guest on Larry King Live and the Montel Williams Show, had a bit role in the 1991 Robert De Niro film Guilty by Suspicion and helped write a musical based on the apostle Paul.

Born Dec. 31, 1940, in Muncie, Ind., Manning received degrees from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained in 1969. He was pastor at St. Anthony Parish in San Bernardino from 2003 to 2007.

In 2011, Manning took a leave of absence after it was disclosed hed had an affair with a school administrator, later identified as a distant relative on the Wordnet Productions website. Manning acknowledged the relationship and said he was taking time off to reflect.
A University of Oregon law professor and former chair of her departments diversity committee violated university anti-racial-harassment policies by wearing blackface at her Halloween party, an investigation has found.

The professor, Nancy Shurtz, a white woman, claimed she was portraying one of her favorite authors, a black man, and that she had been unfamiliar with the term blackface.

Shurtz fought back Thursday, claiming the universitys 29-page investigative report released this week was filled with errors and omissions in an attempt to publicly shame me. In a statement, she said she had hired an attorney and noted that the university is legally prohibited from disclosing personnel matters.

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An instructor at Oregon for 34 years, Shurtz entertained 25 guests, mostly law students and fellow instructors, at the Oct. 31 event in Eugene. She had announced the party in her classroom and said she would be dressed as the title of a book.

The professor later said her costume was inspired by Damon Tweedy, the African American author of a bestselling memoir about conflicts of race and medicine, Black Man in a White Coat.

Her costume included a white lab coat, stethoscope, black makeup on her face and hands, and a black Afro-style wig  although Tweedy is bald.

None of the guests confronted Shurtz about the makeup at the time, although many were stunned by it, according to investigators. Some found the sight surreal and others avoided rooms where Shurtz was, declining participation in a group photo, and generally feeling like they could not say anything because they were in Shurtzs home, investigators say in the report released Wednesday.

After word spread, along with a viral photo of the costumed professor taken by an unidentified attendee, the incident sparked an uproar on campus, a public apology by Shurtz, embarrassing national headlines and some soul-searching by school officials. Students, educators and the public disagreed whether the professors costume was a dumb mistake or offensive mockery.

Some agreed Shurtz was trying to show her support for Tweedy, as she insisted, while others felt she should be fired. An online petition urging her termination received about 1,200 signatures.

According to the investigation, done by a Portland law firm, interviews with Halloween partygoers unanimously revealed that nobody told Shurtz during the event that her costume was inappropriate, that it was offensive, or that she should consider removing the black makeup. In addition, all those who were interviewed conveyed that Shurtz appeared to have worn the costume in earnest and that she did not seem to understand the ramifications of her costume.

In a statement, Oregon Provost Scott Coltrane said Shurtzs costume forced our campus to face some very difficult truths about racism, ignorance, and the state of inclusivity on our campus. Her costume mimicked the historic stereotype of blackface, and caused offense to many who witnessed it.

Shurtz did not demonstrate ill intent in her choice of costume, Coltrane said, but her actions had a negative effect on the universitys learning environment and constituted harassment under the schools anti-discrimination policies. Based on legal precedent, the law professors discriminatory harassment outweighed constitutional free speech protections, he said.

The university said it would not release details of any disciplinary action taken against Shurtz, who has been on paid administrative leave and is now officially back at work  but has no current assignments  the school said.

The schools press release and uncorrected Report act as a supremely public retaliation against me for seeking, even if clumsily, to raise issues of insufficient diversity in American professions, Shurtz said in her Thursday response. The report ignored the anonymous grading process, the presence of many non-students as guests, and the deceptive emails that created a firestorm in the law school.

In her interview with university investigators, Shurtz said she had absolutely no intention to offend or mock anyone, according to the report, and that she wished emphatically that someone had said something to her, particularly given that she was in her home and would have easily been able to wash the makeup off or remove her costume.

She also stated that she did not know the term blackface.

Anderson is a special correspondent.

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Like many secular Jews in the United States, I celebrate Christmas. My wife, who is nominally Christian in much the way that I am nominally Jewish, bought a little fake tree with lights, and on the 25th well hang stockings and exchange presents. Why not? My Judaism isnt central to who I am. Im not particularly conscious of it, and it doesnt set me apart.

At least, it didnt until recently.

My country has long let me hold my background loosely. When I was in middle school, there was an incident or two during which kids threw pennies at me  because Jews are greedy, get it? That was 30 years ago, though, and since then I cant think of many instances in which Ive faced discrimination or faith-based bullying. Despite the nose and the name, most people dont notice that Im Jewish. Lots of people claim that they dont see race, but in the U.S., at least, Judaism is often truly invisible.

Donald Trump and his cronies, however, are working hard to change that. Trump dabbled in anti-Semitic dog-whistles throughout the campaign. His final advertisement before the election suggested that Hillary Clinton and Jewish bankers had joined forces to strip our country of its wealth. He plans to appoint as his chief strategist Steve Bannon, a man who as editor of Breitbart trafficked in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, and who has expressed anti-Semitic views personally. The president-elect has been lauded and endorsed by the neo-Nazi alt-right, and anti-Semitic Twitter trolls have targeted Jewish journalists reporting on Trump.

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For many people, identity politics isnt a choice  its something theyve been backed into by folks who...have decided to exclude them.

Trump has made anti-Semitism an active force in American politics in a way it has not been in decades. I know theres a good chance that, by writing this article, Ill expose myself to some degree of anti-Semitic hate online. Trump has created a political environment in which I am more visible, and more vulnerable, as a Jew. As a result, I m more conscious of myself as a Jew. My nominal religion is part of my political identity in a way it wasnt before Trump showed up.

Following the election, numerous commentators argued that identity politics were Clintons downfall. Mark Lilla, a humanities professor at Columbia University, sneered at a generation of liberals and progressives narcissistically unaware of conditions outside their self-defined groups, and indifferent to the task of reaching out to Americans in every walk of life.

For Lilla, and NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, its dangerous and divisive to see the world through the lens of marginalized identities. We need to reach out to others and find common ground.

What they dont understand is that, for many people, identity politics isnt a choice  its something theyve been backed into by folks who, out of prejudice or political expediency or some combination of the two, have decided to exclude them.

When the Nazis took power, many German Jews were fully assimilated. A few, as German nationalists, even supported Hitler. Despite Nazi claims to the contrary, it was Hitlers hatred that created Jewishness as a political identity in Germany, not Jewish identity politics that created Hitlers hatred.

Today, African Americans arent joining the Black Lives Matter movement because they reject the concept of a universal community  theyre joining because theyve long been singled out for police violence. As Frederick Douglass said, The man struck is the man to cry out.

Lets not shift the blame for prejudice from those who hate to the target of the hatred. Black Lives Matter activists and feminists and immigrants didnt push anyone to vote for Trump. Rather, the hatred that Trump has inherited, and which he fans, is what has forced people in America to be conscious of their political identities as Mexicans, as African Americans, as women, as trans people, and, sometimes, as Jews.

Which is why for me, as a Jew, as for many others, this is a cold holiday season.

Noah Berlatsky is the author of Corruption: American Political Films.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
Transparency in executions picked up a partial win in Arizona this week.

In a lawsuit filed by news organizations, U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow ruled that an Arizona policy of shielding the actual injections in executions from the view of witnesses violates the 1st Amendment, and ordered future executions to be viewable from start to finish.

But he held over questions about whether the public has a right to know the source, composition, and quality of the execution drugs, and the qualifications of the people doing the killing.

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This is a significant issue. The lawsuit arose from the botched 2014 execution of Joseph Wood, who took nearly two hours to die. One journalist who witnessed some of the execution said Wood looked like a fish on shore gulping for air.

The injection process, though, was done out of view, and it wasnt until days later that it was revealed Wood endured 15 applications of a two-drug protocol, the sedative midazolam to render him insensate, and then an opioid, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), to shut down his lungs and heart.

The midazolam seems to have been the problem  it was involved in several other botched executions in other states. In a legal challenge by Arizona death row inmates, separate from the media lawsuit over openness, Arizona agreed this week to stop using the drug.

Arizonas executions have been on hold under a court order arising from the problems with midazolam, and state officials  who have been anxious to resume executions  may have agreed to stop using the drug to try to get the order lifted. Unknown is whether Arizonas decision will lead other states to follow suit.

If the government is going to kill, it must commit its immoral act under full scrutiny.

State executions are inherently inhumane, and immoral. And the ways states apply the practice are distressingly inconsistent, with poor people of color more likely to be condemned in a justice system that a steady stream of exonerations proves is too susceptible to manipulation to rely on for such an irreversible decision as putting someone to death.

Its bad enough to give the state that power. Its even worse to let it kill people in even partial secrecy.

As the death penalty becomes less popular, and political pressure to get rid of it increases, most of the states that still use capital punishment have been trying to hide aspects of how they actually execute people, including where they get the execution drugs.

California may join the ranks of the secretive under Proposition 66, which in addition to speeding up the appeals process (which I hope the courts find will unconstitutionally deprive people of due process) also removes the adoption of lethal injection protocols from the usual regulatory review process. So the state can decide in secret how it plans to conduct executions. Opponents of the initiative have already sued, and the state Supreme Court earlier this week halted its implementation while the case is pending.

Shielding the sources of the execution drugs goes even further. The argument by Arizona and other states is that businesses will be less willing to sell the killing drugs to prisons if the public will know who they are, and then protest or boycott. Thats hardly an excuse, as some courts have agreed, for violating the basic presumption of openness in government.

Capital punishment is a political decision, as California, Oklahoma and Nebraska saw this election cycle (pro-death-penalty initiatives passed in each state). The public has an established right to know how its government conducts business on its behalf, and with its tax dollars. Though it might make sense to shield some information from disclosure, such as police payments to confidential informants and home addresses of judges, saving a government contractor from political embarrassment is not defensible.

If the government is going to kill, it must commit its immoral act under full scrutiny.

Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com

Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter
An editor whom I greatly respect believes essays about media coverage holes  The press isnt paying enough attention to this thing I care about!  do not generally make for engaging reads.

Shes right, of course. There are too many things that are undercovered, and too many that are overcovered; you could work yourself into the same froth day after day without moving any closer to the heart of the problem. Why are we fuming about Lena Dunhams insensitive abortion comment when dozens have died in political protests in Kinshasa this week, when North Carolina failed to repeal its transphobic bathroom bill, when Mike Pence  who is, unlike Dunham, an elected official  still wants American women to bury their aborted fetuses?

Why indeed? For a million deep-rooted historic, social, economic and political reasons that dictate what both the American media and consumers do and dont care about. Because talking about cheap, small stuff is easier than talking about complicated, big stuff. Because we like schadenfreude, and symbols and scapegoats.

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Fallibly human though President Obama is, Ive never gone to sleep during his tenure wondering if wed still have a country when I woke up.

If so much feels undercovered in Trumps America, its also in large part because of the fact that a story that normally would dominate the news cycle now gets five seconds before being washed away in the pounding tide of his teams outrageous behavior. On Wednesday, Trumps transition team ordered the State Department to submit a list of all existing programs and activities that promote gender equality, such as ending gender-based violence, promoting womens participation in economic and political spheres, entrepreneurship, etc.

Yes, his transition team is doing a roundup of every U.S. program related to gender around the world. The week before, Trumps people requested the names of all department officials who worked on the Paris climate change accords. (The Energy Department refused; the transition team later said its leadership hadnt approved the request.)

Man, do you think Trump is making a list of State and Energy staffers to give holiday  excuse me, Christmas  bonuses? Me neither. These types of requests send a cold chill through the Department and career diplomats dedicated to their work and service to the country, a State Department official told the Washington Post. Its devastating to morale.

And in a normal week, Id be writing about it. But whats the looming surrender of U.S. leadership on womens rights and services, or a witch-hunt against those who are working to secure the long-term future of human life on this planet, set against a little nuclear winter? This morning, Morning Joes Mika Brzezinski (who Trumps campaign manager described as a counsel and friend; note to journalists: if a politician describes you this way, youre doing your job wrong) revealed that Trump told her yesterday: Let it be an arms race because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

An arms race. Huge! Nuclear standoff. Terrific! Normalize that.

Because of the difficulty detecting a signal in the noise, we can lose sight of whats at stake. This is exceptional.

When nuclear escalation is on the table, every journalist in America should get a new beat, and that beat should be reporting on how to avert nuclear war. We have covered this, but not with enough urgency. Each time the President of the United States speaks cavalierly or competitively about nuclear weapons, that should be a six-column headline in every paper in America. It isnt; it hasnt been.

The short memory America has when it comes to Trump  Remember his undisclosed tax returns? Pussygate? When he mocked a disabled reporter?  is the most surreal thing Ive seen, akin to watching an image disintegrate before your very eyes. Slate published a list of 230 Things Donald Trump Has Said and Done That Make Him Unfit to Be President the day before the election. Where would the count be now?

Were either unwilling to take the man seriously, or in too much shock to believe it. The former is a fallacy. Taking him seriously is not akin to respecting him; do the former regardless of whether you can do the latter. Trumps nuclear foolery may be a red herring, a distraction served up to take our eye off all the other balls hes setting on fire, and we should be conscious of that. We should also not assume it, or presume thats how his bluster will be interpreted by other countries.

On Wednesday, columnist David Horsey wrote about the unprecedented shock and despair those who voted against Trump (and, frankly, a lot of those who didnt show up to vote) are still feeling. Fallibly human though President Obama is, Ive never gone to sleep during his tenure wondering if wed still have a country when I woke up. If that makes me a coddled snowflake or a sore loser, I guess Trump supporters are just so supremely badass that even nuclear war doesnt scare them. Cool. Go read a book or watch a movie about it, then tell me again how strong you feel.

Donald Trumps prime campaign promise was that Donald Trump would always win. He would win through strength, intimidation and stick-swinging. But nobody wins in nuclear war. It doesnt happen. The use of nuclear weapons is a sin for which none is forgiven; a nuclear exchange is a potential extermination event.

So with apologies to my editor, Im going to pull the nuclear war card to make the argument she cautioned me against: This is an issue that deserves more consistent and emphatic media coverage. Every single time our soon-to-be commander in chief says something incredibly dangerous or pursues a boneheaded policy on nuclear weapons, we should pull a six-column headline. The media should sound every alarm at its disposal, pursue every investigative angle and drop other priorities if necessary in order to bring this story into every corner of the country. Shame the Republican leadership into taking a stand; prod the Democrats out of mourning; put the electorate on its feet.

Do it for those of us who are simply not tough enough to desire painful, pointless deaths or to inflict them on others.

Melissa Batchelor Warnke is a contributing writer to Opinion. Follow her @velvetmelvis on Twitter.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

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To the editor: Like the vast majority of Latinos, I am not a supporter of Donald Trump. But for Los Angeles city and county leaders to use $5 million in taxpayer funds for the legal defense of the undocumented is mind-boggling. It is overreaching decisions like this one by mega-liberals that awoke the rest of the country and got Trump elected in the first place. (Responding to Trump, L.A. proposes $10-million legal defense fund for immigrants facing deportation, Dec. 19)

The rationale used by City Atty. Mike Feuer, who said the funds would ensure more fairness and more effectiveness in the immigration system, is bogus and meritless. President Obama has deported more people than any of his predecessors, and yet local officials took little action.

Our leaders in Los Angeles must take pause and not get caught up in the sky is falling hysteria.

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Victor Ramos , Mission Hills

..

To the editor: County Supervisor Hilda Solis continues to show her hypocrisy. As part of the Obama administration, she remained silent as more than 2.5 million immigrants were deported. Now all of a sudden she wants to use our tax dollars to provide legal services to combat an event that hasnt even happened yet.

Trump has not taken office, nor has he enacted any policies or taken any action regarding immigration. What grandstanding by the Board of Supervisors and the city of Los Angeles to act otherwise.

It is also comforting to know that our county parks, beaches, sheriffs department, fire department, healthcare, childcare, social services, jails, roads, libraries, pensions and homeless needs are all so well funded that the supervisors can spend money on immigration, an issue they have repeatedly stated is not their responsibility but a federal issue.

Gary Velasco, Glendora

..

To the editor: A legal defense fund for illegal immigrants? Really? I didnt realize the Los Angeles city and county governments had $5 million lying around collecting interest.

Look closer, guys; you can probably find a project that would benefit citizens.

Ilene Schur, Laguna Woods

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Gov. Jerry Brown had to pick an attorney general faster than he expected

(Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

The phone call that Gov. Jerry Brown made on Wednesday night was unusual. A governor who marches to his own methodical timetable for decisions was having his hand forced by the politics of Capitol Hill, and the job of California attorney general hung in the balance.

In the end, Brown got the man he wanted: Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles). But it was Becerras effort to make a big career move that complicated things.

In interviews with advisers to the governor and those close to Becerra, a portrait emerged of two veteran politicians who have mutual admiration but dont really know each other very well. In fact, the 12-term congressman plans to spend part of this weekend meeting with Brown in Sacramento.

It was Becerras angling for an unexpectedly open high-profile post leading Democrats on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee that sparked the circumspect governor into action.

Nancy McFadden, the governors top staffer, decided she did not want to be attorney general. (Robert Durell / For The Times)

In Sacramento, those close to the governor said that the list of potential replacements for Kamala Harris was short, much shorter than the ones circulated by political watchers. Advisers confirmed that either First Lady Anne Gust Brown or the governors top aide, Nancy McFadden, could have had the job if they had wanted it.

Neither did, perhaps knowing the importance being placed on picking someone who would be willing to run for a full term in the job in 2018 (though Becerra declined to talk about future plans when asked on Thursday).

Becerra, on the other hand, intrigued the governor. Not only did he have the right credentials -- a former deputy attorney general, former state legislator, veteran member of Congress -- but advisers said the governor also valued diversity. And the chance to select the states first Latino attorney general was important.

While few jobs are as important to Brown, himself a former attorney general, the leading contender never came in for an in-person interview. Becerra, who grew up in Sacramento, had been in town just before election day to stump for the reelection of Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove). He met with McFadden on that visit, but not the governor.

And so the two men, who had no deep personal relationship, made the big decision long distance.

When they talked, McFadden said in an interview, the man matched the resume.

Becerra had been looking for somewhere to land. Out of places to move in House leadership and nearing the limit on how much longer he could lead the House Democratic Caucus, the vocal advocate for Hillary Clinton had spent the last year campaigning for her across the country with hopes it might lead to a new position.

Clintons loss Nov. 8 put an end to that speculation, and for a while Becerras next move didnt seem clear.

Surprise news Tuesday afternoon that the ranking Democrat on Ways and Means, Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) would not seek the position again led Beccera to quickly announce his plans to seek the position and lobby colleagues to back him. Levin quickly endorsed Becerra over Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richie Neal, who had sought the job before.

Word of Becerras effort quickly reached the state Capitol and the governors inner circle sprang into action. Perhaps fewer than a half dozen people knew of Browns decision until news began to spread early Thursday morning.

Becerra called the offer sudden and said with Congress in session he hadnt even had a chance to talk with Brown about the job in person.

It went very quickly when it started to move, he said. I was as stunned as you probably were and others were.
The first woman president was supposed to make history by accumulating such deep experience that few could deny her ability to serve as commander in chief.

Hillary Clinton did that, and lost. Now women politicians and those working to elect them  Democrats and Republicans alike  are sifting through her defeat to understand what her loss means for future women candidates and to find a future path.

Their effort is complicated by the very things that made Clintons nomination both inevitable and troubled: her singular standing and unique negatives.

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While the number of women elected to office has grown markedly over the decades, polling shows that in a race for the White House they still must demonstrate they are capable of commanding the government and in particular the U.S. military, a masculine institution despite its own gender strides.

That inevitably conflicts with another voter demand: for a fresh face  like that, say, of President Obama, who defeated Clinton in the Democratic primaries in 2008 in part because he appealed to voters desire for change.

You cant get those qualifications, get that resume, while also being able to present yourself as a change candidate, said Kelly Dittmar, an assistant professor of political science at Rutgers University-Camden and a scholar at Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics.

Men arent held to the same standard of proving their credentials.

Clintons experience won her plaudits from voters who throughout the campaign saw her as best prepared to assume the presidency. That may have helped her win the popular vote, but she lost the electoral college to a man who had never before run for elective office or served in government.

Most damaging, she was unable to fully benefit from the advantages that usually flow to a woman candidate  being seen by voters as more honest, trustworthy and both a unifier and the one who most cares about constituents concerns.

That has left a puzzle: How much of the loss reflected Clintons particular vulnerabilities, how much involved opposition that any future woman candidate may face?

Unquestionably, Clinton faced unique problems: Her decision as secretary of State to use a private email server, which led to extended controversies; media coverage of separate Democratic emails now believed to have been hacked by Russian operatives; and a relentless line of assault casting her as corrupt, first by primary challenger Bernie Sanders and later by Trump.

She also faced a unique opponent, Donald Trump, whose image of swashbuckling masculinity shaped the campaign more than any of Clintons milder efforts to use gender to her advantage.

Clintons supporters have been left counting smaller victories, like the fact that she won more votes than any candidate ever, apart from President Obama.

They are also casting Clintons reach for history as part of a decades-long effort that, by definition, includes stumbles.

Its been a struggle, its always been a struggle  thats the nature of the fight for equality, said Sen. Barbara Boxer, the California Democrat who was elected in 1992, a year when the number of women senators tripled.

The fact that we got to have first woman nominee of a major party is an enormous breakthrough, and well build on that, she said.

But others suggest that this years campaign portends trouble for whichever women come next.

At a recent panel discussion at Harvards Institute of Politics, which included representatives from both campaigns, Trumps manager, Kellyanne Conway, argued that the country was ready to elect a woman president  just not this particular woman in a year in which voters demanded change.

On gender, it wasnt a hypothetical, she said of voters options. It was Hillary. So its not just a woman; its one that people had lived with for quite a while.

That drew a pained response from Clintons media strategist, Mandy Grunwald, who suggested that Clinton had rare standing to be seen as a potential commander in chief, given her tenure as secretary of State, U.S. senator from New York and as a first lady deeply involved in policy matters.

You may think the country is ready for a woman, any old woman, just a different one. There are very few people who will ever meet that test, Grunwald said, adding: I hope I am wrong.

Clintons campaign was a real-world test that shined a bright light at some of the downsides of womens candidacies.

The degree of punishment she took from voters concerned about perceived ethical lapses was one of those. Throughout the campaign, prompted by broadsides from Sanders and Trump, voters were sharply critical of Clinton when it came to honesty and truthfulness.

The virulence of their sentiments suggested that women, usually held in high regard on those fronts, suffer more than male candidates when seen as not meeting that standard.

For women candidates, that fall from the pedestal may be longer and harder, said Dittmar.

Clintons perceived ethical difficulties, she noted, took more of a toll than Trumps arguably larger constellation of problems, which included repetitive falsehoods, wrongdoing by his foundation, tax issues and the fraud case leveled against Trump University.

One reason could be that we expected it, she said. We expect that men have those issues.

And while Clinton benefited to some extent from the prospect of being an historic first, Trump successfully made gender arguments of his own.

He made gender-based gibes at Clinton throughout his campaign, much as he had sought to diminish his primary opponents by mocking their height or lack of combativeness or, in the case of Republican candidate Carly Fiorina, her looks.

He talked tough, invoking the specter of violence, repeatedly and on a range of issues. His official health report listed his testosterone level, an atypical disclosure that stood out given the lack of detail he released on other health questions. His campaign did nothing to push back against vulgar references to women on T-shirts and campaign buttons at his events.

Whatever the motive for that style, it appealed to concerns that many voters still have about a woman commander in chief and womens role in society.

An April poll by PRRI/The Atlantic asked whether Americans felt society has become too soft and feminine. Two in five voters said that it had; among Trump supporters, 68% said so.

For more on politics 

In response to another question, two in five voters said that society was better off when men and women hewed to traditional gender roles.

In October  the height of the controversy over Trumps treatment of women  another PRRI/The Atlantic poll showed 56% of Americans believed society seems to punish men just for acting like men.

Sentiments like that serve as a negative starting point for the next high-level candidacies by women.

Women currently hold 1/5th of the seats in the Senate and the House, as well as six governorships, positions that serve as one form of entree to a White House bid. Women hold prominent positions in business, which Trump demonstrated can be a launching pad.

Ironically, Trump himself may go a long way in clarifying the future path for women candidates. A successful Trump presidency could enhance the odds for a woman candidate with a business or military background. A failed Trump presidency could reinforce the desire for someone with more political or governmental experience, more empathy or the reams of policy proposals that gained Clinton little traction.

Key for the next round of women presidential candidates will be finding the balance that eluded Clinton, between experience and freshness, between empathy and toughness.

They will have one benefit: They will not have been a symbol of cultural tumult, as Clinton and her generation of women candidates have been, perhaps giving them more latitude to navigate the nations views.

As a baby boomer, she was a generationally challenging figure, certainly as the first first lady that had a career, Jennifer Palmieri, Clintons campaign communications director, said at the Harvard panel. She didnt stay home and bake cookies. She broke a lot of rules.

Shes been an uncomfortable presence for a long time.

The next generation may also benefit from the shock value of Clintons loss. Womens groups report increased interest by younger women in political activism, a direct outgrowth of the November defeat.

Boxer, who will leave her Senate post in January, called such reports heartening.

Im very optimistic looking forward, she said.

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Twitter: @cathleendecker

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Updates on California politics

Updates on the Trump transition
Donald Trumps transition team has asked the State Department for details on programs aimed at benefiting women around the world, including a list of positions that focused on reducing gender-based violence and promoting women in the workplace.

In a brief request emailed to numerous State Department offices Wednesday, the president-elects transition team asked for an urgent response to its inquiries about gender-related staffing, programming and funding.

UPDATE: Trump team seeks to ease fears on womens programs at State Department 

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The request does not necessarily indicate a pending policy change. But it raised fears among some in the State Department of a possible purge aimed at opponents of the Trump administration agenda, and of plans to roll back one of Hillary Clintons signature diplomatic efforts.

People are freaked out, said a senior State Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

But other officials noted that Trumps daughter, Ivanka Trump, has expressed interest in womens issues, including child-care programs, and said that could explain the transition teams request.

Clinton, who served as secretary of State during President Obamas first term, started or championed many of the gender-equality programs covered under the transition teams review. Her successor, John F. Kerry, has maintained the programs.

The unusual request to the State Department follows a similar query to the Department of Energy. There the transition team asked for names of staff members who had worked on efforts to combat climate change or who had attended global climate talks over the last five years.

The Trump team withdrew that request after it was widely criticized.

The latest request 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.

Trumps team 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, and asked for a response by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

State Department spokesman John Kirby sought to downplay concerns about the memo on Thursday.

In my experience, it is normal, its expected, its not at all unusual for transition team members to want to have a handle on the way the organization is staffed, its manned, and its resourced, because this is a big bureaucracy, Kirby told reporters.

Without commenting on the email, he said that if specific names were being requested, that would be of concern.

Asked if he could reassure State Department employees, Kirby said gender equality remained a priority, and like so many other issues of human rights, [is] paramount to American foreign policy.

Trump transition officials based at the State Department and in his media office did not respond to inquiries about the motivation behind the request.

While at the State Department, Clinton made womens issues a top priority, especially in countries with highly restrictive gender-based laws, such as Afghanistan. On her international travels she frequently met with womens groups to offer support.

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 micro-loans.

Clinton also created the position of ambassador-at-large for global womens issues and changed State Department policies to give equal benefits and protections to same-sex partners of American diplomats.

I can only hope that the transition teams interest in this issue is motivated by a desire to continue and build upon the important work done  to promote the rights and opportunities of women and girls around the world, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who has worked on womens rights in Afghanistan, said in a statement.

The international community looks to the United States to be a leader on these issues. I cant imagine that any Administration would want to walk away from this commitment or discontinue this important work, he added.

Sarah Margon, head of the Washington office of Human Rights Watch, gave a darker interpretation.

While the transition team has a right to seek this information, given the misogynist comments and statements that have come from President-elect Trumps campaign, this request inevitably sends a very worrisome signal about possible intentions to eliminate important programs and policies that have supported women and girls around the world, she said.

The issue is likely to come up when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds confirmation hearings for Rex Tillerson, the Exxon Mobil chief executive officer whom Trump has picked to be secretary of State.

Incoming presidents often try to mold the State Department to follow their bidding, sometimes with bare-knuckle tactics.

When President Reagan took office in 1981, numerous diplomats who had worked on human rights issues in Latin America under President Carter were sidelined or forced out of the State Department as the new administration pursued hard-line policies in that part of the world.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter

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A Fullerton holiday tradition began as an incredibly bad movie.

Not even that so-bad-its-good kind of thing. Just plain bad. Maybe its the spirit of Christmas, but decades later, one little community theater has embraced the awfulness of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and turned a lump of coal into a present that just keeps giving.

The 11th annual run of the Maverick Theaters live production of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has been sold out for weeks. In fact, it sold out in 48 hours, just like last year. Its a smash that no one, including director and co-writer Brian Newell, foresaw.

I dont know how this became a success, said Newell. I had to beg actors to do it. They thought it was a suicide show.

The original 1964 film is routinely included on lists of the worst films ever made. But the Fullerton theater, carrying the unofficial mission statement Theater for people who dont go to the theater, saw an opportunity.

The story follows Martians who kidnap Santa Claus in an attempt to bring Christmas to their repressive culture. Two kids stow away in the Martian ship in order to save Santa, but mostly end up being the targets of a lot of the jokes. Its especially easy to see the humor of the play when the two children are played by adults.

Newell and co-writer Nick McGee did make important changes to the script, but much of the original remains.

I focused on the message of our version of the show. Kids playing with toys and expressing themselves, Newell said. Even though theres a lot of silliness there, its still a Christmas show.

Newell also asked his actors to play it totally straight.

Its something so ridiculous its absurd, he said. What happened after that was the audience.

The first few performances, the actors stuck to the script. And to the bewilderment of the cast and crew, audiences took to it. Feeling more confident, several of the cast members, who were experienced improv performers, began to take liberties.

We always hope something happens that is unexpected, said McGee, who has also played Santa and one of the Martians during the plays long run. It gets everybody in the mindset. Last night, my belt fell off and the audience erupted. It was this magic moment.

Consequently, the audience can get a different show every night.

I love it when stuff goes wrong, said Jamie Scheel, who plays Billy, one of the children. And it goes wrong all the time. Because everyone else is being so strange, I have to stay grounded as much as I can and use my reactions as jokes, but we very quickly realized what we can do and when we can do it.

Though the cast still works within the script, the show often feeds off that element of the unknown.

Every show gets stopped by some improv, Newell said. Its kind of like the cherry on top. The improv adds that special touch. Thats where the comedy escalates because it just happens.

The goodwill the show has generated since its first run in 2005 even caught the attention of Victor Stiles, who played Billy in the original movie. He loved the Mavericks production, and during the shows second run, he visited the theater in Fullerton and regaled theatergoers with personal stories from the making of the film. He returned the following two years.

Stiles support was similar to what the Mavericks other long-running holiday hit, Night of the Living Dead, received early on. Judith ODea, who played Barbara in the original horror classic, went to the theater to give her blessing.

The Maverick was also the first in Orange County to stage The Rocky Horror Show and later put on a musical version of the adult film classic Debbie Does Dallas, in which the performers break into song instead of, you know, what the film is actually known for.

During the 11 years of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, there has been some turnover of cast members  the production could be intimidating to newcomers. But McGee tells them to learn the script, so well you know it by heart. That gives you the power to make some crazy choices and take some comedic risks. If you dont know it, its so easy to get thrown off. After that, you can almost do no wrong.

Each November, Scheel has to shave his beard to play little Billy. That usually invites questions from people he knows.

I tell them Im playing a 10-year-old boy, he said. If theyre still with me, I guarantee theyll love it.

But good luck getting tickets.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians plays through Dec. 30. The Maverick Theater is at 110 E. Walnut Ave. in Fullerton. Call (714) 526-7070 for information.
A former Laguna Beach resident accused of stabbing his childhood friend to death in 2012 likely will get a new trial after a state appeals court panel reversed his conviction.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury had found Ryan Taylor Bright, now 30, guilty in December 2014 of second-degree murder in the death of Jensen Gray, 27.

But in a 12-page decision last week, a three-justice panel of Californias 2nd District Court of Appeal wrote that it agreed with Brights assertion that the trial judge erred in declining to grant a mistrial amid questions about the jurys impartiality.

The appellate panel sent the case back to the lower court to be retried.

During Brights trial, a juror was dismissed after speaking to a witness in a court hallway and researching the state penal code on the differences between murder and manslaughter, against the courts rules.

Another juror told the court that the dismissed juror had shared with the rest of the jury, in general terms, the differences in sentencing for both crimes.

The jury was tasked with considering the facts of the case, not the possible sentencing.

Brights lawyers motioned for a mistrial on grounds that the entire jury had been tainted and that some jurors might think the manslaughter sentence was too lenient and thus not be able to make a fair decision based on the facts of the case. The judge denied the motion.

The appellate justices noted in their decision that the jury was divided on whether the crime in Brights case was manslaughter or murder and had deadlocked several times before reaching a guilty verdict on second-degree murder.

Presiding Justice Dennis Perluss wrote on behalf of the panel that the trial judge properly dismissed the juror and conducted a hearing to determine whether the jury had been tainted. However, Perluss wrote, the judge also should have tried to ascertain exactly what the juror said to the others during deliberations.

Without a more complete inquiry as to what information Juror 10 actually shared with the rest of the jury, we cannot say with confidence his discharge and the courts general admonition to the jury not to consider sentencing were sufficient to cure the taint caused by the misconduct, Perluss wrote. Under the circumstances, without confidence in the impartiality of the jury, we have no choice but to reverse the judgment.

Gray and Bright had met in middle school and attended Laguna Beach High School together, according to an Orange County Register report.

Prosecutors said during Brights trial that a group of people including Gray and Bright were drinking rum in Brights Santa Monica apartment on July 11, 2012, when Gray and Bright began to argue. The argument escalated into a fight, and police were called, prosecutors said.

Officers eventually left without making an arrest. Bright also left, authorities said.

At about 3 a.m. the following day, Bright tried to enter through his apartments sliding glass door, but a woman who was inside, believing the apartment belonged to someone else, tried to stop him. That escalated into a physical altercation, and Gray stepped in to defend her, authorities said.

Prosecutors alleged that Bright stabbed his friend six times with a pocketknife, inflicting a fatal wound to the heart.

Bright argued during the trial that the group attacked him when he tried to enter the apartment through the front door and that he stabbed Gray in self-defense.

Bright was sentenced to 16 years to life in state prison, according to court records.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
Democrat Hillary Clinton collected more votes in Costa Mesa than Donald Trump, her Republican rival in last months presidential election  even as most Costa Mesans voted for Republicans in other races, according to voting data.

In Costa Mesa, Clinton tallied 21,528 votes, or 49.2% of those cast, while Trump, who ended up as president-elect, received 17,219, or about 39.4%.

Thats despite the fact that there are about 1,500 more registered Republicans than Democrats in Costa Mesa. Just under 80% of the citys registered voters cast ballots in the Nov. 8 general election.

In the same election, however, most Costa Mesa voters backed Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, state Sen. John Moorlach and state Assemblyman Matthew Harper over their Democratic opponents.

Such ticket-splitting is not unheard of but is increasingly uncommon, said Matthew Jarvis, an associate professor of political science at Cal State Fullerton.

For instance, in the neighboring cities Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, most voters went with the Republican candidates for president, House of Representatives, state Senate and Assembly.

Meanwhile, voters in Laguna Beach threw their support to the Democrats in those races, according to data from the Orange County registrar of voters office.

I think what youre seeing is a little bit more of a Trump phenomenon than a ticket-splitting phenomenon, Jarvis said Thursday, noting that some Republicans on the ballot likely benefited from being incumbents running for reelection. Rohrabacher, Moorlach and Harper were all incumbents.

In a fairly well-publicized race, Donald Trump lost himself some votes in the more cosmopolitan areas of the country, Jarvis said.

Political figures at the local and county levels also said Trumps candidacy might have fueled Costa Mesas split ticket this year.

There were a lot of Republicans I know who crossed over and voted for Clinton because they didnt want Trump, said Greg Ridge, secretary-treasurer of the Costa Mesa Democratic Club. But just because theyre not going to vote for Trump doesnt mean theyre not going to vote for John Moorlach.

Costa Mesa City Councilman Jim Righeimer, a Republican, agreed.

You have all this negative stuff that comes out, all these hits on Trump, so maybe people dont feel good about him or they feel uncomfortable about him, Righeimer said. But they dont feel that way about the other Republicans on the ballot.

But Costa Mesas split didnt apply only to the presidential race. It also spilled into the City Council election, which officially is nonpartisan. The two non-incumbents elected along with returning Councilwoman Sandy Genis, a Republican, are Democrat John Stephens and Republican Allan Mansoor.

The presidential campaigns largely ignored heavily Democratic California, Righeimer said, so there werent many opportunities for Trump to make his pitch to local voters or to combat any negative press surrounding him.

Trump did make a campaign stop in Costa Mesa in April, but his rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre was largely overshadowed by a subsequent protest that snarled traffic and left police cars vandalized near the OC Fair & Event Center.

Henry Vandermeir, chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County, said Trump may have turned off some county Republicans, who he said tend to be more socially moderate than those in other areas of the country.

Costa Mesas voting percentages in the presidential race were similar to the county as a whole, where Clinton garnered 50.9% and Trump 42.3%.

This county went blue for the first time in 80 years, and I think its not necessarily because we have a lot more Democrats, per se, Vandermeir said Thursday. I think overall he [Trump] didnt fit with the social values of this county.

Julian Babbitt, executive director of the Republican Party of Orange County, said Trumps election performance in the county is not indicative of the Republican Partys strength here.

It is important to note that two-thirds of the locally elected positions in Orange County remain held by Republicans, Babbitt said Thursday. Furthermore, even though President-elect Trump underperformed in Orange County, Republican voter turnout still surpassed Democratic voter turnout.

Ridge of the Costa Mesa Democratic Club said voter registration trends in Costa Mesa and some other Orange County cities have favored Democrats in recent years.

Cities of [Richard] Nixons Orange County are flipping blue, he said. And were just a hairs breadth away in Costa Mesa.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter: @LukeMMoney
Even before considering medical school, Clifford Char was thinking about giving back to those less fortunate.

He was working as a chemical engineer  designing photographic paper at Eastman Kodak Co. in Rochester, N.Y., and making good money  but felt there was something missing.

When youre working in corporate culture, youre basically trying to make your boss happy, said Char, 57, of Seal Beach. I was thinking there has to be more to life than this.

-----------------------------------

Editors note: This is an installment of Unsung Heroes, a new annual feature that highlights otherwise overlooked members of the community.

-----------------------------------

In 1985, Char left his five-year engineering career to pursue medicine. He graduated from the John A. Burns School of Medicine in his home state of Hawaii in 1989. He did his residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital at Harvard Medical School, and then completed pediatric/cardiac training at Boston Childrens Hospital.

Nearly 30 years later, Char is an anesthesiologist at, among other places, St. Joseph Hospital and Childrens Hospital of Orange County, both based in Orange. Char has traveled with nonprofits such as Operation Smile on medical missions to the Philippines, India, Ethiopia, Guatemala and elsewhere to assist in surgeries involving cleft palates, hernias and other medical problems. Since 1998, hes completed about 25 trips.

He really embodies the idea that all of us have responsibilities to be global citizens, said Daniel Liu, who has known Char since 2002. He brings world-class healthcare to those who cant afford it.

In some cases, Char said, the social stigma behind the persons handicap is greater than any physical trauma.

There are some countries that just leave the kid in the jungle and let them die, Char said. With a simple two-hour surgery, they have their life back. You see them look at themselves in the mirror, or you see the mother look at the child, and you just see hope.

Char said he felt obligated to donate his time and skills because of his Christian faith.

It really is an amazing experience because you go to areas that just dont have anything, Char said. Ive been blessed, so I should be helping other people.

In addition to being a trained engineer, a physician and a philanthropist, Char is an elder at Journey Evangelical Church in Westminster. He and his wife have a son, 21, and daughter, 23.

--

Nuran Alteir is a contributor to Times Community News.

Twitter: @whatnuransaid
Recently elected Sen. Anthony Portantino on Tuesday introduced a resolution that proposes to name a portion of the Ventura (134) Freeway that runs from Glendale and into Eagle Rock the President Barack H. Obama Freeway.

Obama is no stranger to the area, having attended Occidental College in Eagle Rock in 1979 before transferring to Columbia University in 1981. The roughly three-year stay in the area was enough for Portantino, who serves the 25th Senate District, to move forward with a dedication to the departing 44th president.

California has a long history of designating our freeways as reminders of the accomplishments of important leaders who have shown character, strength and passion, Portantino said in a statement. President Obama is a laudable person to showcase and for Southern Californians to appreciate.

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The proposal is on the heels of the city of Pasadenas memorial to Obama, who recently received a commemorative plaque on the small apartment he called home while at Occidental.

The idea for a highway dedication came to Portantino last Saturday during a Democratic club meeting. Shortly after the Pasadena plaque ceremony, Portantino met with Pasadena Councilman Steve Madison, who shared his excitement about Obamas apartment memorial.

Also in attendance were community activists in the 25th district who made the initial highway suggestion to Portantino.

Everybody said, You know what? Why dont we take this one step further and memorialize his presence in Southern California  in particular in Eagle Rock  by naming a freeway after him? Portantino said. What a great idea.

With the support of Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, Portantino quickly turned the suggestion into resolution SCR 8. If adopted, the 134 Freeway route between the Glendale (2) and Foothill (210) freeways will carry Obamas name.

Part of my job is to be approachable. Im linked to the community and residents of the district, and I want to break down the barriers between representatives and the folks. If someone comes up with a good idea, Im going to run with it.

--

Jeff Landa, jeff.landa@latimes.com

Twitter: @JeffLanda
La Canada resident and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital physician Rene Sotelos passion for urology is unquestionable.

Since starting out in the profession in 1980, hes treated patients around the world and become something of a medical legend both in his home country, Venezuela, and here in the United States.

Sotelo has published more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers and authored three textbooks. He currently serves on the editorial board of three urological journals, has won 23 awards from scientific and government organizations worldwide and trained nearly 70 post-graduate fellows from 14 countries in robotic and laparoscopic urology procedures.

But despite his impressive resume, its his belief in connecting with patients and empowering them to make informed decisions about their own health that seems to be the touchstone of his career.

Theres kind of a connection we create with patients, he said, explaining how urologists see and interact with patients all the way through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and beyond. With that you get to be friends, no?

Join the conversation on Facebook >>

On Nov. 20, Sotelo was invited to the Vatican, where he was granted an audience with Pope Francis. The once-in-a-lifetime meeting was made possible not because of Sotelos many accomplishments, but because of a very special friendship hed made with a patient four years earlier.

Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, then a Venezuelan monsignor in the Catholic Church, was suffering from prostate cancer in 2012 when he sought treatment from Sotelo. After a successful prostatectomy  which involved the removal of the prostate and the lymph nodes surrounding it  Porras was declared cancer free.

My health is perfect, completely restored, Porras said through a Spanish translator. I have deep gratitude for all [Dr. Sotelo] has done for me.

Since then, doctor and patient have attended several public outreach events in South America, where they have shared the importance of prevention and screening in reducing mens risk of prostate cancer, and passed out copies of Sotelos 2015 book No le Tenga Miedo al Dedo, or Dont Fear the Finger.

So when Porras was to be consecrated as a cardinal in a special Vatican ceremony by longtime friend and former Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, and was asked if he wanted to invite any special guests for the occasion, he immediately thought of Dr. Sotelo.

I expressed to the pope my particular wish to be accompanied by Dr. Sotelo on the day of my designation because I owe him my life, Porras said.

Together, the two men met with the pontiff, and Sotelo presented him with a copy of his book. They had a chuckle over its provocative title (which refers to a digital rectal exam screening) and discussed prostate cancer and risk factors.

While the meeting lasted just 10 or 15 minutes, Sotelo said it was enough for a lifetime of memories.

It was impressive, really, how he approached the people, he recalled. Its something that you feel, when you see him you feel, wow, this guy really inspires people.

--

Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine
Donald Trump shook up long-standing international security norms Friday by reportedly suggesting a renewed arms race, a day after he tweeted that the United States should greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear weapons capability.

Trumps meaning was sufficiently cryptic, perhaps deliberately so, that disarmament experts, foreign leaders and U.S. officials were left off balance  and unsure if he plans to upend U.S. policy on nuclear arms after he enters the White House in 28 days.

Since his election, Trump has rocked the foreign policy establishment by praising Russian President Vladimir Putin, and by speaking to the president of Taiwan and questioning the One China policy that only recognizes Beijing.

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He also has challenged long-standing policy toward Israel, saying he will move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, a disputed city, and naming an ambassador who supports Israeli settlements likely to block any resumption of the peace process.

But speaking recklessly about nuclear proliferation poses high risks in an unstable world, especially if it signals a possible end to decades of efforts and accords aimed at reducing the size and number of nuclear weapons.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to shrug off Trumps tweet as nothing new, telling a news conference in Moscow that he would welcome a Trump invitation to visit the U.S.

China appeared more concerned. A foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing was closely watching the incoming administrations nuclear policies, adding that the country with the largest nuclear arsenal should assume a special and prior responsibility on nuclear disarmament.

The numbers fluctuate, but Russia currently has about 400 more warheads, while the United States has 170 more delivery systems, according to the State Department Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance. Under the New START Treaty, both countries will deploy no more than 1,550 strategic weapons by February 2018.

Whatever his intention, Trumps comments mark a severe shift in the tone and substance that Republican and Democratic presidents have used in the past when discussing nuclear weapons.

It is a significant departure from what we have heard in the past, said Hans Kristensen, a nuclear weapons expert at the Federation of American Scientists, a nonpartisan group that seeks to reduce the spread and power of nuclear weapons.

None of them came out in this brazen way, he added. That means countries around the world are trying to figure out what is going on. Is it a madman or a new policy that they have to deal with? It creates uncertainty and suspicion both among allies and adversaries.

The flap began Thursday after Putin was reported telling a defense ministry meeting in Moscow that Russia needs to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces.

Apparently in response, Trump tweeted that the U.S. must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

The back-and-forth raised concerns that the two countries, which control 95% of the worlds nuclear weapons, might be resuming the destabilizing arms race that defined much of the Cold War.

On Friday, Trump acknowledged those fears in an off-camera conversation with the hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe talk show, which he reportedly watches regularly.

Mika Brzezinski, dressed in festive pajamas before a roaring fire, quoted Trump as saying: Let it be an arms race because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

She didnt say if Trump meant it as a joke or a threat. But as has become increasingly common, Trumps aides rushed out statements trying to clarify what he meant, or at least may have meant.

In this case, they argued that Trump wasnt calling for a new arms race, saying he wants to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a policy that President Obama has pursued.

Those claims didnt mollify disarmament experts in Washington.

The real consequence of an arms race would be that the sides would, at great expense, pile up lots more nuclear weapons  and gain nothing in terms of improved security, said Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who now is a senior foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank.

Trump may have been taking a page from President Reagans playbook: build up your weapons and then negotiate, said Joseph Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, a San Francisco-based organization that promotes nuclear non-proliferation.

But its a crude application, Cirincione said. Trump doesnt have the skill or the knowledge of the advisors that Reagan had around him. He is breaking with decades of policy, being unnecessarily provocative and causing other leaders to question his competence and the value of his word.

In what appeared an effort to ease those concerns, Trump released a warm holiday greeting Friday afternoon that Putin had sent him. In it, the Russian leader said he hoped to bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.

A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct, Trump in a statement. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path.

By almost any reckoning, the U.S. has a qualitative advantage over potential adversaries with nuclear weapons that are more accurate, reliable, technically advanced and invulnerable to a first strike than any other nation.

Keeping them current is another question, however.

The Energy Department has estimated it must spend about $18 billion a year over the next 15 years to replace and upgrade aging warheads and bombs. Outside experts have said the cost could reach $1 trillion.

The Defense Department has plans to build 450 new intercontinental ballistic missiles, replace the U.S. fleet of ballistic missile submarines and build a new fleet of strategic bombers.

Building new nuclear weapons, as Trump seemed to suggest in his tweet, would tax the nations aging nuclear weapons complex.

Concrete ceilings have crumbled and roofs leak in parts of the Y-12 national security complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn. A program to replace the key facility, a uranium foundry, was stopped after the projected cost reached between $12 billion and $19 billion. A lower-cost plan is moving slowly.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com

Wilkinson reported from Washington and Vartabedian from Los Angeles. Special correspondent Mansur Mirovalev in Moscow contributed to this report.

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Israels high court gave the government a 45-day extension Thursday to evacuate a Jewish outpost in the West Bank after settlers there pledged to leave peacefully.

The decision came days before a Dec. 25 deadline to demolish Amona, which the court ruled two years ago was built illegally on privately owned Palestinian land.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked for the extension after reaching a controversial deal with Amona residents that he hopes will avoid clashes with the Israeli police  and a crisis with pro-settler partners in his governing coalition. The outpost was the site of a violent confrontation 10 years ago when the government sent bulldozers to demolish several homes.

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Hundreds of youths had gathered on the hilltop to prevent any further destruction of the settlement. They were sent home this week after the government agreed to relocate some residents to adjacent land. But that might not be possible: Yesh Din, a human rights group that represents Palestinian landowners, says that plot is privately owned as well.

The responsibility is now entirely on the state and Prime Minister Netanyahu who promised to establish homes for Amona residents on the mountain in 45 days, the Amona leadership wrote on its Facebook page. The ball is in their hands.

The outpost, where 40 families reside, has become a symbol of the right-wing governments efforts to legalize dozens of tiny unauthorized settlements, despite court challenges from human rights groups and Palestinian landowners. Critics of the effort say it will make it impossible to establish a continuous Palestinian state in the West Bank.

The Israeli courts decision came as Egypt indefinitely postponed a vote at the United Nations on a proposed Security Council resolution calling on Israel to halt settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Netanyahu and President-elect Donald Trump had both urged the Obama administration to use its veto power to block the resolution, which had been scheduled to come up for a vote Thursday.

The U.S. has traditionally vetoed resolutions condemning Israeli settlements, even though it sees them as an obstacle to peace. But after years of failed negotiations, the Israeli government had been worried that the outgoing administration might abstain and allow Egypts resolution to pass.

Peace will come not through U.N. resolutions, but only through direct negotiations between the parties, Netanyahu said.

Mitnick is a special correspondent.
Samar Hussein, 11, was just waking up one morning a few weeks ago when an explosion ripped through her house. Her parents and three other relatives were killed.

She escaped with a broken right leg and wound up at a crowded hospital run by Islamic State, which controlled her neighborhood in east Mosul.

Militants captured the city of 1.2 million in 2014, but since mid-October they have slowly been losing ground to Iraqi forces aided by a U.S.-led coalition.

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Before the start of the offensive, the government air-dropped leaflets and broadcast messages on television urging residents to shelter in place, because camps for displaced people were already crowded and leaders feared that Islamic State fighters would turn a mass exodus into a mass slaughter.

Most residents heeded the advice and stayed. But they have paid a heavy price, with higher-than-expected numbers caught in the crossfire and targeted by militants.

At least 332 civilians were killed in Mosul and the surrounding province last month, according to the United Nations. The U.N. has not released this months total, but the violence has been worsening.

Nearly 700 civilians were wounded by snipers, mines and rockets the second week in December, a 30% increase from the previous week. This week, 15 civilians and eight police died, and 50 more people were wounded, in multiple suicide car attacks in the suburb of Gogjali.

U.N. officials said about 40% of casualties have been civilians  far exceeding the 5 to 10% they had expected.

Samar and her aunt, Mayada Habib, a 35-year-old high school physics teacher, were able to take a taxi to the outskirts of Mosul this week to have the girls cast replaced at a World Health Organization clinic.

All around them were other trauma victims: a small boy shot in the elbow by a sniper, an older man who broke an ankle fleeing an airstrike, a young woman grazed by a bullet as she sat outside her house,

We wish we could get out of there. Islamic State is always targeting civilians.  Mayada Habib, teacher

Unwilling to flee without the rest of their family and worried that such a caravan would be vulnerable to attack, Samar and Habib planned to return to their home in east Mosuls Nour neighborhood to wait out the military campaign.

We wish we could get out of there, Habib said. Islamic State is always targeting civilians.

She held little hope that the Iraqi army could save her family or her city, she said. After the destruction and what we have suffered for years, what are they going to do?

Another patient, 22-year-old Shukr Mahmoud Salem, whose arm was shattered in a mortar attack, was delivered by Iraqi special forces.

He had originally sought help at a crowded hospital controlled by the militants. But medication was scarce and civilians had to wait while doctors treated Islamic State fighters.

With no place to go, many civilians cant leave their houses, said Salem, who will not allow his young daughters outside, even to visit neighbors across the street.

There are roughly a half-dozen field clinics around Mosul treating injured soldiers and civilians, including three trauma stations that stabilize the worst cases before sending them by ambulance to Irbil, the nearest major city, 50 miles east.

Emergency rooms there have treated 1,925 wounded civilians since the start of the offensive, said Ajyal Sultany, a WHO spokesman.

Doctors said the wounded this week included a boy who was fleeing the city with his family when they accidentally set off a bomb left behind by militants. Both of his parents died. He lost a hand.

Aid groups and the government have been working to open more trauma hospitals and other facilities to handle the wounded being shuttled east from contested areas.

 Times reporter Molly Hennessy-Fiske reports from a military hospital outside Mosul.

Ambulances have been delayed by a gauntlet of security checkpoints, said Matthew Nowery, Iraq country director of Samaritans Purse, a relief group based in Boone, N.C., that plans to open a 50-bed trauma hospital next week about eight miles east of Mosul.

Every minute is critical, he said. People are dying in the process.

The campaign to take back Mosul has stalled in recent weeks. As Iraqi forces became entrenched in the east, families remain trapped with Islamic State militants.

Maj. Gen. Najim Jabouri, Iraqi army commander of the Mosul offensive, said there are no plans to evacuate the city. But some officials have questioned that decision, arguing that it was difficult to order airstrikes, artillery and rocket attacks as militants hid among civilians.

The civilians right now are like prisoners under the terrorists, said Brig. Gen. Tahsin Ibrahim, spokesman for Iraqs ministry of defense.

During a visit with Iraqi military leaders east of Mosul this week, Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said there was no easy answer to the dilemma.

Leaving all the people complicates operations, he said. Taking them all out risks getting them hurt.

When Islamic State fighters seized Mosul two years ago, some residents welcomed them. The city, Iraqs second largest, is mostly Sunni, and there were widespread feelings of alienation from the Shiite-dominated federal government in the capital, Baghdad.

Whether Prime Minister Haider Abadi is to eventually win trust in Mosul could hinge on whether advising residents not to evacuate proves to be the right decision.

Abadi made a promise that Mosul residents could stay in their homes, you dont have to leave, we will rescue you, said Patrick Martin, an Iraq analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.

Some residents have decided they can no longer wait out the offensive.

After his 8-year-old nephew was shot in the head and killed last week, Ahmed Bilal, a 29-year-old chicken vendor, fled Mosuls eastern Intisar neighborhood with his family.

Bilal and his relatives now live in a 21,000-person camp 20 miles east of the city.

Many families will die if they stay in their houses, he said.

Mahmoud Maltroud, a 55-year-old engineer who also fled to the camp, said two sisters are stuck in west Mosul.

I cant imagine how they will get out, he said. Islamic State is everywhere, on every corner.

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollyhf

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Historians employ a striking term  the Great Game  to describe the fierce 19th century test of wills that took place in Afghanistan and across central Asia between tsarist Russia and then-colonial power Britain.

With its overtones of guile and pitiless cynicism, the phrase is a relic of the past  but in some ways, it distills the harsh political realities surrounding the military and diplomatic jousting over Syria.

Against a backdrop of ruined cities and biblical floods of refugees, the competing and overlapping interests of an array of outside actors have played out over nearly six years of grinding conflict in Syria. Alliances have shifted; rivalries have sharpened and eased; even highly predictable events contrive to surprise.

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The smoking rubble of east Aleppo, and the suffering of hundreds of thousands of civilians caught in wars path, in no way resemble a game. But the fall of the northern city to Syrian government forces and their allies has opened a new chapter in a power struggle that extends far beyond the countrys borders.

Here is a look at some of the countries that see themselves as having a stake in Syrias war, how their actions have shaped the fighting to date, and how they might seek to influence the conflict going forward.

Russia

President Vladimir Putins year-old decision to intervene militarily in Syria tipped a largely deadlocked battle sharply in favor of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Devastating Russian-led bombardment was a key factor in the fall of Aleppo, once Syrias largest city and its commercial capital before the war.

Analysts see Putins actions as part of a broader effort to expand Russian influence across the Middle East, paralleling aggressive moves elsewhere, including in Ukraine.

Russias Mideast muscle-flexing carries risks of getting bogged down militarily in regional quagmires. But becoming a prime power broker in Syria fits in well with Putins strong desire to reassert great-power status, especially when his regional ambitions have encountered virtually no pushback from President-elect Donald Trump.

United States

When it comes to Syria, the imminent Trump presidency represents a major unknown. His pre- and post-election comments on Syria have been confusing and sometimes contradictory. But the positions he has articulated appear to point to acceptance of Assads continued rule, the possible withdrawal of support from previously U.S.-aided rebel factions and a willingness  even eagerness  to partner with Russia in fighting the Sunni Muslim militants of Islamic State.

All those steps would be reversals of the Obama administrations stance. Many critics consider Syria a major stain on the outgoing presidents legacy, as years of U.S. efforts to halt the bloodletting have been ineffectual.

Underscoring a dearth of American influence in the Syria arena, Secretary of State John F. Kerry waged a fruitless battle to halt the indiscriminate bombardment of Aleppo, which he and some U.N. diplomats have called tantamount to a war crime. But the bombing didnt stop until the last rebel-held parts of the city were about to fall.

Turkey

NATO ally Turkey has joined in the U.S.-led coalition confronting Islamic State. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made no secret of his anger at the West over issues including refugees and ongoing human-rights criticisms as he carries out a massive purge of political opponents in the wake of a coup attempt against him in July.

Turkey shares the Obama administrations desire to see Assads rule end. But that wish is overshadowed by a separate, overriding concern on Ankaras part: preventing the establishment of a de facto Kurdish statelet on the Syrian side of Turkeys border, something Erdogan fears would embolden his countrys own sizable ethnic Kurdish minority.

Turkey has drawn closer to Russia in recent months, and even the assassination this week of Russias ambassador to Turkey by a gunman voicing anger over Aleppo did not appear to harm that rapprochement. The day after the murder of envoy Andrei Karlov in the Turkish capital, Turkey joined Russia and Iran in issuing the Moscow Declaration  a bid to broker and guarantee a Syrian peace accord.

Iran

Assads minority Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shiite Islam, and Iran, the regional Shiite center of gravity, supports armed groups including Hezbollah, whose battle-hardened forces have fought alongside Syrian government troops since the wars earliest days. Iranian-trained Shiite militias also played a substantial part in the battle for Aleppo, and the United Nations has accused some of them of taking part in atrocities.

Iran has signaled its intent to join with Russia and Turkey in setting the terms of any Syrian peace accord, but Iran has its own worries about Trump. He has threatened to scrap the landmark nuclear accord between Iran and Western powers, which led to the easing of crippling sanctions.

Despite Trumps declared willingness to partner with more or less anyone in fighting Islamic State  which considers Shiites heretics  the president-elect could prove hostile to the notion of Tehran as a main player in any winding down of the Syrian war.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, together with Persian Gulf allies such as Qatar, has backed armed groups trying to topple Assad. But the kingdom has been preoccupied for nearly two years with a messy war in Yemen, leading a Sunni Arab coalition that has sought to crush Shiite-aligned Houthi rebels who seized control of much of the poor but strategic country at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Saudi Arabia, an important U.S. ally in the region, has signaled alarm over the prospect of a Russian- and Iranian-brokered Syria accord. Earlier this year, a former senior Saudi intelligence official, Prince Turki bin Faisal al-Saud, told a forum at the Middle East Institute in Washington that any Trump deal-making in concert with Russia and Iran over Syria would be the most disastrous step possible. He urged Washington to turn instead to its long-standing allies in the region.

Other actors

Members of the European Union participate in the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State. But despite being been roiled by hundreds of thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers, with Syrians making up the largest share of the arrivals, the bloc has wielded little real influence in efforts to end the fighting.

Neighboring Lebanon and Jordan have absorbed huge numbers of Syrians fleeing the conflict; in tiny Lebanon, Syrians now make up about one-fifth of the population. The destabilizing effect of the war and the wave of refugees have raised worries in Jordan, where U.S. ally King Abdullah faces a rise in radical Islamist movements.

Israel has for the most part practiced a studied neutrality in the Syria conflict. Its formidable army keeps a watchful eye on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, Israels doorstep, where some Syrian rebel factions in residence have ties to Al Qaeda. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged that Israel has struck Hezbollah targets inside Syria with the aim of preventing the group from obtaining advanced weapons. Israel has also provided medical care to Syrias war-wounded, rebels and civilians alike.

laura.king@latimes.com

@laurakingLAT

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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.
Christmas Bird Count organized by National Audubon Society: Biggest Citizen Scientist Count

staff@latinoshealth.com By Aadil Raval Dec 23, 2016 12:01 PM EST

Started back in 1900, the Citizen Scientists annual Christmas Bird Count has become the biggest Bird counting programme in the United States. National Audubon Society conducts the program where citizens and scientists come to identify and count bird species.

In a bean field at D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge, National Audubon Society organizes the Christmas Bird Count every year. According to Audubon.org, the Christmas bird count is organized in 15-mile diameter circles where the scientists and citizens count the number of birds seen and identify the species which is then compiled by researchers. It is currently in its 117th Year. Volunteers from Canada, U.S., and other countries gather to make the count. This year, the count take place between December 14 to January 5.

Over a dozen birders contribute to the research by spotting birds species after which the data collected by all birdwatchers undergoes compilation and then it is given to the National Audubon Society and the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to draw the conclusion. This year, until last Saturday, the group of birders identified 86 bird species that includes species such as Great Blue Herons, American Kestrel, Wild Turkeys, Hooded Mergansers, Great Egrets, Barred Owl, Turkey Vultures, and more.

The average count of species recorded every year varies between 95 to 103 species depending on the climate. This year, the count stood little low due to windy weather as birds prefer stopping at any trees as they are unable to hear or see their predators, as per contribution from The New Star.

According to the National Audubon Society, anyone can participate, however, they will have to make advance arrangements with the circle compiler. Then they will have to choose the 15-mile diameter circle on which they will have to count the species and produce the data to the count compiler. Christmas Bird Count is a free programme sponsored by donations made by people and then the funds are used to support volunteers and compilers during the programme.



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U.S President-elect Donald Trump is planning to add new members to the NASA transition team.

The new members will concentrate on commercial space issue as pushed by Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist who is also a strong Trump's supporter. Now the billionaire is Trump's advisor and Thiel raised a concern saying the current team focused too much on old-fashioned space projects.

Besides Thiel, Trump's other advisors, Newt Gingrich and Bob Walker (both are former Republican Congress members) are supporting commercial space programs.

On Tuesday, Charles Miller was chosen to lead the so-called NASA landing team. Miller is a former NASA official who advocated commercial space programs for years.

This appointment came as the answer of an ongoing rift in the space agency under Trump's presidency. Those who control the body want to maintain the existing conditions by working with government contractors such as Boeing, Orbital ATK, and Lockheed Martin, as well as focusing on the muxh-criticized Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft.

While commercial space advocates support commercial space projects and the operation of reusable spacecrafts. With Thiel under Trump, the idea of space commercialization will likely come true, Thiel is a close friend of Space X founder Elon Musk and Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos. The latter also leads his own space program Blue Origin, as Motherboard reported.

Moreover, transition leaders are likely to appoint Alan Stern, leader of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and also a head scientist for World View, and Alan Lindenmoyer, a former head of NASA's commercial space taxi program, to fill the posts, people familiar with the matter told the media. Those names and some others are still being considered and it is possible to change the lineup. Both Stern and Lindenmoyer have an extensive experience in commercial space companies, as stated by Space news.

All the newly-anticipated nominees are in favor of the type of private-public partnerships as exhibited by Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Founders Fund (one of Thiel's companies), which was an early and influential investor in SpaceX.

Thiel, along with Musk and Bezos already had a meeting with Trump on December 14. Musk himself was included in the advisory group, the President's Strategic and Policy Forum.
Campi Flegrei, which means in Italian "burning fields", last erupted in 1538 that lasted for eight days. This eruption created the mountain Monte Nouvo. Before this, scientists speculated more eruptions happened during pre-historic eras. One of which considered the largest volcanic episode in the history of Europe over that time.

According to National Geographic, this huge supervolcano situated in Naples metropolitan with half million people inhabiting is currently being observed. After almost 500 years, the super volcano may have wake up. Scientists reported in the journal Nature Communications this week that it is approaching to a critical state.

"We propose that magma could be approaching the CDP (Critical Degassing Pressure) at Campi Flegrei, a volcano in the metropolitan area of Naples, one of the most densely inhabited areas in the world, and where accelerating deformation and heating are currently being observed," wrote by scientists led by Giovanni Chiodini of the Italian National Institute of Geophysics in Rome.

Although the time of possible eruption is not certain, scientists still warned that a sudden release of hot magmatic gasses which could trigger a large eruption could occur any time in the near future. Italy government's response is the raising of volcano threat level from green to yellow (green, means quiet while yellow, means requires scientific monitoring), The Guardian reported.

It can be recalled that a known volcanic eruption had also occurred partly in this area in 79 AD, specifically in the Bay of Naples as recorded by Pliny the Younger, a Roman administrator and poet. That eruption cost the lives of many people, 1,500 remains were unearthed, but the total casualties are still unknown.

James Quick, geologist at Southern Methodist University in Texas said that there will be another supervolcano eruption. He said referring to super volcanoes in Sesia Valley in the Italian Alps. And it was found just recently.
A former state lawmaker from the Lehigh Valley faces drunken-driving charges after a traffic stop last month in Hellertown.

Former Pennsylvania state Rep. Karen D. Beyer is seen in a portrait for the state Legislature's website. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Karen D. Beyer, 54, of the 1600 block of Knollwood Road in Lower Saucon Township, was stopped for speeding about 1:10 a.m. Nov. 9 in the 1700 block of Main Street and found to be under the influence of alcohol, borough police said in a news release.

Court records indicate it is her first drunken-driving charge and that her blood-alcohol content was between 0.08 and 0.10, the lowest tier. She is also charged with a speeding violation.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Jan. 5 before District Judge Elizabeth Romig-Gainer.

The Saucon Source first reported Wednesday on the arrest.

Beyer, a Republican, represented the 131st Legislative District covering parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties. She won a special election July 19, 2005, to serve the unexpired term of then-Rep. and current state Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh.

Beyer won re-election twice before losing in the 2010 primary election to Justin Simmons. Simmons was re-elected this year to a fourth two-year term representing the district, which now also covers part of Montgomery County.

Beyer did not immediately return a call for comment left Wednesday night at her home.

Her immediate predecessor as state representative has faced alcohol problems of his own. Browne was charged with drunken driving for a third time after crashing his motorcycle May 2, 2015, in Allentown. He was admitted that November into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition probationary program that, if successfully completed, clears the charge from an offender's record.

Court records say Browne completed the ARD program Nov. 30, but unsuccessfully. He also paid $2,238 in assessments ordered by the court, records show.

Beyer is a U.S. Air Force veteran and native of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County. She has worked as a writer for Pennsylvania newspapers and served on the Saucon Valley School Board.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Couple allegedly robs relative outside Easton store

A man and a woman were arrested Thursday evening after a robbery in Easton's West Ward, city police report.

Officers responded at 5:56 p.m. to South 10th and Ferry streets and soon learned the robbery took place at South 11th and Lehigh streets, police said.

It was believed the robbers were still nearby and one was quickly identified, police said.

Andre McCoy, 34, of the 1100 block of Lehigh Street, ran off as officers approached, but was soon captured, police said. He was carrying a handgun, police said.

Kasandra Rogers, 28, of the 1100 block of Lehigh Street, was arrested without incident, police said.

McCoy, who was also wanted out of Mercer County, New Jersey, was arraigned overnight at Central Booking on charges of robbery, conspiracy, person not to possess a firearm, resisting arrest and theft, police said. Rogers was arraigned on charges of robbery, conspiracy and theft.

McCoy was held in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $175,000 bail and Rogers was held in lieu of $15,000 bail, according to the department of corrections.

Police did not detail the robbery or say what, if anything, was taken or if the gun was displayed.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The secret is out: St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church in Northampton is the Readers' Choice winner for the best pierogi in the Lehigh Valley.

The blue-domed church keeps its secret recipe locked in a safe, but voters didn't need a list of ingredients to pick St. John's as their favorite area pierogi. The church won a decisive victory with 22.3 percent of the vote, comfortably ahead of second-place finisher Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, which pulled 15.9 percent. Readers deviated from the judges, who picked Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in West Easton as the showdown's Grand Champion. Holy Ghost Ukrainian finished seventh in the Readers' Choice poll.

The Readers' Choice victory is a comeback for St. John's. In an earlier poll to determine the finalists, the 116-year-old parish finished only in eighth place, behind three other churches, Marblehead Chowder House, Queen City BBQ, Black Forest Deli and Mike's Kids Doggie Shop.

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church has been raising money with its pierogi operation since 1951. The team has grown from a small group in the basement of the former St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School to dozens of people, many in their 90s, regularly filling the kitchen and erstwhile gymnasium upstairs. Thousands of pierogies go out every month, mostly to businesses and restaurants. Just this week, workers expect to make 950 dozen for the holiday rush. The church's pierogi kitchen even has its own telephone line.

St. John's no longer sells directly to individuals, except for the volunteers who put together the pierogies. The public can get them at local businesses like Kotsch's Meat Market and Kornfeind's Market.

The judges also thought highly of the readers' top pick, praising the St. John's pierogi for its flavorful filling. If you're curious what we thought of all the finalists, revisit part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the taste-tests.

Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook.
Pierogies are no small potatoes here, where, after an immensely starchy competition, Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in West Easton has won our Lehigh Valley pierogi showdown.

The Greek Catholic parish, one of several area churches that fundraise through pierogi sales, faced stiff competition. The judges sampled more than 80 pierogies in all from our 11 finalists: five churches, two hot dog shops, a barbecue joint, a seafood restaurant, a deli and a bar. (For more details on each, check out part 1, part 2 and part 3 of our tastings.)

But Holy Ghost Ukrainian, our very first taste-testing stop, stood out immediately with a pierogi that nailed all the fundamentals. The dough was substantial but not too chewy, too tough or too soft. The filling of potatoes with American and sharp cheddar cheeses tasted fresh and well-seasoned. Father Dan Troyan, the church's pastor, served the pierogi in two styles: boiled and pan-fried. The former satisfied us, and the latter cemented the victory.

Troyan said the title of the best pierogi in the Lehigh Valley validates the work of the church's volunteers, who donate time -- and ingredients -- to the cause.

"It's a nice affirmation of their many, many years of staying dedicated to the project and keeping the recipe going," Troyan said.

Through generations of pierogi fundraisers, the origin of the church's recipe has become fuzzy. What is known is that families came together to keep the church lights on, and the community got a delectable treat in turn.

"The major benefit for us is that it's a community builder," Troyan said. "You learn more about somebody when you're working next to them than when you're praying next to them."

Holy Ghost Ukrainian's compact basement kitchen stood up to more intricate setups throughout the Valley. Parishioners pack into the tight quarters every month between September and June to churn out hundreds of pierogi orders by the dozen.

Anyone looking to order Holy Ghost Ukrainian's pierogies can check for information about sales on the parish's website. Be forewarned, though: The church produces a limited number each month to keep from overwhelming the small crew of pierogi-makers, many of whom are well into their senior years. Monthly orders come par-cooked; if you want them fully prepared by the church, you'll have to wait until Holy Ghost Ukrainian's annual picnic the last Sunday of June.

Deciding on the Lehigh Valley's best pierogi wasn't easy. Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine in Bethlehem had a uniquely thick dough that one of our judges put on the top of the list. St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Northampton and St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Coplay had standout fillings. Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Bethlehem had an all-around solid pierogi.

Among the non-church finalists, Black Forest Deli and Queen City BBQ won top plaudits from the judges. Each offered something unlike anything else we sampled. Black Forest's variety of fillings ensures something for everyone, and the thin dough means you'll have room to sample the whole smorgasbord. Queen City's meat pierogi juggles several assertive ingredients for a hearty yet complex result.

Marblehead Chowder House, Mike's Kids Doggie Shop, The Standard and, yes, Yocco's The Hot Dog King all put up a good fight.

But in the end, we had to choose one -- and so did you. Keep an eye out later today for the announcement of the Readers' Choice winner.

Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook.
A man accidentally shot himself Thursday night in Whitehall Township, police report.

Township officers were dispatched about 10:15 p.m. to 1804 Juniper Drive, police said in a news release.

The man was treated at an area hospital for the non-life-threatening wound, police said.

Dispatches indicated the man arrived at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg and was transferred to the hospital's trauma center in Salisbury Township.

The victim cooperated with officers in explaining the incident, police said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
It has been 35 years since Philip Lamonaco's final patrol. He only lived to be 32.

The New Jersey State Trooper stopped a car Dec. 21, 1981, on Interstate 80 in Warren County. In that car were two wanted radicals, members of the now-defunct United Freedom Front, a group responsible for bombings and bank robberies.

They opened fire, hitting Lamonaco nine times and fatally wounding him.

The trooper's family was home, making Christmas cookies at the time.

State police this week remembered Lamonaco on Facebook, posting a photo and a biography.

Today we remember December 21, 1981 Trooper II Philip J. Lamonaco Philip J. Lamonaco was born on January 21, 1949... Posted by New Jersey State Police on Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The shooting led to a series of reforms, including how troopers handle vehicle stops. And his family's story helped lead to the construction of a national law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1991.

Below is the story The Express-Times ran in 2006 -- the 25th anniversary of his death -- when a roadside memorial to Lamonaco was dedicated.

She made them cry on Thursday afternoon.



Even the men wiped away tears when Sarah Lamonaco spoke during the dedication of a new memorial unveiled on this 25th anniversary of her father's murder.



"Right here someone took him from us, " she said. "Dec. 21 has been the hardest day of my life."



Signs once marked the spot along Interstate 80 West where a traffic stop placed trooper Phil Lamonaco face-to-face with two of the nation's most wanted domestic terrorists.



Now there is a 5-ton rock. The rock bears three granite pieces etched with the trooper's name, the New Jersey State Police triangle and the date of his death, Dec. 21, 1981.



Landscaping surrounds it and a walk leads down to the site, just north of the noisy traffic on I-80. Lamonaco once described the highway as a conduit where transients and criminals often pass through Warren County.



Sarah Lamonaco, 25, told the huge gathering her dad's oft-used phrase when things got tough.



"Nobody said it was going to be easy, " she said.



So they came and listened - the state police's top brass, the troopers, the honor guard, the civilians and the family who survived the unthinkable.



Music from the New Jersey State Police Bag Pipers of the Blue & Gold lent an air of sadness to the event as troopers lined up to pay homage.



One trooper escorted a horse with no rider as the rank and file stood at attention. Other troopers stood at attention on either side of the brick walk leading down to the memorial.



Those who attended placed flowers on top of the rock in a long procession down the walk and back up.



State Police Superintendent Joseph Fuentes spoke during the ceremony along with other notables. Warren County Freeholder John DiMaio and Knowlton Township Mayor Frank Vann Horn joined with other civic leaders who attended.



"He gave his life for our freedom, " said Monsignor Philip A. Lowery - chief of chaplains for the state police. The monsignor said Lamonaco possessed the virtues of honor, duty and fidelity.



Fuentes described the memorial as "a very hallowed spot."



He said Lamonaco's shooting "was one of the saddest moments in our history."



The slain trooper's son - trooper Michael Lamonaco - said: "I can only hope that I can fulfill the high standards set by my father and all the troopers before me."



He was 4 years old when his father was killed.

Service honors fallen N.J. law enforcement



One of the men convicted of the Lamonaco shooting died last year in a prison hospital.



Richard Charles Williams, 58, believed to be the triggerman, died Dec. 7, 2005, almost 24 years after the murder.



The investigation led to his capture and that of his accomplice, Thomas Manning, who remains in a West Virginia federal prison.



Williams was 34 when he and Manning were pulled over by Phil Lamonaco just east of the Route 94 interchange. Phil Lamonaco worked out of the former state police barracks in Blairstown Township, since relocated to nearby Hope Township. His wife was home with their three young children baking Christmas cookies when the shooting occurred.



He was shot nine times after he disarmed Manning and put the gun in his belt. The killers then fled.



A passing motorist found Phil Lamonaco face down in the snow. The trooper later died at the Pocono Medical Center. Police found the suspects' Chevrolet stuck in a snowbank on Station Road in Knowlton Township, six miles from the shooting scene. The bullet-riddled car had fingerprints from Manning and Williams. Inside were bloodstains from Williams on the passenger side door, head- and armrests.



Among the detectives who worked the case more than three years was Warren County Public Safety Director David Gallant - now a retired state police captain.

Pa. State Police honor their fallen



A nationwide investigation led to the separate arrests of both suspects and their convictions.



Gallant told the gathering Thursday the investigation put a lot of pressure on the suspects who were forced to move from one safe house to another. Both belonged to radical groups active in the 1970s.



Fuentes commended former New Jersey State Police Superintendent Clinton Pagano for his tenacity in pursuing the investigation despite political pressure to throttle down what had become a lengthy and costly pursuit.



Some accused Pagano of taking the Lamonaco shooting personally, Fuentes said.



Pagano spoke later.



He said state police will never slow down an investigation into the killing of a New Jersey State Police trooper.



"We do take it personally and we will never ever throttle back, " he said. "People such as these must understand that they will be pursued."



Donna Lamonaco - who prefers the term survivor to that of widow - also spoke during the ceremony.



"He loved this job, " she said. "He loved the fact that he was there to protect society."



She said he not only loved his job, but that he loved her and his family.



Donna Lamonaco said she misses her late husband.



"That's the hardest thing, " she said tearfully. "This rock is the rock of strength...it's the rock of courage."

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Construction Industry Federations Jobs website aimed at getting Laois tradesmen who are working abroad to stay home this Christmas as salaries in industry increasing

cifjobs.ie targeting the Diaspora from Laois and other Irish counties to fill 112,000 jobs required up to 2020 as activity in the regions expected to grow

The Construction Industry Federation has launched a website featuring career opportunities in the construction industry. Demand for skills is outstripping supply and Hays Recruitments recent salary guide reporting that those with experience in the sector seeing salary increases of 10%.

Another report commissioned by the CIF, (Demand for Skills in Construction to 2020) and carried out by DKM economic consultants, states that construction activity can sustain an additional 112,000 jobs up to 2020 with an estimated 19 billion worth of projects in the pipeline in 2017.

The website features jobs with leading construction companies and is aimed to show those returning home for Christmas that their skills are in demand. DKM estimated that the Irish industry will require up to 2020 in the region of:

15,200 electricians

7, 800 bricklayers

11,800 plumbers

30,800 carpenters and joiners

13,900 plasters/Floor and tilers

9,400 painters and decorators

9,600 managers

18,100 operatives

27,600 general labourers

Director General of the CIF, Tom Parlon stated;

The construction industry is growing strongly across all our sectors and trades. We are asking Irish people with construction experience who have left Ireland to consider returning to take up a role in construction. There is sufficient work in the pipeline to require about another 112,000 jobs up to 2020 and beyond.

"The Governments will likely expand the 43billion Capital Programme in 2017, the Rebuilding Ireland Strategy envisages an annual output of 25,000 houses per year by 2020 and the demand for specialist buildings related to FDI is increasing. So, there is a basis for people to build strong careers in construction here in Ireland.

"The recent Hays Recruitment Salary guide showed that salaries are on the increase and approaching those levels of Canada, Australia and the US for those with experience particularly in QS, architecture, building services and increasingly the trades. The CIF is attempting to ensure there are sufficient skilled employees by engaging in several initiatives. Were working with the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to upskill those on the live register with construction experience. Were attracting young people into the industry by highlighting the modern globalised careers available. Finally, were trying to get the positive news about the industry and Ireland in general to those in the diaspora to attract them back. Cifjobs.ie will highlight the jobs available in our member companies and allow potential candidates to engage directly with Irelands leading construction companies.

The CIF is partnering with a number of organisations such as DKM consultants, Hays Recruitment Ireland, ICDS Recruitment, Back4Good.ie and the CIFs Pension Administration Services to inform Irish emigrants of the opportunities in Ireland.
The North Pole National Airport has just announced Santas flight plan over Laois this Christmas, and as usual the jolly white-bearded housebreaker will have a busy time ensuring that not a single child awakens on Christmas morning to find nothing beneath the tree except a carpet of pine needles and bubble bath from Aunty Jean.

With confirmation that this year Santa is driving the new Bugatti Super Sled xi - which serves up twice the reindeer-power at half the carrot-intake - St Nick should have things all wrapped up long before the last mince pie from the Queens County has settled in his considerable belly.

Rumours that Rudolph would be unable to lead the sleigh this year due to a bad head cold have been denied by the Grotto Press Office.

Beginning in the south of the county in Killeshin, Crettyard, Swan, Ballinakill, Abbeyleix, Durrow and Cullohill, taking in Arles, Ballylinan and Ballyroan, Santa will scoot across to Rathdowney, Errill and Borris in Ossory.

After that he will travel up to Castletown, Mountrath and Ballyfin, before hitting the county town of Portlaoise, then Stradbally, Vicarstown, Emo, Killenard and Portarlington, before travelling through Mountmellick to take in Rosenallis and Clonaslee.

Thanks to the generosity of Laois County Council, Santa can enjoy free parking for his sleigh in select areas of Laois, with a full hour free in Portlaoise town.

The usual garda advice not to leave valuables on display while away from a parked vehicle may be rather difficult for Santa to adhere to, however, so a garda spokesperson has asked that everyone do their best to stay off the naughty list this year and resist the temptation to help themselves to an early present.

The Grotto Press Office could not confirm exactly what time Santa will be arriving in Laois, with delays expected as the UK has expressed concerns post-Brexit about his free movements between the north and the south of the country.

This is the official flight plan, but according to a statement from Mrs Claus, Santas manager and wife, hell be more than happy to drop into any house where theres food and drink laid out for him.

But please, just orange juice, she warned parents. Last year he almost wrapped the sleigh around a lamppost and it took ten of the elves just to get him up the stairs and into bed.
Christmas is the perfect excuse to indulge in some delicious beers. The range of styles, variety of flavours and the relatively low alcohol volume makes beer the perfect Christmas drink.

You are also spoiled for choice with seasonal beers at this time of year. It could even be said that the idea of drinking festive, seasonal, special brews at this time of year stretches back way before the first Christmas some 2000 years ago.

The Scandinavian countries have, perhaps, the strongest claim in this regard. There is evidence that the Vikings enjoyed a strong, malty beer during their Jul  or Yule  celebrations. Winter solstice was an important festival in the Viking Calendar and their December 21st celebrations were not complete without the tradition of drinking Jul, during which drafts of beer were offered to Odin, Frey and other Norse gods.

In Norway, even after Christianity became the official religion, Jul beer traditions were enshrined in law. King Haakon I (The Good c.920-961AD) decreed that each household must brew an amount of Jul beer, the celebration of which had been amalgamated into Christmas a few days later on December 25.

Furthermore, The Gulathing Laws not only required households to brew beer for Christmas but also decreed that a celebration or sort of party was held. Penalties, which included loss of property and fines, were imposed on any household found to be shirking their brewing duties.

These laws were first written down in the 13th century but probably existed in the oral tradition long before this as the Gulathing was an annual parliamentary assembly which took place, on the west coast of Norway from approximately 900 to 1300 AD. It was one of the oldest and largest parliamentary assemblies in medieval Norway.

An almost complete manuscript of the Gulathing Laws has survived from around 1250. Initially, farmers from Western Norway met at Gulen to discuss political matters, which would impact the people such as taxation, military service and the building of roads and churches but the assembly also passed judgements in civil disputes and criminal cases.

Sharing a Viking heritage, Sweden and Denmark were traditionally just as enthusiastic about holiday brewing and drinking. More recently, the Swedes are credited as being among the first Europeans to bring a Christmas beer tradition to North America at some point during the 17th century.

The 19th century heralded commercial production of Scandinavian Christmas beers and today modern Scandinavian brewers continue to brew Julebryg and Julel at this time of year.This is somewhat in contrast to the more generic style of lagers some breweries predominantly brew.

Of course, Christmas brewing can be observed in other European countries. In the Middle Ages, observant monks brewed their finest, strongest beer to mark the birth of Christ. In Belgium, there are many modern Belgian Christmas beers on the market.

However, many people dont know that Stella Artois was originally brewed as a Christmas beer. Launched in 1926 its bright gold colour the name was inspired by the Christmas star.

So, when you are enjoy some delicious beer this Christmas keep in mind that thousands of years worth of beer lovers have done exactly the same.

In the dark, cold mid-winter, families and friends have gathered and shared beer for centuries; our traditions draw on customs far more ancient than sometimes we realise.

Our Beers of the Week

It is worth noting that many breweries release special edition Christmas gift packs. In Boyles in Kildare we have a number of limited release presentation packs which come with glasses.

These make great gifts for other or as a festive treat for yourself.

Our pick of the bunch this week is the Delirium Christmas four-pack with a Christmas glass, priced at 22.49.

The Chimay three 750ml pack with two glasses is also worth checking out.

It includes the very special Grand Reserve priced at 34.99.

Susan and Judith Boyle write the weekly 'Brewin' Up A Storm' beer column in the Leinster Leader.

Judith Boyle is a qualified chemist (MSc) and accredited beer sommelier. She loves helping people discover delicious beers.

Susan Boyle is a playwright, artist and drinks consultant. Susan is fascinated by the history and stories behind drinks. See www.awinegoosechase.com. Both sisters are proud to be fifth-generation publicans. Their family business is Boyle's bar and off-licence in Kildare town.
An Bord Pleanala has approved planning for Edenderry Power Plant, a decision that could save hundreds of jobs in the short to medium term.

The decision allows the plant to stay open until 2023.

An Bord Pleanala had originally granted Bord na Mona, which owns the facility, an extension to the life of the plant more than a year ago, but this was challenged in the High Court by An Taisce.

In October the High Court granted a final stay, allowing the plant to continue operating until December 31.

If an Bord Pleanala had turned down Bord na Mona the plant faced decommissioning by February 25 next.

There are currently more than 200 people employed at the plant which first opened in the early 2000s.

In more recent years, the plant has moved from burning peat to biomass, a trend it hopes to continue until the plant is run 100% on biomass.

Bord na Mona says it expects to have ceased harvesting peat by 2030, and will switch then to biomass, even producing biomass briquettes.

The company says it is examining the decisions that have been set down with the planning.

An Taisce and others had objected to the originaly planning persmission, citing environmental effects of extracting peat. The Edenderry plant burns up to 1.2 million tonnes of peat a year.

Bord na Mona welcomed the decision saying "Edenderry power station is the largest single source of dispatchable renewable power on the island of Ireland and a significant employer in the area.

"Over 50% of the electricity generated by Bord na Mona is derived from renewable sources," it said.

For previous articles on this story, see here.
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The town of Drumshanbo is in a state of shock following the tragic death of Mrs Betty McManus yesterday evening, Thursday, December 22.

Mrs McManus, aged 74, from High Street, was knocked down by a car while crossing the road at Acres, Drumshanbo (near the swimming pool) at approximately 7.15pm. It is understood she was on her way to deliver Christmas presents when the accident occurred.



She was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has been removed to the morgue at Sligo University Hospital. The female driver of the car (50 years) was uninjured. There were no passenger in the car. The road was closed for a time last night to facilitate a forensic collision examination but has since reopened.

Betty McManus was a highly respected and much admired lady in Drumshanbo and Co Leitrim. Her husband was the late Paddy McManus, the well known builder and publican. Paddy passed away in November 2015. Paddy and Betty along with Nancy Woods were the founders of the famous Joe Mooney Summer School which takes place in the town each year and McManus's Thatched Pub on High Street was the Summer School's headquarters for many years.

Betty was also very involved in the twinning of Drumshanbo with Locquirec in Brittany, France and played an important role in ensuring that twinning process was a great success.

Arrangements have not been finalised yet but it is understood the funeral service will take place early next week.

Betty McManus is survived by her five children, Conor, Patrick, Manus, Clodagh and Caitriona, her grandchildren, family members and a wide circle of friends.



Witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Carrick-on-Shannon Garda station on 071 9650510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

May she Rest In Peace.
The Independent has run an interview today with Jeremy Corbyn, outlining the Labour leaders strategy moving forward  including his pledge that Labour MPs would back a dissolution of Parliament and an early General Election. I was previously a real supporter of an early General Election. Ultimately, I question Theresa Mays ability to hold her own party together through the Brexit negotiations, and I also think that it would provide an opportunity for the process to be amended or slowed by the more progressive forces within our country. This said  we need to be careful what we wish for.

My partner and I were having a conversation the other day, where I was ranting on about how it would all be wonderful  we Liberal Democrats would gain seats from the Conservatives in some of our former heartlands (it wouldnt take a miracle for seats like Bath and Yeovil in the South West and seats like Twickenham to fall our way in London, for example) and wed be able to pull the brakes on Brexit. But theres another more worrying possibility that Id like to let you into.

So, its Friday 3rd of March and were all still up, having sat there throughout the night as results have poured in. Things arent quite as wed hoped, and we have that nagging feeling that we had in June, and that many of us had in November when Hillary Clinton was beaten by the blonde-haired Wotsit  the feeling of the ground slipping away from underneath you, and the feeling that you dont really know your own neighbours any more. Yes, the Liberal Democrats have gained a lot of seats, maybe fifty or sixty, and thats a good showing. But that isnt the concern, because this is no victory for Liberalism. In former Labour heartland seats, where industry left thirty years ago to be replaced by absolutely nothing, an angry electorate, which flexed its muscles in the European referendum has elected a rash of UKIP MPs. There arent hundreds, but there might be fifty or more. The seeds of their victories have been sewn over generations  not because Labour isnt tough enough on immigration, but because Labour said that it stood for the working man but now theyre seen to stand for nobody. When voters have looked to the Parliamentary Labour Party for cues that they can be trusted, that they have even basic competence when it comes to Government, theyve seen Shadow Ministers resigning, pitiful performances at PMQs and Jeremy Corbyn pretending not to be able to find a seat on a train when plenty of seats were available, and then squirming for what felt like days when he got found out.

In the South West, the LibDems have had a resurgence  even in seats that narrowly voted Leave, the extremist agenda forced through by Theresa May and her UKIP leaning back-benchers has worried moderate voters who want the best for their family, but who wont want to be Turkeys voting for Christmas. This effect leaves Theresa Mays administration withered but not dead  theyre still the largest party, in a parliament where no one force holds overall control. Mrs May makes clear that given the result, her role has to be to form a coalition in the national interest. While the last coalition was formed in the hope of staving off financial ruin and providing stability, this one is cobbled together to have enough votes and support to finish the work of Brexit.

You can see, therefore, how, just as it seemed unthinkable that Trump would end up moving a few doors down at Pennsylvania Avenue  you dont need too many leaps of faith to arrive at a position where Nigel Farage holds all the cards in a time of national crisis.

Its often accepted that Theresa May might look to increase her majority if she went to the people today. Jeremy Corbyns Labour party provides such pathetic opposition and such weak leadership, that they look to become a rump at the next election. But, what if Mrs May is keeping her powder dry? What if her best guess suggests that in the Labour industrial heartlands, a quiet revolution is brewing, and UKIP would look to gain huge ground  something largely undetected by the polls. What if, on balance, Mrs May is attempting to carry on because she prefers the devil she knows, rather than the one that could be unleashed?

Depressing reading, eh? I dont mean to put a downer on things at Christmas  but as we approach the turning of the year, wed be stupid to move ahead and not learn the lessons of the past twelve months. Im not saying that the UK is the same as the Weimar Republic  I dont mean to harbour fear or angst. But as we move into next year, we need to work in the interests of our party, but also in the interests of our country. Everything weve fought for over our partys proud history is at risk. If you think a Tory and UKIP coalition would think twice about dismantling the NHS even further, youre mistaken. If you think theyd worry whatsoever about yanking us out of the European Convention on Human Rights  youre wrong. And, if you think the Tories wouldnt go straight into coalition with UKIP in a bid to stay in control and mitigate them  you may well have another thing coming.

We might hope for an early General Election, because we can look to gain seats and build a stronger standing for ourselves, but be careful what you wish for, because things dont always work out how youd hoped. Unless were somehow in a position to build a truly national campaign, where we hold the popular centre ground, we should move ahead with caution.

Finally, a plea to Labour members. Im not going to ask you to join the Liberal Democrats (although of course, youd be welcomed), Im asking you to forget the talk of a progressive case for ending freedom of movement, forget getting mugs printed with how tough youre going to be on immigration  youre falling into a trap that has been set by the right wing to ensnare you. Instead, go back to basics. The Labour Party was built as a progressive force in communities up and down the country  yet your by-election campaigns suggest a real divide between the party and the people they seek to represent. If the turning point election is coming, no number of billboards will make the difference. Instead, we progressives must all do the same thing  go out into our communities and win one heart and one mind at a time. The next election, whenever it occurs, will be the most important of our generation. Will we move forward, carrying those weaker than us forward too, in the firm belief that we are a nation of constituent parts that stands together, united and strong while the storm rages on? Or will we allow ourselves to falter in the face of a growing nationalism that threatens the peace and prosperity of our country and our continent?

It is the question of our time.

* Sam Phripp is a District Councillor from Frome in Somerset. He blogs at www.sosamsaid.blogspot.com
Tim went to a refugee centre in Paris to film his Christmas message. He asks what we would want other countries to do if we were a war-torn country. How would we want them to treat us and our children?

He says: I am not at all squeamish about patriotism before urging liberals to reclaim the language of national pride by reminding people that British values have long been about openness, tolerance and unity.

He says of the children he met on a visit just before Christmas: They are fleeing torture and have seen some terrible things. It is precisely Britains reputation for generosity of spirit, he adds, that draws these children towards our shores.

Acknowledging it would have been easy to film his message by a Christmas tree in Westminster, he concludes: Let us hope in 2017 we can be true to our British values and proud of our country.
A HOMELESS and housing charity has made an initial capital investment in Limerick of 1.1m, to relieve the homelessness crisis across the city and county.

In a year in which homelessness in Limerick made headlines  with people sleeping in tents, and in sleeping bags outside homeless shelters, as well as the tragic death of a 31 year-old woman on Catherine Street, the investment by the Peter McVerry Trust in Limerick has been broadly welcomed.

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, with an ongoing annual budget of in the region of 150,000.

An additional nine units will follow in the first quarter of 2017  one in the city, four in Askeaton, and four in Newcastle West, with more housing units in the pipeline throughout the rest of next year.

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.

Deputy OSullivan praised the various homeless agencies in Limerick for coming together to tackle this crisis, and said that she hopes an all-night drop-in cafe for homeless opens in Limerick city over the Christmas period, as temperatures plummet.

She said the death of Louise Casey, 31, on Catherine Street, was an awful tragedy for any family.

Fr ORiordan, who lived with Peter McVerry in Ballymum many years ago, said it has taken some length of time to get these properties in Limerick due to legal issues surrounding them.

For every day that a person is homeless, it leads to further complications. The Trust is just playing a part. Will it provide all of the solutions? No. I think people need to be vocal that we find solutions, because there are properties there, he added.

The charity is working in partnership with Limerick City and County Council to identify, and respond to housing needs. Its 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. According to the Trust, 1,000 families are currently accessing emergency accommodation  an increase of 40% on last year. Overall, there are 6,790 people in Ireland experiencing homelessness.

Mayor of Limerick, Fianna Fail councillor Kieran OHanlon said that homelessness in Limerick concerns him enormously on a daily basis.
O'CONNELL Street  a ceaseless cold fills the citys main thoroughfare, through a dense fog that dampens everything in its path.

This cloud illuminates with the stream of Christmas decor, vehicle and traffic lights, all flickering, one block after another. And all things appear ambiguous until they are much closer; crowds leaving restaurants; youths in Santa jumpers linked together after their umpteenth pub; low humming of Christmas tunes; and all signs of joyous festivities.

Yet, on the same street where jubilations are at a high, the Christmas spirit for some has been shrouded by one of the worst homelessness scourges the city has ever faced.

On Saturday night, this reporter saw the scourge in the flesh. I was stationed at the AIB bank, observing the benevolent work of Limerick Macra na Feirmes sleep-out, whose 14 volunteers raised an astonishing 8,518 for Mid-West Simon Community. Members of Patrickswell GAA club did a sleep-out on Friday night, in aid of Novas Initiatives, raising 4,624.

Later that night, I roam the various streets and small alleyways, and witness a great darkness. In a city that has been making headlines for success stories of jobs announcements and multi-million euro investments, I witness a world overwhelmed by desperation, deprivation, fear and hunger  a world destitute of hope.

Macra member, Emily Sexton tells me that there was tremendous goodwill from the public on Saturday afternoon, with a large number of local businesses donating food, and more than 50 people offering her tea.

As she recounts the list of positive experiences, a woman walks across the road to give Emily hot food, to donate to a homeless person. Before leaving, she gives Emily a warm hug.

You see what I mean? she turns to me, This is incredible. No more than a minute passes before three women  in their late teens  on their 12 pubs excursion, generously drop a few coins into the bucket. Every penny counts, doesnt it? one chirps.

Ray McMahon, Limerick city, sits next to me, detailing the extreme poverty he observed during numerous trips to the Philippines. And even though the scale of poverty is much different here, poverty is obvious with the homelessness situation, he says.

As reported previously in the Leader, at any given time, there could be up to 30 vulnerable people sleeping rough. If they are not sleeping under outdoor shelters or in cardboard boxes in secluded spots, they are squatting in derelict and unoccupied buildings, or in apartment block hallways.

At 8pm, there were three individuals on OConnell Street, one on Bedford Row, and another on Liddy Street. At 10pm, they were gone, with another contingent peripatetically roaming about the citys social quarter; Denmark Street, Ellen Street, Chapel Street, and Cornmarket.

Near Ellen Street, I sit next to a man whose English is minimal. He asks me if I speak Italian or Spanish, but I know neither, so I whip out my phone to access a translator online. He prefers Italian, so I type: How long have you been homeless for?

He explains, in simple English, that he arrived in Ireland two months ago, and has failed to find work, forcing him  for now  to beg on the streets. His cup, I can see, has no more than a fiver. The man, in his 30s, says: I am very upset right now.

In a sudden jerk, he lifts himself up and beckons me to escort him to a taxi rank. As we trek passed Todds Bow and through Cruises Street, I ask why he is in a rush, to which he responds with punching gestures.

People  they want to hurt me. He couldnt, in his hurried state, elaborate on that.

After our farewells, I head back to the social quarter, where congregations of party-goers are still pouring onto the street in a claustrophobic deluge, zig-zagging from bar to bar.

The air is freezing, and all exposed skin is growing numb.

A lengthy queue to a pub forms along Denmark Street, and as it marches on, I just about see a man in the background, resting in an archway with a small terrier pup. I notice his hands blueing as the mercury drops. He is shivering, but he is keeping his white-coated pet warm with a blanket. And while he tells me that he hasnt had a bite to eat in a couple of hours, there are two empty dog food cans, with one yet to be opened for his furry friend.

I have had him for nine months now. He has better English than the previous man. But I have been homeless for five months. We have been homeless for five months.

I ask him if he wants anything from the cafe, and in a gauche manner, he asks for a tea; four sugars and a drop of milk. He is superfluously grateful.

But its just 2, and here I am worrying about balancing the books with bills and pints. He sees tea as a luxury. Returning to the sleep-out group, there are more harrowing sights of men in thin sleeping bags, on cardboard boxes, under the Eason and Brown Thomas doorways. Further down, a man sleeps rough, showing a bloodied face. In the space of one hour, I see this.

A spokesperson for Novas Initiatives has said that, already, the winter homeless levels are unprecedented. It is, indeed, startling. Of our small population, 47 children are in emergency accommodation. And according to the latest reports, there are 19 children and 119 adults staying in temporary accommodation.

And in response to last winters lengthy waiting lists for accommodation, Novas and Limerick City and County Councils homeless action team have set up a winter initiative night time hostel, which will operate until March. On its first night, on Monday, the 15-bed facility accommodated 13 people.

New statistics this week show that there are 41 council-owned houses lying idle as we speak.

Volunteering for the sleep-out, Sarah ORiordan says that she is sad to see people as if someone is just turfed out onto the street like a forgotten member of society.

And these members of society form just a small part of Limericks chronic levels of deprivation. According to the recent Regeneration report, launched by Minister for Housing Simon Coveney, there are six electoral divisions in Limerick  all neighbouring Regeneration areas  that are showing severe signs of deprivation. St Marys Park is seen as the most disadvantaged area in the country.

And as the Government comes under fire for its inability to eradicate homeless numbers in recent weeks, charities and the concerned public are intervening before Christmas.

Geraldine Clancy, who is responsible for fundraising activities for Mid-West Simon Community, details recent activities that exemplify the goodwill of the locals. Last week, 47 pupils at Gerald Griffin national school, Loughill, filled a van with food for the homeless. The Askeaton/Ballysteen youth club gathered anything and everything for gift packs for males and females with some going all out, giving them something extra nice.

But one of the most significant things to happen this week was when a woman walked into the charity shop [on Roches Street] to donate 1,500 that she had just won on a scratch card. I just went to her and said: Can I give you a hug, thank you so much. And she just started to cry. It was so heartwarming. Some people just really get it.

Charles Irwin, MWSC, says eight people generously donated 50 notes during the sleep-out.

Ian Culhane, housing worker, says that it is endeavouring to house as many families as they can before Christmas. By Tuesday afternoon, MWSC has given three individuals keys to a new home, with another two in the pipeline so that they can enjoy a family Christmas. Commending the communal effort, manager Jackie Bonfield says: Without community organisations and the general public, we would not be in a position to provide the work that we do.

At 1am, a friend buzzes me on my phone. I take it from my jacket, which is covering another three warm layers. He asks me if I want to head into the city for a few socials, or to relax in front of a fire, get a takeaway and watch a film or two, in my home. And instead of thinking about all these luxuries I take for granted, I ponder about the man who can barely afford a tea, and the words of a wise Macra volunteer:

Its our responsibility to ensure that this does not happen to anyone ever again.
ITS the best Christmas ever for one Limerick mum, after her son came home to surprise her this week.

Keith Beegan, 27, lives in Toronto, and spent last Christmas away from home in the Canadian city.

But this year, Keith snuck into his mother Marys house on Ennis Road, and gave her a surprise she is unlikely to forget.

I just came home and I heard some noise, and there was Keith with his head over the banister, Mary Beegan told the Limerick Leader today.

I said I better not blink in case he disappears! she said.

The visit was a complete surprise, Mary said excitedly.

I had not one idea. My friend actually knew and she didnt tell me so that was nice, she said.

It was so unexpected because I was telling everyone that he was coming home in February  it was the last thing I expected.

Keiths flying visit will end on December 28, when he will fly back to Toronto where he works as a manager for a company called Tucows. But his mother is happy nonetheless to have her son home for the week.

Im absolutely delighted, its brilliant, she said.

Its the best Christmas ever.
Delay is to allow new US administration time to work on solution to Israel-Palestine conflict, says El-Sisi's office

Egypt has agreed to postpone a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements in order to give the US a chance to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the office of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a statement on Friday.

The agreement was reached in a phone conversation between US President-elect Donald Trump and El-Sisi, according to the statement.

The phone call came hours after Egypt requested that a vote on the resolution demanding a halt to Israeli settlements be postponed following pressure from Israel and Trump, who called on members to veto it.

"The phone call touched on the draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council on Israeli settlements," the president's office said.

"The two leaders agreed on the importance of giving the new administration a chance to deal comprehensively with all the aspects of the Palestinian issue to achieve a comprehensive, final settlement to the issue," the statement said.

Trump said in a statement that Washington should use its veto power to block the resolution.

During the phone call, the two leaders also discussed regional issues and the challenges they pose to international security and stability, while looking forward to boosting US-Egypt cooperation, according to the statement.

El-Sisi praised US President-elect Donald Trump in an interview with Portuguese media last month, saying he expected greater engagement in the Middle East from his administration.

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Apr 28, 2021, 11 AM

The cost of collecting all 2016 U.S. stamps and postal stationery items, including this $22.95 Columbia River Gorge Priority Mail Express stamp, was the subject of the most read post of the week on Linns.com.

Its time to catch up on the week that was in stamp-collecting insights and news.

Linns Stamp News is looking back at its five most-read stories of the week.

Click the links to read the stories.

5. Stamps valued in excess of $1 million stolen from Newport Harbor Stamp Co.: The owner of the business was returning from a coin and stamp show in Las Vegas when he reported the theft of the stamps from his car.

4. Looking back at John Glenns U.S. stamp legacy: The first American to orbit the Earth was also one of the few living Americans to see his accomplishments commemorated on a United States stamp.

3. 10 of Canada Posts most outstanding stamps of the last 10 years: Fred Baumann highlights one Canadian issue for each year of the past decade that is outstanding in one way or another  stamps that merit a look back.

2. USPS 2016 holiday spray-on postmark misses the mark with cluttered design: The covers we have seen indicate that this years holiday postmark is disappointing from the collectors point of view.

1. Why collecting U.S. stamps in 2016 has been significantly costlier than it was in 2015: The cost to collect one each of all of the mint United States postage stamps and postal stationery items issued in 2016 was nearly double last year's cost.

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Dec 22, 2016, 2 PM

The Council on Postal Collectors, comprising representatives of the American Philatelic Society and other stamp-hobby organizations, met Dec. 20 via telephone conferencing to discuss a number of familiar subjects, including introducing new collectors to t

By Michael Baadke

The Council on Postal Collectors held its first public meeting via telephone conference on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.

As expected, this initial meeting, which lasted some 100 minutes, addressed familiar concerns for collectors and dealers: introducing new collectors to the stamp hobby, bringing existing collectors into organized philately (including using the Internet and social media as an outreach tool), and stabilizing the number of stamp and postal history dealers involved in the stamp hobby.

The council was created following the Oct. 28 Summit on the Future of Philately held at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pa. Its formation was announced in a Nov. 10 letter from American Philatelic Society president Mick Zais, APS executive director Scott English, and American Stamp Dealers Association president Mark Reasoner.

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While the Oct. 28 summit involved 56 participants from various groups associated with the stamp hobby, the smaller council is formed of hobby leaders from the APS, the ASDA, the National Stamp Dealers Association, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, the American Topical Association, and the United States Postal Service.

The participants in the Dec. 20 telephone meeting were Zais, English and Reasoner, along with NSDA president Richard Kostka, ATA president Dale E. Smith, and APS vice president Trish Kaufmann.

USPS executive director of stamp services Mary-Anne Penner was present during the early part of the meeting. APS chief operating officer Ken Martin also attended, as did Melanie Rogers, social media chair of the Boston 2026 international show, who identified herself as an observer.

Seven items on a published agenda distributed to the group addressed an overview of similar past organizing efforts (such as the Council of Philatelic Organizations in the 1980s and the Shaping of the Future of Philately Commission in 2004), developing a mission statement for the new council, strengths and weakness within stamp hobby organizations, goals for the new council, the possibility of inviting additional members, plans for future meetings, and a review of planned actions.

English led much of the discussion, with input from all of the individuals participating in the call.

Some discussion considered the ways that the hobby has changed over the years, and Reasoner suggested that today, the concept of using a stamp to send postal mail is an unfamiliar one for many people.

We have to step back further in the exposure process than we did in previous commissions, Reasoner said. We have to explain what stamps are, what theyre used for, and not only what the benefits of collecting are. Its a different approach, I think, than in past generations.

English observed that the use of the Internet and social media can bolster outreach efforts, citing the APS online blog as one successful example. He added that there are a number of technological tools available that we can be using and leveraging a little bit more effectively than we do now.

English then asked the group, What would be the expected outcome of this organization in one year, five years?

Suggestions included spurring a regrowth of the hobby, getting people excited about the hobby, and making stamp shows more welcoming to new collectors.

Part of the problem  and one of the goals  should be how to reach those who are participating in the hobby on the Internet that are invisible to organized philately, said Kaufmann.

Two initial goals emerged from the group discussions: drawing existing collectors into the organized areas of the hobby, including into stamp shows and collector groups; and writing articles for nonphilatelic publications that will interest enthusiasts of topical subjects and introduce them to those subjects as they are represented on stamps. For example, publishing an article about collecting train stamps in magazines read by train buffs.

Smith and Kaufmann volunteered to lead the effort to bring together potential article contributors.

Volunteers to lead the technology and outreach plan were less forthcoming. Efforts to form that group will continue, with a few names of qualified individuals from outside the core group suggested as possible participants.

The group made tentative plans to reconvene in a few months, a meeting that English will arrange after consulting with members who could not participate in the Dec. 20 call.
The U.N. Security Council will vote on Friday on a resolution demanding a halt to construction of Israeli settlements after four council members again put forward the measure a day after Egypt withdrew it.

New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal, who were co-sponsors of the draft resolution, have requested the vote, which diplomats said was likely to take place at 2 p.m. (1900 GMT).

The 15-member council had been due to vote on Thursday afternoon and Western officials said the United States had intended to allow the draft resolution to be adopted, a major reversal of U.S. practice of protecting Israel from action.

New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal told Egypt on Thursday night that if Cairo did not clarify its position, then they reserved the right to "proceed to put it to vote ASAP."

Security Council member Egypt then officially withdrew the text, which it had worked on with the Palestinians, allowing those four countries to call for a vote, diplomats said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump had both called for the United States to veto the draft resolution.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the Republican president-elect had spoken with both Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi about the proposed Security Council action.

"He put out a statement about the Egyptian motion that was going to happen at the U.N. It was revoked," Spicer said on NBC's "Today" program on Friday. "President al-Sisi called, Prime Minister Netanyahu called. He is getting results, whether it's domestically or abroad."

The draft resolution would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted.

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem - areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. Most countries and the United Nations view Israeli West Bank settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Israel disputes that settlements are illegal and says their final status should be determined in any future talks on Palestinian statehood. The last round of U.S.-led peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014.

* The story has been edited by Ahram Online

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Mortar fire and car bombs killed more than 30 people including aid workers near Mosul Thursday as Iraqi forces battled to seize the city from the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

A triple car bombing on a market killed at least 23 people in Gogjali, a few kilometres (miles) east of Mosul, the army said.

Gogjali was retaken by pro-government forces on November 1, two weeks into a massive operation to oust IS from their last stronghold in Iraq.

Since launching the operation against IS on October 17, Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service has advanced into Mosul from the east, but progress has since slowed.

"A terrorist attack in the form of three car bombs at a market in Gogjali killed 15 civilians and eight police," a coordination centre for the forces battling IS said in a statement.

IS said three of its suicide bombers carried out the attack.

Mortar fire also killed 11 people including four aid workers as civilians gathered to receive assistance in Mosul city, the United Nations said.

"According to initial reports, four aid workers and at least seven civilians queueing for emergency assistance in eastern Mosul city have been killed by indiscriminate mortar fire," UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq Lise Grand said in a statement.

"Within the last 48 hours, there have been two separate incidents" that also wounded up to 40 people, she said.

"People waiting for aid are already vulnerable and need help. They should be protected, not attacked," Grande said.

"The killing of civilians and aid workers violates every humanitarian principle."

Iraqi forces pushing towards Mosul on the southern front have yet to enter the city, and another advance from the north has stalled.

To the west, forces from pro-government paramilitary groups are close to the town of Tal Afar, between Mosul and the border with Syria.

However, areas taken from the Islamist militants are still exposed to deadly artillery attacks, bombs and gunfire.

Monday's attacks in Gogjali and Mosul came a day after Human Rights Watch said IS was "indiscriminately" attacking civilians who refused to retreat along with the Islamist militants in Mosul.

"Residents said (IS) members told them in person, by radio, and over mosque loudspeakers that those who stayed behind were 'unbelievers' and therefore valid targets along with the Iraqi and coalition forces," the rights group said.

The Islamist militants have targeted civilians with mortars, explosives and gunfire, HRW said.

Amnesty International said Thursday that children are being killed and wounded as well as witnessing horrific violence during fighting for the city.

"Children caught in the crossfire of the brutal battle for Mosul have seen things that no one, of any age, should ever see," the rights group's Donatella Rovera said.

"I met children who have not only sustained horrific wounds but have also seen their relatives and neighbours decapitated in mortar strikes, torn to shreds by car bombs or mine explosions, or crushed under the rubble of their homes," she said.

Some 100,000 people have fled since the Iraqi operation against IS began, and aid organisations have said they fear it could result in the displacement of more than a million people.

The government has encouraged civilians in Mosul -- where a million or more people may still live -- to stay in their homes if possible.

That could help prevent a potentially catastrophic wave of displacement.

But it also hampers Iraqi forces' progress and exposes civilians to significantly more danger than they would face in camps.

IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad beginning in June 2014.

Iraqi forces supported by a US-led coalition and Iran-backed militias have since regained much of the territory the Islamist militants took.

But the war has taken a significant toll, and commanders have said Islamist militants have offered stiffer resistance than expected, prompting fears that the operation could drag on.

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The number of Turkish soldiers killed in recent attacks by Islamic State militants near the northern Syrian town of al-Bab has risen to 16, Turkey's defence minister said on Thursday, adding that three other soldiers were seriously wounded.

Speaking at a parliamentary commission in Ankara, Isik said a total of 35 Turkish soldiers have been killed since the start of Turkey-backed rebels' incursion into northern Syria that began on August 24, an operation dubbed 'Euphrates Shield'.

Isik said a total of 1,005 Islamic State militants have been "neutralised" during the same period. He added that Islamic State has been putting up fierce resistance near al-Bab.

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Russia is not in touch with the incoming U.S. administration over Syria, but Moscow sees Donald Trump as a better partner to negotiate with than Barack Obama, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday.

The Interfax news agency quoted Gatilov as saying that Trump had never linked the resolution of the Syrian crisis to the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, who is supported by Moscow.

"As we understand it, that means he has more room for manoeuvre than the outgoing administration of Obama," Gatilov was quoted as saying.

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Foundations of row houses have been excavated in New Towne, where Jamestown settlers expanded to live in the 1620s.

Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the first successful permanent English settlement in what would become the United States. The settlement existed for nearly 100 years as the capital of the Virginia colony, but it was abandoned after the capital moved to Williamsburg in 1699.

The history of Jamestown (sometimes spelled Jamestowne) includes human cannibalism, enslaved people forcibly brought from Africa and children kidnapped off the streets of London and taken to the colony. Jamestown is the "creation story from hell," wrote Karen Ordahl Kupperman, a professor of history at New York University, in her book " The Jamestown Project (opens in new tab)" (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007).

A preservationist group took over the site in the late 1800s, and today what's left of Jamestown is part of a national historic park with tours, museums and ongoing archaeological digs that continue to reveal new findings. However, rising sea levels caused by climate change may pose a threat to the site, research suggests (opens in new tab). There are plans to reinforce a seawall to try to save the site the Washington Post reports (opens in new tab).

Colonization of the Americas

Jamestown was not the first successful permanent European settlement in what would become the United States; that distinction belongs to St. Augustine, in Florida, which the Spanish founded in 1565.

At the beginning of the 17th century, England's attempts to colonize the Americas lagged behind other European nations' endeavours. Spain controlled a vast empire in the Western Hemisphere that included much of South and Central America, Mexico, part of the Caribbean and a settlement in Florida. The Spanish were also moving into what is now the American Southwest.

Meanwhile, the French were exploring Canada's northeast and, in time, would establish a highly profitable fur trade in the region.

In the 16th century, the English had attempted to found Roanoke colony , but the venture ended in disaster; the colonists disappeared and were never heard from again, Kupperman wrote. This colony was located in what is now the Outer Banks area of North Carolina, and the colonists may have left to live with local Native American people, a number of scholars have suggested.

In addition to the Roanoke colonists, other European adventurers had sailed along the eastern coast of North America, some of whom ended up living with the Native Americans they encountered, Kupperman wrote. So it's possible that England's Jamestown colonists met the generations of Europeans who came before them.

"It does not seem too fanciful to assume that some colonists in Jamestown, founded twenty years after the last Roanoke colony, might have encountered descendants of earlier transatlantic migrants without knowing it," she wrote.

Jamestown's disastrous early years

The founding of Jamestown had the blessing of England's King James I , and the settlement and nearby James River were named in his honor. However, the settlement was financed and run by the Virginia Company, a joint-stock company (opens in new tab) that King James I chartered. This company, in turn, was financed by private investors, who expected the colonists to discover a valuable commodity, or a route to East Asia, which would make the enterprise profitable and offer a return on their investment.

The investors in London hoped that some of the "vanished" Roanoke colonists (or their descendants) were still alive and, with knowledge they gained about the area, could guide the Jamestown colonists to minerals and a passage to East Asia, Kupperman noted.

Unfortunately, the company chose to build its settlement on "a disease-ridden, bug-infested swampy island with no source of fresh water," Jerome Bridges, a park ranger and Historic Jamestowne tour guide, told Live Science. Located about 60 miles (94 kilometers) up the James River from the Atlantic Coast, the site was chosen because the settlers had orders from their investors not to take any land that was occupied by the Indigenous people, Bridges said. This policy did not last for long as Jamestown expanded after being established, creating tensions with the Indigenous people living in the area.

Additionally, the colonists' selected spot may have been considered more defensible than other locations that had been scouted, Joseph Kelly, professor and director of Irish and Irish American studies at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, wrote in the book " Marooned: Jamestown, Shipwreck, and a New History of America's Origin (opens in new tab)" (Bloomsbury, 2018).

The Indigenous people in the area were the Powhatan and were led by Wahunsenacawh, whom Europeans often called "Chief Powhatan: His realm was known as "Tsenacommacah" and it encompassed about 15,000 people who lived in several communities, Historic Jamestowne noted (opens in new tab).

When the English landed there in May 1607, they divided themselves into three groups: One group was to build fortifications, a storehouse and some simple houses; the second group was to plant crops; and the third party was to explore the area in search of minerals and a passage to East Asia.

It did not take long for the colonists to run into trouble. Within a few weeks, a force of several hundred Powhatans attacked the settlement. The colonists had not even unpacked their muskets, and so they relied on naval gunfire from the ships that were still off the coast to repel the attackers. "Had the ships not fired their ordnance, the colony would have been overwhelmed," Kupperman wrote.

In the following few weeks, the settlers focused on building a fort, which was a triangular palisade with three bulwarks, or raised platforms, for cannons.

Before long, the colonists started dying. Of the 104 men and boys who landed, only 38 were still alive by January 1608, according to the National Park Service (opens in new tab). Research revealed that the colonists' drinking water was salty and contained arsenic (opens in new tab). Additionally, food ran out, famine set in, and a particularly harsh winter compounded the misery of the colonists.

"Our men were destroyed with cruel diseases as swellings, fluxes [also called dysentery], burning fevers, and by wars, and some departed suddenly, but for the most part they died of meer famine," wrote George Percy, one of the survivors, in a report on the colony. "There were never Englishmen left in a foreign country in such misery as we were in this new discovered Virginia."

In that first year, the bodies were buried in unmarked graves to prevent the Powhatans from finding out that so many of the settlers had died, according to Bridges. Excavations by William Kelso, director of archaeology for Jamestown Rediscovery at Historic Jamestowne, and his team revealed 29 burial shafts close to the west palisade wall inside the fort. The team thinks these graves likely hold many of the colonists who died in 1607.

Two of the excavated grave shafts contain two bodies each. According to the Historic Jamestowne website, the colonists likely resorted to double burials because so many men were dying in a short timespan. Twenty individuals died in August 1607 alone, and multiple burials saved energy and time.

The body of a boy, who was around 14 years old, was found with a small arrowhead next to his right leg, which suggests he had been shot shortly before he was buried. Percy recorded that a boy was slain during combat with Powhatans in the first month of the settlement, and it's possible that these remains belong to that boy.

Pocahontas & John Smith

The well-known story of how Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, saved Captain John Smith's life very likely did not happen, at least not the way most people have heard it (and most certainly not the way the 1995 Disney animated movie told it), Bridges said.

Smith, who was elected president of the colony's council in 1608 after most of the councillors died or became incapacitated, wrote that the colony depended on trade with friendly Powhatan tribes to survive. Powhatan's people often visited the settlers when they weren't fighting the colonists, according to Bridges. The chief's daughter, about 10 years old at the time, was a frequent visitor to Jamestown, delivering messages from her father and bringing food and furs to trade for hatchets and trinkets, Bridges said.

She also liked to play, and would spend time turning cartwheels with the boys of the colony. Her name was actually Matoaka, and Pocahontas was a nickname meaning "Little Wanton" in Algonquin, according to Historic Jamestowne's website .

A 1907 U.S. postage stamp featuring Pocahontas. (Image credit: raclro via Getty Images)

Smith later wrote in his book "The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles," published in 1624, that at one point during an expedition in December 1607, he was captured and brought to Powhatan. He was first welcomed and offered a feast. Then he was grabbed and forced to stretch out on two large, flat stones. People stood over him with clubs as though ready to beat him to death if ordered. Suddenly, Pocahontas rushed in and took Smith's "head in her arms and laid her owne upon his to save him from death," Smith wrote. The girl then pulled him to his feet. Powhatan said that they were now friends, and he adopted Smith as his son, or a subordinate chief.

Smith's tale has become legend, and he romanticized it in later writings, Historic Jamestowne noted. Smith told the story only after Pocahontas converted to Christianity in 1614. And if Smith's story is true, this mock "execution and salvation" ceremony was traditional with Powhatan tribes, and Pocahontas' actions were probably one part of a ritual, according to Historic Jamestowne (opens in new tab).

An engraved and colorized portrait of English colonist, pioneer, sailor and soldier John Smith (circa 1580 to 1631). (Image credit: Photo by Stock Montage/Getty Images)

Jamestown's "starving time"

Although the colony had been resupplied, along with 100 new settlers, in January 1608, the settlers hit another low during the winter of 1609 to 1610  a period that became known as the "starving time," according to Historic Jamestowne. By this time, Smith had been forced to return to England due to gunpowder injuries, and the colony's new governor, Thomas Gates, had been shipwrecked on the island of Bermuda along with essential supplies.

By this point, relations with the Powhatans had deteriorated to the point where trade was impossible and the Jamestown fort was under siege. When the colonists ran out of food, they "fed upon horses and other beasts as long as they lasted, we were glad to make shift with vermin, as dogs, cats, rats and mice," Percy wrote. Recent research has confirmed that dogs were eaten at Jamestown and that these dogs were at least partly native to North America . Historical records indicate that boots, shoes and leather were also consumed, and archaeological evidence confirms that some colonists resorted to human cannibalism to survive.

In May 1610, Gates made his way from Bermuda to the colony on makeshift ships made partly from wood found on Bermuda. Finding only 60 survivors at Jamestown, he gave the order to abandon the settlement but not to burn it. As the group set out to sea, however, they encountered a fleet led by English merchant and politician Lord De La Warr, with fresh supplies and new colonists, so they returned to Jamestown and repaired the fort. (The state of Delaware (opens in new tab) was later named after De La Warr.)

Forcing 'colonists' to Jamestown

During the colony's early years, it was difficult to convince new settlers to go to Jamestown; as a result, some people, including prisoners and those living on the streets, were sent against their will, British writer Jennifer Potter wrote in her book " The Jamestown Brides: The Story of England's 'Maids for Virginia (opens in new tab)'" (Oxford University Press, 2019). The city of London even raised money to send London's homeless to Virginia, wrote Potter, noting that King James I was in favor of it. Many of the homeless sent were males.

In 1618, the Virginia Company became particularly interested in getting homeless children to the colony as children were believed to be "more pliable than adults," Potter wrote. Instructions were issued to London's constables to apprehend street children and take them to a place where they would wait to be taken overseas. Poor families were also coerced to send children they couldn't support to Jamestown, Potter noted.

Jamestown's improving fortunes

In the following decade Jamestown's situation improved. Martial law was imposed, solving, however harshly, some of the discipline problems  such as people ignoring orders  experienced during the first three years of the colony, according to Historic Jamestowne.

Until this point, the colonists had failed to find a marketable commodity that would help fund the settlement and develop its economy, but this problem was solved in 1612, when a settler named John Rolfe experimented with tobacco seeds  possibly from Trinidad  and developed a marketable crop that could be exported to England. King James I later gave the Virginia Company a monopoly on tobacco, making the trade even more profitable. He even allowed the company to set up a lottery to provide additional funds for the Jamestown venture, according to Historic Jamestowne.

In April 1613, Pocahontas was captured and brought to Jamestown. Although her captors intended to use her to barter for English prisoners, she turned into a catalyst for peace. She married Rolfe in April 1614 in the Jamestown church, converted to Christianity and took the name Rebecca Rolfe. Her father, Powhatan, reached a peace agreement with the English that allowed the colony to expand its cultivated territory and set up new settlements, including Henrico and Bermuda Hundred.

Now, "after five years' intestine [frequent] war with the revengeful, implacable Indians, a firm peace (not again easily to be broken) hath been lately concluded," Gov. Thomas Dale wrote in 1614.

Pocahontas, Rolfe and their infant son, They traveled to London in 1616, where she became something of a celebrity. However, she died of an unspecified illness (opens in new tab) in 1617 while the three of them were preparing to return to Virginia. Rolfe headed to Virginia alone, leaving their son in the care of an English family.

Slavery in Jamestown

In August 1619, a Dutch ship arrived at Jamestown and traded food supplies for the ship's cargo of around 20 enslaved people, who were originally from Angola. "Slavery as it was later defined did not yet exist in the Chesapeake, and some of these Africans lived to achieve their freedom," Kupperman wrote. They worked as indentured servants (as many English newcomers did), but were forced to labor for longer terms. Indentured servants normally had to work for the company for a certain time to pay for their passage and goods given them.

While people from Africa had been brought to the Americas as slaves to work in Central and South America in the 16th century, 1619 marked the first time that Africans were brought to North America to work as slaves at an English colony.

Today, 1619 is regarded as the beginning of a new period in American history. "The unequal social status of African Americans begins with the 246-year period from 1619 to 1865, when slavery was a critically important economic and social institution in American life," a team of researchers wrote in a 2019 paper published in the American Journal of Public Health (opens in new tab). As the colony expanded, more slave were brought into Virginia.

First representative assembly

In 1619, Sir George Yeardley, a former colonist who had been appointed governor in 1618, returned to Jamestown from England with instructions from the Virginia Company to create "a laudable form of government" that would create "just laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people there," according to historical documents (opens in new tab) that can be accessed on Encyclopedia Virginia.

In July of that year, 30 men met for the first time in Jamestown to discuss issues facing the growing colony. "This assembly was the first expression of English representative government in North America," Kelso wrote in his book, " Jamestown: The Buried Truth (opens in new tab)" (University of Virginia Press, 2006).

All the single women

In 1619, the Virginia Company created a program that encouraged single women to travel to Jamestown, which in its early years had been a predominantly male settlement. The company hoped that more women in the colony would encourage the Jamestown men to settle down, rather than return to England after making some money.

The Virginia Company set a "bride price" of 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of tobacco to be paid by a man to the company who married one of the women, Potter wrote in her book.

Potter tracked down the origins of the women who traveled to Jamestown in 1621 and found that 1 in 6 of the women were daughters of gentry (members of the aristocracy). The rest "represented a microcosm of 'middling' England, with fathers, brothers, uncles, working in respectable trades," Potter wrote, noting that people who knew the women had to attest to their good character, and the women had to go voluntarily, although some may have been coerced by relatives.

An attack too late

After the death of the peacemaker Chief Powhatan in April 1618, war seemed inevitable, Kupperman wrote. With the English colony growing, and the settlers using more land and making more aggressive attempts to convert Powhatan people to Christianity the stage was set for a showdown.

Opechancanough, Chief Powhatan's successor, felt threatened by the growing English presence, which by that time consisted of more than 1,000 people on several plantations. In 1622, he launched a surprise attack in an attempt to wipe out the colony.

The Virginia Company claimed the attack killed 347 people, Kupperman wrote, although the actual death toll was likely higher. The English were forced to abandon some plantations and cluster closer together.

Although the attack succeeded in killing many English, it failed in its aim of pushing them out of the region. More settlers arrived to work on the plantations, and the attack gave the English an excuse to wage war against Opechancanough's people, sparing only the children so that they could be converted to Christianity and forced to work on the English plantations, according to Kupperman.

This war was a take-no-prisoners affair, Kupperman wrote. "In [May] 1623 they [the colonists] invited Indian leaders to a peace parley where they served poisoned wine and then fired on the disabled Indians."

From the start of the Jamestown colony, the settlers held a number of military advantages over the Native American tribes in the region. They had gunpowder weapons, equipment made of steel and iron, as well as armor that could offer some protection from arrow hits, Kelly wrote in his book. The Powhatans, on the other hand, had bows and arrows and melee weapons that may have included clubs, knives and spears.

This map shows the site of the original Jamestown and the status of archaeological excavations. (Image credit: Preservation Virginia

New Towne

As the Virginia colony grew, Jamestown developed into a thriving port town. Thousands of colonists either passed through to start tobacco plantations farther inland, or settled in Jamestown, which expanded by developing a suburb of sorts called New Towne, situated east of the original fort.

Representative government took hold in the 1620s, and inns and taverns were soon established. The tobacco trade, meanwhile, required warehouses and piers along the shore. Jamestown's well-to-do residents built English-style cottages and houses along New Towne's main road.

With new settlers flowing in, the English gained control of the Chesapeake Bay area and launched new colonies (including Plymouth in 1620) along the Eastern Seaboard of the future United States. In May 1624, the Virginia Company was formally dissolved, and Jamestown became a crown colony with a governor appointed by the king.

With the growth of new settlements in Virginia, and the English colonists' improving military situation in the region, the original Jamestown fort site became redundant. Jamestown remained the capital of Virginia until 1699  a fire destroyed Jamestown's statehouse in 1698, so the capital moved to Williamsburg, according to Historic Jamestowne (opens in new tab).

Rediscovery of the original fort

In 1994, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) began archaeological work to look for ruins from the original Jamestown fort, Kelso told Live Science. It was widely believed at the time that the fort had been washed away into the James River.

Excavations revealed holes where the triangular palisade had once stood, along with the remains of three bulwarks used to strengthen its defenses. The archaeologists also found the remnants of five churches (one built on top of the remains of the preceding church); row houses, including a structure that appears to be the governor's house; a blacksmith shop; and barracks, among other features.

In 2015 archaeologists uncovered the burial sites of four Jamestown leaders who had been buried in one of the churches. In 2018, archaeologists digging in a church in Jamestown found a headless body that might be that of Yeardley. They are hoping to match DNA from the skeleton and teeth found nearby with DNA from Yeardley's living descendants.

To help visitors learn more about what Jamestown was like, replicas of the triangular fort, a barracks and the original church have been built on their original plots. Some reproductions have been built using similar bricks.

Originally published on July 24, 2018. Additional reporting by Tim Sharp.

Additional resources

Historic Jamestowne's website (opens in new tab) contains a sizable amount of information about the settlement's artifacts and records. Jamestown is part of a national historical park, and the National Park Service has information on how to visit it (opens in new tab). Slavery in the United States has a long history, and recent research (opens in new tab) has revealed more information about the Underground Railroad that led some people to freedom.

Jamestown timeline

May 1607: Jamestown, named after King James I of England, is founded and consists of 104 men and boys.

August 1607: In this month alone, 20 of the colonists die.

December 1607: John Smith is captured and brought to Chief Powhatan. Smith claims that Pocahontas saves his life, although this is likely not true.

January 1608: Only 38 of the 104 original colonists are still alive; poor water and food shortages contribute to the high mortality rate. 100 new colonists are brought in from England during this month.

Winter 1609-1610: The "starving time" sees some colonists resort to human cannibalism.

May 1610: Governor Gates, who had been shipwrecked on Bermuda, makes his way to Jamestown on makeshift ships. Finding only 60 colonists alive, he gives orders to abandon Jamestown. But while leaving, the settlers encounter a relief fleet led by Lord De La Warr that has fresh supplies and new colonists.

1612: While experimenting with tobacco seeds, John Rolfe finds that tobacco grows well in Virginia, giving the colony a marketable product.

April 1613: Pocahontas is captured and brought to Jamestown.

April 1614: Pocahontas marries John Rolfe, and the two leave for England where Pocahontas becomes something of a celebrity. A peace agreement of sorts is reached between Jamestown and Chief Powhatan.

March 1617: Pocahontas dies in England at around age 21.

April 1618: Chief Powhatan dies; relations between the Powhatans and Jamestown's colonists decline.

1619: A program is launched encouraging women to migrate to Jamestown and marry colonists.

July 1619: First meeting of the colony's assembly

August 1619: A Dutch ship brings more than 20 enslaved people from Africa to Jamestown.

1622: Opechancanough, the successor of Powhatan, launches a surprise attack on Jamestown; more than 300 English people are killed and all-out war breaks out.

May 1623: After agreeing to a peace parley, several Native American leaders in the area are killed after drinking poisoned wine.

May 1624: The Virginia Company is dissolved and Jamestown becomes a crown colony. English settlement in Virginia continues to expand, with Jamestown as the legislative center.

1699: After a fire burns down the legislative building at Jamestown, Virginia's capital moves to Williamsburg. Jamestown itself becomes abandoned.

Bibliography

Kelly, J. (2018) "Marooned: Jamestown, Shipwreck, and a New History of America's Origin" Bloomsbury,

Kelso, W. (2006) "Jamestown: The Buried Truth" University of Virginia Press

Kupperman, K. (2007) "The Jamestown Project" The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press

LaVeist, T. A., Fullilove, M., & Fullilove, R. (2019). 400 Years of Inequality Since Jamestown of 1619. American journal of public health, 109(1), 8384. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304824 (opens in new tab)

Potter, J. (2019) "The Jamestown Brides: The Story of England's 'Maids for Virginia'" Oxford University Press
Strange science

(Image credit: agsandrew | Shutterstock.com)

News of alien planets, strange sounds from the seafloor and a bizarre new state of matter turned 2016 into a strange year, scientifically speaking.

The weirdest discoveries of 2016 ran the gamut from relatively academic (unexpected discoveries in quantum physics) to very relevant to daily life on Earth (the Arctic's unusual, melty behavior).

Here's a rundown of the oddest and most surprising scientific discoveries of the past year.

Light's new momentum

(Image credit: agsandrew | Shutterstock)

The speed of light (186,000 miles per second, or 299,792 kilometers per second) hasn't changed, but a report in May revealed that another of light's basic properties might not be as basic as scientists once believed.

While doing some calculations based on a 200-year-old discovery, physicists at Trinity College Dublin found that light particles  photons  weren't behaving as they should. When shone through particular crystals in order to force the light beams into a hollow tube of light, the photons spun at an angular momentum of one-half of Planck's constant. Planck's constant is one of those basic numbers in physics. It determines the relationship between a wavelength of light and its energy.

What surprised physicists is that photons shouldn't be able to spin at a speed that's one-half Planck's constant. All photons are supposed to spin at speeds that are whole-number values of Planck's constant (twice Planck's constant, or three times Planck's constant, but not half of Planck's constant). Another class of particles, fermions, can spin at fractions of Planck's constant.

"Our result shows that we can make beams of photons, which behave like fermions  a completely different form of matter," Trinity College physicist Kyle Ballantine told Live Science at the time.

The finding doesn't mean that quantum physics is wrong, the researchers said, but it does mean that something about light works differently than they'd thought.

Echoes in the atmosphere

Radar echoes plotted over the course of two days show how the signal emerged at dawn, descended toward the ground, and then rose again over the course of the day. (Image credit: Jorge Chau.)

In 1962, researchers at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory in Peru noticed something weird: Some of the radio waves they were beaming into space were bouncing back. It was as if there were some sort of reflector in the upper atmosphere, about 80 to 100 miles (130 to 160 kilometers) up. But the reason for the echoes remained a mystery until 2016. It took supercomputers to solve it. Researchers simulated the upper atmosphere and found that the echoes owe their existence to the sun. When sunlight hits the ionosphere, where the echoes originate, they strip electrons from the molecules in that atmospheric layer. The resulting, highly energetic charged particles zip through the masses of cooler particles around them, causing those cooler particles to vibrate like strings on a cello. The vibrations aren't particularly organized, the researchers said, but they create a low-level "froth" that's strong enough to bounce back the Jicamarca radio waves.

Ancient reptile with an anteater claw

212 million years ago in what is today New Mexico, a Drepanosaurus used its massive claw and powerful arm to rip away tree bark and expose the insects within. (Image credit: Painting by Victor Leshyk)

Two hundred million years ago, a chameleon-like reptile named Drepanosaurus roamed the land. Paleontologists first found the fossils of the 1.6-foot-long (0.5 meters) reptile in Italy in the 1970s, but it wasn't until this year that they realized just how strange this animal really was.

The weirdness is all in the arms. New fossils found in New Mexico revealed Drepanosaurus' front limbs in three-dimensional detail for the first time. Unlike all other four-limbed creatures (known as tetrapods), Drepanosaurus had a crescent-shaped ulna  one of the bones of the forearm.

Tetrapods generally follow the same body pattern: Each of their front limbs has an upper-arm bone (the humerus) and two lower-arm bones (the ulna and radius). Drepanosaurus' version of these bones was unlike anything scientists had seen before. The lizard also had abnormally long wrist bones.

The limbs, along with a hook-like claw, would have allowed Drepanosaurus to dig and drag dirt like a modern anteater, the researchers reported in September in the journal Current Biology.

Dancing electrons in a new form of matter

Scientists have created a bizarre new state of matter, called a Kitaev quantum spin liquid, in the lab. The weird state of matter produces quasiparticles that seem to "split" electrons. (Image credit: Genevieve Martin, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

It's not every year physicists discover a new form of matter, but 2016 was one of those years.

To be specific, the researchers actually created the new form of matter by bombarding sheets of alpha ruthenium chloride with neutrons. This created something called a Kitaev quantum spin liquid, which looks solid  you could hold a chunk of it in your hand  but contains electrons that dance about as if they were in a liquid.

Physicists had theorized about quantum spin liquids for decades. One of those theorists, Alexei Kitaev of the California Institute of Technology, predicted a form of matter in which the electrons would interact as if they were Majorana fermions, a type of particle that acts as its own antiparticle (a particle of the same mass but an opposite charge). Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee decided to test this theory and found that their neutron-bombarded alpha ruthenium chloride did in fact behave in this way.

In the new form of matter, the orientation (or spin) of the electrons affects the orientation of other electrons, but these electrons still remain chaotic no matter how cold the material becomes, the researchers reported. The electrons don't actually fragment into particles and antiparticles as in Majorana fermions, but their spin interactions make it look as if they do, so researchers call them "quasiparticles." The material might be useful for increasing the reliability of quantum computing.

A brand-new neighbor

This artists impression shows the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, our closest star. The double star Alpha Centauri AB is also visible in the image. (Image credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

Earth may have had a next-door neighbor all along. This August, scientists announced that they'd detected a tiny disturbance in the light coming from Proxima Centauri, the closest star to Earth besides the sun.

The disturbance indicates the presence of a planet in the red dwarf star's habitable zone, meaning life could theoretically exist there. Models based on the planet's distance from its star and its mass (1.3 times that of Earth's) suggest that it might have an atmosphere and be entirely covered by a deep ocean, which would be potentially amenable to life. But there are multiple theories about the planet's atmosphere and environment and little hard data, so aliens are far from a foregone conclusion.

As of Dec. 1, astronomers have confirmed the existence of 3,431 exoplanets, or planets outside Earth's solar system, according to the NASA Exoplanet Archive. Two hundred and ninety-seven confirmed or suspected planets in the habitable zones of their stars have been discovered so far, according to the Archive.

Strange red spot

Pluto's largest moon Charon has a red spot at its north pole that may be caused by the atmosphere of Pluto, scientists announced on Sept. 14, 2016. This view shows a view looking down on Charon's red spot as seen by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft during its flyby in July 2015. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute)

Closer to home, a big red spot festoons the north pole of Charon, Pluto's largest moon. In September, researchers announced that they'd figured out where this colorful blemish comes from: Pluto's atmosphere.

Pluto is a tiny planet, and since it doesn't have a strong gravitational pull, its atmosphere radiates out into space. When the New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto and its moons in 2015, the red spot on Charon was immediately apparent. Scientists thought that it might be a result of the moon gravitationally capturing some of Pluto's lost atmospheric gases.

By modeling the temperatures Pluto and Charon over time, the researchers confirmed their hunch. Charon's winters last more than 100 Earth years, and they are frigid  temperatures hover around absolute zero (minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 273.15 degrees Celsius). Methane from Pluto's atmosphere gets frozen at Charon's frigid poles. There, cosmic radiation strips away the hydrogen from the methane, leaving only carbon behind. These carbon atoms link up to create incredibly complex organic compounds called tholins, which make up Charon's red spot.

One odd head

The 1,500-year-old skull (shown here after reconstruction) of a woman, who was part of an ancient royal dynasty called the Silla culture, shows she had an elongated head.

Throughout history, some cultures have gone to extreme lengths for beauty, including practices that involved flattening or reshaping the skull. The skull of a woman from Korea's ancient Silla culture appeared to have come by its odd shape naturally, though.

Anthropologists reported their strange find in June after excavating the skeleton of a woman from a traditional burial site near Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. to A.D. 935) on the Korean peninsula. The woman, who died in her late 30s, had an elongated head, with its length being more than 75 percent of its width, the researchers reported. The term for this head shape is dolichocephalic.

It's plausible that the people who inhabited Silla performed cranial shaping, the researchers told Live Science, but the woman's bones showed no signs of flattening or of compensatory growth on the side of the skull  which is usually seen when boards or bricks are used to alter the skull of a baby or growing child. It's likely, they concluded, that the woman's head was just part of a normal variation. [See Images of the Long-Headed Woman's Facial Reconstruction]

Unprecedented heat in the Arctic

A melt pond in the Arctic ice. (Image credit: Stefan Hendricks, Alfred Wegener Institute.)

It's been a strange year at the North Pole. Temperatures have hit all-time highs (the North Pole was 36 degrees F, or 20 degrees C, above normal in November 2016). And ice hasn't expanded in the winter season as it usually does when the temperature dips. This December, data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center showed that the Arctic was missing a chunk of sea ice the size of Mexico  and that sea ice had actually retreated in November. The ice declined by 19,300 square miles (50,000 square kilometers), vastly outpacing the only other November ice retreat ever seen, which is a loss of 5,400 square miles (14,000 square km) in 2013. Ultimately, the November sea-ice extent ended at 753,000 square miles (1.95 million square km) below the 1981-to-2010 long-term average for the month, the NSIDC reported.

In some ways, the warm temperatures and lack of ice aren't surprising. Scientists have long known that the Arctic is particularly vulnerable to climate change, and the region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, on average. At current rates of warming, scientists expect that the Arctic will be ice-free in midsummer by the middle of the century.

Sticky traps made of  pee?

A glowworm nest surrounded by the sticky lines that help it catch flying and crawling critters. (Image credit: Copyright Victoria Dorrer)

The larvae of a cave fungus gnat (Arachnocampa) are well-known weirdos. They glow, for one thing  thus, their common name, glowworms  and they also live in tubes that are made of mucus.

Glowworms are also responsible for great beauty: They form long, sticky "fishing lines" of silk and mucus that they cast from cave ceilings to capture insects, millipedes, snails and other prey. Recently, scientists found out that glowworms' strangeness goes even deeper. These silken fishing lines get their shimmer from urea, the major ingredient in pee.

A team led by University of Vienna researchers ventured into two caves on New Zealand's North Island and painstakingly collected more than 4,000 sticky, unwieldy glowworm threads. They found that the threads contain crystals that are made partly of urea, which seems to be produced in the glowworm gut (they spin the threads through their mouths). The urea attracts moisture from the air, causing droplets to condense on the threads. Lit by the blue-green bioluminescence of the glowworms, these droplets create a fairyland atmosphere in cave tunnels, and apparently prove irresistible to creeping cave critters.

A noisy deep-sea mystery

Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the deepest spot on Earth. The spot was estimated in 2014 to plunge to 36,037 feet (10,984 m) beneath the Western Pacific Ocean. (Image credit: NASA/NOAA)

Let's end the year on a mysterious note: Ping.

Thats the noise coming from the seafloor in the far-north Nunavut region of Canada  and no one knows why. In November, Canadian officials admitted that they had no idea what was causing the ping, which had been heard in the Fury and Hecla strait. Military patrols sent to the area found no anomalies, but hunters say that the noise is driving wildlife away. Some people blame the pinging on the mining activities of local companies or Greenpeace, but those companies as well as the activist group said that they weren't operating in the region. The government said it had no plans for further investigations.

Thousands of miles away, though, a second sea-sound mystery may have been solved. Researchers who were taking recordings in the Mariana Trench near Guam detected an otherworldly noise  a cross between moaning and twanging  during robotic vehicle dives in 2014 and 2015. This December, they reported that the bizarre noises may be the cries of a minke whale, an elusive type of baleen whale that's rarely seen at the surface. Researchers said in a statement that they don't know much about minke whale activity around the Mariana, or what the call might mean. [Listen to the New Whale Call from the Mariana Trench]

"If it's a mating call, why are we getting it year-round? That's a mystery," Sharon Nieukirk, senior faculty research assistant in marine bioacoustics at Oregon State University, said in a statement. "We need to determine how often the call occurs in summer versus winter, and how widely this call is really distributed."

Sounds like a job for 2017.
Hijackers forced an airliner to land in Malta on Friday then freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".

The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after one man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said one of the men had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to free all passengers if his demands were met. It was unclear what the demands were.

A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.

In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party."

STANDOFF ON TARMAC

MP Hadi al-Saghir told Reuters that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.

Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.

A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.

The government of Malta said Prime Minister Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team was formed at the airport. Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.

The last major hijacking on the island was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.

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The EPIcenter, a new clean energy museum and educational organization in San Antonio, has named Jill Vassar to head up development and partnerships with the goal of raising $52 million by 2020.

The most exciting thing about this opportunity is the chance to build a brand new asset in San Antonio, in the South and in the county and in the new energy industry as a whole, Vassar, a veteran nonprofit executive, said in a phone interview. Theres nothing like the EPIcenter in the country and to have the chance to build this type of place in San Antonio at the top of the Mission Reach is very exciting.

The EPIcenter, short for the Energy Partnerships Innovation center, will convert the defunct Mission Road Power Plant just south of downtown into a museum, think tank, conference center and research-and-development space for new-energy companies.

Vassar, who started working at the EPIcenter in September, joins CEO Kimberly Britton as they spearhead the fundraising effort for the $74 million project. So far the EPIcenter  located at 300 Mission Road  has received $22 million in cash and in-kind donations. The Mission Road power plant was donated to the EPIcenter by city-owned utility CPS Energy.

Vassar has lived and worked in San Antonio for the last 25 years, including time spent as the vice president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation and as a member on the boards of various non-profits, including the Witte Museum and St. Lukes Episcopal School Permanent Endowment Fund.

She said that her past economic development experience and non-profit work makes her well suited for the position at the EPIcenter. Shell be raising money and spreading the organizations vision nationally. With $52 million left to raise and a project runway with an estimated opening in 2020/2021, Vassar has her work cut out for her.

Its a big project, an expensive project. Its a historic building, it has an incredible legacy on the river, she said. We want to do it right.

Vassar said the biggest challenge is learning how to properly tell the story, and she hopes three new programs will help to bring in the public to understand what is happening with a site that has laid empty for much of the time since the power plant shut down in 2002.

Residents living in the 78204 and 78201 zip codes will be able to sign up for free memberships at the EPIcenter and will be provided with special programming, Vassar said. She added that a separate paid membership program will also be rolled out soon in addition to tours to show off the site.

Founding sponsors for the EPIcenter include CPS, San Antonio-based solar company OCI Solar Power and smart meter companies Silver Spring Networks and Landis+Gyr.
The UN Security Council on Friday rejected a US-drafted resolution on imposing an arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan, now in its fourth year of war.

The measure garnered only seven votes in favor in the 15-member council, while eight countries including Russia, China and Japan abstained.

Nine votes and no veto are required for resolutions to be adopted in the council.

The United States, backed by Britain and France, had argued that cutting off the arms flow was urgently needed following UN warnings of a risk of mass atrocities.

But Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and more importantly the three African council members -- Angola, Egypt and Senegal -- were not swayed and they all abstained.

"This should not have been a contentious resolution," US Ambassador Samantha Power told the council after the vote.

"History is going to be a very harsh judge of their decision," said Power, arguing that those who declined to support the measure offered no alternative course to try to end the bloodshed.

The outcome of vote was a setback for the United States, which helped South Sudan gain independence in 2011 but has been unable to steer the country away from a war that erupted two years later.

Aside from the arms embargo, the United States had sought to put rebel leader Reik Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei on a sanctions blacklist, subjecting them to an assets freeze and a global travel ban.

Japan, which has some 350 troops serving in the UN mission in South Sudan, had warned that the measure would have antagonized President Salva Kiir's government and put peacekeepers' lives at risk.

Opponents of the sanctions pointed to Kiir's call earlier this month for a national dialogue to restore peace, saying that initiative must be given a chance.

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.

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Local News, National & World News, Community, Charity & Cause, Arts & Culture, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 23 2016

Huntington resident William Low recognized for his beautiful artwork which is being featured on five of the holiday-themed stamps issued by the postal service this year.

Hauppauge, NY - December 21, 2016 - In the spirit of the holiday season, Legislator William Spencer was delighted to make a special presentation before the Legislature at the December 20th General Meeting, recognizing Huntington resident William Low for his beautiful artwork which is being featured on five of the holiday-themed stamps issued by the postal service this year.



Pictured: William Low's holiday-themed art for the 2016 USPS Holiday Forever Stamps.

The stamps, which are part of the Holiday Windows collection depict winter night scenes for the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, and will travel on letters and packages to millions of households and businesses throughout the world.



William Lows art career began as a diversion. As a young person growing up in troubled neighborhood, he and his brother began drawing, starting with imitating figures from comic books. As a teen, William was accepted into the High School for Art and Design in Manhattan and contemplated becoming an architect. However, while there, he picked up a paintbrush and started illustrating scenes of his native borough the Bronx. He secured a full scholarship to the Parsons School of Design and received his first big break with the New York Daily News drawing a series of paintings for their A New Day for the Bronx piece in 1982.

Since then, he has continued to build a successful career as a commercial illustrator and painter and has won numerous awards including four Silver medals from the Society of Illustrators. In the past, he was commissioned to paint a nighttime subway map for the MTA, has illustrated and authored several books, and his work has been featured in numerous publications. In 2014, he created his first USPS stamp in the Winter Flowers Collection. William is currently the principal in Cobalt Illustration Studios, a full service studio that provides content for childrens books and ad agencies, gallery paintings and fine art quality prints. In addition, he is a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Home & Garden, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 23 2016

Nassau residents who are struggling with the prospect of losing their homes in mortgage foreclosure, or still have issues resulting from Superstorm Sandy, are invited to come for help.

Mineola, NY - December 21, 2016 - Nassau residents who are struggling with the prospect of losing their homes in mortgage foreclosure, or still have issues resulting from Superstorm Sandy, are invited to come for help from volunteer attorneys at the Nassau County Bar Association's Free Mortgage Foreclosure/Sandy Recovery Legal Consultation Clinics. The next two clinics are scheduled for Monday, January 9 and Monday, January 23, both 3 - 6 p.m., at the Nassau County Bar Association, located on 15th Street at the corner of West Street, Mineola, two blocks south of the bus and train stations.

NCBAs clinics allow homeowners concerned about foreclosure matters or who are already in the foreclosure process involving property in Nassau County, to meet one-on-one with a volunteer attorney for a free consultation. Homeowners then may be directed for additional help with mortgage modifications, loan restructuring, bankruptcy, financial planning assistance, services for lower income households and emotional support. Many of these resources and agencies are available immediately in the same room. American Debt Resources, LI Housing Partnership, La Fuerza Unida, and LI Housing Services are the organizations HUD Certified that will be at the December clinics.

There are no income restrictions to attend the clinics. Since 2009, NCBA has held more than 140 clinics assisting more than 12,000 Nassau families in distress. Currently, each clinic is held twice a month and averages 50 homeowners, signifying that mortgage fore continues to be prevalent in Nassau.

Volunteer attorneys also answer Sandy victims' questions regarding homeowner, flood, property damage and automobile insurance claims; FEMA, debt deferral, and consumer protection issues.

Bi-lingual attorneys fluent in Spanish are on site. Attorneys bi-lingual in other languages, including Russian, Haitian Creole, Korean, Chinese, Hindi and American Sign Language, may be requested when making reservations.

To make an appointment for the next clinic, call the Bar Association at 516-747-4070. Attendees are asked to bring their mortgage documents or other important papers and correspondence with them.

This program is funded through the NYS Attorney General Homeownership Protection Program (known as HOPP).

About the Nassau County Bar Association

Founded in 1899, the Nassau County Bar Association is the leader in providing legal information and community service on Long Island. NCBA consists of private and public attorneys, judges, legal educators and law students who demonstrate their commitment to the community by offering a variety of services for the public, including lawyer referral services, mortgage foreclosure, Sandy recovery and senior citizen legal clinics; judicial screening and public education programs. The Nassau Academy of Law provides the largest program of continuing education for the legal community. We Care, part of the Nassau Bar Foundation, NCBAs charitable arm, assists children, the elderly and others in need, through countless projects and donations. For more information, call (516) 747-4070 (language translation available), email, or visit nassaubar.org
School & Education, Nature & Weather, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 23 2016

Currently in the final phase of its expansion, Peconic Landing has repurposed its current set of generators and donated a generator to the Greenport School District.

The generator has an estimated value of $20,000 and was used to power Peconic Landings Health Center.

Greenport, NY - December 22, 2016 - Currently in the final phase of its expansion, Peconic Landing has repurposed its current set of generators and donated a gently used Kohler 230kw generator to the Greenport School District.

The generator has an estimated value of $20,000 and was used to power Peconic Landings Health Center. The unit is 15-years-old and has less than 600 hours of recorded use. Peconic Landing utilized weekly, monthly, and annual maintenance schedules, keeping it well maintained. The unit was delivered to the school on December 6.

On behalf of the Greenport School community and the Board of Education, we are very grateful for this extremely generous donation for the health and safety of all of the students, staff, and local residents, said David Gamberg, Superintendent of Greenport Schools. This clearly something that takes us to a whole other level of safety and we are very appreciative of Peconic Landing.

Robert J. Syron, president and CEO of Peconic Landing said the school serves as an emergency evacuation center for the town, and this generator is going to enable critical areas to operate 24 hours a day in any given emergency. Now it will be a more complete evacuation center.

Peconic Landing will repurpose the second generator at Brecknock Hall, which serves as an evacuation site for local Eastern Long Island Hospital.

During Hurricane Sandy, Peconic Landing helped shelter 70 neighbors from the greater community, including patients from Eastern Long Island Hospital who were cared for at Brecknock Hall.

The addition of a generator will allow us to better serve our neighbors during emergency situations, said Mr. Syron. Our members are proud to be able to enhance the safety and security of our North Fork natives during such times of need.

For more information about Peconic Landing, please visit www.PeconicLanding.org.

Peconic Landing is an innovative, not-for-profit CCAC-CARF-accredited continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located on the waterfront in Greenport, N.Y., on the North Fork of Long Island. Among its long list of achievements, Peconic Landing is the only equity-based LifeCare community in the state of New York. It is a member of LeadingAge and LeadingAge New York and embraces a healthy, active lifestyle infused with a sense of exploration, creativity, and generosity of spirit.
Local News, National & World News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 23 2016

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman called on the Obama Administration to rescind the regulatory framework of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS).

If left in place, NSEERS framework could serve as a blueprint for future registry of Muslims nationwide.

New York, NY - December 21, 2016 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today called on the Obama Administration to rescind the regulatory framework of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), a controversial registry created during the George W. Bush era that sought to track and register non-immigrant males from primarily Arab, Muslim, and South Asian countries regardless of whether they were suspected or accused of any wrongdoing.

Created in the wake of September 11, 2001, NSEERS targeted boys and men primarily from Muslim-majority countries. After the program proved to be ineffective at reducing terrorist activity, new registration in the program was terminated by the Department of Homeland Security in 2011. However, the regulatory framework undergirding the program remains in place, creating an unacceptable temptation for future administrations to restart the program.

The registry has not proven to provide any law enforcement benefit whatsoever. Rather, the NSEERS regulatory framework currently serves only as a dormant reminder of a misguided and discriminatory policy. NSEERS undermined trust and hindered open communications between law enforcement and community members, thus hampering the ability of law enforcement to promote public safety.

America is a nation built by immigrants and the NSEERS program is an affront to our core American values of pluralism and equal justice under law, said Attorney General Schneiderman. We can't risk giving President-elect Trump the tools to create an unconstitutional religious registry. We can never allow our nation to return to the dark days of Japanese internment. By finally dismantling the NSEERS program now, President Obama can make a repeat of that horror significantly more difficult.

The call-in registration portion of NSEERS targeted males from 25 primarily Arab, Muslim-majority, African, and South Asian countries, as well as North Korea and Eritrea, and required them to appear at local immigration offices for fingerprinting and interrogations.

Despite registering more than 80,000 teenage boys and men, NSEERS failed to result in a single terrorism-related conviction. More than 13,000 men who registered with NSEERS were placed in removal proceedings, leaving their families and communities devastated.

By facilitating the governments ability to single out individuals for special registration, the NSEERS framework echoes policies that many Americans, including law enforcement officers, have disavowed.

Attorney General Schneidermans full letter can be read here.
The Islamic State (IS) militant group killed 27 Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen in a series of attacks near Palmyra in the past 24 hours, a monitor said on Friday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS began launching attacks on Syrian regime forces and their allies on Thursday night and that clashes were ongoing.

IS targeted several villages with a majority population from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite clan, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

The Islamist militants were trying to "totally surround" the Tayfur military airport and "cut its supply route," said Abdel Rahman.

The Britain-based Observatory said the base is located between the cities of Palmyra and Homs in central Syria.

The Islamist militants retook Palmyra in central Syria on December 11, just eight months after the army backed by Russia drove them out.

Since then clashes have rattled the region and on Monday attacks by IS on the Tayfur base killed at least 20 regime force members, according to the Observatory.

Palmyra is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its recapture by IS gave the Islamist militants a propaganda boost as they face assaults on two of their key strongholds -- Raqa in Syria and Iraq's second city Mosul.

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Local News, Crime, National & World News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 23 2016

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released his Pennies for Charity: Where Your Money Goes; Fundraising by Professional Fundraisers report.

Schneiderman: Be careful with your charitable giving; not all fundraisers are created equal.

New York, NY - December 22, 2016 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today released his Pennies for Charity: Where Your Money Goes; Fundraising by Professional Fundraisers report, which found that fully one-third of charitable donations ended up in the pocket of the professional fundraisers.

This years report expanded its focus beyond telemarketers to include a broader range of solicitation methods conducted by professional fundraisers, including direct mail, email, and internet fundraising campaigns.

New York has a robust charitable sector, supported by generous giving by New Yorkers. In fact, New Yorkers gave a total of $17.2 billion in reported donations in 2015the year covered by the reportthe second highest giving level in the nation, after California. Of this total, more than $1 billion was raised through 1,143 fundraising campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers on behalf of charities. These campaigns are the focus of this report. The report and the searchable Pennies for Charity database that contains the data underlying it can be found at www.CharitiesNYS.com.

Of the nearly $1.1 billion raised through campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers, charities netted just over $718 million, or 65.5% of the proceeds, while professional fundraisers kept $379 million, or 34.5%.

New Yorkers should know how their charitable dollars are being spent, Attorney General Schneiderman said. Our Pennies for Charity report shines a light on the portion of charitable dollars that is pocketed by outside fundraisers, and our Charities Bureau will hold unscrupulous or fraudulent fundraisers accountable.

This years report included a much bigger data set than previous years reports, as it focused on various mechanisms for fundraising in addition to telemarketing, which was the sole focus of prior Pennies for Charities reports and which was found to be the costliest fundraising mechanism. This years report finds that professional fundraisers overall retain a high percentage of charitable dollars.

The "Pennies for Charity" report aggregates information from fundraising reports filed with the Attorney Generals Charities Bureau for campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers on behalf of charities in the previous year. Professional fundraisers must register with the Office of the Attorney General and provide closing statements that break down the revenue raised and the expenses generated by the campaign.

Other significant findings from analyzing the 1,143 fundraising campaigns covered by this report include:

In 239 campaigns, or approximately 20% of the campaigns covered in the report, the charities retained 70% or more of the funds raised, with 30% or less going to cover the costs of the professional fundraiser.

In 622 campaigns, or approximately 54% of the total, charities retained less than half of the funds raised.

In 192 campaigns, or nearly 17% of the total, fundraising expenses exceeded revenue, for a total loss of $16.7 million.

The Office of the Attorney General actively investigates suspect fundraising practices. In 2015, Attorney General Schneiderman secured a $100,000 penalty against the founder of the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation and barred him from ever again serving as a director, officer, or trustee of any non-profit or charitable organization after finding that nearly 90% of revenue was spent on fundraisers and supporting his lavish lifestyle. And in the largest multi-state charity fraud action to date, the Attorney General, 49 other states, and the Federal Trade Commission secured a $75 million settlement ($3 million of which came to New York) against two affiliated sham cancer charities, and forced the dissolution of two other affiliates, which allocated only 3% of proceeds for their intended charitable purposes. The president was banned from profiting from any charity fundraising in the future.

To assist charities in navigating the world of professional fundraisers, the report includes A Note to Charitable Organizations.

The report also includes Tips for Donors, including specific guidance for responding to phone, direct mail, or online solicitations. Key tips include:

Research the Charity. Check out the charitys website. Consult the Office of the Attorney Generals Charities Bureau website to review an organizations tax returns and its financial report. Consult the Office of the Attorney Generals Pennies for Charities database to see its fundraising costs and results.



Never Donate by Cash Or Wire Transfer. It's best to donate by credit card.

Donate Via Secure Web Addresses: When donating online, make sure the website is secure: the web address should begin with https.

Resist Pressure To Give On The Spot. If you receive a call from a telemarketer, do not feel pressured to give over the phone. You can ask to receive information about the cause and a solicitation by mail.

Ask How Your Donation Will Be Used. Ask specifically how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and organizations your donation will support. Avoid charities that make emotional appeals and are vague in answering your questions.

Report Suspicious Organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a scam is taking place, please contact the Attorney Generals Charities Bureau on email or (212) 416-8401.

A copy of todays report can be accessed here.

Director of Registrations and Fundraising Sections Hanna Rubin wrote this report, with the support of Charities Bureau Fundraising supervisor Siobhan Blank. James Sheehan is the Charities Bureau Chief and Karin Kunstler Goldman is the Deputy Bureau Chief. Alvin Bragg is Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice.

More information about the Attorney Generals Charities Bureau and organizations regulated by the Bureau may be found at www.charitiesnys.com.
Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com

Columnists Press Releases
Germany's federal prosecutor's office said it will give a statement at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Thursday on the state of the investigation into Monday's truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.

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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for the expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities until the world "comes to its senses," but gave no other details in a tweet on Thursday.

"The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," Trump said in the post on Twitter. Representatives for his transition team could not be immediately reached for comment.

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Cars / Yachts

Making its highly anticipated premiere at the recent Cannes Yachting Festival, French luxury catamaran builder Lagoons newest flagship yacht, the Lagoon 77, has been sold to a client in the Philippines by Europa Yachts

Dec 23, 2016 | By Staff Writer

Making its highly anticipated premiere at the recent Cannes Yachting Festival, French luxury catamaran builder Lagoons newest flagship yacht, the Lagoon 77, has been sold to a client in the Philippines by Europa Yachts. Affectionately nicknamed Gentle Giant for her size and gentle sleek lines, this 77ft, 11m wide, and 40m high white superstructure is the largest sailing catamaran ever built by Lagoon.

Boasting an innovative hydraulic door on the starboard side that provides the owner with private access to the water directly from the masters cabin, this impressive superyacht also features a beautiful grey-painted hull containing top of the range options such as: high-end rigging, carbon fire boom, high tech electronic systems, carbon fibre helms, marble and precious wood interiors, and much more. With a collection of recent yacht sales, including a Lagoon 620 on its way to be delivered to the Philippines, Europa Yachts is working to enhance its offer of unique yachts and exquisite luxury lifestyle to clients in their strategic Asian market.

www.seventy7.fr

This story was first published in Yacht Style
German police are looking for an asylum-seeker from Tunisia after finding an identity document under the driver's seat of a truck that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market and killed 12 people, officials and security sources said on Wednesday.

The federal prosecutor's office said it was offering a reward of up to 100,000 euros ($104,000) for information leading to the capture of the suspect, whom it identified as 24-year-old Anis Amri.

"Beware: He could be violent and armed!" the prosecutor's office said in a statement, in which it described Amri as 1.78 metres (5'8") tall, with black hair and brown eyes.

Amri's father and security sources told Tunisia's Radio Mosaique that he had left Tunisia seven years ago as an illegal immigrant and had spent time in prison in Italy.

In Duesseldorf, Ralf Jaeger, interior minister of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), said the Tunisian appeared to have arrived in Germany in July 2015 and his asylum application had been rejected.

He seemed to have used different names and had been identified by security agencies as being in contact with an Islamist network. He had mainly lived in Berlin since February, but was recently in NRW, Jaeger added.

After being turned down for asylum, the man should have been deported but could not be returned to Tunisia because his documents were missing, he said.

"Tunisia at first denied that this person was its citizen," said Jaeger, adding that German authorities started the process of getting new identity papers in August 2016. "The papers weren't issued for a long time. They arrived today."

The new details added to a growing list of questions about whether security authorities missed opportunities to prevent the attack, in which a 25-tonne truck mowed down a crowd of shoppers and smashed through wooden huts selling gifts, mulled wine and sausages. It was the deadliest attack on German soil since 1980.

Christmas markets have been a known potential target for Islamist militants since at least 2000, when authorities thwarted a plot to attack one in Strasbourg, France. And the modus operandi in Berlin was identical to that of a Bastille Day attack in the French city of Nice in July, when a Tunisian-born man rammed a lorry through a seaside crowd and killed 86 people.

"I AM A BERLINER!"

The market at the scene of Monday's attack, at the foot of the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, stayed shut on Wednesday, but some 50 people gathered there with banners that read "I am a Berliner" and sang songs such as "We are the World".

More than 60 other Christmas markets across the German capital re-opened on Wednesday under tightened security.

"We don't want to let the terrorists win. If everyone stays away, they are winning," said tourist Nicki Anning at the Gendarmenmarkt Square in central Berlin.

Berlin authorities said 12 people seriously injured in Monday's attack were still being treated in hospital.

The pre-Christmas carnage at a symbolic Berlin site - under the ruined spire of a church bombed in World War Two - has shocked Germans and prompted security reviews across Europe, already on high alert after attacks this year in Belgium and France.

The possible - though unproven - involvement of a migrant or refugee has revived a bitter debate about security and immigration, with Chancellor Angela Merkel facing calls to clamp down after allowing more than a million newcomers into Germany in the past two years.

Merkel, who will run for a fourth term next year, has said it would be particularly repugnant if a refugee seeking protection in Germany was the perpetrator.

Police initially arrested a Pakistani asylum-seeker near the scene, but released him without charge on Tuesday. It remains unclear whether the real perpetrator was acting alone or with others.

The Polish driver of the hijacked truck was found shot dead in the cabin of the vehicle. Bild newspaper said he had been alive until the attack took place. It also quoted an investigator as saying there must have been a struggle with the attacker, who may have been injured.

Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility, as it did for the Nice attack.

The Passauer Neue Presse newspaper quoted the head of the group of interior ministers from Germany's 16 federal states, Klaus Bouillon, as saying tougher security measures were needed.

"We want to raise the police presence and strengthen the protection of Christmas markets. We will have more patrols. Officers will have machine guns. We want to make access to markets more difficult, with vehicles parked across them," Bouillon told the paper.

Some politicians have blamed Merkel's open-door migrant policy for making such attacks more likely. The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has gained support in the last two years as the chancellor's popularity has waned, said on Tuesday that Germany is no longer safe.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told German radio there was a higher risk of Islamist attacks because of the influx of migrants in the past two years, many of whom have fled conflicts in countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The task of tracking the suspects and the movements of the truck may be complicated by the relative scarcity of security cameras in public places in Germany, compared with countries such as Britain.

The German cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft law to broaden video surveillance in public and commercial areas, a measure agreed by political parties last month after violent attacks and sexual assaults on women.

State surveillance is a sensitive issue in Germany because of extensive snooping by the Stasi secret police in Communist East Germany and by the Gestapo in the Nazi era.

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Our Back Pages

Issue 106

Issue Date: March 1994

Editor: Derk Wynand

Pages: 120

Number of contributors: 27

Buy Issue 106: Print Edition

This issue does not contain any reviews, and is instead devoted exclusively to poetry and fiction. It begins with three poems from Susan Musgrave: Imagine, Effort of Love, and Depression in Debrecen. All three poems explore past trauma through the guise of every day activity, summed up beautifully in these lines from Imagine: there is nothing / to eat, there is nothing to drink, / there is only history.

Other notable poets in this issue include Tom Wayman (best known for his Did I Miss Anything?, a favourite of English and Creative Writing professors everywhere), whose War on a Round Planet comments on the negative consequences of war by imagining a world where a bullet fired from one part of the planet simply makes its way around the globe and returns to harm the original gunman, and Sue Wheeler, whose Sari Shop, Bangalore meditates on mortality as the speaker begins to see old age as suddenly unreachable, as if / a country wed planned to visit / had been torn from the atlas. John Barton, the current editor of The Malahat Review, contributes a poem called Chicken Boy, which envisions an alternate reality where chicken pox is not a run-of-the-mill virus but a mystical imbuing of superpowers. Finally, Michael Crummey playfully analyzes a great Canadian poet with David Donnells Schlong.

Short fiction writers include Barbara Lambert, Alan Beard, and Karen Connelly, and the issue ends with Lorna Jacksons short story Round River. The story uses excerpts from literature learned in childhood, threading an exploration of repressed childhood abuse and its effect on the protagonist in her adult life.

Rose Morris

About Our Back Pages
President Vladimir Putin said Friday the recapture of the devastated city of Aleppo by Syrian regime forces was a "very important" step towards stabilising the war-torn country.

"The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalisation in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall," Putin told defence minister Sergei Shoigu in a meeting, Russian news agencies reported.

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Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane Friday and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone onboard and surrendering to authorities, officials said.

"Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter.

Minutes later he added: "Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody".

Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala said the two hijackers were supporters of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi and had requested political asylum in Malta.

Siala, from Libya's internationally backed Government of National Accord, said the hijackers have also said they want to set up a pro-Kadhafi political party.

The plane landed at 11:32 am (1032 GMT) in Malta.

After more than an hour on the tarmac, the door of the Airbus A320 opened and a first group of women and children were seen descending a mobile staircase.

Dozens more passengers were released minutes later following negotiations that Maltese government sources said were led by the head of Malta's military.

In all there were 111 passengers, including 28 women and a baby, on board, as well as seven crew members.

Maltese government sources had earlier said only a single hijacker was believed to be on the plane.

The aircraft had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

"The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations," Muscat tweeted earlier.

Muscat later spoke to Libya's prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African country's fledgling unity government, the Maltese prime minister's office said.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac of a secondary runway surrounded by military vehicles.

All flights in and out of the airport were initially either delayed or diverted to destinations in Italy, though some later took off and landed.

Malta International Airport said there had been "an unlawful interference" but operations had now resumed.

An Afriqiyah Airways source said the two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade, forcing them to continue to Malta instead of landing at Tripoli's Mitiga airport.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State (IS) militants since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing Islamist militancy in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling Islamist militants in second city Benghazi.

Only local airlines -- banned from European airspace -- operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.

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The headless body of a Muslim villager has been found days after he spoke to reporters on a rare government-guided media tour of restive northern Rakhine State, Myanmar police said on Friday.

Troops have taken control of the dangerous and remote region bordering Bangladesh since October 9 when armed men raided police posts, killing nine officers.

At least 34,000 Rohingya Muslims have since fled to Bangladesh, taking with them allegations of mass-killings, rape and torture at the hands of Myanmar security forces.

The Myanmar government has vigorously denied the accusations, setting off the latest war of words over a stateless minority whose status is one of the country's most incendiary issues.

Police did not give a motive for the killing of the 41-year-old man, whose body was found floating in a river, but said he spoke to Burmese journalists on Wednesday in Ngakhura village.

"On Thursday his family said he had disappeared after giving interviews to journalists," Police Colonel Thet Naing in Maungdaw town told AFP.

"This afternoon (Friday) I got the report his headless body was found... we have confirmed from villagers that it is him," he said, adding police went to the scene of the grisly find.

Troops have killed more than 80 people in Rakhine since the start of crackdown, according to official figures.

Conflict analysts the International Crisis Group (ICG) say militants behind the border post attacks have also killed several Rohingya 'informers' perceived to be working with the Myanmar authorities.

In a statement Friday, the President's Office confirmed that a man -- whom they identified as Shu Nar Myar -- had been killed, adding that he had denied stories of military abuse when speaking to the reporters.

"Shu Nar Myar is the one who revealed that there was no case of arson by the military and police forces, no rape and no unjust arrests," the statement said.

Two Burmese reporters, who did not want to be named, told AFP that they interviewed the man on Wednesday at his village and had been contacted by police to say he was missing.

The rare media tour of the area -- open only to Burmese journalists -- was organised by the government amid mounting pressure on de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to probe allow access to a zone home to the reviled Rohingya minority.

Her government has responded to growing international alarm over the crisis with a dogged information campaign aimed at batting back reports of military abuse.

Northern Rakhine has been under lockdown for more than two months since the hundreds of armed militants launched surprise attacks on border posts.

ICG says the attackers are from a Saudi-backed group called Harakah al-Yaqin which emerged after a wave of sectarian violence cut through Rakhine in 2012.

The Rohingya have languished under years of dire poverty and discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship.

The UN and other rights groups have repeatedly called on Myanmar to grant them full rights, describing the Rohingya as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

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Judith Gillan

Judith Fuller Gillan, the director of the New England Small Farm Institute in Belchertown, addressing the Zoning Board of Appeals during the Dec. 21, 2016 meeting

(Jim Russell photo)

BELCHERTOWN -- The Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday continued until next month a hearing requested by New England Small Farm Institute, which is objecting to the town's denial of its plan to operate a poultry slaughterhouse at 275 Jackson St.

Belchertown Zoning Enforcement Officer Paul Adzima issued a cease and desist order against the NESFI in October. The order said operating a slaughterhouse would violate land use regulations and zoning regulations do not allow them in the town.

The order was issued prior to NESFI operating the slaughterhouse, and no poultry have been processed.

According to a legal opinion by town counsel that was read aloud by the ZBA chairman during Wednesday's meeting, "the proposed slaughterhouse is not permitted as of right in any zoning district in the Town under the Zoning Bylaws."

Judith Fuller Gillan, director of the New England Small Farm Institute, attended the meeting and asked for a continuation.

Gillan said that she had not had a chance to review the town's legal opinion, which is dated Dec. 15, and was not aware of it until the ZBA meeting was convened.

"It is a complex issue," Gillan said in an interview following the meeting.

The ZBA tentatively scheduled the next hearing date for Jan. 18.

The NESFI, a nonprofit founded in 1978, is located on Lampson Brook Farmstead, a 416-acre property that once served as the Belchertown State School Farm, according to the organization's website.

The map below shows the approximate location of the proposed poultry slaughterhouse:
Two officers in Milan have shot and killed a Tunisian man suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, The Associated Press reported.

Anis Amri became the subject of a Europe-wide manhunt after authorities connected him to the gruesome terrorist attack that left 12 dead and 56 others injured Monday.

The Islamic extremist group ISIS has already taken credit for the attack.

Italy's interior minister told The Associated Press that Amri was stopped by two officers in Milan early Friday. Amri pulled a gun from his backpack and started shooting at the officers after they asked him for identity papers.

Amri shot one officer, causing a non-life-threatening wound. The other officer fatally shot Amri.

Investigators are still unsure about how one of Europe's most wanted men was able to travel from Berlin to Milan.

Amri became a suspect in the investigation after police found his wallet in the cab of the truck used in the attack.

According to arrest warrants acquired by The Associated Press, Amri had at times used six different aliases and three different nationalities.

Amri ended up in Italy during the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011. He spent three and a half years in Sicilian prisons for starting a fire at a refugee center. Prison records indicate that Amri bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections, The Associated Press reported.



Germany considered Amri a terrorist threat since at least last November and had even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year. Authorities failed to deport Amri after Tunisia denied that he was a citizen.
SPRINGFIELD  It was a "beary" good time at the Hiram L. Dorman school in Springfield the day before the holiday break.

Dozens of Paddington bears arrived with Hampden County Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile for her December Read-Aloud in Maureen Manos' second grade class on Friday. The stuffed animals were distributed to the students by Gentile, her son T.J. and Gentile's aunt, Susan Mantoni. The Gentiles then read "Paddington" to the students, who sat attentively on the classroom rug in front of a large rocking chair.

"I have been reading to the public schools for about five years now, and Miss Manos and I have been together for just two years," Gentile said. Last year, the clerk of courts purchased pajamas for the class.

This year she wanted everyone to have something the same, thus 30 bears traveling in three large bags. "I thought it would be a good idea to get a cozy little bear and to be able to read them a book about the bear," Gentile said.

Before leaving, Gentile received a group hug from the class and signed the book for the classroom library.
WINDSOR, Conn. - Connecticut State Police arrested a Manchester man Thursday night, charging him with shooting multiple rounds at another vehicle during an apparent road-rage incident on I-91 south.

Jacob Danis

Jacob Danis, 32, was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, breach of the peace, second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment.

He was being held on $50,000 bail and was due to be arraigned Friday in Enfield Superior Court.

State police said troopers were dispatched to the area near exit 35A in Windsor Thursday evening for a report of a car being struck by gunfire during what was described as a road-rage dispute between two drivers.

Police found the car and observed that it had damage to the rear tire and door on the passenger side from being struck by bullets. The car had been hit twice police said.

The driver of the car was able to provide a description of the other car and the driver, as well as the license plate.

A vehicle matching the description was found later at Danis' home and after police questioned him, he was taken into custody.
A defense attorney in a drug possession case has asked a Springfield District Court judge to force the disclosure of internal affairs records for one of the Springfield police officers under investigation for the alleged beating of a group of men outside Nathan Bill's Bar and Restaurant in April 2015.

The legal maneuver, designed to float questions about officer Dan Billingsley's credibility as a witness, is the latest complication for Hampden County prosecutors as a result of the police department's recent misconduct allegations.

Billingsley was one of the officers who arrested Raymond White on charges of drug possession and assault and battery of a police officer in 2014. Billingsley had already testified in the case, but when White's defense attorney Bonnie Allen learned that Billingsley was one of the off-duty officers also accused of beating up a group of men outside Nathan Bill's in 2015, she adopted a new tactic.

The alleged brawl following an argument at the bar has sparked both an Internal Investigations Unit report and a probe by the Hampden District Attorney's Office, both of which have been kept tightly under wraps as the DA completes the criminal inquiry.

Allen has filed motions requesting both Internal Investigation Unit records on Billingsley and any criminal investigations into his conduct by the DA. In a hearing before judge William Hadley Thursday, she appeared to be meeting with some success and some pushback.

The city has agreed to turn over a stack of Internal Investigations documents relating to Billingsley and is in the process of redacting them, Allen told Hadley.

"I think that the records in the city solicitor's office that we are waiting for which include apparently 75 pages of investigation relating to officer Billingsley will probably shed more light on what's going on," Allen said.

Allen also asked for records relating to any criminal investigation of Billingsley related to the Nathan Bill's fight.

While the Hampden DA has confirmed to MassLive that it is investigating the incident, Assistant District Attorney Laila Atta said that there is no specific criminal investigation into Billingsley, and accused Allen of embarking on a fishing expedition into prosecutors' records.

"I believe that officer Billingsley was identified as a person that was there, but other than there being an investigation into the incident as a whole there is no criminal investigation into officer Billingsley at this time," Atta said. "We do understand that we have an ongoing discovery obligation. But this is not a mechanism for defense counsel to basically poke around into the commonwealth's case."

Allen expressed skepticism that the DA held no records responsive to her motion.

"What attorney Atta just said certainly goes against what I have been told by reliable sources," Allen told Hadley.

Reached for clarification, Hampden DA spokesman Jim Leydon said that there are no active criminal investigations into any of the 12 officers who received departmental disciplinary letters due to the incident. The investigation is focused on determining what, if any, criminal conduct occurred that night, Leydon said, and any cases against individuals have not yet been opened.

Allen's request for disciplinary records is not the first complication for prosecutors this year due to misconduct allegations against Springfield police. Reliance on the testimony of Det. Gregg Bigda, caught on video threatening to kill a juvenile suspect in February, has led to lowered bail, shortened sentences and dropped charges in several narcotics cases.

It is not yet clear whether Billingsley's role in White's case will have any impact on the final disposition. Billingsley is still awaiting an administrative hearing and has not yet been found guilty of any misconduct.

In an interview with MassLive, Paul Cumby said he and his cousins Jozelle and Jackie Ligon were drinking at Nathan Bill's Bar and Restaurant on April 7, 2015 when Jozelle got into an argument with a group of off-duty police officers. One of the officers believed that Ligon was hitting on the officer's girlfriend, while Ligon claimed he was whistling at a bartender for another round, Cumby said.

The groups took the dispute outside, where the off-duty officers made it clear Cumby and his cousins were no longer welcome, Cumby said. They left before the argument became physical, but that was not the end of the conflict.

After 2 a.m., Cumby and his cousins were in the nearby parking lot of Rocky's Hardware Store when they saw the group of officers from the bar approaching them, Cumby and Ligon said. One of the officers allegedly began shoving Jozelle Ligon, and another allegedly clubbed Cumby in the back of the head with a baton, knocking him unconscious and loosening his front teeth.

Cumby said that he came to with a broken leg, and claims that responding officers downplayed his injuries and falsely claimed he refused to cooperate in a subsequent police report.

The officers' account of the night is not yet public; the city has refused to release the completed Internal Investigations report due to DA's ongoing criminal review. City and police officials have declined to comment on the specific allegations raised by Cumby during his interview with MassLive.
A Libyan plane carrying 111 passengers was hijacked by two terrorists early Friday morning and has just recently landed in Malta, Reuters reported.

According to media reports in Malta, the two hijackers have allegedly threatened to blow up the Airbus A320, an Afriqiyah Airways aircraft, which was flying from Sebha to Tripoli before it was diverted.

Libya's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted earlier in the day that security officers had been keeping an eye on the developing situation.

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

About 40 minutes later, the prime minister tweeted another update indicating that the plane had been diverted to land in Malta.

He also released information about the number of passengers on board, which includes 82 males, 28 females and one infant.

Images from BBC News and Reuters show armed forces surrounding the plane in Malta.
Reports out of Fall River are that the female owner of a towing company has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison after being found guilty in a 2012 assault in which an employee had a finger chopped off in a dispute over missing money

The Fall River Herald News reports Donna Silvia, 51, was sentenced to 8 to 10 years in state prison after she was found guilty mayhem, intimidation of a witness, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, causing substantial injury.

The jury deliberated for less than two hours.

She is the second of four defendants found guilty in the case.

Silvia, owner of Columbia Towing, her husband, Dennis Silvia, and two employees John Soars and James Connor, were charged with cutting off the pinky finger of an employee that they suspected of stealing money.

Soares was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in September. Dennis Silvia and Connors are yet to go to trial.

According to the Herald News, Donna Silvia suspected an employee of stealing money and demanded he write out a confession. When he refused, he was lured out back into the garage where Soares cut off his right pinky finger with a pair of pipe cutters.

Dennis Silvia and Connors are said to have gone into the garage in advance of the assault and turned all surveillance cameras to the ceiling.

The victim told police that after the attack, he was allowed the leave, and Donna Silvia told him that if anyone asked about his finger, he was to say it was an accident and that it did not happen at her garage.

The severed finger was never recovered.
SPRINGFIELD -- The city has set aside $175,000 in federal grant funds that is being offered to property owners or developers for historic preservation projects that target buildings still having unrepaired damage from the 2011 tornado.

The grants are funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program.

"The city continues to be committed to complete tornado recovery and this is another opportunity for property owners of historic buildings to receive funding for outstanding unmet repairs needs from the tornado," Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a prepared release. "We hope property owners will take advantage of this funding while it is available."

This is the second time the funds are being offered. The city had previously offered a total of $200,000 for the historic preservation program but received only one proposal from an eligible property owner, according to the city.

Any bids for the new round of funding is due by Jan. 11, at 2 p.m., at the city's Office of Procurement at City Hall. The city is interested in "ready to proceed" historic renovation projects.

Exterior repairs that may be eligible for funding including roofing, painting, shingle/siding repair, chimney/foundation repair and re-pointing, window and door replacement or restoration with suitable materials, removal of vinyl/aluminum siding, porch repair and repair of original siding/trim, and landscaping, according to the city's invitation for bids.

To be eligible, the projects must be within the city's designated "tornado impact zone," and must be located within the boundaries of a National Register District or a local historic district. The owner must be able to demonstrate the building still has unrepaired damage from the tornado, and must be current with with property taxes, fees, and the mortgage, among other eligibility requirements.

Only exterior and emergency structural repairs will be eligible for funding under the grant program.

A tornado on June 11, 2011 left a 6.2 mile path of destruction through the city, among tornadoes striking Western and Central Massachusetts that day.

The damage in Springfield alone included nearly 900 homes and apartment buildings in spread across several neighborhoods.

The disaster recovering grant funds now being offered were the result of a "memorandum of agreement" reached between the city and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The tornado caused the demolition of a rear drill shed at the historic Howard Street Armory, and the funds now set aside for historic preservation projects was one form of "mitigation" for that historic loss, according to the city.

A review committee will evaluate each bid received for the federal funds now available, and will score each proposals according to "historic and neighborhood appropriateness, financial need, historic significance of the property and readiness to proceed and ability to comply with guidelines, according to the city.

For additional information, those interested can call the Office of Disaster Recovery at 413-750-2114.
swat.jpg

Sangpo Sherpa, 27, of Arlington, was arrested after allegedly threatening police officers with a knife.

(Arlington Police)

A SWAT team arrested a knife-wielding man who had barricaded himself inside a home in Arlington early Friday morning, Arlington police said.

Shortly before 6 a.m., Arlington police responded to 64 Silk Street after receiving report of a man screaming in the backyard.

They found Sangpo Sherpa, 27, who allegedly brandished a knife and began threatening responding officers. He was previously known to the department, police said in a Facebook post, and the Boston Globe reported that Sherpa had been involved in a disturbance at a pizza restaurant earlier this week.

Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan told the Globe that officers retreated and tried to de-escalate the confrontation. Officers shot Sherpa with a beanbag round, but his jacket cushioned the blow and he did not surrender, the Globe reported.

Police said that Sherpa fled back into the home, where two other residents were still inside. A witness told the Globe that police negotiated with Sherpa for about an hour, but he refused to exit the building, and at one point threw a six-pack of cans at police.

After Sherpa failed to exit the residence, Ryan called in support from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team, police said in a Facebook post.

The Globe reported that officers pinned Sherpa down on the first floor of the building while SWAT team members rescued the other residents from the home. Police then fired a tear gas canister into the building, prompting Sherpa to surrender.

"I am very proud that our officers fell back on their training and used de-escalation techniques and less lethal options," Ryan said in a statement. "This was a clearly violent individual and our officers were able to take him into custody without serious injury to anyone involved."

Sherpa was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, threatening to commit a crime, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.
The weapons used on Friday in the hijack of a jet from Libya to Malta were replicas according to the result of an initial forensic examination, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on his Twitter feed.

The hijackers, armed with a grenade and pistols, forced the airliner to land in Malta earlier on Friday before freeing all their hostages unharmed and surrendering.

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Massachusetts Health Connector 2016 Home Page.

(Massachusetts Health Connector 2016 Home Page)

Faced with price hikes, customers who buy health insurance through Massachusetts' exchange are shopping around for new plans, based on preliminary data from the Massachusetts Health Connector.

The Health Connector offers subsidized and unsubsidized coverage for people buying insurance on the individual or small business markets. The deadline is Friday for anyone who wants to subscribe to a new plan beginning Jan. 1. Open enrollment continues through Jan. 31, so members can switch plans until then.

"It's really important if you're thinking about getting in or making a change, doing it during open enrollment is a lot easier than after the fact," said Jason Lefferts, a spokesman for the Health Connector.

There are approximately 235,000 people who purchase health insurance in Massachusetts through the Connector rather than getting it through an employer. If customers do not change their plans, they will be automatically re-enrolled in their current plan.

This year, steep price increases in some plans meant state officials were encouraging people to shop around. The average premium increase was 6.7 percent, state officials said in October, and around 70,000 members were told in November that they would see premium price hikes of more than 15 percent.

Lefferts said state health officials had estimated that around 55,000 people would switch plans. As of Dec. 21, 40,000 current Health Connector members had chosen a new plan and paid their first month's premium. Customers must pay by Friday to get coverage for January.

Another 27,000 individuals who are not current Health Connector members also enrolled in Health Connector plans, while another 13,000 potential new customers picked a plan but did not yet pay. These could be people who were uninsured last year or who recently moved to the state or lost other insurance coverage.

Lefferts said the Health Connector has seen an uptick in people looking for help. A Health Connector call center has gotten 103,000 calls this month, compared to 87,000 last December. Walk-in centers have gotten more than 10,000 visits since Nov. 1, compared to 9,200 last year.

Lefferts attributed the increase in calls to the premium increases, which led state officials to encourage consumers to shop around. The Health Connector also has more enrollees this year than last year.

"Last year, we were telling people ... if you like your plan, sit tight, you'll be automatically renewed," Lefferts said. "This year, we're telling people you really should shop, particularly for people who are seeing a significant increase."
Ed Markey

FILE - In this June 18, 2012 file photo, Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., now-Senator-elect, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

(J. Scott Applewhite)

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, urged President-elect Donald Trump this week to walk back his earlier call to expand the country's nuclear capabilities, contending that such a policy would only exacerbate growing military tensions and put additional strains on the federal budget.

The Massachusetts Democrat, in a Thursday letter to Trump, encouraged the incoming president to back away from his Twitter claim that "the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

Raising concerns about the impacts of such expansion, Markey instead called on Trump to make "sensible reductions" in the United States' nuclear arsenal and to overhaul the country's nuclear posture -- moves which he argued would not just help avoid "global nuclear catastrophe," but free up funds for domestic and defense priorities.

"By responsibly reducing our nuclear arsenal and reforming our nuclear posture, you would strengthen U.S. national security and reinforce the foundations of global peace," he wrote.

Markey, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pointed to estimates suggesting the country will spend nearly $1 trillion over the next 30 years on modernizing and maintaining its nuclear forces.

That amount, he argued, is equal to what Trump has proposed to spend on infrastructure and includes plans to create a new air-launched cruise missile, which some have argued is redundant, destabilizing and could increase the risk of nuclear war.

The senator urged Trump to cancel the system -- a move which he said would save at least $20 billion and make Americans safer.

Markey further called on the incoming president to reconsider the need for ground-based missiles, contending that their high vulnerability to destruction in a nuclear first strike could increase the risk of false alarms leading to nuclear escalation.

He also urged Trump to overhaul the country's nuclear posture by scrapping "launch-on- warning" plans to provide for more deliberation time during crises, to adopt a policy of no-first-use to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear conflict and to recommit to meaningful nuclear arms control with Russia.

"Escalating the nuclear arms race by building more nuclear weapons would undermine that objective and it could violate the New START Treaty, which the United States and Russia signed in 2010," Markey wrote in the letter. "Building additional missile defenses would also increase U.S.-Russia tensions and it could trigger a dangerous new nuclear arms race by encouraging Russia to build offensive nuclear arms."

Instead, he said, the incoming president should negotiate with Russia on a five-year extension of the treaty and initiate broader talks to achieve bilateral cuts in nuclear arms.

Trump, however, reportedly welcomed a new arms race in an off-air conversation with MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski on Friday.

According to Brzezinski, Trump said: "Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."
Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Putin expressed hope that he would meet soon with Trump to discuss how to improve the two countries' relations. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

(Pavel Golovkin)

Russia President Vladimir Putin said he's hopeful Donald Trump will join him in taking real steps to restore the relationship between the United States and Russia in a recent letter to the president-elect.

Putin, who has been accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential election, contended in a Dec. 15 letter to Trump that recent global and regional challenges faced by the two countries "show that the relations between Russia and the U.S. remain an important factor in ensuring stability and security of the modern world."

The Russian president further wrote that he hopes that, upon assuming the Oval Office, Trump will work with him, "in a constructive and pragmatic manner, to take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas."

Putin added that he hopes to bring the two countries' "level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level."

Trump, whose transition team released the letter Friday, expressed optimism about working with the Russian president.

"A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct," he said in a brief statement. "I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path."

The letter came as President Barack Obama pledged to "take action" in response to reported Russian cyberattacks, which U.S. intelligence officials believe sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

The CIA, in a recent secret assessment, concluded that Russia intervened in the U.S. presidential election to help Trump win the White House instead of just influencing confidence in America's electoral system

Obama said he had spoken directly to Putin, whom the White House has suggested played a personal role in the hack, about his feelings on the matter.

Trump, however, has repeatedly questioned whether Russia meddled in the 2016 election, suggesting the White House's allegations are politically motivated.

"If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?" he tweeted on Dec. 15.

If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2016

Russian officials, meanwhile, have cast the allegations as "absolute nonsense."
1) Trailer Terrace mobile home community celebrated clean water for the first time in a decade and the grand opening of Eden Market. Congratulations to all who have worked over the years to make this happen! See more details in Tribune.

2) We issued a $106,300 gap loan commitment to..

To read more, heres the link. http://gfdevelopment.org/news.php?nid=394
Prospera Business Network is the lead non-profit organization advancing and supporting community-centered economic development in southwest Montana. Our focus is helping people start and grow their business  in turn strengthening our regions economy and communities.
Gov. Steve Bullock said Thursday he and his staff followed a few "guideposts" in crafting a proposed $9.7 billion biennium budget that included the state not spending more than it makes and leaving a $300 million ending-fund balance in 2019.

Bullock, 50, entering his second term as governor, was in Great Falls to pitch an infrastructure plan during a news conference and he stopped by the Tribune afterward to discuss a slew of topics before the 65th legislative session starts Jan. 2, including Real ID, a proposed tax increase for those who make more than $500,000, the recent election and a possible replacement for Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont.

Phil Drake , [email protected]

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/12/22/governor-discusses-budget-session/95772242/
he labour force for 2018 was estimated at 583,800 (352,800 males and 231,000 females), employment at 543,700 (336,100 males and 207,600 females) and unemployment at 40,100 (16,700 males and 23,400 females).

From 2017 to 2018, labour force decreased by 3,100 as a result of a decline in both in employment (-1,400) and in unemployment (-1,700).

In 2018, men comprised 60% of the workforce. Tertiary sector (covering trade, accommodation & food service activities, transportation & storage and all the other service industries) was the main source of jobs for Mauritians.

The unemployment rate worked out to 6.9% (4.7% for male and 10.1% for female). It decreased from 7.1% in 2017. Unemployed women outnumbered unemployed men though they were generally more qualified.

Young (aged 16 to 24 years) unemployed in 2018 numbered 19,700 of whom 9,400 men and 10,300 women. Youth unemployment rate stood at 25.1% (21.7% for male and 29.3% for female).

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Les membres du gouvernement ont pris note que le paud av signer un Exchange Note de Rs 174 millions de roupies avec le Gouvernement du Japon afin dextendre les subsides pour les hopitaux du pays aini que pour le Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care-Cardiac Centre, que plusieurs regulations seont promulge concernant la douane, de celle de la (Historic Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2022 pour creer un musee historique de la voiture, de lorganisation de trois divali shows dans le pays du 14 au 16 octobre 2022 entre autres.

1. Cabinet has agreed to the accession of the Republic of Mauritius to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The Treaty which is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, makes it possible to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in a large number of countries by filing an international application. Such an application may be filed by anyone who is a national or resident of a PCT Contracting State.

There are currently 156 countries which are party to the PCT. The accession to the PCT would, inter alia, offer more visibility to the country on the international Intellectual Property arena and increase the attractiveness of the Mauritian jurisdiction for the filing of patent applications, especially in the emerging sectors such as Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Research on Sea Sponge.

2. Cabinet has agreed to the Government of Mauritius signing an Exchange of Notes with the Government of Japan for a Grant Aid of JPY550 million (approx. Rs174 million). The Government of Japan has agreed to extend the grant for the procurement of the medical equipment for the five regional hospitals of Mauritius and the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care-Cardiac Centre at Pamplemousses under its Economic and Social Development Programme.

3. Cabinet has taken note that the following regulations would be promulgated:

(a) the Customs (Amendment) Regulations 2022;

(b) the Customs Tariff (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 5) Regulations 2022;

(c) the Excise (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2022;

(d) the Excise (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 4) Regulations 2022; and

(e) the Excise (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

These Regulations provide for the implementation of measures mentioned in the Annex to Budget Speech 2022  23 relating to customs laws as well as other policy and technical measures.

4. Cabinet has agreed to the promulgation of the Road Traffic (Historic Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2022, in the context of the setting up of a Historic Motor Vehicle Museum in Mauritius for showcasing a car collection of at least 150 originals, vintage and classic cars of 40 years or more. These cars are unique and would be exhibited under their unique registration marks.

5. Cabinet has taken note that the Ombudsperson for Financial Services (Sworn Statement) (Revocation) Regulations 2022 would be promulgated. The Ombudsperson for Financial Services (Sworn Statement) Regulations 2019 have now become obsolete.

6. Cabinet has agreed to the submission of the National Report on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to the United Nations Environment Programme as one of the deliverables of the Global Monitoring Plan under the Stockholm Convention on POPs, which has been ratified by the Republic of Mauritius.

The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, also known as POPs. Parties to the Convention are required to comply with provisions of the Convention, take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs in the environment and provide background data on POPs in ambient air and human milk under the Global Monitoring Plan.

7. Cabinet has taken note that the Department of Civil Aviation would host the fourth African-Indian Ocean Free Route Airspace Project Management Team (AFI FRA PMT) Meeting in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, from 25 to 28 October 2022 in Mauritius.

The objective of the meeting is to provide the AFI FRA PMT with a forum to develop a road map for the regional Free Route Airspace project as well as to gain insight of the challenges and lessons learnt by Mauritius during the implementation of the project within the Flight Information Region. Some 60 participants from among the 48 Member States are expected to attend the meeting, along with some 10 participants from the key aviation stakeholders in Mauritius.

8. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage organising three Divali Shows at national level from 14 to 16 October 2022, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, and with the participation of local and international artists. These three live performances would equally form part of the 12 Fetes Nationales being organised throughout the island in the context of the 55th Anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius which would be celebrated next year.

9. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Mauritius Post Ltd, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, to mark the 250th Anniversary of the postal services in Mauritius. The event would coincide with World Post Day to be celebrated on 09 October 2022 under the theme Post for Planet.

An official function would be organised on 08 October 2022 at Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis and the event would include: (a) the opening of a Philatelic Exhibition to be organised in collaboration with the Association Philatelique de lOcean Indien and an exhibition on the historical journey of the Mauritius Post Ltd;

(b) the launching of two stamps and two First Day Covers on the 250th Anniversary of Postal Services in Mauritius and 175th anniversary of Blue and Red Penny stamps; (c) the unveiling of a Commemorative Plate as well as a stele, depicting the 250th Anniversary of the postal services in Mauritius; (d) the recognition of six employees having the longest years of service in the postal sector, including one from Rodrigues; and (e) the launching of a new logo for the Mauritius Post Ltd. In addition, the Mauritius Post Ltd has also planned other side activities. These activities would also be extended to Rodrigues in the coming month.

10. Cabinet has taken note of the status of road capital projects being implemented by the Road Development Authority as at 31 August 2022. For the current financial year, seven projects have been completed, 10 are under construction, contracts have been awarded for two projects, five projects are at procurement stage and six others are at preparation stage.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world. Some 618.7 million cases have been reported globally, of which 598.6 million persons have been successfully treated. With regard to Mauritius, as at 21 September 2022, there were 57 active cases of COVID-19, out of which 10 were admitted at the New ENT Hospital.

12. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance in the 22nd Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Council of Ministers Meeting and the 5th Sub-Saharan Africa Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Public/Private Sector Dialogue held recently in Zambia as well as his official mission to South Africa.

A delegation from Mauritius attended the 44th ESAAMLG Task Force of Senior Officials Meeting, whereby the Enhanced Follow-up Report of Mauritius which included a request for technical compliance re-rating of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 15 on New Technologies was considered. It was the only outstanding recommendation where Mauritius had a rating of Partially Compliant. On the basis of the progress made by Mauritius in addressing the deficiencies relating thereto, the ESAAMLG Task Force approved the upgrading of that Recommendation to Largely Compliant. With this technical compliance upgrade, Mauritius is, now, Compliant or Largely Compliant to all of the 40 FATF Recommendations.

The Council of Ministers approved the appointment of Mrs Fikile Zitha from South Africa, as the new Executive Secretary of ESAAMLG. The 5th Sub-Saharan Africa AML/CFT Public/Private Sector Dialogue was launched immediately after the Council of Ministers Meeting with the theme Virtual Assets and the Implementation of the AML/CFT Programmes in the ESAAMLG Region.

During the mission of the Minister to Johannesburg, South Africa, he participated in various meetings with potential investors and prospective operators for the Mauritius International Financial Centre in order to explore the interest of the investor community in South Africa to invest and operate in the Mauritian jurisdiction.

13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security in the African Green Revolution Forum and the First-In-Person Regional Dialogue with African Food Systems National Convenors organised by the African Union Development Agency, the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, the Food Workstream of the United Nations Global Crisis Response Group on Food Energy and Finance and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa held recently in Rwanda.

The theme of the Forum was Grow, Nourish, Reward  Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems. The Forum was organised following the Food Systems Summit, a United Nations initiative, preceding the National Dialogue on Food System. The African Green Revolution Forum was a platform to encourage African Food Systems Convenors to engage in the implementation of strategies related to the recent food, energy and finance crisis on the African continent. In the margins of the African Green Revolution Forum, a National Convenors Meeting was held and the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security made a presentation on the National Pathway.

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ASHEVILLE  Mission Health has announced that it is implementing its Visitor Limitation Policy and asking patients family members and friends to limit their hospital visits. Visitors under the age of 12 and those who do not feel well are encouraged to call patients rather than visit them in the hospital.

We have been made aware of an increase in reported influenza-like illnesses throughout North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Public Health Division, the influenza-like illness activity in the state has reached more than 2 percent and local transmission has increased, said Jill Hoggard Green, PhD, RN, COO, Mission Health System and President, Mission Hospital.

This precaution is being implemented at Mission Hospital, member hospitals and affiliates in the western North Carolina region, which includes CarePartners in Asheville, McDowell Hospital in Marion, Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, Angel Medical Center in Franklin, and Highlands-Cashiers Hospital in Highlands.

Mission Health team members and visitors can help prevent the spread of influenza by practicing frequent hand hygiene, staying home if they are sick, and by getting an annual influenza vaccine. All visitors are urged to wash their hands before and after their visit. In addition, hand sanitizing stations are available at hospital entrances and throughout the buildings.

For additional flu prevention tips, please visit http://www.mission-health.org/flu.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, December 21, 2016

John Moore, global president, MullenLowe Mediahub, said in a recent interview that my favorite media is inventing it. Media is everywhere and only limited by your imagination.

In 2016, MullenLowe Mediahub, which is MediaPosts Creative Agency of the Year, did an extraordinary job of inventing media, highlighted by a campaign it developed for the Netflix program Black Mirror.

The anthology show explores how technology can change things  so it seemed like a natural fit to target ad-blocking viewers, who by definition have used technology to improve their user experience.

In fact, "we knew that the audience for the show [younger males] were heavy users of ad blockers, Moore said. "The goal became figuring out a way to reach them."

The agency partnered with tech-focused publishers Mashable and TheNextWeb to devise messages that were put onto pages that only ad blockers could see. Basically we figured out a way to hack the Web, said Moore. While ad-blocking viewers wouldnt see the shows normal ad promos, they did see a campaign that read in part: Hello ad blocker user. You cannot see the ad, but the ad can see you. Whats on the other side of your Black Mirror?

How effective was the effort? Its no secret that tech firms in the media and marketing space can be pretty stingy with data, and Netflix keeps its own marketing-related data pretty close to the vest. But word is that insiders were wowed by the creative concept.

And clearly Netflix is pleased with the agencys work overall  this year it expanded the shops responsibilities to serve key markets beyond North America to Australia, the UK and New Zealand.

The agency won a pocketful of other key new business assignments as well, including Western Union, Harley-Davidson and Duke Energy, among others.

For another Netflix show, Stranger Things, the agency used mobile and gaming formats in unique ways to promote the programs period setting, the 1980s.

The mobile campaign mimicked incoming calls as seen on the program (80s era wireline dial phones) and used haptic technology to create the vibration of a ringing phone to make the messages more jarring. While mobile technology has radically changed the way that most Americans go about their daily business, marketers and agencies still have a hard time applying mobile effectively in ad campaigns, says Moore. Few agencies have cracked the mobile code.

The agency also created interactive content to promote Stranger Things on the Twitch gamer network. A live stream of five gamers playing popular '80s video games allowed viewers to vote in real-time for "strange things" to happen on the set, including whispering voices, lights flickering, and the sudden appearance of smoke (from a smoke machine).

A JetBlue OOH effort encouraged passersby to get involved in a very hands-on way with the campaign, encouraging them to take posters off bus shelters scattered across New York. Each poster had a unique offer that could be redeemed at a nearby merchant.

And a campaign for Royal Caribbean also used outdoor in an innovative way, combining it with social platform Periscope in a bid to demonstrate the appeal of cruises to a younger audience.

The agency sent social influencers on a Royal Caribbean Cruise and enabled them to share their experiences live with followers via Periscope. Their live-stream adventures were also beamed across 90 outdoor digital placements. We wanted to make the marketing as innovative as the ships in the RC fleet, said Moore. So we reimagined outdoor, and its potential to be combined with newer media.

The agency also used its storytelling capabilities to help luxury brand Shinola tell its tale of a brand reimagined, focused on American craftsmanship and thriving and providing jobs in Detroit, a city that is making its way back from a period of economic hardship.

Influencers were also deployed across the fashion and lifestyle space, and paid social was used to move the stories and content to targeted consumers. The effort helped lift brand growth from a site visitation, engagement and conversion perspective.

The campaigns cited above are emblematic of the innovative way our team thinks, said Moore. We work really well with brands that are trying to upset the status quo.

The notion of challenger brand has changed, asserts Moore. It used to be that such brands zigged when the rest of its competitor set was zagging. Now, he submits, challenger brands are brands that are trying to change the world.
by John Motavalli , Columnist, December 21, 2016

We wrote recently that Snapchat is projected to make about $366 million in ad revenue this year, but could double that number next year, fueled by a planned IPO that could bring in as much as $25 billion. But Snapchat is already gearing up, even before the IPO.

According to a piece on Recode, parent company Snap has acquired the San Francisco-based ad tech firm Flite, founded by Giles Goodwin. Some are saying that Snap bought Flite partly to acquire its coterie of ad professionals.

Certainly, Goodwin is outspoken. Last March, he wrote a piece for the Wall Street Journal in which he slammed the quality of digital ads in general as pedestrian and ineffective. Essentially, digital ads suck. While noting the ubiquity of ad blocking, viewability and fraud, he nonetheless points to the main culprit being the efficacy of digital ad campaigns. He points to campaigns for Uber, Amazon and Zappos as outstanding in their focus on user experience, or UX.

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We note that Goodwin also linked on his Twitter feed to a piece on 1to1media that praises Snapchat for its video ads.

Snapchat is one such vendor that has been encouraging marketers to shoot vertical video ads. Earlier this year, the messaging app told the Daily Mail that vertical video ads have up to nine times more completed views than horizontal video ads, reported Daily Mail North America CEO Jon Steinberg.

The Snap deal has not been announced yet, and Snap is not commenting. Flite has raised $41 million in three rounds from five investors, according to TechCrunch, including General Catalyst Partners, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, Iris Capital, Sequoia Capital and VivaKi.

Flite has worked with clients like Kelloggs Frosted Flakes and Discovery Channel. It summarizes itself this way: Flite is the world's leading creative management platform powering creatives and marketers from top-tier brands, agencies and publishers. Our state-of-the-art platform gives creative professionals the power to design visually stunning ads on live, interactive canvases, while giving marketers the ability to launch, manage, measure and optimize digital ad campaigns in real time, at scale, all in one seamless experience.

One reason for Snaps interest could be its expertise with video advertising. Flite's blog notes that U.S. digital video ad spending will hit almost $10 billion this year, and $28 billion by 2020.

Flite Video gives brands the vehicles to improve branding and performance goals in a high-impact manner and publishers the premium and breakthrough environments to drive monetization  all in achieving one common goal  a heightened digital consumer experience. From Hosted Video and Outstream to VAST and VPAID, Flite Video inspires creativity within our customers and can be customized to every brands look and feel  and in HTML5.

In September, Flite announced what it said was the first advertising unit that couples a 360-degree video or image with all of the 1:1 personalization of a CMP. Similar to Facebook 360 Video or YouTube 360 video, Flite 360 supports video or images for 360-degree spherical viewing, and adds all of the available interactive elements and personalization components from the Flite CMP platform.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 22, 2016

Researchers at Indiana University have developed a search engine, Hoaxy, to demonstrate how fake news and unverified stories spread through social media, after showing how they generated revenue from advertising based on the misinformation.

Filippo Menczer, the director of the university's Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, is heading the joint project between the university and the Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research. Menczer and Giovanni LucaCiampaglia, assistant research scientist at the university, coordinated the project. Along with a team, the two have created an open platform for the automatic tracking of both online fake news and fact-checking on social media.

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The platform tracks social sharing of links on "independent fact-checking sites like snopes.com and factcheck.org, and sources that publish inaccurate, unverified, or satirical claims "according to lists compiled and published by reputable news and fact-checking organizations," per the Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A) page on the university's site.

"Social media makes it more likely that I am more exposed to false information that I am likely to believe," Menczer told Reuters.

Hoaxy relies on Web crawlers to extract links to articles posted on fake news Web sites and links to their debunking on fact-checking sites. The post explains that the search engine uses social media APIs to monitor how these links spread through online social networks. The collected data is stored on a database for retrieval and analysis. A dashboard will provide interactive analytics and visualizations.

Fake news also enabled Menczer and researchers to make money during an earlier research phase. Ten years ago, Menczer and colleagues ran an experiment where 72% of the college students participating in the study trusted links that appeared to originate from friends, even to the point of entering personal login information on phishing sites.

He placed ads on a fake Web page that he created and populated the site with random, computer-generated gossip news. A disclaimer ran at the bottom of the page saying the site contained meaningless text and made-up facts. At the end of the month, he received a check in the mail with earnings from the ads, proving that he could make money off fake news.

Google is actively working to stop fake news from appearing in search engine results and also is taking steps to stop advertisements powered by AdSense, its ad-serving platform, from serving on publisher sites known to publish fake news.
by Tanya Gazdik , December 22, 2016

Alaska Airlines is launching a microsite to promote its merger with Virgin America.

Hornall Anderson and Mekanism created the site, while Hornall Anderson was behind a promotional livery design. It also created work around Alaska Airlines rebrand earlier this year.

The site aims to help celebrate and inspire excitement for the new merger, promising the best of both airlines to employees, loyalists, and new flyers alike, according to Hornall Anderson.

To celebrate the airlines' combined nearly 1,200 daily flights, the company will give away 1,200 round-trip flights in an online contest.

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With a chartered course planned for up and down the West Coast, this promotional livery expresses the two airlines coming together while celebrating their differences. The pledge of more flights, more rewards and more to love is expressed through a flood of gradient color from nose to tail. Alaskas dominant blue and Virgins dominant red unite in a vibrant purple that creates intrigue and reflects the magic that comes with this merger, says the agency.

The microsite addresses questions about what the merger means for both Alaska and Virgin flyers and how it will benefit them -- especially the loyalty cardholders. The microsite includes a FAQs page where flyers can stay up to date on whats happening and whats planned for the future and an aggregated section of fan postings via social media.

The merger makes the company the fifth-largest U.S. airline.

"Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are different airlines, but we believe different works -- and we're confident fliers will agree," said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, in a release. "The two airlines may look different, but our core customer and employee focus are very much the same.

Alaska is an industry leader in both customer satisfaction and performance. The airline has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America for nine years in the J.D. Power 2016 North America Airline Satisfaction Study.

Starting Dec. 19, Mileage Plan members began earning miles on Virgin America flights, and Virgin America Elevate members will be able to earn points on Alaska Airlines flights. Both airlines' elite members will receive priority check-in and priority boarding on each other's flights. Customers can purchase Virgin America tickets at alaskaair.com. Tickets will continue to be available for sale at virginamerica.com for the immediate future.

No decisions regarding the Virgin America brand have been made. Alaska plans to continue to operate the Virgin America fleet with its current name and product for a period of time while it conducts extensive customer research to understand what fliers value the most. Virgin America will continue to fly under its brand with no immediate changes to the onboard product or experience.

"We appreciate that there is great interest in the future of the Virgin America brand among customers and employees alike," said Tilden. "This is a big decision and one that deserves months of thoughtful and thorough analysis. We plan to make a decision about the Virgin America brand early next year."
by Thom Forbes , Featured Columnist @tforbes, December 22, 2016

Social media use may be reaching saturation in terms of penetration, but its impact on the way we live our lives and talk among ourselves seems to be on the verge of another dimension. Heres a look at a few of the major trends we saw emerging in 2016.

Chat Bots

In March, we titled an article The Chat Bots Are Coming! The Chat Bots Are Coming! Well, theyre here all right. But they seem a lot like those storied New Yorkers who, if you ask for directions, will oblige in detail whether they actually know what theyre talking about or not.

I cant count how many pitches I received this year from PR folks offering up experts to talk about the impact bots will have on civilization as we navigate it. I finally made a suggestion to one persistent chap: Tell you what, let me interview your chat bot about chat bots. The reply came back a few days later: Uh, could you submit the questions in advance?

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If youve got a bot that can hit a fastball, let me know. Meanwhile, check out Bob Garfields No Ifs, Ands Or Bots for an amusing take on the subject.

Virtual And Augmented Reality

There was a lot of talk this year about how social is going to drive virtual and augmented reality. It started when Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance at Samsungs Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February and told the assembled, One day youre going to be able to put on a headset and thats going to change the way you live, work and communicate. VR, he said, is the most social platform.

The Pokemon Go phenomenon in July had us asking some experts if we were seeing the breakout moment for AR (see Using Augmented Reality To Drive Social Success), and if brands needed to get their own AR apps developed posthaste. Well, yes. And no. Its still a bit early.

Last week Facebook launched Oculus Rooms and Parties for Gear VR headsets -- and it will be available for Rift in 2017. But the back-on-earth reality is that most consumers have yet to don VR goggles, no less converse within virtual spaces.

Social As A Blugeon

Forget policy papers, well-vetted news releases and on-site Sunday press conferences looking to woo reporters who need to fill column inches on a slow news day. Foreign policy positions have been expressed in 140 characters or less. A tweet can drive the lead story of the evening news broadcasts. Opponents are eviscerated with a twist of phrase. As for discourse, forget playing by the rules of moderated debates. Thats what hashtags are for.

Harassment and bullying online goes back to the BBSs of the 80s, of course, but platforms such as the ephemeral Snapchat and the anonymous Yik Yak have turned shaming into a drive-by blood sport, I wrote  while offering some anecdotes  in July.

The challenge is Getting Beyond Vitriol And Conflict to use social to build community, work out differences and support people who need it. Participants of mom.life are promised a shaming-free experience. A campaign for the U.N.s World Humanitarian Summit used social to engage users with some impossible choices refugees have to make, while also pressuring world leaders to take action. And The Addicts Mom, a closed Facebook group, not only provides a lifeline to parents, but also intimately connects a tribe of people who would rather not be in it.

Facebook Live Video

A lot has happened sinceFitmark bags became one of the first brands to take advantage of Facebooks opening up its Live to anyone with a smartphone. Namely, everyone and her sister seems to be broadcasting the likes of kale being chopped.

But that doesn't mean theres not a lot of useful, engaging and impactful use of Live, too. Boston public radio station WBUR used it to create the most effective hour of fundraising it has had in its 66 years of wheedling, for example. And, in a couple of weeks, an expert in marketing to the top 1% will tell us why luxury brands need to immediately starting embracing Live as the new broadcast TV.

Whats Up?

Speaking of the future, next week Ill ask some social media experts and practitioners what will be coming in 2017 -- besides the first movie starring emoji.

Meanwhile, evidence continues to mount that too much of what can be a very positive way to engage and communicate with each other can also lead to anxiety or depression. That's why former dopamine-driven social-media addicts like Halley Bock recommend mixing in a lot of real-life social interactions with your digital exchanges.

So give those thumbs a rest, hug your loved ones, and have a happy holiday.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, December 22, 2016

Amazon promises customers to protect the privacy of their information, including the merchandise they purchase. But a federal judge in Seattle apparently doesn't put much stock in the company's assurances to consumers.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge James Robart ordered Amazon to turn over the names of everyone who purchased certain WEN hair products -- which are at the center of a class-action lawsuit.

The judge ordered the disclosures so that lawyers in the class-action case can notify purchasers about a settlement. WEN's products allegedly led to a host of adverse effects, including hair loss. The company agreed to settle the case by paying $25 to everyone who purchased the conditioner, and up to $20,000 to people who had a bad reaction to it.

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The retailers QVC, Sephora and Overstock reportedly agreed to provide the information.

But Amazon said complying with the order would violate the company's promise to keep customers' information private. The company also pointed out that it hadn't been notified in advance about the request, and therefore wasn't able to appear in court and argue on behalf of its users.

"Amazon takes very seriously its customers privacy and the security of their confidential information. Inversely, customers rely on Amazons privacy policies and expect their personal data to be safe," the company wrote in a motion seeking to quash the subpoena. "Plaintiffs demand is doubly intrusive because it forces Amazon to violate its customers trust, and it invades those customers privacy without notice. plaintiffs assume that consumers would prioritize notice of a class action settlement recovery over the security of their personal data, but that is not a choice that plaintiffs or this court have the right to make."

Amazon also pointed out that there are other means of informing customers about the settlement -- including the traditional route of publishing notices about the agreement.

The lawyers who are seeking the information say it will be kept confidential. But Amazon argues that is not sufficient protection.

"Amazon is experienced and adept at protecting its customers information," the company said in its legal papers. "If Amazon is forced to disclose customer data to a third-party administrator that is unprepared to guard such data, and there is a subsequent breach or leak of customer identifying information, there is no mechanism whatsoever to protect Amazon."

This isn't the first time that Amazon has gone to court to defend its customers' privacy. Several years ago, the company successfully fought a North Carolina tax law that would have required Amazon to disclose the names of all state residents who made e-commerce purchases. The judge in that case ruled that North Carolina's request violated residents' free speech rights to purchase books and movies anonymously.
by Thom Forbes @tforbes, December 23, 2016

After months of negotiations with the Department of Justice, Deutsche Bank announced a $7.2 billion deal in principle yesterday to settle allegations that it had sold residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) that contributed to the global financial crises of 2008. The amount is nearly half of what the bank had warned the feds were looking to get; it is broken into $4.1 billion in consumer relief and $3.1 billion in fines.

The consumer relief is expected to be primarily in the form of loan modifications and other assistance to homeowners and borrowers, and other similar initiatives to be determined, and delivered over a period of at least five years, according to the Deutsche Bank release.

Credit Suisse also announced a provisional deal for $5.3 billion  $2.48 billion in fines and $2.8 billion to be paid over five years in consumer relief. The deal is in line with the $5 to $7 billion the DOJ was looking for, Reuters Michael Shields and Arno Schuetze report.

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The settlements, which focus on activities in 2005 to 2007, revisit an ugly chapter of the global financial crisis, in which banks bundled mortgages from people with shaky credit into bonds whose risks many investors did not understand. When the mortgages went into default as the U.S. real estate market collapsed, so did the bonds, spreading losses and panic through the financial system, the APs David McHugh and Jamey Keaten recap for USA Today.

The DOJ, meanwhile, said yesterday that it had issued a civil claim against Barclays and two of its executives in federal court in the Eastern District of New York.

The widespread fraud that investment banks like Barclays committed in the packaging and sale of residential mortgage-backed securities injured tens of thousands of investors and significantly contributed to the Financial Crisis of 2008, said principal deputy associate attorney general Bill Baer in the release announcing the action. Millions of homeowners were left with homes they could not afford, leaving entire neighborhoods devastated.

It is thought to be the first time an institution had failed to reach a settlement with the U.S. authorities over the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the banking crisis. Responding to the news on Thursday night, Barclays said it would fight the case, Jill Treanor reports for the Guardian.

The suit names two of its former executives  Paul K. Menefee, of Austin, Texas, who served as Barclays head banker on its subprime RMBS securitizations, and John T. Carroll, who served as Barclays head trader for subprime loan acquisitions  claiming they were central to Barclays allegedly fraudulent scheme.

The Deutsche Bank deal comes after many months of uncertainty that cast a pall over the banks future after reports last fall that the government had asked the bank to pay $14 billion as negotiations got underway, observe Ben Protess and Landon Thomas Jr. for the New York Times. That such an enormous number was even mentioned raised concerns not just about the banks business model in the years ahead, but its short-term prospects as well.

The Washington Posts Drew Harwell and Tom Hamburger observe: If approved, the proposed settlement could help dampen concern about a conflict facing incoming President-elect Donald Trump, whose businesses have borrowed more than $300 million from the troubled German bank. Trump has listed it as his companies biggest lender, with roughly $364 million in outstanding debts, in financial filings.

In Die Welt, Tobias Kaiser writes that the deal will generate a sigh of relief at Deutsche Bank headquarters.  But the punishment that has now been agreed on is still a hefty one, reports the BBC.

Other banks that have been ordered to pay fines by the DOJ include Citigroup, which says its $12 billion penalty has been reduced to $7 billion, the BBC continues. In 2013, JP Morgan Chase was fined $13 billion, following allegations that it overstated the quality of mortgages being sold to investors. In the following year, Bank of America paid $16.7 billion to settle similar charges. Goldman Sachs settled for $5.1 billion in January this year.

The British lender RBS now looks like the last of the European banks facing [DOJ] fines that could reach as high as $16 billion, writesThe Streets James Skinner. The bailed-out lender has been widely expected to face the largest of all mortgage-related fines given its position as a preeminent underwriter in the RMBS market before the crisis, second only to Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, both of which are defunct as a result.
by Larissa Faw , December 23, 2016

Maine Lottery and its agency Fuseideas are introducing the "Yankee Swap" campaign to encourage residents to give lottery tickets as presents and stocking stuffers. The concept illustrates how an agency can stretch a client's budget through creativity and smart spending.

Unlike TV spots for typical instant games that are available for as much as a year or more, the promotional period for holiday tickets is relatively short. As a result, the investment in production is typically smaller  and that usually does not allow for live action. But the agency found a way to do a live action spot for under $15,000.

The ad was shot in a neighboring law office of the agencys Portland, Maine location and agency staff portrayed the Yankee Swap participants. The spot shows office workers continually taking the lottery gift basket as the coveted gift swap while holiday music plays in the background. (And who wouldnt with competing gifts like a toilet scrubber, dingy looking socks or a flashlight?)

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The spot is airing on local broadcast throughout the state of Maine and being shared on the Lottery's social channels.

Where others only see a challenge, our Portland team wrapped-up and delivered a perfect solution," says Dennis Franczak, CEO, Fuseideas. "At Fuseideas we view every brand as a challenger brand, forever pushing the quality of marketing communications so they are recognized as leaders in their industry.

This is the latest example of the agency's innovative and cost efficient storytelling. Since Fuseideas works with the Lottery Commissions in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the agency licensed The Drifters featuring Ben E. Kings performance of This Magic Moment for use by all three state lotteries for the Megabucks Makes Millionaires campaign. Thus, all costs were shared across three states for the year-long six TV spot campaign.

Fuseideas became the AOR for the Vermont Lottery in 2016, AOR for Maine in early 2015, and has worked with the Connecticut Lottery since 2013.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, December 23, 2016

Corporate compliance execs, cover your ears. Ad execs receive holiday gifts from suppliers at this time, and judging by the response of 350 advertiser and agency executives to an informal best/worst gift poll, some are great and some really stink.

The stinkiest prize may well go to an anonymous agency executive who recalled receiving a bowl of once live fish sent prior to Christmas but not opened until after the holidays.

When we got back there were a lot of dead fish. Everything smelled, the exec sniffed to the researchers at Advertiser Perceptions Inc., which conducted the survey.

The second-stinkiest gift was received by an agency CEO who opened a Chicago Pizza that was also delivered before, but opened after the holidays.

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I don't eat pizza and the vendor knew I was taking a Christmas vacation, the CEO recalled.

While there are no quants in the study, Advertiser Perceptions analysts deduced that spirits and wine were the most popular holiday gifts, although the latter occasionally stink too.

According to one advertiser, one shop sent a bottle of agency branded wine that smelled so bad we couldnt drink it.

Food also got the second-most mixed best/worst responses.

On the one hand, foods such as -- meats, fruit baskets, cheese plates, fruit cakes and "stale candy and cookies" -- topped worst list. On the other hand, an agency cited a food truck sent by a food magazine to feed the shop lunch for the day was one of the best.

But the best most likely was the one received by the CEO of a marketing organizations that covered both food and wine: A trip to Venice, Italy.

Buon natale!
by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, December 23, 2016

The same day that Trump announced the makeup of his press office, he named Kellyanne Conway counselor to the president, charged with overseeing messaging from the White House.

We may be in new territory on how the White House interacts with the press  and by extension the American people.

Former RNC communications director Sean Spicer has been named Press Secretary. After a satirically tinged intro, Spicer was pressed by Politico Playbook writers, Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman last Friday about how a Trump press office would conduct itself.

What was made clear: Trumps administration will do things differently when it comes to coverage of and access to the president.

In a similar vein to what Spicer told Politico, Trumps chief of staff Reince Priebus told conservative columnist Hugh Hewitt to expect change in the White House press office:

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The point of all of this conversation is that the traditions, while some of them are great, I think its time to revisit a lot of these things that have been done in the White House. I can assure you that change is going to happen, even on things that might seem boring like this topic.

The great but boring traditions that Priebus speaks of are crucial to the president's accountability. The ability to ask questions directly to the Press Secretary on a daily basis keeps the administration in check. Live streams of the press briefings give American voters direct insight into the White House.

Voters will have little say in how Trump and Spicer organize their press operation. The White House Correspondents Association, however, will. The organization represents reporters on news coverage, access and travel with the president, as well as assigning seats in the press briefing room.

A Trump White House may try to circumvent the group, creating large question marks about transparency.

Other personnel that will officially join Trump in the White House include campaign press secretary Hope Hicks, who will serve as strategic communications director in the new administration. In her late 20s, Hicks is the only young woman in Trumps inner circle of official advisers.

Jason Miller, another veteran from the Trump campaign, has been tapped for the role of communications director. Dan Scavino will continue his role running Trumps social media as the White House social-media director.
by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, December 23, 2016

As promised, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has begun asking visitors from abroad to voluntarily provide details of their social media accounts, allowing customs officials to screen them for potential affiliation with Islamist extremist organizations, according to Politico, which first reported the news. The move follows criticism of the DHS for failing to investigate the couple who committed the terrorist attack in San Bernardino last December based on their social media activity.

The visa waiver program allows foreign nationals from a number of countries to enter the U.S. without a visa for visits of up to 90 days, streamlining the process for tourists and businesspeople, among others.

Under the new screening system, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service is including a query on its Electronic System for Travel Authorization form for individuals seeking entrance to the country under a visa waiver program, asking them to provide information identifying their social media accounts. The electronic form provides a pull-down menu that includes a number major social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube; it also asks for user names, screen names, or other identifying information.

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As noted, the social media screening is currently strictly voluntary, but civil liberties groups claim that it will pressure visitors into providing social media information, for fear that failing to do so will result in even closer scrutiny. For their part, supporters of the new screening measures argue that domestic security takes priority over the privacy of foreign visitors, who in any event do not enjoy the full protection of civil liberties accorded to U.S. citizens.

Finally, skeptics note that would-be terrorists seeking entry to the U.S. are unlikely to provide information that would incriminate them to the authorities.

Following the original proposal for voluntary screening, Representative Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) argued: What terrorist is going to give our government permission to see their radical jihadist rants on social media? The only people who will share that information are those with nothing to hide. Voluntary disclosure wont keep anyone safe. If we want to win on the digital battlefield, mandatory screening is required.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, December 23, 2016

Dentsu issued an update Thursday on its efforts to improve its workplace environment, an effort that continues following a ruling this fall by a Japanese labor agency that working conditions were a contributing factor in the apparent suicide of a Dentsu staffer late last year. The agencys probe into workplace violations within Dentsus Japanese operations is ongoing.

Earlier this month Dentsu said it was scrapping 10 principals established in the 1950s designed to set the tone for the work ethic of staffers. By todays standards some of them seemed woefully out of date including one that was translated by Japanese publications as Never give up on your task. Do not let go even if you get killed."

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Among the latest revisions announced Thursday: All employees must take off two weeks annually, including a week in each half of the companys business year. The company is also making efforts to reduce the amount of overtime hours employees put in and stated yesterday that it would compensate workers for lost overtime pay with bonus payments.

The firm also laid out plans to improve employee health management and care. One example: Have mental health professionals on-site at all times to counsel employees as needed.

Earlier the Tokyo-based ad-holding company stated that as part of a plan to overhaul its work assignments, about 650 people (or 10% of the Japan-based workforce) will shift to new positions in January.

Also a new personnel plan is being devised, and some 70 human resources managers (a total of around 70) are being appointed to oversee implementation.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 23, 2016

People searching the Internet for answers typically are not equipped to monitor the truth, mainly because most fake news is written in a deceptive way. News gets accessed from many sources and not all are legitimate, making it tough to determine credibility.

This could all soon change. Researchers at Indiana University are working on building technology that would fact-check online content, but the program is in its early stages.

At the moment it is rudimentary, says Filippo Menczer, director of the university's Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research. "We are moving toward the idea of having some sort of computational fact checking," he said.

Today, the technology can determine the reliability of statements such as: "Paris is the capital of Russia." It's not clear if and when it would be available for search queries on engines, in Facebook or on publisher sites.

Is there a way to build a more sophisticated algorithm to screen news for the truth? That's a complex question, Menczer says, because the distinction sits on a fine line.

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"I would be wary of a system that would judge content to be false, even if that's possible," he said. "Some would consider that a type of censorship. The distinction between fake, mistake, misleading and bias is a blurry one."

Putting the ethical issues aside, he said there is no technology that comes close to being able to read a piece of text, put it into content and understand it, and determine whether it's true, misleading or false.

While people need to read news with a more skeptical eye, there are signals in metadata that could be used by a machine learning algorithm to flag suspected content.

For example, signals could consider the source of the news or if there are similar articles fact-checked and debunked.
Male hypogonadism is a condition affecting almost a third of the elderly male population. The most common treatment option is testosterone replacement therapy, but the practice can have significant side effects. A new development in stem cell research suggests an alternative treatment for hypogonadism may soon become available. Share on Pinterest Stem cell research may provide an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Testosterone is a key hormone for the sexual, cognitive, and bodily growth and development of males during puberty. With age, testosterone levels naturally decline, but male hypogonadism is a condition in which the body produces abnormally low levels of testosterone. Such reduced levels can lead to mood disturbances, a decline in sex drive, and a decrease in muscle and bone strength. The low testosterone levels associated with hypogonadism are sometimes due to dysfunctions in the testicles, pituitary gland, or the hypothalamus. Approximately 30 percent of older men are reportedly affected by the condition. The common clinical approach to hypogonadism is testosterone replacement therapy. However, a significant amount of research points to the various side effects of hormone replacement therapy, including a risk of venous thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis. In fact, in 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with Health Canada, mandated that manufacturers add a warning of these risks on all testosterone products. New stem cell research suggests that there may be an alternative type of treatment, which would involve transforming adult skin cells straight into testosterone-producing cells.

Using direct cell reprogramming to create Leydig cells in rodents Testosterone is the end result of a longer process. Leydig cells  which are found in the testicles  produce androgens, and these hormones are then biosynthesized into testosterone. Researchers led by Yadong Huang, of Jinan University, China, have examined the possibility of creating Leydig-like cells using direct cell reprogramming. The findings have been published in the journal Stem Cell Reports. In stem cell research, direct cell reprogramming is said to be a quicker and safer technique to obtain the desired type of cell than regular epigenetic reprogramming. This is why Huang and co-senior author Zhijian Su, also of Jinan University, figured that directly transforming adult skin cells into Leydig-like cells, and then transplanting them into males with hypogonadism, would be the best regenerative approach. To test this hypothesis, the scientists used male rodents affected by hypogonadism. They infected mouse embryonic fibroblasts  a type of cell found in connective tissue  with a vector carrying the mCherry gene. This allowed them to separate steroidogenic cells from fibroblasts. Then, Huang and team screened 11 transcription factors that they thought might regulate Leydig cell steroidogenic gene expression. By gradually eliminating several of the 11 transcription factors, researchers finally narrowed them down to three: Dmrt1, Gata4, and Nr5a1. Next, the team used lentiviral vectors  a type of retrovirus that can change the expression of their target cells gene  to force the gene expression of these three transcriptional factors. The result was a success. The researchers had managed to directly reprogram mouse skin cells into fully functioning, testosterone-producing Leydig cells.
Deaths from heart-related causes rise over Christmas  but not necessarily because of cold weather. So concludes a new study of data from New Zealand, where the festive season occurs in the summer. Share on Pinterest The researchers speculate that one reason heart-related deaths rise at Christmas is that people may delay seeking medical attention during the holidays. The researchers  including Josh Knight, research fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia  report their findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Knight explains the reason for their study, which revisits an earlier analysis of data from the United States that found cardiac deaths are higher around Christmas and New Year than at any other time: However, the Christmas holiday period (December 25th to January 7th) in the U.S. falls within the coldest period of the year, when death rates are already seasonally high due to low temperatures and influenza. Knight and colleagues used data from New Zealand, where Christmas occurs during the summer months and when death rates tend to be lower than at other times of the year. For their analysis, the team used New Zealand Ministry of Health data from 1988-2013. Over the 25-year period, there was a total of 738,409 deaths  including 197,109 reported as cardiac deaths.

Spike in heart-related deaths outside hospital From the records, the researchers were able to analyze deaths in hospitals separately from deaths occurring outside of hospitals. Using similar statistical methods as the previous U.S. study, the team calculated an expected number of deaths for each day of the year and compared it with the actual number of deaths. The analysis found a 4.2 percent spike in heart-related deaths occurring outside of a hospital over the Christmas period  that is, from December 25th to January 7th. It also found that the average age of people who died during the Christmas period was slightly lower  76.2 compared with 77.1 years at other times of the year. Although they discuss possible reasons for this in their paper  much like the investigators of the previous study  the researchers did not investigate the causes of this apparent holiday effect.
Fungal infections are a serious health risk. They can be harmful especially to patients whose immune system is compromised through illness or chemotherapy. A team working at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has discovered an important mechanism in the body's defenses against fungi. The discovery explains, among other things, why people with certain genetic variations are more susceptible to fungal infections.

To fight pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, the body has a complex security system. The widespread notion of white blood cells operating as the "body police," tracking down and incapacitating invaders, falls far short of adequately describing how the immune system actually works. Before the body's defense response gets started, complex chains of biochemical reactions occur at the molecular level. The scientists studying a certain immune reaction are often not yet aware of all links in these chains.

This is true, for example, in the case of the innate immune response to certain fungi studied by the team under Professor Jurgen Ruland, who holds the chair in Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry at TUM. It was known that the reaction began with protein elements known as C-type lectin receptors of blood and tissue cells recognizing certain molecules on fungus cells and triggering the chain reaction, also known as a signal pathway. It has also been known for some time that the protein CARD9 plays an important role in this chain. Only when CARD9 is present is it possible for the body to trigger an immune response that destroys the fungus cells.

A triple link in the chain

Jurgen Ruland and his team demonstrated that before CARD9 can perform its role in the chain, molecules known as Vav proteins must be active. Three of these proteins occur in the human body: Vav1, Vav2 and Vav3. If all three are deactivated, the body is particularly susceptible to fungus infections even if CARD9 is present. As signal molecules, the Vav proteins play a role in various processes, including immune responses. "Previously, however, the functions of the Vav proteins were understood mainly as part of the acquired or adaptive immune system. Their functions in the innate immune response, which is the focus of our work, remain largely unexplored," explains Dr. Susanne Roth, the first author of the study. As the name suggests, the acquired immune response means that the body learns to fight off certain substances only in the course of a person's life. By contrast, the substances resisted by the innate immune response are genetically determined before birth.

The researchers were also able to use patient data to demonstrate the importance of Vav proteins for innate immunity: A certain genetic variation was disproportionately represented among a group of people suffering from candidiasis, a yeast infection. The variation causes the protein Vav3 to occur in a slightly modified form. It was the absence of Vav3 that had the strongest impact on the immune response in past experiments.

New possibilities for prognosis and treatment

The newly discovered role of the Vav proteins could be used in the future to design diagnostic approaches. "It would be conceivable to develop a risk profile for chemotherapy patients," says Jurgen Ruland. He suggests that genetic analysis could be used to determine which patients might be more susceptible to fungal infections.

The immune mechanism discovered by the scientists and described in Cell Reports could also help in the targeted treatment of illnesses. "We can now develop strategies to directly influence the signal pathway," explains Ruland. "If we are able to switch it on by artificial means, this could be used for vaccinations, for example. We also assume that the immune response to fungal infections is not the only place where the Vav protein dependent innate immune mechanisms we have discovered play a role." The C-type lectin receptors that recognise fungus molecules also identify molecules on certain bacteria, viruses and parasites. It is therefore likely that immune responses are triggered in the same way in both cases.
Generating protective immunity against the early liver stage of malaria infection is feasible but has been difficult to achieve in regions with high rates of malaria infection. Researchers at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine reveal one potential reason for this difficulty in Cell Reports.Their study demonstrates that exposure to the latter blood stage of malaria infection inhibits the formation of the protective immune cells (and their antibodies) that can prevent the early liver stage infection.

"The blood stage of malaria infection has a very profound impact on the liver stage immune response, and that impact had never been dissected and visualized at this level," says co-author Marion Pepper, UW Medicine researcher and assistant professor of immunology at the UW School of Medicine. "These studies really suggest that you need a vaccine that is protective against both stages of infection to effectively prevent malaria."

To track how the blood stage of malaria infection overpowers the liver stage immune response, Pepper and her collaborators infected two groups of mice with different forms of the malaria parasite. One of these was engineered by their collaborators in the lab of Stefan Kappe, UW affiliate professor of global health and investigator, Center for Infectious Disease Research in Seattle, to stop at the liver stage of infection, while the other progressed to the blood stage of infection. Six days after infection, the researchers found that the levels of antibodies were significantly lower in the mice with the blood stage infection than in mice that only had the parasite targeted to the liver.

To understand this discrepancy, the team tracked the differentiation of Plasmodium liver stage-specific B cells. B cells can differentiate into antibody-secreting early effector cells or long-lived memory cells, both of which contribute to protection against malaria. They discovered that 14 days after infection, the B cells in the blood stage infected mice never went through the necessary changes to make rapidly responsive memory cells. However, in the mice that received the liver-stage attenuated version of the parasite, the B cells were still able to differentiate and create the necessary antibodies and memory cells for an effective immune response.

"This work really highlights the importance of looking at antigen-specific B cells," says Pepper. "These data also suggest that if you're getting a vaccine while you have an ongoing blood stage infection, there is a chance that the vaccine will not generate good memory cells because the blood stage disrupts all the processes that are involved in making that immunological memory."

Pepper and her collaborators are now looking into the possibility of a drug treatment to solve this problem, as they were able to show that when you treat the second stage of the infection with a drug, the B cells are able to create the optimally responsive memory cells. But for now, the researchers are hopeful that their work can be used to answer immediate questions about the efficacy of malaria vaccines in regions that are most significantly affected by the disease.

"Malaria has evolved with us throughout human existence and therefore has some potent immune evasion strategies. We really tried to tease apart some of the factors that could be driving the loss of protective immunity during natural infection and with current vaccine strategies in areas of high malaria transmission," says Pepper. "Our next step is to compare malaria-specific B cells after vaccination or natural infection in humans so we can translate these findings and start to determine how to solve this problem."

This work was supported through the Department of Immunology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Washington.
Ocrelizumab can slow progression of MS. This is according to the newly published results of its phase 3 trials.

It is the first treatment that can slow the advancement of primary progressive MS. It can also treat relapsing MS.

The full results of three final stage clinical trials were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Treating primary progressive MS

In a phase 3 trial, ocrelizumab reduced the MS progression by 25% in people with primary progressive MS. This was compared with a placebo over the course of two years.

Scientists focused on symptoms defined in the Expanded Disability Status Scale. These include problems with walking, thinking and swallowing.

The team also found that treatment with ocrelizumab decreased the total volume of brain lesions seen on MRI, whereas lesion volume increased in those treated with placebo.

What about relapsing MS?

For relapsing MS, ocrelizumab stopped all MS symptoms in 50% of people taking the treatment for just under two years. This was assessed by measuring relapses, MRI activity and disability progression.

In comparison, beta interferons stopped these symptoms in only 25-30% of people.

Over 1,600 people with relapsing MS were involved in the two phase 3 trials.

What happens next?

Ocrelizumab is currently being reviewed for licensing in Europe as a treatment for both primary progressive and relapsing MS. Its long term safety profile will need to be investigated, in further trials and in the real world.

We expect a decision to be announced by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in late 2017.

If ocrelizumab is licensed, the National Institute and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) will then decide whether to make it available on the NHS.

This decision will be based on how cost effective the treatment is. NICE will look at both the price and how much it can help people. Ocrelizumab is also being considered for licensing by the US Food and Drug Administration in the USA.

A first in MS treatments

Dr Aisling McMahon, our Head of Clinical Trials at the MS Society said:

"This is really big news for people with the primary progressive form of multiple sclerosis. It's the first time a treatment has shown the potential to reduce disability progression for this type of MS, which offers a lot of hope for the future.

"MS can be challenging and unpredictable and the 15,000 people in the UK living with primary progressive MS currently have no treatments available to slow the worsening of their condition. Before this treatment is available on the NHS it needs to be licensed by the European Medicines Agency and assessed for cost-effectiveness."

More study needed

While these results are very encouraging, we have to note that the treatment may not be of benefit to everyone. The primary progressive MS trial included younger patients, and people who showed evidence of inflammatory disease.

More study is needed but it's possible that ocrelizumab will not be effective in the later stages of the condition. More guidance may be provided if and when the drug is licensed as a treatment for MS.

Article: Ocrelizumab versus Placebo in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, Xavier Montalban, M.D., Stephen L. Hauser, M.D., Ludwig Kappos, M.D., Douglas L. Arnold, M.D., Amit Bar-Or, M.D., Giancarlo Comi, M.D., Jerome de Seze, M.D., Gavin Giovannoni, M.D., Hans-Peter Hartung, M.D., Bernhard Hemmer, M.D., Fred Lublin, M.D., Kottil W. Rammohan, M.D., Krzysztof Selmaj, M.D., Anthony Traboulsee, M.D., Annette Sauter, Ph.D., Donna Masterman, M.D., Paulo Fontoura, M.D., Ph.D., Shibeshih Belachew, M.D., Ph.D., Hideki Garren, M.D., Ph.D., Nicole Mairon, M.D., Peter Chin, M.D., and Jerry S. Wolinsky, M.D., for the ORATORIO Clinical Investigators, New England Journal of Medicine, doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1606468, published 21 December 2016.
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A vaccine for Zika therefore seemed to catch the imaginations of medical researchers across the world with several papers reporting positive results for experimental vaccines in animal models and raising hope of an effective vaccine for humans in the near future. In August, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the US National Institute of Health, even announced the launch of a clinical trial of a vaccine candidate intended to prevent Zika virus infection.In terms of vaccine development, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving the first clinical trial to test a lung cancer vaccine developed in Cuba could prove to be a watershed moment in fighting the deadly disease which can result from lifestyle factors such as smoking.A big boost in the fight against cancer, however, came from Chinese scientists who used for the first time the revolutionary gene editing technique CRISPR-Cas9 to treat a patient with aggressive lung cancer as part of a clinical trial.While the results of the trial are yet to be disclosed, a US advisory panel also approved the human use of CRISPR, for a study designed to target three types of cancer.The experiment, proposed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, would use CRISPR-Cas9 technology to modify patients' own T-cells to make them more effective in attacking melanoma, multiple myeloma and sarcoma.If the technology is found to be safe for human use, it could open up pathbreaking new approach to treating several deadly diseases, not just cancer.In a major step towards understanding what happens when pregancies go wrong, for example, during miscarriage, as well as towards improving IVF rates, a team of researchers led by the University of Cambridge succeeded this year to keep human embryos alive in a petri dish for an unprecedented 13 days. Until now scientists were unable to keep embryos alive beyond seven days.The technique shed new light on how embryos develop and researchers believe that it could open up new avenues of research aimed at helping improve the chances of success of IVF.In yet another good news for parents who cannot conceive naturally, a baby boy was born earlier this year in Mexico through the use of a new "three person" fertility technique, called the "spindle nuclear transfer," for the first time.The boy, born to a Jordanian couple, has the usual DNA from his parents, and a small amount of genetic code from a donor. The use of this reproductive technology was intended to prevent the newborn inheriting Leigh syndrome, a genetic disorder. The parents were being treated by a US-based team but the delivery was carried out in Mexico because of absence of laws preventing it.Later this year, Britain's fertility regulators approved the use of the three parent technique that uses DNA from three progenitors (two women, one man) to prevent children being born with deadly genetic illnesses.This is also the year that made us aware that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality can have greater use in medical science -- from predicting risk for Alzheimer's disease to providing effective stimuli to increase movement speeds in people with Parkinson's Disease.The launch and increased use of numerous healthcare apps, wearable devices to track your heart rate or how well you slept the previous night, and so on, along with the rise in use of other digital technologies to offer diagnosis and care helped the year take a giant stride towards achieving what we have yearned for years -- reducing dependence on others for management of our own healthcare.After all, what else is technology for if not giving you more control over your own life?Source: IANS
Telemedicine, which literally translates to healing at a distance, involves the use of modern information and communication technology to make health care and health information accessible to people from a distance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined telemedicine as follows - The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.

The following features characterize telemedicine:

Provides clinical support

Involves using information and communication technology for the purpose

Connects persons who are not in the same place, thus overcoming geographical barriers to provide health care.

Aims to improve the health outcome for the patient

The terms telemedicine and telehealth are often used interchangeably. Broadly, telemedicine refers to provision of mainly clinical services from a distance, while telehealth also provides non-clinical health-related services such as administrative meetings, continuing medical education and training programs in addition to clinical services.

Among the earliest recorded accounts of telemedicine is the use of telemedicine in the early part of the 20th century to transmit electrocardiographic (ECG) data through telephone wires. Modern telemedicine derived its impetus from the advancements in the field of information and telecommunication technology, especially the internet boom in the 1960s.

The early forms of telephonic and radio communication in telemedicine have largely been supplanted by video telephony and telemedical gadgets that enable in-home health care access.

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Broadly telemedicine can be classified into three major types, namely:

Store and forward

Remote patient monitoring

Interactive or real time services

Store and forward

In this type of telemedicine, there is no physician-patient interaction or the presence of both the parties concurrently. The patient information in the form of medical images or bio signals are transmitted via electronic media to the physician, who reviews it at a convenient time and provides expert opinion. A precise and well-structured history and clinical background of the patient, preferably in electronic form is included along with the images for the benefit of the physician.

The store and forward type of telemedicine is useful in the medical diagnostic fields of pathology and radiology, and dermatology. The major drawback of this form of telemedicine is that the physician cannot obtain the medical history directly from the patient or perform a physical examination, but instead has to rely on the information provided in electronic form.

Remote patient monitoring

This type of telemedicine involves monitoring the patient remotely using various technological devices. It is especially useful in the follow-up of chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. The outcomes appear to be comparable to traditional physician-patient encounters. It might be cost-effective and saves patients the trouble of traveling long distances with their health condition for frequent follow-ups.

Other applications of remote patient monitoring include management of joint disease and home-based nocturnal dialysis, to name a few.

Interactive and real time services

In this type of telemedicine, there is an interaction between the physician and the patient, for example, over videoconferencing, with the need for both to be present simultaneously. It is possible to obtain a history and perform several assessments in this form of telelmedicine.

Statistics according to the WHO region related to the four fields of telemedicine - teleradiology, telepathology, telepsychiatry and teledermatology are mentioned below:

Regions of Southeast Asia, Europe and Americas had the highest proportion of established telemedicine services.

Southeast Asia and Europe had high level of established teleradiology programs compared to the global rate.

African and Eastern Mediterranean had the lowest proportion of established telemedicine services.

Additional facts on telemedicine are mentioned below:

High income countries have a higher proportion of established telemedicine programs, probably due to presence of well-developed information and communication technology systems, and allocation of funds for health care.

Store and forward initiatives are generally implemented with lesser difficulty, compared to real time services, since they require less bandwidth for data transfer compared to real time services requiring higher bandwidth for videoconferencing purposes.

Telepathology, teleradiology and teledermatology services are less bandwidth intensive and more often employed than telepsychiatry, which requires a real time doctor-patient interaction.

Globally, 25 percent of countries reported having a national telemedicine policy or strategy.

The global revenue from the telemedicine market is expected to reach around 4.5 billion U.S. dollars by 2018.

In a survey conducted in the US, more than 70 percent of respondents aged 18 to 44 were open to the idea of telemedical services.

In the UK, 10.2 percent of healthcare professionals employed health information collected via smartphones as of January 2015.

More than half of the hospitals in the US have an established telemedicine program.

Insurance companies in the US are required to pay for telemedicine services with certain limitations in at least 29 states.

Telemedicine is used in the following specialties:

1. Telenursing involves the use of information and communication technology to provide nursing care and services to patients even in the presence of physical distance.

2. Telepathology is another area where the transmission of high quality microscopic images through the internet can be used for teaching, diagnostic and research purposes. It is necessary for a qualified pathologist to choose the appropriate, representative high quality image to be sent for analysis.

3. Teleradiology  As discussed earlier, radiology is one of the areas where telemedicine is employed in a big way. Radiological images such as x-rays, CT scans and MRI are transmitted via the internet to a radiologist or physician, who needs to have a computer with a high quality screen display, and if possible, a printer that prints high quality images.

4. Telepharmacy - In telepharmacy, pharmaceutical care is made accessible to patients at locations where they may not have access to a pharmacist. The pharmacist can monitor treatment, counsel patients about intake of medications, and authorize prescription drug refills using teleconferencing or video conferencing.

Remote dispensing of drugs using automated packaging and labeling systems is also an example of telepharmacy. These services can be provided at retail pharmacies or at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other health care outlets.

Telepharmacy may also be used for education, training and providing management services to pharmacists at remote locations.

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5. Teleophthalmology - Using digitized medical equipment and communication technology, optimal eye care facilities and monitoring of chronic eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy can be done for patients living in remote locations. This helps in providing low-cost eye care and access to eye specialists for poor and uninsured patients.

6. Telecardiology  Specialist care and opinion in fields such as cardiology may be made accessible to patients by transmitting their ECGs and other test results using the internet to experts at the receiving end.

Before the advent of internet, the then available technology employed wireless transmission of ECG images from the patients home or the ambulance to a central location in the hospital for cardiologist review. Interestingly, telemedicine was used way back in 1906 by Einthoven, the inventor of the ECG, to transmit electrocardiographic data from the hospital to his lab via telephone wires.

Telecardiology can also be used to monitor the heart rhythm of patients implanted with pacemakers living in remote locations. In developing nations, electronic stethoscopes may be used as recording devices to transmit heart sound of the patient.

7. Teledentistry involves the use of electronic media for the purposes of dental care, and consultation and creation of public awareness regarding dental health.

8. Telepsychiatry  Videoconferencing and other communication technologies can be used to make accessible specialist psychiatry services to persons living in underserved locations.

Diagnosis, follow up and monitoring of drug intake of such patients is possible. Such facilities also permit consultation between psychiatrists and for the provision of educational programs.

9. Teledermatology - involves the use of audiovisual data transmission of skin conditions for specialist consultation, diagnosis and treatment. Teledermatology can also be used for educational purposes. In this way, patients living in places where specialist care is inaccessible can be served.

10. Telerehabilitation refers to the use of communication technology to provide rehabilitation services to patients that include speech therapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, physical therapy and audiology.

Telerehabilitation enables health care to be delivered to patients unable to travel to the clinic or hospital due to their disability, and for expert consultation at a distance.

11. Teletrauma care uses modern communication tools to provide expert health care to patients in a trauma or disaster situation. Doctors and health personnel at the scene of disaster or trauma can interact with specialists via the internet or smartphones to help in assessing the severity of injuries and to determine management, and whether a particular patient might have to be shifted to a secondary or tertiary care center for further management.

Telemedicine is also being employed in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting to minimize the spread of infection. A specialist with his team of doctors, nurses and residents can watch live video stream of vital signs and other data from the patients bedside, sitting in a conference room. They can offer inputs on management and patient care to the clinicians at the bedside.

Some trauma centers use telemedicine to deliver trauma education and management lectures to doctors and health personnel at remote locations via videoconferencing. Operative procedures may also be beamed live to residents in distant locations for educational and training purposes.

Telemedicine offers the following benefits namely:

Availability of healthcare to patients living in rural or underserved areas without necessity to travel to the hospital.

Useful in post-disaster, natural calamity situations or other emergency situations when traveling is not possible.

Elderly patients and persons with chronic illnesses can have regular follow-up and monitoring through telemedicine.

Monitoring of drugs and dose management can be done through telephone.

The time for travel is saved and the cost of treatment may also come down.

Facilitates health education by allowing students or health workers to observe and listen to experts in their respective fields. Medical teaching is possible by making available academic material and case presentations through webcasts, and teleconferencing.

Electronic search engines, online medical sites and journals provide latest research news helping health professionals to stay updated. Specialists can also communicate with each other to solve difficult cases.

Allows patients to participate in the decision making process since knowledge is made available to them.

Presence of computerized database, especially in primary care settings allows the physician to access patient records and for multidisciplinary collaboration whenever needed. This could improve the quality of patient treatment.

Home-based dialysis options are available to patients through video link supervision, whenever needed.

Can possibly overcome the risk of transmission of infection between health care professional and the patient, or between patients.

The following may be considered as possible downsides of telemedicine:

Lack of direct interaction between the physician and the patient

High cost of communication and data management equipment and its maintenance, which may not be easy for older people living alone

Necessity to train personnel technically to handle communication and data management equipment

Possibility of error when health care is delivered in the absence of a trained health professional

Possibility of misuse of patient data through electronic transmission

In certain instances, time taken to provide health care through telemedicine may actually be longer than traditional consultations because of increased time taken to assess and treat patients through virtual interactions

Poor quality of records or images made available to the physician at the receiving end and omission of relevant clinical information might affect the quality of health care delivered

Absence of proper legal regulations for some of the telemedicine practices

Difficulty in claiming insurance or reimbursements in certain fields

Telemedicine is being increasingly adopted in many centers across the globe, and gradually becoming an acceptable form of health care delivery. Telemedicine can offer a suitable alternative to traditional curative as well as preventive care, and could result in better health outcomes for the patient. In the developed world, it is possible that telemedicine might one day shift healthcare delivery into the confines of the patients home from the hospital.

Extensive research and studies have been conducted on the use of telemonitoring of remote patients, with most of them showing how valuable remote healthcare could be.

Results have shown a decreased need for hospital readmissions, reduced home nursing visits and lower overall health costs. Additionally, patients and their caregivers using telemedicine technology have reported higher satisfaction with quality of treatment provided. These findings have in fact encouraged many countries  such as the United Kingdom  to integrate remote healthcare into their present healthcare systems.

If anything, the one question that begs answering is when will telemedicine become an integral part of standard health care?
Christmas is about happiness, generosity and a whole lot of merry making which is why heres a list of places you can head to if youre in Delhi this Christmas weekend to enjoy a big fat Holiday feast!

1. Arriba

 Arriba

This Mexican grill & Tequileria has curated a special lunch package offering unlimited margarita and food from the A la carte menu at the fixed price of INR 2,200++ per person.

Date: 24th & 25th December 2016

Time: 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm

2. TabulaBeach Cafe

 TabulaBeach Cafe

On 25th December, the restaurant will have a special a la carte Christmas brunch where the guests can choose from a widespread Christmas specials menu that includes Roast Turkeys, Honey Glazed Ham, etc and their Cocktails menu will include Mulled Wines and Hot Toddies. The restaurant will also be serving a glass of complimentary Mulled Wine to guests.

Date: 25th December, 2016

Time: All day long

3. The Hungry Monkey

 The Hungry Monkey

The Hungry Monkey has a special Christmas Brunch at INR 2,700 (All Inclusive) on 25th December 2016. The Christmas Brunch will be a table brunch and guests can order unlimited food and alcohol on their respective table from the special brunch menu.

Date: 25th December 2016

Time: On request

4. Depot48

 Depot48

With two live performances back to back on 24th and 25th December, by renowned bands Artistes Unlimited and River, and a heart-warming Christmas Specials like Croustade Mushrooms and Turkey in Truffle Sauce, Christmas Duck Parmentier Style, Turkey Supreme Burger with Crispy Vegetables and Frozen Ginger Bread Parfait with Red Fruit Coulis. This one simply cant be missed!

Date: 24th & 25th December 2016

Time: 8:45pm onwards

5. Ek Bar

 Ek Bar

Dig in to specials created by team Ek Bar brimming with the special heady, artisanal cocktail offering - Xmas in a Glass amongst others, a new Indian menu and all the ingredients needed for an epic Xmas Eve party; also featuring the dynamic DJ N*HILATE' on the deck.

Date: 24th December 2016

Time: 8pm onwards

6. Qla

 Qla

Make this winter evening a little warmer at Qla. Get your dancing shoes prepped and your winter jackets out for a pre-Christmas Eve party and a Christmas Day celebration; featuring a Christmas Smorgasbod, special cocktails, singing and dancing, live mulled wine stations and an on-table buffet.

Date: 24th & 25th December 2016

Time: 8:30pm onwards

7. Olive Qutub

 Olive Qutub

The fine dine place is setting up a seasonal food fest, with kiosks full of favourites to devour and a live duo to help dance it off. Bring in your favorite time of year with a fabulous Christmas Eve spread. It's going to be a real feast.

Date: 24th December 2016

Time: 8pm onwards

8. BandStand

 BandStand

This is for every Potterhead who ever wanted to feel like a wizard. BandStand is hosting the first ever Yule Ballclassic Harry Potter style on the eve of Christmas. So dress your best and get ready to bring in Christmas like a wizard!

Date: 24th December 2016

Time: 9pm onwards

9. The People & Co

 People and Co

One of the latest most interesting additions to Gurgaons nightlife, The People and Co has come up with one of the most different kinds of Christmas packages to get you your dose of laughs. Think Vagina Monologues and Mulled Wine!

Date: 25th December 2016

Time: 7:30pm onwards

10. Fio Country Kitchen

 Fio Country Kitchen

Join Fio Country Kitchen for jingle in the woods and a taste of the yuletide this season, with a special menu that celebrates the festive spirit and a Christmas Brunch that will have you avoiding the weighing machine for a while. But, it will be worth it.

Date: 25th December 2016

Time: On request
As if one Dan Bilzerian wasnt enough to make you feel bad about your 9-to-6 existence, there is yet another rich guy who is living the ultimate chill life. Big Mike is the marijuana don making the world jealous, one man at a time. His real name is Michael Straumetis and he is the owner of Advanced Nutrients, a company that sells fertilizer/nutrients to farmers growing marijuana.

His Instagram bio claims that his company is the worlds top cannabis fertilizer brand. And with those pictures and that chill life, wed be crazy to question that claim anyway. A palatial house, smoking hot girls for company, and lots of weed  this guys in heaven right now.

Ill laugh even if I dont get the joke.

The party starts early at the #marijuanamansion. Weed, women, and song... I hope your Friday is off to a great start. Tag the friends you'll get stoned today with. A photo posted by BigMike (@bigmike) on Apr 22, 2016 at 8:55am PDT

Our smoking buddy is the street dog, who stays for the last biscuit.

Team work... Tag your smoking buddy. A photo posted by BigMike (@bigmike) on Sep 27, 2016 at 10:24am PDT

Someone is living all our fantasies

Thanks to all our growers, clients, collaborators, and celebrities that came out to the #BigMikeBbqBash last night. We celebrated the 4th with a bang! A photo posted by BigMike (@bigmike) on Jul 5, 2016 at 3:40pm PDT

Like all of them

Bed time stories #BigMike #AdvancedNutrients #MarijuanaMansion #420 #SB50 A photo posted by BigMike (@bigmike) on Feb 7, 2016 at 8:57pm PST

Could one ask for more? The herb is more than just a powerful potion..

Just an ordinary Sunday for Big Mike. Meanwhile, we continue to make poha on Sundays.

Sundays are for lounging. A photo posted by BigMike (@bigmike) on Dec 11, 2016 at 2:28pm PST

I wasnt always the Marijuana Don.

Like a lot of you, I was just a young kid with a dream.

Driven.

Hungry.

The past is a prison.

I refuse to incarcerate myself.

When youre feeling trapped by circumstance, remember this:

On the other side of the prison walls is everything you ever dreamed of

Weed, women, and jets Crazy parties at the Marijuana Mansion You name it.

Respect your past and move the fuck on.  Big Mike

Do you believe in heaven?

When you have happiness for breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day #BigMike #AdvancedNutrients #Cannabis #Marijuana #420 A photo posted by BigMike (@bigmike) on Jun 4, 2016 at 11:26am PDT

Its always about the right moves

These are just some of our favourite things

Stop showing off!

I grind it out harder than anyone I know. And the harder you grind, the more you have to take care of yourself. There's nothing like an afternoon massage and a bowl of fresh herb to help me relax. A photo posted by BigMike (@bigmike) on Apr 28, 2016 at 3:56pm PDT

What is your idea of wealth?
Childcare leave is usually associated with mothers in the workforce but in a profound step taken by Deutsche bank, even Dads now have the option to take childcare leave. After January 1st, the bank will offer a maternity leave of the same time period i.e. 6 months if in case they are the primary caretakers of the house.

 Pixabay

The internal note circulated among the Deutsche Bank employees stated- "The new parental leave policy centers on the caregiver's responsibility, rather than tie parental leave to gender, and replaces what was previously called maternity/paternity leave. It also covers surrogacy and adoption and aligns it with parental leave entitlements. Deutsche Bank employees who are new parents can choose to either be the primary caregiver or the non-primary caregiver within the duration of the parental leave."

 Pixabay

It is assumed by default that woman are always the primary caretakers of the house and so most work places ignore the fact that we live in a progressive society and now even men are partaking in childcare responsibilities.

 Pixabay

Madhavi Lall, head, human resources, Deutsche Bank India, said: "The new policy will fight several unconscious biases that are prevalent in society. If a male employee happens to be the primary caregiver, he can now give a self-declaration and avail up to six months of parental leave. If an employee's wife is required to return to work in three months after childbirth and the husband (a DB employee) becomes the primary caregiver for the child, he can avail of the new parental leave benefits."

Looks like were truly moving forward as a society.
The U.S. Army commander in Europe charged Thursday that Russia used Syria as a "live-fire training" exercise to boost President Vladimir Putin's claims that his military is now superior to that of the U.S.

Army Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the outspoken commander of U.S. Army Europe, made the charges as Putin met with his defense chiefs in Moscow and later boasted, "We can say with certainty we are stronger now than any potential aggressor -- anyone."

In a BBC interview, Hodges, who has been central to the buildup of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe against Russia, said that "what we see in Syria, of course is a demonstration of capabilities" by the Russian military with no regard for the civilian casualties and the suffering inflicted.

The Russians in their support of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were "using weapons demonstrating, practicing if you will -- it's a live fire opportunity to experiment and train with all of its weapons systems. That's not helpful."

"Of course, the disregard for civilian casualties that we see in places like Aleppo, again, thats not the conduct of a nation that wants to be a superpower and be treated like a superpower," Hodges said, but Putin only underlined his claim that Russia was now dominant in both conventional and nuclear forces.

Hodges also suggested strongly that Russia was behind the continuing efforts to penetrate his command's cyber defenses. "Our systems are under attack from cyber, all sorts of different sources," he said. When asked if Russia was the source, Hodges said again "all sorts of different sources.

In a year-end report on the state of Russia's military, Putin said that the proven effectiveness of Russian weapons in Syria would boost their sales to other nations.

"The Syrian army received considerable support, thanks to which it carried out several successful operations against militants," he said, and "the effective use of Russian weapons in Syria opens new possibilities for military-technical cooperation. We must take maximum advantage of this. We know there is interest in modern Russian weapons from foreign partners."

Separately, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the military had used "162 types of modern armaments during the military campaign in Syria," including its Sukhoi warplanes and MiG and Kamov helicopters. "They have shown to be highly effective," he said.

He said that Russian airpower in Syria had "liquidated 725 training camps, 405 weapon factories and workshops, 1,500 pieces of terrorist equipment, and 35,000 fighters, including 204 field commanders," he said. In the process, Russia had "prevented the breakup of Syria" and shored up the Assad regime, Shoigu said.

Putin's remarks and another round of tweets from President-elect Donald Trump also suggested the possibility of another nuclear arms race between the U.S. and Russia.

"We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems," Putin said.

"We must carefully monitor any changes in the balance of power and in the political-military situation in the world, especially along Russian borders, and quickly adapt plans for neutralizing threats to our country," Putin said in what appeared to be a reference to the placement of U.S. missile defense systems in Europe.

From his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate, Trump tweeted that "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

Trump did not elaborate but his statement came a day after he met with a team of high-ranking military officials, including Vice Adm. James Syring, head of the Missile Defense Agency, and Lt. Gen. Jack Weinstein, deputy Air Force chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear Integration.

The Pentagon has already planned for a major overhaul of the nation's nuclear triad, including the new B-21 Raider long-range bomber, new ballistic missile submarines and replacements for the aging Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.

At the State Department, spokesman John Kirby said he could not comment on Trump call to expand the U.S. nuclear arsenal  "that's for him and his team"  but added that the Obama administration had stressed "reducing our stockpile and launchers" through the New Start treaty. However, "nobody's walking away from the fact that we need a credible deterrent" through "appropriate modernization," he said.

Kirby also said that the State Department would not dispute Syria's claim that Aleppo was now completely in the control of Assad's forces. "They're also responsible for the devastation and the havoc," he said. "They bear responsibility for what they did."

The carnage in Aleppo and the plight of the refugees was "caused almost solely by the regime and their backers in Moscow and Tehran. It wasn't the opposition who bombed hospitals and schools and first responders as they rushed to the scene. What happened in Aleppo is not going to bring this war to an end. It's going to go on."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com
China has sent more surface-to-air missiles from the mainland to the South China Sea, and the U.S. intelligence community anticipates these new missiles will eventually go to some of China's disputed territories for the first time, two U.S. officials tell Fox News.

The new missiles have been seen by American intelligence satellites on China's provincial island province of Hainan. While Hainan is not part the disputed islands, officials say this location is "only temporary" and anticipate the missiles will be deployed soon to the contested Spratly Islands or Woody Island.

The two missile systems seen on Hainan island are known as the CSA-6b and HQ-9. The CSA-6b is a combined close in missile system with a range of 10 miles also contains anti-aircraft guns. The longer range HQ-9 system has a range of 125 miles.

This latest deployment of Chinese military equipment comes days after the Chinese returned an unclassified underwater research drone in the South China Sea. The Pentagon accused a Chinese Navy ship of stealing the drone, over the objections of the American crew operating it in international waters to collect oceanographic data.

The escalation comes weeks after President elect-Donald Trump received a congratulatory phone call from Taiwan's president breaking decades long "one-China" protocol and angering Beijing.

China has deployed surface-to-air missiles to Woody Island in the South China Sea before, as Fox News first reported in February.

It has yet to deploy missiles to its seven man-made islands in the Spratly chain of islands. Weeks ago civilian satellite imagery obtained by a Washington, DC based think-tank showed gun emplacement on all the disputed islands, but not missiles.

Earlier this month, Fox News first reported China getting ready to deploy another missile defense system from a port in southeast China. China also flew a long-range bomber around the South China Sea for the first time since March 2015 and days after Mr. Trump's phone call with his Taiwan counterpart.

Days before President Trump's call, a pair of long-range H-6K bombers flew around the island of Taiwan for the first time.

Lucas Tomlinson is the Pentagon and State Department producer for Fox News Channel. You can follow him on Twitter: @LucasFoxNews
President-elect Donald Trump was expected to make his choice for Veterans Affairs Secretary known, possibly today, amid controversy among veterans service organizations over the pick and the direction of the $180 billion-a-year cabinet agency.

Trump has been unpredictable during the transition but members of his transition team said earlier this week that the president-elect would be announcing more appointments before Christmas and sources in the veterans community said the VA choice could come Friday.

At Mar-a-Lago, Trump's palatial Florida estate and winter retreat, the President-elect met Tuesday with Dr. Delos "Toby" Cosgrove, president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, who withdrew from consideration for the VA post when VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned over scandals at the agency.

Cosgrove reportedly was the frontrunner to take over the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is an Air Force veteran who served as a major in Danang during the Vietnam war and earned a Bronze Star.

Trump also met Tuesday with Luis Quinonez, founder of a healthcare company serving the government and the private sector. Quinonez later told Univision he was under consideration for the VA post.

More than 20 veterans and advocacy groups have expressed alarm over some of the names that have been floated for the VA post and have called on Trump to consider keeping current VA Secretary Robert McDonald on the job.

Separately, members of the Trump transition team also met earlier this month with the "Big Six" veterans service organizations, including the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AmVets, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Two of the VSOs, AmVets and the DAV, later urged Trump to consider keeping McDonald.

The Big Six have also expressed concerns about efforts to privatize VA health care and Trump's campaign pledge to offer veterans the option of seeking treatment at the hospital of their choosing,

Trump also pledged that his VA choice would be a "person of great competence" and "not a political hack." He also said that he would set up a hotline at the White House that vets could call with complaints about treatment.

Others reportedly under consideration for the VA post were: Sarah Palin, the former Republican governor of Alaska governor and candidate for vice president; Jeff Miller, the retiring Republican chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs; Scott Brown, a former Republican senator from Massachusetts; and Pete Hegseth, a Fox News contributor and former chief executive of Concerned Veterans for America.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
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...
One provision of this year's major veterans bill known as "The Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 (HR 6416)" which was just signed into law was a minor correction to an oversight affecting surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty. The change affects those surviving spouses who are eligible for what is known as the "Fry Scholarship".

The Fry Scholarship is not a scholarship at all, in fact it is a dependents' GI Bill program created to honor the memory of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena, Texas. With only a week left in his Iraq tour in 2006, Fry injured his hand and was given the option of going home early with a Bronze Star. Fry declined the offer and volunteered to go on one last run to defuse bombs. Fry was killed March 8, 2006, by an improvised explosive device in Anbar province, Iraq, leaving behind his widow and three small children. The Fry Scholarship pays basically the same benefit as the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The original Fry Scholarship only applied to surviving children of servicemembers who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. A provision of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 extended the program to surviving spouses, the problem was that surviving spouses were only eligible for the Fry Scholarship for 15 years from the servicemember's date of death. That meant that some surviving spouses could be shortchanged in the time they had to use the benefit. Even though they only became eligible on January 1, 2015 their eligibility could end in 2016, 15 years after OIF/OEF began.

The new provision of the Fry Scholarship gives surviving spouses of servicemembers who were killed in action from September 11, 2001 - December 31, 2005 until December 31, 2021 to use their benefit. That means that surviving spouses of those servicemembers killed early in the war now have as many as four extra years to use their Fry Scholarship benefit. Eligibility still ends if the surviving spouse remarries. The new law doesn't affect the eligibility of surviving children, or surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty after January 1, 2006.

For more details on the Fry Scholarship see our Marine GySgt John D. Fry Scholarship page.
This article by James Clark originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues.

In a film studio far far away, a bunch of military veterans took the fight to the galactic empire as extras in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

It doesnt matter if youre the most badass guy on the planet, if you grew up dueling with blasters and sabers in an imaginary galaxy far far away, youll always be a Star Wars fan.

Which means it must have been really frigging tough for a group of service members and veterans who signed on to play rebels in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but couldnt tell anyone about it.

For the newest installment in the franchise, the filmmakers recruited current and former service members from the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force to play rebel troops, according to a press release from the British military. The service members and veterans signed a nondisclosure agreement and were barred from speaking about the set, the plot, or what they did while working on the film.

What we do know is that the producers enlisted 40 current and former service members after the Soldier in Blue talent agency sent out a request for helicopter and jet pilots between the ages of 25 and 55. Military pilots, instructors, ammunition loaders, and ground troops were transformed into X-wing pilots, rebel ground crewmen, and whatever the Star Wars are the equivalent of Marines.

The first time the service members and veterans heard the offer, most of them thought it was a joke.

When our [commanding officer] asked us if we wanted to be an extra in the next film during a morning brief, nobody put their hands up, said one of the service members. We all thought it must be a wind-up. It took him most of the day to convince us that he really did know someone who was looking for a body of men to mill around in the background and do what they were told.

According the the British magazine Mirror, many of the troops who eventually signed on had served in combat; some as helicopter pilots and crews in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a few alongside Prince Harry, himself an Apache helicopter pilot.

Because the military actors were sworn to secrecy about their work on the film, its unclear exactly what they were tasked with doing, whether it was just milling around, as they said, or if they had the chance to hop behind the cockpit of an X-Wing. Many were thrilled just to be on set.

All the guys on our squadron are massive Star Wars fans, said one of the service members.

If nothing else, its good to hear that the newest installment, which hits theaters on Dec. 16, will feature real-life good guys stepping forward to battle the evil galactic empire.

James Clark is a staff writer for Task & Purpose. He is a former Marine combat correspondent and a veteran of the War in Afghanistan. You can reach him via email at James@taskandpurpose.com. Follow James Clark on Twitter Task & Purpose,. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter.

More articles from Task & Purpose:

How the Star Wars Franchise Started as a Commentary on American Imperialism

8 Things You Didnt Know About Lethal Weapon

ATFWTF? End The Government Assault On Pot Smokers Gun Rights
The good news is that kindness can be learned; just like any other behavior, it can be trained through repetition. The most dominant way children learn new behaviors is by copying those around them. Which means we adults have a powerful opportunity, and responsibility, to teach by example.

Mirror neurons1 are cells in the brain that wire us for imitation, and they're especially active during childhood. When kids observe an action, their brains respond as if they are performing the action themselves. Their brains form new neural pathways, and these create the basis for behaviors that stick with them throughout their lives.

Thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and change, we all have the aptitude to learn new behaviors, including becoming kinder. Kids' brains are particularly moldable, as they've had less time to solidify lifelong habits.

So if you want to encourage more kindness in your kids, and in the world, here are some fun things you can do:
trump-grand-rapids-promo-610x372.jpg

The turnaround of the U.S. auto industry is one of the major economic events during President Barack Obama's successive terms, and its importance is felt daily in Mtro Detroit.

That's why it resonated in Michigan when Obama announced that he'd tour Detroit's international auto show in 2016 - a year when the industry was coming off of record-setting sales and crises no longer held it in a chokehold.

"I believe that every American should be proud of what our most iconic industry has done," Obama said when announcing his visit on January 20, 2016.

Obama is one of three seated U.S. presidents who have visited the North American International Auto Show.

While Donald J. Trump is weeks away from officially taking office, he's steadily assembling his cabinet and taking steps to move into the role. That's already included meeting with technology leaders and saying he'll prioritize creating manufacturing jobs.

When the North American International Auto Show opens to the public on Jan. 14, 2017, about 800,000 or so people will pass through the doors at Cobo Center to witness the latest changes in automotive technology and development.

Here are five reasons (in no particular order) that President-Elect Trump should be among them:

1. Saving manufacturing jobs.

Trump made manufacturing's role in the economy a key point in his campaign, and it's coming up after the election. He's said he saved jobs at Carrier and at a Kentucky Ford Motor Co. plant, points that have been challenged. He also named DOW CEO and Chairman Andrew Liveris chair of a national manufacturing council.

Getting an up-close look at the results of auto manufacturing in a venue like the NAIAS would give Trump perspective on the industry. It would range from the breadth of brands to the scope of innovation and how automakers are bringing new products to market.

At the NAIAS, manufacturers put on the glizt - and they're also ready to educate visitors about their products.

He'll see not just the OEMs, but also the top suppliers and evidence of how all of their work comes together - the result of a lot of collective effort. With national automotive payroll reaching about $500 billion per year, that's not a bad window for a new president to look through.

2. He'll see a view of U.S. immigration that is important to business.

The presidential campaign generated a lot of discussion about building a wall to stop illegal border crossing from Mexico and whether the U.S. should ban Muslims from entering the country. Both gave rise to plenty of discussion about immigration and what it means to America.

At the Detroit auto show, there may not be much talk about immigration. But Trump will see what the global workforce means to the auto industry, along with gain a sense of the immigrants in the car world.

Detroit's assembly lines once ran with foreign-born labor. Today, it's present in R&D, engineering centers, and the cross-collaboration with tech companies. And the countries represented are a melting pot that includes Asian nations, Germany and Canada.

On a related note, if the Trump administration moves to curtail the H1B visa program - which now brings 65,000 non-immigrant workers to the US - visiting the auto show will give him a reference point for how business may be impacted.

3. Detroit.

The auto show is the "prom" for Michigan's largest city, and it's going to look good for the event.

The city is the largest in the US to declare bankruptcy, and its emergence since then has paralleled in many ways the auto industry rebound. The city is still underpopulated, disproportionately poor and filled with blight. Yet Detroit also is benefitting from an investment trajectory that is remaking it from its core.

"The conditions in our inner cities today are unacceptable," Trump has said, while creating an urban renewal agenda.

But to the extent that federal policy changes will affect America's inner cities, getting Detroit in front of Trump now could benefit the entire state.

Consider: He knows real estate, and that's what is driving many of Detroit's changes. The deals there are getting bigger, yet the fundamentals still require some public incentives.

Meanwhile, the potential in the city - from riverfront residential growth to New Center revitalization to the new international border crossing - remains far below what anyone would call "tapped out."

4. The time is right.

Obama visited on January 20, 2016. Trump takes office on January 20, 2017.

What would it tell this nation if, a few days before taking the oath of office, the entire country saw Trump walking the floor of Cobo Center, admiring US auto innovation and speaking about what automated vehicle development means to this country?

That would be powerful for Michigan, but also for Trump as he prepares to start his own presidential legacy. The transformation in the auto industry is real, fast and filled with opportunity - and pitfalls. We can expect winners. And losers. Along the way, production will slow as sales taper to more sustainable levels.

The industry needs our new president engaged in that, just like Obama in 2016.

5. Ford, jobs and Tweets.

It goes deeper than that, but the three words convey some of the dynamics between Trump and automakers - along with some confusion in the public.

The bottom line, after Trump took credit for keeping Ford jobs from moving to Mexico:The complexity among business relationships and decisions may not always fit the 140-character communication style the President-elect likes to use.

Yet Michigan's automotive business leaders know Trump's administration is likely to be changing business tax policy, and it may change fuel-economy standards. That could foster more "on shoring" among manufacturers. That ,in turn, could have a big impact for Michigan.

So what better way to make that happen or express concerns about it than skipping the Tweets and talking? Trump could get an instant face-to-face with global automotive decision-makers at NAIAS.
Home depot.jpg

MLive file photo

Oakland County Sheriff's deputies believe a "disgruntled customer" is behind a bomb threat that shut down a Home Depot in Commerce Township about 10 p.m . Tuesday.

The anonymous caller "threatened to 'bring a bomb into the store' and 'bomb the store,'" Oakland County sheriff's officials said. " ... The employee who received the phone call recognized the caller by his voice and knew him to be a disgruntled customer who has been banned from the store.

"The employee recognized the person's accent and unique voice and provided identifying features of the suspect, but did not know the suspect's name."

Sheriff's officials used to bomb-sniffing dogs, one from Oakland County Sheriff's Department and the other from the West Bloomfield Township Police Department, to sweep the large home improvement retail store for explosives.

None were discovered.

Employees told investigators they will try and ascertain the suspect's identity and notify them.

The investigation remains open.
Handgun File photo.JPG

An 18-year-old Detroit man faces prison after he allegedly fatally shot and killed his 16-year-old brother Wednesday.

"The kids were in the house and they were playing with a firearm," Detroit Police Officer Jennifer Moreno said. "The weapon got pointed at the 16-year-old and he was shot in the shoulder.

"The victim expired at the hospital in surgery."

Aavaire Johnson is now charged with manslaughter, causing death by aiming a firearm without malice; careless discharge of a firearm causing death; and felony firearm.

The investigation led Detroit police to determine the shooting was an accident.

Moreno said the investigation is still ongoing, but the 18-year-old "possibly" obtained the gun from someone "off the street."

It's not clear what caused the 16-year-old to die during surgery at St. John's Hospital in Detroit. Lloyd Jackson, a spokesman for the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, said an autopsy was being performed Thursday.

The shooter, his brother and four siblings -- 14, 12, 8 and an infant -- were in the home on Tennessee Streeet in Detroit at the time of the shooting. Their mother was in the hospital, WDIV-TV, Channel 4 News reports.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in May drew attention to a spike in accidental shooting of children who were playing with guns found unsecured in Detroit homes.

Eight children had been killed or seriously injured in the 17 months leading up to a press conference called by Worthy in May.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 69 children age 14 or under were killed accidentally by guns in 2013, the most recent year for which full data is available.
Detroit Police Car door.jpg

(Tanya Moutzalias | MLive file)

DETROIT -- Detroit Police say a man with a concealed pistol license shot two suspects who tried to rob him at a Detroit gas station early Friday morning, according to multiple reports.

WDIV Detroit reports that the shooting happened around 12:15 a.m. at the corner of 7 Mile Road and Shiawassee Drive.

The Detroit Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment.

WXYZ Detroit reports that a 20-year-old man and 21-year-old man were both shot and taken to a hospital. The 20-year-old is listed in serious condition while the 21-year-old is in stable condition.
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Dr. Eden Wells, Michigan's chief medical executive, listens to Gov. Rick Snyder speak in Flint in this January 2016 Flint Journal file photo.

(Flint Journal file photo)

FLINT, MI -- The Michigan Court of Claims has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two city residents against the state's chief medical executive and the Flint Receivership Transition Advisory Board over the Flint water crisis.

In an opinion and order issued Wednesday, Dec. 21, Judge Mark T. Boonstra ordered summary disposition of counts that named Dr. Eden Wells and the RTAB from a lawsuit that still has other claims pending against other defendants in Genesee Circuit Court.

Flint residents Luke Waid and Michelle Rodriguez claim in the lawsuit that they were harmed as a consequence of lead and other toxic substances in the city's water supply.

Waid and Rodriguez are seeking to recover monetary damages for gross negligence of the defendants, including various employees of the state and city of Flint.

The two also claimed Wells, the RTAB and other defendants committed intentional misconduct, fraud, assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in connection to the city water crisis.

Boonstra wrote that the counts facing RTAB and Wells should be dismissed because Waid and Rodriguez could not state a claim for compensatory damages for violations of regulations associated with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

"Case law clearly establishes that the SDWA does not permit a private right of action for the recovery of compensatory damages," the judge's opinion and order says in part.
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Frederick Headen, legal advisor to state Treasurer Nick A. Khouri, and chairman of the Flint Receivership Transition Authority Board, listens to Sylvester Jones Jr., Flint city administrator, speak during an RTAB meeting in this Flint Journal file photo.

(Flint Journal file photo)

FLINT, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder's office is reviewing how much it's willing to pay of an estimated $32 million in potential litigation costs tied to decisions made by former emergency managers and the Flint water crisis.

Anna Heaton, Snyder's press secretary, said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal that a September request for financial assistance from the city is under review in light of criminal charges filed this week against two former emergency managers who were appointed by the governor.

Frederick Headen, legal advisor to state Treasurer Nick Khouri and chairman of the Flint Receivership Transition Advisory Board, told Flint City Attorney Stacy Erwin Oakes in a Nov. 29 letter that the state has already given the city "significant financial assistance" -- more than $745,000 -- for "litigation expenses."

The state "may reimburse the city for an additional $200,399 for such expenses," but has "no authority to satisfy the city's ($32 million) request" because the Michigan Legislature has not authorized it, Headen's letter said.

The largest part of the city's request is settlement authority of up to $16 million for unresolved water rate lawsuits brought by Flint residents and Councilman Scott Kincaid and settlement authority of up to $6.9 million for a lawsuit brought by city retirees.

Both those lawsuits were filed after decisions to raise rates and cut benefits by emergency managers appointed by Snyder.

Erwin Oakes also asked for full reimbursement of attorney fees for former emergency manager Ed Kurtz ($10,219) and indicates the state had already reimbursed the city more than $90,000 for attorney fees for former emergency manager Darnell Earley in advance of his congressional testimony is March.

The city has estimated the cost of defending Earley, one of the state-appointed emergency managers charged with criminal wrongdoing this week, in civil litigation at nearly $300,000 and estimated the cost of attorneys for a criminal trial at more than $467,000.

There is no estimate in the letter for the cost of representing Gerald Ambrose, the other state manager charged Tuesday, Dec. 20, with two felonies in Attorney General Bill Schuette's investigation.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not reach Erwin Oaks for comment on the city's request for state assistance with litigation, but her letter to Khouri says "litigation as a result of either the water crisis, or decisions made by a state-appointed emergency manager have placed the city's fragile financial state in jeopardy."

Kristin Moore, a spokeswoman for Mayor Karen Weaver, said the city isn't accepting Headen's response as the state's final answer.

"I understand that the ask has been denied, but we are still optimistic and hopeful that our continuing discussions in this matter brings about a different result," Weaver said in an email statement to MLive-The Flint Journal.

Flint City Council members are also questioning who will pay for attorneys for city employees charged with crimes or questioned by investigators about the water crisis.

Councilman Scott Kincaid said the state should pay those costs and not allow those defendants to pick which law firm represents them.

The city's estimate for Earley's legal fees assumes paying an hourly rate of $450 an hour for work by a partner and $360 an hour for work by an associate on the criminal defense.

"Assign them an attorney and if they reject that, the city should be off the hook," Kincaid said. "Don't let them go out and select an attorney at $450 an hour."

The councilman said neither Oakes nor the office of Mayor Karen Weaver have consulted with the council about litigation expenses tied to emergency manager decisions or the water crisis.
Water testing.JPG

(MLive.com File Photo)

FLINT, MI -- The state says it doesn't have the resources to begin door-to-door water delivery here, but told a judge it will begin mailing letters to Flint residents providing clear and current information about the lead contamination of their water supply starting in early January 2017.

The claims were filed on Dec. 22 in a response to the emergency motion filed Dec. 20 asking a federal judge to force the city and state to immediately begin door-to-door water bottle delivery to homes in the city.

The mailings and notices must be presented in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Hmong, as ordered by U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson.

The Dec. 20 emergency motion, filed by attorneys representing city residents and activist groups asked a judge to require state and city government to:

Immediately begin water bottle delivery to Flint households.

Expand the hours of filter installation and maintenance services

Provide a status report to the court by Jan. 5 describing their plans to "fully comply" with a Nov. 10 preliminary injunction from U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson, which ordered that the state and city must deliver bottled water to Flint residents unless officials can prove there is an operating, properly-installed water filter in their home.

In its Dec. 22 response, the state called the motion "premature" and countered the call for required water delivery, saying that "the state continues to deliver water to residents who need it."

"As recounted in the State Defendants' Status Report, between 1,440 and 1,550 homes are visited each week in response to calls to the 2-1-1 service," the response states. "One reason these deliveries are not expanding is because calls to 2-1-1 are not increasing."

The response from the state also argued that the city and state do not have the services and resources available to deliver four cases of water to every person in every non-exempt home every week, as required by Lawson's order.

The response also said the state is currently visiting homes to determine the status of existing filters Tuesday through Saturday, and that the number of visits in December "has significantly increased."

Lawson issued a preliminary injunction Nov. 10, ordering bottled water be delivered to Flint residents unless officials can regularly prove there is an operating, properly-installed water filter in their home.

However, the state claims data it expects to be submitted Jan. 10 will show the city is compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the preliminary injunction should be dissolved entirely.

A Jan. 24 hearing is scheduled on the injunction.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals declined a request by the state to stay the delivery program.

The response was filed on the heels of new criminal charges connected to the city's water crisis.

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, two former Flint emergency managers -- Darnell Earley and Jerry Ambrose -- appointed by Snyder were charged in crimes related to the lead-in-water crisis.

Also charged were Howard Croft, former Department of Public Works director; and Daugherty Johnson, former utilities administrator for the city.

Those charged Tuesday bring the number of defendants tied to the lead-in-water crisis to 13.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The City of Grand Rapids will have to phase out its taxi cab regulations under a new Michigan law regulating ridesharing companies, taxis and limousines.

Gov. Rick Snyder signed House Bill 4637 into law this week, which allows companies like Uber and Lyft to "legally" operate across the state, said sponsor Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Saginaw Township.

Public Act 345 now provides a uniform series of regulations through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs that ridesharing companies, taxis and limos will have to abide by. The law leaves local regulations in place for four years.

Grand Rapids has been licensing taxis since 1982, but has deliberately chosen not to create rules for companies like Uber and Lyft.

All of that will change under the new law -- though the specific details are still being worked out.

New fees

City Clerk Darlene O'Neal said she isn't expecting guidance from the state on how the city's rules will interact with the new law until January 2017.

There are six taxi companies in Grand Rapids, with 119 taxi drivers that mostly operate as independent contractors.

Right now, drivers pay the city $280 in license fees each year at the end of June, and are issued a photo identification card in exchange.

"Our fees are based on the time and resources it takes to generate the license," O'Neal said. "We are unable to profit from licensing at all -- it's based on cost of time and resources."

The city's taxi driver licenses expire annually at the end of June.

Under the new fee structure in the state law, individual drivers would pay an application fee of $25 and an annual registration fee of $100.

O'Neal said the city would consider petitioning the state to make sure taxi drivers in Grand Rapids aren't double charged to re-register under the new regulations.

"Even though we will no longer be responsible for regulating the companies and the drivers, we want to make sure they are not harmed in any way," O'Neal said. "We will come up with a plan that will comply with the state law and not do any harm to the drivers."

Scott York, garage manager for Yellow Cab Grand Rapids, said taxi drivers will be able to lower their insurance and will be paying lower licensing fees under the new law.

"It looks like it's leveling out the playing field," York said. "It's lowering the requirements for a taxi driver to make it more plausible so they can make money and raising the bar for Uber drivers."

Lower fees open up the job to more possible drivers, York said.

"If we have more people who are willing to drive and more people who are able to drive - it's more service to the city, and more service is always better."

Yellow Cab Driver Scott York (T.J. Hamilton | The Grand Rapids Press)

No more chauffeur's license

Grand Rapids regulations require cabbies to have their cars inspected by a licensed mechanic, and the city does an additional visual inspection. Drivers also have to have a chauffeur's license, which is issued by the Michigan Secretary of State.

But under the new laws, taxi drivers in Michigan won't be required to have to have a chauffeur's license.

Kelly said a chauffeur's license is a few extra questions and $25 more for a test that doesn't translate to greater safety. Eliminating the chauffeur's license gets rid of a barrier to entry to the job or a needless fee, Kelly said.

But to York, a chauffeur's license is part of the job -- and opens doors to other employment opportunities beyond taxis.

"If you can't pass a chauffeur's license test, then you really don't need to be out here driving people for a living," York said, explaining he views the license as a safeguard for passengers.

York said there's lots of interest from people in becoming a taxi driver, but local Grand Rapids licensing fees are the main issue -- not the chauffeur's license.

York started driving taxis in 1989, when it cost passengers $1.10 to get into a cab and then $0.90 per mile. Today, it's $3.30 to get into a Yellow Cab and $1.80 per mile.

First rules for ridesharing companies

The new law is seen as a decrease in regulations for taxis and an increase in regulations for companies like Uber and Lyft.

The following will now be required of all drivers of taxis, limousines or of rideshare vehicles:

-Register with LARA

-Have a valid driver's license from Michigan or another state

-Pass a background check that includes a national search of the sex offender registry

-Have a clean driving record of less than three moving violations or no major violations in the past three years

-Have a clean criminal record, which includes no felony convictions within the past five years

-Proof of vehicle registration, either personal or through a company

-Be over 19 years old

-Have vehicles that pass an inspection by a licensed mechanic, and display a reflective sign identifying itself

-Maintain individual trip and driver records for at least a year

-Be insured through their company, at levels that vary from limousines to taxis to transportation network companies

There was an Uber official at the bill signing this week, Kelly said, explaining he now expects to see ridesharing services to grow in the state.

The new law has been in the works for four years, and Kelly said ridesharing companies were included as part of the process.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A woman who was seen being dragged off of a Delta flight at Detroit Metro Aiport earlier this week has been identified as a University of Michigan assistant professor.

Rhima Coleman works as an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, according to a U-M spokesperson. Her status as an employee at the college has not changed following the airline incident, the spokesperson said.

In a video posted earlier this week, a woman identified as Coleman is seen sliding along the floor of the plane as a pair of officers drag her by the arms through the aisle. Coleman was on a San Diego-bound flight that was departing from Detroit Metro Airport Monday, Dec. 19.

Airport police were called for assistance at approximately 8 a.m. by Delta employees to report a passenger refused to comply with boarding and baggage check procedures at a McNamara Terminal gate.

When officers arrived, Coleman reportedly refused to leave the plane, according to Delta. After several requests, she was removed from the plane.

Coleman is now facing a misdemeanor charge according to WXYZ Detroit and is due back in court on Jan. 18.

According to the University of Michigan salary report, Coleman earns $102,849 a year as an assistant professor. In her bio on the U-M website, Coleman's areas of research are listed as tissue engineering and biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
SPRING ARBOR TWP., MI - The last time a 9-year-old boy saw a fire truck outside his home it was because a tree fell on the trailer, caving in the roof and endangering his 1-year-old sister.

This time, firefighters were not there to rescue anyone, but to deliver Christmas.

Representatives from Michigan Automotive Compressor Inc. partnered with the Parma-Sandstone Township Fire Department on Tuesday, Dec. 20, to bring gifts to Jamie and Lindsay Rokita and their two children, adopted by the MACI maintenance department a month after a severe storm wrecked their home.

Every year, each department in MACI adopts a needy family selected by local school districts, and purchases presents, said Beth Jewell, an assistant manager.

"We've been doing this for over 20 years now and I've got to say the maintenance department went above and beyond this year bringing the fire department on board," Jewell said.

While asking around to find out what the family would like for Christmas, MACI maintenance apprentice and Parma-Sandstone volunteer firefighter Antonio Cruz discovered the Rokitas' 9-year-old son really liked fire trucks.

Cruz arranged to deliver the presents in one of the department's engines.

The boy was so overjoyed just to be able to climb inside the vehicle, he did not immediately notice the gifts, Cruz said.

"I really wanted it to be special for the family," Cruz said. "The last time we were out here, it was a pretty bad day for (the 9-year-old) and I didn't want him to see a fire truck and think of the night a tree crashed onto his home."

On Nov. 18, a thunderstorm ripped through Jackson County, knocking out power to thousands, causing many emergencies and bringing down a towering tree near the mobile home on Sunnydell Drive in Spring Arbor Township.

Weeks later, the community came together to raise money for the family. A farmer donated a used mobile home to replace the one destroyed by weather.

Among the donated presents this week were clothes, bedding and a toy fire truck and ambulance.
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business Vodafone PoI case: Court refuses to stay TRAIs penalty order Vodafone had moved the Delhi High Court against TRAI's order which recommends a penalty for not providing PoI to Reliance Jio. Vodafone had said that TRAI had acted in haste Vodafone had not been given a fair and patient hearing.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
December 23, 2016

False News By Omission Misinforms - Pointing Such Out May Soon Be Censored

Some Israeli military official claim that Hizbullah is using Armored Personal Carriers in Syria, a correct claim, which it received from the Lebanese Armed Forces, a lie. The carriers in question are way out of date tracked vehicles and the LAF once received some upgraded ones from the United States. Israel makes these claims every once a while.

But as was reported when these claims were made on earlier occasions Hizbullah actually took such APCs from the Southern Lebanese Army which was an Israeli proxy force used during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon. When in 2000 Hizbullah finally kicked Israel out of Lebanon, the SLA dissolved and all the weapons Israel had delivered to it were taken into Hizbullah's stocks. They have since been used to fight Israel and various Gulf states proxy Jihadis in Lebanon and Syria.

But you would not learn that from the main Israeli news organization in the United States, the New York Times. Its report makes no mention of the original source of the APCs:

TEL AVIV  A senior Israeli military official said on Wednesday that Hezbollah militants fighting in Syria were using American-made armored personnel carriers that were originally supplied to the Lebanese Army.

...

If the A.P.C.s passed to Hezbollah from the United States-assisted Lebanese Army, that might point to a broader leakage of weapons to hostile groups, and to cooperation between the Lebanese armed forces and Hezbollah.

...

The Israeli military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under army rules, showed a photograph of a number of military vehicles, including what he said were the American-supplied A.P.C.s, during an intelligence briefing for reporters at military headquarters in Tel Aviv. He said that Israel had shared this information with American officials a few weeks ago. The official did not say how many of the A.P.C.s might have fallen into Hezbollahs hands or when or how it had happened, but he said he believed they might have been part of a deal between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah.

This is obviously an Israeli smear attack against the LAF and the bits of material support with outdated weapons it gets from the U.S. It is a petty smear. Just last week Israel received two F-35 fighter planes from the U.S. and dozens more will come be delivered all paid for by the U.S. taxpayers. Meanwhile one Cessna crop duster with a minimum of military equipment was delivered to the badly equipped Lebanese Armed Forces. It is in no way a threat to Israel.

The U.S. pushed back a bit against the Israeli assertions:

John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said on Wednesday: When this allegation was raised in November, the Department of Defense did a structural analysis of the armored personnel carriers in question at that time and concluded that these vehicles were not from the Lebanese armed forces. Our assessment remains the same now.

That is quoted in the NYT but there is zero mention that Israel is the real source of the APCs. Now compare that to this paragraph from an AFP report which was published at about the same time:

[L]ast month some officials noted that Hezbollah is thought to have captured armored vehicles from the defunct South Lebanon Army, an Israeli-backed Christian militia that collapsed in 2000.

A later report repeats that point:

US officials privately told Defense News that the APCs now deployed by Hizbollah in Syria were very old and could very well have come from Israeli war stocks via their former ally in Lebanon, the South Lebanese Army (SLA). When Israel abruptly withdrew its forces from its security zone in southern Lebanon in 2000, Hizbollah seized a spectrum of vehicles and weaponry left behind by Israel and its SLA proxy force.

Israel blames the LAF for alleged weapon transfers when those weapons were actually coming from an Israeli proxy force after its failed occupation of Lebanon. That is classic chutzpah or rather petty malicious smearing.

But the so called prime newspaper with the motto "all the news that's fit to print" does not find it newsworthy that Israeli officials are making obviously false claims and sees no need to set the record straight. The "news" it prints is consciously false by omission. It is not "faked" news - none of the facts printed are outright wrong, but it is false news which misinforms the readers by leaving out relevant facts.

There is a lot of recent talk about "fake news". Most of what U.S. government proxies claim of its various "enemies" are such. Pretty much all of the NYT's reports about the war on Syria were and are if not "fake" then false news. But there are more sources in easy reach now for people to get informed.

The current attempts to smear such alternative sources as conspiracies or Russian propaganda peddlers is a last line fight to stop the flood of reality that will wash away the NYT, other such outlets and the "senior official" liars they serve. I expect that fight to become more vicious over the next year or two. Too much money is at risk, too much self esteem of people who love to feel important is threatened with deflation.

The question now is how these alternative and hopefully more truthful and realistic news sources will be able to protect themselves from the obviously coming attacks. Big Internet companies (which are all also Defense Department contractors) are starting to downgrade blogs and alternative news sources because they, allegedly, peddle "fake news". Outright (cyber-)attacks are coming up. What can be done to counter such moves?

Ideas are welcome.

Posted by b on December 23, 2016 at 20:28 UTC | Permalink

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Every year, the announcement of the newest inductees to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame brings with it some controversy about who got in and why. Of course, that rests on the underlying and inherent conflict of an establishment choosing its favorite artists from the history of an anti-establishment art form. Years ago, when Pearl Jam were given a Grammy, Eddie Vedder famously told the world he didnt have any idea what it meant  and, truly, what does an award from the establishment mean?

Which brings me to this years Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductees. They seem sensible enough with something for everybody. Pearl Jam and Yes were almost shoe-ins, representing the most successful of their respective genres, punk (I refuse to use the g-word) and progressive rock. Journey and Electric Light Orchestra filled in the pop-rock world. If anybody from the hip-hop/rap side of the world deserved induction this year, it surely was Tupac. I guess there had to be somebody inducted from the 1960s to keep the baby-boomers paying attention, so Joan Baez was probably solid.

For both the Civil Rights Movement and the anti-war movement in the 1960s, Joan Baez was as recognizable a voice of protest as there was. She often travelled with Bob Dylan (they even dated at one point) and, with her clear and powerful voice sang his songs more beautifully than he could. But her fame was solidified in 1963 at the March for Jobs and Freedom when she sang the Pete Seeger song, We Shall Overcome, before Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech, forever associating her with that song.

If artists represent the world that they see around them, then Tupac Shakur was an artist of the highest order. He was the biggest name of what the press named gangsta rap. Of course, that was a caricature of what Tupac did more effectively than just about anybody  tell the truth about what he saw and how that made him feel. In the tradition of the psalmists of the Bible, Tupac often channeled his darkest and most dangerous reactions to life on the streets through words, often words that scared the jeepers out of white suburbanites. He represented the deepest blues or punk sensibilities, the ones that expose the side of life where every ending isnt happy.

Journey was one of the most popular bands around for about six or seven years. Their soaring melodies and guitar licks defined their sound, ensconcing Neal Schon and Steve Perry as one of the most formidable rock songwriting duos of the era. For arena rock, there are few bands that were as successful. When I was a kid, almost all of my older cousins had Journey posters in their rooms. It is hard to overstate how their evolution (see what I did there?) led the way for epic rock ballads as well as driving anthems. They are now foundational on classic rock stations with songs like, Whos Crying Now, Dont Stop Believing, Faithfully, Lights, Any Way You Want It, and Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin. Their impact even went farther than simply the charts. Kurt Cobain would later say that one of his favorite albums was Journeys 1979 album, Evolution.

Electric Light Orchestra captured an era with ethereal melodies floating over the top of rhythmic and driving synthesized orchestrations, the occasional cello and violin, and Jeff Lynns guitar. Lynn is the genius behind the band that had 20 Top 40 hits, including Evil Woman, Cant Get It Out of My Head, Sweet Talkin Woman, Dont Bring Me Down, Im Alive, Telephone Line, and All Over the World. They werent quite disco, though there were sonic similarities, and they certainly werent hard rock, either. They had a sound all their own, often called symphonic rock. They were sonically surreal with lyrics that were at times shockingly direct and others obscure and almost psychedelic. Throughout the 1970s and the first part of the 1980s, they were ever-present on the Top 40 charts.

Yes was one of the most prominent progressive rock bands ever. Their sound was defined by Jon Andersons unique voice, combined with Chris Squires roaming and plucky bass lines, Steve Howes underappreciated rhythms and riffs on guitar, and an array of exceptional keyboardists. As with that other prodigious progressive rock band, Rush, they didnt have many hit singles, but their albums were huge, almost mythically unfolding narratives. In 1983, on the album (SET ITAL) 90125 (END ITAL), they did something they almost never did  record songs that were less than 5 minutes long. Owner of a Lonely Heart and Leave It would become the bands biggest singles, but it was those earlier albums that defined the bands deserved place in rock history.

Pearl Jam emerged from the Seattle music scene of the early 1990s. No band from Seattle in that period was as successful over time. Their albums and hits transformed the alternative genre. Before Kurt Cobains death, they were arguably the most important of the Seattle bands of that time period (Im still refusing to use the g-word). For 25 years, theyve stayed together (with the exception of their drummers  and original drummer Dave Abbruzzese has taken offense at not being included due to the Hall of Fames new power to decide which band members are inducted) and told great stories with powerful social and personal impact. Their fans are rabid, waiting to hear Mike McCreadys soulful guitar solos, Stone Gossards grinding rhythm guitar that birthed the bands sound, Jeff Aments rumbling bass, and the intensity of Eddie Vedders voice. They are one of my favorite bands for a reason.

This new class of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame leaves lots to talk about. Everything from Abbruzzeses frustration at not being considered a part of Pearl Jam to the question of which of the more than 20 former and present members of Yes are inducted, from the question of whether rap is rock music to whether folk is rock music, or whether the pop-rock, at times cartoonish, of Journey deserves inclusion. Yet for all of that, this years class is ultimately hard to argue with, overall. These are the soundtrack of the last 50 years.

Jonathan Henley is the host of Road Signs radio show, which airs Sunday nights from 10 p.m. to midnight on 1065 The End. Contact Henley via email at roadsigns@1065.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roadsignsradio. Read past columns and join his blog at www.1065.com/onair/road-signs-51152/.
A corporation with local ties has made a vast amount of improvements that will benefit local employees daily.

Leviton Manufacturing Inc. has completed renovations and upgrades to its facility in Morganton. The changes to the facility, located at 113 Industrial Blvd., were completed in early November.

Improvements have been made to the cafeteria, administration area and exterior of the building. Upgrades include open market food service, larger flexible training areas and enhanced security. For energy efficiency, new glass, siding, and LED lighting has been installed. The exterior is finished with new walkways, landscaping and a logo.

Functionally, all service and support departments now are in one central location for optimum communication, efficiency and teamwork. A recreation room is planned for employees, along with a new employee communication system for distributing information real-time, including news and weather.

In a statement to employees, Leviton CEO Don Hendler noted that the renovations were part of the companys continued growth and reinvestment. Over the past year, the corporation, which is based in Melville, New York, has made several acquisitions.

Leviton continues to reinvest in our people, facilities and acquisitions to ensure future growth and to remain highly competitive in a global marketplace, Hendler said. At the end of last year, Leviton acquired Brand-Rex to create a global Network Solutions Business Unit and we are excited about the future of our enhanced offering to this growing market.

Our most recent acquisition has been the addition of ConTech Lighting, a Chicago-based LED manufacturer to further strengthen our lighting portfolio. Continuing to grow the Leviton brand through acquisition and innovation of new products is critical to our success in 2017 and beyond.

Hendler also expressed his pride in the company, particularly the Morganton facility. Hendler noted the Morganton facilitys ability to be effective in a changing technological environment.

Locally, I am always impressed with the Morganton organization and their ability to adopt and embrace new technology and constantly raise the bar every year, he said. As we all know, that is what good companies do. They improve year over year, becoming more efficient and remaining competitive.

The upgraded Morganton facility looks terrific and the improvements have made a real difference, not only in appearance, but also in morale and productivity. Leviton will continue to invest in both the facility and our employees in the years to come.

In manufacturing, Leviton, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary as a company, has invested in capital equipment and tooling, including electric injection molding presses and automation. Investments also are being made in human capital through employee training and development at all levels.

Levitons Morganton facility, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has been in continuous operation since 1966 and employs 650 people and operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The facility produces products for residential and commercial and industrial business units.

Justin Epley can be reached at jepley@morganton.com or 828-432-8943.
Spooky sites Fall is the season of holiday spectacle in Moorpark. In December, of course, Pinedale Road transforms into Candy Cane Lane and dazzles visitors with Santa splendor. But for those who...

Local hula group inspires global connections When the pandemic ushered everyone indoors, Moorpark resident and longtime dancer Lisa Rauschenberger decided to get people back outsidesocially distanced, of course. She began to hold weekly hula lessons at...

Teens face high stakes in the Oval Office A press room befitting Americas commander in chief was set up inside the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. Journalists and others gathered inside. Ladies and gentlemen, I need you all...
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has been announced as Donald Trumps special advisor on regulatory reform, according to HousingWire.Icahn was one of Trumps earliest supporters, and is recognized as one of the countrys most successful businessmen.I am proud to serve President-elect Trump as a special advisor on regulatory reform, said Icahn. Under President Obama, Americas business owners have been crippled by over $1 trillion in new regulations and over 750 billion hours dealing with paperwork. Its time to break free of excessive regulation and let our entrepreneurs do what they do best: create jobs and support communities. President-elect Trump is serious about helping American families, and regulatory reform will be a critical component of making America work again.Icahn joins Steve Mnuchin, nominated as Treasury Secretary, from Goldman Sachs and OneWest Bank and Shawn Krause, nominated to the HUD transition team, from Quicken Loans.As for Trump, the president-elect sees Icahn as one of the worlds greatest businessmen.He is not only a brilliant negotiator, but also someone who is innately able to predict the future especially having to do with finances and economies, said Trump. His help on the strangling regulations that our country is faced with will be invaluable.

Trump officially picks Mnuchin for Treasury

Trump Treasury nominee to resign from board
China has found two more cases of human bird flu infection, bringing this week's total to three and stoking fears the deadly virus could spread at a time when other Asian nations are battling to control outbreaks of the disease.

Health officials in nearby South Korea and Japan have been scrambling to contain outbreaks of different strains of bird flu, with the poultry industry there bracing for heavy financial losses.

A man diagnosed with the H7N9 strain of bird flu is being treated in Shanghai, after traveling from the neighboring province of Jiangsu, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning said on its website on Wednesday.

Shanghai is China's most populated city with more than 24 million residents. The local government in Jiangsu is looking into the origin of the infection, the provincial health authority said on Thursday.

In Xiamen, a city in China's eastern Fujian province, local authorities ordered a halt to poultry sales from Thursday in the Siming district, after a 44-year-old man was diagnosed with H7N9 flu on Sunday, state news agency Xinhua reported late on Wednesday.

The patient is being treated in hospital and is in stable condition, Xinhua said, citing Xiamen's diseases prevention and control center. The city has a population of about 3.5 million. The latest incidents come after Hong Kong confirmed an elderly man was diagnosed with the disease earlier this week.
"After I left the last treatment center, I knew what made me happy," Selena explains, "and it was a connection." But on the advice of her doctor, Selena's planned philanthropic visit to Kenya to see the schools she was helping to raise
The event's organizers made the decision to reopen the market without party music or bright lights, which have been replaced by candles and flowers left at the site of the attack as tribute for those that were killed.

Authorities are engaged in a manhunt across Europe in search of a 24 year-old Tunisian man whom German officials said should have been deported months ago.

Anis Amri, the top suspect in the attack, was a rejected asylum seeker who had been under police surveillance following a tip he might try to buy weapons for a possible attack, but that investigation was dropped in September.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said during a Thursday news conference there is a "high probability" Amri is responsible for the attack.

"We can report today that we have new information that the suspect is with high probability really the perpetrator," he said.

Police found Amris identification documents and finger prints in the cab of the truck, German officials confirmed Thursday.

His asylum application was denied six months ago, but he was not sent back to Tunisia because of problems with his documents.

Those revelations have renewed questions in Germany about how the country vets the thousands of people who have entered the country looking for asylum. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said a day after the attack it would be hard to bear if an asylum seeker were responsible.

"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," she said.
New members inducted into Institute of ...
Dept. of Water Resources View Photos

Sacramento, CA  A key environmental report supports Gov. Jerry Browns plans to modernize the states water infrastructure with two giant north-south water tunnels. The Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/ EIS) for the progect is expected to be approximately 80,000 pages including comment letters from the public.

According to the Associated Press the assessment contends the project would have little or no impact on dwindling fish species and overall is the best option to modernize the states current half-century-old network of pumps, pipes and conduits.

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued a statement regarding these final environmental documents for WaterFix, This project has been subjected to 10 years of detailed analysis and more environmental review than any other project in the history of the world. It is absolutely essential if California is to maintain a reliable water supply.

To read all of the environmental documents, visit the Final Environmental Impact Report webpage.

Brown wants the $15.7 billion water tunnels to more reliably deliver water from Northern Californias Sacramento River to rural and urban water districts in Central and Southern California. Not all are in support, as the California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation jointly told the State Water Board at the end of November 2016, the environmental report cannot be finalized until a biological opinion is completed in March or April 2017. They told the Board they would finalize the report at approximately the same time as when the biological opinion is released.

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta says, We will begin digging through the information, evaluating agency replies to public comments included in this document, engage in the process moving forward, and prepare for litigation if required.
The Constitutional Court in a preliminary hearing Thursday decided to limit the scope of proceedings as it weighs the impeachment bill against President Park Geun-hye. "We narrowed the reasons cited for impeachment in order to expedite a ruling," a court official said.

The court decided to focus on allegations that Park colluded with her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil to extort vast slush funds from the country's top conglomerates, and that she allowed Choi to meddle in government business.

It also called on Park to provide "without leaving anything unexplained" a full explanation of her seven-hour absence on the day of the 2014 ferry disaster that killed over 300 people, mostly teenagers.

Lee Jin-sung, one of three judges present, said pointedly, "Most citizens remember what they did on that tragic day. [The president] will also have a special memory."

The court decided to summon Choi as well as former presidential secretaries An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong, who have been indicted for eagerly smoothing her path. It rejected a submission by Park's lawyers that it would be unconstitutional to review records of prosecutors investigation of Choi before she has been convicted of a crime.

Eight lawyers represented the National Assembly, which acts as the accuser in the case, and seven the president. All 70 seats in the court room were filled, and some had to watch standing up.

Lawyers for the National Assembly submitted 49 pieces of evidence supporting the impeachment bill, including prosecutors' written arraignment of Choi.

Park's attorneys submitted just three pieces of evidence, including remarks she made in support of small and mid-sized businesses -- they will have a bearing on charges that Park leaned on Hyundai to award a contract to a company run by a drinking buddy of Choi's.
As Florida lawmakers confront the possibility of a deep budget deficit in 2017, reforming the state's criminal sentencing laws to stem the flow of felons into an overburdened prison system is emerging as a top cost-saving option.

Tax watch activists suggest sentencing reform

Allows non-violent felons to avoid prison time

Could save the state millions of dollars

Long considered politically taboo in a Capitol dominated by tough-on-crime Republicans, more lenient sentencing schemes have gained traction in recent years as a form of 'smart justice.' Allowing non-violent felons to avoid prison time, the theory goes, is more effective at preventing recidivism and carries the added benefit of saving taxpayers massive sums of money.

"You can really reduce crime, save money and really improve peoples' lives by helping to avoid that, find alternative ways, and so forth," Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro said at a Thursday press conference focused on the group's latest cost-saving recommendations.

The full list of recommendations, which were produced in concert with the state's Government Efficiency Task Force, total $2 billion -- precisely the deficit state economists project will befall Florida in 2018. Some leading legislators believe the pain could begin as early as this spring.

"The budget, I think, is going to be difficult," House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R-Land O'Lakes) told reporters last month. "I think once we see the Zika effect in our sales tax revenues, my hunch is that when we hit session in March that we're going to be pretty... at best, flat-lined and at worst, we could have a deficit."

The sentencing reform proposals include allowing judges discretion to account for the impact incarceration might have on a non-violent felon's family members, particularly if he or she is the primary breadwinner. If enrollment in a community-based rehabilitation program might present a better option, a judge would be empowered to consider it. And elderly inmates who are at least 70 years old would be eligible for supervised release.

"Once they're in there, making sure that they move out as quickly as possible, get the kind of drug rehabilitation, drug treatment, so that they don't come back" is critical -- and cost-effective, Calabro said.

Since the implementation of mandatory minimum sentences in Florida beginning in the 1990s, the state's prison population has grown exponentially, reaching more than 100,000 inmates today. Suffering from delayed maintenance, overcrowded cells and a string of prisoner abuse scandals, it could well benefit from sentencing reform as a kind of pressure relief valve.

"There are some offenders that are actually going to be worse offenders by staying in prison without the rehabilitation," Calabro said. "So, we're trying to say, 'look, let's make sure that the sentence fits the crime.'"
An attempted murder suspect is under arrest after a high speed pursuit involving law enforcement through two counties.

Deputies pursued Garrison Cooke in Orange, Seminole counties

Cooke is accused of attempted murder

Deputies say Cooke was also driving a stolen truck

Deputies say they spotted Garrison Cooke, 27, in an area of Orange County where he is known to hang out.

Cooke is wanted in connection with an attempted murder that happened on Dec. 14.

Deputies say when Cooke saw them he fled in a white truck. Deputies say the truck had been stolen from Brevard County.

When Cooke came close to University of Central Florida, deputies say they backed off the pursuit, but the sheriff's helicopter followed him.

Seminole County deputies were warned, and they had stop sticks ready for when Cooke came into the county.

Deputies say Cook hit the stop sticks and pulled over in the area of Lake Mills Road and South County Road 419.

Cooke's half brother visited the scene Thursday. He said his half brother is addicted to drugs, and he agrees with deputies that cooke is a dangerous man.

"I dont know him anymore, half brother Ryan Bowles said.

Cooke was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and fleeing and eluding.

He was also charged with kidnapping. Deputies say Cooke's girlfriend was in the truck the whole time but he would not stop and let her out of the truck.

Deputies say Cooke also has two other outstanding warrants for his arrest in Seminole County.
Florida law enforcement agencies are investigating an officer-involved shooting inside a medical exam room at Ocala Regional Medical Center.



Bank robbery suspect arrested, taken to hospital

Police: Man attacked hospital worker, threatened staff

Officer shot suspect twice



Ocala Police said the man, identified by police Friday as 40-year-old Jonathan Michael Rollins, was the suspect in a robbery at a Marion County Bank of America on Wednesday.

Rollins was in police custody when he complained of an injury. He was taken to the Ocala hospital for treatment.

It was in policy of our procedures," Deputy Police Chief Rodney Smith said. "We had him in handcuffs, we had him in shackles, he complained of injuries. So we did everything that was outlined in our policy for how we transport.

His handcuffs were removed because he needed X-rays. According to police, after his hands were free, he attacked a hospital worker, grabbed scissors in the exam room, threatened hospital staff and did not follow the officers orders.

The officer shot the man twice. He is expected to survive the shooting.

When asked whether the officer violated policy, Smith said the agency will investigate internally, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will do its own independent investigation.

From what I gather and can comment on, we are there to save lives, and based on first-hand information, thats what our officer has done. The medical personnel is an extension of our community," Smith said.

The medical staff involved incurred minor injuries, and the officer involved was not hurt.

In my opinion, he saved a life, and thats doing the right thing, Smith said.

Smith described the officer who was involved in the shooting as a veteran with more than 25 years of experience. He was put on administrative leave, which is standard for shootings involving officers.


More than six months after the deadly terror attack at Pulse nightclub, some in the LGBTQ community say they see greater signs of acceptance.

LGBTQ community saw outpouring of support in wake of Pulse

Central Florida leaders say area is still not wholly accepting

Faith leaders have changed attitudes, opened dialogue

RELATED: Full coverage of the shooting at Pulse nightclub



Orlando has always been open, but this has opened up the dialogue even more than it was. People are still feeling the pride about what it showed about our community," said Michael Farmer, who works with LGBTQ civil rights organization Equality Florida.

In the weeks that followed the shooting, Equality Florida raised over $9 million for victims and their families with a GoFundMe page; they mobilized outreach organizations and coordinated with local government.

Months later, walking past names and flowers at Pulse, Farmer felt overwhelmed.

Never in my life have I seen such an outpouring of people just saying, What can I do?'" he said, looking at the chain-link fence draped in a rainbow of colors. I think they did a nice job with this.

In terms of acceptance of the LGBTQ community, Farmer said Orlando has made significant strides but still falls short of being a wholly inclusive place to live.

Many Central Florida leaders agree.

No, oh no. Absolutely not," said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs when asked whether Orlando was wholly accepting of LGBTQ causes. "I think our community is probably way ahead of most communities across our nation. But even our community hasnt come far enough."

Unfortunately, its still OK to be discriminatory toward LGBTQ people," Orlando District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan said. This is the thing that makes me feel hope -- that the majority of the people did get the message and did come together.

Farmer said its time for lawmakers to act on legislation that would ban discrimination against the LGBTQ community statewide. He wants legislation that would keep them from being fired, kicked out of an apartment or denied service solely due to sexual orientation.

We need to see from decision-makers some really affirmative steps and actions to make the lives of LGBTQ people better," Farmer said. Its one thing to sign on to supporting it in principle, but we need them to use their political clout to make sure it happens.

And, Farmer said, for everyday people to stay engaged.

The rainbow flags (around town) were absolutely amazing, and I dont want to diminish from that. But what we need is for people to invest deeply in this community thats going to take years to recover," he said.

Pulse and the faith community

One place where Farmer and others said theyve seen a shift in attitudes toward the LGBTQ community is within the faith community -- particularly conservative leaders who haven't always been supportive.

"Some of them felt they needed to seek atonement for maybe contributing to a climate and culture and a dialogue that allowed the hatred to fester that let what happened in this place happen," he said of a sit-down between various leaders.

Pastor Gabriel Salguero leads a 4,000 member, Latino-led, multicultural Pentecostal church in Orlando. He said that despite his faith and convictions regarding marriage, his church was steadfast in their support of victims.

Were committed to outreach and doing compassion," he said. We were trying to say how can we be authentically Christian with a community we havent had long-term dialogue with.

In the days following Pulse, Salguero presided over victim Stanley Almodovars funeral, held at his own Calvario City Church.

They were our nieces, our nephews, our brothers, our sisters. We felt a commitment to be family to them," he said. There are fundamental differences in our understanding, what is marriage. Thats not a secret.

"We have our convictions. But that doesnt mean we cant respect one another, we cant love one another. And we cant have civil conversations and discussions," Salguero said.

The atrocity of the shooting, he said, led to a more open and respectful dialogue between the LGBTQ and faith communities.

I think the last six months have been fruitful in that weve had a conversation partner that historically Pentecostal churches havent had," he said.

There has been a substantial softening I would say of attitude," said Jim Coffin, executive director of the Interfaith Council of Central Florida.

A shift from the American view of 'What are my rights?' to the faith community saying, 'What are our responsibilities?'" Rabbi Rick Sherwin said.

Other faith leaders said that they agreed.

In the Sikh community, there was no real discussion about this. Ive seen after this event, its put a face on the LGBTQ community," said Sikh Nav Khalsa.

I think in the Buddhist community, perhaps, we were a little naive about the type of suffering the LGBTQ community was undergoing and the persecution they were facing," said Cheryl Barnes-Neff, a Buddhist minister.

Even despite doctrinal conflicts.

We have to continuously be moving in a direction that is all accepting and affirming. Not tolerant, because tolerance means Im just putting up with you," said Abdurrahman Sykes, Islamic Society Leading American Muslims.
Six Seminole County emergency rescue agencies went above and beyond to make Christmas special for two young boys with cancer.

Grayson, Phi became friends while getting cancer treatments

Seminole County first responders made special visit



Fire trucks, police cars, helicopters and even Santa riding on a motorcycle surprised Grayson Zrelak and Phi Luong Thursday afternoon.

The two young boys are battling cancer. Grayson is stage three and Phi is stage four.

The pair became friends during their many visits to Florida Hospital South to receive treatment.

Both boys are big fans of the fire department and police.

"I have met a lot of the police officers, I liked going in the giant fire truck, that was fun," said Grayson.

"When they heard all the sirens they are like, 'holy cow!'" said Carl and Michelle Zrelak, Grayson's parents. "Then you see all the police officers and fire fighters, truly amazing. Absolutely spectacular! They go from these highs and then to lows when they are on chemo and then radiation. They have these really bad days, and it really wipes then out for a good day, day and a half sometimes."

It was a day for the boys to forget about the stresses of life.

Along with getting to climb into all the law enforcement vehicles, they also were given a mound of presents.

Phi's family and Grayson's family have each set up websites to help them pay for the boy's treatments. Go to Phi's page or Grayson's page if you would like to help.

This Gofundme.com site is not managed by News 13/ Bay News 9. For more information on how the site works and the rules, visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety.
The planned test of a homegrown engine for a space rocket has been postponed by 10 months to late 2018 since more time is needed to deal with technical glitches.

The government scrambled to bring the test launch forward by 10 months so it could happen before President Park Geun-hye's five-year term ends, but now she faces impeachment the urgency has evaporated.

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning on Thursday decided to postpone the test of the 75-ton liquid-fuel rocket engine from December next year to October 2018. It said the completion date for the entire homegrown space rocket planned for June 2020 could also change.

The government originally hoped to send a rocket carrying a satellite into orbit by 2021.The cost was estimated at W1.96 trillion (US$1=W1,199). But the proposed deadline was hastily brought forward when Park included it among her campaign pledges.

But Korea Aerospace Industries has told the ministry that it cannot meet the deadline. "We shifted the deadline to reflect concerns that a rushed development could lead to failure and cause problems in the overall project," a ministry spokesman said.


Some of the more than 200 residents who were displaced after a three-alarm fire torched their Kissimmee hotel two days before Christmas are receiving short-term help.

Pacheco family had just decorated Christmas tree



Now tree, Christmas gifts are gone in 3-alarm fire

RELATED: 3-alarm fire torches Kissimmee hotel days before Christmas

HOW TO HELP: To assist residents who lost property 2 days before Christmas, click here

No one was hurt, but displaced residents from the about 80 units affected in the Unno Boutique Hotel fire are receiving short-term help at the Osceola Council On Aging building on Generation Way in Kissimmee, which is across the street.

Gisela and Joshua Pacheco are thankful that their children, John and Joshua Jr., and their dogs, Couture and Tiny, are OK.

But potentially losing everything in the three-alarm fire at the hotel on Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway was devastating, especially for their young children.

It's very heartbreaking for me just to hear my son. We just decorated the little Christmas tree last night, and he was so excited decorating it... watching all that smoke and all that fire and knowing that his Christmas tree was ruined," Gisela Pacheco said.

The Pachecos have been living at the hotel since May, when they moved to Central Florida from Pennsylvania.

Affordable, pet-friendly housing was the biggest draw to the Unno Boutique Hotel for them.

It's an unreal kind of feeling, looking around seeing people just running out, little by little, from the hotel and all gathering in the front, just wondering whats going on," she added.

The Pachecos are now left explaining to their sons that material things can be replaced.

(One of my sons) was just worried about his backpack and these little things he was worried about and all the toys. It was very very heartbreaking for me to hear him talk like that," Pacheco said.

The American Red Cross is on site at the Osceola Council On Aging, helping residents find alternative housing.

Replacing food donated just 24 hours before

After a few texts circulated in Central Florida, donations for displaced hotel residents poured in by the truckload.

I was just there (Thursday)," said Reverend Tim, who runs the Stop Domestic Violence Network in Central Florida.

Thats why Reverend Tim is so passionate about helping the displaced UNNO Boutique Hotel residents.

Reverend Tim and several others held a holiday giveaway at the hotel Thursday, less than 24 hours before the blaze.

We were there for about four hours, handing out toys, gift boxes. We handed out about 60 boxes full of food that would last them a month. It all burned up," Reverend Tim said.

Several others, many of them strangers, also donated food, toiletries and clothing at the Osceola Council on Aging building.

When they leave, I leave. Im not going home until they're safe. Thats the point," Reverend Tim said.

Kissimmee Middle School will serve as an emergency shelter for displaced residents. The facility is expected to be open for about one week.



If you'd like to donate money to help the victims this Christmas, Osceola County has set up a PayPal account. Go to Osceola County's home page at Osceola.org and click on the red link at the top. Donations of items and goods are being accepted with a dropoff location at the Osceola Council on Aging, 700 Generation Point in Kissimmee.
He was born in 1888 into a family of 11 in Covington, Kentucky. Circumstances forced him to drop out of school very early and find work. The string of odd jobs he was forced to take on eventually led to the typesetting trade.

In his spare time, Haven Gillespie (born James Lamont Gillespie) entertained vaudeville audiences with his own jokes and songs. In 1911, he finally scored three hit songs that he wrote for a Vaudeville dance duo in Cincinnati, Ohio. Royalties from those songs were steady, but not very productive. Nevertheless, he quit his day job.

1925 brought two much bigger successes, and he moved to New York City. He took a day job as a journalist for the New York Times and composed songs for vaudeville. He collaborated with more than a dozen other writers, and by the end of his career, he had composed nearly 100 songs.

In 1923, however, Haven began fighting alcohol abuse. The hits that he had written seemed dwarfed by the other songs of his that music publishers just werent interested in. For example, he and John Coots had written a certain song in 1932 that no one wanted. It was light-hearted, upbeat, and positive, and had a catchy tune. One of the publishers who refused it, Leo Feist, complained that it would have a very limited market because it seemed to be too much of a childrens song.

Meanwhile, a son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Edward Israel Iskowitz, was making a name for himself in vaudeville in New York City. Like Haven Gillespie, Edward worked his way to become a top-billed act. Flo Ziegfeld hired him for the Follies that bore his name, and Edward became a major star on both coasts. Edward  Eddie Cantor  soon had a nationally syndicated radio show.

Cantor needed a special Christmas song for his show. He tried writing several tunes for himself but didnt like any of the results. He began asking publishers what they had.

Leo Feist said he had one. He called Haven Gillespie. Haven had just attended his brothers funeral back in Kentucky, so he initially refused. But on a subway ride to the publishers office, he and Coots pulled out an envelope and reworked the lyrics to their 1932 song. Haven recalled the way his mother had used Santa as the reason her children needed to be good; that became a major element of the songs lyrics. Feist published the song and sent a copy to Cantor.

Eddie Cantor sang Santa Claus is Coming to Town on his Thanksgiving radio show in 1934. The song became an instant hit, and ultimately earned more for both writers individually than any other song of theirs. In the history of popular Christmas music, in fact, only Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and White Christmas have outsold this song from the Great Depression.

Though he was a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Gillespie did not live long enough to see George Strait win an ASCAP Country Music Award for his cover of one of Gillespies other songs, his 1921 Right or Wrong.

Gary Belshaw is Plainview Symphonys first composer-in-residence and now its executive director. He is a professor of music composition at Wayland Baptist University.

executivedirector@pvsymphony.org.
Heres my list of the best films of 2016:
Albany

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration and the union that represents state correction officers have reached a tentative contract agreement, broad details of which were announced Thursday evening.

The agreement provides for 2 percent raises for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. It provides for "compensation enhancements" based on location of work and hazardous duties.

At the same time, the agreement, if ratified, is projected to save the state roughly $35 million on health insurance costs and another $35 million on overtime costs.

The tentative agreement also provides for an overhaul to the disciplinary process for prison employees. That includes a new tripartite panel to hear abuse and neglect cases involving inmates and wards of the state and a table of penalties covering serious misconduct, Cuomo's office said. Full details on those reforms were not immediately available.

Recently, Cuomo ordered an investigation into alleged racial bias in the prison system following a New York Times investigation that detailed numerous instances of bias. The state Inspector General is to recommend reforms to Cuomo for immediate action when she is done with her investigation.

"This agreement fairly compensates the hardworking men and women who help keep our facilities safe, while at the same time provides the State the ability to appropriately discipline those that engage in the most serious misconduct," Cuomo said in a statement.

New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association President Michael Powers said the union is pleased with the agreement.

"The men and women of NYSCOPBA work under some of the most dangerous conditions, and play a vital role in the law enforcement community that makes New York one of the safest states in the nation," he said. "I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for his continued support and leadership in recognizing that our members carry themselves with professionalism and integrity."

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
STRATFORD  A family burned out of their home a few days before Christmas is getting help through a GoFundMe page set up by a friend.

The Rousseau family lost nearly all of their possessions, and their two cats died in the fire Two firefighters were injured battling the blaze late Wednesday night at the Rouseeaus Huntington Road house.

When firefighters arrived, they found a large volume of fire working its way through the first floor of the two-story, single family home, according to Deputy Fire Marshal Brian Lampart.

A lieutenant and one firefighter were overcome by the fast-moving fire as they entered the front door, causing minor injuries that resulted in them being transported to a local hospital, Lambert said. Both the lieutenant and firefighter were released later in the evening after being treated.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the first floor of the structure, but damaging smoke and heat throughout the home made it uninhabitable.

Tony Acevedo, a family friend, set up the page Thursday and $485 of the $15,000 goal has been raised in less that 24 hours.

I am pleading with everyone to look into your hearts, and please donate to this family, who is in need just before the Christmas season. If a donation cannot be made, please pray earnestly for their family, and share this link to help Mr. Rousseau, and his family get their life back on track, Acevedo wrote on the GoFundMe page.

So, if I may ask everyone to reach into all of your goodness, all of your blessings, all of your happiness, and all of your generosity to help my friend Richard and his family in this most difficult time in their life. he wrote.

Acevedo said that when his daughter had an aneurysm, Richard Rousseau was one of the first people to help.

The Bridgeport and Milford fire departments were at the scene and also provided town coverage for Startford during the fire.

The Stratford Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
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GREENWICH  Greenwich firefighters have been spreading some holiday cheer this week.

For 13 years, the firefighters have donated toys and gifts to youngsters in treatment at Greenwich Hospital. We always hope that everyone gets to be home for Christmas but it's not always possible, oranizers say. The North Street Pharmacy donated many of the toys and coloring books for the kids.

The hospital administration is always pleased to continue the annual tradition.

My daughter was born at this hospital on Christmas Eve 13 years ago and its become a Greenwich Fire Department tradition, said Daniel Natale, firefighter. The best part is when we arrive and there are no children here - they are all at home for the holidays - but children can enjoy the toys throughout the coming year.

This year, after seeing the news coverage last year, an anonymous donor left more than 25 beautiful stuffed animals at the fire house to be donated to Greenwich Hospital. All the gifts are proudly displayed by the nurses at the Nursing Station in Pediatrics, according to nurse manager Pat Basciano, RN.

This visit from the members of the Greenwich Fire Department has become a much anticipated annual event, said Christine Beechner, vice president for Patient and Guest Relations at Greenwich Hospital. We are so fortunate that our littlest patients are the recipients of their kindness and generosity.
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A 71-year-old woman was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in her Lark Street apartment Thursday evening, eventually engulfing the three-story apartment block in large flames and smoke.

Albany Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Gregory said the woman was conscious and alert when firefighters rescued her from the second-story apartment at 284 Lark St., but that she was taken to Albany Medical Center as a precaution. No one else was home at the time or injured.

A call came in just before 5 p.m. for the blaze at the corner of Lark and Hamilton streets, which sent flames shooting through the windows and lit up the night sky. The scene drew plenty of spectators as people were on their way home from work and headed out to restaurants and bars lining the street.

The brick structure of the building caused an intense heat, and firefighters were forced to break open the roof in order to provide ventilation, Gregory said. The sudden gust of air caused the flames to shoot up to the third story, he said. All together it took about 45 minutes to knock down, he said.

Around 6 p.m. firefighters were trying to put out hot spots so investigators could get in to determine a cause. Building and code officials from the city were also on the scene.

At least three people were displaced as a result of the fire, according to interviews on the scene.

A man who claimed to live on the basement level with several dogs said the only other person aside from the woman to live there was the landlord, who occupied the top floor.

"She's a cool, nice lady  quiet, walks up the block," said Saki Gibson, who lives on nearby Dove Street and regularly ran into the woman on her walks. "I always say hi to her. She's a nice lady."
The state Board of Examiners for Nursing disciplined six nurses this week, including several cases of nurses who abused drugs or alcohol.

On Wednesday, the board suspended the license of Hester E. Munyon, an RN from Norwalk, with DPH officials saying in records that her abuse of alcohol and cocaine poses a clear and immediate danger to the public.

In April 2015, she was hospitalized for alcohol detoxification and was diagnosed with several alcohol use disorder and severe cocaine use disorder, records show.

In October 2015, Munyon pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment and received a suspended prison sentence of one year, records show. DPH has no documentation that she has undergone substance abuse treatment from this August to the present, so it recommended her suspension.

The board also revoked the license of RN Enid Gonzalez of Bridgeport for taking personal and confidential items from the home of a patient in 2014 while working as a visiting nurse for Hartford Healthcare at Home in Norwich, records show. The records do not indicate what the items were.

The board also revoked the license of licensed practical nurse Adam Burr of New Britain, who was intoxicated while working for PSA Healthcare of Plainville doing care in a patients home, state records show.

The board suspended the license of Mary K. Field, an RN from Burlington, with records showing she tested positive for codeine in September and Oxycodone in November while on probation.

The board reprimanded the license of Cherry Cuizon, an RN from Madison, for failing to disclose on her Connecticut license renewal form that she had been disciplined in California in 2014.

The board also placed Cuizon on probation until she completes courses on maintaining medical records and preventing medical errors.

The board also revoked the license of Michelle Murphy, a registered nurse from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, for violating an earlier probation by not submitting drug test results to the state Department of Public Health, records show.

C-HIT writer Bonnie Phillips contributed to this story.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (www.c-hit.org).
State of Connecticut photo

The state Department of Correction is investigating the death of an inmate at the states only female prison who was found in her cell with a piece of suture tied around her neck.

At approximately 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, staff at the York Correctional Institution in Niantic found the inmate in her cell with a ligature, a piece of suture, tied to her neck. She was the only inmate in the cell at the time.
STRATFORD  Wooster Middle School science teacher Christopher Newlan will represent the state in a contest that encourages educators to focus on solutions for real-world problems using science and technology.

Newlan said Friday he cant take all the credit for working on a way to prevent water waste.

He had 60 of his eighth-grade students propose ideas. He submitted the one they collectively agreed was the most interesting.

This is Newlans second time winning the state competition in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. The first time his project also involved water conservation.

He will now compete on the national level, and if his is one of the top 10 lessons selected, he will present the idea to a panel of judges in New York.

Newlan promises to bring students with him if he does.

I took a different approach this time, Newlan said. It was a much more student-centered idea.

Several weeks ago, when Connecticut was placed under a drought watch, Wooster students didnt have to be told. They noticed the water level in pond behind their school was low.

The basic idea behind the lesson is to create a way for people to track their water usage  much the same way someone would keep track of steps they take  perhaps using a smartphone.

You could set goals about how much water you want to save, and talk about how you might do that, Newlan said.

The idea is not to stop using or drinking water, but to make students more aware of how they use it.

Its a limited resource, Newlan said.

When he told students Friday they won the state contest, they were very excited.

Winning the state contest means Wooster will get $25,000 to spend on technology. He also named community partners which will also benefit from his win: The Housatonic Valley Association and Soundwaters, a group that protects Long Island Sound through education.

Newlan was one of five teachers in the state announced last week as statewide finalists. Another was Carrie Ryall, a 10th-grade biology teacher at Bassick High School. Other Connecticut state finalists include a teacher from Danbury High School, the Engineering and Science University Magnet School in Hamden and Plainville Community School.

Ultimately, there will be three national winners 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.
1 Nuclear waste: The U.S. Energy Department on Friday authorized its contractor to resume the disposal of radioactive waste at an underground repository outside Carlsbad, N.M., setting the stage for the first barrel of waste to be taken below ground since a radiation release forced the facilitys closure nearly three years ago. Agency officials said numerous corrective actions identified during a review have been completed. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant has been closed since February 2014 when a radiation release contaminated a significant portion of the repository, where disposal rooms are carved out of a thick salt formation deep underground.

2 Hotel fire: Dozens of people were evacuated Friday from a central Florida hotel that caught fire. Osceola County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Danny McAvoy said its not clear what sparked the blaze before dawn at the Unno Boutique Hotel in Kissimmee. The fire started in an area of the 130-room hotel that wasnt occupied. It spread through the hotels attic to some occupied rooms, but no injuries were reported.
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UPDATE: Two teenagers have been arrested after days on the run following a robbery of an off-duty deputy in Montgomery County.

Israel Treqwaun Hunter, 19, and Michael "Mike" Gene Jones, 17, were taken into custody Wednesday, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. No derails about the arrests were released.

Hunter and Jones were wanted after being charged with aggravated robbery in the attack, which happened Dec. 10.

INITIAL REPORT: Two teenagers are wanted for the alleged robbery of an off-duty Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy near Porter on Dec. 10.

MCSO detectives are looking for Israel Treqwaun Hunter, 19, and Michael "Mike" Gene Jones, 17, for their alleged involvement in the robbery at the Summer Hills Food Mart in the 24200 block of Sorters Road. Detectives tried to locate Hunter and Jones but have not been able to as of 10:45 a.m. Monday, according to MCSO Lt. Brady Fitzgerald.

Hunter and Jones, of Houston, are facing aggravated robbery charges and have an open warrant, officials said.

The announcement of the warrants comes days after an unnamed 16-year-old male was arrested on robbery charges for his alleged involvement in the robbery.

Two men attacked the deputy as he was packing ice into his truck. 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 deputy 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 Dec. 12, according to a release.

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.

Anyone with information on Hunter and Jones is urged to call MCSO detectives at 936-760-5876 or Multi-County Crime Stopper at 800-392-STOP (7867).
Dec. 8

Deputies allegedly found methamphetamine, cocaine, Xanax and two pistols inside a vehicle in New Caney. Three men, two from Splendora and one from Florida, were arrested on charges ranging from second-degree felony possession of a controlled substance to felon in possession of a firearm.

Dec. 10

After the Department of Public Safety reported suspicious behavior in Porter, officers said they found a man in possession of methamphetamine.

Dec. 14

Around 3:15 p.m., the Pct. 4 constable office and K-9 Dino came across a man sitting inside a vehicle in front of the Kroger in Porter. The deputy smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, and an investigation showed the man had more a gram of methamphetamine. He was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony.

Dec. 15

A report of a forgery in progress was received from Amegy Bank in Porter at around 4 p.m., and an investigation showed a woman from Huffman was trying to cash a $450 check that did not belong to her.
The Plainview City Council on Thursday joined a growing list of local Texas entities in voicing opposition to an effort to legislatively impose revenue caps on local government.

Its really about local control, explained City Manager Jeffry Snyder in introducing a resolution opposing that effort. These are decisions that should be made here, and not in Austin. The council unanimously adopted the resolution

The Hale County Commissioners Court approved a similar resolution in September.

This issue really affects smaller rural communities experiencing slow and little growth in their tax base, Snyder said. Its being promoted by some of the states larger cities which are experiencing rapid growth.

After a similar measure failed to make it out of committee in the 2015 session, State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) pre-filed Senate Bill 2  the Property Tax Reform and Relief Act  that would reduce the states tax rollback rate from 8 percent to 4 percent and require a tax ratification election to exceed the latter. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has voiced support for the measure.

According to the Texas comptrollers website, the effective tax rate generates the same amount of revenue if its applied to the properties taxed in back-to-back years. The formula assumes that if values increase, the rate should decrease to create the same amount of revenue as it did in the previous budget year. If values decrease, the rate must increase to produce the same amount of revenue.

The rollback tax rate is the sum of maintenance and operations and debt service rates. Typically, the rollback tax rate exceeds the effective tax rate.

The real issue here is the Legislatures failure to address school funding, explained Dr. Charles Starnes, mayor pro tem. While they continually fail to adequately fund public education on the state level, they blame rising property tax rates on cities and counties when the largest increases are being made by school boards to make up for inadequate state funding.

Its all about local control, and decisions that should be make on the local level, Starnes said. By adopting this resolution, we are telling Austin that they should get out of our knickers.

The resolution notes that if a city in Texas increases property tax collections by more than 8 percent over the previous year, voters can petition for an election to roll back the increase. The proposed legislation seeks to replace the 8 percent rollback amount with a hard cap of 4 percent, and require mandatory elections for any increase over that amount.

It explains that a survey by to the Texas State Comptroller on property tax rates in 964 cities indicates that 57 percent raises property taxes less than 4 percent from 2014 to 2015, and 27 percent actually reduced property taxes.

Cities collect just 16 percent of the property taxes levied in Texas, and the school districts collect 55 percent, it continues. Property tax collections between 2014-2015 rose by 3.61 percent for cities, it reports, while school district tax collections rose by 7.72 percent, more than twice the cities rate.

In brief, the resolution explains: The imposition of a revenue cap on cities: 1. Does not provide meaningful tax relief; 2. Robs cities of the ability to meet local needs; and 3. Diverts attention from the real cause of higher property taxes, which is the Legislatures failure to address the problem of school funding.

Snyder said copies of the newly-adopted resolution with a cover letter will be sent to legislators from this area as well as organizations that represent the city in Austin.

The council on Thursday adopted on second and final reading a new Classification and Compensation Plan for city employees, which goes into effect Jan. 9. Overall annual cost is set at $337,560 or about 5.33 percent of current payroll -- $142,560 for the citys civilian employees and $195,000 for police and fire who are covered under Civil Service.

The citys first comprehensive salary and jobs study in at least 20 years, it is designed to bring local municipal pay to the mid-point of similar cities in the region while taking into account compensation in the private sector.

In describing the pay plan, Snyder said the city has a goal of bringing beginning pay for new police and fire personnel up to the $38,000 to $40,000 range. It is now $34,952, and the new plan increasing starting pay for each to $36,704. Overall, the new plan makes a 5 percent pay adjustment to all steps for police and firefighters.

We want you all to know how much we appreciate all employees in the city, and we recognize what needs to be done, said Councilmember Susan Blackerby in making the motion to adopt the new pay plan. "Hopefully in the future we can take care of the remainder needed to make police and fire salaries more competitive.

The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, with Councilman John Gatica absent.

The council also unanimously approved, on first reading, an ordinance approving the settlement agreement between the Alliance of Xcel Municipalities and Southwestern Public Service regarding the utilitys current rate case. Xcel originally sought to increase annual revenues $71.9 million -- a 14.2 percent increase in its base rate, according to Snyder. The settlement reduces the increase to $35 million, an increase of about 7 percent. Residential customers saw their projected rate hike fall from 10.4 percent to 5.3 percent. The increase is retroactive to July 2016.

Snyder noted that even with the rate increase, electrical customers served by SPS/Xcel continue to pay some of the lowest electrical rates and are served by a highly reliable system. We dont experience the rolling blackouts common in ERCOT and other systems, thanks to the continuing investment Xcel is making to improve its infrastructure and transmission systems. This alliance really goes to bat for us when it comes to the rate negotiations. You can see that since we have the best electrical rates in the state.

The council authorized Mayor Wendell Dunlap to sign an agreement with Brandt Engineers Group, LTD to oversee the upcoming street seal coating and related fog seal program, at a cost of $18,860 and $11,000, respectively. Brandt will work with the city to develop a 10-year rotation to maintain city streets, after an initial catch-up phase. The firm also will help the city get started doing its own fog coating in-house, which will keep the streets together while awaiting their next seal coating.

The council authorized Dunlap to sign an agreement with Doggett Construction for the Water Treatment Plant Residuals Management Project. Doggett was awarded the project in September on a bid of $74,200 to install a system to handle residue from the fresh water treatment plant by sending the affluent into the city sewer system for treating at the sewer treatment plant. Currently, the residue goes into settlement ponds next to the water treatment plant at 16th and Holliday Drive. Those ponds no longer meet state standards.
Three men were arrested for trespass and assault when a deputy was dispatched to a New Caney residence on Dec. 17 for a disturbance.

The investigation revealed that three males, ages 38, 34, and 25, heard what they believed to be a disturbance at a neighbor's house.

The three intoxicated men then forced their way into the neighbor's house and assaulted the husband of the woman they believed was being assaulted. There had been no disturbance in the home and the three were arrested.

District 1  North County

A man was arrested for assault and terroristic threat following a disturbance call on Dec. 13. A deputy responded to a call in the 17000 block of FM 2090 on Dec. 12 and resolved the issue by having a male at the location leave for the night. The next day, the deputy was called back to the same location after a female and her live-in boyfriend stated they started receiving threatening text messages from her father, stating that he would shoot the boyfriend when he returned home that day if the boyfriend was on location. After the investigation, the deputy arrested the father who was transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

A male driver was arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and forgery of government instrument when a deputy observed a suspicious vehicle at a business located in the 15000 block of Williams Road on Dec. 15. The deputy ran the license plate and learned the vehicle returned as stolen. The male driver was detained. While inventorying the vehicle, prior to towing, the deputy located 3 copies of a temporary license plates, all 3 copies having matching numbers. He also found the vehicle title had been altered. The driver was arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

A woman was arrested for assault causing bodily injury after a deputy was dispatched to the 11800 block of Stidham Road in reference to a disturbance on Dec. 15. The deputy spoke with a female who said she had been assaulted by her ex-husband's girlfriend. The deputy spoke with the girlfriend and found she had been assaulted by the male's ex-wife, and determined the ex-wife was the aggressor and arrested her. She was then transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

A female was arrested for assault after a deputy responded to a disturbance call in the 11600 block of Oak Woods Drive in Willis on Dec. 16. The deputy met with the female suspect upon arrival who said she and her sister had been in an altercation, and she had kicked her sister in the stomach. The deputy spoke with the sister on the phone, as she had left the location and was on her way to the hospital because of her sister kicking her in the stomach and her being pregnant. The suspect still on the scene was then arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

A man was arrested for public intoxication after a deputy was dispatched to a suspicious vehicle in the intersection of County Line Road and Browder Trailer on Dec. 17. The deputy upon arrival found a man sleeping in the back seat of his vehicle. The man said he and his wife had been in an argument and stated he drove to the location, began drinking alcoholic beverages, and then decided to sleep in the vehicle. The man was arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

District 3  East County

A man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance when two deputies were dispatched to a suspicious person loitering in front of a convenience store in New Caney on Dec. 12. After an investigation, it was discovered there was a used syringe in his sock and methamphetamines in the winter hat he was wearing.

A 23-year-old man was arrested for burglary on Dec. 13 when a deputy responded to a Porter residence for a burglary. The homeowner advised that a former employee had broken into their shop the previous night and taken several tools. The following morning, the suspect returned because he had left his phone behind during the burglary and was still on location when the deputy arrived. The man was arrested and all stolen property was recovered.

A 52-year-old man was arrested for terroristic threat when a deputy was dispatched to a Conroe residence on Dec. 13 for a disturbance. Upon arrival, he learned the couple had been arguing about the court case the man was to have the following day on an assault charge against the woman. The man was intoxicated and threatened that if the woman called 911, the police would find her in a body bag.

A 34-year-old man was arrested for disorderly conduct when a deputy was dispatched to a Porter apartment complex for a shots fired call on Dec. 18. Several witnesses stated that a male had discharged a pistol in the complex and had hid the gun in his car. The man was found highly intoxicated and was arrested for disorderly conduct for discharging the firearm in a dangerous location.
WESTPORT  With the New Year fast approaching, the Temple Israel Polar Bears are gearing up to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Hundreds will gather on New Years Day at Compo Beach in Westport to jump into the frigid cold waters of Long Island Sound to raise money for charity.

Ten years ago, two friends, Tom Patterson of Weston and Lee Caney of Westport, dared each other to jump into Long Island Sound during the middle of winter. Today, that dare has evolved into an annual community event where hundreds of people take the plunge to raise money for local and national charities.
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As a single mother of three, the path toward becoming a police officer wasnt easy for Tiere Strambler. After months of pursuing a law enforcement badge while taking college courses, she graduated from the Permian Basin Law Enforcement Academy on Monday.

Strambler, 32, anticipates serving local people as an officer with the Midland College Police Department.

Im prior military, Strambler said. I have that protective instinct. I protected the nation and now the community. I will be a good role model for my kids and women in general.

Strambler, who was raised in Midland, previously served in the Texas Army National Guard. She also worked at the Midland County Sheriffs Office Central Detention Center and took reports for the Midland Police Department.

It was very helpful in the academy having experience, and that knowledge helped me in a lot of classes, Strambler said. Now I will use it in the streets  the more you know, the better you are. It will be beneficial to me when Im on my own or in field training.

Strambler was first drawn to criminal justice when she attended Prairie View A&M University. Shes now working to complete a bachelors degree in the field through online classes at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Though the classes added to Stramblers workload, she didnt let them get in the way of spending time with her children. She waited until evenings to study and prepare for the academy.

From the time I picked them up to bedtime at 8:30, that was their time, Strambler said. Anything I had to do for the next day, I did after that.

Strambler has always tried to overcome circumstances to pursue her goals, according to her father, Jerry Strambler.

She grew up with two brothers, and she had to outshine them, said Strambler. The same determination is still with her.

Tiere Strambler will begin field training with the Midland College Police Department in January. She said next year is a unique time to become a police officer.

I would say that anyone considering law enforcement, the academy definitely made [you] realize if its the job for you, Strambler said. You have to have passion to do it, especially during this time when police are ambushed every day.

Strambler was visiting Dallas in July during the fatal shootings of law enforcement officials. Afterward, Strambler and a friend gave snacks to officers who guarded the perimeter of the scene as a way to show their appreciation, she said.

The experience in Dallas encouraged Strambler to make a difference locally at Buckner Family Pathways, a program that provides transitional housing for single mothers and their children.

Strambler invited various local law enforcement agencies to Buckner in August. She said the event helped build relationships between officials and community members.

Some of the kids at Buckner come from abuse, Strambler said. They remember a police officer taking them away from their family. They have a negative view of police officers. They got a chance to play and see officers in a positive light. One of the officers talked to single mothers about safety.

Strambler, a resident at Buckner, first entered the Family Pathways program in 2010. When she was accepted into the police academy this year, she sought the services again.

She was struggling to go to school, and she had trouble paying rent, said Anna Rodriquez, former director of Buckner Family Pathways in Midland. I hadnt heard from her in years. When she called, a space was opening up and she became a part of the program.

The program provides housing for single mothers who are pursuing an education. Strambler said the guidance helped her become self-sufficient.

Buckner offers classes you might not have access to or the resources to be a better mother, Strambler said. They help you deal with things that come up.

Support also came from other sources, including congregation leaders at True-Lite Christian Fellowship and family members.

Strambler turned to her parents for assistance to lighten her tight schedule. Jerry Strambler helped with child care when his daughter exercised to get in shape for the academy.

She was bringing the kids over while she would be running or jogging, Strambler said. She went to the gym to work out, and my wife and I both knew where her focus was.

Her focus came to fruition when she was pinned at the Permian Basin Law Enforcement Academy graduation. Strambler said her children  Kirstin Edmonds Jr., 4; Nehemiah Niblett, 7; and Semaiah Niblett, 9  showed support throughout the process.

I know they were proud of me, seeing the hard work I put in, Strambler said. It was a blessing. Now they are asking when I will get the [police] car.

As she prepares for field training, Strambler is thankful for the opportunity to keep people safe. She hopes all mothers will consider following their ambitions.

If they have a goal, when they have kids they think they cant do it, Strambler said. They shouldnt give up their dream. Their kids will appreciate it down the road.
Washington

Marion Pritchard, a woman credited with saving dozens of Jews in the Netherlands during the Holocaust, has died at 96. Her son, Arnold Pritchard, said Wednesday by telephone that his mother died Dec. 11 from cerebral arteriosclerosis in Washington.

Pritchard, born Marion Philippina van Binsbergen, was a 19-year-old social work student when Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940. In an interview published in the volume "Voices From the Holocaust" by Harry James Cargas, Pritchard said the "crucial moment" when she committed herself to fighting Nazi persecution came in 1942, when she witnessed the liquidation of a home for Jewish children. She saw two women try to stop the soldiers from throwing the children into the truck, only to be put in the truck themselves.

The Washington Post reports that with about 10 friends, Pritchard helped obtain false identity documents and hiding places to help Jews evade arrest. She also performed what was known as the "mission of disgrace," falsely declaring herself to be a baby's unwed mother to hide the child's Jewish identity.

For nearly three years, Pritchard helped hide a Jewish man, his two sons and infant daughter in a country home where they could slip beneath the floorboards in 17 seconds. After a raid, a Dutch policeman returned to the home and discovered the hiding spot, but Pritchard fatally shot him before he could make an arrest. She said an undertaker buried the policeman's body with another body in a coffin.

"I would do it again, under the same circumstances," she told an interviewer years later, "but it still bothers me."

Pritchard was said to have aided as many as 150 people, including many children, but she insisted that she couldn't have done it without help from others.

She later became a United Nations social worker in displaced-persons camps and met her husband, Anton Pritchard, a former U.S. Army officer. They later lived in New York and Vermont, where she ran a psychoanalysis practice for decades.

In 1981, the Yad Vashem memorial in Israel recognized Pritchard as "righteous among the nations," a title for gentiles who rescued Jews during the Holocaust.
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STAMFORD  It was a firehouse tradition so old it had just about snuffed out.

But the handwork of firefighters  and the memories it created  have proven enduring, and the tradition may be rekindled.

Youll find it under the Christmas tree.

For as far back as 100 years, many firefighters occupied their time between calls building wooden Christmas tree stands in the basements of firehouses.

The basic design is consistent  a beveled platform about 3 square feet with a tree holder in the middle. The platform is ringed by a little fence with a gate, and posts topped with bulbs that light up.

Sometimes the wood is stained, sometimes painted. Some platforms have plain picket fences, while others are fancy. Some have steps leading to the gate. All set up, the platform looks like a little village at the base of the Christmas tree.

Dan Burke remembers when his father, the late Capt. Daniel Burke of Station 4, a member of the Stamford Fire Department from 1951 to 1986, brought home the tree stand in the early 1960s.

He put it down and said, We made this at the firehouse,  Burke said. That was about the extent of my father talking about his day at work. He was from the World War II generation.

It was all the family knew about the tree stand.

It had two little switches, one for the lights on the fence and one for the Christmas tree lights, said Dan Burkes brother, Chris. My parents put little figures inside the fence. I loved playing with it.

Years later, Chris Burke, a master carpenter, found the stand in the basement when his parents house was sold.

I said, I cant let this go. I took it home and fixed it up, he said. Now at Christmas, we put my mothers creche on it. It will never get thrown out.

Its a family treasure.

As far as we knew, ours was the only one that existed, Dan Burke said.

Not just one

Then he ran into Grace Bounty, niece of Joseph Kozma, who was a Stamford firefighter at Station 2 from 1919 to 1944. Dan Burke and Bounty met at the Stamford Historical Society, where they volunteer.

We got to talking, and I told Grace my father was a firefighter for 36 years. The first thing she said was, Do you have a Christmas tree stand?  Dan Burke said. I thought, Thats a weird question. How does she know that? 

Unlike the Burkes, Bounty knew tree stands were built as far back as 1928.

My Uncle Joe made one for each of his siblings and their families, five that I know of, Bounty said. The one he gave my father has the date on the bottom.

It said, #2 Engine Co., 2nd Platoon. 12/21/28. J. Kozma.

Bounty counts the tree stand among her most cherished Christmas memories.

When I was a child, I would put cotton on it to look like snow, and miniature houses made of paper, Bounty said. I put in a small mirror to look like a pond, with little metal ice skaters.

She and Dan Burke investigated how many firefighter tree stands were made. Burke posted a note on Facebook.

Out came all these photos, Burke said.

Rick Daly posted one of himself from the early 1950s with the tree stand made by his late grandfather, Stamford firefighter Harry Goettel.

A photo posted by Mary Ellen Woodman, which looks like its from the 1960s or early 70s, shows a boy named R.J. Petrone on the floor beside the base of a Christmas tree with a green stand that has a white fence, red posts and lights. It is decorated with a tiny white church surrounded by miniature snow-covered evergreens, and was made by Petrone grandfather, Stamford firefighter P. Joseph McAuliffe.

Father figure

Bridget Ormond Kopek, daughter of Jerry Ormond, a Stamford firefighter with Station 2, told Dan Burke about the tree stand her father brought home in the mid-1950s.

Every Christmas, he would go up to the attic and get it, and give us a dust rag to clean it, Kopek said. Some people set a little village on it, or a train set, but we put the smallest gifts on it. It had a metal pipe in the middle to hold the tree.

That called for firefighter ingenuity, she said.

My father would have to get a hack saw and cut the end of the trunk to make it fit, Kopek said. Wed be pushing and pushing, trying to get it in there.

It was a symbol of not only her father, but the fathers of her friends, also firefighters.

It was a tight brotherhood. They had all kinds of skills. They were plumbers, electricians, woodworkers. They would make the tree stands for months. My father would come home and say, We made so-and-sos today. Then at Christmas, wed go to each others houses and see all the different ones.

The Roper sisters  Susan, Nancy and Dyanne  have a tree stand made by their grandfather, Romer Myers, who was a firefighter in central fire station downtown. Myers was with the department from 1920 to 1945.

My grandfather lived down the street from us and brought the tree stand to us. We used it every year, Susan Roper said. It was so much fun to decorate the stand. It was unique because he lovingly put it together. Me and my sisters have wonderful memories of Christmastime.

Nancy Roper said she still has some of the figurines they used to decorate the stand.

Back at work

Theres no telling how many are out there, Dan Burke said. But the Stamford Fire Departments historian, Capt. Philip Hayes of Station 4, a 30-year veteran, knew nothing about them until he heard from Susan Roper a few months ago.

She gave us the one Romer Myers made, Hayes said. All the wiring was dry-rotted, so we couldnt plug it in. We rewired it and rebuilt it and put the lights back on.

Hayes, who publishes stories about the history of the Stamford Fire Department at www.stamfordfire.com, said he is trying to learn more about the tree-stand tradition.

I havent found photos of firefighters making them, but I know they used to rebuild toys in the basement of old Station 2 at Pacific and Henry streets, Hayes said.

But it may be that not just Stamford firefighters used their skills to create holiday cheer.

A man named Jack Rodie from York, Maine, owner of Jack Rodie Fine Woodworking, advertises handmade Christmas tree stands for sale on Facebook. According to Rodies post, he is a native of Bridgeport, where his grandfather was a firefighter.

Bridgeport firefighters built them from about 1905 until the 1960s, and gave them to needy families at Christmas, according to Rodies post.

Kopek said the firefighter tradition is worth reviving.

I often wonder what happened to ours. Im afraid it got tossed when we renovated my mothers house, she said. As the years go by, you dont always realize how important things are to you, and you let them go.
Renovations to a restroom at Edwardsville Township Park are nearly finished, clearing the way for its opening to the public next spring, according to Township Supervisor Frank Miles.

The Township announced Wednesday that it had received a $13,796 grant form the Metro East Park and Recreation District. Its the third grant the township has received from MEPRD since last year when the township used grant money to convert another bathroom at the park to an all-season facility.

With the addition of this years MEPRD grant, the township has been able to renovate the second bathroom and we are being pushed close to reaching the goal of updating the park to be a safe and efficient place for our community to enjoy, Miles said in a news release.

The project for the second restroom includes removing all existing plumbing features, modifying the layout to accommodate the Americans With Disabilities Act requirements, installing high-efficiency, low-flow plumbing fixtures and high efficiency hand dryers. The inside of the restroom will also get a new coat of paint, according to a news release from the township.

The township adopted an ADA Compliance Plan in May of 2015.

In addition to the MEPRD grant, the township has received a $15,000 grant from Madison Countys Park Enhancement Program.

In October, the township accepted a bid of nearly $48,000 from WWCS of Cottage Hills to renovate the second bathroom. The MEPRD grant and the Park Enhancement grant make up 60 percent of the renovation costs. The balance - $19,190 comes from the townships Capital Development Fund.

The renovations to Restroom 2 are already 90 complete, Miles said in a news release Wednesday. With the increase of pavilion reservations and school trips to the park in the past few years we are proud to be able to make the park more accessible for all members of our community, Miles said.
One man was killed and another was injured in the hand after several shots were fired early Thursday at a Northeast Side home.

Detectives were working to determine what led up to the shooting at about 4 a.m. in the 5400 block of Stoney Brook Drive, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
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The United States did a lot of Googling this year.

Across the nation, people researched historical events, political developments, celebrity deaths, and a few pop culture moments, but in California, one of our most popular searches seemed to reflect how we felt about this year: "2016 worst year ever?"

Using Google Trends, real estate website Estately reviewed the biggest searches of the year to find out which topics states' residents were searching for more often than residents were in any other state.

Across the country, some of the states were Googling some pretty weird things: Montana learned about Cupping therapy; Virginia was interested in the Chardonnay Go! viral video; and Massachusetts wanted to know what actor Robert De Niro had to say about President-elect Donald Trump.

See the map featuring some picks above, and click through the following photos to see Texas and other states' weird searches.
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More than a dozen of the Houston Police Department's top commanders were among 126 officers who filed paperwork this week indicating they plan to retire in the first half of next year, senior City Hall and HPD sources said, a sign that a rumored exodus driven by unease about possible pension reforms may be under way.

As of last month, the department's retirements for 2016 were roughly on pace with the attrition rates seen in recent years.
Tom OConnell loved to read obituaries, so it was no surprise that he decided to write his own.

Until he died at 83 on Nov. 28, OConnell had the obituaries of his hometown of Saint Albans, Vermont, sent to his Texas house, located on a 21-acre plot of land in Bulverde.

He said its important to know what people do with their lives, said Betsy OConnell, his wife of 33 years, who owned Violets Talk in Alamo Heights.

Tom OConnell, an advertising executive for 42 years and a former San Antonio Express-News and San Antonio Light employee, had been suffering from bladder cancer for years and died at home, his wife at his side. He was interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Monday; memorial contributions may be made to St. Marks Episcopal Church in San Antonio.

His wife said she always thought that he should have had a different career  either a lumberjack or a diplomat. He loved to cut trees, she said, but he also loved to talk to people and hear their stories.

He had the ability of making you feel important and listening to what you had to say, she said.

In his obituary, he referred to Betsy OConnell as his long-lost love. It was a second marriage for both, but they had met when she was barely a teen.

More Information Thomas O'Connell Born: Nov. 16, 1933, Saint Albans, Vt. Died: Nov. 28, 2016, Bulverde. Preceded by: Daughter Marcy O'Connell, son Danny O'Connell. Survived by: Wife Betsy O'Connell; daughters Suzy Lamont of Tasmania, Australia, and Laurie O'Connell of Montgomery Center, Vt.; and grandchild William Harrington of Los Angeles. Service: 11 a.m. Jan. 7, Holy Angels Church, Saint Albans, Vt. See More Collapse

My husband was a great storyteller, and this was his favorite story, she said. He and I met when I was 14 and he was 20 on a train from Germany to Paris, France.

She said that he had no idea how young she was. It was 1954. Betsy OConnell, her mother and he sat together on that train ride and hit it off. Betsy OConnell said her future husband, who was in the Army at the time, looked like Gregory Peck.

Years passed, and they remained pen pals. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1959 and began a career in advertising. He was an executive and moved 19 times, Betsy OConnell said.

Tom OConnell came to San Antonio in 1983 to marry her. She had moved here with her ex-husband years earlier.

OConnell racked up 18 years working in advertising for the Light and then the Express-News. The couple moved to the home they built themselves in Bulverde in 1989.

His wife said they owned two miniature donkeys, three llamas, three goats, five rabbits, 11 chickens, two birds, three cats and a dog named Tom Timber. Their land also has a meadow of bluebonnets, which they cultivated together over 15 years.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be voted out of office in 2017 because she will be held responsible for the fatal terrorist attack that occurred Monday in Germany.

If it wasnt for Merkels open-door policy to refugees seeking asylum and other suspects from the Middle East, a terrorist may have been prevented from hijacking a tractor-trailer and bulldozing it into a crowd of people killing 12 at a festive Berlin market. Apparently there were a lot of Christmas lights and decorations which really angers the fundamentalist.
Something about the holidays makes me warm and fuzzy inside. The lights, the crisp winter air and the jolly neighbors are all charming during this time of the year.

Unfortunately, this year feels different because every time I hear the jingling of bells, I hear the whistling of air strikes in Aleppo. And whenever I see the biggest smile on a childs face in a toy shop, I remember the crying and pleading faces of many children in the streets of Aleppo.

Not only as a Muslim American, but as a human being, I am unable to fully express how painful it is to see the conditions of Aleppo and its people. This brutality reminds me of a crucial time for Jesus (peace be upon him), a truly beloved prophet of God as we believe, who prayed in his time of distress (Luke 5:16).

So, as we sit here comfortably, let us join our hands, bow our heads or kneel in humility, and pray for those unfortunate people who are unable to witness the true joy of this season.

Maliha Ahmed

Carnivals in town

To those of my neighbors who bought into Donald Trumps carnival barking: Fine. You own it now. Just put a leash on it and keep it off my front lawn.

Robert Paul

Two faces of Perry

Before becoming governor, Rick Perry endorsed Al Gore for president in 1988. He switched parties soon after, of course.

But I suspect he knows that Gore, after joining the House of Representatives in 1976, held the first congressional hearings on climate change. I suspect he knows whats going on even though he has said differently. I suspect hes a politician of the two-faced variety.

Bill Hurley

Real hope at last?

Corrupted Electoral College mocks the founders intent, O. Ricardo Pimentel, Other Views, Dec. 18:

O. Ricardo Pimentel talks about competency? He is kidding, right? The Founding Fathers saw the threat of a majority in populous areas taking control of government to the detriment of rural areas. Perhaps a deeper reading into the thoughts of those men would benefit Mr. Pimentel and his far-left mindset.

If the electorate had its way in this election, welfare recipients would rule while working men and women would be continue to subsidize their freebies. That does not seem fair.

Mr. Pimentel should consider these factors. It would be a shame if the few Northeast states and the Pacific Coast voters could sway the elections their way because of the dense population in those areas. Arent these the regions with financial problems caused by Democratic administrations? Should the rest of the country be forced to bail them out?

It is also interesting to note that Hillary Clinton had tremendous financial backing from Wall Street gurus and the Hollywood money crowd. These are men and women who expect a return on their investment.

Why dont we wait at least 100 days into the Trump administration before criticizing his performance? Perhaps the real hope for change is finally at hand. It certainly failed with Barack Obama.

Hank Forrest

Unions next step

With all the recent letters about the Electoral College, I want to present a different view.

Most of the letters supporting the college say it protects the smaller states from being steamrolled by the larger states. The original purpose was to make it possible to have a viable democracy in a large country with a scattered population, poor transportation, low literacy rate and lack of political experience. Also, many of the framers of the Constitution had a distrust of the poorer population.

Since its founding, the U.S. has experienced a gradual transition to a more open democracy. Elimination of the property ownership and poll tax requirements for voting, and inclusion of former slaves, women and finally 18-year-olds has made us a more perfect union. The last logical step would be to get rid of the Electoral College.

Instead of large states imposing their will on smaller states, we have a system that allows small states to dominate national elections. There is already adequate protection for the small states by requiring equal representation in the Senate. All the Electoral College does now is allow a smaller number of people to elect the president over the wishes of a majority. Not really a basic principle of government by the people and for the people as envisioned.

Riley Stone, Hollywood Park

Losing our soul

I was wrong. I kept waiting for the moment when Donald Trump was so outrageous that his credibility and appeal would end. The mocking of a disabled reporter didnt do it, obnoxious comments about women didnt do it, promoting violence at rallies didnt do it, so I kept waiting. Now, we are told by many of his followers that they never believed what he said, but because he was so obnoxious and rude, he gave them hope.

People in the worst economic conditions continue to support those who have never and will never help the needy, but somehow that bravado makes them feel good. It wont matter to me how much positive he does, because if that happens it is because we have thrown away our standards, what makes this country special. For people to feel good that a tweet from the president-elect cost Boeing or Lockheed millions, if not billions, is not something to cheer.

Mark 8:36: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose your own soul?

This country has lost its soul. We have rejected a standard of behavior conveniently tagged as political correctness instead of what it really is  decency, politeness and dignity.

Helen Chouinard
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STAMFORD  The father accused of abandoning his young child at a bus station last month before hiding out for days in New York City shelters as police say they hunted him for killing his wife was back in Connecticut on Thursday.

With his wrists cuffed in front of him and his ankles shackled together, the curly-haired diner dishwasher was escorted into the Stamford police station where he was charged with murder.

Elmer Gomez Ruano, 32, will be arraigned Friday morning in state Superior Court in Stamford where his attorney says he will plead not guilty to killing his wife, 24-year-old Dionicia Bautista-Cano.

Gomez Ruano was extradited from New York City on a risk of injury to a child charge for leaving his daughter in a midtown bus depot on Nov. 14, police said. Hes being held in lieu of $900,000 court appearance bond.

I am anxious to see the facts that support the charge, defense attorney Darnell Crosland said. As we know, some charges initially are higher than they should be, but once prosecutors review the supporting documents, they can be adjusted accordingly.

Crosland said his client hopes to be reunited with his 6-year-old daughter, who has been placed with a foster family through the state Department of Children and Families.

The girl was found alone in the bus station about 10 a.m. on Nov. 14 and helped lead police to a Glenbrook apartment where she and her parents had moved into just days earlier.

Police found Bautista-Canos body in the Courtland Avenue apartment, where they say there were signs of a struggle. Bautista-Canos death was ruled a homicide, but police have not released how she was killed.

Bautista-Cano had been living in New Jersey with her daughter before reuniting with her estranged husband in Stamford.

Police believe the girl, who speaks mostly Spanish, was inside the apartment when her mother was killed.

We talked a little bit with her, but then we backed right off for her own well being, Lt. Tom Barcello said. We dont want to press it with her. It is traumatic enough to lose your mother, but we dont want to press it with a 6-year-old girl who has had a tough life already.

Police said Gomez Ruano had been working for about six months as a dishwasher at a downtown diner across the street from the police station. After abandoning his daughter, Gomez Ruano was on the run for four days before he was apprehended in Brooklyn, N.Y.

It is very nice to get him into custody, Barcello said.

Barcello credited Sgt. Chris Broems and officers Rafael Barquero, Edward Davis and Jerry Junes for their investigation.

jnickerson@scni.com;
1 Refugee deaths: Around 100 people are missing and feared dead after two shipwrecks off Italy, raising the estimated death toll among refugees on the Mediterranean this year to at least 5,000  a new annual record, U.N. agencies said Friday. Deaths linked to Mediterranean crossings by refugees mostly seeking economic opportunity or relative peace in Europe have spiked in 2016. Last year, over a million people crossed the sea  mostly from Turkey to Greece  with 3,771 deaths recorded. But this year, about 360,000 people have successfully crossed, most between Libya and Italy, with far more deadly results.

2 Renewed fighting: At least two Ukrainian troops have been killed and three injured in the past 24 hours in renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine, an official said Friday. Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,600 people since the conflict began in April 2014. A 2015 cease-fire deal did not completely stop fighting but did lower its intensity. Rebels and Ukrainian government representatives at talks mediated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe agreed on a new cease-fire across eastern Ukraine that is set to begin Saturday.
IT might seem like a good idea to use idliso on your man.

But izangoma say it ends in tears.

Gobela Mntimande Ngwenya told Daily Sun using it is fun while it lasts.

He said a man does what the woman wishes, but the worst should be expected as soon as it wears off.

We know that women use it to keep their men in check. Its like a control measure used to stop a man from cheating, said Mntimande.

He said this temporary measure wears off and makes the man aggressive and violent, and hes likely to slap around his partner.

Men are on their best behaviour when idliso is used on them, he said.

They want to stay home all day and even ditch their friends because they have unexplainable fear of their partner.

At that point, even if the mans family tells him muthi was used on him, he wont listen. Instead, hell turn his back on his family.

Mntimande said as soon as the woman gets what she wants, she relaxes and forgets she has to renew idliso.

Unfortunately, idliso has to be renewed once in a while. If not, all hell breaks loose.

Gogo Nontsikazi Mtshali said: Idliso is dangerous because its mixed with muthi that can lead to liver damage.

It also causes laziness to the point where the man might get fired or quit his job.

Gobela Gogo Nkomiyahlaba advised both men and women to stop forcing love.

 Daily Sun

Breaking News via Email
By Lynn Parramore, a senior research analyst at the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website

Milwaukee-born short-seller Jim Chanos, founder and managing partner of New York-based Kynikos Associates, teaches University of Wisconsin and Yale business students about corporate fraud. During his life and career, he has witnessed seismic shifts in economic thinking and the relationship between labor and capital. Chanos shares his thoughts on the world emerging from the election of Donald Trump and the tumultuous political events of 2016.

Lynn Parramore: Leading up to the election of Trump, we had eight years of Obama, and before that, eight years of Bush. Before we get to the president-elect, how do you assess the records of those past presidents in terms of basic policing of markets and corporate fraud?

Jim Chanos: Bush was the MBA president who was going to be pro-business, cut taxes, and deregulate. Meanwhile, he had two recessions on his watch, less employment than when he started, and two bear markets in the stock market  probably the worst president for business since Herbert Hoover. The business guy!

Yet, he did tighten up the Justice Department and go after corporate crime. The Ashcroft Justice Department, as bad as it was in lots of other things, went after corporate fraud and accounting fraud, criminally. In 2002, we got Sarbanes-Oxley to curb fraud.

I dont know that all this was Bushs predilection  remember, his biggest supporter was Enron. But because of Enron and the other dot-com era scandals, he got backed into a corner to go hard on them. Ive joked that the only person who put more corporate executives in jail than George W. Bush was his father during the Savings and Loan Crisis.

On these issues, Id rather have Bush any day of the week than Obama. Both Eric Holder and Lanny Breuer of Obamas Justice Department said in TV interviews and testimony that they factored in non-judicial aspects as to whether to mount prosecutions. I think that this had political costs to the Democrats. The crony capitalism still bothers people  the idea that Wall Street got off scot-free and they are still struggling. That lack of justice applied equally under the law was corrosive, not necessarily for Obama personally, but certainly for the party following him.

LP: How do you see a Trump presidency in this light?

JC: You and I have talked about how it has become a cost calculus for lots of corporations and financial institutions to cheat. If I get caught, they say, Im just going to pay a fine. How does this change with new faces in Washington? You still have this very pro-corporate group on Capitol Hill whose main bailiwick, in my opinion, is to protect the corporate class and the very wealthy. Youve got what ostensibly is a proto-populist in the White House with a cabinet that is a melange of different types, so who knows?

In my overall view, stuff happens to change people. If we go back to Bill Clinton, his Putting People First manifesto in 92 was quite left-of-center, but he didnt govern that way. If you look at things like NAFTA, Welfare reform, and cutting capital gains taxes  well, in many ways, Ronald Reagan would have been proud of him.

Events conspire to derail our perceptions of presidents. When we look at their platforms, we think we know where things are headed. But in modern times, the only two presidents that I can think of who really got their ideas and platforms enacted wholesale were FDR and Reagan. Everybody else has gotten compromised, or has had events overwhelm them.

LP: What do you make of the expectations of the economy under Trump?

JC: I worry about the heightened expectations from the people who voted for him thinking that hes their savior. Thats what scares me  unmet expectations. For the swing voter in the Midwest who voted for this guy because he thinks coal-mines are coming back or the plants are going to reopen  its not going to happen.

LP: What about the rise in bank stocks since the election? Are banks anticipating deregulation?

JC: Almost all stocks are going up, mostly because of the belief of lower taxation. But after Obamas election, most stocks went down and kept going down until the following March  and then they tripled! So I wouldnt read a lot into the first month or two.

It could be that banks are anticipating deregulation, but so what? Deregulated to what end? Theyre still going to have the capital requirements, which are international. Putting capital standards on them is the biggest way in which they were regulated.

In the bigger picture, if you think this is an uncertain presidency and were not quite sure where hes going and how events will conspire, its not that important to get too worked up because things will happen and youll have to react. If, however, this is a once-in-a-fifty-year change in global thoughts about capitalism, then you have to pay attention.

LP: If this is a once-in-fifty-year change, whats at stake?

JC: Part of my view is that in the 1930s, we rejected the individuality of the 20s and before. After the crash and the Depression, we finally put the corporate class and bankers to the sidelines. Whether it was Keynesianism or the New Deal in the West, or state fascism or the advent of Stalinism, you saw more government control over the economy. This was good for workers and large governments. It was more nationalistic and led, obviously, to the next conflict. But the rise of government planning and government involvement was good for nominal GDPs. It was not good for the asset-holding classes  stocks and bonds did terribly over that period, right? You wanted to be a worker, you wanted to be labor, not capital.

The period from the late 1970s to 1980 changed all that. You had Thatcher and the U.K. and Reagan in the U.S. Mao died in 1976, the Solidarity movement in Poland began in 1978, and the Soviet Union peaked in power in 1979. You saw that the pendulum had gone too far and now were going to cut taxes on capital, were going to be more globalistic, and trade was going to improve. Since then, capital has risen and assets have done better than labor. Taxes have been light on financial assets and heavy on labor. Everything was reversed on its head.

If we look at the events of 2016  Brexit, the Italian referendum, Trump, and the rise of nationalist China  are these the harbingers of something bigger? Or are they just a coincidence? The ground seems to be fertile for things to change globally. If so, does this give rise to a more nationalistic, protectionist, statist scenario? Are labor prices going to go up again? Are we going to tax capital and emphasize wages?

Well see.

LP: Going back to Trumps promise to bring jobs back to the U.S.  can the government even do that?

JC: In the case of the 30s, you had massive public works spending and government spending, so you created construction workers. But on that front, were not going to compete anymore, as the Carrier guy said. Mexican labor is $3 an hour. No amount of retraining for a lower-skilled assembly job is going to change that. The only thing that will replace that Mexican worker himself is a robot. And a robot is infinitely cheaper than even the cheapest labor.

Surveys show that there are jobs open in the economy, but theres just not a skill level to fill all of them. Our problem is the displacement in things like mining, assembly, low-end manufacturing  thats where the job losses have occurred. It is just very hard under almost any scenario no matter what your politics are to see where those jobs are going to come back.

To the extent that you have wholesale, large, construction-like projects, then you will put people to work at relatively high rates, but the jobs are episodic and not necessarily career paths. When I was making $14 an hour working steel in Milwaukee in the summers in college, a steel worker could basically say, all right, as long as I understand that Im going to work in this factory, I can have a nice living for my family. Those jobs are gone. The plants closed. So the whole idea that someone can now say, I can work in the Carrier plant for $20 an hour and be assured of a job for life and security and put my kids through college  that doesnt exist anymore.

Thats where the problem and discontent will come  when youve sold that dream and it doesnt happen. In that scenario, Trump begins to have a pretty short honeymoon.

LP: Youve long been linked with China. What do you make of the positions of China and the U.S. in the international economy , and how do you think theyre changing?

JC: To me, the rise of Xi Jinping is a big event still underestimated in the global political economy. He is more of a personality than either Deng Xiaoping or Mao Zedong, certainly higher in stature internally than his predecessors. He is not first among equals in the Politburo Standing Committee  hes first. This goes along with the theory about the rise of nationalists such at Putin in Russia. Xi Jinping is also a nationalist. He talks about the China Dream, China getting back to past glories, and not exporting communism. What you would have heard Mao say.

Hes a member the Chinese Communist Party, but the Party exists now as a political apparatus, not an ideology. China would not have the type of capitalism it has today if this were not the case. So these are not Marxist-Leninists, but rather just a fantastic single party in control. We have to understand it in that light.

China is increasingly a geostrategic rival. In the past, China looked toward protecting what it had  making claims on Taiwan and Tibet and ancillary areas, but the Chinese were really content not to compete in the global Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. Now we have this multi-polar world, and China sees itself clearly as the prime actor in the Pacific willing to fill any vacuum that the United States begins to pull away from.

Xi Jinping comes in and immediately he rewrites the passport maps. He sets the air traffic and extends the air defense zones. More ominously, he begins to militarize the South China Sea, and puts military bases on the islands, which alarms pretty much everybody. (And yet if you look at a map of the Pacific, the only country that really needs to traverse the South China Sea is China itself oil going from the Middle East to Japan goes around it. The South China Sea is symbolic more than it is geostrategic).

I think, however, that Trump has decided that China makes a convenient media punching bag. You can claim that China took your jobs and China is a bogeyman. It seems to me that president-elect Trump does best when he has someone to fight against. However, the broader issue will be that foreign policy and national security events have a whole different dynamic than beating up on a defense contractor for an air conditioning plant.

What will be the ramifications? How will China react? What do you do about countries like the Philippines that are in the middle  a country that has elected its own interesting president, someone who seems to want to embrace China after decades of being staunchly a U.S. ally? What does this do for Japan? Japan itself has a nationalist, Shinzo Abe, who wants to increase military spending and take off the yoke of the Japanese constitution block on an expanded military.

There are many questions, but whatever you might think, China and Japan, while big trading partners, are not the best of friends in that neighborhood. Finally youve got the wacky guy in North Korea. Whats he going to do?

This whole area just keeps quietly but relentlessly getting to be more dangerous. I think that at some point in the first four years of the Trump administration, the Pacific is going to heat up again.

People are talking about starting a trade war with China but they havent really thought it through, because if you talk to corporate execs in the United States, theyre sort of quietly terrified. Often the supply chain, even in U.S. manufacturing, relies on parts from Mexico and China coming in. We are pretty interconnected. Lots of businesses, and workers, too, will get disrupted in ways we cant even think of in a trade war. Theres a reason why people studied the 1930s with the tariff walls that went up and the disruptions that happened. Its negative for growth.

So stay tuned, its going to be interesting.

LP: To turn to Europe, youre a Greek-American, and you have been critical of the Eurozones attitude toward Greece. What do you make of the situation there now?

JC: The key issues for Greece now revolve around two entities that are not Greek. First you have the EU as a whole. We continue to have these bombshells, like the Italian referendum and Brexit  and youve also got elections coming up elsewhere in 2017.

I think Greece was sort of the Spanish Civil War to whats about to be the EUs WWII in that it was the opening preview of all of the problems that are going to come to the fore if Catalonia wants to become independent, if Italy wants to leave, if France wants to leave. The EU is being held together by chewing gum and string right now.

With this rise of nationalism  if thats what it is and it continues  the EU is going to find itself increasingly a victim of people wanting self-determination in northern Europe. Thats the first thing. Second is something Im much more concerned about which nobodys paying attention to, and thats the continued rise of Erdo g an in Turkey. He has not only consolidated his power through a series of purges thousands and thousands of journalists and academics have been thrown in prison since the aborted coup  but increasingly he is becoming more militant and Turkey is becoming a pro-Islamic state that is part of NATO. Hes throwing wild monkey wrenches into the whole Middle Eastern situation by making claims on land that was owned by the Ottomans, pre-WWI, like modern-day Iraq, modern-day Syria, and modern-day Greece and Bulgaria. Hes warned the EU that he will open Turkeys borders to undocumented immigrants if EU membership talks are frozen. Like Xi Jinping, hes putting out these old maps and saying: this is our real land. Erdogan is yet another nationalist.

Poor Greece is at the crossroads of all these seismic events and Ottoman Empire II. Youve got the possible weakening or dissolution of the EU, and Greek debt problems are about tenth on the list of issues in that region. Theyre going to struggle, no doubt about it. Every time the Greek economy starts to show some green shoots, it seems to stall and fall right back down again.

LP: What do you hope might happen in this emerging world?

JC: This is the tough thing about being in the financial markets. You can have opinions on all this stuff and either get it wrong or have it not matter.

First, I hope our system of free trade holds up. Thats one thing I believe in fervently. The evidence seems to be that a rise of tariffs and trade walls and barriers will be bad for global growth. Given the debt overhang thats out there, which is relentless, the ability of economies to service debts in a global trade war will be greatly curtailed, so Im clearly watching that.

I also continue to be concerned, on a stand-alone basis, with the giant debt bubble occurring in China. It has done nothing but just gotten bigger since you and I last sat down. Despite all the talk of reform, there really hasnt been any. The Chinese are more reliant on the state than ever  on state lending and state banks. The debt continues to grow at twice the rate of growth, and now the currency is depreciating.

Were getting a situation where the Chinese economy is still a very important driver of global growth, but increasingly it is using the old methods that the Chinese themselves said only a few years ago that they would have to change. But they cant, because every time they try, the economy slows too fast.

China continues to be half of the demand for global commodities. It basically supports Africa and countries like Australia and Brazil. Almost 40 percent of global GDP is either China or commodity-exporting countries whose prime market is China. Thats considerable. So we have to look not only at Chinas role with us, but Chinas role on its own because it is such a driver for global growth, Chinese growth represents 1 point of the 3 percent GDP growth, so if China were not growing at all, wed be at 2 percent. Doesnt sound like a lot but it is. We have to keep our eye on whats going on there. A global trade war would probably send China into a really steep recession.

How would an average worker navigate a rising trade barrier globally? Its scary. If we look back at the 30s template, one major outlet was, of course, a giant arms race. By the late 30s, you had the whole world realizing the threats of fascism and rearming rapidly. Keynesian government spending was what pulled up the economies; it just had some really bad repercussions from 1939-45. But if we get into any kind of global arms race with China, either conventionally or otherwise, that would be Reagan-like. I dont know what the numbers would mean in terms of employment, but you would take a lot of manufacturing people and turn them to making other things.

LP: How do you rate the current moment with big periods of change youve seen in your lifetime?

JC: I had this odd personal journey from being a union pipefitter and boilermaker as a college student  I made more money in two-and-a-half months making steel than I did my first year on Wall Street. I went from being a product of the industrial Midwest and putting myself through college by working in a steel mill, to being the beneficiary of the Reagan-Thatcher era. I saw the world change, but I didnt really understand until years later what an important period the late 70s/early 80s was (and a great period for music, by the way!).

If were in one of those periods now, if 2016 is like 1932 or 1979  then you not only have to change your portfolio, you have to change your lifestyle. Thats one of the things weve been telling clients. If this is a major shift to populism, nationalism, greater state involvement, and less globalism, then you really have to rethink almost everything in your life.

Certainly, if you were a capitalist in 1932, you might be best served to change your outlook. And if you were a union leader in 1979, it would have been good to change your outlook. The question will be, in 2016, would it be best for the Davos man and woman, the globalists, to change their outlook?
Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
Former Clonmel Courthouse caretaker Joe Poyntz, who passed away in August, was fondly remembered as a most obliging, hard-working, kind and cheerful man in tributes paid to him at Clonmel Circuit Court.

Mr. Poyntz of Queen Street, Clonmel, died following a serious illness and is sadly missed by all who worked with him at Clonmel Courthouse for many years.

Representatives of the judiciary, legal profession and Courts Service paid fond tributes to him at the opening day of the current session of Clonmel Circuit Court and expressed sympathy to his daughter Jessica, parents Billy and Bridget and siblings Tom, Majella and Patricia.

Judge Tom Teehan said that coming to Clonmel Courthouse was always a more cheerful prospect because of Joe's presence there.

"He was someone who always had a smile on his face and was unfailingly kind and courteous to everybody he came in contact with."

"When he developed a very serious illness in the last few years, he bore that with characteristic fortitude. He will be greatly missed by those of you in the local community and certainly in a much wider field. From the numbers at his funeral during the summer, it was very obvious that he was held in very high regard."

Gerard Connolly paid tribute to his former colleague on behalf of the Courts Service staff at Clonmel Courthouse and extended sympathy to his family.

He recalled that Joe was appointed caretaker of Clonmel Courthouse in 1996 and held that position until he died.

Mr. Connolly said Joe was sadly diagnosed with a serious illness last January and despite his and his consultant's best efforts, he sadly passed away at far too young an age.

"He was always most obliging. He was never once late for work and never failed to answer a call out to the security alarm."

Solicitor Peter Reilly and barrister Frank Quirke paid tributes to Joe on behalf of the legal profession.

Mr. Quirke described him as a "true gentleman" while Mr. Reilly remembered how Joe was always cheerful and most helpful.
WASHINGTON  The Department of Justice is criticizing an appeals court ruling striking down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's single-director structure, saying the decision overstepped Supreme Court precedent.

The CFPB has appealed the ruling. In an amicus filing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Thursday, the Justice Department supported the bureau's petition for an en banc rehearing of PHH v. CFPB. Among other things, the DOJ said the court likely should not have even considered the issue of the CFPB structure's constitutionality. (The court had invited the Justice Department to submit the brief.)

At issue is PHH's legal challenge of the CFPB's $109 million fine over what the bureau said amounted to a kickback scheme. PHH had argued that the CFPB could not make new interpretations of the law at the center of the alleged violations because the agency's director could not be fired by a sitting U.S. president except for cause. The single-director structure for an independent agency vests an unconstitutionally large amount of power outside of the president's direct control, PHH claimed. The D.C. Circuit agreed, effectively nullifying the CFPB's independent status by allowing the president to remove the director for any reason.

But in its brief, the Justice Department argued that the court's October ruling articulated a constitutionality test regarding the validity of independent agencies that little resembles Supreme Court precedent.

"The panel's opinion was ... premised on its view that an agency with a single head poses a greater threat to individual liberty than an agency headed by a multi-member body that exercises the same powers," the department's brief said. "If they do not constitute such an impediment [to the President], the Supreme Court has not suggested that a court should then undertake an additional inquiry into whether a single-headed agency threatens individual liberty to a greater extent than a multi-headed agency."

In fining PHH, the CFPB alleged the company would steer borrowers toward mortgage insurance vendors that would buy reinsurance from a company owned by PHH. The CFPB based its fine on a new interpretation of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, known as Respa, which was substantially different from previous interpretations made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. PHH argued in its legal challenge that the CFPB had no business applying a new interpretation of an existing law retroactively, and a lower court agreed.

The Justice Department said that the full appeals court could also reasonably conclude that the ruling should not have considered the constitutionality question at all, since courts generally decline to make constitutionality rulings if there are other ways of dispensing with a case. In PHH, the plaintiff sought one specific form of relief: a "vacatur" of the CFPB's order against it. And having granted that relief, the court should have simply stopped there, DOJ argued, rather than linking the constitutionality issue to the plaintiff's request for relief.

"There is no uncertainty as to the question of severability  that would require the Court to address the merits of the separation-of-powers claim," the amicus brief said. "If the case is remanded, and the CFPB continues to pursue action against PHH, petitioners may renew their constitutional challenge."
WASHINGTON  Lawmakers are preparing to deal with flood insurance reform next year, another in a seemingly never-ending attempt to resolve recurring problems, and they will once again have to confront a series of challenges.

Those include communities and individual properties that repeatedly flood, how climate change could boost demand for the program and creating a private market for flood insurance so the government isn't always on the hook.

Congress is scheduled to take up tax reform early next year and to turn to flood insurance reform probably in the spring before the National Flood Insurance Program expires on Sept. 30.

One key issue is what to do about the roughly 30,000 properties that have been flooded over five times on average, representing 0.6% of properties that receive coverage under the program and 10.6% of all claims paid during its history.

Lawmakers could opt to try and buy those properties and prevent them from continually draining the program.

"It would cost about $2 billion to buy out those properties that are still insured, unmitigated, and at-risk" of flooding again, said Rob Moore, a senior policy analyst of the Natural Resources Defense Council, at a National Housing Conference event earlier this month. That's not "an unreasonable amount considering these same properties have already collected about $2 billion in flood claims."

But the program currently doesn't have that kind of money, as it is currently $23 billion in debt to the U.S. Treasury. Congress used to pay off the debts every year, but that stopped in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, said Roy Wright, deputy associate administrator for insurance and mitigation at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

There are growing fears, too, that the program's problems are only going to get worse, due to climate change and rising sea levels, which will put an increasing number of homeowners at risk of flooding.

"The flood insurance program is really an important lever for making sure those people can recover in the wake of floods," Moore said.

In August, over 100,000 homes north of New Orleans were damaged by heavy, sustained rains. The Washington Post reported that the "no-name storm" dumped three times as much rain on Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina.

To deal with this growing risk, lawmakers want to encourage the development of a private flood insurance industry to take some of the pressure off the federal program.

Last April, the House passed a bill by 419-0 vote to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to accept private flood insurance policies for the first time. Despite the overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, the bill sponsored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., died in the Senate.

Senators raised concerns that the government-sponsored enterprises would not be able to take reasonable steps to protect themselves against inadequate flood insurance coverage on properties. In 2017, that issue will be on the table again.

Luetkemeyer recently issued a statement of principles for flood insurance reform in 2017 that encourages the development of a private flood insurance market and provides for contingent buyouts of properties with repetitive flood losses.

Under his proposal, the owner would be offered affordable flood insurance at a reduced rate in return for their commitment to accept a buyout in the future if their property is heavily damaged in a flood. It could happen two days after the buyout agreement is signed or whenever the next flood hits. The buyout would provide the owner with enough assistance to relocate.

"It is consistent with the proposal we are developing," Moore said in an interview.

The American Bankers Association has also welcomed the congressman's statement of principles on the re-authorization of the flood insurance program.

"We are particularly pleased that Chairman Luetkemeyer is focused on ensuring stability in the NFIP by beginning the reauthorization early and avoiding any risk of the lapses in the program authority that have harmed borrowers and lenders in the past," said ABA Executive Vice President James Ballentine.

Between 2008 and 2012, the flood insurance program was temporarily extended 17 times due to legislation disputes and congressional authorization for it lapsed four times.

ABA also applauded Luetkemeyer's focus on "encouraging a robust private flood insurance market and the development of risk transfer mechanisms to limit taxpayer liability, as well as his proposal to eliminate mandatory NFIP coverage for large commercial properties," Ballentine said in a Dec. 6 statement.

The Luetkemeyer principles also call on FEMA to purchase reinsurance to reduce its flood risk exposure.

"If we are going to put this program on a firm financial footing, we have to find ways to leverage the capital markets," Wright said at the NHC event.

He noted that FEMA has already started to purchase re-insurance in the private market. In its first transaction, the agency purchased $1 million of reinsurance on a contract that expires in March 2017. Once claims exceed $5 million, FEMA would be able to collect for the next $1 million in claims, according to Frank Nutter, president of the Reinsurance Association of America.

"Their stated intention was to go through the whole process of selecting a broker, buying the reinsurance premium, having a claim on the reinsurance and collecting a claim. They got the protocols all in place," Nutter said in an interview. FEMA is in the "market now for a more significant level of re-insurance protection."

Jimi Grande, the senior vice president of federal and political affairs with the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, said some carriers are interested in expanding into private insurance policies. But he warned that it is very hard for a private market to emerge because the federal program doesn't charge risk-based premiums.

"If reforms increase flood insurance premiums, it will reduce properties' values in whole towns that are judged to be riskier than before," Grande said in an interview.

In the past it has been very difficult to get large-scale flood reform through the House and Senate, according to Jenn Fogel-Bublick, a partner and lobbyist at Capitol Counsel in Washington who represents the SmarterSafer Coalition.

"I believe there is enough support to make sure private sector participants can write private flood insurance policies. I do believe that will be part of any large package" she said.
CALIFORNIA

WALNUT CREEK

Julie Chroust has joined the Walnut Creek office of Bay Equity Home Loans as a senior loan officer.

Chroust brings to the firm 16 years of industry experience, and prior to joining Bay Equity, she was a senior loan officer for over eight years with Prospect Mortgage, also in Walnut Creek.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

WASHINGTON

The Collingwood Group has promoted Meg Burns to partner. She joined the firm just two years ago as managing director.

Burns, a long-time veteran of federal housing finance and policy, brings more than two decades of industry experience.

Prior to joining The Collingwood Group, she served as senior associate director for housing and regulatory policy at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where she oversaw major regulatory initiatives and mission responsibilities for the government-sponsored enterprises.

NEW YORK

NEW YORK

Greystone Real Estate Advisors said that Justin Ridnour has joined the group as a director, investment sales in Dallas.

Ridnour brings nearly two decades of commercial real estate sales advisory experience to Greystone.

Prior to joining Greystone, he owned Ridnour Partners, which focused primarily on the seniors housing sector, but also included brokerage and construction services.

NEW YORK

RM Capital Management said that David Turner has joined the firm as a managing director.

Turner will focus on investment banking, origination and placement of debt and equity for real estate owner/operators and developers.

Prior to joining RM Capital, he was a managing director with Streamline Realty, focused on originating and structuring bridge loans.

OKLAHOMA

JENKS

Gateway Mortgage Group has appointed Fred Elflein as regional vice president.

In this role, Elflein will be responsible for overseeing Gateway's retail production in Virginia and Maryland.

He has worked in the mortgage industry for nearly 20 years  most recently serving as a regional sales manager for Tidewater Mortgage Services  and has previously worked with Encore Credit Group and Saxon Capital.

VIRGINIA

TYSONS CORNER

First Guaranty Mortgage Corp. has appointed Brian Daily as managing director for its distributed retail lending division.

Daily comes to FGMC with over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, most recently having served with First Allegiance for over five years.

Before that, he held positions at Centex Home Equity/Nationstar Mortgage, Fremont Investment & Loan and Bank of America.

WASHINGTON

BELLEVUE

Axia Home Loans has named Lance Lemoine senior vice president of its new Southeast division.

Lemoine, who brings over 32 years of experience in building national sales teams from scratch, will identify new branch opportunities in the Texas market and target expansion efforts throughout the Southeast region.

Are you a mortgage professional who recently changed jobs? Let us know! Send your announcement and photo (if available) to Glenn McCullom at glenn.mccullom@sourcemedia.com.
(Natural News) The European Unions top court has severely undermined the British governments mass surveillance powers in a new ruling that could rein in police and spy agency investigations.

In a judgment handed down in Luxembourg on Wednesday, the European Court of Justice declared that the general and indiscriminate retention of data about peoples communications and locations was inconsistent with privacy rights. The court stated that the highly invasive bulk storage of private data exceeds the limits of what is strictly necessary and cannot be considered to be justified, within a democratic society.

(Article by Ryan Gallagher, republished from TheIntercept.com)

Camilla Graham Wood, legal officer with the London-based group Privacy International, hailed the ruling as a victory for civil liberties advocates. Todays judgment is a major blow against mass surveillance and an important day for privacy, she said. It makes clear that blanket and indiscriminate retention of our digital histories  who we interact with, when and how and where  can be a very intrusive form of surveillance that needs strict safeguards against abuse and mission creep.

The European courts panel of 15 judges acknowledged in their ruling that modern investigative techniques were necessary to combat organized crime and terrorism, but said that this cannot justify the general and indiscriminate retention of all traffic and location data. Instead, the judges stated, it is acceptable for governments to engage in the targeted retention of data in cases involving serious crime, permitting that persons affected by any surveillance are notified after investigations are completed, and that access to the data is overseen by a judicial authority or an independent administrative authority.

The case was originally brought in December 2014 by two British members of parliament, who challenged the legality of the U.K. governments Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act, which forced telecommunications companies to store records on their customers communication for 12 months. That law has since been replaced by the Investigatory Powers Act, which was recently approved by the British parliament and is expected soon to come into force.

Though the U.K. voted to leave the European Union earlier this year, Wednesdays decision remains  at least in the short term  highly significant, and will prove to be a severe headache for British government officials. The ruling will now be forwarded to the U.K.s Court of Appeal, where judges there will consider how to apply it in the context of national law. It may result in the government being forced to make changes to controversial sections of the Investigatory Powers Act, which enable police and spy agencies to access vast amounts of data on peoples internet browsing, instant messages, emails, phone calls, and social media conversations.

Read more at: TheIntercept.com
(Natural News) Many health conscious consumers rarely, if ever, microwave their food anymore, but when they do, they probably do not realize that theyre not just destroying the nutritional value of the food, but the nuker is negatively impacting their hearts.

The typical microwave frequency radiation coming from nukers seen in the average American kitchen is more than enough to screw with your heart rate and your heart rate variability. In fact, just 2.4 GHz, the average frequency produced by microwave ovens (and WiFi routers, by the way) can cause immediate and drastic changes to the human heart.

According to Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University, people exposed to radiation for just three minutes at 2.4-GHz can experience severe reactions in heart rate changes and altered heart rate variations, indicating an alarm response to stress, also called electrohypersensitivity (EHS) or rapid aging syndrome. This has been studied for decades. The response includes heart palpitations, clumping of red blood cells and fluctuations of the parasympathetic nervous system typical of a fight-or-flight response.

Dr. Havas also revealed that microwave ovens can lead to blood sugar spikes connected with diabetes. This usually happens when people stand within three feet of the oven while its running, like when anxious eaters park themselves directly in front of the microwave oven while waiting for those last few seconds to finish nuking their food or beverage.

Unequivocal evidence that microwave frequency radiation affects human heart

For years, bogus research and microwave oven fanatics have claimed that microwave ovens do not produce any immediate biological effects because the ordinary household level is far below federal guidelines. Most of those studies were conducted prior to the new millennium, but now environmental radiation is coming at us from multiple sources, including electromagnetic devices, laptops, WiFi and mobile phones.

Dr. Havas documented his peer-reviewed study and stated the following:

This is the first study that documents immediate and dramatic changes in both heart rate and heart rate variability caused by an approved device that generates microwaves at levels well below (0.3 percent) federal guidelines in both Canada and the United States.

Microwave sickness or the microwave effect dates back to WWII

Microwave ovens are a form of electromagnetic radiation dating back to radar used during WWII. Microwave ovens emit radiation from high and low energy, and have a wavelength around 5 inches. These waves are generated by a magnetron (derived from magnet and electron), the same function that enabled airborne radar used during the second world war; thats why microwave ovens were first called radar ranges. Nukers emit at 2,450 megaHertz (MHz), equivalent to 2.4 gigaHertz (GHz), causing dielectric heating, meaning the water molecules in the food vibrate violently at extremely high frequencies (millions of times per second), creating molecular friction, destroying nutrients and affecting the heart rate and variability of any person that stands near the oven. This is why its extremely dangerous to cook meat, because the blood is affected also, like the molecules in the water in food. Structures of those molecules are ripped apart and forcefully deformed. Some people call it electric whiplash.

In fact, microwaves are used in the field of gene altering to weaken cell membranes and to break cells apart. Those damaged cells in humans become targets for viruses, also known as the microwave effect or microwave sickness. Human tissues can experience the same violent deformations as your food thats nuked.

Do you use a microwave oven often and also happen to experience unexplained headaches, nervousness, anxiety, dizziness, vertigo, impaired cognition, depression, nausea after eating, vision problems, tooth and jaw aching, or extreme and constant thirst? These are the geno-toxic effects of damaging your tissues and interfering with normal heart and brain activity.

The Nazis invented the first microwave cooking device

The Nazis created a device to provide mobile food support for their troops when they invaded the Soviet Union. It was all experimental. Then the Russians and the U.S. researched the safety of these devices after the war. The Russians later banned the ovens when they figured out how dangerous they were, but not the USA! The FDA approves nearly everything that makes Americans sick, because Big Pharma is there to rescue us with expensive drugs, heart surgery, pacemakers and chemotherapy. Go figure.

Highly-cited Swiss clinical study by Hans Hertel reveals destructive effects of microwave ovens on human blood

One of the first food scientists to study the effects of microwaves on the blood and physiology of human beings was Dr. Hans Ulrich Hertel, who along with his biochemistry expert partners, concluded that microwaves resulted in negative health effects, including increased cholesterol levels, decreased numbers of red blood cells, decreased hemoglobin levels (indicating possible anemia) and decreased numbers of leukocytes (white blood cells).

Bottom line? Theres much more to worry about than just the loss of nutrition when nuking your food. You may also be nuking your blood, damaging your brain and disturbing your heart rate. Easy solution? Use your toaster oven and wait the extra couple of minutes for your food to heat. Its worth your health and sanity.

Sources for this article include:

YogaUOnline.com

ABC.net.au[PDF]

MagdaHavas.com

MagdaHavas.com

NaturalNews.com

Health-Science.com

UndergroundHealthReporter.com
Thursday, December 22, 2016 by: Daniel Barker Tags: kangaroo mother care , pediatrics , research This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) New research has shown that small and premature babies who receive what is called kangaroo mother care tend to live longer and experience fewer social problems as they mature compared to those kept in an incubator.

Kangaroo-style mothering involves breastfeeding and holding an infant upright against the mothers bare skin, an approach first documented in Colombia.

From The Guardian:

The kangaroo method involves the baby nestling in a kangaroo position on the caregivers chest as soon as possible after birth, accompanied by exclusive breastfeeding. Parent and child leave the hospital together as soon as possible after birth, after which there is rigorous monitoring of baby and mother for one year after the infants original due date (rather than the actual birth date).

A newly released follow-up study was conducted by the same team of experts who first showed that the kangaroo method is safe.

The study, published December 12 in the journal Pediatrics, involved 441 of 716 Colombian children born prematurely between 1993 and 1996 who were randomly assigned either the kangaroo method or standard handling involving the use of an incubator.

Two decades later, benefits of kangaroo mother care still evident in subjects of study

Twenty years later, the researchers found that of the 441 subjects from the original study they were able to track down and re-enroll in the new phase of the research, the children who received kangaroo mother care (KMC) fared much better in the long run in terms of longevity, income and social integration.

From the report:

The effects of KMC at 1 year on IQ and home environment were still present 20 years later in the most fragile individuals, and KMC parents were more protective and nurturing. 

At 20 years, the young ex-kangaroo mother care participants, especially in the poorest families, had less aggressive drive and were less impulsive and hyperactive. They exhibited less antisocial behavior, which might be associated with separation from the mother at birth.

The team suggested that practicing kangaroo mother care may encourage under-educated mothers to be more sensitive to a childs needs, helping to make their situation more equivalent to that of mothers in more favorable environments.

In fact, the results of the study and the overall success of kangaroo mother care over the past couple of decades have led experts to the conclusion that the method can be used in all settings, not just in communities where standard pediatric care may be scarce or unavailable.

Even those living in developed nations who have access to modern healthcare may benefit from kangaroo mother care. Some parents who may be afraid that their prematurely-born children might be safer in an incubator could find the results of the study to be reassuring.

Kangaroo mother care more than an alternative to incubator care

Pediatrics experts who support the concept say that kangaroo mother care can be considered more than an alternative to standard incubator care.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 20 million low birth weight babies are born every year across the globe, and the United States has one of the highest premature and low-weight birth rates in the world.

High-tech care for premature and low-weight babies is useful in many cases, but the WHO recommends utilizing both modern healthcare technology and the simpler, low-tech approach  and in poorer areas often only the latter.

The obvious conclusion that can be drawn from this research is something most of us already know: Theres no substitute for a mothers love, and that love can only truly be expressed and received through intimate skin-to-skin contact and direct nurturing.

This type of close contact is beneficial not only for the child, but for the mother as well, as the study has indicated. High-tech medical care has its place, but it can never replace the crucial developmental stimuli that only a loving mother can provide.

Sources:

NBCNews.com

TheGuardian.com

Pediatrics.AAPPublications.org[PDF]
(Natural News) Theres an insidious law for us to ponder, courtesy of Barack Obama. An online radio host pointed out back in 2013 that the law would grant the federal government huge power to saturate Americans with domestic propaganda at the taxpayers expense. This law allows the federal government to have sweeping power to push television, radio, newspaper and social-media propaganda onto the U.S. public, warned Michael Evans, host of Americas Voice Now. He said that the law would remove protection for Americans from the ideologies of Obamas administration. The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 was specifically what Evans was referring to; it was inserted into the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.

A so-called anti-propaganda law formerly prevented the U.S. governments broadcasting arm from reaching American viewers. On July 2, 2013, the implementation of the new reform marked an end to shielding Americans from government delivered programming. The government now had the green light to unleash thousands of hours of weekly government funded radio and television programming for domestic consumption.

The U.S. government previously broadcast news and opinions to foreign countries through outlets like Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. The new law allowed them to expand their broadcasting business to influence citizens within the U.S. America had been protected from this over the years, but all good things pre-Obama had to come to an end, right?

The types of information that we promulgate overseas to foreigners is disinformation. It is meant to confuse, distract, redirect. It is not meant to be an informative source of news, Evans explained. Dont misunderstand what Im saying. There is already, for all intents and purposes, an organization in the United States that does this. Its called MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News. They are an arm of propaganda. But if you think things were bad before with those groups, wait till you see whats gonna come out of them now. Theyll be reporting government misinformation as factual news stories, and a gullible American public will swallow it hook, line and sinker.

Obama will also sign a bill to make alternative media illegal

A new anti-Russian propaganda bill is now also to be signed into law. This bill will make it illegal to run an alternative media website in the United states. The purpose of the bill is to counteract measures by Russia to exert covert influence. It is also known as the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.

The definition of Russian influence includes references to so-called fake news websites, or any site deemed to be anti-establishment. If the bill makes it through the Senate, the internet will never be the same again.

Sources:

WND.com

YourNewsWire.com
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that Clostridium perfringens, one of the most common foodborne bacteria in the United States, is responsible for the recent food contamination that killed three people and sent nearly two dozen other to hospitals.

According to the report from Washington Post, the victims attended a Thanksgiving dinner at the Americans Legion Hall in the San Francisco suburb of Antioch in California. The foods served during the event came from different sources. Some were prepared and brought from homes, while others were prepared at the Legion Hall. Stores and restaurants also provided some of the foods eaten by the victims.

"Clostridium perfringens is one of the most common foodborne illnesses in the U.S," said Dr. Louise McNitt, deputy health officer for Contra Costa Health Services, in a report from KTVU. "It can be found in the human intestine without hurting us, but eating food containing large amounts of this bacteria can cause illness and in some cases death."

CDC still wasn't able to pinpoint the main source of the contamination. However, stool samples taken from the affected people confirmed the presence of Clostridium perfringens. Other foodborne bacteria were taken out of the picture after the samples tested negative for 21 foodborne illness, including e.coli and salmonella.

After conducting extensive interviews, CDC investigators found that most of the affected people ate turkey and mashed potatoes. Additionally, the patients also ate around the same time. The cooked turkey in question was brought in the event after being prepared in a private home.

So far, about 25 people who went to the event were sickened by Clostridium perfringens. Sadly, three patients died due to the foodborne illness.

Clostridium perfringens is commonly found in meat and poultry. The bacteria can be killed with thorough cooking. However, small amounts left in the utensils could multiply at a fast rate and cross contaminate foods.

The symptom of Clostridium perfringens infection may vary from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms of this foodborne illness include stomach cramping and diarrhea that could last for 6 to 12 hours.


The idea of the self, or self-awareness and the idea to understand and explain oneself, is the one big divide between AI and human intelligence. While we as humans have a lot of information to still understand, we can offer up a reasoning for ourselves in a lot of cases.



However, AI algorithms are usually only programmed to provide answers based on data we've learned. However, we have no idea how they arrived at their conclusion, and this limits our ability to improve AI. Interestingly, something is about to change that.



QZ explained that in the most part, the way AI functions could be explained with a simple procedure. The way AI identifies people, for example, has a lot of factors. There are data points or pictures where AI finds patterns (individuals) from. They then draw a line (specific person) that connects everything.



However, these "lines" and "data" tend to be too complex that we have no idea where the line begins and ends.



New research from the University of California, Berkeley and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics may have just begun working on an AI algorithm that analyzes these kinds of data in two ways.



The first is to answer the original question, and the other that identifies the data used to answer the question. This means not only are we getting answers, we can finally figure out how they do it.



The algorithm can only so far recognize human actions in pictures. This is according to the unreviewed paper posted on ArXiv. It's trained on two sets of information -- what is happening and why.



The first uses pictures of human activities with descriptions and explanations of the task. The second set has images with three associated questions and a lot of answers per question.



By the time the neural network is able to explain why a certain picture is showing something, it points towards the data used to explain that conclusion.The researchers call this a "pointing and justification' system, wherein it points to the data used and explains the rationale behind it.



This is needed because as much as algorithms of AI are popular in face recognition and automatic photo tagging, a lot of them tend to be hard to understand, even by their own programmers.



The problem perhaps lies in the core of machine learning itself, because when the algorithm learns, it takes data and rearranges it itself that only it can understand the process behind it.



Boston University professor of computer science Kate Saenko explained that "we didn't design them in the conventional sense. We only designed the way they think, but the rest is up to them."



While the Berkeley research will not completely "fix" the problem, it does point toward a future where we can ask machines to explain their decisions and arrive at clear answers.
People have a knack to read up on extinction events, after all not much is known about the event that killed off the dinosaurs a few million years ago.



With the Yellowstone Caldera being one of the deadliest supervolcanoes in existence, we ought to be prepared. But we may be preparing for the wrong supervolcano.



According to Science Alert, supervolcanoes are in reality extensive fields of volcanic activity. These are formed when a volcano ejects too much magma from its center that it collapses in itself, leaving a large crater and a landscape with geysers, hydrothermal activity, and sulphuric acid.



Campi Flegrei -- or burning fields, in Italian -- is another one of these areas in Naples, Italy. It has 24 craters and large volcanic edifices, mostly under the Mediterranean Sea. This ancient "caldera" or cauldron-like depression formed 39,000 years ago as part of the biggest eruption Europe has seen in 200,000 years.



The place has had only two major eruptions, one 35,000 years ago and 12,000 years ago, and a smaller one in 1538.



Although of course "smaller" is relative, given it lasted for eight days straight and formed a new mountain, Monte Nuovo.



However, it's the entire site that is the concern. The eruption 200,000 years ago is thought to have been so cataclysmic, it triggered "volcanic winter," which ultimately led the Neanderthals to be extinct.



According to Nature, a team of volcanologist Giovanni Chiodini from the Italian National Institute of Geophysics in Rome reports that Campi Flegrei appears to be approaching a critical level - as in a dangerous pressure point that can trigger eruption.



According to the Washington Post, this is called the critical degassing pressure, and could drive volcanic unrest towards a critical state by releasing jets of super-hot gas into the atmosphere.



This can cause the heating of hydrothermal fluids and rocks and even cause rock failure and an eruption.



The study added that the Campi Flegrei has been experiencing an "uplift," suggesting the volatile gases beneath are rising to the surface at an accelerating rate.



Two other active volcanoes - Rabaul i nPapua New Guinea and Sierra Negra in the Galapagos - have showed acceleration in ground deformation before eruption with a pattern similar to Campi Flegrei.



So is this a cause of alarm? Not yet, because it's pretty much impossible to predict what the volcano can do at this point - if it will do anything at all.
The California Academy of Sciences has described 133 new plant and animal species, including one bee fly, 43 ants, 36 beetles, one sand wasp, four spiders, six plants, 23 fishes, one eel, one shark, seven nudibranchs, five fossil urchins (and one fossil sand dollar), one coral, one skate, and one African lizard. Over a dozen Academy scientists and international collaborators collaborated on the endeavor that would aid the environmental community's conservation efforts.

"Biodiversity scientists estimate that we have discovered less than 10% of the species on our planet," shared Dr. Shannon Bennett, Academy Chief of Science. "Academy scientists tirelessly explore the lesser-known regions of Earth, not only to discover new species, but also to uncover the importance of these species to the health of our natural systems. Each of these species, known and as-yet-unknown, is a wonder unto itself but may also hold the key to ground-breaking innovations in science, technology, or society. Species live together in rich networks that thrive on complexity whether we can see it or not. Even the tiniest organism," she added, "can be beautiful and important."

The Grammatonotus brianne, a pink-and-yellow species of groppo, was discovered 487 feet from the ocean's surface. The eye-popping neon groppo was found by deep-diving Academy ichthyologist Dr. Luiz Rocha and Bishop Museum research associate Brian Greene in the Philippine Verde Island Passage, popularly known as the "center of the center" of Earth's marine biodiversity.

In the mountains of southwestern China and rainforests of Madagascar, Academy emeritus curator of entomology Dr. Dave Kavanaugh had gone on over a dozen combined expeditions to compile information on 36 new species of beetles. Ground beetles are sturdy predators that could thrive in extreme conditions and added a considerable number to 2016's list of new species.

Octocoral expert and Academy curator of invertebrate zoology Gary Williams discovered a single, whip-like stalk of a snow-white coral that fed on microscopic plankton floating through the water column. The new species, Swiftia farallonesica, made a solitary contrast to hard coral relatives that were grouped together near the ocean's surface.

"Discovery is always an exciting thing," said Williams. "It's crucial to continue exploring the unknown so we can properly manage and protect these priceless marine ecosystems in our own backyard."
A volcanic area in Naples, Italy is starting to show signs of reawakening.

A study published recently in the journal Nature Communications, revealed that gases at the Campi Flegrei volcanic area may have already reached a pressure level, which means it may erupt at any time soon.



Science Alert said that Campi Flegrei, is a caldera formed 39,000 years ago, as part of the biggest eruption Europe has seen in the past 200,000 years. Since its formation, it has only erupted three times. One of the most notorious eruption is the one that occurred 200,000 years ago.



A study published in 2010 revealed that they have found evidence suggesting that the aforementioned eruption, which spewed almost 1 trillion gallons of molten rock was so destructive that it has wiped out Neanderthals.



IB Times reported that in 2009, the caldera gained the attention of people again after scientists suggested hydrothermal activity at the site could signal a forthcoming eruption.



Now, scientists at Italian National Institute of Geophysics in Rome show that based on physical measurements and computer modelling, Campi Flegrei is already at the critical degassing pressure (CDP) because of the accumulation and movement of molten magma beneath the Campi Flegrei.

CDP is a vital data point in understanding the likelihood of an eruption.

Despite these observations, the scientists said that the exact time when the Campi Flegrei will spew hot magmatic gasses could not be predicted.

"In general, unfortunately, volcanology is not a precise science," lead author Giovanni Chiodini, a volcanologist at the National Institute of Geophysics in Rome. wrote in an email to Chicago Tribune. "We have many uncertainties and long-term previsions are at the moment not possible! For example, the process that we describe could evolve in both directions: toward pre-eruptive conditions or to the finish of the volcanic unrest."



National Geographic notes that Italy's government has already raised the volcano's threat level from green to yellow, or from quiet to require scientific monitoring. An eruption, if ever to happen, would be devastating to the 500,000 people living in and around it.
Actress Carrie Fisher suffered a heart attack on a Los Angeles-bound flight Friday, law enforcement officials confirmed to NBC News.

Fisher was in full cardiac arrest on the plane and rushed to a local hospital. She was reported to be in stable condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center several hours later.

Her brother, Todd Fisher, told The Associated Press that she was "out of emergency" and stabilized. He said he could not discuss any other details about what happened.

Passengers were administering CPR on the flight heading from London to Los Angeles International Airport, according to TMZ.

A source told NBC that her condition was "not good."

United Airlines released a statement about reports of an "unresponsive" passenger on one of their flights, but did not reference Fisher in its comments.

"Medical personnel met United flight 935 from London to Los Angeles upon arrival today after the crew reported that a passenger was unresponsive. Our thoughts are with our customer at this time, and any requests for additional information should be directed to local authorities," the statement read.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said paramedics "were standing by for the plane's arrival, provided Advanced Life Support and aggressively treated and transported the patient to a local hospital."

A passenger on board the flight told NBC4 the crew made an announcement 20 minutes before the flight landed to ask if there were any nurses or doctors on board.

Fisher is best known for her role as Princess Leia from "Star Wars."

Mark Hamill, Fisher's co-star in the "Star Wars" movies, tweeted that he is "sending all our love" to Fisher.

as if 2016 couldn't get any worse... sending all our love to @carrieffisher  Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 23, 2016

Actor Peter Mayhew, the man behind the mask of Chewbacca, asked fans in a tweet to pray for "everyone's favorite princess right now."

Fisher recently finished filming "Star Wars: Episode VIII," which is the second of three new films in the "Star Wars" saga, noted NBC News.

NBC News Investigations' Andrew Blankstein and NBC4's Marin Austin and Jessica Rice contributed to this report.
Steven Schuyler lives his life shackled to a tray of medications. Diagnosed with HIV 25 years ago, Schuyler, now 52, concentrates on being healthy and staying alive.

So when he started noticing AC Transit buses driving unsafely in his downtown Berkeley neighborhood, he began making reports to the agency. Frustrated that nothing seemed to change, he submitted dozens of complaints in the past decade about the hazardous operation of public transit buses, including accusations of red-light running.

My life is at risk enough, he said. I dont need any help to hasten my death or get injured by a bus driver thats being careless about how they are driving. Thats why this is important.

Though its unclear if red-light running has resulted in a significant accident at AC Transit, members of the public fear it could.

NBC Bay Area obtained the agencys complaint database and found at least 230 complaints of buses running red lights and stop signs since 2014. Some people accuse the agency of routine violations. Others report instances of red-light running near schools.

Most of the complaints are centered in the East Bay, with the majority of people complaining about violations in Oakland and Berkeley. Schuyler pointed to an especially problematic intersection at Shattuck Avenue and Kittredge Street near his apartment in Berkeley.

Transit agency boss, Michael Hursh rejects claims that AC Transit has a problem involving drivers who run red lights. Yet, after reviewing video NBC Bay Area captured at the intersection near Schuylers home, including a red light violation, Hursh said any problems would be investigated and fixed.

Paul Herbert, a transportation safety consultant with more than two decades of experience evaluating bus crash cases, said what he witnessed at Shattuck and Kittredge sets up horrible scenarios for accidents to occur. The intersection is a notoriously busy one, made even busier by the closure of a nearby bus stop in August.

Herbert, owner of the Western Motor Carrier Safety Institute in Quincy, Calif. reviewed NBC Bay Areas video. He spotted an obvious red light violation, where a bus entered on a red light after waiting for oncoming traffic to turn left.

He also saw buses blocking crosswalks and double-parking.

Its a huge hazard for pedestrians that may be coming out in front of the bus or behind the bus, he said. Its exposure to accidents.

He noticed at least two buses speeding up on yellow lights. Herbert said instead, buses should be slowing down when they approach an intersection to anticipate when a light will turn red.

Bus drivers, as they are well back from an intersection, should be paying attention to traffic signals, he said.

That doesnt always happen. NBC Bay Area found more than a dozen red-light camera citations issued to AC Transit bus drivers since 2011. Hursh doesnt find that number alarming, considering the agency operates 575 buses with nearly 180,000 daily riders.

But with Bay Area cities continuing to dump their red light camera programs, members of the public argue red light camera tickets may not provide the best indication of problems. Some complainants begged AC Transit to take their reports seriously and urged supervisors to retrain drivers who jeopardize public safety.

In March, a caller complained that an AC Transit bus ran a red light next to Thornton Middle School in Fremont, almost hitting children walking inside the crosswalk.

Hursh said AC Transit investigates each complaint and reviews onboard camera footage of alleged violations, when possible. He also said the agency retrains and disciplines drivers who break traffic laws. AC Transit employs 49 field supervisors, who cover the 364 square mile service area, to monitor the driving habits of bus operators.

Though Hursh hasnt witnessed chronic red light running in the 15 months since his appointment as general manager, he said the number of complaints uncovered by NBC Bay Area is too high.

If that number is in fact true, and if the number doesnt dramatically drop, then we are not delivering what the taxpayers are paying for, Hursh said.

In the past year, Hursh said he reorganized the agencys safety department by hiring a safety manager and an executive director of safety, security and training who reports directly to him.

Theres a direct line to the general managers office so if theres a concern in the organization, I get word about it, he said.

Hursh intends to be a hands-on boss. After the interview with NBC Bay Area, he met with Schuyler to discuss the safety concerns about buses in his neighborhood.

The general manager also acknowledged the log-jam of people and buses at the stop on Shattuck Avenue and Kittredge Street. The beautification of downtown Berkeley BART closed the bus stop right in front of the station.

In August, AC Transit and the City of Berkeley created a temporary bus stop one block north of BART on Shattuck and Center Street. But AC Transit and city transportation staff admitted passengers may not have been aware of the new bus stop, which could have contributed to increased pedestrian traffic near Shattuck and Kittredge.

NBC Bay Area

Farid Javandel, Berkeleys Transportation Manager, said transit agency staff contacted him last month after NBC Bay Area brought Shuylers concerns to Hursh. More signs have been posted at the intersection of Shattuck and Kittredge to alert passengers and drivers of construction in the area.

I appreciate that you brought it to our attention, Hursh said. I would rather we found it on our own, but regardless of how we find out about it, if it happens its going to be investigated, were going to respond to it, and were going to make sure its fixed.

If you have a tip for the Investigative Unit email theunit@nbcbayarea.com or call 888-996-TIPS. Follow Liz Wagner on Facebook and Twitter.
Fire and hazmat crews in Berkeley responded to an ammonia release inside a lab in Berkeley on Thursday, according to the Berkeley Fire Department.

Fire officials confirmed about 4:45 p.m. that there was an ammonia release inside Bayer Lab at Parker and Seventh streets. The leak was isolated to the building's interior, and there was no immediate evacuation or shelter-in-place order, Deputy Fire Chief Donna McCracken said.

The leak was contained and readings were back to zero by about 6:30 p.m., fire officials said.

All Bayer employees were accounted for, and no injuries or exposures were reported, McCracken said.

The Berkeley Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team worked with the Bayer Emergency Response Team to mitigate the incident, McCracken said.
An aging hospital building on Angel Island, where a million immigrants were detained between 1910 and 1940, is getting a new life, after nearly reaching a state just short of total disrepair.

The hospital is a survivor of the era when the island served as a detention center for immigrants entering the U.S. from some 80 countries including Japan, China and Germany. But while the islands old barracks have since been restored and used as an interpretive center hosting thousands of visitors, the hospital sat slowly decaying and listing toward ruin.

This building was a beautiful ruin before we were able to save it, said Katherine Toy, director of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. This building was very close to being lost forever.

Toys group worked with California State Parks to raise the funds needed to restore the hospital, which over the years has consumed about $40 million. The restoration work is bringing the building back to its original condition at a time when it housed everything from deaths to births.

Toy recently walked through the building where rooms ranged from a state of raw wood slats to sleekly plastered and painted rooms in an austere white harkening back to its days as a medical facility.

The work is also restoring a pair of staircases that once served as segregated entrances for Asians and non-Asians." Toy said the restoration work uncovered one of the staircases that had since been boarded up. She said segregated entrances were only used for a couple years before the practice ended.

Angel Island really represented a gate-keeping experience for immigration, Toy said. It was built to keep people out of the country really.

The buildings architecture reflected a period of medical practice occasionally based on some dodgy theories. Toy pointed to the ceiling of a patients room where the ceilings corners were rounded off. The thinking of the time was that germs would get trapped in cornered ceiling  hence the curves.

A surgery room had tiled floors and a crescent shape with windows that faced out to the bay. The buildings old kitchen is being reimagined as a catering kitchen for visitors and events. A vast room which once housed patients will become a conference room. A newly installed elevator is one of the few obvious nods to the modern world which evolved beyond the island's shores.

A room where windows open to sweeping views of the bay will become a reflection room where visitors can look up their genealogy on computer work stations, or simply sit and ponder the islands experience and that of thousands of immigrants whose dreams of coming to the U.S. first landed them in the isolated station.

"Youre filled with these ideas," said State Park Ranger Ben Fenkell who has lived on the island for years, "youve come over on these hopes and dreams and the immigration station is your first experience."

But Toy hopes the hospital will go beyond the experience of a stunning nature-laden island  or even just the history of the station. She hopes a visit to the hospital will touch-off a conversation about the immigration experience, a subject that has raged during the recent presidential election.

We as a country have always had, I think kind of a tension in our relationship to immigrants and ourselves as an immigrant nation, Toy said. That tension continues today.

The hospital is scheduled to open in early 2018. Once open it may hold the distinction as the only hospital people will look forward to visiting.
As the attention was focused on a gay couple and their child who got kicked off a JetBlue flight Thursday after a tense monologue was directed at Ivanka Trump, one passenger said the soon-to-be First Daughter played it pretty cool.

"I heard her say to the JetBlue personnel, 'I don't want to make this a thing,'" Marc Scheff, a passenger on the flight told a bank of reporters when the plane landed at San Francisco International Airport later that day.

Scheff, an artist from Brooklyn, had been sitting one seat ahead of Trump with his young son on the flight. While no Donald Trump fan himself, Scheff said he felt Ivanka Trump handled the situation "calmly and with class."

Ivanka Trump and her "clan of about 20," Scheff described, quickly scurried off to a private plane at SFO to make it from John F. Kennedy airport to a holiday vacation. NBC Bay Area's cameras captured that transfer.

But before the Trump's departure, Scheff detailed what he saw happening just 15 inches behind him on the plane while in New York. A man, whom the New York Daily News described as Brooklyn attorney Dan Goldstein, had gone up to Ivanka Trump, wearing a casual gray sweatshirt, while "shaking and obviously agitated," Scheff said.

"But he wasn't yelling," Scheff told the reporters. "He said, 'They've ruined our country and now they've ruined our flight. But he didn't directly speak to her." From his vantage point, Scheff said he didn't feel the man was accosting Ivanka Trump. But the boarding was delayed to wait for the Trump family to get in their seats. It's still unclear why the Trumps were flying the low-cost airline, and in coach no-less.

Scheff added that if he was JetBlue security, "I wouldn't have taken a chance, either."

Efforts to reach Goldstein and his husband, CUNY Hunter College professor Matthew Lasner, were unsuccessful.

Lasner, who won a 2013 prize for his book, "High Life: Condo Living in The Suburban Century," tweeted before the flight took off that his husband went to "harass" Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.

Lasner subsequently deleted his tweets and his Twitter account, but screengrabs of the tweets were passed around on social media. Lasner immediately became a target of hateful sentiment from many on the right, who called him a "liberal coward" and a "douche bag." People found his photo, phone number and school email and publicized it widely.

Former CNN host, Piers Morgan, tweeted: "Harassing a mother with her two young children. Shame on you & your husband @mattlasner, you pathetic people."

JetBlue put Lasner, his husband and their son another flight.

JetBlue said in a statement that the "decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight."

A representative for Ivanka Trump declined to comment on the exchange.

As for his feelings, Scheff made it clear he is not in favor of Trump tweeting about expanding nuclear arsenal or his attitude toward women. Still, Scheff wrote that he thinks it's also not right to stoke the same fear the president-elect has among many minorities in this country.

"No, you don't get to stay on the plane if you choose to take a stand and harass (people)," Scheff wrote. "I would have ejected him, too."
Renters in Mountain View were outraged Thursday after learning a judge approved a temporary restraining order against Measure V, the rent control initiative approved by voters in the South Bay city.

The restraining order, requested by the California Apartment Association, blocks the measure that was set to take effect Friday. That means thousands of people essentially will be paying more rent next month than they expected. And they're not happy about it.

"People are being displaced on a regular basis," said Daniel DeBolt of the Mountain View Tenants Association. "Rent increases are insane."

The tennants association protested the restraining order Thursday evening with a march through the streets of Mountain View.

The city manager's office released a statement Thursday, confirming the city did not contest the order, though it might in the future.

"Pretty outrageous," DeBolt said. "It feels like a betrayal. The City Council's been fighting us for over a year on rent control."

Tenants are saving rent receipts and consenting with an attorney.

"We believe strongly in the constitutionality of every part of Measure V, and we're going to fight to defend it as long as it takes," said Juliet Brodie, lawyer for tenants. "It's very frustrating that people can just come in with a lawsuit and halt the will of the voters."

For now, and over the next two months until it's addressed in court again, people in Mountain View who qualify for rent control won't get it.
The Tunisian man suspected in a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan during a routine patrol, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

Italian police said Anis Amri traveled from Germany through France and into Italy after the attack, at least some of it by train. French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, despite increased surveillance on its trains after both recent French attacks and the Berlin massacre.

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers. But he also called for greater cross-border police cooperation, suggesting dismay that Amri was able to easily move through Europe's open borders despite being Europe's No. 1 fugitive.

Amri was identified with the help of fingerprints supplied by Germany.

"The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack," said Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack outside Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in which a truck plowed into a crowd of shoppers, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others. It also claimed the Milan shooting.

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert since the attack, with increased surveillance and police patrols. Italian officials stressed that the young officers who stopped Amri didn't suspect he was the Berlin attacker, but rather grew suspicious because he was a North African man, alone outside a deserted train station at 3 a.m.

Amri, 24, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped by two officers during a routine patrol in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood of Milan early Friday. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identification and was killed in an ensuing shootout.

One of the officers, Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder and underwent surgery for a superficial wound and was in good condition. Movio's 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

Amri's death doesn't reduce the terrorist threat to Germany, the country's top security official said.

The threat "remains high" and security won't be scaled down, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said.

He said the two Milan police officers "did excellent work and acted with great bravery."

"I'm very relieved that this attacker poses no risk anymore," he said.

Amri passed through France before arriving by train at Milan's central station where video surveillance showed him at around 1 a.m. Friday, Milan police chief Antonio de Iesu said. A train ticket indicates that he travelled from Chambery, France through Turin and into Milan, an Italian anti-terrorism official said.

De Iesu declined to provide further information, citing the ongoing investigation.

Germany's chief federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, said his office is in contact with Italian authorities to establish what route Amri took.

A Milan anti-terrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation, said Amri made his way to the piazza outside the Sesto San Giovanni train station in a suburb of Milan, which is 7.5 kilometers (nearly 5 miles) from the main train station.

Two police officers became suspicious because it was 3 a.m., the station was closed and Amri was alone. He had no ID, no phone and only a pocket knife on him, as well as the loaded 22-caliber pistol.

"He was a ghost," de Iesu said, adding that he was stopped because of basic police work, intensified surveillance "and a little luck."

Authorities are still trying to determine how Amri arrived at the piazza because only a few buses operate at that hour.

"It is now of great significance for us to establish whether the suspect had a network of supporters or helpers in preparing and carrying out the crime, and in fleeing; whether there were accessories or helpers," Frank said.

Prosecutors also want to know whether the gun Amri was carrying in Milan was the same one used to shoot the Polish driver of the truck he had commandeered for the attack, Frank added. The driver was found dead in the vehicle's cab.

The Milan anti-terrorism official said investigators also are working to determine what contacts, if any, Amri had in Milan. There is no evidence he ever passed through Milan during his previous stay in Italy, where he spent time after leaving Tunisia in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

Amri's brother Abdelkader told The Associated Press by telephone that the family wants to find out the "truth about my brother." He hung up when asked about the family's reaction to Amri's death.

The family told a crowd outside their house to leave when news of the police shootout reached the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia, according to neighbor Wiem Khemili. Police stood guard around the impoverished town, where everyone was talking about Amri.

Amri served 3 years in Italy for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other things  but authorities apparently detected no signs that he was becoming radicalized. He was repeatedly transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with prison records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections.

His mother said he went from there to Switzerland and then to Germany last year.

Authorities in Germany deemed him a potential threat long before the Berlin market attack, and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers and Tunisia initially denied that he was a citizen.

Authorities say Amri has used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.
A Massachusetts woman has been charged with attempted arson after a fire at the apartment building where she lives.

A fire broke out at 16 Newall St. in Lynn Thursday night, according to police. Fire officials said three people were taken to a hospital. Lynn Police confirm two of those patients were officers who were treated and released for smoke inhalation.

Police did not have any information about the other patient.

Raynotte Bradford, a tenant at Apartment 55, was arrested and charged with attempted arson.

The fire itself was small, but the smoke required the building to be evacuated. Just before midnight, residents had still not been allowed back in.
The Nov. 8 presidential election was a game changer for 47th Ward Ald. Ameya Pawar.



In the days leading up to the election, Pawar mulled a run for mayor in 2019, but that possibility faded as it became clearer Mayor Rahm Emanuel intended to run for re-election. With the end of Pawars self-imposed two-term limit approaching and his reluctance to run against Emanuel, it was not clear where the alderman was headed next.



When President-elect Donald Trump won the election, Pawar switched gears and began considering a run for another office  governor.



[With Trumps election], you get immigrants versus refugees, urban areas against rural areas. That playbook, I think, in many ways is a repeat of what Gov. Rauner has been doing in Illinois for the last couple of years, Pawar said. Thats not productive.



Pawar has not made a commitment to run yet. He has an 8-month-old daughter with his wife and former chief of staff Charna Epstein, who now works as chief operating officer of the University of Chicagos Urban Education Institute. His decision to run would have to be right for the whole family, hes said.



Still, Pawar appears to be serious about the possibility.



He has been making calls around the state and plans to start traveling outside Chicago after the holidays to talk face-to-face with voters, he said.



He also recently hired Sam Hobert, a former campaign staffer for Pawars 2015 re-election bid, to lead exploratory efforts. After Pawars successful re-election, Hobert, 25, worked for Illinois Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-49th) on her successful re-election campaign.



Pawar first revealed his possible plans to run for governor to Politico, where he said he would want to run a progressive campaign. When asked what that entailed, Pawar outlined four big issues to tackle: public education funding, criminal justice reform, expanded childcare and job creation.



One of the main components of Pawars campaign message is that keeping money in the hands of the wealthy isnt the answer for the state or for the nation, naming both Gov. Rauner and President-elect Trump as his adversaries.



Investing in people in this state requires the very wealthy paying their fair share, Pawar said. We can properly fund schools, we can properly fund social services, but instead of doing that and having that conversation, Gov. Rauner and his three or four very dear friends are basically sprinkling us with the few dollars here and there and telling us if we only had term limits, Illinois would be some sort of paradise. Its an absurd set of politics, and its driving people apart.



While he was still considering a run for mayor, Pawar advocated for implementing a graduated income tax rather than raising property taxes to fund public education in Chicago, an issue that would be much easier for a governor to tackle than a mayor.



Public education remains high on Pawars priority list, but since the election of Trump, hes also been vocal about civil rights.



His Twitter bio reads, If Donald Trump creates a registry for Muslims, then we all register as Muslims. He has also handed out signs that say, Hate has no home here, from his North Side office. Furthermore, Pawar has joined the call to Rauner to make Illinois a sanctuary state, mirroring the efforts in City Council to declare Chicago a sanctuary city in 2012.



Last year following the deadly terror attacks in Paris that left at least 130 people dead, Rauner joined several other GOP governors, including Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, in vowing to temporarily suspend acceptance of Syrian refugees in the state. Pawar says as governor, he would want to establish Illinois as a sanctuary state to protect lawful immigrants, especially in light of Trumps election and his previous promises to crack down on illegal immigrants and Muslims.



These are my constituents  and its sad that were in a place where the federal government is now looking to round people up, Pawar said. If it comes down to it, then yes, you use the power of the state to protect the Illinoisan from the federal government and the president-elect.



If Pawar decides to officially throw his name into the governors race, he will enter as a young democratic alderman who is relatively unknown outside of Chicago. His opponent will have the advantage of incumbency, name recognition and a campaign coffer thats significantly larger than Pawars. Furthermore, Pawar will have to win over a legion of voters outside Chicago who overwhelmingly voted for President-elect Trump.



Nonetheless, Pawar says he knows what he would be up against, and his goal isnt to win by raising more money than Rauner or by changing the minds of those who voted for Trump.



Something about what the president-elect said to them spoke to them, and I want to hear what the Democrats have to do better, Pawar said. My sense is we have to start talking about income inequality and taking action in a meaningful way and stop worshipping wealth, and more importantly start funding education in an equitable way. I think if you go out there and talk to people and respect them and you dont necessarily look at them as a D or an R, but you look at them as a human being with respect, I think theyre willing to listen, and Ill go do that.
NBC5 Chicago has learned a massive team of attorneys and investigators from the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department is, on the eve of Christmas and Hanukkah, working feverishly to complete its probe of the Chicago Police Department.

And they're planning to finish their work before the Obama administration ends and the Trump administration begins.

Sources with a working knowledge of the investigation tell NBC5 that the goal, requiring unprecedented speed by DOJ standards, is to issue a detailed Findings Letter into the pattern and practice of CPD. And to do so whether or not Mayor Rahm Emanuel or his law and police departments have agreed to the terms of a consent decree for corrective action.

The holidays are a good time to bury bad news. People after all have much on their minds as they prepare for family, food, and time away. And so the news this week that Mayor Emanuel had finally stopped fighting the Tribune and the BGAs efforts to access his private emails (where he was in many cases doing government business) may have a shorter news shelf life in a Yuletide season.

Similarly, this weeks Tribune story on the scathing findings of Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson that top brass, including the-soon-to-be-Superintendent Eddie Johnson, had early on viewed dash cam video and signed off on the 2014 police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald as justified would not be a good news story on any day. But, in late December, it will be seen by a smaller audience at a time when people are away from work or home.

The Laquan McDonald video release, you may remember, was also fought by Mayor Emanuel and his Law Department. It was right before Thanksgiving a year ago that reporters and the public were finally allowed to view it once the city suddenly decided to no longer fight a court order.

And it was New Years Eve, another holiday almost a year ago, that the mayors office released a huge data dump of emails related to his offices handling of the McDonald case after fighting to keep them sealed.

Holiday or not, the information keeps coming thanks to the Freedom of Information Act; reporters; watchdogs in and out of government; the courts; and outraged communities awash in Chicagos still exploding gun violence.

When Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced in December of 2015 that the U.S. Department of Justice was opening a Pattern or Practice Investigation Into the Chicago Police Department, the excessive use of force was a foremost concern. But with each passing week, amid endless promises by Chicago officials of government transparency but with evidence to the contrary, DOJ investigators have much to consider about patterns and practices. And about public servants who, too often, treat the publics information as if it was their own.

Sources tell NBC5 News that the DOJ Civil Rights team is working around the clock. And that Mayor Emanuel and his team should expect that detailed Findings Letter before Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
A homeless shelter on Chicago's North Side set to close just before the holidays due to funding issues will now stay open through the winter.

The shelter was on the brink of closing for good two days before Christmas, with advocates blaming the state's lingering budget impasse for funding issues.

Richard Ducatenzeiler, the shelter's executive director, noted that the decision to close down was made in September after it became clear that funding provided by the state of Illinois through the city of Chicago wouldn't be allocated. In the past few years, the shelter has had a deficit of roughly $100,000 per year.

"We did approach the city in June or July asking for additional funding, which they came back and told us that they did not have even one more dollar to commit in order to continue to operate this program," Ducatenzeiler told Ward Room.

"It's not that the funding actually ran out, it's just that we did not have the sufficient level of funding that we needed to operate the program," he added.

But city officials now say they will match a $100,000 private donation to keep the facility open.

The news comes after community activist Andrew Holmes set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the financially-struggling shelter. The campaign has since raised nearly $10,000.

"This is a victory for us," said activist Patricia Snowden. "We protested and kept fighting and fighting."

For months, community activists have been pressing city officials to find funding to keep the facility open.

"It was thanks to people rising up and demanding that this shelter stay open, that's how we got to this happy day," said activist Andrew Thayer.

The men's shelter will now stay open through the winter, a victory that had supporters celebrating Friday, though they note the battle is far from over.

Many note that more needs to be done to help the homeless living out the so-called "tent cities," like the one under the Lake Shore Drive Wilson viaduct.
Cilantro is believed to be the source behind an e. Coli outbreak that sickened several people at a Chicago restaurant earlier this year, according to the city's Department of Health.

Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill, located at 300 W. 26th St. in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood, reopened July 29 after voluntarily closing July 1 due to the outbreak.

Sixty-eight people were sickened in the outbreak, 22 of whom were hospitalized. All have since been treated and released.

According to a report from the department of health, Cilantro was identified as "food vehicle" that likely caused the outbreak.

"All prepared food was disposed, food handling practices were reviewed, and all staff who handle food were tested at least twice for the bacteria," according to a release from Healthy Chicago, an initiative of the Chicago Department of Health, said at the time the outbreak was reported.

Carbon withdrew from the Taste of Chicago so that it could turn "its full attention to addressing the issues at its Bridgeport location," health officials said.

The owners also closed their second location at 810 N. Marshfield "out of an abundance of caution." That location reopened July 9, health officials said.

Two lawsuits stemming from the outbreak were filed against the restaurant, one seeking more than $90,000 in damages.
Starbucks aims to drum up holiday sales with promises of free espresso drinks this season  as long as you're in the right store.

Starting Friday, select Starbucks stores will host 1,000 Pop Up Cheer Parties over 10 days, where customers can enjoy free tall handcrafted espresso beverages, from mochas to chestnut praline lattes. The event will be held at 100 Starbucks stores in the U.S. for 10 straight days, including more than 23 Starbucks stores in the greater Chicago area, from 1-2 p.m.

Locations will change daily and will be listed on starbucks.com/cheer and Twitter with the hashtags #FindCheer #10daysofcheer.

For the first day Friday, Dec. 23, the following Chicago area stores were chosen, according to the website:

Gurnee Mills Mall

6170 W.Grand Ave.#601; Gurnee, IL 60031

Seven Bridge

3520 Seven Bridges Drive; Woodbridge, IL 60517

State & Adams

131 S Dearborn Ste 210; Chicago, IL 60603

Lincoln & Wilson

4553 N. Lincoln Ave.; Chicago, IL 60625

DesPlaines & Wayman

328 North Desplaines; Chicago, IL 60661

Customers also can visit participating Starbucks stores to receive a "cheer card" that will provide 50 percent off select holiday beverages and lunch items, as well as a free holiday cookie or specialty dessert with purchase.
Expect delays at Bradley Airport and on the roads as people head out to destinations for the holidays.

This is expected to be one of the busiest years for airline travel, with 10,000 more New Englanders are expected to fly than last year and extra passengers mean longer lines.

AAA expects 103 million will travel nationwide between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, which is the largest volument of travelers on record, and they recommend leaving early and to have a full tank of gas and a charged phone for emergencies.

More than 90 percent of those travelers will be on the roads, while 5.9 percent will be by air.

To speed up the line, register for pre-check online to allow you to go through the faster line and not remove shoes, liquids and laptops.

The lines this morning did not dampen the holiday spirit.

Were heading down to Florida this weekend to visit some family, Chris McCormick, of Westfield, said. We go every year. Were looking forward to some nice weather, get out of the cold. Cant wait.

If you are flying, Bradley recommends not wrapping gifts before going through security. They will actually be doing the wrapping for you for free after you get through security. Its going on until 3 p.m.

They also said small snow globes are now allowed.

Bradley International Airport is urging travelers to leave extra time to get through security during the busy holiday travel season and other airports in the region are doing the same.

Bradley Airports Twitter account is urging domestic travelers to leave 90 minutes for TSA screening and for international travelers to leave three hours.

Follow Bradley Airport on Twitter for updates.

LaGuardia Airport is warning of moderate to heavy traffic on the airport roadways because of holiday travel.

Meanwhile, the Twitter account for JFK Airport in New York is warning passengers about construction-related traffic detours at terminal 5 and to allow extra time to pick up or drop off passengers or to use AirTrain.

TF Green Airport in Rhode Island is warning travelers that you cannot get through the security checkpoint with wrapped gifts and to check the TSA website to see which items you can travel with and what is prohibited.

Travelers flying from TF Green between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. or from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. should plan to arrive at the terminal two hours before your flight.

Logan Airport has not issued any warning, other than not to wrap gifts, but said live music will be playing throughout the airport on Thursday and Friday.
An Ohio man crashed into a pond at the Southington Country Club on Thursday night and was taken to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

Police said the 54-year-old Heath, Ohio man appears to have gotten on a service road at the country club and drove onto the course and into a pond, where his 2016 Nissan plunged into the icy water around 10:20 p.m.

When first responders arrived, the man was out of his car and firefighters got him out of the pond.

An ambulance then brought him to a local hospital to be treated for possible hypothermia and a wrecker pulled the Nissan from the pond.

Police have not filed charges and are investigating.
The days of leaving a Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles branch with a new license in hand will end by the end of 2017.

The State of Connecticut, by 2018, will be in line with 26 other states when it comes to the distribution of federally recognized identification cards, and they will be sent through the mail to people who have either applied for a Connecticut license for the first time, or are renewing their license.

It will allow a person that has that gold star in Connecticut on their license, when they go into an airport or a federal building the odds of them spending more time than the average person is probably unlikely," said Michael Bzdyra, the Commissioner of the Connecticut DMV.

Those applying for a new license will receive a temporary paper record for use while the new one is manufactured and then sent out. Bzdyra says the licenses will be in a similar category when it comes to sensitive government documents.

You get your social security card in the mail if youve lost it, you get your US passport in the mail, you get your credit cards and debit cards in the mail."

In addition, the process for a license renewal will drastically change as well. With the new requirements, applicants for renewals will be able to complete their entire process online, without ever having to go to a DMV branch. The photo on file could be used for as many as 12 years.

They technically for a license wouldnt have to come in again to a DMV branch for up to 12 years," Bzydra.

Customers have repeatedly asked, Bzdyra says, for more ways to avoid going to a DMV branch for services which leads to long waits and often frustrating waiting periods.

Bzdyra says it's a win-win for the agency to provide such an involved application to online.

I personally take no offense if customers elect not to come to DMV except for every 12 years.
The issue of marijuana legalization isn't a new one in Connecticut, but perhaps for the first time, the issue of recreational use may become a serious one in the General Assembly.

The reason for the shift is that the top member of the Connecticut Senate filed legislation that would directly address the recreational use, the regulation, and the taxation of marijuana.

The issue is expected to be bipartisan on both sides, for and against.

I think its something the state legislature should really take a hard look at," said Sen. Gary Winfield, a Democrat from New Haven whose district borders that of Sen. Martin Looney, who presented the bill.

Winfield says drug arrests have disproportionately affected minorities and marijuana was, for years, one of the most common substances that led to those arrests.

In recent years Connecticut has decriminalized the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis, but the issue of recreational use has remained on the fringe of politics.

Winfield says that should change in 2017 for socital, and budget reasons, since the state faces a $1.5 billion shortfall for each of the next two fiscal years.

I think it makes a lot of sense at this point particularly when we have the issues that we have with the budget to at least have the conversation in a real way about the legalization of marijuana.

Attorney General George Jepsen, when asked Thursday, reiterated that he is in support of the legalization of marijuana.

Gov. Dannel Malloy, however, says he thinks for now the state has gone as far as it should when it comes to the legalization of cannabis.

He says Connecticut should wait longer to see how the issue has played out in other states before jumping into the issue, adding that he doesn't think it's a bad idea to take a measured approach.

I dont think anyone should be prosecuted for their personal use in small amounts," Malloy said. "Thats very different than saying the state should play a role in promoting its use. I do not think the state should play a role in promoting its use.

On the budget argument, Malloy said, Revenue is absolutely the wrong reason to get into this business.

It's expected that multiple Republicans will joins with Democrats on the issue of marijuana legalization. But one of the top members of the House GOP, Rep. Vincent Candelora, agrees with Malloy.

He said, This is a money grab and that is my concern because we are in tough budget times that were looking for blood money and legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes so we can tax it has serious concerns.
For the first time in Connecticut, opiate disposal pouches will be widely available for anyone with leftover prescription drugs in their medicine cabinets.

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals donated 80,000 of the pouches to more than 600 pharmacies around the state and they are available to customers, free of charge.

The hope for state officials is that people take advantage of them to help curb the spread of heroin-based opioids, which will be responsible for more than 900 deaths in 2016 in Connecticut.

"This is brilliant, whoever came up with this. Absolutely, its going to save a lot of lives," said Sue Kruzcek, who lost her 20-year-old son, Nick, to an opioid overdose.

The governor and medical officials have said the face of opiate addiction has changed as a result of powerful prescription painkillers that are prescribed every day.

That's a point Gov. Dannel Malloy attempted to make Thursday.

This is not the opioids that people like me grew up with where the opioid was very unpure," he told the crowd at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford.

Folks, the reason this thing got so far out of hand is nobody understood it. This is not heroin addiction of the 50s, the 60s the 70s, the 80s, or even the 90s. This is entirely different. It looks a lot cleaner but its more deadly.

The pouches are simple to use. They have a plastic zipping seal and a charcoal-based chemical mix inside. The user simply needs to pour as many as 45 pills into the bag and follow that with warm water. The mixture will dissolve and dilute the opiate, making it safe once the pouch is discarded in the trash.

More than one million of the pouches have been distributed nationwide.
Celebration prevails in Aleppo after rebel evacuation

From:chinadaily | 2016-12-23 10:46

Syrian army soldiers celebrate the evacuation of the opposition fighters in Aleppo, northern Syria, on Dec. 22, 2016. The Syrian army declared on Thursday the liberation of eastern Aleppo city in northern Syria, as the last batch of rebels left the city, making Aleppo city completely under the government control. [Photo/Xinhua]

ALEPPO, Syria - Celebrations prevailed Syria's northern city of Aleppo, just minutes after the army declared the city free of rebels on Thursday.Honking their cars while waving the Syrian flags, hundreds of people thronged the squares of western Aleppo chanting slogans in support of President Bashar al-Assad and Aleppo."Here is Aleppo", and "Aleppo is back," chanted the demonstrators."I would like to say that today the victory in Aleppo, tomorrow in all of Syria. We tell the rebels that we are here and we are the victors," Qadri, a demonstrator, told Xinhua.Sabah, another demonstrator, said "we are so happy. This happiness is indescribable and it's the best joy we have had in a long time. Now we are the happiest people in the country. Everyone here is happy, the boys, the men and women."For his part, Shadi said "we have earned this happiness. We have been waiting for this day for a very long time. Thanks God the time of terrorists is over."On Thursday evening, the Syrian army declared the liberation of eastern Aleppo city, as the last batch of rebels left the city, making Aleppo city completely under the government control.The Syrian army declared the restoration of security and stability to all of Aleppo city, following the evacuation of the last rebel convoy from the eastern part of the city on Thursday evening."This victory constitutes a strategic turn in the war on terror, and deals a strong blow to the terrorist project and its backers," said the army in a statement."The victory constitutes the launching of a new stage in battling terrorism on all Syrian territories," the statement added.The statement stressed that the victory in Aleppo will motivate the Syrian army to carry out its battles on the terrorists across Syria.The evacuation of rebels and their families started last Thursday, as part of a Russian Turkish-deal to end the rebel presence in eastern Aleppo following a large-scale offensive. Aleppo has been under the rebel control since 2012.
A Trinity College is back in Hartford after being held in Costa Rica since his spring break trip two months ago.

Michael Phillips, 22, was driving to the airport in Costa Rica after competing in a triathlon, when he was involved in a car accident March 22. According to Phillips, several bystanders claimed to be injured, but only one person, who suffered a broken leg, ever had a doctor substantiate the claim.

Instead of continuing on his way to the airport, Phillips was taken to jail.

"When the door shut behind me in the prison cell, and I had actually been locked up, that was a very scary point for me," Phillips said. He was not arrested or charged with a crime, and was released from jail the very next day, but his passport was restricted so Phillips couldn't leave the country.

Phillips' mother, Alison, flew to Costa Rica to help her son, as his family began a two-month battle to return Michael to the United States. Lawyers and even Phillips' insurance company negotiated for his release.

It was at that point, that Alison Phillips realized the issues keeping her son from leaving the country weren't about justice, they were about money.

"They were trying to steal our money at every step of the way and extort more money out of us," Alison Philips said. According to the Phillips family, corrupt government officials were behind the red tape.

"To quote my translator, he said as soon as they found out I was an American, he said their eyes turned green with dollar signs," Michael Phillips said.

After nearly two months of stalled negotiations, Philips said he decided to try something different. A friend in Costa Rica told Michael if he traveled across a border crossing into Nicaragua, the restrictions on his passport would not raise a red flag, as they would if he tried to board a plane at the airport. So he hitched a ride to the border last week.

"I was terrified," Phillips said.

His passport was stamped, and he made it into Nicaragua, where he was able to board a plane for the U.S. Saturday.

"When I landed in Miami, that was certainly one of the happiest moments of my life. I was going through the airport and really I could not stop smiling," Phillips said.

Despite missing the last two months of the spring semester, Phillips said Tuesday the college will allow him to graduate next week.
An Indiana mother is facing battery charges after she allegedly beat her children for opening Christmas presents early, officials said.

Prosecutors accused Sascha Collins, of Greenfield, of throwing her two sons into a wall, hitting them with a belt and biting them, according to an affidavit.

According to the report, the boys sister said her mother became angry when the kids unwrapped gifts in their home. The daughter told police she had arrived home to find her mother storming around the house saying "she was blessed with the worst kids ever and they were so ungrateful" and noticed her brothers crying and sounding like they were in pain.

The sister told police the young boys said their mother threw them against the wall, bit them, hit them with a belt and smacked them, according to the affidavit.

Officers at the scene said the boys, ages 7 and 9, had "signs of injury but nothing that appeared to need immediate medical attention," authorities said.

Her daughter told police Collins had been drinking alcohol the night before the incident, according to the report.

Collins also admitted to police she "lost it" and there "is no excuse for it," according to the documents.

It was not immediately known if Collins had an attorney.
After hours of tense negotiations, two Libyans who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up surrendered peacefully Friday, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the plane before walking out themselves with the last of the crew.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was traveling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta midmorning on Friday.

Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them. All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3:44 p.m. local time.

They have "surrendered," been "searched and taken in custody," he tweeted.

The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the plane's doors to open at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

In a series of tweets, Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, then the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including 7 crew members, were on board the hijacked plane.

Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers had asked him to head to Rome. He identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, Libyans who other officials said were in their twenties.

The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called "the New Fateh." Fateh is a reference to former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who led Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969.

After many of the hostages left the plane Friday afternoon, someone, apparently a hijacker, waved the old green Libyan flag from the plane's doorway.

Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes, Gadhafi was ousted and killed in 2011.

Western nations view the newly-formed U.N.-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libya's parliament, which meets in the country's far east, has refused to accept it. Amid chaos, the Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliates have gained a foothold over the past years.

Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized the Islamic State group's last stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.
The Obama administration is officially ending a post-9/11 era registration system for immigrant men from mostly Muslim countries.

The decision to scrap the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System comes amid growing international terror fears and President-elect Donald Trump's suggestions that he could ban Muslim immigrants from the United States.

Trump said Wednesday, "You know my plans."

The NSEERS program was widely derided by civil libertarians as an effort to profile people based on race and religion.

The administration hasn't been using the program since 2011.

In a statement, Joanne Lin, ACLU senior legislative counsel, said: "The ACLU applauds the Obama administration for terminating NSEERS for good. With this action, the U.S. is on the right path to protect Muslim and Arab immigrants from discrimination.
A record number of holiday travelers are expected in airports across the nation this Christmas with Friday being one of the busiest.

AAA estimates 402,000 Texans will travel by air - an increase of 1.9 percent. Those numbers are made even more impressive when you take into account that, with Christmas falling on a Sunday, the holiday travel season will be shorter than usual.

A record number of holiday travelers are expected in airports across the nation this Christmas with Friday being one of the busiest.

The TSA will have more workers at airports across the country, but lines are still expected to be long.

Best vantage point to see the TSA line at @DallasLoveField. Line moving quickly so far. pic.twitter.com/9fagGzG6WY  Larry Collins (@LarryNBC5) December 23, 2016

AAA reminds travelers to check and double check their belongings when they go through security checkpoints. They said some of the most common items left at security include belts, jewelry, watches, keys and laptops.

TSA representatives said you can minimize stress at the airport by not trying to travel with prohibited items.

They suggested not traveling with wrapped gifts. Unwrapped gifts make it easier on agents if they need in inspect it closer.

You can travel with food for the perfect Christmas dinner. Cakes, pies, bread and even turkeys are allowed, but leave any special cake or serving knives at home.
December has become the time of year when boxes tend to outnumber the employees in Jeremy Normands Arlington State Farm office, and the shipments tend to be addressed to those workers.

In fact, Normand has actually started encouraging his employees to have their holiday packages shipped straight to work rather than their homes.

It just makes more sense, we sign for it, it goes straight to your desk, said Normand.

The insurance agent said hes also seen far too many cases of packages being stolen off of peoples door steps and even claims for holiday thefts coming into his agency.

Others are catching on, too, as the workplace becomes a more popular place to send packages.

Some local business leaders have set aside cubicles or entire rooms to deal with the influx of packages.

Others, especially large companies, are creating new policies asking employees not to ship to work because they dont have the space.

The rise in popularity of online shopping may have something to do with it.

The U.S. Postal Service projects about 750 million packages will be delivered this year, a 12 percent bump from 2015, and FedEx anticipates another record season.
A dad and a baby alone on a commercial flight could be a long, uncomfortable trip for everyone on board.

But Evan Hughes of Fort Worth received help from a stranger to comfort his 8-month-old son, Ki, on a Dec. 11 flight, and the picture he took went viral.

"The fact that she was willing to offer a hand, not just listen to her music and ignore me, she was very engaged and active in the process, and I'm forever thankful for it," Hughes said.

Winter weather caused Hughes and his wife's flight back from Chicago to be canceled. They were rebooked on separate flights, and different airlines, with Hughes flying back to North Texas alone with the boy.

India Massinburg was in a window seat.

"I had my earplugs in already because I was getting ready for takeoff, and I said, 'Oh man, it's a man with a baby. I hope he's not sitting by me,'" Massinburg recalled.

That dad and his baby were booked in the middle seat right beside her.

"For me, it was going to be my first time flying alone with him, his second time flying ever," said Hughes. "When we sat down, he was just antsy and fidgety, wanted to get to the window."

Luckily, Massinburg is an experienced daycare worker at Kosmic Kids Learning Center in DeSoto.

"Working with kids is just a passion of mine," she said.

She came to the rescue for the dad and his restless son.

"She offered a couple of times. I didn't want to impose, but eventually I said 'OK,' just handed him over, and she held him for a minute," Hughes said.

The boy was soon asleep in the stranger's lap, and his father took a picture.

"The rest is history," Hughes said.

The photo spread around the world on social media and news reports. It was posted on a parenting website, and Thursday, back in North Texas, it aired on NBC 5.

The adults said the photo, and attention it's drawn, are holiday blessings in more ways than one.

"Some people say whites and blacks don't get along, whatever it may be. But to know that it was comforting to somebody else, that they were able to just talk about it without being ridiculed in any kind of way, that was amazing to me," Massinburg said.

"I'm sure everyone around us was thankful for it, too," said Hughes about their trip on the plane.

His father is saving the photo of Ki to show his son in the future that he was an 8-month-old celebrity passenger.

And the adults are talking about another visit over the holidays after meeting on that plane.

"They always say it takes a village to raise a kid, and that was more true than ever with this experience," Hughes said.
On December 26, 2015, David Collins went to a movie. It may be the best idea he ever had.

That evening, as Collins set in the movie theater, a tornado tore into Collins' hometown of Glenn Heights.

NBC 5 meteorologist Brian James watched it move across the community in southern Dallas County from NBC 5's Texas Thunder Truck.

Collins received a phone call.

"My daughter called and said, 'Daddy where are you?'," said Collins. "I said 'I'm at the movie.' She said 'I'm sitting here watching on the news, Channel 5. It's tearing up a church and coming across the field.'"

Collins rushed home from the movie to find his home had been in the direct path of an EF-3 tornado.

The next morning, NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist David Finfrock reported live in Glenn Heights and Collins invited him into his home.

Viewers saw a heavily damaged home when a non-existent ceiling and roof.

Nearly a year after the tornado, Finfrock revisited Trishia Lane.

After spending time since the storm in a hotel, Collins moved back into a rebuilt home in early December 2016.

Collins said his U.S. military experience, including time in Vietnam, helped him get through the storm.

"Without that training, I don't think I would be able to stand up and say 'hey, I can always rebuild,'" said Collins. "That training showed me how to prepare myself. There is a better day."

Collins is grateful.

"It's a blessing to come back to see something that's been re-created," said Collins.

Collins will spend Christmas 2016 with his family in his new home. As for the day after - the exact one year anniversary of the tornado that destroyed his home - he has tickets, but not for the movies.

"No, I am going to the Dallas Cowboys game," said Collins with a smile.
When four-year-old Esmeralda walked out of her front door Thursday afternoon, she did not expect to see a group of firefighters waiting for her.

The surprise made her so happy, she began to jump up and down when she saw them, waiting for her at the family's doorstep with huge, shiny Christmas presents in tow.

"Hi," one firefighter said, opening his arms with a smile. "Hello, Esma."

Esmeralda ran out to say hello to her firefighter friends and even opened one of the delivered gifts, hugging the firefighter who gave her the package: a Barbie and several other toys.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department firefighters have been in close contact with the Vasquez family ever since their Mount Hope house was the scene of a deadly fire on Nov. 30, 2015.

That night, three young children were in the house: Fernando and his young siblings  half-sister Esmeralda and half-brother Luis. The trio were being cared for by a babysitter and her boyfriend when a fire sparked inside the single-story residence on J Street, near Toyne Street.

The childrens mother was away, driving her eldest child back to college after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The fast-moving blaze proved to be deadly.

Firefighters found Fernandos body inside the burned out home. Esmeralda and Luis survived, but suffered critical injuries that left them both hospitalized.

Esmeralda suffered burns to about 40 percent of her body, while Luis has burns to 70 percent of his body.

Since that devastating day, said mother Juanita Vasquez, the firefighters who helped save her children, as well as others in the department, have been with the family nearly every step of the way.

"The firefighters have been very supportive of my family over the past year and they always visit the kids, see how they're doing, its reallyI can't say. Just, I have no words. Really nice people," said mother Juanita Vasquez, tearing up.

Juanita said her son Luis just came home from the hospital a month ago, and has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

"We're just taking it day by day, trying to make him stronger so he can go back to school," Juanita said.

Ever since the deadly fire, Juanita said, the firefighters have been "like angels" to her.

"They're just angels that I never expected," she said, tearing up. "They're just nice, and it's good that they do good deeds for families. They put their lives (on the line) for our families and then they're still here supporting us  its a blessing."

The firefighters have been a constant for the family, Juanita's sister Maria said. Since the fire, they've felt more like family than firefighters.

"It's been great, not just the toys  they come and they visit, they check up on the kids. They're like family to us," Maria said. "We're grateful for all that theyve done, very grateful."

The kids often make pictures for the firefighters and pray for them, Maria said. The children have even gone to see their friends at the fire station, and the firefighters come visit the family at home.

"I know they're busy, especially this time of the year, but they always go out of the way for the kids and we're happy that the kids see them and be part of our family," Maria said.

The gifts are one small kindness of many over the months since the fire.

"This is a happy Christmas for them," Maria said.

The family's Mount Hope home is nearly rebuilt and ready to move into, said Maria, the children's aunt. The family hopes to move back in in January.
Police were looking for a serial arsonist whose motive, they said, is very specific  the man sets blazes in nearby Orange County neighborhoods to distract firefighters so he could burglarize their stations.

Surveillance video from Sunday morning show what Santa Ana police said is the arsonist running toward the Orange County Fire Authority's station as the fire trucks left to fight a blaze in a nearby neighborhood.

In the video, the arsonist lies in wait for firefighters to leave before he sneaks into their garage and steals their cash box, police said.

"I'm speechless that someone would do that," said Armida Montalvo, a resident who believes that arsonist set her truck on fire.

"My husband heard a big pop, he looked out and the truck was on fire," she said.

She was shocked to learn her truck fire was one of three fires set Sunday near fire stations, some of which were burglarized moments later.

"To do something to someone and still go and rob somebody  to me it just doesn't make sense," Montalvo said. "Luckily it was just the truck, and not the house because I have children in here."

Investigators said it's a unique and specific method of operation.

"The only thing that's being taken is money  and money that firefighters have in their stations, in a specific area, which leads us to believe this person may have knowledge of how firefighters operate," said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department.

Similar fires close to fire stations also happened in Anaheim and Irvine, police said, where burglars have taken cash from the station's food fund. Investigators want to catch the arsonist before he hurts someone.

"We don't want people to become victims in his elaborate scheme to commit burglaries," Bertagna said.

The arsonist's vehicle is believed to be a dark-colored, four-door 2000 to 2005 Buick LeSabre that's missing its front plate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact SAPD Detective A. Gonzalez, at 714-245-8732, agonzalez@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
The Year: China's Diplomacy

From:chinadaily | 2016-12-23 12:46

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) takes a group photo with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L), Brazil's President Michel Temer (L), Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) and South Africa's President Jacob Zuma at the West Lake State Guest House ahead of G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, September 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping presides over the opening ceremony of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and South Korean President Park Geun-hye attend the sixth China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting in Seoul, Nov 1, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

US President-elect Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a USA Thank You Tour event in Mobile, Alabama, US, December 17, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

This week we are presenting a year-end review of the global economy, China's economy, society and diplomacy, and the international situation. Today four researchers review China's diplomacy and give their outlooks for 2017.With global governance struggling to deal with increasingly thorny issues, such as Brexit and the sluggish global economic recovery, globalization has been in retreat this year. Given this fact, China's intensified efforts to engage in global governance seem like a silver lining.The successful G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, in September added weight to the multinational bloc's legitimacy as the premier forum on international economic cooperation. Following the summit, China's top leader Xi Jinping called for closer cooperation to reform the global governance system, and advance peace and development in the world.In the three years since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed it, the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) has attracted many countries aspiring for true win-win cooperation, as opposed to the West-centric globalization.The rise of trade protectionism in some Western countries has cast a shadow over the already weakening global economic growth. The Beijing-led initiative, however, is gaining fresh support to serve as an apt alternative and cover areas long neglected by the West-centric globalization and help embattled economies tide over the continuing fallout of the global financial crisis.For China-Japan-Republic of Korea relations, arguably the most important trilateral relationship in the region, this year has not been good. The recent impeachment of ROK President Park Geun-hye, besides dealing a heavy blow to her political career, has delayed the trilateral leadership meeting that was originally scheduled for the end of 2016.Things started getting more complicated after Seoul allowed Washington to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system on the ROK soil, which Beijing is vehemently opposed to. While Seoul's decision on THAAD has further strained China-ROK ties, the ongoing political drama in the ROK is not at all conducive to rebuilding trust among the three neighbors.The gap between China and the United States in terms of national strength and international influence has further narrowed this year. China's interactions with the US on the regional security and economic orders, combined with its political stability and relatively decent economic growth, speak volumes about Beijing's proposal at major events such as the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, to build an inclusive global order. And given the increasing number of economies recognizing the importance of China's proposal and Beijing's enhanced leadership capability, Sino-US ties are moving toward a more balanced state.On its part, the US has a long way to go to address the deep divisions at home exposed by Donald Trump's election as the next president. The US' attempts to contain the rise of China, epitomized by the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement that Trump has vowed to scrap on his first day in office, have been futile and discarded by most regional powers.
A man was rushed to the hospital after he was pulled from a house fire in West Miami Friday morning.

Crews responded to the home in the 5700 block of Southwest 12th Street shortly after 8 a.m. and found heavy flames and smoke, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said.

Firefighters made their way into the home and found the victim suffering from serious burns. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Neighbor and friend Demetrios Doumenis tried to rescue the man before firefighters arrived but the heat was just too much.

"You ever open an oven door and you're like standing right there and it is so hot? That is what it felt like 10 feet away," he said.

A cat made it out of the house but several others died.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Gov. Rick Scott has assigned a complaint filed against Attorney General Pam Bondi to a prosecutor in southwest Florida.

The complaint stems from scrutiny this year over a $25,000 campaign contribution Bondi received from President-elect Donald Trump in 2013. Bondi asked for the donation around the same time her office was being asked about a New York investigation of alleged fraud at Trump University.

A Massachusetts attorney filed numerous complaints against Bondi, including one that asked State Attorney Mark Ober to investigate Trump's donation.

Ober asked Scott in September to appoint a different prosecutor because Bondi used to work for him.

Scott assigned the case Friday to State Attorney Stephen Russell, who has one year to decide whether the complaint has any merit.
Several police officers with the Jersey City Police Department are under federal criminal investigation in connection with an alleged private security and no-show job scandal.

Sources familiar with the investigation said as many as 10 police officers could be charged with corruption early next year.

Jersey City police officers can work security jobs while off duty, but private business must hire them through the city and pay extra administrative fees to the city. But a group of officers allegedly ran their own security operation, according to investigators, at times demanding cash payments from construction firms to avoid city rules and fees.

In many cases, off-duty officers were paid even though they did not show up at sites where private security is required, including construction zones and utility work, officials familiar with the investigation said.

Some cops also allegedly told drivers of oversized vehicles that they had to pay off-duty officers directly in order to get escorted through city streets.

One officer has already pleaded guilty to helping run the scheme: former Jersey City police officer Juan Romaniello pleaded guilty in federal court last month, admitting that he took over $200,000 in impromper payments and never paid taxes on that money, and that his illegal security scheme ran for about six years. What was not known at the time was how many other officers were allegedly involved.

When asked about the investigation, FBI spokesman Michael Whitaker said, Per official policy, the FBI cannot confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of an investigation. However, combating public corruption is the FBIs top criminal investigative priority and we encourage the public to call the FBI with any information.

Matt Reilly, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for Jersey Citys mayor, Jennifer Morrill, said, "Our administration remains vigilant and has a history of rooting out corruption; however, we cannot comment on any potential ongoing investigations."

This investigation comes after four other Jersey City officers were arrested in a separate county case involving alleged overtime abuse and no-show jobs, including for work assignments at the Pulaski Skyway. Former Captain Joseph Ascolese, Lt. Kelly Chesler and officers Michael Maietti and Michael ONeil deny any wrongdoing.

Investigators say off-duty officers can earn up to $120 an hour for private security work, with the city getting extra service fees to cover administrative costs, overhead and out-of-pocket expenses.

Officials did not say if any developers and business owners are facing scrutiny or if they were victims allegedly shaken down by the officers allegedly involved.

Sources familiar with the investigation said internal affairs and police executives are working with the FBI to try to uncover all officers who took part in the scheme. One official estimated between 6 and 10 officers will eventually be arrested.

Several police officers with the Jersey City Police Department are under federal criminal investigation in connection with an alleged private security and no-show job scandal.

Sources familiar with the investigation said as many as 10 police officers could be charged with corruption early next year.

Jersey City police officers can work security jobs while off duty, but private business must hire them through the city and pay extra administrative fees to the city. But a group of officers allegedly ran their own security operation, according to investigators, at times demanding cash payments from construction firms to avoid city rules and fees.

In many cases, off-duty officers were paid even though they did not show up at sites where private security is required, including construction zones and utility work, officials familiar with the investigation said.

Some cops also allegedly told drivers of oversized vehicles that they had to pay off-duty officers directly in order to get escorted through city streets.

One officer has already pleaded guilty to helping run the scheme: former Jersey City police officer Juan Romaniello pleaded guilty in federal court last month, admitting that he took over $200,000 in impromper payments and never paid taxes on that money, and that his illegal security scheme ran for about six years. What was not known at the time was how many other officers were allegedly involved.

When asked about the investigation, FBI spokesman Michael Whitaker said, Per official policy, the FBI cannot confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of an investigation. However, combating public corruption is the FBIs top criminal investigative priority and we encourage the public to call the FBI with any information.

Matt Reilly, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for Jersey Citys mayor, Jennifer Morrill, said, "Our administration remains vigilant and has a history of rooting out corruption; however, we cannot comment on any potential ongoing investigations."

This investigation comes after four other Jersey City officers were arrested in a separate county case involving alleged overtime abuse and no-show jobs, including for work assignments at the Pulaski Skyway. Former Captain Joseph Ascolese, Lt. Kelly Chesler and officers Michael Maietti and Michael ONeil deny any wrongdoing.

Investigators say off-duty officers can earn up to $120 an hour for private security work, with the city getting extra service fees to cover administrative costs, overhead and out-of-pocket expenses.

Officials did not say if any developers and business owners are facing scrutiny or if they were victims allegedly shaken down by the officers allegedly involved.

Sources familiar with the investigation said internal affairs and police executives are working with the FBI to try to uncover all officers who took part in the scheme. One official estimated between 6 and 10 officers will eventually be arrested.
A woman's "careless use" of a candle sparked Thursday night's fire inside a Manhattan high-rise building that hurt 23 people, including 17 civilians and four firefighters, one of whom suffered serious burns, the FDNY says.

The woman was wrapping Christmas presents in her third-floor apartment at 515 West 59th St. when her bathrobe caught fire from candles she had lit, fire officials said Friday.

When the woman realized her robe was on fire, she took it off and fled her apartment, but left her windows open, causing winds to drive heavy smoke into the hallways and up through the building, fire officials said.

The FDNY said late Thursday night the injury count in the fire was 24, but adjusted the number slightly to 23 by Friday morning. Of the 19 civilians who were hurt, six were in serious condition.

Fire officials say most if not all of the injuries inside the 33-story fireproof building could have been prevented had people stayed in their apartments, blocked their doors with wet towels, and opened a window if necessary.

Instead, officials say, residents tooks to hallways -- in some cases, with their children -- as smoke rapidly filled the air. A similar mistake was made by a couple in a condo high-rise on West 43rd Street nearly two years ago that cost a man his life.

The building at 515 West 59th St. is owned by Mount Sinai Hospital and contains 465 apartments.

A spokeswoman for Mount Sinai West said in a statement that "a number of occupants" in the building, which houses mostly residents and Mount Sinai hospital staff, were taken to local emergency rooms with varying degrees of injury, and that most of them have been treated and released.

"We are working closely with city agencies," the spokeswoman said.

Doctors were among some of the residents who took shelter from the dense smoke inside an apartment on the 21st floor, according to building resident named Paul. When a 7-year-old girl waiting out the smoke went into cardiac arrest, one of the residents in the apartment performed CPR on her and revived her, he told NBC 4 New York in an email.

She was handed over to firefighters, who carried her down the stairs and out of the building, he said.

There was no structural damage to the building from the fire, buildings officials said. It appears most residents returned and slept there overnight, despite the smell of smoke.

The firefighter who was seriously burned was still in a hospital burn center Friday. The other three injured firefighters have been treated and releated, officials said.
Authorities say two women have been arrested as accomplices in the attempted robbery and fatal shooting of a New Jersey woman who was using a Lyft vehicle when she was shot by a gunman.

The unknown gunman in the Nov. 30 slaying of 27-year-old Amber Dudley remained on the loose Friday.

Prosecutors say he hopped into the back of the ride-hailing vehicle in Trenton and demanded money from Dudley. Police say the Collingswood woman was shot in the torso and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Kasey DeZolt was arrested Thursday in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; Dominique Richter was arrested Wednesday in Trenton. It wasn't immediately clear if they had attorneys who could comment on their behalf.

Kasey DeZolt was arrested Thursday morning in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and Dominique Richter (pictured) was arrested in Trenton on Wednesday.
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A Delaware County man whose weekend trip to a neighborhood store somehow led to a 900-mile detour to Alabama is safely back with his family, thanks to breakfasting police officers who realized something wasn't right.

Haleyville, Alabama, Mayor Ken Sunseri said Thursday that 89-year-old Jody Tarbutton, of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, approached the officers at The Galley restaurant on Monday and asked them where he was.

"They said, 'You're in Alabama, Haleyville, Alabama,'" Sunseri said. "And it sort of stunned him."

Tarbutton said of the trek "I don't remember it," shaking his head.

The officers took him to the police station and ran his driver's license, discovering that he had been missing for two days. They contacted authorities, notified his family and got him medical attention.

"We never, never, never expected to hear the news that he was in Alabama," his daughter Cindy Gatta said by phone Thursday night. She had contacted police in Pennsylvania and posted a plea on Facebook on Sunday in an attempt to locate her father.

Gatta, of Wilmington, Delaware, flew down to Alabama and reunited with him at a hospital, where he was treated for high blood pressure and dehydration. She said her father has never been clinically diagnosed with dementia and attributed his unexpected road trip to old age and forgetfulness.

"It's just been amazing that it all turned out so well," Gatta said.

Officials aren't sure what route Tarbutton took, but he would have almost certainly been driving through severe weather, Sunseri said. Police found a child-size drink and two hamburgers inside Tarbutton's pickup truck.

People in Haleyville helped Tarbutton's children get from the airport in Birmingham to the hospital, and are now working with the family to have Tarbutton's truck shipped back to his home.

Sunseri said he was "extremely proud" of the response by the officers and wider community.

"They were a tremendous help to the family," the mayor said.

Tarbutton's daughter said she too is grateful to the officers and others, and is calling her father's safe return nothing short of "a Christmas miracle."
Starbucks aims to drum up holiday sales with promises of free espresso drinks this season  as long as you're in the right store.

Starting Friday, select Starbucks stores will host 1,000 Pop Up Cheer Parties over 10 days, where customers can enjoy free tall handcrafted espresso beverages, from mochas to chestnut praline lattes. The event will be held at 100 Starbucks stores in the U.S. for 10 straight days, including 2 Starbucks stores in the greater Philadelphia area, from 1-2 p.m.[[406363555, C]]

Locations will change daily and will be listed on starbucks.com/cheer and Twitter with the hashtags #FindCheer #10daysofcheer.

For the first day Friday, Dec. 23, the following Philadelphia area stores were chosen, according to the website:

Pennsylvania:



Suburban Square

41 St. James Place; Ardmore, PA 19003

New Jersey:



Ramblewood

550 Fellowship Road; Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

There were no locations selected in Delaware Friday, according to the website.

Customers also can visit participating Starbucks stores to receive a "cheer card" that will provide 50 percent off select holiday beverages and lunch items, as well as a free holiday cookie or specialty dessert with purchase.
A court in Argentina has indicted Justin Bieber for allegedly sending his bodyguards to beat up a photographer in Buenos Aires three years ago.

Court clerk Soledad Nieto confirmed the decision to The Associated Press on Thursday. She says Judge Alberto Banos did not issue an arrest warrant.

The court made the decision on Tuesday and it first surfaced publicly late Wednesday.

Bieber was accused of sending the bodyguards to attack a photographer outside a nightclub during his 2013 South American tour. He apologized on the same trip for defiling the Argentine flag on stage and got into trouble with police elsewhere during the tour for allegedly spraying graffiti in Brazil and Colombia.

Bieber never returned to Argentina to answer questions about the alleged attack.
Eater San Diego shares the top stories of the week from San Diegos food and drink scene, including word on a Hello Kitty pop-up cafe rolling into town next month, plus a new waffle bar cookin in Del Mar.

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck Rolls in Next Month

Prepare for maximum cuteness. The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will make a return appearance at Fashion Valley next month, bringing special treats and goodies featuring the popular character, including Hello Kitty mini cakes, macaroons, T-shirts and mugs.

Broken Yolk Cafe to Launch Weekend Waffle Bar

The Broken Yolk Cafes Del Mar branch will extend its weekend evening hours in January for a new waffle bar concept. Featuring a menu of Belgian liege waffles with sweet and savory toppings, the counter service-style waffle bar will be open on Friday and Saturday nights.

Trust Restaurant to Open New Cocktail Concept

Trust, of 2016's most acclaimed new restaurants, announced plans to open a new cocktail bar with food on Park Boulevard. Scheduled for a spring 2017 debut, the bar will feature boozy milkshakes, craft cocktails, and boilermakers  shots paired with a beer chaser.

Tip Top Meats Expands Into New Seafood Market & Eatery

Carlsbad fixture Tip Top Meats, which offers a European-style deli, restaurant and butchery, is planning to launch an adjacent fish market and restaurant, Top Choice Fish Market and Eatery, which will retail fresh local catch and serve a straightforward seafood menu.

New Cider House Taps Scripps Ranch Tasting Room

Newtopia Cyder encompasses a cider-making facility and tasting room in Scripps Ranch specializing in artisan ciders including a variety made with pineapple, cardamom, and Belgian spices. Its grand opening is next month; it will be open daily for tastings and growler fills.

Candice Woo is the founding editor of Eater San Diego, a leading source for news about San Diegos restaurant and bar scene. Keep up with the latest Eater San Diego content via Facebook or Twitter, and sign up for Eater San Diegos newsletter here.


A local non-profit is reaching out to the public, asking for donations to help Syrian refugees across San Diego County.

CSA San Diego County, a non-profit in El Cajon that focuses on fair housing is one of dozens of agencies helping Syrian refugees across the county.

But a problem many local agencies are facing is funding.

It was estimated in October that San Diego, the countrys 8th largest city, is home to more than 626 refugees.

While that number has continued to increase, the agencies do not have enough resources to cover everyone.

CSA San Diego County has helped house approximately 50 Syrian families since the beginning of August.

Akrayyem Elberry is from Al- Quneitra, a southern province in Syria. Elberry said he left Syria back in August for his four childrenthe eldest of whom is 11 and the youngest, a 2-year old.

With the help of a translator, Elberry explained the situation in Syria to NBC 7.

Its very dangerous, Elberry said. Outside my house, people they are kidnapped. They are disappeared, there are too many insurgents everywhere, shooting.

He came to the United States after fleeing Syria and traveling to Jordan. Elberry told NBC 7 that his children had been traumatized by the bombings back home and were terrified to enter the airport in Jordan.

After settling in El Cajon in an apartment complex near Main Street, Elberry was given a helping hand from the International Rescue Committee in San Diego. However, those funds quickly ran out and now, the money allocated for their housing is also running low.

Estela de los Rios, Executive Director for CSA San Diego County siad this kind of situtation is very common. De los Rios explained there is more of a need than the amount of resources available when it comes to Syrian refugees.

Agencies such as the International Refugee Committee and CSA San Diego County provide funds for each family. But now, many families are struggling to choose between receiving money for food or housing.

Although it's a challenge, CSA San Diego County works with apartment complexes to try to lower the cost of housing.

There is no more housing availability, said De los Rios. A lot of families have been going to hotels but those are more expensive and their days are being cut.

De los Rios added that families only get a certain amount of money for housing but affordable housing is no longer available in El Cajon.

CSA San Diego County is reaching out to the public, asking for monetary donations, blankets, clothing and food. Many families come here with very few belongings, do not speak English and have no means for employment.

If you would like to donate, click here or call (619) 277-5786.
The San Diego MTS bus and trolley system plan to operate on modified service schedules for the Christmas holiday weekend.

All trolley lines and most MTS bus routes will operate normal Saturday schedules on Christmas Eve, and all trolley lines will operate on a half-hour frequency on Christmas Day. Most MTS bus routes will operate normal Sunday schedules.

Between December 24 and 26, the following routes will not operate:

MTS Express Routes 50, 60, 110, 870

MTS Rapid 237 and Rapid Express Routes 280 and 290

MTS Rural Routes 888, 891, 892 and 894

Routes 972,973, 978, 979 (Sorrento Valley COASTER Connection)

For a detailed list of holiday service modifications please go to the MTS website.
The White House has named the City of San Diego a TechHire city, recognizing the city for its successful workforce development program in the technology industry.

San Diego is one of a select few cities across the nation to participate in the TechHire initiative, launched by President Obama in 2015.

The nation-wide $100 million campaign looks to expand tech sectors across the country by growing and connecting talent across the nation. San Diego first became involved in the program last year.

By naming San Diego a TechHire city, the city and its partners will be looking to help an additional 1,000 youth and young adults - including 150 veterans - start their careers in information technology and other related fields.

San Diegans should be the first in line for good-paying jobs in our rapidly-growing tech sector and the City is making it easier than ever for people to learn the skills they need to qualify for these rewarding careers, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer said in a statement. This recognition will give us the opportunity to expand these efforts to train our local workforce to compete for the high-tech jobs of the future.

The initiative has already helped some San Diegans get careers in the fast-growing industry.

Tomoree Randall, 22, of San Diego, was working in retail when he enrolled in a fast-track information technology training program, created by the City through the initiative.

Through the program, he was able to pass certification tests and landed a full-time job as a software and hardware specialist.

San Diegos innovation economy is rapidly creating new software development job opportunities, said Erik Caldwell, Director of the Citys Economic Development Department, in a statement. We are pleased to see the citys efforts to help all San Diegans access these opportunities gaining national recognition. These efforts underscore Mayor Faulconers One San Diego initiative to provide opportunities for all San Diegans.

San Diego has additional workforce development programs available for residents, including Career Online High School and One San Diego 100.

Since the initiative started, the program has expanded to more than 70 communities nationwide with more than 1,500 employer partners.
U.S. Marshals are searching for a U.S. Army solider - considered a deserter - wanted for allegedly killing his estranged wife in South Carolina. Authorities say he may be traveling along the West Coast through parts of Southern California.

John Tufton Blauvelt, 28, is facing charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the Simpsonville Police Department in South Carolina.

Officials say he is considered armed and dangerous.

U.S. Marshals say Blauvelt may be traveling south through California, staying close to the Coast. However, he may also be anywhere along the West Coast or within the Country, U.S. Marshals say.

He is reportedly traveling with a military-style green camouflage backpack. Blauvelt is known to camp in local parks or areas known to be frequented by the homeless, Marshals say.

He has several known alias': John Bluefields, Vincent Mendoza and Victor Saccheti.

Officials rescribe him as 5 feet 8 inches, approximately 185 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo on his left and right arms as well as a tattoo on his chest and left wrist.

Anyone with information is asked to call the U.S. Marshals tip line at 1 (800)336-0102 or email usms.wanted@usdoj.gov.

Authorities are offering up to a $2,500 reward for information leading directly to Blauvelt's capture.
Maryland first-responders brought an electrician back to life after he was electrocuted while on the job Wednesday afternoon.

The man was working on the electric in the ceiling at an office building in Rockville when he came in contact with high-voltage lines, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Lt. Daniel Ballantine said.

On the way to the call we were told cardiac arrest for electrocution, he said.

The electrician's coworkers kicked his ladder to get him away from the electrical source without anyone else getting electrocuted.

The biggest thing that they did for him was to kick the ladder out from underneath of him so he could fall to the ground, Ballantine said.

When the ambulance arrived, the man had been dead for at least five minutes. He wasnt breathing, so the paramedics hooked him up to a defibrillator.

Once we applied the AED, it was determined that the patient needed to be shocked, Thomas Buckmaster said. We then shocked the patient with the defibrillator and he was able to breathe on his own, and we were able to get a pulse back.

Buckmaster and his partner rushed the man to emergency at Shady Grove Medical Center, where he was able to recover.

A life was saved and ... somebody gets to make it to Christmas, Buckmaster said.
Maryland officials are identifying the truck driver killed when a tanker carrying gasoline slid off the icy interstate and exploded.

Maryland Transportation Authority Police announced in a statement Friday that 31-year-old Clinton Lamont Worrell Jr. of Baltimore died in the crash on Interstate 95 on Dec. 17.

Earlier this week, police identified two people killed in a nearly 70-vehicle pileup that occurred nearby around the same time: 38-year-old Alfredo Santos Orellana and 54-year-old Mehmed Hodzic. Officials say Hodzic died after leaving his vehicle and falling over a barrier while trying to avoid oncoming traffic, but the exact cause of Orellana's death is being investigated. That crash left about two dozen people injured.

Police say they are investigating the crashes separately, but both occurred during particularly icy conditions.
Montgomery County police say a missing 21-year-old woman has been found safe.

Erica Morris was last seen about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at her family's home on Cold Spring Rd. in Rockville, Maryland.

She left without telling relatives where she was going, police said. Although Morris is an adult, police say she functions at the level of a third-grader.

Police say Morris has been located safe and has been reunited with her family.
A criminal investigation of Flint's lead-contaminated water turned to former key officials at City Hall on Tuesday as Michigan's attorney general announced charges against four people accused of keeping residents on a contaminated system that caused the crisis.

Darnell Earley and Gerald Ambrose separately were state-appointed emergency managers in Flint in 2014-15 when the city was using the Flint River as a source of drinking water. Ambrose also served earlier as a financial adviser to the troubled town.

They were charged with four crimes, including conspiracy and misconduct in office. Howard Croft, Flint's former public works director, and Daugherty Johnson, the former utilities director, were charged with conspiracy and false pretenses.

Attorney General Bill Schuette said Earley and Ambrose committed Flint to $85 million in bonds to join a new regional water pipeline to Lake Huron while at the same time using a city water plant that was not equipped to properly treat the river water before it went to roughly 100,000 residents.

They claimed that debt-burdened Flint needed to sell bonds to clean up a lagoon, Schuette said, but the money went as the city's share to Karegnondi Water Authority to build the pipeline, which still is under construction.

"This case is a classic bait-and-switch. ... The lime sludge lagoon was not an emergency," said special prosecutor Todd Flood.

During a news conference, there was no allegation by Schuette that Earley and Ambrose personally gained from the bond deal or by keeping the Flint River as the source of water for Flint while the pipeline was being constructed.

Flint's water system became contaminated with lead because water from the river wasn't treated for corrosion for 18 months, from April 2014 to October 2015. The water ate away at a protective coating inside old pipes and fixtures, releasing lead.

Schuette said the investigation has revealed a "fixation on finances and balance sheets" in Flint during that period.

"This fixation has cost lives," he said, noting that 12 people died from Legionnaires' disease, which has been linked by experts to the river water. "This fixation came at the expense of protecting the health and safety of Flint. It's all about numbers over people, money over health."

Earley, Ambrose and Croft could not immediately be reached for comment. They didn't appear in court Tuesday.

Johnson is "going to plead not guilty and we're going to stand by that," attorney Edwar Zeineh said.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero released a statement, defending Ambrose as a "man of the highest character who would never knowingly endanger the public health."

The latest charges bring to 13 the number of people who have been charged in the investigation of Flint water and the Legionnaires' outbreak. The other nine are eight current or former state employees and a water plant employee.

Perhaps the most significant catch so far: Corrine Miller, Michigan's former director of disease control, pleaded no contest to willful neglect of duty in September. She said she was aware of dozens of cases of Legionnaires' in the Flint area around the same time the city changed its water source, but she didn't report it to the general public.

"The investigation has continued to go up and go out. ... We are not at the end," said former FBI agent Andy Arena, the lead investigator.

Meanwhile, tests show Flint's water quality is improving, although residents are urged to drink tap water only if it's first run through a filter.
Under heavy Israeli pressure, Egypt on Thursday indefinitely postponed a planned U.N. vote on a proposed Security Council resolution that sought to condemn Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, diplomats and Western officials said, just a few hours before the vote was set to take place.

The vote would have been one of the last opportunities for President Barack Obama to take a stand against Israeli settlement building after years of failed peace efforts, but doing so could re-ignite a dispute with a close ally in the waning days of his tenure. The delay also dealt a setback to repeated Palestinian efforts to censure Israel over its settlements.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had publicly urged the U.S. to veto the resolution, calling it bad for peace. "Peace will come not through U.N. resolutions, but only through direct negotiations between the parties," he said.

President-elect Donald Trump had also urged Obama to block the measure, issuing a statement nearly identical to Netanyahu's.

"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations," he said in a statement on Facebook. "This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said Trump "is acting on behalf of Netanyahu, The New York Times reported.

A senior Israeli official confirmed to the NBC News that Israel asked Trump to weigh in on the U.N. vote.

The U.S., as a permanent member of the Security Council, has traditionally used its veto power to block resolutions condemning Israeli settlements, even though it sees them as an obstacle to a peace settlement. But in recent weeks, the Obama administration had been especially secretive about its deliberations, which included what one official described as an unannounced meeting between Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this month.

The U.S. had been considering a highly unusual abstention, potentially rocking U.S.-Israeli relations, officials said, though they wouldn't say whether Obama had made a final decision.

An Israeli official, according to CNN, said his country "implored the White House not to go ahead and told them that if they did, we would have no choice but to reach out to President-elect Trump."

Egypt, the Arab representative to the Security Council, circulated the draft on Wednesday. Several diplomats and Western officials said the Egyptians postponed the vote due to pressure from the Israelis. Egypt, the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, was meeting with Arab League diplomats to review the text. Diplomats said there was no time frame for when the vote may now occur and said it could be put off indefinitely.

The diplomats and officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, said Israeli diplomats had made the government's views clear "in various channels."

The office of the U.N. spokesman later announced Thursday that the Security Council meeting has been postponed.

The draft resolution, circulated by Egypt, demands that Israel stop settlement activities in the Palestinian territories and declares that all existing settlements "have no legal validity" and are "a flagrant violation" of international law.

Ahmed Abu-Zeid, spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, told the SkyNewsArabia channel that "talks are still ongoing," on the draft resolution. He said the talks are taking place in New York and in Cairo at the Arab League headquarters, and that an "appropriate" decision will be taken, without elaboration. He didn't respond to phone calls.

There was no immediate comment from the Palestinians.

Israel has expressed concern that Obama, who has had an icy relationship with Netanyahu, would take an audacious step in his last weeks in office to revive the peace process, but U.S. officials have said he has nearly ruled out any major last-ditch effort to pressure Israel.

A Security Council resolution would be more than symbolic since it carries the weight of international law. In the past, Obama has refused to endorse anti-Israel resolutions in the council, saying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved through negotiations.

Robbie Sabel, professor of international law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the resolution would have been "politically damaging" for Israel as it could have weakened its position when negotiating the settlement issue with the Palestinians.

The U.S. and much of the international community consider Israel's settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem illegitimate and an obstacle to peace. Netanyahu rejects such claims, blaming the failure of peace efforts on the Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel's Jewish identity.

Trump's selection for ambassador to Israel David Friedman has long ties to Israel's settler movement.

The Palestinians, and most of the international community, say that the growth in settlements is endangering the goal of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Netanyahu and Obama have repeatedly clashed over Israel's settlement policies.

Trump, who takes office in less than a month, has indicated a more sympathetic approach to Israel and appointed an ambassador who has been a supporter of the settler movement.

Nearly 600,000 Jewish settlers now live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas the Palestinians want as part of their future state, along with the Gaza Strip. Israel captured those territories in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel annexed east Jerusalem, home to sensitive religious sites, in a move that is not internationally recognized, while the West Bank is divided between autonomous Palestinian zones and Israeli-controlled territory.

Settlement construction has thrived under Obama's watch, despite his administration's constant condemnations, a sign of the limits of U.S. influence over its close ally. Obama has struggled to revive peace talks, which last collapsed in 2014.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, Obama for more than a year had considered giving a major speech describing his vision for a future peace deal or, in a more aggressive step, supporting a U.N. resolution laying out parameters for such a deal.

Although the goal would be to impart fresh urgency to the moribund peace process, either step would have been perceived as constraining Israel's negotiating hand while strengthening the Palestinians' argument on the world stage.

A year-long wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence, which has tapered off in recent months but not halted completely, has further imperiled any peace efforts.

Earlier Thursday, the Israeli military said forces shot and killed a Palestinian who was lobbing an explosive device at troops carrying out an operation in east Jerusalem. The forces were demolishing the home of a Palestinian who carried out an October attack in Jerusalem that killed a police officer and a civilian.
A newly-signed federal law is aimed at streamlining travel between Canada and some U.S. destinations, including Vermont's Burlington International Airport.

The steps still must be finalized on the other end by Canadian lawmakers, but assuming they go through, the development could shave an hour or longer off the deplaning process of flights from Canada landing in Burlington.

Porter Airlines' twice-weekly winter flights from Toronto to Vermont's Burlington International Airport are popular with tourists and business travelers, but they do come with a bit of a headache.

"It's always somewhat onerous to go through customs, absolutely," said traveler David Munroe.

Today, flights from Canada don't go to the main Burlington Airport terminal. They first head for a separate facility, on the other side of the property. There, passengers must clear customs, adding an hour or more to their journeys.

But now, new rules written by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, and authorized by President Obama, could trim that time, and enable travelers to go through the main terminal to get their luggage or find transportation to their final destination.

The law expands pre-clearance stations operated by U.S. Customs & Border Protection, so travelers could go through those required checks before even leaving the ground in Canada.

"I can't tell you how important what we're doing today is, to be considerate of the traveling public," said Burlington Airport aviation director Gene Richards. "This is a real big deal."

Richards said at least one passenger on essentially every flight from Canada has complained about having to go through the other facility for customs.

Handling customs checks before leaving Canada would also benefit national security, Sen. Leahy predicted.

"In 2014, pre-clearance stopped more than 10,000 inadmissible visitors before they left foreign soil," Leahy said. "But for the travelers that flew in today on Porter Airlines' first flight of the winter, we want them to deplane right here [in the primary airport terminal], not across the tarmac."

Leahy said the move should make travel more appealing, providing a boost to tourism-dependent businesses in Vermont and facilitating business travel between the neighboring countries.

Leahy also said the move could inspire new or additional air travel routes.

The legislation also enables discussions about restoring Amtrak rail service between Vermont and Montreal; service that hasn't been available since the 1990s.
The first night of Hanukkah this year coincides with Christmas Eve, leaving some people referring to the mash-up of holidays as Christmukkah.

Because the Jewish holidays follow a lunar calendar, the civil calendar has them falling on different dates each year.

Were all celebrating together, observed Rabbi James Glazier of Temple Sinai in South Burlington, Vermont.

This type of overlap is not unprecedented. In 1978, the first night of Hanukkah fell on Christmas Eve, and in 2005, the first night of Hanukkah fell on Christmas Day.

Theyre holidays about life and renewal at the time of year its the darkest and the coldest, Rabbi Glazier said, discussing an area of commonality between Christmas and Hanukkah. And both holidays remind us that there is hope to come.

In 2013, a rarer alignment of holidays occurred when Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coincided. Many people nicknamed that dual celebration as Thanksgivukkah.

I think its a wonderful thing, said Father Pat Forman of the St. John Vianney Catholic Parish in South Burlington.

Forman said Christmukkah can serve as a good reminder to maintain friendships with neighbors.

Theres no denying that between Jews and Christians, there have been very rough spotsvery hurtful spots, historically, the parish priest told necn. But if we can see now, over time, this coming together, praying for one another, being able to support one anotherwhat a beautiful healing that is.

In another quirk, this Hanukkah celebration actually stretches into 2017. The last night of Hanukkah will be New Years Day.
Vermont police are on the hunt for a Christmas Grinch who broke into a general store and stole toys meant for kids in need along with packages for residents.

The burglar broke into Teago General Store in Pomfret, Vermont and stole approximately 25-30 unwrapped toys from a Toys for Tots bin.

The burglar also broke into the attached United States Post Office and stole approximately 20-25 packages waiting to be delivered to community members.

Vermont State Police and the United States Postal Service are investigating the thefts. If anyone has any information regarding these burglaries, they are asked to contact the Vermont State Police Royalton Barracks at 802-234-9933.

In the meantime, troopers of the Royalton Barracks are working together to try and replenish the bin of toys. Currently, no more toys are being collected at community centers.

If anyone would like to donate, toys can be dropped off at 27 Farmvu Drive in White River Junction, Windsor County. They can be reached at 802-296-8800.
Dozens of people are left without a home for the holidays after a 3-alarm fire blazed through an apartment building in Methuen, Massachusetts Thursday night.

Crews are investigating the fire that tore through dozens of units at 11 Ashton Place.

A firefighter fell through the second floor, where the fire originated, but was able to get out safely. Two other firefighters suffered injuries but are expected to recover.

The roof collapsed and the building has been declared a total loss by officials.

The residents of the building were able to escape the building unharmed, but are now facing a holiday season without a home.

Deputy Fire Chief Dan Donahue said that they have some toys at the station they are going to try to put together for the children displaced by the fire.

Mayor Stephen Zanni and Police Chief Joseph Solomon said other relief efforts were in place to assist the 21 families displaced by the blaze.

Anyone wishing to donate money to the victims can drop off a check made out to the City of Methuen to the following locations:

Methuen Fire Department, Central Fire Station, 24 Lowell St.

Methuen Police Department, 90 Hampshire St.

Anyone that wants to make an electronic donation can visit the Debbies Treasure Chest website.

Displaced residents can speak with officials to discuss state aid by reporting to Sanborn Hall at the Methuen Police Station, 90 Hampshire St., on Tuesday, Dec. 27, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Police have arrested a suspect they believe impersonated a New Hampshire state trooper to trick an auto dealership and steal a pickup truck.

Police say former Melrose Police Officer Derek Guthro, 46 of 31 Concord Street, Nashua, New Hampshire claimed he was someone else when he entered Team Nissan in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday.

Guthro said his name was Adam Foley at Team Nissan on Monday and claimed to be a Merrimack, New Hampshire, resident. He asked to take a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew cab pickup truck for a drive, and flashed a badge in lieu of a license

He never returned the vehicle to the dealership.

Guthro was later identified by his former colleagues at the Melrose Massachusetts Police Department and arrested soon after.

Guthro was charged with one count of theft by unauthorized taking and one count of false impersonation. He was admitted to a $5000 personal recognizance bail and is due to be arraigned in the 9th Circuit Court Manchester on January 20, 2017.
With just two shopping days until Christmas, the Burlington Mall in Burlington, Massachusetts, was buzzing with shoppers on Friday.

While some people were checking things off their shopping list, others were watching and waiting in line to see Santa.

"I'm going to see Santa," said Isabella Stevens. "I'm happy."

Stevens told necn there's only one thing on her list that she must get.

"A hatchimal," said Stevens.

When asked if she found her mom and dad a gift she said of course.

"I got my dad an 8-in-1 screw driver and my mom fuzzy socks," said Stevens.

But not everyone at the mall found their family gifts yet.

Nicholas Poulakidas, of Woburn, was still looking to find his family and girlfriend their gifts.

"I got to get something for my girlfriend now," said Poulakidas. "Maybe something from Pandora, a necklace or something. Got to look fabulous."

Looking good comes at a price but Poulakidas said he's all about the deals.

"I walk in here and bargain with everybody," said Poulakidas. "Whatever they say, I say 50 percent off."

Others said their shopping was finished but they still head to the mall to enjoy the day.

"I finished my shopping. I'm all done and now it's my day to walk around and watch people panic," said Bill Oakes from Burlington.

Oakes said he takes pleasure in watching shoppers suffer, especially the men.

"They're always running around with little tiny bags," said Oakes. "They went right to the jewelry store."

If you still have shopping to do there's only one day left. The Burlington Mall is open Christmas Eve 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Police say a Massachusetts woman has been charged with punching two teenage girls outside a Fall River middle school and pushing another.

The Herald News reports 30-year-old Noemi Alvarez faces charges including assault and battery and disorderly conduct stemming from the Tuesday incident outside Morton Middle School. She posted a $500 bail on Wednesday.

Alvarez says a teenage girl kicked her 11-year-old daughter. When her daughter fought back, Alvarez says another girl punched Alvarez in the face and began swinging at Alvarez's daughter. Alvarez described her actions as self-defense and acknowledged she shouldn't have gotten physically involved.

The school principal's office referred calls to Fall River Schools Superintendent Matt Malone.

Malone says Alvarez has been barred from the school.
When the story broke a week before the election about Macedonian teenagers creating fake pro-Trump news stories in order to harvest ad clicks, it triggered a serious feeling of deja vu among those who work in cybersecurity.

Scrappy bands of shady Eastern Europeans entrepreneurs taking advantages of weaknesses in our tech infrastructure to make a buck, and maybe fulfill sinister more designs? The debate over fake news is roiling the political world, but elements of it look very familiar to tech veteransand represent a potentially new attack vector that IT needs to worry about.

Greg Mancusi-Ungaro, CMO at BrandProtect, emphasizes that false and misleading information online can affect your company and should definitely be on the radar of IT security. "It's likely that fake news wasn't even a security or IT concern until recently," he says. "It has long been the domain of the investor relations or the marketing or PR departments. But that needs to change. Security needs to adjust. Realistically, security or IT are the only teams in the company who have the expertise and the mindset to deal with real time attacks."

Chris Ensey, COO of Dunbar Security Solutions, traces the origins of the fake news phenomenon to an environment IT security is well familiar with. The explosion of WordPress-powered blogging sites in the early-to-mid '00s, driven partly by earnest bloggers but often by get-rich-quick schemes to harvest ad clicks or spread malware, created an internet that was, as he put it, "riddled with content with varying levels of legitimacy."

Fake news turns out to be just another malicious payload delivered by an ecosystem that's already developed all sorts of tradecraft for doing just that.

True to this origin story, fake news has an underreported role to play in phishing scams. Users are mostly trained to understand that a "too good to be true" email about a Nigerian fortune shouldn't be clicked onbut what about a story saying that a political candidate you hate is going to jail?

[ SPEAKING OF NIGERIAN SCAMS: Remain paranoid, err vigilant, with online security in 2017 ]

"These additional security exposures greatly increase the risk of employees being compromised," says Scott Carlson, technical fellow at BeyondTrust. "Because they're the one searching, they often forget that links they find are equally as dangerous as links they are sent via email. Taking the standard preventative measures to remove administrative rights from the endpoint and increase awareness at the layer of proxy control for employees are two ways in which you can reduce the risk internally."

Fake news should also be familiar to security pros under other guises. For instance, Kasey Cross, director of product management at LightCyber, notes that that "penny stock traders have used fake news for years to drive upor damagestock prices," giving the example of a shell company called ABM Capital falsely claiming it was acquiring FitBit.

This kind of organized rumormongering doesn't just help those looking to benefit from short-term stock spikes. "Spreading a rumor can force an official comment on sensitive issues," says Douglas Boemker, a counterintelligence specialist who is the CEO of Macrotec Security. "And false information can poison the well on deals."

False information can poison the well on deals.

Douglas Boemker, CEO of Macrotec Security

When it comes to the stopping the spread of false information, IT security has something of an advantage over those grappling with the issue in the media at large, says Boemker. "Organizations should have established lines of communication, and they can quickly reach out to employees to clear up confusion," he says. "Since people within an organization tend to know where they can obtain reliable sources of information, any skillful handling of company communications, internal or public relations, goes a long way."

Holding back the tide

Controlling the flow of fake information outside the company is a more formidable task, though. "Security must extend their protective monitoring to include external activity that can arise literally anywhere on the internetTwitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, citizen-journalism aggregators, video sites, fringe news outlets, blogs, article comments, and thousands of other sites," says BrandProtect's Mancusi-Ungaro.

"It is an immense task. But it must be done. Companies that have the resources should build out their monitoring teams to include these requirements. This will involve hiring a team of engineers and threat analysts, and building the tools and processes to conduct the monitoring. Companies that don't have the resources should engage with a growing group of expert services providers that deliver external threat monitoring services on a 24/7/365 basis."

The tech tools offered to protect companies could also be applied to the fake news problem at large, says Dunbar's Ensey. "There are companies with products and services that mine social media networks to identify malicious links that are being posted with the hopes that they can compromise different users," he says.

"I think you'll probably start to see some of these tools turn their analysis towards reputation and information about the site. They'll use content inspection to see if it's something that's been reposted in many different places in many different ways. There are scoring systems that can be built on top of existing social media cybersecurity technologies that can be adapted to that fake news media."

Fake news relies on tricking the human eye; Ricardo Villadiego, CEO of Easy Solutions, points to scam pages, which has copied the design of a Forbes article.

But Dunbar's Ensey explains how programmatic tools can look below the surface to spot the scam. "You can look at the history of the domain," he says. "If this URL's been hosted on 40 different IP addresses in the last six months, that's a pretty big indicator that there might be something a little fishy. I think you can make the argument that for sites that haven't been online very long, that don't score well with Alexa or other ranking engines, there should be some means of marking this in an automated fashion, just like the security lock on your browser URL."

If it makes you feel any better, if you're reading this article, you probably don't fall for many fake news scams. "I would argue that fake news has had less of an impact on the security industry than society as a whole," says John Dickson, principal of Denim Group. "Most security folks are skeptical bunch. They are always on watch for inbound phishing and social engineering campaigns, and thus are probably bigger doubters than the average reader.

"Also, most of them get their regular feeds from trusted sourcesbloggers, industry writers that cover security, and colleagues in the security industry. They're less likely to go down a rabbit hole of fake news from their Facebook feed or sketchy sources they do not trust."

So if you're worried about your own susceptibility to fake news, put yourself in that skeptical mindsetand tell your friends to do the same.

This story, "What fake news means for ITand how IT security can help fight it" was originally published by CSO .
InCantata performance at Reading Minster to be aired

WAKE to the sounds of carols performed by a Newbury choir on Christmas morning.

InCantata were recorded at Reading Minster for BBC Berkshire's 20th annual Christmas Carol service.

Choir member, Jay Handscombe, said that the event was wonderful and that she was thrilled to be there.

"It was just something really beautiful to participate in and be a part of," she said. "It was wonderful to be part of the service and sing to such a large audience. It is thought 600-1,000 people attended the service."

InCantata joined Bulmershe Ensemble, who were finalists on Gareth Malone's The Choir: Best in Britain, the Reading Community Gospel Choir, Thames Valley Chorus and Windsor Girls School Choir .

Led by their Musical Director, Nic Cope, InCantatas choir members sang That First Nowell by Don Besig and The Colours of Christmas by John Rutter.

The last carol of the evening was O Come All Ye Faithful, complemented with descant by the choirs.

InCantata has been busy over the Christmas period, singing in local hospitals, nursing homes, local department stores and banks, as well as private functions.

You can hear Incantata at 9am on Christmas Day aired on BBC Berkshire.

The choir meet each Wednesday morning from 9.15am until 11.15am at Mary's Church Hall, Greenham and will be holding open sessions throughout January.

For more visit www.incantata.co.uk
Police appeal for witnesses

POLICE are searching for a man who snatched a woman's handbag - and they have appealed for any witnesses.

The incident happened between 12pm and 12.30pm on Friday, December 15.

As the 21-year-old woman waswalking along the towpath at Greenham Mill, towards Tesco on the A4. a man ran past her and snatched her handbag.

A few seconds later a second man ran past and pushed her to the ground.

The handbag contained a pink tiger shaped purse containing cash.

The victim sustained minor injuries to her forehead and hand but did not require hospital treatment.

One of the offenders was wearing a dark top with the hood up and blue jeans.

Investigating officer, PC Andy Philpott from Newbury CID, said: This was an unprovoked and frightening theft that has left the victim badly shaken. I would ask anyone who may have witnessed two men acting suspiciously on or around the towpath to contact me on the 24 hour number 101.

If you dont want to speak directly to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers (opens new window) anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
St Finians rated 'Good' once again

STAFF and pupils at St Finians Catholic Primary School are celebrating this week after receiving a glowing report following a recent Ofsted inspection.

The school in Cold Ash was once again rated good, with inspectors praising its leadership, staff and pupils, saying there was a strongly supportive and inclusive culture.

In the report, Ofsted inspectors said under the leadership of headteacher Elizabeth Housden, leaders are focused on bringing out the best in people so that every child can be happy and successful, preparing them well for life beyond St Finians.

As one parent stated: St Finians values each pupil and focuses on harnessing and encouraging the positive in every child.

The inspector commented on the high expectations staff have for what pupils can achieve, adding pupils reach high standards in reading, writing and mathematics, which are securely above the national average, making good progress from when they arrive in the reception class.

Ofsted looked closely at safeguarding and the effectiveness of the schools procedures and processes in this area.

The inspector judged that leaders place great importance on looking after the pupils in their care and keeping them safe.

Mrs Housden said: The highly positive report is a celebration of the commitment and dedication of the staff who continually strive to fulfil the potential of all the children in our care.

The school would like to thank all who helped tell the great story of St Finians during the inspection; staff, parents, governors and pupils.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU : Even though lack of awareness has curbed the growth of the number of women insurers in the country, the individual insurance premium spending by women in India has the potential to grow up to $35 billion (up to 2 to 4 times the estimated premium of $10 billion spent by women in 2013), a study by Bharti Axa General Insurance points out.



With three million SME enterprises in India, fully or partially owned by women and with womens entrepreneurship growing at more than 4.5 percent annually, this could boost the growth of women insurers. The study states that a large portion of the Indian population considered low income is likely to grow into the market for insurers.



We have been doing research in as many as 10 emerging markets to understand the needs of women, said Mabel Leung, Regional Head of Brands and Insights, AXA Asia. As more and more women begin to get into the workforce, they were able to understand the importance of insurance. However, there was a need for awareness in this regard, she said. This includes China, Thailand, India, Mexico, and Brazil among others.



Parag Gupta, Chief Underwriting Officer, Bharti AXA General Insurance observed that health insurance is a `25,000 crores market in India out of which only `300 crores is contributed by women.

BENGALURU : Even though lack of awareness has curbed the growth of the number of women insurers in the country, the individual insurance premium spending by women in India has the potential to grow up to $35 billion (up to 2 to 4 times the estimated premium of $10 billion spent by women in 2013), a study by Bharti Axa General Insurance points out. With three million SME enterprises in India, fully or partially owned by women and with womens entrepreneurship growing at more than 4.5 percent annually, this could boost the growth of women insurers. The study states that a large portion of the Indian population considered low income is likely to grow into the market for insurers. We have been doing research in as many as 10 emerging markets to understand the needs of women, said Mabel Leung, Regional Head of Brands and Insights, AXA Asia. As more and more women begin to get into the workforce, they were able to understand the importance of insurance. However, there was a need for awareness in this regard, she said. This includes China, Thailand, India, Mexico, and Brazil among others. Parag Gupta, Chief Underwriting Officer, Bharti AXA General Insurance observed that health insurance is a `25,000 crores market in India out of which only `300 crores is contributed by women.
By AFP

WASHINGTON: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump heaped pressure on Lockheed Martin Corp on Thursday, saying he viewed costs for the aerospace company's F-35 fighter as too high and had asked Boeing Co to offer a price for an older aircraft that lacks the same stealth capabilities.

Trump posted his Twitter message a day after the president-elect met with the chief executives of both aerospace companies, using the bully pulpit to press them on projects he says are too expensive.

In after-hours trading following Trump's tweet, Lockheed shares fell 2 percent and Boeing's rose 0.7 percent.

"Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Trump said.

Lockheed declined to comment. The F-35 program is a critical sales generator for the company, accounting for 20 percent of last year's revenue of $46.1 billion.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Boeing spokesman Todd Blecher said in an email that the company was committed to providing the capability and affordability to meet national security needs.

While the F-35 program has been dogged by problems and costs have escalated to an estimated $379 billion, it is significantly newer than the F-18, which does not have the same stealth capabilities.

"They're two completely different aircraft from different generations," said Phillip Carter, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank. "It's like comparing an old jeep to a Humvee."

Dan Grazier of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonprofit that investigates government contractors, said the F-35's stealth capabilities drove the cost up, but its usefulness had not yet been demonstrated. He said cancelling the program, however, would be "disruptive."

On the campaign trail, Trump touted his negotiating skills as a businessman, and he appears to be using similar tactics as he prepares to take office on Jan. 20. It was not clear how his blunt style would translate to Pentagon procurement or international diplomacy.

On Wednesday, Trump met the CEOs of Lockheed and Boeing at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg told reporters there that he had guaranteed costs would not get out of control for a replacement to Air Force One, the presidential plane, another project Trump calls too expensive.

Lockheed Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson did not speak to reporters but said in a statement that the meeting was "productive." Trump told reporters he wanted to cut the F-35 program's costs.

If he scrapped the F-35, such a move by a new administration would have some precedent. Then-President Jimmy Carter cancelled the B-1 bomber program in June 1977, although it was resurrected by his White House successor, Ronald Reagan.

Trump's jockeying for leverage via his Twitter account is likely to be a hurdle for all U.S. defence contractors in the next administration, Roman Schweizer, aerospace and defence analyst at financial services firm Cowen & Co, wrote in a note to clients on Thursday.

"We have no idea how this plays out but believe 'Twitter risk' for defence companies could be a significant issue over the next four years," Schweizer wrote. "This is Lockheed Martin's time in the barrel."

WASHINGTON: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump heaped pressure on Lockheed Martin Corp on Thursday, saying he viewed costs for the aerospace company's F-35 fighter as too high and had asked Boeing Co to offer a price for an older aircraft that lacks the same stealth capabilities. Trump posted his Twitter message a day after the president-elect met with the chief executives of both aerospace companies, using the bully pulpit to press them on projects he says are too expensive. In after-hours trading following Trump's tweet, Lockheed shares fell 2 percent and Boeing's rose 0.7 percent. "Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Trump said. Lockheed declined to comment. The F-35 program is a critical sales generator for the company, accounting for 20 percent of last year's revenue of $46.1 billion. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Boeing spokesman Todd Blecher said in an email that the company was committed to providing the capability and affordability to meet national security needs. While the F-35 program has been dogged by problems and costs have escalated to an estimated $379 billion, it is significantly newer than the F-18, which does not have the same stealth capabilities. "They're two completely different aircraft from different generations," said Phillip Carter, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank. "It's like comparing an old jeep to a Humvee." Dan Grazier of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonprofit that investigates government contractors, said the F-35's stealth capabilities drove the cost up, but its usefulness had not yet been demonstrated. He said cancelling the program, however, would be "disruptive." On the campaign trail, Trump touted his negotiating skills as a businessman, and he appears to be using similar tactics as he prepares to take office on Jan. 20. It was not clear how his blunt style would translate to Pentagon procurement or international diplomacy. On Wednesday, Trump met the CEOs of Lockheed and Boeing at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg told reporters there that he had guaranteed costs would not get out of control for a replacement to Air Force One, the presidential plane, another project Trump calls too expensive. Lockheed Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson did not speak to reporters but said in a statement that the meeting was "productive." Trump told reporters he wanted to cut the F-35 program's costs. If he scrapped the F-35, such a move by a new administration would have some precedent. Then-President Jimmy Carter cancelled the B-1 bomber program in June 1977, although it was resurrected by his White House successor, Ronald Reagan. Trump's jockeying for leverage via his Twitter account is likely to be a hurdle for all U.S. defence contractors in the next administration, Roman Schweizer, aerospace and defence analyst at financial services firm Cowen & Co, wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. "We have no idea how this plays out but believe 'Twitter risk' for defence companies could be a significant issue over the next four years," Schweizer wrote. "This is Lockheed Martin's time in the barrel."
Jayanthi Pawar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A desperate attempt of a 19-year-old college student to flee from the police, who were on a routine testing of drivers for alcohol, on Ormes Road in Kilpauk, led to the students death on Thursday.

The incident spread tension with allegations that a policeman had hurled his cane at the rider leading to the accident. Police officials maintain that he lost control as he was drunk.



L Mukilan, a first-year BA student from Nammalvarpet in Ayanavaram was riding the bike with two friends riding pillion. He fled when the police tried to stop him. He lost control going over a speedbreaker, fell and died on the spot, said a police source. Rumours began making the rounds that a policeman had used a lathi to stop the boys, causing Mukilan to loose control of the bike.



When the three on the bike saw police checking drivers for alcohol, the two pillion riders got off the bike, while Mukilan tried to escape by making a U-turn, said a police source. A TN Home Guard personnel who was among the police party allegedly used the lathi to stop Mukilan, who ran over a speedbreaker and fell down, said the source.



As he was not wearing a helmet, the boy sustained severe head injuries and died on the spot. The case has been forwarded to the RDO for further inquiry, said a senior police officer.



Police said the trio, Mukilan, Santhosh and Kishore, belonged to the same locality. On Wednesday night, Mukilan had left home at around 10 pm after dinner, informing his mother that he was going for a movie along with his friends.

As he did not return, the family assumed he would have slept at his friends house.

This morning, at around 5 am, an unknown person knocked on our door informing us that Mukilan met with an accident and was admitted to the Kilpauk Medical College. A few minutes later, two policemen reached our house informing us that our son had died in a road accident, said Mukilans father Leela Krishnan, who is a barber.



We do not know what exactly happened. Some said he was attacked by the police, but they say the boys were riding triples and met with the accident. We are still in the dark, he added.



Santhoshs father, said, My son and Mukilan were good friends. Last night, he said he was going for a movie and at around 5 am, we were informed that my son was kept in the police station. We still do not know what happened. The father was waiting at the police outpost station at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.



Mukilan is survived by his father, mother L Malar, and elder sister L Anitha who works in a private IT company. After the family learnt about Mukilan s death, his eyes were donated.

CHENNAI: A desperate attempt of a 19-year-old college student to flee from the police, who were on a routine testing of drivers for alcohol, on Ormes Road in Kilpauk, led to the students death on Thursday. The incident spread tension with allegations that a policeman had hurled his cane at the rider leading to the accident. Police officials maintain that he lost control as he was drunk. L Mukilan, a first-year BA student from Nammalvarpet in Ayanavaram was riding the bike with two friends riding pillion. He fled when the police tried to stop him. He lost control going over a speedbreaker, fell and died on the spot, said a police source. Rumours began making the rounds that a policeman had used a lathi to stop the boys, causing Mukilan to loose control of the bike. When the three on the bike saw police checking drivers for alcohol, the two pillion riders got off the bike, while Mukilan tried to escape by making a U-turn, said a police source. A TN Home Guard personnel who was among the police party allegedly used the lathi to stop Mukilan, who ran over a speedbreaker and fell down, said the source. As he was not wearing a helmet, the boy sustained severe head injuries and died on the spot. The case has been forwarded to the RDO for further inquiry, said a senior police officer. Police said the trio, Mukilan, Santhosh and Kishore, belonged to the same locality. On Wednesday night, Mukilan had left home at around 10 pm after dinner, informing his mother that he was going for a movie along with his friends. As he did not return, the family assumed he would have slept at his friends house. This morning, at around 5 am, an unknown person knocked on our door informing us that Mukilan met with an accident and was admitted to the Kilpauk Medical College. A few minutes later, two policemen reached our house informing us that our son had died in a road accident, said Mukilans father Leela Krishnan, who is a barber. We do not know what exactly happened. Some said he was attacked by the police, but they say the boys were riding triples and met with the accident. We are still in the dark, he added. Santhoshs father, said, My son and Mukilan were good friends. Last night, he said he was going for a movie and at around 5 am, we were informed that my son was kept in the police station. We still do not know what happened. The father was waiting at the police outpost station at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Mukilan is survived by his father, mother L Malar, and elder sister L Anitha who works in a private IT company. After the family learnt about Mukilan s death, his eyes were donated.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: A key accused in the Nedumbassery fake currency case was extradited from Saudi Arabia with help of the Interpol, following a request by the Kochi unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Abdul Salam alias Podi Salam, 36, a native of Neelanchery at Wandoor in Malappuram, is the third accused in the case, which is being probed by the NIA. Abdul Salam, who had been doing hotel business in the UAE, went into hiding after the Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) case was registered in 2013. Salam, against whom the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice, will be arriving at the New Delhi airport on Friday early morning, where his arrest will be recorded. Later, he will be brought to Kochi and produced before the NIA Court, said an NIA official.

It was on January 26, 2013, that 1,950 counterfeit currency notes of 500 denomination were seized from a Malappuram native who had arrived at the airport from Dubai. The counterfeit notes were arranged by Aftab Batki, a suspected member of the crime syndicate operated by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. It was Abdul Salam who assigned the carrier to transport the notes from Dubai to Kerala. It was found that the notes were printed in Pakistan using advanced technology, with suspected involvement of Dawood.Among the five accused in the case, three have already been arrested, while Aftab Bhatki is absconding.

KOCHI: A key accused in the Nedumbassery fake currency case was extradited from Saudi Arabia with help of the Interpol, following a request by the Kochi unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Abdul Salam alias Podi Salam, 36, a native of Neelanchery at Wandoor in Malappuram, is the third accused in the case, which is being probed by the NIA. Abdul Salam, who had been doing hotel business in the UAE, went into hiding after the Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) case was registered in 2013. Salam, against whom the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice, will be arriving at the New Delhi airport on Friday early morning, where his arrest will be recorded. Later, he will be brought to Kochi and produced before the NIA Court, said an NIA official. It was on January 26, 2013, that 1,950 counterfeit currency notes of 500 denomination were seized from a Malappuram native who had arrived at the airport from Dubai. The counterfeit notes were arranged by Aftab Batki, a suspected member of the crime syndicate operated by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. It was Abdul Salam who assigned the carrier to transport the notes from Dubai to Kerala. It was found that the notes were printed in Pakistan using advanced technology, with suspected involvement of Dawood.Among the five accused in the case, three have already been arrested, while Aftab Bhatki is absconding.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kolkata-based businessman Paras M Lodha here in connection with a money laundering case relating to alleged conversion of over Rs 25 crore scrapped currency notes with new ones.



Officials said he was arrested by the agency here late on Wednesday after grilling him for hours.



Lodha was first intercepted by the agency sleuths at the Mumbai airport based on a Look Out Circular while he was seeking to flee the country.



The arrested businessman is connected to Shekhar Reddy and Rohit Tandon cases, also related to illegal exchange of demonetised currency notes.



Meanwhile, the agency on Thursday produced Lodha before a designated court here that granted seven-day custody to the ED.



Lodha has been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)after the agency took cognisance of FIRs registered against Reddy and Tandon.



The Reddy case relates to Chennai and the Income Tax department had unearthed unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore. Likewise, the IT department and the Delhi Police had seized Rs 13.5 crore from a law firm run by lawyer Rohit Tandon. The CBI had arrested Reddy on Wednesday.



Following a directive from the Government, multiple agencies have joined hands and are working in a synchronised manner to probe these high-profile cases and unravel the entire nexus between public servants and businessmen involved in illegal exchange of currency notes.

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kolkata-based businessman Paras M Lodha here in connection with a money laundering case relating to alleged conversion of over Rs 25 crore scrapped currency notes with new ones. Officials said he was arrested by the agency here late on Wednesday after grilling him for hours. Lodha was first intercepted by the agency sleuths at the Mumbai airport based on a Look Out Circular while he was seeking to flee the country. The arrested businessman is connected to Shekhar Reddy and Rohit Tandon cases, also related to illegal exchange of demonetised currency notes. Meanwhile, the agency on Thursday produced Lodha before a designated court here that granted seven-day custody to the ED. Lodha has been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)after the agency took cognisance of FIRs registered against Reddy and Tandon. The Reddy case relates to Chennai and the Income Tax department had unearthed unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore. Likewise, the IT department and the Delhi Police had seized Rs 13.5 crore from a law firm run by lawyer Rohit Tandon. The CBI had arrested Reddy on Wednesday. Following a directive from the Government, multiple agencies have joined hands and are working in a synchronised manner to probe these high-profile cases and unravel the entire nexus between public servants and businessmen involved in illegal exchange of currency notes.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A few days after he reportedly expressed unhappiness that his colleagues were defensive over demonetisation, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday urged fellow party leaders to be aggressive in countering with facts the Opposition which has been attacking the government on the notes ban.



The BJP chief had held a meeting of senior party leaders a few days ago, during which he expressed his unhappiness that the party leaders were seen defensive on the issue of demonetisation. There was a sense that many claims of the political opponents were not strongly enough countered by the party, a source said.



The BJP chief has also asked various party wings to pull up their socks as they had largely been seen missing in action defending the notes ban. Political rivals have hogged the limelight attacking the NDA government on demonetisation and many of them are highlighting the hardships faced by farmers. But BJP wings, which should have countered such claims, have mostly been silent, the source said.



With Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur approaching, the BJP chief has asked the party leaders to drum up support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his various actions against black money and corruption. People are against corruption and black money, but party leaders have been found wanting in sending the message that demonetisation is a step to clean up the financial system. The BJP chief wants the party leaders to dig out facts and stats supporting demonetisation, he added.



Apparently seeking to begin working on the instructions, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma cited RBI figures released soon after BJP came to power to give details of the corporate loans worth `36.5 lakh crore  taken by Gautam Adani, Anil Ambani, Shashi and Ravi Ruia, and Sunil Mittal  which became non-performing assets during the decade-long UPA rule. Rahul Gandhi has been accusing us of being pro-corporate. He should tell people why and on whose behest the UPA government let these industrialists run so much of debt. It showered business houses with concessions and loans running into `36.5 lakh crore. Modi is trying to recover all these debts, he said.



The system based on cash gives space for commissions, and the Congress and commissions have strong links, he said, in a bid to counter Rahuls bribery charges against Modi.

He said the allegations dated back to 2013 when Rahul was super prime minister and that the UPA government could find nothing against Modi despite agencies like the CBI and the ED working under it.

NEW DELHI: A few days after he reportedly expressed unhappiness that his colleagues were defensive over demonetisation, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday urged fellow party leaders to be aggressive in countering with facts the Opposition which has been attacking the government on the notes ban. The BJP chief had held a meeting of senior party leaders a few days ago, during which he expressed his unhappiness that the party leaders were seen defensive on the issue of demonetisation. There was a sense that many claims of the political opponents were not strongly enough countered by the party, a source said. The BJP chief has also asked various party wings to pull up their socks as they had largely been seen missing in action defending the notes ban. Political rivals have hogged the limelight attacking the NDA government on demonetisation and many of them are highlighting the hardships faced by farmers. But BJP wings, which should have countered such claims, have mostly been silent, the source said. With Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur approaching, the BJP chief has asked the party leaders to drum up support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his various actions against black money and corruption. People are against corruption and black money, but party leaders have been found wanting in sending the message that demonetisation is a step to clean up the financial system. The BJP chief wants the party leaders to dig out facts and stats supporting demonetisation, he added. Apparently seeking to begin working on the instructions, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma cited RBI figures released soon after BJP came to power to give details of the corporate loans worth `36.5 lakh crore  taken by Gautam Adani, Anil Ambani, Shashi and Ravi Ruia, and Sunil Mittal  which became non-performing assets during the decade-long UPA rule. Rahul Gandhi has been accusing us of being pro-corporate. He should tell people why and on whose behest the UPA government let these industrialists run so much of debt. It showered business houses with concessions and loans running into `36.5 lakh crore. Modi is trying to recover all these debts, he said. The system based on cash gives space for commissions, and the Congress and commissions have strong links, he said, in a bid to counter Rahuls bribery charges against Modi. He said the allegations dated back to 2013 when Rahul was super prime minister and that the UPA government could find nothing against Modi despite agencies like the CBI and the ED working under it.
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: The credit war between BJP and Shiv Sena workers forced Maharashtra transport minister Diwakar Raote to stop his speech midway here on Thursday during the inauguration of the new Ram Mandir suburban railway station. And Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced the inauguration of the railway station amid chaos.



The VHP and the BJP had been pushing for the naming of the station in an area dominated by the Shiv Sena.



When local Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar mentioned during his speech that he had raised the issue of the station in the Lok Sabha, the VHP and BJP workers present started raising slogans hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



Kirtikar concluded his speech abruptly and Diwakar Raote, from Shiv Sena, stood up to speak. He along with Suresh Prabhu tried to calm the agitated workers. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena workers present at the venue started hailing Balasaheb Thackeray.



All the ministers and leaders appeared to be completely helpless as the slogan war grew louder and the leaders were left with no option but to wind up the programme while announcing that the railway station has been thrown open.

MUMBAI: The credit war between BJP and Shiv Sena workers forced Maharashtra transport minister Diwakar Raote to stop his speech midway here on Thursday during the inauguration of the new Ram Mandir suburban railway station. And Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced the inauguration of the railway station amid chaos. The VHP and the BJP had been pushing for the naming of the station in an area dominated by the Shiv Sena. When local Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar mentioned during his speech that he had raised the issue of the station in the Lok Sabha, the VHP and BJP workers present started raising slogans hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kirtikar concluded his speech abruptly and Diwakar Raote, from Shiv Sena, stood up to speak. He along with Suresh Prabhu tried to calm the agitated workers. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena workers present at the venue started hailing Balasaheb Thackeray. All the ministers and leaders appeared to be completely helpless as the slogan war grew louder and the leaders were left with no option but to wind up the programme while announcing that the railway station has been thrown open.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: CBI has asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat to appear before it on December 26 in connection with a probe into the purported sting operation involving him.

This is the second time that Rawat has been summoned by the CBI on a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) registered by it in last seven months. He had earlier appeared before the agency on May 24 during which he was questioned for nearly five hours.

The agency had registered a preliminary enquiry in connection with the alleged sting operation on April 29 purportedly showing Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress lawmakers to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly.

This may be a unique case where a sitting Chief Minister has been summoned by the CBI during its probe of a PE.

The PE is the first step during which the agency verifies the facts in the complaint received by it. During a PE, the agency usually only "requests" a person "to join the probe" and does not summon him, carry out searches or make any arrests.

If verification of facts shows need of further probe, it may register an FIR or else close the PE.

The CBI probe focuses on Rawat's relations with the owner of a news channel, alleged bribe proposal made to one dissident MLA by him and a minister in his previous cabinet, besides his claims on the purported sting video.

The reason for summoning him against, according to the sources, was because Rawat had not furnished full and complete details on many issues.

The case was registered on the reference received from the state government (during President's rule) and subsequent notification from BJP-led central government.

Rawat has denied the allegation and called the video fake after it was released by the rebel Congress legislators but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation.

After Rawat's victory in the floor test, the state cabinet had met on May 15 and withdrawn the notification recommending a CBI probe into the sting operation involving him.

Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject.

CBI had said the notification was rejected after taking legal opinion, which said there was no ground for its withdrawal and it was "not legally tenable".

The Chief Minister had failed to get a reprieve from Uttarakhand High Court also which had refused to quash the ongoing CBI probe into the sting operation.

NEW DELHI: CBI has asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat to appear before it on December 26 in connection with a probe into the purported sting operation involving him. This is the second time that Rawat has been summoned by the CBI on a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) registered by it in last seven months. He had earlier appeared before the agency on May 24 during which he was questioned for nearly five hours. The agency had registered a preliminary enquiry in connection with the alleged sting operation on April 29 purportedly showing Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress lawmakers to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly. This may be a unique case where a sitting Chief Minister has been summoned by the CBI during its probe of a PE. The PE is the first step during which the agency verifies the facts in the complaint received by it. During a PE, the agency usually only "requests" a person "to join the probe" and does not summon him, carry out searches or make any arrests. If verification of facts shows need of further probe, it may register an FIR or else close the PE. The CBI probe focuses on Rawat's relations with the owner of a news channel, alleged bribe proposal made to one dissident MLA by him and a minister in his previous cabinet, besides his claims on the purported sting video. The reason for summoning him against, according to the sources, was because Rawat had not furnished full and complete details on many issues. The case was registered on the reference received from the state government (during President's rule) and subsequent notification from BJP-led central government. Rawat has denied the allegation and called the video fake after it was released by the rebel Congress legislators but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation. After Rawat's victory in the floor test, the state cabinet had met on May 15 and withdrawn the notification recommending a CBI probe into the sting operation involving him. Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject. CBI had said the notification was rejected after taking legal opinion, which said there was no ground for its withdrawal and it was "not legally tenable". The Chief Minister had failed to get a reprieve from Uttarakhand High Court also which had refused to quash the ongoing CBI probe into the sting operation.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: It was a hectic day for Najeeb Jung as he had multiple meetings on Friday, one day after he offered resignation from the post of Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG). Early in the morning, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went to his house on breakfast and met him.

Kejriwal reached 8 am on Friday morning. After that, Jung went to Prime Minister Office to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons." Yesterday Jung's office, without citing reasons for his sudden exit, said, "he would be returning to academics". Jung's decision had taken political circles by surprise.

The Chief Minister was in Ranchi when the news of Jung's resignation broke. "Sh Jung's resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavors," he had tweeted.

After almost one hour, Jung left to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office. Jung reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block on Friday around 11.30 AM and spent a little over an hour inside. Sources said it was a courtesy meeting.

"I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on," he said to a new channel.

"After three and a half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds," Jung was quoted as saying. Jung also said that he would like to write a book.

Over the last two years, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to Modi.

NEW DELHI: It was a hectic day for Najeeb Jung as he had multiple meetings on Friday, one day after he offered resignation from the post of Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG). Early in the morning, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went to his house on breakfast and met him. Kejriwal reached 8 am on Friday morning. After that, Jung went to Prime Minister Office to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons." Yesterday Jung's office, without citing reasons for his sudden exit, said, "he would be returning to academics". Jung's decision had taken political circles by surprise. The Chief Minister was in Ranchi when the news of Jung's resignation broke. "Sh Jung's resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavors," he had tweeted. After almost one hour, Jung left to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office. Jung reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block on Friday around 11.30 AM and spent a little over an hour inside. Sources said it was a courtesy meeting. "I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on," he said to a new channel. "After three and a half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds," Jung was quoted as saying. Jung also said that he would like to write a book. Over the last two years, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to Modi.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: The controversy is brewing in Kashmir over the issuance of Nativity/Identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs), who are living in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947, with separatists and opposition mainstream parties alleging that it is meant at changing demographics of the State while government says it wont change the status of the refugees and they continue to be the non-state subjects.

After clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the PDP-BJP coalition government in the State has started issuing Nativity/Identity certificates to WPRs, who are living in seven districts of Jammu since 1947.

At least 5800 families from Sialkot, Pakistan had settled in border districts in J&K after the partition of Indian sub-continent in 1947. At present 19960 WPR families, according to West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee, are living in different areas of Jammu.

The WPRs can cast votes in parliamentary elections but cannot vote in J&K Assembly elections. Besides, they are not entitled to jobs in the State government departments.

Kashmir is in the grip of over five month long unrest triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

The separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley triggered, have alleged that the government is issuing domicile certificates to the WPRs to change the demographic profile of Muslim-majority J&K.

Terming the issue as life and death for Kashmiris, the leaders said, India should settle the WPRs in any other state because settling them in a disputed land of J&K will jeopardize and erode its historical and political contours, which is not acceptable to us and called for protests.

On their call, youth at downtown Srinagar and some other parts of the Valley took out protest demonstrations this afternoon.

Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led a demonstration at Nowhatta after Friday prayers. The government is granting domicile rights to WPRs in keeping with the BJP/RSS agenda of steadily and methodically changing the demographic nature of the state with the ultimate aim of doing away with the disputed nature of Kashmir, Mirwaiz told the protestors amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.

Pro-independence JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik also led a protest demonstration against issuance of domicile certificates to WPRs. However, police intercepted his march and detained him along with a dozen of his supporters.

Opposition National Conference spokesman Junaid Mattu said PDP-BJP government was resorting to all possible means to dilute Article 370 and circumvent the State Subject Law.

The fiasco over the domicile certificate stunt of the government has yet again proven how the PDP-BJP Government doesnt apply its mind before dealing with issues that have a serious bearing on stability and peace in the State, he said and warned that such misadventures would be met with stiff resistance by party and people of the State.

State Congress president G A Mir said PDP government was running on the dictations of RSS.

"When Congress was taking up the issue that WPRs need identification as citizens of India, PDP used to oppose it. When PDP wasn't ready even to identify WPRs as citizens of India in 12 years when the Congress was in power, what compelled them to give domicile certificates to them, he said.

However, Education Minister and government spokesman Naeem Akhtar clarified that WPRs have been issued identity certificates and not domicile certificates.

It seems an orchestrated and misleading campaign has been launched to create an impression that the government is changing the status of the WPRs and they are being provided domicile certificates, he said adding issuance of Identity certificates does in no way change the status of the WPRs and they continue to be the non-state subjects.

He said when the situation had started improving in Kashmir with academic, tourism, developmental and economic activities slowly picking up again, unfortunately speculative reports are being passed around about the change of status of the WPR to create confusion and once again fuel disquiet.

J&K BJP spokesman Sunil Sethi said PDP-BJP government has taken the first step in doing justice with WPRs.

Many more things are required to be done for their benefits within Constitution to address their demands and remove all troubles from their lives so that feeling of nationals without the nation is taken away, he added.

SRINAGAR: The controversy is brewing in Kashmir over the issuance of Nativity/Identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs), who are living in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947, with separatists and opposition mainstream parties alleging that it is meant at changing demographics of the State while government says it wont change the status of the refugees and they continue to be the non-state subjects. After clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the PDP-BJP coalition government in the State has started issuing Nativity/Identity certificates to WPRs, who are living in seven districts of Jammu since 1947. At least 5800 families from Sialkot, Pakistan had settled in border districts in J&K after the partition of Indian sub-continent in 1947. At present 19960 WPR families, according to West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee, are living in different areas of Jammu. The WPRs can cast votes in parliamentary elections but cannot vote in J&K Assembly elections. Besides, they are not entitled to jobs in the State government departments. Kashmir is in the grip of over five month long unrest triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan in an encounter with security forces on July 8. The separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley triggered, have alleged that the government is issuing domicile certificates to the WPRs to change the demographic profile of Muslim-majority J&K. Terming the issue as life and death for Kashmiris, the leaders said, India should settle the WPRs in any other state because settling them in a disputed land of J&K will jeopardize and erode its historical and political contours, which is not acceptable to us and called for protests. On their call, youth at downtown Srinagar and some other parts of the Valley took out protest demonstrations this afternoon. Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led a demonstration at Nowhatta after Friday prayers. The government is granting domicile rights to WPRs in keeping with the BJP/RSS agenda of steadily and methodically changing the demographic nature of the state with the ultimate aim of doing away with the disputed nature of Kashmir, Mirwaiz told the protestors amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Pro-independence JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik also led a protest demonstration against issuance of domicile certificates to WPRs. However, police intercepted his march and detained him along with a dozen of his supporters. Opposition National Conference spokesman Junaid Mattu said PDP-BJP government was resorting to all possible means to dilute Article 370 and circumvent the State Subject Law. The fiasco over the domicile certificate stunt of the government has yet again proven how the PDP-BJP Government doesnt apply its mind before dealing with issues that have a serious bearing on stability and peace in the State, he said and warned that such misadventures would be met with stiff resistance by party and people of the State. State Congress president G A Mir said PDP government was running on the dictations of RSS. "When Congress was taking up the issue that WPRs need identification as citizens of India, PDP used to oppose it. When PDP wasn't ready even to identify WPRs as citizens of India in 12 years when the Congress was in power, what compelled them to give domicile certificates to them, he said. However, Education Minister and government spokesman Naeem Akhtar clarified that WPRs have been issued identity certificates and not domicile certificates. It seems an orchestrated and misleading campaign has been launched to create an impression that the government is changing the status of the WPRs and they are being provided domicile certificates, he said adding issuance of Identity certificates does in no way change the status of the WPRs and they continue to be the non-state subjects. He said when the situation had started improving in Kashmir with academic, tourism, developmental and economic activities slowly picking up again, unfortunately speculative reports are being passed around about the change of status of the WPR to create confusion and once again fuel disquiet. J&K BJP spokesman Sunil Sethi said PDP-BJP government has taken the first step in doing justice with WPRs. Many more things are required to be done for their benefits within Constitution to address their demands and remove all troubles from their lives so that feeling of nationals without the nation is taken away, he added.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday downplayed the report of 150 bodies of people from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh lying in Saudi Arabia owing to the apathy of the Indian Embassy there.

Claiming that the real number was nowhere close to the 150 bodies, the MEA attributed the delay in getting the mortal remains of Indian back from Saudi Arabia to procedural delays. Media reports have claimed that at least 150 bodies of residents of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were in lying in the mortuaries in the Kingdom country and the families have been awaiting mortal remains for over a year as Saudi employer refuse to answer their emails or phone calls.

This report is completely factually misleading. The report refers to 150 bodies from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In reality, there are only about ten cases that pertain to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. And the total number of bodies is nowhere near that number, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. He contended that the report had failed to appreciate the context of the Diaspora community in Saudi Arabia and the procedure involved in death cases.

The MEA Spokesperson said that there are more than 2 million Indians who are living and working in Saudi Arabia. On average, 3-4 death cases are registered every day on account of natural reasons, in these clear cases it takes around three weeks to send mortal remains even if the documents are in order. In cases of unnatural death, like suicide, murder and industrial accident, and also in those cases wherein the families doubt the circumstances of death, the investigation procedure is very lengthy, causing delay in completion of documentation or transportation of mortal remains, Swarup added.

According to the report, four letters are required to be submitted to Indian embassy in Riyadh to let the body be flown back to the country. These include medical and police reports, a consent letter from the family and a declaration that no monetary assistance would be demanded either from Saudi government or the employer.

In some cases, the families demand release of compensation first, before the dispatch of the mortal remains, whereas compensation is a legal process and takes year. In other cases of delay, DNA samples from the families back home are needed to identify the body and complete the local procedures, Swarup clarified, while adding: So at any given time there would be a number of cases, of all categories, being processed. The Embassy proactively follows all death cases on top priority.

A Kafala System is followed in Saudi Arabia, whereby the sponsors are responsible to complete the paper work and dispatch the mortal remains to India. This also adds to the delay, as sometimes the employers who are the sponsors refuse to fund the transportation.

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday downplayed the report of 150 bodies of people from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh lying in Saudi Arabia owing to the apathy of the Indian Embassy there. Claiming that the real number was nowhere close to the 150 bodies, the MEA attributed the delay in getting the mortal remains of Indian back from Saudi Arabia to procedural delays. Media reports have claimed that at least 150 bodies of residents of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were in lying in the mortuaries in the Kingdom country and the families have been awaiting mortal remains for over a year as Saudi employer refuse to answer their emails or phone calls. This report is completely factually misleading. The report refers to 150 bodies from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In reality, there are only about ten cases that pertain to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. And the total number of bodies is nowhere near that number, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. He contended that the report had failed to appreciate the context of the Diaspora community in Saudi Arabia and the procedure involved in death cases. The MEA Spokesperson said that there are more than 2 million Indians who are living and working in Saudi Arabia. On average, 3-4 death cases are registered every day on account of natural reasons, in these clear cases it takes around three weeks to send mortal remains even if the documents are in order. In cases of unnatural death, like suicide, murder and industrial accident, and also in those cases wherein the families doubt the circumstances of death, the investigation procedure is very lengthy, causing delay in completion of documentation or transportation of mortal remains, Swarup added. According to the report, four letters are required to be submitted to Indian embassy in Riyadh to let the body be flown back to the country. These include medical and police reports, a consent letter from the family and a declaration that no monetary assistance would be demanded either from Saudi government or the employer. In some cases, the families demand release of compensation first, before the dispatch of the mortal remains, whereas compensation is a legal process and takes year. In other cases of delay, DNA samples from the families back home are needed to identify the body and complete the local procedures, Swarup clarified, while adding: So at any given time there would be a number of cases, of all categories, being processed. The Embassy proactively follows all death cases on top priority. A Kafala System is followed in Saudi Arabia, whereby the sponsors are responsible to complete the paper work and dispatch the mortal remains to India. This also adds to the delay, as sometimes the employers who are the sponsors refuse to fund the transportation.
Namita bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi continued for the second day on Thursday in battleground Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking in his constituency  Varanasi  a day after Rahul accused him of taking bribes from Sahara and Birla groups, Modi taunted the Gandhi scion saying he was happy that the young leader was evolving and learning to give speeches.

However, the Prime Minister refrained from clarifying the allegations made by the Congress leader. They have a young leader. I am overjoyed to know that he is learning to speak. He had promised an earthquake. Its good that he has started speaking; now the fear and possibility of any jolt is no more, Modi said.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing

rallies in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The

leaders continued the war of words over

corruption charges | pti



Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition, Modi likened their strategy to that of Pakistan. They are trying to rescue the corrupt like Pakistan gives cover-fire to terrorists to help them cross the border, he said.

I never imagined political leaders would have the audacity to stand by the corrupt and support them in open. Modi did not even spare his predecessor Manmohan Singh for criticising demonetisation.

Look at Manmohan Singhji. Do you know he has been in the core team of those in charge of the countrys economy since the 70s?

Even he questions digitisation in a country where over 50 per cent are poor. Now, is this his report card or mine?



Soon after, the Congress retorted strongly, saying instead of responding to the allegations, Modi was speaking a comedians language in frustration. Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, continued to demand answers from the Prime Minister. He didnt answer any of my questions, instead he ridiculed the questions. Make fun of me all you want, but you have to answer citizens questions, Rahul said.

LUCKNOW: The war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi continued for the second day on Thursday in battleground Uttar Pradesh. Speaking in his constituency  Varanasi  a day after Rahul accused him of taking bribes from Sahara and Birla groups, Modi taunted the Gandhi scion saying he was happy that the young leader was evolving and learning to give speeches. However, the Prime Minister refrained from clarifying the allegations made by the Congress leader. They have a young leader. I am overjoyed to know that he is learning to speak. He had promised an earthquake. Its good that he has started speaking; now the fear and possibility of any jolt is no more, Modi said. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing rallies in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The leaders continued the war of words over corruption charges | pti Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition, Modi likened their strategy to that of Pakistan. They are trying to rescue the corrupt like Pakistan gives cover-fire to terrorists to help them cross the border, he said. I never imagined political leaders would have the audacity to stand by the corrupt and support them in open. Modi did not even spare his predecessor Manmohan Singh for criticising demonetisation. Look at Manmohan Singhji. Do you know he has been in the core team of those in charge of the countrys economy since the 70s? Even he questions digitisation in a country where over 50 per cent are poor. Now, is this his report card or mine? Soon after, the Congress retorted strongly, saying instead of responding to the allegations, Modi was speaking a comedians language in frustration. Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, continued to demand answers from the Prime Minister. He didnt answer any of my questions, instead he ridiculed the questions. Make fun of me all you want, but you have to answer citizens questions, Rahul said.
By PTI

ALMORA: Escalating the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi today said his note ban decision is not a fight against black money or corruption but is an "economic robbery".

Addressing a public rally at the University Campus College Grounds here, the Congress vice president said the Prime Minister has put "99 per cent people" in the country to hardships and not targeted the "1 per cent super rich" who "held all the black money".

He said his party wants to eradicate corruption and if "Modiji takes any step against the menace, Congress party will lend its hundred per cent support".

"But this note ban step is not a decision against black money and corruption. This note ban is an economic robbery. It is an attack on the pooor of the country," he said.

Gandhi asked the Prime Minister to name those "thieves" who own the black money stashed in Swiss banks.

"The Swiss government has provided the list of all black-money holders to the Modi government. Why does he not place the list of thieves before the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha? We want to know who are these thieves. You should put their names before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," he said.

"Why didn't you bring back (Vijay) Mallya and Lalit Modi from London?" he asked.

Gandhi accused Modi of snatching away the hard-earned money of the country's poor and giving them to banks to write off bad loans. He said demonetisation was introduced to waive Rs 8 lakh crore loans the "super rich" owe.

"Gareebon ka paisa kheencho, amiron ko seencho. 99 per cent imaandaar ka paisa kheencho, 50 pariwaron ko seencho. Yeh hai notebandi ki sachhai, (Take away the money from the poor and help the rich. Take away the money from the 99 per cent honest people and help the 50 super-rich families. This is the truth of note ban)." he said.

He used an Amitabh Bachchan song to attack Modi and said his motive is "Ram naam japna, garibon ka maal apna".

"Suck the poor and serve the rich - this is the reality of the suit-boot wali sarkar," he said.

He also accused the central government of being callous to people's suffering and claimed the Opposition was not even allowed to mourn the "death of 100 people due to demonetisation".

ALMORA: Escalating the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi today said his note ban decision is not a fight against black money or corruption but is an "economic robbery". Addressing a public rally at the University Campus College Grounds here, the Congress vice president said the Prime Minister has put "99 per cent people" in the country to hardships and not targeted the "1 per cent super rich" who "held all the black money". He said his party wants to eradicate corruption and if "Modiji takes any step against the menace, Congress party will lend its hundred per cent support". "But this note ban step is not a decision against black money and corruption. This note ban is an economic robbery. It is an attack on the pooor of the country," he said. Gandhi asked the Prime Minister to name those "thieves" who own the black money stashed in Swiss banks. "The Swiss government has provided the list of all black-money holders to the Modi government. Why does he not place the list of thieves before the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha? We want to know who are these thieves. You should put their names before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," he said. "Why didn't you bring back (Vijay) Mallya and Lalit Modi from London?" he asked. Gandhi accused Modi of snatching away the hard-earned money of the country's poor and giving them to banks to write off bad loans. He said demonetisation was introduced to waive Rs 8 lakh crore loans the "super rich" owe. "Gareebon ka paisa kheencho, amiron ko seencho. 99 per cent imaandaar ka paisa kheencho, 50 pariwaron ko seencho. Yeh hai notebandi ki sachhai, (Take away the money from the poor and help the rich. Take away the money from the 99 per cent honest people and help the 50 super-rich families. This is the truth of note ban)." he said. He used an Amitabh Bachchan song to attack Modi and said his motive is "Ram naam japna, garibon ka maal apna". "Suck the poor and serve the rich - this is the reality of the suit-boot wali sarkar," he said. He also accused the central government of being callous to people's suffering and claimed the Opposition was not even allowed to mourn the "death of 100 people due to demonetisation".
Namita bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi were in Uttar Pradesh on the same day for the second time on the trot on Thursday exchanging barbs and countering each other.



Speaking in his constituency, Varanasi, a day after Rahul accused him of taking bribe from Sahara, Modi said he was happy that the young leader was evolving and learning to speak up and the latter hit back saying the prime minister was free to mock him but should answer his questions about the bribe money he allegedly received while he was Gujrat chief minister.

PM Modi talks to schoolgirls at Banaras Hindu

University in Varanasi on Thursday | PTI



He had promised an earthquake. Its good that he has started speaking now the fear and possibility of any jolt is no more there, Modi said at Banaras Hindu University.



Replying to the jibe, the Congress leader, addressing a rally in Bahraich, invoked Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. Har ek baat pe kahte ho tum ki tu kya hai, Tumhi kaho ki yeh andaaz-e-guftgu kya hai (You always question my indentity. Is this the way to talk?).



The prime minister called demonetisation a huge cleanliness drive and expressed his anguish over the manner Opposition parties had reacted to it, comparing their stalling of Parliament proceedings to firing at the borders by Pakistan in a bid to provide cover to infiltrators.I had never imagined that political leader can have the audacity to stand by the corrupt and support them in open, the prime minister said.

Reacting to the charge, BSP supremo Mayawait said, Comparing his opponents with Pakistan is indecent and condemnable... all this goes on to show his frustration,



However, the Congress leader said the move was against the interests of the poor, deprived and the middle class of society. He went on to say Modi banned high-value notes to help the 50 families who were in the possession of all the wealth. They had taken huge loans of over `8 lakh crore from banks. It was becoming difficult for them to repay the loans, so the prime minister helped them by demonetising the currency notes, he said.



Targeting his predecessor Manmohan Singh, who had dubbed the notes ban as organised loot and legalised plunder, Modi raked up the legacy of last 70 years that he had inherited.



If a former prime minister says 50 per cent of the population was poor and that it wont be easy for them to adopt new technology, is it a reflection of his governments performance or mine? he asked.

When they say large parts of the country did not get access to education, whose report card are they giving?he said.



The Congress said his party also wanted to rid the country of corruption. But the prime minister should also clear the air over the promises he had made to people over the creation of jobs, crediting `15 lakh to everyones account, awarding proper support prices to farmers he said.

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi were in Uttar Pradesh on the same day for the second time on the trot on Thursday exchanging barbs and countering each other. Speaking in his constituency, Varanasi, a day after Rahul accused him of taking bribe from Sahara, Modi said he was happy that the young leader was evolving and learning to speak up and the latter hit back saying the prime minister was free to mock him but should answer his questions about the bribe money he allegedly received while he was Gujrat chief minister. PM Modi talks to schoolgirls at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi on Thursday | PTI He had promised an earthquake. Its good that he has started speaking now the fear and possibility of any jolt is no more there, Modi said at Banaras Hindu University. Replying to the jibe, the Congress leader, addressing a rally in Bahraich, invoked Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. Har ek baat pe kahte ho tum ki tu kya hai, Tumhi kaho ki yeh andaaz-e-guftgu kya hai (You always question my indentity. Is this the way to talk?). The prime minister called demonetisation a huge cleanliness drive and expressed his anguish over the manner Opposition parties had reacted to it, comparing their stalling of Parliament proceedings to firing at the borders by Pakistan in a bid to provide cover to infiltrators.I had never imagined that political leader can have the audacity to stand by the corrupt and support them in open, the prime minister said. Reacting to the charge, BSP supremo Mayawait said, Comparing his opponents with Pakistan is indecent and condemnable... all this goes on to show his frustration, However, the Congress leader said the move was against the interests of the poor, deprived and the middle class of society. He went on to say Modi banned high-value notes to help the 50 families who were in the possession of all the wealth. They had taken huge loans of over `8 lakh crore from banks. It was becoming difficult for them to repay the loans, so the prime minister helped them by demonetising the currency notes, he said. Targeting his predecessor Manmohan Singh, who had dubbed the notes ban as organised loot and legalised plunder, Modi raked up the legacy of last 70 years that he had inherited. If a former prime minister says 50 per cent of the population was poor and that it wont be easy for them to adopt new technology, is it a reflection of his governments performance or mine? he asked. When they say large parts of the country did not get access to education, whose report card are they giving?he said. The Congress said his party also wanted to rid the country of corruption. But the prime minister should also clear the air over the promises he had made to people over the creation of jobs, crediting `15 lakh to everyones account, awarding proper support prices to farmers he said.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: Three minor boys in Bihar, all aged about 15, have been taken into custody for gang-raping a mentally challenged minor girl, 16.

The incident of gang-rape enraged the residents of the village in Maner block, some 30 km from state capital Patna, that a mob tried to catch hold of the three boys and lynch them on the spot. Police reached the spot after tensions gripped the village and took the three boys into custody.

Police said the three boys allegedly took the girl to an open paddy field outside the village on Thursday evening and raped her one by one. Some women of the village rushed to the spot after hearing the loud shrieks of the girl and managed to catch hold of one of the boys. The two other boys ran away and stayed hidden even as the villagers looked for them in order to beat them up.

We have registered a case against the three accused boys and sent the victim for medical examination, said Rajiv Ranjan, the SHO of Maner police station.

There have been a number of heinous crimes like rape and murderous attack perpetrated by minor boys in Bihar in recent months. Experts expressed concern over the trend and said lack of proper education and parental guidance coupled with exposure to internet on smartphones had led thousands of minor boys into acts of crime.

PATNA: Three minor boys in Bihar, all aged about 15, have been taken into custody for gang-raping a mentally challenged minor girl, 16. The incident of gang-rape enraged the residents of the village in Maner block, some 30 km from state capital Patna, that a mob tried to catch hold of the three boys and lynch them on the spot. Police reached the spot after tensions gripped the village and took the three boys into custody. Police said the three boys allegedly took the girl to an open paddy field outside the village on Thursday evening and raped her one by one. Some women of the village rushed to the spot after hearing the loud shrieks of the girl and managed to catch hold of one of the boys. The two other boys ran away and stayed hidden even as the villagers looked for them in order to beat them up. We have registered a case against the three accused boys and sent the victim for medical examination, said Rajiv Ranjan, the SHO of Maner police station. There have been a number of heinous crimes like rape and murderous attack perpetrated by minor boys in Bihar in recent months. Experts expressed concern over the trend and said lack of proper education and parental guidance coupled with exposure to internet on smartphones had led thousands of minor boys into acts of crime.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Despite opposition from people, the State government on Thursday gave the go ahead for the Kovvada Nuclear power plant in Srikakulam district. It directed the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration and Srikakulam District Collector to hand over advance possession of government land to the extent of 1,473 acres in five villages in the district to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL ) for the construction of the 6 x 1100 MW nuclear power plant.

The land that would be transferred is in the villages of Ramachandrapuram, Tekkali, Gudem, Kotapalem and Jeeru Kovvada of Ranasthalam mandal. Revenue Department issued a GO (no:1179) to this effect on Thursday. Reacting sharply to the GO, CPM State secretary Penumalli Madhu demanded that the illegal order be withdrawn immediately.

In a statement, Madhu said that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has not given any approval for setting up the Kovvada power plant. The Social Impact Assessment too has not been done and no formal application filed for enviornmental clearances. In these circumstances, the government has issued the GO which is in conflict with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and therefore, it should be withdrawn, he said.

Just a couple of days ago, members of the Srikakulam Bar Association had made a representation to the district administration, opposing the nuclear power plant at Kovvada. In a memorandum to the joint collector, they had said the power plant would affect not only the lives of the people in the villages but also pose a threat to marine life.

Ever since the nuclear plant has been conceived at Kovvada, the left parties have been opposing it on the ground that it would not only be a threat to environment, but also deprive the livelihood of fishermen since there would be too many restrictions on fishing once the plant materialises.

VIJAYAWADA: Despite opposition from people, the State government on Thursday gave the go ahead for the Kovvada Nuclear power plant in Srikakulam district. It directed the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration and Srikakulam District Collector to hand over advance possession of government land to the extent of 1,473 acres in five villages in the district to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL ) for the construction of the 6 x 1100 MW nuclear power plant. The land that would be transferred is in the villages of Ramachandrapuram, Tekkali, Gudem, Kotapalem and Jeeru Kovvada of Ranasthalam mandal. Revenue Department issued a GO (no:1179) to this effect on Thursday. Reacting sharply to the GO, CPM State secretary Penumalli Madhu demanded that the illegal order be withdrawn immediately. In a statement, Madhu said that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has not given any approval for setting up the Kovvada power plant. The Social Impact Assessment too has not been done and no formal application filed for enviornmental clearances. In these circumstances, the government has issued the GO which is in conflict with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and therefore, it should be withdrawn, he said. Just a couple of days ago, members of the Srikakulam Bar Association had made a representation to the district administration, opposing the nuclear power plant at Kovvada. In a memorandum to the joint collector, they had said the power plant would affect not only the lives of the people in the villages but also pose a threat to marine life. Ever since the nuclear plant has been conceived at Kovvada, the left parties have been opposing it on the ground that it would not only be a threat to environment, but also deprive the livelihood of fishermen since there would be too many restrictions on fishing once the plant materialises.
By Express News Service

Five ganja smugglers, four of them graduates, were arrested by the Visakhapatnam Rural police at Konam village of Cheedikada mandal in the district on Thursday for being involved in transporting weed. The smugglers were arrested with around 40 kg of hemp. They were trying to shift it to Tamil Nadu.

The arrested have been identified as K Virumandi Murugesan (55), a native of Tamil Nadu, B Kamaraju (38), P Rambabu (25), J Eliya (23) of Pedabayalu mandal and Jalli Sreenu (23) of G Madugula mandal.

According to Cheedikada sub-inspector G Apparao, the smugglers were personally carrying the gunny bags containing the narotic. Procuring the weed from interior areas of Paderu mandal, they walked down all through the isolated areas and reached Konam village of Cheedikada mandal, the police said.

The police suspect that the accused might have walked down for over 24 hours taking breaks. The Rural police say that apart from Murugesan, the other four local youth are graduates. Murugesan had come to Pedabayulu and G Madugula villages, where after procuring the ganja, he lured the youth to transport it to his destination.

The plan is that the smugglers bring the weed till Konam from where they would take a vehicle to reach Anakapalle railway station and then to Tamil Nadu. Acting on a tip-off, the police raided an area near Konam village and nabbed them.

About 40 kg of the hemp, four mobile phones, ` 22,000 cash were seized. The police are yet to ascertain what amount Murugesan had promised the youth.

Five ganja smugglers, four of them graduates, were arrested by the Visakhapatnam Rural police at Konam village of Cheedikada mandal in the district on Thursday for being involved in transporting weed. The smugglers were arrested with around 40 kg of hemp. They were trying to shift it to Tamil Nadu. The arrested have been identified as K Virumandi Murugesan (55), a native of Tamil Nadu, B Kamaraju (38), P Rambabu (25), J Eliya (23) of Pedabayalu mandal and Jalli Sreenu (23) of G Madugula mandal. According to Cheedikada sub-inspector G Apparao, the smugglers were personally carrying the gunny bags containing the narotic. Procuring the weed from interior areas of Paderu mandal, they walked down all through the isolated areas and reached Konam village of Cheedikada mandal, the police said. The police suspect that the accused might have walked down for over 24 hours taking breaks. The Rural police say that apart from Murugesan, the other four local youth are graduates. Murugesan had come to Pedabayulu and G Madugula villages, where after procuring the ganja, he lured the youth to transport it to his destination. The plan is that the smugglers bring the weed till Konam from where they would take a vehicle to reach Anakapalle railway station and then to Tamil Nadu. Acting on a tip-off, the police raided an area near Konam village and nabbed them. About 40 kg of the hemp, four mobile phones, ` 22,000 cash were seized. The police are yet to ascertain what amount Murugesan had promised the youth.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The tentative schedule for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2017 is out. It will be held on May 7, 2017.

Though there is no official communication from the test conducting authority or agency (CBSE), the colleges in the city are sending messages to their students about the announcement of the schedule. According to the messages, January 23, 2017, is the last date to submit applications for NEET.

The officials of the State Department of Medical Education have however not received any official communication, but they too are saying that it will be held on May 7. As it has been announced earlier, the test will be conducted on the first Sunday of the month. NEET 2017 will be held on May 7, a senior official of the Medical Education Department said. The NEET exam pattern consists of 180 multiple choice questions. This is the only gateway to get medical or dental seats for under graduate courses according to the

Supreme Court direction.

State govt writes to Centre to include Kannada in NEET

THE state government wants the Union government to introduce Kannada language option in the 2017 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil has communicated to the Union government in this regard.

The Central government had announced that NEET would be conducted in eight languages, but Kannada was not included. The state government has also written to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHFW) requesting bilingual question paper with both Kannada and English.

Patil said, We have written twice to the ministry, asking them to give Kannada option as having question paper in both Kannada and English will help students from rural background as we have a majority of them from rural parts. The government recently wrote another letter to the MHFW following requests from students, parents and Kannada organisations.

The Kannada Development Authority has also written to the Union Human Resource Development Minister stating that not including Kannada among the eight languages is discriminatory to the students in the state. Some of the eight languages include Tamil and Telugu. Patil also requested the MPs from the state to put pressure on the Union government and make efforts to ensure Kannada is included in NEET.

BENGALURU: The tentative schedule for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2017 is out. It will be held on May 7, 2017. Though there is no official communication from the test conducting authority or agency (CBSE), the colleges in the city are sending messages to their students about the announcement of the schedule. According to the messages, January 23, 2017, is the last date to submit applications for NEET. The officials of the State Department of Medical Education have however not received any official communication, but they too are saying that it will be held on May 7. As it has been announced earlier, the test will be conducted on the first Sunday of the month. NEET 2017 will be held on May 7, a senior official of the Medical Education Department said. The NEET exam pattern consists of 180 multiple choice questions. This is the only gateway to get medical or dental seats for under graduate courses according to the Supreme Court direction. State govt writes to Centre to include Kannada in NEET THE state government wants the Union government to introduce Kannada language option in the 2017 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil has communicated to the Union government in this regard. The Central government had announced that NEET would be conducted in eight languages, but Kannada was not included. The state government has also written to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHFW) requesting bilingual question paper with both Kannada and English. Patil said, We have written twice to the ministry, asking them to give Kannada option as having question paper in both Kannada and English will help students from rural background as we have a majority of them from rural parts. The government recently wrote another letter to the MHFW following requests from students, parents and Kannada organisations. The Kannada Development Authority has also written to the Union Human Resource Development Minister stating that not including Kannada among the eight languages is discriminatory to the students in the state. Some of the eight languages include Tamil and Telugu. Patil also requested the MPs from the state to put pressure on the Union government and make efforts to ensure Kannada is included in NEET.
Ramkrishna Badseshi By

Express News Service

BIDAR: A saree shop owner of Bidar has started selling sarees worth Rs 100-200 for only Rs 1-2 in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modis demonetisation of high value currency notes.

Chandrashekhar Pasarge, the owner of Srusti-Drusti Saree Centre of Bidar, had purchased sarees worth Rs 1 lakh for selling it during Bakrid as well as Christmas. However, due to demonetisation, there was no good business.

Pasarge then decided to sell the sarees worth Rs 200 for Rs 2 and sarees worth Rs 100 for Rs 1. But it comes with a rider. Customers were asked to get notes of Rs 1 and Rs 2 denomination.

I will not accept Rs 1 and Rs 2 coins or even of Rs 10. Interested customers should bring an old note of Rs 1 or Rs 2 for getting these sarees, he said.

He plans to sell till the saree stock worth Rs 1 lakh which he had bought from Surat is over.

I am doing this to support the Prime Ministers move, said Chandrashekhar who borrowed the idea of selling sarees at such low costs from his daughters Srusti and Drusti.

So far, Pasarge claims to have sold sarees worth Rs 40,000.

Srusti said the amount collected would be offered to Tirupati temple as they as have no interest in using the money. Sangeeta, one of the customers at the store, exclaimed how she could not get a bar of good chocolate for Rs 1 but the store was giving away sarees at the same price.

Pasarge started the scheme on December 16 and plans to keep the offer open till end of the month. Customers from neighbouring states Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are visiting the shop to purchase the sarees.

BIDAR: A saree shop owner of Bidar has started selling sarees worth Rs 100-200 for only Rs 1-2 in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modis demonetisation of high value currency notes. Chandrashekhar Pasarge, the owner of Srusti-Drusti Saree Centre of Bidar, had purchased sarees worth Rs 1 lakh for selling it during Bakrid as well as Christmas. However, due to demonetisation, there was no good business. Pasarge then decided to sell the sarees worth Rs 200 for Rs 2 and sarees worth Rs 100 for Rs 1. But it comes with a rider. Customers were asked to get notes of Rs 1 and Rs 2 denomination. I will not accept Rs 1 and Rs 2 coins or even of Rs 10. Interested customers should bring an old note of Rs 1 or Rs 2 for getting these sarees, he said. He plans to sell till the saree stock worth Rs 1 lakh which he had bought from Surat is over. I am doing this to support the Prime Ministers move, said Chandrashekhar who borrowed the idea of selling sarees at such low costs from his daughters Srusti and Drusti. So far, Pasarge claims to have sold sarees worth Rs 40,000. Srusti said the amount collected would be offered to Tirupati temple as they as have no interest in using the money. Sangeeta, one of the customers at the store, exclaimed how she could not get a bar of good chocolate for Rs 1 but the store was giving away sarees at the same price. Pasarge started the scheme on December 16 and plans to keep the offer open till end of the month. Customers from neighbouring states Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are visiting the shop to purchase the sarees.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Brewing unrest within the CPM and the Left Front over many decisions of the Left Government, including its police actions, are gradually coming out.

With the ripples of the killing of Maoists and UAPA episode yet to subside, Left leaders in the state have started pointing fingers at the police and apparently at the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

Speaking at a television programme, CPM state secretariat member Anathalavattom Anandan has come down heavily on the police. Pinarayi Vijayan is bound to follow the partys stance and policy, he reminded adding that the Chief Ministership was a job entrusted by the party.

The senior leader further added that the party is opposed to many actions taken by the DGP. We have been strongly opposing such actions by the police. Party policy is about rectifying mistakes. Thats also the policy of Pinarayi Vijayan, he further said in the programme.

The open statement by a senior leader, in a way reminding Pinarayi that its a job entrusted by the party, points at the concerns within the LDF over police causing damage to the Left Government.

In an unprecedented manner many Left leaders including CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan, CPI sate secretary Kanam Rajendran and even CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan came out against the police actions in the past couple of days. Top leaders admit that the government cannot put the blame on police and wash its hands of responsibility.

Thats why many leaders, including the CPM state chief, openly criticised the police and urged the government to correct its mistakes. The Left is always against legislation like the UAPA. But the government can function within a system only, pointed out another leader.

Meanwhile CPM Politburo member MA Baby, who had raised concerns about certain actions by the police the other day, opined that taking corrective steps is an ongoing process.

There may be officials who deviate from the Left Governments pro-people policy. But the current leadership in the state government is capable of correcting them and avoiding anti-people activities from their part, he told Express.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Brewing unrest within the CPM and the Left Front over many decisions of the Left Government, including its police actions, are gradually coming out. With the ripples of the killing of Maoists and UAPA episode yet to subside, Left leaders in the state have started pointing fingers at the police and apparently at the Pinarayi Vijayan government. Speaking at a television programme, CPM state secretariat member Anathalavattom Anandan has come down heavily on the police. Pinarayi Vijayan is bound to follow the partys stance and policy, he reminded adding that the Chief Ministership was a job entrusted by the party. The senior leader further added that the party is opposed to many actions taken by the DGP. We have been strongly opposing such actions by the police. Party policy is about rectifying mistakes. Thats also the policy of Pinarayi Vijayan, he further said in the programme. The open statement by a senior leader, in a way reminding Pinarayi that its a job entrusted by the party, points at the concerns within the LDF over police causing damage to the Left Government. In an unprecedented manner many Left leaders including CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan, CPI sate secretary Kanam Rajendran and even CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan came out against the police actions in the past couple of days. Top leaders admit that the government cannot put the blame on police and wash its hands of responsibility. Thats why many leaders, including the CPM state chief, openly criticised the police and urged the government to correct its mistakes. The Left is always against legislation like the UAPA. But the government can function within a system only, pointed out another leader. Meanwhile CPM Politburo member MA Baby, who had raised concerns about certain actions by the police the other day, opined that taking corrective steps is an ongoing process. There may be officials who deviate from the Left Governments pro-people policy. But the current leadership in the state government is capable of correcting them and avoiding anti-people activities from their part, he told Express.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Girija Vaidyanathan, senior IAS officer today assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu.

She reached her office at around 9.20 a.m., and assumed office within a few minutes, without any media glare. Since the DIPR officials have informed the media that she is likely to take over at 10 a.m., there was no one to cover her arrival. She is the 45th Chief Secretary of the State and the fourth woman officer to assume the top post.

Just after assuming charge, the Chief Secretary called on Chief Minister O Panneerselvam at his chamber.

The new Team TN: Chief Minister O Panneerselvam welcoming the new chief secretary, Girija Vaidyanathan. pic.twitter.com/6nHb5aQYrZ  gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) December 23, 2016

Her appointment to the top post followed the IT raids in the residence and office of her predecessor P Rama Mohana Rao.

CHENNAI: Girija Vaidyanathan, senior IAS officer today assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu. She reached her office at around 9.20 a.m., and assumed office within a few minutes, without any media glare. Since the DIPR officials have informed the media that she is likely to take over at 10 a.m., there was no one to cover her arrival. She is the 45th Chief Secretary of the State and the fourth woman officer to assume the top post. Just after assuming charge, the Chief Secretary called on Chief Minister O Panneerselvam at his chamber. The new Team TN: Chief Minister O Panneerselvam welcoming the new chief secretary, Girija Vaidyanathan. pic.twitter.com/6nHb5aQYrZ  gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) December 23, 2016 Her appointment to the top post followed the IT raids in the residence and office of her predecessor P Rama Mohana Rao.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Girija Vaidyanathan, a 57-year-old senior official in Tamil Nadu bureaucracy, was appointed as the 45th chief secretary of the State at a time when the rattled official machinery maintains a stunned silence following the action against her predecessor, P Rama Mohana Rao.

An experienced official, who has 34 years of service behind her, Girija is the fourth woman to become chief secretary of the State after Lakshmi Pranesh, S Malathi and Sheela Balakrishnan. Girija, daughter of former Reserve Bank of India Governor, S Venkitaramanan, has been a top performer all along, coming first among women aspirants and ninth overall when she cleared the civil service examination in 1981.

The same year, she received a masters degree in physics from IIT Madras. Entering the service did not stop her from pursing her academic interests, as she obtained a doctorate in health economics from IIT Madras. In 1993, Girija also passed the examination for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Beginning her career as sub collector in Tiruvallur in 1983-84, Girija has worked in several departments and was also the member secretary of the State Planning Commission. But a significant part of her career was spent in health, nutrition and education departments.



The other departments where she had her stints included civil supplies, personnel and general administration, industries, finance, environment and forests, planning and programme implementation, urban development, power and land development and revenue management. She has wide experience in the design and financing of schemes in the development sector.



During her tenure as Mission Director of the State Health Society, Tamil Nadu received the award for best performance among the non-empowered action group States. She has been involved in the implementation of various programmes in the health sector, with specific focus on improvement of maternal and child health, and strengthening public health system in the State.



Girija had served on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India during 1995-97. She was awarded the British Chevening Gurukul Scholarship in Leadership and Excellence 1999 at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

CHENNAI: Girija Vaidyanathan, a 57-year-old senior official in Tamil Nadu bureaucracy, was appointed as the 45th chief secretary of the State at a time when the rattled official machinery maintains a stunned silence following the action against her predecessor, P Rama Mohana Rao. An experienced official, who has 34 years of service behind her, Girija is the fourth woman to become chief secretary of the State after Lakshmi Pranesh, S Malathi and Sheela Balakrishnan. Girija, daughter of former Reserve Bank of India Governor, S Venkitaramanan, has been a top performer all along, coming first among women aspirants and ninth overall when she cleared the civil service examination in 1981. The same year, she received a masters degree in physics from IIT Madras. Entering the service did not stop her from pursing her academic interests, as she obtained a doctorate in health economics from IIT Madras. In 1993, Girija also passed the examination for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Beginning her career as sub collector in Tiruvallur in 1983-84, Girija has worked in several departments and was also the member secretary of the State Planning Commission. But a significant part of her career was spent in health, nutrition and education departments. The other departments where she had her stints included civil supplies, personnel and general administration, industries, finance, environment and forests, planning and programme implementation, urban development, power and land development and revenue management. She has wide experience in the design and financing of schemes in the development sector. During her tenure as Mission Director of the State Health Society, Tamil Nadu received the award for best performance among the non-empowered action group States. She has been involved in the implementation of various programmes in the health sector, with specific focus on improvement of maternal and child health, and strengthening public health system in the State. Girija had served on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India during 1995-97. She was awarded the British Chevening Gurukul Scholarship in Leadership and Excellence 1999 at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
By PTI

BEIJING: China will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as "supporting terrorism", Chinese official media today said and suggested India to accept the "olive branch" extended by a top Pakistani military General to participate in the USD 46 billion economic corridor.

"Surprise aside (over General's call), New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," said an article in the state-run Global Times.

The comments came after Lt Gen Riaz, Commander of the Pakistan's Southern Command which is based in Quetta, this week reportedly said India should "shun enmity" with Pakistan and "join the USD 46-billion CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits".

"Such an opportunity could be transient. There is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the CPEC will quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if New Delhi does not respond in a timely manner to the General's overture," the article said.

"The best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus," it said.

It said that India could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the CPEC. In addition, the northern part of India bordering Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir will gain more economic growth momentum if India joins the project, it said.

Another article in the same daily said "Riaz's invitation, which came as a surprise to New Delhi, is mainly intended as a gesture. While he hinted at India's intervention

in the CPEC, he welcomed India's participation in the project, demonstrating Pakistan does not want to exclude India."

At the same time, it said, "if any country wants to label Pakistan as 'supporting terrorism' and discredit the country, then China and other countries who uphold justice will oppose such behaviour strongly".

The article said that since President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in April, 2015, the CPEC has advanced considerably.

"However, some international forces, and India in particular, are accustomed to look at the CPEC and the One Belt and One Road initiative from a geopolitical perspective. On one side, this is relevant to the geopolitical competition mindset they insist on, on the other, this is because of their excessive speculation on the strategic implications of the

CPEC and the Belt and Road," it said.

"To ensure the smooth advancement of the CPEC, it is necessary for Pakistan to have a stable and peaceful domestic and periphery environment and a favourable profile," it said.

On anti-terrorism, the Afghanistan peace process, and the peace and stability of Kashmir, Pakistan is making efforts to show international society its wish to pursue peace, it said.

"The CPEC is not only a bilateral cooperation, but also a multilateral project in the long-run, which aims at regional economic integration. So it's open and inclusive, and China and Pakistan hope India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries can participate and become stakeholders," it added.



BEIJING: China will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as "supporting terrorism", Chinese official media today said and suggested India to accept the "olive branch" extended by a top Pakistani military General to participate in the USD 46 billion economic corridor. "Surprise aside (over General's call), New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," said an article in the state-run Global Times. The comments came after Lt Gen Riaz, Commander of the Pakistan's Southern Command which is based in Quetta, this week reportedly said India should "shun enmity" with Pakistan and "join the USD 46-billion CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits". "Such an opportunity could be transient. There is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the CPEC will quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if New Delhi does not respond in a timely manner to the General's overture," the article said. "The best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus," it said. It said that India could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the CPEC. In addition, the northern part of India bordering Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir will gain more economic growth momentum if India joins the project, it said. Another article in the same daily said "Riaz's invitation, which came as a surprise to New Delhi, is mainly intended as a gesture. While he hinted at India's intervention in the CPEC, he welcomed India's participation in the project, demonstrating Pakistan does not want to exclude India." At the same time, it said, "if any country wants to label Pakistan as 'supporting terrorism' and discredit the country, then China and other countries who uphold justice will oppose such behaviour strongly". The article said that since President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in April, 2015, the CPEC has advanced considerably. "However, some international forces, and India in particular, are accustomed to look at the CPEC and the One Belt and One Road initiative from a geopolitical perspective. On one side, this is relevant to the geopolitical competition mindset they insist on, on the other, this is because of their excessive speculation on the strategic implications of the CPEC and the Belt and Road," it said. "To ensure the smooth advancement of the CPEC, it is necessary for Pakistan to have a stable and peaceful domestic and periphery environment and a favourable profile," it said. On anti-terrorism, the Afghanistan peace process, and the peace and stability of Kashmir, Pakistan is making efforts to show international society its wish to pursue peace, it said. "The CPEC is not only a bilateral cooperation, but also a multilateral project in the long-run, which aims at regional economic integration. So it's open and inclusive, and China and Pakistan hope India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries can participate and become stakeholders," it added.
By Associated Press

MIRPUR KHAS: The girl called Jeevti was just 14 when she taken from her family in the night to be married off to a man who says her family owed him $1,000.

Her mother, Ameri Kashi Kohli, is sure that her daughter paid the price for a never-ending debt.

Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid.

It's a familiar story here in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted.

In this world, women like Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment.

The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest, the young and pliable. Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can.

"I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us," says Ameri, who is Hindu. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife. "They told us, 'Your daughter has committed to Islam and you can't get her back.'"

More than 2 million Pakistanis live as "modern slaves," according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing.

"They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable," says Ghulam Hayder, whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistan's bonded laborers.

An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organization.

Hayder says, "They always take the pretty ones."

The night Jeevti disappeared, the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat here in southern Sindh province. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says.

The family turned to activist Veero Kohli to help free the girl.

Kohli, who isn't related to the family, was born a slave. Since fleeing bondage in 1999, she has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners, liberating thousands of families from bonded labor.

Kohli's defiance incenses many men in a country dominated by a centuries-old patriarchal culture.

"I know that they would like to kill me, but I will never stop fighting to free these people,' she says.

Five months ago, she went with Ameri to the Piyaro Lundh police station to find her daughter. They said the girl went willingly, Kohli says. "I told them: 'Let me talk to her. Let her mother talk to her if she went freely.'" They refused.

Instead, they called in the man who Ameri said had taken her daughter. Hamid Brohi, came alone, without the girl. "He said, 'Anyway, she is payment for 100,000 rupees ($1,000) they owe me,'" Kohli recalls.

Now Kohli is returning to the same police station, where police officer Aqueel Ahmed thumbs through a dozen files, barely containing his anger at the activist.

Finally, he pulls out an affidavit. In it, the girl, who now goes by the name Fatima, said she had converted freely and married Brohi of her own free will. She also said she couldn't meet her mother because now she was Muslim and her family was Hindu.

Hindu activists say the girls are kept isolated until they have been forced to convert and are married - and then it's almost too late to do anything.

Under pressure, police in a machine-gun-mounted jeep finally take Kohli and a foreign reporter to visit the girl. Her mother doesn't come, too afraid, she says, to confront the police in person again.

Brohi, a sullen-looking man with a thin mustache, greets the police with an embrace. He angrily denies he took Jeevti as payment for the family's debt, despite his earlier boast to the activist that he had done just that.

Inside, Jeevti sits on a double mattress on the floor, her head wrapped in a black shawl. She wears heavy eyeshadow and exaggerated bright red lipstick, like a child who has put on her mother's makeup - or one who is attempting to look older.

Although she doesn't seem afraid, her eyes dart to the door where her husband hovers. When she speaks, her words seem rehearsed.

"I married him because I wanted to," she says. "I myself asked him that as we are lovers, we should get married. So he said, 'Let's get married,' and I said yes."

She denies that she hasn't seen her mother since leaving. But she can't say when she saw her mother last - or even where she lives, now that the family has fled its old home. She is quiet when asked why her court affidavit says she refused to talk to her mother because she had converted to Islam.

She says she doesn't know what is in the court documents, although each one the police showed said Jeevti had spoken the words herself.

The next day, the visitors return  without a police escort.

Inside the compound, there are only women, and no one knows Fatima. The door to the room where she sat the day before is padlocked. It is as if the compound was but a stage set for a young girl's performance.





MIRPUR KHAS: The girl called Jeevti was just 14 when she taken from her family in the night to be married off to a man who says her family owed him $1,000. Her mother, Ameri Kashi Kohli, is sure that her daughter paid the price for a never-ending debt. Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid. It's a familiar story here in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted. In this world, women like Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment. The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest, the young and pliable. Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can. "I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us," says Ameri, who is Hindu. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife. "They told us, 'Your daughter has committed to Islam and you can't get her back.'" More than 2 million Pakistanis live as "modern slaves," according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing. "They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable," says Ghulam Hayder, whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistan's bonded laborers. An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organization. Hayder says, "They always take the pretty ones." The night Jeevti disappeared, the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat here in southern Sindh province. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says. The family turned to activist Veero Kohli to help free the girl. Kohli, who isn't related to the family, was born a slave. Since fleeing bondage in 1999, she has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners, liberating thousands of families from bonded labor. Kohli's defiance incenses many men in a country dominated by a centuries-old patriarchal culture. "I know that they would like to kill me, but I will never stop fighting to free these people,' she says. Five months ago, she went with Ameri to the Piyaro Lundh police station to find her daughter. They said the girl went willingly, Kohli says. "I told them: 'Let me talk to her. Let her mother talk to her if she went freely.'" They refused. Instead, they called in the man who Ameri said had taken her daughter. Hamid Brohi, came alone, without the girl. "He said, 'Anyway, she is payment for 100,000 rupees ($1,000) they owe me,'" Kohli recalls. Now Kohli is returning to the same police station, where police officer Aqueel Ahmed thumbs through a dozen files, barely containing his anger at the activist. Finally, he pulls out an affidavit. In it, the girl, who now goes by the name Fatima, said she had converted freely and married Brohi of her own free will. She also said she couldn't meet her mother because now she was Muslim and her family was Hindu. Hindu activists say the girls are kept isolated until they have been forced to convert and are married - and then it's almost too late to do anything. Under pressure, police in a machine-gun-mounted jeep finally take Kohli and a foreign reporter to visit the girl. Her mother doesn't come, too afraid, she says, to confront the police in person again. Brohi, a sullen-looking man with a thin mustache, greets the police with an embrace. He angrily denies he took Jeevti as payment for the family's debt, despite his earlier boast to the activist that he had done just that. Inside, Jeevti sits on a double mattress on the floor, her head wrapped in a black shawl. She wears heavy eyeshadow and exaggerated bright red lipstick, like a child who has put on her mother's makeup - or one who is attempting to look older. Although she doesn't seem afraid, her eyes dart to the door where her husband hovers. When she speaks, her words seem rehearsed. "I married him because I wanted to," she says. "I myself asked him that as we are lovers, we should get married. So he said, 'Let's get married,' and I said yes." She denies that she hasn't seen her mother since leaving. But she can't say when she saw her mother last - or even where she lives, now that the family has fled its old home. She is quiet when asked why her court affidavit says she refused to talk to her mother because she had converted to Islam. She says she doesn't know what is in the court documents, although each one the police showed said Jeevti had spoken the words herself. The next day, the visitors return  without a police escort. Inside the compound, there are only women, and no one knows Fatima. The door to the room where she sat the day before is padlocked. It is as if the compound was but a stage set for a young girl's performance.
By Associated Press

PYONGYANG: If Santa Claus stops in North Korea this year, he'll find some trees and lights and might even hear a Christmas song or two. But he won't encounter even a hint of what Christmas actually means  not under a regime that sees foreign religion a very real threat.

There are almost no practicing Christians in North Korea. But there used to be. And while the trappings of the holiday season they once celebrated haven't been completely expunged, any connections they had to the birth of Jesus have been thoroughly erased.

Take Christmas trees, for example.

They aren't especially hard to find in Pyongyang, especially in upscale restaurants or shops that cater to the local elite and the small community of resident foreigners. A waist-high tree was long a feature at the offices of the Koryolink mobile phone provider.

The trees are often decorated with colorful lights and shiny baubles, but none of the displays have explicitly religious associations. Many are up all year, further diluting their Christmas connotation.

Instrumental versions of "White Christmas" and "Let It Snow" have been in the rotation of mood music piped into the dining room of one of Pyongyang's ritziest hotels since at least last August. In the countryside, where such pockets of affluence are rare to nonexistent, so too, presumably, are any of these sorts of glitzy decorations.

This wasn't always the case.

Before the advent of ruling Kim regime, North Korea was fertile ground for missionaries and Pyongyang had more Christians than any other city in Korea. It even had a seated Catholic bishop. Most of that presence was erased by the early 1950s, and the North has kept a tight lid on all Christian activities in the country since.

Article 68 of the North Korean constitution does give a nod to the freedom of religion  with the rather significant proviso that "religion must not be used as a pretext for drawing in foreign forces or for harming the State or social order." A handful of Christian churches and other religious facilities are allowed to operate, but under tightly restricted conditions.

There are four state-approved Christian churches in Pyongyang  one Russian Orthodox, two Protestant and one Catholic.

Inside the Catholic cathedral are crosses, but no crucifixes. Weekly services feature hymns and prayers offered in a highly formalized manner, but there are no sacraments. State-appointed laymen lead the services, which are not sanctioned by the Vatican. The Protestant churches are reportedly largely unused.

The fact that Christmas-themed music and decorations are allowed at all and, in fact, generally taken for granted almost certainly signals how little association they evoke with the officially frowned-upon and subversive religion that spawned them.

Overt, unsanctioned religious activities are a very different matter.

As one American tourist found out not too long ago, merely leaving a Bible in a public space is enough to land you in jail for a potentially very long time: Jeffrey Fowle was sentenced to 15 years but ended up being released after six months. And Canadian Hyeon Soo Lim, a Christian pastor, was sentenced last year to life in prison with hard labor for alleged anti-state crimes inside the country.

PYONGYANG: If Santa Claus stops in North Korea this year, he'll find some trees and lights and might even hear a Christmas song or two. But he won't encounter even a hint of what Christmas actually means  not under a regime that sees foreign religion a very real threat. There are almost no practicing Christians in North Korea. But there used to be. And while the trappings of the holiday season they once celebrated haven't been completely expunged, any connections they had to the birth of Jesus have been thoroughly erased. Take Christmas trees, for example. They aren't especially hard to find in Pyongyang, especially in upscale restaurants or shops that cater to the local elite and the small community of resident foreigners. A waist-high tree was long a feature at the offices of the Koryolink mobile phone provider. The trees are often decorated with colorful lights and shiny baubles, but none of the displays have explicitly religious associations. Many are up all year, further diluting their Christmas connotation. Instrumental versions of "White Christmas" and "Let It Snow" have been in the rotation of mood music piped into the dining room of one of Pyongyang's ritziest hotels since at least last August. In the countryside, where such pockets of affluence are rare to nonexistent, so too, presumably, are any of these sorts of glitzy decorations. This wasn't always the case. Before the advent of ruling Kim regime, North Korea was fertile ground for missionaries and Pyongyang had more Christians than any other city in Korea. It even had a seated Catholic bishop. Most of that presence was erased by the early 1950s, and the North has kept a tight lid on all Christian activities in the country since. Article 68 of the North Korean constitution does give a nod to the freedom of religion  with the rather significant proviso that "religion must not be used as a pretext for drawing in foreign forces or for harming the State or social order." A handful of Christian churches and other religious facilities are allowed to operate, but under tightly restricted conditions. There are four state-approved Christian churches in Pyongyang  one Russian Orthodox, two Protestant and one Catholic. Inside the Catholic cathedral are crosses, but no crucifixes. Weekly services feature hymns and prayers offered in a highly formalized manner, but there are no sacraments. State-appointed laymen lead the services, which are not sanctioned by the Vatican. The Protestant churches are reportedly largely unused. The fact that Christmas-themed music and decorations are allowed at all and, in fact, generally taken for granted almost certainly signals how little association they evoke with the officially frowned-upon and subversive religion that spawned them. Overt, unsanctioned religious activities are a very different matter. As one American tourist found out not too long ago, merely leaving a Bible in a public space is enough to land you in jail for a potentially very long time: Jeffrey Fowle was sentenced to 15 years but ended up being released after six months. And Canadian Hyeon Soo Lim, a Christian pastor, was sentenced last year to life in prison with hard labor for alleged anti-state crimes inside the country.
By Associated Press

OHIO: She is a mother of three, grandmother of 16, great-grandmother of 12 and great-great-grandmother of three. She recently had surgery to remove a malignant tumor, but doctors say she's doing well.

She's Colo, the nation's oldest living gorilla, and she turned 60 on Thursday at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Colo was the first gorilla in the world born in a zoo and has surpassed the usual life expectancy of captive gorillas by two decades. Her longevity is putting a spotlight on the medical care, nutrition and up-to-date therapeutic techniques that are helping lengthen zoo animals' lives.

"Colo just epitomizes the advances that zoos have made, going all the way back to her birth at Columbus," said Dr. Tom Meehan, vice president for veterinary services at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo and veterinary adviser to a national gorilla species survival plan.

The changes also mean more animals living with the normal aches and pains of growing older. Today, zoo veterinarians regularly treat animals for heart and kidney disease, arthritis, dental problems and cancer.

Hundreds of people gathered at the zoo Thursday to see Colo, singing "Happy Birthday" moments before the gorilla ambled into an enclosure decorated with multicolored construction paper chains and filled with cakes such as squash and beet and cornbread with mashed potato parsley frosting.

Among the first in line was Pam Schlereth of Columbus, who at 63 was just a little girl when her father brought her to see the newborn Colo in a gorilla incubator in 1956.

"It's a tribute to the zoo that she's alive at 60 years old," Schlereth said.

Colo represents so much to the zoo, Tom Stalf, president of the zoo, told the crowd. "It's all about connecting people and wildlife," he said.

Colo is one of several elderly gorillas around the country. The oldest known living male gorilla, Ozzie, is 55 years old and lives at the Atlanta Zoo, which has a geriatric gorilla specialty.

At Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, staff members use acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, and heat and joint supplements to help Emma, a 13-year-old rabbit.

At the National Zoo in Washington, Shanthi, a 42-year-old Asian elephant with arthritis, receives osteoarthritis therapy and was recently fitted with specially crafted front foot boots to help her feet heal as medications are applied.

In Oakland, California, Tiki, a 27-year-old giraffe and one of the oldest in the nation, gets foot care, massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care, along with traditional veterinary medicine. Gao Gao, a 26-year-old male panda at the San Diego Zoo with a heart condition, periodically undergoes cardiac ultrasounds.

"Geriatrics is probably one of our most common medical challenges that we face in a zoo situation," said Dr. Keith Hinshaw, director of animal health at the Philadelphia Zoo. "So pretty much anything that you could imagine would happen with an older person is going to happen eventually with any animal."

That's up to and including medication: JJ, a 45-year-old orangutan at the Toledo Zoo, is on the human heart medicines carvedilol and Lisinopril, along with pain and orthopedic medications. He also takes Metamucil.

Colo, a western lowland gorilla, holds several other records. On her 56th birthday in 2012, she exceeded the record for longest-lived gorilla. On Thursday, she surpasses the median life expectancy for female gorillas in human care (37.5 years) by more than two decades.

OHIO: She is a mother of three, grandmother of 16, great-grandmother of 12 and great-great-grandmother of three. She recently had surgery to remove a malignant tumor, but doctors say she's doing well. She's Colo, the nation's oldest living gorilla, and she turned 60 on Thursday at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Colo was the first gorilla in the world born in a zoo and has surpassed the usual life expectancy of captive gorillas by two decades. Her longevity is putting a spotlight on the medical care, nutrition and up-to-date therapeutic techniques that are helping lengthen zoo animals' lives. "Colo just epitomizes the advances that zoos have made, going all the way back to her birth at Columbus," said Dr. Tom Meehan, vice president for veterinary services at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo and veterinary adviser to a national gorilla species survival plan. The changes also mean more animals living with the normal aches and pains of growing older. Today, zoo veterinarians regularly treat animals for heart and kidney disease, arthritis, dental problems and cancer. Hundreds of people gathered at the zoo Thursday to see Colo, singing "Happy Birthday" moments before the gorilla ambled into an enclosure decorated with multicolored construction paper chains and filled with cakes such as squash and beet and cornbread with mashed potato parsley frosting. Among the first in line was Pam Schlereth of Columbus, who at 63 was just a little girl when her father brought her to see the newborn Colo in a gorilla incubator in 1956. "It's a tribute to the zoo that she's alive at 60 years old," Schlereth said. Colo represents so much to the zoo, Tom Stalf, president of the zoo, told the crowd. "It's all about connecting people and wildlife," he said. Colo is one of several elderly gorillas around the country. The oldest known living male gorilla, Ozzie, is 55 years old and lives at the Atlanta Zoo, which has a geriatric gorilla specialty. At Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, staff members use acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, and heat and joint supplements to help Emma, a 13-year-old rabbit. At the National Zoo in Washington, Shanthi, a 42-year-old Asian elephant with arthritis, receives osteoarthritis therapy and was recently fitted with specially crafted front foot boots to help her feet heal as medications are applied. In Oakland, California, Tiki, a 27-year-old giraffe and one of the oldest in the nation, gets foot care, massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care, along with traditional veterinary medicine. Gao Gao, a 26-year-old male panda at the San Diego Zoo with a heart condition, periodically undergoes cardiac ultrasounds. "Geriatrics is probably one of our most common medical challenges that we face in a zoo situation," said Dr. Keith Hinshaw, director of animal health at the Philadelphia Zoo. "So pretty much anything that you could imagine would happen with an older person is going to happen eventually with any animal." That's up to and including medication: JJ, a 45-year-old orangutan at the Toledo Zoo, is on the human heart medicines carvedilol and Lisinopril, along with pain and orthopedic medications. He also takes Metamucil. Colo, a western lowland gorilla, holds several other records. On her 56th birthday in 2012, she exceeded the record for longest-lived gorilla. On Thursday, she surpasses the median life expectancy for female gorillas in human care (37.5 years) by more than two decades.
By Associated Press

VALETTA: After hours of tense negotiations, two Libyans who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up surrendered peacefully on Friday, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the plane before walking out themselves with the last of the crew.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was travelling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta midmorning on Friday.

Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them. All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3:44 p.m. local time.

They have "surrendered," been "searched and taken in custody," he tweeted.

The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the plane's doors to open at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups.

In a series of tweets, Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, then the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including 7 crew members, were on board the hijacked plane.

Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers had asked him to head to Rome. He identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, Libyans who other officials said were in their twenties.

The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called "the New Fateh." Fateh is a reference to former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who led Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969.

After many of the hostages left the plane Friday afternoon, someone, apparently a hijacker, waved the old green Libyan flag from the plane's doorway.

Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes, Gadhafi was ousted and killed in 2011.

Western nations view the newly-formed U.N.-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libya's parliament, which meets in the country's far east, has refused to accept it. Amid chaos, the Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliates have gained a foothold over the past years.

Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized the Islamic State group's last stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.

VALETTA: After hours of tense negotiations, two Libyans who hijacked a plane from Libya to Malta and threatened to blow it up surrendered peacefully on Friday, allowing 118 passengers and crew to leave the plane before walking out themselves with the last of the crew. The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was travelling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta midmorning on Friday. Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them. All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac. Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, announced that the hijacking of the Libyan plane was over in a tweet at 3:44 p.m. local time. They have "surrendered," been "searched and taken in custody," he tweeted. The hijackers, after negotiations, allowed the plane's doors to open at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was moved over to let freed passengers begin disembarking in groups. In a series of tweets, Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44, including some crew, then the hijackers and the final crew members. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage. The company said on its Facebook page that 118 people, including 7 crew members, were on board the hijacked plane. Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers had asked him to head to Rome. He identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, Libyans who other officials said were in their twenties. The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called "the New Fateh." Fateh is a reference to former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who led Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969. After many of the hostages left the plane Friday afternoon, someone, apparently a hijacker, waved the old green Libyan flag from the plane's doorway. Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes, Gadhafi was ousted and killed in 2011. Western nations view the newly-formed U.N.-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libya's parliament, which meets in the country's far east, has refused to accept it. Amid chaos, the Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliates have gained a foothold over the past years. Earlier this month, militias answering to the UN-brokered government seized the Islamic State group's last stronghold in the Libyan city of Sirte.
By AFP

MANILA: Critics and victims of military abuses expressed alarm on Friday after President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted Philippine leaders to be able to wield martial law powers without judicial and congressional approval.

Duterte, a fiery populist politician who was elected by a landslide earlier this year largely on a vow to kill 100,000 criminals, has cultivated an image as a no-nonsense leader.

He has made reviving the death penalty in the mainly Catholic nation his top legislative priority as part of his war on crime, and has likened himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler as he said he was "happy to slaughter" three million drug users.

Speaking during a visit to the northern Philippines on Thursday, the 71-year-old lamented how the constitution tied the president's hands in dealing with security crises including war.

"If you have martial law, only one person should be in control," Duterte said.

"If there's invasion or war and I declare martial law, I cannot proceed on and on to deal with the trouble as I still have to go to Congress, go to the Supreme Court," he added.

"That's why that needs to be replaced."

The Philippines adopted a new constitution in 1987 to curtail presidential powers after millions of Filipinos took to the streets the year earlier in a famous "People Power" revolution, to oust dictator Ferdinand Marcos and end his 20-year rule.

Under the former leader, who imposed martial rule from 1972-1981 to fight crime and a communist insurgency, thousands were killed and tortured to suppress dissent, previous Philippine governments have said.

Today the president can impose martial rule for up to 60 days to stop invasion or rebellion, but parliament can revoke it within 48 hours, while the Supreme Court can also review its legality.

Bonifacio Ilagan, imprisoned and tortured under Marcos' martial law reign, said Duterte could be floating a "trial balloon" to gauge public opinion before taking actual steps to amend the constitution.

"I honestly believe that the people will resist," said Ilagan.

Asked to explain Duterte's intentions, spokesman Martin Andanar told AFP on Friday: "I will ask the president."

- Brutal campaign -

Duterte has spent his first six months in office waging a brutal campaign against drugs that has left more than 5,300 people dead and raised concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings.

The president has previously declared he does not need martial law, but has also threatened to impose it during a row in August with the chief justice of the Supreme Court who had criticised his drug war.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who ministers to the Tondo slum district where many drug suspects have been killed by police, told AFP the country was now under virtual martial rule due to the crackdown.

"It is not necessary that you have a declaration of martial law to have martial law," the bishop said.

Another prominent critic, Senator Francis Pangilinan, said Duterte's shifting position on martial rule was not reassuring.

"He said a few days ago that martial law was stupid and didn't work, and yet now he says something else. His lack of clarity is a serious cause for concern."

Duterte's allies who control parliament have backed his proposal for it to convene as a "constituent assembly" before he leaves office in 2022 to change the centralised government to a federal system.

Ilagan said the constituent assembly would also be able to amend the president's martial law powers.

MANILA: Critics and victims of military abuses expressed alarm on Friday after President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted Philippine leaders to be able to wield martial law powers without judicial and congressional approval. Duterte, a fiery populist politician who was elected by a landslide earlier this year largely on a vow to kill 100,000 criminals, has cultivated an image as a no-nonsense leader. He has made reviving the death penalty in the mainly Catholic nation his top legislative priority as part of his war on crime, and has likened himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler as he said he was "happy to slaughter" three million drug users. Speaking during a visit to the northern Philippines on Thursday, the 71-year-old lamented how the constitution tied the president's hands in dealing with security crises including war. "If you have martial law, only one person should be in control," Duterte said. "If there's invasion or war and I declare martial law, I cannot proceed on and on to deal with the trouble as I still have to go to Congress, go to the Supreme Court," he added. "That's why that needs to be replaced." The Philippines adopted a new constitution in 1987 to curtail presidential powers after millions of Filipinos took to the streets the year earlier in a famous "People Power" revolution, to oust dictator Ferdinand Marcos and end his 20-year rule. Under the former leader, who imposed martial rule from 1972-1981 to fight crime and a communist insurgency, thousands were killed and tortured to suppress dissent, previous Philippine governments have said. Today the president can impose martial rule for up to 60 days to stop invasion or rebellion, but parliament can revoke it within 48 hours, while the Supreme Court can also review its legality. Bonifacio Ilagan, imprisoned and tortured under Marcos' martial law reign, said Duterte could be floating a "trial balloon" to gauge public opinion before taking actual steps to amend the constitution. "I honestly believe that the people will resist," said Ilagan. Asked to explain Duterte's intentions, spokesman Martin Andanar told AFP on Friday: "I will ask the president." - Brutal campaign - Duterte has spent his first six months in office waging a brutal campaign against drugs that has left more than 5,300 people dead and raised concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings. The president has previously declared he does not need martial law, but has also threatened to impose it during a row in August with the chief justice of the Supreme Court who had criticised his drug war. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who ministers to the Tondo slum district where many drug suspects have been killed by police, told AFP the country was now under virtual martial rule due to the crackdown. "It is not necessary that you have a declaration of martial law to have martial law," the bishop said. Another prominent critic, Senator Francis Pangilinan, said Duterte's shifting position on martial rule was not reassuring. "He said a few days ago that martial law was stupid and didn't work, and yet now he says something else. His lack of clarity is a serious cause for concern." Duterte's allies who control parliament have backed his proposal for it to convene as a "constituent assembly" before he leaves office in 2022 to change the centralised government to a federal system. Ilagan said the constituent assembly would also be able to amend the president's martial law powers.
By AFP

BERLIN: Police have arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack one of Germany's biggest shopping centres, authorities said Friday, four days after a jihadist killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market.

Police said they had arrested two men, aged 28 and 31, originally from Kosovo, and were trying to establish how advanced the plot was and whether other people were involved.

Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence services, police were deployed to the shopping complex and a nearby Christmas market in the western city of Oberhausen late Thursday, they said.

The mall that was targeted, CentrO, is one of the largest in Germany with around 250 shops that are usually packed in the run-up to Christmas.

The arrests come as police frantically hunt for the Tunisian suspect accused of ploughing a truck through crowds packing one of Berlin's most popular Christmas markets on Monday.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the assault -- their deadliest yet carried out on German soil.

Police commandos on Thursday raided three homes and a long-distance bus, prosecutors said, as they cast a wide dragnet for 24-year-old Anis Amri.

Police say they are certain it was Amri who steered the 40-tonne lorry after finding his identity papers and fingerprints inside the cab, next to the corpse of its registered Polish driver who was killed with a gunshot to the head.

Authorities have issued a Europe-wide wanted notice over the attack, offering a 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward for information leading to Amri's arrest.

In Tunisia, a brother of the fugitive appealed to him to surrender.

"If he is listening to me, I tell him: 'Present yourself' so the family can rest easier," Abdelkader Amri told reporters.

"If my brother is behind the attack, I say to him 'You dishonour us'," he said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "proud of how calmly most people reacted" to Germany's deadliest attack in years and voiced confidence Amri would be arrested soon.

- 'Systemic failure' -

But Merkel's assuring message failed to dampen criticism of what many politicians and newspapers slammed as glaring security failures leading up to Monday's attack.

Officials have revealed that Amri was a rejected asylum seeker with a history of crime who had spent years in an Italian jail and had long been known to German counter-terrorism agencies.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

And Berlin prosecutors said Amri had been monitored from March until September, suspected of planning a burglary to pay for automatic weapons to carry out an attack.

However, when authorities failed to find evidence of the plot and watched Amri operate as a small-time drug dealer, the surveillance was stopped.

"They knew him. They did nothing," ran the scathing headline of Berlin's B.Z. tabloid.

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel's liberal stance on refugees, said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy.

Germany took in more than a million refugees last year, many of them fleeing violence in Syria, North Africa and the Middle East.

"It's clear that a lot went wrong... it was a systemic failure," said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King's College London.

Neumann argued that German security services lacked the manpower to maintain around-the-clock surveillance of the 550 known radical Islamists in Germany.

"Germany's anti-terrorism structure is failing to match the scale of the problem," he told news channel NTV.

- 'In the crosshairs' -

While the security debate rages, and is set to intensify with an election next year, many Germans were still looking forward to Christmas Eve on Saturday, the country's most important festival.

On Thursday, Berliners flocked to the reopened Breitscheid square Christmas market that was targeted in Monday's carnage.

The government has appealed for people to carry on as normal and not to give in to fear.

Organisers dimmed festive lights and turned down the Christmas jingles as a mark of respect for those killed.

Victims were also honoured with candles, flowers, letters of condolence and signs reading "Love Not Hate".

Among the dead were six Germans, 60-year-old Israeli Dalia Elyakim, and a young Italian woman called Fabrizia Di Lorenzo. Some 48 others were injured.

Germany had until now been spared the jihadist carnage that has struck neighbouring France and Belgium.

But it has suffered a spate of smaller attacks, including two in July that left 20 people injured, both committed by asylum seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group.

Merkel said Germany had "known for a long time that we are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism. And yet, when it happens... it is a totally different situation."

BERLIN: Police have arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack one of Germany's biggest shopping centres, authorities said Friday, four days after a jihadist killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market. Police said they had arrested two men, aged 28 and 31, originally from Kosovo, and were trying to establish how advanced the plot was and whether other people were involved. Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence services, police were deployed to the shopping complex and a nearby Christmas market in the western city of Oberhausen late Thursday, they said. The mall that was targeted, CentrO, is one of the largest in Germany with around 250 shops that are usually packed in the run-up to Christmas. The arrests come as police frantically hunt for the Tunisian suspect accused of ploughing a truck through crowds packing one of Berlin's most popular Christmas markets on Monday. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the assault -- their deadliest yet carried out on German soil. Police commandos on Thursday raided three homes and a long-distance bus, prosecutors said, as they cast a wide dragnet for 24-year-old Anis Amri. Police say they are certain it was Amri who steered the 40-tonne lorry after finding his identity papers and fingerprints inside the cab, next to the corpse of its registered Polish driver who was killed with a gunshot to the head. Authorities have issued a Europe-wide wanted notice over the attack, offering a 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward for information leading to Amri's arrest. In Tunisia, a brother of the fugitive appealed to him to surrender. "If he is listening to me, I tell him: 'Present yourself' so the family can rest easier," Abdelkader Amri told reporters. "If my brother is behind the attack, I say to him 'You dishonour us'," he said. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "proud of how calmly most people reacted" to Germany's deadliest attack in years and voiced confidence Amri would be arrested soon. - 'Systemic failure' - But Merkel's assuring message failed to dampen criticism of what many politicians and newspapers slammed as glaring security failures leading up to Monday's attack. Officials have revealed that Amri was a rejected asylum seeker with a history of crime who had spent years in an Italian jail and had long been known to German counter-terrorism agencies. News weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant. And Berlin prosecutors said Amri had been monitored from March until September, suspected of planning a burglary to pay for automatic weapons to carry out an attack. However, when authorities failed to find evidence of the plot and watched Amri operate as a small-time drug dealer, the surveillance was stopped. "They knew him. They did nothing," ran the scathing headline of Berlin's B.Z. tabloid. Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel's liberal stance on refugees, said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy. Germany took in more than a million refugees last year, many of them fleeing violence in Syria, North Africa and the Middle East. "It's clear that a lot went wrong... it was a systemic failure," said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King's College London. Neumann argued that German security services lacked the manpower to maintain around-the-clock surveillance of the 550 known radical Islamists in Germany. "Germany's anti-terrorism structure is failing to match the scale of the problem," he told news channel NTV. - 'In the crosshairs' - While the security debate rages, and is set to intensify with an election next year, many Germans were still looking forward to Christmas Eve on Saturday, the country's most important festival. On Thursday, Berliners flocked to the reopened Breitscheid square Christmas market that was targeted in Monday's carnage. The government has appealed for people to carry on as normal and not to give in to fear. Organisers dimmed festive lights and turned down the Christmas jingles as a mark of respect for those killed. Victims were also honoured with candles, flowers, letters of condolence and signs reading "Love Not Hate". Among the dead were six Germans, 60-year-old Israeli Dalia Elyakim, and a young Italian woman called Fabrizia Di Lorenzo. Some 48 others were injured. Germany had until now been spared the jihadist carnage that has struck neighbouring France and Belgium. But it has suffered a spate of smaller attacks, including two in July that left 20 people injured, both committed by asylum seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group. Merkel said Germany had "known for a long time that we are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism. And yet, when it happens... it is a totally different situation."
By AFP

BEIRUT: The Islamic State group killed 27 Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen in a series of attacks near Palmyra in the past 24 hours, a monitor said on Friday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS began launching attacks on Syrian regime forces and their allies on Thursday night and that clashes were ongoing.

IS targeted several villages with a majority population from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite clan, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

The jihadists were trying to "totally surround" the Tayfur military airport and "cut its supply route," said Abdel Rahman.

The Britain-based Observatory said the base is located between the cities of Palmyra and Homs in central Syria.

The jihadists retook Palmyra in central Syria on December 11, just eight months after the army backed by Russia drove them out.

Since then clashes have rattled the region and on Monday attacks by IS on the Tayfur base killed at least 20 regime force members, according to the Observatory.

Palmyra is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its recapture by IS gave the jihadists a propaganda boost as they face assaults on two of their key strongholds -- Raqa in Syria and Iraq's second city Mosul.

BEIRUT: The Islamic State group killed 27 Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen in a series of attacks near Palmyra in the past 24 hours, a monitor said on Friday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS began launching attacks on Syrian regime forces and their allies on Thursday night and that clashes were ongoing. IS targeted several villages with a majority population from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite clan, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. The jihadists were trying to "totally surround" the Tayfur military airport and "cut its supply route," said Abdel Rahman. The Britain-based Observatory said the base is located between the cities of Palmyra and Homs in central Syria. The jihadists retook Palmyra in central Syria on December 11, just eight months after the army backed by Russia drove them out. Since then clashes have rattled the region and on Monday attacks by IS on the Tayfur base killed at least 20 regime force members, according to the Observatory. Palmyra is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its recapture by IS gave the jihadists a propaganda boost as they face assaults on two of their key strongholds -- Raqa in Syria and Iraq's second city Mosul.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump on today reportedly said he is fine with a nuclear arms race and exuded confidence that the US would outlast any another country in terms of nuclear weapons.

Trump reportedly said this in an off-air conversation to Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the popular 'Morning-Joe' show on MSNBC, the news channel said.

"Let it be an arms race...we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," Trump told Brzezinski in an off-air conversation as reported by her during the Friday morning show.

Trump's comments comes a day after he tweeted that, "The US must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes". The tweet raised concerns among foreign policy watchers.

Trump's spokesperson Sean Spicer told the news channel that the tweet means that business as usual is over.

"There are a few countries around the globe, Russia being one of them, and China and others that have talked about increasing their nuclear capabilities. Increasing the nuclear stockpile around the globe is not good for anybody but the US is not going to sit back," he said. "It's not a reaction, it's a point that he's making which is domestically and internationally, business as usual is over. This guy is going to bring real change and that means that if our partners around the globe think the US is going to sit back they're sadly mistaken," Spicer said. He said it is putting every nation on notice that the US is going to reassert its position in the globe.

"Make sure that if you act, the United States is going to act," Spicer said adding that Trump during his campaign made it very clear that on every aspect of policy he's not going to sit back and wait.

In an interview to CNN, Spicer said expansion of nuclear weapons is unlikely to happen.

"It means that there are countries around the globe right now that are talking about increasing their nuclear capacity. And the US is not gonna sit back and allow that to happen without acting in kind. And I think the president-elect is very clear that he's gonna be very active in putting America's security first and foremost. And if another country wants to threaten our sovereignty or our safety, he will act," he said. At the same time, he said he does not believe that expansion of nuclear weapons is going to happen. "I will tell you this, but I do believe that it won't happen because I think what they have seen, domestically and internationally, is this is a man of action," he said.

"Yesterday, he put out a statement early in the morning talking about the resolution that was coming forward in the UN Security Council and the Egyptians and the Israelis called him afterwards, it got taken down. He's a man of action that is getting things done for this nation," Spicer said.

WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump on today reportedly said he is fine with a nuclear arms race and exuded confidence that the US would outlast any another country in terms of nuclear weapons. Trump reportedly said this in an off-air conversation to Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the popular 'Morning-Joe' show on MSNBC, the news channel said. "Let it be an arms race...we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," Trump told Brzezinski in an off-air conversation as reported by her during the Friday morning show. Trump's comments comes a day after he tweeted that, "The US must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes". The tweet raised concerns among foreign policy watchers. Trump's spokesperson Sean Spicer told the news channel that the tweet means that business as usual is over. "There are a few countries around the globe, Russia being one of them, and China and others that have talked about increasing their nuclear capabilities. Increasing the nuclear stockpile around the globe is not good for anybody but the US is not going to sit back," he said. "It's not a reaction, it's a point that he's making which is domestically and internationally, business as usual is over. This guy is going to bring real change and that means that if our partners around the globe think the US is going to sit back they're sadly mistaken," Spicer said. He said it is putting every nation on notice that the US is going to reassert its position in the globe. "Make sure that if you act, the United States is going to act," Spicer said adding that Trump during his campaign made it very clear that on every aspect of policy he's not going to sit back and wait. In an interview to CNN, Spicer said expansion of nuclear weapons is unlikely to happen. "It means that there are countries around the globe right now that are talking about increasing their nuclear capacity. And the US is not gonna sit back and allow that to happen without acting in kind. And I think the president-elect is very clear that he's gonna be very active in putting America's security first and foremost. And if another country wants to threaten our sovereignty or our safety, he will act," he said. At the same time, he said he does not believe that expansion of nuclear weapons is going to happen. "I will tell you this, but I do believe that it won't happen because I think what they have seen, domestically and internationally, is this is a man of action," he said. "Yesterday, he put out a statement early in the morning talking about the resolution that was coming forward in the UN Security Council and the Egyptians and the Israelis called him afterwards, it got taken down. He's a man of action that is getting things done for this nation," Spicer said.
The Telangana chief minister has said the BDJS leader from Kerala was acting on the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.

Conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some common questions about Duavive. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking DUAVIVE against the benefits they expect it will have for you. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What DUAVIVE is used for This medicine is used for the treatment of symptoms, such as "hot flushes" and sweating, which are associated with menopause in women who still have their uterus (womb).

How Duavive works This medicine contains two active substances called conjugated estrogens and bazedoxifene. Conjugated estrogens belong to a group of medicines called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Bazedoxifene belongs to a group of non-hormonal medicines called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Menopause occurs naturally in women, typically between the ages of 45 and 55. During menopause, your body produces less estrogen than it did beforehand. This can cause symptoms such as "hot flushes". Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason. This medicine is not addictive. This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you take DUAVIVE

When you must not take it DUAVIVE should only be taken if you have been fully informed of the risks. The decision to take DUAVIVE should be based on your particular needs and health and made after a careful medical evaluation. Talk regularly with your doctor about whether you still need treatment with DUAVIVE. Do not take DUAVIVE if you have an allergy to: any medicine containing conjugated estrogens or bazedoxifene any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet any other similar medicines. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: shortness of breath wheezing or difficulty breathing swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body rash, itching or hives on the skin. Do not take DUAVIVE if you have, or have had, any of the following medical conditions: breast cancer or suspected breast cancer estrogen-dependent cancers or suspected estrogen-dependent cancers. Examples include endometrial cancer recent unexplained vaginal bleeding excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis), the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or eyes blood clotting disorder (such as protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency) disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as a heart attack, stroke or angina liver disease or where your liver function tests have not returned to normal rare blood problem called porphyria, which is passed down in families (inherited). This medicine is for use only by postmenopausal women with a uterus. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, or if you think you might be pregnant. Do not take this medicine if you are breast-feeding. Do not give DUAVIVE to a child. This medicine is not suitable for use in children. Do not take this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or the package is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal. If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it You must have a thorough medical check-up before starting DUAVIVE for the first time or if you are taking it again after a break. Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes. Tell your doctor if you are taking other menopausal hormonal therapy (e.g., other estrogens, progestogens) or other SERMS (e.g., raloxifene, a medicine used to prevent or treat osteoporosis). Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any of the following medical conditions: fibroids inside your womb growth of womb lining outside your womb (endometriosis) or a history of excessive growth of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) increased risk of developing blood clots increased risk of getting an estrogen-sensitive cancer (such as having a mother, sister or grandmother who has had breast cancer) high blood pressure a liver disorder, such as a benign liver tumour diabetes gallstones migraine or severe headaches a rare disease of the immune system that affects many organs of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE) seizures (epilepsy) asthma a disease affecting the eardrum and hearing (otosclerosis) a high level of fat in your blood (triglycerides) fluid retention due to cardiac or kidney problems. If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking DUAVIVE. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. This medicine contains lactose monohydrate, sucrose, sorbitol, glucose (in maltitol liquid) (a type of sugar). There is no experience in treating women with premature menopause (due to ovarian failure or surgery).

Taking other medicines Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket, naturopath or health food shop. In particular, other menopausal hormonal therapy (e.g., other estrogens, progestogens) or other SERMS (e.g., raloxifene, a medicine used to prevent or treat osteoporosis). Some medicines and DUAVIVE may interfere with each other. These include: medicines to treat epilepsy such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine some antibiotics and anti-infectives such as rifampicin, rifabutin, erythromycin, clarithromycin anti-fungal agents such as ketoconazole and itraconazole anti-virals such as ritonavir, efavirenz and nevirapine St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). These medicines may be affected by DUAVIVE or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Avoid grapefruit juice as it may also affect how well DUAVIVE works. Your doctor and pharmacist will have more information on what other medicines you need to avoid or be careful with while taking this medicine.

How to take DUAVIVE Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet. If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take The recommended dose is one tablet taken once daily.

How to take it Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not divide, crush, chew, or dissolve the tablet in your mouth.

When to take it Take your medicine at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it. It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.

How long to take it Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.

If you forget to take it If you forget to take a tablet, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time to take your next tablet, skip the tablet you missed and take your next tablet when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose) Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone Australia 13 11 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much DUAVIVE. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Symptoms of an overdose may include: feeling sick or vomiting breast tenderness dizziness stomach pain feeling sleepy or tired a short period of vaginal bleeding.

While you are taking DUAVIVE

Things you must do If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking DUAVIVE. Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine. If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine. You may need to stop taking DUAVIVE about 4 to 6 weeks before the operation, to reduce the risk of a blood clot. Ask your doctor when you can start taking this medicine again. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately. DUAVIVE should not be taken while you are pregnant. If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests. Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked. Once you have started this medicine you should see your doctor for regular check-ups (at least once a year). During these check-ups, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of continuing with DUAVIVE. You are advised to: go for regular breast screening and cervical smear tests, as recommended by your doctor. regularly check your breasts for any changes such as dimpling of the skin, changes in the nipple, or any lumps you can see or feel.

Things you must not do Do not take DUAVIVE to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to. Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you. Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how DUAVIVE affects you. This medicine may cause drowsiness, blurred vision or a reduction in the sharpness of your vision in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.

Side effects Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking DUAVIVE. This medicine helps most people with menopausal symptoms, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects. Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects. You may not experience any of them. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Go to hospital if... Stop taking DUAVIVE and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you notice any of the following: any of the conditions mentioned under 'Do not take DUAVIVE' a severe allergic reaction - symptoms may include sudden wheezing and chest pain or tightness, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, collapse if you have swelling of the eyes, nose, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty in breathing, severe dizziness or fainting, skin rash (symptoms of angioedema) a large increase in your blood pressure (symptoms may be headache, tiredness, dizziness) you notice signs of a blood clot, such as painful swelling and redness of the legs, sudden chest pain, or difficulty in breathing. loss of vision, pain and swelling of the eye or eyelid, especially if sudden. The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if... Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). These may be signs of a liver disease. blurred vision reduction in the sharpness of your vision dry eyes difficulty in opening your eyes. you see a halo around lights, sparks or lights when your eyes are closed. The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are uncommon.

Tell your doctor if... Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you: abdominal pain (stomach ache) muscle spasms constipation diarrhoea nausea thrush (vaginal yeast infection). The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Some of these side effects (for example, changes in thyroid function, blood pressure or cholesterol level) can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.

After taking DUAVIVE

Storage Keep your tablets in the blister pouch until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the blister pouch they may not keep well. After opening the blister pouch, use all tablets within 60 days. Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25C. Do not store DUAVIVE or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.

Product description

What it looks like The DUAVIVE 0.45 mg/20 mg modified-release tablet is a pink, oval-shaped, tablet marked on one side with "0.45/20". The tablets are provided in PVC/Aclar/PVC/Al blister packs containing 28 tablets.

Ingredients Duavive contains 0.45 mg of conjugated estrogens and bazedoxifene acetate equivalent to 20 mg bazedoxifene as active ingredients. It also contains: lactose monohydrate microcrystalline cellulose powdered cellulose hypromellose magnesium stearate calcium phosphate sucrose hyprolose macrogol 400 sucrose palmitate ascorbic acid Opadry pink Opaglos 2 clear Opacode black ink.

Supplier DUAVIVE is supplied in Australia by: Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd Sydney, NSW. Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229. www.pfizer.com.au.

Australian registration number AUST R 262525.
Using human embryonic stem cells to create a type of cardiac cells known as sinotrial (SA) node pacemaker cells, a team of scientists from Israel and Canada have developed a biological pacemaker that overcomes many of the limitations of electrical pacemakers. The breakthrough findings could pave the way for an "assembly line" for an unlimited reservoir of pacemaker cells to treat patients with heart rhythm problems.

The findings by the research group that included Professor Lior Gepstein of the Technion Faculty of Medicine and Rambam Heath Care Campus, were published last week in Nature Biotechnology. The study was led by Prof. Gordon M. Keller from the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine and also included collaboration with Dr. Peter Backx, senior scientist at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, both from the University Health Network in Toronto.

The sinotrial (SA) node is the natural pacemaker of the heart, and is comprised of a group of dedicated heart cells - SA node pacemaker cells - responsible for initiation of the electrical signal leading to the contraction of the heart. A dysfunction in their activity results in slow beating rate that could disrupt cardiac function and lead to weakness, dizziness, fainting, heart failure, and even death. Such dysfunction requires the implantation of an artificial electronic pacemaker to correct the dysfunction of the natural pacemaker mechanism using electrodes inserted into various areas of the heart.

But such electrical pacemakers have a myriad of limitations, including an invasive surgical procedure, danger of infection, a lack of hormonal sensitivity and a limited duration of activity (due to limited battery life). And when it comes to treating children, whose hearts are still growing, an electrical pacemaker does not adapt itself to the gradual increase in cardiac volume.

One of the most promising future alternatives to electrical pacemakers is the biological pacemaker strategy, based on the use of cells that are functionally similar to natural pacemaker cells. The team from the Technion, Rambam, and the University Health Network's McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine used knowledge learned in the field of developmental biology to develop a differentiation protocol for the creation of pacemaker cells from human embryonic stem cells.

"The pacemaker generated from embryonic stem cells exhibits the molecular, electrical and functional properties characteristic of human pacemaker cells," said Prof. Gepstein. "It is an effective and promising alternative to natural pacemaker cells in the event of their dysfunction. This development is significant both in terms of research - because it will enable scientists to study the heart in new ways, and in practical terms - since we are presenting an 'assembly line' here for an unlimited reservoir of pacemaker cells to treat patients with heart rhythm problems."

To demonstrate the potential future clinical use of the cells as biological pacemakers, experiments were conducted in the Gepstein laboratory on rats. Pacemaker cell transplants restored normal heart rhythm in 6 of the 7 rats that were tested.

"We have previously demonstrated the concept of biological pacemakers, but until now the cells we used contained a mixture of pacemaker cells with other heart cells," said Prof. Gepstein. "Together with our Canadian partners, we present a method for producing a population of pure pacemaker cells and, and give proof that they work well as a substitute for natural pacemaker cells that have been damaged."

Prof. Gepstein is a faculty member at the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion, and Director of the Cardiology Department at Rambam. He is an internationally renowned expert in the field of stem cells, particularly the use of stem cells to repair heart defects. One of his latest studies, which presented a new approach to the treatment of abnormal heart rhythm by means of light, was published earlier this year in the same journal (Nature Biotechnology).

The study was conducted within the framework of cooperation between the Technion and the Canadian University Health Network (UHN), which is headquartered in Toronto. Some three years ago, the two bodies established an international center for innovation in cardiovascular research aimed at developing new ways to treat heart disease.
Multiple experts, including Action Against Hunger, have validated new analysis confirming an elevated risk of famine in Nigeria's Borno State among populations cut off from humanitarian assistance due to the Boko Haram insurgency. The international humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger warned that unless the international community and the Government of Nigeria intensify efforts to provide safe access for humanitarian organizations to reach people in these "no go zones," northeast Nigeria will spiral into a dire, but still avoidable emergency.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), of which Action Against Hunger is a partner, issued an urgent alert that famine is likely ongoingand "likely to continue"in inaccessible areas of Borno state. According to the IPC alert, persistent conflict is the main cause of extreme hunger and widespread displacement in Borno.

The IPC alert indicates that food security has improved in the "newly liberated" areas of Borno where humanitarian organizations are responding. Preliminary data from an Action Against Hunger assessment suggests that after four months of emergency nutrition and food assistance interventions in Monguno in north Borno, the prevalence of acute malnutrition has decreased to below emergency thresholds. But any interruption in the current levels of assistance could threaten the fragile improvements that aid agencies have achieved. Until markets resume functioning, and until displaced populations can safely return to their communities and resume farming as their source of income and food, they will remain dependent on food distributions and humanitarian aid for their survival.

"Considering the enormous scale of needs and the trauma people have endured, we need to do more than just keeping people alive: we must reach populations cut off from help, but we must also scale up our programs to meet the urgent survival needs of people in the areas we can reach," said Pouchalan. "Food stocks are very limited, and the next rainy season will put vulnerable children at even greater risk from threats such as malaria. We must do everything in our power to ensure the protection of civilians in this crisis and mobilize interventions to provide shelter, psychosocial support, comprehensive primary health care, sanitation and longer-term solutions to help people rebuild their livelihoods."

Action Against Hunger joins the United Nations and humanitarian partners in urging the international community and all parties in Nigeria to ensure immediate, unimpeded access to insecure areas to alleviate suffering and to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered in a principled manner. We also urge the government to ease bureaucratic impediments for importing essential supplies and to expedite visa processes so that humanitarian personnel can be positioned where they are needed most. It also imperative for humanitarian organizations to have access to no go zones to conduct assessments and accurately quantify the scale of urgent needs.

Action Against Hunger has current programs in Yobe, Jigawa, and Borno States, where we have been working since 2010. Since May 2014, we have continuously scaled up our health, nutrition, food security, and water and sanitation programs in Yobe and Borno States. In August this year, we launched a new emergency program in the newly liberated area of Monguno in north Borno, where we are currently assisting displaced people with food, water and sanitation, health services, and emergency nutrition.

This week, Action Against Hunger also mobilized a new response in a previously inaccessible area of north Borno called Cross Kawa, where we have begun distributing supplementary food to pregnant women and nursing mothers, and screening and treating children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In the coming weeks, we will distribute emergency shelter, hygiene kits, and supplementary food to children under five in Cross Kawa, where people have not received any humanitarian assistance for about two years.
Gambian sleeping sickness - a deadly parasitic disease spread by tsetse flies - could be eliminated in six years in key regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to new research by the University of Warwick.

Kat Rock and Matt Keeling at the School of Life Sciences, with colleagues in DRC and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, have calculated the impact of different intervention strategies on the population dynamics of tsetse flies and humans - establishing which strategies show the most promise to control and eliminate the disease.

They found that a two-pronged approach - integrating active screening and vector control - could substantially speed up the elimination of Gambian sleeping sickness in high burden areas of DRC.

Without changing current strategy, elimination might not happen until the 22nd century.

The researchers, who work as part of the Neglected Tropical Disease Modelling Consortium, used complex mathematical models to compare the efficacy of six key strategies and twelve variations within two areas of Kwilu province (within former Bandundu province), DRC.

Previous work by the same group indicates that high-risk people are often missed from active screening. The new model concludes that improved active screening - making sure that all people are screened equally, regardless of risk factor - may allow elimination as a public health problem between 2023 and 2031.

If vector control strategies - using "tsetse targets" coated with insecticide to attract and kill flies - are added, this elimination goal is likely to be achieved within four years when coupled with any screening approach.

If DRC adopts any of the new strategies with vector control, transmission would probably be broken within six years of launching the new program in these areas - and over 6000 new infections could be averted between 2017 and 2030.

Strategies which rely only on self-reporting of illness and screening of low-risk individuals are unlikely to lead to elimination of sleeping sickness transmission by 2030, and delay elimination until the next century.

Gambian sleeping sickness, or Gambian human African trypanosomiasis, is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, carried by tsetse flies in Central and West Africa. Without treatment, the disease usually results in death.

In recent years, programmes have performed intense active and passive screening to decrease disease incidence. A few areas have also combined these medical interventions with vector control. But some high prevalence regions of DRC have not achieved the reductions in disease seen in other parts of Africa. Other strategies for elimination will also include reinforced passive screening, new diagnostic tools and improved drugs.

In 2012, the World Health Organization set two public health goals for the control of Gambian sleeping sickness, a parasitic disease spread by the tsetse fly. The first is to eliminate the disease as a public health problem and have fewer than 2000 cases by 2020; while the second goal is to achieve zero transmission around the globe by 2030.

Kat Rock comments:

"We found that vector control has great potential to reduce transmission and, even if it is less effective at reducing tsetse numbers as in other regions, the full elimination goal could still be achieved by 2030.

"We recommend that control programmes use a combined medical and vector control strategy to help combat sleeping sickness."
In a new study, young children showed signs of kidney damage if their mothers smoked while pregnant. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), add to the list of negative health effects that can result from maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Because smoking is a well-known risk factor for kidney failure in adults, a team led by Koji Kawakami, MD, PhD, Maki Shinzawa, MD, PhD, and Motoko Yanagita MD, PhD (Kyoto University, in Japan) wondered whether maternal smoking during pregnancy might affect children's kidney health. The researchers conducted a population-based retrospective study using a database of health check-ups from pregnancy to 3 years of age in Japan. The investigators looked for the presence of proteinuriaor elevated protein the urine, which is a sign of reduced kidney functionin urinary tests from 44,595 children.

In the population examined, 4.4% of women smoked only before pregnancy and 16.7% continued smoking while pregnant. The frequencies of proteinuria in the child at age 3 were 1.7% when mothers continued to smoke during pregnancy, 1.6% when mothers stopped smoking during pregnancy, and 1.3% when mothers were nonsmokers, respectively. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a 1.24-times increased risk of child proteinuria compared with no exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy.

"Maternal smoking during pregnancy is known to be associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal asphyxia. The findings from this study suggest an additional adverse effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy," said Dr. Kawakami. "Prevention of child proteinuria is important since child proteinuria can lead to development of chronic kidney disease in adulthood and ultimately end stage renal disease."
An international team of scientists has discovered that the gene, OGDHL, a key protein required for normal function of the mitochondria -- the energy-producing factory of the cell -- and its chaperone, nardilysin (NRD1) are linked to progressive loss of neurological function in humans. Working with the fruit fly, an experimental animal model in the lab, the scientists found a mechanism by which misregulation of mitochondrial function leads to neurodegeneration. The results appear in Neuron.

"In our research we look for genes whose loss of function results in deterioration of neurological functions in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster," said first author Dr. Wan Hee Yoon, postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Hugo Bellen, professor at Baylor College of Medicine, investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and senior author of the paper. "In the fly we found that loss of function of nardilysinled to a slow, progressive neurodegeneration."

Yoon and colleagues discovered that nardilysin helps the folding of an important protein, an enzyme called OGDH, present in mitochondria. Loss of nardilysin function results in loss of OGDH and a build-up of a compound called a-ketoglutarate (a-KG). High levels of a-KG increase a cellular response mechanism called mTOR that normally provides clearance of cellular components such as proteins and organelles. Yoon observed that mutation of nardilysin leads to abnormal build-up of a-KG followed by mTOR activation and eventually to slow accumulation of cellular trash. Importantly, a drug named rapamycin suppresses the neurodegenerative conditions caused by this accumulation of cellular garbage.

In 2009, a group led by Dr. Eiichiro Nishi in Japan genetically engineered a mouse to lack nardilysin.The mice developed neurological problems with motor coordination, balance and memory issues, findings which at the time were not known to be linked to the mechanism described above in the fruit fly. The team led by Bellen realized that the results in fruit flies and in mice might suggest a role for nardilysin and its target protein OGDH in neurological problems in humans.

Searching for disease variants of nardilysin, OGDHL

At the same time that Yoon was investigating nardilysinand its target protein OGDH, across the street co-author Dr. Ender Karaca, a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. James R. Lupski's group at Baylor, was working to solve a rare disease by sequencing the patient's genome through the Baylor-Hopkins Center for Mendelian Genomics (BHCMG). Karaca had discovered a 16-year-old patient with a rare variant in OGDHL who was unable to walk, was bound to a wheelchair and whose head had not grown normally. Yoon and Karaca connected and realized that the mechanism in flies that Yoon was working on might explain the undiagnosed patient of Karaca. "We realized that Ender had identified OGDHL as the top candidate gene for his patient at the same time that we were identifying OGDHL as a target of nardilysin," said Yoon. "After we saw a patient with a severe disorder and variants in OGDHL, we wondered about nardilysin," said Bellen. The researchers then widened their search for similar patients by posting the information of the disease-causing variants of nardilysinin GeneMatcher, a web tool for rare disease researchers developed by the BHCMG team at Johns Hopkins University. Researchers looking for patients carrying rare disease genes post the gene in GeneMatcher. If another researcher around the world has a patient with a matching gene, the teams can contact each other to share the information and collaborate. By posting nardilysinin GeneMatcher, Yoon and colleagues identified a patient whose DNA had been sequenced at the University of California in Los Angeles Clinical Genomics Center. The patient is a 15-year-old boy who presents with symptoms that are remarkably similar to those present in the patient identified by Karaca. "We knew then that these two patients had a very similar disorder, but we had to prove that the genetic variants were causing their conditions," said Yoon and Bellen.

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Using flies to study how human disease genes work

The data from the two patients were strong evidence that the variants in nardilysin and OGDHL are linked to neurodegenerative disease in humans. However, to establish that the disease variants can cause the condition, the researchers turned back to the flies where they could use genetic technology to test the variants. "We can test a human gene side by side with a copy containing a variant from a patient in flies," said co-author Dr. Michael F. Wangler, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor. Using this technology, Yoon showed that mutant flies carrying a normal copy of the human gene show normal development and neuronal function. However, flies carrying genes with deleterious variants found in patients failed to rescue the loss of the genes in flies. This suggests that the mutations found in patients are indeed deleterious.

"These studies show how valuable the fruit fly model is to uncover and test genes linked to human conditions, and to work out how mutations may cause diseases," said Bellen.
Along with increased cheer and festivities during the holidays comes an increased risk of stroke, one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.

Patrick D. Lyden, MD, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Neurology, said he sees a significant increase in stroke incidents during December and January, particularly on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Lyden attributes the surge to holiday stress, sleep deprivation, dehydration, smoking, overindulging, and seasonal colds and influenza. He also says that changes in barometric pressure and lower temperatures can play a role.

"Holiday strokes can be an unexpected and even fatal problem because they often arrive with little warning," said Lyden, director of the Cedars-Sinai Stroke Center. "The good news, however, is that with advanced tools and technology available to us, we may prevent life-threatening complications and even reverse the effects of a stroke if we administer treatment within six hours."

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Lyden says the number of stroke cases treated at Cedars-Sinai rises to about 100 from about 80 per month during the winter season. Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association.

To recognize symptoms, leading stroke experts recommend memorizing an easy-to-remember acronym: FAST!

Face (drooping of the face)

Arm (arm weakness)

Speech (slurred speech)

Time (time counts -- call 911 immediately)

To reduce the risk of strokes, Lyden recommends that individuals reduce stress, eat and drink in moderation, be vigilant about taking prescribed medications, exercise, get rest and stop smoking.

"Studies show that 80 percent of strokes can be prevented," said Lyden. "But if it occurs, the key is calling 911 fast. Every minute a stroke is untreated, the average patient loses about 1.9 million brain cells."

Cedars-Sinai has been designated a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

This advanced certification for comprehensive stroke centers recognizes the significant resources in staff and training that these centers must have to treat complex stroke cases. Cedars-Sinai was proud to be among the first five hospitals in the nation, and the first in Southern California, to receive this designation.
Cambridge Enterprise has exclusively licensed intellectual property relating to the use of PARP inhibitor drugs for treating vascular disease to CYCLE Pharmaceuticals.

Professor Melinda Duer, U of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge and King's College London have jointly developed intellectual property (IP) regarding the underlying cellular mechanisms that cause the calcification (or hardening) of arteries and veins as we age. These biological processes can cause vascular diseases and, through impeding blood flow, can cause heart disease and stroke. The recently licenced IP includes a patent application and know-how relating to the use of PARP inhibitor drugs for the treatment of vascular disease. This IP has been licensed by Cambridge Enterprise, the commercialisation arm of the University of Cambridge, to CYCLE Pharmaceuticals.

Professor Melinda Duer, Professor of Biological and Biomedical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, summarised the discovery:

Poly ADP ribose (PAR) synthesised by Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) enzymes is involved in many cellular processes. One of these processes is the repair of single-strand DNA breakages (nicks). Preventing the repair of such DNA nicks can weaken cancerous cells. Many companies are developing drugs that inhibit the PARP/PAR process (PARP inhibitors) to act in this way against various cancers. Through our understanding of PARP/PAR processes that also occur in new bone formation, we have recently discovered that the calcification of the vascular system is also triggered by PARP/PAR processes that release PAR from dying cells in the vascular wall.

Professor Cathy Shanahan, Professor of Cellular Signalling at King's College London, further explained:

The release of PAR from vascular wall cells is essential for the process of mineral deposition on the inside of the vascular wall. Over time, however, this calcification process leads to the hardening of arteries and veins. This impedes blood flow, can cause vascular obstructions, and eventually can lead to heart disease and stroke.

James Harrison, Executive Chairman of CYCLE Pharmaceuticals commented:

We are very pleased to be working alongside such acknowledged experts at the University of Cambridge and Kings College London on this important project. PARP inhibitor drugs could provide a treatment for vascular diseases, all because of this breakthrough in the understanding of the cell-level chemical and biological processes involved.

Antonio Benedetti, CEO of CYCLE Pharmaceuticals, added:

There are existing drugs that are PARP inhibitors, and there are drug candidates in the clinical pipeline that are PARP inhibitors. Our work to repurpose PARP inhibitor drugs to treat vascular disease is already making significant progress. This project underlines our commitment to the belief that many drugs can be further developed to address additional needs beyond the first-approved medical use. If the project is successful, we will look to commence clinical trials as soon as practical.

Dr Rachel Atfield, Technology Manager (Life Sciences) with Cambridge Enterprise, said:
How do medical professionals determine whether or not a patient has experienced a post-operative complication? A team of Mayo Clinic physicians and researchers has published results of a three-year study examining mechanisms for measuring and reporting postoperative infection complications. The study analyzed patient admissions between 2012 and 2014 at the four teaching hospitals across Mayo Clinic's campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. The results are published online in the Annals of Surgery.

In their analysis, the research team examined four common postoperative complications: pneumonia, sepsis, surgical site infections, and urinary tract infections. The goal of their study was to compare and contrast the different ways used to determine whether one of these complications occurred.

Administrative data are gathered by hospitals and providers for financial purposes. Complications that occur in the postoperative context are reported as part of these data, and they affect hospital-based reimbursement. These data are widely used, especially by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to assess quality of care. While widely available, these data often are criticized for not being accurate because of an absence of clear standards.

According to David Etzioni, M.D., chair of the Division of Colorectal Surgery on Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus, registry data, on the other hand, are gathered by trained staff using strictly defined clinical criteria. While these types of data are considered to be more accurate and consistent, the process of gathering and reporting registry data is expensive, he says. Dr. Etzioni notes that the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program is the most commonly reported source of postoperative registry data.

"These two systems give very different assessments of postoperative complications, even for the same patient," explains Dr. Etzioni, who is lead author of the study. He and a group of researchers examined situations where these two data sources disagreed. "Every discordant complication was examined by two independent reviewers  at least one of whom is a practicing surgeon," says Dr. Etzioni.

"What we find is that these two types of databases  even when looking at the same patient  report very different answers as to whether or not a complication occurred," Dr. Etzioni adds. "The rates of complications seen in these two databases can vary quite widely  up to fivefold."

What Dr. Etzioni finds most interesting, however, is why the two approaches differ so greatly. "It's tempting to think of registry data as right and administrative data as wrong, when it comes to assessing whether or not a complication occurred, he says. "The most important reason for the differences is that these two approaches use different approaches and different criteria."

The question raised by this study is, "How should we be assessing postoperative outcomes?" Dr. Etzioni concludes. "Given the impact of this question on every aspect of the health policy as it pertains to surgical care, the ramifications of this study are wide-reaching."

Source: Mayo Clinic
Imagine you're navigating a city like New York, or any other that's laid out on a grid. Suppose you run into a roadblock as you're heading north. How do you know that you can turn to your left, say, and then take a right at the next intersection to continue in your original direction? According to research from the University of California San Diego, it may be thanks to some newly identified neurons in an area of your brain called the subiculum.

In a paper published by Nature Neuroscience, the researchers say they have found neurons that help an animal align itself within a cognitive map of its environment. Working with rats, the researchers observe that cells in the subiculum seem to encode an animal's current axis of travel. The neurons signal "I'm on this line, in this orientation."

"We're describing an entirely new and unexpected form of neural activity," said senior author Douglas Nitz, a professor of cognitive science in the UC San Diego Division of Social Sciences. "The cells fire when the animal travels in either direction along a single axis."

The rats ran on six interconnected routes much like a city grid, and the researchers took recordings from single neurons in the subiculum. Neurons that the researchers have dubbed "axis-tuned" fired when the animal traveled in either direction on a particular line - one of these firing, for example, when the animal moved north to south or south to north, but staying quiet for east-west. Others were activated for other lines of travel.

"The novel representation here is that the rat is mentally grouping these different locations," said first author and UC San Diego Department of Cognitive Science Ph.D. student Jacob Olson. "Functionally, the routes are all the same, and what the axis-tuned neuron appears to do is encode the functional similarity among different paths. It encodes how multiple pathways are oriented to each other and connected."

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Like humans, Nitz said, rats tend to create and travel on pathways. But the researchers also checked if these neurons worked during open-field foraging. They did not. They fired only when the rats were traveling on paths.

The neurons appear to be distinct from head direction cells discovered earlier, the researchers write, for two reasons: Head direction neurons fire when an animal's head is pointed a certain way but not in the opposite direction. They also fire in an open field.

The axis-tuned cells account for about 10 percent of the subiculum neurons, the researchers estimate.

The subiculum is one of the primary outputs of the hippocampus, they note, a region of the brain known to be involved in orientation, location and episodic memory. But what kind of signal the subiculum produces has been a bit of mystery.

"This neural activity is a brand new kid on the block in a rich field of literature," said Nitz. The axis-tuned cell adds to what we already know about orientation encoding in the brain, he said, and takes its place among other cells important to navigation and orientation: place cells, grid cells and head direction cells.

Next steps for the research include studies on how much experience a rat needs with a path before the axis-tuned cells begin functioning, and on whether the representations show up in humans as well.
Ladies, heres one more reason for you to hate 2016 (a year that can now safely be called the Year of Misogyny). The International Labour Organisation confirming our darkest suspicion- sexism is still the reason why you and I take home less money than our equally qualified male colleagues.The gender wage gap in India is alarmingly high- at more than 30%, that number is worse than most countries in the world. Only in South Korea, Azerbaijan and Benin are women worse off than Indian women. Whats more, when it comes to wage distribution 60% of women are in the bottom half of the salary bracket and only 10-15% rub shoulders with the men in higher paying jobs. What this means is, not only are women in India still paid considerably less than their male counterparts for the same job done every hour, the number of women taking home fat pay cheques is slim to say the least (just like our salary slips).How does one explain the wage gap in a day and age where women are as qualified (if not more), as educated as their male counterparts? The ILO report suggests that the over-representation of women in sectors where their work is undervalued results in a gender pay gap and that care work is undervalued because it may be perceived as a natural female attribute rather than a skill to be acquired and cultivated and vice versa. Basically, if its a skill a woman is expected to have (by virtue of her having a womb and what not) why should anyway per her fairly for it?Speaking of equal rights, a big shout out to Deutsche Banks Indian arm. It will now give all its male employees who are primary care givers six weeks of paternal leave. The bank says this is aimed at delinking gender from the act of nurturing a child. The new policy will be introduced in January next year in 16 countries in the Asia Pacific region.Legally, women are allowed only three months of paid leave in India. The Maternity Amendment Bill would have taken that up to six months had Lok Sabha passed that bill- but that was not to be. So, for now that bill is languishing in the Lower House- incidentally, Lok Sabha is where the government enjoys majority and could have passed the bill irrespective of the din. One of the biggest criticisms though of the Maternity Amendment Bill is the fact that it completely leaves out fathers, alienating them in a sense from the process of childcare.Earlier this year, the Union Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi sparked off a controversy when she said, paternity leave will be just a holiday for men. In a climbdown of sorts, she later amended that statement to say ' Men already have sick leave. They need to use that when they have babies and then we will proceed on that later.Yes, not all men will use paternity leave, many may even misuse it; but thats no reason for depriving lakhs of other families of the option. Reports suggest that in 2014, the participation of Indian women in the workforce was merely 27%- a number that could significantly go up if men and women have the right to equally divide childcare responsibilities.
.@ArvindKejriwal TREAT TREAT TREAT TREAT TREAT TREAT TREAT  Tanmay Bhat (@thetanmay) December 22, 2016

How about kiran Bedi as next LG of #Delhi ? Will be fun!! #NajeebJung  Bitter Truth (@ANSHUL1002) December 23, 2016

#NajeebJung: Kejriwal & his council of Ministers blaming Lt Gov & Modiji for everything must show their good governance now. Now Perform.  Muddamaiah C A (@cheralath) December 23, 2016

#Delhi Lt Governor #NajeebJung submits his resignation - Academics to bahana hai suffocation se chhuthkara pana hai  Buffering INDIA (@EarthyyMermaid) December 22, 2016

In a surprise move, Delhi's Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, who had a running battle with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, resigned on Thursday, without any reason, leaving the city and central government and most parties taken aback.A brief statement released by the Lt Governor's Office did not say why the 66-year-old former IAS officer had called it quits but quoted him as saying that he would return to academics, "his first love".In the statement, Jung thanked both Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kejriwal for their association with him.While the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was his personal decision and wished him all the best, the Congress questioned if a deal was struck between Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Not only were political parties taken aback by Jung's sudden decision to resign, social media users too were shocked.While many were of the opinion that the sharp escalation in tensions between Delhi CM Kejriwal and his office were the reason behind Jung calling it quits, others were busy guessing who would take his place.Here's how social media users reacted to the news of Najeeb Jung resigning as Delhi's Lieutenant Governor:Jung became the Lt Governor on July 9, 2013 when a Congress-led coalition was in office.With inputs from IANS.
A study, published in the journal, Scientific Reports, highlights another powerful benefit of sunlight. Already known for stimulating vitamin D production, sunlight may also have an energizing effect on T cells, a type of white blood cell that activates cells in the body to fight infection.



Researchers at the USA's Georgetown University Medical Center have found that sunlight plays a positive role in the action of T lymphocytes, or T cells, which allow the human body to combat pathogens.



The study found that blue light present in sunlight directly activates the cells, both in samples taken from mice and humans, by increasing their speed of movement. This, in turn, makes them more effective at fighting infection.



The T-cell response was found to be driven by hydrogen peroxide, a compound that white blood cells release when an infection is detected in the body. It serves to kill bacteria and to rally T cells to mobilize an immune response.



Given the large surface area of human skin, all of the T cells present in skin could potentially benefit from this phenomenon through exposure to blue light, the researchers suggest.



Note that vitamin D is only produced in the body via exposure to UV rays, which can be harmful in cases of prolonged sun exposure.



If blue light from the sun's rays is capable of energizing infection-fighting T cells, it could be a potential means of treatment for boosting immunity in many patients, the researchers conclude.
Mumbai: Goa Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday summoned the recently announced Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief ministerial candidate Elvis Gomes for his alleged involvement in housing board controversy.



Gomes, who was holding the post of Managing Director in the Goa Housing Board (GHB), was named as an accused along with former GHB chairman Nilkanth Halarnkar for allegedly dropping the acquisition of land for a housing society. Gomes has been asked by the ACB to appear before it on Monday.



Speaking to CNN-News18, a senior official from the anti-corrruption body said, We have already taken the statement of the other witnesses in the case. The main accused will be called now. We need to find out whether the abrupt stoppage of making the housing society has benefited some people or not. Government incurred losses because of the decision.



He further added that the proposal of constructing the housing society was moved and land acquisition had also taken place, but eventually everything was stalled. We need to find out whether proper procedure was followed or not. The complaint was given to us in the month of February and after enquiry we registered a case on May 6. Both the accused have been booked under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, the official added.



Gomes has been summoned just two days after he was selected as Aam Aadmi Party's CM candidate in Bhartiya Janta Party-ruled Goa. AAP is actively campaigning in the state and has announced most of its candidates for the state election.
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation drive in Almora district of Uttarakhand.

He accused the PM of snatching the money from the poor and giving it away to Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi.

Black money is not with the poor or the middle class, it is with the 50 families that are not seen in the bank queues, said Rahul Gandhi.

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Moradabad: It's a reality check for a ruling party which is headed to polls in a few months from now on a development plank.



Applicants for the post of sweeper in the municipal corporation of Moradabad were on Thursday made to clean sewage drains to show proof of their physical fitness.



Those who were shortlisted for the interview were asked to get down in the drain and display their skills in cleaning the sewage or clean the road with a broom, said Ajit Saini an applicant.



Over five lakh people,some of them engineers and MBAs, applied for 3140 vacancies of sweeper in the municipal corporations of Lucknow and Moradabad - a grim reminder of chronic unemployment in the state.



Participants in this 'practical test' said some engineers were among them those made to clean the drains, and that authorities were merely exploiting them by getting some work done.







While local activists hit out, Moradabad Commissioner Sanjay Singh defended the 'test'saying: There were 58,000 applicants. And to shortlist candidates we had asked them to clean the drains with all the safety equipment.
New Delhi: Najeeb Jung's abrupt resignation as Delhi Lieutenant Governor has taken the general public by surprise, but many in the ruling dispensation told News18 they saw it coming.



BJP Sources said Jung had expressed a desire to move to academia when he spoke to the Prime Ministers Office around three months ago. On Thursday around noon he is learnt to have been told by the PMO he could go ahead and pursue his first love.



So it has happened, exclaimed a top RSS functionary when told about the news as it broke.



Another BJP leader said Jungs resignation was expected. And the reason: Given the kind of hostility he was facing, it was only a matter of time. The leader didnt elaborate on the hostility he was hinting at  Whether he was saying the AAP-LG office turf war was too much for Jung to take, or if there were any fresh hostility between Jung and the Centre.



They also claimed that Jung was not consulted when MM Kutty was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Delhi. Apparently, the man in the loop with regard to this crucial appointment was Anil Baijal, former Home Secretary in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Incidentally, Baijal is considered to be one of the frontrunners for Jungs post should his resignation is accepted.



BJP sources hinted that sweeping changes were being expected anyway in light of the Delhi municipal elections scheduled for March-April. BJP wants the local body polls to be an occasion to prove that the party has recovered from the drubbing it received at the hands of the AAP in the 2015 Assembly polls.



These elections are crucial for us. But Jung had no connect with the Delhi BJP unit. Thats the reason why Manoj Tewari has been appointed, a BJP leader said.








Why has the long economic blockade by the Naga Council affected Manipur so badly?Manipur capital Imphal is a valley which is surrounded by hills from almost all sides. The approach roads are through the two National Highways, 2 and 37. Apart from that there is a 100 km road from Moreh, on the Myanmar border. All three roads cross the Naga-inhabited hills to reach the valley.'Economic Blockade' has been the favourite tool to create pressure on the valley for all the hill groups. Imphal valley which caters to almost 90% of the population of the state has a majority of Meiteis. The hills which has the 90% of land are mostly the Naga, Kukis and the other hill tribes.Here are 10 points on what you need to know on the latest economic blockade.53rd day of 'economic blockade' in Manipur by United Naga Council. Since 1st November, trucks carrying supplies to Imphal where stopped at National Highway 2 and 37, the two lifelines for the valley. Even the Trans Asian Highway wasn't spared. The 'economic blockade' was 'upgraded' to a 'total shutdown' on November 25th after the arrest of the UNC president Gaidon Kamei and information secretary Stephen Lamkang.Blockade imposed by UNC to protest the creation of 7 new districts. The Naga groups claim they were not consulted while announcing the districts, government says it was done for administrative ease.Curfew imposed in parts of Imphal valley after protest called against the blockade turned violent. Over 50 vehicles going from Imphal to the Naga dominated hill districts have been torched in the last few days.Security has been increased across the state, 40 additional companies of paramilitary forces sent. Manipur on high alert to avoid ethnic clash in the state, especially around Christmas.Due to the blockade stocks of all essential supplies are almost over. Petrol prices have shot up to Rs 200-250. Government claims it has fuel reserve only for about 2 days.Thousands of trucks carrying essential commodities are stuck at the various parts of the highway. The international trade via Myanmar has come to a virtual halt.State government says UNC is openly backed by NSCN(IM) cadres. Blames a number of ambush on the police and administration on them. It has written to Central government to reign in NSCN(IM) as the centre is in talks with him.Naga groups unhappy because the creation of new districts jeopardises their claim for a Greater Nagalim , which would include Nagaland and earstwhile 4 hill districts of Manipur. Manipur is adamant at not ceding its territory to the Nagas.Three time Chief Minister Ibobi Singh of the Congress party has squarely blamed the centre for the crisis. He says the same group the centre is in talks with is holding Manipur on ransom.BJP which was gaining ground in the state has suffered a setback, as it is being identified as a party close to the Naga groups by the majority of the state.
New Delhi: Outgoing Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him of reasons for his resignation. Both Jung and Modi met for 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, MoS Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said, Government didnt force Jung to tender his resign. We were very happy with his work in past two-and-half years

Jung took the decision to tender his resignation on Monday night. During his meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, Jung told him that he thought about his life and where it is going on the said night. Next morning, he announced his decision to quit to his wife.

ALSO READ: Anil Baijal Frontrunner to Replace Najeeb Jung as Delhi L-G

ALSO READ: Najeeb Jung Quits as Delhi Lieutenant Governor; Kejriwal Tweets Surprise

Retired bureaucrat Anil Baijal is the frontrunner for the post of Delhi Lieutenant Governor, which fell vacant on Thursday after the abrupt resignation of Najeeb Jung, sources told News18.

ALSO READ: Able Administrator, Known Writer: Najeeb Jungs Illustrious Career

ALSO READ: Two Years of Acrimony: Timeline of Kejriwal-Najeeb Jung Face-Off

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
I have received the report. Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national. https://t.co/zV6SIzpMpu  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 23, 2016

The mother of 5-year-old child Aryan who was taken away by the Norwegian Child Welfare Department (NCWD) from his kindergarten school in Oslo on charges of alleged child abuse case said that all charges levelled against them are false and fabricated.Speaking to the CNN-News18, Aryan's mother Gurvinder Kaur claimed that they never abused their child."My son wants to return home and he is not eating properly. In last 10 days, we were allowed to meet our son only once. I am thankful to Union minister Sushma Swaraj for all her help," the heart-broken mother said."I was questioned by the police and I told them repeatedly that we never misbehaved with him. I would like to request the Norwegian authority to return our son soon. Please return my son," Kaur added.ALSO READ: All You Need to Know About Child Protection Laws in Norway Union Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday sought a report from the authorities and said the government will represent the case on behalf of the child's mother who is an Indian national.Lawyer Svien Kjetil, who is representing the parents, said he is hopeful that the matter will be sorted out soon.ALSO READ: NRI Kid Taken into Custody by Norway Officials, Sushma Swaraj Steps in Aryan's father Anil kumar too spoke to CNN-News18 and claimed that the Norwegian authorities are pressurising his son to lie against them.While refuting the charges, Kumar said, "They are coming up with new allegations everyday. We dont know where my son is. They are pressurising my son to lie against us. We never indulged any child abuse case.He said, "Our lawyer is convinced and he said that the authorities have been wrong in the way this case has been handled. I just want my kid to be returned. The India ambassador has assured me that all help will be offered."This is the third case since 2011 when children have been taken away from their Indian-origin parents by the authorities in Norway on the grounds of abuse.In 2011, a three-year-old and a one-year-old were separated from their parents, prompting the then UPA government to take up the issue with Norway.The Norwegian court later allowed the children to be reunited with their parents.In December 2012, an Indian couple was jailed on charges of ill treatment of their children, 7 and 2 years. Later, they were sent to their grandparents in Hyderabad.
The Norwegian Child Welfare Act (NCWA) is applicable to all parents living in Norway with their children, regardless of their residential status, religion and nationality. Under NCW Act, physical punishment of a child is completely illegal and schools are required to report such incidents to the government.





In 2011, a three-year-old and a one-year-old were separated from their parents, Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya.



Charges

- No separate beds for the children in the parents' home.

- No table for diaper change.

- The mother had slapped the three-year-old son at one point.

- Insufficient room to play.

- Toys given were not suited to the age of the children.

- When the mother breast-fed the infant, she put her on her lap without holding her, holding the head against the breast, but not close to her body.

- Child was being fed by hand and this, they said, amounted to force-feeding.

- Borderline personality disorder in a parent

- Parent being seen to be slow in responding to a childs cries



In Dec 2012, a court in Norway convicted an Indian couple Chandrasekhar and Anupama in a child abuse case.



Charges



- Parents were threatening the kid to send him back to India for wetting his pants.

- Child was hit by belt of similar object on several occasions.

- On one occasion, the parents had even threatened to brand their sons tongue with a hot spoon.



In Dec 2016 a five-year-old child has been separated from his NRI parents by Norwegian authorities.



Charge



- Parents are accused by the Norwegian authorities of beating the child.
Mumbai: A container truck hired by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to carry demonetised currency notes from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh to Nagpur, was stopped at Deori border check-post in Gondia district and penalised for overloading, by the Regional Transport Office (RTO).



The action was taken on Tuesday night and Rs 30,000 fine was collected from the driver, an RTO official said.



"The container had the capacity to carry 16 tonnes of load, but we found that the it was carrying 21 tonnes. The vehicle was filled with scrapped notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination, which it was transporting to RBI's currency chest in Nagpur," Vijay Chavan, Deputy Regional Transport Officer of Gondia district told PTI on Friday.



The vehicle was stopped by local officials posted at Deori check-post.



"The vehicle papers and other necessary documents were verified. We received a communication from Transport Commissioner based in Nagpur that the vehicle can be released after the payment of fine," Chavan said.



"As per the calculation, the driver was asked to pay a fine of Rs 30,000, as the container was carrying five tonnes above the permissible limit. The officials issued a receipt of the fine payment and the vehicle was let off," he said.


Eight years after it was first proposed by the Congress-NCP government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will perform the Jal Poojan for a 192 mt tall statue of Maratha warrior king Shivaji. This memorial, on a rocky outcrop in the Arabian sea, will be built at a whopping cost of Rs 3600 crores.That figure when seen in the context of Maharashtras finances begs the question, isnt this wasteful expenditure? The Economic survey tabled earlier this year showed how Maharashtra's debt burden stands at 3.3 lakh crores. According to data released by the Reserve Bank of India, Maharashtra accounts for 12.2 per cent of total debt of all states, topping the list.Outraged that the tax payers' money isnt being put to better use, Karishma Upadhyay a freelance journalist and mumbaikar started a petition on change.org earlier this week hoping to build pressure to get the project shelved. At last count the petition had 18,000 signatures.There is surely a better way to honour Shivaji. I thought this petition was a constructive way to get people engaged and act," Karishma Upadhyay told News18. We all rant on social media about how our tax money cannot be spent like this but do nothing about it. I hope this petition and our voices reach the CM and the PM".Karishma Upadhyay a freelance journalist and mumbaikar started a petition on change.orgKarishma says hostility from trolls apart, one argument in favour of the memorial she has encountered is that the United States too has the statue of liberty. To which she says I tell them the statue of liberty was gifted to the Americans by the French, no tax dollars were spent on it!!The project has also triggered protests by Mumbais Koli or fishing community. The Akhil Maharashtra Machimar Kriti Samiti (AMMKS) said it will fly black flags on over 5000 boats as a symbol of protest when prime minister Modi performs the Jal pujan. Damoder Tandel the president of AMMKS claims the livelihood of over 1.5 lakh fishermen will be severely impacted by the construction activity of the memorial.On Wednesday revenue minister Chandrakant Patil looked to assure the fishing community, stating that the govt will be setting up a committee to study losses incurred by the community and state will look at ways to compensate them.Tandel though remains unconvinced telling News 18 that the government was attempting to dissuade them from protesting. The police he says have already issued notices to fisherfolk telling them not to venture out to sea as part of the proposed protest.
Mumbai: Actor Saif Ali Khan will be on paternity leave till mid-January after which he will resume the shooting of his next film, tentatively titled Chef. Saif's wife Kareena Kapoor Khan, who gave birth to a boy on December 20, was discharged from Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital yesterday.



The Bollywood star couple, who got married in 2012, have named their son Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi. Taimur is 36-year-old Kareena's first child with Saif, who already has two children -- daughter Sara and son Ibrahim -- from his previous marriage to Amrita Singh.



Kareena and her 46-year-old husband Saif yesterday posed with the baby for the shutterbugs at their residence in suburban Bandra. "Saif last shot for the film (remake of Hollywood movie Chef) on December 12. He will resume the shoot by mid January," Director Raja Krishna Menon told PTI.



According to Raja, only 20 per cent of the shooting is remaining which will be done abroad. "I went on a recce to the US and Europe, we will

zero-in on the location soon for the last schedule," the Airlift helmer said.



Raja spoke to Saif after the birth of his son Taimur. "He is very happy and excited. I will try and visit the baby soon," he said. Saif's next release will be Vishal Bhardwaj's Rangoon, slated to hit the screens in February next year. Kareena, who was last seen in Udta Punjab, had earlier signed the film Veere Di Wedding, co-starring Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar.
Srinagar: After life remained paralysed for five months of unrest, the Kashmir valley is likely to erupt a second time this year. This time over Mehbooba Mufti government's move to issue domicile certificates to refugees who migrated from mainland Pakistan.



The refugees, who migrated from what was then West Pakistan and have settled in Jammu, had been demanding citizenship rights since 1947 only to be rejected by successive state governments.



But with BJP at helm in centre and a partner in state, the West Pakistan Refugees (WPR) could sense this was a time to strike some concessions from Mehbooba government.



Almost simultaneously it has kicked up a row with both separatists and mainstream Opposition parties maintaining the move would change Kashmirs demographic profile.



The separatists have called state-wide protests from Friday. Police and paramilitary forces have been asked to maintain law and order and use pellets as last resort.



The refugees, all of them Hindus, have been demanding citizenship rights but successive governments in Kashmir refused to accept the demand because settling non-state subjects in the state is banned under the special laws the state enjoys.



Migrants from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are, however, are considered state subjects because they are a part of undivided Kashmir.



Sensing trouble and street violence, the government issued a clarification.



"The government is only issuing identity certificates to the refugees, which would not confer any rights that the permanent residents enjoy," Nayeem Akthar, government spokesman said in a statement.



"The certificate only shows where they lived in West Pakistan and where they live in the state now. Their status remains unchanged, he said.



He clarified that the refugees from West Pakistan cannot take part in Assembly elections, own immovable property or get a job in the state government. But they can participate in parliamentary elections and can hold central government jobs.







The lakh odd refugees had been fighting the case since long as they faced problems in getting central government department jobs.



However, separatists and opposition National Conference are opposing the move alleging that the government was removing the roadblocks in integrating them into the state.



Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, who led a five-month agitation over the July 8 encounter death of militant commander Burhan Wani, said the decision to issue the certificates was another anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim move by the government.



"The people of Jammu & Kashmir will not hesitate to offer any sacrifice to oppose such actions tooth and nail, they said in a statement.



"Settling them in Jammu and Kashmir will jeopardise and erode its historical and political contours, which is not acceptable to us at any cost, they said in a statement.



They (the BJP) want to turn the majority Muslims into a minority, Ali Sagar, NC senior leader said.



The BJP has all along favoured permanent resident status for the refugees. It favoured residency and voting rights in state Assembly elections for the refugees.
Almora: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's note ban (demonetisation) decision is economic dacoity by the government.



He said Modi divided the country between the one per cent super-rich and the 99 per cent honest people of the country.



"Notes ban wasn't against black money or corruption, it was economic dacoity. Modi-ji has created a divide between one per cent super rich and 99 per cent honest people of the country," said Gandhi while addressing a rally in Almora.



"Not a single black money holder has been arrested so far. There are 50 families who had taken loans. The scheme was to waive off the loans worth Rs 8 lakh crore of these families," he added.



Gandhi said: "When farmers don't pay loans, the government snatches their lands and houses. But when rich don't pay loans, they call them defaulters and their debt Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). The government restructures their loans but doesn't recover it."



He demanded that the Modi government release in Parliament the list of names of those who hold black money in Swiss banks.



"About 94 per cent of the black money is in Swiss bank accounts, gold and real estate. Just 6 per cent of black money is in cash," said Gandhi.



"Modi has not listened to the farmers but has forgiven Rs 1.40 lakh crore in loans to 15 rich people ... but not farmers."



He said: "They say notes ban is a surgical strike on corruption, but this is actually fire-bombing on India's poor."



The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 in a bid to curb black money and corruption in the country.
Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial at an island in Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast on Saturday.



Sources said, Modi is likely to take a hovercraft from Girgaum Chowpatty to the island to lay the foundation stone.



Proposed on around 15-hectare Island, the memorial will be as high as 210 metres 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 cost Rs 2,500 crore.



Earlier, there was confusion over PM's visit to the island but Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently made it clear that Modi would be visiting the island.



The PM will also lay the foundation stone for two Metro rail projects, elevated rail corridors project and the Mumbai Trans Harbour link besides addressing a public function in suburban Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).



Significantly, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray would attend the event.



On October 11, 2015, Modi had laid the foundation stone of a grand memorial to Babasaheb Ambedkar at the Indu Mills compound in Mumbai, a function which was boycotted by Shiv Sena whose chief Uddhav Thackeray was not invited.



Meanwhile, the Congress accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of trying to derive a political mileage from scheduled foundation stone laying ceremony.



(With PTI inputs)




New Delhi: When news of Najeeb Jungs resignation as Delhi Lieutenant Governor broke on Thursday afternoon, the first instinct of all concerned was to check Arvind Kejriwals Twitter timeline.



Everyone seemed curious about just what would the Delhi chief minister say about the abrupt exit of a man who had locked horns with him many times ever since the Delhi Assembly polls of 2015.



But Kejriwal didnt tweet anything on this. And when his response came, it was muted. He just wished his one-time nemesis well.



But Friday was an altogether different day.



Kejriwal drove into Raj Niwas, the official residence of the L-G in Delhis tony Civil Lines, and met with Jung. The meeting lasted almost an hour.



Soon, his deputy CM Manish Sisodia called on the L-G in what AAP sources termed is a courtesy call. And what Sisodia had to say after the meeting sounded as if he was reading his best friends mind.



Jung has been planning to resign for some time. But due to certain situations in Delhi he was unable to do so, he told media.



Incidentally, Sisodia is the only AAP minister who the Lt Governor has praised in public for his work in education.



The courtesy was more than expected and opens the door for something more.



As Lt Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung had overturned many decisions of the AAP Government, set up the Shunglu committee to examine the over 400 files of the government, and routinely questioned policy decisions.



Political commentators say AAP may be warming up to the L-G as they suspect there has been a falling out between Jung and the BJP top leadership.



AAP can bolster its case against the Centre that it is not allowing a constitutionally elected state government to function if Jung plays along. However, on the face of it, AAP leaders denied any such plans.



Jung acted at the behest of the Centre, whoever comes in his place will do the same. The master remains the same, said AAP leader Ashutosh. On asked whether a disgruntled Jung would be Advantage AAP, Ashutosh said he did not want to comment on hypothetical situations.




After months of announcing the ZenWatch 3 at IFA, Taiwanese brand Asus has taken the wraps off its smartwatch. The Asus ZenWatch will be exclusively available on e-Commerce site Flipkart.The ZenWatch 3 is available at a price of Rs 17,599 and Rs 18,999.Asus ZenWatch 3 packs in a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor and has a stainless steel casing. It features HyperCharge technology, which is said to charge the device 60 per cent in 15 minutes.The Asus ZenWatch 3 features a 1.39-inch AMOLED display that has 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection from scratches. The display resolution is 400X400 with a pixel density of 287 ppi. It also has an activity tracker that would help achieve fitness goals.Asus ZenWatch 3 has been launched in two colour variants - Gunmetal and Silver with three strap options, which are: the rubber Brownish Grey strap and the Dark Brown stitched Italian leather strap that is costlier.
Riding on the free voice and data offers, Reliance Jio Infocomm's subscriber base may touch 100 million by March 2017 end said Nitin Soni, Director at Fitch Ratings. However, it may even shrink once the telecom operator starts charging its customers, he added."We think that Jio is adopting a very sound strategy of offering free voice and text services and free data till the end of March to bolster its subscriber base. They currently have 52-55 million subscribers and it could well increase to 100 million by end of March, but we will need to remember that these are free services," Soni told BTVi in an interview."So as long as it is free, even a customer who is a customer of Airtel or Idea will still take a free Jio SIM to enjoy free services for the next three months. But I think there will be some churn when Jio will start charging from April 1 and that churn may well reduce the subscriber base by 5-10 per cent," he added.Launched in September, Jio was offering its customers free voice and data till December 31, 2016, which it has now extended till March 31, 2017."But I think at that time the price will be the sole determinant for a customer whether they want to shift to their second SIM on Jio or whether they want to retain their existing SIM with the incumbent. And at that time, the customer will decide how much they are going to pay on a monthly basis to the telecom operator and if Jio at that time is cheaper than the incumbents, then they might as well shift to Jio," Soni said."But I think there will be a slew of other offers, which we believe will come in the next three months to further attract subscribers and incumbents will obviously take efforts to retain their existing subscriber base and not allow their premium subscriber base to churn over to Jio," he added.Talking about consolidation in the telecom space, Soni said the telecom industry cannot afford more than four to five participants in the long run."We also believe that Reliance Jio entry into the industry will hasten consolidation, given the competitive intensity has notched quite high now and they have recently extended the offer to March 31.""The consolidation has been going on, we have seen Reliance Communications acquiring MTS, and then merging its operations with Aircel. And some of the weaker telcos are looking also to exit the market. But we believe that there could be some more consolidation in the medium term," said Soni.He said Idea Cellular could face a lot of challenges as it does not have 100 per cent 4G spectrum asset on a pan-India basis. "They could also look to do some merger and acquisition activity to strengthen its competitive position.""And whenever a new entrant comes into this industry, it negatively impacts the weaker telecom company first. We believe that Idea could be well affected in the next 12-24 months and which is the reason we think that they could do some M&A activity to consolidate their position."Soni said Fitch Ratings views the outlook for the entire sector as negative for 2017."We believe that data tariff will fall by 15-20 per cent because of competitive intensity coming along from Jio. But Airtel is a well established and entrenched incumbent in this market."He said, Airtel with lot of spectrum asset on 900 MHz is well placed to compete against Jio.
Finnish telecoms networks equipment maker Nokia (NOKIA.HE) said on Thursday it had filed a new set of patent lawsuits against Apple Inc (AAPL.O) in Asia, Europe and the United States.Nokia Corp had said on Wednesday it was suing Apple, accusing the iPhone maker of violating 32 technology patents. It said on Thursday it had now filed 40 patents suits in 11 countries.Nokia shares were down nearly 5 percent at 4.496 euros on Thursday as analysts warned a legal battle with Apple could hold up royalty payments that are vital to shoring up the Finnish company's profits.
Sex with robots is "just around the corner", an expert told a global conference in London this week featuring interactive sex toys and discussions on the ethics of relationships with humanoids."Sexbots" are a staple of science fiction -- the idea of robots as sex partners is explored, for instance, in recent films and television series like "Ex-Machina" and "Westworld."But some specialists believe the first animated lovers made of metal, rubber and plastic, programmed to provide sexual bliss, will take a step into reality just months from now."Sex with robots is just around the corner, with the first sexbots coming... some time next year," artificial intelligence expert David Levy told the International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots at Goldsmiths, University of London.US California-based company Abyss Creations next year will start marketing sex robots that are billed as life-like, with the ability to talk and move like humans.Ultimately, Levy said, people should entertain the thought of marriage with robots as early as 2050.The conference in London showcased some of the latest developments in robotic sex toys, such as gadgets which allow couples to kiss, no matter how far apart they are.The "Kissenger", which attaches to your mobile phone, contains sensors to detect the pressure of a kiss and transmit it to your partner's device in real time. It has been under development for several years.Now students at Tokyo's Keio University are developing the "Teletongue", aimed at providing "remote oral interaction" and designed to be "kinky", according to co-creator Dolhathai Kaewsermwong.It allows couples to send licking sounds and sensations through cyberspace using a "lollipop", creating an "immersive experience", she explained.Lynne Hall, of the University of Sunderland's school of computer science, in northeast England, said that robots could create "a fantastic sexual experience"."There are lots of benefits to sex with robots... it's safe, you never catch any disease, you can control it," she told the conference.She rejected the idea that robots would replace or threaten sex with humans, however."We are somehow fed by moral panic... 'It's disgusting... nobody will ever have sex with a human again'," Hall told the conference."But people are regularly watching porn... and they are still having sex with humans," she said.Levy, the author of "Love and Sex with Robots", from which the annual conference takes its title, said marriage to robots would be the next logical step."As sex with robots becomes more and more commonplace... we shall come face to face with the very real possibility of marriage to robots," the former international chess master said.Robots of the future will be "patient, kind, protective, loving", never "jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude," Levy said -- "unless of course you want them to be"."All of the following qualities and many more are likely to be achievable in software within a few decades," he added.Levy is convinced that rapid changes in attitudes to sex and marriage in recent years point to a world where "more and more people come to accept sex and love with robots".In his vision, robot parents could become a social norm, with laws to acknowledge "robot personhood" and make marriage and parenting by humanoids more than just a fantasy."The time is fast approaching when the theoretical debate must evolve into laws, and the consequences of those laws will be staggering," he said.For now, however, sexual relations with humanoids are a step too far for many.Emma Yann Zhang, a PhD student at London's City University who worked on the Kissenger prototype, believes there is still a long way to go before people will accept the idea.In a pilot study conducted by the Imagineering Institute in Malaysia, partnered with City University, participants were asked about their perceptions of sex robots, including the potential for intimacy and attraction.Although many were open to the possibility that humans could be attracted to robots, "when asked 'would you have a robot as a lover?', most of them said 'no'," said Zhang.Hall agrees that the "paradigmatic change" suggested by Levy is "not going to happen for a very long time".In the meantime AI enthusiasts will be watching closely to see how quickly the new generation of sexbots fly off the shelves next year.
Three years ago, Swatch Group (UHR.S) was riding high. The world's largest watchmaker, known for its colourful plastic watches as well as upscale brands including Breguet, reported record gross sales.Then in several newspaper interviews in 2015 and in early 2016, chief executive Nick Hayek announced that he was taking the company in a new direction, launching a battery for electric vehicles with the goal of reaching $10-15 billion sales by 2020.Investors called the plan expensive and unrealistic and with 2016 group sales predicted to be below last year's 8.45 billion Swiss francs ($8.36 billion), inventory rising and Hayek refusing to announce savings that go beyond day-to-day efficiency efforts, they are questioning the group's strategy.Urs Beck, a fund manager at EFG Asset Management who has Swatch among his top 10 holdings, said Hayek had lost some credibility with investors because his forecasts had not always come true."When he says 10, you know it can be 5," Beck said."There is little information on the Swatch battery. Hayek is known for giving fancy forecasts that often only materialize in the long term."Carine Menache, who runs a family investment company and has Swatch among her biggest holdings, said it had not been an easy ride, but she had nevertheless added to her position when the share price fell below 250 francs in August."It seems to be coming back, but hope is not an investment strategy," she said, adding that Hayek was a good manager but should diversify more into luxury accessories and launch more limited editions or smartwatches."I have not heard that they were cutting costs, but they should probably do that."A spokesman for Swatch Group declined to comment on criticism of the group's strategy. He said the company was always managing costs, but was not planning to reduce production capacity now or in the future.He pointed to an interview Hayek gave to Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung in October, in which he said: "We never just wait, we are always moving, but there is no reason to change our strategy. We always try to get better when it comes to efficiency and costs."Hayek regularly stresses that he and his family, the group's controlling shareholders, won't cut jobs or raise prices to satisfy financial markets seeking short-term profits.The share price has fallen by 10 percent so far this year on top of a 21 percent drop last year. That compares to 7 and 19 percent declines respectively at rival Richemont (CFR.S). Swatch trades at a 15 percent discount to Richemont relative to 12-month forward earnings.At over 20 percent, short interest in Swatch's bearer shares is no longer at the peaks seen earlier this year, but still high, IHS Markit data shows, reflecting short sellers' expectation that the shares will fall further.The car battery has been jointly developed by Belenos Clean Power, in which Swatch holds a 51 percent stake, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.Car batteries are an attractive growth market if numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) explode to two-thirds of all cars by 2030 in wealthy cities, as several studies predict.But it is also a highly competitive field, where heavyweights like Tesla (TSLA.O) and Panasonic (6752.T) invest billions to gain scale and bring down costs for the currently dominating Lithium-ion batteries.Prototypes are being produced at Swatch's Renata battery unit near Basel but have not yet been presented to investors who are waiting for signs of progress."The timetable seems unrealistic to me. It is impossible to get from zero to 10 billion sales within just three years," said Paul Wyser, owner of Swiss battery maker Wyon and a former Swatch Group manager who still owns some shares."Battery development takes time because of the comprehensive safety tests. You also need to see if it works over the long term."Technical details have also been scarce. Swatch has said that the new battery uses a vanadium pentoxide compound for the cathodes and a new electrolyte composition, giving it higher energy density, a longer life span, shorter recharging times and a better safety profile than conventional batteries.Wyser said vanadium pentoxide was available and cheap, but was just one of many materials being tested for car batteries at the moment with an uncertain outcome.Hayek, who declined to comment for this article, has said publicly that the battery could generate revenue of $10-15 billion by 2020, from use in cars, e-bikes, e-scooters and drones.Others have questioned the cost associated with the project."You need to invest a lot before you get a return," Vontobel analyst Rene Weber said.Swatch has not provided any financial details on the project, but Hayek said in a newspaper interview that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese car maker Geely (0175.HK) in May and that the battery could be jointly produced in China from early 2017 if tests were successful.But Geely sounded a cautious note: "This is one of many projects, we work with a lot of suppliers," spokesman Ashley Sutcliffe told Reuters by phone."It's early stages for both parties right now. Whether we'll develop it together or invest in the project, that is all too far away."Beck said the outlook for the project was not clear."Investors do not have any figures, just this long-term fantasy that something could come of the cooperation with Geely...There are so many joint venture partners, that even if the project becomes a success, Swatch Group will probably only get a small share of it," he said.Nevertheless, Beck said he liked Swatch's long-term approach and even the high inventory levels."It is when the cycle is at its lowest that you can gain market share and Swatch Group is well positioned for that," he said.($1 = 1.0111 Swiss francs)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday sought a report from Indian Ambassador in Norway on the allegations made by an Indian couple that the Norwegian authorities have taken away their five-year-old child on frivolous complaint of abuse.



Here is an explainer on Norwegian Child Welfare Act (NCWA):



- The NCW Act is applicable to all parents living in Norway with their children, regardless of their residential status, religion and nationality.



- The general child welfare policy is mainly comes under the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion in Norway.



- The child welfare cases are handled by the local child welfare services across all municipalities in Norway. Their job is to conduct family investigations in case of child abuse.



- In Individual child welfare cases, the Norway ministry does not have the authority to intervene nor instruct the child welfare services.



- The Child Welfare Service in Nowray is also known as Barnevernet.



- Barnevernet is an independent body and no ministers can instruct the board in decisions related to the welfare of child.



- In many cases, Barnevernet has been criticised by social workers and child psychologists who argued that they need to reform their methods.



- Every year nearly 53,000 such cases were handled by the child welfare service in Norway.



- The Norway child act places great importance on family ties and childs upbringing in a healthy atmosphere with their parents.



- Norway has incorporated the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Norwegian law.



- The convention states protection of children in accordance with its legislation.



- A Care Order is issued by the County Social Welfare Board or District Court and only when the child is subject to serious neglect, maltreatment or abuse.



- The County Social Welfare Board or District Court is empowered to issue Care Order when the child is subject to serious neglect, maltreatment or abuse.



- Physical punishment of a child is completely illegal and schools are required to report such incidents to the government.
Columbus: She is a mother of three, grandmother of 16, great-grandmother of 12 and great-great-grandmother of three. She recently had surgery to remove a malignant tumor, but doctors say she's doing well.



She's Colo, the nation's oldest living gorilla, and she turned 60 on Thursday at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.



Colo was the first gorilla in the world born in a zoo and has surpassed the usual life expectancy of captive gorillas by two decades. Her longevity is putting a spotlight on the medical care, nutrition and up-to-date therapeutic techniques that are helping lengthen zoo animals' lives.



"Colo just epitomizes the advances that zoos have made, going all the way back to her birth at Columbus," said Dr. Tom Meehan, vice president for veterinary services at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo and veterinary adviser to a national gorilla species survival plan.



The changes also mean more animals living with the normal aches and pains of growing older. Today, zoo veterinarians regularly treat animals for heart and kidney disease, arthritis, dental problems and cancer.



Hundreds of people gathered at the zoo Thursday to see Colo, singing "Happy Birthday" moments before the gorilla ambled into an enclosure decorated with multicolored construction paper chains and filled with cakes such as squash and beet and cornbread with mashed potato parsley frosting.



Among the first in line was Pam Schlereth of Columbus, who at 63 was just a little girl when her father brought her to see the newborn Colo in a gorilla incubator in 1956.



"It's a tribute to the zoo that she's alive at 60 years old," Schlereth said.



Colo represents so much to the zoo, Tom Stalf, president of the zoo, told the crowd. "It's all about connecting people and wildlife," he said.



Colo is one of several elderly gorillas around the country. The oldest known living male gorilla, Ozzie, is 55 years old and lives at the Atlanta Zoo, which has a geriatric gorilla specialty.



At Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, staff members use acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, and heat and joint supplements to help Emma, a 13-year-old rabbit.



At the National Zoo in Washington, Shanthi, a 42-year-old Asian elephant with arthritis, receives osteoarthritis therapy and was recently fitted with specially crafted front foot boots to help her feet heal as medications are applied.



In Oakland, California, Tiki, a 27-year-old giraffe and one of the oldest in the nation, gets foot care, massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care, along with traditional veterinary medicine. Gao Gao, a 26-year-old male panda at the San Diego Zoo with a heart condition, periodically undergoes cardiac ultrasounds.
The mother rummages through a large metal trunk, searching for a picture of her young daughter taken away in the night to be the bride of a man who says the family owed him $1,000.Beneath the blankets, clothes and silver ornaments that she wears with her sari, Ameri Kashi Kohli finds two photos, carefully wrapped in plastic, of her smiling daughters.Ameri tries to remember her daughter Jeevti's age; few of this country's desperately poor have birth certificates. With a grin at a sudden recollection she says, "I remember her sister, my youngest, was born when there was a big earthquake in Pakistan."That was 2005. Jeevti was 3 years old at the time, Ameri says. That means the girl was just 14 when she disappeared into the hands of the land manager her parents were beholden to.Her mother is sure that Jeevti paid the price for a never-ending debt.[caption id="attachment_1326923" align="alignnone" width="875"] Pakistani Hindu Jeevti is one of the estimated 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls taken from their homes every year in Pakistan for supposed repayments of debt, most of them ending up married off to older men and forcibly converted to Islam. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)[/caption]Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid. "We started with a loan, and every time they said they were taking money for our loan, but no one gave us anything to show we paid." Instead, the debt doubled.It's a familiar story here in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted.In this world, women like Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment.The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest and the young and pliable. Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can.Ameri says she has heard stories of other workers whose daughters disappeared, in a country that sees an estimated 1,000 girls like them taken each year. Now, even though she and her family live elsewhere after being tossed out of their home, she's afraid that her 11-year-old could be taken too.And like everything else in her life, as a Hindu in a Muslim country, as a woman who is among the poorest of the poor, she knows she will be powerless to stop it from happening."I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us," Ameri says. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife. "They told us, 'Your daughter has committed to Islam and you can't get her back.'"___Ameri works as a day laborer cutting sugar cane and feed for animals in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, a region dominated by powerful landowners whose holdings stretch for hundreds of acres.Narrow dirt tracks weave through vast fields where Hindu women in colorful saris squat with small scythes to cut the crops. There's no talking. Occasionally the women stop for a drink of water. They make less than a dollar a day.Like Ameri, they're often indebted to the owner of the land on which they work, kept as virtual slaves until they pay back their debt, which almost never happens.More than 2 million Pakistanis live as "modern slaves," according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing."They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable," says Ghulam Hayder whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistan's bonded laborers.Employers sexually assault the women and girls, marry them, force them to convert, and rarely will the police intervene, he says. He recalls a case in which a husband accused a landowner of sexually assaulting his wife. The landowner held him for three days, beat him and released him with a warning to tell no one.[caption id="attachment_1326924" align="alignnone" width="875"] Ameri Kashi Kolhi, right, in tears remembering her daughter while holding her pictures of Jeevti, with her younger daughter Saveeta in Mir Pur Khas, Pakistan. Heartbroken Ameri Kashi Kolhi says a local Muslim strongman took her underage daughter, Jeevti, and made her his second wife after taking her to a local Muslim cleric, who converted her from Hindu to Islam. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)[/caption]An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organization."They always take the pretty ones," Hayder says.___The night Jeevti disappeared, the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says.The family turned to activist Veero Kohli to help free the girl.Kohli, who isn't related to the family, was born a slave. She fled bondage in 1999, walking for three days to safety and seeking out the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to help her before returning to the landowner to recover her children and free eight other families.[caption id="attachment_1326926" align="alignnone" width="875"] Kolhi, who also was a slave, fled bondage in 1999 walking for three days to safety, searching out the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to help her before returning to the landowner to recover her children and free another eight of families. Since getting her freedom, Kolhi has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners freeing thousands of families from bonded labor. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)[/caption]Since then, Kohli has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners, liberating thousands of families from bonded labor. She has been beaten; her home has been burned down. She has been arrested on trumped-up charges. Her husband has been arrested, and three of her sons have been jailed.Kohli's defiance incenses many men in a country dominated by a centuries-old patriarchal culture: Whether victims of honor killings, forced into marriages or enslaved as a bonded laborers, a heavy burden falls on women in Pakistan."I know that they would like to kill me, but I will never stop fighting to free these people,' says Kohli, a strapping woman nearly 6 feet tall.Five months ago, she went with Ameri to the Piyaro Lundh police station to find her daughter. "Her mother was crying in the police station to let her see her daughter," Kohli says.They said the girl went willingly, Kohli says. "I told them: 'Let me talk to her. Let her mother talk to her if she went freely.'" They refused.Instead, they called in the man who Ameri said had taken her daughter. Hamid Brohi came alone, without the girl. "He said, 'Anyway, she is payment for 100,000 rupees ($1,000) they owe me,'" Kohli recalls.He said he had forgiven the family's debt and tossed them off his land, Kohli says.Now Kohli is returning to the same police station, a small, grubby concrete room with two desks jammed together and a rickety wooden cabinet piled high with files held together with string.Police officer Aqueel Ahmed thumbs through a dozen files, barely containing his anger at the activist.Finally, he pulls out an affidavit. In it, the girl, who now goes by the name Fatima, said she had converted and married Brohi of her own free will. She also said she couldn't meet her mother because now she was Muslim and her family was Hindu.Jeevti can neither read nor write; her signature on the statement she purportedly made of her own volition is a thumbprint.There was no police investigation into Ameri's allegation that her daughter was kidnapped, Ahmed says, nor was there any investigation into her age in a province where the legal age for marriage is 18."There was no cause to investigate. She said she went willingly. She said there was no coercion," Ahmed says.A second police officer, Riaz Hossain, says he knows of several other Hindu girls who converted willingly, too.But Hindu activists say the girls are kept isolated until they have been forced to convert and are married - and then it's almost too late to do anything. In Pakistani marriages, the husband has to give a woman the right to divorce; without that, she has no right to leave him.A law passed last month outlaws forced conversions, but human rights groups say it's practically impossible to prove that a conversion is forced because the girl invariably signs a statement saying she was willing. Police and judges almost never investigate, activists say, because many believe the conversions are a good thing and they would be defying their Muslim faith by even challenging one."So many girls, immature girls below the age of 18 years, mostly have been kidnapped," says Ramesh Kumar Vankwani of the Pakistan Hindu Council.He says families are routinely threatened, and without police protection, they abandon their daughters.Ameri, the mother, says she has been threatened by both the police and the man who took her daughter. She has gone to five different courts to get her daughter back, and failed each time. But she hasn't given up hope.___Police in a machine-gun-mounted jeep take Kohli, the activist, and a foreign reporter to visit the girl. Her mother doesn't come, too afraid, she says, to confront the police in person again.Brohi, a sullen-looking man with a thin mustache, greets the police with an embrace. He angrily denies he took Jeevti as payment for the family's debt, despite his earlier boast to the activist that he had done just that. Instead, he insists he had an affair with the girl and married her. Kohli and her mother say there was no opportunity for that because Jeevti was always with her, even working in the fields.Inside, Jeevti sits on a double mattress on the floor, her head wrapped in a black shawl. Brohi leaves his young wife alone but hangs outside the door, scowling at her.Jeevti wears heavy eyeshadow and exaggerated bright red lipstick, like a child who has put on her mother's makeup - or one who is attempting to look older. It is the middle of the afternoon, yet she looks like she has just stepped out of a wedding, dressed in a glittery outfit. She looks out of place in the stark room, in a dusty compound surrounded by mud walls; none of the other women here are dressed or made up like her.Although she doesn't seem afraid, her eyes dart to the door where her husband hovers. When she speaks, her words seem rehearsed and odd for a 14-year-old Pakistani."I married him because I wanted to," she says. "I myself asked him that as we are lovers, we should get married. So he said, 'Let's get married,' and I said yes."She says she left her home freely and denies that she hasn't seen her mother since leaving. But she can't say when she saw her mother last - or even where she lives now. She says she would be happy to see her mother but is quiet when asked why her court affidavit says she refused to talk to her mother because she had converted to Islam.She says she doesn't know what is in the court documents, although each one the police showed said Jeevti had spoken the words herself.When asked about her name, she falters for a moment. She says that her Hindu name was Jeevti, smiling slightly, as if remembering her past. But now, she says, she is Fatima.Finally, it is time to leave. Police, who have remained outside, sipping tea with Brohi's father and other men, escort the visitors back to the nearby village.The visitors return the next day  without police escort.Inside the compound where Jeevti was the day before, there are only women, and no one knows Fatima. They are friendly, but look confused when the girl is mentioned. The door to the room where she sat the day before is padlocked. It is as if the compound was but a stage set for the previous visit.Within seconds, the police call a Pakistani colleague's cellphone: "Why did you go there? What do you want? Why did you not stop first at the police?"Kohli says she will keep fighting for the girl in court but has little hope of getting her back.At her new home, her mother looks at the trunk full of memories of Jeevti."I still have the clothes she wore, her dresses," she says. "I am her mother. She is my child. How can I forget her?"
All passengers were freed from a hijacked plane in Malta on Friday, but some crew remained on board with hijackers believed to be loyalists of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The aircraft was on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a man told crew he had a hand grenade.

As it happened.

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
Manila: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte called the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who this week called for an investigation into the killings the leader admitted to having committed during the 1980's, an idiot.



Duterte said last week he helped the police kill three alleged criminals, accused of raping and killing an Australian missionary in Davao while he was mayor of the city in the southern Philippines, Efe news reported on Friday.



The remarks added to the controversy surrounding the president, who has been severely criticised for the violent anti-drug campaign he launched after coming to office in June and which has caused around 6,100 deaths since then.



The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday urged the judicial authorities of the Philippines to launch a murder investigation against Duterte.



Duterte responded to the demand by saying the UN has no right to criticise him.



"Who gave you the right to be (...) you lack knowledge of international law. We support the UN through our contributions, you stupid, (expletive) and I pay for your salary," Duterte said on Thursday evening at an event with volunteers of the anti-drug campaign, ABS-CBN channel reported.



"Don't speak as though I'm your employee. I am a member-state, a sovereign state, please shut up because you're short on intelligence," he added.



"You are just an employee there, you're there by appointment. Got it? You are just employees of an office there whose subsidy comes from the pockets of the member-states, and you don't have that authority to be... you strut around as if you are a sovereign, idiot!" he concluded.



Duterte has become known in diplomatic circles as an unusually foul-mouthed head of State, using colourful language to describe figures such as US President Barack Obama, whom he called a "son of a whore" on September 5.



On Thursday, the chairman of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, Jose Gascon, announced the formation of a team of investigators to probe Rodrigo's killing claims.



Duterte won the May 9 presidential elections with the promise to rid the country of drugs in six months and began his six-year term on June 30.



Despite the criticism of his campaign on drugs, Duterte has received a net satisfaction rating of 63 per cent in his country, according to a poll published last week by Social Weather Stations, one of the most reputed polling firms in the Philippines.
Beirut: At least 47 people were killed, including 14 minors and nine women, in Turkish air strikes against the Syrian city of al-Bab, controlled by the Islamic State terrorist organisation, media reports said.



Britain-based information office Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that there are serious injuries and people trapped in the rubble and it does not rule out a further increase in the number of fatalities.



The bombings on Thursday come after 14 Turkish soldiers died on Wednesday and another 33 were wounded in attacks by extremists against Turkish troops in the vicinity of al-Bab, reports Efe.



The observatory said the Syrian insurgents, backed by Turkish planes and tanks, launched an offensive on the outskirts of al-Bab on Wednesday, but their attack was repelled by extremists, who recovered those points.



Since the end of August, Syrian armed groups and Turkish troops have been carrying out an operation to expel IS from northern Aleppo.
A Rhode Island man will be extradited to Bedford County after he was arrested on Friday and accused of a number of child pornography offenses.

Rhode Island State Police arrested Paulo B. Tomas, 45, of Cumberland, Rhode Island on Friday following an investigation by Bedford County Sheriffs Office personnel with the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The Bedford County Sheriffs Office reported in a news release that Tomas had solicited an 11-year-old girl from Bedford over the internet and the girls mother contacted law enforcement. The release states that when Rhode Island State Police executed a search warrant at Tomass home, they discovered child pornography there.

In Bedford, Tomas will face 13 counts of soliciting a minor, seven counts of producing or distributing child pornography and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Hes also been charged in Rhode Island, the release states.

Tomas is being held without bail in Rhode Island and will be extradited to Bedford County to face 22 charges.
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Rite Aid Corp. announced Tuesday that the two companies have reached an agreement to sell 865 Rite Aid stores and certain assets related to store operations to Freds Inc. for $950 million.

Walgreens is working to close its $9.4 billion purchase of Rite Aid early next year. It said Tuesday that it's selling the Rite Aid stores in response to concerns raised by federal anti-trust regulators. The deal, announced in October 2015, still needs to be approved by the Federal Trade Commission.

A list of sold stores will be announced following the FTCs approval of the agreement. Rite Aid currently operates approximately 4,600 stores in 31 states and Washington, D.C.

Charlottesville has one Rite Aid pharmacy, located at 314 Rolkin Road. Other nearby stores are located in Lovingston and Culpeper, and there are several in Waynesboro and Staunton.

This transaction is expected to reach its conclusion by early 2017, possibly making Freds Pharmacy one of the largest drugstore chains in the United States. The Memphis, Tennessee-based dollar store, drug store and mass merchant operates at more than 600 locations in the southeastern U.S.

The stores would continue to operate under the Rite Aid name through a 24-month transition, according to a news release. All associates are expected to keep their jobs.
Young: Frankie still smiling after falling ill in Thailand

Reassurances about Khans health were given by Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Stuart Young at the final post-Cabinet news conference for 2016 at the OPM in St Clair, Port-of-Spain. Declaring that certain media reports which claimed Khan suffered a heart attack were incorrect, Young explained, It is a complication to do with his heart and brought on by a viral infection. They found fluid in his lungs and they are treating that situation now. Indicating that it was Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley who advised the Cabinet about Khans situation, Young said, There has been conversation directly with Minister Khan and Mrs Khan.

Right now he is resting comfortably. Young told reporters that before attending the briefing, he saw a photograph of Khan in his hospital gown with a Frankie Khan smile on his face. He said preparations are being made to have Khan return to Trinidad as soon as he was in a proper state to travel.

Indicating that Government is monitoring the medical treatment which Khan is receiving in Thailand, Young said, Our understanding is that the facilities in Thailand, and especially where he is receiving medical attention, are world class facilities. Young said Khan, earlier this year, had, some issues related to his heart and he went through some non-invasive medical procedures. He said it was for Khan and his family to decide what would be the next step in his treatment and whether this would involve him being medically evaluated in TT when he returns.

With Khan out of the country, Finance Minister Colm Imbert is acting as Energy Minister. Imbert himself underwent surgery earlier this year at the St Clair Medical Centre, to remove an inflamed gall bladder. Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon had an emergency appendectomy.

Rowley underwent medical checks at a facility in California in August and was given a clean bill of health. There were several posts on Khans Facebook page, from people wishing him a speedy recovery.

Young also disclosed that early next month, Government will go into retreat at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns. Newsday understands that among the issues to be looked at would be the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election which takes place on January 23.
Brisk sales in San Fernando

Speaking with Newsday, Regrello said he allowed the vendors the chance to sell their wares , free from police interference. We are giving way to the vendors so they can make an income for this Christmas season but we are also asking them to consider the businesses and not block the doorways to stores and shops on High Street, Regrello said, noting that the police will deal with those who stop shoppers from going into the stores.

He went on to say that the council will have to revisit the issue of street vending in the city of San Fernando in 2017. We have to look at what is happening with regular vendors who have been selling for many years on the streets and find a way to accommodate them, he said
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(Newser)  A handful of picturesque villages in New York's Catskills region had bleak Christmases 63 years agoresidents were well aware that their homes were about to be deliberately sent underwater for good. It was all in the name of progress, explains a feature at Atlas Obscura. In this case, progress entailed flooding the villages of Pepacton, Union Grove, Shavertown, and Arena as part of the construction of a mammoth aqueduct system that supplies New York City with 25% of its tap water to this day. For some residents, it meant giving up the land their families had farmed for generations. "They were fair and they treated me well," said one farmer in Shavertown, referring to city officials. "Now, as quitting time gets closer, the thought of leaving my home, the buildings I built and the place I raised my family makes me sick. He received $30,000 for his 600-acre farm.

The article touches on the incredible engineering that made the water network possibleespecially for its erabut the main focus is on its human toll. The inhabitants of the little village of Arena are decorating their homes and putting up Christmas lights for the last time, it quotes the local Oneonta Star reporting in December 1953. The prevailing sentiment seemed to be one of resignation, writes Andy Wright at Atlas Obscura: "The building of the reservoir was met with awe and a sense of inevitability; the loss of the picturesque towns a bittersweet sacrifice to innovation." Click for the full story, which notes a quirk of the project: The number of living residents who were relocated (about 1,000) was trumped by the number of the non-living (1,330). All the graves had to be relocated, and NYC maintains them. (Read more Longform stories.)
(Newser)  An Italian supervolcano could be heading toward an eruptionand that's bad news for the 500,000 or so people who live in and around it, the Washington Post reports. Campi Flegrei is a 7.5-mile-wide caldera, the collapsed top of an ancient volcano. The eruption that formed it 39,000 years ago was the biggest in Europe in 200,000 years and may have been responsible for killing off the Neanderthals. Since then, it's only had two major eruptions: 35,000 years ago and 12,000 years ago, according to Science Alert. But a "minor" eruption in 1538 was still plenty serious, releasing enough material to form a new mountain. An Italian philosopher of the time described that eruption thusly: "At the second hour of the night, this mount of earth opened like a mouth, with a great roaring, vomiting much fire and pumice and stones.

Now activity is picking up at Campi Flegrei. Uplift started in 2005, and an alert level for the volcano was raised in 2012, requiring seismic monitoring, AFP reports. Recent years have seen increases in minor seismic activity and ground deformation. On Tuesday, researchers published a study in Nature stating that the caldera is nearing a "critical degassing pressure" that "can drive volcanic unrest toward a critical state." It's still impossible to say when another eruption may occur, but researchers are hoping to spur more research and monitoring at Campi Flegrei for the sake of the residents of nearby Naples, for whom an eruption "would be very dangerous." (Meanwhile, the biggest volcano on Earth may be waking up.)
(Newser)  Surprise: China is not too pleased that an economist who's referred to Beijing as "the planet's most efficient assassin" will head the new White House National Trade Council. "The US can no longer push China around today," says China's state-run tabloid Global Times in an editorial responding to the appointment of Peter Navarro, a professor at University of California, Irvine who advised Trump during his campaign and has blamed China for US economic woes, per the Guardian. "If Washington dares to provoke China over its core interests, Beijing won't fear setting up a showdown with the US, pressuring the latter to pay respect to China," it adds, per Reuters.

China Daily, meanwhile, labeled Navarro, 67, as the "mastermind" behind Trump's attacks on China, and flagged what it see as his "anti-China alarmism," per the Telegraph. "That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration, is no laughing matter," its editorial reads, adding disrupting economic and trade ties "will only result in a loss for both sides." China was less fiery in its official response on Thursday, per the Wall Street Journal: "China like every other country is closely watching the policy direction the US is going to take," said a Foreign Ministry rep who did not refer to Navarro by name. (Read more China stories.)
(Newser)  Shanna Vandewege had suffered a trio of miscarriages, which made the birth of son Diederik all the more incredible. Vandewege had just three joyful months with her boy: The 36-year-old and her baby were found dead by way of "incised wounds" to the neck

in their Fort Worth home on Dec. 15, reports WFAA. Husband Craig Vandewege called 911 after discovering their bodiesand has now been arrested for their murders. Craig Vandewege initially told police he found them in the master bedroom upon coming home from work. "To the best I understand, he walked in, the house was all in disorder," Shanna Vandewege's father initially said. The deaths sparked fears in the Texas neighborhood they had moved to earlier this year from Colorado.

The latter state is where Craig Vandewege was ultimately arrested, initially for speeding and not providing proof of insurance while in Glenwood Springs. He was in the state for his family's funerals. A capital murder warrant was obtained Thursday, reports the Star-Telegram, but no information regarding evidence or motive has been revealed. One detail from the arrest report: "I did not observe a wedding band on Craigs left ring finger, but he stated a wedding ring was in his pocket along with numerous condoms." Police found two pistols, an AR-15-style rifle, a .22-caliber revolver, camouflage clothing, and ammunition on his person and in the car. Shanna Vandewege was a nurse who was on maternity leave; her husband worked at Costco. (In another case, police say a man killed his wife, his son, and himself, but a surviving daughter isn't so sure.)
(Newser)  Police say that two Kosovo-born brothers have been detained on suspicion that they were planning an attack on a shopping mall in western Germany. The men, ages 28 and 31, were detained in Duisburg in the industrial Ruhr region early Friday, the AP reports. Authorities suspect that they may have been planning an attack on the CentrO mall in nearby Oberhausen. They say authorities are probing how far along the suspected attack plan was and whether anyone else was involved. Police say they increased their presence at CentrO and a nearby Christmas market on Thursday evening after receiving a tip. Meanwhile, Berlin attack suspect Anis Amri was shot dead during a shootout with police in Milan, Italy, early Friday. (Read more Germany stories.)
(Newser)  Yevgeny Dzhugashvili, a grandson of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and a fierce defender of his brutal legacy, has died at age 80, the BBC reports. Dzhugashvili's body was found on the street close to his home in Moscow. The cause of death is not yet known, per Israel Today. Born in 1936 in Rome, Dzhugashvili was the son of Stalin's eldest child Yakov, who is believed to have perished in a concentration camp. He's one of eight grandchildren Stalin is thought to have had. He studied at Russia's Air Force and participated in several space launches, per Sputnik News, but is being remembered for the legal battles he waged on his grandfather's behalf.

The BBC shares one example: Dzhugashvili last year lost a case he brought in the European Court of Human Rights related to the 1940 Katyn massacre in which 20,000 Polish prisoners were killed. He appealed to the court after several Russian courts threw out his defamation claim against the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which called Stalin a "bloodthirsty cannibal" who, along with other officials, was "bound by much blood" for ordering the execution of the Poles. (Read more Yevgeny Dzhugashvil stories.)
(Newser)  The man suspected of killing 12 in the Berlin Christmas market attack was shot dead in a Milan suburb early Friday, according to Italian authorities. The AP reports that Italy's interior minister, Marco Minniti, says the man killed in a shootout with police is "without a shadow of a doubt" Anis Amri, the 24-year-old Tunisian fugitive who was the subject of a Europe-wide manhunt. Minniti says Amri pulled out a gun when police officers on patrol decided he looked suspicious and asked for his papers, the Guardian reports. The minister says one officer was shot by Amri and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He says he called the officer in the hospital to thank him for his service and wish him a merry Christmas. A police source tells Reuters that fingerprints were used to confirm that the dead man was Amri.

Reuters' sources say extra police patrols were sent out after a tip that Amri might be in the area. The sources say a train ticket found on the body suggests he took a high-speed train from France to Turin before taking a local train to the Milan area. Paolo Gentiloni , who became Italy's new prime minister earlier this month, said he called German Chancellor Angela Merkel to tell her Amri had been killed. A German Interior Ministry spokesman said written confirmation hasn't been received yet, but "should this turn out to be true then the Interior Ministry is relieved that this person doesn't pose a threat anymore." (Read more Berlin attack stories.)
(Newser)  A hijacking drama unfolded on an airport tarmac in Malta Friday, but it ended without violence. It began when two hijackers commandeered an aircraft carrying 118 people in the skies over Libya and diverted it to the Mediterranean island, reports Reuters. Claiming to have a hand grenade, the hijackers threatened to blow up the Afriqiyah Airways A320, which had been en route from one Libyan airport to another. After a few hours of negotiations once the plane landed, the hijackers freed everybody on board, then turned themselves over to troops, reports the Times of Malta. Their motives remain unclear, but they appear to revolve around the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The hijackers said they belonged to a group called Al Fatah Al Gadida, which is loyal to Gadhafi, and they had promised to release all passengers if their demands were met. Those demands haven't been made public, though one unconfirmed report says they called for the release of Gadhafi's son Saif, per Morroco World News. The Times reports it's the first significant hijacking involving the country since 1985. On Nov. 23 of that year, an EgyptAir Boeing 737 plane was forced to land on the island. A 1986 People article about a survivor of the deadly incident reported 57 of the 92 passengers died during the rescue effort. (Read more hijacking stories.)
(Newser)  A group of young Brits who broke into a Manchester warehouse over the summer to do a fashion shoot are now being decried not for the break-in, but for the dead body they worked around, the London Times and Manchester Evening News report. A Manchester coroner's court heard the details of the incident, which took place on July 15 starting at 7pm, when the group of eight, then ages 17 to 25, busted into the abandoned warehouse to take pictures for a clothing brand owned by brothers Andrew and Sean Geaney. Inside, the Geaneys, five models, and photographer Owen Birrell found the body of 27-year-old Declan Noonan, who had apparently hanged himself after disappearing four days earlier. The city's senior coroner questions the group's "moral compass" for what they did next: move around the building to take pics, then head to another site and stop for pizza.

Someone finally called 911 around 1am, six hours after the body was found, when the girlfriend of one of the Geaney brothers insisted. "At first we thought it was a mannequin," a model tells the Times. But what happened after that? Birrell said they came to a "collective group decision" to keep working, with others in the group citing everything from fear of getting in trouble for the break-in to the fact that they were short on time. "In all due respect, we only had that time on that day to get stuff done.  It [the body] wasn't going anywhere," one of the models says. Noonan's mother asked one of the models at the inquest, which ruled her son's death a suicide, how he felt knowing he was posing near a dead body. "I'm not sure," he said, to which she replied, "It wasn't that traumatic because you carried on taking pictures." (A rape-themed fashion shoot outraged India.)
(Newser)  Syria has finally reclaimed Aleppo from rebels after four years of war, and as we reflect on the bloodshed and remember the dead, Sen. John McCain says there's one other thing at hand: "We must acknowledge the United States' complicity in this tragedy." In a Washington Post essay, the Arizona senator rips President Obama and his call to "bear witness" to the injustices that happened in the Syrian city, listing the atrocities there and noting how the president "has borne witness to all of this, and more, and done nothing to stop it." Instead, US reaction to Syria was riddled with "high-minded talk," the "illusion of action," and "red lines drawn and transgressed with no consequences." But the fight is not over in Syria, and McCain thinks we need to make hard choices now before it's too late.

Those choices include acknowledging that the US does have a role to play in the conflict, and not just because Syrians are suffering, "as moving as that is," but because of the national security implications. He also dismisses the notion that teaming up with the regimes of Syria, Russia, and Iran is wise. "To think that we can destroy the Islamic State by throwing in our lot with those who are strengthening it every day is a dangerous fantasy," he notes. He adds that while the US can't take on every battle across the globe, we also can't turn a blind eye to the "worst injustices." "If we try, the instability, terror, and destruction at the heart of that chaos will eventually make their way to our shores," he writes. Read McCain's pointed piece here. (Read more opinion stories.)
(Newser)  Donald Trump woke everyone from their pre-Christmas slumber Thursday with a tweet calling for a strengthened and expanded US nuclear arsenal. His tweet followed remarks made earlier by Vladimir Putin in which he called for his country's "need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces," per Yahoo. On Friday, Trump doubled down on his previous remarks during what Politico calls an "off-air conversation" on MSNBC's Morning Joe. "Let it be an arms race  we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," he said. (Politico notes some flip-flopping on nuclear issues, citing a March New York Times interview in which he said, "It's a very scary nuclear world. Biggest problem, to me, in the world, is nuclear, and proliferation.")

Not in on his latest stance, apparently: his own team. Per a transcript posted by NBC's Katy Tur on Twitter, Trump's new White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told Rachel Maddow Thursday night "we're getting ahead of ourselves" when Maddow mentioned a "new nuclear arms race." And, per a tweet by CNN's David Wright, incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer insisted on Today Friday that "there is not going to be" an arms race and that "we will all be just fine." A short time later on CNN's New Day, Spicer said the remarks Trump made to Morning Joes' Mika Brzezinski "was a private conversation. I was not privy to that," per Mediaite. Daniel Dale of the Toronto Star wonders: "Is there any point of quoting clarifications from Trump spokespeople? They've proven to be unreliable interpreters of him." One person shrugging off arms race chatter: Putin, who said Friday Trump's tweet was "nothing new," per Politico. (Read more President Trump stories.)
(Newser)  Barack Obama may soon have more in common with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln than his soon-to-be former residence. If Resolution SCR8 is passed by the California Senate and Assembly, Obamalike his aforementioned predecessorswill have a road named after him in Los Angeles, specifically a section of the 134 Freeway close to Occidental College, which Obama attended from 1979 to 1981, reports the Los Angeles Times.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino, the brains behind the "President Barack H. Obama Freeway," justified the move like so, per the San Gabriel Valley Tribune: "For his contributions as a community activist, constitutional scholar, US senator, and president, it is only fitting to honor our 44th President by naming a part of a freeway he most certainly used while living in the area." (Read more Barack Obama stories.)
(Newser)  Eleven months after the US Supreme Court declared Florida's death penalty to be unconstitutional, the state supreme court ruled that more than 200 inmates on Florida's death row may have the right to new sentencing, the Orlando Sentinel reports. According to the Washington Post, that means more than half of Florida's massive death row population could potentially avoid execution. Last January, the US Supreme Court found Florida's death penalty violated the Sixth Amendment because it gave judges too much power, and juries too little, in deciding whether the guilty party lives or dies. It had told Arizona essentially the same thing way back in 2002.

So on Thursday, the Florida supreme court ruled that the 55% of death row inmates who received their sentences after 2002 have the right to seek new sentencing trials. According to the ruling, no guilty verdicts will be changed and no one will be let out of prison prior to their new sentencing. The ruling also does the opposite for the half of death row inmates sentenced before 2002, the Miami Herald reports. They will not be allowed to seek new sentencing, meaning executions can start again in Florida for the first time since the US Supreme Court's ruling. A number of Florida supreme court justices had argued that the US Supreme Court's ruling should apply to all death row inmates, but they were outnumbered. (Read more death penalty stories.)
(Newser)  A former head of lottery security tied to potentially rigged drawings in five states is facing new charges in Wisconsin, NBC News reports. According to the Des Moines Register, six charges were filed against Eddie Tipton on Thursday. They include racketeering, theft by fraud, and computer crimes, Fox 6 News reports. Tipton used to be the director of IT security for Multi-State Lottery Association, which handles lottery picks and security in 37 states. Authorities allege Tipton meddled with the code for the association's number-generating machines to cause them to pick certain numbers on certain days. Last year, he was charged with messing with the number generators to win a $14.3 million drawing in Iowa in 2010.

Now Tipton is being charged with doing the same thing three years earlier to win more than $783,000 in Wisconsin. Tipton's alleged accomplice, Robert Rhodes, is also facing charges in Wisconsin and Iowa. Authorities say Tipton would provide Rhodes with rigged numbers and have him buy the tickets. They would allegedly split the winnings. Investigators in Iowa have also linked Tipton, Rhodes, and Tipton's brother to lottery wins in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. (Read more lottery stories.)
(Newser)  The UN Security Council on Friday passed a resolution calling for an end to illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, the BBC reports. The resolution passed the Security Council 14-0 with the US abstaining from the vote. Israeli settlements are seen as a major sticking point in relations with Palestine, but the US has blocked similar resolutions in the past. Here's what you need to know:

CBS News calls it a "stunning culmination of years of icy relations" between Obama and Netanyahu that puts the president and the president-elect in direct opposition on a major foreign policy issue.

Speaking of, Donald Trump issued a statement Thursday calling for the US to veto the resolution, resulting in Egypt withdrawing it, according to USA Today. But the resolution was reintroduced by New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal, and Venezuela on Friday.

"As to the UN, things will be different after Jan. 20," Trump tweeted following Friday's vote.

The vote was, predictably, condemned by Israeli officials. "The United States abandoned Israel, its only ally in the Middle East," Haaretz quotes Israeli minister Yuval Steinitz as saying.

In an opinion piece for the Washington Post, Eugene Kontorovich calls the vote a "folly" that will make it harder to resolve the "Palestinian issue" and may end up weakening the UN. The Northwestern law professor says the US' abstentian was the result of Obama wanting to "punish" Netanyahu because he doesn't like him while trying to "box in" Trump's foreign policy.

(Read more Israel stories.)
The fictional universe of the Star Wars puzzled some space researchers. Scientists' curiosity led in scrutinizing through data on more than 3,400 confirmed planets. NASA discovered around exoplanets similar to the prominent planets of the movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

In 2015, NASA started a mission to discover some planets in the fictional Star Wars universe. Scientists were looking at the similarities of these exoplanets in the real-world universe. They found Kepler-452b which is a Coruscant or parallel to the Earth-like world. Scientists also spotted Kepler-16b and Kepler-453b which is a Tatooine or the world with twin suns.

They discovered OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb which is a Hot or a cold world, after the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE). Space researchers found Kepler-10b and Kepler-78b which is a Mustafar or a hot molten world. The Kamino or ocean world is like Kepler-22b. Recently, NASA confirmed there are also similarities to Alderaan and Endor in the real-world universe. Alderaan is the home planet of Princess Leia and Endor is the Ewoks' forested exomoon.

Scientists applied computer high-definition modeling strategy to look for these distant fictional worlds. Kepler-16b is a Saturn-sized planet is about 200 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. Scientists found out that Kepler-16b is possibly too cold and gaseous to be home to life.

The astrophysicist, Laurance Doyle of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute, discovered the planet with double sunset (two suns) by using the NASA's Kepler space telescope. Doyle said that on Kepler-16b people may have two shadows and sunset may be unique because stars were always changing the configuration.

One of the research scientists at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies said that scientists were examining the Earth's climate to fully understand planetary habitability and the potential diversity of life on exoplanets. However, some astrobiologists think that plant life on other worlds could be black, red or even multicolored.
Android Malware is an issue for some time and there are multiple reports confirming various levels of security threat facing by Android and the prominent ones are malware. Recently, another report confirming a group of Russian hackers created a malware for Android smartphones and tracked the details of Ukrainian military by accessing their personal information.

The Android Malware was detected by a cyber security firm CrowdStrike and it was reported that the malware was attached to a legitimate app used by the Ukrainian army personnel. The app was used by the military in their artillery operation but at the same time the malware named X-Agent was accessing phone data including calls, contacts, location etc. and was sending to the hackers. It is believed that the Russian military is behind the malware considering its access to the Ukrainian military.

The CrowdStrike report further said that the app was used by the Ukranian army from 2014 to 2016. Interestingly, it was used by almost 9,000 personnels and the malware helped the hackers to identify the composition, hierarchy and other important information of the force. It should be read in the wake of the on-going dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the territory in eastern Ukraine. There were many face-offs between Russia and Ukraine over the territory in the past.

This is not the first time Ukraine is facing the cyber-attack. In 2015, the operations of a number of power stations owned by the country were halted by cyber-attacks. Ukraine accused Russia over cyber-attacks in 2014 and for blocking government communications by creating chaos in their network. In the era of internet, the attacks are also planned on the internet and many of the countries are maintaining a cyber-force in their wing to both attack and defend.

The Android malware to Ukrainian military is a serious threat to the peace as this kind of attacks can further escalate the tension between the countries. It is the time to start an international arbitration council to bring down the cyber criminals across the borders. As the phrase "netizen" has coined out, it is time introduce cyber constitution and cyber laws uniform across the borders to tackle cyber-crimes and attacks.
MLATA: A Libyan passenger plane carrying as many 118 passengers that has been hijacked by two pro-Gaddafi supporters threatening to blow the aircraft finally surrendered resulting end of several hours long tense situation here at Malta.

The incident began after the plane took off from Sabha at 11:10 local time (08:10 GMT), landing in Malta two hours and 20 minutes later.

As per the news agencies, the domestic flight with 118 people on board including 82 men, 28 women and a baby along with seven crew members was hijacked in the morning after taking off from Sabha, bound for the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Hijackers diverted flight to Malta where it landed on Friday. It remains unclear exactly how many hijackers were involved.

As per the Maltese state television said the men on board were armed with hand grenades which they would detonate if their demands - as yet unknown - were not met. The Libyan Afriqiyah Airways A320 plane is believed to have 118 people on board, with the hijacking first confirmed by Malta's Prime Minister on Twitter.

Joseph Muscat wrote that he has been told of the hijacking of an internal Libyan flight travelling from Sebha to Tripoli which was diverted to Malta mid-flight. It is understood the plane's engines are still running and there are 111 passengers and 7 crew members onboard. Maltese armed forces are yet to approach the aircraft.

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Troubled by the economic blockade that has injured her home state Manipur, five-time best on the planet boxer and Rajya Sabha MP M C Mary Kom has encouraged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mediate and resolve the emergency.

The bar has been forced by United Naga Council to dissent the express government's choice to shape seven new regions. The UNC claims the regions in the Naga-commanded slope zones will influence arrive possessions of Naga tribes settled in these ranges.

The blockade which has outperformed 50 days now has disabled ordinary life in Manipur with a shortage of fundamental products being a noteworthy concern separated shape savagery.

In a letter to Modi: Mary Kom, an Olympic bronze-medallist, asked him to attempt and resolve the issue at the most punctual.

"It is to convey to your notice that the condition of Manipur is experiencing the hardest of time with distress circumstance. The entire segment of groups, both in slopes and valley, living in Manipur are enduring because of the financial bar and counter-bar and have now transformed into appalling outcomes of more prominent demolition and if not mediated in time, there are potential outcomes of untoward happenings and the general population are so unreliable," she composed.

"Regardless of the causes and reasons, I firmly prescribe and ask for you to consider this common circumstance in Manipur a genuine matter and sympathetically intercede at the most punctual for quiet arrangement and the state be taken back to commonality. This demonstration will remain an incredible accomplishment and the general population will stay in owe towards your kind intercession," she said.

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New Delhi:

Twitter is buzzing with news alerts from India and rest of the world. Here are the latest updates from the micro-blogging site in one scroll -

# 11: 47 PM

Chancellor Angela Merkel orders a sweeping review of Germany's security apparatus: AFP

# 11: 11 PM

UN Security Council rejects arms embargo on South Sudan: AFP

# 10: 49 PM

Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says 2 Libyan hijackers had hand grenade and pistol - AP

# 10: 47 PM

600 Jan Dhan accounts, which showed over Rs 10 cr deposits post demonetisation, under I-T lens in Bihar, Jharkhand for suspected naxal links - PTI

# 10:44 PM

Delhi L-G NajeebJung made to resign as he wanted to release Shunglu Committee report, alleges Congress leader Ajay Maken - PTI

# 10:43 PM

10 stations of Delhi Metro to go cashless from January 1, commuters can recharge smart cards & buy tokens from digital platforms

# 10:39 PM

Govt caps prices of more than 50 essential #drugs including those used for treatment of HIV infection, #diabetes. Rates down by up to 44%: PTI

# 10: 35 PM

Pakistan has to ensure peaceful atmosphere for talks: India - PTI

# 10: 15 PM

Fake notes, in scrapped denominations, with value of Rs 1.35 crore seized in Maharashtra's Nashik; NCP worker among 11 held: Police: PTI

# 10:14 PM

West African leaders will send troops into Gambia if President who lost election doesn't step down: AP

# 10:10 PM

Putin calls #Assad to congratulate on Aleppo 'liberation': AFP

# 10:09 PM

#ONGC to buy 80 pc stake in GSPC block for USD 925 million: PTI

# 10:08 PM

India beat #SriLanka by 34 runs to win ACC Under-19 Asia Cup title: ANI

# 9:50 PM

Fake notes, in scrapped denominations, with face value of Rs 1.35 crore seized in Maharashtra's Nashik; NCP worker among 11 held: Police - PTI

# 9:49 PM

Rs 3,651 crore undisclosed income detected, Rs 98 crore in new notes seized in country-wide operations post demonetisation: Income Tax dept: PTI

#9:33 PM

UP: Churches lit up ahead of Christmas in #Moradabad - ANI

# 9:22 PM

Report of over 150 bodies of Indian nationals lying in various hospitals, mortuaries in Saudi Arabia 'completely factually misleading': Govt

# 9:15 PM

IT department conducts search at a gold bullion group in Allahabad, gold worth Rs 1.06 Cr & Rs. 20 Lakh cash seized from a Locker: IT Sources

# 9:04 PM

Agra: Rs. 12 Crore undisclosed income admitted by the assessee on the basis of incriminating papers/documents seized: IT sources (ANI)

# 9:02 PM

Income Tax Department conducted search at a bullion group in Agra covering 11 premises at different locations: IT Sources: ANI

# 8:58 PM

Manipur Blockade Curfew from Lamlong bridge to Pangei area in #Imphal relaxed from 6 am-5 pm tomorrow: ANI

# 8:54 PM

Malta PM Joseph Muscat to address press conference in the next few minutes

# 8:48 PM

Putin warms to #Trump, flexes muscles on #Syria: AFP

# 8:27 PM

A 'significant' Islamic State-inspired Christmas Day terror plot targeting central Melbourne with explosives has been foiled, police say

# 8:26 PM

Putin says he sees "nothing unusual" in Trump's nuclear comments: AP

# 8:24 PM

Till date no talks has been held with any party, so the issue of seat distribution has also note emerged: GN Azad, Congress - ANI

# 8:22 PM

I'm not thinking about the numbers, I'm concerned about the audience's reaction. I don't have interest in numbers: Aamir Khan on Dangal: PTI

# 8:21 PM

Ratan Tata says most attacks on him and the Tata Group are unsubstantiated and very painful: ANI

# 8:20 PM

I think the truth will prevail, whatever the process may be, however painful it may be says Ratan Tata: ANI

# 8:17 PM

Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody: Joseph Muscat, Malta PM

# 8:16 PM

Libya plane hijackers asking for asylum in Malta: minister (AFP)

# 8:13 PM

Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers: Joseph Muscat Malta PM

# 7: 56 PM

Donald Trump on nuclear weapons tweet: 'Let it be an arms race' - Reuters India

# 7:54 PM

'Acute' threat thwarted but terror 'danger' endures: Angela Merkel: AFP

# 7:53 PM

RatanTata says there is a definite move to damage his personal reputation over last two months: PTI

# 7:52 PM

Bengaluru: Rs 47.74 cr undisclosed income detected in raid on #Bulliondealers, Rs 1.07 cr new notes seized in a different case: #ITDept: ANI

#7:51 PM

Union Minister Manoj Sinha sustains minor injuries after a car accident in Gorakhpur

# 7:50 PM

Mediterranean death toll is record 5,000 migrants this year: Reuters India

# 7:35 PM

Trump spokesman says tweet on nuclear weapons was response to other countries: AP

# 7:34 PM

Germany's top security official says terrorist threat "remains high" despite death of market attack suspect: AP

# 7:33 PM

Huge crowds cheer Japan emperor on 83rdbirthday, possibly last such appearance after expressing desire to abdicate: AFP

# 7:32 PM

Russia sends battalion of military police to Aleppo: defence minister - AFP

# 7:31 PM

Absconding accused in Najafgarh murder case of a 17-year-old girl, has been arrested by Police: ANI

# 7:30 PM

Potentially 2 hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft: Joseph Muscat Malta PM

# 7:29 PM

Crew members being released: Joseph Muscat, Malta PM

# 7:28 PM

109 passengers released from hijacked Afriqiyah Airways flight in Malta: RT

# 7:27 PM

Hezbollah says Aleppo fall means efforts to oust Assad have 'failed': AFP

#7:26 PM

Egypt agrees to UN Israel vote delay in call with #Trump: AFP

# 7:25 PM

ED conduct searches at Shri Ganesh Hire Purchase company in Jalandhar, seize Rs 16 lakh foreign currency & Rs 10 lakh new Indian currency: ANI

# 7:10 PM

Further 44 passengers being released: Joseph Muscat, Malta PM

# 6:55 PM

65 passengers released so far: Joseph Muscat, Malta PM

# 6:53 PM

The 4 foreign nationals handed over to Police by CISF for showing fake e-tickets are Chinese Delhi

# 6:51 PM

Release of second group of 25 passengers underway: Joseph Muscat Malta PM

# 6:46 PM

4 foreign nationals handed over to Police by CISF for showing fake e-tickets to see off a passenger was travelling to Hong Kong. Delhi: ANI

# 6:40 PM

IS-linked Amaq says man shot in Milan was Berlin attacker: AFP

# 6:34 PM

First 25 passengers released: Joseph Muscat, Malta PM

# 6:30 PM

First group of passengers, consisting of women and children, being released now: PM Joseph Muscat, Malta

# 6:24 PM

We will provide as many central forces as required, Center will offer adequate support: Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home on Manipur visit - ANI

# 6:20 PM

A negotiating team is on standby at Airport awaiting instructions from PM, who is in meeting with National Security Committee: Malta - AP

# 6:18 PM

Delhi HC stays Centre's decision to reject security clearance to air charter service for transporting Rs 3.5 cr in demonetised notes: PTI

# 6:17 PM

Plea opposing Justice JS Khehar's elevation as CJI infructuous, says SC noting that the Prez has already issued notification: PTI

# 6:16 PM

German prosecutor says authorities still trying to determine whether Berlin truck suspect had network of supporters: AP

# 6:13 PM

J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti inaugurates Central Asian Museum in Leh: ANI

# 6:08 PM

BJP MP Roopa Ganguly admitted due to small haematoma in brain, she is absolutely stable and under observation: AMRI Hospital statement: ANI

# 6:06 PM

It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant: Joseph Muscat Malta PM

# 6:02 PM

Trump calls for U.S. to greatly expand its nuclear capability, but he doesn't expand on what the U.S. should do: AP

# 6:00 PM

BJP Rajya Sabha MP RoopaGanguly admitted to AMRI hospital in Kolkata. More details awaited: ANI

# 5:58 PM

Hyderabad: Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao speaking at Swachh Survekshan 2017 programme: ANI

# 5:56 PM

Negotiating team on standby in #Malta - AP

# 5:54 PM

Inter-Ministerial Central Team to visit Tamil Nadu next week for on-the-spot assessment of post- Vardah cyclone: ANI

# 5:48 PM

When time comes I'll take a look at situation in Russia and world and decide whether to take part in presidential elec. or not: RT

# 5:47 PM

Hijacker threatens to detonate hand grenade onboard Afriqiyah Airways flight 8U209 in Malta Intl Airport: RT

# 5:45 PM

Some Malta Intl Airport operations resumed as Afriqiyah Airways plane sits on runway - officials - RT

# 5:37 PM

Next Demonetisation sub-committee meeting on December 28. It is headed by Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu - ANI

#5:32 PM

Compensation to states for loss of revenue from rollout of GST to be paid every two months: FM ArunJaitley - PTI

# 5:30 PM

'Remain calm, follow official updates' - Malta President on Afriqiyah Airways plane hijack  RT

# 5:22 PM

Two workers dead in an accident at a construction site in Patlipada, Thane (Maharashtra): ANI

# 5:20 PM

All flights to Malta Intl Airport diverted until further notice: RT

# 5:16 PM

Legally vetted draft of law for compensation to states to be placed before #GST Council at the next meeting: Finance Minister Jaitley - PTI

#5:14 PM

In the meetings (GST council) on 3rd and 4th in the second half I will also hold budget consultations with state finance ministers: FM Jaitley - ANI

# 5:12 PM

Tripoli confirms hijacked Libyan plane diverted to Malta: AFP

# 5:10 PM

Dual control and cross empowerment issues still remain. We are making reasonable headway: FM Arun Jaitley GST - ANI

# 5: 05 PM

Nusli Wadia files criminal defamation case against Tata Sons & Ratan Tata - ANI

# 4:55 PM

CGST and SGST primary drafts have been approved: FM Arun Jaitley on GST - ANI

# 4:50 PM

CBI registers case against 2 managers of Co-op urban bank, Mumbai doctor & others for fraudulently transporting Rs 25 crores in old notes: ANI

# 4:42 PM

A prototype vaccine for Ebola may be up to 100 percent effective in protecting against the deadly virus: WHO - AFP

# 4:40 PM

Its wrong to say that Muslim areas don't have cash, the truth is that cash is nowhere to be found: Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy CM, Bihar: ANI

# 4:38 PM

CBI raids 11 premises of Vaidyanath Urban Cooperative Bank in Maharashtra in connection with recovery of Rs 10 cr demonetised notes: PTI

# 4:36 PM

The 2 arrested by Crime Branch are also behind 9 fake accounts found in Kotak Mahindra Bank with unaccounted deposits worth Rs 34 Cr: ANI

# 4:34 PM

Delhi Police Crime Branch arrests 2 ppl in cheating case worth Rs 57.7 lakh from an account in Corporation Bank, GK-2 branch: ANI

# 4:32 PM

DMK chief M Karunanidhi discharged from Kauvery hospital in Chennai: ANI

# 4:30 PM

Hijacked Libyan plane lands in Malta with 118 people aboard  media: Reuters India

# 4:28 PM

Lawyer Rohit Tondon reaches ED office in Daryganj for questioning in money laundering case against him: ANI

# 4:26 PM

DAC approved Multi-mission maritime aircraft, fitted with mission suites designed and developed by DRDO. Cost- Approx 5005 cr: MoD Sources - ANI

# 4:24 PM

IAF to procure one more C17 Globemaster mark III aircraft: MoD Sources - ANI

# 4:22 PM

55 low-level lightweight radars for Indian Army and IAF, these 3D radars designed by DRDO and manufactured by Bell.Cost-419 cr: MoD Sources - ANI

# 4:20 PM

Procurement of 1500 India developed nuclear, chemical, biological systems for fitment on Infantry Combat Vehicles.Cost-1265 crores: MoD Sources - ANI

# 4:18 PM

One dead in rebel fire on regime-held Aleppo: Monitor- AFP

# 4:16 PM

Maltese Prime Minister tweets that he has been informed of potential hijack situation of flight diverted to Malta  Reuters India

# 4:14 PM

Hijacked Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, on internal flight in Libya with 118 people on board, lands in Malta: Maltese media  Reuters India

# 4:12 PM

Germany 'relieved' Berlin attack suspect killed in Italy: ministry - AFP

# 4:10 PM

CPEC passes through sovereign Indian territory, we have expressed our concerns to China and Pakistan: Vikas Swarup, MEA Spokesperson - ANI

# 4:08 PM

We have never refused talks but Pakistan has to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Pakistan needs to stop supporting terror: Vikas Swarup, MEA - AFP

# 4:06 PM

Vladimir Putin signs order on expanding Russia's Syria naval facility: Kremlin - AFP

# 4:04 PM

Our Embassy prepared to engage with local authorities to press upon fact that separation of child from family is humanitarian issue  MEA: ANI

# 4:02 PM

Deutsche Bank agrees on $7.2 billion settlement with US Justice Department over mortgage-backed bonds: AP

# 4:00 PM

Child welfare cases are handled in accordance to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act.The Act applies to all children in Norway: Norway Embassy - AFP

# 3:58 PM

West Bengal: Enforcement Directorate raids Central Co-operative Bank in Nadia District; raid still on: ANI

# 3:56 PM

At least 40 killed in #DRCongo anti-Kabila protests: UN: AFP

# 3:54 PM

Olympics: IOC starts action against 28 Russians over Sochi doping: AFP

# 3:50 PM

Congress will support any step against corruption: Rahul Gandhi -

# 3:48 PM

Russian President #Putin says nobody believed Donald Trump would win 'except us': AFP

# 3:46 PM

We are reminded of Amitabh Bachchan's film song 'ram ram japna ghareeb ka maal apna': Rahul Gandhi - ANI

# 3:44 PM

Sensex up by 61.10 points, currently at 26040.70 Nifty at 7985.75: ANI

# 3:42 PM

Person liable for audit required to furnish SFT wrt transaction for receipt of cash exceeding Rs 2 lakh for sale of goods/services: CBDT - ANI

# 3:44 PM

Maharashtra: Naxals torched 40 trucks deployed as part of Surjagarh mining project, in Gadchiroli district: ANI

# 3:45 PM

CBDT issues clarification regarding reporting of cash transactions under Rule 114E of Income-tax Rules, 1962: ANI

# 3:44 PM

They said that demonetisation was a surgical strike on corruption. However, it is firebombing on India's poor: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi - ANI

# 3:43 PM

MEA announces new rules for passport. #Aadhar or #Eaadhar with Date of birth will now be accepted as DoB proof: ANI

# 3:42 PM

Italy confirms Berlin truck attack suspect shot dead in Milan: AFP

# 3:41 PM

People break down while building one house, you don't feel sorry before burning houses: Rahul Gandhi: ANI

#3:39 PM

Vladimir Putin says 'nothing unusual' about Trump's nuclear call: AFP

# 3:37 PM

Syrian state TV says army experts dismantling explosives and booby-traps left behind by rebels in east Aleppo: AP

# 3:35 PM

Agusta Westland Case: Order on bail plea of 3 accused including SP Tyagi reserved for 26 Dec their judicial custody will continue: ANI

# 3:34 PM

Demonetisation is an economic plunder: Rahul Gandhi - ANI

# 3:32 PM

WB CM Mamata Banerjee writes to Centre on deployment of CRPF in Income Tax offices without prior communication with the state - ANI

# 3:30 PM

More than 100 people died due to demonetisation, we couldn't mourn for those people even for 2 minutes in Parliament: Rahul Gandhi - ANI

#3:11PM

Berlin market attack suspect shot dead in shootout in Milan, Italy: security source -Reuters

#2:56PM

Haryana: Man shoots a police officer, who tried to stop his car at the barricade in Gurugram; Case registered; Investigation on.-ANI

#2:52PM

In last 4 yearrs,CBI hs never been able to establish any evidence against ex Air Chief regarding receipt of any bribe/kickbacks:Tyagi's counsel -ANI

#2:51PM

Tyagi's counsel cites health concerns of former Air chief AgustaWestland -ANI

#2:41PM

If he (SP Tyagi) tries to prove his innocence,they will accuse him of noncooperation since he's not incriminating himself:SP Tyagi's counsel -ANI

#2:40PM

Hearing on AgustaWestland case underway in Patiala House court: SP Tyagi's counsel says CBI isn't showing or telling evidence against him- ANI

#2:37PM

Uttarakhand: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to address a public rally in Almora shortly. -ANI

#2:34PM

Punjab: Congress declares second list of 16 candidates for upcoming Punjab polls

#2:32PM

In Italy, person guilty of corruption is already convicted. Guido Haschke hasn't challenged his conviction: CBI tells Patiala House court

#2:14PM

Agusta Westland case: Hearing on plea seeking bail for former Air Chief SP Tyagi underway in Delhi's Patiala House Court.-ANI

#2:10PM

Thane(Maha): Ink thrown at a Nagarpalika Officer by vendor whose stall was demolished on officer's order.Vendor beaten by staff;hospitalised -ANI

#2:00PM

CBI summons Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat asking him to appear on December 26th, in the alleged Sting CD case. -ANI

#1:52PM

AAP's Goa CM candidate Elvis Gomes summoned by ACB in a housing scam case, asked to report to the investigating officer on Dec 26 - ANI

#1:48PM

7 kg IED planted by Naxals defused by CRPF in Chhattisgarh's Sukma - ANI

#1:47PM

Chennai: Rajinikanth's daughter Soundarya files divorce petition in family court - ANI

#1:40PM

Maharashtra Police detains 11 people with fake currency notes worth Rs 1.5 crores in Nashik



#1:18PM

At any cost, economic blockade won't be allowed;adequate security provided: MoS Home Kiren Rijiju after meeting Manipur CM -ANI

#1:11PM

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Old demonetised notes of Rs 500 & Rs 1000 found near Kukrail Dam. Police team at the spot. -ANI

#1:03PM

Najeeb Jung meeting with PMO over. They held discussions for an hour -News Nation

#12:59PM

TN: ED provisionally attached properties worth Rs 44 Cr of Aiswariya Rock Exports, Madurai & others, under provisions of PMLA -ANI

#12:53PM

SC dismisses plea filed by a lawyers body, seeking stay on appointment of Justice Jagdish Singh Kehar as the new Chief Justice of India. -ANI

#12:44PM

Chennai: After taking charge of the office of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, Girija Vaidyanathanin meets Tamil Nadu CM O. Panneerselvam -ANI

#12:41PM

Delhi: Patiala House Court has also asked them to pay Rs 2 lakh each as personal bond and Rs 1 lakh as surety bond each. -ANI

#12:40PM

Patiala House Court grants bail to Dr Ramjee Singh, Chief of Central Council of Homeopathy & alleged middleman in a bribery case against him. -ANI

#12:39PM

Separatists in J&K might be looking for excuse to wake up trouble as they're always looking forward to fish in troubled waters of Jhelum: MoS PMO

#12:34PM

State Govt in consultation with Union Home Ministry revised mechanism wherein each of them could be provided a proof of ID. So that they could be in a position to apply for Central govt jobs;also for recruitment in military & paramilitary forces -Jitendra Singh MoS PMO. ANI

#12:25PM

Coal block allocation scam matter-AMR Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd retract their plea seeking re-investigation. Further orders reserved for Jan 18 -ANI

#12:21PM

I-T Dept summons ex TN Chief Secy Rammohan Rao's son Vivek Rao fr further investigation abt raids at his office;likely to appear this evening -ANI

#12:20PM

Kerala: Enquiry has been ordered over allegations that they appointed their close relatives in chief posts during UDF Govt tenure. -ANI

#12:19PM

Trivandrum Vigilance Court orders preliminary enquiry against former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy and other 9 UDF leaders.-ANI

#12:10PM

Earthquake tremors of 4.5 magnitude felt in Andaman Islands at around 10:26 AM. -ANI

#12:05PM

As per agenda of alliance b/w BJP-PDP jobs have been allocated for West Pakistan refugees by Centre: Satpal Singh,J&K BJP President -ANI

#12:05PM

Today the question is not about giving West Pak refugees domicile certificates but it is about their livelihood-Satpal Singh,J&K BJP President -ANI

#12:01PM

Hardik patel arrested at Jaipur airport ,due to security reason. He was not allowed to enter in the city-News Nation

#11:57AM

In our time,when we found something wrong,we only ordered enquiry,cancelled contract,fought in Italy&won;So,let them complete probe-AKAntony -ANI

#11:54AM

This Govt has been there for 2 1/2 yrs, they must complete the enquiry & bring the guilty to justice: AK Antony, Former Defence Min in AgustaChopper deal-ANI

#11:40AM

Delhi: Najeeb Jung who tendered his resignation as Delhi Lieutenant Governor reaches PMO -ANI

#11:36AM

MP: Factory allegedly producing spurious ghee busted in Shivpuri; 696 litre ghee worth Rs 3 lakh seized in 47days; Police,Food Dept at spot. -ANI

#11:33AM

Post demonetisation till December 21, more than Rs 3590 crore undisclosed income admitted/detected. 3589 notices issued: IT Sources-ANI

#11:32AM

Post note ban till December 21, more than Rs 505 crore seized (Over Rs 93 crore in new currency notes) by IT Department: IT Sources- ANI

#11:27AM

I-T Dept referred around 400 cases to ED and CBI following searches and seizures made post demonetisation: IT Sources -ANI

#11:20AM

Imphal: MoS Home Kiren Rijiju meets Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh-ANI

#11:19AM

I&B Ministry also provides additional time for remaining phase III subscribers to switch over by 31st Jan, 2017.-ANI

#11:18AM

I&B Ministry revises timeline for phase IV of cable TV digitisation to 31st March, 2017. -ANI

#11:17AM

DMK Chief Karunanidhi to be discharged from Kauvery hospital in Chennai today by 4 PM. -ANI

#11:16AM

SC fix 11 January to hear the petition -News Nation

#11:16AM

Court says that it's a very old law, no urgency to hear this matter during vacation -News Nation

#11:15AM

Supreme court refuses to give urgent hearing on a petition challenging Tax exemption to political parties -NewsNation

#11:11AM

MoS Home Kiren Rijiju reaches Imphal (Manipur), to take stock of situation prevailing in the district due to UNC blockade.-ANI

#11:09AM

Siliguri (West Bengal): IT Dept conducts raid at the residence of businessman Rup Chand Prasad in Naya Bazar. Raid underway.-ANI

#11:00AM

Hyderabad: Students' political groups organised 'Chalo Assembly' protest against Private Universities Bill; detained by Police -ANI

#10:51AM

Hyderabad: Rs 7 Cr found in account of cab driver,after interrogation agreed to pay taxes under PMGKY on this amount deposited. -ANI

#10:50AM

Odisha: Vigilance conducts raids at 5places including premises related to Prasanna Kr Nanda,auditor at Executive Engineer Office,Bhubaneswar-ANI

#10:47AM

Solar scam: Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appears before Solar Judicial Commission-ANI

#10:42AM

No adverse report submitted to bank so far;Bank denies tht wre any fake a/cs;extending full co-operation to investigating agencies-Rohit Rao-ANI

#10:40AM

No KYC deficiencies noted in these 2 customers. IT Dept did question the Branch Manager: Rohit Rao, Kotak Mahindra Bank Spox-ANI



#10:38AM

Delhi: IT Dept visited Kotak bank's branch(KG Marg) in connection with survey on 2 of its customers & related a/cs: Kotak Mahindra Bank Spox -ANI

#10:26AM

Uttar Pradesh: 7-year old girl allegedly raped in Lucknow's Ashiyana Police Station area; hospitalised in critical condition. -ANI

#10:03A

Gujarat: Police detain more than 200 people from a farmhouse, where illegal liquor was being served during a wedding party, near Vadodara.

#9:55AM

ED interrogated Delhi lawyer Rohit Tandon on Wednesday, to issue notice to him in the ongoing money laundering case today.

#9:16AM

CISF detects Rs 53.78 lakh(approx) in new currency notes & Rs 4.29 lakh in old currency from a foreign national at Delhi's IGI airport - ANI

#9:00AM

71.20% of the Tata Motors shareholders vote in favour of removal of Nusli Wadia as director.

#8:55AM

Rameswaram: A group of 82 people leave for Katchatheevu (Sri Lanka) to attend the Annual St. Antony's church festival.

#8:51AM

Bihar: IT Dept officials conduct raid at the premises of a businessman in Muzaffarpur. More details awaited. -ANI

#8:49AM

Manipur Blockade Curfew relaxed in parts of Imphal East district till 9 PM today, expect in areas from Lamlong Bazar to Yaingangpokpi-ANI

#8:42AM

Telangana CM inaugurates project for construction of 285 2-bedroom houses for eligible beneficiaries frm weaker sections in Erravelli village.-ANI

#8:24AM

Two arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning mall attack-AP

#7:46AM

We will also talk to State Govt to find a solution to this as ppl are facing a lot of problems due to the prevailing situation: Kiren Rijiju -ANI

#7:45AM

I am going to Manipur along with my senior officers to take stock of situation caused due to the economic blockade: Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home -ANI

#7:40AM

DelhiFog 3 International flights delayed, one domestic flight from/to Delhi cancelled due to foggy weather (Visuals from IGI airport) -ANI

#7:30 AM

Karnataka: Police arrested two people with Rs 29.98 Lakh in new currency notes in Hubli, on Thursday.-ANI

#7:20 AM

GST Council meeting scheduled to take place today for the second day.-ANI

#7:19AM

Delhi Fog 42 trains running late, 4 rescheduled following poor visibility caused due to foggy weather. -ANI

#7:17AM

ManipurBlockade: Curfew also continues on the stretch of Pangei-Saikul road from Lamlong bridge to Pangei.-ANI

#7:15AM

Curfew relaxed in parts of Imphal East distt till 9 PM today. Curfew continues in area frm Lamlong Bazar to Yaingangpokpi-ANI

#7:14AM

3 International flights delayed, one domestic flight cancelled due to foggy weather.-ANI

#6:14AM

Australian police arrest 7 people suspected of planning series of bomb attacks in Melbourne on Christmas.-AP

# 6:53 PM The 4 foreign nationals handed over to Police by CISF for showing fake e tickets are Chinese Delhi # 6:51 PM Release of second group of 25 passengers underway: Joseph Muscat Malta PM # 6:46 PM 4 foreign nationals handed over to Police by CISF for showing fake e-tickets to see off a passenger was travelling to Hong Kong. Delhi: ANI # 6:40 PM IS-linked Amaq says man shot in Milan was Berlin attacker: AFP # 6:34 PM First 25 passengers released: Joseph Muscat, Malta PM # 6:30 PM First group of passengers, consisting of women and children, being released now: PM Joseph Muscat, Malta # 6:24 PM We will provide as many central forces as required, Center will offer adequate support: Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home on Manipur visit - ANI # 6:20 PM A negotiating team is on standby at Airport awaiting instructions from PM, who is in meeting with National Security Committee: Malta - AP # 6:18 PM Delhi HC stays Centre's decision to reject security clearance to air charter service for transporting Rs 3.5 cr in demonetised notes: PTI # 6:17 PM Plea opposing Justice JS Khehar's elevation as CJI infructuous, says SC noting that the Prez has already issued notification: PTI # 6:16 PM German prosecutor says authorities still trying to determine whether Berlin truck suspect had network of supporters: AP # 6:13 PM J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti inaugurates Central Asian Museum in Leh: ANI # 6:08 PM BJP MP Roopa Ganguly admitted due to small haematoma in brain, she is absolutely stable and under observation: AMRI Hospital statement: ANI # 6:06 PM It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant: Joseph Muscat Malta PM # 6:02 PM Trump calls for U.S. to greatly expand its nuclear capability, but he doesn't expand on what the U.S. should do: AP # 6:00 PM BJP Rajya Sabha MP RoopaGanguly admitted to AMRI hospital in Kolkata. More details awaited: ANI # 5:58 PM Hyderabad: Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao speaking at Swachh Survekshan 2017 programme: ANI # 5:56 PM Negotiating team on standby in #Malta - AP # 5:54 PM Inter-Ministerial Central Team to visit Tamil Nadu next week for on-the-spot assessment of post- Vardah cyclone: ANI # 5:48 PM When time comes I'll take a look at situation in Russia and world and decide whether to take part in presidential elec. or not: RT # 5:47 PM Hijacker threatens to detonate hand grenade onboard Afriqiyah Airways flight 8U209 in Malta Intl Airport: RT # 5:45 PM Some Malta Intl Airport operations resumed as Afriqiyah Airways plane sits on runway - officials - RT # 5:37 PM Next Demonetisation sub-committee meeting on December 28. It is headed by Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu - ANI #5:32 PM Compensation to states for loss of revenue from rollout of GST to be paid every two months: FM ArunJaitley - PTI # 5:30 PM 'Remain calm, follow official updates' - Malta President on Afriqiyah Airways plane hijack  RT # 5:22 PM Two workers dead in an accident at a construction site in Patlipada, Thane (Maharashtra): ANI # 5:20 PM All flights to Malta Intl Airport diverted until further notice: RT # 5:16 PM Legally vetted draft of law for compensation to states to be placed before #GST Council at the next meeting: Finance Minister Jaitley - PTI #5:14 PM In the meetings (GST council) on 3rd and 4th in the second half I will also hold budget consultations with state finance ministers: FM Jaitley - ANI # 5:12 PM Tripoli confirms hijacked Libyan plane diverted to Malta: AFP # 5:10 PM Dual control and cross empowerment issues still remain. We are making reasonable headway: FM Arun Jaitley GST - ANI # 5: 05 PM Nusli Wadia files criminal defamation case against Tata Sons & Ratan Tata - ANI # 4:55 PM CGST and SGST primary drafts have been approved: FM Arun Jaitley on GST - ANI # 4:50 PM CBI registers case against 2 managers of Co-op urban bank, Mumbai doctor & others for fraudulently transporting Rs 25 crores in old notes: ANI # 4:42 PM A prototype vaccine for Ebola may be up to 100 percent effective in protecting against the deadly virus: WHO - AFP # 4:40 PM Its wrong to say that Muslim areas don't have cash, the truth is that cash is nowhere to be found: Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy CM, Bihar: ANI # 4:38 PM CBI raids 11 premises of Vaidyanath Urban Cooperative Bank in Maharashtra in connection with recovery of Rs 10 cr demonetised notes: PTI # 4:36 PM The 2 arrested by Crime Branch are also behind 9 fake accounts found in Kotak Mahindra Bank with unaccounted deposits worth Rs 34 Cr: ANI # 4:34 PM Delhi Police Crime Branch arrests 2 ppl in cheating case worth Rs 57.7 lakh from an account in Corporation Bank, GK-2 branch: ANI # 4:32 PM DMK chief M Karunanidhi discharged from Kauvery hospital in Chennai: ANI # 4:30 PM Hijacked Libyan plane lands in Malta with 118 people aboard  media: Reuters India # 4:28 PM Lawyer Rohit Tondon reaches ED office in Daryganj for questioning in money laundering case against him: ANI # 4:26 PM DAC approved Multi-mission maritime aircraft, fitted with mission suites designed and developed by DRDO. Cost- Approx 5005 cr: MoD Sources - ANI # 4:24 PM IAF to procure one more C17 Globemaster mark III aircraft: MoD Sources - ANI # 4:22 PM 55 low-level lightweight radars for Indian Army and IAF, these 3D radars designed by DRDO and manufactured by Bell.Cost-419 cr: MoD Sources - ANI # 4:20 PM Procurement of 1500 India developed nuclear, chemical, biological systems for fitment on Infantry Combat Vehicles.Cost-1265 crores: MoD Sources - ANI # 4:18 PM One dead in rebel fire on regime-held Aleppo: Monitor- AFP # 4:16 PM Maltese Prime Minister tweets that he has been informed of potential hijack situation of flight diverted to Malta  Reuters India # 4:14 PM Hijacked Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, on internal flight in #Libya with 118 people on board, lands in Malta: Maltese media  Reuters India # 4:12 PM Germany 'relieved' Berlin attack suspect killed in Italy: ministry - AFP # 4:10 PM CPEC passes through sovereign Indian territory, we have expressed our concerns to China and Pakistan: Vikas Swarup, MEA Spokesperson - ANI # 4:08 PM We have never refused talks but Pakistan has to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Pakistan needs to stop supporting terror: Vikas Swarup, MEA - AFP # 4:06 PM Vladimir Putin signs order on expanding Russia's Syria naval facility: Kremlin - AFP # 4:04 PM Our Embassy prepared to engage with local authorities to press upon fact that separation of child from family is humanitarian issue  MEA: ANI # 4:02 PM Deutsche Bank agrees on $7.2 billion settlement with US Justice Department over mortgage-backed bonds: AP # 4:00 PM Child welfare cases are handled in accordance to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act.The Act applies to all children in Norway: Norway Embassy - AFP # 3:58 PM West Bengal: Enforcement Directorate raids Central Co-operative Bank in Nadia District; raid still on: ANI # 3:56 PM At least 40 killed in #DRCongo anti-Kabila protests: UN: AFP # 3:54 PM Olympics: IOC starts action against 28 Russians over Sochi doping: AFP # 3:50 PM Congress will support any step against corruption: Rahul Gandhi - # 3:48 PM Russian President #Putin says nobody believed Donald Trump would win 'except us': AFP # 3:46 PM We are reminded of Amitabh Bachchan's film song 'ram ram japna ghareeb ka maal apna': Rahul Gandhi - ANI # 3:44 PM Sensex up by 61.10 points, currently at 26040.70 Nifty at 7985.75: ANI # 3:42 PM Person liable for audit required to furnish SFT wrt transaction for receipt of cash exceeding Rs 2 lakh for sale of goods/services: CBDT - ANI # 3:44 PM Maharashtra: Naxals torched 40 trucks deployed as part of Surjagarh mining project, in Gadchiroli district: ANI # 3:45 PM CBDT issues clarification regarding reporting of cash transactions under Rule 114E of Income-tax Rules, 1962: ANI # 3:46 PM They said that demonetisation was a surgical strike on corruption. However, it is firebombing on India's poor: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi - ANI # 3:43 PM MEA announces new rules for passport. #Aadhar or #Eaadhar with Date of birth will now be accepted as DoB proof: ANI # 3:42 PM Italy confirms Berlin truck attack suspect shot dead in Milan: AFP # 3:41 PM People break down while building one house, you don't feel sorry before burning houses: Rahul Gandhi: ANI #3:39 PM Vladimir Putin says 'nothing unusual' about Trump's nuclear call: AFP # 3:37 PM Syrian state TV says army experts dismantling explosives and booby-traps left behind by rebels in east Aleppo: AP # 3:35 PM Agusta Westland Case: Order on bail plea of 3 accused including SP Tyagi reserved for 26 Dec their judicial custody will continue: ANI # 3:34 PM Demonetisation is an economic plunder: Rahul Gandhi - ANI # 3:32 PM WB CM Mamata Banerjee writes to Centre on deployment of CRPF in Income Tax offices without prior communication with the state - ANI # 3:30 PM More than 100 people died due to demonetisation, we couldn't mourn for those people even for 2 minutes in Parliament: Rahul Gandhi - ANI

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Washington:

A scathing US Congressional report released on Thursday branded intelligence leaker Edward Snowden a serial exaggerator and fabricator and said he has had continual contact with Russian intelligence services.



The partially redacted report, released by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, portrays Snowden as a disgruntled government contractor rather than a legitimate whistleblower.



The former National Security Agency contractor leaked thousands of classified documents to the press in 2013, revealing the vast scope of US surveillance of private data that was put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks.



According to the report, Snowden swiped about 1.5 million documents and those he leaked to the press were merely the tip of the iceberg.



Most of the material he stole had nothing to do with Americans privacy, and its compromise has been of great value to Americas adversaries and those who mean to do America harm, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff said.



Snowden was quick to disparage the report, taking to Twitter to decry its obvious falsehoods.



After three years of investigation and millions of dollars, they can present no evidence of harmful intent, foreign influence, or harm. Wow, he wrote.Snowden now lives in exile in Russia where he has sought asylum after fleeing his home in Hawaii and a brief stint in Hong Kong.



Should he ever return to the US, he would be tried for espionage and other charges carrying up to 30 years in prison.



Since Snowdens arrival in Moscow, he has had and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services, the report states.



Snowden tweeted that the committee report was slanted and deliberately omitted his criticisms of Russian policy.



Despite this, they claim without evidence Im in cahoots with Russian intel. Everyone knows this is false, but lets examine their basis: he adds, before posting a series of tweets on the matter.



The report also states that a Pentagon review had identified 13 high-risk issues, eight of which relate to specific capabilities that if the Russian or Chinese governments know about could put American troops at greater risk in any future conflict.



Since September, a campaign calling for a presidential pardon for Snowden has won support from figures such as financier George Soros and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.



The campaign says Snowden should be welcomed home as a hero for actions that benefited the public because they reined in US surveillance programs and led to improved privacy protection laws.



Snowdens lawyers are trying to win him clemency before US President Barack Obama leaves office in January or a plea bargain that would shield him from spending a lot of time in jail. Snowden himself has said he is not expecting a pardon.

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Paris:

Irans national carrier Iran Air on Thursday completed an order for 100 Airbus planes with a list price of around USD 20 billion (19 billion euros) as the Islamic Republic opens up to the West.

The order follows a commitment inked in January when President Hassan Rouhani visited Paris in the wake of a deal between Western powers and Iran over its nuclear programme.

The jets will bolster Irans ageing passenger fleet with the addition of 46 A320 planes for medium-haul routes, 38 long-haul A330s and 16 A350s, the European aircraft-maker said in a statement.

The deal does not include any of Airbus flagship A380 airliners, the largest passenger plane in the world.

Although up to 12 were earmarked in the initial agreement, Tehrans international airport is not currently equipped for such planes, a source close to the deal told AFP.

Iran Airs CEO Farhad Parvaresh said the deal was an important step towards a stronger international presence in civil aviation.

He added: We hope this success signals to the world that the commercial goals of Iran and its counterparts are better achieved with international cooperation and collaboration.

In another deal earlier this month, Iran Air finalised a contract to buy 80 planes from Airbus US competitor Boeing.

Boeing said that contract Irans first deal with a US aviation firm since the 1979 Islamic revolutionwas worth USD 16.6 billion.

With the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump expected to take a tough line on Iran and American lawmakers recently voting for renewed sanctions, Boeing emphasised the employment opportunities that the deal would create.

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London:

Britains future king on Thursday issued a heartfelt plea against religious persecution and rise of populism, warning against going back to the dark days of the 1930s, in his special Christmas message.

Talking on BBCs Thought of the Day segment, Prince Charles urged respect for those of different faiths or risk repeating the horrors of the past.

We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world that are increasingly aggressive towards those who adhere to a minority faith. All of this has deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s, the 68-year-old royal said in his pre-recorded special Christmas message, aired on radio on Thursday.

He added: I was born in 1948, just after the end of World War II, in which my parents generation had fought and died in a battle against intolerance, monstrous extremism and an inhuman attempt to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe.

That nearly 70 years later we should still be seeing such evil persecution is, to me, beyond all belief. We owe it to those who suffered and died so horribly not to repeat the horrors of the past.

The heir to Britains throne said he had recently met a Jesuit priest from Syria who described the plight of Christians he was forced to leave behind in the country.

He said: He told me of mass kidnappings in parts of Syria and Iraq and how he feared that Christians will be driven en masse out of lands described in the Bible.

He thought it is quite possible there will be no Christians in Iraq within five years.

Clearly, for such people, religious freedom is a daily, stark choice between life and death.

The prince said the scale of religious persecution around the world was not widely appreciated and was not limited to Christians, but included many other minority faiths.

Whichever religious path we follow, the destination is the same - to value and respect the other person, accepting their right to live out their peaceful response to the love of God, he said.

The Prince also spoke about the plight of refugees. The suffering doesnt end when they arrive seeking refuge in a foreign land, he said, and reminded people of how the story of the nativity unfolds with the fleeing of the holy

family to escape violent persecution, an apparent reference to Jesus family, who had sought refuge from persecution.

Charles will become the supreme governor of the Church of England when he succeeds his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

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Washington:

An Indian national was detained and produced before a local court in New Jersey on Thursday on charges of abusive sexual contact on a plane from Mumbai to Newark, federal prosecutors said.



Facing a maximum sentence of two years and a fine of up to USD 250,000, Ganesh Parkar, 40, made an initial appearance in a federal court in New Jersey and was detained.



According to the complaint, the incident happened on December 21, on board an Air India flight AI191 from Mumbai to Newark.



During the flight, Parkar moved from his ticketed seat in the business class section of the plane to economy class and sat next to a female passenger seated in a centre row.



When the woman fell asleep, Parkar placed his hand on her private parts without her consent, the complaint alleges.



The unidentified woman did not know Parkar and engaged in only limited conversation with the defendant during the flight. After the incident, Parkar was moved back to his original seat.



During the remainder of the flight, Parkar wrote two short notes to the victim in which apologized for a moments stupidity and stated I acknowledge I was stupid.

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Rameswaram:

Seventeen Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel were remanded in judicial custody till January 5 by a court in the island nation on Thursday.

The fishermen were produced before a magistrate at his residence in Jaffna and were remanded in custody, P Sesuraja and S Emiret, leaders of Rameswaram Fishermen's Association, said.

The fishermen, 13 of them hailing from Rameswaram and others from Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai district, were sent to a Jaffna prison later, they said.

All the fishermen were arrested near Neduntheevu yesterday, and their three boats were taken to Kanagesanthurai in Sri Lanka by the navy personnel.

Following their arrest, Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam had urged the Centre to "act decisively" and bring back 51 fishermen languishing in the island republic.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, he sought his intervention for the immediate release of 51 fishermen, including those arrested in the latest incident, besides 114 fishing boats seized by the Lankan Navy.

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It is the vision of our fellow countries that what would happen to they're economy if they adopt demonetisation through certain purpose- Would it yield similar results as challenge in equity symbiosis or it would help them to create a better image for their global fame- In this whole conceptualised challenges our fellow nation which beliefs most in terror equation and black money reception had thought processed in the upper house through the ideal performance standards of Saifullah Khan that Pakistan requires to demonetise 5 thousand currency notes in the support of the global recession for their ultimate cultural and economic identity.

The economists in the fellow the nation already hinted that the prime minister of Pakistan is not clear as the Indian prime minister thus there is hope to justify the assurance in the upper house or in the senate thus it may be false move to take public intentions toward the current government in Pakistan and its identity.

There is no question about the fact that as an ideologue it has been accepted in the upper house of the senate but how far it would move forward may be taken as a concern there. However, it has been justified by the specialists in Pakistan that this demonetization won't be similar to what India has done under the leadership of our humble Prime Minister but it would discredit the use of the 5 thousand currency notes in future which means that in present it proceeds that the currency notes would continue but till then forward the press for the Pakistans currency may stop the printing of the 5 thousand monetary notes so the ideal recession may start from the printing section of the economic bulk of goodwill for Pakistan and it's ultimate the challenge to segregate the terrorist move and blame.

In this way, we shall have to look now what happens if Pakistan wish to demonetise 5 thousand currency notes, Whether it's an ideal concern or a practical notification would be soon into vision But till then we hope that Pakistan first try to clear international recession and then think to perceive any implementation in the world of economic pressure by global agencies indeed...

Also Read:

RBI says, account holders can deposit over Rs 5,000 without any questions asked

An achievement even if 15-20% transactions cashless, says...

No official estimation of black money either before or after the...
New Delhi:

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday asked the Manipur government to bring back normalcy in the state by removing the economic blockade imposed by a Naga group on its highway as he embarks on a day-long visit to Manipur.



There is a constitutional duty of the state government to bring back normalcy and they should ensure that there is no blockade along the highway, Rijiju told PTI.



Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs, said the ground situation in Manipur continues to be worrisome and the Central government wants that law and order prevail in the state.

Also read | Delegation of BJP meets Home Minister Rajnath Singh over Manipur blockade



The curfew has been relaxed in part of Imphal till 9pm on Friday. I will talk to the state government and will try to find out a solution, he said.



Rijiju said the prices of essential commodities have gone up due to the economic blockade and people have been suffering a lot.



So we want the problem to resolve as early as possible, he added.

Also read | MC Mary Kom urges Govt to resolve Manipur economic blocade



Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh that there has been extremely distressing situation caused by the continuous blockade of National Highway-2, which has caused an acute shortage of essential and other goods in Manipur and breakdown of law and order.



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.

Also read | Nagaland Chief Minister seeks central government's intervention in current Manipur situation

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Washington:

An Indian-American engineer has been elected as Mayor of South San Francisco city in the US state of California. Pradeep Gupta, an IIT Chennai alumni, was sworn in as the Mayor of the city early this month, a media release said.

With this he has become the second Indian-American to be elected as the Mayor of the Californian city. It is my honour to step up and continue the work that former Mayor Mark Addiego has started, Gupta said.

We have a great group of people on our Council, many who have served the City for years. Im eager to lead this Council and our City during such exciting times, he said.

Gupta was appointed to the South San Francisco City Council for a one-year term on December 31, 2012 and was elected to a full four-year term in November 2013.

Prior to his appointment to the City Council, he was on the South San Francisco Planning Commission for three years, serving as the Commissions Chair in 2011.

He has a Masters degree and a Doctorate from Purdue University in Electrical Engineering, specialising in the area of energy efficiency and long term planning of electric utility systems.

Guptas professional career spans over thirty years of working with electric utility industries both in the US and abroad. He earlier served as Vice Mayor of the City. This election season, Savita Vaidhyanathan was elected as the new Mayor of Cupertino in California.

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New Delhi:

A day after Najeeb Jung resigned as Delhis Lt Governor, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met him at Raj Niwas in New Delhi.



Kejriwal reached the LGs official residence around 8 AM on Friday and the breakfast meeting lasted for nearly an hour.



Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, He resigned due to personal reasons.On Thursday, Jungs office, without citing reasons for his sudden exit, said, he would be returning to academics.



Jungs decision had taken political circles by surprise.

Also read | Recurring discord, unprecedented acrimony mark Najeeb Jung's tenure as Delhi Governor

Sources close to him had said on Thursday that his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.



The Chief Minister was in Ranchi on Thursday when the news of Jungs resignation broke.



Sh Jungs resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours, he had tweeted.



Kejriwal is scheduled to address a rally on demonetization at Jaipur at noon.

Also read | Points of discord between Najeeb Jung and Arvind Kejriwal: A throwback

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New Delhi:

Saudi Arabia has deported a ring leader of a fake Indian currency note racket, Abdul Salam, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) upon his landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Friday.

Abdul Salam alias Podi Salam, a resident of Malappuram in Kerala, was wanted in a case of smuggling of fake Indian currency notes (FICNs) with a face value of Rs 9.75 lakh which were seized from Abid Chullikulavan Hassan by Customs wing (Rummage & Intelligence Unit), Kochi at Nedumbasserry International Airport.

The NIA had taken over investigation into the case on July 13, 2014 from Kerala Police and filed a charge sheet against five accused including Abdul Salam on July 23, 2015.

The agency alleged that Salam was part of the criminal conspiracy to smuggle high quality counterfeit notes to India from the UAE and had facilitated its smuggling through Abid Chullikulavan Hassan.

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New Delhi:

A Nigerian national was found in possession of about Rs 54 lakh in new notes on Friday at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi.



Officials said the incident was reported at about 2:30 AM when CISF personnel intercepted the Nigerian travelling to Coimbatore from New Delhi.



He was allowed to travel after information was shared with tax and customs sleuths. A total cash of over Rs 58 lakh was detected with the Nigerian with Rs 53.78 lakh in new currency and Rs 4.29 lakh in old notes, they said.

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New Delhi:

In a shocking incident, a 7-year old girl has been allegedly raped in Lucknow on Friday.The girl has been hospitalised and is said to be in critical condition.

Shockingly, the incident took place behind Lucknow's Ashiyana Police Station area. The girl is the student of class III.

The girl was raped and dumped in coppice near a Gurudwara in Aashiana. She was found unconscious with blood oozing out from her private parts. The girl left her home at 3:30pm on Thursday for buying toffee from near by shop, but did not return back.

The parents of the girl and locals began the hunt for the girl. The locals spotted her lying in pool of blood in an unconscious state near a gurudwara just behind the Aashiana police station. The police reached the spot and later the girl's parents were also called. After the parents identified her, the police rushed her to Lok Bandhu Hospital for treatment from where she was referred to KGMU. The girl's condition has been critical.
Beijing:

China will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as supporting terrorism, Chinese official media on Friday said and suggested India to accept the olive branch extended by a top Pakistani military General to participate in the USD 46 billion economic corridor.



Surprise aside (over Generals call), New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said an article in the state-run Global Times.



The comments came after Lt Gen Riaz, Commander of the Pakistans Southern Command which is based in Quetta, this week reportedly said India should shun enmity with Pakistan and join the USD 46-billion CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits.

Also read | India should 'shun enmity' and join CPEC, says Pak General Amir Riaz

Such an opportunity could be transient. There is a possibility that the open attitude toward India joining the CPEC will quickly be overwhelmed by opposition voices from Pakistan if New Delhi does not respond in a timely manner to the Generals overture, the article said.



The best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus, it said.It said that India could boost its exports and slash its trade deficit with China via new trade routes that would be opened up by the CPEC. In addition, the northern part of India bordering Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir will gain more economic growth momentum if India joins the project, it said.



Another article in the same daily said Riazs invitation, which came as a surprise to New Delhi, is mainly intended as a gesture. While he hinted at Indias intervention in the CPEC, he welcomed Indias participation in the project, demonstrating Pakistan does not want to exclude India.

Also read | Pakistan raises 15,000-strong armed force to guard Chinese working on CPEC



At the same time, it said, if any country wants to label Pakistan as supporting terrorism and discredit the country, then China and other countries who uphold justice will oppose such behaviour strongly.



The article said that since President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in April, 2015, the CPEC has advanced considerably.



However, some international forces, and India in particular, are accustomed to look at the CPEC and the One Belt and One Road initiative from a geopolitical perspective. On one side, this is relevant to the geopolitical competition mindset they insist on, on the other, this is because of their excessive speculation on the strategic implications of the CPEC and the Belt and Road, it said.



To ensure the smooth advancement of the CPEC, it is necessary for Pakistan to have a stable and peaceful domestic and periphery environment and a favourable profile, it said.



On anti-terrorism, the Afghanistan peace process, and the peace and stability of Kashmir, Pakistan is making efforts to show international society its wish to pursue peace, it said.



The CPEC is not only a bilateral cooperation, but also a multilateral project in the long-run, which aims at regional economic integration. So its open and inclusive, and China and Pakistan hope India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries can participate and become stakeholders, it added.

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New Delhi:

A Dassault Aviation-Reliance Group joint venture which was formed with a purpose to execute significant offsets for the Rs. 58,000 crore Rafale fighter jet deal, plans to build and supply military combat aircraft on a "worldwide basis".

As per a exclusive story on Economic Times, Reliance Aero, which was incorporated in April 2015 by the Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Group, will hold 51 per cent of the share in the joint venture with Dassault holding the rest, according to a clearance application filed before Competition Commission of India.

The joint venture was announced in October.

The Rafale fighter jet deal entails an offsets component  money that has to be invested by the company into the Indian defence and aerospace sector  of over Rs 25,000 crore.

While a part of the offsets will go towards technology acquisition by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), a major chunk will go into setting up of manufacturing facilities in India.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday termed as 'virtually infructuous' a petition filed by a group of lawyers opposing the elevation of Justice J S Khehar as next the Chief Justice of India, observing that the President of India has already issued a notification in this regard.

"Since the notification appointing Justice J S Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India has already been issued, the petition has virtually become infructuous," a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and L Nageswara Rao said.

"There is nothing left in this petition as the President of India has issued the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI. Nothing is left in this now. If you want, we can allow you to withdraw the petition," the bench said.However, the brief hearing witnessed an altercation among the members of the lawyers' body as its vice president urged the apex court to list the matter for hearing on December 30, while the others urged the bench for liberty to file a plea afresh.

To this, the bench observed, "You are fighting among yourselves".The vice president of the petitioner, National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, requested the bench that there was something which they wanted to argue and he would call for a general body meeting of the members to decide on these aspects."But nothing remains in this petition now," the bench said.

Some members of the lawyers' body told the bench that there was no denial that the petition has become infructuous, so they should be given a liberty to file a fresh plea. The bench noted in its order that the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI has been issued on December 19.On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI.

The present CJI Justice T S Thakur demits office on January 3 next year In its plea, the lawyers' body has said that instead of Justice Khehar, Justice J Chelameshwar, who is now the fourth senior-most judge in the apex court, should be elevated as he had given a dissenting view when the National Judicial Appointments Commission was struck down by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Khehar.

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Libya:

An Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 plane on internal flight in Libya with 118 people, 111 passengers and 7 crew members,A on board has potentially been highjacked, reports said on Friday. Maltese media said that the plane has landed in Malta.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said that he has received an information of potential hijack situation of flight that has been diverted to Malta.

Maltese media has reported that two hijackers on the flight have threatened to blow up theA plane, while their demands are not yet known.

"Following news of plane hijacking with grave concern. My full cooperation to Govt to protect Malta security and the safety of passengers,"A Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said.

(This is a developing story)

Click here to read this story in Hindi



Here are the LIVE updates:

#A Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody: PMA Joseph Muscat

#A Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers:A Malta PM Joseph Muscat

Malta hostage situation: Hijackers releasing passengers (LIVE STREAM) https://t.co/j57BmcAhK4 a RT (@RT_com) December 23, 2016

#Potentially 2 hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft:A Malta PM Joseph Muscat

#109 passengers released from hijacked Libyan plane: Maltese PM

#Further 44 passengers being released:A Malta PM Joseph Muscat



#65 passengers released so far:A Malta PM Joseph Muscat



#Release of second group of 25 passengers underway:A Malta PM Joseph Muscat



UPDATE: First passengers evacuated from hijacked Afriqiyah Airways flight in Malta https://t.co/2eM8imnSMk https://t.co/K7PFK5jJ88 a RT (@RT_com) December 23, 2016

Malta airport appears to be open again after closure. Earlier diversions continuing journey to Malta pic.twitter.com/UAv4xqRYTh a Plane Finder (@planefinder) December 23, 2016

#A First 25 passengers released: Malta PM Joseph Muscat

#Passengers have begun disembarking from hijacked Libyan aircraft in Malta: AP

#Women, children released from hijacked Libyan plane: PM Joseph Muscat

#The office of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has confirmed that a negotiating team is on standby at Malta International Airport awaiting instructions from the prime minister, who is in a meeting with the National Security Committee: AP



For what should have been a short internal flight turned into a hijack and diversion to Malta! pic.twitter.com/yO8mkocakK a Plane Finder (@planefinder) December 23, 2016

#Hijacker threatens to detonate hand grenade onboard Afriqiyah Airways flight 8U209 in Malta Intl Airport



#Malta Airport shut down and security forces surround hijacked Libyan plane: Reports



#Some Malta Intl Airport operations resumed as Afriqiyah Airways plane sits on runway: Reports



#82 men, 28 women and a child on hijacked Libyan plane: Reports



Following the news re #Afriqiyah Airways @Maltairport, I appeal for everyone to remain calm and follow official updates a Marie-Louise Coleiro (@presidentMT) December 23, 2016

These are the latest pictures of the plane taken in #Malta airport https://t.co/qRuARaKYYY pic.twitter.com/rvHk4KJH3O a euronews (@euronews) December 23, 2016

BREAKING: Pilot of Libyan plane told traffic control in Tripoli that plane was hijacked and he was not allowed to land there a The Int'l Spectator (@intlspectator) December 23, 2016

Hijacked aircraft still on runway whilst first departure on alternate runway takes off pic.twitter.com/oz8azV9mJn a Plane Finder (@planefinder) December 23, 2016

#All flights to Malta International Airport diverted until further notice: Officials



#BREAKING Tripoli confirms hijacked Libyan plane diverted to Malta a AFP news agency (@AFP) December 23, 2016

#Conflicting reports on the number of hijackers on board the flight. Some media outlets claiming two, while the Times of Malta reports one suspect



#The engines of the plane were still running and it was surrounded by soldiers, but no one is yet believed to have approached the plane, reports Times of Malta



Hijacked aircraft is still powered up and stopped on the runway in Malta pic.twitter.com/UwvM8UCTmX a Plane Finder (@planefinder) December 23, 2016

#The Afriqiyah Airways flight was flying from Sebha to Tripoli with 111 passengers and 7 crew members on board, reports rt.com



#"We think there's been an unlawful interference at our airport. All emergency police in the have been dispatched to the site [where the planehas landed]. At the moment we don't have information on what is happening on board," a spokesperson for Malta International Airport told The Independent.

#The apro-Gaddafi,a hijackers have reportedly threatened to blow up the plane, one of the suspects possesses a hand grenade, reports Times of Malta



Hijacked Afriqiyah Airways flight diverted to Malta https://t.co/bEAPwrpZts pic.twitter.com/Haor9Zr09n a Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 23, 2016

Following news of plane hijacking with grave concern. My full cooperation to Govt to protect #Malta security and the safety of passengers. a Simon Busuttil (@SimonBusuttil) December 23, 2016

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM a Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

BREAKING Hijacked Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, on internal flight in Libya with 118 people on board, lands in Malta: Maltese media a Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) December 23, 2016

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the countryas far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A suspect who killed 12 people with a Truck in Berlin Christmas Market has been shot dead in Milan by Police in a Shootout. The suspect of the crime was committed by 24-year-old Anis Amri and According to the investigators, he was hiding himself in the German Capital.

The Statement in RBB Broadcaster report was "Amri was caught on camera by police officers on a regular stake-out at a mosque in the Moabit district early on Tuesday only a few hours after the attack."

Earlier, on Thursday Police couldn't find him in Mosque when they raided the premises.

ALSO READ:

IS holds involvement in Berlin truck attack that killed 12 people

Truck runs over the crowd in Christmas market at Berlin

Man gave a birth to baby in German
New Delhi:

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Friday addressed media on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

CPEC passes through sovereign Indian territory, we have expressed our concerns to China and Pakistan. We have never refused talks but Pakistan has to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Pakistan needs to stop supporting terror, said Vikas Swarup.

Earlier on Friday, Chinese official media said that China will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as supporting terrorism. They also suggested India to accept the olive branch extended by a top Pakistani military General to participate in the USD 46 billion economic corridor.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed a massive rally in Varanasi, his constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The rally was attended by about 26,000 BJP workers, whats even more surprising than this large number is Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought his own lunch because everyone was reportedly asked to bring their own tiffin.

PM Modi addressed thousands of BJP workers at a large ground in the temple city. The Prime Minister reportedly said he had also brought his own food, since I am a karyakarta (party worker) too.

ALSO READ: (PM in Varanasi: Note ban is a big cleanliness drive, says Modi | Top quotes)

Such equality is only possible in the BJP, the party tweeted on Thursday, along with photographs of the meeting.

PM Shri @narendramodi interacted & had lunch with more than 26,000 booth workers belonging to over 1700 booths in Varanasi today. pic.twitter.com/DmOB2Ykrfp  BJP (@BJP4India) December 22, 2016

This is PM Modis first visit since he announced demonetisation on November 8. Though many had brought lunch for PM Modi but he decided to pack his own.

During his rally, PM Modi reportedly urged party workers to propagate the positive impact of note ban and spread awareness about mobile banking. He also hit out at Congress and its Vice-President Rahul Gandhi who had accused PM Modi of corruption.

Everyone including PM Shri @narendramodi brought their own tiffins and had discussion over a meal. Such equality is possible only in BJP. pic.twitter.com/qGkwfiAtPM  BJP (@BJP4India) December 22, 2016

ALSO READ: (Kashi has received various projects worth Rs 2,100 crore, says PM Modi in Varanasi | Top highlights)

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Kolkata:

Days after a row erupted over the army drill at toll plazas in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday objected to the Centres move to deploy CRPF personnel for providing security to Income Tax officials during search operations in the state.



Banerjee demanded that the decision be immediately revoked.



Describing the decision as unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism, Banerjee shot off a one-page letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in which she said deployment of any central police force to any state can only be done at the request of the state government.



The decision must be immediately revoked, she demanded, adding, The state government and police forces would provide all necessary help and protection if so requested by any central government agency for any legitimate action on their part.



Stating that no communication in this regard has been received by the state government, Banerjee said, A copy of such instruction as reported in the media is enclosed.



Respective legislative and executive jurisdictions of the state governments and the central governments are clearly delineated in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and public order and police are within the domain of List II (state list), the letter said.



A copy of the letter has also been sent to all state chief ministers.



A row had erupted over the deployment of Army personnel at toll plazas in the state with Banerjee and the Centre trading charges.



Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also dashed off a stinging letter to Banerjee, saying her allegations against the army can adversely impact the morale of the force and the Trinamool Congress chief hit back over his wild assertion.

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Jammu:

BJP on Friday demanded an inquiry by a retired High Court Judge into the months-long unrest in the Valley, which it said was engineered across the border but executed by supporters of anti-national forces in the state.

With the situation largely under control now, it is right time for government to order an inquiry by a retired Judge of High Court to identify the forces responsible for causing the trouble and suggest measures to be taken to stop recurrence of such incidents, state BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi said.

Sethi said an example should be set to create deterrence by prosecuting those responsible for the violence and unrest.

The violence had begun following the death of a commander of Hizbul Mujahideen militant group - Burhan Wani - in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8. At least 86 people died and thousands, including 5,000 security personnel, were injured in more than five months of unrest.

BJP governs Jammu and Kashmir in alliance with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufli-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

And Sethi said the unrest was engineered by anti-national forces from across the border and their supporters in the state executed it, leading to destruction of public properties and death of scores of people.

It will take time for everything to return to (normal), and people to recover losses - monetary and psychological, he said. He said unless action is taken against people behind the unrest, reccurrence of such incidents cant be ruled out.

The role of political elements and the so-called social workers should also be put to scrutiny. Protecting life and property is the foremost duty of the government, he said.

He claimed that the demonetisation exercise launched on November 8 has broken the backbone of the troublemakers and separatists and spoiled their capacity to hire stone pelters.

The BJP leader welcomed the grant of Resident Certificates to West Pakistan Refugees, living in the state, saying the settlers were getting identity after a decades-long struggle.

The government of BJP and PDP has taken first step in doing justice to them what was long due and their birth right. Many more things are required to be done for their benefits within Constitution to address their demands and remove all troubles from their lives so that feeling of Nationals without Nation is taken away, he said.

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New Delhi:

Ten stations of the Delhi Metro will go "cashless" from January 1, 2017 letting commuters recharge smart cards and buy tokens using digital platforms.The decision has been taken to encourage people to embrace the Centre's vision of a cashless economy.

DMRC Chief Mangu Singh said people will have the option to pay through mobile wallets such as Paytm in this regard. "The cashless transactions for token and smart card purchase or top up at these stations can be done through Paytm by using QR-code, which will be displayed at token counters or customer care centre of these stations," Singh said.

However, initially, at least one counter will have the option of cash. The stations where the measure will be rolled out are Rohini East and Rohini West on Red Line; MG Road Station on Yellow Line; Mayur Vihar Phase-I, Nirman Vihar, Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri West, and Noida Sector-15 on Blue Line; and Nehru Place and Kailash Colony on Violet Line.

"These stations have 70 percent or more smart card users as a result of which cash transactions here are moderate in comparison to other stations and have adequate mobile connectivity as well," an official said. Refunds, if any, will also be done through Paytm accounts instead of cash and users will receive the refunded amount within four days in their e-wallet.
Valletta:

Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane on Friday and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone on board and surrendering to authorities, officials said.

Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter. Minutes later, he added: Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody.

Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala said the two hijackers were supporters of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi and had requested political asylum in Malta.

ALSO READ: (Live updates | Afriqiyah Airways plane hijack: All passengers, crew members released; hijackers surrendered and taken into custody)

Siala, from Libyas internationally backed Government of National Accord, said the hijackers have also said they want to set up a pro-Kadhafi political party. The plane landed at 11:32 am (1032 GMT) in Malta.

After more than an hour on the tarmac, the door of the Airbus A320 opened and a first group of women and children was seen descending a mobile staircase.

Dozens more passengers were released minutes later following negotiations that Maltese government sources said were led by the head of Maltas military.

In all, there were 111 passengers, including 28 women and a baby, on board, as well as seven crew members.

Maltese government sources had earlier said only a single hijacker was believed to be on the plane.

The aircraft had been on a domestic Libyan route operated by Afriqiyah Airways from Sabha in southern Libya to the capital Tripoli but was re-routed.

The Afriqiyah flight from Sabha to Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in Malta. Security services coordinating operations, Muscat tweeted earlier.

Muscat later spoke to Libyas prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the north African countrys fledgling unity government, the Maltese prime ministers office said.

The plane could be seen on the tarmac of a secondary runway surrounded by military vehicles. All flights in and out of the airport were initially either delayed or diverted to destinations in Italy, though some later took off and landed.

Malta International Airport said there had been an unlawful interference but operations had now resumed.

An Afriqiyah Airways source said the two hijackers had threatened the pilots with an explosive device, probably a grenade, forcing them to continue to Malta instead of landing at Tripolis Mitiga airport.

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion of the Islamic State group since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the countrys far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi. Only local airlinesbanned from European airspace operate in Libya, with flights to Tunis, Cairo, Amman, Istanbul and Khartoum.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Tata Motors said on Friday that it is likely to sign an agreement with the Indian Army for the sale of 3,192 Safari Storme SUVs after the Christmas holidays. The SUVS will replace the iconic Maruti Gypsy which has served the land forces for decades.We are now exchanging first draft of the contract. We hope that after the Christmas holidays we will be able to sign it, Vernon Noronha, Vice-President, Defence Business, Tata Motors Ltd, said.

He said the Army was looking for a vehicle with a hard top that runs on diesel and has climate control.Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra were the last two to be in the fray and when the envelope opened, we gave a better deal to the Army, he said adding that they have finished with the contract negotiation committee meetings.While the initial number of vehicles is just 3,192, the Army has over 35,000 gypsies to be replaced.

We have set our eyes firmly on that, Noronha said.The Tata Motors official added that if the Army wants any variants, the company will be happy to provide.Tata Motors is also eyeing the nearly Rs 70,000 crore project for future infantry combat vehicles (FICVs) for the Army.Two of the five private contenders in the fray, apart from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), will be selected for building the prototype.

The government will fund 80 per cent of the development cost. The best prototype will then be selected for mass production.The contenders are L&T, Mahindra, Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering and two consortium of Tata Motors-Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED-Titagarh Wagons.Once signed, this will be the second major order for Tata Motors this year.

They had got a Rs 1,300 crore deal in January to supply high-mobility military trucks for the Army.
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We knew the Kalalau Trail, the classic hike on Kauai's Na Pali Coast, could be treacherous. After all, the wettest place on on Earth is on Kauai. Add water and the Kalalau becomes the world's longest Slip 'N' Slide.

So we prepared accordingly. Trail runners with good tread for me. Hiking boots with good tread for her. Trekking poles for both of us.

Mud and gravity, do your worst. We were ready.

Although we got up early, the AV club beat us to the trailhead. A group of frat bros apparently planning to make a movie were gearing up with professional video cameras, stabilizer rigs and extra-long selfie sticks. Some packed Bluetooth speakers on their backs so they could share their taste in music with the world as they hiked.

Thankfully, Katy Perry and Dr. Dre kept the volume down as we climbed up.

That's the thing about Kauai. It's such a beautiful place that it's hard not to be in a good mood, even in the rain and ankle-deep mud. And happy travelers are usually respectful of others.

Kauai offers visitors an assortment of wonders to put a smile on your face. The guidebooks say there is no place on Earth like it, and that's no exaggeration.

But it's not cheap. You can spend several hundreds of dollars a night at many of the better resorts. The fancier restaurants rival San Francisco's in prices, but often not in quality.

If you want to take a helicopter tour of the island  billed as the best way to see the Na Pali Coast  expect to shell out $200 per hour and up. But there are dozens of places you can go for free where you can have Kauai almost to yourself.

For example, everyone visits the spectacular Waimea Canyon overlook, but relatively few hike the spur trails off the canyon.

Or Glass Beach in Hanapepe Bay. Probably because of its industrial surroundings, the beach was deserted before a couple of trinket hunters showed up.

There were a few people relaxing on sprawling Kekaha Beach on the western shore, but they were spread out by hundreds of yards. You could yell out to your nearest neighbors down the beach, and they wouldn't hear you.

I body-surfed alone in the warm water until a gang of teenage boogie boarders, fresh from school, arrived by pickup truck. They tumbled out and bolted to the surf to join the haole (white guy tourist) bobbing in the waves.

For lodging, we went the Home Away/ VRBO route and reserved rooms with kitchenettes or kitchen privileges at homes in Princeville in the north and Kalaheo in the southwest. Cooking meals instead of eating out every night is a good way to cut back on expenses.

On the other hand, don't expect many bargains at supermarkets. Like all of Hawaii, Kauai imports much of its food, which of course drives up prices. I grudgingly paid $7 for a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.

No wonder one of my SFGate colleagues, who often vacations in Kauai, always makes the Costco in Lihue his first stop after landing in Kauai.

Among the reviews (averaging 4-1/2 stars) at this Costco:

"Definitely bring your costco membership when you go to Kauai and are staying at a place with cooking facilities."

Not that you'll want to cook everything you eat, of course. You'd miss out treats like JoJo's in Waimea, which serves the best shave ice on the island.

While our first Home Away rental, in Princeville, was a unit adjacent to the host's quarters, our second stay was a room in a single-family home. We shared the kitchen with our host, a friendly, 60-something woman with her own landscaping business and lots of stories to share.

Two days before we were to leave the island, she told us that she had to leave the next morning for a two-week trip to Australia.

We assumed she wanted us to at least lock up and hide the key under one of her many planters, but she told us not to bother. A friend would stop over in a few days to check the place.

So she left her home in the hands of strangers, who in turn left it unlocked, while she went on vacation for two weeks on a continent 5,500 miles away.

No worries. That's Kauai for you.

For a tour of Hawaii's emerald isle, including some-off-the-beaten-path attractions, click on the above slideshow.
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BRIDGEPORT  Four high school seniors at Fairchild Wheeler Magnet School wont be traveling to space this March, but an experiment they created will.

A project entitled Microgravity's Effect on Immune System Response of Model Species: An Interaction between Daphnia magna and Pasteuria ramosa has been selected to be sent to the International Space Station.

The experiment was among 60 evaluated by a team of staff members from Fairchild Wheeler, the University of Bridgeport and the Connecticut Space Grant program. Three experiments were submitted to the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program which made the final selection.

The competition is conducted through formal submission of research proposalsjust like professional researchers.

The winning entry is aimed at improving the health of humans as the possibility of deep space exploration, and space residence, looms nearer.

Creators of the selected experiment include Jucar Lopes of Milford, Uchenna Oguagha of Bridgeport, Kiana Laude of Trumbull and Raysa Leguizamon of Bridgeport.

All are part of Fairchilds Aerospace/Hydrospace Engineering and Physical Sciences School. The project was part of their capstone research experience, a sequence of classes that asks students to identify a problem that exists in the real world and develop the means to address it.

Luke Fatsy, a biology and physics teacher at Fairchild, said the students behind the winning experiment, in essence, want to test the impact that being in space has on the human immune system.

The experiment substitutes water fleas for humans and looks at how well they can fight off a foreign invader  in this case a bacteria called Pasteuria romosa. On earth, water fleas can handle that bacteria pretty well. In space, against freeze dried samples of the bacteria? Time will tell.

Once the experiment is completed by astronauts on the space station, the water fleas will be returned to Earth to measure the protein levels in their blood.

Should there be a greater immune response in space to the bacteria than on Earth, it will help the students determine the extent of the impact microgravity has on the model species, giving insight to the potential impact on humans when they venture to space, Fasty said.

Laude said making the experiment was eye-opening.

It was intense, she said. We had to be flexible and deal with a lot of limitations.

Fairchild Wheelers participation in the program was funded in part by a Connecticut Space Grant Consortium. Besides UB, the Discovery Museum and Planetarium, was also a project partner.
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STAMFORD  It was less than 24 hours since she reunited with her estranged husband  moving into a Glenbrook apartment with him and their daughter  when Dionicia Bautista-Cano became scared for her life.

He says he is going to kill us both, she texted her ex-boyfriend in Spanish, according to an arrest warrant released Friday.

She exchanged a series of panicked text messages with the New Jersey man until the communication ended, court records show.

Thats when police say the dispute between Bautista-Cano and her estranged husband, Elmer Gomez Ruano, escalated into a physical fight inside their Courtland Avenue apartment while their daughter was apparently asleep, court records show.

Gomez Ruano told police he then smothered the 24-year-old woman with a wet towel until she died, according to a stunning confession revealed in his arrest warrant.

Gomez Ruano, 32, however, pleaded not guilty to murder and risk of injury to a minor Friday morning during his arraignment at state Superior Court in Stamford.

Police said Gomez Ruano abandoned his 6-year-old daughter at a busy Manhattan bus station hours after the crime on Nov. 14. The girl, who speaks mostly Spanish, led police to the Courtland Avenue apartment, where they found Bautista-Canos body inside a bedroom closet, authorities said.

The couples feud stemmed from an apparent love triangle, according to the arrest warrant.

Police said Bautista-Cano had been living with her daughter in New Jersey before reuniting with her husband on Nov. 13. The woman lived with a boyfriend for at least four months in Flemington, N.J., according to the arrest warrant.

The ex-boyfriend helped Bautista-Cano move by renting a truck and driving the woman and her daughter to Stamford, according to the arrest warrant.

Gomez Ruano, who worked as a dishwasher at a diner across the street from the Stamford Police Department, told investigators he was very upset that Bautista-Cano brought her ex-boyfriend to their new apartment, according to the warrant.

The confession took place after he was arrested at a New York City shelter on Nov. 18, according to the warrant. He was extradited to Connecticut this week and is being held on $900,000 bond.

Gomez Ruano said the couple invited several family members to the apartment on the moving day to help clean and set up the new home, according to the arrest warrant.

The couple got into an argument later that night, according to Gomez Ruanos account, and Bautista-Cano threatened to kill him or put him in jail, the warrant states.

Police said Gomez Ruano claimed his wife began texting her ex-boyfriend in front of him, the warrant said. She also showed him pictures of her with the other man and rings he had given her, according to the warrant.

The couple eventually began wrestling, Gomez Ruano told police, with Bautista-Cano at one point headbutting him and also slicing one of his left fingers with a knife, the warrant said. Police said Gomez Ruano had two lacerations to one of his fingers and bruises on his upper lip.

Gomez Ruano told police he then squeezed and clawed her throat, pressed his foot against her chest and smothered her with a wet towel for about half an hour until she stopped fighting, according to the warrant.

Defense attorney Darnell Crosland did not comment Friday on the content of the warrant, claiming had not seen his clients court file. He said Gomez Ruanos family is trying to gain custody of the child, whos been placed with a foster family through the state Department of Children and Families.

During the arraignment, Judge Auden Grogin placed a full protective order preventing the defendant from contacting his daughter. Gomez Ruano will not be allowed to contact the girl in person or electronically and has to stay at least 100 yards away from her.

Its not clear whether Gomez Ruanos family is likely to gain custody of the child, who may be the only witness to the murder. DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt declined to comment on the case, but said the agency typically gives priority to family members, as long as it is safe and appropriate.

Generally, we give a preference to placing children with relatives, because being placed in foster care is a traumatic experience, he said.

During the investigation, police said they interviewed the victims ex-boyfriend, who provided a cell phone video showing the woman crying the night she was killed. They also spoke to Gomez Ruanos brother, who claimed their father in Guatemala received a call from an unknown person on Nov. 14, saying Bautista-Cano was dead, according to the warrant.

Gomez Ruano and Bautista-Cano were married in 2008 in Guatemala.

Police also reviewed 136 text messages the woman exchanged with her ex-boyfriend moments before the crime on WhatsApp.

The messages indicated she regretted moving back with her husband, who she said was drunk and threatening her, according to the arrest warrant.

It was a mistake to leave, she said, according to the warrant. He told me that he loves me, but I told him that I did not, because I love you.

noliveira@hearstmediact.com, 203-964-2265, @olivnelson
Berlin attack suspect dead in Italy police shootout

Italy,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Rome, Dec 23 (IANS) The Berlin market attack suspect Anis Amri was shot dead by police on Friday in Milan, according to Italian officials.

Italy's Interior Minister Angelino Alfano is due to hold a news conference, the BBC reported.

Amri was approached by police during a routine patrol in the Sesto San Giovanni area of Milan at around 3 p.m., the officials said.

The fingerprints of the dead man match those of the Tunisian main suspect in the truck bombing in Berlin on Monday which killed 12 people.

--IANS

ksk/vm
Le Pen calls for end to borderless Schengen zone

France,Politics,Immigration/Law/Rights, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

Paris, Dec 23 (IANS/AKI) French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Friday urged an end to Europe's Schengen open borders accord after the suspect sought for the Berlin Christmas market attack was shot dead in Italy, where he is believed to have arrived by train from France.

"This escapade in at least two or three countries is symptomatic of the utter security catastrophe that is the Schengen agreement," said Le Pen, who leads France's anti-immigrant National Front party.

"I reiterate my pledge to give back France full control of its sovereignty, its national borders and to put an end to the consequences of the Schengen agreement," added Le Pen.

"The myth of freedom of movement in Europe to which my presidential election rivals are still clinging, must be buried."

Another leading Eurosceptic, anti-EU British politician Nigel Farage, the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) also said the Schengen zone must "go" if it was proven the man killed by police in Milan was the Berlin attacker.

"If the man shot in Milan is the Berlin killer, then the Schengen Area is proven to be a risk to public safety. It must go," Farage tweeted.

The Italian government said the man killed in a shoot-out with police on Milan's northern outskirts early on Friday was "without a shadow of a doubt" 24-year-old Tunisian fugitive Anis Amri.

Amri was suspected of driving a heavy truck into Berlin's busy Breitscheidplatz market on Monday, killing 12 people and injuring 53, 14 of them critically in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

German investigators said they identified Amri from an identity card in a wallet they found inside the Polish-registered truck and from fingerprints in its cab.

Amri had a train ticket in his backpack from from Chambery, south-eastern France, arriving in Milan at 1 a.m. He was shot at dead at 3 a.m. after pulling a gun on police when he was stopped and asked for ID.

He is believed to have taken a high-speed train from France to the northwest Italian city of Turin, from where he caught a local train to Milan. Police said they found no documents in his possession.

Milan's police chief said it was not yet known if the handgun Amri pulled on officers in Milan was the same one he allegedly used to shoot dead the hijacked truck's original driver in Berlin.

European Union's 31-year-old Schengen accord allows passport-free travel between continental EU states - except for newer members Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia - as well as Switzerland.

Some EU countries however re-introduced border checks last year amid the ongoing influx to Europe of migrants fleeing conflict and poverty and persecution in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

--IANS/AKI

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Indian child's custody in Norway: Government to represent mother

India,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Diaspora,Diplomacy, Fri, 23 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The Indian government will represent the mother of a five-year-old child in Norway who has been separated from his parents who have been accused of beating him up, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Friday.

"Father and son are Norwegian nationals. We will represent on request of the mother, who is an Indian national," Sushm Swaraj tweeted.

She said that she has received a report she had sought from the Indian Ambassador in Norway regarding the case.

According to reports, the child was taken from his kindergarten school on December 13 without the parents being informed and is being kept at a children's welfare home some 150 km away from Norwegian capital Oslo.

His mother, Gurvinderjit Kaur, was also taken into custody and was subjected to interrogation.

The child's father, Anil Kumar, who runs an Indian restaurant, has denied all the allegations and said that his son was asthmatic.

This is the third such case in Norway involving Indian children.

In 2011, a three-year-old and and a one-year-old were separated from their parents but were later reunited when the UPA government took up the issue with Norwegian authorities.

In another case of alleged child abuse in December 2012, a seven-year-old and a two-year-old were separated from their parents. The mother got a 15-month prison term and the father was jailed for 18 months.

The two children were sent to the custody of their grandparents in Hyderabad.

--IANS

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CALGARY, Dec. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - The 18th annual Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train raised more than spirits across North America this holiday season, with donations of $1.2 million and 250,000 pounds of food counted to this point.

As food banks continue to count the money raised and weigh the food donated at each stop this year, the program is on track to have raised more than C$13 million and four million pounds of food since its inception in 1999.

"With the need for food banks continually increasing in both Canada and the U.S., the importance of the CP Holiday Train program in the community is also increasing," said E. Hunter Harrison, CP's Chief Executive Officer. "Beyond food and monetary donations the CP Holiday Train generates goodwill, raises spirits and helps people start the holidays off on the right foot. We thank the communities across our network for supporting the program and giving back to their neighbours."

The 2016 CP Holiday Train was proud to feature a full Canadian musical line-up with multiple Canadian Country Music Award and Juno Award winners. The Canadian train featured Dallas Smith and Odds. On board the U.S. train, Kelly Prescott partnered with Doc Walker between Montreal and Windsor, Ont., and Colin James through the U.S. Midwest and Great Plains. Jonathan Roy anchored the Quebec shows.

The CP Holiday Train program is not the only way that CP gives back to food banks. CP also provides Food Banks Canada $250,000 worth of in-kind transportation services to support its National Food Sharing Service program. Since 2011 CP's contribution has helped transport more than 16 million pounds of food and household goods to food organizations across Canada.

"We are grateful for the in-kind support that CP provides to Food Banks Canada through transportation resources and the direct monetary donations it gives to communities through the Holiday Train program," said Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. "CP's history as a Food Banks Canada partner is a long and collaborative one and we look forward to the future."

The Capture the Spirit photo contest is now closed and winners have been chosen. Six winners will each be awarded a CP prize pack including a ride on the 2017 CP Holiday Train and a $1,000 donation to the food bank of their choice. Winners will be announced on the CP Holiday Train social media profiles.

Facebook /HolidayTrain

Twitter @CPHolidayTrain

Instagram @CPHolidayTrain

For additional information, photos, a route map and downloadable pictures of the two trains, visit http://www.cpr.ca/holiday-train

About the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

CP's annual Holiday Train program is a rolling fundraising event that travels across Canada and the United States raising money, food and awareness for food banks and hunger issues, hosting free holiday concerts along the way. Since 1999 the program has raised more than C$13 million and four million pounds of food. Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 rail cars decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED lights and a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers.

About Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP.

SOURCE Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

For further information: Media, Salem Woodrow (Canada), 403-319-7178, [email protected]; Andy Cummings (U.S.), 612-554-0850, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cpr.ca


UNICEF Survival Gifts are a great option as 23 per cent of Canadians admit to throwing out gifts

TORONTO, Dec. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - With the holiday's right around the corner, last-minute gift shoppers eager to find something special for their loved ones are running out of time. UNICEF Canada suggests avoiding the crowds and looking online to Survival Gifts, which make gift giving easy.

"With just one click, you can purchase a real gift that will have a real impact on vulnerable children around the world," said Deana Shaw, Vice President at UNICEF Canada. "It takes just a few minutes to buy a Survival Gift online, but the feeling your loved one will have knowing they are helping a child survive and thrive is lasting."

Every day, thousands of children around the world die from preventable causes. Survival Gifts are real, life-saving items shipped to children in 140 countries.

"When you purchase a UNICEF Survival Gift on behalf of a friend or loved one, you can send a personalized e-card or print off a PDF card that celebrates the good their gift is doing, while a vulnerable child or family receives the actual items," said Shaw.

Last year, Canadians purchased more than 10 million Survival Gift items. Through their gifts of Bed Nets alone, Canadians helped protect nearly 5,000 vulnerable children and families from deadly mosquito bites.

Top five last-minute holiday gifts that give back

For Canadians looking for a convenient way to make a difference this holiday season, UNICEF Canada recommends these five life-saving gifts:

1) Backpacks: "A set of backpacks is a great way to give children a sense of pride and support improved learning," said Shaw. "They're sturdy and perfect to carry school supplies to keep children organized for successful learning." A set of four backpacks is $14.

2) Bed Nets: "Malaria accounts for one in 10 child deaths in Africa," said Shaw. "An insecticide-treated mosquito net is a simple and effective way to protect and save young lives." A set of three bed nets is $10.

3) Plumpy'Nut: "You can boost a malnourished child's chance of survival with Plumpy'Nut, a therapeutic, peanut-based food," said Shaw. "Three packets a day can help an undernourished child gain up to two pounds in one week, promoting health and well-being." A 21 pack is $12.

4) Restock an entire emergency medical centre: "During emergencies, UNICEF is among the first on the ground to help," said Shaw. "When an emergency strikes, this gift will provide medical supplies to immediately help save children's lives." $50 restocks one centre.

5) Vaccine Pack: "Immunizations are a safe and effective method of protecting children against deadly diseases, ensuring they have a chance to grow up," said Shaw. "A vaccine pack will guard against life-threatening illnesses such as tetanus, measles and polio for 61 children." One pack is $44.

Canadians admit to tossing out gifts

According to a recent Ipsos survey, 23 per cent of Canadians say they usually end up throwing out some of the holiday gifts they receive each year. Three in four Canadians say that many of the people they buy for don't actually need anything.

"Why waste money on gifts that people may not like and probably don't need, when you can give them something that is almost priceless?" said Shaw. "With one click of the mouse, you can not only avoid the mayhem of holiday shopping and parking, but you can give a child a fair shot at life and make your loved one feel good about helping someone else this holiday season."

The UNICEF Survival Gifts online store is open 24 hours a day and features more than 65 life-saving items for quick sale.

About Survival Gifts

Survival Gifts are real gifts with real impact for children and families around the world. They are delivered year round to reach the most vulnerable children. When you purchase a UNICEF Survival Gift on behalf of a friend or loved one, the recipient receives a card or e-card that celebrates the good their gift is doing, while a vulnerable child or family receives the actual items. Real items come from the UNICEF warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark - the world's largest humanitarian warehouse. The gifts are sent to more than 140 developing countries where UNICEF is working with children, families and communities. For more information or to purchase UNICEF Survival Gifts, please visit www.survivalgifts.ca.

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

For further information: To arrange interviews or for more information please contact: Stefanie Carmichael, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8866, 437-345-6324 (mobile), [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.unicef.ca


Paladino.jpg

Carl Paladino speaks before a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at JetSmart Aviation Services on Sunday, April 10, 2016, in Rochester, N.Y. (Mike Groll | AP Photo)

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- Carl Paladino told a Buffalo art magazine that his 2017 wish list included President Barack Obama dying of 'Mad Cow' disease and Michelle Obama to 'return to being a male' and live with a gorilla.

The former New York gubernatorial candidate gave those answers to Artvoice, a Western New York magazine, that asked prominent Western New Yorkers about their wishes for the new year.

"Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford," Paladino told the newspaper about his wishes. "He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to (Obama adviser) Valerie Jarret (sic), who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her."

As for what he would like to see go away in 2017, Paladino said:

"Michelle Obama. I'd like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla."

Paladino was an early supporter of President-Elect Donald Trump's campaign and was the co-chair for his campaign in New York. He ran as the Republican nominee for governor in 2010. He's also a Buffalo school board member and businessman.

His comments prompted a quick backlash from the Erie County executive, Mark Poloncarz, and the Buffalo Parent-Teacher Organization quickly called for his removal from the school board, according to the Buffalo News.

(2 of 2) The statements are so incredulous. If they were made by him there can be no room in our civil discourse for such hate and anger.  Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) December 23, 2016

The Buffalo News also reached Paladino, who confirmed he made the comments.

Carl Paladino on making Artvoice comments: "Of course I did... Yeah I'm not politically correct. They asked what I want and I told them."  Tiffany Lankes (@TiffanyLankes) December 23, 2016

Paladino, in a news release Friday afternoon, said his comments had nothing do with race. He said his comments were an attempt at "deprecating humor" that were a criticism of the Obamas' performance and policies over the last eight years.

Earlier this week, Paladino publicly called for Trump's portraits to be hung in Buffalo public schools.


The Nigerian Army has urged the public to be vigilant as remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists are fleeing to different parts of the count...





The Nigerian Army has urged the public to be vigilant as remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists are fleeing to different parts of the country and elsewhere following the ongoing final clearance of their hideouts in Sambisa forest.A statement by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. -Gen. Sani Usman on Thursday, therefore, advised members of the public, especially residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, to be extra vigilant, security conscious of strange movements or persons in the society.The public are also please requested to report any suspicious person or group of persons to the security agencies for prompt action.We wish to reiterate our commitment of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in all their suspected hideouts by the end of this year. We therefore solicit for more public support and cooperation to achieve that.Recently, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai charged soldiers to finish off Boko Haram remnants on time to enable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) return to their homes.The army chief gave the charge when he visited troops of the 81 battalion in Damboa Local Government Area in Borno state.Buratai who reiterated the determination of the army towards enhancing the welfare of troops, said rotation of soldiers would take place after every six months of deployment.I am sure you have read and heard the message I sent across. If you are aware of it then we must work to get out of this place. We must work to get out of this operation very quickly. We must defeat Boko Haram.I was in one of the barracks and many of the troops were already there and I have assured your families that many of you will go back next Year. 81 battalion is my unit too when I was a lieutenant Colonel This unit has seen it all. You fought along with the Cameroonian troops in this battle which means you are better placed to deal with this criminals.We must continue with the aggressive actions, patrol and ambush. You must move into all the hideouts of these criminals and fish them out. Some of your colleagues in Sambisa Forest are dealing with them properly.You are better equipped, better motivated and mobile.The army has provided you with better equipment to fish Boko Haram out and deal with them completely.I wish to commend your effort and I urge you all to maintain the momentum and keep it high. Nigerians are proud of you. President Muhammadu Buhari the Commander in Chief is also pleased with you, he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, stayed away from the maiden South-East Economic and Security Summit in Enugu, about 48 hours afte...

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, stayed away from the maiden South-East Economic and Security Summit in Enugu, about 48 hours after some pro-Biafra agitators warned him not to set foot on Igbo land.Buhari was to be the chief guest of honour at the summit, which held in the Enugu State Government House, according to the programme of the event.Although the President was expected at the event  as suggested by several speakers who spoke during the programme, he neither showed up nor was he represented.Also, ministers from the South-East, who were slated to make presentations at the event, all stayed away.A pro-Biafran group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, had, in the build-up to the summit, issued a statement, warning Buhari to stay away from the South-East  in his own interest.IPOB, whose leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is being held by the Federal Government, accused Buhari of persecution, and threatened a breakdown of law and order should the President attend the summit.Although no mention of the IPOB warning was made throughout the opening session of the summit, Buharis absence was a major talking point as several speakers expressed surprise at the development.Present at the ceremony, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a presentation on Sustainable development: Zero hunger, said the South-East could become the food basket of the country if the various states collaborated to develop agriculture.He also canvassed cooperation among the governors in the region on other developmental issues.Obasanjo said, We have a challenge of youth unrest which is understandable because these are young people who have education without employment, and skills without production. So, you should expect some agitation from them.We cannot leave these children. We must take responsibility.Chairman of the South-East Security and Economic Summit, Prof. Barth Nnaji, who is a former minister of power, observed in his opening remarks, We have not seen the President.In his address, Nnaji thanked the Enugu State Government for undertaking to sponsor some aspects of the Presidents visit.Also, at the beginning of his address, the chairman of the event, a former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, drew attention to Buharis absence.I was going to start by saluting the representative of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but I have not been told of such a person, the retired diplomat said.Anyaoku went further to express regrets that Buhari was not present at the event.Rounding off his address with a call for the restructuring of the country, he said, I had hoped that Mr. President would be here to hear me.Like Cato, the Roman senator who always ended his speeches by calling for the destruction of Carthage until his call was heeded, I will restate my assertion that if the Nigerian federation is restructured to have less federating units, this country will achieve greater stability and faster pace of development, and there will no longer be a need for the Federal Government to bailout many of the non-viable 36 states.Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, observed that the programme printed by the organisers of the summit did not include his photograph and also did not list him among those to speak at the event.Ekweremadu also spoke on the need to restructure the country, stressing that the current system was not working.In separate presentations, the governors of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states, and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, drew attention to challenges and opportunities in their various areas.They also spoke of the need to work together to develop the South-East.Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, did not attend the summit, and was also not represented.Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, urged the Federal Government to address the various challenges besetting the South-East, including the bad state of federal roads, the menace posed by herdsmen and the need to upgrade the runway and other infrastructure at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme was among the dignitaries at the summit.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday condemned the appointment of the governor of Nigerias central bank as leader of th...

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday condemned the appointment of the governor of Nigerias central bank as leader of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILMC).In a statement by CANs president, Samson Ayokunle, the association described the appointment of Godwin Emefiele as the IILMC chairman, as unconstitutional and totally unacceptable.According to CAN, the governments decision to accept the appointment amounted to denouncing Nigeria as a secular state, in negation of section 10 of the 1999 constitution.There have been reports that the IILMC recently appointed the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele as its Chairman during its 17th Governing Board meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.Section 10 states that The Government of the Federation or a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion. This action by Nigerias government is in clear negation of the constitution, especially this section, the statement said.The association re-emphasised its earlier allegation that the Nigerian government plans to make the country an Islamic state.What is Nigeria doing in Islamic and Shariah compliant organization? Who authorized the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to join this organization? What provision of our constitution supports our membership of a religious association as a secular state?When did the National Assembly pass the law to do away with our secular status? When did our Constitution change to allow this alliance that seems to portray Nigeria as Islamic? Is the National Assembly aware of all the treaties regarding these Islamic organizations to which Nigeria is now a member?Do we need to repeat our concern that almost all the heads of security paramilitary agencies in Nigeria today are Muslims as if Christians have become second class citizens or rather lack competent officers to in charge! Has Nigeria become an Islamic state?, CAN queried.CAN said the situation goes against the plans of Nigerias founding fathers, adding that the associations concerns do not imply that it has any thing against Nigerian Muslims.This is not the Nigeria dreamt of by our founding fathers and it is high time the government woke up to its constitutional responsibilities.Christians have equal rights with our Muslim counterparts since the 1999 Constitution recognizes the multiplicity of religions and we will no longer pretend as if all is well with Nigeria.Let it be stressed here that we love our Muslim brothers and sisters in this nation and we are aware that we cannot do without one another.However, we need to drum it loud to the ears of this present administration to always consider our plural state in terms of ethnicity and religion and ensure balance not only on the issue of appointments but on other issues which would continue to portray the government as being partisan towards one particular religion.Mr. Emefiele was appointed leader of the IILMC on December 15 in Jakarta, Indonesia.As stated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, on its website, IILMC is an international institution established by central banks monetary authorities and multilateral organizations to create and issue short-term Shariah-compliant financial instruments to facilitate effective cross-border Islamic liquidity management. By creating more liquid Shariah-compliant financial markets for institutions offering Islamic financial services (IIFS), the IILMC aims to enhance cross-border investment flows, international linkages and financial stability.The bodys major mandates include developing a robust Islamic liquidity management as a catalyst for cross-border financial linkages and facilitating effective cross-border liquidity management instruments for institutions that offers Islamic financial series.The organisation is also charged with the responsibility of enabling a future global finance industry with greater connectivity, stability and sophistication.
Commercial bank customers on Friday decried lack of money in many Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) within the Federal Capital Territory (F...

Commercial bank customers on Friday decried lack of money in many Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).A News Agency of Nigeria correspondent, who visited some banks in the city, also observed long queues in most of the banks.Some of the banks visited were: United Bank for Africa (UBA), First Bank of Nigeria Plc (FBN), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Area 3; Ecobank, Gwarinpa and Zenith Bank in Dutse.Other banks visited were: Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling Bank, First City Monument Bank and Access Bank, all in Garki.A customer at the First Bank, Area 3, Mrs Esther Uche, said she had been waiting under the sun for more than 20 minutes and had not been able to withdraw her money.Uche said, The bank management is aware of the usual chaos during every festivity and ought to have made adequate provision, especially regarding availability of funds in ATMs.A customer at the GTB, Mr Gabriel Okwoche, said that it was unfortunate that the banks had not been meeting customers demands.Okwoche said he did not expect the queue at the bank, as many Nigerians were complaining the economy was bad and no money in circulation.At the UBA, a customer, Miss Joy Edoh, told NAN that she had been to about four banks ATMS in Garki; and that there was no money in the machines.Edoh said at the Access Bank in Garki, she and other customers waited for 30minutes and when it got to her turn, the machine stopped dispensing cash.I am happy that the UBA ATMs are all working and I am sure to get money in the next five minutes, she said.At the Union Bank, it was observed that no customer was seen at the ATM, as it was not dispensing cash.Meanwhile, a visit to Diamond Bank, showed that many customers were seen in the banking hall and there was a long queue of customers at the ATM.There were long queues at the Ecobank ATM in Gwarinpa, with some already frustrated customers leaving the bank premises.A customer, Mr John Johnson, said the management of the various banks and CBN should do something about the queues at the banks.Today is 23 and we have all the remaining days of the holiday to contend with and we are already experiencing insufficient funds.I wonder what we will face during the holidays. I implore the management of all the banks to ensure that the ATMs are loaded with cash.If this is not done, customers are bound to suffer during this Christmas celebration, Johnson said.Another customer at Ecobank, Mr Emmanuel Adejo, said he was at the banks head office in Wuse 2 but could not withdraw.According to Adejo, a bank official said the bank had insufficient funds as CBN did not release money to the bank.A customer at Zenith Bank in Dutse, Miss Talatu Abraham, said she was impressed that most ATMs at the bank were dispensing cash.Abraham said that the bank was the only bank within the Dutse Alhaji axis and was always crowded due to that fact (dispensing).She commended the bank for ensuring most if its ATMs were dispensing money to customers.Most officials of banks asked about efforts being made to ensure sufficient funds for customers during the festivity refused to comment.
CAMDEN -- The 18-year-old man who allegedly shot and killed an 8-year-old girl in August with a stray bullet was indicted on murder charges Thursday.

Gabrielle Hill-Carter (file photo)

Tyhan Brown of Camden, was allegedly shooting at another man when one of his bullets struck Gabrielle "Gabby" Hill-Carter in the head, officials have said. Gabby was riding her bicycle in front of her home in Camden when the shooting erupted and she was shot.

In addition to Brown's indictment, the Camden County Grand Jury also indicted his mother, 35-year-old Shakia Land, of Camden, and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Natasha Gerald, of Sicklerville, on charges of hindering apprehension. Land was also indicted on a charge of providing false information to detectives during the investigation.

The shooting occurred on Aug. 24 around 8:30 p.m. on the 900 block of South 8th Street. Authorities took Gabby to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where she died on Aug. 26. As the shooting was under investigation, there was a $76,000 cash reward for information leading to the gunman's arrest.

U.S. Marshals arrested Brown on Sept. 23 at a relative's home in Clarksville, Tennessee and he was extradited to New Jersey in October. Land and Gerald allegedly covered for Brown as he fled down south.

Tyhan Brown (file photo)

While he was in Tennessee, he was incarcerated from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7 for violating his parole for a New Jersey juvenile conviction.

Gabby's organs were donated, including a liver that went to a family member. Her brother, born after her death, was named King Gabriel in honor of his sister.

Brown was indicted on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and two weapons offenses.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
CAMDEN -- A Trenton man convicted of pimping out four women was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in state prison, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

A Camden County jury found Brian Moore, 47, guilty in October of five counts of first-degree human trafficking and six counts of third-degree promoting prostitution. The four women he forced into prostitution testified against him during the trial.

Camden County Superior Court Judge Gwendolyn Blue sentenced Moore Wednesday to 20 years without parole and a $25,000 fine. Authorities arrested Moore in March 2014 as the result of an undercover operation by the Cherry Hill Police Department and investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit.

Moore became the target of the operation when he was seen dropping women off at a local hotel and then picking them up at a later time, police have said. An investigation showed that Moore forced the women into prostitution through threats of violence and daily trips to Camden to purchase narcotics, according to the prosecutor's office.

Moore recruited the women in Camden and then posted photos of them in lingerie on Backpage.com. Moore drove the women around South Jersey, where they engaged in sexual acts several times a day in exchange for money, according to testimony.

The women supplied Moore with thousands of dollars a week, which he held for himself in several bank accounts and used it to buy electronic equipment and two vehicles, the investigation revealed.

Police encountered the first of Moore's women when she solicited an undercover detective and was arrested. The woman identified two more victims in the human trafficking and a fourth came forward after the case was publicized.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
COMMERCIAL TWP. -- Emily O'Shea traveled from Tennessee to New Jersey for the worst reason imaginable, her daughter was dead.

Tara O'Shea-Watson died Monday after being found unresponsive at her Raymond Drive residence in the Laurel Lake section of Commercial Township. Her estranged husband, who friends and family say abused her for years, was charged with her death and has been on the run ever since.

As Emily O'Shea stands on Raymond Drive Thursday night, surrounded by people hurting from the loss of Tara O'Shea-Watson, she speaks to the crowd about domestic violence.

Bryan Dunn speaks at a vigil for his cousin Tara O'Shea-Watson on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. O'Shea-Watson was killed on Dec. 19 and her estranged husband was charged with her murder. (Don E. Woods | For NJ.com)

"How many of you truthfully, truthfully, at one time in your life was a victim?" she asks.

More than a dozen hands shoot up and women yell in the affirmative that they were victims of domestic violence.

As she speaks to the crowd, Emily O'Shea picks up a little girl in a purple jacket -- purple being the color of domestic violence awareness -- and pleads to the crowd.

"Do we want a child like this with a black eye?" she asks.

No, the crowd responds.

"Do we want her with a busted lip?"

No, the crowd responds.

"Do we want her with a broken face? How about a broken heart?"

No, the crowd responds.

"We want her to grow up healthy?"

Yes, the crowd responds.

"It takes a community to raise our children. It takes a community to protect our children. Protect our children. You're a special little girl because you're going to grow up to be a princess," she said setting the girl down. "Just like you, just like you, just like you," she said pointing to the other girls at the front of the crowd.

"Don't forget, this is what happens with domestic violence," Emily O'Shea said.

Tara O'Shea-Watson, 35, had two children with 32-year-old Jeremiah Monell. According to friends, she was attempting to leave him and take her kids to Tennessee -- having recently gotten a restraining order.

New Jersey State Police charged Monell with the killing and launched a manhunt for him Monday -- focusing part of their search in a wooded area in the Cedarville section of Lawrence Township where his truck was found ditched by a railroad track.

According to Bryan Dunn, cousin to Tara O'Shea-Watson, he doesn't want to see Monell killed. He wants to see him handcuffed to face justice.

"We're all out here standing out in the cold, it's almost Christmas, and my cousin is gone," Dunn said. "I might not be the right one to preach to you guys, I know I've done wrong, but I can admit to what I've gone wrong. This isn't a crime of passion it's a crime of evil."

Members of the vigil softly said amen at the utterance of evil.

ON THE RUN & WANTED FOR MURDER Jeremiah Monell, 32, of Commercial Twp. Additonal pics of suspect and truck. RETWEET! https://t.co/B3IgarIzrd pic.twitter.com/TRf4ULqAXQ  NJSP - State Police (@NJSP) December 20, 2016

Emily O'Shea urged the people at the vigil to help those that are victims of domestic violence and for victims of domestic violence to seek help in order to avoid what happened to Tara O'Shea-Watson.

"It didn't need to happen," Emily O'Shea said. "People knew what was going on. The police department knew what was going on. The court system knew it was going on. Why? There's no sense in it."

Monell has been charged him with murder and weapons charges. Once arrested, he will be held in jail on $1 million bail, officials said. He is 5-foot-9-inches tall and approximately 140 pounds.

Anyone with information about Monell's whereabouts is asked to contact New Jersey State Police Port Norris Station by calling 856-785-0036. Anonymous tips are accepted.

Friends of the family set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the funeral.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
TRENTON -- An enthusiastic testing "opt-out" movement, fueled in part by the state's largest teachers union, cost New Jersey taxpayers more than $1 million in 2015, according to the state Department of Education.

New Jersey paid testing giant Pearson $1.4 million for tests not taken in the first year of the PARCC exams because it overestimated the number of students who would take the math and English tests by nearly 60,000 students, state auditor Stephen Ells found in a report released this week.

The education department said in a written response to the audit that the estimated number of students taking PARCC was based on previous years of testing. It attributed the million-dollar mishap largely to parents who held their children out of testing.

"An unforeseeable number of parent refusals reduced the number of test-takers, accounting for the disparity in the estimated number of tests and the number of tests actually taken," Assistant Education Commissioner Karin Garver wrote to Ells.

Because New Jersey's estimate was not within 2 percent of the actual number of students who took the tests, it was contractually obligated to pay for the number of tests it originally ordered, according to the department's response to the audit report.

PARCC tests were supposed to cost New Jersey about $25.50 per student, the Department of Education said in 2015. The state paid Pearson a total of $20.8 million for the first year of tests for grades 3-11, called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exams.

In the months leading up the computerized exams, parent groups and the state's largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, sharply criticized the PARCC tests as unproven, overly confusing and unduly time consuming. The NJEA waged an expensive advertising campaign that included television spots featuring parents nearly in tears over standardized testing.

Though the state never released an official tally of students who opted out of testing, data shows that more than 130,000 students did not participate in the exams. The majority of those students were likely opting out but some also missed testing for other reasons, according to the state.

Steve Baker, spokesman for the NJEA, said teachers who opposed PARCC and parents who refused to allow their children to take the tests are "absolutely not" responsible for the $1.4 million.

"If the Department of Education had spent more time listening to parents and less time insisting that parents love PARCC, they might have been able to save that money," Baker said.

The audit report suggests stronger oversight of the PARCC contract.

It also calls for stronger background checks of Department of Education employees who visit schools and enhanced oversight of the daily work schedules of department staff.

Currently, state staff who visit schools are not subject to the same background checks as school employees. The department currently requires all employees to work seven hour days but has no limitations on when those hours must be worked, the audit found.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- A commercial airline pilot previously designated as "low-risk" under a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program admitted in federal court Thursday to smuggling more than $195,000 in cash into the United States.

Federal prosecutors say airline pilot Anthony Warner was caught trying to smuggle more than $195,000 in cash past customs at Newark International Airport this January. (U.S. Department of Justice file photo)

Anthony Warner, 55, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Newark to a charge of bulk cash smuggling under an agreement with prosecutors, according the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say Warner, of Dallas, Texas, was a participant in Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program intended to speed up the process of entry into the country for low-risk, pre-approved travelers.

But the Global Entry terminal at Newark International Airport wasn't functioning when he arrived on Jan. 10, according to prosecutors, so Warner instead presented his customs declaration to a CBP officer.

Inside a laptop bag, customs officers found $195,736 in U.S. bills wrapped in newspaper, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say Warner, who was arrested by agents from Homeland Security Investigations, also had 10 rings, four sets of earrings and various jewelry of undetermined value.

Warner, who is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2017, faces up to five years in federal prison and forfeiture of the seized property, according to prosecutors.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, whose narcotics units prosecuted the case, did not identify the origin of the seized funds.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
SOUTH ORANGE-- A former rabbi at Congregation Beth El is among the Jews in a Montana community that have been subject to an online anti-Semitic campaign spearheaded by a white supremacist website, New Jersey Jewish News reported.

Francine Green Roston (via Facebook)

Francine Green Roston, who moved to Whitefish, Mt., with her family in 2014, belongs to Love Lives Here, a local anti-discrimination group, and has also spoken out against the effort by the white supremacist Daily Stormer.

The website is urging its members to target Jewish residents of the town of 6,000 after the mother of Richard Spencer, a prominent member of the alt-right, said her business has been hurt by her son's activities.

Spencer was caught on video leading a group in a Nazi-style salute during a meeting last month in Washington, D.C. Spencer's group, The National Policy Institute, was celebrating the election of Donald Trump.

The Daily Stormer is urging its readers to refrain from making threats but has published the names and phone numbers of Jewish residents and is encouraging readers to send anti-Semitic messages.

"He's not powerful," Roston said of Spencer during a recent CNN interview. "He's just spreading a message of hatred. And we have to keep calling that out, and showing that that is not representative of this country, certainly not representative of this community."

Elected officials in Whitefish and elsewhere in Montana have strongly denounced the Daily Stormer campaign.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- The Hudson County jail inmate who authorities say punched a corrections officer in the head on Sunday was identified today as a recently convicted killer.

Flanked by two officers, Jim Hendrix, 20, appeared in Central Judicial Processing in Jersey City via a video link from the jail in Kearny on the charge of aggravated assault.

The Jersey City man is accused of punching a corrections officer "in the face with a closed fist, resulting in (the officer) falling and hitting his head on the ground," according to a criminal complaint.

During a brief hearing today, CJP Judge Ramy Eid informed Hendrix that his bail on the assault charge would be set at a later time by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mark Nelson.

Just two months ago, Hendrix pleaded guilty to fatally shooting 21-year-old Dyrell Taylor in 2014. He grinned at the victim's family after entering his plea, The Jersey Journal reported at the time.

Hendrix was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the case.

While in jail awaiting trial on the murder charge, he was also implicated in the rape of a 15-year-old girl based on a DNA match, officials said. Authorities said that incident occurred Sept. 11, 2014, just slightly more than a month before the Taylor's death.

Hendrix was originally charged with aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse in that case, but later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

The Duncan Avenue man had been facing up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 13. It wasn't immediately clear how the new assault charge would alter or delay his sentencing on his recent convictions.

Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY - Bags upon bags of Christmas gifts were loaded onto police vans and pickup trucks on Grace Avenue today while volunteers prepared to deliver them to less fortunate children all over the city.

Police officers, members of the community, and those involved in the Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago Foundation - an organization founded to honor the memory of the slain Jersey City police officer - coordinated destinations for hundreds of gifts bound for various parts of the city.

"Instead of giving a child one toy we tried to give them a bag (of toys) as if Santa came to their house, because sometimes this is all they get," Santiago's mother, Cathy McBride said as she helped check addresses and names on the bags of presents. "We want to try to make them happy, and if Mel were here he'd be doing this too."

Santiago, 23, was killed in the early morning hours of July 13, 2014 while responding to the report of an armed robbery at the Walgreens on Communipaw Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard. The gunman was killed by police at the scene. Santiago had only been on the job for six months.

This is the first Christmas Drive the Detective Melvin Santiago Foundation has organized. Friends of the organization spent most of this week packaging and organizing presents for children - most of which were donated, but some that were paid for out-of-pocket by those involved with the foundation.

The majority of the donations came from the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association, McBride said.

Police vans and pickup trucks packed with gifts headed to the Divine Purpose Church and gave out toys to 120 foster children and kids with disabilities. They also made their way to other parts of the city, including Greenville to give gifts to families and kids.

Santa came along for the ride as well.

Officer Adrien Murrell, a school resource officer with the Jersey City Police Department, helped pick out children from broken homes who would be most in need.

"It's the little things that count; just being able to give back to the kids and the community, especially to those in broken homes," Murrell said.

The Foundation, which recently held a food drive for Thanksgiving, plans on making the Christmas Drive an annual tradition as a way to bring the community together.

"Our whole purpose is to try and bring the community and the police together, because that's what Melvin's goal was," McBride said. "He wanted to show police weren't the bad guys and to work with the communities - so we thought Christmas was the best thing."
JERSEY CITY -- Darryl Williams' family had a short, but stern message for Mark Browne today in court.

"Rot in hell forever," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Mike D'Andrea said, relaying the heartbroken family's message to Browne. "You killed my son, you killed my brother."

Browne was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the grisly homicide of Williams, who was beaten, tortured and then dumped in North Bergen under a mattress weighted down by cinder blocks in 2012.

"It is probably, in my years as an attorney and a judge, the most horrific conduct I have ever seen put on another human being," Hudson County Superior Court John Young said to Browne, 46, of Newark.

During an assault inside a Newark apartment, Williams was gagged, taped, hooded, bound with electrical cord and other items, and shot with a BB gun. He was also beaten with a table leg, struck with an object that left gashes and puncture wounds all over his body and somehow he remained alive, Young said.

Young added that Williams was thrown in the back of a vehicle, and "driven in the dead of night in temperatures below freezing to an isolated area, removed from the vehicle, thrown on the ground (on Dec. 1, 2012), covered with a mattress and then had cinder blocks thrown on him -- all while he was alive," Young said.

"He somehow manages to get out of under that, get himself upright and get within feet of the roadway before he succumbed," Young said. "He was tortured, it's plain and simple... It went on for hours."

The jury found Browne guilty of reckless manslaughter, but not guilty of murder or aggravated manslaughter. He faced five to 10 years for the reckless manslaughter conviction, but his criminal background made him eligible for an extended sentence of 10 to 20 years.

Browne was one of six people arrested and charged in connection to the fatal attack. Daeshawn Jennings was sentenced to 18 years in state prison for aggravated manslaughter, while Kathleen Jones was sentenced to 12 years in prison in July after pleading guilty to the same charges.

Also charged in Williams' death are Qudeera Adams, Nydia Mozee, and Latoya Mozee, all of Newark. Latoya Mozee pleaded guilty to endangering an injured victim, and Nydia Mozee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, according to the transcripts of the plea hearings. At the time of Browne's conviction, Adams was awaiting trial.

In his rambling statement during today's hearing, Browne did say that "I turned my head. I should have done more."

Brown has been in jail for 1,182 days. He was arrested in Virginia where they found his Cadillac Escalade had been wiped down with bleach. However, the victim's DNA was still found inside.

At trial, jurors were shown video of the vehicle believed to have been used to dump Williams in North Bergen, as well as video footage of Browne buying cleaning products at a supermarket afterward.
NORTH BERGEN -- Officials are continuing to investigate what caused a massive five-alarm fire at a Kennedy Boulevard furniture store Wednesday morning.

The blaze raged for hours at Kennedy Furniture near 13th Street, sending flames and heavy smoke in the air to be seen from miles.

North Bergen spokesman Philip Swibinski said that as of Thursday afternoon the blaze was "pretty definitely" ruled accidental, but fire officials continue to investigate work being done by contractors on the roof.

The workers were believed to be using fire torches on the morning of the blaze, Swibinski said.

Fire inspectors have not yet been able to determine whether the contractors had the requisite permits needed to perform the work, Swibinski said.

Four firefighters were injured battling the blaze, North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Montagne said. The remaining frame of the building is in the process of being demolished.

Residents in the area described a calm neighborhood before the fire broke out. Within minutes, heavy smoke and the smell of burning furniture filled the air.

"You could feel the heat from up the street," said one man. "I've never seen flames like that before in my life. You couldn't even see in front of yourself."

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit recently welcomed a new Director of Education & Community Engagement, Sarah Walko.

"I'm looking forward to inviting many different disciplines into the public programming for the Art Center, said Walko. "I think this allows for an enriched experience. VACNJ is a visual arts organization but when it comes to accessing the work, creating multiple entry points allows each individual to choose a unique personal connection in a way that interests them most, which enhances learning."

Prior to joining the Art Center, Walko served as the Director of Arts Programming for the Marble House Project, a new artist in residency program located in Dorset, Vermont. Walko was responsible for working with the founders on developing the project from the ground up, which included converting a residential estate to a working creative space for residents and public events and implementing a robust schedule of public programs.

Walko formerly served as the Executive Director of Triangle Arts Association, a non-profit arts organization in Brooklyn, New York where she led a year round residency program, international artist workshops and numerous public and private events and exhibitions.

Walko has also curated for several institutions and non-profits as well as independent projects. She is a contributing writer to Hyperallergic, Drain Magazine of Contemporary Art and Culture, and Eyes Towards the Dove. She holds an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a BA from the University of Maryland. She recently relocated to Summit from Brooklyn, New York.



Support

Major support for the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the WJS Foundation, the Wilf Family Foundations and Art Center members and donors.

About the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

For more than 80 years, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has been dedicated to viewing, making and learning about contemporary art. Recognized as a leading non-profit arts organization and accredited by the American Alliance for Museums, the Art Center's renowned studio school, acclaimed exhibitions, and educational outreach initiatives serve thousands of youth, families, seniors and people with special needs every year.

This item was submitted by Anne Miranda.
The holders of five lucky tickets will split the largest Jersey Cash 5 jackpot in more than two years.

Two of the five winning jackpot tickets for Thursday's $1,459,985 drawing were sold at the same Morris County store -- a Quick Chek on Bevewyck Road in the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany, state lottery officials said Friday morning.

Thursday's winning numbers were 4, 13, 17, 32 and 43.

The other three winning tickets were bought at the following stores: Wine & Spirit Liquor Warehouse on First Street in Newark; Quick Chek on Route 31 north in Pennington; and Bonita MiniMarket II on Main Avenue on Passaic.

The jackpot grew to nearly $1.5 million after seven consecutive daily drawings were held without a ticket matching all five numbers.

The previous largest jackpot this year came on May 12 when a $1,256,093 ticket was sold at Jefry Supermarket on Ocean Avenue in Jersey City.

Thursday's jackpot is the biggest since two ticket holders shared a $1,582,562 prize on Nov. 22, 2014, according to NJ Advance Media's search of the lottery records. Those tickets were sold in Long Branch and Brick.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
EATONTOWN-- A 31-year-old borough man has been charged in the armed robbery of a pharmacy Tuesday during which the suspect exchanged gunfire with police, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said Thursday.

Aaron Riley has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count each of armed robbery, certain persons not to have a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Bail has been set at $1.45 million.

Authorities say Riley entered the AllTown Pharmacy on Wyckoff Road around 6:43 p.m. and demanded prescription drugs. Riley fled out a back door as police arrived, then fired a weapon at officers as he was being chased on foot. One of the officers returned fire, authorities also said.

He was last seen driving on Rt. 36.

Police later found a gray 2007 Nissan Altima in the parking lot of the Stony Hill apartments that had sustained damage from gunfire, authorities also said.

The New York Police Department contacted detectives in Monmouth County and notified them that Riley was in the city and had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. Riley remained in NYPD custody Thursday.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Det. Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 1-800-533-7443.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
HUDSON COUNTY -Nearly two years after he fled the country following a conviction for molesting a 13-year-old boy, a Pentecostal preacher was returned to New Jersey Thursday to face sentencing and additional sexual assault charges.

Gregorio Martinez, 49, was arrested in Honduras in late August, three months after NJ Advance Media reported he had been hiding in northern Nicaragua, not far from where authorities ultimately tracked him down.

Gregorio Martinez is taken into custody in Danli, Honduras, by the Honduran National Police. Martinez, convicted of molesting a 13-year-old boy in New Jersey, is now back on U.S. soil to face punishment. (Courtesy Honduran National Police)

Within days of the arrest, Martinez was brought to a detention facility in Miami. In a statement, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said the fugitive had been returned to New Jersey Thursday afternoon.

Martinez was being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny pending a 10 a.m. hearing in Hudson County Superior Court Friday.

"This investigation involved the teamwork of several law enforcement partners and our fugitive unit detectives and we are appreciative of the tenacious effort and dedication which led to his apprehension," Suarez said. "It has been a long process to return him to Hudson County, but we will now see that justice is done for the victims and their families."

The former pastor of a Pentecostal church in Jersey City, Martinez was convicted in February 2015 of molesting a 13-year-old boy he had come to know through a different church in North Bergen.

He faced up to five years in prison for groping the boy. During the trial, Martinez was hit with additional charges that he sexually assaulted a 19-year-old man. He was later charged with sex crimes against two other men, also 19.

A charismatic figure known to speak in tongues, Martinez befriended all of the alleged victims through Pentecostal churches in Hudson County.

Three weeks after his conviction, Martinez, who had been permitted to remain free on bail, failed to show for a court hearing.

Earlier this year, NJ Advance Media traced him to Esteli, Nicaragua, where he had been living in a church affiliated with the Assemblies of God, the world's largest Pentecostal denomination. Two reporters traveled to the city but missed Martinez by weeks. Those he left behind said they didn't know where he had gone.

Suarez, the Hudson County Prosecutor, has previously said detectives followed a money trail to track Martinez. He was arrested in Danli, Honduras, about 85 miles north of Esteli, Nicaragua.

The prosecutor credited the Hudson County assistant prosecutor who handled the case, along with county detectives, federal agencies and Honduran authorities.

Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- The last time Gregorio Martinez stepped foot in a Hudson County courtroom, a jury pronounced him guilty of molesting a 13-year-old boy.

Martinez, an evangelical preacher who held himself out as a prophet, walked out of the courtroom that day, free on $250,000 bail pending sentencing.

Within weeks, he was gone, frustrating his victim's family and law enforcement officials.

On Friday, 22 months after he vanished, the former Jersey City resident finally returned to a Hudson County courtroom, this time in handcuffs.

Superior Court Judge John A. Young Jr. ordered Martinez, 49, held without bail in connection with the February 2015 conviction on charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact, child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Additionally, Young set bail at a combined $1 million cash on other counts alleging Martinez sexually assaulted three other people, all 19-year-old men he had met through churches in Hudson County.

"It's obvious Mr. Martinez, but for the extraordinary effort of law enforcement to secure his return, had no intention of coming back," Young said. "If given the opportunity, he would again leave."

Martinez, whom NJ Advance Media tracked to Nicaragua earlier this year, was arrested in neighboring Honduras in late August and swiftly transferred to a detention facility in Miami. Because he fought extradition to New Jersey, he was not returned to Hudson County until Thursday.

In court, Assistant Prosecutor Linda Claude-Oben described Martinez's extraordinary efforts to avoid capture, hopscotching from one Central American nation to the next.

When Honduran authorities detained him in the town of Danli, near the country's southern border with Nicaragua, all 10 of his fingertips were bloody and bandaged, suggesting he intentionally tried to obliterate his fingerprints, Claude-Oben said.

Martinez, unshaven and dressed in green prison clothing, listened quietly as a Spanish-language interpreter translated the proceedings. Early in the hearing, he smiled and warmly greeted defense lawyer Anthony Carbone, whose firm represented him at trial.

Gregorio Martinez is taken into custody in Danli, Honduras, by the Honduran National Police. Martinez, convicted of molesting a 13-year-old boy in New Jersey, is now back on U.S. soil to face punishment. (Courtesy Honduran National Police)

He spoke little, saying only that he did not know to whom the judge was referring when Young used the initials of the three young men he is charged with sexually assaulting.

Young set Martinez's arraignment on those charges for Jan. 23. He is to be sentenced for molesting the 13-year-old on March 24. He faces up to five years in prison. It was not immediately clear if he will be charged with fleeing.

Martinez remains in the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny.

In a brief press conference after the hearing, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said her office, in conjunction with federal authorities, worked tirelessly to find Martinez, who has connections throughout Latin America because of previous evangelical missions.

She also credited NJ Advance Media, which reported in May that Martinez had been hiding in the city of Esteli, Nicaragua. The fugitive, with help from a New Jersey pastor, had secured a position at a church there.

Two reporters traveled to Esteli in late February but missed Martinez by little more than two weeks, according to residents of the community. It's unclear if he went directly to Honduras.

Martinez had been living in a church compound affiliated with the Assemblies of God, the world's largest Pentecostal denomination. Members of the congregation called him a charismatic figure who regularly preached at religious festivals and churches across the city, inspiring the faithful with spirited sing-song messages about heaven and hell.

He claimed he could cure illness and cast out demons. On many occasions, he spoke in tongues.

After Martinez left Esteli, the mother of a 15-year-old boy told the church's pastor that Martinez had groped her son, NJ Advance Media reported in July. The pastor said he reported the claim to police in Nicaragua.

Suarez, who was present in court for Friday's hearing, said authorities found evidence Martinez had also traveled to Guatemala and Panama while on the run.

The prosecutor has previously said investigators followed a money trail to track Martinez, a native of the Dominican Republic.

She said it was gratifying to have him back in N.J.

"It's very satisfying for us as prosecutors and for the victims," she said.

Suarez declined to say if she would pursue charges against two Jersey City residents who visited Martinez in Nicaragua. Paula Martinez, 52, and her son, Kelvin, 28, were aware of the preacher's criminal case and had used their home to secure his bail. They are not related to Martinez.

NJ Advance Media previously obtained photos of the two with Gregorio Martinez at a lavish birthday party the preacher threw for himself in Esteli.

In court Friday, Claude-Oben, the assistant prosecutor, addressed the issue of why Martinez was allowed to remain free on bail in 2015, saying the defendant did not have a criminal history and that the charge on which he was convicted was a third-degree offense with a presumption of non-incarceration.

Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Authorities are still searching for a South Jersey man who allegedly killed his estranged wife.

Elsewhere, a man and a woman robbed a bank and then dumped the money on a frozen lake with police in pursuit, according to authorities.

Those two are among a group of people either charged with, indicted for, convicted of or sentenced in a wide array of crimes that made news across New Jersey in the past week.

Click through the gallery above to catch up on any law and order news you might have missed. Here's some of what's there:

While State Police have found his truck, they are still

Two

A 41-year-old Bayonne man

Police say a 30-year-old man

Two men and a woman are charged in connection with the

A 50-year-old former Somers Point councilman has been indicted by a Ocean County grand jury on charges of theft after he

A 24-year-old Florida woman arrested at a Mahwah hotel is suspected of being part of a

The 18-year-old Camden man who

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Nothing seems out of the ordinary at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montclair.

Christmas lights ring the high shrubs around the statue of the blessed mother, the wreaths are up on the heavy wooden doors and the bell tower is illuminated by spotlights.

Inside, poinsettias plants decorate the altars, and garland and evergreens are streaming from columns.

Even the statue of St. Sebastian is back in its rightful place.

But beneath the pretense of joyousness is a fear that this will be the final Christmas celebration at the 109 year old church.

"We're not sure if this going be our last Christmas, said church member Maryann Zecchino, who organized the decorating. "We hope not."

"They say they're going to keep us open, but we've only heard through February," said Frank Cardell, the former business manager at OLMC.

In May, the archdiocese of Newark announced it would merge the Montclair parishes of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) and the Church of the Immaculate Conception into a new parish called St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Not that the people of OLMC have anything against Mother Teresa. Who does? But they felt swallowed up in the process.

"They (the archdiocese) wanted to be first to name a church after her when she was canonized," said Cardell. "We were the sacrificial lambs."

The news was broken to the OLMC parish during a raucous meeting last spring in the church basement. Four hundred people showed up to hear that a study by the archdiocese showed a lack of participation at Masses and in the sacraments. The people said they never had a chance to increase the numbers.

"This parish can do anything it sets its mind to," said Elsa Napolitano at the time, and repeated it again Wednesday night during an impromptu rally to send a message to incoming archdiocesan leader, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin.

About 70 people showed up, as temperatures dipped into the high 20s, to talk about the history of the church and its place in the neighborhood.

MORE: Recent Mark Di Ionno columns

It was "the Italian church" in the immigrant section of Montclair, "down the hill" from the wealthier constituency of Immaculate.

For those not familiar with the parlance of Montclair, the Oranges, Millburn, Summit and the other wealthy suburbs set on the Watchung Mountains, "down the hill" was the literal geographic description of the neighborhoods for the immigrants who did the work for the rich people "up the hill."

The Pine Street neighborhood around OLMC has changed in some ways, but in others it hasn't. While it is no longer almost exclusively Italian, it remains a gateway neighborhood for new Americans.

"This congregation welcomes everyone," said Raffaele Marzullo, one of the leaders of OLMC's "Save Our Church" movement, which has grown, not waned since the May announcement.

"Our attendance is up, our interest is up," said Marguerite DeCarlo. "We're not done fighting. There are many legitimate reasons to keep this parish. For one, we made money. And this neighborhood is growing. And we have very active societies that are 100 years old. We hope the cardinal (who replaces Archbishop John J. Myers in January) will restore us."

Renee Baskerville is a Montclair councilwoman who represents the fourth ward where the church is located. She grew up in the neighborhood and has fond memories of the festivals and social events at OLMC.

"This church opened its doors to everyone," she said. "It is part of the history and heritage of this neighborhood. To see that being lost is tearing my heart apart."

At issue now is not whether the church will remain open, but whether it will remain OLMC in spirit as well as in name.

Jim Goodness, spokesman for the archdiocese, said that while the parish name has changed, the church names have not -- and Mount Carmel will be "open for the foreseeable future."

"There's been a new organization of the parishes, but the worship element remains the same," Goodness said. "We want there to be a presence at the church and it will stay as Our Lady as Mount Carmel."

But for the people of OLMC the change goes deeper than the name. Their church is now being administered by Immaculate.

"We have to ask them permission for everything we do," Marzullo said. "We've got traditions that go back 100 years, and now we have to beg them to let us continue."

Marzullo said two recent events planned by OLMC members were not approved by Immaculate, including a toy drive in conjunction with Montclair police and a gift drive for senior citizens.

"They said our events conflicted with things they had planned," he said.

The OLMC members are now without their own assigned priest. Members complained that after the Masses are celebrated, they are whisked out and the doors locked behind them.

"It's freezing out here tonight and we can't get into our own church," said Napolitano. "If you want to stay after Mass and just sit and pray or reflect, you can't. They throw you right out."

The members complained they get a rotation of priests, rather than having a regular priest, "and they can't wait to get out of there," said Carla Maine.

"This is a church where so many of us were baptized, got married, had our parents' funerals. We have so many memories in there and now we can't get in," Maine said.

In August, the St. Sebastian Society, which dates back to 1926, held its annual feast. They paraded the St. Sebastian statue through the streets, then brought it to their club headquarters near the church.

"We weren't going to return it until we saw what was going on with the church," said Joseph DiBella, the president of the society.

On Thursday, when church members were allowed inside to decorate for Christmas, the statue was returned - for now.

"We'll keep it here until Jan. 20th (St. Sebastian Day), then we'll see what's what," DiBella said.

"We're not done fighting this," said Cardell. "We're hoping the new guy will at least listen to us."

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.
Black man burning his own church is one of many recent deceivers
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.
Tieler James, a 16-year-old from Abita Springs, designed this garment for his first competition on Season 2 of 'Project Runway Junior.' (Photo courtesy of Lifetime)
Learn about filing a personal injury lawsuit against the State of Nevada for personal injuries sustained from a state government entity or employee.

If you are injured by the careless conduct of an individual or a private organization in Nevada, you might want to bring a personal injury lawsuit in Nevada's civil courts. But what if your accident was caused by the negligence of a government agency or employee? In that situation, you can't just go to court and file a lawsuit. Instead, you'll need to comply with the rules for filing injury claims against state and local governments in Nevada. We'll discuss some of those rules in this article.

Bringing a Tort Claim Against the Government in Nevada

Injury claims against the state government in Nevada are governed by Chapter 41 of the Nevada Annotated Code(NAC).

These rules provide a way for people injured by the government -- or its officers, agents, and employees -- to skirt the traditional rule of "sovereign immunity." This rule originated in England and was adopted by governments in the United States. Traditionally, the king (or sovereign) was immune from lawsuits. Citizens could not sue the king, even if the king's actions caused them harm, because it was believed that "the king can do no wrong."

Today, while all fifty U.S. states still acknowledge the rule of sovereign immunity, all have created statutory exceptions to that rule, allowing injured persons to sue the state government in certain cases.

What Nevada's Tort Claims Act Does (And Does Not) Cover

Generally speaking, if the party that caused the injury was the state government or a government employee carrying out his or her job duties at the time, the injured person can seek compensation from the state. The injured person will then need to show that the state (and or a state employee) caused the claimed injury. Usually that means showing negligence on the part of the wrongdoer. Learn more about Negligence, the Duty of Care, and Fault for an Accident.

So, that means an injury claim against the state government could be brought if it can be shown that the government or one of its employees caused or contributed to a:

a car accident involving injury and/or property damage

a slip and fall accident

medical treatment error amounting to medical malpractice, and

other accidents and injuries that would give rise to a personal injury lawsuit agains a private party.

How to File an Injury Claim Against the Government in Nevada

Nevada's tort claims act contains specific rules for filing an injury claim against the government. In order to start the process, the injured person must file a written, signed claim with the Nevada State Board of Examiners.

The written claim must include the following information:

a statement of the amount of damages the person is seeking

a description of how the injury or property damage occurred

an explanation of why the injured person believes the state is responsible for the damages, and

a copy of a medical report from every physician who treated or examined the injured person, or if property was damaged, a statement of the value of the property, the cost of repairs, and the salvage value.

The state Department of Risk Management has a tort claim form available on its Web site.

The attorney general's office will review any properly-submitted claim and decide whether to approve or deny it. If the claim is approved, the state pays the claimant's losses. If the claim is denied, the injured person has the option to file a civil lawsuit in a Nevada court and seek damages.

Any claim brought against the state in Nevada must be filed within 2 years of the date of injury. If the claim is not filed within two years, it will be rejected by both the state and the courts. In addition, damages in claims against the state government are capped, or limited, to $100,000 per claim. Punitive damages may not be awarded in injury claims against the government.

How to File an Injury Claim Against a Local Government in Nevada

Sometimes, a claim arises from an injury or accident involving a local or municipal government employee or official -- for instance, a car accident involving a county employee who is on the job, or a slip and fall accident inside a city office building.

Injury claims against local governments are similar to those made against the state government, in terms of process. For instance, the claim must begin with a written notice filed with the local or municipal government that is allegedly to blame for what happened. Some local governments, such as the City of Las Vegas, offer injury claim forms or instructions for filing a claim on their Web sites.
Pay attention to Alaska's statute of limitations for property damage lawsuits, or your case could be dismissed before it even gets started.

If you've had your property damaged through someone else's careless or intentional action in Alaska, and you're considering filing a lawsuit over what happened, it's critical to understand the statute of limitations and how it applies to your potential civil case.

A "statute of limitations", for those not familiar with the term, is a state law that puts a strictly-enforced limit on how much time can pass before you must file your case. Miss the deadline and you effectively lose the right to file your lawsuit in court. Every state has these laws on the books, with different time limits depending on the kind of case being filed.

In this article, we'll explain the property damage lawsuit filing deadline in Alaska, the consequences of missing the deadline, and a few rare situations in which you might be able to extend the time limit.

The Lawsuit Filing Deadline in Alaska

In Alaska, the filing deadline that applies to a property damage lawsuit depends on whether the plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) is seeking the repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed real property or personal property.

The Alaska lawsuit filing deadline is six years from the date of any tort (wrongful action) that results in "waste or trespass upon" real property (which includes damage to a house or other structure, or to land itself). This rule can be found at Alaska Statutes section 09.10.050.

For lawsuits over damage to personal property (including vehicle damage), Alaska Statutes section 09.10.070 says this kind of civil case must be filed within two years.

It's important to note that these filing deadlines apply any time you're asking a court to award you monetary compensation for damaged or destroyed property in Alaska, whether that claim is part of a larger legal action or a standalone lawsuit.

Missing the Filing Deadline in Alaska

What happens if you try to file your Alaska property damage lawsuit after the relevant time limit has passed? In that situation, it's a safe bet that the defendant (the person you're trying to sue) will file a motion asking the court to dismiss the case. And the court is certain to grant the dismissal unless rare circumstances make an extension of the deadline appropriate (more on this later).

If that happens, you've essentially lost your right to any legal remedy for your damaged property. That's why it's crucial to pay attention to (and comply with) the Alaska statute of limitations for property damage claims.

Extending the Lawsuit Filing Deadline in Alaska

For most kinds of civil lawsuits in Alaska -- including property damage claims -- a number of (relatively rare) situations could effectively extend the statutory filing deadline.

For example, special rules apply if, at the time the property damage occurs, the property owner is under the age of 18 or "incompetent by reason of mental illness or mental disability." In those situations, since the property owner is considered under a "legal disability", once the period of disability ends (meaning the property owner turns 18 or is declared sane or competent), the property owner will have two years to get the lawsuit filed. This rule can be found at Alaska Statutes section 09.10.140.

And if the person who is alleged to have caused the property damage leaves the state of Alaska before the lawsuit can be filed, or takes steps to conceal him/herself in the state, the period of absence or concealment probably won't be counted as part of the time limit for filing suit, according to Alaska Statutes section 09.10.130.

Other circumstances may affect the Alaska statute of limitations, and how it's calculated. If you've got questions about the statute of limitations as it applies to your potential property damage lawsuit, an experienced Alaska attorney will have the answers. Learn more about Finding an Excellent Lawyer.
Comply with the Nebraska statute of limitations for lawsuits over damaged or destroyed property, or you could lose your right to any legal remedy for your financial harm.

If you've had your property damaged through someone else's careless or intentional action in Nebraska, and you're considering filing a lawsuit over what happened, it's critical to understand the statute of limitations and how it applies to your potential civil case.

A "statute of limitations", for those not familiar with the term, is a state law that puts a strictly-enforced limit on how much time can pass before you must file your case. Miss the deadline and you effectively lose the right to file your lawsuit in court. Every state has these laws on the books, with different time limits depending on the kind of case being filed.

In this article, we'll explain the property damage lawsuit filing deadline in Nebraska, the consequences of missing the deadline, and a few rare situations in which you might be able to extend the time limit.

The Lawsuit Filing Deadline in Nebraska

In Nebraska, the filing deadline that applies to a property damage lawsuit is the same regardless of whether the plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) is seeking the repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed real property(which includes damage to a house or other structure, or to land itself) or personal property.

According to Nebraska Revised Statute 25-207, any lawsuit over damage to or destruction of property must be filed within four years of the underlying action.

So, if a homeowner wants to bring a lawsuit for physical damage to the exterior of his/her house after a car crashes into it, that case must be brought within four years in Nebraska. The same goes for a vehicle damage claim after a car accident. In both situations, the statute of limitations "clock" usually starts ticking as soon as the property owner becomes aware (or should have become aware) that someone else caused damage to his or her property.

It's important to note that this filing deadline applies any time you're asking a court to award you monetary compensation for damaged or destroyed property in Nebraska, whether that claim is part of a larger legal action or a standalone lawsuit.

Missing the Filing Deadline in Nebraska

What happens if you try to file your Nebraska property damage lawsuit after the four-year time limit has passed? In that situation, it's a safe bet that the defendant (the person you're trying to sue) will file a motion asking the court to dismiss the case. And the court is certain to grant the dismissal unless rare circumstances make an extension of the deadline appropriate (more on this later).

If that happens, you've essentially lost your right to any legal remedy for your damaged property. That's why it's crucial to pay attention to (and comply with) the Nebraska statute of limitations for property damage claims.

Extending the Lawsuit Filing Deadline in Nebraska

For most kinds of civil lawsuits in Nebraska -- including property damage claims -- a number of (relatively rare) situations could effectively extend the statutory filing deadline.

For example, special rules apply in Nebraska if, at the time the property damage occurs, the property owner is under the age of 20, has a "mental disorder" affecting his or her legal competence, or is imprisoned. In those situations, since the property owner is considered under a "legal disability", once the period of disability ends (meaning the property owner turns 20, is deemed competent to sue, or is released from incarceration), he or she will have four years to get the lawsuit filed. This rule can be found at Nebraska Revised Statute 25-213.

Other circumstances may affect the Nebraska statute of limitations, and how it's calculated. If you've got questions about the statute of limitations as it applies to your potential property damage lawsuit, an experienced Nebraska attorney will have the answers. Learn more about Finding an Excellent Lawyer.
Understand North Dakota's lawsuit filing deadline for property damage cases, or you could lose your right to a legal remedy for your damaged or destroyed property.

If you've had your property damaged in North Dakota, maybe you're considering filing a lawsuit against the person you think is responsible. If so, it's critical to understand the statute of limitations and how it applies to your potential civil case.

A "statute of limitations", for those not familiar with the term, is a state law that puts a strictly-enforced limit on how much time can pass before you must file your case. Miss the deadline and you effectively lose the right to file your lawsuit in court. Every state has these laws on the books, with different time limits depending on the kind of case being filed.

In this article, we'll explain the property damage lawsuit filing deadline in North Dakota, the consequences of missing the deadline, and a few rare situations in which you might be able to extend the time limit.

The Lawsuit Filing Deadline in North Dakota

In North Dakota, whether your potential case involves damage to real property (your house or your land, for example) or personal property (including vehicle damage), it must be brought to the state's civil court system within six years. This rule can be found at North Dakota Century Code section 28-01-16.

So, if a homeowner wants to bring a lawsuit for physical damage to the exterior of his/her house caused by someone else's negligence, that case must be brought within six years in North Dakota. The same goes for a vehicle damage claim after a car accident.

In both situations, the statute of limitations "clock" usually starts ticking as soon as the property owner becomes aware (or should have become aware) that someone else caused damage to his or her property.

Missing the Filing Deadline in North Dakota

What happens if you try to file your North Dakota property damage lawsuit after the six-year time limit has expired? In that situation, it's a safe bet that the defendant (the person you're trying to sue) will file a motion asking the court to dismiss the case. And the court is certain to grant the dismissal unless rare circumstances make an extension of the deadline appropriate (more on this later).

If that happens, you've essentially lost your right to any legal remedy for your damaged property. Six years is a long time, but you might not get around to enforcing your rights for a while, even informally, and it can take some time to resolve even the simplest of legal disputes. So it's crucial to pay attention to the North Dakota deadline and make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to file a lawsuit if you need to.

Extending the Lawsuit Filing Deadline in North Dakota

For most kinds of civil lawsuits in North Dakota -- including property damage claims -- a number of (relatively rare) situations could effectively extend the six-year lawsuit filing deadline.

For example, if, at the time the property damage occurs, the property owner is under the age of 18, has been declared insane, or has been imprisoned for something less than a life term, special rules apply. In those situations, the property owner is considered to be under a "legal disability," and the six-year "clock" typically won't start running until the period of disability ends (meaning the property owner turns 18, is declared sane, or is released from incarceration). But it's important to note that except for property owners who are under 18, the disability can't extend the filing period for more than five years. And whatever the disability, once it ends, the property owner can't wait more than one year to get his or her lawsuit filed. This rule can be found at North Dakota Century Code section 28-01-25.

Other circumstances may affect the North Dakota statute of limitations, and how it's calculated. If you've got questions about the statute of limitations as it applies to your potential property damage lawsuit, an experienced North Dakota attorney will have the answers. Learn more about Finding an Excellent Lawyer.
SUTHERLAND  The Sutherland Village Board appointed a temporary replacement for the village clerk at an emergency meeting Thursday.

Amid controversy over the resignations of former Village Clerk/Treasurer Samantha Boggs and Deputy Clerk Heather Maxcy, the board declared an emergency and hired Belinda Hanneman, a former Sutherland village clerk, through the end of February.

Basically were just doing this to get the office re-established, reopened so we can continue business as it needs to go on, board chairman John Lutz said.

After board member Dave Einspahr made a motion to declare an emergency, there was discussion among the board members.

Board member James Bliss objected to the emergency declaration, saying the controversy over benefits that led to the resignations could have been avoided.

Normally an emergency to me is when something happens beyond your control and brings in this kind of a problem, Bliss said. To me, this was totally controllable. The two members who were involved in this were relatively out of line. If they were wanting to do what I understand [they] were wanting to do, to look over benefit packages, it should have been run through the board first. This is a board of five, not a dictatorship of two.

Lutz said the issue of employee benefits was brought up at the last board meeting, but was tabled so the board could gather more information about the benefits package and salaries of the clerk/treasurer and deputy clerk.

Einspahr said he was not going to vote for something he didnt know anything about.

Me personally, I dont know that girl from Adam and I dont know anything about those girls, I dont know their benefit packages, I dont know anything, Einspahr said. I dont know anything about this village, how its run. Im as green as an avocado, one might say, but I want to learn, and Im not signing the line on a contract without reading it first.

Audience member Kimberly Backer was given the floor to speak during the discussion.

I was at that meeting and I didnt hear that anybodys job was in jeopardy, Backer said, just that the two new board members would like to sit down with the gals and discuss it. I do appreciate their views on that.

The board voted 3-1 to declare an emergency, with Bliss voting against the motion. Board member John Sauer was absent. He said Wednesday that he was submitting his resignation from the board.

The second item on the agenda was appointing someone to take the temporary position through the end of February at $20 per hour with no benefits.

Ray Ravenscroft made the motion, which the board passed 3-1. Bliss again voted against the proposal.

Next, Hanneman was nominated and approved as the temporary clerk.

One unidentified member of the audience asked, How can you have someone in mind if there hasnt been some discussion on it? Obviously if you are all in unison, someones been talking somewhere.

No one from the board responded to the question, but after the meeting, Lutz gave his answer to the Telegraph.

She brought it to different members of the board to volunteer to step in and help get the office re-established, Lutz said. Thats all were trying to do here is get this moving forward.

Another unidentified audience member suggested that Lutz, Einspahr and Ravenscroft had met privately and questioned whether that was legal.

Nothing was discussed and there is no proof of that, Lutz said. The other two were not board members yet at that time. Nobody was sworn in yet at that time.

The Nebraska Open Meetings Act bars public bodies from meeting privately to discuss policy. A quorum  three of the five board members in this case  must be present to qualify as a meeting.

Lutz also said village residents had been questioning parts of the compensation packages for the village clerk/treasurer and deputy clerk.

All this came from the people, Lutz said. They wanted us to check on what the overtime is, whats going on. If they wanted to walk because of that, it was a pretty foolish reason why.

After the meeting, Boggs gave a statement to the Telegraph.

The only comment that I have is that I would like to thank the community for their outpouring of support, for coming here and seeing what the board had to say and how they hold themselves, Boggs said. I look forward to working with the community in my future endeavors, whatever that may be.

Bliss said after the meeting that there is still much to discuss about this situation and his opposition to all that took place.

This has all been kind of prearranged forethought by the three other board members, Bliss said. You could see that they were all right there sticking together. One claims he didnt know much about it, but like some of the public said, if you dont, you need to find out because thats your job.

Bliss said Hanneman would not have any problem doing the job, but he saw several concerns, especially with finances and a significant grant deadline coming up in January.

One issue is sales taxes, Bliss said. If you dont file sales taxes with the state, you get fined. In January we have a grant that is coming due, and my understanding is we have to have everything done to fulfill that grant. [Boggs and Maxcy] are the ones who do all the work on that, and its $250,000 the village is going to lose out on if they dont get something done.

Bliss said that Boggs was trained in grants and that with her departure, the village is losing a lot of experience.
Hammond Police Lt. Richard Hoyda said Friday morning that a two-car accident was reported at 5:38 p.m. Thursday in the 2600 block of Michigan Avenue. Goodwin was identified as the driver of a 2005 Dodge Neon.

Hoyda said the Neon appeared to have struck a 2012 Buick Enclave head on by crossing the center line. Goodwin was trapped and had to be extricated from his car. He was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead by the Lake County Coroner's office at 7:15 p.m. Thursday. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. A toxicology report is pending
CROWN POINT  The City Court is transferring to a new statewide case management system.

The system, called Odyssey, replaces Courtview and will eliminate yearly licensing costs to the court and offer citizens access to non-confidential court case information. It is being implemented statewide by the Indiana Supreme Court's Division of State Court Administration.

"It's a good program," City Judge Kent Jeffirs told the City Council during its meeting on Monday. "It's state-run, it's been tested, tried and true."

Jeffirs said Odyssey "handles all the case stuff." When hearings are set, what the charges are, traffic tickets and all the financials.

Jeffirs said the system is being used in about 60 percent of all courts statewide. A statewide project, Odyssey comes at no cost to the city. The Division of State Court Administration pays the yearly software maintenance and support costs.

"They want all state courts on the same system," Jeffirs said.

Crown Point is one of 10 city and town courts in Lake County making the switch to Odyssey. Jeffirs said the city of Hobart also has passed a resolution adopting it.

Jeffirs said the system will easily allow him to look up a case in Evansville, for instance, while Evansville can do the same for Crown Point. Jeffirs said some courts also will be able to issue orders through Odyssey.

Jeffirs said Lake County courts also have agreed to sign onto the system and will be on it in about a year and a half. The system being replaced has a lot of commands that clerks have to learn specifically and "it's a little bit harder," he said. Odyssey works more like a web page with clicking-type functions, Jeffirs said.

Adopting the resolution to switch by a city or town council comes after the State Court Administration performs an IT assessment of each court's computer systems and Internet connections. At least eight of the 10 assessments have been completed.

Jeffirs said Odyssey likely will not be installed or implemented in the city or town courts until late 2017 or 2018.

As for the county courts, Mark Pearman, executive director of Lake County Data Processing, said it most likely will be the end of 2018.

"It's a massive undertaking," he said.

All county courts will be making the switch to Odyssey with the possible exception of the juvenile courts, which does not use Courtview.

"It's going to be big," Pearman said.

Pearman said Lake County is in the pipeline of other counties that are making the switch. He said Lake County courts will be the biggest conversion to Odyssey in the state.

"It's going to be quite involved, and it will take time," he said. "But we'll be there someday."
LAPORTE  Convicted child molester and killer Richard Dobeski was back in court Wednesday, with his attorney revealing plans to seek a dismissal of Dobeski's latest criminal case.

Dobeski, 67, was in a wheelchair for his hearing in LaPorte Circuit Court, where he's facing four level 6 felony counts of violating the sex offender registry.

With his health apparently now an issue, Long Beach Police Chief Bob Sulkowski said he would still pose a major risk to public safety.

"I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him," Sulkowski said.

Dobeski's attorney, James Macalka, requested a trial date, proclaiming his client is innocent of the latest criminal allegations and that he soon would be filing a motion to dismiss the charges.

The case is now scheduled for a March 2 jury trial.

In 2003, Dobeski was released after serving 40 years for the strangling deaths of siblings Shawn and Cary Johnston, ages 6 and 3.

Their bodies were found in the crawlspace of Dobeski's home in Long Beach next to the victims' residence.

In 2007, Dobeski was living in Westville when arrested for possession of child pornography and molesting a 7-year-old boy. He later was given an 11-year prison sentence.

Dobeski was released early in 2013 and placed on parole, but later wound up back in prison for cutting off the GPS ankle bracelet he was ordered to wear.

After completing his sentence, he was released July 16, 2015 from the New Castle Correctional Facility and put on a bus for Michigan City.

He got off the bus and went to Gary, but the homeless shelter where he planned to stay was closed, so he wound up in Indianapolis, authorities said.

Seven days later, Indianapolis police arrested him at a public library.

Dobeski was later convicted. After completing his sentence, he was transferred to the LaPorte County Jail to face alleged sex offender registry violations here.

In a Dec. 12 ruling, the Indiana Court of Appeals overturned his conviction in Marion County for a similar offense.

In overturning his Marion County conviction, the appeals court ruled he was taken into custody prematurely.

The appellate court judges said 24 hours was multiplied by seven days for police to calculate when he was in violation. His arrest came three hours after the 168 total hours elapsed without registering.

But the appeals court ruled Dobeski had seven full calendar days to register so he was actually taken into custody 10 hours too soon.

Among the allegations in LaPorte County is Dobeski failed to reside at his registered address following his 2015 release from prison. The address listed on his release papers was that of the LaPorte County Jail.

Dobeski will not be credited with the time he spent locked up prior to his conviction getting overturned, meaning any sentence he receives in LaPorte County would have to be served in full, said Indiana Department of Corrections spokesman Doug Garrison.

"None of that time would apply to the new charge. It's just not the way it's applied," Garrison said.

Despite physical limitations, Sulkowski said Dobeski, if released again, could still use a computer, for example, to lure a child to his home.

According to authorities, Dobeski already had a history of child molesting and was under psychological evaluation prior to the murders.

"It will always be a sad memory here in town," Sulkowski said.
LAPORTE  A LaPorte man who fled on foot after hitting two parked vehicles was in a hurry to get inside a police car when he was captured.

He had no shoes on.

Jason Hurt, 37, was charged Dec. 15 in LaPorte Circuit Court with fleeing the scene of an accident and operating while intoxicated.

The OWI charge is a level 6 felony because of a prior drinking-and-driving conviction within the past five years, according to police. Hurt had a 0.16 blood alcohol content, police said.

Hurt was caught by a man and his 20-year-old son who gave chase after hearing the collisions Dec. 14 and saw his SUV tangled up in a fence outside their home in the 700 block of A Street.

Angela Woodcox said she's glad nobody, especially her husband, Keith, and son, Austin, got hurt going after the suspect in what she described as a scary and bizarre situation.

According to police, the family was having dinner when they heard collisions with two parked vehicles and a mailbox.

Keith Woodcox and his son went outside and saw a Ford Explorer tangled up in a neighbor's fence he also struck, according to police.

Angela Woodcox said her husband and son walked up to Hurt, who got out with no shoes on and stumbled around before taking off.

Helped by the father and son giving chase, police located the shoeless Hurt a few blocks away in the area of C and 5th streets.

According to court records, Hurt said his feet were cold. While being searched, Hurt broke loose from the officer and stepped into his squad car.
HAMMOND  A Chicago man is in custody after he was allegedly caught stealing items from one woman's car Thursday afternoon at Hammond's South Shore station.

Hammond police were dispatched to the station, 4531 Hohman Ave., after a South Shore train dispatcher noticed a suspicious man peering into parked vehicles about 12:15 p.m., according to NICTD Transit Police Chief Bob Byrd.

The dispatcher notified a NICTD Transit Police officer who, while responding to the call, advised Hammond police that a crime was in progress, Byrd said in an email.

Upon arrival, Hammond police discovered a 31-year-old Chicago man had unlawfully entered a Munster woman's vehicle and removed items from her car, Byrd said.

The suspect is in custody at the Hammond City Jail. Charges are pending.
LAPORTE  A Michigan City man was found with heroin and cocaine in his socks, police said.

LaPorte police arrested 21-year old Lawrence Zitt III during a Saturday night traffic stop.

After the driver failed to completely stop for a stop sign, Officer Paul Brettin pulled him over on Lawrence Street on the city's east side. A police dog, Rambo, smelled what police believe to be narcotics in the vehicle.

According to police, Zitt was found with more than 3 grams of heroin in the sock he wore on his right foot.

A much smaller amount of cocaine was recovered from his left sock, police said.

Brettin, along with officer Matthew Drangmeister, are the two members of the strike force formed within the department nearly a year ago to focus strictly on drug dealing and other crimes of the highest concern.

While patrol officers are responding to calls, the strike force works separately trying to catch drug dealers and other criminals, like burglars, in the act.

"These are exactly the kind of arrests we had in mind. Those guys have been doing fantastic work," said LaPorte Police Chief Adam Klimczak, who noted several other drug-related arrests have been made by the strike force officers this year.

Without the strike force, Klimczak said it's quite possible Zitt could have gone unnoticed.

The strike force officers also work different shifts based on times when crimes they're investigating likely will be occurring.

"Whatever the kind of problems we're getting reported to us, that's when we put those guys on the job and do our best to catch what we can and prevent anything else from happening," Klimczak said.
HAMMOND  A woman was robbed at gunpoint early Thursday morning, police said.

The 38-year-old victim old police she was driving home from work about 5:30 a.m. Thursday in the 5400 block of Birch Avenue when she saw a dark SUV with an Illinois license plate approach, according to Hammond Police Lt. Richard Hoyda.

When the woman parked her car on the street, the SUV parked and two black men wearing dark clothing, and one wearing a ski mask, exited. Both men displayed handguns and robbed the woman of her keys, purse and cellphone.

One of the suspects then struck the victim in the face, she told police. Both then fled in their vehicle. The victim did not seek medical treatment, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. James Lietz at (219) 852-2983.
LYNWOOD  Investigators have suspended the search for a second person who may have been inside a vehicle that went into an ice-covered pond Sunday near the 2900 block of West Lincoln Highway.

One man found dead in the vehicle pulled from the pond Monday has been identified as Christopher L. Stone, of Chicago Heights.

The 27-year-old Stone was the only person found in a black Pontiac Grand Prix found upside down on its roof in the pond in the 2900 block of East Lincoln Highway, officials said.

However, Cook County sheriff's police spokeswoman Sophia Ansari said Lynwood Fire Department officials returned to the pond Thursday with sonar equipment with belief that a second person may have been in the vehicle.

Divers were sent into the water to check on any anomaly, she said, but the search concluded with negative results.

The pond is about 30 feet deep. Fire officials are not likely to return to the pond Friday, but the investigation is ongoing, Ansari said.

Stone's cause and manner of death were pending further study Wednesday, according to a Cook County medical examiner's office spokeswoman.

Stone was not wearing a seat belt, and investigators were unable to determine Monday if Stone was the driver or a passenger, Cook County sheriff's police said. Police were still investigating Wednesday, sheriff's spokeswoman Sophia Ansari said.

The Pontiac went into the pond about 12:30 p.m. Sunday after leaving eastbound U.S. 30 and driving through a field, police said.

First responders worked into Sunday night and resumed the search Monday, fighting freezing temperatures and ice to recover the car.
HAMMOND  A taco delivery man was knocked unconscious and robbed while on a delivery Wednesday night in the 4800 block of Cedar Avenue.

A 42-year-old Illinois man told police he was making a delivery for Gomez Taco, 922 Hoffman St., just after 9 p.m. when he was hit in the face with what he described as a pipe, according to Hammond Police Lt. Richard Hoyda.

The victim described the suspects as three Hispanic men wearing hooded sweatshirts, Hoyda said.

The man said he fell to the ground when he was struck with the object and lost consciousness for a short period, according to police. When he awoke, his food and a small amount of money were missing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Scott Jajowka at (219) 852-2989.
GARY  The remains of a man found Oct. 3 in the Little Calumet River has been identified as Johnny Mitchell, 64, of Gary.

Gary Police Lt. Dawn Westerfield said Thursday no foul play was suspected in Mitchell's death. Mitchell first went missing in September and police shortly after sent out a news release seeking the publics help in locating him, she said. At the time, Mitchell had been without his prescribed medication, had no resources and had been distraught, police said.

Two fishermen came upon Mitchell's body in the river along the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Drive and contacted the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Gary Police Department around noon Oct. 3.

Mitchell's body was identified through DNA samples submitted to the Indiana State Police Laboratory in Indianapolis, according to the Lake County Coroner's office.

Lake County coroners officials declared Mitchell dead on scene. The Gary Fire Department assisted in recovering the body. Mitchell's cause and manner of death is pending, according to an office spokesman.
VALPARAISO  On a Christmas Eve some 70 years ago, John Wolf recalls traveling through the Panama Canal.

A chaplain in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Frederick Funston, Wolf said the transport ship was crossing the canal in dry dock. As they crossed, the crew took turns scraping barnacles off the hull.

All the time, he said recently, they were singing "Silent Night."

Wolf can tell you in detail about the men and the missions, the battles and the ship on which he spent more than a year during WWII.

"We fought in both the Pacific and European fronts. We started in Sicily and Salerno and island hopped across the Pacific to Tokyo," Wolf, 98, said about the crew of the Funston.

Wolf, a longtime minister at Valparaiso's First United Methodist Church, won't complain about how long it took the U.S. Navy to get him his medals earned during his service at places such as Iwo Jima, Saipan, Guam, and Leyte Gulf.

This past summer, according to his son Earl Wolf of East Lansing, Michigan, his father found a copy of a letter that his commander, Charles Anderson, had sent to the U.S. Navy in 1945 recommending Wolf for the Bronze Star.

"He wrote a letter to the Navy, and they wrote back saying they were looking into it," said Earl Wolf. Time passed and, again, no word from the Navy. The family called U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., for help.

Last week, Wolf received a package in the mail from Visclosky's office. While there was no Bronze Star, there were Navy/Marine Commendation, European-African-Middle East Campaign, WWII Victory, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, American Campaign and U.S. Navy Honorable Discharge medals.

"I was surprised. They are beautiful medals, but it had been so long," said Wolf, whose room at a local assisted living center is decorated in mementos from his military service.

Wolf, from Idaho, was fresh out of a New York seminary when the war started. He said clergy had a choice to join the service. He decided he wanted to enlist and, at 23, became the youngest Navy chaplain at the time. He trained at the U.S. Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia before being assigned to the Funston, which had been commissioned in early 1943.

"The whole technique of Naval warfare was changed with my ship and its sister ship. They were very effective at amphibious warfare. We would land and unload Marines, take on casualties and go away. We were in eight battles," said Wolf.

"My job as a chaplain was to take care of the wounded during the battles and the troops before the battles," he said, adding the Funston had a crew of 500 and carried 5,000 Marines into battle along with 36 landing craft.

Wolf would give daily reports/sermons to sailors and Marines aboard the ship via a public address system.

After more than a year aboard the Funston, Wolf returned to Norfolk, where he taught in chaplain school before being discharged. In 1991 he penned a book, "Amen! Until Tomorrow: Retaking the Pacific after Pearl Harbor," a day-to-day account of his life aboard the ship.
GARY  The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has named Steve Beekman executive director of the Regions largest hunger relief organization, effective immediately.

Beekman had served as the Food Banks deputy director and head of development since 2013, and was interim executive director for the past several months.

The Food Bank has been meeting critical needs in Northwest Indiana for more than 30 years, Beekman said. Its an honor to be able to lead this mission and work alongside such a dedicated staff to find solutions for hunger in our community.

The pantry's board conducted a nationwide search to fill the executive director position, with more than 50 individual applications submitted.

Steve has been a steady leader in the fight against hunger in the Region, said Kris Parker, board president. We are excited for the future of the organization and look forward to its continued growth and mission-delivery under Steves leadership.

Visit foodbanknwi.org to learn more about the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and fighting hunger in the Region.
HOBART  The Establishment Project grant proposal submitted by TradeWinds Services Inc. has been awarded more than $1 million by the Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services.

The $1,002,766.45 funding will permit the TradeWinds Employment Services program to hire staff to supplement employment specialists to train and assist participants with finding employment in the community, said Jon Gold, executive director of TradeWinds for the past 17 years.

Funding begins March 1 and will last for up to a two-year period, with a two-year renewal period, according to the letter Gold received from Theresa Koleszar, director of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services based in Indianapolis.

The grant will allow current employment specialists to transition from part-time to full-time positions and provide intense hands on training for the purpose of increasing the quality of services and competitive, integrated employment outcomes to vocational rehabilitation applicants, said Lisa J. Tatina, TradeWinds director of development and marketing, in a news release.

The award also will be used to create a new full-time community liaison and trainer position, who will work with local businesses to develop opportunities to employ TradeWinds participants.

In addition, the liaison will be responsible for providing services on an individual and/or group basis for participants enrolled in the program who are seeking community employment, Tatina said in the news release.

Vernita Johnson-Macklin, director, and Sheila Chandler, coordinator, head up the TradeWinds Employment Services division.

Gold said TradeWinds applied for the new grant program earlier this year.

The state is trying to make a concerted effort to improve the outcome for programs for people with disabilities, Gold said.

TradeWinds provides services to approximately 900 adults and children in the community, in schools and at our main facility, he said.

There are 150 adults and 40 children who come here for various programs, Gold said.

The agency that became TradeWinds was established in the 1940s to provide speech and occupational therapy services for children. Volunteers built the original rehabilitation center at 5901 W. 7th Ave. in Gary.

The name TradeWinds resulted from a contest in 1966 won by Brunswick Elementary student Greg Corwin, who said the nonprofit agency propels people with special needs to a better quality of life just as the TradeWinds propel sailors on the seas.

A group of business leaders, later officially named Pirates, continues to contribute to TradeWinds with more than $3.6 million in ongoing support.

In 2014, TradeWinds Services moved into its new home, the former AmeriClean building, at 3198 E. 83rd Place in Hobart.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.  A state lawmaker wants to clear the way for a casino in Terre Haute.

Republican Sen. Jon Ford is proposing legislation to move unused games held by the Rising Sun casino to Terre Haute. He tells the Tribune-Star (http://bit.ly/2h5m7lf ) that a new casino would create hundreds of jobs and millions in taxes for Indiana and local government.

The Rising Sun casino now operates in southeastern Indiana, near Cincinnati. Alex Stolyar of Full House Resorts, which operates Rising Sun, says Terre Haute could be a "prime market."

He says the city's location near the Illinois border could attract players from that state. Stolyar says he wants to stay a step ahead of any plans for a casino in Danville, Illinois.

If approved, a Terre Haute casino could be ready in 2019.

___
MILAN  The Tunisian man suspected in a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan during a routine patrol outside a train station, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

Anis Amri traveled from Germany through France and into Italy after Monday night's truck attack in Berlin, at least some of it by train, Italian police said. French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, which has increased surveillance on trains after recent French attacks and the one in Germany.

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers while he was alone outside the deserted station. But he also called for greater cross-border police cooperation, suggesting some dismay that Europe's open border policy had enabled Amri to move around easily despite being its No. 1 fugitive.

Amri, who shot one of the police officers in the shoulder, was identified by fingerprints supplied by Germany.

"The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack," said Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack outside Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in which a truck plowed into a Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 56. It also noted his death in Milan and released a video showing him pledging allegiance to the militant group.

Amri has been linked to an extremist recruitment network allegedly run by Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A., also known as Abu Walaa, a Germany-based preacher who was arrested last month, said Holger Muench, head of the Federal Criminal Police Office.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered an investigation into all angles of the case after it emerged that German authorities had tracked Amri for months on suspicion of planning an attack.

"We can be relieved at the end of this week that one acute danger has been ended," she said in Berlin. "But the danger of terrorism as a whole remains, as it has for many years  we all know that."

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert, with increased surveillance and police patrols. Italian officials stressed that the young officers who stopped Amri didn't suspect he was the Berlin attacker but rather grew suspicious because he was a North African man, alone outside a deserted train station at 3 a.m.

Amri, 24, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped during a routine patrol in Milan's Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his ID and was killed in an ensuing shootout.

Officer Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder and had surgery for what doctors said was a superficial wound. His 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

Amri had no ID or phone, carrying only a pocket knife and the .22-caliber pistol he used to shoot Movio, police said.

"He was a ghost," Milan police chief Antoio de Iesu said, adding that he was stopped because of basic police work, intensified surveillance "and a little luck."

Despite Amri's death, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the terrorist threat to the country "remains high" and security won't be scaled down.

Amri passed through France before arriving by train at Milan's central station where video surveillance showed him about 1 a.m. Friday, de Iesu said. A ticket indicated he traveled from Chambery, France, through Turin and into Milan, an Italian anti-terrorism official said.

De Iesu declined to provide further information. Germany's chief federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, said his office contacted Italian authorities to establish Amri's route.

A Milan anti-terrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation, said Amri made his way to the piazza outside the Sesto San Giovanni train station about 7.5 kilometers (nearly 5 miles) from the main station.

Authorities are still trying to determine how Amri got to the piazza because only a few buses operate at that hour.

"It is now of great significance for us to establish whether the suspect had a network of supporters or helpers in preparing and carrying out the crime, and in fleeing, whether there were accessories or helpers," Frank said.

Prosecutors also want to know whether Amri's gun was the same one used to shoot the Polish driver of the truck he had commandeered for the attack, Frank added. The driver was found dead in the vehicle's cab.

De Iesu confirmed the truck's cargo was loaded Dec. 16 in another Milan suburb, Cinisello Balsamo, before heading to Berlin, but said there was no evidence to connect it to Amri's presence nearby early Friday.

The Milan anti-terrorism official said investigators want to see if Amri had any contacts in Milan. There is no evidence he passed through Milan in his previous stay in Italy, after he left Tunisia following the 2011 Arab Spring.

Muench, of the German Federal Criminal Police Office, said Amri's name "has come up" in connection with the network centering on Abu Walaa, Muench said. Abu Walaa was arrested Nov. 8 with four other men and accused of leading a group whose aim was to steer people to the Islamic State group in Syria. Prosecutors say the network smuggled at least one young man and his family to Syria.

CNN reported that German investigative files it obtained detailed the extremist recruitment network raised funds through robberies and fraudulent loans, and used a common curriculum to try to get recruits for IS.

Amri's brother Abdelkader told The Associated Press the family wants to learn the "truth about my brother," but refused to comment on his death.

His family, which lives in the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia, wants his remains sent home from Italy. Tunisian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bouraoui Limam said it would "take a while" for the body to be repatriated because Italian, German and Tunisian investigators need to carry out their examinations.

Amri served 3 years in jail in Italy for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other things  but authorities apparently detected no signs he was becoming radicalized. He was transferred repeatedly among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections.

His mother said he went from there to Switzerland and then to Germany last year.

German authorities deemed him a potential threat long before the Berlin attack and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers and Tunisia initially denied he was a citizen. Authorities said he has used at least six different names and three nationalities.

Merkel said she told Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi the repatriation of Tunisians who aren't entitled to residency in Germany needs to be stepped up. Essebsi called for tighter cooperation to fight "the plague of terrorism that threatens the security and stability of all countries and all societies."

Tunisian authorities have insisted the reason it took so long to issue Amri's papers is that they needed to verify his identity, noting his numerous aliases.

Italy said it expelled a 37-year-old Tunisian who showed signs of radicalization while in jail, putting him on a flight to Tunis on Friday. It brought to 131 the number sent out of the country since January 2015.

___

Winfield reported from Rome. Frank Jordans and Geir Moulson in Berlin, and Bouazza ben Bouazza in Tunis, Tunisia, contributed.
GARY  The new moms sat in white rocking chairs, cradling or feeding their newborns, at the front of a crowded room.

The mothers were the stars of the show Wednesday at Community Healthnet, there to celebrate healthy deliveries and the fact they did it together.

The women had been meeting regularly, throughout their pregnancies, as part of Centering Pregnancy. The program offers group prenatal visits as a way to increase prenatal education and create a sense of community among expectant moms.

"One of the things I really enjoyed was it was like a family setting. I got to meet new people," said Patrice McGill, 22, of Merrillville, one of the moms who was graduating from the program Wednesday. Her son, Jarvion, is 8 weeks old. "And I liked it because it's more time. When you go to a regular visit, you're in and out. Here you have time to actually talk and get things out."

Centering Pregnancy is designed to reduce preterm births and low birth-weight babies, ultimately reducing the number of infant deaths. Gary has among the highest infant mortality rates of any city in the state, with 11.7 babies dying for every 1,000 live births from 2010 to 2014.

"Gary, Indiana, needs this program as much as anywhere in Indiana," said Leah Staples, the program's nurse midwife.

Of the 184 moms who have graduated Centering Pregnancy at Community Healthnet since 2012, only one has delivered prematurely and two have had low-birth weight babies. By comparison, in 2014, Lake County's preterm birth rate was 9.9 percent, while Indiana's rate of low-weight births was 8 percent, according to the March of Dimes and Kids Count Data Center.

Breanna Chavez, 29, of Schererville, had her first child, Isaac, who's 7 weeks old, while she was in Centering Pregnancy.

"I didn't know what questions I was supposed to ask, so this was nice because I got to hear other people's questions," she said. "Otherwise I would have had no idea what to expect at all."

On Wednesday, Community Healthnet also celebrated its Centering Pregnancy program becoming the first in Northwest Indiana to be certified by the Centering Healthcare Institute and welcomed Dr. Catherine Wilbert, the clinic's first full-time staff OB-GYN physician.

Another program graduate, Sariyah Wheaton, 20, of Gary, said that when her son, Christian, was breathing different recently, she didn't panic. She thought back to something she learned during Centering Pregnancy: that this was normal and was happening because he had his tongue on the roof of his mouth.

Program coordinator Marier Crisler said she has women tell her, "I didn't have to constantly go to the emergency room to find out what was wrong. I got my answer through Centering."

Dr. Janet Seabrook, executive director of Community Healthnet, said the Centering Pregnancy sessions are two hours each and feature much more education that is allowable in a traditional 10-to-15-minute office visit.

"The biggest thing you're building is a network or community of women who are going to help each other raise children together," Seabrook said. "You form groups or bond with women with similar due dates but who may not necessarily have gotten to know each other."
UPDATE 12/24/16, 11:02 A.M.

Law enforcement sources tell NY1 that police have dropped charges against Kevin Ozoria, 27. The decision was made because there was no evidence that Ozoria was actually behind the wheel during the crash.





Friends, family and fans said their final goodbyes to a beloved DJ Friday as a man was charged in connection with his death.

Mourners gathered at the RG Ortiz Funeral Home in Washington Heights to remember 39-year-old Jean Paul Guerrero.

The 39-year-old was hit and killed by a car in Brooklyn early Monday morning.

He was known as DJ Jinx Paul and worked at La Mega 97.9 FM.

Fans NY1 spoke with said they're devastated, but glad a suspect has been captured.

"It's a shame that it took him this long to turn himself in," said one fan. "We're all mourning the loss of a great guy. He's humble. He was great. He was caring. He was loving. Aalways made you feel welcome."

"It's justice for the family now that he can rest in peace. And I feel sorry more for the family and for his son," said another.

Kevin Ozoria, 27, was arrested in Guerrero's death.

Investigators say he turned himself in to police Friday.

Police believe he was behind the wheel of a black four-door sedan that hit Guerrero on Jamaica and Sheffield avenues in East New York.

He is now charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with physical evidence.

Guerrero's body will be flown to his home country of Ecuador for burial.
Fire investigators say a candle sparked the flames that ripped through a Manhattan apartment building Thursday night, hurting nearly two-dozen people.

Flames broke out at a 33-story building at 515 West 59th Street just before 5 p.m.

Officials say a candle lit a woman's clothes, leading to a disaster.

"She was wrapping Christmas gifts, and she had a bathrobe, loose clothing on, and some candles in the room, and the candles caught fire to her clothing. She removed the clothing and threw that on the floor or on a couch, I believe, and left the apartment. In doing so, she left the apartment door open," said Borough Commander Roger Sakowich of the FDNY.

Seventeen people were hurt, with two suffering critical injuries.

A 7-year-old girl had to be revived after she went into cardiac arrest.

Four firefighters were hurt as well, including one who suffered serious burns.

"I saw there was smoke, and then somebody called from upstairs, 'Call 911, call 911,'" one resident said.



"I knew enough to bring this wet towel and then cover the bottom of my door with wet rags, open the window and breathe through the window, because the smoke was coming in so quickly into my apartment," resident Vicky Barja recalled.

Fire officials said the four-alarm blaze started in a one-bedroom apartment on the third floor.

"We had heavy fire conditions on the third floor that basically incinerated a one-bedroom apartment. We had heavy winds blowing into the apartment," FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard said.

Those winds helped spread heavy smoke into the upper floors of the building.

Officials said the building is fireproof, so residents who stayed in their apartments were better off than those who tried to evacuate.

In fireproof building, if an apartment that is NOT yours is on fire, stay in your apt. Call 911, open windows, place towels under door  FDNY (@FDNY) December 23, 2016

Authorities said some of the victims went to the roof during the fire, something officials say residents should not do.

Officials returned to the building Friday to teach residents about fire safety.

They say it's crucial not to leave open flames unattended, and close any doors to contain a fire.
ROME  The Tunisian man suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan, ending a Europe-wide manhunt, Italy's interior minister said.

Checks conducted after the shootout showed "the person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the terrorist attack," Interior Minister Marco Minniti said.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Monday attack in Berlin, which killed 12 and injured 56 others.

Amri, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped by two officers during a routine police check in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood of Milan early Friday. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identity papers and was killed in the ensuing shootout.

One of the two officers was shot by Amri and is in the hospital, but his condition is not life-threatening, Minniti said. The other officer fatally shot Amri.



Amri's fingerprints were found in the truck that plowed into a crowd holiday market Monday and helped identify his body, according to German officials.

Italian soldiers patrol next to Milan's gothic cathedral, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. Following the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, Italy is strengthening security measures for areas where crowds are expected for Christmas ceremonies. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Officials said Amri first arrived at the city's central station on a train that had passed through France.



It was unclear how and when Amri traveled from Berlin to Milan. German authorities had issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for him on Wednesday, two days after the attack.

Authorities say Amri, 24, has used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.

He left Tunisia in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings and initially spent time in Italy.

He was repeatedly transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with prison records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections. He served 3.5 years for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other things  but Italy apparently detected no signs that he was becoming radicalized.

German authorities had deemed Amri, who arrived in the country last year, a potential threat long before the attack this week  and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers and Tunisia initially denied that he was a citizen.
LONDON  A little more than two years after a far-right, anti-immigrant militant killed 77 people, many of them teenagers, Norwegian voters ousted their center-left government on Monday, paving the way for the conservative leader, Erna Solberg, to assemble a governing coalition that may include an anti-immigration party.

Ms. Solberg, 52, a former Girl Scout leader nicknamed Iron Erna, will be Norways first conservative leader since 1990 and its second female prime minister.

We will give this country a new government, Ms. Solberg said after Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg conceded defeat.

The campaign had been centered largely on economic issues, like extending already generous welfare payments (Labor) versus cutting taxes and privatizing hospitals (Conservatives). But the massacre on the island of Utoya, where Anders Behring Breivik attacked youth members of the Labor Party on July 22, 2011, was never far from the surface.
LONDON  United States authorities have accused the British bank Barclays and two former executives of fraudulently misleading the public in the sale of tens of billions of dollars in securities backed by home mortgages.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Thursday in Federal District Court in Brooklyn after the two sides failed to reach a settlement despite months of talks.

The department has also been in settlement talks with other large European lenders, including Credit Suisse, as the end of the Obama administration nears. Late Thursday, Deutsche Bank said that it had reached a tentative $7.2 billion deal with the Justice Department to resolve a federal investigation into its sale of toxic mortgage securities after months of negotiations.

On Thursday, the Justice Department said Barclays actions in the packaging and sale of what are known as residential mortgage-backed securities in the years leading to the financial crisis injured tens of thousands of investors when the housing market collapsed. The lawsuit claims that Barclays  which has significant investment banking operations in New York  repeatedly misled investors about the quality of mortgages underlying 36 mortgage-backed securities from 2005 to 2007. Those deals securitized more than $31 billion in subprime and other mortgage loans, according to the complaint. The Justice Department said they turned out to be catastrophic failures.
Military analysts said Mr. Trumps post also sharply raised the pressure on Lockheed to lower the cost of the F-35 program, which is projected to cost $400 billion for 2,400 planes for the Air Force, the Marines and the Navy.

His suggestion that the F-35s and the F-18s were comparable also indicated that Mr. Trump was not yet fully up to speed on the technical characteristics of the jets, some analysts said.

The Super Hornet has been the Navys most successful carrier-based aircraft, but it doesnt reflect the latest technological refinements that the F-35 has, said Loren B. Thompson, who consults for Lockheed and works for a research group that is supported by all the major military contractors.

Lockheed has built 200 F-35s, which have stealth protection to make them less visible to enemy radar than earlier generations of planes. The F-35s can also fuse intelligence from many sensors and transmit it to other planes. The F-18s, however, can carry more weapons. Based on current prices, the F-18 costs roughly 30 percent less than the F-35.

As the cost of the F-35 program soared since its start in 2001, some Navy officials have worried that they could not afford as many F-35s as they would need. Analysts said the Air Force and the Marines still wanted the F-35, but the Navy had been headed toward a mix in which each carrier might have two squadrons of F-35s and two squadrons of F-18s.
The fashion designers Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta were longtime friends, socializing with their respective spouses in New York and in Mr. de la Rentas native Dominican Republic in the years before he died in 2014.

But the venerable fashion houses that carry their names are now engaged in a proxy-battle-turned-head-on-clash, one that centers on a young woman who was being groomed as the successor to one and ended up being hired away by the other.

Last week, Carolina Herrera filed suit against Oscar de la Renta, demanding that its new creative director cease working for the label immediately.

The creative director at the center of the conflict is Laura Kim, a 34-year-old designer who began working at Oscar de la Renta in 2003, while still in college, and left for Carolina Herrera in 2015 after being passed over for the role upon Mr. de la Rentas death. She joined Carolina Herrera in February as senior vice president for design, but submitted her resignation about four months later.
Franca Sozzani, under whose 28-year direction Italian Vogue reigned as a daring and often impious iconoclast on the newsstand, died on Thursday in Milan. She was 66.

Her death, after an unspecified yearlong illness, was announced by Jonathan Newhouse, the chairman and chief executive of Conde Nast International, which publishes Italian Vogue. In addition to being editor of that magazine, Ms. Sozzani had been since 1994 the editorial director of Conde Nast Italy, under the Conde Nast International umbrella.

From her earliest days at Italian Vogue (and before that, at Lei and Per Lui, two discontinued but historic Italian fashion magazines), Ms. Sozzani nurtured the careers of who would become the most important fashion photographers of a generation, among them Peter Lindbergh, Paolo Roversi, Bruce Weber and especially Steven Meisel, who for many years photographed all of its covers.

Photographers worshiped her for the unheard-of creative control she offered: She allowed them to choose their subjects and their models, and frequently nudged against (or gaily traipsed beyond) the limits of convention or decorum.
Anyone who has spent 48 minutes on the phone waiting for a customer service representative can identify with the mounting impatience of the title character in Ken Loachs scalding cinematic outcry, I, Daniel Blake.

Thats how long Daniel, a 59-year-old widowed carpenter recovering from a heart attack, waits to connect with a government representative in the first of many infuriating phone calls. Multiply that frustration a hundredfold, and you can imagine the Kafkian nightmare that Daniel endures as he seeks the restoration of his employment and support allowance from the British state after it was mysteriously taken away. Treated with suspicion, hostility and barely disguised contempt by low-level government officials, Daniel is required to supply exhaustive proof of his disability and of his futile job search.

Put simply, he is caught between two interconnected bureaucracies, one medical, the other employment related in an excruciating Catch-22 situation. He cant work until his doctors give him the O.K.; he has to look for a job when he should be resting. In the meantime, his meager resources are dwindling.

I, Daniel Blake is a powerful return to form for Mr. Loach, the much-honored left-wing British filmmaker who is now 80 and is still in full command as a filmmaker and a social critic. (He has the political outlook of a British Michael Moore.)
In Live by Night, Ben Affleck plays one of those romanticized antiheroes that movie stars love to suit up for, sometimes with a fedora. Over the decades these types have changed their looks and histories, but theres a sameness to how they escape the law and the routine hum of everyday life; how they use guns ruthlessly or reluctantly; skip out on church yet live by their own moral code; and inevitably rise to become masters of their worlds, as well as of the most beautiful women in the room. Theyre fantasies of power partly because no matter how hard this type falls, his power never truly corrupts.

Thats more or less what Mr. Affleck is hawking in Live by Night, a gangster movie set in the 1920s. He plays Joe Coughlin, a World War I veteran whos returned from the war with a mouth full of tough-guy talk that basically boils down to, I went away a soldier, I came home an outlaw. Mr. Affleck recites this line with a gravelly hush, as if he were spilling a secret, but whatever Joe has learned in the bloody fields of Europe remains mostly obscured; what speaks loudly is his proficiency with a gun and the easy way in which he shoots at a man in a uniform, even if that man wears a badge.
Michele Morgan, an elegant actress who escaped occupied France for Hollywood and went home to win the best actress award at the first Cannes Film Festival, in 1946, died on Tuesday in Meudon, France, just outside Paris. She was 96.

President Francois Hollande of France announced the death, calling Ms. Morgan a legend who made her mark on numerous generations.

The Nobel laureate Andre Gide once praised her natural and strange grace.

Ms. Morgan was just 26 but had already appeared in almost 20 European, British and American films when she starred as a young blind woman lusted after by a minister in Gides drama Pastoral Symphony (1946), directed by Jean Delannoy.

At the inaugural Cannes festival, a project dreamed up before World War II to compete with the Venice Film Festival, both she and the film won top prizes. Decades later, she presided over the awards jury at Cannes, which had become the worlds most prestigious film festival.
Whether this represents Gods vision or that of the priests, it is very much the point of view of the movies own creator. This overhead shot and others suggest that theres a divine aspect to the priests mission, an idea that Mr. Scorsese visually and narratively underlines in the Lazarus-like cave in which Rodrigues and Garupe first take shelter in Japan; in Rodriguess self-aggrandizing identification with Jesus; and, crucially, through the figure of Judas. As in Mr. Scorseses 1988 film, The Last Temptation of Christ, his messy, excitingly alive adaptation of that Nikos Kazantzakis novel, Judas must play a part in Silence because without him there can be no Jesus.

Once in Japan, Rodrigues and Garupe make contact with a village of hidden Christians, who live in fear of the authorities and a cobralike smiler known as the Inquisitor, Inoue (Issey Ogata, in one of the films strongest performances). By day, the priests hide in a small, cramped hut near the village; by night, they lead their new flock in dimly lighted rooms, delivering sermons in Latin, baptizing children and taking confession. Mr. Scorsese draws some modest, uneasy comedy from the linguistic and cultural differences between the priests and their congregation, as when a grabby, highly agitated woman begs the rather startled Garupe to hear her confession.

Despite the mugging from both confessor and confessed, the exchange feels forced and comes across as a bid to lighten the gloom; if anything, it turns a feverish plea for absolution into a bit of vaudeville. Theres something uncomfortably and literally childlike about this child of God, who, like the other villagers, with their pleading eyes and hands, seems like a relic from a white-savior myth. Kichijiro, who enters grunting and twitching, as if in homage to Toshiro Mifune, and grovels at the priests feet, also seems on hand as much for comic relief as for guidance. Yet, even as the film seems to share the outsider perspectives of Rodrigues and Garupe, instructively, it is the village elders  brilliantly played by Yoshi Oida and Shinya Tsukamoto  who give these scenes flesh, bone and pain.

Silence is based on the 1966 novel by the Japanese author Shusaku Endo that has attracted heavyweight admirers since it was first published. Graham Greene praised the novel, as did John Updike; for years, Mr. Scorsese tried to turn it into a film. (He wrote the foreword for a recent edition.) Filled with reams of religious dialogue, the novel fictionalizes history  the 17th-century purging of Christianity in Japan  as a means to explore religious faith and cultural difference. What preoccupies Endo is whether Western Christianity can take root in what the Inquisitor describes as this swamp of Japan, which seems inhospitable to outside forces. Its a story of God, nation and myth.

Its easy to understand Mr. Scorseses interest in the novel and specifically in the character of Rodrigues. Despite the priests piety, black vestments and narrative prominence, he is no more a Hollywood hero than most of Mr. Scorseses falling and fallen men, with their arrogance and vanity. Rodrigues cowers in fear, recoils from his flock and assures himself of the goodness that the church  and he, by extension  has brought. (He pities the worshipers but is proud of his ministering.) His faith, including in himself, sustains Rodrigues, but even as he tends to the souls of the hidden Christians he fails to ease their earthly suffering. God is silent; in a way, so is this most ardent missionary.
A few days before Christmas two years ago two tractor-trailers wended through the snow from the Hamptons on Long Island to the tiny mountain town of Tannersville, N.Y., squealing to a stop on Main Street.

Roll gates lifted to reveal a bounty little seen in the peaks of the Catskills: Edwardian gowns, Victorian dresses, flapper shifts, soda fountain poodle skirts, hippie bell bottoms and 1980s power suits  all told, 2,000 pieces of vintage clothing arriving at their new, humbler home. So, too, did Lucy Martin, the 71-year-old seeking, like the clothing she spent a lifetime collecting and selling, a second chance.

The clothes had journeyed from the seaside to the mountains. Today, her shop, Out of the Closet Vintage, sits in Tannersville  elevation about 2,000 feet, year-round population under 1,000. But the first two decades of Out of the Closet were spent in Bridgehampton, in a two-story white country house in the center of town.

With a fluttering dress as its signpost, it was a favorite of fashion designers, stylists and the well heeled and well dressed. They burrowed into the quaint rooms packed with kaleidoscopic Pucci pants, Chanel purses and all manner of clothing from what seemed to be every era ever.
Were we to review the year in terms of gastronomic controversies, we might begin and end with the debate over chopped cheese. If your life in New York is purposely dull and cloistered, confined to the Caviar meal-delivery service, Showtime and the obsessive monitoring of Brooklyn real estate listings, then the furor over the sandwich  alternately known as chopped or chop cheese  may have escaped your notice entirely. If that is the case, you are, in effect, part of the problem, as disconnected as the reporter who ventured uptown and discovered the sandwich, a longtime offering at bodegas in the Bronx and Harlem, with the surprise of someone coming upon a new moon near Uranus.

The story begins early in the year with a video segment produced by the website Insider, featuring a millennial correspondent who sampled the chopped cheese (a combination of chopped ground beef, American cheese and condiments, piled on a hero) and described it as something most New Yorkers had never heard of, a steal at $4. This in turn prompted a very funny and popular video by a young comedian, Jeffrey Almonte, mocking Insiders tone-deafness and, by extension, the general dopiness of gentrifiers. What erupted was a conversation about whether the sandwich had been Columbused  which is to say found  when it had, in fact, existed all along. There were accompanying questions of exploitation, given that the chopped cheese had then become the subject of more extravagant variations in more rarefied places.

Last month, a short documentary, Hometown Hero: The Legend of New Yorks Chopped Cheese, made its way online, envisioning, in part, further abuses: Would we awaken one day to find chopped cheese on a panini? Peak horror was reached recently, when the Whole Foods on West 59th Street briefly sold a chopped cheese for $8, out of a cart labeled, 1492, as if to say: Youre worried about Columbusing? Well give you the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria! Internet rage followed. The cart, in fact, is a permanent fixture in the store, meant as a nod to its Columbus Circle location. On the day I visited, it was serving up nachos, to no obvious complaints of ethnic thievery.
Self-policing does not work, said Eric Soufer, Mr. Schneidermans communications director and senior counsel for policy. Its like the fox guarding the henhouse.

The attorney general was not alone in reacting negatively to the governors idea. On Thursday, a collection of government watchdog groups condemned the proposal, saying in a letter it would effectively weaken the independent oversight authority of the state comptroller and the attorney general.

Last week, Thomas P. DiNapoli, the comptroller, asked the governor to restore his powers to monitor the state and city university systems spending and state contracts. He said his authority in those areas had been substantially reduced by executive and legislative actions during Mr. Cuomos time in office.

The possibility of a special session has been percolating since last month, when a commission formed to evaluate a raise for lawmakers and members of the executive branch disbanded after Mr. Cuomos appointees helped block approval of a raise proposal.

Mr. Cuomo, who has a reputation for wielding a heavy hand in all things Albany, then offered up the basics of a possible deal: supporting a salary increase in exchange for action on ethics and other policy proposals.

The governors overt quid pro quo irked legislative leaders and members, but did not stop negotiations: Talks were continuing on Thursday, with lawmakers being contacted about their holiday-season availability. A special session could be convened as early as Tuesday.

Any deal still faces hurdles, including the raise itself. The idea is popular among downstate members, for whom living on the $79,500 base salary is a challenge, but less so for those from more conservative, and less expensive, areas in upstate and western New York.
Franck Bohbot is a photographer from Paris who has shot grand spaces  sumptuous theaters, the Louvre  and when he moved to New York a few years ago he brought the same gravitas to a local architectural attraction: the houses of Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, which every December become what is known as the Dyker Lights.

This time of year, the houses are draped in Christmas lights and surrounded by the usual characters: reindeer, snowmen, very oversize snowflakes. They attract thousands of tourists, who arrive by the busload after dark to take in the latest in extreme holiday decorating.
Mr. Lipsky requested an exemption from the judge who had sentenced him, Jed S. Rakoff of Federal District Court in Manhattan. But the United States Labor Department opposed the motion. It argued that Mr. Lipsky had failed to clearly demonstrate that he had been rehabilitated and could not be trusted not to endanger the organizations in the position he seeks.

But Judge Rakoff, saying he was satisfied that Mr. Lipsky had been rehabilitated, issued a ruling this week that granted his request, making him eligible to consult for the union.

In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Lipsky said he was relieved at the decision, which comes amid a national debate over incarceration policies that has focused less on white-collar criminals like him. But Mr. Lipsky said his predicament, as someone with education and decades of professional experience, underscored the obstacles all prisoners face in trying to reintegrate into society and become productive again.

Imagine the 19-year-old kid who has a drug conviction and cant get a Pell grant and cant get public housing and is really stymied from trying to turn their lives around, Mr. Lipsky, 69, said.

The collateral consequences of convictions  ineligibility for government benefits, suspension or revocation of drivers licenses, and recidivism  have been widely debated. The issue has been taken up by writers like Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, and by judges like Frederic Block of federal court in Brooklyn, who in May sentenced a woman in a drug case to probation rather than prison, saying the impact of a conviction would be punishment enough.
Even as Ridgewood, Queens, undergoes rapid transformations as one of New Yorks neighborhoods du jour, Rudys Bakery and Cafe, on Seneca Avenue, remains loyal to its old-school identity. The soda-shop signage and unflashy storefront seem to be working just fine for this 82-year-old business.

Weve never changed anything, Antonetta Binanti, whose family bought the business 36 years ago, said of the shops decor. Actually, there will be a slight change in the coming weeks: A wobbly front-door hinge will be replaced for the first time.

The awning bears the inscription konditorei  bakery in German, the language and ethnicity of the shops founders. Plenty of classic German baked goods are still offered daily, like apple strudel ($3) and blueberry crumb turnovers ($3.50), as well as seasonal offerings like stollen (sweet bread embedded with dried fruit, popular at Christmas) or pfeffernusse (spice cookies).

We still have the old recipes, said Ms. Binanti, 55, referring to the German pastries. Ive just added onto them. Which is to say: The traditional recipes stay untouched, while new treats are constantly being developed, sampled and sold.
Q. Im a frequent traveler, and Ive noticed that airport security agents seem to confiscate a lot of food, liquor and other items at checkpoints. What do the airports do with these items?

A. That depends. If you are flying domestic, there is one set of rules, and another set if you are going through customs after an international flight.

If youre arriving at Kennedy International Airport or Newark Liberty International with a handful of authentic Greek chestnuts, for example, they will be roasted over an open fire  and ultimately incinerated. That is according to Anthony L. Bucci, a public affairs specialist at United States Customs and Border Protection. (There is no customs or border control facility at La Guardia Airport, he said.)

Once we seize a food product, its destroyed, either through a grinding room we have in the terminal or, if its something very fibrous that cant be ground, well make an incinerator run, Mr. Bucci said.
Apple is saying, we want to pay one low price and not have to deal with any of your patents again, Clem Roberts, an intellectual property lawyer at Durie Tangri in San Francisco, said. Nokia is saying, I dont want that low price because my patents are worth more than that.

The fight underscores just how much todays smartphones rely on an earlier generation of technology. It also shows how cellphone pioneers like Nokia, Ericsson of Sweden and Motorola, whose patents are now owned by Google, are still trying to profit from the industry in which they are now bit players, at best.

Obviously, the iPhone was not created on a green field but was built on what others created before Apple, said Florian Mueller, a German iPhone app developer and former consultant to technology companies who has followed the cellphone patent wars. On the other hand, the iPhone was a paradigm shift. It was more of a mobile computer than a mobile phone.

Patent disputes are common in the technology industry. This month, for instance, Samsung won a partial victory over Apple when the United States Supreme Court ruled that it should not have to give up all of its phone profits for copying the look of Apples iPhone. Google, part of Alphabet, won a similar case against Oracle in May after it was accused of copying software code used for Android, the search giants smartphone operating system.

But the tactics are evolving as the law and technology change.

When the Supreme Court a decade ago limited the leverage that patent owners had to stop sales of a product that violated their patents, it empowered patent users to play hardball in negotiations, Mr. Roberts, the intellectual property lawyer, said.
David Berry, a playwright and screenwriter best known for the play and film The Whales of August, died on Dec. 16 at his home in Brooklyn. He was 73.

The cause was a heart attack, his ex-wife, Robin Schmidt, said.

The Whales of August, about two elderly sisters summering off the coast of Maine, was inspired by Mr. Berrys childhood memories of aunts who had a cottage there. It was presented at the WPA Theater in Lower Manhattan, starring Bettie Indrizzi and Elizabeth Council.

Mr. Berry wrote the screenplay for the 1987 movie version, directed by Lindsay Anderson and starring Bette Davis, Lillian Gish, Vincent Price and Ann Sothern. It was Ms. Gishs last film.
3.) William Finnegans Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life: Mr. Radnor tends to read many books at once, which is actually a problem, and he was still in the middle of this memoir. Its a lot about surfing, which Im kind of weirdly obsessed with without knowing how to do it well at all. He had to learn a few years ago for the Jill Soloway movie Afternoon Delight. Now, he said, I just love to sit and watch. Theres something so meditative about it.

4.) Alberto Moravias Contempt: This Italian novel from 1954 makes a brief appearance in Babylon Line, whose unhappily married central character, Aaron, played by Mr. Radnor, mentions it to the flirtatious Joan, played by Elizabeth Reaser. Its very dark and quite wonderful, Mr. Radnor said. And you can see how that informs Aaron and even Joans ideas about masculinity and marriage and suffocation.

5.) Lonny Prices Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened: Its a documentary about Merrily We Roll Along, the original production in 1981, the Sondheim that was a huge flop. The actors were 16 to 25, playing middle-aged people who age backward. Now theyre all in their 50s, and they look back on this thing that they thought was going to be that didnt happen, and it kind of follows how that affected them. You must see it. Its so beautiful.
Well over 100 death sentences in Florida are invalid and must go back to trial courts for resentencing, the State Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, potentially placing a major burden on prosecutors, defense lawyers and the courts.

The court vacated most capital sentences imposed since a 2002 ruling by the United States Supreme Court, but said that its decision did not apply to older sentences. That creates an odd situation: Procedures were considered valid for some death row cases, but not for others. In cases that followed identical procedures for death row inmates, some are considered valid while some are not.

The court said its ruling did not overturn any convictions or set anyone free. In cases in which execution is ruled out, the result would be a life prison sentence.

The difference is not guilt or innocence but, instead, life or death, the court wrote in ruling on the case of John F. Mosley, a death row inmate.
He said he didnt speak of his experience for more than 40 years.

Preserving a Legacy

At the end of 2015, while living in Mexico, Mr. Anderson met Kathleen Watterson, who was living in Las Vegas, in a political chat room. They quickly became friends, and he decided to relocate to southern Nevada.

Ms. Watterson knew him only as the author Will Hart and had no inkling of his past. But in April, Mr. Anderson finally confided his secret. For some reason, he trusted her.

I have something to tell you, he began. Youve probably seen me before. My real name is Craig Anderson. Im one of the Intrepid Four.

Then he related the story of how a decision he made at 20 had recast his entire life.

Mr. Anderson is considering a visit to his old ship, the now-retired Intrepid, which serves as a military museum in New York City and features a small exhibit of the Intrepid Four.

Recently, he spoke with another Intrepid Four member, John Barilla, who lives in Canada. The other two remained in Sweden.

I recognized his voice, Mr. Barilla said. It was still there, the old Craig, after 40 years.

They relived what Mr. Barilla called our magical mystery tour.

It was fantastic, he said. I didnt realize that when I was in it.
For example, the report stated as fact that Mr. Snowden stole 1.5 million documents, a vast majority of which were unrelated to electronic surveillance or any issues associated with privacy and civil liberties. The notion that he took all those files to Hong Kong is a foundational premise for more alarming interpretations of his actions.

However, intelligence officials have said that the government was unable to determine which files he took, and that the 1.5 million figure was based on how many files were touched by an indexing program that Mr. Snowden used to trawl N.S.A. servers. The unredacted portions of the report do not indicate whether the panel learned anything new to clear up that murkiness.

Still, the report offered some new information about Mr. Snowdens actions leading to the leaks, including descriptions of episodes in which he tussled with various supervisors.

The report described a June 2012 clash in which Mr. Snowden, then a Dell contractor working as a systems administrator at the N.S.A.s outpost in Hawaii, uploaded a patch to fix a security vulnerability on a set of servers, which then crashed. A middle manager sent a group email chastising him for not having tested it first.

In a reply email in which Mr. Snowden copied a senior manager in Washington, the report said, he accused the middle manager of focusing on evasion and finger-pointing rather than problem resolution. The senior manager sharply rebuked Mr. Snowden, replying that under no circumstances will any contractor call out or point fingers at any government manager whether you agree with their handling of an issue or not.

The report portrayed this episode as potential motivation for Mr. Snowdens decision to begin illicitly copying documents, which it said he started just a few weeks later, on July 12, 2012. It contrasted that timeline with Mr. Snowdens later statement that the breaking point was false testimony by James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, in March 2013.
BERLIN  He left Tunisia, his family said, with dreams of making money and buying a car. After arriving in Italy, he was a violent inmate who spent time in six jails. In Germany, he was one of some 550 people identified as dangers to the state and placed under special surveillance.

Yet Anis Amri, who turned 24 on Thursday, was able to ignore deportation orders and brushes with the law, roaming freely until he apparently hijacked a truck and rammed it into a Christmas market in Berlin this week, killing 12 and wounding dozens. He was killed early Friday on the outskirts of Milan in a shootout with the police.

Mr. Amris life and odyssey underscore a vexing problem, common in Europe: how to handle hundreds of thousands of virtually stateless wanderers who are either unwilling or unable to return home.

Many are trying to integrate. Some are slated for deportation, only to melt into society. By their own intention or because of the authorities failings, some, like Mr. Amri, slip through the fingers of law enforcement.
BERLIN  Two brothers suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in Oberhausen, in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, have been arrested, the police said early Friday.

The brothers, 28 and 31, were born in Kosovo. They were arrested in Duisburg. The authorities acted on information provided by security sources, the police said in a statement.

It was not clear if there was any connection with Mondays attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, which killed 12 people.

The names of the brothers were not released, and the police provided no further details on what had led to the arrests.
ROME  A court in Florence on Thursday convicted a Senegalese migrant of murdering an American woman who was strangled and beaten in her Florence apartment early this year.

The migrant, Cheik Tidiane Diaw, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the death of the woman, Ashley Ann Olsen, a 35-year-old from Summer Haven, Fla., whom he met at a nightclub on Jan. 7. Prosecutors had asked for a life sentence, the strongest possible punishment in Italy.

Hard to say we are happy. But we gave Justice to Ashleys family! Ms. Olsens lawyer, Michele Capecchi, said in a post on Twitter on Thursday. Priceless satisfaction for the verdict.

Ms. Olsen was a well-known figure in the international art community in Florence, where she had moved to join her father, an architecture and art teacher.
Jens Risom, the Danish furniture maestro who helped bring midcentury modern design to the United States through his work with Knoll Studio, died on Dec. 9 at his home in New Canaan, Conn. He was 100.

His death was confirmed by a friend, Mark Jespersen.

Defined by sharp Scandinavian lines and fused with the rustic aura of Shakerism and American arts and crafts, the armless, affordable chair that became Mr. Risoms signature in 1942 was one of the first mass-produced modernist furniture pieces introduced in the United States and not Europe.

It both introduced Knoll as one of the worlds most enduring quality furniture brands and helped make great mass design palatable to American consumers, who continue to buy Mr. Risoms chair 74 years later, in every possible color and fabric, through Knoll and Design Within Reach.

Today, the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum all have Risom selections in their permanent collections. Hundreds of high-end vintage dealers collect and sell Mr. Risoms black leather benches and walnut magazine stands on the antiques site 1stdibs. A recent auction for six vintage wastepaper baskets by Mr. Risom netted $10,625 with Wright, the countrys leading modern design house.
The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus completed a deal on Thursday to sell 100 jetliners to Iran, a move described by both sides as a major step toward revitalizing Irans aged commercial fleet after years of sanctions and economic isolation.

The sale came a few weeks after the Boeing Company, Airbuss American rival, signed its own deal to sell 80 aircraft to Iran, one of the most prominent commercial transactions between the United States and Iran in decades.

Both sales were possible because of provisions in the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers that took effect nearly a year ago, which lifted many sanctions on Iran in exchange for its verifiable pledges of peaceful nuclear work.

Despite sharp criticism of the nuclear agreement by President-elect Donald J. Trump and the Republican-led Congress, and the possibility that they could subvert it, both aviation companies moved forward with their deals, which were in the works for months.
JERUSALEM  An Arab member of Israels Parliament was arrested on Thursday after being accused of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners, capping days of fractious debate that raised questions about the nature of loyalty and identity in a predominantly Jewish state.

Basel Ghattas, 60, a magazine publisher who joined the Knesset in 2013, was taken into custody by the police just hours after agreeing to surrender his legislative immunity. Such a move is extremely rare in Israel, although in recent years a former prime minister and a president have been charged with corruption and rape and later sent to prison.

Anyone who smuggles cellphones to imprisoned murderers understands that their use could lead to further acts of terror and murder and is therefore dangerous to the public and belongs behind bars, Gilad Erdan, the public security minister, said on Israel radio.

In a video he posted on his Facebook page before his arrest on Thursday, Mr. Ghattas said he had agreed to accept his immunity being lifted a day after a legislative committee voted unanimously to do so, but denied the allegations against him. He said that his continuous efforts to assist prisoners was a personal commitment and he did not regret anything he had done.
LONDON  Sherlock, the world-conquering BBC television adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyles famous stories, has always been a male duo, an awkward bromance that helped make international stars of Benedict Cumberbatch as the hero and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson. But the introduction of Mary Morstan, Dr. Watsons fiancee-to-be, turned the show into something more like a three-hander.

I like him, Mary announced upon meeting Sherlock Holmes at the start of Season 3, after the hero  who had apparently died in a suicidal plunge at the end of Season 2  turned up during Dr. Watsons proposal to Ms. Morstan over dinner. Short story: alive, he told a stunned and furious Watson, who had been mourning his friends death for two years.

Her reaction tells you a lot, said Mark Gatiss, who created the show with Steven Moffat. She doesnt give Watson the sympathy he wants. Its a clue to what will happen later.

A lot happens later. When Season 4 of Sherlock debuts on Jan. 1 in both Britain and the United States (on Masterpiece on PBS), viewers will already know (look away now if you dont!) that Mary (Amanda Abbington) is a former major-league assassin, desperate to hide her past from her husband. But Mary also provides a substantial presence that amplifies the supporting roles of the shows other important female characters: Molly (Louise Brealey), a pathologist in love with Sherlock, and Mrs. Hudson (Una Stubbs), his landlady.
BOOKS FOR LIVING

By Will Schwalbe

272 pp. Alfred A. Knopf. $25.95.

In his new collection of essays, Will Schwalbe points out that all books are at the mercy of the readers mood. And not just books  every piece of art. Schwalbe quotes the 19th-century critic John Ruskin: When I have been unhappy, I have heard an opera from end to end, and it seemed the shrieking of winds; when I am happy, a sparrows chirp is delicious to me. . . . It is not the chirp . . . but I that makes it sweet.

Luckily for Schwalbe, I was in a pretty good mood when I read his book (this was before Nov. 8). So I can report that I very much enjoyed it. I found it inspiring and charming  a bit fusty at times, but endearingly so. If Id been in a bad mood, I might have focused more on how it wasnt quite as emotional as his previous book, The End of Your Life Book Club, which was about the literature he discussed with his dying mother.

Schwalbes new book is less narrative, more episodic. It consists of essays on 26 books that changed his life. Schwalbe chose an eclectic Cobb salad of volumes  fiction and nonfiction, old and new, famous and obscure  and he draws a lesson from each.

My favorite of Schwalbes essays are the ones that praise underappreciated values, those sometimes incorrectly categorized as vices. Theres an ode to loafing and lounging, inspired by the now-forgotten book The Importance of Living, by the Chinese scholar Lin Yutang. Theres a piece on how its O.K. to blow off your friends and stay at home, tied to Anne Morrow Lindberghs Gift From the Sea.
Tracing Mauras roots to a patriotic Bronx childhood suffused with religious imagery and brimming with stories about her immigrant fathers dedication to the cause of Irish independence, the author explains why the Maryknoll order was a natural home for someone who cared so lovingly for others and wanted to alleviate their pain. Markey also explores Mauras own doubts about her worthiness for such a vocation. The story, a bit ponderous at the beginning, at least for this nonreligious reviewer, picks up once Maura arrives in Nicaragua in 1959 and gets involved with the needs and hopes of her parishioners. It then accelerates even more dramatically once the community she had come to worship as the living embodiment of Jesus joined the Sandinista insurgency destined to topple the corrupt and tyrannical Somoza regime. The final chapters chart Mauras experience in El Salvador after she answered, not without some trepidation, the call by Archbishop Romero (himself assassinated during Mass a few months before her own death) for Maryknoll sisters to assist the church at a moment when its children, the peasants and squatters of his country, were being persecuted in ways reminiscent of early Christians under the Roman Empire.

Her final months of activism  ferrying refugees out of conflict zones, offering sanctuary to survivors of massacres, transporting food and medical supplies to faraway and wounded communities, documenting atrocities in case prosecution might someday be viable  resonated with me personally. At the time, in 1980, my wife and I lived in exile from our native Chile, where a similar resistance was growing against Gen. Augusto Pinochets dictatorship. And just as members of the clergy in Chile were targeted by the military authorities for their part in the struggle, so too were the churchwomen in El Salvador for defending the human rights of people they saw as blessed temples of the Lord.

Maura and her colleagues chose to ignore the death threats they began to receive, insisting that the Good Shepherd does not abandon the flock to the wolves. And so it was that the wolves descended upon them, their broken and mutilated bodies meant as a lesson in fear. If even American nuns could be killed with impunity, who then was safe?

Eileen Markey has meticulously researched the many fluctuations of her subjects journey, visiting each place Maura inhabited, parsing government cables and memos, combing through thousands of private letters, interviewing scores of men and women whose lives were touched by the martyred nun, with no fact, factor or marginal event left unreported. I sympathize with this passionate urge to help the dead speak, rescue a voice of love that has been silenced forever by violence. And yet, that exhaustive zeal can also be somewhat, well, exhausting. Do we really need to learn about the trips of Mauras innumerable relatives, or that being home was delicious and be immediately reminded in the same paragraph that it was heaven to be home? Surely its unnecessary to reiterate every few pages that Maura had a beautiful smile, conveying all over again how open, conciliatory and friendly she was? I could go on with other instances where some judicious editing would have been welcome, but none of these minor limitations make the book any less important.

Because this is not only the story of one woman. It personifies a movement, a generation, an era in history. The old-fashioned church that Maura entered, that preached obedience and submission, changed after the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council and the Medellin bishops conference of 1968, opening the door to a fiery theology of liberation. The nuns now felt compelled to denounce the hierarchies that condemned so many people . . . to poverty and demand that the church itself, conservative and male-dominated, examine its own role in the unequal distribution of wealth and power. For many who served in religious orders  and Maura is a shining example  this new understanding of the Gospel meant siding with revolution against dictatorship, even at the risk of sharing the fate of a God of the poor who had died on the cross. And, in the case of Maura and many of her religious co-workers, it also meant realizing that her country, the United States, was aiding and abetting the very tyrannies that kept el pueblo de Dios in bondage. Her critique of American foreign policy and Cold War complicity in war crimes is made all the more striking when one considers that the officer who led the death squad that executed her and another who gave the orders had been trained at the School of the Americas, an institution run by the United States that continues to this day to educate the military of Latin America despite persistent calls to shut it down.
Under one version of an accountable care program set up by Medicare, groups are eligible for a portion of what they save in medical costs if they also meet certain quality goals. In 2014, most of the groups failed to deliver sufficient savings and quality improvements to earn extra money. Medicare has since adjusted its criteria, partly to allow for greater local variations.

Cornerstone stood out as an exception. It was one of fewer than 100 that received a portion of the savings, and its quality scores were among the highest. The practice was able to sharply reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits by keeping better tabs on its sickest patients, making sure they regularly saw their doctors.

It offered walk-in clinics that were open evenings and weekends, so patients had better access to care, and offered special programs to help patients with the most complicated medical conditions.

Among its patients was Patricia Britt, 69, who was found to have multiple sclerosis at 40. She was also overweight and had diabetes and high cholesterol. In 2013, she had a stroke, leaving her bedridden, with her right side paralyzed, staring at the ceiling.

Then one day, Dr. Edgar Maldonado, a Cornerstone doctor, came to her house.

Immediately, he talked to me and tried to get me to talk, Ms. Britt said, recalling that she could barely respond because of all the medicine she was taking. I didnt say much to him, but I really couldnt.

Over the next several months, Dr. Maldonado visited as often as once a week, spending two hours sometimes, until Ms. Britt was well enough to travel to his office. The doctor cut her medicines to nine pills a day, from 28, and started her on an intensive physical therapy program.

She can now get around with the help of a brace, has lost nearly 60 pounds and is no longer a diabetic. While she sees the doctor less frequently these days, she said the office is in constant communication.
Congressional reports can be a snooze. But that is not how Id characterize Wednesdays in-depth account of price gouging among prescription drug makers. The 130-page narrative prepared by the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging was juicy, detailing how four pharmaceutical companies have taken advantage of our health care system to enrich themselves and their executives, harming patients and taxpayers.

Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine who is chairwoman of the committee, and Claire McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri who is its ranking member, published the report. But in a statement, they said their work was not finished and called for continued efforts to stop bad actors who are acquiring drugs that have been off-patent for decades and driving up their prices solely because they can.

The report focused on Retrophin, Rodelis Therapeutics, Turing Pharmaceuticals and an old favorite, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. But these four companies are not alone in pursuing the pernicious price-hike business model, the committee noted. Other companies take the same approach, hurting taxpayers, patients and the health care system.

Thats for sure.

It is unclear where the Senate may set its sights next. But fresh Medicare data points to a candidate right in Ms. McCaskills backyard: St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt PLC. It makes H.P. Acthar Gel, a 1950s vintage, off-patent drug whose cost has rocketed from $40 a vial in 2001 to $38,000 today.
HONG KONG  An Australian gambling company has rejected a bid worth as much as $5.5 billion from a consortium that includes major Wall Street money, saying the figures underpinning it are at turns too low and too high.

Tatts Group, an Australian gambling operator, said on Friday that it rejected the bid from a group of financial investors that included the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

Tatts had already agreed in October to be acquired by Tabcorp, a rival Australian betting company. It said on Friday it decided to stick with the original agreement after concluding that the bid from the consortium was not superior. As a result, it said, it would not engage in discussions about the proposal or allow the group to start any due diligence.

As well as K.K.R., the bidding group  called the Pacific Consortium  includes the Australian fund First State Super, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Macquarie, the Australian bank.
The chef Mark Ladner, who has led the kitchen of the opulent Italian restaurant Del Posto since it opened in 2005, will leave at the end of January.

But instead of decamping to another high-end destination (boutique hotels are currently popular among chefs at loose ends), he is diving into the world of upscale fast food with a quick-serve restaurant, Pasta Flyer, that he hopes to develop into a chain. The first outlet is under construction in Greenwich Village.

Mario Batali, an owner of Del Posto, in Chelsea, said that in February the restaurant will introduce a menu from the new executive chef, Melissa Rodriguez, who was Mr. Ladners chef de cuisine. She will be the first woman to head the kitchen of a New York City restaurant that has received four stars from The New York Times.

Mr. Ladner joins a growing club of fine-dining chefs who are branching into what the industry calls the fast-casual segment. An idea that began with nostalgic dabbling in burgers and fries by the restaurateur Danny Meyer at Shake Shack is now seen by many chefs as a commercial lifeline  easily replicated and profitable on a large scale  that can subsidize a larger business, or save a career.
As she told me during an interview I did in 2013 for The Financial Times, Heres what I think: Fashion isnt really about clothes. Its about life. Everyone can afford fashion on some level, everyone can talk about it. So what else can we say? We cant always be writing about flowers and lace and aquamarine.

So she didnt. She had a blog she wrote herself, though she never claimed to be a writer, in which she discussed a range of topics, such as Kanye West, carbon emissions and her work in Africa as a good-will ambassador for Fashion 4 Development. When cranky comments were posted, she left them up. She wasnt immune to criticism, but she also never let it force her to back down from something she believed. It is worth noting that, along with Botticelli, Mr. Levy also compared Ms. Sozzani to a character out of Stendhal.

In September, a documentary on her life by her son, Francesco Carrozzini, had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and she told me that she had been nervous about it. She hadnt wanted to appear on film, talking about herself, but she agreed because her child asked her. Then, when she saw a cut, she thought, I was crazy to do it. She was worried about the way viewers would judge her choices. But its O.K., she said finally. Whats the worst thing that can happen? They say, I dont like it?

At a time when so much of what designers and magazines and stores do has become a numbers game calculated by market research and page views and what sold well last season, her example argues for the opposite. She took risks. They didnt always end well. But more often than not, she was proved right. The black issue of 2008 (designed, not coincidentally, at a time when the United States was preparing to elect its first black president), which featured only models of color, sold out twice  the first time in the United States and Britain in 72 hours  and has become a collectors item. In 2012, she got the implicit endorsement of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations when he appeared on the cover of an issue of LUomo Vogue entitled Rebranding Africa.

All of which is why I would have loved to have seen how she would have addressed the current state of things. How she would have challenged our eyes and our minds. It is doubtful that whoever replaces her at Italian Vogue will feel quite the same impetus to provoke. But that person shouldnt have to. If Franca taught us anything, it was that it isnt the responsibility of one magazine or one editor to address  or dress  the world. The onus of comment, written in pictures or on the page, belongs to us all.
Who might benefit from a clinical trial for an experimental cancer treatment?

A common misperception is that such trials are strictly for patients who have reached the end of the road and have no more hope of being helped by standard treatments.

But its not last-ditch, said Dina G. Lansey, the assistant director for diversity and inclusion in clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. New forms of immunotherapy are being tested in many types of cancer, and not just at late stages.

Doctors should head off the misunderstanding by routinely mentioning clinical trials early in a patients care as a possible future option, Ms. Lansey said. That way, patients may be less likely to believe it is being sprung on them because hope has run out.

Its less scary if you hear it early on, she said.

But patients themselves are often the ones who seek out clinical trials, rather than waiting for doctors to refer them.
Earlier this year, we confirmed the ancestry of several readers who wrote in to tell us that they believed their ancestors were among the 272 slaves sold in 1838 to help keep Georgetown University afloat. I thought we might be successful again. So I pulled together a list of 16 slaves with uncommon surnames and punched them into the search engine at Ancestry, a website that helps people trace family history through archival records and DNA testing. I hit a brick wall.

I reached out to Ancestry to see if someone there could help. They connected me to Crista Cowan, a genealogist for the company. She was intrigued by my request, she said, particularly given the larger national discussion about race, which, of course, leads into a sobering discussion of slavery. She was hopeful, but well aware that our search might prove fruitless.

The vast majority of African-Americans did not appear in the census by name until 1870, so it is difficult to locate those who lived before the Civil War. Newspapers at the time rarely reported on the births, deaths, marriages and other family milestones of African-Americans. Journals and letters penned by slaves? They are exceedingly rare because slaves were typically barred by law from learning to read or write.

Its heartbreaking, Ms. Cowan said. But its the reality of doing research into their lives.

In June, I sent Ancestry my list of enslaved laborers along with the names of the slave owners who insured them. (You can find the names of the hundreds of slaves insured by New York Life and other companies in the state of Californias Slavery Era Insurance Registry.)
More than five months after a mysterious substance exploded in Central Park, blowing off the lower part of a 19-year-old mans left leg, many questions about the episode persist.

Law enforcement officials continue to believe the blast may have been the result of an amateurs experiment with homemade explosives. But they have yet to determine why the explosive was in the park or to identify a suspect or make an arrest.

On Friday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is investigating the explosion along with the New York Police Department, said it would offer a $12,500 reward for information that led to a suspect, bringing the total amount of reward money being offered by law enforcement agencies in connection with the blast to $25,000.

The authorities also asked for anyone to come forward who might have taken photographs or videos near the explosion site, around the entrance to the park at 60th Street and Fifth Avenue, in the days before the blast.
The brothers enjoy their endless little debates. They could be over something of importance, but then again, maybe not. Just the other week, they got at it over how many Batman movies there had been. Why, obviously there had been four, according to Andre Steinberg. What is wrong with you, there were seven, Jamal Perry insisted.

They checked the internet. Seven (ignoring the recent joint appearance with Superman).

Then Mr. Perry mentioned that George Clooney had once been Batman. Mr. Steinberg said, No way.

The internet confirmed victory for Mr. Perry.

The brothers were together in their Bronx apartment, perched on their couch. It was dusk, shadows retiring outside. As always, they were so at ease with each other.

They are a unit, joined by blood and tragedy. Tracy Young, their single mother, died in 2008 from colon cancer at 37. It happened two days before Thanksgiving, and with their hearts ripped out it was hard for them to understand what they had to be thankful for. Mr. Perry was then 16, and Mr. Steinberg was 19.
NORTH POLE, N.Y.  On a snowy shoulder of Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks, beyond hand-painted signs advertising North Pole, N.Y. and Rides, Shops, Shows, several parking attendants pushed a sedan, its tires spinning, into a packed lot. The cars occupants spilled out, joining other families who high-stepped through snowdrifts  just about everyone smiling, some tossing snowballs  toward the entrance to Santas Workshop, a theme park from another era.

Inside, a line to Santas house snaked toward a frost-covered North Pole, where families posed for selfies and a boy in a puffy snowsuit touched his tongue. Some families roasted marshmallows around a fire pit or wandered into the reindeer stable, where the animals were bedded down and out of reach of little hands. A boy raced from stall to stall, stopping in front of an empty one and shouting, Wheres Donder? Wheres Donder? (Donder and Dasher, an attendant elf later explained, had been feeling ill so they were recovering in a nearby pasture.)

While it appeared to be a snowglobe-perfect scene, Doug Waterbury, the owner of Santas Workshop, said, Its a challenge to keep the door open, frankly.

We lose money or break even every year, Mr. Waterbury added. Attendance is down. Its hard to get up in the morning to push snow, feed reindeer and then look at all that red ink at the end of the year  and its not red because of Christmas.
ISTANBUL  When a Turkish police officer assassinated Andrey G. Karlov, Russias ambassador to Turkey, on Monday, it felt for a moment as if the whole world shook. The killing took place at a time of global uncertainty and reminded some observers of the start of World War I.

The truth, however, is that despite shaky relations between Russia and Turkey in recent years, the assassination is unlikely to lead to more tension between the countries. Indeed, it will probably push them even closer together, as Moscow realizes that this is a perfect opportunity to draw a weak and unstable Turkey into the Russian orbit.

Mr. Karlovs assassination is not the first test for the Turkish-Russian relationship. The war in Syria, where Russia backs the government of President Bashar al-Assad, and Turkey has supported rebel groups, has also threatened to suck the two historical powers into confrontation.
Under the Democratic Republic of Congos Constitution, President Joseph Kabilas second and final term of office ended at midnight on Monday. But, Mr. Kabila did not step down, plunging Congo into chaos.

Mr. Kabila and his family have looted the nations resources, including diamonds, to amass a fortune worth hundreds of millions of dollars while doing little to alleviate widespread poverty. This has not been lost on Congos citizens. Protesters hit the streets in September, when they first suspected that Mr. Kabila had no intention of stepping down. Mr. Kabila responded with a crackdown that left more than 50 people dead. In October, he announced that elections would be delayed until April 2018, presumably so that millions of additional voters could be registered, and that he would head an interim government.

In response to the unrest, Mr. Kabilas government has blocked radio, television and social media sites. Despite the blackout, demonstrations erupted on Tuesday in Kinshasa and other cities. True to form, Mr. Kabila unleashed his security forces. Human Rights Watch reported that at least 34 people were killed and at least 275 people were arrested in one day.
Authoritarians with an animus against ethnic minorities are on the march across the Western world. They control governments in Hungary and Poland, and will soon take power in America. And theyre organizing across borders: Austrias Freedom Party, founded by former Nazis, has signed an agreement with Russias ruling party  and met with Donald Trumps choice for national security adviser.

But what should we call these groups? Many reporters are using the term populist, which seems both inadequate and misleading. I guess racism can be considered populist in the sense that it represents the views of some non-elite people. But are the other shared features of this movement  addiction to conspiracy theories, indifference to the rule of law, a penchant for punishing critics  really captured by the populist label?

Still, the European members of this emerging alliance  an axis of evil?  have offered some real benefits to workers. Hungarys Fidesz party has provided mortgage relief and pushed down utility prices. Polands Law and Justice party has increased child benefits, raised the minimum wage and reduced the retirement age. Frances National Front is running as a defender of that nations extensive welfare state  but only for the right people.

Trumpism is, however, different. The campaign rhetoric may have included promises to keep Medicare and Social Security intact and replace Obamacare with something terrific. But the emerging policy agenda is anything but populist.
For the longest nights of the year, there is no better place to be than on snow-crusted ground, staring up at Montanas big empty sky. Democrats across rural America must know the feeling, this Christmas week, of looking into a black void and feeling so very alone.

There is a chance for the pulse to quicken  a flash of the northern lights, perhaps, the distant howl of a wolf  in that utter darkness. And there is hope for a party spurned in the wide-open spaces of the country, as well. Meet Steve Bullock, the newly re-elected Democratic governor of Montana.

Donald J. Trump took Montana by 20 percentage points  a rare win for celebrity-infatuated megalomaniacs in a state whose voters can usually smell the type from a hundred miles out. But once again, Democrats won the governors office, and did it with votes to spare. Bullocks Mountain State secret sauce is something national party leaders should sample during their solstice.

A week after the election, Bullock went deer-hunting with his 10-year-old son. This doesnt mean Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey should start shooting Bambi near the Meadowlands. But the cultural thing is a wash for Bullock. As a Montana native and a graduate of Columbia Law School, he has a foot in both coastal elitism and prairie pragmatism.
In little over a year, Mr. Kaczynski and his partys government have engineered much more than parties generally do when they win elections and emerge from opposition. They are trying to build an alternate system to the one established by their former friends in Solidarity after the democratic transition of 1989. At a business conference in Poland in September, Mr. Kaczynski and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary vowed to wage a cultural counterrevolution to radically change a post-Brexit European Union.

In Poland, it started with an assault on the Constitutional Tribunal: The new government overturned a pre-election appointment of three new judges. The court has been paralyzed since, and with its presidents term having ended on Dec. 19, it now comes under the ruling partys control. Next came a takeover of public media. Polish national television now broadcasts so much propaganda that people who remember Communist television just sighed when, a few weeks ago, a broadcast of the Oscar-winning movie Ida was canceled as un-Polish. On Dec. 16, privately run television called demonstrations to Parliament against restrictions on media access a protest for media freedom; public TV denounced them as an attempt to destabilize the state.

In less than a year, thousands of officials suspected of sympathy with the opposition have been dismissed. Textbooks are being rewritten. Nongovernmental organizations and public gatherings are being regulated. Leaders of the democratic transition, once treated as national heroes, are being investigated for collaboration with the former Communist government; not even Lech Walesa, the former president and Nobel peace laureate, has been spared. Their biggest crime is to have decided not to initiate a witch hunt against their former oppressors.

For Mr. Kaczynski, 27 years later, revenge is the order of the day. He does not travel abroad, or speak foreign languages, nor does he meet foreign journalists; only rarely does he meet foreign leaders. Yet on Dec. 15 he spent two hours talking with the former New York mayor and close Donald J. Trump associate Rudolph W. Giuliani, who was on a business visit to Poland. The only foreign leader he sees regularly is Mr. Orban. Interestingly, Poland and Hungary, where in 1989 the most liberal elites in the region led the transition to democracy from totalitarianism, now lead the pack of illiberal democracies within the European Union.

What happened? Why, less than 30 years after crying over Stalins crimes, do 86 percent of Russian citizens approve of a leader who glorifies the Soviet Unions legacy? Soon it will be 120 percent, Mr. Gorbachev recently joked in a BBC interview; he blames the West and its media. Mr. Kaczynski blames the arrogant elites of his country and the European Union.

Because of Polands history, Mr. Kaczynski is at odds with Russia. Yet his political style resembles Mr. Putins. The authoritarian streak, excused by nationalism. The accusations of anti-state activities against the opposition. The constant references to conservative cultural values  Roman Catholic in Poland, Orthodox in Russia  and enrollment of religious leaders in the political fight. The difficulty in accepting pluralism. The appetite to control the media and civil society.

Just as the West wonders how to deal with Mr. Putin, the European Union seems powerless with Polands and Hungarys leaders; such assaults on our values by member states had hardly been envisaged. Now that Mr. Trump is giving a whole new dimension to the turn toward what is called populism, maybe this is a good time to reflect on the quarter-century triumph of liberal democracy, and how to win it back.
Maintaining a delicate balance on Taiwans status has been a foundational principle of United States-China relations and crucial to maintaining peace in Asia. Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade region that will eventually be incorporated in China, by force if necessary. Since 1978, the United States has recognized Beijing as Chinas sole government, breaking diplomatic ties with Taiwan a year later, but Washington continues to have unofficial ties with Taiwan, sells weapons to the self-governing island, and has hinted it may defend Taiwan if it is attacked.

Mr. Trump told Fox News recently that he might reconsider the one-China policy as a way to exact Chinese concessions in disputes over currency manipulations, trade and Beijings moves to claim rocks and reefs in the South China Sea. He may think he is making an opening bid, but for China, Taiwans status is nonnegotiable.

Such talk, some experts fear, might mean that Mr. Trump would formally recognize Taiwan or embolden Taiwan to declare independence from China, either of which would bring swift reprisals. Alternatively, some worry that if China offers the right deal, Mr. Trump might abandon Taiwan by ending cooperation and billions of dollars in arms sales. Such a shift would shake the foundations of every international alliance and partnership the United States has spent decades building.

China, the worlds second-largest economy, is Americas largest trading partner, besides being a nuclear power and a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council. Heedless of these concerns, Mr. Trump has threatened to slap 45 percent tariffs on China and start a trade war that would penalize American consumers, who would have to pay more for imported Chinese goods. It would also hurt American businesses that seek to sell their products in the Chinese market. Beijing has already thrown a punch, warning last week that it could place sanctions against General Motors or Ford for monopolistic behavior, possibly as a response to an unfavorable shift in American policy.

There are plenty of ways for China to retaliate, from breaking off diplomatic relations if the United States formally recognizes Taiwan to buying planes from Europes Airbus instead of Boeing, to refusing to help curb North Koreas nuclear program. There could also be more shows of force like the Chinese fighter jets that flew close to Taiwan late last month. And China could also restrict its investments and tourism to Taiwan, which would not be good for the island or the region.
To the Editor:

As a Japanese-American community activist I have heard many displeased responses to the Dec. 18 Sunday Review article by Amanda Sakuma, The Patriotism of Time at Camp.  It gives the impression that members of our community channeled their camp experience into patriotism and a desire to assimilate so strong that they could embrace a presidential candidate expressing racist views.

The response to the camps was much more complex. While many Japanese Americans sent their sons to die for this country, others showed true patriotism by resisting their imprisonment. They were further punished and stigmatized for their courageous positions.

And while all of them were generous in their continued belief in American democracy, I would not characterize this as a fierce resolve to forgive the country that had imprisoned them, as Ms. Sakuma did.

After the war, many Japanese Americans remained deeply bitter and heartbroken, but held it privately. They worked to restore communities that had been destroyed in their absence. In the 1970s we witnessed the genesis of a movement to demand redress and reparations for the World War II incarceration. It was anything but quiet and passive, and came about as a result of a national organizing effort fueled by outrage and indignity.
President Obama will be remembered as a thoughtful and dignified president who led a scrupulously honest administration that achieved major changes.

People argue over whether his impatience with politicians and Republican intransigence denied him bigger accomplishments, but that argument is beside the point: He rescued an economy in crisis and passed the recovery program, pulled America back from its military overreach, passed the Affordable Care Act and committed the nation to addressing climate change. To be truly transformative in the way he wanted, however, his success had to translate into electoral gains for those who shared his vision and wanted to reform government. On that count, Mr. Obama failed.

His legacy regrettably includes the more than 1,000 Democrats who lost their elections during his two terms. Republicans now have total control in half of Americas states.

Why such political carnage?

Faced with the economys potential collapse as he took office, Mr. Obama devoted his presidency to the economic recovery, starting with restoring the financial sector. But he never made wage stagnation and growing inequality central to his economic mission, even though most Americans struggled financially for the whole of his term.
ISTANBUL  Billions of Christians around the world are excited to celebrate Christmas this weekend. Those in the worlds second-largest religious community, Muslims, dont share quite the same excitement. In a few Muslim-majority countries, like Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Somalia, Christmas celebrations are banned. In Turkey, my country, they are not illegal, but some Islamist groups still organize annual protests against Christmas trees and Santa Claus costumes, which they consider Western impositions.

Meanwhile, many other Muslims around the world are rightly respectful to their Christian neighbors and even share in their holy day. They include the owners of a Turkish restaurant in London that decided to offer a free Christmas meal to the homeless and the elderly, and a Muslim businessman in Baghdad who erected a Christmas tree in solidarity with Christians persecuted by the self-declared Islamic State.

These Christmas-friendly Muslims are right, but not simply because respect for other religions is a virtue. They are also right because Christmas is the celebration of the miraculous birth of Jesus, which is a powerful theme not just in the New Testament, but also in the Quran.

Two chapters of the Muslim holy book give detailed accounts of the birth of Jesus, which partly resemble the account in the Gospel of Luke.
The liberal Mr. Baldwin concedes that he holds the president-elect in low regard. But that has not stopped him from becoming a close student of Mr. Trumps every physical quirk and verbal tic  he is particularly taken with Mr. Trumps tendencies to pause and then what he comes to is something that you didnt really have to pause to come up with that.

BALDWIN: You just pick these three or four beats physically, and to me, I dont spend a lot of time thinking about whats going on inside him ... I see a guy who seems to pause, to dig for the more precise and better language that he wants to use and never finds it.

But is the performance an act for the sake of comedy or an act of political rebellion?

Im here doing a show, Mr. Baldwin says. Im a performer, an actor thats here doing a show. Its a great part. That said, he isnt shy about where he stands. I dont hate him. I want him to enjoy his life. I just want him to not be the president of the United States  as quickly as possible.

As a satirical version of Mr. Trump, Mr. Baldwin now deals with an unexpected dilemma, for him, anyway: Is his portrayal making the new president more human, and thus, more sympathetic? Ms. Nir asked him about that, too.

Thats the fake Mr. Trump. The real Mr. Trump had a busy and consequential week, grappling with fast-moving global affairs in Germany, Turkey, Russia and Syria that are challenging a presidency focused on domestic economic revival.

What did we learn about his interest and influence over international events? I put that question to the White House reporters Maggie Haberman and Mark Landler.

President-elects almost always remain silent on foreign policy until their inauguration, to avoid confusing the world about who, exactly, is commander in chief. On this, Mr. Landler and Ms. Haberman agree: Mr. Trump, and his very active Twitter account, have no interest in abiding by that practice.
Readers wrote in to object to The Timess presence at the meeting.

There was a recent gala held by Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago for members of the press. It was off-the-record, allowing Trump to be viewed as a friend to the press while continuing his months-long policy of not holding press conferences. How does the Times, which is asking Americans to fund it as a bulwark against Trump, justify contributing a reporter, Nick Corasaniti, to this orchestrated Trump event? Marc Moskowitz, Arlington, Mass.

I understand the thinking behind off-the-record meetings between journalists and the president-elect. But the Mar-a-Lago event left me feeling uneasy. The photos of opulent surroundings and the descriptions of fancy appetizers suggest to me that the journalists are being played. I see a pattern emerging where Trump threatens then cajoles, as if everyone can be bought by some lavish display of attention from him. I was sorry to read that NYT reporters took part in such a showy Trumpian display. For over a decade, Ive looked to the New York Times for truthful reporting. Hope that will continue, but I also hope its journalists will engage in thoughtful strategies to avoid becoming part of the circus. Mary Reddy, Seattle

Elisabeth Bumiller, the Washington bureau chief, discussed The Timess attendance at the gala with Erik Wemple of The Washington Post earlier this week. Our policy on off-the-record with presidents and presidents-elect is to push long and hard to do things on record, she said. With journalists, you need some insight into the president-elects thinking. We have found in the past that this has helped us with Obama, and she said off-the-record sessions gave The Times thought and direction to pursue stories afterward.

The public editors take: This is a case where I believe The Times was right in agreeing to the meeting. Such off-the-record sessions with the president are somewhat infrequent but common through the history of White House reporting. They offer a chance for the media to get to know the president they cover a little better, without sacrificing that much. After all, it isnt that often that some information of great public import is revealed at these sessions. That said, pressing for on-the-record sessions is always the preferred route.

After the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, a reader wrote in concerned about The Timess use of the word migrant rather than refugee.

I am writing because I would like an explanation for why the Times decided to use the word migrants to describe the millions who have entered Germany in the last two years. I have lived in Germany for the past eight years and follow the news here in German, and it is the practice of the mainstream media to refer to these people as refugees since they are claiming refugee status. One can debate whether that status is deserved, or call them Wirtschaftsfluchtlinge (economic refugees) as the Alternative for Germany and Pegida do, but it seems beyond careful and verging on biased to choose a neutral word like migrant for people who are coming from war zones in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, and Eritrea. Jessica Buskirk, Dresden, Germany

We asked Corbett whether there have been internal discussions around these terms. The International desk has indeed wrestled with this question, which is complicated and sensitive, he said. Migrants is the broader term, including both refugees and others.

Joe Kahn, the current managing editor and former international editor, also addressed this question in a blog post the public editors predecessor wrote last year. While imperfect, it is accurate to refer to both migrants and refugees as migrants, because they all belong to the class of people moving from one place to another, he said. It is not accurate to refer to all migrants as refugees, however, as refugees have a special status under international law that does not apply to all migrants.
Licensing rules for day-care centers are strict, making it expensive to start and operate one. And parents who sign up for a future CoHatchery wont get a discount for bundling two services together. Instead, it will cost them more, said Wendy Xiao Schadeck, a founder of the company. The synergy of having them together increases the price, she said, insisting that parents will pay a premium for the convenience.

But does such a service really have to be more expensive? Kisha Edwards-Gandsy, a founder of Brooklyn Explorers Academy, a Brooklyn Heights preschool, doesnt think so. Her school has run a co-working operation out of its third-floor office for eight years. The program now has 130 members, who sign up in the schools office for four-hour sessions, at one of six desks, as caregivers watch their children in a neighboring room. Most of the co-working parents dont have children enrolled because their infants are too young for preschool. The service costs $15 an hour, roughly the price of a babysitter.

Next fall, Brooklyn Explorers will add a new location, allowing it to expand its co-working program. We have demand for co-working to be round the clock, Ms. Edwards-Gandsy said.

That sort of demand is not limited to people living in cramped city apartments. Dani Geraci lives in a four-bedroom house in Maplewood, N.J. Although she has a home office, it is hardly a respite, with two toddlers banging on the door and two dogs barking for attention. My home life feels hectic, she said. Everyone is little and still on top of me.

So about two years ago, Ms. Geraci joined Work and Play, a co-working space in nearby South Orange that offers on-site child care. I wanted to have some time for myself to figure out what kind of work made sense for me, said Ms. Geraci, who was starting a new business as a marketing consultant at the time. Now she uses the co-working space about 15 hours a week, dropping off her 2-year-old daughter, Sadie, at the day care center. The staff is amazing, she said. The children get messy, and its great.

Work and Play, which inhabits a little gray house with a blue fence, is two distinct worlds tucked into one place. The ground-floor work area is a modern space with wrought-iron chandeliers and a decorative wall of reclaimed wood. But step downstairs and you find a cheerful day-care center, with caregivers surrounded by toddlers and toys.

I had to think of it as almost two different business models, said Deborah Engel, the founder of Work and Play, which received its day-care license this month, allowing it to expand its program. Prices for co-working range from $75 to $250 a month, depending on how many hours a week you use the space; child care is an additional $12 to $15 an hour depending on the plan.
Among the many terrible things you can call someone in the tech industry, one of the most damning is patent troll.

So its unlikely that Apple is misunderstanding the significance of the term when it says Nokia is employing the tactics of a patent troll in a long-running licensing fight now heading to courts all over the world, as Vindu Goel and Mark Scott write.

A patent troll is a term for a company whose business is solely based on licensing the use of patents to other companies. Sometimes these licensing deals are negotiated amicably, and sometimes theyre settled in a protracted legal battle.

Image

Trolls have been around for some time, and a few years ago, many in Silicon Valley argued that trolls were a crippling drag on the industry, particularly on start-ups that dont have the financial resources to fight. But there was thought by people in the tech industry that the most egregious examples of their patent exploitation had eased in recent years, which brings us back to Apple and Nokia.
Posing for a photographer in the lobby of the Rubin Museum of Art one December afternoon, the actor Josh Radnor was plainly ill at ease. He may have spent nine seasons starring in the hit CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, but Mr. Radnor  in town from Los Angeles to play the lead in Richard Greenbergs new comedy The Babylon Line at Lincoln Center Theater  has yet to learn to be comfortable having his picture taken.

Which is weird, because I have to have it taken a lot, he said a short while later, his voice hushed as he ascended the spiral staircase to the galleries. You know when someone tells you, Oh, youre a funny person or Youre a serious person, and you feel reduced to one thing, and it limits your complexity? I feel like sometimes photographs can do that.

Articles, too. Before he set foot on those stairs, he stopped at the bottom to ask about me. He inquired further throughout the interview, and while he was amiable about it, this wasnt flattery or deflection. He was trying to gauge how his words would land  not a standard technique, but a smart one. To Mr. Radnor, it would be odd not to be curious about the consciousness thats processing you.

Meeting at the Rubin, a six-story trove of art from the Himalayas and the surrounding region, tucked away on West 17th Street in Chelsea, had been his idea. Its abundance of Buddhist and Hindu works jibes with his deep interest in spirituality. A tranquil place, it feels safe to him, like a little oasis in the midst of some madness, he said.
Adam Pally ate some tuna. Chelsea Handler swallowed a mouthful. Chris Pratt attacked the sandwich and took three huge bites before the meal ultimately got the better of him. It was still too much tuna, the comedian Nick Kroll said.

Too Much Tuna is the title of a prank skit that Mr. Kroll and his friend, the comedian John Mulaney, invented a decade ago. It has become a highlight of Oh, Hello on Broadway, a comedy that Ben Brantley, writing in The New York Times, called stupendously entertaining. The show stars Mr. Kroll, 38, as Gil Faizon, an unsuccessful actor and the type of man you would catch at a party going through the coats, and Mr. Mulaney, 34, as George St. Geegland, an unheralded novelist and the kind of guy who flosses on the bus.

While in character as Upper West Side geezers, they interview a different celebrity guest at each performance, typically a fellow comedian, a theater legend or a seminal New Yorker, like Pat Kiernan of NY1.

The men, who also wrote the show, dont do much prep before each interview. We read peoples Wikipedia page, Mr. Kroll said. Find out that their mother sang light opera, Mr. Mulaney said. But mostly they prefer to see where the conversation takes them. At the end, they confront the guest with a three-pound tuna sandwich, a snack so gigantic it might pose a mercury poisoning risk to anyone nearby.
It is entirely possible, as many have argued, that Hillary Clinton would be the president-elect of the United States if the F.B.I. director, James Comey, had not sent a letter to Congress about her emails in the last weeks of the campaign.

But the electoral trends that put Donald J. Trump within striking distance of victory were clear long before Mr. Comey sent his letter. They were clear before WikiLeaks published hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee. They were even clear back in early July, before Mr. Comey excoriated Mrs. Clinton for using a private email server.

It was clear from the start that Mrs. Clinton was struggling to reassemble the Obama coalition.

At every point of the race, Mr. Trump was doing better among white voters without a college degree than Mitt Romney did in 2012  by a wide margin. Mrs. Clinton was also not matching Mr. Obamas support among black voters.

This was the core of the Obama coalition: an alliance between black voters and Northern white voters, from Mr. Obamas first win in the 2008 Iowa caucuses to his final sprint across the so-called Midwestern Firewall states where he staked his 2012 re-election bid.
But they are a familiar part of the landscape. They are Christians. They have been a big part of the community for decades. Muslims, however, are none of those things. Most of what people know comes in the form of the daily drip of news into their iPads, and that does not leave a good impression. So the part of the immigration message that really resonates here is about Muslims from the Middle East.

Its a little different than any time in history, when we are seeing this level of terrorism sweeping the world, and that has gotten peoples attention, said Bill Campbell, pastor at Hendersonville Presbyterian Church. Terrorism is an ideology, its not a religion, but the religion that tends to give birth to it most often these days is Islam. The threat from that is very real, and we cant just ignore it.

And while Mr. Trump has bounced around on the topic since Election Day  on Wednesday his spokesman indicated that suspending immigration from countries with a lot of terror attacks was still part of his plan  many moderate voters say they are hopeful about where he will eventually land.

Im telling you, hes going to surprise people, hes going to make people mad on both sides, said Greg Mathis, senior pastor at the Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville. Sometimes hes too blunt, maybe a little too raw. But securing our borders has been a long time coming, and Donald Trump was the first one in a long time to say it. I think thats what registered with so many people in this country.

American Muslim organizations say that singling out Muslims amounts to racial profiling, and that Mr. Trump has deliberately stirred the pot, promoting theories about Muslims that simply are not true. They say that violence comes from ideological zealots, not from Islam. They say that the United States already does extremely vigorous vetting of immigrants and that some recent attacks that cited the Islamic State were carried out by Muslims who were born in the United States.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  President-elect Donald J. Trump on Friday intensified his threat to expand Americas nuclear arsenal, saying he was willing to restart a nuclear arms race even as he released a letter from President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia that pointed toward the possibility of a pragmatic set of understandings between Washington and Moscow.

Echoing the conciliatory approach toward Mr. Putin that he exhibited throughout the campaign, Mr. Trump praised the Russian leader for sending a private holiday greeting that called for the two men to act in a constructive and pragmatic manner. In a statement as he made Mr. Putins letter public, Mr. Trump said the Russian leaders thoughts are so correct.

But earlier in the day, the president-elect also made clear that he meant what he said in a Twitter post on Thursday when he bluntly threatened to expand Americas nuclear arsenal after more than three decades in which the number of American and Russian weapons has shrunk.

Sweeping aside efforts by his aides to temper his comments, or to suggest that he was merely talking about curbing the spread of nuclear technology, especially to terrorists, Mr. Trump told a talk-show host, Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC: Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.
Its not unusual for people to turn to religious figures for comfort in difficult times. But when I saw my young daughter do it, I grew a little worried.

She was 5 at the time, and her father and I were separating. Thats when she turned to the nativity figurines I had set out for Christmas to play out the angst in our household.

I remember the night my husband told her he was leaving. After supper, when the table was cleared and dishes were done, after her bath was taken and jammies were on, the three of us sat at the maple kitchen table in the designated places we took for dinner each night. Our only child perched on her big-girl chair between us, sensing something was up.

He told her he loved her and that he always would  a promise he has kept  but that Mommy and Daddy couldnt live with each other right now. I watched her eyes flood with tears and felt mine do the same. He told her hed found a nice apartment, in the next town over, and that shed be visiting him there.
UNITED NATIONS  The United States failed on Friday to gain the votes in the United Nations needed to impose targeted sanctions and an arms embargo on South Sudan, the worlds newest country, which has plunged into an ethnic conflict in which officials from the world body warn of the risks of genocide.

A United Nations Security Council resolution offered by the United States received only seven votes in favor, with eight abstentions. A resolution needs nine votes in the 15-member Council to pass, and no vetoes from any of the five permanent members.

Ambassador Samantha Power of the United States, speaking after the vote, warned that there would be a cost of imposing no cost on the combatants in South Sudan.

We are very, very worried about what lies ahead, and we think its very important that peoples votes are on the record, Ms. Power said. When the U.N. is warning genocide, eight countries chose not to be counted when it mattered for the people of South Sudan.
Another lawyer, Liang Min, disagreed, saying Mr. Xu was pushing a sensationalistic case with no basis in proper administrative law.

Mr. Xu comes from Wenzhou, in Zhejiang Province in southeastern China, known as a hotbed of entrepreneurship. The youngest of three children, Mr. Xu attended Huadong Normal University in Shanghai, where he studied management. He said he began investing in stocks in 1998, even before he had graduated.

At the time, I would look through the financial reports and annual reports of listed companies and make decisions, he said.

AFTER graduation, he worked several years as a university administrator, then became a full-time investor and eventually started a company to manage investment funds. He now has a small office in the Lujiazui neighborhood, the center of Shanghais financial industry.

He manages two private equity funds, both named after him: Caiyuan No. 1 and Caiyuan No. 2. He belongs to a Wenzhou business association in Shanghai  it is common for Wenzhou entrepreneurs to band together in cities where they live  and to an investors group in Lujiazui.

Mr. Xu said that the funds weathered the market crashes and that his lawsuit was tied solely to his personal investments. He declined to say how much money he lost in the market turmoil, but said some friends had lost the equivalent of tens of millions of dollars.

Mr. Xu became a public figure in 2008, when he led a shareholder suit against Gangfan, a state-owned steel company based in Sichuan Province that was undergoing restructuring, accusing it of wrongly failing to buy back stock warrants held by investors. A local court ruled in favor of the shareholders. The central government agency in charge of state-owned enterprises then ordered Gangfan to pay the investors 7 billion renminbi, or more than $1 billion.
The team of officers caught Mr. Lei near a foot massage parlor on the northern outskirts of Beijing. His family and supporters insisted that the police had entrapped him, invented accusations that Mr. Lei had paid for sex at the parlor, and lied about how he died.

To his supporters, Mr. Lei symbolized how even middle-class Chinese citizens are vulnerable to abuses of power by unaccountable authority figures. He held a masters degree from Renmin University in Beijing and worked for an environmental group affiliated with the government, thus standing out from the blue-collar and rural residents who most often accuse the police of brutality.

But the district prosecutors office, which was assigned to decide whether to take the case further after an investigation that began in early June, said the officers misdeeds were not grave enough to merit a trial.

The investigation has found that the policing personnel involved were carrying out public duties according to the law, the office said in a question-and-answer explanation that accompanied its decision. The rumors that spread on the internet about a payback attack and entrapment in law enforcement had no basis in fact.

Mr. Leis family could not be reached Friday, and a lawyer helping the family in the case, Chen Youxi, did not answer phone calls or messages. But they and Mr. Leis other supporters, many of them alumni of Renmin University, seem unlikely to be satisfied with the prosecutors decision.
Analysts as well as supporters of the governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, said that the case against him was orchestrated by opposition political parties to sideline him ahead of a hotly contested election scheduled for February. The blasphemy accusations set off street protests in Jakarta in recent weeks that drew hundreds of thousands of conservative Islamists demanding that Mr. Basuki be jailed or killed.

Although Indonesia is the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, it has a secular government and influential Christian, Hindu and Buddhist minorities. Christmas decorations, including trees, Santa statues and light displays, are common at shopping malls and hotels across the country each December.

On Sunday, members of the Islamic Defenders Front, a hard-line group with a long history of violence against religious minorities, conducted sweeps on stores in Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province and Indonesias second-largest city, to check that Muslims were not wearing Christmas-themed clothing.

Analysts said they fear the edict could provoke religiously motivated violence.

The Islamists are pushing boundaries and gaining ground, said Rainer Heufers, executive director of the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies, a nongovernmental think tank.

While the Indonesian National Police said that they would not enforce the religious order, officers made no effort to arrest the Islamists who visited stores in Surabaya, and in fact escorted them to prevent clashes with non-Muslims. There were no reports of altercations or anyone being injured, but there were accounts that the Islamists sought to intimidate shop managers and workers into obeying the edict.
Allied forces on the island were quickly reorganized into East and West Brigades. Brigadier Lawson was put in charge of the West Brigade, meant to stop the Japanese from reaching the powerful heart of the colony. His headquarters were in a string of bunkers in the center of the island, far from the coasts where the fighting was expected, according to General Maltbys plan.

On the evening of Dec. 18, the Japanese forces crossed the narrow channel between the mainland and the island and quickly penetrated the coastal perimeter. Within hours, they were charging across the hills overlooking Brigadier Lawsons position on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.

Brigadier Lawson planned to move his headquarters back the next morning, but by 7 a.m. he was surrounded. Around 10 a.m., according to an account General Maltby wrote after the war, Brigadier Lawson reported that the Japanese were firing into his bunker at point-blank range and that he was going outside to fight it out.

Sgt. Bob Manchester of the Winnipeg Grenadiers was in a ditch opposite and saw Brigadier Lawson and three of his men hit by machine-gun fire as they scrambled up the hillside behind the bunker.

Fighting around the headquarters continued until Dec. 22, when the remaining soldiers in the area were captured. Capt. Uriah Laite, a chaplain, was taken to the bunkers by the Japanese to call for any men still alive to come out. During the rounds, he wrote in his diary, I found the body of our Brigadier Lawson and was given permission to take his identification disc off his wrist.

The Japanese commander buried Brigadier Lawson the next day and erected a white marker on the grave with the brigadiers name and rank written on it in Japanese, a rare honor. In 1946, the Canadian authorities reburied his remains in Sai Wan War Cemetery on Hong Kong Island, where they are today.
SESTO SAN GIOVANNI, Italy  It was a routine identity check, the kind Italy has relied on to stem the flow of illegal migration deeper into Europe. But the man stopped by two police officers around 3 a.m. Friday outside the northern city of Milan was anything but an ordinary drifter.

He turned out to be perhaps Europes most wanted man, Anis Amri, the chief suspect in the deadly terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin that killed 12 people. Asked to show his papers and empty his backpack, he pulled out a gun, shot one officer, and in turn was shot and killed by another.

Police bastards, Mr. Amri, who turned 24 this week, shouted in Italian before dying, according to the account given by Antonio De Iesu, director of the Milan police, at a news conference.

For Italy, the shooting death of Mr. Amri, a Tunisian who had pledged his allegiance to the Islamic States supreme leader in a video released by the group on Friday, spurred a moment of national pride and some reassurance that its security measures were working.
CAIRO  When two Libyans hijacked a passenger jetliner on Friday and forced it to land in Malta, they claimed to be acting in the name of the countrys former ruler, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

They were ripping a page from history as they did it: During his 42 years in power, Colonel Qaddafi sponsored numerous acts of international airline terrorism, including hijackings and the bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie in 1988 that killed 270 people.

Yet unlike most Qaddafi-era airline dramas, this one was resolved easily. Within hours of landing in Malta, the two hijackers had released the other 115 people aboard and had surrendered peacefully to the Maltese authorities.

Their weapons  a pistol and a grenade  turned out to be replicas. Libyan officials said the two men had asked for visas to Europe.
Marion Pritchard, a gentile whose shock at watching Nazi soldiers storm a home for Jewish children in Amsterdam and load them into a truck for deportation inspired her to enter a clandestine world of rescuing Jews, died on Dec. 11 at her home in Washington. She was 96.

The cause was cerebral arteriosclerosis, her family said.

By 1945, I had lied, stolen, cheated, deceived and even killed, Ms. Pritchard said in a lecture in 1996 at the University of Michigan, where she received the Wallenberg Medal, a humanitarian award given by the university in memory of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who rescued tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II.

In the spring of 1942, Ms. Pritchard was a social work student who had been imbued by her father, a judge, with a strong sense of outrage about the injustices perpetrated against the Jews during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. One day, she recalled, as she was riding her bicycle to class, she saw Nazis at the childrens home picking up the kids by an arm or a leg or by the hair and throwing them into a truck.

Well, I stopped my bike and looked, she said in an oral history recorded in 1984 by the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Two other women coming down on the street got so furious, they attacked the German soldiers, and they just picked the women up and threw them in the truck after the kids.
GENEVA  The number of people who have died trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean in 2016 is one-third higher than in any other year, the United Nations said on Friday.

More than 90 migrants were feared dead after the two latest boat sinkings between Libya and Sicily on Thursday, the United Nations reported, bringing the number of migrants killed in 2016 as they attempted the journey to over 5,000, compared with the 3,771 deaths recorded last year.

This is the worst annual death toll ever seen, William Spindler, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency, told reporters in Geneva, adding that 14 people, on average, drowned in the Mediterranean every day this year.

At least 55 people and perhaps as many as 70 are believed to have drowned when a rubber dinghy crammed with 120 to 140 people collapsed, tumbling passengers into the icy water. In a second episode, 40 people are missing after a second boat sank.
QARAQOSH, Iraq  Despite their hometowns having been recently freed from the Islamic State, the Christians of Iraq are still in a state of mourning as Christmas approaches.

Old towns on the edge of Mosul, where Christians lived for many centuries, have become wastelands. Most churches are still standing, but badly damaged and ransacked. When a liberating soldier hoists a cross atop a church, or a priest returns to take stock of the losses and light a candle, the scenes feel more sad than hopeful  especially when weighed against the widely felt sentiments of displaced Christians that they will never go home.
UNITED NATIONS  Defying extraordinary pressure from President-elect Donald J. Trump and furious lobbying by Israel, the Obama administration on Friday allowed the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution that condemned Israeli settlement construction.

The administrations decision not to veto the measure reflected its accumulated frustration over Israeli settlements. The American abstention on the vote also broke a longstanding policy of shielding Israel from action at the United Nations that described the settlements as illegal.

While the resolution is not expected to have any practical impact on the ground, it is regarded as a major rebuff to Israel, one that could increase its isolation over the paralyzed peace process with Israels Palestinian neighbors, who have sought to establish their own state on territory held by Israel.

Applause broke out in the 15-member Security Councils chambers after the vote on the measure, which passed 14 to 0, with the United States ambassador, Samantha Power, raising her hand as the lone abstention. Israels ambassador, Danny Danon, denounced the measure, and castigated the council members who had approved it.
Another way these cemeteries keep families together has to do with the land itself. It is a physical link to the past, without any of the bad feelings or friction of a home that can linger over the generations.

In our family, it provides a certain amount of continuity, said Andrew Edmonds, the president of a family cemetery he didnt want identified. If you have a large family, as we do, it brings the family together. Theyll support the cemetery. Theres family history there.

That continuity is not without work. Mr. Edmondss family cemetery has two people working full time to keep the genealogical records of relatives who are spread around the world. Knowing the family members  and ensuring none profit from the cemetery  enables the cemetery to retain its 501(c)13 status. If it were to be audited and found not compliant, the I.R.S. could disallow charitable donations to it or subject investments to federal tax.

When a cousin has a baby, we have to keep track of that, Mr. Edmonds said. Marriages and divorces and such  its a remarkable amount of work to maintain all that.

His familys cemetery also has a sizable endowment to cover the costs. Not all private cemeteries have one.

Bill Sanderson, a partner at the law firm McGuireWoods in Washington, and his father, John, a certified public accountant, visited their family cemetery in Cartersville, Va., about an hour west of Richmond, this week. Mr. Sanderson took his 2-year-old son, Luke, for the first time, and his nephew Clinton came along, too.

He said members of the family had been going to the property since the 1830s, when the first Sandersons who came to Cumberland County began dying. His grandmother left an endowment of $1,200 to maintain the cemetery, so paying for its upkeep has fallen to his family.
Lets begin by giving credit where credit is due: To the extent that the United States has a culture of giving, United Way and its workplace campaigns (along with religious organizations and the federal tax code) deserve a fair bit of credit.

According to Heather E. Price, co-author with Patricia Snell Herzog of American Generosity, friends and community members are the two factors that appeared most often when the researchers studied what or who most influenced higher giving levels. A workplace campaign can capitalize on both, since many people are friends with their co-workers.

Those campaigns have also proved plenty irritating for employees. So many of them felt pressured to give, or give more, that United Way now posts a number of guidelines on its site to warn companies away from heavy-handedness. Peers, not bosses, should lead fund-raising efforts, and 100 percent participation goals may make employees uncomfortable if they do not want to give at the office.

Campaign tactics aside, what can a middleman offer under the best of circumstances? Jason Saul, founder of Mission Measurement, which helps organizations calculate the impact of charitable dollars and has done work for several United Way chapters, laid out three historical categories of assistance.

First, United Way promised to make sure that money did not go to illegal charities. Then, the local chapters offered expertise about community needs that many citizens would not have recognized. Finally, United Way held out the promise that the causes and organizations it picked would help each donors charitable dollars have more impact than if that person, acting alone, picked the recipients.
A freight train plowed into an unoccupied vehicle parked on the tracks between Buena Park and Norwalk Thursday evening, creating delays for several train lines connecting Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties, a Metrolink official said.

A BNSF Railway train hit the vehicle about 6:50 p.m. in Santa Fe Springs at the intersection of Rosecrans and Marquardt avenues, between the Buena Park and Norwalk stations, said Scott Johnson, Metrolink spokesman.

The Whittier Daily News reported that Los Angeles County firefighters helped a woman escape the car when they saw it stall on the tracks as they were returning to their station just after 6 p.m.

There were no injuries, said Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire-Rescue Division Chief Robert Mora.

The intersections railroad crossing is considered the most dangerous in California.

BNSF  which stands for Burlington Northern Santa Fe  will handle the investigation into the crash, Johnson said, because it occurred on its land.

The Orange County Line 608, which runs from Los Angeles Union Station to Oceanside, was delayed at Norwalk; a train going from Riverside to Los Angeles was delayed at Fullerton, and another going to Riverside was delayed in Los Angeles, Johnson said. BNSF officials could not immediately be reached. Staff writer Sandra Molina contributed to this report.

714-796-6979 or chaire@ocregister.com




SANTA ANA  A photographer who also taught childrens tumbling classes pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually assaulting two teenage girls in Irvine, Huntington Beach and Los Angeles.

Christopher A. Brown, 43, of Orange admitted five counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object of an underage victim, five counts of oral copulation of an underage victim, as well as a count each of using an underage victim for obscene matter, possession or control of child pornography, and lewd acts on a child 14 to 15 years old, according to court records.

Brown, scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 17, is expected to be sent to prison for 12 years and eight months, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Carroll, who made the plea offer to the defendant.

Brown faced a maximum of 16 years in prison if he lost at trial.

The victims were 15 and 16 years old at the time of the offenses, Carroll said. The sexual assaults occurred between June 2014 and August 2015.

He lured the victims with promises of a modeling contract, Carroll said.

He had studios or worked out of various places in Irvine, Huntington Beach and Los Angeles, Carroll said.

The child pornography included pictures of the victims as well as other girls he obtained but never met, Carroll said.

Investigators recovered hundreds of child porn photos and videos when a search warrant was executed at a hotel in Irvine where Brown had been staying, sheriffs officials said last September when he was arrested.

Brown also has a conviction in 2005 in Virginia for possession of child pornography, and failed to register as a sex offender in California when he moved into the state several years ago, according to sheriffs officials.
A couple of decades ago, when I was first writing my column for the Huntington Beach Wave section of the Register, I would do my own version of the famous poem The Night Before Christmas each year.

In my version the whole thing takes place in the home of a surfing family in Huntington Beach, a.k.a. Surf City, when visited by St. Nicholas, a.k.a. Santa Claus. I guess people liked these because I always got tons of responses and requests for more.

In recent weeks I have gotten a number of emails from long-time readers that have asked if I would do another one. So, seeing as how this year my column comes out on Christmas Eve, I thought it would be the perfect time to revive the tradition and come up with a new version.

It is a little bit local-orientated, but if you have even been to Huntington Beach you will get the vibe. So here it is kiddies, The Night Before Christmas in Surf City.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the pad,

No ants or cockroaches were lurking, and mama was glad.

The board bags were hung from the rafters by the SUP,

in hopes that the fat dude would soon fill them up.

The grommets were all tucked away, snug in their beds,

while visions of gnarly sick barrels raced through their heads.

And the mama in her thong, and me in my Kobe Bryant Lakers vest,

Had just conked out as the sunlight faded to the west.

When out in the yard there arose such a commotion,

I jumped outta bed and slipped on the sun lotion.

Away through the window I flew with a crash,

And fell into the pool with a tsunami-like splash.

The moon on the beach, and on the water I could tell,

There was a hint of a new rising swell.

When what in my old eyes, made me say egads,

An old dude in a sled pulled by eight big blond Labs.

And ya know that little driver, more wiry than big,

Reminded me a lot of the Rockin Fig.

Quicker than piranha those hound dogs they came,

And he hooted and howled, and called them by name.

Now DEWEY, now HOBIE, now GORDIE and KUK!

On VELZY, on HOLDEN, on RABBIT and DUKE!

Just above the pier he slowed to a stall,

and screamed, lets split before we get jacked, sled, toys and all.

As surf wax wrappers before the Santa Anas do fly,

he stepped on the gas and raced through the sky.

Over the hood the bowsers they flew,

the sled full of good stuff and the old fat dude too.

And then, in a backbeat, I looked up and saw,

The pouncing and pushing of each doggie paw.

As I threw up my hands and thought OMG what is that?

In through the back door the fat dude came with a splat.

He was clad in velour that was a bright red,

From the tops of his flip-flops to the tip of his head.

His threads were not Billabong, Hurley or Quick,

but the bag of stash on his back was lookin totally sick.

His eyes glowed like surf rats, with a set coming their way.

His cheeks bellowed out, as if to yell Hey hey hey!

His George Lambert-like mouth was drawn up in a grin,

and his face was all fuzzy with hair on his chin.

The stump of a stogie, stuck out of his mouth.

The smoke, like the whales, headed straight south.

He had a bold face, and a gut that was porky.

That shook when he laughed, and looked a lot like that dude named Corky.

He was lumpy and for sure, looked like an old grem.

And my wife laughed and told me, hey, you look just like him.

A glint in his eye and his vibe of good cheer,

Kinda made be feel that we had nothing to fear.

He didnt say a thing, but got straight to the work.

He filled up the board bags, then cut back with a jerk.

Flashing a peace sign and a double shaka too,

He winked at my wife as to the back door he flew.

He jumped on his sled, and to his team he called out.

See that you old mutts, THAT is what its all about.

And away they all sped, like a woody down Main,

Almost knocking down Greek, and I heard him explain.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A BIG SWELL!!!

And from me to you, have a SUPER COOL YULE.
Even though this episode was likely filmed during a muggy day in the South, Top Chef celebrated Christmas, Italian-style, during Thursday nights episode.

In this topsy-turvy episode for Orange County chef Shirley Chung, the contestants are asked to create a Feast of the Seven Fishes meal using trash fish. Chung gets mullet, where deboning is nearly impossible.

How does she fare?

Take a look at our recap, which focuses on Chung, co-founder of Twenty Eight in Irvine. In Season 14, the Newport Beach resident is back for redemption after placing fourth in Season 11.

Warning: Spoilers ahead:

Quickfire Challenge: Each chef gets a mystery gift box. They are told to open it, and use every ingredient and every tool in the box to make a dish in 30 minutes. The items are tequila, a pressure cooker, a pomegranate, chocolate pretzels, cloves, wasabi, squab and a melon baller.

Chung gets in trouble early on thanks to Sheldon Simeon, who accidentally steals her ingredients from her work station. She ends up burning her squab, and calls it an epic fail. She also forgets to use the melon baller because Simeon snatched it. Guest judge Nilou Motamed, editor of Food & Wine magazine, faults her for the charred squab, and calls her dish one of the three worst meals she tasted.

Casey Thompson gets the win for a superb soup.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs are tasked with making a Feast of the Seven Fishes meal, an Italian-American Christmas Eve dining tradition. But, instead of using premium fish, the chefs must use trash fish, that most chefs never want to work with. The chefs draw knives to work in pairs.

In a not-so-surprising reality show coincidence (wink, wink), Chung is paired with her Quickfire saboteur Simeon. But shes forgiving and soon the two veterans find themselves goofing off at Whole Foods Market, while others are scrambling. Especially nervous rookie Emily Hahn will be cooking for guest judge Mike Lata, a Charleston legend who fired her when she worked for him.

Chungs dish: Simeon and Chung decide to bring their Filipino and Chinese backgrounds to their trash dish. They prepare a szechuan peppercorn braised mullet with tofu celery buttered radish. They are first up and race to get their dishes out.

Simeon gushes at Chung, calling her clean and efficient in the kitchen. Shes a Kung fu master, he said.

Judges table: Even though he was pulling bones from his mouth, Head Judge Tom Colicchio is impressed with the flavors of the mullet. Chung apologizes to him as he picks his teeth but he waves her off understanding mullet is nearly impossible to debone.

They end up preparing one of the best dishes of the night, the judges declare.

The Winner: John Tesar and Katsuji Tanabe get the win, but Tanabe is named the overall winner because the judges swooned over the spicy chili sauce he whipped up for the trigger fish.

Packing Knives: Thompson, who prepared the worst dish of the night, escaped elimination because she won immunity on the Quickfire. BJ Smith, on the bottom last week, is sent home for giving the chefs a watery broth and chewy poached barrel fish.

Next week: A no instruction, mystery Quickfire and roasting whole pigs.

Contact the writer: nluna@scng.com
The mine train that used to sit by the edge of the Rivers of America at Disneyland has found a new home.

The trains engine and two cars will be restored by the Carolwood Foundation, then put on display at Walts Barn in Griffith Park, under the terms of an agreement with the Walt Disney Company.

Larry Boone, vice president of the foundation made the announcement at the foundations annual volunteers dinner Sunday.

Its been a long time coming, but weve made a deal we can work with, Boone said.

The engine and cars were originally part of the Mine Train Through Natures Wonderland attraction at Disneyland. It was originally called the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train. The name was changed when Walt Disney greatly expanded the ride in 1960 to include scenes based on the Natures Wonderland series of documentary films.

It closed in 1977 to make room for the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Parts of the original ride and track are still visible at the park.

For many years this engine and two cars sat on rails from the old ride, looking as if they had wrecked on the track. They could be seen by visitors riding on the Mark Twain Riverboat, or other modes of transport on the river.

When the river was drained for refurbishment in 2010, Disney Imagineers decided to remove the engine and cars, and staged boulders to make it look like a rockslide had closed the railroad line.

After they were removed, they were stored outside, unprotected from the elements, on a Disney lot.

Its in pretty bad shape, Boone said. It was out in the weather for years at Disneyland.

The idea of displaying the mine train at the barn started a couple of years ago, when it was broached with the folks at the Disney Archives.

In 2014, it was wrapped in plastic and moved to the Live Steamers property pending the final contract. But as negotiations dragged on, it was returned to Disney.

Now that the deal is signed, the foundation plans to start soliciting funds for the restoration work  which they hope will all be done by volunteers.

The foundation will house the three units in one of their volunteers warehouse for the restoration work.

Once the restoration is complete, it will go on display in a new building to be built next to the barn  which is on the ground of the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum, a museum that Walt Disney helped found.

It does not contain a working battery-powered engine  Disney removed it years ago before it was put on display at Disneyland. The foundation does not plan to restore the engine either. But Boone said it would be able to roll onto rails that will be part of the display.

We need craftsmen that can do woodworking, painting, wood carving, and metal work, Boone said.

For more information about Walts Barn and the Carolwood Foundation, visit its website, Carolwood.org.

Contact the writer: meades@scng.com or follow on twitter @markaeades
SANTA ANA  Police are looking for a man suspected of setting several blazes near fire stations in Santa Ana and Anaheim and then burglarizing them once the engines and crews left the buildings, Santa Ana police said Thursday evening.

Between 5 and 7 a.m. Sunday, firefighters responded to three fires, each within three-tenths of a mile from a station, said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department. An unknown man then sneaked inside the stations before the doors shut and stole money from the food funds  a money collection for the firefighters on duty to buy groceries.

There were no signs of forced entry, Bertagna said.

Each fire has been different, he added, and at the moment police think it is one man responsible.

One fire, within blocks of Orange County Fire Authority station No. 72, at 1688 E. Fourth St. in Santa Ana, was a car fire, Bertagna said. Shortly after the fire started, surveillance shows a man pulling up in a dark, four-door Buick LeSabre, getting out and watching as a fire engine leaves the station, Bertagna said. The man then runs into the station.

Police have surveillance of the man starting another fire in front of a residence; the fire goes out and the man returns to restart it before heading to a nearby station, Bertagna said. A third blaze was a pallet fire, which officials are investigating to determine whether it was arson like the other two.

Bertagna said that on Tuesday, an Anaheim Fire & Rescue station was also burglarized after firefighters there responded to a nearby blaze.

And on Wednesday, Irvine responded to two fires in close proximity to stations, but nothing was stolen, Bertagna said.

The suspect may have also set fires and burglarized stations in the Inland Empire, Bertagna said.

Why is he specifically targeting fire stations? Bertagna asked. Does he have a fascination with fire personnel? There are a lot of questions that are unanswered.

Santa Ana Police patrol teams have been told to be on the lookout for the car, particularly in areas with fire stations.

The Orange County Fire Authority declined to comment on the thefts because of the ongoing criminal investigation.

Its not a lot of money, Bertagna said of what the man has stolen. Hes committing one crime to set himself up to commit another. Its just bizarre.
In a shuffling of airline allocations at John Wayne Airport, Southwest will lose seven daily flights and nearly 1 million passenger seats in 2017.

Gone from the Southwest roster will be relatively new flights to Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Austin, Texas, Kansas City, Mo., Portland, Ore., St. Louis and Seattle. The airline still will offer 50 daily departures through JWA.

Flights to Mexico City will end Jan.4; flights to Austin, Kansas City, Portland, St. Louis and Seattle will end Jan. 14; and flights to Puerto Vallarta end April 25.

Southwest added a flight to Puerto Vallarta a year ago. Domestic flights added in 2015 included routes to Seattle; Portland; Chicago; Austin, Texas; Kansas City and St. Louis.

We are exiting nonstop service in these relatively new and initially successful markets to stay within the newly assigned limits of our capacity for 2017, Southwest said in a statement.

John Wayne spokeswoman Deanne Thompson explained that in the past, unused capacity from other carriers was used by Southwest. Other carriers, including Delta, United and Alaska, requested additional capacity for 2017, leaving fewer supplemental seats for Southwest.

Thompson did not know if other airlines would introduce new flights or add to existing routes.

The flight reduction means Southwest will have 938,999 fewer seats allocated for 2017. Meanwhile, Alaska/Horizon will pick up 257,596 additional seats, Delta 387,630, and United gets 296,346.

Airport traffic has been up for much of 2016. In August, passenger traffic grew 2 percent. Year-to-date passenger traffic was up 7.6 percent; total aircraft operations were up 13.2 percent. International passenger traffic was up almost 50 percent.

Flights to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta will be available through Alaska Airlines. Southwest will continue flights to Cabo San Lucas.

This summer, Southwest launched flights out of Long Beach Airport. Nine slots opened in December at the airport after studies showed the airport could add the flights without violating the citys noise ordinances.

Of the nine new slots, Southwest was offered four, JetBlue got three and Delta two.

Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans
Sister Gloria Salgado, 82, recently had major surgery. She hadnt been out of her room for two months. But when she heard a ruckus, she couldnt help but steer her electric wheelchair in that direction.

Salgado parked under a doorjamb as a local church group belted out holiday tunes. Colorful balloons bounced in the air while another sister danced and spun 80-plus-year-old women. Salgado came alive, swaying and singing in her wheelchair.

Once I hear the music, I forget Im a nun, she said. This is good therapy.

It was a weekend evening at Saint Francis Home, a plain stucco convent and assisted-living home in a residential neighborhood on West Sixth Street in Santa Ana.

The convent has been there since the 1940s, founded by nuns who fled religious persecution in Mexico. And Salgado has lived there since 1950.

Today, the nonprofit home cares for up to 60 women. Many can be seen walking on the property in traditional habits.

Sister Marta Manzono, the resident hairdresser, has lived there since 1974. She coifs hair in a room that features decor from seemingly every decade of the convents existence. Paintings of Jesus and religious icons line the halls.

Sister Veronica Villalpando, 44, administrator of the home, said the sisters goal is to help their elderly residents physically and spiritually. I see them as my grandmas, she said. Were just here to give them love every day. We try to make heaven on Earth.

Norma Key, 68, who recently moved in, said the nuns are a blast in a good way.

They can smile at me. They can be serious if they have to be, she said. And they let me do yard work.
Lighting eight tiki torches atop a 6-foot-tall menorah on the pier is a Seal Beach tradition. On Thursday night, it marked its 10th anniversary.

It all started in the living room of Chabad congregants Moe and Helen Fox, said Rabbi Shmuel Marcus of Chabad of Los Alamitos & Cypress in Seal Beach.

Moe was in his 90s at the time, and we looked out toward Eisenhower Park talking about how nice it would be to have a menorah lighting there, Marcus said. So we started doing that in 2006 as a way of honoring a longtime congregant.

The eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins at sundown Saturday, celebrating the successful rebellion of the Maccabee Jews, considered underdogs, against their Greek-Syrian oppressors. The oil they used to purify their desecrated temple was enough for only one days lighting of the temple lamps but miraculously lasted for eight.

As for the Chabad menorah on the pier, all eight tiki torches were lit simultaneously Thursday evening.

The idea is to bring as much light as possible to spread the word that Hanukkah is coming up, Marcus said. Its a little bit of light and a little bit of freedom against an army of darkness.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com
TOKYO  Amid rising tensions over the U.S. military presence on Okinawa, the United States officially returned nearly 10,000 acres of land on the northern part of the island to Japan on Thursday. It was the largest land transfer since the United States returned Okinawa to Japan in 1972, at the end of postwar occupation.

The U.S. ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, described the move as a step toward shrinking the U.S. military presence on the main island of Okinawa. Nearly half the roughly 50,000 troops in Japan are stationed on the island, and the U.S. military controls about one-fifth of it.

Like many encounters between the U.S. military and residents of Okinawa, however, the land handover has stirred controversy. In exchange for the return of about half the acres that the U.S. military uses to train soldiers for jungle warfare, the Japanese government agreed to build six helicopter landing pads on the land that the United States will retain. A small but fierce group of residents has complained about increased noise from construction and expressed concern about possible accidents.

For years, Okinawans have complained about violence and noise associated with U.S. bases in the island prefecture. Resentment toward the U.S. military presence has intensified in recent months, after the arrest in May of a former Marine for the murder of a 20-year-old Okinawan woman.

In the north of the island, where the helipads are being built, the residents concerns were amplified this month after a U.S. Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft crash-landed near Nago. The U.S. military grounded its entire fleet of Ospreys for about a week, before announcing that it would resume flights, angering local residents and the governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, who boycotted Thursdays handover ceremony.

Although she praised the land transfer, Japans defense minister, Tomomi Inada, described the recent Osprey crash as regrettable and urged the U.S. military to take thorough preventive measures so that such an incident will never occur again.

Since the end of World War II, Japan has been an important outpost for the U.S. military, whose mission there is not only to defend Japan but also to protect U.S. interests in Asia.
IRBIL, Iraq  Zaid Ahmeds barber shop in the Gogjali district of Mosul was packed with customers Thursday when the first of three car bombs ripped through the outdoor food market outside. Ahmed was unharmed, but when he made a dash for safety, the second blast hit.

The 25-year-old father of two was among dozens wounded in the attack that killed 23 people, including eight policemen, the deadliest bombing yet in the district since Iraqi forces wrested it away from Islamic State more than a month ago.

Repeated attacks by Islamic State militants in parts of Mosul liberated by Iraqi forces  including mortars, sniper fire, suicide car bombs and sneak attacks  are plaguing attempts by troops to advance in the city and shaking residents who are trying to find some semblance of a normal life again.

Authorities slapped a 24-hour curfew on Gogjali soon after the bombings, two of which hit the market and its surroundings, while the third hit outside a mosque a short distance away.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement this week that Islamic State fighters are deliberately targeting civilians who refuse to join them as they retreat in the face of the advancing Iraqi forces. Mosul residents who spoke to The Associated Press this week agree with the assessment of the New York-based rights group, saying the militants seem to be punishing them for not joining them as they pull back and over widely publicized scenes of public jubilation in Mosul over the end of Islamic State rule.

On Thursday, the United Nations said two mortar attacks in eastern Mosul killed four aid workers and seven other civilians earlier this week. It said 40 other people were wounded in the attacks. It did not identify the aid workers or provide their nationalities.

The scene at the hospital where victims of Thursdays triple bombings were taken testified to the persistent violence in Mosul areas retaken by the government forces. The ward where the injured are first admitted in a hospital in Irbil, capital of Iraqs self-ruled Kurdish region east of Mosul, was filled with screams of pain from the wounded and the wailing of relatives.

When the ward was overwhelmed by the wounded from the triple bombings, many complained they were not being attended to quickly enough. Pools of blood covered parts of the floor as doctors and nurses worked feverishly.

Beside the victims of the bombings, some of the wounded were victims of mortar attacks blamed on Islamic State.

Gogjali, on Mosuls easternmost outskirts, was one of the first districts to be recaptured in the offensive launched in October, and it has seen the fastest return to relative normalcy. Its outdoor food market and stores are attracting thousands of shoppers from Gogjali as well as from other Mosul neighborhoods.

Ahmed lives in another district but came to Gogjali to open his barber shop. I leased the shop two weeks ago, and now it lies in ruin, he told the AP from his hospital bed in Irbil, where he is recovering from injuries to his head and hand. His father, also a victim of the triple car bombings, lay injured just a few beds away in the West Irbil Emergency Hospital.

Gogjali is the best place to do business in Mosul now that Daesh is gone, he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

Schools have reopened and a local police force and traffic cops are back on the streets of Gogjali, a poor and middle class district. The area has also become a hub for relief operations by the government and aid organizations struggling to meet the basic needs of Mosuls liberated areas  a little more than a quarter of the city.

Firas Abdel-Monaim had just left his mobile phone at a repair shop in central Gogjali to be fixed and was making his way to buy tomatoes and onions when the first of the three blasts, apparently targeting the police, hit.

I was tossed up in the air, then landed hard on the street before I got up and kept running until I felt something in my left arm, he said from his Irbil hospital bed while feeling his arm.

A whole chunk of it is gone, said Abdel-Monaim, whose wife is about three weeks away from giving birth to their first child, a baby girl.

Life is slowly returning to normal. People desperately want their lives back, he said, while gasping for air. These are Daeshs last desperate acts.
Recently, it has been argued that the Electoral College is unconstitutional because it violates the principle of one person, one vote, enshrined in the Fifth Amendments guarantee of due process of law. Therefore, it is said, the Supreme Court should amend the Constitution to replace the Electoral College with what, in essence, would be a national popular vote.

While the Supreme Court has held that equal protection of the law requires fidelity to one person, one vote, nothing in the text, history or judicial exegesis of the Fifth Amendment reveals any principle at odds with the Electoral College. The Fifth Amendment, as part of the Bill of Rights, was adopted in 1791, two years after the nation had its first presidential election under the system established by Article II of the recently adopted Constitution. It is reasonably certain that it occurred neither to the authors of the Due Process clause, nor to those who ratified the Bill of Rights, that they were sowing the seeds of abolishing the Electoral College. The same could be said about the drafting and ratification of the 14th Amendment, which contains an explicit Equal Protection clause.

In the instances that have been cited as precedent for this proposal, either the Constitution was amended pursuant to Article V (as was done with the 11th Amendment), or the Supreme Court was construing the Fifth and/or 14th Amendments consistently with their own terms. Im aware of no case in which the Supreme Court has used a constitutional amendment to invalidate an express provision of the Constitution that was not explicitly addressed by that amendment. If such a case exists, one wonders why the proponents of this amendment-by-judiciary have not cited it.

Furthermore, the structure of the Constitution is based on the nations founding as a confederation of states, each of which surrendered certain well-defined elements of its sovereignty to the central government for the specific purposes enumerated in the Preamble. Thus, the principle of equality of the states within the national government is enshrined within the Constitution every bit as much as the equality of natural persons before the law. This is evident in the composition of the Senate, in which each state is represented by two senators, regardless of population. Thus, Wyoming has the same number of senators as does California, even though the latter has 65 times the population of the former. This is a far more lop-sided disproportion than that provided by the Electoral College, which, by giving each state some (usually most) votes apportioned by population, reflects a compromise between large states and small. If the Fifth Amendment renders the Electoral College unconstitutional, it must also invalidate the United States Senate.

Ultimately, the proposal seems to rest on the notion that the Supreme Court may constitute itself as a perpetual Constitutional Convention, thereby rendering the amendment provisions of Article V either obsolete or superfluous. Those who drafted, passed and ratified the 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th and 26th amendments, all of which are premised on aspects of due process and/or equal protection, could have saved themselves a lot of trouble just by appealing to the Supreme Court to adopt this expansive and innovative construction of the Fifth Amendment.

As a practical matter, the proposal would lead to a problem that many others have commented on: That all small states, both red (Wyoming) and blue (Rhode Island and Hawaii, not to mention the District of Columbia) would be all but irrelevant in presidential elections. Because presidential campaigns would focus exclusively on racking up the vote totals in the largest dozen or so states, we would nearly always end up with a president elected solely by a handful of large (and largely urbanized) states. There would thus be little chance of reaching a broad geographic and demographic consensus for the elected president, consequently undermining the presidents constitutional role as chief magistrate of a federal republic. Indeed, in the recent election, the margin of Hillary Clintons popular vote majority resided in a single state, California. Those who think its just fine to have a president for all 50 states effectively elected by just one might have a different view if that state were Texas.

Thus, the very purpose of the Electoral College is to assure we achieve something approaching a nation-wide consensus in the election of the nations most powerful officer. The election of the president by a simple majority would often not allow for the diverse interests from different states and regions to have any meaningful say in the outcome.

The Electoral College has functioned pretty much as intended, notwithstanding the rare election of a president with less than a majority of the popular vote. While some may be embarrassed by the Electoral College, my guess is that the courts are likely to recognize our current way of electing presidents as the secret of the stability of our democratic republic for 227 years.

Howard J. Klein is an attorney at law based in Irvine.
Age: 34

Role: Executive chef and partner at Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach and Vaca in Costa Mesa

Bio: Santana spent most of his childhood in the Dominican Republic, where he and his younger brother would steal recyclable bottles to earn money for food. When he moved to Queens, N.Y., his father encouraged him to take advantage of Americas opportunities. Cooking was his dream. He earned a scholarship to the Culinary Institute of America, which eventually led to an internship at Aureole, owned by Charlie Palmer. The celebrity chef tapped Santana to launch Charlie Palmers at Bloomingdales at South Coast Plaza.

Why he is an influencer: Santana made a name for himself as Palmers protege. But in 2011 he decided it was time to pursue his own fame. He opened Broadway with business partner, Ahmed Labatte. In 2015, as he prepared to open Vaca, the charming, confident chef earned a spot on Season 13 of Bravos Top Chef. He made it to the finale in March of this year,

winning over legions of fans who cried foul when he lost to Jeremy Ford. Santana, who lives in Irvine, has no regrets. The publicity was priceless, and he earned the respect of some of the best chefs in the country. Fame follows him: Hes been spotted by selfie-seeking fans traveling in Las Vegas, Europe and Hong Kong.

Biggest challenge: Balancing life and work. If I just work and work, I would lose it.

Thoughts on work ethics of younger employees: Santana said workers, especially young chefs, dont try as hard as they used to. Its hard to find good help.

Inspiration: My staff

Cant live without: Coffee. I have five cups a day.

Whats ahead: Open more restaurants and travel. I want to see the world and enjoy it.

 Nancy Luna
WASHINGTON  Some of President-elect Donald Trumps most prominent Cabinet nominees  with their millions in assets and complex business arrangements  are moving unusually slowly through the governments arduous financial disclosure examinations, threatening the quick start promised for the new administration and raising Democratic concerns that their confirmations could short-circuit customary ethical safeguards.

On Thursday, the ranking Democrats on all 16 Senate committees released a joint statement saying they would block confirmation votes until each nominee of Trump had cleared an FBI background check, completed a financial disclosure statement and ethics agreement approved by the federal Office of Government Ethics, and satisfied reasonable requests for additional information.

Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, that panels ranking Democrat, engaged in a public spat over Cardins request for three years of tax returns from Exxon Mobils chief executive, Rex Tillerson, who has been picked to be the next secretary of state.

As is long-standing precedent for nominees considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the committee has not asked Mr. Tillerson to provide copies of his tax returns, Corker said.

And Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent letters to the top ethics officials at 17 government agencies, asking if they had been in touch with officials of the Trump transition, whether they had received financial disclosure statements, and whether any Trump nominee refused to provide any information that you believe is necessary to conduct a conflicts analysis as required by law.

Given the large and complex financial holdings and boundless, serious potential for conflicts of interest, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in an email, these nominees need to turn over all relevant financial and background information so that senators can thoroughly review their record before going forward with any hearings.

Several of Trumps Cabinet picks would be among the wealthiest public servants in modern history. That alone presents a significant financial-vetting challenge to Senate Republicans, who hope to begin confirmation hearings in a few weeks. Trumps selection process  begun, unlike that of most predecessors, after his election rather than before  may have added to the challenge of moving quickly now.

They need to step on the gas and get it done, said Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota who served as chief ethics counsel to President George W. Bush. They need to tell the Senate what they are going to do with their assets.

Cabinet nominees undergo rigorous background checks by the FBI and the Office of Government Ethics, as well as a complicated process involving the agencies they are nominated to run. This is to ensure that nominees have no financial conflicts of interest or outstanding tax matters that could later expose them to criminal prosecution.

For nominees with extensive financial holdings, preparation for confirmation hearings can take weeks or even months, as was the case with Penny Pritzker, a billionaire who is President Barack Obamas commerce secretary. Previous new administrations have taken longer to name Cabinet picks than Trump has done, in part because they were doing their own vetting that the Trump transition has largely forgone.

Three people who have discussed Trumps nominees with officials involved in the screening, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private deliberations of a highly secretive government agency, were told of the slow pace, which has alarmed Senate Democrats.

McConnell has said he hopes to move ahead on several of Trumps nominees on Day 1. Emails to Trumps transition team were not returned.

Many of Trumps nominees come with a complex web of financial interests and investments. They include Tillerson; Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs partner, picked to head the Treasury; the billionaire investor Wilbur L. Ross Jr., chosen as commerce secretary; and Betsy DeVos, the president-elects choice to run the Department of Education.

Lawmakers have already raised questions about Tillersons seeming reluctance to turn over his personal financial information. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has tentatively set Jan. 11 for the start of Tillersons confirmation hearing.

In keeping with long-standing committee precedent, it has not asked Tillerson to provide his tax returns, Corker said.

By all accounts, Mr. Tillerson is currently ahead of schedule in providing information to the committee, he added. He already has submitted a completed nominee questionnaire and will soon submit an extensive financial disclosure.

But Cardin voiced the fears of some Democrats that Tillerson and other nominees  and Republican committee chairmen  may take their cues from Trumps unusual decision not to release his own tax returns.

I think it is an important part of vetting this candidate because he has never made public disclosures of this type, as he has worked at Exxon Mobil for his entire career and has never been in public service, Cardin wrote Thursday in a letter to committee Democrats. Mr. Tillerson was actively engaged with many foreign governments that could become relevant if confirmed as secretary of state. The Senate has a responsibility to review all relevant documents during the confirmation process.

Republicans say the concern is misplaced.

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which will hold the hearing for Mnuchin, has previously said that Trumps nominees will undergo the same bipartisan vetting process as the nominees from previous administrations. This includes scrutiny by the Office of Government Ethics and his committees requirement for three years of a nominees most recent federal tax returns.
Susan Wolfe-Devol, Orange Countys first female Lutheran pastor and a strong voice for social justice and inclusion in the church, died Dec. 16 of intestinal cancer. She was 61.

Wolfe-Devol was a trailblazer and brilliant theologian, but struggled to be accepted in ministry at a time when almost all members of clergy were men, said her sister Connie Wolfe of Huntington Beach.

She graduated at the top of her class, but was one of the last to find a call, said Wolfe, who teaches sign language at Edison High School.

But, family members say, Wolfe-Devols early experiences shaped the life she would lead as a fearless pastor who advocated for women, the LGBT community, immigrants and others who were marginalized.

Born on May 30, 1955 in Los Angeles in a faith-filled home, she grew up in Ventura, graduating from Ventura High School in 1973. She earned her bachelors degree in sociology from UC Berkeley and a master of divinity degree at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

Wolfe-Devol served her internship at an all-black congregation in Detroit. It was an experience, her sister says, that helped shape her ministry and her sense of social justice.

She became an ordained minister in the American Lutheran Church at Trinity, her home congregation, in 1984. In 1985, she became the first female Lutheran pastor to serve in Orange County  at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Santa Ana.

It was a profound experience for her because Orange County was quite conservative, Connie Wolfe said. But as people got to know her, she was well accepted.

Having served in Orange County until 1990, Wolfe-Devol later became associate pastor at Angelica Lutheran Church in the Pico-Union District where until 2000, she served a diverse community  from older Swedish congregants to newer Latino immigrants.

From 2000 to 2013, she was pastor at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in North Hollywood gaining the distinction as that churchs longest-serving pastor. She helped the congregation grow an inclusive ministry that forcefully advocated for church policies.

Wolfe-Devols bold advocacy for the LGBT community helped pave the way to the landmark 2009 vote by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to allow gay and lesbian clergy to openly marry and continue to serve.

She married a number of gay and lesbian couples including Richard Gasparotti, former congregational president at St. Matthews, and his partner Morgan Rumpf. The couple were married during the three-month window in 2008 when gay marriage was legal, which changed when voters approved Proposition 8.

Sue helped us with our vows, Gasparotti said. When the law changed, we were worried about what our status would be. Sue simply said, You are married in the eyes of God and that we shouldnt be concerned.

Wolfe-Devol was a dynamic pastor who served as a bridge between communities, he said.

She led missions to build homes for women and children who got stranded on the side of the border in Otay Mesa, Gasparotti said. She was passionate about feeding the hungry. She was a connector of people. She touched the lives, hearts and minds of so many people who will go forward with work that she started with them.

Gasparotti also praised Wolfe-Devols preaching style, how she seamlessly wove in the secular and religious.

She had a gift for the Gospel, he said. She understood its poetry and soul, and interpreted it for people in a modern age.

Wolfe-Devol helped bring a lot of people who were previously alienated because of their sexual orientation, back to the church, said Steve Devol, her husband of 29 years and an editor at the Los Angeles Times.

She had a refreshingly blunt preaching style that worked well, he said. Her sermons were meticulously thought out. She was always rewriting them Sunday mornings.

She engaged her audience, challenging peoples beliefs and inspiring those who had found the church to be an unwelcoming place when they were young, he said.

Even if she struggled to make it in a male-dominated world, Wolfe-Devol moved forward with strength, focus and grace, Gasparotti said.

She kept her work ethic and her sense of humor, he said. She didnt let those things that happened to her, affect her.

Wolfe-Devol is survived by her husband, son Pierce, her mother, brother and sister.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com
#MBN Cable channel loses lawsuit against suspension order MBN, a cable TV channel, on Thursday lost a lawsuit against the government's order to suspend its operation for six months for accounting fraud. The Korea Communications Commis...

#Hybe Q3 Hybe posts highest Q3 revenue ever Hybe, the entertainment company behind K-pop superstars BTS, on Thursday reported a revenue of 445.5 billion won (US$314 million) for the third quarter of the year, up 30.6 percent...
The U.N. Security Council today condemned 14-0, with the U.S. abstaining, settlements by Israel in the occupied territories.

The resolution, applauded by 14 of the Council members, was first introduced by Egypt in coordination with the Palestinians. It calls Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank a flagrant violation under international law and demands Israel discontinue all settlement activities immediately.



Israeli sentiment against the vote was almost uanimous shortly after it took place but Israeli critics of the response of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have now come out in force.



Yitzhak Herzog, co-chair of the largest opposition party, said "Netanyahu was bragging about our foreign relations and now what's underway is a total collapse of Israeli foreign policy." He said Netanyahu "must be stopped before it is too late."



Referring to Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, head of the opposition party, said, "This is not policy, this is hysteria."



"We have enough haters who want to isolate us, there's no reason to isolate ourselves," he added.



5,600 New Units Planned



Israel announced on Monday, Dec. 26 that it plans an additional 5,600 homes in the disputed territories.



Approval of 600 housing units will take place Dec. 28 as the first section of the planned expansion, said the Israeli government.



"We do not turn the other cheek," said Netanyahu. "This is responsible, measured and vigorous response, the natural response of a healthy people that is making it clear to the nations of the world that what was done at the U.N. was unacceptable."



Israeli settlements in the West Bank totaled 386,000 by the end of last year. There were 208,000 settlers in East Jerusalem at the end of 2014, according to Peace Now, which opposes the settlements. Anat Ben Hun, director of development and external relations, Peace Now, said the planned new units "will harm Israelis and Palestinians by making it more difficult to arrive at a two-state solution."



U.S. Media Condemned Vote; Parlay Is Jan. 15, 2017



Most U.S. media condemned the U.N. vote, the New York Post headlining, "Bam Betrays Israel--Lets U.N. Condemn Our Ally." The New York Daily News headlined, "Obama Shafts Israel--Blesses U.N. Condemnation of Jewish State." The Wall Street Journal said Obama "stabbed Israel in the front" by allowing the vote against the settlements. The New York Times headlined: "U.S. Abstains in U.N. Vote Against Israeli Settlements...Measure Passes 14-0 in Major Rebuff After Pressure from Officials and Trump."



The subject is not mentioned either in letters to the editor, editorials, or commentary by columnists on the two editorial pages of NYT Dec. 27 although the settlement expansion story received page one play in the upper right corner. The subject is also absent from the similar two editorial pages of the Dec. 27 Washington Post.



NYT columnist Thomas Friedman on Dec. 29 said President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry want to "preserve Israel as a Jewish and democratic state" but Israel is "driving drunk" and "needs to stop the settlements." Trump is "Bibi's chump," says the headline on the column.



Focus is now on a 70-nation French-Hosted conference on Middle East Peace set for Jan. 15, 2017 in Paris. This is five days before the inauguration of President-Elect Trump. The U.N. vote and other aspects of Israel's relationship with those living in the West Bank and Gaza will be among the issues discussed.



Netanyahu on Dec. 26 defended his position, saying, "There's no alternative to a firm response...countries of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves."

Susan Power, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N, said, Further settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel. She said this policy dates to the Johnson Administration.

The U.S. has been sending the message that the settlements must stop, privately and publicly, for five decades, she said.

Trump Tweets Opposition

President-elect Donald Trump, who was involved in the negotiations with Egypt over the resolution, said U.S. policies regarding Israel will soon change.

As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th., he tweeted.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) castigated President Obama.

President Obama is personally responsible for this anti-Israel resolution. His diplomats secretly coordinated the vote, yet he doesnt even have the courage of his own convictions to vote for it. This cowardly, disgraceful action cements President Obamas richly deserved legacy as the most anti-Israel president in American history.

The Israel Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the U.S. betrayed Israel.

It was to be expected that Israels greatest ally would act in accordance with the values that we share  and would have vetoed this disgraceful resolution, he said.

Josh Block, head of the Israeli Project, condemned the Obama administration from not stopping the resolution.



Vote an "Abomination"

Siding with such an abomination, ignoring universal calls to stand with our ally Israel, including from all the Democratic leaders in Congress, as well as Republicans, has again isolated this administration from the Democratic Party and further underscores the unusual, extreme and harmful foreign policy of this administration, Block said in a statement.

Obama has made it clear that hes a Jew hating, anti-Semite. He likes Jews who are his friends but not Jews in general, said Morton Klein, president of the Zionists Organization of America, the countrys oldest pro-Israel organization, before the vote was taken. Obama is sticking it to the Jewish state of Israel if the US. abstains or supports the resolution, Klein said on Friday.

Sen. Charles Schumer said he strongly urged the White House to veto the resolution.

Whatever ones views are on settlements, anyone who cares about the future of Israel and peace in the region knows that the UN, with its onesidedness, is exactly the wrong forum to bring about peace, the New York Democrat said in a statement.

I have spoken directly to the Administration numerous times  and in the strongest terms possible urged them to veto this resolution. I am strongly opposed to the UN putting pressure on Israel through one-sided resolutions. An abstention is not good enough. The Administration must veto this resolution, the statement said.

Trump tweeted Thursday that the resolution should be vetoed.

After Egypt backed off the resolution, four other countries on the Security Council  New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal  said they would go ahead and introduce it.
Agricultural News

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan Reflects on Lessons Learned Over the Past Year

Most everyone in the rural community would agree that 2016 was a fairly rough year for agriculture. Tom Buchanan, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, sat down with Farm Director Ron Hays this week to reflect on this past year's accomplishments and what goals he and his organization are setting for the coming year in 2017. While he agrees that there have been better years in the past for our industry, he also is quick to point out that it's not all bad in 2016.





"In the rearview mirror, '16 certainly had some challenges, absolutely did," Buchanan said. "Overall though it was a good year. Production wise - yields were up across the state, regardless of commodity."





One surprise for Buchanan, he confides, is the progress made this year in the rebuilding of the cattle herd. He says it has happened much faster than he would have expected it to. But beyond production, one thing Buchanan has taken away from 2016 are some lessons learned.





"Sixteen again, showed us some of the challenges that we will face moving forward and that's continuing to educate and discuss with our fellow Oklahomans about who we are and what we do and why what we do is good for them," Buchanan said. "I don't think that will ever go away and it probably never should."





Buchanan says that priorities for Oklahoma Farm Bureau in the coming year will most likely be a continuation of their normal agenda founded on their base concern - protecting private property rights. In addition though, he says there will most likely be some taxation issues arise, as well as some discussions to be had regarding the feral hog situation, water rights and even the state's budget.





However, two specific issues that Buchanan says are not fully developed yet but are starting to bubble up in conversations everywhere around the state, are education and medical care in our rural communities.





"Those are issues that are beginning to impact quality of life and daily life in rural Oklahoma, especially in western Oklahoma where our population is getting small," Buchanan said.





He contends that rural communities are finding it harder and harder to attract and retain talent in both education and medical fields to their towns. Buchanan reports that he is beginning to hear complaints that the impact of this situation is starting to be felt around the state. However, he says the scenario is not all doom and gloom.





"Every problem has a solution and we will be there working and helping achieve the solution to those problems," Buchanan concludes.





Buchanan will join Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays for his weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m.





You can listen to the entire conversation between Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays and Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan over his reflections of Oklahoma's agriculture industry during 2016, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below.



















Listen to Ron Hays and OFB President Tom Buchanan talk about lessons learn over the past year

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I hand Olympia the package and she measures it with her eyes, studying it intently, like an insurance adjuster sizes up a smashed-up car or an artist stares at her sculpture.

Olympia does not ask whats inside, because she does not care. She asks a more important question, in her thick Greek accent that has stuck around through six decades in Omaha.

What kind of wrapping paper you want?

It is nearing 2 p.m. on another Christmas week workday inside Von Maurs gift-wrapping department at Westroads Mall. Olympia Axiotes, who is 83 years old, has been here for five hours already. She has not yet sat down.

She is a seasonal employee here, a gift wrapper, but calling her a seasonal gift wrapper does not accurately describe her. Olympia is the unofficial mayor of this back room behind the third-floor customer service department. Shes the queen bee of the gift wrappers. Shes a Greek-American Mrs. Claus.

And Olympia doesnt wrap gifts so much as she makes a series of precise, almost imperceptible movements and then suddenly the gift is wrapped, as if by Christmas magic.

Christmas magic, and also tape. She uses a lot of tape.

Like this, she says, and expertly folds a tricky corner and smacks on three pieces of Scotch tape.

Olympia has been wrapping gifts here every holiday season for 10 years now, or maybe 11, or maybe 13  no one can really remember.

She was wrapping gifts here on Dec. 5, 2007, when a 19-year-old walked in with an assault rifle and ended nine lives, including people in the customer service department thats mere feet from her workstation.

And yet Olympia wrapped gifts the next holiday season, and the next. She wrapped even as the old-timers stopped. She continued to wrap even after her husband of 57 years, Petros Axiotes, died this summer.

And today she is wrapping my gift, or rather the gift I just bought for my father-in-law. (Spoiler: It isnt a flat-screen TV, Ron, but only because Von Maur doesnt have those.)

Why are you still here wrapping gifts, Olympia? I ask.

She gives me an exaggerated shrug.

I love the people here, she says. I love this place.

For a half-century, if you knew Petros and Olympia Axiotes, you knew them as the proprietors of a downtown tailoring, alterations and dry-cleaning shop.

OK Cleaners is where you went if you bought a pair of pants at the Brandeis Department Store and realized they needed to be hemmed. Its where you went if you were Sen. Ed Zorinsky and you had a suitcase full of rumpled clothes.

He used to dump his suitcase on the floor and the next day everything would be cleaned and pressed and ready for him to go back to Washington, D.C., says Katina Rogers, Olympias eldest daughter.

And its where you went if you walked by and sniffed a sweet honey smell drifting onto 16th Street. That was Olympias famous baklava, which she made in the shops kitchenette and then dished out to lucky customers.

What makes it famous? I ask Olympia.

Lots of nuts, she says.

OK Cleaners is where Olympia and Petros were for decades. They rang up customers and pinned alterations during the day. Then after the shop closed at 6 p.m. they hemmed and pressed and stitched deep into the night.

They eventually moved the shop to 36th and Center. They made enough money to raise four children and help put their three girls through Creighton University. They retired after decades of hard work.

And it was great, Olympia says, all of it  except she had a problem with retirement.

She was bored.

During a shopping trip to Von Maur with one of her daughters, they noticed that the store was accepting applications for seasonal gift wrappers. Olympia was then past 70. She had never before applied for a job. She had basically never wrapped a gift. (I always made the kids do that! she says.) No matter. She applied, got the gig and was soon firmly ensconced at her favorite wrapping station (back table, right-hand corner), joined by a dozen other women who furiously wrap thousands of Omahas gifts each November and December. The women told jokes. They listened to Christmas music. Olympia became one of them. She became a constant Christmas presence.

This back table was exactly where she was standing in 2007, on the December afternoon she calls that day. She remembers that a woman shuttling wrapped gifts back and forth to waiting customers that day was wearing a beautiful dress. She remembers that she kept staring at this fellow employee, at the birds on the bottom of her dress, until finally she realized she was being impolite. Olympia remembers waving the woman over. I love your dress, she said. Are those birds embroidered?

The woman smiled and let Olympia touch the bottom of her dress, which Olympia admired after years spent sewing and stitching and hemming. And then the woman, Beverly Flynn, walked away, toward the customer service counter.

If I keep her here a minute more, then she will not go to front, Olympia says. And then that guy will not kill her.

Olympia got grief counseling after that. She watched as so many of the other seasonal workers drifted away from the store, to be replaced by new ones.

But she never really considered quitting, she says, and the reason is perfectly simple: She had a whole lot of gifts left to wrap.

So she came back. She told jokes. She kidded the old gift wrappers, and the new ones, too. She listened to Christmas music. She became the queen bee. Then this July, her 97-year-old husband  the man who had shuttled her to and from Von Maur each year, because Olympia does not drive  passed away.

Olympia grieved again. She found new rides to work. On Wednesday, her daughter Anastasia dropped her off. She entered at 9 a.m. She needled her co-workers. She listened to Christmas music. She wrapped gift after gift. She never sat down.

This store, its a wonderful place, she says. Its wonderful! she says again, emphasizing each syllable.

Says store manager Ashley Vasquez: She really represents what we are.

Today Olympia has promised to show me how to wrap a gift, Olympia style. Its a 10-step process, and as she wraps my father-in-laws gift she walks me patiently through each step  choosing the wrapping paper, taping it right in the middle, slicing away the excess paper, folding the corners just so, smacking on extra tape, just in case.

But it feels a bit like shes trying to teach an orangutan how to tap dance, and so when the gift is wrapped (in four minutes flat) I thank her and tell her I will see her here again next year.

I wander out past the customer service counter, where a group of last-minute shoppers in the gift-wrap line look frazzled, grim, exactly like last-minute shoppers tend to look.

I want to tell them to cheer up, because many of them are waiting for gifts soon to be wrapped by the dean of the gift wrappers, the queen bee, the Greek-American Mrs. Claus.

I want to tell them to cheer up because, at a back table in the back room, Olympia is wrapping their gifts with love. And also lots of tape.
An Iowa woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2012 disappearance of an acquaintance, last seen alive in Omaha.

Shanna Golyar, 41, was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of Cari Farver, of Macedonia, Iowa, according to the Omaha Police Department.

Authorities arrested Golyar at her home in Persia, Iowa.

Farver was last seen alive on the morning of Nov. 13, 2012, according to Omaha police. She was killed between 6 a.m. that morning and 6 a.m. the next day at an apartment complex near 120th Street and West Dodge Road, according to the Omaha police report on her death. She was 37 at the time.

Authorities have not said whether they have found her body or why they believe a murder was committed. The police report indicates that Golyar and Farver were acquainted.

Three days after Farvers suspected death, on Nov. 16, 2012, her mother, Nancy Raney of Carson, Iowa, reported her missing to the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office. It wasnt until Jan. 10, 2013, that Farvers vehicle was found in Omaha.

The Sheriffs Office eventually determined that Farver had been killed in Omaha, said Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber. Pottawattamie County handed over the case to the Omaha Police Department. Wilber and Omaha Police declined to go into further detail.

According to a press release issued Thursday by Omaha police, grant money awarded to the departments cold case squad enabled some of the detective work that contributed to the arrest. In 2014 the unit received a DNA grant from the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and U.S. Department of Justice. The award allowed DNA testing in the killing of Farver.

The departments cold case squad began its investigation in February, the police report indicates. An arrest warrant for Golyar for first-degree murder was issued Thursday. Detectives took her into custody at 12:15 p.m.

In December 2015, Golyar reported to Bluffs police that she had been shot in her left thigh at Big Lake Park in Council Bluffs by an unknown female, a press release at the time stated.

She was hospitalized, but a suspect was not located.

Bluffs Police Sgt. Brandon Danielson said Thursday the investigation showed that her allegations of being shot by another person were unfounded. There were no arrests.

Thursday evening, Golyar was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail, awaiting extradition to Nebraska.

World-Herald staff writers Emerson Clarridge and Nancy Gaarder contributed to this report.
A record amount of atmospheric moisture is forecast to flow into the region Sunday, as a powerful Christmas Day storm bullies its way across the country.

Blizzard conditions are forecast in northern states, notably in much of the Dakotas, while the rest of the central U.S. is likely to experience severe storms with damaging winds, flooding rain and possibly some hail. A few isolated tornadoes, particularly in eastern Kansas, cant be ruled out, forecasters said.

AccuWeather, The World-Heralds weather consultant, warned that the weather could delay flights in and out of some airports Sunday and Monday. Travelers are advised to monitor their flights and, if driving, weather forecasts.

Becky Kern, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said forecasters are concerned about damaging winds and flooding in the Midlands.

The atmosphere is forecast to be carrying a record amount of moisture for this time of year, which means that record rainfall is possible because theres more water to wring out of the air. Kern said widespread rainfall of a half inch to three-quarters of an inch is possible Sunday, with locally higher amounts beneath thunderstorms.

For context, Omaha averages about an inch of precipitation during the entire month of December. And because the ground is frozen, forecasters arent sure what kind of localized flooding might occur with such unseasonally heavy rains.

Were in uncharted waters, Kern said.

Marlin Petermann, assistant general manager at the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, said area creeks have plenty of room to absorb runoff, so widespread flooding isnt expected.

Instead, the threat may come from localized pooling of water in low-lying areas.

Homeowners with basements prone to flooding can prepare by making sure their sump pumps work. And urban residents generally can improve drainage by clearing out leaves and trash that clog sewer intakes along their streets.

Rain is expected to begin in the pre-dawn hours in Omaha and continue on and off throughout the day Sunday. Winds, too, will already be strong by daybreak, intensifying as the day wears on. Sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph are possible across the region. In areas where storms spark, stronger winds are possible.

Sundays forecast for heavy rain and strong winds has Omaha Public Power District crews on alert.

OPPD spokeswoman Paula Lukowski said crews will be maintaining a close eye on the weather situation Christmas Day, though the utility isnt anticipating big issues.

Because the current forecasts are calling for the possibility of up to 60 mph wind gusts Sunday afternoon, we have teams of troubleshooters who will be working, she said.

The aim is for customers to celebrate Christmas without any problems.

We want customers to know that whatever happens, we will work as quickly and safely as possibly to fix anything that might occur, Lukowski said.

Omaha will flirt with a record high on Sunday, and then temperatures will plummet overnight.

The high Sunday in Omaha is forecast in the mid- to upper 50s. The record for the day is 57 degrees, set in 1946.

By Monday morning, wind chills will be in the single digits to teens in Omaha, Kern said.

Sundays system is part of a large and powerful storm moving east into the Great Plains, according to Paul Walker of AccuWeather.

It stretches from Canada down into Texas.

Sundays weather is also expected to usher in wintry precipitation and strong winds to northwest, northern and north-central Nebraska, forecasters said.

Walker said the Nebraska Panhandle could get 1 to 3 inches of snow, with 6 inches possible in the extreme northwest part of the state and 6 to 12 inches in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Donald Trump has re-opened the debate over nuclear proliferation, calling for the United States to "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability" until the rest of the world "comes to its senses" regarding nuclear weapons.

His comments Thursday on Twitter came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin said strengthening his country's nuclear capabilities should be a chief military objective in the coming year.

The president-elect's statement also followed his meetings a day earlier with top Pentagon officials and defense contractors.

Trump did not expand on the actions he wants the U.S. to take or say why he raised the issue Thursday. Friday, a spokesman said Trump is putting other countries on notice.

"It was in response to a lot of countries. Russia, China and others are talking about expanding their nuclear capability," spokesman Sean Spicer said on Fox News.

On NBC's "Today," Spicer said, "We're not going to sit back and watch other nations threaten our safety."

"... But just to be clear: The president isn't saying we're going to do this. He said, `unless they come to their senses.' It's a warning to them that this president isn't going to sit idly by.

MSNBC reported Friday that Trump said: "Let it be an arms race, because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all." The network's "Morning Joe" host Mika Brzezinski said Trump made the statement in a phone call with her.

Asked about those comments, Spicer said on NBC, "But other countries need to be put on notice that he is not going to sit back and allow them to undermine our safety and our sovereignty. He is going to match other countries and take action. "

Spokesman Jason Miller said Thursday the president-elect had been referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation "particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes." Miller said Trump sees modernizing the nation's deterrent capability "as a vital way to pursue peace through strength."

If Trump were to seek an expansion of the nuclear stockpiles, it would mark a sharp shift in U.S. national security policy. President Barack Obama has made nuclear nonproliferation a centerpiece of his agenda, calling in 2009 for the U.S. to lead efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons a goal he acknowledged would not be accomplished quickly or easily.

Still, the U.S. has been moving forward on plans to upgrade its aging nuclear arsenal. Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the Pentagon planned to spend $108 billion over the next five years to sustain and improve its nuclear force.

The U.S. and Russia hold the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons. In 2010, the two countries signed the New START treaty capping the number of nuclear warheads and missile launchers each country can possess. The agreement is in effect until 2021 and can be extended for another five years.

The state of the U.S. nuclear arsenal was rarely addressed during the presidential campaign. Trump's vanquished Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, repeatedly cast the Republican as too erratic and unpredictable to have control of the nation's nuclear arsenal.

The president-elect's transition website says he "recognizes the uniquely catastrophic threats posed by nuclear weapons and cyberattacks," adding that he will modernize the nuclear arsenal "to ensure it continues to be an effective deterrent."

Trump has spent the week at Mar-a-Lago, his South Florida estate, meeting advisers and interviewing candidates for a handful of Cabinet positions that remain unfilled. On Wednesday, he met with Pentagon officials and the CEOs of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, companies with lucrative government contracts.

Since winning the election, Trump has complained about the cost of Boeing's work on two new Air Force One planes and Lockheed's contract for F-35 fighter jets. Following the meetings, both CEOs said they had discussed lowering costs of the projects with the president-elect.

On Thursday, Trump pitted the two companies against each other on Twitter. "Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" he tweeted.

Boeing spokesman Todd Blecher said Thursday, "We have committed to working with the president-elect and his administration to provide the best capability, deliverability and affordability." Lockheed declined to comment.

Trump's tweet came after the close of trading on Wall Street. But in after-hours dealings, shares of Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corp. fell 2 percent, while Chicago-based Boeing Co.'s stock rose 1 percent.

Boeing and Lockheed are also among the companies pursuing a contract for replacing Minuteman missiles in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Spokespeople for the two companies declined to comment on whether that contract came up during Trump's meetings with their CEOs.
LINCOLN  You could call it an early Christmas present for the state.

On Friday, the giant online retailer Amazon announced that it will start collecting sales tax on purchases by Nebraskans, a move that could put tens of millions of new tax dollars into state coffers.

State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton labeled the announcement a big deal because Amazon, like several other online retailers outside the state, has not been collecting sales tax on orders from the Cornhusker State, even though buyers are supposed to report and remit the tax.

But buyers almost never do. Only about 1 percent of Nebraskans report out-of-state Internet purchases on their state income tax forms.

Fulton called Amazons move a good example of responsible corporate citizenship.

The tax is owed. So their announcement will just help Nebraskans to comply with the existing law, he said.

The announcement comes about three weeks after Amazon announced that it would begin collecting sales taxes on purchases from Iowans, and comes amid a renewed push by states to collect taxes on Internet purchases.

Under current law, Internet retailers are not required to collect sales tax on purchases from a state unless they have a physical presence in that state, such as a retail store or warehouse.

The policy annoys bricks-and-mortar retailers across the country, who say it creates unfair competition because they must collect sales taxes at the cash register while online and mail-order retailers do not.

Lets be fair. A sale is a sale. Its a fairness issue, said Tom Wright of Lincoln, a jewelry store owner who has traveled to Washington, D.C., several times to lobby for a change in tax policy.

The Nebraska Retail Federation announced recently that it would be seeking passage of a bill in the State Legislature to require online retailers such as Amazon to collect local sales taxes.

Jim Otto, president of the retail federation, said the proposal would combine aspects of laws recently passed in the states of South Dakota and Colorado to force retailers to collect or at least report sales in those states.

He emphasized that while Amazon is an online retailing giant, its sales represent only a portion of the online sales made by Nebraskans, perhaps 20 percent or so.

Its good news, but its not the total solution, Otto said.

State Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse said Friday that he has agreed to introduce the bill on behalf of the retailers. The senator said hes amazed at the number of people who tell him they dont owe taxes on Internet purchases.

Watermeier added that requiring people, and companies, to remit taxes on Internet purchases is not a tax increase as some conservative groups have argued.

They already owe the tax, he said.

Currently Amazons website lists 29 states and the District of Columbia to which it remits sales taxes. Collections in both Iowa and Nebraska are scheduled to begin on Jan. 1.

Past estimates of the lost tax revenue for Nebraska from the nonreporting of all Internet sales have ranged from $45 million a year to $118 million a year.

Amazon officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A 2015 report called Amazon and Empty Storefronts, done for the American Booksellers Association, estimated that requiring Amazon to collect sales tax on its Nebraska sales would generate an additional $18 million a year.

Fulton, the state tax commissioner, said he would be seeking a new estimate from his department on the extent of the new revenue expected.

The news from Amazon comes as Nebraska lawmakers are poised to grapple, in the 2017 session, with a $900 million gap between projected spending and tax revenue by either cutting spending or raising taxes and fees.

Watermeier said his bill would channel any new tax revenue into the general fund, where it could be spent by state agencies or used for tax decreases.
Tourism is something of a hidden economic asset for Nebraska. Many people might be surprised to know that its the states third-largest industry.

Visitors spend nearly $5 billion a year in Nebraska. Those visits to Scotts Bluff National Monument, Ponca State Park, the Henry Doorly Zoo, Arbor Lodge and countless other destinations generate nearly $700 million in state and local taxes and help employ for almost 45,000 people.

It makes great sense to market Nebraska tourism through a coordinated, statewide strategy that maximizes the benefit from each promotional dollar. For too long the state lacked such an effort, with individual tourist sites going their own way.

John Ricks, with extensive tourism-industry experience, starts next month as executive director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission. The commission has done a good job in developing a worthy statewide plan but failed to properly monitor the former executive director, whose financial mismanagement was hammered in a state audit.

Ricks task is to implement professional management standards and build on existing promotional strengths. Given his experience, the odds for progress are encouraging.
AIADMK meet: Will Dec 29 be Sasikala's day?

Chennai

oi-Anusha

The All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is all set to call for its first General Council meet post J Jayalalithaa's death on December 29. While the official announcement is yet to be made, party sources have confirmed that the meet is likely to take place on the 29th at Vanagaram in the outskirts of Chennai. The executive and general council meet will not be held at the party office in Chennai this time around.

AIADMK is stepping into a new phase and new leadership. This meeting is expected to make Sasikala the new face of the party. AIADMK's spokesperson Ponnaiyan had earlier hinted that regulations that may prove to be a hurdle for Sasikala to take over the reigns of the party will be rewritten by the executive if the need be. This executive meet is expected to do just that.

[Also Read: Jayalalithaa nominated Sasikala as political heir, claims AIADMK]

Expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa in her petition to the Madras high court against Sasikala Natarajan has stated that only a person who has been the member of the party for a successive period of five years is eligible to run for the party General Secretary's post. The party's executive is likely to strike down this regulation to make way for Sasikala Natarajan.

Despite many appeals by the party and supporters to take over as their leader, Sasikala had maintained remained silent.

OneIndia News
DMK chief Karunanidhi returns home; will continue to receive medical care

Chennai

oi-Anusha

M Karunanidhi was discharged from Kauvery Hospital in Chennai on Friday. The 92-year-old leader has been advised to avoid meeting visitors owing to risk of infection. In a release post his discharge, authorities from Kauvery Hospital said that the leader will need a tracheostomy tube for a few more weeks. The hospital added that he will be under medical and nursing care at home by the hospital staff.

[Also Read: Karunanidhi fine, to be discharged on Friday; hospital releases photo]

M Karunanidhi was discharged following the completion of an antibiotics course. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief was readmitted on December 15 for breathing related problems. He was rushed after he developed lung and throat infections.

The hospital added said that although Karunanidhi recovered well from the infection he has been advised complete rest. The hospital had previously released a picture of him watching television to establish the status of his improving health. This was the second time in less than a month that the leader was admitted to the hospital.

OneIndia News
6 months gone: No sign of the Jayalalithaa DA case verdict

India

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Dec 23: Six months have passed since the Supreme Court reserved its order in the J Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case. The death of Jayalalithaa may have taken some of the sheen out of the case. However, going by the developments in Tamil Nadu, the verdict still holds a great deal of importance.

Sasikala Natarajan considered to be a extra constitutional authority is clearly sending out signals of taking over the reigns following the death of her friend Jayalalithaa. There were some media reports suggesting that the case may fall flat in the event of Amma's death.

However, the judgment is usually abated in the event of a death provided there is only one accused in the case. In this case, Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakarn were also accused. Even if the Supreme Court strikes off Jayalalithaa's name, the verdict will be applicable to the remaining accused.

Sasikala's future depends on the SC verdict:

While none can question the Supreme Court as to when it would deliver the verdict, the fact is that everyone is waiting for the same with bated breath. If the order of the trial court were to be upheld it would mean Sasikala and the rest would have spend four years in jail.

Also read: Will the disproportionate assets case stand in the way of Sasikala's rise?

The Supreme Court had reserved its order in the case on June 7. The Bench comprising Justices PC Ghosh and Amitava Roy, however, did not make it clear when they would deliver the verdict. Legal experts say that there is no time frame to deliver the verdict. Convention, on the other hand, demands that it be done soon and before the judge retires.

The verdict will have a big bearing on Tamil Nadu politics. If the trial court's verdict is upheld then it would be closed curtains for Sasikala for another four years at least. But if she is cleared by the Supreme Court then nothing will stop her from taking complete charge.

Karnataka, the appellant state had argued that the High Court had erred in reversing the trial court's verdict. Karnataka also pointed out that the error was so apparent that even Jayalalithaa's advocates only commented on the conclusive paragraph of the judgment without going into the reasons.

The Supreme Court while pronouncing its verdict would have to reason it out with merits. The court will have to conclude whether these persons were involved in a conspiracy to amass wealth disproportionate to their known source of income.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 23, 2016, 10:30 [IST]
AAP, Cong should not do politics on Jung's resignation: Rijiju

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Dec 23: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today criticised the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress for "doing politics" over the resignation of Delhi LG Najeeb Jung. "I don't know what problems do the AAP and Congress have. When Jung was working, they were demanding resignation. "Now since he has resigned, they are questioning why he has resigned. Should Jung have resigned by taking permission from AAP and Congress?," Rijiju said.

The Minister of State for Home said the AAP and Congress leaders have no locus standi to ask questions. He asked the two parties "to give up doing politics" over Jung's resignation. Rijiju also refused to speculate on the reasons behind Jung's resignation saying only Jung could tell it. Raising questions over Jung's sudden resignation, Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken had demanded that the Centre should explain the reasons behind his "unceremonious exit", saying there is more to it than meets the eye.

The AAP had alleged that Jung worked under the "influence" of the Modi dispensation and questioned whether the power tussle between the Centre and Delhi government will continue even after the appointment of a new LG. "Modi government promotes its people. We hope he gets a better posting after this. I am unhappy that his tenure was disgraceful. Now that he has gone, good luck to him.

"Najeeb Jung's behaviour was not his. He was under the influence of someone. We hope the next LG gives priority to issues concerning people and does not work under anyone's influence," AAP's Kumar Vishwas had said.

PTI
Its all but over for UP 'gathbandhan': Is it heading for a three-way split

Ajit Singh rubbishes reports of alliance with SP, Congress

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Dec 23 Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh on Friday rubbished reports of having stitched an alliance with Samajwadi Party and Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, saying "there have been no talks with either Congress or SP on alliance".

Reports said that SP-Congress-RLD have forged an alliance ahead of the UP elections. "I havn't had any meeting or talks with anyone in Congress in more than six months," Ajit Singh told IANS.

"The last time I met Samajwadi Party leaders was when they had that function (party's silver jubilee celebrations on November 5) in Lucknow. We had talks that time but after that no phone call, no meeting, nothing," he added.

"That time we had talks with all parties and (Samajwadi Party chief) Mulayam Singh had asked us to merge with them. But no talks after that," said Singh. Asked would he accept the offer to ally with Samajwadi and Congress if it comes, Ajit Singh said: "When there have been no talks, where does the question of offer come?"

Earlier, there were reports that Congress and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party were likely to strike an alliance for the coming assembly polls.

IANS
As IT raids increase, black money takes the Bangladesh route

India

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Dec 23: The Intelligence Bureau has suggested enhanced security along the border areas to prevent black money in new notes from being sent abroad. There is specific intelligence that suggests several persons are sending their black money in new notes to Bangladesh.

The Income Tax Department has stepped up the heat which has prompted black money hoarders to send their money abroad. The first clues were received when the Border Security Force seized Rs 29.70 lakh in new Rs 2,000 notes at Nokchi in West Garo Hills District in Meghalaya on Thursday.

The money was found to be that of a cloth merchant. He was attempting to deliver the money to a coal merchant in Gasuapuapara in Meghalaya, who in turn was to move the money into Bangladesh. IB officials tell OneIndia that several persons who have managed to get black money in new notes are trying to dump their money abroad.

The Indo-Bangladesh border has seen plenty of illegal activity for many years now. Fake currency and cattle crimes are most common crimes that are committed along this border. IB officials suspect that the same gang could be helping out black money hoarders as well.

A high alert has been issued along the border to ensure that black money hoarders are not able to send their money abroad. The investigations are being conducted after the seizure are expected to lead to more clues which would help bust this modus operandi, officials said.

OneIndia News
Shah to chair meeting with NSA Doval, others to chalk out steps to stop minority killings in J&K

Minorities should be brought at par with other communities: Ansari

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Dec 23: With Muslims lagging behind other communities on social development index, Vice President Hamid Ansari today said the minority community has to be first brought at par with other communities if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is to be fulfilled.

Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, Ansari unhappy over bedlam

Asking minorities not to beg, he said they have a legal right to ask the government, which at times needs to be reminded of its duties and responsibilities.

Ansari asked Muslims to also look inward and focus more on providing education as the community has a very high school drop-out ratio. "Our Prime Minister has emphasised on 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (Together with all, Development for all).

But for everyone to grow together, all need to stand together in one line (magar agar sabko sath chalna hai to sabko ek line me khada hona hai)," said Ansari here. He further said: "If someone is 10 yards behind then he cannot compete.

Bring everyone in one line and then the country will prosper (agar koi 10 gaj piche hai to mukabala nahi kar sakta. Sabko ek line pe laiye tab mulk tarraqi karega).

This is a great nation and would prosper further." Ansari was addressing a conference 'Taleem O' Tarbiyat' here on how education helps, empowers and energises the communities. He also told the minority communities that "there is no need for begging. There is absolutely no need at all" for their rights.

"Whatever you want from the government, you ask for it, it's your right. You would also have to make government realise that it has been careless in giving your rights. They have done in it in the past and are doing today also (Hukumat se jo mangna hai wo mangiye, aapka haq hai.

Hukumat ko ye aitraf bhi dilana hai ki, hukumat aapka haq dene me kotahi kar rahi hai. Maji me bhi ki hai aur aaj bhi kar rahi hai)," he said.

Ansari also said that various schemes have been formulated but those have not been implemented properly. Highlighting on the importance of the education, he said" the world is growing rapidly and there is need for retraining of the people".

He further stressed there is need to strengthen the elementary and basic education for the minority communities as the school drop ratio is quite high. Ansari also asked the minorities to retrospect about efforts taken by them for providing education.

Speaking on the occasion, Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University Zafar Sareshwala talked about empowerment of the minorities through education and stressed on financial literacy for the growth of the community. BSE CEO Ashish Chauhan asked the minority community to focus on adapting new technologies for their inclusive growth.

PTI
Centre denies 150 Indians' bodies lying in Saudi Arabia

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Dec 23 The government on Friday dismissed as "factually misleading" a media report that the bodies of 150 persons from Telengana and Andhra Pradesh are lying in Saudi Arabia mortuaries and the bereaved families were unable to bring these home for the last rites since the Indian embassy was not helping.

"This report is completely factually misleading," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at his weekly media briefing here.

"The report refers to 150 bodies from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In reality, there are only about 10 cases that pertain to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana," Swarup said.

He also explained the role of the embassy after the death of an Indian and the complicated procedure in the Saudi kingdom for repatriation of bodies.

Stating that there were two million expatriate Indians in Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson said that three to four death cases were registered every day on account of natural reasons.

"Most cases are 'clear' cases in which, as per the local norms, it takes around three weeks to send mortal remains even if the documents are in order," he said.

"In cases of unnatural death, like suicide, murder and industrial accident, and also in those cases wherein the families doubt the circumstances of death, the investigation procedure is very lengthy, causing delay in completion of documentation or transportation of mortal remains."

Swarup said that in some cases, the families demanded release of compensation first before the dispatch of a body "whereas compensation is a legal process and takes a year".

"In other cases of delay, DNA samples from the families back home are needed to identify the body and complete the local procedures," he said.

Stating that at any given time, there would be a number of cases of all categories being processed, the spokesperson said that the Indian embassy proactively followed all death cases on top priority. "In fact, NOCs (no objection certificates) are issued by the embassy on 24x7 basis," Swarup said.

"In the Kafala system (sponsorship) being followed in Saudi Arabia, it is the responsibility of the sponsor to complete the paper-work and dispatch the mortal remains to India. Despite this legal position, the embassy steps in wherever there are delays in the transportation of mortal remains."

Most Indians in Saudi Arabia are blue-collar workers.

IANS
No decision yet on joining BJP or AAP, says Hardik; hails saffron party over Ayodhya issue, Article 370

Is Hardik Patel joining BJP today? This is what he says

Hardik Patel arrested because of 'danger to his life'

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Jaipur, Dec 23: Patidar leader Hardek Patel was on Friday arrested here and he tweeted that a police officer told him that this was done because of danger to his life. Patel said he was arrested on landing at the Jaipur airport.

"Jaipur Police cited threats to my life as the reason" he was taken into custody, Patel said. He quoted an unnamed senior police officer as saying that there were "orders from above" to arrest him.

Patel earlier this week announced that he would restart the agiation for Other Backward Caste (OBC) status next year.

Patel said that this time when the agitation begins, they will be an uproar and said that they would continue to fight till the end.

IANS
40 down and counting: Forces on the verge of wiping out Pakistani terrorists in Valley

J-K: Govt backs issuing domicile certificates to Pak refugees

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The government on Friday defended its move to grant domicile/nativity certficates to refugees from erstwhile West Pakistan. Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh told news agency ANI that the decision was taken to enable refugees to apply for jobs.

He said those refugees settled in other parts of the country have ascended to highest positions in the government. He further lashed out at the separatists and said the issue has got nothing to do with religion.

These refugees who have settled down in Jammu deserve dignified means of livelihood, Singh told ANI.

The opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir have raised a strong objection to government's decision to issue domicile / nativity certificates to refugees from erstwhile West Pakistan, said reports. The National Conference said that the move was violation of article 370 and will hamper the social fabric of the region.

The issue is likely to snowball into a major controversy as the separatists have called for a protest on Friday. The NC, separatists and few other like-minded parties are united over the issue.

As per latest reports, separatist leader Yasin Malik has been arrested during the protest over the issue.

According to reports, the separatists have alleged that the PDP-BJP coalition government in the state was implementing an RSS agenda.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, on Thursday told media persons that the certificates would be issued on directions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The issue pertains to 1,50,000 refugees, who had settled down in Jammu region after the partition in 1947.

Reports also claim that some BJP leaders in Jammu came out in support of the move, saying that it would help the West Pakistan Refugees (WPR) to seek employment in government sector.

OneIndia News
With India-Bangladesh coming together, ISI set to get further exposed on fake currency

D-Syndicate raises its ugly head again: This time on the target are Hindu leaders

Kerala operative Podi Salam's arrest will help crack fake currency code

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 23: The arrest of Abdul Salam alias Podi Salam, a resident of Kerala in connection with the fake currency racket, is a shot in the arm for the National Investigation Agency. Salam a resident of Mallapuram in Kerala was deported from Saudi Arabia following which he was arrested by the NIA on Thursday.

[Also Read: Post demonetisation 1,39,667 pieces of fake currency deposited in banks]

Salam, who was part of the Dawood syndicate was wanted by the NIA in connection with 2014 case in which fake currency of Rs 9 lakh had been seized at the Nedumbassery airport in Kerala.

NIA officials tell OneIndia that Salam was in touch with Aftab Bakti a henchman of Dawood Ibrahim. Salam was tasked with smuggling high value fake currency from the United Arab Emirates to India.

Salam's name cropped up during the interrogation of Abid Chullikulavan, who was arrested by the Kerala police. The Kerala police had seized a large amount of fake currency from Abid.

When the NIA took over the case it learnt that Salam had coordinated with Abid to smuggle fake currency into India from UAE. NIA officials say that with his arrest they would be able to gather more details of the modus operandi.

There was a huge amount of counterfeit currency that was being pumped into Kerala from the UAE. Prima facie it appears that that the D gang had tasked this job to Salam. More names from Kerala are likely to crop up during the questioning of Salam, the NIA official added.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, December 23, 2016, 7:40 [IST]
Maharashtra to get Advocate General by Dec 30: Govt to HC

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Dec 23: Putting an end to the controversy surrounding the appointment of a new Advocate General, the Maharashtra Government today told the Bombay High Court that it would fill up the coveted post by December 30.

Maharashtra fishermen withdraw stir ahead of Modi visit

The post of Advocate General has been lying vacant since March this year after Srihari Aney resiged as AG. In his place, Rohit Deo was appointed as acting AG and he continues to represent the government in high court in this capacity.

Deo today informed a division bench of Justice Abhay Oka that the state government would take a decision on the appointment of AG by December 30.

Taking the statement of Government on record, the bench deferred it to January 9 next year a petition filed by Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt seeking appointment of a new Advocate General.

The High Court had pulled up the state government early this month for its failure to appoint the Advocate General and had set a deadline of December 23 for the state to inform when it would fill up the coveted post.

Today, the government said it would fill up this post by December 30 this year. Neeraj Dhote, legal adviser and joint secretary, law and judiciary department, had filed an affidavit on December 8 assuring the court that "the state would appoint AG in accordance with the provisions contained in Article 165 of the Constitution of India, by the end of December 2016."

The bench had earlier remarked "it is high time that the government appointed a new Advocate General to represent the state. Many constitutional and statutory functions (of the government) are suffering due to the non-appointment of AG and it affects the cause of justice as well as the public."

Seeking a direction to the Maharashtra government to appoint a regular Advocate General in place of the current acting Advocate General, Dutt's petition submitted that the post of 'acting Advocate General' was unconstitutional.

It demanded that the appointment of Advocate General should be made only as per the provisions of Article 165 of the Constitution. Dutt clarified that he was not questioning the integrity and professional capability of acting Deo, but said he wanted a direction to the state government to follow the constitutional provisions.

Deo was functioning as an acting AG since March, while under the Constitution no post of 'acting AG' exists, he submitted. Dutt had also raised the issue in the state Legislature earlier, the petition said. Deo was appointed as acting AG after previous Advocate General Srihari Aney was forced to resign.

Aney's open support for separate Vidarbha had incurred him the wrath of political parties, including the ruling ally Shiv Sena, which are opposed to the idea of statehood for the region.

PTI
Comedian Atul Khatri's joke on seatbelt becomes one on him as Mumbai Police responds

Maharashtra fishermen withdraw stir ahead of Modi visit

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Dec 23 Fishermen in Maharashtra protesting against a proposed Shivaji Maharaj memorial off Mumbai coast have decided to withdraw their agitation, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone.

"Fishermen have agreed to withdraw their agitation against Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial Bhoomipujan," a senior official said, after a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and fishermen association leaders here last night. Fadnavis assured fishermen that the government will look into their concerns.

"At the meeting, it was decided to constitute a joint committee to resolve their issues. The CM thanked fishermen associations," the official said. The main feature of the memorial will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the Maratha king.

The site is a rocky outcrop roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore of Mumbai. Members of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti (AMMKS), an association of fishermen from Cuffe Parade, Machhimar Nagar, Geeta Nagar (near Navy Nagar), near Raj Bhawan and Backbay Parade, had said they will fly black flags on their boats and homes as a sign of protest.

Fisherwomen were to form a human chain from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty, holding black flags, ahead of Modi's arrival for the inauguration, said AMMKS leader Damodar Tandel. The livelihood of 1.5 lakh fishermen residing across five villages in south Mumbai, who have 1,500 large boats and 450 small boats, will be affected by the construction, he had claimed.

PTI
'NRIs, PIOs coming for Pravasi Divas should be allowed to exchange currency'

India

oi-PTI

Washington, Dec 23: NRIs and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) converging in Bangalore for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas should be allowed to exchange banned Indian currency, a global organsation representing them said.

Portuguese PM having roots in Goa to visit India from Jan 6

"One group that will be hit hard by the government's restrictions will be hundreds delegates reaching Bengaluru for the Pravasi convention from all over the world," said Sunny Kulathakal of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO).

"Many of them have in their possession demonetised currency notes that they may find difficult to exchange on arrival in India," he said adding that GOPIO has requested the government to facilitate the exchange of these notes at various Indian embassies or other means.

"NRIs and PIOs should be allowed to exchange whatever amount they have as long as they show the proof of past conversion of foreign currency to Indian currency in the last 10 years," said Thomas Abraham, chairman of GOPIO International.

PTI
Nudged or fatigued? What led to the resignation of Najeeb Jung as Delhi LG

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 23: An official statement on Thursday by Najeeb Jung read that he was resigning as the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and will return to his first love 'academics.'

[Also Read:MHA had no clue about Delhi LG's move]

Jung's move came as a surprise to many including the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with whom he has had several confrontations.

The move has surprised many and questions are being asked if the Home Ministry had nudged him to resign. There was also speculation that Jung may be made the next vice president of India.

This was, however, denied by Jung who said that the decision was purely personal and he intended spending more time with his family. Following his resignation, an undated letter written to the Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi surfaced.

In the letter Jung writes that he planned a private visit to Goa between December 25, 2016 and January 1, 2017.

Why did Najeeb Jung resign?

Sources tell OneIndia that Jung had held a meeting with the Union Home Secretary on Tuesday. The source also adds that during that meeting Jung may have been nudged to resign.

Mehrishi, however, said that he was unaware of his decision. "I got to know about his decision in the media and during my meeting with him there was no indication that he would resign," the Union Home Secretary also said.

The undated letter written by Jung also added fuel to speculations about his resignation. Jung says in his letter, " I will be undertaking a private visit to Goa from December 25, 2016 to January 1, 2017. I will leave Delhi in the afternoon of Sunday, December 25, 2016, and will be back on evening of Sunday, January 1, 2017. In my absence the Delhi Chief Secretary would keep in touch with me about important developments and will seek the Ministry of Home Affair's advise where necessary."

A Home Ministry official says that there was no pressure on Jung to resign. It may be fatigue, the officer also added. Others also say that his resignation may have been due to the Supreme Court's observation that the Delhi government should have some powers.

The court was hearing a plea against the Delhi High Court's verdict which had said that the LG was the boss of Delhi. The Supreme Court had on December14 observed that the elected government in Delhi must have some powers, otherwise it cannot function.

The matter needs to be decided soon, the Bench had also observed. The Congress has already raised questions and has sought an explanation. Normally, when the centre wants to replace the LG, it is the Home Secretary who has to convey the message.

The Congress' Ajay Maken says that the exit was unceremonious. PC Chako, another Congress leader, suggests that the resignation may be due to pressure from the BJP to bring someone close to the RSS.

OneIndia
Prime area of Manas National Park freed from encroachment

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Dec 23 In a major success to the wildlife preservation bid, a large area which was part of the prime habitat of Manas National Park was freed from 20 years of encroachment in a day long operation on Thursday.

"The area is very important as it is the part of the prime habitat of the grasslands in the eastern region of the forest. Its restoration was very essential for conservation of the herbivores," H.K. Sharma, field director of Manas National Park told IANS.

A UNESCO world heritage site, Manas National Park was enlisted as 'World Heritage in Danger' by the UN body in 2009 following high rate of killing, poaching and encroachment. It was taken down from the list in 2011 following restoration including rehabilitation of Rhinos. As per the government data, about 14,000 sq. kms of forest area is under encroachment across nation of which 3,172 sq. kms comes in Assam. The official added that the area named Gulariapada, was taken by the villagers for agriculture and encroachment started effecting the conservation since 1998.

"The encroachment was gradually increasing. Several people from nearby villages taking advantage of the situation in past took over the area by starting to cultivate it," Sharma said. He added that now its free, they will first have to restore the area by planting grass and then it could be used for several projects, such as restoration of several herbivores and other animals. "Luckily we faced no major resistance this time," an official said.

Spread over an are of 500 sq. kms to which 350 sq. kms were added in August 2016, Manas National Park or Manas is home to several endangered species including Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog and Assam Rabbit. The scenic forests of Manas are spread over India and Bhutan. In Bhutan, the forest is oldest national park called 'Royal Manas' and spreads over the 1050 sq. kms.

IANS
Rajasthan ATS officer found dead in official car, blackmail suspected

India

oi-Vicky

The police suspect that the woman, in her early twenties, was blackmailing the officer. The officer is alleged to have shot the woman, before pulling the trigger on himself. In a two-page note, he apologised to his wife and said that the woman was blackmailing him.

The family of the officer has been informed about the incident.

According to ATS additional DG Umesh Mishra, a service revolver was found near the bodies. The report was made by a passer-by who spotted the car and told the police that he had heard gun shots at around 9 pm. Prima facie, the police say it appears to be a case of suicide.

The family of the officer have been informed about the incident. The police say that it appears to be a case of suicide. A passerby who spotted the car told the police that he had heard gun shots at around 9 pm on Thursday.

According to ATS additional DG Umesh Mishra a service revolver was found near the bodies of the officer and his woman friend. It appears to be a case of suicide, he also added.

OneIndia News
Rajasthan govt tries to appease Gujjars as they threaten fresh agitation

India

oi-PTI

Jaipur, Dec 23: With Gujjars threatening to launch a fresh agitation for quota, Rajasthan government has assured the communities under the special backward classes that it would go for appropriate solution within the framework of law to protect their interest.

The Rajasthan High Court had on December 9 struck down Special Backward Classes quota given to Gujjars and five other communities by the state government as the total reservation exceeded the permissible limit of 50 per cent.

"State Government is waiting for a certified copy of the Rajasthan high court judgment so that an appropriate solution, within the framework of law, can be arrived at," a statement said.

The government said that it always showed its commitment to the welfare and uplift of Special Backward Classes of the state and concrete steps had been taken in the past.

"The decisions taken in the interest of the communities include convening a special session of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister had directed that all efforts have to be made to defend the legislation of 2015," the statement said.

The Rajasthan High Court has directed to suspend its December 9 order for a period of six weeks and that the appointments/admissions given by the Government of Rajasthan, pursuant to the 2015 Act, shall not be disturbed, it said.

Even before the orders of the High Court were passed, the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to look into and address issues related to the welfare of SBCs, met several times, it said. After the court order, the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti had threatened to launch a fresh agitation for quota.

On November 28, 2012, the Rajasthan Cabinet had decided to provide a separate five per cent quota to the SBCs without touching the 21 per cent reservation available to Other Backward Classes and taking the overall reservation in jobs and education to 54 per cent. This had left Gujjars dissatisfied as it was susceptible to judicial rejection since its inception. Earlier too, an attempt was made to enhance five per cent of reservation over and above the prescribed limit in 2008 which was not permitted by high court.

Then in 2009 and 2010, the high court had asked the OBC commission of the state to revisit the concession made by state government and after the study and recommendation of OBC Commission again, the Gujjars and five other communities were given 5 per cent extra reservation in 2012 that has been struck down.

The state has witnessed violent agitation by Gujjars several times since 2007, when the community members blocked national highways and railway tracks and were fired upon by the police.

PTI
Special anti-corruption courts in every district: SC to take up plea next week

Survivor centric approach needed in rape case: Supreme Court

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 23: Do not doubt a complainant in a rape case unless it is a rare one, the Supreme Court has said. While hearing appeal in a sexual assault case involving a 9-year-old girl, the Supreme Court observed, "Why should the evidence of the girl or woman who complains of rape and molestation be viewed with the aid of spectacles fitted with lenses tinged with doubt or disbelief."

[Also Read: Arjuna awardee shooter booked on rape charge]

The court also suggested that reforms must be made to the criminal justice system so that it is made more survivor centric. In more than 80 percent of such cases, the accused are known to the victims.

In such cases it is difficult to report to the police since the family lives in constant fear of attracting social stigma, the court also observed.

Further the Bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said that in such cases the deterring factor for the family of the victim is that they find the entire criminal justice system intimidating.

There is no protection mechanism and the time is ripe now to bring about reforms, the Bench added.

Further the court said that there is a need to have a survivor centric approach towards the victims of sexual violence. Reforms are needed especially when dealing with cases involving children, as such incidents have a traumatic and long lasting effect on them, the Bench said.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, December 23, 2016, 9:02 [IST]
Berlin Christmas market attack suspect killed in Italy

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Rome, Dec 23 The suspect in the December 19 terror attack at a Berlin Christmas market, which claimed 12 lives, was on Friday shot dead near Milan in Italy, the media reported.

Anis Amri, who, according to the Islamic State terror group, was "a soldier", ploughed a lorry into the crowd of people at the Christmas market on Monday. Amri was killed in a gunfight with police, Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti said.

"There is absolutely no doubt that the person who was killed was Anis Amri, the suspect in the terrorist attack in Berlin." According to the anti-terrorism police, Amri arrived in Italy from France and then took a train to Milan.

He then continued to head for the Sesto San Giovanni neighbourhood, and ran into two police officers before being killed in a shootout when they tried to conduct a routine stop-check. Amri, who carried no documents with him, was identified on the basis of his appearance and fingerprints after the shootout, anti-terrorism police sources in Milan said. A police officer is in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the shootout.

The 24-year-old Tunisian had been jailed for about three years in Italy for setting fire to a refugee centre, and after the Germany attack a reward of 100,000 euros (about $104,000) had been offered for information leading to his capture. German government spokesman thanked Italy's authorities for their cooperation in the four-day manhunt for Amri following the deadly attack.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni informed German Chancellor Angela Merkel of Amri's death in Milan. Amri's family said he was not at all religious when he lived in Tunisia and was converted to radical Islam in Italy while in prison.

IANS/AKI
Hijackers of Libyan plane surrender, taken in custody

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Valetta, Dec 23: Situation that developed after the hijack of the Libyan airlines was resolved when the hijackers of Libyan plane surrendered and were taken into custody. Before surrendering the hijackers released passengers from the hijacked Libyan airplane.

Earlier Malta's PM Joseph Muscat on Friday had tweeted about a potential hijack situation involving a Libyan airlines.

According to reports, two hijackers were believed to be onboard a Libyan airline, Afriqiyah Airways with 118 passengers on board. The hijackers had threatened to blow up the plane, reports suggested.

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

The passenger plane, enroute to Tripoli, was diverted to Malta after the possible hijacking situation unfolded. Muscat PM said that security and emergency operations were on stand by.

Malta airport tweeted that there was an an unlawful interference at the airport.

MIA confirms there is an unlawful interference at the airport.Emergency teams dispatched.Visit https://t.co/Lf8i8e8s6L for flight info.  Maltairport (@Maltairport) December 23, 2016

Malta airport said that some of the flights at the airport were delayed or diverted however, operations were resuming. Muscat said: "It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant."

According to reports, one of the hijackers is said to have a hand grenade on board. Meanwhile, army officials have surrounded the airline.

OneIndia News
From being a victim of terrorism to exploring global solutions: India praised at UN's Counter Terrorism meet

Cabinet approves MoU between India, Denmark in field of Water Resources Development and Management

Dr. Rinky Kapoor- One of the best celebrity cosmetic dermatologists

No one has guts...: Junior defence minister's reply to China question

India to give Nepal additional 240 MW electricity

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kathmandu, Dec 23 India has agreed to export to Nepal additional 240 megawatts of electricity -- 80 MW immediately from January and 160 MW from February -- in a bid to lessen the power woes of the Himalayan nation.

An agreement was signed to this effect in New Delhi on Thursday between Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India's state-owned power major NTPC.

The NEA is Nepal's state-owned electricity company. The import will be made through Dhalkebar-Mujjafpur Cross Border Transmission line which was inaugurated in February 2016.

The fresh agreement on power purchase from India would to some extent address the problem of blackouts in the country, the NEA said in a statement.

Nepal is reeling under a huge power crisis. The country suffered power cuts up to 15 hours everyday until last year -- mostly in winter season.

To cope with this perennial power crisis, Nepal in September signed an agreement to import additional 250 MW electricity from India through various cross-border transmission lines.

It was decided that India will install additional 100 MVA transmission line in Muzaffarpur in its side to ease the export to Nepal. Currently, Nepal has been importing 345 MW electricity from India.

IANS
Spiders spotted on Red planet

With the help of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft it was found that how small troughs are growing on Mars that took several Martian years (one Mars year is equal to around 1.9 Earth years) across the south polar region of the Mars.

Range of the spider:

The spiders range is believed to be in size from tens to hundreds of metres and take more than 1000 Martian years to form.

How are Spiders created:

According to NASA, during the spring season the dry ice (better known as Carbondioxide) breaks into Mars' crust and emits carbon dioxide which leads to the formation of dark features called as 'Spiders'.

Where are they found:

These mysterious spiders are basically found in sand-dune areas near Mars' southern polar region.
North Korea calls Ban Ki-moon an opportunistic 'chameleon'

International

oi-PTI

Seoul, Dec 23: North Korea has mocked outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon over his apparent ambitions to run for South Korean president, calling him an opportunistic "chameleon in a human mask" who's dreaming a "hollow dream."

The North's state-run Uriminzokkiri website said on Friday that Ban's alleged presidential ambitions were absurd because the way he handled his job as UN chief for the past 10 years has left him living in "criticism and shame."

Ban has not officially declared an ambition to run for South Korean president, but he has not denied his interest either. In a meeting with South Korean reporters earlier this week, Ban said he was ready to "burn" his body in devotion for South Korea, his strongest hint yet of a presidential bid.

"If what I have learned, seen and felt during my 10-year service as UN secretary-general could help advance Korea, I am more than willing to sacrifice myself for this cause," the Jakarta Post quoted Ban as saying.

His term as United Nations Secretary-General ends on December 31.

PTI
Ukraine grain deal: UN says shipments are still going out

Putin, Netanyahu discuss anti-terror cooperation, situation in Middle East

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Moscow, Dec 23: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have pledged to further their anti-terror cooperation as the two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East in a telephonic conversation, a statement from the Kremlin said on Friday.

US, Israel sign bn military aid deal

"Putin and Netanyahu continued exchange of opinions on the current situation in the Middle East. They confirmed their readiness for further active cooperation in fight against terrorism," Xinhua news agency said, citin the statement.

The conversation, held on the Israeli initiative, was the second this week.

Netanyahu on Wednesday offered condolences over the assassination of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov and said Israel was ready to boost anti-terrorism cooperation with Russia.

--IANS

py/sar
Singapore: Four-day festival to mark 350th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh begins

International

pti-PTI

Singapore, Dec 23: A four-day festival is being organised by Sikh community in Singapore to mark the 350th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh. More than 20,000 Sikhs from Singapore and Asia are expected to attend the "Naam Ras Kirtan Darbar", a biennial festival being held since 2002.

Guru Gobind Singh is the 10th Guru known as a literary genius. Renown Sikh Ragis (hymn signers) from India and Asia will lead the Kirtan at the sprawling hall, turned into a darbar, at the Singapore Expo, The Straits Times reported.

The festival will also have an exhibition of artifacts, including a miniature replica of the Sikh Sanctum Sanctorum, Sri Harmandir Sahib, the iconic Golden Temple of Amritsar. Also on display will be a sacred relic, a 300-year old pitcher used by Guru Gobind Singh. A live feed will be streamed on Facebook for people who are unable to attend the four-and-a-half-hour festival, which begins on Friday and is there till Monday, the report said.

Langar, prepared by volunteers at the seven Sikh Gurdwaras in Singapore, will be served daily for afternoon tea, dinner and supper. The festival, organized by over 200 volunteers, is one of Asia's largest Sikh gatherings outside South Asia. Shanghai-based Ashmit Singh, 27, is in Singapore for the festival and to meet up with his extended family which lives and work in Japan, Thailand and India, as they have all gathered here during the long weekend, extended to Monday for Christmas holidays.

Guramrit Singh, a 30-year old IT designer, said that apart from learning more about the Sikh religion, he enjoys the sense of community that the festival provides. PTI GS

PTI
Najeeb Jung resigned due to personal reasons: Kejriwal

New Delhi

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Dec 23: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday met outgoing Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung at Raj Niwas after his resignation from his post on Thursday. After meeting him, Kejriwal told reporters in Delhi that Najeeb is leaving due to personal reasons. The meeting between the AAP leader and Jung lasted for about an hour.

Also, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia met with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung who resigned from his post on Thursday. Sisodia's meeting followed Chief Minister Kejriwal who met Jung earlier over breakfast.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ajay Maken has said that Najeeb Jung was under pressure to resign and his party wants to know the reason from the Centre.

Kejriwal on Thursday took to Twitter and described the Najeeb Jung's unprecedented resignation as a surprise to him. However, he extended his best wishes to Jung in a tweet. Also, Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said, despite the "sweet bitter" experience, the AAP government and Jung did a good job in Delhi.

Jung's resignation from the post of Lt Governor came through a press release on Thursday. Former IAS officer Najeeb Jung had assumed charge of Delhi's Lt Governor on July 9, 2013, when the Congress-led UPA was in power. The Narendra Modi government retained him even as it replaced most governors in the states. Jung is a former IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre. He is also a former Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. He said he would return to his "first love" academics.

There are also three names doing the rounds and sources indicate that former Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal would be one of the possible successor.

OneIndia News
Nigerian carrying new notes from Delhi detained

New Delhi

oi-Anusha

A Nigerian national carrying Rs 53.78 in new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes from Delhi was detained on Friday. In addition to the new notes, the man was also in possession of Rs 4.29 lakh in old demonetised notes. The passenger was travelling to Coimbatore with the cash when officials at the airport detained him. All the cash was being transported without proper documentation.

Officials in the Coimbator airport intercepted and seized the cash in the wee hours of Friday at around 2.35 AM when the passenger had flown down from the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi. A case has been registered and the Nigerian national is being questioned.

[Also Read: New currency amounting to Rs 1.34 crore seized in Chennai]

This incident comes a day after five people were detained near the Chennai airport on Thursday for possessing undocumented cash in new currency notes. Officials from the revenue intelligence department in Chennai had seized Rs 1.34 crore, all in new Rs 2,000 currency notes from the five persons following a tip off.

OneIndia News
At least 30 people were killed and dozens injured when three suicide car bombs exploded in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, security sources said. A security source said that the suicide bombers, driving cars laden with explosives, detonated their vehicle,where Iraqi security force teams and civilians had gathered in the Gogjali neighbourhood of east Mosul.
A passenger plane with 118 people on board was reportedly hijacked over Libya and forced to land in Malta. Joseph Muscat, the Prime Minister of Malta, said he had been informed of a "potential hijack". The reports indicated that one hijacker is on board. He is claiming to be in possession of a hand grenade.
In a horrifying incident, a 7 year old girl was raped in Lucknow late on Thursday evening. She was found unconscious with blood oozing out from her body parts and was rushed to hospital.
Make in India: Not Spain, Gujarat facility to build C-295 for Indian Air Force now

Police raids farm house in Vadodara, 200 detained

Vadodara

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Vadodara, Dec 23: In a joint raid conducted by Ahmedabad and Vadodara police on Friday, more than 200 people were detained from a farmhouse where famous businessman Jitendra Shah daughter's reception was held near Vadodara.

According to reports, Police seized around 20 cartons of liquor from the spot. Among the detained people, many participants were known faces from famous Industrialist, including 50 women and IPL chairman Chirau Amin. Within hours of interrogation, many were granted bail despite strict laws.

Gujarat: Police detain more than 200 people from a farmhouse, where illegal liquor was being served during a wedding party, near Vadodara. pic.twitter.com/RCIedmS76n  ANI (@ANI_news) December 23, 2016

The Gujarat government has toughen the rules against sale and consumption of alcohol in the state. The ordinance proposed imprisonment up to 10 years for those involved in the sale and purchase of liquor in Gujarat, besides a maximum fine up to Rs 5 lakh.

OneIndia News
OK! Magazine 03 Nov 2022

Despite Johnny Depp coming out on top in their trial, the jury ruled in her favor on one count of defamation.
by  Graham Pierrepoint



Pope Francis I has been at the forefront of the Catholic faith for some years now, and with it, he has brought much progression to his position  he has not only addressed scandal sweeping the church with regard to historical abuse of children, but he has also shared progressive views on homosexuality and has even confirmed that animals, as well as humans, can ascend to the afterlife. To many, hes been the progressive bastion that is sorely needed in todays climate. This week, too, hes made considerable steps towards a more central ground  with comments regarding the very creation of the universe.

Pope Francis advised this week that God is sometimes viewed as something of a magician  and that this simply is not the case. Making reference to the Big Bang, the Pope discussed that the idea of the cosmic event does not contradict the existence of a higher deity, and that the idea of evolution walks hand in hand with creationism. He advised that some creationist debate discourages evolutions existence entirely  stating that evolution can still exist under Gods influence, as creatures that evolve need to be created in the first place. Its a series of statements that is likely to create some discussion, however, Pope Francis is hardly the first in his line to offer the olive branch to evolutionary theory  Pope John Paul II made similar comments twenty years prior, meaning that this progressive thinking has been on trend longer than many may have imagined.

Pope Francis predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was considered as perhaps more of a traditionalist with regard to such theory and doctrines  but despite his difference in approach to the world we live in, the Pope continues to remain respectful of his line and, of course, continues to represent the word of God to those who follow. Pope Francis has, in fact, recently unveiled a bronze bust of his predecessor  who was the first to retire, whereas previous Popes have died during their tenure  praising Pope Benedicts spirit.

Can evolution and creationism walk hand in hand  its perhaps one of the largest ideological divides still in play in the world today  but while some find faith in God and the church, others will find solace in science  meaning that, in one way or another, we all find our own truth as to why we were put here in the first place.
Australia's crafty sulphur-crested cockatoos appear to have entered an "innovation arms race" with humans, scientists say, as the..

AFP English 13 Sep 2022
Authorities at Libya's Misrata airport on Sunday seized a Libyan Airlines aircraft operating from Benghazi in the east of the..

Reuters 17 Nov 2019
Tiverton Mid Devon Gazette 28 Jul 2021

He spotted a bundle of cash in the glove compartment of a Mercedes and tipped off colleagues at Devon and Cornwall Police
London Affiliate Conference Changes Format for 2017

Published December 23, 2016 by Mike P

Those attending the London Affiliate Conference 2017 will encounter a new conference with greater relevance for all affiliates.

Early next year, the London Affiliate Conference (LAC) will last from 9 to 12 February 2017. Following a reveal from organiser iGB Affiliate, it has emerged that attendees will encounter a different conference compared to previous years.

After receiving an email from iGB Affiliate, Online Casino Reports (OCR) has discovered that LAC 2017 will switch from dividing the conference by industry. Instead, iGB Affiliate will run the event by hosting themed tracks that are going to be hosted during the two main days. These tracks are designed to have wider relevance to attendees.

The New Format

On Friday 10 February, the morning session will discuss affiliate business tools in conference room one, while room two will host industry insights with a finance focus. In the afternoon, room one will discuss SEO strategies (data, links, and technical) and room two will continue industry insights by talking about gaming.

The SEO strategies will extend into day two on Saturday 11 February, when conference room one will spend the whole day discussing onsite SEO and website development. Meanwhile, conference room two will provide alternative themes, with paid media available in the morning and social media being another option for the afternoon.

Tailored Sessions

What will remain the same is that the sessions are going to be driven by industry experts. These specialists will take the time to adjust their sessions to address the most important challenges that affiliates face in their business. Along the way, attendees will learn by progressing through interactive and practical examples. Christopher C Cemper and Andy Barr are just two of the many experts who will be at LAC 2017.
With perspiration dripping from his forehead and trickling down onto the collar of his already moist shirt, Stanis loaded several of his large paintings into the elevator, shut the heavy elevator doors, and rode up with them to his new studio on the sixth floor of the Ovington Brothers Building. The paintings had come from a month-long exhibition in Manhattan, and he and Aleth were about to host a reception in their studios as a way to show off their latest work. It was early August, and both were having a busy summer. Some new commissions had come Stanis's way, but he was also spending much of his time and effort in getting his existing body of work before the public. The Manhattan show was only moderately successful, so Stanis retrenched, and began to lay down deeper roots in his recently adopted community.



Stanis and Aleth were in many ways inseparable. While they had become steadfast friends, Stanis developed an even deeper appreciation for the older artist after completing a portrait of him. They continued to work together, and their destinies were becoming intertwined. This relationship provided an additional bulwark for Stanis, who, while having become partially acclimatized to American ways, was still struggling in that regard.







Aleth Bjorn

(Image by Bjorn Family archives) Details DMCA



Aleth Bjorn had first traveled to the United States in 1892, and was by now thoroughly familiar with the ins and outs of surviving in the social and legal systems of the United States. He was an invaluable resource for Stanis, not only as an artistic compatriot, but also in matters practical. The two had only weeks earlier taken studios on the sixth floor of the Ovington Brothers Building, and managed to become neighbors with, as fate would have it, fellow painter Leon Dabo.







Leon Dabo in his studio, ca 1910 (detail).

(Image by Archives of American Art) Details DMCA



A tall, slender and pensive looking character sporting a well-manicured beard and mustache, Leon was a talented artist with a unique style that catapulted him to fame in Europe, but dampened his acceptance in the States. He had spent many of his early years in Europe, but upon returning to America, is said to have worked with Tiffany competitor John LaFarge on the design of stained glass windows for Brooklyn churches, later moving on to large-scale murals. In the meantime, he developed a sort of misty surrealistic style in his oil paintings that didn't quite grab American audiences. That said, he did catch the attention of Robert Henri in the first decade of the twentieth century, who, when expanding his group of 8 so-called "Ashcan" artists, included Leon in the second round of shows. In 1913 Leon was instrumental in preparations for the Armory Show that introduced the American public to contemporary trends that were shaking up the art world. Some years later, during World War I, he was a captain assigned to intelligence duty in France, and returned to the states with war hero status. Five of his paintings of the war front are among the illustrations that can be found in a volume describing the wartime exploits of the Fourth Division, to which he belonged. Thereafter, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Brooklyn Society of Artists, being one of the early members of that group. By the time Stanis arrived in Brooklyn, Leon, then approaching his sixties, had already assumed a position of elder statesman of the art scene there.



As the afternoon approached, guests began to trickle upstairs to the sixth floor of the Ovington Brothers Building. Some came because Stanis had painted their portraits. Others were friends, or friends of friends, of the artist. They included the wives of doctors and attorneys who often made their homes in the upscale Brooklyn enclave, the borders of which barely encompassed the Ovington Brothers Building before merging with Brooklyn's downtown retail district. Gradually clusters of visitors streamed up to the studios to see what new works were being shown.



Although he would later become better known as a marine painter and a Works Progress Administration artist, Aleth had a strong affinity for decorative arts. The centerpiece of his display was a wall hanging he had been working on for some time. To establish a classical, pastoral setting, the tapestry featured a bust of Pan, the Greek god of music. Surrounding the statue were four human figures, two of which were standing, the other two, reclining. All of this was set before a background of trees. The bucolic work attracted many positive comments from visitors.



Having successfully braved the hot weather and unraveled the idiosyncrasies of the passenger elevator, Nancy, Esther and Corrie made their entry into Aleth's studio, and as they scanned the different pieces on the walls, they immediately took a liking to the wall hanging, so different was it from the usual artist fare of oil paintings and etchings. The trio studied other items that Aleth put on display, before making their way to Stanis's studio across the hall, the 1880s vintage wooden floors of the hallways emitting creaking sounds beneath their feet. Once arrived, all were confronted with the smell of fresh oil paint that filled Stanis's smallish studio, a scent that young Nancy was beginning to enjoy. It is hard to know which of the three -- Corrie, Esther or Nancy-- was more infatuated with Mr. Rembski. All were glad to have a chance to socialize with him, and Nancy, shy as she was, would never miss an opportunity to see him. They were stunned with excitement to be members of the inner circle of a working artist.



Among those stopping by to see Stanis's latest work was Robert J. Wickenden, who would soon have his portrait completed by the young artist.



One individual who was obvious by his absence was Syrian-born artist Nicholas Macsoud. Macsoud's family immigrated to the United States at the end of the 19th Century. While he was one of the founding members of the Brooklyn Society of Artists and a regular contributor to the BSA shows, in the summer of 1924 we find him traveling, not the streets of Brooklyn, but rather in the lands of his forefathers. He was making numerous stops throughout the region, including the Holy Land and Lebanon. During his travels, he found the time to paint numerous works, one of which is in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum of Art. These he hoped, upon his safe return, to display in an upcoming show of the BSA.



Many of Stanis's newfound colleagues were now scattered about the northern coasts or harbored in various mountain retreats throughout New England, in their efforts to escape the intolerable summer heat and uncover new vistas to capture in their canvases. Summer art schools and colonies flourished in July and August, accounting for the relative quietude of the art scene in the city.



Of these matters, Nancy was a young and interested bystander who had other concerns. Far from being constrained to attend events exclusively of an artistic nature, she had been in the last few months taking in a variety of new experiences. As far back as January, her mother, never weary of finding new distractions for her daughter, took her to the Saturday premier of the play, "Upward Bound," which explored themes of the afterlife. Unexpectedly, Ira Glackens, the son of "Ashcan" artist William Glackens and only a couple of years Nancy's senior, was also at the theater, so the two took seats together with their respective parents in close proximity. Ira and Nancy had known each other since childhood, when for a number of years, the Glackens family made Bellport, Long Island, the family's summer retreat. Esther's mother, who was still alive at the time, kept a bungalow at the beach, and the two families had struck up a friendship. In 1913 we find William and wife Edith at the same library fundraiser with the Henshaw family in Bellport.

A family tradition had it that Ira and Nancy went to the same Montessori school there, and this tradition has a ring of truth, since around that time, a Montessori school is said to have opened its doors in the vicinity. At any rate, it would seem that Ira was quite pleased to have an opportunity to sit next to the attractive and shapely Nancy for the performance in question, and his journal for that day documents what for him was a fully satisfactory afternoon at the theater:



"Of the play," he says, "I can only say it was a most artistic drama in itself, most well done. Mother liked it very much, and she is a far more cold critic than I am. As far as a thriller, it kept up to the very end, and we all went out of the theater as mother said, 'with quaking knees, at the end of a perfect day.'"



Ira Glackens, far left, with his sister Lenna, below, and two friends.

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From Palestine Chronicle



Nakba: when Israel was established, Palestine was erased.

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On 12 December, the British government officially adopted a new definition of anti-Semitism that includes legitimate criticism of Israel.

The definition was adopted earlier in the year by pro-Israeli group IHRA, although it was considered but abandoned by the European anti-racism agency in 2005.

It is a rather dangerous move which will most likely lead to an expanding chasm between British civil society and Britain's political elite.

Israeli and pro-Israeli groups in the West have always been keen on conflating genuine racism and genuine criticism of the State of Israel, which stands accused of violating scores of United Nations resolutions and of war crimes in the occupied territories, especially in the Gaza Strip.

Adopting the new definition comes on the heels of a manufactured crisis in British politics, in which the Labour party, under Jeremy Corbyn, was falsely accused of being "soft" on anti-Semitism among its members. This "crisis" was engineered by pro-Israeli groups to detract from genuine campaigning among Labour supporters, in order to bind Israel to its international obligations, and end the siege and occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Last October, a cross-party group issued a report that contributed to the confusion of ideas, condemning the use of the word "Zionist" as pejorative, and claiming that such a use "has no place in civil society."

While efforts to protect Israel from freedom of speech in Britain are still gathering steam, the debate in the United States has been stifled long ago. There is little room for any criticism of Israel in mainstream American media or "polite" society. Effectively, this means that US policy in the Middle East remains beholden only to Israeli interests, the diktats of its powerful pressure and lobby groups.

Following suit, the UK is now adopting that same self-defeating position, an issue which is hardly new. In fact, Friday of last week was an anniversary of great relevance to this very issue.

On 16 December 1991, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 46/86, a single, reticent statement: "The General Assembly decides to revoke the determination contained in its resolution 3379 (XXX) of 10 November 1975."

This was a reversal of an earlier resolution that equated Israel's political ideology, Zionism and racism.

The longer text of the initial resolution, 3379 of 1975, was based on a clear set of principles, including UN resolution 2106 of 1965 that defined racial discrimination as "any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, color, descent or national or ethnic origin."

The reversal of that resolution was the outcome of vigorous US lobbying and pressures that lasted for years. In 1991, Israel insisted that it would not join the US-sponsored Madrid peace talks without the disavowal of 3379 first. With the UN being one of the Madrid Talks' sponsors, the US pressure paid its dividends at last, and UN members were obliged to overturn their early verdicts.

However, equating Zionism with racism is not the only comparison that is often conjured by Israel's critics.

Recently, Ecuadorian envoy to the United Nations, Horacio Sevilla was adamant in his comments before a UN session, marking 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

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From Reader Supported News

I can sum it up in one word: Trust. For many of us, there is a trust issue at the DNC. I have no doubt that Tom Perez is a great guy and is qualified to lead the Democratic Party. What I don't know is where his loyalties lie. Would Perez have condoned the actions of the past two chairs to favor the establishment candidate over the more progressive choice?

We cannot afford to take that risk. Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Donna Brazile have created an environment where progressives don't feel welcome in the Democratic Party. For us to bring many back into the fold we need a meaningful first step. Electing Keith Ellison chair of the party is the first step to healing the division in our party.

Too many in our party dismiss the significance of what was revealed by Wikileaks. So many Americans were energized by the campaign of Senator Sanders, only to learn that party officials were favoring his opponent. It is clear that shuffling a few chairs will not be enough. The leadership of the DNC must be completely revamped. For progressives to feel welcome again in the party, we need to choose the next leader.

Congressman Ellison was the first member of Congress to endorse Senator Sanders. He has our trust. With Ellison at the helm, we will be able to convince many who felt betrayed that a transformation is taking place in the Democratic Party and we can expect a fair nominating process in the future.

In state after state, the party chair race is pitting the establishment against progressives who want to transform the party. The battle lines couldn't be clearer on the national level.

No candidate is perfect. There will be disagreements on issues. The smear campaign has already begun. But let us make no mistake about it. This campaign is not about Keith Ellison's policy towards Israel or any other issue.

Click Here to Read Whole Article
Be honest now. Did you believe the US intelligence agencies when they claimed it was a "Slam Dunk" Iraq had WMD? That bit of propaganda cost 5,000 American lives, and more than a million Iraqi lives. To make matters even more horrible, 600,000 children under 5 years old died because of brutal sanctions.

They sold that war using fake, distorted evidence, and outright lies, to support their need for a war. They even introduced "forged" documents from Niger to sell the war. Tragically the US public bought it, hook line and sinker, even though there were knowledgeable people who saw through the ruse. Experts who knew the intelligence was baseless, were ignored by mainstream media, and the propaganda by government and its mouthpiece, mainstream media, went unchallenged. These intelligence agencies were the very same who did not foresee the fall of the Berlin wall until it was on the ground in pieces, nor did they see the destruction of the WTC until it too, was on the ground. And this would be the same CIA who this week, submitted a written apology to the Turkish government for making "false claims" about Turkey" oil trading with Daesh.

Now we are told the Russians interfered with our elections, but this time it is different. They don't offer any evidence or proof whatsoever, let alone fake evidence. Their claims are based on anonymous sources, unnamed sources, and terms like "consensus view", with not a shred of absolute proof. Based on the Iraq lies, they learned you can sell the US public anything, if you just keep repeating the lie. The "Big Lie" theory is alive and well today. If you repeat something enough, it becomes fact. The intelligence agencies refused to brief congress, and they refused to brief the electors before voting for President. Why?

There certainly are experts in the field who should know about the alleged hacking, but they are not allowed to disrupt mainstream media's Russophobe frenzy. Bet you never saw William Binney on mainstream media. Who is Binney? He is the guy who put together the NSA's elaborate worldwide surveillance system. He has publicly stated on alternative news sites, that if something was "hacked", the NSA would instantly know who, when, and whether the info was passed on to another party. He designed the system. He argues, there was no hacking for that very reason. Binney insists the e-mails had to have been leaked by an "insider" who had access to the data. Never heard him on mainstream media huh? Next comes Craig Murray a former US Ambassador who claims he knows who leaked the e-mails, because he met with the individual in Washington D.C. Never heard him on mainstream media either huh? Finally, Julian Assange, the man who released the e-mails. He insisted all along he never got the e-mails from Russia. Another no show on mainstream media. Whatever happened to the journalistic adage of going to the source? Assange is the source, but no mainstream media journalist, and I use the term very loosely, has ventured to speak with him. The accusation has been repeated countless times, without any evidence, or consulting with any of the above three experts.

Because the big lie has been repeated so many times by corporate media, about half of the US public, according to a recent poll, believes Russia interfered, even though there is not a bit of evidence to support it. Once again they take the bait; hook, line, and sinker.

For believers of Russian hacking, I offer the following analogy. It might, but I doubt it help, because you cannot undo the effect of propaganda. You are put on trial for murder that you did not commit. The prosecutor and judge simply say they have reached a "consensus view", the phrase offered by intelligence agencies, that you committed the murder and are guilty. You ask for proof. They offer none. They just keep repeating that you did it. You challenge and ask how do you know I did it? Answer: we have anonymous sources, but we cannot tell you who they are, nor can we show you proof.

Just as in the fake run-up to the Iraq war, the expert voices of the opposition are not tolerated on mainstream media. Do these folks really want a war with Russia? Are they so upset with Trump's pronouncement that he wanted better relations with Russia? What sane person would not? Hmmm.

It appears there is a war already raging between the Russophobes, who do not want better relations with Russia, and are doing their best to smear and demonize Putin, and those who do. This is the same tactic used with Manuel Noriega of Panama, Muarmar Gaddafi, and Saddam Hussein, before they made war on all three. Demonize, then make war.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Shame on those who buy into propaganda without any proof.
In a recent post on the mathematical-minded Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher, Colin Marshall referred to David Auerbachs short Inquest on Left-Brained Literature. Here, Auerbach situates Jorge Luis Borges among writers like Richard Powers, Umberto Eco, David Mitchell, Haruki Murakami and others, who exist on a parallel track of literature that is popular specifically among engineers. From his observations, Auerbach draws only one obvious conclusion that engineers tend to like novelists that deal in math and science material.

Auerbachs list seems legitimate (he mentions another scholar who also works amongst engineers and who produced near-duplication of this list). But it prompts one important question for me: How do these writers see themselves? As primarily literary authors? Genre writers? Engineers themselves, of a sort?









In the case of Borges, we have an eloquent self-description from the author in his introduction to the Selected Poems 1923-1967. First and foremost, writes Borges, I think of myself as a reader, then as a poet, then as a prose writer.

While Borges may hold tremendous appeal for left-brain thinkers like programmer Jamie Zawinski, he began his career as a very right-brained poet, and continued to see his work as primarily addressed to the imagination rather than to the reason.

I cannot say whether my work is poetry or not; I can only say that my appeal is to the imagination. I am not a thinker. I am merely a man who has tried to explore the literary possibilities of metaphysics and of religion.

Borges is inordinately modest. His work is poetry, especially, of course, his actual poetryvolumes of it, written over six decades of his life from his first published collection in 1923, Fervor de Buenos Aires, to his last, Los conjurados in 1985. It has always seemed to me something of a tragedy that Borges is not better-known as a poet among his English-speaking readers. Its not for lack of excellent translations, most of them guided by the multi-lingual Borges himself.

The situation is much different, in my experience, among Spanish-speakers. There is indeed a Latin-Americanand specifically Argentineresonance in some of Borges verse that is impossible to translate. For those who can appreciate Borges in his original language, we bring you the album above, 30 poems read by the author himself. You can hear one of those readings, Arte Poetica, in the video at the top of the post, with English subtitles. The director, Neels Castillon, describes the short film as a journey around Argentina and Uruguay to illustrate words of Jorge Luis Borges.

English speakers can also sample translations of Borges poetry here and here. Or dive into the translation of Arte Poetica, or The Art of Poetry here.

Related Content:

Hear the Enchanting Jorge Luis Borges Read The Art of Poetry

Jorge Luis Borges 1967-8 Norton Lectures On Poetry (And Everything Else Literary)

Borges Explains The Task of Art

What Does Jorge Luis Borges Library of Babel Look Like? An Accurate Illustration Created with 3D Modeling Software

Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness
Global Needle Free Drug Delivery Devices Market, by Technology and Application, 2015 - 2023

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The needle free drug delivery devices market report comprises an elaborate executive summary, which includes a market snapshot that provides information about various segments of the market. It also provides information and data analysis of the global market with respect to the segments based on application and geography. A detailed qualitative analysis of drivers and restraints of the market and opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. In addition, the section comprises Porters Five Forces Analysis to understand the competitive landscape in the market. This section of the report also provides market attractiveness analysis, by geography and market share analysis by key players, thus presenting a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global needle free drug delivery devices market.The global market for needle-free drug delivery devices has been registering a remarkable rise over the last few years, thanks to the growing demand for painless delivery of medications across the world. Analysts estimate this market to remain expanding steadily at a CAGR of 9.90% from 2015 to 2023 and increase its opportunity from US$5.4 bn in 2014 to US$13 bn by the end of 2023.Read Full Report:The rising need for preventive measures for needle-stick injuries is projected to stimulate the adoption of these devices significantly in the coming years. Apart from this, the growing incidence of dengue, hepatitis, and various chronic diseases, in which regular administration of medicines is required, is also expected to fuel the demand for these devices substantially over the next few years.North America to Maintain Dominance but with Diminished Market ShareNorth America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa are the main regional markets for needle-free drug delivery devices across the world. North America and Europe dominated the overall market in 2014. While the market in North America was driven by a large pool of participants, the huge base of the geriatric population, demanding convenient and painless drug delivery led the Europe market for needle-free drug delivery devices.Analysts predict North America to retain its dominance in the near future albeit with a diminished market share. Asia Pacific, on the flip side, is projected to emerge as the fastest rising regional market for needle-free drug delivery devices in the coming years.The growing prevalence of chronic cardiovascular and neurological diseases, the infrastructural development in the medical and healthcare industry, and the increasing focus of leading players in this region due to unmet medical need are expected to boost the adoption of these devices in Asia Pacific considerably in the near future. These devices are also anticipated to experience a healthy rise in their demand in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa on account of the betterment of the healthcare scenario in these regions over the next few years.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Needle-free Drug Delivery Devices Find Highest Demand in Insulin DeliveryNeedle-free drug delivery devices are mostly applied in insulin delivery, vaccine delivery, pediatric injections, and pain management. In 2014, the demand for these devices was the highest from the insulin delivery segment, which is likely to remain the same over the next few years. Other segments are also projected to register a steady rise in the demand for these devices in the nearing future.The competitive landscape in the worldwide needle-free drug devices market demonstrate a consolidated structure. Leading players are increasingly entering into mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships to expand their reach in this market. They are also focusing aggressively on the introduction of innovative as well as advanced devices in this market to strengthen their position. Some of the leading manufacturers of these devices across the world are Injex Pharma AG, Antares Pharma Inc., Zogenix Inc., Pharmajet Inc., Glide Pharmaceutical Technologies Ltd., and 3M.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:
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Management Market Opportunities: Increasing Awareness and Improving Health Care Infrastructure in Emerging Economies Such as China, India, Brazil, and Russia

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This report on the global CSF management market analysis 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. This section also provides the overall information and data analysis of the global CSF management market with respect to the leading market segments based on type of product and geography.According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Management Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023, the global cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) management market was valued at US$ 1,135.7 Mn in 2014 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2015 to 2023 to reach US$ 1,840.5 Mn in 2023.Read Full Report:Hydrocephalus is defined as an imbalance between the production and absorption of CSF. This increase in CSF may be due to numerous reasons such as defective absorption, over production of CSF, brain atrophy, or obstruction of circulation. The additional CSF is stored in subarachnoid spaces of the brain or within the ventricles. This condition is also termed as hydrodynamic CSF disorder. Hydrocephalus majorly occurs in babies during birth. It also occurs in elderly people. If hydrocephalus happens in a newborn, it can physically deform the child as CSF continues to build up, causes the childs head to expand to accommodate the excessive CSF. However, unlike an older child or adult, the infant head is able to expand since their fontanels are not yet closed. If hydrocephalus is left untreated, it can lead to mental retardation due to extreme pressure being exerted on surrounding cerebral tissue causing the brain to atrophy. Higher rates of neural tube defects and neonatal infection in emerging countries are related to advanced rates of hydrocephalus. Around 1% to 2% of the population of the U.S. was affected by hydrocephalus and over 350,000 procedures were performed to treat hydrocephalus in the country in 2014. Moreover, in Canada, one in every 1547 people suffers from hydrocephalus.Based on type of product, the CSF management market has been classified into CSF shunts and CSF drainage systems. CSF drainage system has been further classified into ventricular drainage system and lumbar drainage system. The CSF shunts segment held the largest market share of the CSF management market in 2014. The segment is likely to continue to dominate the market during the forecast period. However, the CSF drainage systems segment is projected to expand at the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The overall rise in incidence of neurological diseases among the general population, increasing geriatric population diagnosed with neurological disease such as Alzheimers and Parkinson's diseases, high funding by the government and private organizations, and growing demand for minimally invasive surgeries are likely to drive the CSF management market. However, risk of infection during the time of surgery is expected to limit the usage of CSF shunts.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Geographically, the CSF management market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of the World. North America accounted for the largest share of the CSF management market in 2014. The region is likely to continue its dominance of the market during the forecast period due to increasing geriatric population and rapid technological innovations. However, the CSF management market in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate from 2015 to 2023 due to increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries, rise in the geriatric population, and growing medical tourism in emerging nations. However, factors such as cost of surgical procedures and availability of shunts in developing countries can hinder the growth of the CSF management market.Economic development and improving health care infrastructure in emerging economies such as China, India, and Brazil have led to increase in disposable income of people, thereby enhancing their purchasing power. In addition, increase in medical expenditure by governments creates an opportunity in the CSF management market in emerging countries.Major players in the CSF Management Market consist of DePuy Synthes (a J & J Company), Medtronic plc, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Sophysa S.A., Spiegelberg GmbH & Co. KG, Integra LifeSciences Holding Corporation, BeckerSmith Medical, Inc., and Moller Medical GmbH.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:
High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (HPAPI) Market: Emerging Nations in Asia Pacific Becoming Hubs of Generic Drug Manufacturing, to Aid HPAPI Market Growth

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The global high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient market report provides insights on contract versus captive HPAPI, synthetic versus biological HPAPI, and branded versus generic HPAPI. The global high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient market is also segmented into major therapeutic areas which include oncology, anti-diabetic, cardiovascular, central nervous system, musculoskeletal and others. From geography perspective, the market is studied for five main geographies: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. North America HPAPI market is sub-segmented for the U.S., Canada, while Europe HPAPI market is further segmented for Germany, U.K., and Rest of Europe. Asia Pacific HPAPI market is segmented for Japan, China and Rest of Asia Pacific. Latin America market is segmented for Brazil and Rest of Latin America. Middle East and Africa HPAPI market segmented for GCC Countries and Rest of Middle East and Africa.Read Full Press Release:Development of Targeted Therapeutic Drugs Drives Global HPAPI MarketThe booming oncology research and rising cases of cancer, diabetes, and other cardiovascular diseases have created a sizeable demand for dedicated treatments, thereby driving the high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) market. The HPAPI market stood at a valuation of US$2.64 bn in 2014. The cost containment strategies adopted by companies through outsourcing are favoring market growth. This has brought down the cost of drugs drastically, making them affordable to a larger audience. The positive result of this trend is seen on the increased focus of companies on drug development and commercialization. As a result of these favorable trends, the HPAPI market is projected to be worth US$25.11 bn by 2023. Between 2015 and 2023, the market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.3%.A promising pipeline of targeted therapeutic drugs will also help the market progress in the coming years. These drugs have minimal side effects and impact targeted areas, thereby helping the patient to recover faster with no lingering after effects. These positive perceptions surrounding HPAPIs combined with the near-expiration dates of blockbuster drugs, which will offer several generic drug manufacturers a chance to offer affordable drugs, will further the markets growth. Consistent research and development to mimic branded drugs will create alternative and cost-effective treatments for patients across the globe, thereby augmenting the growth rate of the market.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Emerging Nations in Asia Pacific Becoming Hubs of Generic Drug Manufacturing, to Aid HPAPI Market GrowthAsia Pacific is the expected to be the most lucrative market for high potency active pharmaceutical ingredients due to the soaring contract manufacturing activities in the region. Analysts predict that China will surpass Japans current share of 40% in the Asia Pacific market by the end of 2025. This change will be a result of low labor costs in China, well-equipped manufacturing plants, and supportive foreign exchange policies.India will also be an upcoming high potency active pharmaceutical ingredients market due to the growing concentration of pharmaceutical manufacturing activities in the country. In the forecast period, the country is expected to be the hub for generic drug manufacturing. The growing investments by key players in India are also anticipated to boost this market in the near future. During the forecast period of 2015 to 2023, the Asia Pacific HPAPI market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 10.1%.Brochure Download:Oncology Drugs Show Maximum DemandThe oncology drugs segment has been the leading segment of the global high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient market. This segment is expected to expand at CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period. The introduction of innovative drugs is the primary growth driver for the oncology segment. Analysts predict that the patent expiry of blockbuster drugs such as Herceptin, Rituxan, and Humira will pave the way for generic drug manufacturers, thereby making these drugs affordable to a wide number of patients.Some of the leading players operating in the global high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient market are WuXi AppTec, Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, Pfizer, Inc., Sandoz International GmbH, Novasep, Lonza Group, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Cambrex Corporation, and Alkermes plc. The fragmented nature of this market will result in strategies to acquire and merge with regional players to gain the first-mover advantage.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:
Medical Sensors Market Opportunity: High unmet needs for medical diagnosis and therapeutic equipment in emerging economies

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A detailed qualitative analysis of the factors responsible for driving and restraining the growth of the global medical sensors market and future opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. This section of the report also provides market attractiveness analysis, epidemiology study, porters five forces analysis, supply and value chain analysis, average selling price analysis, regulatory framework and company market share analysis operating in the medical sensors market.Need for Patient Monitoring Creates Demand for Medical SensorsThe unequivocal rise in the number of chronic conditions has created a huge demand for a novel method of diagnosing, treating, and managing them. The ongoing technological revolution that is merging the demands of the healthcare industry and patients needs is relentless trying to solve this issue with the introduction of medical sensors. As these medical devices help in monitoring health conditions by converting physical components into electrical signals they are being popularly used by patients and physicians alike. Transparency Market Research states that the opportunity of the global medical sensors market was US$1,452.8 mn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$2,476.8 mn in 2024, as the market expands at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2015 to 2024.Read Full Press Release:The growing pool of geriatrics will be the underlying reason for the astounding success of the medical sensors. Their increasing adoption will be attributable to the saddening rise in cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other cardiovascular diseases across the globe. The incorporation of medical sensors in several conventional medical devices helps in alerting patients of potential problems, thereby bringing in an accuracy disease management to a reliable extent. Additionally, a score of laboratories are deploying medical sensors for automating processes and establishing efficiency in the final output. Yet another incentive for laboratories to use medical sensors is that they eliminate the cost of centrifugation, loading of the analyzers, and sorting amongst others.Need for Compatible Devices Fuels Biosensors Product SegmentAmongst the various types of products developed with medical sensors, the biosensors are expected to surpass all shares. During the forecast period, the biosensors product segment will progress at a steady CAGR of 7.5%. World Health Organization states that the number of diabetics will reach 366 million by the end of 2030. This alarming statistic will be attributable to the increasing number of diabetics who require frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels. This product segment will also be fueled by a large number of end users seeking wireless, portable, and smartphone compatible devices.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:Asia Pacific to Take Over as Leading RegionAs of 2014, North America accounted for a share of 35.6% in the global market due to higher consumer awareness and a huge support systems for health monitoring initiatives. The preference for minimally-invasive surgeries has also been at driving the demand for medical sensors in North America. However, analysts predict that Asia Pacific will report the highest growth rate in the forecast period as the region leads the world with a high number of diabetics and patients suffering from respiratory disorders. Furthermore, the strengthening economies of India, China, Malaysia, and Australia will also fuel the demand for medical sensors are they look at upgrading their medical facilities and infrastructure.The chief operating players in the global medical sensors market are Danaher Corporation, Honeywell International, NXP Semiconductors, and Measurement Specialties. Strategic mergers and acquisitions to create strong product portfolios is the ongoing trend amongst these companies. However, increasing and channelizing research and development strategies towards achieving results will also help companies achieve an impressive share in the global market.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:
Europe Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Market Revenue, by Country, 2015 - 2023

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The Transparency Market Research report on the global ultraviolet germicidal irradiation market states that this market will be worth US$430.3 mn by 2023 from US$168.4 mn in 2014, expanding at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2015 to 2023. The growing awareness amongst consumers about advanced food packaging techniques and hygienic surroundings are augmenting the global UVGI market at a steady pace. This market is also thriving due to the stringent regulations laid down by governments about purity standards and need to control the spread of diseases.Risk of Hospital-Acquired Infections Boosts Sales of UVGI SystemsThe high risk of acquiring diseases due to the contamination of water and air has opened up the market for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems. Alarming statistics by the World Health Organizations state that about seven patients out every 100 patients that are admitted acquire hospital-related infections (HAIs). Owing to these reasons, hospitals are making hefty investments in installing UVGI systems. In addition, restaurants, food joints, air-conditioned offices, residential buildings, and cold storage facilities are adopting these systems to prevent the dangerous possibilities of spreading diseases.Read Full Report:Expensive Installation Costs Pose ChallengeThe biggest challenge for the global UVGI market is the exorbitant cost of installations. The lack of technical labor to troubleshoot issues pertaining to equipment and systems is also adding to the costs of outsourcing, thereby discouraging consumers from investing in these systems. However, increasing awareness about the hygienic packaging of food and beverages is anticipated to open up new opportunities for this market.The upper room systems sub-segment, which is a part of the air disinfectant segment, is anticipated to be the largest segment in the overall market. Its wide application in areas of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems will help the expansion of its share in the overall market. Furthermore, upper room systems are known to consume less power in comparison to other systems, which will boost their demand in the foreseeable future.In addition, the air disinfection UVGI system segment is also likely to play a crucial role in the soaring revenues of this market as emerging economies of China and India adopt UVGI systems in line with developing their healthcare infrastructure.Download exclusive Sample of this report:North America Emerges as Leading SegmentCurrently, North America holds the lions share in the global UVGI market. This region held a share of 38.3% in the overall market in 2014 followed by Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of the World. The high incidence of HAIs in North America and the strict US FDA rules to curb them is driving the UVGI market in the region. About one in every 25 admitted patients acquires an HAI. Furthermore, the technological advancements in North America across various sectors is encouraging the growth of the UVGI market.The top players operating in the global UVGI market are Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation, American Ultraviolet, General Electric, Philips, Halma plc (Aquionics), and UltraViolet Devices, Inc. These companies will have to up their game by providing effective and cost-effective solutions to raise their revenues and achieve their predetermined goals.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:
Bakery Products Savory Biscuits Market in the United Arab Emirates Outlook to 2020 Growth and Forecast Industry Analyis

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Albany, New York, December 23, 2016: A latest report by Global Market Direct has been added to the broad database of Market Research Hub, titled Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) Market in the United Arab Emirates - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics. Savoury Biscuits - includes all forms crackers (Hard, dry savory / salted biscuits, generally hard or crisp), crispbreads (flat and dry type of bread madeup of mostly rye flour), bread sticks, toast etc (mostly bread substitutes).Request for Sample Report:Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) Market in the United Arab Emirates - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Savory Biscuits market of United Arab Emirates. The research handbook provides the up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2015 and illustrative forecast to 2020 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Savory Biscuits and its variants Bread Substitutes, Cheese-Flavored Crackers, Plain Crackers and Other Crackers.Sales Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency of United Arab Emirates and Volumes are represented in M Kilograms.Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value for top brands for the year 2012 to 2015 and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Department Stores, Dollar Stores, Variety Store, Cash & Carries and Warehouse clubs, eRetailers, Food & Drinks specialists, Drug stores & Pharmacies, Health & Beauty Stores, Other general retailers and others) where ever applicable.Make an Enquiry:The research handbook acts as an essential tool for companies active or planning to venture in to United Arab Emirates' Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) market. The comprehensive statistics within the research handbook provides insight into the operating environment of the market and also ensures right business decision making based on historical trends and industry model based forecasting.Note: Certain content / sections in the research handbook may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data.This is an on-demand research handbook and will be delivered within 2 working days (excluding weekends) of the purchase.Key Findings- Overall Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) market value and volume analytics with growth analysis from 2011 to 2020.- Sales Value and Volume analytics for variants of Savory Biscuits; Bread Substitutes, Cheese-Flavored Crackers, Plain Crackers and Other Crackers- Value terms for the top brands.- Distribution channel sales analytics from 2012-2015.Browse Full Info with TOC:SynopsisSavory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) Market in the United Arab Emirates - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Savory Biscuits market of United Arab Emirates. The research handbook provides the up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2015 and illustrative forecast to 2020 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Savory Biscuits and its variants Bread Substitutes, Cheese-Flavored Crackers, Plain Crackers and Other Crackers. The research handbook also provides analytics on Sales by Brands and by Distribution Channel.ReasonsToBuy- Get access to authoritative and granular data on the Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) market and fill in the gaps in understanding of trends and the components of change behind them.- Enhance your understanding of the market to update your strategic and tactical plans based on volume and value changes, brand dynamics and distribution trends.- Analyze the components of change in the market by looking at historic and future growth patterns.- Use the data to understand future patterns of the market trends from winners and losers to category dynamics and thereby quickly and easily identify the key areas in which you want to compete in the future.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:
Cement Market - Global Industry Analysis 2019

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Cement is the most vital binding element in any form of construction activity and when used in combination with other ingredients, it is a major part of two of the main mixtures used in construction: concrete and mortar.Understanding the significance of cement in the construction and building sector, the research report analyzes the global cement market and offers a wide array of data with respect to market size and share, growth drivers and restraints, key players in the market, recent developments in the industry, major applications and end users, forces of demand and supply, consumption patterns, geographical segmentation, and imports and exports.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Overview of the global cement marketThe cement industry is largely propelled by the surge in building and construction activities around the globe. Advancement in technologies, growing demand for housing, higher disposable incomes, and rise in the number of nuclear families are factors that have translated into increasing demand for cement from the building and construction sector. It is no wonder then that the Asia-Pacific region holds the largest share of the global cement market as far as consumption is concerned. Emerging economies such as India and China have been consistently contributing towards the demand for cement with the rise in number of residential and commercial buildings.Other developing countries such as Brazil hold immense potential for growth due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, and rise in disposable income. Countries in Europe and North America have also observed a healthy growth rate thanks to a steady demand for cement.However, there are some factors that pose to threaten the market during the course of the forecast period from 2013 to 2019. Rising incidences of lung cancer caused by cement dust and the energy-intensive cement manufacturing process are expected to inhibit the expansion of the market.The research report segments the global cement market into two types: Portland cement and white cement. While Portland cement is mostly used as construction material in residential, commercial, and industrial projects, white cement is mainly used for decorative applications such as increasing the visual appeal of construction projects.The demand for Portland cement is being hampered by the growing demand for blended and various other types of cement. Moreover, the manufacturing process of Portland cement causes the emission of carbon and other harmful elements, which has led to governments imposing stringent regulations restricting its use.Companies mentioned in the research reportThe key players in the global cement market include China National Materials Co., Lafarge SA, Jaypee Cement, Titan, Cemex, Siam, Dangote, CNBM, and Mitsubishi Materials. The research study on the global industry discusses various sales, marketing, and innovation strategies adopted by different market players, trends, mergers and acquisitions in recent times, impact of government regulations, and the profit-making and loss-incurring players in the global and domestic scenario.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :With the help of SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis, the research study evaluates the presence and impact of the key elements of the global cement industry.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Construction Ceramics Market - Global Industry Analysis 2020

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Ceramic materials are nonmetallic and inorganic materials obtained from compounds of metals and nonmetals. These materials are either crystalline or partly crystalline in their composition. They are derived from the action of heating and subsequent cooling. The construction industry is the major user of inorganic and nonmetallic ceramic materials are used. The report presents a comprehensive overview of the types of ceramic materials used in the construction industry and investigates the factors impacting the overall growth trajectory of the global construction ceramics market.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:The global construction ceramics market is segmented into three categories. The first category includes high-performing ceramics such as silicon carbide, alumina, and silicon nitride. The second category comprises glass/glass ceramics such as borosilicate glass, soda glass, and lithium aluminosilicate. The last segment is inclusive of cementitious materials, which include concrete, cement, DSP cement, high pressure cement, MDF cement, and warm pressed cement.The report studies the market from ground-up, and evaluates various facets pertaining to the market starting from its definition, classification, and growth trajectory. Compiled with the intent of updating stakeholders about the changing dynamics of the global construction ceramics market, the report presents information in a coherent chapter-wise format, interspersed with exhaustive data and graphs.Overview of the Global Construction Ceramics MarketCeramic products such as flooring, roofing and wall tiles, gypsum, cement brick, glass, and sewer pipe are increasingly used in the construction industry. Since these ceramics products belong to an incredibly diverse family of materials demonstrating application across the construction, aerospace, as well as electronic industries, the demand for them has significantly grown in recent years.However, the expansion of the global construction ceramics market has not been hindrance-free. Implementation of better strategies is also required to help the market expand at an improved CAGR. Cost comparison between ceramics and traditional construction materials reveals that while ceramics materials are more economical alternatives for the future owing to their diverse applications and ability to withstand unfavorable environmental conditions, the initial cost they require is still very high, inhibiting their use on a large scale.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :The construction industry at present faces several issues, including widespread infrastructural decay, particularly in the industrial sector. These issues have been attributed to the fast exhaustion of material for concrete structures worldwide. The increasing expenditure to rehabilitate these structures creates a lucrative market for construction ceramics, which ensure longer lifetime to structures and low maintenance requirements.Among the key regional segments, Asia Pacific has emerged as the largest market for construction ceramics owing to the expansion of construction activities in India and China. Demand for construction ceramics is also likely to increase in Europe. Globally, China is anticipated to emerge as the most lucrative market for construction ceramics in forthcoming years.Companies mentioned in the research reportThe report also profiles companies such as Dong Peng Porcelain, Jyoti Ceramic Industries Ltd., Koch Industries Inc, Saint Gobain S.A., and others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Concrete Bonding Agents Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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The global concrete bonding agents market is heading towards robust growth in response to the increasing income of the middle class population in emerging economies. Investment in the development of existing infrastructure is the chief factor driving the global concrete bonding agents market. Based on agent, the market is currently led by cementitious latex based concrete bonding agents owing to the adhesion they provide to new concrete.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:By application, the market is projected to be driven by the repairing segment. However, over the forecast period, the market is also expected to witness considerable opportunities in the decorative segment. This is mainly due to the increasing use of concrete bonding agents in micro toppings and overlays to provide an aesthetic and appealing finish to the interiors of commercial and residential buildings. The rising use of concrete bonding agents in decorative applications will thus provide the market with considerable momentum.The study is intended to help market participants get a clearer perspective about the prevailing dynamics in the concrete bonding agents market. It is compiled with exhaustive information relating to the growth drivers and threats that will influence the markets growth in the forthcoming years. It also lists the threats and opportunities that companies operating in the concrete bonding agents market is forecast to witness over the course of the forecast period.Global Concrete Bonding Agents Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe increasing urbanization and a rise in the disposable income of the middle-class population has impelled people to opt for comfortable residential and commercial structures, which has greatly influenced the markets trajectory. The scenario is especially true in case of emerging economies across Asia Pacific. Over the last few years, the region is witnessing a substantial rise in investment in the building and infrastructure segment, aimed at accommodating the demand for modernization from urban population. These factors are likely to propel the markets growth in the near future.On the downside, inadequate workmanship and awareness regarding the raw materials to choose for repairs will act as a major restraining factor for the market. However, it is possible to reverse the restraint with positive government intervention. Steps taken at improving the existing infrastructure can help the market grow at a significant pace across emerging nations.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Global Concrete Bonding Agents Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the market is expected to witness considerable opportunities in Asia Pacific, both in terms of value and volume. The rising investments by the commercial sector, strong industrial base, rising standard of living, shifting focus of production facilities towards emerging nation, and the rising standard of living are a few factors supporting the growth of the concrete bonding agents market in Asia Pacific.Global Concrete Bonding Agents Market: Vendor LandscapeTo study the competition prevailing in the market, the report has profiled some of the leading companies operating therein. The assessment of vendor landscape provided in the report aims at answering questions pertaining the opportunities and threats for the companies operating in the market and identifying the most lucrative segments. Some of the key companies in this market are Fosroc International Ltd. (U.K.), Sika AG (Switzerland), BASF SE (Germany), Dow Construction Chemicals (U.S.), Saint-Gobain Weber S.A. (France), Dow Corning Corporation (U.S.), and The Euclid Chemical Company (U.S.).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 market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Elastomeric Coatings Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Elastomeric coatings are generally used to provide tough exterior finish to concrete, metal, and plastic substrates. These coatings are widely applied on masonry wall surfaces and roof tops such as concrete tiles, blocks, stucco, and other exterior insulation finishes. Elastomeric coatings have a greater film thickness in comparison with conventional paints & coatings. Significant elasticity, toughness, flexibility, and surface adhesion are some of the key attributes of elastomeric coatings. These coatings are usually applied as double coats so as to prevent cracking of coating film as well as the substrate underneath. Moreover, elastomeric coatings can be suitably applied on plastic surfaces of automotive body components, as they are highly durable and keep the aesthetics unaltered. Acrylic, polyurethane, polysulfide, butyl, silicone, and vinyl polymers are the key elastomeric coatings available in the global market. Additionally, waterborne, solvent-borne, and high solids/radiation cured systems are the key technology segments of the global market. Building & construction, automotive, and textile were the major end-users of the global elastomeric coatings market in 2015.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Global demand for elastomeric coatings is currently driven by its growing usage in the building & construction industry. Building & construction has been the largest end-user of elastomeric coatings since the past few years. Elastomeric coatings are employed for bridging the cracks formed on exterior concrete walls, roof tops, and stucco, thus preventing water from penetrating into the interior constructed walls. Furthermore, these coatings provide resistance from settling of dirt, dew formation, and are stable under varying climatic conditions such as acid rain. Acrylic, silicone, and polyurethane polymers are the frequently used elastomeric coatings in the building & construction industry. These polymers have high surface tension that cause beading of water droplets and stop them from entering the interior concrete layers. Apart from concrete substrates, elastomeric coatings are suitably applied on infrastructure steel rebar. Steel is highly hydrophilic, which increases the chances of corrosion and carbonation when in contact with moisture and heat. Due to the hydrophilic nature of steel, elastomeric coatings are preferred due to outstanding durability and excellent metal adhesion. Owing to the exclusive utility of elastomeric coatings, the building & construction industry is estimated to boost the demand for elastomeric coatings by the end of 2024. Recent expansion of the automotive industry in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America is another demand driving factor of the global elastomeric coatings market. Acrylic, polyurethane, and vinyl polymers are the key elastomeric coatings consumed for coating applications in automotive plastic components. Excellent thermal resistance, uniform surface distribution, and improved finishing are the chief characteristics of these coatings, due to which they are expected to be further utilized in the automotive sector during the forecast period.Fluctuation in prices of raw materials, especially coating resins, is likely to stifle the market for elastomeric coatings in the years ahead. However, rising structural flexibility requirements for electrical wire coatings are projected to provide significant growth opportunities to the global elastomeric coatings market by the end of 2024.In terms of volume, Asia Pacific is expected to constitute the largest share of the global elastomeric coatings market by the end of 2024. China, India, and ASEAN countries are likely to witness high demand for elastomeric coatings during this period. Dense population and broad consumer base coupled with growing building & construction and automotive end-user markets are the key driving factors for elastomeric coatings demand. Demand for elastomeric coatings in North America and Europe is anticipated to witness a stabilized growth rate during the forecast period, due to stringent government regulations over VOC emissions from coatings and saturated end-user markets. Middle East & Africa is anticipated to witness firm growth in the elastomeric coatings market due to consumption of elastomeric coatings due to a flourishing building & construction market especially in GCC countries. Latin America is likely to witness the fastest growth in terms of demand, due to rising consumption of elastomeric coatings in the regional automotive sector, by the end of 2024.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, The Sherwin-Williams Company, PPG Industries, Inc., The Valspar Corporation, Clariant AG, BEHR Process Corporation, Jotun A/S, and Dulux Australia are some of the elastomeric coatings manufacturers currently operating in the global market.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
3D Concrete Printing Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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3D concrete printing is a technologically advanced and innovative method used for constructing predesigned building components with the help of 3D concrete printers. The technology holds the promise of substantially optimizing the construction industry in terms of construction cost, time, error reduction, flexibility in design, and environmental impact. Past experiments have successfully acknowledged the technologys expertise on all these fronts and the technology is being steadily adopted on a larger scale around the globe. The field of 3D concrete printing is receiving increased focus from construction companies across the globe. These companies mainly focus on experimenting with different concrete mixes and printing machines to bring about further developments in this construction technique.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:With construction companies making continuous efforts to bring 3D concrete printing in mainstream construction, the global 3D concrete printing market is projected to gather significant momentum in the next few years. The report provides a 360-degree overview of the market, covering crucial market-related details about the key elements and segments of the market. The report examines the impact of the major growth drivers, challenges, and trends on the markets future growth prospects, underlining both the most lucrative and the most unprofitable investment areas.Global 3D Concrete Printing Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe rate at which construction companies, researchers, and technologists are coming together in the development of 3D concrete printing techniques is commendable. A variety of concrete mixes, such as shotcrete, ready-mix concrete, limecrete, precast and stamped concrete, and high-density concrete, are already in the market and many more effective mixes are being introduced at a steady pace. Construction companies are increasingly utilizing the technique to formulate building elements such as panels, lintels, roofs, floors, walls, and pavement slabs.The market is expected to receive a healthy boost from developing regions such as Asia Pacific and some parts of Latin America in the near future. The construction sector in these regions is projected to lead to an increased demand for cost-effective building elements fabricated through 3D concrete printing techniques to complement the several new infrastructure development and building construction projects.Global 3D Concrete Printing Market: Region-wise OutlookThe report examines the global 3D concrete printing market from a geographical standpoint and segments it into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. The market for 3D concrete printing in Asia Pacific is currently the fastest-growing regional market, primarily owing to the rising disposable incomes and rising population in the region, which have led to a major rise in new construction projects in the past years. China exhibits attractive opportunities for the Asia Pacific 3D concrete printing market. The growth witnessed by the market in China is due to the presence of some prominent innovators in the country, government backing, rising awareness regarding the benefits of 3D printing techniques, and an expanding set of applications.Global 3D Concrete Printing Market: Competitive LandscapeSeveral construction companies are actively experimenting with a variety of 3D printing techniques and more will do so over the forecast period. The Chinese company WinSun constructed 10 houses using 3D concrete printing in under 24 hours recently. The Dutch company Universe Architecture has designed the worlds largest 3D printer that uses sand as a binder for creating a stone-like material.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Over the forecast period, many more companies will utilize 3D concrete printing technologies in a variety of construction activities. The market does not have many companies at present and thus products are limited in variety as well. Hence it faces the issue of lack of standardization. However, as more companies venture in the 3D concrete printing arena, products will become more standardized, sophisticated, and even more cost competitive. Some of the major companies currently operating in the global 3D concrete printing market are WinSun Global, Universe Architecture, Skanska, DUS Architects, Sika, Carilliom Plc., Fosters + Partners, and LafargeHolcim.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 market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Cellular Concrete Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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The building and construction industry is constantly looking for stronger and lighter materials that are resistant to harsh weather conditions. Cellular concrete meets these needs on account of being a cement-based construction material that is lightweight, fire resistant, and structurally robust. It is also sometimes referred to as foam concrete or foamcrete. Cellular concrete derives its lightness from the many tiny and evenly distributed gas bubbles. It is produced by mixing cement (or sand or fly ash in some cases), water, and a foaming agent. The slurry thus produced is then blended further in a concrete mixing plant by adding a synthetic aerated foam. It is imperative that the foaming agent used in cellular concrete produces bubbles that are high on the stability quotient so that they are able to endure the mixing and hardening processes and all of the physical and chemical changes that occur during the same.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Cellular concrete is usually poured into molds for it to harden. It is also sometimes pumped directly into structural elements depending on the need of the project. The material may be left to naturally solidify (which takes about 24 hours) or may be cured using steam at temperatures of up to 70 degrees centigrade for faster hardening. Suppliers typically produce cellular concrete in densities between 250 kg/m and 1600 kg/m in terms of volume weight.The cellular concrete market is a dynamic; it is characterized by the pressing need for product innovation owing primarily to the fact that product differentiation is low. The high degree of competition, especially at the domestic level, has spurred product innovation and new launches in the market. The report on the cellular concrete market provides market size and forecast for the period ranging from 2016 to 2024. Porters five forces analysis is also included in the study to gauge the future bargaining power of consumers, manufacturers, suppliers, and the threat from substitutes.Global Cellular Concrete Market: Key Trends and OpportunitiesGrowth and performance of the cellular concrete market is directly proportional to the state of the building and construction. Increasing degree of urbanization in growth economies in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East is boosting the demand for cellular concrete, as it is used in both new constructions and maintenance and rebuilds. The resurgence of the construction sector post the global economic slowdown of 2008 has helped the global cellular concrete market gain momentum.Owing to its superior insulation properties and affordable pricing, companies in the building and construction industry are more willing to replace conventional concrete with cellular concrete. Cellular concrete is expected to be used in large volume in road construction projects, as the material can withstand harsh weather conditions.Companies in the global cellular concrete market would be challenged by the availability of substitute materials that offer many of the features of cellular concrete. Products that pose the highest threat to cellular concrete include gravel and autoclaved sand bricks.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Global Cellular Concrete Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, the global cellular concrete market is dominated by Asia Pacific. In countries such as India and China, where urbanization is occurring at breakneck speed, the demand for low-cost, structurally sound, and lightweight construction materials is high. Europe is yet another viable region for companies looking to invest in the cellular concrete market, as smaller European countries are expanding their infrastructure.Dominant global players in the cellular concrete market include Cellular Concrete Technologies, Saint Gobain, Cellucrete, Laston Italiana S.P.A, Shirke, and ACICO.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Concrete Fiber Market - Global Industry Analysis 2023

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Fibers are basically used in concrete for control the crack due to reduction of plastic and to ventilation shrinkage Concrete fiber is reinforcement materials which is surpass in order to their mechanical, chemical and physical properties such as high stability, high heat resistance and massive physical durability. These materials are extremely specific in order to their distinctive mechanical, optical, environmental and chemical properties. The concrete fibers market in APAC region is one of the fastest-growing markets and is expected to continue growth during the forecast period. APAC is held more than forty percent of the total market share in terms of revenue in 2014, which was mainly include the country such as Japan, China and India.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Concrete fiber market is expected to grow during the forecast period. The rise in trend of urbanization and improving construction industry is the major driving factor of this market. In addition, increasing new market player of this industry are try to cater this market. These are the factor is boost the market and is expected to see robust growth during the forecast period. Further addition, increasing demand of basalt fiber, basalt fibers are produced from basalt rocks, which are melted at 1400  C. this factor also boosting the concrete fiber market. Wide range of industry usage of concrete fiber such as road construction, mining application, industrial and others also helps to boost the concrete fiber market. However in the concrete fiber industry, cost of this product is quite high therefore the cost reduction with new technology concept does not work here so this factor acting as a restraint of this market. In addition, a new innovation of this market is ready mix concrete this concrete composite with the aggregates, cement, water, and admixtures. For instance, this new concrete fiber, ready mix concrete is essentially used in mining sector, road construction sector, industrial and others.The concrete fiber market is segmented in four categories: by product, by material, by end use and by region. By product the market can be divided into Monofilament Concrete Fibers and Fibrillated Concrete fibers. In terms of materials the market can be segregated into synthetic fibers, basalt fibers, glass fibers, steel fibers, natural fibers and others. In terms of end use, the market can be divided into mining, industrial, road industry, construction and others.By geography, the market is divided in four major regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the world. North America and Europe are the early adopters of technology and hence will occupy majority of the market share. However, Asia Pacific region is expected to see faster growth during the forecast period due to the presence of developing nations such as India and China. This growth is attributed to the availability of skilled workforce required to concrete fiber market.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Some of the key players participating in the concrete fiber market are The Euclid Chemical Company, Fibercon International Inc., Nycon Corporation, ABC Polymer Industries, Cemex, W. R. Grace & Co., Bekaert SA, SIKA AG, Propex Global and BASF SE among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Chromatography Systems Market- Global Industry Analysis 2013 - 2019

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Transparency Market Research states in its latest report that technological advancement and increase in R&D efforts have driven the global market for chromatography systems. The report, titled Chromatography Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013-2019, states that at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2013 to 2019, the chromatography systems market is projected to grow from US$6,982.3 million in 2012 to US$10,364.2 million in 2019. The research report segments the global chromatography systems market on the basis of type, end user, and geography.Download exclusive Brochure of this report:By type, the chromatography systems market can be categorized into liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and others. Liquid chromatography is sub-segmented into low pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). The others category comprises supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), affinity chromatography (AC), ion exchange chromatography (IEC), and column chromatography.The segment of HPLC held the largest share of the liquid chromatography market in 2012. HPLC is widely used in applications concerning petrochemical, life science, and biopharmaceutical industries. This, combined with advancement in technology is likely to push the HPLC segment to over US$3 billion by 2019. UHPLC, on the other hand, is projected to be the fastest growing sub-segment in the liquid chromatography market, registering a CAGR of more than 7% in the forecast period.Chromatography systems find application in agriculture and food industries, hospitals and research laboratories, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Apart from this, chromatography systems are also used in environmental agencies, cosmetic industries, and nutraceutical companies. The growing demand for chromatography systems for protein purification and surge in research and development activities has propelled the chromatography systems market in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The value of this segment was pegged at over US$2 billion in 2012.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Geographically, North America dominated the global chromatography systems market in 2012, accounting for a share of more than 35% in the overall market. The persistent efforts of organizations such as The Chromatographic Society (ChromSoc) and the Chinese American Chromatography Association are forecast to boost the chromatography systems market in the region over the next few years. Europe held a 30% share in the global market in 2012 thanks to the introduction of new technologies by local players. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is likely to be the fastest developing chromatography systems market by 2019.The chromatography systems market, by nature, is immensely fragmented with no single company enjoying the lead. There are, however, numerous prominent players operating in the chromatography systems market. These include Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Waters Corporation, Regis Technologies, Inc., Jasco, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Illumina, Inc., PerkinElmer, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., KONIK-TECH KONIXBERT HI-TECH S.A., GE Healthcare, Siemens AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Shimadzu Corporation, Affymetrix, Inc., and Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Vendors have been focusing on developing innovative and cost-effective chromatography systems in order to increase their customer base and to gain a larger share of the global market.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Bakery Products Savory Biscuits Market in the United Kingdom Outlook to 2020 Growth and Forecast Industry Analyis

Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) Market

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Albany, New York, December 23, 2016: A latest report by Global Market Direct has been added to the broad database of Market Research Hub, titled Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) Market in the United Kingdom - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics. Savoury Biscuits - includes all forms crackers (Hard, dry savory / salted biscuits, generally hard or crisp), crispbreads (flat and dry type of bread madeup of mostly rye flour), bread sticks, toast etc (mostly bread substitutes).Request for Sample Report:Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) Market in the United Kingdom - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Savory Biscuits market of United Kingdom. The research handbook provides the up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2015 and illustrative forecast to 2020 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Savory Biscuits and its variants Bread Substitutes, Cheese-Flavored Crackers, Plain Crackers and Other Crackers.Sales Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency of United Kingdom and Volumes are represented in M Kilograms.Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value for top brands for the year 2012 to 2015 and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Department Stores, Dollar Stores, Variety Store, Cash & Carries and Warehouse clubs, eRetailers, Food & Drinks specialists, Drug stores & Pharmacies, Health & Beauty Stores, Other general retailers and others) where ever applicable.Make an Enquiry:The research handbook acts as an essential tool for companies active or planning to venture in to United Kingdom's Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) market. The comprehensive statistics within the research handbook provides insight into the operating environment of the market and also ensures right business decision making based on historical trends and industry model based forecasting.Note: Certain content / sections in the research handbook may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data.This is an on-demand research handbook and will be delivered within 2 working days (excluding weekends) of the purchase.Key Findings- Overall Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) market value and volume analytics with growth analysis from 2011 to 2020.- Sales Value and Volume analytics for variants of Savory Biscuits; Bread Substitutes, Cheese-Flavored Crackers, Plain Crackers and Other Crackers- Value terms for the top brands.- Distribution channel sales analytics from 2012-2015.Browse Full Info with TOC:SynopsisSavory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) Market in the United Kingdom - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Savory Biscuits market of United Kingdom. The research handbook provides the up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2015 and illustrative forecast to 2020 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Savory Biscuits and its variants Bread Substitutes, Cheese-Flavored Crackers, Plain Crackers and Other Crackers. The research handbook also provides analytics on Sales by Brands and by Distribution Channel.ReasonsToBuy- Get access to authoritative and granular data on the Savory Biscuits (Bakery & Cereals) market and fill in the gaps in understanding of trends and the components of change behind them.- Enhance your understanding of the market to update your strategic and tactical plans based on volume and value changes, brand dynamics and distribution trends.- Analyze the components of change in the market by looking at historic and future growth patterns.- Use the data to understand future patterns of the market trends from winners and losers to category dynamics and thereby quickly and easily identify the key areas in which you want to compete in the future.Top of FormMarket 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:
Industrial Protective Footwear Market - Worldwide Manufacturing Examination, Size, Growth, Trends Future Estimate 2020

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Growing concerns pertaining to workplace safety and the implementation of stringent regulations mandating a high standard of occupational and worker safety across organizations are bolstering the global industrial protective footwear market. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the growth trajectory exhibited by the industrial protective footwear market in a global scenario. It includes an in-depth and iterative analysis of the factors influencing the demand and supply trends in the market.For the purpose of the study, the global market for industrial protective footwear is segmented on the basis of region, type, and application. Based on type, the market has been classified into leather, waterproof, rubber, and plastic footwear. In terms of application, the market is categorized into manufacturing, construction, mining, chemicals, oil and gas, food, transportation, and pharmaceuticals.Using a coherent chapter-wise format, the report compiles exhaustive information pertaining to the market and its growth metrics. Data comprised in these chapters is obtained from trusted industrial sources and filtered using industry-leading research tools. To present a holistic blueprint of the prevailing competitive landscape, a SWOT analysis is also conducted on the most prominent enterprises operating in the market.Get More Information:Overview of Industrial Protective Footwear MarketThe global industrial protective footwear market encompasses safety footwear designed to improve workplace safety in industries. The demand for protective footwear is primarily high in industries such as chemical, construction, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, transportation, food, mining, and manufacturing.Rising at a CAGR of 6.0%, the global industrial protective footwear market is anticipated to reach US$9.4 bn by the end of 2020. In 2013, the market was worth US$6.3 bn. End users in this market majorly purchase boots depending on the needs specific to the industry they are working for.Industrial protective boots usually have a safety symbol printed on them. These safety symbols are issued by government regulatory bodies and they indicate the protection level of the footwear. Additionally, these boots are produced in compliance with standards for safety shoes across various countries. For instance, in the U.S., industrial footwear production is carried out in accordance with the standards laid down by the American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Footwear (ANSI).The increase in the number of worker accidents has emerged as the key reason behind widespread adoption of industrial protective footwear. Presently, the market witnesses increasing demand from North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Among these regions, Europe dominated the global market for industrial protective footwear in 2013. North America emerged as the second largest market for industrial protective footwear the same year. The growth of the market in Europe is due to the presence of a large number of safety shoe manufacturers in countries such as the U.K, France, Italy, Germany, and SpainCompanies Mentioned in the ReportTo provide a holistic overview of the prevailing competitive landscape of the global industrial protective footwear market, the report also profiles companies such as Rahman Group, Jal Group, Oftenrich Holdings Co. Ltd. (Golden Chang), Saina Corporation Co. Ltd., Honeywell Safety Products, ELTEN GmbH, UVEX Safety Group, COFRA Holding AG, VF Corporation, and Rock Fall Ltd.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.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Are these the most necessary cyber security services for 2017?

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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.7880 San Felipe Street,Ste 120,Houston TX 77063-1647
Anti-Obesity Drugs Market - Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024

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The World Health Organization reveals that global obesity has more than doubled since 1980, with over 1.9 billion adults overweight in 2014, of which, more than 600 million were obese. Percentage-wise, an estimated 39% of adults were overweight and 13% were obese in 2014. An additional 42 million children below the age of five were found to be overweight or obese in 2013. Based on two surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an astounding 68.8% of the U.S. adult population is considered to be overweight or obese. It is no surprise, then, that today, most of the worlds population lives in countries where obesity and overweight are claiming more lives than underweight and malnutrition.Download exclusive Brochure of this report:This alarming rise in the prevalence of obesity, particularly in the developed region of North America, has been single-handedly propelling the anti-obesity drugs market. Anti-obesity drugs  both prescription and OTC  are of two main types: Centrally-acting drugs and peripherally-acting drugs. These contain a host of pharmacological agents that control or reduce weight by altering either the absorption of calories or regulating appetite.This comprehensive research publication offers clients an exhaustive database of accurate, authentic, objective, and the most recent information on the global anti-obesity drugs market. The overall market is segmented based on several key criteria and each segment is thoroughly evaluated to identify the leading and weakest categories. Statistical data and inputs from industry experts support the qualitative data offered in the report and help clients devise actionable and profitable decisions for the future.Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market: Key Trends and Regional OutlookThe global market for anti-obesity drugs has been expanding at a significant pace in recent years. With the obvious driving factor being the surge in obesity levels around the globe, this market is also propelled by the strong pipeline of anti-obesity drugs. Advanced medical research by drug-manufacturing companies, medical universities and institutes, and government agencies has also substantially contributed toward the growth of the anti-obesity drugs market.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:The anti-obesity drugs market in North America has been flourishing over the years owing to the high level of awareness among the population about obesity and the various risks arising from the medical condition, increased healthcare expenditure, the presence of favorable reimbursement policies, extensive research and development activities in the field, and the increased involvement of government as well as non-government organizations in generating awareness and funding research.The Asia Pacific market for anti-obesity drugs is anticipated to gain momentum in the coming years thanks to the rise in obese population, resulting from increased spending on processed and packaged foods and the growing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Improving healthcare infrastructure and mounting healthcare expenditure is also expected to drive the market for anti-obesity drugs in APAC.Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market: Competitive Landscape SnapshotThe leading companies operating in the global anti-obesity drugs market include Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited, Zydus Cadila, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co. Inc., Eisai Co. Ltd., Novo Nordisk A/S, Orexigen Therapeutics Inc., Zafgen, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Norgine B.V., Pfizer Inc., and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG. Owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity in several parts of the world, the degree of competition among players in the anti-obesity drugs market has been on the rise. Companies have been heavily investing in the development of agents with increased weight-loss efficacy and a high safety threshold. This gives players a greater chance of approval from regulatory bodies such as the US FDA.Companies around the globe are also focused on the development as well as successful commercialization of anti-obesity drugs that are both clinically effective and safe in the long run and also have the potential to generate massive sales and reach blockbuster status. The current portfolio of prescription weight-loss drugs and emerging anti-obesity drugs in pre-clinical or clinical trials acts as a significant force driving the global anti-obesity drugs market.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Data Brokers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Data Brokers Market: OverviewData broker is a business that collects and stores the personal information about consumers and sells to organizations who require that data to design their marketing strategy based on the preferences of the customer. The data brokers collect this information from a variety of sources such as government records, browser cookies and credit/debit card transactions. The brokers integrate and synthesize the data using advanced analytics tools such as rapid miner and Google fusion tables to formulate individual profiles of the customers.Get Sample Report Copy :These individual profiles are updated regularly and are sold as per the demand of the buying organizations. The data brokers collect various kinds of data such as consumer data (personal information such as name and contact detail), commercial data (companies data), scientific data (weather information & drugs composition), real estate data (homes, farms or properties) and location data (global positioning, traffic and landmarks).Data Brokers Market: Key Growth EnablersThe data brokers store every bit of the information such as Internet activity, bulk transaction records and personal data such as date of birth, and books read. Various businesses are looking forward for that data to target the customers accordingly. This is the major driver for the growth of the market. Absence of data protection compliances in the emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil supports the growth of data brokers market. The data broker organizations support the companies in analyzing the buying pattern of the customers, thus support the organizations in developing products according to demand of the customers.Growth of Internet of Things (IoT) and rising demand of data analytics is anticipated to create immense opportunities for data brokers market. However, the customers are unaware of data being collected, thus privacy issues occur consistently. This is expected to provide hurdles in the growth of the data brokers market. The sector specific compliances pertaining to data privacy such as Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is further anticipated to present challenges to the players in this market.Data Brokers Market: SegmentationData brokers market is broadly segmented on the basis of product type, data type, insight level, and geography. On the basis of product type, the data brokers market is segmented into marketing products, risk mitigation products and people search products. Various data types associated with this market include consumer data, commercial data, scientific data, real estate data and geo-location data. On the basis of insight level, the data broker market is segmented into basic insights, smart insights and adaptive insights. Moreover, in terms of geographies, the global data brokers market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Latin America.North America has been the key contributor to the revenue generated by data brokers market during the last few years. This is attributed to presence of highly digit tech savvy population in the region which generates huge amount of data. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in terms of adoption of data broking services as it enables the businesses to design personalized promotional campaigns to target the mass population present in the region.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :The major participants in the data brokers market include Acxiom Corporation, CoreLogic Inc., DataLogix Inc., eBureau LLC, Experion Plc, Intellius Inc., Peekyou LLC, Databroker Ltd., Pipl Inc. and Epsilon Data Management LLC.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:
Physician Dispensed Cosmeceuticals Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecast 2016 - 2024

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The report analyzes the current and future prospects of the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market across the globe for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. The research 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-mails. Secondary research involved study of company websites, annual reports, press releases, stock analysis presentations, and various international and national databases. The report provides market size in terms of US$ Mn and compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) for each product segment during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, considering 2014 and 2015 as base years.The report also includes market size in terms of US$ Mn for the geography segment considering the macro and micro environmental factors. Growth rates for each segment within the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, consumer preferences, and regulatory requirements. The market report comprises an elaborate executive summary, providing market snapshot for various segments and sub-segments of the market. It also provides information and data analysis of the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market with respect to market dynamics, price trend analysis, value chain analysis, and competitive landscape in terms of key market players. Based on product type, the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market has been segmented into skincare (anti-aging products, acne treatment, skin whitening and hyperpigmentation, and dermal fillers), hair care (hair repair, anti-dandruff, anti-hair fall, and scalp repair), eye care (prescription drops, artificial tears, and other eye care products), injectable Botox, and other products (stretch marks, burns, scars or marks, etc.).Market size estimations involved in-depth study of product features of different types of cosmeceuticals prescribed by cosmetologists, trichologists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, or any other skin or hair specialists engaged in medical practice. Additionally, increasing preference for cosmeceuticals to retain beauty and youth, eliminate aging signs, and demand for organic and innovative cosmeceuticals are considered key drivers in the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals industry analysis. Moreover, availability, access, and number of physicians engaged in skin and hair care research clinics and treatment centers have been taken into consideration while estimating the market. In addition, brand value of leading and innovative products entering the market and overall market dynamics of the industry were considered for product segment and sub-segment market trends in various geographies.Geographically, the market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The market size and forecast for each of these regions has been provided for the period from 2014 to 2024, along with their respective CAGRs for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, considering 2014 and 2015 as base years. The report also provides with market size and forecast for select countries in the respective regions such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, Japan, China, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. A detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining the market growth and future opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. This section of the report also provides value chain analysis and price trend analysis.The report also includes market strategies adopted by leading players, providing a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market. A list of strategic recommendations has been provided for new entrants as well as existing market players. These recommendations would assist them in channelizing their business goals and resources to establish a strong presence in the market. The report also profiles major players in the market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies, and recent developments. The global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market is highly fragmented, marked by the presence of several global companies as well as local manufacturers. Key players in the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market include Allergan plc, Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal S.A., Procter & Gamble Co., Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc., Unilever plc, and ZO Skin Health Inc.Download sample Copy of Report atThe global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market has been segmented as follows:Global Physician Dispensed Cosmeceuticals Market, by Product TypeSkincare ProductsAnti-agingAcne treatmentSkin Whitening and HyperpigmentationDermal fillersHair Care ProductsHair RepairAnti-dandruffAnti-hair FallScalp RepairEye Care ProductsPrescription dropsArtificial TearsOther Eye Care ProductsInjectable BotoxOthersGlobal Physician Dispensed Cosmeceuticals Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeU.K.GermanyRest of EuropeAsia PacificJapanChinaRest of APACLatin AmericaBrazilRest of LATAMMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaMarketResearchReports.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
Global IoT Sensors Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast 2015 - 2023

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Internet of Things (IoT) is a network that is embedded with sensors, electronics, network connectivity, and software enabling physical objects to gather and exchange data. As IoT rises into dominance, sensors are playing a pivotal role for measuring the physical quality of objects and enumerating it into a value, which can be read by another device or user. IoT devices are equipped with sensors which are capable of registering changes in pressure, temperature, motion, light, and sound. In the physical world, more and more objects can now communicate with each other through embedded IoT sensors, actuators, and tags. The global IoT sensors market has been segmented on the basis of types, application and geography. In addition, an exhaustive cross sectional analysis of the global IoT sensors market across four broad regions has been covered under the scope of the study.A surge in demand for IoT sensors in the automotive industry and the booming Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market are strongly driving the growth of the IoT sensors market. Furthermore, increase in demand for consumer electronics and growing demand for smart devices is boosting the market growth. Smart devices account for a considerable portion of consumer electronics. Thus, increasing global sales of consumer electronics is fueling growth of the IoT sensors market. While smartphones and related products are already used to a large extent, smart electricity, gas and water meters are expected to witness rising demand over the next few years. The conjoint effect of all these trends and drivers is thus set to bolster the growth of the global IoT sensors market during the forecast period.Stringent government regulations and policies across the globe are encouraging the development of smart cities and this is offering a potential growth opportunity to the global IoT sensors market. IoT sensors would be used in smart cities in smart meters, smart grids, intelligent traffic management systems, and smart parking among others. Further, technological advancements in the medical industry are set to offer a substantial opportunity for the growth of the IoT sensors market. The deployment of healthcare devices using IoT sensors could transform the healthcare industry by focusing on better patient care, lowering costs, and increasing efficiency. The IoT sensors market has huge opportunity and scope in the emerging markets of Asia Pacific and Rest of the world (RoW). Emergence of new players in the developing markets such as China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, and Brazil coupled with the adoption of better and advanced technologies has led to the increase in competitiveness in the market.The competitive profiling of the key players in the global IoT sensors market across four broad geographic regions is included in the study. These include different business strategies adopted by the leading players and their recent developments as in the field of IoT sensors. The market attractive analysis of the major application areas has been provided in the report, in order to offer a deep insight of global IoT sensors market.A comprehensive analysis of the market dynamics that is inclusive of market drivers, restraints and opportunities is included in the purview of the report. Market dynamics are the distinctive factors which impact the market growth, thereby helping to understand the ongoing trends of the global market. Therefore, the report provides the forecast of the global market for the period from 2015 to 2023, along with offering an inclusive study of the IoT sensors market.Some of the major players in the IoT sensors market are: Infineon Technologies (Germany), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), IBM (U.S.), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Ericsson (Sweden), InvenSense Inc. (U.S.), Libelium (Spain), ARM Holdings Plc. (U.K.) and Digi International Inc. (U.S.) among others.Download sample copy of Report atThe global IoT Sensors market has been segmented into:Global Sensors Market, by TypesAccelerometersGyroscopesMagnetometersPressure SensorsTemperature SensorsLight SensorsOthersGlobal IoT Sensors Market, by End-Use Industry:Consumer ElectronicsHealthcareAutomotiveIndustrialBuilding AutomationRetailOthersGlobal IoT Sensors Market, by Geography: The market is broadly segmented on the basis of geography into:North AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeU.K.GermanyFranceItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanRest of APACRest of the WorldLatin AmericaMiddle EastAfricaMarketResearchReports.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
High Prevalence of Respiratory Diseases Worldwide to Fuel Growth of Global Anesthesia and Respiratory Devices Market

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Sophistication and persistent technological advances by respiratory and anesthesia device manufacturers have boosted the growth of this industry. The shift of patient preference from hospital care devices to home healthcare devices has accelerated the growth of this market and encouraged the provision of easy to use and portable devices that have paved a new way to revive this once mature market.Download Exclusive Sample of this Report:The global anesthesia and respiratory devices market. As per the report, the Asia Pacific anesthesia and respiratory devices market is expected to expand at a 10.0% CAGR from 2013 to 2019. The growth of the global anesthesia and respiratory devices market will be propelled by factors such as rising government funding, the rising number of surgeries, and the increasing prevalence of chronic pulmonary diseases, says the report.Manufacturers of anesthesia and respiratory devices are constantly taking efforts to upgrade their technology to manufacture better products. Over the past few years, the preference of people has shifted from hospital care to home health care services. This has encouraged leading players to introduce varieties of portable medical devices. The availability of a variety of home healthcare devices has propelled the global market in the recent past.As per a recent study from World Health Organization, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predicted to be one of the chief causes of death by 2030. In 2012, in the U.S., around 13.6 mn adults were diagnosed with COPD. A rising aging population diagnosed with COPD and asthma is predicted to propel the demand for anesthesia and respiratory devices in the coming few years.The slow adoption rate of anesthesia information management systems (AIMS) is expected to be a major challenge for the global market. However, destinations where the cost of manufacturing anesthesia and respiratory devices is low are expected to offer many growth opportunities to the global market. The global anesthesia and respiratory devices market is segmented on the basis of product type and region. By region, the global anesthesia and respiratory devices market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The rising disposable income, healthcare reforms, and economic developments are expected to propel the Asia Pacific market for anesthesia and respiratory devices in the near future.Based on product type, the global anesthesia and respiratory devices market is divided into anesthesia devices and respiratory devices. The anesthesia devices segment is sub-segmented into anesthesia machines and disposables. Currently, the anesthesia machines sub-segment is driving the maximum demand for anesthesia devices in the global anesthesia and respiratory devices market. The respiratory devices segment is sub-segmented into respiratory equipment, disposables, and measurement devices. The positive airway pressure devices sub-segment is predicted to dominate the respiratory devices segment during the forecast period.Going forward, the global anesthesia and respiratory devices market is expected to benefit from the rise in the pulmonary diseases. As per The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), in the U.S., every year approximately 40 million anesthesia treatments are administered. The increasing use of anesthesia devices is expected to benefit the global anesthesia and respiratory devices market in the near future.Browse Research Report:Companies such as GE Healthcare, Drager, Getinge, Covidien, Teleflex, and Smiths Medical are contributing significantly towards the growth of the global anesthesia and respiratory devices market.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 UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Innovation In Global Telecommunications For Tele-Medicine (PTT) And M-Health Consumption 2016 Market Research Report, Trends, Rising Growth, Key Opportunity and Forecast

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The Global Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health Consumption 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health market.First, the report provides a basic overview of the Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Secondly, the report states the global Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health market size (volume and value), and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies are also discussed.Third, the Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health market analysis is provided for major regions including USA, Europe, China and Japan, and other regions can be added. For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies.Request For Sample Copy Of This Report:Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health 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 Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.1 Definition and Specifications of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.1.1 Definition of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.1.2 Specifications of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.2 Classification of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.3 Applications of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.5.1 Industry Overview of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health1.7 Industry News Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health3 3 Global Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales and Sale Price Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health3.1 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) and Growth Rate of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health 2011-20163.2 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Regions 2011-20163.3 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Types 2011-20163.4 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Applications 2011-20163.5 Global Sales Volume and Sales Revenue of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Companies 2011-20163.6 Global Sale Price of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Regions 2011-20163.7 Global Sale Price of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Types 2011-20163.8 Global Sale Price of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Applications 2011-20163.9 Global Sale Price of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Companies 2011-20164 USA Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales, Sale Price and End Users Analysis of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health4.1 USA Market Size (Volume and Value) and Growth Rate of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health 2011-20164.2 USA Market Size (Volume and Value) of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Types 2011-20164.3 USA Market Size (Volume and Value) of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Applications 2011-20164.4 USA Sales Volume and Sales Revenue of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Companies 2011-20164.5 USA Sale Price of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Types 2011-20164.6 USA Sale Price of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Applications 2011-20164.7 USA Sale Price of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by Companies 2011-20164.8 USA Regional Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health 2011-20164.9 USA End Users with Contact Information and Consumption Volume of Telecommunications for Tele-Medicine (PTT) and M-Health by ApplicationsAbout usMarketResearchReports.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.To View The Latest Industry Press Releases:ContactTel: +1-518-621-2074E-Mail: sales@marketresearchreports.bizWebsite: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.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Over-The-Top Communications Services and Emerging Monetization Paths To Drive Telecommunications Industry

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Over the top (OTT) messaging leaders are rapidly evolving their key mobile messaging application interfaces to new voice and video communications, with revenue dilution implications for carriers worldwide. The progress made in mobile IP voice and video in the past year alone from key OTT players such as Facebook and Google is a clear indication of heightened mobile communications competitive pressure from these new players in 2016 and beyond. OTT players are transforming their communications apps into rich media platforms that serve as social networking hubs, offering a number of media services. Apps built on top of messaging enable users to solve broad problems. Messaging becomes a hub for consuming content and making transactions. Still, we argue that OTT communications providers need partnerships with carriers, to garner scale and differentiation.Request For Sample Copy:Key FindingsThe strategy of most, if not all, OTT messaging providers is to gain scale first and then monetize. All communications OTT apps with global aspirations are in a race to become the biggest platform in order to attract developers, which in turn should add more value to an offering.OTT players are transforming their communications apps into rich media platforms that serve as social networking hubs, offering a number of media services. Apps built on top of messaging enable users to solve broad problems. Messaging becomes a hub for consuming content and making transactions.LINE Messenger and WeChat are the few OTT communications players to demonstrate revenue. They can serve as a blueprints for other players.Messaging apps have significantly eroded carriers' revenue from previous cash generators such as SMS services. The threat to carriers is increasing with the migration of voice calls from carriers to VoIP providers such as Skype and WhatsApp.WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger represent the most disruptive OTT communications players in the market. Monetization could be highly disruptive.A number of partnership opportunities are emerging as carriers are growing convinced that they can generate revenue from OTT communications. The challenge lies in business tie-ups and infrastructure capabilities.SynopsisOver-the-top communications services: Emerging monetization paths offers an analysis of the state of the OTT communications market, the market drivers, and a number of company initiatives that highlight how market players are moving toward monetization. We highlight a number of monetization strategies and case studies employed by the world's largest OTT communications players. We also look at how carriers are impacted by OTT communications providers and how they can partner with key players to drive revenue. We conclude with recommendations for OTT companies and carriers.The Report is structured as follows:Section 1: Market context. This section provides an overview of the OTT communications providers along with the competitive landscape and recent acquisitions and investments in OTT messaging app market. It also provides details on key OTT communications features and information on these communications apps are now evolving into powerful digital platforms.Section 2: Emerging monetization strategies. Here we explore the various monetization strategies adopted by the major OTT communications companies globally.Section 3: OTT communications case studies. The report includes six case studies: Facebook Messenger, Line, Viber, WeChat, Snapchat and WhatsApp. Each case study offers detailed analysis of the trajectory and approach taken by OTT service providers for generating revenues along with the progress made in recent years.Section 4: Key findings and recommendations. We conclude with a summary of our findings on the emerging monetization paths adopted by various OTT service providers around the world, as well as specific recommendations for network carriers and OTT service providers looking to increase their revenue and develop partnerships in the OTT arena.Reasons To BuyAssess revenue models for OTT communications services and learn what works and what doesn't.Learn effective strategies for minimizing the adverse impact of OTT communications services on mobile carrier businessExamine the business case for OTT/carrier partnershipsAbout usMarketResearchReports.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.To View The Latest Industry Press Releases:ContactTel: +1-518-621-2074E-Mail: sales@marketresearchreports.bizWebsite: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.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
MVNOs In Europe: Data And M2M Segments Will Present The Highest Growth Opportunities To MVNOs In Europe

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The overcrowded European MVNO market has been showing strong momentum and is set to grow at a CAGR of 5% during 2015-2020 to reach 110.7m MVNO subscribers at the end of the year 2020. Germany, with more than 140 MVNOs will remain the largest MVNO subscriber market during 2015-2020 followed by the UK. Moreover, increasing usage of mobile data mainly driven by the increasing smartphone penetration, deployment of 4G/4G+ spectrum, favorable regulatory framework and rising VAS offerings are some the factors which will boost the MVNO market in Europe. Increasing opportunities are to be witnessed in non-traditional MVNO business models such as data only and M2M during the forecast period.Key Findings- The most preferred business model in the Europe is discount based model which is being adopted by 21% of the total MVNOs present in the region, closely followed by niche segment occupying 20% market share, catering to segments including youth, elderly (50+ aged), students and NGO supporters. Business and ethnic models follow, accounting for 19% and 11% respectively, while the roaming model is adopted by 10% of MVNOs.Request For Sample Copy:- Pyramid Research projects Germany will remain the largest MVNO country, in terms of subscriptions serving 23m users at the end of 2015, followed by the UK with 14.1m subscriptions and penetration of 14.8%. Other markets such as Belgium, Spain,Denmark and the Netherlands are considered hotbeds for MVNO growth.- Regulators are formulating MVNO specific framework to boost competition and reduce tariffs along with setting up laws relating to rolling MNPs, reducing MTRs, harmonizing the tariff differentials between off-net and on-net voice traffic, etc. in order to ease up the entry barriers for MVNOsSynopsisMVNOs in Europe: Data and M2M Segments Will Present the Highest Growth Opportunities to MVNOs in Europe', an Insider report by Pyramid Research offers a thorough study of the MVNO market in Europe. It examines the various MVNO business models adopted in Europe based on their marketing approach, and provides an in-depth look at the changing landscape of trends in MVNO adoption and investment.The report analyzes the MVNO market and the role of other market participants such as MNOs and regulators in this expanding opportunity and consists of the following sections:- Introduction: This Insider first presents taxonomy of MVNOs to provide a conceptual structure for the analysis, taking the perspective of mobile operators.- Market context (Global and Europe): This section examines the global MVNO market analysis, MVNO trends in the European region and most prevalent MVNO business models operating in the region.- Case studies: The report examines four leading MVNOs in the region in more detail: Drillisch, Virgin Mobile, Freenet and Lebara Mobile. These studies focus on the MVNO offerings, their sales and promotional strategies and recent moves by the telcos in the MVNO space.- Key findings and recommendations: The Insider concludes with a number of key findings and a set of recommendations for MNVOs, MNOs and regulatorsReasons To Buy- The report examines the product and service portfolio being offered by MNVOs in Europe to enable new entrants' telcos to align their product offerings. The report also provides analysis of different MVNO business model adopted in various countries in WE and CEE region and identify the opportunities offered by each of them.- Helps executives build proactive, profitable growth strategies by offering comprehensive, relevant analysis of the Europeregion's MVNO opportunity, regulatory framework, competitive environment and best practices of the existing virtual operators.- The case studies focus on product offerings of leading three MVNOs in the region including the strategies being pursued by them to drive their MVNO business, which can be beneficial to local players or prospective market entrants.- By understanding the interests and positions of the main stakeholders in the MVNO market - MNOs, end users, regulators, content providers and ISPs - telecom professionals/operators can develop strategies and increase their participation in the growing MVNO marketAbout usMarketResearchReports.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.To View The Latest Industry Press Releases:ContactTel: +1-518-621-2074E-Mail: sales@marketresearchreports.bizWebsite: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.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Feminine Douching Products Market to grow at a CAGR of 0.61% during 2016-2020

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About Feminine Douching ProductsDouching is a method to wash or clean out the vagina, usually with a mixture of vinegar and water in a douche spray, which injects the liquid into the desired parts. In recent years, the innovations related to douching have resulted in the introduction of new products with several new features, scents, shapes, and sizes. Douches sold in supermarkets and drugstores contain antiseptics and fragrances. These douches are pre-packaged mixes of baking soda, water, and vinegar or iodine.Technavios analysts forecast the global feminine douching products market to grow at a CAGR of 0.61% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global feminine douching products market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from retail sales of feminine douching products through the following distribution channels.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Feminine Douching Products Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Download Sample Copy of Report atKey vendorsAdam & EveCalifornia ExoticC.B. FleetPrestige BrandsOther prominent vendorsGST CorporationLake Consumer ProductsNatureplexCurve NoveltiesPipedream ProductsNasstoysCaraWise Woman HerbalsMarket driverIncrease in awareness of health and hygiene.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeNegative impact on pregnancy.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendMigration of manufacturing and sales facilities to APAC.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?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
Metabolomics Diagnostics and Analytical Technologies Market Key Trends in terms of volume and value 2016-2020

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Metabolomics is a nascent field of science that deals with the study of metabolites produced in the body. It provides insight on the chemical fingerprints of cellular processes through characterization of small molecules. The field of gene mutation and drug discovery s expected to have been benefited the most from this field of omics. However, along with this several other fields such as biofuels, nutrigenomics, agriculture, and food safety have also benefited from the technique. The metabolomics techniques have developed to become a key tool to investigate several aspects of human fluids and its contents. Metabolome which refers to a complete set of small molecule metabolites was identified and converted into one of the largest web database METLIN in 2005. By 2010, although research in metabolomics had started growing at a strong pace, the commercial aspect was facing significant technical challenges. There are two aspects to metabolomics: Metabolite Profiling which deals with the phenotypic characterization of an organism by non-invasive means and Metabolic Profiling, which deals with the use of spectroscopy to identify metabolites. The advent of metabolite biomarkers will have profound implication on the progress of diagnostics market in coming years.The market for metabolomics is constituted of three parts, namely Instrumentation; which primarily deals with Gas-Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), tandem mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy devices. The second commercial segment deals with the sale of diagnostic kits and reagents which constitute as consumables, the third commercial segment. Diagnostics market includes emerging companies such as Metabolon, which deals in the sale of biomarkers used to detect various cancers such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer among others. The company estimates a yearly scope of performing over 20 million diagnostic tests which carves a potential market of $ 2.0 billion each year. Along with this there are several companies in the fray such as Tethys BioScience, which is in the process of commercializing a diabetes test called PreDx.Click For Full Report And Request TOC@SA-BRCs ongoing research estimates suggest that the metabolomics (diagnostics & tools) market is expected to be valued at around US$ 3.0 billion in 2014 although the potential addressable market is worth over US$ 5.5 billion. The growth of the metabolomics market exceeds a CAGR of 50% and thus can be expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. Currently North America and Europe constitute over 75% of the total market for metabolomics research equipment and consumables along with services. Asia is entering this field with major investors being China and Japan. North America has the largest research pipeline with studies happening in several areas of oncology and diabetes. Besides upcoming companies such as Metabolon and Tethys, other major players in the field are Thermo Fisher which is involved in providing software support along with research technologies such as spectroscopy technologies and Molecular Biometrics which is a supplier of proprietary biospectroscopy technologies for metabolomics. Other players are Human Metabolome Technologies, Metabomatrix and Genedata.The main driver of metabolomics market is the cost to effectiveness comparison which is much better than any other method of biomarker detection. Even with these drivers, the market faces challenges such as lack of connection between other omics sciences such as genomics and proteomics. Research is still required to go a long way since an estimated 60% molecules of unknown nature are yet to be identified. But through all these challenges, the field is garnering more attention each day and the coming years will hold a key role for metabolomics in treating dreadful diseases. Since the diagnostics market is immature, the competitive landscape is tightly consolidated with top 5 players accounting for 90% of the total market. However, the data and analytical tools market that accounts for approximately 75% of the market scope is highly fragmented on a global level.For More Research Reports@About UsSpearhead Acuity Business Research & Consulting Private Limited (SA-BRC) is a premium Life Science business intelligence and data analytics firm. SA-BRC team offers a wide range of business intelligence services to multiple stakeholders such as Medical Device Manufacturers, Service Providers (Hospitals, Payers, etc.), Suppliers, Group Purchase Organizations, Distributors and all other individuals in the entire value chain of healthcare industry. Our research and consulting capabilities extend across several sub-domains within the sphere of Life Sciences such as Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Medical Devices, Veterinary Sciences, Wellness Products and Pharmaceuticals.Contact UsJohn Whitmore10685-B Hazelhurst Drive,Suite 17411Houston, Texas 77043,United StatesPhone: +1(832)-426-3701Email: sales@sa-brc.comWebsite:
Global Off-grid Energy Storage System Market Size, Shares, Survey, Analysis and Forecast 2016-2020

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Albany, NY, Dec 23: Off-grid power generation systems are generally used when there are capital limitations or the physical landscape makes it tough to have a grid connection. Off-grid energy storage systems are used in localities that are far away from populated areas or cities and not connected to any electricity grid. In these regions, despite the presence of independent power supply providers, electricity is not available 24/7 to consumers. This creates a demand for energy storage systems that aid in storing electricity for future use during power outages.The global off-grid energy storage system market to grow at a CAGR of 6.657% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global off-grid energy storage system market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated by the demand for energy storage for off-grid systems for application by end-users in each region and their corresponding key countries.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAGet a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Off-Grid Energy Storage System Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Aquion Energy- Green Charge- LG Chem- NEC Energy Solutions- NRG EnergyOther prominent vendors- Amperex Technology- Boston Power- China Aviation Lithium Battery- EnerSys- GE Energy Storage- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries- Primus Power- SAFT- Sumitomo Electric Industries- Toshiba- Xtreme PowerMarket driver- Demand for energy storage as distributed generation- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Global Market For Nurse Call System Reach to USD 1,600.0 Million by 2020

Global Nurse Call System Market

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Nurse Call System Market by Equipment Type (Nurse Call Buttons, Nurse Call Intercoms, Nurse Call Mobile Systems, and Nurse Call Integrated Communication Systems) by Communication Technology (Wired Communication Equipment and Wireless Communication Equipment) for Hospitals, OPD Clinics, Assisted Living Centers, and Ambulatory Services: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014  2020.Global Nurse Call System Market Set for Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 1,600.0 Million by 2020.Global Nurse Call System Market 2014  2020The report covers forecast and analysis for the nurse call system market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2020 based revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the nurse call system 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 nurse call system market on a global level.Get Sample Copy of Report atIn order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the nurse call system. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the nurse call system market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein equipment type segments, communication technology segment and application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The study provides a decisive view on the nurse call system market by segmenting the market based on equipment type of nurse call system, applications and regions. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2014 to 2020. Based on equipment type the market is segmented into nurse call buttons, nurse call intercoms, nurse call mobile systems, and nurse call integrated communication systems. Wired communication equipment and wireless communication equipment are the communication technology segments of nurse call system market. Key application market covered under this study includes hospitals, OPD clinics, assisted living centers, and ambulatory services.Browse more detail information about Report atThe regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil. This segmentation includes demand for nurse call system based on individual applications in all the regions and countries.The report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as Ascom Holding AG, Rauland-Borg Corporation, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Cornell Communications, Inc., Jeron Electronic Systems, Inc., Tyco SimplexGrinnell, TekTone Sound & Signal Mfg., Inc., Vigil Health Solutions, Inc., Critical Alert Systems, LLC, Stanley Healthcare, Azure Healthcare Limited. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business and recent developments of the company.Request For Toc of Report atThis report segments the global nurse call system market as follows:Global Nurse Call System Market: Equipment Type Segment AnalysisNurse Call ButtonsNurse Call IntercomsNurse Call Mobile SystemsNurse Call Integrated Communication SystemsGlobal Nurse Call System Market: Communication Technology Segment AnalysisWired Communication EquipmentWireless Communication EquipmentGlobal Nurse Call System Market: Application Segment AnalysisHospitalsOPD ClinicsAssisted Living CentersAmbulatory ServicesAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/CanadaToll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems Market Expected to Reach US$ 788.4 Mn by 2020

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Future Market Insights (FMI) announces the release of its latest report titled, Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015 - 2020. According to the report, the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market was valued at US$ 402.0 Mn in 2014 and is expected to reach US$ 788.4 Mn by 2020, registering a CAGR of 12.1% during the forecast period, 2015 to 2020.Global continuous glucose monitoring systems market is driven by increasing number of diabetic patients and growing number of geriatric people across the world. Moreover, usage of advanced technologies such as artificial pancreas in continuous glucose monitors and increasing awareness of people towards diabetes are driving growth of the continuous glucose monitoring systems market. However, high prices of continuous glucose monitors and inadequate reimbursement policies pose a challenge for growth of the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market.Request For Report Sample@The global continuous glucose monitoring systems market is segmented on the basis of end use sector, components and geography. Moreover, company wise market share has also been indicated in the report. By end use sector, global continuous glucose monitoring systems market is sub-segmented into household and hospital & diagnostic centers. Household is a larger segment as compared to hospital & diagnostic centers and is expected to dominate the continuous glucose monitoring systems market throughout the forecast period exhibiting a CAGR of 11.9%. The household segment held 68.5% market share in 2014 and expected to account for US$ 538 Mn by 2020, owing to the convenience and ease of use offered by continuous glucose monitors at home. Hospitals & diagnostic centers sub-segment accounted for approximately 31.5% of the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market value share in 2014, and is expected to gain market share to account for 31.8% of the global market by 2020.On the basis of component, the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market is sub-segmented into transmitter & monitors, sensors and insulin pumps. Among the aforementioned sub-segments, transmitter & monitors is expected to dominate the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market with over 39% market share throughout the forecast period. Owing increasing trend of sedentary lifestyle in some developing and developed economies such as India, China and Japan, and increasing obesity rate globally, demand for continuous glucose monitoring is expected to increase significantly in the near future.Send An Enquiry@Value wise share in the report has been provided for key players in the market, which includes Medtronic, Dexcom, Abbott and cumulative share of other players. Medtronic dominated the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market in 2014 and is expected to continue its dominance over the forecast period, expanding at a CAGR of 11.2%.Geography-wise, North America was dominant, accounting for over 50% of the global continuous glucose monitoring systems market in 2014 in terms of revenue. However, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) is foreseen to witness a relatively high CAGR during the forecast period.Competitive LandscapeKey players considered in the continuous glucose monitoring systems market include Medtronic, Dexcom, Abbott, OmniPod, Animas, Glysens, Roche, Ypsomed and BayerABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Food Sorting Machines Market Value Share, Supply Demand, share and Value Chain 2015-2025

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Automation is becoming more of a requirement than an option in the food processing industry. The rigorous quality and cost controls required in the food industry is making it more critical. Production of high grade food requires capable and efficient inspection and sorting systems, in the operations and production line. The food is sorted by color, size, shape, specific gravity prior to inspection and other criteria depending upon the raw material and application.Global interest is increasing towards the quality of food consumed along with the stringent legislations on product quality and operating procedures. In the food industry, the product specification is extremely important, and is one of those area where new developments are crossing the boundaries. The food industry is under immense pressure of meeting the demands of growing world population.The global population is becoming urbanized and there is heavy industrialization seen in the emerging economies. This leads to an upward trend towards convenience foods that are healthy, nutritious and easy to prepare. Food security is an emerging challenge for policy makers and companies in the food supply chain. Over the period food production will be under threat from climate change, competing land uses, erosion and diminishing supplies of clean water. One of the solutions to this dilemma is increased efficiency and waste reduction in the food supply chain. Food sorting machines offer increase in efficiency by selectively filtering out the undesired materials from the main food. The main purpose is separation of foreign seeds and bodies, such as unhealthy or spotted grains. The insertion of optical sorter into strategic positions of the milling process facilitates and optimizes the whole cleaning process. Worldwide the optical sorters are being used in the food industry. Its highly adopted in the processing of harvested foods such as fruits, potatoes, vegetables and nuts where it achieves non-destructive,100% inspection on full production volume. Since manual sorting is subjective and inconsistent, its not preferred. Optical sorting helps to improve the product quality, increase yields, maximize throughput while reducing labor costs. Since few years the trend is of integration of the traditional mechanical cleaning process with optical sorting machines.Request Free Report Sample@Food Sorting Machines Market: Drivers & RestraintsGrowing population, rising urbanization, growing technological awareness, industrialization of emerging economies and increasing per capita income are some of the key factors driving the growth of the food sorting machines market.Environmental Protection Agency regulations on disposal of food waste, changing consumption patterns and smaller households are few of the probable factors restraining the growth of the food sorting machines market.Food Sorting Machines Market: SegmentationThe global food sorting machines market is broadly classified on the basis of product type, technology and geographies.Based on product type, the global food sorting machines market is segmented into:Channel SortersFreefall SortersBelt SortersADR SystemsBased on technology, the global food sorting machines market is segmented into:LaserCameraLEDX-rayFood Sorting Machines Market: OverviewThough food sorting machines is a new technology for emerging economies like India, but in the developed economies like North America and Europe the same technology is in use for years.Request For TOC@With growing global population and increasing pressure on food industry to meet the customer demands, the acceptance of food sorting machines is gaining popularity. The global food sorting machines market is expected to expand at a promising CAGR during the forecast period (2015-2025).Food Sorting Machines Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global food sorting machines market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global food sorting machines market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. As of 2015, North America dominated the global food sorting machines market in terms of market revenue followed by Europe. Asia Pacific & Japan are projected to expand at a substantial growth and will contribute to the global food sorting machines market value exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2015?2025.Food Sorting Machines Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in global food sorting machines market are Tomra Systems ASA, Sesotec GmbH, Buhler AG, Key Technology, BarcoVision, Satake USA Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Europe Software Testing Services Market Strategies and Share by Manufacturers in 2016

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Europe Software Testing Services Market Report 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.This market intelligence report is a highly descriptive analysis of the Europe Software Testing Services market. The report offers insights into the various factors impacting the market and the extent of their impact on the growth. It takes into account the historic data and current market facts and figures to make reliable projections of the markets trajectory in the foreseeable future. These interpretations allow the readers to gain a clearer and detailed perspective of the Europe Software Testing Services market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report also includes a detailed overview of the industry chain structure along with an extensive understanding of the import and export statistics and upstream raw materials and downstream demand chain. It also provides information regarding the currently available production capacities and the efficiency at which they are utilized. The analytical tools employed in the report are Porters five force analysis and market attractiveness analysis, which are instrumental in the understanding of the competitive landscape of the Europe Software Testing Services market.The research report presents a comprehensive snapshot of the Software Testing Services market in terms of product/service, technology, end-user industry. For a coherent understanding, it also includes analysis and information regarding geographical segmentation. Each region is methodically examined on the basis of production, revenue, and market shares. The report also profiles the key players in the Europe Software Testing Services market along with their business strategies, revenue structure, latest developments, and contact information. It also performs SWOT analysis for each market player to calculate the expected growth trajectory each player will witness. There is a separate section of recommendations from industrial experts for both existing and new players in the Europe market. All these information together provide a 360-degree view of the market for Software Testing Services.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Software Testing Services Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Software Testing Services1.2 Classification of Software Testing Services1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Application of Software Testing Services1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 Software Testing Services Market by Countries1.4.1 Germany Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 France Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 UK Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Russia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Italy Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Spain Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.7 Benelux Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Europe Market Size (Value and Volume) of Software Testing Services (2011-2021)1.5.1 Europe Software Testing Services Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Europe Software Testing Services Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Europe Software Testing Services by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Europe Software Testing Services Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Europe Software Testing Services Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Europe Software Testing Services Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Europe Software Testing Services (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Europe Software Testing Services Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Europe Software Testing Services Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Europe Software Testing Services (Volume and Value) by Countries2.3.1 Europe Software Testing Services Sales and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.3.2 Europe Software Testing Services Revenue and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.4 Europe Software Testing Services (Volume) by ApplicationFor Latest QYResearchreports Press Release Visit @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
Global Spot Welders Market 2016 Revenue, Regional Outlook, Sales Price and Gross Margin

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Spot Welders Market Research Report 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.The market intelligence report is a thorough analysis of the situation of the global Spot Welders market. An in-depth investigation of the present market scenario, past progress, and future prospects of the global Spot Welders market has been offered in the report. The publication also reports the main strategies, market shares, and products of the leading companies in operation in the global Spot Welders market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report provides a comprehensive outline of the global market for Spot Welders based on prime parameters such as end user, technology, applications, products, and regions. The estimated volume and revenue growth of the global market for Spot Welders over the forthcoming years has also been mentioned in the market intelligence publication. The study additionally deals into the key geographical segments of the global Spot Welders market and delivers details about their former and current shares. The trends dominant in the global Spot Welders market have also been underlined in the report. The market study provides a valuation of the aspects that are anticipated to impact the growth of the market in an undesirable or constructive way. The global Spot Welders market has been systematically examined with regard to the corresponding market segments and conjecture period. Each year within the individual timeline has been concisely considered in terms of the worth of the produce in the regional as well as global market.To give a clear view of the global Spot Welders market, the competitive landscape has been gauged and put into view along with the value chain analysis. Evidence on current and introduced research and development projects and funds for innovation has been delivered in the report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Spot Welders Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Spot Welders1.2 Spot Welders Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Spot Welders by Type in 20151.2.2 Type I1.2.3 Type II1.2.4 Type III1.3 Spot Welders Segment by Application1.3.1 Spot Welders Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Application 11.3.3 Application 21.3.4 Application 31.4 Spot Welders Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Spot Welders (2011-2021)2 Global Spot Welders Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Spot Welders Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Spot Welders Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Spot Welders Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Spot Welders Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Spot Welders Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Spot Welders Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Spot Welders Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, ExpansionFor Latest QYResearchreports Press Release Visit @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
Ice-cream and Frozen Dessert Market Set for Rapid Growth And Trend, by 2025

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Ice-cream and frozen dessert belongs to frozen food industry. Ice-cream and frozen dessert are primarily consumed after meal or served as a refreshment and can be enjoyed between the meal courses. Ice-cream and frozen dessert are mainly made up of milk and cream, and often combined with fruits, nuts and flavours. Rising consumer disposable income coupled with increasing inclination of people towards sweet dishes is expected drive the growth of Ice-cream and frozen dessert market across the globe.Ice-cream and Frozen Dessert Market SegmentationIce-cream and frozen dessert market is segmented on the basis of types includes regular Ice-cream and low fat ice-cream. Among both of these segment regular Ice-cream is expected occupy the major contribution on the pie. However low fat ice cream is predicted to account for healthy CAGR in next five to six years. Shifting consumer preferences towards consumption of healthy food is expected to support the demand of low fat Ice-cream in the near future. On the basis of type frozen desserts segmentation includes sherbet, frozen yoghurt, frozen ice, frozen tofu and others. Among all of these segments frozen yoghurt is expected to be the major contributor in terms of revenue followed by sherbet. Introduction of frozen yoghurt in various flavour and in innovative packaging is attracting children a lot which is expected to fuel the growth of frozen yoghurt in the near future.Request Free Report Sample@Ice-cream and frozen dessert market is segmented on the basis of end user which includes household and hotel/restaurant/cafe. Among both of these two segments hotel/restaurant/cafe is expected to account for major share in terms of revenue contribution. Rising consumer preferences for outside dining coupled with increasing inclination of teenager towards the consumption of frozen food is expected to support the demand of ice-cream and frozen desserts market during the forecast period. Moreover, household is expected to show a substantial growth in the near future. Increasing availability of ice-cream and frozen dessert in packaged form and in variants for household consumption is expected to support its growth during the forecast period.Geographically, North America is expected to be the major contributor in terms of value followed by Europe. However, these region is predicted to be a mature market and is expected to show a stable growth in the near future. Introduction of new variant in flavours coupled with offering low fat products may fuel the growth of Ice-cream and frozen dessert market in these region. In developing countries of Asia Pacific region, China is expected to dominate the market in terms of Ice-cream and frozen dessert consumption followed by India. Moreover Japan is expected to show a substantial growth during the forecast period. Increasing consumption of flavoured yoghurt especially in countries such as China and Japan is predicted to support the growth of ice-cream and frozen dessert market across Asia Pacific region during forecast period.Ice-cream and Frozen Dessert Market DriversRising disposable income coupled with shifting consumer eating habits is expected to drive the demand of Ice-cream and frozen dessert in the near future. Moreover, increasing availability of flavoured yoghurt especially in developing region is predicted to be major factor supporting the growth of Ice-cream and frozen dessert market during the forecast period.Request For TOC@Ice-cream and Frozen Dessert Key PlayersSome of the major players operating in ice cream and frozen dessert market includes Baskin-Robbins, Nestle SA, Unilever, Danone Groupe SA, Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc., Cielo USA, Kraft Foods Group Inc. among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Aerogel Market Shares, Strategies and Forecast Worldwide, 2015 to 2025

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The global aerogel market is on the rise due to increased applications of aerogel in industries such as oil & gas, marine, automotive, and aerospace. Aerogel is an extremely low density solid material, mainly composed of air, and is manufactured using conventional gel. Global aerogel market consists of material exhibiting numerous properties, making it suitable for the applications in aforementioned industries. These properties include thermal & acoustic damping, low density, high degree of porosity and other desired properties in various applications industries. In addition to the abundant uses of aerogel in industrial applications, one of the key reasons for increasing global aerogel market is due to the fact that the material is being witnessed as a good replacement for thermal insulation materials, since it is providing cost competitiveness to other high performance thermal insulating materials.Aerogel Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe increasing demand of aerogels by the end users such as oil & gas, automotive, marine & aerospace , etc. are driving the global aerogel market. Growing globalization leading to an increase in investments, new establishments for construction and properties of aerogel such as high insulation, being cheap and abundant availability of the raw material are some of the factors driving the growth of global aerogel market. High production cost is the major challenging factor for the growth of global aerogel market.Aerogel Market: SegmentationIn terms of application industry, the global aerogel market is segmented into key applications:Oil & gasMarine & aerospacePerformance coatingsLVHSDay-lightingAutomotiveConstructionRequest Free Report Sample@Within these applications, the oil & gas industry accounts for a leading share in the global aerogel market. Among other applications, wherein significant growth is likely to be witnessed is automotive and construction applications, wherein thermal insulation properties of aerogel material are being exploited.On the basis of product types, the global aerogel market is can be segmented into:SilicaPolymerCarbonThese different types of aerogel are being utilized in the global marketplace, wherein polymer type of aerogel is expected to witness the highest growth in coming years. In terms of market share, the global aerogel market has been dominated by silica type aerogel, which is likely to continue its dominance through the forecast period as well.On the basis of forms, the global aerogel market has been segmented into:MonolithBlanketArticlePanel formThe global aerogel market is dominated by blanket form of aerogel, which is widely used for thermal insulation applications across the industries. The global aerogel market is expected to witness the tremendous growth in particle form of aerogel, which is expected to contribute towards the growth in demand for aerogel in global aerogel market during the forecast period.On the basis of processing segment, the global aerogel market has also been segmented into:Virgin processedFabricatedIn terms of processing, within the global aerogel market, virgin aerogel is witnessed to be the dominating processing segment. This is due to the fact that virgin aerogel is free from composites and additives, which enables its applications in research & development activities. Further virgin aerogel is accompanied with high commercial availability in the global aerogel market.Request For TOC@Aerogel Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global aerogel market has witnessed increased growth in North American region, which accounts for a leading share in the global aerogel market. Followed by North America, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region accounts for the second leading regions in terms of aerogel consumption across the globe, which is due to high amount of consumption in China. However, the European market is likely to be the leading region, in terms of annual growth, in years to come.Aerogel Market: Key PlayersThe global aerogel market is dominated by major players such as Cabot Corporation, Aerogel Technologies LLC, Aspen Aerogels, Inc. and BASF SE, to name a few.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Online Clothing Rental Market Expected to Reach US$ 1,952.4 Mn by 2026

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Future Market Insights delivers key insights on the global online clothing rental market in a new report titled, Online Clothing Rental Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026. In terms of value, the global online clothing rental market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period owing to various factors, which are analysed in detail in this report.Growth of the global online clothing rental market is driven by increasing preference for fashion and brand consciousness among people across the globe along with rising internet penetration. Consumers are preferring online purchase of clothes due to availability of a large variety at a discounted price. This is fuelling the demand for online rented clothes globally. Changing consumer lifestyles and increasing demand for designer dresses, party wear, and dinner suits is expected to intensify the growth of the global online clothing rental market in the next 10 years. Increasing urbanisation along with rising personal disposable income in regions such as the Asia Pacific are driving the overall growth of the global online clothing rental market.High profitability margins, ease of resource availability, and rising economic opportunity in developing nations are some factors encouraging new players to venture into the global online clothing rental market. Established players in the global online clothing rental market are expanding their product portfolio and are focussing on product innovations and change in target segments, which is creating robust competition in the market.Request For Report Sample@Segmentation highlightsThe global online clothing rental market is segmented on the basis of Demography (Women, Men, Kids); Price Range (Premium, Mid, Low); Type (Western Wear, Ethnic Wear, Others); End User (B2C, B2B); and Business Model (Peer-to-Peer Model, Standalone Model, Hybrid Model).The Women demography segment is expected to register a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast periodThe Peer-to-Peer business model segment was valued at US$ 656.4 Mn in 2015 and is expected to account for US$ 712.2 Mn by the end of 2016, witnessing a Y-o-Y growth rate of 8.5% over 20162020Regional projectionsThe global online clothing rental market is segmented into the seven key regions of North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, and MEA. Markets in North America, Western Europe, and APEJ are expected to record high growth rates in terms of value between 2016 and 2026. Amongst all the regions, North America is estimated to account for a comparatively higher value share in 2016. Western Europe is another major market for online clothing rentals. The entry of online luxury fashion due to rising internet penetration is expected to drive market growth in this region. In the APEJ region, increasing personal disposable income is a key driver for sustained growth of the online clothing rental market, and the APEJ market is expected to register a CAGR of 10.1% during the period 2016-2026. The online clothing rental market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period in countries such as India, the ASEAN countries, Australia, and New Zealand.Send An Enquiry@Vendor insightsThis report covers detailed profiles of key players operating in the global online clothing rental market. The report presents key strategies, key developments, product offerings, and market performance of leading companies. Some of the top companies profiled in the global online clothing rental market report are Rent the Runway, Poshmark, Elanic Services Pvt Ltd., Dress & Go, GlamCorner Pvt Ltd., Envoged, Etashee, Secoo Holdings Ltd, and Secret Worldwide.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Immunohematology Market to grow at a CAGR of 4.79% over Forecast 2016-2020

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Albany, NY, Dec 23: Blood loss or anemia can lead to chronic health problems; therefore, clinicians performs blood transfusion that can help to get relief from chronic health problems. To transfuse, blood clinicians or hospitals take blood units present in their own integrated blood banks or from other centers. Immunohematology, also commonly known as blood banking, helps to screen the donor blood components for blood antigens, Rh factor, plasma, and white blood cell components. It helps to reduce blood transfusion-related diseases such as HIV and thalassemia. According to the guidelines by World Health Organization (WHO), donated blood is screened before it is transfused to protect the people from such fatalities in most of the countries.Technavios analysts forecast the global immunohematology market to grow at a CAGR of 4.79% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global immunohematology market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of various immunohematology analyzers, systems, and reagents, which are used for transfusion medicine in blood banks and hospitals to screen the blood for molecular typing and serological test.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAGet a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Immunohematology Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Bio-Rad Laboratories- Grifols- Immucor- Ortho Clinical DiagnosticsOther prominent vendors- Agena Bioscience- BD- Beckman Coulter- biosurfit SA- Cardinal Health- DIAGAST- Hemo bioscience- Institut de Biotechnologies Jacques Boy- Lorne Laboratories- MTC INVITRO- Reagens- Seqirus- Tulip- QuotientMarket driver- Growing demand for blood banks and its potential to increase sales- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Impact of Existing and Emerging Power Electronics Market Trends And Forecast 2015-2025

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To control the flow of energy, the switching electronic circuits are used. These switching electronic circuits are called power electronics. Power electronics are also considered for the conversion of electric power. Such conversions are performed by semiconductor devices like diodes, transistors and thyristors etc. Power electronics devices have several advantages including optimum forward and reverse backing capabilities, simplified circuits, compact designs etc. Moreover, power electronics find its applications in connection of renewable energy resources to power grids, transportation in electric trains, motor drives and lighting. The major use of power electronics devices is heat sinking as well as soft starting of an equipment deploying power electronic devices.Global Power Electronics Market: SegmentationThe global power electronics market can be segmented into geography, types and applications. On the basis of geography, the global power electronics market can be segmented into America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Others. Considering types, the global power electronics market can be segmented into diode rectifiers, ac-dc converters, ac-ac converters, dc-dc converters, dc-ac converters and static switches. On account of applications, the global power electronics market can be segmented into industrial activities, solar power, wind power, electric cars, aerospace and consumer electronics.Global Power Electronics Market: Region-Wise OutlookIn terms of power electronics market value, Asia Pacific is the largest geography. America being the fastest growing region, Europe is considered as a very promising market comprising of Germany and UK while Middle East also grants an impetus to the growth of the global power electronics market.Request Free Report Sample@Global Power Electronics Market: DriversVarious factors are fuelling the growth of global power electronics market including rapid use of renewable sources of energy followed by the increase in the adoption of electric cars and defense. ICT, telecommunications, self monitoring and diagnostics systems, hospitals and healthcare are the major fields driving the global power electronics market to grow apparently.Global Power Electronics Market:: RestraintsThere are various challenges faced by the global power electronics market like high initial costs, deposition of GaN on silica materials which is in turn very difficult to reach in high voltage ranges. Moreover, manufacturing of power electronics is way to expensive and time consuming thus posing a restraint to the global power electronics market.Request For TOC@Global Power Electronics Market: Key PlayersThe major companies playing a key role in the manufacturing of power electronics are Enercon, Fairchild, Fuji Electric, GE Wind Energy, Mersen, Methode Electronics, Semikron Elektronic GmbH & Company etc. Microsemi Corp, Toshiba Corp, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Vishay Intertechnology, Infineon Technology, Texas Instruments Inc are some major key players in the field of global power electronics market.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Organic Cocoa Market Growth with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2025

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The certified organic cocoa market represents a very small share of the total cocoa market, estimated around 0.5% of total production. However, the demand for organic cocoa products are growing at a very strong pace, the supply side faces a strong challenge to meet the demand of organic cocoa. Since, farmers are paying ample amount for producing organic cocoa, production of organic cocoa is more in least developed countries. Organic cocoa has many nutritional benefits such as more fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and many other minerals. Moreover it also contains antioxidants, which helps to protect skin. Organic cocoa also helps to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. Demand for organic cocoa products are very high in U.S, U.K and Germany, hence organic cocoa are supplied to developed economies of North America and Western Europe to manufacture organic cocoa products. Currently, Dominican Republic is dominating the organic cocoa market in terms of production that holds around 70 percent of the total market share; Peru, Ecuador and Mexico together hold around 20 percent of the market share in terms of production; rest around 10 percent is held by Bolivia, Ghana, Brazil and others.Organic Cocoa Market Segmentation:On the basis of product type the organic cocoa market is segmented into cocoa powder, cocoa paste, cocoa butter, cocoa beans and others (products containing cocoa). Products containing cocoa holds the highest market share in terms of value followed by cocoa beans and cocoa butter.Request Free Report Sample@On the basis of application organic cocoa market is segmented into confectionaries, bakery, functional food, health drinks, home cooking use and others (pharmaceuticals, ointments, and toiletries). Organic cocoa is majorly used in food industry as a main ingredient of chocolate.Geographically, Organic cocoa market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Latin America is dominating worldwide followed by Middle East and Africa (MEA) in terms of organic cocoa production. Majority of organic cocoa is exported to Western Europe followed by North America. U.K and U.S are the largest manufacturing countries of organic cocoa products in the world, since organic chocolate is more popular in U.K, U.S and Germany and consumers from those countries owe a significant inclination towards organic chocolates irrespective of high pricing of organic products.Organic Cocoa Market Dynamics:Chocolate is the main application of organic cocoa which is the main growth driver of organic cocoa market. Also, the organic cocoa market is expected to be largely driven by the health consciousness among consumers. However, lack of proper supply of organic cocoa restrains the global organic cocoa market which also leads to increase in price of organic cocoa. There is a huge opportunity in the North America and Western Europe and Japan. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is an untapped market which is also a potential market for organic cocoa. This is attributed to increasing inclination of consumers towards organic products, rapid urbanisation, strengthening supply chain for organic cocoa and rising health consciousness among consumers.Request For TOC@Organic Cocoa Market Key Player:Some of the leading players are Kraft Foods Inc., Cargill Incorporated, Tradin Organic Agriculture B.V., Ciranda, Blommer Chocolate Company, Artisan Confections Company, PASCHA Company, InterNatural Foods LLC and Wilmor Publishing Corp.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
North America Outbound Medical Tourism Services Market will Reach at a CAGR of 25.5% by 2026

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According to a new report published by Future Market Insights titled Outbound Medical Tourism Services Market: North America Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026, the North America outbound medical tourism services market is expected to reach a market valuation of US$ 15.53 Bn by 2016 end and this is likely to increase to US$ 150.36 Bn by 2026.According to Future Market Insights, factors such as a large ageing baby boomer population, large uninsured population, and better technology and wider treatment options are expected to drive the revenue growth of the North America outbound medical tourism services market over the forecast period. Economic factors such as rising rate of health insurance premiums, high cost of medical treatments in the U.S., and parallel tourism with medical treatment are expected to boost the growth of the North America outbound medical tourism services market between 2016 and 2026. The other factors impacting the North America outbound medical tourism services market are long waiting time for specialist appointments in the U.S. and increasing preference for non-conventional treatment options. The demand for cosmetic correction procedures and dental treatments has been significantly high in the U.S. market in recent years, making North America the most lucrative regional market for outbound medical tourism services. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the U.S. was the largest market for cosmetic procedures in 2015.Lack of effective follow-up care on returning home, rampant medical malpractices in medical tourism destinations, proliferation of superbugs in medical tourism destinations, problems associated with language barriers, and privacy concerns are some of the challenges anticipated to restrict revenue growth of the North America outbound medical tourism services market over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@Segmentation highlightsThe North America outbound medical tourism services market is segmented into the following therapeutic applications  Cosmetic Surgery Treatment, Dental Treatment, Cardiovascular Treatment, Orthopaedic Treatment, Cancer Treatment, Fertility Treatment, Weight Loss Treatment, Spinal Surgery Treatment, Neurology Treatment, and Other General Treatment.The Cosmetic Surgery Treatment segment is estimated to be valued at US$ 3,760.9 Mn by 2016 endThe Cancer Treatment segment is anticipated to register a CAGR of 22.0% over the forecast periodThe Orthopaedic Treatment segment is estimated to create absolute $ opportunity of US$ 1,658.9 Mn in 2017 over 2016Regional forecastThe North America outbound medical tourism services market is segmented into the two top countries of U.S and Canada. U.S. is projected to occupy a major share in the North America outbound medical tourism services market in terms of value. The U.S market is anticipated to be valued at US$ 14.98 Bn by the end of 2016. In terms of value, U.S. is expected to be the dominant regional market by 2026 end and is expected to register a CAGR of 25.7% over the forecast period. Canada is expected to have comparatively less market potential for outbound medical tourism services, registering a CAGR of 18.1% over the forecast period.Send An Enquiry@Vendor insightsThe report profiles some of the top companies operating in the North America outbound medical tourism services market. Leading market players featured in the report are Apollo Hospital Enterprise Limited, Bumrungrad International Hospital, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Christus Muguerza Hospital, WorldMed Assist, Mednamaste, and Global Medical Tourism Inc. Major market players are adopting strategies such as market expansion and strategic alliances to maintain their market share. Some of these companies are also adopting strategies such as backward integration to support their core business of medical tourism. Companies are offering services such as insurance and financing for medical tourism and are looking to expand their global footprint by enhancing their foreign customer base.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Automotive Brake System Market To Make Great Impact In Near Future by 2025

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The developing industry of automotive has largely emphasised on the development of the vehicles that are fast and safe. Brakes have become an important and crucial part of any vehicle so as to ensure the safety which becomes very essential when the demand of speed is increasing steadily. Being commonly used in different automobiles an automotive brake system comprises a brake device having different components (such as brake pads, brake shoes, brake drum, rotor, piston, calliper, master cylinder, and brake booster) which are used for decelerating a vehicle.The growth in automotiveindustry is anticipated to fuel the growth of global automotive brake system market along with the increasing concerns over safety and resulting government pressures that have upturned the OEMs towards the launching of higher technology content, thereby driving the demand for global automotive brake systems across the globe.Automotive Brake System Market: Drivers & RestraintsEver-increasing demand and succeeding vehicle production is considered as one of the biggest driver for the increasing demand of the automotive brakes and global automotive brake system market penetration. Also the increasing governmental mandates for improving the vehicle safety has strongly contributed to the demand of the global automotive brake system market. The major restraint in the global automotive brake system market implies to be the higher cost of the newer technology of Electronic Brake Systems (EBS) when compared to the commonly used Hydraulic Brakes.Request for sample report:Automotive Brake System Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global automotive brake system market is segmented as Disc Brakes and Drum Brakes.On the basis of applications the global automotive brake system market is segmented as Two Wheeler Motor Vehicles, Passenger Car Vehicles, and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV).On the basis of technology the global automotive brake system market is segmented as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that comes under the electronic braking systems (EBS).Automotive Brake System Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global automotive brake system market is expected to register a favourable growth for the forecast period, 2015?2025. Asia-Pacific is projected to endure its control on the global automotive brake system market. The key countries in the mentioned region are projected to be India, South Korea, and China as an outcome of the increasing demand for commercial vehicles and passenger cars. Japan also contributes to the global automotive brake system market remarkably. China is expected to be the largest opportunity in terms of revenue of the industry. Europe is expected to be the second largest market in global automotive brake system market followed by North America.Request for TOC:Automotive Brake System: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in global automotive brake system market are TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., Aisin-Seiki Co. Ltd., Continental AG, Akebono Brake Industry Co. Ltd., Brembo S.P.A., Halla Mando Corp., and others.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Greek Yogurt Market Growth and Forecast 2016-2026

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Currently, greek yogurt is one of the most popular dairy products across the globe. Since greek yogurt is prepared through the straining process in order to separate the yogurt from the excess watery whey, it is also known as strained yogurt. The straining process makes the yogurt much thicker and creamier as compared to the regular or traditional yogurt. Greek yogurt contributes significantly to the growth of the global yogurt market. This is mainly attributed to its benefits such as higher protein and lower carbohydrates value as compare to traditional yogurt. Presently, greek yogurt is the highest growing product category among others including regular yogurt and yogurt drinks and second holds largest market share in terms of revenue, after traditional yogurt in the overall yogurt market. Demand for greek yogurt market is expected to increase in the next five to six forecast years owing to increasing lunch of new product with variety of flavours such as blueberry, vanilla, honey, chocolate and others.Global Greek Yogurt Market Segmentation:On the basis of product type, the global greek yogurt market is segmented into regular greek yogurt and non-fat greek yogurt, which is made from skim milk. Owing to increase the consumption of fat free and healthy products, non-fat greek yogurt products are gaining increasing popularity among the consumers.On the basis of distribution channel, the global greek yogurt market is segmented into supermarket/ hypermarket, grocery stores, convenience stores, and online retailing. In terms of revenue contribution, supermarket / hypermarket is expected to hold the highest share among all the other segments. However, online retail for global greek yogurt market witnesses steady growth in the forecasted years. This is attributed to increasing visibility of greek yogurt especially through online retailing.Request Free Report Sample@Geographically, global greek yogurt market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, and Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America and Western Europe are the two most lucrative market for greek yogurt in the world. In North America around half of the yogurt sold is greek yogurt.Global Greek Yogurt Market Dynamics:Increase in health consciousness among consumer has led to shift in eating preference towards healthy and nutrition food products. Availability of high nutritional value, which includes high protein, probiotics, vitamin such as vitamin D, B12, minerals such as potassium, iodine and calcium in greek yogurt is key factor that has led to increased adoption of greek yogurt among consumers and thus, fuelling the global greek yogurt market growth.Increasing application of greek yogurt is another growth driver for greek yogurt market since it is used for various medium in different countries. For instance, in Mediterranean region greek yogurt is mainly used as savoury but in the US, Mexico and Canada it is used as sweet snack with added fruits and flavours. Greek yogurt is also used in making many sauces for instance beef and lamb sauces. Greek yogurt is also used as a substitute products, for instance it is used as a substitute product for sour cream, cream cheese and butter. Thus, increasing its application among food products.Among dairy products, greek yogurt is a good option for the consumers who have slight lactose intolerance, since in the production process much of the lactose is removed from the greek yogurt. This leads to drive the scope of greek yogurt among such consumers globally. However, high lactose intolerance is restrain for adoption of greek yogurt, thus restricting the market growth. There is a high opportunity to expand and increase the revenue for greek yogurt in the Asia Pacific excluding japan and Middle East countries.Request For TOC@Global Greek Yogurt Market Key Players:Some of the key players operating in the global greek yogurt market are Chobani LLC, Stonyfield Farm, Inc, FAGE International S.A., GROUPE DANONE, and General Mills, Inc. Owing to have strong distribution and marketing strategies companies are able to meet the increasing demand for global greek yogurt.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Tissue and Hygiene Products Market Forecast and Segments, 2015-2025

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The personal care products market comprises hair care, skin care, toiletries, fragrances convenience products and others. Among all these segments toiletries and skin care comprises the major segments for the market, constituting with high market value with favorable perspective in the near future. Tissue and hygiene is the sub-segment of toiletries segment. Tissue and hygiene products help consumers to maintain healthy and hygienic lifestyle in day to day schedule. Tissue and hygiene products are further categorized as disposable razor or blades, sanitary pads, nappies, cleansers, sprays, cotton wool and others.Tissue and hygiene Market SegmentationTissue and hygiene market can be segmented on the basis of distribution channel which includes health and beauty stores, chemist/pharmacies/drugstores, supermarkets, convenient stores, e-retailing and others. Among all these distribution channel segments, sell out of tissue and hygiene products through supermarkets account for the highest market share in 2014 followed by convenience stores. Growing retail industry is fuelling the demand for sell out of tissue and hygiene products through supermarkets across the globe. Moreover, chemist/pharmacies/drugstores segment is also expected to show a potential growth in terms of sales of tissue and hygiene products during the forecast period. In addition, sell out through internet is expected to show a sustainable growth in the forecasted period. The growth of online purchasing is supported by the increasing penetration of internet and rising concern for convenience among the consumers across the globe.Request for sample report:The tissue and hygiene market can also be segmented on the basis of product type. The segmentation includes cotton wool/buds/, incontinence products, nappies/diapers, sanitary protection, wipes and others. Among all these segments sanitary protection and nappies/diapers are collectively expected to account for the highest growth in terms of revenue followed by wipes. Increasing concern of women for healthy and hygienic lifestyle is expected to support the growth of sanitary protection product market across the globe. Moreover, wipes are also expected to show a tremendous growth in the forecast period due to continuous and aggressive promotion of the product.On the basis of geography, North America contributes to the largest in terms of revenue in tissue and hygiene market followed by Europe. In North America United States is the major contributor in tissue and hygiene market followed by Canada. In Europe, countries such as Germany and France accounts for the largest market share followed by United Kingdom. Whereas, Asia pacific is concerned it is expected to register a double digit CAGR growth by 2020. In Asia pacific region China is expected to be the most dominant market for tissue and hygiene followed by Japan. Rising awareness through various corporate advertisements and government educational campaigns coupled with increasing concern of women to be hygienic in their day to day life has fueled the growth of tissue and hygiene market in China. Moreover, women in China prefer for premium feminine hygiene product categories, which is expected to bolster the growth of feminine hygiene products in terms of revenue. In addition, India is also expected to witness a robust growth in tissue and hygiene market. Increasing number of working women in urban areas, rising awareness among the consumer for healthy and hygienic lifestyle has supported the growth of tissue and hygiene market in India. Furthermore, government educating and awareness campaigns in rural areas and in schools is expected to support the growth of tissue and hygiene market particularly in India.Request for TOC:Tissue and hygiene Market DriversRising disposable income coupled with increasing consumer expenditure for health care products is driving the growth of tissue and hygiene market across the globe. In addition, consumer awareness through aggressive corporate advertisement and various government campaign programs in rural and urban areas especially in school and colleges is also fueling the tissue and hygiene market growth of tissue and hygiene market in the forecast period. In addition continuous launching of new product variant is expected to fuel the growth of tissue and hygiene market in the near future.Tissue and hygiene Market: Key PlayersThe major international players operating in tissue and hygiene market includes Sterling Hygiene Tissue Procter & Gamble, Gulf Manufacturing EST, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Limited, Unilever and Hengan International Group Company Limited. among others.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Electric Wheelchair Market Regulations and Competitive Landscape Outlook to 2025

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Electric wheelchairs are also called as power chairs or electric ?power wheelchairs. They do not require any human assistance for mobility as they are powered by battery. Most obvious advantage of electric wheelchair is that they are user friendly and convenient. These electric wheelchairs are useful for those unable to use manual wheelchair or who may want to use wheelchair for travelling longer distance and in such case using manual wheelchair is very difficult. Apart from people with traditional mobility disability, they may also be used by people with cardiovascular diseases or who met with any accidental conditions.Electric Wheelchair Market: Drivers and RestraintsFactors which are driving the growth of global electric wheelchair market are growing worldwide elderly population, necessity of automated wheelchair for disabled people and high disposable income of people from developed countries such as UK, France, Germany, US, Canada and Japan. Furthermore increasing demand of advanced wheelchairs from sport industry is also influencing the growth of electric wheelchair market, as many sport events are organised specially for disabled persons.Apart from several advantages, global electric wheelchair market is also facing some challenges such as high cost of electric wheel chair and lack of awareness and infrastructure. However this issues are expected to reduce during forecast periodRequest for sample report:Electric Wheelchair Market: SegmentationThe Global Electric wheelchair market is segmented on the basis of product type and region. By product type, the electric wheelchair market can be segmented as centre wheel drive electric wheelchair, front wheel drive electric wheelchair, standing electric wheelchair, rear wheel drive electric wheelchair and others. Among all this product types, centre wheel drive electric wheelchair held largest revenue share and represents more than 50% of total market in 2014. Front wheel drive electric wheelchair is expected to be second largest growing type after centre wheel drive electric wheelchair and estimated to conquer significant growth in near future.By region, the market is segmented into seven major region such as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), Japan as a separate region and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Current global electric wheelchair market is dominated by North America region however in recent future developing economies such as China, India and Brazil are expected to drive the demand for electric wheelchairs.Electric Wheelchair Market: Region ?wise outlookThe global electric wheelchair market is estimated to witness robust growth through 2025 due to growing technological advancement in electric wheelchair industry, new products are equipped with gadgets for accessibility and control. North America region led the market in 2014 in terms of highest demand. In US, government provides medical insurance to people over age of 65, which also helps them to get medical facilities at subsidized rates. High purchasing power, increasing elderly population and consumer awareness and inclination towards more sophisticated technology driven the progress of electric wheelchair market in this region. In coming years, developing countries such as India, China and Brazil expected to boost the demand of electric wheelchairs. It is mainly because of gradual increase in consumer awareness and development of medical facilities in this region.Request for TOC:Electric Wheelchair Market: Key PlayersThe key international players operating in electric wheelchair market includes OttoBock Healthcare GmbH, Invacare Corp., Pride Mobility Products Corp., Permobil AB, Sunrise Medical Limited, Hoveround Corporation, LEVO AG, Invacare Corp., MEYRA GmbH, Medical Depot, Inc., GF HEALTH PRODUCTS, INC and Others. All these key players are focusing on delivering best value products to their customers. Customised offering and product innovation is a common strategy adopted by most of the key players. These electric wheelchair manufactures offers large variety and different sizes of wheelchairs to meet demand of individuals depending upon their weight and height.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Image Guided Surgery Devices Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2020

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The global image guided surgery devices market is growing significantly due to orthopedic conditions demanding surgeries and increasing incidence of trauma injuries, along with growing occurrence of neural diseases. The emerging economies are creating opportunities for the image guided surgery devices market to grow at a considerable rate in the coming years. Surgical procedure can be conducted seamlessly with the help of images taken during the surgery. It also reduces the procedure time and chances of errors. Increased innovative products launches and increase in number of partnerships and collaborations of players are some of the trends in the global image guided surgery devices market.Explore more or request TOC on Global Image Guided Surgery Devices Market at:The global image guided surgery devices market is categorized on the basis of type of devices and its applications. On the basis of the type of devices, market is categorized as X-Ray Fluoroscopy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography Scanners, Endoscopes, Positron Emission Tomography, and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography.On the basis of application, the global image guided surgery devices market is categorized as Oncology, Neurosurgery, ENT, and Orthopedic, where the neurosurgery application leads the market. Some of the factors responsible for the growing share of neurosurgery application segment in the global image guided surgery devices market are increased accuracy in operating procedures and minimum risk of hazards to nonsurgical sites in the brain. The orthopedic surgery application is expected to at the highest CAGR in the coming years, due to increasing geriatric population and up surging incidence of road accidents. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, approximately 25 million to 45 million people are injured or become disabled, due to road accidents every year. The need for orthopedic surgeries with image guided technology is expected to increase in the coming years, due to high number of road accidents.Some of the factors driving the growth of the global image guided surgery market are increased healthcare expenditure, up surging demand for better healthcare facilities, growing government initiatives and advances in image guided surgery devices, leading to its increased popularity. The image guided surgery is the combination of imaging dataset with real time operative field for assisting and tracing to reach the exact location of the surgical site. Due to increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries, the adoption of image guided surgeries is increasing. Some of the factors driving the demand of minimally invasive surgeries are reduction in surgical scars, minimum surgery time, and rapidly healing surgical wounds.Browse related market research at:Some of the competitors in the image guided surgery devices market are Toshiba Corporation, Siemens Healthcare, Zimmer Holdings Inc., KARL STORZ GmbH & CO. KG., Brainlab AG, General Electric Company, Koninklijke Philips N.V., St. Jude Medical Inc., Varian Medical Systems Inc., and Brainlab AG.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:AbhishekExecutive  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)
European Beer Industry Will Expand At A CAGR Of 2.90% From 2015 To 2021 | Researchmoz

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Beer Market - Europe Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Beer is one of the most preferred alcoholic beverages in Europe. There are large numbers of local players in Europe with no international presence. The advent of beer started in Western Europe and later on spread to Eastern Europe. Ukraine and Russia are some of the major countries boosting the demand for beer in Eastern Europe. However, due to high market penetration Western and Northern Europe is expected to have stable growth throughout the forecast period. The consumption rate of beer in Europe is the higher compared to other alcoholic beverages such as Wine and Spirits (Whiskey, Vodka, Rum and various others). Germany held the largest market share in Europe beer market followed by the U.K.Health benefits associated with consumption of beer is one of the major factors boosting the demand for beer in Europe. Beer, being an alcoholic beverage offers several health benefits when consumed within stipulated limits. It is the third most popular drink after water and tea in Europe. Consumption of beer keeps the kidneys healthy as each bottle of beer consumed reduces the risk of developing kidney stones by about 40%. The presence of soluble fiber in beer results in digestion which reduces the occurrence of intestinal transit. Beer contains elevated levels of silicon facilitating development of stronger bones and increased bone density. Rising disposable income post economic slowdown among the consumers especially among the youth is also expected to drive the beer market in Europe. The strengthened economic condition of Europe has led to the significant rise in the disposable income of the consumers.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @However, the availability of substitutes is restraining the growth of beer market in Europe. There are both internal and external substitutes for beer. Internal substitutes of beer include other alcoholic beverages such as spirits (Whiskey, Vodka, Rum and various others) and Wine. Consumers who do not prefer beer can always shift to these alternatives. External substitutes of beer include other non-alcoholic beverages such as carbonated drinks, dairy drinks, RTD tea and coffee and energy drinks among others.However, Eastern Europe offers huge untapped potential opportunity for beer manufacturers to capitalize upon. The growing markets of Russia, Ukraine and various other countries offer several expansion opportunities for the beer manufacturers. Germany is the market leader in the beer industry followed by U.K. However, with France is the fastest growing market for beer in Europe. Health benefits associated with beer is one of the major factors boosting the demand for beer in France.Anheuser-Busch InBev, SAB Miller PLC, Heineken N.V., Carlsberg Group and Diageo are some of the key players operating in the beer industry in Europe.The report has been segmented by product type and geography and it includes drivers, restraints and opportunities (DROs), Porters Five Forces analysis, Value Chain analysis of the beer market. The study highlights current market trends and provides forecasts from 2015 to 2021. Average selling prices (ASP) across all beer types are covered within the scope of research. We have featured the current market scenario for the Europe beer market and identified future trends that will impact demand for beer during the forecast period.By product, the market has been segmented into Ale beer, Lager beer and Stout beer. By country, the market has been segmented into the EU5 (Germany, U.K., Italy, Spain and France) and rest of Europe. The report provides the current market size and anticipates its status over the forecast period. In addition, the report also provides the market size in terms of volume consumption in billion liters.The report also analyzes factors driving and inhibiting growth in the beer market. Porters Five Forces analysis offers insights into the market competition across its value chain. The report will help manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate strategies accordingly.The report segments the Europe beer market as:Europe Beer Market by Product type:- Ale beer- Lager beer- Stout beerEurope Beer Market by Country:- Germany- U.K.- Italy- Spain- France- Rest of EuropeMake 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 @
Latest Research Report on MEA Defibrillators Industry To Reach US$547.8 mn by 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Defibrillators Market (Advanced Life Support Defibrillators and Automated External Defibrillators) - Middle East and Africa Industry Analysis, Size, Volume, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, fibrillation, public access defibrillation, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, emergency medical services, monitor/defibrillator, Lifepak, HeartStart, ZollThis report analyzes the Middle East and Africa defibrillators market for the period from 2012 to 2020. The report provides an in-depth, comprehensive analysis of the Middle East and Africa market from three perspectives: type of products, different end-users, and major geographies. Increasing public awareness, advancing technology and growing cardiovascular incidences are boosting the market growth for these devices in the region.The defibrillator product market in the Middle East and Africa has been segmented into two major categories, namely, advanced life support (ALS) defibrillators, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The market has also been analyzed on the basis of end-users, namely, hospitals, public access, emergency, medical services, and business workplace. The above mentioned segments are analyzed on the basis of market size in terms of USD million and their forecasts for the period 2014 to 2020. The report also provides the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR %) for each market segment for the forecast period from 2014 to 2020, considering 2013 as the base year.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The study is a robust 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-mails. Secondary research involved study of company websites, annual reports, press releases, stock analysis presentations, and various international and national databases. The report provides market size in terms of USD million for each segment for the period from 2012 to 2020, considering the macro and micro environmental factors. Growth rates for each segment within the Middle East and Africa defibrillators market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, and regulatory requirements.Geographically, the Middle East and Africa defibrillators market has been segmented into two major regions, namely, the Middle East, and Africa. The Middle East defibrillators market includes analysis for major countries such as Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Jordan, Qatar, and Rest of the Middle East, whereas the Africa defibrillators market has been analyzed for South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, and Rest of Africa. Market sizes, forecasts and % CAGR for each country have been provided. A qualitative analysis of the market dynamics of the Middle East and Africa defibrillators market, which are responsible for driving or restraining the growth of this market, along with market opportunities has been described in the market overview section of this report.The competitive landscape section of the report includes market share analysis in terms of revenue by significant players operating in the Middle East and Africa defibrillators market for 2013. The study further provides Porters five force analysis, market attractiveness analysis, and recommendations which would be useful for existing and new players to sustain and increase market share in the Middle East and Africa market. This report concludes with the company profiles section in which major players in the defibrillators market have been profiled based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies and recent/key developments in the market.Major companies in the Middle East and Africa defibrillators market include Philips Healthcare, Physio-Control, Inc., Zoll Medical Corporation, HeartSine Technologies, Inc., Nihon Kohden Corporation, Schiller AG, and Welch Allyn, Inc.The Middle East and Africa defibrillators market is segmented into the following categories:Middle East And Africa Defibrillators Market, By Product- Advanced Life Support (ALS) Defibrillator- Automated External Defibrillator (AED)Middle East And Africa Defibrillators Market, By End-User- Hospital- Public Access Defibrillation- Emergency Medical Services- Business WorkplaceMiddle East and Africa Defibrillators Market, By Geography- Middle East- Saudi Arabia- United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.)- Jordan- Qatar- Rest of Middle East- Africa- Algeria- Egypt- South Africa- Rest of AfricaMake 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 @
At a CAGR of 19.3% Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Industry Will Expand in Southeast Asia 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) (On-demand RPO and End-to-end RPO) Market - Southeast Asia Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is a type of business process outsourcing (BPO) which includes the outsourcing of different recruitment functions of an organization to third-party vendor. The RPO solutions primarily include screening of the candidates, interview scheduling, job posting, offer execution and other important activities in the recruitment process. The major difference between the RPO providers and staffing companies is the proficient recruitment process management and responsibility of its results by the RPO providers. Outsourcing recruitment processes to a RPO provider enables the client organization to focus on their core competencies. In addition, outsourcing these processes is highly beneficial for reducing the operating costs of the organization related to the recruitment functions. This is the most significant factor fuelling the adoption of RPO solutions among different end-use industries.The market for recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is segmented, based on the type of engagement, into on-demand and end-to-end RPO service. On-demand RPO refers to the RPO service in which some of the recruitment services are outsourced to the RPO provider. On the contrary, end-to-end RPO refers to outsourcing of all the recruitment processes to the RPO providing company. On-demand RPO enables the client organization to have better control over the recruitment processes as only a part of recruitment process is outsourced to the providing company. Moreover, the cost of on-demand RPO is lower as compared to the end-to-end RPO solution. Due to these advantages and higher flexibility and scalability, the penetration of on-demand RPO services is currently high as compared to the end-to-end RPO solutions.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @This report studies the current scenario as well as the future market potential for recruitment process outsourcing in Southeast Asia. The market for recruitment process outsourcing has been segmented into six major end-use industries, namely, banks, financial services and insurance (BFSI); information technology (IT), IT enabled services (ITeS), and telecommunication; manufacturing; healthcare and pharmaceuticals; hospitality; and others. The others segment comprises aerospace, marine and construction industries. The market for these recruitment process outsourcing systems has been extensively analyzed on the basis of factors such as types of engagement service and countries in Southeast Asia region. On the basis of engagement type, the market has been segmented into on-demand RPO and end-to-end RPO. The market size and forecasts in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for each of these segments have been provided for the period 2010 to 2020, considering 2012 and 2013 as the base years. The report also provides the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each segment of the market for the forecast period 2014 to 2020.Geographically, the market for RPO in Southeast Asia has been segmented into four regions, namely, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Rest of Southeast Asia (RoSEA). The market size and forecast for each region has been provided for the period 2010 to 2020 along with the CAGR (%) for the forecast period 2014 to 2020. The study also includes qualitative analysis of the competitive scenario in these regions. The overview section of the report comprises qualitative analysis of the overall market highlighting the factors determining the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints and opportunities, along with the key trends analysis.The report also provides a section on the competitive landscape, wherein the market positioning analysis of the leading players in Southeast Asia RPO market in 2013 has been discussed. The report concludes with the profiles of major players in the Southeast Asia RPO market such as Kenexa Corporation (an IBM Corporation Company), Randstad Holding Company, Accolo, Inc., Atterro Human Capital Group, Kelly Outsourcing and Consulting Group, Cielo, Inc. (Pinstripe, Inc.), ManpowerGroup Solutions, Pontoon Solutions, Zyoin Web Pvt. Ltd., Futurestep (a Korn Ferry Company), TalentFusion, Inc., Alexander Mann Solutions and Hudson Global, Inc.Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Market Segmentation:Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Market, by Engagement Type- On-demand RPO- End-to-end RPORecruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Market, by End-use Industry- Banks, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)- IT, ITeS and Telecommunication- Manufacturing- Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals- Hospitality- Others (Aerospace, Marine and Construction Industry)Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Market, by Geographic Region- Thailand- Indonesia- Vietnam- Rest of Southeast Asia (RoSEA)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 @
Pet Food Industry in Asia Pacific is Expected to Reach USD 10,720.0 Million in 2020 | Researchmoz

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Pet Food Market - Asia Pacific Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.This market research study analyzes the Pet Food Market in Asia Pacific and provides estimates in terms of revenue (USD million) from 2014 to 2020 as well as volume in terms of kg million from 2014 to 2020. It recognizes the current market trends affecting the pet food market and analyzes their impact over the forecast period. Moreover, it also analyses the Average Selling Price (ASP) in various product segments across various countries.The pet food market in terms of pet type has been segmented into dog food, cat food and others. The others segment includes bird food, reptile food, fish food and other small animals among others. In terms of food type the pet food market in Asia Pacific has been segmented into dry food, wet food/ canned food, nutritious food, snacks/treats and others. The others segment includes raw meat and other household products. The dog food segment held the largest market share in pet food market in Asia Pacific. Increasing population of dogs as pets and increasing trend of nuclear family are the major factors fueling the demand for dog food in Asia Pacific.However, the others segment including reptile food, bird food and fish food among others is the fastest growing market for pet food in Asia Pacific. The dry food segment held the largest market share in pet food market owing to ease of handling and lower prices compared to other segments. However, the nutritious food segment is the fastest growing segment for pet food in Asia Pacific. Increasing awareness about pet health is one of the major factors fueling the demand for pet food in nutritious food segment.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The Asia Pacific pet food market has been further segmented by country into China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, India and rest of Asia Pacific. Japan is one of the major countries fueling the demand for pet food in Asia Pacific. Increasing trend of nuclear family and small dwelling places are the major factors fueling the demand for pet food in Japan. However, in recent times the demand for small pets has increased considerably. However, the pet food market in Japan is expected to have stable growth in the forecast period. However, India and China are some of the major markets for pet food in Asia Pacific. India with increasing trend for nuclear family and awareness about pet health is fueling the demand for pet food in India.However, China is also having huge potential for pet food. China is having one of the largest pet populations globally. Increasing disposable income is also boosting the demand for pet food in China. Dog food held the largest market share for pet food in China followed by cat food in 2013. By food type, the dry food segment held the largest market share in pet food in China. However, nutritious pet food is the fastest growing segment owing to increasing awareness about pet health in China.The report also analyzes macro economic factors influencing and inhibiting the growth of pet food market in Asia Pacific. In addition, the report also provides Average Selling Price (ASP) across all the product segments in countries analyzed in the course of research. The report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.This report provides strategic analysis of the Asia Pacific pet food market and the growth forecast for the period 2014 to 2020. The span of the report includes competitive analysis of various market segments based on the pet type, food type and in-depth cross sectional analysis of the pet food market across different countries.In the report, the market has been segmented by food type, pet type and by country. The study highlights current market trends and provides the forecast from 2014 to 2020. We have also covered the current market scenario for the pet food market and highlighted future trends that will affect demand. By country, the market has been segmented into China, Japan, Australia, India and rest of Asia Pacific. The present market size and forecast until 2020 have been provided in the report. In addition, the report also provides brand share of the major brands in the countries covered within the scope of research.The report segments the Asia Pacific Pet Food Market as:Asia Pacific Pet Food Market: By Country- China- Japan- Australia- South Korea- India- Rest of Asia PacificThe report provides a cross-sectional analysis of all the below segments with respect to the above mentioned countries.Asia Pacific Pet Food Market: By Pet Type- Dog Food- Cat Food- OthersAsia Pacific Pet Food Market: By Food Type- Dry Food- Wet Food/ Canned Food- Nutritious Food- Snacks/Treats- OthersMake 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 @
United States Mechanical Test Equipment Industry 2016 Market Research Report | Now Available at Researchmoz.us

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "United States Mechanical Test Equipment Industry 2016 Market Research Report" to its huge collection of research reports.The United States Mechanical Test Equipment Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Mechanical Test Equipment industry.The report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Mechanical Test Equipment market analysis is provided for the United States markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and Bill of Materials cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report focuses on United States major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Mechanical Test Equipment industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With 147 tables and figures the report provides key 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 Overview1.1 Definition and Specifications of Mechanical Test Equipment1.1.1 Definition of Mechanical Test Equipment1.1.2 Specifications of Mechanical Test Equipment1.2 Classification of Mechanical Test Equipment1.3 Applications of Mechanical Test Equipment1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Mechanical Test Equipment1.5 Industry Overview of Mechanical Test Equipment1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment1.7 Industry News Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment2.1 Bill of Materials (BOM) of Mechanical Test Equipment2.2 BOM Price Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment2.4 Depreciation Cost Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment2.7 United States Price, Cost and Gross of Mechanical Test Equipment 2011-20163 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of United States Key Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of United States Key Mechanical Test Equipment Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of United States Mechanical Test Equipment Key Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of United States Mechanical Test Equipment Key Manufacturers in 20154 Production Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment by Regions, Type, and Applications4.1 United States Production of Mechanical Test Equipment by Regions 2011-20164.2 United States Production of Mechanical Test Equipment by Type 2011-20164.3 United States Sales of Mechanical Test Equipment by Applications 2011-20164.4 Price Analysis of United States Mechanical Test Equipment Key Manufacturers in 20154.5 United States Capacity, Production, Import, Export, Sales, Price, Cost and Revenue of Mechanical Test Equipment 2011-20165 Consumption Volume and Consumption Value Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment by Regions5.1 United States Consumption Volume of Mechanical Test Equipment by Regions 2011-20165.2 United States Consumption Value of Mechanical Test Equipment by Regions 2011-20165.3 United States Consumption Price Analysis of Mechanical Test Equipment by Regions 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 @
New Resarch Report Reveals Navelbine (Non Small Cell Lung Cancer) Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Navelbine (Non Small Cell Lung Cancer)-Analysis and Forecasts to 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.GlobalDatas pharmaceuticals report, Navelbine (Non Small Cell Lung Cancer)-Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 provides Comtan sales forecasts for US, EU5 and Japan. In addition, it covers detailed clinical assessment of the drug, factors impacting drug sales, competitive landscape, and analysis of sales performance during the forecast period (2002-2020). The report also includes information on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer market. This report is built using data and information sourced from GlobalDatas proprietary databases, primary and secondary research using Companys corporate website, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases, both from company and industry-specific third party sources, put together with in-house analysis, by GlobalData's team of industry experts.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Scope- Therapy area profile including patient population for the US, EU5 and Japan (seven major markets)- Analysis and review of Navelbine including historical sales data- Qualitative and quantitative assessment of market space- Analysis of the trends, drivers and restraints shaping and defining the markets- In-depth analysis of Navelbine including efficacy, safety, pricing, competition and other details which influence its sales potential- Detailed sales forecast for 2011-2020 for Navelbine in each of the seven major marketsReasons to buy- Understand and capitalize by identifying products that are most likely to ensure a robust return- Stay ahead of competition by understanding the changing competitive landscape- Effectively plan your M&A and partnership strategies by identifying drugs with the most promising sales potential- Make more informed business decisions from insightful and in-depth analysis of the drugs performance- Examine the historical sales performance of a drug in seven major markets- Obtain sales forecast for currently marketed/pipeline drug for 2011-2020 for all seven major marketsMake 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 @
Worldwide Needle Free Drug Delivery Devices Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Needle Free Drug Delivery Devices Market (Jet Injectors and Competing Needle-Free Technologies; Vaccine Delivery, Pain Management, Insulin Delivery, Pediatric Injections, and Other) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the needle free drug delivery devices market analyzes the current and future scenario of the global market. Large number of chronic pain and diabetes sufferers is increasing the usage of needle free drug delivery devices. Less pain and consistency in drug delivery are the major drivers of the global needle free drug delivery devices market.The needle free drug delivery devices market report comprises an elaborate executive summary, which includes a market snapshot that provides information about various segments of the market. It also provides information and data analysis of the global market with respect to the segments based on application and geography. A detailed qualitative analysis of drivers and restraints of the market and opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. In addition, the section comprises Porters Five Forces Analysis to understand the competitive landscape in the market. This section of the report also provides market attractiveness analysis, by geography and market share analysis by key players, thus presenting a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global needle free drug delivery devices market.Based on technology, the market has been segmented into jet injectors and competing needle-free technologies. The competing needle-free technologies segment has been further divided into novel needle technology, inhaler technology, and transdermal patch technology. Novel needle technology includes micro-needle and pen needle. The market segments have been analyzed based on available approved products, cost-effectiveness, and preference for technologies by physicians and patients. The market size and forecast for each of these segments have 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.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Based on application, the needle free drug delivery devices market has been segmented into five major categories: vaccine delivery, pain management, insulin delivery, pediatric injections, and others. Other applications of needle free drug delivery devices include angina, hypertension, and other medical conditions. The market segments have been extensively analyzed based on prevalence of the diseases, available treatment, and geographical coverage. The market size and forecast in terms of US$ Mn for each segment have been provided for the period from 2013 to 2023. The 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.Geographically, the global needle free drug delivery devices market has been categorized into five major regions and the key countries in the respective region: North America (the U.S., Canada), Europe (the U.K., Germany, and Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (Japan, China, and Rest of Asia Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America) and Middle East & Africa (South Africa and Rest of Middle East & Africa). The market size and forecast for each of these regions and the mentioned countries have 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.The report also profiles major players in the global needle free drug delivery 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 Zogenix, Inc., 3M Health Care, Antares Pharma, Inc., Glide Pharmaceutical Technologies Ltd., Injex Pharma AG, and Pharmajet, Inc.The global needle free drug delivery devices market has been segmented as follows:Global Needle Free Drug Delivery Devices Market Revenue, by Technology, (US$ Mn), 20132023- Jet Injectors- Competing Needle-free Technologies- Novel Needle Technology- Inhaler Technology- Transdermal Patch TechnologyGlobal Needle Free Drug Delivery Devices Market Revenue, by Application, (US$ Mn), 20132023- Vaccine Delivery- Pain Management- Insulin Delivery- Pediatric Injections- Other ApplicationsGlobal Needle Free Drug Delivery Devices Market Revenue, By Geography, (US$ Mn), 20132023- Overview- North America- U.S.- Canada- Europe- U.K.- Germany- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- Japan- China- Rest of Asia Pacific- Latin America- Brazil- Mexico- Rest of Latin America- Middle East & Africa- South Africa- Rest of Middle East & AfricaMake 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 Inhalation Systems Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013  2019

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Inhalation Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019" to its huge collection of research reports.The era of development is leading to a hazardous increase in environmental pollution, which is giving birth to a number of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD and is resulting in both physical and psychological suffering for the patients. The global market for inhalation systems is growing rapidly because of increasing respiratory problems and is expected to have a high growth rate during the period from 2012 to 2018. The United States and Europe hold the maximum market share because these are industrialized countries with more environmental pollution.Some of the key drivers of this market are industrialization which leads to pollution and chronic respiratory problems, easy-to-use inhalation devices available in market, faster delivery, a bigger area for absorbing, cost effectiveness, and technological advancements. Some of the factors restraining the growth are difficulty in standardizing dosages for patients, and technical issues in designing inhalers. The market can be segmented on the basis of inhalation products into metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and liquid droplet inhalers and nebulizers.Metered dose inhalers (MDI) use pressurized gas to release the dose when they are activated by the patient. MDIs constitute the largest market share among inhalation systems. Dry powder inhalers are used for treating cystic fibrosis, a life threatening lung disease. It constitutes the second largest product segment in the inhalation systems market. North America and Europe currently lead the market for inhalation systems followed by Asia-Pacific and Africa, but the market is expected to expand rapidly in Asia and Africa due to an increase in diabetic patients.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Some of the key companies in this sector are Mankind, Akela Pharma (Canada), Alkermes, AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals, DEY L.P. (USA), Consort Medical PLC (UK), Alpharx Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc (UK) and others.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report include- North America- Asia Pacific- Europe- Rest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis of- Market growth drivers- Factors limiting market growth- Current market trends- Market structure- Market projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this Report- This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics- It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth- It provides a technological growth map over time to understand the industry growth rate- It provides a seven-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow- It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future- It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors- It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments- It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsMake 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 Dental Implant and Prosthetics Market Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021) | Now Available at Researchmoz.us

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Dental Implant and Prosthetics Market (By Type, By Material, By Stage): Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021) (By Implant Type  Endosteal, Subperiosteal, Transosteal; By Material - Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, Carbon compounds; By Stage - Single, Multi-tooth; By Prosthetics Type- Dental Bridges & Crowns, Dentures, Abutments; By Country-USA, Canada, Italy, Spain, Korea, Japan, Brazil)" to its huge collection of research reports.Improved technological advancement leading to growing demand for Dental services coupled with growing awareness among the population due to aesthetic factors and rising edentulous problems has resulted in the growth of dental implants and prosthetic market.In order to preserve the bone along with less healing time and the technological advancements like mini implants has led to an increase in the dental implants and prosthetics. Countries in emerging economies are increasingly becoming the focus point of the manufacturers given the huge demand for dental implants and prosthetics.Improvement in technology combined with increasing inclination of adult population towards the cosmetic industry has been driving the dental implant and prosthetics market. However, lack of awareness combined with higher cost of surgery and limited number of implantologists has hampered the growth of the market.Rising Prevalence of Mini-Dental Implants by the dentists in emerging nations, leading to dental tourism have grown over the years. Moreover, the focus has shifted towards the emerging markets like Asia Pacific and South America driven by dental tourism.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Dental Implants & Prosthetics Market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 5.35% during 2016 2021F, driven by rising adoption of dental implants by dental clinics, increasing inclination of the adult population, growing cosmetic dentistry and technological innovation. Rising disposable incomes has resulted in increasing per capita healthcare expenditure which has further led to growing focus towards healthcare, hence, building the need for dental implants and prosthetics specifically among the adult population.While the market has witnessed strong foothold in the regions of Europe and North America, rapid growth for invisible braces is expected to be driven by the emerging nations in Asia Pacific and Latin America through Korea and Brazil.According to Azoth Analytics research report, Global Dental Implant and Prosthetics Market (By Implant Type, By Prosthetics Type, By Material, By Stage): Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021), global dental implants & prosthetics market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of over ~5.35% during 2016 - 2021. On the basis of market segment, the market has been segmented into two categories namely, dental implants and dental prosthetics with its sub segments. Few of the leading companies operating in Dental Implants & Prosthetics market Dentsply International Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., Straumann Holding AG, Danaher Corp, 3M etc.Scope of the ReportThe report provides coverage by Types, Material and Stages:By Implant Type- Endosteal, Subperiosteal, TransostealBy Material- Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, Carbon compoundsBy Stage- Single Stage, Multi-Tooth StageBy Prosthetics Type- Dental Bridges & Crowns, Dentures, AbutmentsThe report provides coverage by Region- North America- Europe- Asia Pacific- RoWThe report provides coverage by Country- United States- Canada- Spain- Italy- Korea- Japan- BrazilCustomization of the ReportThe report could be customized according to the clients specific research requirements. No additional cost will be required to pay for limited additional research.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 @
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Portland Public Schools has announced its new last day of school is June 13, 2017.

(Bethany Barnes/The Oregonian)

A pair of snow days have pushed into Portland Public Schools' summer vacation, extending the academic year by two days.

The district, which was among the droves that canceled classes because of early-season winter storms, announced its new last day of school is June 13. The district's Board of Directors hasn't yet voted whether two additional snow days will extend the academic year.

The district canceled classes on Dec. 8 and 9, as well as Dec. 15 and 16. Its Board of Directors voted Dec. 13 to add two days to the academic year. It will review the other two days next month.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
By Charles Krauthammer

WASHINGTON -- The fall of Aleppo just weeks before Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obama's abdication. For which he seems to have few regrets, however. In his end-of-year news conference, Obama defended U.S. inaction with his familiar false choice: it was either stand aside or order a massive Iraq-style ground invasion.

This is a transparent fiction designed to stifle debate. Five years ago, the popular uprising was ascendant. What kept a rough equilibrium was regime control of the skies. At that point, the U.S., at little risk and cost, could have declared Syria a no-fly zone, much as it did Iraqi Kurdistan for a dozen years after the Gulf War of 1991.

The U.S. could easily have destroyed the regime's planes and helicopters on the ground and so cratered its airfields as to make them unusable. That would have altered the strategic equation for the rest of the war.

And would have deterred the Russians from injecting their own air force -- they would have had to challenge ours for air superiority. Facing no U.S. deterrent, Russia stepped in and decisively altered the balance, pounding the rebels in Aleppo to oblivion. The Russians were particularly adept at hitting hospitals and other civilian targets, leaving the rebels with the choice between annihilation and surrender.

They surrendered.

Obama has never appreciated that the role of a superpower in a local conflict is not necessarily to intervene on the ground, but to deter a rival global power from stepping in and altering the course of the war. That's what we did during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Moscow threatened to send troops to support Egypt and President Nixon countered by raising America's nuclear alert status to Defcon 3. Russia stood down.

Less dramatically but just as effectively, American threats of retaliation are what kept West Germany, South Korea and Taiwan free and independent through half a century of Cold War.

It's called deterrence. Yet Obama never had the credibility to deter anything or anyone. In the end, the world's greatest power was reduced to bitter speeches at the U.N. "Are you truly incapable of shame?" thundered U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power at the butchers of Aleppo. As if we don't know the answer. Indeed the shame is on us for terminal naivete, sending our secretary of state chasing the Russians to negotiate one humiliating pretend cease-fire after another.

Even now, however, the Syria debate is not encouraging. The tone is anguished and emotional, portrayed exclusively in moral terms. Much less appreciated is the cold strategic cost.

Assad was never a friend. But today he's not even a free agent. He's been effectively restored to his throne, but as the puppet of Iran and Russia. Syria is now a platform, a forward base, from which both these revisionist regimes can project power in the region.

Iran will use Syria to advance its drive to dominate the Arab Middle East. Russia will use its naval and air bases to bully the Sunni Arab states, and to shut out American influence.

It's already happening. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey convened in Moscow this week to begin settling the fate of Syria. Notice who wasn't there. For the first time in four decades, the United States, the once dominant power in the region, is an irrelevance.

With Aleppo gone and the rebels scattered, we have a long road ahead to rebuild the influence squandered over the last eight years. President-elect Donald Trump is talking about creating safe zones. He should tread carefully. It does no good to try to do now what we should have done five years ago. Conditions are much worse. Russia and Iran rule. Maintaining the safety of safe zones will be expensive and dangerous. It will require extensive ground deployments and it risks military confrontation with Russia.

And why? Guilty conscience is not a good reason. Interventions that are purely humanitarian -- from Somalia to Libya -- tend to end badly. We may proclaim a "responsibility to protect," but when no American interests are at stake, the engagement becomes impossible to sustain. At the first losses, we go home.

In Aleppo, the damage is done, the city destroyed, the inhabitants ethnically cleansed. For us, there is no post-facto option. If we are to regain the honor lost in Aleppo, it will have to be on a very different battlefield.

Charles Krauthammer's email address is letterscharleskrauthammer.com.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post Writers Group
Donald Trump

While many Americans are voicing concerns about what changes President-elect Donald Trump may bring, some are questioning what could happen if his subordinates refuse to follow through on one of his orders.

(Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)

Carrie Leonetti

There has been a great deal of hand-wringing lately, particularly in progressive circles, about how a Trump presidency could destroy American democracy: the end of free speech and a free press, the influence of money in politics rising to the level of a true oligarchy, Supreme Court appointments that end cherished civil rights, like abortion rights, voting rights, and equal protection. These changes could be coming, and they could be every bit as destructive to the core values of our democracy as many people fear.

But a Trump presidency poses a far more direct, permanent, and existential threat to our democracy that has had almost no notice in the media: the threat that a Trump presidency would trigger a coup. Not an armed rebellion, but a bloodless coup brought about by a reckless and indefensible presidential order, and a refusal of Trump's subordinates to carry it out.

Imagine for a moment that Trump ordered a nuclear first strike of China because the Chinese Premier insulted him on Twitter. Or imagine that Trump ordered the armed take over of Saturday Night Live to stop Alec Baldwin's unflattering caricatures of him. Now imagine that the Joint Chiefs or the FBI SWAT team or the missile-silo commanders simply refused to carry out the order. For most of us, that refusal would be a good, responsible, reassuring response. It would also be a coup. Under our constitutional structure, the President is the chief officer of the executive branch of government and the commander in chief of the military.

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Submit your essay of 500 words or less to commentary@oregonlive.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.

This is the scenario that I have been playing in my head since the election, and it is not nearly as far-fetched as it sounds. All it takes is a reckless, dangerous, abuse of power by Donald Trump (and that sentence pretty much writes itself). That would leave the fate of our democracy in the hands of the people to whom he gives orders. If they comply: World War III, autocracy, the end of life as we know it. If they refuse, we are Turkey, Burma, Pakistan - a titular democracy whose continued existence ultimately depends on the whims of its generals.

Whatever one may think is broken with our democracy - campaign finance, government surveillance, executive power - we are still fundamentally a democracy. A country in which military leaders and bureaucrats have to decide whether to follow a president's orders (and can and must decide not to, if human survival depends on doing so) is not.

Carrie Leonetti is a professor of criminal and constitutional law at the University of Oregon School of Law.
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Perfume: A Century of Scents, by Lizzie Ostrom, examines influences of perfumes. [Photo/Agencies]

Fragrance has always been wrapped in social and economic issues, controversy, memories and history as Lizzie Ostrom so persuasively shows in the lively Perfume: A Century of Scents.

The 10 chapterseach devoted to a single decadeexamine 10 different perfumes that influenced that decade.

A sharply focused introduction to each chapter further puts the decadeand its fragrance fashionin perspective.

While Perfume is by no means an encyclopedia about scents, it is a solid pop culture guide that incorporates fragrance fashion into the shifting tides of society.

Many of the perfumes mentioned through the decades have disappeareda mere whiff of a memoryno matter how popular at the time. This is true not just of those from the 1920s but also those manufactured in the 1990s. Others such as Chanel No. 5 have been classics from the first day and remain favorites of all generations.

Advertising fragrances is not a new idea.

In 1908, the British firm Gosnell's launched a hot air balloon shaped like the bottle of its Cherry Blossom to fling out flyers over crowdsan idea that seems modest next to perfume fountains that threw fragrance into the air during the Victorian era in England. What has changed is the rise of the internet and certain sites that curate myriad scents in one-stop shopping, making exotic perfumes even more accessible.

Celebrities' influence on fragrance also goes back decades. Compare the Gibson Girls of the 1900s mentioning the "utterly obscure" Poinsettia with the avalanche of current pop stars such as Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber hawking their scents.

Technology and chemistry gave companies new ways to produce scents, taking it away from the rich and elite of society and making it available to the masses.

Ostrom shows that each decade had certain scents that define it.

During the global depression of the 1930s, Joy by Jean Patou, "the most expensive scent ever released", was introduced and is still available today.

World War II brought a new challenge as many perfumeries urged their customers to "treasure your last pinch" of fragrance as advertisers urged against buying until after the war.

As a result, France ceased being the epicenter of fragrance production as more began to be manufactured in America.

The return of fragrance during the 1940s was seen as a symbol of hope. That's a far cry from the "big, bad, loud-and-proud perfumes of the 1980s" when many restaurants put up signs banning Giorgio Beverly Hills, along with smoking.
NORMAL  The enormous Christmas tree at the Shoppes at College Hills has a new neighbor.

Just a couple of hundred feet away, in front of Yankee Candle, now sits a 9-foot-tall menorah with a sign reading "Chabad at ISU & Bloomington-Normal Wishes you a Happy Chanukah."

"Typically a menorah is lit by the window or by the door, which symbolizes that it lights up the darkness outside. In that spirit, Chabad-Lubavitch is putting up hundreds of public menorahs all around the world," said Rabbi Chaim Telsner, co-director of the Chabad House at 900 Karin Drive in Normal, who helped assemble the menorah on Thursday. "We want to bring light to Bloomington-Normal."

One additional light on the menorah will light up each night of the Jewish Festival of Lights, which runs from Saturday to Jan. 1. It also will be the site of a community celebration 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"We're going to light the menorah, and we're going to have classic Hanukkah foods with doughnuts and latkes and (chocolate) gelt," said Telsner. "Anybody who wants to join is more than welcome."

Telsner thinks it's the first public menorah in the Twin Cities. It's certainly the first local one from Chabad-Lubavitch, an organization that operates meeting places for Jewish people and those interested in the faith.

Introducing people to this part of the culture is a cool idea, said Michael Gillett, an ISU senior who visits the local Chabad. Its a nice turn from just having Christmas decorations all winter.

Normal's Chabad House opened this fall, primarily to serve Jewish students at Illinois State University.

"It's not a large Jewish student body, but there is a nice-sized Jewish student body, and we serve them," Telsner said of ISU. "(The Chabad) is a place they can feel at home, practice their religion and be proud Jews."

Gillett, an Oak Park native, said he helped bring a Chabad to the Twin Cities after attending one at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Bradley University in Peoria and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign also have Chabads that are setting up public menorahs.

We had a Hillel (another campus Jewish center), but it was really small and kind of just a bummer there wasnt a big Jewish community, said Gillett. Its really nice to be able to get that point of view of Jewish history in a safe space where its not somebody trying to indoctrinate you or a lecture hall.

Gillett said the conservative Jewish community is small in the Bloomington-Normal area, but theyre managing to pull a lot of people to their events," including barbecues and dinners.

Theyve already had two or three Shabbat dinners, which is great because everybodys welcome to it, he said. Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, is sometimes celebrated with a festive meal.

Those interested in the Chabad can find out more by visiting isuchabad.org or calling 309-431-2477. Menorah kits are available from the Chabad as well.

Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe of Moses Montefiore Temple in Bloomington said she hasn't interacted much with the Chabad, including on the menorah at the Shoppes, but she's glad the display is up.
BLOOMINGTON  When a county health department does its job well, many residents don't know it.

That's because health departments are focused on preventing the spread of disease.

But which diseases? That's something that health departments are continuing to figure out and is something that the McLean County Health Department has been working on for 70 years.

The county health department recently marked its 70th anniversary, but opted for a low-key event with its 90 employees (77 full time and 13 part time) rather than a public celebration.

"Our staff works so hard and often is not recognized for what they do," said health department director Walt Howe.

That staff often works behind the scenes, with services including immunizations, emergency preparedness, infectious disease surveillance and response, dental clinics, testing and counseling for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, restaurant inspections and Women, Infants and Children's nutrition education program.

In recent years, mental health coordination, smoking cessation, obesity prevention and Affordable Care Act counseling programs grew, even as health department staff responded to several infectious disease outbreaks, most notably H1N1 influenza in 2009 and mumps in fall 2015.

Interest in mental health and obesity show no sign of abating, and possible weakening or repeal of the ACA can only complicate things for health departments, Howe said.

Meanwhile, health departments must continue to perform core responsibilities, such as restaurant inspections, Howe said.

Conversations are happening nationally about whether there are roles for health departments on the issues of lead in water supplies, the opioid epidemic and gun violence, Howe said. All three problems reduce life expectancy and health departments are interested in quality and quantity of life.

A recent study showing that American life expectancy had declined for the first time is a concern for everyone in public health, Howe said.

All county residents are impacted by health department services, Howe said.

But is the health department evolving with the times and meeting the public health needs of the county?

"For everything we have staff and resources for, we are," Howe said. "I want the community to feel comfortable that their health is being protected by the health department, even if they don't see it."

Representatives of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and McLean County Government agreed, even as they challenged the health department to remain flexible as societal needs evolve.

"Since the middle 1940s, health departments throughout the state have gradually identified the health needs of our communities and performed much-needed, valuable services," said McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre. "McLean County says 'Thank You' to the health department staff for their hard work and dedication."

"The health department is meeting the public health needs of the community," said Sally Gambacorta, Advocate BroMenn community health manager. "We take for granted that they will take care of those services but, if they went away, people would be shocked at what they were missing."

She has worked with health department staff in several areas, including the county's first Community Health Needs Assessment.

"The health department was flexible so they could cooperate with both hospitals and United Way (of McLean County) on the Community Health Needs Assessment," Gambacorta said. "That makes it a stronger plan."

That assessment, in August, identified access to health care, mental health and alcohol and drug issues and obesity as the top health needs in McLean County.

In early 2017, plans will be developed to address those needs.

One plan may involve the health department working more with city and county planners on changes in the "built environment," said Gambacorta and Cathy Coverston Anderson, health department assistant director. For example, repaired and new sidewalks encourage people to get out and walk, play and visit their neighbors  all of which are good for their health, Coverston Anderson said.

"We all need to work together," Gambacorta said. "No one organization can do it alone."

"Potable water sources, clean restaurants, immunization against and elimination of infectious diseases and education for the community... are just a few of the accomplishments of the MCHD (health department)," said Dr. Paul Pedersen, St. Joseph vice president of medical affairs.

But now, instead of polio, there is HIV and "emerging evidence of how much good dental care means to a community in reducing illness burden," Pedersen said. Meanwhile, "the specter of mental health issues is a haunting reminder of how far we yet have to go to manage a population."

"We, as health care providers, are not yet meeting the needs of our community as well as we must in the future," Pedersen said. "The MCHD needs to be one of the very active, engaged participants in the discussion about how to achieve that aim. They have been at the table and can bring resources that neither health care system has at its fingertips. To achieve this aim may require community investment, something the MCHD has never been afraid of addressing in its 70-year existence."

Obesity, alcohol and substance abuse, and how to treat undocumented people in the community are health issues that the health department must continue to address in partnership with other health agencies, Pedersen said.

"The MCHD has come a long way but now needs to do what all the rest of health care is doing and that is re-inventing itself with the patient and the community as the center of what needs to be tackled," Pedersen said, adding he believed that the department would fulfill that role.

Funding remains a concern. The health department  with an operating budget of $8,445,689 for the fiscal year that ends Dec. 31  gets half of its money from local property taxes and the rest from the state and revenue from fees, permits, licenses and other charges for services, Howe said.

Reduced and delayed state payments have meant a reduction in health programs in schools, stricter requirements for Family Case Management services and the elimination of one staff position. But the person in that role was moved to another position, Howe said.

"A large number of health departments have had to lay off staff, reduce hours of operation or cut services," Howe said. "We are fortunate that we haven't had to do any of those."

The health department  which began accepting private insurance in 2014  is considering expanding beyond offering flu shots at businesses and schools to other programs, such as smoking cessation, nutrition information and dental health, Howe said.
CHICAGO  A federal court judge has rejected a petition by Jamie Snow to reopen his conviction in the 1991 murder of Bill Little, a gas station attendant killed during an apparent armed robbery.

A jury found Snow, now 50, guilty of murder in a 1991 trial that is the target of a lengthy criticism by defense lawyers working to secure his exoneration on the charges that sent him to prison for life.

The 90-page ruling issued this week by U.S. District Court Judge Elaine Bucklo is a denial of Snow's writ of habeas corpus filed in 2013 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The federal writ is used by prisoners or other detainees as a means of asking a federal court to determine if their detention is valid. In criminal cases, the petition is often part of a defendant's post-conviction process.

In response to the ruling, Jon Loevy, one of Snow's lawyers, said Friday "we're obviously disappointed that the court did not grant Jamie's petition, but we're going to keep fighting to prove his innocence, and the battle is not over."

In her denial of the petition, Bucklo found Snow's arguments that his trial lawyers were ineffective and that the state filed to disclose information that could have helped his case insufficient to reopen the case.

Defense lawyers with the Chicago-based Exoneration Project claim that Snow's trial lawyers, G. Patrick Riley and Frank Picl, were unprepared for the nine-day trial that included testimony from 43 state witnesses and 15 for the defense. Snow's lawyers noted in their appeal that Picl was disbarred in 2006 after pleading guilty to financial exploitation of an elderly person.

The prior defense team failed to adequately investigate inconsistencies in witness testimony and offers of assistance made by police and prosecutors to witnesses who came forward when Snow was arrested eight years after the slaying, his lawyers argued.

Bucklo was not persuaded by those arguments, instead siding with a lower court decision that the defense did not prove the lawyers' work reached a level of deficiency that would have changed the outcome of the case but for their errors.

On the issue of alleged intimidation of witnesses by several Bloomington police detectives and offers of favors from former prosecutors, Bucklo also found the defense arguments lacking. Even if jurors had known about the witness claims, "any benefit from disclosure of this information is eclipsed by the evidence pointing to Snow's guilt," said the opinion, noting that two eyewitnesses who identified Snow and 10 others who implicated him in the crime offered testimony.

Still pending is Snow's effort in McLean County court to secure new DNA testing in his case. In April, a judge ruled that Snow's lawyers could have access to evidence held by Bloomington and Illinois State Police. Thompson said in April that the inventory of evidence could lead to new testing on blood, clothing and bullets collected from the crime scene.
BLOOMINGTON  Kirk Zimmerman's request to expand his court-ordered home confinement pending his trial on murder charges was rejected by a judge Thursday in a ruling that carried a warning to Zimmerman to comply with existing rules.

Home confinement is "a privilege and not a right," Judge Scott Drazewski told Zimmerman.

The judge did not specify the nature of new violations by Zimmerman that were contained in a court services report.

"Minor violations can add up to potentially losing the privilege," said the judge, noting that three minor violations have been reported against the defendant.

The 58-year-old suspect asked for permission in November to leave home to go to work if he is able to secure a new job. Zimmerman resigned from State Farm after his 2015 arrest on murder charges involving the shooting death of his ex-wife, Pam Zimmerman.

A condition of Zimmerman's November 2015 release on bond required him to be at home on electronic monitoring except when he was going to medical and legal appointments. He posted $200,025 to be released from jail.

Drazewski denied the request that included trips to visit Zimmerman's mother in a nursing home and to church services. Any progress on finding a job that require travel must first be cleared with court services and the court, said the judge.

The judge granted a defense request to drop a requirement that Zimmerman's brother Craig Zimmerman reside with the suspect and his two teenage daughters while the case is pending. The Zimmerman children are 19 and 17 years old, said defense attorney John Rogers.

According to Ghrist, Craig Zimmerman of Georgia has not lived in the Zimmerman home on a regular basis for about a year. At a hearing before Zimmerman was released, Craig Zimmerman testified that he was able to stay with his brother's family as long as he was needed.

Rogers said previously that Zimmerman needs a job to raise the money needed to pay for experts in his case.

Based on pretrial court filings, the defense is expected to challenge the state's evidence on gunshot residue reportedly found in the defendant's car. Issues connected to the time Pam Zimmerman died could also require expert opinions for the defense.

First Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist has called Pam Zimmerman's death a "premeditated, calculated, planned murder."

The defense has argued that the case is based on largely circumstantial evidence and the negative views of Zimmerman shared with police by the victim's friends and relatives.
STREATOR  No one was injured in a blaze Friday morning that left a Streator house in ruins.

The Streator Fire Department was dispatched at 7:01 a.m. to 811 N. Wasson St., where firefighters found the single-story home heavily engulfed in fire.

"Crews immediately went to work to extinguish the flames and protect exposures," the fire department said in a news release. "The fire was completely under control in just under 45 minutes. All 16 Streator firefighters were on scene to help extinguish the blaze."

Firefighters said the homeowner was at work when the fire was reported. No one was injured.

The home had severe fire, smoke, and water damage and is considered a total loss. No neighboring homes were damaged. Fire crews remained on scene for over three hours.

Lt. Bryan Park said the cause remains undetermined but is not considered suspicious. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal was called in because of the extent of the loss.

Assistance was provided by the Streator Police Department, Streator Public Works Department, Advanced Medical Transport, ComEd, Nicor and Illinois American Water Co.
Abdul Latif Khan has played a major role in helping a Chinese carpet company to achieve growth in Qinghai province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Abdul Latif Khan has brought his expertise in carpets from Pakistan to Northwest China, Liu Xiangrui reports.

When he decided to move to China a decade ago after quitting his job in the United States, Pakistani textile expert Abdul Latif Khan surprised many.

Now, his friends know that he made the right choice, Khan says.

He has played a major role in helping a Chinese carpet company to achieve fast growth and has been recognized for his work.

Khan, 52, comes from a family with a tradition in textile making. He learned the craft from his father at a young age. Most of his siblings work in the industry.

He studied textile design in college in Pakistan, and has pursued a successful career in knitting and designing carpets.

Khan was with a carpet company in the US for five years before he joined the Qinghai Tibetan Sheep Carpet Group, where he has been the research and development manager since 2006.

His connection with the Qinghai companya big supplier of woolen carpets to his former US employerwas established thanks to product defects.

In 2005, he was sent by the US company to help sort out technical issues at the Chinese company after worms were found in a shipment.

"I was planning to stay in Qinghai for one week," Khan recalls.
'Night in a Car' to raise awareness, money

BLOOMINGTON  Home Sweet Home Ministries and Trinity Lutheran Church are hosting Night In A Car, from 6 p.m. Feb. 3 to 8 a.m. Feb. 4 at the church, 801 S. Madison St.

Home Sweet Home is seeking 100 participants to raise $1,000 per car. Participants will live out of their cars during the overnight hours and will have opportunities to come inside for hot beverages, snacks and educational sessions.

You can set up fundraising pages for a Night In A Car at www.crowdrise.com/NightInACar. Volunteers are also needed; visit nightinacar.org or www.hshministries.org.

Uptown traffic changes Tuesday

NORMAL  Beginning Tuesday, the traffic pattern in Uptown Normal will change due to the One Uptown Circle construction project.

North Street from Uptown Circle to Broadway Street will be one-way westbound; West Beaufort Street from Broadway to the Uptown Circle will be one-way eastbound; and the west portion of the Uptown Circle from North Street to West Beaufort will be closed.

Sidewalk access to all businesses and vehicular access to Normal City Hall and the Uptown Station will be maintained.
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Cheers

... to people like Illinois State University's cookie lady, Jan Staley of Pontiac, whose thoughtfulness makes the holidays a little brighter for workers and students at the College of Business.

Staley started holiday baking 25 years ago, sharing goodies with coworkers. The tradition has expanded to a week-long celebration that includes help from a few others.

Almost every office, business or school has a cookie lady (ours retired last year), so we take this opportunity to thank all the cookie ladies (and cookie men) who make the work day sweeter for all of us.

A reminder

... to anyone seeking office: trust the people passing petitions for you and make sure your staff carefully studies signatures, names and addresses of those who sign your paperwork. After all, you are ultimately responsible.

The Bloomington Election Commission had to plow through lots of signatures last week after challenges were made to signatures on petitions from mayoral and council candidates. As it turned out, office-seekers had enough signatures to move through the process even though a number were found to be questionable.

As a candidate, it's your responsibility to make sure volunteers act legally and petition signers follow the law.

Cheers

... to Chestnut Health Systems for a program for rural adults that reinforces treatment using a phone-or web-based approach.

Face-to-face counseling would seem the gold standard for treatment, but it's not always available for people in rural areas. This new program offers a chance to see if technology can help.

Cheers

... to Bloomington School District 87, where the gap in test scores between low-income and non-low-income students is narrowing, as both groups see scores rise.

Cheers

... to ISU's winter graduates (more than 1,200) who received mid-term diplomas on Dec. 16.

Cheers

... to Stuff the Bus, an effort that gathered 6,362 items to benefit Children's Home + Aid. It's the 14th year for the campaign, run by Home + Aid, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 752 and Great Plains Media.

A thought

... While we respect the position of supporters of the local Black Lives Matter chapter, we also respectfully suggest that when you invite speakers to public events, you don't limit them to yes or no answers.

Last week's meeting raised a lot of thoughtful questions, but you can't expect meaningful dialogue when city leaders are limited to a single syllable response.

We hope future meetings involve actual discussion.

Cheers

... to Festival of Trees volunteers, visitors and supporters, who helped raise $201,388 to support The Baby Fold in Normal.

Festival proceeds help programs for vulnerable children and families, including adoption services, foster care, residential care and special education.
British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with China's State Councilor Yang Jiechi in London on Tuesday. [Photo/Agencies]

China and the UK have built a solid base on which to continue the "golden era" of their relations in 2017, be it through cultural, economic or trade bonds.

True, the tone may be slightly different under Prime Minister Theresa May's administration, compared to the way things were handled under her predecessor, David Cameron, and his avidly pro-China Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.

Cameron and Osborne did not continue in their roles after losing the referendum about the UK's continued membership of the European Union back in June, and May, who had held the demanding post of Home Secretary under Cameron for six years, took over.

Cameron, who famously took President Xi Jinping to his local pub for fish and chips and a pint during the latter's state visit in October 2015, was eager to encourage a better relationship with China, with his political ally and sidekick Osborne active in promoting relations.

Just on Tuesday British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson met with visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in London as part of the 8th China-UK Strategic Dialogue, and they reaffirmed their commitment to the "golden era". Yang went on to meet both May and Chancellor Philip Hammond, another sign that the ever-closer ties between the two countries continues.

May is known to be a cautious politician and it was entirely in character for her to take time to bring herself up to speed on such a thorny issue as a French-designed nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset, southwest England, which will carry significant Chinese investment.

In the event, the deal passed scrutinyseen by many as a triumph for May's policy as much as China's patient and mature "take your time" attitude.

May has indicated the government-backed Northern Powerhouse Partnership, which aims to bring industry and services to Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield, will continue to have government backing. China has also said it supports the idea and there's already huge Chinese infrastructure investment around Manchester Airport, as well as long-term plans to invest in Sheffield.

Increasingly, as Britain nears the planned date in March when Brexit is triggered, all eyes will be on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, which Britain says it favors as a matter of priority.

Britain has been unable to strike a deal with China because of its membership of the EU, and the chances of an FTA between China and the EU seem ever remote.

Finally, there's the Trump card. The new US president-elect seems intent on picking fights with China. No such tension exists between the UK and China.
Whether or not education and learning is a prerogative of school going kids, is a query on which two lawful rulings are anticipated from Detroit's Federal bench in the upcoming months. These rulings hold much importance if they're conformed to by the United States Supreme Court, given how potent they can be on having an effect on public education.

The media was urged to take these updates into their consideration and bring them under the public eye. The media also inclined towards eyeing on a case that was registered by a firm which was from California. However, seven months before this, the American Federation of Teachers had proposed a similar query in front of the judge.

The question was regarding the adverse conditions of the construction of Detroit Public schools. The cases only target the conditions of the building and their situations, but the actual question of whether education is a fundamental right is left behind.

According to The Detroit News, the lawsuit's claim is to go past making mere judgments and adopt an action-oriented approach, in the process seeking a rise in literacy and an improved liability system, etc. The conditions are so pathetic that the investigation did tell that there are feces of rats on the objects stuffed in wardrobes etc., and whenever one takes the stuff out, it is always covered by the urine of rats as well.

Joe Urban who is an education lawyer says that the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) complains that the infrastructure needs to be changed as it is not providing the proper policies for education. The literate staff is also lacked. The basic question that is being asked is about the infrastructure, according to NY Times. What kind of framework should be provided to make the conditions better? This is being the major question asked by the AFT.
Nations can be judged on the basis of how they treat their underprivileged children. No government in the world should neglect the matter. However, that is what is taking place in the United Kingdom in the 21st century.

One out of four children lives in poverty in Brittan. Studies suggest that if the situation goes on likes this the country's crises years lie far ahead of it. This is the effect of the government's verdict to put an end to the child poverty unit as exposed by Dan Jarvis.

It follows on from the elimination of the child poverty income targets as well as a number of policies that have targeted low-income families. For all that Theresa May has the correct expressions on helping families, according to her government has the incorrect policies and an essentially damaged view of how to deal with poverty and injustice.

Ministers have suggested that government should focus not only on income of the families but ways to eliminate poverty from its roots. Differing to conventional expression, the services provided by the child

poverty unit did under Labor was on the causes of poverty, according to Child Poverty Action Group.

Previous to 1997 the child poverty was increasing very slowly for years. Tony Blair's 1999 speech that demanded an end to child poverty, ministers from all across the government gathered together to worked on a plan to figure out a plan to eradicate child poverty.

According to The Guardian, childcare and employment support aided thousands of citizens to get into work which resulted in the major extension of childcare as well as in targeted employment support. If the rightists had chosen to improve the root causes that are the main reason behind of poverty that would have ended up giving quite better results.
The School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) in Connecticut has expanded for the 2016-2017 school year. At least 18 more schools in the state are participating in the program that was established to impove school-to-prison prevention efforts.

Six school districts with 18 middle, technical and high schools have joined the SBDI program for the current school year. The addition brings a combined 14,798 students, the press release stated. As it is, the program has 37 schools from 13 school districts in its roster.

Part of the functions of the program is to address students' behavioral concerns, thus preventing students' arrests. "Helping students access behavioral health services can address the underlying causes of misbehavior that may result in arrest and juvenile justice involvement," CHDI's Jeff Vanderploeg, Ph.D. said, according to the press release.

With the proper intervention and guidance, the students not only improve their behavior. They also become better school performers and show academic improvement. The school community also benefits from this program because of the reduction of incidence of violence and security threats.

The SBDI's average reduction rate in the referral of students' incidents in court was at 45 percent. On the other hand, referrals to the Emergency Mobile Crisis Intervention Services increased to 94 percent since the establishment of SBDI.

#rethinkdiscipline event in New Haven highlighted CT School-Based Diversion Initiative and other great programs https://t.co/Je5FfVvTt7 pic.twitter.com/ogTf9XQNlY  CHDI (@CHDICT) December 20, 2016

The SBDI program was developed in line with Gov. Dannel Malloy's Second Chance Initiative. According to the New Haven Register, its focus is to reform prisoners, including juvenile offenders like students, through education, health programs and other non-violent means.

The Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc. (CHDI) oversees the program along with partners from state agencies. These are the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division (CSSD), the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and the State Department of Education (SDE).

Learn more about it in the video below. Schools in Connecticut may also download the SBDI tool kit for more information.
A customer just made someone believe that miracles do happen, especially during Christmas time as a pregnant waitress received a $900 tip. The customer said the money given to the pregnant waitress was not hers but was a gift from God.

Little Things identifies the recipient of the tip as Sarah Clark. Clark has been having a difficult time as they are a little bit low on budget. Even though she is just a month away from her due date, she is still working as she's currently the sole provider for their family as her fiance is set to undergo a knee surgery.

The customer who gave the tip is also pregnant just like Clark. The customer said that she has returned to the restaurant several times and they have talked about their experiences about their pregnancy. Clark once told the customer that she has been struggling to pay their bills.

The same customer that Clark has been conversing with went back to the restaurant one day to pick up an order. She then left the $900 tip and wrote in the paper, "This is God's money. He gave it to us so we could give it to you." The total bill was only $61 and Clark did not immediately believe that she received such hefty amount of money.

The two women were from Arizona and the restaurant, which is called the Pita Jungle, was located in Phoenix, Fox News reported. Clark told the publication that it took a while for the realization to set in and she cried for a time after being fully aware of what just happened. She noted that she always hears stories regarding what just happened to her but never expected that she will be a recipient of such act.

The customer was not identified but Clark said that she does not know if the woman understands how such amount of money is going to help them. She noted that she will be on maternity leave by January and they will not be having any income at all. The money will help with the rent and other bills.
The divorce of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie remains to be ugly as the actor recently filed documents via his legal team as they battle it out in the custody of their six children. The new documents claim that Jolie places her own interests above her children.

Vanity Fair reported that the two have announced their divorce three months ago and initially, Pitt seemingly was the reason for the split since he was accused of having substance abuse problems and abusing their children. The child abuse rumor was investigated by the FBI as well as the Los Angeles County Department of Children.

Both investigations cleared Pitt from the child abuse accusation but it resulted to the visiting arrangements of the actor with his kids to be attended by a therapist. He also has to undergo random drug and alcohol testing.

A memorandum by him and his legal team was filed in the Superior Court of California accusing Jolie of leaking private information over their agreement to the public via court filings. They noted that the Pitt filed an application last Dec. 7 to request that the records related to the custody issues will be sealed in order to protect their privacy and avoid subjecting the kids to the negative impact of the media coverage as well as public scrutiny. Pitt and his team then claimed that Jolie delayed the request because she wants to place her own interests above those of the children.

The documents added, "[Jolie] apparently has no self-regulating mechanism to preclude sensitive information from being place in the public record," CNN reported. Pitt and his legal team continued to say that maybe Jolie has other motives, that's why she wants to make the divorce and custody proceedings public.

A source close to Jolie and her legal team claims that the filing is a press move and makes no legal sense. They said that Jolie has signed the agreement to seal the court files when Pitt and his team requested for it on Dec. 7.

A court hearing for the custody is set to be scheduled this January. During that time, the sealing of the documents will be heard.
Donald Trump recently announced that his Secretary of Education pick is Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos and many have voiced out their concerns after she claimed the Public School System of the United States is a "dead end." Also, the policies of Trump when it comes to education may mean that more students will not be able to have higher education.

According to The Spokesman-Review, DeVos pointed out in her speech that there will be a wide array of choices for parents. However, critics believe her move will mean privatizing America's public education system.

Devos also noted that the public education system is a dead end because it makes American fall further behind. DeVos said that the public school system denies many children of opportunities and they only get a substandard education.

She then made an example about the Alpha and Beta Schools. She referred to the Alpha schools as high-performing schools with graduation rates of 70 to 90 percent.

Beta Schools, as per DeVos, are the low-performing schools and the graduations rates is just around 50 percent. She then asked the audience if they would rather choose the Alpha School over the Beta School.

DeVos did not expressly say that she wants to eliminate traditional public schools but included them at the top of a list of what she wants to be an open system of choice. Other systems included on her list were publicly funded charters, private and parochial schools, as well as virtual schools.

As for the projected policies of Trump regarding higher education, WBUR reported that the Obama administration has made changes regarding college loan as federal loan programs have been expanded, meaning more were able to attend college. However, Republicans have pointed out that such loans will create more problems long-term so it is possible that the Trump administration will deter students from attending college. It is believed that Trump will impose privatization when it comes to college loans.

Such policy, however, will affect lower-income and minority students. During Trump's campaign, he said that he would raise the student loan repayment from 10 to 12.5 percent of annual income. The repayment would also drop from 20 to 15 years.
A stepmother was bragging and gloating about the win of Dallas Cowboys but that gesture took a turn for the worst. Her stepson, who is bipolar and was off his medications when the attack happened, fatally stabbed her to death.

Ottawa Sun reported the suspect was identified as Pontrey O'Neal Jones and police said he believed his stepmother, Magdalena Ruiz, was gloating when she went on about the win of Dallas Cowboys over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the weekend. Jones then got a knife and stabbed Ruiz repeatedly in the chest. He fled the scene naked and was found lying on a nearby street in Austin, Texas. Ruiz did not survive her injuries.

As per the police reports, Jones was informed that Ruiz died and he seemed relieved of the information he received. Police said that he confessed for stabbing Ruiz multiple times as he believed that a single stab wound would not kill her.

Jones then went on to tell officials that he is bipolar and has not been on his prescribed medications for two years now. He also told authorities that taking medications will slow him down but it was unclear what he meant by that.

Jones further revealed that he wanted to break his sister's neck but changed his mind so he stabbed his stepmother. He hid a steak knife underneath a couch and when he heard Ruiz disrespecting his father, he retrieved the knife and attacked his stepmother. His dad was only able to intervene after Jones stabbed his stepmother multiple times.

New York Post also reported that Jones recently moved to the home of his dad and stepmom but it was not stated where he has been living in the past. Meanwhile, Jones has been charged with murder and is in jail on a $500,000 bond.

A page was set up for Ruiz in order to cover the funeral expenses. Jones' father has yet to release any statement about the matter.
Pushing one's self too hard just to earn enough money is what parents would want to do for their family. With this goal, the time allotted to bond with their family decreases building gaps between each member. This reason is what pushed Bank of America to create new policies that could help parents reach not just their financial goals but also their personal goals.

Bank of America is one of the companies willing to give opportunities for their employees that could help them have more quality time with their families. That is through parental leave policies they issue even to those that belongs to the LGBTQ community.

This policy does not just work for the employees alone but also for the company as well. With this opportunity, employees are assured that there is someone behind their back as they want to improve their personal and family lives. At the same time, it could attract more talents and help employees become more productive bringing more income for the company too.

Arden Canecchia, one of the employees of the Bank of America, shared through Advocate how blessed he is with the benefits Bank of America has given to him. "Bank of America's generous parental leave policies, including those for adoptive and LGBTQ parents, have in a sense given me the gift of time, allowing me to help the boys settle into their new lives," Arden Canecchia said in the interview. He also added that without the "gift of time" issued by the company, his family could have not possibly survived the most confusing moment of their lives.

Other than parental leave, Bank of America also offers other policies for the family. It includes reimbursements for adoption and child policies, which could benefit families with adopted children. Second, it also offers 24/7 employee assistance for parenting. And lastly, the company also gives unlimited information and counseling through Parents & Caregivers Network, which could be a great help for new parents.

Canecchia encourages companies to follow the steps that Bank of America is creating for their employees. "Because when you work for a living, it is great to know your job is rooting for you, in your corner, helping you to reach your personal goals too," he said.'


MOSCOW - Russian leaders attended a civil funeral service for the slain ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at the Russian Foreign Ministry building on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, speakers of both parliament houses Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and officials from the presidential administration, parliamentary deputies and diplomats attended the funeral.

Karlov was shot dead by a gunman on Monday at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Lavrov handed a Gold Star medal of the Hero of Russia to Karlov's family, the highest prize of the country, awarded to the ambassador posthumously.

After a religious funeral service conducted by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in central Moscow, Karlov will be buried in one of the cemeteries in the capital.
Expect more stringent government measures on surrogate alcohol after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a crackdown on the commodity following the increasing death toll resulting from bath lotion poisoning. In Irkutsk City of Siberia, over 30 people have become ill while 62 died due to poisoning.

Putin has ordered the implementation of compulsory labelling as well as tougher penalties for violators to prevent another deadly incident from the bath lotion which contains the highly poisonous substance methanol. Drinkable alcohol, which is in high demand as a cheap alternative to the traditional alcohol, has been labeled as medicine or even cosmetic. These are even sold in vending machines.

CNN Money said the new regulations will require tougher policies on all products with over 25% of alcohol content including veterinary and medical products with alcohol. Surrogate alcohol has become a cheaper alternative for Russian after the government raised the taxes on alcohol to discourage excess drinking. The high price of legal alcohol has reduced sales by 8% last year although it has not totally discouraged people from drinking.

The Irkutsk mass poisoning is considered the worst in Russia's modern history as the police searched 1,500 premises, confiscated thousands of alcohol bottles and arrested 12 people. BBC said while there was a warning on the hawthorn-scented liquid, the label indicated that it contained ethanol and not methanol. The sale of this product through vending machines has been called "an absolute disgrace" by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

The Guardian said an underground laboratory had been discovered by investigators and the facility is said to be manufacturing the fake tincture boyaryshnik which is supposed to be added to relaxation baths. The same liquid which has hawthorne extract, lemon oil and 93% ethanol has been widely used as a substitute alcoholic drink in Russia.The liquid confiscated in Irkutsk however did not contain ethanol by the deadly methanol promoting for the declaration of a state of emergency by the authorities.


The dichotomy between how Apple and the rest of the world see the new MacBook Pro is stark. Although Apple preaches that market share and "volume" shipments isn't what it's about, it's the first measurement Phil Schiller used to "prove" to the world that the new MacBook Pro is a hit. Speaking with the UK's Independent, Phil Schiller said that "we are proud to tell you that so far our online store has had more orders for the new MacBook Pro than any other pro notebook before. So there certainly are a lot of people as excited as we are about it." And yet some of the first reviews on the new MacBook Pro by the press like the Wall Street Journal, Engadget, The Verge and Mossberg didn't give it great praise at all.

This week in particular is proving to be brutal for the MacBook Pro and Macs in general. It began with former 9to5Mac reporter Mark Gurman saying in a new Bloomberg report that Mac loyalists were justified in feeling that Apple had abandoned them and even pointed to Microsoft hardware that's getting more Apple-esque as an alternative for pros users.

Then came Mossberg's review of 2016 and once again the reliable pro-Apple fan said plainly that Apple's products weren't up to their historic standards. He specifically called the MacBook Pro out for delivering poor battery life.

And to top off the week, Consumers Reports failed to recommend the MacBook Pro for the first time  or for as long as I could remember. As you can expect, it was the MacBook Pro's battery life that killed the recommendation.

The reports specifically noted that "Complaints about MacBook Pro batteries have been popping up online since the laptops first went on sale in November. Apple says that these computers should operate for up to 10 hours between charges, but some consumers in Apple's support forums reported that they were only able to use their laptops for three to four hours before the battery ran down." For more details about the battery tests, check out the full report here or watch the video report below.



Now here's the rub. The press back in October gave Microsoft the win over Apple when comparing product events and the excitement they generated. The MIT review was blunt by claiming that "Microsoft is looking like the new Apple." Both Gurman and Mossberg dumped on Apple but gave Microsoft a plug for their software and hardware this year. And finally, the Consumer Reports top 40 notebooks list for 2016 placed the 13" MacBook Pro at number 35 and their 15" version at number 39. Ouch! And the last straw: The report placed Microsoft's Surface Book at number 36, one hair below the 13" MacBook Pro.

Earlier in the month I posted a report titled "Microsoft's Marketing VP Boasts of Most MacBook Switchers to Surface ever Due to Disappointing MacBook for Pros." Knowing Microsoft, they're going to do a little more boasting and likely to say that they're catching up to the MacBook Pro  if not surpassing it; Something Microsoft has been promoting since it's launch as noted in the graphic below.

All in all it's just been a really bad week for Apple's MacBook Pro in the press. Apple will get their day in sun of course when they report their sales in January. I'm sure we'll hear that there was a nice bounce for Macs. Yet whether that will end up being a one quarter wonder remains to be seen. The unusual grumblings and bad reviews of the MacBook Pro would strongly suggest that MacBook Pro sales will quickly lose momentum once the holiday quarter is over. But as always, only time will tell.

For now, it reminds me of the famed Rodney Dangerfield line  the MacBook Pro gets no respect.

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.
Earlier this month Microsoft announced Qualcomm Snapdragon based tablets and PCs with built-in cellular capabilities. This is big news because Windows support for Qualcomm chips has secured OEMs Huawei and Lenovo who are moving away from Android, especially for the enterprise. The new systems will also provide customers with much better battery life than today's notebooks, according Microsoft.



Microsoft's Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President noted during his keynote that "For the first time ever, our customers will be able to experience the Windows they know with all the apps, peripherals, and enterprise capabilities they require, on a truly mobile, power efficient, always-connected cellular PC."

I had noted in a report on Tuesday that users will be able to join a wireless network automatically from their new 2017 Surface tablets and notebooks by simply filling out a short form built-into the system and sign up for wireless data service for a specific term such as a week, a month, a quarter or a year without having to worry about a SIM Card.

I also noted that Apple had been working on the cellular MacBook for more than six years with enough patents to have warranted a special archive. So is it a little aggravating to see Microsoft get the leap on an idea that Apple has been sitting on for years? In a word, yes.

More aggravating is the fact that Xiaomi is now getting the jump on this idea in China ahead of Apple. They introduced the Mi Air 4G Notebook earlier today in Beijing with built-in cellular feature.





Liu De, co-founder and vice president of Xiaomi, said their "computer could be connected to the internet anytime, anywhere as there is a module enabling network service via an independent internet of things (IoT) 4G channel provided by China's largest telecom operator, China Mobile."

They expect their new notebook to usher in the third era of how a computer can be connected to the internet. In the first era, the computer could be linked to the internet via a cable and in the second era, via Wi-Fi.

The 12.5 inch version of the Mi Air 4G is priced at US$676, while their 13.3 inch version, which features a new processor, the Intel i7-6500 U, is priced at US$1000. They go on sale in January.

Liu added that the internet service will be free during the first year but admitted that whether the service will be charged in future years is undecided.

With most big cities in China offering wide-spread Wi-Fi it's unknown how this new notebook will be received. However, keep in mind that Xiaomi is coming to the US in 2017 and a cellular notebook could be one of the products that they'll begin with. Patently Apple reported on this possibility back in 2015.

Knowing that Microsoft and partners will be invading the market this year with cellular notebooks, will this finally be the year that Apple brings their Cellular MacBooks to market? There won't be a SIM Card slot to irritate Jony Ive's design sensibilities and so it should get the green light  on at least one of Apple's MacBook models to start with.

And god knows we don't need to hear Microsoft boasting over this new feature not being on MacBooks over and over again in 2017, do we? Let's hope that Apple saves us the headache.

Would you be interested in a Cellular MacBook in 2017? Send in your comments below.

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.
There was, no doubt, an Islamic component (of some sort) in the killing of Russias ambassador to Turkey a few days back. After all, the assassin did yell Allahu akbar! (God is most great!). But this cry is not uncommon at crisis points or moments of exultation. The relief first officer of the Egyptair flight that crashed into the Atlantic back in 1999, for example, also cried Allahu akbar! just before the aircraft slammed into the sea, killing all aboard. Some commentators in the United States concluded from that and other facts that he had deliberately brought the plane down. However, as Egypts then-ambassador to Washington DC (whom I knew, by the way, and found very impressive) pointed out in response, a devout Muslim very likely would shout Allahu akbar! as his or her last words when it became clear that death was unavoidably imminent.

But the shooter in Ankara, Mevlut Mert Altintas, also shouted Do not forget Aleppo! after he murdered Andrey Karlov. This suggests that he was almost certainly motivated, in whole or in part, by secular reasons. And theyre not hard to grasp: Russian and Syrian forces have been absolutely pounding Aleppo in a bid to drive out rebels against Bashar al-Asads rule. Theyve been ruthless, killing many civilians in the process  and, notably, theyve been concentrating their forces against President al-Asads more moderate opponents rather than against ISIS (which quietly retook the ancient city of Palmyra just days ago).

Take a look at these photos:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/13/middleeast/gallery/battle-for-aleppo/index.html

If you were from Aleppo, or had family there, you might be a tiny bit upset, too.
The Monastery of San Francisco is one of the most visited sites in Lima by tourists and pilgrims. It is the number one site to visit according to Trip Advisor. Built in the late 17th century, both the church and monastery are gems of Spanish colonial architecture. A victim of devastating earthquakes throughout the centuries, I find the monastery much more beautiful than the actual church.

San Francisco is best known for its extensive catacombs that create an elaborate underground labyrinth where an estimated 25,000 bodies are buried. This colonial burial ground was closed in the early 1800s when the above ground Presbitero Maestro Cemetery opened. The catacombs also served as secret passageways connecting some of the citys most important buildings. If you are claustrophobic, you want to wait for your group at the sacristy and admire the beautiful family tree of the Franciscan Order. The underground passageways of the catacombs get very tight and the ceiling is low. The air is musty.

Just a brief walk from the Cathedral of Lima and next to the Rimac River, there are now plenty of nice stores that line the street leading to San Francisco. You can buy beautiful traditional artwork. Make sure you visit the Bar Restaurant Cordano just one block from the church next to the Presidential Palace. It is a well-kept, traditional bar of years past. Stepping into Cordano is like going back over one hundred years in a time machine. Across the street from Cordano, you can admire the beautiful old train station of Lima, Desamparados.

Though San Francisco is a beautiful place, I will soon write about the Monastery of Saint Dominic. Not visited as often, I find the Monastery of Saint Dominic to be much better kept and much more beautiful.

Address: Corner of Jiron Ancash and Jiron Lampa, Lima
A Review Series of Anonymous Tip, by Michael Farris

Pp. 460-463

The Supreme Court testimony is over, and Peter, Gwen, and Charlie debrief at a restaurant in Virginia named LAuberge Chez Francois.

Upon hearing the name Gwen smiled to herself, I guess Im not in Spokane anymore.

Gwens such a sweet country girl.

As they had back to her hotel Gwen recalls the packet of financial information Cindy had sent, which shed glanced at and dismissed as unimportant the previous day. Peters curiosity perks up.

I wonder what that stuff is? I peeked, Gwen admitted weakly. Its just a bunch of financial records. That could be interesting, Peter said. Ive wondered about all the money theyve raised.

I find Gwens lack of curiosity concerning. But more concerning actually, is an exchange later on the same page. Charlie jokes with Peter that hes going to win nine-to-nothing, and Peter objects.

Well, theres no way its going to be unanimous in my favor. It doesnt have to be, does it? Gwen asked. No, just five votes. You should start praying for five votes, the professor said. Its going to be close.

Oh, Gwen. Gwen, Gwen, Gwen. I suspect that Farris, as author, is using Gwen as a device to make sure the audience knows what they need is five votes, but there are other ways to do that, and this wayand this has been done repeatedlymakes Gwen look clueless and Peter look horrid. After all, even if Gwen had known nothing about the Supreme Court before this case, Peter should have made sure she knew the basics when her case headed in this direction.

They drop Charlie off at the airport to get back to his busy schedule at the law school, and we cut to Donna for a moment. Donna is upset that Stephen made her come to his place separately so that they wouldnt be seen together because of the Supreme Court case. Donna is being ridiculous. Stephen risked his career attempting to get his boss to shelve an interesting case because the case involved his girlfriend. Id imagine Stephen could get disbarred for something like that. If I were Stephen, I would have let Donna know it wasnt safe to see her at all this visit (shes in town for the Supreme Court, after all, and you never know what lengths reporters will go to)and if I were Donna, Id understand that!

Anyway, Donna had planned to go sight seeing but decides to instead mop around Stephens apartment because being shunned by Stockton while she was at the Supreme court was more than she could bear. WTF. I wrote before that Farriss male characters are essentially all deeply sexist or ethically dubious, and frequently both, but his female characters are no easier to admire. Back when Donna falsified records and lied before the court, one could attempt to put that down to her anger at the law not giving her enough leeway to protect children (although what she did was wrong regardless of her reasons). This whole thing between her and Stephen, though, is weird. She sees him as her ticket out of Spokane. Well guess what! She could just move out of Spokane. She doesnt need a man to do that. Rita did it without a man.

I was so caught up in Donna being ridiculous that I almost forgot to mention that while moping around Stephens apartment she finds a green barrette with three strands of long red hair in it under the couch cushions (she wasnt snoopingshed lost an earring while laying on the couch). Farris tells us that Corlisss spirit welled up with fear and anger. The inclusion of fear is interestingshes afraid of losing Stephen, presumably.

Now we shift back to Peter and Gwen, who are on their way to the banquet. Peter has looked at the financial documents, but Farris has decided to have that happen off-book. Or something. I would say off-screen if it were a movie. Anyway, Peter notices the Heart of AmericaSupreme Court Victory Banquet signs and this happens:

I hope no one gets in trouble for false advertising, Peter said. Were gonna win, Gwen said confidently. Blind loyalty always scores points with me, he replied.

Now thats just uncomfortable. Blind loyalty should not score points with anyone. Blind loyalty is not a good thing, and frankly, its created a world of trouble throughout history and across the globe. But then, everything weve seen so far suggests that Peter likes his women blond, gorgeous, and blindly loyal. I cant even with this relationship.

Humphrey sees them coming in, and we get this:

Good to see you, Peter. And this must be Gwen. You are lovely, my deer. Peter was really luckyI mean blessed, to have found you. Thank you so much, Gwen said with a courteous but distant air. She instantly distrusted him. But I think I am blessed far more.

Oh my gosh there is so much to unpack here. Why does Gwen instantly distrust Humphrey? Presumably because hes a creep, and good, godly people have an instant creep-detector. Except that they dont. In fact, this suggestionthat you should be able to sense a religious con artist when meeting himis highly dangerous. Some of the worst abusers are the best at getting people on their side, at making people comfortable with them, at signaling belonging.

Let me give you an example. Farris, the books author, recalls being deeply impacted by attending a conference where Bill Gothard spoke in the late 1980s or early 1990s. In fact, Farris was so impressed with Gothards message that he and his wife gave up birth control as a result. Gothard was exposed several years ago for having serially groomed and molested dozens teenage girls and young women sent to him by their parents to work as his secretaries over the course of three decades. Good evangelical Christians do not have creep-meters. Suggesting that they do is dangerous.

Peter and Gwen are seated by a former Congressman, who is now retired and serves on the board of Heart of America. Farris introduces him as follows:

McElliot had a reputation as a true conservative, with a warm personality that made it difficult for even the most liberal person to dislike him.

Im not sure thats how that works, but okay. Its also a lot of tell, dont show, but I suppose Farris probably didnt have much space to spare at this point.

Once everyone is seated the banquet begins with a patriotic song. Because of course it does. Then we get this very strange introduction by Humphrey:

As you know, Heart of America is a conservative, non-sectarian organization dedicated to advancing the family. Our aim is to protect all families in America. Although we are not a religious organization, we recognize that the families of this nation are well-served by the three great religions of our landJudaism, Christianity, and Islam. Gwen gave Peter a surprised look as the word Islam was invoked. We are committed to families. We are committed to freedom. And we are committed to faithwhatever faith one chooses.

Oh my god this is so sloppy. Who are Humphreys audience, exactly? Who are the 250 people in attendance? By all appearances, Humphrey has been catering to an evangelical audience, pretending to be one of them and milking them for cash. If hes been able pull that off, he has to know that whatever faith one chooses isnt going to go over well with an evangelical audience. Its incredibly tone deaf.

But I think I may know what is going on here. Farris has created a character who is posing as evangelical but in fact is a money-grubbing fraud. He wants to be very clear, though, that this figure is just posing as an evangelical. A real evangelical wouldnt do things like this. Farris is making it as clear as he can that Humphrey isnt actually an evangelical. Humphrey cant even get the language rightin other words, hes not actually one of us. Writing so soon after the Jim Bakker scandal, youd think Farris would know better than this.

Humphrey could have been written so much more interestingly than this. Humphrey offered an opportunity to delve into the problem of fraud and financial mismanagement within the evangelical world. Instead, all we get is cardboard cutouts.

Also, notice Gwens response to the inclusion of Islamand only Islam, the reference to Judaism didnt bother her. Presumably, if Humphrey had referenced our countrys Christian and Jewish heritage, Gwen wouldnt have balked. After all, that would be right in line with conservatives favored Judeo-Christian rhetoric. But IslamIslam is treated as a boogeyman. Dont get me wrong, I have problems with the limitations on womens rights that exist within many Islamic interpretations (it should be noticed that Hasidic Judaism places similar restrictions on women). But theres something cloying in the way evangelicals talk about Judaism that feels less like acceptance and more like erasure.

I could write reams about this, and probably should at some point, but not here.

Next week well find out howor ifPeter exposes Humphrey for his unethical fundraising practices. Stay tuned!

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US allows more Iran exports, training Iranians

12/23/16

Source: Press TV

The US Treasury Department has loosened exports of authorized medical devices as well as agricultural goods to Iran as well as the training of Iranian health professionals by Americans. The US Treasury Department says it has amended transactions restrictions on Iran to allow the exports of authorized medical devices and agricultural commodities to the country.





Related Info: EducationUSA Iran





A statement by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the changes to the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR) would be effective as of Friday, 23 December 2016.



"OFAC is adopting a final rule to amend the licensing provisions of the ITSR to expand the scope of medical devices and agricultural commodities generally authorized for export or reexport to Iran," read part of the statement.



The Treasury's new Iran regulations also include new or expanded authorizations for training Iranian healthcare professionals to use and maintain medical devices.



It further added that the changes would be implemented "in response to feedback from the regulated public regarding improving patient safety, provide new or expanded authorizations relating to training, replacement parts, software and services related to the operation, maintenance, and repair of medical devices, and items that are broken or connected to product recalls or other safety concerns".



The move as explained above could allow Americans to train Iranians and is already drawing praise as a sign that the administration of US President Barack Obama was "breaking a taboo" toward Tehran.



"It's a pretty big deal moving forward," Tyler Cullis of the National Iranian American Council told Al-Monitor.



"It allows Iran to reach the full benefit of the medical devices that OFAC, up until this point, has allowed to be exported there," Erich Ferrari, a sanctions lawyer who represents medical device makers' interests before OFAC, also told Al-Monitor.



"A lot of these devices are more complicated, and there's just a dearth of non-US personnel available to provide that type of training."



He predicted that the Trump administration would have little incentive to overturn the new OFAC regulations on Iran.



"It's all in furtherance of humanitarian trade," he said. "And there's congressional will for this type of trade to be unimpeded."
Iran seeks closer ties with Eurasian states: President Rouhani

12/23/16

Source: Press TV

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has underlined Tehran's determination to establish closer relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Rouhani made the remarks at a Friday joint press conference with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev in Kyrgyzstan's capital city of Bishkek.





Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Almazbek Atambayev

Bishkek, December 23, 2016. (Photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)





"Since Kyrgyzstan is a member of the EAEU, relations with Kyrgyzstan and the whole EAEU can affect our economic ties, and we hope that the union will take proper decisions in this regard during its meeting on September 26, [2016]," Rouhani said.

The Iranian president further pointed to the two countries' plan to revoke the visa regime in three phases for business purposes, tourism and other ordinary trips, respectively.





(Photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)



Rouhani welcomed Atambayev's proposal to connect China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran through a railway linking the region to the Sea of Oman, Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

He also expressed Iran's preparedness to transfer technical and engineering services to Kyrgyzstan and cooperate with the country in different areas, including countering terrorism, narcotics and organized crimes.

Close stances on international issues

Atambayev, for his part, lauded the close stances of both countries on different international issues.



The two countries condemn terrorism in all its forms, said the Kyrgyz president, adding that no one has the right to attribute terrorism and extremism to a nation or religion with the aim of inciting Islamophobia.



He also expressed support for full membership of Iran to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and noted that Tehran's potential can promote the international Kudos of the SCO.



Rouhani and Atambayev also oversaw the signing of five cooperation agreements aimed at expanding economic relations.







(Photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)





Rouhani arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Friday on the final leg of a Central Asia tour that already took him to Armenia and Kazakhstan.


ANKARA - Russian officials will examine the phone of Mevlut Mert Altintas, who killed the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, as part of a joint investigation into the assassination, Hurriyet News reported Thursday.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has been examining speculation that Altintas received insider information from Russian Embassy officials.

Russian officials are also investigating whether a "mole" in the embassy was involved in the planning of the assassination.

Altintas was reportedly wearing a guard police badge during the assassination.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said Wednesday in a press conference with his visiting Albanian counterpart that "The assassin of the Russian ambassador is obviously a member of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO). There is no need to hide it."

"Where he grew up and all connections reveal this (FETO membership)," he added.

Erdogan said that the assassin's international links were being investigated by the Turkish National Intelligence Service.

On Monday, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was shot and critically wounded when he was delivering a speech at the Contemporary Arts Gallery in Ankara's central Cankaya district. Karlove died later in the hospital.
Lebanese-American Internet Freedom Advocate Starts Hunger Strike in Iran's Evin Prison

12/23/16

Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-born U.S. permanent resident and internet freedom advocate who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran in September 2015 for "espionage," has been on hunger strike since December 8, 2016 to protest his unjust sentence and the denial of medical and consular services.



Nizar Zakka



"He is innocent and wants to be released," said his U.S. lawyer, Jason Poblete, in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, adding that he has been denied access to his client's case files.

"In the meantime he wants to interact with the International Red Cross or receive some third-party medical attention because he has not been allowed to have visits with anybody," continued Poblete. "He has not been allowed to have consular services, even though he has asked for them multiple times."

"He wants to send a message that these things are happening not just to him but also to other Americans, and hopefully it will help highlight the plight of all hostages unlawfully detained in Iran," he added.

Poblete told the Campaign that Zakka is being held in a ward with political inmates at Evin Prison in Tehran, and has been occasionally allowed to contact his family by phone. "He was a healthy, active individual," he said, adding that Zakka has suffered considerable weight loss from the hunger strike.

"He has a series of other problems that I can't get into publicly, but they are serious and that is why he really needs to have an interaction with someone from the International Red Cross or consular service," continued Poblete.

Poblete also said that repeated requests through his colleague in Tehran to get copies of Zakka's court documents, including the indictment, had so far been unsuccessful due to a lack of cooperation from the Iranian authorities.

"We know what they are claiming [about engaging in espionage]," he said. "Of course that's a lie and not true. That's what the Iranian government says are the charges. But we want to see it in writing.

Based in Washington, D.C., Zakka is an internet and technology expert and founding member of the Arab ICT Organization, a regional alliance of information and communication technology organizations from 14 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The internet is heavily restricted and censored in Iran, with hardliners in the government viewing any form of internet freedom as a threat to the sanctity of the Islamic Republic.

He was arrested on September 18, 2015, three days after traveling to Tehran after being invited by Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Shahindokht Mowlaverdi to attend the International Conference & Exhibition on Women in Sustainable Development in Tehran. However, his arrest for being a "Lebanese-American spy" was not reported until two months later.

In September 2016, Zakka was found guilty of "collaboration and espionage for the U.S." by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $4.2 million USD.

Judge Salavati has also presided over many cases against dual nationals, including Amir Hekmati, Reza Abedini, and Jason Rezaian, who were released in January 2016 in a prisoner swap with the US. He is also the presiding judge in current cases against Iranian-British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Iranian-American business consultant Siamak Namazi and his father Bagher Namazi. In all these cases, the victims have been held without due process and under unclear or unannounced charges, and denied full and proper legal representation.

The Appeals Court is due to convene in January 2017 to review his case, Poblete told the Campaign.

The Revolutionary Guards' Intelligence Organization first hinted at Zakka's arrest without any mention of his name in an announcement on November 3, 2015-the day before the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran by pro-regime students.

"Several members of an infiltration network working with Western adversary governments (U.S. and U.K.) inside cyberspace and within the media in the country have been arrested," said the statement. "This action took place after months of constant and comprehensive intelligence gathering around the activities of this network."

Hours later the semi-official Mehr News Agency quoted "informed sources" saying that one of the arrestees was "Zakka, who has deep ties with the U.S. intelligence and military establishment."

The next day, the Tasnim News Agency, which is closely affiliated with Iran's security establishment, claimed Zakka had been exposed in WikiLeaks documents for alleged "contacts with the U.S. embassy in Beirut" and was seeking help from Americans in developing the internet in northern Lebanon.

Shortly after his arrest became public, some hardline news sites also posted photos of Zakka standing next to Vice President Mowlaverdi, an ally of centrist President Hassan Rouhani-who will run for re-election in May 2017-and accused her of having "contact with an American spy."

Accusing political prisoners of having ties with Western intelligence agencies is a common tactic used by Iran's security establishment and the Judiciary as justification for national security charges and to rally public opinion against the victims.
Authorities are searching for two men who tried to rob a person at gunpoint in a residential area of Jurupa Valley on Friday morning, Dec. 23.

The robbery was reported in the 2400 block of Hall Avenue in the Belltown area of Jurupa Valley about 7:20 a.m., said Riverside County Sheriffs spokesman Deputy Armando Munoz.

Two men approached the victim outside and tried to take his belongings at gunpoint, Munoz said. The suspects fled the area, prompting a search that continued an hour after the initial report.

The victim wasnt harmed in the attempted robbery.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.
A man remained at large Thursday, Dec. 22, after spitting gasoline in a Riverside bank in failed bank robbery.

UPDATE: Suspect arrested

Nobody was injured in the robbery attempt, which occurred around 4:20 p.m. at the Altura Credit Union at 3451 14th Street, said Riverside Police Department spokesman Ryan Railsback. The man ran away from the bank and officers were searching the area for him at 5 p.m., using helicopter to search from overhead.

The man entered the bank and passed a note to the teller demanding money, Railsback said. He then put gasoline from a bottle into his mouth and started spitting it, Railsback said. He also poured some gasoline on the counter.

Railsback couldnt say for sure if the man spit the gasoline at the teller or in a different direction. A glass barrier protected the teller.

Firefighters responded to the bank to check it out as a precaution, Railsback said. By the time they got there the fumes had dissipated.

This story is developing. Check back for more information.
A Wildomar man is behind bars in a Lake Elsinore attempted-carjacking case that deputies say they interrupted with the help of the suspects mother.

Nineteen-year-old Sawyer Lee Aston was apprehended during the lunch hour Thursday, Dec. 22, in the parking lot of the Walmart shopping center along the 31700 block of Grape Street.

Deputies were summoned to investigate a report of a mentally disturbed person, Sgt. Luke Torres said in a written statement.

The suspects mother called police, stating she saw him walking though the parking lotand she believed he was possibly carrying a firearm, according to the statement.

Shortly before deputies arrived, a business manager was accosted in the parking lot as he was entering his vehicle.

The suspect pressed a pistol against the managers head and demanded thekeys, Torres wrote. Deputies arrived during the crimeand took (Aston) into custody.

The pistol was found to be a semi-automatic BB gun replica.

Anyone with additional information may call deputies at 951-776-1099.
Flames destroyed a Jurupa Valley house, displacing two men near Flabob Airport, say Riverside County Fire Department officials.

The 1,000-square-foot home burned at 1:17 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, along the 3900 block of Mennes Avenue, directly up the street from the airports main entrance.

The crews of five fire engines and a ladder truck were dispatched to the incident and knocked down the fire in less than 15 minutes.
Gov. Jerry Brown has reduced the sentence of a man convicted of a 1999 gang shooting in Los Angeles County and granted pardons to 112 people.

The Democratic governors action on Friday is in keeping with his practice of granting clemency around major Christian holidays.

Brown shaved 10 years off the prison term for Louis Calderon, who was involved in a gang shooting that caused a woman to lose her eye. Calderon received a sentence of 32 years to life. Browns commutation speeds up his eligibility for parole.

Browns pardons were granted to people whose sentences were completed more than a decade ago. Most were convicted of nonviolent drug offences.

A pardon does not erase a conviction, but law enforcement.
Investigators used secretly recorded phone calls to gather evidence against the two defendants accused of murdering two Guatemalan immigrants in Riverside in 2015, a prosecutor revealed in court Friday, Dec. 23.

At the scheduled arraignment for Antoine Deshawn James and Abiance Linece Turner, Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Christopher Cook told Superior Court Judge Thomas Kelly that this is a wire case and that he would be seeking a protective order for the person who had phone conversations with at least one of the defendants.

Cook also told Judge Kelly that the prosecution would be turning over transcripts of the phone calls to the defense.

The arraignments were postponed to Jan. 6 while the Public Defenders Office researched whether the cases presented any conflicts among its lawyers and others they might represent. If so, a judge would appoint private attorneys as needed.

Before the hearing, Turner seated in the back row of the jury box wearing a blue jail jumpsuit, sometimes looked over at supporters in the gallery and smiled, almost laughing once or twice.

Those supporters declined to comment to a reporter outside the Riverside Hall of Justice afterward. But one, as she walked away, said Say hi to the snitch.

James sat quietly at the other end of the court room in a red jumpsuit, indicating that he was separated from the rest of the jail population.

James, 39, of Bakersfield, and Turner, 25, of San Diego, have each been charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of participating in a criminal street gang. The murder counts also have special circumstance allegations including the murder of a witness to a crime, committing multiple murders, committing a murder to further the activities of a criminal street gang and murder because of race, religion, or nationality.

James is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The pair were arrested Wednesday.

A third suspect, Anthony Lovell Eddington II, 24, was shot to death Wednesday by Fresno County SWAT officers who tried to arrest him in the Riverside case. Eddington was killed when he fired on officers, a sheriffs spokesman said.

The three are accused of killing Juan Bartolo, 45, and Domingo Esteban, 26, and wounding a third person on Oct. 23, 2015 at Kansas Avenue and 7th Street solely because of the victims race, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said at a news conference Thursday.

Blacks and Latino gang members have been engaging in revenge hits for years on the citys Eastside.
Two arrests were made Wednesday in separate San Bernardino shootings  an August incident that left a father of seven and his neighbor dead and his longtime girlfriend wounded and an April incident in which a man was found dead in his car.

On Wednesday, Dashawn Sloan, 18, a San Bernardino man who police say is a gang member, was arrested on 10th Street on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, booking logs show, in connection with a shooting on Aug. 27 that killed 49-year-old Harold Cook and wounded his longtime girlfriend, Dawn Chocolate Sutton, 36, and another woman, Ellen Candy Wimbish, 56.

Wimbish died Oct. 25 of complications from being wounded, police officials said. Sutton last was listed in critical condition. Her current condition is not known.

Previously, Quaid Cornell, 24, and Andre Haynes, 21, both of San Bernardino, were arrested in the case on suspicion of several felonies, including murder and attempted murder, officials said. They have pleaded not guilty.

According to police, Cornell and Haynes are also documented gang members.

The motive of the shooting is gang-related, but authorities said Wimbish was not the intended target.

The three neighbors had been talking outside their home in the 900 block of North G St. when gunshots broke out. Neighbors ran for cover as bullets peppered vehicles and portions of a two-building, six-unit apartment complex.

Witnesses at the time reported at the time seeing two or three people walking north on G Street, pass the apartment complex, stop and then start shooting, police said.

Soon after Sloans arrest, San Bernardino and Redlands police arrested Arthur Quiroz, 21, of Redlands, around 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Valencia Grove apartments in the 1300 block of Sixth Street in Redlands, according to a San Bernardino police news release. A search of the apartment revealed several firearms and ammunition.

Quiroz was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in a shooting April 19 that killed Dewayne Gemalee Phillips, 47, and is being held at Central Detention Center in lieu of $2 million bail.

The news release describes Quiroz as a local gang member on active parole for burglary and assault with a deadly weapon and with a history of trouble with the law.

Police shut down northbound Orange Street at Lugonia Avenue about 5 p.m. Wednesday to take Quiroz into custody.

Phillips was found dead in his car just before 9:30 p.m. April 19 near Blair Park, 1466 W. Marshall Blvd. in San Bernardino. Authorities say he and a female companion were drinking in an SUV when someone approached them and started firing into the vehicle. The woman was wounded.

Staff writer John M. Blodgett contributed to this story.

Contact the writer: bvalenzuela@scng.com@BeatrizVNews on Twitter
The brothers hadnt seen each other in six years.

But their physical absence from each other melted into a warm hug and smiles at Ontario International Airport on Tuesday when Oklahoma City resident Andy Magana, 46, reunited with his brother, San Francisco resident Harvey Magana, 45. Harvey was arriving on a flight for a Christmastime get-together with their mother, Maria Reyna, 66, of Playa del Rey.

Im excited, said Harvey Magana, a Navy veteran who works in customer support for Prezi presentation software. I cant wait. Its been six years since Ive been down here. I look forward to catching some sun and catching up with my brother and the family.

The sun part might not work out.

PHOTOS: Passengers Arrive at Ontario Airport For The Holidays

I already have ideas on which types of photos will have Mom and the brothers, just brothers, all the men, all the ladies and then the whole family, he said.

Andy Magana, a former Navy corpsman and now an information technology specialist supporting Tinker Air Force Base, arrived in Southern California from Oklahoma on Sunday night after an 18-hour drive through the Southwest, leaving behind 10-degree weather and winter coats for what was that day California sunshine and lighter apparel.

He and his mom convened in Ontario to meet Harvey Magana, who flew in.

I think its really nice that Im able to see my brothers face to face, and have my mom and for her to be able to see her kids at their stages in life now that were all grown in our 40s, have families and are already established in our careers and just see that fruit, that basket of people that she had brought up, Andy Magana said.

Wistfully, he added, Who knows when well be able to do this again.

As that family reunion played out near ONTs baggage claim area, nearby, another Southern California mother, Tammy Hinger, 48, of La Puente was eager to hug her son, Branden Tyler Hinger, after his arrival. Hinger was home for the holidays from basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

Its very exciting because we dont know what the future holds, Tammy Hinger said. After boot camp, hell go to Virginia for his schooling, and then well see.

Tammy Hinger is looking forward to spoiling her son with all of his favorite foods.

Were going to have some get-togethers, she said. Hes requested tamales.

Fresh tamales are a far cry from the meals ready to eat issued by the Army, Branden Tyler Hinger said.

It feels good to be home, he said. I miss the weather. It was 25 degrees (at the airport in Oklahoma).

Another Fort Sill Army private, Adrian Villa, 24, of Bakersfield, was happy to be greeted at the airport by his wife, Mercedes Villa, and their children  Julian, 4, and Elise, 1  and his father, Louie Villa.

Basic training forced Adrian Villa to miss his daughters first birthday. Arriving back in his home state was a bit of a culture shock.

Its a different feeling not having a drill sergeant in your area and having the freedom to do whatever you want, Adrian Villa said. I miss my family, and I miss the warmer weather of California, for sure.

Louie Villa stood nearby, recording on his phone the reunion between his son and his family.

Its a proud feeling to see him in uniform, serving our great country, Louie Villa said.

Officials at Ontario International Airport expect 155,000 passengers to pass through its gates during the holiday travel season running from Friday to Jan. 3. The figure marks a 5.5 percent increase from last year.

Contact the writer: nnisperos@scng.com@ReporterNeil on Twitter
Prisoners have taken control of part of a wing at a prison in Kent with between 60 and 80 inmates involved, according to a BBC report on Dec 22.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) said there was an "ongoing disturbance" at the category B training prison HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey.

The Prison Service said it was dealing with "an incident" contained to a landing on the jail's A Wing.

POA chairman Mike Rolfe said the extent of the disturbance was unclear but fires had been lit.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "The Prison Service is dealing with an incident involving 60 prisoners at HMP Swaleside.

"The incident is contained to one landing on A Wing. The rest of the prison is secure with all prisoners in locked in cells."

The BBC's Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the disturbance had now been contained but prisoners were refusing to go back into their cells.

He said at least 60 and possibly as many as 80 inmates were involved.

Specially trained guards known as "Tornado" squads have been deployed to Swaleside, the Prison Service said.

The squads were also used to quell a riot last week when inmates rioted for more than 12 hours at Birmingham prison.

Prisoners set fires, stole keys to residential areas from a guard and one inmate was seriously injured.

Up to 240 prisoners were moved following the riot, but the Ministry of Justice has not commented on whether any were shipped to Swaleside.

The prison has a capacity of about 1,100 inmates serving terms of more than four years.

The category B facility gives inmates access to education and training.

An HM Inspectorate of Prisons report in July described the prison as "dangerous" and found levels of violence were "far too high", with many of the incidents classed as serious.
Traders in jewellery and hair products at the Makola Market have expressed satisfaction with the increase in sales this festive season compared to that of previous years.



Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Madam Charlotte Quaye, a trader in jewellery, said business was booming and she was happy customers were patronising her products despite complaints about financial challenges.



Mr Thomas Asante, another jewellery dealer, said sales had increased rapidly this festive season as most men came to the shop with their wives and children to buy for them.



He expressed optimism that business would continue to blossom in the coming years.



The GNA also observed that customers were buying more of hair products during its market survey.



According to Abena Osei, a trader in hair products, some of the customers bought in bulk or retail according to their needs and expressed optimism of making a fortune from her sales this season.



Meanwhile Mr Larwe King of T. Chandirams and Company Ghana Limited, who deals in plastics materials including chairs, laundry baskets, hair rollers, ice cooler and bowls also expressed content about the sales.



Traders in shoes, bags and childrens clothes also expressed fulfillment about better sales this season.



However, food stuff sellers especially in tomato were disappointed with the sales in the market saying though there were many people in the market they were not patronising the food stuffs.



Fredrick Abubakar, who deals in livestock, said business was better last year than this year because customers only asked for the price of the animals and moved on without buying.



Others are asking for a far cheaper price which may reduce my capital base if granted, he added.



Mr Kwamena Kusi, a dealer in mens African wear, complained of low sales this year as compared to satisfactory sales in previous years.







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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Ghanas president-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has underscored the need to take a second look at the siting of gas filling stations across the country in the wake of Thursdays gas explosion that left five people dead on the spot.

Five persons were burnt to death while dozens sustained various degrees of injury from a gas explosion at the Louis Gas Station behind the Accra International Trade Fair Centre at Labadi. It is not clear what triggered the explosion which occurred at about 5:50pm Thursday, and took about two hours for fire fighters to bring the raging inferno under control.

Moments after Thursdays explosion, Nana Akufo-Addo took to Facebook to express his condolences to the families of the bereaved, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He said the latest explosion has brought to the fore the need to relook at where gas filling stations should sited, as well as ensure the enforcement and adherence to safety regulations.

It is about time we take a second look at the citing of gas stations in our country, and ensure the strict enforcement of, and adherence to safety regulations, so as to forestall the occurrence of any more of such avoidable incidents, he stated.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has instituted robust measures to fight the importation of fire crackers popularly known as knockout which distract pubic peace during Christmas.



This was revealed by Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Director- General of Operations of the Ghana Police during the official launch of the forces security initiative dubbed: Operation Father Christmas 2016.



He said the Police has observed that, despite the numerous initiatives championed to clear the products from the Ghanaian market, some traders were still importing and selling them.



The police administration views this development with serious concern and will clamp down on any individual or group of persons who import and sell such fire crackers, Mr Tetteh Yohuno said.



The initiative which was launched in Accra on Wednesday aims at ensuring public safety throughout the Christmas season.

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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Mariam is the daughter of Gambia's president, Yahya Jammeh, who has refused to step down despite losing the December 1 election.

Read the post published on Facebook by one Retsam Chambali.

Her Instagram page is private.



"Mariam Yaya jammeh, Daughter of Thief, Pathological Liar, Murderer, Rapist, Bully, Outgoing President Yaya Jammeh. Yall can see she is about living the lavish lifestyle her dad stole from the hardworked money of Gambians. Sippin' that Vodka Absolute, rolling with 50 bucks notes and hanging in yachts and private jets. My little brother who is her age is back in Gambia living in fear, desperate about life and not knowing what the future holds for him. Waiting for that one person who's gonna come on my post telling me she is innocent and imma shove my phone up in your A*s."

Source: Linda Ikejis blog









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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Residents in communities close to the Ghana/Burkina Faso border in the Upper West region are fear gripped following reports that a tiger has killed two people including a Fulani herdsman.



The tiger is believed to have escaped from a game reserve in Burkina Faso.



Kasapa News Musah Lansah reported that the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Gum Kofi Duaka has been touring the said affected communities seeking to verify the reports.



He said the DCE after touring the communities couldnt confirm whether it was a tiger or a lion because the account given from the indigenes lack consistency.



The DCE has called the police and other security personnel to visit the communities to investigate the incident.

Source: kasapafmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Kumasi Metropolis is likely to experience stampede if city authorities fail to clear traders from pavements and road side in the central business district.



The Central Business District of Kumasi is choked with vehicles and humans competing for space.



Commuters have to struggle and meander their way through long-winding queues of intense human traffic.



Traders have also taken over pavements to sell their goods leaving pedestrians virtually no space to walk.



The situation which is becoming a ritual during the festive season has worsened due to the barricade that has been erected to ward the public off the ongoing redevelopment of the Kejetia bus terminal.



Some commuters fear the traffic situation if not checked by city authorities could result in a stampede or suffocation.



Meanwhile the PRO of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Godwin Nyame says they are in discussion with the Urban Roads to find possible solution to the situation.

Source: 3news.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A Soldier, Corporal Agbo has been nabbed for allegedly carrying narcotic drugs suspected to be marijuana, commonly known as wee.



The junior rank officer, was busted by the National Highway Patrol Team of the Ghana Police Service at Asutuare as he was transporting the banned substance from Kpando in the Volta. Hes said to be engaged in the illicit act with a senior officer.



In a video available to Kasapafmonline.com the suspect, Cpl. Agbo is seen handcuffed to the seat of the police 4x 4 vehicle passionately begging the police officers to forgive him. He further makes a telephone call to a police officer friend informing him of his arrest.



As he was being filmed by the police officers, he is heard pleading with them to stop the act, as the video could be leaked into the media.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to politicians to allow officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) the free hand to operate.



They should stop meddling  interfering with the work of the education authorities.



The acting National President of the Association, Ms. Philippa Larsen, was delivering a goodwill message at a festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held at the GNAT Village in Abankro in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.



She used the occasion to remind teachers to continue to give it their all to raise the quality of education.

They should uphold professional ethics, show strong commitment and passion for the job, she added.

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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Maverick Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has promised to stay away from insults as soon as Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, is sworn in as President of the country.



The MP has been known for vilifying government officials for what he describes as engaging in corrupt deals and using their positions to inflate figures for infrastructure projects.



Chief amongst his act was his calling the Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor an asshole and raining insults on Madam Charlotte Osei, Chairperson for the Electoral Commission for their inactions.



His actions have been condemned by critics and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and described as being in bad taste, not healthy for Ghanas body politics.



However, speaking on Adom TV on Tuesday morning, Kennedy Agyapong, promised not to repeat such actions in NPPs government because he is sure the incoming government will not give him cause to talk.



He disclosed that his attacking personality was intentional and was devised to talk the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of their lies and corruption.



They were bloating figures for contracts and misapplying monies meant to develop the country, hence they needed to be checked and my attitude towards them was part of the checks, he said.



The Assin Central MP, said he has information that the officials of the NDC are building hotels and other personal projects with the monies they transferred into some developed countries.



But he assured that the NPP government will track all those monies and bring them back into the country for development.



Kenedy Agyapong thence appealed to those who will be lucky to get positions in the new government to think of building Ghana and not their pockets.



That way, the NDC will never come to power with the intention of milking the nation, he added.

Source: myradio360.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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You dont set your succeeding administration up to fail because if it doesnt work, it affects all of usMr. President, I think youve done so well from the time you lost, the concession and so forth; I dont think you want to destroy all that you have done with these rather avoidable mistakes youre committing in the last few days", a leading member of the People's National Convention (PNC) has remarked.



Expressing worry over the Mahama government's last minute appointments of persons to key State institutions coupled with the signing of contracts and other decisions by the outgoing government, Atik Mohammed, General Secretary of the PNC strongly believed President John Mahama and the NDC government is setting a trap for the successive government to fail.



The out-going government has increased the allowance of National Service personnel which is to take effect from next year, under the leadership of the President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.



But speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Atik wondered why the outgoing government would now take some decisions which they know would have an adverse impact on the next government.



He held strongly that it's an unfair treatment by the government to Nana Addo's administration.



You dont set your succeeding administration up to fail because if it doesnt work, it affects all of usMr. President, I think youve done so well from the time you lost, the concession and so forth; I dont think you want to destroy all that you have done with these rather avoidable mistakes youre committing in the last few days," he advised.



Also speaking on the programme, the Member of Parliament-elect for Bongo in the Upper East Region, Edward Abambire Bawa wished the President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo well as he awaits his swearing-in on Saturday, January 7, 2016.



He called on the outgoing government to support Nana Addo to succeed in his endeavors as fifth President of the Republic.



I wish the incoming government well. I hope that these promises are met because if actually these promises are met, it will be to the betterment of the nation. It is our duty to also ensure that we help them to achieve those things, he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi /Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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After several tense hours, the stand-off between the authorities and Libyan plane hijackers in Malta has thankfully ended peacefully.

All 118 people on board, passengers and crew, were removed from the plane completely unharmed, as were the hijackers.

ICYMI last night: a plane, which was travelling from domestically from Sebha in south-west Libya to Tripoli on the north coast, was hijacked by two men with a grenade and pistols.

The aircraft, carrying 111 passengers and 7 crew members, was landed in Malta, entered into a terse negotiation with police.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has now publicly confirmed that all passengers and crew were removed from the plane, and the hijackers had been taken into custody.

Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

Muscat had tweeted progress of the operation through the entire incident, including regular updates of how many were left on board as buses regularly arrived to take a few hostages at a time back to the airport.

The PM confirmed that police have actually been able to question the Libyan hijackers, and also confirmed that many of the weapons they brought on the plane were convincing replicas.

Initial forensic exams now showing weapons used in Afriqiyah hijack are replicas.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

A motive for the hijacking has still not yet been established: Libyan media reports that the men were part of a new pro-Gaddafi political group, while other reports say the two men were seeking asylum in Malta due to it being a European nation.

Initial reports of the story said that the allegedly pro-Gaddafi hijackers had threatened to blow up the plane unless their demands were fulfilled, but their demands were never made clear.

Authorities have confirmed that a full investigation into the incident will go down to establish the cause.

Source: ABC.

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi / Times Of Malta.
A passenger jet believed to be carrying 118 people has been forced to land in Malta, after being hijacked in Libyan airspace.

Its believed the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 was travelling between Sebha and Tripoli when an allegedly pro-[Muammar] Gaddafi hijacker intervened.

The hijacker claims to have a grenade onboard, and has offered to let the 111 passengers free if their demands are met. Its not yet apparent what those demands are.

The hijacked flight #8U209 is still standing on the runway at Malta Airport https://t.co/2elhRGzLDT pic.twitter.com/p21GjKiCUv  Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 23, 2016

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat issued a statement on the diverted flight, saying security personnel are in attendance on the ground:

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

Well update this story as it develops.

Source: RT / BBC / Times Of Malta.

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi / Times Of Malta.
Prince Charles has made some incredibly big comments on a recent episode of BBCs Radio 4 program, Thought of the Day.

In the 4-minute segment, the Prince of Wales speaks about global attitudes toward immigrants, and the Islamophobic attitudes. He speaks about similar attitudes being popular in the 1930s, and expresses concern about the world not learning from the unspeakable tragedies of the Holocaust.

We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world that are increasingly aggressive towards those who adhere to a minority faith. All of this has deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s. I was born in 1948  just after the end of World War II in which my parents generation had fought, and died, in a battle against intolerance, monstrous extremism and an inhumane attempt to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe. That, nearly 70 years later, we should still be seeing such evil persecution is, to me, beyond all belief. We owe it to those who suffered and died so horribly not to repeat the horrors of the past.

Charles also likens the plight of modern-day refugees to that of Mary and Joseph fleeing in the story of the Nativity, calling for people to consider this over Christmas:

Normally, at Christmas, we think of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder, though, if this year we might remember how the story of the Nativity unfolds  with the fleeing of the Holy Family to escape violent persecution.

Charles makes these statements mere months after the Brexit referendum, which saw a large amount of anti-migrant slogans and imagery in the winning campaign to leave the European Union.

While his opinion is not particularly outlandish, the fact that a Royal said it post-Brexit, and on a public broadcaster, is huge, and immediately received backlash from UK politicians.

UKIP member of the European parliament Gerard Batten said that Prince Charles was wrong to speak against the popular view of the United Kingdoms citizens:

It is unwarranted and unwise for the heir to a hereditary monarchy to criticise democratic politicians whose policies are popular with the general public. Instead of seeing non-existent phantoms for the 1930s, Prince Charles should recognise that the biggest threat to our liberal democracy is Islamo-fascism. The pawns of Islamo-facism drive lorries into peaceful crowds, blow up innocent people on their way to work, and perpetrate the sexual abuse of non-Muslim girls on an industrial scale.

To read Prince Charles entire 4-minute segment, head here: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04m6l3z

Source: BBC Radio 4.

Photo: Max Mumby / Getty.
Free tampon vending machines are set to roll out across Queensland thanks to local charity Share the Dignity.

Speaking to the Brisbane Times, Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay said the Pink Box vending machines will ensure that every woman who is experiencing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence will have one less thing to worry about  and that will be experiencing her period without having the basic necessities.

Each pack will contain two pads and four tampons, and will also have the 1800 RESPECT number printed inside, providing a neat  and discreet  way to provide support to women who may be in dangerous situations.

When asked about the possibility of thieves targeting the machines, Courtenay revealed that the Pink Boxes have a 10-minute timer on them, so if a woman is really in need and she wants to wait in the bathroom for an hour and get six packs, then she really probably needs it.

Share the Dignity, founded last year in an attempt to make life just a little easier for women in very tough circumstances, has plans to install the vending machines in homeless hubs, domestic violence refuges and courthouses and where we deem it appropriate elsewhere it will help women.

After that whole debacle about the tampon tax, its nice to see some actual, measurable action taking place, that will have a positive impact on a lot of womens lives. Look out for the Pink Box vending machines in Fortitude Valley, the Southport domestic violence court, the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Townsville.

Source: Brisbane Times.

Image: Mick de Brenni / Facebook.
Western Australia police have formally charged a 48-year-old man with the murder of two Claremont women in the 1990s, bringing some semblance of finality to Australias longest-running and most-expensive murder investigation.

Earlier, reports indicated that police had arrested someone in connection with the case. But WA police commissioner Karl OCallaghan has since formally announced the arrest and charge, asserting that police investigators never gave up on the case.

There is still much work to be done, but this has already been the biggest and most complex police investigation in WA history. Hundreds of police officers have worked on this case over the 20 years. Operation Macro has been a massive body of work involving thousands and thousands of investigative actions. The commitment of the WA police and its officers have never wavered. We never gave up.

The man has been charged with the abduction and murder of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon, both of whom disappeared from the Claremont area over a 14-month period spanning 1996 and 1997.

Police will also allege that the man abducted and sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl in 1995, as well as entering the bedroom of, and attacking, an 18-year-old girl in 1988.

A third murder, that of teenager Sarah Spiers, remains an open case. Spiers disappeared on January 27, 1996. Her body has never been found. Commissioner OCallaghan was at pains to stress that investigators are still actively working her case.

I should point out that the investigation into the disappearance and suspected murder of Sarah Spiers on January 27, 1996, is ongoing, as are inquiries into other matters.

I want to pay tribute to the Sarah Spiers, Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer families and the victim of the 1995 attack for their patience and understanding during the investigation.

Source: ABC News.

Photo: Supplied.
Twitter is a confusing element to add to your social media marketing mix, if you dont know what youre doing.

Thousands of blog posts advise the fresh Twitter meat to use relevant hashtags to connect with like-minded individuals. Others advise engaging your followers by holding polls about things relevant to your industry. The important thing, these Twitter experts say, is to engage your followers. You only get out of it what you put in, after all.

None of this, however, explains why in the living fuck would Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano would have a Twitter bot to thank each and every new follower without @-ing them in the first place.

Hey laura ?? thanks for the follow!  Gina Liano (@Gina_Liano) December 23, 2016

It just does not make sense.

Hey ??? thanks for the follow!  Gina Liano (@Gina_Liano) December 23, 2016

How? How can these people even see that youve tweeted them, Gina? What kind of engagement are you getting?

Hey Alexi thanks for the follow!  Gina Liano (@Gina_Liano) December 23, 2016

NOT. A. CLUE.

But heres a free lesson in Social Media 101: Some people  and theres always a few  some people on the internet are utterly depraved human beings and cant even see an innocent, ill-advised Twitter bot without trying to fuck the whole thing up.

We alert your attention to the following Gina tweets:

Hey my clit is moist AF thanks for the follow!  Gina Liano (@Gina_Liano) December 23, 2016

Hey cliddy fugga thanks for the follow!  Gina Liano (@Gina_Liano) December 22, 2016

Obviously whoevers managing Ginas Twitter account caught these ones early one, but screenshots are the herpes of the internet and stick around forever.

SOCIAL MEDIA LESSON #224: Never set up a Twitter auto reply bot pic.twitter.com/c4MSdkXcAc  Petra Starke (@petstarr) December 23, 2016

Guys. Turn off the bot already. Or dont, and lets ride this one out till the new year.

UPDATE: Oh no, its happened again.

Photo: Getty / Don Arnold.
Byron Bay.

What a place.

Surf and sand, rainforest and rigs, bellbottom jeans and babes with blunt-cut fringes are just some of the delights of the coastal NSW town.

A photo posted by Annie Tarasova (@annietarasova) on Dec 21, 2016 at 1:18pm PST

Every year, hundreds of city slickers descend on Byron to attend Falls Festival over New Years. Some of them, so enchanted with the lifestyle, never leave.

If you find yourself with a ticket to Falls, or even just some spare time this summer to explore, heres a guide on what you must see, do and eat at one of the true gems in Australias coastal crown. (Just promise you wont Instagram it and hashtag #byronbae, orite? Ta.)

WHERE TO STAY

Byron at Byron (LUXE, $442 pn)

77-97 Broken Head Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by thebyronatbyron (@thebyronatbyron) on Nov 29, 2016 at 8:51pm PST

Byron at Byron is the kinda joint youd go to when you cash in a really boonta tax return; its a 4.6 star resort set within 18 hectares of sub-tropical forest. Luscious pools, 10/10 service and incredible surrounds make this a once-in-a-lifetime accom option.

Its not the kinda joint youd host a post-Falls kick on at, but if you want to really treat oself to a tropical getaway, this is the ticket.

The Atlantic Hotel (MIDLEVEL, $220  $445 pn)

13 Marvell St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by ATLANTIC BYRON BAY (@atlanticbyronbay) on Dec 21, 2016 at 12:05am PST

A quick read of their website description may have you reaching for your credit card:

The Atlantic Byron Bay is a lifestyle hotel. The perfect combination of location and style surrounded by swaying palm trees and the sound of the ocean. The Atlantic is the perfect getaway for couples with cafes, shops and white sandy beaches all steps from your deck. Soak up the sun on the lawn, hide under a palm tree and enjoy the balmy evenings by the fire pit. Cast off your bags and start making moments at your home way from home.

White wooden-floored shanty, linen-drapped beds and landscaped surrounds make The Atlantic so darn Instagrammable it hurts.

Byron Bungalow on Airbnb (CHEAP CHEAP, $110 pn)

Address upon request

God bless you, Airbnb, always coming through with the goods. This lil private Byron Bungalow is up for grabs, and for dirt cheap. You can do a spot of yoga on the balcony, or take a chill pill and sit in the suspended egg chair. Its doggo friendly, too.

WHERE TO GET GRUB

St Elmo Dining Room & Bar

22 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by St Elmo Dining Room & Bar (@stelmobyronbay) on Dec 17, 2016 at 9:00pm PST

Tapas and creative cocktails make St Elmos a choice choice. You gotta try the Ensalada de queso a la plancha, with grilled local halloumi, confit tomato, smoked eggplant puree, dehydrated olives & baby leaves.

Miss Margarita

2 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Mexican Cantina // Cocktails (@missmargarita_cantina) on Nov 2, 2015 at 9:52pm PST

If you like nachos, you will like Miss Margarita. Colourful decor, stunningly fresh fare and good vibes are all on offer. Happy hour is daily from 5  6pm 

Dip Cafe

Bogarts 3 Byron Bay, 1/21-25 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Jess (@jessb_1986) on Sep 10, 2015 at 11:20pm PDT

If youre absolutely done with overly-garnished, deconstructed fancy cafe food, and youre after solid, honest meal, look no further. From BLTs to eggs Benedict, Dip bar is a goodun.

The Mez Club

4/85-87 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by The Mez Club (@themezclub) on Nov 17, 2016 at 6:40pm PST

So damn dreamy. A visit to The Mez Club is worth it to experience the atmosphere alone. That said, its got so much more to offer. Sunday sessions are its specialty. Its very Byron, with white-painted timber floors and floor-to-ceiling doors that open up to the unbeatable Byron sunshine. They do salad, seafood and fresh wraps real good.

Balcony Bar

Cnr of Lawson and Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Balcony Bar & Oyster Co (@balconybyronbay) on Nov 22, 2016 at 10:28pm PST

Absolutely postable brunch and fresh af cocktails in a breezy, airy setting? Tick. Theyre renowned for their freshly-chucked oysters, so prepare to suck em back quick and fast, folks.

Bayleaf Cafe

87/8 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Bayleaf cafe Byron Bay (@bayleafcafe) on Dec 13, 2016 at 1:58am PST

Google reckons this place has a hip vibe. Theyre not wrong. One review reads:

All of the people in Bayleaf were amazing! I had cafe latte and their elixir made of coconut water, ginger and other things and it was like healthy bomb! Definitely place with a vibe! Thank you Bayleaf for what you are doing!

The Top Shop

65 Carlyle St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by TIFFAINE BOUTELOUP ? (@tiffainebp) on Nov 8, 2016 at 2:07am PST

This laid back joint boasting Single Origin coffee, if youre a Melburnite who froths on their beans, youll need to make a pitstop. Cant go past their famous brekky burger, too.

The Roadhouse

6/142 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Fresh Local Organic (@roadhousebyronbay) on Dec 6, 2016 at 9:45pm PST

If rustic is your vibe, check this place out. Cocktails with more garnishes than you can poke a stick at, almond-topped muffins and warming bean-in-pot dishes are part and parcel of the Roadhouse experience.

WHERE TO DROP SOME CASHOLA

Nikau Store

2/30 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by ?? N I K A U (@nikau.store) on Nov 2, 2016 at 3:44am PDT

Opened a matter of weeks ago, Nikau is a wonderland of greenery and ceramic homewares. According to their insta, the store has dropped right outta Pinterests butt  and its a lovely result.

11:11

3/20 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by 11:11 (@1111oclockbyronbay) on Dec 4, 2016 at 2:01pm PST

Right next door to Nikau is Byron stalwart 11:11, stocking luxe Aussie basics brands like The Bare Road and In Your Arms. (While writing this I couldnt resist but buy a khaki playsuit straight off their website. The curation is bloody beaut.)

Liberty Trading Co.

2/1 Marvell St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Liberty Trading Co. (@libertytradingco) on Aug 11, 2016 at 1:46am PDT

Linens, homewares and luxe body products are some of Libertys strong points. If youre into candles of every flavour and persuasion, you will froth this place.

Unplugged Byron Bay

2 Lawson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Unplugged Byron Bay (@unplugged_byronbay) on Nov 24, 2016 at 8:39pm PST

Unplugged is proper cool. Retro-inspired art, fashion, music and icons adorn the walls of the place. Male or female, your thread needs will be met here.

Ahoy Trader

1/3 Marvell St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Ahoy Trader (@ahoytrader) on Dec 19, 2016 at 10:28pm PST

Youve no doubt seen Ahoy Traders famous tiles before. Theyre ubiquitous even in the capital cities; regardless of their religious beliefs, many a blogger have one of these hanging on their bedroom wall.

Spell

15 Browning St, Byron Bay

A photo posted by SPELL (@spell_byronbay) on Nov 29, 2016 at 1:34am PST

Probably the most iconic Byron store; Spell does luxe boho like no one else. If youre after a kaftan thatd make even the most lives-in-Brighton-but-has-a-holiday-house-in-Portsea mum go ooh Hun whered you get that from?, look no further. (Mimi Elashiry is a yuge fan.)

Enzo and Toto

Shop 2 /15-19 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Enzo and Toto, Byron Bay ???? (@enzoandtoto) on Dec 22, 2016 at 3:17pm PST

Earthy tones and natural textures are abundant at locals fave, Enzo and Toto. Theyve got a personal shopper service too, so if youre willing to fork over some cash and your taste to a fashion-savvy stranger, this is the place to do it.

Miss Brown Vintage

15/19 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by Miss Brown Vintage Byron Bay (@missbrownvintagebyronbay) on Dec 19, 2016 at 8:43pm PST

Sorting through the endless rubbish at your local Savers is a task and a half, and theres no worse feeling than leaving the mega-mart empty handed. Curated vintage pieces are Miss Brown Vintages game, with high-waisted, perfect-wash jeans and leather goods a specialty.

Byron Bay Farmers Market

Butler St, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A photo posted by SPELL (@spell_byronbay) on Jul 24, 2016 at 11:33pm PDT

Once a month, Byrons farmers marker really turns it on. Its a good way to see how the locals really live. Between the overflowing fresh food goodness lies a few brilliant little clothing stores you cant miss.

Theres plenty more to explore in this barefooted wonderland  but youve gotta take your shoes off and make the trek to discover it for yourself.

Photo: @spell_byronbay / Instagram.
eggnog

Reports of an eggnog shortage circulated after the Wall Street Journal reported record eggnog sales are projected to lead to shortages by Christmas Day.

(Sue Gleiter, PennLive)

Drink up! Despite reports of a possible eggnog shortage, at least one manufacturer with ties to central Pennsylvania says not to worry.

Rest assured, you can raise a toast of eggnog this holiday.

"Turkey Hill personally is not going to run out of eggnog," said Andrea Nikolaus, public relations coordinator with the Turkey Hill Dairy in Lancaster County. "We have no projections of running out."

Reports of an eggnog shortage circulated after the Wall Street Journal reported record eggnog sales are projected to lead to shortages by Christmas Day.

Organic Valley's brand manager Eric Snowdeal, told the Wall Street Journal it is "having a record-setting eggnog season,"

Its eggnog sales are up 60 percent over the last year, compared with a 5 percent increases in recent years.

Another eggnog producer, Ronnybrook Farm Dairy of Pine Plains, N.Y., said in the story it underestimated demand by 25 percent --leading the company to expect a shortage of the drink this year.

Much like pumpkin spice's popularity, eggnog is fast becoming a favorite winter flavor. Many manufacturers - take Starbucks eggnog latte and IHOP's eggnog pancakes - are promoting the flavor.

"A lot of people love these limited-edition flavors companies ourselves are incorporating more and more each year. And, I think it's something to look forward to," Nikolaus said.

Eggnog is a creamy drink made from milk, cream and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg as well as eggs which generally has been pasteurized for safety. Along with their iced teas, Turkey Hill Dairies manufactures eggnog as well as an eggnog ice cream.

Nikolaus said Turkey Hill anticipated higher-than-usual demand and produced more eggnog this year. Sales are comparable to last year, she added.

"Eggnog, overall, is being more accepted. It is getting right back up there with the pumpkin pie phase. It's one of those flavors," Nikolaus said.

Weis Markets spokesman Dennis Curtin said its stores are stocked with plenty of eggnog which sells through about Jan. 1. He emphasized the chain has had zero reports from suppliers about disruptions with supplies.

"We sell an enormous quantity of eggnog and always have had no supply issues," Curtin said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture oversees restaurant inspections in the state. Inspection reports are "snapshots" of the day and time the inspections took place. In many cases, violations are corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving.

The following restaurants and other establishments in Lebanon County that handle food were inspected during the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3 and were recorded as of Dec. 9.

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Dec. 2

DOLLAR GENERAL STORE #809

62 N. LONDONDERRY SQUARE, PALMYRA

Regular inspection.

Six 14-oz. containers of low-fat chocolate milk offered for sale past sell-by dates (Oct 21 and Nov 12, 2016).

MYERSTOWN VFW POST# 6076

410 W. MAIN AVE., MYERSTOWN

Regular inspection.

Open tray of rodenticide in the rear area not labeled by the manufacturer as approved for use in a food facility.

Dec. 1

DOLLAR TREE #458

833 E. WALNUT ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Severely dented, distressed canned items on display in the food facility.

FRATELLI AMATO A&M PIZZA RESTAURANT

1705 E. CUMBERLAND ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Rodenticides in the rear area not labeled by the manufacturer as approved for use in a food facility; food facility inspection indicates evidence of mouse activity in various areas, but facility does not have a pest control program that effectively controls or prevents access.

Nov. 30

HEBRON CATERING & EVENTS

701 E. WALNUT ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Several food-contact surfaces, such as knives and a plastic container, had food residue and were not clean to sight and touch; non-food-contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil.

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN

1505 CUMBERLAND ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Food employee certification is displayed, but the individual is no longer employed by the food establishment; food employees in prep area not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard covers; loose rubber door gaskets on the freezer door cooling unit; sheet pans, cooking equipment/pans in the clean dish area had encrusted grease and soil accumulation; floor/wall/ceiling in the kitchen area made of cement blocks, not a durable, smooth, non-porous, non-absorbent material, and have mold on them; Ansul system and fire extinguishers not inspected.

LIBERTY SQUARE CAFE

447 N. NINTH ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Food facility does not employ a certified employee as required -- an employee has not attended an approved training class and has not applied for certification.

PORCH

890 TULPEHOCKEN ROAD, MYERSTOWN

Regular inspection.

Non-food-contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil.

Nov. 29

CUMBERLAND CAFE & RESTAURANT

714 CUMBERLAND ST., LEBANON

Complaint inspection.

Cigarettes, cigarette butts, ashtray found in the doorway in the kitchen area; food employees in prep area not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard covers; wet wiping cloths in prep area not being stored in sanitizer solution; bedding and clothing materials in the food facility, indicating use of the food facility as living or sleeping quarters; ceiling tiles missing in the kitchen area.

HACC

735 CUMBERLAND ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Food facility lost its certified supervisory employee more than three months ago and has not replaced the certified employee as required.

Nov. 28

GOODWILL FIRE CO. #1

155 W. MAIN AVE., MYERSTOWN

Regular inspection.

Drains from the tap system and condenser in the walk-in cooler do not have an air gap indirect drain; drain line leaking in the basement area (not a food-storage area).

TWIN KISS

361 W. LINCOLN AVE., MYERSTOWN

Regular inspection.

Raw shell-eggs stored over ready-to-eat food in walk-in cooler; water-softener salt stored such that the bags can become dirty and pose the risk of contamination of the water system when the salt is put in the brine tank; food-contact surfaces of plastic containers and covers not smooth, easily cleanable and/or resistant to pitting, cracking or scratching; light intensity in the food preparation area not at least 50 foot-candles

Establishments with no violations.

Dec. 2

K-VILLE HOTEL & TAVERN

2647 HEIDELBERG AVE., KLEINFELTERSVILLE

Opening inspection.

Dec. 1

AMERICAN LEGION POST #910

75 FISHER AVE., JONESTOWN

Regular inspection.

GOURMET'S PANTRY

35 S. EIGHTH ST., (MARKET) LEBANON

Regular inspection.

JONESTOWN AMERICAN LEGION

334 N. LANCASTER ST., JONESTOWN

Regular inspection.

KEENER POULTRY

35 S. EIGHTH ST. (MARKET) LEBANON

Regular inspection.

S. CLYDE WEAVER

35 S. EIGHTH ST. (MARKET) LEBANON

Regular inspection.

ZIG'S BAKERY & DELI LLC

35 S. EIGHTH ST. (MARKET) LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Nov. 30

LATIN AMERICAN SUPERMARKET

429 N NINTH ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

LIBERTY FIRE CO.

509 N. NINTH ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

STEPPIN' OUT

1 W. MAIN ST., NEWMANSTOWN

Regular inspection.

Nov. 29

ITALIAN VILLAGE PIZZA, USA

2 LEHMAN ST., LEBANON

Regular inspection.

Nov. 28

TONY'S ON MARKET

333 W. MARKET ST., JONESTOWN

Change-of-owner inspection.
J.C. Lee | jlee@pennlive.com

Holiday cups, black Santa and a 'Charlie Brown' tree: 7 controversies surrounding Christmas

The holiday season is no stranger to controversies, from the design on Starbucks holiday-themed cups to the introduction of a black Santa at a mall in Minnesota. Heres a look back at some of the things that people thought would put a damper on Christmas throughout the years.

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Starbucks' new cup is displayed, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, in New York. One week before Election Day, Starbucks has unveiled a new cup in the U.S. that it said is meant to be "a symbol of unity." The green cup features a mosaic of more than 100 people, including a coffee farmer and barista. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The designs on Starbucks' holiday cups

Starbucks came under fire for their holiday cups again this year. The green design of their limited-edition holiday cups in November featured graphic designer Shogo Ota's illustration of 100 people all drawn together with a single line. They include a coffee farmer, a barista and a family.

The green cup and the design represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customer, said Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO of Starbucks. During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values and the need to be good to each other.

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FILE - This Dec. 20, 2010 file photo shows signage at a Starbucks store in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

The designs on Starbucks' holiday cups

However, some critics said that the Seattle-based coffee company tried to exclude any references to Christmas from their packaging, according to Snopes. Some went so far as to say its green color promotes Islam.

The controversy echoed a similar one in 2015 when Starbucks released an all-red holiday cup. It didnt have any symbols besides the companys green-and-white-colored logo, which critics believed was an attempt at Christian cleansing.

"In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cup designs," according a news release from Starbucks. "This year, we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories."

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A barista reaches for a red paper cup as more, with cardboard liners already attached, line the top of an espresso machine at a Starbucks coffee shop in the Pike Place Market, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Seattle. It's as red as Santa's suit, a poinsettia blossom or a loud Christmas sweater. Yet Starbucks' minimalist new holiday coffee cup has set off complaints that the chain is making war on Christmas. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The designs on Starbucks' holiday cups

Another controversy in 2011 had critics decrying the illustration of a nutcracker on their holiday cups, which they said looked like the Guy Fawkes mask, according to The Washington Post. Back then, the image of Guy Fawkes was commonly associated with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Starbucks responded by saying that it was just a coincidence.

The company's practice of using holiday cups dates back to 1997, according to Snopes.

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(ZaZa Studio / Shutterstock.com)

Saying 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas'

This controversy roared back to life earlier this year when President-elect Donald Trump told a group of evangelical leaders in New York that "Boy, do I mean it  we're going to be saying 'Merry Christmas,'" according to The Atlantic.

The backlash against Happy Holidays dates back to 2005 when Fox News host Bill OReilly began criticizing its use. The controversy worsened when then President George W. Bush used the phrase happy holiday season in his Christmas cards that same year.

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Saying 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas'

However, the word holiday stems from the Old English word for holy day that, for much of Americas history, was understood to be those of Advent or Christmas.

Furthermore, it's not unheard of for an American president to send non-denominational cards, according to The Washington Post. Dwight Eisenhower did so in the 1950s to little controversy.

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Saying 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas'

That hasn't stopped the controversy from being a sticking point from many Americans though. A study conducted by PRRI earlier this month shows that 47 percent think that stores and businesses should greet customers with "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" out of respect for people of different religious faiths. Forty-six percent said they shouldn't. It's a trend that's largely unchanged over the last six years, and an opinion that's divided based on one's political and religious affiliation and age.

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Religious displays on public property

This controversy reemerged earlier this month in Knightstown, Indiana, when public officials removed a cross from a tree after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against them, according to USA Today. The organization argued that it violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits the government from "establishing" a religion.

A complaint filed in the U.S. District Court stated that the cross had been a part of Knightstown's tree decoration for several years.

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Religious displays on public property

The Supreme Court first tackled the issue in 1980, according to USA Today. It ruled then that a Kentucky law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms violated the First Amendment.

The court relied on a precedent set by Lemon v. Kurtzman and the three-part Lemon test. The ruling states that a statue or display must have a secular legislative purpose, does not advance or prohibit religious freedom and must not result in excessive government entanglement with religious affairs.

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Religious displays on public property

However, a Pew Research Center survey in 2014 found that Americans are generally O.K. with religious holiday displays on public property. Forty-four percent of Americans say that Christian symbols should be allowed on government property even if there aren't any symbols from other religions. Another 28 percent said it should be allowed if there are symbols from other religions. Only 20 percent said there should be no religious displays at all on government property.

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Centerville Elementary School near Lancaster, Pa. on Dec. 22, 2016. (David Wenner, PennLive)

Religious performances in public schools

The Hempfield School District in Lancaster had to deny that a complaint about the line "God bless us, every one!" led to a fifth grade performance of "A Christmas Carol" being cancelled. The decision to cut the non-curricular event at Centerville Elementary School was due to the time it required of students. It added that the decision did not result from complaints by families with children in the school.

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Religious performances in public schools

Much like the other controversies on this list, religious performances in public schools are nothing new.

State-mandated performances, much like religious displays on public property, could be in conflict with the establishment clause of the First Amendment, according to a piece on religious songs in schools written by Charles Haynes. Haynes is a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center and the director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at Newseum.

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(agrofruti / Shutterstock.com)

Religious performances in public schools

However, he said that its just plain silly for schools to pretend that Christmas doesnt exist or is secular. Courts have ruled that religious songs in schools are alrights as long as its educational and not devotional or proselytizing. Haynes adds that such programs should be balanced in content.

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Yes, Mall of America hired a black Santa. No, Sarah Palin didn't say she'd boycott the mall. https://t.co/BXAXwnrbjM pic.twitter.com/ovo0oUErt4  PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) December 22, 2016

A black Santa Claus at the Mall of America

Retired Army Captain Larry Jefferson was a big hit with children and parents when he appeared as Santa Claus at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. However, as his story started to spread online, he's received a number of negative comments because he's black, according to NPR.

In an interview with NPRs Rachel Martin, he said that hes not surprised by the backlash because of the times in which were living in. He adds that they only make up a small percentage of people.

Theyre going to get coal  ho-ho-ho-ho-ho  for sure! he said.

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A black Santa isnt advertised at Macy's, but you can order him by special request. So one mom did exactly that. https://t.co/OvtTfMk2dM pic.twitter.com/6aRP8fboJo  The New York Times (@nytimes) December 22, 2016

A black Santa Claus at the Mall of America

It's not the first time a black Santa has appeared in popular culture, however. The New York Times Sa'iyda Shabazz wrote that there are children's books, ornaments and other products with the character. NBA player Baron Davis even founded the website blacksanta.com, which sells t-shirts, hats and other trinkets with the image of black Santa.

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"Modern" Christmas display at King of Prussia mall

A mall in King of Prussia had a display that Philadelphia Magazine compared to a "spaceship." It featured Santa Claus sitting in a giant glacier that didn't have any Christmas trees, reindeers or traditional religious symbols. Simon Property Group, which also had similar displays at several of their other malls, said it was meant to be "modern" and "interactive."

However, people complained that the display either looked cheap, ugly or that it was another volley in the War on Christmas. It even led to petitions on Change.org calling for the mall to restore its Christmas trees. The outcry eventually led the company to do away with the display and bring back its more traditional Christmas decorations.

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In this photo taken on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, residents look on duing the Christmass the tree lighting in Reading, Pa. Reading's spindly 50-foot spruce drew the ire of residents who said it was ruining their holiday spirit. Now a group led by the city council president is raising money to buy and decorate a more impressive replacement. (AP Photo/Reading Eagle, Ben Hasty) (Ben Hasty)

Downtown Reading getting a 'Charlie Brown' tree

A 50-foot spruce was at the center of a 2014 controversy in Reading after residents complained it looked ugly, according to CBS News. It had sparse, droopy branches that people compared to the Peanuts character Charlie Brown's own pathetic Christmas tree.

The city was going to take the tree down before the holiday so residents wouldnt have to look at it. However, people started to call public officials, asking that the tree be saved. It remained and, after the holidays, was used to make a bench in City Hall.
Of all the stories from the Revolutionary War, few are as well known as Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas day in 1776. Credit for this falls with Emanuel Leutze, who famously painted the scene in 1851 of Washington's crossing. However, despite the impact of this painting, it distorts the truth of what happened during this perilous crossing. To better learn about the truth of this famous event, take the time to visit Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County, Pa.

General George Washington and his troops had had a rough year fighting the British army. Despite the Declaration of Independence being signed nearly six months earlier, the Continental Army had suffered a series of defeats over the summer and fall that left them demoralized. However, despite these defeats, Washington saw a chance to secure a victory just days before the troops would go into their winter quarters.

Just after sundown on December 25, 1776, Washington and 2,400 men, including future president James Monroe, crossed the Delaware River. After crossing, they marched to Trenton, New Jersey. Just after sunrise on December 26, they attacked a camp full of Hessian soldiers. These mercenaries from Germany were taken by surprise, and the attack resulted in a resounding win for Washington's forces. During the crossing, march and fighting, only six of his soldiers were injured. One those injured was Monroe.

Washington crossed the Delaware River near this spot on Christmas day in 1776.

Today, the area where Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware is home to Washington Crossing Historic Park in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. The park tells the true story of this famous event, as well as preserving the community of Taylorsville that would pop up in the years after the crossing.

Visits to the site include a small museum and the chance to tour through the 19thcentury village that's preserved here. One of these buildings is the McKonkey's Ferry Inn. While this building was built after the crossing, it was the presence of McKonkey's Ferry that attracted Washington to cross at this spot.

Boats like these were used by Washington and his troops to cross the river.

Located nearby, is the Thompson-Neely House, which served as a hospital for soldiers both before and after the crossing. After being injured in the Battle of Trenton, future president James Monroe recuperated in this home. A short distance away is a Revolutionary War-era cemetery that is the final resting place for soldiers who died at the home. Despite nearly all of the soldiers buried here being unknown, the cemetery is very well cared for.

Visitors are welcome to walk around the grounds of the historic town and see the site where Washington crossed the Delaware at no charge. The on-site museum and guided tours are offered to paying guests, as are visits to the Thompson-Neely House. It's also possible to get an amazing view of the Delaware River Valley from the top of Bowman's Hill Tower. These three sites can be seen separately or you can purchase a combined ticket to view all three during your visit to Washington Crossing Historic Park.

The highlight of the year at Washington Crossing Historic Park is a reenactment of the event on the afternoon of Christmas day. During the event, several hundred Revolutionary War reenactors march to the shores of the Delaware River and cross using boats very similar to those likely used by Washington and his troops. The event happens at 1pm on December 25. Information can be found on the park's website.

Reenactors cross the Delaware River each year.

Recently, PennLive Reporter Julia Hatmaker attended the dress rehearsal, which occurs each year in mid-December. Her words, photos and video offer a great look into the event and what to expect at the main event on Christmas day. It also provides a chance for those wanting to stay home on the holiday to still be able to see the reenactment.

If you have any interest in Revolutionary War history, Washington Crossing Historic Park offers a great chance to learn the true story of one of the war's most famous events.

Jim Cheney is the writer behind UncoveringPA, Pennsylvania's most read travel blog. He has traveled to every county in Pennsylvania and to many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. He lives in Harrisburg, Pa.
Malta Libya Hijacking

An Afriqiyah Airways plane stands on the tarmac at Malta's Luqa International airport as passengers depart, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Hijackers diverted the Libyan commercial plane to Malta on Friday and threatened to blow it up with hand grenades, Maltese authorities and state media said.

(TVM via AP)

Update

LONDON - A hijacked Libyan passenger plane with 118 people aboard landed Friday on the Mediterranean island of Malta, where troops flanked the aircraft and officials opened negotiations with the cockpit.

The Times of Malta and other local outlets reported that two hijackers had threatened to blow up the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, which was on a domestic flight in Libya when it diverted to Malta. Other reports suggested there was only one hijacker.

Video from the scene showed movement in the cockpit as armed troops stood watch on the runway.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a tweet that 65 people left the hijacked plane so far. All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

Maltese media reports women and children will be getting off hijacked Afriqiyah Airways plane shortly https://t.co/1SD6FR3deR  Sky News (@SkyNews) December 23, 2016

The Times of Malta reported that the hijackers claimed to be from a Libyan faction called Fatah al-Gadida, and were willing to release all passengers - but keep the crew on board - if their demands were met.

That report could not be independently confirmed, and it was not immediately clear what demands, if any, were made.

But the group was described in reports as loyal to the toppled regime of Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi. Sabha, the southern Libyan city where the flight began, has been the scene of ongoing clashes between rival tribes.

The Sabha region is also known as a hub for arms smuggling and traffickers taking migrants from Libya and other points in Africa on the 400-mile journey to the Mediterranean for clandestine ships bound for Europe.

The hijacking brings another security crisis to the European Union just days after an attack on a Berlin Christmas market killed 12 people. The main suspect in the Berlin attack, a Tunisian, was killed in a shootout with Italian police on Friday.

The state-owned airline flight was bound for Libya's capital, Tripoli. The plane was carrying 111 passengers, including 82 men, 28 women and an infant, Muscat said.

Malta International Airport delayed outgoing flights and diverted incoming ones.

Malta, a tiny nation of less than half a million people, is a member of the European Union. Malta lies south of Sicily, about 300 miles from the Libyan coast. Libya has been embroiled in civil war since a 2011 uprising that deposed Gadhafi, who was later killed.
credit card

Police have charged a caregiver with stealing an elderly woman's credit cards.

An in-home caregiver has been charged with stealing and using the credit cards of an 80-year-old woman who was in her charge, state police at Schuylkill Haven said Friday.



They said Suzanne Strause, 38, of St. Clair, took two cards from the victim's West Brunswick Township home in November and ran up more than $1,900 in charges. She was filmed on a surveillance camera using one of the cards, police said.



Strause confessed to the crime and was charged with access device fraud and identity theft, investigators said.
Screen Shot 2016-12-23 at 7.03.17 AM.JPG

(PennDOT traffic camera)

UPDATE: The road was reopened at about 9:30 a.m.

A crash involving a dump truck that rolled over has shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 83 near York, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The crash was reported at about 6:20 a.m. Friday between Exit 19, the exit for Market Street, and Exit 21, the exit for Route 30, PennDOT.

The crash has shut down both northbound lanes of the interstate.

The dump truck was reportedly carrying gypsum, according to dispatches from the scene.

For more traffic information, follow live traffic updates, accident reports and road closures below from PennDOT, Total Traffic Network and other Twitter sources.

Get a look at conditions on local roads -- via PennDOT traffic cameras -- anytime here on PennLive. For Pennsylvania Turnpike updates and possible travel delays visit the Turnpike website here.

Tweet us at @pennlive with any incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com.
heroin

A heroin epidemic is taking lives across the country.

(Dan Gleiter, PennLive archives)

A man who is serving a prison sentence in Texas for murder can't sue his ex-wife over the heroin-related death of their adult son, a Pennsylvania Superior Court panel has concluded.



State law simply doesn't allow the kind of case Lawrence Higgins wanted to push in hopes of getting $500,000 from his ex and her new husband, Judge Victor P. Stabile found in a court opinion issued Thursday.



In short, the state judges determined that Higgins' bid was illegally selfish.



The ruling by Stabile's court backs Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas's decision to dismiss the lawsuit Higgins filed in 2013 against Eric and Donna George over the December 2012 death of his 29-year-old son Jared.



Higgins claimed Eric George introduced Jared to heroin in 1999 and supplied him with the drug until it killed him. Higgins sued his ex-wife on a claim that she should have intervened to save their son.



He sought the $500,000 in damage as compensation for his own "severe mental anguish."



In backing the case's dismissal, Stabile agreed with Lupas that the state's wrongful death statute forbids such civil suits by people, usually family members, who can't prove they suffered specific economic damages from someone else's demise.
WILLIAMSPORT -- Larry Eason was selling drugs in New York City and Burlington, Vt., when he moved from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Williamsport in 2013.

Although he continued his drug distribution activities in Burlington, money he made selling heroin in Williamsport was good and his drug trafficking activities were less noticeable here.

Eason, 36, supplied gram weight quantities of heroin obtained in New York City to others who sold it to dealers and customers into 2015.

That is among the evidence Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel presented in U.S. Middle District Court Tuesday when Eason pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute between 1 and 3 kilograms of heroin.

"At the time of Eason's indictment, he was operating one of the largest heroin rings in Lycoming County," District Attorney Eric R. Linhardt said Thursday.

"His conviction represents but one victory in an ongoing partnership between local and federal authorities that is seeing very real progress in getting our most dangerous offenders off the street.

"So long as these drug dealers continue to receive long federal sentences they well deserve, we will continue to refer our worst offenders for federal prosecution."

Eason is among at 11 individuals being prosecuted in the scheme that brought large amounts of heroin into the Williamsport area from New York City.

The full scope of the operation has not been made public because court documents remain sealed but it included guns and prescription medicine, according to statements made at Eason's guilty plea hearing.

Eason, described by Rocktashel as an organizer and supervisor, is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison but the government and defense agree a sentence of 12 years, 7 months would be appropriate. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

The plea agreement remains valid only if all the co-defendants agree to plead guilty.

They are identified as Terrell Smalls, NajeeBaker-Howard, Caine Weidler, Latia Gilliland, Yamir Smith, Quidirah Allen, Jordan Hull, Permeshwar Singh, David Ashby and Andrea Qualtrough.

All but Allen and Ashby have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Ashby is alleged to be one of Eason's New York suppliers like Singh, 35, who entered his plea Thursday to the same charge as Eason.

The New York City resident admitted he supplied Eason with between 700 and 1,000 grams of bulk heroin.

He is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years but could get up to 40 years in prison.

Rocktashel's summary of the evidence against Eason and Singh provides an insight into operation of the heroin ring that was broken up by a multi-agency investigation.

According to Rocktashel:
SUNBURY -- Pro-white and anti-refugee flyers were discovered throughout Sunbury Wednesday morning and police say they are wondering if they are related to a similar incident several weeks ago in Lewisburg.

Messages on the flyers included the question if white people had enough and that refugees are not welcome, Administrative Chef Timothy S. Miller said Thursday. There was a link to an alt-right web page, he said.

"I can't understand where they are coming from," Mayor David L. Persing said.

If it is a recruitment effort for an organization, "it is way too extreme for central Pennsylvania," he said.

If someone wants to get a message out they should come to council or request use of a city park instead of doing this in the dark, he said.

Police are checking video from surveillance cameras to see if the flyer distribution was captured, Miller said.

The flyers are the latest in a series of hate messages or symbols found in the central Susquehanna valley.

Earlier this month a swastika was discovered carved into the wall of a stall in a men's restroom in Bertrand Library on the campus of Bucknell University in Lewisburg.

In November, someone drew a swastika on a small bulletin board attached to a room door in a Susquehanna University residence hall in Selinsgrove.

Presidents of both colleges condemned the acts.
federal courthouse williamsport.jpg

(File photo/PennLive.com)

WILLIAMSPORT -- A federal judge has been asked to order a Montgomery County woman to post a $32,000 bond to pursue her appeal of the nationwide settlement involving Shop Vac Corp.

The multiple-class action federal lawsuits claimed Shop Vac Corp wet-dry vacuums do not live up to their advertised specifications.

Shop Vac did not admit any liability but agreed to a two-year extension of the warranty on the motors of the vacuums purchased or acquired since Jan. 1, 2006. The company, which is headquartered in Williamsport, also agreed to change how it refers to peak horsepower on marketing materials and alter what the plaintiffs claimed is misleading information about the canister size measurement.

The settlement class Thursday made the request for the bond to U.S. Middle District Judge Yvette Kane. It claims the appeal of Michelle Vullings of Collegeville is meritless and that the bond should be posted to ensure the class will be reimbursed its costs to defend it.

The appeal will delay implementation of the settlement to which Kane gave final approval Dec. 9, the court document states. It contends Vullings is hoping the parties will pay her to go away.

Her standing to file an appeal also is challenged, because she failed to identify the model or provide the serial number of her vacuum.

The bond request document calls Vullings a serial objector to class action settlements and her lawyer-husband, Brent F. Vullings, who is representing her, a serial objector counsel.

Vullings was one of three individuals out of the 1,164,149 who received notice to object to the preliminary settlement who did so. Those objections were rejected.

She contended the settlement did not protect the public from Shop Vac's conduct in the future and that attorney fees were excessive.

She also claimed a fair settlement benefit would have included cash distributions to class members for their waiver of consumer fraud and warranty claims.

The settlement Kane approved awarded $5,000 to each of four named plaintiffs in Florida, Missouri, California and Illinois along with $4.25 million in legal fees.

Kane estimated the total value of the settlement at nearly $175 million.
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Pennsylvania's decision not adopt the federal government's security standards means it will be harder for residents to get into military bases, nuclear power plants and federal buildings using just their driver's licenses.

(Provided by PennDOT)

Pennsylvania's decision not adopt the federal government's security standards means it will be harder for residents to get into military bases, nuclear power plants and federal buildings using just their driver's licenses.

Beginning Jan. 30, residents of a handful of states -- including Pennsylvania -- will have to provide a second form of identification when entering certain secure facilities. The new restriction comes after state assemblies chose not to come into compliance with the federal Real ID Act of 2012.

The legislation is intended to improve accuracy of state-issued identification documents to help inhibit terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, however, had concerns about security and costs of implementing new processes and decided not to come into compliance.

As a result, those who want to enter military bases, nuclear facilities and federal buildings will have to provide a second ID.

Pennsylvania travelers will no longer be able to fly domestically with just their driver's license beginning Jan. 22, 2018. The acceptable forms of ID include a passport, military ID or permanent resident card.

PennDOT spokeswoman Alexis Campbell said each of the federal agencies overseeing the facility can decide which secondary ID they will choose to accept. So, it's important that Pennsylvania driver's license holders check which ID is acceptable with each facility before showing up, she said.

Pennsylvanians will still be able to visit the Federal Courthouse in Harrisburg without a secondary form of ID.

Federal facilities

The Real ID Act will have little impact on Pennsylvanians that use the majority of federal buildings.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that new requirements will not impact anyone's ability to vote, apply for or receive federal benefits, enter federal facilities that do not require a person to present ID and access health or life preserving services.

Pennsylvanians will still be able to go to federal court and participate in law enforcement proceedings or investigations with their driver's licenses, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

For example, Pennsylvanians will still be able to visit the Federal Courthouse in Harrisburg without a secondary form of ID.

Pennsylvanians will also have access to law enforcement or constitutionally protected activities.

The U.S. Army Garrison at Carlisle Barracks will soon require a secondary ID when entering.

Military bases

The U.S. Army Garrison at Carlisle Barracks will no longer only accept Pennsylvania driver's licenses for entry.

Barracks spokesman Tom Zimmerman said they will accept 15 other forms of secondary ID. Those include passports, current vehicle registration, proof of vehicle insurance, military IDs and more.

Here is a list of forms of ID that will be accepted in 2017.

Nuclear power plants already require much more than a driver's license to enter them.

Nuclear power plants

The Real ID Act will have little difference on those that work at or visit nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power plants already require much more than a driver's license to enter them. Employees go through extensive background checks and are given ID badges for entrance, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Visitors of nuclear power plants also have to provide more than a driver's license to visit.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said visitors are generally known in advance of their arrival, screened through the industry database against a list of individuals who would be denied access, approved by a nuclear plant employee who has undergone the required background screening, and continuously escorted while inside the protected area of the facility.

The regulations apply only to federally owned facilities, not commercially owned facilities. These new regulations would not impact people from visiting places like Three Mile Island, according to TMI spokesman Ralph DeSantis.
This undated photo released by the U.S. Marshal's Office shows John Robert Boone, wanted by federal authorities in Kentucky for growing more than 2,400 marijuana plants on his central Kentucky farm. The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada says an American man known as the "Godfather of Grass" will remain in detention in Montreal as he awaits extradition to the U.S. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, U.S. Marshal's Office
An Afriqiyah Airways plane from Libya, left, stands on the tarmac at Malta's Luqa International airport, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Malta's state television says two hijackers who diverted a Libyan commercial plane to the Mediterranean island nation have threatened to blow it up. (AP Photo/Jonathan Borg)
Boyne City Splash Pad construction continues, to open next year

The project is being funded by the sale of the Boyne City Community Building.
Odebrecht corruption, bribery in Latin America open in settlement



Odebrecht settlement spurs bribery inquiries across Latin America

LIMA/QUITO

Petroleumworld.com 12 23 2016

Politicians and investigators across Latin America demanded more information from Brazil-based construction company Odebrecht on Thursday after it admitted to a decade of immense bribe payments in the region.

In agreeing on Wednesday to pay at least $3.5 billion to Brazilian, U.S. and Swiss prosecutors, the largest penalty ever in a foreign bribery case, Odebrecht admitted to paying officials to help secure lucrative construction contracts in 12 countries, potentially opening itself up to new prosecution.

Nearly 80 Odebrecht executives and employees have also agreed to turn state's witness as part of a leniency deal, and their testimony is expected to provide even more evidence about corruption in several nations.

Peru's president and a Venezuelan opposition leader said Odebrecht should explain the payments in their countries, while Ecuador opened an investigation and Colombia's government asked the attorney general's office to move forward with one.

"Prosecutors will have to bring people from Odebrecht here so that they explain who they paid this money to," Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski told reporters, referring to the $29 million Odebrecht said it paid officials in the Andean nation between about 2005 and 2014, spanning three presidencies.

Guilty pleas on Wednesday from Odebrecht and Braskem SA ( BRKM5.SA ), the petrochemical company it jointly owns with Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras, were the first in the United States following a nearly three-year investigation in Brazil.

Odebrecht and Braskem were charged with conspiring to violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which is aimed at deterring companies from bribing officials overseas.

Odebrecht said it paid $439 million outside Brazil, with the largest bribe admissions abroad in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Panama. Brazilian prosecutors singled out Panama for not cooperating with their investigation.

Panama's presidency said it supported an investigation by local prosecutors that would "punish the companies and persons involved in these acts." Panama's national prosecutors' office said it was requesting information from the United States.

The discovery of kickbacks to Brazilian politicians off contracts between state-run companies, mainly Petrobras ( PETR4.SA ), and engineering conglomerates like Odebrecht, has generated political upheaval and led to 80 convictions in Brazil. More than 50 politicians there are under investigation.

ROADS, TUNNELS, SUBWAYS

Family-run Odebrecht blossomed during an economic boom in Brazil under former Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff and its executives regularly rubbed shoulders with elites across Latin America.

It became the region's largest engineering conglomerate, building parts of a road across the Amazon jungle, tunnels and subways in major cities.

Brazilian prosecutors believe Odebrecht's way of doing business in Brazil, where it is accused of paying $2 billion in bribes in the past 15 years, was how it operated globally.

Argentina and Peru had already opened probes into Odebrecht construction contracts for suspected kickbacks to former politicians.

Prosecutors in Peru recently returned from an investigative trip to Switzerland, which has turned over information on about 1,000 bank accounts to Brazilian authorities on suspicion they are linked to the country's wide-ranging corruption scandal.

Brazilian police say Odebrecht may have paid bribes to former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and Argentine officials, including a former transportation secretary.

Humala denies wrongdoing. Kuczynski, who was not named in the Brazilian investigation but was prime minister or finance minister when Odebrecht agreed to bribe a high-ranking official in 2005, said he was not involved in any corrupt scheme.

Ecuador's attorney general, Galo Chiriboga, said on Thursday he had requested information from Brazil and the U.S. Justice Department.

"We will find out who Odebrecht bribed," he told state-run media.

The head of Guatemala's special anti-corruption prosecutor's office told Reuters he had already been investigating Odebrecht bribes to a government official, and President Jimmy Morales said the government would check all Odebrecht contracts.

Experts on corporate bribery said the Odebrecht admissions in a dozen countries - including Angola and Mexico - could subject Odebrecht to new investigations.

Mexico's government and state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex, said they would review the allegations, but Francisco Burquez, an opposition senator calling for answers, argued that local officials were unlikely to do much because of the prevalence of corruption.

"It's the government that covers it up," he said.

'PATTERN OF CORRUPTION'

The Argentine prosecutor handling the Odebrecht probe, Sergio Rodriguez, said Wednesday's plea deal would directly impact their case, which is looking at four Odebrecht projects, and he was trying to reach Brazilian prosecutors to find out more.

"We have a preliminary case open," Rodriguez told Reuters. "We will need to incorporate the information from the agreement sooner or later."

Sources close to Odebrecht and Brazil's federal prosecutors have said it was mostly the work of the Brazilian investigators that led to the Odebrecht's record-setting corruption settlement.

But if the settlement negotiated in Brasilia had been announced in Brazil, its legal system would have required that details remain sealed and not disclosed to the public, two sources close to the negotiation told Reuters on Thursday.

The hope among Brazilian officials is that by having the plea agreements with Odebrecht and Braskem made public, authorities in the other countries will now come under public pressure to follow up and investigate.

"The corruption we've uncovered in Brazil was systematic and complex, and Odebrecht's central role in it is now obvious," Brazilian federal prosecutor Carlos Lima said earlier this year.

"We've found that wherever Odebrecht has worked, there has been this pattern of corruption, and we're carefully collaborating with several other countries on this."






Photo: Facebook

A Bryan, TX, police officer was treated and released for minor injuries after being shot early Thursday morning, reports KVUE.

The officer was responding to an aggravated robbery call on College Avenue. According to police, several suspects entered the store around 1:17am, and one of them had a gun.

At 1:56am, the officer contacted one of the suspects near Duncan and South College, where the suspect shot at the officer and took off. The officer's ballistic vest kept him from serious injury. He was treated and released at a nearby medical facility.
What began Tuesday as a work lunch to exchange Christmas gifts ended with a group of Washington State Corrections Officers being asked to leave The Cheesecake Factory restaurant at Tacoma Mall, reports KOMO.

Officer Miriam Nichols was one of several who said they were about to be seated when two employees approached the group and explained the problem.

Two people in suitswho we later found out were management, were talking to my three co-workers, explained Nichols. Saying that we had to leave because we were armed in their building.

Nichols said management was polite, but made it clear, if anyone had a gun they had to go.

The Corrections Department in Pierce County said they were contacted personally by Cheesecake Factory Corporate, who said a manager was simply misinformed.
Photo: Facebook

Louisiana will become the first state to equip every trooper with a body camera, the state's governor and police superintendent said Wednesday, reports the Monroe News-Star.

The decision to equip all 700 state police officers with body cameras comes after a summer of unrest in Louisiana's capital city, where the July 5 shooting death of a man by police generated massive protests. A lone gunman assassinated three policemen and wounded three more less than two weeks later.

"This full statewide deployment is the first of its kind in the country," Gov. John Bel Edwards said during a news conference at the Governor's Mansion. "Nobody else has done what we're announcing today."

Col. Mike Edmonson, Louisiana State Police superintendent, called the body camera initiative a home run for police and the public. "This is exciting to me," he said. "This is about transparency and accountability, and it's great to be first."

Edmonson said the Louisiana initiative will cost $5.3 million over the life of a five-year contract with Scottsville, AZ-based TASER International, whose founder and chief executive Rick Smith also attended the news conference. "When people know they're being recorded, everybody's behavior improves," Smith said.
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Some big talk from Putin and a single tweet from Trump have experts wondering if the US is about to embark on a new nuclear arms race with Russia.

During a speech that recapped Russias military activities in 2016, Putin said, We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defence systems. We must carefully monitor any changes in the balance of power and in the political-military situation in the world, especially along Russian borders, and quickly adapt plans for neutralising threats to our country.

To which the incoming president-elect tweeted:

The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

John Tierney, the executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said, It is dangerous for the President-elect to use just 140 characters and announce a major change in U.S. nuclear weapons policy, which is nuanced, complex, and affects every single person on this planet.

The majority of voters did not vote for Donald Trump, but they will have to hope that his reckless and irresponsible tweeting doesnt endanger the world.

Elections have consequences, and those who voted for Trump out of some need for change might want to start thinking about what change really means because the sort of change that Trump is talking about could endanger human life on Earth.
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We now know that Donald Trumps pick for secretary of state is Rex Tillerson, Exxon CEO and pal of Vladimir Putin. What we didnt fully know is what factors played into his decision  at least not until now.

Reporting over the past couple days has indicated that the president-elects vetting process relied on the look of his potential picks. In two instances, Trump reportedly passed on a candidate, not based on their qualifications, but because of physical traits like height and facial hair.

According to the Daily Caller, a pair of sources close to Trumps transition team said the president-elect thought Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker was too short to be secretary of state. The report noted that Trump felt the nations top diplomat needed to be taller.

Trump shied away from tapping @SenBobCorker as SecState b/c of his short stature (hes 57), per @DailyCaller. https://t.co/MqmJqdjxiM  Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) December 22, 2016

Another front-runner to be Trumps secretary of state was neocon John Bolton. While Boltons height wasnt an issue, his mustache was one of the reasons why Trump passed on him, according to a recent report in the Washington Post.

Donald was not going to like that mustache, said an unnamed source, according to the Post. I cant think of anyone thats really close to Donald that has a beard that he likes.

Trump rejects John Bolton not because hes deranged but because he has a mustache. You cant make this up. https://t.co/nimhTU60U4 pic.twitter.com/hjQHsu0Q4m  Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) December 22, 2016

The fact that physical appearance has weighed heavily into Trumps cabinet picks is outrageous, but its not surprising. After all, Trump has a well-documented history of attacking the looks of those who dont worship him, particularly when theyre women.

But as much as Trump hopes the presidency is just a fun reality show, its not. He is no longer casting characters for some overrated reality television show or judging a beauty contest. Hes choosing who will run the country for the next four years.

Theres more at stake now than TV ratings, and its time the president-elect started making decisions accordingly.
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It is no exaggeration to state that if a Republican in Congress is not corrupt, they are at the bare minimum corrupt for covering up their fellow Republicans malfeasance while in office. It is why, although encouraging on the surface, these meager calls to investigate Trump will go nowhere. In fact, it would not be out of character for Republicans in the GOP-controlled Congress to praise Russian spies and Vladimir Putin for giving them a rubber stamp in the White House. Even more likely is they will blame Democrats, Hillary Clinton, President Obama and federal regulations for inciting Russia to attack America; it is just how they operate.

A similar situation occurred late last week when Republicans in the House quietly closed the investigation into Michigan Governor Rick Snyders disastrous actions that poisoned Flint residents water supply.

The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), issued two separate letters announcing that his investigation was finished and that Snyder was without guilt because it was the Environmental Protection Agencys fault Flints water source was shifted to a poisoned source. What was missing was even a word about, or concern over, Rick Snyders appointment of a local dictator (emergency manager) who is responsible for forcing Flynn residents to drink, cook, and bathe in toxic water; water that still is not safe to drink.

Chaffetzs closure came on the heels of President Obama signing legislation authorizing $170 million to address the lead problem in Flints drinking water. And of course, Chaffetz closed the investigation with no new information and simply reiterated what everyone and their pet hamster already know about the crisis.

To give Snyder complete cover, Chaffetz also quietly closed the investigation without receiving any of the committees requested information from the Republican governor and several of his staff. Apparently, Chaffetz likely regards the Michigan Republicans refusal to testify or turn over crucial information and documents to the House committee as the EPAs fault as much as Chaffetzs claim the agency is guilty of forcing Flint residents to drink toxic water.

Of course, nothing will come of it, but hours before Chaffetzs announcement, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Elijah Cummings (D-MD), called for a subpoena of the Republican governor, Rick Snyder. It was, after all, Snyder who was responsible for appointing the emergency manager who switched Flints water supply. No need for a subpoena or testimony from Snyder or members of his staff because Chaffetz concluded that Michigans Department of Environmental Quality and the federal Environmental Protection Agency caused the water crisis. It was unthinkable that Republican Rick Snyder or his appointed emergency manager were responsible for switching Flints water supply to a well-known lead-tainted source.

In typical Republican fashion, Chaffetz said the water was poisoned because of federal regulations that he claimed set up states to fail. His solution was shifting all EPA funding to study and combat climate change to water pipe improvement. And just for good measure, he also called for abolishing the prevailing wage for federally-funded construction projects under the Davis-Bacon Act. Surprisingly, Chaffetz stopped short of blaming Flints poisoned water supply on prevailing wage or the Davis-Bacon Act.

Elijah Cummings refused to sign Chaffetzs letters closing the investigation and a spokeswoman for the committees Democrats noted that Snyder defied requests to provide documents for the investigation. Mr. Cummings also claimed that Snyder obstructed the investigation by not providing key documents that would have clarified when he learned about the poisoned water. In response to Chaffetzs letter, Cummings wrote:

Requiring Governor Snyder to finally comply with the committees request will allow us to complete our investigation and offer concrete findings and recommendations to help prevent a catastrophe like this from happening again. In contrast, allowing Governor Snyder to flout the committees authority will deny the people of Flint the answers they deserve.

Mr. Cummings also noted that besides Governor Snyder, 15 past and current members of the Republican governors administration refused to respond to the powerful House Oversight Committee.

They have repeatedly delayed responding to the committee, and they have treated the committees requests as an afterthought that they respond to only after addressing other inquiries that they view as higher priorities.

Now that there is no Oversight Committee investigation, Snyder will never release the requested documents and his past and current cohorts will never testify; because they are Republicans and there is still an Environmental Protection Agency to blame for forcing Flint residents to bathe, cook and drink toxic water.
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By Michelle Nichols and Lesley Wroughton

UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON (Reuters)  The United States intended to allow the U.N. Security Council to approve a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, two Western officials said on Thursday, a major reversal of U.S. practice, which prompted Israel to ask President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure.

In a day of intense diplomatic wrangling on one of the thorniest Middle East conflicts, Egypt, which had proposed the draft resolution, abruptly put off a vote that had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Diplomats said Cairo had acted under pressure from Israel and to avoid alienating Trump, who spoke to the Egyptian president and urged the White House to use its veto.

By late Thursday, four Security Council members had given Egypt an ultimatum and threatened to put the draft resolution to a vote.

The two Western officials said President Barack Obama had intended to abstain from the vote, a relatively rare step by the United States to register criticism of the building on occupied land that Palestinians want for a state.

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Obama, believes the Obama administration had long planned the council vote in coordination with the Palestinians, the senior Israeli official said.

It was a violation of a core commitment to protect Israel at the U.N., the official said.

The White House had no immediate comment.

U.S. officials have voiced growing fears that a two-state solution is imperiled by Israeli settlement building and have been more willing to voice open criticism, including, the two Western officials said, via Thursdays planned vote.

A U.S. abstention would have been seen as a parting shot by Obama, who has made the settlements a major target of his  ultimately futile  peace efforts.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel, called Trump on Thursday, a Trump transition official said, saying they spoke broadly about laying the ground for Middle East peace.

Sisis office said the two leaders spoke.

The presidents agreed on the importance of affording the new U.S. administration the full chance to deal with all dimensions of the Palestinian case with a view of achieving a full and final settlement, presidency spokesman Alaa Yousef said.

The resolution would demand Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.

Egypt, currently a Security Council member, worked with the Palestinians to draft the text.

The senior Israeli official said Israel remained concerned the resolution could still go ahead with another sponsoring country.

New Zealand, Venezuela, Malaysia and Senegal asked Egypt to clarify by midnight whether it planned to call a vote.

In the event that Egypt decides that it cannot proceed to call for vote on 23 December or does not provide a response by the deadline, those delegations reserve the right to table the draft  and proceed to put it to vote ASAP, the four states wrote in a note, seen by Reuters.

They said the proposal for other delegations to take the lead  would also help Egypt by relieving it of the burden of carrying this draft alone. They plan to meet on Friday morning to decide how to proceed, diplomats said.

CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONS WITH TRUMP?

Officials in Netanyahus office spoke to Egyptian officials on Thursday about postponing the vote, an Israeli diplomat said.

It was not clear what pressure Israel may have put on Egypt but there are several ways it could do so, including curtailing Israeli security cooperation in Egypts fight against Islamist militants in the Sinai desert.

Netanyahu took to Twitter in the dead of night in Israel to make the appeal for a veto.

Hours later, Trump backed fellow conservative Netanyahu on one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the pursuit, effectively stalled since 2014, of a two-state solution.

The State Department declined to comment immediately on reports of the planned abstention.

Israels far-right and settler leaders have been buoyed by the election of Trump, who has signaled a possible change in U.S. policy by tapping a fundraiser for a major Israeli settlement as Washingtons ambassador to Israel.

Netanyahu, for whom settlers are a key constituency, has said his government has been their greatest ally since the capture of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a 1967 war.

The United States says continued Israeli settlement building lacks legitimacy, but has stopped short of adopting the position of many countries that it is illegal under international law. Some 570,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted.

The United States has vetoed dozens of Security Council resolutions on Israel and it is rare for it to abstain.

The last time the Security Council adopted a resolution on Israel and the Palestinians was in January 2009, when Washington abstained on a resolution calling for ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

In 1979 the United States abstained on a resolution, when the council said Israeli settlements have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Britain also abstained.

(Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed, Matt Spetalnick, Emily Stephenson and Lesley Wroughton in Washington, John Irish traveling with the French foreign minister, Jeffrey Heller and Ori Lewis in Jerusalem, and Amina Ismail and Ahmed Aboulenein in Cairo; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by James Dalgleish and Leslie Adler)
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

From the tortuous Republican presidential primary to the brutally vicious general election campaign, many political writers and Americans cognizant of world history remarked often that there were glaring similarities between Donald Trumps rhetoric and Nazi Germany. The end of the campaign and disastrous election results did little to put an end to the alarming resemblance of Trump supporters to rabid Nazism. Of course, there is the raging Trump propaganda campaign that even Hitlers Herman Goebbels would envy, and the rise of anti-Semitism certainly follows Nazi dogma, but there was yet no real and present danger of a Gestapo-like police force although there have been calls to put one in place.

Now, the largest police union in the nation is joining the calls for Donald Trump to pay dividends for their unwavering support. But they dont want his money, just authority to begin what will end up being a police state that Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler would be proud of. Oh, it is true the Fraternal Order of Police did not verbally call on Trump to create a police state for their enjoyment, but they did call for, and expect, Trump to militarize police and make racial profiling a national policy. It is noteworthy, too, that the police unions expectation is that Trump will fulfill his campaign promises and have a militarized police force with unchecked authority within the new administrations first 100 days. Seriously, these maniacs are not joking; they expect Trump to deliver their dream of a police state right away because that is precisely what he promised for a year and exactly why the union endorsed his candidacy.

Since the union, all 330,000 of Americas fine and noble public servants endorsed despicable Don for president, they laid out their demands and expectations in a document titled, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: The First 100 Days.

As Matt Agorist with the Free Thought Project rightly noted, the police set an agenda that is a clear prediction of [Trumps] executive action to reinstate so many of the tyrannical practices overturned by the last two administrations. Yes, it is true; even the George W. Bush administration banned atrocious racial profiling and Americas public servants are still furious that a Republican president dared adhere to that one part of the United States Constitution that protects Americans from law enforcement abuse in the form of profiling.

The union made up a little list for the Trump in case he forgot what he promised them over the past year. First and foremost they demand that he honors his oft-stated campaign pledge to immediately rescind Executive Order 13688 which imposed limits on State and local law enforcement equipment programs throughout the Federal government. What that really means is that the sworn law enforcement officers who pledge to protect and serve demand that they get back each and every one of their grenade launchers, .50 caliber firearms, Bayonets, tracked armored vehicles, mine-resistant vehicles, amphibious assault vehicles, Apache attack helicopters, and any other battlefield equipment that all local police departments require in conducting day-to-day operations.

But that immediate militarization of the nations police departments was just a start in the FOPs demands. Lets face it, there is hardly much use for a militarized police force if law enforcement officers are issuing traffic citations and directing traffic. Militarized cops need an obvious enemy to wage war against and without the authority to target large segments of the population with all that military gear, they are just police officers protecting and serving the community.

One of the most anticipated acts by their hero Trump in his first 100 days is Reverse or amend the broad, Bush-era ban on racial profiling. Although Bush Jr. presented many issues for decent Americans to despise, he was responsible for banning, for the first time in American history, 70 law enforcement agencies in the United States from using any Americans racial makeup in decisions on law enforcement. It appears that some of those 70 law enforcement agencies are still angry that Bush had the temerity to support the Constitutions due process protections, and it is likely why they wholeheartedly endorsed and embraced an authoritarian tyrant who has little use for the Constitution.

Apparently, like their hero Trump, the police union has little regard for the Constitution they swear to uphold. They forget how laws are enacted and set out some new laws and penalties for Trump to enact regarding immigration enforcement. They expect Trump to impose mandatory 2-, and 5-year minimum sentences for illegally re-entering the United States after a previous deportation, and to unilaterally reform visa rules to enhance penalties for any foreigner who dared overstay; Trumps old lady is safe (now) because she eventually became naturalized and in spite of her foreign accent, she is a really, really rich white woman.

Curiously, the police union also demanded that Trump better reverse the position of the Federal government on the use of private prisons. The police union must have investments in the corporate, for-profit prison industry because they are livid that the Obama Justice Department announced in August it will no longer use private prisons to incarcerate federal prisoners. Since the announcement, the for-profit private prison industrys stocks plummeted because the government was not funneling any more taxpayer money to the corporate prisons; because they are both less safe and less effective. The day after the election, corporate prison stocks shot up with celebration Trump would put them back in the black and in receipt of taxpayer largesse.

In announcing the governments position, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said,

They [corporate prisons] simply do not provide the same level of correctional services, programs, and resources; they do not save substantially on costs; and as noted in a recent report by the Departments Office of Inspector General, they do not maintain the same level of safety and security.

What this list of demands and expectations really reveals is that the police union is uninterested in protecting and serving Americans. Instead, they appear Hell-bent and duty-bound to play army against American citizens that dont quite fit the alt-rights definition of really American; white, Christian and horrifically ignorant of the Constitution.

If any American believes for a second that an emboldened and empowered militarized police force will be satisfied with legalized racial profiling, they are insane and stupid. Remember, the Nazi Gestapo didnt originally target any and all dissent against Hitler, but once they were granted unlimited authority from their hero, no German was safe and it will be no different in 2017 America. It may not be called Gestapo, or Stasi, or KGB, but an American militarized police force acting on Trumps predilection to tyranny and bigotry will rapidly transform America into exactly Trump and his alt-right supporters dream about; America as a police state.

h/t MattAgorist
All of us have local and national issues that we worry about: gender-related and race-related issues, education and social welfare issues, pump prices and what to do about Confederate monuments. Thats usually how we vote  whats worrying us at the moment. But older adults, of all people, may be capable of standing back from whats in our face to take a longer perspective on politics. Read moreAging for Amateurs: Elections make us get clear on priorities
The massive amount is unusual for a local school board race  and thousands more than any of the other 31 candidates have managed to raise. Read moreA CCSD board candidate has raised almost $100K in campaign funds
I was whipping up a batch of Chicken n Nyquil just like the TikTok told me to when I heard disturbing news that my use of emojis and GIFs is (A) all wrong and (B) tells everyone how old and un-hip I am. Read moreRivenbark: OK, Boomer. Emojis don't mean what you think they do.
The pandemic stressed us all, but its impact was compounded among pregnant women and those who had just given birth; their rates of mood and anxiety problems doubled during that time. That should not come as a major surprise, given how the stresses around this life-giving, life-changing even Read moreEditorial: Important outreach to SC's expectant and new mothers
CALEDONIA  A 40-year-old man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Houston County District Court, where he's been accused of ramming his car into a deputy's squad and driving drunk.

James Kenneth Enmen, of Houston, faces one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony; two counts of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation; gross misdemeanor second-degree DWI and violation of an ignition interlock device, a misdemeanor.

He remains in custody in lieu of $30,000 conditional bail, and is due back in court on Feb. 22.

The charges stem from an incident Nov. 23, when a Houston County Sheriff's deputy attempted to serve a civil document to Enmen at his home. The deputy parked the vehicle, then watched as a car backed across both lanes of the road at an estimated 30 mph; the vehicle slammed into the front of the squad car.

The act appeared to be deliberate, the complaint says, and the deputy was concerned the driver was attempting to ambush him. The officer got out of his squad, called for backup and drew his service weapon.

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The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Enmen, eventually put it in park and was taken into custody.

When the deputy asked for his name, Enmen replied "(expletive) you," and repeated it every time the officer asked him anything. A "very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" was coming from Enmen, the report noted.

Once in the back of a squad car, he banged his head against the cage of the vehicle several times, and continued to yell expletives at arriving officers. While en route to the jail, Enmen repeatedly said he wished everyone the officer loves would die. He continued to yell at the officer and staff at the jail, saying they should all die, court documents say.

Enmen had to be confined to a restraint chair. A blood sample was taken; the results weren't back by the end of November, when the report was written.

The officer whose vehicle was rammed sustained whiplash from the impact, the complaint says.

A review of Enmen's driving record revealed he's required to have an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle he operates; the vehicle he was allegedly driving didn't have one.
AUSTIN  An Austin man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a girl repeatedly over the course of several years has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Ricky Wolpahgan, 38, pleaded guilty in August in Mower County District Court to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. In exchange, five identical counts were dismissed Thursday, when he was sentenced to 168 months in prison, with credit for 336 days already served.

The investigation began Jan. 21, when the victim told a school counselor about the assaults. The girl said the abuse started when she was about 7, when she lived in another state. She said Wolpahgan had assaulted her three times since Dec. 15, 2015, the complaint says; the contact included penetration.

The victim said on Jan 20, Wolpahgan insisted they have sex again, court documents say, and an argument ensued. He drove her to the home of his friend and sexually assaulted her, then took her home.

Wolpahgan was arrested Jan. 22 and admitted that he'd sexually assaulted the victim on numerous occasions.
Could this be the announcement downtown Rochester has been waiting for, for more than a year? This explains why Rochester developer Andy Chafoulias seemed to have an extra spring in his step when I saw him Wednesday. We'll have more shortly:

Construction to begin on an upscale Hilton in Downtown Rochester

Rochester, MN (December 23, 2016) - Titan Development & Investments (Titan) and Harbor Bay Real Estate Advisors (Harbor Bay) will begin construction before year end on the upscale Hilton in downtown Rochester. The location of the hotel is at the southeast corner of Broadway Avenue and Center Street.

The debt is provided by First National Bank of Omaha (lead bank) and Bremer Bank. Rochester's HGA Architects and Engineers designed the project and Kraus-Anderson will be the general contractor. Steve Kvenvold, City Administrator of Rochester, and Randy Staver, City Council President, along with their team were instrumental in supporting this project as well as the Destination Medical Center (DMC) staff.

The mixed-use tower is one of the first projects under the city's DMC initiative. This initiative is a public-private partnership to position Rochester, Minnesota, as the world's premier destination for health and wellness. DMC (www.dmc.mn) is the largest economic development initiative in Minnesota and one of the largest in the nation.

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The hotel tower will connect to the downtown skyway system and will feature 264 rooms. In addition, it will contain ballrooms and conference rooms that are strategically designed to meet the growing business demands of Rochester. The hotel is expected to be one of the premier hotels in the Midwest and will be a tremendous asset to the Rochester community. Further, the commencement of construction on the hotel will allow the City of Rochester to begin a new, city-owned parking deck positioned adjacent to the hotel. "This upscale Hilton will meet the needs of a diverse demographic of travelers that are visiting Mayo Clinic or are here for business travel," said Gus Chafoulias, Rochester developer and visionary of the project.

"This transformational and iconic development will vastly enhance the unique offerings to visitors and locals in downtown Rochester and we couldn't be more excited to partner with Harbor Bay," said Andy Chafoulias, CEO of Titan.

About Titan Development & Investments

Built on decades of experience, Titan Development & Investments focuses on the development of affordable housing, senior living projects, market rate housing, Class A office properties, and industrial projects throughout the country. Titan is headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota, with partners across the United States.

About Harbor Bay Real Estate Advisors

Harbor Bay Real Estate Advisors is a leading real estate development, investment and advisory firm, renowned for its relationship-focused, honest approach in creating valuable real estate.

Jay Furst is the Post Bulletin's managing editor and writes the Furst Draft blog.
ST. PAUL  Attorneys for the Minnesota police officer who faces a manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile are removing the judge who was assigned to the case.

Lawyers for St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez filed a notice Thursday to remove Ramsey County District Court Judge Edward Wilson. Under rules of criminal procedure in Minnesota, defense attorneys and prosecutors can each strike one assigned judge from a case without giving a reason. The requests are automatically granted.

Wilson, who is black, was initially assigned to the case because of his experience  he's been on the bench since 1987 and is the second most senior judge in the district.

Defense attorney Earl Gray said they filed the notice to remove Wilson based on research. He did not elaborate further.

"We felt that we had to remove him. Simple as that," said Gray, who has previously tried a case before Wilson.

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Castile, who was black, was killed July 6 during a traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The shooting's gruesome aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend, who was with him in the car at the time. Prosecutors have said the 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker was shot at seven times after telling Yanez he was armed and had a permit to carry.

Yanez, who is Latino, has claimed in court documents that Castile didn't say he had a permit. His attorneys are asking that the case be dismissed, saying Castile was negligent in his own death because he was high on marijuana and didn't obey Yanez's commands.

Ramsey County Chief Judge John Guthmann said Monday that he assigned Wilson to the case because of the judge's availability and experience. He said Wilson's race didn't play a role.

Gray said he expects Guthmann to assign a new judge within a week. Then, he said, the defense team can begin laying out its strategy.

"Obviously, this is a case that is going to have a lot of motions filed, and this is obviously a case that is going to go to trial, so we will find out from the judge we get what his schedule will be and then go from there," Gray said.
MINNEAPOLIS  Donors around the Twin Cities have been stepping up in recent weeks to pay off students' school lunch accounts.

But no matter how heartwarming the contributions are, lunch debt is not a new problem  and it will reappear after the donations are gone because many families who don't pay for lunch can't afford it.

After a Twitter campaign earlier this month, Minneapolis collected almost $100,000 in donations, and St. Paul donors have more than taken care of the $28,000 total debt in that district.

An anonymous donor paid off balances at Maple Grove high school on Wednesday, and Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson presented a $15,000 check to Minneapolis schools superintendent Ed Graff on Thursday in the Washburn high school kitchen.

Some families run up debt because they qualify for a federal program offering free and reduced price meals but don't get signed up. They may be unaware of the program or reluctant to share personal information, especially if they are undocumented immigrants.

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Or they may be ashamed to ask for help.

"There is stigma around the school lunch program that it's believed to be for poor people," said Stacy Koppen, St. Paul nutrition services director.

Koppen said the federal income limit for the program can also be a problem for families who make just a few dollars over the cut-off.

"We know those families still need help, they still need resources, and yet the regulations are very black and white," Koppen said.

Other expenses like medical bills can make lunch unaffordable for families who don't qualify for free meals.

"When I have to sit down with families and they're asking, 'Well why didn't I qualify? I've got all of this debt,' and they're trying to get qualified, it's always the hard message to send that I can't consider your debt in this, it's just your income," said Michele Carroll, Minneapolis culinary and wellness services business manager.

While it's not a majority, Carroll said, some of the debt comes from students who can afford meals but choose not to pay. In Minneapolis, students receive a regular hot lunch even if they've run up debt. In some other districts, including some schools in St. Paul, students get an alternative meal like a cheese sandwich instead.

Carroll called sticking with hot lunch a "hard balance" because lunch debt comes out of Minneapolis' general fund, money that could go to other school programs.

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"It's worth it for those kids that can't afford [lunch]," Carroll said. "It's not worth it for those that can afford it, they're just not paying."

Districts send out letters and automated phone calls and set up payment plans to get the overdue money back.

The Anoka-Hennepin school district sends lunch debt to a collection agency when it's overdue by more than 60 days and families don't set up a payment plan with the district.

"It's not very responsible to our community to keep ringing up and racking up debt," said Noah Atlas, Anoka-Hennepin's child nutrition director.

A 2010 federal law aimed at making school meals healthier didn't help programs' budgets, Atlas said.

Lunch debt wouldn't be as big of a problem, he said, if programs didn't have to deal with higher costs from the added regulations.

"It did cost more, and the government didn't give enough money to cover those costs," Atlas said. "It just told us to take care of it."

A federal program allows schools with high numbers of low-income students to offer all students free lunch. St. Paul has 40 of those schools, and Minneapolis has 28. State funds also cover the full cost of reduced-price meals for the students that qualify for them.

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Koppen said that approach should be expanded so all students can eat free. She compared lunch to other school necessities.

"Textbooks are not optional. We don't charge some students for textbooks and not others," she said. "I think school lunch should be regarded at the same level of need."
ST. PAUL  Minnesota still hasn't conformed with the federal Real ID security standard for driver's licenses.

Enforcement at airports is supposed to begin in about a year. But the Legislature has not yet agreed on how to do it. Lawmakers will try again during the 2017 session, and now a leading Real ID critic heads a key legislative committee.

Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, had a big hand in Minnesota's tardiness on Real ID. He pushed legislation in 2009 to ban state agencies from complying with the federal law or even talking about it. Lawmakers lifted the ban last year but could not reach final agreement on the next steps toward implementation.

Limmer remains concerned that Real ID allows the government to collect too much information and is a threat to privacy. He's also in no rush to take action in 2017, given the federal government's previous extension of deadlines.

"I personally am waiting to see if the federal government will extend that deadline one more time under the Trump administration," he said. "So, I'm not quite sure how excited I'm going to get about Real ID right now."

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Republicans now will control the state Senate, and Limmer is the new chairman of the Senate judiciary committee. He said a Real ID bill will have to come through his committee to address the data collection and privacy implications.

"Whether I can tap the brakes on it or not, I do not know at this time," he said.

Driver's licenses fit the bill

Under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Real ID timetable, people who want to get on an airplane from states that don't comply with Real ID and don't have an extension will need a passport or another approved alternative identification by Jan. 22, 2018.

Minnesota's enhanced driver's licenses meet the federal standard, and they're available now if you pay a fee and fill out a detailed application.

Every air traveler will need an acceptable ID by October 2020.

Rep. Dennis Smith, R-Maple Grove, said he respectfully disagrees with Limmer's wait and see approach on Real ID. Smith was chief author of a House bill last session that would've brought Minnesota in line with Real ID standards, and he's ready to try again in 2017.

"We are really out of time right now. This issue needs to be resolved in 2017, because come January of 2018, if we do not pass an implementation bill, there won't be any commerce," Smith said. "It will be restricted, flying, unless you have a passport or an enhanced ID."

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Minnesota Department of Public Safety officials told lawmakers last session that the state could save millions on Real ID implementation if it holds off until January 2018. That's when a new computerized licensing and registration system is expected to be up and running.

Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said he was disappointed the matter wasn't resolved last session. The hang up, he said, was House language to prevent unauthorized immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses. Dibble, who was chief author of last session's Senate Real ID bill, said he doesn't want the immigrant issue to get in the way again.

"It really shouldn't be the subject of a Real ID law at all," Dibble said. "It really doesn't involve anything that pertains to whether or not people with or without legal status can have a Minnesota license. It just interjects a controversial issue into what is already a somewhat contentious subject."

Dibble also stressed the importance of offering a dual-track system that would let people concerned about future travel complications get a federally approved license, while allowing those with concerns about privacy to keep the same type of license they have today.

"Other states have done that, and it seems to be a perfectly satisfactory resolution," he said.
WASHINGTON  The fall of Aleppo just weeks before Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obama's abdication. For which he seems to have few regrets, however. In his end-of-year news conference, Obama defended U.S. inaction with his familiar false choice: it was either stand aside or order a massive Iraq-style ground invasion.

This is a transparent fiction designed to stifle debate. Five years ago, the popular uprising was ascendant. What kept a rough equilibrium was regime control of the skies. At that point, the U.S., at little risk and cost, could have declared Syria a no-fly zone, much as it did Iraqi Kurdistan for a dozen years after the Gulf War of 1991.

The U.S. could easily have destroyed the regime's planes and helicopters on the ground and so cratered its airfields as to make them unusable. That would have altered the strategic equation for the rest of the war.

And would have deterred the Russians from injecting their own air force  they would have had to challenge ours for air superiority. Facing no U.S. deterrent, Russia stepped in and decisively altered the balance, pounding the rebels in Aleppo to oblivion. The Russians were particularly adept at hitting hospitals and other civilian targets, leaving the rebels with the choice between annihilation and surrender.

They surrendered.

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Obama has never appreciated that the role of a superpower in a local conflict is not necessarily to intervene on the ground, but to deter a rival global power from stepping in and altering the course of the war. That's what we did during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Moscow threatened to send troops to support Egypt and President Nixon countered by raising America's nuclear alert status to Defcon 3. Russia stood down.

Less dramatically but just as effectively, American threats of retaliation are what kept West Germany, South Korea and Taiwan free and independent through half a century of Cold War.

It's called deterrence. Yet Obama never had the credibility to deter anything or anyone. In the end, the world's greatest power was reduced to bitter speeches at the U.N. "Are you truly incapable of shame?" thundered U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power at the butchers of Aleppo. As if we don't know the answer. Indeed the shame is on us for terminal naivete, sending our secretary of state chasing the Russians to negotiate one humiliating pretend cease-fire after another.

Even now, however, the Syria debate is not encouraging. The tone is anguished and emotional, portrayed exclusively in moral terms. Much less appreciated is the cold strategic cost.

Assad was never a friend. But today he's not even a free agent. He's been effectively restored to his throne, but as the puppet of Iran and Russia. Syria is now a platform, a forward base, from which both these revisionist regimes can project power in the region.

Iran will use Syria to advance its drive to dominate the Arab Middle East. Russia will use its naval and air bases to bully the Sunni Arab states, and to shut out American influence.

It's already happening. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey convened in Moscow this week to begin settling the fate of Syria. Notice who wasn't there. For the first time in four decades, the United States, the once dominant power in the region, is an irrelevance.

With Aleppo gone and the rebels scattered, we have a long road ahead to rebuild the influence squandered over the last eight years. President-elect Donald Trump is talking about creating safe zones. He should tread carefully. It does no good to try to do now what we should have done five years ago. Conditions are much worse. Russia and Iran rule. Maintaining the safety of safe zones will be expensive and dangerous. It will require extensive ground deployments and it risks military confrontation with Russia.

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And why? Guilty conscience is not a good reason. Interventions that are purely humanitarian -- from Somalia to Libya  tend to end badly. We may proclaim a "responsibility to protect," but when no American interests are at stake, the engagement becomes impossible to sustain. At the first losses, we go home.

In Aleppo, the damage is done, the city destroyed, the inhabitants ethnically cleansed. For us, there is no post-facto option. If we are to regain the honor lost in Aleppo, it will have to be on a very different battlefield.

Charles Krauthammer is a columnist for the Washington Post.
Southeast Minnesota lawmakers voiced varying levels of support for improving the state's mental health care system as they campaigned this year.

With nine recommendations in hand from the state mental health task force, that support needs to spur action in the upcoming legislative session.

When we asked candidates  incumbents and challengers  about the issue prior to the task force's November report, those set to fill House and Senate seats suggested all options be put on the table and considered for discussion, from funding new care centers to providing community services to address mental health concerns early.

One of the most outspoken candidates was Sen. Dave Senjem, who made it a lead issue in his campaign material. "I know this disease," the Rochester Republican said, noting family members have struggled with mental illness.

At the time, he suggested he may propose a $100 million bonding bill for new state infrastructure to address the lack of mental health care beds in the state. He noted it might not get support needed to pass, but it would start conversations.

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"We've got to light up this issue in the state legislature," he said.

While we agree pressure needs to be applied to ensure the issue stays on the forefront of discussions, infrastructure may not be the solution for most needs.

While the task force cites a need for improving acute care capacity and housing stability for people dealing with mental illness, Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota, also highlights a long list of potential bills to provide improved training and treatment programs, as well as efforts to overcome existing employment barriers and other concerns.

Rep. Tina Liebling cited the issue's complexity when she spoke with the Post Bulletin Editorial Board before the November election. While much attention is put on the bed shortages seen throughout the state, the Rochester DFLer said the bottleneck is created by a lack of community services to help avoid hospitalization and not having enough resources to ensure proper care after treatment, meaning beds are occupied longer than needed.

"Solutions to this are going to require a lot of input from the people in the state and at the federal level, too." she said. "We have to talk about funding."

We were encouraged to hear the same message from many incumbents who are often viewed as opposing added spending.

Rep. Greg Davids, who has spent much of the last two years looking to cut taxes as House Taxes Committee chairman, said it's about priorities, and improving the state's mental health care system needs to be a bipartisan priority.

"That would be one of my priorities, because if you don't get people help right now, it doesn't get better, it gets worse," the Preston Republican said.

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It's a statement that mirrors the current state system. As many local legislators noted, the state has failed to provide communities with required support after institutions were closed. If that lack of support continues, things will only get worse.

We, however, see growing hope for making things better with bipartisan support in our corner of the state and clear recommendations from the state's task force.



Task force recommendations

The nine recommendations from the Governor's Task Force on Mental Health are:

 Create a comprehensive mental health continuum of care

 Strengthen governance of Minnesota's mental health system

 Use a cultural lens to reduce mental health disparities

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 Develop the mental health workforce

 Achieve parity

 Promote mental health and prevent mental illness

 Achieve housing stability

 Implement short-term improvements to acure care capacity

 Implement short-term improvements to crisis response
Steve wrote here about a church arson in Mississippi, where someone set a church on fire and spray-painted the words Vote Trump on a wall, a week before the presidential election. Unsurprisingly, a member of the church who had nothing to do with Donald Trump has been arrested and charged with arson. Its just another fake hate crime; as Steve wrote, 95 percent of reported hate crimes are hoaxes, especially so on college campuses. Thats true of the ones selected for publication in the news, anyway.

It is obvious what happened hereanother stupid anti-Trump smearbut the Associated Press pretends to be perplexed: Arrest of black man in black church fire stirs debates.

The arrest of a black man on a charge of burning a black Mississippi church that was spray-painted with the words Vote Trump has sparked bickering online and consternation in the community surrounding the church.

Bickering is when you point out that the story, much ballyhooed in the liberal media, was a fraud.

In the days after the church fire, Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons  an African-American who took office several months ago on a pledge of racial unity  urged officials to investigate it as a possible hate crime.

Of course. That was the whole idea.

Chris Orr, a Greenville resident and former police officer for the city, expressed frustration over the mayors early words about the fire. I have a lot of respect for the mayor, Orr, who is white, said Thursday. But, classifying this as a hate crime of a historically black church in a black community before the investigation even got going good was basically profiling the suspect as a white person, whether he directly said it or not.

Mr. Orr has a good point, but he obviously doesnt understand the point of profiling hysteria. It has nothing to do with fairness or justice.

Others, of course, stuck up for the profiling that turned out to be wrong:

Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville, said the mayor had the right approach. There is a dark past in America and in the Deep South regarding the burning of African-American churches, Derrick Simmons said. The way law enforcement authorities initially investigated this matter as a hate crime I believe was warranted, considering the past and the history.

This is a subject for another day, but alleged arson of black churches in the South has been a fertile source of fake news for at least the last 15 years.

The AP, for its part, remains perplexed. The words hoax and fraud do not appear in its story. Instead, it reports:

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, who is also the state fire marshal, said investigators dont believe the fire and vandalism were politically motivated, despite happening a week before the contentious presidential election.

And despite the perpetrator having spray-painted Vote Trump on the wall. No politics there! Nothing to see here, move along! Anti-Trump fake hate crimes must not be reported as such; that is a rule somewhere in the Associated Presss style book.

As is usually the case, the individuals on the ground take a more positive and practical approach than the media vultures who are desperate to fall for fake hate crimes:

Since the fire, Hopewell members have been worshipping in the chapel at First Baptist Church of Greenville, a predominantly white congregation that says Hopewell can stay as long as it needs a home. James Nichols, senior pastor at First Baptist, said Thursday that hes been trying to get in touch with Hopewell Bishop Clarence Green since McClintons arrest. The two clergymen say they consider themselves brothers in Christ, and Nichols said its important that people not engage in divisive speculation about why someone would have burned Hopewell.

Merry Christmas to them all.
Minnesotas own Keith Ellison is the DNC chairman wannabe with a past. Hes a past and long-time local advocate of the Nation of Islam who claims not to have picked up on the doctrines of the hate cult until well into his tenure. Since he abandoned the Nation of Islam and turned or returned to Islam, Ellison has been a friend of CAIR and other radical Islamist front groups such as the Muslim American Society and the Islamic Circle of North America. See, e.g., Dennis MacEoins 2010 Middle East Quarterly article Keith Ellisons stealth jihad.

The MAS and ICNA are very bad Islamist groups. The MAS, for example, was founded as the American arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. For more on the MAS, this this backgrounder by the Investigative Project on Terrorism. For more on ICNA, see this backgrounder by the Investigative Project on Terrorism.

Continuing his past association with the MAS, Ellison was scheduled to speak at the 15th annual MAS/ICNA annual convention in Chicago after Christmas alongside a variety of extremist speakers. On December 15, our friends at the Middle East Forum and other allied organizations disseminated research to national media outlets on several dozen speakers due to share a platform with Ellison at this years MAS/ICNA get-together.

Ellison really wants that DNC gig in the worst way. He has therefore had second thoughts about publicly associating with his friends at this years MAS/ICNAevent. Thats the inference to be drawn from the Middle East Forums announcement yesterday that Ellison has opted out of this years big MAS/ICNA event.

I will only add this footnote. I am quite sure that Ellisons friends at the MAS and ICNA will be more forgiving of his second thoughts than his former friends inside the Nation of Islam. Ellisons friends at the MAS and ICNA know that his heart remains with them even though circumstances have intervened to discourage his appearance with them this year. One way or another, hell be back.
President Obama checked off another item on his rhymes with bucket list today in the United Nations. The United States abstained in a 14-0 vote by the UN Security Council condemning all Israeli building and activity in the West Bank as illegal, including building in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem and Israels sovereign access to the Western Wall. The Security Council resolution had been put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal. The Prime Ministers Office in Israel has responded: Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms. At a time when the Security Council does nothing to stop the slaughter of half a million people in Syria, it disgracefully gangs up on the one true democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and calls the Western Wall occupied territory. I would like to associate myself with Lee Smiths comments at Tablet (whole thing here). Smith writes:

In a sense, the UN vote is a perfect bookend to Obamas Presidency. A man who came to office promising to put daylight between the United States and Israel, has done exactly that by breaking with decades of American policy. It is also seekingcontrary to established tradition and practice, which strictly prohibit such lame-duck actionsto tie the hands of the next White House, which has already made its pro-Israel posture clear.

No doubt that many of those critical of the U.S.-Israel relationship will defend and applaud the administrations action, even as the effects of the resolution are obscene. So what if it enshrines in international law the fact that Jews cant build homes or have sovereign access to their holy sites in Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people for more than 3000 years? Israel, as Kerry said, is too prosperous to care about peace with the Palestinians. Maybe some hardship will shake some sense into the Jewish Statewhich after all, could easily have made a just and secure peace with the Palestinian leadership at any time over the past two decades, if thats what it wanted to do. Accounts to the contrary, from Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, say, or left-wing Israeli politicians like former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and the late Shimon Peres, are simply propaganda generated by the pro-Israel Lobby, whose wings the President has thankfully clipped.

But the Obama Administrations abstention isnt just about Israel or bilateral relations with a vital partner in a key region. Its also about the prestige of the United States and its powerthe power, for instance, undergirding international institutions like the United Nations. Consider how the Obama Administration has used the UN the last several yearsto legalize the nuclear program of Iran, a state sponsor of terror, and make it illegal for Jews to build in their historical homeland. In Turtle Bay, the White House partners with sclerotic socialist kleptocracies like Venezuela in order to punish allies, like Israel. Is this American moral leadership? For Sean Penn, maybe.

Israel is likely to profess not to care that much about the actions of a lame-duck President in a forum that has long been famous for its antipathy to the Jewish State. But in private, Israeli officials are said to be panicking at the fresh gust of wind that the President Obama has blown into the sails of the BDS movement, especially in Europe.

Also panicking are Democratic members of Congress whose re-election prospects in 2018 may have just been sacrificed by the departing leader of their Party. Democratic Senator and reputed Presidential hopeful Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a J Street favorite who is up for re-election in 2018 in a state that Donald Trump won by a 9 percent margin, showed the extent of his own distress on Friday by issuing a statement opposing a U.S. abstention. That statement read in part: Earlier this fall I joined Senate colleagues urging the Administration to uphold its position opposing one-sided resolutions at the U.N. Security Council regarding Israel. Any lasting peace must be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians, not imposed by the international community.

Whether issuing such statements will be enough to keep swing-state Jewish voters and other pro-Israel Democrats in line in 2018 remains to be seenbut clearly, the health of the Democratic Party, which lost over 1000 officeholders during Obamas tenure, is hardly the first thing on the Presidents mind, either. What matters is dismantling the alliance system that has kept America and much of the rest of the world secure in favor of a new system of the Presidents own devising, in which the U.S. partners with Iran and stands idly by while 500,000 civilians are massacred in Syria, and Russia and China launch cyber-attacks targeting key U.S. institutions without fear of retribution or reprisalactions that are reserved only for Americas friends.
Tunisian terrorist Anis Amri reportedly was seen at a Berlin mosque on two occasions during the week before his attack on the Christmas market. Then, some eight hours after fleeing the scene of his truck attack, at about 3:30 in the morning, he was seen at the same mosque on closed circuit video:

This led to a police raid on the mosque, which is described by the Daily Mail (a much better source for news of this sort than, say, the New York Times):

Police have arrested two men at the mosque where Europes most wanted man was allegedly seen just eight hours after driving a 25-ton lorry into a crowd at a Christmas market. The men, one of whom was in traditional Muslim dress, wrestled with police, shouted expletives and lashed out at journalists and members of the public as they were bundled away.

As always, the Daily Mail somehow comes up with pictures. This is the interior of the mosque:

At this point, it is unknown whether others at the mosque were involved in, or had prior knowledge of, Anis Amris mass murder. But one thing we can say for sure is that lone wolves never turn out to be as lonely as one might assume.
Today, the U.N. Security Council was poised to pass a resolution condemning the construction of Israeli settlements. Proposed by Egypt, the resolution called settlements a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution. It called on Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied West Bank.

The U.S. has a veto in the Security Council. It could have killed the resolution. However, the Obama administration, from all that appears, decided to abstain on Egypts resolution. This meant that the one-sided, anti-Israel resolution would pass. The U.N. would throw whatever weight it has behind requiring Israel to make a major concession in exchange for. . .nothing.

Enter Donald Trump. The president-elect stated his opposition to the resolution, while Israel lobbied Egyptian president Sisi. Israel also lobbied the Obama administration, apparently without success.

Fortunately, Egypt blinked. It requested a delay of the vote, purportedly to allow for additional consultation with Arab Leagues foreign ministers to work on the resolutions wording. No new date for the vote was set, and there is speculation that it might be postponed indefinitely.

Trumps statement is believed to have been decisive. Gregg Carlstrom, a correspondent for the Economist, tweeted: Diplomats in Tel Aviv speculating that Sisi didnt cave because of Israel, but rather because he didnt want to piss off incoming president. In all likelihood, thats just how this went down.

Isnt it nice to have a president who is willing to throw his weight around in this manner? One senses that under Obama, the U.S. has left plenty on the table when it comes to dealing with foreign powers (other than Israel). Im guessing that under Trump, we no longer will.

The mainstream media has been pushing the theme that Trump is breaking with decades of U.S. policy on various foreign policy matters  e.g. Taiwan, the Middle East (by appointing David Friedman), etc. However, President Obamas apparent decision to let the Security Council adopt Egypts resolution condemning Israel departs radically from past bipartisan American policy.

Indeed, Obama himself had the U.S. veto a similar resolution in 2011. And Senator Richard Blumenthal, a liberal Democrat, said that the latest U.N. resolution directly contradicts a Senate resolution he authored last year, which passed unanimously.

The United States has vetoed 30 resolutions regarding Israel and the Palestinians, plus a dozen more regarding Israel and Lebanon or Syria. These amount to more than half of our vetoes since the founding of the U.N. in 1946.

It looks like President Trump will adhere to this important way of supporting beleaguered Israel, a practice from which Obama decided to depart.

JOHN adds: It is an extraordinary thing: for many purposes, Donald Trump is our president, even though his inauguration is weeks away. Our nominal president, Barack Obama, is golfing in Hawaii, or was last I knew. It is Trump who acts, who decides, who has influence, who exercises power. Obama shrinks, day by day, while Trump takes over the stage. If he can accomplish this much as president-elect, what might he do as president?
Popular Yoruba actor cum producer, Yomi Fabiyi, has celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary ahead of his divorce from his British wife.

Fabiyi, who married a British, Fran, at a low-key celebration in Lagos shared the news with his Instagram followers.

He wrote, Happy 4TH Wedding Anniversary to us. Just as they say, you are innocent until proven guilty by the court of law. We are not divorced yet and she is still my good friend and wife until divorce starts and finalised, so gat right to celebrate that day that brought us joy then. Fran asked me four years then, why the Green White Green and I said I AM A PROUD NIGERIAN and I love my country. I was passing a message. Be good ok. Happy 4years Anniversary to us.

The actor made history in November when he became the first Nigerian actor to share his decision to divorce his wife on Instagram.

Justifying the decision at the time, Fabiyi, said he felt bad that many have dubbed him a gold digger.

But speaking with The Punch, Fran, who reportedly sounded unhappy about the divorce, said she was very sure her husband did not marry her because of a green card.

She was reported as saying, I am still in love with my husband but we cannot keep living this way. I wish there was another way we could go about it but there is none. It is true that I agreed to relocate to Nigeria after marriage but plans changed and I cannot relocate from England.

I understand that my husband cannot also move to England but we cannot keep living like this for the rest of our lives. I am very sure that he married me because he loved me and not for any green card. If he wanted a green card, he could have married a British-Nigerian or any other race.
The head of the U.N. human rights agency said on Friday that Congolese security forces had killed at least 40 people and arrested 460 in protests against President Joseph Kabila this week.

Such high casualty figures suggest a serious disregard  of the need to exercise restraint in policing demonstrations, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein said in a statement.

Protests erupted against Kabila when he failed to step down despite his mandate expiring on Tuesday.

Not only are soldiers participating in law enforcement operations, but all the forces involved are heavily armed and using live ammunition, Zeid said, also noting that 107 more people had been injured or ill-treated.

Meanwhile, the countrys main opposition bloc insisted on Friday that President Joseph Kabila step aside in time for elections no later than November 2017, as a condition in an agreement being negotiated.

For us it is essential to bring to a good conclusion this year of transition before the presidential election that must take place  in November 2017 at the latest, Valentin Mubake, an adviser to Democratic Republic of Congos main opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, said at talks aimed at preventing the country sliding back into civil war.
The 2016 Headies has come and gone leaving in its trails several remarkable memories.

Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi, and artiste, Falz, anchored the award show, which ended end in the early hours of Friday.

The show, which was held at Eko Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw Kiss Daniel clinch three awards out of the five categories he was nominated in.

Wizkid won the Artist of the Year award at The Headies 2016.

However, one thing that clearly stood out at the glamourous event was the fact that Nigerian artistes boycotted the 2016 Headies in their numbers.

Notable absentees were the entire members of Mavin Records and YBNL Records, led by Don Jazzy and Olamide respectively. Don Jazzy and Olamide had a bitter spat at the previous edition.

Their nonappearance was so glaring with numerous nominees and awardees absent at the awards. So much so that the presenters had to collect the awards on their behalf backstage.

Simi failed to claim her award for Best Vocal Performance, Kiss Daniel failed to claim an award, and so did Illblisss who was a big winner in two categories.

Patoranking who won the Best Reggae/Dancehall single was absent, and Olamide, who won two awards, was no where to be seen.

Big winners on the night include Darey, Illbliss, Kiss Daniel and Mr Eazi, who won the Next Rated category.

One of Nigerias prestigious music awards, through the years, The Headies, has been dubbed Nigerias Grammy.

Sadly, the award is fast losing its prestige as it has been fraught with several allegations and controversies ranging from favouritism, prejudgment and being compromised.

Ahead of the awards, Nigerian music sensation, Tekno, was disqualified from the highly coveted Next Rated category.

Tekno had lambasted the organisers for including him in the category.

In an Instagram post made about a month ago, he said, Next rated after how many years! Lets be honest pls.

Clarence Peters also condemned the nominee list.

See the full list of winners below

 Best Street Hop  Olamide

 Best Reggae/Dancehall Single  No Kissing Babe | Patoranking feat. Sarkodie

 Best Alternative Song  U Suppose Know | Bez

 Best Vocal Performance Male  Smile | Shaydee

 Best Vocal Performance Female  Love Dont Care | Simi

 Best Pop Single  Reggae Blues | Harrysong, Kcee, Orezi, Olamide, Iyanya

 Best RnB Single  Pray For Me | Darey

 Producer of the Year  Mama | Young Jonn

 Best Music Video  Soldier | Clarence Peters

 Best Recording of the Year  Pray For Me | Darey

 Lyricist on the Roll  iLLbliss

 Best RnB Pop Album  Kiss Daniel

 Hip Hop World Revelation  Kiss Daniel

 Best Collabo  Soldier | Simi and Falz

 Song of the Year  Fada Fada | Phyno

 Next Rated  Mr. Eazi

 Album of the Year  New Era | Kiss Daniel

 Artiste of the Year  Wizkid

Special Recognition Award  Flavour
Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has denied reports that he would contest the 2019 presidential election.

There were reports that Mr. Jonathan who left office last year following his defeat by President Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28, 2015 presidential election, was under pressure to return to power.

Vanguard newspaper quoted Ikechukwu Eze, media aide to Mr. Jonathan as saying in a statement that his principal had no plan to contest the 2019 presidential poll.

Mr. Eze said the former president did not at anytime declare an intention to contest, describing it as mere fabrication.

The statement said Our attention has just been drawn to a fabricated online publication alleging that the former President Goodluck Jonathan made comments on the 2019 elections, while hosting his kinsmen in Otuoke last Tuesday.

Those reports are false and bear no truth whatsoever. The former President was not in Otuoke on Tuesday, neither did he make the comments attributed to him. In fact, he has only just returned to his community to spend Christmas having been away for two weeks, so he could not have been hosting anyone there last Tuesday.

Of what good is it to our national development efforts if some people spend so much energy spreading falsehood about fellow citizens and our nation?

The statement also said the former president wished his fellow compatriots a merry Christmas and prosperous New Year in advance, and advises all to always channel their efforts towards working to attain the nation of our collective dreams.

Mr. Jonathan, who was a candidate of the People Democratic Party lost to Mr. Buhari, the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress.

Mr. Buhari won 15.4 million votes against Mr. Jonathans 13.3 million.

The former president had called Mr. Buhari to concede defeat ending the 16 years of the PDP rule.
Suspected armed robbers have shot dead Sargwak Wazhi, a former commissioner who served in the administration of Jonah Jang in Plateau State.

The armed persons also injured the victims driver and whisked away a serving transition council chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Nicholas Vongsing.

A witness told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that the incident occurred Thursday night along Mangu Barkinladi road.

Our source, a senior staff of Langtang South Local Government pleaded not to be named because was not authorised to speak on the incident. He, however, explained via telephone interview that the suspected robbers opened fire on the vehicle of the former commissioner, which had Mr. Vongsing as one of the passengers.

The incident occurred last night (Thursday) at about 7:45 p.m. along Mangu/Barkinladi bypass. Honourable Nicholas Vongsing, our council chairman, was in the car with Honourable Sargwak Wazhi.

The robbers shot at the car, killed Hon Sargwak Wazhi; his driver was also shot, but he didnt die. When we arrived the scene, we didnt see Honourable Nicholas Vongsing, the robbers had left with him.

Our source explained further that both Sargwak Wazhi and his driver were taken to the General hospital in Mangu, where he was confirmed dead.

This morning, the driver have been referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, for more medical attention.

But, for Nicholas Vongsing, till now that Im taking with you, none of us has heard from him, all of us are worried.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police in Plateau State, Terna Tyopev, said the command had not been briefed on the development, but would investigate it.

The victims were said to be returning from an official function held at the southern zone of the state, where more than 30 communities from six council areas agreed to end years of hostilities, which led to the death of hundreds of people and destroyed property worth millions.

The reconciliatory meeting attended by Governor Simon Lalong was organised by the Geneva, Switzerland-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, HD.
A brewing crisis between the Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrasheed Akanbi, and an Osun State Chief Magistrate, Olusola Aluko, took a dramatic turn as the monarch threatened to issue a traditional warrant of arrest on the judge for daring to denigrate the Oluwo stool with bench warrant which he issued on Tuesday.

The monarch who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, said the warrant of arrest was a nullity because it was aimed at disrespecting his office as an Oba and was based on frivolous allegations.

He argued that he had not done anything wrong to warrant the treatment by the magistrate, saying the judge was paid to issue the order.

Mr. Aluko had on Tuesday ordered the monarchs arrest for refusing to appear in person to face charges of fraud against him.

The court had on November 25 ordered the monarch to appear before it in a case filed by the Oluwo of Iwo-Oke, Kadiri Adeoye, alleging fraud against him.

At Tuesdays sitting, while the applicant was in court, Mr. Akanbi was conspicuously absent, in defiance of the order of the court, although he sent another monarch, Ologburo of Ogburo, Asimiyu Sadiq, to represent him.

On the order of the court made on November 25, 2016, the order remained. I hereby issue a bench warrant against the first respondent while further proceeding on the matter is adjourned to December 27, 2016, the magistrate stated, after listening the counsels of both parties.

The Oluwo, however, noted that the warrant of arrest was an insult and a disrespect to the traditional stool.

The magistrate is a disgrace to the judiciary. He should be probed by the authorities, he said.

The allegations on which he issued the warrant have not been investigated before issuing a warrant of arrest.

I have also decided to issue a traditional warrant of arrest against him, so that he will know the powers of the Oba.

He argued that in the suit filed, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Fimihan Adeoye, who is the second respondent, had not attended the court, but sent his representative, just as he had ensured his representative was always in court.

If the commissioner of police can send a representative to the court to represent him, why should I not be represented, he said.

The monarch alleged that the magistrate was corrupted to issue the warrant just to tarnish his name.

Mr. Adeoye had approached the Magistrate Court accusing Mr. Akanbi of concealing some facts about his past to the state government when he was installed as a first class monarch about a year ago.

In a 33-paragraph affidavit, he accused Mr. Akanbi of having used armed thugs to harass and attack persons whom he perceived as his enemies.

He further alleged that the Iwo monarch forged his name to obtain travel documents to the United States where he was allegedly jailed in New York City and deported to Nigeria in year 2000.

He added that Mr. Akanbi later travelled out with his real name to Canada in 2001 and became a Canadian citizen but was also arrested in Toronto and was in jail between 2006 and 2007.

These facts were concealed for the state government which appointed and installed him as the Oluwo of Iwo, the suit read.

He also accused him of presently making money through internet fraud and using his palace as a cover-up.

Mr. Akanbi reacted to these allegations in a 13 paragraph affidavit through the Aremo of Iwo land, Adelani Akanbi, describing the application as scandalous, vexations and designed to embarrass, blackmail and ridicule the monarch in the view of right thinking members of the society.

The embattled monarch also told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that all the allegations made against him were as worthless as a tissue paper.

The magistrate was paid to smear my name after they have failed to rope me in a murder case, he said.

Go and find out, Aluko is the single magistrate that is often used for dirty jobs, he should be investigated.

They are using the Oluwo of Iwo-Oke to do this job, a monarch that is under me, who cannot even read or write. I have 32 monarchs under me, and most of them are supporting me.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeoye, on the bench warrant, but he would not give details.

When pressed about it, he said he would contact his legal department to find out if the arrest warrant had been received.

Further calls to get the details failed to yield any results.
The authorities of the troubled Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, on Friday unconditionally recalled the 23 staff of the institution who were sacked over a month ago.

The workers were sacked following a petition written by some of them to the anti-graft EFCC against the management of the university accusing them of financial impropriety.

After investigations, the EFCC filed an 18-count criminal charge against the Vice Chancellor of the University, Olusola Oyewole; the Pro Chancellor, Adeseye Ogunlewe; and the Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi, before an Abeokuta High Court.

They have since been granted bail while the case continues in court next year. Mr. Oyewole and other officials have also returned some illegally collected money to the EFCC.

The dismissal of the workers for what the university said was theft of school property, has since been condemned by labour unions and civil society groups who accused the authorities of persecuting whistleblowers.

On Thursday, the university recanted its decision to sack the workers.

In a letter dated December 22 and signed by the Acting Registrar and Secretary to Council, Obafemi Oginni, the Governing Council of the institution said it decided to re-instate the affected staff with immediate effect.

In the letter titled Re:Termination of Appointment, the officials were asked to resume to their former positions..

The Governing Council at its 92nd Statutory Meeting held on Thursday, December 22, 2016 decided that you should be re-instated  with immediate effect, the letter reads.

Consequently, you are hereby recalled from termination of your appointment and re-instated with immediate effect. By copies of this letter, all relevant functionaries in the University are being informed accordingly.
West Africas regional bloc, ECOWAS, has put standby military forces on alert in case Gambian President Yahya Jammeh does not step down when his mandate ends on January 19.

The ECOWAS commission president, Marcel de Souza, said this on Malian TV Thursday night.

Mr. Jammeh has vowed to stay in power despite losing a December 1 election to rival Adama Barrow, raising the possibility that regional powers may intervene to oust him if diplomacy does not succeed in persuading him to leave.

We have put standby forces on alert if he does not (step down) on January 19 when his mandate ends, De Souza said.

No one has the right to oppose the will of the people.

Barrows surprise victory and Jammehs initial decision to concede after 22 years in power was seen across Africa as a moment of hope.

But the president changed his mind a week later and said again on Tuesday that he would not step down, rebuffing efforts by West African leaders to persuade him.

Mr. Jammeh said the electoral count was flawed and that ECOWAS has no right to meddle in Gambias internal affairs.

The regional bloc has mandated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari as mediator to offer Jammeh an honourable exit, but if he does not take it then forces might be deployed, Mr. De Souza said.

The BBC quoted De Souza as saying in an interview that Senegalese troops would lead any military intervention. Senegal is Gambias only territorial neighbour and has a frequently stormy relationship with the country, having sent troops there during a 1981 coup.

Senegal has indicated that military action would be an absolute last resort.

Diplomats say ECOWAS would probably seek approval from the U.N. Security Council for the use of force. ECOWAS deployed troops, led by Nigeria, to Liberia and Sierra Leone during civil wars in the 1990s, setting a precedent for possible intervention.

A first step for raising pressure once the handover date passes is likely to be targeted sanctions by the U.N. and others, diplomats say, also raising the possibility that Mr. Jammeh could be offered asylum abroad.

Mr. Barrows supporters suggested on Thursday that the president might not immediately be prosecuted for alleged human rights abuses during his rule.

Justice is absolutely essential  but we are going to take the route to truth and reconciliation, said coalition spokesman Halifa Sallah at a meeting with the African Bar Association.

Gambias Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge on January 10 from Mr. Jammehs ruling party which wants to overturn the election result.
Nigeria recorded the largest outbreak of Lassa fever in its history between 2015 and 2016, with 273 reported cases resulting to 149 deaths, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, said on Friday

Chikwe Ihekweazu, Chief Executive Officer of NCDC, said this in a statement in Lagos.

Mr. Ihekweazu said the cases were reported from 23 states.

He said following this, the Minister of Health inaugurated a Lassa Fever Eradication Committee, under the leadership of a professor, Oyewale Tomori.

It said that the committee was to look into the situation and proffer solutions to the NCDC towards preventing future outbreaks and reducing the deaths from the disease.

According to Mr. Ihekweazu, the committee came up with an approach that focused on strengthening the capacities and capabilities of states to prevent, detect and respond to Lassa while the NCDC coordinates the efforts.

The prepositioning of commodities has now ensured that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria have a full complement of emergency materials.

The materials comprising Personal Protection Equipment, Ribavirin, Disinfection sprayers, hand sanitizers, hypochlorite (bleach), case definition posters, hard copies of IDSR technical guidelines and safety boxes, it said.

The statement said that NCDC had dispatched a team of epidemiologists to support Ogun State to respond to the recent outbreak where a case of Lassa fever was confirmed in a healthcare worker, who died later at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

Emergency Operations Centre has been setup and is now monitoring all contacts of the case, disinfecting contaminated areas and coordinating all response activities.

This case highlights the risk Lassa fever still poses to the lives of Nigerians, particularly at this time of the year, it said.

The Ogun State Government also said on Friday that 396 people who had contact with the deceased heath worker are being monitored.

All the 396 contacts have not shown any abnormal symptoms or signs of Lassa fever, their temperature is under control and we have stationed our monitoring officer with each of the contacts to continue monitoring throughout a specific period in line with the World Health Organisation standard, health commissioner Babatunde Ipaye said.

In his statement on Friday, Mr. Ihekweazu added that a nationwide risk communications plan had also been developed.

Throughout the dry season, a new communication plan would address priority antecedents of Lassa Fever outbreak to ensure prevention is guaranteed, he said.

He said the communication targeted all key stakeholders, from presidency to households, and would emphasise on the ways to prevent Lassa fever infection.

The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with infected rodent urine or faeces.

Lassa can also be transmitted from human to human through contact with the body fluids of an infected person.

The key messages to Nigerians are, firstly protect your food items from access to rats using whatever means that you can afford- refrigerate, cover, store properly.

Secondly if you do have a fever, insist on getting tested for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT)  remembering that not every fever is malaria.

No healthcare worker can diagnose malaria without a test, and it is the right of every Nigerian to demand a test, it said.

He urged healthcare workers to always apply standard infection prevention and control precautions when caring for patients, regardless of their presumed diagnosis as the healthcare setting could be particularly risky.

(NAN)
Anis Amri, the Tunisian suspect in the deadly Berlin Christmas market attack, was killed in a shootout with police in Milan, officials in Italy said Friday, ending a four-day Europe-wide manhunt.

Amris identity has been confirmed without a shadow of a doubt, Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti said at a press conference.

The ANSA news agency, citing security sources, added that the mans fingerprints matched Amris.

The suspect was stopped for a routine check at around 3a.m. (0200 GMT) in Sesto San Giovanni, in the northern outskirts of Milan. When an officer asked him for his documents, Amri pulled out a gun and shot him.

He was killed when police fired back, the minister said.

The officer is in hospital, but is not in life-threatening condition.

Anis Amri was not carrying any documents, but a loaded .22 gun. His identity was confirmed by forensic police who arrived on the scene immediately after the event, Italian police said in a statement detailing the events.

Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that police officers found a ticket for a train from Chambery, in south-eastern France, arriving in Milan at 1 am, just two hours before he was shot dead.

A spokesman for Germanys Interior Ministry declined to confirm that the suspect killed in Milan was Amri, but said it would be relieved if the suspected Berlin attackers identity is confirmed.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he personally told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Amri was killed in Milan.

We remain on maximum alert, threats must not be underestimated, but what happened last night I think should allow all of our citizens to know that the state is present, that Italy is present, the prime minister said.

Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian national who had been due for deportation from Germany, is believed to have driven a large truck laden with steel into a Berlin Christmas market late Monday, killing 12 people and injuring 53.

Amri reportedly spent several years in Italy before entering Germany in July 2015.

According to German media reports before the shootout in Milan, German authorities had believed that Amri was unlikely to have fled beyond Berlin after the attack. Officers have carried out several raids across the city, and in the western state of North Rhine,Westphalia, where Amri is known to have spent time.

On Thursday and Friday, police searched a mosque in Berlins Moabit district where Amri was reportedly sighted several days before and immediately after the attack.

Amri arrived in Italy in February 2011, among thousands of migrants from Tunisia who crossed the Mediterranean in the wake of the Arab Spring. He spent several months in a youth centre near the Sicilian city of Catania.

On Oct. 23, 2011, Amri was arrested on suspicion of arson, assault, intimidation and embezzlement, and was later sentenced to four years in prison, during which he was detained in six different Sicilian facilities.

On May 18, 2015, Amri was released from Palermos Ucciardone prison, but remained under custody in a migrant detention centre after being issued with a repatriation order, ANSA reported.

The order could not be executed because Tunisian authorities did not respond in time to requests for his identification. He was eventually let go and given orders to leave Italy of his own accord.

Two months later he entered Germany via the south-western city of Freiburg, which is close to the Swiss and French borders, according to local authorities.

A Berlin official told a parliamentary committee on Friday that several victims of the attack are still in life-threatening condition.

Andreas Geisel, Berlins senator of the interior, said that 53 people were injured in the attack, 14 of them very seriously. (dpa/NAN)
Barely one month after he was sworn in as the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has announced his intention to execute three death row prisoners at Oko Prisons in Benin City, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The convicts had been sentenced to death by military tribunals under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Decree 1971 as amended, in which there is no right of appeal.

The prisoners are to be executed today (Friday), according to the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, a non-governmental organisation working to protect and promote human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria.

Chino Obiagwu, LEDAPs director, in a petition to Mr. Obaseki, urged the governor to halt the planned execution.

These earmarked prisoners were sentenced by military tribunals under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Decree 1971 as amended, in which there was no right of appeal. We have filed an appeal pending at the Court of Lagos seeking order that these prisoners have right of appeal under the 1999 Constitution, Mr. Obiagwu, a lawyer, stated in the petition dated December 23rd.

The group urged the governor not to start his regime with execution of prisoners who have insisted on their innocence and have not exhausted appeal processes.

Mr. Obaseki was sworn-in as the governor of Edo State last month, replacing Adams Oshiomhole who had governed for eight years.

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if Mr. Obaseki or his predecessor signed for the execution of the inmates.

When contacted, John Mayaki, the interim Chief Press Secretary to Mr. Obaseki, said he was not aware of the petition.

I need to see the petition before I can respond, Mr. Mayaki told PREMIUM TIMES.

In 2013, four prisoners on death row were hanged by officers of the Nigeria Prison Service in Edo State, with Mr. Oshiomhole signing the death warrant for two of them, according to Henry Idahagbon, then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state.

It was the first known execution in Nigeria since 2006, according to Amnesty International.

The prisoners  Chima Ejiofor, Daniel Nsofor, Osarenmwinda Aigbonkhan, and Richard Igagu  were convicted of murder, armed robbery, and rape. They had instituted a suit before a federal court contending that executing them after 16 years of trauma and imminent death was inhuman and degrading and asked that their death sentences be commuted to terms of imprisonment.

These people were convicted 15 years ago, Mr. Idahagbon had said following a widespread condemnation that greeted the hanging of the inmates.

I was only informed of this (last night) by the prison authorities that they had been hanged. One of them was convicted in Kaduna, while their matters had gone up to the Supreme Court and came back to the Federal High Court, Benin.

It really has nothing to do with us a government. The governor only signed the death sentence of two, while previous governors signed that of two others.
A former staff of Fidelity Bank Plc, Ihionu Chibuike, on Thursday bagged six years imprisonment for fraud.

Justice Lateef Akapo of an Ikeja High Court sentenced him to jail after pleading guilty to the four-count charge of stealing, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and impersonation.

The charge was brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the convict had in 2013 opened a savings account number 6052039264 in the name of a certain Chimezie Ifekwe with relevant document as instructed by the bank.

The victim, Mr. Ifekwe, reportedly transferred money into the Fidelity account purportedly opened for him.

According to Nigerian Tribune newspaper, a part of the charge reads: Ihionu Chibuike sometime in February, 2013 within the Ikeja judicial division, stole and fraudulently converted to your own personal use the sum of N4.8 million, property of Mrs. Chibuzo Nwakwu.

Ihionu Chibuike sometimes in the month of February, 2013 at Ikeja, within the Ikeja Judicial Division stole and fraudulently converted to own personal use the sum ofN200.000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) property of Chimezie Ifekwe.

Ihionu Chibuike, sometime in February, 2013 within the Ikeja Judicial Division and in order to facilitate the commission of the offence of stealing forged the account opening documents of Fidelity Bank Plc purporting same to be that of Chimezie Ifekwe, the account holder.

Ihionu Chibuike, sometime in February, 2013 within the Ikeja judicial division and in order to facilitate the commission of the offence of stealing forged instruction letter of Fidelity Bank Plc and gave same to Chimezie Ifekwe purporting same to have emanated from Fidelity Bank Plc.

Delivering his judgment, Mr. Akapo declared that the former Fidelity Bank staff should spend one year each on the first and second count, two years on the third, and two on the fourth. The judge also ordered that upon completing his jail term, Mr. Chibuike should refund N1,451,592, being the outstanding balance, to the victim.

He however ruled that Mr. Chibuikes two years jail term should run concurrently from the day of the sentence.

The convict has so far refunded N3,498,408 of the stolen sum.
The Senate of the University of Port Harcourt on Friday announced the expulsion of 22 students of the university for various offences including assaulting a female lecturer.

A statement signed by the Registrar of the university, Dorcas Otto, in Port Harcourt, said that the offences also included being members of different cult groups and undermining security on the campus.

According to the statement, the decision to expel the students was taken at the 426th Senate Meeting of the university held on Wednesday.

It further disclosed that eight of the students were expelled for being part of different cult groups, two students expelled for assaulting a female lecturer and disrupting a congress meeting of the department.

Twelve other students expelled were former presidents of faculty associations, the statement said.

According to it, the senate of the university also announced that the institution has closed for the Christmas/New Year Break and will resume on January 3, 2017.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday said the latest terror attacks on Germany are a wake-up call for the rest of the world to show sympathy and solidarity towards Chancellor Angela Merkel in the global effort to neutralise and obliterate terrorists agenda against humanity.

The Nigerian leader also extolled Chancellor Merkels strong leadership qualities and her compassion towards immigrants from the Middle East and other countries.

President Buhari said he appreciated the Chancellors support for Nigeria in dealing with its own domestic challenges, including terrorism.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday condemned the appointment of the governor of Nigerias central bank as leader of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILMC).

In a statement by CANs president, Samson Ayokunle, the association described the appointment of Godwin Emefiele as the IILMC chairman, as unconstitutional and totally unacceptable.

According to CAN, the governments decision to accept the appointment amounted to denouncing Nigeria as a secular state, in negation of section 10 of the 1999 constitution.

There have been reports that the IILMC recently appointed the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele as its Chairman during its 17th Governing Board meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Section 10 states that The Government of the Federation or a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion. This action by Nigerias government is in clear negation of the constitution, especially this section, the statement said.

The association re-emphasised its earlier allegation that the Nigerian government plans to make the country an Islamic state.

What is Nigeria doing in Islamic and Shariah compliant organization? Who authorized the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to join this organization? What provision of our constitution supports our membership of a religious association as a secular state?

When did the National Assembly pass the law to do away with our secular status? When did our Constitution change to allow this alliance that seems to portray Nigeria as Islamic? Is the National Assembly aware of all the treaties regarding these Islamic organizations to which Nigeria is now a member?

Do we need to repeat our concern that almost all the heads of security paramilitary agencies in Nigeria today are Muslims as if Christians have become second class citizens or rather lack competent officers to in charge! Has Nigeria become an Islamic state?, CAN queried.

CAN said the situation goes against the plans of Nigerias founding fathers, adding that the associations concerns do not imply that it has any thing against Nigerian Muslims.

This is not the Nigeria dreamt of by our founding fathers and it is high time the government woke up to its constitutional responsibilities.

Christians have equal rights with our Muslim counterparts since the 1999 Constitution recognizes the multiplicity of religions and we will no longer pretend as if all is well with Nigeria.

Let it be stressed here that we love our Muslim brothers and sisters in this nation and we are aware that we cannot do without one another.

However, we need to drum it loud to the ears of this present administration to always consider our plural state in terms of ethnicity and religion and ensure balance not only on the issue of appointments but on other issues which would continue to portray the government as being partisan towards one particular religion.

Mr. Emefiele was appointed leader of the IILMC on December 15 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

As stated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, on its website, IILMC is an international institution established by central banks monetary authorities and multilateral organizations to create and issue short-term Shariah-compliant financial instruments to facilitate effective cross-border Islamic liquidity management. By creating more liquid Shariah-compliant financial markets for institutions offering Islamic financial services (IIFS), the IILMC aims to enhance cross-border investment flows, international linkages and financial stability.

The bodys major mandates include developing a robust Islamic liquidity management as a catalyst for cross-border financial linkages and facilitating effective cross-border liquidity management instruments for institutions that offers Islamic financial series.

The organisation is also charged with the responsibility of enabling a future global finance industry with greater connectivity, stability and sophistication.
The Federal Government says the United Nations adoption of Nigeria-sponsored resolution on combating illicit financial flows is in tandem with the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, told the UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the administrations anti-corruption crusade now has international legal backing.

The UN General Assembly had adopted, by consensus, the Nigeria-sponsored resolution on: Promotion of international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows in order to foster sustainable development.

The resolution reiterated its deep concern about the impact of illicit financial flows, in particular those caused by tax evasion and corruption, on the economic, social and political stability and development of societies.

Mr. Onyeama said the adopted resolution would greatly facilitate Nigerias efforts to have some of its funds stashed in foreign financial institutions, repatriated back to the country.

The adoption of the Resolution on Illicit Financial Flows is something that is in sync with the anti-corruption policy of this administration, he said.

Also, I think we have to congratulate Mr President because what he has promised to do is to now take this whole issue and get it at the top of the international agenda.

Getting the anti-corruption crusade at the top of the international agenda is no mean feat.

So we are really delighted that there is now some international legal backing for this crusade.

We certainly hope to draw on this resolution to help us in our efforts to have restitution of a lot of Nigerian funds that have been stashed away in foreign countries.

The Minister also commended the diplomatic skills of the officials at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria for the achievement.

I think the adoption of this resolution is an excellent achievement. I would like to thank very much the Nigerian compatriots here at the Permanent Mission.

They have done an excellent work to really push this through.

It is something that has been talked about for a long period of time and it was never very obvious that it would ever be adopted as the UN resolution.

So I think that we truly have to recognise the excellent diplomatic and negotiating skills that were displayed by our Nigerian diplomats here in New York to achieve this.

NAN reports that at the adoption of the Draft Resolution, the Nigerian representative had regretted the impact of illicit financial flows on the country.

It must be reiterated that illicit financial flows reduce domestic resources and revenues needed to fund poverty eradication programmes, provide infrastructure and procure education for our young people, particularly, Nigeria.

However, it is our standpoint that whatever that is illegal, constitutes impediment to development, and should be condemned, and combated comprehensively.

It is pertinent to note that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has taken steps to combat illicit financial flows headlong.

This resolution therefore, should be welcomed with open arms by all members as part of the global efforts and strategies to bring about sustainable development, Akinremi Bolaji, Minister Plenipotentiary and Head, Second Committee, had urged Member States.

Mr. Onyeama noted that the resolution had faced initial obstacles and resistance from certain quarters that were seen as recipients of the illicit financial flow and, therefore, did not support repatriation.

NAN gathered that Nigeria coordinated diplomatic negotiations on the Resolution with the African Group and the G-77 including China, for 40 days, and was strongly supported by the two groups. (NAN)
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday accused PREMIUM TIMES of allegedly displaying sympathies for Boko Haram in a shocking response to this newspapers dispassionate reporting highlighting the suffering of our troops who are locked in a long-drawn battle with the terror sect.

PREMIUM TIMES reporting on the anti-insurgency war in the north-east has exposed how army authorities from time to time left troops on the battlefront hungry and thirsty while also failing to adequately arm and equip them.

However, during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, claimed reporting by this medium were not a true reflection of the situation on the ground and warned the paper of dire consequences.

Every publication from PREMIUM TIMES either eulogises Boko Haram or mischievously emphasise, beyond proportion, the challenges of Operation Lafiya Dole, Mr. Irabor, a major general, said.

Mr. Irabors attack on this paper appears a frustrating response to this papers capacity to factually report events as they unfold on the battlefront despite the best efforts by authorities to conceal information from Nigerians.

Military insiders had told this paper weeks ago that the army had placed our paper under close watch as it launched extensive discreet investigation to determine who our numerous sources are.

In his speech on Wednesday, Mr. Irabor made specific references to PREMIUM TIMES reportage of the war over the past two months.

He said he was miffed by the papers series on missing soldiers in October.

The articles provided details of how Nigerian soldiers manning a Forward Operation Base in Gashigar, Borno State, came under Boko Harams heavy firepower on October 17.

After initial resistance, the troops, who told us they were poorly equipped and unpaid, abandoned their base and scampered for safety.

As they retreated, some soldiers jumped into River Yobe to escape the advancing insurgents. The terrorists opened fire nonetheless, killing some of the troops and wounding others.

The attack also left scores of soldiers missing, including K. Yusuf, a lieutenant colonel and commander of the 145 Task Force Battalion.

For several weeks, PREMIUM TIMES stayed on the story with updates, including how the Army raised a panel to probe the incident as well as the notifications sent out to families of some of the missing personnel.

Efforts by the Army to deny or play down the unfortunate development were unsuccessful.

The Army was also irked by exclusive reports about a revolt that nearly resulted in an attack on the General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army 7 Division in Maiduguri.

The soldiers who revolted were attached to Operation Rescue Finale launched earlier this month to dislodge Boko Haram insurgents from Sambisa Forest  a massive reserve which has long been occupied by the terrorists and rescue civilians trapped there.

The soldiers, mostly of the Nigerian Army 21 Brigade in Bama, rioted early Friday after they were left without food for more than 24 hours.

When the GOC, Victor Ezegwu, eventually arrived in a helicopter bearing foods and other supplies on Friday morning, the troops swooped on him and rushed the snacks, food and water he brought.

They removed all the supplies, including parts for operational vehicles and other equipment, before moving towards the GOC in an attempt to attack him, our sources said.

An abridged video of that incident has since appeared online.

This medium also reported that the tumult came eight months after a similar situation played out in Alagarno.

At the time, troops fighting to take control of the town attempted to attack their GOC after they were left for five days without water, this newspaper reported, based on information obtained from top-level military sources.

The reference to the April 2016 riot was confirmed in a newly released video posted on YouTube by some unknown persons.

Still, Mr. Irabor dismissed the reports as hateful representation of the mediums wishes for the troops.

Mr. Irabor called on media bodies such as the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists to denounce this newspaper and defend their national security interest.

The major general marked PREMIUM TIMES out as the only media outfit in Nigeria that had been reporting stories the Army finds uncomfortable and praised other media outlets for their cooperation.

Premium Times is isolated, he said. The rest of the Media have (sic) shown patriotism, commitment and support for the operation. I wish to therefore commend these patriotic media houses and urge them to continue in that regard.

PREMIUM TIMES has however asked its journalists to disregard the attempt by the army to intimidate or muzzle the medium.

We must not be intimidated by the Armys claim, the papers Managing Editor, Idris Akinbajo, wrote in an email to reporters on Thursday morning. We should continue with our courageous, fair and balanced reporting and ensure we continue to act as thorough professionals. That has remained and should continue to remain our watchword whether the Army and other security agencies like it or not.

On Thursday evening, Mr. Akinbajo added, The Army has a habit of labelling anyone who exposes its atrocities and failures of working against Nigerias interest.

We are proud of our reporting and stand by our stories and will continue to act with utmost professionalism and patriotism in not only reporting on the army and Boko Haram, but in all our reports.

The Nigerian Army and the establishment should by now know that our reporting are rooted in strong ethics and in huge consideration for national interest and the welfare of our people, including our troops.

We will never be intimidated in this service to our country and its people.
The Kano State Police Command said on Friday that the law which banned the use of fireworks and knockouts was still in force.

This is contained in a statement signed by the commands Public Relations Officer, Magaji Majiya, in Kano.

The command wishes to remind the public that the law which banned the use of fireworks or knockouts and burning of tyres by youth is still in force.

Mr. Majiya assured residents that adequate security measures had been taken to ensure security of lives and property during the forthcoming Christmas and new year celebrations.

The command has taken measures to ensure peaceful celebrations as places of worship, motor parks, markets, roads, shopping Malls, recreation centers and other public places will be adequately protected.

Both covert and overt operatives have been deployed to strategic places for surveillance, he said.

The spokesperson called on members of the public to support and cooperate with the police and all other security agencies so as to ensure peace in the state.

Parents and guardians are to warn their wards as the command will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person found flouting the law, Mr. Majiya said.

He also advised people in the state to be security conscious and report any strange person(s) or item(s) to the nearest Police station for necessary action.

People can also call our emergency telephone lines as follows: 08032419754, 08123821575, 08075391163 and 08099831808 in the event of any eventuality, the statement added.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari did not snub a summit in south-east Nigeria, his aide has said.

Mr. Buhari on Thursday failed to show up at a regional economic and security event held in Enugu, the Enugu State capital.

Although he was expected to stand as the special guest of honour, the president did not send any representative, either, organisers said.

Bart Nnaji, the chairman of the summit, observed Mr. Buharis absence.

We have not seen the president here, Mr. Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, was quoted by The Punch as saying Thursday.

There were speculations that the absence was due to a violent threat purportedly issued by a separatist group in the region. The Indigenous People of Biafra has been campaigning for the independence of the people of the south-east, majority of whom are of Igbo extraction.

The leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu, has been in government custody since he was first arrested by the State Security Service in October 2015. Members of the group have repeatedly clashed with the Nigerias security agencies.

Emeka Anyaoku, a renowned diplomat and former Secretary-General of Commonwealth, also highlighted Mr. Buharis absence from the south-east summit, The Punch reported.

I was going to start by saluting the representative of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but I have not been told of such a person, he said.

But former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was invited alongside Mr. Buhari, was on ground at the eventand used his speech to call for a greater unity and advancement of the region.

The South East is known for their spirit of enterprise and adventure and you have to utilise it for improved development and security.

You must work together and not be divided. You must shy away from the spirit of individualism and must earn solidarity with your neighbours, the former leader said.

In his explanation of the presidents absence, his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said, The President was presented with a request to attend the Economic and Security Summit by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

The President happily accepted. The visit to Enugu was scheduled for Thursday 22nd as can be found on the weekly programme. After this was done, some other stakeholders from the South East came and advised him to not go in view of the closeness of the date to Christmas; that given the sensitivity of the period to the people, a presidential visit may come with overexertion and possibly, be disruptive of Christmas.

In view of this, President Buhari requested that the event be pushed forward to January, 2017. Given his nature, he did not insist. He said if the change of date is not possible, then the event can go on without him. That is what the organizers chose to do.

The President did not, and he absolutely has no reason to snub anyone one.
The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay their outstanding salaries.

The group told journalists in Ibadan on Friday that it would proceed on indefinite strike from January 3, 2017, if the outstanding salaries were not paid.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the group consisted of four professional associations, among whom are the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

Others are Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI).

Olusegun Sotiloye, the Chairman, National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), UCH Chapter, told journalists that the last time they collected salary was in September.

Mr. Sotiloye, who addressed the news conference on the issue, stated that the seven-day ultimatum commenced from Friday, December 23, and ends on Friday, December 30.

He said that it was sad that health workers, who care for the sick, make decisions that could result in life and death, were subjected to such unimaginable hardship.

Some of our members now trek to work to fulfil their professional, ethical and moral obligations.

Those who can borrow have borrowed many times and their lenders have grown tired of them and are no longer lending them money, he said.

Mr. Sotiloye said that their members are dejected, disenfranchised and their morale at the lowest ebb.

We must let you know that this has become a recurring decimal as we had the same problem in 2014 and 2015 as the November and December salaries of the two years were not paid until January of the following year.

This has been due to inadequate budgetary provision by the federal government as they arbitrarily slash the submitted personnel budget supplied by the hospital management.

It is against this back ground that we are giving the federal government a seven-day ultimatum to pay all our outstanding salaries from today, Dec. 23 to Dec. 30.

And if by then we are yet to receive the salaries, we will proceed on an indefinite strike by Tuesday, January 3, 2017, he threatened.

He urged those in charge of personnel budget to do everything that was needful in making sure that adequate provision was made to cover the incoming year.

Besides, Mr. Sotiloye appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to help pressure the federal government to quickly settle their outstanding salaries.

(NAN)


Pobierz zdjecie Przeczytaj o zasadach pobierania zdjec Ceremony of lighting Chanukah candles in 2015 (photo by Andrzej Hrechorowicz / KPRP) (1)

Ladies and Gentlemen!

On the occasion of the annual Festival of Lights, I extend cordial wishes to the entire Jewish community in Poland. Lighting up the eight Hanukkah candles throughout the coming week, you will be recalling the miracle that occurred in the Temple of Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabean Uprising. I am very glad that Hanukkah candles were lit for the first time in the Presidential Palace 10 years ago now thanks to an initiative of the late President Professor Lech Kaczynski. It is an expression of the respect of the Polish state and of an eagerness to reinforce the Republic of Friends.

I would like this exceptional holiday season, uniting the people of Poland, to remind us, the people of today, of the magnificent thousand years of heritage of the land of Polin. Let this special atmosphere also continue into our everyday lives, let it inspire and encourage us further in the joint construction of a good future for our Homeland. To all of you, from the depths of my heart, I wish you joy and peace, health and happiness, satisfaction from the successes already achieved, and all the strength necessary to complete your forever new plans and intentions.

President of the Republic of Poland
When he was 9 years old, Benny Munozs father gave him a toy guitar.

The Brooklyn, New York, native strummed it for a few days and then smashed it. His dad came back with a real guitar, although it was old and cracked.

Munoz took care of that one.

Munoz, who moved to Vineland when he was 14, has developed his technique for the past 56 years and will perform holiday songs on Christmas and New Years morning on 6ABCs Puerto Rican Panorama.

The talk-show formatted program, which began airing in August 1970, is hosted by Diego Castellanos. The show will air at 5 a.m. Sunday and will be rebroadcast at the same time Jan. 1, both on ABC.

Munoz has been a guest multiple times since 1983. He has played smooth jazz, Latin jazz and other music.

This time, he will perform holiday tunes.

When Castellanos called his friend three days before taping the Christmas episode, Munoz said, he had to call Castellanos back.

He had some preparation to do.

I really hadnt gotten into to playing those (Christmas) songs, said Munoz, 65.

So I started practicing and taught myself about 15 songs and called him back with my list.

Of those 15, only two or three songs are expected to air Christmas morning.

Munoz said he will provide a Latin spin to the Christmas classics while incorporating Brazilian percussion he uses with his hands as he strums.

Most of the 15 songs were performed solo by Munoz, but he played a couple of them with a guitarist whom he is teaching.

Munoz said those who have never heard of him or have never gotten up early enough to see the program should give it a watch, especially on Christmas.

Its important that we share to the world how Christmas is celebrated in Puerto Rico, just as important that we see how other countries celebrate Christmas, he said.

For Munoz, hes happy his dad gave him a new guitar after he smashed his first one.

This has been my passion since childhood back in Brooklyn. There is nothing better than doing what you love and at the same time earning money for it, he said.
VINELAND  The tiny chapel on East Oak Road has been a place for contemplation and prayer for nearly a century.

And as it has been for almost half of that time, St. Barbara Chapel is dressed for the holidays.

The holiday display runs from St. Barbaras feast day Dec. 4 through Three Kings Day on Jan. 6. Chapel operators say the Christmas season is the busiest time for visitors.

But that doesnt mean there are crowds or noise. Only about 400 people visit the chapel each year. They come from throughout the country and from as far away as Japan to sit in the wooden pews of the always-quiet chapel and listen to the softly playing religious music.

The chapel closes only twice a year: the day the holiday display is put up  with its 30-year-old hand-painted images of the Nativity and Bethlehem  and the day its taken down. The chapel is open around the clock the rest of the year.

'He's still out there,' victim's family says as Cumberland manhunt continues As the national manhunt for a Cumberland County man charged with killing his wife entered th

This year, there is something new. Chapel operators bought the land and the building, situated on East Oak Road between Main and Brewster roads, and are running the chapel as a nonprofit. They say that will help them raise funds for what they consider to be an important mission.

We need to preserve this chapel into the future, Marianne Bagliani, the organizations treasurer, said of the site that for years was funded simply through donations, candle offerings and financial help from various families.

Preserving the chapels future also preserves its past.

The chapel was built in 1920 by Gaetano and Antonio Scarpa, who came to the United States from Salento, Italy, in the 1880s. The brothers were so devoted to St. Barbara, the patron saint of artillerymen, that they had a statue of the saint sent from Salento to Vineland.

Thelma Bucikowski, a member of the chapels board of trustees and an 84-year-old descendant of the Scarpa family, said Gaetano Scarpa at first kept the statue in a room at his house, where he and his brother prayed the rosary. They werent alone in their prayers, she said.

Everyone was welcome, she said.

Vineland guitarist to play 6ABC Christmas program When he was 9 years old, Benny Munozs father gave him a toy guitar.

The brothers eventually decided to build the chapel.

The statue of St. Barbara remains in the chapel. Its flanked by two illuminated Christmas trees.

The chapel hosts only two Masses each year. One is celebrated on St. Barbaras feast day Dec. 4, while the other is in May to honor Mary.

Bagliani said theres hope the Diocese of Camden will authorize another Mass at the chapel, which is part of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament parish. That Mass could be in July, she said.

Charlene Braida, the organizations secretary, said she wishes more people would visit the chapel, especially around the holidays, to experience something different from the hectic American Christmas.

They can get a break from a world thats so secular, she said.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Jeanie Collins spent all day Wednesday arranging and lighting the 850 candles used to create her Winter Solstice Labyrinth of Lights.

Its the biggest one Ive ever made, said Collins, a Presbyterian minister and chaplain at Rutgers University.

Holiday weekend weather: What to expect on Christmas in South Jersey Allow me to be the first  and perhaps only  person to wish you a happy Festivus, South Jersey!

The Galloway native set up the labyrinth in a field behind the Germania Volunteer Fire Company building in the Cologne section to celebrate the solstice.

About 60 people showed up, despite limited advertising, to walk through the corridors of light, Collins said.

Its not a maze, she added.

You just follow the path, Collins said. It took 15 or 20 minutes to walk through.

Collins said many cultures have used labyrinths to meditate and contemplate, and the winter solstice is viewed as a special day around the world.

Its a day when lots of cultures have a sort of holy time, she said.

It coincides with the height of the busy holiday season.

Its a chance to slow down during the holidays, Collins said.

She said she urges walkers to think about what they want to take into the new year.
As the national manhunt for a Cumberland County man charged with killing his wife entered the fifth day, family members of Tara OShea-Watson continued to look for justice.

Hes still out there, Bryan Dunn, 29, of Clayton, Gloucester County, said Friday, the day after more than 100 people attended a candlelight vigil for his 35-year-old cousin killed Monday. Theyre still on the hunt for him.

State Police said the search for Jeremiah Monell, 32, of Cedarville, has continued across the state and the nation.

Sgt. First Class Gregory Williams said Monell has been entered in the National Crime Information Center as wanted in his wifes murder.

Monell is accused of killing OShea-Watson, who was found Monday morning in her Commercial Township home on Raymond Drive.

State Police found Monells truck near railroad tracks off Factory Road on Tuesday and said he should be considered dangerous.

Theres no designated area, Williams said. If he is seen anywhere, he can be searched and arrested.

The two of OShea-Watsons five children who lived with her, ages 12 and 3, were in protective custody.

The family is doing the best that we can for the tragedy, Dunn said. I just want him to turn himself in.

Jen Messeck, a childhood friend of OShea-Watson, said Tara had been in the process of divorcing Monell for a year.

She was denied by the court to leave New Jersey with the kids, because Jeremiah still lived here and he had rights, Messeck said.

Messeck said the couple separated several times and had not lived together the past year.

I only know Taras stories of him, Messeck said. He didnt like her to have friends and talk to people. Many of us didnt know him. When she could speak to us, she had to sneak to do it.

Monell, a 5-foot-9, 140-pound white man, is wanted on murder and weapons charges. Bail is $1 million.

Anyone with information about Monells whereabouts should call State Police at the Port Norris barracks at 856-785-0036.
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JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP)  A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the beating death of another man whose body was found under a mattress weighted down by cinder blocks.

Mark Browne, of Newark, was sentenced Thursday after he was earlier found guilty of reckless manslaughter in the 2012 death of 24-year-old Darryl Williams. Browne was found not guilty of murder and aggravated manslaughter charges.

He had faced up to a decade in prison on the reckless manslaughter conviction, The Jersey Journal reported, but qualified for an extended sentence of up to 20 years because of his criminal history.

"I turned my head," Browne said in a statement. "I should have done more."

Browne, 46, was among six people involved in what authorities described as torture. Williams was gagged, taped, hooded, bound with electrical cord and shot with a BB gun inside a Newark apartment, prosecutors said. He also was beaten with a table leg and another object before he was driven away and thrown on the ground on the mattress behind a North Bergen gas station.

"It is probably, in my years as an attorney and a judge, the most horrific conduct I have ever seen put on another human being," Hudson County Superior Court Judge John Young told Browne.

Daeshawn Jennings was sentenced to 18 years in state prison for aggravated manslaughter in the killing. Kathleen Jones also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a dozen years in prison.

Qudeera Adams, Nydia Mozee, and Latoya Mozee, all of Newark, were also charged in Williams' death.

Adams, who awaits trial, testified that Browne said he was going to knock Williams out and "teach him not to hit girls."

Latoya Mozee pleaded guilty to endangering an injured victim and Nydia Mozee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, according to the transcripts of the plea hearings.
COMMERCIAL TOWNSHIP  White and purple candles glowed on the ground by the memorial in front of Tara O'Shea-Watson's home in Commercial Township.

Teddy bears, candles and flowers were laid beneath a white board, where O'Shea-Watson's friends, neighbors and family gathered outside to share their final messages to the woman who was killed Monday morning.

"We need peace in this world, this needs to stop," her mother, Emily O'Shea, told the crowd.

More than 100 people attended the vigil Thursday night in the Laurel Lake section of the township for the 35-year-old mother of five. As more people arrived, family members were pulled in close for hugs and words of encouragement.

On Monday, State Police found O'Shea-Watson unconscious and unresponsive, after they were called to her home about 8 a.m. Police have charged her husband, Jeremiah Monell, 32, with killing her. He has not been found.

"She's an angel now," said friend Robin Woody. Woody wore a purple sweatshirt with O'Shea-Watsons picture on the back, with the message, "You are as free as a butterfly, fly high soldier, until we meet again."

The message of the vigil was clear: Domestic violence is an ongoing problem. O'Shea-Watson's loved ones asked the crowdto not let the cycle continue.

"Let us be the voice, let us speak for her," her mother tearfully told the crowd.

OShea-Watson lived with two of her five children, ages 12 and 3. Her mother and her 18-year-old daughter live in Tennessee. The rest of her family lives in New York and California.

OShea said she was trying to get her daughter to move to get away from violence in the school system and O'Shea-Watson's own struggles in her marriage. However, said O'Shea, who lived in Laurel Lake for 30 years, "This is my community and this was her community."

The crowd shared stories of O'Shea-Watson, recalling how she would help the neighborhood.

"I hate seeing this gate closed," said her cousin Bryan Dunn, 29. "Because anyone who knew Tara knows, the gate was always open, she'd help anyone who'd ask."

Laughs were shared as well, as OShea-Watsons friends and family shared stories and a list of things she wanted to do, including cleaning up Laurel Lake, party instead of cry and see her cousin Bryan in a dress.

After the vigil, some tied purple ribbons around the trees in the yard.

O'Shea-Watson's friends said earlier this week that Monell was a controlling husband who refused to let his wife see friends or family at times, and often beat her when he was angry.

State Police temporarily suspended the search for Monell in the Cedarville section of Lawrence Township on Wednesday after searching the area most of Tuesday night.

State Police havent commented on what prompted the slaying or how OShea-Watson was killed.

Monell is wanted on a murder charge and weapons offenses. His bail is already set at $1 million.

O'Shea and Dunn both pleaded with the crowd to not harm Monell if they came across him and let the police do their job.

"I do not want him hurt, I want him in cuffs," said Dunn.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for O'Shea-Watson's funeral expenses. As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, the site had raised more than $4,500 of a $10,000 goal. Several Millville-area businesses have set up fundraisers and toy drives to help O'Shea-Watson's children for the holidays.

Anyone with information about Monells whereabouts should call State Police at the Port Norris barracks at 856-785-0036.
Gov. Chris Christie will host his monthly 'Ask the Governor' call-in show at 7 p.m. on 101.5 FM.

The show will be Christie's first public comments since the state Legislature voted against a series of bills he had pushed, including one that would allow him to profit from a book deal while in office.

The other bills would have given legislative staffers, judges and prosecutors a pay raise and allowed towns to choose whether to put legal ads in papers of record or on their own websites.

The legal notice bill raised the ire of the state's newspaper industry, which pushed back against the bill, saying it would cause hundreds of layoffs and fail to save municipalities any money.

Christie's spokesman said after the bill's defeat it would remain a priority in the new legislative session.

In two occasions after the bill's defeat, Christie blasted the newspaper industry and reporters on Twitter.

Christie attacks reporters over newspaper bill failure Gov. Chris Christie continued his Twitter tirade attacking the state's newspaper industry ov
Name-caller simplistic about climate science

Regarding the Dec. 6 letter, Deplores Trump voters:

The writer implies all Donald Trump voters are stupid. I voted for Trump and do not consider myself stupid by any criterion, having earned a Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics. The writer should know it is not wise to label anyone who doesnt agree with him as an idiot.

He assails Trump for not grasping the basic principle of global warming. I would ask him what is this basic principle, since climate change (both cooling and warming) has been occurring since the Creation with no help from mankind. Glaciers in the Delaware Valley, decades of warm weather in Greenland and Iceland, the little ice age of the 13th century and countless other examples have taken place without any help from humans.

Periods of the past have had more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there is now and have actually been colder, not warmer. As of now, the percentage of this gas in the air is only 0.04 percent, yet people like Hillary Clinton would destroy the coal industry because of fear of CO2.

I wonder if the writer is aware that Martian icecaps are receding. Maybe the sun has a lot to do with climate change throughout the solar system.

Robert H. Barron

Petersburg

A.C. taxes, water rates drive homeowners away

With the trends in Atlantic City regarding MUA water-rate increases and city property-tax increases, homeowners have to wonder whether theyll be able to afford to live here.

The only people who profit from all of this are the cronies of Chris Christie and Donald Norcross. I never want to leave my wonderful city, but I may not be able to afford it.

It seems to me that the goal is to tax the working homeowners out. And to add insult to injury, the board at the MUA gave themselves a bonus. Really.

Elaine Jones

Atlantic City

Severance pay for CRDA executive director unfair

Why is a $3,000 bonus too much for the MUA board of directors this Christmas, but a $225,000 severance package is perfectly fair for outgoing CRDA Executive Director John Palmieri?

Taxpayers (casinos, in this case) are also going to have to pay his replacement $175,000 per year. The people of Atlantic City are facing massive property-tax increases, and the CRDA is losing millions in casino tax funds, and yet money is still being dished out to bureaucrats.

If the state starts cutting teachers, firemen, police and other municipal workers positions in the city, are they also going to receive a years salary as severance?

Greg Smith

Linwood
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.




ALBANY, New York, December 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled "Advanced Materials (Ceramics, Glasses, Polymers, Composites, and Metals & Alloys) Market for Medical Devices, Automotive, Aerospace, Electricals & Electronics, Industrial, Power and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016-2024." According to the report, the global Advanced Materials market was valued at US$ 42.76 Bn in 2015 and is anticipated to reach US$ 102.48 Bn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 10.4% between 2016 and 2024.

Advanced Materials generally have superior properties than conventional materials available. They can outperform conventional materials, in terms of their applications. They are materials that are novel or have undergone modifications in existing materials to gain superior performance with respect to one or more characteristics that are essential for the applications under consideration.

The advanced materials products are segmented as follows: ceramics, glasses, polymers, composites and metals & alloys. Ceramics have been the popular choice of material for medical applications since the last few years. This trend is anticipated to continue in the next few years. Major reason behind high consumption of composites is that they can be mass-produced as per requirement and have a vast number of applications (such as construction, automotive, oil & gas), which are expected to continue to increase. The demand for advanced materials products is estimated to grow during the forecast period due to rising demand of high performance materials with properties such as high specific strength, stiffness, excellent fatigue and abrasion resistance.

Get Industry Research Report Sample for more Professional and Technical Industry Insights: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7307

Major applications of advanced materials are observed in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electricals & electronics. They are also used in medical devices, power industry along with serving industrial purposes.

The automotive industry is currently tackling increasing demands for improvements in fuel economy and emission control. Therefore, there is a great deal of interest in the usage of advanced materials to produce lightweight vehicles. Electricals & Electronics, especially consumer goods, is a rapidly growing industry due to constant developments in mobile phones and laptops.

North America and Europe are major regions for the global advanced materials market. This is due to large production capacity available and sophistication with the advancement of technologies in these regions. The market in a region is dependent on its industrial developments. Different regions are expected to continue performing unevenly, with North America exhibiting the leading growth rate.

Browse Research PR: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/advanced-materials-market.htm

As climate change statistics are continuously rising, there's growing pressure from all areas - consumers, businesses, and governments - to search for more eco-friendly manufacturing techniques. This acts as another opportunity for advanced materials market because of always advancing technologies that are used for production of advanced materials. Advanced materials is a promising technology transforming the global manufacturing industry, especially in its replacement of plastics and metals with ceramics and composites in high-performance applications.

The market is anticipated to undergo constant changes due to emerging technologies in various segments, as any advancement carried out on existing products results in the inclusion of the modified product in the existing market. Limited number of players operate in the advanced materials market. Their share of R&D expenditure is expected to reflect on the overall investment in R&D for advanced materials.

Major players in the Advanced Materials market include 3M Advanced Materials, Morgan Advanced Materials plc, Huntsman Corporation, Hexcel Corporation, Hanwa Group, and Materion Corporation.

The Advanced Materials market has been divided into the following segments.

Advanced Materials Market - Product Analysis

Ceramics

Glasses

Polymers

Composites

Metals & Alloys

Advanced Materials Market - Application Analysis

Medical devices

Automotive

Aerospace

Electricals & Electronics

Industrial

Power

Others

Advanced Materials Market - Regional Analysis

North America U.S. Canada

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Europe Germany France U.K. Spain Italy Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa

&

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's 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.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alimak Group, market leader in vertical access solutions, has received orders for construction hoists and services in the Canary Wharf area of London. Most of the ordered equipment will be delivered during the second quarter of 2017.

The orders include high performance construction hoists and associated infrastructure, service and support for the access systems during the projects.

"We are very pleased to see a continued interest in and recognition of Alimaks premium products which are designed to support reliable, safe and efficient vertical access. With our broad market leading product portfolio and associated backup and service, we could meet the high performance criteria's required by the customers", says Fredrik Betts, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Construction Equipment.

Alimaks construction hoists are based on modular designs, which provide flexibility in both size and capacity for use in a variety of applications, including construction and refurbishment of high-rise buildings, bridges, chimneys and facades. The modular design also mean reduced time for erection of equipment and optimize the cost for maintenance.

For further information:

Sofia Wretman, Head of IR & Communication, Phone: +46 8 402 14 41

Per Ekstedt, CFO, Phone: +46 8 402 14 57

This information in this release is such that Alimak Group AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 08:00 CET on December 23, 2016.

About Alimak Group

Alimak is a global market leader and pioneer in designing, developing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing industrial and construction vertical access solutions. The company provide high quality hoists, elevators and platforms primarily for the industrial and construction sectors. Alimak has a global sales, services and distribution platform across more than 90 countries with strong market positions. The company has a well-established and highly resilient aftersales business and its large global installed base of ca. 22,000 units provides unique know-how into its customer's needs. Alimak was founded in 1948, is headquartered in Stockholm and employ over 1,200 people across the world. www.alimakgroup.com

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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SOURCE Alimak Group AB
AUSTIN, Texas, December 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

DreamsCloud (http://www.DreamsCloud.com), the social network for sharing dreams, today announced the creation of its innovative research lab, Circadia Labs (http://www.circadialabs.com ), designed as a center of knowledge committed to exploring the untapped value of dreams.

The lab will formalize the measurement science practice at DreamsCloud; analyze dreams with academic rigor, and partner with the broader scientific community to explore the relationship between dreams and a variety of health outcomes. Circadia Labs is based in Austin, Texas.

The research lab, staffed by psychologists, anthropologists, computational linguists, and data scientists is led by DreamsCloud Chief Research Officer, Dr. Kate Niederhoffer, a social psychologist with expertise in the psychology of language and text analysis.

With an initial focus on the development of a platform to produce visualizations, insights, and tools associated with DreamsCloud's fast-growing, global database of dreams, Circadia Lab's goal is to build a robust research facility to understand human behavior.

"Circadia Labs plays a vital role in providing us with the tools and scientific knowledge to delve deeper into analyzing and learning about dreams," says Jean-Marc Emden, founder and CEO of DreamsCloud. "DreamsCloud has formed a talented team with a top notch advisory board and vast ecosystem of partners to develop this unique project. Our goal is to digitally migrate and extensively explore dreams to augment our everyday waking lives in terms of cultural preservation, psychological insight, and precision health."

DreamsCloud's mission is to enable meaningful connections across the globe through the sharing of dreams. The network is dedicated to collecting and preserving dreams and the formation of Circadia Labs enables the platform to strengthen its data integrity and security while increasing the depth of its services to dreamers around the world.

"The creation of Circadia Labs represents our strong belief in the untapped value that exists in dreams and our serious commitment to the scientific approach to understanding dreams," says Dr. Kate Niederhoffer, Chief Research Officer of DreamsCloud. "We are excited to push the boundaries of what we know about people based on conscious expression."

SOURCE DreamsCloud
CLEARWATER, Florida, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Enigma Software Group USA, LLC ("ESG") began notifying its customers that Malwarebytes Inc., the maker of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware ("MBAM") and AdwCleaner, has begun intentionally blocking the installation and operation of ESG's programs SpyHunter and RegHunter for what ESG believes are competitive reasons. This action by Malwarebytes has created an immediate incompatibility between SpyHunter or RegHunter coexisting on the same PC with MBAM.

Independent third-party certification groups have found ESG products to be both trustworthy and reliable. SpyHunter and RegHunter have been independently tested and certified by TRUSTe, a leading online privacy solutions provider, as meeting the requirements for its Trusted Download program. SpyHunter has also received a top score from AV-TEST, the highly regarded independent IT security-testing institute, on its remediation testing battery.

In response to Malwarebytes blocking ESG's programs, ESG filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York against Malwarebytes and is seeking remedies for what it sees as unfair conduct.

ESG is notifying its customers that it has developed an alternative SpyHunter installer that will enable those customers who wish to use SpyHunter instead of MBAM to do so. The installer disables MBAM, with user consent, and allows customers to install and use SpyHunter.

About Enigma Software Group USA, LLC

Enigma Software Group USA, LLC is a privately held international systems integrator and developer of PC security software, with offices in the United States and the European Union. The company's specialties are the development of PC security software, online security analysis, adaptive threat assessment, and detection of PC security threats, as well as malware custom fixes for its millions of subscribers worldwide. ESG is best known for SpyHunter, its anti-malware software product and service. To learn more about ESG, visit www.enigmasoftware.com.

Connect with ESG on Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | YouTube

Logo - http://prnewswire2-a.akamaihd.net/p/1893751/sp/189375100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_oy76vmpt/def_height/480/def_width/640/

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SOURCE Enigma Software Group USA, LLC
DUBLIN, Dec 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "European Road Freight 2016" report to their offering.

The 2016 edition of the 'European Road Freight Transport' report includes the latest research on the dynamics of the road freight sector.

It examines the economic drivers of the road freight industry as well as highlighting what is considered as a typical cost structure for European hauliers.

Not only this, the report includes comprehensive profiles of 20 European countries. Included within these is an overview of the road freight market within that country as well as analysis of the infrastructure.

In addition, on a country-level basis, we have collated Top 10s, wherever possible, of the top logistics providers within the countries, as well as insight into the origin and destinations of road freight within each country.

European Road Freight Transport 2016 also includes our bespoke market size data, forecasts and analysis of the domestic and international road freight markets from both a regional and country-level perspective.

Key Findings:

- The road freight sector is not one single market. Rather, it is divided up into a number of different segments that may overlap, yet operate in distinctly different patterns and serve different customer types.

- The European road freight transport market is highly fragmented. The top 10 players are estimated to have accounted for only 10% of the market in 2015.

- The economy in Europe has experienced some recovery in the Eurozone and continued growth in the UK, Sweden and parts of Central Europe. Despite this, the road freight market remains muted.

- In 2015, the European road freight market is estimated to have grown by 2.5% in nominal terms, slightly lower than 2.8% growth in 2014.

- Market growth has been driven by volume growth in 2016, whereas the impact of changing transport prices is thought to have been smaller than the previous year, but slightly negative overall.

- European road freight industry is on the threshold of a period of systemic change which will transform operating models and disrupt markets.

- Several competing alternative fuels are being developed and although still not competitive against fossil fuels at the moment, they have the potential to transform the industry in the near future.

- Manufacturers are investing huge sums in battery technology and it seems inevitable that in the next five years it will become feasible for even the largest trucks to be powered by electricity.

- Central Europe has emerged as an important location for manufacturing operations. These are usually serving markets in Western Europe or are reliant on supply chains based in Western Europe. This has the effect of increasing demand for international road freight.

- Implementation of a minimum hourly wage for drivers in France and Germany is likely to affect the cost structure of road freight providers operating in these markets.

Key Topics Covered:

1. European Road Freight Market Structure

1.1 What are the Economic Drivers of the Road Freight Industry?

1.2 What Effect Have Driver Wages Had on the Market?

1.3 What Has the Impact Been on Freight Rates?

2. The Role of Supply Chain Technologies

2.1 Which Technological Developments Have Had Most Impact on Road Freight?

2.2 What are the Pros and Cons of Utilising New Fuel Technologies?

3. European Road Freight Market Data

3.1 How Have European Economies Fared, With Regards to FTK, During 2016?

4. Market Size and Forecasts

4.1 Which European Countries are Forecast to Grow the Most Between 2015 and 2019?

4.2 What are the Growth Rates of Each European Country Year-Over-Year?

4.3 What Proportion of the Road Freight Market is Domestic?

5. Transport and Logistics Profiles of European Countries

5.1 What Were the 2014 Key Origins and Destinations of Inbound and Outbound Road Freight in Each Country?

5.2 Which of the 20 European Countries Profiled Have Seen the Most Activity from LSPS?

5.3 Who are the Top 10 LSPS Operating in These Countries?

6. Major European Road Freight Provider Profiles

6.1 How are the Major Lsps Performing Financially?

6.2 Where are These Road Freight Providers Focussing Their Strategies?

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tzlpdq/european_road

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global CAD Market in Industrial Machinery Industry 2016-2020" report to their offering.

The global CAD market in the industrial machinery industry to grow at a CAGR of 7.61% during the period 2016-2020.

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global CAD market in the industrial machinery industry for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of CAD software licenses and services. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

Developments in CAD modeling is gaining traction in the global CAD market in the industrial machinery industry. Modeling is basically a set of rules that help during computer modeling of 3D solids. There are mainly two types of modeling in CAD which includes parametric modeling and direct modeling. Parametric modeling uses parameters to define a particular model. Direct modeling allows the designer to get direct access to the geometry of the product, allowing complete manipulation and editing, with least concerns about features and dimensions.

According to the report, the role of CAD in packaging machinery will drive growth in the market. Packaging machinery are special types of machinery that help with packaging products before their dispatch for storage and distribution networks. A major driver in the global packaging machinery market is the increase in demand for smart packaging. This demand is mainly witnessed in the food industry, where hygiene is of great importance. Smart packaging reduces the loss and wastage of food. The vendors are, therefore providing CAD software (SOLIDWORKS) that enables engineers to design machinery, conveying, and filling process.

Further, the report states that Piracy issues of PLM software such as CAD are a major challenge for vendors, leading to a decrease in their revenue. The sharing of a purchasing license of a single end-user with other end-users is also considered as software piracy.

Key vendors

Autodesk

Dassault Systemes

PTC

Siemens PLM Software

Other prominent vendors

BricsCAD

Encore

Graebert

RealCAD

SolveSpace

TurboCAD

Key Topics Covered:

Part 01: Executive summary

Part 02: Scope of the report

Part 03: Market research methodology

Part 04: Introduction

Part 05: PLM overview

Part 06: CAD and R&D

Part 07: Market landscape

Part 08: Geographical segmentation

Part 09: Buying criteria

Part 10: Market drivers

Part 11: Impact of drivers

Part 12: Market challenges

Part 13: Impact of drivers and challenges

Part 14: Market trends

Part 15: Five forces analysis

Part 16: Vendor landscape

Part 17: Key vendor profiles

Part 18: Appendix

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/n2fqlj/global_cad_market

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

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SOURCE Research and Markets
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --The Offer is not being made, and this press release may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into, nor will any tender of shares be accepted from or on behalf of holders in, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or the United States of America, or any other jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer, the distribution of this press release or the acceptance of any tender of shares would contravene applicable laws or regulations or require further offer documents, filings or other measures in addition to those required under Swedish law.

On 21 December 2016, Altor AB ("Altor") announced a recommended cash offer to the shareholders of Transcom WorldWide AB ("Transcom" or the "Company") to tender all their shares in Transcom to Altor (the "Offer").

Altor has been informed that SEB SICAV 2  SEB Listed Private Equity Fund and SEB Alternative Strategies SICAV  SEB Industrial Opportunities (together the "SEB funds"), that are two of the owners in Transcom that have undertaken to accept the Offer subject to certain conditions, because of an operational mistake have reduced their total holding in Transcom from approximately 13.0% of the shares and votes in Transcom to below 10% of the shares and votes in Transcom, as set out in a shareholding notification that was announced on 22 December 2016.

Hans Ek, Head of Corporate Governance at SEB Investment Management AB, has informed Altor that SEB Investment Management AB's positive attitude towards the Offer remains unchanged.

For questions, please contact:

Tor Krusell

Head of Communications, Altor Equity Partners

Phone: +46 70 543 87 47

E-mail: tor.krusell@altor.se

Information about the Offer is made available at: www.altor.com/transcomoffer

Altor discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Takeover Rules. The information was submitted for publication on 22 December 2016, 10.30 p.m. CET.

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/2101/2156345/607955.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE Altor
SOLNA, Sweden, Dec 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

NCC has signed a partnering agreement with BillerudKorsnas regarding the expansion of production facilities for the Next Generation project at Gruvon Mill in the Municipality of Grums, Sweden.

"This is our largest investment ever and our goal is to build the most modern production facility in the world for the production of liquid packaging board, cartonboard, food service board and white kraftliner. We have now found a strong partner to cooperate with for the construction aspects of the project," says Ulf Eliasson, project owner and Senior Vice President of BillerudKorsnas AB.

The assignment is its entirety comprises earth, foundation and concreting works for the new production facility. The works are estimated to cost approximately SEK 950 million.

"We are pleased and proud to be entrusted with carrying out this project and that BillerudKorsnas wanted to sign a partnering agreement at an early stage. With our broad experience from similar projects and strong project organization, we will jointly and efficiently implement the project," says Svante Hagman, Business Area Manager of NCC Infrastructure.

The assignment will be registered on a continuous basis in 2017, with the majority recognized in the first quarter of 2017 in the Infrastructure business area.

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

Maria Zimdahl,

Deputy Head of Division,

NCC Infrastructure,

+46 (0)70 589 09 33

Anna Trane,

Head of Corporate Media Relations,

NCC,

+46 70 884 74 69

NCC's media line +46 8 585 519 00 or press@ncc.se

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/ncc/r/ncc-signs-agreement-with-billerudkorsnas,c2156354

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SOURCE NCC
DUBLIN, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Electric Car Technology and Forecasts 2017-2027" report to their offering.

Is there a hare and tortoise story here with Tesla terrifying the industry by becoming the Apple of automotive but acquiring major quality and financial challenges? Volkswagen and Daimler have become ambivalent about fuel cell cars and Toyota has just decided to go big on pure electric, in a change of emphasis. Hyundai say they are the end game, Honda says they are an important option and yet others call them "fool" cells. Who is right? Will the Chinese flood the world with half-price basic electric cars? When?

The report times peak car, peak HEV, peak PHEV and peak lead acid battery. For example, Nissan in Japan told us they have no plans to remove the lead acid battery from their pure electric cars but others are acting differently.

The report finds a huge market emerging for the cheapest, easiest way of converting existing production of cars to keep them legal as new global warming laws bite. This is the 48V mild hybrid: it will also peak in the next fifteen years but, before that, it will transmogrify into a hugely popular form of electric vehicle by becoming capable of several pure electric modes with engine off. The Mercedes broad move to 48V MH in 2017 is only part of this story.

The report's sober look at the detail reveals surprising aspects not popularly reported. For example, Fiat Chrysler is a laggard in EVs but they convinced us they are a leader in 48V MH. Why has Toyota just done a U turn on pure electric cars? Timing is all in this game.

The analysis reveals when Energy Independent Vehicles EIV become significant, not least as cars. It exposes the world of LIDAR, RADAR, cameras, software and so on for autonomy with their relative importance changing rapidly. The price trends are dramatic.

Key Topics Covered:

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

2. INTRODUCTION

3. THE CHINA CAR PHENOMENON

4. CAR POWERTRAINS

5. STRONG HYBRID ELECTRIC POWERTRAINS

6. PURE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PEV

7. ENERGY INDEPENDENT CARS

8. SOME OF THE KEY ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES

9. ROTATING ELECTRICAL MACHINES AND THEIR CONTROLS

10. ENERGY HARVESTING INCLUDING REGENERATION

11. MEGATREND: STRUCTURAL ELECTRONICS

12. AUTONOMY TECHNOLOGIES

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/jtk5kq/electric_car

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager



press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
LEIPZIG, Germany, December 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Leading internet investor in Central and Eastern Europe acquires former Unister travel assets

acquires former Unister travel assets Further acquired assets: reisen.de, billigfluege.de, reisegeier.de, urlaubstours.de, hotelreservierung.de and TravelViva

Objective is to create a pan-European leader in the online travel segment

Rockaway Capital SE ("Rockaway Capital") today announced that it has signed an agreement with the administrator Prof. Dr. Lucas F. Flother in his capacity as insolvency administrator of Unister to acquire former Unister travel assets consisting of some of the best-known brands in the German travel market: ab-in-den-urlaub.de (AIDU), reisen.de, billigfluege.de, reisegeier.de, urlaubstours.de, hotelreservierung.de and TravelViva. These leading online travel platforms will seamlessly continue to offer all of their services to customers on a high quality level. Building on the new foundations that have been created in the last few months, Rockaway Capital will implement a new compliance and corporate governance structure at the acquired assets to support the new beginning and further growth. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose financial details of the transaction.

Rockaway Capital is the leading internet investor in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) focusing on e-commerce and internet companies with high growth potential. With the online travel agency (OTA) Invia, Rockaway Capital already operates a well-established brand and a leading player in the CEE travel market. The acquired assets strategically fit Rockaway Capital's ambitions to gain a foothold on the German market, to complement its portfolio and to expand its service offerings - for the benefit of customers who will have access to a wider range of high quality services.

"As Invia and the former Unister companies, especially AIDU, have the same business model, our focus will be on leveraging combined forces and expertise with the vision to create a pan-European OTA leader. Our proven technology and superior know-how will allow us to provide the best service to up to 140 million existing and potential customers in Germany and beyond", says Jaroslaw Czernek, Investment Partner at Rockaway Capital and Chairman at Invia.

Rockaway Capital is fully committed to the German travel market and will take over all of the about 520 remaining travel business employees. With a large talent pool and strong management team in place, Rockaway Capital is in an ideal position to take the travel platforms to the next level.

Insolvency administrator Prof. Dr. Lucas F. Flother says: "Given its expertise in the travel sector, operational and financial strength, I consider Rockaway an ideal partner and I am confident that the new owner will unlock the acquired assets' potential."

The creditor committee has given their consent to the acquisition. The transaction is jointly financed by Rockaway Capital and CEFC, Rockaway Capital's passive strategic financial partner for investments in the travel sector. "The investment in the German online travel agency ab-in-den-urlaub.de and the online airline-ticket seller fluege.de is a great opportunity and fits with our travel-industry development strategy. Through these companies, we also want to use the potential presented by growth in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Europe. We also plan to use the synergies and opportunities that our investment will provide in the areas of the travel industry, air transport and the hotel industry," reinforces Marcela Hrda, executive vice-president of CEFC Europe.

The former Unister travel assets will be acquired by the holding company Rockaway Capital Travel. The closing of the transaction is scheduled for the beginning of 2017.

About Rockaway Capital

Founded by aspiring entrepreneur Jakub Havrlant in 2013, Rockaway Capital is a true Central and Eastern European success story. Rockaway Capital's focus is on building, investing in and buying promising internet companies with high growth potential. Over the last three years, Rockaway Capital has invested more than USD 400 million into more than 20 portfolio companies. In the travel sector, Rockaway Capital pursues investments with its strategic financial partner CEFC, a leading and reputable Chinese private investment group. Being headquartered in Prague and having further offices in San Francisco and Sao Paulo, Rockaway Capital has a core team of 25 people with a strong network of experts and suppliers. For more information visit http://www.rockawaycapital.com

About Invia

Invia is the largest online travel agency (OTA) in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The company specializes in selling package travel, flight tickets and accommodation from almost all suppliers on the respective markets. In addition to its online business, Invia has around 200 points of sale. Since its foundation in 2002, the company has grown to 253 million EUR total transaction value (TTV) and serves more than 500,000 customers per year. Invia employs a total of more than 700 employees. Jointly with CEFC, Rockaway acquired Invia in the first half of 2016 and has made the company grow at 48% (YOY) over the last quarter.

About CEFC

CEFC China Energy Company Limited is the largest private company in Shanghai, and the seventh largest private company in China. In the Fortune Global 500's leader board of the largest companies in 2016, CEFC took the 229th position, employing more than 30,000 people worldwide. Apart from the company's priority business finance and energy, it also operates in many other areas. CEFC decided to expand into Europe and has already realized numerous investments focusing on tourism, the airline industry and e-commerce.

Press c ontact for Rockaway Capital

Torben Gosau

CNC - Communications and Network Consulting AG

M: +49-160-969-435-17

E: rockaway@cnc-communications.com

Press c ontact UNISTER insolvency administration

Christoph Moller

moller pr

M: +49-179-100-90-80

E:cm@moeller-pr.de

SOURCE Rockaway Capital SE
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

With reference to the release of 8 December, Scandi Standard is pleased to announce that is has entered into binding agreements relating to two five-year credit facilities of in aggregate SEK 2,200m (the "New Facilities").

The purpose of the New Facilities is to refinance Scandi Standard's existing bank facilities and to secure a robust, flexible and long term financing tailored to match the Group's ambitions for organic and strategic growth. The New Facilities will comprise a SEK 1,450m multicurrency term loan facility and a SEK 750m multicurrency revolving loan facility and allows for a future increase of the facilities of up to SEK 1,250m subject to agreement with lenders.

The banking group consists of reputable institutions with a strong and diverse skill set, and includes ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Cooperatieve Rabobank U.A, Danske Bank A/S (Danmark, Sverige Filial), DNB Sweden AB (a wholly-owned subsidiary of DNB Bank ASA) and Nordea Bank AB (publ). The terms of the New Facilities are advantageous compared to Scandi Standard's existing financing.

As a result of the refinancing, Scandi Standard will expense its remaining capitalised costs relating to the existing bank financing, as well as certain costs relating to the New Facilities, in Q4 2016. Such costs are expected to be about SEK 9 million, and will be booked under financial items. The remaining up-front costs relating to the New Facilities will be capitalised and amortised over the tenor.

The New Facilities are expected to become effective in January 2017.

For further information, please contact:

Leif Bergvall Hansen,

CEO Scandi Standard:

Tel : +45 221 005 44

Henrik Heiberg,

Head of M&A, Financing & IR,

Scandi Standard: +47 917 47 724

This information is information that Scandi Standard AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 0830 CET on 23 December 2016.



Scandi Standard is the largest producer of chicken-based food products in the Nordic region with leading positions in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. The company produces, markets and sells ready to eat, chilled and frozen products under the brands Kronfagel, Danpo, Den Stolte Hane and Naapurin Maalaiskana. For more information, see www.scandistandard.com

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/scandi-standard/r/scandi-standard---refinancing-of-bank-facilities,c2156309

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/7156/2156309/607937.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE Scandi Standard
TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AgileThought, a national provider of custom software solutions and development consulting to Fortune 1000 clients, appointed James Olson as Senior Vice President of Product Management. Olson will lead product design and rollout strategies for AgileThought's largest clients.

James Olson, SVP of Product Management

"I am excited to have James as part of the AgileThought executive team," said David Romine, CEO of AgileThought. "James has been a colleague and advisor to the company's founders as we have developed and grown AgileThought over the past 12 years. We now have a unique opportunity by combining AgileThought's innovative software development capabilities and the insights James has developed while consulting with an international roster of Fortune 500 companies."

Olson brings over 20 years of Big Four management consulting experience in designing and delivering customer experience strategies and operational transformation for clients in the financial services, retail, automotive, hospitality, government, and pharmaceutical sectors. Additionally, as Managing Director at Autometrics, Inc., he led the launch of the firm's marketing and sales analytics platform in the United States.

Follow AgileThought: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook

About AgileThought

AgileThought is a full-service software consulting firm with specializations in custom software development, user interface and experience design, managed cloud services, application lifecycle management (ALM), SharePoint and business intelligence solutions, and agile and DevOps consulting and training. Formed in 2004, the company has been noted as one of the country's Best Companies to Work For by Fortune magazine. It is currently listed on the Inc. 5000 list for the ninth consecutive year and was also listed as one of the Best Companies to Work For by Florida Trend magazine. It serves Fortune 1000 clients nationwide from offices in Tampa and Orlando. For more information, visit www.agilethought.com or call 1-877-514-9180.

Media Contact:

Chad Nielubowicz

Phone: 1-877-514-9180

Email: [email protected]

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

SOURCE AgileThought

Related Links

http://www.agilethought.com


NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC is deeply disappointed that the United States chose to abstain on a UN Security Council resolution today which singled out Israel for condemnation. The resolution, withdrawn by Egypt yesterday, was reintroduced by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela.

"The Administration's decision, for the first time in eight years, not to block an anti-Israel measure at the UN Security Council is profoundly disturbing," said AJC CEO David Harris. "It only encourages diplomatic end-runs and diversionary tactics, which hinder rather than advance the prospects for peace."

"Moreover, this measure repeats the Palestinian falsehood that Israeli settlements constitute the core of the conflict," said Harris. "Let's be clear: The chief obstacle to achieving peace is, and long has been, the steadfast refusal of the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel's legitimacy and negotiate in earnest a comprehensive agreement. Security Council members that supported the resolution are not helping the cause of peace by their failure to hold the Palestinians accountable for their chronic short-sightedness and inaction."

AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, has long advocated for direct, bilateral Israeli-Palestinian talks, leading to a durable two-state accord. "The two-state solution may be frustratingly elusive after years of effort by successive Israeli governments, and years of Palestinian rejectionism, but surely it is the only conceivable path to an accord," said Harris.

"Encouraging the misguided Palestinian strategy of doing everything possible to avoid Israel, while accumulating hostile statements against Israel at the UN and other international organizations, has been counterproductive to achieving a sustainable peace that will benefit both Israelis and Palestinians," said Harris. "Isn't it high time to face reality? Enduring peace accords with Egypt and Jordan came about because of direct talks with Israel. The same could be true with the Palestinians, if only they finally learned the lessons of those talks."

The final vote was 14 in favor, none against, and one abstention, the United States.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


DETROIT, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AtWork Group, an award-winning national staffing franchise, has opened an all-new location in Detroit, Michigan, extending the company's national reach. The staffing agency will help serve the region's overall staffing needs and add to the nearly 100 already open AtWork locations across the United States.

Daryl Ayers, the owner of the new franchise location, says after many years of working in the industry, he saw a specific need in the Detroit Metro area. "I saw the need in the market to bring a new, innovative staffing brand to the community that has the flexibility to service employers and recruit from a diverse pool of talent to meet the needs of our clients."

Ayers was previously director of business development at Judson Center Staffing Solutions and has also served as senior branch manager at Kelly Services and multi-unit branch manager at Labor Ready.

"I'm very excited for the challenge, and also for the opportunity to bring AtWork's specific approach and expertise to this area," Ayers says. "We can do good things here."

The Detroit franchise will provide the company's signature personnel service to be AtWork for You, a key differentiator when it comes to service. AtWork will supply area companies with temporary, temp-to-hire, payroll and full-time placement services. The new office is located at 27440 Hoover Road in Warren, Michigan.

AtWork provides companies with flexible employment solutions with the highest level of service available and was recently named Franchise Times Top 200+ list, No. 349 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2015 "Franchise 500" List, as well as an Inavero's 2016 Best of Staffing Client and Talent Award winners list. AtWork Group's list of accolades also includes: Workforce Magazine's Temporary Staffing Providers Hot List for 2013, the Staffing Industry Analysts Largest U.S. Staffing Firms List for 2013, the Franchise Times' Next 300 Franchise Systems, and a 2016 Inc. 5000 ranking.

For more information about AtWork's franchise opportunities, visit www.atwork.com/atworkfranchising/.

About AtWork Group

Leading the staffing industry since 1992, AtWork Group has grown its franchise to more than 90 locations nationwide. Each location provides employers and employees with the AtWork range of services including: AtWork Personnel Services, AtWork Medical Services, AtWork HelpingHands Services, and AtWork Search Group. AtWork has been cited as one of Staffing Industry Analysts' top U.S. staffing firms. They rank on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2015 "Franchise 500" list, the Staffing Industry Analysts' "Largest U.S. Staffing Firms for 2015" and "Fastest Growing Staffing Firms" lists, and the "Inc. 5000 2015" list. AtWork Group's remarkable growth is fueled by the vision of founders John and Glenda Hall: "Think ahead, create opportunity, give exceptional support to franchise offices and always look for the better way, every day." For more information, visit www.atwork.com or call 800.383.0804.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE AtWork Group

Related Links

http://www.atwork.com


FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Basic Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: BAS) ("Basic" or the "Company") today announced that the Company and its affiliated chapter 11 debtors have successfully completed their prepackaged restructuring and recapitalization plan (the "Prepackaged Plan") and emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Through its Prepackaged Plan, Basic equitized over $800 million of unsecured debt, including accrued interest, eliminated over $60 million in annual cash interest, and raised $125 million of new capital. Existing shareholders of record as of the close of trading on December 23, 2016 will receive new common stock and warrants in the reorganized Company. The Company believes that its substantially deleveraged balance sheet and capital infusion position Basic for long-term success for the benefit of all of its stakeholders.

"Today marks the completion of a restructuring and recapitalization that allows the Company to move forward with a solid financial foundation from which we expect to continue to strengthen our business and grow," said Roe Patterson, Chief Executive Officer. "We now have the financial flexibility to continue to provide our customers with industry-leading expertise and safe, efficient services. Basic is thankful for the continued support of our employees, customers and suppliers and for the support of our secured term loan lenders, secured ABL lenders and unsecured bondholders. That support has been integral to the successful outcome of the chapter 11 process."

The Company's new common stock (CUSIP number 06985P 209) (the "New Common Shares") has been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the NYSE ticker symbol "BAS," the same as the symbol for existing shares of the Company's issued common stock (CUSIP number 06985P 100), which will be cancelled as of the close of business on December 23, 2016. Trading in the New Common Shares on the NYSE is expected to commence on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. The Company's warrants will not be listed on the NYSE or any other exchange at this time.

Pro Forma Capital Structure

The table below summarizes Basic's cash, debt and liquidity values as of September 30, 2016 on a historical basis, as well as a pro forma basis after giving effect to the restructuring.



As of September 30, 2016

(in millions)



Recognition



Actual Adjustments Pro Forma Cash





Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 34 $ 66 $ 100 Restricted Cash 29 (27) 2 Total Cash $ 63 $ 39 $ 102







Debt





Term Loan $ 164 $ - $ 164 7.75% Senior Notes due 2019 475 (475) - 7.75% Senior Notes due 2022 300 (300) - Capital Leases and Other Notes 79 - 79 Term Loan issuance costs (15) - (15) Senior Notes premium and issuance costs (7) 7 - Total Debt $ 996 $ (768) $ 228







Liquidity





Borrowing Base $ 51 $ 24 $ 75 Less: Letters of Credit (51) - (51) Cash 34 66 100 Total Liquidity $ 34 $ 90 $ 124

As of September 30, 2016, Basic was considered to be in default on its $100 million ABL Credit Facility. As such, the only amount eligible under the borrowing base was the amounts associated with the Company's letters of credit.

Board of Directors

The Company also announced today a newly constituted Board of Directors, effective in conjunction with the Company's emergence from chapter 11:

T.M. "Roe" Patterson - Mr. Patterson has 21 years of related industry experience. He was named our President and Chief Executive Officer and appointed as a Director in September 2013 . From 2006 to September 2013 , Mr. Patterson worked for Basic in positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining Basic, he was President of TMP Companies, Inc. He was a Contracts/Sales Manager at Patterson Drilling Company from 1996 to 2000.

Mr. Patterson has 21 years of related industry experience. He was named our President and Chief Executive Officer and appointed as a Director in . From 2006 to , Mr. Patterson worked for Basic in positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining Basic, he was President of TMP Companies, Inc. He was a Contracts/Sales Manager at Patterson Drilling Company from 1996 to 2000. Timothy H. Day - Mr. Day is currently a private investor and director of several private companies. Prior to this, Mr. Day joined First Reserve in 2000 as a Vice President, served as Managing Director since 2007 and Co-Head of Buyout since 2012 until December 2015 . Mr. Day currently serves as a director on the board of Diamond S Shipping, TNT Crane & Rigging and TPC Group. Mr. Day previously served as a Director of PBF Energy Inc. and Crestwood Midstream Partners LP. Mr. Day has been named Chairman of the Board of the Company.

Mr. Day is currently a private investor and director of several private companies. Prior to this, Mr. Day joined First Reserve in 2000 as a Vice President, served as Managing Director since 2007 and Co-Head of Buyout since 2012 until . Mr. Day currently serves as a director on the board of Diamond S Shipping, TNT Crane & Rigging and TPC Group. Mr. Day previously served as a Director of PBF Energy Inc. and Crestwood Midstream Partners LP. Mr. Day has been named Chairman of the Board of the Company. John Jackson - Mr. Jackson has served as Chief Executive Officer of Spartan Energy Partners since March 2010 . Prior to that, from January 2008 through October 2009 , Mr. Jackson was the Chairman and CEO of Price Gregory Services, Inc. Mr. Jackson currently sits on the board of directors of Seitel, Inc., Main Street Capital Corp. and Cone Midstream. He has previously served on the board of directors of Select Energy Services (2012 to 2015), RSH Energy (2013 to 2014), Encore Energy Partners (2009 to 2011) and Exterran Holdings, Inc. (2007 to 2009).

Mr. Jackson has served as Chief Executive Officer of Spartan Energy Partners since . Prior to that, from through , Mr. Jackson was the Chairman and CEO of Price Gregory Services, Inc. Mr. Jackson currently sits on the board of directors of Seitel, Inc., Main Street Capital Corp. and Cone Midstream. He has previously served on the board of directors of Select Energy Services (2012 to 2015), RSH Energy (2013 to 2014), Encore Energy Partners (2009 to 2011) and Exterran Holdings, Inc. (2007 to 2009). James D. Kern - Mr. Kern has served as Managing Partner of Majestic Ventures 1 LLC, a consulting and investment partnership focused on early stage growth companies since May 2014 . In addition, Mr. Kern has served on the board of directors of PlaySight Interactive Ltd. since May 2014 . From 2010 to mid-2014, Mr. Kern was a Managing Director at Nomura Securities, serving as Head of Global Finance FIG and Specialty Finance Investment Banking for the Americas.

- Mr. Kern has served as Managing Partner of Majestic Ventures 1 LLC, a consulting and investment partnership focused on early stage growth companies since . In addition, Mr. Kern has served on the board of directors of PlaySight Interactive Ltd. since . From 2010 to mid-2014, Mr. Kern was a Managing Director at Nomura Securities, serving as Head of Global Finance FIG and Specialty Finance Investment Banking for the Americas. Samuel E. Langford - Since January 2015 , Mr. Langford has performed services as a consultant regarding upstream energy investments, strategies and management. Previously, Mr. Langford was employed by Newfield Exploration Co. as Senior Corporate Advisor-Corporate Office. In addition to Newfield, Mr. Langford has worked with Cockrell Oil & Gas, British Gas Exploration America, Tenneco Oil Company, Tenneco Inc and Exxon USA in various technical and managerial positions. TESO

Since , Mr. Langford has performed services as a consultant regarding upstream energy investments, strategies and management. Previously, Mr. Langford was employed by Newfield Exploration Co. as Senior Corporate Advisor-Corporate Office. In addition to Newfield, Mr. Langford has worked with Cockrell Oil & Gas, British Gas Exploration America, Tenneco Oil Company, Tenneco Inc and Exxon in various technical and managerial positions. TESO Julio Quintana - Mr. Quintana served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tesco Corporation, from 2005 until his retirement in January 2015 and was a member of the Tesco board from September 2004 to May 2015 . Mr. Quintana brings 36 years of experience in various aspects of the oil and gas exploration and production industry. He is currently member of the board of Directors of SM Energy and Newmont Mining. Mr. Quintana has also been a board member of Pipeline Pressure Isolation LLC, a private company, since April 2016 .

The Prepackaged Plan provides that the initial Board of Directors will have a total of seven members. As of the Effective Date, six of the seven member of the Board of Directors have been designated. The Company anticipates that the remaining member of the Board of Directors will be designated shortly after the Effective Date.

Mr. Patterson said, "Our newly constituted Board is comprised of a diverse group of individuals with a range of backgrounds and expertise, each of whom will bring fresh perspective to Basic. We look forward to benefitting from their guidance as we embark on our new beginning."

As previously announced, the Company's Prepackaged Plan was confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on December 9, 2016.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as legal counsel, and Moelis & Company LLC is serving as investment banker to Basic. AP Services, LLC is acting as restructuring advisors to the Company in connection with its restructuring efforts.

About Basic Energy Services

Basic Energy Services provides well site services essential to maintaining production from the oil and gas wells within its operating area. The Company employs over 3,500 employees in more than 100 service points throughout the major oil and gas producing regions in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kansas, California and the Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions. Additional information on Basic Energy Services is available on the Company's website at www.basicenergyservices.com .

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the status of the negotiations and our liquidity. Basic has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, including (i) changes in demand for our services and any related material impact on our pricing and utilizations rates, (ii) Basic's ability to execute, manage and integrate acquisitions successfully, (iii) changes in our expenses, including labor or fuel costs and financing costs, (iv) continued volatility of oil or natural gas prices, and any related changes in expenditures by our customers, (v) competition within our industry, (vi) Basic's ability to comply with its financial and other covenants and metrics in its debt agreements, as well as any cross-default provisions, and (vii) the ability to execute the requirements of the Prepackaged Plan subsequent to its effective date. Additional important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations are disclosed in Item 1A of Basic's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and subsequent Form 10-Qs filed with the SEC. While Basic makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither Basic nor its management can guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Basic assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by Basic, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts: Alan Krenek, Chief Financial Officer

Basic Energy Services, Inc.

817-334-4100





Jack Lascar

Dennard-Lascar Associates

713-529-6600

SOURCE Basic Energy Services, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.basicenergyservices.com


CHICAGO, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Beam Suntory, the world's third-largest premium spirits company, has donated $100,000 to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to military families and wounded warriors. The donation will support the Holiday Meals for Military program, which will provide 12,000 family meals this holiday season. Beam Suntory's donation alone funded 8,500 meals, being distributed on 28 U.S. military bases this month.

The Chicago-based spirits company has donated more than $2.5 million to Operation Homefront since 2006 as part of its commitment to supporting the communities where its employees live and work, a pillar of its Growing for Good social responsibility platform. The Holiday Meals for Military program began Thanksgiving 2009 as the result of a chance encounter in a supermarket in Utica, N.Y., near Fort Drum. A soldier, his wife and infant had a handful of grocery items they could not afford, so a Jim Beam employee picked up the $12 cost for the groceries. Since that time, the program has grown from initially providing 500 meal kits to military families in 2009 to this season's 12,000 meals.

"Big things start with small steps," says Ken Ruff, vice president, national accounts, Beam Suntory. "When I helped start the program, it was to support one family that I knew was in need. Back then I never would have imagined it would spur a national program with so many great partners helping so many families, year after year. It's inspiring to see what we've been able to do together  and what we can still do."

"This organization and this program are very close to the hearts of so many of us at Beam Suntory," Beam Suntory Chairman and CEO Matt Shattock said. "I am humbled by the sacrifices military families make, and we are honored to support them."

In addition to the donation, Beam employees are volunteering to help pack meals in Illinois and Tennessee. Since 2008, Beam Suntory employees have provided thousands of volunteer hours to the program.

"The holiday season can be an expensive time of the year, particularly for military families who live on a stretched family budget," said John I. Pray, Jr., president and CEO, Operation Homefront. "Beam Suntory's continued support helps Operation Homefront provide military families with grocery items necessary for a full holiday meal. It's just one of the many ways we show our collective gratitude for their service and help them thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect."

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world's third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher's, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Operation Homefront

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has provided assistance to thousands of military families since its inception in 2002. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity watchdog groups, nationally, 92 percent of Operation Homefront's expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

SOURCE Beam Suntory Inc.

Related Links

http://www.beamsuntory.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Gutride Safier LLP, regarding the Kandoo Class Action Settlement.

A San Francisco judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement of a class action lawsuit involving the "Kandoo" brand of flushable wipes. The settlement potentially affects people who purchased the wipes in California between March 21, 2010 and December 9, 2016.

The lawsuit, filed in 2014, by the San Francisco law firm Gutride Safier LLP, claims that the wipes should not have been labeled as "flushable" or as "sewer and septic safe." It alleges that the wipes do not dissolve quickly enough, so they are not suitable for flushing, as they can clog toilets, drainlines, sewer pipes, and sewage treatment facilities. It claims that because of the mislabeling, purchasers paid too much for the wipes.

Nehemiah Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, the manufacturer of the Kandoo wipes, denies these claims and contends that the products were truthfully marketed and labeled. The parties agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the further costs and uncertainties of litigation. At the time of settlement the court had not yet determined whether to certify a class of purchasers.

Under the settlement, purchasers can make claims for refunds of $1 per package purchased, up to $50 per household or business. No proof of purchase is required to obtain the refund for purchases of up to 10 packages. To obtain a refund for more than 10 packages (more than $10 per household or business), proof or purchase must be submitted. Claims are due by March 1, 2017.

Nehemiah also has agreed to change the material used to manufacture the wipes and language on the package label.

The settlement includes a release of various claims by class members. Class members have the right to exclude themselves from the settlement release, or to object to the settlement. The Court will hold a hearing at 9:30 a.m. on March 29, 2017 in Department 305, San Francisco Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, to consider whether to grant final approval to the settlement.

More information is available at the settlement website: www.calwipesettlement.com or by calling the court-appointed settlement administrator at 1-844-702-2784.

SOURCE Gutride Safier LLP
"That is amazing," Red said, marveling at the stack of equipment. "That's really amazing." He and his wife began to weep openly, hugging each other. These tools are more than just a donated gift  they are hope for their future.

Max Van Arsdale, a WWP staff member who arranged the tool giveaway, explained DEWALT donated the tools to assist with Red's business.

Financial hardships crept up on Red and his wife in the spring of 2015. Shortly after purchasing a home and moving in, Red's wife fell and broke her kneecap in half. She was unable to return to work for nearly a year.

"To keep up with our bills, my wife took a job at a home improvement store, and I started doing home improvement and handyman jobs," Red said. "I've always done my own home repairs, and everyone who has ever seen my work was always surprised that I didn't do it for a living."

In an attempt to secure better jobs, he reached out to WWP to get assistance with resume writing and career placement through Warriors to Work. The WWP staff member he worked with, Ty Dixon, got him started on the path that would change his life forever and lead him to this room filled with power tools.

"She sent me several job placement postings, resume writing tips, and student aid information to help me with continuing education," Red said. "During this time I was able to secure a job doing a complete renovation of a multi-family home that would keep me working through at least the end of the year."

After a chance to tour WWP's headquarters, it was time to hit the road. As Max helped Red and Tracy load their truck, Red said "it's an early Christmas" and chuckled as he reached for another box of tools. The Rankins said a tearful goodbye and headed out; the next day was a work day, and Red couldn't wait to play with his new tools.

To read Red's full story and see a video, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/DEWALT-Provides-Tools-and-Hope-to-Wounded-Warrior-Project-Veteran.

About Wounded Warrior Project

We Connect, Serve, and Empower

The mission of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP connects wounded warriors and their families to valuable resources and one another, serves them through a variety of free programs and services, and empowers them to live life on their own terms. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project

Related Links

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org


DETROIT, Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy today announced it is donating $6 million to Michigan outreach agencies to help low-income residents across the state of Michigan stay safe and warm during extreme cold weather that has already affected many customers, even before the official start of winter. This donation is expected to help drive enrollment of nearly 7,000 customers in DTE's Low-Income Self Sufficiency Plan (LSP) payment program, which offers fixed monthly payments based on customer income and energy usage.

"We understand the challenges some of our customers face, especially during extreme weather, and we are committed to providing assistance to help lighten the load, especially during the holidays," said Mark W. Stiers, president and chief operating officer of DTE Gas, DTE Energy. "This $6 million donation will allow our agency partners to help many of our customers keep the heat and lights on during the upcoming holiday season and through the New Year."

The donations will be administered by The Heat and Warmth Fund and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and will provide relief to elderly, unemployed, underemployed and disabled DTE customers across Michigan who are struggling to pay their energy bills. The Accounting Aid Society will also receive a donation to help them provide financial counseling and tax preparation services to middle- to low-income households.

"With this new $3 million donation and DTE's continued commitment to delivering safe, reliable energy to families in need, THAW is even more empowered to help families stay safe and warm this winter," said Saunteel Jenkins, chief executive officer, THAW. "Michigan winters can be frigid, and at THAW, our goal is to assist as many residents as possible with basic human needs like heat and electricity."

This $6 million donation follows a $5 million donation that DTE made to THAW and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan earlier this year.

"This significant DTE contribution, on top of the $2.5 million donated earlier this year, allows United Way to widen its Basic Needs safety net to serve even more families and ensure that they are warm throughout the winter," said Herman Gray, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "We are very grateful to DTE for their longstanding partnership that enhances our collective commitments to residents throughout Southeast Michigan."

More than 35,000 residents were enrolled in DTE Energy's LSP during the 2015-2016 program year, and DTE's goal is to enroll more than 45,000 in the program this year. Both agencies will be conducting enrollment until February 2017 for eligible individuals seeking utility assistance for the 2016  2017 program year, which runs through October 2017. Visit dteenergy.com/lsp for additional program information and for information about the LSP enrollment process.

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com

SOURCE DTE Energy

Related Links

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LAKEWOOD, CO, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE MKT:UUUU; TSX:EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), a leading producer of uranium in the United States, is pleased to announce that today the Company expects to file an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA"), which has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), for its 100%-owned Roca Honda Project ("Roca Honda"). All references to dollars in this press release are references to US dollars.

Roca Honda is one of the largest and highest grade uranium projects in the U.S. It is located in northwest New Mexico, adjacent to the Mount Taylor Mine, which is a large, developed, high-grade uranium mine held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of San Diego-based General Atomics. The Company is currently in the process of permitting Roca Honda, so that it can be ready for development in improved market conditions. Due to Roca Honda's proximity to the Company's 100%-owned White Mesa Mill, the uranium to be mined at the project is expected to be trucked to the Company's mill to be processed and concentrated into finished uranium product that will be sold into the global nuclear energy market. The White Mesa Mill is the only fully-licensed and operating conventional uranium mill in the U.S. today.

The new PEA primarily reflects an update to Roca Honda's ownership status based on: (i) the Company's acquisition of 4,580-acres of adjacent properties in August of 2015, and (ii) the Company's acquisition of the 40% ownership interest of the Company's former joint venture partner in May of 2016, thereby increasing the Company's ownership in the Project to 100%.

The PEA is entitled "Technical Report on the Roca Honda Project, McKinley County, State of New Mexico, USA" and is dated October 27, 2016. The qualified persons who authored the Technical Report are Stuart E. Collins, P.E., Robert L. Michaud, P.Eng., Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., each of Roscoe Postle Associates Inc., and Harold R. Roberts, P.E., Executive VP of the Company. The Technical Report will be filed on SEDAR and will be available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

In comparing the new PEA with the previous one dated February 27, 2015, the project economics have improved, including estimated operating costs dropping by 11% to $33.27 per pound of uranium. The PEA also demonstrates that Roca Honda is expected to have a 9-year production life with an average annual production rate of 2.6 million pounds of uranium per year. The first year of production is expected to total 1.4 million pounds of uranium, followed by an average rate of production of 2.8 million pounds of uranium per year thereafter. Life-of-mine capital costs (including upfront capital, sustaining capital, and closure & reclamation) are expected to total $13.88 per pound of uranium.

The mineral resource estimate for the project is unchanged from the previous February 27, 2015 report, including 1.51 million tons of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources with an average grade of 0.48% eU 3 O 8 containing 14.6 million pounds of uranium. Roca Honda is also estimated to contain 1.20 million tons of Inferred Mineral Resources with an average grade of 0.47% eU 3 O 8 containing 11.2 million pounds of uranium.

As previously disclosed in the Company's May 28, 2015 news release, there is an existing, partially-sunk mine shaft located on the project which was constructed by Kerr-McGee in 1982 to a depth of 1,478-feet. The Company expects to evaluate whether this shaft can be utilized. In addition, the PEA describes a significant historical uranium estimate for the project that is not included in the current NI 43-101-compliant resource estimates described above. Because the Company continues to pursue significant cost-saving initiatives in today's low uranium price environment, the additional work to convert these historical estimates into current NI 43-101-compliant mineral resources has not been completed. These historical estimates are not equivalent to current mineral resources or mineral reserves as defined in NI 43-101. The historical estimates should not be relied upon, but are considered relevant as strong potential exists to add resources to the project, and if confirmed, such resources could be important in the early stages of the project life and cash flow.

Key assumptions and parameters used in the economic analysis contained in the PEA include the following: mining at an average rate of 1,090 tons per day, utilizing the Company's White Mesa Mill for processing (which the PEA notes is a viable uranium mill and has all the necessary impoundment structures), a sales price of $65 per pound, a $45 million (16%) capital cost contingency, and no mining of historical resources. These key assumptions and parameters used in the economic analysis are considered reasonable for economic extraction of the resources for Roca Honda. Readers should note that the Mineral Resources disclosed above are not Mineral Reserves, and therefore do not have demonstrated economic viability. In addition, this PEA is preliminary in nature; it includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves; and there is no certainty that the economic analysis will be realized.

Key assumptions and parameters used in determining the Mineral Resources contained in the PEA, include the following: a minimum grade cut-off of 0.19% U 3 O 8 , a minimum mining thickness of six feet, $241 per ton of operating cost, 95% recovery at the White Mesa Mill, and no environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socioeconomic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate. Data verification for the Mineral Resources estimate was completed by RPA (2010-2011, and 2016) and by Fitch (2004). The data verification performed by RPA in 2010-2011, included a site visit, review of historical plans and sections, review of geological reports, review of historical and more recent drill hole logs, review of survey records, review of core logging and sampling procedures, spot checks of property boundary markers and drill hole collar locations, independent checks of counts per second (cps) of selected drill core samples, comparisons of the drill hole data base to historical records, and a discussion with Fitch (author of the 2006, 2008, and 2010 Technical Reports). No significant discrepancies were encountered.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has filed a prospectus supplement to its effective U.S. registration statement on Form S-3 in order to reestablish its 'at-the-market' program ("ATM"). Concurrently, the Company has entered into a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. pursuant to which the Company may, at its discretion from time to time, sell up to $20 million of common shares, with sales only being made on the NYSE MKT at then-prevailing market prices. The ATM is substantially similar to the one the Company utilized to raise $3.39 million of cash from September 29, 2015 to March 15, 2016. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to this offering have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to this offering, when available, may be obtained from Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 110 East 59th Street, New York, New York, 10022, telephone: (212) 829-7122.

In the event the ATM is utilized, the Company intends to use the net proceeds to provide the Company with additional financial flexibility and enhanced options with respect to any or all of the following: (i) to continue to finance the evaluation of the high-grade uranium and copper mineralization and the previously announced shaft-sinking at the Company's Canyon mine project in Arizona; (ii) to fund wellfield construction at the Company's Nichols Ranch ISR Project in Wyoming, as market conditions warrant; (iii) to continue permitting of the Company's projects, including Roca Honda and Jane Dough; (iv) to repay principal on outstanding indebtedness; and/or (v) for general corporate needs and working capital requirements.

About Energy Fuels: Energy Fuels is a leading integrated US-based uranium mining company, supplying U 3 O 8 to major nuclear utilities. Energy Fuels holds three of America's key uranium production centers, the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the Nichols Ranch Processing Facility in Wyoming, and the Alta Mesa Project in Texas. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today and has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Nichols Ranch Processing Facility is an ISR production center with a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. Alta Mesa is an ISR production center currently on care and maintenance. Energy Fuels also has the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolio in the U.S. among producers, and uranium mining projects located in a number of Western U.S. states, including one producing ISR project, mines on standby, and mineral properties in various stages of permitting and development. The Company also produces vanadium as a co-product of its uranium production from certain of its mines on the Colorado Plateau, as market conditions warrant. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE MKT under the trading symbol "UUUU", and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR".

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to: the Company being a leading producer of uranium in the U.S.; the expected filing of the PEA; Roca Honda being one of the largest and highest-grade uranium projects in the U.S.; the status of permitting at Roca Honda and the expectation that the Roca Honda Project can be ready for development if market conditions improve; any expectations about improvements in market conditions; the expected processing of resources mined at Roca Honda at the White Mesa Mill; the results of the resource estimate and economic analysis in the PEA including its conclusions and assumptions; the successful utilization of the ATM; the use of proceeds for the ATM; and any other statements regarding Energy Fuels' future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects; constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions) should be considered forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Energy Fuels' ability to control or predict. A number of important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation factors relating to: the Company being a leading producer of uranium in the U.S.; the expected filing of the PEA; Roca Honda being one of the largest and highest-grade uranium projects in the U.S.; the status of permitting at Roca Honda and the expectation that the Roca Honda Project can be ready for development if market conditions improve; any expectations about improvements in market conditions; the expected processing of resources mined at Roca Honda at the White Mesa Mill; the results of the resource estimate and economic analysis in the PEA including its conclusions and assumptions; the successful utilization of the ATM; the use of proceeds for the ATM; and other risk factors as described in Energy Fuels' most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly financial reports. Energy Fuels assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Energy Fuels' filings with the various securities commissions which are available online at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and plans of the management of Energy Fuels relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof.

Cautionary note to United States investors concerning estimates of measured, indicated and inferred resources. This news release contains certain disclosure that has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all reserve and resource estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") classification system. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of U.S. securities laws, and reserve and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by companies reporting only under U.S. standards. In particular, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserve" under SEC Industry Guide 7. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any of Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "Inferred Mineral Resource" exists or is economically or legally minable. Energy Fuels does not hold any Reserves as that term is defined by SEC Industry Guide 7. Please refer to the section entitled "Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Disclosure of Mineral Resources" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 15, 2016 for further details.

SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.

Related Links

http://www.energyfuels.com


HABO, Sweden, Dec 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

To strategically strengthen the Fagerhult Group's position in the professional outdoor lighting market, Fagerhult has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in WE-EF based in Bispingen, Germany. This acquisition takes the Group's sales in the outdoor segment to a run-rate exceeding 100 MEUR. The acquisition is expected to have a positive effect on the earnings per share during 2017 and forward.

WE-EF designs and manufactures outdoor lighting fixtures for a wide range of lighting application sectors. The company has two factories in Germany and one in Thailand, as well as assembly plants in Australia, France and the US, and has successfully established a global sales presence with strong sales in Europe, particularly Germany and in France, as well as sales in other regions such as Australia and the US.

"WE-EF is a leading outdoor lighting brand known globally and throughout the industry as having very strong outdoor lighting solutions. Their reputation has been built up based on a long history of highly innovative, German designed and engineered outdoor lighting solutions. I am very pleased that Stephan Fritzsche and Thomas Fritzsche, will remain as Managing Directors of the company and continue to build on the strong platform that they and the WE-EF team have built. Stephan Fritzsche will assume the position of Managing Director of the WE-EF Group. With the addition of WE-EF to the Fagerhult Group we see many strong synergies, including (i) marketing and promoting WE-EF products through our distribution channels, in addition to WE-EF's existing sales channels, which will significantly strengthen the Group's outdoor lighting presence, and (ii) building on our existing presence and revenues in Germany, France, US and Australia, while also (iii) significantly expanding our presence in the Asia Pacific region", comments Johan Hjertonsson CEO Fagerhult Group.

In the year ending June 2016, WE-EF had 484 employees, consolidated sales of approximately 57 MEUR and a profitability rate in line with that of the Fagerhult Group. Fagerhult will pay 81 MEUR on a cash and debt free basis for 100% of the shares of the WE-EF group companies (see below), pending approval from the German Competition Authority.

In addition, Fagerhult will also pay 5 MEUR for 100% of the shares in Flux Eclairage S.A.S. which is a French outdoor lighting company co-located with WE-EF LUMIERE in Lyon, France. Flux Eclairage had sales of approximately 5 MEUR for the year ending December 31, 2015 and 20 staff.

Both transactions are mainly financed with new credit facilities and up to 5% using existing Fagerhult treasury shares. The deal is expected to close in the 1st quarter 2017.

More information on WE-EF and Flux is available at http://www.weef.de and http://www.flux-lighting.com

WE-EF group companies included in this transaction are (Note: this includes all relevant WE-EF branded lighting operating companies)

WE-EF LEUCHTEN GmbH; Bispingen, Germany

WE-EF LEUCHTEN GmbH & Co. KG; Bispingen, Germany

WE-EF TRADING & DESIGN GmbH; Bispingen, Germany

WE- EF LUMIERE S .a.r.l.; Satolas-et-Bonce, France

.a.r.l.; Satolas-et-Bonce, WE-EF LIGHTING Co. Ltd.; Bangplee, Thailand

WE-EF HELVITICA SA; Geneva, Switzerland

WE-EF LIGHTING Ltd. Nottingham, UK

WE-EF LIGHTING Pty. Ltd.; Braeside, Australia

WE-EF LIGHTING USA LLC; Warrendale, USA

Plus

Flux Eclairage S.A.S.; Satolas-et-Bonce, France

The information contained in this press release is such that AB Fagerhult (publ) is required to disclose pursuant to the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act and/or the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication on December 23, 2016 at 17.40 CET.

Habo December 23, 2016

CONTACT:

Disclosures may be submitted by

Johan Hjertonsson CEO tel: 46 36 10 85 00 mobile: 46 70 229 77 93 e-mail: [email protected]

Michael Wood CFO tel: 46 36 10 85 00 mobile: 46 73 087 46 47 e-mail: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/fagerhult/r/fagerhult-signs-an-agreement-to-acquire-we-ef,c2155697

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/1781/2155697/608169.pdf Fagerhult signs an agreement to acquire WE-EF, 2016-12-23

SOURCE Fagerhult
RESTON, Va., Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Background: Following is a statement by GTL CEO, Brian Oliver honoring the laudable actions this week of Pulaski County, Indiana Sheriff Jeff Richwine and the 11 deputies who rescued a three-year old child and her five siblings, after receiving a tip from an inmate at the Westville Correctional Facility that the girl was being kept locked inside a box at her home.

"I want to recognize the commendable actions and fine police work of Sheriff Richwine and his deputies this week. By following an inmate tip, they rescued a three-year old girl who was being kept in deplorable conditions that no child or human should ever have to endure. At this time of the year, when we hold our children close, we honor the role that these law enforcement and correctional officers played in making the lives of this little girl and her five siblings safer and brighter.

"This is an example why prison telephone monitoring and recording systems are a vital tool in stopping crimes and preventing them from happening," concluded Mr. Oliver.

About GTL

GTL is the leading provider of integrated correctional technology solutions, delivering financial value, security, and ease of operation to our customers through visionary products and solutions at the forefront of corrections innovation. As a trusted correctional industry leader, GTL provides service to approximately fifty percent of inmates nationwide, including service to 33 state departments of corrections, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 32 of the largest city/county facilities. GTL is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with more than 10 regional offices across the country. To find out more about GTL, please visit our website www.gtl.net. You can also view us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Press Contact: Vinnie Mascarenhas

703-955-3894

[email protected]

SOURCE GTL

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http://www.gtl.net


VANCOUVER, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("InMed" or "the Company") (CSE: IN; OTCQB: IMLFF), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of novel, cannabinoid-based therapies combined with innovative drug delivery systems, today announced a year end review for 2016.

To Our Valued Shareholders:

First, I wish to express my thanks to all of our shareholders for your continued support of InMed as we build a company in what we believe is the most exciting biotech sector today: cannabinoid-based drug development. As your Company's CEO, I would like to take this opportunity to update you on recent achievements at InMed. Throughout this year, our scientific focus has been directed towards validating our drug candidate selection, using data to secure our patents and further develop key disruptive technologies. I am pleased to report on our last 12 months of achievements in this letter.

Milestones & Progress Achieved in Past Twelve Months:

Strong biopharmaceutical expertise added to Management & Board of Directors

Capital raising to fund continued drug/disease target identification using our proprietary bioinformatics analysis tool

More robust analysis of existing datasets to ensure that our clinical development plans are accurate and positioned to maximize the likelihood for positive outcomes

Validation and advancement of the biosynthesis manufacturing process; filing of provisional patents to commercially protect this key invention

Expanded scope of opportunities for cannabinoid-based drugs by validating new drug/disease targets in in vitro and in vivo efficacy model

Management and Board Additions

InMed has been very successful in attracting highly qualified and extensively experienced biotech and pharmaceutical professionals to both the Management Team and the Board of Directors in 2016. Ms. Alex Mancini, our Sr. VP of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs, has already been very instrumental in solidifying the INM-750 development plan for epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and will continue to direct her efforts primarily towards executing on this program. Dr. Bill Garner (Chairman of the Board) has provided valuable leadership and made several key introductions on behalf of the Company for financings and strategic development. Mr. Andrew Hull (Director) has performed a detailed review of the science and status of drug development programs to help identify potential pathways towards partnerships for our many assets. Our most recent addition, Mr. Jeff Charpentier as CFO, is a 20+ year veteran of the biopharmaceutical sector and will provide valuable leadership in all financial aspects of your Company. Lastly, myself, Eric A. Adams, joined in June 2016 as your President & CEO to navigate the next several stages of corporate growth and position your Company for success. I believe InMed has now assembled an exceptionally qualified and motivated biopharmaceutical management team and Board committed to unlocking the value inherent in the breadth of assets within our Company.

Capital Raising

InMed was successful in completing financings of $1.9M in 2016. Successful fundraising is a team effort and we would not have been able to do this without the leadership and dedication of the three founders of the Company. InMed is now well positioned to attract the new investment required to fund our aggressive growth strategies in 2017.

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) Development Program

Data generated in support of the EB program demonstrate that INM-750 may have a significant impact on the symptoms of EB (including accelerated wound healing and a reduction in inflammation, pain (and itch), and act as an anti-bacterial agent). Additionally, our data indicate that INM-750 may have an impact on the underlying disease by increasing keratin production in the skin. Key vendors to support the INM-750 development program have been identified and, in conjunction with access to additional funding in early 2017, we will move quickly to execute on our game plan of optimizing the final formulation, conducting key pre-clinical toxicology (safety) studies, and identifying clinical sites for the initial human clinical trial(s).

Additional Assets

Assets such as the glaucoma drug development program (and, independently, the proprietary, once-per-day nanoparticle hydrogel formulation), the biosynthesis manufacturing process, and other new potential drug/disease targets matured in accordance with our plans during 2016. Together with our several external collaborators, we are exploring every avenue to expedite the advancement of these key assets. Several patents will be filed in 2017, at which time we can begin to publish our data and further validate to the scientific community and investor public the importance of our technologies.

Looking Ahead in 2017

InMed has a tremendous wealth of assets and Management will continue to deploy our financial and human capital towards unlocking their full potential in order bring important new therapies to patients. Our plans in the New Year will continue the path that we have been following in 2016:

Research the fundamental benefits of cannabinoid drugs to treat diseases with high unmet medical needs; selectively advance high-potential drug candidates

Identify and retain seasoned biopharmaceutical veterans to define and execute the drug development programs in a time- and cost-sensitive manner;

Collaborate with biotech-savvy investor groups who are committed to realizing substantial medium and long-term returns on their investment in InMed; explore the partnership potential of the various programs and assets, and, when the ROI is meaningful, move quickly to conclude transactions.

InMed's success depends on your ongoing support and we are grateful for your continued confidence in our mission. We are committed to delivering meaningful scientific and drug innovations that will enhance the value of our Company and reward investors who join us on this journey. I look forward to updating you on the significant progress that InMed will be achieving in 2017

InMed wishes you and your family a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Eric A. Adams

President & CEO

About InMed

InMed is a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing novel therapies through the research and development into the extensive pharmacology of cannabinoids coupled with innovative drug delivery systems. InMed's proprietary bioinformatics assessment tool, biosynthesis manufacturing process and drug development pipeline are the fundamental value drivers of the Company.

For more information, visit www.inmedpharma.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause InMed Pharmaceuticals actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein.

All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and InMed Pharmaceuticals disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibility that clinical trials will not be successful, or be completed, or confirm earlier clinical trial results, risks associated with obtaining funding from third parties, risks related to the timing and costs of clinical trials and the receipt of regulatory approvals.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Related Links

www.imedpharma.com


BOSTON, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan Stanley has taken a major step towards fulfilling the consumer-relief obligations under its February 11, 2016, settlement agreement with New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, according to Eric D. Green, independent Monitor of the settlement.

In the second of his required public reports on the settlement, Professor Green said he had reviewed and conditionally approved credit of $100.2 million since early August for Morgan Stanley's consumer-relief activities. Together with the $10.5 million of conditional credit approved earlier this year, the bank so far has earned total conditional credit of $110.7 million, or 27 percent of its $400-million obligation under the agreement.

"Morgan Stanley is off to a good start," said Professor Green, a professional mediator and a retired Boston University law professor.

The agreement settled potential legal claims against Morgan Stanley that it or its affiliates violated the law in connection with the creation, packaging, marketing, underwriting, sale, structuring, arrangement, and issuance of mortgage-based securities. Morgan Stanley agreed to provide $550 million under the Settlement Agreement, including consumer relief valued at $400 million to be distributed in the State of New York by the end of September 2019. Credit earned by the bank in each reporting period is conditional upon the Monitor's final approval when all consumer-relief obligations under the settlement have been met.

The largest portion of the credit received in the current period  $57,587,469  was for the bank's forgiveness of 502 second-lien loans. Professor Green noted that 302 of the loans were in Hardest Hit Areas, or neighborhoods defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as having suffered the worst economic damage from the 2008 mortgage crisis.

The next largest portion of credit was $30,753,658 for funding critical-need housing developments and associated services in New York. More than 525 affordable housing units are being created in the recipient developments.

Also during the period, Morgan Stanley received conditional credit of:

$8,337,500 for a grant to assist local government units and other eligible organizations in New York in acquiring non-performing loans;

for a grant to assist local government units and other eligible organizations in in acquiring non-performing loans; $1,949,309 for forgiveness of four first-lien loans, and

for forgiveness of four first-lien loans, and $1,610,000 for grants to New York counties to support certified land banks.

Today's report is available at the Monitor's website at: http://morganstanley.mortgagesettlementmonitor.com. The website provides further details about the settlement, plus contact information for Morgan Stanley, Attorney General Schneiderman's office, and agencies that provide legal or tax advice to consumers.

The Monitor's mailing address is: Monitor of the Morgan Stanley Mortgage Settlement, P.O. Box 10300, Dublin, OH 43017-5900, and the e-mail address is [email protected].

SOURCE Monitor: Eric D. Green
TEMECULA, Calif., Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- National Merchants Association (NMA), a global merchant advocacy group and a leader in merchant services, congratulates its processing partner Moneris USA on its announced acquisition.

"On behalf of myself and NMA, I would like to congratulate Moneris USA on its acquisition news," said NMA Founder and Chief Executive Officer Heather Petersen. "We are grateful for their considerable support and partnership over the years."

National Merchants Association, which is not part of the acquisition, will continue to process payments through its sponsorship with BMO Harris Bank, which remains active and intact.

"As consolidation in the merchant services industry continues, we are pleased for our autonomy considering our unique business model as advocates for high risk merchants," Petersen continued. "We are steadfast in our belief that the unique services NMA provides are best executed independently."

National Merchants Association does not anticipate any significant changes or disruption in services or policy and is both proud and excited to continue to support thousands of successful partner agents and merchants.

Details of the acquisition:

Vantiv, Inc. has acquired Moneris USA

National Merchants Association is not part of the acquisition

NMA will continue to process through the BMO Harris Bank sponsorship

NMA expects no change in services or policy as a result of the acquisition

"Our continued focus will be to ensure our partners have the tools and support to continue to compete and win in the marketplace," Petersen said. "It is business as usual here at NMA."

To learn more about National Merchants Association, visit www.NationalMerchants.com.

About National Merchants Association

National Merchants Association is a global merchant advocacy group and a leader in merchant services dedicated to helping merchants and agent partners grow their businesses by generating sales opportunities and maximizing profits. National Merchants Association works on behalf of businesses to eliminate the unnecessary and unreasonable fees associated with accepting electronic transactions as well as provide the products and services to help them continue to be successful. Visit www.NationalMerchants.com or call 866-509-7199.

SOURCE National Merchants Association

Related Links

http://www.NationalMerchants.com


As a family-owned and operated company, Nova Medical Centers was honored to work with such a giving organization. CEO, Ulf Rohde shared that, "Our medical centers enjoyed working together to make sure that these children had a great holiday. Nova Team Members have a passion for service and our clients were happy to join in and help the cause as well. Many companies we serve dropped off bags of toys to participate in this outstanding cause. We look forward to making this an annual tradition."

ABOUT TOYS FOR TOTS

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program's mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community. The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable resources  our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

ABOUT NOVA MEDICAL CENTERS

Nova Medical Centers began as a single facility formed 20 years ago in Conroe, Texas, to provide the highest level of healthcare to patients suffering from work-related injuries. Currently, Nova treats more than 40,000 injuries each year and sees more than 600,000 patient visits in 12 months. Nova operates more than 47 occupational medicine facilities across Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Indiana. We achieve our success by providing exceptional, turnkey services for the health and wellness of America's workforce and by delivering unparalleled cost savings to employers. These services include minor emergencies, injury care, pre-employment services, drug screens, physical therapy, online reporting and an expanded complement of occupational health services. For more information please visit, www.n-o-v-a.com.

SOURCE Nova Medical Centers

Related Links

http://www.n-o-v-a.com


BOSTON and BERLIN, December 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

relayr completes the acquisition of Proximetry, an Internet of Things software solutions company for device management at large scale

relayr, the global Enterprise Internet-of-Things (IoT) platform provider, announces strategic acquisition of Proximetry to propel their Industrial IoT initiatives forward; complete their full end-to-end technology stack; and expand their ability to deliver new solutions beyond their current focus of Manufacturing, Smart Buildings, Retail, and Retrofitting to include the Transportation and Energy/Utilities markets. In addition, this will expand relayr's already strong and growing partner ecosystem.

Today's acquisition, made possible by their recent Series B investment, highlights relayr's commitment to continued company growth and innovation. Along with the company's organic growth, the addition will grow relayr's global team by more than 50 people, and add offices in San Diego, and Katowice; achieving relayr CEO Josef Brunner's stated goal of increasing the company's current staff by 50% before the end of the year to accelerate product development.

Over a decade, Proximetry has built a strong and expansive partner and customer base across industrial vertical markets like smart cities, transportation, and utilities, using their device management capabilities, together with global industrial suppliers. Proximetry's technology will solidify relayr's capabilities in large-scale device management, security, and firmware management; and add a significant number of industrial protocols to their catalog.

The companies are working closely together to ensure a smooth integration of the technologies into one complete end-to-end IoT architecture. This end-to-end IoT technology stack - from the physical things, like machines, to sensors to gateways to cloud enablement to services - is key to successfully implementing the large-scale deployment of connected devices that is imperative to collecting, processing, and analyzing the big data in order to achieve the necessary business outcomes.

"The importance of this acquisition cannot be overstated," says Josef Brunner, relayr CEO and co-founder. "The addition of Proximetry technologies to our existing product portfolio will enable relayr to deliver unparalleled performance optimization, risk prevention, and uptime models to our customers. This is just one more step for us on the path to becoming the Industrial IoT Powerhouse."

About relayr

relayr is a rapidly growing Enterprise IoT company, providing the enterprise middleware for the digital transformation of industries. As a thought leader in enterprise IoT, relayr develops sustainable IoT solutions, based on the OpenFog IoT reference architecture and its own stack.

relayr addresses the central challenge of the Internet of Things, digitizing physical objects, with an end-to-end development solution consisting of an IoT cloud platform that communicates from Any-to-Any (any service, any software, any platform, any sensor); open source software development kits; and a team of IoT experts to support rapid prototyping and implementation.



Contact:

Jackson Bond

relayr inc., +49-179-2989866

[email protected]

SOURCE relayr
URBANDALE, Iowa, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotlight Innovation Inc. (OTCQB: STLT), a pharmaceutical company advancing technologies designed to address rare, emerging and neglected diseases, today announced that Company management will present at the 9th Annual Biotech Showcase on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The conference takes place January 9 11, 2017, at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco, California.

Management will discuss the Company's efforts to address unmet medical needs in five focus areas: Zika virus infection, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), chronic pain, refractory glaucoma, and cancer. In addition to the scheduled presentation, management will be available for 1:1 meetings. For more information about the conference or to schedule a meeting, please contact Robert Haag at [email protected].

About Biotech Showcase

Biotech Showcase is an investor and partnering conference devoted to providing private and public biotechnology and life sciences companies with an opportunity to present to, and meet with, investors and pharmaceutical executives in one place during the course of one of the industry's largest annual healthcare investor conferences. Investors and biopharmaceutical executives from around the world gather in San Francisco during this critical week which is widely viewed as setting the tone for the coming year. Now in its ninth year, this rapidly growing conference features multiple tracks of presenting companies, plenary sessions, workshops, networking, and an opportunity to schedule one-to-one meetings. In addition to biopharmaceutical and life science company executives, Biotech Showcase delegates include investors in private and public companies, sector analysts, bankers and industry professionals.

About Spotlight Innovation Inc.

Spotlight Innovation Inc. (OTCQB: STLT) identifies and acquires rights to innovative, proprietary technologies designed to address unmet medical needs, with an emphasis on rare, emerging and neglected diseases. To find and evaluate unique opportunities, we leverage our extensive relationships with leading scientists, academic institutions and other sources. We provide value-added development capability to accelerate development progress. When scientifically significant benchmarks have been achieved, we will endeavor to partner with proven market leaders via sale, out-license or strategic alliance. For more information, visit www.spotlightinnovation.com or follow us on www.twitter.com/spotlightinno.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements herein include statements regarding Spotlight Innovation's efforts to develop and commercialize its various technologies, and to achieve its stated benchmarks. Actual outcomes and actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: risks and uncertainties, such as the inability to finance the planned development of the technologies; the inability to hire appropriate staff to develop the technologies; unforeseen technical difficulties in developing the technologies; the inability to obtain regulatory approval for human use; competitors' therapies proving to be more effective, cheaper or otherwise more preferable; or, the inability to market a product. All of which could, among other things, delay or prevent product release, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in Spotlight Innovation's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with Spotlight Innovation's periodic filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release and Spotlight Innovation undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Spotlight Innovation Inc.

Related Links

http://spotlightinnovation.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sales and marketing company Tei Consulting Group, recently supported Thanksgiving2016, a drive coordinated by Greater Life Chiropractic to fund and serve Thanksgiving dinners to families in need in the Charlotte area.

Tei Consulting Group raised more than $500 through canvassing to benefit Thanksgiving2016. The company also served holiday dinner to more 120 homeless families on Thanksgiving Day.

"Our team was inspired to help families in need who would not otherwise have a full meal on Thanksgiving," said President Okletey Wilson-Tei. "We value giving back to our community and are glad to be of service."

The company's support for the drive was praised by Dr. Grant Lisetor of Greater Life Chiropractic: "It was a game-changer having Tei Consulting Group serving with us in our Thanksgiving efforts."

Tei Consulting Group specializes in direct marketing solutions that help the client grow their business. The skilled sales professionals represent the client with integrity and honesty, growing their customer base while increasing brand awareness. Leadership development is important at Tei Consulting Group, as is giving back to the community. The firm supports organizations such as Operation Smile as well as local nonprofits.

Like Tei Consulting Group on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and check them out on Instagram.

About Tei Consulting

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tei Consulting Group is a premier marketing and sales firm that represents leading companies seeking to increase brand awareness and market share. Tei Consulting Group invests in leadership development for its team and also believes giving back to the community are also key to the company's success. For more information, call 704-910-1892 or visit teiconsultinggroupinc.com.

Contact: Danielle Hubbard

704-910-1892

SOURCE Tei Consulting Group

Related Links

http://www.teiconsultinggroupinc.com


SHANGHAI, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In December, 2016, the 8th International Advisory Committee Meeting, School of Economics and Management, Tongji University was successfully held. Influential government officers, entrepreneurs, presidents of universities, deans, experts renowned in the fields of economics and management, new faculty & student representatives were present to provide consultations on crucial decision-making for SEM's medium-long term development planning, and offer propositions for SEM's developing strategy.

Prof. GU Xianglin, Vice President of Tongji University gave full recognition to SEM's achievement in the international accreditations and development, "SEM has created management knowledge and develop leading professionals for the society who are capable of solving practical problems with strong social responsibilities, especially in the fields of urban development and service management." Prof. JIN Fu'an briefed the development of SEM over the past one year regarding new faculty recruitment, output of scientific research, social contributions, alumni, international cooperation and rankings. Prof. JIN also responded to the issues raised by advisory members last year on its marketing, in which the school has established its own marketing department. When the school got the EQUIS and AACSB accreditations, hundreds of foreign and local media reported this great news. SEM has received "Best Contribution for CSR Spread" award in 2016 from PR Newswire.

The panel discussion focused on the internationalization of SEM's education under the national strategy of "One Belt One Road". Prof. CHEN Song first introduced the background of this national strategy of "One Belt One Road" and SEM's willingness to help train and educate relative professionals for Chinese and international companies. Prof. REZA shared Babson's programs in China, Russia and India which provided students with global insights and the abilities of coping with intercultural communications. Prof. WANG Guangbin suggested that SEM should work closely with big state-owned companies such as China Railway, who need management professionals while setting up oversea business. Mr. LI Ruicheng said that an academic team of SEM taking its advantages to give consultation for those companies will be much appreciated. Prof. HUO Jiazhen advised SEM IEDP Program to give management training for employees with engineering background in oversea companies. Mr. SHEN Xuejun shared SIMENS' experience to collaborate with Malaysia and Bangladesh companies that basic foreign culture background and local law regulations should be learned before starting business to ensure smooth communication.

SOURCE Tongji University SEM
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has named Toni Morrison as the recipient of the 2016 Emerson-Thoreau Medal for her distinguished achievement in the field of literature. This award will be presented to Professor Morrison, a member of the Academy, on April 6, 2017, at the House of the Academy in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"As the recipient of the Emerson-Thoreau Medal, we recognize Toni Morrison for her excellence in the humanities and for her commitment to the ideals of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which, in the words of our charter, include 'to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people,'" said Jonathan F. Fanton, President of the American Academy.

Established in 1958, the medal is awarded to an individual for his or her total literary achievement rather than for a specific work.

Previous recipients of the Emerson-Thoreau Medal include: Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, Katherine Anne Porter, Hannah Arendt, Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer, and Philip Roth.

"Toni Morrison is an overwhelming figure in American and world literature," wrote one of her nominators for this prize. "Her novels are already standard texts in high schools (The Bluest Eye) and colleges (Beloved). Playing in the Dark, her work of literary criticism, has been hugely influential in the field of American literary history. We simply do not read our classical American writers, from Poe to Cather to Hemingway, the same way after this seminal book on the 'Africanist' presence in our canonical works."

Toni Morrison is the Robert F. Goheen Professor emerita in the Humanities at Princeton University, where she taught from 1989 to 2006. She won the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award in 1988 for Beloved. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. In 1996, the National Endowment for the Humanities selected her for the Jefferson Lecture, the U.S. federal government's highest honor for achievement in the humanities. She was also honored with the 1996 National Book Foundation's Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 2012, Morrison received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, exploration of the black experience, and richly detailed African-American characters. Her use of fantasy, her sinuous poetic style, and her rich interweaving of the mythic give her stories great strength and texture. Among her best known works are The Bluest Eye (1970), Sula (1973), Song of Solomon (1977), Tar Baby (1981), Beloved (1987), Love (2003), and A Mercy (2008). Song of Solomon, whose publication first brought Morrison to national attention, is told by a male narrator in search of his identity. Tar Baby, set on a Caribbean island, explores conflicts of race, class, and sex. The critically acclaimed Beloved, considered by many Morrison's masterpiece, is based on the true story of a runaway slave who, at the point of recapture, kills her infant daughter in order to spare her a life of slavery. In 1994, Morrison established the Princeton Atelier, a unique program that brings together professional artists from different disciplines to create new work. The program has hosted Peter Sellars, Yo-Yo Ma, A.S. Byatt, and American Ballet Theatre among many others. In 2010, she was made an Officer of the French Legion of Honor. Morrison received the B.A. degree (1953) in English and classics from Howard University and the M.A. (1955) in English from Cornell University. She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1988.

About the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is among the nation's oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers, convening leaders from the academic, business, and government sectors to respond to the challenges facing the nation and the world. In its work, the Academy focuses on higher education, the humanities, and the arts; science and technology policy; global security and international affairs; and American institutions and the public good. Academy research has resulted in reports such as The Heart of the Matter , Restoring the Foundation: The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream , Public Research UniversitiesRecommitting to Lincoln's Vision: An Educational Compact for the 21st Century, and A Primer on the College Student Journey. The Academy's work is advanced by its more than 5,000 elected members, who are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs from around the world.

SOURCE American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Related Links

http://www.amacad.org


VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard clients saved a total of $13 million as a result of lower expense ratios reported today for 35 individual mutual fund shares, including 11 exchange-traded fund shares (ETFs).*

These changes represent the first wave of Vanguard funds with a fiscal-year-end date in 2016 to report expense ratio changes (in this instance, funds with a fiscal year that ends in August). Vanguard will announce any additional expense ratio changes as funds update their prospectuses in the coming months. Expense ratios are reported on an annual basis and are based on actual operating expenses for the prior fiscal year.

"While some will portray Vanguard's expense ratio reductions as another volley fired in the fee war, we view it as business as usual. We've been lowering the cost of investing for four decades and will continue to do so," said Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb. "Importantly, we have announced reductions across our product offeringsmutual fund and ETF, index and active, stock and bond, domestic and international."

Vanguard's expense ratio reductions are in part a result of the continued growth of the funds via market appreciation, as well as strong cash inflows. The firm reported expense ratio reductions for the 12 months ended August 2016 for a range of fund share classes (Investor, Admiral, ETF, Institutional, and Institutional Plus) in five fund categories, as summarized below:

Bond index. Twenty-four Vanguard bond index fund shares reported lower expense ratios. For example, the $18.7 billion Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund reported the following reductions: Admiral Shares, 3 basis points to 0.07%; ETF Shares, 3 basis points to 0.07%; and Institutional Shares, 2 basis points to 0.05%. A basis point is one-hundredth of 1%.

Twenty-four Vanguard bond index fund shares reported lower expense ratios. For example, the Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund reported the following reductions: Admiral Shares, 3 basis points to 0.07%; ETF Shares, 3 basis points to 0.07%; and Institutional Shares, 2 basis points to 0.05%. A basis point is one-hundredth of 1%. Size/style equity index. Four size/style index fund shares that seek to track CRSP benchmarks reported lower expense ratios. The largest of these funds, the $2.3 billion Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund, reported that the expense ratios of its Institutional Shares and ETF Shares declined by 2 basis points, to 0.06% and 0.07%, respectively.

Four size/style index fund shares that seek to track CRSP benchmarks reported lower expense ratios. The largest of these funds, the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund, reported that the expense ratios of its Institutional Shares and ETF Shares declined by 2 basis points, to 0.06% and 0.07%, respectively. Social index. Two social index fund shares reported lower expense ratios. The $2.4 billion Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund reported that the expense ratio of its Investor Shares fell 3 basis points, to 0.22%, while that of its Institutional Shares fell 3 basis points, to 0.12%.

Two social index fund shares reported lower expense ratios. The Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund reported that the expense ratio of its Investor Shares fell 3 basis points, to 0.22%, while that of its Institutional Shares fell 3 basis points, to 0.12%. Actively managed domestic equity. Three actively managed domestic fund shares reported lower expense ratios. The largest of these funds, the $6.6 billion Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund, reported that the expense ratios of its Investor and Admiral shares declined by 1 basis points to 0.46% and 0.32%, respectively.

Three actively managed domestic fund shares reported lower expense ratios. The largest of these funds, the Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund, reported that the expense ratios of its Investor and Admiral shares declined by 1 basis points to 0.46% and 0.32%, respectively. Actively managed international equity. Two actively managed international fund shares reported a lower expense ratio. The $21.5 billion Vanguard International Growth Fund, reported that the expense ratios of its Investor Shares and Admiral Shares declined by 1 basis point to 0.46% and 0.33%, respectively.

The accompanying factsheet provides a complete list of the fund and ETF shares reporting expense ratio changes.

During the 2015 fiscal year, about $225 million in aggregate savings was passed on to Vanguard clients from expense ratio reductions for more than 200 fund shares.

Two funds report increases

Admiral Shares of the $2.1 billion Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund and ETF Shares of the $6.2 billion Vanguard Health Care Index Fund each reported increases of 1 basis point, from 0.09% to 0.10%, for the fiscal year ended August, 2016.

A history of lowering expenses

Vanguard has a long history of lowering investor costs. In 1975, when Vanguard managed $1.8 billion in U.S. fund assets, the average expense ratio for the Vanguard funds was 0.89%. Today, Vanguard manages $3.6 trillion in U.S. fund assets and the average expense ratio is 0.18%, or less than one-fifth that of the 1.01% industry average. (On an asset-weighted basis, the average expense ratio is even lower0.12%, compared to 0.55% for the industry).

In 2004, when Vanguard managed $6 billion in ETF assets, the average expense ratio for Vanguard's ETFs was 0.22%. Today, Vanguard manages $593 billion in U.S. ETF assets. The average expense ratio of the firm's ETFs is 0.12%, or less than one-third that of the 0.53% industry average. (On an asset-weighted basis, Vanguard's average expense ratio is even lower at 0.10%).**

About Vanguard

Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies. As of November 30, 2016, Vanguard managed more than $3.8 trillion in global assets. The firm, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, offers more than 350 funds to its more than 20 million investors worldwide. For more information, visit vanguard.com.

*Vanguard calculation based on average fund assets over a 12-month period and the change in expense ratios through fiscal year August 2016.

**Source: Vanguard and Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company, as of December 31, 2015.

All asset figures are as of November 30, 2016, unless otherwise stated.

For more information about Vanguard funds and ETFs, visit vanguard.com or call 800-662-7447 to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information about a fund are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing.

Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable with the issuing Fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. Instead, investors must buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares in the secondary market and hold those shares in a brokerage account. In doing so, the investor may incur brokerage commissions and may pay more than net asset value when buying and receive less than net asset value when selling.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

All investments are subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

U.S. Patent Nos. 6,879,964; 7,337,138; 7,720,749; 7,925,573; 8,090,646; and 8,417,623.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

Vanguard funds and ETFs reporting expense ratio changes for the fiscal year ended August 2016.

Bond index

Share Class 2015 Expense Ratio 2016 Expense Ratio* Basis Point Difference Vanguard Extended Duration Index Fund ETF Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 Institutional Plus Shares 0.06% 0.04% -2 Institutional Shares 0.08% 0.06% -2 Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 ETF Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 Institutional Shares 0.07% 0.05% -2 Vanguard Intermediate-Term Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 ETF Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 Institutional Shares 0.07% 0.05% -2 Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 ETF Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 Institutional Shares 0.07% 0.05% -2 Vanguard Long-Term Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 ETF Shares 0.10% 007% -3 Fund Institutional Shares 0.07% 0.05% -2 Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 ETF Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 Institutional Shares 0.07% 0.05% -2 Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 ETF Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 Institutional Shares 0.07% 0.05% -2 Vanguard Short-Term Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 ETF Shares 0.10% 0.07% -3 Institutional Shares 0.07% 0.05% -2

Size/style index

Share Class 2015 Expense Ratio 2016 Expense Ratio* Basis Point Difference Vanguard Mega Cap Growth Index Fund ETF Shares 0.09% 0.07% -2 Institutional Shares 0.08% 0.06% -2 Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund ETF Shares 0.09% 0.07% -2 Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index Fund ETF Shares 0.09% 0.07% -2

Equity sector index

Share Class 2015 Expense Ratio 2016 Expense Ratio* Basis Point Difference Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund Admiral Shares 0.09% 0.10% 1 Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares 0.09% 0.10% 1

Social index

Share Class 2015 Expense Ratio 2016 Expense Ratio* Basis Point Difference Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Investor Shares 0.25% 0.22% -3 Institutional Shares 0.15% 0.12% -3

Actively managed domestic equity

Share Class 2015 Expense Ratio 2016 Expense Ratio* Basis Point Difference Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares 0.33% 0.32% -1 Investor Shares 0.47% 0.46% -1 Vanguard Explorer Value Fund Fund 0.65% 0.63% -2

Actively managed international equity

Name 2015 Expense Ratio 2016 Expense Ratio* Basis Point Difference Vanguard International Growth Fund Admiral Shares 0.34% 0.33% -1 Investor Shares 0.47% 0.46% -1

* All expense ratios are as of the most recent prospectus. Generally, expense ratios are backward-looking, meaning they are based on actual operating expenses reported from the prior fiscal year.

Source: Vanguard

For more information about Vanguard funds, visit vanguard.com or call 800-662-7447 to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information about a fund are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing.

Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable with the issuing Fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. Instead, investors must buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares in the secondary market and hold those shares in a brokerage account. In doing so, the investor may incur brokerage commissions and may pay more than net asset value when buying and receive less than net asset value when selling.

All investments are subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

U.S. Patent Nos. 6,879,964; 7,337,138; 7,720,749; 7,925,573; 8,090,646; and 8,417,623.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

SOURCE Vanguard

Related Links

http://www.vanguard.com


(Adds Advent executive comments, background)

SAO PAULO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Advent International Corp and its FSG Brazilian education company purchased Brazil's Faculdade Cesuca university in Rio Grande do Sul state for an undisclosed price, the U.S. private equity firm said in a statement on Friday.

Advent since last year has controlled FSG, which is formally known as Centro Universitario da Serra Gaucha. The acquisition of Cachoeirinha, Brazil-based Faculdade Cesuca will add 2,600 students to the company's 11,000.

Advent Director Newton Maia said in an interview that FSG would probably make two other acquisitions of universities in 2017. The private equity firm is doing due diligence in one company in Brazils northeastern region, Maia said, declining to disclose its name.

Advent expects FSG to reach 20,000 students next year, Maia said. The firm was an early investor in Kroton Educacional SA , holding stakes in the worlds largest listed for-profit education company from 2009 to 2013, he said.

The move shows investors still see growth potential in for-profit education in Brazil, even as the countrys effort to rein in public budget deficits affects government-backed student loans. Brazils government recently announced new rules for student loan program Fies.

(Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Von Ahn)
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Beijing, Dec 19 : About 45 per cent Chinese think their country will become the most influential in Asia, surpassing the US, an online survey conducted by Chinese media has said.

The survey, done by Global Times-affiliated poll.huaqiu.com, also revealed that over 70 per cent believe China has accomplished "the economic capability as a great power".

"A 44.6 percent believe China will become the most influential country in dealing with affairs in Asia within 10 years, further surpassing the US." the newspaper controlled by the Communist Party of China said.

The opinion poll received 16,712 responses from respondents above 18 years of age in 16 countries, including Russia, the US, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Brazil, Germany, Kenya and Australia.

Nearly 70 percent of the respondents think China has become a great power, which shows that China's development is widely recognised by overseas residents, the report said.

As many as 70.3 per cent felt that China achieved the status as a great power in terms of "economic capability" while more than 32 per cent were for "military capability".

While 31.8 per cent of the overseas respondents have a favourable opinion of China -- a drop of 5.5 per cent from 2015, 19.5 percent hold negative feelings toward China -- an increase of 4.1 per cent from 2015.

People in all-weather ally Pakistan favoured China the most.

However, 56.7 per cent of the Japanese said they don't like China and 52.2 per cent from Vietnam thought alike.

Japan is China's traditional enemy. Vietnam and China have fought a war.

In South Korea, 35.8 percent expressed their dislike for China -- a sharp increase from 25.5 percent in 2015.

More than 56.6 percent of respondents ranked the US as the most influential country, followed by China (22.7 percent) and Russia (10.1 percent).

However, 44.6 percent believe China will become the most influential country in dealing with affairs in Asia within 10 years -- further surpassing the US.
New York, Dec 20 : Families of three victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 50 dead and 53 wounded in June this year have sued tech giants Facebook, Google and Twitter for allegedly providing "material support" to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and helping radicalise shooter Omar Mateen.

According to a Fox News report, the lawsuit was filed in federal court in the eastern district of Michigan on Monday on behalf of the families of Tevin Crosby, Javier Jorge-Reyes and Juan Ramon Guerrero, stating that the three web platforms "provided the terrorist group IS with accounts they use to spread extremist propaganda, raise funds and attract new recruits."

"Without Defendants Twitter, Facebook, and Google (YouTube), the explosive growth of IS over the last few years into the most feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible," Fox News cited the lawsuit as saying.

"They create unique content by combining IS postings with advertisements in a way that is specifically targeted at the viewer. Defendants share revenue with IS for its content and profit from IS postings through advertising revenue," the lawsuit alleged.

Investigation revealed that Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard who opened fire inside Orlando's Pulse nightclub, was not a member of the terror group but had been inspired by it in part through what he saw on the internet.

An outpouring of anger toward the lax US gun control policy was witnessed on social media after the shooting -- dubbed as the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history after it surpassed the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech which left 32 people dead.

Furious gun control supporters questioned why laws were still permitting people with radical thinking or mental illness to acquire assault weapons.

Meanwhile, Keith Altman, the attorney representing the three families in the Orlando nightclub lawsuit, was quoted as saying that Facebook, Google and Twitter should be held liable for what users post on their services because they pair content with advertising.

Earlier this month, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter said they would share a database of terror images and videos to quickly remove terrorism content.
New Delhi, Dec 20 : While reviewing the measures being taken to improve the air quality in the national capital, the Centre on Tuesday asked Delhi and its neighbouring states to submit detailed action plans to curb the air pollution.

The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) will soon file an affidavit in this regard before the High Court of Delhi, an official statement said.

The direction came in a NCRPB meeting headed by Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu here.

The Minister also asked Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to increase forest cover in the National Capital Region to 20 per cent of the total geographical area from the present cover of only 3.30 per cent (as in 2012).

Naidu directed the states to increase the green cover through conservation of entire Aravalli range and its foothills spread in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan through afforestation up to appropriate extent for ground water recharge.

Delhi considers a land parcel of one hectare as forest if it has 100 natural grown trees.

In the meeting, the Central Pollution Control Board informed that an action plan has been prepared under the directions of the Supreme Court in the context of high levels of air pollution in Delhi in November this year.

States were asked to consider IIT, Kanpur's 'Comprehensive Study on Air Pollution and Green House Gases in Delhi' to address air pollution problems.

The Indian Institute of Technology's (IIT) study recommends management of the burning of stubble, municipal waste and local biomass. It also recommends retrofitting of Diesel Particulate Filters and implementation of Bharat Stage Standard Emission-6 (BS-6) for all diesel vehicles and promotion of Electric/Hybrid vehicles.

The study says that all the industries, within 300 km radius of Delhi, should reduce the sulphur content in fuel and 9,000 hotels and restaurants in Delhi should stop the use of coal.

The Board also discussed 14 inter-state connectivity links, including Kalindi by-pass road from Ashram Chowk to Faridabad by-pass; Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road which would ease traffic on NH-8, and connecting Nelson Mandela T-Point at Vasant Kunj with the existing Gurgaon-Mehrauli Road, with the aim of facilitating seamless travel in the Region.

Besides Naidu, Union Minister of State for Urban Development Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana Chief Minister M.L. Khattar, Haryana Forests Minister Rao Narvir Singh, Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyanedra Jain, among others, were present in the meeting.
Berlin, Dec 21 : The Islamic State (IS) terror group has claimed responsibility for Monday night truck assault at a Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 people.

The IS-affiliated Amaq news agency released a statement late Tuesday saying the attack in which 49 others were also injured, was carried out by "a soldier of the Islamic State" in response to calls by the group's leadership to target citizens of international coalition countries, CNN reported.

According to the BBC, German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere reacted cautiously to the claim, saying "several lines of investigation" were being pursued.

Earlier on Tuesday, German prosecutors freed the only suspect, citing insufficient evidence.

He was identified by media only as Pakistani national Naved B.

Officials suggested that a perpetrator or perpetrators may still be on the run.

The sole suspect was captured in a park after reportedly fleeing the scene and being tracked by a member of the public, who alerted the police.

The lorry's original driver, Polish citizen Lukasz Urban, was found dead on the passenger seat, reportedly with gunshot and stab wounds to his body.

No gun was recovered, the BBC added.
New Delhi, Dec 21 : Domestic mobile wallet platform MobiKwik on Wednesday tied up with Indian dairy co-operative Amul to help customers make cashless payments at its outlets.

The facility can be used at 7,000 Amul outlets and three lakh Amul multi-brand outlets and retailers across the country, the company said in a statement.

"This tie-up will help us provide remunerative and quick returns to our 3.6 millions farmers or milk producers whose livelihood depends upon the sale of milk to the Amul cooperative structure," said R.S. Sodhi, Managing Director, Amul.

With MobiKwik, 15-20 per cent of transactions at Amul stores are expected to go digital.

MobiKwik has added 150,000 retailers to its network in November and has a network reach of over 250,000 retailers in India.

MobiKwik and the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) recently teamed up to empower over 30 lakh street vendors from 25 states to use digital transactions.
PARIS (Reuters) - Altice , the parent of French telecoms firm SFR Group , said on Thursday it has agreed to sell its businesses in Belgium and Luxembourg to Telenet Group for an enterprise value of 400 million euros ($418 million). The Netherlands-based holding, controlled by Franco-Israeli tycoon Patrick Drahi, is focusing on its larger operations in France and the United States, where it is considering an initial public offering (IPO) of its subsidiary Altice USA. The sale of the businesses in Belgium and Luxembourg will be made on a cash and debt free basis. The deal is expected to receive approval from the Belgian antitrust authorities "within a few months," Telenet said in a separate statement. The deal values the two businesses, dubbed SFR BeLux, at 6.5 times estimated adjusted earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for 2016, Telenet said. It said the acquisition of SFR BeLux will allow Telenet to extend its cable operations in Brussels and a part of Wallonia. ($1 = 0.9573 euros) (Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; editing by David Clarke)
Mumbai, Dec 21 : Reliance Communications Ltd. (RCOM) on Wednesday announced the signing of binding agreements for the acquisition of its nationwide tower assets by affiliates of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN) and its institutional partners.

RCOM will receive an upfront cash payment of Rs 11,000 crore ($ 1.6 billion) on completion of the transaction, a move that will help it reduce debt by 70 per cent, the company said.

"The transaction will represent the largest-ever investment by any overseas financial investor in the infrastructure sector in India, and is a strong reflection of the confidence of the international investment community in the long-term growth potential of the Indian economy," an RCOM statement said.

RCOM will also receive Class B non-voting shares in the new tower company, providing 49 per cent future economic upside in the towers business, based on certain conditions, the statement said.

"RCOM expects significant future value creation from the B Class shares, based on growth in tenancies arising from increasing 4G rollout by all telecom operators and fast accelerating data consumption," the statement said.

RCOM's telecom towers will be demerged into a separate new company that will be 100 per cent-owned and independently managed by Brookfield Infrastructure, "thereby creating the second-largest independent and operator-neutral towers company in India", the statement said.

RCOM will enjoy certain information and other rights, but will not be involved directly or indirectly in the management and operations of the new company, the statement said, adding: "RCOM and Reliance Jio will continue as major long-term tenants of the new tower company, along with other existing third-party telecom operators."

RCOM will utilise the Rs 11,000 crore payment solely to reduce its debt. The already announced combination of RCOM's wireless business with Aircel, and the monetisation of the tower business, will together reduce RCOM's overall debt by Rs 31,000 crore or nearly 70 per cent.

RCOM will continue to hold a 50 per cent stake in the wireless business in combination with Aircel and the 49 per cent future economic upside in the towers business "and will monetise these valuable assets at an appropriate time in the future to further substantially reduce its overall debt", the statement said.

The implementation of spectrum trading and sharing arrangements with Reliance Jio to secure a nationwide 4G footprint with the deepest penetration and the most efficient 850 MHz band spectrum; the merger of the Indian telecom business of Sistema Shyam Telecom Ltd.; the combination of the wireless business with Aircel to derive operational and revenue synergies and achieve further industry consolidation; and the monetisation of the towers business in this transaction with Brookfield Infrastructure "are all important milestones in RCOM's deleveraging and asset light strategy for future growth", the statement said.

The transaction is subject to applicable approvals, including shareholder and regulatory approvals and lenders' consents.
Patna, Dec 22 : Patna to Patna Saheb has truly turned into a 'mini Punjab' on the 350th birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh which started with the Prakash Parv on Thursday.

The Bihar capital has transformed into a special tent city with accommodation of every form packed to its brim till January 7, 2017.

"Patna to Patna Saheb, the birth place of Guru Gobind Singhji, is Mini Punjab for these next ten days thanks to overwhelming response of the devotees," Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agrawal said.

Thousands of Sikh devotees from India and abroad (Britain, the US, Canada, Nepal) have already confirmed their participation and booked tents, hotels, guest houses, ashrams and community halls, spread all over.

The state is expecting nearly four to five lakh devotees, mainly Sikh to visit Patna in the coming week.

Top officials from both the government and the Takht of Sri Harmandir Saheb are involved in the preparations for the utsav at Patna Saheb, the main shrine.

More than 60 per cent of the three major tent cities have already been booked by devotees, and we still have over a week to go, Agrawal said.

All the 77 rooms in the posh Hotel Maurya near Gandhi Maidan here, is taken, for the first week in the New Year, Manager Grish Sinha told IANS.

Most of Sinha's guests are from Britain, the US and Canada. "There are guests from India, too, he added.

Like Maurya, all 45 rooms in Hotel Patliputra Ashok, owned by Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and 60 rooms of Hotel Chanakya, 37 rooms of Hotel Gargee Grand and 50 rooms of Hotel Panache are booked.

"We are inundated with booking requests but can't help. There are no rooms available," Sunil Kumar Singh, an official of Gargee Grand said.

The officials at all these hotels claim to have made special arrangements for their guests comfortable stay.

Three tent cities have been constructed over 62 acres at the sprawling Gandhi Maidan, 12 acres at Kangaan Ghat, and over 65 acres at Malaichak Bypass here by the state.

The district officials estimated that more than 60,000 devotees would be provided accommodation in these tent cities.

The tent city at Gandhi Maidan would house 18,000 to 20,000, the one at the Malaichak Bypass 35,000 and Kangaan Ghaat about 5,000.

The Kangan Ghat beds are, however, reserved for the 'sewadars' from different Gurudwaras.

Over 10,000 devotees from Delhi followed by more than 5,000 from Punjab and 2,500 from Maharashtra will flock Patna.

Close on their hills are many more from Telangana, Karnatka, Assam, Rajasthan, who have have booked in the tent cities.

Devotees from Britain outnumber list of foreign devotees, officials said.

The Bihar Tourism Department on its website has provided a list of 133 hotels and lodges that have over 6,000 rooms and a list of 60 community halls for Sikh devotees.

The main function would be held on January 5, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi would participate along with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and several other Sikh dignitaries from India and abroad.

Earlier, Bihar had announced a three-day holiday during the 'Prakash-Parv' at Takht Harmandir Sahib, the birthplace of the 10th Sikh Guru.

The gurudwara management committee also undertook huge constructions on its campus, Sarjinder Singh, general secretary of the Takht Sri Harmandir Saheb said.

He said all those devotees who failed accomodation elsewhere, would be provided accommodation in over 70 schools and other places here.

The Takht has four guest-hosues with nearly 250 rooms, while the Baal Leela Gurdwara has 225 rooms, he added.

Takht Sri Harmandirji Sahib, widely known as Patna Sahib, was about 10 km from Patna and was built in the 1950s over the remains of a structure erected by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Guru Gobind Singh was born in 1666 to Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru and Mata Gujri. He was formally installed as the leader of the Sikhs at the age of nine, becoming the last of the living Sikh Gurus.

(Imran Khan can be contacted at imran312000@rediffmail.com)
Kathmandu, Dec 22 : Nepal Police on Thursday arrested an Indian national in possession of banned currency notes worth Rs 363,500 from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Thupten Gelek (44) had 210 notes of Rs 1,000 denomination and 307 notes of Rs 500 denomination.

Police detained Gelek while he was about to leave for New Delhi from Kathmandu on an Indigo Airlines flight (6E032).

The notes were detected hidden inside a suitcase during security check.

Gelek was taken into custody for further investigation about how he had collected the money and for what purposes he was taking it to India.

Nepalis are holding billions-worth of banned Indian currency notes in and outside the banking channels.

The Reserve Bank of India has not given a nod to Nepal's central bank to exchange these banned notes.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 had announced the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.
Beirut, Dec 23 : Banned militant outfit the Islamic State posted a video showing two men identified as Turkish soldiers being burned alive in northern Syria.

The video, released on Thursday, shows the two victims and an apparent IS militant speaking in Turkish during the 19-minute recording, whose authenticity could not be confirmed, reports Efe.

After a propaganda montage criticising Turkey's participation in the US-led 'Crusader coalition', the militant threatens vengeance against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish troops recently joined non-IS Islamist factions in northern Syria in an offensive against the IS stronghold of al-Bab.

The tirade against Erdogan is followed by footage of the two Turkish soldiers speaking from inside a cage in the middle of empty desert.

They confess to having fought against "the soldiers of the caliphate" -- as IS calls the territory it controls -- and say that they were captured in action near Aleppo.

The video then proceeds to show the Turks, wearing uniforms that seem to have been doused with gasoline, being burned alive.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : In a major success to the wildlife preservation bid, a large area which was part of the prime habitat of Manas National Park was freed from 20 years of encroachment in a day long operation on Thursday.

It took 800 people including 350 police and paramilitary personnel and a convoy of 15 elephants divided in different groups to complete the operation to free over 16 sq. kms of the core-forest, officials said.

"The area is very important as it is the part of the prime habitat of the grasslands in the eastern region of the forest. Its restoration was very essential for conservation of the herbivores," H.K. Sharma, field director of Manas National Park told IANS.

A UNESCO world heritage site, Manas National Park was enlisted as 'World Heritage in Danger' by the UN body in 2009 following high rate of killing, poaching and encroachment. It was taken down from the list in 2011 following restoration including rehabilitation of Rhinos.

As per the government data, about 14,000 sq. kms of forest area is under encroachment across nation of which 3,172 sq. kms comes in Assam.

The official added that the area named Gulariapada, was taken by the villagers for agriculture and encroachment started effecting the conservation since 1998.

"The encroachment was gradually increasing. Several people from nearby villages taking advantage of the situation in past took over the area by starting to cultivate it," Sharma said.

He added that now its free, they will first have to restore the area by planting grass and then it could be used for several projects, such as restoration of several herbivores and other animals.

"Luckily we faced no major resistance this time," an official said.

Spread over an are of 500 sq. kms to which 350 sq. kms were added in August 2016, Manas National Park or Manas is home to several endangered species including Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog and Assam Rabbit.

The scenic forests of Manas are spread over India and Bhutan. In Bhutan, the forest is oldest national park called 'Royal Manas' and spreads over the 1050 sq. kms.
Dehradun, Dec 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be arriving in the hill state of Uttarakhand on December 27, an official said on Friday.

Following the confirmation of the visit from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), security arrangements are being beefed up.

Soon after his arrival at Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, Modi will head to an event where he will lay the foundation stone for the "all-weather road" for the 'Chaar Dhaam Yatra' - an annual pilgrimage to the shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

The road once constructed will ensure round-the-year, hassle free travel to these shrines and the famous Sikh shrine Hemkund Saheb also, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ajay Bhatt informed.

The Prime Minister will also address a public rally at the city's Parade ground.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The CISF on Friday detected a foreign national carrying a huge amount of cash in new currency notes at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here on his way to Coimbatore, officials said.

"We detected Rs 53.78 lakh in new currency and Rs 4.29 lakh in old currency with a Nigerian passenger named Tochukwo Chijioke," an official of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which looks after the security at the IGI, told IANS.

"We have informed the Airport Intelligence Unit (AIU) and the Custom department."

"He was travelling by an Indigo flight," the official added.

The AIU and the Custom department would question Chijioke on his arrival at the Coimbatore International Airport about the source of the money.

Since the government's November 8 move of spiking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, huge cash in old and new currency have been seized across the country.
Manila, Dec 23 : Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte called the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who this week called for an investigation into the killings the leader admitted to having committed during the 1980's, an idiot.

Duterte said last week he helped the police kill three alleged criminals, accused of raping and killing an Australian missionary in Davao while he was mayor of the city in the southern Philippines, Efe news reported on Friday.

The remarks added to the controversy surrounding the president, who has been severely criticised for the violent anti-drug campaign he launched after coming to office in June and which has caused around 6,100 deaths since then.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday urged the judicial authorities of the Philippines to launch a murder investigation against Duterte.

Duterte responded to the demand by saying the UN has no right to criticise him.

"Who gave you the right to be (...) you lack knowledge of international law. We support the UN through our contributions, you stupid, (expletive) and I pay for your salary," Duterte said on Thursday evening at an event with volunteers of the anti-drug campaign, ABS-CBN channel reported.

"Don't speak as though I'm your employee. I am a member-state, a sovereign state, please shut up because you're short on intelligence," he added.

"You are just an employee there, you're there by appointment. Got it? You are just employees of an office there whose subsidy comes from the pockets of the member-states, and you don't have that authority to be... you strut around as if you are a sovereign, idiot!" he concluded.

Duterte has become known in diplomatic circles as an unusually foul-mouthed head of State, using colourful language to describe figures such as US President Barack Obama, whom he called a "son of a whore" on September 5.

On Thursday, the chairman of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, Jose Gascon, announced the formation of a team of investigators to probe Rodrigo's killing claims.

Duterte won the May 9 presidential elections with the promise to rid the country of drugs in six months and began his six-year term on June 30.

Despite the criticism of his campaign on drugs, Duterte has received a net satisfaction rating of 63 per cent in his country, according to a poll published last week by Social Weather Stations, one of the most reputed polling firms in the Philippines.
New Delhi : Some years ago, a senior police officer told me that (with some exceptions) criminals have the exactly same holidays as ordinary people. They dislike working on bank holidays or the Buddha's birthday or over Christmas and the like, so cops see a significant fall in the crime rate.

It certainly seems to be true this year. "Dumb criminal" reports are normally the steadiest stream of reader contributions that fill this column, but there hasn't been a single one this week.

So let me start by saying a big THANK YOU to all the villains whose idiotic antics have filled this column over the year. Enjoy a few days off so you can entertain us in the New Year by accidentally breaking into your local police sleeping quarters or whatever.

Christmas has become this columnist's favourite holiday. And I am NOT showing religious bias here. My father was a Muslim and my mother a Buddhist, but when it came to December, we all became fervent Christians, even our Imam. You give folk a choice between going to work as normal, or celebrating a holiday with the themes of love, families, gifts and food and suddenly we are all into Santa Claus, even the New Atheists, the scariest belief group of all.

But before fundamentalists from any faith burn down my house, let me make it clear that I believe all major codes of belief deserve respect, INCLUDING the silly ones. Most faiths contain wonderful elements which are exclusive to them -- I love Hindu candles, Muslim snacks, and Christian hymns et al.

But it must be said that not all traditions are suitable for everyone. Someone once took me to a Hare Krishna meeting where people sang the same song over and over interminably, reminding me of the greatest cultural tragedy of modern times -- the week in 2006 they launched High School Musical.

Anyway, since criminals are having a bit of rest, and I have a humor column to fill, here are my favorite winter holiday jokes. I've chosen the silly ones, so you can share them with children.

1) Q: What nationality is Santa Claus? A: North Polish.

2) Q: What do you call an elf who lives in (insert name of your nearest rich district)? A: Welfy.

3) Q: What goes "Oh oh oh"? A: Santa walking backwards.

4) Q: What did Mrs Claus say to Santa when she looked out of the window? A: "Looks like rain, dear."

5) Q: What did Adam say to his wife on the day before Christmas? A: "It's Christmas, Eve."

6) One-liner: My wife said she didn't mind what gift I got her as long as it had diamonds in it. So I bought her a pack of cards.

7) Q: Why don't penguins fly? A: Because they're too short to get into pilot training programmes.

8) Q: What did the teenage candle say to the mommy candle? A: "I am also going out tonight."

9) Q: Why is Christmas like working in an office? A: You do all the work, but the fat guy in the suit gets all the credit.

10) My sister's new boyfriend is like Santa Claus. He gives her presents, but many people think he doesn't exist.

And as a bonus, here's my favourite winter holiday joke this year: What did one snowman say to the other? "Can you smell carrot?"

Happy holidays.

(Nury Vittachi is an Asia-based frequent traveller. Send ideas and comments via his Facebook page)
New Delhi, Dec 23 : She is just two years old in Bollywood but has already managed to bag four films, including one with superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Actress Kriti Sanon, who has been on a roll in Hindi filmdom, however, says she had never thought of becoming an actor.

She made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with "Heropanti", then featured in "Dilwale" starring Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan and has two films in her kitty -- "Raabta" and "Bareilly Ki Barfi".

Asked how she feels on bagging four films in just two years, Kriti told IANS here: "Of course it feels really great, specially because I am not from (a filmy) family and I don't belong to the industry. I never thought earlier of becoming an actor. It is something which just gradually happened."

The actress said she simply realised that acting was something she wanted to do all her life.

"I am so glad that I did get this opportunity to kick-start my career at the right platform and the audiences and the industry welcomed me really nicely," said Kriti, who was here for the launch of Kiss -- Keep It Stylish Sale -- for her label Ms. Taken.

The 27-year-old feels that she is the "chosen one, who was probably destined to do this".

Before joining Bollywood, Kriti was into modelling; so does she credit her acting career to modelling?

"As an actor no, because it has nothing to do with acting. It helped me face the camera," she said and added: "Before shooting for a film, I faced for an advertisement or face the still camera for photo-shoots, but it (modelling) does groom you as a person.

"Modelling increases your confidence level and sort of improves your personality and the way you carry yourself. You become much more confident," she said.

Kriti stressed that acting is different from modelling. "The kind of skills and efforts go into it (acting), I dont think I can compare it. I really believe if you have that ability to act, only then you can act," she said.

The actress, who made her acting debut in 2014 with the Telugu film "1: Nenokkadine", has a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication.

Kriti said the reason she made a shift to acting was because she was not sure if she was passionate about working as an engineer all her life.

"Acting was something I had never tried; so I never knew that I could do it. When I realised that I was enjoying it so much and I would love to do this all my life, that's how I made the shift," she said.

The actress is now gearing up for the release of Dinesh Vijan's directorial debut "Raabta", a romantic drama. The film also features actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Kriti says the script is very close to her heart. "Every time I rethink about the journey, it just really makes me happy that I am part of that film. It is a very special love story. It's about dreams, destiny and love," she said.

(Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durga.c@ians.in)
London, Dec 23 : The extra kilos you gain during the holidays would not only show up on your hips but could also affect your DNA, leading to changes in the expression of inflammatory genes, results of a large-scale international study suggest.

The scientists examined the blood samples of over 10,000 women and men from Europe, a large proportion of whom were inhabitants of London of Indian ancestry, who according to the authors are at high risk for obesity and metabolic diseases.

The study, published in the journal Nature, showed that a high BMI (body mass index) leads to epigenetic changes at nearly 200 loci of the genome -- with effects on gene expression.

"In particular, significant changes were found in the expression of genes responsible for lipid metabolism and substrate transport, but inflammation-related gene loci were also affected," said group leader Harald Grallert from Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen - German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.

While our genes do not change in the course of life, our lifestyle can directly influence their surroundings.

Scientists spoke here of the epigenome, which refers to everything that happens on or around the genes.

Up to now there has not been much research on how the epigenome is altered as a result of being overweight.

"This issue is particularly relevant because an estimated one and a half billion people throughout the world are overweight," first author Simone Wahl of the Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology (AME) at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, noted.

From the data, the team was also able to identify epigenetic markers that could predict the risk of Type-2 diabetes.

"Our results allow new insights into which signaling pathways are influenced by obesity", said Christian Gieger, head of the AME.

"We hope that this will lead to new strategies for predicting and possibly preventing Type-2 diabetes and other consequences of being overweight," Gieger said.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Income Tax Department on Friday questioned the manager of a Kotak Mahindra Bank branch here in connection with two of its customer accounts, officials said.

According to a police official, a "raid" was conducted in the morning on the Kasturba Gandhi Marg branch in the heart of Delhi.

Rohit Rao, official spokesperson of Kotak Mahindra Bank, said in a statement: "IT department has visited the bank's branch in connection with survey of two of its customers and their related accounts.

"No KYC deficiencies were noted in these two customers. The IT department did question the Branch Manager and no adverse report has been submitted to the bank so far."

Rao said the bank had a "robust system of regularly and proactively filing necessary reports with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for all large transactions.

"The bank denies that there were any fake accounts. The bank is extending full cooperation to the investigating authorities."
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Actor Jackky Bhagnani, who debuted as producer with "Sarbjit", which has made it to the long list of 336 feature films eligible for the upcoming 89th Oscars, says bagging the prestigious honour for the film will be a different high for him.

The film, directed by Omung Kumar, is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates at a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.

"Bringing an Oscar is like bringing an olympics medal for the film fraternity...and of course getting it will be a different high. I hope this year 'Sarbjit' manages to get into the finalist, and make India proud," Jackky told IANS in an e-mail.

Jackky says he feels great as "Sarbjit" was his first production venture.

"This was my first film as a producer and I feel so blessed that that we are shortlisted for the Oscars in the feature film category alongside Hollywood films like 'La La Land' and 'Moonlight' and 'Manchester by the Sea'. The whole team of 'Sarbjit' has worked very hard on the project and I hope it makes its way to the final list as well.

Besides "Sarbjit", which stars Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Darshan Kumar in lead, actor Sushat Singh Rajput-starrer "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story" has also made to the Oscars long list.

"With two potential films being a part of this, I guess not only us but the entire industry would be excited, so fingers crossed hoping to get to the final list," Jackky said.
Dharamsala, Dec 23 : Pandemonium continued in the Himachal Pradesh assembly on the last day of the session on Friday over the suspension of three opposition BJP legislators from the house.

The BJP later staged a walkout in protest and boycotted the proceedings.

Soon after the Question Hour, BJP member Rikhi Ram Kaundal stood up on his seat and said the suspended legislators -- Suresh Bhardwaj, Rajeev Bindal and Randhir Sharma -- were not allowed to enter the assembly premises.

"It's a dictatorship," he said.

At this, leader of opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal intervened and said they were suspended from the House and should not be stopped from entering the Vidhan Sabha premises.

He questioned the legality of the Speaker's order to ban them from entering the Vidhan Sabha complex, arguing their suspension was related only to their participation in the house and not their movement inside the complex.

"It's the democratic right of elected MLAs to come to the Vidhan Sabha," the two-time former Chief Minister said.

Defending his decision, Speaker B.B.L. Butail said the decision was taken by following the assembly rules.

Quoting the rules, Butail said the precincts of the house means and includes the chamber, the lobbies, the galleries and the approaches leading thereto.

Butail said the suspended legislators cannot enter the Vidhan Sabha premises as discipline has to be maintained in the house.

"If the discipline of the house is compromised, I will take action," Butail said.

Not satisfied with the reply of the Speaker, the opposition staged a walkout raising slogans and boycotted the entire proceedings.

Later, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh described the behaviour of the opposition as unfortunate.

"They should be ashamed of their behaviour and the leader of the opposition is defending them," he said.

The Chief Minister said that during the debate in the house there must be a difference of opinion between the treasury and the opposition benches but "our behaviour should be dignified and responsible".

He praised the Speaker for conducting the house proceedings smoothly.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : With barely a month left for the 10th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival, the inclusion of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders in the programme and the exclusion of prominent faces of last year'a "award-wapsi" protest has drawn flak.

The upcoming edition will feature Manmohan Vaidya, the head of RSS's communications department and Dattatreya Hosabale, a joint general secretary of the RSS. On the other hand, writers who were almost regulars at the event, like Ashok Vajpeyi, Uday Prakash and K. Satchidanandan, have not been invited this time around.

Social media users were quick to point out at the "growing clout" of the RSS and suggesting that the latter have not been invited because of their active participation in the "award-wapsi" protest last year.

Given the fact that a major section of JLF's sessions tend to look at the major events in the past one year and books that made the headlines, some have pointed to the Dadri incident, the suicide of Rohit Vemula and mobilisation of students from IIT-Madras, Uthe niversity of Hyderabad and JNU, raising questions on why these issues have not found mention in the programme.

The annual event that, in its own words, has always ""stood for diversity of ideas, languages, nationalities and subjects", has not invited the likes of Vajpeyi, Prakash and Satchidanandan, who have been at the forefront of these issues.

Voices to boycot the JLF are also rising on social media. In a viral blog post, a user, Mosarrap H. Khan says: "If you want to resist the fascist forces in the country, boycott Jaipur Literature Festival. If you value Dalit and minority lives in India, boycott Jaipur Literature Festival. If you don't want a literary festival over the dead bodies of Muhammad Akhlaq and Rohith Vemula, boycott Jaipur Literature Festival."

On their part, the organisers say that this is "neither the first nor the last instance where we have welcomed speakers from the right, left and centre and allowed our audiences to form their own views at the end of each session of debate and discussion".

However, controversies are not new to JLF. IANS lists some earlier instances of its tryst with controversies:

Who kept Salman Rushdie away?In 2012, the controversial writer Salman Rushdie did not attend the festival because he had information that hitmen were "on the way to Jaipur to kill me", but later accused the Rajasthan government of inventing that theory to keep him away. "Rajasthan Police invented plot to keep away Rushdie' I've investigated, & believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry," Rushdie later tweeted.

The 2012 edition also saw several writers like Jeet Thayil and Ruchir Joshi reading from Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses", a book banned in India.

Ashish Nandy creates furoreThe very next edition of JLF in 2013 again became the centre of another controversy as sociologist, Ashis Nandy made a controversial comment on corruption and people belonging to OBC, SC and ST communities.

At the session "Republic of Ideas", on Republic Day, he said: "Some may call it a vulgar statement on my part, but it is a fact that most of the corruption comes from OBCs and Scheduled Castes and now increasingly Scheduled Tribes."

An FIR was filed against Nandy and festival producer Sanjoy Roy under sections 506 and 3(1) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by Rajpal Meena, the then state president of the National Union of Backward Classes, SCs, STs and Minorities.

The organisers then scheduled a hasty press conference where Nandy read out from a prepared text.

Vedanta's sponsorship and uproarIn May 2016, over a hundred writers, academics, professionals and students, signed an open letter, urging participants of JLF London to boycott it.

The reason? The London leg of JLF received sponsorship from Vedanta Resources, the controversial British mining company with operations in India, Zambia and Australia.

The protesters issued a statement slamming "Vedanta's shameless PR campaign through the sponsorship of Jaipur Literature Festival, London" and expressed "solidarity with the many communities suffering pollution, illness, oppression, displacement and poverty as a result of Vedanta's operations."
New Delhi, Dec 23 : A day after he resigned, the central government looked for a successor to Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung who on Friday said he had offered to quit twice earlier but was told to carry on until Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally gave him the "go ahead" two days ago.

Jung spoke to news channels after meeting Modi and said there was no politics behind his sudden move, dismissing speculation that he was under pressure to exit.

"In 2014, when Modi was sworn in, I met him and requested him that since I was a Congress appointee, I would like to resign. The Prime Minister said no, please continue," Jung told India Today TV.

He said he repeated his offer to resign in July this year when his turf war with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the administration of the national capital was at its peak. The matter was settled in August by the Delhi High Court that ruled the Lt Governor is the administrative head of the National Capital Territory. The matter is now in the Supreme Court.

"This July when I finished three years in office, I called the Prime Minister again (and) expressed my desire to leave," Jung said. "The Prime Minister again asked me to continue."

This time, he insisted on resigning -- on personal grounds.

"Two days back, I spoke to the Prime Minister and expressed my desire yet again. This time the Prime Minister told me to go ahead. I resigned," he said.

The government was yet to accept his resignation and find a replacement, a Home Ministry official told IANS.

Those being considered to replace Jung include former Home Secretaries Anil Baijal, G.K. Pillai and former Delhi Police chief B.S. Bassi, who too had a running fued with Kejriwal.

Earlier, Chief Minister Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia met Jung separately.

Kejriwal, the national convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who was locked in a running battle with Jung for a long time, told reporters that the two met over an hour over breakfast.

Kejriwal had expressed his surprise on Thursday at Jung's sudden move. On Friday, the AAP leader said Jung did not give him any particular reason for his resignation.

As Jung vetoed several decisions of the AAP government, Kejriwal dubbed him an "agent" of the Modi government who took orders from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and not the Home Ministry.

At one time, Kejriwal quoted Home Minister Rajnath Singh as telling him that Jung bypassed him and took direct orders from the PMO.

Sisodia, who met Jung after Kejriwal, said the outgoing LG had pondered over his decision for quit a while before finally calling it quits. "He (Jung) is not upset," he added.

Sisodia said he had a "nice" meeting with Jung.

"He (Jung) said that he was thinking of quiting the post for the last one year to spend more time with his family and to focus on academics."

Jung was appointed the Lt. Governor on July 9, 2013 when the Congress-led UPA was in power. The Modi government retained him even as it replaced most governors in other states.

The 65-year-old former bureaucrat and vice chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia quit on Thursday. He said he would return to academics, his first love.
Almora (Uttarakhand), Dec 23 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's notes ban (demonetisation) decision is economic dacoity by the government.

He said Modi divided the country between the one per cent super-rich and the 99 per cent honest people of the country.

"Notes ban wasn't against black money or corruption, it was economic dacoity. Modi-ji has created a divide between one per cent super rich and 99 per cent honest people of the country," said Gandhi while addressing a rally in Almora.

"Not a single black money holder has been arrested so far. There are 50 families who had taken loans. The scheme was to waive off the loans worth Rs 8 lakh crore of these families," he added.

Gandhi said: "When farmers don't pay loans, the government snatches their lands and houses. But when rich don't pay loans, they call them defaulters and their debt Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). The government restructures their loans but doesn't recover it."

He demanded that the Modi government release in Parliament the list of names of those who hold black money in Swiss banks.

"About 94 per cent of the black money is in Swiss bank accounts, gold and real estate. Just 6 per cent of black money is in cash," said Gandhi.

"Modi has not listened to the farmers but has forgiven Rs 1.40 lakh crore in loans to 15 rich people ... but not farmers."

He said: "They say notes ban is a surgical strike on corruption, but this is actually fire-bombing on India's poor."

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 in a bid to curb black money and corruption in the country.
Rome, Dec 23 : The suspect in the December 19 terror attack at a Berlin Christmas market, which claimed 12 lives, was on Friday shot dead near Milan in Italy, the media reported.

Anis Amri, who, according to the Islamic State terror group, was "a soldier", ploughed a lorry into the crowd of people at the Christmas market on Monday.

Amri was killed in a gunfight with police, Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti said.

"There is absolutely no doubt that the person who was killed was Anis Amri, the suspect in the terrorist attack in Berlin."

According to the anti-terrorism police, Amri arrived in Italy from France and then took a train to Milan.

He then continued to head for the Sesto San Giovanni neighbourhood, and ran into two police officers before being killed in a shootout when they tried to conduct a routine stop-check.

Amri, who carried no documents with him, was identified on the basis of his appearance and fingerprints after the shootout, anti-terrorism police sources in Milan said.

A police officer is in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the shootout.

The 24-year-old Tunisian had been jailed for about three years in Italy for setting fire to a refugee centre, and after the Germany attack a reward of 100,000 euros (about $104,000) had been offered for information leading to his capture.

German government spokesman thanked Italy's authorities for their cooperation in the four-day manhunt for Amri following the deadly attack.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni informed German Chancellor Angela Merkel of Amri's death in Milan.

Amri's family said he was not at all religious when he lived in Tunisia and was converted to radical Islam in Italy while in prison.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : Actress Amrapali Gupta, who welcomed her son Kabir with Yash Sinha earlier this year, got a Christmas surprise from her husband. He made the festive season "special" for them by decorating their house.

The couple welcomed Kabir in March, and it's his first Christmas.

"Amrapali and Kabir have made my life special by entering to my world. I always want to bring love and blessings for them in every possible way I could. This is the first Christmas for my son, so I am trying to make it special for him. We have already started celebrating the festival and will continue till the year end," Yash said in a statement.

Amrapali, best known for her roles in shows like "Khushiyan", "Teen Bahuraaniyaan" and "Qubool Hai", said: "Yash surprised us by decorating the house with Christmas stationery. He also made the Christmas cake himself.

"He did all this when I went to visit my friend's house with Kabir and when we returned we were really surprised. I am really one of the luckiest wife to have Yash as my husband."

Yash and Amrapali, who got married in 2012, were seen together in "Nach Baliye 6".

-*-Vaishali to appear in 'Har Mard Ka Dard'

Actress Vaishali Thakkar, best known for her roles in shows like "Baa Bahoo Aur Baby", "Teen Bahuraaniyaan" and "Uttaran", will next be seen in the upcoming comedy show "Har Mard Ka Dard".

The show relates to the problems men face in the society in comedy style.

Vaishali will be seen as the mother of actor Faisal Rashid, who is the lead protagonist.

"I am very excited to be the part of this show because the genre of this show is new and different for me, from whatever I have done in the past," Vaishali said in a statement.

"I am essaying the role of a mother and I am confident enough that I will justify my character. I hope my fans will shower love for me as they have always," she added.

"Har Mard Ka Dard" will soon be aired on Life OK.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : India on Friday strongly condemned the terror attack on a Christmas market in Germany that claimed the lives of 12 persons.

"India strongly condemns the attack that occurred at a Christmas market in Berlin on December 19," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing here.

"We offer our condolences to the families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," he said.

"As a victim of repeated terror attacks, India stands with the government and people of Germany."

At least 12 persons were killed and 48 injured when a truck ploughed through a crowd in a Christmas market in the German capital on Monday.

Early on Friday, the suspect, a Tunisian identified as Anis Amri, was shot dead by Italian police in the city of Milan.

Swarup said that there could be "no doubt that the rising number of terrorist attacks across the world underlines the need for concerted action against terrorism in all its manifestations".
Berlin terror attack shows need for 'extreme vetting' for entry into the US, Kellyanne Conway says

President-elect Donald Trump wants to stop the spread and ultimately defeat "radical Islamic terrorism," said Kellyanne Conway, who was named on Thursday as counselor to the president.

Trump had "talked about that on the campaign trail," she said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "It's part of why he won."

The deadly terrorist truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market on Monday shows the need for "extreme vetting" of people who want to come into the United States, Conway said.

"Extreme vetting" stops short of onetime calls by Trump during the campaign to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., a position later clarified as stopping people from countries that have a history of Islamic extremism.



German authorities said the prime suspect sought in the Berlin assault  24-year-old Tunisian national Anis Amri  had been scheduled to be deported after the rejection of his asylum application but for a delay in the paperwork. Amri had also been under surveillance on suspicion that he had become radicalized, officials said.

Trump wants to join with allies of the U.S., "and even those we don't work that closely on in other matters, to come together and defeat radical Islamic terrorism," Conway said.

"He wants to have more extreme vetting in place in [regard to] countries that harbor and train and export terrorists," she said.

"This is simple to understand," Conway added, highlighting the people and regions that should be scrutinized. "You go where the hot spots are, you go where the training is, you go where people are looking to do harm and bring death and destruction on civilized people."




New Delhi, Dec 23 : Finding no common ground on the issue of dual control or cross empowerment that deals with assessee jurisdiction, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's 7th meeting that came to an end on Friday raised grave concerns about its April 1 implementation date while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley saying that he was trying his best.

"I am trying my best (on deadline of April 1). I don't want to hasten the process of discussion and don't want to delay the implementation," Jaitley said at a press briefing after the Council meet ended.

The Finance Minister however said: "There was no issue raised on dual control today as we were working on legislations."

Jaitley said that the two principle issues that still remain before the Council are Integrated GST (iGST) and cross empowerment.

"In iGST, definition of territory of states is pending. And the division of authority between assessing authorities of Centre and states is pending. The two issues will be taken up together at the next meeting on January 3-4.

"The recommendation of GST rates committee will also be placed before the Council at the next meeting," he said.

The drafts of Central GST (cGST) and the compensation law were approved mostly in the Council meeting on Friday with the only portions relating to dual control being left out, he added.

"The primary draft of the cGST and sGST law has been approved. These two laws will be mirror image of each other. There were some portions that were left out. Only those blanks are there which deal with dual control and cross empowerment," Jaitley said.

The legally vetted copy of the cGST and compensation law will brought before the Council in its next meeting, he said.

The three GST bills - Central GST (cGST), Integrated GST and State Compensation Law - need to be approved by the Council before they can be tabled in the Parliament.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who is part of the GST Council, told reporters that the "big issues are still to be resolved".

The iGST issue has not been discussed on Friday, he said.

"Second issue is dual control. The states are very clear with the unanimous decision of the empowered committee that small traders with a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore turnover cannot have dual assessment," he added.

Mitra said that post-demonetisation, the states feel that they will need more compensation than mentioned in the GST draft bills.

"Many issues on compensation need to be resolved. Earlier the parameters on compensation were different, there was no demonetisaion. Now in new environment, many states feel they will need compensation. They feel 30-40 per cent revenue will be affected in the third quarter."

But Jaitley, during the press briefing, clarified that the compensation in GST is only for loss of revenues due to GST implementation, but asked how was it related to this.
Chandigarh, Dec 23 : The Consul General office of South Korea was inaugurated here on Friday.

Automobile sector industrialist Jagdip Singh has been made the first honorary Consul General here.

The office will cater to needs of states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, Korean Ambassador to India Cho Hyun said.

Punjab Governor V. P. Singh Badnore was also present at the opening of the new consul general office along with and other dignitaries.

"As an Honorary Consul, Jagdip Singh will work towards further strengthening the collaboration between the two nations; promoting culture, industry and commerce, facilitating investments, educational exchange and enhancing goodwill. The office of the Honorary Consul will also provide limited consular assistance in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh and support the Korean citizens within these states," the Korean ambassador said.

"Korea's investment in India also recorded a remarkable increase, with more than $4 billion of FDI being invested. More than 450 Korean companies are currently operating in India and an increasing number of their products are becoming familiar household for Indians. Korean companies are also actively involved in numerous infrastructure projects in India such as highways, subways, and major construction works in power sectors," he added.

Jagdip Singh said that he would work to strengthen India-Korea relations, especially in the trade sector.

"Korea is India's most important trading partner in Asia and our countries share a strategic partnership. I value my deep professional and cultural bond with Korea and look forward to further strengthening our ties in the areas of business, education and culture in the prosperous states assigned to me," he said.

Singh, an entrepreneur, is the Group Chairman of Sigma Group of companies, which is engaged in the manufacturing of automobile components, which are supplied to top automobile manufacturers like Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche, Audi, General Motors, Ford.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday approved the purchase of one more Boeing C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift transport aircraft, and also reviewed the ongoing projects of the services and the DRDO, sources said.A

The Indian Air Force currently operates 10 C-17s, which it began inducting in 2013.

The other proposals cleared by the DAC included the procurement of 1,500 Modernised Nuclear Biological Chemical Protection systems for mounting on infantry combat vehicles, at a cost of Rs. 1,265 crore. These will be bought under the Indigenous Design Development and Manufacturing (IDDM) category.

This will be an automated system. The systems on infantry combat vehicles are currently manual.

The DAC also cleared the acquisition of six Multi Mission Maritime Aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard at a cost of Rs 5,500 crore. They will be equipped with state-of-the-art mission suites designed and developed by the DRDO.

A proposal for procurement of 55 low-level light-weight 3D radars was also cleared for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force at a cost of Rs. 419 crore.

These radars designed by DRDO are likely to be built by Bharat Electronics Limited, said sources.

Army sources meanwhile said majority of these radars are for the force and will be deployed by the air defence regiments.
Ranchi, Dec 23 : A Maoist guerrilla was killed in gun battle with security forces in Jharkhand's Khuti district on Friday, police said.

According to police, the gun battle broke out between security forces and guerrillas belonging to People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) took place at Murhu of Khuti, around 45 Km from Ranchi.

One ultra was killed and three three rifles seized after the gun battle while a large number of Maoists managed to escape.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed INLD leader Ajay Chautala, serving a 10-year jail term in a teachers recruitment scam, to attend the marriage functions of his son.

Justice Vipin Sanghi allowed Ajay Chautala's plea to attend 'roka' and engagement ceremony of his son and MP Dushyant Chautala, to be held at different locations in Sirsa and Gurgaon.

The court asked Chautala to surrender before the jail authorities on January 5, 2017. On November 28, he was granted parole till January 5 to maintain social ties by the court, but was restricted from moving out of Delhi.

Chautala, through his advocate Amit Sahni, approached the court seeking modification of the order to attend marriage functions in Haryana.

On January 22, 2013, a trial court sentenced 55 people for committing irregularities in the recruitment of 3,032 junior basic trained teachers in Haryana in 2000. Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay were among those who were convicted.

The Chautalas were awarded ten years jail term by a trial court and the High Court had on March 5, 2015 upheld their jail term. The Supreme Court in 2015 had also dismissed their appeals against conviction and sentencing.
Kolkata, Dec 23 : Actor-turned-BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Roopa Ganguly was admitted to a private city hospital with a "small brain haematoma" on Friday, doctors said.

The hospital said she is under observation and "absolutely stable".

"Roopa Ganguly is admitted ... with a small brain haematoma. She is absolutely stable and under observation," AMRI Hospitals said in a bulletin.

State Bharatiya Janata Party leaders expressed concern over Ganguly's condition and wished her a speedy recovery.

"It seems she suffered a minor cerebral attack. Doctors said she had a blurry vision and blood clots in her brain. I wish her a speedy recovery," said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha.

Ganguly gained cult popularity for playing Draupadi in the television series "Mahabharat" in the 1980s. She joined BJP in 2015 and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha this year.
Ahmedabad, Dec 23 : Kumar Mangalam Birla, head of the leading industrial conglomerate Birla Group, on Friday declined comment on allegations that his group had paid Rs 25 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister.

"I am not aware. I don't know about it and do not want to talk about it," Birla told reporters here at the Indian Institute of Management- Ahmedabad (IIM-A).

Kumar Birla is Chairman of the IIM-A.

"The matter is sub judice and I would not like to say anything," he said on being repeatedly asked about it.

Rahul Gandhi had on Wednesday alleged at a public meeting in Mehsana in north Gujarat that Modi had accepted Rs 25 crore from Birla, while more was to come.

Birla, who was visiting the IIM-A campus after a gap of two decades, stayed at the campus for two days and said that he would act as a bridge between the corporate world and the premier B-school.

"My focus would be to see how best I can help increase interaction between the corporates and the IIM-A," he said.

On being asked about his thoughts on how the IIM-A can improve its ranking globally, Birla opined that the Institute should prepare more of Indian students than expatriates or foreign students.

"One of the criterion is to go by the number of foreign students you can attract to your campus. As an Indian, I would be delighted if India seeks to take demographic advantage of having largest young population and IIMs train our own youngsters in the art of management. But, this is purely my opinion," he said.

Speaking on the issue of autonomy to the IIMs, Birla said he is in favour of maintaining complete autonomy.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Enforcement Directorate on Friday questioned Delhi-based lawyer Rohit Tandon who allegedly converted over Rs 2 crore of demonetised money into new currency notes with the help of hawala trader Paras Mal Lodha, who was arrested on Wednesday.

The ED officials summoned Tandon earlier in the day for questioning him in the case at its office here.

The agency's move came a day after a court here asked why the ED officials did not yet arrest Tandon even though they arrested Kolkata-based businessman Lodha, who allegedly helped the lawyer to convert his Rs 2.6 crore in old notes into new currency.

Sources said that the ED officials recorded Tandon's statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and questioned him on the basis of documents seized by the agency against him.

Cash amounting to Rs 13.65 crore, including Rs 2.6 crore in new currency notes, was seized from Tandon's office in Greater Kailash-I area of south Delhi during a raid conducted by Delhi Police on December 10.

Tandon's T&T law firm and residence, before this operation, was separately searched by the Income Tax department which said that he had declared undisclosed income worth over Rs 125 crore.

D sources indicated that Tandon will soon confronted with Lodha, 62, whom the agency arrested in this case on Wednesday evening - hours after he was caught at Mumbai airport while trying to flee to Malaysia.

The ED officials arrested Lodha, a leading businessman with interests in real estate and mining, for converting over Rs 25 crore demonetised notes linked to Tandon and industrialist J. Sekhar Reddy into new currency. A city court later sent Lodha to seven-day ED custody.

The agency has sent two phones, allegedly seized from Lodha, for forensic examination as it contained details of some WhatsApp conversations between him and Tandon.

The Reddy case pertains to Chennai where the Income Tax department has made the biggest detection of unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested Reddy, a former Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam Board Member, and two others from Chennai for money laundering after Income Tax (IT) department recently seized 177 kg of gold, Rs 96 crore in old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes and Rs 34 crore in new currency from their premises.

Sources said that Reddy had executed a lot of work for the Tamil Nadu government, ED officials earlier on December 1 raided multiple hawala operators across the country involved in illegal conversion of old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to valid legal tender since November 8 demonetisation announcement.
Valletta (Malta), Dec 23 : A Libhyan jetliner hijack drama ended peacefully at Malta International Airport on Friday and all 118 persons aboard were safely rescued, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed in a series of tweets.

A man believed to be from the pro-Gaddafi group Al Fatah Al Gadida hijacked the Airbus A320 aircraft from Tripoli with crew and passengers that included 28 women and a child.

"Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a series of tweets.

While the Prime Minister talked of "hijackers", local media referred to a lone man who commandeered the aircraft.

The hijacker earlier told the crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

It was not known what the demands of the hijacker or hijackers were and if it was an act of terrorism or the result of the bitter Libyan political feud.

One German report said they were demanding the release of Saif Gaddafi, the second son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The claim was confirmed when a hijacker was seen at the aircraft door waving the former green Libya flag.

Prime Minister Muscat earlier confirmed on Twitter that "The #Afriqiyah flight from #Sabha to #Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in #Malta. Security services coordinating operations."

He added: "It has been established that #Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant."

Libya's UN-backed government confirmed the hijacking and its forced diversion to Malta, Libya's state news agency LANA reported.

All passengers aboard the plane were in good health, an unnamed official at the Libyan Foreign Ministry told the agency.

"(Libyan) Foreign Minister Mohammed Sayala has immediately started intense contacts with his Maltese counterpart and the government there," the official added.

Security personnel took up positions a few hundred metres from the plane as it stood on the Malta tarmac.

All flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

The aircraft was flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 500 km north of the Libyan coast.

Passengers waiting in the departure lounge near the gates were being moved towards the open ground by the Schengen Passport area.

The last major hijack incident in Malta took place in November 23, 1985, when an EgyptAir Boeing 737 was diverted to the island nation.

A 24-hour ordeal then ended in a bloody massacre with 62 people dead when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane. Only one of the three hijackers survived and was brought to justice.

Forty-three years ago then Prime Minster Dom Mintoff managed to negotiate the release of 247 passengers and eight air hostesses on board a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, which was also hijacked over Iraq and flown to Malta.

The passengers and air hostesses were released in return for fuel. The plane had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The hijackers eventually surrendered and the plane later left Malta.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The central government on Friday directed Amul -a dairy cooperative operated by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation - to ensure bank accounts for all milk producers by December 30 due to "non-availability of funds (cash) to the co-operative banks for making payments".

It has also asked other co-operatives to ensure opening of 100 percent accounts of milk producers and farmers by January 30 next year.

"GCMMF/Amul has been specifically directed to ensure 100 percent milk producers accounts to be opened by December 30, 2016. Similarly, specific instructions were issued to all the agencies such as National Dairy Development Board, Mother Dairy, Delhi Milk Scheme and all state dairy co-operative federations for ensuring direct payment to milk producers bank account at the earliest," said a statement.

According to the statement, "certain unintended impacts" have been observed especially in the sectors thriving upon sheer cash transactions following the demonetisation move and the government has noticed non-availability of funds to the co-operative banks for making payments to milk producers and farmers by dairy co-operatives.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh directed these agencies to take appropriate action to alleviate the problems, said the statement.

"Low penetration of nationalised banks and co-operative bank accounts in rural areas need adequate financial support with appropriate safe guards," it said.

Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Secretary Devendra Chaudhry has initiated action "for streamlining the payment system to milk producers and even sale of milk to consumers through cashless transactions primarily".

As per the statement, there are 1.70 lakh Dairy Co-operative Societies (DCS) at village level, which have 1.6 crore milk producers affiliated with 218 milk unions and about 850 lakh litre milk per day is procured.
Hyderabad, Dec 23 : Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced the dispatch to Unicef of a part of a consignment of six million doses of Shan5 - a paediatric pentavalent vaccine manufactured by its affiliate Shantha Biotechnics.

Shan5 is manufactured in Shantha Biotechnics' new plant in the state and will be exported to Nigeria, Morocco and Rwanda through the UN agency.

Shan5, which was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in April 2014, is a high-quality vaccine that provides effective protection for children from 6 weeks of age against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B.

Shantha Biotechnics is manufacturing Shan5 in a new facility, which is spread across 19,000 square-meters and located in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Muppireddypally, Telangana.

The commercial production of vaccines started in May this year after getting the necessary approvals from the Indian regulatory authorities and the WHO.

"With a dedicated site for vaccines in the country, we are reinforcing our commitment towards disease prevention and public health in India and across the world," said Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director - India and Vice President - South Asia, Sanofi.

"Across the world, a large number of babies today do not have access to modern vaccination programs. Our aim, at Shantha Biotechnics, is to fill this gap by providing large supplies of high-quality vaccines to emerging and low-income countries. Our new manufacturing site will help us to meet the purpose, " said Mahesh Bhalgat, Executive Director & Chief Operation Officer, Shantha Biotechnics, India.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Tata Motors on Friday said its vehicles Xenon and Safari Storme will soon be used by Indian security forces.

Vice President, Defence Business, Vernon Noronha said the Border Security Force (BSF) is taking around 500 Tata Xenon SUVs for border patrolling, replacing the Maruti Gypsies used so far.

The Indian Army is meanwhile taking around 3,192 Tata Safari Storme UAVs, which won over Mahindra Scorpio and they are expecting around 35,000 vehicles to be ordered in future.

About the Future Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICV), Noronha said: "Whenever it happens, we have confidence that with our background, we will be selected."

The FICV is to replace the ICV BMP-2 held by some 50 Mechanised Infantry Battalions.
Vadodara, Dec 23 : A high-profile booze party at a farmhous outside this Gujarat city was busted late on Thursday and over 250 top figures, including former chairman of Indian Premier League (IPL) and leading industrialist Chirayu Amin, booked, police said.

"We have recovered 103 bottles of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and 113 of beer worth Rs 1,28,950 from the spot. Many men and women appeared inebriated and so were taken to a hospital to collect their blood samples to verify presence of alcohol in their body," Vadodara Superintendent of Police Saurabh Tolambiya told reporters here on Friday.

"We have now filed two FIRs, a non-bailable one against the farmhouse owner and his son under sections of the new Prohibition law, which has provision of 10 years' jail term for keeping and distributing liquor. Another FIR under sections related to consumption of liquor has also been filed against 127 men and 134 women, including two British citizens," he said.

According to the new provisions of prohibition law in the "dry" state, consuming liquor is now punishable with up to three years in jail.

Police also seized 90 vehicles worth over Rs 18 crore from the venue of the party, which was held to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of farmhouse owner Jeetendra Shah's grand daughter. Shah and his son Abhay are now being interrogated and will be produced in a court for remand, Tolambiya said.

All the men arrested at night were given bail on personal bond, while the women present at the party were not arrested and were bailed out immediately. The blood samples too have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar for further tests.

Later, addressing media in state capital Gandhinagar on Friday, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said the state is "serious" about strictly implementing prohibition.

"I congratulate police for carrying out successful raid at the party and work towards strict implementation of prohibition law.

"Those present at the party may be big names in economic world but police will not come under any pressure whilst acting against those found guilty of violating prohibition law," he said.

Jadeda also sought to warn organisers of parties in club houses or farm houses in the forthcoming festive season of Christmas and New Year eve to desist from serving liquor.

Opposition Congress, meanwhile, hit back at the ruling party saying that the entire episode was nothing but an eyewash. "The BJP has been ruling the state for over two-and-half decades now and despite prohibition, how can people so easily find liquor to hold parties," asked Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.

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New Delhi, Dec 23 : The O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has inaugurated India's first global media school that will foster inter-disciplinary learning to train and groom the next generation of media leaders, at the India International Centre here.

"The vision of the school is to provide training as well as the knowledge and education through a critical pedagogy which includes inter-disciplinarity at the core of it," Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor at JGU, said on the occasion.

The Jindal School of Journalism & Communication (JSJC), which will be operational from 2017, will offer a three-year full-time B.A. (Hons.) Media and Communication programme, designed to give students a rigorous understanding of journalism across print, broadcast, radio and new media platforms.

"Rampant changes in technology and the business models of journalism effect what we read, see and hear. Journalism today faces momentous challenges, challenges which only well-qualified and well-educated journalists can take up," said Tom Goldstein, Professor and Dean at University of California-Berkeley while delivering the inaugural address.

A discussion on 'ethics and professional obligations of journalists in a democracy' was also held at the event, a statement said.

Distinguished journalists and academics from both India and abroad participated in the event on Thursday and stressed the need for integrity on behalf of media persons.

Noted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said: "We live in the times of high-octane nationalism, where the narrative is now being spun about whether you are wearing your patriotism on your sleeve or not. With social media as echo chambers for hate and outrage, journalists are being now branded, based on their ideological preferences."

"My ethical belief system tells me that we as journalists must not put India first but truth first," he added.
Patna, Dec 23 : Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi needs to learn and understand demonetisation before saying anything on the subject.

"Demonetisation is the biggest campaign against corrupt people and black money. The poor would benefit the most and Rahul Ganndhi should not say anything without thinking about it," Prasad said in his reply to Rahul Gandhi's opposition to demonetisation.

Prasad said Rahul Gandhi is yet to study and learn a lot before opposing demonetisation.

But Prasad refused to say anything on Rahul Gandhi's corruption allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi has alleged that Modi had taken money from corporate houses when he was Gujarat Chief Minister
Budapest, Dec 23 : A plane carrying Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin made an unscheduled landing in Budapest on Friday, Hungary's news website index.hu reported.

The report said fog thwarted a landing in Chisinau, Moldova, where Rogozin was slated to attend the inauguration of Moldovan President Igor Dodon.

The plane was making a round-about approach to Chisinau through Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, since Ukraine closed its air space to Russian Aeroflot planes.

From Hungary, the plane apparently went on to Romania but was forced turn back to Budapest because of heavy fog in Chisinau, the report said.

Rogozin has been banned from entering European Union territory as part of Western sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis and may be forced to remain in the airport until his plane was ready for takeoff.

Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen was also scheduled to travel to Chisinau for the inauguration and was unable to do so because of the fog.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Various airlines on Friday said passengers will not be permitted to carry power banks and e-cigarettes in their check-in baggage for safety purposes.

"We are trying to educate passengers on the new regulation that power banks and e-cigarettes are not allowed to be stored in the check-in baggage," an IndiGo Spokesperson told IANS.

"This new regulation has caused passenger inconvenience and delays but we are following the same as it is related to safety issue. Globally also, power banks and e-cigarettes are now not allowed to be transported in the cargo belly."

A Jet Airways' spokesperson informed that the airline will not allow power banks in the check-in baggage of the passengers on-board its flights.

"In the interest of safety and as mandated by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), Jet Airways will not permit carriage of power banks from any manufacturer to be carried in guests' check in baggage on board all its flights," the statement said.

"However, guests may carry these charging devices in their cabin bags."
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh on Friday rubbished reports of having stitched an alliance with Samajwadi Party and Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, saying "there have been no talks with either Congress or SP on alliance".

Reports saud that SP-Congress-RLD have forged an alliance ahead of the UP elections.

"I havn't had any meeting or talks with anyone in Congress in more than six months," Ajit Singh told IANS.

"The last time I met Samajwadi Party leaders was when they had that function (party's silver jubilee celebrations on November 5) in Lucknow. We had talks that time but after that no phone call, no meeting, nothing," he added.

"That time we had talks with all parties and (Samajwadi Party chief) Mulayam Singh had asked us to merge with them. But no talks after that," said Singh.

Asked would he accept the offer to ally with Samajwadi and Congress if it comes, Ajit Singh said: "When there have been no talks, where does the question of offer come?"

Earlier, there were reports that Congress and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party were likely to strike an alliance for the coming assembly polls.
Beijing, Dec 24 : China said it will closely monitor and be vigilant of Japan's moves and true intentions, a day after its traditional foe announced an increase in its defence budget for the fifth consecutive year.

"Can Japan really draw lessons for history and pursue a path of peaceful development? Asian neighbors and the international community wait and see," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said during a press conference on Friday.

She added that "even in Japan lots of people have raised doubts and criticized" the increase in the budget, which rose to a record 5.13 trillion yen ($44 billion), a 1.4 per cent increase over last year, Efe news agency reported.

According to Japanese media, the increase is a response to repeated weapons' tests by North Korea, but also to tensions with China over its dispute with Japan over the control of the Senkaku Islands.

Defence budget increases by Japan are normally criticized by China owing to historical disagreements stemming from Japanese invasion of China during the Second World War.

China usually increases its defence budget at an even faster rate (7.6 per cent in 2016) and comes second only to the United States in military spending (around $146 billion in the present financial year).
Brussels, Dec 24 : The European Union (EU) has provided 38.2 million euros ($39.8 million) in emergency funding to Italy to ease migratory pressure, an EU statement said.

Italian Ministry of Defence and Italian Coast Guard will get a bigger share of the funding -- 22.2 million euros -- to enhance border surveillance and to rescue lives at sea, Xinhua new agency reported.

Italian Ministry of Interior will be awarded 13.5 million euros for projects aimed at reinforcing external border checks and border surveillance as well as strengthening health services and linguistic and inter-cultural mediation.

Another 2.5 million euros will be provided to Italian interior ministry to support actions aimed at catering to the special needs of unaccompanied minors.

The money comes from the European Commission's Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

Italy has been under high migratory pressure since the summer of 2015 as thousands of illegal migrants from North Africa sought to reach Italian shores through the Mediterranean.

According to International Organization of Migration (IMO), a total of 358,403 migrants and refugees have reached European shores so far this year, down from over one million last year.

Most of these immigrants in 2016 have arrived in Italy (179,525 arrivals) and Greece (173,244).
Joe Biden

After President-elect Donald Trump's stunning victory in November, Joe Biden is joining other Democrats pleading the party to refocus its attention on a voting bloc with which they failed to connect in 2016: working-class voters.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Los Angeles Times, Biden said he noticed issues with Hillary Clinton's campaign early in the election. And when Trump seemed to strike a chord with voters a rally near his childhood home in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in October, he became unsettled.

"Son of a gun. We may lose this election," Biden said.

"I believe that we were not letting an awful lot of people  high school-educated, mostly Caucasian, but also people of color  know that we understood their problems," he added.

Following the results of the election, Clinton has faced criticism for not garnering enough support from working-class voters who were ultimately swayed by Trump's economic appeals.

Biden said Trump preyed on the economic concerns of these voters rather than working to understand them.

"He at least acknowledged the pain. But he played to the prejudice. He played to the fear. He played to the desperation. There was nothing positive that I ascertained when he spoke to these folks that was uplifting," Biden said.

With a reputation as a champion of the middle class, some political observers have speculated Biden would have fared better if he had run against Trump. As Biden considered running in 2015, a memo revealed the vice president's platform would have centered on the economy and the advancement of the middle class, several points that critics argued were lost from Clintons campaign.

Biden seemed to get at the root of the issue Democrats are now faced with when he gave a speech addressing the concerns of Trump's supporters at one of Clinton's campaign rallies in Virginia.

"God willing, were going to win this, but theres a lot of people who are going to vote for Donald Trump," Biden told the crowd. "Weve got to figure out why. What is eating at them? Some of it will be unacceptable. But some of it will be about hard truths about our country and about our economy. A lot of people do feel left out."

Story continues

As President Barack Obama and Biden are set to leave the White House on January 20, the vice president's political plans are still unclear. Biden has already floated the idea of running in 2020 against Trump.

NOW WATCH: The last time a losing candidate had a wider popular vote margin than Clinton was in 1876  here's the bizarre story





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France has traditionally been one of the countries with the largest numbers of British Ex Pats, with 190,000 Brits living in France, according to recent UN Figures. But with all the economic turmoil following the Brexit announcement, will UK-based buyers still look to France as a home from home?

Tim Swannie, director of leading buyer's agent Home-Hunts, reflects on the impact of the referendum so far.

Tim said: The number of enquiries from UK clients has reduced this year which is understandable; some people are waiting to see what happens with the Brexit drama, and others have been put off because of the pound to Euro exchange rate.

Funnily enough, we've also had a number of British clients buying specifically because of Brexit; they want to make sure they own a property in the EU before the UK officially leaves.

There have been two specific areas where we have seen a rise in enquiries from the UK: Paris and also the French Alps. The majority of these enquiries come from clients who work in Finance; some are looking to relocate closer to Paris or Geneva and others are buying for investment purposes, with a view to relocation in future.

There's no arguing that Sterling is low at the moment against the Euro, so the timing isn't ideal for UK-based cash buyers. However, we've found many clients are taking mortgages instead. Many French banks offer what is called a 'back to back' loan, whereby you can deposit your money in Sterling with them and then you borrow the same amount in Euros. This is a perfect solution to avoid taking a hit on exchange rates. Then, when rates improve in future, buyers can choose to pay off the mortgage.

Many clients are specifically asking us about UK sellers because of the exchange rate to Sterling. British buyers are generally quite flexible at the moment if they are changing their money back to Sterling. Having said that, as a buyers' agent, we've found that most owners are flexible currently. It's certainly a buyer's market at the moment, and with the uncertainty of Brexit still looming in 2017, and the upcoming general election in France, we expect it to remain that way into next year too.

The majority of clients at the moment are coming from mainland Europe, specifically Scandinavia, Benelux and also Germany. We are also getting a lot of interest from Swiss, American and Middle Eastern clients.

All areas have been quite busy, but the real stand out areas in terms of sales have been Cannes, Sainte Maxime to Saint Tropez, Montpellier to Narbonne, The Dordogne, Chamonix, Morzine and Paris. We've agreed sales on all kind of properties ranging from small renovation projects around 600,000 Euros through to a 7.2 million Euro apartment in Paris and a 19 million Euro contemporary villa in Saint Tropez.
The vehicle carrying Omar Artis and Roszaliyn and Courtney Drake was speared through the grill by the guardrail which then penetrated the passenger compartment, with the guardrail exiting the vehicle through the back windshield.

Linda Young filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of her son, Omar Artis of Peoria, Illinois in the U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, Peoria Division, case number 16CV1464. The suit was filed against Dallas, TX based Trinity Industries, manufacturer of the ET Plus Guardrail. The suit alleged failure of the guardrail end terminal system to properly and safely absorb the energy of the impacting vehicle driven by Omar Artis. The guardrail pierced the car killing Omar Artis and seriously injuring two others, Roszaliyn and Courtney Drake of Pekin, Illinois. In addition to the wrongful death counts, this multi-count complaint also includes alleged counts of negligence, strict products liability, willful and wanton conduct, breach of warranty, negligent infliction of emotional distress and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The families are represented by James P. LeFante, LeFante Law Offices, P.C. and Jill M. Webb, Law Office of Jill M. Webb.

About LeFante Law Offices, P.C.

LeFante Law Offices, P.C. is a premier trial law firm located in Peoria, Illinois, specializing in personal injury, wrongful death and workers compensation. We consider it a great privilege to represent those in genuine need of advocacy. Over the past two decades, we have achieved many significant settlements and verdicts on our clients behalf, but our greatest satisfaction is helping clients receive the compensation they deserve.

About Law Office of Jill M. Webb

At the Law Office of Jill M. Webb, our clients come first. We know the circumstances they face are life changing and they need an attorney who understands, cares, and is committed to representing clients as a tenacious advocate. We focus on helping injured people and families who suffer catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one as a result of negligent or harmful conduct by others. Tragic circumstances require compassionate and caring counsel who will fight for your rights with conviction.
"Boots to Bosses" Business Ownership for Veterans

Last century, a stunning 49.7 percent of World War II Veterans went on to own or operate a business, according to Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families, however, today, less than 5% of U.S veterans are business owners.

James Wichert, Owner and CEO of Discount Retail Store Services (DRSS) finds this unacceptable.

Those with military experience tend to be very disciplined, detail oriented and take direction well which makes them great potential business owners, says Wichert

Joseph Kopser, an Army veteran and co-founder of transportation app RideScout, blames the lack of in-service mentorship offered to current military members, saying that too many vets now "get a job and settle" rather than launch their own businesses.

Currently, around 200,000 veterans a year transition back to civilian life. DRSS wants to simplify that process, and help veterans every step of the way.

One of our goals is to help as many veterans as we can become successful business owners, said Wichert. More business owners will lead to more jobs and help the economy as well.

John Finley, Sales Director of DRSS and a Navy veteran, noted the most common reasons veterans fail to open their own business:



Fear (of failure, the unknown, leaving their job, the economy)

Lack of experience in lease negotiation and/or running a business

Lack of capital

Fear of competition

Franchising fees

Worries about finding a good location

Lack of trust in other companies

DRSS has responded to these fears and insecurities with the opening of their Boots to Bosses program.

Our Boots to Bosses program assists vets from start to finish and we also provide ongoing support for the lifetime of their store(s), says Finley. The program consists of our 7 services along with finding veteran lending and grant programs that many veterans are unaware of. We also provide veteran discounts which saves them thousands of dollars off the regular purchase price.

The Boots to Bosses program provides a comprehensive turnkey solution consisting of the following 7 services:

1. Financing - 100% financing, including working capital o.a.c, conventional and non-conventional lenders with free credit repair in some cases

2. Site Location - assistance in finding the best sites in the area

3. Lease Negotiation - 17 key provisions in every lease to protect their clients \

4. Site Build-Out - Complete build out of the store including fixtures, merchandise and more

5. Comprehensive Training - before, during and after the store opening

6. Access to their Wholesale Merchandise Network - saving their clients 20-25%

7. Unparalleled support for the lifetime of the store

Darcella Craven, Founder and President of the Veterans Resource Business Center (VRBC), a non-profit partner of DRSS that offers several free and low cost business training programs, stated: DRSS and their staff are very supportive to veterans and they offer a unique all-inclusive program that assists veterans in launching their own businesses with confidence. Their generous veteran discount in honor of their service also shows how much DRSS values those who served.

These men and women have put their lives on the line, said Wichert. They have served and protected our country. Honoring their service and helping them to make their dreams of business ownership is a privilege and an honor.

About Discount Retail Store Services

James Wichert, Owner and CEO of Discount Retail Store Services, spent a good portion of his younger years helping other companies succeed and grow. In the early 90s, Witchert decided to take the leap to business ownership: he opened two extremely successful dollar stores in Las Vegas and Reno, NV.

My businesses were booming and I would often have customers come into my stores from out of state asking how I did it, and if I could help them open a similar store in places like Chicago or Miami, said Wichert. One day, as if a light bulb came on, I realized I could create a company that would help people with little or no experience open their own businesses. My company could provide them with all the tools and training necessary for them to become successful.

Today, almost 24 years later Wicherts company has opened close to 4000 independent retail stores in 8 different countries so far. The store concepts they specialize in are: dollar stores, party stores, mailbox & business center stores, clothing stores, teen stores and frozen yogurt shops.
Umbrella cockatoos getting a second chance on life. Stewart Metz, Associate Director of IPP stated, Indonesia is home to some of the most spectacular birds in the world and therefore some of the most desired. Often parrots are brutally trapped in the wild and smuggled under conditions approaching torture

The birds had been hidden on the Doloronada Ferry and slated to be shipped to the Phillipines and included forty-five Umbrella cockatoos, fifty-seven Eclectus parrots, and four Chattering lories.

The Umbrella cockatoo, Eclectus parrot and Chattering lory are endemic to Indonesia and are found on Morotai, Halmahera, Bacan, Obi, Ternate and Tidore. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) tracks the worlds species that are critically endangered. The Umbrella cockatoo is on the red list and considered "endangered", the Chattering Lory "vulnerable" and the Eclectus parrot at "least concern." Trapping, trading and smuggling are dramatically decreasing the population of these birds in the wild.

The successful release was the result of the collaboration between Indonesian agencies, forestry, police and the WCS Crime Unit, KKI (Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia and the Indonesian Parrot Project, an American NGO.

Veterinary staff from the Animal Quarantine Class II Ternate inspected the birds to determine their health condition and to avoid transmission of disease. Out of a total of one hundred seventy-three birds, only one hundred-seventeen birds were ready for release. The remainder of the birds will remain in rehabilitation until they are ready to be released back into the wild.

Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia (KKI) and Indonesian Parrot Project (IPP) organizations were chosen because of a track record and expertise in successfully releasing parrots back into the wild in Indonesia. They assisted in preparing the birds in the habituation cage before release by offering enrichment and forest foods. KKI-IPP also oversaw the bird banding.

Stewart Metz, Associate Director of IPP stated, Indonesia is home to some of the most spectacular birds in the world and therefore some of the most desired. Often parrots are brutally trapped in the wild and smuggled under conditions approaching torture; the overall process may reach 40% loss of life. All of this is illegal. The Indonesian Parrot Project is an American NGO working since 2001 to both prevent the illegal poaching of Indonesian parrots (especially cockatoos) and, conversely, rehabilitate and release back to the wild parrots confiscated from smugglers. To date, over 1200 parrots, lories and cockatoos have been returned to the wild.

Dudi Nandika, Senior Field Researcher, KKI stated, The process for releasing birds should be used is called soft release'. Birds are selected to be candidates by criteria that includes wild or pet bird, ability to fly, able to recognize wild food and that the birds can interact socially with their own species. After quarantine the birds receive medical testing, rehabilitation and socialization, and decreased contact with humans. When the birds are released, they need to be capable of finding their own food, nesting sites, and recognizing predators.

Dwi Adhiasto, Wildlife Trade Program Manager WCS-IP said, These birds not only taken for domestic trading but also for export. The common water route is going to the Philippines from North Sulawesi and North Maluku. The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) list these three birds on Appendix II which states there shall be a zero quotient for wild birds, so any trade in these birds is illegal.

This past May, police in North Maluku confiscated a group of birds from the Ranga-Ranga village in Halmahera which were also destined to go to the Philippines. This group included fifty-six Umbrella cockatoos, one hundred fifty-nine Eclectus parrots, three Chattering lories and one Rainbow lorikeet. These birds are also slated for future release.
The Avenue at South Orange His beautiful photos will allow visitors to our websites to get a taste of everything that our properties have to offer, from our many incredible amenities to our luxurious apartments, by being able to visually experience what living at an EMRC property i Past News Releases RSS The Most Luxurious Residence in The...

Elias Mallouk Realty Announces the...

Elias Mallouk Realty Corporation (EMRC) is proud to announce an upcoming photo shoot with renowned photographer Jeffrey Rosenberg. The purpose of this photography session is to highlight the luxurious amenities that are found at the Grand Meridia, The Avenue at South Orange, and Claremont Towers apartment complexes in New Jersey. EMRC plans on using the results of the photo shoot to provide potential clients a greater look at the lifestyle choices and amenities found at the well-appointed apartment buildings.

EMRC is pleased to provide individuals with sterling customer service by being able to offer a full visual panorama of the various apartment complexes' facilities. Jeffrey Rosenberg will be taking photos of the stately lobbies, fully-equipped gyms, outdoor courtyards and patios, communal lounges, pools, and fully luxurious apartments in order to create a lush visual gallery that people can view to fully realize what the properties under EMRC management can truly offer. Customers will be able to visit the websites of the Grand Meridia (Rahway, New Jersey), The Avenue at South Orange (South Orange, New Jersey), and Claremont Towers (Hillsborough, New Jersey) and explore the benefits of living at these apartment complexes from the comfort of their own home.

Cheryl Chambers of EMRC says, "We're incredibly excited to have Jeffrey Rosenberg do a photo shoot that will showcase the amenities and amazing lifestyle that comes at living at The Avenue at South Orange, the Grand Meridia, and Claremont Towers. Jeffrey Rosenberg is an industry-respected veteran with over 15 years of experience, photographing everything from food to architecture to portraits and everything in-between. His beautiful photos will allow visitors to our websites to get a taste of everything that our properties have to offer, from our many incredible amenities to our luxurious apartments, by being able to visually experience what living at an EMRC property is like. We're certain that the photographic eye of Jeffrey Rosenberg will capture the true essence of what it's like to live at the Grand Meridia, Claremont Towers, and The Avenue at South Orange, and we can't wait to share the fruits of his labors."

About EMRC

Elias Mallouk Realty Corporation (EMRC) is an experienced owner and manager of apartment buildings throughout the states of New York and New Jersey. Headquartered in South Orange, New Jersey, EMRC was started by Elias Mallouk in the late 1930s to provide affordable, quality apartments to middle income families. Since that time, EMRC has acquired a sterling reputation by offering the exceptional service mandated by the company's founder. EMRC continues to stay true to the family traditions that have allowed the company to prosper for almost 80 years due to the fact that the Mallouk family remains at the helm. Elias Mallouk passed the operation of EMRC to his son, George Mallouk, who then passed it on to his son, Jeff Mallouk, who now oversees operations.

EMRC currently owns and manages several superb properties. Some of these include Claremont Towers in Hillsborough, New Jersey; the Grand Meridia in Rahway, New Jersey, and The Avenue at South Orange in South Orange, New Jersey.

For more information on Elias Mallouk Realty Corporation (EMRC) you can call 1-973-783-8300.
ProMax is an industry leader in credit and soft pull solutions. Offering the customer appropriate financing early in the process is a key factor in getting the deal done, and EIVS helps immensely with that.

Dealer Marketing Services, Inc. the makers of ProMax Unlimited, today announced the upcoming release of the Employment and Income Verification Service (EIVS). This tool enables automotive dealerships to access valuable data provided by Equifax in order to verify a customers employment history and income early in the auto buying process. EIVS will be available to ProMaxs thousands of dealer customers as of January, 2017.

It is so important for dealers to have accurate employment and income data early in the sale, said John Palmer, President and CEO of ProMax Unlimited. Palmer boasts over a decades experience managing retail auto dealerships in addition to his twenty plus years in the automotive software industry. Offering the customer appropriate financing early in the process is a key factor in getting the deal done, and EIVS helps immensely with that.

ProMax offers a full front end software suite to automotive dealers and boasts a strong track record of innovative and award-winning credit solutions. In 2016 ProMax and Equifax proved to be a very productive partnership. ProMax released three new PowerLead products, consumer credit soft pull solutions powered by Equifax, solidifying its status as an industry leader in automotive credit and pre-screen tools. EIVS powered by Equifax is the newest Equifax-powered feature in ProMax, and offers more data to elucidate the customers credit profile.

EIVS utilizes information from The Work Number, a robust database maintained by Equifax Workforce Solutions. This database contains employer-provided payroll records from over 6,000 businesses nationwide, including a large majority of Fortune 500 companies and federal government civilian employers. More than just standard employment and income information, The Work Number also boasts job tenure data, an invaluable component in measuring a customers financial situation.

Equifax research underlines the importance of accurate job tenure data, finding that consumers who have been at a job for less than a year are almost twice as likely to go delinquent on an auto loan as consumers with 10 or more years at a job. Additionally, Equifax research indicates that significant percentages of credit applicants overstate their income, but surprisingly, the inverse is also true. Approximately 20 percent of applicants understate their income by 10 percent.

In the car business, there is no substitute for accurate credit information early in the buying process, said Palmer. It saves time and money, and leads to more deals at higher grosses. This solution improves the entire buying process- for the dealer, the customer, and the lender as well. Were thrilled to be one of the first-to-market with this phenomenal tool!

ABOUT PROMAX UNLIMITED

Dealer Marketing Services, Inc. was formed in 1994 by John Palmer. In August of 1995, ProMax was introduced as a Special Finance software solution. In 1998, the software was expanded to handle all types of desking including new and used vehicle leasing, CRM, finance menus, inventory management, reports, and credit application submissions to lenders. In 2002, ProMax was introduced as the industry's first Internet-based full front end solution and today is used by over 2,000 automotive dealerships. The ProMax Unlimited internet application integrates with dealership DMS systems and can be used effectively in large dealer group situations as well as single location dealerships. Dealer Marketing Services, Inc. also provides credit bureaus, website development and hosting, internet leads, and direct mail services to help dealerships increase traffic. Learn more about ProMax Unlimited and Dealer Marketing Services, Inc. at http://www.ProMaxUnlimited.com.

ABOUT EQUIFAX

Equifax powers the financial future of individuals and organizations around the world. Using the combined strength of unique trusted data, technology and innovative analytics, Equifax has grown from a consumer credit company into a leading provider of insights and knowledge that helps its customers make informed decisions. The company organizes, assimilates and analyzes data on more than 800 million consumers and more than 88 million businesses worldwide, and its databases include employee data contributed from more than 5,000 employers.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. It is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index, and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. Equifax employs approximately 9,200 employees worldwide.

Some noteworthy achievements for the company include: Ranked 13 on the American Banker FinTech Forward list (2015); named a Top Technology Provider on the FinTech 100 list (2004-2015); named an InformationWeek Elite 100 Winner (2014-2015); named a Top Workplace by Atlanta Journal Constitution (2013-2015); named one of Fortunes Worlds Most Admired Companies (2011-2015); named one of Forbes Worlds 100 Most Innovative Companies (2015). For more information, visit http://www.equifax.com.
UHY welcomes, SEC  Sociedade de Ensino e Consultoria, our new member firm in Mozambique, to the global accountancy network UHY, extending our coverage within the EMEA region.

SEC  Sociedade de Ensino e Consultoria, is based the capital city of Maputo, and was established in 2010. The firm provides a full suite of services including audit, accounting and consulting services to a portfolio of clients from state owned companies to finance entities and other corporations.

Managing partner, Carlos Sitoe of SEC comments: Mozambique is one of the fastest growing African countries due to its natural resources creating opportunities for foreign investments, but it still has some challenges to overcome. Our membership of the UHY global network will enhance our local capabilities and enforce our commitment to support international clients seeking to invest in East Africa."

Bernard Fay, chairman of UHY comments: We are delighted to welcome SEC  Sociedade de Ensino e Consultoria to the UHY network. The firms membership reinforces our footprint in the region and strengthens UHYs market expertise and capabilities to support clients needs and opportunities in Mozambique and the East African region as a whole.

The firm is in the process of adopting the UHY branding and will be known as UHY Sociedade de Ensino e Consultoria, Limida or UHY SEC, Limitada.

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About UHY LLP

UHY LLP, a licensed CPA firm, provides audit and other attest services to publicly traded, privately owned and nonprofit organizations in a number of industry sectors. UHY Advisors provides tax and advisory services to entrepreneurial and other organizations, principally those enterprises in the dynamic middle market.

UHY LLP, operating in an alternative practice structure with UHY Advisors, forms one of the largest professional services firms in the US. While that scale might provide confidence for some clients, others tell us our greatest value is the way we bring these resources to bear to help address todays evolving business challenges. Its a philosophy we call The Next Level of Service. To learn more visit http://www.uhy-us.com.

All of the above entities are members of UHY International (UHYI), a worldwide network of independent professional services firms that provide audit, tax and advisory services around the globe. UHYI is ranked among the top international accountancy networks and a proud member in good standing of the Forum of Firms. Collectively, our US operating entities (UHY LLP and UHY Advisors) are the largest independent members of UHYI with significant participation, bringing the power of our international network to serve the individualized needs of our clients.

UHY LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that performs attest services in an alternative practice structure with UHY Advisors, Inc. and its subsidiary entities. UHY Advisors, Inc. provides tax and business consulting services through wholly owned subsidiary entities that operate under the name of UHY Advisors. UHY Advisors, Inc. and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. UHY LLP and UHY Advisors, Inc. are U.S. members of Urbach Hacker Young International Limited, a UK company, and form part of the international UHY network of legally independent accounting and consulting firms. UHY is the brand name for the UHY international network. Any services described herein are provided by UHY LLP and/or UHY Advisors (as the case may be) and not by UHY or any other member firm of UHY. Neither UHY nor any member of UHY has any liability for services provided by other members.

Liaison office for UHY SEC, Limitada:

Contact: Managing partner, Carlos Sitoe, on +258 (21) 400652 Email: Sec.lda(at)inmail(dot)co(dot)mz

About UHY

Established in 1986 and based in London, UK, UHY is a leading network of independent audit, accounting, tax and consulting firms with offices in over 320 major business centres across more than 90 countries. Our staff members, over 7,600 strong, are proud to be part of the 16th largest international accounting and consultancy network. Each member of UHY is a legally separate and independent firm. For further information on UHY please go to http://www.uhy.com. UHY is a member of the Forum of Firms, an association of international networks of accounting firms. For additional information on the Forum of Firms, visit http://www.forumoffirms.org.
When windows and sliding glass doors break, its not always during the hours of nine to five, or during the non-holiday period

December 23, 2016 Fort Lauderdale, FL

Express Glass (http://www.expressglassfl.com), a Fort Lauderdale glass repair service known for prompt response time, is proud to announce a new blog about the importance of being available for after-hours emergencies. Many competitors confusingly use answering services and just pretend to be open during the holiday period, while Express Glass & Board Up will truly be open. The new post is an important public service announcement for December.

When windows and sliding glass doors break, its not always during the hours of nine to five, or during the non-holiday period, explained Yaniet Santos, general manager of Express Glass. This means its not convenient for many businesses. But our belief is that we dont do whats convenient for us, we do whats best for the community. As competitors are confusing customers with answering services and other gimmicks, we wanted to alert our customer base that we're not just pretending to be open during the holidays. We are actually open.

To review the new blog post for Fort Lauderdale glass repair and hourly service options for December, 2016, please visit: http://www.expressglassfl.com/blog/24-hours-glass-repair/fort-lauderdale-glass-repair-bankers-hours-24-hours/.

Glass repair emergency service can be found after hours for Florida residents. 24 hour service includes evenings, weekends and holiday hours. Information specific to Fort Lauderdale Glass repair can be found at http://www.expressglassfl.com/fort-lauderdale-glass-window-repair/.

Fort Lauderdale Glass Repair and 24 Hours vs. Bankers Hours

Many companies may tout the importance of customer service, but the reality can look quite different. A majority of Fort Lauderdale businesses tend to operate during bankers hours, from nine am to five pm. For some services, such a short-sighted approach may not serve the community best. If a tree falls on a house at 9pm on a Saturday, the homeowner can be in trouble. Not only could a home be vulnerable to weather and crime, it can threaten the safety of a family. The homeowner may struggle alone to secure the property until a business is open Monday morning. Waiting until bankers hours to solve an emergency may not be ideal. Real customer service in Fort Lauderdale can mean doing what is best for the community instead of what is easy for a business. The analogy includes glass repair.

Express Glass, an expert glass repair service in Fort Lauderdale has recently released a new post about bankers hours vs. 24 hours, just in time for the holiday period. Businesses offering support for emergency situations must be aware accidents happen. Normal glass repair issues can be scheduled and managed within a normal workday, but emergency glass repair can happen at any time. If a window or patio door shatters at a home or business, waiting to secure a home until bankers hours might not be the best option for a customer. Criminals and stormy weather may be nearby to cause more damage. Quick 24 hour service can be the first choice for Fort Lauderdale residents in need of emergency glass repair after bankers have left the office.

About Express Glass Repair and Board Up

Express Glass and Board Up Service Inc. is a family owned and operated glass repair business with more than 20 years of experience. Their professional technicians and the large variety of inventory make Express Glass the top glass repair service. If customers are looking for Ft. Lauderdale glass repair or Miami glass repair as well as glass repair in Delray Beach or West Palm Beach glass repair, please reach out to the company for a free estimate. If customers need a 24/7 Sliding Glass Door repair service in Ft. Lauderdale or Boca Raton or Miramar, technicians are standing by. The company specializes in sliding glass door repair and window glass repair; technicians will handle any glass replacement situation efficiently. Home or business glass repair is the company's main priority.

Express Glass Repair and Board up

http://www.expressglassfl.com/
Hmong New Year Celebration in Fresno Its such a vibrant, high-energy event, and we couldnt be more thrilled to be a part of it.

The Fresno metro area has the second largest Hmong population in the US, second only to Minneapolis, MN. Movoto Real Estate celebrates the diversity of the Fresno and Clovis community. Thats why theyre partnering with the Hmong TV Network News Center and Hmong International New Year, a non-profit dedicated to preserving Hmong culture and celebrating the Hmong New Year, to help ring in 2017.

New year celebrations are huge in the Hmong communityits the biggest holiday of the year. They have so many colorful, fun traditions that go along with it and its great to be able to share that with all of the Fresno and Clovis people, said Julie Fulcher, Movotos Fresno Area Manager. Were so excited to be able to take part in this amazing celebration and connect with the Hmong community here.

Join Movoto at the Hmong New Year Celebration every day from December 26 to January 1 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. where they will be hosting a booth (booth number 124 located right next to the Hmong TV Network News Center booth) with fun prizes for everyone plus a chance to win an Apple iPad Pro. The event, taking place at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds, will feature singing and dancing competitions, live performances, a Miss Hmong beauty pageant, and over 600 vendors serving food and drinks and selling merchandise.

Its such a vibrant, high-energy event, and we couldnt be more thrilled to be a part of it, said Maximillian Diez, Movotos Director of Real Estate Operations. To become the most trusted real estate brokerage in Fresno and Clovis, its about more than buying and selling homesits about connecting with the community. The Hmong bring so much of their lively culture to the area and are an invaluable part of what makes Fresno and Clovis such a diverse, welcoming place. Were honored to be part of such a huge event.

Diez continued, Partnering with Hmong TV Networks News Center makes this event even more exciting. We have a fantastic place right next to their booth where we can meet the most people and really be in the middle of the Hmong New Year experience.

We're always excited about reaching out to the community, said Ying Fang, President of Hmong TV Network. Partnering with Movoto at such a huge event for the Hmong people is a great way to connect and help keep our vibrant culture alive.

The 2016 event is expected to draw over 100,000 attendees from the Central Valley and beyond. Its aim is to keep the rich Hmong culture alive. They also offer support to local youth and educational programs, offer venues where Hmong musicians and artists can display their talent, promote unity within the diverse community, and provide support for the Hmong community in Fresno.

About Movoto Real Estate

Movoto Real Estate was founded on a simple principle: Selling and buying real estate is too complicated. Thats why Movoto has dedicated over a decade to simplifying it. From humble beginnings as a three-person startup in 2005, the company has grown to become the second largest online real estate company in the US.

With the backing of Recruit Holdings, owner of the largest real estate portal in Japan, Movoto has developed a real estate network of over 3,500 agents across all 50 states. Movoto was selected four years in a row for Inc. Magazines 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nations fastest growing private companies. Join the over 26,000 clients who have trusted Movoto agents with buying or selling their home and the over 50 million people who searched for homes on Movoto in 2015. Learn more at movoto.com.

About Hmong International New Year

Hmong International New Year is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1999 to host the annual Hmong New Year Celebration in Fresno, CA. Their primary goal is to provide a venue for the local and international Hmong community to gather for the new year celebration. For more information, visit hinyf.org.

About Hmong TV Network News Center

Hmong TV Network is a television station serving the California Central Valley on channel 32.6. We are the first television station to broadcast news, shows, and live events in the Hmong language. We are dedicated to reaching out to the Hmong community to improve business and preserve the Hmong culture. To get more information on how we can help you reach a new market for your products and services, visit our website hmongtvnetwork.com.
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GENESEO  Employees at Geneseo Communications, Inc. are praising area residents and businesses for their support of the companys eighth annual toy drive to benefit the Geneseo/Atkinson Food Pantry.

In addition to toys and gifts, a $1,600 check was delivered to the Food Pantry as a result of the toy drive.

Employees faced frigid temperatures 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 13, taking turns in shifts outside the business collecting toys for area families this Christmas season.

Every employee came inside with cold hands but warm hearts, said Matt Storm, general manager of Geneseo Communications, Inc. He said employees shared stories of the expressions of giving from people who drove up and dropped off toys and cash in support of the effort.

I have always been proud to be a part of this community, Mr. Storm said. The toy collection day was a reminder "of the great people who live here and their amazing generosity in support of others, making this a great place to call home, he said.

Urban Farmhouse in Geneseo, owned and operated by Missy Henderson and Alicia Barnett, contributed $10 to the toy drive for each blanket they sold. Shoppers nearly doubled the goal set by the store owners.

"The number of toys, clothes, gift sets, bikes and more that the Henderson and Barnett families contributed to this effort was truly amazing, said Brenda Crider, toy driver coordinator.

"We were witnesses to the spirit-of-the-season through the generosity of the community as a whole.
CHICAGO (AP)  Federal authorities say a purported Chicago-area mob associate facing gun charges bragged about threatening people with a blow-torch.

Documents filed Thursday in federal court says Charles Russell of Schaumburg has a criminal record, including a stint in prison for murder. Agents say he claimed in one wiretapped call to be a mobster.

The criminal complaint says Russell spoke to an informant about breaking into someone's home safe. He says: "I bring my butane torch, put it on the bottom of their feet. ... They open it."

Russell is accused of receiving guns Wednesday. Unaware he was about to be arrested, agents say Russell told the informant, "It'll be a great Christmas."

It wasn't known if Russell has a lawyer who could be contacted for comment.
ROCK ISLAND  Augustana College is $2.1 million dollars richer after selling its Green Wing Environmental Laboratory to the Illinois Audubon Society this week.

The laboratory, the largest of the school's field stations, is 395 acres of upland forest and wetland habitats 80 miles east of the Quad-Cities off U.S. 52 between Dixon and Mendota. The sale amounts to slightly more than $5,300 an acre.

To facilitate the sale, Audubon received a land acquisition grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation worth $1,619,554. That money, coupled with money from long-time society member Russell Gremel and Illinois Audubon's acquisition fund, allowed for the purchase.

"We are truly grateful to both of these generous partners for coming together to give this land protection story a happy ending," said Jim Herkert, executive director of Illinois Audubon Society. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation also awarded the Society $125,878 for wetland restoration costs through its Advancing Wetlands Conservation grant.

In 1991, Augustana bought the property from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The site was a summer Bible camp from 1968 to 1988.

In late Fall 1992, a weedy 20-acre field near the main lodge was plowed to establish a tall grass prairie that later was named the Kenneth and Florence Johnson Prairie, according to an Augustana website. The prairie is dominated by numerous species of grasses, forbs, vertebrates and insects, according to the website.

Classes began in 1995 at the site, which is a mix of shallow sand ponds and remnant black oak sand forest/savanna, along with a large wet meadow. The site includes a small dormitory called the "Canteen" and the main lodge that has a classroom, research space, a kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and storage space.

In a news release, the Illinois Audubon Society said the parcel has received little natural area management for more than 25 years.

"It will be our goal to protect and restore representative examples of intact native ecosystems and unique natural features that still persist today," said site steward Deb Carey.

To do so, the society plans to rely on some of the same stewards who care for its 302-acre Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve two miles away. The society's work at the Amboy preserve was a deciding factor cited by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation in awarding the $1.6 million grant to aid the Green Wing purchase.

The land will be dedicated in early 2017 as the Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary: a Legacy Project of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Mr. Gremel said he hopes generations of young land stewards and bird enthusiasts now will be able to visit and enjoy the sanctuary.
Rock Island Clean Line, a proposed 500-mile electric project transmitting wind energy from Iowa turbines into Illinois, has withdrawn its petitions for approval from the Iowa Utilities Board pending the outcome of a challenge before the Illinois Supreme Court.

The withdrawal means that, if RICL wins its case with the Illinois high court and recovers its approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission, the company will need to start the Iowa approval process all over again.

The high-powered transmission lines would run through northern Rock Island, Whiteside and Henry counties.

In an email, Iowa Utilities Board legislative liaison Louis Vander Streek said if RICL decides to resubmit a petition for electric franchise, it would have to begin the process anew -- including county informational meetings -- pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 478 that sets time limits for the project.

"This would involve starting with informational meetings in each county in which real property or rights would be affected," Mr. Vander Streek said. "RICL began holding informational meetings for a proposed electric transmission line in August of 2013."

RICL is a subsidiary of Clean Line Energy Partners of Houston, Texas. Company officials say RICL would bring clean energy to Illinois and promote more energy competition, resulting in lower prices.

However, property owners in both states have objected to the prospect of RICL using eminent domain to take possession of property for the route. RICL officials have said they hope to obtain easements from landowners voluntarily, offering compensation. Every county through which RICL passes would receive $7,000 per year per mile for 20 years.

In 2014, the Illinois Commerce Commission granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity. But in August, the state's Third District Appellate Court overturned that approval in a suit filed by the Illinois Farm Bureau, the llinois Landowners Alliance and others who argued RICL does not qualify as a public utility with the authority to use eminent domain.

"ILAs members are concerned about the damage to the some of the most productive farms in the country and interference with their operation, health issues, visual pollution, and future limitations on land use, all compounded by the fact that the transmitted electricity is being sent eastward, out of the state," according to court documents.

The RICL has appealed the case to the Illinois Supreme Court, which earlier this month agreed to hear it. A spokeswoman with the Illinois Supreme Court clerk's office in Springfield said there is no timeline for a decision on the RICL case.

On Thursday, RICL formally withdrew its 16 petitions -- one for each of the Iowa counties the transmission line would traverse.

"Given the regulatory uncertainty in Illinois and the statutory deadline for a decision on the current (Iowa) petitions, Clean Line has elected to file this withdrawal of the franchise petitions rather than requesting a modification" from the board project planners said. "... Clean Line does not deem it to be an efficient utilization of resources to proceed with the filing until after the Illinois Supreme Court issues its decision concerning the Illinois regulatory approval."
Back in early 2015, oil and gas company ConocoPhillips requested a permit from the Obama administration to launch an oil-drilling project in Alaska. The energy project, called the Greater Mooses Tooth development, is located within the National Petroleum Reserve and would create thousands of jobs in an economically depressed area of the state. The project has the full approval of the local community and poses little threat to the environment in a sparsely populated region.

It is a multibillion-dollar jobs-and-infrastructure project with roads and housing and pipelines. It won't cost the federal taxpayers a penny to build. In fact, the royalties from the project will likely raise hundreds of millions of tax dollars for the federal government and the state.

A no-brainer, right? Not exactly. For years, the Obama administration has tangled up the project in regulatory red tape. "We are ready to break ground on day one after we get the permit," a frustrated ConocoPhillips Vice President John Dabbar told me. "We're going to employ nearly everyone up there," he adds. It still hasn't been approved, because Obama hates fossil fuels.

If Donald Trump is smart, he will greenlight the drilling project the day he enters office.

Now multiply this story by at least several hundred. The radical green agenda of the Obama regime has, for eight years, canceled, delayed, denounced and disrupted these types of smart energy, mineral and transportation projects all over the country. The value of these financially lucrative and job-creating initiatives -- such as the Keystone XL pipeline -- is in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Think about that in connection with Donald Trump's promise of as much as $1 trillion for new infrastructure spending. I am always asked, "Where will the money come from to pay for these projects, given that the government is already running near-trillion-dollar annual deficits?"

We've all been looking at this the wrong way. Smart infrastructure investment in America doesn't require one penny of new federal spending. In fact, these projects can substantially reduce government borrowing and increase revenue inflows.

All President-elect Trump must do to unleash the mighty spending of private, for-profit enterprise is to give the companies and the localities the green light to build, to drill, to mine, to invest.

A new study by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, written by former Interior Department energy expert Jackson Coleman, finds that the value of energy resources on federal lands could exceed $50 trillion. The federal leasing revenues and income tax receipts from developing these resources could reach $3 trillion.

The Obama administration has held up at least five transnational pipelines that could create tens of thousands of high-paying union jobs.

In the mountain states such as Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, dozens of major mining projects for urgently needed rare minerals have been bottled up by the federal regulators. Apparently, Obama would rather import these from resources from China.

Then there are coal plants necessary to secure our electric power supply. America desperately needs to build clean-coal-fired plants to ensure reliable electricity for our homes and businesses. Obama has shut them down while bankrupting the industry. We also need refineries and liquefied natural gas terminals to allow America to export more of our abundant shale oil and gas. Since we have the cleanest oil, gas and coal in the world, developing U.S. energy is positive for the global environment and reducing greenhouse gases.

There is one key distinction between private and public infrastructure spending. For-profit projects, by definition, must have a positive return on investment. Public infrastructure projects often have negative returns, because they generate so little revenue. Think of the $70 billion bullet train in California that will carry very few passengers. Would any private company in its right mind ever build this rolling white elephant? Or recall the "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska or the Obama "investments" in green energy projects that have gone belly up.

Sure, we need road and bridge and airport improvements. But that isn't what is holding back growth.

For seven years now the economy has severely underperformed because business capital investment -- in factories, equipment, computers, tractors, warehouses and laboratories -- has dried up. That's the real infrastructure crisis in America. Trump can fix that capital infrastructure deficit by simply giving permits to the myriad brick-and-mortar projects that will be privately financed, including the Greater Mooses Tooth development. In other words, we can solve the infrastructure problem and lower the budget deficit at the same time.
Based in Addis Ababa, the new company will provide passenger, freight and maintenance services for the 750km Chinese-built line which links, Addis Ababa and Dewele on the Djibouti border abd was formally inaugurated in October.

Ethiopias minister of transport Mr Ahmed Shide and his Djiboultian counterpart Mr Mohammed Abdulkadir Musa signed the agreement after more than a year of negotiations.

The new line will cut the journey time between the two countries to under 10 hours.

For more information on projects like this one, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
Under the terms of the agreement, signed by SNCF president Mr Guillaume Pepy and RATP president and CEO Ms Elisabeth Borne, the two companies will be involved in the operation and maintenance of the new line which they will ensure meets international best practice. SNCF and RATP will also support efforts to develop a training centre for the railways staff.

SNCF and RATP have been engaged in the project since 2014 through the work of project management consultancy Systra, which they co-own. They are also planning to open an office in Dakar and will begin work in early 2017.

The commitment follows the groundbreaking ceremony for the project held on December 14. Eiffage, France, is leading the consortium carrying out the first phase of civil works for the project under a 373.5m contract awarded by the Senegalese government. The initial 36km section of the railway between Dakar and Diamniadio will take 26 months to complete. For more information on projects like this one, subscribe to IRJ Pro.

For detailed data on hundreds of new-build rail projects around the globe, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
In October, National Express withdrew from the concession, which BEG had awarded 20 months earlier, because it said a protracted legal challenge by DB had damaged the economic viability of the deal.

DB Regio was ranked second in the original tendering procedure and is reported to have submitted the best financial offer for both lots. Provided no appeals are lodged against the decision, the contract with DB Regio will become irrevocable on January 4 2017.

The contract will come into effect in December 2018, maintaining the original handover date despite the withdrawal of National Express. The new S-Bahn contract comprises existing lines radiating from Nuremberg to Bamberg, Hartmannshof, Altdorf, Neumarkt, Roth and Ansbach, as well as the new Line S5 via Ansbach and Dombuhl, while the Allersberg Express also forms part of the contract.
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) named Greg Dunn, Project Manager for Herzog Contracting Corp., as the 2016 NRC Field Employee of the Year.

NRC notes: Greg has more than 30 years of railroad experience working his way through the ranks from a heavy equipment operator and mechanic to his most recent position as Project Manager of the $158 million Pier E project in Long Beach, California, a multi-award winning project including the 2015 NRC Project of the Year.

Greg has also managed 15 other successful rail and heavy civil projects. During his tenure with Herzog, his clients have included Amtrak, North County Transit District, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, and the San Diego Association of Governments. With his thorough construction knowledge and exceptional leadership abilities, Greg has ensured that all of his jobs have been on-time and under budget.

Colleagues describe Greg as warm and cheerful toward all, and say he possesses remarkable patience, admirable tact, and an excellent eye for detail and safety. Herzog Contracting Corp. President and CEO Alan L. Landes described Greg as one of the companys most trustworthy professionals. Darrin Lambrigger, Assistant Director of Construction Management at the Port of Long Beach, said that Greg was a superb project manager and a straight shooter respected for his expertise.

Greg will be honored on Wednesday, January 11 at the 2017 NRC Conference in Boca Raton, Fla.
Said the New York Times in 1957: The Second Avenue Subway, envisioned long ago and promised in 1951, probably will never be built. It took nearly 60 years, but on Dec. 23, 2016, the Gray Lady was proven wrong.

On that day, a beaming New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast welcomed several hundred invited guests and members of the press to officially open the Second Avenue Subways 96th St. Station on Manhattans East Side, the northern terminus of the projects Phase 1. Among the guests was New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, whoperhaps not coincidentallywas born the very same year that The New York Times made its pessimistic prediction. Cuomo, a native New Yorker born and raised in Queens, proclaimed the Second Avenue Subway New York at its best.

Tom Prendergast and the MTA will go down in history, Cuomo declared to the gathering, among whom were many members of the MTAs operating and construction unions who worked tirelessly to get Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway opened in time for a planned New Years Day 2017 service startup. According to Prendergast, it was the Governor who pushed the MTA to meet that deadline, despite the agency having to deal with such construction slowdowns as conducting no heavy work at night to appease local residents and merchants.

The train is going to run if we have to push it down the tracks! Cuomo, who knows how to work a crowd, said. While he may have been playing to the crowd, he wasnt very far off, considering that the Second Avenue Subway was conceived in 1919, and the first construction bond issue occurred in 1929. There had been three prior groundbreakings for this massive project. Each one ended rather unceremoniously when the city and the MTA (or one of its predecessor agencies) ran out of funds. In the meantime, MTA New York City Transits Lexington Avenue Line (the 4, 5 and 6 trains) gradually became one of the busiest, most overcrowded subway lines in the world. Historians recall that New York Citys Second and Third Avenue elevated lines were torn down in the 1940s, as they were supposed to be replaced with the Second Avenue Subway.

The 96th St. Station, one of four on Phase 1, which stretches northward in Manhattan from 63rd St. to 96th St., with intermediate stops at 72nd and 86th Streets, is an engineering marvel, declared Prendergast. It was constructed by the cut-and-cover method (like much of the Interboro Rapid Transit, New York Citys first subway line in 1904). The endeavor was very difficult, because this area of Manhattan is densely populated. Cut-and-cover construction affected thousands of residents and businesses.

The tunnels for Phase 1 were constructed using a combination of cut-and-cover, tunnel boring and controlled blasting. The tunnel boring machine traveled 50 feet per day on average. The tunnels consist of two 7,800-foot bores, each 22 feet in diameter and an average 80 feet deep. They required excavation of 583,700 cubic yards of rock and 460,300 cubic yards of soil. Most of this material was recycled and used as fill for abandoned mines, artificial reefs, bulkhead reinforcements or road paving. More than 260,000 cubic yards of concrete, 48.9 million pounds of rebar, 40.7 million pounds of structural steel and 1.25 million square feet of waterproofing material were used in construction.

Phase 1 includes 22,000 feet of track, all of it low-vibration and low-noise, thanks to a new method of direct-fixation track construction, where the concrete pads that function as ties are not integral with the concrete-slab foundation. Instead, the ties are individual concrete castings, fastened to the foundation, with an elastomeric pad sandwiched in between. Pandrol clips hold the continuous welded rail to the ties, while an aluminum/composite third-rail provides traction power. For now, the Second Avenue Subway is equipped with New York City Transits traditional fixed-block signaling system, with wayside automatic block signals and trip stops. Communications-based train control (CBTC) is down the line, with several major CBTC deployments under way at NYCT.

The 96th St. Station is 1,591 feet long, 57 feet wide, 54 feet deep from street level to running rails, and includes 36,776 square feet of customer space (mezzanine and platform combined), and 95,553 square feet of back of house space to house station support equipment. There are three station entrances and 10 escalators. The station, like the ones at 63rd , 72nd and 86th Streets, is of an open, column-free design. One of the more striking aspects is the artwork. At 96th Street, the artwork is Blueprint for a Landscape, by artist Sarah Sze.

Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway is expected to cost $1.5 billion. It will continue northward from 96th St. up to 125th St. When completed sometime in the 2020s, the entire line will stretch from 125th St. at its northernmost point all the way down to the financial district at the tip of Manhattan. For now, the Second Avenue Subway is an extension of the current Q Line, which originates in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

An estimated 200,000 people are expected to begin using the Second Avenue Subway when it officially opens on Jan. 1, 2017. Rolling stock will be R-160 cars. While it will help ease congestion on the Lexington Avenue Line by absorbing some of the NYCTs 5.9 million daily riders, it will no doubt attract new ridership. The Federal Transit Administration signed an FFGA (Full Funding Grant Agreement) with the MTA in 2007 to build the Second Avenue Subway. The hope in New York City is that the incoming Trump Administration in Washington will honor that commitment, in keeping with President-elect Donald Trumps pledge to invest in infrastructure.

Photo montage, from top:

1. The plaque dedicating the Second Avenue Subway 96th Street Station lists New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast; MTA Capital Construction Corp. President Dr. Michael Horodniceanu; MTA New York City Transit President Veronique Hakim; and principal contractors. EE Cruz & Tully Constructive Joint Venture (Heavy Civil and Finishes), Skanska/Schiavone JV (Tunneling), L.K. Comstock/Skanska JV (Systems), WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff (Construction Manager) and AECOM/ARUP (Architect/Engineer).

2. New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo addresses a standing-room-only crowd.

3. MTA Capital Construction Corp. President Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, or Dr. H as he is known in MTA circles, welcomes neighborhood families to tour the new station.

4. MTA NYCT President Veronique Ronnie Hakim leads a tour.

5. The Latin phrase E Pluribus UnumFrom Many, Oneadorns one of the staircases joining the mezzanine level with the train platforms. It signifies the numerous people and companies who joined forces to design and construct 96th Street Station.

6. 96th Street Station features an open, spacious design. It is also climate-controlled.

7. New York MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast points out an Emergency Information Help Point.

8. Retired MTA Capital Construction Corp. President Mysore Nagaraja, now a consultant, oversaw the Second Avenue Subways initial planning and design.

9. A touch-screen console panel in the platform-level dispatchers office is an example of the stations state-of-the-art technology.

10. Tom Prendergast with KONE Escalator Installation Expert Gerald R. Matawa, one of many subcontractors on the 96th Street Station as well as the 63rd, 72nd and 86th Street stations.

11. Prendergast, always approachable and very connected to the public he serves, converses with a local resident.
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China has long held that Taiwan is the most sensitive issue in the U.S.-China relationship, but in recent years, Taiwan has been overshadowed by tensions over maritime disputes and China's building and militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea. Since the Dec. 2 phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, however, Taiwan is once again rising to the top of the agenda in U.S.-China relations. In recent days, China has stepped up its warnings over Trump's approach to Taiwan, particularly his Fox News comments on Dec. 11 suggesting that Washington's long-standing One-China policy could be abandoned unless Beijing is willing to treat it as part of a broader deal that includes other issues such as trade.

Chinese government officials and official media outlets have warned that the One-China policy is non-negotiable. They have emphasized that Beijing sees it as the political foundation of the U.S.-China relationship and a prerequisite for cooperation on issues of common concern. China's official response has also underscored Taiwan's status as a core interesta formulation that reflects its importance not only strategically but also in terms of Chinese nationalism and domestic politics. Beijing has also highlighted that it sees the One-China policy as fundamental to the maintenance of a peaceful and stable cross-Strait relationship. These statements, along with the appearance in official media of phrases China historically uses as warnings, such as an admonishment in China's official military newspaper that any violation of One-China is nothing short of playing with fire, highlight China's determination to protect its bottom lineincluding by use of force if necessary.

China has a number of options to express its displeasure to the incoming administration. For example, Beijing could withdraw its ambassador from the United States as it did to protest then-Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's visit to the United States in 1995. China could curtail cooperation with Washington on other issues, such as North Korea or Iran. Beijing could become more aggressive against U.S. assets in the South China Sea, which it may already have done with its seizure on Dec. 15 of an unmanned undersea glider the U.S. Navy was operating about 50 nautical miles off of the Philippines. If Beijing sees the new administration's approach as sufficiently provocative, it could even break off diplomatic relations, as at least one Chinese scholar has suggested.

Beijing has even more options and greater leverage when it comes to responding directly against Taiwan, however, which has contributed to unease among many observers in Taiwan. Even some who calculated that the congratulatory phone call was a relatively low-risk way of enhancing the island's status and bolstering its ties with the United States are concerned that Beijing could lash out at Taiwan in response to Trump's statements about the One-China policy. For example, if China seeks to undermine Tsai's domestic standing, it could continue to take steps that would embarrass her at home, such as moving to have one or more of Taiwan's 21 remaining official diplomatic allies shift recognition to Beijing. The small African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe was flipped on Dec. 20 in what some Chinese observers have suggested was a stinging rebuke for the phone call and Trump's comments on the One-China policy as well as punishment for Tsai's refusal to embrace Beijing's definition of the cross-Strait relationship, and more countries could follow. Prime targets for the future include Panama or the Vatican, both of which have been subjects of concern among observers in Taiwan since Tsai's election. China could also escalate its use of economic leverage against Taiwan, such as by further reducing the number of Chinese tourists visiting the island, a tactic China has employed in recent months to try to pressure Tsai to accept its definition of the cross-strait relationship.

Of greatest concern is Beijing's increasing ability to demonstrate or use force against Taiwan. Increased Chinese air force activity around Taiwan or more provocative actions by Chinese fighter aircraft are among the numerous possibilities. State-owned but non-authoritative Chinese media have suggested more directly threatening Taiwan's security in recent days. One piece in the often strident Global Times stated: Beijing should start from severely punishing Taiwan independence forces, exploring the possibility of disciplining those forces through non-peaceful means and make the use of military force an actual option to realize reunification. Taiwan's proximity to the mainland and China's growing military power mean the island could be highly vulnerable to coercive Chinese military actions, such as missile strikes and cyber attacks, or even a Chinese naval blockade. Indeed, a major focus of Chinese military modernization over the past two decades ( PDF ) has been improving its ability to conduct operations against Taiwan, if ever called upon

The remainder of this commentary is available at nationalinterest.org.

Michael S. Chase is a senior political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation, a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and an adjunct professor in the China Studies and Strategic Studies Departments at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Derek Grossman is a senior defense analyst at RAND.

This commentary originally appeared on The National Interest on December 22, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Russian ex-governor Belykh appeals extension of his detention

MOSCOW, December 23 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov) - Nikita Belykh, former governor of the Kirov region, who is accused of taking a large-scale bribe, has appealed a courts ruling on extension of his detention, lawyer Andrey Grokhotov said on Friday during a press-conference with journalists.

On December 21, the Basmanny District Court ruled to extend Belykhs detention for three months. The appeal is to be reviewed by the Moscow City Court.

Belykh stands charged with taking 400,000 euros in bribes. Investigators in cooperation with the Federal Security Services (FSB) officers arrested him on June 24 in a Moscow restaurant while he was allegedly accepting 150,000 euros, the third part of the bribe, then Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said earlier. Moscows Basmanny District Court ordered the detention of Belykh.

On October 12, the Moscow City Court overturned seizure of assets owned by Belykh.

Attorney Vadim Prokhorov told RAPSI that a lower court had ordered seizure of a land plot, one third of Belykh familys apartment and other property acquired long before the defendants assignment to position of governor. Therefore, items of property could not be considered as assets gained through crime.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty.

On July 28, President Vladimir Putin removed Belykh from his post of governor because of loss of trust.
Russian gang members receive prison terms for cashing $641 mln

MOSCOW, December 23 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  Moscows Khamovnichesky District Court sentenced 13 gang members, who had illegally cashed 39 billion rubles (about $641 million), to prison terms varying from 2.5 to 4.5 years, the Prosecutor Generals Office announced on Friday.

Investigators believe that in 2009, defendants conspired to conduct illegal banking activity and derive benefit from it. The gang was led by two brothers, managers of one of Moscow banks.

From 2009 to 2012, accomplices cashed over 39 billion rubles by conducting illegal banking transactions through firms controlled by them. Members of the gang directly received fee revenue valued at over 192 million rubles ($3.2 million), the statement reads.

In accordance with the courts ruling, leaders of the gang, Igor Kryukov and Alexander Kryukov, were sentenced to 3.5 and 4.5 years in prison respectively and fined 1 million rubles ($16,400) each. One member of the criminal group received a suspended sentence, while other defendants were given prison terms ranging from 2.5 to 3 years.
East Liverpool, Ohio, police posted photos on Facebook on September 8 of a 4-year-old boy in the back seat of a vehicle with two overdosed adults in front. The face of the boy (above) was obscured by RealClearInvestigations.

This year reminded us that a picture can be worth a thousand words -- if not 100,000. There was the heartbreaking picture of the Syrian boy, covered in blood and dust, and alone, waiting for care  a poignant evocation of wars toll of innocents.

In the United States, another picture encapsulated a different struggle: the scourge of opioid and heroin addiction. It also featured an innocent: a 4-year-old boy in a car seat, staring at the camera, with two overdosed grownups in the front of the vehicle, looking gone to our world (actually, they survived). It was posted on Facebook by police in Ohio as an anti-addiction statement.

But in the case of the opioid story at least, images got a run for their money from words in 2016. Investigative journalists across the nation rose to the challenge of exploring the complex factors propelling the crisis, often working with talented photographers and designers.

There was a paradox in this. At the same time political journalists were seen as out of touch with white working-class Americans who helped elect Donald Trump, other journalists were covering the life-or-death addiction struggles besetting their communities with sensitivity and nuance.

Since the turn of the 21st century, sales of  and deaths from  prescription painkillers have more than quadrupled, and heroin use in the United States hit a 20-year high this year. This is both a reflection of the diminished circumstances of middle-aged, working-class white Americans and an important reason their mortality rate has been rising.

The epidemic - which hasn't ensnared only whites, of course - is so broad, destructive and deep that few news outlets have ignored it:

The Washington Post produced a series, Unnatural Causes, examining, among other things, how drugs, alcohol and other factors are behind the rising death rates for whites in midlife, particularly women.

The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity collaborated on a two-part series analyzing how opioid makers rely on a 50-state strategy that includes hundreds of lobbyists and millions of dollars in campaign contributions to help kill or weaken measures aimed at stemming the tide of prescription opioids.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on how hundreds of doctors throughout seven narcotic-plagued states wantonly prescribed painkillers, setting the stage for the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history.

The Los Angeles Times has combed through thousands of confidential documents from the maker of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, to explain how and why the drug can be so addictive.

Both the Wall Street Journal and STAT News focused on the relatively recent rise of fentanyl, a super-potent synthetic opioid that can be legally prescribed but also easily and cheaply produced in China and Mexico for trafficking to the United States. Its another reason death rates are rising.

The list of worthy efforts goes on, including global approaches. Many smaller outlets have documented the local effects of the problem, from New Hampshire Public Radio to the Palm Beach Post to the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail.

I cant get out of my head a single local statistic from the Charleston newspaper: One rural West Virginia pharmacy alone got nearly 9 million hydrocodone pills to distribute over two years. Nearly nine million opioid pills, to one drugstore.

Of course, some reporters were on the story before 2016. And given journalisms fixation on the here and now, news outlets this year commonly gave short shrift to the deeper roots of the crisis -- the sort of perspective offered, for example, by Sam Quinones, an ex-Los Angeles Times reporter, in his 2015 book Dreamland: The True Tale of Americas Opiate Epidemic.

He dated the origins of the modern opioid crisis back to 1979. That was when infamously misleading addiction research  named Porter and Jick for its authors -- began to be embraced as a rationale to relax restrictive attitudes toward pain management.

The newly permissive approach set the stage for the much more commonly noted introduction of OxyContin in 1996 and other, heavily promoted prescription painkillers. That was followed by a backlash of tighter restrictions on prescribers, followed in turn by abusers shift to easier-to-get heroin, and now fentanyl.

The shifts in attitude over the years raise another question generally neglected by the coverage: Will media-generated alarm about the opioid crisis, however justified, swing the pendulum back toward restrictions resulting in needless suffering for patients in genuine pain?

After all, America is graying as never before, with a growing number of aches and agonies. Its epic struggle with opioids, sparing neither old nor young, will not end soon.

Tom Kuntz is the editor of RealClearInvestigations.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 12/23/2016



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
Increase of 10% to 12% likely in a bid to improve citizens' mood after demonetisation, report Veena Mani and Arup Roychoudhury.

As part of a post-demonetisation gift, the government could increase spending for the coming financial year in health, education, women & child development and related social sector schemes by 10% to 12%, Business Standard has learnt.

This would run concurrently with the increased layout on social sector by state governments, after the 14th Finance Commission recommended the latter spend more on schemes in health, education and similar segments.

Most of these areas are state subjects.

The Finance Commission had increased the devolution of taxes to states from the divisible pool, from 32% to 42%. However, it had reduced non-tax transfers.

In its report, the Y V Reddy-headed commission had said, 'We urge state governments to use the additional fiscal space provided by us in the tax devolution to meet such requirements.'

After it accepted the recommendations, the Centre had slightly reduced some of its budgeted spending in social sector schemes for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

That is set to reverse.

Budget makers believe proceeds from the latest voluntary disclosure scheme, income tax raids and whatever dividends the Reserve Bank of India can pass on will enable that extra spending, government sources said.

The social sector boost will be a part of the Centre's larger plan to present a 'feel-good' Union Budget as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks to capture the narrative after the turmoil from demonetisation.

"The social sector is now one of the main areas of focus. Expect an allocation increase of up to 10% to 12% in some schemes," said a senior official, aware of the deliberations.

A focus here would be to improve 'last mile' implementation of such schemes.

The health ministry, for instance, is banking on the expected increase in funds to the National Health Mission to provide more access to digitised health care services at the primary level.

In 2016-2017, the exchequer allocated Rs 19,037 crore (Rs 190.37 billion) for this Mission.

A ministry source told Business Standard the plan was to make digital records of patients at the ground level. This is apart from helping enable digital payments at health clinics.

This could also benefit the health insurance sector, with a number of providers in the latter segment planning to expand their digital presence.

Experts believe that if there is a centralised health data base, the online health insurance space could work.

As health is a state subject, states will have to partner with the Centre on this. The Centre will, as the NHM model suggests, fund part of the project and leave the rest to the states.

Doing the ground work for this, the government plans to discuss the matter with the World Health Organisation, from the experience of other countries that have succeeded in providing health care services digitally.

Another big announcement would be a scheme for providing health care up to Rs 1 lakh for families below the poverty line.

The prime minister announced the intention in this regard in his Independence Day speech, raising the upper limit from the current Rs 30,000 for such families as in the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.

The health ministry will require at least Rs 4,000 cores to Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 40 billion to Rs 50 billion) of budgetary support to pay the insurance premium.

The aim is to roll out the scheme from April 1.

IMAGE: A scene from a hospital in Bihar. Photograph: Archana Masih/Rediff.com
The crux of the problem is change, specifically the Rs 500 note, which Indias presses cannot, currently, print in adequate number, says Sahil Kini/IndiaSpend.

We are 17 days away from Prime Minister Narendra Modis 50-day deadline to end the worst effects of the scrapping of 86 per cent - by value - of Indias currency.

In the chest-thumping, hand-wringing and controversy that has ensued since the announcement on November 8, 2016, there has been an absence of facts on the question of re-monetising India.

An extrapolation of 2016 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data on the capacity of Indian printing presses and currency distribution indicates that, at current rates, the prime ministers deadline will not be met. Getting adequate money to banks and ATMs nationwide will depend on how many bank notes the government wants to put back into circulation.

If the government wants to introduce Rs 9 lakh crore ($135 billion) - or 35 per cent less money than it pulled out - it will take up to May 2017, and if it wants to reintroduce the entire Rs 14 lakh crore ($210 billion) that it withdrew, that could take up to August 2017.

The crux of the problem is change, specifically the Rs 500 note, which Indias presses cannot, currently, print in adequate number.

Here are the facts:

The RBI has four presses at: Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), Nashik (Maharashtra), Salboni (West Bengal), and Mysuru (Karnataka).

The printing capacity of these presses is roughly 2,670 crore (26.7 billion) notes a year, according to the RBIs 2016 annual report (page 90). Or roughly 7.4 crore (74 million) notes a day.

If the presses worked three shifts a day instead of two, their daily production capacity could be raised to 11.1 crore (111 million) notes a day.

However, less than half of the machines in the presses have the ability to print the security features required for high-value notes (Rs 500 and above).

This means that even if all the machines that print high-value notes in all four presses printed only Rs 500 notes 24 hours a day, we would at best be able to print 5.56 crore (55.6 million) Rs 500 notes every day.

This translates to about Rs. 2,778 crore ($418 million) in value printed every day in Rs 500 notes.

Before the announcement of demonetisation, the government had already arranged for the printing of 200 crore (2 billion) Rs 2,000 notes, or roughly about Rs 4 lakh crore ($60 billion) in value. So, these were the first set of notes to be circulated. This is why there are so many pink notes in circulation.

Lets explore the time to disburse in the two scenarios we mentioned:

Scenario 1: Rs 9 lakh crore (or roughly two-thirds the total Rs 14 lakh crore that was demonetised) needs to be returned to the system.

Scenario 2: Rs 14 lakh crore (full amount) needs to be recirculated.

For this amount to be liquid, a key condition needs to be met: Rs 2,000 notes can, at most, account for half the total amount to be circulated.

The logic: If we do not have enough change, then the Rs 2,000 note will always be hard to break into smaller denominations, which is the situation nationwide today.

The other half needs to be available in lower-denomination notes. The total value of Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 20, and Rs 10 notes is Rs 2.19 lakh crore ($33 billion), according to the RBIs annual report.

If we put this in a math equation where 't' is the total value of Rs 2,000 notes and 'f' is the total value of Rs 500 notes, we end up with this equation:

total value of 2,000s (t) = total value of 500s (f) + total value of 100s and below

or

t = f + Rs 2.19 lakh crore

This means the requirement of Rs 500 notes is as follows:

In Scenario 1 (Rs 9 lakh crore disbursal):

t+f = Rs 9 lakh crore Solving for f, the value of Rs 500 notes needed is 681 crore (6.81 billion) notes X Rs 500 = Rs 3.405 lakh crore

Scenario 2 (Rs 14 lakh crore disbursal):

t+f = Rs 14 lakh crore Solving for f, the value of Rs 500 notes needed is 1,181 crore (11.81 billion) notes X Rs 500 = Rs 5.905 lakh crore

As on November 30, 2016, less than 10 crore (100 million) Rs 500 notes were printed and ready (or two days worth of printing), according to an RBI source, quoted in Mint.

We arrive at the crux of the problem: India needs to print at least 681 crore (6.81 billion) Rs 500 notes. In Scenario 2, the Rs 500 requirement is for 1,181 crore (11.81 billion) notes. However, the peak printing capacity of the presses is 5.56 crore (55.6 million) notes a dayor 0.8% of what it should be.

At this rate, we will take anywhere between 122 days and 212 days to print enough Rs 500 notes.

Given the fact that the RBI started printing Rs 500 notes in earnest after November 30, 2016, printing all the required 500s will be completed only on March 10, 2017 (Scenario 1), or July 8, 2017 (Scenario 2).

Taking into account the time taken for cash transportation and the speed at which banks can push out the money, calculations indicate that complete disbursal of Rs 9 lakh crore can happen in early April 2017.

Note: BC = Banking Correspondents. India has more than 120,000 banking correspondents who cater to the rural areas. It is assumed that all correspondents will be pressed into action in the rural areas.

In Scenario 2 (Rs 14 lakh crore), it could take until mid-July for the cash to be fully disbursed.

In other words: India awaits some April showers but a full monsoon will have to wait until July.

Cash disbursal in the market is slowing when compared to the figures projected in the model above. The data so far:



Source: Reserve Bank of India; Business Standard

Sahil Kini, a B Tech from IIT Madras, is a Principal at Aspada, a venture capital firm that supports entrepreneurs building businesses for Indias underserved markets. He is also an active volunteer with the IndiaStack, where he helps frame policy, while evangelising its impact at various industry events.

Photograph: PTI Photo

Powered by Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit
The Tunisian suspect of the Christmas market attack in Berlin has reportedly been shot dead in Milan.

Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti confirmed that the person shot dead was Anis Amri, the suspect behind Sunday nights terror attack in Berlin that claimed 12 lives, reports the Guardian.

The minister told a press conference in Rome that Anis Amri had been fatally shot after firing at two police officers who had stopped his car for a routine identity check around 3 am (2 am GMT).

Identity checks had established without a shadow of doubt that the dead man was Amri, the minister said.

Even before the official confirmation, Panorama, an Italian news magazine, claimed that Amri was killed on Friday morning in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood.

Italian news agency Ansa also reported that the man killed in Milan was the Berlin Christmas market attack suspect.

It said he was shot after he pulled out a gun during a routine road check in front of in piazza primo maggio, in front of Sesto San Giovanni station.

Italy had Amris fingerprints on file as a result of him having been in prison in Sicily between 2011 and 2015.

Thought to be around 24, he had been on the run since escaping after Mondays attack.

He had arrived in Italy from his native Tunisia during the Arab Spring in 2011.

Earlier, Germany said it was 'relieved' by reports from Italian authorities that the prime suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack was shot dead by Milan police, and thanked Rome.

Foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said Berlin was 'grateful to the Italian authorities for the very close cooperation based on trust'.

Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
A passenger was kicked off an American flight after he allegedly became aggressive and refused to sit next to US President-elect Donald Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka Trump, who was onboard the flight with her husband.

JetBlue forced the man off a morning flight on Thursday at John F Kennedy airport in New York after he allegedly told Ivanka, "You ruined our country. Now you're ruining our flight," according to a report in CNN.

Ivanka was onboard the flight with her husband Jared Kushner and they were travelling to Hawaii for a vacation.

The person's husband Matthew Lasner tweeted about the incident and said his husband was kicked off the flight after a flight attendant overheard a man "expressing displeasure" about Trump's eldest daughter and her husband.

"Ivanka and Jared at JFK TF, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil," a tweet by Lasner read.

Marc Scheff, who was seated in front of Trump on the plane, confirmed the incident in an interview to CNN.

Scheff described the man as "shaking" and "visibly agitated."

Asked about Ivanka's response to the incident, Scheff said she told a JetBlue staff member, "I don't want to make this a thing."

The report added that a transition official said Trump and Kushner were headed to Hawaii for vacation.

JetBlue said in a statement to CNN that the "decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight. In this instance, our team worked to reaccommodate the party on the next available flight."

A Trump Organisation spokesman told CNN, "The story speaks for itself. It's an incredibly unfortunate situation."

Hours later, Lasner apologised for his actions.

"I would like to publicly apologize to @IvankaTrump & everyone on flight 320 for what occurred earlier today, nothing is personal. I'm sorry. I sincerely regret my actions earlier today and upon further reflection am ashamed to have verbally attacked Ms Ivanka Trump," he tweeted.

Photograph: Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President-elect Donald Trump. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying his decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was scripted to execute a mammoth scam of Rs 8 lakh crore.

The prime minister has demonetised high currency notes to waive off Rs 1.14 lakh crore loans of industrialists and he is now planning for another waiver of Rs 8 lakh crore, he said at a party rally in Jaipur.

The Delhi chief minister accused Modi government of sheltering Vijay Mallya and allowing him to fly abroad in lieu of kickbacks. He also alleged that the Rs 1,200 crore loan of the beleaguered liquor baron has been waived.

Birlas and Saharas were raided by I-T Department when Narendra Modi was the Gujarat chief minister. Huge cash was found but the probe is pending.

Documents reveal that Birlas paid Rs 12 crore out of 25 crore bribe amount whereas Sahara paid Rs 40 crore, Kejriwal claimed.

Loans worth crores of industrialists have been waived off by the prime minister but the poor farmers and small traders have not got any relief, he said, adding, in fact, demonetisation has adversely affected their business.

If Modi wants to curb corruption and bring out black money then he must arrest 648 citizens who have their accounts in Swiss Banks, he said.

I have 24 cases against me but in more than a months time no case has been registered against me, which means I am speaking the truth, he said.

Countering audit exemption to political parties on depositing demonetised notes, Kejriwal claimed, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress get 70 to 80 per cent of the donations in cash whereas the AAP gets only 8 per cent.

Why political parties should be exempted from audit. Before urging people to go cash less, Modi and his partymen should learn to refuse donations in cash, he said.

I have researched and understood the Centre concept of demonetisation. Corruption and black money have not eliminated from the system at all.

People were earlier accepting bribe in Rs 1,000 notes and now they are taking Rs 2,000 notes which is much easier to hoard, he said.

Due to demonetisation, only common man has suffered who had to stand in ATM and bank queues, Kejriwal added.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses a rally in Jaipur on Friday. Photograph: @AamAadmiParty/Twitter
Being a journalist is a dangerous, dangerous job!

At least 48 journalists worldwide have been killed on the job in 2016 as the year winds down, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. That is down from 72 journalists in 2015.

Below are some key findings from the report.

IMAGE: A journalist takes photos of a school destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in the southwestern city of Taiz, Yemen. Six journalists were killed in Yemen, the third most dangerous country for journalism. Photograph: Anees Mahyoub/Reuters

Syria was the deadliest country for journalists for the fifth year in a row. At least 14 journalists were killed there in 2016.

Top 10 most dangerous countries for journalists in 2016 1. Syria 6. Libya 2. Iraq 7. Pakistan 3. Yemen 8. Mexico 4. Afghanistan 9. Turkey 5. Somalia 10. India

The report also showed which beat was most dangerous to cover are:

-- All figures are rounded to the nearest full percentage point. * May add up to more than 100 percent because more than one category applies in some cases.
Escalating the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his note ban decision is not a fight against black money or corruption but is an "economic robbery".

Addressing a public rally at the University Campus College Grounds in Uttarakhand's Almora, the Congress vice president said the prime minister has put "99 per cent people" in the country to hardships and not targeted the "1 per cent super rich" who "held all the black money".

He said his party wants to eradicate corruption and if "Modiji takes any step against the menace, the Congress party will lend its hundred per cent support".

"But this note ban step is not a decision against black money and corruption. This note ban is an economic robbery. It is an attack on the pooor of the country," he said.

Gandhi asked the prime minister to name those "thieves" who own the black money stashed in Swiss banks.

"The Swiss government has provided the list of all black-money holders to the Modi government. Why does he not place the list of thieves before the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha? We want to know who are these thieves. You should put their names before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," he said.

"Why didn't you bring back (Vijay) Mallya and Lalit Modi from London?" he asked.

Gandhi accused Modi of snatching away the hard-earned money of the country's poor and giving them to banks to write off bad loans. He said demonetisation was introduced to waive Rs 8 lakh crore loans the "super rich" owe.

"Gareebon ka paisa kheencho, amiron ko seencho. 99 per cent imaandaar ka paisa kheencho, 50 pariwaron ko seencho. Yeh hai notebandi ki sachhai, (Take away the money from the poor and help the rich. Take away the money from the 99 per cent honest people and help the 50 super-rich families. This is the truth of note ban)." he said.

He used an Amitabh Bachchan song to attack Modi and said his motive is "Ram naam japna, garibon ka maal apna".

"Suck the poor and serve the rich - this is the reality of the suit-boot wali sarkar," he said.

He also accused the central government of being callous to people's suffering and claimed the Opposition was not even allowed to mourn the "death of 100 people due to demonetisation".

Gandhi also accused the prime minister of not listening to the farmers and waiving their loans, but "waiving Rs 1.40 lakh crore in loans of 15 super rich people".

He also accused Modi of causing big damage to farmers and for "making fun" of their labour by stating they only dig holes. "Modiji! India's labourers don't dig holes, they build India and help the country stand up," he said.

He said under the NDA government, 1 per cent of Indians have 60 per cent of the wealth, but the other 99 per cent don't have black money.

The Congress leader said 94 per cent of the black money is in Swiss Bank accounts, and in the form of gold and land, and just 6 per cent is in cash.

"I don't know why Prime Minister Modi has made this 6 per cent black money his target and not the 94 per cent," he wondered.

Addressing the rally in the poll-bound state, he also alleged while Modi did not give Uttarakhand Rs 60,000 crore required for its development in the aftermath of the 2013 floods, he gave a "Rs 1,200-crore toffee to Vijay Mallya" instead.

"They say note ban is a surgical strike on corruption. But no, this is fire-bombing on India's poor," he said, adding "more people were killed in fire-bombing during WW-II than in Hiroshima".

He accused the prime minister of making the whole country stand in queues.

"By putting the one-time withdrawal limit at Rs 24,000, Modi's intention was to make your cash flow into your bank accounts and remain stuck there long enough to waive the loans taken by the 1 per cent super rich families," he said.

He said demonitisation was not a surgical strike on corruption and black money as projected by the prime minister and his ministers.

He said five per cent of every online transaction in a cashless economy will go to "those 50 families".

He reiterated his charge of "crores of rupees" allegedly being paid to Modi by business houses on different occasions when he was Gujarat Chief Minister and asked him to reply to the charges.
A police officer assigned to the Rajasthan Anti-Terror Squad was found dead in a locked SUV near Bombay Hospital in Jagatpura area of Jaipur late on Thursday. The body of a woman in her early thirties was also found next to him on the front seat of the car, which was parked on a road on the outskirts of Jaipur.

According to media reports, Ashish Prabhakar, 42, an additional Superintendent of Police, allegedly shot himself with his revolver. The police have found the woman's mobile phone and are trying to identify her.

ATS-SOG Additional DG Umesh Mishra was quoted as saying to The Tribune that a service revolver was found beside the bodies that were lying in a pool of blood.

The police have also found a note allegedly written by Prabhakar to his wife asking for forgiveness.

"Family issues" appear to have been the reason behind the suicide, the police said.

Prima facie, Prabhakar shot the woman dead after some quarrel before allegedly committing suicide inside the car. He had also made a call to the police control room, saying two bodies were lying in a car, before taking the extreme step.

DCP Manish Aggarwal told India Today that when the police team reached the spot it found the car locked from inside.

"Two bullets were fired from Ashish's service revolver. The police is exploring multiple angles, including that of suicide. Their phone call details are also being examined," Aggarwal said.

Prabhakar had recently resumed duty in the ATS after a long study leave.
People who observed the way his wealth and political clout grew say his fortunes hchanged once the ruling establishment handed him control of sand quarrying in Vellore and Kanchipuram districts after 2011.

Dasarath Reddy Bhuswam/Business Standard reports.

J Sekhar Reddy, arrested on Wednesday, Dece,ber 21, after the seizure of Rs 134.5 crore (Rs 1.345 billion) in cash and 177 kilo in gold bars from his possession by income tax officials in Tamil Nadu 10 days earlier, was little known to the outside world until sworn in as a member of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam board on May 2, 2015.

One needs political clout or proximity to the powers that be to become a member of the TTD board, especially if considered for the position under the mandatory representation given to the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in it.

Normally, the recommendation under this quota come from the political establishments of these states.

As a small-time contractor in his native district of Vellore, bordering Andhra Pradesh, Reddy rose to the level of lobbying for a TTD post within four years after All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo J Jayalalithaa became chief minister in the 2011 election, using all the right connections.

He had no history of any prominent position till he became member of the temple trust board of the wealthiest Indian god, Balaji of Tirupati.

People who observed the way his wealth and political clout grew in Tamil Nadu say his fortunes had changed once the ruling establishment handed him the control of sand quarrying in Vellore and Kanchipuram districts after 2011.

Sand, being an important input in construction, was in great demand. However, that alone cannot explain the wealth Reddy is believed to have amassed within such a short span of time.

Some believe the sand business had made him big overnight, as there was centralisation of its quarrying operations in Tamil Nadu, with Reddy at its helm as a link between the business and people in government.

Some believe he was a front for big sharks in Tamil Nadu politics.

But all would agree on one thing: He overexposed his wealth and influence.

He did not find it necessary to keep a low profile when he thought he enjoyed the blessings of powerful mentors like Jayalalithaa.

He made enemies in the process. He was raided after a tip came that he had converted old currency notes into new ones in a hurry, to make the routine payouts at various levels in government.

His story sounds similar to the other mining baron from neighbouring Karnataka, Gali Janardhana Reddy, whose fate turned upside down after the sudden death of then Andhra chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, considered his political mentor.
By Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is seeking to win a contract to supply Thailand with an air defense radar system built by Mitsubishi Electric Corp, as it looks to counter growing Chinese influence in the Southeast Asian nation, according to four Japanese government officials and one industry source. The effort is part of a wider push by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration to bolster its position in the region along with its U.S. ally. The Chief of Staff of Japan's Air Self Defense Force, Yoshiyuki Sugiyama, traveled to Bangkok last month to discuss areas of possible cooperation. Japan expects the Thai military government to begin accepting competitive bids as early as next year as it upgrades and adds to its existing U.S. and European radar systems, the sources said. It is unclear who else may be bidding. The value of such a contract is unclear as the specifications for the system have not yet been released. Radar systems built by Mitsubishi and other companies for Japan can stretch to hundreds of millions of dollars depending on the complexity and coverage. The sources said Japan would look to offer a lower price system because of Thailand's limited defense budget. Japans push for stronger ties with Thailand, will benefit the U.S. given the growing tensions over Chinas claims in the South China Sea, according to the sources. Japan, which until 2014 had a ban on arms exports, has not previously sold military equipment to Thailand. Since the 2014 coup brought the current Thai government to power, the U.S. has had strained relations with its old ally, which served as a staging ground for American forces during the Vietnam War, offering access to strategic airfields and ports. In July, Thailand agreed to buy three Chinese-built submarines worth around $1 billion in a deal that illustrated Beijing's willingness to fill the vacuum left by Washington. And last month, Thai and Chinese military planes performed acrobatic demonstrations together at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, around 260 km (161 miles) northeast of Bangkok, as a prelude to the first joint military drill between the nations' air forces. A company spokeswoman said Mitsubishi Electric does not discuss individual deals. While we are aware that Thailand is moving ahead with the deployment of air defense radar, we can't comment on the activities of individual corporations," a spokesman for Japan's defense ministry said. A Thailand Defense Ministry spokesman, Kongcheep Tantravanich, said that many countries want to sell it to us but we have to see if the system fits. Spokesmen for the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Air Force said they had no knowledge of a plan for a new system. Washington has a statutory obligation to withhold aid to militaries involved in coups against democratically elected governments. That includes restricting its arms makers from selling military kit to the country. Japan does not face such restrictions in engaging with the Thai government. Tokyo is worried that China's wooing of Thailand could further split members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and blunt criticism of China's island building in the South China Sea. Beijing has claimed most of the resource-rich waterway as its own, sparking protests from other claimants, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. The radar Japan proposes for the deal is a variant on Mitsubishi Electric's fixed-position FSP-3 radar, an older generation system that has been used by Japan's Self Defense Forces to detect air threats, the sources said. (Reporting by Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo; additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK; Editing by Martin Howell in Singapore)
UN condemns killings of aid workers and civilians waiting for emergency assistance in Mosul

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN condemns killings of aid workers and civilians waiting for emergency assistance in Mosul, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ce7bb412.html [accessed 4 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.

22 December 2016 - In the past 48 hours, four aid workers and at least seven civilians have been killed and 40 others injured while waiting in line for emergency assistance in Mosul, prompting the United Nations relief wing to denounce the actions in the strongest terms.

People waiting for aid are already vulnerable and need help. They should be protected, not attacked, said Lise Grande, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the killings and injuries occurred on two separate occasions as a result of indiscriminate mortar fire.

Ms. Grande emphasized that every party in the conflict has an obligation to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law. The killing of civilians and aid workers violates every humanitarian principle, she said.

Our deepest condolences go to the families of the victims and our brave colleagues and we call on authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and account, she said.

The fighting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) in and around the city of Mosul has displaced more than 107,000 people. OCHA estimates that in a worst case scenario, as many as one million people may be forced to flee the city.

So far, the majority of families who have been displaced are staying in emergency sites and with host communities. Humanitarian agencies continue to provide life-saving assistance to those areas that remain accessible, including neighbourhoods in the eastern part of the city. To date, more than 356,000 people who have been affected by the military campaign have received aid.
UN allocates $3 million to Somalia-Kenya cross-border pilot project for Somali refugees

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN allocates $3 million to Somalia-Kenya cross-border pilot project for Somali refugees, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ce83c199.html [accessed 4 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.

22 December 2016 - The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund is set to allocate $3 million on a pilot project that will provide peacebuilding and professional skills to Somali refugees volunteering to return from Kenya to Somalia.

Announcing the pilot project on Tuesday, the Fund said it will also help refugees settle down, and begin reintegration process into a community.

UN Peacebuilding notes that the project is unique as it reaches across borders and targets the same population, first in asylum in Dadaab, Kenya, and then upon return to Baidoa, Somalia. It builds on an agreement between the governments of Kenya and Somalia and Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees living in Dadaab.

UNHCR in Kenya, as well as UNHCR, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Somalia will receive the funding. The Peacebuilding Fund is currently also sponsoring other projects in Somalia, aimed at strengthening the national authority in areas liberated from rebel control.

The initiative is designed to promote coexistence and peaceful resolution of conflict in Somalia, in addition to supporting the Government's priorities for stabilization and peace dividends, including investment in jobs. The Fund also aims to continue launching similar initiatives on return and reintegration of refugees.
As funds shrink, UN agency may end assistance to 150,000 in Central African Republic

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, As funds shrink, UN agency may end assistance to 150,000 in Central African Republic, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ce85a40c.html [accessed 4 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.

22 December 2016 - Due to a lack of funding, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is running a risk of soon needing to halt its aid to 150,000 people in crisis-torn Central African Republic (CAR) who have been displaced by violence.

This year, WFP aimed to support some one million people but only 400,000 received assistance due to funding constraints. Rations have been halved and school meal distributions over the past two months have fallen short of intended goals. Throughout December, thousands of displaced people have been living off of a quarter of a standard food ration.

Our food stocks are at their lowest, In a separate announced Felix Gomez, WFP Country Director for CAR, who reported that without further funding, the agency would be forced to make additional cuts to the food it could provide in January, and that by February, distributions would be suspended altogether.

The food distributed by WFP represents a lifeline for people who have lost everything. Suspending assistance will have a dramatic impact on the lives of already internally displaced people and refugees, who rely on our food distributions to feed themselves and their families, said Mr. Gomez.

Without additional assistance, host communities will take on an unbearable burden, which could fuel tension and create security risks. WFP needs $21.5 million in order to provide assistance to 150,000 people through June 2017.

Displaced children continue to smile despite toughest times at IDPs site in the fractured city of Bambari showing glimmers of hope for a peaceful future in the midst of conflict. Photo: OCHA/Gemma Cortes

We call on the generosity of our donors to help avert a greater humanitarian crisis, urged Mr. Gomez.

Of a population of almost five million, half are currently facing hunger. Next year, WFP intends to assist 578,000 people through monthly food distributions, food assistance in exchange for creating community assets, purchase for progress activities in order to connect smallholder farmers to markets, treatment and prevention of malnutrition, and emergency school meals.

Clashes between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, which are mostly Christian, plunged the country into civil conflict in 2013. Despite significant progress and successful elections, the CAR has remained in the grip of instability and sporadic unrest.
Nigeria's megacity, Lagos, faces 'unacceptable' water and sanitation crisis, UN expert warns

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Nigeria's megacity, Lagos, faces 'unacceptable' water and sanitation crisis, UN expert warns, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ce8b940c.html [accessed 4 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.

22 December 2016 - A United Nations human rights expert today called on the Nigerian Government to increase funding for water and sanitation in next year's budget to address the needs of 21 million residents of Lagos, the country's largest city, which continues to grow while access to basic services dwindles.

Leo Heller, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, commented on the budget, shortly after it was presented by the State Governor to the Lagos House of Assembly, stating that the Government reports show high deficits in the sector, "representing clearly unacceptable conditions for millions of the megacity's residents."

According to Mr. Heller, the annual budget discussion is a chance for the city to take action in providing water and sanitation to the people. He also expressed concerns over the high numbers of vulnerable people. "There is no question that the city's water and sanitation sector has deteriorated to this point because of the way it has been managed for many years."

The Special Rapporteur also presented a few alternative solutions to the problem for the Government to consider, such as increasing the effectiveness of the public service provider, adopting necessary financing schemes, and reducing water losses.

"For more than a decade, the Government has adopted a hard-line policy according to which the solution would seem to only attract private capital, notably via public-private partnerships (PPPs). Numerous civil society groups have urged the Government to guarantee their right to participate in these processes," said Mr. Heller, adding that the key to an adequate solution is a participatory process.

In addition, the situation continues to worsen as the population of Lagos increases, and the resources become scarce, with an estimated 10 per cent of the population having access to water supplied by the State utility.

Residents have also been reported drilling their own boreholes, in hopes to get some water, causing various environmental and health issues, particularly contaminated water consumption.

The Special Rapporteur has reached out to the Nigerian Government earlier this year, and is still waiting for it to provide an update on the water and sanitation issue.
Russia: Government vs. Rights Groups

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Russia: Government vs. Rights Groups, 21 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ce9e64.html [accessed 4 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 past four years, the Kremlin has sought to stigmatize criticism or alternative views of government policy as disloyal, foreign-sponsored, or even traitorous. It is part of a sweeping crackdown to silence critical voices that has included new legal restrictions on the internet, on freedom of expression, on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and on other fundamental freedoms.

Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow)  June 5, 2014 Regional Public Association in Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms "Golos" (Moscow)  June 5, 2014 Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies (Saratov)  June 5, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) Women of Don (Rostov region)  June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  February 29, 2016) Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma)  June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  June 19, 2015) Interregional Human Rights Association "Agora" (Kazan)  July 21, 2014 Regional public organization "Ecozaschita!  Womens' Council" (Kaliningrad)  July 21, 2014 Public Verdict Foundation (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms / JURIX (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 26, 2015) Soldiers' Mothers (Saint Petersburg)  August 28, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 23, 2015) Freedom of Information Foundation / Institute for Information Freedom Development  August 28, 2014 PIR Center  September 3, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  February 24, 2016) Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov)  October 2, 2014 (the organization was shut down  November 6, 2015) "News Agency MEMO.RU" (Moscow)  November 20, 2014 Regional Press Institute (St. Petersburg)  November 20, 2014 Moscow School of Civic Education  December 9, 2014 Rakurs, Arkhangelsk regional non-governmental LGBT organization  December 15, 2014 All-Russian movement "For Human Rights"  December 22, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  December 30, 2015) Human Rights Center (Kaliningrad)  December 25, 2014 Krasnodar Regional Social Organization of University Alumni  December 25, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  April 22, 2016) Regional social organization "Public Commission for Academic Sakharov's Heritage Preservation"  December 25, 2014 Resource Human Rights Center (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down  November 3, 2015) Regional Public Organization "Man and the Law" (Republic of Mari El)  December 30, 2014 Center for Social Development "Vozrozhdeniye" (Pskov)  December 30, 2014 Public Human Rights Organization "Civil Control" (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 The League of Women Voters (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) Free Press Support Foundation  December 30, 2014 Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "The Committee Against Torture"  January 16, 2015 (the organization was shut down  September 13, 2016) Educational Center "Memorial" (Sverdlov region)  January 16, 2015 Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training"  January 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  July 22, 2015) "Information Bureau of the Nordic Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg"  January 20, 2015 Jewish regional branch of the Russian public organization "Municipal Academy" January 26, 2015 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) The noncommercial partnership "Press Development Institute - Siberia"  January 30, 2015 Center for social, psychological and legal help to victims of discrimination and homophobia "Maximum" (Murmansk)  February 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down  October 28, 2015) Interregional public fund for civil society development "Golos-Povolzhye" (Samara)  February 6, 2015 Interregional charity organization "Siberian Environmental Center" (Novosibirsk)  February 12, 2015 Center for Civic Analysis and Independent Research / GRANI (Perm)  February 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  June 19, 2015) Municipal public organization "Samara Center for Gender Studies" (Samara)  February 16, 2015 Regional Fund "Center for Defense of Mass Media Rights" (Voronezh)  February 26, 2015 Regional Charitable Social Foundation "For nature" (Chelyabinsk)  March 6, 2015 Regional Ecological Social Movement "For nature" (Chelyabinsk)  March 6, 2015 Humanist Youth Movement (Murmansk)  March 13, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 25, 2015) Regional Social Organization for Contribution to Harmonization of Interethnic Relations "Azerbaijan"  March 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  July 22, 2016) Regional Social Environmental Organization "Bellona-Murmansk"  March 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down  October 16, 2015) "Educational Center for Environment and Security" (Samara)  March 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 8, 2015) Foundation "Migration XXI Century"  March 27, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  November 25, 2016) Eco-logika (Rostov)  April 3, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  March 30, 2016) Transparency International Russia - April 7, 2015 Social Environmental Organization "Planeta Nadezhd"  April 15, 2015 Foundation for Consumers' Rights Defense (Novosibirsk)  April 17, 2015 (the organization was shut down  May 12, 2016) Civil Assistance Committee  April 20, 2015 Foundation 19/29 - Foundation for Support of Investigative Journalism  April 24, 2015 Commemorative Centre of History of Political Repressions "Perm - 36"  April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 18, 2016) Women's League (Kaliningrad )  April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 16, 2015) Legal Expert Partnership "Soyuz "  May 7, 2015 (the organization was shut down  25 August 2015) Center for Development of Non-Commerical Organizations  May 13, 2015 Club of Accountants and Auditors of Non-Commercial Organizations  May 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  March 30, 2016) Informational Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Northern Countries (Kaliningrad)  May 13, 2015 Sutyajnik (Yekaterinburg)  May 15, 2015 Human Rights Academy (Yekaterinburg)  May 15, 2015 Ecological Center "Dront" (Nizhny Novgorod)  May 22, 2015 The non-profit organization "Liberal Mission" Scientific Foundation of Theoretical and Applied Research  May 25, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 11, 2015) The non-profit Dynasty Foundation  May 25, 2015 Union of Employers (Tula region)  May 28, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  December 13, 2016) Youth organization "Nuori Karjala/Young Karelia"  June 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down  March 25, 2016) Siberian Center for Support of Social Initiatives  June 19, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 21, 2016) Interregional Social Foundation for Peace in the South and in the Northern Caucasus  June 19, 2015 Informational Center "Free Inform"  June 22, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 21, 2016) Center for Independent Sociological Studies (St. Petersburg)  June 22, 2015 Regional Organization for Population and Development  June 23, 2015 Geblerov Ecological Societ (Barnaul)  June 23, 2015 Association "Legal Basis" (Yekaterinburg)  July 3, 2015 Interregional Non-governmental Organization "Northern Environmental Coalition" (Petrozavodsk)  July 8, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 1, 2015) Komi Human Rights Commission "Memorial" (Syktyvkar)  July 21, 2015 Altai Regional Public Fund for 21st Century Altai (Barnaul)  July 22, 2015 (the organization was shut down  March 28, 2016) Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development "GOLOS-Ural" (Chelyabinsk region)  July 22, 2015 SREDA Foundation  July 28, 2015 Non-governmental environmental organization "Green World" (Nizhny Novgorod)  July 29, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 28, 2016) Civic Action Foundation (Perm)  August 5, 2015 Alliance of Funds of Local Communities of the Perm territory  August 11, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 26, 2016) Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Center  regional branch of the "For Human Rights" All-Russian movement (Nalchik)  August 18, 2015 (the organization was shut down  November 6, 2015) The Human Rights Center of the Chechen Republic (Grozny)  August 21, 2015 Interregional Social Ecological Foundation "ISAR-Siberia" (Novosibirsk)  August 26, 2015 Perm Regional Human Rights Center (Perm)  September 3, 2015 Siberia's lifeline (Novosibirsk)  September 3, 2015 Golos Foundation in Support of Democracy  September 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 21, 2016) Jewish Cultural Center "Hesed-Teshuva" (Ryazan)  September 11, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  December 13, 2016) Sakhalin Environment Watch (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk)  September 18, 2015 Yasavey Manzara Information and Research Center (Naryan-Mar)  September 23, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 15, 2016) Consumer Rights and Environment Protection Association "Princip" (Moscow region)  October 5, 2015 Far East Center for the Development of Civil Initiatives and Social Partnership (Vladivostok) October 13, 2015 Russian Research Center for Human Rights  October 20, 2015 Women of the Don (Rostov region)  October 27, 2015 Friends of the Siberian Forests (Krasnoyarsk)  October 28, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 6, 2016) Photography Club "Sobytiye" (Omsk)  October 28, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 16, 2015) Research and Information Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg)  November 6, 2015 Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk)  November 10, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 1, 2016) Glasnost Defense Foundation  November 19, 2015 Human Rights Institute  November 20, 2015 Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North  November 27, 2015 Green World (Leningrad region)  December 2, 2015 Mashr (Republic of Ingushetia)  December 8, 2015 Woman's World (Kaliningrad)  December 11, 2015 Panorama Information and Research Center (Moscow)  December 18, 2015 Dauria Ecological Center (Chita)  December 30, 2015 (the organization was shut down  September 1, 2016) Yekaterinburg Memorial Society (Yekaterinburg)  December 30, 2015 Bureau of Public Investigations (Nizhny Novgorod)  January 14, 2016 Committee for the Prevention of Torture (Orenburg)  January 14, 2016 Institute of Forecasting and Resolving of Political Conflicts (Nizhny Novgorod)  January 22, 2016 Ryazan Historical, Educational and Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Ryazan)  February 1, 2016 Society of Assistance to Social Protection of Citizens "Peterburgskaya EGIDA" (Saint Petersburg)  February 2, 2016 (the organization was shut down  April 26, 2016) Center for Health and Social Support "SIBALT" (Omsk)  February 15, 2016 Chelyabinsk Regional Organ of Public Independent Action "Ural Human Rights Group" (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Women of Eurasia (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Ural Democratic Foundation (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Legal and Social Support Charitable Foundation "Sphere" (Saint Petersburg)  March 1, 2016 Centre for Civic Education and Human Rights (Perm)  March 3, 2016 The International Development Fund for Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation "Batani" (Moscow)  March 11, 2016 Center for Social and Labor Rights (Moscow)  March 21, 2016 Arkhar (Gorno-Altaysk)  April 5, 2016 (the organization was shut down  October 6, 2016) Publishing House "Valentin Manuylov"  April 15, 2016 Tengri School of Soul ecology (Altay) - May 17, 2016 Hanse Buero / Information Bureau of Schleswig-Holstein in Kaliningrad (Kaliningrad) - May 24, 2016 Krasnoyarsk Regional Public Organization Agency of public initiatives (Krasnoyarsk) - May 27, 2016 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 21, 2016) Saratov Regional Public Organization "Socium" (Engels) - May 30, 2016 Perm regional non-governmental organization "Perm Civil Chamber" (Perm) - June 9, 2016 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 21, 2016) Regional non-governmental organization Integration center "Migration and Law" (Moscow) - June 16, 2016 Non-Profit Partnership "ESVERO" (Moscow) - June 22, 2016 Andrey Rylkov Foundation for Health and Social Justice (Moscow) - June 29, 2016 Altai regional sport and patriotic youth public organization "Arctica" (Biysk) - July 6, 2016 Autonomous non-governmental organization "Free Word" (Pskov) - July 13, 2016 The Institute of Economic Analysis (Moscow) - July 22, 2016 Penza regional youth civic organization for prevention of negative phenomena among youth "Panacea" (Kuznetsk) - August 15, 2016 (the organization was shut down  December 8, 2016) Samara regional, civic organization "American alumni club" (Samara) - August 26, 2016 Autonomous non-for-profit organization "Publishing house 'Park Gagarina'" (Samara) - August 31, 2016 Levada Analytical Center (Moscow) - September 5, 2016 Environmental Watch on North Caucasus (Maikop) - September 13, 2016 Autonomous non-for-profit human rights organization "Draftee's school" (Chelyabinsk) - September 21, 2016 Foundation for support of civil freedoms "Legal mission" (Chelyabinsk) - September 21, 2016 International Historical, Educational, Human Rights And Charitable Society Memorial (Moscow) - October 4, 2016 Sverdlovsk regional non-profit foundation "Health Era" (Ekaterinburg) - October 11, 2016 Chapaevsk non-profit organization "Chapaevsk city medical personnel association" (Chapaevsk) - October 21, 2016 Regional charity foundation "Samarskaya gubernia" (Samara) - November 2, 2016 Non-profit partnership "Internet Community" (Samara) - December 13, 2016 Autonomous non-profit organization for social support "Project April" (Tolyatti) - December 19, 2016

And the four NGOs which registered voluntarily:

Non-commercial Partnership "Supporting Competition in the CIS Countries"  June 27, 2013 "The Union of Young Political Scientists", KarachayCherkess Republican Youth Social Organization  December 15, 2014 Regional Social Movement "Novgorod Women's Parliament" (Veliky Novgorod)  March 6, 2015 Center of Independent Researchers of the Altai Republic  June 10, 2015

Leader of at least 1 NGO faces criminal charges personally:

Women of Don (Rostov region) - criminal proceeding is in process. Chair Valentina Cherevatenko faces up to two years in prison for "malicious evasion of the duty to file the documents required for inclusion in the register of nonprofit organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Syria: UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on War Crimes Investigations

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Syria: UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on War Crimes Investigations, 21 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cea381.html [accessed 4 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

On December 21, 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing a mechanism to assist in the investigation of serious crimes committed in Syria since 2011.

"The General Assembly today demonstrated that it can take the reins on questions of justice in the face of Security Council deadlock. The countries that voted for this unprecedented Syria resolution took a critically important stand for victims of massive grave crimes. By establishing the investigative mechanism, the General Assembly is helping pave the road to accountability after years of unchecked atrocities. Simply condemning the murder and mayhem inflicted on civilians is not enough. Perpetrators now know that evidence of their misdeeds will be collected to hasten the day when they find themselves in the dock."

Balkees Jarrah, Senior International Justice Counsel at Human Rights Watch

The resolution received 105 yes votes from the General Assembly, with 52 abstentions. Here is the list of the 15 countries that voted against the resolution:

(1) Algeria

(2) Belarus

(3) Bolivia

(4) Burundi

(5) China

(6) Cuba

(7) DPRK

(8) Iran

(9) Kyrgyzstan

(10) Nicaragua

(11) Russia

(12) South Sudan

(13) Syria

(14) Venezuela

(15) Zimbabwe

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
China: Draft Police Law Entrenches Abuses

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, China: Draft Police Law Entrenches Abuses, 21 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ceb0d4.html [accessed 4 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 Chinese government should significantly revise the country's draft Police Law to bring it into conformity with international standards, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday in a submission to the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

"Police abuses caught on tape and widely viewed have made the force deeply unpopular," said Sophie Richardson, China director. "But the draft revisions to the Police Law do little to make the police more accountable, and actually expand the force's powers in ways that could exacerbate abuses."

Specifically, Human Rights Watch is concerned that the draft revisions will:

Allow police to use firearms under conditions that go well beyond those permitted by international standards, including against people peacefully advocating for human rights or criticizing the Communist Party;

Empower police to carry out unspecified "network controls" on the internet and other telecommunications, which may include network suspension; and

Fail to impose meaningful curbs on wide existing police powers.

Human Rights Watch has for many years documented a range of police abuses, including the use of torture against criminal suspects, pervasive surveillance and censorship, repression of ethnic minorities, violence and detention against peaceful activists, harassment of non-governmental organizations, violence against journalists, and the use of force to break up peaceful protests.

"The Chinese government needs to impose strict limits to curb police powers and procedural safeguards that actually protect citizens from abuses," Richardson said. "The revisions to the Police Law provide an opportunity for real reform  if the authorities choose to seize that chance."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Burma: Rohingya Recount Killings, Rape, and Arson

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Burma: Rohingya Recount Killings, Rape, and Arson, 21 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ceef74.html [accessed 4 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 Burmese military has conducted a campaign of arson, killings, and rape against ethnic Rohingya that has threatened the lives of thousands more, Human Rights Watch said today. Refugees who fled the recent violence told Human Rights Watch that since the October 9, 2016 attacks by Rohingya militants on government border guard posts in northern Rakhine State, Burmese security forces have retaliated by inflicting horrific abuses on the Rohingya population.

Burma's government should immediately allow unfettered humanitarian access to all parts of northern Rakhine State as the United Nations and others have urged, in order to reach people without adequate access to food, shelter, health care, and other necessities. Governments with influence in Burma should press the military and civilian authorities to urgently end abuses and grant access.

"Refugee accounts paint a horrific picture of an army that is out of control and rampaging through Rohingya villages," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "The Burmese government says its crackdown is in response to a security threat, but what security advantage could possibly be gained by raping and killing women and children?"

Human Rights Watch interviewed a dozen Rohingya refugees who had recently arrived in Bangladesh after fleeing Rakhine State's Maungdaw Township. In video testimony, Rohingya residents described Burmese soldiers using automatic weapons, looting and burning homes, killing villagers, including entire families, and raping women and girls.

"Kasim," 26, described the military's destruction of homes in the village of Kyet Yoe Pyin, also known as Kari Paraung, and other abuses. "The military came into the village and shot indiscriminately whomever they found. Elderly and children were shot dead. Many people were killed," he said. "[The soldiers] dragged the women from the houses by their hair. They took off the women's clothes and longyi [sarongs]. They trampled their necks. They pulled up their blouses and removed their bras. They raped them right there in the yard."

Another resident of the same village, "Jamal," 24, watched soldiers arrest Shukur, a 55-year-old man: "I saw that he was arrested by four soldiers. Then I saw him lying on the ground. After that, I saw them slaughter him with a knife that was about one-and-half feet long."

"Jawad," 23, a resident of Dar Gyi Zar village, said that soldiers were shooting indiscriminately when they entered his village. "They didn't spare the young ones," he said. He watched from an embankment as soldiers killed his older brother and his two children, and then tossed their bodies into a fire. The soldiers also burned crops and dispersed cultivated rice so that it could not be harvested. No crops were spared and cows were shot, he said.

Several refugees said that government security forces were sometimes accompanied on raids by ethnic Rakhine Buddhist civilians, and Mro or other non-Rohingya villagers. They were often involved in looting Rohingya homes but also took part in other abuses. Kasim said that during a raid he and his neighbors recognized some non-Rohingya people from nearby villages wearing ordinary clothes.

The Burmese government has failed to keep its public commitment to allow the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to open an office with a full protection mandate despite the UN General Assembly urging it to do so in a December 2015 resolution that was adopted without a vote. The UN special rapporteur on Burma, Yanghee Lee, reported in August 2016 that the prompt creation of such an office "could give vital assistance to the Government in addressing the complex and wide-ranging human rights challenges" facing the country. Burmese authorities should immediately invite the UN human rights office to send staff to northern Rakhine State to investigate and publicly report back on abuses by all sides.

On December 1, the government announced the creation of a committee to investigate the situation in Rakhine State and report by January 31, 2017. On December 16, the Myanmar Times reported that the committee, after a three-day visit to Maungdaw Township, concluded that military clearance operations had been conducted "lawfully." This summary rejection of allegations, as well as concerns about the committee's composition and mandate, raise serious doubts that its investigation will be thorough and impartial. A similar commission created by the Rakhine State parliament in October has also thus far failed to seriously investigate alleged military abuses.

On December 16, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said: "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." He further characterized the Burmese government's response as "short-sighted, counterproductive, even callous."

The ongoing military operations have had a major impact on the local population. Since October 9, authorities have kept Maungdaw Township in a state of virtual lockdown, curtailed freedom of movement, blocked humanitarian aid, and denied entry to journalists and human rights monitors. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced internally, but government and military restrictions on aid agencies have prevented them from conducting adequate needs assessments. The UN has reported that an estimated 27,000 Rohingya have become refugees in Bangladesh. Humanitarian organizations told Human Rights Watch that while some aid is reaching Maungdaw Township, the worst affected areas are still receiving no assistance. Since early October, the UN and other international NGOs have been unable to reach 130,000 highly vulnerable people in northern Maungdaw Township who previously received food, cash, and nutrition assistance. Limited government access has allowed some assistance to resume for only 20,000 of the 150,000 people that normally receive aid.

Burma's failure to end military abuses against Rohingya and hold those responsible to account demands an independent inquiry with UN participation. National and state governments have appointed commissions that are neither credible nor independent to look into allegations of abuses.

"The government's failure to appoint credible commissions to thoroughly and impartially investigate the allegations undermines claims that it is building a country based on the rule of law," Adams said. "However, it is not too late to reverse course and allow aid agencies and impartial observers into affected areas to document what has happened and ensure the delivery of food, medicine, and other life-saving services."

Testimonies by Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

The accounts below are drawn from interviews Human Rights Watch carried out in Bangladesh between December 2 and 6, 2016. All names are pseudonyms unless stated otherwise. Interviews were conducted with interpreters.

Abu Hafsah

Abu Hafsah and his family endured a 43-day journey from their village before reaching Bangladesh. On October 9, Hafsah, 46, heard distant gunfire while at home in Kyet Yoe Pyin, a village within the Kyet Yoe Pyin village tract of Maungdaw Township. Frightened, he moved his family into hiding among the bushes and, when gunshots got closer, to hills around the village. They returned home on October 11, but the gunshots continued sporadically. Soldiers entered the village that day. He said he later heard loud explosions coming from an adjacent village and saw hundreds of soldiers: "There was no place where there was no military."

On October 12, the soldiers returned. In the evening they started firing rocket launchers and automatic weapons at villagers and their homes. Villagers fled to escape injury. Abu Hafsah said that bullets were whizzing past him and he jumped into the forest to avoid being hit: "They shot [ordinary people]. Not anyone else. We have nothing. They fired [rocket] launchers from some distance and more closely with guns. We thought that day they would kill all of us."

Abu Hafsah said that the next morning, soldiers fatally shot six of his acquaintances when they emerged from hiding to tend to their cattle. Abu Hafsah and his family then decided to flee Kyet Yoe Pyin, leaving with only with the clothes they were wearing. They sought refuge in a nearby village, where they stayed for about 10 days. Abu Hafsah then returned briefly to Kyet Yoe Pyin, hoping the situation had improved. He estimates that hundreds of homes and shops in the village were burned to the ground. Satellite imagery analyzed by Human Rights Watch shows large burn scars consistent with arson attacks confirming that at least 245 buildings were destroyed in Kyet Yoe Pyin between October 9 and 14.

Abu Hafsah and his family then decided to flee Burma and go to Kumar Khali along the border in Bangladesh. He said throughout the journey, military patrols, forcing the family to move from one place to another and hide in the hills or forest. Throughout their 43-day journey, food was scarce and they often only had water to drink. Once in Kumar Khali, they pleaded with local villagers to help them cross the border. Eventually, the family put together the 25,000 Burmese kyat (US$18) per person to pay an agent to get them across the Naf River. They crossed by boat, eventually reaching Tolatuli in Bangladesh on November 24.

Rohima

Rohima, 50, from Yae Khat Chaung Gwa Son village, said the military entered her home, tied up her husband, and shot and killed him. She then watched as soldiers dragged her four adult sons out of the house. She and the other women in the house were crying, but she could not do anything to stop them, she said. The soldiers then moved the women into another house and fired rocket launchers at the house, but she survived. She came out of that house and saw the soldiers set fire to her property.

Rohima said she then went to the pond beside her house and found piles of bodies that had been set on fire with straw. She could smell burning skin. She said that soldiers killed her four sons and her husband: Shoona Ali, 35; Ijjod Ali, 25; Syed Ali, 30; Musa Ali, 45; and Yusuf Ali, 60.

Hiding in someone else's home, Rohima watched soldiers rampage through the village. "They cut the children with their knives. Then they threw them into the fire," she said.

She said she saw Rakhine villagers entering with the military, including some whose faces she recognized wearing military uniforms. They were dragging people from houses and using belts to beat people, she said.

Rohima decided to flee Burma with her extended family and eventually reached Kumar Khali. They did not have any money to pay for the crossing, but others helped them to cross. All 15 family members crossed the river and arrived in Bangladesh on November 25.

Abdul

Abdul, 30, fled his home in Kyet Yoe Pyin village when soldiers entered the town and began firing their weapons. "They shot at us while we were escaping from the village," he said. Some were killed while others managed to escape.

Making it to the outskirts of Kyet Yoe Pyin, Abdul hid on a hillside. The gunfire increased throughout the day. He said solders were beating and shooting at villagers. The next day, he watched from the hillside as soldiers in green uniforms with red shoulder patches set homes on fire and shot at people. "At first, they fired at the houses with rocket launchers from some distance," he said. "When they fired, people ran away. Then they came into the village and poured gasoline and set fire to the houses."

Abdul said he watched as the soldiers burned a mosque. He saw them physically abuse women. Fearful of further violence, he fled north: "We understood that we had no way to return." He traveled through several villages, but soldiers were present until he reached Kumar Khali. There he was reunited with his wife, who told him that soldiers had slit the throat of their 4-year-old son when they were trying to flee the village. The couple then crossed by boat to Bangladesh.

Kasim

After the October 9 violence, Kasim, 26, watched the military approach Kyet Yoe Pyin from the south in vehicles. After arriving, they encircled his village. Kasim said that when soldiers entered the village on October 12, he watched them destroy homes. Soldiers started firing rocket launchers, causing the men to flee and the women to hide in their homes. Kasim said he hid in a nearby paddy field. Before noon, soldiers set the local market on fire. "On the first day, the military came into the village and set fire to the houses by shooting rocket launchers," he said. "Some set fire to the houses. Some went inside the houses and looted them."

Kasim said the soldiers also attacked local residents:

The military were shooting indiscriminately at whomever they found. Elderly people and children were being shot dead. Many people were killed. They killed many people. The bullets hit people in the chest, stomach, back, head and neck. They shot from 100 yards, 200 yards, and longer distances.

The abuses continued. Because soldiers were tearing down the fences that surrounded homes, he had a clear view as soldiers dragged women out of houses:

They dragged the women out of the houses by their hair. They took off the women's clothes and longyis [sarongs]. They trampled their necks. They pulled up their blouses and removed their bras. They raped them right there in the yard.

Kasim said he saw soldiers shoot his wife in the chest, killing her and his young daughter whom she was carrying in her arms. He said he also saw a nearby house, occupied by six women, being looted. He said soldiers shot all six women inside.

Kasim said he saw people in ordinary clothes enter the town with the soldiers. He and his neighbors recognized some people from nearby villages among them. These villagers, together with the soldiers, looted homes and in some cases dragged women from houses.

Kasim then decided to flee to Bangladesh. He moved from village to village, hiding in the surrounding hills for days at a time while trying to avoid the military at nearly every village in which he stayed. After reaching a village near the border, he escaped across the Naf River to Bangladesh with 13 members of his extended family. He arrived in Bangladesh on November 30.

Jamal

Jamal, 24, saw the military approach from the eastern side of Kyet Yoe Pyin village two days after the October 9 attacks. Some came on foot, while others rode dark-colored trucks, the kind, he said, that were used for transporting goats and other livestock. A set of different trucks carrying people others recognized as ethnic Rakhine villagers arrived about the same time. When the military entered the town, Jamal hid in a prawn lake (a small pond where shrimp is produced and farmed) with others, covering himself with palm leaves so that the soldiers could not see them, but he could see what was happening.

He said that the soldiers first deployed on a hill next to the village and fired rocket launchers at structures. They then entered the village and began setting fire to houses, fired rocket launchers and shot at people as they swept through the village. Villagers were either beaten or shot in the streets.

Jamal said that the previous night his uncle brought two female family members home. One was pregnant and gave birth that night. When the soldiers came in the morning, the men left, assuming that the women would not be harmed. From their hiding place, Jamal and the others watched soldiers kill and rape the female villagers. "First, they slaughtered two women. One woman wasn't dead, so they tried to rape her. She pretended to be dead. They raped her and left her. Then they slaughtered three more [women]." Jamal and others returned the next day, they found the woman who had given birth recently to be alive. However, he says she died shortly thereafter, but her newborn baby survived. He said he also saw soldiers throw three children into a burning house.

Jamal said that Shukur, 55, who was hiding with them in a field, attempted to walk back to the village, but he was stopped along the way and killed by four soldiers. Jamal said:

We all told him not to go. We warned him how the military was killing people. His sons and daughters also tried to stop him. He said, "I am an old man, what will they do to me?" Then he left. The military stopped him when he reached a shop. I saw that he was arrested by four soldiers. Then I saw him lying down on the ground. After that, I saw them slaughter him with a knife about one-and-half feet long.

Jamal described seeing many women assembled in an area after the men fled, and soldiers rushing to the area. He said the soldiers "repressed" the women (a common euphemism for rape) and otherwise abused them, causing some women to faint.

Jamal fled Kyet Yoe Pyin and later saw the military in several other villages. In at least two villages, including Dar Gyi Zar, Jamal saw helicopters firing automatic weapons from the air. The gunshots, he said, were like a flurry of sparks. He watched the helicopter firing at people hiding and trying to flee from the military. "They would shoot anything moving," he said.

Jamal was eventually able to flee to Bangladesh from a village bordering the Naf River in Maungdaw Township. His family had no money, but received help from other villagers to pay the 25,000 Burmese kyat (US$18) per person to have someone help them across. Jamal arrived in Bangladesh on December 1 with 13 other members of his family.

Kamal

Kamal, 32, said that when the military entered Kyet Yoe Pyin village on October 11, he ran from the advancing soldiers, attempting to hide. He watched soldiers burn houses, beat people, and shoot them as they fled. Eight to 10 soldiers surrounded his house. Then they soaked articles of clothing in jars of gasoline, lit them on fire, and threw them on the roof, setting his home ablaze.

He said that his brother, who had recently contracted malaria, was lying in the yard outside his house when the soldiers arrived. Kamal watched as they tied his brother up with a rope and then shot him. He then fled to a nearby home shared with relatives and from this vantage point watched soldiers arrest other villagers, tie them up with rope, and carry some away to waiting vehicles. He saw about five soldiers enter an uncle's house, adjacent to his hiding place, and arrest two of his uncles. In total, he saw about nine people taken away, and heard that another 60 had been arrested. The soldiers then torched the market by firing rocket launchers at it. He saw metal scraps he believes were from the rockets on the ground and lodged in the coconut trees.

He and his family left Kyet Yoe Pyin for eight days. They decided to return to the village, but soldiers also soon returned. He said the military attempted to gather and abuse the "sisters and daughters" of the village. The villagers resisted by screaming at the soldiers.

When it became clear that there was not enough food to feed all his family members, Kamal and his family decided to leave for Bangladesh. "Subsistence was not possible," he said. They evaded security forces in Burma, and paid 26,000 Burmese kyat (US$19) to be taken across the border by boat.

Ali

Ali, 52, said the military arrived in Kyet Yoe Pyin on a night when he and his family of 13 were leaving on foot to deliver some business documents to Bora Para, a neighboring village where his father-in-law lives. As they set out, they saw the military approaching in vehicles. Although it was hard to tell, he thinks there were about 100 soldiers.

After Ali and his family arrived in Bora Para, they heard gunfire. There was so much shooting that he said "the soil was trembling." They were so panicked they decided to stay with his father-in-law. The gunshots lasted for four days. When the gunfire intensified, Ali and his family fled to Jamoinna, a neighboring village. From there, he could see soldiers  he estimates about 400 to 500  moving around Kyet Yoe Pyin.

After eight days in Jamoinna, Ali went back to Kyet Yoe Pyin. He found that about three-quarters of the homes were burned. Other villagers that returned to Kyet Yoe Pyin had to borrow cooking utensils just to eat because theirs had been destroyed or were gone.

Ali said he and the other villagers found corpses all over the village. Some were in shallow graves. Foxes dragged some of the bodies out of the graves, while others had various body parts protruding from shallow earthen tombs. One grave had four corpses, all of which had been beheaded. Some of the limbs appeared to have been eaten by foxes and dogs. Ali and the others identified the bodies as those of Kadir Hussein, 60; Nur Alam, 50; Kala Mian, 30; and Mohamed Rashid, 26. He heard that Shukur, 55, had been executed, but they never found his body. They dug deeper graves and placed the bodies they could find in them. Many bodies of the missing were not found, but the longyi and other garments of those missing were found among the dead and throughout the village. Ali and the other villagers tried to gather the names of those that no one had heard from or seen since the violence. In total, they counted 76 people missing.

Ali said that on a subsequent Saturday, the military raided the village and arrested about 80 men. Several of his relatives were arrested, including three cousins and his son-in-law.

Ali and his family eventually fled to Bangladesh. He paid a trafficker 25,000 kyat (US$18) per person to get his family across the river. They arrived in Bangladesh on December 3.

Khaled

Khaled, 26, said that the military first came to Myaw Taung village tract to impose a curfew. They returned the next day and started shooting people "without giving them a chance." People were fleeing in every direction they could, he said.

Khaled saw the military firing rocket launchers at homes, setting them on fire. After the soldiers would fire rocket launchers, ethnic Rakhine and Mro villagers, whom Khaled said he saw alongside the soldiers, would loot the homes.

While he was hiding in a nearby outdoor toilet, his elder brother came out of his house to investigate what was happening. Khaled heard gunfire and fled up the hill behind his house. When he looked back, he saw that his brother had been shot and killed. The soldiers, he said, left his brother's wife half-dead after raping her and shot and killed Khaled's 5-year-old son. He said that the soldiers threw the bodies of his brother and 5-year-old son along with others into the fire.

After the violence, Khaled decided to flee to Bangladesh. While he was waiting to cross a river at the border, he saw that people in another boat had been caught by Burma's Border Guard Police and "beaten to black and blue." So Khaled's group waited. Three days later, on November 28, they crossed into Bangladesh.

Jawad

Jawad, 23, cannot remember the exact date that the military first entered his village, Dar Gyi Zar, but said that about 500 soldiers arrived during morning prayers. He said the soldiers shot people and set fire to houses. They fired rocket launchers and threw lit bamboo sticks onto rooftops. By the time they were done, all the houses in his village were burned down, he said. He watched them shoot an old man sitting in front of his door. "They didn't spare the young ones," he said. "They slaughtered infants with large knives and threw the bodies of the dead into fires."

Jawad watched from an embankment as the military shot his older brother, Mohamed. He says that Mohamed was with his son and daughter when the military called out. He stopped and they shot him. They then took Mohamed's son and daughter and killed them with a large knife, Jawad said, tossing their bodies into a fire. He doesn't know why his brother was killed. "The military did this, they should know," he said.

Jawad said the military "tortured" and abused women and girls, especially those that looked pretty. Two women who saw the deaths of Mohammed and his children were taken by the military. One was beaten with the bottom of the soldier's rifle. The other was dragged into a house. Jawad saw altogether about 15 soldiers enter the house. From his hiding place he could hear the woman screaming. The soldiers emerged one hour later. After another hour, Jawad and an elderly woman entered the house to tend to the victim. They tried to get the woman to a doctor, but she died. He believes the soldiers gang-raped her.

In mid to late November, Jawad saw soldiers going into the fields disguised as farmers and then arresting people harvesting their crops with machetes. The soldiers then set fire to the crops. Other soldiers took stored rice and threw it away in such a manner that it could not be gathered. No crops were spared and cows were shot, he said.

After being sent back once by the Border Guard Bangladesh force, Jawad crossed into Bangladesh in late November after paying an agent 25,000 kyat (US$18).

Chomi

Chomi, 35, watched on November 13 as approximately 400 soldiers encircled his village of Dar Gyi Zar. He fled and watched from a field as the military fired rocket launchers at homes and saw at least 10 people shot. "They shot whomever they saw," he said.

Chomi said that during the raid, the soldiers killed entire families including Abul Hussein and his family of eight, the Yusuf family of similar size, and Moulavi Saleh Ahmed's family.

Chomi fled Dar Gyi Zar with his family on November 13 and headed north. They stayed with relatives for two days, but the village administrator asked them to leave, so the family lived in a field. Chomi estimates that about 2,000 other people lived with them in the field for 10 days. The township and district then ordered them to return home.

On November 23, before being ordered to return home, Chomi watched from a hill to see the situation in his village. He said he saw about 200 soldiers and smoke rising from the village. When he returned to his home, he found many things missing or destroyed: clothes, cooking kettles, and food had been taken. Of the 419 houses in his village, he said, only 12 were not burned. His own home, he learned, was spared until a further round of burnings on November 23. He said now it was a pile of ash and warped corrugated metal.

He went back, gathered his family and fled to Bangladesh. After crossing some barbed wire, they joined other Rohingya who made their way to two waiting boats, each carrying about 20 people, including children. Just as they began to cross the river, they were spotted by a boat full of Burmese security forces, who fired their guns in the air in the direction of the two boats. The boat then sped toward them; the wake from the speeding boat caused both Rohingya boats to capsize. Tossed from the boats, some people swam to Bangladesh, while others swam back to Burma. Some couldn't swim and drowned. Chomi swam back to the Burmese side and hid from the military and Border Guard Police patrols. Eventually, he was able to evade the patrols and cross the border in the early hours of December 5 on a boat with eight other people.

Ahmet

In mid-November, the military entered Yae Khat Chaung Gwa Son village. Ahmet said that helicopters fired as 200 to 250 soldiers encircled the village. Soldiers who entered the town gathered together a large group of women. They dragged the women by their hands and scarves, tearing their clothing. He said the soldiers told the villagers they would "take" the women.

Ahmet said some villagers confronted the soldiers. In response, a helicopter flying overhead started firing. He watched the helicopter fly low, the guns on either side firing down on the villagers. The soldiers then began burning houses. They carried gasoline in jars and threw them on rooftops, burning them one by one. He learned that about 450 houses were burned and only 35 survived.

When the burning of the village started, he and his family fled to a village on the border with Bangladesh. They waited for about 15 days and then left for Bangladesh, arriving on December 1.

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Iraq: Armed Groups Using Child Soldiers

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Iraq: Armed Groups Using Child Soldiers, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585ceff44.html [accessed 4 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.

Armed groups in Iraq affiliated to the Kurdistan Workers' Party have recruited boys and girls, Human Rights Watch said today. In two cases the armed groups abducted or seriously abused children who tried to leave their forces. The groups should urgently demobilize children, investigate abuses, pledge to end child recruitment, and appropriately penalize commanders who fail to do so.

Human Rights Watch documented 29 cases in northern Iraq in which Kurdish and Yezidi children were recruited by two armed groups, the People's Defense Forces (Hezen Parastina Gel, or HPG) and the Shingal Resistance Units (Yekineyen Berxwedana Singal, or YBS). The HPG is the armed wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is known by its initials, the PKK (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistane). The YBS, a militia from the Yezidi religious community, is also affiliated with the PKK.

"The PKK should categorically denounce the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and commanders in affiliated armed groups should know that the recruitment and use of children under age 15 constitute war crimes," said Zama Coursen-Neff, children's rights director at Human Rights Watch. "Boys and girls should be with their families and going to school, not used as means to military ends."

Children under age 15 affiliated with both groups told Human Rights Watch that they have participated in fighting, while others said they had staffed checkpoints or cleaned and prepared weapons. Even if the armed groups do not send children into direct combat, they place them at risk by training them in areas that Turkey has attacked with airstrikes in its conflict with the PKK, such as Iraq's Qandil mountain area.

The recruitment or use of children under 15 is a war crime. Under international law, non-state armed groups like the HPG and YBS must not, under any circumstances, recruit children under 18, or use them in hostilities. Recruitment of children by armed groups is prohibited by international law, even if the children "volunteer."

The HPG should investigate and hold accountable those responsible for abducting or otherwise abusing children, and the Iraqi government in Baghdad, which has paid salaries to YBS forces, should pressure the group to demobilize all child soldiers, Human Rights Watch said.

The HPG, along with other Kurdish armed groups broadly aligned with the PKK, operates in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, and is fighting Turkish and non-state armed groups including the Islamic State (also known as ISIS). The PKK-aligned groups have trained and supported the YBS, which gained recruits after the HPG helped Yezidis flee ISIS massacres of Yezidi civilians in Sinjar in August 2014.

Human Rights Watch documented nine cases of children used by the HPG; in four cases, the child had left the HPG. The father of a Kurdish boy from the city of Halabja in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq said his son left school at 15 to join the group in early 2016, and that its officials had repeatedly refused to acknowledge the boy's whereabouts. The father showed Human Rights Watch researchers a video, apparently filmed by the HPG, showing the boy at an unknown location, in uniform with an assault rifle, in which he encouraged others to join the group. "I just want to contact him, just let him call me to say he hasn't been shot," the father said.

Twenty boys and five girls from the Halabja area have joined and remained with PKK-affiliated forces since 2013, and another 38 children joined but returned home, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government's Human Rights Commission office in Halabja.

In Sardashti, a community in the Yezidi region of Sinjar, residents described an incident in February when HPG fighters badly beat a 13-year-old girl in their ranks after she argued with a commander. When the girl, who had a broken leg, tried to escape, the fighters tracked her down and took her back, even after she threatened to jump off the roof, residents said.

A Yezidi boy at the Bersive 1 displaced persons camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, said he was 14 when he joined the group in 2014, and that he fought in Sinjar and in Syria until July 2016. He said he saw "many" other children during his time with the group and recalled that one 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg during fighting in western Sinjar. "There was a rule that if you were under 18 you could not fight," the boy said. "But the fighters don't care about the rules."

In Khanasoor, a town in Sinjar, Human Rights Watch met a 14-year-old girl from Turkey who said she had joined the group in Syria two years ago, and received military training there. She had recently moved to Sinjar and joined the YBS "as a fighter," although they had refused to allow her to participate in combat.

Human Rights Watch documented 20 cases of children recruited or used by the YBS, including 10 cases in which researchers spoke to the children. In Khanasoor, Human Rights Watch observed the YBS using the Ta`meem Boys' Secondary School as a military barracks. Among the uniformed recruits there, four said they were under 18, including one who was 14 and had volunteered two years before, when he was in fifth grade. The recruits said the YBS received salaries from Iraqi authorities in Baghdad that were only supposed to be paid to fighters age 18 and older, but that the group collected and pooled the money and used it to pay children.

Residents of Khanasoor also said that the HPG had recruited children from the Martyr Khairy school, which teachers said is run by the PKK using a curriculum from Kurdish-controlled parts of northern Syria.

Children suspected of joining PKK-affiliated forces have been arrested and abused by the Asayish security forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the official ruling body of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which opposes the PKK. One of the boys at the secondary school being used as a barracks in Khanasoor said that he joined the YBS at 15, after the ISIS massacres of Yezidi civilians in Sinjar in August 2014, and that the Asayish arrested and beat him when he went to visit his family at a camp for displaced Yezidis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. "The first time they arrested me, the Asayish, they held me for five days, they beat me with their hands and said that if I left the camp again, they would arrest my family," he said. Three Yezidi children or their families told Human Rights Watch that Kurdish regional authorities had evicted the families from camps because their children had joined PKK-affiliated forces.

Kurdistan Regional Government authorities should treat children suspected of involvement with the armed groups primarily as victims of abuse, not as criminals, in accordance with international norms on child soldiers set out in the Paris Principles of 1997. The authorities should not penalize the families of suspected child recruits.

The HPG pledged to end recruitment of children under 16 on October 5, 2013, when commanders signed a "Deed of Commitment" with Geneva Call, an international nongovernmental organization that promotes adherence to the laws of war by armed groups. The group's commanders said it would "make all efforts to ensure that all 16-18 year olds are separated and kept away from combat zones." PKK officials did not respond to a letter from Human Rights Watch asking if the HPG has penalized commanders for violating these internal rules, and other questions including the minimum age of recruitment.

The YBS should demobilize any children in their ranks, end all recruitment of children under age 18, and punish recruiters, Human Rights Watch said.

The groups should end the military use of schools, consistent with the HGP's pledge in signing the "Deed of Commitment." Iraq should join the states that have agreed to implement international guidelines for protecting schools from military use during armed conflict.

Human Rights Watch has also documented the recruitment or use of children by Sunni and Shia Arab armed groups fighting in Iraq, including militias in the battle to retake Mosul, and by armed groups fighting in Syria.

"Kurdish and Yezidi communities in Iraq have suffered unbearable horrors from war, but there is simply no excuse for using children to fight even if they are volunteering to join up," Coursen-Neff said. "The PKK should take immediate steps to root out all child recruitment, refuse to accept child volunteers, and make amends to the families and children who have suffered."

Recruitment of Children by Kurdish Armed Groups in Iraq

Human Rights Watch visited the town of Halabja and camps for displaced people around Dohuk in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and Iraq's northeastern Sinjar district, in August 2016. Human Rights Watch interviewed 58 people, including 13 children ages 14 to 17, as well as parents, managers of the camps, teachers, local and international nongovernmental organizations, and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) authorities.

Researchers obtained oral informed consent from interviewees, and told them why Human Rights Watch was doing the research and how it would use their accounts, that they did not need to answer any questions they preferred not to answer, and that they could stop the interview at any time.

In most cases, relatives of children who had joined the HPG or the YBS asked not to be identified, due to concerns of potential retaliation by those armed groups or in some cases fear of being punished by Kurdistan Regional Government authorities, who oppose the PKK.

Responding to questions from Human Rights Watch, Kurdistan Regional Government officials in Dohuk province said in a November 27 letter that it was "strictly prohibited" to recruit children from camps for displaced people, that the authorities protected the "civilian nature" of the camps, and that if any child recruits were found, they "will be given attention and rehabilitated through specialized centers and special programs." Several families and children said that Asayish forces had ordered families to leave the camp or threatened to evict them after ascertaining that their children had joined PKK-affiliated forces in Sinjar.

International nongovernmental groups and United Nations agencies support psycho-social services for Yezidi children in displaced persons camps, but none of the former child soldiers or families of children who had joined armed groups who spoke to Human Rights Watch said they had accessed any rehabilitation programs.

Recruitment of Yezidi Children from Camps

Fifteen Yezidi families in Dohuk region camps who had been forced to flee ISIS attacks in Sinjar in August 2014 said that their children had left to join the HPG or the YBS in Sinjar.

In Sharya camp, relatives of a 15-year-old boy said he left the camp in February 2015 and went to Sinjar, where he phoned to say he had joined the YBS, to fight "for revenge" against ISIS. Three months later, he was shot during fighting in the city and evacuated for medical care to Syria, from where he phoned his family twice, they said. He returned to the camp in November 2015, but refused to tell his family about his experiences.

Another Sharya camp resident, 17, said that he and a friend of the same age left the camp together to join the YBS in May. The boys were registered at the PKK-run Lalish community center in Khanasoor, a town in Sinjar, where they met four other boys who either said they were under 18 or looked like children. The boy said that the PKK members who registered him looked at his ID card, which stated his date of birth, and did not ask him any questions. He and his friend stayed overnight with relatives in Sinjar, who phoned his immediate family, and a family member came and took both boys back to the camp for displaced people the following day. Human Rights Watch also spoke to the family member, who said he was "very worried that the PKK would have stopped me" if they had known he was taking the boys back to the camp, and that PKK officials later called him to say that if the boys returned to Sinjar they would not be allowed to leave.

Camp residents said another 17-year-old boy left the camp to join the HPG, and has not returned home. The Asayish had arrested his older brother for recruiting camp residents for the HPG and detained him for 50 days, residents said. The prevalence of child recruitment led other residents to suspect that two 13-year-old children who had been missing since August had joined the HPG or the YBS during visits to Sinjar.

In the Kabarto camp, a 16-year-old Yezidi girl left to join the HPG in January 2015, after a man the family later suspected was a recruiter visited her family three times, relatives said. The girl called her family soon after arriving in Khanasoor, but had no other contact with them until a relative was able to meet her at a training camp in Karse, Sinjar, in December 2015. The relative described seeing "lots of kids, and two or three who looked about 11 were carrying AK-47s." The girl told him she had received military training in the Qandil mountains, and that she wanted to return to her family but was afraid to ask her commanders, the relative said. In April 2016, the girl pretended she was ill and asked for a week's leave to convalesce with her family. When she returned to her family in the camp, Asayish forces required her family sign a pledge to pay a heavy fine if she re-enlisted.

Another resident said Asayish forces had evicted the families of children the HPG recruited from the camp, and that these families then returned to Sinjar.

In Bersive camp 1, the father of a 15-year-old said the boy left to Sinjar in order to join the HPG in July 2015, was with the group for two months, and participated in fighting. The father said he met with PKK officials in Sardashti, on Sinjar mountain, to request the boy's return. The officials said that the boy would be paid a salary and initially refused to say where he was, but four days later brought the boy and allowed him to leave with his father. The boy has refused to speak about his experiences and says he does not want to re-enlist, his father said.

A family in the Bersive camp said that in April 2016, their 16-year-old son left the camp along with two other boys they knew, ages 16 and 15, with a driver who helped recruit them. The family said their son received HPG military training for three months in Sinjar, where he was paid a total of US$800, before his father was able to bring him back. The Asayish then called the boy for interrogation, detained him for 24 hours, and assaulted him, his family said.

The father of another 16-year-old boy said that in April, he "went to school one morning and disappeared" from the camp to "join the PKK" in Sinjar. The boy had contacted his father from Sinjar and said he had completed military training and was on guard duty in the city and was being paid US$400 per month, his father said.

One boy said he was 15 when he left the camp to join the HPG in March 2015. He has since returned, and said that he had found phone numbers for recruiters on social media and called them when he reached Snune, a town in Sinjar. HPG fighters took him to Karse for military training for one month, then he worked cleaning weapons and preparing ammunition for two months at a former secondary school in Khanasoor. He said he was paid US$100 per month and given food, cigarettes, and phone cards. He said he was allowed to leave when he wanted to.

A boy, born in 2000, said he left the camp and joined the HPG in Karse in late 2014. He stayed with the group until July 2016, when he returned to the camp while on leave and was arrested by Peshmerga, the military forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, on suspicion of being an HPG fighter. The boy said that his initial two months of training included the use of machine guns, assault rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades, and that he fought in Sinjar and several locations in Syria. He saw "many" other children with the armed group, including a 16-year-old boy who was shot in the leg during fighting in Umm al-Dhiban, a town near the Syrian border in Sinjar. "There was a rule that if you were under 18 you could not fight," the boy said. "But the fighters don't care about the rules. When I wanted to go to fight, no one stopped me. They told me not to go to the fighting but didn't stop me."

Residents of the camp named five other boys, all born in 2000, whom they knew personally and who had joined the HPG for periods of between 15 days and two months, apparently for military training.

Recruitment and Alleged Abuses against Children in Sinjar

In Sinjar, Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed families, witnesses, or children who described 13 cases in which children had joined the YBS or the HPG. A store owner in the town of Snune, in northern Sinjar, said that HPG fighters had recruited his 15-year-old son in Snune in June. The boy's friends told his parents that he was at a training camp in Umm al-Dhiban, but the boy had only called home once to say he had joined the HPG and could not call any more. The boy's relatives said PKK officials told them he would be given a brief leave after 25 days of military training, but they believe this did not happen because he never came home. Two Snune residents also described regularly observing children, some as young as 12 or 13, in HPG uniforms, in some cases armed.

At the Lalish Center in Khanasoor, east of Snune, researchers met a 14-year-old Turkish girl who said she had joined the HPG in Syria two years ago, and received military training there. She had recently moved to Sinjar and joined the YBS "as a fighter," although they had refused to allow her to participate in combat, she said. Two women, members of the Yezidi Women's Council, said that it was common for girls to receive weapons training from the HPG.

In Sardashti, a community on Sinjar mountain, three families said their children had joined the HPG. One man said his 16-year-old son and another 16-year-old boy left home to join the group in the spring of 2015. HPG officials in Sardashti told him that the boys had been sent for training to the Qandil area and would return in two months. The man said he had no news of his son since, but that 10 other families had moved to the area from Newroz camp in northern Syria in part because they believed their children were "more likely to be recruited by PKK forces" if they remained in Newroz.

Another family in Sardashti said that in July 2014, a 15-year-old relative joined the YBS in Karse. The boy's cousin, age 25, who later returned to Sardashti, said that they volunteered together in Karse, where YBS personnel asked their ages and sent them to the village of Tel Kushayr in northern Syria for military training. A 13-year-old boy from Sinjar whom the cousin spoke to there was also being trained, he said. The two cousins returned to Sinjar after ISIS attacked on August 3, 2014, to help fleeing families, then manned a checkpoint in Snune. The 15-year-old boy participated in fighting against ISIS, his cousin said. He was last seen in late August 2014, leaving Snune in a vehicle with fighters from another PKK-affiliated group operating in northern Syria, the YPG (Yekineyen Parastina Gel, or People's Protection Units), his relatives said. In response to questions from the family, PKK officials have said at various times that the boy was in Sinjar, Syria, or Turkey.

In August 2016, a 16-year-old girl left her family in Sardashti to join the YBS in Shilo, in Sinjar. Her mother was able to bring the girl home shortly after she began her military training by saying that the girl's father was seriously ill and that the family needed the girl's help.

Human Rights Watch visited the Ta`meem Boys' Secondary School in Khanasoor and saw the YBS using it as a military barracks. Some of the recruits there were secondary-school-age boys who have been out of school since the August 2014 massacres. Among the six uniformed YBS recruits who spoke to Human Rights Watch at the school, four said they were under 18, including one who was 14 and one who had joined when he was 15. The boys said they alternated between periods of military training and instruction from YBS members in the Kurdish language, politics, and economics, and periods of fighting. Members of the group said they received weapons from the YPG and salaries from the Iraqi authorities in Baghdad, which were supposed to be paid only to fighters age 18 and older. The YBS collected and pooled these salaries, however, and paid US$200 per month to recruits under 14, and US$400 for recruits aged 14 to 17, members of the group said.

Using a school for military purposes such as barracks could make the school a target for attack; Turkey has carried out airstrikes against PKK-affiliated forces in Sinjar. In other conflict situations, the presence of soldiers has also led to damage to classrooms or educational equipment, and added delays to school re-openings.

Human Rights Watch interviewed a YBS captain, who commanded a company, at his home in Khanasoor. He said that the YBS did not allow anyone under 20 to participate in combat, but that at 17, children were eligible for YBS training for three years. The YPG imposed 18 as the minimum combat age, he said. The commander's 14-year-old daughter had been receiving military training with the YBS for the past year, he said, but it was an exception at that age due to his rank.

At the YBS training camp in Karse, Human Rights Watch observed that a number of uniformed recruits appeared to be under 18, including two not observed carrying weapons, who looked to be 15 at most. A YBS commander said his forces accepted children who wished to enlist for a 45-day training course, but prohibited children from carrying weapons. Iraqi authorities in Baghdad provided salaries to those 18 and over of US$400 per month, beginning in September 2015, he said.

Iraq does not have armed forces stationed in Sinjar, and is militarily aligned with the YBS and other militias it supports there. Iraq had stopped paying the YBS salaries by November, after reaching an agreement with KRG authorities, according to one news report.

HPG Fighters' Abduction and Abuse of Children

Five Khanasoor residents described in detail the abduction by the HPG in January of a 9-year-old girl, whom they knew personally, at Martyr Khairy primary school. Before learning of the adduction, Human Rights Watch researchers had visited the school, which teachers there said is operated by the PKK. Teachers said the children enrolled there were ages 6 to 13, and that the curriculum had been developed in Rojava, the Kurdish name for Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria.

When the child was abducted, two women in uniform took her from the school to a checkpoint at the entrance to Khanasoor, where they kept her for several hours, but surrendered her when a group of men from her family arrived at the checkpoint brandishing weapons and demanded her return, residents said. They said the girl's family stopped sending her to school and that they saw HPG fighters visiting the girl's family repeatedly to ask them to re-enroll her. Families pulled at least 15 children out of the school as a result of the abduction and some said they hoped to move to Borek or Snune if federal public schools re-opened available there.

Khanasoor residents expressed concern that teachers encouraged students at the school to join PKK-affiliated forces. One man said that the HPG had recruited his 14-year-old nephew after he received "PKK ideology" classes at the school.

In a separate incident, in February, HPG fighters in Sardashti assaulted and seriously wounded a 13-year-old girl who had been recruited and was trying to escape, threatened residents who tried to help her, and refused to allow her to return to her family, witnesses said. A witness said the girl was found at around 3 p.m. one afternoon in February with a broken leg, limping along in a ditch on the side of the road near a YBS checkpoint near Karse. The girl said that HPG fighters had beaten her. Two women, armed and in uniform, were following the girl and warned residents not to take her away. The residents took the girl to Snune hospital, where nurses bandaged her leg but could not set the bone.

Residents said the girl said that she had joined the HPG one month earlier, but had argued with a commander, whom she described as a woman who spoke Arabic and insisted the girl conform to PKK ideology. The commander ordered her fighters to beat the girl and they did so twice. The girl fled later that day. One resident took her to his home, where eight HPG fighters arrived at 8 p.m. and called the girl's brother by phone. A resident also spoke with the brother, who lived in a displaced persons' camp and who told the resident to allow the fighters to take her, out of fear of reprisals if he refused. The girl climbed onto the roof and threatened to jump but residents prevented her from jumping, and the fighters took her back. Human Rights Watch was unable to contact the girl's brother, but the multiple, consistent accounts of severe abuse are cause for a criminal investigation.

Recruitment of Children from Halabja

Two nongovernmental organizations described an increase in child recruitment by the HPG from Chamchamal and Halabja, in the eastern Kurdistan region, in 2016. In addition, the official Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Human Rights Commission office in Halabja described cases of 20 boys and five girls from the area who had joined and remained with PKK-affiliated forces since 2013, and said another 38 children had joined but then returned home. The children often had difficulty re-enrolling in school after missing classes for long periods, commission staff said.

A lawyer in Halabja said he knew of cases in which KRG authorities questioned children who had joined PKK-affiliated forces and returned, but did not criminally prosecute the children. The lawyer and several families said that in some cases, KRG authorities have required the child's father to sign a pledge that the child would not rejoin the groups, on pain of a large fine and imprisonment.

A 16-year-old boy left Halabja in early 2016 and joined the HPG in Qandil, his family said, but local HPG forces have refused to allow them to contact him. Human Rights Watch viewed a video of the boy, in uniform with an assault rifle from an unknown location, speaking in praise of the PKK's ideology and of the need to fight for its goals.

A young man from Halabja said he dropped out of 11th grade at 18, and left Halabja to join the HPG in June 2015. He "noticed there were a lot of kids" at the registration center in Qandil, and estimated that during his two months and 15 days of training, a quarter of the other trainees he saw were under 18. He was on active duty for three months with the HPG, which in most cases did not allow children to engage in combat, but he believed some 17-year-old boys had participated in fighting. He then joined the YPG for another 2.5 months of training in northern Syria. He returned home after participating in combat with the YPG.

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UAE: Extend Labor Law to Domestic Workers

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, UAE: Extend Labor Law to Domestic Workers, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf2304.html [accessed 4 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 United Arab Emirates (UAE) announcement that it will transfer oversight for the recruitment of domestic workers from the interior ministry to the labor ministry is a positive step, Human Rights Watch said today. The UAE should now include domestic workers under its labor law and introduce specific enforcement measures.

On December 17, 2016, the Council of Ministers assigned the Human Resources and Emiratization Ministry  formerly the Labor Ministry  to oversee the recruitment and employment of domestic workers beginning in 2017, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. Previously, the Interior Ministry's General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, the immigration department, performed this role.

"The employment of domestic workers will now be overseen by the same ministry that oversees all other workers in the United Arab Emirates," said Rothna Begum, the Middle East women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "But this positive move will be largely symbolic unless the government also ensures that domestic workers have the same labor law protections as other workers."

The Human Resources Ministry will initially process recruitment of domestic workers in Dubai in the first quarter of 2017, and then extend its processing to cover domestic workers in the rest of the country in the second quarter of 2017.

Hundreds of thousands of domestic workers from countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Ethiopia work in the UAE, far more than in 2008, when a government survey found that there were at least 146,000 female migrant domestic workers in the country.

UAE laws and policies leave migrant domestic workers exposed to abuse and exploitation. The labor law explicitly excludes domestic workers from its protections, and their employment is instead governed by a standard contract that provides far weaker rights than the labor law. Other workers are entitled to work no more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week, and are entitled to sick leave and overtime compensation. Domestic workers are not.

The UAE administers a kafala  or visa-sponsorship  system that ties domestic workers' visas to their employers. They cannot work for a new employer before the end of their contract without the current employer's permission, even if that employer is abusive. If they leave their employer, they can be prosecuted for "absconding" and punished with fines, imprisonment, and deportation.

Human Rights Watch issued a report in 2014 on the abuse of domestic workers in the UAE. Most of the 99 domestic workers interviewed said that their employers had confiscated their passports to ensure they would not escape. Many said that their employers forced them to work long hours, up to 21 hours a day, with no rest breaks and no day off; did not pay them their full salaries, if they paid at all; gave them little or spoiled food; shouted at them daily; and in some cases, even physically or sexually abused them. Some of these abuses amounted to forced labor or trafficking.

In recent years, the Human Resources Ministry has introduced several reforms to improve protections for migrant workers, but they did not apply to domestic workers. They include ministerial decrees that took effect in January 2016 to combat contract substitution, by requiring that employers use standard employment contracts which reflect the same terms of the employment offer, and allow workers to change employers before the end of their contracts in certain circumstances, such as when employers fail to meet legal or contractual obligations to the worker.

Authorities have not announced whether transferring oversight to the Human Resources Ministry will also bring domestic workers under the protection of the labor law and of ministerial decrees that help protect workers in other fields. The news agency quoted the human resources minister, Saqr Ghobash, as saying that the ministry intends "to apply the same principles and labor governance standards across private sector employment while, at the same time, taking into consideration the particularities of domestic employment."

While the Human Resources Ministry has signed bilateral agreements or memoranda of understanding with other countries, these have applied only to the workers whose employment it oversees. With domestic workers under the ministry's responsibility, it could begin to negotiate agreements on domestic workers with their countries of origin. This could improve protections, such as by guarding against recruitment abuses.

Currently, labor inspectors have no mandate to inspect domestic workers' working conditions, even in response to complaints. Women face difficulty in reporting abuse  whether labor or criminal  as some are confined to their employers' homes, or they live far from the main cities. Some women who work for large families, or in very large houses, are required to work extremely long hours. Some also reported inadequate sleeping conditions including in storage rooms, pantries, open living rooms, or with children.

Those who manage to leave their employers' homes can report abuse to the police or the immigration department. However, inspections of work sites before they begin work can help determine employment conditions, and inspections of work sites once they are there, especially if a worker makes a complaint, would allow some oversight.

The UAE and other Gulf states should also ratify the International Labour Organization's Domestic Workers Convention, Human Rights Watch said. The UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries voted for the treaty but have yet to ratify it. The treaty establishes global standards for domestic workers' rights, and states that protections for domestic workers should be the same as for other workers.

"The Human Resources Ministry should clarify that it will receive and respond to domestic workers' complaints," Begum said. "Domestic workers should not remain hidden behind closed doors."

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VALLETTA, Malta (AP)  The Latest on the apparent hijacking of a Libyan plane that landed in Malta (all times local):

7:25 p.m.

Malta International Airport says operations are returning to normal after a hijacked plane from Libya was diverted there earlier in the day.

It expects its flight schedule to fully recover by the end of Friday. As of 6 p.m., three outgoing flights remained delayed and seven incoming flights that were delayed are expected later in the evening.

When emergency crews rushed to surround the hijacked plane, the airport building was closed for less than 30 minutes with a total of 44 flights affected. Nine incoming flights were diverted, while delays were registered across 20 departing flights and 15 arrivals.

The hijacking ended peacefully with all passengers and crew members freed and the Libyan hijackers surrendering to Maltese officials.

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7 p.m.

Afriqiyah Airways says the men who hijacked its plane wanted to go to Rome but ended up in Malta instead due to fuel limitations.

Flight 8U209 was hijacked Friday as it flew from Sabha to Tripoli with 111 passengers and six crew members on board.

The airline said when the plane reached a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, the pilot received a demand to land in Rome and was told by another crew member that the hijackers were armed.

The pilot proposed landing in Tripoli and holding negotiations there but the hijackers refused, so Malta was the next option.

The hijacking ended peacefully several hours later when the hijackers surrendered to Malta authorities.

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5:40 p.m.

Libya's transportation minister is defending airport security in the country after a plane was hijacked and diverted to Malta.

Milad Matouq says security breaches happen everywhere and Libya is no exception. He says this is the first such incident since the 2011 revolution.

He says Maltese authorities are questioning the passengers and doing security checks in case a hijacker is among them.

Passenger Ibrahim Bashir tells Al-Nabaa TV that the passengers are "trapped" inside the buses and not allowed to leave.

Story continues

The head of Libya's state-run culture agency says a total of 25 artists, writers, and intellectuals from southern Libya were among the passengers and were heading to Tripoli to participate in a culture forum.

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5:30 p.m.

A Libyan lawmaker says he is not surprised that a plane from the desert oasis city of Sabah was hijacked to Malta, because security measures are "messy" at the Tamanhet airport there.

The Sabha airport was closed after tribal clashes two years ago and its air base was turned into a civilian airport for internal Libyan flights only. A small militia from the city of Misrata in northwestern Libya has been guarding it since 2014.

Salah Qalma, a lawmaker from Sabah, says "it's very easy for anyone to enter without passing through the electronic gates." While the airport has an electronic gate at its arrival hall, there are no electronic gates or guards at the adjacent exit gates.

He also said the building has no fence or guards outside it and planes are not separated from the parking lot outside the airport.

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5:20 p.m.

Malta's prime minister says the two Libyan men who hijacked a plane and diverted it to Malta had a hand grenade and a pistol on them and a second pistol was found on the plane during search by Maltese soldiers.

Joseph Muscat told a news conference Friday that the 111 passengers on the plane will be returned to Libya in the coming hours after they are questioned by police.

He says the hijackers eventually surrendered peacefully without making any conditions after the Maltese government insisted that all passengers had to be released.

He says the hijackers are now being interrogated.

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3:50 p.m.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, says the hijacking of a Libyan plane is over after the hijackers gave themselves up.

In a series of tweets, he said the hijackers left the airplane along with its final crew members after earlier freeing all the passengers from a flight that was diverted to his country.

The hijackers, he said, "surrendered," been "searched and taken in custody."

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2:55 p.m.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says a further 44 passengers have been released from the hijacked Libyan plane that was diverted onto the Mediterranean island nation.

He says in a tweet that there are potentially only the two hijackers and some crew members still on board the plane.

If Muscat's calculations in a series of tweets are correct, that means a total of 109 passengers have been released from the plane.

Afriqiyah Airways, the operator of the hijacked plane, had earlier said there were 118 people on board, including 111 passengers.

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2:30 p.m.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says 65 passengers have left the hijacked Libyan plane.

The doors of the plane opened at 1:44 p.m. local time and a staircase moved to the door before passengers began disembarking.

All those who have been seen leaving the aircraft have been without their hand luggage.

It was unclear how many of those on board would be released by the two reported hijackers on board. In total, Afriqiyah Airways, the operator of the hijacked plane, has said there were 118 people on board, including 111 passengers.

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2:20 p.m.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says 25 passengers have left the hijacked Libyan plane and that the release of a second group of 25 is now underway.

The doors of the plane opened at 1:44 p.m. local time and a staircase moved to the door before passengers began disembarking.

It was unclear how many of those on board would be released by the two hijackers on board. In total, there are said to be 118 people on board, including 111 passengers.

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1:55 p.m.

Passengers have begun disembarking from the hijacked Libyan aircraft in Malta.

The doors of the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 opened at 1:44 p.m. local time and a staircase moved to the door before passengers began disembarking.

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1:45 p.m.

The office of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says the premier has spoken to his Libyan counterpart, Fayez Serraj, about the hijacking of a Libyan plane, which landed on the Mediterranean island earlier Friday.

Serraj is leading the so-called Presidency Council and National Unity Government, both brokered by the United Nations as part of peace efforts to heal the country's rift and end divisions.

Libya has been in a largely lawless state since Moammar Gadhafi was ousted and killed in 2011 after 42 years of unchallenged rule in the North African nation.

The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 flight took off from Taman hent Airport in the Libyan town of Sabha for the capital Tripoli. Airport officials say there are 118 passengers on board.

Maltese state television TVM said the two hijackers of the plane had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them.

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1:10 p.m.

The office of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has confirmed that a negotiating team is on standby at Malta International Airport awaiting instructions from the prime minister, who is in a meeting with the National Security Committee.

State television TVM said the two hijackers of the Libyan plane had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them. Airport officials said the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 flight has 118 passengers on board.

___

12:50 p.m.

Malta's state television says two hijackers who diverted a Libyan commercial plane to the Mediterranean island nation have threatened to blow it up.

The Malta airport authority said all emergency teams had been dispatched to the site of what it called an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac. The plane's engines were still running.

State television TVM said the two hijackers on board had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them.

All flights in and out of Malta have been canceled.

Airport officials said the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 flight has 118 passengers on board.

___

12:05 p.m.

Malta airport says a Libyan plane has landed at the Mediterranean island and that there appear to be two hijackers on board.

The Malta airport authority said all emergency teams had been dispatched to the site of what it called an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac.

Earlier Friday, Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, said in a tweet that there was a "potential hijack situation" involving an internal Libyan flight that was diverted to Malta and that emergency operations are underway at the airport.

Airport officials said the Afriqiyah Airways A320 flight has 118 passengers on board.
Bahrain: Telecom Engineer Held Incommunicado

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Bahrain: Telecom Engineer Held Incommunicado, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf2854.html [accessed 4 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Bahraini authorities held a telecommunications engineer incommunicado for five weeks without access to a lawyer or his family, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities failed to provide accurate information on the whereabouts of the engineer, Sayed Alawi, from his arrest on October 24, 2016, until November 27.

Denying a person's detention or refusing to provide information on a detainee's whereabouts, places the detainee outside the protection of the law, constitutes an enforced disappearance and should be promptly investigated and those responsible held to account.

"It's difficult to square the serious violations of basic rights and safeguards in this case with Bahrain's claims that it protects detainees' rights," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Whatever charges Alawi is going to face, his chances of a fair trial look very low and his family's concerns for his well-being are absolutely justified."

Alawi's wife, Majida Nasser, told Human Rights Watch that the family made repeated efforts to learn his whereabouts, which were met with both denials and contradictory and apparently inaccurate replies. The family finally learned of Alawi's location when he called them on November 27. He said he was being held at the Interior Ministry's Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters, Bahrain's main interrogation center, which has been the subject of continuing credible allegations of torture.

On November 29, the Interior Ministry Ombudsman issued a statement that said Alawi's detention related to alleged violations of Bahrain's anti-terrorism law.

Alawi, 43, works for the telecommunications company Batelco. His wife said that the family became aware of his detention on October 24 from reports on social media, which indicated that a large group of security forces, including armed police, had arrested him at his workplace in Muharaq.

Later that evening, she said, the family received a phone call from officers at Budaiya police station informing them that authorities were holding Alawi at the directorate's headquarters in Manama, but when they went to the headquarters on October 26, officers there would not confirm they were holding Alawi there. On November 3, Alawi's family received a phone call from a CID officer, informing them that Alawi was in Dry Dock detention center, but when his sister attempted to visit him on November 6, officers there denied holding Alawi.

Nasser said that the family made repeated phone calls to both sites in the days and weeks that followed, but that officers either did not respond or denied having Alawi in their custody.

She said that when the family received a call from Alawi himself on November 27, he sounded "exhausted," and said he was being held at the CID. Alawi made a second phone call to his family on December 14.

Nasser said the family is aware of the allegations of torture at the directorate's facilities and expressed concerns for her husband's well-being. Mohamed al-Tajer, a lawyer appointed by the family, has yet to be allowed see his client and said that the office of the public prosecutor failed to respond to his request to be present during Alawi's questioning on October 31.

Nasser said she has submitted numerous complaints to various official bodies, including those with a specific mandate to protect detainees' rights. They include two formal written complaints to the Interior Ministry Ombudsman, on October 25 and December 1; a written complaint to the Interior Ministry's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) on December 3; a written complaint to the Office of the Public Prosecutor on November 10; and a verbal complaint to the National Institute of Human Rights on November 17.

The Ombudsman, which receives and directs complaints relating to detainee mistreatment, and the SIU, which by law must investigate complaints of torture, were established in response to the recommendations of the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), appointed by King Hamad in 2011 to investigate allegations of human rights abuses related to the anti-government protests earlier that year.

In November 2011, the commission released an approximately 500-page report detailing its findings, and concluded among other things, that the National Security Agency and the Interior Ministry "followed a systematic practice of physical and psychological mistreatment, which in many cases amounted to torture, with respect to a large number of detainees in their custody."

In November 2015, Human Rights Watch published a report documenting that Bahraini security forces, notably officers working at the CID, were continuing to torture detainees using methods documented in the commission report. Nine former detainees at the directorate told Human Rights Watch that they remained handcuffed and blindfolded throughout their time there  typically several days  except when they were making videotaped confessions they said were coerced, and that the abuses included beatings, electric shocks, and sexual assault.

In February 2014, a group of 97 Bahraini lawyers submitted a memorandum to the vice-president of the Supreme Judiciary Council "to highlight several significant obstacles facing lawyers and preventing them defending their clients." Some of these obstacles appear to have the effect of circumventing the legislative safeguards against torture in Bahrain.

Enforced disappearances and torture are both strictly prohibited by international law and are not permitted in any circumstances. Bahraini authorities should demonstrate absolutely zero tolerance for both practices and thoroughly and impartially investigate allegations of either, ensuring that anyone found to have carried out torture is held to account and that victims have access to a remedy.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Burma: Protect Civilians in Northern Fighting

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Burma: Protect Civilians in Northern Fighting, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf34f4.html [accessed 4 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 Burmese military and ethnic armed groups in northern Burma should commit to protecting civilians and expediting aid in the face of escalating rights abuses and civilian displacement, Human Rights Watch said today.

On December 17, 2016, Burmese army forces captured a key stronghold of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on Gidon mountain in Kachin State. Government airstrikes and shelling were confirmed to have hit close to several camps for internally displaced people near the KIA headquarters of Laiza, causing damage to shelters and forcing the evacuation of more than 400 people.

"While international attention has rightly focused on the crisis in Burma's Rakhine State, expanded fighting in northern Burma has resulted in a spike in rights abuses and civilian displacement," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "There is a critical need for the army and armed groups to end abuses and ensure civilian protection, especially for highly vulnerable villagers and displaced people close to the front lines."

On November 20, armed groups comprising the Brotherhood of the Northern Alliance  the Kachin Independence Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA)  carried out attacks against the police, firing unguided rockets into civilian areas near the Burma-China border town of Muse and other locations on the main highway. The Burmese government said that 10 civilians died in these attacks. The alliance also seized the town of Mong Ko on the Chinese border for several days before being driven out in early December by airstrikes from helicopter gunships, jets, and heavy artillery.

The military has committed serious violations of the laws of war in Kachin and Northern Shan States, including summary executions, torture and ill-treatment, forced labor, and looting of civilian properties. Ethnic armed groups have also committed laws-of-war violations, including summary executions, abductions and forced recruitment of civilians, and indiscriminate firing into civilian areas. Many of these abuses on both sides are apparent war crimes.

Human Rights Watch research in August and October documented numerous abuses, including the summary executions of seven men in the town of Mong Yaw in Northern Shan State in June. The army admitted killing five of the men, and after a criminal investigation a court martial convicted seven officers and ranking soldiers, sentencing them to five years in prison.

Fighting in Northern Shan State has steadily increased since 2009, particularly in Kyaukme, Hsipaw, and Namtu townships. It has involved various ethnic armed groups that have fought each other, the military, and pro-government militias. The forces have vied over territory and the drug trade and its various revenue-raising enterprises.

As a result of this fighting, villagers have become displaced for weeks or months before returning to their homes; in some cases, families have been displaced several times over the year. Police officials in Muse, Northern Shan State, have estimated that since the attacks on November 20, there have been 170 clashes, with fighting in Muse again reported on December 20.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Rangoon reported that between 2,000 and 4,000 people have been internally displaced by the recent fighting in Northern Shan State and an estimated 15,000 refugees have crossed into China. About 100,000 people remain displaced by the conflicts in Kachin and Northern Shan States since heavy fighting began in 2011. Many small settlements for internally displaced people are in areas of active conflict, increasing their vulnerability. Since early 2016, aid organizations have reported increased restrictions by military authorities on movement and access to displaced populations in Kachin and Northern Shan States.

An OCHA spokesperson told The Irrawaddy magazine that:

Humanitarian access to conflict areas in Myanmar is currently worse than at any point in the past few years. Predictable, timely humanitarian access is vital for organizations to ensure that the needs of all affected people are adequately met and that protection issues are being addressed. Unfortunately, our ability to reach people who depend on humanitarian assistance in Kachin State is getting worse not better.

On December 12, the United States embassy in Rangoon issued a statement on fighting in Kachin and Northern Shan States calling for "restraint from all sides and urging immediate, unfettered humanitarian access to all those affected by conflict throughout the country." This followed a December 1 statement from several local nongovernmental organizations and international relief organizations based in northern Burma urging the "removal of all impediments and restrictions, formal or informal, to the movement of humanitarian aid including personnel, goods, and services to ensure timely response to humanitarian needs."

The existing regional peace process has seen little progress. Three Northern Alliance members  the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta-ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army  have been excluded from the official ceasefire process.

"Nongovernmental groups in conflict areas in Burma's north are routinely documenting serious abuses with very little action by the central government to ensure that abuses stop and civilian protection becomes a priority," Adams said. "Burma's many friends and donors should demand full and unfettered access for humanitarian groups and that all parties facilitate the delivery of urgently needed aid."

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Yemen: Brazil-Made Cluster Munitions Harm Civilians

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Yemen: Brazil-Made Cluster Munitions Harm Civilians, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf3ff4.html [accessed 4 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 Saudi Arabia-led coalition fired Brazilian-made rockets containing banned cluster munitions that struck near two schools in the northern Yemeni city of Saada on December 6, 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The attack on al-Dhubat neighborhood in Saada's Old City at about 8 p.m. killed two civilians and wounded at least six, including a child.

The attack came a day after Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and the United States abstained from a vote in the United Nations General Assembly that overwhelmingly endorsed an already widely accepted international ban on cluster munition use. Brazil should join the Convention on Cluster Munitions and cease the production and transfer of cluster munitions, while Saudi Arabia and other coalition members should cease all use of cluster munitions, Human Rights Watch said.

"Brazil should be on notice that its rockets are being used in unlawful attacks in the Yemeni war," said Steve Goose, arms director at Human Rights Watch and chair of the Cluster Munition Coalition, the international coalition of groups working to eradicate cluster munitions. "Cluster munitions are prohibited weapons that should never be used under any circumstances due to the harm inflicted on civilians. Brazil should make an immediate commitment to ending production and export of cluster munitions."

Since March 26, 2015, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition of nine Arab states has conducted military operations in Yemen against the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented the use of seven types of air-delivered and ground-launched cluster munitions made in the US, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. The coalition has admitted using UK and US-made cluster munitions in attacks in Yemen.

On December 19, the Saudi-led coalition announced it would stop using a UK-made cluster munition, the BL-755, but left open the possibility it would continue using other types of cluster munitions in Yemen.

Human Rights Watch interviewed by telephone four witnesses to the attack and several other local sources. One witness visited the attack site shortly afterward and photographed the damage, while another photographed an unexploded submunition lying where it had landed.

Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion followed by several smaller explosions, which is consistent with a cluster munition attack. Ayman Lutf, a 20-year-old university student, told Human Rights Watch that five submunitions landed on his street, damaging a parked car and a water tank.

Bassam Ali, a 20-year-old neighborhood resident, said, "We thought it's like the regular missiles that always hit Saada... Which only create single explosions. This one was different, a series of explosions together... All of the bombs landed over our neighborhood, over houses, and on the streets."

Khaled Rashed, a 38-year-old member of the local council, said, "We heard... two sounds of explosions... One louder than the other, and after that we heard more explosions, smaller, and falling from the sky like embers... It landed everywhere, water tanks over houses, one... exploded and destroyed a taxi."

Rashed said that the rocket strike occurred near a girls' school and a boys' school, both between the old city and al-Dhubat neighborhood. People wounded in the attack were taken to a nearby hospital. Students were told not to return to school the next day as the schools had to be checked for any explosive remnants, including unexploded submunitions, an administrator at the boys' school said.

Dr. Mohammed Hajjar, general director of the largest hospital in Saada, said that the hospital treated seven people for wounds, of whom one later died, and that another had died before arriving. Fathy Al-Batl, a local activist, said that those wounded included a teacher, a 20-year-old student, and a 14-year-old boy.

Human Rights Watch identified the remnants of ASTROS II surface-to-surface rockets, each containing up to 65 submunitions, delivered by a truck-mounted multi-barrel rocket launcher. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have purchased ASTROS cluster munition rockets from Brazil, where they are manufactured by Avibras Industria Aeroespacial SA. Previously, Amnesty International researchers found remnants of ASTROS cluster munition rockets remaining after an attack on Ahma in Saada on October 27, 2015, that wounded at least four people.

Saudi Arabia's use of ASTROS cluster munition rockets in Khafji, Saudi Arabia in 1991, during the First Gulf War, was previously documented by Human Rights Watch. These munitions left behind "significant numbers of unexploded submunitions."

The use of cluster munitions in Houthi-controlled territory that has been attacked by Saudi-led coalition aircraft and by rockets launched from Saudi Arabia on previous occasions suggests that Saudi forces fired the cluster munitions used on December 6, 2016. However, further investigation is required to conclusively determine responsibility, Human Rights Watch said.

The coalition has attacked the Houthi-stronghold of Saada City frequently since the start of the war. A Houthi-Saleh military camp is located less than 50 meters from al-Dhubat neighborhood. Human Rights Watch has documented the coalition's use of cluster munitions in 17 unlawful attacks in Yemen that killed at least 21 civilians, wounded 72 more, and in some cases struck civilian areas.

The use of cluster munitions in Yemen since April 2015 has received worldwide media coverage, provoked a public outcry, and been condemned by dozens of countries as well as by a European Parliament resolution. In September 2015, more than 60 nations at the First Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions expressed deep concern at the use of cluster munitions in Yemen and issued a declaration condemning "any use of cluster munitions by any actor."

The coalition has acknowledged using US and UK-made cluster munitions in Yemen, but claims to have done so in compliance with the laws of war. In a January 11, 2016 interview with CNN, the coalition military spokesman said the coalition used CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapons in Hajjah in April 2015 "against a concentration of a camp in this area, but not indiscriminately." He said that the US-made CBU-105 has been used "against vehicles."

In May, the US suspended transfers of cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia. President Barack Obama should halt all arms transfers to Saudi Arabia and make the cluster munition ban permanent and extend it to all other countries before he leaves office, Human Rights Watch said.

Cluster munitions are delivered from the ground by artillery and rockets, or dropped from aircraft and contain multiple smaller explosive submunitions that spread out over a wide area. Many fail to detonate and leave unexploded submunitions that become de facto landmines that continue to pose a threat long after a conflict ends.

Cluster munitions are prohibited by a 2008 treaty signed by 119 countries, though not by Brazil, the US, Yemen, or Saudi Arabia, and its coalition partners Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries should promptly join the Convention on Cluster Munitions and abide by its provisions, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch is a co-founder of the international Cluster Munition Coalition. Germany's Ambassador Michael Biontino will preside over the next annual meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Geneva on September 4-6, 2017.

The December 6, 2016 cluster munition attack on Saada took place the day after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on cluster munitions. A total of 141 states voted in favor of the non-binding resolution on the convention while Russia and Zimbabwe voted against it, and 39 states abstained. Those abstaining included Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Brazil.

On December 19, the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Arabia's state-run news agency, reported that the government of Saudi Arabia had "decided to cease usage of the UK-manufactured BL-755 cluster munitions" and had informed the UK of its decision. The statement acknowledged the Convention on Cluster Munitions, argued that, "international law does not ban the use of cluster munitions," and claimed that Saudi Arabia used UK-made cluster munitions in Yemen "against legitimate military targets to defend Saudi towns and villages against continuous attacks by Houthi militia, which resulted in Saudi civilian casualties. In deploying these munitions [sic], the Coalition fully observed the international humanitarian law principles of distinction and proportionality. Furthermore, the munitions were [sic] not deployed in civilian population centers."

The same day, the UK government admitted it had evidence indicating the coalition had used UK-made cluster munitions in attacks in Yemen.

"At last Saudi Arabia is beginning to feel global pressure for its continued use of cluster munitions," Goose said. "Both Saudi Arabia and Brazil should join the international ban on these weapons without delay."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Argentina: RSF deplores attack on two media outlets in Buenos Aires

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Argentina: RSF deplores attack on two media outlets in Buenos Aires, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf4af4.html [accessed 4 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 recent break-in at the shared office of two online media outlets, Revista Anfibia and Cosecha Roja, in Buenos Aires, in which a computer and a notebook containing sensitive information were stolen, and furniture and other equipment were badly damaged.

Journalists at Revista Anfibia and Cosecha Roja discovered that the attack had taken place during the previous weekend when they went to work on the morning of Monday, 12 December. The intruders also took a projector, a voice recorder and cash from a petty-cash box, as well as the computer and notebook.

Cosecha Roja is a news website specializing in covering corruption, abuse of authority and the activities of drug traffickers, while Revista Anfibia is well known for lengthy analytical articles that mix investigative journalism and academic research.

Revista Anfibia editor Martin Ale told RSF that they had never received threats. "We are not into paranoia but we are not naive either," he said. "Of the 20 offices in this building, it was the one with two media outlets that was targeted. This was an act of theft and an act of vandalism."

The office is also often used for holding workshops, seminars and other activities open to the public on journalism-related subjects. A complaint has been filed with Buenos Aires federal court No. 10.

"We condemn this attack on the premises of Cosecha Roja and Revista Anfibia," said Emmanuel Colombie, the head of RSF's Latin America desk. "The police and judicial authorities must investigate it thoroughly and not neglect the possibility that it was linked to their journalistic activities.

"The destruction and theft of equipment and information belonging to media outlets constitute a grave violation of free speech rights. The authorities must crack down firmly on such violations, which are only too common in Argentina, and must prosecute those responsible."

Around 20 intruders attacked and badly damaged most of the installations and equipment of the Buenos Aires-based daily El Tiempo Argentino on 4 July with the aim of expelling the journalists' cooperative that was running the newspaper.

RSF is also concerned about the lawsuit that Emiliano Yacobitti, the financial director of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and one of the leaders of the UCR party, brought against Alejandro Bercovich, the co-presenter of a programme on the TV news channel C5N and columnist for the BAE daily newspaper , on 13 December. Yacobitti is seeking 75,000 pesos (4,500 euros) in damages because Bercovich used Twitter to report the existence of allegations of a network of corruption within UBA and the Clinicas Hospital in which Yacobitti was supposedly involved. Bercovich told RSF that he just did his job as a journalist by reporting information in the public domain about a public personality. The lawsuit has all the hallmarks of an attempt to use the courts to suppress coverage of alleged corruption.

Argentina is ranked 54th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
RSF calls for release of website founder abducted last month

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, RSF calls for release of website founder abducted last month, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf52c4.html [accessed 4 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) fears that the Huang Qi, the founder of the 64 Tianwang news website, has been mistreated since his abduction-style arrest more than three weeks ago and calls for his immediate release.

Aged 53, Huang has not been seen since he was taken from his home in Chengdu, in the western province of Sichuan, during a raid on 28 November involving 15 police officers from Chengdu and the nearby cities of Mianyang and Neijing.

According to several sources, Huang's family was told last week that he is accused of "divulging state secrets abroad," a charge that is often used against the government's critics and can result in long prison sentences.

"One of the few major independent news websites in China, 64 Tianwang and its citizen-journalists are still being systematically hounded by the Chinese authorities 12 years after its founder, Huang Qi, was awarded RSF's Press Freedom Prize in the cyber-dissident category," RSF editor-in-chief Virginie Dangles said.

"Huang's abduction is part of an ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders in China and fears are growing that the authorities may be mistreating and torturing him. We call for his immediate and unconditional release."

Huang is apparently being held on a criminal code violation at Mian Yang detention centre and will probably remain in detention for at least a year pending trial, the site's editor said. Police detained a contributor to the site, Pu Fei, on 28 November after a tweet about Huang's disappearance that was subsequently deleted. Pu was released on 4 December.

Huang's mother, Pu Wenqing, 83, was herself seen for the last time on 30 November, when she was taken to a hospital in Sichuan province. Her current location and circumstances are unknown.

Before his arrest, Huang signed a document saying he wanted a lawyer if arrested (a common practice among Chinese activists). However, the document is missing. As a result, no lawyer can take on his case because a family member must sign an authorisation and his mother cannot be located.

Huang's health is a source of great concern. He suffers from acute nephritis (a kidney condition) and needs daily treatment. According to China's criminal procedure law, if Huang is suspected of a crime, the Public Security Bureau can hold him for 37 days before deciding whether to arrest him formally or release him.

Huang's health is a source of great concern. He suffers from acute nephritis (a kidney condition) and needs daily treatment. According to China's criminal procedure law, if Huang is suspected of a crime, the Public Security Bureau can hold him for 37 days before deciding whether to arrest him formally or release him.

Last month, 64 Tianwang was awarded RSF's 2016 Press Freedom Prize in the media category.

China is ranked 176th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index, while President Xi Jiping is on RSF's list of press freedom predators.
Will threats against Siberian journalist go unpunished again?

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Will threats against Siberian journalist go unpunished again?, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf6154.html [accessed 4 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for an immediate investigation into death threats against Mikhail Afanasyev, the editor of the regional news website Novy Fokus in Khakassia, in south-central

Siberia, from a criminal gang whose activities he covered.

A month after drawing attention to the impunity enjoyed by the gang in Kuraga, in the southern part of the Krasnoyarsk region, Afanasyev received a call from the gang's leader, Andrei Ashcheulov, which he recorded and posted online on 15 December.

Using threatening language, Ashcheulov and a friend calling himself Yevgeny ordered Afanasyev to delete his article. Comments such as "Hello, kamikaze," "I'm already nearby" and "I'll rip everything out of you" can be heard throughout the conversation.

Afanasyev reported the threats to the local police on 19 December. He is now about to file another complaint accusing his callers of "obstructing a journalist's legal professional activity" under article 144 of the Russian criminal code. He said no action was taken after he filed a complaint earlier this year about similar threats.

"The only agency that has been quick to react is the Yenisei district branch of [the communications and media control agency] Roskomnadzor," he said. A few hours after he posted the recording online on 15 December, Roskomnadzor ordered him to either remove it or "beep out" all the swearwords.

"The threats against Mikhail Afanasyev are grave and must be taken seriously," said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. "Given the available evidence, it would be incomprehensible if no investigation were quickly launched and carried through to the end.

"We will follow this case closely in order to see whether or not it is yet another example of the impunity enjoyed by only too many of those responsible for attacks against journalists in Russia."

Afanasyev, who has often had run-ins with the local authorities, founded Novy Fokus in 2005 with the prize money of a journalism award from the Glasnost Defence Foundation, an RSF partner organization.

Russia is ranked 148th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Morocco: Security Services Make Gains As Terror Threat Grows

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 15 December 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Morocco: Security Services Make Gains As Terror Threat Grows, 15 December 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf81d4.html [accessed 4 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Moroccan investigators arrested an alleged jihadist with links to al-Qaeda in the city of Azrou in November. The man, a computer engineer, had disseminated jihadist propaganda and was suspected of involvement in online banking fraud that had allowed him to seize large sums of money, according to the authorities. Reports quoting the interior ministry linked the man to al-Qaeda and Jabat Fateh al-Sham in Syria (Morocco World News, November 20).

The arrest follows the successful dismantling in June of a supposed Islamic State (IS) terrorist cell, composed of six people with links to IS in Libya. The group was operational in the cities of Agadir, Amzmiz, Chichaoua and Laqliaa and was planning suicide attacks, according to Moroccan authorities (Tel Quel, July 2016). In May, the security services arrested a 33-year-old Chadian man accused of leading an IS cell in Tangiers. He was suspected of planning an attack equivalent to the devastating Casablanca bombings in 2003, in which 33 people were killed; in November, a court jailed him for 20 years on terrorism charges (Morocco World News, November 11).

Morocco has seen a number of attacks since the 2003 Casablanca bombing, including one blamed on al-Qaeda that killed 17 people in Marrakesh in 2011. But for a country that is a key exporter of Islamist recruits to jihadist causes abroad  by some estimates at least 1,500 Moroccans are fighting for IS in Syria and Iraq, and that number may even be higher  its security services have proved relatively successful at countering terrorist threats at home (Daily Sabah, November 8, 2015). Its foreign intelligence service also maintains good relations with its European counterparts. Following the attacks in Paris in 2015, the Moroccan authorities tipped off French police leading to the raid on the flat where the attacks' alleged mastermind, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgium national of Moroccan origin, was hiding out.

The success is partly a matter of experience  the authorities have been tracking Moroccan fighters at least since the 19791989 Soviet-Afghan war, in which hundreds of Moroccans took part. But Morocco also benefits from having one of the region's more open political landscapes, which has allowed it counter negative socio-economic factors such as high youth unemployment. Morocco's successful weathering of the "Arab Spring," and its measured response to the recent protests over the killing of a fisherman  he was crushed to death in a garbage truck after refusing to pay a bribe to police  are a testament to this (New Arab, October 30).

Nonetheless, the Moroccan authorities must remain vigilant. In an audio recording obtained by al-Jazeera in May, the head of the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, threatened attacks on Morocco (al-Jazeera, May 4). While it is highly doubtful al-Sahrawi's group has that kind of capacity, the recent arrests indicate Morocco remains at risk from attacks by domestic terrorist cells.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Iraq: Sectarian Tensions Will Outlast Mosul Offensive

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 15 December 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Iraq: Sectarian Tensions Will Outlast Mosul Offensive, 15 December 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf8834.html [accessed 4 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

As efforts to recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS) militants move into their third month, Iraqi security forces in the capital are struggling to prevent attacks in and around Baghdad, a reminder of the sectarian tensions that will persist even after the Mosul offensive is concluded.

In what is now a fairly routine announcement, the Iraqi defense ministry said on December 1 that security forces had arrested four men linked to IS's so-called Wilayat Baghdad. Reportedly the group was planning attacks on security forces and civilian targets. Such attacks are a near daily occurrence. Indeed, in the days following the arrests, the capital was hit by another series of blasts, including attacks using "sticky" bombs attached to the underside of civilian busses, which left at least 2 people dead and 13 more wounded (Iraqi News, December 7).

Wilayat Baghdad, which operates as a kind of provincial arm of IS, has been behind scores of bombings over the last few years. In March 2015, Iraqi intelligence rounded up more than 30 alleged members of the group reportedly responsible for 52 attacks in areas around the capital (al-Arabiya, March 15, 2015). Two months later, Iraqi military intelligence claimed to have killed the group's leader, a man they named Abu Walid (Iraqi News, May 12, 2015; Tasnim, May 13, 2015). Those successes, however, brought only the most temporary of reprieves. Wilayat Baghdad has remained active, continuing to release propaganda videos online and staging attacks around the capital. It is unlikely the eventual capture of Mosul, whenever that happens, will put an end to this.

Part of the problem is that the Sunni areas surrounding Baghdad, the so-called "Baghdad belt," are still a fertile area for recruitment by insurgents. The situation there was made worse in the build-up to the Mosul offensive because Shia militias were turned loose on areas north and east of the capital nominally to maintain security, but indiscriminate violence and looting exacerbated sectarian tensions.

In February, a plan to build a concrete security barrier around Baghdad, which had been first mooted several years earlier, was resurrected in the hope of preventing infiltration from insurgents (al-Arabiya, February 3). Such a plan is fraught with problems. It alienates communities outside the capital and does little to prevent sleeper cells already present in Baghdad. Further, for many the move is simply a plot for a Shia land grab (al-Jazeera, February 10).

IS likes to use the persistent attacks on Baghdad to demonstrate that, even as it loses ground, it retains the ability to strike across the country. But the attacks are also indicative of Iraq's sectarian tensions, an issue that will not be brought under control with the eventual re-capture of Mosul.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Uzbekistan's New President Focuses on Improving Regional Relations

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Umida Hashimova Publication Date 15 December 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 197 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Uzbekistan's New President Focuses on Improving Regional Relations, 15 December 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 197, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf93b4.html [accessed 4 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 fifth presidential election in the history of independent Uzbekistan on December 4 has ended with a definite win for Shavkat Mirziyaev, previously the country's prime minister for 13 years under the late Islam Karimov. As Uzbekistan enters its post-Karimov era, it is important to examine the new president's foreign policy priorities.

Uzbekistan has been and will remain a country of competing interests for major world powers, such as Russia, China, Europe, and the United States. Mirziyaev's election program and his government (when he served as an interim president after Karimov's death in September) have outlined some of his foreign policies on several occasions. It is unlikely he would deviate from those stated positions now that he has been elected for a four-year term, which allows us to project outlines of Uzbekistan's foreign policy under the new president. Those stances are: non-intervention in the internal matters of foreign countries; non-alignment with any military organizations, including non-deployment of foreign military bases on the territory of Uzbekistan; non-membership in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU); and improvement of relations with Uzbekistan's immediate neighbors that will be implemented as a priority matter (Liberal-Democratic Party, October 20).

Overall, the foreign policy stances indicate little change from the previous policies, as the first three positions are legacies of Islam Karimov. Senator Sodiq Safoev, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, have also recently confirmed that no major shifts will take place in Uzbekistan's foreign relations (Gazeta.uz, November 30; MFA, December 8). Surprisingly, the government of Uzbekistan chose not to overemphasize the fourth and fully new foreign policy stance to improve relations with Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Mirziyaev introduced it subtly as soon as he became the interim president and quickly it became not only a new foreign policy, but also a strategic priority.

China and Russia will remain the two key players and partners for Uzbekistan. China as a major investor in the country's infrastructure, largely in building roads and transportation corridors within its multi-country "One Belt One Road" strategy. These investments aim to enhance Uzbekistan's road inter-connectivity with Europe to the north and South-East Asia and South Asia to the south. Russia and China are the largest export markets for Uzbekistan (World Bank, January 2016). Unlike China, Russia prefers to ensure Uzbekistan's alignment with its integration agenda and therefore would want to see Uzbekistan as a member of the EEURussia's political, rather than economic, body designed to extend Moscow's control over the former Soviet countries. To end the speculations that Uzbekistan was interested in EEU membership, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Shavkat Tolaganov, reiterated the fact that at this point the EEU was not beneficial for his country (RIA Novosti, November 29). This means that Uzbekistan will have to play a delicate political game to retain Russia as an export market, without entering into relations with the EEU as a political-economic body. Both China and Russia are also the two major players in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the most significant regional organization for Uzbekistan.

The importance of economic development, economic cooperation, investments, and foreign markets for Uzbekistan in domestic and foreign affairs cannot be underplayed. The new president's Liberal-Democratic party represents entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses and therefore, their interests and new economic opportunities are at the center of Uzbekistan's foreign policy. Close relations with China and Russia are quite logical and both countries are not slowing down their economic endeavors in Uzbekistan; they might be even competing with each other to start new companiesbetween January and September, China started 78 companies and Russia 75, both becoming leading players in the country (Review.uz, October 17). In addition, Uzbekistan doubled its earnings from agriculture exports to Russia within a year, from $41 million to $89 million (Russias Ministry of Agriculture, November 11).

European countries and the US have been mainly engaged in promoting the liberal democratic values Uzbekistan had committed itself to. Uzbekistan's economic cooperation with European countries and the US is not nearly as close as that with China and Russia. The incoming US leadership has vowed to scale back Washington's traditional democracy promoting agenda, while the rise of populism in Europe, along with a string of changes of leaderships, might decelerate the human rights and democracy values agenda that help determine EU relations with Uzbekistan. The C5+1 initiative, a regional platform involving the five Central Asian countries and the US, launched in 2015, has so far been a symbolic form of cooperation. The initiative allocated $15 million for all five countries for five projects, which clearly will not result in any serious infrastructure or investment ventures (Uzdaily.uz, August 5, 2016). US-Uzbekistan relations will also be dominated by the problems with returning to Uzbekistan around $850,000 that supposedly belong to Gulnara Karimova, the late president Karimov's elder daughter (Ozodlik, November 4). The money has been associated with corrupt deals and bribes, allegedly received by Karimova, which complicates its repatriation to Uzbekistan.

While Uzbekistan's overall foreign policy will not experience a major overhaul, the country's foreign affairs will be indisputably dominated by the expected breakthroughs in relations with its immediate neighbors. Uzbekistan also reaffirmed that EEU membership is not on the table, ending speculations that the country might be moving closer to Russia after the change of leadership. With minimal economic relations with the West, the US and Europe will continue serving as a guide for liberal democratic values for Uzbekistan, and, importantly, as a balancer to other powers with influence in the country, such as Russia and China.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russian Mission in Syria Beset by Problems Despite Victory in Aleppo

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Pavel Felgenhauer Publication Date 15 December 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 197 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russian Mission in Syria Beset by Problems Despite Victory in Aleppo, 15 December 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 197, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cf9c64.html [accessed 4 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 sudden recapture by Islamic State (IS) of the Syrian desert town of Palmyra has caused embarrassment and recriminations in Moscow at a time when the Russian strategy in Syria seemed to be working to plan and victory was close at hand. Opposition rebel forces in Aleppo have been routed and their defenses smashed, unable to hold their ground against the relentless assault by forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad, together with the Iranian-led and financed Shia militias from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Lebanese Hezbollah, supported by overwhelming Russian-organized and supplied firepower.

On December 13, a ceasefire was announced to allow for the remaining rebels to surrender and leave Aleppo, but it did not hold. Pro-Assad forces continued to pound the city, supported by the Russian military, which accused the rebels of breaking the ceasefire (militarynews.ru, December 14). Turkey intervened with the Kremlin to prevent the final extermination of the opposition and civilians cramped in the several square kilometers of Aleppo still under rebel control. President Vladimir Putin apparently promised to allow the rebels a free way out (militarynews.ru, December 14). Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov described the talks with US officials on Syria as "fruitless chatter" (besplodnye posidelki), accusing the US of trying "to delay us in order to save the terrorists." According to Lavrov, in the future Moscow will be working with Turkey instead (RIA Novosti, December 14).

Russia's most spectacular success in Syria was the capture last March of the ancient desert town of Palmyra, which had been under IS control since May 2015. Russian bombers, helicopters and special forces assaulted Palmyra, while sappers removed mines left by IS. Last May, a major gala symphony concert was organized by Moscow in the ancient ruins of the Palmyra Theater. Hundreds of journalists, artists and dignitaries were specially brought in for the event in order to demonstrate Russia's success and power. The sudden fall of Palmyra has come as a painful humiliation for Moscow (Kommersant, December 11).

IS forces moved in through the desert, surprised and routed the al-Assad garrison in Palmyra. Russia deployed massive airpower: 64 Russian bombing sorties were reported and long-range sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles were fired, but the al-Assad forces fled. Oil and natural gas fields in the vicinity of Palmyra were apparently also overtaken (militarynews, December 11).

Army General (rt.) Yuri Baluyevsky, the former Chief of the General Staff and first deputy defense minister, harshly criticized Russian and Syrian generals, who failed to anticipate the IS offensive: "A total failure of intelligence and military planning." According to Baluyevsky, it was totally wrong to follow US advice to announce pauses in fighting and seek ceasefires (Interfax, December 11). The Russian command announced that some 5,000 IS fighters attacked Palmyra, but this apparently is a serious exaggeration. Massing such a force under persistent bombing in the open desert is suicidal, and the movement of large troop numbers would have been easily detected.

Lavrov accused the United States of allowing IS fighters to leave the besieged Iraqi city of Mosul undisturbed and giving them an open corridor to attack Palmyra (militarynews.ru, December 14). According to Russian military sources, IS fighters in Palmyra captured cashes of arms and munitions (Kommersant, December 11). The low quality of al-Assad's troops and the lack of good infantry have been one of the main problems of the Russian campaign in Syria. For the decisive offensive in Aleppo, the radical Shia organization Hezbollah reportedly moved into Syria two additional brigades (one heavy armor and the otherlight), increasing its overall presence in Syria to some 15,000 (Izvestia, November 16). In Aleppo, the Hezbollah fighters were the tip of the spear, but there are not enough of them for all the Syrian fronts.

The Palmyra debacle came after another embarrassing setback: the failed Syrian mission of Russia's only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which has lost two jet fighters (a Su-33 and a MiG-29K) because of apparent technical failures of the carrier's landing gears. The Kuznetsov's jets are not specifically designed to attack land targets and cannot take off from deck with any serious payload, because the Kuznetsov has no plane catapult. Jets sent from the deck of the Kuznetsov were reportedly forced to land at the Russian airbase Hmeymim, near Latakia, to rearm and reload. At present, the Kuznetsov is apparently out of action, pending an investigation. Meanwhile, most of its air wing (eight Su-33 and two MiG-29K) have been moved to Hmeymim, which makes little overall military sense (Kommersant, December 8).

The Russian war effort in Syria badly needs an additional source of good infantry to mop up after massive bombardments and afterward hold the "liberated" territory. Obvious sources of recruitment are disgruntled opposition fighters, preferably not religious fanatics who can be turned. Such a strategy worked well in Chechnya in the early 2000s, when massive bombardment broke the moral of the resistance and some switched sides. A special inter-service group is now operating in Syriathe Center for Reconciliation (Tsentr Primirenya), trying to split the opposition and to recruit fighters. According to this center: "Some 2,215 fighters have surrendered in Aleppo after the offensive began and 2,137 have been pardoned" (militarynews.ru, December 12).

Still, the acute deficit of reliable infantry is seriously hampering operations, and this may eventually lead to more direct Russian involvement in ground operations. Reportedly, a contingent of Chechen troops has been sent to Syria (EDM, December 8). Chechnya's strongman Ramzan Kadyrov has disowned these special forceswhich is understandable as they are not "Kadyrovtsy," but the troops of his nemesis, the "Yamadayevtsy" and Kokiyevtsy," also pro-Russian, but anti-Kadyrovthat have been manning two special companies in the federal army (kadyrov_95/, December 8). Four reinforced companies of these Muslim troops are reportedly already deployed in Syria as military policethree companies of Chechens and one mixed with other Russian Sunni Muslims. These Sunni-Russian military policemen (more than 500) will reportedly be deployed as occupation troops in Aleppo to man checkpoints, and, possibly in understanding with Ankara, to guard Aleppo's Sunni population against possible Shia militia excesses (Gazeta.ru, December 8).

State TV channel "Rossya" in its flagship Sunday news program Vesti Nedely showed footage and interviews of Russian Special Forces directly involved in the fighting on the frontline in Syria, "killing radicals" (vesti.ru, December 11). It seems mission creep may be taking over as more Russian soldiers are getting involved in ground operations and are now in harm's way.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Islamic State in Yemen

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Yasir Yosef Kuoti Publication Date 15 December 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Islamic State in Yemen, 15 December 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cfa9f4.html [accessed 4 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.

Since October 2016, Islamic State (IS) has increasingly been on the defensive. The terrorist group is losing territory in northern Syria  including the historic town of Dabiq lost to Syrian rebels  and is likely to lose the northern Iraqi city of Mosul to Iraqi forces in the coming months. Meanwhile, the group's Libyan affiliate is close to losing the entirety of its stronghold in Sirte.

While defeating IS in Iraq and Syria is one of the most pressing international security challenges facing the world, equal attention should be paid to the terrorist group's regional affiliate in Yemen (IS-Y). IS Yemeni affiliate is steadily growing in strength, so much so that when the offensives on Mosul and Raqqa are finally over, IS leadership, as well as the rank-and-file, could potentially relocate their operations to Yemen.

It is essential then for the United States and its counter-IS coalition partners develop a military strategy to eliminate IS-Y before it can fully mature.

The Origins of Islamic State in Yemen

The presence of IS in Yemen was first openly acknowledged two years ago when, on November 9, 2014, an Arabic-language audio recording titled The Yemeni Bay'a to the Islamic State surfaced online. In the recording, a group of jihadist fighters in Yemen vowed to follow in the footsteps of Muslim Prophet Muhammad "to exhibit obedience to God and the Prophet who taught us to be united, we announce our allegiance and obedience to Caliph Ibrahim bin Awad bin Ibrahim al-Qurashi al-Husseini [a.k.a. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]" (Archive.org, November 11).

Four days later, on November 13, 2014, al-Baghdadi acknowledged this affiliate (Bawabit al-Harakat al-Islamiya, April 29). Since then, IS-Y has been building a strong presence in a number of Sunni-dominated locales in the Aden, Hadramawt, Sanaa, Taizz, Lahij, Shabwah and al-Bayda governorates.

Three reasons are likely to have motivated the timing of al-Baghdadi's announcement. The first is related to IS as an aspiring global terrorist organization  its weekly Arabic-language publication, al-Naba, calls for fighting the "unbelievers wherever they are on Earth until they become believers" (al-Naba, Issue 14, January 18). The second is related to the idiosyncrasies of the Yemeni conflict, particularly the collapse of governance and lack of security that followed the Houthis' capture of the capital Sanaa in September 2014. This situation had presented IS-Y with the opportunity to brand itself as the savior of Sunnis who felt targeted and humiliated by the Zaidi/Shia Houthis.

The third is related to reported internal divisions inside the Yemen-based leadership of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) (Al-Jazeera Arabic, February 19). Potential AQAP recruits are less likely to be attracted to a disunited jihadist program, and subsequently are more willing to join the more visibly successful IS.

Leadership and Strategy

The most well-known IS-Y leader is Nashwan al-Adeni (a.k.a. Abu Salman), the wali (governor) of IS-Y's wilyat in Aden. His name suggests origins in the Aden governorate, but little is known about IS-Y's leadership or chain of command. Information is also scarce on IS-Y's rank and file, but it is probable that its top leadership is made up of former AQAP members, who are mainly Yemeni and Saudi nationals with an intimate knowledge of Yemen.

Nurturing IS-Y is part of the strategy of the group's parent organization for building a global caliphate. This strategy rests on attempting to mobilize Muslims to engage in jihad against unbelievers in the West and alleged apostate states in the Muslim world, and it relies on brutal violence and a use of social media far more sophisticated than that employed by other terrorist organizations (al-Naba, Issue 16, February 1).

Yemen has great significance to IS's apocalyptic worldview (al-Wafid, December 21). [1] According to some readings of Islamic theology common to both Shia and many Sunni schools of thought, a leading figure by the name of al-Yamani will appear at the end of time to aid the movement of al-Mahdi al-Muntazar in ridding the earth of evil. Al-Muntazar will appear in the last days, along with the Messiah, to create a universal government compatible with the moral values of Islam. His movement will intellectually and militarily takes on unjust movements and systems around the world. Al-Yamani is to lead the movement in Saudi Arabia.

More prosaically, Yemen is strategically important for IS. Its shared border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would mean IS could potentially use Yemen as a base for spreading disorder across the border to the Kingdom. It is also central to IS' strategy of exhausting its enemies by creating multiple frontlines and meshes with the aspirations of imposing a global caliphate (al-Naba, Issue 16, February 1).

Tactical Operations

IS-Y is intent on undermining efforts by the internationally recognized Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) to build a stable Yemeni state. It employs a narrow set of tactics to this end, including targeted assassinations of government officials and security personnel, suicide attacks, and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks (al-Naba, Issue 36, June 21; al-Naba, Issue 24, March 28; al-Naba, Issue 18, February 16).

IS-Y's attacks principally target the ROYG security forces and, to a lesser extent, Houthi forces and allied military units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. The violence is not indiscriminate. An analysis of attacks claimed by IS-Y shows they calculated and coordinated as part of a strategic campaign to bleed the fledgling ROYG in order to carve out territory.

Since December 2015, al-Naba has published details on at least 21 IS-Y attacks in Yemen. Of these, 18 targeted the ROYG security forces. In some of its attacks, IS-Y was able to carry out sophisticated operations with suicide bombers. This was evident in an attack on a military recruitment center in Aden City carried out on August 28, which left 60 people dead and dozens more wounded. In what was one of the most deadly and sophisticated attacks by IS-Y to date in Yemen, an IS-Y fighter bearing the nom de guerre Abu Sufyan al-Adeni drove a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) through a number of security checkpoints to the recruitment center before detonating his explosives (al-Naba, Issue 45, August 29).

Such attacks indicate IS-Y's capabilities to conduct large-scale, mass causality operations, but the group has also conducted targeted killings against security officials, particularly in Aden City, the ROYG's temporary capital. Assassinations claimed by IS-Y include that of police colonel Marwan Abu Shawqi in Aden City's al-Mindarah neighborhood; the killing of National Army commander, Colonel Badr al-Yafe'i in Aden City; the killings of officers Hafez al-Baiti and Wisam al-San'ani of the Sheikh Othman Police Department Investigative Unit in Aden City's al-Mansourah's District; and the killing of officer Salim al-Hasani, also of the Sheikh Othman Police Department Investigative Unit (al-Naba, Issue 29, May 02; al-Naba, Issue 30, May 10; al-Naba, Issue 36, June 21; al-Naba, Issue 41, August 02).

Differences With AQAP

While displaying many of its parent body's violent traits, IS-Y appears to have also made a number of organizational adjustments that distinguish it from IS and its rival AQAP in Yemen.

Unlike IS and AQAP, IS-Y appears to largely exempt civilians from its attacks. Though this is perhaps due to the group's limited interactions with locals, it reduces the chances of friction and conflict with the local population.

In fact, IS-Y appears to have little interest at all in the local population. Unlike AQAP (or IS in Iraq and Syria), IS-Y does not concern itself with providing day-to-day services as a matter of policy. On a number of occasions IS-Y has criticized, in writing, such soft-power strategies on the part of AQAP. When AQAP paved some local roads and distributed insecticides, IS-Y condemned the work, likening the group to a commercial company. For IS-Y, social services and interactions with locals are a distraction from its jihadist program. IS-Y has even attributed the AQAP's decline to its strategy of "[governing] by worldly rules, trying to please people [and] forgetting to please God" (al-Naba, Issue 30, May 10).

IS-Y sees engagement with the needs and desires of the local population as loaded with potential confrontation when those needs and desires are not met. Locals might also influence the targets of the groups' attacks. IS-Y has criticized AQAP for "fighting the enemies of the locals, not those of its own, leaving untouched the tyrants of infidelity, that are the new [Yemeni] government and its soldier," which may explain why IS-Y is particularly focused on targeting ROYG security forces.

Security Breakdown

IS-Y has been able to expand in the midst of a deteriorating security situation caused by the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and their allies, and the ROYG. Sectarian strife and security disarray, prompted by the Houthis' capture of the capital Sanaa in 2014, has afforded IS-Y the opportunity to thrive.

The group is likely to expand farther as the conflict, exacerbated by Saudi Arabia's intervention, drags on. Peace talks have seen little progress, but even if a relative peace can be brokered it is likely that IS' presence in Yemen would be unaffected. The group appears able to coexist with local Sunnis, who are adamant the Houthis have no political future in Yemen.

IS-Y will pose a growing threat to efforts to build reliable state institutions in Yemen. The current government seems unable to deliver on its security promises, including in its own capital. It also appears unable to carry out serious reforms to institutions wrecked by decades of bad governance under the regime of former President Saleh and years of civil strife.

With international attention focused on Iraq and Syria, there has so far been only limited interest in IS-Y. However, that will need to change going forward, and a preemptive political-military strategy must be developed to contain the group before it is too late.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Foreign Fighters and Sectarian Strikes: Islamic State Makes Gains in 'Af-Pak' Region

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Animesh Roul Publication Date 15 December 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Foreign Fighters and Sectarian Strikes: Islamic State Makes Gains in 'Af-Pak' Region, 15 December 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585cfaf84.html [accessed 4 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.

Since its formation nearly two years ago, Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, known as IS Khorasan, has struggled to maintain a foothold in an ever-competitive jihadist landscape. Its disregard for local sensitivities and a number of setbacks on the battlefield had relegated it to a violent distraction in Afghanistan. In the last few months, however, IS Khorasan has claimed several deadly sectarian strikes that have inflicted mass casualties and signaled a possible resurgence of the group in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the epicenter of its imaginary Khorasan region.

IS Khorasan gained its new strength through forging alliances with local sectarian pro-al-Qaeda or Taliban militant groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al Alami (LeJ-A), Lashkar-e Islam (LeI), or disgruntled Taliban factions like Jundallah and Jamaat ul Ahrar (JuA), which have been active in the region for many years. It has also reportedly recruited operatives from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).

The success of this strategy is manifest in the geographical distribution of the recent attacks, which suggests a logistical penetration and influence that extends from Kabul and Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Quetta and Peshawar in neighboring Pakistan.

Cross-Border Activities

Since its emergence as a province of the Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's so-called caliphate, most of IS-Khorasan's activities in the region have been controlled and managed from Nangarhar province in Afghanistan. Its influence has extended since early 2016, with the group demonstrating its violent intent and capability on either side of the border. Although IS' central authority in Syria has, via its Amaq news agency, claimed responsibility for most of these attacks, on the ground the operations are carried out by militants from IS-Khorasan.

In Pakistan, IS Khorasan-led violence reached new heights with the August 8 suicide bombing at the Quetta civil hospital that killed over 70 people and injured more than a hundred others. Those killed were mostly members of the Shia community and lawyers from the Balochistan Bar Association (Dawn, August 9). IS' Amaq news agency claimed  in a report purportedly released from Cairo, Egypt  that the attack had been carried out by a martyr from the Islamic State" who blew himself up near "a gathering of justice ministry employees and Pakistani policemen in Quetta. (Dawn, August 9).

Likewise, IS Khorasan-linked militants carried out a similarly violent attack against security services on October 25, in which a three-man suicide operation targeted a police training college located on the Sariab road in Quetta, killing and injuring more than 200 people (Express Tribune, October 24).

Most recently, on November 12, a suicide bombing at the Sufi shrine of Shah Noorani in Balochistan killed more than 60 people and injured more than 100 worshipers. The explosion, which was triggered by a teenage suicide bomber, was claimed by the IS via the Amaq news agency (Samaa TV News, November 13).

Concurrently, across the border in Afghanistan, IS-Khorasan-led violence reached a new height with the July 23 Dehmazang Square suicide attack in Kabul in which more than 80 people, mostly ethnic Hazara Shia, were killed (Khaama Press, July 23).

Abu Omar Khorasani, a spokesperson for the group, said the Dehmazang attack was in response to support offered by some Afghan Shia members to the Assad regime in Syria, with the help of Shia Iran. Speaking to the media, Khorasani threatened further attacks against Hazara Shias saying that, "unless they [Hazaras Shias] stop going to Syria and stop being slaves of Iran, we will definitely continue such attacks" (Reuters, July 26).

On November 21, nearly 30 people were killed following a suicide bombing inside the Shia mosque of Baqir al-Olum, in Kabul, during a religious ceremony commemorating the 40th day of Ashura. IS released a photograph of Hamza Al-Khorasani, the suicide bomber involved in the bombing. This was not an isolated attack by IS Khorasan on an annual Shia religious ceremony. There had been similar attacks in previous months targeting Shia minorities during their holy month of Muharram. On October 12, IS Khorasan militants targeted the Karte Sakhi Shia shrine in Kabul, killing 18 people, and another attack in Mazar-e-Sharif against Shia worshippers left 14 people dead (Khaama Press, October 12; Al Jazeera Occtober 12).

Anti-Shia Ideology

A recent issue of the IS propaganda magazine Rumiyah attempted, indirectly, to justify violence against Shia Muslims and others who do not subscribe to IS' ideals by invoking the 9th century Afghan Sultan Mahmud Ibn Subuktikin, better known as Sultan Mamud of Ghazni, who massacred "heretical sects" during his reign, in particular Ismaili Shias and Hindus. [1]

In a recent audio statement, the newly appointed IS spokesperson, Abu al Hassan al-Muhajir, made clear the group's intention to target Shia Muslims and others around the strongholds of IS, and claimed that the group was fighting on behalf of Sunnis everywhere "from Baghdad to Beirut, from Aleppo to Damascus, and from Khorasan to Sanaa." [2]

Despite IS-Khorasan's surge and apparent consolidations in the region, Pakistan continues to deny the group's existence on its soil. Instead, Pakistani officials blame local militant formations such as LeJ-al Alami and dismiss IS claims of responsibility as attempts by the group to "isolate Pakistan in the international community" (Reuters, November 13; Express Tribune, October 26). Many in Afghanistan, however, believe that IS Khorasan has the blessing of Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence and the army (Khaama Press, July 18; Afghanistan Times, August 21).

The usual regional bickering notwithstanding, in early August this year, General John W Nicholson, the commander of the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, made it clear that almost 70 percent of IS Khorasan militants present in Afghanistan are former members of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and came from Orakzai Agency of Pakistan, bordering Nangrahar (Express Tribune, August 1; The News, September 4).

He has also said there are up to 1,300 IS militants in the country receiving money, guidance and communications support from IS leaders in Syria and Iraq (Afghanistan Times, September 24).

Recruitment of Foreign Fighters

Akin to IS' successful recruitment of foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq over the last couple of years, IS Khorasan has invited sympathizers and fighters from across the region to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In an interview in Dabiq, carried out before his supposed death in August, the IS Khorasan leader Hafiz Saeed Khan urged Muslims to "unite and gather against the world of kufr (disbeliever), apostasy and atheism" and to "come forth to fight the kufr, mushrikin (polytheist), and murtaddin (those who reject Islam)" [3]

If the Afghan leader General Abdul Rashid Dostum is to be believed, that call has been successful, there are nearly 7,500 foreign IS fighters, including Chechen, Uzbek, Tajik, Iraqi, Syrian, Lebanese and Libyan fighters who are waiting to enter into northern Afghanistan (Heart of Asia, October 16). This June, reports emerged that about 20 people from India's Kerela state, including women and children, had travelled to Afghanistan to join the ranks of IS Khorasan (Economic Times, September 23).

Despite a number of setbacks since its formation in January 2015 as IS' eastern wilayat  including the deaths of founding members such as Abdul Rauf Khadim in February 2015 and Hafiz Saeed Khan in August this year  IS Khorasan has consolidated its position in recent months. Its successful mass-casualty attacks have attracted fringe militants, sidelined Taliban leaders and those unwilling to countenance a negotiated settlement with the government.

By co-opting dissatisfied local militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan and exploiting their material and manpower resources, IS Khorasan is leaving al-Qaeda, and to some extent even the Taliban, to play second fiddle for the time being.

NOTES:

[1] "Sultan Mahmud al Ghaznawi; Breaker of Idols, Subduer of Heresies" Rumiyah, No. 3, (November 2016), p, 39

[2] Audio for the speech by Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, (December 5) can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/hngnfzn

[3] Interview with "Wali of Khorasan", Dabiq, No 13, (January 2016), pp. 49-54

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
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.
Petaling Jaya, Selangor -- (ReleaseWire) -- 12/22/2016 --The majority of our time is spent at our workplaces, where the conditions of the environment may have either a positive or hazardous impact on our health and well-being. Having a well organised, safe, and healthy environment are conducive to our professional and social development, as dangerous exposures can have adverse consequences to our health.



There are viruses and germs all over our workspace due to various factors such as unhygienic dirty work areas, sick colleagues, and cross contamination from other germ hotspots. This applies to all areas of the work environment, from the washroom to pantry areas, work and common spaces, as well as storage areas. This increases the risk of catching illnesses more frequently, causing loss of time and productivity for employees as well as employers.



The Negative Impact of Poor Hygiene



Falling ill frequently can greatly interrupt our work performance, from causing missed deadlines, to incomplete tasks, unsatisfactory work quality, decreased productivity and so on.



The danger that lies behind an unhygienic environment can lead to the spread of common illnesses such as flu, cold, stomach issues, and headaches. Besides direct contamination, illnesses can be spread through cross contamination resulting in severe epidemic or even pandemic outbreaks including Hepatitis A and E, Influenza and typhoid fever that could be fatal. Even non-fatal illnesses such as a fungal infection might lead to irritation and discomfort that will affect our concentration at work.



Identifying Germ Hotspots in the Office Premises Enables Employers to Select the Right Hygiene Solutions for a Healthier Workplace



So where are germs commonly found? They are places where we tend to hold or touch, specifically doorknobs, handles, taps, sink, and more. Therefore, it is very important to clean and sanitise these areas properly and frequently. According to the World Health Organisation, hand hygiene is "the most important measure to avoid transmission of harmful germs."



A study has shown that because of our touch, germs are able to travel all the way from washrooms to working cubicles and eventually, back home with us. Identifying these high risk areas is the first step to:



1. Minimise cross contamination, thus reduced illnesses

2. Increase motivation and morale

3. Improve focus and productivity

4. A safer, healthier and more enjoyable place to work



Hygiene Detective Advocates Global Hand Washing and World Toilet Day



Initial, the experts in Hygiene, is spreading awareness on good hygiene habits with Hygiene Detective, a nationwide initiative launched in conjunction with the annual Global Handwashing Day and World Toilet Day that focuses on the importance of good hygiene. Historically, the primary target of these events has been children in developing countries. Recent reports are now increasingly highlighting hygiene shortcomings in adults and developed nations too.



This campaign highlights the germ hotspots and poor hygiene behaviours in office environments that can put the workforce at risk; with the aim of promoting good hygiene habits and creating a hygienic workplace via on-ground activation including interactive activities and videos.



Hygiene Habits result in Cleanliness



Cleanliness is said to be a dirt free state, and yet, it is impossible to get rid of germs entirely, as there are millions of germs circulating in the environment.



However, a clean workspace can also be referred to as a place where there is an all-round protection from germs. It should not only look clean but, actually be hygienic for the employer, employees and the visitors.



In an independent research conducted by Initial Hygiene UK, it was discovered that 57% of employees are more motivated and have higher morale when the workplace is clean and equipped with proper hygiene solutions. As a result, employees tend to prolong their employment duration as it shows that their wellbeing is taken into consideration.



A study suggests 64% of Malaysian office workers also believe the state of their office washrooms affects their productivity. A dirty place and clean mind cannot work together, hence good office hygiene can help improve employees' productivity and in turn result in better business performance and revenue. With improved staff morale and loyalty, there is lower absenteeism and recruitment cost can also be reduced.



"A clean and organised office environment will not just be beneficial for the staff but can also attract customers. Hygiene takes habit, and with ample of practices, it is easy and simple to create a clean working environment for all." said Carol Lam, the Managing Director of Rentokil Initial Malaysia.



About Initial Hygiene Malaysia

Initial Hygiene Malaysia has over 45 years of experience in the hygiene sector. Our services are backed by innovative research and development with a genuine understanding of a diverse range of business priorities. Besides Premium Scenting, we also provide a wide range of washroom hygiene services such as, hand hygiene, feminine hygiene and floor care.



http://www.initial.com.my/
Center for Performance is finished, more to do at Hall of Fame Village

local
(Corrects first paragraph to clarify Felda has agreed to purchase Eagle High stake, not has acquired)

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has agreed to purchase a 37 percent equity interest in Rajawali Group's PT Eagle High Plantations Tbk, one of Indonesia's largest palm oil companies, for $505.4 million.

In a statement, Felda said the acquisition will mean it will have access to more than 320,000 hectares of land in Indonesia, including more than 125,000 hectares of existing plantations.

The acquisition will also help Felda and its associate companies make further inroads into the lucrative and expanding domestic market in Indonesia, it said. (Reporting by Liz Lee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Adrian Croft)
Note all articles are independently researched and written by myself. However, if you buy via one of the links it may be an affiliate and I may earn a small commission.

Not long ago, we saw the Adidas Originals Gazelle GTX London trainers, a classic meets City Series thing. Now we have another  the Adidas Jeans Bern trainers.

I think you can guess the story. Yes, this is the Adidas Jeans shape from the 1980s, but with a makeover with the Bern colours, not to mention the Bern branding, Looking good too in that bold shade of blue.

The shoe has pigskin suede uppers, a leather lining, contrasting leather three stripes, a leather heel panel, gum outsole and gold branding.

All the sizes and an asking price of 75.

Find out more at the End Clothing website
Shuna Mya (C), a Rohingya Muslim, talks to reporters about the security operations in Ngakhura village, Maungdaw township, in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Dec. 21, 2016.

UPDATED at 9:45 A.M. EST on 2016-1-17

The decapitated body of a Muslim man from a village in Myanmars volatile Maungdaw township where a deadly attack on border guard police occurred in early October was found floating in a river a day after he had spoken with reporters who visited the area, a Rakhine state government official said on Friday.

The dead villager, Shuna Mya, spoke to reporters who were on a government-guided visit to the area where some local residents alleged that atrocities had been committed by security forces that moved into northern Rakhine state to look for insurgents after the Oct. 9 attacks that left nine policemen killed.

Shuna Mya lived in Ngakhura village, where one of the attacks on three area border guard stations took place. He answered questions posed by reporters from independent media organizations who visited Maungdaw on Dec. 21. An RFA Myanmar Service report was on the trip and spoke to Shuna Mya.

Villagers said they saw a group of people go to his house around midnight on the same day, and that Ngakhuya had been missing since Thursday morning.

We found Shuna Myas body today at 12:38 p.m., said Tin Maung Swe, secretary of the Rakhine state government. He answered reporters questions on Dec. 21 and left his home at around 6 p.m. that evening and didnt come back until morning.

Family members had been looking for him since around 7 a.m. on Dec. 22 and found his body without a head at noon, he said.

Shuna Mya also met with the governments Rakhine Investigation Commission during its visit to the area in mid-December to probe the behavior of the military during security operations in Muslim-majority areas amid accusations by Rohingya Muslims that soldiers had raped, tortured and killed villagers and burned down their homes.

As he had no problems in the village, it seems he was killed because he answered reporters questions, Tin Maung Swe said.

Although we cant say who exactly did it, it could be the Muslim insurgents who are living nearby in villages [under the guise of] villagers, he said.

Also on Friday, Myanmar's State Counselor's Office issued a statement on Facebook that Shuna Mya had been decapitated after he told the media that the army committed no acts of rape or arson and did not make arbitrary arrests. The statement appeared with a photo of the dead man's body and a caption reading "truth teller beheaded."

So far, no arrests have been made in the case.

"Although we can't say exactly who did it, it could have been done by Muslim insurgents who are living in nearby villages as villagers." Tin Maung Swe said, suggesting that Shuna Mya was killed in retaliation for possibly denying that soldiers committed atrocities against Muslims.

The Myanmar government allowed a group of 13 selected journalists to tour the affected areas for three days this week following pressure from rights groups, Western countries, and the United Nations to let them look into accusations of atrocities against the stateless Rohingya.

The area has been under lockdown since the border guard station raids and subsequent violence between security forces and armed men that forced 27,000 Rohingya villagers to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.

The government has blamed the attacks on militant Rohingya, but denied that national soldiers have violated any regulations during the security operations.

One dead, three injured in Shan state

Meanwhile, the latest bout of fighting in Myanmars northern Shan state between two ethnic armed groups has left one woman dead and three others injured, villagers told RFAs Myanmar Service.

The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SA) and Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) stopped fighting on Friday after three days of clashes in the town of Namtu, where one house was burned, a monastery in Mankyan town was damaged, and animals were killed, they said.

Some local villagers who previously fled the area have returned to their homes because troops from both sides are no longer there, residents said.

More than 1,800 others are staying in the town of Thibaw and more than 1,200 have sought shelter in monastery in Mansan village, but are in need of warm clothing and blankets, they said.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Myanmar on Friday to protect civilians caught up in the fighting.

The group said the Myanmar military has committed serious violations of the laws of war in northern Shan state and neighboring Kachin state with summary executions, torture, forced labor, looting of civilian property, and indiscriminate firing into civilian areas, amounting to apparent war crimes.

The recent fighting in northern Shan state has displaced thousands of residents, many of whom have streamed across the border to China for refuge.

While international attention has rightly focused on the crisis in Burmas Rakhine state, expanded fighting in northern Burma has resulted in a spike in rights abuses and civilian displacement, said Brad Adams, HRWs Asia director.

There is a critical need for the army and armed groups to end abuses and ensure civilian protection, especially for highly vulnerable villagers and displaced people close to the front lines, he said.

The RCSS/SSA has also engaged in periodic skirmishes with the Myanmar army, the latest of which occurred on Dec. 16 near Shan states capital Taunggyi.

Fighting between the two ethnic 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.

The TNLA formed a coalition called the Northern Alliance with three other ethnic armed groups and launched coordinated attacks on Nov. 20 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.

Reported by Min Thein Aung, Waiyan Moe Myint and Thin Thiri for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Italys interior minister said the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack that killed 12 people was shot dead by Italian police in a suburb of Milan.

Tunisian national Anis Amri was stopped in his car at about 3 a.m. on December 23 by two police officers for a routine identity check, Interior Minister Marco Minniti told a press conference in Rome.

Amri pulled a pistol from his backpack and shot the policeman who had asked for his documents. He was killed as police fired back, Minniti said.

Authorities have conducted all necessary checks and found that "the person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the terrorist attack [in Berlin]," Minniti said.

Minniti said the injuries sustained by the police officer who was shot are not life-threatening. He praised the two officers, saying they have done an extraordinary service to the community."

Amri, 24, became the target of a Europewide manhunt after German authorities said they believed he was the attacker who drove a large truck laden with steel into a Christmas market late on December 19, killing 12 people and injuring 48.

The extremist group Islamic State said on December 20 that it had inspired the attack, calling the assailant "a soldier of the Islamic State" who acted "in response to calls to target nationals of the coalition countries."

The same IS-affiliated news agency that issued that announcement said on December 23 that the perpetrator of the Berlin attack carried out a new attack against an Italian police patrol in Milan and was killed in a shootout.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he personally told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Amri was killed in Milan.

The attack, and indications that Amri had at one point been on German polices radar, has stoked anger toward Merkel and her governments policies toward migrants.

The right-wing political party known as AfD, whose popularity has surged amid growing dissatisfication toward migration policies, lambasted Merkel earlier this week .

Merkel, meanwhile, ordered an investigation into the fact that German authorities had tracked Amri for months on suspicion of planning an attack.

"We can be relieved at the end of this week that one acute danger has been ended," she said in Berlin. "But the danger of terrorism as a whole remains, as it has for many years -- we all know that."

German Chief Federal Prosecutor Peter Frank said investigators are trying to determine whether Amri had help from a network of supporters in planning the attack and then fleeing to Italy.

Authorities in Milan were able to identify Amri with help from fingerprints provided by German authorities, Frank said.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said that Amris death does not reduce the extremist threat to Germany. The threat "remains high" in Germany and security won't be scaled down, he said.

According to the German news agency dpa, Amri arrived in Italy in February 2011 among thousands of migrants from Tunisia who crossed the Mediterranean in the wake of the Arab Spring upheaval.

On October 23, 2011, he was arrested on suspicion of arson, assault, intimidation, and embezzlement, and was later sentenced to four years in prison.

Amri was released from prison in May 2015 and two months later entered Germany. Amris application for asylum was reportedly rejected by Germany.

With reporting by dpa, AP, AFP, and Reuters
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the deportation of Ukrainian citizens from Russian occupied regions in southern and southeastern Ukraine.

"The Russian occupation administration has begun mass forced relocation of residents of the left bank [of the Dnieper River] of the Kherson region...to the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea or the Russian Federation," the ministry said in a statement on November 3.



Similar deportations are also being carried out by Russia in the Zaporizhzhya, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions, as well as in Crimea, the ministry said.



Volodymyr Saldo, the Russian-appointed head of Kherson, announced on October 31 an expansion of what Russia has called the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens.

Saldo said he was moving people further into the region or to Russia because of the risks of a "massive missile attack."



Just three days earlier, Russian-installed officials announced that the evacuation process in Kherson region had ended.

Kyiv reiterated on November 3 that it saw the move as a "deportation." It also said reports continue circulating about the alleged mining of the Nova Kakhovska hydroelectric power plant by Russian troops.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy previously said that Ukraine suspected Russia had mined the dam and units of the power plant on the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine, and if it were blown up, more than 80 settlements, including Kherson, would be in danger of flooding.



The Foreign Ministry statement also accused Russian troops of looting industrial, cultural, educational, and medical institutions, as well as private houses and apartments.



The ministry called on the international community to condemn the forced relocation, to introduce new sanctions against Russia, and to increase military aid to Ukraine for the liberation of its occupied territories.

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 Ukrainian military's General Staff also said on November 3 that Russian forces continued the so-called evacuation of the local population in the Kherson region and accused them of taking away civilian and communal property, even equipment from hospitals, as they carried out the evacuation.



Russian forces also removed the roadblocks in Kherson. The head of the Kherson regional military administration, Yaroslav Yanushevich, believes that they did this to create an illusion that they have left the city.



It was also reported that the Russian flag was removed from the Kherson regional administration building. The head of the joint coordination press center of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, Natalya Humenyuk, said that this could be a provocation.



Russian troops captured Kherson in March in the early days of the war. Its loss to Ukrainian troops would signal a significant retreat.



U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, asked to comment on the battlefield situation in southern Ukraine, said Ukrainian forces in the Kherson region "have the capacity" to retake the territory on the west side of the Dnieper River and Kherson city from Russian troops.



Austin, speaking at a news conference at the Pentagon, did not answer a question about whether Russian forces were preparing to leave, but he expressed confidence in the Ukrainian troops' ability to beat back Russian forces.

With reporting by Reuters
6 An undated street scene in Aleppo. For most of its history, the ancient trading city was a beacon of relative tolerance. T.E. Lawrence wrote that in Aleppo "more fellowship should rule between Christian and Mohammedan, Armenian, Arab, Turk, Kurd and Jew than in perhaps any other great city of the Ottoman Empire." When the Ottoman Empire collapsed after World War I, that fellowship began to fray.
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
For the political polling industry, 2016 was a year of faulty predictions that undermined the credibility of public opinion research.

As a result, the professional associations for pollsters in both Britain and the United States have launched investigations into why so many wrongly predicted 2016 election outcomes.

The American Association for Public Opinion Research is analyzing why almost every major U.S. poll incorrectly predicted Democrat Hillary Clinton would win the presidency and underestimated support for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

The British Polling Council is investigating why many of its members failed to predict a majority of voters in the June 23 Brexit referendum would choose to leave the European Union.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) -- a trade association for Britain's public relations sector -- has announced its own inquiry because of what it says is a loss of public confidence in political predictions.

PRCA Director-General Francis Ingham says the industry must "proactively address a perceived problem among those who work in politics: so many called both results wrong."

So what went wrong? Although the results of the studies are not expected until May 2017, pollsters are already identifying the potential problems.

'Nonresponse Bias'

During the U.S. election campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized mainstream media as being "biased" against him and dismissed most public opinion research as "dirty polls" that just put out "phony numbers."

The nonpartisan Washington-based Pew Research Center says distrust among Trump supporters toward media and media-funded polls probably caused a "nonresponse bias" in telephone surveys and new online methodologies that are being tested.

Previous research shows that less-educated white voters are less likely than university graduates to answer the questions of pollsters over the telephone.

Crucially, less-educated white voters heavily supported Trump in 2016.

Research also suggests that those who've voted infrequently or not at all in the past are not as likely to respond to pollsters' questions.

Claudia Deane, Pew's vice president of research, told RFE/RL that Trump's campaign also appears to have attracted support from people who didn't vote in 2012. "The frustration and anti-institutional feelings that drove the Trump campaign may also have aligned with an unwillingness to respond to polls," Deane said.

"The result would be a strongly pro-Trump segment of the population that simply did not show up in the polls in proportion to their actual share of the population," she said.

The 'Shy Voter' Effect

A week before the U.S. election, when most polls predicted Clinton would win, Republican campaigners insisted a significant number of "secret Trump voters" did not want to admit to pollsters that they supported Trump.

Some critics suggest that backlash on social media may have bolstered the number of "shy voters" who were cautious about disclosing their views to a stranger over the telephone or in an online survey.

U.S. President Richard Nixon had popularized a term to describe a similar concept in 1969 when he used the phrase "the great silent majority" to describe American voters who supported him but did not express their opinions publicly.

Deane says "the hypothesis of shy Trump voters" is "the big cross-national question" that the American pollsters' association is trying to answer.

But she says she is skeptical because her own research and observations have not turned up any evidence supporting the notion "up to this point."

Similarly, in Britain, polling companies use the term "shy Tory factor" to describe similar "shy voter" circumstances observed by political scientists in the country's general elections of 1992 and 2015.

Some claim there was a "shy Tory factor" before the 2016 Brexit vote.

But John Curtice, the president of the British Polling Council, told RFE/RL there is no consistent evidence that "shy voter bias" significantly impacted opinion surveys in the United Kingdom ahead of the Brexit referendum.

Curtice also said there is "no substantial evidence" that conservative voters, globally, are more likely to refuse to admit their political sympathies to pollsters because they don't want to appear "socially undesirable."

Identifying Likely Voters

Exit polls conducted outside polling stations on Election Day usually are more accurate than opinion surveys conducted ahead of the vote. That's because exit polls survey people who have actually cast a ballot.

Pre-election polls have an added burden of trying to determine whether randomly sampled respondents will actually vote on Election Day.

Researchers appear to have wrongly estimated turnout within some U.S. demographics. For example, the willingness of Trump supporters to go to the polls appears to have been underestimated.

Conversely, researchers appear to have overestimated how many self-proclaimed Clinton supporters would cast a ballot in key states. Exit-poll data showed that in several battleground states, Clinton did worse than pollsters had predicted among Hispanic voters, women, and African Americans.

In the closely contested state of Florida, for example, turnout for Clinton by Hispanics and voters under the age of 30 was less than predicted. Meanwhile, Trump's support among Hispanic voters in Florida was higher than expected -- enough to tilt the crucial state in his favor.

Getting Things Right

The British Polling Council is adamant about the fact that, in the end, most U.S. pollsters were on the mark about the nationwide popular vote in 2016.

Final results show Clinton did win the popular vote with about 2.8 million more votes than Trump -- a margin of more than 2 percentage points.

That is about 1 percentage point from what a polling data aggregator at Real Clear Politics, a Chicago-based political news aggregator, estimated Clinton's popular vote lead over Trump would be -- well within the standard three-percentage-points margin of error.

Curtice notes that the error of aggregated U.S. polls in 2016 was actually lower than the average error for presidential election polls from 1968 to 2012.

But the U.S. presidency is determined by the Electoral College, not the nationwide popular vote. So what really matters in predicting the winner in each state.

In the Electoral College, Trump won by a margin of about 80,000 votes cast across three states -- and he won each of those decisive states by less than one percentage point.

Almost every major pollster got the results wrong in those critical, closely contested battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Quality Of Polls 'Very Uneven'

Polls in other swing states usually were within the expected three-percentage-points margin of error.

But Deane says the fact that nearly all pollsters erred in the same direction in nine key swing states -- all wrongly predicting a Clinton victory -- suggests systemic problems. "They were all off in one direction, and when you're doing a random survey you should not see correlated errors like that," Deane said.

"There's not always a lot of state polling, the quality of those polls is very uneven, and there's no real market incentive for people to do those polls," Dean explained.

As a result, Deane said the American polling association's investigation is "literally going to take the country apart, break it into 50 parts, and look at how polling did in every state."

The USC/Los Angeles Times poll was the only major U.S. poll that correctly predicted Trump's victory.

It was led by Arie Kapteyn, director of the University of Southern California's (USC) Dornsife polling center. Kapteyn told the Los Angeles Times that an unusual methodology helped his team assess "likely voters" and identify a pattern change in voter turnout that more traditional surveys missed.

Rather than ask which candidate respondents would vote for, Kapteyn's pollsters asked people to rate, on a scale of 0 to 100, their probability of voting for each candidate.

Deane told RFE/RL that a review of Kapteyn's methodology will certainly be part of the American polling association's postelection study. But she said the investigation also will look at other factors such as how researchers drew their samples, whether surveys were conducted online or on the phone, and how other pollsters made "educated guesses" about who was likely to vote.

Curtice is critical of the USC/Los Angeles Times poll, noting that it wrongly predicted Trump would win the nationwide popular vote.

The real challenge for pollsters, according to Curtice, is that people are now "significantly less willing" to answer telephone pollsters. And Internet surveys, he said, rely on people who are willing to sign up. Both scenarios make it more difficult to obtain random samples that truly represent voting populations, he said.

At the Pew Research Center, Deane concludes there is "a great deal of speculation but no clear answers" about the cause of pollsters' erroneous 2016 predictions.

Deane says pollsters are aware that their profession "faces serious challenges" and that "restoring polling's credibility" is very important.

For that reason, pollsters in both the United States and Britain will be looking closely at the revelations from their professional associations in May 2017.


Shelling, mortar fire, and heavy gunfire continued in eastern Ukraine, with at least two more government soldiers killed amid the latest outburst of fighting in the region.

Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said in a statement on December 23 that three troops had also been injured in the past 24 hours.

Lysenko said the fighting occurred amid an offensive by Russia-backed insurgents southeast of the city of Donetsk.

The latest clashes erupted on December 18 near the town of Svitlodarsk, just outside the strategic railway junction of Debaltseve.Lysenko said eight troops in all have been killed since.

Insurgents, meanwhile, have accused the Ukrainian government of attacking their positions.

Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,750 people since the conflict began in April 2014, according to United Nations figures.

On December 21, Ukrainian government representatives held talks with insurgent leaders, overseen by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The sides agreed on a new cease-fire that is set to begin on December 24.

With reporting by AP and AFP


By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures fell on Wednesday after Libya said it expects to boost production over the next few months and a report showing a surprise build in U.S. crude inventories last week. Brent futures for February delivery fell 89 cents, or 1.6 percent, to settle at $54.46 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for February lost 81 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $52.49 per barrel. Even though WTI futures for February were down, the U.S. front-month gained about 0.5 percent due to the contract roll from lower-priced January to the higher-priced February on Tuesday and closed at its highest level in over a week. "The big news of the day is that it looks like we're going to get more crude out of Libya," said James Williams, president of energy consultant WTRG Economics in Arkansas. Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed on Tuesday that pipelines leading from Sharara and El Feel fields had reopened, saying it hoped to add 270,000 barrels per day (bpd) to national production over the next three months. "The big question is what will OPEC do about the Libyan increase. With Libya excluded from the production cut agreement, I anticipate the Saudis will unilaterally balance the Libyan crude," WTRG's Williams said. On Nov. 30, OPEC agreed to cut output by 1.2 million bpd for six months from Jan. 1, with top exporter Saudi Arabia cutting around 486,000 bpd. On Dec. 10, non-OPEC countries including Russia agreed to reduce output by 558,000 bpd, the largest-ever contribution by non-OPEC producers. In the United States, U.S. crude stocks rose by 2.3 million barrels in the week to Dec. 16 even as refineries hiked output, while gasoline stocks and distillate inventories fell, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. That was the first weekly build in crude stockpiles in five weeks. Analysts were expecting U.S. crude inventories to fall by 2.5 million barrels, according to a Reuters poll. The EIA report diverged widely from the American Petroleum Institute industry group's data released late Tuesday, which showed a larger-than-expected 4.1-million-barrel crude draw. Oil markets are expected to remain well-supplied despite the planned OPEC and non-OPEC reductions. Russia's 2016 oil output is expected to total 547.5 million tonnes (11 million barrels per day), a 2.5 percent increase from last year, Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters late on Tuesday. (Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci)
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyaev has discussed bilateral ties with visiting Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov, the presidents press service said on December 23.

The press service said in a statement that cooperation between the two Central Asian countries in trade, economy, investments, transportation, and communication spheres were on the agenda of the meeting.

Mirziyaev and Idrisov also discussed international and regional issues, the statement said.

Idrisov, who arrived in Tashkent on December 22, also met with his Uzbek counterpart, Abdulaziz Kamilov.

Mirziyaev was elected as Uzbekistan's president on December 4. He had been serving as interim president since the death of President Islam Karimov was announced in early September.

Mirziyaev has since taken steps to improve relations with neighbors and ease visa requirements for tourists from several countries.

With reporting by Interfax
Two Richmond men have been arrested in connection with two shootings last weekend in the Bellemeade neighborhood of South Richmond.

Daquan K. Tucker, 21, of Richmond was arrested Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in North Carolina and has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said.

Wali F. Jones, 25, of Richmond was taken into custody Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force in Richmond, and he has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Police were called shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday for reports of shootings in the 1500 block of Bowen Street and the 2300 block of Oakland Place.

Lakim L. Booker, 21, of Richmond was found inside a vehicle on Bowen Street unconscious and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, according to police.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A few blocks away, a second male victim was found with an apparent gunshot wound on Oakland Place, police said. He was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.
An effort by Ricky Javon Gray to stop his scheduled Jan. 18 execution is based on speculation and anecdotal evidence from other states and must fail, the Virginia Attorney Generals Office argued in a federal court response filed Friday.

Grays lawyers are challenging Virginias plan to use a drug not created by a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Among other things, they cited purported botched executions elsewhere, contending the use of the drugs could lead to cruel and unusual punishment and suggesting that a firing squad would be more humane.

They have filed a request in the U.S. District Court in Richmond for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt the execution.

In a 31-page response, the Virginia Attorney Generals Office argued the execution should proceed.

There is a strong public interest in favor of seeing these proceedings through to their ultimate conclusion. There is also a strong public interest in bringing closure to the families of Grays many victims. In light of the speculative nature of Grays allegations, the Court should not exacerbate their agony by granting him leave to pursue his ultimately baseless Eighth Amendment claim, the response states.

Virginia law allows inmates to choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. Injection is the default method for those who do not choose, and the state has conducted 80 executions by injection since 1995. Because of a shortage of drugs, two of the three chemicals planned for use in Grays execution were made by an unidentified compounding pharmacy, not a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Gray contends that one of the drugs, midazolam, has been implicated in what it called botched executions in other states, most recently in Alabama, and that Virginias plan to use a version of it made by a compounding pharmacy greatly increases the risk of a torturous death.

Because Virginia no longer can obtain midazolam from a pharmaceutical company, state law was changed allowing it and other required drugs to be made by compounding pharmacies. The law allows the Department of Corrections to keep the identity of the pharmacy a secret.

The process of drug compounding means combining two or more ingredients into a single preparation, while drug manufacturing means the production of any item regulated by the federal drug control act and does not include compounding, explained the attorney general Friday. A compounded drug was used by the state in last years execution of serial killer Alfredo Prieto.

The Department of Corrections has obtained enough midazolam and potassium chloride to conduct two executions. The attorney generals office said Friday that Virginias Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services tested and verified the drugs twice.

Grays lawyers contend, This method for creating drugs unnecessarily adds enormous risk that the drugs will be ineffective, sub-potent, expired or contaminated. ... Recent botched executions have shown the horrific results of using FDA-approved, manufactured midazolam.

But the attorney generals office responded that there is no evidence inmates in the cases cited by Gray suffered as a result of midazolam, which has been successfully used in executions by Florida 12 times. Problems in an Oklahoma case cited by Gray were the result of a misplaced IV line, the state said.

Gray has been on death row for ten years, but waited until the eleventh-hour to challenge the constitutionality of Virginias execution procedures, the response states.

The attorney generals office wrote that the emergency injunction sought by Gray is an extraordinary remedy involving the exercise of a very far-reaching power which is to be applied only in limited circumstances which clearly demand it.

These extraordinary circumstances are not present here, the attorney general argues. The brief says, The compounded substances have been independently tested and verified, so Gray will not be irreparably harmed when they are used during his January execution.

In addition, Virginia has never authorized execution by firing squad, has never executed anyone by firing squad, has never trained personnel on firing squad methodologies, and does not have a bulletproof chamber that is equipped for execution by firing squad.

Indeed, if a (Department of Corrections) employee were to execute Gray, via firing squad, that employee would be subject to prosecution for first degree murder, argues the state.

Under a schedule set by the judge last week, Gray has until next Friday to respond. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson has scheduled a hearing on Grays emergency request on Jan. 3.

In an order Thursday, the judge said both sides will be allowed to present testimony from witnesses via video conferencing as needed.

Gray, 39, murdered sisters Ruby Harvey, 4, and Stella Harvey, 9, and their parents, Bryan Harvey, 49, and Kathryn Harvey, 39, in their South Richmond home on New Years Day 2006.

Gray and accomplice Ray Dandridge, 39, also killed Ashley Baskerville, 21, who had been a lookout when Gray killed the Harveys; Baskervilles mother, Mary Tucker, 47; and Baskervilles stepfather, Percyell Tucker, 55, in their Richmond home days after the Harveys were killed. Dandridge was sentenced to life in prison.
One moment, the city of Richmond is so destitute that it enlists volunteers to mow its parks. A few months later, its so flush that Mayor Dwight C. Jones doles out bonuses like Rich Uncle Pennybags handing out Monopoly money.

This rags-to-riches tale, as it turns out, was built on an flawed premise: that the mayor was empowered to unilaterally distribute $1.9 million in bonuses to city employees. City Attorney Allen Jackson begged to differ, saying in a memo to City Council members that the mayors End of Year/End of Term Thank You bonus was unauthorized.

And thus Jones whose tenure coincided with Richmonds brisk growth in population, enhancement of image and tangible signs of progress will somehow leave office under yet another cloud.

An elected official who distributes a farewell gift to employees two weeks before his departure clearly desires to be admired, if not loved. But when it comes to cultivating a glowing legacy, Jones cant seem to get out of his own way.

Just last month, he avoided indictment during an investigation into whether city funds were used to finance or facilitate the construction of the mayors new church, among other questions. The probe came after Jones requested an independent inquiry following the revelation that Public Works Director Emmanuel Adediran  a member of First Baptist Church of South Richmond, where Jones is senior pastor  had supervised on city time the construction of First Baptists new campus in Chesterfield County.

While the investigation failed to turn up probable cause to prosecute under the states public corruption laws, Richmond Commonwealths Attorney Michael Herring wrote in his report that what transpired raises suspicion and concern about opaque governance, and calls into question the credibility of many involved parties.

Three weeks later, Jones transparency and judgment are again being challenged as City Council members and Mayor-elect Levar Stoney are left to figure out how to fit the unanticipated expense of these bonuses into the budget for the fiscal year that ends in June.

Not only did the mayor bypass the council, but he also didnt consult with the city attorney, citing as justification a 1993 ordinance that Jackson said applies to a narrow set of circumstances.

The Jones administration also cited a projected surplus based on the first three months of the fiscal year. But just as the citys financial forecast went from grim to glowing overnight, those fortunes can shift like desert sands when Jones is no longer around to be held accountable.

I really dont appreciate the mayor leaving this on our doorstep as hes heading out the door, said Council Vice President Chris Hilbert, who learned of the bonus through an email blast from the mayors office.

Stoney, whose term begins Jan. 1, said in a statement last week: I believe we should recognize and appreciate the hard work of our public servants, but I do not think this was a fiscally prudent decision given the challenges we face.

Full-time employees received $500 extra in their paychecks, and part-time employees got $250. The bonuses did not extend to employees of the city school system  a final slight to a school district Jones feuded with over funding.

As a practical matter, nothing can be done. It would be neither fair nor feasible to require city employees to return the money. They didnt ask for the bonus, but hey: Its Christmas.

As for the mayor, I doubt he has $1.9 million lying around the house or in a cookie jar.

Of course, this is a slipshod way of doing business in a city that, for much of Jones tenure, has struggled to perform basic financial accounting tasks and not so long ago was struggling to make ends meet.

Hilbert said Thursday that he doubts the bonuses would have been approved by the council as a budget amendment, citing ongoing needs to increase police salaries, increase school funding and fill potholes.

Theres a consensus among the council members coming back and the incoming council members that we need to concentrate on the basics, said Hilbert, who appears poised to be picked as council president next month.

Hilbert said he looks forward to working with a new mayor and administration who prioritize communication with the City Council. That collaboration is something thats been sorely lacking since the strong-mayor system went into effect a dozen years ago.

As a result of this dearth of cohesion and an overall perception of City Hall dysfunction, an increasing number of city residents may experience buyers remorse over this system, which replaced a council-manager form of government. Hilbert maintains that Richmond has a two-year window to restore confidence in our current system.

Look, none of this is meant as a slight to city employees who deserve recognition and appreciation. Everyone can use a little extra this time of year. But Jones Santa act must ring hollow for the citizen-volunteers who cut those lawns and for residents bearing undue burdens in fees and taxes.

A strong mayor does not have a monopoly on the citys purse strings, but he or she does have an obligation to administer responsibly and transparently without abusing authority. Our mayor cannot govern in a vacuum, eschewing collaboration or counsel.

This is no way to run a city. Jones gambit looks less like a parting gift than a parting shot.
Perhaps there is one pricey Washington program President-elect Donald Trump does like. Just a few weeks after berating Boeing for its high-priced Air Force One replacement program and Lockheed Martin for it's even more pricey F-35 fighter jet, Trump tweeted out what sure looks like his support for what could be the priciest defense project of them all: Replacing the U.S. nuclear missile arsenal.

The above statement hardly comes out of nowhere. First, the Air Force is starting the process of replacing America's Minuteman nuclear arsenal. More than 400 of those ICBMs, most built in the 1960s, now sit in missile silos across the U.S.

And, not coincidentally, the three companies bidding to get the replacement contract are Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin. Of course, the CEOs of Boeing and Lockheed just met with Trump in Florida yesterday. While Boeing came out of that meeting promising to keep the costs of replacing Air Force One below $4 billion, that's chickenfeed compared to the $60 billion to $86 billion estimated cost of replacing the Minuteman program.

Was some kind of quid pro quo discussed in Mar a Lago Wednesday? Perhaps we'll never know, but if Boeing gets the contract that will be a prevailing suspicion for years to come.

The Minuteman is just one part of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. President Obama has pledged to update the land-based Minuteman and also our submarine and bomber-based nuclear defenses at an estimated total cost of $1 trillion. In short, this update could end up becoming the costliest U.S. defense program of all time. And that is certainly saying something. As you'd might expect, there are those in Congress who are opposed to that cost and question the need for such an extensive update.

Trump's tweet certainly didn't say anything about how he'd be willing to pay any price to keep our nuclear arsenal state of the art, but he did say our nuclear capability should be expanded. That's a far cry from the defense project penny-pinching Trump persona that emerged in his tweets and public comments during most of the transition process.

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This is the Trump who reminds us more of traditional Republican presidents, especially Ronald Reagan who used a U.S. defense buildup and European missile deployment to force the U.S.S.R. into an arms race that eventually brought the Soviet Union down. Or it could simply be that Trump wants to make a big show of cutting costs for programs he doesn't think are vital, like updating Air Force One, versus ones he thinks are more essential for our survival.

With the F-35 program pretty much a done deal, Trump's focus on America's nuclear weapons is significant in terms of cost and the projection of U.S. military might. Throughout the election and transition period, Trump has tried to project an image of a leader who can increase American strength while staying fiscally conservative.

Thursday's nuclear comments take what looks like a clear detour from the fiscal side of that image since Trump did not mention cost at all. But it may signal to everyone that when it comes to choosing strength or savings, Trump is likely to go with strength from here on out.

Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.



For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.





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WASHINGTON  Federal ethics experts for former Democratic and Republican administrations warned Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump is creating a major conflict of interest by allowing his Albemarle County vineyard to seek special temporary visas for foreign workers.

Trump, who is president of the vineyard that applied earlier this month for H2 visas for six foreign workers, will soon run the U.S. government, which will determine whether to grant those visas.

This is a powerful example of why Donald Trump needs to make a definitive break, not just with his operational interests but his ownership interests, by appointing an independent trustee to liquidate all that, said Norm Eisen, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution who was chief White House ethics lawyer for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011.

He called the situation a classic conflict of interest.

If Trump wont divest himself of his businesses, he should make sure that none of his offices appointees have anything to say about these decisions, said Richard Painter, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School who was chief White House ethics lawyer from 2005 to 2007 in the George W. Bush administration.

Its critically important that these [types of requests] be handled by career employees in federal agencies who have civil service protections, Painter said. Anyone appointed by him should be required to recuse themselves. Its not required by law, but he should do it anyway.

Trump Vineyard Estates LLC filed a request Dec. 2 with the Labor Department for six H2 visas, which permit U.S. employers to hire foreigners for seasonal jobs such as pruning grapevines, which is what the request said. The request was posted online Wednesday by the Labor Department.

The workers are needed to prune the vines on the estate, the application said, and they would be paid $10.72 per hour for a 40-hour, six-day week. The jobs are anticipated to last from January to June.

Trump, whose transition team and press office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter, consistently argued during the presidential campaign that the federal government should limit immigration in order to protect American jobs. The visas his business seeks do not allow workers to permanently reside in the U.S.

About 8,800 temporary agricultural worker visas were requested nationwide in federal fiscal year 2016, Labor Department reports show, and about 8,300 were granted.

Trump Winery has applied for 19 temporary visas for foreign workers in 2014, 2015 and earlier this year, as well, before the most recent request, according to federal records. In addition, he has sought to hire 513 foreign workers since 2013 for some of his other businesses, including for his Palm Beach home, Mar-a-Lago Club.

Kerry Woolard, the Trump Winerys senior manager who signed the Labor request, did not respond to a request for comment.

Although Trump, during a campaign event in May said of the winery, I own it 100 percent, no mortgage, no debt, the winerys website says it is a registered trade name of Eric Trump Wine Manufacturing LLC and is not owned, managed or affiliated with Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their affiliates.

Eric Trump, the son of the president-elect, is part of his fathers transition team and has been sitting in on meetings that his father has held with high-level technology leaders and others.

The winery, however, is on land owned by Trump Vineyard Estates LLC. Trump reported in his campaigns federally required financial disclosure statement in May 2016 that he was president of that entity.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Pennsylvania's casino industry will be under the microscope in 2017, as lawmakers look to extract more money from it for public coffers and casinos ask lawmakers for new avenues to expand.

Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, has summoned representatives of the state's 12 casinos to Harrisburg for a closed-door meeting in the Capitol on Jan. 3, the day lawmakers are sworn in for the new two-year legislative session. Changes must be made to Pennsylvania's casino gambling law and work should get started early, Ward said.

"The days of doing nothing are over at this point," Ward said.

In just a decade, Pennsylvania's commercial casino industry has emerged as the nation's No. 2 in consumer spending and No. 1 in tax revenue, according to the American Gaming Association.

A top issue is replacing a provision struck down by the state's high court in September that had required casinos to pay tens of millions of dollars to their host communities for the past decade. The court delayed the effect of its decision for four months, until late January, to give lawmakers time to draft a replacement provision.

In a lawsuit filed by Mount Airy Casino in northeastern Pennsylvania, the court agreed the assessment was unconstitutional because it treated the state's casinos unequally, and imposed a heavier burden on lower-performing casinos.

So far, lawmakers have not agreed on how to replace it.

The Senate passed a bill in late October to create a temporary, six-month replacement. But it died in the House and a lawyer for Mount Airy threatened to sue over that, too, saying it was unconstitutional for the same reasons.

Some $141 million in slots revenue was paid in the last fiscal year to counties and municipalities, according to Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board data.

Most casinos have agreed or pledged to continue paying the money. But writing the requirement back into law could prove complicated if Ward and other lawmakers from counties without a casino insist that tax revenue from casino gambling flow to counties like theirs.

Story continues

A key date is mid-April, when the first quarterly payment is due to local governments.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are looking to squeeze more money from casino gambling to help bandage the state's deficit-ridden finances, and that could also get complicated. Most of Pennsylvania's casinos want lawmakers to allow them to launch online gambling sites. The House approved such a provision in a wider piece of legislation that also would have expanded legalized casino gambling to Pennsylvania's six international airports and as many as 28 off-track betting parlors.

But that bill stalled in the Senate, and one lawmaker who helped write the 2004 casino gambling law, Sen. Robert Tomlinson, R-Bucks, warned House members in a Nov. 18 letter that lawmakers must first restore the provision requiring casinos to pay their host communities.

Some lawmakers also have pressed for the legalization of slot machine-style gambling machines in bars and fraternal clubs, and Rep. Michael Sturla, D-Lancaster, said he is drafting legislation to allow 30,000 or 40,000 such machines to be licensed. That number tracks with the amount that the Pennsylvania State Police say already are operating illegally in Pennsylvania, Sturla said.

Bringing the same number of machines under the law would produce tens of millions of dollars for the state, Sturla said, and should not raise concerns about siphoning business from the Pennsylvania Lottery, which funds programs for the elderly, or draw opposition from casinos.

"Since they already exist, nobody can say that will eat into the lottery, because it won't, and nobody can say that will eat into casinos, because it won't," Sturla said.
LIMA (Reuters) - Peru President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Thursday denied any involvement in $20 million in bribes that Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht SA said it paid to an unnamed official to win a public works contract in 2005, when he was prime minister. In a massive plea deal signed in the United States on Wednesday, Odebrecht said it distributed a total of $29 million in bribes to unnamed officials in Peru during the terms of three presidencies from about 2005 to 2014. Kuczynski, a 78-year-old former investment banker who was prime minister and finance minister in 2005, said Odebrecht employees must be brought to Peru to explain whom it bribed to secure public work contracts. "It clearly needs to be investigated," Kuczynski told reporters. "I can guarantee that I didn't receive anything or do anything." Earlier this month, Peru's attorney general's office reopened a preliminary graft inquiry into whether Kuczynski and former President Alejandro Toledo helped Odebrecht win infrastructure contracts by passing a law that declared highway projects of national interest. "I signed off on a law that Congress passed. That's not a crime," said Kuczynski, who assumed the presidency five months ago. Odebrecht has an outsized presence in Peru, where its donation of a small version of Rio de Janeiro's famous Christ the Redeemer statue dots Lima's skyline. In the past decade it has won public work contracts worth more than $10 billion. Kuczynski rejected calls from some to kick Odebrecht out of Peru, saying some of its managers were guilty but not the company as a whole - despite its guilty plea. (Reporting by Mitra Taj; Editing by Paul Simao and Leslie Adler)
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's rhetoric on a number of issues has zig-zagged during his six months in office.

He has vacillated on his stance toward US-Philippine ties, alternately repudiating the Obama administration and embracing the incoming Trump administration.

Domestically, he has gone back and forth on the issue of martial law, repeatedly suggesting imposing it before backing off.

Duterte returned to the subject this week, bemoaning the constitutional limits on how the Philippine president could deal with security threats like war.

"If you have martial law, only one person should be in control," Duterte said during a visit to the northern Philippines on Thursday.

"If there's invasion or war and I declare martial law, I cannot proceed on and on to deal with the trouble as I still have to go to Congress, go to the Supreme Court," he added, according to AFP. "That's why that needs to be replaced."

'Trial balloon'

Under current Philippine law, the president can declare martial law for up to 60 days, but within 48 hours he or she would have to submit a report to the congress, which could then revoke it. The Supreme Court can review the declaration's legality and must issue a decision within 30 days.

Those restrictions were put in place with a new constitution written in 1987, a year after millions of Filipinos went into the streets to demand dictator Ferdinand Marcos be removed from power in a movement called the "People Power" revolution.

Philippines protest Ferdinand Marcos dictator

Marcos imposed martial law from 1972 to 1981 to fight crime and a communist insurgency, but governments since have said thousands were killed and tortured during Marcos' reign.

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The Marcos legacy makes martial law an incendiary topic in the Philippines, and Duterte  who has repeatedly inveighed against a wave of crime and said human rights would be an afterthought if ISIS arrives in the Philippines  has raised alarm by flirting with it.

In March, then-President Benigno Aquino said Duterte's campaign promises would put him a step away from being a dictator. Duterte repudiated that charge by invoking his mother's experiences under Marcos.

Benigno Aquino Rodrigo Duterte Philippines president government

Bonifacio Ilagan, who was jailed and tortured during Marcos' martial-law period, told AFP that Duterte's references to martial law could be a "trial balloon" in order to assess public opinion as a prelude to making moves to amend the constitution.

Duterte has allies who control the country's congress.

They have backed his proposal to bring together a "constitutional assembly" to change the centralized government to a federal one prior to the end of his term in 2022, according to AFP.

Ilagan said that assembly would have the power to amend the president's martial-law powers, but he cast doubt on how that would be received.

"I honestly believe the people will resist," he said.

'Now he says something else'

Despite the controversial context of Duterte's martial-law musings, they have mostly remained in the background amid his ongoing battle against the drug trade in the Philippines.

Since he took office in July, about 6,000 people have been slain in drug-related killings  only about two-thirds have been in police operations, raising fears of vigilante activity or of an extrajudicial-killing campaign.

The vicious crackdown Duterte has inspired and the harassment his critics have faced lead some to suggest that while there is no de jure declaration of martial law, it exists in de facto status.

Philippines drug war violence death murder homicides killings

"It is not necessary that you have a declaration of martial law to have martial law," Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who works in the northwest Manila slum of Tondo, where many drug suspects have been killed, told AFP.

Duterte may back off his Thursday comments in the coming days, as he has done several times in the recent past. But his wavering is no comfort for some of his countrymen.

"He said a few days ago that martial law was stupid and didn't work, and yet now he says something else," Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a critic of Duterte, told AFP. "His lack of clarity is a serious cause for concern."

NOW WATCH: Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte congratulates Trump on a 'well-deserved victory'





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A high-level delegation of the Armenian Jewelers Association (AJA) headed by its President Sarkis Nourian will attend the 6th International Diamond Week in Israel (IDWI) from February 13-16, 2017 as guests of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed with the Israeli exchange at the IDWI, under the auspices of the Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, President of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), says a press statement from IDE.

IDE President Yoram Dvash said, I am pleased that the AJA will be sending an official delegation to Israels Diamond Week. Armenian jewelers have a unique and longstanding heritage as jewelry makers, and they have made an important contribution to the jewelry industry around the world. We are very happy that AJA has agreed to cooperate with the Israeli diamond industry to advance the diamond jewelry sector, especially in light of the investments we have made to strengthen this area.

AJA President Sarkis Nourian said, We are very pleased to have been invited by the Israeli Diamond Exchange to attend the International Diamond Week in Israel. We are bringing a delegation in order to explore channels of cooperation and to create a formal framework for collaboration. We know that this exhibition is of great importance to the bourse, and it offers us an excellent opportunity to learn about the industry and to meet its members, he said.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished




(vedomosti.ru)  ALROSA may increase its stake in the Catoca project in Angola. The diamond company is interested in the share, which subsequently will consolidate revenues and reserves, ALROSA's president Andrei Zharkov told Forbes.

The joint venture Catoca in Angola was established in 2014. ALROSA and Angola's Endiama own 32.8% of the company each. Another 18% are owned by the China Sonagol International, and 16,4% belong to Brazil's Odebrecht. Representatives of ALROSA and other shareholders of Catoca did not comment on the issue.

ALROSA plans to boost its Catoca share at the expense of Brazilian company, Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev said. ALROSA has to buy 17.2% to gain controlling stake, which will add about 15% of the diamond production and 15-20% of net profit to the company, analysts at BCS wrote in a review. The company may also buy more shares from the Chinese company, they add.




(rns.online)  Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election in the U.S. may provide support to the diamond market, said Bruce Cleaver, chief executive officer of De Beers. According to him, if Trump keeps his promises to reduce taxes and increase employment, it will lead to the middle class wage growth and support the market.

Its likely to be positive, certainly in the short-term -- lower taxes, more jobs, translates into more disposable income and translates into more diamond purchases, Bruce Cleaver, told Bloomberg.

De Beers, expects sales to be flat or slightly lower this year, partly because of U.S. dollar strength, before increasing a little bit next year. De Beers reported a decline in prices of about 7 percent in the first half and Cleaver said polished diamond prices are reasonably stable in the second half.

If the president-elects policies do lead to increased demand for luxury items in the U.S., it would give a further boost to a modest recovery forecast for diamonds, according to Cleaver.

The president-elect has previously stated that he intends to cut taxes, create jobs and increase spending on infrastructure projects.

In particular, in his pre-election program Trump proposed to reduce the maximum income tax rate from the current 39.6 to 33% and simplify the progressive scale of taxation, leaving the three rates: 33%, 25% and 12%.

Significant tax relief is provided for large businesses - reducing the weighted average rate of income tax from 35 to 15%, which is intended to prevent the removal of assets from the country and create jobs. Trump argued that the fiscal burden will be reduced for all segments of the population.




Peter A. Briggs

Shortline railroad executive David L. Parkinson died Dec. 17 in Palm Desert, Calif., following a brief illness. He was 78 years old.

Parkinson is known for his involvement in several railroad acquisitions and investments dating back to 1988. He was the founder and chairman of both the Arizona & California and California Northern railroads since their formation in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He also served as chairman of the Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad, which started operations in 1997.

RailAmerica, Inc., purchased the three railroads in 2002, and the company was later acquired by Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., in 2012. Representatives say Parkinson acquired the San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad from RailAmerica in 2003.

Parkinson was also known for his work as director of Evraz Oregon Steel Mills Inc., since 2001, and for his time served on the board of directors for Napa Landmarks and California Short Line Railroad Association, in addition to serving the Foundation of Intermodal Research.

He was the founder of WESTEC Services, Inc., a California-based engineering and consulting firm, where he also served as chairman from 1972 through 1986. Parkinson became group president following the organizations acquisition by ERC International, which is a part of Ogden Corp.

Parkinson graduated in 1960 from the United States Naval Academy and worked in the Navys nuclear power and submarine programs.
JetBlue airlines removed an unruly passenger after he verbally berated and jeered at Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President-elect Donald Trump.

Ivanka was on a JetBlue flight leaving JFK with her family when a passenger started screaming, "Your father is ruining the country." The guy, who had his kid in his arms, continued to scream "Why is she on our flight? She should be flying private," according to a TMZ report.

While being escorted out of the plane by JetBlue staff, the man screamed, "You're kicking me off for expressing my opinion?!!"

"The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight," the statement read. "In this instance, our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight."

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Business News
Consumer sentiment from Germany and revised quarterly national accounts from the U.K. are due on Friday.

At 2.00 am ET, the market research group GfK is scheduled to issue Germany's consumer confidence survey data for January. The forward-looking consumer sentiment index is seen rising to 9.9 in January from 9.8 in December.

At 2.45 am ET, the French statistical office Insee releases consumer spending and final GDP data. Economists expect spending to grow 0.1 percent on month in November. The is expected to grow 0.2 percent in the third quarter, as initially estimated.

At 3.00 am ET, Spain's statistical office INE releases producer prices and Hungary's statistical office releases final foreign trade data. Producer prices had increased 0.2 percent in October.

At 4.00 am ET, unemployment figures are due from Norway and Poland. The Norway's jobless rate is forecast to rise to 2.9 percent in December from 2.8 percent in November. The jobless rate in Poland is seen unchanged at 8.2 percent in November.

At 4.30 am ET, the Office for National Statistics is slated to issue third estimate for the U.K. GDP. According to previous estimate, the economy expanded 0.5 percent in the third quarter.

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Ontex Group NV, a Belgium-based producer of personal hygiene products, announced Thursday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the personal hygiene of Brazil's Hypermarcas S.A. for an enterprise value of R$1 billion or 286 million euros.

Ontex said the acquisition of HM personal hygiene supports its strategy by extending market position in the Americas to Brazil, increasing sales from Ontex-owned brands, and accessing a fast growing market for adult incontinence.

Over the past twelve months, HM personal hygiene has generated revenue of approximately 343 million euros in the growing babycare and adult incontinence categories in Brazil, with a portfolio of strong local brands including:

The contribution from HM personal hygiene, including synergies, is expected to result in double digit earnings per share accretion. After cost synergies, the company anticipates modest growth in adjusted EBITDA margins for the enlarged Ontex Group in 2017.

Completion of the transaction is currently expected to take place in the first quarter of 2017, subject to a number of customary conditions.

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Business News
Japan, which has high reputation for hygiene, has introduced a special toilet paper inside toilets at the Narita International Airport, with which travelers can give a gems-free cleaning to their smartphones.

Next to the regular toilet paper, the second, smaller dispenser have been installed in 86 cubicles in seven bathrooms in the arrivals area at the airport this month. NTT Docomo, the telecoms company behind the idea, reportedly said the option of an extra wipe would remain until next March.

Each sheet in the new toilet paper rolls bear messages of 'welcome to Japan', about the airport's Wi-Fi spots and other travel information.

The innovative idea reflects the latest studies that showed that smartphone screens typically house more germs than toilet seats. Reports also said that foreign visitors to Japan often had problems with Wifi.

In a country, where personal hygiene is very important, many public buildings are fitted with hi-tech washlets with heated seats and jets of warm water and air.

As per reports, Japan is planning to install toilets in elevators for earthquake emergencies.

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Business News
European stocks held steady in holiday-thinned trade Friday after the Italian government agreed to a bailout of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse settled fraud suits with the U.S. over toxic securities. Economic data out of Germany and France also painted a positive picture of regional economies.

The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was up 0.34 point or 0.09 percent at 360.15 in early trading after declining 0.2 percent in the previous session.



The German DAX was moving up 0.1 percent and France's CAC 40 index was gaining 0.2 percent while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was marginally lower.

Deutsche Bank shares soared over 4 percent after the German lender reached a tentative $7.2 billion deal to settle a federal investigation into its sale of toxic mortgage securities.

Similarly, Credit Suisse Group rose 1 percent after the Swiss bank settled a U.S. probe into the alleged mis-selling of mortgage-backed securities for about $5.3 billion.

Shares of Monte dei Paschi, Italy's oldest and most troubled bank, remained suspended from trading.

Air France-KLM gained half a percent after announcing it has sold a total of 4.95 million shares of Amadeus IT Group, S.A., representing around 1.13 percent of the share capital of Amadeus.

Anglo American shares also added half a percent after a Wall Street Journal report that the company is rethinking its plans to sell mines, due to the rebound in commodity prices during the second half of the current fiscal year.

In economic releases, German consumer confidence is set to improve in the first month of 2017, the Nuremberg-based market research group GfK said in its monthly survey report. The headline forward-looking index rose to 9.9, in line with expectations and up from 9.8 in December.

French consumer spending grew for the second straight month in November, and at a faster-than-expected pace, figures from the statistical office INSEE showed.

Another report on GDP also painted a positive picture of the . GDP grew 0.2 percent sequentially in the third quarter, in contrast to a 0.1 percent fall in the second quarter.

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Business News
The European ended Friday's session with mixed results, but were little changed overall. Trading activity was relatively subdued ahead of the long Christmas holiday weekend.

Bank stocks were in focus at the end of the trading week after the Italian government agreed to a bailout of Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse also settled fraud suits with the U.S. government.

The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index advanced 0.03 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone blue chip stocks increased 0.14 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, lost 0.13 percent.

The DAX of Germany dropped 0.05 percent, but the CAC 40 of France rose 0.10 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. gained 0.06 percent, but the SMI of Switzerland finished lower by 0.06 percent.

In Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank increased 0.42 percent after the lender reached a tentative $7.2 billion deal to settle a federal investigation into its sale of toxic mortgage securities.

In Paris, Air France-KLM gained 0.15 percent after announcing it has sold a total of 4.95 million shares of Amadeus IT Group, S.A., representing around 1.13 percent of the share capital of Amadeus.

In London, Anglo American dipped 0.04 percent after a Wall Street Journal report that the company is rethinking its plans to sell mines, due to the rebound in commodity prices during the second half of the current fiscal year.

Barclays declined 0.90 percent. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint against Barclays and several of its U.S. affiliates, alleging that Barclays engaged in a fraudulent scheme to sell residential mortgage-backed securities supported by defective and misrepresented mortgage loans. Barclays said it will vigorously defend itself against the complaint and intends to seek its dismissal at the earliest opportunity.

Credit Suisse Group decreased 0.91 percent in Zurich after the bank settled a U.S. probe into the alleged mis-selling of mortgage-backed securities for about $5.3 billion.

Shares of Monte dei Paschi, Italy's oldest and most troubled bank, remained suspended from trading.

Germany's consumer confidence is set to improve in the first month of 2017, the Nuremberg-based market research group GfK said in its monthly survey report on Friday.

The forward-looking consumer confidence index rose to 9.9 in January, in line with expectations, from 9.8 in December. This means that the index is expected to enjoy a strong start to 2017.

The French recovered as previously estimated in the third quarter, detailed figures from the statistical office Insee showed Friday.

Gross domestic product grew 0.2 percent sequentially, in contrast to a 0.1 percent fall in the second quarter.

French consumer spending grew for the second straight month in November, and at a faster-than-expected pace, figures from the statistical office INSEE showed Friday. Consumer spending rose 0.4 percent month-over-month in November, following a 0.8 percent climb in October. Economists had expected only a 0.1 percent increase for the month.

The U.K. economy expanded more than previously estimated in the third quarter, the latest report from the Office for National Statistics showed Friday. Gross domestic product grew 0.6 percent from the second quarter, which was revised up from 0.5 percent. This was the 15th consecutive quarter of positive growth since the first quarter of 2013.

Partly reflecting a sharp jump in sales in the Midwest, the Commerce Department released a report on Friday showing a much bigger than expected increase in new home sales in the U.S. in the month of November.

The report said new home sales surged up by 5.2 percent to an annual rate of 592,000 in November from 563,000 in October. Economists had expected new home sales to rise by 3 percent to a rate of 580,000.

Consumer sentiment in the U.S. improved by even more than initially estimated in the month of December, according to a report released by the University of Michigan on Friday. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index for December was upwardly revised to 98.2 from the preliminary reading of 98.0.

Economists had expected the index to remain at 98.0, which was still well above the final November reading of 93.8.

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Market Analysis
Great businesses often have humble roots. Americans love our mom-and-pop shops, some of which have grown into behemoths like Wal-Mart.

We can all imagine the pitfalls of dealing with family members, so its a small miracle that any family-run companies succeed beyond the local level.

According to Credit Suisse analysts, "Frequently quoted statistics from the Family Business Institute show that only one third of family-owned businesses last into a second generation of ownership, 12% to a third and just 3% to a fourth."

There are some notable success stories, however.

Walmart is the world's largest company by revenue, founded by patriarch Sam Walton and heavily influenced by his kinfolk even after going public.

President-elect Donald Trump appealed to many Americans because of his devotion to molding his adult kids into leaders. The Trump Organization is a family run business empire.

Click here for ten business shaped by influential families

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Business News
With the United Nations Security Council poised to vote on a resolution demanding an immediate halt to Israeli settlement construction, Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has threatened to pull funding for the international body.

In a statement, Graham noted he is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees U.S. assistance to the United Nations

"This provocative action by the United Nations is an outrage and must be dealt with sternly and forcefully," Graham said.

He added, "If the United Nations moves forward with the ill-conceived resolution, I will work to form a bipartisan coalition to suspend or significantly reduce United States assistance to the United Nations."

Graham said a vote in favor of the resolution by any nation that receives assistance from the U.S. would also put that assistance in jeopardy.

"There is a reason the United States has long opposed these type efforts directed at Israel -- the only way to achieve a lasting peace by the parties negotiating directly and not using the United Nations as a blunt instrument against Israel," Graham said.

Reports have suggested the U.S. is likely to abstain on the resolution, which is scheduled to come up for a vote at 3 pm ET.

A vote had originally been scheduled for Thursday, but Egypt withdrew the draft resolution under pressure from Israel and President-elect Donald Trump.

The resolution demands Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

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Political News
With the U.S. abstaining, the United Nations Security Council voted Friday to approve a resolution demanding an immediate halt to Israeli settlement construction.

The Security Council approved the resolution with fourteen votes in favor and the U.S. abstaining, reportedly resulting in a round of applause.

The resolution calls on Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

The abstention by the U.S. has been described as a parting shot by President Barack Obama, who has been a vocal critic of settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The U.S. has vetoed similar resolutions in the past, arguing that the issue should be dealt with in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The resolution was put forward by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew it under pressure from Israel and President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump had called on the Obama administration to veto the resolution, claiming it would put Israel in a very poor negotiating position and calling it extremely unfair to all Israelis.

A number of U.S. lawmakers have also expressed opposition to the resolution, with Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., threatening to pull funding for the U.N. if it was approved.

Following the vote, Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., called the passage of the resolution "another shameful chapter in the bizarre anti-Israel history of the United Nations."

"The abstention of the United States has made us complicit in this outrageous attack, and marks a troubling departure from our nation's long, bipartisan history of defending our ally Israel in the United Nations," McCain said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., also called the vote a "blow to peace" and said Republicans would work to reverse the damage done by the Obama administration and rebuild the U.S. alliance with Israel.

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Business News
By SA Commercial Prop News

The City of Johannesburg on Tuesday announced that R103 million had been set aside for the facelift and upgrading its council chambers office in Braamfontein.



In a budget presented by the City of Johannesburg finance manager, Geoffrey Makhubo, on Tuesday announced R103m had been set aside for the facelift and upgrading its council chambers office in Braamfontein.

It is part of R281m allocated to the office of the speaker of the council.



Mr Makhubo presented a budget of R47.1bn, which combines operational and capital expenditure.



Capital expenditure was allocated R10bn for the 2014-15 financial year and would include the construction of a bus rapid transit route on Louis Botha Avenue at a cost of R2.6bn. The Johannesburg Roads Agency would receive an operating budget of R814m to repair existing road infrastructure.



As of July 1, the provincial housing function would be assigned to the city. To better perform this function, the city received a grant from the provincial government of R59.5m to increase its capacity.



The citys housing department has been allocated a three-year capital budget of R2.6bn.



The money is to be spent on the upgrading of existing informal settlements and development of the city centre, among other things.



The City of Johannesburg has 180 informal settlements, and 60 of them are expected to become formal urban settlements soon.



City Power was allocated an operating budget of R13.2bn to refurbish old infrastructure and build new infrastructure in areas including Rivasdale, Reuven, Berea, Ferndale, Lenasia and Halfway House. Alarms would be installed at power substations to deter cable theft.



Mr Makhubo announced that the city would issue new green bonds. This would help the municipality intensify its investment in green and sustainable projects. Johannesburg has to date redeemed R1.9bn in municipal bonds.



The council had improved its billing system and increased its collection rate to 92.5%.



Bad news for the residents is the decision to hike electricity tariffs 7.05%, giving the city R13.6bn in revenue. Water and sewerage tariffs would surge 8.9%. Registered indigent households would continue to receive free electricity, water and sanitation as stipulated in the metros extended social package.



Tariffs for waste removal services would increase 6% for domestic households and 8% for business and commercial customers.



Properties valued at less than R200,000 and registered indigent households would continue to receive free refuse removal services. Property rates would rise 5%, but pensioners with gross monthly household income of less than R7,000 and property values not more than R2m would get a 100% rebate, while those with gross monthly income higher than R7,000 but less than R12,000 qualify for a 50% rebate.



Residential sectional title rebate has dropped from 15% to 10%.



Meanwhile, Johannesburg residents would from September be able to lodge complaints about the citys decisions. The ombudsman is our local public protector, Mr Makhubo said. We have budgeted R40m for this office.
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 collapse of the Soviet Union and the creation of 15 new countries in December 1991 remade the world overnight. The Cold War and the threat of nuclear annihilation disappeared, and democracy and free-markets spread across the now defeated Soviet empire. Of course, 25 years later, events didnt exactly unfold as initially predicted. The forces of globalization have mutated former Soviet countries in unseen ways, emboldening autocrats and entrenching corruption across the region. Meanwhile, the geopolitical animosities of the Cold War are resurgent, with relations between Moscow and Washington at their lowest point since the Soviet-era arms race. The creation of new countries, meanwhile, has given rise to nationalism and autocracies that are shaping foreign-policy decisions and altering societies in unforeseen ways.

Yet, the significance of this quarter-century of change is still not fully understood. Why did the Soviet Union really collapse and what lessons have policymakers missed? How is history repeating itself across the lands of the former superpower? In search of answers, Foreign Policy asked six experts with intimate knowledge of the region from their time in finance, academia, journalism, and policymaking. Here are the unlearned lessons from the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union is still collapsing.  Serhii Plokhy

Abandonment has consequences.  Bill Browder

Ideology should not guide foreign policy.  Dmitri Trenin

Russia cant lead through imperialism.  Nargis Kassenova

Globalization only enriched and empowered autocrats.  Alexander Cooley

Moscow is still sacrificing innovation for state security.  Andrei Soldatov

The Soviet Union is still collapsing.

Serhii Plokhy is the professor of history and director of the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University. He is the author of The Last Empire: The Final Days of the Soviet Union, The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, and his latest book is The Man with the Poison Gun: A Cold War Spy Story.

Story continues

The 20th century witnessed the end of the world built and ruled by empires: from Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, which fell in the final days of World War I, to the British and French empires, which disintegrated in the aftermath of World War II. This decades-long process concluded with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the mighty successor to the Russian Empire, which was stitched back together by the Bolsheviks in the early 1920s, only to fall apart 70 years later during the final stage of the Cold War.

Although many factors contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union, from the bankruptcy of communist ideology to the failure of the Soviet economy, the wider context for its dissolution is often overlooked. The collapse of the Soviet Union, like the disintegration of past empires, is a process rather than an event. And the collapse of the last empire is still unfolding today. This process did not end with Mikhail Gorbachevs resignation on Christmas Day 1991, and its victims are not limited to the three people who died defending the Moscow White House in August 1991 or the thousands of casualties from the Chechen wars.

The rise of nation-states on the ruins of the Soviet Union, like the rise of successor states on the remains of every other empire, mobilized ethnicity, nationalism, and conflicting territorial claims. This process at least partly explains the Russian annexation of Crimea, the war in Ukraine, and the burst of popular support for those acts of aggression in the Russian Federation. As the victim of a much more powerful neighbors attack, Ukraine found itself in a situation similar to that of the new states of Eastern Europe formed after World War I on the ruins of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian empires. Those states struggled with the enormous tasks of nation building while trying to accommodate national minorities and defend themselves against revanchist powers claiming the loyalty of those same minorities.

Although the historical context of the collapse of empires helps us understand the developments of the last 25 years in the former Soviet space, it also serves as a warning for the future. The redrawing of post-imperial borders to reflect the importance of nationality, language, and culture has generally come about as a result of conflicts and wars, some of which went on for decades, if not centuries. The Ottoman Empire began its slow-motion collapse in 1783, a process that reached its conclusion at the end of World War I. The ongoing war in eastern Ukraine is not the only reminder that the process of Soviet disintegration is still incomplete. Other such reminders are the frozen or semi-frozen conflicts in Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and the semi-independent state of Chechnya.

A lesson that todays policymakers can learn from the history of imperial collapse is that the role of the international community is paramount in sorting out relations between former rulers and subjects. Few stable states have emerged from the ruins of bygone empires without strong international support, whether it is the French role in securing American independence, Russian and British involvement in the struggle for Greek statehood, or the U.S. role in supporting the aspirations of former Warsaw Pact countries in Eastern Europe. The role of outsiders has been and will remain the key to any post-imperial settlement. Looking at the current situation, its difficult to overstate the role the United States and its NATO allies can play in solving the conflict in Ukraine and other parts of the volatile post-Soviet space. The fall of the Soviet Union, which carried the legacy of the last European empire, is still far from over. RETURN TO LIST.

READ MORE

The End of the End of the Cold War

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PHOTOS: The Last Days of the Soviet Union

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Abandonment has consequences.

Bill Browder is the CEO of Hermitage Capital Management and the head of the Global Campaign for Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

When the Soviet Union collapsed 25 years ago, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief as the threat of nuclear annihilation was all but eliminated. Russia transitioned into a democracy, and the West could refocus its efforts on peace and prosperity. In the process, however, the pendulum swung from intense anxiety toward Moscow to inattention and neglect.

Unfortunately, while the West was ignoring Russia, it was quietly mutating into something far more dangerous than the Soviet Union.

With no real laws or institutions, 22 Russian oligarchs stole 40 percent of the countrys wealth from the state. The other 150 million Russians were left in destitution and poverty, and the average life expectancy for men dropped from 65 to 57 years. Professors had to earn a living as taxi drivers; nurses became prostitutes. The entire fabric of Russian society broke down.

Meanwhile, the West wasnt just ignoring the looting of Russia; it was actively facilitating it. Western banks accepted pilfered funds from Russian clients, and Western real estate agencies welcomed oligarchs to buy their most coveted properties in St-Tropez, Miami, and London.

The injustice of it all was infuriating for average Russians, and they longed for a strongman to restore order. In 1999, they found one: Vladimir Putin. Rather than restoring order, however, Putin replaced the 22 oligarchs with himself alone at the top. From my own research, I estimate that in his 18 years in power he has stolen $200 billion from the Russian people.

Putin did allow a fraction of Russias oil wealth to seep into the population  just enough to prevent an uprising, but nowhere near enough to reverse the horrible injustice of the situation. But that didnt last long either. As the oil boom waned, the suffering of ordinary Russians resumed, and people took to the streets in 2011 and 2012 to protest his rule. Putins method of dealing with an angry population comes from the standard dictator playbook: If your people are mad at you, start wars. This was the real reason behind his invasion of Ukraine, and it worked amazingly well: Putins approval rating skyrocketed from 65 percent to 89 percent in a few months.

In response to the annexation of Crimea, the war in Ukraine, and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which killed 298 innocent people, the West had no choice but to respond with a range of sanctions against Russia. These sanctions, combined with the collapse of oil prices, led to more economic hardship, which made the Russian people even angrier. So Putin started another war, this time in Syria.

The problem the world now faces is that Putin has effectively backed himself into a corner. Unlike any normal world leader, he cannot gracefully retire  he would lose his money, face imprisonment, or even be killed by his enemies. Therefore, what started out as a profit-maximizing endeavor for Putin has transformed into an exercise in world domination to ensure his survival.

Twenty-five years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the West still faces a menacing threat from the Kremlin. It is now driven by kleptocracy rather than communist ideology. But it is still the same menace, with the same nuclear weapons, and an extremely dangerous attitude.

The real tragedy is that if Western governments hadnt tolerated Russian kleptocracy over the last quarter century, we wouldnt be where we are today. But as long as Putin and his cronies continue to keep their money safe in Western banks, there is still leverage: Assets can be frozen, and accounts can be refused. If one lesson is to be taken from the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is that we in the West cannot continue to keep our heads in the sand and ignore kleptocracy in Russia, because the consequences are disastrous. RETURN TO LIST.

Ideology should not guide foreign policy

Dmitri Trenin is the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center and served in the Soviet and Russian armed forces from 1972 to 1993. His latest book is Should We Fear Russia?.

The Soviet Union saw itself as an ideological power. Moscow believed that communism offered, as the old communist slogan went, a bright future for all humanity. Leaders in Moscow were convinced that communism was the right recipe for any country, regardless of history, development, or culture  and 25 years after the collapse of the Soviet empire, that misplaced logic is still shaping events around the globe.

The Soviet Unions first major success in communism promotion came in Mongolia, where Moscow prided itself in shifting the country from feudalism to socialism by the late 1930s. After World War II, in addition to Eastern Europe and East Asia, Soviet-sponsored regimes spread across the globe, from Latin America to East Africa, with nominal success.

But then came Afghanistan in 1979. Moscow went in first to ensure that leaders in Kabul remained loyal to the Soviet Union, but once it was in, the mission changed to helping the Afghans build a state and society based on the Soviet model, like it did in Mongolia. It was in Afghanistan that the Soviet Union discovered the power of militant Islam and eventually understood that it was so much easier to invade a deeply religious country than to reshape its society. By the time Moscow sent military forces into the country, the Soviet Union had revealed its cardinal weakness: imperial overreach. Moscow was already beginning to struggle to keep in line its allies in Eastern Europe  and to support dozens of client states across the globe.

Discontent at home was grossly enhanced by the war in Afghanistan, which was both costly and unnecessary. At the same time, the Soviet economy had run out of steam by the 1980s, with infrastructure crumbling and popular rancor growing. The cost of supporting a long list of satellites and surrogates was sapping the finances of the Soviet Union. Moscow, which had always been wary of borrowing abroad, began to take more and more loans. In the final years of the Soviet Union, its foreign policy was heavily influenced by the constant need to seek more funding from abroad: The pace of domestic liberalization was increased, steps toward the German reunification were taken, and Moscow did not intervene when Eastern Europe pursued its own political course in the 1980s.

The lessons from this historical episode apply first of all to the Russian Federation, the successor to the Soviet Union. It immediately rejected any state ideology, abandoning not only the global empire but also the lands traditionally seen as Russias historical heartland, such as Ukraine. Twenty-five years later, as it seeks to rebuild itself as a global great power, Russia is realizing that founding an empire under a different name is not in the cards. Having entered the war in Syria, Russia has also made it clear from the start that it will not send in its ground forces, lest Syria becomes another Afghanistan.

But the lessons shouldnt be limited to the former Soviet space. History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes. U.S. interventions in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 developed into massive nation-building projects under the guise of democracy  at great human and financial cost. Any ideology, not just communist, is a poor guide for foreign policy. Foreign military misadventures result in disappointment at home and loss of prestige abroad. And a growing national debt is a ticking bomb that threatens the very stability of the state.

In the end, the Soviet Union paid the ultimate price for its imperial hubris. RETURN TO LIST.

Russia cant lead through imperialism.

Nargis Kassenova is an associate professor and director of the Central Asian Studies Center at the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research in Almaty.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, the five new countries of Central Asia Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan  were initially left on the outside looking in. The Belavezha Accords  the document signed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk, and Stanislav Shushkevich of Belarus on Dec. 8, 1991, that marked the dissolution of the Soviet Union and created a much looser Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in its place  were signed with no input from the Central Asian republics. This process revealed an important truth about relations between the opposite sides of the Soviet empire: The Slavic leaders called the shots, while the Central Asians accepted the consequences.

For the westward-looking Russia of the early 1990s, Central Asia was a burdensome backwater that it did not mind shedding off. After painful efforts to a keep a single economic space and share a currency, Yeltsins government pushed other CIS states out of the ruble zone in 1993. This move was particularly painful for Central Asian states, which were highly dependent on Russian banks for financial transfers to stabilize their battered economies.

As Russia became less democratic and more nostalgic about Soviet glory in the late 1990s, Moscow began to show interest again in Central Asia. As the Kremlin revived talk of its privileged interests and spheres of influence, it sought new ways to establish itself as the center of economic and political activity in Eurasia. Moscow poured new resources into the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a military alliance that contains three of the five Central Asian countries. In 2015, the Eurasian Economic Union, an economic bloc of Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan  widely heralded by Vladimir Putin  came into effect to more closely bind the former Soviet countries.

Through its alliances, Moscow continues to behave as a sovereign and not as the first among equals in a union. When the West sanctioned Russia over its interference in Ukraine in 2014, Moscow responded with its own set of retaliatory sanctions against European products. This was done without consulting Belarus or Kazakhstan, the other members of the Eurasian Customs Union, the precursor to the Eurasian Economic Union. Russia also carried out missile attacks from the Caspian Sea to targets in Syria in fall 2015 without taking into account the concerns of its military ally and closest partner Kazakhstan, which was forced to reroute flights on short notice out of the region.

At the societal level in Russia, there is not much interest or love for Central Asians. Millions of labor migrants from Central Asia work in Russia, sending back money to support the families they left behind. This has grown anti-immigrant and racist sentiments in the country, and some key opposition politicians have even sought to channel it. Mikhail Prokhorov, a billionaire and presidential candidate during Russias 2012 elections, condescendingly promised that he would close the border with Middle Asia (the Soviet term referring to Central Asia minus Kazakhstan) and introduce a visa regime with these countries. Alexei Navalny, the charismatic activist planning to run in the 2018 presidential elections, has campaigned in the past on introducing a visa system with Central Asia and the Caucasus. With nationalism on the rise, Central Asians have increasingly become the other for Russians.

This trend should urge Central Asians to keep in mind the lesson of the early 1990s. Without shared identity or a shared dream for the future, its impossible to build a political community or have any kind of meaningful economic integration. Central Asian states and societies need to reflect on their past and present dependencies and develop identities that are separate from their Soviet history and attachment to Russia. After 25 years, its time for Central Asians to abandon the type of self-victimization typical of colonized people and truly embrace their countries independence. RETURN TO LIST.

Globalization only enriched and empowered autocrats.

Alexander Cooley is Director of Columbia Universitys Harriman Institute and the Claire Tow of Professor of Political Science at Barnard College in New York. His forthcoming book, co-authored with John Heathershaw, is Dictators without Borders: Power and Money in Central Asia.

The five new countries of Central Asia  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan  emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union as a forgotten region seemingly cut off from the forces of globalization. Scholars and policymakers came to view Central Asia as isolated, disconnected, and insufficiently integrated into the global economy. The regions governments became increasingly authoritarian, and economies were left stagnant and unreformed from their Soviet days.

The Central Asian states, however, were not exactly shielded from globalization. Rather than facilitate the transition from a communist command economy, Central Asias relationship with the liberal world system after the collapse of the Soviet Union suggests that globalization actually encouraged capital flight, enshrined corruption, and allowed some of the worlds most brutal dictators to cement their rule.

This legacy of offshore finance has played out across Central Asia, shortchanging the regions economies and empowering its autocrats. The regions elites may not have transitioned their countries to liberal political and economic systems, but they did use state institutions to personally enrich themselves  relying on anonymous shell companies and offshore bank accounts to camouflage their shady transactions. Although the West chastised these countries for pervasive corruption, it rarely paid attention to the international accountants, lawyers, and external advisors who helped to structure these illicit arrangements.

In Tajikistan, a small mountainous country north of Afghanistan, political battles have been waged over the Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco), the countrys largest exporter, whose management structure is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Accusations of millions of dollars siphoned off and embezzled overseas, allegedly by President Emomali Rahmon and his relatives, have played out in London, Swiss, and New York courtrooms. Similarly, in Turkmenistan, an investigation by the anti-corruption watchdog Global Witness estimated that $2 billion to $3 billion in the countrys foreign currency reserves  accumulated from the trade of natural gas under Turkmenistans first president, Saparmurat Niyazov  was held by Deutsche Bank in an account that was solely controlled by the Turkmen president.

In oil-rich Kazakhstan, a massive bribery scandal implicated a half-dozen major Western energy companies, including ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, over lucrative energy concessions in the 1990s. The accusations alleged the companies funneled some $80 million in bribes to senior Kazakh elites via offshore bank accounts. In 2010, James Giffen, an American middleman and senior advisor to President Nursultan Nazarbayev, pled guilty to one minor violation under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, after mounting a public authority defense under which he argued that he acted on behalf of various U.S. government entities, including the CIA, to promote American interests through these opaque deals.

Meanwhile, in Kyrgyzstan, two presidential regimes, both of which were ousted in separate popular uprisings in 2005 and 2010, used the U.S. air base at Manas to enrich themselves and their associates. Although the base was critical to the U.S. militarys campaign in Afghanistan, billions of dollars from lucrative fuel contracts were channeled through mysterious offshore companies registered in Gibraltar. Neighboring Uzbekistans economy is generally considered closed, but it, too, was engulfed in an international bribery scandal. Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the countrys late president, reportedly used a variety of offshore vehicles to structure more than $1 billion in payments and kickbacks from Western telecommunications companies.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, outside observers have frequently characterized Central Asia as a reclusive part of the world. However, by overlooking how regimes strategically used offshore vehicles, bank accounts, and financial intermediaries, the West has ignored its own complicity in fostering the global networks that supported autocracies in Central Asia and around the former Soviet world. RETURN TO LIST.

Moscow is still sacrificing innovation for state security.

Andrei Soldatov is an investigative journalist and cofounder of Agentura.ru, a Russian information hub on intelligence agencies. He is the co-author of The Red Web: The Struggle Between Russias Digital Dictators and the New Online Revolutionaries.

On Dec. 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the countrys information security doctrine. The 17-page document outlines the Kremlins perception of the threats posed by terrorism, foreign propaganda, and cyber-espionage, before calling for a major change  the creation of a national system of managing the Russian segment of the internet. The doctrine goes on to suggest that telecommunications and information technology (IT) companies should consult with the security services ahead of introducing new services and products and that the country needs to liquidate the dependence of domestic industries on foreign information technologies.

Although this might seem like a bold new direction for Russia, its actually a remnant of the past  and a sign that the Kremlin has learned nothing from its Soviet history when it comes to embracing technological change. Like the Soviet Union before it, the Russian government and its security services are aiming to restrict innovation for fear of the social and political upheavals it could bring.

Thats exactly how things were organized in the Soviet Union, where authorities traded technological development for the specter of state security. In our book The Red Web, journalist Irina Borogan and I describe how in June 1975, Yuri Andropov, then-chairman of the KGB, reported to the Central Committee about Jewish refuseniks making international phone calls. Andropovs recommendation was to suppress the use of international communication channels for transmission abroad of biased and slanderous information. The measure was adopted and worked to limit the spread of dissent, but as a result, the Soviet Union fell far behind the West.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, accounting for this technological deficit needed a new approach, and Vladimir Bulgak, the minister of communications under former President Boris Yeltsin, was willing to break with the past. Russia desperately needed modern communications, but local industry couldnt provide the technology. Due to Soviet-era restrictions, the Russian telecommunications industry now lagged behind the West by 20 to 25 years. We came to think that our industry would never catch up, and that meant we had to go and buy, Bulgak told me during an interview.

And Moscow did just that. In the span of three years, more than 70 percent of all Russian intercity phone stations were replaced by modern digital ones, made in the West, and Bulgak increased the number of international lines in the country from 2,000 analog ones to 66,000, all of them digital.

Bulgak bought equipment from abroad, bypassing old Soviet factories at enormous cost  many of them were forced to close, leaving thousands of people high and dry. But by 1995, Russia had established a modern, national communications industry. Thriving and profitable internet businesses sprang up in the early 2000s, something that would have been impossible without the lines and stations purchased by Bulgak.

The infrastructure of the Russian internet was built on Western technology, primarily Cisco, an American conglomerate, because the new national telecoms companies believed that reliability was more important than the origin of the supplier. Putin has not learned this lesson. When Western sanctions were imposed on Russia in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea, Putin called for import substitution to replace foreign products with domestic ones. The new security doctrine cements this idea, saying that the level of dependence of the domestic industry from foreign IT is too high and that this makes Russia dependent on foreign geopolitical interests.

But the countrys industry simply cant produce all the equipment that is needed, and desperate officials have since turned to China to replace Western technology. And although its an open question whether this new doctrine will actually make Russia any safer  it will surely limit the countrys economic potential. RETURN TO LIST.

Top photo credit: VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP/Getty Images
Schwan's announces further expansion at Salina facility

The distribution center, in addition to the 400,000-square-foot pizza expansion, will bring the Salina Schwan's site to over 1 million square feet.
Christmas will be a very merry one for young lady.

Karen Dublaco of Lalovaea will be presented with the keys to a brand new 2016 Toyota Hilux pick up truck courtesy of Bluesky

Yesterday, Bluesky concluded their Lets Celebrate Christmas campaign at Fugalei Market, giving away thousands of cold hard cash and of course the coveted vehicle.

Everyone gathered around anxiously awaiting for the computer generated number to pop up on the screen. Finally, a number was drawn.

However, the receiver missed the opportunity of a lifetime as they did not answer the call.

After one. Two. Three missed calls, Bluesky Country manager, Alex Abraham, decided to do the draw again.

This time, Ms. Dublacos number was drawn and she picked up the call of a lifetime immediately.

Put On loud speaker for all of Fugalei to hear, Mrs. Dublaco was absolutely ecstatic when to be told she just won a brand new car!

Present for the event was Blueskys Country Manager, Alex Abraham, Bluskeys Chief Executive Officer Toleafoa Douglas Creevey, Miss Samoa 2016 Priscilla Olano, Police Inspector Taena Lomani and Asco Motors Vaoga Lipa Vaoga.

Both of Blueskys Administration were pleased with the event and thanked patrons for their continual support of Bluesky throughout the year. It was definitely a day of celebration as all the winners listed below walked away with a Manu Samoa jersey or $1,000 cash. And some lucky recipients got both!

What great way to reign in the holidays!

Winners:

Lupeli Ah Ching ,Talimatau

Tone Tanielu Tumanuvao, Tanumapua

Vaegaau Sapati, Tuanai

Tapanuu Semi, Faleasiu

Faamafu Bourne, Faleasiu- Uta

Tafifilemu Maaelopa, Sapunaoa

Anton Bently, Faatoia

Geroge Tauiliili Faleasiu

Taotafa Lui Saleologa

Tuifao Aoga Aoga, Vaitele-Uta

Henrietta Gafa- Lalomanu

Leaupepe Howard Schawlger

Sina Levi, Faatoia/Maagao

Vui Aileone Stowers, Lano
The village of Savaia celebrated 108 years since the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa was established there.

Hundreds of Savaia villagers have travelled from overseas to be part of the celebration.

On Thursday night, the service was conducted by Rev Keneti Leaupepe.

He thanked God for these many years since they have started this celebration.

The church in the village started from scratch. They first worshipped in a small church with only a few members as recalled by Rev Christian Faoa of Savaia-Uta.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Vice Chancellor of the National University of Samoa Fiu Asofou Soo, who is also a member of the village, said they have come a long way.

But this has all been made possible by the grace of God.

The village gatherings started around 1900s but Fiu cannot recall the day and month they started.

But what I can say is that God continues to bless us each day.

Savaia is one of the leading villages in Samoa in terms of agriculture.

This is the time where we come together to thank God for his continuous blessings, the land and the ocean and especially its people.

Fiu said many of the families have moved inland and away from the sea.

As part of the celebration, the village also hosted a Talomua to showcase the work by the farmers.
How would you like a brand new Honda Wave motorcycle as a Christmas present?

Well for four lucky customers of Ah Liki Wholesale (A.L.W), thats exactly what they will have after the company presented them brand new motorcycles yesterday.

The presentation was held at Ah LIkis Vaitele branch.

The motorcycles were the top prizes for the Chefs Choice Tuna - Honda promotion which encouraged customers to purchase the product so they could enter the draw.

The lucky winners were Paris Tiatia, Tavita Tupai and Susanna Poasa from Savaii. The fourth winner was Julius Mailo, who currently lives in New Zealand. His grandfather Analeitia Mailo was present to pick up his prize.

A.L.W Manager Taito Momoe Fotu congratulated the winners.

With a big smile, Mr. Mailo said this is one of the best Christmases ever.

I am more than happy to be the one who accepts this prize on behalf of my grandson, he said. This is an amazing gift. I cant wait to hop on the motorcycle and drive on it back home.

Head of Sales at A.L.W, Losa Maiai-Wallwork said the promotion is their way of giving back to their loyal customers.

The promotion holds great significance for Ah Liki Wholesale, he said. It is an opportunity for us to thank our clients for their support throughput the year.

It is time for us to give something back to our loyal customers and in the spirit of giving, I would like to wish all our customers especially our lucky winners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The governments continued support for Samoas world heavyweight champion, Lupesoloai Joseph Parker, has the widespread backing from members of the public.

The government had donated US$100,000 for Parker to host his world heavyweight fight in Auckland where he defeated Andy Ruiz Jnr for the WBO title.

With the title defence already the topic of conversation, many people in Samoa believe the government should continue to back Parker.

Lucy Amani of Matautu says Parker has made Samoa very proud and he deserves the funding support.

Definitely, Lucy said. Joseph Parker deserves the support of Samoa. He is one of us and we want to show how proud we are.

Leaghan Crichton and Louise Hunt, who are Samoans based in Australia, agree.

This is a worthy cause for Samoa to support. We believe the government should continue to fund his bouts if possible.

For George Sola of Faleula his opinion is definitely biased. He shares the same village as the champion.

Joseph Parker achieved great things for Samoa. This is kind of a promotion for Samoa and the financial support strengthens it. It is a win win situation.

Timothy Salale Moananu, of Apia, could not agree more .

Joseph Parker has done great things for our nation. We are proud of him and we are solidly behind him. By the way, this is a great promotion for Samoa.

Johnny Naeymal of Puipaa believes Samoa is paying peanuts for the exposure it is receiving.

Of cause they should continue to support him. It is like a give and take. He presented Samoa overseas and this is a way to support him. To me, this is a great investment.

But even non Samoans believe the government is on the right track.

Marcus Shimchick of Washington DC said Samoa should continue to help.

He should get moral support because of what he has achieved.
Christmas is a time of giving and that is not restricted to people in Upolu.

The residents of the big island of Savaii are also into full swing with presents and all for their loved ones.

But theyre not just thinking about the people of Savaii.

For the owners of Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge at Auala, Rosie and Saleimoa Vaai, they thought about the hard work put in by the Little Sisters of the Poor at Mapuifagalele and they decided to do something about it.

So as part of the Savaii Samoa Tourism Association (S.S.T.A) Keep Savaii Clean campaign, Va-i-moana used the opportunity to raise funds for the Home.

They initiated a cleanathon sponsorship campaign which received lots of support.

We do various community projects and this was one of them. In the end, the campaign raised $3,000 and Va-i-moana added another $1,000 for a total donation of$4,000 for the home which was presented this week.

On top of that, they also took in some fruits, taro, banana, taamu for them.

We would like to use the opportunity as well thank all our guests, family and friends who donated to our campaign.

The donation was accepted by Sister Sera and Little Sisters of the Poor who expressed their heartfelt thank you to Rosie, Saleimoa Vaai and the team at Va-i-Moana.
Imagine having to plant a few hundred trees near the Oregon border or handing over all the money in your wallet next time your city council votes down a housing project.

That is one of the ideas coming out of the newly released California Apartment Associations key findings report.

The report suggests rewarding communities that build housing near jobs and transportation, but penalizing suburban sprawl by linking it to California climate change legislation.

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Communities that turn down housing projects would pay a fine for, presumably, forcing people who work in their community to move farther away. Climate change is factored in because, in most cases, commuting can harm the environment by releasing more carbon emissions.

Another suggestion in the report is to penalize the communities by linking failure to build new housing to carbon offsets, credits given in lieu of offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. One way the state allows for that is reforestation protocols, or planting trees with less than 10 percent tree canopy cover.

The Sacramento-based Apartment Association represents residential property owners and has 13,000 members. The report it released Wednesday came out of a housing forum it held in September attended by politicians, unions, economists and housing advocacy groups.

Robert Wassmer, director of CSU Sacramentos urban land development program, said it is too easy for cities to turn down housing projects for low income residents.

Local governments will say they cant possibly approve housing because there is too much political resistance and it is too big of a cost, he said. Right now, they can say that without putting any dollars forward.

Wassmer, who attended the forum, said putting financial penalties in place for denial of new projects will give politicians cover for approval. He said local lawmakers could argue denying new housing will require municipalities to raise taxes or cut back on services.

Tom Bannon, CEO of the association, said many politicians want to approve new housing but are in a tough spot when their neighbors oppose it. He said community opposition is in contrast with a state requirement that mandates communities show how they will meet projected housing needs.

If they vote for (a new project), they have the wrath of the homeowner, he said. But, they are not abiding by what the city agreed to in accepting their fair share.

Throughout the report, the association repeatedly warns against rent control measures. Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, San Jose, West Hollywood and Thousand Oaks are among some of the cities in the state that already have rent control.

San Diego does not, but a local group has been pushing for it. San Diego Tenants United led a march in September asking for the city to enact rent control measures, arguing prices had gone up so fast in 2016 that the city needed to intervene.

Yet, rent control can be difficult to pass with most economists dismissing it because controls can lead to a reduction in the quality and quantity of housing available.

Bannon said recent rent control measures in Northern California and rent increases have the apartment association concerned it will see more rent control proposals across the state.

As the state brings in new jobs, all of a sudden there is inadequate supply of housing and prices go up, he said. We want to continue the states economic growth. From the (San Francisco) Bay Area, youre hearing from big companies that they may not be expanding because there is no room for our future employees.

The association said it produced the report because it says more apartments and housing are needed in California to reduce costs for renters and buyers. It estimates an additional 100,000 homes need to be built each year.

Some of the other ideas listed in the report:

Revisit Gov. Jerry Browns by-right proposal. It would have approved developments without Californias stringent review process as long as it set aside at least 20 percent of units for low-income residents. Also, if the development is near a transit stop, it could be quickly approved as long as 10 percent of units are for low-income renters. It was strongly opposed by a coalition of environmental and labor groups.

Fix the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. The association says the law is being used to block sensible development, such as new homes near transportation and jobs. One suggestion was to consider an appeals process, like those in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Promote urban infill. The association suggests increasing taxes on landowners who dont dont sell valuable lots that could be used for housing.

Wassmer acknowledged it might not be in some communities best interests to approve housing, but it is at the regional and state level  requiring Brown to step in.

This all has to come from the governor, he said. He tried the more collaborative, cooperative approach with the by-right (proposal) but that didnt go anywhere. Now, he needs to think about using executive power.

phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar

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Half your income on rent? Youre not alone
The El Cajon Police Department deployed a homeless outreach team for the first time this month: two officers and a social worker who will go out twice a month to connect with people living on the streets.

During the first effort Dec. 14, Officers Brian Ehlers and Tom Dewgaw teamed up with Erica Bjorneboe of the countys Health and Human Services Department. They spoke to a dozen homeless men and women.

Those who were stopped included a young man with a puppy, a woman living out of a van, and several people the officers knew from bike patrol duty, their regular assignment.

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When the officers pulled up in their marked police vehicle, several people took a defensive stance. Once they realized it was about their welfare, not a citation, they softened.

The East Region Homeless Outreach Team, known as HOT, joins similar efforts in Santee and San Diego.

After initial introductions, Bjorneboe would talk one-on-one with the individuals and ask them what they needed.

A man named Kevin who was holed up with only a backpack behind a shopping center off Jamacha Road asked for help in making an appointment with a local social-services worker. Bjorneboe made a phone call to set it up, and heard back later that Kevin had arrived early.

Three women, all with several laden carts and wagons, were sitting near a shopping center off Pioneer Way. One asked if there was a place to store her things, afraid to leave her belongings anywhere for fear of them being stolen.

Bjorneboe said she would look into it. Currently, there is no storage available for the homeless in El Cajon. In San Diego, there is a transitional storage center downtown with bins for more than 300 people to use temporarily.

Officer Ehlers said he has seen some of the older transients try to take some of the younger homeless under their wings. Typically, the overture is rejected.

Do they want the help? Do they accept the help? Ehlers asked rhetorically. Sometimes these folks have to literally hit rock bottom to accept help.

El Cajon Police Chief Jeff Davis and Mayor Bill Wells recently met with frustrated business owners who cited property damage, trespass, harassment and drug use by a growing number of young homeless.

Davis said he believes it will take a regional effort to make a substantial difference in the homeless population.

According to the 2016 Point in Time Count by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, there were 321 homeless in El Cajon, but that did not include numbers from the East County Transitional Living Center.

The 2015 annual count found 711 homeless people in El Cajon. There were 513 in 2014. Both those counts included the transitional center.

A new count is scheduled on Jan. 27.

A Grand Jury report released in June chastised El Cajon and neighboring East County cities for not doing enough to help homeless residents.

El Cajon officials disputed the report and pointed out that of all the cities named, El Cajon was the only one offering temporary housing to homeless.

The transitional living center, run by a faith-based group, operates from a former motel that can accommodate several hundred people for short-term stays.

Other groups and services that work to help El Cajons homeless are Crisis House, the Volunteers of America, the Salvation Army, Home of Guiding Hands and Meals on Wheels.

Dolores Diaz, executive director of the regional homeless task force, said she was heartened to know that East County is taking some affirmative actions and that police in El Cajon were taking time to establish consistent connections with the homeless in the city.

Im pleased El Cajon started the HOT team, but I think they will soon discover that this will need full-time attention, Diaz said. Its an iterative, changing process, a developmental process. We learn while were out there.

She said having trained county social workers was an outstanding combination and model, and hoped El Cajons foray into working to help the homeless in the city would evolve into more than just an every-other-week endeavor.

Diaz said dealing with the homeless issue takes education and experience from not just nonprofits and local government, but also the faith-based community and businesses. She said she hoped East County would be able to get more resources in the future.

These are our homeless, our neighbors, our issue to address, Diaz said.
A remarkable pictograph site that could date back to the 1700s is hidden along the side of a large boulder in one of the most secluded places in San Diego County, Native American art experts say.

Dozens of drawings cover the 26-foot-wide rock in the heart of a massive former land grant called Rancho Guejito in northeastern San Diego County. One drawing appears to be a conquistador raising a sword and wearing an armored chest plate. Beneath him, perhaps protected by a group of eagle feathers, is a stick figure that could represent a Native American that has been slain or is being threatened.

Its an incredibly unusual design, said Steve Freers, a Native American art expert and author of two books, who  along with former San Diego Museum of Man Curator Ken Hedges  was hired earlier this year by Rancho Guejitos owners to examine the pictographs.

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The ranch is the last undeveloped, privately owned Mexcian land grant left in the United States. The pictographs are in an area of the property thats an hours drive from the nearest paved road. The drawings were originally documented by an archaeologist in 1960, then largely forgotten.

Its a site we had heard exists but havent had access to for all these years, said Hedges, who is also an archaeologist. Its really exciting to see it.

Some of the drawings  representing three different styles and Native American cultures  suggest the area may have been used as as a safe haven for Indian tribes trying to escape the European invasion, which began in 1769.

The ranchos Chief Operating Officer, Hank Rupp, said the pictographs appear to capture a pivotal time in the regions history.

I believe what youre seeing here is a depiction of Native American unhappiness with the Spanish invasion at San Diego, Rupp said. The Spanish Conquistadors soldiers came with their church and attempted to foist it on the Native Americans in the area The Native Americans distaste for that.

A report prepared by Freers and Hedges says speculation that the figure could be a Spanish soldier is plausible.

They said the drawings could be analogous to Kumeyaay paintings in Baja California determined to have been painted around the same time the Conquistadors would have been around.

The hand implement could be a sword raised in dramatic display, they write in the report, and note that the body started out as a stick figure but was broadened in the torso area, possibly to give the impression of armor.

Both men have strongly recommend that further studies be done on the drawings to verify their origin. If the pictographs had been found on public land  a state park for instance  state archaeologists would take control, but because the ranch is privately owned further study would have to be done at the owners request.

Rupp said more studies are planned, in consultation with experts and local Native American tribes.

We are cataloging numerous archaeological sites on the ranch for the purpose of knowing where they are, determining what, if anything, needs to be done to preserve them, and to communicate with our Native American partners, Rupp said.

He said Rancho Guejito  which roughly sits between state routes 76 and 78 in Valley Center  works hard to keep out trespassers and others who might damage culturally significant areas on the sprawling property.

We patrol the ranch with armed guards, Rupp said. if you destroy our Indian artifacts or vandalize them there are two ways out of here: handcuffs or stretcher. We know the law. We are going to do everything we can to protect Native American and California history.

The sprawling property has changed little over the past few centuries, since Spains King Charles III directed Gaspar de Portola in 1769 into what is now present-day California. Accompanied by a group of Franciscans led by Junipero Serra, the plan was to establish a string of missions along the coast from San Diego to Monterey Bay.

One of the prime reasons for creating the mission system was to convert the regions indigenous population to Christianity. Anywhere from 133,000 to more than 700,000 Native Americans  representing more than 100 tribes  were contacted by the Spanish over the next 50 years, according to historical records.

Rupp said de Portolas march up the coast, from 1769 to 1770, would have taken place about eight miles west of where the drawings were found on Rancho Guejito.

The next step in documenting and studying the pictographs will be carbon dating, to determine when the art was created, Rupp said. If a bonding agent was used to make the iron oxide-based red paint, even a tiny sample should provide a good estimate.

Freers and Hedges have also recommended that experts assess the area and search for signs of a village.

Usually villages are associated with rock art within a quarter mile, Freers said. This is too remarkable to be just a stop on a trail.

They also said that other nearby boulders should be closely examined. Large rocks are prolific in the area and many of them may not have been seen by man in decades.

New digital imagining technologies have made it feasible to render pictograph rock art that may have been previously overlooked.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
San Diegos theater scene staked its claims far and wide in 2016, with the Old Globe Theatre-bred Bright Star (dreamed up in part by some guy named Steve Martin) landing on Broadway, and La Jolla Playhouses Come From Away packing theaters in several other cities on the way to its own Broadway date next year. But there was plenty of excitement closer to home, too, as local companies forged fresh alliances (including the teaming of Intrepid Theatre and San Diego Musical Theatre at downtowns Horton Grand) and created compelling art. Some top stories from a big and busy year:

San Diego Theatre Week

This first-ever event was the brainstorm of local artists and executives who figured there was strength in numbers for San Diegos myriad performing-arts groups. Under the aegis of the San Diego Performing Arts League, they inspired some 40 of those organizations to participate in the weeklong celebration, which boosted public awareness of theater, dance and more while offering ticket discounts, special talk-backs and other audience enticements. The response was strong enough that an encore is planned for Feb. 26 to March 5, 2017.

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Full coverage: YEAR IN ARTS

2016 arts year in review: Classical music

2016 arts year in review: Dance

2016 arts year in review: Theater

2016 arts year in review: Music

2016 arts year in review: Visual art

Meteor Shower

This year wasnt all about Broadway for Steve Martin, the comic-actor-musician-writer who has made the Old Globe his adoptive theatrical home. Two years after Bright Star  his musical collaboration with Edie Brickell  debuted at the Balboa Park theater, Martin returned with the oddball comedy Meteor Shower, whose cast was stuffed with TV stars. The ticket-buying public loved it: The play set a new box-office record in the Globes second space, the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre. With coups like that, the guy just might have a career.

Come From Away

Speaking of records: Come From Away, which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in 2015 (as a co-production with Seattle Rep), crowned its three-city post-San Diego jaunt by setting an all-time weekly sales mark last month at Torontos 109-year-old Royal Alexandra Theatre. The musical centers on the true story of how the tiny Newfoundland town of Gander fed, sheltered and comforted thousands of airline passengers who were diverted there after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Come From Away begins previews at Broadways Schoenfeld Theatre on Feb. 18 and officially opens March 12, with virtually all its original La Jolla cast and creative team intact.

First Folio

Led by the Globe and the San Diego Public Library, yet another inspired teaming of local cultural forces powered the campaign to bring a fabled Shakespeare book to San Diego for its sole California visit. First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare arrived at the downtown library in June, as part of a national traveling exhibition spearheaded by the Folger Shakespeare Library in the nations capital. The 17th-century volume  one of few surviving examples of the book that collected 36 Shakespeare plays for the first time  was displayed with its pages opened to the immortal Hamlet speech beginning To be or not to be. As a cultural happening, First Folio! was not to be missed.

Hamilton

If 2015 ushered in Hamilton-mania, 2016 was its official coronation. (Not that the war hero, statesman and patriot of the musicals title would approve of such a royalist term.) Composer-writer-actor Lin-Manuel Mirandas hip-hop tribute to the $10 founding father proved to be money on Broadway, winning the Pulitzer Prize, 11 Tony Awards and the affections of legions of fans (not to mention their frustration at its impossible-to-get tickets). It also earned the enmity of Donald Trump, who unleashed a series of annoyed tweets after vice president-elect Mike Pence was booed by some patrons at a performance and then was addressed directly by the shows cast in a plea for tolerance. Some Trump supporters urged a Hamilton boycott. One week later, the show set a new weekly box-office record on Broadway, at $3.3 million. By the way: This year also brought the announcement that Hamilton is coming to San Diego on tour, although likely not until 2018. To quote the show: And if you dont know, now you know.

Twitter: @jimhebert

jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
With one major retirement and three major exhibitions paying homage to the legacy of world-renowned architects who left their imprint in San Diego, there were celebrations of past, present and future in the local visual art landscape this year. Here are the most notable events that happened in 2016.

Hugh Davies

On Oct. 18, after 33 years of steering the artistic ship that is the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Hugh Davies officially handed the key to incoming director and CEO Kathryn Kanjo. Hes not going that far, though. For the next year or so, hes going to focus on fundraising and working with architect Annabelle Selldorf to realize a long-awaited expansion of the museums La Jolla facility. Of his next steps, Davies said itll be a lovely glide path to retirement.

Irving Gill

Irving Gill had such a tremendous impact on San Diego architecture that it took more than a dozen local institutions to properly honor and celebrate his accomplishments. The unprecedented collaboration resulted in exhibits at multiple sites across the county  from the San Diego History Center and Oceanside Museum of Art to Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and La Jolla Historical Society. What Gill did is now everywhere in San Diego. It is pretty ubiquitous. Thats one of the reasons why people dont think of it as special  but it is, said James Guthrie, an architect himself and president and co-founder of the Irving J. Gill Foundation. As San Diegans, we do take that for granted, but its very special in the world. Continues through March 31 at various locations.

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Full coverage: YEAR IN ARTS

2016 arts year in review: Classical music

2016 arts year in review: Dance

2016 arts year in review: Theater

2016 arts year in review: Music

2016 arts year in review: Visual art

Louis Kahn

Local design aficionados dont have to go too far to appreciate the masterful talent of architect Louis Kahn. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla is considered one of Kahns most celebrated buildings and hailed by many as one of the most notable works of architecture of the 20th century. The San Diego Museum of Art this past fall mounted the sprawling exhibit Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture, the most comprehensive retrospective of Kahns work since 1991. Its the first show focused on Kahn in a quarter century. He is a figure whose reputation and legacy has only grown in those intervening decades, said Ariel Plotek, curator of modern and contemporary art at The San Diego Museum of Art. Continues through Jan. 31.

Russell Forester

Architect Russell Forester, who had a successful practice in La Jolla, might be known for his modernist inclinations as well as being the man who designed the first Jack in the Box restaurant in 1951. But it was his passion for art that led to the Oceanside Museum of Arts retrospective Space, Structure, Light: The Art of Russell Forester. It was curated by Peter Frank, an art historian and art critic, in collaboration with Christine Forester, Russells widow. He was a very profound man, she said. There are always things to discover with him and his work.

Margaret Noble

Artist Margaret Noble isnt afraid to push the boundaries of whats art. Nobles had a longtime fascination with sound. She was a DJ in Chicago before she moved to San Diego to teach. She was behind the 2012 genre-leaping Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego installation 44th and Landis, which combined a variety of media, including sound. This past fall, Noble created a site-specific installation called Time Strata, a sound concert presented at the Cesar Chavez Park pier in Barrio Logan. Commissioned by the Port of San Diego, it was an interactive exhibit that featured with live audio streaming from sound sculptures. Its not just sound, its not just sculpture, you get to touch it. But even though you get to touch it, it doesnt mean its a toy, she said. Theres this confusion for everybody. Its not just for pleasure, but I do want you to have something fun and meaningful.

San Diego artist Margaret Noble this year continued to push the boundaries of what we consider art. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune )

Twitter: @outdoorlivingsd

michael.rocha@sduniontribune.com
When Father Joe Carroll put his collection of almost 700 Nativity sets up for auction last week, he said he did it because he needed the money.

What he didnt expect was that some people who heard about the auction now assume hes seriously down on his luck.

They think Im bankrupt, that Im destitute and starving, he said. Thats not the case. I had an old debt that I needed to pay, but that has nothing to do with my everyday living expenses. Im fine.

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Carroll, 75, spent decades helping to build a successful homeless assistance organization, now known as Father Joes Villages, and became a beloved figure in San Diego, the Hustler Priest who was so down-to-earth he had bobblehead dolls made in his likeness and refused to use the title he had earned of monsignor.

Along the way, he also collected Nativity sets. He bought the first one after he was ordained in 1974 and often used his travels to different states and countries to pick up others. The Nativities were kept in display cases year-round at one of the homeless agencys offices, with the public invited in for tours every December.

This year, Carroll decided to sell the collection. He retired in 2011 and has had several health setbacks, including diabetes-related amputations of both feet. When the Union-Tribune asked him why he was selling the Nativities, he said, I need the money. Its going to help pay bills.

The online auction was held Dec. 14 and netted more than $23,000. Soon after, Carroll began receiving calls from people in the community, worried that the auction means he is in dire straits. Carroll said others have been calling Father Joes Villages and accusing administrators of abandoning him.

They take extremely good care of me, Carroll said, providing him with a place to live, a disabled-access van, medical care and other assistance.

The holiday season is a crucial fundraising time for the homeless agency, and Carroll said any misunderstanding about the auction could hurt the organization he spent so much of his life building.

I just want people to know that Father Joes OK, he said.
Two San Diego defense lawyers who were representing the man charged in the 2002 disappearance of toddler Jahi Turner will no longer be handling the case as it moves toward trial.

Alex Ozols and Vik Monder asked to be relieved from Tieray Jones case, citing an undisclosed conflict of interest they were unaware of until recently.

The attorneys said in court Thursday that Jones had also requested that they be allowed to leave the case.

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After questioning Jones, San Diego Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lewis granted the request.

Jahi had been in San Diego for just a couple days when he was reported missing on April 25, 2002. His stepfather, Jones, told police he had taken the 2-year-old boy to a playground in Golden Hill that day and left him to walk to a vending machine several yards away.

When he returned, Jahi was gone, the stepfather said. Jahis mother, who was in the Navy, was deployed on a ship when her son disappeared.

The child was never found.

Although Jones, now 38, was questioned repeatedly by San Diego police after Jahis disappearance, he was not arrested until April of this year. On Dec. 9, at the end of a weeklong preliminary hearing, Jones was ordered to stand trial on charges of murder and felony child abuse, causing death.

A trial was set for April 3.

On Thursday, Deputy District Attorney Bill Mitchell told the judge he didnt believe the defense lawyers had stated appropriate grounds to be relieved from the case. Mitchell explained that its now unlikely for the trial to proceed on the scheduled date because a new defense lawyer will need time to get up to speed.

Thats eight months down the tubes, Mitchell said outside the courtroom.

After the Thursday court appearance, Ozols would not disclose what the conflict of interest was  citing attorney-client privilege  but said it was not apparent before the preliminary hearing.

Ozols said he and Monder took the case pro bono.

We believe in his innocence, Ozols said. We wish we could have taken the case through trial.

The Public Defenders Office will represent Jones as the case proceeds.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefield
Six-year-old Eliana Feliciano was diagnosed with cancer last year on Christmas Day.

On Thursday, after finishing her year-long treatment, she was the first patient to ring the new survivor bell at Rady Childrens Hospital.

The bell gives children who complete their cancer treatment a way to celebrate the achievement in a poignant way.

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The bell dedication ceremony was held outside the hospitals Acute Care Pavilion.

Hospital staff, the families of children with cancer, along with donors and the founders of the Emilio Nares Foundation, gathered for the event.

Eliana, who wore a blue shirt with bold letters that read: Always be brave, was held by her father, Edgar Feliciano of Chula Vista, as she rang the bell vigorously.

The nonprofit Nares foundation donated the bell to the hospitals Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, an inpatient oncology unit where patients stay for days, weeks and months at a time.

Eliana was one of those patients. She was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of soft tissue such as muscle, connective tissue such as tendon or cartilage, or bone.

She finished her last treatment in October and gets to celebrate Christmas with her family at home this year.

She said shes excited about going to Disney World and opening presents at home.

Today is a monumental milestone for not only us but the parents and children, said Richard Nares, co-founder of the foundation. The cancer journey can vary from two to five years, so its important that we mark the end of their treatment with a huge celebration.

Nares said having a permanent survivor bell installed follows a tradition at childrens hospitals across the country.

Each time prior to a survivor ringing the bell, a poem is read:

Ring this bell

Three times well

Its toll to clearly say

My treatments done

This course is done

I am on my way.

Nares and his wife Diane created the foundation in 2003 after losing their son, Emilio, to cancer.

The nonprofit has a main mission to provide transportation to patients at Rady Childrens so that no child misses cancer treatment due to lack of transportation.

As Emilios mom, I truly know the roller-coaster ride that is cancer treatment for these children, Diane Nares said.  It changes everyday. Its filled with hope and its filled with so many ups and downs...its a monumental time in their lives.

Elianas father said hes looking forward to his daughter being pain free.

Were just thankful for the support weve received from the Nares foundation and the care from the excellent nurses and doctors for their compassion toward these children, Edgar Feliciano said. Its great to see her be a child again.

To learn more about the foundation visit: enfhope.org.
The newly named acting executive director of San Diego Countys Republican Party had his own political ambitions dashed two years ago when photographs surfaced of him in a German military uniform making Nazi jokes.

Sage Naumann, who was running for the Carlsbad school board in 2014 as a 19-year-old, said at the time the photos were taken when he was 14 and that the outfit was for Halloween. He called it a youthful lapse in judgment. Still, the photos and his posted comments led several prominent Republicans to withdraw their support for his school board candidacy.

In one picture, which was posted on Facebook in 2009, Naumann is shown in an East Germany military costume that was interpreted as a Nazi regalia. (The East German uniforms were partially designed from Nazi military clothing). He posted the image to his social media account with a caption where he expressed sympathy over Hitlers death.

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Copies of the post were sent to PTA parents and the media during the 2014 election.

Naumann did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

The local Republican Party named Naumann its new acting executive director earlier this month. The partys chairman, Tony Krvaric, said the photos needed to be considered in their context: Naumann was a teenager when they were taken, and he was wearing an East German military officers uniform  not Nazi attire.

Sage Naumann is one of the hardest working and most talented young individuals Ive ever met so having him step up as Acting Executive Director was a natural progression from his position as Deputy Executive Director, San Diego Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric said in an email.

The implication of your story is made even more vile and disgusting by the fact that Sages brother is mentally handicapped and would have no doubt perished under the Nazis. Its no wonder the public no longer trusts the media, Krvaric continued.

In the pictures Naumann wore a gray dress shirt, a black neck tie, and a gray jacket with border guard insignia on the lapels and a medal pinned to the chest.

In one photo Naumann is clutching the outfits cap to his right side as his head hangs low.

Sad Natsi mourns the loss of ze Fuhrer, Naumanns post said, using the Finnish word for Nazi.

An estimated 6 million people were systematically killed in the Holocaust and millions of service members, including hundreds of thousands of Americans, were killed in Europe during World War II when Hitler led Nazi Germany.

Another picture says Angry German waiting for candy.

age Naumann photos on Facebook. (File Photo / San Diego Union-Tribune )

Ten months after the picture was posted a person commented on Naumanns photo. The nazi image is just getting old. Its rather disgruntling, he said.

When the images and comments surfaced two years ago Naumann told the Union-Tribune he bought the East Germany military costume online for $75 and his friends at a party subsequently misinterpreted the ensemble as a Nazi uniform. Despite their error, he went along with their Nazi-interpretation and posed for photos while in the costume. He called it all a mistake.

Its unclear why Naumann dressed as an East German military official, but in the caption for the photos he said they were from Oct. 31, 2009, Halloween.

Candidate criticized for Nazi costume 

The fallout from the pictures and captions caused Naumann to lose support in his race for school board. Then-state Sen. Mark Wyland, the business-oriented Lincoln Club, former Assemblyman and Judge Larry Stirling, former Encinitas Mayor Jerome Stocks, and former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio all dropped their endorsements.

The county Republican Party continued to endorse him, archived copies of the political groups website show.

The controversy in 2014 caught the attention of the white-nationalist media and Naumanns antics were defended in an article by The Daily Stormer.

During this years presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump was praised by white nationalists and neo-Nazis, including the chairman of the American Nazi Party, Rocky Suhayda.

Trump was also endorsed by David Duke, the former head of the Ku Klux Klan. Trump and other Republicans have renounced that endorsement.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
More than a dozen inmates at the East Mesa Reentry Facility in Otay Mesa were relocated to alternate quarters because of minor flooding from the rain this week, the Sheriffs Department said Friday.

Sheriffs spokesman Ryan Keim said rainwater had made its way into Dormitory 3, which can house up to 45 people. He said work crews were addressing the problem, which was limited to the one dormitory.

Maintenance staff members are currently working on a long-term solution, Keim said. Fourteen inmates in the affected area have been moved to other bunks while the situation is being resolved.

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Inmates who called The San Diego Union-Tribune about the flooding said the conditions had sickened dozens of detainees, possibly because of mold.

Theres no way there is not mold in that wall, or some sort of fungus thats making us sick, inmate Edwin Stage said in a telephone interview. It looks like they think theyre going to dry it up and imagine that the problem went away and then move people back in there. Every single one of us had a terrible cough, a cold and a weird lung thing cropping up.

Stage, 46, is serving time on felony traffic violations. He was convicted of evading police and disregarding public safety. He was booked into jail on Oct. 28 and is due to be released in April.

Keim said there is no evidence of mold inside the jail. The few inmates who are sick are suffering from routine colds and flu symptoms, he said.

During the recent rains, water was blowing sideways at times and ultimately entered a module through louvers on the side of the facility, Keim said. The water ran down the inside of the concrete module wall; the area impacted by the water has been inspected and there is no evidence of mold.

Inmate Brian Spencer was also moved due to the flooding. He said guards have known about the problem for a long time and nothing was done to address it.

Its not right, Spencer said by phone on Friday. Were not hardened criminals in here. Nobody should have to get sick because the countys not taking care of the problem.

Spencer, 27, is serving time on a petty theft conviction and is due to be released Monday.

The East Mesa Reentry Facility is a medium-security jail on eight acres along Alta Road near the Otay Mesa border crossing. The complex includes six dormitories and has room for up to 900 inmates.

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has called my hometown of Aleppo a synonym of hell. The Problem from Hell, the title of U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Powers award-winning book, intended to describe the U.S. inaction in Bosnia, now describes my hometown of Aleppo. Despite six years of empty rhetoric, my city is currently witnessing sectarian cleansing that has ironically unfolded under Ms. Powers own watch.

In the past week, I have spoken to family and friends inside Aleppo as I watched reports of the Assad regime killing entire families all at once, women committing suicide to avoid being raped by Assads forces, young men being rounded up and continued indiscriminate airstrikes.

I cant help but dwell over the number of times this administration has made statements that it did not follow with action.

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The rising isolationist sentiment in the U.S. may appear as a reasonable justification for the Obama administration abrogation of the Syrian peoples rights to a representative democracy.

However, the Obama administration was by no means Switzerland when dealing with Syria. The Obama administration implemented one of the largest covert CIA programs ultimately contributing to the destruction of Syria while, intentionally or otherwise, ensuring the survival of an Assad dictatorship.

To add insults to our overwhelming pain, President Obama mocked the suffering of the Syrian people during a recent news conference by essentially saying he could not hold his red line on the cheap. As if he knows the ultimate price of 500,000 murdered civilians, 12 million displaced refugees and the resulting destabilized Middle East and Europe.

In 2012, I met Ms. Power at the White House, informing her of my fears that Assad would follow through on his threats to annihilate his population like germs. I, among other Syrian-Americans, was assured at the time that the United States stands with freedom and democracy and would never allow massacres to happen.

At that time, none of us Syrian-Americans fathomed that a U.S. president would talk big and loud but carry a toothpick.

In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 2009, Mr. Obama made the following statement, Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later.

His words have proved true, six years into missed opportunities of inaction that empowered the Assad regimes mass atrocities against the Syrian people. If Mr. Obamas words have meanings then he must have concluded that more costly intervention later is better strategy than limited actions now.

Obama has stood idly by and allowed Assad and his partners, Iran and Russia, to create the largest humanitarian and refugee crisis since World War II. His inactions created the power vacuum that allowed the rise of extremist Islamist organizations like ISIS who are now threatening the globe and granted the ayatollah of Iran hegemony over Southwest Asia extending from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean.

Today, over 100,000 civilians are being religiously cleansed from eastern Aleppo primarily by Iranian and Hezbollah mercenaries under a cease-fire agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey. Russian air power coupled with Iranian-backed militias now play a central role in enforcing Syrias sieges and both countries participate in overseeing local forces surrender and displacement negotiations.

The pictures of thousands of the people of my city being forcibly displaced from their homes for no crime but seeking liberty are a stain on the world conscience. The world made a commitment of never again after the Holocaust, Srebrenica and Rwanda. Make no mistake, President Obama can end these mass atrocities with a single credible threat of force to push the regime to stop massacring civilians, yet he refuses.

As President Obama watches on while Syrians are slaughtered and are subjected to forced displacement, Ms. Powers old problem from hell is now a reality and yet to be a written history. In her book, she wrote about the refusal of public officials to even resign in protest of the Clinton administrations inaction in the Balkans, yet she continues to serve in an administration that refuses to act.

The least Ms. Power can do for Aleppo is to resign in protest of this shameful policy. History will record her, like Obama, as complicit in these crimes against humanity.

Alagha, a longtime resident of San Diego County, is national chairman of the Syrian American Council, a nonprofit Syrian American advocacy organization that advocates for a free and democratic Syria. The organizations website is www.sacouncil.com.
As an SDG&E customer and clean energy advocate, I was dismayed to read of the recent decision by the First District Court of Appeals to remove a key legal hurdle to building the Carlsbad Energy Center  a $2.2 billion dollar, 558-megawatt gas-fired power plant. The courts decision affirms prior approval in May 2015 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

Make no mistake: Clean, renewable energy is Californias future. As a ratepayer, I want to see my dollars going toward energy infrastructure that hastens the transition to sustainability at a predictable price  not new investments in large combustion power plants.

The proposed Carlsbad plant contradicts the priorities that California has established to reduce pollution across our state as it will use combustion to generate power. It runs counter to the energy-use practices that Californians are adopting in terms of clean distributed power generation combined with investments in energy efficiency. Distributed or on-site power generation minimizes or avoids the cost to ratepayers for transmission and the associated impact of siting transmission towers to deliver the power where it is used.

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Since CPUCs initial May 2015 decision to approve the Carlsbad plant, our state has doubled down on priorities to increase renewable generation and decrease pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. Five months after CPUC approval for Carlsbad, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 350, landmark climate change and clean energy legislation, requiring California to generate 50 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources and double energy efficiency in all buildings by 2030. The 50 percent renewable mandate replaced a 33 percent mandate previously in effect.

In September, Gov. Brown signed another landmark law, Senate Bill 32, requiring the state to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. This is a far more ambitious objective than the previous mandate to hit 1990 levels by 2020.

Its companion measure, Assembly Bill 197, directs state agencies like the CPUC to maximize polluting emission reductions from on-site sources, which occurs when a fuel source is burned, such as the proposed Carlsbad plant. This proposed plant runs squarely against the spirit of AB 197  meant to discourage the building of new major emission sources with long lifetimes.

Passage of these laws since the CPUCs initial action on Carlsbad should trigger serious reconsideration of the proposed plant.

Moreover, our regional energy needs may have changed. One of the arguments behind building the Carlsbad plant was rising grid electricity demand in SDG&Es service territory. This may not account for an unprecedented recent rise in local solar deployment. For example, a Dec. 5 Union-Tribune article (Up, up and away: Residential solar in San Diego keeps rising) highlights exponential growth for residential solar installations in the region. In addition to the changing legal and policy landscape, regulators should consider re-evaluating the need for the plant based on evolving local energy demand.

A variety of clean energy innovations have helped to mitigate the need for large combustion power plants. Many established companies and startups from San Diego County and Orange County would embrace the opportunity to provide the region with clean, reliable, affordable electricity and related services, if only given a better chance to compete. Cost reductions and reliability improvements are occurring rapidly across a variety of responsive technologies.

UC San Diego has one of the most advanced microgrids in the world. The universitys system generates approximately 92 percent of the electricity used on campus annually and saves the university more than $8 million a year in power costs as compared to importing the same amount of energy. Included in the microgrid are a variety of power generation systems, including the largest renewable fuel cell project in the country. This is the type of innovation we increasingly should demand throughout the region.

SDG&E and CPUC should work collaboratively with local stakeholders on a new process to gather the latest information on distributed energy resources, demand response, energy efficiency, energy storage, renewables, combined heat and power, and fuel cells. With an open mind and willingness to think creatively, we can help mitigate the need for centralized combustion power plants. If CPUC will not take this action unilaterally, the state Legislature should consider intervening in the process.

Levin is a director of the Center for Sustainable Energy, based in San Diego; director and co-founder of Sustain OC, based in Orange County; and director of government affairs at FuelCell Energy, a leading clean energy company. He is a resident of San Juan Capistrano.
The California Public Employees Retirement System finally acted last week to lower in phases the unrealistic assumed rate of return on its $300 billion-plus in assets from 7.5 percent to 7 percent, heeding warnings that the nations largest pension system was digging itself into a deep hole. This will force the state government and local governments that are part of CalPERS  a list that doesnt include San Diego or San Diego County but has many local cities  to pay much more for pensions in coming years.

But this isnt a solution to the agencys long-term funding problems at all. It amounts to a gamble that CalPERS investments will consistently do quite well in an era in which pension fund returns have been weak, leaving the agency with only 68 percent of the money it needs to cover its obligations  a $139 billion shortfall. It also amounts to a rejection of the theory gaining strength among actuaries and economists that assumed rates of return are so over the top in their optimism that they effectively transfer huge debts to future generations. Many who scoff at the idea of annual returns averaging 7.5 percent also scoff at 7 percent.

This is why the CalPERS board must do far more  starting with, on a large scale, finally embracing pension reforms and, on a smaller scale, shuttering an over-the-top corner of the CalPERS website that says its a myth that pension costs are crowding out government services like police and libraries.

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Its no myth. The Los Angeles Times reported last month that pensions and retirement health benefits now consume 20 percent of revenue in Los Angeles and Oakland and a stunning 28 percent in San Jose. While the state government is in better shape than most local governments, its beginning to feel the strain as well. On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that beginning in April, the state will increase vehicle registration fees from $46 to $56 to help cover the soaring cost of pensions for California Highway Patrol officers. In 2000, the state had to pay about one-eighth of annual CHP pension costs. Now it must pay about half.

Thankfully, there are reasons for hope on the horizon. The first is a pending California Supreme Court ruling on an appellate court decision that held pension formulas for government workers are not inviolate and can be changed going forward for years not yet worked. The second is that the Trump administration is likely to be far more open than the Obama administration has been to an innovative 2009 Orange County proposal that won support from fiscally conservative supervisors and local unions alike. The county asked the IRS to allow its workers to opt out of their current pensions in favor of a far less expensive hybrid retirement plan. For accepting cheaper benefits, workers would get about a 7 percent increase in their paychecks. When he was San Diego city attorney, Jan Goldsmith wrote a letter in support of the request. But the IRS never gave its blessing.

After Jan. 20, the San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board hopes CalPERS comes up with its own version of this proposal for the IRS. If government workers are willing to give up expensive pensions for more money in the here and now, that could be the dike that blocks the pension tsunami.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: UTOpinion
BOX OFFICE LEADERS

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story PG-13 The Rebellion focuses on their most daring mission as stolen blueprints lead them to sabotage Death Star.

Moana PG A daring teen travels the open ocean in order to save her people and in her quest meets the legendary god Maui and finds her identity.

Office Christmas Party R As an branch office of a company is on the verge of closure, the manager will throw an epic Christmas party for a client.

Collateral Beauty PG-13 After a great personal tragedy, a man writes to Love, Time, and Death and finds answers that explain the meaning of a loss.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them PG-13 Newt arrives in New York and deals with some magical beasts and other predicaments.

Manchester by the Sea R A loner handyman alters his life forever as he comes to the aid his dying brother by becoming the guardian of a teenager.

Arrival PG-13 As 12 huge alien spacecrafts land in various parts of Earth, a crack team of linguists is hired to communicate before panic ensues.

Doctor Strange PG-13 An accident leads Dr. Strange to pursue self-healing through supernatural means that could lead him to amazing powers.

Trolls PG A happy princess troll takes her pessimistic buddy on an adventure to save all of their troll community from being eaten by evildoers.

Allied R Set in WWII, an intelligence officer on a secret mission falls for a woman in the French Resistance who may be more than she appears.

Hacksaw Ridge R During the Battle of Okinawa, a conscientious objector becomes a medic and through his bravery is awarded the Medal of Honor.

Miss Sloane R A powerful Washington lobbyist turns down a pro-gun client and puts her life at risk when she decides to support new legislation.

***Also Playing in Theaters***

The Accountant, Almost Christmas, Bad Santa 2, Jackie, La La Land, Moonlight, Nocturnal Animals

Coming to Theaters Dec. 21

Assassins Creed PG-13 A student works to attain the level of Master Assassin and soon learns that he has lineage to a secret society of assassins. Stars: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson. Directed by Justin Kurzel.

Passengers PG-13 Thousands of passengers in their sleep chambers are headed to a distant colony when two passengers awake 90 years too early. Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburn. Directed by Morten Tyldum.

Sing PG In this animation comedy, a koala named Buster Moon seeks to restore his historic theater to its past glory by holding a singing competition. Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson. Directed by Christophe Lourdelet/Garth Jennings.

Why Him? R In this wild and crazy comedy, Dad must convince his daughter that her intended filthy rich beau is not his choice for a son-in-law. Stars: Zoey Deutch, James Franco, Tangie Ambrose, Cedric the Entertainer. Directed by John Hamburg.

Coming Soon: Things to Come, Kidnap, The Bye Bye Man, Harry Benson: Shoot First, Carefree, Friend Request, The Space Between Us, Neruda, A Kind of Murder, Solace, Patriots Day, A Monster Calls, Silence, Julieta, Live by Night, Hidden Figures, Fences, Gold, 20th Century Women, Paterson, Toni Erdmann

New on DVD Dec. 27

Snowden R This docudrama explores the actions of Edward Snowden, who stole and leaked thousands of top secret government documents.

When the Bough Breaks PG-13 The Taylors seek a surrogate mom when they are unable to conceive, but they soon discover that she is a psycho.

Foreign, Classics, Documentaries and more: A Man Called Ove, American Honey, In a Valley of Violence, Dog Eat Dog, Pet, Kill Command, Close to the Enemy, Committed, Cutter.

Television: Ray Donovan s4, Versailles s1, Jericho of Scotland Yard.
There are episodes in any citys history from which those involved will scurry away like a bridal party in a rainstorm. And if certain members of San Diegos legal establishment of past years had their way, the case of Dale Akiki would be misfiled deep in cobwebbed archives. Our system tormented Akiki as cruelly as could any hooded Elizabethan executioner.

Akiki, the man who endured that abuse, survived and sits in front of me in his modest Mira Mesa condo prepared to talk about those black days.

In 1988, Akiki says, he started attending the large Faith Chapel in Spring Valley. When the church was seeking volunteers, he offered to serve in the nursery school.

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According to Akikis lead counsel, Kate Coyne, some parents started to protest after about a year, saying his looks were disturbing their children. The head of the Sunday school investigated and said she found no fault with Akiki and said the children loved him.

Coyne says events heated up when a mother started questioning her daughter in an intensely suggestive manner until sexual-abuse accusations came forth. The mother then went to the pastor, who called the sheriffs office. The sheriff and church sent inquiry letters to parents, and then the hysteria started to mushroom, Coyne says, and Akiki was asked to leave the congregation.

For two years, authorities investigated the allegations. In the meantime, Akiki met and married Sharon Bulger, who had also attended the church. His life returned to normal until 21 years ago today. On May 10, 1991, he was arrested while stepping off a city bus on his way home from work. He was carrying a bag of aluminum cans he regularly collected for his wifes spending money.

Of shock to him, he was charged with child abuse and kidnapping. The charges reached 52 counts by the time of the trial.

The result? Akiki found himself facing a lifetime in prison.

This is tough for him to relive, but he does not flinch from the memories. Hes a soft-spoken, devout man of 54 with the moral strength that allowed him to climb some steep hills in his life. He carries a shunt inside his skull to ease migrane pressures on the brain. Even worse, he was born with a rare genetic disorder called Noonans syndrome. It caused him to be small and slight, and with a noticeable limp and facial features irregular enough to get startled glances from strangers. Even, perhaps, enough to scare small children.

He is at ease with his debility and appearance. In a strong baritone voice that belies his size, he says, Theres nothing I can do about it, so I accept it and trust other people to accept me on the type of person I am. I try to be a good friend and kind to all people.

After the arrest, he was forced to resign his job as a computer assistant for the Navy. He was held without bail for 30 months in the old downtown jail while awaiting trial and during it. Over that time, he was repeatedly denied bail because the court considered him a flight risk. He recalls one judge saying, Well, if the other judges denied bail, I will too.

Once delivered to the jail, he was placed in protective custody. However, in any jail, protective is an iffy promise, and an accused child molester is a rabbit with no thicket to hide in.

The old downtown jail. Think dark, think shadowy, think cold stone and rusted steel, think echo chamber of angry voices.

Akiki says he quickly learned there were bad guys in cells just yards from his who would have played with him like a doll.

I got threats. Guys were threatening to kill me. I had things thrown at me when I went to the showers. It was a nightmare. I just closed my mind and day-dreamed that one day I would wake up and turn over in bed, and there would be my wife.

He recalls how those days in jail dragged and his spirits flagged. He sought comfort from his faith, but depression had a voice, too, and its whisper was low and coaxing.

I always thought if they found me guilty, I wouldve done something to myself. Theres no way I was going to prison for something I didnt do.

Thats suicide hes talking about.

Help in jail came from unexpected sources. Two southeast San Diego gang-bangers put the word out that if anyone messed with Akiki, they would have to answer to them. Slowly over the months, the jail population rallied to Akikis defense. It is a phenomenon of that culture to be protective of whomever they consider innocent and defenseless  except their own victims, of course.

Akiki was also heartened by groups of faithful supporters who frequently gathered outside the jail for candlelight vigils and chanted for his freedom. His Navy co-workers turned out in force.

I couldnt see, but I could hear them, he remembers. Those people out there helped keep me going.

The case finally came to trial in 1993 and lasted seven and one-half months, with testimony from 170 witnesses. It remains the longest trial in San Diego history.

Prosecutors alleged multiple sex acts against the children and claimed they had dozens and dozens of children who would testify, but called only nine to the stand, according to Akikis co-counsel, Susan Clemens. The children were about 3 and 4 when the events supposedly occurred, and 6 to 8 when they testified. Among other bizarre things, they told the court that Akiki had killed a giraffe and an elephant in their presence and sacrificed a child and drank its blood in the nursery.

What the charges boiled down to was a twisted doctrine called ritual sexual abuse that gained a following back in that day: in effect, modern-day witchcraft.

I am not making this up. I wish I were.

When testimony ended in November 1993, the jury took only seven hours to return a not-guilty verdict. Akiki wept as the clerks words told him he was finally going home.

Later, jurors were withering in their denunciation of every aspect of the states case and anyone associated with it. The county grand jury later joined the chorus.

When Akiki was released to cheers and news coverage, he was driven home in a stretch limousine. It was paid for by 20 deputies at the jail.

He reached out for his former life. He got his Navy job back. His and Sharons lives settled down uneventfully. They renewed their marriage vows on their fifth anniversary.

We missed the second, third and fourth anniversaries, he says, so we wanted to start fresh.

After the acquittal, he sued and won $2 million from the county, the church and therapists for what they had taken from him. Akiki says the attorney who filed the suit for him took half of the settlement.

District Attorney Ed Miller was soundly voted out of office, largely as an outgrowth of this case. The chief prosecutor of the case, Mary Avery, was transferred and eventually left the D.A. staff.

Akikis lawyers, Coyne and Clemens, were named California Public Defenders of the Year in 1994. Akiki says he still regards them as family.

Today, gray is spreading across Akikis hair as he looks forward to retirement in September. The anticipation is muted by the loss of Sharon, who died of an embolism in 2009 at age 45. Remarriage is not on his mind. Sharon was my princess, he says of the woman who stood by him steadfastly. I could never replace what she meant to me. She is still in my heart.

In the ensuing two decades, the church has not contacted him with an apology, regrets or even an offer for prayers. None of the children in the case, now grown, have attempted to talk to him. And if one did?

I would say, I didnt do anything to you, and you know I didnt, so why did you say those things?

The early 90s were a time when sexual predation of children was coming to the fore of public awareness. That caused a surge of targeting those who had abused children for years with relative impunity. But rightness of the cause aside, there is a difference between zeal and zealotry, just as there is between love and jealousy. Always close behind the reformer is the man with the guillotine.

Looking back, who was at fault? Who caused this vile thing to happen to such a gentle man? The answer is elusive. Was it the childrens parents who egged them on? Was it therapists and activists who needed a poster boy to pin their cause on? Was it the District Attorneys office, hellbent on getting a conviction? Was it the judges who could have thrown the case out, or who could at least have granted bail?

Maybe it was nobody. But if it was nobody, then it was everybody. And thats whats frightening, because that means it could happen again.

Fred Dickey of Cardiff is a novelist and award-winning magazine writer who believes every life is an adventure. He welcomes column ideas and other suggestions; contact him at freddickey@roadrunner.com.
Formal citizen input in land-use decisions via Community Planning Groups has been part of San Diego Countys planning process for decades. Community members say the groups ensure public participation in policy decisions. Critics say some planning group members may have their own agendas, overstep their authority and quash or slow projects, costing developers time and money. A Red Tape Reduction Task Force formed by the county last year came up with several recommendations, including one to remove the groups from the countys legal umbrella and another to limit their scope. County supervisors were to vote on the recommendations later this month, but the vote has been postponed to March. Below is one of three commentaries we offer on the issue.

There are a number of words that permeate discussions of the public, private and nonprofit sectors: budget cuts, eliminate and streamline. Budget cuts are a fact of life. All sectors have had to make hard decisions. Streamlining planning processes, regulations, and procedures that sectors traditionally have undertaken has led to both good and bad results. Reducing regulatory barriers is a good thing if it does not affect the desired outcome. Some policies and regulations have had to be streamlined in order to make them work effectively. Previous policies and regulations have become burdensome and time-consuming. Other streamlining efforts have led to chaos, more confusion than ever before, and to increased distrust by various parties and potential lawsuits. I do not see citizen participation as a regulatory barrier.

The issues of streamlining regulations or eliminating community planning groups in San Diego County have generated a growing level of discussion. As a professor of city planning at San Diego State University, I am keenly aware of the need to streamline regulations along with the importance of citizen participation in the planning process.

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The ability for citizens to participate in the public policy process has long been a tradition in the United States. It is part of our countrys heritage; a cornerstone of our democracy. Having worked in various parts of the world, I can attest to the fact that planners and public officials admire how citizens of the U.S. are able to participate in making public policy. Citizens can vote, sign a petition, attend and participate in public meetings, or be appointed to a community or countywide committee or group. Our methods of participation have evolved over the years from simply informing people about what is happening to participating in deliberations to being part of a committee and to making recommendations to public officials. Of course, the extent and effectiveness of an individuals participation varies by individual and responsibility. In some cases, an individuals participation is minimal, but in other cases, the individual feels empowered and his or her participation means something.

It is a fair question to ask why people want to participate in the public policy process. The reasons vary. For one individual, it might be to participate in our democratic processes. Another individual might seek out participation because of frustration over past decisions. Yet another reason might be that they care deeply about their community and want to know about things that will affect the community and the residents quality of life. Ultimately, they may want to offer an opinion or opinions that we havent heard. After all, they live in the community and have day-to-day interaction with it.

We can acknowledge that participation can be cumbersome and can lead to lengthening the public policy process. Nevertheless, officials need to garner the support of the community early in the process. Including it too late may lead to strong opposition on a given matter. Once this occurs, distrust in the process may lead to the alienation of the public and damage whatever relationship had previously been built

Another problem with participation within a community planning group is that one individual or faction could dominate the group. Planning groups are only as good as the totality of the group. Any recommendation of a group should be a group decision, not the voice of one person. Or not the loudest voice in the room.

Engaging citizens throughout the planning process has long been cherished in the region, states and country. California has mandated that citizen participation be a component of the planning process. The actual forms of participation vary by jurisdiction. The important thing to remember is that we need citizens to participate in the process.

I have to admit that I am a strong advocate of citizen participation. I believe its advantages far outweigh any disadvantages. Community planning groups play an advisory role, providing input to planners and to the ultimate decision-makers. They do not have any authority to make a final decision. Their power, if that is the correct term, is to provide the best citizen input they can to the individuals making the final decision. If the decision makers fail to listen to their advice, they always have the right to participate in meetings of the countys legislative body. If they become dissatisfied with any ultimate policy decision or decisions, they have the power of direct democracy at their disposal. While this power is contained in the California Constitution, I urge restraint. I believe in the public policy process and want to see it followed. If it fails, they have the right to go to the ballot box.
donald trump

President-elect Donald Trump turned to Twitter on Thursday to call for the US to increase the capability of its nuclear arsenal.

"The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," Trump wrote on the social media platform.

Russia on Thursday also called for strengthening "the military potential of strategic nuclear forces" in the country.

Trump's proclamation comes one day after he met with top Pentagon officials, including the Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, a post that broadly oversees the Air Force's nuclear weapons capabilities.

He tweeted after the Wednesday meeting that he was impressed with the people he met.

I met some really great Air Force GENERALS and Navy ADMIRALS today, talking about airplane capability and pricing. Very impressive people!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016

Earlier this year, the Obama administration proposed a $348 billion plan to upgrade the US nuclear arsenal over the next 10 years to improve the missiles and warheads and improve delivery systems aboard submarines and aircraft.

Trump's tweet wasn't the first time he's promoted expanding nuclear weapons broadly.

During the presidential campaign, Trump said he could support countries like Japan and South Korea developing their own nuclear weapons, a move that many experts said could create a strategic arms race in Asia and the Middle East.

Kingston Reif, the director for disarmament and threat-reduction policy at the Arms Control Association, called Trump's pro-proliferation stance "irresponsible."

"The US needs to be playing an even more active role than it is currently playing in reducing nuclear buildup, and Trump's comments will not make that job any easier," Reif told Business Insider in March.

Story continues

Trump's position on nuclear weapons has been inconsistent.

He said during the campaign that he wants to be "unpredictable" in his decisions regarding nuclear weapons, but has also said that he would like "everybody to end it, just get rid of" nuclear weapons. He said in September that "once the nuclear alternative happens, it's over," but that he still didn't want to "take anything off the table."

And last month, he tweeted that he "never said" that more countries should acquire nuclear weapons.

NOW WATCH: 'They haven't played by the rules': Trump accuses China of 'massive theft of intellectual property' and unfairly taxing US companies





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By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

There was a lot of me at Saturdays 18th Annual Santa & Me celebration with hundreds of kids at the annual Santa Paula Police Storefront holiday celebration held at the Las Piedras Park Police Storefront.

Santa arrived in a new bright red Corvette convertible courtesy of Santa Paula Chevrolet owner John Macik, who a drove The Man With All the Toys when his sleigh broke down.

The two were accompanied by the dozens of Ventura County Motorcycle Riders, Santa Paula Police and numerous vintage low-riders, a show of support for Old St. Nick that got almost as much attention as Santa.

Mona Nava was waiting in line with her two grandsons and her niece.

Nathan, 6, and Albert, Jr. 7, want bicycles for Christmas while Ivry, 9 wants a dollhouse.

I think chances are good theyll get them, Christmas morning Nava said with a knowing wink.

Santa was handing out plenty of toys in a nonstop fashion that included a quick visit with each child, a photo and a candy cane. His Chief Elf (SPPD Officer Hector Ramirez) was busy moving the crowd along.

Moving at all was a good idea Saturday morning just warming up from a night of temperatures that dipped in the 30s.

People were already standing in line when I got here at 8 a.m. this morning and it was freezing! said Samantha Frady, who was helping at the event.

SPPD Cadet Martha Reynolds-Brown had also helped Storefront Coordinator Calla Dominguez with the event.

Police Chief Steve McLean offered some words to the crowd that included Mayor Jenny Crosswhite, Vice Mayor Ginger Gherardi and Councilmen Clint Garman, Martin Hernandez and John Procter.

Your level of commitment is phenomenal, McLean told the motorcycle riders and car owners. I really appreciate that you have my backthis is my fourth year with this event and I appreciate what you do year after year.
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

Although all boys and girls know that Santa is usually seen as a wisp or smoke, kissing Mommy, dipping into the cookies and milk or just as a flash of red and white  accompanied by a hearty Ho-Ho-Ho!  and the tiny hooves of reindeers disappearing into the distant night sky, Santa has been known to do a reconnaissance fly over earlier on Christmas Eve.

And, for the 12th year in a row Santa is readying for his high-tech ride over portions of Ventura County courtesy of Aspen Helicopters, Inc., based at the Oxnard Airport.

Although last year the flight was cancelled due to bad weather, Charles McLaughlin of Aspen Helicopter said that Santa would be back Christmas Eve and probably fly over the city around 7 p.m. Saturday night, give or take 15 minutes or so either way.

Theres only two or three years we were grounded, said McLaughlin.

In 1982 McLaughlin started the flights after he had a Santa in Lights helicopter specially built patterned after one constructed by a friend in Helena, Montana, Gerhard Blaine. He added Santa Paula to the route in 2005.

And McLaughlins Santa brought so much joy to boys and girls the 40-foot long display was updated About three or four years ago to be brighter with LED lights.

Theyre much easier to power, said McLaughlin, but the brilliant brightness of the new technology doesnt seem to photograph well.

Whoever flies the helicopter does so alone: We dont want to waste the weight, and McLaughlin said luck decides who will take the controls.
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

Santa Paula as well as Southern California has been experiencing three of Mother Natures basic food groups, rain, cold and wind all within a matter of days.

The projected storm came through Thursday evening into early Friday morning bringing plenty of rain to Ventura County, but at a slower pace than expected.

Santa Paula and Ventura County overall had braced itself for the storm that was expected to bring an onslaught of rain that was feared could trigger flooding and mudslides.

Ventura County Fire staged a countywide meeting days ahead of the storm and the availability of sandbags was expanded to include the Todd Road Jail. Santa Paula representatives attended the meeting and were ready to activate the Emergency Operations Center at City Hall if needed.

Santa Paula is no stranger to flood damage: in 2005 a downpour flooded the Santa Paula Creek outlet  not cleared completely by the Army Corps of Engineers  where it entered the Santa Clara River, bouncing waters back and forth across the river and into the Santa Paula Airport. One-third of the airports runway was destroyed in the incident that was only stemmed by an emergency response of trucks dumping rock over the side where raging waters were eroding the runway.

Santa Paula received 1.6 inches  some mountain areas north of the city more than 2.3 inches  a healthy downpour but not at the rate that was expected.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce could challenge President Barack Obama 's move to put vast waters in the Arctic and elsewhere off-limits to oil and gas drilling, Christopher Guith, senior vice president of policy for the powerful pro-business group's Energy Institute, told CNBC.

"It is absolutely accurate to say we're considering it," he said Thursday.

However, legal action may not be necessary if congressional Republicans take up legislation to overturn Obama's action, Guith said. Spokesmen for Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, both Alaska Republicans, said they are mulling such legislation, the Hill reported Thursday.

On Tuesday, President Obama withdrew the bulk of the U.S.-controlled Arctic Ocean and parts of the Atlantic from future lease sales to energy companies, citing his authority under the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

U.S. Outer Continental Shelf





While momentum had been building for Obama to block drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic throughout the year, the timing and details of the action were not known until this week. Guith said he expects a more serious discussion about a response to begin once people return from the Christmas holiday.

"There's no rush right now. It's just trying to figure out sequentially what works best and what the bandwidth is," he said. "These sorts of decisions happen over long periods of time. It's more about getting the policy right than trying to rush to the courthouse."

This would not be new ground for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In September, the chamber, along with other business groups, filed a lawsuit challenging an Obama administration rule that granted overtime pay to more workers .





Guith noted in an earlier interview that President-elect Donald Trump , a strident advocate of the energy industry, could find himself in the curious position of defending his predecessor's drilling ban if a state or lobbying group throws down a legal challenge.

Story continues

"I'd be surprised if the state of Alaska or an industry group didn't," he told CNBC on Wednesday.

If that happened, the incoming Trump administration would be the defendant in the case, meaning it would essentially be responsible for defending the previous administration's action, Guith explained.

It is highly unlikely that Trump, who campaigned on boosting oil and gas output on federal lands, would put up much of a spirited fight. Instead, the White House would be much more likely to settle with the plaintiff, Guith explained.

That would essentially kill the offshore drilling ban  except there's another twist: If Trump agrees to settle, environmental groups could step in and petition to intervene on the part of the government, taking the opportunity to argue the case for why Obama's action should stand.

Alaska is seen as a potential plaintiff because it has been trying to reverse a decadeslong decline in oil production there, and offshore drilling could help do that over the long term. A number of drillers have pulled out of the Arctic because exploration there is too expensive and risky in light of two years of low oil prices.

The office of Alaska's attorney general did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In an email, Kara Moriarty, president and CEO of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, said, "I'm not aware of any final decision about next steps by the state, Alaska Native organizations or industry, but with over 76 percent of Alaskans supporting oil and gas development in the Arctic, I think it is safe to say we are all exploring our options following the President's decision."

The pro-drilling Arctic Energy Center conducted a survey of 511 Alaskans that found 76 percent supported drilling in Arctic waters. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Alaskans receive a cash disbursement from the state every year that is underwritten by oil revenue.

More than a dozen states have sued the Obama administration over other attempts to regulate methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.







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Dubai, UAE -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/22/2016 -- Cactimedia, the full service digital agency emerges as the leading web design in Dubai. It offers specialized services in the field of digital web designing and development, social media and ecommerce. It also offers SEO services to companies to enhance their business prospective.



Quoting from the website http://www.cactimedia.ae/, "We specialize in everything 'digital'  from website design and development to social media, SEO and ecommerce. We have worked with some of the leading corporate and retail brands in Dubai and are always hungry to take on interesting, challenging and unique projects.



We believe in taking on clients and projects for the long haul. We cherish long-term relationships and are willing to invest the time, energy and resources to understand their unique needs and goals.



Our approach is to always stay focused on providing strategic outputs that impact our clients' bottom line and enhance customer satisfaction."



The company has won many awards for web design and development. Cactimedia also developed the website YourAmlak which is one of the leading property portals in Bahrain. There are more than dozens of real estate agents and more than thousands of properties registered on this website.



YourAmlak works on all computer devices and screen sizes. The website which was developed by Cactimedia is designed with perfection to be responsive. Users can easily manage their listings without any hassles.



A company correspondent says, "Our process of crafting a beautifully designed website or a winning digital marketing strategy is at the very heart of our success. We, at Cactimedia, have put a lot of thought into coming up with a process that truly works and consistently delivers the results our clients seek. Whether its web design, SEO or any other service that we provide, having great human resource is only half of our secret sauce. The other half is in the process."



The company has a well designed process to create websites that cater to individual requirements. Apart from being a web design agency, Cactimedia provides social media marketing services, copy writing and web hosting in Dubai.



Yasmein and Richard Richie comments, "Working with Cactimedia was a breath of fresh air. Not only does all of their staff care about their clients, but they are clearly all passionate about their work. From the initial meeting to the eventual delivery of the website, the whole process was smooth and professional. Having had the our website built and designed by three other reputable companies prior to meeting Cactimedia, we were a little apprehensive as to whether anyone in Dubai would understand our brand well enough to deliver what we had envisioned. We will certainly use them again and most definitely recommend them.



To know more about web design and development company in Dubai, please log on to: http://www.cactimedia.ae/



About Cactimedia

Cactimedia is a digital service company based in Dubai. It was initiated in the year 2003. It offers digital services in the field of SEO, web design and development, social media, web hosting and so forth.



Media Contact:

Office 1401

TECOM, Grosvenor Business Tower Dubai, UAE

http://www.cactimedia.ae
Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/23/2016 -- C.R. Thompson Roofing is pleased to announce that roofing repair and installation services are available throughout January 2017. Those who are looking for roofing contractors that serve Levittown, PA, Bensalem, Warminster, and many other areas in and around Philadelphia, can count on C.R. Thompson Roofing for exemplary roofing services. Homeowners or commercial property owners who would like to schedule services with this Philadelphia-based roofing company can fill out a contact form on their website at http://www.crthompsonroofing.com/ or give them a call at 215-464-6425.



Now that the winter season has arrived, C.R. Thompson Roofing would like to remind all customers how important it is for them to address any issues with their roofs as soon as possible. In fact, the company urges customers to take a walk outside and do a visual inspection of their roofs to ensure there aren't any missing or cracked shingles. Furthermore, the roofing company also urges property owners who cannot remember the last time they had their roofs inspected to reach out to them immediately to schedule an inspection. Not only will the company's inspectors check the shingles, but they will also check for mold, mildew and whether there is evidence of any leaks.



In addition to repairing, installing and inspecting roofs, C.R. Thompson Roofing also has a team of professionals who can both install and repair siding or windows. In addition, those who need a reliable gutter cleaning service during the winter season can reach out to the company at any time. Lastly, customers can also count on them for emergency roofing services 24/7.



When trying to find a roofing company that serves Bensalem, PA, and many other areas in and around Philadelphia, consider C.R. Thompson Roofing. To learn more about the company and what they do, please visit their website today.



About C.R. Thompson Roofing

C.R. Thompson Roofing is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based roofing company that serves home and commercial property owners in and around Philadelphia and South Jersey. The company can install and repair shingle roofs, slate roofs, rubber roofs, and many others. C.R. Thompson Roofing not only offers roofing services but can also install and repair siding and windows, perform brick pointing, clean gutters, and much more.



To learn more about this top-rated, family-owned and operated roofing company located in Philadelphia, please visit http://www.crthompsonroofing.com/.
El Paso, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/23/2016 -- 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.



El Paso, Texas General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Reveals New Geneology Resource Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.g3-development.co/



Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism.



http://www.MarketingChocolateInternational.com

http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com

http://www.ImAdamGreen.com



Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company.



http://www.mxicorp.com/fab/

http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen

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
Fort Wayne, IN -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/23/2016 -- 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 Pilgrims did not leave behind any lists of the items they brought with them on the Mayflower, but historians have used a provision list put together by Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to take an educated guess. However, in 2012, Caleb Johnson, Simon Neal, and Jeremy Bangs started transcribing and studying a rare manuscript (a page of which is here illustrated) in the possession of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, that was written by one of the investors in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company. This manuscript actually contains several lists of suggested provisions the colonists should bring with them. It is the closest thing we can get to a list of what the Pilgrims would have actually brought.



A summary of some of the key items on the provision lists: http://mayflowerhistory.com/pilgrim-history/



-Food and Drink: Biscuit, beer, salt, (dried) beef, salt pork, oats, peas, wheat, butter, sweet oil, mustard seed, ling or cod fish, "good cheese", vinegar, aqua-vitae, rice, bacon, cider.



-Clothing: Monmouth cap, falling bands, shirts, waistcoat, suit of canvas, suit of cloth, Irish stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, garters. Slippers, plain shoes, little shoes, French soles, sewing needles.



-Bedding: Canvas sheets, bolster "filled with good straw", rug and blankets.



-Arms: Light armor (complete), fowling piece, snaphance, sword, belt, bandoleer, powder horn, 20 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of shot.



-Household: Iron pot, kettle, frying pan, gridiron, two skillets, spit, platters, dishes, spoons of wood, napkins, towels, soap, hand mill, mortar and pestle.



-Tools: Broad hoes, narrow hoes, broad axe, felling axe, steel handsaw, whipsaw, hammers, shovels, spades, augers, chisels, gimlets, hatchets, grinding stone, nails, locks for doors.



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



Fort Wayne, Indiana General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Declares New Geneology Resource Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.g3-development.co/



Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism.



http://www.MarketingChocolateInternational.com

http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com

http://www.ImAdamGreen.com



Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company.



http://www.mxicorp.com/fab/

http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen

http://www.ImAdamGreen.com



Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing.



http://www.Xocai.com

http://www.MXICorp.com

http://www.HealthyChocolate.com

http://www.JeanetteBrooks.net



Since joining MXI Corp (Xocai) as one of the original 11 founding distributors, Adam has discovered that many of his life-goals truly do align perfectly with Network Marketing. Adam enjoys helping others find significance. Adam is most grateful for the complete time-freedom he has with his fantastic wife and five children. It's my pleasure to introduce you to Adam Paul Green, MXI Corp Ambassador and Multi-Millionaire Earner.



http://www.mxicorp.com/fab/index.php?dist=winnerscircle

http://www.Youtube.com/AdamPaulGreen

http://www.mxicorp.com/multimillionaires/

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
Glendale, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/23/2016 -- 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



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.



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.



Glendale, Arizona General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Declares New Geneology Asset 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



Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing.



http://www.Xocai.com

http://www.MXICorp.com

http://www.HealthyChocolate.com

http://www.JeanetteBrooks.net



Since joining MXI Corp (Xocai) as one of the original 11 founding distributors, Adam has discovered that many of his life-goals truly do align perfectly with Network Marketing. Adam enjoys helping others find significance. Adam is most grateful for the complete time-freedom he has with his fantastic wife and five children. It's my pleasure to introduce you to Adam Paul Green, MXI Corp Ambassador and Multi-Millionaire Earner.



http://www.mxicorp.com/fab/index.php?dist=winnerscircle

http://www.Youtube.com/AdamPaulGreen

http://www.mxicorp.com/multimillionaires/

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
Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/23/2016 -- Injured employees searching for a workers' compensation lawyer in Atlanta and other cities in Georgia are turning to Darwin Johnson for his vast experience, knowledge of workers' rights laws and winning track record.



"Work injuries are not something to take lightly, and if you are failed by your employer in the wake of one, you'll need help navigating a legal course of action," said Darwin Johnson. "I've been guiding workers down that path successfully for many years."



Johnson founded his firm after several years of working in the Georgia court system. While he was there, he noticed insurance companies and shady employers continually going to great lengths to get out of compensating injured employees who were rightfully entitled to funds.



"Overall, the workers' compensation system does its job effectively, and when someone obtains an injury on the job, they are properly compensated without issue. But there are still a fair share of cases that involve employees needing to take legal action. If that's the case for you, having the right lawyer by your side is crucial," said Johnson.



Darwin Johnson has settled over 2,500 cases and won over $25 million for his clients since opening his practice. "Keep in mind, most of the time we settle these cases, and you won't have to step foot in a courtroom," said Johnson.



To learn more about the workers' comp lawyer in Atlanta, or to schedule a complimentary consultation, please visit Darwin Johnson's website, or call 404-692-6482.



About The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson

The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson provide legal defense for individuals all throughout the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. He provides effective legal defense for individuals unjustly injured while at the workplace, and gets them the compensation they need. Clients of Darwin F. Johnson don't pay unless he delivers compensation.



Reach the Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson today by phone at 404-692-6482.



For more information, please visit http://www.darwinfjohnson.com.
Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/23/2016 -- Future Market Insights (FMI) recently announced the release of its report titled "Residential Water Treatment Devices: Middle East Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025." According to the report, the middle east residential water treatment devices market was valued at US$ 414.1 Mn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$ 855.3 Mn by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 6.8% throughout the forecast period.



Total population of Middle East & Africa stood at approximately 346 million in 2015 and is expected to grow at the rate of 2% per annum. The Middle East & Africa is also witnessing mass migration of people to urban centers, thereby leading to increased demand for water purifiers in these centers. Economies of North Africa, on the other hand, have also been registering healthy growth rates over the last few years, which in turn is expected to fuel growth of the residential water treatment devices market in the overall MEA region. Due to large scale industrialization, quality of water in the GCC and Levant countries has deteriorated during the recent years. Water availability in these regions is estimated to be merely 1,200 m3/person/year, which is substantially lower than the global average of 7,000 m3/person/year. These factors are also prompting urban masses in Middle East countries to opt for water purifiers. Furthermore, the GCC region is witnessing entry of globally established water purifier brands, which has resulted into increased competition in the market. Increased competition, in turn, ensures marginal decline in prices of residential water treatment devices in the retail market in these regions. However, price decline has been largely reported on the reverse osmosis-based water purification devices only, the sales of which have witnessed an upsurge in recent years.



Request Free Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-eu-1299



Around 44% of the Middle East & Africa population lives in rural area and is not aware about the necessity and techniques to purify and filter water. Penetrating these markets may be a challenging task for the concerned market participants as most of the vendors would have to begin by creating awareness regarding water purifier and filters and the importance of these products.



Combination water purification system employs two different treatment technologies in one system. Players such as AquaPro and Kent have started offering RO+UV-based combination water purifiers in the GCC and Levant countries.



Geography-wise, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dominated the GCC residential water treatment devices market in terms of value in 2014, accounting for more than one-third value share of the GCC residential water treatment devices market. On the other hand, Turkey dominated the Levant residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than 40% value share of the overall market in the region. Furthermore, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is foreseen to expand at a relatively high CAGR during the forecast period and is expected to maintain its revenue share dominance till 2025 end. The governments in the Levant and GCC regions are investing and opening up to Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and promoting industrialization, which has been leading to an increase in the per capita income of the residing population in countries such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan are expected to register significant Y-o-Y growth during the forecast period. Besides, these countries are projected to bestow more focus on their non-oil and manufacturing sectors in the coming years, which in turn is expected to encourage the water purifier and water filter manufacturers in these countries to go in for domestic production and enhance sales. Countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine and Syria are currently witnessing moderate growth in demand for residential water treatment devices, and the trend is expected to continue during the forecast period as well.



On the basis of filtration devices, the filtration faucet segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014 in terms of revenue, and is foreseen to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. In terms of volume, the water tap faucet segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than half volume share of the overall market.



On the basis of purification devices, the reverse osmosis segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014 in terms of revenue, and is foreseen to expand at a relatively high CAGR during the forecast period. In terms of volume, the gravity segment purification devices dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than 40% volume share of the overall market.



Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-eu-1299



Key market players covered in the report include KENT RO Systems Ltd., Eureka Forbes, Britannic Water Treatment Company W.L.L., Panasonic Corporation, LG Electronics, Pure It LLC, Waterlife, Coolpex Pure Water System, Ultra Tec Water Treatment LLC and AQUA PRO UAE. Most players in the market are engaged in various activities, such as mergers and acquisitions, increasing investments in technological and product developments, geographical expansion and brand building via strong marketing strategies, in order to sustain their position in the competitive market.
The high quality genome sequence of the dry jujube cultivar Junzao, along with sequences from trees throughout its range, have illuminated the domestication history of this popular Asian fruit tree.

The Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees, with more than 7,000 years of domestication history.

It is native to China and belongs to the Rhamnaceae family in the Rosales order.

Jujube is valued as a woody crop and traditional herbal medicine, and cultivated on 2 million hectares in China alone, with an annual production of approximately 4.32 million tons.

Jujube cultivars have been traditionally classified as fresh or dry, and dry jujubes account for approximately 80% of the total production. Ripe fruits of dry jujube have a coarse texture while those of fresh types have a crisp texture.

An international team of researchers from Northwest A&F University, Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Cornell Universitys Boyce Thompson Institute, Beijing Forestry University and Kunming Institute of Botany sequenced the dry jujube, as well as 31 cultivated and wild varieties, to gain insight into its domestication process.

The genome sequences showed that cultivated jujube plants interbred with wild varieties several times during its history of human cultivation.

Comparative analysis of the genomes also revealed that a type of jujube that is eaten fresh and has a crisper texture, called Dongzao, has a recent insertion into its genome that the Junzao variety does not have.

Comparative analysis revealed that the genome of Dongzao, a fresh jujube, was 86.5 Mb larger than that of the Junzao, partially due to the recent insertions of transposable elements in the Dongzao genome, the authors explained.

The researchers found that genes involved in fruit sugar content and acid metabolism are located in genomic regions that are identical between varieties, showing that once humans had identified a jujube plant with a sweeter taste, only plants with those genes became widely cultivated.

A lot of genes involved in cell wall metabolism were changed between the two species, said Dr. Zhangjun Fei, a researcher at the Boyce Thompson Institute.

Between the dried and fresh, the cell wall structure was totally different.

The study provides insights into how the jujube has evolved under human cultivation and the role of domestication in shaping its genome.

Tree breeding and domestication is much harder than vegetables because its a long process, Dr. Fei said.

One generation from seeds to fruit sometimes takes several years.

The work also provides a valuable genomic resource for breeders working to create improved jujube varieties, and may be applicable to the study of other fruit trees, such as apples, which are under intensive breeding to produce fruit with the best flavor.

The findings were published online this week in the journal PLoS Genetics.

_____

J. Huang et al. 2016. The Jujube Genome Provides Insights into Genome Evolution and the Domestication of Sweetness/Acidity Taste in Fruit Trees. PLoS Genet 12 (12): e1006433; doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006433
Strengthening collaborations among institutions and small-scale cassava farmers could help Central Africa reduce hunger and foster nutrition security, experts say.



Research scientists from academic institutions and policymakers say that collaborations in research and development would promote innovation to address the challenges of nutrition insecurity such as stunting in children.



The experts were speaking at a forum on cassava that brought delegates and smallholders farmers in Cameroon to discuss the challenges and opportunities in cassava farming in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon.

Nutrition insecurity is a real problem in Central Africa affecting many households. Judith Francis, CTA

The forum was organised by the Netherlands-headquartered Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Nigerian-headquartered International Institute for Tropical Agriculture.



Bringing together the main actors in the cassava value chain in Central Africa to have a common agenda to be addressed by researchers, policy makers and financiers was the key objective of the forum that took place in Cameroon early this month (6-9 December). The forum also provided a platform for trade between smallholders and potential buyers of cassava.



The experts were concerned that despite efforts to achieving food security in the region, little is being done to address undernutrition, especially stunting and a rise in non-communicable diseases.



They noted that understanding the nexus between agriculture, food and nutrition has become a research and development priority.



Nutrition insecurity is a real problem in Central Africa affecting many households, says Judith Francis.



Francis, who is a senior programmes coordinator, science and technology policy, CTA, tells SciDev.Net that well-coordinated collaborations among organisations are necessary to help address nutritional challenges.

She adds that cassava has a lot of nutritive value with its leaves rich in vitamin A and minerals such as potassium which could help address stunting problems he the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases including diabetes.But we need accurate and timely data on nutrition to be collected in Central Africa to help address the challenge, explains Francis, adding that the forum has helped raise the profile of cassava as an important nutrition security crop.Ben Bennet, the director of UK-headquartered Natural Resources Institute, adds that there is a need to continue educating people on the nutritional values of cassava.Bennet urges African governments to play a central role in coordinating individuals and institutions to drive the nutrition security agenda in Central Africa.
Isaiah Griffin is a seventh grader and is on the threshold of celebrating his birthday on Friday, Dec. 23. Fortunately, he lives to tell his tale.

The events of last week were quite a turning point for Isaiah Griffin, a student of West Bemis Middle School, reveals Krem.

A week back, Isaiah suffered an emergency medical situation at school. The nurse, Ms. Carrie Stephenson, was called to attend on him. She found him vomiting. But unlike the usual cases she encounterd, she felt this was far more serious.

Isaiah Griffin was swaying his head and was going back and forth on his consciousness. She insisted that he be rushed to the hospital.

Recalling the fateful event last Friday, Ms. Carrie Stephenson said that something about the boy's symptoms did not seem alright. Though he had provided his mother's number, which showed that he was alert, Stephenson dissuaded his mother from taking him home. Instead, she called the ambulance without delay. This decision by the nurse saved Isaiah Griffin's life, undoubtedly.

Presently recovering at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Isaiah Griffin had suffered a stroke last week. There was a blood clot at the stem. Though the clot has been removed, the teenager has an odd gait. The prognosis and outcome of his condition was good due to the timely medical care he received. He will, of course, need physical therapy to get completely normal.

Ms. Carrie Stephenson, who is currently in her third year as a nurse for the Jackson-Madison County School System, recalled that this was the first time she had dealt with a serious medical situation like Isaiah Griffin's.

Ms. Carrie Stephenson wasted no time and quickly asked for the AED machine as well as the ambulance. She was monitoring his vital signs all the time and made sure that he did not fall asleep, according to WBBJTV.

Isaiah Griffin was transported in an ambulance to Jackson General and flown to Le Bonheur. The boy suffered a stroke and was paralyzed on his left side.

"Her thinking and everything she did for him saved his life, I tell you what," IsaiahGriffin's mother said. "We could've been planning a funeral, not planning a celebration."

Isaiah Griffin, who was told he had only a 50 percent chance of survival, is making good recovery after surgery. His mother, Deborah Griffin, was very grateful to the timely medical care and team that has worked to assist her son. She was touched by the most significant step taken by the school nurse.

"This is going to be one of the best Christmases. Ms. Carrie has given me a gift," Isaiah Griffin's mother said. "It's just the most precious gift she could have given me."
China has been on "red alert" for five days due to heavy smog and air pollution that enveloped its 23 cities. The major roads in the capital were closed as well as factories, schools and other establishments. On the other hand, this did not stop the headmaster of the middle school in central China's Henan to cancel the planned exams.

Sixty percent of cities in China affected by #smog: Ministry of Environmental Protection https://t.co/xF3Lhr5vCA pic.twitter.com/drGxckfywu  People's Daily,China (@PDChina) December 21, 2016

The headmaster let more than 400 Chinese high school students take exams in outdoor school playground in a toxic heavy smog despite orders of the city's authorities to suspend classes in all schools for the whole week because of air pollution. In the photo, the high school students were seen sitting on their legs taking exams in Math, English and PE in the dense toxic smog.

The principal of a middle school in central China's Henan has been suspended for organizing outdoor exam in smog https://t.co/oZI9gMZtfe pic.twitter.com/u952suf0BC  People's Daily,China (@PDChina) December 21, 2016

A school in China is under fire after photos of students taking exams in heavy... https://t.co/eCqs9NOU0o by #ceburns2003 via @c0nvey  MOVING FORWARD! (@cd5762) December 22, 2016

The images circulated among the Chinese Internet users and a parent also complained to a local newspaper. The headmaster of the high school was suspended from his duties after the incident, according to CNN.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection in China stated that about 71 cities across the nation have been affected by air pollution last week up to this present time. This air pollution contains highly harmful particles that have been generated from coal burnt for heating and other things. Observers commented that the heavy smog was like the "airpocalypse," which was frightening to witness even in video, according to Time.
This is an image that space aficionados and enthusiasts will trade anything for. The 357.6 feet long International Space Station (ISS) transiting the Sun is an out of the world sight.

NASA recently shared images of the International Space Station as it moved in front of the Sun. The image was captured as the ISS moved at about 5 miles per second with six astronauts on board. The image was visible as a silhouette as it transited the Sun.

Those in the know will be aware that the ISS was the outcome of concerted effort by16 nations. It is at an altitude of 249 miles above the surface of the Earth.

Views of the International Space Station

Do not miss the golden chance of viewing the ISS from the Earth. Indeed, the last few days have provided this opportunity to sky gazers to watch the International Space Station passing between Mars and Venus.

According to NASA, there will be several sightings of the ISS in the next few days. The International Space Station will make an appearance in the evening everyday for four consecutive days. This gives ample opportunity to sky gazers to spot the ISS and even take pictures or videos.

Sky gazers from India can catch a glimpse of the ISS on Dec. 23, 2016 and Dec. 24, 2016 in the evening close to sunset,according to Tech First Post.

ISS Detector Satellite Tracker App

According to Mr. Hitesh Gusani, an avid photographer, it is good to use the ISS Detector Satellite Tracker app for knowing the probable schedule of ISS sighting. The application can be programmed in such a way as to alert the user about the next sighting time of the ISS.

NASA has enabled live video broadcasts from the space station, reveals AOL. The view is a delight as it alternates between internal and external videos of the ISS. The ISS walkthrough has been released by NASA that space enthusiasts can lap up.
The dubbed Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP), a NASA space-based sensor, was a satellite-mounted LIDAR instrument, which was engaged in monitoring the phytoplankton growth cycles in the Arctic Ocean since 2006. The results obtained by the analysis of data collected in the last 10 years provide new insights into the push-pull relationship between phytoplankton and its predators.

CALIOP NASA Space-Based Sensor

The NASA space-based sensor employed laser beams to monitor the growth of phytoplankton in different weather conditions. Michael Behrenfeld from Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences said, "Phytoplankton are the foundation of the ocean's food web. Commercial fisheries, marine mammals and birds all depend on the blooms."

He also stressed on the importance of these kinds of studies by saying that, "It's really important for us to understand what controls these boom-bust cycles and how they might change in the future, because the dynamics of plankton communities have implications for all the other organisms throughout the web."

In addition, phytoplankton are crucial to Earth's carbon cycle, because they are the primary producers in the oceans and they absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, which is the basic mechanism of photosynthetic fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide, reported Deccan Chronicale.

New Findings on Phytoplankton Growth Cycles

According to the data obtained from the NASA space-based sensor, the phytoplankton grow at very high rates and their blooms can outpace the predatory organisms that prey on them. However, when the initial growth rate stabilizes, the predatory organisms start consuming the phytoplankton, which brings an end for the bloom. The findings were published in the journal Nature Geoscience, reported News Nation.

"The finding goes against the commonly held belief that blooms begin when phytoplankton growth rates reach a threshold rate and then stop when growth rates crash," Behrenfeld said.

The data also provides valuable information regarding the annual changes push-pull relationship between the phytoplankton and its predators over the last 10 years.

"The take-home message is that if we want to understand the production of the polar systems as a whole, we have to focus both on changes in ice cover and changes in the ecosystems that regulate this delicate balance between predators and prey," Behrenfeld further said.
FLORENCE, S.C.  It often is said that little kids are resilient. In Maddox Daniels case, hes a fighter.

Maddox was born in South Korea and was adopted by David and Tracey Daniel of Florence. The adoption process took 1 years, but he was finally home with his family, which included brother Dawson and sister Reagan, when he was 2 years old.

As is found sometimes in kids adopted from other countries, Maddox had some developmental delays. When some physical symptoms started manifesting, however, his mom started trying to find answers. A test by his pediatrician revealed that Maddoxs liver enzymes were high, and his mom noticed that he was falling often.

I began to Google what can cause liver enzymes to be high and what can cause falling down, Daniel said. I found a case study of a little boy who had similar liver enzyme levels as Maddox, and his mom reported that he had been falling down a lot. They tested him and the little boy had Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

After a genetic test was done, doctors told the Daniels that Maddox had muscular dystrophy, but they didnt know what form.

In 2013, after doctors found the error in the dystrophin gene, Maddox's illness was diagnosed as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

I think I went through all of the stages of grief, Daniel said. I was really angry at first. I can remember having to go into my bedroom closet and shut the door, because I was such a wreck. While we waited for the test results, I knew what that diagnosis looked like. I knew he was going to lose ambulation, which means losing the ability to walk and eventually the use of his arms and his hands.

Ready for a fight

Daniel said with that diagnosis, her family had to find people who would go on their journey with them, supporting them and not discouraging them.

We see a neurologist, Dr. Brenda Wong, at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital; she is world-renowned for her work with Duchenne, Daniel said. A lot of doctors dont give these boys any hope. She has been doing this for so long, and I needed her to say, This is OK. You can do this.

Along with muscular dystrophy, apraxia was also part of Maddoxs diagnosis.

Not every boy with Duchenne has speech apraxia like Maddox, where he was nonverbal, Daniel said; Some talk and some dont; its just the location of the error on the gene. Dr. Wong said to me, You can say that he is never going to talk or you can keep pushing and see where he is going to go. You never know if you dont try. We didnt know, so we were preparing for him to not be able to talk. We were giving him those resources like an iPad to use to communicate.

Growth

Though they were prepared to help Maddox speak in nontraditional ways, Daniel said, he surprised them.

He just goes through these huge spurts of growth where he can say two or three words and then he can string together a sentence, Daniel said. Now we can have a whole conversation with him and know what he is thinking. To think that you are never going to be able to have that kind of connection with your kid and to now get to the point where you can know exactly what they are thinking and feeling, its amazing.

Maddox goes to therapy during school hours and also outside of school. Speech therapist Marcie Springs works with him at McLeod Pediatric Rehabilitation.

Usually when he comes in well work on a couple of words and then take a break, because he gets tired, Springs said. Hes coming here after school. He does such a good job. He uses much longer phrases than he used to. When he comes in now, hell tell me something about school or about home. It is just so exciting for him to initiate that conversation. So much of speech is not just people asking you questions but about you starting a conversation and wanting to share things with other people.

Family

Daniel said that as a mother of a child with special needs, it can sometimes be frustrating when people make comments without thinking or understanding their situation.

We know that hes happy, and we couldnt have asked the Lord to bless us with a sweeter boy, and we wouldnt change it for anything in the whole entire world, Daniel said. People ask us if we would take it back, and thats such a terrible question for me. Hes my son, and he was my son since the day that I saw his little picture in the adoption listing.

I will do whatever I can to fight for him however long he needs me.
PNB president and ceo Abdul Rahman Ahmad was quoted in local media as saying that the consolidation would be in line with industry trends.

The consolidation has been something the industry, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and the government have been talking about for quite some time," he said. Abdul Rahman, however, noted: I think we need to consolidate to create scale in order to withstand the challenges within the oil and gas industry, but it is not easy to do so."

Although he added that if there are opportunities, PNB will be very open if it makes sense to enhance the value of the company further."

On our side, we are supportive (of the consolidation), he concluded.

PNB has a 58% stake in UMW Holdings, the parent of UMW Oil & Gas. The weak oil and gas market has hit UMW's bottom line and may affect the performance of PNB as a whole.

Hit by sliding crude oil prices, UMW Oil & Gass average rig utilisation rate fell from 95% in 2014 to 52% last year. With the recent uptrend in crude oil prices, a consolidation exercise may be on the cards for UMW Oil & Gas,

PNB chairman Abdul Wahid Omar said with the increasing crude oil prices, it was a good opportunity for consolidations to take place. We believe we will see some consolidations across the oil and gas industry, taking the cue from Petronas suggestion for smaller players to merge or consolidate.
The completion and delivery of the jackup rig Al Gahrbia was marked at an inauguration ceremony held at Lamprells Hamriyah facility in the UAE on 22 December. The rig will leave the yard in late December for its drilling location in Abu Dhabi.

NDC launched this strategic project to maintain the highest levels of reliability and resilience, as well as to ensure that we provide high quality, cost-efficient, and versatile drilling services to our clients, ADNOC Group companies, without compromising on HSE standards and asset integrity, said Abdalla Saeed Al Suwaidi, ceo of NDC.

The unit is the 25th jack-up rig that Lamprell has built over the last decade.

Christopher McDonald ceo of Lamprell commented: I am pleased to announce the completion and delivery of this seventh jackup rig to NDC, as planned. Rig Al Gharbia is the 25th jackup drilling unit that Lamprell has delivered since its listing in 2006 and is the fourth jackup rig that we have delivered in as many months.
After decades of uncertainty, it seems that astronomers may have found the strongest evidence yet that Proxima Centauri is indeed "gravitationally bound" to Alpha Centauri. This is interesting for many reasons, primarily because now we're pretty sure the Alpha Centauri system is a triple-star system, with two stars (Alpha Centauri A and B) orbiting closely and one oddball sibling (Proxima Centauri) with an extremely wide orbit.

But with the recent discovery of a small rocky exoplanet in orbit around Proxima, this new finding will boost hopes that this little world may be habitable for life as we know it.

Proxima Centauri is located around 4.25 light-years away making it the nearest star to Earth beyond our sun. The star's planet, called Proxima b, is approximately the same mass as Earth and orbits within the star's "habitable zone" - the region surrounding a star that's neither too hot or too cold for liquid water to exist on a planetary surface. Finding any planet within a star's habitable zone - regardless of the star's size or luminosity - will always be exciting as, if there is liquid water there, life could be possible. And discovering a (potentially) habitable world on our galactic doorstep is an incredible stroke of luck.

RELATED: Welcome to Proxima b, Our Nearest 'Earth-like' Neighbor

Though we know that Proxima b is there, we can only guess at its composition and have no clue whether or not it possesses any water. But new evidence suggesting Proxima Centauri is indeed a distant sibling of the Alpha Centauri could help us find out.

Proxima Centauri was only discovered a century ago and, since then, astronomers have been trying to understand its motion in the sky, a task that becomes very complicated when considering how dim it is. Red dwarfs are many times smaller and produce only a fraction of the light of our sun. But using the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) instrument at the ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile, astronomers have, for the first time, gained precision measurements of the dim star's radial velocity, a key metric if we are to understand if it is in any way related to Alpha Centauri.

The HARPS instrument is extremely sensitive to the wobble of stars as small exoplanets orbit around them, gravitationally tugging at them. Indeed, it was the HARPS instrument that discovered the tiny wobble of Proxima Centauri, revealing the presence of Proxima b. But this time, HARPS was able to deduce the velocity at which the tiny star is moving away from us and compared it with the radial velocity of Alpha Centauri. Both radial velocities closely match, which means that, in all likelihood, Proxima Centauri has a wide orbit around Alpha Centauri. They are therefore, probably, gravitationally bound.

RELATED: Proxima Centauri Is Like Our Sun... on Steroids

Though this is a significant find - indeed, the question of whether or not all three stars are in orbit around one another has been vexing astronomers since Proxima Centauri was first spotted - it could reveal an interesting tidbit about the nature of Proxima b itself.

If Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri are gravitationally bound, this gives us a clue that the group formed from the same star-forming nebula billions of years ago. They are all therefore the same age. Over time, the trio's orbits evolved and Proxima Centauri for some reason was thrown away from the Alpha Centauri binary. In research to be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, the researchers speculate that before Proxima Centauri was ejected and sent on the lonely orbit it's in today, a planet formed far from the star and then migrated to a lower orbit. As it occupied such a distant (and cold) orbit, it would have likely been an icy world and that ice could have been water. And now Proxima b is orbiting in a very habitable location for liquid water to exist on its surface, then perhaps - just perhaps - it possesses water to this day.

Though it's a bit of a reach to be making any assumptions about the water content of a planet we cannot directly see, it's interesting to think that Proxima b may have formed with an abundance of water ice and it's hard not to get excited for the artistic renderings of alien oceans under a red sun.
This week, a small group of sociologists and computer scientists convened the second annual Love And Sex With Robots conference at the University of London. For Adrian Cheok, professor of pervasive computing and co-organizer of the event, it was the one of the strangest conferences he'd ever attended, strictly in terms of attendance.

"Most academic conferences don't attract any attention," Cheok said, speaking via Skype from London. "For our little gathering we had about 40 academics - faculty and professionals and graduate students. And we had about 60 journalists."

The massive media interest in the conference reflects a similarly massive interest among the general populace in the topic at hand, Cheok said. "We had press from all over Europe, from the U.S., from Japan. I think it shows that people really want this."

"This," of course, refers to our fast approaching future of companion robots and artificially intelligent, interactive sex toys. As an academic conference, the London gathering was all about the more cerebral aspects of sex machines. Among the papers presented: "Sex Robots from the Perspective of Machine Ethics" and "Exploration of Relational Factors and the Likelihood of a Sexual Robotic Experience." It's the latest in several similarly themed conferences in recent months.

But it wasn't all scholarly conjecture: The conference also included demonstrations of some emerging technology in the field. Take for instance, the Teletongue, a device from Japan sampled by several participants at the conference.

RELATED: Closing the Gender Gap in Virtual Reality

"It's a device that measures your licking vibration then transfers that through the Internet to a partner," Cheok said. "The person on the other end has a lollipop, and that vibrates according to your partners licking and kissing. It was pretty popular."

The conference was chaired by Cheok, Kate Devlin of the University of London, and A.I. expert David Levy, founder of Intelligent Toys, Ltd. Levy, author of 2007 book "Love and Sex With Robots," raised some eyebrows with his keynote speech.

"He made a presentation predicting that, by 2050, marrying robots will be legal," Cheok said.

Over the course of the two-day conference, presenters explored various facets of the issue: How will sex robots impact the sex worker industry? The porn industry? What are the demographics of the consumer market for sex robots and interactive sex toys? Can a person truly love a robot? Can a robot love a person?

RELATED: Killer Machines and Sex Robots: Unraveling the Ethics of A.I.

"The consensus seems to be that we should follow Alan Turing's famous test for artificial intelligence," Cheok said. "If we can't tell the difference between whether it's a robot or a human that's loving us, then that's the answer. If we feel that they love us, then they love us. We don't need to get any more philosophical about it than that."

For Cheok, the emotional aspect of future companion bots is the really interesting stuff.

"Honestly speaking, the sex part is the easy part," Cheok said. "That's just mechanics. The love part - that's going to be the really incredible thing. Can you really get people to fall in love with a robot? We're going to need better natural language conversation, for one thing."

As to how soon that will actually happen, Cheok believes it won't be long.

"I really believe that science and science fiction have a strong correlation," he said. "When I was a kid, it was 'Star Wars' and that hologram of Princess Leia that made me want to get into virtual reality studies.

"The kids today, all their movies are about robots and A.I.  'Ex Machina,' 'Her.' Science fiction often predicts what happens in that a lot of young people will be working on this, making this happen. I think it's coming a lot sooner than most people expect."

WATCH VIDEO: Robots: The Future of Great Sex
It has been tumultuous and eventful - or, as John Oliver called it, "one calamity after another." But as 2016 slouches, unmourned and unloved, into history, it's worth recalling that there was some good news for the environment amid the gloom. Of course, it being 2016, and humanity being what it is, it seems as if every reason for optimism came twinned with a super-sized serving of shoulder-slumping slop. In an attempt to be at least halfway cheerful, here's a look back at some of the good - and inevitably bad - environmental news of the last 12 months. Good: End to Arctic Offshore Oil Drilling Let's begin with the most recent news: President Obama declared this week that hundreds of millions of acres of federally owned territory in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans would be removed indefinitely from new offshore oil and gas drilling. Obama used the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect large portions of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas in the Arctic and a string of canyons in the Atlantic from Massachusetts to Virginia. In a coordinated move, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took action to protect some of that nation's Arctic waters from drilling. Bad: Arctic Report Card Basically Gives Humanity an F Arctic Ocean sea ice fell to its joint second lowest summer sea minimum extent; and its winter recovery has so far been beyond anemic. The Greenland ice sheet had the second earliest start to a melt season on record, with that season lasting up to 40 days longer than average in some regions. At a press conference to announce the release of NOAA's annual "Arctic Report Card," Jeremy Mathis, director of the agency's Arctic research program, showed "a stronger, more pronounced signal of persistent warming than any other year in our observation record."

Good: The Ozone Layer Is Showing Signs of Recovery Almost 30 years after the world agreed to phase out chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, the annual "hole" above Antarctica "appears to be on a healing path" according to new research. Scientists found that the September ozone hole has shrunk by more than 1.5 million square miles (4 million square kilometers) since its 2000 peak - despite other factors, such as volcanic eruptions, which have at times interfered to temporarily slow or even reverse that progress. Bad: CO2 Levels Pass Important Threshold Levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide in September - the month when such levels are generally at their lowest - failed to drop below 400 parts per million (ppm), meaning that 2016 will likely be seen as the year in which Earth's atmosphere officially crossed the 400 ppm threshold. (At the onset of the Industrial revolution, concentrations of atmospheric CO2 were approximately 285 ppm.) According to Ralph Keeling, who runs the Scripps Institute of Oceanography's carbon dioxide monitoring program, "Brief excursions toward lower values are still possible, but it already seems safe to conclude that we won't be seeing a monthly value below 400 ppm this year - or ever again for the indefinite future." Added Brian Kahn of Climate Central: "Even if the world stopped emitting carbon dioxide tomorrow, what has already put in the atmosphere will linger for many decades to come." Good: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Steadying Humanity certainly isn't close to stopping its carbon dioxide emissions, but for the third year in a row, those emissions appear to have plateaued, despite an expected increase due to global economic recovery. A November study estimated that emissions from the world's two largest carbon polluters - China and the United States - dropped by approximately 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent respectively. However, global emissions are still at around 9.9 billion tons per year; at that rate the world will reach a cumulative total of 800 billion tons emitted - at which point scientists estimate a global temperature increase of 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) - in a little under 25 years. Bad: Methane Emissions Are Increasing Meanwhile, emissions of methaneemissions of methane - a more potent, but fortunately considerably less long-lasting, greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide - are increasing. Methane emissions remained stable from the mid-1990s until about 2007, since when atmospheric methane levels have been rising rapidly. An isotopic analysis published in October had some surprising findings: firstly, that fossil fuel emissions are more significant contributors to methane levels than previously thought, but secondly, that the majority of the increase in atmospheric methane was caused by microbial emissions. Some researchers think the uptick in microbial methane output is the result of a growth in agriculture in China, India and Southeast Asia, while others point the finger at warmer and wetter weather in the tropics has enhanced microbial methane production, suggesting that a feedback loop - warmer conditions releasing more warming methane - may be underway.
Leafy plants are miraculous self-sufficient factories capable of transforming solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis-code-could-help-feed-the-world-2099730683.html">photosynthesis. Since Giacomo Ciamician published his first photochemistry experiment in 1886, scientists have looked for a way to recreate photosynthesis. But they haven't been able to harness enough sunlight to make the conversion artificially.

Now, researchers at the Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands have found a way to combine a technology that concentrates sunlight, called a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC), with very thin micro channels through which liquid can be pumped. The result is a tiny leaf-shaped generator that focuses sunlight on chemicals flowing through tiny channels at high enough intensity to generate the necessary chemical reactions.

"It mimics the processes that occurs in a tree leaf," Noel said. And, because of this, his team built the tiny generator to look like a maple leaf to "strengthen the analogy," - though the shape of the device doesn't matter to its function.

This breakthrough could make tiny, on-demand chemical factories possible anywhere in the world. Instead of building large factories to create chemicals in volume and shipping the product, drugs could be made in the location they're needed most. Anyone could feed the right elements into the leaf, expose it to sunlight and generate the chemical reaction that transforms those substances into the desired drug.

"Previous visible light photocatalytic reactions were slow when they were driven by solar energy," Timothy Noel, assistant professor at Eindhoven University of Technology, told Seeker. "But we can accelerate it to reaction times which are useful." Noel is the lead researcher on the project.
Press Release

December 23, 2016 NCCA Confers Dangal ng Haraya on Legarda The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has conferred on Senator Loren Legarda its highest honor, the Dangal ng Haraya Patron of Arts and Culture. The NCCA confers the Dangal ng Haraya award to individuals and institutions/organizations that have rendered significant and lasting contributions, support, patronage to preservation, development and promotion of Philippine culture and arts. The award was given to Legarda "in grateful recognition of her unmatched contribution to the development of Filipino identity and sense of nationhood, her unwavering commitment to the flowering of our artistic creativity and protection of our indigenous heritage, and her steadfast devotion to the social empowerment of our indigenous peoples." Before presenting the award, NCCA Chairperson Felipe de Leon Jr. said, "Senator Legarda is definitely one who loves the nation. One who loves the nation knows its worth and appreciates its multifaceted genius. More than any other legislator, Senator Legarda has sponsored and had laws passed that promote and protect the genius of the Filipino." National Artist F. Sionil Jose, National Museum Assistant Director Dr. Ana Labrador, and Luis "Junyee" Yee Jr., one of the pioneers of installation art in the Philippines, gave testimonials about Legarda's work. Junyee narrated how he was inspired to do a portrait of the Senator, "not of her lovely face, but a portrait of her mind", which he titled Lalim ng Isip (Deep Thinker). "Senator Legarda is associated with a group of people I describe as the Don Quixote type, people who dare to do things that others would not do, who solve things, have original ideas. People like her have this ability, which many ordinary people don't have, to jump over a necessary data, put together scattered information and analyze it," said Junyee. Dr. Labrador described her as an exceptional legislator and vanguard for heritage. She added that through Legarda's vision and support, the extraordinary reception and growth of the exhibition "Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: the Artistry of Philippine Textiles" have been possible. The Hibla gallery is the most visited gallery at the National Museum of Anthropology. Legarda also helped establish the Baybayin Gallery dedicated to ancient and traditional Philippine scripts, and Rice and Climate Change, as well as the Biodiversity and Climate Change exhibitions. "Most often, visitors would say that they had not realized before their visit how wonderfully talented and artistic we Filipinos are. This is the pride and unifying effect of the exhibitions Senator Legarda has inspired us to create. Thank you for being a legislator of action and not just of words. You got us started, rallying many people to work together to increase awareness of our heritage," said Labrador. F. Sionil Jose explained that culture is not static. "It's a growing and living thing. I want attention to our indigenous customs to continue and to flourish." "The value of what Loren has done is show to us the roots of our culture, which many of us have forgotten or have not imbibed to make it a living thing in their minds and in their creativity. Art is important in shaping a nation and I pay tribute to Loren as one of those who have helped our nation grow and I hope that it will not only grow but eventually it will prevail," he said. Legarda thanked the NCCA and the culture and arts sector for the recognition. "It is with great honor that I accept the Dangal ng Haraya Award. Yes, I am a legislator; but I am, foremost, a perpetual student and steward of culture," she said in her acceptance speech. "More than 18 years after I first set foot in the Senate, the struggle for a shared sense of national identity continues. This award only tells us we need to do more. Culture is what binds people, the public and living spaces, and the beliefs and practices of people. Culture defines our soul as a people," she said. Legarda added, "This award speaks to all of us. It is a profound recognition that culture gives us a sense of belonging and is a source of knowledge and pride and creates our shared identity. It is, therefore, essential to nation-building. It is time to build together." The NCCA cited Legarda's contribution in terms of legislation that have impact on culture, arts and indigenous peoples such as the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, Enhanced Basic Education Act, Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education, Batanes Responsible Tourism Act, Climate Change Act, and the People's Survival Fund Law. Aside from her projects with the National Museum and her support for weaving communities and schools of living tradition (SLTs), the Senator was also instrumental in the return of the Philippines in the Venice Art Biennale after 51 years of absence and the country's first participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale. She has also collaborated with the NCCA and the ABS-CBN News Channel to produce Dayaw TV Series, a documentary series on Philippine indigenous culture. As Vice Chairperson and, eventually, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda ensured that programs and projects for culture and the arts were also given appropriate government concern and funding. The awarding ceremony, which was held on December 21, 2016 at the Marble Hall, Bureau of the Treasury in Intramuros, Manila, also included cultural performances like the Suguidanon epic chant and Binanog courtship dance of the Panay Bukidnon, gongs and bamboo instrument performance by the Kalinga, Pangalay dance by the Tausug, and kulintang and dabakan music. Vim Nadera, Director of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), also rendered a poem dedicated to Legarda, calling her a "Diwata ng Pamana". Among those present during the event were the Senator's father, Antonio Legarda, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, National Artist and Commission on Filipino Language Chairperson Virgilio Almario, National Museum Director Jeremy Barns, Rep. Len Alonte-Naguiat, Vice Governor Edgar Denosta of Antique, former senators Sergio Osmena III and Heherson Alvarez, and members of the culture and arts community. Members of the diplomatic corps present were Ambassadors Luis Calvo of Spain, Franz Jessen of the European Union, and Gordon Kricke of Germany, and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Philippine Embassy in Manila, Michael Klecheski.
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The last doughnut is soon to pass over the counter at Donut Time in Pacifica.

Like the 11 million doughnuts that have gone before it at the modest hangout at Linda Mar shopping center, it will be delicious. And it will disappear into the dust of the ages, dust more or less the consistency of powdered sugar on a cake doughnut.

Donut Time has lost its lease after 36 years. There will be no more chocolate sprinkles on top, no more custard in the middle. There will be no more bags full of doughnut holes. A marketable hole is an existential paradox anyplace but a doughnut store.

Ive been coming here since I was a little kid, said Ali Vidali, 20, of Pacifica. I like this place. Its family-owned. Its mom and pop.

The mom of the operation would be veteran doughnut purveyor Yok-moui Sinn, who works 12-hour days and whose family has owned the store for about eight years, ever since buying out the previous owner. She sells about 900 doughnuts a day.

One doughnut is not bad for you, she said, bristling at the health brigade that always seems to single out doughnuts.

Two doughnuts are not bad for you. Three, it depends. Four is too many.

That settled, Sinn showed off the fine features of the store. There are the drawings by customers kids on the wall. One old-timer brought in three paint-by-number masterpieces and Sinn promptly placed them on prominent display, too. They dont have stuff like that at the Starbucks next door, and they dont have an on-site baker who shows up every day at midnight to crank out the goods.

Near the front door is the Doughnut Tree. Its an ersatz Christmas tree made by Sinn from hundreds of glued-together doughnuts. Exactly how many is the subject of a guessing contest. Closest guess wins $50 of doughnuts (which works out to 50 glazed doughnuts, at $1 apiece, or 20 Bavarian Cream bars, at $2.50 each). Doughnut holes do not count as official doughnuts in the doughnut tree tally although, at 25 cents, they are not entirely illusory.

Sinn makes the tree fresh every holiday season but, doughnuts being doughnuts, it doesnt stay fresh for long. The doughnuts that constitute this years tree are already rock hard.

Break your teeth if you eat one, Sinn said.

The store will close at the end of January. The reason seems to be as mysterious as the nature of doughnut holes. Sinn said the landlord refused the stores request to have its lease renewed.

The landlord, Kimco Realty, said in a statement issued by its New York headquarters that it renews leases for tenants who are managing their businesses well and that Donut Time did not reply to its request to discuss renewal opportunities. And the landlord said it was looking forward to welcoming three new businesses to the shopping center  a chain bakery, a chain beauty supply shop and a chain bubble tea stand.

Meanwhile, the beckoning aroma of fried grease that wafted from the store continued to beckon the coastside faithful. Joseph Jones, a surfer from Moss Beach, drove through the Tom Lantos tunnel to Pacifica to get a twist and a maple bar. There were closer bakeries, he said, but none as satisfying. He could not discuss the attributes of his maple bar in greater detail because he had a puppy in the car outside who was waiting to share it with him.

Its not good for the puppy, Jones said. Its not good for me, either.

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And Ed Dunne bought a plain old-fashioned doughnut for a dollar and looked like a happy man. Hes been buying Donut Time doughnuts for three decades.

Theres always old guys sitting around here, he said. This is a friendly place. A doughnut store is important to a community. And the doughnuts are as healthy as doughnuts can be.

A doughnut shop may be old school, but Donut Times closure has sparked a high-tech online save-the-doughnuts petition that, so far, has gathered more than 500 supporters.

Great memories. ... Always excited to see the doughnut tree. ... Save the doughnuts. ... Kimco, stop the attack on small businesses in Pacifica. ... Please stop replacing small businesses with generic corporate crap, said the petitioners.

As her own best customer, Sinn said the closure is going to present something of a problem.

I eat them myself, she said. Every day. I dont know what Im going to do.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF
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Two days before the Berlin killings resurrected the darkest period in his life, Conrad Leslie says an unexpected message from a stranger on Facebook gave him and his wife a comfort unlike anything they had experienced since their son, a UC Berkeley student, died in the Nice, France, terror attack in July.

The message, Leslie said, put to rest a recurring nightmare the couple had: a vision of their sons body on the promenade, alone for hours. In fact, a woman and her daughter had surrounded Nicholas Leslies body with candles and prayed for him throughout the night, Leslie learned.

Instead of running in fear, they asked the police if they could stay, said Leslie of Del Mar (San Diego County). It was a cold night, and they stayed with his body. It was like a Christmas story for us  a miracle almost.

The Facebook message came from a French woman whose mother vacations in Nice every year. She said her mother ran into two women  also a mother and daughter  who told the story of finding a young mans body along the promenade and staying with him until first responders came.

The woman who learned the story read an article in Le Monde that quoted Leslie as saying no one was with his son. But based on the description of the young mans body and the location of where he died as reported in the newspaper, she connected the dots and told her daughter, who speaks English, to track Leslie down at once.

After they connected on Facebook, Leslie says he is now trying to track down the mother and daughter who stayed with his sons body.

I just know they exist, and were going to find them, he said.

Nicholas Leslie, 20, was in France for a study-abroad program through UC Berkeley, where he studied business and environmental sciences. In the summer program, students were encouraged to develop their startup ideas. His was to create a way to measure lactic acid generation in athletes in real time.

On the night of July 14, Nicholas Leslie and his friends were strolling down the Promenade des Anglais along the Mediterranean. The group had planned to watch the Bastille Day fireworks and get to bed early for a trip the next morning to Barcelona, Spain.

Leslie said his son, with a long striding gait, was about 10 feet in front of his friends, who dived down to the beach when a man driving a cargo truck intentionally ran over dozens of people, killing 86.

One friend swore he saw Nick run away. Later we found out it was probably PTSD, Leslie said. But that helped us get the strength to go to Nice to look for him.

The uncertainty and pain were recalled in vivid detail Monday when a similar truck attack in a bustling Christmas market in central Berlin killed 12 people and injured dozens. A huge manhunt continued Thursday as German officials worked to track down the attacker.

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It just brings back the moment for us as parents. We felt the desperation, the pain, Leslie said. Its a new world we live in, and its terrible.

Leslie, an engineer and mostly lapsed Catholic, said the writings on death by the 18th century scientist Emanuel Swedenborg helped him cope. Although hes bothered when people tell him that his sons death was Gods will or that Nicholas Leslie is in a better place, Leslie said he takes comfort in Swedenborgs idea that two angels carried his son to heaven, embodied by the mother and daughter who prayed over him.

Leslie said that he hasnt forgiven the attacker  or learned his last name  but that he doesnt hate the man, who was killed by police in Nice. He also doesnt want parents to shield their children from visiting other cultures, so he and his wife created a scholarship to help UC Berkeley students study abroad.

This is an important time to travel abroad and share ideas with other young people, he said. There are so many more good people than bad people.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
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LiLou, the worlds best-behaved pig, isnt perfect.

Thats because even the worlds best-behaved pig can melt down when faced with the challenge of San Francisco International Airport during the holidays. Its a place that can make grown-ups squeal, never mind a pig.

Weee-eeeeeeeeee, said LiLou, as loud as a pig can. Weeee-eeeeeeeeeeeee.

She bolted from her handler, Tatyana Danilova, she bolted from a small crowd of kids, and, in a blind panic, she began running hither and yon, past a couple of luggage carts and into a corner behind the information desk.

Runaway pig! somebody hollered, for that is what LiLou surely was, at least for the 15 seconds or so that she was on the lam.

It was only the second day on the job for LiLou, a black-and-white pig of the Juliana breed who has been designated a therapy pig and is the newest member of the airports wildly successful Wag Brigade. Thats the 3-year-old program that allows trained dogs to wander the terminals, under escort, on the theory that the airport is just another version of a senior home, hospital or asylum full of the emotionally needy. After the Cincinnati airport hired its own therapy pig not long ago and thereby shattered the species barrier, San Francisco decided to break the glass sty on the West Coast.

LiLous airport shift began ordinarily enough. Dressed in a pink tutu that any pig besides a professional might consider demeaning, LiLou worked the concourse on the meet-and-greet circuit, as if running for office.

Hannah Cohen, a 16-year-old visitor from Chicago, said stopping to pet LiLou was just the ticket to help her get over the stress of taking three final exams the day before. Her kid sister, 7-year-old Leah, said the reason she too petted LiLou was not just to copy her sister but because she had never petted a pig before and the opportunity was not one to let pass.

Her nose, Leah opined, is slimy.

Kasper Jensen, a visitor from Copenhagen, said he had heard about the pig on Danish TV and could not believe his good fortune to actually meet her. He was fascinated by LiLous devotion to Cheerios  Danilova gives her a Cheerio every few seconds from a secret stash to keep the pig motivated. Jensen said he was learning a lot about pigs.

Everyone likes Cheerios, Jensen said. People and pigs, were all alike.

Kathleen Duncan / The Chronicle

Capucine Delecluse, who is 8 and who received dispensation from her mother to pet the pig, said a pig is not soft, but softness isnt everything.

I liked petting her, Capucine said. It doesnt matter that she isnt soft.

LiLou demonstrated other fine qualities when Danilova placed a childs electronic keyboard before her and motioned for LiLou to plink out a tune. This she did by stomping on the plastic keys with her brightly painted red hooves. What came out was no less melodic than other avant-garde works.

Then LiLou and Danilova exchanged kisses, a sight that delighted many, but perhaps not all, onlookers.

But such success has its price. A small crowd gathered, and the crowd got excited, as people tend to do around a trained pig. Then the crowd got bigger and began to close in on LiLou from all sides. Cameras and selfie sticks were in every hand. Many celebrities bolt at the sight of the paparazzi, and LiLou was no exception.

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Eeeeee-eeeeeeeeee, she squealed, loud and long, and thats when she jerked herself free from Danilovas grip on her leash and began running wildly in all directions. What LiLou clearly needed was the chance to meet a therapy pig too, so that she might herself calm down. But being the only therapy pig west of Cincinnati, she was not destined to have that wish fulfilled.

After executing something of a flying tackle, and after much cooing and whispering  and the proffering of many, many Cheerios  Danilova was able to restore order, and LiLous working day continued.

It doesnt happen like this at the hospitals and senior centers that are LiLous mainstay on the therapy pig circuit, Danilova said. There, LiLou is always calm as can be. Thats probably because seniors, although they may find themselves in the final boarding process of life, are not in nearly such a stressful environment as the final boarding process at an airport.

Nearby was Marisol the Labrador retriever, another member of the Wag Brigade, all but ignored amid the traveling publics fascination with the pig.

The pig is novel, said Marisols handler, Nancy McFarland, who takes life every bit as circumspectly as her dog. The pig is new. Marisol doesnt mind. Once the novelty dies down, the crowds will come back to Marisol. People relate to dogs more than pigs.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF
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SACRAMENTO  More than 800,000 people have received California drivers licenses in the past two years under a 2-year-old law that allows people living in the country without documentation to legally drive in the state.

But some state lawmakers are worried that immigrants will become leery of revealing their legal status to a government agency once President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office. State lawmakers are working on bills for the 2017 legislative session to ensure that information submitted by immigrants who have no documentation is safeguarded should the Trump administration adopt aggressive deportation policies.

Data from the Department of Motor Vehicles show that the number of special licenses that have been granted has declined this year from last.

It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration deters other immigrants from applying next year, as the fear is very real, said former Assemblyman Luis Alejo, a Democrat from Salinas who authored the bill. But, we are doing everything possible to ensure that AB60 remains a success story in our state.

On the first day licenses were offered on Jan. 2, 2015, to immigrants without documentation, thousands of people formed long lines at motor vehicle offices across the state. Some showed up as early as 3 a.m. to stand in line, saying the licenses would allow them to drive to work and drive with their families without fear.

Within the first six months, nearly 400,000 people had been granted licenses in the state under AB60. While approximately 50,000 people on average each month were granted licenses in 2015 under the law, this year that number dropped to 18,000 on average each month.

The numbers for 2016 showed a gradual decline in the number of licenses approved by the state, with no changes between September and November, when Trump won the presidency. Figures for December will be released in January.

The law has proven to be a huge success story for helping immigrants, and for California, Alejo said. Its helping to improve peoples lives, and the number of people who are tested and insured on our roads has only increased.

California Department of Motor Vehicles officials said the agency takes very seriously the protection of personal information for all license holders. Law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, can obtain general drivers license information like addresses, birth dates and driving records. But the data-sharing systems do not contain information on a persons legal status, motor vehicle officials said in a statement.

State law says information collected by the DMV regarding the legal status of an applicant is not public record and cant be disclosed by the department, unless required by law.

Julia Harumi Mass, a senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, said AB60 has strong privacy protections, but she added that its important for immigrant-rights groups and lawmakers to take another look at the law to ensure the protections are strong enough.

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State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, introduced a bill this month that would ban state and local law enforcement officials from helping federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with deportation cases. SB54 would also have state and local agencies review their privacy polices to ensure that information like immigration status kept by the DMV is not shared with immigration enforcement officials.

The President-elect has generated much fear and uncertainty with his threats of mass-deportations, de Leon said in a statement. In response, the Legislature is seeking to protect the due-process rights and privacy of Californias undocumented community.

Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez
When Yahoo experienced the nations largest hacking attack, with information stolen from more than 1 billion user accounts in August 2013, it lacked a permanent information security chief.

The Sunnyvale company has struggled to retain top cybersecurity executives. Since 2012, Yahoo has had three chief information security officers  a role responsible for guarding against hacking threats and patching weaknesses quickly. For roughly a year, the company was searching for someone to permanently fill the position. Thats when the record-breaking breach occurred.

Yahoos churn of security executives may seem rapid, but it is only slightly faster than whats considered normal among large companies. The average tenure of chief information security officers is 2.1 years, according to the Ponemon Institute, a research firm. Often those who serve in these roles are heavily recruited by other firms, because executives with the right skill set are scarce. But as massive data breaches become more frequent, concern has mounted that the lack of continuity could cause problems.

If you have a person leaving every year in essence, I dont know how you have a continuum that is safe for people, said Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, referring to the turnover of information security chiefs at Yahoo. The company gets hurt and consumers get hurt, she said.

Since 2012, the year CEO Marissa Mayer joined the company, Yahoo has invested more than $250 million in security initiatives, according to the company. In the past two years it has paid $2 million in cash to security researchers as part of a program to catch bugs in its software.

Todays 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, Yahoo said in a statement. The company declined to make Bob Lord, Yahoos chief information security officer since November 2015, available for an interview.

During Mayers tenure, Yahoo experienced two enormous data breaches  the one in August 2013 that affected more than 1 billion user accounts and a separate incident in 2014 impacting at least 500 million accounts. The company said it still does not know what caused the August 2013 breach and believes a state-sponsored actor was behind the 2014 hack. Security experts say its possible the hacks could have happened to any company, but Yahoo could have taken additional steps to protect users. For example, some of the data taken from users in 2013 were scrambling passwords using MD5, which is considered an outdated technology because software tools can uncover the actual passwords, experts said. (The company switched to a more secure way of scrambling passwords in summer 2013.)

(Its) very easy to crack, Apostolos Giannakidis, a lead security engineer at Waratek, which specializes in application security, said of MD5. Yahoo should have made the effort to upgrade their infrastructure.

Mayer was hired to turn the company around, with a focus on building and revamping the companys sites and apps to increase its users and generate more advertising dollars. Yahoo spent more than $2.3 billion on acquiring promising tech firms to bring new technology and talented people in to the business. But her efforts had mixed results, and a push by activist shareholders resulted in Yahoo planning to sell its Internet properties to Verizon, a $4.8 billion deal that could be in jeopardy because of the two massive data breaches  which Yahoo did not disclose or apparently even know about when it negotiated the original deal with Verizon.

As Yahoo focused on building products, security seems to have lagged. Yahoos chief information officer in 2014 and 2015, Alex Stamos, suggested end-to-end encryption for messages, meaning that only the people corresponding with each other, not Yahoo, could read what was written. But Jeff Bonforte, who oversees Mail, opposed that because it would have hurt Yahoos ability to index and search message data, according to the New York Times.

Im not particularly thrilled with building an apartment building which has the biggest bars on every window, Bonforte told the Times.

Yahoo says its Mail and security teams are collaborating on end-to-end encryption.

Stamos, who is now Facebooks chief security officer, declined through a Facebook spokesman to be interviewed.

At many tech firms, the security team is often separate from the engineers building products, analysts said. Sometimes security workers will make suggestions that may slow down an app but increase protections.

There is just a natural tension between those two, and undoubtedly Yahoo, like a lot of groups, got caught in the middle, said James Lee, chief marketing officer at Waratek. The people that are developing those apps have security on their checklist, but they are focused on getting the app in on time, on budget with the right features and functionality.

Jeremiah Grossman, chief of security strategy at SentinelOne who worked at Yahoo from 1999 to 2001, said there were times in that much earlier era when the security team only learned of new products when the press release came out, and it was a rush to try to fix vulnerabilities after they launched.

Its like trying to change a tire when youre going 50 miles (an hour), Grossman said. Its much easier when the car is stopped.

Several factors play into why top cybersecurity executives move around so much, but one of the most common issues is lack of funding for their priorities, according to a Ponemon Institute survey of large companies chief information security officers.

When you are in the middle of a financial crisis or challenge, naturally you want to spend money on things (that) raise the top line or reduce the bottom line, said Michael Fey, Symantecs chief operating officer and president. Cybersecurity is neither.

The median compensation package for chief information security officers was $308,880 in fiscal year 2015, according to executive compensation research firm Equilar.

For these type of people, it is less about compensation and benefits and its more about the challenge, said career counselor Nick Parham. Its very frustrating for these men and women to see the problem or see a possible fix and not gain C-level approval to fund it and fix it.

More companies started hiring senior-level security officers seven or eight years ago, as data breaches became more common, according to the Ponemon Institute. But the position is still relatively new, with just 40 percent of large companies having a fully dedicated chief information security officer, the institute said in a 2014 presentation. That statistic has since improved, but most companies still do not have a dedicated chief information security officer, according to Larry Ponemon, the institutes founder.

By contrast, youre not going to find a company that doesnt have a CFO (chief financial officer), Ponemon said during the 2014 presentation.

In the future, some analysts believe that more information technology professionals will need to be trained on cybersecurity to increase the pool of experts. Smaller firms may want to hire contractors of services specialized in security.

Parsing candidates can be hard, since there isnt a specific training or certification program that cybersecurity executives need to go through. And while security chiefs generally take the fall for data breaches, the mere fact of a breach does not necessarily mean that the security chief  who may be constrained by budgets or other factors  did a poor job.

Just understanding who is great at their job and whos not is sometimes difficult, Fey said.

Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thewendylee
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The on-demand economy ushered in an era of instant gratification for consumers, who can order meals, massages, fix-it folks, rides and all manner of goods and services with a tap of their smartphones from a bevy of Uber for X companies.

But a funny thing happened along the way: Many on-demand companies realized that the big bucks lie not in serving consumers but in catering to businesses. Some address this through features and programs for corporate clients: scheduled services and integration with expense accounts, for instance. A few on-demand businesses have entirely pivoted to exclusively serve other companies, rather than consumers. While it may seen obvious that businesses can provide a steadier revenue stream than consumers  who tend to be both fickle and thrifty  its an about-face from the industrys origins.

Businesses have much higher frequency of need and the willingness to pay for something, said Joe Du Bey, founder and CEO of Eden, a San Francisco company started last year that offers on-demand tech support for consumers, similar to Best Buys Geek Squad.

But within six months, Eden noticed that business clients accounted for a third of its revenue.

Once we dove into the economics, we realized that B2B was the most profitable portion by far, Du Bey said. Businesses have a better understanding of problems and whether theyre impossible to solve. Consumers who were paying for tech support had expectations that everything would be perfect 100 percent of the time.

Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle

Eden, which has $5 million in backing, decided a year ago to focus exclusively on corporate clients, while at the same time expanding into a full office-management platform, where businesses could order services such as tech support, cleaning and repairs. It has now served more than 600 companies, ranging from five-person startups to enterprises with more than 1,000 employees, he said.

Shyp, a San Francisco startup that picks up, packs and ships items, focused on consumers when it began three years ago because they were so underserved, said founder and CEO Kevin Gibbon. It takes one or two hours for most people to send a gift; its a tremendous pain point.

But all along, Gibbon, a former eBay power seller, had in mind that Shyp would go after business clients as well. Now it has partnered with eBay and Shopify to offer its services to small businesses selling goods, many of whom lack the resources to handle their own shipping.

Thats allowed Shyp, which has $62 million in backing, to fulfill shipping orders for hundreds of thousands of packages a month, compared with serving consumers who might ship just a few items a year, the company said.

Along the way, it has learned that businesses have different needs. We made a lot of changes to our product and operations to handle bulk orders, Gibbon said. They wanted the ability to schedule pickups, to sort and filter shipment information, message customers with updates.

In Shyps case, there are enough synergies between consumer and corporate clients that it plans to continue serving both.

Consumers actually were a gateway to business clients, said Hunter Walk, a venture capitalist who has invested in Shyp. Many of the businesses first experienced Shyp in their personal life; sending a gift to a family member, returning an e-commerce purchase, etc., he said in an email. This familiarized them with the app and the value proposition and then they brought it into their business as well.

That was also true for Lyft. We saw people taking the applications they love in their personal life and bringing them into the enterprise, said David Baga, chief business officer, who joined the company last summer to help amp up its focus on corporate customers, as well as nonemergency medical transport and transportation for seniors.

Both Lyft and Uber have take several steps to woo business travelers: integrating with expense-account software, letting people switch between personal and work accounts, and allowing a company representative to arrange rides on others behalf, for instance.

They are seeing big results: Uber and Lyft accounted for more than half of all ground-transport business travel expenses in the second quarter, outpacing taxis and rental cars, according to Cerify, which makes travel-expense management software.

Weve heard loud and clear that business travelers care about scheduled rides, so we introduced a way to schedule a ride up to seven days in advance, Baga said. The company recently added Lyft Events, allowing office managers to book rides home for multiple folks at an event. For instance, companies want to provide a safe, paid ride for holiday-party participants, he said.

Although initially Lyft got onto some companies radar through peoples personal use of the service, now the reverse is true. Corporate travel is a good way to introduce people to ride-sharing, Baga said. Seventy-five percent of corporate travelers are new to Lyft, so its a tremendous way for us to give them their first ride-share experience.

Travis Bogard, global head of Uber Enterprise, said it has more than 50,000 companies and millions of business travelers. Our vision for Uber for Business means building technology that powers a wide range of transportation needs for business employees, customers, and goods: everything from business travel to daily commutes; from rides to company events and food delivery; and from caregiver and patient transportation to freight, he said.

BloomThat, a 3-year-old San Francisco startup that delivers flower bouquets and other small gifts, added BloomThat for Business last month, said co-founder and CEO David Bladow.

While BloomThat consumers have an abundance of choices, the company streamlined selections for business customers to cut down on the bandwidth to make a decision, he said. They dont have to wade through a bunch of stuff. Its an easy way for businesses to handle bulk sending needs, especially at times like the holiday season.

Businesses now account for about 12 percent of BloomThats revenue, a percentage he anticipates will double in the next year with the more-targeted program. It also offers BloomBars, flower-arranging classes presented as a corporate morale booster.

On-demand food seems like a natural fit for deep-pocketed companies that like to dish up daily repasts for their workers. But for meal-delivery startups used to smaller orders, catering for large office crews poses new challenges.

Weve always looked at (group orders) as an opportunity but never had the operational capability to deal with large orders, said Gagan Biyani, CEO and founder of San Franciscos Sprig meal-delivery company. Were planning to tackle that market early next year.

Sprig users currently order a meal or a few at a time via its app. The January update will allow bulk ordering of up to 100 meals.

On-demand valet parking company Zirx has completely pivoted to serving businesses. The San Francisco startup initially helped consumers park their cars but soon found that corporate clients were signing up 20, 30, 50 or even 100 accounts as a way to manage car fleets, said Shmulik Fishman, co-founder and chief operating officer of the company, now called Stratim.

They basically were telling us about their problems and asking us to solve them, he said. We found we really liked dealing with enterprise customers, and we realized that in the future the number of people who own a car themselves will go way down. We wanted to be on a wave of where the trend is going.

A year ago, the company started dual-tracking corporate and consumer clients, but it soon found that doing both things at the same time didnt make sense. Consumers are more price conscious, while enterprises come at costs from a different angle: how to gain more efficiency, make the business more successful, scalable and automated, he said. Theyre willing to pay for that increased efficiency.

Stratim now functions purely as a software company; previously it provided valet parking attendants. Its fleet-management software is used by several dozen corporate clients with hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

Both Fishman and Edens Du Bey said they started with consumers because it was more familiar to them. Du Bey had seen his parents struggle with their technology, while Fishman and a co-founder had observed people circling the block in search of parking.

A lot of young entrepreneurs shy away from B2B because they dont have much work experience and think they can only be relevant or valuable to consumers, Du Bey said. But a lot of consumer concepts are played out or the demand is overestimated. You dont need to know the business world well to build tools for it.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Uber is moving its self-driving pilot project to Arizona, one day after the California Department of Motor Vehicles ordered the autonomous vehicles off the roads in San Francisco.

Our cars departed for Arizona this morning by truck, an Uber spokeswoman said Thursday afternoon in a statement. Well be expanding our self-driving pilot there in the next few weeks, and were excited to have the support of Governor Ducey.

After starting its San Francisco test on Dec. 14, the ride-hailing company angered the mayor and officials at the DMV by refusing to get a permit to operate its self-driving cars. Residents also flagged several incidents involving the self-driving vehicles, such as running red lights. And so, around noon on Thursday, a fleet of Uber self-driving cars passed through the South of Market area on the backs of several flatbed trucks. Commuters gawked at the fleet with their distinctive hoods, backing up traffic as the convoy slowly drove by.

In a statement Thursday, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey called Californias regulations burdensome and said Arizona welcomes Ubers self-driving car test with open arms.

While California puts the brakes on innovation and change with more bureaucracy and more regulation, Arizona is paving the way for new technology and new businesses, he said.

It is unclear what city  or cities  the cars are headed to.

Robbie Sherwood, a spokesman for the Phoenix mayors office, said people reported seeing Ubers self-driving cars in the city Thursday.

Phoenix is excited to be an Uber-friendly city, and we are excited that they are expanding here, Sherwood said.

Ducey signed an executive order in 2015 that supports the testing and operation of self-driving cars in Arizona. Google began testing its autonomous cars in several cities there this year.

Uber said last year that Tucson and the University of Arizona will become the next home to our Uber mapping test vehicles.

California, however, has had enough for now. On Wednesday, the DMV told Uber that its cars were improperly registered, and that the autonomous vehicles could no longer operate in its hometown. The DMV said it could expedite the application process for the appropriate permits, which require reporting of accidents involving self-driving vehicles. Uber has declined to apply for a permit.

When asked Thursday if Uber plans to apply for a California permit, a spokeswoman said there are no plans to do so today, and declined to comment further.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

A DMV representative also declined to comment on Thursdays move.

For self-driving vehicles in Arizona, there are no special permits or licensing required, according to the states Department of Transportation. In Arizona, autonomous vehicles have the same registration requirements as any other vehicle, and nothing in state law prevents testing autonomous vehicles.

San Francisco Chronicle

staff writer Lizzie Johnson contributed to this report.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter @TrishaThadani
A man supposedly collecting money to fund childrens cancer research outside a Napa Safeway was arrested after a police officer found out the fund was a fake, officials said.

Officer Eric Koford was patrolling in the Safeway area when he recognized the alleged scammer, Joshua Bagg, from his prior run-ins with law enforcement. The officer called the Internal Revenue Service to see if any charity matched the name, and then called the 800 number on the collection box.
It was another hard-fought step for equality.

The Chronicles front page from Dec. 23, 2010, covers the repeal of the armed forces dont ask, dont tell policy.

Jubilant gay-rights advocates from San Francisco to Washington celebrated a milestone Wednesday as President Obama signed legislation that declares an end to the nations dont ask, dont tell policy on gay and lesbian members of the military, the story read.

President Bill Clinton had made dont ask, dont tell law in 1994. It effectively made it illegal to discriminate against closeted LGBTQ service members but barred openly gay or bisexual people from disclosing their sexual orientation.

Most gay-rights advocates were against the law from the start, and some military members were dismissed from service under its authority.

Several service members who had been discharged under the 17-year-old policy, including Army Lt. Dan Choi of San Diego, attended the ceremony, as did retired Navy Cmdr. Zoe Dunning of San Francisco, a lesbian who had opposed the policy since its inception, the story read.

This closes the door on a fundamental unfairness in our country, said (Rep. Nancy) Pelosi, a San Francisco Democrat who will become House minority leader when the GOP takes control in January. Anyone who wishes to serve, secure and defend this country should be welcomed, judged by their abilities and honored for their sacrifice.

Top O the Top of the News: Team Cocoa: Restaurants put their own spin on hot chocolate. Page E1. A certain tall, red-haired late-night host is on Line 2 about a copyright issue.

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

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Employers in California must give their employees 10 minutes of work-free rest breaks every four hours and cant require them to remain on call and available for duty, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The 5-2 ruling upheld $90 million in damages for more than 14,000 private security guards employed by ABM Security Services, which required them to keep their pagers and cell phones switched on during rest periods, remain vigilant and respond to calls for assistance.

Reversing an appeals court ruling that overturned the damages, the Supreme Court said that since 1932 California law has required employers to leave workers on their own during the paid 10-minute periods.

During rest periods employers must relieve employees of all duties and relinquish control over how employees spend their time, Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar said in the majority decision. A rest period, in short, must be a period of rest.

Requiring guards or other employees to remain on call during rest breaks creates a broad and intrusive degree of control, Cuellar said, that prevents workers from taking a walk, making a phone call or pumping breast milk for a newborn child.

He noted that state law allows employers to reschedule rest periods when special needs arise and also permits some categories of employers to ask state labor officials for an exemption if the mandatory breaks would cause them undue hardship. ABM has been granted two one-year exemptions from the requirement in the past.

The law entitles employees to an hours pay if a 10-minute break is canceled. Another state law allows employees to take half-hour meal breaks after five hours of work.

In dissent, Justice Leondra Kruger  like Cuellar an appointee of Gov. Jerry Brown  agreed that employees must be allowed to take rest breaks but said requiring them to carry a pager or cell phone during that period does not constitute work.

On-call employees are free to rest or take a walk during their breaks, said Kruger, joined by Justice Carol Corrigan. Prohibiting an employer from requiring them to carry a communications device serves only to deprive the employer of any sure means of reaching the employee, even if a truly extraordinary situation requires it, she said.

The security guards lawyer, Drew Pomerance, said the courts ruling would benefit all sides by providing a clear standard, so that both employers and employees will know whats required of them.

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.

ABMs lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, said his clients are incredibly disappointed and are considering their options for further legal review.

The case is Augustus vs. ABM Security Services, S224853.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko

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View the ruling: http://bit.ly/2hdR6yW
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San Franciscos top public health official on Wednesday endorsed safe injection sites where intravenous drug users could legally shoot drugs, giving the controversial idea a big boost and setting up a potential clash with Mayor Ed Lee, who has come out strongly against them.

I think even if we were to open one it would be very successful, Barbara Garcia, director of the Department of Public Health, said Wednesday at a hearing of the Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee.

Garcia said to make a real difference the city would need to open up at least six sites, at a cost of around $3 million to $3.5 million annually.

Garcias comments were unexpected given the mayors opposition. In March, Lee dismissed Supervisor David Campos proposal to open up safe injection sites. We have a vigorous disagreement over allowing people to inject heroin and meth, to literally destroy their bodies and their minds, in a city-funded shelter, as some have proposed, the mayor said at the time.

Lees spokeswoman, Deirdre Hussey, said the mayor, who is on a trade mission to South Korea, continues to have concerns.

There are many issues with this, the main issue being that it is currently illegal under state and federal law, Hussey said. As the director of public health stated, there are many considerations, including what neighborhoods to place them in and what the impact on those neighborhoods would be, as well as medical liability, cost and the long-term effectiveness of such a program.

But Campos, who sits on the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, called Garcias remarks very significant.

I think most people are open to this as an option, because the status quo is so bad, Campos said, adding that even so he hadnt expected Garcia to endorse the idea. Im sort of in a way shocked to see the level of progress.

But there are major hurdles to the city creating safe injection sites, the biggest being that state law currently prohibits them. A bill to allow them failed in the Legislature this year. San Francisco stayed neutral on that bill, but Garcia said the city would throw its support behind future efforts.

Its a good idea, Garcia said after the hearing. The research has already shown that it does provide a safe access for getting health-related services and also an ability to inject in a safe location.

Garcia said the city would not open safe injection sites without a change in the state law. No California city has opened a safe injection site, said Laura Thomas, deputy state director of the California Drug Policy Alliance.

Thomas said research shows that opening up public sites where drug addicts can inject saves money, because it reduces the number of people who contract hepatitis C, HIV and soft-tissue abscesses.

Todays hearing was a very positive step toward opening supervised consumption services in San Francisco, Thomas said. Im impressed with how much movement there has been in just the last few months.

In September, a task force in Seattle recommended opening up safe injection sites  if that happens, Seattle would be the first city in the United States to do so.

 Emily Green

Stall on sanctuary: A proposal to spend $5 million to provide legal representation to immigrants living in the country without documentation who face deportation will not be voted on before the end of the year.

Board of Supervisors President London Breed declined to waive a board rule that says new legislation must sit for 30 days before it goes to committee.

That means the newly comprised Board of Supervisors will vote on the legislation sometime in January.

Among the supervisors who will no longer be on the board is David Campos, the bills sponsor. Campos had hoped to have it voted on by Dec. 13, his last scheduled board meeting before being termed out of office.

Campos declined to comment. Its unclear who will carry the bill forward when he is gone. One likely possibility is that his successor, Hillary Ronen, a strong advocate for sanctuary city policies and Campos longtime aide, will push it forward.

The legislation is the first major proposal by a city official to counter President-elect Donald Trumps pledge to deport millions of immigrants who have no legal status. There are some 44,000 such immigrants living in San Francisco.

It calls for giving $2.6 million to the public defenders office to hire 10 attorneys, five paralegals and two legal clerks to represent detained immigrants, and another $2 million to community legal groups to hire 13 attorneys and six education and outreach staff.

 Emily Green

Email: cityinsider@sfchronicle.com, egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfcityinsider, @emilytgreen
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It seemed like any other day. Claudine Bingham had just started her shift as a maintenance worker at San Francisco City Hall when her cell phone rang.

What she heard left her stunned and in tears. The very British voice on the other end was her younger sister, whom she hadnt seen for 45 years.

I said, Oh my God, is this for real? Am I sleeping? Bingham recalled. My phone went on the floor. It take me awhile to pick up that damn phone. And then tears just starting running down.

I said, Dont move. We got to get connected. I got to see you.

It was Aug. 18. Two weeks later, Bingham, who has worked at City Hall for nearly 20 years, was on a plane to London to see her sister, Barbara Barnett.

I been looking for her ever since shes 7 years old, Bingham said.

Their saga began decades ago in Jamaica.

They had the same father but different mothers. Binghams mom lived in the United States, and Barnetts mom lived in London. Bingham and Barnett, who is 10 years younger, lived with their dad outside of Montego Bay.

She had no one except for him and me. I used to look after her every day, said Bingham, who speaks with a Jamaican accent.

When Bingham was 16, her mother paid for her to move to the United States. Bingham attended John Adams Adult High School  a program of City College of San Francisco  and then went to college.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Sometime during those years, Barnetts mom took her to London, and the two sisters lost touch. Bingham tried to find her younger sister but it was an era before Facebook and cell phones, and family members were estranged.

And while Bingham had two brothers  both have died  she said she had a special bond with her sister.

The years passed. Bingham took a job in the payroll department at Bank of America, married her Jamaican childhood sweetheart and had three children. After a divorce, Bingham moved to Texas for a few years.

For a brief while in 1996, Barnett and Bingham reconnected. Their father had died and someone had given Barnett a phone number for Bingham. The two sisters spoke on the phone and traded phone numbers.

But then Bingham left Texas abruptly. When she returned to retrieve her belongings, everything was gone, including her sisters phone number.

And because Bingham had moved, the number her sister had for her no longer worked either. But Bingham didnt stop looking and hoping to find her sister again.

I asked a lot of people how to get in touch with her but I couldnt get in touch with her, Bingham said. I cry every day just to find this girl.

Another 20 years would pass before the sisters reconnected.

Back in San Francisco, Bingham took a job as a custodian at City Hall, where she is a beloved figure.

In her two decades there, she has seen politicians come and go. While she has strong feelings about nearly everyone, she keeps her thoughts mostly to herself. This year, she was a judge for the 2016 Board of Supervisors Holiday Bake-Off.

As the years went by, Bingham never stopped hoping to one day see her sister.

Ultimately, Barnett found her in that very 21st century way  through Facebook. Once Barnett joined the social media site, she found her sister almost immediately. Bingham lists her telephone number on her page, and her sister called.

Bingham remembers what the voice on the other end of the line said: Hi, this here is your sister Barbara.

Bingham was ecstatic. And unlike before, she wasnt going to let the chance to see her sister slip away.

I wanted to see what she looked like, Bingham said.

It almost didnt happen. After that first conversation, Bingham dropped her phone while walking to Walgreens  and a car ran over it. I said, oh no, not again! But she took the phone to T-mobile and was able to retrieve her contacts.

Two weeks later, Bingham got off the plane in London and saw a woman standing in front of her who looked just like her dad.

Shes shaking and Im shaking, Bingham recalled.

Her baby sister was all grown. Not only that, Barnett has four kids and five grandkids.

Even so, Bingham fell back on old habits.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

When I went to London, I tried to be her mama, Bingham said. Because no one ever put her in check. ... She was eating candy late at night in the bed. I said, Give me that. You dont do that.

Reached in London, Barnett didnt want to talk much about the reunion.

Its been a personal journey for me and Im still on this journey, she said.

Barnett hopes to visit her sister in San Francisco next year. Shes a crazy woman. And I love her dearly.

As for Bingham, finding her sister is not the beginning of a journey, but the end of one.

I got a sister. Everybody knows. I talk about her all the time.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen
Three years ago, restaurants offering sushi omakase menus were rare, but now the trend proliferates in the Bay Area with top-notch places like Omakase, Kusakabe, Ju-ni, Hashiri and, most recently, Napas Kenzo.

Importing fish from Japan, as most do, isnt cheap, so most omakase meals end up costing over $100 per person. But this year, a second tier of less expensive places has sprouted, such as Delage in Oakland and Sushi Hon in the Mission.

Min Choe, who owns Cow Hollows Tamashisoul Sushi Bar, opened Sushi Hon at 22nd and Harrison in July. Because he owns the building, and is not at the whim of a landlord, hes able to offer a $75 menu that consists of 15 items. However what really sets the restaurant apart is its extensive non-sushi menu, where youll find some of the best dishes crafted by Sun Kyung Jang, offered a la carte.

The restaurant consists of a 12-seat sushi counter, a sake bar that seats six, individual tables that overlook the street and three communal tables in the center of the room. The concrete floor, black chairs, slate bar and hanging partitions combine to lend a finished, contemporary feel. The space seems large for this style of restaurant, especially since the place was virtually empty on my visits. Its too bad because people are missing out on some creative hot dishes, and sushi that, while it may not compete with more expensive alternatives, is still satisfying and worth a visit.

Choe serves as the head sushi chef and crafts the omakase menu, sprinkling in a few offerings by Jang. The menu changes often, but on one visit it started with sliced cucumbers fanned on the bottom of the bowl, soaking in a soy mixture. The cucumbers were draped with thin slices of chewy squid, flower petals and a small sheet of gold leaf that danced in the lights over the sushi counter. It was a dish that builds anticipation.

The first piece of sushi was Spanish bluefin tuna sprinkled with truffle salt. That was quickly followed by wild Japanese sea bass, aged three days and punched up with shiso. Next was wild mackerel with a nob of marinated kelp, which helped to balance the strong flavor of the fish. The rice is particularly well thought out; the pads are precise and each grain is distinctive, bordering on chewy.

The Zensai, which breaks up the raw fish presentations, was abalone porridge, garnished with thin coins of black truffle. It was so lush it reminded me of another dish from the a la carte menu: a frothy mushroom miso soup ($5) where the lightness of the broth belied the earthy, intense flavor of the mushrooms.

Jang also produced one of the best chicken karaage ($9) Ive had. Irregular pieces of battered meat lined up on a horizontal plate and thickly dusted with snowy gratings of cheese, next to a mound of truffle aioli.

Next on the omakase menu came five more fish, prepared and served in quick succession: kinmedai (snapper), striped jack, salmon, amberjack and barracuda..

The next offering was yakitori, with asparagus and Wagyu beef, providing a rich reset before the final nigiri offerings: Scallops, crab (topped with a funky liver butter) and bluefin fatty tuna that was aged seven days to intensify the flavor and soften the flesh. Unlike other places where a torch is an essential piece of equipment, most items here are cool or at room temperature and fairly conservatively dressed. It lets the fish shine, but it sometimes lacks the more complex interplay of flavors you get at other places.

After the savory omakase selections, diners have the option of ordering supplements for foie gras, Wagyu and toro preparations for $28 before heading into dessert.

Jang's training at Michael Mina is evident in the dessert: creamy panna cotta served in a glass topped with huckleberry puree on one visit and a thick dusting of matcha on another.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

In fact her non-sushi dishes are what really make Sushi Hon notable: tuna tartare with caviar ($18); seared black cod seasoned with rice vinegar and dashi broth ($23); and the hamachi collar ($9). Theres no mistaking these dishes have a Japanese origin, but Jangs French techniques add a dramatic layer that sets Sushi Hon apart.

Few competing restaurants offer so many choices at reasonable prices, which is why Sushi Hon deserves to be very, very busy.

 

Sushi Hon

Food:   

Service:   

Atmosphere:   

Price: $$$

Noise: Two Bells

2598 Harrison St. (at 22nd Street), San Francisco; (415) 525-4527 or www.sushihonsf.com. Open 5:30-10:30 p.m. daily. Beer, wine and sake. Reservations and credit cards accepted. Street parking, often difficult.
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It takes a while to get to the point, but an 80,000-page environmental opus released Thursday makes the case that Gov. Jerry Browns $15.7 billion twin tunnels project is the best way to fix Californias water woes.

The final environmental impact report on the controversial plan known as WaterFix does not contain a cliffhanger ending, but the governor characterized it as a crucial bookshelf filler for water wonks.

This project has been subjected to 10 years of detailed analysis and more environmental review than any other project in the history of the world, Brown said of the proposal to divert water from the Sacramento River southward. It is absolutely essential if California is to maintain a reliable water supply.

The analysis, a snooze-inducing tome roughly equivalent in size to 66 Bibles, judges a project that remains at least a year away from final approval. Nevertheless, it generated a fresh batch of criticism from environmentalists, who insist the tunnels would devastate the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta by depriving it of its most critical ingredient  fresh water.

There are just absolute gross deficiencies in the document, said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, the executive director of the environmental group Restore the Delta. Its certainly not over. Were poised to fight them every step of the way. Ultimately we will win because this project is just too flawed.

The report analyzed the environmental impacts of 18 ideas  including doing nothing  to fix the sprawling state and federal water system that delivers supplies to 25 million people across California and irrigates some 3 million acres of farmland.

The tunnels emerged as the preferred alternative because they would provide clean water and minimize unnatural flows in the delta that harm fish, said Mark Cowin, the director of the California Department of Water Resources.

We have found the best solution for protecting both the deltas ecosystem and a vital water supply for California, he said.

The problem with the system now is that big pumps near Tracy used by the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project to send water south suck in and kill fish, including young chinook salmon and endangered delta smelt. The pumps have also caused portions of the San Joaquin River to flow backward, confusing the migrating fish.

Central Valley farmers, Southern California water agencies and some Bay Area water suppliers complain that federal protections for fish have forced unnecessary reductions in the amount of water they get from the delta.

The proposed plan would add three intake valves near Courtland (Sacramento County) and divert water through a pair of 35-mile-long pipelines. The idea is to skirt the sensitive delta, prevent saltwater intrusion as sea levels rise and protect water supplies if an earthquake destroys delta levees.

The pipeline bypass has been mired in controversy from the beginning. Barrigan-Parrilla said the new report does not adequately address concerns about changes to delta water and groundwater, salinity and economic impacts to the delta community.

They failed to do a survey of the delta subsistence fishing community, she said, referring to the 20,000 to 40,000 people her organization claims live on the fish they catch in the delta.

John McManus, the executive director of the Golden Gate Salmon Association, said the tunnels could doom the fish.

Anyone who witnessed the decimation of Central Valley salmon in 2014 and 2015 while water managers said, Just trust us to provide enough water for them, knows they simply cant be trusted when drought puts pressure on all of us, McManus said. Salmon will lose as long as water diversion infrastructure is big enough to allow abuse. The gigantic proposed twin tunnels certainly fit that description.

Stopping the tunnels may be difficult, especially now that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California owns more than 20,000 acres in the delta, including four key islands. Two of the islands  Bouldin and Bacon  are in the path of the proposed tunnels, which would supply many of the 19 million Southern California residents who get their water from the district.

They want to take the good water out of the delta and leave major metropolitan areas here with the bad water, Barrigan-Parrilla said. Its a case of water going to the highest bidder.

The state must complete another major report, called a biological opinion, and reach agreement with water districts that are expected to foot much of the bill before the tunnel work begins, possibly in 2018, as well as property owners.

The tunnels project is a legacy issue for Brown, who, in his previous incarnation as governor, pushed for a different plan to ship water south known as the Peripheral Canal. The canal idea was rejected by voters in 1982, but the public won't get a chance to vote on the twin tunnels.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite

Online resources

Read the environmental documents: http://baydeltaconservationplan.com
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The last doughnut is soon to pass over the counter at Donut Time in Pacifica.

Like the 11 million doughnuts that have gone before it at the modest hangout at Linda Mar shopping center, it will be delicious. And it will disappear into the dust of the ages, dust more or less the consistency of powdered sugar on a cake doughnut.

Donut Time has lost its lease after 36 years. There will be no more chocolate sprinkles on top, no more custard in the middle. There will be no more bags full of doughnut holes. A marketable hole is an existential paradox anyplace but a doughnut store.

Ive been coming here since I was a little kid, said Ali Vidali, 20, of Pacifica. I like this place. Its family-owned. Its mom and pop.

The mom of the operation would be veteran doughnut purveyor Yok-moui Sinn, who works 12-hour days and whose family has owned the store for about eight years, ever since buying out the previous owner. She sells about 900 doughnuts a day.

One doughnut is not bad for you, she said, bristling at the health brigade that always seems to single out doughnuts.

Two doughnuts are not bad for you. Three, it depends. Four is too many.

That settled, Sinn showed off the fine features of the store. There are the drawings by customers kids on the wall. One old-timer brought in three paint-by-number masterpieces and Sinn promptly placed them on prominent display, too. They dont have stuff like that at the Starbucks next door, and they dont have an on-site baker who shows up every day at midnight to crank out the goods.

Near the front door is the Doughnut Tree. Its an ersatz Christmas tree made by Sinn from hundreds of glued-together doughnuts. Exactly how many is the subject of a guessing contest. Closest guess wins $50 of doughnuts (which works out to 50 glazed doughnuts, at $1 apiece, or 20 Bavarian Cream bars, at $2.50 each). Doughnut holes do not count as official doughnuts in the doughnut tree tally although, at 25 cents, they are not entirely illusory.

Sinn makes the tree fresh every holiday season but, doughnuts being doughnuts, it doesnt stay fresh for long. The doughnuts that constitute this years tree are already rock hard.

Break your teeth if you eat one, Sinn said.

The store will close at the end of January. The reason seems to be as mysterious as the nature of doughnut holes. Sinn said the landlord refused the stores request to have its lease renewed.

The landlord, Kimco Realty, said in a statement issued by its New York headquarters that it renews leases for tenants who are managing their businesses well and that Donut Time did not reply to its request to discuss renewal opportunities. And the landlord said it was looking forward to welcoming three new businesses to the shopping center  a chain bakery, a chain beauty supply shop and a chain bubble tea stand.

Meanwhile, the beckoning aroma of fried grease that wafted from the store continued to beckon the coastside faithful. Joseph Jones, a surfer from Moss Beach, drove through the Tom Lantos tunnel to Pacifica to get a twist and a maple bar. There were closer bakeries, he said, but none as satisfying. He could not discuss the attributes of his maple bar in greater detail because he had a puppy in the car outside who was waiting to share it with him.

Its not good for the puppy, Jones said. Its not good for me, either.

And Ed Dunne bought a plain old-fashioned doughnut for a dollar and looked like a happy man. Hes been buying Donut Time doughnuts for three decades.

Theres always old guys sitting around here, he said. This is a friendly place. A doughnut store is important to a community. And the doughnuts are as healthy as doughnuts can be.

A doughnut shop may be old school, but Donut Times closure has sparked a high-tech online save-the-doughnuts petition that, so far, has gathered more than 500 supporters.

Great memories. ... Always excited to see the doughnut tree. ... Save the doughnuts. ... Kimco, stop the attack on small businesses in Pacifica. ... Please stop replacing small businesses with generic corporate crap, said the petitioners.

As her own best customer, Sinn said the closure is going to present something of a problem.

I eat them myself, she said. Every day. I dont know what Im going to do.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF
Apples iPhone is a technological marvel. You can watch streaming video on it, download apps, take photos with its camera and give voice commands to Siri, its digital assistant. You can even make old-fashioned voice calls on it.

Nokia, the Finnish company that was the worlds largest cell phone maker until its business was decimated by Apple and makers of Android phones, claims none of those features would exist without its inventions, which were made over many years and after billions of dollars were invested in research.

For five years, Apple has paid Nokia a modest royalty for the use of its patents. But with that pact about to expire Dec. 31, Nokia wants Apple to keep paying for that portfolio, and is demanding that Apple license additional patents. Apple is refusing to pay Nokias price and has accused it of extortion.

The impasse, after two years of tense negotiations, broke into open warfare this week in a volley of lawsuits in 11 countries, including the United States and Germany.

Apple is saying, we want to pay one low price and not have to deal with any of your patents again, said Clem Roberts, an intellectual property lawyer at Durie Tangri in San Francisco. Nokia is saying, I dont want that low price because my patents are worth more than that.

The fight underscores just how much todays smartphones rely on an earlier generation of technology. It also shows how cell phone pioneers like Nokia, Ericsson of Sweden and Motorola, whose patents are now owned by Google, are still trying to profit from the industry in which they are now bit players, at best.

Obviously, the iPhone was not created on a green field, but was built on what others created before Apple, said Florian Mueller, a German iPhone app developer and former consultant to technology companies who has followed the cell phone patent wars. On the other hand, the iPhone was a paradigm shift. It was more of a mobile computer than a mobile phone.

Patent disputes are common in the technology industry. This month, for instance, Samsung won a partial victory over Apple when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it should not have to give up all of its phone profits for copying the look of Apples iPhone. Google, part of Alphabet, won a similar case against Oracle in May after it was accused of copying software code used for Android, the search giants smartphone operating system.

But the tactics are evolving as the law and technology change.

A decade ago, when the Supreme Court limited the leverage that patent owners had to stop sales of a product that violated their patents, it empowered patent users to play hardball in negotiations, Roberts said.

Companies like Nokia and Ericsson, which once had an interest in exchanging mutual licenses with other companies for their own cell phone businesses, left the handset market and concentrated on other tech gear and licensing their old patents. Nokia and Ericsson each make more than $1 billion a year from licensing their patents and brands globally, their annual reports say.

Nokia has split its patent portfolio and transferred slices to patent trolls  a derisive term for companies that buy others intellectual property and often file lawsuits to extract royalties from patent users  with Nokia sharing in any profits.

In its legal filing on Tuesday, Apple claimed that this strategy was a conspiracy between Nokia and its patent partners, which include Acacia Research and Conversant Intellectual Property Management, to raise patent prices in violation of federal antitrust law.

Apple said Acacia and Conversant had filed 52 cases against the company around the world, many asserting violations of Nokia patents. In September, Acacia won a $22.1 million jury verdict against Apple, and this month, Conversant won $7.3 million.

Unfortunately, Nokia has refused to license their patents on a fair basis and is now using the tactics of a patent troll to attempt to extort money from Apple by applying a royalty rate to Apples own inventions they had nothing to do with, Apple said.

In response, Nokia filed legal cases against Apple in 14 venues, from Texas to Japan, on Wednesday and Thursday, accusing it of violating 40 patents. Nokia said it had reached patent deals with more than 100 other companies, including many smartphone makers, which demonstrated that it had offered its intellectual property at a fair price.

After several years of negotiations trying to reach agreement to cover Apples use of these patents, we are now taking action to defend our rights, Ilkka Rahnasto, the head of Nokias patent business, said in a statement.

Analysts say there is no doubt that Nokia owns important patents, which include those related to how phones transmit data and how their batteries consume energy.

Ericsson, which also had a long-standing legal dispute with Apple before they agreed to a new licensing deal last year, similarly has a large portfolio of patents  including technology for how smartphones make calls and how video is beamed onto a handset.

Unless theres a fair return on this technology, the whole model for the telecom world is at risk, Gustav Brismark, Ericssons chief intellectual property officer, said. He added that the company had invested billions of dollars over decades in its patents.
The board of the California Public Employees Retirement System is lowering expectations for future investment returns, a step that will increase pressure on the budgets of towns and cities across the state.

CalPERS, with roughly $300 billion in assets, has long been a bellwether among Americas thousands of public pension funds because of its sheer size and influence in the investment industry. It manages the investments for more than 1.7 million current and future retirees, making it the nations largest public fund outside the federal government. CalPERS move Wednesday to lower its investment expectations is expected to prompt pension systems in other states to do the same.

This is very monumental for the organization, one trustee, Richard Costigan, said at a public meeting just before the vote.

With the move, CalPERS is changing its business plan, so that investment returns will cover less of the cost of pensions than previously. That will force local governments to pay more, either through higher taxes or reduced public services. Public workers in California will have to chip in more, too.

At the same time, the move has little chance of satisfying critics of public pension systems, who have argued for years that the sectors methodology is dangerously flawed  not just because many investment projections are overly optimistic, but also because plans use those projections to calculate their liabilities, violating basic economic principles.

Such critics, many of them economists, say that because public pensions are virtually risk-free for recipients, their values should be based on the returns of safe investments like Treasury securities, which have recently hovered around 2.5 percent for 10-year bonds. CalPERS now uses Treasury rates only when a city wants to drop out of its system.

Under all other circumstances, CalPERS currently assumes that its investment portfolio will return an average of 7.5 percent a year over the long term, and bills its member governments accordingly. Its trustees agreed Wednesday to reduce that to 7 percent, phasing in the reduction over the next three years.

Many other state pension systems have even higher expectations, according to a survey of 127 plans by the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. Most were expecting to earn 7.5 to 8 percent over the long term. The second-largest group was counting on annual returns of 7 to 7.5 percent.

The differences may sound small, but just a slight reduction in the assumed rate drives up the cost sharply, because it is multiplied across decades and for thousands of retirees.

Shifting expectations down to 7 percent will force the state of California to contribute an additional $2 billion a year for state workers, according to Eric Stern, a policy adviser for the California Department of Finance who briefed CalPERS board members about the measure on Tuesday.

All public pension funds pool money and invest it in the hope that returns will cover most of the cost of retirees benefits. But those costs are rising quickly now, as Baby Boomers retire, and investment returns have not nearly kept pace.

Even before the change takes effect, some cities in California have complained that their pension plans are too costly. CalPERS bills them once a year for their share, assuming the investments will return 7.5 percent in the future. CalPERS confirmed in a recent risk report that for some types of pensions  especially those for police  those bills are higher than ever.

Some local governments say they simply cannot keep up, yet they are not allowed an easy exit from the system. Pensions thus played a prominent role in the municipal bankruptcies of Vallejo, Stockton and San Bernardino, with CalPERS arguing that the cities could not lower their pension contributions or switch to less costly plans, even though companies routinely do so in bankruptcy. Those arguments prompted the judge in Stocktons bankruptcy case, Christopher Klein, to call CalPERS a bully with an iron fist.

The waning Sierra County city of Loyalton took matters into its own hands three years ago, voting to simply drop out of CalPERS. In response, CalPERS sent a bill for a hefty withdrawal payment; Loyalton said it was broke and could not pay.

In November, CalPERS responded by cutting the pensions of each of Loyaltons four municipal retirees by 60 percent  the first time on record that CalPERS had cut anyones pension.

Marcia Fritz, president of the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility, said the additional pension costs might push more local governments over a fiscal cliff.

The ones that are hurting the most are the small, non-volunteer fire districts in rural areas, Fritz said.

They lack a tax base big enough to cover the substantial cost of keeping firefighters on duty around the clock, she said. Some have been experimenting with other revenue sources, but have not found a permanent fix, and rising pension costs could be their death knell.

Despite those concerns, CalPERS board members decided they had no choice but to lower expectations. Outside advisers have been urging the system to do so for years. Its chief investment officer, Ted Eliopoulos, said last summer that investment returns for the previous year were close to zero, and that it would be a big challenge for CalPERS to get through the next three to five years.

With rising numbers of retirees drawing their benefits, Eliopoulos said this week that he had been scaling back the risk level in CalPERS investment portfolio. Stocks  both domestic and global  had been reduced to 46 percent of the investment portfolio from 51 percent, for example.

Lowering risk, however, generally means lower returns as well.
Its the most wonderful time of the year  unless you happen to be working for an employer with a Scrooge-like heart and disdain for holiday pay. You just might find yourself working Christmas without so much as an extra candy cane to show for it.

The bad news is that theres not much you can do about it. Generally speaking, employers are not required to offer paid holidays to their workers  whether its Christmas, the Fourth of July or any other federally recognized holiday. Nor do they have to pay overtime if you work a holiday, unless the time you put in is beyond your normal 40-hour workweek.

The good news is that many employers apparently dont have a mean heart.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 75 percent of the civilian workforce, about 116 million people, receive paid holidays. In private industry, 77 percent of workers receive the benefit, while 67 percent do in state and local government.

The chances are not nearly as good if you are among the lowest paid workers. Only 40 percent of people in the lowest 10 percent of the workforce based on average wage receive paid holidays. Its 53 percent for those in the lowest 25 percent.

Overall, the split is not that different between union and nonunion workforces, with 79 percent of union members receiving paid holidays and 75 percent of nonunion, according to the bureau.

Kyra Kudick, an associate editor at J.J. Keller & Associates, a compliance resource company, said that offering paid holidays can help in both recruiting and retaining employees. Workers who feel valued and have a work-life balance want to stay with their employers, she said.

But Kudick, who specializes in employment law and human resource issues, including employee relations, hiring and recruiting, said that for the most part, employers can be as generous or as stingy as they want to be.

They really can set their own requirements, she said. With very, very few exceptions, an employer does not need to provide holiday pay on federally recognized holidays.

Exceptions include union contracts. Some states also may restrict the number of hours an employee can work on a holiday, Kudick said.

No federal law requires an employer to offer paid holidays or overtime to those forced to work a holiday as long as they are not working more than 40 hours that week, said employment attorney Sam Cordes.

Typically, federal and state laws come into play only when employees are required to work more than 40 hours a week, he said.

For those who offer paid holidays, the means can vary.

Christmas and New Years Day fall on Sundays this season, for example, so some employers will offer the Monday following both as a paid holiday. Others may offer a floating holiday that the worker can use at another time.

Employers also have the right to decide whether to close or stay open on a holiday, meaning that for some workers, Ill be home for Christmas will be more wistful refrain than fact. And employers can treat a holiday just like any other workday if they want.

In some cases they do so at the risk of alienating their employees.

For a lot of people, holidays are very important, Kudick said.
A former Google employee has sued the Mountain View company, alleging that its confidentiality policies illegally dissuade current and former workers from whistle-blowing.

The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous San Francisco product manager in San Francisco Superior Court, describes the plaintiff only as John Doe because he said publishing his name would further damage his reputation in the company and larger tech industry.

Doe alleges that a Google official falsely blamed him for leaking company information to reporters to ensure that other employees would follow confidentiality agreements. The Google official told thousands of employees Doe had been fired for the leaks, the lawsuit states.

Though Google did not identify Doe by name, he says in the lawsuit that a number of Googlers concluded that Doe and the employee identified as the leaker were one and the same.

The lawsuit alleges that Google has wide-ranging confidentiality agreements and employee communication policies that prevent employees from disclosing violations both internally and externally. According to the lawsuit, Google restricts what employees say, even in internal emails, advising employees not to say I think we broke the law or I think we violated this contract.

The training program also advises employees that they should not be candid when speaking with Googles attorneys about dangerous products or violations of the law, the lawsuit said.

The policies, according to the lawsuit, go so far as to prevent employees from discussions with a spouse or friends about whether they think their boss could do a better job, talk of wages or even writing a novel about someone working at a tech company in Silicon Valley without prior approval from Google.

The company called the lawsuit baseless, saying that the firm is committed to an open internal culture.

Transparency is a huge part of our culture, Google said. Our employee confidentiality requirements are designed to protect proprietary business information, while not preventing employees from disclosing information about terms and conditions of employment, or workplace concerns.
For readers adjusting to strange encounters with online political news, both real and fake, one established publication has managed to do more than its share of the unexpected in this election year. Somehow Teen Vogue managed to perform actual journalism AND sell overpriced satin rompers, reads a typical Twitter message from a excitable reader. AT THE SAME DAMN TIME.

I feel attacked but also validated!!!, replied Phillip Picardi, Teen Vogues digital editorial director.

Yes, the youth-friendly extension of a century-old fashion and society magazine started by Conde Montrose Nast himself has somehow become a stalwart of trenchant political writing, taking on topics that defy the shallow stereotypes of a teenage magazine. Recent articles have chronicled student protests, disability activists, and Vice President-elect Mike Pences stance on conversion therapy, not to mention introducing the concept of gaslighting into President-elect Donald Trumps transition.

Nearly two years ago, when Picardi joined the magazines digital staff, Teen Vogue online was turning out a steady stream of glossy fashion spreads and beauty coverage that reflected the magazine print edition. In an effort to reflect the full range of interests of its core 18- to 24-year-old female readership, the website shifted away from this exclusive focus on lifestyle and celebrity and began working with young journalists who came from hard news backgrounds. (Disclosure: This reporter wrote several news stories for Teen Vogues website before joining Bloomberg.)

We have been correcting the notion that Teen Vogue wouldnt cover this issue, Picardi, 25, said in a phone interview. You can care about what you wear, shopping, what kind of lipstick and foundation youre wearing ... and also you can want to know whats happening in the headlines. Those two things can coexist peacefully.

In an example of that range, Teen Vogues home page recently had stories about transgender discrimination, a roundup of Golden Globe nominees, prison visitation policies, and five tips for building a gingerbread house. We dont report on every single news piece like a newspaper does, Picardi said. So when we do cover something, we cover it from the point of view of a young person. We want to be a resource for them.

Many story ideas are generated by monitoring Teen Vogue readers on social media. That has such a huge impact on our work, said Terron Moore, the publications social media director. A comment replying to a story about a makeup trend is taken as seriously as a response to a protest piece. One of my favorite memes is Get you a brand who can do both, he said. Were not afraid to be really excited about both.

The shift to more hard-news coverage, alongside an increase in content output, has paid off. Between April 2015 and last month, traffic to Teen Vogue jumped from 2.5 million monthly unique visitors to 9.4 million, according to the magazine.

More than ever we must understand that our reader is multifaceted and is looking to arm herself with as much information as possible, Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour said in a statement, praising Teen Vogues digital coverage.

The digital traffic boon comes at a time when print publications are suffering, losing both subscribers and esteem. Conde Nast, Teen Vogues parent company, recently reduced the print magazine to a quarterly publication schedule, down from nine issues in 2016 and 10 a year from 2004 to 2015.

Teen Vogue could well exceed Novembers Web audience in December after an opinion piece, Donald Trump Is Gaslighting America, generated more than a million unique visitors and the attention of publications worldwide. Its the sites best-performing piece of all time, unseating How to Apply Glitter Nail Polish the Right Way.

David Folkenflik, the National Public Radio media correspondent, was surprised to see this kind of coverage from a publication with the title Teen, he said after posting the story to Twitter. He added: Teen Woke.

Despite the continuous wave of surprise, this kind of coverage is neither new to Teen Vogue nor to the womens magazine world as a whole. Glamour created a special section of its website, The 51 Million, specifically for election coverage; the name refers to the number of women under the age of 45 who are eligible to vote in the U.S. The history of womens magazines doing groundbreaking hard-news journalism goes back at least to World War II, when Lee Miller, a model-turned-war correspondent, sent photographs of the concentration camps to Vogue for publication.

Theres little doubt that the political stories coming out of Teen Vogue can be even more popular than models and makeup. A recent series on the Standing Rock protests, Ask a Native American Girl, generated more than 8 million views on Facebook. And the print magazine hardly shies away from politics: Decembers cover story is an interview of first lady Michelle Obama by 20-year-old actress Zendaya Coleman.

I dont like this idea that you cant cover the news and cover the Kardashians, Picardi said. The idea that girls cant be smart and also care about fashion is, frankly, damaging.

Polly Mosendz is a Bloomberg writer. Email: pmosendz@bloomberg.net
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In mid-December, Matthais Leuls cell phone number accidentally got listed in the search results when anyone Googled the word Lyft. He soon got a barrage of calls from folks eager to contact the ride-hailing company.

Ironically Leul, an Oakland resident, is a limo driver who has his own business, Ras Limo, and sometimes works for Uber Black. In fact, he thinks thats how the mix-up happened. He went to the Lyft site seeking information and entered his phone number in a box, he said, thinking hed get a call back.

Instead he got a few hundred calls, from people who Googled Lyft and saw his number listed in a box called Lyft HQ that includes photos and the correct address of the companys China Basin office in San Francisco.

Even while Im talking to you right now, Im getting a call, he said Tuesday morning. Its every five minutes. My daughter, Kal, she is 5. She keeps saying, No, Im not Lyft because she heard me say it so many times.

His experience underscores how, even in the age of apps, many people like to communicate the old-fashioned way: by making a phone call. Both Lyft and Uber prefer to handle customer concerns through their online help centers, but they do have critical response lines for emergency situations, such as accidents. Lyfts is (855) 865-9553. Ubers is (800) 285-9481. Both also run in-person support centers for Bay Area drivers.

Leul tried to find the box where hed entered his number but couldnt. He set up an automatic text reply explaining that hes not Lyft. But he relies on his phone for his own business, and often receives calls from numbers he doesnt recognize, so he couldnt simply stop answering his phone.

Google explains online how businesses can fix incorrect information in their Google results. Lyft said it reached out to Google directly after The Chronicle notified it of the mix-up.

By Tuesday evening, after more than a week of the mistake, Google results were updated to show the number for Lyfts critical response line, instead of Leuls cell phone.

It wasnt all bad. He sometimes ended up talking to the callers, who ranged from passengers who cant find their drivers, to drivers with some kind of issue. Some of them, I feel so bad, Leul said. One woman was having troubles with her credit card.

And he even got some business.

Jackie Wright of San Francisco was trying to arrange a ride home from the hospital for an acquaintance when she stumbled across Leuls number after Googling Lyft.

She called and heard how he was in Lyft hell  but he also was willing to provide the ride.

I got a text (from the acquaintance) saying he was the greatest guy, she said. I hope he can get out of this comedy of errors.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Christina Noori / The Chronicle / /

BART police used a Taser on a man after he allegedly assaulted an officer at the San Leandro station Friday morning, officials said.

Just before 8 a.m., authorities got a call that a man on a Dublin-bound train carrying a tool box reportedly said he was packing and dared police to do something, said Jim Allison, a spokesman for BART. Shortly afterward, an officer met the train at San Leandro station and found a man who matched the suspects description and asked him to step off the train, which he did, according to Allison.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was already destined to become the movie event of the year, but few could have predicted this: The seventh installment in the series, started by George Lucas in 1977, is the best Star Wars sequel yet and one of the best films of 2015.

The Star Wars phenomenon has become bigger than movies, capturing the imagination of the world. Fans have somehow kept the faith and grown in number, despite weak and worse sequels, and now, finally, their investment is rewarded.

Directed by J.J. Abrams, this new episode is both grand and human scale. It features many action sequences  skirmishes, attacks, laser-gun battles and hand-to-hand (and light saber to light saber) combat. But none of it is overdone, and none of it feels overstuffed or at the expense of the characters.

It is what the first Star Wars was, and what the series always was when it was at its best  a story about people caught up in troubles they didnt look for who rise to the moment.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens **** Quick take: Finally, a great 'Star Wars' sequel See More Collapse

The film comes three years following the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney for a reported $4 billion. The sale gave Disney the right to take the story anywhere it wanted, regardless of its creators desires, and apparently Disney rejected Lucas own story outline for this film and two sequels. Thats a painful thought, like something out of a Star Wars movie  a father forcibly separated from his offspring. But at least this time out, Disney is not the evil Empire. Its hard to imagine any Star Wars movie better than the one theyve made.

Needless to say, with two more films planned, as well as spinoffs, its quite possible that sooner or later this will become too much of a good thing, or even a bad thing. But as they do at the end of most Star Wars movies, its best to rejoice at good news and let the sequels bring what they may.

The Force Awakens picks up the story where it left off in 1983s Return of the Jedi. (Yes, there have been three Star Wars movies since, but they were prequels that only took the story up to where the original movie began in 1977.) Jedi ended with the dark, repressive Empire destroyed and the rebels victorious. The rebels were led by Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher); her Jedi Knight brother, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill); and her rakish lover, Han Solo (Harrison Ford).

The opening scroll fills in the last 30 years. As in the original, the words scroll up on a slant, against an outer-space background, something innovative in 1977 that looks charmingly low-tech today.

In a nutshell, the former rebels  that is the good guys, who went on to form a Republic  let their guard down, and now elements of the old Empire have reformed under a new configuration called the First Order. This evil entity is gaining in power and poses a threat to peaceful planets all over the universe. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker has vanished, and no one knows where he is.

One of the running themes of The Force Awakens is the adaptability of evil, and how the fight against it is like a lethal game of whack-a-mole. The staging of a First Order rally and the rigid posture and fanatical screeching of a First Order orator are meant to call to mind Adolf Hitlers Nuremberg rallies. But the exhausted recognition that the fight is never over will remind many viewers of the fight against Isis, preceded by the fight against Al Qaeda, preceded by the Cold War struggle against communism. It never really ends.

The older characters know this, and they have that awareness in their eyes. Ford, Fisher and Hamill reprise their roles from the original trilogy  thats the one thing everyone knows going into this episode. None appears at the start, and for a little while every time someone takes off a helmet or turns to the camera, we expect to see one of them.

Perhaps the greatest thing about the movie is that, by the time the first of them does appear, the audience is fully engrossed in the story and in all the characters, old and new.

Basically, everyone needs to find Luke. The First Order wants to find and contain him, because he represents the greatest threat to them. As a Jedi Knight, he can harness the Force (a sort of supernatural, beyond-the-senses source of power) to train other Jedi Knights and defeat the bad guys. And the Resistance (the former Republic) needs to find him for the same purpose, to lead their side to victory.

The storytelling is masterful, in that it seems to be taking its time but is always moving relentlessly forward and coming up with surprises. At the start, Poe (Oscar Isaac), the best pilot in the Resistance, leaves a map to Lukes whereabouts with his robot, BB-8, a round little fellow who looks like a snowman. What a perfect design in movie terms  somehow the robot looks both adorable and like an underdog. Immediately, theres a rooting interest.

Soon the robot comes into the possession of Rey (Daisy Ridley), a young woman who lives alone and scavenges on a miserable, bleak planet. Joined by a renegade storm trooper named Finn (John Boyega), Rey and the robot do their best to elude the First Order, who is coming at them with everything theyve got.

Fortunately, Rey is not your average young scavenger. She has remarkable mechanical skills and seems capable, just on an intuitive level, to fly any aircraft. Her talents are recognized by none other than Han Solo, who shows up with his buddy Chewbacca at a point when the movie has already hit cruising altitude. Ford takes it to a whole other level.

To talk about Ford in specifics would be criminal, as there is so much here thats best left discovered. But to speak generally, The Force Awakens was created by people with a thorough understanding of what people love about Ford in this role  his irreverence, his grumpiness, his lack of showy heroism, his infinite capacity to be annoyed. Ford is everything in this film that a Star Wars fan could want him to be. Even if the film were only so-so, The Force Awakens would be worth seeing for Ford alone.

Well leave out discussion of Fisher and Hamill, because to talk about them would be to talk about their place in the story. Its enough to say that theyre here, and its good to see them.

The Force Awakens has a humor that many previous Star Wars episodes have lacked. There are wisecracks and laugh lines that are outside the usual pattern, but nothing detracts from the world that George Lucas originally created. Likewise, characters are not all good or all bad but have different sides to them. Adam Driver is introduced as a fascinating new villain, Kylo Ren, who, like most of Star Wars main characters, has a tortured family history. Everything builds on Lucas work and serves to fill it out and . . . yes, make it better.

Its hardly fair to save the visuals for last, but there was so much else to say. Theyre impressive and well thought out, particularly the lair of the First Order leader, Snoke (Andy Serkis). In what seems like an intentional perversion of the Lincoln Memorial, Snoke is enormous and sits on a massive chair, with a mummy face. We first approach him from the side, in long shot, and hes monstrous.

Obviously, hes got to go. Even if it takes another two movies, hes got to go.

Running time: 135 minutes

MPAA rating: PG-13 (action violence)
LOS ANGELES  Swaths of virgin desert in the U.S. West in recent years have transformed into solar farms, a trend green energy supporters predict will persist even with the election of a president who is making fossil fuel-friendly Cabinet appointments and promises to bring back coal.

With the support of Congress, the renewable energy industry has enjoyed a tax credit-buoyed building boom under President Obama, who has aggressively pushed to slash greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of coal and other fossil fuels.
A canceled production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at a Pennsylvania elementary school garnered plenty of media coverage this week, as the reasoning over the cancellation was initially perceived as being over a line of dialogue invoking religion.

Conservative media outlets and local broadcast stations reported that parents at Centerville Elementary School believed that the play was cancelled due to two parents allegedly complaining about the line, "God bless us, everyone."

Both Breitbart and Fox News picked up the story, and an opinion piece by Fox News & Commentary host Todd Starnes titled, "SCROOGE! Grade school cancels performance of 'A Christmas Carol'" was widely circulated on social media.

The school reported it received 200 phone calls about the play, and comments on the Breitbart story were cited as the reason behind the family's decision to leave town, according to Lancaster Online.

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

One Facebook comment specifically cited by the news site stated, "It would be nice if we had the addresses of those concerned citizens and, I bet, this info is known to people living in the area."

The family told Lancaster Online their only involvement with the play took place in September, when they asked that their child not take part  which the school readily agreed to. There were no complaints; no requests to cancel the play itself, the family said.

The family is hoping to return and bring their child back to school eventually, but said they were going to leave Lancaster County "for a bit."

For its part, the elementary school had released a statement on the issue, and later a FAQ sheet on the incident, explaining the reasoning behind canceling the long-running school play. The school denied that the play was cancelled over a complaint about the line, and the statement read in part:

We are aware of rumors circulating in the community about the fifth grade play at Centerville Elementary School. Additionally, we understand that some parents are upset that the play was cancelled, but we have heard from families on both ends of the spectrum, including those who expressed appreciation that the play, as it had traditionally been prepared and delivered, was cancelled.We want to clarify that the decision to cancel the play was a building decision, based upon interactions between myself and the fifth grade teaching team. This decision was made based primarily on instructional opportunities for students. Producing and performing a play is not part of the written curriculum for fifth grade.

Over the years, preparations had evolved to take 15 to 20 hours of instructional (educational) time to produce this play. Given changes in state standards in recent years, we could not defend the commitment of this kind of instructional time to something not part of the fifth grade curriculum. The teachers agreed that they did not want our students to be put at a disadvantage relative to their peers from other schools in preparation for 6th grade; therefore, the play was cancelled.

... One rumor we've been addressing is that one or two families influenced this decision. That's just not true. The instructional time issue was our primary concern.

Read the full statement here.

Editor's note: After this story was published, the Anti-Defamation League released a statement calling parts of the original Lancaster Online report "untrue":

"News reports alleging that a Jewish family has 'fled' Lancaster County are untrue and damaging," said Nancy Baron-Baer, ADL Regional Director. "We spoke with the family, who explained that they went on a previously-planned vacation for the holidays. Stories like this can sow fear in the Jewish community and beyond, and it is important to stop the spread of misinformation.
1 Trump staff: President-elect Donald Trump named Kellyanne Conway as his White House counselor, elevating the woman who led his campaign to victory to a senior West Wing position. Trump  who also named former Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer as press secretary  has a strong rapport with Conway, who has been one of Trumps most visible advisers, making frequent television appearances on his behalf.

2 Trade secrets case: A federal judge in Des Moines, Iowa, ruled this week that a naturalized U.S. citizen from China who pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to steal seed corn must pay the U.S. companies that made the seed $425,000. In his plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Mo Hailong, 47, admitted to being part of a conspiracy to send stolen DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto seed corn from fields in Iowa and Illinois to China, where scientists planned to reverse engineer it to reproduce its genetic traits.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  President-elect Donald Trump on Friday welcomed a new nuclear weapons arms race, vowing in an off-camera interview with a television host that the United States would outmatch any adversary. The comment came a day after he said the United States should strengthen and expand its own nuclear capabilities.

The president-elect escalated his comments about nuclear weapons during a brief, off-air telephone conversation from his estate in Florida, according to Mika Brzezinski, the co-host of MSNBCs Morning Joe program.

Let it be an arms race, Trump said, according to Brzezinski, who described her conversation with the president-elect on the news program moments later. Trump added: We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

A few hours after those comments, Trump released a letter he said he received Dec. 15 from President Vladimir Putin in which the Russian leader offered holiday greetings and urged a constructive and pragmatic manner among leaders in both countries.

Relations between Russia and the U.S. remain an important factor in ensuring stability and security of the modern world, Putin wrote in the letter. I hope that after you assume the position of the president of the United States of America we will be able  by acting in a constructive and pragmatic manner  to take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.

In his statement, Trump called it a very nice letter and said his thoughts are so correct. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path.

Despite his praise of Putins letter, the president-elects comments Friday about nuclear weapons appear to reflect a willingness on his part to restart the costly and dangerous Cold War-era weapons competition between the United States and the old Soviet Union. Both nations have sought for decades to reverse that buildup of huge nuclear arsenals.

The comments Friday and Thursday appeared to be meant specifically for Putin, who had said in an end-of-the-year speech to his military this week that Russia must bolster its nuclear capabilities.

Trump has not provided any details about his plans regarding an expansion of nuclear abilities, but Sean Spicer, the incoming press secretary for Trumps administration, said earlier on the Morning Joe program that the president-elects Thursday Twitter post about nuclear weapons was intended to send a message to U.S. adversaries.

Other countries need to understand that if they expand their nuclear capabilities, this president is not going to sit back, hes going to act, Spicer said.
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP)  A convicted Colorado robber who was sent back to prison after being mistakenly released decades before serving his 98-year sentence asked a judge Wednesday to set him free again, arguing it would be unfair for him to remain imprisoned after he started a family, got a steady job and reformed himself.

Rene Lima-Marin, 38, was convicted in 2000 on multiple counts of robbery, kidnapping and burglary after he and another man robbed two suburban Denver video stores at gunpoint. A judge issued him back-to-back sentences for a total of 98 years.

But a court clerk mistakenly wrote in Lima-Marin's file that the sentences were to run at the same time. Corrections officials depend on that file to determine how much time an inmate should serve.

Lima-Marin was released on parole in 2008. He held a steady job as a window glazer, got married and had a son before authorities realized the mistake in January 2014, when a team of police officers returned him to prison to complete his sentence.

First Assistant Attorney General James Quinn said the case was an unfortunate mistake but not official misconduct, as Lima-Marin's attorneys allege.

Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. did not immediately decide whether Lima-Marin should be released, saying he needed time to do more legal research. He got the case after Colorado's highest court refused to free Lima-Marin earlier this year, saying he should ask a lower court to consider his release instead.

Lima-Marin fought back tears as he told the judge he's experiencing severe emotional pain because of his separation from his wife, her son who he adopted and another son they had together during his freedom.

"I'm supposed to be the head of the household, the person who's supposed to guide and lead them ... and I've been taken away from them," he said. "I was stupid, and a dumb kid who made a mistake."

But prosecutors said Lima-Marin should not be freed because he knew about the clerk's error and never notified authorities as he set about rebuilding his life.

Lima-Marin's co-defendant, Michael Clifton, also would have been mistakenly released early, but the error in his file was uncovered after he filed an appeal in his case. Clifton is serving 98 years in prison.

Lima-Marin filed his own appeal of his sentence in 2000 but, in a rare move, asked that it be dismissed less than a year later. Prosecutors said that showed he learned of the clerical error while in prison, and feared further court action on his appeal would call attention to the clerk's mistake.

Lima-Marin said he asked few questions when his public defender told him he would serve much less than 98 years and urged him to withdraw the appeal.

"All I knew was, my prayers had been answered," Lima-Marin said of his early release from prison.
Kelly Luces absorbing first novel opens with disturbing news: Its protagonist has stabbed a fellow student to death in a sixth-grade classroom in Japan. Her mother, from Texas, had recently committed suicide; her father, a violinist revered throughout Japan, severed ties with his daughter soon after the killing. She spends the next six years in juvenile detention and, upon release, elects to make the U.S. her home, where she changes her name to Rio Silvestri.

Twenty years later, Rio is settled into a reasonably happy marriage in Boulder, Colo.

Neither her husband nor her daughter has a clue about her past.

When her father dies, Rio returns to Japan alone, in her first visit to the country of her tragic childhood. At the funeral, she reconnects with her former English teacher, now ill and elderly, and about to undertake an arduous pilgrimage to the regions shrines. Rio tags along, and it soon becomes clear that this pilgrimage is also hers. She has temporarily left her American life  and into this space rushes her former identity.

I keep forgetting who I am while Im in Japan, she says. Its as though Im being tugged between two universes, and the borders are dissolving.

Rios return to Japan raises disturbing questions about where home really is. The threat of discovery looms on both fronts: that shell be recognized and that her family will find out shes lied to them all these years.

Its an intriguing, suspenseful setup. Rio is a psychologically complex protagonist, and the depiction of Japan is unsentimental and refreshingly free of exoticism. Luce is especially adept at pacing: Pull Me Under compels the reader forward.

But the novel fails to live up to its promise. Much of the prose feels too controlled, and the narrative is distractingly schematic.

To a degree this makes sense. Rio is the narrator, after all, and she has spent the last 20 years reinforcing the barriers she constructed to protect her identity. As a serious runner, she has given her body the tautness she so desires in all areas of her life, and likewise she tells her tale with measured discipline.

Often, though, Rios calculation feels more author-driven than character-driven. Gradually, Rios singularity is obscured as her own storytelling partakes of narrative cliches found in too much contemporary American fiction. The running motif, for instance, has a leaden irony: She cant run away from herself. Meanwhile, Rios husband actually devises puzzles for a living. Sure enough, at one point Rio worries that hell discover the truth about her, musing, Maybe hes already put the pieces together.

Luce has a frustrating habit of providing explanatory captions. Following a tense confrontation, Rio wanders outside after its been raining: The sand is wet, but I sit anyway. Cold dampness seeps through my shorts. This suggests a visceral insight into her state of mind, but Luce doesnt stop there. The sentence continues, and that seems right: my life is uncomfortable and messy. We could use some of this messiness in the prose itself.

Theres also the too-tidy symmetry of Rios daughter, Lily, being the same age as she was when she killed her classmate. Were told early on that this boy was a terrible bully. Luce withholds the particulars until late in the novel, and these are painful, powerfully told scenes.

But what of the dead boys parents? For the novels first 200 pages  which is to say, for the majority of the book  Rio has not a word to say about them. Finally, she gets around to the subject:

Had they had other children after Tomoyas death? Whenever I worry about Lily getting hurt or imagine life suddenly without her, I think of his parents and wonder how they managed. How does a parent survive the death of a child?

How, indeed? So why in her telling has Rio ignored the subject until now? Its certainly not due to suppression, since here she implies that shes thought about it often. The real reason for this omission seems to be that it suits the authors purposes. Luce seems to have withheld Rios thoughts on the subject in order to up the ante for a late scene in which Rio meets the boys parents.

In any case, its a serious miscalculation. The scene itself would have benefited dramatically had Luce provided more groundwork. More importantly, the omission risks coloring the readers perception of Rio in ways that I dont believe Luce intended.

Despite these lapses, the best parts of Pull Me Under have an urgent force. I eagerly await for her next book.

Gregory Leon Miller, a member of the National Book Critics Circle, teaches for the University Writing Program at UC Davis. Email: books@sfchronicle.com

Pull Me Under

By Kelly Luce

(Farrar, Strauss and Giroux; 264 pages; $26)
The San Francisco police union went to court Friday to ask a Superior Court judge to grant a temporary restraining order that would delay rollout of a new use-of-force policy passed by the Police Commission this week.

Police Officers Association officials brought a lawsuit asserting that the citys Police Commission violated the unions collective bargaining rights by going forward with a policy that prohibits officers from using a carotid restraint neck hold and from shooting at moving vehicles.

After both sides presented their case Friday, a judge agreed to hear further arguments Tuesday, after spending time researching the topic.

The Police Commission reopened the use-of-force policy for the first time since 1995 in December 2015, after the fatal shooting of Mario Woods in the Bayview neighborhood was caught on video, sparking public outrage and a push for police reform.

A version of the policy that puts an emphasis on de-escalating conflict and using minimal force was passed in June, with the union and community stakeholders agreeing to disagree on the issue of shooting at moving vehicles and the use of the carotid restraint. The union says officers safety would be compromised by the restrictions.

The hope was that the two sides could reach an agreement on those two sections during meet-and-confer negotiations granted to the Police Officers Association for any changes in working conditions. But the city declared an impasse in October, and the union filed a grievance in hopes of bringing the matter to binding arbitration.

Thats what the union still hopes to do with its lawsuit, said President Martin Halloran, though the civil action could delay the rollout of the policy. The city attorneys office said the policy, in its current form, could be ready for enactment as early as next week.

This has become such a hot-button issue, it would be best if a neutral party decided it, Halloran said outside court.

City attorneys say barring the carotid hold and prohibiting shooting at vehicles are considered management rights, not changes in working conditions subject to union approval.

Union attorney Gregg Adam said officers safety must be negotiated. But Katie Porter, the citys chief labor attorney, said outside court that officers safety is so inexplicably intertwined with the policy decision itself that it ... is not subject to bargaining.

Police commissioners have noted that using the carotid restraint and shooting at moving vehicles are not considered best practices by experts with the U.S. Department of Justices community policing division and President Obamas Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

While some say the carotid hold can be a useful tactic on a large subject, many experts warn that a carotid hold can shift into a fatal choke hold, as in the case of Eric Garner in New York.

The commission held that shooting at moving vehicles is often unnecessary, if a suspect is trying to flee, or dangerous, because a car with an incapacitated operator may not stop. Permitting the practice may allow officers to put themselves in perilous situations  such as stepping in the path of a car  in which they are forced to shoot their way out.

But the union launched a dramatic ad campaign arguing that officers must be allowed to shoot at moving vehicles if a motorist is trying to use the vehicle as a deadly weapon, citing the truck rampage in Nice, France. The Police Commission maintained that the policy has a carve-out for exceptional circumstances.

In May, a San Francisco sergeant shot an unarmed woman in a stolen car, a killing that prompted the resignation of then-Chief Greg Suhr. A Chronicle analysis found that from 2000 to 2015, almost a quarter of police shootings in the city involved suspects in moving or stopped vehicles.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
SAN DIEGO  Now theres no more doubt about it: Wallis the rhino was shot.

A trail of clues that started more than a year ago with a wound on the left side of Wallis chest, right over her heart, led the 3,000-pound mammals caretakers to suspect that someone tried to kill the rhinoceros before she came to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in November 2015.

The decisive clue surfaced Saturday.

While getting Wallis ready for a presurgical examination, Jill Hampson, a mammal keeper at the parks Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center, spotted a black object about the size of a ballpoint pens tip poking out of the animals wound. She immediately called over Dr. Jim Oosterhuis, a veterinarian at the park, to take a look.

Right away, Oosterhuis knew he was dealing with a bullet fragment. With only his trusty Leatherman tool at the ready, he reached in, grabbed onto the black speck and pulled on it. Out came a larger metal ring with jagged edges.

I jerked it through the hole, pulled it out, and I had the bullet in my hand. It was an unbelievable feeling, Oosterhuis recalled Tuesday. Ive been here 41 years now, and it never ceases to amaze me the stuff that happens.

Technically, that metal ring appears to be a bullet jacket, the soft brass or copper coating often applied to the outside of lead bullets to increase penetration power. In this case, the veterinarian said, the casing seems to have peeled away from the bullet once inside the rhinos inch-thick skin, lodging under one of her ribs but not puncturing her left lung or the thoracic cavity that holds her vital organs.

The lead bullet itself is probably still somewhere inside the rhinos body, but there have been no signs of it causing additional injury, Oosterhuis said.

Wallis caretakers have been playing the role of patient detectives for more than a year. After her arrival, they began flushing the wound with a saline solution and treating it with antibiotic ointments, but the lesion wouldnt heal.

Given the wounds location on Wallis body and the fact that she was taken from an area where poachers had shot several other southern white rhinos, her team surmised that it was looking at a gunshot wound. Still, confirming that theory wouldnt be easy.

While Wallis was anesthetized, caretakers explored the wound site to make sure the rhino didnt have reproductive-system problems. During this procedure, they discovered that the wound ran deeper than anticipated  about 9 inches along her rib cage before dipping below a rib.

Swiping a metal detector over the site, the safari parks staffers detected a strong signal that a metal object was present. When veterinarians followed up with an X-ray, though, their equipment wasnt powerful enough to penetrate Wallis nearly 3-foot-thick chest. Undeterred, the team called in the San Diego Fire-Rescue Bomb Squad, which confirmed the presence of metal with extra-powerful equipment it uses to conduct investigations of explosive devices.

We were able to confirm that there was a metal fragment in her side, but because this wasnt medical equipment, we werent able to pinpoint the exact location, Oosterhuis said.

With noninvasive options exhausted and the wound still refusing to heal, the caretakers chose exploratory surgery. Before giving the go-ahead to the surgical team, Oosterhuis decided to check the wound site one more time with a metal detector. Thats why he was at the park Saturday.

With the bullet jacket in hand, the park staff was able to make its confirmation: Similar to what happens with many other animals, the shell had worked its way back through the path of its original entrance. The vets believe this casings ragged contours scraped along the edges of Wallis wound, preventing it from healing until the foreign object was expelled.

Oosterhuis said since the extraction, the change in Wallis injury has been dramatic.

In the four days, it has healed up quickly. I just palpated it today, and its only about a half-inch deep, he said.

The rhinos caretakers are now left to estimate the mechanics and motives for the shooting.

The reason for the gunshot seems clear: African rhinos are regularly killed due to the tragically mistaken notion that their horns have medicinal properties. Some cultures also prize the horns as status symbols. According to Save the Rhino, an international nonprofit conservation group, poachers killed 1,175 South African rhinos in the wild last year. That was more than three per day on average.

As to how Wallis survived the likely poaching attempt, it appears that the bullet didnt hit her side at a perpendicular angle  which probably would have allowed it to enter her chest cavity and cause life-threatening damage.

The zoo plans to have its key piece of evidence examined by an as-yet-unspecified local forensics lab before putting it on exhibit as compelling proof of the perils that rhinos face in the wild. The goal is to identify the caliber of the bullet it came from and the type of gun that fired the bullet. Such information would then be communicated to the South African reserve where Wallis came from.

The reserve had reported suffering several rhinoceros poaching incidents right around the time that Wallis was collected for transfer, the safari parks officials said.

Wallis came to the park to be part of an ambitious breeding program that seeks to bring the northern white rhino back from the brink of extinction.
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Q: Last year, I booked a vacation at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for my pregnant girlfriend and me. It was supposed to take place in early January of this year.

After news of the Zika virus broke last January, we contacted Sandals to get a refund for the trip because of the seriousness of the health advisory. That is the only reason we dont want to go to Jamaica.

Sandals advised us that we were outside the refund period. We provided a note from our doctor stating that travel to Jamaica was highly discouraged and against her medical opinion.

The Sandals reps were not swayed, and in an effort to find a solution, we temporarily accepted their idea of pushing the trip back a year, which cost us a fee. I was skeptical, but felt we had no choice, given that the trip was days away and we clearly could not go. Since then, concerns about Zika have only intensified.

We contacted Sandals again in July to try to get a refund. We spoke with a customer-service representative on the phone and were led to believe that we could get a refund for the trip. But that has not happened. Can you help us get a refund from Sandals?

 Kevin Kordosky, Tucson, Ariz A: Youd think a company like Sandals would try to help you in a situation like this. But its refund policy, which you agreed to when you booked your vacation, is clear. If you cancel 30 to 15 days before arrival, youll receive 50 percent of the purchase price, including any applicable airline fees. If youre anywhere from 14 days to zero days before arrival, no refunds. Its all spelled out on Sandals website: www.sandals.com/general/legal.

Sandals and your travel agent probably also recommended travel insurance. Some insurance, such as the pricier, cancel-for-any-reason variety, might have helped you secure a partial refund. But most normal insurance, which would have excluded any pre-existing medical conditions, would have been useless.

Im troubled that a manager left you with the impression that you might get a refund. You could have avoided that by putting your request in writing. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of Sandals executives on my consumer-advocacy site: http://elliott.org/company-contacts/sandals.

The real question is: Who should take the financial loss for the Zika outbreak? Sandals or you? Im not sure if this is an either/or kind of question. In a perfect world, no one would be left holding the bag. Sandals would get its money, and you would be able to keep your vacation.

I contacted Sandals on your behalf. The company says it agreed to refund your room upgrade fee and a private candlelight dinner youd paid for. You should see both of those items on your credit card statement soon. Sandals told me that it understands your concern, and has extended your trip credit for one year from your current travel date.

Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. Find travel tips at www.elliott.org. Email: chris@elliott.org Twitter: @elliottdotorg
MILAN  The Tunisian man suspected in a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan during a routine patrol outside a train station, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

Anis Amri traveled from Germany through France and into Italy after Monday nights truck attack in Berlin, at least some of it by train, Italian police said. French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, which has increased surveillance on trains after recent French attacks and the one in Germany.

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers while he was alone outside the deserted station. But he also called for greater cross-border police cooperation, suggesting some dismay that Europes open border policy had enabled Amri to move around easily despite being its No. 1 fugitive.

Amri, who shot one of the police officers in the shoulder, was identified by fingerprints supplied by Germany.

The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack, said Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack outside Berlins Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in which a truck plowed into a Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 56. It also noted his death in Milan and released a video showing him pledging allegiance to the militant group.

Amri has been linked to an extremist recruitment network allegedly run by Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A., also known as Abu Walaa, a Germany-based preacher who was arrested last month, said Holger Muench, head of the Federal Criminal Police Office.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered an investigation into all angles of the case after it emerged that German authorities had tracked Amri for months on suspicion of planning an attack.

We can be relieved at the end of this week that one acute danger has been ended, she said in Berlin. But the danger of terrorism as a whole remains, as it has for many years  we all know that.

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert, with increased surveillance and police patrols. Italian officials stressed that the young officers who stopped Amri didnt suspect he was the Berlin attacker but rather grew suspicious because he was a North African man, alone outside a deserted train station at 3 a.m.

Amri, 24, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped during a routine patrol in Milans Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his ID and was killed in an ensuing shootout.

Officer Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder and had surgery for what doctors said was a superficial wound. His 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

Amri had no ID or phone, carrying only a pocket knife and the .22-caliber pistol he used to shoot Movio, police said.

He was a ghost, Milan police chief Antoio de Iesu said, adding that he was stopped because of basic police work, intensified surveillance and a little luck.

Amris brother Abdelkader said the family wants to learn the truth about my brother, but refused to comment on his death.

His family, which lives in the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia, wants his remains sent home from Italy.
1 Impeachment hearings: South Koreas Constitutional Court, which will decide whether President Park Geun-hye is permanently removed from office, Thursday ordered Park to respond to one of the most contentious accusations against her: that she neglected her duties on the day in 2014 when hundreds died in the sinking of a ferry. Parks presidential powers have been suspended since Dec. 9, when the National Assembly voted to impeach her. The court has until June to decide whether her impeachment is justified, either reinstating her or formally ending her presidency. Thursdays hearing was the start of that process. The legislature accused Park of a wide range of violations of law and the constitution, including taking bribes from businesses.

2 Terror plot: Police in Australia have detained five suspects who were allegedly planning a series of Christmas Day bomb attacks in the heart of the countrys second largest city, officials said Friday. The suspects had been inspired by the Islamic State and planned attacks on Melbournes Flinders Street train station, neighboring Federation Square and St. Pauls Cathedral, Victoria state police said. Five men between ages 21 and 26 remained in custody. They were not identified but police said four were born in Australia and the fifth was Egyptian-born.
VALLETTA, Malta  Two Libyan hijackers diverted a domestic flight to the Mediterranean island of Malta on Friday to demand asylum in Europe and create a new political party in honor of the late dictator Moammar Khadafy, officials said. After hours of negotiations, the standoff ended peacefully with the hijackers freeing all 117 people on board and walking off the plane to surrender.

The hijacked Airbus A320 flight, operated by Afriqiyah Airways, was traveling from the Libyan oasis city of Sabha to the coastal city of Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta and landed at 11:34 a.m. local time.

Malta state television TVM said the two hijackers had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them. All flights to Malta International Airport were immediately diverted and emergency teams including negotiators were sent to the airport tarmac.

Afriqiyah Airways said when the plane reached a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, pilot Ali Milad was told the hijackers were armed and wanted to land in Rome. Milad suggested landing in Tripoli, the hijackers refused, and a decision was made to land in Malta due to fuel limitations.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told reporters the hijackers wanted negotiators to board the plane after it landed but his government refused and insisted that all passengers and crew be released.

The hijackers then allowed the planes doors to open at 1:44 p.m. and a staircase was brought over so freed passengers could disembark in groups.

In a series of tweets, Muscat said 65 people were allowed to leave, then another 44 were freed, including some crew, all coming out without hand luggage.

Finally the two hijackers walked off the plane with the final crew members, including the pilot and co-pilot.

Muscat announced that the hijacking was over in a tweet at 3:44 p.m., saying the two hijackers surrendered unconditionally. They were searched, taken into custody and being questioned, he said.

Milad, the pilot, identified the two hijackers as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, who other Libyan officials said were in their twenties.

The pilot said the men were seeking political asylum in Europe and wanted to set up a political party called the New Fateh. Fateh is a reference to Khadafy, who led the Fateh revolution after his coup in 1969.

Libya, a sprawling oil-rich North African country, has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes, since Khadafy was ousted and killed in 2011.
Holiday Flights Delayed

Some parts of New Mexico will have a white Christmas after a winter storm blasted into the state, dumping snow and heavy rain in central and northern New Mexico on Thursday. This morning, KRQE reports that

.

Santa Fe Restaurant Cited

After 70 state workers reported symptoms of food poisoning following a holiday luncheon, New Mexico Environment Department inspectors slapped Bad Ass Sandwich Co., recently renamed Kick Ass Sandwich Shop, with a notice of

, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican. WIPP One Step Closer to Reopening

State regulators have approved the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant to re-open, but watchdog groups questioned whether the

given the push by the US Energy Department to reopen the site before year's end.

French Re-appointed to Bench

Stephen French, who lost his 2016 New Mexico Court of Appeals campaign, is going to keep wearing the black robe after all.

to to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Michael D Bustamante.

Martinez Wants New Healthcare System

Gov. Susana Martinez, like other Republicans,

and an aide denies she penned a letter published on Politico urging Congress to be cautious about replacing portions of the Affordable Care Act.

Another Arizona Health Care Provider Leaving New Mexico

Justin Horwath, meanwhile, reports that a fourth Arizona healthcare provider is

. Valle Del Sol has been providing substance abuse and other mental health services to low-income New Mexicans.

That's it for this week. Enjoy your holiday weekend. We're taking Monday morning off and we'll be back Tuesday.

Santa Fe Reporter
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has launched an investigation into claims Chinese galvanised steel coil imports have been dumped on the local market, causing "material injury" to New Zealand industry, and the case will end up on the table of newly appointed Commerce Minister Jacqui Dean.

The investigation kicked off on Dec. 19 and was entered into the government's gazette yesterday. The MBIE initiation report shows New Zealand Steel, a subsidiary of ASX-listed Bluscope, filed a complaint in September, claiming " imports of Chinese steel coil are being subsidised by the Government of China (GOC) and have caused material injury to the New Zealand industry".

MBIE determined NZ Steel provided enough evidence that the Chinese coil was subsidised, using "information sourced from subsidy applications made by steel industries in other countries, and resulting subsidy investigations, which found that the GOC was subsiding Chinese steel producers to the detriment of their domestic producers".

The government department said it considers there's enough evidence that Chinese imports are undercutting NZ Steel, leading to lower prices for the company which meant it wasn't able to recover increasing costs, putting a squeeze on profit and investment.

MBIE couldn't find enough evidence that there had been a significant increase in the volume of imports relative to domestic production, or that NZ Steel's loss of market share could be solely attributed to the Chinese rival.

"On the totality of the information provided by NZ Steel, including information reasonably available to it, MBIE is satisfied that the company has provided sufficient evidence to warrant initiating an investigation," it said.

Chinese steel imports have been a bone of contention around the world, with world's most populous nation facing down Europe and US claims of dumping. When New Zealand was dragged into the matter in June, there were claims that Kiwi companies could face a backlash if the government pursued an anti-dumping probe.

The report said New Zealand officials have discussed the issue with their Chinese counterparts, who claimed the application didn't provide sufficient evidence to support the claims, and that it "recites and repeats old or irrelevant information; the injury information is feeble and has nothing to link any alleged lack of profitability to Chinese imports in distinction to general market conditions, the applicants own costs, and the presence in the market of higher volumes of galvanised steel from other export sources".

MBIE's investigation must be completed within 180 days, excluding the holiday period, after which a recommendation will be made to the commerce minister, with Jacqui Dean making a final decision on whether to impose duties or not by July 9.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Pernod Ricards New Zealand unit Friday reported an annual profit that more than doubled but warned it was still assessing the financial impact of the 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake that rattled the country in November.

The liquor group's Millstream Equities posted a profit of $7.4 million in the year ended June 30, from $3.6 million a year earlier as revenue rose to $241 million from $228 million. Its total operating expenses were $19.6 million versus $10.1 million in the prior year, reflecting higher management fees, repairs and maintenance. Tax cost also rose.

Millstream Equities, which manufactures and sells wines and spirits, said its accumulated losses now stand at $828 million versus $835 million in the prior year. No dividends were declared.

It noted the Nov. 14 earthquake had resulted in damage to its Blenheim winery on the northern tip of the South Island that is subject to an insurance claim.

The financial impact of the earthquake is still being assessed and cannot reliably be measured at this time, it said.

In late November, then Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said the industry was facing some challenges after the earthquake. Joyce, who is now finance minister, said the main impact was to around 20 percent of wine storage tanks in the region.

Wine exports reached $1.6 billion in the 12 months to November and are currently New Zealands seventh-largest export.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings

PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update

November 4th Morning Report

FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022

ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States

Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform

BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022

GEO - Quarterly Operating Update

SUM - Andrea Scown to join Summerset as Future Director

CCC - Admission to Trading on Aquis Stock Exchange


BENGALURU: Indias stakes are increasing high on the world forum, and driven by a rapid growth of the Indian economy, India has finally managed to overtake United Kingdom in size of the economy for the first time after nearly 100 years, as per the Business Insider.

According to a report published in Forbes, this dramatic shift has occurred because of the rapid growth of the Indian economy and the downslide of the pound, as UK is still grappling with the aftermath of Brexit.

"India was expected to overtake the UK GDP in 2020, this current development has been accelerated by the nearly 20 pct decline in the value of the pound, 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.

Its very interesting to note that Center for Economics and Business Research had predicted India to surpass British economy by 2020, but India has achieved this milestone much earlier to the surprise of many.

This gap is expected to widen as Indian economy is growing at the rate of 6-8 pct, whereas the British economy is growing at the sluggish rate of 1-2 pct.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju said, "India leaves UK behind and becomes the 5th largest GDP after USA, China, Japan and Germany." Earlier, International Monetary Fund (IMF) had also predicted that India would overtake United Kingdom by the end of this fiscal.

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NEW DELHI: In order to encourage digital transactions, the Finance Ministry today asked PSU banks to restrict fees on payments through IMPS and UPI to the extent that is applicable for NEFT fund transfer of over 1,000.



As per RBI norms, NEFT transfers of up to 10,000 attract 2.5 fee. From 10,000-1 lakh the fee is 5; on 1-2 lakh it is 15, and beyond 2 lakh it is 25. Service tax is charged in addition to this.



For Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transactions above 1,000, the ministry said a further discount of 50 paise on these rates shall apply. USSD is mobile short code message and used mainly for banking services on feature phone.



The USSD fee is 1.50, which has been waived till December 30, 2016.



In order to further promote digital and card payments, the ministry has issued a direction in public interest to all Public Sector Banks, said an official statement.



In accordance with this "these banks shall not charge fees for transactions settled on Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in excess of rates charged for National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) for transactions above 1000, with service tax being charged at actuals", it said.



IMPS is an interbank electronic instant mobile money transfer service through mobile phones. The UPI app enables customers to make online as well as offline payment to merchants from their bank accounts, without typing card or net banking/wallet details and IFSC code.



This direction will apply for all transactions up to March 31, 2017.



"For USSD transactions above 1,000, a further discount of fifty paise on these rates shall apply," it added.



In order to promote digital transaction, Niti Aayog has announced two schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana', to be launched on December 25. The schemes will cover small transactions between 50 and 3,000.



Transactions using RuPay, USSD, UPI and Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) will be covered under this scheme; payments made through credit cards and e-wallets would not be covered.



In line with the central government's objective of promotion of payments through cards and digital means over payments in cash, the Reserve Bank has recently rationalised customer charges for transactions up to 1,000 settled on IMPS, UPI and USSD from January 1-March 31, 2017.



RBI has also rationalised the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for debit card transactions up to 2,000 for the 3-month period.

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IN ONE OF the most incisive pieces of post-election pop culture so far, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock on Saturday Night Live school an election night party full of blithely ignorant white liberals on the deep, persistent currents of American racism.Because of changing demographics, there might never be another Republican president in this country, cast member Beck Bennett says in the sketch.Chappelle glares at him, dumbfounded. Word? he says. You ever been around this country before?The gag of course is the fact that, as a black man, Chappelle has seen the country at its ugliest, its least inclusive, so he can understand how a candidate like Donald Trump, with his hardline stance on immigration and tough-on-crime policies, might just succeed. Bennetts character is still living in his white liberal bubble.And yet its not a bubble formed entirely by delusions. Even as the Electoral College votes today to make Trump president, the United States is becoming more liberal. Just look at the data.Over the eight years Barack Obama has served as president, public opinion in the United States has shifted decisively leftward. Think about it. When Obama came to office, he still hadnt publicly supported same sex marriage. Last year, the White House was lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate the Supreme Courts decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Over the last year, bottom line-driven businesses have boycotted entire states over discriminatory policies against LGBT people. A law prohibiting transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice just cost North Carolinas Pat McCrory the governorship. Undocumented immigrants have come out of hiding, banding together online to discuss their struggles. And in November, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada all voted to make recreational marijuana legal.So if left is quickly becoming the new center, how did Trump win? Some, including Trumps own team, have chalked up his victory to an economic message that resonated with white, working class voters dismayed about the economy. But exit polls reveal Clinton actually won among voters whose top issue was the economy, and Trumps own approachcurbing free trade chief among themhad more in common with Bernie Sanders than GOP orthodoxy. Another theory for Trumps victory, one held by the dejected partygoers in the sketch, attributes his win to a far-right racist uprising.
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Northeast Community College in West Point will offer a three credit Nurse Aide class in West Point beginning next month.

The class (NURA 1110/17S & CRN #23740) will be held Mondays and Thursdays, Jan. 16-March 9, from 5-9:30 p.m. as well as Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The class meets at St. Francis Memorial Hospital, 430 N. Monitor St., in West Point, although the first class will meet at the Northeast Community College Extended Campus, 202 Anna Stalp Ave. Mary Dickson is the instructor.

Students will learn the basic skills needed to provide safe, effective, and caring services to the elderly or chronically ill patient of any age, in a long-term care facility. Upon completion of this course, the student is eligible to take the state written and practical skills exam. After successfully passing this examination and completing the application procedure, the students name will be placed on the basic nurse aide registry at the Nebraska Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure Credential Division.

The cost of the class is $328.50 for Nebraska residents. Textbooks are available for purchase for $50.83 at the Northeast Community College Extended Campus office, West Point.

To register, call Northeast Community College in West Point at 402-372-2269.
Revolutionary spirit

The theme of the 2017 Canberra International Music Festival is REVOLUTION: A Music Adventure from the Barricades of Time. Artistic director Roland Peelman says this is "not because some people have described Brexit or the United States election as a revolution, but because 100 years ago in Russia, amidst the ravages of war, a real and extraordinary revolution did take place. It gives us a chance to ponder the nature and the circumstances of radical change, not only in the political arena but in life itself. There is going to be so much to listen to, and so much to talk about." And over five days there will be music from: Mozart, Shostakovich, Bach, Handel, Robert Davidson, Elena Kats-Chernin and Andrew Ford and performers including Canadian Brass, Israeli clarinetist Orit Orbach and more. It will take place from April 27 to May 7, 2017. Bookings: cimf.org.au.

Dreaming a dream

Speaking of revolutionary fervour, the musical that has claims to being Canberra's favourite is returning next year in a production by Free-Rain Theatre Company at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre from April 4 to 22. Most of the cast of Les Miserables has been announced although two of the principal male roles, Jean Valjean and Marius, have yet to be finalised. But among those who are set are Tony Falla are Javert, Amy Dunham as Fantine, Stephanie MacLaine as Cosette, Kirrah Amosa as Eponine, Jim Adamik and Janie Lawson as the Thenardiers and Andrew Spence as Enjolras. Bookings; theq.net.au.
Readers, do you sometimes think that, boggling as some of the statistics of astronomy are, they are often outboggled by statistics of goings-on here on Earth, even here in the ACT?

Here is an example of what I mean.

Credit:Andrew Meares

This week has brought news of a just-discovered galaxy that is (prepare to be mindboggled) 12.7 billion light years from Earth. This means, the news reports say, that astronomers ogling it today are seeing it as it was about a billion years after the Big Bang.

Yes, your columnist gave an amazed and bewildered "Gosh!" at those facts and figures but then went "Gosh!" again at this week's report in The Canberra Times about ACT poker machines. For those of us who don't ever play the pokies (although I own up to a galaxy of other vices) the pokie facts are startling. The 2015-2016 annual report on the ACT's pokies shows that the ACT has 4585 of these fiendish contraptions from which the clubs that have them made $168 million in that year. The most profitable machines, each one Hoovering up $50,000 a year of the working classes' hard-earned pennies, are in the four Labor Clubs.
Idolatry, not atheism, is the greatest threat to a healthy relationship with God Archbishop Christopher Prowse, the Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, has warned.

Archbishop Prowse and Canberra's leading Anglican, Bishop Stuart Robinson, believe Christmas is a time of reflection when everybody, including non-believers, should reconsider their relationship with God and the state of the world in which they live.

Anglican Bishop Stuart Robinson at St Johns Anglican church in Reid Credit:karleen minney

Bishop Robinson, who compared God's descent into the world in human form to his own dive into a swimming pool fully clothed to rescue his son 30 years ago, said from God's viewpoint all of humanity was "all but lost".

"Our world is drowning really in self-centredness," he said in his Christmas message. "The technical word is sin. God comes amongst us and deals with sin head on. He absorbs its consequences; in Jesus God pays sin's price. He goes to death on our behalf."
The woman who sold the National Gallery of Australia a stolen Buddha statue in 2007, used a false past and owner, hoodwinked a Singapore museum with the same story and made millions before being caught.

Nancy Wiener was arrested in New York on Wednesday for her part in a conspiracy spanning decades involving stolen art, fake documents and millions of dollars with documents lodged in New York's Criminal Court offering a detailed insight into the world of illegal arts dealing, revealing a complicated process that paid off in the hundreds of thousands if not millions.

The second century Buddha which was purchased by the NGA in 2007. Credit:AAP

In 1999, Ms Wiener purchased two statues from an illegal supplier and in 2007 the NGA purchased one from the Nancy Wiener Gallery for over $1.2 million before discovering it was stolen in India.

An NGA spokesperson said on Friday the gallery could not provide a full comment at the time but were working with Indian authorities on provenance research.
Deutsche Bank said it has reached a $US7.2 billion ($10 billion) agreement to resolve a year's-long US investigation into its dealings in mortgage-backed securities, removing a major legal hurdle for the bank.

Deutsche Bank will pay a $US3.1 billion civil penalty and provide $US4.1 billion in relief to consumers under a settlement in principle with US authorities, which was announced by the Frankfurt-based bank in a statement on Friday. The deal compares with the Justice Department's opening request of $14 billion, which the firm has said it expected to whittle down.

While the agreement removes significant uncertainty hanging over Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest lender remains under Justice Department investigation in several other matters and also faces potentially expensive civil suits. Chief Executive Officer John Cryan has made resolving major litigation a priority as he seeks to restore confidence in the lender.

Deutsche Bank expects to record pre-tax charges of about $US1.2 billion this quarter because of the civil penalty. "The financial consequences, if any, of the consumer relief are subject to the final terms of the settlement, and are not currently expected to have a material impact on 2016 financial results," the bank said.
Following the purchase of Kiwi independent fuel retailer Gull New Zealand, Caltex Australia is expected to move to lift its market share there, potentially through additional acquisitions, with most attention focused on acquiring Mobil Oil NZ. On Thursday, Caltex said it is to buy discounter Gull New Zealand for $NZ340 million ($324 million), marking the Australian group's first acquisition offshore and giving it a 5 per cent share of the New Zealand market.https://99.fairfax.com.au/cf#/etc/author-util.html?assetId=gtg98y Caltex is tipped to buy up more assets in New Zealand after buying Gull. Credit:Gull Gull New Zealand has its own import terminal in New Zealand's North Island, and it has been frustrated from expanding onto the South Island due to an inability to acquire competitively priced product from the oil majors. "We believe acquiring Mobil New Zealand may be the real end goal as the Gull business is a very small add-on to Caltex's existing business," Forsyth Barr analyst Andrew Harvey-Green told clients in a research note.

"Gull only adds around 2 per cent to Caltex sales volumes. At the very least acquiring Gull means Caltex becomes the natural buyer of Mobil." ExxonMobil sought to sell its New Zealand arm, Mobil Oil, which has around 20 per cent of the local market, in 2010. Along with close to 200 petrol stations, it also has a 17 per cent in New Zealand Refining, which would be of little interest to Caltex which closed its Kurnell refinery in 2014 with a question mark hanging over the future of its Lytton refinery in Brisbane. At around the same time, Shell put its New Zealand fuel retailing arm on the block, including its stake in NZ Refining, which was eventually sold for $NZ700 million. Pushing Caltex to expand in New Zealand is the prospective loss of its deal to supply Woolworths petrol stations. Caltex is believed to be the underbidder to acquire the Woolworths fuel retailing business, raising concerns about a sizeable loss of earnings, which it is now seeking to replace by acquisitions, including Gull.
Out-of-favour stem cell company Mesoblast has won significant backing for its technology from major US drug group Mallinckrodt Pharmaceutical, which has taken an option over two key products under development as well as snapping up a 5 per cent stake in the Australian company.

The US company has up to nine months now to finalise development and commercialisation agreements for the two products, which treat chronic low back pain and acute graft versus host disease, a condition which can occur following transplants.

Mesoblast shares jumped as much as 7 per cent after the announcement of the deal. Credit:David Wicks

Melbourne-based Mesoblast has patient trials for both products underway, with the results expected to assist in potential commercialisation opportunities.

Along with the $29.6 million raised by selling the stake to the US company if the deal is finalised, the agreement will free Mesoblast from the need for ongoing development and marketing spending on these products, providing it with ongoing royalty payments from potential sales.
TaskRabbit was founded in 2008 with a big idea. On the company's website and app, people make money by assembling strangers' Ikea furniture or cleaning their bathrooms. There's nothing particularly exciting about other people's chores, but Leah Busque, a former IBM engineer who started the company, had grand ambitions. "Our mission is to revolutionise how people work," she told Bloomberg TV last year.

TaskRabbit showed up on the heels of the iPhone, when a generation of online platforms were emerging to allow people to sell access to their cars, apartments, and power drills. Their creators said this had the potential to be better for customers, but also for workers, because it gave them more flexibility. TaskRabbit quickly grabbed a place alongside Uber, Airbnb, and Lyft as a symbol of what was being called the sharing economy and would later be known as the on-demand economy, gig economy, or, simply, the Uber economy. Its peers have grown into the biggest start-ups in existence.

TaskRabbit's own reality has been much more modest. By March 2015, Uber drivers were handling 70,000 rides every day in New York City alone. That same month, Taskers  the company's current name for its workers  were completing about 550 jobs per day, according to Bloomberg's analysis of previously unreported documents TaskRabbit shared with potential investors. TaskRabbit was telling its backers it could be profitable in the near future but needed more money. To raise a new funding round last summer, it significantly lowered its valuation and also took the unusual step of raising some of the money through a crowdfunding website.

Competitors had less buzz but more business: Thumbtack, which also connects handymen to prospective clients, did $1 billion in gross bookings last year, making it about 30 times TaskRabbit's size.
A rogue blogger who claims to have revealed the identities of other lovers of Seven boss Tim Worner could face criminal contempt charges.

The blogger named two Channel Seven celebrities on his website on Wednesday, repeating allegations made by Mr Worner's former mistress Amber Harrison.

Seven West Media has tried to cauterise the wound inflicted by the negative publicity surrounding the affair between its chief executive Tim Worner and former employee Amber Harrison. Credit:Janie Barrett

Ms Harrison has detailed a tryst with the Seven West Media chief executive between 2012 and 2014 when she was an executive assistant to the then chief operating officer, Nick Chan.

She alleged Mr Worner had four other affairs with Seven staff members. The claims have been denied by Mr Worner and the women.
Amber Harrison, left, with former boss Nick Chan and his wife Peggy. However, billionaire chairman Kerry Stokes, who reputedly rules the board with what one previous executive described as an "iron fist", has remained supportive of Worner. The board impasse was resolved by the decision to hold a second "independent" inquiry. Tim Worner and Bruce McWilliam, who told Harrison that she was losing her job. Credit:Dominic K Lorrimer Peter Swan, a UNSW professor specialising in corporate governance, expressed scepticism about the ability of the yet-to-be-named investigator "to go to the truth of the matter".

Without the ability to compel witnesses, regular investigators "can't establish drug taking and multiple partners, a huge distraction from the tasks of managing a company". Billionaire chairman Kerry Stokes is said to rule with an "iron fist". Credit:David Mariuz Professor Swan said that the results of the inquiry would need to be made public. "An independent inquiry which is kept secret is not very credible and it's not going to allay the fears of shareholders that there's possibly gross mismanagement going on at Channel 7." Having spent the past 18 months in a war of legal attrition with Seven, last Sunday afternoon Harrison, the mistress scorned, pressed the nuclear button. Broke, unemployed and unable to resolve her ongoing legal dispute with Seven, Harrison had nothing left to lose.

She sent out an explosive media release to at least 300 people including journalists across the nation. She also emailed the bombshell to the board members of both Seven and Nine. So how did a consensual affair between Worner, the 51-year-old then head of the TV network, and Harrison, the 35-year-old executive assistant to Pacific Magazines boss, Nick Chan, go so horribly wrong? According to Harrison's media release, "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. The affair imploded a year later when Harrison's boss was moved from the magazine office in Eveleigh to Seven's Pyrmont headquarters. Worner not only ignored her in the office but was outright frosty. He would then send her messages wanting to have sex.

The reality of her situation began to depress her and to make her feel embarrassed and ashamed. On February 8, 2014, she texted Worner saying: "I'm something that pops into your head to do when you are bored. Stop texting me. I'll stop texting you. This is done." Worner replied: "I want to f--- you. Badly." This is when her trouble began. In early 2014, three weeks after she began making these demands, an investigation was launched into the use of her corporate credit card. In the five years she had been at the organisation no one had queried her expenses. Given that Harrison was later accused of racking up $262,000 in unauthorised expenses, questions must be raised as to Seven's corporate governance in which expenses appears to have been signed off without question or appropriate scrutiny.

Seven has since claimed that it was a random audit of her credit card. But the timing suggests otherwise. At the end of July 2014, Harrison spoke to Seven's human resources department about the affair and the need to be moved somewhere else in the company. Two days later Bruce McWilliam, the network's commercial director, prepared a deed of release which Harrison signed. The deed stipulated she must not make "any statement publicly or otherwise about or related to the relationship ..." Harrison also undertook to destroy all information about her relationship with Worner. Within a fortnight she had to repay $14,000 of outstanding personal expenses charged to her work credit card. In return, she would receive $100,000, which was recorded as a bonus, plus two months of paid personal leave and on her return she would be employed elsewhere in the Seven group. However, instead of a new job upon her return, McWilliam told her she was being made redundant.

"Bruce is like an attack dog," said one former Seven executive, adding that his job as Seven's chief lawyer was to "bury people". And bury her he did. McWilliam produced a report by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu which had identified $262,000 of unauthorised expenditure on her corporate card. The Deloitte report, which is estimated to have cost as much as Harrison's credit card bills, was instigated on August 1, 2014, the same day McWilliam had signed the initial release deed promising her a new role in the company. Harrison hired workplace lawyers Harmers and then the real battle began. In March 2015 reporters got wind that Harmers had been hired to take on a bigwig at Seven. Word got back to Seven, who launched a pre-emptive strike by leaking an item to The Australian Financial Review's Rear Window column.

"An internal investigation into the employee found that they had accrued more than $200,000 in unauthorised company expenditure over a period of more than five years, including for personal household items," the item said. "The employee argued the transactions were within company guidelines, and Seven gave them the benefit of the doubt that they had not spent the company's money with fraudulent intent. "Seven settled with the employee confidentially," the report noted, adding: "The industry has been abuzz with wild rumours about what had really taken place on CEO Tim Worner's executive floor." However, her identity was inadvertently revealed in the final paragraph which read: "We attempted unsuccessfully to contact Harrison. Seven refused to comment." Loading
Department store owner Myer has been slapped with a pre-Christmas court action by the billionaire property magnate that has half-ownership in Chadstone Shopping Centre, John Gandel.

The writ has been filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria as shoppers pour into one of the most popular shopping centres in Australia to complete their Christmas shopping.

The legal action was taken by Mr Gandel's company Bridgehead and Perpetual, which is the trustee for Vicinity Centres, which owns the other half of Chadstone.

It pits one of Australia's best known retail brands against two of the largest, best funded landlords in Australia  Mr Gandel and ASX-listed shopping centre owner Vicinity Centres.
This Jesus was the master of non-complementary behaviour. He constantly baffled those around him, "flipping the script" on them. People who expected condemnation from him received compassion; those who flattered or fawned over him were rebuffed; religious authorities trying to catch him out repeatedly found themselves caught in their own traps.

He instructed those who followed him to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them. And he went to his death in precisely the way he preached. He did not resist arrest, was silent at his trial for crimes he had not committed. Pilate, the Roman prefect, found his silence and self-possession deeply disconcerting, and tried to free him. As he was nailed to a beam of wood, Jesus prayed that his executioners would be forgiven for what they were doing.

That's Easter. But if we rewind to Jesus' birth, the Bible casts the Christmas story too in radically non-complementary terms.

The tale of the baby in a manger, flanked by shepherds, announced by angels, is traditionally framed as the story of a world that decisively rejected its Creator, visited by him in completely unexpected form. Though abandoned by his creatures, this God refuses to abandon them in return, to match rejection with rejection.

The story no longer surprises us, but only because we're not paying attention. Christians see this as the story of a God who, to a people he describes as rebels, sends not an avenger but a rescue mission. To a people groaning under foreign occupation and eagerly awaiting a liberator, he sends, not a freedom fighter with crack leadership skills, but a helpless newborn.
While the government argues it did not abandon the cause of tax reform, and highlights its (largely good) superannuation changes as proof, does anyone actually think that $3 billion net improvement to the budget bottom line constitutes big-bang tax reform? Pull the other one, Malcolm. Turnbull had a tremendous amount of political capital to spend when he took the leadership; voters trusted him, they understand the federal budget is in deficit and that paying for things like hospitals and schools costs actual money. Sure, Labor was readying a scare campaign; yes, state premiers had plans to spend the extra revenue six times over and, sure, the selective advice from Treasury released showed the growth dividend was not as high as the government wanted, to justify raising the rate or broadening the base. But Turnbull squibbed it and, effectively, spent his political capital on nothing much instead, lost a swag of seats anyway and left people wondering why the PM backed down, and what he stood.

Increasingly beige Malcolm is enduring death by a thousand cuts. And Australia still needs to fix its tax system and find more money for schools and hospitals. That leads to point 2... 2. A double dissolution election in the middle of winter Initially, Turnbull and co's clever maneuvering to call on the DD made the prime minister look decisive and on the front foot; sadly, by the eighth week of the campaign, and the PM's 4 millionth repetition of his soporific "jobs and growth" mantra, most of the nation had fallen asleep and "decisive Malcolm" had morphed into "that bloke who keeps appearing at shopping centres and looking awkard".

Government types argue that they have a majority, actually, and a Senate that is easier to deal with than the last one. Both of these points are true, and the government has passed some significant legislation in the spring sittings. But that is the wrong yardstick. If Turnbull had gone to the polls in November 2015 or February 2016, for example, every published poll indicated he would have thumped Bill Shorten. Even if he had gone to the polls promising a GST hike, he would have had a very good chance of winning  voters reward political courage. And frankly, short of an actual loss, could the result of have been any worse for Turnbull? 3. That election night whinge over Mediscare Yes, Labor's scare campaign was horribly overcooked  but after four and a bit years of Tony Abbott's opposition ($100 lamb roasts anyone? Farewell Whyalla? Budget emergency?) the Coalition has no right to complain about political hyperbole.

Turnbull's late appearance and subsequent rant about voters being conned was entirely ungracious and ignored vanquished colleagues. Months later, Turnbull was still complaining at end-of-year Christmas parties about those dodgy Medicare text messages. Get over it, Malcolm. 4. The Adler shotgun This was an entirely self-inflicted wound. All the PM had to tell the ABC's Fran Kelly was that there would be no change to classification of the rapid fire shotgun until all the states agreed; instead, he waffled, Abbott saw the door ajar and picked a fight, the Nationals got their backs up and the government's political agenda was on hold for a week. Labor could hardly believe its luck. 5. Politics trumping policy Time and again, Turnbull's government has given in to the demands of conservative forces on its right flank  the superannuation compromise, the decision to hold an inquiry in section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, on the climate policy and most significantly, by dumping changes to the GST (backbench pressure played a major role, despite what the PM claims).

Even when the outcome is actually good  such as the 18C inquiry  the impression is that Turnbull is being led, rather than leading, on issue after issue. In seeking to hold together the broad church that is the Coalition, and learn the lessons of 2009, he has arguably gone too far  and the "Real Malcolm" has disappeared. But it's not all bad news for Turnbull. There's plenty he can do to ensure he has a better year in 2017  and maybe, just maybe, get his government back on track. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen 1. Stand up to the right Pick a fight with Cory Bernardi, George Christensen and other conservatives in the Coalition and call their bluff. The issue to fight on, be it same-sex marriage, climate change, tax reform  is almost secondary. Turnbull needs to demonstrate to voters that centrist Malcolm still exists and fight on an issue that proves it because at the moment, he caves time and again. Increasingly beige Malcolm is enduring death by a thousand cuts. (Don't believe me? Remember that climate policy backflip that took just 36 hours and ignored all expert advice? From a guy who once staked  and lost  his political leadership over climate policy).

2. Present some big ideas that don't involve saying "agile" and "innovative" all the time The government's policy agenda for 2017 looks, to put it kindly, a little light on. Turnbull needs to advance a big idea. Fixed four-year terms would introduce stability and certainty to electoral politics. Proposing an actual solution to the stand-off over health and education funding would be a good option, too. And what about some new infrastructure projects, rather than just claiming the 2014-15 budget spent $50 billion on projects, when it actually just rebadged a stack of ancient Rudd, Gillard and even Howard era projects and spent about $5 billion of new money. And start talking  in a meaningful way  about why indigenous Australians must be recognised in our constitution. 3. Strike a deal over cutting the corporate tax rate and move on Sure, most Australians are fascinated by international tax rates comparisons (cough) and yes, despite what Labor claims, this is actually good policy  but arguing for handing the four big banks an extra $7 billion is not  repeat, NOT  a political winner. Turnbull and his team need to strike a deal for companies turning over no more than $50 million and move on. 4. Stop underestimating Bill Shorten and start framing him
Princess George Galitzine, who has died aged 91, was prominent in many charitable enterprises, most notably the Prince George Galitzine Memorial Library in St Petersburg, the Terence Rattigan Society and UK Youth, having been world-famous as Jean Dawnay, a top model for Christian Dior and the last remaining "supermodel" from the 1950s.

She epitomised style and elegance and was both quick-witted and clear-thinking, as evidenced by her performances as a panellist on the popular television series What's My Line?

Model Jean Dawnay, later to become Princess George Galitzine. Credit:Getty Images

Her early life was far from easy. Jean Mary Dawnay was born in Brighton on March 22 1925, one of two children of Frederick Archibald Dawnay, chief clerk at a meat importers, and Maud Howard, a pianist at the Electric Theatre in Peckham. Jean's mother died when she was four, and because her father was unable to look after her alone (and later remarried), she was fostered by Marjorie Grover at Chailey in East Sussex. When she was 14 she went to live with her brother in Mecklenburgh Square, London.

She was educated at the City of London School for Girls and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
There is one simple thing politicians could do right now that would save the budget millions, or even billions, of dollars over the next generation.

The evidence is clear that this near-magic initiative works to prevent poverty, illiteracy, social delinquency, welfare dependency, ill health, and even cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Politicians like to talk about there being no "silver bullet" solution to any given problem, but according to economists and doctors, and at least one Nobel prize winner who has devoted his life to this cause, this is as close to it as it gets.

All they have to do is better fund preschools.
You've run out of Christmas cheer and your patience for the neighbour's loud parties is now turning to bitterness, just like the Grinch.

Not all of us have neighbours who put your bins away and collect your mail while you are on holiday. We all unfortunately have horror stories we've faced, so what avenues are available under the law?

Excessively loud party noise is a matter for the police.

The best way to resolve a dispute is to have a face-to-face chat, as more often than not your neighbour probably doesn't know they are offending you. Anonymous notes left in their letterbox or payback responses are likely to fuel the dispute.

Excessively loud party noise is a matter for the police. Once the disturbance is reported, the police will attend and have the power to stop the noise for a set period of time.
Malek Fahd students pose for a picture with principal Aiyub Ahmed and teachers Tulin Bragg and Houda Kabbr. Credit:Daniel Munoz The rift becomes even more stark when selective schools are excluded. In that case, none of the top-performing schools, in dark blue, are below the line. But the reality could be worse. The map excludes dozens of schools that failed to achieved one Band 6 score of 90 or above. Many of these would be located below the line. "This clearly shows there is a direct correlation between results and postcodes and is the very reason needs-based funding is so important," said NSW Labor education spokesman Jihad Dib. Government schools struggled hardest to buck the trend, with only six of those below the line finishing in the top half of honour roll schools.

A separate Fairfax Media analysis of public schools by their local government area prior to amalgamation, shows educational disadvantage is being cemented in some of the areas tipped to have the state's largest population booms. In Camden, for example, which will see the biggest growth in school-aged population of any Sydney local government area over the next decade, students achieved Band 6 scores in only 3 per cent of exams. In this area, student numbers are set to surge by up to 55 per cent by 2026, according to NSW Department of Planning projections. The percentage of Band 6 scores was just as low among students in Blacktown and Liverpool, where the school population is projected to boom by roughly 25 per cent over the next decade.

All three local government areas are below the line. It's a far cry from the results of students north of the line in the City of Sydney, The Hills Shire and Hornsby LGA. Here, students achieved Band 6 scores in up to 28 per cent of exams, according to Fairfax Media's analysis, which does not include results from students who sat the International Baccalaureate. The data also reveals some of the state's hottest properties are found in neighbourhoods straddling the line, suggesting parents hoping to give their children the best shot at HSC success are driving up house prices in Strathfield, Ryde, Cherrybrook and Castle Hill. Eight out of the 10 public school catchment areas with the highest growth are along the border, according to 2015 figures from the Fairfax Media-owned Domain Group. The median house price in neighbourhoods surrounding Strathfield Girls, for example, one of the highest-performing public schools, surged to $1.7 million last year.





Pete Goss, the school education program director at the Grattan Institute, said a range of different ways of looking at education outcomes confirmed student background made a difference. "We have known about this for a long time but we are not finding any ways of making it go away," he said. NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said the government's new resource allocation model "addresses exactly this issue". "Student results should not be determined based on where a student lives or the school they go to," he said.

"Hundreds of millions of dollars in additional needs-based funding have gone to schools in south-western and western Sydney, targeted to the students who need the most support." But state budget figures show that despite record total levels of school funding, the share directed to education has shrunk over the past decade. Education now makes up 21 per cent of total spending compared with 26 per cent in 2003. The Fairfax Media analysis comes after the latest PISA results, which tested thousands of teenagers around the world and highlighted widening educational disparity between Australian students. Australia's PISA results found 15-year-olds in the most socio-economically disadvantaged 25 per cent were a full three years' schooling behind the top 25 per cent. However, the map also reveals dozens of schools in lower socio-economic areas - including Canley Vale High, Bonnyrigg, Fairvale, St Johns Park, Birrong Girls and Liverpool Girls - that achieved remarkable HSC outcomes despite an increasingly unequal playing field.

"Our school does have really high expectations of our kids," Fairvale principal Kathleen Seto told Fairfax Media last week. "Our community is very multicultural and very poor but very aspirational." Greenacre's Malek Fahd Islamic school is another institution that defied its postcode and the socio-economic status of its many migrant families. Earlier this year, the 2100-student school was also threatened with having its funding taken away from it by the federal government after an investigation found the private school was operating for profit following allegations of six-figure loans to some board members. Teachers, desperate to reassure students they would get through their HSC, started planning to set up classrooms in their living rooms and garages.

"I think the future of the school, and whether there was going to be a school to actually sit the exam in was definitely a difficult thing to handle, but it actually turned out for the best in the end," said student Majed Kheir. This year's students achieved scores of 90 or above in 18 per cent of their exams. The school's future remains in the balance pending an appeal that will decide whether the school continues to receive funding it next year. In April, the school was granted a last-minute stay by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal as the federal government moved to withdraw $19 million in funding. For now, teachers aren't taking the results for granted.
Before the war, the family said Christmas was a time to celebrate and decorate their homes and village. "Christmas in my village was very beautiful before the war," said Mr Khaieo. Papa Noel  a man dressed in full costume with a big beard  would travel on horseback from home to home to deliver gifts from his sack. "Brrrring, brrring, he would ring the door, and do a full tour around the village," Mr Khaieo said. "It was amazing." Mr Khaieo, who was granted refugee status with his parents in June, is now working at Coles in western Sydney. He learned English in school, and by watching American television shows like The Simpsons. Mr Khaieo jokes that the family may have few options if Australia doesn't work out.

What's next? "New Zealand," he says with a laugh. "Mars!" His Assyrian grandparents had been from Turkey, but had emigrated because the government was "killing them". Translating from Assyrian for his sister, his parents Habib and Salma and brother-in-law Rabi Shelimoun, he said some of the family moved to Iraq and others to Iran, where history has repeated since the first massacre against Assyrians in AD339. In about 1933, members of the family relocated to Syria, where they said relationships between Christians and Muslims were happy and peaceful until the war began in 2012. Together the family is among the 8317 Syrians who have arrived in Australia as part of the federal government's pledge in September 2015 to take 12,000 Syrians and Iraqis displaced by conflict. Most Assyrians are Christian, and claimed to be from Mesopotamia. In Syria, there are also non-Assyrian Christians.

When the war started in 2012, the family still gathered for Christmas, but quietly in deference to Christian and Muslim friends. "Because Christmas became very sad, because people in my country were dying and we are sad for them. We still celebrated but with small parties but no decorations. The country changed. In Syria, our friends were Muslim. I used to teach in Muslim schools, and at university my teacher was a Muslim. After the war, some armed group [of extremists] used religion as an excuse," said Mr Khaieo. The last Christmases in Syria were cold. There was no running water, electricity or heating, he says, translating for his parents. "Back in Syria, because all the people are leaving, we feel homesick. And we come here, and everyone is here, and we don't feel too bad any more. If we go back to our country we feel like strangers. No one we used to know is there." The acting head of the Refugee Council of NSW Tim O'Connor said the gift of resettlement was an incredible opportunity for families like Akram's.
The partner of Chad Robinson has paid tribute to the former NRL star, saying she hopes the death of an "incredible father" and her "very best friend" will not be in vain.

The body of the former Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters player was found in Sydney's north-west on Thursday, nearly a month since he went missing from his Kellyville home.

Rani Morris has remembered Chad Robinson's "wise words and helpful soul". Credit:Rani Morris/Facebook

In an emotional Facebook post, Rani Morris said Robinson had been fighting mental illness like a "warrior", and supporting others through their own struggles.

"I hope his passing is not in vain, I implore anyone who is struggling with absolutely anything in their life to speak out," she said.
After years of controversy and months of planning and regulatory hurdles, James Packer's $2 billion Barangaroo casino is all but a reality after a last-ditch legal bid from a local community group was rejected on Friday.

The NSW Land and Environment Court dispatched the development's final hurdle, dismissing an appeal from the Millers Point Fund Incorporated, an entity formed out of local community groups against, that the casino's planning approvals were invalid.

The decision means construction on 275-metre casino, hotel and apartment tower at its harbourside location at Barangaroo Central will soon begin, in what will be one of the biggest developments on the Sydney skyline in decades.

The outcome is a devastating blow for the community group, which mounted a David and Goliath legal challenge to stop the 275-metre casino, hotel and apartment tower from being built on harbourside public foreshore.
A man has been shot dead and a second is in a serious condition following a "gutless" shooting in a western Sydney park where up to 10 people were gathered, including children, police say.

Police swarmed Western Sydney Parklands off Cowpasture Road in Wetherill Park after multiple gunshots rang out just after 5.10pm on Friday evening.

Fairfield Local Area Command Detective Superintendent Peter Lennon said at least one family with children was nearby when several men arrived in a car at Lizard Log park and started shooting at another group of men that had parked in the carpark.

A 20-year-old man was killed by a shot to the head, and a 18-year-old man is in a stable condition at Liverpool Hospital after he was shot in the chest. Superintendent Lennon said both were passengers of the parked car.
A Queensland man facing a string of charges after allegedly stealing a car with a small child still in the vehicle has been denied bail.

Jesse Langlands of Rosewood faced Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday on several charges including robbery with violence and abduction of a child under 16.

A three-year-old girl was still inside the car when it was allegedly stolen. Credit:Queensland Police Service

The 21-year-old is accused of dragging a 41-year-old woman by the hair out of her car at a supermarket car park in Laidley on Wednesday night.

The woman managed to get her 10-year-old daughter out of the car but her three-year-old girl was still inside when it was driven away.
Commuters will be wondering what the next Queensland Rail timetable will look like, with the summer school holiday timetable due to finish in a month.

The new summer train timetable is due to start on Wednesday, December 28, and will run until Sunday, January 22.

What will the train timetable after January 2017 look like for Queensland Rail. Credit:Jorge Branco

It features a reduction in services of 11 per cent at a time when patronage is expected to drop by more than 25 per cent.

Brisbane Times asked Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe whether Queensland Rail will return to the current timetable or whether there would be a new timetable from January 23.
I've always found exit interviews to be perplexing. In the past I've written about them being somewhat like a divorce in which one partner demands a break-up but it isn't until after the house has been sold and the custody arrangements sorted that the other partner then asks: "So, what went wrong?"

By then it's all too late. Sure, the fresh information might be valuable in preventing the next relationship from reaching the same fate, but really, the damage has been done.

Exit interviews are standard: but do they need to be rethought? Credit:Gabrielle Charotte

Exit interviews are a bit like that. They're a useful supply of ongoing data but it's data that's dreadfully delayed. By the time you collect it, analyse it, share it and do something about, (assuming you actually do end up doing something about it), the damage has similarly been done.

Much research in recent years has demonstrated exit interviews are frequently ineffective. The reasons can be seen in a small study published earlier this year by scholars at the University of Technology, Sydney. Their analysis of an organisation with high staff turnover found the departing employees were careful to leave without burning bridges.
Fresh from a backlash over plans to audit his ministers' phones, Premier Daniel Andrews has another contentious proposal for Victorian MPs: random breath testing at State Parliament.

As politicians enjoyed the usual round of Christmas parties this week, Mr Andrews confirmed he would push ahead with a policy to introduce alcohol testing during parliamentary sittings.

Premier Daniel Andrews wants to push ahead with plans for random breath testing of MPs. Credit:Joe Armao

The unusual crackdown was first flagged without warning on the eve of the November 2014 Victorian election, with the possibility of sanctions such as the loss of a week's pay or even suspension.

But many MPs assumed the idea had been consigned to history given little has been said about it since  and not one person has been breath tested since the government came to office.
Firefighters are battling a fire in the state's north.

Twenty fire trucks are on the scene in Strathmerton, near Shepparton, responding to a fire that spread through an unstripped oat crop.

CFA crews are on scene in Strathmerton. Credit:Jessica Shapiro

A spokeswoman from the Country Fire Authority said the fire was brought under control about 1pm and no property was at threat.

A water bomber and a firefighting aircraft were used to assist the ground crews to control the blaze, which broke out near the Murray Valley Highway.
A Supreme Court judge has suggested the Herald Sun newspaper was in contempt of court, after it published a report that could influence a murder trial.

Justice Lex Lasry lambasted the paper for reporting that a man facing trial for murder was also being investigated over another killing.

Crown Prosecutor Andrew Tinney, SC, told the court that the Herald Sun's reporting was 'very disturbing'. Credit:Vince Caligiuri

The Age cannot repeat the allegations, or details about the case, for legal reasons.

Crown Prosecutor Andrew Tinney, SC, told the court on Friday that the Herald Sun's reporting was "very disturbing".
Police investigating an alleged terrorist plot in Melbourne feared a multi-person, multi-weapon strike that would include random stabbings, bombings and possible suicide attacks.

Investigators moved on the Melbourne Christmas Day terror suspects on Thursday night to thwart what they believed would be a co-ordinated multi-target attack in the CBD.

The decision to arrest was made in the last five days after some of the suspects were alleged to have conducted surveillance operations near Federation Square, St Paul's Cathedral and Flinders Street Station.

The alleged plot was designed to create maximum casualties and widespread panic.
Police were called to a brawl involving about 40 people in Melbourne's inner north in the early hours of Friday morning.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said emergency services were called to the brawl in Johnston Street, Fitzroy, just before 4am.

"By the time police arrived the crowd had dispersed," she said.

A man was arrested for being drunk, but no charges were laid.

A man aged in his 20s was taken to St Vincent hospital for treatment to wounds sustained in the fight.
Claremont serial killer timeline:

February 1995: A 17-year-old girl is abducted after leaving Club Bayview and sexually assaulted in Karrakatta Cemetery. The girl is tied up but survives the attack. The rapist is never found and the case is not linked to the Claremont serial killer for another 20 years.

Sarah Spiers. Credit:Tony McDonough

27 January 1996: Sarah Spiers, 18, goes missing from outside a Claremont nightclub after celebrating Australia Day with friends.

9 June 1996: Childcare worker, Jane Rimmer, 23, goes missing from outside the Continental Hotel in Claremont after drinking with friends.
When hero cop Luca Scata shot Europe's most wanted man, Anis Amri, it brought to an end the Berlin attacker's four-day flight which saw him travel three different cities in three different countries.

Alberto Nobili, coordinator of the Anti-Terrorism department at the District Attorney's Office in Milan says Amri ended up in the Italian city after travelling from Berlin to the French city of Chambery and via a stop in Turin.

The drive between Chambery and Berlin takes about 11 hours. The train ride between Chambery to Turin takes just under three hours. Whatever method the 24-year old took, he would not have needed to show a passport because he was travelling within the Shengen area which allows passport-free travel.

The Italians were unaware that the Tunisian was amongst them.
Police special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in Oberhausen in the West German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, police said on Friday.

The suspects, two brothers aged 28 and 31 who were born in Kosovo, were arrested in the city of Duisburg after information provided by security sources, police said in a statement.

"The 28-year old and 31-year-old brothers born in Kosovo are suspected of having prepared a possible attack on the CentrO in Oberhausen," police in the nearby city of Essen said in a statement.

Investigators were trying to establish what stage of preparation the plot was at and whether others were involved, Essen police said.
When two policemen in a northern suburb of Milan stopped a dishevelled-looking man to ask for his identity papers at 3 o'clock on Friday morning, they had no inkling they were confronting the most wanted man in Europe.

Cristian Movio, a 36-year-old patrol officer, and his 29-year-old rookie partner, Luca Scata, a former Italian army volunteer with less than a year's experience on the force, believed they were conducting a routine stop.

It was not unusual to see a man of North African descent loitering outside the metro station at Sesto San Giovanni, a once-thriving industrial hub that is now a grimy, working-class suburb with a large immigrant population and a prominent mosque.

"I don't have documents, I am Calabrian," Anis Amri mumbled in heavily accented Italian, according to reports. He said he had left them somewhere.
Valletta: All 109 passengers and crew members on board a hijacked Libyan airliner en route to the capital, Tripoli, were released on Friday, hours after two men claiming to be carrying explosives forced the plane to divert to Malta, the island's prime minister said.

The hijackers, who were apparently members of a pro-Gaddafi group and seeking asylum in Europe, were taken into custody after surrendering as they left the Airbus A320, according to officials and news reports.

Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".

Muscat, who provided a steady stream of updates on Twitter about the situation, had said there were 111 passengers on the plane, including 82 men, 28 women and one infant, a breakdown that included the two hijackers. Afriqiyah officials confirmed that figure, adding that seven crew members had also been on board.
"Mamma, mamma," 12-year-old Kristine Joy Sailog said, moments before a stray bullet struck her heart as she stood with her family at the gate of a Catholic church on the outskirts of the Philippine capital Manila.

Kristine died in her mother's arms, one of the latest innocent victims of President Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown on drugs.

Her fate made only a brief news item in the Philippines as Mr Duterte, in his latest expletive-laden rant against critics of his crackdown, called the United Nations' human rights chief an "idiot" and "son of a bitch".

"You do not talk to me like that, you son of a bitch," Mr Duterte said, referring to Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights.
There are suggestions that the anti-Ahok unrest may be part of an effort to destabilise Indonesia's President, who is riding high in public polls. Credit:Roni Bintang The country's 1945 constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the government recognises six official faiths. "I have a deep and personal appreciation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo's commitment to promoting a tolerant and inclusive Islam," Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in his 2016 Lowy lecture. Indonesian Muslims gather at the National Monument in Jakarta during a rally against governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who is being prosecuted for blasphemy. Credit:AP "He says again and again, Indonesia is proof that democracy, tolerance, moderation and Islam are compatible."

But there are fears that Indonesia's pluralism is in peril amid growing discrimination against minority groups and the explosive allegations that Jakarta's governor, a Christian, insulted Islam. Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as "Ahok", centre. Credit:AP Under the authoritarian New Order regime, the ideology of Islamic groups was repressed. However following the fall of president Suharto in 1998, they had new-found freedom to advocate their views on morality and, for some, a desire to see a rigid interpretation of Islamic practice implemented in Indonesia. Although homosexuality has never been outlawed in Indonesia  indeed transvestites, known as waria, have been a feature of life for hundreds of years  this year there were a wave of attacks on LGBT people. Muslim protesters shout slogans as they hold up a placard with a picture depicting Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama behind bars. Credit:AP

Religious minorities such as the Ahmadiyya  a Muslim sect considered deviant in many Islamic countries  Shiites, the Baha'i and the Druze regularly face persecution. Early this year an angry mob torched a remote farming community in West Kalimantan belonging to former members of the Gafatar, which the government suspected of being affiliated with "deviant teachings". Two school girls walk past a Christmas tree made from 6000 discarded water bottles outside of a church in Depok, Indonesia, this week. Credit:AP The members were forcibly returned to their home villages to be "re-educated" in Islam and three of the former leaders were charged with blasphemy and treason. "Incidents of discrimination against religious minorities and attacks on religious properties continue to occur in Indonesia," says the 2016 United States Commission on International Religious Freedom report.

"Radical groups perpetrate many of these attacks and influence the responses of local government officials when violence occurs." A survey this year by the Wahid Institute, which promotes a moderate form of Islam, found the number of violations against freedom of religion jumped from 154 in 2014 to 190 in 2015. The majority were in West Java and Aceh and largely involved closing places of worship and obstructing religious ceremonies. "Muslims are being bombarded by these very black-and-white ways of framing issues," the institute's director, Yenny Wahid, said at a recent forum. "For example with the case of the Ahmadiyya: 'If you love the prophet, you cannot support the Ahmadiyya'. That would be the argument of the radicals to convince the lay Muslims."

Wahid believes the debate over the allegedly blasphemous comments made by Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, is being fuelled in the same way. "If you love the Koran, then you have to be against the one who blasphemes against the Koran," she says. "It is really hard when it is framed that way." When Ahok became governor of Jakarta in 2014  the first openly Christian, ethnically Chinese in the role  it was heralded by many as a new era in Indonesian democracy and tolerance. The ascension of Jakarta governor "Ahok" was seen as a turning point in Indonesian democracy. Credit:AP But there were those who vociferously opposed his appointment on the grounds that a non-Muslim should not be governor of Jakarta.

The hardline Islam Defenders Front (FPI) rallied outside the city council protesting he was arrogant, had insulted civil servants and used his authority to carry out "Christianisation". However the FPI was broadly considered a fringe radical group and not taken seriously. Ahok has turned out to be a polarising governor. He was applauded by middle-class Jakartans for reforming the bureaucracy, his strong stance against corruption and his attempts to improve intractable Jakarta problems such as flooding and traffic. However the urban poor railed against mass forced evictions of slums and environmentalists criticised his plan for reclamation of Jakarta Bay. Others questioned whether he was really so squeaky clean after he was called as a witness in a couple of corruption cases. But Ahok's undoing proved to be a provocative speech he gave on Indonesia's Thousand Islands on September 27, while campaigning for re-election in February's gubernatorial poll. The mayor told fishermen they had been deceived into not voting for him by his opponents who cited verse 51 from the fifth sura, or chapter, of the Koran, al-Maida.

Some Muslims interpret al-Maida as a prohibition on Muslims living under the leadership of a non-Muslim. Others say the scripture should be understood in its context  a time of war  and not interpreted literally. Here was the chink in the armour his opponents had been looking for. A video of the speech went viral on Facebook. Three mass rallies were held demanding Ahok be jailed for blasphemy. Police named him a suspect and he is now on trial in the North Jakarta District Court for allegedly insulting Islam. Australian National University professor Marcus Mietzner believes the "trumped-up blasphemy charges" have provided a narrative to cloak anti-Chinese sentiment. "My sense is that deep-seated racial and religious sentiments were able to be mobilised by a case that allowed ordinary Indonesians to justify towards themselves and towards the outside world these very sentiments," he told the Carnegie Council.

Chinese Indonesians make up just a fraction of the population but own a disproportionate amount of the country's wealth, and resentment runs deep. Many Chinese Indonesians are still haunted by the 1998 riots in some cities in Indonesia which were triggered by unemployment and food shortages. The mob vented their rage on the Chinese community, who were perceived to be better off. Chinese shops were looted, scores of Chinese women raped and an estimated 1000 people killed. Indonesian anti-riot police try to push a group of students during a protest against rising prices and unemployment. Credit:Reuters Din Syamsuddin is the chairman of the advisory council of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI), Indonesia's top Islamic scholarly body. The council issued a fatwa, or opinion, in October that Ahok had insulted the Koran. Din estimates that 60 to 70 per cent of those who attended the December 2 rally were from the Muslim middle class and not Islamic hardliners. "There is an accumulation of feeling of injustice and discrimination especially in the field of the economy by many Muslim groups," he says.

Din believes the sheer scale of the rallies and the level of discontent they have exposed should prompt the Indonesian government to take steps to alleviate economic disparity. "Those people are getting a hard feeling when others blame them of being anti-plurality," he says. "I think the majority of Muslims in this country are tolerant." Human Rights Watch's Andreas Harsono is far more pessimistic. According to Amnesty International 106 people were jailed for blasphemy between 2005 and 2014. Their offences included leading prayers in Indonesian rather than Arabic, pulling the plug on a mosque loudspeaker and punctuating prayers with whistling. The number of acquittals was negligible. Harsono believes Ahok will be jailed, possibly for the maximum five years.

He also believes there will be more pressure to have Muslim leaders in predominantly Muslim communities. "There will also be more provisions of the sharia [Islamic code of conduct] in Indonesia, whether it is compulsory to wear hijab, whether it is not going out at night for a Muslim woman, whether it is more and more restrictions with the Ahmadiyya, the [Shiites] and others. LGBT violence is also going to increase. This is going to be a very, very difficult time for Indonesia." Memories of the 2000 Christmas Eve bombings are still raw and Indonesia always feels jittery at this time of year. An Indonesian policeman, left, watches as cars burn in the street following a bomb explosion in front of a church in Jakarta on December 24, 2000. Credit:AP Just four days before Christmas police killed alleged Islamic State-linked militants suspected of plotting attacks over the holiday period. An Islamic group shut down a Christmas service in Bandung. There was the usual flurry of controversy over whether Muslim shopworkers were being forced to wear Santa hats. A fatwa was issued banning Christmas costumes for Muslims which Islamic hardliners sought to enforce at shopping malls in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city.
PHILIPSBURG:--- For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6. This prophecy was uttered by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah some 700 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah became a prophet, after the death of King Uzziah who reigned for fifty-two years. Under Uzziahs reign, the land of Judah enjoyed a period of prosperity not known since the reign of King Solomon. After the death of King Uzziah, the land of Judah was threatened by Assyria. Due to Gods intervention, Judah survived the threat but was reduced to a vassal country and had to pay tribute or taxes to Assyria. The people became despondent and feared that their country would also be conquered by the Assyrians and that they would be displaced and taken captive to Babylon.

It was during this period of instability, uncertainty, and fear that Isaiah brought hope to the people of Judah with his prophecy about a child to be born who would restore peace and stability to the land of Judah. This verse of hope helped the Jews to realize that all was not lost. God was still in control and that He would send someone who would take control, offer salvation and bring about peace. In fact, Isaiah tells us in verse 7 of the same chapter, that of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end... The Hebrew word for government is misrah, which means dominion, rule or authority. In this scripture, Isaiah is not referring to a government with an army and military that will settle disputes and wars by force. But rather, the government to be established by God, that will be a government led and directed by godly influence and principles.

There are two important aspects that we need to bear in mind when we consider the kingdom or the government of God. Firstly, the kingdom of God does not consist of material things and in the second place, it is not a specific geographical location. In Luke chapter 17 and verse 21, Jesus explained that the kingdom of God can be found in each one of us. And the book of Romans chapter 4 verse 17, explains that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Having now a better understanding of the kingdom or the government of God, how can we apply this knowledge to our specific situation in Sint Maarten? In the first place, we need to realize that if we want good governance we must start with ourselves. If, as individuals, we can control or govern our own attitudes, behaviors, and habits, then it will be much easier to govern others. One of the reasons why our government is corrupt and unstable is because of uncontrollable greed and egos among our elected and appointed government officials. I believe that good governance in any country begins with temperance or self-control, good morals, and ethics, exercised by those elected or appointed to govern the country. In the second place, good governance is not only about trade and business and a booming economy, but it is also about happiness, peace, self-worth, cultural expression, and the identity of every inhabitant of the country.

With a newly elected Parliament and a recently sworn in Council of Ministers, our earnest prayer this Christmas season should be that the Government of Sint Maarten shall be upon His shoulders. In other words, we should pray that our Government be carried by God, which means that it be led, directed and influenced by godly principles, norms, and values. This is exactly the mission of the Sint Maarten Christian Party, namely to promote a government that is influenced and led by godly principles such as honesty, integrity, accountability, compassion etc. Only then can we speak of the Government being on His shoulders.

Just as the prophecy by Isaiah offered hope to Judah approximately 2700 years ago, I pray that it will also offer hope to Sint Maarten. May it, first of all, inspire and motivate our people to allow Jesus to establish His authority in our hearts and His dominion and power to be displayed in our lives. Secondly, we pray that our Parliament and Government will uphold good governance, as they allow God to direct their behavior, their deliberations and decisions, which is actually the purpose of the countrys annual National Day of Prayer held each year on the second Sunday of January. May the government of Sint Maarten rest upon the shoulders of the child given to us, whose birth we commemorate at Christmas time!

On behalf of the SMCP I wish the people of our lovely island Seasons Greetings!

Wycliffe Smith

Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party
Pond Island:--- TelEm Group technicians and engineers successfully restored internet service to Dutch St. Maarten at approximately 5:30 pm Thursday evening after effecting repairs to a fibre connection between the French side and the Dutch side of the island.

Thursdays restoration comes after several failed attempts to fully restore the service following a major outage Sunday.

Technicians and engineers working round the clock, successfully cleaned up a faulty link that was causing the companys internet service to operate sporadically and sometimes not at all, since the outage Sunday.

The local fiber connection came up several times, but deteriorated as soon as any load was put on it, said Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Eldert Louisa.

He said steps taken to clean up the fibre connection proved unsuccessful, therefore a decision was taken to switch off the connection altogether Thursday so that the team of engineers and technicians could better troubleshoot and obtain more accurate measurements to determine precisely where the problem to the fibre connection might be.

I am happy to say that at approximately 5:30 pm the team working on the restoration of the internet service reported that the service is restored and they are receiving zero errors, indicating that the connection is stable and customers can once again utilize their internet service with less interruption, said the CTO.

Mr. Louisa said the team will continue to monitor the situation, but for now he is very hopeful that the connection will remain stable.

He has thanked the team working on the connection problem since Monday, recognizing that they have not left their posts since the problem arose and have literally worked around the clock to restore the service to the general public and to TelEm Group customers.

News of the internet service restoration came within an hour of a meeting with Prime Minister, Mr. William Marlin Thursday, during which TelEm Group Supervisory Board of Directors, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Paul Marshall and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Mr. Brian Mingo, briefed the Prime Minister on Sundays outage and the steps the company was taking to repair the damaged SMPR-1 cable and also maintain services to customers utilizing alternative cable routing systems.

Mr. Mingo outlined the steps TelEm Group has taken to provide continuity of service to the public with the little bandwidth available, however, this was not enough to provide for the companys primary internet feed of 6Gb.

We set up a hot line to do an intake of problems being experienced by businesses with the intention of following up and providing solutions for them. Our Helpdesk has also been briefed for the flood of calls they have been receiving since Sunday, continued Mr. Mingo.

Regarding the damaged SMPR-1 cable, Mr. Mingo informed that the affected part of the cable lies 2.5 kilometers from Puerto Rico with all indication that nearby reefs and rough seas caused the damage.

The seas are still too rough and dangerous for a contracted diver to inspect the cable and obtain video and photos so that we can see for ourselves just how bad the damage is and how we have to mobilize smaller ships and equipment that can navigate shallower waters and reefs to do the repairs, continued Mr. Mingo.

He said taking the Christmas holidays into consideration, and also depending on where the repair vessels are currently located, it could take up to eight weeks for the repairs to the SMPR-1 cable to be completed.

Mr. Marlin was thankful for the update and hoped the effect on business and the general public would cause as little impact as possible.

The Prime Minister enquired about provisions being made by the company for banks, main business operations, and PJIAE, in particular, especially after hearing of the chaos that ensued on Sunday shortly after the damaged SMPR-1 cable took effect.

Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors, Mr. Paul Marshall, was also pleased to hear about the restoration of service following the meeting with the Prime Minister and Shareholder, Thursday.

It was important for us to update the Shareholder on the situation, especially since a number of things that were being attempted were not working out as planned, said Mr. Marshall.

I want to thank the Prime Minister for taking time out of his busy agenda to see us at a moments notice so that we could give him this briefing and I most definitely want to thank all those within the TelEm Group who have worked diligently during the past several days to ensure our customers have their internet service working optimally once again, said Mr. Marshall.

CTO Mr. Louisa said with the connection to the new undersea cable some IP addresses may not be recognized when some customers are surfing online.

With the fibre connection stabilized we will be able to fine tune and change configurations to fully restore the service to what it was before the outage Sunday, added Mr. Louisa.

The TelEm Group Supervisory Board of Directors and Management have meantime apologizes to residential and business customers for the interruption in internet service since Sunday and inconvenience caused by the cable damage that was not within the companys control.
A Series of Big Wins Brings a Record Year for WireIE

TORONTO, ON  (Marketwired)  12/22/16  WireIE, a wholesale network operator specialized in the deployment of MEF-Certified Carrier Ethernet networks to Canadas underserved markets, celebrates a year filled with big growth and marked successes. The WireIE Canadian national footprint now reaches from coast to coast, and the goal of increasing the scope of high availability, secure and reliable networks in underserved markets across Canada allowed WireIE to grow 20%, in partnership with its wholesale carriers, in 2016. Specifically, growth accelerated within the federal government, the oil and gas industry, ehealth, banking and several other industries. The growth levels weve enjoyed in 2016 are almost unheard of in our industry, says Rob Barlow, WireIE CEO, Ive spoken with many industry executives, and theyre consistently surprised when we mention our growth. WireIE grew internationally as well, with 25% of the company growth being driven through the Americas, and new projects in Argentina and the Caribbean increasing presence and global accolades.

Others in the industry recognized WireIEs growth as well, as two awards were presented to the WireIE team. The first award came in May at the Global Telecom Business Innovation Awards. We were thrilled to win this award. It recognized WireIEs innovative solutions for underserved and geographically disperse markets, says CEO, Rob Barlow. Europe was particularly good to WireIE this year, following up with another win in November. In Paris, we were honoured with the Best North American Project award at Capacity Europe, says Barlow, adding, It was our privilege to receive both of these awards.

Both European events are well known in the industry, with Capacity Europe being one of the most established and well-regarded conferences in the telecom industry, attended by over 2000 executives from 80 countries. Both awards reaffirm WireIEs goal of creating a more connected world and enabling carrier partners to future-proof their networks.

With increased presence on the global stage, last month Barlow was invited to speak on two CEO Roundtables in LA. The first entitled IOT & The Data Center: Talking Cloud, Power and Performance, and then IOT & Cybersecurity: Risks in the Supply Chain, Privacy and Defense. The Roundtables provided an opportunity for industry leaders to share their predictions for tech and telecoms future and to participate in casual Q&A discussion moderated by industry analysts and journalists.

In light of the recent , WireIE is pleased that the Government of Canada recognizes connection to the internet as a basic service. WireIE crossed a new threshold of total circuits that have been flipped on and connected in underserved markets in 2016, growth of which is set to continue expanding rapidly, in support of the Governments mandate in 2017.

To learn more about WireIE, visit .

WireIE is a Canadian telecommunications carrier, specialized in the deployment of MEF Certified Carrier Ethernet 2.0 networks to underserved markets. WireIEs proven network performance, backed by industry-leading SLAs, has established the carrier as the provider of choice for mission critical network requirements, across all industry verticals including Oil & Gas, Mining, Utilities, Healthcare, Financial, Retail and Public Sector. Unleash the potential with WireIE  visit and follow us on Twitter .

Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA)

+1.866.6953629
A guide to voter rights in Indiana. What you need to know before you cast a ballot

elections
Carmen Chapman wrapped a white box in some cheery snowman paper.

Kassara Meadows folded a black garment with buttons and placed it in a red and green bag.

It wasnt Santas workshop, but there was a flurry of activity amid softly playing Christmas tunes.

Employees of Home Instead Senior Care were busy Wednesday afternoon wrapping gifts or placing them into colorful holiday bags.

The gifts would be delivered to area residents who will benefit from the Be a Santa to a Senior program. Workers first gathered for the wrapping party in a room at the Fremont Friendship Center.

Pool tables at the center were laden with brightly colored sacks of gifts.

Mary Atkinson, community resource coordinator, said 225 seniors will receive gifts through the program this year. Gifts for all but 10 of those people came from the public. The rest were provided by Home Instead.

It was awesome, she said.

In addition, area residents contributed body lotions, handmade knitted or crocheted blankets and homemade cookies and candies.

Home Instead got a similar response to its request for actual gifts as it has in the past, but this year it got more monetary and other donations.

This year, because of the article in the paper (Tribune), we had an amazing response, Chapman said. We had a lot of monetary donations  more than weve ever had. Also, a lot of extra things came in this year. That was spectacular.

Women in church groups provided cookies, candy and monetary donations.

One woman does something special at Christmas every year. She wasnt sure, this year, what it would be until she saw the article. She brought bag filled with bath and body lotions and body washes, Atkinson said.

A couple people did that, Chapman added.

Chapman also appreciates families and children who participate.

Theres families that choose instead of giving gifts to each other, they donate what theyd spend on each other to the community and the kids will choose a senior and make them a handmade card, she said. The coolest thing is the children who give up their own gifts for the year to buy and donate a gift to a senior.

One of the best parts about the project is seeing the response from the gift recipients.

Its the feeling at the end of the day when you go hand out all the presents and you see the smiling faces and how you changed someones life for just one day, Chapman said.

Chapman expressed her appreciation for the community response.

Its very overwhelming, Chapman said. Its amazing and beautiful, all at the same time. We are lucky to have a community thats responded so well to our seniors and we are grateful.
President Barack Obama, who announced protections from offshore oil drilling on Dec. 20, speaks during a news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, D.C.
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Charles Miller led a 2015 study that examined how commercial capabilities could support a human return to the moon at a much lower cost than traditional approaches.

SANTA FE, N.M.  The transition office for President-elect Donald Trump is adding one, and perhaps up to three, people to the landing team assigned to NASA to provide more insight into commercial space activities.

The transition office added Charles Miller to the NASA "landing team" on Dec. 20, according to an update of the rosters of the landing teams assigned to various federal agencies on the transition website. Unlike previous assignments of individuals to the landing team, there was no formal statement issued by the transition office.

Miller, like many other members of the landing team, previously worked for NASA. He served as senior adviser for commercial space from 2009 to 2012, a time when NASA was starting several commercial space efforts, from its commercial crew development program to the Flight Opportunities program for suborbital research. [Related: What a Trump Administration Means for NASA]

Prior to joining NASA, he was chief executive of Constellation Services International, which worked on concepts for commercial cargo delivery under NASA's Alternative Access to Station program, a precursor to NASA's later commercial cargo program. He was also a co-founder of NanoRacks, a company that provides flight services to the station for experiments and small satellites. Miller established a consulting company, NextGen Space LLC, after leaving NASA.

Miller has also been active in space policy and advocacy. In the mid-1990s he established ProSpace, a grassroots lobbying group focused in particular on commercial space issues, which helped win passage of the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1998. After leaving NASA he became executive coordinator of the Alliance for Space Development, a coalition of space organizations supporting commercial space policy initiatives.

The addition of Miller to the landing team for NASA is seen by many as an effort by the overall Trump transition effortto add commercial space expertise to the team, which largely features individuals who previously worked on more traditional programs at NASA. The backgrounds of many team members have led to speculation that the incoming administration might pull NASA's human spaceflight efforts back to the moon.

Miller, ironically, could support that, but with a commercial approach. Miller was the principal investigator of a 2015 study that concluded that use of commercial space capabilities could allow for a human return to the moon at a much lower cost than a government-led effort. The study, funded by a $100,000 grant from NASA's Emerging Space Office, found that use of commercial vehicles, as well as contracting tools like public-private partnerships, could enable brief "sortie" missions to the moon in five to seven years, from which a more permanent presence there could be built up. [50 Years of Presidential Visions for Space Exploration]

The transition office may add additional individuals to the landing team, also with commercial space backgrounds. One person under consideration is Alan Stern, best known as a former NASA associate administrator for science and principal investigator for the New Horizons mission to Pluto. Stern is currently the chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, an industry group that includes among its members many leading commercial space companies and spaceports.

Stern has also been involved in a number of commercial space companies. He is the chief scientist for World View, a company developing high-altitude balloons for tourism and research, including NASA's Flight Opportunities program. He also previously consulted for other commercial space companies, including Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. He was president and chief executive of Golden Spike, a company that in 2012 announced plans for commercial human missions to the moon but which made little progress since that announcement.

Another individual under consideration for the NASA landing team is Alan Lindenmoyer, a retired NASA executive who managed the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office at the Johnson Space Center from 2005 to 2014. In that position, he managed the development of the commercial cargo program from its inception through the entry into service of commercial cargo vehicles by Orbital ATK and SpaceX.

Even before the addition of the new landing team members, commercial space interests had influence with the overall transition. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk and Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos were among the attendees of a Dec. 14 meeting of technology company executives with President-elect Trump and other senior advisors, including billionaire Peter Thiel, whose venture capital firm has invested in SpaceX. Musk was also named the same day to an advisory group, the President's Strategic and Policy Forum, the only current aerospace executive among the group's 19 members.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
What cosmic light could have guided the Three Wise Men to the newborn baby Jesus 2,000 years ago? Learn about all the theories in a free webcast today (Dec. 23) by the online Slooh Community Observatory.

During the show, experts in both religion and astronomy will discuss what the famous Star of Bethlehem might have been: Was it an actual star, a comet, a planet or something else? You can watch the webcast at Slooh.com, beginning at 8 p.m. EST (0100 GMT).

You can also watch the Star of Bethlehem show here at Space.com, courtesy of Slooh. [Related: What's Up in the Christmas Night Sky?]

The webcast will feature Slooh host Eric Edelman, Slooh astronomer Paul Cox, Fr. James Kurzynski, who is a Catholic priest and a blogger for the Vatican Observatory, and astronomy journalist and author Bob Berman.

"Both Berman and Fr. Kurzynski have written extensively about the potential culprits behind the famous Star of Bethlehem. Theyll share what theyve learned, as well as their personal beliefs, live on the air," Slooh representatives wrote in a statement.

Cox will "teach viewers how they too can hunt for comets, and other astronomical objects, using Sloohs observatories," they added.

Viewers can join in on the show, ask questions and express their own theories by tweeting them to @Slooh or by joining the live chat on Facebook.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
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The interior minister said police had intercepted Amri during a routine check in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood in northern Milan.

Officers ordered him to present his ID whereupon the suspect pulled a 22-caliber pistol and fired at two police officers, Minniti said. Italian media are reporting that he shouted "Allahu Akbar." The police returned fire and killed the suspect. One of the police officers was wounded in the shoot-out. The Italian newspaper La Stampa is reporting that a 29-year-old officer still completing his trial period fired the deadly shot at Amri.
Brussels, December 23, 2016 (SPS) -The Saharawi Coordinator with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), Mr. M'Hamed Khadad has urged Thursday in Brussels the European Union (EU) to "implement" the ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and contribute to the resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara, in accordance with international law.

The agreement between the European Union (EU) and Morocco, signed in 2012 on the reciprocal liberalization of agricultural and fishery products, will not apply to the territory of Western Sahara, according to the European Court of Justice (CJEU).

We call on the EU to implement the judgment of the Court of Justice and contribute to the resolution of the Saharawi conflict in accordance with international law, "the Saharawi diplomat told the European Parliament on Thursday after the publication of the ruling of the Court, according to APS

In a ruling issued on Wednesday, the Court concluded that the association agreements and liberalization between the EU and Morocco are not applicable to Western Sahara.

The Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO demanded both the Commission and the European Council the "immediate application" of the ECJ ruling, urging the Parliament to "play an important role" in the implementation of the decision of the European Court of Justice.

"The Frente POLISARIO calls for the opening of immediate discussions and action to ensure respect of the rights of the Saharawi people, otherwise the POLISARIO will act with the utmost determination to enforce full implementation of the law," the Saharawi diplomat said.

Commenting on the Court's ruling, Mr. M'Hamed Khadad welcomed the progress of the Saharawi cause with this judicial decision which recognizes that Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory whose inhabitants have the legitimate right to self-determination and therefore cannot be considered as "territory of the Kingdom of Morocco". SPS

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Paris, December 23, 2016 (SPS) -The decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) excluding Western Sahara from the agreements signed with Morocco, is "resounding political defeat" for Morocco and its legal and political consequences "are huge," Algeria's ambassador to the European Union (EU) Amar Belani.

"This decision a resounding political defeat for Morocco and its huge legal and political consequences," he said in an interview to Afrique Asie published on Friday, stressing that "the Western Sahara has a distinct and separate territory and Morocco has no sovereignty over it."

"This important decision is enforceable and opposable" to the European institutions and EU members, he said, stressing Morocco has to be considered as an occupying power.

As regards Algeria's relations with the EU, Belani stated they are "strong and promising."

"These well-anchored relations are immune to the wishes of all those who try, in vain, to complicate them with the illusory view to isolating Algeria in its regional environment," Balani affirmed SPS

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A Bridgeport resident is accusing car-care company Splash Norwalk of forcing him and other employees to work several hours every day without pay.

In a class action lawsuit filed Thursday, plaintiff Javier Llantin claims the Greenwich-based company forces employees to clock out during slow times but requires them to stay on site without pay. Llantin alleges that his manager fired him after working at Splash Norwalk for six years because he complained about the practices, according to a separate individual retaliation complaint.

Both suits were filed Thursday with the Superior Court in Bridgeport. The individual complaint quotes Llantins manager swearing at him before terminating his employment in early October. Afterward, Llantin applied and was approved for unemployment benefits. Splash appealed the Department of Labors award by arguing that Llantin quit, according to the retaliation complaint. The department maintained Llantins benefits.

Llantin seeks the wages he and other employees should have earned under the Connecticut Minimum Wage Act, according to the class action lawsuit. In his individual retaliation complaint, Llantin is seeking to recoup double the amount of his lost wages and benefits.

Splash did not return a request for comment.

Companies refusing to pay employees their due wages is one of the most commonly violated laws in the workplace, said Gary Phelan, the attorney representing the plaintiff. Its a fairly common practice among big employers, because some think they can get away with it and it can be financially beneficial, he said.

Wage and hour violations are among the fastest growing parts of workplace law, said Phelan, whose Stratford law firm focuses on labor and employment law. But employees are becoming more aware of their rights and willing to speak up for them, he said.

States, including Connecticut, are increasingly cracking down on illegal employment practices, he said. Phelan cited Gov. Dannel P. Malloys 2015 approval of a law that increases the likelihood an individual can recover double the amount of their damages, so theres more of a penalty for violating the law.

Splash Car Wash was founded in 1981 by longtime Greenwich residents Mark Curtis and Chris Fisher, according to the companys website. Its grown into one of Fairfield Countys largest car-care companies with hundreds of employees and 18 locations, including Cos Cob, Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford.

Contact the writer at MBennett@hearstmediact.

com, 203-625-4411; Twitter @Macaela_
Alexander Soule / Hearst Connecticut Media

Bridgewater Associates has cut 150 jobs this year, according to the Wall Street Journal, the result of renovations enacted by Ray Dalio after he resumed a more hands-on role this year with the hedge fund he created.

From its Westport headquarters and offices in Stamford, Norwalk and Wilton, Bridgewater manages assets in excess of $160 billion, making it the worlds largest hedge fund.
Review at a glance









F laws and failure: Martin Scorsese has eagle eyes where both are concerned (as demonstrated by Kundun, purely good men confound him). Typically, his latest film is about two arrogant twentysomethings. Just like Mean Streets Charlie and Johnny Boy (or Goodfellas Jimmy and Tommy, or Casinos Sam and Nicky), the protagonists in Silence overestimate their own strength, flout the powers that be and, inexorably, suffer the consequences. The big question for Scorsese is whether pain wipes out gain or sharpens it. Hes the king of conundrums. Thats why we love him.

In 17th-century Japan Christians have gone into hiding and even zealous Jesuit Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson) is rumoured to have renounced his faith. Portuguese padres Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Garrpe (Adam Driver) arrive, determined to improve the situation.

In secret, the pair make contact with pious peasants but, all too soon, the Japanese authorities discover their presence. They begin persecuting the peasants, crucifying the leaders in the village harbour. And the Buddhist inquisitors have other, even more fiendish tricks up their sleeve.

You probably wont be surprised to hear that side-splitting gags arent big on this menu. But films that dont have time for humour need to be perfect. If theyre not perfect they become unintentionally funny. Uh-oh.

TODO: define component type apester

Garfield and Drivers will-o-the-wisp Portuguese accents are hilarious, as are the beanie hats and headscarves they sport whenever they need to go undercover. Most side-splitting of all is Garfields mane of hair which, despite Rodrigues having no access to a comb or hairdresser, looks magnificently shiny and buoyant throughout.

The often limp script is an even bigger problem. Driver (pale, interesting, extravagantly emaciated) is actually plausible as Garrpe but let down by lines that fail to make the character distinct. You look at this man and think, I bet he self-flagellates! You listen to him and think nothing at all.

Its the Japanese characters who make an impression, especially peasant leader Mokichi (Shinya Tsukamoto, whose soft face contains multitudes). Mokichis crucifixion-by-the-sea is stupendous. As the tide comes in, his head is frequently buried under the ocean. It cant have been easy but two cameras were rigged up, one to the side of the cross, the other behind it, so that we feel part of the tumult. The waves are magnificently noisy, which makes it even more poignant when the wretch (whose love for God, by his own admission, is stronger than his faith in Him) starts to warble a hymn.

Silence, in pictures 1 /8 Silence, in pictures

Swerving the Catholic kitsch of The Passion of the Christ (not to mention the macho posturing of Braveheart), Scorsese pitches the viewer into the middle of an epic battle between hope and despair.

One of Silences many flaws is that its verbose. Given that the film is also long, it means it wont be much seen. Yet Im so glad Ive seen it. One of the most violent films of 2016, its best moments assault me every time I close my eyes.

In cinemas January 1

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B ritish Land got an early Christmas present on Friday, securing a hedge fund as the first tenant at its new Mayfair office building which has views of Buckingham Palace.

Capula Investment Management is to take 27,000 square feet at the property which the FTSE 100 developer recently built, the Standard can reveal.

Investment firms Quantum Pacific and Fortress have been linked with the building, though its understood the deals have yet to be completed.

The 49,500 square feet of offices at 7 Clarges Street has a number of private terraces, and is close to upmarket restaurants Nobu and Roka where businesses can entertain clients.

Advised by Simon Garfield Property, Capula will move from Knightsbridge, and pay more than 100 per square foot.

Sources said Capula, which oversees about $14 billion (11 billion) of assets, wanted to be nearer the capitals hedge fund heartland.

British Land and Capula declined to comment on the letting.
I f Chelsea decide to splash the cash in the January transfer window, owner Roman Abramovich wont find it as painful an experience after this years stock-market surge from Evraz.

The billionaire, who owns a 31% stake in the Russian steelmaker, has seen Evrazs shares surge 200% in 2016 thanks to a recovery from iron ore prices, boosting his personal wealth by 670 million.

What was dubbed the great fall of China last year, when the countrys growth rates showed signs of slowing, triggered a collapse in Evrazs share price, but it has recovered and then some in 2016 amid a commodities recovery.

In August, it revealed revenues slumped 35% to $3.5 billion in the first six months of the year, but chief executive Alexander Frolov said the recovery in steel prices in the second quarter meant he was cautiously optimistic for the rest of the year.

The shares were ahead by 3.7p at 227.6p today.

Traders were already packing up their desks for Christmas and volumes were unsurprisingly light as the FTSE 100 sank 2.48 points to 7061.20, not the so-called Santa rally some had hoped for. Dart Group bought four more planes for $384 million.

The Jet2 owner said it managed to negotiate significant discounts, sending the shares up 5.62p to 494.62p.

David Richards, founder and the recently reinstalled chief executive of WANdisco after a failed boardroom coup, sold 290,000 worth of shares, dragging the AIM-listed big data firm down 7.1p to 192.9p.

Shares in security firm Mortice were 2p weaker at 88.5p after a discounted 2.3 million share placing to fund its growth in India.

Guscio tumbled 1.25p, or 45%, to 1.5p after the company, which reported a 3.9 million annual loss, said sales of its physical literacy programme for schoolkids had suffered since it bought the Sportsdata business from former QPR chairman Richard Thompson in May.
T he worlds oil giants have been spending the final days of this year hammering out a flurry of deals worth more than 20 billion as they ready their businesses for brighter prospects in 2017.

BP, Shell and ExxonMobil were among the oil and gas producers keeping investment bankers busy in the past month with transactions valued at a combined $24.7 billion (20 billion).

BP was one of the most active, splurging on four assets since November 25. Two of them  stakes in west African gas exploration areas and a 10% slice of an Abu Dhabi oilfield, were together worth about $3.4 billion.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil offered to raise its bid for InterOil to $3.9 billion and Shell offloaded its Australian aviation business to Viva Energy for $250 million.

The spree coincides with improving oil prices. Brent crude was today at $54.80, up from $36.57 at the start of the year, thanks partly to a recent commitment from oil-producing countries to curb output and ease a damaging global supply glut. Some forecasts put prices as high as $70 a barrel next year.

Although President Obama this week banned new Arctic drilling, his successor Donald Trumps choices for key government posts  such as the appointment of Exxon chief executive Rex Tillerson as secretary of state  have bolstered hopes for a better 2017.
D eutsche Bank and Credit Suisse have agreed to pay a combined $12.5 billion (10.2 billion) to settle a US probe into the alleged sale of toxic loans, ending months of uncertainty which has dragged on the European banking sector.

But UK giant Barclays has failed to reach a settlement over similar allegations and is being sued by the US government. It rejects the claim.

Deutsche, helmed by Yorkshireman John Cryan, has agreed in principle to pay $7.2 billion, comprising $3.1 billion in civil penalties and $4.1 billion set aside to help customers who lost out.

The figure is just more than half the $14 billion US authorities had originally been seeking from the lender.

Deutsche shares rose 4% today to 18.44 as investors breathed a sigh of relief. Theyve got a reasonable deal but its not quite as good as they hoped, St Jamess Place chief investment officer Chris Ralph told the BBC.

Credit Suisse, led by former Prudential boss Tidjane Thiam, will pay $5.28 billion to resolve similar allegations, made up of a $2.48 billion penalty and $2.8 billion customer relief. Its shares have also been under pressure this year because of the threat of litigation.

Federal prosecutors have been investigating the banks over mortgage-backed securities sold in the run-up to the financial crisis, sales which were partly blamed for triggering the meltdown.

Deutsche, Credit Suisse and Barclays had been in negotiations with the Department of Justice for months over the wide-ranging probe but the pace of talks quickened in recent days as the Obama administration tried to put the issue to bed before the end of office.

Deutsche, which has a market cap of $25 billion, saw shares plummet when the Justice department said in September that the fine would be $14 billion.

This quarter Deutsche will take a $1.2 billion charge and Credit Suisse a $2 billion hit for the penalty. Deutsche added that the consumer relief fund, still being worked out, would not have an impact on this years results.

Barclays decision not to settle paves the way for a long-running court case with the Trump administration at the helm. Barclays said it considers the civil claim  which includes allegations of mail and wire fraud  to be disconnected from the facts and said it will defend the case vigorously.

RBS is also under investigation over similar allegations of selling toxic loans. But todays lower-than-expected settlements helped to placate some investors. RBS shares rose 3.8p to 231.8p.

The US government has already settled with a number of US lenders, including JPMorgan which paid $13 billion, Citi which paid $7 billion and Bank of America which forked out $17 billion. Today struggling Italian bank Monte dei Paschis 20 billion bailout was approved.
A t this time of year London can be a harsh and lonely place for homeless people, who can feel shut out or left behind. Many of the people we work with tell us that, above all, it is the loneliness, the stigma and the sense of invisibility that comes with being homeless that they find hardest to deal with.

At Christmas, for more than 550 homeless Londoners living in our hostels, often without the support of friends or family, this feeling can be particularly severe.

That is why getting someone off the streets is only the first step. We also help build peoples confidence and self-esteem, supporting them in developing crucial life skills so they can live independently and reconnect with friends and family. With the right support, people can, and do, recover from homelessness to live full and rewarding lives.

To donate 5 to support our work, text GIFT38 5 to 70070.

Liz Rutherfoord, chief executive, Single Homeless Project

The Mayors 50 million fund for addressing homelessness couldnt have come sooner. As we reach the darkest and coldest time of the year, the rising number of people sleeping rough in the capital wont have escaped most Londoners attention. This is a problem that needs addressing with real urgency.

While the Government should be congratulated for supporting the Homelessness Reduction Bill, its impact this winter will be limited.

The Mayors action is a step- change compared with the record of the previous mayor, who promised to eradicate rough sleeping by 2012, only for it to double. Boris Johnsons appalling legacy in building affordable housing and his failure to fight damaging welfare cuts meant no headway was made.

Sadiq Khans initiative will help thousands of vulnerable Londoners, including victims of domestic abuse and young people, to find their feet and ideally a secure home.

Tom Copley, housing spokesperson, Labour London Assembly group

It is good to see Theresa May supporting your Christmas Appeal to help the homeless with a 20 million fund for projects [May hails our appeal to fight the injustice of rough sleeping, December 21]. However, it is the Governments failures on housebuilding and years of cuts to council budgets that are the direct and indirect causes of the problem in the first place.

After decades of selling off council houses we have seen property prices soar to the point where even a modest flat costs many more times than the London average wage. Even the Governments 50 million fund for homelessness is dwarfed by the millions given for house-buying initiatives. When will we see some real action commensurate with the scale of the problem?

David Reed

Think before giving a puppy present

While pets should never be given as surprise Christmas presents, the festive period can be a good time to take on a puppy. If you are planning a quiet Christmas, with no school or work commitments, it can allow everyone to get to know the dog and help it settle in.

However, anyone looking for a new puppy needs to be aware of unscrupulous sellers. We have often admitted poorly young pets to our animal hospital in Victoria because they had not been vaccinated. When the new pet became ill, the seller vanished and the owner had not been given relevant vaccination records or microchip paperwork.

Make sure that if you buy a puppy you visit it with its mother in its own home and walk away if the seller insists on meeting in a public place. Ask to check paperwork for vaccinations and microchip information before agreeing a sale.

Research the breed first and dont buy a puppy based on just its looks or on impulse. We hope anyone looking for a new pet considers a rescue animal  all they want for Christmas is a loving new home.

Alyson Jones, head of rehoming development, Blue Cross pet charity

Dont weaken the Child Poverty Unit

Hard-up London families, watching every penny in the run-up to Christmas, learned yesterday that the standalone Child Poverty Unit is to be folded into the Department for Work and Pensions. That is a downgrading of the status of the unit which until now operated right across government.

Yet 37 per cent of Londons children live in poverty and things are getting worse; The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that we will see a 50 per cent increase in UK child poverty by 2020. Running down resources for tackling child poverty flies in the face of the Governments promise to help families who are just about managing.

We believe these families need more, not less, support if they are to build better prospects for their children.

Deborah Hargreaves, chair, London Child Poverty Alliance; Alison Garnham, chief executive, Child Poverty Action Group and 12 other organisations

Acting too late on Snoopers Charter

Well done, Tom Watson, for taking the Snoopers Charter to the EU on discrimination grounds. The proposed legislation would allow the Government access to all our data without due cause. However, had Labour seen fit to vote against the bill in Parliament instead of abstaining, perhaps we wouldnt be in this position in the first place.

Especially since, when Theresa May drives through her hard Brexit, the EU court ruling will count for absolutely nothing. Talk about shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Brexit could see us quit EU just in time

In his comments regarding the result of the EU referendum, Andrew Colvin [Letters, December 21] presumes that the terms of Brexit will be disadvantageous.

In reality, we shall be leaving just in time, before the imminent failure of the Italian banks and the reawakening of the migrant crisis leads to the EUs inevitable collapse. It is not masochistic to accept the democratic vote of the people and save ourselves.

Colin Bullen
T his year has been all about celebrating inspiring, world-expanding artists, even if the rest of it hasnt exactly been a barrel of laughs. From blockbuster shows at the Tate to smaller exhibitions on rarely seen artists, there was something to delight every art lover.

William Eggleston, National Portrait Gallery

Pioneering American photographer William Eggleston had an exhibition dedicated entirely to his portrait photographs at the National Portrait Gallery this year, and our critic Ben Luke said it revealed him to be a great artist as well as a great photographer.

He might be the greatest colourist in photographic history but hes also about much more than that, he wrote. He manages to conjure from his photographs something akin to the memory of a person or people as much as the physical facts of their presence.

William Eggleston - in pictures 1 /8 William Eggleston - in pictures William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, c.1975 (Marcia Hare in Memphis Tennessee) by William Eggleston, c.1975 Eggleston Artistic Trust William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, 1974 (Karen Chatham, left, with the artist's cousin Lesa Aldridge, in Memphis, Tennessee) by William Eggleston, 1974 Wilson Centre for Photography Eggleston Artistic Trust William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, c.1970 (Devoe Money in Jackson, Mississippi) by William Eggleston, c.1970 Eggleston Artistic Trust William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, 1969 - 70 (the artist's uncle, Ayden Schuyler Senior, with Jasper Staples, in Cassidy Bayou, Summer, Mississippi) by William Eggleston Eggleston Artistic Trust William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, c.1980 (Joe Strummer) by William Eggleston, [c.1980] Eggleston Artistic Trust William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, 1970 - 4 (Dennis Hopper) by William Eggleston, 197074 Eggleston Artistic Trust William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, 1970 (Self-portrait) by William Eggleston Eggleston Artistic Trust William Eggleston - in pictures Untitled, 1973 - 4 (Dane Layton) by William Eggleston, 1973 Eggleston Artistic Trust

Read the five star review

Mona Hatoum, Tate Modern

This retrospective of Mona Hatoums long career was captivating and unsettling said Ben Luke. Her work suggested danger, made you feel seduced but that you didnt want to get too close.

Hatoum is a latter-day surrealist, imbuing the familiar with darker, stranger meanings. Like them, she can be funny and erotic, too. In Jardin Public, a triangle of hair is placed on the seat of a very bodily wrought-iron chair.

Tate Modern Mona Hatoum exhibition

Read the five star review

The Ethics of Dust, ArtAngel at Westminster Hall

Jorge Otero-Pailos made art from cleaning, which isnt something you find everyday. Uncovering the historic dust and soot from the east wall of Westminster Hall, Ben Luke said the artwork that came from it was profoundly poetic, which offered a welcome pause for thought at a cataclysmic moment in British life.

Marcus J Leith

He wrote: It is an ephemeral monument composed from trapped particles of soot, skin, soil, paper, textiles and everything else that dust contains, which has slowly built into a rich patina. Its an everyday accumulation, a testament to a humdrum life beyond the trials, coronation ceremonies and lyings-in-state it has witnessed over the centuries.

Read the five star review

The Infinite Mix, The Hayward Gallery at The Store

The Hayward Gallery, closed for renovations, moved temporarily to The Store on the Strand, and brought with it what Ben Luke described as a contender for show of the year. Combining video and sound, it was a veritable feast for the senses.

The Infinite Mix - in pictures 1 /5 The Infinite Mix - in pictures The Infinite Mix - in pictures Ugo Rondinone THANX 4 NOTHING, 2015 Film Installation. Black & White, stereo sound Image courtesy the artist; Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Ugo Rondinone The Infinite Mix - in pictures Rachel Rose Everything and More, (film still) 2015 Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias Gallery, London and Gavin Browns enterprise, New York Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias Gallery, London and Gavin Browns enterprise, New York, Rachel Rose The Infinite Mix - in pictures Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster OPERA (QM.15), 2016 HD Video, 8 minutes 30 seconds DACS, 2016. Courtesy the artist and Esther Schipper, Berlin The Infinite Mix - in pictures Jeremy Deller and Cecilia Bengolea, Bom Bom's Dream (working title), 2016 Courtesy the artists The Infinite Mix - in pictures Stan Douglas Luanda-Kinshasa, 2013 Stan Douglas Courtesy of the artist, David Zwirner, New York/London and Victoria Miro London

The incendiary combination of all these elements, together with the physical, emotional and cerebral viewer experience  and we have a very active role in the show  creates the infinite mix of the shows title. And its an exhilarating experience," wrote Ben Luke.

Read the five star review

New Tate Modern building

The Tate Modern got an extension this year, and our critic Matthew Collings was a big fan. Together with other displays, it was an impressively rich and interesting story of the new artistic climate, he wrote.

The message is that art must not live in an isolated ghetto. It must tell you how to live and what to believe. I go along with all this, while knowing that I dont believe most of it. I like the theatre of it, the staging of batty ideas.

Look inside Tate Modern's The Switch House

Read the five star review

Sunken Cities: Egypts Lost Worlds, British Museum

The British Museum offered the chance to see two Egyptian cities that were lost to the sea, unveiling the beautiful treasures beneath. The immersive installation evoked the wonderment of underwater discovery, said Matthew Collings.

Discovering the underwater treasures, in pictures 1 /8 Discovering the underwater treasures, in pictures A diver with the Stele of Thonis-Heracleion Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation The Stele of Thonis-Heracleion is lifted from the water Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation A glimpse of a statue of the God Hapy Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation A diver brings to light an Osiris-canopus Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation Garden vat, made of pink granite Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation The colossal statue of the God Hapy in more detail Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation The ruins of antique Canopus were located 2km east of the western fringe of the Nile delta, in Aboukir Bay Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation An archaeologist diver using a brush to clear remnants of fauna Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation

Collings wrote: The exhibition can be enjoyed without reading a single label or attempting to unravel the inevitable confusions of merged religious identities, simply because of the concern for symmetry and proportion that makes the art of this period pleasurable, even when its meanings are remote and when almost without exception faces and expressions are emotionless and masklike.

Read the five star review

Picasso Portraits, National Portrait Gallery

An exhibition of Picassos portraits at the National Portrait Gallery lifted our appreciation for the master to a new level said Matthew Collings. Anyone might want to visit it again and again, he suggested.

scalarchives.com

Through the cleverness of its curatorial choices, it once again convincingly celebrates  even after all the Picasso shows there have been  his general greatness. What sums it up, we learn here, is relentless experimenting, the ability to knock you out with a powerful image, and fantastic human empathy.

Read the five star review

Gavin Turk, Newport Street Gallery

Damien Hirst collaborated with sculptor Gavin Turk to bring together this partial survey of 25 years worth of Turks work; the collection was absurdly humble while others are glamorous, said Matthew Collings.

A lifesize rubbish skip, in shiny black painted steel, occupies a great deal of space, like a menacing minimal-art sculpture, while still obviously a skip. And its surrounded by those scraps of rubbish just mentioned, as if there might be someone in to sweep them up any minute. Theyre each in fact meticulous bronze casts that have been painted with tremendous care in trompe loeil style to resemble rubbish.

Read the five star review

Conceptual Art in Britain, Tate Britain

The Tate Britain had another hit on their hands with their survey of British Conceptual Art. It wouldnt change naysayers minds, said Matthew Collings; its a staging of the movement on the terms of its own notorious ideal.

I like paintings and, in fact, Im a painter myself as well as a critic. But I wasnt offended by this show  I found it absolutely exhilarating. You hardly ever see anything here that isnt a document or photo document. The curatorial vision is ruthless. A little pile of sand and a pyramid of real oranges are almost the only departure from black-and-white and grey. From one large, stark, white space to another, ideas are laid out almost always in a grid or a row.

Read the five star review

Ragnar Kjartansson, Barbican Centre

The Icelandic artist, who uses video and live performances as well as more traditional mediums, made rich territory of the sublime and the ridiculous with his exhibition at the Barbican.

Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures 1 /10 Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures God, 2007 Rafael Pinho Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures Scenes From Western Culture, 2015 Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures A Lot of Sorrow, 2013 (with The National) Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures Me and My Mother, 2015 Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures The End  Venezia, 2009 Rafael Pinho Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures Second Movement Tristan Fewings/ Getty Images Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures The Visitors, 2012 Elisabet Davidsdottir Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures Take me here by the Dishwasher: Memorial for a Marriage, 2011, 2014 Benoit Pailley Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures Kjartansson's show at the Barbican Tristan Fewings/ Getty Images Ragnar Kjartansson - in pictures Kjartansson's show at the Barbican Tristan Fewings/ Getty Images

One of the highlights was a video installation of a number of different musicians playing the same song in different rooms of a house. Ben Luke said of The Visitors: The effect of this musical coming together is magical, a real spine-tingler. Each screen is accompanied by a speaker; walk up close to it and you hear that musician with the distant strains of the others playing. Stand between the cellist and the banjoist and the mood evoked is entirely different from that between Kjartansson and a pianist.

Read the four star review

This article was brought you in association with Hiscox Home Insurance, providers of expert cover for valued homes, art and high-value items. Visit hiscox.co.uk/home to find out more.

For more Hiscox:

What does David Bowie's art collection say about him?

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The ultimate guide to progressing your red wine palate
C entrepoint today thanked Londoners for a Christmas miracle as our festive appeal broke through the 2million mark.

The youth homelessness charity held a special Christmas party to mark the milestone and hail the incredible generosity of Evening Standard readers

Supporter Samia Meah, 26, helped by Centrepoint when she became homeless at the age of 16, said: No one could predict the amazing support we have had from everyone reading.

"Thank you to everyone supporting us.

Landmark: Centrepoint staff and residents are celebrating reaching 2million in the homeless helpline appeal / NIGEL HOWARD

Gaia Marcus, who is overseeing team implementing the Young and Homeless Helpline being backed by our appeal, said: Im completely staggered.

"I dont think anyone in their wildest dreams thought we would be getting this early Christmas present of 2million.

The more we are able to raise, the more we are able to ensure the sustainability of the helpline. We want to provide it for ever or until there is no more need.

Homeless appeal: Centrepoint today celebrated the 'Christmas miracle' (NIGEL HOWARD) / NIGEL HOWARD 

The Appeal was launched less than five weeks ago with a call by Prince William, Centrepoints patron, for people to help save young lives.

The helpline will let young people aged between 16 and 25 who face homelessness or are already sleeping rough gain the help they need when they need it.

At present some 150,000 seek help for homelessness from local authorities each year  but up to a third are turned away with no help or advice.

Centrepoint helpline:The Prmie Minister Theresa May backs the Evening Standard's Christmas campaign

Our Appeal will not only help fund the service for three years but also help pay for places in accommodation and the expert advice, including mental health, addiction and family breakdown, those who turn to it require.

Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev, who launched the Appeal with Prince William, said: It is incredible that such a large amount of money has been raised so fast.

'Amazing achievement': Evgeny Lebedev with Centrepoint resident Kumba and Prince William / Samia Meah

"As a result, young people who may have fallen through the cracks will now receive the support they need when they need it.

"I can't thank everyone who has backed this appeal enough. This is an amazing achievement!"

Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin said everyone at the charity had been touched by the scale of kindness from the Evening Standard readers  but urged people to continue to donate to ensure the futures of the helpline and its support services.

'Touched': Centrepoint Chief Seyi pictured with Sdie Frost at a sleep-out event / NIGEL HOWARD 

We still have much work to do, he warned. We know 25,000 young people are at risk of homelessness this Christmas.

"There could be many thousands more across the country that dont ask for help and find themselves taking desperate measures to avoid a night on the streets.

As well as the remarkable number of donations from Evening Standard readers, the appeal has also been supported by a number of corporate backers and organisations.

Centrepoint campaign: Sadiq Khan backs the Evening Standard's Chirstmas appeal

The latest is the ASOS Foundation, which has given an incredible 450,000 to help turn the helpline into a reality.

Sponsorship for the London Sleep Out  where celebrities including Downton Abbey actress Daisy Lewis and fashion designer Sadie Frost joined more than 1,000 fundraisers on the Greenwich Peninsula  raised a massive 520,000.

Centrepoint sleep out 1 /18 Centrepoint sleep out Sleep Out Alex Dymoke Independent journalist gets ready to sleep out NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Colin Salmon before he gets ready to bed down NIGEL HOWARD; Sleep Out L-R Holly Gannon, Lottie Symonson, Steph Griffiths and Sophie Fox NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Anjali Patel, Remy Diamon-Ross and Hannah Kilminster join members of the RAF as they are given dinner NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron slept out NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out The RAF prepare tasty food for the overnighters NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Seyi Obakin and Sadie Frost NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Sadie Frost showed support for the charity NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Ashley James attended the event NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Lady Kitty Spencer slept overnight NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out L-R Seyo, Obakin, Colin Salmon, Laura Cartey, Lee Ryan, Lady Kitty Spencer, Lisa Maxwell, Alex Gregory, Sadie Frost, Ashley James, Hussain Manager and Sara Cox NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Terri Newman, Hollie Newbrook and Rowena Molla getting ready to bed down NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Bedding down for the night NIGEL HOWARD Sleep Out Sleepers get ready for lights out NIGEL HOWARD

Responses to the Safe Christmas advertising campaign that is further boosting the Appeal total for Centrepoint has received a further 700,000.

Centrepoints London manager Matt Carlisle, 49, who as a teenager was young and homeless himself, said everyone was blown away by the amounts.

It's like a Christmas miracle, he said of reaching the 2 million marker. Everyone who has given should know its going to help save lives.

Centrepoint: Matt's story

Young people who are homeless make a lot of rash and dangerous decisions because they don't have a choice.

"This helpline will help them make a better and a safer choice. Thank you so much.

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.
M oney raised by the Christmas Appeal will fund other vital Centrepoint services, as well as the launch of the Young and Homeless Helpline.

Seyi Obakin, the charitys chief executive, said: From healthcare to skills and employability, we help young people to get back on their own two feet.

Services that your donations support include:

Mental health

Centrepoint provides short and long-term counselling to traumatised young people accessing services.

Centrepoint campaign: Ben's story

Residents are offered mental health assessments within the first month of their stay and granted access to counselling to give them tools they need to deal with the stresses and strains of homelessness.

Brookemorgan Henry-Rennie, 18, said: Young people are not educated properly on mental health so they dont know how to get help.

Young homeless: Brookemorgan, pictured, went to live in a Centrepoint hostel when her relationship with her Mum broke down / Centrepoint

"Centrepoint offered me opportunities and support.

Healthy living

Centrepoint support workers provide education and workshops to empower young people to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Residents have access to classes on nutrition and cookery, one of which was joined by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn when he backed our appeal.

Life skills: Jeremy Corbyn attended a cooking class for young homeless people / JEREMY SELWYN

Functional skills

Disruption to education and training is one of the biggest barriers facing homeless young people.

Forty per cent of those arriving at Centrepoint have no qualifications.

It provides sessions teaching maths and English skills to the level required by employers.

Centrepoint helpline: Poppy's story

Journalist Poppy Noor, 26, was 16 when she moved into a Centrepoint hostel. Had I not found the hostel, Im sure I wouldnt have got the straight As at A level that got me into Cambridge, she said.

Basic life skills

Many of the young people Centrepoint works with missed out on experiences most take for granted.

The charity runs life skills lessons helping them learn how to budget and pay bills on time. A

Guidence: Andrea was helped to get permanent residency by the charity / Lucy Young

For Andrea Brown, who was 17 when she became homeless, these lessons were vital.

She said: I was frightened and didnt know who to turn to. Centrepoint gave me so much support and advice. They have help for everything.

Work advice

The charity helps young people prepare for job interviews and applications.

Residents are encouraged to take part in work experience, often organised by Centrepoint, as well as workshops, talks and advice from professionals and experts.

Centrepoint shoot: Evgeny Lebedev with Prince William being photographed by Samia / JEREMY SELWYN

The charity recently hired ex-Centrepoint resident Samia Meah, 26, to photograph Prince William for the helpline appeal.

After being homeless at 16, Samia went to live at a Centrepoint hostel before going to university to study photography.

Centrepoint helpline pkg

Now she works for the charity as a project assistant and holds exhibitions of her work.

Its hard to make it in London but Ive always had help, especially from Centrepoint, and kept trying. It feels like its coming together, she said.

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 specialist anti-terror police unit has removed around 250,000 pieces of extremist propaganda from the internet since its launch six years ago.

The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit has contacted around 300 companies around the world to remove material that includes beheadings, speeches urging violence and bombmaking instructions.

It trawls the web searching for extremist content as well as investigating reports from the public. This year, officers removed more than 121,151 pieces of extremist material, more than double the 55,556 last year.

The initiative aims to fight back against Islamic States use of the internet to gain recruits and incite acts of terror.

In recent years an increasing number of lone wolf fanatics convicted of terrorism are believed to have been radicalised online.

Detective Chief Superintendent Clarke Jarrett of the Counter Terrorism Command said: Removing this material is crucial work.

One post or video has the power to influence vulnerable people and inspire extremists and terrorists, so every removal really counts.

"This landmark [250,000] figure is a result of our productive relationship with service providers, partners and counterparts nationally and globally.

The public has played a key part in helping us to identify and seek the removal of so much damaging material, so I thank everyone who has reported material to us and urge the public to continue doing so.

Anyone who sees content that they suspect is extremist or terrorist is urged to report it by filling in a short and anonymous form at gov.uk/report-terrorism, where they will be asked to enter the address of the webpage on which they saw it.
T wo police officers were injured as "rioting" broke out when police shut down a Somali music event in west London.

Gangs of youths wreaked havoc as police officers were targeted with missiles while trying to disperse the crowd in Ealing on Thursday night.

Two police dogs were also injured in the melee after the 15 Somali Wild n out music show at Ealing Town Hall was shut down soon after 11pm because of overcrowding.

One organiser suggested some 2,000 people had turned up to the venue which can only hold 600.

Disorder: Frightened witnesses saw armed police outside McDonald's on Ealing Broadway / @hopeisaname / Twitter

A mob of youths is then said to have descended on nearby Longfield Avenue where rioting broke out.

Many were arrested as police fought to bring the mob under control, with extra support arriving from the Mets Territorial Support Group.

The New Broadway and Longfield Avenue were closed off as buses were redirected while officers attempted to disperse the riot.

Frightened witnesses reported seeing scores of armed police patrolling outside McDonalds at the junction with Spring Bridge Road. One Twitter user, Holly wrote: Theres armoured police outside McDonalds in Ealing Broadway its all kicking off.

Another explained: There was an event tonight, then it got locked off and like 1500 roadmans flooded Ealing. So it kicked off I guess.

One of the event's promoters wrote on Twitter: This event was my dream, it was going so well, never did I expect all most (sic) 2000 people to attend a venue that holds 600 I did my best.

The concert featured Somali hip hop artist Solo LDN whose songs include Pirates and No Games."

Various attendees have taken to social media to praise the event itself and condemn the ugly scenes which saw it shut down.

Jay said: The Somali wild n out was lit. It was fun, it was great energy and good vibes. Just a few idiots that caused the show to be locked off....

One woman using the handle @hafsaaxo said: "The Somali wild'n out actually looked lit from the snaps, its sad how Somalis have to spoil it for themselves."

Another added: "I love my Somali people but it's like some people are glad Somali Wild n Out got locked off kmt, why can't we just support each other."

Police have not released a full breakdown of the arrests yet.

The two officers injured did not require hospital treatment while the dogs will be seen by a vet today.

Roads were eventually reopened at 2am.

A Met police spokesman said: At approximately 23:00hrs on 22 December, officers were called to Ealing Town Hall, The Broadway, to reports of a disturbance.

A number of youths had tried to attend an event being held at the town hall but could not gain entry because the event was full.

Officers from Ealing borough attended. The decision was taken to shut the event down and disperse the crowds.

The groups then descended on nearby Longfield Avenue where disorder broke out.

He added: A number of people have been arrested for public order offences.

Enquiries continue.
S ix men have been arrested after a riot broke out in west London after police shut down a Somali music event.

Gangs of youths wreaked havoc as police officers were allegedly targeted with missiles while trying to disperse the crowd in Ealing on Thursday night.

Two police dogs were also injured in the melee after the 15 Somali Wild n out music show at Ealing Town Hall was shut down shortly after 11pm over fears of overcrowding.

A Metrolpolitan Police spokesman confirmed six men - aged between 19 and 23  has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences. They are being held at west London police stations.

Deputy Borough Commander of Ealing, Detective Superintendent Robert Mahoney, said: "A large number of people tried to gain entry to a pre-planned event being held at Ealing Town Hall last night.

"They were stopped from entering because of safety concerns. This resulted in some of the group engaging in disorder.

"A swift and proportionate police response soon brought the situation under control and six men are currently in custody. I want to reassure the residents of Ealing that this was an isolated incident which has been effectively dealt with."

Two police officers and arrests made after fight breaks out in Ealing

One organiser suggested some 2,000 people had turned up to the venue which can only hold 600.

After organisers decided to close the event to ensure safety, a mob of youths is said to have descended on nearby Longfield Avenue where rioting broke out.

Frightened witnesses reported seeing scores of armed police patrolling outside McDonalds at the junction with Spring Bridge Road.

One of the events promoters told the Standard: The reason it got closed was because too many people attended the event which was only promoted for a week.

A man was found suffering from injuries in nearby Mattock Lane and rushed to hospital by ambulance.

He remains in a west London hospital in a stable condition and enquiries are underway to establish how he sustained his injuries.
A n 11 million plan to fund a reserve force of firearms officers in London to tackle a Paris-style terror attack has been approved.

The cash will go towards training, buying guns and a new armoury for around 200 officers from the Territorial Support Group (TSG), who will train as a back-up force.

The group is seen as a second wave of armed officers who would be sent in to tackle a so-called marauding terrorism firearms attack similar to the assault on Pariss Bataclan theatre in November last year. They are part of the 600 extra armed officers being recruited to bolster Londons security.

Deputy Mayor for Policing Sophie Linden approved the contingency plan, which was ordered in the wake of the Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead.

A Mayors Office for Policing and Crime document says the plan would allow the Met to deploy more armed police and enable the force to work more closely with other blue light services.

TSG officers will not carry weapons in their normal public order duties or while on patrol in London and will only be called on if the Mets firearms capability is committed to dealing with multiple co-ordinated attacks.

Most of the extra officers are being deployed this year to armed response vehicles which are on permanent patrol. Scotland Yard is spending about 25 million on equipping the recruits.

The TSG is on the front line of policing violent protests and disorder in the capital, and carries out routine patrols in crime hotspots.
A rail passenger was sexually assaulted by another man in a toilet at a central London train station, police say.

The victim, a 25-year-old man, was attacked in the mens toilets at Charing Cross station on Saturday, December 10.

When he was visiting the toilets at about 8.15pm, he was approached by another man who exposed himself and touched him inappropriately, police said.

The victim then reported the incident to station staff and police.

CCTV: Police are appealing for this man to come forward

British Transport Police officers released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the sexual assault.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Donna Fox, said: We simply will not tolerate unwanted sexual behaviour on the transport network and we are working tirelessly to trace the person responsible.

"This was a highly distressing ordeal for this victim.

Id like to hear from anyone who recognises this man or who may have noticed a man acting suspiciously in or near the mens toilets at Charing Cross on this evening.

Anyone with information can get in touch by sending a text to 61016, calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 156 of 23/12/2016 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
C CTV footage caught the moment youths suspected of carrying out 27 raids on newsagents ransacked a store in east London.

The video, released by police, shows four hooded men raiding a Co-op in Stepney for cigarettes and alcohol.

Police said they fled with more than 1,500 worth of wares after targeting the store in Middlesex Street at around 11.50pm on December 9.

Scotland Yard believe the four suspects in the footage and another man who waited outside are responsible for 27 incidents of shoplifting, burglaries and robberies at venues in the Stepney area since October.

CCTV footage of the raid at the Co-op in Stepney / Metropolitan Police

It is believed the group have returned to the same venues on several occasions.

Police released the CCTV footage on Friday in a bid to trace them.

The first youth isdescribed as an Asian man, in his late 20s and 5ft 11ins tall. He wore a black jacket, dark jeans and black trainers.

Left to right: Suspect One [image ref 233731] and Suspect Two [image ref 233730] / Metropolitan Police

Suspect two was described as a black man in his late 20s and 5ft 11ins tall. He wore a black jacket, dark jeans, grey trainers and coloured rucksack.

The third suspect was described as a black man in his mid-20s and 6ft tall, clad in a dark blue jacket with brown shoulders, grey hooded top, dark blue jeans and grey trainers.

Suspect four was described as a black man in his mid-20s and 5ft 11ins tall, wearing a silver-coloured jacket with a motif, dark blue hooded top, blue jeans and dark shoulder bag.

Left to right: Suspect 3 [image ref 233732] and Suspect 4 [image ref 233733] / Metropolitan Police

Detective Sergeant Edd Ng, the investigating officer from Tower Hamlets, said: "This group of men appear to regularly target local premises which stock tobacco and alcoholic drinks.

"We have been speaking to the owners of premises across the local area to provide them with crime prevention advice.

Anyone with information or any witnesses are urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
P olice are hunting a man after a young woman was groped on a London bus during the morning rush hour.

The 25-year-old victim was attacked as she sat on the top deck of a Route 344 bus travelling towards Clapham, police say.

She boarded the bus at Elephant and Castle and was inappropriately touched by the suspect who was sitting behind her as the bus passed Battersea Power Station.

After the victim confronted him, the man got up and left the bus.

Appeal: Police want to speak this man in connection with a sex assault on a bus / Metropolitan Police

Police released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the sex assault.

Officers are appealing for anyone who recognises the man or who witnessed the incident, which happened at 9.10am on August 23.

The suspect was described as a black man and aged approximately 27.

Anyone with information is asked to contact local police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
N urses, carers and teachers are losing out on job offers as Scotland Yard struggles to tackle a scandalous backlog in criminal record checks, it is claimed.

Latest figures show the Met takes an average of almost three months to complete background checks on new recruits in health, care and education  against a national average of 12 days.

The Standard has spoken to would-be employees who have waited for up to nine months before being able to start after being offered jobs working with children or vulnerable adults.

Diane Abbott, the shadow Home Secretary, today said she would be raising the issue in Parliament after hearing from constituents who have been put off from applying for work in the sectors.

Ms Abbott told the Standard: I see these cases all the time in my advice surgery. This backlog is a scandal.

The Metropolitan Police does not seem to care that people are losing jobs because of their administrative failure.

The Met blames a sharp increase in applications over the past two years and difficulty in recruiting and retaining the staff required to process them.

It called in agency workers, staff on restricted duties and retiring officers to help clear a backlog of 80,000 cases after the Disclosure and Barring Service raised serious concerns in March.

Despite this, almost half of the 100,000 cases currently being processed date back more than two months, causing knock-on delays to new applications.

At one north London primary school, 10 per cent of new staff were unable to fulfil roles because requests submitted in June were not ready by September.

The Care Home Association said residential homes are having to rely on expensive agency workers while they await DBS checks for new recruits.

Volunteers, childminders, private-hire drivers and foster or adoptive parents who require enhanced background checks are also being affected by the delays.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the force was committed to reducing the number of outstanding cases as soon as possible.

She said: The MPS recognises that applicants may be impacted by turnaround times and is working with DBS and the Home Office to make reductions in waiting times, however, this needs to be balanced against making thorough checks and lawful disclosures.

DBS checks are not simple administrative work. These decisions directly impact children and vulnerable adults and those who seek to work with them and staff require significant specialist training and supervision.

The delays relate to enhanced checks, which are passed by the DBS, part of the Home Office, to the relevant police force on employers behalf.

A Home Office spokesperson said: Disclosure and Barring Service checks are an important aspect of public protection for both the voluntary and employment sectors.

The DBS is working closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that their performance improves as quickly as possible.
A teenager was fighting for life in hospital and another man was injured after a double stabbing in north London

Police were trawling the Turnpike Lane area for clues on the location of the stabbings on Friday morning after the 19-year-old arrived at a hospital in north London with knife wounds.

Scotland Yard said officers believed both men were stabbed during "a violent incident" near Waldegrave Road in the early hours of the morning.

Staff at the hospital alerted police after the teenager was admitted at about 1am.

Police investigate a stabbing in the Turnpike Lane area / Rex

He was transferred to a hospital in east London where his condition was described as life-threatening.

Emergency services were seperately called to Waldegrave Road to reports of a man stabbed at 12.50am. A 23-year-old man was taken to hospital with stab wounds not believed to be serious.

A Met Police spokesman said: "Detectives from Haringey CID are investigating.

"They believe the 19-year-old man was stabbed in the area of Turnpike Lane or Waldegrave Road.

Roads were sealed off as officers investigated / Rex

"The 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder."

A crime scene was set up and parts of Turnpike Lane and Westbury Avenue were sealed off for hours as officers investigated.

Mark Humphris posted on Twitter: Lots of roads closed around Wood Green, Turnpike Lane and A10 area. Police on scene.

Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call Haringey CID via 101. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


C hristmas is the busiest time of year for Londons shops, but it is also the hardest time of year for the citys hungry.

So this year some of the capitals most famous retailers are throwing their weight behind The Felix Project, to provide festive cheer to those who might otherwise go without.

Tomorrow, vans from The Felix Project will make collections from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Whole Foods, Harrods, Lazeez Tapas, Gails bakery and Daylesford.

There will also be Christmas deliveries from regular suppliers such as Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Sainsburys and Paul.

Then on Christmas morning the food will be delivered by Justin Byam Shaw, The Felix Projects founder, and his family, in a new van sponsored by Uber.

He will take the produce to frontline charities, which will use it to serve a Christmas meal to some of Londons hungry residents.

We are delighted that these great stores, some of the biggest names in quality food retail, are supporting The Felix Project, said Mr Byam Shaw, chairman of the Evening Standard. They are helping ensure that no Londoner should go hungry this Christmas.

The Evening Standard supported The Felix Project through its Food for London campaign in the autumn. A series of articles and events revealed the massive scale of food poverty and waste in the capital.

Millions of tonnes of perfectly good food go to waste each year, while nearly half a million Londoners regularly go hungry. For several stores, tomorrow is the first time they have supported the Felix Project.

Fortnums is proud to be supporting the Food for London campaign and the Felix Project, said Ewan Venters, Fortnums CEO.

We all believe in the same thing  that good food should never go to waste. At this time of year, its especially important for us to work together to help others.

One of the charities that will receive a special Christmas Day delivery is Sufra, a food bank and community kitchen in west London.

Well be cooking a home-cooked, three-course meal, says Sufra manager Fahim Dahya.

Some of the people who come here are homeless, so its nice for them to be in the warm, others are socially isolated or mentally ill, and the meal will help get them out of the house, having a meal, having a laugh.

"Even if you dont celebrate Christmas, we will have every race, every religion, sitting at the same table, eating food together.
A top barrister and part-time judge who died after a blaze ripped through his Thames-side apartment was a true gentleman, friends said today.

Ian Paton, 66, a criminal prosecutor who also sat as a crown court recorder, was in his third-floor flat in Luna House, Bermondsey Wall West, when fire broke out.

Mr Paton, who worked for QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers, was pulled from the flames by firefighters but pronounced dead shortly after.

Other residents of the block fled as smoke poured from the apartment.

Sources said the blaze, which happened at about 5.30pm on Tuesday, had been investigated to ensure it was not connected to his work and to rule out a revenge attack.

Mr Patons prosecutions had led to several criminals being jailed. This is no longer suspicious. This will probably go down more as misadventure. The cause is still being investigated, but there were candles in the flat, a source said.

A post-mortem examination has taken place and more tests are due to be carried out, but it is suspected Mr Paton, who lived alone, died from smoke inhalation.

Friend and former colleague Sally Mertens, 46, a barrister at Atkinson Bevan Chambers, said: He was really well respected, a true gentleman and very fair towards people as a prosecutor. He was a lovely guy and a very good barrister. He also sat as a judge part-time, as a recorder. He worked on a lot of stuff, from murders to frauds.

He was a pleasure to work with. Its incredibly sad. He was incredibly well respected among his colleagues. Being at QEB Chambers, youre talking about one of the top five to be with, so he was at the top of his game.

Barrister John Traversi, of 9 Bedford Row Chambers, added: We started at the Bar at about the same time. He was a very bright, capable and unyielding prosecutor. He was hugely respected.

Anybody who came across him in court representing the other side knew they would be up against it. He was a formidable opponent and its a huge loss to the profession.

A family friend, who wished not to be named, said: Everyone is devastated. He was a great man who had a young daughter and this is terrible just before Christmas. His daughter was too upset to speak.

It took 21 firefighters nearly two hours to control the blaze. One evacuated resident said: It must have been going on for a good few hours. There was a lot of billowing, thick black smoke coming from the window. I dont think anybody could have survived that.

London Fire Brigade said: A man was rescued from the flat by firefighters but was sadly confirmed dead at scene.
A 5 million ring of steel is to be built to protect some of the Square Miles highest skyscrapers from terrorist attack.

Manned checkpoints, rising street bollards, restricted roads and crash-proof barricades are among measures proposed to bolster the Citys defences by controlling the flow of traffic into the heart of the financial district. It follows warnings from MI5 that the eastern cluster of towers planned or being built around Bishopsgate is highly sensitive to the threat of a hostile, vehicle-borne attack.

The original ring of steel went up around the City following IRA attacks on the Baltic Exchange in 1992 and on Bishopsgate the following year, which killed a total of four people. It was made up of road barriers, checkpoints and CCTV cameras on all main roads into the district. After the IRA ceasefire of 1994 the police presence at checkpoints was largely abandoned.

The Square Miles new skyscrapers are seen as particularly vulnerable to a lorry bomb attack  and police and intelligence agencies are also reviewing security for all landmark buildings and public events after the Berlin Christmas market atrocity on Monday.

Floral tributes made to victims of Berlin 'terror attack'

An initial study into the City security proposals is being funded by a terrorism tax of 50,000 on developers of new skyscrapers through so-called section 106 agreements as part of their planning approval deals.

Mitsubishi Estate London, which is to build a 40-storey glass tower at 6-8 Bishopsgate, and AXA Investment Managers, which is behind a 62-storey skyscraper at 22 Bishopsgate, have contributed a total of 100,000.

Armed police in London / EPA/ANDY RAIN

A third levy was agreed last month when City of London planners approved an application for the 1,015ft Trellis tower at 1 Undershaft, which is expected to be the highest building in the Square Mile.

Counter-terror specialists have proposed a secure cordon to seal off key routes Undershaft, St Mary Axe and Leadenhall Street and limit traffic access to a wider zone without pre-booking and/or security vetting.

Threat: The City is considered 'sensitive' to the threat of attacks / Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

Simon Glyn, director of built environment for the City of London Corporation, said: The local situation has changed significantly over the past two years with several large-scale redevelopments approved or planned. The scale of these developments requires much greater levels of security than can be delivered on a site-by-site basis and an area-wide solution is recommended.

A proposal to fund enhanced security through voluntary donations collapsed after the 2009 crash, which left firms reluctant to contribute financially.

The City is to be protected by tighter anti-terror measures / Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The new scheme will be subject to a consultation but, if approved, the measures would be fully implemented by 2022.

Mr Glyn said: Investment in the security of the Eastern City Cluster, which is one of the Citys most crowded places and a significant target for terrorist attack, is considered both essential infrastructure and an important offer by the City of London to current and future occupiers in the area that may determine the future investment decisions of these stakeholders.

He said he was mindful of balancing enhanced security against the daily needs of local businesses, City workers, shoppers and diners.

Eric Parry Architects, which is designing the Trellis, said the increased threat from terrorist groups had been factored into their plans. Its report for the planning application said: To protect this iconic building and maintain its presence and reputation it is imperative that security solutions are sustainable, resilient and cost-effective.

A City of London Corporation spokesman said: We want to maintain the City of London as one of the safest cities in the world Because of the high density of offices in the eastern cluster it is only right that we re-examine the security plans for this area of the Square Mile.
I ts been a tumultuous 12 months, not least in the world of politics, but one man who has emerged from the tattered remains of 2016 relatively unscathed is Boris Johnson.

In February, after much speculation as to which side of the EU debate he supported, the then Mayor of London announced he would be joining the Vote Leave campaign.

Ahead of the election for the next Mayor of London, Johnson endorsed Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith, who went on to lose the election to Labour MP Sadiq Khan.

The UK voted to leave the European Union on June 23, which prompted David Camerons resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservatives. There was immediate speculation that Boris Johnson would join Theresa May, Andrea Leadsom, Liam Fox, Stephen Crabb, and Michael Gove in the race to replace Cameron.

Ultimately, the former mayor defied supporters, critics, and journalists by announcing at a press conference that he would not in fact be running to become the UKs next Prime Minister.

Then Home Secretary Theresa May eventually won the contest, and appointed Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, much to Angela Eagles surprise and the amusement of many foreign ministers around the world.

After previously criticising Donald Trump, the Foreign Secretary urged people to put the doom and gloom of the election behind them and cease the whinge-a-rama.

Watch the video above to see Boris' 2016 highlights, which include the now Foreign Secretary kissing a fish.
J eremy Corbyn has said Labour is ready for a snap general election despite its lowly position in the polls.

The Labour leader confirmed he would instruct his MPs to back an early general election if the Prime Minister calls one before 2020.

He told the Independent: Were ready for it. Weve got more members that weve ever had before, weve paid off all our debts to the party, we dont have any mortgages, we are in a very strong, organised position.

But national polls have Labour languishing behind, consistently polling just 25 to 30 per cent of the vote.

The latest average by pollster Britain Elects put Labour 12.5 per cent behind the Conservative party.

But Mr Corbyn said he was positive about improving the poll rating and Labours performance at the ballot box.

He told the paper: We had an improvement in the polls recently.

While the results in Richmond and Sleaford and North Hykeham werent that good, what wasnt reported on the same day was that we gained overall control of the Telford and Wrekin council by winning a ward that has never, ever been Labour before."

He added: "I just point out that there are other areas where weve had some very good results."

His comments come as Theresa May braces herself to push through Brexit, one of the biggest constitutional changes in modern history, without a personal mandate at the ballot box.

The Prime Minister has insisted she will not call for an early election but there has been speculation among Tory MPs that a snap ballot would be desirable to cement the authority of the leader.

Current rules dictate that general elections are held every five years, meaning there cannot be an election before 2020.

But a government can trigger a snap election if two-thirds of MPs are in agreement.

Asked if he would instruct his MPs to vote for a snap election Mr Corbyn said: If there is a vote to dissolve Parliament then obviously we will vote with it.
T he Queen was disappointed with Theresa May after she failed to divulge details of her plans for Brexit during her first visit to Balmoral, it has been claimed.

The Prime Minister declined to depart from her "Brexit means Brexit" line when she went to stay at the royal residence in Scotland in September, according to The Times.

Her unwillingness to offer an insight into her personal thoughts on the matter is said to have come as a disappointment to both the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, it was reported.

Neither Buckingham Palace nor Downing Street would comment on the report.

A palace spokeswoman said: "By long-established convention we never disclose details of discussions between the Queen and her prime ministers. Nor would we comment on anonymously sourced conjecture of this kind."

Behind the scenes however there was irritation at the report, with one source insisting it was not representative of Mrs May's conversations with monarch during her two-day stay in Scotland.

18 months for Brexit deal, says EU's chief negotiator

The visit - an annual fixture for prime ministers - came just two months after Mrs May entered No 10 following the resignation of David Cameron in the wake of the Brexit vote.

It is not the first time reporting of the Queen's supposed concerns about the EU have sparked controversy.

Earlier this year, former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg flatly denied a report in The Sun that the Queen had vented her frustration with Brussels at him during a private lunch at Windsor Castle.

The latest report follows the departure of the Queen and the Duke for Norfolk for the start of their Christmas holidays after apparently recovering enough from "heavy colds" to make the journey.

Queen leaves for Sandringham in helicopter after illness

The royal couple travelled by helicopter from Buckingham Palace to the Queen's private Sandringham estate after they were forced to delay their journey on Wednesday after falling ill.

Additional reporting by Press Association
A passenger plane with 118 people on board has landed in Malta after apparently being hijacked by two people threatening to blow up the aircraft.

The Afriqiyah Airways aircraft was on an internal flight in Libya when it was diverted to Malta.

Malta airport said the plane from Libya had landed and it appeared that two hijackers were on board.

Malta's state television says two hijackers who diverted the Libyan plane to the Mediterranean island had threatened to blow it up.

A hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 stands on the runway at Malta Airport / REUTERS

State television TVM said the two hijackers on board had hand grenades and had threatened to explode them.

Tense negotiations ensued and within a few hours at least 109 passengers were allowed to leave the plane.

An official from Afriqiyah Airways said the two hijackers had expressed a willingness to release the passengers after negotiations but that they wanted to keep the pilot.

The hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 on the runway / REUTERS

Passengers began disembarking from the hijacked Libyan aircraft in Malta at about 1.45pm local time.

The doors of the plane opened and a staircase was moved over to its door before passengers began disembarking.

All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

It is not clear why the plane was hijacked or what the demands of the hijackers are.

The plane's engines were still running as emergency operations got underway at the airport.

The Malta airport authority said all emergency teams have been dispatched to the site of what it called an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac.

Maltese troops survey a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways flight / REUTERS

Maltese troops were pictured surveying the hijacked flight on the runway.

The prime minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said on Twitter that he had been informed of a "potential hijack situation" involving an internal Libyan flight diverted to Malta.

In a post from his official account, he said: Informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta.

"Security and emergency operations standing by -JM."

All flights in and out of Malta have been cancelled.

This page is being updated.
A video has been released of Berlin attack suspect Anis Amri pledging allegiance to Isis, as Germany warned his death does not reduce the country's terror threat.

The 24-year-old was on Friday revealed by Islamic State-affiliated news agency Amaq to have filmed a video declaring his support for leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

Hours earlier he was shot dead by Italian police outside a station near Milan.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere thanked the Italian authorities after Amri was killed following a shoot-out at 3am local time.

Anis Amri: The terror suspect was shot dead in Milan

But in a press conference in the German capital, where Amri drove a truck into a Christmas market killing 12 people, he said the terrorist threat remains high.

I express my gratitude and congratulations to the Italian authorities for their success, he said. I want to say how brave and professional they have been.

Dashcam footage captures the moment truck crashes into the Berlin Christmas market

This attacker is not putting us in danger anymore.

This manhunt which ended in success of course does not mean an end because we have to investigate what happened further.

Milan: Amra was shot to the north of the city at 3am / Daniele Bennati/AP

Unfortunately the terror threat has not changed. It is still at high risk.

He added that "now the time has come to talk about consequences" of the attack.

Recovery: Police officer Cristian Movio / REUTERS

Amri, the 24-year-old prime suspect for the Christmas market massacre, was challenged by a police patrol outside a station near Milan at around 3am, it was reported.

When officers asked to see his papers in a routine stop, the man pulled a gun from his bag.

Shouting Allah Akbar, or God is Great, the suspect fired at the officers hitting one of them in the shoulder before he was shot dead by police.

The police officer is now recovering in hospital.
P olice are probing whether Berlin market massacre suspect Anis Amri was responsible for the murder of a young German boy in October in Hamburg.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the October 16 knife attack which claimed the life of a 16-year-old called Victor.

Murder squad detectives are now investigating the similarities between Amri and the photofit picture issued for Victor's killer

Isis news agency Amaq stated about the October attack at the time: "A soldier of the Islamic State stabbed two individuals in Hamburg on the 16th of this month.

He carried out the operation in response to calls to target the citizens of coalition countries."

Victor's girlfriend, aged 15, was with him at the time and was not stabbed but pushed into the waters of the Outer Alster Lake.

When she made it to dry land she called the emergency services but her boyfriend died shortly afterwards in hospital. She is currently under psychiatric care.

Who is the prime suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack?

If the group was responsible, it would be its first lethal attack on German soil.

Berlin: 12 people died in the market attack / Britta Pedersen/EPA

An Afghan refugee who pledged allegiance to Isis attacked people with an axe on a train in July and was killed by police but his victims survived.

And an Isis suicide bomber a week later killed himself with a DIY bomb outside a cafe in Ansbach, injuring 19 people with no fatalities.

Hamburg police said they are looking for a man of "southern" appearance, estimated to be about 23 to 25 years old and about 1.8 to 1.9 metres tall. He has stubble and short, dark hair.

Police are now investigating to see if the killing and the Berlin market slaughter may have been carried out by the same man.

"This is another lead we are following," said a police spokesman.

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Police are carrying out further searches in Berlin after Amri was apparently spotted at a city mosque after Monday's attack, which killed 12 people and injured 50.
B erlin terror fugitive Anis Amri was killed in a dramatic shootout with police in Italy early today.

The 24-year-old prime suspect for the Christmas market massacre was challenged by a police patrol outside a station near Milan at around 3am, it was reported.

When officers asked to see his papers in a routine stop, the man pulled a gun from his bag.

Shouting Allah Akbar, or God is Great, the suspect fired at the officers hitting one of them in the shoulder before he was shot dead by police. The police officer is now recovering in hospital.

Suspect: Anis Amri

The Italian interior minister Marco Minniti confirmed in a press conference today that "without any shadow of a doubt" Anis Amri was the man who had been shot.

He said: "During a usual routine activity, a state police squad stopped someone who appeared suspect.

"At the moment he stopped, without hesitating he immediately took a pistol out of his rucksack and shot.

"He shot the policeman who asked for his identity documents and the officers responded.

The aftermath of the shootout in Milan / Daniele Bennati/AP

"The person that attacked our patrol was killed," he added.

The dramatic events came amid a Europe wide manhunt for the Tunisian migrant named by police as wanted for Mondays lorry attack in which 12 people were killed and 48 more injured.

The gunman shot dead in Milan did not have official papers on him but sources in Italy said fingerprints confirmed him as Amri.

The wounded officer was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and his condition is described as serious, but not life threatening.

Amri is thought to have travelled to Italy by train from France / Daniele Bennati/AP

Images on Italian media show a mans body covered in a gold sheet lying in the middle of a square surrounded by police tape.

Amri is thought to have travelled to Italy, where he has previous links, by train from France.

Reports state he first arrived in Italy in 2011 along with tens of thousands of other Tunisians who fled by boat.

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He spent three and half years in six different prisons in Sicily for starting a fire at a refugee home among other charges.

Police are probing whether Anis Amri was responsible for the murder of a young German boy in October in Hamburg.

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Islamic State claimed responsibility for the October 16 knife attack which claimed the life of a 16-year-old called Victor.

Murder squad detectives are now investigating the similarities between Amri and the photofit picture issued for Victor's killer.
T wo Kosovan-born brothers have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a terror attack at a shopping centre in west Germany.

Police said the men had been detained over an alleged plan to target a centre near the city of Oberhausen in the Ruhr area of the country.

"The brothers aged 28 and 31 have been taken into custody on suspicion of planning an attack at the Centro shopping complex and we are investigating if there are others involved," said a police spokesman.

Oberhausen is not far from Dortmund where Anis Amri, 24, the Tunisian radical wanted for the truck massacre at a Berlin Christmas market on Monday that killed 12, attended hate speeches at a mosque where Isis was praised.

The Kosovo duo were arrested in Duisburg, close to the Dutch border.

A Christmas market near to the Centro shopping area was flooded with armed police on Thursday evening.

With 250 shops and parking places for 14,000 cars the Centro complex is one of the biggest in Germany.

There is no indication of how far advanced the alleged plans were for the bombing.

Meanwhile the hunt continues across the continent for Amri. There remains no trace of him.
T he hijackers of a passenger plane carrying 118 people have been arrested following a stand-off at an airport in Malta.

The Afriqiyah Airways aircraft was on an internal flight in Libya when it was diverted to Malta International Airport.

Malta airport said the plane from Libya had landed and it appeared that two hijackers were on board.

Malta's state television says two hijackers who diverted the Libyan plane to the Mediterranean island had threatened to blow it up.

They surrendered after most of the 118 people on board had been released from the aircraft.

A hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 stands on the runway at Malta Airport / REUTERS

It remains unclear exactly how many hijackers were involved, officials said.

However, it appears they may be supporters of the late former leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports.

Passengers began disembarking from the hijacked Libyan aircraft in Malta at about 1.45pm local time.

The doors of the plane opened and a staircase was moved over to its door before passengers began disembarking.

All were seen leaving the aircraft without hand luggage.

It is not clear why the plane was hijacked or what the demands of the hijackers are.

Maltese troops survey a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways flight / REUTERS

The plane's engines were still running as emergency operations got underway at the airport.

The Malta airport authority said all emergency teams have been dispatched to the site of what it called an "unlawful interference" on the airport tarmac.

Maltese troops were pictured surveying the hijacked flight on the runway.

The prime minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said on Twitter that he had been informed of a "potential hijack situation" involving an internal Libyan flight diverted to Malta.

In a post from his official account, he said: Informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta.

"Security and emergency operations standing by -JM."

All flights in and out of Malta have been cancelled.
W ere bookish up north, foodie down south, glamorous in the east  and party-loving out west.

Thats London in a nutshell, or rather in an algorithm, according to lists released by Amazon which detail its bestselling products across the capital in 2016.

The data also solved one of the years great tech mysteries  who is still buying selfie sticks?

Curious shopping quirks were revealed across the capital. In the Square Mile, where deals are struck at all hours, the bestseller was the 8 Premium Sleep Mask by MemorySoft.

The 10th most popular item in the whole city was an 80p pack of five ripe and ready Fairtrade bananas.

Amazons Doug Gurr said: Its fascinating to see how the bestsellers of the year differ depending on where in the capital you live.

The firm does not release exact sales figures to the media, although the products featured in the lists are said to have sold in their tens of thousands.

An agency employed by Amazon compiled the lists using 35,000 pieces of London sales data.

All three of the top buys in north London, spanning Hackney to Barnet, were paperback books. The most popular was Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari.

This was followed by Marie Kondos neatness manual, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A Simple, Effective Way To Banish Clutter Forever. Third on the list was the social climbers bible, How To Win Friends And Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.

The only alcohol in north Londons top five is a rose wine, the 19 Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence 2015, which is produced from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts estate.

South of the river, food dominated, but the bestseller list is topped by a childrens 52-piece arts and crafts set.

This is followed by organic blueberries, a cake icing kit, coconut water and a gallon of organic cider vinegar. The 3 blueberries were described by one reviewer as lovely and tasty but a bit expensive and that for the price the box is tiny.

According to the data those in the west live the good life  from Harrow to Hammersmith & Fulham, the bestselling list is topped by R de Ruinart Brut Champagne NV for 34.

An iPhone screen protector, Fujifilm Instax Mini film bundle and a party pack of 24 bubble-blowing bottles also featured on the list for west London. The area solves the selfie stick mystery, too  thousands of west Londoners have bought the Tonsee mini extendable selfie stick. Amazons data shows that in east London, taking in Tower Hamlets and Havering, make-up and lifestyle items were most popular.

Top of the list were 1 Liroyal natural look false eyelashes, followed by a 17.60 teeth whitening kit by Briyte and a 13 Australian Gold dark tanning accelerator lotion. A 26 Scholl Velvet pedicure kit was the fifth most popular purchase there.

But the popularity of selfie sticks in west London might not last  according to childrens charity Barnardos, they are already among the unwanted gifts most likely to be donated to its shops after Christmas.

Online clothes shops - in pictures 1 /16 Online clothes shops - in pictures ASOS From boho dresses to the trendiest trainers, ASOS is your one-stop shop for of-the-moment pieces. Both men and women can browse through a helpful list of popular high-street, sports and designer labels including the likes of River Island, Nike and Moschino. To make your search easier, theres the option to shop by various edits including a Going Out-Out range and Workwear. ASOS, Shop now Missguided The ultimate e-fashion store for ladies on a budget. With pastcampaigns featuring the likes of singers Pia Mia and Nicole Scherzinger, the website offers various styles of affordable clothing and doesnt skimp on quality. Youll also come across pieces that resemble items recently worn by style-savvy stars including the Kardashians. Missguided, Shop now Net a Porter A leading name of online fashion, Net a Porter brings the latest catwalk styles to your fingertips. Its luxury range includes bridal wear, a vacation shop and theres a beauty section featuring popular cosmetic brands like Charlotte Tilbury. Net a Porter, Shop now Simply Be Simply Be is a popular name in plus-size fashion, offering cute on-trend pieces in sizes 10-32. British TV presenter Jameela Jamil can be spotted flaunting her own collection for the website, while theres an eclectic mix of trends to shop through. Featured brands include Coast, Joe Browns and Little Mistress. Simply Be, Shop now Amazon Fashion Looking for everything in one place? Amazon might be known as a one-stop shop for daily essentials, but the online giant is also becoming a go-to site for millennials searching for a stylish ensemble. Stocking heaps of high-street and designer labels, from Mango and New Look to Kate Spade and Michael Kors, Amazon Fashion is a great bet for those who regularly top up their wardrobe with the seasons key trend pieces. It also has a jeans store where you can shop denim pieces from iconic brands such as Levis. If thats not enough, then Amazon Prime members are able to order three or more items without paying upfront. Amazon Fashion, Shop now Rokit With reasonable prices and an incredibly easy search function, Rokit is the perfect online shopping destination for vintage fashion-hunters. From 50s tea dresses to 90s track tops, its quirky retro gems feature almost every single era and theres also a Recycled range. Rokit, Shop now Boohoo This website draws inspiration from some of the most stylish celebs of the moment. Whether its Kendall Jenners casual chic or the vibrant TOWIE style youre aiming for, theres a purse-friendly piece to suit different tastes. Click on the catwalk video to get a closer look of the items you've got your eye on. Boohoo, Shop now Secret Sales If youre all about discounts, then look no further than this private shopping club. Its hidden time-limited sales include up to 70 percent off designer brands like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada. As well as clothing and accessories, there are also reductions on homeware and beauty goods. Secret Sales, Shop now Cloggs Footwear retailer Cloggs boasts some of the best footwear brands around and offers a 15 percent discount to students. With a free returns service, the easy-to-use website provides an A-Z brand directory as well as sections for men, women and kids. Cloggs, Shop now Figleaves This online lingerie retailer features a huge selection of lingerie, nightwear and swimwear from well-known underwear labels  think Heidi Klum Intimates and Triumph. Picky ladies have the option to find their perfect fit using the websites handy Bra Calculator, while brides-to-be can shop for those special essentials from the Bridal section. Figleaves, Shop now Young British Designers Explore the UKs up and coming fashion designers while shopping for quintessentially British pieces. Launched in 2010, this edgy website offers some of the best designs from the likes of Issi, J.W Anderson and Debra Hepburn. Young British Designers, Buy it now Zalando Belin-based online fashion retailer, Zalando, sells clothing styles for women, men and kids from more than 1,500 brands. With a sophisticated design, the website lets you shop the latest items from your favourite high-street labels and sought-after designer brands, from Topshop and New Look to Fendi and Ralph Lauren. It offers free home delivery and theres also a courier collection service for returns, which allows you to book a slot within the hour. Boohoo, Shop now

North

1. Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind, 6.99, Buy it now

2. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A Simple, Effective Way To Banish Clutter Forever, 7.69, Buy it now

3. How To Win Friends And Influence People 6.29, Buy it now

South

1. Childrens 52-piece art and crafts set in a hexaganol box , 7.99, Buy it now

2. Berryworld Fresh Organic Blueberries 150g, 2.98, Buy it now

3. Cake icing kit with nozzles and bags, 9.99, Buy it now

East

1. Liroyal natural look false eyelashes, 0.79, Buy it now

2. Wunderbrow gel, 19.95, Buy it now

3. Briyte teeth whitening kit, 17.60, Buy it now

West

1. R de Ruinart Brut Champagne NV, 33.99, Buy it now

2. Crystal clear tempered glass screen protector for iPhone 6, 2.75, Buy it now

3. Fujifilm Instax Mini film bundle pack, 30.69, Buy it now

@_MarkBlunden
M att Terry might have ended up the winner of this years X Factor, but there was one other contestant who got everyone talking.

Rapper Honey G from North Weezy (or, North West London) fought her way into the live shows and became a playground sensation  and now she's released her debut single.

The song, named The Honey G Show, is out on Simon Cowells SyCo label  but don't worry, it isn't eligible for the Christmas #1 slot.

The track is an original (as opposed to the covers she performed on The X Factor), and incorporates the H to the O to the N to the E to the Y to the G hook that she made her trademark.

The song includes shout-outs to Honey's heroes Snoop Dogg (as an outspoken fan of his debut album Doggystyle), Dr. Dre, and Kanye West.

Honey G on her new merchandise

Honey  real name Anna Georgette Gilford  announced the single during the X Factor final, and will be appearing on The X Factor tour in 2017.

The rapper was rumoured to be entering Celebrity Big Brother in January, but has since shut down the claims.

Celebrity Big Brother All Stars rumoured line-up - In pictures 1 /8 Celebrity Big Brother All Stars rumoured line-up - In pictures Katie Price Katie Price is reality TV royalty  so much so that she entered the January 2015 series of Celebrity Big Brother half way through and went on to win. She has commented on Twitter that word of her return is only rumours, but says she would do Big Brother again. Ian Gavan/Getty Images Stephen Bear Controversial Ex on the Beach star Stephen Bear was the lowest-paid celeb from the summer 2016 series, but played the game perfectly to provoke outrage, score votes, and snatch the win. Hed be sure to shake up the house if he came back in for another series. Channel 5 Nikki Grahame The All Stars theme all but guarantees an appearance from Nikki Grahame. The infamous star from the original series has popped up regularly over the years  and has also been a hit on international Big Brother series. Channel 5 Nicola McLean According to The Sun, glamour model Nicola McLean is already confirmed to enter the house. She starred on the show in 2012, and was involved in a huge argument with Denise Welch which led to her leaving the series. Ian West/PA Bianca Gascoigne The former step-daughter of Paul Gascoigne has never appeared on CBB before, but did once have a stint presenting Big Brothers Big Mouth in 2008. She also won the original Love Island series back in 2006. Dave Benett Calum Best The son of George Best last took part in Celebrity Big Brother in January 2015, when he came third. He also has history with Bianca Gascoine thanks to their time on Love Island together  which could mean added sparks. Channel 5

Right now Honey G is busy with releasing her debut single The Honey G Show which is out this Friday, 23rd December, her representative told The Sun.

Then she starts rehearsals for the X Factor tour which starts in February.

The Honey G is out now for digital download, and it seems fans can expect more from the X Factor star who said "bring on the album when she announced her record deal.
The Omaha-based conservative think tank said earlier this month that it is working with Gov. Pete Ricketts to review the nearly 200 occupations that require a government license under state law.

In many cases, Nebraskas rivals and our neighboring states have more reasonable licensing requirements, the Platte Institute says on its website. For example, cosmetologists or barbers have to take 2,100 hours of training in Nebraska, which can cost up to $20,000, while most states require 1,500 hours or less. A massage therapy license in Nebraska requires 1,000 hours of training, while most states require 500-700.

Sen. Nicole Fox of Omaha, who succeeded in exempting natural hair braiding from licensing requirements during the legislative session earlier this year, will join the Platte Institute in January when her term expires.

Were not looking at getting rid of all licensing, but were looking at how can we make Nebraska competitive but still make sure that were ensuring safety and the health of the public, Fox told the Journal Star.

The Platte Institute said that Nebraskas regulations dont stand up well when they are subjected to legal challenge. Nebraskas courts overturned roughly 37.8 percent of regulations, substantially higher than the 20-27 percent range for Colorado, Florida, and Iowa, the organization reported.

Obviously, going to court to challenge regulations costs money and takes time that could be devoted to more productive pursuits, so the success of those legal challenges hints at a larger problem.

The institute suggests sensibly that requiring sunset provisions on regulations would automatically create a natural process for getting older, outdated, and inefficient regulations off the books.

Jim Vokal, CEO of the Platte Institute, says that occupational licensing affects one in four U.S. workers and is the biggest labor force issue in the country today.

Support for getting outdated licensing requirements can be found on both ends of the political spectrum.

In a report last year the White House Council of Economic Advisors and other federal agencies declared, There is evidence that licensing requirements raise the price of goods and services, restrict employment opportunities and make it more difficult to take their skills across state lines.

Regular readers of this page know that the Journal Star editorial board occasionally differs with the Platte Institute on its policy nostrums. This time, however, the think tank is on track to doing something beneficial for the states economy.
Two senior military leaders in southern Afghanistan have contradicted each other over the possible return of senior Taliban leaders to the region where the hard-line movement first emerged two decades ago.

The reality of the Taliban leaderships presence in one of the most hotly contested regions in Afghanistan, however, is still murky.

While some Taliban leaders are apparently active in southern Afghanistan, there is no definitive proof that the entire insurgent chain of command now operates from within Afghanistan.

This week, General Abdul Raziq, the powerful police chief of southern Kandahar Province, raised hopes for a breakthrough in negotiations with the Taliban by claiming some Taliban have abandoned Pakistan and relocated to Afghanistan.

Addressing hundreds of tribal leaders in Kandahar, capital of the province with the same name, he claimed at least six senior Taliban leaders -- all members of the movements leadership council -- have moved into neighboring Helmand Province after leading the Taliban insurgency from Quetta, the capital of Pakistans southwestern province of Balochistan, from across the border since 2003.

We have information that six Taliban leaders have relocated to Helmand along with their families. Last week, three more officials were arrested when they attempted to leave Pakistan, he said on December 19.

Raziq said the returning leaders and those detained in Pakistan want to free themselves from Islamabads influence. Kabul blames Islamabad for hosting and supporting the Taliban, whose leadership council is often referred to as the Quetta Shura to highlight its connection to Pakistan.

They wanted to free themselves of the neighboring countrys stranglehold, he said. For 14 years, they were provided security [in Pakistan], but the day they decided to return to their homeland they were arrested and humiliated.

His claims are also backed by a recent report by the Associated Press that cited Taliban claims that their leadership has returned to their homeland to consolidate gains and build a permanent presence.

Abdul Jabbar Qahraman, the operational commander of all Afghan forces in Helmand, however, disputes claims that any Taliban leaders have returned to his province.

In an interview with Radio Free Afghanistan, he vehemently denied the return of Taliban leaders. He says the Talibans leadership council or Quetta Shura is in disarray after the insurgents confirmed the death of their founding leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, in July 2015. The Taliban said he had died on April 23, 2013.

The war we are facing here in our homeland is not guided by any [insurgent] leadership council. Instead, we are facing regional states who are acting as our enemies, he said. While they utilize the name of the Taliban leadership council, a serious investigation will reveal that no such thing exists.

While Qahraman refrained from blaming Pakistan by name, most Afghan officials and public opinion see Islamabad as the main foreign backer of the insurgents.

Since the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001, Pakistan has vehemently denied the presence of Taliban leaders and fighters on its soil. However, in an unusually candid admission in March, Pakistani prime ministers adviser for foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said his country has considerable influence over the Taliban because its leaders live in the country.

"We have some influence over them because their leadership is in Pakistan and they get some medical facilities. Their families are here," he told a think-tank audience in Washington.

Abdul Baseer Alizai, a tribal leader in Helmand, says a group of some 10 Taliban leaders from the Quetta Shura recently arrived in Musa Qala and Kajaki districts in the provinces north. He was, however, not sure whether they were accompanied by their families.

They wanted to motivate locals in Musa Qala to provide recruits because people there are fed up with the fighting, he said. They also intervened in a local land dispute between the residents of Musa Qala and neighboring Nowzad districts and are also rumored to have worked on healing rifts within some local Taliban formations.

Mohammad Qasim, a political commentator in Helmand, says that if confirmed, the Taliban leaderships return to Helmand can boost the prospects of peace between the government and the insurgents.

The reliance of Taliban leaders on Pakistan exposed them to accusations that they were working for its interest. In addition, it also showed that the Taliban were not their own masters when it came to peace negotiations, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. Given that a bulk of the Taliban fighters in Helmand are locals and they now control most territories in the region, the presence of their leadership here will make it easier to talk to them.

The presence of Taliban leaders, however, is unlikely to affect the battlefield through the winter months, when the harsh Afghan winter forces a lull in fighting.

Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Mohammad Sadiq Rashtinai contributed reporting from Kandahar, Afghanistan.
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On Sunday we will unwrap the presents, eat way too much food and celebrate the birth of Jesus, yet I wonder what Jesus would think of the birthday party we throw for him.

The king, who stepped out of glory, to enter this world as a little baby born to a single mom. He grew with a step-dad and was a very ordinary guy. He never lived in a fancy house or was elected to any political office, yet he has impacted the world like no one else.

We set our dates by his birth, but realistically he was not born on Dec. 25, 2,016-years ago. It is more likely Jesus was born in the fall. This is when the shepherds are in the fields and the usual Roman tax collecting time.

Many believe the December date was picked to help convert pagans, who celebrated the winter solstice this time of year.

Today, Christmas is a huge family party for pagans and Christians alike. It has also become a huge money maker for businesses. It is our biggest commercial holiday.

The average shopper will spend $752 on Christmas, according to Gallup. This is down from last years $810, but it is in-line with the average over the last seven years.

All to celebrate the birth of one who lived most of his life with the poor. His message was of love, forgiveness and service.

He had harsh words for the religious folks of his day, and words of forgiveness and hope to the sinners. He was criticized for spending time with those from the wrong side of the tracks, those we might not want to rub shoulders with at church on Sunday.

You wont hear one of my favorite Christmas songs in your churches. It was written by Jackson Browne and its message hits hard, especially after we have spent as much as we have and only given a small amount to those in need.

Brownes second verse in The Rebel Jesus ends with, they fill His churches with their pride and gold, And their faith in Him increases, But theyve turned the nature that I worship in, From a temple to a robbers den, In the words of the Rebel Jesus.

We have turned the baby, who was a gift from God, born to die on a cruel cross to provide a way for salvation for you and I, into a political arm twister. Though, if he, the rebel king, arrived today I dont believe he would be a card-carrying Republican or Democrat.

His kingdom is not of this world, though we politically try to make it so.

The rebel, the one from the Bible who spoke in red letters, talked of loving your enemies. Our enemies would include those on the other side of the political allies, those who dont share our beliefs and those who arent in our social clicks.

If the rebel Jesus would show up today, we who profess to be Christians run a huge risk of falling into the league of pharisees. The rebel Jesus had harsh words for them.

This Christmas, if you are a follower of the rebel Jesus, as I am, take some time between the presents and the food, to take a good look in the mirror.

Who do you see looking back at you? Is it a pharisee or do you see signs of the rebel?

Give God a gift this Christmas, become more like the rebel Jesus.

Merry Christmas and happy birthday Jesus.
Wade Ikard remembers a time when he was about 11 and said something I shouldnt have. His Monroe Street neighbor, Doris Wilson, heard it, and first she whooped me, then she sat me down and gave me a piece of chicken and sweet potato pie, he said.

That firm but loving approach is how Wilson taught school for years. And its how she lived, according to those who knew her.

Wilson, a longtime teacher at the former Avery Sherrill Elementary School and champion of the Southside community, died Thursday. Ikard said Wilson had been in the hospital since last Friday.

As a teacher, she formed and molded peoples lives, and became an icon in the community, Ikard said.

When South Statesville received the U.S. Department of Justices Weed and Seed grant in 2005, Ikard became the local coordinator of the program. He knew that Wilson was just the person he needed.

I knew if anybody had a voice that could bring the community together, it was her, Ikard said. What she said spoke volumes to the community, and she didnt bite her tongue when it came to things she believed in.

Donnie Davidson, a barber at Xaviers Barber Styling on Shelton Avenue, was in Wilsons sixth-grade class at Avery Sherrill. He said she was as much a mother figure as she was a teacher. Her care for students went beyond books, he said. He recalled her taking classes on field trips and constantly working to expand our minds.

And she used your mistakes as a teaching tool, Davidson said. She made you understand why you got in trouble.

She was the kind of teacher you wish you had every year, said Tonya Zsarmani, who also had Wilson as a sixth-grade teacher. It was clear she wanted all her kids to succeed.

In an interview with the Record & Landmark in 2015, Wilson said she grew up on a farm near Mt. Olive and went to college at Fayetteville State before becoming a teacher. She remembered the integration of public schools. She said she was welcomed with open arms at Avery Sherrill, despite the relatively few African American teachers at the time.

Her love of her community was evident. She recalled a time when she was involved with a fundraising drive and organizers warned her about going down Goldsboro Avenue. Not to worry, she told them. These are my people.

While she lamented the decline of the Southside in recent years, she kept hope that change could happen.

I love Southside and I love the people here, she said. South Statesville is a little community that needs a lot of improvement. If given the right attention it could be a very pleasant, friendly place.

Ikard said he visited with Wilson and her family in the hospital a few days ago, and even then she called him by the name she always had: Neighbor.

He said hell remember her words of encouragement the most.

Always go for higher, not lower, Ikard recalls Wilson telling him. She was someone who believed in us when we didnt believe in ourselves. She made you feel like you could succeed no matter what.

She was a person of principle who stood up for what was right and best for children and for her community," said Skip McCall, whos known Wilson and her family for many years. Her vision was a community where everyone succeeds. She touched so many lives, young, old and in between.

While Wilsons contributions are irreplaceable, the best way to honor her is to hold up those morals and values that she instilled in us, now more than ever, Ikard said.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
BRENTWOOD  Inside a nondescript industrial building off Hanley Road, printing machines rapidly stamp the logos of small cafes onto cardboard coffee cup sleeves.

The logos are for businesses such as Sandy Bottom Bagels, King Tut Coffee and Blue Donkey Coffee.

David Dresner, 29, admits he doesnt know where King Tut Coffee is, or in what city you can grab a Sandy Bottom bagel.

There was a time not too many years ago when Dresner probably would have known where all of his customers were. But his business, Sleeve a Message, now serves around 2,000 of them.

These days, hes got about 30 employees to track and prepare orders, run printing equipment and help customers design logos and new marketing messages for their cup sleeves.

At the beginning of the decade, Sleeve a Message was still a business plan Dresner presented for a project while he was a student at Washington University. Speaking from the factory floor where pallets of cardboard sit stacked along the walls, waiting to be folded, glued and printed, he still seems a bit surprised things have worked out so well.

I was excited about it, he said of his business plan. I just didnt know it was going to happen so fast.

The Chicagoland native who came to St. Louis for college has put down roots here. Aided by the regions startup incubation resources, he has since graduated into a market-rate leasehold for his growing business. Now, hes investing in real estate, buying two old city buildings  one to provide more industrial space in case Sleeve a Message needs it and the other as space for a future restaurant.

Dresner credits the subsidized office and manufacturing space at area business incubators like T-Rex and STL VentureWorks, which he leaned on as he got the business running just out of college. And he pointed to the areas industrial and manufacturing expertise and infrastructure, embodied in the small businesses and machinists that have managed to adapt to globalization.

Originally, he planned to take advantage of globalization and the cheap rates offered by Chinese manufacturers. His offshoring stint didnt last long.

I bought 1 million sleeves from China, and it was the worst experience of my life, Dresner said.

That was one of his first lessons as a business owner. Going back and forth with overseas manufacturers turned out to be a major logistical headache and a liability, so he went looking for a local manufacturer. He found Will Tipton.

Tipton, who owns Cavalier Packaging Co., has kept his packaging shop in business through word of mouth and relationships built over decades, starting when his father ran the business. He doesnt have much of a web presence, and he doesnt often go looking for jobs.

The young entrepreneur came to him, or as Dresner describes it, just kind of barged into your office. That was after days of cold calls to area manufacturers, who eventually suggested Dresner contact Tipton.

Many companies that make coffee sleeves require customers to buy huge stocks of cardboard sleeves at once. But the small cafes that are everywhere often dont have $6,000 to spend on a giant pallet of coffee sleeves.

That was Dresners niche starting out: the small shops who needed small orders or other businesses who need a small batch of sleeves for a one-time event. Sleeve a Message has no minimum order size.

Most sleeve companies print on sheets of cardboard first and cut and glue the sleeves together after. To make the small-order concept work, the cardboard sleeves have to be folded and glued first in such a way so the printing machines can apply a variety of designs.

To do it as Dresner envisioned would require a fair amount of equipment customization. Luckily for him, Tipton said he likes to take on a new project every few years.

It was one of those things, you dont know if its going to work, Tipton said.

But Tipton made it work. With Tiptons factory providing the folding and gluing machines, Dresner grew out of the T-Rex and then STL VentureWorks incubation space.

In mid-2015, Dresner began leasing space in Tiptons factory building off Hanley Road, where his employees can walk to the next room and grab sheets of ready-for-printing coffee sleeves.

As orders grew, Tipton has since customized a gluing and folding machine solely to handle Sleeve a Message orders, eliminating the need to constantly recalibrate equipment he also uses for other customers. Dresner has since patented the process, and Sleeve a Message can produce 200,000 cardboard sleeves a day.

The entrepreneurial urge hasnt loosened its hold on Dresner yet. His next project, he says, is launching Crispy Edge, which he sees selling gourmet pot stickers to restaurants and stores.

Last year, he purchased the old Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation building in the Tower Grove South neighborhood, where hes working to build a commercial kitchen for Crispy Edge. By the end of next year, he hopes to have the business up and running, hopefully with a public-facing restaurant and tasting room included.

I like having lots of irons in the fire, he said.
SURPRISE, Ariz.  Jim Stauffer thought he was doing the right thing.

He had cared for his elderly mother, Doris, throughout her harrowing descent into dementia. In 2013, when she passed away at age 74, he decided to donate her brain to science. He hoped the gift might aid the search for a cure to Alzheimers disease.

At a nurses suggestion, the family contacted Biological Resource Center, a local company that brokered the donation of human bodies for research. Within the hour, BRC dispatched a driver to collect Doris. Jim Stauffer signed a form authorizing medical research on his mothers body. He also checked a box prohibiting military, traffic-safety and other non-medical experiments.

Ten days later, Jim received his mothers cremated remains. He wasn't told how her body had been used.

Records reviewed by Reuters show that BRC workers detached one of Doris Stauffers hands for cremation. After sending those ashes back to her son, the company sold and shipped the rest of Stauffers body to a taxpayer-funded research project for the U.S. Army.

Her brain never was used for Alzheimers research. Instead, Stauffers body became part of an Army experiment to measure damage caused by roadside bombs.

Internal BRC and military records show that at least 20 other bodies were also used in the blast experiments without permission of the donors or their relatives, a violation of U.S. Army policy. BRC sold donated bodies like Stauffers for $5,893 each.

Army officials involved in the project said they never received the consent forms that donors or their families had signed. Rather, the officials said they relied on assurances from BRC that families had agreed to let the bodies be used in such experiments.

BRC, which sold more than 20,000 parts from some 5,000 human bodies over a decade, is no longer in business. Its former owner, Stephen Gore, pleaded guilty to fraud last year. In a statement to Reuters, Gore said that he always tried to honor the wishes of donors and sent consent forms when researchers requested them.

Jim Stauffer learned of his mothers fate not from BRC or the Army but from a Reuters reporter. When told, Stauffer curled his lip in anger and clutched his wife Lisas arm.

We did right, Lisa reassured him. They just did not honor our wishes.

Scant oversight

The story of how an Arizona grandmothers remains came to be used in a Pentagon experiment shines a spotlight on a growing but little-known industry: the trade in human cadavers and body parts.

The body-brokering business is distinct from organ transplantation, in which hearts, livers, eyes and lungs are carefully removed from the dead to extend or enrich the lives of the living. It also is separate from the business of using skin, tendon or bone from cadavers to repair joints or other parts of the body. Those practices are strictly regulated by U.S. law. In contrast, the buying and selling of human bodies not used for transplant receives scant oversight.

No federal law regulates body brokers like BRC, and no U.S. government agency monitors what happens to cadavers pledged for use in medical education and research.

It is not illegal to sell a whole body or the parts of a body for research or education, said University of Iowa law professor Sheldon F. Kurtz, who helped modify the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which has been adopted by 46 states. Although the act was updated in 2006, Kurtz said, the issue of whole bodies or body parts for research or education never came up during our discussions.

Since then, the body trade has become big business. Only one state, New York, keeps detailed records on the industry. According to the most recent data available, companies that did business in New York shipped at least 100,000 body parts across the country from 2011 to 2014. Reuters obtained the data, which have never been made public, from the states health department.

The New York figures represent a fraction of the industry: Any company that handles bodies but doesnt do business in New York state is not included. A handful of other states either require companies to register with state health departments or seek approval to ship individual body parts across state lines. Most states compile no such records.

We are in a complete vacuum, said Michel Anteby, a Boston University business professor who has researched the trade in bodies. Thats a real problem because we are treating bodies as a potential commodity like any other.

Brokers procure virtually all their cadavers for free from donors who believe the remains will be used for science. As a result, brokers can turn a profit of thousands of dollars on each body donated. Its about $2,500 to $3,000, said John Cover, chief operating officer of Research for Life, a body broker based in Phoenix.

When bodies are subsequently dismembered and sold part by part, the profit margin can be even higher. BRC charged $5,893 for a whole body in 2013; a few years earlier, the company priced spines at $1,900, legs at $1,300 each, and torsos at $3,500, BRC documents show.

Cadavers and donated body parts provide vital tools to teach anatomy and medical students. They also serve as a cornerstone of the medical-device business. Artificial hips, dental crowns and surgical devices are best tested on real human tissue. Surgeons and dentists who implant the devices and use new tools have to be trained.

Theres no way any medical institution could function without the donation of cadavers, said David Morton, a University of Utah School of Medicine professor and a board member of the American Association of Anatomists.

Most medical schools have strict rules for handling bodies, Morton said. Those quality controls and ethical guidelines, however, arent always followed. This year, The New York Times reported that New York University buried an unknown number of donated bodies in mass graves. The school apologized and said it had changed its policy in 2013 to better protect donor wishes.

The BRC case is not the first time bodies donated to medical schools have been misused in military experiments. In 2004, Tulane University disclosed that bodies donated to the school were shipped to a broker who then provided them to the Army, which used them for landmine experiments. As happened with BRC, these donors had not consented to military use.

Federal authorities began investigating BRC in 2011. That year, a Detroit body broker from a company called International Biological Inc was stopped by U.S. customs agents as he crossed the border from Ontario. He had 10 human heads with him. According to an FBI affidavit, agents traced one of the heads to BRC.

Within a year, investigators had identified at least 250 suspect body parts sold by BRC to the Detroit broker. Records from the Detroit and Phoenix cases show that thousands of bodies donated for research and education were dismembered and then sold or leased, often for commercial purposes.

In January 2016, the Detroit broker and his wife were arrested by the FBI on fraud charges related to their practices at International Biological. The broker, Arthur Rathburn, has pleaded not guilty and is jailed awaiting trial. His wife, Elizabeth Rathburn, pleaded guilty to a single fraud charge but has not been sentenced.

Arthur Rathburn leased human heads, torsos and other body parts for medical and dental training in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Greece and Israel, authorities said. In 2012, two coolers that contained eight bloody heads and were addressed to Rathburn were seized at the Detroit airport.

Government documents unsealed this year also allege that Arthur Rathburns inventory included more than 100 body parts infected with hepatitis, HIV, sepsis, meningitis, the life-threatening bacteria MRSA, and the flesh-eating disease necrotizing fasciitis.

Rathburns lawyer, Byron Pitts, said his client committed no crime. I think the government has overstepped and I dont think they are going to be able to prove their charges, Pitts said. In a court filing this year, Pitts noted that the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act does not prohibit the sale of body parts and said Rathburn should not be held accountable criminally for paperwork errors or the actions of others, including BRC.

BRC also shipped infected body parts, according to Arizona state investigation summaries reviewed by Reuters.

These included portions of eye and ear tissue infected with Hepatitis B sent to researchers in Tucson; eyes from a body that tested positive for Hepatitis C to Utah for use by a biomedical firm; and a left foot infected with Hepatitis B to a podiatry training center near Atlanta.

In at least one case, BRC notified next of kin about the infections but failed to warn researchers who received the tissue or body parts, the records show.

When a 76-year-old woman died the morning of April 29, 2012, BRC staffers rushed to remove her brain by mid-afternoon and shipped the 13-pound package the same day to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center near Boston. In a standard industry practice, BRC also sent a blood sample from the womans body to a lab. Three days later, the sample came back positive for Hepatitis C.

BRC promptly notified the womans son.

Unfortunately, we received an unfavorable report for infectious disease blood testing, BRC staff wrote in a letter. These blood tests could not confirm that an infectious disease was present, but did prohibit us from using the body for safety reasons.

BRC, however, did not warn Harvard researchers handling the diseased brain, records show. In fact, the researchers did not learn that the specimen was infected until nearly two years later, when Arizona authorities contacted them.

We would never knowingly use [a brain sample] with a history of disease, said Harvard brain donation coordinator Joseph Manzo. He said privacy rules restricted him from commenting further on a specific specimen.

In an email exchange with Reuters, Gore apologized for not notifying researchers. I simply have no excuse, he said.

The risks of infection are real: Records of the Arizona state investigation show that one worker at the Georgia podiatry facility was accidentally stuck by a needle used with the hepatitis-infected foot. The worker had been vaccinated.

'A labor of love'

In emails to Reuters, Gore said that the troubles at BRC represented only a fraction of the work by the company, which served scores of research and training entities it supplied.

BRC had an incredibly kind, professional and caring staff on all levels, Gore said.

Because BRC sold bodies and parts to various Army subcontractors  and not directly to the military  Gore said he sometimes received different instructions about what BRC needed to provide. But he said he sent consent forms whenever researchers requested them.

It is my belief that we did what we could to honor the donors consent as we understood it, Gore said.

When he was sentenced in 2015 for the charge related to misleading donors and families, Gore presented a letter to the judge explaining what went wrong. He said he created BRC because he had grown bored as an insurance salesman. Though he held no more than a high school degree, Gore had previously spent nine years at a local eye and organ bank, he said, working with donor families and assisting surgeons.

This was never about financial gain but rather a labor of love, Gore wrote. Instead of hiring a qualified medical director to supervise how bodies and parts should be used, Gore said he relied on books and the Internet.

This was an industry that had no formal regulations to look to for guidance, Gore wrote in his letter to the judge, and I believe that many times I was simply overwhelmed and I tried to do the right thing but often did not.

Arizona prosecutors said in their filing that Gores fraud misled those who had hoped to provide the most precious gift a person could bestow on society, their own body, to benefit scientific and medical research.

'It was free'

In interviews, family members who signed BRC consent forms said they were focused on saving money and serving society. They said they didnt realize the bodies of their loved ones would be sold or used for commercial purposes.

I had no money, said Tina Johnson, who gave her husband Kerrys body to BRC when he died of liver failure in 2012. It was a free cremation.

Mary Hughes, whose 52-year-old son, Grady Hughes Jr, died of cancer in late 2012, recalled that somebody from hospice gave us a pamphlet.

It was a good idea, Hughes said. The cremation was free, and it was donating the body for medical purposes.

Months after the donations, Johnson, Hughes and dozens of others received a vague form letter from BRC listing nine potential medical education and research uses. None cited military experiments.

Some BRC donors willed bodies with the expectation that they would be used for a specific disease. Jim Stauffer, for example, said he hoped his mothers brain would be used to study Alzheimers.

It shocks me that the military was involved, he said.

The BRC consent form permitted the broker to sell cadavers and parts to almost any entity, including commercial ventures. Under current law, relatives have no right to learn what happened to their loved ones.

Army project

The Armys human-body experiments were part of a program to protect U.S soldiers from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

During wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army scrambled  with limited success  to fortify vehicles. Early this decade, the Army launched a long-term study of the biological impact of an IED blast that thrusts a vehicle into the air. The most vulnerable body parts are those already in contact with the inside surfaces of a vehicle.

Its your feet, your butt in the seat, and to some extent your back, said Randy Coates, the civilian engineer who directed the Army project, which is based at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

To study a blasts effect, the Army considered experimenting with crash-test dummies, the biometric mannequins used by engineers to improve automotive safety. But crash-test dummies have limitations: They enable researchers to collect data only on front, rear and side collisions common in traffic accidents, not from explosions beneath a vehicle.

When cadaver experiments confirmed that a crash-test dummy couldnt replicate battlefield wounds, the Army set out to create a mannequin that could show the effects of explosions. The project required experiments involving more than a hundred cadavers and included researchers from nine universities.

In addition to building the blast mannequin, the Army is using cadavers to obtain data to develop a virtual dummy for computer simulations.

Donated bodies are not obliterated in explosions, Coates said. But the blasts do break bones and snap spines. In an experiment witnessed by a Reuters reporter this year, two bodies wired to 100 biosensors flailed violently during an explosion and came to rest slumped, but intact.

Army policy requires that body donors or next of kin consent to the blast experiments. But records reviewed by Reuters show that the bodies or body parts of 34 people were shipped to the military without donor permission.

'Mind-boggling'

In 18 of the 34 cases, the donor consent forms neither mentioned nor offered any warning language about potential military experiments.

In the remaining 16 instances, the consent form presented an option to allow military and other violent experiments. Twelve of the 16 families explicitly rejected violent experiments. Four made no choice. All 16 were shipped to the Army anyway.

Among those shipped to the military were Nancy Culvers son and Marla Yales grandfather.

Oh, no. Oh, no, Culver said when a Reuters reporter told her that the right arm of her son, Timothy Smith, was detached and used for a military experiment against her wishes. She donated his body two days after he took his own life in late 2012. I wanted something good to come of this, she said.

Marla Yale recalled watching grandfather Kurt Hollstein sign a donor form two months before he died of cancer in 2013. Hollstein, an Army veteran, was so angry about the health care he was provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, she said, that on the consent form he checked No to military experimentation.

Yale learned what really happened to her grandfather from Reuters.

This is almost beyond belief that his entire body went somewhere else without his permission, and especially to a place that he absolutely did not want to be, she said. To go to the Department of Defense is absolutely mind-boggling.

Who's responsible?

According to Army policy, If it is clear that a donor prohibited the contemplated use, then the donors cadaver will not be used. The policy requires that authorization forms must explicitly state that donors or next-of-kin agree that their bodies may be used in explosions.

But the consent forms the Army examines are not necessarily the same ones signed by donors. In the BRC case, the Army said, the military reviewed heavily redacted forms or forms signed by an agent of BRC that indicated consent.

Army officials said their first indication that something was amiss came in January 2014, after law enforcement authorities searched BRC. Coates, who oversaw the military project, said experiments were halted immediately. An Army safety officer then traveled to Arizona to compare the documents the military reviewed with those kept by BRC. In at least 34 cases, the forms did not match, records show.

Coates said that the Army acted in good faith because it believed the consent forms it received were valid. The Army was a victim of BRC business practices, he said.

Even so, the Army said in a statement that it still relies on brokers to accurately represent the wishes of donors and does not review the original consent forms before experiments begin.

Amending consent

BRC records also show that in at least two cases, consent forms were amended after the donor died.

In each case, records show, an elderly widow agreed to countermand a husbands written instructions that his body not be subjected to explosive military experiments. Both widows made the change after being contacted by BRC, donor case files show.

In an interview with Reuters, one of the widows, Dona Patrick, said she didnt fully grasp what she had agreed to: that husband Conrads head and spine would be severed and shipped to one of the universities conducting the military experiments, his case file shows. The call from BRC came less than 48 hours after her husband died, at a time when you are susceptible to anything just to get it out of your mind, she said.

Patrick said yes to the BRC caller because Conrads soul was already gone, and the body was nothing, she said. Probably now if they would have called me, I would have said no. But then, I didnt know what to do.

BRC recorded the conversation for legal reasons and quality assurance.

On the call, the BRC employee asked: As next of kin, do you agree to amend the consent form to allow special non-medical projects that could involve exposures to destructive forces  for example, impacts, crashes, ballistic injuries and blasts involving agencies such as the military?

Patrick, her voice quavering, said, Yes, I do.

Excellent, the body broker replied. That takes care of everything.

Additional reporting by Adam DeRose in Phoenix.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  Missouri Rep.-elect Bruce Franks Jr. filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging four police officers used excessive force in arresting him two years ago at a protest on charges that were later dropped.

The lawsuit claims two St. Louis County police officers and two Berkeley police officers seriously injured Franks during the arrest Dec. 23, 2014, at a gas station in Berkeley. The gas station was the site of a protest that followed the fatal police shooting of a man who pointed a gun at officers earlier the same day. The protest turned violent as small explosive devices and rocks were thrown at officers.

The suit says that despite being calm and compliant, Franks was beaten and pepper-sprayed by four officers as he lay facedown with his hands cuffed behind him.

Franks suffered physical and psychological injuries in the incident, the suit says. The suit alleges officers made false statements to shift the blame to Franks and lied to cover up the attack.

The suit names St. Louis County police Officer David Steinmeyer, Berkeley police Officer Evelio Valdespino, and an unidentified Berkeley officer and an unidentified St. Louis County officer as defendants.

St. Louis County police referred comment to the St. Louis County Counselors Office, which did not answer a phone call after business hours Thursday.

According to the lawsuit:

Franks was at the protest as a member of the Peacekeepers, a group of four local volunteers trained in techniques to de-escalate and defuse volatile situations between police and protesters. The group consisted of Franks and three men identified as Paul Muhammed, Calvin Kennedy and Carlos Ball.

Franks arrived around midnight wearing his Peacekeeper uniform  a black hooded sweatshirt and hat that each had PEACEKEEPER emblazoned across the front in large white lettering  and plain black pants.

Franks and the group positioned themselves to create a buffer between police and protesters. The group got protesters to back up and then turned to police to suggest they could move the crime scene tape back to give the police more room.

At that point, Franks saw an unidentified police officer reach for his gun.

A protester yelled get your hand off your gun, and the officer grabbed Kennedy in response.

Franks feared for Kennedys safety and bear-hugged Kennedy in an attempt to pull him back with the other Peacekeepers. A brief struggle ensued and Franks, Kennedy and the officer lost their balance and fell to the ground.

Steinmeyer and other officers started to place Franks under arrest. Franks complied with an order to turn face down and put his hands behind his back.

Someone threw a flash bang toward the gas station and near where Franks lay on his stomach as an officer cuffed his hands behind his back.

Steinmeyer got on top of Franks back while Franks was on the ground and screamed at him dont touch my gun, despite Franks not being in a position to touch anyones gun.

While Steinmeyer was on top of a cuffed Franks, Valdespino repeatedly beat Franks legs with a baton. The unnamed St. Louis County officer then kicked Franks in the face several times and the unnamed Berkeley officer sprayed Franks in the face with pepper spray.

Franks cites several injuries from the incident, including cuts and bruising on his face and head, a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and a concussion.

Berkeley officers refused Franks requests for medical treatment as they took him to jail. He was released a few hours later after posting $500 bail.

Charges against Franks of assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting or interfering with an arrest were later dropped. The suit claims police issued the charges to cover up misconduct and that the officers made false reports to shift blame for the attack to Franks.

The suit doesnt mention an amount of money, only compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Local school leaders are scrambling to figure out changes to Missouri law coming Jan. 1 that some say could result in students being charged with felonies for bullying or getting into a fight at school.

The changes stem from legislation passed in 2014 that also increases maximum fines for felonies and misdemeanors and creates a fourth degree of assault. The changes do not mention schools, and its unclear how schools and law enforcement will interpret them. Many school administrators were learning about the changes this week.

Starting Jan. 1, third-degree assault and some cases of harassment will become class E felonies. Harassment will be a felony, rather than a misdemeanor, if the victim suffers emotional distress from an act committed with that purpose. The state considers harassment to be a form of school bullying, and harassment is among the offenses school districts are technically required to report to local law enforcement.

Also under the new law, a person who knowingly causes physical injury to another person will have committed the felony of third-degree assault.

At least two area school districts, Hazelwood and Ferguson-Florissant, have already interpreted that definition to mean that any student, no matter their age, who gets in a fight can be charged with a felony.

Both districts issued dramatically worded messages that warn families their children can be charged with felonies for fighting.

Ferguson-Florissant Superintendent Joseph Davis said Wednesday in a YouTube video to families and students:

You have the power to decide if you want a good future full of hope and promise or a future with a criminal record that follows you and limits your options.  If you choose to fight, starting Jan. 1, the stakes are higher.

Legal counsel for the Missouri School Boards Association, considered to be the key legislative adviser for Missouri schools, is worried the changes could criminalize students and reinforce the school-to-prison pipeline  the phenomenon in which youths, particularly those of color, are punished by institutions early on and are more likely to become incarcerated.

I think that we are working very hard to stop the school-to-prison pipeline, and I think this might inadvertently increase the number of children who are referred to law enforcement, said Kelli Hopkins, a Missouri School Boards Association attorney.

Hopkins said the term knowingly sets a higher standard for what can be third-degree assault. For example, a 5-year-old or a student with special needs might not knowingly cause injury to somebody, she said. Generally, courts dont hold children to that standard until they reach their teen years.

Hopkins said shes more concerned about the harassment statute, because harassment, which can include school bullying, soon will be a felony in some cases, and school districts are supposed to report harassment to law enforcement. Because it is so loosely defined, Hopkins said, she is concerned that even calling someone names could technically qualify as harassment.

This is a serious, serious thing for school districts, she said.

But many school districts havent indicated that they will change how they report offenses to police.

State law requires school districts to report more than two dozen kinds of criminal acts to police if committed on school property, on a school bus or at a school function. Those include drug possession, possession of a weapon, harassment and assault in the first, second and third degrees.

But many districts handle incidents such as school fights on their own, using discipline and anti-bullying policies. Some also have agreements with police that outline factors to consider before reporting third-degree assault, such as the age and maturity of the students involved, how intentional a students act was and whether an act was done in self-defense, said Kate Nash, a lawyer at Tueth Keeney, a law firm that works with more than 150 Missouri school districts.

You want to follow the law and make sure youre doing the right thing, but the law is always open to interpretation, Nash said. At the same time, educators are balancing the impact this will have on the young persons life.

Schools sometimes leave it up to parents of students involved to decide whether they want to go to police or pursue charges. That was the case when a student put hot glue on another student last month at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, said Susan Downing, district spokeswoman.

These changes to state law come at a time when schools are increasingly trying to use services such as counseling to reduce the need for punitive discipline of young students. Many dont want to see their students have negative exposure to law enforcement early on.

We try to treat our students as children. We look at law enforcement as something that deals mostly with adults, said Sharifah Williams, spokeswoman for Normandy schools. We dont want to add any more people to the pipeline.
FESTUS  Festus on Wednesday night became the latest city to approve a resolution to encourage Jefferson County to establish a prescription drug monitoring program with St. Louis County.

Citing sources that say Jefferson County has the second-highest rate per capita of heroin-involved accidental deaths in Missouri, said they city officials believe the program would be effective at reducing the abuse of prescription opioids and pharmacy shopping.

Other cities that have approved similar legislation include Arnold, Crystal City and Herculaneum.

The cost of the program could be as low as $2,500 for the entire county, which the city will ask Jefferson County to incur.

In other action, the City Council approved an issue to be placed on the April 4 ballot that would increase the fee for the sale of fireworks. It will ask voters to approve a fee increase from the current fee of $140 plus 3 percent of gross receipts to $1,500.

The city has not revised the amount of this business license fee for some time and the proposed fee is less than those of neighboring communities, said City Administrator Happy Welch. It will need approval by a majority of voters.
ST. PETERS  When Janice and Carl Duffner bought their new house in St. Peters in 2002, their lot was just dirt and weeds.

Janice Duffner, now 67, began planting flowers, trees and ground cover, but she refused to plant grass, she said in an interview Thursday.

Shes allergic, and says grass pollen can trigger her asthma.

I found out that if I took grass out of my life, I could sleep through the night and I didnt use an inhaler, she said.

In 2014, however, the couple received a letter saying they had violated a 2008 city ordinance requiring all homeowners to have at least 50 percent of their lot covered in turf grass.

After more than two years of legal battles in state court, this week the couple filed a civil rights lawsuit asking a federal judge to find St. Peters grass ordinance unconstitutional.

The suit says that under ordinance penalties, the Duffners could face fines from $7,490 to nearly $188,000, or more than 20 years in jail, because they have chosen to grow flowers rather than a government-mandated plant that makes Janice sick.

They didnt stop me when I had weeds. They put in their complaint after everything was daylilies  hydrangeas, butterfly bushes, she said.

She said her husband, 69, a retired mechanical engineer, used to mow the lawn at their old house, but had quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2011. Janice Duffner, who has a background in civil engineering, is battling breast cancer and, she said, stress from the controversy.

Janice Duffner said the whole process was like being steamrolled.

Their lawyer, Dave Roland, said an Oct. 16 summons demanding action by Dec. 16 might mean the start of enforcement proceedings that could subject them to fines or jail.

Roland said hes never received a good explanation for the grass requirement. He said the city has hinted it is driven by aesthetics and property values, but said that having grass in a backyard doesnt advance the aesthetics of the front.

I suspect its about trying to enforce conformity, he said. They want to have all these houses looking the same  but they dont have the authority.

This is probably the worst ordinance Ive seen, said Roland, co-founder with his wife of the Freedom Center of Missouri, a not-for-profit legal advocacy group focusing on constitutional freedom and governmental transparency.

City officials released a statement saying they are aware of the suit and would consider all of our options. It says the city follows all of the zoning ordinances and applicable laws and regulations of the State of Missouri. Officials declined to comment further.

Complaint leads to warning

Court documents filed by the Duffners say they landscaped 1 Fishers Hill Drive to stabilize a hill in the backyard, deal with erosion from rainwater flowing off city-owned property and alleviate Janice Duffners allergy.

They now have planting beds, mulched areas, two small ponds, paths and seating areas.

But after someone complained, the city notified the Duffners on May 14, 2014, of the half-grass requirement. A week later, the couple requested an exemption.

According to court documents, Julie Powers, the city director planning, economic and community development, submitted an affidavit saying the Duffners plants were very attractive and well kept, and that there is a lot of ground cover which is low to the ground and, therefore, gives an appearance, height, and scale that is similar to grass.

Janice Duffner said she believed that the couple would receive an exemption.

The St. Peters Board of Adjustment granted a variance reducing their grass requirement to 5 percent  to be installed by Dec. 1, 2014, on front or side yards, and in front of a fence.

But with nearly four-tenths of an acre, the Duffners would have to plant 849 square feet of grass, the equivalent of a space 29 by 29 feet. Janice Duffner said that is a lot, considering the area taken up by the house and driveway.

The Duffners sued in St. Charles County Circuit Court in September 2014, saying the mandate violates property owners rights and imposes burdens not put on other homeowners.

Seven months later, Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pelikan granted a city motion to dismiss the case, ruling that the Duffners didnt appeal the boards decision in time, and waived their rights to challenge it by failing to exhaust administrative remedies.

In January a three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals reversed Pelikans dismissal of several counts of the suit, saying that while the Duffners failed to properly challenge the boards decision, Pelikan could have considered their challenges to the validity of the underlying ordinance.

Case goes to federal court

The Duffners dismissed that suit Sept. 6, after Pelikan refused to allow them to amend it with a claim that the ordinance violates their rights under the Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel or unusual punishments or excessive fines.

The federal lawsuit, filed Monday in St. Louis, says the ordinances potential penalties are excessive. It asks that a judge declare the ordinance unconstitutional, and raises the specter of a city that could compel homeowners to put in a swimming pool, or mandate a holiday light show, to boost property values.

The suit says the ordinance is unnecessary for the advancement of any compelling or permissible state objective and imposes a permanent obligation on the owner to cultivate and maintain that unwanted physical presence on their property for no reason other than that the government commands it.
MASON CITY  Holiday travelers will likely have to contend with a foggy Christmas Eve and icy Christmas morning in North Iowa.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for widespread fog, possibly dense, across North Iowa before noon Saturday. Patchy fog is possible after 2 p.m., with heavier fog returning in the evening as temperatures cool.

That's on top of the several inches of heavy, wet snow that fell Friday.

Meteorologist Roger Vachalek said it appears the best time to drive on Christmas Eve will be during a break in the weather in the afternoon.

"Best bet is, get up and check things out," Vachalek said, of Christmas Eve. "Definitely look at road conditions."

Fog will redevelop Christmas Eve night and there's a threat of freezing drizzle Christmas Eve night through Christmas morning, which could lead to icing.

Conditions should improve throughout the day Sunday as the temperature rises, though it is expected to continuing raining. There also could be a thunderstorm.

The expected high for Sunday, Christmas Day, is around 40 degrees.

No matter where they're going, people should give themselves extra time and use more caution than usual, Vachalek said.

"People just need to be a little bit more patient," he said.

The national forecast is for snow stretching from the Rocky Mountains to the upper Midwest on Christmas Eve and possible severe weather in the middle of the U.S. on Christmas Day.

Forecasters cautioned travelers to keep alternate routes in mind and prepare for possible delays.

There is a blizzard watch posted for much of the Dakotas and a winter storm watch in effect from Montana to Lake Superior.

The Storm Prediction Center cautioned that warm, humid air would bring possible severe weather to the Plains states on Sunday  reaching as far north as Omaha, Nebraska.

A lesser threat of severe weather extended southward into Arkansas and Oklahoma, where the atmosphere would be warm but more stable.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiaries have entered into a sales and purchase agreement with Star Energy Consortium to sell Chevrons Indonesian and Philippines Geothermal assets.

These assets deliver reliable energy to support the needs of Asia-Pacifics growing economies, said Jay Johnson, executive vice president, Upstream, Chevron Corporation. This sale is aligned with our strategy to maximize the value of our global upstream businesses through effective portfolio management."

In Indonesia, Chevron subsidiaries operate the Darajat and Salak geothermal fields in West Java. In the Philippines, company subsidiaries have a 40 percent equity interest in the Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc., which operates the Tiwi and Mak-Ban geothermal power plants in Southern Luzon.
Tel-Instrument Electronics Corp. (NYSE: TIK) announced today that it was informed that the Kansas Judge has rejected the Companys summary judgment motion. The court has not issued a written order explaining the decision and, as such, we are unable to provide any details on why the judge denied our motion.

Mr. Jeff OHara, President and CEO of Tel, stated, We continue to believe that Aeroflexs case lacks merit and plan to file another summary judgement motion on the merits in early January 2017. The trial is currently scheduled for February 2017, although this date might be later given delays in depositions and the volume of motions being introduced. This lawsuit has been a significant drag on profitability for many years, and we look forward to a successful resolution in court.
Seaga Manufacturing Acquires Automated Merchandising Systems NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominus Capital, L.P. ("Dominus") announced today that its portfolio company Seaga Manufacturing, Inc. ("Seaga"), the leading platform for innovative Automatic Retail Dispensing and modular Intelligent Inventory Control Solutions, serving the Food and Beverage, Industrial, Water Filtration and Healthcare Markets, has completed its acquisition of Automated Merchandising Systems ("AMS"). ... (continue reading...)



Special Porsche 911 begins its journey of exploration Atlanta, Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For approaching 60 years, the Porsche 911 has been pushed to extremes on both the track and on the open road. Now, a fresh chapter is being written; a unique pair of experimental 911 sports cars are being tested where there are no roads, where the air is thin, where the temperature is far below freezing and even plant life cant survive.A team, led by endurance racer and adventurer Romain Dumas, has set out to explore the... (continue reading...)



Special Porsche 911 begins its journey of exploration Two cars tackle the slopes of the highest volcano in the world Atlanta, Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For approaching 60 years, the Porsche 911 has been pushed to extremes on both the track and on the open road. Now, a fresh chapter is being written; a unique pair of experimental 911 sports cars are being tested where there are no roads, where the air is thin, where the temperature is far below freezing and even plant life cant survive.A team, led by endurance... (continue reading...)



Neurosteer Announces FDA Clearance of the Neurosteer EEG Brain Monitoring Platform Neurosteer's EEG System Features Novel Brain Activity Representation Based on Advanced EEG Signal Processing Technology NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurosteer Inc. today announced the FDA clearance of its Neurosteer single-channel EEG brain monitoring platform. This clearance allows Neurosteer's unobtrusive multi-purpose system to be used in a broad range of clinical settings. In the ICU, it can offer continuous brain monitoring to support critical... (continue reading...)



NFP to Host Third Quarter 2022 Earnings Call on November 10, 2022 NEW YORK (PRWEB) November 03, 2022 NFP, a leading property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement advisor, will post its third quarter 2022 earnings results the evening of November 9, 2022, to a password-protected website hosted by http://www.intralinks.com. In addition, NFP will host a live conference call to discuss the third quarter results on November 10, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. ET. Interested parties can request access to NFP's earnings... (continue reading...)



More Press Releases
HONG KONG, Dec. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Far East Consortium International Limited ("FEC" or the "Group") (SEHK: 35) is delighted to announce that the Group has completed the purchase of a car park in the vicinity of the Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom (the "Car Park") at a consideration of GBP13.4 million.

The Car Park will continue to be operated under the brand of FSS Manchester Airport Car Park. With a capacity of approximately 1,500 car parking bays, it is expected to become yet another source of steady cash flow to the Group. The acquisition provides the Group with a good starting point to grow and sustain a car parking management business in the UK.

With the Group's existing diversified portfolio consisting of car parks in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, its car park business has been generating steady recurring cash flow and has shown constant growth over the years. Nonetheless, the Group has been actively looking for ways to further diversify its geographical presence by expanding into other locations with sustainable demand for car parking facilities.

Recently, the Group's car park business upgraded its central monitoring system thereby enhancing the control room operational functions and providing a better control of the day-to-day operations of the business thus paving a solid foundation for its regional expansion.

Mr. Chris HOONG, Managing Director of FEC said: "The Group has been evaluating a number of expansion opportunities in car parking operation and the acquisition represents a unique opportunity for the Group to establish an initial operation in the UK. The asset offers not only good scale but also potential extension opportunity. In the longer term, the Group intends to utilise and leverage on the operating strengths of the Care Park brand to expand in the country. The Group views the car parking operation as a core business with significant regional expansion potential."

Mr. Robert Belteky, Managing Director of Care Park said, "The acquisition is a very attractive investment providing not only a strong yield on investment return but also significant potential to further extend the capacity of the car park and implement technology based innovations, operating and marketing initiatives through Care Park to further enhance the value of the investment. The asset provides a substantial base from which Care Park can grow a successful car parking business in the UK."

About Far East Consortium International Limited

Far East Consortium International Limited has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1972 (HKEx stock code: 35.HK). The Group is mainly engaged in property development and investment, hotel operation and management, as well as car park and facilities management. The Group adopts diversified regional strategy and the "Chinese Wallet" strategy with business covering Hong Kong, Mainland China, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

About Care Park

FEC operates its car park business through its subsidiary Care Park. Care Park is one of the largest car parking operators in Australia and New Zealand. As at 30 September 2016, it has a portfolio of 399 car parks, including 24 self-owned ones, with approximately 76,200 car parking bays under management contracts entered with local governments, shopping malls, retailers, universities, airports, hotels, hospitals, government departments and commercial and office buildings.

FEC official website:www.fecil.com.hk

FEC WeChat and Weibo:http://www.weibo.com/u/5703712831

For further information, please contact:

Far East Consortium International LimitedMs. Venus Zhao, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate FinanceContact Number: (852) 2850 0639Email: [email protected]

Wonderful Sky Financial GroupMr. Paul Sham / Ms. Martha Tung / Ms. Jacqueline WongContact Number: (852) 3970 2170 / (852) 3641 1311 / (852) 3970 2177Email: [email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fec-announces-entry-into-uk-car-parking-business-300383351.html

SOURCE Far East Consortium International Limited
TORONTO, Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven by more environmentally conscious consumers and technological advancements, disruptive technology is poised to revolutionize the food packaging industry. Pita Pit Canada, a fast-casual restaurant, recognized the first mover advantages by teaming up with delfortgroup and McNairn Packaging in introducing a new innovative packaging material called thinbarrier eco.

Joe Kofler, President of delfortgroup speciality papers says, "disruptive technology is the best way to describe this new biopolymer substrate." Not only is the paper whiter and brighter, but thinbarrier eco also performs better!

delfortgroup's thinbarrier eco paper is a packaging wrap paper produced from renewable resources, that outperforms the existing wax-coated alternatives in both sustainability and functionality. delfortgroup's R&D team designed a fluorocarbon and PFOA free environmentally friendly paper using a grease-resistant, vegetable based coating that eliminates the need for wax. As a result, thinbarrier eco is re-pulpable, recyclable* and compostable*.

Therefore, switching from traditional waxed paper wraps to thinbarrier eco significantly reduces Pita Pit Canada's carbon footprint. According to a streamlined LCA study (Life Cycle Assessment) conducted by Innventia Edge, changing to thinbarrier eco would decrease crude oil consumption in wrap production by 60%, saving nearly 12kg/26.46lb of crude oil per 10,000 wraps. To put this into a practical perspective, for every 113,000 thinbarrier eco wraps Pita Pit Canada would consume one less barrel of oil.

With thinbarrier eco, Pita Pit Canada simultaneously ticks the boxes of cost-neutral, product innovation and most importantly measurable commitment to sustainability. Pita Pit Canada has abandoned the traditional "do less harm" industry mentality by switching to a "do better" philosophy with thinbarrier eco starting from December.

*The paper is recyclable and compostable in those areas where these facilities are available.

Media Contact:

Brad Ido-BrucePhone: 917.318.5530Email: [email protected]

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pita-pit-canada-takes-the-lead-in-disruptive-packaging-technology-300383248.html

SOURCE McNairn Packaging
The headquarters of Odebrecht SA are pictured in Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 21, 2016. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker - RTX2W2E5

By Mitra Taj and Alexandra Valencia

LIMA/QUITO (Reuters) - Politicians and investigators across Latin America demanded more information from Brazil-based construction company Odebrecht on Thursday after it admitted to a decade of immense bribe payments in the region.

In agreeing on Wednesday to pay at least $3.5 billion to Brazilian, U.S. and Swiss prosecutors, the largest penalty ever in a foreign bribery case, Odebrecht admitted to paying officials to help secure lucrative construction contracts in 12 countries, potentially opening itself up to new prosecution.

Nearly 80 Odebrecht executives and employees have also agreed to turn state's witness as part of a leniency deal, and their testimony is expected to provide even more evidence about corruption in several nations.

Peru's president and a Venezuelan opposition leader said Odebrecht should explain the payments in their countries, while Ecuador opened an investigation and Colombia's government asked the attorney general's office to move forward with one.

"Prosecutors will have to bring people from Odebrecht here so that they explain who they paid this money to," Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski told reporters, referring to the $29 million Odebrecht said it paid officials in the Andean nation between about 2005 and 2014, spanning three presidencies.

Guilty pleas on Wednesday from Odebrecht and Braskem SA , the petrochemical company it jointly owns with Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras, were the first in the United States following a nearly three-year investigation in Brazil.

Odebrecht and Braskem were charged with conspiring to violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which is aimed at deterring companies from bribing officials overseas.

Odebrecht said it paid $439 million outside Brazil, with the largest bribe admissions abroad in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Panama. Brazilian prosecutors singled out Panama for not cooperating with their investigation.

Panama's presidency said it supported an investigation by local prosecutors that would "punish the companies and persons involved in these acts." Panama's national prosecutors' office said it was requesting information from the United States.

The discovery of kickbacks to Brazilian politicians off contracts between state-run companies, mainly Petrobras , and engineering conglomerates like Odebrecht, has generated political upheaval and led to 80 convictions in Brazil. More than 50 politicians there are under investigation.

ROADS, TUNNELS, SUBWAYS

Family-run Odebrecht blossomed during an economic boom in Brazil under former Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff and its executives regularly rubbed shoulders with elites across Latin America.

It became the region's largest engineering conglomerate, building parts of a road across the Amazon jungle, tunnels and subways in major cities.

Brazilian prosecutors believe Odebrecht's way of doing business in Brazil, where it is accused of paying $2 billion in bribes in the past 15 years, was how it operated globally.

Argentina and Peru had already opened probes into Odebrecht construction contracts for suspected kickbacks to former politicians.

Prosecutors in Peru recently returned from an investigative trip to Switzerland, which has turned over information on about 1,000 bank accounts to Brazilian authorities on suspicion they are linked to the country's wide-ranging corruption scandal.

Brazilian police say Odebrecht may have paid bribes to former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and Argentine officials, including a former transportation secretary.

Humala denies wrongdoing. Kuczynski, who was not named in the Brazilian investigation but was prime minister or finance minister when Odebrecht agreed to bribe a high-ranking official in 2005, said he was not involved in any corrupt scheme.

Ecuador's attorney general, Galo Chiriboga, said on Thursday he had requested information from Brazil and the U.S. Justice Department.

"We will find out who Odebrecht bribed," he told state-run media.

The head of Guatemala's special anti-corruption prosecutor's office told Reuters he had already been investigating Odebrecht bribes to a government official, and President Jimmy Morales said the government would check all Odebrecht contracts.

Experts on corporate bribery said the Odebrecht admissions in a dozen countries - including Angola and Mexico - could subject Odebrecht to new investigations.

Mexico's government and state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex, said they would review the allegations, but Francisco Burquez, an opposition senator calling for answers, argued that local officials were unlikely to do much because of the prevalence of corruption.

"It's the government that covers it up," he said.

'PATTERN OF CORRUPTION'

The Argentine prosecutor handling the Odebrecht probe, Sergio Rodriguez, said Wednesday's plea deal would directly impact their case, which is looking at four Odebrecht projects, and he was trying to reach Brazilian prosecutors to find out more.

"We have a preliminary case open," Rodriguez told Reuters. "We will need to incorporate the information from the agreement sooner or later."

Sources close to Odebrecht and Brazil's federal prosecutors have said it was mostly the work of the Brazilian investigators that led to the Odebrecht's record-setting corruption settlement.

But if the settlement negotiated in Brasilia had been announced in Brazil, its legal system would have required that details remain sealed and not disclosed to the public, two sources close to the negotiation told Reuters on Thursday.

The hope among Brazilian officials is that by having the plea agreements with Odebrecht and Braskem made public, authorities in the other countries will now come under public pressure to follow up and investigate.

"The corruption we've uncovered in Brazil was systematic and complex, and Odebrecht's central role in it is now obvious," Brazilian federal prosecutor Carlos Lima said earlier this year.

"We've found that wherever Odebrecht has worked, there has been this pattern of corruption, and we're carefully collaborating with several other countries on this."

(Additional reporting by Brad Brooks in Brazil, Nicolas Misculin in Argentina, Julia Symmes Cobb in Colombia, Mica Rosenberg in New York, Elida Moreno in Panama, Sofia Menchu in Guatemala, Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein and Dave Graham in Mexico, Andrew Cawthorne in Caracas, Jorge Pineda in Dominican Republic; Writing by Caroline Stauffer in Buenos Aires; Editing by Kieran Murray, Alistair Bell and Richard Chang)
Migrants prepare to board a train headed for Sweden, at Padborg station in southern Denmark September 10, 2015. REUTERS/Claus Fisker/Scanpix Denmark

By Johan Ahlander

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden needs more immigrants not fewer to sustain its cradle-to-grave welfare system and care for an ageing population, a senior official at the state employment service told Reuters in an interview.

In 2015, a record 163,000 people sought asylum in Sweden, the highest per capita in Europe, part of an influx of more than a million people who entered the continent fleeing war and poverty.

The pace of migration has worried some Swedes - the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats party has seen its support surge - leading the country to introduce tough asylum laws. Applications are expected to drop by around 80 percent this year.

However, without significant immigration, Sweden faces a labor shortage in the coming years, Hakan Gustavsson, head of forecasts at Sweden's Public Employment Agency said.

"The addition to the labor force from abroad has alleviated the shortage we still see," he said. "It has increased economic activity in the country, whatever way you look at it, it has been an asset to have taken in so many born abroad."

"The way forward is not to have less immigration."

With a low birthrate and the proportion of retirees rising, Sweden needs immigration of 64,000 people per year on average to maintain the balance between those who are working and those who are drawing a pension, Gustavsson said.

Sweden's population is expected to surpass 10 million next year, an increase of roughly 800,000 or nearly 9 percent in the last decade. Most of the increase has come from immigration.

But last year's abrupt U-turn on generous asylum rules threatens to cut off much needed labor.

The Migration Agency expects around 30,000 asylum applications this year and between 30,000 to 50,000 in 2017.

A big challenge, however, will be to integrate immigrants into the labor market.

Sweden's unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in the third quarter, according to the statistics office. Unemployment among foreign-born Swedes is closer to 15 percent.

People born in Asia and Africa fare even worse with unemployment rates of 21 and 29 percent respectively.

Gustavsson said many immigrants had little education making it hard for them to enter Sweden's job market, where there are few low-skilled jobs.

"We need still these people," he said.

"The challenge lies in integration. Education is a part but there is no silver bullet. Several policy areas must interact."

(Editing by Toby Chopra)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Thursday it killed 28 members of the militant group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in nine strikes in Yemen since September.

The statement from U.S. Central Command did not say how the strikes, which occurred between Sept. 23 and Dec. 13, were carried out.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 23, 2016

UNITED STATES DIESEL-HEATING OIL FUND, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 001-34016 20-8837345 (State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.) 1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1530

Oakland, California 94612 (510) 522-9600 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrants telephone

number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On December 23, 2016, United States Diesel-Heating Oil Fund, LP (the Registrant) issued its monthly account statement for the month ended November 30, 2016, which is presented in the form of a Statement of Income (Loss) and a Statement of Changes in Net Asset Value, as required pursuant to Rule 4.22 under the Commodity Exchange Act. A copy of the monthly account statement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and also can be found on the Registrants website at www.unitedstatescommodityfunds.com. The information furnished in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.1 Monthly Account Statement of the Registrant for the month ended November 30, 2016.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

UNITED STATES DIESEL-HEATING OIL FUND, LP By: United States Commodity Funds LLC, its general partner Date: December 23, 2016 By: /s/ Stuart P. Crumbaugh Name: Stuart P. Crumbaugh Title: Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

United States Diesel-Heating Oil Fund, LP

Monthly Account Statement

For the Month Ended November 30, 2016

Statement of Income (Loss) Income Realized Trading Gain (Loss) on Futures $ (570,523 ) Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Market Value of Futures 801,746 Dividend Income 301 Interest Income 1,147 Total Income (Loss) $ 232,671 Expenses General Partner Management Fees $ 2,854 Professional Fees 8,848 Brokerage Commissions 616 Non-interested Directors' Fees and Expenses 31 Prepaid Insurance Expense 13 NYMEX License Fee 71 SEC & FINRA Registration Expense 600 Total Expenses 13,033 Expense Waiver (9,466 ) Net Expenses $ 3,567 Net Income (Loss) $ 229,104

Statement of Changes in Net Asset Value Net Asset Value Beginning of Month 11/1/16 $ 5,984,541 Net Income (Loss) 229,104 Net Asset Value End of Month $ 6,213,645 Net Asset Value Per Share (400,000 Shares) $ 15.53

To the Limited Partners of United States Diesel-Heating Oil Fund, LP:

Pursuant to Rule 4.22(h) under the Commodity Exchange Act, the undersigned represents that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the information contained in the Account Statement for the month ended November 30, 2016 is accurate and complete.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 Registration Statement No. 333-200089

LEVERAGED INDEX RETURN NOTES  (LIRNs  )

LIRNs  Linked to the S&P 500  Index This graph reflects the hypothetical return on the notes, based on the mid-point of the range(s) set forth in the table to the left. This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only. Issuer The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) Principal Amount $10.00 per unit Term Approximately five years Market Measure The S&P 500  Index (Bloomberg symbol: SPX) Payout Profile at Maturity  [105.00% to 125.00%] leveraged upside exposure to increases in the Market Measure  1-to-1 downside exposure to decreases in the Market Measure beyond a 20.00% decline, with up to 80.00% of your principal at risk Participation Rate [105.00% to 125.00%], to be determined on the pricing date. Threshold Value 80.00% of the Starting Value of the Market Measure Investment Considerations This investment is designed for investors who anticipate that the Market Measure will increase over the term of the notes, and are willing to take downside risk below a threshold and forgo interim interest payments. Preliminary Offering Documents



https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/9631/000110465916163769/a16-22523_9fwp.htm Exchange Listing No

You should read the relevant Preliminary Offering Documents before you invest.

Click on the Preliminary Offering Documents hyperlink above or call your Financial Advisor for a hard copy.

Risk Factors Please see the Preliminary Offering Documents for a description of certain risks related to this investment, including, but not limited to, the following:  Depending on the performance of the Market Measure as measured shortly before the maturity date, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal.  Payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of BNS, and actual or perceived changes in the creditworthiness of BNS are expected to affect the value of the notes. If BNS becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its obligations, you may lose your entire investment.  The initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date will be less than their public offering price.  If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than both the public offering price and the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date.  You will have no rights of a holder of the securities represented by the Market Measure, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities.

Final terms will be set on the pricing date within the given range for the specified Market-Linked Investment. Please see the Preliminary Offering Documents for complete product disclosure, including related risks and tax disclosure.
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2016

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

BIOAMBER INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 98-0601045 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 1250 Rene Levesque West, Suite 4310 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 4W8 Telephone: (514) 844-8000 1000 Westgate Drive, Suite 117 St. Paul, Minnesota 55114 Telephone: (651) 641-3623

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code of registrants principal executive offices)

Jean-Francois Huc

President and Chief Executive Officer

BioAmber Inc.

1250 Rene Levesque West, Suite 4310

Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 4W8

Telephone: (514) 844-8000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Jocelyn M. Arel, Esq.

Michael J. Minahan, Esq.

Goodwin Procter LLP

100 Northern Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

(617) 570-1000

From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement

(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public)

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  (File No. 333-196470)

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  Accelerated filer  Non-accelerated filer  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of each class of securities

to be registered(1) Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering

Price(2) Amount of

Registration Fee(3) Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2) Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2) Debt Securities (2) Warrants (2) Units(4) (2) Total $2,652,000 $308

(1) The registrant previously registered such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, either individually or in units, in one or more offerings, as would have an aggregate offering price not to exceed $100,000,000 on a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-196470) (the Prior Registration Statement), which was declared effective on July 9, 2014.

(2) As of the date of this Registration Statement, the maximum aggregate offering price of securities which remains to be offered pursuant to the Prior Registration Statement is $13,260,000. There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, either individually or in units, as may be sold from time to time by the Registrant. There is also being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock and debt securities as shall be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities that provide for such issuance. The maximum aggregate offering price of the additional securities being registered hereby pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), is $2,652,000, which represents not more than 20% of the maximum aggregate offering price of securities remaining on the Prior Registration Statement.

(3) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.

(4) Consisting of some or all of the securities listed above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants.

The Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

EXPLANATORY NOTE AND

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

This Registration Statement is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This Registration Statement incorporates by reference the contents of, including all amendments and exhibits thereto and all information incorporated by reference therein, the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-196470) (the Prior Registration Statement), which was declared effective by the Commission on July 9, 2014. This Registration Statement is being filed solely for the purpose of registering an additional $2,652,000 of securities of the same class as were included in the Previous Registration Statement. The amount being registered does not represent more than 20% of the maximum aggregate offering price of the securities which remains eligible to be sold under the Prior Registration Statement. The required opinions and consents are listed on the Exhibit Index attached hereto.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, on the 22nd day of December, 2016.

BIOAMBER INC. By: /s/ Jean-Francois Huc Jean-Francois Huc President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature Title Date /s/ Jean-Francois Huc Jean-Francois Huc President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) December 22, 2016 /s/ Mario Saucier Mario Saucier Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) December 22, 2016 /s/ * Raymond Land Chairman of the Board of Directors December 22, 2016 /s/ * Kurt Briner Director December 22, 2016 /s/ * Heinz Haller Director December 22, 2016 /s/ * Ellen B. Richstone Director December 22, 2016 /s/ * Kenneth W. Wall Director December 22, 2016 /s/ George F.J. Gosbee George F.J. Gosbee Director December 22, 2016

* By: /s/ Jean-Francois Huc Jean-Francois Huc Attorney-in-fact

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit

Number Description of Document 5.1 Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP 23.1 Consent of Deloitte LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 23.3 Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) 24.1 Powers of Attorney (included in registrants Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-196470) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference)

Exhibit 5.1

December 22, 2016

BioAmber Inc.

1250 Rene Levesque West, Suite 4310

Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 4W8

Re: Securities Being Registered under Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to you in connection with your filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the 462(b) Registration Statement) on the date hereof pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), relating to the registration of up to $2,652,000 of any combination of (i) common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), of BioAmber Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), (ii) preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the Preferred Stock), (iii) one or more series of debt securities of the Company (Debt Securities), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (Warrants), and (v) units comprised of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and other securities in any combination (Units). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units are sometimes referred to collectively herein as the Securities. Securities may be issued in an unspecified number (with respect to Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants and Units) or in an unspecified principal amount (with respect to Debt Securities). The 462(b) Registration Statement is filed in connection with, and incorporates by reference the information contained in, the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-196470), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2014 and declared effective on July 9, 2014 (the Shelf Registration Statement and together with the 462(b) Registration Statement, the Registration Statements), including the prospectus which forms a part of the Shelf Registration Statement, as supplemented from time to time by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a Prospectus Supplement). The Registration Statements provide that the Securities may be offered separately or together, in separate series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more Prospectus Supplements.

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions set forth below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, and on certificates of officers of the Company.

The opinions set forth below are limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law (which includes reported judicial decisions interpreting the Delaware General Corporation Law), the law of New York, and the federal law of the United States. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion with respect to (i) state securities or blue sky laws, or (ii) state or federal antitrust laws.

For purposes of the opinions set forth below, without limiting any other exceptions or qualifications set forth herein, we have assumed that after the issuance of any Securities offered pursuant to the 462(b) Registration Statement, the total number of issued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, together with the total number of shares of such stock issuable upon the exercise, exchange, conversion or settlement, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security (including without limitation any Unit), as the case may be, then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, under the Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation as then in effect (the Charter).

For purposes of the opinions set forth below, we refer to the following as the Future Authorization and Issuance of Securities:

 with respect to any of the Securities, (a) the authorization by the Company of the amount, terms and issuance of such Securities (the Authorization) and (b) the issuance of such Securities in accordance with the Authorization therefor upon the receipt by the Company of the consideration (which, in the case of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, is not less than the par value of such shares) to be paid therefor in accordance with the Authorization;

 with respect to Preferred Stock, (a) the establishment of the terms of such Preferred Stock by the Company in conformity with the Charter and applicable law and (b) the execution, acknowledgement and filing with the Delaware Secretary of State, and the effectiveness of, a certificate of designations to the Charter setting forth the terms of such Preferred Stock in accordance with the Charter and applicable law;

 with respect to Debt Securities, (a) the authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture or a supplemental indenture relating to such Securities by the Company and the trustee thereunder and/or (b) the establishment of the terms of such Securities by the Company in conformity with the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture and applicable law, and (c) the execution, authentication and issuance of such Securities in accordance with the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture and applicable law; and

 with respect to Warrants or Units, (a) the authorization, execution and delivery by the Company and the other parties thereto of any agreement under which such Securities are to be issued and (b) the establishment of the terms of such Securities, and the execution and delivery of such Securities, in conformity with any applicable agreement under which such Securities are to be issued and applicable law.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

1. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of shares of Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Debt Securities, such Debt Securities will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

4. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Warrants, such Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

5. Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Units, such Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

The opinions expressed above are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and to general principles of equity.

This opinion letter and the opinions it contains shall be interpreted in accordance with the Legal Opinion Principles issued by the Committee on Legal Opinions of the American Bar Associations Business Law Section as published in 53 Business Lawyer 831 (May 1998).

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the 462(b) Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption Legal Matters in the Registration Statements. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Goodwin Procter LLP

GOODWIN PROCTER LLP

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated March 15, 2016, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of BioAmber Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of BioAmber Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2015, and to the reference to us under the heading Experts in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte LLP1

Montreal, Canada

December 22, 2016
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Israeli occupation authorities recently confiscated a trailer being used as a health clinic by a small Palestinian village in the southern West Bank.

According to the report in Haaretz, Israeli soldiers came to Al-Markaz last week and took the trailer, which had been brought to the community only ten days earlier.

Palestinians now fear that the Israeli occupation authorities will confiscate a further two trailers serving as clinics in two adjacent villages, Safai and Majaz.

The three villages are among 12 such communities whose existence pre-dates the beginning of Israeli military rule in 1967, in an area designated by Israel as Firing Zone 918.

Israel is demanding that over 1,000 residents in eight of the villages be permanently evicted, and the state forbids connecting them to the water supply or electricity grid as well as any construction, including for structures for public needs, like clinics or schools.

After the trailer was confiscated, a local Palestinian official filed a petition to Israels Supreme Court, asking the court to compel the Israeli military not to dismantle and confiscate any trailers serving as clinics until the end of court proceedings.

On Sunday, the Supreme Court ordered the state to respond to the petition within a week, but refused the request to issue a restraining order against dismantling and confiscating the clinics.

Next month, the Supreme Court will hold hearings regarding the village residents petition to prevent the state from evicting them from their homes to allow the military to hold firing exercises in the areas.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari in his first speech after arrival slammed the incumbent government saying rulers were only given priority to developing roads and bridges.

Addressing the party workers at Karachi airport for few minutes, he said that Pakistan is safe with the help of Pakistan Army and public. Pakistanis are hardworking nation and no one could defeat it. In a detailed speech on December 27, I will give good news to the worker, he said.

Criticising the opponents, he said, We live here and die here, as we are Bhuttos. Zardari said that he brought a message of hopes not disappointments, adding that PPP will rule the country again, as democracy is taking roots in Pakistan.

He said, We have become a necessity for China, adding that the PPP will work for the progress of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Earlier PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has returned to Pakistan after his plane landed in the provincial capital of Sindh at approximately 3:10 PM.

The former presidents flight arrived at the old terminal where he is expected to address party workers gathered to welcome him back. A special bomb-proof truck has been brought to the old terminal.

PPP Patron in Chief, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted a picture of his father as he departed for the airport from his Dubai residence.

News of Zardari's return has rattled some cages and made some waves on the countrys political horizon. It appears that opposition parties have certain expectations associated with Zardari's arrival, although the question remains whether he would be able to fulfill the hopes that his own party has pinned on him.

Opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is of the view that an alliance with the PPP is not on the cards, although if there emerges a clear stance on the Panama Papers issue then the political discourse of the country could take a new path.

Zardari has been living in Dubai since June 2015.

Also Read:CM visits airport to check preparations of Zardari's welcome

Meanwhile, the former presidents party is of the opinion that Zardaris return to Pakistan would revive the PPPs politics and give it a new direction. PPP leaders think Zardaris expertise lies in maintaining bilateral ties and reconciliation. Party leaders say the return of the former president would revive the politics of opposition.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he was glad that Asif Ali Zardari was returning to the country. He was speaking to journalists during his visit to Bosnia. "I am actually very happy that Zardari is returning to Pakistan," he said, adding that the former president would keep "his partys control in his hands".

Also Read:Glad that Zardari is returning to Pakistan: PM Nawaz Sharif

Earlier, Bilawal Bhutto went as far as to claim during his address at a Foundation Day rally in Lahore that Zardari would become Pakistan's president again.

On Nov 20, former president Zardari stated that he had not been in exile and would be back in Pakistan in a few weeks. He was speaking to Hamid Mir in Geo News show Capital Talk and responded to the hosts question about his entry back into Pakistan.

Preparations complete

Preparations by the PPP to welcome Zardari to Pakistan were completed earlier today. A special bomb-proof truck has been brought to the Old Terminal which the former president would use to deliver his address upon arrival.

DIG Traffic Asif Aijaz Sheikh said no roads would be closed for the rally, adding that Shahrah-e-Faisal would also remain open.

Traffic would be halted only during the VIP movement, he said. The road leading from Terminal 1 to Star Gate would be closed for traffic in light of the PPP rally; only people attending the rally and journalists would be allowed to go to the area designated for the rally, he added.
Seven Pakistani nationals were dead in a rocket attack on a cargo ship off Yemen coast. The cargo vessel, MV Joya, was en route to Dubai from Egypt when it came under a rocket attack. Consequently, it caught fire and sank.

There were eight crew members  all Pakistanis  on board the ship. According to details, seven of the crew members, including Captain Aneesur Rahman, were dead in the rocket attack while Ship Officer Kabeer saved his life by jumping off the ship.

It has also been confirmed that the crew members of the targeted ship were all Pakistanis.

Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney says that they are appealing to Saudi Arabia and other countries for help as saving human lives should be the first priority in this regard.
OSAGE  Many have struggled with trying to balance the combined focuses of gift-giving and celebrating the birth of Christ during the holiday season.

However, one Osage couple has brought some ingenuity into this holiday dilemma.

While the Western world focuses on Dec. 25 and the giant celebration of Christmas, JT and Vicki Noordhoek begin their holiday celebrations on Dec. 6  St. Nicholas Day.

St. Nicholas Day commemorates the life of Bishop Mura, who was born around 280 A.D. in what is now Turkey.

The only child of wealthy parents, St. Nicholas gave away his parents fortune to the poor and sick after their death.

Legend says St. Nicholas was somewhat wealthy and a poor gentleman didnt have money for his three daughters dowries, so he anonymously threw money in the mans window each time a daughter was to wed, said Father Ray Burkle, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Osage, and Visitation Church, Stacyville.

As a child, Burkle's family celebrated St. Nicholas Day by placing their shoes in the hall on the eve of Dec. 5, awakening to discover peanuts and pieces of candy in them.

If you werent nice, you would get coal and a small amount of treats, he said. We often went to church on that day.

The day wasnt played up greatly, but it was a reminder to us to behave before Christmas got here. We also wrote our letters to Santa Claus and put them on the sill of the porch, so St. Nicholas could pass on what we wanted for Christmas. On Dec. 25, we had all the Christmas traditions.

Another Dec. 6 tradition is to anonymously do a good deed for someone else.

The Noordhoeks have implemented the St. Nicholas celebration into their familys fabric since early in their marriage. JT had been exposed to his Dutch heritage and had known about the holiday since childhood, but it didnt heavily influence him until after he was married.

The Noordhoek children would begin the celebration the evening of Dec. 5, when they placed straw-filled wooden shoes outside their bedroom door. (The straw was to feed St. Nicholas horse.) The next morning, the children would arise to find an orange and a small gift in the shoes.

JT said the tradition was followed by breakfast, apple cider and exchanging gifts.

As the kids grew older, for a gag, they occasionally filled their childrens wooden shoes with coal candy, which can be obtained in Dutch communities during the holiday seasons.

In our family weve taken it to an extreme and its became a special tradition, he said. At Christmas we focus on Christ more, but on St. Nicholas Day its more about family, community and gift-giving.
CLEAR LAKE | Some holiday motorists are already getting off the roads.

Reservations began to ring into the front desk of the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Clear Lake with increasing frequency just before noon, said front desk worker Brad Hood.

As people booked their rooms, they told him about seeing quite a few jack-knifed semitrailers and other crashes.

I bet Ive taken 15 reservations in the last 90 minutes, Hood said at 1:15 p.m.

Snow has been falling steadily  and quite heavily at times  in Mason City since about 9 a.m. Three to five inches are expected by 5 p.m.

Roads across North Iowa, including Interstate 35, were completely covered in snow as of 1:30 p.m., according to 511ia.org.

Click here to view the Iowa Department of Transportation road condition map.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported multiple vehicles in the ditch on snow-covered portions of Interstate 35 south of Albert Lea and on Interstate 90.

Click here to view the Minnesota 511 road condition map.

A number of crashes have been reported in and around Mason City.

Mason City Transit buses were running behind schedule due to road conditions, but were still in operation.

Multiple crashes were reported Friday afternoon on Highway 122 between Mason City and Clear Lake. Conditions were so slippery in Mason City that local officials instituted a tow ban within city limits.

Tow bans also were in place in Cerro Gordo, Worth, Wright, Franklin, Kossuth and Hamilton counties.

Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story.

Update: Crashes reported on North Iowa's slippery, ice-covered roadways

Noon Update

MASON CITY | Several crashes were reported late across North Iowa late Friday afternoon as roads became covered in snow and ice.

Cerro Gordo County sheriff's deputies, Nora Springs police and Mason City firefighters responded to a two-vehicle crash about 10:30 a.m. on Highway 122, or 265th Street, near Ulmus Avenue.

The incident involved a Dodge Ram pickup and a silver Buick Century.

Firefighters did not take anyone to the hospital.

Highway 122 was covered in snow and ice at the time. There was about a quarter-mile visibility.

Roads in the city of Mason City also were extremely slick, to the point some vehicles were spinning out and had difficulty getting traction up slight inclines.

City officials instituted a tow ban within Mason City limits due to deteriorating road conditions.

Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story.

WEATHER: Snow begins falling in Mason City

11:30 a.m. Update

MASON CITY | The first flakes of a holiday weekend storm system began falling about 9 a.m. Friday in Mason City.

Travelers can expect 3-5 inches by the end of the work day.

Those driving to holiday gatherings on Christmas Eve will likely encounter fog in the morning, and patchy fog after dark.

Winds should be light and variable.

However, Christmas Day could be dicey.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for freezing drizzle is expected in Mason City before 9 a.m. and freezing rain from 9-11 a.m. However, the temperature is expected to climb to near 40 degrees and the precipitation should change to rain after 1 p.m.

Widespread fog is expected after 4 p.m.

Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story.
With Christmas almost upon us, many people will be looking to fill up before hitting the road.

So this week we checked out some of the fuel stops along the citys main drag, aka Cameron Road.

The prices were nearly identical this week, with only a couple cents difference between stops. Only Mobil Chapel Street  tacked on the end of Cameron, in a way  stood out, being 10 cents cheaper.

Check out the prices below, and if youve seen it better, let us know in the comments, or over on our Facebook page.

Merry Christmas!

PaknSave Fuel

Unleaded: 1.84

Diesel: 1.10

BP Gate Pa

Unleaded: 1.84

Diesel: 1.11

Caltex Greerton

Unleaded: 1.86

Diesel: 1.14

Z 11th Ave

Unleaded: 1.84

Diesel: 1.11

Mobil Cameron Road

Unleaded: 1.84

Diesel: 1.12

Mobil Chapel Street

Unleaded: 1.74

Diesel: 1.03
Police are appealing to the community for help to identity two men whove been captured on CCTV committing burglaries within the Te Puke CBD.

Sergeant Mark Holmes says police are currently investigating the burglaries of several commercial premises in the Te Puke township that have been targeted over the past four to six weeks.

If you have any information that will assist police please contact Te Puke Police.

Anyone with information that will help identify the two men can contact Te Puke Police on 07 573 0500.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Tauranga City Mayor Greg Brownless and Minister for Building and Construction Dr Nick Smith re-signed the Tauranga Housing Accord enabling the ongoing fast tracking of new housing developments.

With the signing of the new Accord, developers are now able to approach Tauranga City Council for a further three years with requests to consider new Special Housing Areas.

Over the two years covered by the previous Accord, 11 Special Housing Areas were established, with a total potential yield of 2,970 dwellings  far exceeding the target of 1,400. As of October 2016, a total of 989 new sections had been consented and 198 building consents issued, with more applications in the pipeline.

The Housing Accord is an agreement between the city council and the Government to work together to address housing supply issues, notably by identifying and fast-tracking development in Special Housing Areas. Special Housing Areas help accommodate the fast-paced growth of Tauranga City by bringing more housing to the market faster, in areas where there is already suitable infrastructure in place or plans for it to be built.

The new Tauranga Housing Accord sets revised targets for land and housing supply, as below:

Residential sections in 2017; 1,500  1,600. 2018; 1,550  1,650. 2019; 1,600  1,700

New dwelling consents in 2017;1,700  1,800. 2018; 1,750  1,850, 2019; 1,800  1,900

This compares to 1,479 sections created and 1,663 new dwelling consents issued in 2016 (actual to October and projected to December), the local building industrys most buoyant year since 1997. The targets are premised on current market conditions remaining similar over the following three years. Should there be a change in the market conditions or other relevant factors, these targets may be reviewed and new targets agreed between the Government and the Council.

Mayor Greg Brownless says the continued implementation of the Tauranga Housing Accord is an important way for council to support the provision of more affordable housing.

Tauranga has issues related to housing affordability. The median house price is now 7.45 times the value of the median income. To be considered affordable Im told this should be 3 or less says Greg. Housing affordability is a complex issue that requires consideration of wider issues, all of which this Accord doesnt address.

What the Accord will do is assist in providing a well-functioning housing market with sufficient housing supply to meet the demand.
UPDATED 9:50AM  Fire crews have now left the scene of a two-car crash on State Highway 29A near Barkes Corner.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Paul Radden says two appliances from the Greerton and Tauranga stations were dispatched to the crash which occurred just before 9.10am.

A police spokesperson says the crash left one lane of SH29A partially blocked, but a tow truck has since cleared the road.

The spokesperson was unable to confirm if anyone was injured as a result of the crash.

EARLIER:

A report has come in of a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 29A near Barkes Corner.

A Northern Fire Communications spokesperson says fire crews have just arrived at the scene of the crash which occurred at about 9.15am.

At this stage it is unknown if anyone has sustained injuries as a result of the crash.

SunLive will update this story once more information is available.

Are you at the scene and know more?

Call 0800 SUNLIVE (786-5483) or email: newsroom@thesun.co.nz
Lottery shop number three in Fuengirola sold around 50 tickets with the second prize number 04536, while the top prize 'El Gordo' was sold in Madrid

Celebrations outside a lottery administration office in Calle Valle de Abdalajis, in the city of Malaga. :: Alvaro Cabrera

El Gordo, the top prize in Spains traditional Christmas lottery, passed the province of Malaga by on Thursday. In fact nearly all the tickets bearing the winning number, 66513, had been sold from official lottery outlets in Madrid.

Nevertheless much of the excitement generated by the big Christmas lottery stems from the huge number of prizes; the winnings are shared by thousands of people.

Some of the second prize, 04536, did reach southern Spain, sharing nearly ten million euros in prize money around the province of Malaga.

Much of this fell on Fuengirola where the state lottery shop in Calle Condes de San Isidro sold 52 of the 20-euro decimo tickets, each of which is now worth 125,000 euros

Were delighted. Its the biggest prize weve given out ever, said manager Santiago Garrido.

Meanwhile in Estepona, the lottery shop in the Carrefour shopping centre sold ten decimo tickets, worth a total of 1,250,000 euros.

When I saw the number on the television I was so happy. I didnt expect to share out so much money after only being open for a few months, said lottery administrator Rosario Nieto.

A sellers dream

In fact on Christmas lottery morning in Spain the first to crack open the bottles of bubbly are not the winners but the people who have sold the tickets. In this lottery geography is key, with all the numbers assigned to official shops, or administraciones, around the country.

While modern technology now allows customers to buy any number they want, these are still associated with a city, town or village around the country.

Therefore a shop that sells a winning number immediately gains prestige and attracts future customers. If one administracion has been lucky enough to sell several top prizes, then the attraction is greater.

The lottery draw took place for four festive hours on Thursday morning as schoolchildren from Madrids San Ildefonso school sang out the numbers and prizes as the balls came out of huge drums in the Teatro Real in Madrid.

As the big prizes dropped out among the many smaller ones, news spread of celebrations around the country. The shop in El Chaparral, in La Cala de Mijas, distributed 250,000 euros as part of the second prize as did a shop in Calle Galveston in Marbella. Other winning second prize tickets were sold in Alfarnate, Antequera, Estepona, Fuengirola, Torremolinos, La Cala del Moral, Marbella, San Luis de Sabinillas and Velez-Malaga. Each place was the scene of celebrations.

Here were toasting the prize. Were still waiting to see whether any of our regulars have won so we can congratulate them, said seller Jose Antonio Madronal, in Sabinillas.

In the case of Torre del Mar, lottery seller Sergio Campos explained how he sold his winning ticket on his machine; And Im almost certain I know who to, its an elderly person who always buys the same number, because the last numbers coincide with the start of the Civil War, he explained.

The first of the big prizes to hit the province of Malaga was one of the two fourth prizes (59444) which left one winner with 20,000 euros in an outlet in Malaga city. Later the same shop, in the Camino de San Rafael area, learned it had also sold a second-prize-winning ticket, and all that just two months after it opened.

Tickets carrying the second fourth prize number (07211) were sold in Alhaurin de la Torre.

Fifth prizes brought good news for sellers and buyers in Torre del Mar, Benalmadena Costa, El Ingenio in Velez-Malaga, Torre del Mar, Fuengirola, San Pedro Alcantara and Avenida de La Luz in Malaga city.

Toilet stop millions

It took almost three hours of lottery draw before excitement in the childrens voices revealed the top prize - the famous El Gordo. Just before midday the number 66513 coincided with the ball indicating the top prize, bringing each decimo ticket holder 400,000 euros. This is the first time that a number ending in the much-loved or hated 13 has won El Gordo and the tickets were all sold from an outlet in the Acacias area of Madrid. However twenty million euros of the prize money went to Abadino in Vizcaya, where a seller distributed 50 tickets they had exchanged with the Madrid shop.

Closer to home one Ronda resident was celebrating with his three decimos of El Gordo. Asking to remain anonymous, he told SUR that he had bought the tickets when he stopped at a roadside bar to go to the toilet while driving near Bornos in November.

I only stopped for five minutes. I bought a bottle of water and saw the number; I always buy number 13, he said on Thursday.
Decorating the tree. SUR

Holly, ivy and laurel were originally used to celebrate winter solstice and to ward off evil spirits

Christmas is about hanging up stockings, leaving out mince pies and milk for Santa, opening presents under the tree, and tucking into the feast of turkey and all the trimmings; at least, this is the common notion for most of us.

However, in some parts of the world, Yuletide celebrations are a far cry from our eggnog and sherry trifle, and there are a few customs that may put one off ones Christmas pudding.

The traditional Christmas pudding is sometimes considered strange to the unfamiliar, especially the Spanish, who prefer light pastries and sugary biscuits, as opposed to our rich, alcohol-drenched plum pudding.

Strangely, Christmas pudding contains no plums, the name arose due to the pre-Victorian use of the word as a term for raisins, but it would have once contained a sixpence.

This brought good luck to the person who received it; in much the same way the dried bean does in the Roscon de Reyes  the sugary Kings cake traditionally eaten in Spain on 6 January.

Swedish tradition involves an almond being placed in the festive rice pudding. The person who gets the almond is certain to marry during the coming year.

However, not all seasonal food is quite so enticing, especially in South Africa, where deep fried caterpillars of the Emperor moth are a delicacy on Christmas Day.

Worse still are the festive delights of Greenland, which include stomach-churning dishes like Mattak and Kiviak.

Mattak is prepared with blubber and raw whales skin, and Kiviak is even less appetising. Five hundred auks, complete with feet, beaks and feathers, are stuffed into a seals skin and left to ferment for seven months. They are then eaten at Christmas.

The Portuguese celebratory feast is called consoada, which usually consists of salt-cod or octopus. Extra spaces are laid for the souls of their late loved-ones, as it is believed to bring the family luck for the New Year.

The holly and the ivy

Until fairly recently, the Christmas tree was a rather unusual sight Spain.

The Spanish decorate with a Belen, nativity scene. If one looks closely, one will usually see the strange figure of the caganer.

Traditionally, the figurine is depicted as a peasant, wearing the traditional Catalan red cap, with his trousers down, showing a bare backside, and defecating.

This strange custom originated in Catalonia in the eighteenth century, although the reason why he is placed among the nativity scene is unknown.

Evergreen branches, wreaths and ivy were used by the Romans to decorate their houses during the New Year. Nevertheless, early Christians were hostile to such practices and condemned those Christians who decorated their houses with laurel or holly.

Holly, Ivy and laurel were originally used to celebrate winter solstice and to ward off evil spirits.

The prickly leaves of holly are said to represent Christs crown of thorns, while laurel is said to symbolise the victory of God over the Devil.

Since medieval times the plants have carried a Christian symbolism, as expressed in the well-known Christmas carol, The Holly and the Ivy, in which the holly represents Jesus and the ivy represents the Virgin Mary.

Decorating the Christmas tree was once a family event that took place during the week leading to Christmas.

During the early modern period, Christmas trees were decorated with pine cones, apples and candy canes, and they were illuminated with candles, but by the twentieth century, all sorts of decorative trinkets and glittering tinsel adorned our trees.

Instead of sparkling baubles and fake snow, Ukrainians decorate their Christmas trees with artificial spiders and cobwebs.

According to legend, there was once an old lady who was upset because she could not afford to decorate the tree for her children. On Christmas morning, the children awoke to find the tree covered in cobwebs. The first rays of sunlight illuminated the threads with a dusting of gold and silver. The old lady never needed to worry about decorations again. Hence, it is deemed lucky to see a spiders web on Christmas morning.

Superstitions

Myth and superstition play their roles at Christmas, and one will encounter many false notions and old wives tales; most of which are the commonplace fallacies found in all parts of Europe, or variations of them.

In Italy, rather than Santa, children await the arrival of Befana, a friendly witch who delivers the presents, but in Norway, brooms are hidden away on Christmas day, in case they are stolen by witches and evil spirits.

Those of us who were naughty, which meant not doing what our parents wanted us to do, were led to believe that our Christmas stocking would be filled with coal.

In Germany, a shoe is placed outside of the door, which, if the child has behaved, will be filled with sweets. If he has not, the shoe will be filled with twigs.

Austrian children are said to live in fear of Krampus, an evil Christmas Beelzebub who beats naughty children with the branches of a tree.

A Greek legend tells of the kallikantzaroi, a race of evil goblins that lurk underground and surface to create havoc during Christmas.

Of course, Charles Dickens introduced us to the ghosts of Christmas past, but Jacob Marley was somewhat pleasant compared to some festive ghosts.

South African folklore tells of a boy killed by his grandmother, because he ate the cookies she had left out for Santa. The legend claims that this boy haunts the homes of naughty children on Christmas Eve.

One must wonder whether children have trouble sleeping on Christmas Eve because of anticipation and excitement, or because their parents had scared the living daylights out of them. Merry Christmas
NEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments, the investment management division of Guggenheim Partners, announced quarterly and year-end distributions for its equity exchange traded funds (ETFs).



Out of 47 total equity ETFs in the Guggenheim suite, 2 declared a capital gain.

For more information on year-end distributions related to Guggenheim Investments ETFs, please visit http://guggenheiminvestments.com/products/etf/annual-distributions or call the Guggenheim ETF Knowledge Center at 888.WHY ETFS.

Past performance is not indicative of future performance. To the extent any portion of the distribution is estimated to be sourced from something other than income, such as return of capital, the source would be disclosed on a Section 19(a)-1 letter located on the Funds website under the Literature tab. Distributions may be comprised of sources other than income, which may not reflect actual fund performance.

For more information, please visit http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com/products/etf.

About Guggenheim Investments

Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, with $204 billion1 in total assets across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 275+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification and attractive long-term results.

Media Contact

Ivy McLemore

Director of Intermediary Communications

Guggenheim Investments

Ivy.mclemore@guggenheimpartners.com

(212) 518-9859

1Guggenheim Investments total asset figure is as of 09.30.2016. The assets include leverage of $10.7bn for assets under management and $0.5bn for assets for which we provide administrative services. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited and Guggenheim Partners India Management.

Read a funds prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the funds investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information, which should be considered carefully before investing. Obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) at http://guggenheiminvestments.com/home or call 800.820.0888.

The referenced funds are distributed by Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC. Guggenheim Investments represents the investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (Guggenheim), which includes Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC ("GFIA") and Guggenheim Partners Investment Management (GPIM), the investment advisors to the referenced funds. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, is affiliated with Guggenheim, GFIA and GPIM.




Merc Thomas fb profile.png

Alfred "Merc" Thomas' profile picture on Facebook.

(John O'Brien | jobrien@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man who beat a murder charge then confessed on Facebook admitted this morning to an illegal ammunition charge.

Alfred L. "Merc" Thomas, 31, of Rome, pleaded guilty to a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms ammunition.

Thomas is not the Alfred J. Thomas who Syracuse police charged this week in a 2007 murder.

Merc Thomas was acquitted in September 2014 of murder in the shooting death of Martin Paulk. Three weeks later, Thomas admitted in a Facebook post that he did it. Four months later, Thomas posted a video of the crime scene on Facebook and again confessed.

"I did that. Me and another black male," Thomas said in the video, according to court papers. He then posted a photo of the New York state double jeopardy law, which prohibits someone from being prosecuted twice for the same crime.

A screenshot of Alfred Thomas' Facebook page shows a photo of a tattoo on his back reading, "Guilty Until Proven Innocent."

"(N-word), I beat this!" Thomas wrote on Facebook, according to court papers. "SO GET OFF MY (expletive). I DID DAT."

The FBI and federal prosecutors got a search warrant for Thomas' Facebook account and used the posts against him on the illegal ammo charge from 2012. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick convinced a judge in March to keep Thomas in jail on the ammo charge because the Facebook posts showed him to be a danger.

After today's plea, Southwick would not comment on whether he plans to use the Facebook posts to argue for a more severe sentence for Thomas.

U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes scheduled sentencing for April 24. Thomas faces up to 10 years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines recommend a sentence of 70 to 87 months, Southwick said in court.

Contact John O'Brien anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-2187
Blog_041306jail3PC.JPG

In this photograph from 2006, inmates watch TV at the Cayuga County Jail in Sennett. This photographs is from The Post-Standard | Syracuse.com's archives.

(The Post-Standard archives)

SENNETT, N.Y. -- The U.S. Marshals Service has identified a federal inmate who committed suicide in his Cayuga County Jail cell, the federal agency announced today.

The man had entered the United States illegally by crossing the St. Lawrence River in a rubber raft a few days prior, court documents state.

Donald Johnson, 34, of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, died Dec. 10 after corrections officers at the Cayuga County Jail found him hanging in his cell, officials said.

Officers and nurses did CPR on Johnson to try to revive him before he was rushed to Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, members of the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office said. He died in the hospital approximately 11 hours later.

Johnson was approached by police Dec. 7 in St. Lawrence County because he matched the description of a man who had recently caused a commotion at a local bar, according to a criminal complaint filed against him in U.S. District Court by a border patrol agent.

When the officer asked Johnson where he was from, Johnson said he was from Massachusetts, the complaint states. His license, however, said he was from Canada, according to records.

Pressing further, the officer asked Johnson where he just came from, and Johnson said Canada, according to the complaint. He told the officer he did not speak to anyone or show identification when he entered the country, the complaint states.

Johnson told the officer crossing from Canada to the U.S. was just crossing "an imaginary line," the complaint states.

Johnson told authorities he had ridden in a rubber raft from Brockville, Ontario, to Ogdensburg, New York, according to the complaint. He then took a taxi to Canton in St. Lawrence County, where he was caught by the police officer, according to court records.

This was the second time Johnson had tried to enter the country illegally, the complaint stated. He had previously been deported back to Canada in August 2011 after illegally being in Plymouth, Massachusetts, according to the document.

The Cayuga County sheriff previously said Johnson had been screened for depression when he arrived at the facility, but did not raise anyone's suspicions. The sheriff's office is still investigating the incident.
Syracuse, NY -- An Onondaga County deputy attorney will leave government to take over the troubled program that pays defense lawyers to represent poor criminal defendants.

Kathleen Dougherty, a 17-year veteran of the county's law department, will become executive director of the Assigned Counsel Program in mid-January, said Lauren Seiter, chair of the ACP board.

She replaces Renee Captor, who parted with the program last week amid dramatic changes in how the program operates.

Dougherty, 59, of Syracuse, will have a role in picking her staff, which includes a deputy director, quality enhancement attorney and a chief financial officer, Seiter said. Those positions remain open.

The program is getting a major shakeup as part of the settlement in a lawsuit that found Onondaga County was among the worst in the state in providing defense for poor criminal clients.

Free criminal lawyers for the poor at taxpayer expense are required under a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision that cited the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution.

But a lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union argued that New York's system for providing lawyers was broken in five counties -- including Onondaga.

The state has pledged $5 million to the county next year as part of plans to revamp the entire process. Overall, more than $100 million is expected to be spent statewide.

Dougherty will inherit a program with approximately 170 lawyers who handle roughly 14,000 criminal cases a year. Unlike a public defender system, criminal lawyers in Onondaga County are paid per case, much like independent contractors.

In her current position, Dougherty served as the main lawyer for the county handling changes from the NYCLU lawsuit. She was also head of the county's litigation unit.

Dougherty represented the county in a panel discussion earlier this month on the future of the assigned counsel program.

Her new employer will be the Assigned Counsel Program, which began as a part of the Onondaga County Bar Association.

She is sister to newly-elected County Court Judge Stephen Dougherty. She was paid $95,608 by the county this year, according to SeeThroughNY.net. Her new salary with the non-profit ACP is not known.
FORM 8.3

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser: Jupiter Asset Management Ltd (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/ offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Deutsche Boerse AG (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held /dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 22nd December 2016 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" Yes

London Stock Exchange Group PLC





2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:



Tendered Ordinary



Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 6,556,523 3.51 (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 6,556,523 3.51

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: None Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: None

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security Purchase/sale



Number of securities Price per unit Ordinary - Tender Sale 75,000 EUR 78.3323 Ordinary - Tender Sale 36,525 EUR 78.423

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. CFD Nature of dealing

e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit None

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit None

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit None





(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security Nature of dealing

e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) None





4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



None





(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"







None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO

Date of disclosure: 23rd December 2016 Contact name: Nabeel Ashraf Telephone number: 0203 817 1407

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
Dublin, Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Benzotrifluoride Market (Derivatives and Sub-Derivatives): Analysis By End-User Industry, By Region, By Country (2016-2021)" report to their offering.



Global Benzotrifluoride and Derivatives Market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 4.30% during 2016-2021

The strong growth in benzotrifluoride market is driven by the surging demand from growing chemical and agricultural industries. Among the regions, APAC holds the largest market share owing to the region's increasing consumption levels, rising incomes and growing middle class population demanding improved crop yields and cost-efficient chemical systems.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Research Methodology



2. Executive Summary



3. Strategic Recommendation

3.1 Asia Pacific Region to rise at high rate

3.2 Rise in demand from agricultural industry

3.3 Increased usage in the Paints & Coatings Industry



4. Global Chemical Industry Overview



5. Benzotrifluoride Product Overview



6. Global Benzotrifluoride Market: Growth and Forecast



6.1 Market size By Value

6.2 Global Consumption of Benzotrifluoride, 2015

6.3 Global Toluene Industry



7. Global Benzotrifluoride Market: By Derivatives and Sub-Derivative

7.1 Global Benzotrifluoride Market, By Derivatives

7.2 Global Aminobenzotrifluoride Market, By Value

7.3 Aminobenzotrifluoride Market, By Sub Derivative, By Value

7.4 Global Chlorobenzotrifluoride Market, By Value

7.5 Chlorobenzotrifluoride Market, By Sub Derivative, By Value

7.6 Global Bromobenzotrifluoride Market, By Value

7.7 Bromobenzotrifluoride Market, By Sub Derivative, By Value

7.8 Global Hydroxybenzotrifluoride Market, By Value

7.9 Hydroxybenzotrifluoride Market, By Sub Derivative, By Value

7.10 Global Othersbenzotrifluoride Market, By Value



8. Global Benzotrifluoride Market-By End-User Industry



8.1 Global Benzotrifluoride Market, By End-User Industry Breakdown

8.2 Benzotrifluoride Market in Chemical Industry, By Value

8.3 Benzotrifluoride Market in Pharmaceutical Industry, By Value

8.4 Benzotrifluoride Market in Agricultural Industry, By Value

8.5 Benzotrifluoride Market in Other End-User Industry, By Value



9. Global Benzotrifluoride Market: Regional Analysis



10. Market Dynamics

10.1 Market Drivers

10.2 Challenges



11. Market Trends



12. Porter's Five Forces Analysis - Benzotrifluoride Market



13. Value Chain Analysis



14. Policy and Regulatory Landscape



15. Competitive Landscape

15.1 Product Benchmarking

15.2 Prices of benzotrifluoride and it's derivatives

15.3 Production capacity of key players in benzotrifluoride market

15.4 Production capacity of benzotrifluoride derivatives in China by major players

15.5 List of suppliers of benzotrifluoride

15.6 Prices of benzotrifluoride of different quantities of various companies



16. Company Profiles

16.1 Navin Fluorine International Limited

16.2 Wylson-Chem Co., Ltd.

16.3 Zhejiang Weihua Chemical Co.,Ltd.

16.4 Mitsubishi International PolymerTrade Corporation

16.5 Miteni SpA

16.6 Zhejiang Kangfeng Chemicals Co., Ltd.

16.7 Kingchem-Liaoning Chemical Co., Ltd.

16.8 Jiangsu Fenghua Chemical Industry Co.,Ltd.

16.9 HE Chemical

16.1 Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hgh9mv/global




WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Platform Specialty Products Corporation (NYSE:PAH) ("Platform"), a global specialty chemicals company, announced today that Benjamin Gliklich, Executive Vice President  Operations and Strategy, will be presenting at the Seventeenth Annual CJS Securities New Ideas for the New Year Investor Conference on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 in New York City. Slides from the presentation will be made available before the conference in the Investor Relations section of Platform's website at www.platformspecialtyproducts.com.



About Platform

Platform is a global, diversified producer of high-technology specialty chemicals and a provider of technical services. The business involves the formulation of a broad range of solutions-oriented specialty chemicals, which are sold into multiple industries, including agricultural, animal health, electronics, graphic arts, plating, and offshore oil and gas production and drilling. More information on Platform is available at www.platformspecialtyproducts.com.




Among the many Christmas albums trotted out every year, perhaps one of the most enduring is Phil Spectors A Christmas Gift for You. According to Rolling Stone, it ranks at number 142 in their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Phil Spector was one of the greatest innovators in music in the 50s and 60s, using a technique called the wall of sound to create a rich and powerful tonal quality in his music. He worked with the Beatles, Leonard Cohen, the Ramones, and other chart-topping artists and bands. He was celebrated  and still is  for his talent and bold approach to rethinking music production.

In February 2003, actress Lana Clarkson was shot dead by Phil Spector in his mansion in Hollywood. In 2009, after a mistrial, he was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to 19 years in jail.

Ive listened to this album every Christmas. When I heard about Spectors past, I felt it took away, just a bit, from the cheerful Christmas spirit of the album. I couldnt get the thought of what Spector had done out of my mind as I listened to the album.

Learning more about an artist undeniably affects the way we listen to their music. Sometimes what they do can colour their music forever. Phil Spector is only one example in a long list of artists who have become associated not with their talents or skill, but with their misdeeds.

However, to dismiss Phil Spector because of his actions would stop you from appreciating his extraordinary contribution to modern music and a whole host of iconic songs that he produced including My Sweet Lord and The Long and Winding Road, by George Harrison and the Beatles, respectively. Should his actions really affect our appreciation of his art? After all, appreciating his music does not in any way condone what he did.

To take a more recent example: in 2009, it was revealed that Chris Brown had assaulted his then girlfriend Rihanna. Chris Brown had had two double platinum albums and was at the height of his career. It didnt take too long however before his fans appeared to have moved on from the assault. In 2011, his album F.A.M.E reached number one on the Billboard 200 and he continues to release popular songs and win awards for his music.

Is there anything wrong with this? After all, appreciating his music in no way diminishes his actions or condones them. His art is entirely separate from his behaviour.

However, with some crimes, it feels impossible to ignore them entirely. While logically I know there is no reason why an artists music should be tainted by their actions, my emotional response to it is often changed irrevocably when I learn what they have done. As a result, I personally find it difficult to get beyond what Chris calls the incident with Rihanna and I struggle to appreciate his music as I would if I didnt know what he had done.

But then why is it generally deemed acceptable to listen to the music of Chris Brown but not acceptable to watch the comedy of Bill Cosby? With Bill Cosby, whose name has become so associated with allegations of sexual abuse (which, it is important to point out, have yet to be taken to trial) it seems generally accepted that for a TV channel to show his sitcom, The Cosby Show, would be in bad taste. Perhaps it is the sheer number of allegations against Cosby, his total lack of repentance, and the horrific stories of what he has done that turn the public against him so much more viscerally than Chris Brown. While Chris Browns crime is certainly vile and I personally find it hard to see past, there has been less of a long-lasting reaction against Brown than Cosby.

Perhaps then the question of whether we reject an artist based on their misconduct is down to our emotional response. We can argue rationally as much as we like about how art should be separate from the person who creates it, but fundamentally, art is about our individual emotional response. Since art is not governed by logic, the question of whether we can appreciate the art of bad people must surely come down to our own personal, instinctive reaction to what an artist has done or been accused of.




Health Care Success (HCS) , has joined hands with Immpetus Enterprises LLP, India to launch a wide range of precise and accurate fitness wearables (fitness bands) in the country under the brand name Tango. As part of its portfolio Tango offers wellness motivators and heart rate monitor products which assure highquality standards, precision and accuracy, cutting edge technology and customer friendly products worldwide. New Delhi, December 21, 2016: Leading Health Care Technology company of Finland, has joined hands withto launch a wide range of precise and accurate fitness wearables (fitness bands) in the country under the brand nameAs part of its portfolio Tango offers wellness motivators and heart rate monitor products which assure highquality standards, precision and accuracy, cutting edge technology and customer friendly products worldwide.





The promoters of HCS, are also known for inventing worlds first wireless heart monitor, they have used state-of-the-art motion sensor technology for developing Tango products which provides accurate monitoring in the smallest form factor possible. All devices comply with CE standards and have undergone stringent technology tests, real time user experience reports and quality checkups.





HCS International CEO Mr. Jari Raglundsaid about the Tangos launch in Indian market we are delighted to launch Tango products in Indian market. We have seen an exponential growth in the market of wellness motivators, heart rate monitoring devices and mobile point of care solutions in the last five years and we believe this pattern will continue and fitness consciousness grows among people. Entry in Indian market will take the brand Tango to new heights. Our main focus is to educate the people and influence them to be fit and follow healthy lifestyle and to offer them best quality and user friendly products at an ideal price.





the market.



The IDC put this growth down in part to the simple, easy-to-use features of fitness trackers, as well as fashionable designs which allow users to wear them every day, blended seamlessly with their own existing accessories and style. HCS Global Business Development Head Mr. Rishi Kamal adds Data from International Data Corporation for third quarter of 2016 has shown that despite the smartwatch market not faring so well, the overall wearables market grew by 3.1% year over year, with basic wearables, primarily fitness trackers, experiencing double-digit growth and accounting for 85% ofthe market.The IDC put this growth down in part to the simple, easy-to-use features of fitness trackers, as well as fashionable designs which allow users to wear them every day, blended seamlessly with their own existing accessories and style.





Immpetus enterprise India HeadMrBharat Nanda said, The collaboration with HCS will give a chance to increasingly fitness conscious Indians to avail the best and latest technology in fitness gadgets and experience the innovation which Tango is offering worldwide. We can assure of real high quality and technologically superior products, more so as they are being offered by a reputed European company, which makes sure their products undergo stringent quality checks before they make their way to the market. There are many affordable products available in the market but when you use them the results they provide are not accurate. Then there are other brands which are highly expensive and are beyond the reach of normal customers. We feel that with these latest devices from Tango, we would be able to fill this gap and get good customers response.





This tie up targets young urban population in India and would reach out to this audience through an aggressive marketing campaign. The company plans to be a leader in Indian market in Fitness monitor and Fitness gadget business with a varied range of highly innovative and quality products.





Currently Tango Wellness products are available online at www.amazon.in and would be available on other e-commerce portals very soon.





About Health Care Success (HCS) :

Health Care Success (HCS) develops wireless, wearable and easy to use health technology. HCSs product increases their users health awareness and motivates them into fun, preventive care take of their overall health. HCS was founded in 2009, in Finland by Professor SeppoSaynajakangas who developed the first wireless heart rate monitor in the world. HCS has presence in Europe and India. Our medical solutions provide real time clinical information for healthcare professionals, doctors, clinicians and other healthcare stakeholders. This decreases mortality, patient care times, healthcare costs and resources needed. For stakeholders such as insurance companies and corporate healthcare this means better risk assessment and increased ROI on healthcare investments and policies. Our consumer products go by the brand name TANGO and Mobile Application TANGO GO.





About Immpetus Enterprises:
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecom Commission has declared that broadband internet is now a basic telecommunications service. While most Canadians live close to the US border, there are still many in remote locations where internet connectivity is either slow or non-existent. The CRTC estimates that roughly two million households do not have access to connections at acceptable speeds. Their new timeline has that number dropping to zero in the next 10 to 15 years.

The ruling orders the country's internet service providers to start working on bringing internet service to these rural and isolated areas, as well as increasing the speed of many inadequate connections. Before the CRTC's ruling, landline phone service was the only thing regulated as basic or essential. The CRTC's chair Pierre Blais has set these ambitious goals in the hopes of connecting all Canadians for the 21st century. The new baseline for internet speed will be set at 50Mbps download and 10Mbps upload. Unlimited data must also be an option offered by providers.

The Canadian government is taking internet connectivity very seriously. In order to achieve these numbers, ISPs will be required to contribute to a $750 million infrastructure fund over the next five years. Other efforts include a $500 million federal investment for high speed broadband, and various programs to increase the nation's cell coverage and reliability.

While the ruling doesn't mention anything about pricing, many in the United States hope the FCC will pass similar legislation in the future. As Trump prepares to take office, Net Neutrality will undoubtedly be an issue his administration is going to face. It definitely appears like Canada is heading in the right direction so it will be interesting to see who follows next.

Lead photo credit Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press
Things have been looking so great in the smartwatch market as more people are opting for basic wearable devices that focus on one thing --- primarily fitness. But Google hasn't given up on the category. In fact, the company is reportedly planning to launch two new OEM-branded smartwatches early next year, which will serve as flagships for the next generation of Android Wear.

While the company isn't building the hardware itself, like it is now doing with the Pixel smartphones, it is collaborating with an unnamed third party on hardware design and software integration of the watches. Speaking with The Verge, Android Wear manager and Google employee Jeff Chang only said that this company has made Android Wear smartwatches in the past.

Partner announcements for other Android Wear 2.0 devices coming in 2017 are expected at CES.

Google will release the fifth and final developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 in January, and it is expected to include support for Google Assistant and Android Pay on supported devices. It will also will support native, standalone apps that do not require a paired smartphone to work, Apple Watch-like watch faces, Material Design, better support for messaging and more.
The Department of Homeland Security has started requesting that certain foreign travelers hand over their social media details when visiting the US. The controversial new scheme was first suggested over a year ago and was finally approved this week.

The US Customs and Border Protection unit of the DHS officially submitted its proposal to add a social media identifier to arrival forms back in June. The plans were later slammed by tech firms and rights groups in an open letter. "This program would invade individual privacy and imperil freedom of expression while being ineffective and prohibitively expensive to implement and maintain," stated the message, which was signed by representatives from Facebook, Google, and Twitter.

The objections didn't succeed in stopping the policy coming into effect. As of Tuesday, anyone who enters the US temporarily without a visa through the the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process will face the social media section of the form, which is marked as optional.

A drop-down menu on the online form allows visitors to "enter information associated with your online presence---Provider/Platform---Social media identifier." It includes major sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

A spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection told Politico that the new policy was meant to "identify potential threats." The agency has said that it wouldn't prohibit visitors from entering the country if they refused to provide their social media information.

The American Civil Liberties Union disagrees with agency's claim. The group says people from Arab and Muslim communities will feel forced into handing over the information, at which point their "usernames, posts, contacts and social networks will be exposed to intense scrutiny." The way the government collects and stores the data is also being questioned by rights groups.

In addition to the potential privacy risks posed by the new policy, there's also the fact that it's unlikely to have much success when it comes to identifying potential terrorists. It's easy to create fake accounts in advance, and travelers aren't required to make their posts public once they hand over their usernames.
"Don't be evil" may be Google's corporate motto, but one of its product managers doesn't believe it's practicing what it preaches. The employee in question filed a lawsuit against the company earlier this week, alleging that it runs an "internal spying program" and its confidentiality policies are a violation of California labor laws.

The Information reports that the suit was filed on Tuesday in California Superior Court in San Francisco by the anonymous worker, identified only as "John Doe." He claims Google personnel are prohibited from talking internally about any illegal conduct they may have witnessed or "dangerous product defects," so it can't be used against the company in legal discovery.

Doe also alleges that the policies stops whistleblowing by prohibiting employees from speaking to reporters or government officials. He says they can't even talk to spouses or friends about whether their boss could do a better job. Additionally, the company won't allow employees to discuss pay and the Google work experience with potential new employers.

The lawsuit states that Google encourages people to spy on each other through a program called "Stop Leaks," which advises employees to report co-workers who they believe are acting in a suspicious manner, such as asking detailed questions about work projects.

Bizarrely, another part of the suit claims Google prevents employees from writing works of creative fiction about working for a large Silicon Valley company without its prior approval.

The Information estimates that if Google is found guilty of violating the state's labor laws, it could face fines totaling as much as $3.8 billion. A company spokesman called the allegations "baseless," adding that the lawsuit is without merit.

"We're very committed to an open internal culture, which means we frequently share with employees details of product launches and confidential business information," he said in a statement. "Transparency is a huge part of our culture. Our employee confidentiality requirements are designed to protect proprietary business information, while not preventing employees from disclosing information about terms and conditions of employment, or workplace concerns."
It is a long-held complaint by consumers of milk that lights used in retail display sour the taste of milk.

A new study suggests if LED lights are used in milk display cases, they will not only reduce energy bills but also make the milk taste better. In the United States, LED lights are widely used in milk retail outlets as a replacement of fluorescent lights.

This study was conducted by Virginia Tech researchers who said the exposure to certain light can induce a change in milk's flavor.

The findings were published in the Journal of Dairy Science. It is a known fact that consumers highly value fresh milk that comes from the dairy and has a rich taste. Milk that rests under fluorescent lights was often described as "stale and painty."

"We want to help figure out ways to return to the fresh taste of milk that our grandparents experienced when it came straight from the dairy," said Susan Duncan, a professor of food science and technology in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Duncan is also a researcher at the Fralin Life Sciences Institute.

Noting the need to retain the taste and nutrients in milk, Duncan and her team want to figure out ways to protect those characteristics and provide better products to consumers.

The study explains many advantages of replacing fluorescent lights with LED lights in reducing the negative profiles of the flavor.

Tests With LED Lights

It has been assessed that there had been a fall in milk consumption for many years. Duncan blames the effect of lighting in the retail display as one of the factors that changes the original taste of milk.

Duncan's tests at the Virginia Tech Evaluation Laboratory showed that the new LED lights create a better taste compared to milk exposed to fluorescent lights. However, more work needs to be done in packaging to restore the milk's taste to the level of freshly pasteurized milk.

Regarding the chemistry of changes, experts said the change basically affects Riboflavin  a nutrient that gets oxidized under fluorescent lights. It changes the taste of milk and reduces its nutritional content. These reactions take place in just two hours, if milk is stored in translucent plastic jugs.

The study offers a remedy saying that the situation can be salvaged by using opaque milk packaging to protect the Riboflavin and other nutrients from being lost under lighting damage.

Suitable changes in containers can also help. Oxidation that happens in milk kept in High-density polyethylene (HDPE) translucent jugs can be controlled by the use of light-blocking pigments in the said containers. This was proved in the tests as the flavor was contained and the milk tasted fresh.

Demand Up For Almond Milk

Meanwhile, almond milk has emerged as the fastest growing segment of the non-dairy milk market, according to market research.

Allied Market Research said almond milk is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 15 percent in the coming years in North America.

Market research firm Technavio added that the higher growth for almond milk is a response to the battle against obesity in America, aided by the consumer perception that non-dairy milk is a healthier option.

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BlackBerry has announced another quarter of losses, and chances are, this will continue for more quarters before things iron out. However, company CEO John Chen is looking to bring BlackBerry out of the dust and into the coming future of connected cars.

Chen says he expects BlackBerry to break even for the next quarter, the first time ever since the company exited the smartphone market where non-business consumers are concerned. BlackBerry made it known its intentions to walk away from the market recently when it licensed the brand to the Chinese company, TCL.

For those who have been unaware of what's going on, TCL is the company that manufactured the last two BlackBerry devices, so it would make sense for Chen and friends to decide to give the company the license to bring future handsets to market.

Given the success of the QNX Software System, which was acquired by BlackBerry back in 2010, the company can look to future cars to bring in some well-needed revenue. The software is one of the most used automotive software, and as cars become more connected and digitalized, we expect BlackBerry to push forward in a huge way to carve out a big piece of the market for itself.

Powering The Next Generation Of Self-Driving Cars

So far, QNX can be found in more than 60 million cars from around the world, according to BlackBerry. Because of this, the company wants to leverage its position to make sure QNX is the central operating system of self-driving cars whenever they take off and become the next must-have piece of tech.

One of the steps in making this a possibility is creating a QNX vehicle researcher base in Canada. This is exactly what BlackBerry aims to do in a bid to make Canada a big player in autonomous vehicle research.

The BlackBerry QNX Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Centre was announced on Dec. 19 by BlackBerry CEO and the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

"With the opening of its innovation center in Ottawa, BlackBerry is helping to establish our country as the global leader in software and security for connected car and autonomous vehicle development," said Trudeau in a statement.

BlackBerry aims to hire local engineers to staff the facility, a move that could potentially deliver hundreds of new job openings for eager professionals.

Will BlackBerry Manufacture Its Own Self-Driving Car?

The company did not say, but chances are, if QNX takes off in the self-driving car market, then we could see the company create its own vehicle for the sake of not relying too much on vehicle manufacturers for most of its revenue.

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BONANZA CREEK ENTERS INTO RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT WITH BONDHOLDERS HOLDING MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN UNSECURED DEBT



BONANZA CREEKS DEBT TO BE REDUCED BY MORE THAN $850 MILLION

CERTAIN BONDHOLDERS COMMIT TO PROVIDE NEW $200 MILLION EQUITY INFUSION

RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE AS USUAL, WITHOUT INTERRUPTION, WITH EMPLOYEES, ROYALTY OWNERS, VENDORS AND TRADE CREDITORS TO BE PAID IN FULL IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS

SOLICITATION OF VOTES COMMENCING ON PREPACKAGED CHAPTER 11 PLAN

DENVER, Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (NYSE:BCEI) and its subsidiaries (collectively, Bonanza Creek or the Company) announced today that the Company entered into a restructuring support agreement (the RSA) with certain holders (the Supporting Noteholders) of its 6.75% senior notes due 2021 (the 2021 Notes) and 5.75% senior notes due 2023 (the 2023 Notes and together with the 2021 Notes, the Senior Notes) collectively holding 51.1% of its outstanding Senior Notes, and one of its crude oil purchase and sale pipeline counterparties, NGL Crude Logistics, LLC and its parent, NGL Energy Partners, LP (collectively, NGL), to effectuate a proposed prepackaged plan of reorganization (the Plan) that will significantly deleverage the Companys balance sheet and provide the Company with $200 million of additional liquidity from an equity rights offering backstopped by certain holders of the Senior Notes. The RSA contemplates that the Company will commence its prepackaged bankruptcy case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the Bankruptcy Court) on or prior to January 5, 2017.

Richard Carty, Bonanza Creeks Chief Executive Officer, commented, During 2016 we have been working diligently to reduce our cost structure and improve operating efficiencies under our commitment to rapid continuous improvement initiatives. The Restructuring Support Agreement announced today further increases our competitive position with significant improvements in firm transportation commitments, a comprehensive elimination of more than $850 million in unsecured balance sheet principal, accrued interest, and prepayment premiums, and a concurrent injection of $200 million in equity to fund our go-forward development plan. Effected by way of a proposed prepackaged chapter 11 filing, this represents the culmination of countless hours of hard work from various parties to resolve legacy encumbrances that restricted our access to liquidity and constrained asset development.

We are appreciative that our business partners and creditors recognize the value of Bonanza Creeks employees and assets, and we are pleased that the agreement with our noteholders provides value for all of our stakeholders, including existing equity holders. We look forward to completing the restructuring quickly with minimal disruption to our business, and to repositioning our company as a galvanized operator with an expectation to emerge with no debt and a strengthened liquidity position to execute upon our extensive asset development opportunities.

Upon effectuation, the consensual financial restructuring would, among other things:

Eliminate more than $850 million of principal, accrued interest and prepayment premiums in respect of the Senior Notes. In exchange, approximately 95.5% of reorganized Bonanza Creeks equity as of the effective date of the Plan (the Effective Date) (subject to dilution by a rights offering for new equity, a management incentive plan, and warrants for existing equity holders) and the opportunity to participate in an equity rights offering that will raise $200 million of new capital will be made available to holders of general unsecured claims against the Company as provided for in the Plan. This new capital commitment will be backstopped pursuant to an agreement to be entered into by certain Supporting Noteholders, subject to approval by the Bankruptcy Court. Bonanza Creek anticipates emerging from chapter 11 with no funded debt and has sufficient liquidity to operate during the case.

Restructure Bonanza Creeks crude oil purchase and sale agreement with NGL on more favorable terms to the Company.

Pay all customer, employee, royalty and working interest obligations in full in the ordinary course.

Provide the Companys existing shareholders, in exchange for the releases by such shareholders of the Released Parties (as defined in the Plan), with consideration in the form of 4.5% of reorganized Bonanza Creeks equity on the Effective Date (subject to dilution by a rights offering for new equity, a management incentive plan, and warrants for existing equity holders) and 3-year warrants to acquire up to 7.5% of equity in reorganized Bonanza Creek.

In addition, the Company is currently engaged in discussions with KeyBank, National Association, as administrative agent under the Companys revolving credit facility, with respect to both the treatment of the revolving credit facility in a chapter 11 proceeding and the terms of a renegotiated revolving credit facility after emergence from chapter 11. There can be no assurance an agreement will be reached. All aspects of the Plan remain subject to Bankruptcy Court approval and the satisfaction of conditions set forth in the Plan.

Bonanza Creek intends to commence solicitation on the Plan today. Votes on the Plan must be received by Prime Clerk, LLC, the Companys voting agent, by January 23, 2017, unless the deadline is extended. The record date for voting has been set as December 20, 2016. Subject to approval by Bonanza Creeks board of directors, the Company anticipates filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court by January 5, 2017. Subject to Bankruptcy Court approval of the Plan and the satisfaction of certain conditions to the Plan and related transactions, the Company expects to consummate the Plan and emerge from chapter 11 before the end of the first quarter of 2017. There can be no assurances that the Plan will be approved or confirmed pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code.

The Company recommends that its creditors, including the holders of Senior Notes, refer to the information in the Companys Disclosure Statement, which attaches a copy of the Plan. A copy of the Disclosure Statement can be found at https://cases.primeclerk.com/bcei. Information contained in the Disclosure Statement is subject to change, whether as a result of amendments, actions of third parties or otherwise. Additional inquiries should call the information call center at (855) 252-4427 (toll free) or 1+(917) 258-6104 (international).

This press release is for information purposes only and is not intended to be, and should not in any way be construed as, a solicitation of votes of noteholders or other investors regarding the Chapter 11 Plan, and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification of these securities under the laws of any such state. Any securities to be issued pursuant to the Plan will not be or have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Any solicitation or offer to sell will be made pursuant to and in accordance with the Disclosure Statement distributed to Noteholders and applicable law.

More detailed information on the restructuring can be found in the RSA which will be included with a Form 8K being filed with the SEC today. Further information on the Company as well as the restructuring process and plan will be included in a disclosure document which will be used in the solicitation process and will also be included with the Form 8K filed today with the SEC. The Company has posted FAQs on its website at www.bonanzacrk.com.

The Company has been in contact with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and anticipates the continued listing of its common stock on the NYSE throughout the bankruptcy process so long as the Company continues to meet the minimum continued listing standards set forth by the NYSE.

Advisors

Davis, Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as legal counsel, Perella Weinberg Partners LP is acting as financial advisor, and Alvarez & Marsal North America LLC is acting as restructuring advisor to the Company in connection with its restructuring efforts. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal counsel and Evercore Group LLC is acting as financial advisor to the ad hoc committee of noteholders.

About Bonanza Creek Energy

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. is independent oil and Natural Gas Company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of onshore oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas in the United States. The Companys assets and operations are concentrated primarily in the Rocky Mountain region in the Wattenberg Field, focused on the Niobrara and Codell formations, and in southern Arkansas, focused on oily Cotton Valley sands. The Companys common shares are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol: BCEI. For more information about the Company, please visit www.bonanzacrk.com. Please note that the Company routinely posts important information about the Company under the Investor Relations section of its website.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the status of the negotiations and our liquidity. Bonanza Creek has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, including (i) changes in demand for our services and any related material impact on our pricing and utilizations rates, (ii) Bonanza Creeks ability to execute, manage and integrate acquisitions successfully, (iii) changes in our expenses, including labor or fuel costs and financing costs, (iv) continued volatility of oil or natural gas prices, and any related changes in expenditures by our customers, (v) competition within our industry, (vi) Bonanza Creeks ability to comply with its financial and other covenants and metrics in its debt agreements, as well as any cross-default provisions, (vii) Bonanza Creeks ability to obtain approval by the Bankruptcy Court of the Plan or any other plan of reorganization, including the treatment of the claims of the Bonanza Creeks noteholders and trade creditors, among others, (viii) Bonanza Creeks ability to obtain approval with respect to motions in the chapter 11 cases and the Bankruptcy Courts rulings in the chapter 11 cases and the outcome of the chapter 11 cases in general, (ix) the length of time the Debtors will operate under the chapter 11 cases, (x) risks associated with third-party motions in the chapter 11 cases, which may interfere with the Debtors ability to develop and consummate the Plan or other plan of reorganization, (xi) the potential adverse effects of the chapter 11 cases on the Companys liquidity, results of operations or business prospects, (xii) the ability to execute Bonanza Creeks business and restructuring plan and (xiii) increased legal and advisor costs related to the chapter 11 cases and other litigation and the inherent risks involved in a bankruptcy process. Additional important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations are disclosed in Bonanza Creeks Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and subsequent Form 10-Qs filed with the SEC. While Bonanza Creek makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither Bonanza Creek nor its management can guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Bonanza Creek assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by Bonanza Creek, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
The volcanic eruption that formed the Campi Flegrei caldera about 39,000 years ago is believed to be the largest eruption in Europe in the past 200,000 years.

The supervolcano on the coast of Italy last erupted in 1538. Now, the 7.5-mile-wide cauldron-like depression of the volcano shows signs of stirring up again after nearly 500 years of inactivity.

Sleeping Supervolcano Shows Signs Of Reawakening

In a new study published on Dec. 20, researchers reported that the slumbering volcano under the city of Naples in Italy shows signs of "reawakening" and that it may be near a critical pressure point.

Over the past decade, the volcano experienced what scientists call uplift, a phenomenon that suggests the volatile gases under the volcano are rising to the surface at an accelerating rate. The significant uplift has prompted Italian authorities to raise the alert level of the supervolcano from green (quiet) to yellow (scientific attention) four years ago.

In the new study, which was published in the journal Nature Communications, study researcher Giovanni Chiodini, from Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Bologna, and colleagues have identified a threshold beyond which the rising magma below the surface may set off the release of fluids and gases at a significantly increased rate. Chiodini said that this may expose the surrounding rocks to high-temperature steam.

"The abrupt and voluminous release of H2O-rich magmatic gases can heat hydrothermal fluids and rocks, triggering an accelerating deformation that can ultimately culminate in rock failure and eruption," Chiodini and his colleagues wrote in their study.

Is The Supervolcano About To Erupt Again?

The researchers, however, said that their observations do not necessarily indicate that the supervolcano is about to blow up. Chiodini said that it is not possible to say when or if the supervolcano could erupt.

"We have many uncertainties and long-term previsions are at the moment not possible! For example, the process that we describe could evolve in both directions: toward pre-eruptive conditions or to the finish of the volcanic unrest," Chiodini said.

If an eruption does happen, however, the event could prove catastrophic. The eruption that took place thousands of years ago triggered a volcanic winter that led to the demise of the Neanderthals.

About 500,000 people currently live inside and near the caldera. The researchers said that given the risk posed to a dense urban population, it is necessary to get a better understanding of the volcano's behavior.

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The ready-to-assemble furniture company, Ikea, has decided to pay $50 million to the families of the three kids who got crushed and died under falling dressers.

Ikea Distributed Free Kit To Make Unsecured Dressers Safe

In June, after the incidents of wrongful deaths of the three toddlers, Ikea acknowledged the tip-over danger of its dressers and commenced a public relations movement, asking customers with unsafe company dressers to collect free wall anchor kits from the outlets and secure them. However, according to company records, out of millions of dressers sold, only 300,000 customers came to procure the security kits.

Later, owing to low turn-around of customers and further reports of child injuries, Ikea announced recalling of about 29 million dressers feared to be unsafe. The furniture seller had also declared it would stop retailing its 'Malm' series merchandise.

"It is clear that there are still unsecured products in customers' homes," said Ikea to NBC News in June. "We believe that taking further action is the right thing to do."

Ikea Ready For Settlement After Long Legal Fight

Three toddlers including 2 year old Curren Collas from Pennsylvania, 22 months old Theodore McGee from Minnesota and 2 year old Camden Ellis from Washington were crushed to death by tipping over off Ikea dressers. Collas and Ellis incidents happened in 2014, whereas, McGee incident took place in 2015.

Since then, the legal fight between the families of deceased kids and Ikea continued. The news about the final settlement of $50 million was announced by the families' lawyer, explaining that the amount will be split equally among the three families.

In addition to this, in memory of the three kids, Ikea will also donate $50,000 to three children's hospitals and $100,000 to a children's safety non-profit organization called Shane's Foundation NFP.

The settlement amount is said to be the highest for a case related to child's death. However, the parents of the three children are far from closure over their kids' death.

"We would never want other parents to have to experience what we have been forced to endure," penned Janet McGee in a statement to Gizmodo. "This has been a tragic, heartbreaking season for us and our family, and no amount of money will make up for the loss of our sweet little boy."

Three Lawsuits Filed Against Ikea

Parents of the deceased kids had filed three lawsuits against the company in Common Pleas Court. The families claimed that knowing about the dangers posed by the unsecured dressers, Ikea still continued to sell them. Whereas, on its part, Ikea made the argument that the parents neglected the safety of their children and did not care to pin the dresser to the wall, as was directed in the instructions in the assembly manual.

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Two startup companies are taking the concept of ride-sharing to space after agreeing to team up in order to reach the moon by 2017.

Google Lunar XPRIZE competitors Team Hakuto and Team Indus revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 20, that they have decided to have both their moon rovers share a ride onboard a rocket made by the Indian Space Research Organization.

The agreement was made to make sure that both teams will be able to take part in Google's competition, which requires all participants to secure a launch vehicle to the moon before the end of this year.

"We're proud to verify Hakuto's launch agreement and are pleased to see two Google Lunar X Prize teams collaborating on this mission to the moon," XPRIZE Foundation senior director Chanda Gonzales-Mowrer said. "The purpose of this prize was, in part, to foster collaboration in the private sector and this is a great demonstration of teams coming together in the next giant leap in space exploration."

Google Lunar XPRIZE

Ever since Google announced the Lunar XPRIZE competition in September 2013, several space companies have expressed their intention to join in. The premise of the race is to have the first privately funded team land a rover on the moon and send back high-quality images and videos to Earth.

Google said the first team to make it to the moon and accomplish the task will win the grand prize of $20 million. The second group to do so will earn $5 million as second prize.

The competition also involves other tasks for participants that will earn them additional prize money.

These include having their lunar rovers travel more than 5,000 meters (3 miles) - 10 times farther than the baseline requirements set by Google for the grand prize winner - to capture images of the Apollo program's remains or other hardware, confirm the existence of water ice on the moon, and survive a lunar night.

Google is also setting aside a $1 million diversity award for teams that will help promote ethnic diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through their achievements in the competition.

Team Hakuto And Team Indus Ride-sharing

Team Hakuto's ride-sharing partnership with Team Indus comes at an opportune time for the Japanese startup after a similar deal with American team Astrobotic didn't push through.

The lunar rovers of both teams will board an expendable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle developed by ISRO. The rocket is scheduled for launch in December 2017.

Other teams participating in the XPRIZE competition include PT Scientists from Germany and Moon Express from the United States.

Despite making plans to take part in the competition, Astrobotic announced that it will have to drop out of the XPRIZE race. The company, however, will continue to develop its lunar rover for its planned commercial mission in 2019.

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A newly discovered species of coral reef fish has been named after President Barack Obama. This was announced by scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bishop Museum, and the Association for Marine Exploration who jointly published a description of the coral fish.

Tosanoides obama is a coral reef fish species that was discovered during a NOAA research expedition to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in June.

The description of the new fish species was published in ZooKeys, and mentioned that the small fish of pink and yellow color is a basslet, which is a group of colorful reef fishes with good demand in the marine aquarium fish trade.

The new species is noted for the male members' active spot on the dorsal fin, with a bluish tinge at the edge and reddish yellow stripes at the center. Another important fact is that the Tosanoides obama can only be found within Papahanaumokuakea.

According to NOAA scientist Randall Kosaki and one of the coauthors, the research had documented 100 percent fish endemism on the deep reefs where the new species was located.

Obama's Conservation Efforts Hailed

"We named this fish after President Obama to recognize his efforts to protect and preserve the natural environment, including the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea," said Richard Pyle, Bishop Museum scientist and lead author of the study.

President Obama's gesture of accepting the request of lawmaker Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in expanding the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument has been appreciated by the marine community.

Thanks to the action, the area is enjoying 582,578 square miles as the world's largest marine protected area.

Pyle said the expansion has added more protection to one of the "last great wilderness areas on Earth."

Obama was presented with a picture of the fish by leading undersea explorer Sylvia Earle when he visited the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 1. The event will be featured in the National Geographic film Sea of Hope: America's Underwater Treasures due for release on Jan. 15, 2017.

Coral Reef Research

Coral reefs located up to 500 feet deep below the surface are some of the least researched parts of marine ecosystems. Also called the twilight zone, these coral ecosystems require special equipment and diving systems such as closed-circuit rebreathers in order to be explored.

Scientists doing coral reef research have been using mixed-gas diving systems to study the unexplored reefs of Hawaii and the insular Pacific for many years.

"These deep coral reefs are home to an incredible diversity of fishes, corals, and other marine invertebrates," noted Brian Greene, coauthor of the paper and an experienced deep diver.

According to Greene, more species are waiting to be discovered in the area.

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The government of Canada has declared high-speed internet as a basic need alongside utilities such as electricity and clean water, joining the handful of countries that have previously made the distinction.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, after making the declaration, is now looking to provide an unlimited data plan to all of the country's citizens.

Internet Now A Basic Need In Canada

With Canada's declaration of high-speed internet as a basic necessity, it joins the United States, Finland, Israel, Malta, Switzerland, and Spain as the only countries that have done so.

The move signals that the Canadian government will now be looking to provide accessibility to high-speed internet across the country, and presumably, to also make the service more affordable so that it can be better enjoyed by its citizens.

High-Speed Internet Coming To All Canadians?

The CRTC has made the lofty goal of providing an unlimited data plan to all Canadians, with the internet connection to offer a minimum download speed of 50 Mbps and a minimum upload speed of 10 Mbps by 2021.

To achieve the target, the CRTC said that it will be making an investment of up to $750 million, in addition to the funding that will be provided by current programs of the Canadian government.

The work required to accomplish the goal, however, is massive. The government of Canada wants the latest mobile wireless technology made available to all homes and offices, and along major roads. The fund of the CRTC will help projects that will be launched for the cause across the country, particularly in the regions where internet access infrastructure is not well developed or have not yet been built.

Challenges For Canada's Internet Plan

Just one day after the CRTC's labelling of the internet as a basic telecommunications service, a study was released to show one of the challenges that Canada will face in bringing a 50 Mbps internet connection to all citizens.

According to the study, which was conducted by Brandon University's Rural Development Institute, there are many small pockets in Canada's southern Manitoba where internet infrastructure is severely lacking. The report claims that there are even some areas where citizens are still on dial-up internet connections.

Even in the other countries where the internet has been declared as a basic service, the propagation of high-speed internet to their citizens have often been challenged by factors such as high costs, poor service, and intensifying questions on net neutrality.

Canada will likely suffer through all these challenges as well, and we will soon find out how the government responds to them and if it can keep its promise of a 50 Mbps internet connection for citizens by 2021.

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Sydney, Australia, Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Heron Resources Limited (Heron) provides an update on the Ardea Resources Limited (Ardea) de-merger, as disclosed in the prospectus (Prospectus) lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on 9 November 2016 and Supplementary Prospectus lodged 18 November 2016.

To allow Ardea an opportunity to raise further funds Ardeas Board has resolved to extend the public offer under the Prospectus.

Ardea has received applications and firm commitments exceeding the $3.5 million Minimum Amount to be Raised.

The Directors of Ardea have extended the Offer Closing Date to 20 January 2017, reflecting a quiet capital raising sector due to the current holiday season: OnMarket Bookbuilds has been retained to assist with finalizing the capital raising, particularly geared to their clients seeking cobalt exposure. Investor feedback has focussed on Ardeas cobalt potential within the KNP and the bulk mining potential of the Lewis Ponds project.



ASIC has approved the Sale Facility

Updated timetable as follows:

Closing Date 20 January 2017 Issue of holding statements to both eligible Heron shareholders under the distribution and applicants under the Prospectus 2 February 2017 Commencement of trading of Ardea Shares on ASX 9 February 2017

The above timetable is indicative and may change, subject to the Corporations Act and Listing Rules. In particular, Ardea may elect to close the Offer early, and for that reason investors are urged to lodge their application for Ardea Shares without delay.

Ardea Share Applications:

A copy of the Prospectus and Second Supplementary Prospectus is available at www.ardearesources.com.au. Anyone considering investing should read the Prospectus in its entirety before deciding whether to invest. Applications can only be made via the application form which is in or accompanies the Prospectus.

Please contact Ardeas company secretary Mr Sam Middlemas on +61 8 6500 9200 to request a copy of the Prospectus.

For further information regarding Ardea and its projects, please visit www.ardearesources.com.au or contact:



Dr Matt Painter

Ardea Managing Director

Tel +61 8 6500 9200





CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This report contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this report. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, without limitation, estimates, forecasts and statements as to managements expectations with respect to, among other things, the timing and amount of funding required to execute the Companys exploration, development and business plans, capital and exploration expenditures, the effect on the Company of any changes to existing legislation or policy, government regulation of mining operations, the length of time required to obtain permits, certifications and approvals, the success of exploration, development and mining activities, the geology of the Companys properties, environmental risks, the availability of labour, the focus of the Company in the future, demand and market outlook for precious metals and the prices thereof, progress in development of mineral properties, the Companys ability to raise funding privately or on a public market in the future, the Companys future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as anticipate, believe, expect, intend, may and similar expressions have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and on information available to management at such time. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in currency markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, the ability of the Company to access sufficient capital on favourable terms or at all, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, political or economic developments in Canada, Australia or other countries in which the Company does business or may carry on business in the future, operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration or development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities and grades of mineral reserves, contests over title to properties, especially title to undeveloped properties, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other geological data, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding, limitations of insurance coverage and the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and should be considered carefully. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Companys actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this report is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective purchasers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. No stock exchange, regulation services provider, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this report.
Lisa is moving west near 10 mph and that track is expected to continue as the center of the storm passes southeastern Mexico. | Read More
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. (OTC Pink:HCTI) is pleased to announce that its Green Polyurethane technology was recently featured in an article titled A Perspective Approach to Sustainable Routes for Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes in the prestigious European Polymer Journal. The Journal was established in 1965 and is one of the top journals on polymers in Europe. Dr. Oleg Figovsky Hybrids Director of R&D was one of the authors of the article. We are very pleased to have our technology featured in this prestigious journal, said Joseph Kristul president and CEO. This will be helpful as we move towards penetrating the European market through the various distributors we have been working with.



Hybrid is currently working with several distributors in Europe as it prepares to start selling product in Europe in 2017.

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, and other risks. Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. expectations.

About Hybrid Coating Technologies

Hybrid Coating Technologies (HCT) is a San Francisco-based innovator focused on improving the quality and safety of foams, coatings, and adhesives for industrial and commercial customers around the world. We are the exclusive licensee of Green Polyurethane foam, coatings, and adhesives  the worlds first-ever patent protected polyurethane-based foam, coatings, and adhesive products that eliminate toxic isocyanates from the entire production process (licensed by Nanotech Industries, Inc.) and the 2015 recipient of the Presidential Green Chemistry Award.

The Problem of Conventional Foams/Coatings/Paint and Isocyanates

Conventional polyurethane (PU) paint and coatings have many disadvantages: they are porous, permeable and maintain poor hydrolytic stability. This makes the material highly vulnerable to environmental degradation and ultimately leads to their chemical decomposition, especially when in contact with water. Conventional PU foams such as spray foam insulation are applied via a spraying mechanism that sends toxic isocyanates in the air  exposing workers to the dangers of toxic isocyanates. Strict and costly health & safety measures have to be implemented in the manufacture and application of conventional polyurethane due to the toxicity of isocyanates. This is why regulatory bodies around the world are now looking toward phasing out the use of isocyanates.

The Green Polyurethane Solution

Green Polyurethane (also referred to as HNIPU - hybrid non-isocyanate polyurethane) is a hybrid material that combines the high chemical resistance properties of epoxy and advanced durability and wear resistance properties of polyurethane, making it the perfect coating application for sanitary, high traffic and corrosive surface areas. As a hybrid material with superior properties, Green Polyurethane can be applied in one or two coatings, providing a welcome cost-saving substitute to currently used multi-layered coating applications. Its safety features allow it to be applied without the interruption of business due to public exposure, creating an additional 30-60% savings on application costs for customers. As a foam, Green Polyurethane provides high R values up to 6.0, energy savings up to 30% and improved tensile strength over conventional foam without using dangerous isocyanates.

Recent Anti-Isocyanate Regulatory Pressure

US EPA MDI Action Plan: The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is taking progressive action to regulate and potentially ban isocyanates and has mentioned Hybrids technology as an alternative to toxic polyurethane in its MDI Action Plan against isocyanates (see page 4 Figovsky and Shapovalov).

http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/tdi.pdf

OSHA National Emphasis Program: On June 25, 2013 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the US Department of Labor, initiated a National Emphasis Program to protect workers from the serious health effects from occupational exposure to isocyanates. Isocyanates are found in polyurethane based products. According to OSHA, "Workers exposed to isocyanates can suffer debilitating health problems for months or even years after exposure which could result in death."

Californias Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) on March 13, 2014 selected isocyanates and two other substances from a list of 1,100 toxic components that it will focus on with the goal of potentially banning them altogether within the next two years. The announcement is part of a bigger effort to educate consumers and manufacturers about product safety under the Green-Chemistry Law, which went into effect in California last year. Under the law, the agency has jurisdiction to ban these products altogether after following proper protocol. That process includes workshops, a public comment period and requiring manufacturers that want to sell these products in California to determine whether it would be feasible to use safer ingredients.

The US EPA on January 8, 2015 announced that it was taking action to protect consumers from new uses and imports of harmful isocyanates in polyurethane. The EPAs proposed action, a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), would require manufacturers (including importers) to notify the EPA at least 90 days before starting or resuming new uses of isocyanates in polyurethane based consumer products. The EPA would then have the opportunity to evaluate the intended use of and if necessary, to take action to prohibit or limit all products containing over one tenth of one percent of the chemical including imported products that make their way into the United States.

On September 14, 2016 BASF Corporation, Bayer Material Science LLC, Dow Chemical Company and Huntsman International LLC were named in a $90 Billion False Claims Act (FCA) lawsuit brought by New York law firm Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP on behalf of the U.S. government for selling billions of dollars worth of harmful isocyanate chemicals but intentionally concealing their dangers to consumers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the past several decades. In the suit, the law firm said that the defendants manufacture and sell isocyanate chemicals such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), polymeric MDI (PMDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). These raw materials make up polyurethane products such as liquid coatings, paints and adhesives; flexible foam used in mattresses and cushions; rigid foam used as insulation; and elastomers used to make automotive interiors.
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COVINGTON, La., Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE MKT:GSAT) is very pleased to announce that the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order based on Globalstar's Revised Proposal for terrestrial authority over the Companys 11.5 MHz of licensed 2.4 GHz spectrum.



Globalstar expects the Commission to release the order today. These newly adopted rules will make more broadband spectrum available to, and improve wireless broadband service for, consumers in the United States.

Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar, commented, We thank the Commissioners, their staff and the staff of the Bureaus and Offices who worked tirelessly to bring this proceeding to a successful conclusion. We look forward to a busy 2017 as we plan to put our terrestrial authority to use for American consumers and pursue similar authority internationally.

About Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, leveraging the worlds newest mobile satellite communications network. Customers around the world in industries like government, emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation rely on Globalstar to conduct business smarter and faster, maintain peace of mind and access emergency personnel. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring and SCADA applications. The Company's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the innovative Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and flexible service packages. For more information, visit www.globalstar.com.

Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, visit www.globalstar.com.

Investor Contact Information:

Email: investorrelations@globalstar.com

Media Contact Information:

Email: allison.hoffman@globalstar.com

Safe Harbor Language for Globalstar Press Releases

This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, such as the statements regarding our expectations with respect to actions by the FCC contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts, involve predictions. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are believed to be accurate as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements. Additional information on factors that could influence our financial results is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
In the first few days after the torrential August rains, Brant Mitchell and his colleagues at LSU's Stephenson Disaster Management Institute took whatever flood information they could get.

Some parishes were able to pinpoint flooded neighborhoods through geo-located 911 calls and their own extensive mapping data, but others provided maps with inundated areas marked off with a highlighter.

Working on contract for the state, the institute's analysts churned out very early numbers  the floodwaters still lingered in some areas  to help land a presidential disaster declaration, the key to future federal aid. Their early estimate for structures that might have flooded in Ascension, Livingston and East Baton Rouge parishes alone was a shocking 127,273.

Four months later, an exact count of damaged homes and businesses remains an elusive figure. State, parish, business and local government officials have released a string of estimates that haven't always matched up with one another.

The figures put out range widely  153,000, 115,200, 90,000, 146,000. The reasons for that are simple: they reflect different aspects of the flood at various times covering different regions and are calculated for different purposes.

But perhaps the most important factor is that there is no overriding reason for a government agency to nail down a total, global number.

One top state Homeland Security official suggested a hard count of all flooded homes and businesses just isnt out there right now.

You are not going to find an accurate number. There is not anybody out on the street that has counted each home that has flooded, said Mark Riley, deputy director of the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

While state officials say they are waiting on tallies from the parishes to hone a final figure, probably months from now, Riley believes the number of households that registered for Federal Emergency Management Assistance aid is a good measure of overall impact.

Registrations for FEMA individual assistance, the key grant program for affected homeowners and renters, reached 153,132 through Nov. 27 in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas and elsewhere across the state.

The reason I use that number is because Im looking at the size of the event to compare to other events, and so that 153,000 gives me the size and complexity of this event, Riley said.

But that figure doesnt reflect just flooded homes. It also includes people who, while their homes didn't flood, still lost uninsured cars or other property. Also inflating the number is that it doesn't yet account for redundant claims made by different family members for the same home. Furthermore, the FEMA registration tally also excludes businesses, which must seek help from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

A count of flooded homes and business isnt just a point of curiosity or a key factor for long-term planning. As former state disaster recovery chief Paul Rainwater notes, the number is the basis for how much special disaster money the state lobbies Congress for.

Complicating the issue is that the August flooding wasn't the only such disaster this year. In March, parts of north and south Louisiana were hit by rains that swamped thousands of homes and businesses.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is seeking nearly $4 billion in funding for the August and March floods. Congress recently approved $1.25 billion of that aid  for a total of $1.68 billion so far  and is expected to approve more.

For that purpose, the state supplied Congress with estimates based on FEMA tallies of verified home damage, a figure that has reached about 112,300, with the August floods accounting for 90,679 of it. But that count excludes businesses and apartments.

Allison Plyer, executive director and chief demographer for the New Orleans Data Center, which has tracked the changes to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina 11 years ago, said flood estimates often vary after a disaster as early tallies shift to homeowners applying for assistance, building permits and data collected from the field.

At first, they go up as the data is being collected, Plyer said. And then, at least in the case of when theyre applying to the government for assistance, they do tend to go down in the final analysis.

That matches what has happened here. Early estimates of flooded homes and businesses from various groups and agencies in the Baton Rouge area quickly ballooned to 145,500.

Now that reconstruction is well under way, that figure seems to overstate the damage in East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston parishes, the epicenter of the August floods.

Take Livingston Parish, for example. Facing scenes of dramatic flooding in Denham Springs and Walker, local officials initially said 74 percent of homes may have taken on water.

Assessor Jeff Taylor now notes that while the estimate might apply to heavily flooded Denham Springs, it doesn't hold true for the parish as a whole, which he pegs closer to a still-staggering 55 percent.

Plans for FEMA trailer park on South Choctaw Drive drawing opposition from councilman, neighbors FEMA says its close to making a decision on a planned 64-unit trailer park on South Choctaw 

Even at the parish level, numbers continue to vary depending on who is issuing them.

According to figures released by the Ascension, Livingston and East Baton Rouge parish governments, a total of about 92,750 homes, businesses and other buildings were damaged by the flood. Numbers directly from the assessors for those same parishes, however, total 75,167.

The numbers are different in part because the agencies involved have different goals.

The parish governments, which handle building permits, are focused on homes that might have to be elevated or razed under federally mandated floodplain rules. The assessors are required by law to revalue flood-damaged homes and buildings for tax purposes.

The numbers from the parish governments and assessors vary for a couple of reasons. One factor is that assessors are looking at parcels. Many parcels, such as duplexes or apartments, can include more than one home. Assessors might view that as one damaged structure, while parishes would view it as multiple damaged homes.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, regulations have shaped evolving estimates.

Early on, the city-parish estimated that 58,558 homes, businesses and public buildings flooded in August, but subsequent mapping analysis, debris collection data and information from inspectors in the field have lowered that figure to 48,383.

Justin Dupuy, the city-parish's building official, said contractors working with the city-parish and FEMA physically inspected all buildings flooded inside the 100-year floodplain, or about 23,200, to determine if they had to be elevated, demolished or moved.

But those inspectors did not examine flooded buildings outside the floodplain because regulations dont require it, Dupuy said. The earliest estimates suggested 32,000 buildings flooded outside the 100-year floodplain, though that number is probably much lower.

Dupuy said that while building permits might pick up some buildings outside the floodplain  about 8,900 flood-related permits had been issued through Nov. 22  structures that took less than 18 inches of water do not need them.

That standard means the least flooded homes, which are most likely to be outside the 100-year floodplain and were not counted by FEMA contractors, also wont show up in permit information.

Dupuy said the city-parish has a good understanding of where the flooding happened, but a final number isn't imminent.

At the end of the day, they may not have the full picture for another year or so. I think the best right now is to have a decent estimate, Dupuy said.

East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor Brian Wilson relied on in-the-field inspections, FEMA data and maps, debris collection information and other data to find about 41,000 flooded homes and business that needed to be reassessed. Wilson said he expects the owners of flooded homes that werent reassessed will call to ask for lower bills once tax notices go out in January.

I think that its pretty solid number," he said. "Again, there may be some out there I dont know about. I dont know how many, but I dont think its going to be a tremendous amount we missed.
TORONTO, Dec. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX:AVL) (OTCQX:AVLNF) (Avalon or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement today consisting of 2,500,000 flow-through shares at a price of $0.15 per share for gross proceeds of $375,000.



In conjunction with this private placement, Avalon paid finders fees of $22,500 and issued 150,000 non-transferrable finders warrants, with each finders warrant being exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 for a period of 24 months from today. Pursuant to Canadian securities laws, the securities issuable under this private placement are subject to a hold period which expires on April 24, 2017. The proceeds from this offering will be used primarily to advance the Companys Separation Rapids Lithium Project, including as described below.

Avalon is planning a drilling program for early 2017 with the main goals of expanding the existing resource and exploring untested extensions to the resource along strike and to depth. This will include testing other lithium sub-zones that were not fully explored historically when the focus was on defining a resource of the lithium mineral petalite for glass-ceramics markets. One such sub-zone open for expansion to the east of the petalite resource contains lepidolite, a lithium-rubidium mica typically containing approximately 8% Li 2 O (lithium oxide), compared to the 4.0 - 4.5% Li 2 O typically contained in petalite. Testwork toward defining a flowsheet for efficiently extracting lithium and rubidium chemical products from a lepidolite mineral concentrate has already been initiated at an Australian laboratory.

Work continues on enhancing the performance of the petalite flotation process, where opportunities to reduce reagent consumptions are being investigated. Work on optimizing the lithium hydroxide production process is also progressing. Samples of high purity (>99.5%) lithium hydroxide crystals produced in the recent test programs have been sent to a major Canadian research facility for characterization and evaluation for use as a feed for lithium ion battery cathode material. In addition, Avalon continues to evaluate processes for recovery of valuable by-products, including tantalum and high-purity silica.

Don Bubar, Avalons President and CEO, comments: I am pleased with the progress we are making with the Separation Rapids Project following the completion of a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment in September. In addition to advancing our resource modelling and process flowsheet development, we continue to make progress on developing the markets for our products, environmental assessment work, infrastructure alternatives and community relationships. An appropriate site for the proposed demonstration plant has also been identified. Demand for new supply sources of lithium continues to grow rapidly along with the energy storage market, and Avalon remains well-positioned to bring a new supply of lithium to the market within the next three years.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the US Securities Act), and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. All currency reported in this release is in Canadian dollars.

The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Donald S. Bubar, P. Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company who is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (formerly Avalon Rare Metals Inc.) is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at ir@AvalonAM.com, or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at 416-364-4938.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to how the Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement, and that proceeds from this offering will be used primarily to advance the Companys Separation Rapids Lithium Project, that Avalon is planning a drilling program for early 2017, that this will include testing other lithium sub-zone, that demand for new supply sources of lithium continues to grow rapidly along with the energy storage market, and that Avalon remains well-positioned to bring a new supply of lithium to the market within the next three years. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as potential, scheduled, anticipates, continues, expects or does not expect, is expected, scheduled, targeted, planned, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be or will not be taken, reached or result, will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well as those risk factors set out in the Companys current Annual Information Form, Managements Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Companys profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Companys plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
An architectural rendering of a Habitat for Humanity ReStore retail outlet the nonprofit's New Orleans chapter is planning to build on a piece of land it bought from the city of Kenner for $718,000 on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (Via city of Kenner)
Discussed here in detail



For years, U.S. employers have counted on a steady flowof labor from Mexico willing to accept low-skilled, lowpaying jobs. These workers, many of whom leaveeconomically depressed villages in the Mexican interior,are often more than willing to work for wages well belowboth the U.S. minimum wage and the poverty line.However, thanks to a dramatic demographic shift currentlytaking place in Mexico, the seemingly inexhaustible supplyof workers migrating from Mexico to the United Statesmight one day greatly diminish if not cease.Predictions of such a drastic decrease in the number ofMexican immigrants, both legal and illegal, are driven byMexicos rapidly diminishing population growth. As a resultof a decades-long family planning campaign, mostMexicans are having far fewer children than was the norma generation ago. The campaign, organized around theslogan that the small family lives better, saw the Mexicangovernment establish family-planning clinics and offer freecontraception. For nearly three decades, the governmentsmessage concerning population hasnt wavered. In fact,the Mexican Senate recently voted to extend public schoolsex education programs to kindergarten.The result of Mexicos efforts to stem population growthis nothing short of stunning. In 1968, the average Mexicanwoman had just fewer than seven children; today, thefigure is slightly more than two. For two primary reasons,Mexicos new demographics could greatly impact thenumber of Mexicans seeking work in the U.S. First, smallerfamilies by their nature limit the pool of potential migrants.Second, the slowing of Mexicos population growth hasfostered hope that Mexico will develop a healthy middleclass of people content to make their livelihoods in theirhome country.Though the former of these factors is all but assured, thegrowth of a healthy middle class is far from a foregoneconclusion. The critical challenge for Mexico is what itdoes with the next 20 years. Mexico must invest ineducation, job training, and infrastructure, as well as asocial-security system to protect its aging population. IfMexico is willing to step forward and meet this challenge,America may one day wake up to find that, like cheapgasoline, cheap Mexican labor has become a thing of thepast.1. The passage does NOT indicate which of the followingconcerning Mexicos current demographics?A. Due to the governments family planning campaign,Mexicos population is currently diminishing.B. On average, Mexican women are havingapproximately one-third the number of children thatthey had in 1968.C. Many Mexicans still migrate to the United States insearch of work.D. As a result of declining birth rates, Mexicospopulation is aging.E. A healthy middle class in Mexico has not yet fullydeveloped.2. Which of the following can be inferred about U.S.employers of Mexican immigrants?A. Most of these employers pay Mexican immigrants lessmoney than they pay American citizens.B. Some of these employers violate wage laws.C. Many of these employers work in the agriculturalindustry.D. Without Mexican immigrants, some of theseemployers would be forced to close their businesses.E. The majority of these employers show no concernfor the welfare of their workers.3. With which of the following statements would theauthor of the passage MOST likely agree?A. The United States will soon have to replace lostMexican labor with labor provided by other immigrantgroups.B. It is difficult for a country with a large population todevelop a healthy middle class.C. Many Mexican immigrants who work in the UnitedStates believe that they are taken advantage of byAmerican employers.D. Most rapidly growing countries should institute afamily planning campaign to limit population growth.E. Mexico does not currently have the infrastructure todevelop a healthy middle class4. One function of the final paragraph of the passage istoA. relate why the number of Mexican immigrants seekingwork in the United States is certain to decline.B. detail the successes of Mexicos family planningcampaign.C. explain why the number of Mexican immigrantsseeking work in the United States may notdramatically decrease.D. specify the types of infrastructure in which Mexicomust invest.E. notify American employers that they will soon needto find alternative sources of labor.
President-elect Donald Trump upended years of Pentagon procurement planning with a tweet on Thursday, announcing he had asked Boeing to price an upgrade of its F-18 Super Hornet jet that could replace Lockheed Martin's F-35, the most expensive US weapon system ever.

"Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Trump said Thursday in a post on Twitter.

Lockheed's $US379 billion ($525 billion) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is intended to be the mainstay fighter of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, replacing several older planes including Boeing's F-18. Development of the F-35 is more than a decade in the works, and Lockheed is planning to build more than 2400 of the aircraft for the US and allied air forces, a project that will create tens of thousands of jobs at factories across the country and overseas.
It is time we faced the full cost of coal mining. This includes not just the financial cost of mine rehabilitation, but the significant health costs to the local and wider communities who are exposed to pollution during each phase of energy production, be it the mining, transporting, washing, burning or disposal of coal end-products. Society bears this hidden financial burden as the costs are not factored into the price of electricity. Yet politicians continue to advocate for the coal industry and dismiss moves by states and the public for a swift transition to cleaner, renewable energy. An honest and worthwhile discussion about future energy sources must include all present and future costs. We will all pay dearly in health and productivity if climate change is not adequately incorporated in our energy decisions. Dr Eugenie Kayak, Doctors for the Environment Australia Cutting sulphur a drop in the ocean By releasing a paper arguing for reducing the amount of sulphur in petrol (The Age, 22/12), Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg seems to be ignoring the more pressing need to reduce use of petrol itself. Certainly, cutting the sulphur content of petrol will reduce acid rain and asthma-inducing sulphur dioxide. But sulphur in petrol is measured in parts per million. Compare that to the 2.3 kilograms of CO2 released from burning one litre of petrol. Given we face such a dire climate prognosis unless we wean ourselves off fossil fuels, it hardly seems worth investing in new refinery technology to make our hydrocarbons a little cleaner. Mr Frydenberg, I'd be delighted to pay a little more for petrol if I knew you were investing the money in public transport and in ensuring our new electric cars are powered by renewable energy. Tim Read, Brunswick East

THE FORUM Please clear off, Cory That Cory Bernardi would leave the Liberals and form his own party is surely on Mr Turnbull's Christmas wish-list. Turnbull would love to be able to hold the political centre and leave the extreme ends to the likes of Bernardi and the anti-capitalist Greens. The political spectrum is like a bell curve with the majority of the votes in the middle but Turnbull has been pulled to the right by Bernardi, Christensen, Abetz, Andrews and Abbott, who worry about the 5 per cent at the extreme. Bernardi should go and take those others with him. This will enable Turnbull to get on with what his heart wants on same-sex marriage and other policies. Please, Cory, do the party a favour and clear off. Douglas Potter, Surrey Hills Speak up for residents

It is not just Derryn Hinch who should "speak up" regarding Victoria receiving only 7.7 per cent of federal infrastructure funding (The Age, 21-22/12). The voters in Menzies need our longstanding member, Kevin Andrews, to do the same. His safe Liberal seat is getting insufficient funding to meet its rapidly growing needs, including the massive increase in apartment building construction. There is no funding for the sorely needed Doncaster Rail. Our only source of public transport is frequent, but often uncomfortable and overcrowded buses, which have to share congested routes with scores of luxury cars just to get to the Eastern freeway. Our Sydney-centric federal government is not helping Menzies at all. William Matthewson, Doncaster East Syria: casting doubt Ruby Hamad ("In Syria, the truth is a moving target", 22/12) identifies problems for consumers of Western media in understanding the conflict in Syria, and Aleppo in particular. The lack of independent journalists on the ground has left the way open for "sources" with other agendas to frame the news, such as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (one man operating from Coventry, UK), with links to rebels associated with al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups. These groups are funded and supplied by external players intent on regime change, not resolving a "civil war" they themselves have fuelled. Middle East veteran journalists such as Robert Fisk and Patrick Cockburn are among those casting serious doubt on the version of events we've received so far. Keith Wiltshire, Carlton

Nurture the early years Youth crime is linked to adverse early-life conditions. In America, home-support programs during pregnancy and for the first two years of life have halved adolescent crime rates, compared with unsupported families. Severe stress in pregnancy doubles the likelihood of a child developing emotional and behavioural disorders associated with crime and poor school performance. Some 30 per cent of domestic violence starts in pregnancy. Children put into state care are also over-represented in juvenile detention and, later, adult prisons. Child abuse and neglect are strong predictors of offending. Developing brains and nervous systems need healthy conditions. Rising poverty and inequality exacerbate all adverse factors. Modern societies also frequently lack the extended family and community volunteers who once helped support young families. Jails and youth detention cost $110,000 and $220,000 a year per prisoner respectively. In Victoria, almost 60 per cent of 17- to 20-year-olds return to prison within two years. We need to prevent the vicious circle starting. Investing in the early years is a good start. Barbara Chapman, Hawthorn

A time to reflect Yes, Christmas is a time to share love and happiness. It is also a time to reflect on those less fortunate than most of us. I think of those suffering in detention centres, those in hospitals and the very old in aged-care facilities, often all alone. I think of the homeless, those living in poverty, those without family or friends, those suffering from mental illness and all those who find no joy in Christmas at all. So just spend a minute or two and reflect on all the people in the world who are suffering in one way or another. Hugh Paton, Toorak Challenging comfort Candida Moss' mythbusting article (Comment, 23/12) is nothing new but clears the way for the central Christmas oxymoron  the splendour above kings and emperors wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a feed-trough! Such a challenging comfort is explored in many carols over the years but especially in times of political upheaval and uncertainty. See It came upon a midnight clear (1848) and Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour (in China in the 1930s).

Alan Gijsbers, Lower Templestowe Look beyond 'truth' Maybe if we focused less on the "truth" of the Christmas story via DNA and paternity testing (Letters, 23/12) and looked instead at its mythology and symbolism we would find it remains a story of immense significance. The story of the birth of a great leader from humble roots has been told in similar ways  sometimes with the same symbols of stars, virgin births and journeys  in different cultures and religions across the planet since humans told stories. Looking at what the story may mean about the human condition is a useful thing  even in a post-religious, scientific world. Louisa Ennis, Thornbury Pick and choose

The Australian Christian Lobby believes in a virgin birth, ultimate resurrection and other assorted miracles but they doubt evidence-based information given out by the police regarding the car bomb in Canberra. Gary Sayer, Warrnambool PM banks on miracle Tomorrow two faiths celebrate miracles  Christmas Day and the first day of Hanukkah. If ever there was someone who needs a miracle it is Jobson Growth. Michael Kino, Caulfield North

Gift of a job It may be within the gift of the Attorney General to distribute sinecures on federal review boards to favoured failed politicians and other lickspittles, but in my view, without legitimate selection processes, the process is corrupt. Those who accept such sinecures must realise that they themselves have not secured jobs on merit. Ah, yes, and the age of entitlement is over. Andrew Neeson, Launceston, Tasmania Devoid of belief Our Prime Minister is so devoid of any belief system that all he can raise his voice to support is the republic issue. Not climate change. Not the appalling treatment of refugees. Just a dull inevitability of no great significance to our lives or our morality.

Ramesh Rajan, Camberwell Matter of degree I appreciate Barbara Burns' concern about changes to pensions (Letters, 23/12), but a passive income of $24,412 per year ($469 per week) if you own your home, have access to age/pensioner discounts and do not have dependants compares well to the truly unfair scenario faced by young people. Most have little hope of being able to buy a home so are destined to forever pay rent. They are earning little more than $24,412 with no job security. For many, only casual or part-time work is available despite all efforts to find full-time work, and what bank provides a mortgage under those circumstances? It seems many young people, despite working hard and having incurred high education and training fees, will never have the opportunities and security that home-owning pensioners enjoy. Emma Borghesi, Mount Eliza Asset is to be spent

Complaints about pension cuts assume the asset must remain untouched and only its income be used. The invested half-million or so is presumably destined to become legacy on death. Why should heirs benefit at the expense of taxpayers? The asset could be drawn on gradually to top up the pension, still leaving a reasonable inheritance along with the pensioner's dwelling. Anne Riddell, Mount Martha No way to compete Alan Cotterell (Letters, 22/12) claims "our manufacturing sector has gone offshore to avoid our occupational health and safety, environment and labour laws". The reason our manufacturing has fled is the failure of governments since the 1970s to recognise that the "level playing field", that wonderful soundbyte paraded around Canberra, ignores that a worker in Asia earning $US1 per hour will always make cheaper products than an Australian worker earning $US17 per hour. Tariffs used to protect countries with higher standards of living; their removal has seen manufacturing become uneconomical. John Strahan, Cheltenham

AND ANOTHER THING Politics What Bernardi and Christensen regard as a threat to leave the Liberal Party, others (most?) would regard as a relief. Barrie Bales, Woorinen North

By removing the phones of refugees in detention, Mr Dutton wants to ensure they receive no Christmas messages (Letters, 23/12). Hans Paas, Castlemaine Apparently the Liberal Party's stocking fillers this year include Trivial Pursuit and He Who Dares Wins. Joan Segrave, Healesville Adani

On its elaborate company structures, tax avoidance measures and the $1 billion grant: Mr Turnbull, "Please explain". Robert Geary, Brighton If the Adani mine goes ahead history will likely view Turnbull as a greater ecological vandal than Howard or Abbott. Some legacy from the empty suit. Russell Kidd, Carnegie It seems Adani has dug itself a hole in India, so why start in Australia?

Kevan Porter, Alphington The government should be accused of "fake due diligence". Tom Vanderzee, Coburg Elsewhere As a committed Republican I shudder at the thought of a popularly elected president. Perhaps yet another comeback for John Farnham?

Edna Russell, Ocean Grove Might those outraged at the decision to temporarily accommodate the Parkville lads at Barwon offer to take one home over Christmas? Peter McCarthy, Mentone Many of the children transferred to Barwon had not even been to court, and not all participated in the riots. Jenny Callaghan, Hawthorn
A warm and sunny morning is expected to greet Canberrans on the year's most festive day, but a turn for the worse remains up in the air.

On Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast a sticky and hot top of 32 degrees on Sunday with a medium chance of showers and a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Santa will be sweaty in his red suit in Canberra on Sunday. Credit:Jay Cronan

Christmas showers looked less likely as the week progressed, but on Friday senior forecaster Simon Louis said the chances had climbed back up to one in two.

"Looking at it this morning, it seems the medium chance of a thunderstorm is back, unfortunately," Mr Louis said.
It may seem extraordinary that the man who ignited the van that exploded outside the Australian Christian Lobby headquarters in Canberra on Wednesday night walked five kilometres to hospital before being deemed critical.

Health authorities confirmed the 35-year-old suffered severe burns and remained in a serious but stable condition on Thursday after being flown from Canberra Hospital to Sydney's Concord Hospital.

But emergency medicine specialist at the Calvary Hospital Dr David Caldicott, who teaches first responders how to deal with vehicle explosions, said such instances were not uncommon.

"Burns are inflammations from heat and with any inflammation it develops over a period of time," he said.
Police are urgently searching for an hours-old baby girl who was snatched from Gold Coast University Hospital.

The newborn, born just after 12pm on Friday, was taken from the hospital about 3.30pm by her mother and father.

Police have released CCTV images of the man and woman who took a newborn baby from Gold Coast University Hospital.

Police have since released CCTV images of the couple leaving hospital, and urged any members of the public with information to contact them immediately.

Police said the child's mother, 30, and father, 45, as well as a 12-14 year old girl*, left the Gold Coast University Hospital by bus but were now in a car and believed to be in the wider Gold Coast area.
It will be Christmas as usual at an unshaken St Paul's Cathedral as religious leaders unite in the face of an alleged terror plot that shocked Melbourne.

The CBD landmark was on Friday being prepared for the doors to be thrown open on Christmas Eve, albeit with bolstered security.

Very Reverend Dr Andreas Loewe, the Anglican Dean of Melbourne and St Paul's, was briefed by police in the early hours of Friday about the eliminated threat that had targeted the cathedral, Federation Square and Flinders Street Station.

Dr Loewe's mind had turned to his home country of Germany, where days ago in Berlin a truck had ploughed into Christmas markets, killing 12 people and injuring 48 others - and the message that had come out of that tragedy.
A rapist stopped sexually violating a young woman so he could answer a telephone call from the victim's boyfriend and order food, it can now be reported.

After telling his colleague what he wanted to eat, George Theodoropoulos hung up and resumed raping the woman in a Preston hotel room on August 12, 2012, the County Court has heard.

The County Court heard the case of a woman's rape in a hotel room. Credit:Vince Caligiuri

Theodoropoulos, his colleague and the colleague's girlfriend went to the hotel room where they used the drug ice and drank alcohol. The trio had been at a birthday party the previous night, when they used drugs and the couple were asked to leave.

Theodoropoulos, 47, was found guilty of five counts of rape over his attack on the woman, then 19, who was initially asleep and woke during the sexual assault. Her boyfriend was out of the hotel room at the time, to get more drugs and food.
Wharton ($), Booth ($), and Haas ($) [ #permalink

2 Kudos

Good evening all,



I owe you an update. After about 2 months to reflect and attend both admit weekends I have made my decision. As I approach the Booth deposit deadline tonight at midnight for R1 applicants, I am pleased to report that the winner is Wharton! Here are my impressions now that Ive attended both schools admit weekends and processed everything.



The Wharton School:



Pros:



- Classmates: Pleasantly surprised by how impressive and collegial the community is. I feel as if I got to know my fellow admits a bit more than at Booths admit weekend, mainly because they make us sit in a big classroom most of the day and chat it up. Plus every single one of us did actual introductions and got to share a bio and fun fact. That didnt happen at Booth. We kind of just met and jumped right in to doing things at Booth.

- Location: Philly is no Chicago by any means, but the area where Whartonites actually reside in and around Center City and Rittenhouse Square is more than livable and actually has some pretty chic / homely qualities. New development and construction in the area such as the opening of Vanguards office there this year and a bunch of new apartment buildings are positive signs of growth and progress. It is a bit easier in my opinion going from Center City to campus on a regular basis than from Downtown Chicago to Harper Center, especially if you bike or UberPool, and the neighborhood has so many Whartonites it sort of feels like a large village. Last small item is that its a bit easier for me to traverse from Philly to DC (where Im from and have contacts) or NY as needed than to travel to those cities from Chicago for business.

- Career Placement: When it comes to my wide ranging professional interests at this moment (FinTech, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, PE/VC) I find that Wharton performs stronger in all four of my areas of interest, with greater placement and resources available by a comfortable margin in comparison to Booth. The two schools are comparable in terms of I-Banking and Consulting, but less comparable in my four areas of interest.

- Sessions: The industry sessions were fabulous. They were hosted by current students and were very real and relatable.

- Brand: the reputation and alumni network is incredible at Wharton, especially among the old guard which I define as the 40 and up crowd, which cares less about internet rankings and more about resources and reputation. As an example, I told an older colleague of mine who went to Stanford and Harvard during the 60s that I got into Wharton and he put me in touch with like 4 people, including the CEO of a company that Im interested in, which resulted in an interview with the company and possible internship / job offer pre-MBA. He knew that I got into Booth as well but said he didnt know anyone who went there. These things seem to make a difference and speak to both schools track record of excellence among the hiring community.

- Clubs: the club brunches on Sunday were phenomenal. My brunch was joint hosted by reps from different clubs and really gave me a personal sense of the clubs all at once. A lot more personal and informative than at Booth, where you walk around a crowded room for brief interactions with individual clubs, which feels a bit more like speed dating. Both schools represented well but Whartons club interaction was decidedly more valuable and informative to me (included a slide presentation and words from club leaders).

- Joint Programs: a lot of folks doing that with Penns other top ranked programs. This was a differentiator.



Cons:



- Academics: I think Wharton could have sold their academics a lot better. This is one of the big reasons why I almost chose Booth. We had about a 20 minute quick overview and Q&A with the dean on the first day, along with a master class which was pretty good. But I think the breakout classes at Booth were a lot more interesting and dynamic, plus it showed the investment of the faculty for 3-4 of them to give their time to admitted students to teach a class versus being economical about things and jamming everyone into an auditorium for a single big master class. Im a big fan of not just resting on laurels/reputation/GMAT scores, and am more concerned with expertise/knowledge/merit. Thankfully independent research confirmed for me that there is indeed a plethora of interesting and rigorous classes and professors at Wharton for the intellectually curious to partake in, even though they dont put that front and center.

- Comparison Culture: Admit weekend at Wharton was almost too hoorah were the best! culturally for me. For example it annoyed me during master class when they showed all the other top business school names on a slide and then put big red Xs through them. I know that this was said half way jokingly as a way to choose Wharton but to me it was a sign of weakness and insecurity, not strength and confidence in ones personal identity and value proposition. If youre the best then just show it, you dont have scream it from the rooftops.



Chicago Booth:



Pros:



- Location: I didnt know it until I visited for more than a day, but Chicago may very well be the greatest city Ive ever been to. Awesome culture and tons of cool things to check out. I also get the sense that its more of an economic/commercial center than Philly, which would explain why Booth sold the city to us during the visit a lot more than Wharton, and not just the program. The restaurant and bar scene is unmatched, and Booth took us to some of the finest places, even paying for dinner at a fancy restaurant. Also important, Chicago attracts a lot of case competitions and challenges to solve business problems. You get a sense that the city is just as active as the campus (if not more), and I couldnt say that is true for Wharton, as we didnt tour much of the city really.

- Experiential Learning. One of the things I liked about the visit is that Booth seems deeply entrenched in the Chicago community, and leverages its relationships with the city to produce what they call labs. There are essentially labs for everything, including marketing, pe/vc, and consulting. They all seemed really awesome. I dont really get the sense that Wharton is super well connected to clients and companies in Philadelphia or actively sends students to interact with said companies via experiential learning. I did however learn that it has simulations and more importantly something called a Field Application Project course (FAP). Truth be told I barely know what exactly FAP is, but if Wharton sold its academics a bit more clearly then maybe I would. For a school whose motto is Knowledge for Action I find that Wharton trails Booth in that terms of experiential learning opportunities.

- Academics: This was already mentioned, but the classroom environment for me was more exciting and enriching than the few classroom visits/sessions I participated in at Wharton. Its like the students at Booth want to obtain that one gem of knowledge that could produce a lucrative 300M dollar gift just like the gem on indexing that Mr. Booth allegedly obtained from Mr. Fama many years ago (or the gem on value investing that Warren Buffet got from Ben Graham at Columbia). Im not sure if that hunger and thirst for knowledge is as clearly consistent at Wharton.

- Career Services: top notch people who are really invested in their students for life.

- Housing Tour: We walked around the city for a while to visit certain frequent housing locations. I liked this a little bit more than the housing fair at Wharton, which was bit less personal by comparison. Boothies opened up their doors to let us in and see their humble abodes, which I appreciated much more than a housing brochure from some random Philadelphia company.

- Young Alumni Network: not much to say really besides the fact that a number of them (10 years out of school or less) came to the admit weekend to speak on a panel. This didnt happen at Wharton, which says something about the young alumni presence and their investment in the school.



Cons:



- Old Alumni Network: Everything changed for the better with the coming of Ted Snyder in 2001. But the older classes seem to be more disconnected than the new. I know that one of Sunil Kumars big initiatives before he left Booth as dean last summer was to improve the alumni network and presumably get them to be more active and engaged. Not sure how successful he was with that. I cant help but think that pre-2001 the school was a mostly average school with generally a less than average active alumni network due to Chicagos reputation as a school for withdrawn academics. An exception to that would be a generous rock star like David Booth.



Closing Thoughts:



In closing, I should mention that I negotiated an additional 10K from Booth due to my genuine interest in the program (they added but did not a match). While 80K is an extremely reasonable offer I decided that the powerful alumni network, international brand, professional opportunities in my four stated areas of interest, surprisingly collegial student environment, and suitable if not undersold academic environment at Wharton make it the superior choice for me overall.



Nonetheless, by virtue of the fact that it was a close call (which probably wouldnt have been the case with a H/S by comparison), I think for Wharton to solidify its place in the top 3 and keep Booths momentum at bay while honing and highlighting its own strengths it needs to work on:



1) Clarifying its purpose, mission, and values. Then work on clarifying, communicating, and living out its brand in light of that purpose, mission, and values. I lament the fact that I didnt know that Knowledge for Action was Whartons mission until I came to admit weekend, whereas I knew Pay it Forward was part of Booths identity before I even interviewed, which they reinforced during the interview via one of their questions.

2) Developing stronger (or at least better communicated) relations with the Philadelphia and/or broader regional business community, including more emphasis on experiential learning opportunities with partners.

3) Reinvigorate classroom learning and reignite a passion for learning in its students (if it is not already there); I say this because of the very modest performance of the school on the Economists Best Teaching Faculty rankings in 2015-16, especially in comparison to Booth, which received top marks. The lifeblood of any university, business or otherwise, is learning, and a failure to hone that craft is detrimental in the long run.



I know that Dean Garrett has his own priorities and vision, however, if Wharton doesnt prioritize these things over the coming decades and Booth continues its upward momentum we may begin to see students go to Booth over Wharton more regularly than they currently are. But for now Wharton is still the decidedly better option, as least for me right now, given the material and immaterial factors that Ive shared.



Thank you all for your insights and votes!
Police have charged 48-year-old Kewdale man Bradley Robert Edwards with the murders of Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer and attacks on two teenagers in 1995 and 1988.

Mr Edwards was arrested on Thursday night at home then charged in the early hours, Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan announced on Friday.

He appeared in court almost immediately afterward charged with murder, abduction and sexual assault and was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on January 11.

The investigation into the 1990s Claremont killings, codenamed Macro, expanded to include other serious crimes in more recent years.
New York: The UN Security Council has approved a resolution demanding Israel cease Jewish settlement activity on Palestinian territory in a unanimous vote that passed when the United States abstained in the wake of meddling by President-elect Donald Trump and Egypt.

The resolution declared Israeli settlements illegal under international law and demanded that the country cease construction in the West Bank and other territories captured in the 1967 Middle East war. It said the settlements, including those in East Jerusalem, have "no legal validity". It said they threaten the viability of the two-state solution, and it urged Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations that lead to two independent nations.

The United States' abstained from the vote instead of using its veto as it has reliably done in the past. It was a rare rebuke to Israel, and reflected mounting frustration in President Barack Obama's administration over settlement growth that the US considers an obstacle to peace. With President Obama's time in office due to end in barely a month, his decision not to veto was a symbolic statement of that displeasure.

The decision highlighted the increasingly tenuous ties between the Obama administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. A senior Israeli official, who asked not to be identified, accused the US of secretly drafting the resolution in conjunction with the Palestinian Authority. The Obama administration rejected that accusation.
Auto Lab Radio Talk - LIVE From NYC Saturday December 24, 2016 7-9 AM (Eastern)







Auto Lab Radio Talk

The Auto Lab Radio Show is Broadcast every Saturday 7 to 9 AM On New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On The Auto Channel

Broadcast Date: December 24, 2016

Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234

Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice.

Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format.

Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com.

Listen - Auto Lab Page (Includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures

Broadcast Date: December 24, 2016

Auto Lab In-Studio Experts Discuss - Repair Second Opinion, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Ombudsmen Suggestions

Harold Bendell- Major Auto

Fred Bordoff-Bronx Community College, CUNY

Ivan Anderson- Brookdale Community College

Tim Cacace-Master Mechanix

Audra Fordin-Great Bear Auto Repairs & What Women AUTO Know

Jerry Pastore-D & J Diagnostic

Johanna Pastore-D & J Diagnostic

Joanne Porcelli, Esq

Michael Porcelli - Central Avenue Auto Repairs & I-CAR

Nicholas Prague- MTA and Rockland Community College, SUNY

Auto Lab Correspondents Report Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That May effect You!

Broadcast Date: December 24, 2016

Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England

LIFE IN A CAN

Sharon Sudol & John Russell Senior Correspondents

GMC ACADIA

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HOLIDAY PARKING LOT SAFETY TIPS
bb wrote:

I think you do.

You can apply anywhere frankly. You can apply to the Top 10 and would get in as long as you have a great resume, LOR's, and application essays



If your apps are not stellar, you should look for the average GMAT at the target schools if you are within the 80%, then you are good. If you are around the average score, you are doing well, and if above, then you are golden from that perspective, though GMAT is not everything. Remember, average GMAT is 530 (that's 50th percentile) and 640 is not a bad score and should not keep you out of any school. Just as 760 wont' guarantee an admission into any school either (as long as they are not trying to buy up gmat scores).



One thought - some of the top 70/100 schools do give scholarships to those with 700+, that could be a motivation for you.

Thanks for your advice....I'm planning to apply to Purdue(Krarnett School of business avg gmat score was around 640+), University of California Davis, Texas A&M(avg score was bit high for this school).... The rankings of these schools were in the range 20-45 or soAlso I heard a lot abt this Avg IT Indian Male... Will this also affect my chances???I'm planning to major in finance.....TIA
Hospital offers safe option to dispose of meds, narcotics Los Robles Health System is working to crush the opioid drug crisis by raising awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. Crush the Crisis will take place...

Alzheimers Foundation to host free conference The Alzheimers Foundation of America will host a free virtual educational conference from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tues., Nov. 15. The event is part of the foundations 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open...

Authorities warn about rainbow fentanyl Victims often arent aware theyre taking it

The Ventura County Office of Education and state health officials have issued a warning to schools and families about rainbow fentanyl, a form of the potentially fatal synthetic opioid that comes in bright colors. Rainbow fentanyl can be found in...

Cancer support community to host remembrance event Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara invites family members and friends of those who have died from cancer to attend the second annual Evening of Remembrance from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 3 at Cancer Support Communitys Garden of Hope,...
December 16-22, 2016

Can you believe it, everyone? Its time for our last regular weekly roundup of the year! Well be delving into year-in-review posts next week  but in the meantime, dont forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!

Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

10. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden visited Italy this week. On Friday, she wore a pair of dark hoop earrings with a small round dangle for a party in Milan.





Photo: ALASTAIR GRANT/AFP/Getty Images

9. The Duchess of Cambridge wore fern hoop earrings by Catherine Zoraida for a Christmas Party at The Mix in London on Monday. ( See more here!

Photo: Richard Pohle  Pool / Getty Images

8. On Friday, the Duchess of Cornwall represented the Queen at the annual Sovereigns Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. For the event, she wore her diamond and pearl earrings and two cap badges: on her hat, the cap badge of The Rifles (shes the Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion), and on her coat, the badge of the 12th Lancers (with whom her father, Major Bruce Shand, served during WWII). Youll note that the buttons on her coat also feature an image of the cap badge of The Rifles.

Photo: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

7. Queen Letizia of Spain wore statement earrings by Coolook to meet with a foundation aiming to end drug abuse in Madrid. ( More over here!

Photo: Olivier Matthys/Getty Images

6. In Belgium, Queen Mathilde wore a pair of rather cool, modern earrings for the annual Christmas concert at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Wednesday.

Photo: Olivier Matthys/Getty Images

5. Princess Astrid of Belgium also attended the Christmas concert, and she wore a rather lovely pair of sparkling earrings. The earrings have a pear-shaped stud and a pear-shaped drop.

4. For the annual meeting of the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Princess Sofia wore a pair of earrings by one of her go-to jewelry designers, Ebba Brahe.

3. Crown Princess Victoria attended the meeting in a small diamond riviere and pearl drop earrings.

2. Queen Silvia chose one of her pairs of diamond and emerald earrings for the formal meeting.

1. And my top spot of the week goes to Princess Madeleine, who wore a pair of dramatic pendant earrings for the academy meeting.
Of course the year of Donald Trump could not end without actor and comedian Tom Arnold getting involved.

If youve been following the True Lies and Madeas Witness Protection star on Twitter for the past few months (he is verified and at @TomArnold), you likely noticed how anti-Trump hes been during and following the 2016 campaign. Last month, he went after Fox News host and informal Trump adviser Sean Hannity and claimed that in Celebrity Apprentice Season 14 outtakes, you can hear Trump saying that Hannity had replaced [ Bill] OReilly as his biggest suckup.

This week, Arnold went a step further, repeating his claim (this time to widespread media attentiontry googling it) that he has seen a secret outtakes reel made by Apprentice staff showing the now Republican president-elect saying every racist thing ever, and then some.

I have the outtakes to The Apprentice where he says every bad thing ever, every offensive, racist thing ever, Arnold told Seattle radio station KIRO. It was him sitting in that chair saying the N-word, saying the C-word, calling his son a retard, just being so mean to his own children.

Arnold said in the interview that the threat of legal retribution has kept others from going public with the tapes. He also claimed that the Sunday before Election Day, he received a a call from Arnold [Schwarzeneggers] CAA agent, sitting next to Hillary Clinton. They said, I need you to release him saying the n-word. (Arnold later told The Daily Beast that the powerful Hollywood talent agent and Clinton ally he was referring to Michael Kives. Kives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

On Tuesday evening, Arnold then excitedly tweeted that his wife told me theres house line [voicemail] from Trump Camp about defamation suit so its on! Open Apprentice vaults [for] discovery! Miss Universe too!!

There is a lot to unpack here.

The Daily Beast has spent enough time investigating the vulgar and sometimes downright horrific things Trump has done, or has been credibly accused of doing, during his reign on NBCs The Apprentice to know that allegations of his character on-set should be taken seriously. (These things include Trump, according to multiple Apprentice staffers, repeatedly calling a deaf Oscar-winning actress retarded and repeatedly using the racial slur Uncle Tom when referring to rapper Lil Jon.)

Still, the idea that Tom Arnold at one point possessed the key to taking down Donald J. Trump has seemed far-fetched, if not quite impossible, in this insane election year. After all, a birther, reality TV-starring, Razzie Award-winning and accused serial sexual assaulter is about to become leader of the free world. And one possible reason for why we are in this situation is Anthony Weiners compulsive sexting. We are, in many ways, in uncharted territory.

So The Daily Beast did what many other news outlets did: We took Arnolds story seriously. So far, we have found nothing to support Tom Arnolds recent claims, besides the word of Tom Arnold.

The Daily Beast talked to six longtime Apprentice staffers (who, again, spoke on the condition of anonymity due to strict nondisclosure agreements those working on the production had to sign) about the alleged existence of this brutal outtakes compilation.

All of them have tabloid-ready stories to tell about The Donald. None of them could back up Arnolds story.

I have no idea what he is even talking about, one Apprentice alumnus told The Daily Beast. He had nothing on his mind except for sex and saying a lot of offensive stuff, but if theres video compilation like bloopers on a DVD where hes saying cunt and [n-word] then I never heard of it or watched it.

I never caught wind of anything like that [or] that going around, another staffer said. We would have tried to get it, for sure But I like the idea that someone had some inflammatory tapes and chose Tom Arnoldnaturallyto release them.

No, as far as I know, that was not something passed around, another Apprentice employee tersely responded.

The other three staffers responded, similarly, in the negative.

Still, I wanted to hear more of Arnolds side of the story. After all, I had been trying to get hold of the 57-year-old actor since he sent that Hannity tweet in November. On Thursday afternoon, Arnold finally called me to take me through his extraordinary saga of Trump, racial animus, sexism, intimidated Apprentice staffers, a frantic Clinton campaign in its dying days, and the fate of the free world.

Arnold took his time recounting to me what he had already said in the interview with the Seattle-based radio station.

[Michael Kives] called me, sitting next to Hillary Clinton on her plane, and said, The weight of the free world [is] on my shoulder, which is what I was told, which is bullshit, Arnold told The Daily Beast.

When pressed, Arnold also wanted to clarify a few things. He now says he does not currently possess a copy of the secret Trump compilation. I was shown it with a password, he said, referring to the type of expiring, access-limited online video link that you can send to others. When confronted with the doubts cast on his story by several Apprentice employees, Arnold said a possible explanation was that people are scared of Trump or Apprentice creator and reality TV kingpin Mark Burnett.

One thing that Im not is, Im not a coward, Arnold said. A psycho, maybethats what friends have said.

I asked Arnold several times if he could play me the voicemail he tweeted aboutthe one supposedly containing a legal threat from Team Trump, in light of Arnolds recent comments.

On Wednesday, I had asked the Trump presidential transition team about Arnolds tweet about the Trump defamation suit that had meant its on! (at least in Arnolds eyes). A Trump transition official who asked to remain anonymous (because of course a Trump official would demand to go on background in order to dish on Tom Arnold) told The Daily Beast that there was no truth to this claim.

When Arnold finally played me the voice message, it was a man identifying himself as Hunter Walker, a national political correspondent for Yahoo News. He was not an envoy of Trumps legal team threatening a lawsuit. He was a reporter informing Arnold that he had contacted Trumps team to ask if they were considering any legal action against Arnold. Walker then asked Arnold if he was worried about said hypothetical. (Not a terribly implausible scenario to be worried about, actually.)

Arnold then said his wife, who relayed the message to him, was initially confused about the matter, which explains his tweet. He also accused Walker of fishing for an interview.

He then claimed he asked his lawyer about the legal matter anywayand that someone told [my] lawyer that [Trumps team] is considering it, Arnold said. When I asked for further clarification or proof, he said it was all confidential information at the moment.

Arnold seemed self-aware enough to realize that what he was selling sounded awfully like a tall tale. However, it is possible that Burnett and MGM could help clear up this matter entirely, by simply helping to facilitate the release of the Trump-era Apprentice archives. But Burnett has consistently resisted pressure to make any such move (and has actively cracked down on Trump-related Apprentice leaks to the press, as The Daily Beast reported in November) ever since The Washington Post released a 2005 video of Trump bragging about being able to get away with sexually assaulting women.

Still, Arnold is one of many holding out hope that the whole depository of unreleased Apprentice footage will soon see the light of day. If the tapes are released, he says, hell be vindicatedand the world will get to witness what he claims he and only a handful of others have had the privilege and displeasure of watching.

If that happens, youll see its all true, Arnold insisted. And if its bullshit, its bullshit If Im a liar, Im a liar. But Im not. Just watch it.
In this season of celebration and contemplation, we are publishing a series of articles about Christians who are imprisoned and in some cases threatened with death because of their beliefs. Such religious persecution is not limited to Christians. Indeed the most intense fury of zealots like those of the so-called Islamic State is directed against fellow Muslims deemed heretical. But Christians find themselves targeted not only for their faith, they are treated as symbols of the West, even if their history in a country like Egypt goes back millennia. Thus ISIS hopes attacks like the suicide bombing of a Coptic cathedral in Cairo earlier this month will help draw clear battle lines between Islam and what it calls crusadersthe soldiers who bear the cross. A few cases like that of Asia Bibi, a mother of five now serving her seventh consecutive Christmas in jail in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, have drawn international attention. But many others have not. As advocacy groups have made clear, Christians are under pressure from non-Muslim Mexico to non-Muslim China, but they face the most ferocious persecution in the Muslim Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Africa.

For more than 365 days, two Sudanese pastors, a Czech aid worker, and a Sudanese civil rights activist have seen their loved ones only at court sessions and only in passing, says the Rev. Kuwa Shamal, one of the detained pastors who spoke to Nuba Reports by phone from prison.

We are considered to be spies, said Shamal, who shares a cell at Al Huda Prison in Omdurman with fellow pastor Hassan Abdelrahim. Both are from Sudans Nuba Mountains region of South Kordofan State, where civil war has raged for the last five years.

The four suspects face seven separate charges including espionage, waging war against the state, and provoking hatred among sects. Yet human rights observers and religious leaders say the case is baselessjust the latest example of growing persecution of Christians in the Islamic country since the 2011 secession of South Sudan.

They dont have any political relationships, their work is religious and they are not supposed to be arrested for simply spreading the gospel, said Pastor Emmanuel Ofendi, who runs the Cush Theological College in the Nuba Mountains. We send our message to the whole world of what is happeningto release these men. They have done nothing wrong.

Sudanese national security in December 2015 arrested the two pastors and civil rights activist Abdelmoneim Abdelmoula at home. Petr Jasek, an aid worker from the Czech Republic, was on his way out of the country when authorities detained him at Khartoum International Airport.

The court case began in August, more than eight months after the men were first detained. According to defense lawyer Muhanad Nur, the arrest stems from state suspicions that they are trying to encourage Muslims to convert to Christianity and for publicly speaking out against the ill treatment of Christians in Sudan.

During the last hearing at the Khartoum Centre Court on Dec. 19, national security officer Sayed Abdel-Rahman claimed the group had aired radio and online YouTube videos by two hostile foreign organizations and that Jasek was a member of one of these organizations. One of the YouTube videos alleged that the Sudan government had killed Muslim converts to Christianity.

In October, the state prosecutor presented video footage and photographs taken from Jaseks laptop as evidence. The prosecutors case included footage of the Nuba Mountains and the four suspects in Khartoum North assisting a student, Ali Omer, as he suffers from skin burns from a teargas bomb during a 2013 university protest. Abdelmoula, an engineer and activist from Darfur, is Omers brother and sought help from the two pastors and Jasek. The trio are accused of helping Omer with his costly medical bills after the incident.

Shamal suspects authorities had wished to arrest the Darfur activist for some timeAbdelmoulas collaboration with the pastors and Jasek fulfilled this desire.

Authorities also arrested Omer last December, imprisoned him for six months and questioned him repeatedly about the source of the money used to cover his medical treatment, the human rights organization Amnesty International reported.

Jasek, with over 20 years of medical experience, had assisted the Christian aid organization Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) on different occasions, VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton said. He has given medical assistance to persecuted Christians in Sudan and Nigeria, according to the spokesman.

The two indicted pastors suspect their participation in a Christian conference in October 2015 based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, may have triggered their arrest.

There were 10 pastors from Sudan who attended the conference to discuss the situation of Christians in Khartoum after secession of South Sudan, Shamal explained from prison. Abdelmoula presented a paper on the oppression of Christians in Sudan.

The current trial appears at loggerheads with the October conclusions of the National Dialogue, a state-led peace initiative ostensibly designed to end Sudans internal conflicts. The conference attendants, including government and some opposition parties, concluded the event by issuing a National Document that makes at least four references calling for religious diversity, the freedom of worship, and to end religious discrimination in Sudan.

Both pastors can speak from past experience about state-led targeting of Christians and Christian institutions. In June 2014, the state demolished Shamals church, the Sudanese Church of Christ in Thiba Al Ahamida, Khartoum North, claiming the land was reserved for a private hospital.

Land authorities rejected ownership documents he presented, including receipts of fees paid for the church over 30 years ago. Incredibly, authorities visited him on a Sunday before they leveled the church, requesting that he sign a document calling for the churchs demolition.

I refused to sign the paper, Shamal said over the phone from prison. How can someone come to us asking us to demolish our own church?

The following day vehicles and a bulldozer accompanied by dozens of police, military, and security personnel came and tore the building down. Now, the 400-odd parishioners worship in the open air despite repeated requests to many government ministries for permission to rebuild their church.

The Sudan government has demolished at least six churches since 2011, according to Morningstar News, a faith-based news service that monitors Christian persecution. In the last few months, authorities have demolished a popular Christian school serving Christian and Muslim students alike and detained the school staff twice for resisting their schools destruction.

The targeting of churches and Christians ratcheted up after South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Once the predominantly Christian South Sudanese populace seceded, considerable institutional support previously used to defend Christians against state authorities diminished in Sudan.

In April 2013, the minister of Guidance and Endowments announced that no new licenses would be granted for building new churches in Sudan, citing a decrease in the South Sudanese population. Two years later, government officials stiffened penalties for apostasy and blasphemy.

And more churches are sure to face challenges in the future. In August, the Chief of Office for the Khartoum State Ministry of Planning rejected a request from the Sudanese legal firm, the Justice Centre for Advocacy and Legal Advice, calling for an end to state-sanctioned church demolitions in Khartoum State. Instead, the state ministry issued a letter ordering four churches to be demolished in Khartoum. The officer accused the four churches, based in Al-Baraka, Al-Bashir, Arta Kamul and Dar el Salaam Jedidah of being built too close to community areas.

While these events take place, Pastors Shamal and Abdelrahim continue to be awakend at 5 a.m., surviving on two meals of beans per day, and worry over their respective families outside. Shamal is especially worried over their children who are no longer receiving any support from them.

The Nuba pastors, along with Jasek, spend their days teaching in the prison churchall the while suffering frequent verbal abuse by the prison staff, Shamal said.

The Nuba community, where it is not uncommon to find inter-faith families living together, has largely denounced the four mens continued incarceration. A court hearing scheduled on November 14, for instance, was postponed after a large group of the four suspects supporters attempted to attend the hearing.

Shamal still manages to remain hopeful and prays for their release and forgives those who arrested them.

We know it is not out of the will of God that we are in prison, Shamal said from behind its walls, but God knows that we are in prison.
Russia isn't done screwing with the United States in 2016.

On Dec. 16, the Russian military reportedly tested what appears to be an anti-satellite weapona rocket that can boost into low orbit and smash into enemy spacecraft.

The test could be the latest sign of Russias intention, and improving ability, to threaten Americas hundreds of government and private spacecraftand chip away at the United States military and commercial advantage in space.

It might also be the latest provocation from a Russian regime that increasingly denies any responsibility for its most destabilizing moves. Thats how Moscow can get away with hacking elections in the United States and other Western countries and invading Ukraine, among other attacks on global order.

The apparent anti-satellite (ASAT) test largely escaped public notice. The Washington Free Beacon was the first to report on the weapons trial, on Dec. 21attributing the information to unnamed U.S. government sources. CNN also pointed out the test, again citing anonymous U.S. officials.

Capt. Nicholas Mercurio, a spokesman for the 14th U.S. Air Force, which oversees space systems, declined to specifically comment on the reported Russian test. We monitor missile launches around the globe, Mercurio told The Daily Beast, but as a matter of policy we dont normally discuss intelligence specific to those launches.

For the anti-satellite test, the Russians have a tidy cover storythat the rocket isnt actually an anti-satellite weapon, or ASAT. Instead, its a meant for shooting down incoming ballistic missiles.

That is to say, the rocket that Russia tested on Dec. 16 could be a defensive rocket-killer, rather than an offensive satellite-killer. My take is that it could be either, Pavel Podvig, an independent expert on Russian strategic forces, told The Daily Beast via email. It is difficult to say at this point.

But in fact, theres no meaningful difference between an anti-satellite weapon and a defensive missile-interceptor. The same basic hardware can do both jobs.

The only difference between a hit-to-kill interceptor for missile defense and one for low-Earth-orbit ASAT is going to be in the software, Jeffrey Lewis, who helps lead nonproliferation programs at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told The Daily Beast via email.

In 2008, for example, the U.S. Navy tweaked the code on one of its ship-based SM-3 missile-interceptors and successfully targeted an old U.S. satellite in low orbit.

The nature of the Russian test underscores the likelihood that the rocket in question is a satellite-killer. The rocket reportedly blasted off from a base in central Russia and arced into low orbit. There was no debris, according to CNNmeaning the missile likely targeted a point in space instead of aiming for, say, a decommissioned Russian satellite.

But the fact that the rocket targeted fixed coordinates in space indicates that its meant for destroying spacecraft. Shooting at a point in space is useless from a missile-defense point of view, Lewis explained.

Thats because incoming ballistic missiles move quickly. A missile-interceptor must be able to maneuver rapidly to match the targets constantly-changing position. A satellite, by contrast, moves comparatively slowly and predictably. You dont know where a missile is going to be, Lewis said, but you do know where a satellite is going to be.

Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has become the world leader in asymmetric warfare: targeting its enemies surreptitiously and in ways that avoid direct confrontation. After sending Little Green Mentroops without official uniformsto invade Ukraines Crimea region, Russian forces pummeled Ukrainian troops with artillery that fired from the Russian side of the border with Ukraine and denied doing it.

Likewise, Russia has targeted Ukraine and the tiny states along NATOs eastern border with relentless cyberattacks. In late 2015, Russian hackers disrupted Ukraines power grid. (And another substation near Kiev was recently hit, although its unclear by whom.) The Kremlin hides its cyberattacks behind murky, non-state groups or individual hackers such as the notorious Guccifer 2.0. Hes the self-proclaimed Romanian hacker who claimed to hit the Democratic National Committeeonly to be exposed as a Russian.

If the ASAT tests are successful and Russia deploys the weapon, its potential targets could include the surveillance, positioning, and communications satellites that the United States relies on to wage warand that the American economy counts on for navigation, television broadcasts, and even mobile gaming.

The United States possesses nearly half of the worlds roughly 1,000 operational satellites, many more than any other individual country. Both Russia and China have been working hard in recent years to counter this numerical advantage.

In a 2007 ASAT test, China lobbed a rocket at a defunct weather satellite, smashing it into thousands of piecesmany of which remain in orbit and regularly endanger manned and unmanned spacecraft.

Both Russia and China have deployed small inspection satellites that, officially, exist to maneuver close to and monitor other spacecraft but which, with a simple command, could collide with U.S. satellites and hijack, damage, or destroy them.

For the record, the Pentagon also deploys inspection satellites that could threaten other spacecraft.

In parallel with its development of possible killer satellites, Russia has been hard at work on its Nudol rocket system, which isofficiallya missile-interceptor designed to protect Russian cities from nuclear bombardment. Moscow wants Nudol to replace decades-old Gazelle and Gorgon defensive missiles.

Nudols capabilities remain something of a mystery outside of the Russian government. If the Kremlin intends Nudol to replace Gazelle, then Nudol might not have applications in space. But if Nudol is supposed to replace the much more powerful Gorgon, then Nudol could pull double-duty as a missile-interceptor and a satellite-killer.

Gazelle was not an ASAT threat, as its range was only a few miles, Brian Weeden, a space exert at the Secure World Foundation in Colorado, told The Daily Beast via email. Gorgon was likely an ASAT threat because it could reach into low Earth orbit.

If Nudol matches Gorgons capabilities, then its possible the new missile-interceptor formed the basis of the rocket in the apparent ASAT test on Dec. 16.

Adapting Nudol to kill spacecraft makes sense. Instead of designing a new ASAT weapon from scratcha potentially laborious processRussia could simply modify a rocket its been working on for years.

The accelerating pace of Russian and Chinese ASAT developmentsof which the Dec. 16 test is only the most recenthas kept some U.S. officials up at night. Air Force general John Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, told Congress in September that Russia and China are developing offensive space weapons faster than the United States is developing countermeasures.

We are moving much slower in certain areas than our adversaries, Hyten said. We need our industries and our acquisition process to move faster.
ISTANBULIslamic State extremists said they have burned two Turkish soldiers alive captured in the fight for Syria.A film video posted Thursday night showed the two men, their feet shackled and tied to a post standing in front of a mat as a flammable liquid poured over them and then ignited. The flames are shown consuming the men, who both collapse to the ground.After they are clearly dead, an ISIS fighter is shown approaching the bodies and pouring more fuel on them, adding to the flames.The date and the exact location of the execution were not known. While ISIS claimed the soldiers were taken near Al Bab, a town that Turkish and moderate rebel forces are besieging northeast of Aleppo, the barren area where the execution took place could well have been some distance from Al Bab, possibly not even in Syria.The men speak in the film before their deaths, identifying themselves as Sefter Tas and Fethi Sahin. The video could not be seen in Turkey, which has blocked the web sites of the Islamic State, but an Arab language website called Arabi 21 provided details of the film. The two men speak from inside a cage where they were being held. "I am Fethi Sahin. My birthplace is Konya. I am in charge of the 26th Gendarmerie Intelligence Service in Turkey. The location of my job is in Tekirdag. I am now a hostage in the hands of the Mujahideen of the Islamic State."Then the second man speaks."I am Sefter Tas, age 21. I am an infantry soldier in the Turkish Armed Forces, in Kilis, in the Border Police Station. His home town was understood to be Igdir, near the Armenian border.Both charge that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was responsible for their plight.Erdogan in a speech Friday said that the moderate rebels, backed by the Turkish Army, would soon capture Al Bab. He did not mention the immolation of the two Turkish soldiers.

Their execution recalled the action by ISIS in January of 2015, when Jordanian pilot Moaz al Kasasbeh, bailed out of his F16 plane when it went down of Syrian territory and was showing being burned alive inside a cage. Tas and Sahin were burned on open ground, but theyd also been imprisoned in cages, the video showed.The killing posed a major challenge to Turkey, which launched Operation Euphrates Shield on August 24 to dislodge ISIS from its remaining positions along the Turkish border. Relying on moderate Arab rebels for its ground force, and utilizing a small number of its own troops, Turkey quickly captured the border town of Jarablus and then pushed towards Al Bab, some 40 miles to the southeast.While the combined force has made rapid advances, it comes at a high human price for Turkeya price that could prove costlier still, with so many hostile forces in the immediate vicinity. Besides ISIS, there are troops from the Syrian government, which Thursday announced it had seized all of rebel-held Aleppo nearby, and is publicly hostile to the Turkish intervention.Then theres the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, the Kurdish militia that also has been fighting ISIS with U.S. air support. The YPG has their eyes on Al Bab, as well, in order to link all predominantly Kurdish territories in northern Syria.Finally there are two other major players, Iran and Russia. If Ankaras currently friendly relations with Moscow turn cool again, Russia could immediately pose a major threat to the Turkish intervention, for it controls air defenses in Syria.The situation is so fraught with peril from so many directions that the U.S. military has dropped out of active participation in the Turkish operation.With the deaths of these two young soldiers, Turkey has lost some 35 troops in the past four months, most by ISIS-driven suicide vehicles and many of them in tanks attacked by ISIS or YPG. Earlier this month, several soldiers were killed by a missile fired from a drone that Turkish media reported was of Iranian origin.But the human cost to the people of Al Bab is also considerable. Local Coordination Committees reported late Thursday that Turkish bombs had killed dozens of civilians in Al Bab on Wedneday. But the death toll may be far higher. LCC staff said Friday they had the names of 80 dead civilians, and the total number could be well over 100.ISIS as a practice has used civilians as human shields, and it is possible they are deliberately marking targets in a manner to draw Turkish airstrikes. Military sources in Ankara said they could not confirm the deaths of civilians.The video showed scenes of what it described as the aftermath of the Turkish bombing in an area held by Turkey. The commentator said the punishment of the two Turkish soldiers was the same sort of suffering that the Turkish government had carried out against the people of the Islamic State. An unnamed commentator on the film urged viewers to set Turkey on fire and attack Erdogan.A Turkish ISIS fighter, calling himself Abu Hasan, declared on the film that Turkey has become the land for Jihad. He urged the groups sympathizers in Turkey to burn it, blow it up and destroy it.-- with additional reporting by special correspondent Duygu Guvenc in Ankara
ROMEWhat started as a routine police check ended in the death of Europes most wanted man. Two police officers on a regular early morning patrol spotted a man acting suspiciously at 3:00 a.m. local time at a train station in Milans working class neighborhood of Sesto San Giovanni. They approached the man, unaware that he was Anis Amri, the Berlin truck terrorist, and asked for his documents. He reached into his backpack and instead of pulling out papers, he drew a .22-caliber pistol. Reportedly shouting Cop bastards! he shot one of the officers, who returned fire and killed him. The injured officer is expected to survive. He had been on the force just nine months.

Police later said that Amri had a few hundred euro in cash, but no cellphone. The station where he was found is just a few miles from where the truck Amri used as a weapon originated, though the head of Italys intelligence agency told reporters that they thought that might be a coincidence. There is no indication that Amri was in the area when the truck filled with steel pipes left Italy.

Police then surrounded the area and immediately matched the cadaver's fingerprints for a positive identification. He had a train ticket from France to Turin to Milans central station and another to the Sesto San Giovanni station in his backpack, implying that he had travelled to Italy under somewhat conventional circumstances, rather than using a network of accomplices to hide him. He was alone at the station and, so far, police do not believe anyone was meeting him.

ISIS mouthpiece Amaq published a three-minute clip today, in which a snugly dressed and headphone wearing Amri declares his loyalty to Abu Bakr al-Bagdadi, the leader of the so-called Islamic State. Standing by the harbor in Berlin Moabit, Amri vows to take revenge for the blood of Muslims that has been spilled at the hands of crusaders. The heaps of red and yellow leaves in the background suggest the video was made weeks ago, in autumn.

But the fact that Amri would return to Italy, the only country where he has ever lived for any length of time in Europe, should surprise no one. But the police judgment that he was not necessarily there to plan a new terror attack might surprise many. Despite the fact that he was alone, Italian authorities believe he was on his way to a safer hiding place. Just where that might have been, or whether he had met anyone in France, Turin, or Milan are priority questions right now.

The French connection is, of course, especially problematic given the well-known focus of the so-called Islamic State on attacking French targets. In November, police disrupted what appeared to be a serious plot to attack various targets including Disneyland Paris and, indeed, the Christmas market on the Champs Elysees, which is very similar to the Berlin market where Amri killed 12 people on Monday, 11 of them mowed down with a hijacked tractor-trailer truck whose usual driver had been stabbed and shot to death.

Milans anti-terrorism director Alberto Nobili confirmed that the Italians had been concerned that Amri might return to Italy, though he said that the early morning patrol was not unusual.

Indeed, while European governments have tried to play up the importance of international cooperation  and a 100,000 reward  it appears that the German services, at least, believed Amri was still in the Berlin area.

Tagesspiegel reported early Friday morning that the German police still assumed that Amri was hiding in Berlin. A witness had seen him fleeing the crime scene with a cut on his face, which would, according to the article, have made an attempted escape through Germany or Europe unlikely.

Also, surveillance tapes showed Amri standing in front of a mosque on the Perleberger Strasse in Berlin-Moabit very early on Tuesday morning. Amri was also filmed there on the 14th and 15th of this month. Security services know the site as the mosque of Berlins ISIS people, according to the report. But police did a search there on Tuesday morning and didnt find anything.

Authorities in Milan and Turin are now checking surveillance footage to see if Amri met anyone to get money or other supplies along the way. They are also combing records to determine if anyone that he might have served time with in Italy is in the area. Amri is thought to have been radicalized during his imprisonment in Italy, where he was moved among as many as six different facilities.

Italys justice ministry says that it knows of at least 400 men who have been radicalized in Italys extensive and overcrowded prison system. Of those, 10 or more are kept in high security.

More than a dozen terrorist arrests have been carried out in Milan over the course of the last year, including many men who came to Italy long before the current wave of migrants. In May, three men were arrested who, like Amri, had also come to Italy in the spring of 2011.

Italys new prime minister, Paolo Gentiloni, said that while the open border policy in which people can travel freely between Schengen countries makes it easier for terrorists to move, it is vital to keep Europe open. But as new details emerge about just how easily would-be terrorists who are under surveillance in every country they traverse, one might beg the question whether that is still the best approach.

With additional reporting by Josephine Huetlin in Berlin and Christopher Dickey in Paris
In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, news organizations across the country scrambled to cover high-profile reports of hate crimes. Now, several of the reports have been summarily debunked.

Those inclined to review all hate crimes with skepticism or outright disbelief applauded as a woman who claimed Donald Trump supporters accosted her in New York City was charged with filing a false report; Ann Arbor police said a womans report that a man threatened to light her on fire if she wouldnt remove her hijab was false ; and an African-American parishioner was charged with arson for burning down the black church where Vote Trump was scrawled on the side days before the election.

With each new false report and falsely framed one, conservative voices have scoffed that the proverbial shepherd has once again been crying wolf as part of a liberal agenda to delegitimize a Trump presidency even before it begins. But the academics, civil rights organizations, and law enforcement agencies who study and track these acts say one thing is clear: Hate crimes are on the rise in America.

While nationwide numbers for 2016 arent yet available, New York City has seen a 31 percent rise in hate crimes so far this year compared to the same period last year, with the number directed at Muslims going up by more than 100 percent, from 12 to 25.

In the 10 days following the presidential election, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported 867 incidents targeting African Americans, Muslims, immigrants, women, and the LGBT community. Online harassment was not included in the tally, and predominantly white Trump devotees were themselves the target of some of these crimes.

People have experienced harassment at school, at work, at home, on the street, in public transportation, in their cars, in grocery stores and other places of business, and in their houses of worship, according to the SPLC, and alleged acts of intimidation have not been exclusive to non-whites. Some incidents, including violent physical altercations, graffiti, and verbal harassment, were directed at the Trump campaign or his supporters.

The SPLC documented several incidents, including one involving an Asian-American woman. She was reportedly told to go home as she left a mass transit station in Oakland, California. I have experienced discrimination in my life, but never in such a public and unashamed manner, she said.

Likewise, according to the civil rights group founded by Morris Dees, a black resident whose apartment was vandalized with the phrase 911 nigger reported that he had never witnessed anything like this.

The organization says that a Los Angeles woman encountered a man who told her he was gonna beat [her] pussy. She said she was in that neighborhood all the time and never experienced this type of language before. And in Sunnyvale, California, a transgender person reported being targeted with homophobic slurs at a bar.

Ive been a regular customer for 3 yearsnever had any issues, the person told the SPLC.

Like actual hate crimes, hoaxes crossed the political spectrum, with false reports including the wife of a police officer in Massachusetts who finally admitted to an elaborate hoax in which she claimed burglars stole tens of thousands of dollars of jewelry from her home and then spray-painted a Black Lives Matter insignia on it, and a New York firefighter now on trial for burning down his own home who tried to frame BLM for it.

Some of the things we see with regards to false reports of hate crimes include mental instability, people who are out for publicity or the elevation of status, or they want attention pointed to a particular [social or political] grievance that they have, said Brian Levin, a professor at California State UniversitySan Bernardino who studies hate crimes. We also see insurance fraud and things like that.

One of the things youre going to have look for, too, is how publicized this is, Levin added. Once theres a lot of publicity, youre going to have people who just want the publicity. Or the status elevation.

Whether concocted for political causes, motivated by a bid for public sympathy, or to cover up illicit behavior, such deceptions are exceedingly rarebetween 2 percent and 8 percent of all reported cases, according to the FBI. Levin told The Daily Beast that the NYPD reclassifies about 9 percent of crimes initially pegged as hate crimes, including real crimes that investigators determine do not meet the hate crime standard.

That said, in 2015the most recent year for which numbers are available from the FBI, which released them this Novemberhate crimes increased by nearly 7 percent overall, including 5,818 recorded incidents related to race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and sexual orientation.

Even those statistics are far from comprehensive. Levin points out that other national data aggregators come up with different numbers, and even the FBIs state totals can sometimes differ widely from the final numbers recorded by states themselves.

Among real cases, there are generally three categories of offenders as outlined by Hate Crime in the United States, a special report produced by the Center for Hate and Extremism at California State UniversitySan Bernardino, where Levin works (PDF). Thrill offenders are often teenagers, who commit hate crimes for excitement and social engagement as an activity among peers. Defensive or reactive offenders might be responding to a different race moving into their neighborhood or a political event. But so-called mission offenders, the smallest subgroup, are the most steeped in hatred and define themselves as warriors for their cause and are disproportionately responsible for hate homicides like Dylann Roofs massacre of black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina.

And even then, not all hate crimes are created equal. Advocacy groups are quick to note that while the rise in hate crimes is fueled by President-elect Trumps divisive rhetoric, that only tells a part of the story. While advocates feared that hate crimes against Latinos would go up in 2016, they remained largely flat on a national level. Instead, anti-Latino hate crimes increased in Los Angeles County, where Levin says such crimes are largely intra-racialmeaning they are most often carried out by and between people of color.

Thats not to say the galvanization of hate groups and the so-called alt-right has not had a significant effect. The CUSB researchers flagged what they called the Bush Effectand its corollary with Trump. When President George W. Bush made a speech against Islamophobia on Sept. 17, 2001days after the Sept. 11 attackshate crimes against Muslims dropped dramatically. Trump, on the other hand, used the San Bernardino attack to stoke Islamophobia, and such crimes increased thereafter.

We saw 15 anti-Muslim hate crimes [in the next five days], Levin said. And those crimes were more serious.

However, when a false report is filed and it receives widespread media attention, real victims of racially driven crimes are undermined. That leads to, among other things, fewer investigative resources deployed by law enforcement, a hesitancy by some news organizations to cover an alleged incident, and a growing cynicism among the broader public.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf Effect refers to individuals who fake crimes because they feel invisible, Bonnie Jacobson, a psychologist and director of the New York Institute for Psychological Change in New York City told Psychology Today. By playing the victim, the hoaxer seeks attention much like a person with Munchausen syndrome, who fakes an illness to get the attention of doctors or loved ones or someone who repeatedly pulls the alarm when there is no fire.

As in Aesops fable, there is the risk that villagers wont believe the shepherd, and when a real wolf does appear it will be written off as a false alarm. Now, as there is due cause for alarm, the question is: How many will hear and heed it?
It is a symbol of how broken the international response system is to genocide and mass atrocities that after nearly three years of fratricidal war, and more recently of flashing neon warnings by normally circumspect United Nations officials of impending genocide in South Sudan, that there is no legitimate diplomatic mechanism to address the demands of the various warring parties and their proxy militias in the worlds newest country. The peace agreement signed in 2015 appears dead in the water, and the peace process seems just as lifeless.

What is needed is something to dramatically shake up the deadly status quo and the inertia compelling the parties toward greater escalation. This requires a major new diplomatic initiative with some fresh faces at a very senior level to divert some of the energies now focused solely on war to instead focus on possible solutions through a negotiations process.

It is not unprecedented that combatants in a war do not want to meet or say they wont negotiate directly. For example, in the deadly war between Ethiopia and Eritrea between 1998 and 2000, the two parties never met face to face for two and a half years of World War I-style trench warfare. As part of the joint African and American negotiating team, my colleagues and I shuttled between the parties, conducted proximity talks, and put together an international coalition to press, push and cajole the parties into compromising until a peace deal was finally signed. The idea that the South Sudanese leadersPresident Salva Kiir and his former Vice President turned rebel leader Riek Macharmust meet face to face to achieve any progress is not accurate, and certainly wouldnt be sufficient.

To supplement the work of his current envoy and ambassador, President Obama should send a very senior high level representative straight from the White House to deploy to the region until the end of his administration, working right through the holidays, a time when some of the worst violence has occurred in prior years, perpetrated by opportunistic warmongers who know the world is distracted. Someone with bipartisan credibility would retain the possibility of staying on in the new administration and overcoming lame-duck perceptions by South Sudans leaders toward the existing diplomatic team. The presidential representative and the U.S. team could work closely with the existing if moribund African-led peace effort to create a new dynamic within that process. Effective diplomatic engagement could alter calculations and spur new diplomatic activity by regional states. Business as usual on the diplomatic front condemns South Sudan to almost certain escalation of the deadliest kind. The trajectory must be altered.

But why should leaders whose forces are burning villages, recruiting child soldiers, committing mass rape, and obstructing life-saving food aid be willing to make compromises at the negotiating table or alter their human rights practices? The only way to ensure their willingness to moderate positions and behavior is to alter their cost-benefit calculations so that war begins to become costlier to them personally than peace. That requires the United States and other interested international parties to create leverage to support that diplomacy.

We know what doesnt produce much leverage for political compromise: naming and shaming public statements, threats of consequences without action, UN Security Council resolutions that foreshadow possible future measures but dont impose them, and human rights missions disconnected to consequences for their findings. All these may be important for raising awareness and demonstrating culpability, but unless they are tied to serious actions, South Sudanese leaders largely discount them all as barking without biting.

Biting requires a hard-target search for real vulnerabilities or pressure points that actually could alter calculations and influence behavior. After a great deal of study by our financial forensic investigative initiative, The Sentry, the group I co-founded with George Clooney to dismantle the funding sources for violence in Africa, found that the most potent vulnerabilities result from illicit money flows and the proceeds of grand corruption that are laundered and stashed abroad by the kleptocrats and their networks who are destroying South Sudan.

The decision-makers in South Sudans war dont keep their money under their mattresses, but rather offshore and launder it in real estate, companies, and bank accounts. Because the U.S. dollar is the currency of choice for the corrupt dealings of South Sudans leaders and rebels, the U.S. government has jurisdiction, and if financial crimes are committed, the United States can act. The policy cocktail of choice when the United States gets serious about a foreign policy objectivefor example, whether countering terrorism, nuclear weapons, or organized crimeis the combination of anti-money laundering measures with highly targeted sanctions against networks, not just a few individuals. The result is not just freezing a few assets, but freezing targets out of the international financial system altogether.

South Sudan stands on the brink of the worlds most heinous human rights crime. If these policy tools are good enough for countering terrorism, why not for countering genocide?
In a stinging rebuke to Israel, the United States abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution that demands a halt to Israeli settlements, allowing the measure to pass despite vigorous bipartisan opposition at home.

In advance of the vote, Democratic and Republican lawmakers called on the Obama administration to block the resolution, saying it would harm peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine. The White House, meanwhile, contends that Israels settlements have imperiled the peace process, and that a two-state solution cannot exist while settlement activity increases.

Speaking immediately after the vote, Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., singled out Netanyahu and his allies for their continued support of settlements.

One cannot simultaneously champion expanding Israeli settlements and champion a viable two-state solution that would end the conflict, Power said. One has to make a choice between settlements and separation.

Of the 15 member states on the Security Council, 14 voted in favor of the measure. As one of the councils five permanent member states, the U.S. has veto power over any resolution. It decided instead to abstain, prompting rousing applause inside the chamber but vehement criticism from Capitol Hill and the incoming administration.

As drafted, the resolution condemns Israels settlements as a flagrant violation of international law and as having no legal validity. Israel has long maintained that its settlements, particularly those in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, are legitimate and legal.

President-elect Donald Trump had intervened in the process earlier in the week, speaking by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in an appeal to delay the vote that was originally scheduled for Thursday. Trump was successful, but the same resolution was put up for a vote on Friday by four separate nationsMalaysia, New Zealand, Venezuela and Senegal. After the vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked his ambassadors in New Zealand and Senegal to return to Israel.

Trump personally offered his support to Netanyahu, whose government vehemently opposed the resolution. The president-elect tweeted in response to the vote: As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20ththe day Trump officially takes office.

That sentiment was echoed by Israels ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, who said he has no doubt that the new U.S. administration will usher in a new era. In a separate statement, Netanyahu called the vote shameful and vowed to defy it, accusing the U.S. of sabotaging his government.

In advance of the vote, Rep. Adam Schiff and Sen. Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, were vocal in their opposition to the resolution, and urged the Obama administration to block it. After the vote, critics from both sides of the aisle piled on.

I am dismayed that the Administration departed from decades of U.S. policy by not vetoing the U.N. resolution regarding Israeli settlements. I continue to believe that a productive path toward peace requires direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, said Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia.

Added House Speaker Paul Ryan: This is absolutely shameful. Todays vote is a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel. Ryan pledged that the incoming Trump administration will work to rebuild our alliance with Israel.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said the U.N. as a whole is increasingly viewed as anti-Semitic and seems to have lost all sense of proportionality.

Amid the backlash, the White House held a last-minute call with reporters after the vote, during which senior White House officials said the settlements have only contributed to Israels isolation within the international community, making it harder to achieve a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

The continued pace of settlement activity, which has accelerated significantly in recent years  puts at risk the two-state solution, as does any continued incitement to violence said Ben Rhodes, a top national security aide to President Obama.

Rhodes added that the U.N. is a flawed venue through which to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because it has frequently been used to single out Israel. The U.S., Rhodes said, has therefore resisted efforts to hold negotiations on the issue through the international body.

The Obama administrations opposition to Israels settlements has been well-documented. Earlier this month, Secretary of State John Kerry said Israel was heading to a place of danger with its construction in disputed territory. The White House said Friday that opposition to Israeli settlements and incitements of violence and terrorism are consistent with longstanding bipartisan policy.

Breaking with her colleagues, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein praised the Obama administration, saying it acted to preserve the U.S.s support for a two-state solution. The ill will that results from these settlements is a significant roadblock to peace, and I again call on Israel to end their expansion so that a two-state solution remains a possibility, said Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Responding to the vote, GOP Sen. Tom Cotton, a foreign policy hawk, took a markedly different tone. He suggested that the U.S. should consider pulling out of the international body altogether.

Time for complete review of our U.N. policy, not just funding. Open question whether U.S. should remain member & allow U.N. to disgrace our soil, Cotton wrote on Twitter. White House officials characterized similar suggestions as an overreaction.

The incoming Trump administration has signaled its intention to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and critics posited that the Obama administrations decision to abstain from the U.N. vote was intended to throw Trump into a quagmire before he officially takes office. Rhodes shot down that suggestion.

It would be absurd to suggest that this action is in some way related at all to policy positions that the incoming administration has already said that they will pursue, Rhodes said, adding of the president-elects criticisms: Theres one president at a time.
The booziest book I read this past yearoutside of bartenders guides, of which we suddenly have a surfeitis also the bloodiest, the bleakest, and the most terrifying. On Jan. 4, 1917, Edward Campion Vaughan boarded a train in Londons Waterloo Station. He had just turned 19 and he was going to France.

1917 was not a good year to go to France, especially for a well-educated, genteel young man. Running from the English Channel to the Swiss border like a bleeding machete slash across the body of France was a double line of trenches, with the Germans on one side and the French and the British on the other and death on a scale the world had never seen before. England was using its genteel young men to lead small groups of other, less genteel young men forward into a pitiless, all-devouring hurricane of machine gun bullets and scything shell fragments in the hope that the survivors would be able to wrest a short stretch of the German trenches from their survivors and hold it against the inevitable counterattacks long enough to bind their wounds and do it again.

According to the poet and novelist Robert Graves, who was there, a subalterna junior officer, like Vaughancould count on a mere six weeks of trench service before being killed or wounded so badly he had to be evacuated. Gravess figure has been disputed. Vaughan, however, kept a diary of the eight months he spent in France, and if anything it proves Graves an optimist: At the diarys conclusion, after Vaughans company is destroyed in the battle of Passchendaelefought in a nightmarish mud swamp that inspired the Dead Marshes in The Lord of the Ringshe is the only surviving officer out of five. The battalion his company belonged to has only five out of 33 junior officers left.

Published in 1981 as Some Desperate Glory: the World War I Diary of a British Officer, Vaughans diary is a meticulous chronicle of one teenagers trip through hell. It also depicts its author doing something any of us would do to cope with the terror and the horror that suffused life in the trenches. Drinking.

A great many books have described life in the trenches. One aspect that is almost always touched on lightly is how much the young officers drank. The enlisted men received a daily rum ration when they were in combat. The officers, however, were on their own. Vaughans book is nearly unique in that it shows us exactly what that meant. It meant that, or so it seems from the diary, every time two or more officers got together, out came tumblers of whisky, a flask of brandy, shots of straight gin, bottles of warm Champagne, cheap wine, Belgian beer, rum punch made on a camp stove, and still more. They drank in trembling, shell-pounded dugouts, in shellholes, in trench corners, in cellars of tumbledown houses, anywhere and everywhere. At night, they sat round on [their] valises drinking whisky. But they didnt wait until the day was done to take a drink. As they knew all too well, for many, the day, and their lives, might end at any minute; better to take that drink now.

Some, of course, drank too much and too often. They were viewed more with pity than condemnation: as Vaughan writes about one such officer, this was an excellent fellow but always so tight that he could not be kept in the battalion.

It requires no imagination to understand why they drank. They drank, as Vaughan did after witnessing another unit pounded to bits by shellfire, to dispel the images. They drank to celebrate surviving another stint in the line and they drank to get through the next one. They drank on the job because they couldnt do the job unless they drank. Then they drank to forget the job they had just done. When Vaughan pulls his company out of the line after an attack, there are 15 men left of the original 90. So this was the end of D Company, he writes.

Feeling sick and lonely I returned to my tent to write out my casualty report; but instead I sat on the floor and drank whisky after whisky as I gazed into a black and empty future.

That was the last entry in his diary. Vaughan survived the war, only to die in a botched operation in 1931.

I read Some Desperate Glory early this year but Ive been thinking of it quite a bit since Nov. 8, and especially when ourgulp!president-elect does or says something disgusting, distressing, or disheartening. That happens a lot, and it gets me to contemplating day drinking; to thinking about what a nice tot of, say, Highland Park Ice 17-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch or Plantation Vintage 2001 Jamaican Rum would do for my spirits, right now. And, judging by what I hear from my friends, from acquaintances at holiday parties and on Twitter, and from random strangers standing in line with me at the Cozy Soup and Burger, Richards Shoe Repair, and a half-dozen other places over the last few weeks, Im not alone. Just have a drink and make the world go away.

But then I think about Vaughan. The time for day drinking is not now, when we can still do something to change our situation. The time for that is when you have no other option. Ill save the tots for when the whole Red Dawn scenario comes to pass; when civilization, or however much of it weve so far been able to create, is ripped apart; when Im out on the street, cold and exhausted and desperate but also determined not to give in. Then, drink em if you got em. Now, call your congressperson. Drink later.
The Syrian government is once again trying to manipulate the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) to fit its own narrative of the conflict within the country.

In comments that seem removed from the reality of the years-long war in the country, the government has requested the word conflict be removed from the document, and replaced with crisis. It has also requested the removal of the word besieged.

The U.N. itself reports that 974,080 people are besieged in 16 locations across Syria, with 4.5 million classed as hard-to-reach, a number that is considered low by other NGOs and advocacy organizations working in the country. With the evacuation of east Aleppo, that number will fall to around 700,000 in 15 areas. The majority are besieged by government forces and their allies.

The HRP plan is the overarching planning document that ties together the aid response across the country, including the billions of dollars per year in funding, including in areas outside the governments control.

Last year the U.N. faced extensive criticism for failing to adequately consult U.N. hubs and NGOs operating outside Damascus, and for allowing the government of Syria to edit the document before its release. In editing, it included comments similar to those of this yearremoving any mention of besieged areas and watering down references to violence against civilians. The U.N. allowed the changes.

Internal U.N. documents, viewed by The Daily Beast, suggest the U.N. is being less forgiving this year. OCHA did not agree to the requests to remove besieged and conflict, instead listing them as points requiring more discussion. The government of Syria took issue with references to de-mining work taking place in the country without its approval, and the idea that humanitarian workers bear responsibility for the affected populations in Syria, doubling down on its view that it is the role of the government to protect its people, a point that is undermined by the extent of government and allies attacks on civilians throughout the conflict.

As a result, the 2017 drafting process allowed for increased input from U.N. hubs outside Damascus, with the Turkish, Lebanese, and Jordanian hubs contributing information. The final say was once again offered to the Syrian government, which recently reviewed the document.

The humanitarian coordinator for Syria and his team are currently working to finalize the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Syria, which of course involves a considerable amount of discussion with the government, Russell Geekie, a spokesperson for OCHA in New York, told The Daily Beast. The HC for Syria and the HC for the region also engaged in consultations with the humanitarian partners, providing several opportunities for them to provide feedback. They are keeping the Whole of Syria Strategic Steering Group updated on the consultations.

The U.N. said in the internal emails that discussions were still ongoing with the government of Syria and that the issues would be escalated to OCHAs humanitarian coordinator, Stephen OBrien, if a compromise could not be reached at a regional level. It is premature to talk about any impasse. The discussions with government in Syria are very much ongoing, and we would not want to jeopardize the outcome, Geekie told The Daily Beast.

However, NGOs working in other areas of the country report feeling bullied into agreeing with the U.N.s planning and coordination process, after a new requirement was implemented in the Turkish U.N. hub stipulating that NGOs must sign up to the HRP and the Whole of Syria (WoS) information sharing mechanism or risk losing their funding.

Seventy-three Syrian NGOs pulled out of the WoS information-sharing scheme over the summer, concerned about the degree of control the Syrian government exerts over the humanitarian aid response in the county.

An internal U.N. review of WoS began in July, but Syrian NGOs said their views were not reflected. Dozens of NGOs also raised concerns, which were deflected to a late November meeting, during which they were not addressed either. A staff member of a Syrian NGO who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Daily Beast: Every time we raised issues with the U.N., we were deflected We havent achieved what we wanted. We have no faith.

Despite this, the NGOs have had little choice but to discuss agreeing to cooperate with the U.N.s WoS approach, and the HRP, fearing the impact a cut in funding would have on those most in need within Syria. We are accused of putting sticks in the wheels. We are to be blamed for duplication, not the regime, said an NGO member working in Syria from Turkey.

The Syrian government does not recognize the WoS and the NGOs operating cross border from Turkey and Jordan, according to the governments comments on the HRP. Despite a U.N. Security Council resolution allowing humanitarian aid access from Turkey and Jordan without the governments permission, its position remains that only those operating with its consent are legitimate actors.

The governments other comments included a desire to remove a reference to Do No Harm, a widely recognized humanitarian principle based on medical ethics. Instead the revised text, a compromise with the U.N., will state: Minimize any negative effects of humanitarian action on the affected population or on the environment. This is one of the definitions of Do No Harm.

Not reflected in the compromise is another meaning of the Do No Harm principle: the consideration to which a humanitarian response is being used as an instrument of war or if aid is an indirect part of the dynamics of the conflict. Within the context of the Syrian conflict, aid has been routinely weaponized, with the government controlling access to assistance and forcing the U.N.s Damascus operation to comply.

The U.N. sparked further outrage this week, when the World Health Organizations Elizabeth Hoff visited Russian-run field hospitals in Aleppo and praised the work of the Russian government in providing medical assistance. Many of those receiving treatment had fled bombing and a military campaign dominated by the Russian military.

When we saw that picture of Elizabeth Hoff yesterday, well sighed a member of a Syrian NGO. We believe the government is taking full control. They have the backup of the UNGA and the UNSC because of the veto [of Russia and China]. They have the upper hand nowadays. They can do it. Whatever the government wants to do, [the U.N. is] going to pass it.
Saturday

Faith United Church, 2901 Austins Colony Parkway in Bryan, will hold a Christmas Eve Fellowship at 6:30 p.m. There will be a Service of Carols, Candles and Communion at 7 p.m. All are welcome. Faithuccbryan.org.

Covenant Presbyterian Church, 220 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, will hold a Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service at 5 p.m. Children will be able to choose a costume and participate in a telling of the Christmas Story. 694-7700 or covenantpresbyterian.org.

St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 217 W. 26th St. in Downtown Bryan, will hold Christmas Eve services at 3, 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. All are welcome. Standrewsbcs.org. 822-5176

Hillcrest Baptist Church, 4220 Boonville Road in Bryan, will hold a Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m., with the observance of Communion. 776-5731.

St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1101 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, will celebrate Holy Communion at 4 p.m. (Rite 2) with guitar-led Christmas Carols at 9 p.m. (Rite 2) with the choir. 696-1491 or stfrancisbcs.org.

First Christian Church, 900 S. Ennis St. in Bryan, will hold a Christmas Eve communion service of carols and scriptures at 7 p.m. 823-5451 or firstchristianbcs.org.

Sunday

Unity Spiritual Center of the Brazos Valley, 4016 Stillmeadow Drive, Bryan, will have services at 10:30 a.m. Call 324-9857 or unityspiritualcenterbv.org.

Spirit of Faith Church, 900 E. 29th St. in Bryan, will hold Sunday School classes for all ages at 10 a.m., followed by morning worship at 11 a.m. All are welcome. 436-6910.

Covenant Presbyterian Church, 220 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, will meet for an informal Christmas Day worship service at 10:30 a.m. 694-7700 or covenantpresbyterian.org.

Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, 217 W. 26th St. in Downtown Bryan, will hold Christmas Day Service at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome. Standrewsbcs.org. 822-5176.

Hillcrest Baptist Church, 4220 Boonville Road in Bryan, will hold a Christmas service at 10:30 a.m. 776-5731.

Faith United Church (UCC), 2901 Austins Colony Parkway in Bryan, welcomes you this Christmas Sunday with 10 a.m. fellowship and 10:30 a.m. worship. Dress is casual (jammies are appropriate) and we are happy to bless special toys or gifts that children will receive. All are welcome. Faithuccbryan.org.

St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1101 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, will celebrate Holy Communion at 10:30 a.m. with guitar-led Christmas carols. Childrens Church will resume January 8. 696-1491 or stfrancisbcs.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of the Brazos Valley, 305 Wellborn Road, will meet at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Aaron Stockwell will preach on Christmas Past. 696-5285.

First Christian Church, 900 S. Ennis St. in Bryan, will celebrate Christmas Day with a worship service in the Gathering Space at 10 a.m. It will include scriptures, carols, communion and a brief meditation. All are invited. 823-5451 or firstchristianbcs.org.

Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, 3610 Plainsman Lane in Bryan, will have Sunday school classes for all ages at 9:15 a.m. and Morning Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. 846-4753.

Tuesday

Eagles Nest Praise and Worship Ministries will be opening a free prayer line from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The prayer line number is 775-1513, and calls will be answered by a trained prayer ministry associate. The prayer line is coordinated by pastors Gary and Sheila Jones.

Wednesday

Faith United Church, 2901 Austins Colony Parkway in Bryan, invites men of all ages to Wednesday morning coffee and guy talk at 10 a.m. All are welcome. Faithuccbryan.org.

Thursday

Parkway Baptist Church, 1501 Southwest Parkway in College Station, will host a mens Bible Study on the Gospel of John at 6:55 p.m.

Upcoming

St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 217 W. 26th St. in Downtown Bryan, invites the community to a 12th Night Service at 6:30 p.m. on January 5, featuring Christmas carols and music by the Saint Andrews Bell Choir. All are welcome. Standrewsbcs.org. 822-5176.
The Texas A&M University community took the top spot on the Anti-Defamation Leagues 2016 list of Top 10 Most Inspirational Moments for its response in standing against a white nationalist speaker on its campus earlier this month.

Described by the organization as a Texas campus drowning out the hateful views of an unwanted visiting white supremacist, the Dec. 6 evening featured Richard Spencer, a leader in alt-right movement  an offshoot of conservatism mixing racism, white nationalism and populism.

The non-university sponsored event, which received national coverage, saw protesters as well as Texas A&M officials make their stances clear regarding Spencers views.

As counter-programming to the tense, nearly two-hour speech  which featured harsh language and demeaning comments by Spencer  Texas A&M organized a rally called Aggies United, which brought together university officials, students and celebrity supporters.

Other events which made the list include the community response to the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, the team of international refugees who participated in the Brazil Olympic Games and the governor of Georgia vetoing a religious exemption bill on the grounds that it was discriminatory.

For the full list, visit adl.org.
The Old Chapel Church near Penhook was built in 1769. Added to the Virginia Landmarks Register, it will now be nominated for the National Register of Historic Places.

An old church building near Penhook restored last year through the efforts of a retired Franklin County physician and other volunteers was added last week to the Virginia Landmarks Register.

The Snow Creek Anglican Church, also known as Old Chapel Church, now will be nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Dating to 1769, it is the oldest documented frame structure in Southwest Virginia.

Dr. Francis Amos, a retired physician and history buff, bought the structure in 2011 after a Primitive Baptist congregation that had long used the church building died out and it went on the market.

I want to see history preserved, Amos said just before the church was rededicated in September 2015.
Conservation board tables property lease program, examines deficit

The Des Moines County Conservation Board on Wednesday tabled a proposed program that would have generated revenue for the conservation department.
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.
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If it isn't aliens, it should be: Astronomers have discovered pulses of light coming at consistent time intervals from 234 out of 2.5 million stars scanned by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

Great. We're ready, man. We've talked it over as a species, sent probs and photoed and scanned and probed the skies because we'd love to finally KNOW that Earth isn't the only planet with life. If it is extraterrestrial intelligent life, even better. We're also sending out as much noise as we can to attract the attention of our fellow ETIs ... even if it means they'll come here and kill us all.

Anyway, evolution is an natural algorithm running here on Earth, and it's pretty clear that if life gets started anywhere, it'll end up running that biological program "survival of the fittest." Problem is ... we just haven't found any kind of life form off this world.

So, back to the desire for these pulses to be signals from aliens, either directed at us or at each other and we just got a glimpse of that conversation.

Astronomers Ermanno Borra and E. Trottier from the Laval University in Canada suggest the number of stars, their location and the particularities of the signal pretty much rule out data corruption from some general background noise or some more general oddity among stars across the sky.

The two alien hunters also say they predicted this kind of light pulses that could be generated as laser signals from ETIs.

"... we consider the possibility, predicted in a previous published paper, that the signals are caused by light pulses generated by Extraterrestrial Intelligence to makes us aware of their existence. We find that the detected signals have exactly the shape of an ETI signal predicted in the previous publication and are therefore in agreement with this hypothesis," they stated in the abstract of their study that has been published on an open-source, non-peer-reviewed science website. The research has been accepted for publication in the journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Now, this is not proof of anything. Yet, a theory that predicted and makes sense of strange data is a theory heading toward significance.

"The fact that they are only found in a very small fraction of stars within a narrow spectral range centered near the spectral type of the sun is also in agreement with the ETI hypothesis," they wrote.

Everyone is supposed to hold their horses for more data and other researchers to check out the findings.

"... at this stage, this hypothesis needs to be confirmed with further work. Although unlikely, there is also a possibility that the signals are due to highly peculiar chemical compositions in a small fraction of galactic halo stars."

Consequently, we humans are still waiting for conclusive evidence that we are not alone. And, boy, do we hate waiting ... judging by the popularity and scope of science fiction books, movies and games.

Jake Ellison can be reached at 206-448-8334 or jakeellison@seattlepi.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/Jake_News. Also, swing by and *LIKE* his page on Facebook. If Google Plus is your thing, check out our science coverage here.
NORWALK  An $80,000 grant awarded to Fairfield Universitys Reading and Language Development program and Norwalk Public Schools will fund a regional Dyslexia Intervention Clinic this summer.

While all specifics of the clinic hadnt yet been nailed down, the Reading and Language Development programs director Jule McCombes-Tolis said that 20 regional urban educators  with at least 10 coming from Norwalk  will be trained during the summer and each begin working with a child that they would continue to have access to during the school year.

The clinic will train the educators to meet the early intervention and remedial reading and writing needs of first through third grade students who are at-risk for or have been identified with dyslexia.

Then, the educators will provide roughly 60 children with 90 minutes of daily small group research-based multisensory, diagnostic-prescriptive remedial reading and writing instruction.

It will also provide 90 minutes of writing workshop instruction three times per week.

A childrens book author is also expected to join the workshops for three sessions in order to help students write their own stories.

District officials are expected to select the student participants in January based on existing reading data.

McCombes-Tolis said the program is collaborating with Norwalk Public Schools to determine where the training and clinic will be held this summer, with consideration made for parent need.

Educators, McCombes-Tolis said, would continue to work with their assigned child over the course of the academic year on site or at the child's home school.

They are also expected to continue their training over the course of the school year to meet the requirements for certification by the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators.

That will allow an estimated additional 120 children to be served in 2017-18, program officials said.

The official name of the clinic will be the Noble Trust Teachers, Readers and Writers Summer Dyslexia Intervention Clinic.

Fairfield University will also partner with Eagle Hill Southport School, Literacy How and the Connecticut Writing Project.

The grant was awarded by the Noble Charitable Trust.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz
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NORWALK  State Reps. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, and Fred Wilms, R-Norwalk, participated in the Salvation Armys annual Red Kettle Campaign by ringing bells last week to collect donations from shoppers at Stop and Shop on Main Avenue.

Money raised during the event, along with all donations collected during the Red Kettle Campaign, will go to local Salvation Army centers and help provide holiday dinners, clothing and toys for families in need. Funding sometimes stretches beyond the holiday season and donations can provide aid for families, seniors and the homeless throughout the year.
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While scientists are working hard to reach Mars, others are trying to discover whether something beat us there already.

Researchers have long known that Mars is barren and uninhabited, but the question as to whether life ever exited in the planet's past is still up for debate.

This is why "jackpot" was the word scientists used when they discovered the first traces of boron on Mars, an element which could be evidence for habitable groundwater.

RED PLANET ART: What architects think NASA's Mars settlements will look like

"No prior mission to Mars has found boron," said Patrick Gasda, a postdoctoral researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory, in a prepared statement. "If the boron that we found in calcium sulfate mineral veins on Mars is similar to what we see on Earth, it would indicate that the groundwater of ancient Mars that formed these veins would have been 0-60 degrees Celsius [32-140 degrees Fahrenheit] and neutral-to-alkaline pH."

In other words, the presence of Boron might indicate the perfect cocktail of ingredients for groundwater that is able to support life.

Scientists haven't actually found a lukewarm pool of Mars water, but in a sense, they believe they've found its foot print.

TRUMP SPACE GOALS: Trump could replace Obama's asteroid catcher with a SpaceX-backed mission to Mars

"Variations in these minerals and elements indicate a dynamic system," said John Grotzinger, of Caltech in Pasadena, Calif. "They interact with groundwater as well as surface water. The water influences the chemistry of the clays, but the composition of the water also changes. We are seeing chemical complexity indicating a long, interactive history with the water. The more complicated the chemistry is, the better it is for habitability. The boron and clay underline the mobility of elements and electrons, and that is good for life."

Click through above to see where Hollywood films its Mars movies.
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NEWTOWN  Back in the 1700s, most of the area that is now Poverty Hollow Road belonged to the Platts, potato farmers who lived in town for more than a century.

In 1760, the family built a home on the estate named Atlasta Farm, which became the site of one of the Platts research into how to better grow and develop the potato plant about a century later.

While the estate, at 93 Poverty Hollow Road, has undergone changes since then, the homes historic charm is still apparent.

It has all of the modern conveniences and amenities but still kept the flavor of the home, said Liz Newnham, listing agent for the home.

The white Colonial has been updated and added to over the years, offering three floors and nearly 6,000 square feet of living space, including a finished attic.

It is listed at $796,500.

Historic details are visible throughout the house, from an antique knocker to the original floors. The basement still has the old steam boilers, which are no longer used but provide a glimpse into the houses past.

Pieces of the original chestnut were remade into custom vanities for the master bathroom, which has a claw-foot bathtub. Some of the wooden beams are also exposed and incorporated into the design.

She said the owners have researched the homes history and tried to preserve the vintage aspects.

The furnishings work very well with the age of the house, Newnham said. They took the time to find antique items and light fixtures to maintain the integrity of the house.

Newnham encountered the farm in the 1990s while working at a nearby horse farm.

The barn on the property is exactly how I remember it, she said.

The white barn still has five stalls, but is now used as a studio and garage. The owners installed a 240-volt electric vehicle charging station inside and the barn has working water and electricity.

Its just one of the modifications the owners made to the home as they updated it with modern amenities.

They installed a two-sided fireplace between the kitchen and family room.

They have put their heart into the house and really made it a terrific home, Newnham said of the restoration work.

The owners werent the first to modify the home. The house has had a series of additions during its 250-year history.

The original structure included what is now the dining room, pantry and part of the living room. What is now the rest of the living room, the office, the downstairs bathroom, mudroom and the second floor above these rooms was added in 1800. The kitchen and family room were added later and the final addition  an attached apartment  was built about 70 years ago, according to a document on the history of the house.

Newnham said the houses history really sets it apart.

It is known as the Bickford House now because it was sold to the head of the Bickford Restaurant chain in New York City.

The house was then sold to a state judge in the 1930s before a Newtown doctor purchased it, according to a document on the houses past.

Newnham said its rare to see homes this old.

There arent so many of these homes anymore, she said.

Natural light fills the house and a seated window in the living room overlooks the pond across the street, which is deeded with the home .

Newnham said the grounds are also a great feature and great for hosting. The pergola was once the horse-showing stand when the property was used for horse shows.

Its incredibly charming, she said.

kkoerting@newstimes.com
The Lessons of Americas Election



STANFORD  Donald Trumps surprise election as the 45th president of the United States has spawned a cottage industry of election post-mortems and predictions, in America and abroad.



Some correlate Trumps victory with a broader trend toward populism in the West, and, in particular, in Europe, exemplified in the United Kingdoms vote in June to leave the European Union. Others focus on Trumps appeal as an outsider, capable of disrupting the political system in a way that his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  a consummate insider  never could. There may be something to these explanations, particularly the latter.

But there is more to the story.

In the months preceding the election, the mainstream media, pundits, and pollsters kept repeating that Trump had an extremely narrow path to victory. What they failed to recognize was the extent of economic anxiety felt by working-class families in key states, owing to the dislocations caused by technology and globalization.

But, as I highlighted two months before the election, those frustrations were far-reaching, as was the sense of being ignored and left behind  and it was Trump who finally made that group feel seen.

That is why I recognized the possibility of a Trump upset, despite Clintons significant lead in the polls (five points, just before the election).

And an upset is what happened. Trump narrowly won states that Republicans had not won in decades (Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania), and won big in usually closely contested Ohio.

In fact, Republicans secured a broad victory. The party retained control of the Senate, even though more than twice as many Republican seats were up for reelection than Democratic seats, and it lost just a handful of House seats, far fewer than the 20 predicted. Moreover, the Republicans now control 33 governorships, compared to 16 for the Democrats, and have expanded their already-large majorities in state legislatures. Now, talk has turned from the impending implosion of the Republican Party to the repudiation, disarray, and bleak future prospects of the Democrats.

Since the election, Trump has moved quickly to assert himself. Republicans, even those who opposed Trump during the campaign, have coalesced behind him. Meanwhile, the Democrats in government  most notably President Barack Obama  have largely echoed Clintons gracious concession-speech injunction that Trump should be given an opportunity to lead.

The US elections unexpected outcome holds four key lessons, applicable to all advanced democracies.

First, growth beats redistribution. Clintons barely discussed economic plan was to expand Obamas left-leaning agenda, so that it looked more like the socialism of her opponent in the Democratic primary, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Higher taxes for the wealthy, together with more free (taxpayer-paid) services, was, she argued, the best route to combating inequality.

Trump, by contrast, hammered home messages about jobs and incomes. Though the media almost exclusively covered his most hyperbolic and controversial statements, it was largely his economic message that won him support. People want hope for a better future  and that comes from rising incomes, not from an extra government-issued slice of the pie.

The second lesson concerns the risk of dismissing, let alone condescending to, voters. From the start, Clinton was not broadly liked. Revelations during the campaign  for example, that, in a 2015 speech, she had said that deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs, and structural biases have to be changed to secure womens reproductive and other rights  reinforced fears that she would push too progressive a social agenda.

Recognizing these shortcomings, Clinton tried to win the election by making Trump unacceptable. But her remarks that half of Trumps supporters belonged to a basket of deplorables  that they were racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic  reinforced the impression that she and her party looked down on Trump voters as morally contemptible and even stupid. Such statements could well have pushed some undecided voters to decide against Clinton.

The third lesson is that a societys capacity to absorb rapid change is limited. When technological progress and globalization, not to mention social and cultural change, outpace peoples ability to adapt, they become too jarring, disruptive, and overwhelming. Many voters  not just in America  also fret over terrorism and immigration, especially in combination with these rapid changes.

Add to that concerns about Americas growing opioid epidemic and a tedious and intolerant form of political correctness, and, for many, change did not look like progress. If democratic political systems do not find ways to ease transitions, provide shock absorbers, and accept heterodox attitudes and values without condemnation, voters will push back.

The final lesson relates to the danger of the ideological echo chamber. The repeated claim by shocked Clinton voters that no one they knew voted for Trump reveals the extent to which too many people  Republicans as well as Democrats  live in social, economic, informational, cultural, and communication bubbles.

Declining trust in national media, combined with a proliferation of Internet communication, has created a world where the news people read is often created with the goal of going viral, not informing the public; the result can barely be called news at all. Moreover, the information people see is often filtered, so that they are exposed only to ideas that reflect or reinforce their own. (The corollary with this online world is that, as Trump and Clinton discovered, we are all just one hack away from YouTube or WikiLeaks, cable news or talk radio, fame or infamy.)

These developments undermine peoples capacity to engage in informed, rational discussions, let alone debates, with those who have different perspectives, values, or economic interests.

Even universities, which are supposed to foster knowledge-sharing and spirited debate, are now suppressing it, for example by spinelessly rescinding speaking invitations to almost anyone that some group or another considers objectionable. When we fail to engage in such debates  when people choose safe spaces over tough discussions  we lose our best chance of building consensus on how to solve at least some of our societies pressing problems.
At least ten children on the city's radar died in the three months leading up to the beating death of 6-year-old Zymere Perkins, according to the preliminary findings of a forthcoming report from Comptroller Scott Stringer. A vocal critic of Mayor de Blasio, Stringer publicized his initial findings on the heels of city and state reports on Zymere's case, which revealed lax oversight and poor communication at each level of command within the Administration for Children's Services.

These ten cases were among 38 child deaths reported to the ACS for investigation between July 1st and September 25th of this year, according to Stringer's office. The comptroller requested this ACS data as part of a follow-up to a July audit which found ACS to be performing lax investigations. Ten cases jumped out because Stringer found that the city had fielded at least four maltreatment or abuse complaints for each of them.

"The data... starkly illustrates ACS's persistent lack of progress in meeting its own targets for how these investigations are conducted, supervised, and managed," Stringer wrote in a December 21st letter to the agency.

Testifying before the City Council last week, Deputy Mayor Herminia Palacio described Zymere's case as anomalous. "This represented an unusual perfect storm of human errors," she said.

But Stringer said troubling patterns emerged from the 3,692 high-priority ACS cases opened between July and September. In 68 percent of them, Stringer found, ACS didn't write up a risk-assessment profile for the child within the required 40 days. In about a quarter of the cases, ACS didn't make "face-to-face" contact with the child within one day of a case being opened. And about 72 percent of cases were closed without the required number of sign-offs from a case manager.

In the hours since Stringer's latest findings went public, ACS and City Hall have come down strongly against them, particularly the death statistics. "It's no surprise that ACS data was cherry-picked to support a simplified and largely inaccurate conclusion," said Mayoral Spokeswoman Aja Worthy-Davis. "This report contains many inaccuracies such as a base misunderstanding of child protective review protocols and legal rules regarding risk-assessment."

According to ACS, the data supplied to the Comptroller indicated 33 deaths, not 38. Within that total, the city said, four of the deaths occurred prior to 2014. Out of the remaining 29, 15 were children who had no prior case history with ACS when their deaths were reported. The city said that the majority of the 14 children who died while on ACS radar did not die of abuse or neglect: six allegedly died because of unsafe sleeping conditions, three due to illness, one in a fire, one "accidental." Three of the causes are as yet unknown.

In a statement this afternoon, Stringer spokesman Tyrone Stevens noted that ACS's criticisms of the report did not extend to the allegations of slow case assessment and lax communication between case workers and their superiors.

"The response from City Hall is disappointingespecially since this is ACS's own data provided by the agency to our office," Stevens said. "Their focus should be on embracing these preliminary findings and coming up with a management plan to tackle these critical issues."

A report released by the Department of Investigation in May alleged that ACS had consistently failed to investigate and report child abuse and maintain accurate records. The report also found that ACS often took more than a month to investigate child abuse allegations.

ACS Commissioner Gladys Carrion resigned this month, after three years in the post. In addition to Zymere's case, her administration also recently came under fire following the beating death of 3-year-old Jaden Jordan.

Mayor de Blasio announced the firing of three employees directly involved in Zymere's case last week, and the suspension and demotion of six others. ACS will also hire an independent monitor to be instated in January who will issue monthly reports on ACS procedurea direct order from the state Office of Children and Family Services.

"The recent Comptroller's report misconstrues the significant strides we are making toward strengthening all processes for keeping children safe," an ACS spokesperson said.

[Update 5:50 p.m.]: Mayoral spokesman Eric Phillips responded to the latest ACS comments, calling the report "completely bogus."

"The report does more to intentionally mislead the public than it does to help protect children," he said.
This is one of those rare moments when it is imperative that President-elect Donald Trump not wait until inauguration day but act now to potentially save lives in Syria, Ukraine and maybe elsewhere.

Because, especially in Syrias Aleppo, civilians who this very minute are struggling to survive really cant wait until an inaugural calendar half a world away reaches Jan. 20, 2017. Whether they live or die may depend upon whether Russias Vladimir Putin can be convinced to act with urgency  right now!  to make sure no more innocents are slaughtered in Syria.

And that can happen only if Trump acts with a skill he has not yet demonstrated. Trump may be uniquely able to use his unprecedented blooming bromance with Putin to assure that the lives of Syrian innocents will be saved, not snuffed. But the dicey part is that Trump must also convince Russias proud president that, while their new relationship of co-equals can happen soon, Americas new president will never be able to exchange handshakes and hugs with a Russian leader whose hands are still dripping blood.

Importantly, this pre-inaugural moment may be the perfect time for The Donald to convince his new best bud, Vladimir, that this can be their new best moment. This month, we just celebrated the 25th anniversary of the greatest United-States-Russian life-saving partnership since the end of World War II. Namely: the enactment of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Act, which may well have prevented our planet from suffering a nuclear catastrophe.

This may be the best moment to rekindle that new partnership spirit that recently existed between the two former Cold War adversaries. And Trump may be the one person who can convince Putin that they can launch a new partnership that can last. But they ought to begin their drive for a visionary future by first glancing in their rear view mirrors and recognizing the spirit that enabled the former Cold War adversaries to forge a joint effort to safeguard their people and the world.

Rewind and recall: It was 1991 B.P. (before Putin). The Soviet Union suddenly collapsed, and Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn and Republican Sen. Richard Lugar realized the Soviets huge nuclear arsenal was virtually unsecured and vulnerable to being seized by terrorists or rogue regimes that wanted them for just one reason  to use them. Nunn and Lugar conceived this urgent program that secured the vulnerable weapons and deactivated 7,600 of them.

But the proud Putin always hated one thing about the Nunn-Lugar plan: By necessity it was a partnership of un-equals  America paying for securing Russias nukes and more. But tomorrows partnership can be a deal among co-equals that benefits both economies.

Thats the heart of the Art of the Diplomatic Deal Trump and Putin must forge.

To keep Syrians safe and alive, Trump must begin dealing today (after first consulting with President Barack Obama, of course). Then Trump can begin convincing Putin that if he agrees to save lives today, their partnership can happen tomorrow.

But first, Trump must face, at least in his own bathroom mirror, two realities hes pretended not to see:

n Trumps new best bud has long had bloody hands. In Ukraine and Syria, Putins military enabled the slaughter of uncivil wars. In Ukraine, Putin militarily invaded and seized Crimea. Also a Russian missile downed a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members. In Syria, Putins troops enabled and joined President Bashar Assads slaughter of civilians, even bombing Aleppos hospitals so civilians couldnt get life-saving care.

n Putins hacking in America of Democratic political emails was an unacceptable crime that can never be repeated  akin to the Watergate break-in crimes of Richard Nixons henchmen.

Trumps designees for national security advisor, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, and secretary of state, Exxons multibillionaire CEO Rex Tillerson, were stroked and enriched by Putin. Like Trump, they barely concede Putins bad stuff. Thats downright cynical and shameful, in one sense. But it might help Trump convince Putin he can only get the deal he wants if he ends his bad-stuff ways.

Heres where Trump may need artistic help. Because Trump needs to draw his own artful red line. From inside the Kremlin, Trumps red line must look as bright and bold as Red Square itself.

Then Trump must convince his new best friend that hes a president whos not just willing to draw a red line, but a chief executive who will damn well make it stick.

Martin Schram, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, is a veteran Washington journalist, author and TV documentary executive. Readers may send him email at martin.schram@gmail.com.
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Unemployment insurance benefits for laid-off workers from the Granite City Steel Mill will be extended for an additional 26 weeks.

Approximately 2,000 steel workers will receive the additional benefits after Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 1941.

Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, and Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton, sponsored the bill.

The measure is effective immediately. Benefits will be paid out from the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which is a special fund derived from a state unemployment tax paid by Illinois employers, not the states general revenue fund.

Illinois law provides unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks during a one-year period. The legislation that was signed into law extends the benefits for steelworkers who were laid off between April 1, 2015, and the effective date of the bill.

In a press release, Rauner said the legislation will help the hard working families of the Metro East.

While we are encouraged by the recent news that more than 200 jobs will return to the Granite City facility, we hope that by extending unemployment benefits we are able to help the other laid-off workers bridge the gap until they are gainfully employed again, Rauner said.

Since April 2015, the Granite City Steel Mill has faced a temporary closure leading to the layoffs.

While the politicians say the extended benefits are important to the community, they realize the entire U.S. steel industry needs to get back on track.

We need to get to the root of this issue and stop the flooding of cheap, low-grade Asian steel into the market, said Haine. The steel industry was once a thriving industry in our area. We need to bring it back.

Hoffman said the laid off workers have been forced to make tremendous sacrifices.

Through no fault of their own, the employees and families of the U.S. Steel plant in Granite City have suffered greatly over the past year due to the illegal dumping of foreign steel into U.S. markets, he said. We are happy that 200 people will go back to work in the hot strip mill. Additionally, I want to thank the governor for helping to provide relief to the families by approving the extended benefits. His actions will certainly help these families during a very difficult time.

Steelworkers Union representatives said the legislation will help.

Local 1899 President Dan Simmons said the additional assistance will help make the holidays brighter for steelworkers and their families.

We are encouraged by the recent actions taken by U.S. Steel at our facility and are hopeful of a resumption of full operations in 2017, he said.

Dumping is a kind of predatory pricing practice that occurs when manufacturers export a product to another county at a price either below the price charged in its home market or below its cost of production. The purpose of the act is to increase market share in a foreign market or to drive out competition.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics annual average employment in the steel-manufacturing industry has dropped from 500,000 employees in 1980 to roughly 150,000 in 2015, while annual average wages for the steel-manufacturing industry have increased from approximately $23,000 in 1980 to $71,000 in 2015.
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Linkedin Al Khanif (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

In the past few months, Indonesia, particularly Jakarta, has been on high alert for massive protests to persecute a person accused of blaspheming a religion. The reactions of people and organizations supporting the protests demonstrate their choice of protecting religion over respecting humanity.

This means that Islam is perceived by many Muslims as an expression of Gods will and hence protesters believe God is intervening in the action.

The protests also show that there is a conflict between competing visions of religious morality and ethics and social realities because they do not protest against immoral and irreligious actions that in some way cause problems for humanity. This argument implies that many Muslims still believe that substantive justice and morality in Islam remain ineluctable prisms through which Muslims can evaluate particular human rights.

If blasphemy is defined as the insulting of sacred religious symbols, blaspheming against humanity may be defined as demanding rights without fulfilling the duty to respect the fundamental rights of others.

This means that blaspheming against humanity includes false respect for human rights, especially the basic rights of vulnerable people. For example, they do not acknowledge that vulnerable people have rights related to their survival and existence, not just to establish communities but also to perform their basic rights.

The term blasphemy basically emanates from Abrahamic religions, especially Islam and Christianity. Yet, recent developments show that this term is mostly applied in the Muslim world.

In principle, neither the Quran nor the Prophet clearly regulated the existence of an offense of blasphemy or heresy, or a specific punishment for this. Blasphemy and heresy probably started to be regulated in post-prophetic Islamic jurisprudence to restrain and persecute freedom of expression, as well as to marginalize dissenting opinions within Islam.

Historically, a blasphemy law in Islam occurred as a consequence of jurisprudential differences, which then deeply influenced the broad practices of blasphemy laws in the Muslim world. Many well-known and highly respected Islamic scholars were accused of apostasy, unbelief or heresy because of the school they belonged to or because of their intellectual orientation, as well as their political affiliation. This means that a number of political leaders and Islamic majority groups interpreted the Quran and the Sunnah to silence dissenting voices among Muslims.

Yet, Islamic jurisprudence actually long ago endorsed egalitarian principles proposed, for example, by Imam Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi School of Islamic law. Abu Hanifa and his followers advanced the cause of universal human rights by unconditionally granting equal dignity to all by birth, on a permanent and equal basis, by virtue of being a human  which cannot be taken away by any authority. He established the concept of adamiyyah (personhood or humanity) and the concept of ismah (inviolability), which means that every human being, whether Muslim or not, has the legal right to basic rights (al-ismah bi al-adamiyyah).

Islam, like many other religions, views every human being as a perfect creation of God, His representative on the earth, superior to creation as a whole, including angels, and blessed with intellect and free will to be tried by the Creator. From this perspective, a truly universalistic position on human rights in Islam is characterized by three features: accepting the inviolability of all human beings; doing so by virtue of their humanity; acknowledging that other universal cultures also respect the inviolability of all humanity.

The concept of al-ismah bi al-adamiyyah should apply to all nonMuslims and religious minorities that are numerically inferior and live among a Muslim ruling majority. This means that Muslims must stand even for the human rights of non-Muslims. Each individual, community and state is responsible for the entirety of humanity.

Muslims, especially those who belong to a majority, must know that demanding rights without fulfilling their duty to not impede others rights is disproportionate. When they are exercising their disproportionate position, they are also blaspheming against humanity. All human beings should be treated equally because they possess a dignified character of humanity, irrespective of social status, religion, treaty, or any other kind of agreement with Muslims.

This idealistic condition can be achieved better when the majority and minority share an egalitarian concept of human rights in the public sphere as a fair contestation arena to build universal humanity. If these concepts are widely accepted by a population, basically determined by the majority, then the norms easily become legitimate.

In the Indonesian context, the blasphemy law is often misused by the majority to persecute dissident religious groups because the law provides and uses a definition favored by one version of religious belief backed by the state. Additionally, the law is also applied to criminalize any actions seen as threatening religious harmony and social stability.

This means that the term rights and duties in Indonesia is often monopolized by the majority, so this interpretation has peculiar status in Indonesia because it is often placed as a sacred canopy to control the implementation of statutes and strains the application of human rights in the country.

If we understand the first principle of Pancasila, belief in One Supreme God, there should be no priority in religion because the state equally recognizes all religions and there should be no religious labeling, such as mainstream religion, heretic or blasphemer, even though heterodoxy is a common feature of religion.

---------------

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 Colleen Barry (Associated Press) Milan, Italy  Fri, December 23, 2016

Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani, who championed Italian fashion in the magazine she ran for 28 years, has died at the age of 66.

Conde Naste International chairman Jonathan Newhouse said she died Thursday after a yearlong illness with her son Francesco by her side. The online version of Vogue Italia remembered Sozzani with a simple red heart next to her name.

"Franca was one of the greatest editors who ever made a magazine," Newhouse said in a note to the Conde Naste team. "She made Italian Vogue a powerful and influential voice in the worlds of fashion and photography by publishing groundbreaking photography and journalism."

After turns at Vogue Bambini, the Italian version of Glamour and a corresponding men's magazine, Sozzani became editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia in 1988. She also was active in humanitarian causes, and in recent years served as the ambassador to fashion for the United Nations, traveling to support people working in the fashion world in Africa and Asia while helping to raise money and awareness to fight hunger.

(Read also: John Glenn, the 1st American to orbit Earth, has died at 95)

Back home in Milan, she was easy to spot in the fashion crowd with her wavy blonde locks and bright smile. She also had a big social media presence, running a blog on Vogue Italy's website as well as an active Twitter feed that went silent in June.

Once asked to define style, she replied, "Today there is not just one. I think people should buy more mirrors than clothes, to see themselves before going out ... but I think that clothes need to correspond to one's own personality. That is style."
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said he would provide hang out spots, called Kedai Jakarta, for residents in the city if he was elected next year.

I have a program called Kedai Jakarta, which would feature comfortable places for city residents to hang out, Agus said during a campaign visit in Tebet, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

Calling it one of his featured programs, Agus said he planned to develop 100 Kedai Jakarta outlets across the city within five years. Food stalls would be erected in each subdistrict, he said.

Residents could use the stalls, which would be completed with free internet access, to sell food and drinks, he added.

Agus said Kedai Jakarta would be built by adopting a Betawi cultural style. It would function as a resident hall where people could socialize in a comfortable atmosphere, Agus said.

He further said that the planned stall would be able to accommodate 200 to 300 residents. Each building would be located on 1,000 to 2,000 square meters and constructed as a two or three-story building.

Kedai Jakartas construction would be funded by regional budgets, Agus said. (ebf)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Incumbent Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnamas campaign headquarters, known as Rumah Lembang, announced on Friday it had collected Rp 1.84 billion (US$136,929.45) worth of campaign donations from the public since Nov. 16, two days the headquarters began operations.

This is the reason why we decided to open Rumah Lembang. We want to show that people have been participating in our campaign activities by donating, Ahok said at his campaign headquarters on Jl. Lembang in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Friday.

Ahok has been meeting hundreds of his supporters at Rumah Lembang since Nov. 14 even with public resistance against him as the governor is implicated in a blasphemy case.

Rumah Lembang volunteers built an electronic data capture (EDC) system, which enables supporters to give donations to Ahok's campaign.

Our concept is a people's campaign. Its me who has applied for the job, so why should I need to pay for the campaign? Its you who need to pay my wages, Ahok said.

On Tuesday, the Jakarta General Elections Commission announced that Ahok and running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat reported to have had booked Rp 48 billion in campaign funds from public donations nationwide.

Ahok's campaign team further revealed the money came from gala dinners, and online and off-line donations. (ebf)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

The Supreme Court (MA) has approved moving Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas blasphemy trial to the Agriculture Ministrys main hall in South Jakarta from the North Jakarta District Court, which is now temporarily located at the former Central Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada No 17, Central Jakarta.

The MA chief justice has agreed to move Ahoks trial venue due to security reasons as recommended by the Jakarta Police and the Jakarta High Prosecutors Office, the courts spokesman Ridwan Mansyur told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Not only considered safer, the new venue is said to have a higher capacity in accommodating visitors than Ahoks current hearing room, which can only accommodate 80 visitors, Ridwan said.

It was further said that MA chief justice issued a permit for moving Ahoks trial venue on Thursday afternoon.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochammad Iriawan said on Thursday that the Agriculture Ministrys main hall, which was once used as the trial venue for former president Soeharto's corruption case and Abu Bakar Ba'syir's terrorism case, could accommodate 100 to 200 people.

The police would still limit the number of Ahok trial visitors to ensure each hearing could run smoothly, Iriawan said.

Ahoks trial will continue on Dec. 27 to hear the judges' interlocutory decision regarding Ahok's exception conveyed on Dec. 13. (ebf)
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Linkedin Al Khanif (The Jakarta Post) Jember, East Java  Fri, December 23 2016

In the past few months, Indonesia, particularly Jakarta, has been on high alert for massive protests to persecute a person accused of blaspheming a religion. The reactions of people and organizations supporting the protests demonstrate their choice of protecting religion over respecting humanity.

This means that Islam is perceived by many Muslims as an expression of Gods will and hence protesters believe God is intervening in the action.

The protests also show that there is a conflict between competing visions of religious morality and ethics and social realities because they do not protest against immoral and irreligious actions that in some way cause problems for humanity. This argument implies that many Muslims still believe that substantive justice and morality in Islam remain ineluctable prisms through which Muslims can evaluate particular human rights.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Intercity bus drivers think that the plan to ban telolet, a custom horn that has become a worldwide topic, is a killjoy.

Perhaps those who say telolet should be banned do not have many friends, they dont socialize enough, said Sukanta, 48, a bus driver serving the Jakarta-Bogor route, as quoted by Warta Kota.

He said on Thursday a horn should only be banned if it violated the law. According to Government Regulation No. 55/2012 on vehicles, horns should not exceed 118 decibels and should not disturb other drivers.

(Read also: 'Om Telolet Om' unsafe to do on public roads: Transportation Ministry)

Sukanta himself did not install the telolet horn and he said most bus horns were on average 117 to 118 decibels.

A bus driver, Harwin, 37, had his custom horn examined by the Transportation Agency. The horn had to be uninstalled because the sound was too loud.

On the other hand, the Transportation Ministry has a plan to hold an Om Telolet Om contest.

Bagyo, 34, a bus driver serving the Surakarta-Jakarta route, welcomed the idea.

Its good for bus drivers to wind up, to distract us from boredom, he said. Surakarta to Jakarta can take at least eight hours in good traffic.

At first, I was puzzled. What were these children doing on the side of the road? It turns out they only asked me to honk. I think its good to help me deal with the boredom and the long hours of driving, Bagyo said. (evi)
I yearn to celebrate Christmas in my hometown, said Nia Nainggolan, a native of Medan, North Sumatra, who resides in Aceh.

She said she could not make the trip to her hometown to celebrate Christmas with her family in North Sumatra this year, as her financial situation and job obligations forced her to stay in Aceh.

The [Christmas] atmosphere here in Aceh is different from that in my hometown, she said.

North Sumatra and Aceh are neighboring provinces but of contrasting religious composition.

A warm Christmas celebration has become a rare occasion in Aceh, a predominantly Muslim province and the only region in Indonesia that upholds sharia law.

(Read also: 2,500 flee to North Sumatra after church burning in Aceh Singkil)

North Sumatra, which shares Acehs southern border, is one of the provinces with the most Christians in the country, even though a majority of 65 percent of its population are Muslims.

In my hometown, the Christmas atmosphere could be felt as early as the first days of December as people began to decorate shopping malls, government offices and even housing areas with Christmas decoration, Nia said.

In Aceh, on the other hand, there were no Christmas decorations in public places, let alone government offices, she added.

The Christian minority in Aceh, most of whom are not native Acehnese, may celebrate Christmas with a little bit of anxiety following a series of major events across Indonesia that some say reflect growing intolerance.

Christians in the countrys westernmost province were trying not to attract too much attention, Nia said.

Although the celebration here is definitely not as festive as in my hometown, we are grateful that we are still able to celebrate Christmas in peaceful conditions, Nia said.

Longtime Aceh resident Irfan Edison Sinaga said acts of intolerance in other parts of Indonesia, with hard-line Muslim groups carrying out vigilante raids on malls displaying Christmas paraphernalia, were starting to bother him.

(Read also: Jakarta Cathedral beefs up security for Christmas)

Those acts reminded him of the changing conditions in Aceh. In recent years, he said, religious tolerance toward non-Muslims was gradually diminishing in Aceh.

I still remember that in pre-tsunami Aceh, we could experience the Christmas atmosphere with Christmas paraphernalia decorating shopping centers in Banda Acehs Chinatown district, Irfan said.

He recalled that local Acehnese used to be very warm and receptive toward Christmas celebrations. At that time, nobody complained about Christmas paraphernalia being displayed in malls or residential areas.

Things have been changing in the last three years and I believe that the change is very much the result of outside influence, he said.

A recent edict by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) banning Muslims from wearing other religious paraphernalia had widened the gap between the provinces Muslims and its minority groups, he complained.

Nearly all shops and offices had received warnings from intolerant groups not to display Christmas paraphernalia on their premises.

We genuinely want to share the joy of this celebration with our Muslim neighbors, but apparently that will be a very difficult thing to do, Irfan said.

Despite the rising tide of religious intolerance and concerns over the security situation, the local Christian community is still thankful for the fact that they can celebrate the birth of the Redeemer.

What we have here is still better than not being able to celebrate it at all. Even if conditions made it impossible, we would still celebrate Christmas inside our hearts, he said.

Acehs capital Banda Aceh has three Protestant churches and one Catholic church. There also two Hindu and two Buddhist temples.

Sharia law was officially implemented in 2002 under the administration of Governor Abdullah Puteh. At that time, Indonesia was led by president Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid, a prominent Muslim figure known for his moderate stance.
Writing in 1987, international relations scholar Paul Kennedy said in his seminal book The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000 that it was too early to write an obituary for the domination of the United States through the Pax Americana order that it created.

More than two decades later, that prognostication appears too optimistic. If in the next one or two decades, Pax Americana finally goes the way Pax Britannica did in the first half of the 20th century, we can look back to today as its watershed moment. There has rarely been a moment in the past 50 years when America has had so little power to manage global security and the global economy.

This week, Russia, Iran and Turkey met in Moscow, of all places, to find a political solution to end the six-year war in Syria. Missing from the negotiation table is United States Secretary of State John Kerry, whose diplomatic work in the region had been stymied by President Barack Obamas reluctance to get into another entanglement in the Middle East.

Also this week, we witnessed Americas reduced capacity to deal with an ascendant power. American allies in Asia were baffled by the Obama administrations inability to devise a strong response toward Chinas move to seize an underwater drone operated by American sailors in the international waters in the South China Sea, about 80 kilometers from the Philippines. Observers have said that such inaction indicated diminished American authority in the region.

But nothing humiliates America more than the fact that this once mighty superpower is now vulnerable enough that a foreign power could interfere in its elections and if the accusation is true, the meddling did in fact change the result of the 2016 presidential election. The picture is now getting clearer that the hacking operation aimed at hurting the candidacy of Hillary Clinton was personally directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who held a grudge against the Democratic candidate for challenging the legitimacy of his leadership when she served as secretary of state.

It used to be that it was the CIA that had the capacity to launch covert operations to influence the results of elections in countries like Chile, Iran, or Guatemala. Now, the CIA could only report on the alleged hacking to influence the US election and could do little to stop it.

Russian meddling is a double whammy for the US. The election of Donald Trump has jeopardized the values that America has promoted for the past 60 years. Trumps insistence on running his business while serving as president and filling his cabinet with billionaires and military generals has forced many to question if America has in fact turned into a banana republic. We know that America has been gradually on the decline, but the election of Donald Trump feels like a sudden plunge an op-ed contributor wrote in the New York Times last week.

But if you think the abovementioned facts are anecdotal, consider this. Today, America is basically a rentier economy after reaching its peak as a manufacturing powerhouse in the 1960s. The Financial Times reported in 2012 that 58 percent of total income in America now comes from dividends and interest payments, while China continues to become the worlds largest manufacturing economy. Somebody should tell Trump that manufacturing jobs will stay in China and will not return to places like Ohio, Michigan, or North Carolina. Americas deindustrialization is irreversible and he should live with that.

Economically, America today is a pale shadow of its former self. By the end of World War II, the US share of world gross domestic product (GDP) was nearly 50 percent, but in 2015 the figure shrank to 16 percent.

Superpowers come and go. It is the natural cycle in world politics. Every major power in the world has seen their moment in the sun before being ushered into the dustbin of history. Major powers like Spain, Britain, Germany, Austro-Hungary and Japan ascended to the top and then experienced decline, sometimes precipitated by violent conflagration.

In his research for his book, Kennedy found that the great wars between 1500 and 1945 happened in connection with changes in the economic capacity of rising and declining great powers. Today, however, we should not be concerned that another world war is imminent because the advent of nuclear weapons with their destructive capacity will prevent great powers from resorting to violence in solving conflicts, Kennedy writes.

With major conflict unlikely, what should nations do to further their interests? What should a middle power like Indonesia or allies of America in Southeast Asia do in a post-American world? Did President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte make the right decision to build a closer alliance with China?

In a post-hegemonic world, the principles of self-help should guide the behavior of nations, Robert Keohane proposes in After Hegemony. Everyone should be a realist in such a world, where rules are set by the most powerful nations and less powerful countries play a bandwagoning role. America is on the wane and China is ascending and smart leaders know where the wind is blowing. Its every man for himself now.
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Linkedin Harun Yahya (The Jakarta Post) Istanbul  Fri, December 23 2016

Anti-Semitism is an ancient disease. Surely, it is evil and poisonous, but also odd in the way that it doesnt subside and continues down throughout the ages regardless of the changing circumstances.

Unsurprisingly, like other similar hateful views, it is irrational, divorced from the facts. It promotes an unconditional, ubiquitous hatred of Jews, asserting that every Jew in the world, including children and the elderly, are inherently evil. It demonizes Jews for being poor, for being rich, for being communists, for being capitalists, for keeping to themselves, for infiltrating everywhere and so on. In other words, the so-called reasons are self-contradictory, baseless but relentless.

This inhumane hatred and blind prejudice is very old and dates back to the Pharaohs who enslaved the Hebrews. Fearing that they might get too powerful, Pharaoh famously commanded every newborn Hebrew boy be thrown into the Nile. This brutal repression ultimately led to the mass departure of Israelites, described in the Hebrew Bible as the Exodus.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Religious freedom watchdog Wahid Foundation said Thursday that the growing interfaith disharmony across Indonesia would lead to radicalism should the government fail to immediately introduce firm and long-term solutions for the problem.

Nowadays, one could easily become intolerant because wrong perceptions are disseminated excessively. For example, a lot of religious leaders preach and emphasize violence in jihad, executive director Yenny Wahid said in a discussion.

Home to diverse religious views, Indonesia has seen escalating religious tension after millions of Muslims took to the streets of Jakarta earlier this month to push for the criminal prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian who allegedly made a blasphemous comment related to a Quranic verse in front of locals in late September.

(Read also: Terrorists targeting police in foiled Banten terror plot)

At the same time, law enforcers are also intensifying efforts to prevent possible terror attacks organized by hard-liners ahead of the Christmas celebration.

On Tuesday, the National Polices counterterrorism squad Densus 88 shot dead three alleged terrorists and arrested another in South Tangerang, Banten. The police claimed that the suspects were preparing a bombing plot to disrupt security ahead of the Christmas celebration. (adt/hwa)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, known as a supporter of pluralism, would have been at the forefront of those condemning recent intolerant acts in the country if he were still alive today, a human rights activist said on Friday.

Hendardi, chairman of human rights organization the Setara Institute, said Gus Dur had contributed a great deal to building up Indonesian pluralism and his vision in this field meant that he deserved to be called a "humanitarian figure".

"Seeing developments in Indonesia recently, Gus Dur would have loudly condemned intolerance, identity politics and all the things that threaten Indonesian diversity," Hendardi said in a statement on Friday.

(Read also: When Gus Dur's 'Indonesian Islam' goes down the drain)

Gus Dur was widely respected for his policy of protecting minority groups. Taking power in 1999, Gus Dur, for example, issued a regulation one year later declaring Confucianism, a religion adhered to by many Chinese-Indonesians, as a religion recognized by the state.

Gus Dur was impeached in 2001 and he died in late 2009.

The anniversary of his death is remembered every year.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is scheduled to attend the anniversary of Gus Durs death on Friday in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

"Although he is no longer able to speak, Gus Dur's teachings are in the hearts of many who struggle to maintain Indonesia's diversity," Hendardi said. (jun)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Indonesia and Japan have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation by establishing the Indonesia-Japan Maritime Forum (IJMF), which paves the way for maritime cooperation concerning infrastructure projects, enhancement of security, education and training as well as economic development.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who was accompanied by other relevant government officials during his two-day visit to Japan, signed an agreement on the matter with his Japanese counterpart Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday.



According to a press statement, the agreement marks the first strategic maritime bilateral forum between the two nations.

IJMF is important for Indonesia and Japan to build maritime cooperation as well as to contribute to the stability, peace and security in the regions, the statement said.



During his visit, Luhut met several high ranking officials from the Japanese Government, including Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Keiichi Ishii, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko and a senior politician, who is also the secretary general of Liberal Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai. (fac/jun)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

The Indonesian Association of Dairy Cattle Farmers (APSPI) has predicted that the sluggish trend in domestic fresh milk production will continue next year as more local producers are likely to resign from fierce competition with imported dairy products.

The association estimates that next year local fresh milk production will drop to 700,000 tons from 750,000 tons in 2016.

The figure makes up less than 20 percent of national demand for fresh milk, which currently stands at 3.82 million tons.

In 2020, we predict that the proportion will be between 12 percent and 13 percent, APSPI chairman Agus Warsito said as quoted by Kontan.co.id on Friday.

(Read also: Dairy farming survives urban development)

The price of local fresh milk currently stands at around Rp 4,500 per liter, leaving only a tight margin after being reduced by production costs.

Many farmers, Agus said, finally decided to sell their cattle and start another more attractive business. Looking at the situation, Agus urged the government to issue a regulation to support existing farmers, for example by forcing dairy processing firms to absorb local production.

Data from the Agriculture Ministry shows that Indonesia had almost 520,000 head of dairy cattle in 2015. This year, the number has increased slightly to 535,860. (hwa)
The Subway Therapy Post-It walls that formed after the election have been coming down, and in addition to being preserved at the New-York Historical Society, many of the messages from the project will be bound into a book. Unsurprisingly, it will be titled Subway Therapy.

Artist Matthew "Levee" Chavez set up the first Subway Therapy wall the day after the presidential election in the tunnel connecting the 1/2/3 station at 14th Street and Seventh Avenue and the F/M/L station at 6th Avenue. "Because of how stressful the last couple of days were, I thought it would be nice to have something that people could do really quickly so that they could maybe get something off their chest," he told ABC7 in November.

Other Post-It walls soon emerged, including one at Union Square, where Governor Cuomo left his own message, and another at Atlantic Terminal that was ultimately taken down by MTA workers. At the time, Chavez told Gothamist he supported the additional walls, and that he "structured the project in a way that encouraged community building and being an active participant. I think all the walls (all over the nation!) are great. I've been talking with several people internationally about starting them, and I'm really excited to see the seeds spreading."

According to a spokesperson at Bloomsbury, the book's publisher, Chavez will be donating some of the proceeds to growing the project. "Money from the project will go into making toolkits we will send to individuals, organizations, and schools so they can help support and grow connections with people in their community," Chavez said in a statement through the publisher. It's not yet clear whether all proceeds, or just a percentage, will be put toward these toolkits.

"I started this project to help people feel less stress and connect with their community. It is my hope that these books will inspire people to explore new pathways of expression and understanding," Chavez said.

Subway Therapy, the first of Chavez's two books with Bloomsbury, will be published in October 2017. In the meantime, be advised that the Post-It notes recovered from the project are not currently on view at The New-York Historical Society. A spokesman says the Society "does not yet have plans to display the Post-Its from Union Square. They are in the process of archiving and preserving the documents."
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Indonesian scholars are standing up against religious intolerance, which has gained a stronger foothold in the country recently. The scholars say such intolerance goes against the values embedded in Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

Scholars, politicians and lecturers gathered at the headquarters of the Wahid Foundation on Thursday to discuss the country's identity crisis after the emergence of interfaith disharmony this year.

"Diversity is our collective awareness and identity. Therefore, we decry any kind of violent or intolerant actions against other beliefs and races," University of Indonesia law professor Sulistyowati Irianto said at the event.

Other figures present at the event included sociology researcher Geger Riyanto, Wahid Foundation executive director Yenny Wahid, University of Indonesia philosophy lecturer Rocky Gerung and politician Kartini Sjahrir.

"Nowadays, one can easily become intolerant because of the wrong perceptions that are disseminated excessively. For example, a lot of religious leaders preach and emphasize violence in jihad, Yenny said.

Recently, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) took the law into its own hands and demanded that shopping centers in Surabaya, East Java, refrain from asking Muslim workers to wear Christmas-related apparel. The move from the hard-liners came about after a fatwa issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) banning Muslims from wearing paraphernalia related to other faiths.

"The country has allowed many houses of worship to be demolished, religious rituals to be stopped and hatred to be excessively disseminated. Therefore, we want to represent scholars here and say that we are against intolerant actions," Sulistyowati said. (adt/evi)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Fri, December 23 2016

The Sarolangun Police in Jambi arrested three men for possessing a stuffed Sumatran tiger on Wednesday. One of the three, Nur Irfan bin Nurkan, 52, has been named a suspect.

Irfan, who was detained by the Sarolangun Police, said he had possessed the 2-meter-long mounted tiger for almost 20 years. I bought the dead tiger in 1995 for Rp 400,000 [US$30], which I then preserved, the man from Lubuk Linggau, South Sumatra, said. He added that he planned to sell it to someone in Jambi who was eager to buy it for 50 million.

Sarolangun Police chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Budiman said the arrest happened when police officers were on routine patrol. The officers became suspicious of a truck and searched it to discover the mounted tiger inside a cardboard box. The other two people who were also arrested have been released.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Jakarta Police are ready to safeguard Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations by holding the annual operation, code-named Operasi Lilin (Operation Candle), from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said that police would focus on securing Christmas and holiday celebrations in the city.

"We will secure recreation places like Ancol theme park, the National Monument, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah theme park, Ragunan Zoo and shopping centers," Argo said as quoted by Antara on Thursday.

(Read also: Police prohibit use of firecrackers during Christmas, New Years Eve)

Argo added that police would also intensify security in sea ports, airports, stations and terminals due to outflow of home-bound travelers during the long holiday.

To secure Christmas, Argo said that all police sub-precinct [Polsek] heads had been instructed to communicate with church leaders and monitor the security in the churches ahead of Christmas celebrations.

Police provided metal detectors to minimize potential terror attacks in the churches, he said.

Argo added that all police station chiefs had been instructed to give special attention to churches that had permit problems and were disputed by nearby residents.

He said that the number of security personnel would be determined on a situational basis. (dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan reiterated on Thursday that he would not hesitate to crack down on any group conducting raids or spreading fatwa (religious edicts) banning Christmas accessories.

Do not try to carry out a raid, I will surely catch you! Iriawan said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, as quoted by Kompas.com.

Iriawan made the statement in response to raids conducted by some hard-line Islamic organizations, including the Islamic Defender's Front (FPI), in public places and malls to spread the Indonesian Ulema Councils (MUI) edict forbidding Muslims from wearing Christmas attire, such as a Santa hat.

The police chief said people should respect each others beliefs to create peace not just in Jakarta but also all over the country.

Previously on Sunday, some FPI members in Surabaya, East Java, held raids in shopping malls to publicize the MUIs edict and check whether outlets had ordered employees to wear Christmas attire. About 200 police officers, led by Surabaya police chief Sr. Comr. M Iqbal, were deployed to escort the group while conducting their raid.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian previously said he would arrest anyone conducting raids with violence. (saf/jun)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

A rumor that millions of Chinese workers are being allowed into Indonesia has irked President Joko Jokowi Widodo so much he has asked the National Police to pursue and arrest those spreading it.

Jokowi said that currently only about 21,000 Chinese nationals are working in Indonesia, not the 10 million the rumor has claimed.

This is under the authority of the police, but the rumor monger should be arrested, Jokowi said as quoted by kompas.com in an event in Karawang, West Java, on Friday.

He said 10 million was not the number of Chinese workers in Indonesia, but the number of tourist visits the government wants from China.

If they do not have the data, they should not spread it [the rumor]. It deceived society and it was irritating, Jokowi said.

The President said the number of Chinese workers in Indonesia was still smaller than the number of Indonesian workers in other countries such as Malaysia and Hong Kong, where there were 2 million and 153,000, respectively.

He said foreign workers would be unlikely come to Indonesia to work. They will not come to work here, which offers lower wages. I convey this with a hope that the rumor would not spread further, he said. (saf/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Friday broke his silence on widespread rumors surrounding the alleged influx of millions of Chinese workers into Indonesia who are allegedly placing pressure on domestic blue-collar workers.

Speaking during the launch of the government-sanctioned National Job Internship Program in Karawang, West Java, the President shrugged off the rumors, saying that the circulated numbers were false and exaggerated.

Many said that [the number of] Chinese [workers] entering Indonesia was 10 million, [or] 20 million. When did they count the figures? he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Our official count is 21,000 [Chinese workers]. It is a tiny figure. Dont add too many zeroes.

(Read also: Don't misinterpret the influx of Chinese workers: VP)

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has previously asked the public not to misinterpret the influx of Chinese workers in Indonesia, since they are brought in by investors.

He said the Chinese workers would not compete with local blue-collar workers, since big projects would certainly involve local workers as well.

Kalla also said local workers would receive better wages.

"So, the Chinese workers are allowed [to enter] to create more projects and open up more employment [opportunities in Indonesia]. Don't think in reverse," he said in September. (hwa)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said ensuring transportation readiness and the available supply of food and fuel remain governmental priorities ahead of Christmas and New Year's celebrations because these celebrations are often accompanied by issues.

However, he said, security threats were also key problems in the upcoming end-of-year holiday season.

I want to give special attention to security problems and terrorism threats, said Jokowi as quoted by kompas.com. He was speaking during a limited Cabinet meeting on the preparations of Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

Jokowi told the National Polices Densus 88 counterterrorism squad and police personnel that issues related to security disruptions and terrorism threats should receive special attention.

Jokowi also asked Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and all military personnel to support the police in tackling security and terrorism threats.

(Read also: Jokowi lauds polices work in foiling Banten terror plot)

We have invited the Greater Jakarta Military District Command [Kodam Jaya] commander and the Jakarta Police chief to discuss this matter. This is because all matters related to security and terrorism threats receive special attention, said Jokowi in the meeting, which was also attended by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto.

On Wednesday, Densus 88 personnel shot dead three people during a raid on a rented house in South Tangerang, Banten. The three people were suspected to have been preparing a suicide bomb attack in Jakarta. Another suspect has also been arrested.

In Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, on the same day, Densus 88 also arrested a suspected terrorist who was allegedly a part of a terrorist network based in Surakarta, Central Java. (fac/ebf)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is scheduled to attend an event to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the death of former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, on Friday evening at the latters family residence in South Jakarta.

The President is also set to give a speech during the annual event, which usually attracts the country's VIPs and top politicians, according to an official presidential schedule released by the State Palace.

Gus Dur, who served as Indonesias fourth president from 1999 to 2001, was also known for his work to promote tolerance and pluralism in the country, which earned him the title of "The Father of Pluralism".

(Read also: When Gus Dur's 'Indonesian Islam' goes down the drain)

For example, a year after taking the countrys highest office, Gus Dur issued a regulation that officially recognized Confucianism, the religion adhered to by many Chinese-Indonesians, who had been forbidden to display their culture during presidents Soehartos authoritarian reign.

Gus Dur passed away on Dec. 30, 2009, at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Jakarta because of complications from several diseases, including diabetes, stroke and heart disease. He was 69. (hwa)
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Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23 2016

A Japanese theater performance advocates resilience and peace amid global turmoil.

The world is not a peaceful place right now. Many conflicts, particularly ones driven by xenophobia and small-mindedness, are arising with lots of visible symptoms, including uber-conservative leaders being elected everywhere.



This year, Indonesia itself has been shaken by a number of bombings, including the most recent one in a church in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. Reports on the polices discovery of explosives and terror attack plans around the country, have rocked citizens sense of national safety.



Theres not much peace in todays world, many conflicts, Japanese dancer and choreographer Takahiko Quick Fukui told The Jakarta Post in an interview.



This is why he and his group, MuDa, find their project SEMEGIAI Random 02 a timely piece of work to carry a universal message of peace and love.



The performance was staged as the closing act of this years Jakarta Theater Festival. Themed //TRANS><ISI//, the festival was held by Jakarta Art Council.



MuDas closing act was staged at Teater Kecil in Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural center in Central Jakarta, on the evening of Dec. 9. MuDa was the only foreign troupe in the festival.



MuDa was founded by Quick in 2010, along with a number of other young artists from Kyoto, Japan, representing various disciplines. It includes an array of genres from acting, dance, music, videography, visual arts, digital arts to interior design. The group received the Excellence Award in 2012 for its Geiso Connect Vol. 5 project.



In their Jakarta performance, the work intentionally had no story line to deliver messages of harmony and perseverance to its audience.



To evoke the stressful socio-political turmoil, the group mentioned in the festivals program booklet that they blend a number of components (including music and lighting) to create a distressing sensation among the audience.



They are quite successful in evoking that dreadful sensation through a quiet stage, all black and dark with no props, which was suddenly shaken by trembling and bombastic music, when four male dancers dressed in black and wearing black masks, entered.



During the first part of the performance, these dancers dispersed across the stage, chasing each other, then pulling and pushing against one another, in harsh movements, evoking those made by sumo wrestlers, making the audience cringe, imagining that these collisions must be painful.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

Through its newly introduced menara62.com online media outlet, Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah says it aims to promote tolerance amid escalating polarizing issues currently plaguing the country.

Its chief editor, Imam Prihadiyoko, said the website would abide by the journalistic code of ethics and by the organization's principle of promoting Islam as a tolerant religion.

The former Kompas daily journalist said he expected the news published on the website to counter widely circulating fake news reports and radical teachings that had a tendency to disrupt harmony in the country's pluralistic society.

"Surely we will try to educate the public about an Islam that is tolerant and modern in thought," Imam told The Jakarta Post on Friday on the sidelines of the website launch at Muhammadiyah headquarters in Jakarta.

(Read also:Muhammadiyah launches paid online news portal)

The National Police recently foiled bomb plots and arrested suspected terrorists in a number of areas, including Bekasi, West Java, and South Tangerang, where three suspects were shot dead.

Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah deputy chairman Hajriyanto Y. Thohari lamented radicalism and extremism, which he said was gaining ground in the country. However, he stressed that the problem was mainly caused by social and economic gaps.

"The government and analysts should also realize that radicalism is not merely driven by religion. The most determining factors are gaps in social and economic situations," he told the Post. (Fac)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Haeril Halim and Marguirete Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23 2016

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), a quasi-public religious body set up by former president Soeharto to gain Muslims support for his developmental projects, has seen its clout grow amid rising conservatism in the country.

In recent months, the councils fatwas helped set off massive religious movements in the country, including the two large rallies in Jakarta on Nov. 4 and Dec. 2, which were intended to safeguard the MUIs fatwa declaring that Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama had committed blasphemy.

Analysts have said that the two anti-Ahok rallies, spearheaded by an organization called the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Councils Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), marked a rise in Islamist populism in the country.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra  Fri, December 23, 2016

The North Sumatra Police are striving to suppress any possible terrorist threat that may disrupt Christmas and New Year celebrations in the province by applying a maximum level of security precautions.

North Sumatra Police chief Rycko Amelza Dahniel said the maximum security level had been applied alongside the current security conditions in areas across Indonesia.

He said the police would focus their security measures on vital objects, especially houses of worship such as churches, mosques, Buddhist monasteries and Chinese temples. They will also heighten security at shopping centers, tourist destinations, residential compounds of certain ethnic groups and police offices.

We want to apply a maximum level of security at all vital objects. We also need to pay attention to personnel assigned to provide security, Rycko told journalists after a call of readiness ceremony for an end-of-year security operation codenamed Operation Lilin Toba 2016 at Merdeka Square in Medan on Thursday.

To implement these maximum security measures, the North Sumatra Police have deployed 7,500 security officers, supported by a joint team comprising 2,500 personnel from the Indonesian Military, the Public Order Agency, the Transportation Ministry and public security and order (Kamtibmas) officers.

I hope all societal elements can support these security measures by taking an active role in giving information to officers if they find suspicious situations, said Rycko.

Meanwhile, suspected terrorist Syafii, 27, arrested during a joint operation conducted by the National Polices Densus 88 counterterrorism squad and the North Sumatra Police in Deli Serdang on Wednesday, has been taken to Jakarta for further interrogation. (ebf)
The recent terrorism plots foiled by the polices counterterrorism squad all have the same feature: They were inspired and orchestrated remotely by an Indonesian militant with the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

The 33-year-old militant, Bahrun Naim, who is known to be tech-savvy, allegedly managed to recruit new militants and created a number of new terrorist cells across the country through online chat groups.

Terrorist groups, the police have said, are now engaging in cyber-jihad, which includes activities such as recruitment of followers, online training on bomb making and the spread of radical thought to potential followers, as well as the transfer of money from jihadists overseas to Indonesian extremists.

In the past 12 days following the foiled plot to attack the State Palace on Dec. 10, the nations counterterrorism squad, Densus 88, has uncovered at least 13 terrorist cells in West Java, Central Java, Banten, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Batam, arresting a total of 21 people who had allegedly planned attacks during Christmas and New Years Eve this year.

(Read also: High explosive bomb prepared to attack State Palace)

The raids were only possible because the police had stepped up their cybersurveillance, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said on Thursday. This is the result of launching massive cybercounterterrorism as we are really concerned about whats going on in the cyberworld. We have been stepping up efforts for cybersurveillance on them [terrorist groups], he added.

Tito said that the polices cybertroops worked every day to monitor and track activities of radical groups on the internet. Its members usually create fake accounts so that they could join chat rooms of terrorist groups after they introduce themselves as potential followers.

Participants of the online chatting, the police chief said, would later exchange phone numbers so that the cybertroops could join their Whatsapp groups for daily conversations among suspected terrorists to find out where they might launch attacks and with which other terrorist groups they actively communicate.

These kinds of cyberpatrolling techniques are actually the same as the methods in undercover activities in the real world, Tito said, adding that the only difference was they were conducted online.

Tito, however, admitted that the cybertroops had difficulties monitoring terrorism plots that were devised by lone wolves, as they usually did not join any terrorist group chats online. Lone wolves independently study from the internet and carry out attacks alone, Tito said, adding that Densus 88 had arrested a total of 40 suspected terrorists this year.

(Read also: Terrorists targeting police in foiled Banten terror plot)

Police officers stand guard at a residential neighborhood where police conducted a raid on a house used by suspected militants, in South Tangerang, Banten, on Dec. 21. Three suspected militants who were planning a holiday season suicide bombing were killed in the raid.(AP/Tatan Syuflana)

From the recent arrests, the police identified three terrorism plots devised by followers of the arrested Bahrun. They were allegedly planning to attack the State Palace, a police station in Tangerang, and an unspecified location in Bali.

We have arrested members of the group that wanted to attack Bali. The female [alleged suicide bomber intended for an attack in Bali] has also been arrested, the police chief said.

Of the 23 terrorists Densus 88 arrested recently, two were women who were alleged to be suicide bombers, namely Dian Yulia Novia and Ika Puspitasari. Bahrun had allegedly assigned Dian to attack the State Palace and Ika to undertake the attack in Bali.

Densus 88 has reportedly arrested about 1,000 terrorists since its establishment in 2004 and since the deadly JW Marriot Hotel bombing it has derailed a total of 50 terrorism plots.

Terrorism expert Noor Huda said that the fast growing use of social media had changed discourse on terrorist activities in Indonesia.

In the past, would-be terrorists would have had to join major radical groups like Jamaah Islammiya (JI), Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), or Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) to be involved in terrorism, but nowadays with the help of the internet they are able to establish small cells quickly after chatting with people with similar visions online.

[Under the new discourse], some easily become members of unknown groups, although they have never met each other. This has been proven in the case of Dian who was exposed to radicalism through Facebook and got connected with Bahruns network, Noor said.

Officers infiltrate chat groups to track terrorism plots Cybersurveillance cannot detect lone wolves, police chief says
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Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23, 2016

The government will ensure the US-based technology giant Google can operate its business freely in Indonesia if it complies with the countrys tax laws and regulations, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati says.

She asserted that the government would always welcome any corporate activity into the country and did not expect to disrupt the investment climate. However, the state also had the right to collect taxes fairly as the company had also benefited from its business in the country, Sri Mulyani said.

The tax office has pledged to step up investigations into the Indonesian operations of Google after the company declined to pay the tax arrears demanded by the government. Acknowledging the companys role in bringing a number of technological benefits to Indonesia, Sri Mulyani insisted the unprecedented measure must be carried on.

I want to build trust. You run a business in Indonesia and create value, thus I will respect every investment you put into here, but at the same time if there is an economic value coming from your business activity here, Indonesia must strive for its right [to impose taxes], she said after giving a speech on Thursday.

Recent negotiations between the company and the tax authority failed because of the low payment offered by the technology behemoth in comparison with what the tax office found to be the companys earnings.

Amid the governments dire need for new tax sources and a boost in state revenues, the tax office has estimated that Google owes about Rp 5 trillion (US$371.42 million) in back taxes and penalties.

(Read also: Indonesia launches tax hunt on Google)

An employee of Google Korea works at its office in Seoul, South Korea. (Newsis via AP/Kim Jin-a)

The tax office has served Google with a summons for January related to its investigation into the companys financial reports, including its overall transactions in Indonesia. The company will be requested to pay its due taxes with a 150 percent penalty.

If the company rejects the governments request, the tax authority will carry out a full investigation and apply a blistering 400 percent fine as stipulated in the General Taxation System (KUP) Law.

Sri Mulyani said she had ordered the Finance Ministrys Directorate General of Taxation to investigate and continue communicating with the company in preparation for more a detailed discussion next year regarding the basis of the calculations.

The government has done many reviews on the estimated volume and values of Googles transactions, while the company also has its own version. However, in the end, both parties will hold one set of data that can illustrate a verified, credible and legitimate value, she said.

Sri Mulyani said she was optimistic that Google would understand and respect the governments intention, so that it would help both parties to stand on the same ground regarding the process.

Previously, tax director general Ken Dwijugiasteadi said executives handling the Indonesian operations of Google might face criminal charges and possible imprisonment if the firm is found guilty of tax evasion as there had always been equal treatment for all taxpayers in the country.

(Read also: Indonesia challenges Google to disclose financial reports)

Google Indonesia managing director Tony Kuesgen during the announcement of Year in Search 2016.(Google Indonesia/File)

Indonesia, which has a low tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of 11 to 12 percent compared to its regional peers, will also go after social media giant Facebook to make it pay its proper taxes for its local operations.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) refers to such behavior as base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) tax avoidance strategies.

The government tried to force over-the-top companies Google, Twitter, Yahoo and Facebook to each set up a Permanent Establishment (BUT) through a Communications and Information Ministry circular letter. As a BUT, they would each be required to report all domestic earnings from work activities in the nation and pay taxes.

I support any decision from the Finance Ministry as the fiscal and tax authority, but I cant meddle [in the calculation process]. I will continue asking Google to settle the issue, Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said on Thursday.
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Linkedin Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, December 23 2016

Indonesias largest construction company aims for a significant increase in contracts next year, coupled with its goal to strengthen its subsidiaries and invest more in the governments priority infrastructure projects.

PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA) expects to see its total contract value rise by 23.9 percent to Rp 102.9 trillion (US$7.64 billion) next year from the target set for this year.

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Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, December 24 2016

The year 2016 was bleak for journalists in Indonesia as they faced violence from the public as well as from law enforcers, while at the same time losing the publics trust with the proliferation of fake news websites.

According to a year-end report from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), violence against journalists has escalated to its highest level in a decade, with 2016 seeing more journalists becoming victims of violence and various other forms of abuse and disruption while doing their jobs.

The report says there were 78 instances of violence, including one murder, committed against journalists on duty between January and December 2016, almost double the number of cases in 2015, which was 42.

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Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, December 24 2016

Indonesia is eager to grab operating shares of two of Irans oil fields in order to make up for the archipelagos drastically depleting reserves. Realizing the ambition, however, may not be easy.

During a meeting to follow up on his recent visit to Iran, President Joko Jokowi Widodo emphasized the importance of being awarded operating contracts for the Ab-Teymour and Mansouri fields amid fierce competition from other oil and gas companies abroad.

I hope that our team here can swiftly start preparations, so that the operatorship of these two oil fields can be handed over to Indonesia when we meet again with Iran in January, he said on Thursday.

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Linkedin Ina Parlina and Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, December 24 2016

When Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid passed away in December seven years ago, the nation mourned the loss of a national icon known for his wisdom, wit and devotion to preserving what would become known as Islam Nusantara.

On Friday, two days before Christmas, followers of the Muslim cleric  who had led the countrys largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, before being elected the nations fourth president  reflected on his legacy, at a time when bigotry seemed to be gaining ground in the Muslim majority country.

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Linkedin Nestor Corrales (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) Manila  Fri, December 23, 2016

"You idiot, do not tell me what to do."

Thats how President Rodrigo Duterte erupted in anger over the comments of United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein that he should be held accountable for murder.

I think there is one United Nations official, human rights. He said Duterte is a murderer, should be charged for murder. I should be slapped with a case. This guy is either the joker or medyo sira ang ulo [crazy], Duterte said in his speech on Thursday at the Convergence of Nanay Volunteers as Community Drugwatch in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Whoever that idiot is, please tell that to him. Kindly tell him. Hes another stupid there, he added.

On Tuesday, Hussein said Philippine authorities should investigate Duterte for murder after boasting that he had personally killed suspected criminals.

The President did not let this pass and said the UN commissioner should go back to school to review diplomacy.

Go back to school. You United Nations, you do not know diplomacy. You do not know how to behave to be an employee of the United Nations. You do not talk to me like that, you son of a bitch. Those who can only call me son of a bitch are the Filipinos and thats when if they see me not doing my job, he said.

Duterte said the Philippines contributes to the salaries of the UN officials, as one of UNs member states.

The trouble with this United Nations, you guys, you are employed by an organ composed of nations whose officials are elected by the people. [Youre] sitting there on your asses, we pay you your salaries. You idiot, do not tell me what to do. I am your employer, and do not do it to a nation. Who gave you the right? he said.

Youre understanding of international law is lacking. [We have a] contribution [to the] United Nations, you son of a bitch Im the one paying your salary. Dont talk like Im your employee. I am a member state, a sovereign state. Please shut up because something is lacking in your brain. Do not do that, he added.

The President said the UN official has no authority to summon him.

You are just an employee there. Got it? You are just employees of an office there whose subsidy comes from the pocket of the member states. And you do not have that authority to be  you strut around as if youre also a sovereign idiot.

This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
New Yorkers have had to navigate scams like "You broke my glasses" (also known as "You broke my [medication]"), the pigeon drop, the "help me out..." for decades. Now police say they've arrested four people in Queens who used a confidence trick usually applied to tourists overseasthe "sprayed substance scam."

Also known as the "mustard spray scam" or "bird poop scam" in South America, the victim is sprayed with some sort of gross liquid, and then the scammer approaches, pretending to help clean off the tourist, but in reality picks the victim's pocket. The confidence trick is mentioned on various travel message boards, websites and articles.

For the Queens incidents, the NYPD says the victims "were approached after they withdrew money from a bank and were sprayed with an unknown substance. The members of the crew offered the victims assistance with removing the substance from their body or clothing but then removed the victim's money instead."

Incident #1: It was reported to police that Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 1438 hours, the victim, a 52-year-old female, withdrew $3,000 in cash from a Chase Bank located at 39-01 Main Street, in the confines of the 109th Precinct. The victim exited the bank and was approached in front of 135-45 Roosevelt Avenue by a male and female who said the victim had a substance on her back. The male and female offered assistance to the victim, who shortly thereafter discovered that her bag was open and her cash had been removed.



Incident #2: On Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 1250 hours in front of 254-05 Hillside Avenue, in the confines of the 105th Precinct, the victim, an 80-year-old female, who had just exited the Capital One Bank located at 257-03 Hillside Avenue, was approached in front of 254-05 Hillside Avenue by a male and female who told her she had a substance on her ear. The male and female offered assistance to the victim, who shortly thereafter discovered that $350 had been removed from her jacket pocket.

Police arrested Claudria Londono Rodriguez, 40, who was charged with grand larceny in both incidents. Danny Guerrero Arbelaez, 35, was charged with grand larceny in the September incident and Francisco Puerta Baracaldo, 38, and Javier Rodriguez Velasco, 38, were both charged with grand larceny for the November incident.

A Buenos Aires travel tip site says, "To protect yourself, dont let anyone help you clean up or let them lead you to a place where they say you can clean up. If they touch you or get too close, get angry and yell at them."
Netflix has never been a great place for watching classic films.

Its a great website and some of its original series are of a very high quality. Yet if you are looking for more than Netflix and chill from your movies then you usually have to trawl through quite a bit of sludge in order to get to the really good films.

Film-lovers have usually been better off going on sites such as MUBI and BFI for truly great classic films.

Thankfully Netflix seems to be doing something about this. It has just put an Auteur Cinema section on its website, and the films in it are a cut above the rest.

Here are four essential films you should watch from this section.

It Happened One Night (1934)

Some films exude a magic that is as unexplainable as it was unexpected. Casablanca is the archetypal example. It Happened One Night is another.

Neither Clarke Gable nor Claudette Colbert were particularly enthused the project. Both resented being loaned out to Columbia by their studios to play the leading roles: Columbia was one of the the minor studios in the 1930s, Gable didn't like the script, and Colbert didn't like the director, Frank Capra. Yet this was 1934, the height of the studio system, and the actors had to do more or less what the studio heads told them to do.

Which is just as well. The result was a film of irresistible wit, charm and warmth that has been cherished by movie-lovers for generations. When spoilt heiress Ellen Andrews (Claudette Colbert) runs away from her father to elope with a play-boy aviator, she meets Peter Warren (Clarke Gable), a cynical out-of-work reporter who is willing to help Ellen reach her prospective husband so that he can get the inside scope on the story.

As they travel across America, Gable and Colbert engage in the kind of verbal jousting between the sexes that would become the trademark of screwball comedies of the decade. The zip and crackle of the dialogue, the coiled sexual tension bubbling just below the surface, the seemingly magnetic force drawing Gable and Colbert together, all serve to ensure that this swift-footed film was one of the most memorable of the decade.

What separates this film from other screwball comedies of the period is Frank Capras direction. The Capra touch ensured that the films cynical, sardonic tone is infused with the warmth and humanity that would become his trademark.

12 Angry Men (1957)

Its the hottest day of the year, 1957 and the Cold War is still cold. 12 ordinary men are placed in a small, stuffy jury room in downtown New York, the life of an 18-year-old Hispanic boy is in their hands. 11 of the jury have little qualms about sending him to the chair, because they think it is self-evident that he has murdered his father.

"I just wanna talk", Henry Fondas character says, the only juryman who isn't quite convinced the boy is guilty. "It's not easy to raise my hand and send a boy to die without talking about it first." Fonda thus removes the first thread in the case against the boy, something which leads inexorably to its breathless unravelling.

The pace and sheer magnetism of this film is all the more remarkable given that nearly all of the action takes place in a single room. This would be a hinderance if the script were not so well written, or the characters not so exceptionally interesting.

The power of this film comes not from the individual characters themselves, but the way they interact. The ice-cold logic of a stockbroker, the repressed emotional rage of a bereft father, the ugly prejudice of a racist, and the lofty idealism of Henry Fonda, all fight it out in the heat of a New York summer.

Again, what sets this film apart is its direction. Sidney Lumets sublime camera work is remarkable. Beginning the film by shooting from above the characters heads and using a wide-angle lens, Lumet gradually lowers the camera position and shortens the depth of field. This has an immensely claustrophobic effect on the viewer, who finds themself sucked compulsively into that sweaty New York jury room without even realising it.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

"Alright, alright, alright."

Can anyone read those words anymore without instantly picturing Matthew McConaughey pulling up in his turbo-jet Chevy? If you can then you should head straight over to Netflix and watch Richard Linklaters Dazed and Confused right now.

What is so remarkable about Linklater is his ability to make films whose quality lies beyond fast-paced plot lines. This is why it is sometimes difficult to persuade people to watch his films. What is Dazed and Confused actually about? Well, its the last day of school and this kids party that everyone was going to go to gets shut down, so instead they drive around and drink beer and smoke weed. And er thats it.

But the brilliance of this film lies not in its plot-line but in its documentation of the rhythms of teenage life. There is a kind of effortless meandering to the film; Linklater, like his laid-back teenage characters, is in no rush. In a similar way to the road movies of the late 60s, films like Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces, the film prioritises experience over a coherent narrative.

Through various snapshots of teenage life - two guys trying to make a bong in tech class, a degrading initiation for high-school freshermen, a fight at a party, a young teenager boldly buying beer from a corner shop and getting drunk for the very first time - through these wonderfully identifiable moments, Linklater memorably evokes what it is to be young and growing up.

Dr Strangelove, Or How I Learnt To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)

Stanley Kubricks classic 1964 film is a comedy about a nuclear holocaust. If that sounds bizarre that's because it is. Kubricks nightmarish black comedy is so deliciously funny that one often forgets that underlying the humour is the threat of atomic annihilation.

Kubrick had first intended to make a serious film about the subject in order to alert people to the dangers of accidental nuclear war. Yet as he set out to work on the script he encountered some problems with this approach. As Kubrick himself put it in a rare interview, "Ideas kept coming to me which I would discard because they were so ludicrous I kept saying to myself: I cant do this. People will laugh.

The project thus morphed fairly rapidly into a black comedy. Briefly, the film is depicts a paranoid, vehemently anti-communist US general who orders a fleet of B-52s to bomb Russian targets, apparently unaware that the Russians have developed a new Doomsday device which will automatically detonate if any nuclear weapons are dropped on the USSR. The President, upon hearing about the belligerent actions of his rogue suborindate, finds that he cannot recall the planes because only the general knows the codes.

The result is a film which forms a devastating critique on the nuclear build-up and strategy of the Cold War. Kubrick playful equates military aggression with sexual desire; the hawks in the US cabinet are called Buck Turgidson and Jack D. Ripper, while the president himself, a dove, is appropriately named Melvin Muffley. He lampoons the anti-communist paranoia of the hard right through the character of Jack D. Ripper who will only drink distilled water or rain water for fear of Communist contamination.

Perhaps most subtly is Kubricks allusions to how the American generals do not understand how the possession of nuclear weapons has fundamentally changed the nature of war. On board the B-52s, planes which are about to drop nuclear weapons over Russia, Kubrick shows us the survival kit of the pilot of the plane, Mayor King Kong. Packed full of chewing gum, stockings and condoms, Kong appears oblivious to the fact that if the plane does go down after dropping the nuclear weapons then the crew wont have to worry about survival.

One of the funniest political satires ever made, this film is a must watch.
(German police/AP)

(German police/AP)

(Markus Schreiber/AP)

Heres what we know on Thursday, three days after the attack.This is Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian man who is the main suspect in the attack. Police found documents belonging to him in the cab of the truck. Hes a convicted criminal in Tunisia and Italy and avoided being deported from Germany even though the authorities rejected his application. An international manhunt is under way to find him, with prosecutors issuing a public appeal for information along with the promise of a 100,000 euro (84,000) reward for information leading to his arrest.German officials decided Amri was a threat long before the truck was ploughed into the busy market on Monday. For six months this year, hed been under covert surveillance  but the operation was halted. This all came to light  along with the information that authorities had known him for months as someone with ties to Islamic extremists who used at least six different names and three nationalities  within hours of them warning the public that the man could be violent and armed. Its left critics asking exactly how closely German authorities are monitoring the hundreds of known Islamic extremists in the country.Merkel is running for re-election next year. Critics are lambasting her for allowing so many asylum-seekers (thought to be hundreds of thousands) to enter the country, allegedly without proper security checks. Rainer Wendt, the head of a union representing German police, said: People are rightly outraged and anxious that such a person can walk around here, keep changing his identity and the legal system cant cope with them.
The Daily Mail has been forced to issue an apology to NUS President Malia Bouattia after implying she harboured sympathies for ISIS.

It follows an an article published on 16th June that reported the controversial National Union of Students (NUS) president who has refused to condemn ISIS, claimed that young Britons have 'no choice but to go off to Syria' It follows an an article published on 16th June that reported the controversial National Union of Students (NUS) president who has refused to condemn ISIS, claimed that youngto join Islamic extremists because they 'feel so disempowered.'

On Wednesday, the Mail offered the following clarification:

A headline on an article published on 16 June 2016 said that Malia Bouattia claimed that young Muslims are travelling to join ISIS in Syria due to cuts to education. It also said that Ms Bouattia has refused to condemn ISIS. The correct position is that Ms Bouattia claimed that young Muslims were travelling to join ISIS in Syria for reasons including Government cuts to education and mass unemployment, and Ms Bouattia has condemned ISIS.

The article also said that Ms Bouattias comments were condemned by student groups. In fact, only one group was reported to have publicly condemned the comments. The group was Student Rights, who aim to protect the rights and freedoms of all students. We are happy to clarify these points and apologise for any confusion caused.

The back-track comes after complaints issued by those such as Assistant Secretary of the Muslim Council, Miqdaad Versi, who noted four separate errors within the original piece.

Daily Mail forced to apologise in huge correction for 4 separate "errors" slurring @nusuk President @MaliaBouattia after my complaint pic.twitter.com/foOiSt3EPl  Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) December 20, 2016

Bouattias election has proved deeply divisive, with some having very serious concerns.

When she refused to back a motion put forward to the NUS Executive Council to condemn the IS, she argued: We recognise that condemnation of ISIS appears to have become a justification for war and blatant Islamophobia. This rhetoric exacerbates the issue at hand and in essence is a further attack on those we aim to defend.

This is not the last time the daily paper has criticised the NUS president. In a separate piece published on 27th September, the Mail again attacked Bouattia, claiming The president of the National Union of Students has refused to apologise for comments condemned as anti-Semitic.

This was in response to an article co-authored by Bouattia five years ago, that described Birmingham University as something of a Zionist outpost.

Bouattia has not yet issued a response.
Do you cringe when friends ask you what you and your family usually do for Christmas?

Well, if you think your Christmas traditions are a bit weird, these festive habits from around the world may make you feel a little better

1. Opening presents after New Year  Spain

(karandaev /Thinkstock)

Small presents are exchanged in Spain on Christmas Eve, called Nochebuena in Spanish, an evening filled with a special meal and lashings of cava.

Christmas day isnt really about gifts, although some children may get a little something from Santa. The largest gift-giving day is January 6, when the Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the three kings to Bethlehem. The three kings leave gifts for children in their homes, much in the way that Santa does on Christmas day.

2. Krampus  the Austrian Christmas Villain

Apparently this guy is St. Nicks companion. Terrifying. (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

According to folklore legend, Krampus is the evil sidekick of St Nicholas. His particular job is to punish naughty children, kidnapping or beating them with a bundle of birch branches.

Towns around Austria and some other European states like Germany and Hungary put on Krampuslauf (Krampus run) parades, where people dress up as the mythical monsters to terrify the public into behaving well.

3. Live carp in the bath  Poland

(Katarzyna Mala/AP)

Carp is served as the main dish of a traditional Polish Christmas eve meal, partly because meat is not eaten that day. The carp is usually bought alive a few days before and kept swimming about in the bath until the final moment, when the matriarch dispatches it and cooks it up for the family to enjoy.

It is also thought that keeping a scale from the carp brings good luck throughout the year.

Many people do skip this tradition nowadays, opting instead for fillets of carp from the supermarket.

4. Feeding the Poo log  Catalonia

(peresanz/Thinkstock)

Back to Spain for this rather peculiar tradition. On December 8, a log with a smiling face and spindly legs is put out in the home.

Children are encouraged to feed the log, called a Caga Tio,  that translates to poo log  and look after him. This includes covering him with a little blanket to keep him warm.

Come Christmas Eve the blanket is removed to reveal the Caga Tios poo  sweets and treats for the kids. Nice, isnt it? Well not really, because as soon as the family is done with the little fella he is chucked on the fire for warmth.

5.Kentucky Fried Christmas  Japan

(Mark Lennihan/AP)

KFC has got the Christmas market well and truly cornered in Japan. It all started in 1974 when an extremely successful marketing campaign  Kentucky for Christmas  took advantage of the fact that foreign visitors found it hard to get their hands on turkey, so visited the fast food chain instead.

KFC invented a special meal for the occasion, including cake, and a strange tradition was born. Although Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, (around 1% of the population are christian) queues of up to two hours can be seen outside stores on the day.

6. Rollerskating to Church  Venezuela

(Rob Winner/AP)

In the capital city of Caracas, roads are closed to allow residents to skate to early morning mass, then reopened at 8am.

Morning masses, called Misas di Aguinaldo are held from December 16 to 25.

7. Nativity in Vegetables  Mexico

Christmas fact #16. In Mexico, the Noche de Rabanos (Night of Radishes) sees the red vegetable take pride of place in the Christmas story. pic.twitter.com/gsft736Bb5  Father Christmas (@FromFatherXmas) November 29, 2016

The night of the radishes  Noche de Rabanos  takes place in Oaxaca on December 23.

Children are taught to carve radishes into elaborate shapes and adults enter competitions with carved radishes depicting world events, including religious scenes like the nativity and the last supper.

8. Spider on the Christmas tree  Ukraine

(AP)

Ukrainians add a spider and web ornament to their Christmas trees every year.

This tradition is based on a folklore tale that an old woman could not afford to decorate her tree. She went off to bed on Christmas eve feeling glum and in the morning she woke to a tree beautifully decorated in spiders web.

Hanging the decoration is supposed to bring good luck.
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Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo paid tribute to the soaring architecture of the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, calling the Eero Saarinen-designed terminal an "iconic landmark." As construction begins on a new hotel, as well as the flight center's restoration, PBS will air a new American Masters documentary about the brilliant mid-century architect, Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future.

Saarinen's career includes other monuments of modern buildings, including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan (both are National Historic Landmarks). He also designed Dulles Airport and the Ingalls Rink at Yale, which is where he studied architecture.

However, perhaps due to its closure in 2001, the TWA Flight Center might be the most romanticized of his buildings. This exclusive clip looks at how he would actually build large models to understand how to create the sweeping lines (you'll also see some great drone footage, and his son Eric Saarinen, who served at director of photography for the documentary, visit the empty TWA Flight Center):

Referring to his father's sudden death at age 51 from a brain tumor in 1961 (a year before the flight center opened), Eric Saarinen said, "Closure was something I didn't have with my dad. But I forgive him for his genius. He figured out a way to be important across time, so even though he died young, he is still alive."

The film also features interviews with architects Kevin Roche, Cesar Pelli, Rafael Vinoly, and Robert A. M. Stern, and industrial designer Niels Diffrient, as well as architecture critic Paul Goldberger and Architectural Record's Cathleen McGuigan, among others. Peter Franzen and Blythe Danner are the voices of Eero and his second wife Aline Saarinen

"This film is both an immersive look at an architect's work and a father-son story across generations. Once Eric agreed to go on this journey with me, I knew the results would be compelling and revealing," said filmmaker Peter Rosen.

Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future airs at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27.
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Lincoln Parks city officials are still considering their options when it comes to being part of the potential purchase of the Downriver Sewage Disposal System, located in Wyandotte.

The agreement, for nearly $58 million, has to be approved by all 13 communities that make up the Downriver Utility Wastewater Authority, or DUWA, in order to move forward with the purchase.

Lincoln Park will discuss their portion of the deal with a 6:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall Jan. 9.

The Wayne County Commission also has to formally sign off on the deal.

The system is currently owned and staffed by Wayne County, but once the 13-member communities and the Wayne County Commission each still have to approve the contract.

The facility, which handles raw sewage from Allen Park, Belleville, Brownstown Twp., Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge, Riverview, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Van Buren Twp. and Wyandotte has 50 employees.

All 50 employees will be retained during a several month transition, at which point the Authority will reassess the needs and evaluate employment at that time.

With ownership of the system, the Authority, not the county will set prices for water treatment.

The system is the second largest of its kind in Michigan. It can process up to 225 million gallons of wastewater per day.
Shumate Middle School students were welcomed by special guests Friday before they headed off for the Christmas break.

Vice principal Tracy Richardson and principal Els Ferguson dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus respectively and stood in front of the school welcoming students and their parents as they arrived for the day.
I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission.

A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it.

Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Womens Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy.
Here in Thailand,

Cat is a 23 year old Thai student who started living with us in 2013 and is now our adopted daughter. She is in her last year of

college.



Natcha cooks, cleans and teaches us, her husband Gong, takes care of the grounds and also cooks. Nitchanan is their 4 year old daughter. They live with us in an apartment attached to our house. Natcha cooks, cleans and teaches us, her husband Gong, takes care of the grounds and also cooks. Nitchanan is their 4 year old daughter. They live with us in an apartment attached to our house.

Last but not least, there is Jai Dee, our Golden Retriever puppy who came to live with us at 8 weeks old in September 2019. Five months ago we adopted a rescue dog named TongDee, which we've shortened to TongTong.



Enjoy,

Danny






Police ID foreigner found dead off Pattaya

PATTAYA: Pattaya police yesterday (Dec 22) identified the foreigner whose body was found tied to a concrete pile in the waters off Koh Larn last week as a 52-year-old American national.

deathcrimemurdersuicidemarine

By Bangkok Post

Friday 23 December 2016, 08:58AM

The man found dead off Koh Larn last week has been identified as Frank Thomas, seen here in video captures released by Pattaya police. Photo: Screengrab Pattaya Police via Bangkok Post

After six days of a joint investigation by officers from Muang Pattaya Police Station, Chon Buri Provincial Police and Tourist Police, the officers believe the dead man is Frank Thomas who arrived in Thailand in 2013 on a tourist visa which he had continually renewed.

Muang Pattaya Police Chief Col Apichai Krobpetch said investigators were still working on two theories: murder and suicide committed by a special method.

On Dec 14, Mr Thomas visited Koh Larn where he went diving and catching fish with a spear gun. His body was found in the sea near Samae beach two days later.

Col Apichai said Mr Thomas had a Thai wife but was not with her when he went to Koh Larn.

Police were collecting more information about him and trying to contact his wife for an interview to find more clues in the case.

Mr Thomass body was found about 200 metres off Samae Beach on the popular tourist island at 2:30pm last Friday (Dec 16). He was wearing a Mares brand wetsuit and flippers and had around B1,500 in cash on his body. His throat had been cut. When rescue workers brought his body onto a boat, they found he was wearing a black Samsonite bag which was tied by a nylon rope to a concrete pile to which buoys are attached.

Read original story here.
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.
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.
This journal serves a community of small businesses worldwide. Here John Wiley Spiers addresses topics on business start-up and expansion and reports relevant daily headlines.John Wiley Spiers is a small business international trader, author of HOW SMALL BUSINESS TRADES WORLDWIDE , and lecturer at various colleges.



For those interested in becoming members of this community, contact John at john@johnspiers.com.
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 ...
Montana State Parks will host guided hikes at state parks across the state as part of Americas State Parks First Day Hike initiative on New Years Day on Sunday, Jan. 1.

Make a New Year's resolution to your health and happiness by kicking off 2017 with an invigorating First Day Hike at a state park near you. This year, First Day Hike events will be offered at 11 state parks throughout Montana. These free, family-friendly hikes are easy to moderate in difficulty and range from 1-5 miles in length.
Hoarding has never been as serious a business as it is today. Hoarding activities peaked in the aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetising the two high denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

Though demonetisation was meant to target the illegal hoarding of black money, it has sparked off a new wave of money hoarding by the aam aadmi. People are withdrawing cash, and not spending it, eventually obstructing cash flow in the economy.

People are withdrawing cash and keeping it with them. They are not spending the cash they have with them, which is what we dub as hoarding. The problem with this approach is that money is prevented from being in circulation as it is being hoarded by the public, said RBI principal adviser Alpana Killawala. Killawala added that if this is what the public, at large, ends up doing, we have a real problem at hand. Then however much we print [currency cash], that may not be enough, said Killawala.

RBI deputy governor R. Gandhi had said there was adequate supply of notes and hoarding of notes helps nobody's cause. In one of its press releases dated November 17, the RBI addressed the public asking them not to panic and not to hoard new currency notes.

Pitted against this kind of money hoarding by the public, a wide network of dealers are helping convert hoarded black money into white. Even as two Axis Bank employees have been detained for 'helping' black money hoarders convert their wealth into white, another parallel charge against the bank has been levelled. It is being probed if a section of the bank's employees, at the managerial levels, have illegally converted old notes for a designated commission.

The Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department have been authorised to swoop down on hoarded new currency cash across the country. Both ED and the IT department are assisted by the FinMin's secretive Financial Intelligence Unit. The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau,too, is part of the law enforcement drive aimed at flushing out black money.

It has been reported that during one of the many raids conducted by the Income Tax department,the agency unearthed over Rs 70 crore in cash from Chennai in the form of new hoarded currency notes.

IT sources said that so far the department, aided by police forces mainly of four south Indian states, has confiscated close to Rs 100 crore of hoarded cash. Two businessmen based out of Chennai are being probed with regard to the seizures. Another two businessmen in Ahmedabad are under the scanner of the financial intelligence agencies. Those targeted are traders, gem and gold merchants and a section of realty agents.

While the current spate of seizures was being carried out mostly in the southern pockets of the country, they have been just few in Mumbai, the country's financial capital. Sources said synergy between the police with officials belonging to the ED and Income Tax departments is the reason behind low numbers in Mumbai. So far raids have yielded just over Rs 120 crore in cash in Mumbai and Rs 1,500 crore worth undisclosed income detected by the Income Tax according to CBDT chairman Sushil Chandra.

While the IT department is concerned primarily with the untaxed black money, the ED is simultaneously looking into the violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The two respective acts look into and fix if money is being laundered through hawala or other allied means.

Commenting on black money hoarders choosing to deport bulk cash into bank accounts, union revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said that by merely depositing money into bank accounts does not per se turn black money into white. It happens only when the Income Tax department levies a tax on money and in the primary instance access the source of black money.

A senior ED officer said the agency has been very discrete when it comes to raiding premises where new currency notes were being hoarded. That apart, the ED is also looking into if hoarded money is getting laundered for illegal activities. But for the time being there is no coordination between various financial intelligence and enforcement agencies at the central level.

It has been reported that about 72,000 dormant accounts across public and private sector banks have jumped back to life during the first 17 days after the demonetisation announcement.
BILLINGS -- Overseeing 12 years of work on such controversial and passionately debated issues as grizzly bears, wolves and bison has worn Jeff Hagener down.

Last month, Hagener told Gov. Steve Bullock that he was retiring as Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks director, having served under three governors. His last day in office was Monday.

Jeff will certainly be missed, Bullock said. Hes been great.

Next to the governor, his is the most difficult job in the state, said Bruce Farling, executive director of Montana Trout Unlimited. Montanans are passionate about this stuff.

Bullock praised Hagener's work on sage grouse, expanding hunting and working on delisting of grizzly bears.

Were currently in the process of trying to fill Jeffs extremely large shoes, Bullock said.

Montana-born

Hagener, a 62-year-old Havre native, was first appointed to the FWP directors position by Republican Gov. Judy Martz in 2001. He had been working at what was then the state lands department. When Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, took office in 2005, he kept Hagener on for four years before replacing him with Joe Maurier, the governors college roommate.

Maurier reorganized the department and, with Schweitzers guidance, moved to acquire more land as public access to private property declined. The large land purchases  some of which were clouded by accusations of favoritism  led to sour relations with eastern Montana legislators and landowners.

Maurier was a disaster, said Sen. John Brenden, R-Scobey, a frequent critic of FWP. They were running FWP out of the governors office.

Brenden said FWPs relations with some landowners was so bad during the Maurier era that many were considering locking out public hunters in protest.

Greedy, minority sporting groups were screwing it up for general hunters, Brenden said, but Hagener has helped rebuild some trust.

When I would differ with Jeff, it was in a professional way, Brenden said. I have a lot of admiration for Jeff Hagener.

Hagener acknowledged that sportsmen and women are much more divided than when he was a youngster growing up on the Hi-Line.

Now there are so many competing groups, he said.

That division among sporting interests can make it more difficult for the Fish and Wildlife Commission to rule, Hagener said.

Interlude

After his ouster from the Schweitzer administration, Hagener worked for various nonprofit groups including the American Prairie Foundation and the Montana Wildlife Federation.

When Steve Bullock won the governors race in 2012, Hagener was brought back to the directors office to try and rebuild trust with landowners as well as increase morale within the agency.

"Jeff returned to FWP to pretty much patch together a reorganization project that may have had good intentions but in the end didnt work," said Tom Palmer, retired FWP information manager, in an email. "He aimed first to rebuild relationships and he maintained an open-door policy with his employees and the public like no other Ive seen."

Even though hed only been gone for four years, Hagener said the department was fundamentally different.

What was really obvious to me when I came back was that two-thirds of the employees were new, he said.

With so many new folks working for the agency, Hagener and his staff initiated a new effort called 15 & Forward. The resulting document is meant to be the foundation on which the agency establishes priorities, programs and services for the next 10-plus years.

"People dont really care how smart you are in that kind of position," Palmer said. "They want to know that you care  and Jeff Hageners concern for Montana, these unique resources, the folks who managed them and the folks who depended on making a living off the land  was palpable. Hes good man who I was proud to work for."

Lifespan

Those who know Hagener credit his open-door policy, fairness and willingness to hear opposing views as his strengths  all traits that likely helped him survive 12 years as director.

On a national level, 3.2 years is the lifespan of directors, Hagener said. And there are a few people in other states that were 25-year veterans, so they are holding the average up.

Such experience likely helped him get fee increases passed to shore up FWPs budget, as well as push the state toward a sage grouse management plan to avoid the birds listing as an endangered species.

If Montana hadnt come on board it would have shifted the tide, Hagener said of the controversial sage grouse issue.

Although his diplomacy didnt work when trying to align Montana with Idaho and Wyoming on wolf management when the big canines were delisted from the Endangered Species Act, he said the states have been able to stand together on grizzly bears, which are in the process of being delisted.

The future

Looking ahead, Hagener said although changes to management of Yellowstone bison have been made he doesnt know if that controversial issue, which draws national attention, will ever be fully resolved. Tribes may drive that discussion more as they work to build bison herds, the most recent being the Blackfeet Indians along the northern Rocky Mountain Front.

I wouldnt mind seeing the grizzly bear being totally delisted, Hagener said, but he added that, because of litigation, it will be a long time before it occurs.

His successor is likely to be challenged by invasive species and wildlife diseases, Hagener predicted  everything from zebra and quagga mussels to chronic wasting disease. Another area that will test the next director is finding funding for animals that arent game species, a problem that many states face. Locating money to keep state parks adequately financed will also be a challenge, he said.

Where funding will come from, your guess is as good as mine, Hagener said. Montanans like to think residents shouldnt pay that much.

He noted Montana State Parks got no traction at all when it showed that surrounding states pay more for park management.

So there are a lot of trials a new director will face. Hagener, on the other hand, is looking forward to having some time off to visit his son in New Mexico. After 33 years in state employment he has no plans to seek another job anytime soon, although hes been contacted about consulting.

Im mulling those things over, he said. But maybe Ill just want to stay in Montana and hunt and fish.
Hijackers who took over a domestic Libyan flight on Friday and forced it to land in Malta have surrendered, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.The hijackers were searched and taken into custody, Muscat said on his Twitter feed.

Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers.  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

They had earlier freed all passengers on board the Airbus A320.
For critters that hardly ever get seen, moose get around.

One 5-year-old female even took an ambitious wander through the Bob Marshall Wilderness that would make a good extreme trail race, if only there was a trail. She left her home range near Choteau, crossed the Continental Divide, spent the summer along the Clark Fork around Deer Lodge and Anaconda, and then moseyed back north near Rogers Pass to Fairfield, past Choteau and was last seen near Conrad.

As Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 4 spokesman Bruce Auchly noted, AAA couldnt have come up with a more scenic trip.

We know this because biologist Nick DeCesare of FWP Region 2 has completed four years of a 10-year study looking at Montanas moose population across the Rocky Mountains. The study now includes 105 moose with radio collars. Most never travel outside a few square miles of home range. But a few demonstrate just how well those long legs ramble.

But anyone whos encountered a moose moving through deep snow understands the value of those stilts. They can sprint through chest-deep powder while a pursuing wolf flounders.

DeCesare cited an Albertan study which found that moose breathing rates and metabolism improve as the temperature drops, even when the mercury reaches 40 below zero.

When the temperatures got above 20 Farenheit in winter, they breathe harder and metabolize harder, DeCesare said. That speaks to how they really are adapted to cold, snowy places.

Biologist and wildlife guidebook author Kerry Foresman noted a mooses forelegs are so long, it must get down on its elbows to drink unless its standing in a lake. DeCesare added that while they show up everywhere from valley bottoms to high mountain plateaus, the spots they pick tend to be surprisingly wet.

All of which leads up to the fact we dont know as many facts about moose as we do with deer or elk  their nearest relations in the wild ungulate family. DeCesare said the historical record indicates moose werent even a regular resident of Montana until around 200 years ago. Lewis and Clark only reported seeing two moose during their Voyage of Discovery through Montana in 1805-06.

The FWP study looks at moose in three major landscapes: the Rocky Mountain Front, the Cabinet Mountains and the Big Hole Valley. Each has important differences in forage, predator composition, agricultural use and even weather patterns.

Each also shows different population dynamics. The Rocky Mountain Front moose appear healthiest, despite being most affected by a winter tick infestation that makes many scratch off significant amounts of fur. This problem has become widespread in New England moose populations. But both adult and calf survival rates are strong, which may explain why that 5-year-old took such a hike. DeCesare said the landscape may be nearing full occupancy, encouraging younger members to seek out new grazing grounds.

Adult moose in the Cabinets near Libby do well, but their calves lag. DeCesare suspects predation by wolves and black bears may be taking out the youngsters. Nevertheless, the population holds fairly stable there.

In the Big Hole of Montanas southwestern edge, disease drives the numbers.

Calf production is good, but the cows are dying at a higher rate than youd like to see, DeCesare said. We think the mortality is health-related, particularly from some parasite, disease. Theyre dying at times of the year when nutrition shouldnt be a problem. Were still trying to figure whats going on.

Biologists have run previous studies on moose populations in the Yaak Valley in the 1980s and the Ruby and Tobacco Root mountains in the 1960s and 70s. But no statewide comprehensive study has been mounted until now.

Were at a population level thats below what we were at 20 years ago, DeCesare said. There have been a few rises and falls in between. But were not looking at crash like in Minnesota, where theyre disappearing from the landscape.
[ADDITIONAL VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

IDF and border police forces during the night of 22 Kislev, Wednesday/Thursday, destroyed the home of the terrorist responsible for the 7 Tishrei (9 October 2016) terrorist attack at Jerusalems Ammunition Hill.

The home is located in the village of Akev (Kalandia). Accompanying the report are two videos, above is the official video from the IDF spokesman unit showing soldiers operating on the scene. The second one below is from Arab media, showing the response the Israeli forces received when entering the village.

As troops moved in, they came under fire and IEDs were thrown at them by rioters, the IDF said. There were no injuries to security forces.

The destruction of the apartment was carried out by smashing down walls and sealing off entrances and windows.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Mr. Oleg Vyshniakov, Israels Honorary Consul to West Ukraine, responded to the attack on Reb Nachman tziyun saying: I am startled by the barbarian attack at the Reb Nachman of Breslovs Synagogue. Anti-Semitism is a severe phenomenon, which exists not only in the Ukraine unfortunately, and it must be addressed immediately and with full force. However, what concerns me more in this case is the appearance of this despicable violence directed towards a holy landmark to the Jewish people, occurring just as the relations between Israel and the Ukraine tightens.

It was just recently the UN held a vote regarding Crimea, in which Israel expressed support in the Ukraines right for sovereignty. Furthermore, Volodymyr Groysman, Ukraine Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Israel in the near future.

I am well aware that there are some small groups who may not be in favor of these actions. These people are traitors and should be punished by the full extent of the law. According to the Ukrainian Criminal Law, section number 161, I expect they receive between five to eight years in prison. Those guilty of these crimes should be arrested and must be sentenced of their deeds, so that it is made clear to all others that they mustnt act in this manner. I am glad that Yuriy Lutsenko, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has taken this case under his own hands.

I hope the Israelis will understand that this attack was done as a provocative act and does not reflect the Ukrainian attitude towards Israel and Israelis in the least. The Ukrainian people are very grateful for this support and true friendship.

Photo: Mr. Vyshniakov.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Israeli Honorary Consulate to West Ukraine)
MK Basel Ghattas has informed Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein that he his voluntarily giving up his parliamentary immunity to permit police to move ahead with the investigation against him. Ghattas made his announcement on Thursday, 22 Kislev, after the Knesset Interior Committee voted to strip him of his immunity, and he is aware the move would pass in Knesset too. Hence, he looked better stepping forward on his own to the Speaker.

In his letter to Speaker Edelstein, Ghattas explained the outcome was known in advance, insisting he is the subject of a witch hunt, trying to turn the case against him into a racial issue since he is an Arab lawmaker. He told police investigators that he was unaware the envelopes he passed to imprisoned security prisoners contained mobile phone SIM cards.

The investigation against Ghattas continues with approval of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. He stands accused of smuggling mobile phones and parts to security prisoners in Ketziot Prison.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Dear Congressman Zinke,

I am a 60-year-old Vietnam Era, U.S. Army veteran. I believe that my oath to protect and defend the United States and our Constitution did not expire with my discharge in 1980. That is why I am writing you today. I visited your office in Helena a few weeks ago to express my concern over the hiring of Steve Bannon of Breitbart News to be a chief advisor of our incoming president. Mr. Bannon panders to and supports the white supremacist, so called alt-right. In visiting your office, I wanted to find out if you were planning on making a public statement condemning Mr. Bannons views and letting the Trump Transition Team know that Mr. Bannon was not an appropriate person to be serving in the West Wing. I received a wishy-washy response from your staffer and have not seen any public declaration on your part.

I have also been alarmed by the rise of Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute. This man lives in your hometown of Whitefish and coined the term alt-right to legitimize the suit and tie arm of the white supremacy movement in this country. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups in the U.S., considers him to be dangerous and the National Policy Institute to be on a par with the KKK. In support of this man, a Neo-Nazi site called the Daily Stormer has been harassing Jewish and human rights activists in Whitefish!

Gov. Bullock, Sen. Daines and Sen. Tester have spoken out against this. I went to your office again today to ask if YOU, Mr. Zinke, were going to do the same. Your staffer said you would not be making a public statement. I want to know, why not? Are you afraid it will jeopardize your appointment to secretary of the interior? Do you agree with Steven Bannon, Richard Spencer and the rest of the white supremacists? What is it, Mr. Zinke? Standing on the sidelines and saying nothing is not acceptable. Saying nothing implies agreement with this evil. By saying nothing you are complicit. You are still working for the people of Montana as our sole representative in the House. I ask that you stand up for us, your fellow Montanans and your neighbors. Fulfill your oath to protect and defend!

Mary Jean Martin

Helena
Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has remained in contact with Russian intelligence services since he arrived in Moscow three years ago, according to a declassified report on a congressional investigation released Thursday.

The House intelligence committee released the report to provide what the panels chairman called a fuller account of Edward Snowdens crimes and the reckless disregard he has shown for U.S. national security.

In a rare example of bipartisanship, the panels top Republican and Democrat joined in castigating Snowden, who in 2013 revealed U.S. government efforts to hack into the data pipelines used by U.S. companies to serve customers overseas. The programs collected the telephone metadata records of millions of Americans and examined emails from overseas.

Snowden fled to Hong Kong and then to Russia to avoid prosecution.

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the committee chairman, said it will take a long time to mitigate the damage Snowden caused.

The committees top Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said Snowden isnt a whistleblower as he and his defenders claim. Most of the material he stole had nothing to do with Americans privacy, and its compromise has been of great value to Americas adversaries and those who mean to do America harm, Schiff said.

Release of the report comes as the intelligence community has accused Russia of interfering in the U.S. elections. Snowdens supporters have pressed President Barack Obama to pardon him before he leaves office in late January. But the details in the intelligence committees report, coupled with the intense focus on Russias hacking of Democratic emails, could doom the push for a pardon.

Lisa Monaco, Obamas adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism, said last year that Snowden should come home to the United States and be judged by a jury of his peers  not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime. Right now, hes running away from the consequences of his actions.

The report pointed to statements in June 2016 by the deputy chairman of the defense and security committee in the Russian parliaments upper house, who asserted that Snowden did share intelligence with the Russian government.

(AP)
President-elect Donald Trump is criticizing the Obama administrations decision to allow the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

He says in a tweet: As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th. Thats the day he will be inaugurated as president.

In a striking rupture with past practice, the United States allowed the U.N. Security Council on Friday to condemn the settlements as a flagrant violation of international law. In doing so, the Obama administration brushed aside Trumps demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israels leadership.

(AP)
The leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America  the nations largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization  issued the following statement this afternoon in the wake of the passage of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council condemning Israeli settlement activity.

Today, the United Nations maintained its longstanding tradition of anti-Israel animus. The Security Council passed a resolution that cannot be properly characterized as anything other than biased against Israel. But what was an unprecedented and deeply disturbing break from the past was todays decision by the Obama Administration not to veto this resolution, but to merely abstain and to permit the resolution to pass 14-0. The Orthodox Union is gravely disappointed with this decision by President Obama. Over the course of his presidency, Mr. Obama repeatedly reassured American Jews, and others who care for the security and welfare of Israel, that his commitment to American support for Israels security was unshakable. By allowing this resolution to pass in the waning weeks of his Administration, President Obama has undermined his legacy in that regard.

The Orthodox Union appreciates the statements by Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress calling upon the Administration to veto this latest calumny, and their commitment to respond forcefully to such United Nations action. The OU Advocacy Center will work to support these efforts.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
FORSYTH  Fifth-graders at Maroa-Forsyth Grade School have a new claim to fame after becoming published authors.

Students in each of the four fifth-grade classes contributed to a book that was published with the help of author Elena Rahrig, who first visited the school in September. Rahrig started her own business, Otter Publishing New York.

Publishing the book was part of a goal teachers had to show the students what the writing process is like. The book contains writing, illustrations and photos from the students.

I wanted to see what everyone had written, said Jayda Scott as the students last week received the first copies of the books they had ordered. Some were trying to sneak looks at the books even before their teachers distributed the copies.

We created a book, Jayda said. It was awesome.

Rahrig, who lives in Delphos, Ohio, visited the school following an invitation from Shauna Bohlmann, who was substitute teaching for Shelly Upperman's class at the beginning of the school year. It was an idea developed as the class read the book Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, about an author eating lunch with students.

It's such a great experience to have it grow into something more, said Rahrig, who enjoyed her visits with the students. They had a lot of fun.

Rahrig continued working with the students, but they weren't expecting to see her again. She surprised them a few weeks ago by returning with her daughter during a pizza party.

We didn't know she was coming, Charlie Ritter said.

Rahrig has published nine books, with themes related to self-esteem and personal development.

Isabella Nilles found selling the class book easier than writing for it.

It's a keepsake, Isabella said. We can wrap them as presents.

Throughout the process, the students have developed an interest in writing.

I want to do it again, Charlie said.

Having their work published is something the students will remember for years to come, Bohlmann said.

Their literacy skills have grown as potential writers and lifelong lovers of literature, Bohlmann said. We hope it's spurred some excitement for the younger students, too.

In addition to the 204-page printed book, more of the students' work is available online. Matthew Nadelhoffer said many of the stories have to do with courage, a theme they were asked to write about. The Maroa-Forsyth Trojans 5th Grade Class Book of Short Stories is available for sale on Amazon.

Bohlmann said the fifth grade teachers will use the money raised from selling the books for various needs in the their classrooms.
Greedy hedge fund giants are being forced to cut their vast fees after facing a walkout from disgruntled investors.

The funds have had a terrible year in which thousands of backers have pulled their cash out and billions of pounds have been lost.

Some of the sector's biggest names, such as Crispin Odey, have suffered a disastrous period in which a number of their high-profile bets have failed.

And they have faced growing criticism for their use of short selling, where they take a bet on a company stock falling.

Walkout: Hedge funds have had a terrible year in which thousands of backers have pulled their cash out and billions of pounds have been lost

At the same time they face increasing competition from automatic trading programs, which can produce solid performances at a fraction of the cost.

It has forced many bosses to rethink the expensive charges for which their industry is famous.

'People will allow you to make one or two mistakes as a fund manager, but if you make mistakes that are really costly then you don't get the support,' said veteran market commentator David Buik of Panmure Gordon.

'These people are human and their performance can falter. And we keep being told it's robot time and there will be less of us working in the City.'

Hedge funds have traditionally charged a 2 per cent management fee and 20 per cent for good performance.

But the model is coming under pressure from cheaper rivals.

Investors have pulled 42billion out of the funds this year, the largest amount since the height of the financial crisis in 2009.

Big-name managers were completely wrong-footed by the election of Donald Trump and the Brexit vote.

The industry prides itself on an ability to beat the wider stock market. But funds were up just 2.3 per cent in the year to the end of November, while America's blue chip S&P 500 index rose 9.8 per cent over the same period.

Many managers are cutting their charges as a result.

Barclays analysts say two-thirds of the funds now offer some sort of discount. Some have cut their charges for loyal or very large customers, and others have a sliding scale of costs based on the size of returns.

New funds are charging an average 1.49 per cent in management fees and 17.5 per cent in incentive costs, according to Hedge Fund Research.

But Andrew Beer, chief executive of Beachhead Capital Management, which offers alternatives to hedge funds, said the model was dead.

'Investors take all the downside and pay away most of the upside,' Beer told the Financial Times. He added: 'These fee reductions are rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.'

But not all hedge fund bosses had a bad year.

Tory party donor Sir Michael Hintze emerged as a big winner, with his firm CQS Directional Opportunities gaining 30 per cent so far this year.
Italy's teetering banking system could need almost 50billion to stave off collapse as its government prepares to rescue the worlds oldest lender.

Ministers have already lined up a 17billion bailout package to keep the financial system afloat  but fears are growing this may not be enough.

It comes as Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the countrys third-largest bank, prepares for taxpayer support after failing in a last-effort to raise cash from the private sector.

A view of the main facade of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the oldest bank in the world

The firms board was set to meet last night amid speculation that a government rescue could take up to three months to complete.

Earlier this week, Monte dei Paschi warned it only had enough cash to survive until mid-April.

It had been trying to raise 4.2billion from the markets but managed less than half of this  and the plan was left in tatters when Qatar, which was supposed to be the largest backer, walked away from the deal.

There is now panic that the banks woes could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Mihir Kapadia, founder of Sun Global Investments, said: If Monte dei Paschi fails, there are strong fears that its collapse could pull down much of the countrys bad debt-ridden banking sector with it.

The Italian governments efforts cannot end with simple state support, but rather large-scale banking reforms and stringent policy measures are needed.

Unless this is achieved a banking crisis looks almost inevitable.

'This is not just a threat to Italy, but for the larger Eurozone, the euro and the regions political future.

Italys financial system is weighed down by 300billion of bad debt following years of stagnation after the financial crisis.

Calculations by Bloomberg suggest the industry will need 47billion, with 26billion coming from the state.

It dwarfs the 17billion which politicians have agreed to pump into endangered banks.

Monte dei Paschi is presently the most at risk but another seven smaller lenders could also collapse.

And even UniCredit, the nations largest bank and its only globally important one, is considered a risk by some.

It last week announced plans to shut 1,000 branches, axe 14,000 jobs and raise 11billion from private investors in a bid to become safer.

Experts said a rescue of Monte dei Paschi would be politically toxic.

Earlier this week, Monte dei Paschi (pictured) warned it only had enough cash to survive until mid-April

European Union rules on state aid mean that bondholders have to lose money in a so-called bail-in before the government is allowed to help.

In most countries this would only affect large institutions but Italy is unusual because many pensioners hold bank debt.

In the case of Monte dei Paschi, 40,000 ordinary savers have bonds worth 1.7bn and are likely to lose some or all of their cash.

There is talk in Italy of a compensation scheme to refund these people but it is unclear how much wriggle room EU law allows.

Analysts at Aberdeen Asset Management said the government rescue could be classed as precautionary because the bank has not yet failed and the government can claim to be acting early.

In the case of Monte dei Paschi, 40,000 ordinary savers have bonds worth 1.7bn and are likely to lose some or all of their cash

As a result, full state aid rules might not apply  allowing a fudge which will protect the public from losses.

The stakes are considered to be very high and an early challenge for new prime minister Paolo Gentiloni.

His predecessor quit after losing a crunch referendum on constitutional reform, triggering a political crisis.

Last year, one pensioner committed suicide when he lost his money after a round of bailouts.

Ferdinando Giugliano, economics commentator for La Repubblica newspaper, said: There will be a number of people who will feel defrauded by this operation.

A year ago, we saw widespread political discontent because of this decision. There were protests. The bank of Italy, the regulator, the government came under huge pressure.
THUMBS UP! To the overwhelming generosity of so many citizens, especially in the midst of the winter holidays. In the last seven days, we've profiled The Decatur Association of Realtors, who filled backpacks for Webster-Cantrell Hall teens, and Durfee Magnet School instructor Sara Bodzin and her social media friends and acquaintances. Bodzin and her group played Secret Santa with generous gifts for her students. Kindergarten students at the school also received gifts from teachers. And kids in need at French Academy, Hope Academy and Baum School receive Bags of Hope from St. Paul's Lutheran Church. This is truly a giving community.

THUMBS UP! To the approval of residency requirements for Decatur firefighers. We're not endorsing draconian measures. But asking employees paid by the city to live within the city limits is not an unreasonable expectation. Nonunion city employees have already been under residency requirement since May. The agreement allows workers to move elsewhere in the county after five years of employment. It's a decision which most should find clear-headed and reasonable.

THUMBS UP! To Decatur Christian School for students' efforts gathering money for the Salvation Army. The students stood near a kettle in the middle of South Grand Street and elicited funds during dismissal time. Parents picking up children were prompted to donate by the novel idea.

THUMBS DOWN! To the drift of politicians toward social media presentations direct to the public. Don't get us wrong, there's nothing wrong with directing pointed messages toward your constituency. But when the decision to use Facebook Live or Twitter is an attempt to avoid pointed questions, politicans aren't being responsible to the people they're serving. Sometimes we need to see a politician answer a pointed question, or squirm while attempting to answer it, or to simply acknowledge that they've heard the question.

THUMBS UP! To the Illinois Secretary of State office's plans to continue mailing out license plate renewal notices in the new year, with or without a new budget deal. The mailings were discontinued in an unpopular decision that led to too many drivers being forced to pay extra fees to renew expired license plates. Each car owner has a responsibility to take care of their vehicles, of course. But it's easy to understand how the annual trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles could fall into a forgotten area. All of us know at least one person who's driven with an expired license within the last 12 months. If we were spoiled by the ease of mailed reminders, so be it. Keep spoiling us. There's no good reason for it to be otherwise.

THUMBS UP! And thank you, and safe journeys to Shad Edwards. After 26 years of service with the Illinois State Police, Edwards has taken a step away with retirement. He also served a pair of terms as a Decatur city councilman. His tales of dealing with gangs and white supremacists, among other lawbreakers, are harrowing. We are thankful there are people like Edwards willing to do the work many of us would be unwilling or unable to tackle.

THUMBS UP! To the announcement that Exelon is adding 400 jobs to the Clinton and Quad-Cities nuclear power plants. The Clinton plant is expected to have a more aggressive hiring process, as the plant had been preparing to close next year.
EZULWINI  The Chief Executive Officer of Ezulwini Town Board Vusumutiwendvodza Matsebula has been accused of not being honest with the organisations union.



The unions Chairperson Vusi Ngwenya, he alleged Matsebula has, for quite some time, been playing dirty tricks with them regarding the release of a salary review report for members of staff.



He said this during his appearance before the commission of inquiry which is currently investigating the irregularities at the organisation.

The authenticity of the allegations made during the course of the inquiry is yet to be determined by the commissioners.



Ngwenya alleged that after the report was compiled by a consultant, the CEO denied the union a chance to witness its presentation.

He never allowed us to see the new structure of salaries, yet this was about us. Up until today, we do not have the report. This pains me a lot because our boss changes whenever it comes to issues of salaries, he alleged.



Ngwenya informed the commission that until they see the report, they will never trust the CEO again. Many times we have tried engaging him and he tells us that he is waiting for the minister of housing and urban development to approve it. He has been using the name of the ministry up until today, alleged Ngwenya.



Asked on what the union did after seeing that they had a challenge in getting the report, Ngwenya said they engaged the office of the corporate affairs manager and were allegedly informed that the review was not properly done.



He said their gripe was that it was not explained to them as to what exactly was not properly done in the report.




CHICAGO (AP)  Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner contributed $50 million to his own campaign fund as he prepares to seek re-election in 2018  a record-setting amount that Republicans said was intended as a warning to Democrats considering challenging him.

The money from the multimillionaire former private equity investor, made public in documents filed Thursday, appeared to be the largest single donation any candidate for state office has given his or her own campaign, campaign finance experts said. Rauner's team indicated there was more to come, describing it as a "first installment."

The contribution comes as several Democrats are weighing whether to take him on. Among them is Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. and Ethel Kennedy and former operator of Chicago's Merchandise Mart, who's expected to make an announcement next month.

Billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker, state Sen. Andy Manar and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos also have said they are considering bids.

The Illinois GOP, funded almost entirely by Rauner, already has been attacking potential candidates in online ads and email blasts.

The latest donation ups the ante for the 2018 race, which follows a record-setting 2014 campaign when first-time candidate Rauner and incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn spent around $100 million total.

"It's intended to intimidate people," said Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. "It's a pretty big statement by the governor that's intended to scare away opposition in the governor's race and put pressure on the Legislature."

Rauner has clashed with Democrats who control the Statehouse since even before he took office, pushing a pro-business and anti-union agenda he says is needed to repair decades of Illinois' financial mismanagement. Democrats have pushed back, saying Rauner's plans would hurt working families.

The result has been a stalemate unseen in Illinois history. Lawmakers have been unable to agree on a state budget, causing steep cuts to social services, higher education and other programs. The state now has a multibillion-dollar budget deficit and a nearly $11 billion backlog of unpaid bills.

A National Institute on Money in State Politics database ranking the biggest single donations of self-financed candidates showed billionaire businessman Thomas Golisano at the top with a $50 million loan to his 2002 New York gubernatorial bid. He ran unsuccessfully in the Independence Party and loaned his campaign $132 million overall that year.

Coming second was Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, a Republican, who gave four separate $20 million donations in 2010 to her California governor campaign.

The database by the nonpartisan nonprofit institute covers contribution records from 2000 to 2015.

Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan  who's also chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois  questioned whether the donation meant Rauner was "running scared." He didn't believe it would deter Democrats from running against him.

"Everybody knows he's got all the money that's possible needed," Brown said.

Rauner spent almost $30 million of his personal fortune in the 2014 election and raised another roughly $40 million, helped largely by wealthy business people. In 2015, he reported taxable income of $188 million, most from investments. As governor Rauner doesn't take a salary or a pension.

Rauner was traveling in the western U.S. and unavailable for comment.
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By Patrick Donachie

Queens residents seeking affordable housing options are up against a sparsity of supply and overwhelming demand, according to experts who gathered during a two-part housing conference hosted by state Sen. James Sanders (D-Far Rockaway). Sanders held dual meetings in Jamaica and Far Rockaway to inform community members about the methods of finding affordable housing.

Most residents simply cannot pay the high market rate prices for real estate and rentals, Sanders said. There are options available, however, and thats the reason for this conference today  to educate the public on how they can stay in the neighborhoods that some of them have called home their entire lives.

Sanders said residents seeking affordable housing could make an account on the Housing Connect website, run by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. A representative from HPD admitted that the demand was vast, with Housing Connect getting as many as 150,000 applications for every 100 units.

After filling out an account with Housing Connect, potential applicants can apply to any available affordable housing and can sign up to receive e-mail notifications when new affordable housing units become available.

Several speakers also described new affordable housing units that were opening in Queens, including Beach Green Dunes in Far Rockaway. Representatives for Blue Stone Development, which is developing the project, said the deadline to apply for affordable units was Feb. 6, 2017. Blue Stone representatives said there were 12,600 applicants for 100 units in the first three days of the open lottery. Sanders also detailed a new addition to the Northeastern Towers at 13110 Guy Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica, which would consist of 130 affordable units. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2018 and would be completed by 2020.

A representative from Queens Legal Services also was on hand to outline the rights of tenants when trying to stay in their residences. Senior staff attorney Amy Hammersmith said all tenants are protected from landlord harassment, including threats, repairs at unexpected or odd hours and inspections that are unnecessary. Tenants are also protected under the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, she said.

She encouraged anyone who felt they had been discriminated against to file a complaint with the citys Human Rights Commission, or if necessary to go to court against a landlord they felt had harassed them.
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By Tammy Scileppi

Legos arent just for kids. Turns out theres an entire fan club out there made up of grownups who are hooked on those colorful little interlocking blocks. After years spent in hiding, these brave souls have finally emerged from the shadows, and believe it or not, have even given themselves a name. Adult Fans of Lego or AFOLs, cant seem to get enough. They just love to build  and to display their creations.

Even celebs like Brad Pitt and David Beckham have rediscovered this ageless medium. Some say it may serve as a creative outlet that can help bring out your pent-up designer mojo or reveal your inquisitive inner child.

If you or someone you know happens to be an AFOL, youre probably already aware of the wide selection of grownup-oriented Lego sets on the market, featuring complex, high-piece-count models that may be too difficult for younger kids but offer high display appeal  such as the Ultimate Collector Series with Star Wars and Harry Potter themes. And what true Lego explorer could ever say no to a Lego Architecture Burj Khalifa Dubai, or Empire State Building set from Santa?

So, who are these AFOLs? They seem to represent a growing percentage of the population who have gone beyond the recommended age range printed on Lego boxes (i.e. 7-14).

Some are parents, who have watched and helped their children build toppling Lego towers, while secretly wishing that one day, they too could design their very own cool creations. Others, like Astoria resident and Lego filmmaker David Paganoa devoted AFOL grew up playing with those tiny pieces, and just never wanted to stop.

Pagano, 31, recently celebrated the release of his newest project

The Lego Animation Book, which he penned along with co-author and AFOL buddy Dave Pickett. The signing event was hosted by the popular Astoria Bookshop (one of Queens only remaining non-religious bookstore), where the filmmaker-turned-author introduced curious locals and Lego enthusiasts to his craft and talked about the amazing art of bringing Lego creations to life with stop-motion animation.

Ive been a fan of Lego since I received my first set at the age of 3, said Pagano. Some people enter whats known as the Dark Ages during their adolescent years, where they become too cool to build Lego models; I somehow avoided that. My coolness remains.

Written and laid out in a fun yet informative format, the book is geared toward aspiring animators and Lego aficionados of all ages, including kids. And each page is chock full of photos showing funny, oversized Lego minifigure characters, interspersed with helpful pointers and suggestions. No experience required.

As a teen, young David was already making Lego films in high school.

I entered a Lego movie-making competition in my sophomore year, and won a trip to the far-off land of New York City, where I grew up. Nevertheless, it was one of the first times I began to see filmmaking as something I could potentially turn into a career, he recalled. And at the time, I had no idea how long Lego toys would continue to be a part of that.

The budding AFOL knew he was hooked after discovering and further exploring the fascinating art of animation, and his Lego journey led to countless animated films and shorts that he happily produced.

You may have seen some of Paganos work featured in 2014s The Lego Movie. Its a clip from his Garbage Man short, about a giant trash monster of the same name, who partners with a sanitation worker to keep the town clean.

Every creation and story conjured up by Team Pagano begins with a humongous dose of imagination. But then comes the hard work, according to their head Lego geek, who said he spent 12 hours or so building that Garbage Man character. The 48-second short took 20 more hours to set everything up, and another 20 to do all of the animation. The film was made in eight days, from concept to completion, and some of Paganos friends helped with the animation, while his brother designed the title card.

So, where does all that Lego magic happen? It takes shape, literally, at the filmmakers Brooklyn production studio. Paganomation boasts a 10-year track record of successful animation projects with The Lego Group, its licensors, marketing agencies, and other various partners.

In the realm of Lego animation, so-called brickfilms are a way for Lego fans to tell their stories through film using stop-motion techniques, and they can be about anything, according to Pagano. But they all have one thing in commonthe use of Lego bricks and elements.

So, what is stop-motion? Its an animation technique almost as old as motion pictures themselves, Pagano explained. It involves taking many still photographs of an object. An animator moves the object a tiny amount after each photo is taken. Then, the pictures are viewed in sequence and the illusion of movement is achieved.

Pagano said he uses two approaches to create a new film.

In the book, we break down brickfilm development into two approaches: the Play Approach and the Plan Approach, Pagano said. The Play Approach involves building a Lego model, putting it in front of your camera, and improvising the entire story using only the model and your imagination. Its a sort of stream-of-consciousness path to making a film. The Plan Approach, on the other hand, is closer to the traditional filmmaking structure: write a script; draw storyboards; design the sets, characters, and props; shoot the movie; edit it; and so forth.

The Lego master feels a surprising kinship to fellow filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, citing the documentary All About The Birds, in which production designer Robert F. Boyle describes working with the legendary Hitch:

His main thrust in all of his work was preparation. Matter of fact, he sometimes facetiously said he was bored with shooting the picture, Boyle recalled. The excitement came with the ideas that were generated in the preparatory portion of the filmmaking process. He liked to have it all clear in his mind so that before he started to shoot, he saw the whole movie in his mind.

Pagano pointed out that although he often plans his films to a similarly extreme degree, he also makes sure to leave space in the animation process for having fun, improvising, and making myself laugh.
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By Patrick Donachie

NYCHAs South Jamaica II Houses in Jamaica are benefitting from more than 12,000 square feet of new sidewalks, approximately 530 feet of new curbing and upgraded pedestrian ramps at three intersections. The newly completed project is part of a $3 million investment from the city to repair damaged sidewalks outside NYCHA properties, according to the city Department of Transportation.

Representatives from the DOT as well as Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) and state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) were on hand to celebrate the completion of the project, which began in November. Elected and DOT officials posed with shovels near the corner of 160th Avenue and 108th Street, pouring the last mounds of top soil into a tree pit.

With several houses of worship and schools, its easy to see why these infrastructure improvements are so important to the community, DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia said. It definitely uplifts and brings vibrancy back to the community.

Garcia said the sidewalk repairs targeted some of the areas of the South Jamaica II Houses most in need of substantial refurbishment. The new curbing was important for drainage and the three pedestrian ramps were all ADA-compliant, she said. Wills said he was happy to see the repairs completed before the coming winter, saying the new sidewalks would make it easier for city workers to remove snow in an efficient and speedy manner.

This is actually going to go a long way in making sure residents move around safely, Wills said during the ceremony, adding that the pedestrian ramps would help community members who used wheelchairs. This enables them to go back and forth where they live and have a greater quality of life.

South Jamaica Houses is home to more than 2,380 residents, according to the DOT. The department noted the city has repaired sidewalks on 13 separate NYCHA properties this year, including Melrose Houses in the Bronx and Tompkins Houses in Brooklyn. In addition to the $3 million for NYCHA sidewalk repairs, the city has pledged to more than double its annual investment in citywide sidewalk repair from $20 million to $46 million. Comrie said he was happy to see some of that investment in the area.

South Jamaicas a diamond in the rough that we need to continue to polish to make sure theyre treated with respect, he said.
MILAN (AP)  The Tunisian man suspected in a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was killed early Friday in a shootout with police in Milan during a routine patrol outside a train station, ending a Europe-wide manhunt.

Italian police said Anis Amri traveled from Germany through France and into Italy after the attack, at least some of it by train. French officials refused to comment on his passage through France, which has increased surveillance on its trains after both recent French attacks and the Berlin massacre.

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni praised the two young police officers for their courage in taking down Amri during a routine check of ID papers while he was alone outside the deserted station. But he also called for greater cross-border police cooperation, suggesting some dismay that Europe's open border policy had enabled Amri to easily move around despite being Europe's No. 1 fugitive.

Amri was identified with the help of fingerprints supplied by Germany.

"The person killed, without a shadow of a doubt, is Anis Amri, the suspect of the Berlin terrorist attack," said Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack outside Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in which a truck plowed into a Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others. It also claimed the Milan shooting.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she has ordered a comprehensive investigation into all angles of the case after it emerged that German authorities had tracked Amri for months on suspicion of planning an attack.

"We can be relieved at the end of this week that one acute danger has been ended," she said. "But the danger of terrorism as a whole remains, as it has for many years  we all know that."

Milan, Rome and other cities have been on heightened alert since the attack, with increased surveillance and police patrols. Italian officials stressed that the young officers who stopped Amri didn't suspect he was the Berlin attacker, but rather grew suspicious because he was a North African man, alone outside a deserted train station at 3 a.m.

Amri, 24, who had spent time in prison in Italy, was stopped by two officers during a routine patrol in the Sesto San Giovanni neighborhood of Milan early Friday. He pulled a gun from his backpack after being asked to show his identification and was killed in an ensuing shootout.

One of the officers, Christian Movio, 35, was shot in the right shoulder and underwent surgery for a superficial wound and was in good condition. Movio's 29-year-old partner, Luca Scata, fatally shot Amri in the chest.

He had no ID, no phone and only a pocket knife on him, as well as the loaded 22-caliber pistol he used to shoot Movio.

"He was a ghost," Milan police chief Antoio de Iesu said, adding that he was stopped because of basic police work, intensified surveillance "and a little luck."

Amri's death doesn't reduce the terrorist threat to Germany, the country's top security official said.

The threat "remains high" and security won't be scaled down, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said.

He said the two Milan police officers "did excellent work and acted with great bravery."

"I'm very relieved that this attacker poses no risk anymore," he said.

Amri passed through France before arriving by train at Milan's central station where video surveillance showed him at around 1 a.m. Friday, de Iesu said. A train ticket indicates that he travelled from Chambery, France through Turin and into Milan, an Italian anti-terrorism official said.

De Iesu declined to provide further information, citing the ongoing investigation.

Germany's chief federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, said his office is in contact with Italian authorities to establish what route Amri took.

A Milan anti-terrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation, said Amri made his way to the piazza outside the Sesto San Giovanni train station in a suburb of Milan, which is 7.5 kilometers (nearly 5 miles) from the main train station.

Authorities are still trying to determine how Amri arrived at the piazza because only a few buses operate at that hour.

"It is now of great significance for us to establish whether the suspect had a network of supporters or helpers in preparing and carrying out the crime, and in fleeing; whether there were accessories or helpers," Frank said.

Prosecutors also want to know whether the gun Amri was carrying in Milan was the same one used to shoot the Polish driver of the truck he had commandeered for the attack, Frank added. The driver was found dead in the vehicle's cab.

The Milan anti-terrorism official said investigators also are working to determine what contacts, if any, Amri had in Milan. There is no evidence he ever passed through Milan during his previous stay in Italy, where he spent time after leaving Tunisia in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

Amri's brother Abdelkader told The Associated Press by telephone that the family wants to find out the "truth about my brother." He hung up when asked about the family's reaction to Amri's death.

The family told a crowd outside their house to leave when news of the police shootout reached the central Tunisian town of Oueslatia, according to neighbor Wiem Khemili. Police stood guard around the impoverished town, where everyone was talking about Amri.

Amri served 3 years in Italy for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other things  but authorities apparently detected no signs that he was becoming radicalized. He was repeatedly transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with prison records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections.

His mother said he went from there to Switzerland and then to Germany last year.

Authorities in Germany deemed him a potential threat long before the Berlin market attack, and even kept him under covert surveillance for six months this year.

Authorities said he has used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.

They had been trying to deport him after his asylum application was rejected in July but were unable to do so because he lacked valid identity papers and Tunisia initially denied that he was a citizen.

Merkel said she spoke with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and told him that the repatriation of Tunisians who aren't entitled to residency in Germany needs to be stepped up.

Essebsi firmly condemned the "cowardly terrorist act" in Berlin and called for tighter cooperation to fight "the plague of terrorism that threatens the security and stability of all countries and all societies."

Tunisian authorities have insisted the reason it took so long to issue Amri's papers is that they needed to carry out all necessary verifications of his identity, noting that his numerous aliases made this especially important.
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By Gina Martinez

The Indo-Caribbean community held a vigil Sunday at Naresa Lounge in South Ozone Park in honor of Rajwantie Baldeo, the Guyanese woman who was nearly decapitated on the streets of Richmond Hill, allegedly by her jealous husband.

The vigil was organized by Jahajee Sisters, an organization aimed at promoting gender equality in the Indo-Caribbean community.

Baldeos husband, Prem Rampersaud, was charged with her Dec. 5 murder, authorities said. According to police, Baldeo had finished her shift at a nearby restaurant when she met up with Rampersaud. As the couple approached the corner of 124th Street and 103rd Avenue, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said they began to argue and Rampersaud began stabbing her in the throat, abdomen and shoulder.

Police said there were two witnesses who observed the crime and saw Rampersaud sawing at her neck with a knife. An ambulance took Baldeo to Jamaica Hospital, where she died. Rampersaud has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the DA. He faces up to 25 years if convicted.

At Sundays vigil, members of the Indo-Caribbean community gathered to have an honest conversation about domestic violence, recalling Baldeo and other women in the community who have been victims. They carried signs that read You are always remembered and Your life mattered, we will create change.

Community Board 9 member Richard S. David said abused women need more resources in Richmond Hill community.

We have failed to break this vicious cycle of violence against women in New York, as we have failed back home in the Caribbean, he said. The heartbreaking murder of Rajwantie Baldeo is a reminder of how few outlets are available within the neighborhood. I keep asking myself, where could she have gone for help? As we reflect on how this could have been avoided, Im glad were standing up and raising our voices to honor her life.

Nadia Bourne of Jahajee Sisters said Baldeos murder should be a wake-up call to change the culture of silence around domestic violence.

These outmoded ideas and backward cultural patterns concerning women never deserved a seat at our societys table, she said. How can we solve a problem if we cannot face it? How can we face a problem whose existence we willingly fail to recognize? Now is the time for us all to push back against this normalization of sexist and patriarchal patterns at the root of gender-based violence. We must acknowledge the depth and magnitude of this silencing of our women, the lasting effect of murder, their severing impact on our families and loved ones. I will hold Rajwantie Baldeos family in my thoughts and her life in my memory.
A rookie Italian police officer on Friday shot dead the Tunisian suspect in the Berlin truck attack after four days on the run, ending a massive Europe-wide manhunt.

Anis Amri, 24, was accused of killing 12 people and wounding dozens more in Monday\s assault on a Christmas market, which has been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

Italy\s interior minister Marco Minniti told a press conference in Rome that Amri had been fatally shot after pulling out a pistol and firing at police who had stopped him for a routine identity check around 3:00 am (0200 GMT) near Milan\s Sesto San Giovanni train station.

Identity checks had established "without a shadow of doubt" that the dead man was Amri, the minister said.

He hailed the two policemen as heroes. Trainee officer Luca Scata, 29, fired the fatal shot. His partner Christian Movio, 36, was hit in the shoulder and was in hospital awaiting surgery, but not in any danger.

"Italy can be really proud of these two officers," Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said.

"We remain on maximum alert, we will not underestimate the threat but what happened overnight shows citizens that the state is there for them."

Amri\s death comes as German police arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning to attack a shopping mall, while authorities in both Australia and Indonesia reported that Christmas terror plots had been foiled.

Amri had been missing since escaping after Monday\s attack in central Berlin.

He had links to Italy, having arrived on a migrant boat in 2011 during the Arab spring.

Shortly after his arrival he was sent to prison for starting a fire in a refugee centre. He was released in 2015 and made his way to Germany, taking advantage of Europe\s open borders, as he did on his return to Italy.

Milan police chief Antonio De Iesu said Amri had arrived in Italy after travelling through France.

German police said the Tunisian had steered the 40-tonne truck in the attack after finding his fingerprints inside the cab, next to the body of its registered Polish driver, who was killed with a gunshot to the head.

A 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward had been offered for information leading to Amri\s arrest.

In Tunisia, a brother of the fugitive had appealed to him to surrender and said: "If my brother is behind the attack, I say to him \You dishonour us\."

German officials voiced relief that Amri had been found. Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she is "proud of how calmly most people reacted" to the country\s deadliest attack in years.

But her assuring message failed to dampen furious criticism of security lapses and bungling in the investigation.

Amri was a rejected asylum seeker and had long been known to German counter-terrorism agencies.

He was also on the radar of Italy\s anti-terrorism police unit, having been identified as having possibly being radicalised in prison, Corriere della Sera said.

German news weekly Der Spiegel reported that in wiretaps, Amri could be heard offering to carry out a suicide operation, but that his words were too vague for an arrest warrant.

Amri had been monitored since March, suspected of planning break-ins to raise cash for automatic weapons to carry out an attack  but the surveillance was stopped in September because Amri was seen primarily as a small-time drug dealer.

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel\s liberal stance on refugees, said the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy that brought almost 900,000 asylum seekers to Europe\s top economy last year.

"It\s clear that a lot went wrong it was a systemic failure," said Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King\s College London.

Neumann argued that German security services lacked the manpower to maintain around-the-clock surveillance of the 550 known radical Islamists in Germany.

"Once the dust settles, it will be important to have a fundamental rethink," he added.

As the security debate raged, Germans were trying to carry on as normal but Christmas lights and singing were kept low-key out of respect for the victims.

Berliners have flocked back to the Breitscheid square market, which reopened on Thursday, and the government has urged citizens not to give in to fear.

On Friday, a memorial concert was planned at the iconic Brandenburg gate under the theme of "Together Berlin".

Among the dead were six Germans, 60-year-old Israeli Dalia Elyakim, and a young Italian woman called Fabrizia Di Lorenzo. Forty-eight others were injured.

Germany had until now been spared the jihadist carnage that has struck neighbouring France and Belgium.

But it has suffered a spate of smaller attacks, including two in July that left 20 people injured, both committed by asylum seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group.

SOURCE: AFP
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.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Donna's, the Italian restaurant that is the latest venture for Troy restaurapreneurs Vic Christopher and Heather LaVine, is now open. It takes over the building at 1 14th St. that for 38 years was home to Minissale's Wine Cellar Cafe until it closed in August. (The Minnissale family is focusing on their Minissale Bros. Sicilian Foods line of pasta sauces, dressings/marinades and spice blends.)

The 50-seat interior, small bar and kitchen have been wholly redone. The menu, with food, wines by the glass and cocktails, is here; the bottles list is here.
TROY  A 35-year-old Troy man is facing up to 20 years in prison following an arrest Dec. 15 on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.

A criminal complaint alleges that Joshua C. Lozo used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program and the Internet to download multiple child pornography movies over a five-year period from December 2011 to December 2016, according to an announcement Thursday by U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Vale.
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East Greenbush

When homeowners are selling their home during the holidays, the word is subdued when it comes to decorating for Christmas.

A house on the market has to balance showing off Christmas spirit with its uncluttered selling points.

"We were in that dilemma. What should we do for Christmas?" said Scott Monuteaux.

"Especially with a little one, we wanted to do Christmas. It isn't easy. You make the house show the best of Christmas," Stefani Monuteaux said about their nearly 2-year-old son Tyler.

The couple, who are math teachers at Columbia High School, are expecting their second child in March. They decided they needed a larger home and put their three-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 1,900-square-foot residence at 1429 Red Mill Road up for sale at $266,954. They plan to build a new home in the East Greenbush Central School District.

"Homey" is the feeling you want the house to exude when potential buyers visit, said John Mooney of RealtyUSA at 600 North Greenbush Road, Rensselaer.

"The house has to be a home. We talked about the clutter and Christmas," Mooney said about advising Scott and Stefani Monuteaux.

Stefani Monuteaux pulled back on many decorations and glitter was definitely out. The result was a home that shows off its selling points while making it clear there's a growing family that's enjoying the approach of the holidays.

At 74 Via Da Vinci in Clifton Park, Matt and Kristy Duddy also had to balance placing their home up for sale and celebrating the approach of Christmas with their sons, Matthew, 9, Mason, 7, and Dylan, 5.

"I wanted to put the tree up for the kids," Kristy Duddy said.

The Duddy family loaded up and drove to Pennsylvania to carry out the family tradition with Matt Duddy's family to cut down a Christmas tree. They then headed home.

The tree went up as it always does in the living room, although with fewer decorations around the house. And potential buyers came to look at their home.

"This time of year when people are looking they're very motivated," said Anthony M. Gucciardo, president of Gucciardo Real Estate Group LLC, 441 New Karner Road, Albany.

You can't ignore the holidays when you are selling your home, Gucciardo said.

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"You tone it down a little. You keep the spirit," Gucciardo said.

Kristy Duddy took this in stride, putting aside her exuberance for the holiday, while ensuring the family wasn't missing out as Dec. 25 approached.

"It didn't think people wanted to come in and see a lot of Christmas," she said.

The Duddys said a useful tool for selling their home was the video tour that Gucciardo put together. That way, potential buyers could see the residence both before and after the Christmas decorations went up.

The 2,391-square-foot, four-bedroom house with three bathrooms and a wood-burning fireplace sold for $340,000. The Duddys are moving to their new home in Ellington, Conn., where Matt Duddy, a vice president/general manager for Lamar, is taking a promotion to oversee operations in New England and upstate New York from Connecticut.

Both Mooney and Gucciardo said potential buyers anticipate seeing Christmas decorations to be up in December when they tour. It's part of making a house a home that buyers will consider when they decide to purchase.

kcrowe@timesunion.com
There's a way in which public records are like potato chips and pork sausage, which I will explain to you shortly. To start, though, we need to talk about journalism and an impediment to its good practice.

Public service journalism rests on a pretty simple proposition: Citizens need to know what goes on beyond their own experience so they can make informed choices in our democracy.

That's why journalists are so aggressive in support of open government. If our job is to help citizens see what's going on, we figure, we have the right to demand that government help us by not covering up its work. With that openness, it's less likely that nefarious deeds will be done by that minority of public servants who are disreputable and untrustworthy.

Justice Louis D. Brandeis offered the classic formulation of this notion. "Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases," he wrote in 1914. "Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants."

More Information Rex Smith is editor of the Times Union. Share your thoughts at http://blog.timesunion.com/editors. See More Collapse

A good example of the stance of journalists on openness is this newspaper's reporting and editorials on an unusual element of New York State Civil Rights Law, Section 50-a. You'll hear more about it in the coming legislative session, because there will be an effort to repeal its provisions  and plenty of folks will be standing on the side of keeping the public file drawers shut so citizens can't know what's inside.

Section 50-a originally was enacted in the 1970s to protect police officers from hostile cross-examination in criminal trials. Legislators thought defense lawyers shouldn't have access to the cops' personnel records  documents that could be used to damage the credibility of the officers' testimony on the witness stand.

Over time, legislators added corrections officers and firefighters to the law. What politician wants to vote against people who protect us, and whose unions can lend muscle and money to campaigns?

Meanwhile, court decisions over the years broadened the definition of "personnel records" to include almost anything that might wind up in what your middle school principal would call "your permanent record." Now some police agencies are suggesting that video from dashboard and body cameras worn by cops could be used to evaluate an officer's performance, and thus would never be viewed by the public.

Sensing that might be a perversion of the law's intent, the Times Union's investigations editor, Brendan Lyons, interviewed Frank Padavan, the now-retired senator from Queens who sponsored the 50-a law in 1976. He confirmed the law's scope was intended to be limited.

"If the law is being misused, then obviously an amendment might be in order," Padavan said.

As the Times Union has reported, 50-a is one reason citizen police review boards usually are ineffective: Board members can't see whether cops have misbehaved before. It's partly because of 50-a that apparent civil rights abuses in state prisons are concealed, even in the seemingly rare instances when prison guards are disciplined.

But here's the thing about transparency: You can't avoid the fact that it sometimes turns people off. This is where the potato chips come in.

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In recent years, transparent food packaging has become all the rage in supermarket sales. Clear packaging, the marketers tell us, makes folks think the food is more wholesome.

So when Coca-Cola started selling its Simply Orange juice in clear bottles, it began to encroach on the market dominance of PepsiCo's Tropicana orange juice. The clear bottle seemingly made people think they were getting something fresh. Now Tropicana comes in a clear jug, too.

Clear packaging can actually make products better. When Dannon put yogurt in clear plastic containers, the company had to remove dyes from the fruit and make chunks bigger, so buyers would know they were getting good stuff.

This sort of transparency wasn't so successful with potato chips  because it enabled people to see crushed chips at the bottom of the bag. And pork sausage? Not so good with transparency there, either. Sausage isn't such pretty stuff, you know.

That's what worries opponents of openness and transparency in government  whether it's police unions wanting to shore up 50-a support or politicians hoping to conceal operations of state economic development efforts: If what people see doesn't square with their notions of how their tax dollars should be spent, they'll be unhappy. Better to absorb criticism for secrecy than endure condemnation for bad conduct.

So the disinfectant of openness often isn't applied. That's just the way the chip crumbles. Buyers, and citizens, beware.
A heritage centre protecting and curating the legacy of revolutionary leader Thomas MacDonagh has been selected as the Tipperary Star's entry in the national Get Involved sustainable community competition.

With the help of LEADER, the Thomas MacDonagh Heritage Centre and Museum was officially opened in 2013 and today provides the first dedicated public community space in Cloughjordan catering to talks, exhibitions, concerts, training programmes and public meetings.

"We are extremely proud of our facilities here. Every member of the community worked incredibly hard to bring this project to life," explains vice chair of the management committee May Casey who adds that the centre has also provided a new home for the village library service, securing its future position in Cloughjordan.

The heritage centre, which is constructed at the site traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Thomas MacDonagh, was purchased by a group of trustees in the 1960's however over time the house fell into disrepair until early 2012 when construction and renovation work on the Thomas MacDonagh Heritage Centre began.

The overall cost of the centre amounted to 335,000 and included refurbishment of the old house, demolishing an extension and lean to and building of the new extension. A grant from LEADER totalled 180,000 while local contributions and fundraising efforts have amounted to 100,000 to date.

In addition to providing a focal point for the village, May says that the ultimate goal of the centre is to keep the history of Cloughjordan alive- something which came very much to the fore this year during the 1916 centenary year.

There is a lot of rich cultural heritage in Cloughjordan and we want this place to become a stopping point for people carrying out research, tracing relatives or wanting to know more about some of Tipperary's historical past.

The centre, which opens six days a week, is entirely staffed by a core team of 22 volunteers - an aspect that all at the centre are particularly proud of. However if the centre should win what would any funding go towards?

This building provides a home to countless priceless artefacts (one of which is an extremely rare Land League banner) however preserving these items and ensuring their survival is extremely costly so any funding we were to receive would go towards keeping our history intact, she adds.

For more on this year's Get Involved project stay with the Tipperary Star as we follow along the heritage centre's progress in the New Year.

Now in its fourth year, the Local Ireland Get Involved Sustainable Communities awards initiative is promoted by 51 weekly paid for newspapers with last years initiative boasting a total prize fund of 12,500.
Azerbaijan violated the Karabakh ceasefire 65 times last night, firing 1,200 rounds of small arms and mortars, this according to the NKR Ministry of Defense.

The ministry reports that intense firing was directed at defensive positions in the eastern (Akna) and southern (Martouni) areas of Artsakh.

In the Martouni area, Azerbaijani forces used 60mm and 82 mm mortars.

Frontline positions of the Artsakh Defense Army are said to have fired back in the Martouni area.
Customers in the Graigue water scheme area may notice increase in water hardness as a result of move to new source but this is not harmful to health, Irish Water says.

Over 1,300 people served by the Graigue Water Supply Scheme in Co Tipperary are set to benefit from a safer and more secure water supply as a result of upgrade works carried out by Irish Water in partnership with Tipperary County Council.

This is part of a 3 million project which involves upgrading the Graigue and Temple-Etney water supplies to protect customers from the threat of cryptosporidium. Over the coming weeks, the Graigue water supply will be switched from a vulnerable mountain source to a new supply.

As this new supply is high in naturally occurring minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, customers may notice an increase in the hardness of their water. Hard water does not affect the quality of the water supply, nor is it harmful to health. However, customers may begin to notice some scaling of domestic appliances, such as kettles and washing machines. It may also affect other equipment where water is heated such as home heating systems, hot water cylinders, electric showers and some farm equipment, such as milking machines.

The upgrade of the water supply schemes has many benefits for the communities and businesses in the area. It will improve security of supply, improve water quality and lead to the removal of the Graigue water supply system from the EPA Remedial Action List (RAL) while also facilitating the lifting of boil water notices from a small number of properties in the area which have been in place since 2012.

This supply is on the RAL as it currently does not have an adequate barrier in place to protect against incidents of Cryptosporidium. This project involved the development of an additional groundwater source at Brackford Bridge to replace the Graigue surface water source and augment the existing ground water source at Temple-Etney. The works include a new borehole, raw water pipelines, contact tank, pumping station at Temple-Etney, distribution pipelines and associated refurbishment works at Killurney Reservoir.

Aisling Buckley, Regional Information Specialist with Irish Water, explained: The new supply is high in naturally occurring calcium and magnesium compounds, which are hardness indicators and may result in some scaling of domestic appliances on boiling/heating of water.

Hard Water does not affect the quality of drinking water, nor is it harmful to your health. On the other hand, the new supply will benefit customers health by providing an effective barrier against the harmful bacteria Cryptosporidium and ensuring a safe, secure supply of water for the community in the future.

Any customers with questions or concerns about the impact of this project should contact the Irish Water customer service line at 1850 278 278.
Titusville Middle School eighth-graders spent part of their Thursday volunteering in the community. TMS student Kaylon Acton helps a child navigate a portion of the obstacle course at the YWCAs Fun Factory.
[December 22, 2016] IntellaPACS Announces Corporate Name Change to Emergent Connect

LAKEWAY, Texas, Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IntellaPACS, LLC, a leading provider of cloud-based PACS software, announces its corporate name change to Emergent Connect, LLC. As of January 1, 2017, Emergent Connect, LLC will launch a new company website and introduce an updated corporate identity. This change reflects the company's broader healthcare commitment and its expertise in innovations to shape the future of Radiology software solutions. The company's headquarters will remain in Lakeway, TX. The "IntellaPACS" name has been used for the past five years and it currently supports 47,000 users and serves 67,000 connected facilities located in all 50 states. Along with the name change, IntellaPACS will adopt the new Emergent Connect brand identity, and all future business activity will be conducted under the new name. The adoption of the Emergent Connect name unites the growing digital imaging and software business and better supports the needs of customers through a consistent brand while leveraging resources across all the business divisions in the United States. While Emergent Connect is still providing its solutons through a partnership with a leading national Teleradiology service provider, the company is now expanding the availability of its offerings to the entire healthcare marketplace.



In conjunction with the name change, Emergent Connect is introducing the Exceed PACS and Exceed RIS product lines, formerly known as Intella PACS and Intella RIS, an innovative single-platform PACS and RIS solutions that delivers superior medical imaging and advanced workflow management driven by a zero-footprint, 100% cloud-based architecture. "As a company with its roots in digital technology solutions, we are committed to being the preferred leader in digital imaging and Radiology software solutions," said Chris Thompson, recently appointed Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Emergent Connect. "This alignment and new brand identity of our digital imaging and software business establishes the next logical step in supporting our future growth and development."

About Emergent Connect, LLC :

Emergent Connect is a healthcare technology company dedicated to providing 100% cloud-based software solutions for the Radiology Industry. In 2012, Emergent Connect launched its first PACS & RIS solution exclusively through a partnership with a national Teleradiology service provider. Today, Emergent Connect manages millions of records and helps thousands of healthcare professionals provide the very best patient care possible. Contact:

Emergent Connect

Chris Thompson

VP, Sales and Marketing

512-569-9313

[email protected]

www.emergentconnect.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intellapacs-announces-corporate-name-change-to-emergent-connect-300383282.html SOURCE Emergent Connect, LLC

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[December 23, 2016] Rounding up Voonik's Best Party Wear Collection of 2016

BANGALORE, December 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone knows that the most glorious time of the year is just around the corner bringing in a year full of holiday and party invites to attend. Yet, most people stand in front of their wardrobe and wonder what happened to all the outfits that were bought last year. As follows, begins the hunt to find the perfect outfit for every party, but who has the time for it? (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/451933/Voonik_Logo.jpg )

Taking this into consideration, Voonik launched its new party wear collection making it convenient for online shoppers to get ready for the most awaited season of the year. The collection comprises of highly versatile and stylish western wear such as jumpsuits, dresses, LBDs, tops, tunics and so much more that are worth checking out. On one hand people have glittery tops and statement dresses, followed closely by trendsetting must-haves that will never fail to turn heas. But if someone is looking for partywear then all they need to do is log online, check out Voonik's party wear collection, and rest assured that they would stand out on the dance floor. So while getting ready to groove to the latest hits or go pub hopping, don't forget to check out the bestselling party styles that Voonik has to offer. Voonik's wide range helps its customers find unique styles at the best prices making it affordable for people who have ample number of parties to attend.



There are some key pieces that are out-of-the-box such as off-shoulder dresses, vivid skirts and funky jumpsuits that will surely enthrall shoppers. Online shopping makes it even easier for shoppers these days to turn the spotlight on them. Endless drool-worthy apparel is at one's fingertips thanks to Voonik's ever-changing collections, with special inputs from stylists as to how to dress the best. Voonik being a premier online shopping destination has brought a wide variety of brands that cater to the latest trends in party wear. There has been tremendous growth with party wear year on year, since 2014. People are always extremely conscious about the way they look at events such as family get-togethers and friend's parties. With Voonik's party wear collection it not only becomes easy to sort out one's festive wardrobe, but they are also spoilt for choice with the wide variety of styles on offer. From smart shoppers to last-minute ones, Voonik has something for every fashionista out there. About Voonik

Voonik is an online shopping marketplace in India for women clothing, shoes, bags and accessories. It works on a unique algorithm to help users find the right product on the basis of filters like skin tone, body type and other preferences. The company is based out of Bangalore.

Media Contact:

Kuldeep Sharma

[email protected]

+91-9739385389

Voonik Technologies Pvt. Ltd.



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[December 23, 2016] A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Travelers Insurance Company Limited

A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a+" of Travelers Insurance Company Limited (TICL) (United Kingdom). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable. The ratings of TICL reflect the support provided by St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (SPFM) in the form of an explicit guarantee covering all of TICL's liabilities arising from its underwriting activities. SPFM is a subsidiary of TICL's ultimate parent, The Travelers Companies, Inc. (Travelers). A.M. Best believes Travelers remains committed to TICL, which is its main underwriting operation in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The ratings also reflect TICL's solid stand-alone risk-adjusted capitalisation. Offsetting these strengths is the company's weak underwriting performance. TICL maintains solid risk-adjusted capitalisation with a sufficient cushion to absorb higher-than-expected losses. Shareholders' funds fell to GBP 454 million in 2015 (2014: GBP 504 million) but are expected to increase by approximately 5-10% in 2016 supported by positive underwriting and investment earnings. The company is a specialist underwriter of liability and commercial property business in the U.K. Gross written premium (GWP) is expected to decline by about 10% in 2016, reflecting sustained competitive conditions in TICL's core markets and its exit from certain classes to address profitability challengs. GWP is expected to show modest growth in 2017, supported by targeted rate increases and recently launched products.



TICL's underwriting record is weak as demonstrated by a five-year average combined ratio of 120%. A higher combined ratio of 132% in 2015 (2014: 119%) was due to flood losses and a high incidence of large claims, which offset the impact of remedial underwriting actions. Further remedial actions are expected to support an improvement in underwriting profitability in 2016 and beyond. An underwriting profit is forecast for 2016, driven by strong reserve releases in the company's property/casualty books. Although net expenses will reduce the expense ratio is expected to remain high in 2016, reflecting reduced premium volumes. Historically, pre-tax profits have depended on investment income but this has been dampened in recent years by the low interest rate environment. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best's Credit Ratings.

A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright  2016 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161223005207/en/

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A group calling itself Justice Armenia will organize an event in New York on January 4 described as an evening of exploration and discovery as we contemplate a new era in Diaspora-Armenia relations. One that is less about projects and more about principles. That builds more social and civic institutions than capital improvements. Thats more inclusive, collaborative, and direct.

Robert Davidians recent film Referendum Rewind will be shown, followed by a discussion on how to develop a new long-term relationship with the citizens of Armenia.

The film takes a look at the challenges facing Armenias electoral system and the current mood of the people in Armenia.

Nate Schenkkan, Project Director at freedom House, will be the guest speaker.

The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. at New Yorks the Tribeca Film Center. Admission is $15. For Tickets
The school in the Yezidi-populated village of Tlik, in Armenias Aragatsotn Province, is a real antiquity.

Preserved in the one-story building, constructed in 1956, are brick ovens in which coal was once burned. The school is now heated with oil.

Another blast from the past is the wall near the teachers study displaying the names of Tlik residents who fought in the Great Patriotic War (WWII).

The schools bathrooms are located outside. In warmer weather, gym classes are also held in the school yard. There were no classes on the day that Hetq visited the school. Teacher Alik Mstoyan said that classes had been cancelled due to the cold weather. That same day, villagers were celebrating Aida Sltan Ezid, a Yezidi national holiday.

Tlik is a village of 94 souls a stones throw from the border with Turkey. The ruins of Ani lie on the other side. All the schools 21 pupils are Yezidis from Tlik. However, only one of the nine teachers is Yezidi  30-year-old Alik Mstoyan. The rest are Armenians from nearby villages. Long-time school principal Vahagn Martoyan is from Aragatsavan.

Alik Mstoyan shows us around the empty school. Hes been teaching Yezidi language and literature classes for the past year. Prior to Alik, the former mayor of Tlik was teaching these classes. The mayor has since left Armenia. Tlik, a flourishing village in Soviet times, now only has eighteen households. Nine have relocated to Tlik from the Armavir village of Araks.

Alik says that this school year the school enrollment has increased  from 20 to 21. Last September, there were two kids in first grade. Next September, they expect five.

School goes to the ninth grade. Only five classrooms are used, however, because some of the classes have been combined. For example, theres only one pupil in seventh grade. Alik shows me the attendance sheet. Theres only the one line. We smile, hiding a deeper sadness. With six pupils, the fifth grade is the largest class.

The wooden floorboards creak as we walk around. The old desks, that have seen several generations of children, strike my eye. They stand in sharp contrast to the new white windows and doors installed in 2012. Alik, who graduated the school in 2001, says that in his day the doors and windows were broken.

The newest books I see in the cabinet in the teachers study are the Yezidi textbooks. There a club and a library in the village located in the building housing the mayors office. When I ask Alik if the pupils make use of the library, he smiles and says, As if they study a lot and are reading.

Alik says that upon graduating the ninth grade, most of the pupils have no desire to continue their education. He tells the story of a bright girl whose parents forbade her to continue her education, despite the exhortations of the school.

I ask if this is due to the tradition of marrying off girls at a young age or just the general mindset. It has nothing to do with tradition. Its the mindset of people, Alik replies, stressing that everyone, male or female, needs a good education to survive in this world.

Photos: Narek Aleksanyan
Im not convinced the metaverse will ever be viable

The tech industry has been trying to push the idea of the metaverse for over a year. However, I fail to see its validity as it stands.
Feeding management in robotic dairies is all about meeting the goals of the dairy. Although this is true on all dairies, the University of Minnesotas Jim Salfer described it as especially noteworthy on dairies with automatic milking systems.

Its important to understand why robots are being installed. Some farms dont want to fetch cows, so they should feed less energy in the bunk, he shared at the recent Penn State Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop. The cows should be fed very differently on the other hand if the farm wants to push milk.

During his presentation, Salfer highlighted some of the other nutritionally driven lessons his team has learned while working with robotic dairies during the last 10 or so years.

Milk per robot is what makes the money. The best robotic farms, according to Salfer, are well below 10 percent downtime per robot per day. Those operations have higher cows per robot and milk per cow.

Cows like pellets. Visits to the robots are higher when farms provide pellets as opposed to ground options.

More energy in the PMR means more fetch cows. However, even the combination of pelleted feed in the robot and low bunk energy (in the PMR or Partial Mixed Ration) will not entice some cows to the robot. They will remain permanent fetch cows.

Initially, around 50 percent of all cows that are culled are culled for nonrobot adaptability. Salfer suggests this number should actually be even higher as cows that are perpetually fetch cows are a waste of labor and should be candidates for sale to nonrobotic dairies.

Fresh cows demand attention. Fresh cows typically need to be fetched upon introduction to the robots. Salfer suggests fetching three times per day on new milkers. He also stressed the importance of monitoring their rumination activity and manure consistency. Low palatability of the PMR paired with lead feeding fresh cows in the robot can cause a drop-off in dry matter intake.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2016

November 21, 2016

Consistency is incredibly important. Thats more important on a robotic farm, Salfer concluded. You have to be a better manager with robots. Its a science-art.
Many of us will be spending New Years Eve in a paddock somewhere, hugging dirt-encrusted strangers as the clock ticks us over to 2017 and an international headliner bids us a happy new year as they leave the stage to do it all again in a few hours in another country.

For those of us forgoing the festie experience, fear not  there are still plenty of ways to soak up huge doses of live music without a three hour car expedition, and weve detailed a few here.

If youre looking for some last-minute stocking stuffers, a couple of tickets to these babies might be just the thing.

Clowns & More

Where: Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood VIC

When: 8pm  11:30pm, Saturday Dec 31

Why: Not only do you get Clowns in the bargain here, but a stack of other great bands in The Nation Blue, Flour, and Wurst Nurse taking you through until just before midnight, at which point you can start gearing up for the countdown.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

Slamapalooza

Where: The Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt NSW

When: 4pm  12:00am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: If you want to see this prick of a year off with some riffs, this is the gig. Better yet, its free. Some quick maths yep, that works out to be pretty insane value for money, as youll score seven punk and metal bands from 4pm to 9pm, and a stack of DJs afterwards. The perfect way to fire up your NYE.

Tickets & Info: More info here. The Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt NSW4pm  12:00am, Saturday Dec 31If you want to see this prick of a year off with some riffs, this is the gig. Better yet, its free. Some quick maths yep, that works out to be pretty insane value for money, as youll score seven punk and metal bands from 4pm to 9pm, and a stack of DJs afterwards. The perfect way to fire up your NYE.

Rolling Stones Tour Of 76 Where: The Yarraville Club, Yarraville VIC

When: 8:30pm, Saturday Dec 31

Why: Flash back forty years for an evening and soak up some old-school debauchery as Nick Barker and the Monkey Men relive the Stones at their wildest in a tribute to their whirlwind tour of Europe in 76. You can grab dinner and a show, or just rock up for the main event and hear all the classics smashed out by a talented mob including Nick Barker of The Reptiles, Grant Cummerford (Jeff Lang), Shane OMara (Paul Kelly), Ash Davies (The Models) and Justin Garner (Nikka Costa).

Tickets & Info: More info here. The Yarraville Club, Yarraville VIC8:30pm, Saturday Dec 31Flash back forty years for an evening and soak up some old-school debauchery as Nick Barker and the Monkey Men relive the Stones at their wildest in a tribute to their whirlwind tour of Europe in 76. You can grab dinner and a show, or just rock up for the main event and hear all the classics smashed out by a talented mob including Nick Barker of The Reptiles, Grant Cummerford (Jeff Lang), Shane OMara (Paul Kelly), Ash Davies (The Models) and Justin Garner (Nikka Costa).

Waxo Paradiso

Where: Stokehouse Precinct, St Kilda VIC

When: 6pm  1am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: Psychedelic disco crew Waxo Paradiso have been killing it this year, and are taking over the newly-opened Pontoon for a whole night of choons, with support from Pjenne and Millu. Theyre tempting you in with a free drink if you rock up early enough and food included in your ticket price, so youll be set for the whole evening.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

The Gooch Palms

Where: Crowbar, Fortitude Valley QLD

When: 5pm  5am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: Joint winners of our 2016 Live Act of the Year award, what else needs to be said? Youll even get Walken, Concrete Surfers and Muddy Chanter thrown into the mix for a night of fuzzy rock, and with no lockouts in place you can charge through for 12 whole hours. A confetti-coated blowout when the clock strikes twelve, too.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

GL & More

Where: The Curtin, Carlton VIC

When: 8pm  3am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: The Curtin turns it on with a great double-header of GL and Broadway Sounds  two bands who are basically perfect to ring in the new year  plus DJ Manchild leading a host of killer DJs to round it out. Have some smooth electronic vibes to sand off the rough edges of 2016 and charge on into an equally-disappointing new year.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

Badlands Blowout

Where: Badlands Bar, Perth WA

When: 6pm  2am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: A stack of bands descending on the Badlands of Perth for NYE  and we mean a stack. The Kill Devil Hills, Verge Collection, Childsaint, Salary and more head up one stage, and theres a whole other stage equally packed. Cheap drinks until 7:00, and a food truck on site to line the stomach.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

ORB & Dumb Punts

Where: Yah Yahs, Fitzroy VIC

When: 8pm  late, Saturday Dec 31

Why: This is a double-header we can get behind, as two of our favourite bands pile into Yah Yahs for a night of debauchery and cheap drinks. The bands will be backed up by indie floor-fillers from a crew of DJs, and things are guaranteed to kick on until the early hours, so you can squeeze the absolute last drops of partying out of 2016.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

Death Disco

Where: Amplifier Capitol, Perth WA

When: 9pm  5am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: Youll be in very safe hands at the Amp, as Thundamentals DJ/producer PON CHO and bass maestro Axen join forces to lead the NYE charge, accompanied by the Death Disco DJs for a massive night of choons.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

Ja Rule & Ashanti

Where: Peninsula Shed 14, Docklands VIC

When: 7:30pm  3am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: You already know if this is how you want to spend your NYE. Yes, Ja Rule and Ashanti are heading over to Oz for a party on the water. Who better to ring in the new year than these two? They are, after all, always on time.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

Punkfest

Where: The Foundry, Fortitude Valley QLD

When: 2pm  7pm, Saturday Dec 31

Why: Maybe you want to thrash the day away and then have an early night (or kick on elsewhere). If so, this is the one for you, Brisbanites. From 2pm to 7pm, youll be able to catch The Black Market, Skinpin (Sydney), Stuntpegs, Morte Lenta (Sydney) and Unbound and The Gutter as they unleash a veritable festival of punk  just dont tire yourself out before the evening with too much moshing.

Tickets & Info: More info here.

New Years Eve Fiesta

Where: The Rosemount Hotel, North Perth WA

When: 6pm  2am, Saturday Dec 31

Why: Pond may have had to remove themselves from this lineup due to Falls-related scheduling conflicts, but dont worry, it is still a monster bill of acts, headed by the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, FOAM, Pow Negro and plenty more. Three stages, 25 bucks, and one hell of a way to see out the year.

Tickets & Info: More info here.
"Mike Shanin interviews United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's Adam Hamilton about being named Johnson Countian of the Year. Then Lisa Johnston, Mary Anne Murray Simons, Patrick Tuohey and Woody Cozad discuss the potential for right-to-work laws in Missouri with a GOP controlled legislature, the $800 million infrastructure bond issue in KCMO and the pros and cons of the electoral college."

Check the latest from theof Kansas City discourse of local political discourse . . .More in a bit . . .
KANSAS CITY FIGHT IN THE WEEDS

Car Fight For Survival In Blue Springs

Southland Schools Booming

Celebrate Suburban Crime Tech

The Sunflower State "Moderate" Revolution

Show-Me The End Of Shotgun Weddings

TV Promo Aftermath

Local Fanboy Moment Of Doubt

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Additional lending to the Greek state, to the tune of 100 billion euros, if primary budget surplus targets are lowered for the country after 2018 is the report circulated by FAZ

Additional lending to the Greek state, to the tune of 100 billion euros, if primary budget surplus targets are lowered for the country after 2018 is the report circulated on Friday by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), which cites statements by high-ranking German lawmaker Jens Spahn.

Spahn, who is the Bundestags state secretary in Germanys finance ministry, said a reduction in the memorandum-mandated annual fiscal goal to 1.5 percent of GDP, from the foreseen 3.5 percent, as demanded by the IMF, would result in a need for greater medium-term funding, which he put at 100 billion euros.

In this case, creditors will have to bear a greater burden  and this would essentially mean a new aid package (for Greece), FAZ quotes Spahn as saying.

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
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is systematically dividing the Greek people, the head of the main opposition New Democracy party Kyriakos Mitsotakis asserted on Thursday. Attacking the prime minister during an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency's web TV, Mitsotakis said Tsipras had plunged the country into a vicious cycle of recession, where each contraction of the economy was followed by more recessionary cuts and new taxes.

Mitsotakis said Tsipras was "the prime minister of eternal austerity," who had condemned the country to an endless spiral of further introversion and retreat. Noting that he had urged Tsipras to end the review in the best way possible from the start, Mitsotakis said that the prime minister "with an eye to his domestic audience," was passing more measures, with more taxes and cuts to pensions.

Greece's main opposition leader repeated his call for elections as soon as possible and also referred to the economic programme that ND presented at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF). Greece needed a different fiscal policy mix with fewer taxes, Mitsotakis said, and a "tightening up" of the state sector. At the same time, he denied any plans for large-scale layoffs of public-sector staff, describing this claim as "sordid propaganda by the government".

He appeared confident that ND will win the next elections and said that the party will seek broader alliances within Parliament after the elections, even if ND is elected with a single-party majority. At the same time, he made clear that the party was not interested in pre-election collaboration or alliances.

Asked to comment on his first anniversary as ND's leader, Mitsotsakis stressed that ND had changed significantly over the last year, bringing in new faces and ideas and that its voice was once again being heard and believed by society.

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
Former Tourism Minister and Greek main opposition New Democracy party Culture Sector head MP Olga Kefalogianni noted that the Greek Tourism Ministry is currently in panic and appears incapable of programming.

According to Ms Kefalogianni, these weaknesses of the Ministry's current administration have resulted in its failure to launch Greece's international advertising programme in time.

As she underlined in her statement, "The programming inability of the current political leadership of the Ministry of Tourism is regrettable, to say the least. The tourism sector which accounts for 20% of the country's GDP is treated as an experiment subject. The country's image abroad and the good practices of the recent past pay the price. The inability to launch timely Greece's promotion and advertising program abroad is a direct consequence. Yesterday, we witnessed the panic of the Tourism Ministry, immediately after the impact of implementing the integration of the EU Directive on public contracts began to emerge. All stakeholders involved in tourism, both in the public as well as the private sector, completely acknowledge the global tourism market's timing and schedules and plan their actions accordingly. In a superficial and perfunctory manner, the Ministry of Tourism has tabled two amendments in order to deal with issues that should have already been resolved since the summer, as was the case in recent years. Is this sketchy treatment of the tourism sector by the competent Minister "a sign of the times"? One thing is certain: The Ministry of Tourism operates without any plan, ignoring the best practices of the past, whose positive results are still felt even today. The reduced revenue from tourism during 2016 is a loss which must be addressed immediately and technically before it becomes the norm. Unfortunately, the Tourism Ministry ignores the fact that the industry requires precision planning and fast reflexes."

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 National Council of Foreign Affairs in Greece will meet to discuss the Cyprus problem exclusively

The National Council of Foreign Affairs in Greece will meet to discuss the Cyprus problem exclusively, SigmaLive learnt on Friday.

The council (ESEP) will be meeting on Friday, at an event hosted by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

In November at a meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Kotzias informed all of the Greek political parties on the Cyprus problem for the first time.

At Fridays meeting, representatives from all the parties will be present with the exception of far-right Golden Dawn, and the Greek Communist party (KKE), which chooses to not take part in the National council as a matter of principal, SigmaLive learnt.

In May ESEP also discussed the Cyprus problem during a meeting at which Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides was present.

Next week, the Permanent Secretaries of Greece and Turkey are set to meet once to discuss the issues of security and guarantees, ahead of the conference in Geneva.

Impending meeting

Sigmas correspondent in Athens has said that the two permanent secretaries may potentially meet a second time to discuss an impending meeting between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

President Nicos Anastasiades met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on Thursday, to discuss the upcoming Geneva conference.

After the meeting the President said that he would meet with Akinci on January 4 and potentially on January 7.

On his part, after returning to the occupied areas on Thursday, Akinci said a new system of guarantees should include Turkey.

The conference on Cyprus will start in Geneva on January 12. The two leaders will be talking with the guarantor powers (Turkey, Greece, and the UK) and other interested parties as required.

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 Greek Council of State on Thursday judged the removal and subsequent return of the antiquities discovered during the construction of the Thessalonikis underground metro to Venizelos station to be fully legal

The Greek Council of State on Thursday judged the removal and subsequent return of the antiquities discovered during the construction of the Thessalonikis underground metro to Venizelos station to be fully legal and constitutional, dismissing objections raised by the Thessaloniki municipality.

The municipality resorted to the court to block a 2014 culture ministry decision for the construction of the metro station around the antiquities, which are to be preserved and placed on display inside the station. To this end, the ministry instructed that the remains be removed and stored, then returned to their positions inside the station.

The Thessaloniki Municipality claimed that the ministerial decision violated the constitutional principle of proportionality, since the worst solution for the protection of the cultural environment was selected, which results in the permanent disappearance of the specific historic monument as a complete whole. It also argued that the decision violated laws on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage.

It failed to convince the court, however, which ruled that the ministerial decisions were legal and in line with the constitution, since the ministry had previously examined all proposals, including that of the municipality. The final decision required that the greater part of Venizelos station be redesigned, structurally and functionally, so that the remains discovered could, in the most part, be restored to their original position, the court noted.

It also pointed out that the Central Archaeological Council had approved the removal for the protection of the remains but also in case deeper finds were revealed, while ruling that the studies for the protection, removal and storage of the finds were legal.

Work on the Thessaloniki metro led to the discovery of remains dating from the 4th century and the early Byzantine years (600-700 AD) at the corner of Egnatia Street and Venizelos Street in the city, at a depth of about six metres and over an area of 1,600 square metres. They included sections of a city with large central streets, public spaces and buildings, as well as a section of Thessalonikis main road.

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
MESK Holdings, one of Bahrains leading hospitality, food and beverage companies, in collaboration with Fakhro Communications, has successfully deployed communications solutions from Avaya to improve connectivity, increase staff efficiency and reduce operating costs.



Founded in 2005, MESK owns and operates a group of locally and internationally renowned dining establishments in prime locations throughout Bahrain.



MESK wanted to replace its existing PBX system with a centralised IP telephony system that would allow the company to provide customers with a single contact number that could reach any establishment, while also allowing it to better monitor quality of service and call volumes, said a statement from the company.



By deploying the Avaya solutions, MESK has connected the head office with its different outlets, and enabled centralised voice mail and recording functions, it said.



Callers can reach any restaurant using the same number, while the company can monitor and record agents located in each branch, it added.



By doing so, resources in different branches can be easily shifted to help another when call volumes rise, reducing wait times and abandoned calls. The company can also use is now business analytics to capture data and intelligence to address staff resourcing requirements, such as identifying peak periods in advance. The centralised system has also helped MESK to cut implementation and support costs, said a statement.



The system was rolled out by Fakhro Communications, part of the Abdulla Yousif Fakhro Group, one of the oldest and best-established group of companies in Bahrain. Deploying the solution across the head office and all branches took two months, in a phased implementation, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Christmas shopping and gift giving has always been a tradition in every part of the world. A lot of bazars, night markets are almost in every corner offering sale items for each merrymaker.

But in Berlin, twelve were dead and 48 are injured at a Christmas market on December 20, the supposed to be a happy day to look for a gift became a nightmare. The crash took place when a lorry, turned into the Budapesterstrasse near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church.

According to The Telegraph, the lorry had Polish number plates and is registered to a delivery company named ARIEL Zurawski. It travelled as far as 80 metres into the Christmas market before it came to a stop.

Eye-witnesses heard a loud bang, saw wooden cabins and crushed bodies of the market goers. The monstrous vehicle has a broken windscreen and the trailer were dragged away disjointedly from the accident scene near Berlin's zoo. Authorities assumed that the original driver of the truck had been shot.

They cited that they found a dead man inside the truck, he is a Polish citizen but explained that it appears that he was not in control of the truck. Berlin police further said that they assumed that the truck was stolen from a construction site in Poland.

"The company said the vehicle had left Poland for Berlin earlier in the day but that contact with the driver was lost at around 3pm local time (2pm GMT) and the firm believed the lorry may have been hijacked," Telegraph reported.

On-going investigations are still on high and reports said that they think that the man from Pakistan who was arrested as a suspect was not the actual criminal. "We have the wrong man. And therefore, a new situation. The true perpetrator is still armed, at large and can cause fresh damage," a senior police chief quoted in The Irish Times.

German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere also attest that the detainee was an asylum seeker who was "probably from Pakistan." He said that the suspect had denied any involvement in the incident. Chancellor Angela Merkel said it had to be assumed the Christmas market incident was a terrorist attack. No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

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The success of the 2016 Disney animation film "Moana" could somehow influence the choice of tourists to explore the Pacific Islands as an ideal destination. Continuing from yesterday's article about the top 5 locations based on generic travel preferences, today's top 5 focuses more on another specific set of itinerary.

Virgin Beaches: Ouvea (New Caledonia)

Arguably, the best location in terms of clean unspoiled beaches is Ouvea - a province in the small archipelago of New Caledonia. Stretching 51 miles in total span, this island is scarcely visited that it is possible to the only tourist around one of the many virgin beaches during the weekdays. From the shoreline, the visibility of marine flora and fauna seems to have an HD daylight rendition.

Marine Exploration: Vava'u (Tonga) and Viti Levu (Fiji)

Exploring marine wildlife in these two South Pacific Islands is another level of excitement. Fiji's Shark Reef Marine Park is one of the rarest places in the world where divers can stay under the same aquatic surface with three huge sharks uncaged, albeit with strict professional guidance. Between June to November, the Kingdom of Tonga is an ideal place to visit for an actual rare sight of humpback whales.

Historical Journey: Solomon Islands

Should one seek a place with rich historical tales, Solomon Islands is the best of the top 5 vacation destinations in the list. The entire archipelago is virtually a World War II museum, replete with relics and ruins from humanity's most violent conflict in the Pacific Theatre.

Wreck Diving: Espirito Santo (Vanuatu)

For some peculiar reason, Vanuatu has become a site of two demolished American vessels. Sitting 69 feet below the nearby sea surface of Espirito Santo lies the scuttled 1945 military transport called the SS President Coolidge. Other ships also include the MV Henry Benneud. How about that? An underwater gallery by itself!

Volcanoes: Ambrym or Tanna (Vanuatu)

What could be more extreme than trekking the mountains? That's right. It is hiking along active volcanoes. Anyone who prefers this edgy fitness tourism ought to visit the rugged peaks of Vanuatu. The easier course of Mt. Yasur is in Tanna Island. Those who want something more challenging ought to visit the twin peaks of Mt. Benbow and Mt. Marum.

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Since the release of the 2006 mockumentary film "Borat," the common view regarding the nation of Kazakhstan has been colored with controversy and gross misunderstanding. However, this proud land-locked country is a multicultural haven and regional economic powerhouse not to be trifled with. Here are the top 5 reasons to visit Kazakhstan that proves Borat wrong:

Reason 1: Ecological Mosaic

Being the 9th largest country by landmass, Kazakhstan only has a relatively small percentage of urbanization. It may not impress people in contemporary times but with much of everything else shifting towards eco-friendly human activity, Kazakhstan may likely be the one destination with the largest territory to draw 'mainstream eco-tourists.' Kazakhstan has 10 natural reserves and 11 national parks - all home to endangered species. This country has 4 out 5 terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on earth!

Reason 2: History Buff's Mecca

Kazakhstan is located in the heart of the Silk Road - an ancient superhighway for international commerce between Europe, Middle East, and Asia. Essentially, this country is a huge historical wellspring that has built a total of 25,000 archaeological and architectural landmarks, 147 museums and over 8 heritage sites.

Reason 3: Cultural Melting Pot

Being located in the heart of the Silk Road makes Kazakhstan a hotbed for the world's biggest ethnic mixture and diversity. The country has 130 different ethnicities, 17 religions and (quite surprisingly) they all coexist in relative peace and harmony. They practice the kind of cross-cultural harmony that can (arguably) put other first-world nations in shame.

Reason 4: Nomadic Cuisine

Another aspect that justifies why one should visit Kazakhstan has a lot to do with their unique cuisine. With a long history of dependence in the nomadic lifestyle, this country has created unique sumptuous dishes based on cattle and dairy. Kazakhstan is a meat lover's paradise!

Reason 5: Diversified Economy

According to a comprehensive data presented by The World Bank, Kazakhstan was able to recover from 2014's oil price decline. With their effort in diversifying their resource/export-dependent economy, they are looking forward to exploring commercialization. Soon, Kazakhstan is likely to become a foreign investor's magnet.

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Who says traveling the world has to be expensive? A traveler knows that once they budget their spending and watch out for the best deals available, unwinding in a different place is not out of reach. Despite the low budget, there are countries that are budget-friendly and would love to accommodate these kinds of travelers.

According to Indie Traveller, there are countries that offer a taste of their culture and daily living on a low budget. Even though these countries offer cheap finds, that doesn't mean they are giving you less. Here's a travel tip naming some of the cheap places a traveler would love to visit.

1. Vietnam- With its great culture and delicious food, every traveler will find experience a different way of living in Vietnam. Vietnam offers cheap accommodation; depending on the type of accommodation you want. The food and transportation is also affordable. The country is famous for its Bia Hoi brewed beer and Pho noodle dishes.

2. Cambodia- Best known for its famous tourist destination Angkor Wat, Cambodia also offer cheap and affordable travel for travelers. Aside from the Angkor Wat, getting to know more about the country will be a great experience. As a country, usually overlooked by most travelers, there are many things to like in Cambodia. It may not have the best and luxurious accommodation, but it is not bad for a low-budget traveler.

3. Bolivia- Best for adventurous travelers, Bolivia is cheap and affordable. It may not be the best in providing comfort for tourists, but those who love adventurous experiences will surely appreciate the wonders of Bolivia.

4. Hungary- If you want to go to a European country and low on budget, Hungary is the place for you. It is quite cheaper than most European countries. Enjoy the food and drinks that the country offers. Wonderful sites such as mountains and lakes will also be enjoyed in the country.

5. Morocco- Just near Spain, Morocco is a North African nation that offers affordable food and accommodation. Enjoy a great and breath taking view of the sun for as low as $50 per day. It may not be as cheap as all other countries there is, but if you're looking for a different experience, Morocco is one of the countries you could choose to travel to.

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The Sahara Desert is the world's largest hot desert. It is located in North Africa. It is considered as one of the driest and hottest areas on Earth. Its average temperature is over 38 C to 40 C. The highest officially recorded average high temperature was 47 C.

Early this week, the red dusty dunes were dominated by white snowflakes near the small Algerian town of Ain Sefra, which lies in the Atlas Mountains on the northern edge of the desert. It is known as the "Gateway to the Saharan Desert." The stunning view of the natural phenomenon was captured by the lens of an amateur photographer, Karim Bouchetata.

"Everyone was stunned to see snow falling in the desert, it is such a rare occurrence," Bouchetata said in a report from The Independent. "It looked amazing as the snow settled on the sand and made a great set of photos. The snow stayed for about a day and has now melted away."

The last time a snow storm felt in Ain Sefra was in the Feb. 18, 1979, it lasted for less than an hour. After almost 40 years, it occured again in a very Instagram-worthy appearance. According to The Daily Caller, " The Sahara Desert has gone through seismic temperature and moister shifts. It is expected to look greener over the next 15,000 years thanks to natural shifts in climate."

Climate change played a vital role in drastically changing the status quo. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released an update on its effect. Citing some examples include the Philippines, ranked as one of the most susceptible countries to climate change. World's deadliest typhoons like Haiyan, Thelma, and Ike were experienced in this archipelago.

In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem and a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to a statement by the ARC Centre of Excellence, 93% of the reef is affected by bleaching. It occurs when coral is put under life-threatening condition by the sudden changes of temperature, nutrients and light.

With all the changes going on this planet, the organization is doing its part in promoting actions that can help ease the problem.

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The American crime web television series, "Narcos" would be heading on small screen next year. Netflix has renewed its third season and has been confirmed to air next year. It was previously reported that on its upcoming season, "Sense 8" actor, Miguel Angel Silvestre would be joining cast. On the other hand, the show welcomed Michael Stahl-David and Matt Whelan as regular stars in the series.

Earlier this week, "Sense 8" star, Miguel Angel Silvestre has been hinted on social media that he would be joining "Narcos" Season 3. As the speculations were circulating online, Hola USA immediately confirmed that Silvestre would be on set for the said cartel TV series. His character was still unnamed but it was hinted that he would be playing as someone to be an allied in cartel trading.

As the news released by Mobile & Apps, it was reported that Silvestre's character could possibly be as someone who would take charge of money laundering for the cartel. In fact, the 34 year-old hunk actor provided some information of his character on "Narcos" Season 3. Based on what he has been revealed, his character would be described as "enigmatic person." According to him, he would be having a bad relationship as well as having a bitter love story in the past.

It seemed that Silvestre's character would be mysterious. On the other hand, "Sense 8" actor also revealed that he has been traveling from Bogota to Colombia and vice versa for the filming of "Narcos" Season 3. Besides, Silvestre would be doing a Colombian accent as part of his character's physiognomies.

Producers of "Narcos" Season 3 warmly welcomed their series regular cast members, Matt Whelan and Michael Stahl-David. Whelan would be portraying the role of Daniel Van Ness as Stahl-David would took the role of Chris Feistl. It was assumed that these partners would take down the drug cartel.

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FOOD & DRINK

Robinia restaurant group on East Washington, including Julep and Barolo, will close after New Year's
New Zealand receives a lot of praises lately for the country's beauty, although it seems not to end there. Apparently, many visiting tourists also include now "Best New Zealand Festivals" in their most favorite things to see in the Kiwi Country. In the latest 2017 calendar, there are as much as seven major celebrations which vary on months and locations, as well as its activities.

According to Backpacker Guide, there are three notable summer celebrations soon to come all year-round in different places of New Zealand. They are: "Jim Beam Homegrown", Wellington (April 2), "On the Lawn", Mt Maunganui (January 31), and "Splore", Tapapakanga Park (February 19-21). Each brings different events and activities to enjoy.

If a traveler is into music, his "Best New Zealand Festivals" would be "Jim Beam Homegrown" and "Splore". The two are the biggest music fairs, only the first happens with electronic and rock music, while the other is a bit more of a cultural performance. Notwithstanding, "On the Lawn" is about getting into the sun as it's a summer feast.

Moreover, Everfest adds three more "Best New Zealand Festivals," the "Wanderlust", Taupo (February 2-5), "Queenstown Winter Festival", Queenstown (June), and "Wairoa Maori Film Festival", Wairoa (June). These celebrations are more about showcasing the beauty of the country's diverse culture.

On the three "Best New Zealand Festivals", each of them attracts a lot of tourists because of the multicity people can enjoy. "Wanderlust" brings holistic growth on people who just want to relax. On the other hand, "Queenstown Winter Party" is all for snow displays, all can enjoy different winter activities in here. And, "Wairoa Film Fest" depicts the culture of Wairoas, it's more about cinematic works.

In all, all the "Best New Zealand Festivals" are all year round, and anytime there is so much to enjoy in the Kiwi Country. A traveler should be sure to see even one of it.

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Christmas in the most popular holiday season in the whole world. Most of the people wanted to celebrate Christmas together with their family, friends, and relatives.

However, there were some who wanted to celebrate Christmas in other places. Perhaps, travelers wanted to experience different sceneries from different countries during Christmas season. Here are some best places to travel during Christmas season.

New York City, New York

New York City is one of the best places to travel when you wanted to experience a winter wonderland themed Christmas. New York is popularly known to its big and brighter lights. The said city boast 69 to 100 feet Norway spruce tree decked with about 30,000 lights. It is one of the best cities to experience outstanding Christmas season.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Christmas in Amsterdam is truly a season of celebration, whether or not you celebrate the day itself in its traditional, religious sense. Its ancient houses that were built about 16 to 17 centuries ago were filled with glimmering lights. It is perfect for those who wanted to experience the traditional Christmas celebration of Dutch. Besides, there were certain traditional similarities they have been adopted such as exchanging of gifts and celebrating together with families.

Santa Claus Village and Santa Park, Napapiiri in Lapland, Finland

Santa Claus Village is an amusement park in Rovaniemi in the Lapland region of Finland. The village is popularly known as "Europe's Christmas capital" due to its Christmas attractions and decorations. Travelers who wanted to experience a White Merrier Christmas, Santa Clause Village is the best destination to visit with.

Make your Christmas merrier and enjoyable as you visit some of these places. Experiencing Christmas celebrations in different countries with some quite different traditions and culture would be more exciting. Traveling to these places together with your loved ones would be ideal.

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Myanmar is definitely one of the best travel destinations as it offers tourists new and awesome surprises. One of the only concerns in Myanmar is their means of transportation. However, there is a romantic way of getting there and that is through their famous boat. Burma, Myanmar has become famous with this kind of experience.

Here are among the must-experience boating route to enjoy in Burma, Luxury Travel reported.

1. Sailing between desert island and Andaman Sea - This is one of the boating routes that you must try when you are in Burma. In this place, you can find untouched archipelago along the exchange of lakes and rivers as you pass through the place. It is also known as a jungle-clad island which is also best for sailing yacht.

2. A route at the Inle Lake - Inle Lake is one Myanmar's must see destination. For some other reason, boating in this lake will help you escape from tourist's throng. This is definitely one of the loveliest and least visited areas in Myanmar. One of the main attractions that will catch your breath is the Sunken Tupas.

3. Burma's first vineyard - As you pass by the river of Myanmar, you will also experience the first vineyard in Burma. It was founded by the Europeans in 1999 and it has attracted lots of tourists since then. You will see spectacular sceneries and taste some wine too.

4. Head at the Irrawaddy River - Irrawaddy River is one of the most adventurous locations to try. It has been known as the Road to Mandalay. If you continue cruising northwards, you will see its teak forests and jungle towards the Kachin State. You can also have a chance to stop over for shopping in their small towns, Wanderlust reported.

5. Cruising from Mandalay to Bagan - This is one of the classic Burmese cruising destinations as it links two of the most famous places in Myanmar. These two are among the best historical sites to see in Myanmar.

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The ending of the year has brought great news to avid Samsung aficionados, especially, those who are anticipating the release of Samsung Galaxy A3. Although it is early to rejoice, some are speculating for the forthcoming take-off of the said brand and model. With the issuance of certification by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), most likely, Samsung will give the public a taste of their Samsung Galaxy A3 early next year.

The FCC certification enables any company selling electronic items to market and sell in the United States. The device number has been issued and it comes under SM-A320F.

Samsung Galaxy A3 features hardware specifications of Octa-core, running at a 1.5GHz clock speed, with 64-bit, Mali-T830 MP2 graphics processor and a 2 GB RAM. It is made of water and dust resistant, Aluminum design. Its camera has 12 megapixels (back camera) and 8 megapixels (front camera) with an auto-focus and geo-tagging capacities. It will be available in black, white, gold, and pink shades. It is built with a screen size of 4.7 inches. More information will be revealed as the days go by.

Samsung Galaxy A3 is part of the modified versions of the A series, including, Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7. The said make and model caters to the market segment of those who might not be able to afford a high end phone but enjoy decent specifications, nevertheless.

It will be noted that the Samsung had hurdles penetrating China market because of Xiaomi. The A series is the first attempt created as a part of the mid-tier group to respond to the bottlenecks. They are comparable to the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S5 but they are not as expensive.

The public will have to wait and see for themselves what the modified Samsung Galaxy A3 can offer for the price they are willing to pay. The Samsung Galaxy A3 might just be in your hands next year!

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Singapore is an array of different cultures blended harmoniously. And therefore, the country's food culture lacks nothing else. What's magnificent to see is how SG placed its street food as one of its heritage and culture. They even celebrate an annual Singapore Food Festival in celebration of street food. A couple of stalls have also earned a Michelin star! Travelers Today takes you directly to the streets.

Along the streets of Little India, one can find Chaat, a street savory vegetarian snack that contains potatoes, delicious yogurt, and a couple of spices. There are also lots of roti or naan along the way. A trip to the Mustafa Centre and Tekka Centre is worthwhile as you try various street food with costs starting from S$0.35 to not more than S$10. If you ask us, we go gaga over their Biryani and masala teh.

Singapore's Chinatown Food Complex is where you get the best seat and a line of hawkers willing to serve you. In fact, you can find the famed Michelin star food street here. The Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle is available for S$2. It wasn't an award-winning stall when we came there, though. And we failed to eat their chunks as they have plenty of people lining up. Maybe next year. Expect to pay S$1 to S$5 in Chinatown for a bowl of noodles, dumplings, beef, liver and more.

You can find various international dishes that range from Sri Lanka to Arab Nations at Kampong Glam. Shawarma, curry, and veggies are common here. Prices are very affordable. Some won't cost you much than S$5. There are also a couple of roti and naan along the way. We just grabbed one and off our way. By the way, some are self-service. You grab a plate then you can choose from an array of 20 dishes. We stayed in a cat cafe though.

How about, before leaving the airport, you get to taste some street food at Changi Village Food Centre? They said it has been renovated now and is much cleaner than before. You can have satay of mutton, fish or pork worth S$0.50 to S$2. Oyster omelets are served for S$5 and going up while fritters are available up to S$1.

The 2016 Spotlight for hawkers is over at the East Coast Lagoon Food Village. You'll be having carrot cakes starting from S$6 to S$8, lots of fries from S$4, and different satay for S$0.60 and up. It's not going anywhere. So, do come here!

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Because one person pulled a prank in one of America's airlines, Virgin America almost diverted its flight to make an emergency landing after a passenger named his hotspot to 'Galaxy Note 7.' It causes panic during mid-air among the other passengers, including a Lucas Wojciechowski.

Wojciechowski took a took a screenshot and showed it to the crew. Later, a call went out for the troll passenger who has the Galaxy Note 7. Wojciechowski took to twitter to publish the pilot's announcements.

"If anyone has a Galaxy Note 7, please press your call button," the pilot spoke. After 15 minutes, the broadcast was up, this time the pilot was heard saying, "This isn't a joke. We're going to turn on the lights" (its 11pm) "and search everyone's bag until we find it."

The plane will be diverted to Wyoming in case no one will confess to having the mobile. After another 15 minutes, the pilot called and threatened an emergency landing and note that since it's nighttime, it would be a hassle for everyone on board.

Wojciechowski remembered the pilot announcing, "I don't know if you've ever been diverted at 3am... Let me tell you, it is terrible. There is nothing open in the terminal. Nothing." The sudden declaration has probably shaken the owner to own up the fault but it has been found out that it was just a wifi hotspot name.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we found the device. Luckily only the name of the device was changed to 'Galaxy Note 7'. It was not a GN7," says the pilot.

Earlier in October, The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), announced an emergency order to ban all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone devices from airlines in the United States.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Sweden is one of the countries located in the northern part of Europe. It resides between Finland and Norway in which it shares it land borders with.

As a northern country in Europe, it is expected to have colder temperatures compared to other countries. It reaches temperatures of as low as -53 degrees Celsius, while its hottest is at +38 degrees Celsius.

As a considerably cold country, its tourism has embraced it and made an Ice Hotel. This Ice Hotel was available since 1990 but needed to be rebuilt every year. It was featured on 2003 and a documentary about it was made on 2004.

Considered to be one of Sweden's wonder, people just couldn't get enough of the Ice Hotel. Recently, the Ice Hotel is now open year-round in the Swedish village Jukkasjarvi. The Ice Hotel is called Ice Hotel 365 which features sculpted hallways and sparkling chandeleirs. It has a champagne-themed ice bar where the drinks will forever stay chilled.

It features 20 different suites all designed by around 40 artists from different countries. Staircases and archways are fully made out of sculpted ice, which looks like Elsa's ice castle in the movie Frozen.

Activities such as ice sculpting, dog sledding, a guided tour, and an arctic wildlife safari are all available to visitors. The experience is topped off with Northern lights viewing while on a snowmobile, which can then be paired with a sauna ritual for relaxation.

Weddings can be held at the Ice Hotel as a chapel is available for the ceremony. The rooms are fully functional as fur is laid on top of beds to keep guests warm.

The hotel is located 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle just near the Torne River. The entire expanse can accommodate up to 250 people at a time and its main reception is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
The United Kingdom is considered as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting more than 36 million in 2015. With its tourist season already over, it's time to take a look at this year's most photographed areas across the country.

Witter Towbars wanted to get hyped up for U.K.'s 2017's tourist season, so they created a list of the most photographed areas across the country. They used Instagram to identify these locations since it is the number one photo sharing app in the U.K. Using the app to share a photo in a tourist spot has been an absolute must in the country.

In terms of a U.K. wide analysis, most of the tourist destinations that have been Instagrammed the most are from England, particularly London. The country's top 10 most photographed destinations are in London with only the Stonehenge and Edinburgh Castle not being part of the capital.

Big Ben has been the most photographed destination in the country, as the popular clock tower had more than 2 million posts. Telegraph reports that some of the tourists even blindly wander into the road just to get the perfect shot. Westminster was a far second to Big Ben with only 581,908 posts, while the Buckingham Palace is third with 496,218 posts, followed by Tate Modern with 334,218 posts and the Stonehenge with 310,728 posts.

The Tower of London came in sixth with 269,261 posts, followed by the British Museum at 235,496 posts. Scotland's most Instagrammed destination is Edinburgh Castle, which came in at eighth with 170,329 posts. To complete the top 10 are the National Gallery with 167,577 posts and the Somerset House with 157,413 posts.

Snowdonia, a region in northwest Wales and is concentrated around the mountains and glaciers of the Snowdonia National Park, is the most Instagrammed photo in Wales. The Giant Causeway, which is an area that has about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, is Northern Ireland's most Instagrammed destination.

Even if tourist season is over, it doesn't there's no reason to the U.K. anymore. The country also offers good places to spend the Christmas holidays, just visit Travelers Today to learn more.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Corey Saffold, Madison police officer stationed at West High School, speaks during a recent Cap Times Talk on police in Madison schools at the Goodman Community Center in Madison.
The diverse continent of Europe draws travelers from all over the world to its laidback beaches, bumping nightclubs and eclectic cities. In particular, Spain has historically been a hot spot for LGBT travelers thanks to its warm climate and endearing hospitality. As towns like Sitges and islands like Ibiza continue to grow in popularity, the gay community has continued to thrive in these relaxing and invigorating locales.

Tourism in Spain has grown tremendously in the past few years, with a numeric visitor increase of 12 percent. Visitors from the LGBT community, however, have grown by more than 28 percent according to numbers produced by various LGBT tourism resources (i.e., hotels, nightclubs, travel agents).

Gay tourists from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States flock to Spain to spend their disposable income in an incredibly affordable country where luxury is more accessible than in other countries. Thanks to these rising numbers in visitors, Spains struggling economy receives nearly 9 billion per year from this particular subset of travelers.

The most popular destination in Spain for LGBT travelers is the seaside town of Sitges. Approximately 30 minutes by train from Barcelona, the quiet, historic town welcomes the gay community with open arms and delivers a colorful and vibrant parade during Gay Pride week each year.
In October 2015, a young lawyer from Mumbai named Afroz Shah decided to do something about all the garbage on his beloved Versova Beach. Along with his 84-year-old neighbor, Harbansh Mother, Shah headed out with gloves and a bag to start picking up trash. Little did he know it would become a huge movement.

Cleaning One of the World's Most Polluted Beaches

Over time, his beach-cleaning efforts gained momentum. He rallied volunteersfriends, neighbors, fishermen, children, even Bollywood film starsby knocking on doors and talking about the importance of cleaning up the beach. People began gathering for weekly Sunday afternoon clean-ups, to participate in what Shah calls "a date with the ocean" but is more aptly described as "labouring shin-deep in rotting garbage under the scorching Indian sun."

Their efforts have paid off and, after 119 consecutive weeks, Versova has been completely transformed. The sand is now visible. Shah estimates that more than 12,000 tonnes of plastic have been removed from the 3-km stretch of beach since starting. He shared an update on Twitter from this past weekend's cleanup:

This tremendous effort has been formally recognized by the United Nations, which recognized Shah as a 'Champion of the Earth' in 2016. His work was also an integral part of last year's documentary film, "A Plastic Tide."

It is heart-warming and inspiring to see how so many residents of Mumbai have come together to effect change, to fight for clean natural spaces, and to right a grievous wrong inflicted on the Earth by human consumer habits.

A Never-Ending Battle Against Plastic Garbage

And yet, as Shah says in the short video below, it's a great burden, too. He cannot stop this work because the tide of plastic will simply return to Versova Beach. It's an ongoing fight, considering the 8 million tonnes of plastic that continue to be dumped into the world's oceans annually. Until that flow is halted, Shah's work will never end.

At least he's setting an example that is bound to influence the next generation of young Indian leaders. As one 15-year-old girl participating in a cleanup told Sky News:

"We are clearing up the mess created by our parents. If we dont want our generation to face the problem of plastic, we have to come here and clean it up."
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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 23

The instructions of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to include three languages in its affiliated schools and monitor appointments of Principals in private institutions has been appreciated by city-based educationists and parents of students.

While expressing happiness over the recent decisions of the CBSE, Amritsar Vikas Manch president Kulwant Singh Ankhi said these would watch interests of students, parents and institutions.

He said the decision to introduce three-language formula among all CBSE affiliated schools was commendable. Besides, English and Hindi, a regional language of the state has been made compulsory in all schools.

In Punjab, schools affiliated to the CBSE will have to teach Punjabi as compulsory subject from Class III to X.

With the introduction of new system demand of Punjabi-loving people, writers and members of the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha will be fulfilled, he said.

Students will become well-versed with the Punjabi language and rich culture of Punjab, he added.

The new formula will also be beneficial for all those candidates, who will get employment in any department of the Punjab government. It is mandatory to have passed Punjabi subject upto the Matric standard to work in government departments of Punjab.

Global linguistic experts have proved and stressed on the need of mother language as medium of instruction for students, said Ankhi.

The CBSE has also changed procedure of appointment of Principals of schools. As per new norms a committee comprising officials of the state Education Department and the CBSE will approve appointment of Principals.

Mohan Singh, a retired professor of Khalsa College, said previously president, manager of the school or a close relative was appointed Principal of a private school, without taking into consideration requisite educational and professional qualifications along with essential experience.

As per new norms a person having requisite education and professional qualifications, which is at least post graduate along with BEd, and a minimum experience of seven years as a headmaster/ headmistress or eight years as lecturer in any subject, can be appointed as Principal.

With the appointment of such qualified and experienced Principals the educational and management standard of institutions will be improve.

The Punjab Parents Association (PPA) president MK Sharma also hailed the move of the CBSE. He said Principal plays a key role to ensure delivery of quality education, besides maintaining discipline among students. So, some ideal set standards and procedures were required for appointments of school heads.

Generally, in order to pay low salaries private schools were compromising skills and academic qualifications of candidates while filling vacant posts of Principal, he added.

He said during the course of their agitation against unjustified fee hike by private CBSE-affiliated schools they interacted with Principals and found them lacking in knowledge.

He lauded conducting of the Principal Eligibility Test and hoped that the new exercise would bolster education in CBSE-affiliated schools. He also appreciated the introduction of tri-language system in schools.
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 23

A day after the Special Task Force (STF) busted the entire nexus of alleged gangster Kamal Bori, the jail authorities today seized a mobile phone from him during a search operation of his barrack.

The search was carried out following a specific input by the STF. Officials also recovered a diary containing telephone numbers, which indicated that he was running his bookies trade from the jail premises.

Bori was brought on a police remand for further interrogation. Meanwhile, the STF has initiated the process of reopening of a murder case registered against him in 2011. The case was cancelled by the police after an inquiry. However, the court had not accepted the inquiry report and case was still open in the court.

We have now decided to reopen the case. He was brought on a police remand and further investigations are under progress, said STF Inspector General (IG) Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh.

Boris name figured in the murder case of Rattan Chand Verma. The incident had occurred on May 11, 2011. Bori and his two accomplices were charged with murder by the police following statement of the deceased. The IG said cancelling of murder case was questionable considering the criminal record of the accused. Now, the STF has summoned the case file and will investigate it threadbare, he added.

In a major breakthrough, the STF claimed to have busted Boris network after the arrest of his three accomplices, including a Constable deployed inside Amritsar Central Jail here yesterday.

The policeman, who is posted as gunman of the Superintendent, Amritsar Central Jail, used to provide Bori mobile and other prohibited material right under the nose of jail officials.

Besides the policeman, identified as Angrej Singh, among those arrested include Boris right hand Mickey, who used to handle his illegal finance business by allegedly extorting money on gun point. Their third accomplice was Jatinder Singh, who works as data entry operator in the District Transport office.

Sources said Bori was an accomplice of notorious Supreet Harry Chatha gang, whose name had figured in the Nabha Jail break case and also in the Tarn Taran gangwar that led to killing of a Dilbagh Singh, alias Lamma Patti, and injuring Akul Khatri, both gangsters. The STF was on the trial of Harry Chatha when it laid its hands on Bori

While Mickey was sent to jail, Jatinder Singh and Angrej were arrested today and further interrogation was under progress. Many heads are likely to role in the further probe, said the IG.

The STF has written to Deputy Commissioner for cancelling arms licence of Kamal Bori, which he had procured on a forged identity. The IG said a separate case was registered against him in this regard. As per investigations he managed to get the arms licence with help of some private persons and connivance of insiders in the DC office. Their names will come up after finalisation of the probe. The STF recovered three weapons from Boris possession during interrogation.

Following seizure of mobile from Bori, the authorities launched a search operation on the jail premises and recovered 10 abandoned mobiles, including two smart phones. Kulwant Singh, DSP, Central Jail, said five mobiles were confiscated from a barraks. Remaining phones were found in wooden logs, he added.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 23

In a significant headway, the GST Council in its seventh meeting today approved in principle the draft Central and State GST laws. However, the issues of dual control and cross empowerment are yet to be decided and would be taken up at the next meeting on January 3-4.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the draft CGST and SGST laws, a total of 197 provisions and five schedules, had been approved and only the issues of dual control and cross empowerment were left.

Jaitley said the GST Council also decided that the compensation mechanism would be to allow bi-monthly payment to states instead of previously decided quarterly payment. He said a parallel exercise of the fixation of the rates for different items would be taken up later.

Jaitley indicated that the language for the source of compensation to the states had to be decided upon and once that is done it would be put before the states.

On being asked whether the April 1 deadline still stands, he said, I am trying my best to do that...left to myself, I would like to do that We dont want to hasten the process of discussion. But we dont want to delay implementation either.

Some states have objected to the levy of cess to give compensation on account of loss due to GST. Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the proposal to levy cess on certain goods, instead of compensating from the revenues of Consolidated Fund of India of the Union is not at all justified.

He said Andhra Pradesh did not accept levy of cess by the Centre on certain goods to compensate the states for loss of revenue arising out of implementation of GST in the five years starting from 2017-18.
Geneva, December 23

Japan has dragged India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against certain measures taken by New Delhi on imports of iron and steel products.

On December 20, Japan notified the WTO Secretariat that it had requested dispute consultations with India in the dispute IndiaCertain Measures on Imports of Iron and Steel Products, the WTO has said. India has imposed minimum import price (MIP) on imports of certain iron and steel products.

In February, India imposed MIP of 173 products for six months, which was later extended twice for two months. Earlier this month, the government extended MIP on 19 products till February 4, 2017.

According to the Commerce Ministry sources, WTO-compliant measures like anti-dumping duty should be used to overcome the issue of cheap imports of commodities like steel as MIP is not compliant with the global trade norms.

India has imposed MIP as growing imports from steel surplus countries like China, Japan and Korea with predatory prices have been a major concern for the domestic industry since September 2014.  PTI
Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 23

The crisis in the Congress, which started soon after the debacle in the MC poll, peaked when former councillor and senior party leader Chandermukhi Sharma, who had been raising a banner of revolt against former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal for long, was expelled from the party.

Pardeep Chhabra, president of the city Congress who had submitted his resignation after the defeat, said Sharma was expelled on December 15 for anti-party activities and working against Congress candidate HS Lucky, who unsuccessfully contested the MC elections from Ward No. 1.

Sharmas brother Surajmukhi contested as an Independent from the ward. BJP candidate Maheshinder Singh Sidhu won from Ward No. 1, defeating Lucky by a margin of 324 votes.

Chandermukhi, who belongs to the Manish Tewari camp, accused Chhabra and Bansal of not giving the ticket to the right persons in the MC poll. Sharma said his expulsion was unconstitutional as he was neither served any notice nor given an opportunity to explain his position.
Manoj Kumar Tiwary & Sanjay Kumar

WHEN India backed out of the Programme for the International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2012 after ranking 69th out of 70 participating countries in 2009, the media reported this withdrawal, but did not give the underlying issues the deserved attention. The bad results of the PISA test in India reflected on the learning achievement of elementary education students, since it was held among 15-16 year olds who just passed out of elementary school. Neither the media, nor the government, paid much attention to why the participating students, with eight years of elementary education behind them, scored so poorly. The government avoided the underlying issue of student learning assessment by withdrawing from the PISA 2012, citing language unfamiliarity and context-independent tests as reasons.

So far the exclusive focus has been on the input components of elementary education, while ignoring the output angle, that is optimum learning achievement through the provision of quality education. Several qualitative research studies, supported by anecdotal evidence, have brought to the fore various variables that are responsible for the disappointing learning achievements. Quantitative field researches gathered from rich samples also show that despite concerted efforts and inputs designed to improve the learning outcomes, we are still a long way from attaining optimal learning levels.

Poor learning levels of elementary school children are due to the social, economic and educational backgrounds of their families; linguistic problems caused by a student's multilingual engagement at home (local languages and dialects) and the medium of instruction at school (Hindi, English or official regional languages). Also, the teachers' backgrounds, beliefs, expectations and motivation; the teachers' unsatisfactory pedagogical skills and content knowledge due to the lack of appropriate and context-relevant training programmes. Children from different segments of society face different problems at school. It is, therefore, essential to disaggregate research data in order to understand the reasons for variance of the performance levels of different student segments. Children from marginalised communities lack the social and cultural capital needed to take advantage of what school can offer them. They are often first-generation learners and, unlike their more privileged classmates, cannot count on their families' help with schoolwork. Linguistic problems add to their disadvantage. In most states, there exists little similarity between classroom languages like Hindi, English or official regional languages and the home language or dialects of underprivileged students.

Marginalised students experience problems in comprehending what their teachers try to teach them and are further alienated by the content of textbooks, written in languages they have difficulties in understanding and referring to unfamiliar social and cultural contexts. India's cultural and linguistic diversity seldom finds expression through textbooks and other teaching materials, which are time and again limited to dominant cultural values and perspectives. Students from SCs, STs, Minorities and underprivileged communities continue to face the prejudices and disregard of their teachers and more privileged classmates.

Societal and linguistic problems are exacerbated by the pedagogical inaptitude of teachers, as well as their prejudiced mindset, reflecting socio-cultural biases. The majority of teachers lack the pedagogical and language skills, reflective capacity and socio-cultural sensitivity to enable inclusive learning. To improve the learning outcomes, teachers need to be sensitised. Teachers' personal attitudes towards disadvantaged children also need to change. These attitudes are, of course, shaped by societal values and practices and are not easy to modify without effective teacher education.

There is a shortage of effectual programmes that employ pedagogic pluralism to train pre-service and in-service teachers. Besides, changing teachers' pedagogic and personal outlook is not enough either. For our largely textbook-based educational system, it is also necessary to make textbooks more culturally and linguistically diverse, reflecting the heterogeneous identities of all students' in a classroom and not just favouring the values and experiences of dominant groups.

The Draft NEP 2016, recently published by the Ministry of Human Resources, is in preparation for the New Education Policy. The disparate level of education of disadvantaged children, in particular tribal children, is a special concern. The draft states that gender issues, social, cultural and regional disparities will be addressed in future curricula, with an emphasis on unity in diversity. It proposes to make social justice and legal measures part of the new curriculum in an attempt to confront social discrimination in the classroom. Without tackling these issues head-on, the goal of improving learning achievement among children from marginalised communities becomes even more difficult to achieve.

Inadequate initial professional preparation, and fragmented professional-development programmes for school teachers hamper an effective teaching-learning process. Teachers are ill-equipped to teach students with diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Successful teacher-education programmes depend on competent teacher educators. There is a shortage of professionally trained and qualified teacher educators. The draft focuses on the need for the new generation of teachers to be trained in modern pedagogies. Meticulous, country-wide data-collection and analysis of how social and cultural background constitutes learning groupings associated with poor or better learning achievements is needed. Or else, educationally advanced states too may find it hard to excel in the next PISA round and the most vulnerable students will continue to find themselves intentionally or inadvertently excluded.





The writers are associated with Deshkal Society, a Delhi-based research-based civil society organisation.
Even for a government as sure-footed as this one, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jungs abrupt resignation must have upset its calculations of rendering the Aam Aadmi Party government non-functional. The suave bureaucrat-turned-academic Najeeb Jung had revelled in his role as the Centre's hatchet man, first under the UPA and now on the directions of the NDA government, to keep the upstart Arvind Kejriwal in check. The incidents of bitterness are so plentiful that a graphic timeline would do justice to the near-weekly skirmishes between the Chief Minister and the Lt Governor.

It is not as if the Centre all this while has never imposed its will on states. Starting with the dismissal of the EMS Namboodripad government in Kerala in 1959 to ousting (and then reinstating) the Harish Rawat government in Uttarakhand, this has been the story of eruptions in an unsettled equation. But rarely in the history of Centre-state relations has the acrimony lasted as long as this spell of hostility. The consequence has been that the citizens of Delhi have been denied the right to be ruled by an elected government. Another consequence has been the severe downgrading of the level of public conversation between public functionaries. Mr Kejriwal will also carry the blame for crossing the line on several occasions.

Now that the Punjab elections are nigh, it makes political sense for Modi to have an equally difficult person as LG. This will keep the AAP government non-functional and confine Kejriwal to Delhi. But the Supreme Court may change the script when it considers the matter of separation of powers between the Centre and Delhi for final disposal on January 18. There is talk that Jung saw the writing on the wall and may have decided to pack up his bags after the apex court observed that the Delhi government should have some powers otherwise it cannot function. Regardless of whether the Supreme Court lays down the line for governance in Delhi or the Centre names another hatchet man as Jungs replacement, the skirmish has been one of the sorry chapters of political coexistence.
Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, December 23

Health Minister Anil Vij launched a programme to empower women lodged in Haryanas jails by developing their skills at Central Jail here today.

Nearly 1,000 women were lodged in 19 jails of the state. Loomba Foundation, which had been working in the field to empower widows, would provide skill development training to the inmates.

The government has launched various programmes to empower women. It is good to know that the foundation wants to help women inmates by developing their skills, Vij said.

Raj Loomba, chairman trustee of the foundation and member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, said his mothers struggle during as a widow had made him take the initiative.

The sole purpose of the project is to help women inmates by developing their skills during their stay in prison, which will eventually help them after their release from prison, he said.

Discrimination against widows is a major issue worldwide and a study has been carried out on their status, children and problems. There are 46 million widows in India raising nearly 100 million children, he said.

The situation is more painful in villages. We have suggested to the Prime Minister that a person should be appointed in every panchayat who can train widows and resolve their issues, he stated.

We have requested him to constitute a national commission for widows to understand their needs. Widows should be considered as minority and given special quota, he added.

The government spends a lot on jails. We get Rs 225 crore from the government. We need sanctions for everything and there is no flexibility, said DGP Yashpal Singhal.

There is no such issue with non-government organisations. This is the reason we have been encouraging these to come forward and impart skill development training to inmates, he said.

Women inmates were provided 20 sewing machines on the occasion. A trainer would be appointed and the salary borne by the foundation.

To promote cultural activities in the jail, Vij and Loomba announced Rs 2.5 lakh each. Central Jail SP SPS Chauhan and DSP Headquarters Hitesh Yadav were present.
Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Sampla (Rohtak), Dec 23

A Jat quota committee has announced to launch a fresh stir for grant of reservation to members of the community on January 29. An announcement to this effect was made at a state-level convention of the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti here today.

Addressing the meeting, saimiti leader Yashpal Malik said statewide nyay yatras would be taken out in Haryana and dharnas staged across the state from January 29. A meeting of the core committee of the samiti would be held on January 15 to decide the locations for the dharnas, he added.

No violence or violation of law would be allowed to take place and dharnas will remain peaceful even if the government tries to incite people , maintained Malik.

Accusing the state leadership of dishonoring its promise of granting reservation to Jats, the samiti leaders asserted that they would launch a decisive fight this time.

The Jat leaders further stated that the community members would teach a befitting lesson to the BJP in the upcoming UP and Punjab Assembly elections if their demand for reservation was not met.
Tribune News Service

Charkhi Dadri, December 23

Thieves broke into Canara Bank at Birhi Kalan village of the district yesterday and decamped with Rs 37 lakh, of which Rs 10.5 lakh were in new currency.

They drilled a hole into the banks side wall and strongroom.

The matter came to light today morning.

Sunil Dalal, SP, reached the spot with the police and summoned the CIA, forensic team and a dog squad to collect evidence.

Anand Prabhat, Branch Manager of the bank, told mediapersons that he had closed the bank safely on Thursday night.
Washington, December 23

Over 50 per cent of potential mothers in Brazil are avoiding pregnancy due to the Zika epidemic, according to a new study published today which suggests that the country must urgently re-evaluate its reproductive health policies.

Since the outbreak of Zika in Brazil, there have been 1,845 confirmed cases of congenital Zika syndrome in babies, researchers said.

There is an urgent need to reconsider abortion criminalisation, and also to improve reproductive health policies to ensure women have access to safe and effective contraceptives, they said.

Researchers from University of Brasilia in Brazil wanted to understand how the epidemic has impacted reproductive health practices.

A national survey conducted in June this year used face-to-face questionnaires to collect data about reproductive health and pregnancy and a secret ballot box to obtain information related to abortion experiences.

Data were collected from 2,002 urban and literate Brazilian women aged 18-39 years, corresponding to 83 per cent of the total female population.

Over half (56 per cent) the women reported that they had avoided, or tried to avoid pregnancy because of the Zika epidemic.

Conversely, 27 per cent of women reported that they had not tried to avoid pregnancy because of the epidemic and 16 per cent had not been planning to get pregnant, regardless of the epidemic.

A higher proportion of northeastern women (66 per cent) than southern women (46 per cent) reported avoiding pregnancy, and the researchers said this is most likely due to the epidemic being more concentrated in northeastern Brazil.

Black (64 per cent) and brown (56 per cent) women were more likely to report avoiding pregnancy than white women (51 per cent), most probably reflecting the disproportionate impact of the epidemic on vulnerable racial groups, researchers said.

There were no significant differences among the main religious groups: 58 per cent of Catholic women and 55 per cent of Evangelic women reported having avoided pregnancy because of the Zika epidemic, they said.

The results provide an important first glimpse into how the Zika epidemic has shaped pregnancy intentions among women in Brazil, researchers said.

Brazil must urgently re-evaluate its reproductive health policies to ensure better access to contraception information and methods, they added.

This includes making available a wider range of contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraception, which are either scarce, such as the copper intrauterine device, or not available, such as hormonal implants, through public health services.

The study was published in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.  PTI
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 23

With just a year left for the polls the Congress regime in the state claims to have fulfilled 90 per cent of the promises made in its election manifesto. The performance, however, seems to be far from satisfactory with the burgeoning army of unemployed youth and grave financial health of the state posing a big challenge to the Virbhadra regime.

On the personal front, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is fighting the toughest legal and political battle of his over five-decade political innings. Facing disproportionate assets case filed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal dismissing his plea for re-assessing his income tax returns has come as a major setback for him. His legal woes are likely to complicate in the coming days with related cases in the Delhi and Himachal High Courts being at an advanced stage.

The BJP dubs the performance of the government as dismal with the CM remaining pre-occupied with the cases he faces in various courts of law. The four-year rule has been marked by corruption and scams with the mining, liquor, forest, transfer and land mafia flourishing, says state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti. Upbeat in the hope of returning to power riding high on the issue of corruption, the rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah at Mandi and Solan have infused life into the rank and file of the party cadres.

The reduced Central funding following scrapping of the Planning Commission has added to the woes of the already cash-strapped state which has very little scope for resource mobilisation, leaving it at the mercy of the Centre. Even though the Congress regime claims that 90 per cent of the promises made in the election manifesto have been fulfilled the Congress regime will have to produce more tangible results in its last year of its rule to impress the electorate.

The countdown has already begun and the possibility of early Assembly polls in the state cannot be ruled out. Even hardcore Virbhadra loyalists admit that governance and deliverance have been major casualties under the present regime, leaving much to be desired.

The Centre in the last four years has provided Rs 8,085.69 crore to various departments in the state with the Rural Development Department receiving Rs 1771.43 crore, education getting Rs 1404.24 crore, Social Justice and Empowerment Rs 1012.28 crore and health Rs 854.61 crore. Himachal has received a total of Rs 17,312.06 crore from the Centre in the last four years as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission. A sum of Rs 2,822.54 crores has been received under externally aided project in four years. All this along with some other funding amounts to a total of Rs 25,776.32 crore.

Notwithstanding the claims of the government of having undertaken expansion of health and educational institutions in the state, it is evident that there is dire need for quality improvement. Vacancies of doctor and teacher in the rural areas have rendered such institutions ineffective and more of a drain on the state exchequer than providing the much needed services to the people.

UNEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE

Promised: Unemployment allowance to all and educating jobless youth whose number is now close to nine lacs.

Steps taken: A modification was made by initiating Skill Development Allowance Scheme in which 1.27 lakh eligible youth have been provided Rs 1,000 monthly (total amount disbursed is Rs 11.12 crore) allowance to acquire skills. For those with 50 per cent or more disability this amount is Rs 1,500. The maximum period for which this allowance can be given is 24 months and Rs 100 crore budgetary provision made in the 2016-17 budget. Skill Development Corporation has signed MoUs with industrial houses to train youth. It has also initiated Rs 640-crore ADB-funded HP Skill Development Project which would improve employment opportunities for youth.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Promised: Efficient financial administration with thrust on increase in revenue, enhancing per capita income (PCI) and reducing fiscal deficit.

Steps taken: Barring increase in PCI (current price) to Rs 1,30,067 in 2015-16 from Rs 98,996 in 2012-13 the financial health of the state is far from satisfactory. The debt trap has mounted to over Rs 40,000 crore and the annual salary and pensionary budget have galloped to over Rs 15,000 crore, leaving less for development works. No major efforts made for resourcing generation and almost total dependence on Central funding. No action on the report of the resource mobilisation committee and no curbs on wasteful expenditure like purchase of vehicles.

BETTER HEALTHCARE

Promised: Free healthcare and medicines at all health centres and super-speciality medical facilities, introduction of tele-medicine and filling of all vacant posts.

Steps taken: The vacancy position of doctors, nurses and other para-medical staff remains an area of concern with shortage of 550 doctors alone. Despite walk-in interviews of doctors, not too many have shown keenness to serve in rural areas. Super-specialty services better than before but still a lot more needs to be done.

Four new medical colleges at Nahan, Hamirpur, Chamba and Ner Chowk and an AIIMS at Bilaspur cleared. Facilities at the two medical colleges at Shimla and Tanda upgraded with latest equipment and treatment, especially for cancer treatment and heart ailments. Telemedicine services started at hospitals in Keylong and Kaza yielding good results.

TOURISM PROMOTION

Promised: As many as 5,000 tourist guides to be trained at village level, infrastructure to be strengthened, ropeways planned and temple tourism in tribal areas to be promoted.

Steps taken: The beautification of Shimla, and cultural circuits is underway under the Rs 600-crore Asian Development Board (ADB) project. The benefits of the home stay scheme have failed to reach a wide section of society in rural and interior areas. Expansion or airports at Gaggal and Bhuntar in Kullu has been in limbo. No progress on setting up an international airport and resumption of flights from Shimla airport since September 2012. The department has failed to attract private investment for leasing out its commercial properties and four ropeway projects have no takers.
Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 23

Fire destroyed Ksha village in Bamta panchayat of Chopal subdivision yesterday damaging property worth Rs 5 crore. As many as 16 houses and several apple orchards were gutted in the blaze. Ram Singh, a Nepalese labourer, was also injured in the incident. He was admitted to the IGMC, Shimla.

The blaze reportedly started from Jurru Nalla grass land and quickly spread upwards. Raman Chauhan, a victim whose ancestral house was gutted in the fire, said, More than 150 villagers became mute spectators to the inferno that raged through the village. The flames rose as high as 60 feet. Wooden houses, piles of dry grass fodder stocked for winter months stoked the flames.

Lakshmi Singh, another fire victim, said, We lost our precious belongings, clothes, and other property. Thousands of apple trees were destroyed in the blaze. Villagers rued losing their lone source of livelihood. They said the village was reduced to ashes before help arrived.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anil Chauhan said the fire tenders could not reach the village because the road was narrow, adding, they doused the flames along the roadside and in the jungle nearby. He said the damage would be assessed and the situation would be reviewed after three days.

The SDM said, We have already distributed compensation worth Rs one lakh to each family affected due to the blaze. Villagers have volunteered to accommodate them.

Meanwhile, Ashwani Verma, District Forest Officer, also inspected the village. He said the department had sanctioned 33 TD trees to the affected families to rebuild their houses, adding, the local forest staff donated ration for three days.

The DFO said forest teams had been deployed to douse fires in Bamta, Nerwa, Sarain and Chopal ranges where forest spread over 70 hectares has been damaged.
Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 23

The BJP today once again staged a walkout from the House over the suspension of their three MLAs from the Assembly. Just after the question hour the BJP MLA, Rihi Ram Koundal rose up from his seat and said that their MLAs were not allowed to attend the Assembly premises today also. Stopping the elected MLAs from entering the Assembly premises was against the rules, he said.

Speaker BBL Butail snubbed Rikhi Ram and said, You do not know the rules. As per the rules of Himachal Assembly once suspended the MLAs cannot even enter the premises of the Assembly complex, he said.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal the definitions were being misinterpreted for keeping the suspended MLAs out. Dhumal said rules were being violated by the Speaker. He said that BJP members brought call attention notice under rule 62. However, the call attention notice was rejected by the Speaker without a written reply that was against the rules. He also asked the Speaker if any such thing had happened earlier also in the history of Himachal Assembly.

The Speaker countered Dhumal by stating that he was acting as per the rules. He said if the MLAs were allowed to enter the House premises that what is meaning of punishment given to them. He said the Opposition wanted to go out of House and hence was making excuses.

Dhumal said that the Speaker had nowhere written in the notice given to the suspended MLAs that they would be kept outside the premises of the Assembly complex. It had been written that they would not enter the House, which implied that they cannot attend the House proceedings. However, the opposition MLAs had the right to come in the complex and sit in opposition lounge like common people, Dhumal said.

Jai Ram Thakur, BJP MLA, said that Congress did not want the House to function and so was taking action against their MLAs.

Entering the debate, Kaul Singh Thakur, Minister for Health, said that unnecessary controversy was being created over the issue. He said that as per the rule the definition implied that it also included the outer boundaries of the Assembly complex.

Dhumal then retorted that the rights of the MLAs to enter the Assembly complex should be protected. He said AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, who was suspended from Parliament, was allowed to enter the premises of Parliament and was holding his press conferences there. He was just not allowed to attend the proceedings of Parliament, Dhumal said.

When the Speaker disallowed the Opposition request to allow the suspended MLAs to enter the House the BJP MLAs staged a walkout.

After the Opposition had left Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the BJP MLAs should be ashamed of their conduct. They have disrespected the Chair of the Speaker and the Leader of Opposition, despite being a senior leader, was endorsing their conduct.

The Speaker then announced that the act of the suspended BJP MLAs was derogatory and an insult to the House. He had no personal malice against the suspended MLAs but punishment had to be handed over to them to maintain the spirit of the House. If the dignity of the house is compromised I shall take action, he said.
Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 23

While the National Conference and separatist groups have politicised the humanitarian issue of grant of identity certificate to West Pakistan refugees, the ruling BJP came under fire from Jammu-based parties for not taking a tough stand on the issue.

The parties have reasons to target the BJP because it is an equal partner in the coalition regime which, instead of clearing its stand on the issue, is busy in placating separatists on the identity certificate controversy. Not only the Opposition parties, some offshoots of the Sangh Parivar are also blasting the BJP for succumbing to separatists on the issue.

Without naming the BJP, state president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Leela Karan Sharma regretted that the government had failed to take a tough stand on those groups which were trying to foment trouble by raking up the issue of refugees.

Lambasting the BJP-PDP coalition for succumbing to the diktats of the separatists, Panthers Party chairman Harsh Dev Singh today said the credibility of present dispensation, particularly the BJP, had stooped to an all-time low. He said the governments latest move to substitute the domicile certificate with identity certificate for West Pakistan refugees under the pressure of separatists was highly contemptuous and shameful.

He said the refugees, who represented displaced Hindus and Sikhs with a majority of them being Dalits, had pinned high hopes on the BJP government of being accorded permanent resident certificates. He said the BJP had held out such assurances and promises during elections as also in its Vision Document assuring state subject rights to West Pakistan refugees.

Highly placed sources said there was strong anger among BJP workers also against what they termed soft separatism being pursued by the coalition regime.
Jammu, December 23

The BJP state president, Satpal Sharma, was today allegedly manhandled by party workers in the Shakti Nagar area of the city when he failed to answer their query regarding toeing the separatist line and not doing development works.

Satpal Sharma had to face the ire of party workers, who even tore his clothes, when he went to the area to hold a public meeting. Satpal is the MLA from the Jammu (West) and Shakti Nagar falls in the constituency.

According to eyewitnesses, a party worker sought details of development works done in the area by the BJP-PDP government and asked the MLA why he and his party, despite being in government had not been able to deliver on the ground. The BJP worker asked the reason why the BJP hasnt been able to deliver on the developmental front and pursue the party agenda while being in the government, said an eyewitness. The party worker said on the one hand the BJP-PDP government is pursuing separatist agenda by giving compensation to Burhan Wanis family and on the other hand West Pakistan refugees are not given their due share, the eyewitness added.

Satpal tried to pacify the party worker but it did not bring down the tempers.

The BJP worker got agitated by this answer and manhandled the party president. Till the time police intervened and rescued the MLA, his clothes were torn, the eyewitness added.

Sources said the BJP worker was ready to get booked under the law but the police, instead of taking action against him, tried to hush up the case. The police didnt want to mention the name of the BJP state president in the FIR and thus didnt register the case of manhandling.

It was a minor scuffle between some BJP workers who clashed with each other but there was no harm to the state president, SHO, Bakhshi Nagar, Ashwani Kumar said.TNS
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 23

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today reached Leh on a two-day visit to the region to take stock of the development scenario. This is Mehbooba Muftis first visit to Ladakh after taking over as Chief Minister.

She inaugurated a state-of-the-art Central Asian Museum in the town, built by the Tourism Department in collaboration with a local community service group, Anjuman-e-Moinul Islam.

The museum has the artefacts, manuscripts and pieces of heritage collected from Central Asia, Tibet and Kashmir from the 18th and 19th centuries, some of which are 400 years old.

Interacting with locals on the occasion, Mehbooba appreciated the local historian, Abdul Ghani Sheikh, for conceptualising the idea of the museum. She also complimented the efforts of German scholar Andre for having worked closely with the authorities for materialising the concept. She said: We need to preserve our cultural roots for our coming generations so that they remain connected to the past.

She announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh for adding more artefacts to the museum.

Today also marks the beginning of the new Ladakhi year and a local festival called Galdan Namchod. The Chief Minister extended her best wishes to the people on the occasion.

Currently, the museum houses pieces of rock art, ancient Ladakhi day-to-day instruments like weighing balance and old abacus, coins from several Central Asian states, old caravan water heater, utensils from Yarkand, manuscripts like Bodhi and Turkish interpretation of the Koran, ancient handwritten chronology of Prophet Mohammad, copies of handwritten Koran, copies of Sahih Bukhari and Fatwai Aalamgiri, besides articles of daily use in ancient times in the region and prototype of an ancient Ladakhi kitchen.

Minister for Education Naeem Akhter was also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated a bridge at Khaltsi. Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the 75-metre-long bridge will not only connect Khaltsi with the national highway but also give a boost to the tourism potential of the area.

On her arrival at Leh this morning, the Chief Minister was given a warm reception by local men and women, dressed in traditional attires, amid beating of trumpets. They greeted the Chief Minister with colourful khattaks and bouquets.

She was received by Chairman, Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali, Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs Tsering Dorjey, Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Sonam Dawa, executive members of the LAHDC, Leh, Director General, Border Roads Organisation, Lt Gen Suresh Sharma, Chief Engineer, BRO, AK Dikshit, Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Prasanna Ramaswamy and Superintendent of Police, Leh, Uday Bhaskar.
Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 23

The minuscule Christian community in Kashmir is planning low-key celebrations this Christmas as a tribute to the civilians killed during the unrest.

The Holy Family Catholic Church on Maulana Azad Road  one of the two churches in the Srinagar city  which is abuzz with activity during Christmas days will not be decorated this time, Shami Joseph, the church functionary, said.

Joseph said carol singing and the parade had been cancelled while decorations would be limited to the interiors of the churches.

So many people have been martyred in the security forces firing this year. So how can we celebrate Christmas in a big way, he said.

Joseph insisted on referring to the civilians killed during the unrest as martyrs. We are part of society and represent the political aspirations of the majority community, he said.

He added that the one-hour-long prayer would be held from 11 am on Sunday. Last year, we had an attendance of over 250 but this year it wont be more than 150, he said.

The Christian population in Kashmir is merely 11,857, but their contribution to the health and education sectors has been immense. The Christian community has over half a dozen major schools in the region, which have pioneered the introduction of modern education in the region.

The most sought after educational institutions in Srinagar  Burn Hall School for Boys was founded in 1943 and the Presentation Convent for Girls was founded in 1936  are Catholic-run institutions. Renowned people of Kashmir send their children to these schools.

The celebrations have been cancelled in these schools as well in view of the prevailing situation in Kashmir. We have no programme for Christmas this year because school is closed for the winter vacation. Also, it wont look good to celebrate when the whole Kashmir is mourning, said Rameez Ahmad, an official in the office of Principal Presentation Convent School.

The Oklahoma-based academician Nyla Ali Khan, who did her schooling from Presentation Convent School, went nostalgic about her childhood in Kashmir and took to a social networking site. She posted on her Facebook wall: Our winter break began with the opulent Christmas production, complete with ornaments that we staged at Presentation Convent, my alma mater. The auditorium resonated with carols sung in sonorous voices. The few churches and chapels in Srinagar, including the one at my alma mater, would be resplendent with beautifully set up nativity scenes. That was the culturally rich and pluralistic milieu in which my generation was raised. So, heres to never-dying hope and new beginnings! Merry Christmas to those of my friends who celebrate the holiday, and Happy Holidays to the rest! she said.
Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 23

After five days of relaxation in the shutdown for the first time during the current unrest, normal life in the Valley was paralysed again as the separatists called for a two-day bandh, which began today.

While the overall situation across Kashmir remained peaceful, protests were held at various places, including Nowhatta and Batamaloo in Srinagar, after the Friday prayers. The protest erupted in the Nowhatta area after Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed a gathering outside Jamia Masjid after the Friday prayers. The police chased away the protesters leading to clashes in the area.

However, there were no reports of injuries to anyone. Protests were also held in Tral area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir.

All shops and business establishments were closed and public transport was off the roads, though private vehicles plied normally in the capital city and other major towns of the Valley.

Thin public transport plied in some areas, while most of the people preferred to remain indoors fearing trouble as there was heavy deployment of police and CRPF personnel in sensitive areas. There was thin attendance in government offices and most of the educational institutions were closed.

The separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, jointly issuing the protest calendars since the unrest started in July, have for the first time scaled down the shutdown for only two days a week, beginning today.

As the year comes to an end, the separatists recently issued a protest calendar for the fortnight with 10 days of full-day relaxation and four days of shutdown till December-end.

The weekly calendars are being issued since the unrest began following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani and two of his associates in an encounter with security forces on July 8.
Mona & SD Sharma

Anupam Kher, Shekhar Sen, Shabana Azmi and Satish Kaushik are just the few theatre stalwarts who regaled city folks with their flawless acts in 2016. While ticketed shows got takers in the city, where established theatre groups staged their performances; the local groups too made the most of the thriving culture.

Tagore Theatre Society, the three Chandigarh akademies  Sangeet Natak, Sahitya and Lalit Kala  along with Punjab Arts Council, contributed in their own ways towards nurturing the cultural soul of tricity. One sure high in the theatre scene was Ajoka Theatre, which brought their celebrated shows from across the border. The tension between the two countries was a record high in July, but that did not stop Madeeha Gauhar from reaffirming that art is a uniting factor.

Right act

Suchetak Rang Manch, Theatre for Theatre group and Alankar Theatre Group had huge footfall for their festivals. Dramatic readings wowed the audiences through Writers Bloc Showcase  a specially curated season of original plays by Indian Playwrights, a group comprising Rajit Kapur, Shernaz Patel and Sadiya Siddique.

While there have been pretty much different shades of plays, sadly, the city didnt host our own Neelam Man Singh Choudhary, whose Naked Voices met a rousing response in Delhi. We hope the coming year brings in more!

Loads to cherish

The classical art-lovers had their fair share of performances to cherish. Folk flavour was added by Haryana Cultural Affairss Saang Fest at Tagore. The Sangeet Natak Akademi organised as many as 80 programmes of merit in theatre, classical folk music and dance, through different festivals. Artists like Pandit Sanjeev Abahyankar, Pt Rajan Sajan Misha, Kalpini Komkali, Malini Awasthy, Pt Vishwa Moahn Bhatt, Salil Bhatt, Pt Brij Naryan and others, made their presence felt. The Parcheen Kala Kendra and Brahspati Sangeet Society also contributed through festivals.

Lack of direction

Lots of programmes are happening and being supported, but most of it is adhocism. As a city we are not creating a narrative. Like Serendipity in Goa, where people are involved in discussions, debates and choose what issues they can address, what themes make a part of festivals; we totally lack it here. Neelam Man Singh Choudhary, well-known theatre-person

Well-read audience

Chandigarh is an ideal city for theatre. We have plenty of places  theatre, auditoriums, open-air stages  and educated audiences. What is a play sans its viewers? The scene here is certainly lively. Though I wish there were more experimental plays. Groups like Kewal Dhaliwals bring up social issues. I am glad we had a play like Everything She Wants: Amrita & Boris.

Pushpinder Syal, Professor, Panjab University

Spread the word

Lots of lovely plays are being staged in the city, both by local groups and other ones from elsewhere. What I rue is that most are limited to tight circles. Despite being from the fraternity, at times even I get to hear it post the show. How difficult could it be to spread the word in a small city like ours? Art needs to be the prerogative of all, not a select few. Gick Grewal, theatre artiste

mona@tribunemail.com
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 23

In an alleged land-grab case, where the husband of Kutbwal village sarpanch and three others were booked by the Ladhowal police two days ago, victims accompanied by several villagers held a protest outside the Police Commissioners office today. They were demanding the arrest of the accused.

Earlier, the complainant also alleged that additional Station House Officer (SHO) Swaran Singh, to whom the complaint was first submitted, had reportedly delayed the registration of FIR against the sarpanchs husband. It was only after the senior police officials were apprised about the matter, the FIR was registered.

The accused have been identified as Surinder Singh alias Gola, his father Sita Ram, a resident of Kutbewal village, Gulshan Kumar of Model Town and Resham of Ladian village near here. A case under sections 447, 379, 427, 506 of the IPC was registered by the police.

Complainant Jarnail Singh alleged that he owned 5 acre farm land in the village, where he sowed wheat. However, Gola forcibly took possession of the land by destroying the wheat seeds in the field. He said a complaint was filed at the Ladowal police station in November last month, but the FIR was registered a month after on December 20. Earlier, an FIR was not being registered because the accused was sarpanchs husband, but a month after the FIR was registered after an inquiry. Now, we are demanding the arrest of all accused who are still at large, he said.

He said the police could delay the arrest of the accused because he had close proximity with politicians.
Ratna Raman

THE world we live in is in disarray. There are so many of us and with so many diversities that we have always needed to fall back on language; a very fluid system of signs that decodes and compresses information. When the English language was evolving into Middle English, it drew from the Latin, the Greek and the French. When it began to travel to different parts of the world for the purposes of trade and conquest, it borrowed from the languages available in the different cultures it interacted with.

Naming words or nouns always have a fascinating history attached around them. The word elephant for instance. Our photo illustrated primers in English, now invariably say e for elephant, instead of the more humdrum ear or eye.

Elephants belong to Africa and Asia and there are innumerable names for elephants in African, Asian and Indian languages. The ears of the African elephant are very large and keep it cool in the heat. The Asian elephant has smaller ears. African elephants were possibly used in battles at Carthage. The Greek elephas and Latin elephantus refer to ivory, and the word itself seems to be of non- European origin. A colleague suggested that it could be alif+hind, i.e. animal from Hind or India, but I have been unable to trace this connection.

Another delightful reference that my colleague provided related to the word bandicoot  a marsupial endemic to Australia and New Guinea  from the Telugu term pandikokku (18th century) which means pig-rat.

While the search for word origins remains an engaging pastime, it is also illuminating to see how the elephant fared while being classified and documented as a species in the 19th century England. Charles Dickens in Hard Times describes the factory and its working machinery as mad elephants. A large, exotic animal with abundant energy is divorced from its environment, equated with an enormous machine and presented as deranged, uncontrollable and inimical to humans.

This view of the elephant, generated by the Victorian Ages distrust of mechanisation is subsequently carried over to negative connotations of brutal wars into which hapless elephants were drafted. The expression seeing an elephant apparently highlighted the unpleasant aspects of wars.

When posted in Burma, George Orwell shot an elephant, at a point when it was grazing peacefully, having recovered from running amok previously. Orwell records beinggoaded into the shooting by the Burmans in order to enhance his stature, in an essay titled Shooting an Elephant.

Identifying or classifying a living creature does not indicate absolute knowledge or sanction complete control. Orwells shooting of the elephant shows the dangers of unthinking prejudices that are forged through language and literature. When inappropriate connections are reiterated, as in the case of identifying machines with mad elephants or viewing elephants as mere beasts of burden or weapons of war, such ways of seeing an elephant only promote negative connotations.

A white elephant (a rare beast in nature) refers to any project demanding large and usually wasteful capital investment, while elephantiasis is an enlargement and thickening of human body parts caused by filarial worms from infected mosquitoes. Both expressions are unkind to this gorgeous, intelligent and mostly peaceful herbivore.

Mastering a language and moving beyond mere functional practice remains an elephantine task.
New Delhi, December 23

Najeeb Jung met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, a day after he announced he was quitting his position of Delhis Lieutenant Governor to return to academics.

Jung met Modi at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block at 11.30 am on Friday. The meeting lasted more than an hour inside.

Sources said it was a courtesy call.

In his brief statement on Thursday, Jung said he was quitting and thanked Modi for his help and cooperation.

However, he brushed aside reports that his decision was prompted by mounting pressure and said he wanted to resign earlier but was advised against it by the Prime Minister.

"I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on," he said.

"After three-and a-half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds," Jung was quoted as saying.

Jung said he would like to write a book.

Frequent battles were reported between Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the past two years, as the latter accused him of being the central governments agent.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.

The Delhi Chief Minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for the breakfast meeting that came a day after Jung's sudden resignation from the post.

Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter-sweet times and spent some light moments.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also called on Jung.

Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said: "He resigned due to personal reasons".

Although Kejriwal has criticised Jung publicly on several occasions, the two are known to share a cordial relationship at a personal level.

Asked about his meeting with Jung, Sisodia said, "We had a very good chat. He shared memories of the last two years and also of his days as a bureaucrat. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year.

"He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said that he could not quit due to things like chikungunya (outbreak in the city)."

Sisodia said he shared a "good rapport" with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation especially in areas of education. "We will work for the people if Delhi irrespective of circumstances be that easy or tough."

On who could be next LG of Delhi, the Deputy Chief Minister said many names are doing the rounds but nothing official has come up.

Sources close to Jung had said on Thursday his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.

The Chief Minister was in Ranchi on Friday when the news of Jung's resignation broke.  PTI
Kolkata, December 23

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has objected to the central governments decision to provide CRPFs security cover to income tax investigators that were conducting raids across the state in the crackdown against black money.

In her letter to Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh, Banerjee called the decision "unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism" and said a central police force could only be deployed at the request of the state government.

"The decision must be immediately revokedThe state government and police forces would provide all necessary help and protection if so requested by any central government agency for any legitimate action on their part," she said, claiming she was not informed of the decision.

"Respective legislative and executive jurisdictions of the state governments and the central governments are clearly delineated in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and public order and police are within the domain of List II (state list)," the letter said.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to all state chief ministers.

The development comes less than a month after presence of defence personnel at toll plazas in the state sparked a war of words between Banerjee and the Defence Ministry.  PTI
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, December 23

The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a PIL over the appointment of the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The petition by the National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms pleaded for widening the zone of consideration for the CJIs appointment.

The petitioner specifically sought consideration of Justice J Chelameswar, the fourth senior-most judge of the apex court, for the CJI post, instead of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, the second topmost judge who has already been appointed to the office.

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A Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and LN Rao said no purpose would be served by hearing the petition as President Pranab Mukherjee had already named Justice Khehar as the successor to the outgoing CJI TS Thakur. Justice Khehar will assume the office on January 4, 2017, upon the retirement of CJI Thakur.

The petitioner had pleaded that there was no point in considering only the second senior-most SC Judge for the top post. It was meaningless for the CJI to recommend his successor, if he had no choice other than the next in line.

It also contended that Justice Chelameswar was more suitable for the office as he had delivered the lone dissenting verdict upholding the validity of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) law, meant for replacing the Collegium system of appointing higher judiciary judges.

The other four judges of the Constitution Bench, headed by Justice Khehar, had struck down the law. Justice Chelameswar would have been equally senior if his elevation to the apex court had been made on time, it pleaded.
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, December 23

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL over the appointment of the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

A Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and LN Rao said no purpose would be served by hearing the petition as Justice JS Khehar had already been appointed as CJI on December 19.

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The petitioner, National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, had pleaded for widening the zone of consideration for the office of CJI, instead of keeping the office restricted to the second seniormost judge of the SC.

Justice Khehar is the second seniormost apex court judge, next only to outgoing CJI TS Thakur who demits office on January 4, 2017.

Justice Khehar will assume the office of the CJI on January 4.

The NLC pleaded that there was no point in considering only the second seniormost SC Judge as the appointment was done on the basis of outgoing CJIs recommendation.

If the outgoing CJI had no choice other than the next in line what was the purpose of recommendation, NLC had pleaded.
Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 22

The Punjab Government has decided not to continue the Government Employees and Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme (PGEPHIS) from the next year. The scheme started earlier this year will come to end on December 31.

The Oriental Insurance Corporation, which was given the contract under the scheme, suffered a loss of around Rs 165 crore in one year.

Principal Secretary Health Vini Mahajan confirmed the scheme would end next week. She said the scheme was started for employees and pensioners, but it was not found much useful for them, so the government decided not to extend it.

There was a lengthy discussion on the issue during a Cabinet meeting on December 5 and it was overwhelmingly opposed on the pretext that employees and pensioners were facing difficulty at the hands of insurance company while they were being robbed by private hospitals.

The Cabinet asked Health & Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani to hold a meeting with scheme beneficiaries and take a call. The Tribune had highlighted in July how the Oriental Insurance Corporation was suffering huge losses and had conveyed to the Health Department that it could not continue the scheme any further. The company had also started refusing enrolment of new beneficiaries.

Hospitals generated claims of around Rs 214 crore in a year. The insurance firm, which got the contract under the scheme for Rs 56 crore annually, has already paid claims worth Rs 135 crore. Around 61,000 employees and pensioners availed themselves of cashless treatment.
Bhanu P Lohumi

Slowdown and demonetisation have had little effect on the sale of properties in urban areas in Himachal Pradesh. However, projects in rural areas have been hit hard with sales going down by 40-45 per cent. In Shimla Urban and 2-4 cases of built up BHK and independent floors are coming for registration every day as usual, says tehsildar Shimla urban Sanjeev Gupta. There is very little land available in Shimla (Urban) but in Shimla (Rural) area where land and flats are available has witnessed a dip of 40-45 per cent said Tehsildar Shimla Rural Manjeet Sharma.

The land deeds are being registered as per the circle rate fixed by the Revenue department and as such the impact of cash transactions which have been eliminated after demonetisation is not visible. There is market for genuine buyers who pay the entire amount in white but the builders, asking for sufficient amount in cash are feeling the pinch of demonetisation, said a consultant in realty sector.

Owner of Eastline properties, Amarjeet Singh, says that there is decline of about 75 per cent in demand for high value properties. Earlier there were huge enquiries for buying hotel properties in Shimla but after demonetisation not even a single query has come since November 9. However, prices have not crashed in Shimla as demand was more than supply and builders are holding back the properties hoping for realty sector to recover instead of going for distress sale, he added.

Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) has completed the process of purchase of 250 bighas from private owners while a chunk of 138 bighas government land has already been earmarked for setting up of an integrated township to ease out the congestion in the state capital at Jathaidevi near the airport, about 17 km from Shimla.

With a Government of Singapore undertaking expressing interest in enter ing into a joint venture for setting up an integrated township at Jathiadevi, an expert team from Singapore Cooperation Enterprises, a joint venture of Singapore Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affairs inspected the site in September this year.

The town and Country planning department issued two licences to colonisers at Chota Shimla and Malyana in the current year taking the total number of licence issued to 15 in the Shimla planning area.

Several builders and house owners, who had made massive deviations or constructed multi-storeyed flats without getting the building plans sanctioned are jittery as the Governor has so far not okayed Town and Country Planning (amendment) Bill providing for regularisation of all illegal constructions on as is, where is basis passed during the Monsoon session of Assembly.

Solan

Ambika Sharma

Notwithstanding a sharp dip in the demand in the realty sector, builders in Solan and its vicinity did come up with a number of housing and commercial projects during 2016. With work on four-laning the crucial Parwanoo-Solan section underway and other new roads like Solan-bypass and even ignored roads like Jangeshu-Kasauli having kick-started, realtors were trying to cash-in on better connectivity.

Even lesser known markets like areas in the vicinity of Dagshai town and Nahan Road were witnessing high-end realty activity where palatial housing projects had been floated.

Scores of quality housing projects are nearing completion but demonetisation announcement has hit sales after Diwali. So the year has ended on a sombre note with little hope of a revival sometime in 2017.
Syed Kazmi

The hill state of Uttarakhand that has been a major destination for real estate builders and buyers for the past decade has seen a lull in the business after demonetisation since November 8. Till November it was a flourishing market with more than three dozen housing projects coming up in Dehradun and Mussoorie . But demonetisation has sucked out the buyers from this market now. The number of property registrations has been minimum since November 8.

Buyers are keeping their fingers crossed and are waiting for the proposed new property laws as rumored, said Rajinder Aswal, a local property dealer in Dehradun. However, many of the builders who are coming up with housing projects in the Dehradun-Mussoorie area are hopeful that after the situation stabilises, the real estate market would look up in 2017.

The situation has been stressful for those who are involved in cash transactions on a large scale in the real estate market. But, since we encourage clean deals, there has been steady flow of buyers, claims Sudhir Windlass, one of the leading housing property dealer of the region.

Another property dealer Tushar Kumar, who is coming up with GTM housing project in Dehradun, said that genuine buyers who are availing housing loans from banks to own a house in salubrious climate of Doon valley are making inquiries.  We carried out a campaign from November 14 till December 14 throughout the state in collaboration with State Bank of India for our upcoming projects and the response has been encouraging, said Tushar Kumar,CMD of GTM group.

The terai region of the state in Dehradun, Haridwar, Haldwani and Udham Singh Nagar had seen a spurt in urbanisation with people migrating from higher hills to the plains. The 2013 natural disaster had speeded up the process of migration.

Meenakshi Sundram, vice-chairman of Mussoorie- Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) said that real estate business remained steady throughout 2016 but demonetisation has definitely affected it. She, however, expressed hope that situation would stabilise in the next three months.
AS soon as the war broke out certain people in India began to withdraw money and hoard gold coins. This habit was severely criticised, and in due course was given up by the people who now use currency notes with greater freedom than before the war. But it is interesting to find that the habit is not confined to India but even in England gold hoards have been unearthed in villages recently by the War-savings Committees. More than 156 village school associations in the Warwickshire centre with 8,400 members have contributed 20,000. The Organisation Secretary, writing to the Times, says:-"A noteworthy feature of the Village Associations is their success in attracting from their hiding places little hoards of gold coins. In one remote village having a newly formed Association a purse containing between 50 and 60 in gold coins found its way privately into the secretary's hands for investment in 15s.6d. certificates". Of course Indians are not so well educated as British public and it was not surprising that a failing still existing in England was not wholly absent in India.
Rahul Bhargava

For most of India, the umbilical cord is nothing more than a waste product of the birthing process. Left dangling from the newborns navel, it disintegrates and falls off on its own within a week. However, in the scientific world, it is a precious resource with immense regenerative and healing potential. A babys umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells (10 times more than adult bone marrow), which, if properly extracted, screened and stored in a public blood bank, could be a saviour in many life-threatening conditions, including several forms of leukaemia, lymphoma and bone marrow disorders, not just for the baby or its siblings/parents, but more so for hundreds of others whose blood make-up matches with his.

More than 28 years after the first successful umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant was done in France, India is still to discover its vast potential and make provisions for public banking of this easily available precious resource. What we need is an organised public umbilical cord blood banking system in the country that can treat patients in need and be used for further medical research on the subject.

While bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplants have a proven track record of success, the search process can be futile. Therefore, Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) has gained popularity and acceptability as an alternative transplant source for patients lacking appropriate adult donors. UCB transplantation (UCBT) offers several advantages as compared to Bone Marrow (BM) or Peripheral Blood (PB). UCBT requires a 4/6 match as opposed to 6/6 match required for BM or PB. Also, UCB is easily collected and stored without causing any detriment to the quality of cells and is readily available when needed.

In India, the awareness of benefits of cord blood banking is just dawning. However, in the US, reputed medical groups such as the American Medical Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Paediatrics recommend public bank donations over private banking because the cord blood has limited personal applications.

The chance of a baby benefiting from his or her own banked cord blood is currently less than 0.04 per cent, according to the ASBMT. Not only is that because the diseases currently treatable with cord blood are fairly rare, but with many, the childs cord blood would be unusable because those stem cells contain the same genetic defects.

India has a great potential for UCB banking due to a high birth rate and genetic diversity. Nearly 70 per cent of patients requiring bone marrow transplantation do not find a match within their own family. Hence, unrelated UCB is a widely accepted source of progenitors for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, to date, the total number of UCB transplants performed in India has been very low, mainly due to high cost and the limited number of UCB units available against the estimated requirement of 50,000 units annually. With the establishment of public banks, the utility of UCB is likely to increase in the coming years. For cord blood bank to be effective, it should have at least 50,000 units and it shall then be able to provide a matched cord for 98 per cent of its patients.

To meet the future transplant needs of India, government support and investment is necessary. For the past 30 years, the governments in India have ignored the desperate need of providing treatment to their citizens with fatal blood related disorders. However, recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought to the notice of the Parliament the plight of a tribal suffering from sickle cell disease, a condition treatable by UCBT.

The writer is director and head, Hemato-oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 23

Launching a diatribe against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for scrapping the old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said Modi, through his demonetisation move, had given a chance to the 50 richest families in the country to convert their black money into white. Rahul Gandhi was in Almora to attend a massive rally of the Congress.

He said the demonetisation move was aimed at humiliating the weak section of society, who were the worst sufferers of the PMs decision.

The money collected through the digital monetisation will go to the rich families of the country. Hefty funds were transferred from Sahara company to the accounts of the Prime Minister from 2010 till 2011. Narendra Modi makes fun of those leveling the allegations, but doesnt come up with answers, he said.

Accusing Modi of working towards benefiting big corporate houses, Rahul said every initiative taken by the Prime Minister was aimed at paving the way for the top business honchos to mint money. Through demonetisation, the funds of the common man will be blocked until the richest families get their loans waived off from banks. The Prime Ministers move will make economically weaker section poorer and the affluent more rich, alleged Rahul Gandhi.

He also took to task the Prime Minister on his promise of bringing back black money and distributing it amongst poor. He asked people if they had got Rs 15 lakh each that Modi had promised before the Lok Sabha elections.

Quoting Urdu verses tum raham nahi khate bastiyan jalane me, log tut jate hein ghar banane mein, he said, The BJP-led NDA Government has not only made 99 per cent people suffering due to demonetisation, but also scuttled MNREGA like schemes. Can we buy Bal Mithai of Almora by using Paytm? he asked.

Congress general secretary and state affairs in-charge Ambika Soni and Chief Minister Harish Rawat also addressed the gathering. Rawat said, Despite hurdles created by the Central Government, we have done more than enough for states development.
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 23

In fresh trouble for Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned him for further questioning in the sting CD case on December 26 at 11 am in its New Delhi office.

Meanwhile, Harish Rawat failed to get relief from the Nainital High Court, which refused to intervene and prevent the CBI from probing the matter.

Justice UC Dhyani of Nainital High Court fixed the next date of hearing in the case for January 7, 2017, as the counsel of Chief Minister had today pleaded for an early hearing in the case. The CBI counsel opposed the application by the Chief Minister. However, the High Court, in an earlier judgement, had directed the CBI to inform the court before registering any FIR in the case.

Harish Rawat has been summoned for the second time in the sting CDcase on a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) registered by the CBI in the past seven months. He had earlier appeared before the agency on May 24 during which he was questioned for nearly five hours. This may be a unique case where a sitting Chief Minister has been summoned by the CBI during its probe of a PE. The PE is the first step during which the agency verifies the facts in the complaint received by it.

During a PE, the agency usually only requests a person to join the probe and does not summon him, carry out searches or make any arrests.

The CBI had registered a PE in connection with the sting operation which surfaced on April 29 showing Chief Minister talking with a news channel journalist about buying back the loyalties of rebel Congress legislators who had joined hands with the Opposition BJP on March 18 to bring down the Congress-led state government.

The sting, which was made public by rebel Congress legislator and former minister Harak Singh Rawat, led to the imposition of Presidents rule on March 27. The state government, under Presidents rule, referred the sting case for a probe by the CBI.

The CBI probe focuses on Rawats relations with the owner of a news channel, alleged bribe proposal made to one dissident MLA and a minister in his previous Cabinet, besides his claims on the purported sting video.

In the first instance, Harish Rawat had denied the allegation and termed the sting video fake. But later, he admitted that he was indeed talking to the journalist of a news channel. The reason for summoning him again was because Rawat had not furnished full and complete details on many issues.

Interestingly, after Harish Rawat won the Supreme Court ordered floor test in the state Assembly on May 12, restoring his government, the state Cabinet on May 15 decided to withdraw the notification recommending a CBI probe into the sting operation, as ordered by the Governor under Presidents rule. The government, on the ground that it was a state subject, constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to look into the case.

The CBI had said the notification was rejected after taking legal opinion, which said there was no ground for its withdrawal and it was not legally tenable.

(With inputs from PTI)
Once again, UW-Madison has drawn the ire of a state legislator over the content of one of its courses, this one entitled "The Problem of Whiteness." Judging by its description and reading list, this course sounds more like ideological brainwashing (based on the shaky premise that every institution and white citizen in America is permeated by racism) than an exercise in critical inquiry.

The course in question is offered by the African Cultural Studies Department. It's one of many race, ethnic or gender-based departments that make up a large chunk of the university's academic offerings. I wonder what the job prospects are for someone graduating with a degree in African cultural studies?

One of the lawmakers perturbed by this course has called for its professor to be fired. A more productive approach might be to examine the need for scores of departments whose main function is to indoctrinate their students in the latest fads regarding "marginalized" groups, and then to reward them with a degree that all but guarantees their marginalization in the job market.

Gary L. Kriewald, Madison
Beirut, December 23

At least one civilian was killed on Friday in the first wave of rebel rocket fire on Aleppo since the Syrian city was declared under full government control, a monitoring group said.

Ten rockets hit the southern district of Al-Hamdaniyeh, wounding eight other civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian state news agency SANA put the toll at three civilians killed and at least six others wounded.

The fire was the first rebel attack since Syria's armed forces announced Aleppo was back under their control following a fierce month-long offensive.

Under a landmark evacuation agreement, about 35,000 people were bussed out of the small pocket of residential districts in Aleppo's east, which had been held by the opposition since mid-2012.

But opposition factions still control territory along the western outskirts of Aleppo, which Abdel Rahman said they were using to fire rockets into the city.

For more than four years, Aleppo had been divided between rebels in the east and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in the west.

Government troops battered the east with air strikes and artillery fire, while opposition fighters hit the west with rockets and mortars.

Rebels have described the loss of Aleppo as a major blow for the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.  AFP
Sydney: The Australian police said on Friday they had foiled a plot to attack prominent sites in Melbourne with a series of bombs on Christmas that authorities described as an imminent terrorist event inspired by the Islamic State. The police laid terrorism charges against three men, with a fourth in detention who could face charges, after authorities raided homes in the suburbs of the city. The three have been charged with planning a terrorist attack and have been remanded to appear in court on April 28, the Australian Federal Police said. Six men and a woman were held during the operation Kastelholm conducted by the police and a domestic spy agency. reuters
Milan, December 23

The suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a pre-dawn shootout with police in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday, the Italian Interior Minister said.

The man killed was without a shadow of doubt Anis Amri, Marco Minniti said, referring to the 24-year-old Tunisian who is suspected of driving the truck that smashed through a Berlin market on Monday killing 12 persons.

Minniti said Amri was stopped by two policemen around 3 am (local time) in front of the Sesto San Giovanni train station, north of Milan. When he was asked for his identification papers, Amri pulled a gun and shot one of the two policemen, lightly wounding him in the shoulder. He in turn was then shot dead by the police.

A judicial source said the police had a tip off that Amri might be in the Milan area and that additional patrols had been sent out to look for him. A rail ticket found on Amri's body indicated he had travelled by high speed train from France to the northern Italian city of Turin, the source said. Amri then caught a regional train to the Milan suburbs.

Minniti gave very few details of the police operation, saying investigations were still in progress.  Reuters
Valletta, December 23

Hijackers forced an airliner to land in Malta on Friday then freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libya's late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The prime minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted "hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".

The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after one man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said one of the men had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to free all passengers if his demands were met. It was unclear what the demands were.

A Libyan television channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away 109 passengers, as well as some of the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm.

After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

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

Libya's Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.

In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party".

Standoff on tarmac

MP Hadi al-Saghir said that Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libya's House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in southern Libya.

Troops were positioned a few hundred metres (yards) from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.

A senior Libyan security official said that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"Then they lost communication with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused." The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a trip that would usually take a little over two hours.

The government of Malta said Prime Minister Muscat had discussed the hijack with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj by phone, and a negotiating team was formed at the airport.

Britain offered Malta help with dealing with the incident.

The last major hijacking on the island was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed. Reuters
Washington, December 23

An Indian national was detained and produced before a local court in New Jersey on Thursday on charges of abusive sexual contact on a plane from Mumbai to Newark, federal prosecutors said.

Facing a maximum sentence of two years and a fine of up to USD 2,50,000, Ganesh Parkar, 40, made an initial appearance in a federal court in New Jersey and was detained.

According to the complaint, the incident happened on December 21, on board an Air India flight AI191 from Mumbai to Newark.

During the flight, Parkar moved from his ticketed seat in the business class section of the plane to economy class and sat next to a female passenger seated in a centre row.

When the woman fell asleep, Parkar placed his hand on her private parts without her consent, the complaint alleges.

The unidentified woman did not know Parkar and engaged in only limited conversation with the defendant during the flight. After the incident, Parkar was moved back to his original seat.

During the remainder of the flight, Parkar wrote two short notes to the victim in which apologised for a moments stupidity and stated I acknowledge I was stupid.  PTI
Valletta, December 23

Hijackers armed with a grenade and pistols forced an airliner with 118 on board, including 111 passengers, to land in Malta on Friday then freed all hostages unharmed and surrendered after declaring their loyalty to Libyas late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Television pictures showed two men being led from the aircraft in handcuffs. The Prime Minister of the tiny Mediterranean island, Joseph Muscat, tweeted: Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody.

Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala claimed the two hijackers had requested political asylum in Malta. He said the hijackers have also said they want to set up a pro-Kadhafi political party.

The Airbus A320 had been on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km north of the Libyan coast, after one man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said one of the men had told crew he was pro-Gaddafi and that he was willing to free all passengers if his demands were met. A Libyan channel reported it had spoken by phone with a hijacker who described himself as head of a pro-Gaddafi party. Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and Libya has been racked by factional violence since.

Buses were driven onto the tarmac at Malta International Airport to carry away passengers and the crew. Television footage showed no signs of struggle or alarm. After passengers had left the plane, a man briefly appeared at the top of the steps with a plain green flag resembling that of Gaddafi's now-defunct state.

Libyas Channel TV station said one hijacker, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, had said by phone he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, or The New Al-Fateh. Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power. In a tweet, the TV station later quoted the hijacker as saying: We took this measure to declare and promote our new party.

MP Hadi al-Saghir said Abdusalem Mrabit, a fellow member of Libyas House of Representatives on the plane, had told him the two hijackers were in their mid-20s and were from the Tebu ethnic group in Libya.

Troops were positioned a few yards from the plane as it stood on the tarmac. Several other flights at the airport were cancelled or diverted.

A Libyan security official said when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli it had been hijacked. Then they lost communication with him, the official said. The pilot tried hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused. The plane had been flying from Sebha in Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways.  Agencies
Islamabad, December 22

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain has said that he never attended a school and missed out on its joys as he was homeschooled due to various reasons.

Hussain was speaking at a function at the Cadet College Hassanabdal near Islamabad yesterday where he told students to follow in the footsteps of Pakistans founder MA Jinnah to better meet the challenges the country is facing.

When asked about the Presidents comment regarding his own education, alumni relations officer at the cadet college Syed Mohammad Ali said the President was homeschooled due to various reasons, the Dawn reported.

Hussain belongs to Karachi where he settled after his family migrated from Agra during the partition.  PTI
Aleppo, December 23

Syrian troops cemented their hold on Aleppo on Friday after retaking full control of the city, as residents anxious to return to their homes moved through its ruined streets.

Syrias army announced yesterday it had recaptured the former rebel stronghold of east Aleppo following a landmark evacuation deal that saw thousands of opposition fighters and residents bussed out.

It was the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assads forces in nearly six years of civil war and a major win for his foreign backers, with key ally Russia hailing the recapture as very important step.

Braving the cold, war-weary residents crossed districts that had become infamous front lines, eager to return to neighbourhoods they had not seen in years.

An AFP correspondent saw civilians wrapped in coats trekking through the cold, some rolling their belongings on wheelbarrows.

I came to check on my house, which I havent seen in five years, resident Khaled al-Masri said. I really hope my home wasnt badly damaged.

The evacuation operation ended more than four years of ferocious fighting inside Aleppo, which had been divided between government forces in the west and rebels in the east.

Opposition forces remain in control of areas west of Aleppo and today at least one civilian was killed in the first wave of rebel rocket fire on the city since it fell under government control, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Eight people were also wounded in the fire on the Al-Hamdaniyeh district, the Britain-based monitor said, while state news agency SANA reported three killed.

The evacuation agreement was brokered by rebel backer Turkey and regime supporter Russia, which said it would strive to end fighting across Syria.

The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalisation in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall, President Vladimir Putin said.

Everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory, Putin said. In any case, we will strive toward this.

The Kremlin also announced that Putin had signed an order to expand Russias naval facility in the Syrian city of Tartus.

Today morning, government fighters moved into Ansari and al-Mashhad, two neighbourhoods they had not entered since mid-2012.

They searched for improvised explosive devices and mines, clearing buildings in anticipation of civilians returning, the Observatory said.

In Bustan al-Qasr, a heavily damaged neighbourhood near Aleppos famed old city, small bulldozers removed rubble from the streets.  AFP
As he was being taken into custody Wednesday night for the shootings of two people at a Far East Side group home, Ali A. Hassan told police, I shot everyone in that house, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday.

Hassan, 25, of Madison, was charged Friday with first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the shootings of a woman identified by a relative as Fatoumatta Jallow, 23, who died, and another woman whose identity was not revealed in the complaint. Both women worked at the home and were identified in the criminal complaint only by their initials.

The homes three residents were not harmed.

The complaint does not describe a motive for the shootings, but a cousin of Jallow, Madison Ald. Samba Baldeh, described it as a workplace shooting.

The shootings happened at a group home for cognitively disabled people run by REM Wisconsin at 5333 Kevins Way.

Both Jallow and Hassan worked for REM Wisconsin, but Executive Director Shelley Hansen-Blake said the two never worked a shift together.

In fact, they only ever worked in the same program on the same day once last summer, Hansen-Blake said, referring to payroll records, and there was a gap of several hours between their shifts.

Baldeh, who represents District 17 on Madisons Far East Side, said after Hassan appeared in court Friday that Jallow was the most respectful human being you will ever meet in the world.

Baldeh described Jallow as quiet, peaceable and intelligent, and said she intended to go back to school to eventually earn a nursing degree from UW-Madison.

Baldeh said Jallow came to Madison from Gambia less than a year ago, but her mother still lives there. Her father has lived in Madison for about 20 years, Baldeh said. He described her death as terrible, very shocking to her family, which he said is close, and always together.

Hassan was jailed on $1 million bail, by stipulation between Assistant District Attorney Patrick Winter and state Assistant Public Defender Jon Helland. He will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 29.

Baldeh said the shooting was a workplace conflict, not over a romantic relationship between Jallow and Hassan that had gone bad. The two were never in a relationship, he said, but had worked in the same group home.

Baldeh said that Hassan treated her as if she is his daughter, acting toward Jallow in a controlling manner. He said she had told her father about her concerns about Hassan. He also said that Hassan had been removed from the group home.

After completing a screening process and criminal background checks, Hassan was hired by REM Wisconsin in August 2014, Hansen-Blake said. He was a full-time employee who worked at different programs within the company based on their staffing needs.

By all accounts, he was well liked by his coworkers, Hansen-Blake said.

Hansen-Blake said that no indications of workplace difficulties between Hassan and Jallow were found in personnel files or records from REMs confidential compliance hotline.

According to the complaint:

After police received a call about shots fired at the home, an officer was in the garage when he heard screams coming from inside the house and forced open a door. Once inside, he found a woman at the bottom of a set of stairs, and saw that she had been shot.

The officer, Sgt. Michael Alvarez, took the woman out of the house. As he was doing that, she pointed at the front door, which prompted Alvarez to ask if a suspect had fled through the front door. She nodded. She described the man and said his name was Ali.

Officer Timothy Liston, who was responding to the call, saw the suspect description on his squad car computer, and as he approached the intersection of Inwood Way and Open Wood Way, he saw someone matching that description.

Police Chief Mike Koval said Wednesday night that Hassan had run into another vehicle with his car in the 5000 block of Open Wood Way.

Liston took Hassan into custody, and as he did so, Hassan made several statements without being asked questions. Among them, he said, I shot everyone in that house.

Another officer, Kristin Parks, heard Hassan say, Just take me to jail, I hurt two people, and I took ones life.

Asked about the type of gun he used, Hassan said it was a 9mm handgun that was registered to him. A black handgun was found at the group home, and a 9mm bullet casing was found in the basement bathroom, near where Jallows body was found.

Jallow died from multiple gunshot wounds to her torso and right arm, an autopsy found.

The other woman sustained what was described as 10 bullet holes in her body, though it wasnt known which were entry or exit wounds. She had been shot in her right arm, right side and several times in her chest. Her gallbladder had to be removed, along with portions of her stomach and liver.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Natural gas is expected to outpace coal for electricity generation this year for the first time on a national basis, the federal Energy Information Administration said in its latest energy outlook.

Helped by lower natural gas prices from production in shale formations, electric generation from natural gas is expected to average 34 percent this year, while the share from coal will average 30 percent, the agency said. Last year, both fuels averaged about 33 percent of electricity generation.

In Oklahoma, though, coal generation was far behind natural gas for the first nine months of the year. Natural gas made up almost half of the states electric power generation from January to September, according to preliminary numbers from the EIA. Wind made up almost 24 percent, while coal accounted for about 23 percent.

Coal and natural gas have traded places as the dominant method of generating fuel for the power industry the past few years in Oklahoma. Natural gas was top in 2015, 2013, 2012 and 2010. Coal took the top spot in 2014 and 2011, according to EIA data.

Click here to link to the full article at NewsOK.com. Some stories require an Oklahoman subscription to read.
A man believed to be responsible for six armed robberies of payday loan and quick cash stores, including two in Madison, was arrested on Tuesday in Mauston, the city he's from and where the crime spree started.

William Leroy, 41, was charged with armed robbery in Juneau County Circuit Court and has similar charges pending in Dane County, Madison police said.

Leroy was identified as the alleged robber by a person who saw his photo publicized after robberies early in December in Madison.

"Madison police got an anonymous tip on Monday, providing investigators with a name to go with the face seen in the surveillance photo," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain.

The information was shared with police in the communities where the robberies happened, and Leroy was arrested in Mauston on Tuesday.

"The apprehension of a suspect in these cases comes following a strong joint effort between several involved law enforcement agencies," DeSpain said. "We would like to thank the La Crosse, Mauston, Baraboo, Reedsburg and Waterloo police departments and the Juneau County Sheriff's Office for their assistance, and for sharing information that led to this successful outcome."

Stores allegedly robbed by Leroy and when they were held up at gunpoint included Check Advance in Mauston on Nov. 23, PLS Payday Loan in Madison on Dec. 6, Cash Store in Madison on Dec. 7, Check-n-Go in Watertown on Dec. 8, Advance America in La Crosse on Dec. 13 and Cash Store in Baraboo on Dec. 15.
Next week Netflix premieres Chasing Cameron a behind the scenes look into the Hollywood lifestyle of US social media star Cameron Dallas and his friends.

After his popularity on social media platform Vine, Dallas later went on to star in movies such as Expelled and The Outfield.

Chasing Cameron centers on social media star and entrepreneur Cameron Dallas as he looks to take his career to the next level. Together with close friends Taylor Caniff, Aaron Carpenter, Blake Gray, Willie Jones and Trey Schafer, they all set out on MAGCONs first international tour. From Paris to Italy and even down under in Australia, this groups fan-damonium reaches a fever pitch. Its not all selfies and snap stories as the series explores the stark contrast between their public online profiles and their personal lives, and gives an unfiltered view into the unique world of digital celebrity.

Tuesday December 27 on Netflix.
If Seven was hoping the silly season would bring an end to the media scrutiny surrounding Tim Worner it got bad news today.

New articles delve into even more depth about what went on between its CEO and executive assistant Amber Harrison, as well as the methods the company took to bury her. New texts from both parties published are even more explicit than previously, while it is reported it has all come as a shock to wife, Katrina Worner.

Amongst the new revelations Fairfax claims News Corp has been sitting on the story for a month, only acting when the Sydney Morning Herald began making enquiries on Sunday.

Indeed a lengthy and insightful piece in the Daily Telegraph details a meeting between Ms. Harrison and journalist Annette Sharp on November 21 in Melbourne.

The story didnt break until December 18th, some two years after the relationship ended after protracted negotiations, including the company sacking her, citing fraudulent credit card use and signing her to confidentiality.

I just want to explode the bomb and get on with my life, Harrison told the newspaper. Its been hanging over me for long enough. Ive tried everything I can. Like I have exhausted everything. I would have happily walked (away from this) if theyd given me the job they offered as part of contract one but they had to do this. They had to just continue to roll out the ruining of my life.

They know theyve got me. Lets say even if I found backing to go to court, they would frustrate the process for another five years. Im 39 now, this has already taken up four years of my life.

Harrison had initially hoped for payment for her story, down to her last $700 last month, but accepted it would compromise any creditability her story had.

Articles weigh heavily against the might of the media company crushing its sole opponent, in order to protect an executive. Questions for the Board persist.

But there are also hints of earlier press revelations, according to Fairfax, when Harrison hired workplace lawyers Harmers to represent her.

In March 2015 reporters got wind that Harmers had been hired to take on a bigwig at Seven. Word got back to Seven, who launched a pre-emptive strike by leaking an item to The Australian Financial Reviews Rear Window column.

An internal investigation into the employee found that they had accrued more than $200,000 in unauthorised company expenditure over a period of more than five years, including for personal household items, the item said.

The employee argued the transactions were within company guidelines, and Seven gave them the benefit of the doubt that they had not spent the companys money with fraudulent intent.

Seven settled with the employee confidentially, the report noted, adding: The industry has been abuzz with wild rumours about what had really taken place on CEO Tim Worners executive floor.

However, her identity was inadvertently revealed in the final paragraph which read: We attempted unsuccessfully to contact Harrison. Seven refused to comment.

The Seven West code of conduct for directors states that a director must act honestly, in good faith and in the best interest of Seven West Media as a whole. It goes on: A director should not engage in conduct likely to bring discredit upon the company.

Sources close to the Seven board told Fairfax Media that a number of them wanted Worner sacked, especially after there was no firm denial about allegations of drugs.

The longer this goes on, the more likely it will end up in court, the newspaper suggests  a forum in which the public gets to see all the details of all the text messages sent between the parties over two years. All of this will be under consideration as the directors hold a series of unscheduled board meetings this week.

The Australian reports Sevens board would face a financial dilemma if it were to cut Worner loose. His contract expires in July 2018 and has a one-year termination clause. If he left at the end of the Seven inquiry and was given a years pay in lieu of notice, he would leave with pay almost to the end of his existing five-year deal.

He also has a swag of fully paid Seven shares and 3.5 million executive options that he could negotiate over with Chairman Kerry Stokes and the head of the boards remuneration committee, John Alexander.

Meanwhile a blog website complicates matters as it continues to publish the names of two high profile stars, named in Harrisons claims, despite an order by the Supreme Court of NSW to remove them. Other names (numbering as high as seven, one article suggests) have been denied.

What I did was wrong. What I did is certainly not a reflection of the standards of the shareholders, the chairman, the board, or any of you, Worner wrote to staff this week. You are entitled to, and I hope expect, better decisions from me.

Seven Network has appointed Allens law firm to conduct an independent inquiry, to be joined by a major accounting firm.

Rightly or wrongly, there are suggestions Harrison will not be interviewed.
Refugees and migrants rescued at sea by the Italian coast guard reach the port of Augusta, Sicily in this May 2016 file photo.  UNHCR/Patrick Russo

Around 100 people are feared to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea yesterday. The Italian coastguard carried out four rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea. These latest tragedies bring the number of casualties in the Mediterranean this year to over 5,000. This is the worst annual death toll ever seen.

In two separate incidents rubber dinghies collapsed and passengers fell into the sea, the Italian Coastguard reported. The first dinghy was carrying between 120 and 140 people including many women and children. Only 63 people survived after the dinghy collapsed and passengers fell into the water. The second dinghy was carrying about 120 people and 80 were rescued by the Coastguard.

Around 175 people were successfully rescued from another dinghy and a wooden boat. The Coastguard disembarked 264 people last night in Trapani, Sicily. Eight bodies were also recovered during the operations.

This situation highlights the urgent need for States to increase pathways for admission of refugees, such as resettlement, private sponsorship, family reunification and student scholarship schemes, among others, so they do not have to resort to dangerous journeys and the use of smugglers.

The causes for the alarming increase in deaths this year are multiple but appear to be related to the declining quality of the vessels used by people smugglers, the vagaries of the weather and the tactics used by smugglers to avoid detection by the authorities. These include sending large numbers of embarkations simultaneously, which makes the work of rescuers more difficult.

An average of 14 people have died every day in the Mediterranean Sea during 2016, the highest number ever recorded. Last year, when over a million people crossed the Mediterranean, 3771 casualties were recorded.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
A Syrian refugee rides a motorbike through deep mud at the informal Tal Sarhoun settlement in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

BEKAA VALLEY, Lebanon  As strong winds buffeted their tent and rain turned the surrounding land in this highland valley to mud, Syrian refugee Mohammeds wife went into labour.

I had to carry my wife all the way from here under the rain so she could deliver (at the hospital). We came back and I was holding my baby to my chest and covering him with a blanket, says Mohammed of his newborn son, Dayf-allah.

Originally from Deir al-Zor, the proud father of three is among thousands of refugees struggling as harsh winter weather blows in across Lebanons Bekaa Valley. A few kilometres away, Fatima, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, and her family battle to keep warm.

Yesterday, when the rain and the storm came, we couldnt warm ourselves all night. We all had four blankets on us and we still couldnt get warm. The cold wind was coming from under the tent, she says.

Fatima cares for her frail 80-year-old father whose chronic medical conditions and disability make him particularly vulnerable to the winter weather.

Syrian refugee Fatima sluices sewage away from her temporary home at an informal settlement on the outskirts of Zahle in the Bekaa Valley.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

A young Syrian refugee tries to fix the wiring on top of a shelter at an informal settlement in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Garbage bags pile up on the roadside at an informal settlement in Tal Sarhoun, Bekaa Valley.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Syrian refugee Muna, 19, holds her newborn son Mahmood, at her temporary shelter in the informal settlement of Tal Sarhoun, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

My father has diabetes and hes now coughing. The toilets are far for him to reach. When it rains, we cover him with blankets and take him to the toilets and bring him back.

There are just over one million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. One-in-two live in substandard shelters like tents, garages, warehouses, unfinished buildings, and animal sheds. They require continuous support to maintain their shelters, especially during winter, which can be bitter and long in Lebanon.

More rain and snowstorms are forecast for the coming weeks. Some high-altitude towns in the Bekaa Valley and northern Lebanon have already been blanketed in snow.

Of course I am scared for my newborn son, I have to keep him warm, says Mohammed whose main concern now is making sure Dayf-allah is safe and secure through the winter.

As temperatures fall across the Middle East, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is providing lifesaving assistance needed to help 4.6 million refugees, internally displaced people and vulnerable host communities across the region survive the winter.

Lebanon: Syrian refugees brace for stormy weather

In Lebanon, UNHCRs winter programme is providing aid to some 850,000 people in need. It includes cash assistance from November to March - to enable families in need to buy fuel and other winter essentials - in addition to the distribution of blankets, stoves and materials to weatherproof their fragile shelters.

The most destitute population in Lebanon often have to resort to negative coping strategies to survive on the little resources they have. They cut down on meals, they stop proper treatment for health issues, and they borrow money to meet their expenses, said Mireille Girard, UNHCRs country representative.

Our focus is to provide enough winter assistance to spare refugees and Lebanese families from having to make these inhumane choices, she added.

The UN Refugee Agency has launched a public appeal for donations to its winter programmes, to provide refugees and vulnerable host communities with essential items to survive the cold season.

We know from experience that temperatures will fall below freezing and that underprivileged Lebanese families and close to one million refugees in Lebanon will need our help to stay warm, said Girard. Any contributions from individuals who are able to help can make a big difference.
"One Punch Man" season 2 release date is approaching as 2016 will come to an end. The sequel of this anime series is set to reveal interesting plot as Saitama will venture in numerous battles with stronger enemies.

"One Punch Man" Season 2 Plot: Saitama Loses His Power

In the final episode of season 1, Saitama has finally defeated Dominator of the Universe, Boros but the powerful enemy is expected to return for a revenge in the second season. Due to the harsh fight, Saitama is said to lose his power. Albeit his strenght levels, he will lose a battle against an enemy and this would be his first defeat.

"One Punch Man" Season 2 Plot: Saitama won't Meet Garou

Many reports have speculated that Saitama will meet his strongest enemy, Hero Hunter Garou. In order to fight Garou, Saitama may need to draw all of his power. As a consequence, Saitama has accidentally drawn evil force inside him.

However, judging from the previous fights, it is highly unlikely for Saitama to meet Garou so soon. The biggest fight in the upcoming season would be another round with Lord Boros as he is rumored to return with a new scheme to defeat Saitama after an unfortunate loss that the hero has caused him.

One thing that the fans have agreed on, is that in the second season, Saitama will fight an enemy that matches with his power. A few of the speculated enemies in season 2 include King and Metal Bat, according to OnlineFanatic.

"One Punch Man" Season 2 Release Date

The manga creator, Yusuke Murata, said that "One Punch Man" season 2 will be as epic as the first season. However, he does not reveal further about any plot or an exact release date. AnimeNewsNetwork reveals that "One Punch Man" season 2 will air in 2017.
The University of Oregon has announced that the professor who sported blackface as a Halloween costume violated its anti-harassment policy. This comes after the educator was suspended for the incident.

It was previously reported that a University of Oregon professor has been suspended for allegedly wearing blackface to a private Halloween costume party. President Michael Schill said that the incident happened at an off-campus party. Other faculty members and students were in attendance, too.

Schill did reveal, though, that the faculty member has apologized for the decision. The person involved has also expressed concern over its potential impact on members of the school's community.

Apparently, the professor chose the outfit based on a character, Dr. Damon Tweedy, from New York Times bestseller, "Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine." A group of 23 School of Law faculty members called for her resignation.

According to USA Today, the University of Oregon found that the professor's costume had a negative impact on the law school. It was noted that the issue made the atmosphere in the institution tense and hostile.

The professor, Nancy Shurtz, explained that she had no bad intention for wearing the costume. She intended for it to be used as a jumping board for discussions about racism in society.

On Dec. 21, the school's provost, Scott Coltrane, issued an official statement on the investigation. It was found that, although Shurtz had already asked for an apology for her costume, it still constituted harassment under the institution's anti-discrimination policies.

The investigation was conducted by the Barran Liebman LLP law firm in Portland. The AAEO office and UO general counsel Kevin Reed provided guidance and direction.

A redacted version of the report has been posted online. Coltrane expressed his hope that the community will turn its focus on professor Shurtz's shortcoming and, instead, extend efforts to the healing process by working together in making the university inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
A senior chef and lecturer at a Glasgow college took home the title of MasterChef. His name is Gary Maclean and he has achieved the "MasterChef: The Professionals" honor by beating 47 other professional chefs.

It was a grueling seven weeks of cooking. Being judged by Monica Galetti, Marcus Wareing and Gregg Wallace, Maclean calls it an amazing journey. According to the City of Glasgow College chef, it is the biggest competition any chef has ever been through, as reported by the Independent.

Maclean was very honest in expressing his win. The culinary professional claimed he has never thought he would win the competition. He was up against Michelin-starred chefs and renowned cooks.

At the last stage of "MasterChef: The Professionals," Gary Maclean said the final task was to create a three course meal for the judges in just under three hours. He prepared a razor clams appetizer, a deer main course and a chocolate pistachio ganache pudding.

However famous he is now, he still claims his footing as a college lecturer. He spends his days teaching at City of Glasgow College, as reported by The Sun. He has been in the college for about 13 years and this is reportedly the third year he has tried out for "MasterChef." His reason for trying out? His own students asked him why he has not. Plus, he has always loved the show.

After being featured on the show, he is getting particular attention, now. Maclean claims people have started recognizing him in the London Underground culinary world. What makes him interesting is that he is someone from the education sector competing against professionals with Michelin stars to boast.

When asked what he would do next, the educator said he would love to do more TV projects alongside teaching.

After winning "MasterChef: The Professionals," Maclean hopes to inspire his students to start chasing their dreams.

Want some more MasterChef goodness? Check out the video below:
More and more universities and college are now reaching out to their respective communities, aiming to make an impact beyond just training students for a good career after graduating, a report says.

According to the Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, there's a growing trend wherein universities and colleges are going beyond their walls to reach out and provide help to their communities.

This current movement, the report says, goes beyond the usual sending of students to do community service through clean-ups and feeding projects. It's about maximizing the resources these institutions have at their disposal: vast amounts of purchasing power, political clout, and research capacity that can be used to find ways to do long-term, even permanent, good.

Ted Howard, co-founder of the Democracy Cooperative, a group which supports the current trend, says institutions can never succeed if their communities are failing. Likewise, he says, communities also fail to succeed if institutions are failing.

One such effort to reach out is that of the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis' class called "Planning on Profitable Business." The IUPUI has arranged this class for formerly homeless veterans on Indianapolis' Near West Side, allowing them to practice business presentations which will help them improve their entrepreneurial skills.

Hope Hampton, one of the students in the course, says it's important for the community to hear that institutions aren't about "expanding" and making itself grow big. Rather, these institutions must invest in the community, Hampton says.

Other institutions offer services other than classes and feeding projects. Pittsburgh's Duquesne, for example, runs a community pharmacy. Rutgers University, on the other hand, hosts a branch of the county's public library. IUPUI, in addition to the entrepreneurial class, also runs a dental clinic for veterans and is working on addressing the number of HIV cases in southern Indiana.

Jerry Siegel, who takes part in the IUPUI class, says what the university does is a great way for them to give back to the community where they are situated in.

Such acts of kindness might be more tangible to those who cannot afford higher education, perhaps even more than just making college more accessible to the disadvantaged and those who need more funding.
The Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System or Pan-STARRS is a gigantic telescope with the biggest astronomical camera in the world. It has been taking pictures of the heavens for more than four years already and now, the scientists behind it will unveil the pictures to the public.

Pan-STARRS was launched in 2010 with a resolution of 1.4 gigapixels and the objective to look out for transient moving objects in the sky, such as asteroids that might collide with the earth. For more accuracy, the giant telescopic camera was equipped with five different filters as it scanned the sky 12 times using each filter.

The result of those observations resulted in amazing discoveries that came from 3 billion sources in the universe. It found new exploding stars and distant quasars in the distant universe.

Dr. Ken Chambers, Director of the Pan-STARRS Observatories, said that they hope that through the data they collected, scientists, students, and the general public will be able to use this to discover more about the universe.

One of the images they will release to the public is the Static Sky which is really a compressed view of our sky as observed in the Pan-STARRS observatory. Scientists say that the image was based on a half million exposures of 45 seconds each. The image, however, looked weird because it was just a low-resolution representation of the heavens. Dr. Chambers said that if they were to print the full resolution of the image it will be 2.4 kilometers wide. And even with the full resolution, you will still have to use a magnifying glass to see the finest details.

The Pan-STARRS team will also release all the raw data and images that they used to create the map. The data will be available in the observatory's archive which the public can access in May 2017.
Under Belgian's federal system, there are five regional and language-based parliaments, all of which have the right to vote in matters of foreign affairs.

Belgium has progressively decentralised its political structure in a bid to end crippling squabbles between Dutch-speaking Flemings and French-speaking Walloons.

However, the country's complex system caught the world's attention in October as it struggled to sign off on a landmark EU-Canada free trade deal, after a number of regional administrations refused to give federal government the go-ahead.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which had been provisionally signed off by all 28 EU countries was plunged into uncertainty following the decision of Wallonia, with a population of 3.5 million, to torpedo the deal.

It was finally signed at the end of October after Wallonia was given last-minute concessions to drop its opposition to the agreement.

The crisis led to fears that it could take a decade to secure a post-Brexit free trade deal with the European Union if a little-known region used its powers to intervene.

The intervention of national and regional parliaments could delay a trade deal or even halt it entirely.

We've taken a look at the five Belgian regions who could block a Brexit deal.

Wallonia

Wallonia sustained its opposition to the trade deal until the very last minute of the crisis talks.

The region accounts for more than half of Belgium's territory and about 3.5 million of its 10 million population.

Once the country's economic dynamo, the region was badly hit by the closure of steel plants and coal mines at the end of the last century, and again after the 2008 financial crisis.

French Community

During the initial part of October's Canada-EU trade deal talks, the French-speaking community opposed the agreement.

Concerns were raised that the deal could give too much power to multinational companies and put pressure on governments.

At the time Ottawa's trade minister walked out talks, declaring the EU "incapable" of managing international agreements.

Brussels

Belgium's capital city also opposed the deal during the final month of the negotiations.

Speaking during the deadlock, Belgium's Prime Minister Claude Michel said: "The federal government, the German community and Flanders said 'yes.' Wallonia, the Brussels city government and the French community said 'no'".

Canadian trade minister Chrystia Freeland walked out of the talks, which had been going on for seven years.

Flanders

Geert Bourgeois, the Prime Minister of Flanders, has proposed a radical North Sea Union linking Britain to a cluster of regional states to cushion the Brexit shock. The region is unlikely to seek to block a trade deal.

It was seen in the UK as an olive branch and a sign that European leaders are starting to look for creative ways to heal the referendum rift.

The leader of Belgium's dominant region has said there is a growing consensus in EU capitals that it would be fatal mistake to try to "punish" Britain.

The federal government

The federal government holds the executive power in the Kingdom of Belgium in a similar system to the British one.

It is headed by an elected Prime Minister who appoints ministers secretaries of state.

Belgium famously went 589 days without a government in 2010-11.


Recently, over 200 children and their families attended the annual Easter Seals Nevada holiday party, held at Texas Station (Photo credit: Flury Photography).

Photo credit: Flury Photography.

The children, who participate in the nonprofits early intervention and autism programs, enjoyed picking out gifts (generously donated by CVS Pharmacy and Toys for Smiles), numerous holiday-themed activities, arts and crafts, face painting, fake snow, a delicious lunch buffet and a visit from Santa.

Photo credit: Flury Photography.

Photo credit: Flury Photography.

Photo credit: Flury Photography.


MURRAY Celebrity Magician celebrated his 2-year anniversary as a headliner at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2016 (Pictured: April Leopardi Anneberg, Murray SawChuck and Douglas Lefty Leferovich with 2-year anniversary cake  Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com).

Lefty, his sidekick, and Assistant April Leopardi Anneberg surprised Murray onstage at his charity show Dec. 21, 2016 at the Starbright Theatre in Summerlin during the Friends for Life Humane Society & Rockin 4 Rescues show. Murray hosted this evening charity show on his day off with all the proceeds go to the rescue charity.

Murray opened at Planet Hollywood December 20, 2014 after leaving the Tropicana Hotel after his 3-year run ended on October 31, 2014. During this short break he auditioned and hired a new assistant, April Leopardi, and updated his show for the new modern venue.

Murray said, In a year where there have been 26 shows that closed on the Las Vegas strip , I am honored to be celebrating my 2-year anniversary at Planet Hollywood and hopefully many more!

Murray performs 6 days a week 4pm at Planet Hollywood.
The activities include a Countdown art programme entitled on December 31, a flower parade and contest and a live music festival to welcome the New Year 2017.

Local travel agencies also offer a wide range of services and promotion programmes to attract tourist arrivals during the holidays.

On the Christmas season and New Year, from December 23 to January 2, the city expects to welcome 264 international flights with 52,150 arrivals on board, up 132.2% from the same period last year. The Danang Tourism Department will welcome the first flight to the city from Singapore with 180 passengers on board conducted by Silk Air on January 1.

Three cruise ships are also scheduled to arrive in Tien Sa port, namely Genting Dream ships carrying 7,000 passengers on December 27 and January 3, and SS Virgo ship with 2,500 passengers also on January 3.

The municipal Tourism Department estimated the city will welcome 138,287 tourists that during the Christmas season and New Year, up 21.1% from the same period last year.

They include 75,604 foreigners ad 62,683 domestic tourist arrivals, up 27.6% and 14.4% against 2015.
This was shared by Tran Ngoc Nguyen, general director of Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (BSR), the operator of Dung Quat Refinery, with Vnexpress.

Numerous foreign investors, including Thailands PTT, and Kuwait Petroleum Corp., and Singaporean enterprise, have expressed interest in buying a stake in the refinery. Representatives of BSR and these firms will carry out negotiations in the upcoming time, Nguyen said.

Especially in early January, Russian Gazprom Neft decided to end talks to buy a 49 per cent stake in Dung Quat refinery, however, when BRS released the IPO plan, the group once again expressed interest in buying Dung Quat Refinery shares, Nguyen added.

The company is also hiring consultants to build its equitisation plan and calculate its corporate value, as well as the auctioned shares initial offering price. The Prime Ministers decision to allow BSR to calculate its own selling price is considered to create a platform for attracting domestic and foreign investors to the companys IPO.

The equitisation will help BSR to collect capital for its expansion into the petrochemical sector. Previously, BSR released plans to take up a $1.2 billion loan to enhance and expand Dung Quat Refinery.

The expansion is expected to be completed in 2020 with a total investment capital of $1.82 billion, 30 per cent of which will be equity and the remaining 70 would be covered from loans.

Upon completion, the expanded refinerys capacity will increase by two million tonnes a year, to 8.5 million tonnes. It will be able to meet half of Vietnams fuel demand.

Since commercial operations began at the refinery in February 2009, BSR has imported 47 million tonnes of crude oil to produce 42 million tonnes of products, including propylene, polypropylene, liquefied petroleum gas, and gasoline, as well as kerosene, diesel, and jet fuel.

Nine months into the year, BSR earned VND51.89 trillion ($2.32 billion) in revenue, equalling 63 per cent of the annual target, however, it achieved a VND1.04 trillion ($46.5 million) profit, equalling 130 per cent of the target.
Professionals and experts need to help HCM City resolve its problems like traffic congestion, flooding, unsafe food and poor healthcare services, city leaders said at a meeting with them on Tuesday.

Prof Dr Nguyen Ngoc Giao, chairman of the HCM City Union of Science and Technology Association, said, The most two urgent tasks for the city are sustainable development and attracting intellectual resources to develop the city.

He said many intellectuals are disappointed with the shrinking social welfare benefits, falling morality of many government workers and severe environmental pollution caused by foreign companies.

We have 60,000 intellectual members and many of them have studied the problems of the city. I suggest the citys leaders should meet them often to listen to their suggestions.

Assoc Prof Dr Do Thi Hong Tuoi, a lecturer at the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, hoped the citys leaders would use young experts, especially those who have graduated abroad, since many of those returning do not know how to apply what they have studied and what they would get for their contributions.

Young intellectuals would like to contribute many new ideas to the citys development.

Assoc Prof Dr Ho Thanh Phong, head of the Viet Nam National University HCM City  International University, wondered how to attract overseas Vietnamese experts to come and contribute.

We have had a number of meetings to consider this but the problem has not been solved yet. I think the salary policy is the biggest hurdle. We need to properly reward experts and scientists for them to focus on research.

Assoc Prof Vo Van Sen, president of the Viet Nam National University HCM City  University of Social Science and Humanity, said HCM City is home to a million intellectuals, yet the contribution of science and technology to GDP remains very low and the city only spent around VN 500 billion (around US$23 million) in the last five years on research.

If the city does not change the current mechanism and pay more attention to research, HCM City would lose its competitive advantage.

The city should hire foreign experts with high salaries only for specific projects and not for general research, he said.

Assoc Prof Dr Le Ke Lam, chairman of the Marine Economy and Science Technology Association, suggested that the city should develop its maritime economy.

HCM City may have only 27km of coast in Can Gio District, but it should give priority to marine transport and shipbuilding, he said.

Dr Duong Anh uc, deputy director of the Viet Nam National University HCM City, said there are 67 universities, colleges and educational institutes in HCM City. Research centres have been established at many of the universities and institutes, he said.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the city Peoples Committee, said: Besides capital and human resources, the city will also focus on increasing the application of science and technology to improve the quality and speed of economic growth.

The city is trying to become a smart city with focus on healthcare, transport and social welfare. We warmly welcome all contributions to the project from intellectuals.

Party Secretary Dinh La Thang said: The citys achievements have been possible due to contributions from intellectuals, and the citys leaders would like to hear and apply all suggestions for development from intellectuals.

The city will improve policies to encourage scientific research and boost the role of intellectuals, increase State spending on science and technology, simplify administrative procedures and honour outstanding works and ideas.
Japan has increased checks for Sulfadiazine in Vietnamese shrimps being shipped to the country as of December 6, according to Viet Nams National Agro-Forestry- Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD). - Photo vov.vn

Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic.

According to the department, it received information from the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan and Japans Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare related to the examination of Vietnamese seafood products exported to the country.

Japan said it found traces of Sulfadiazine in Vietnamese shrimp products, and has, therefore, decided to raise checks for Sulfadiazine in shrimp products from the country from 30 per cent of batches to 100 per cent.

Accordingly, NAFIQAD requested local seafood exporters to keep themselves updated on Japanese regulations and proactively monitor Sulfadiazine limit (no more than 0.01 ppm), according to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.

Deputy Head of NAFIQAD Le Hong Phong said those companies that received warnings in connection with their products must speedily investigate the matter, take proper action to address the issues and then report to the agency, which will, in turn, inform the Japanese side.

Viet Nam will accelerate its supervision and keep the Japanese side informed, Phong said.
As the Europe-wide manhunt for the Berlin attacker intensified, questions were raised about how he avoided arrest despite being on the radar of several security agencies AFP/Tobias SCHWARZ

In an act of defiance, Berliners flocked to the same Christmas market that witnessed the murder of 12 people on Monday, as it reopened for the first time in three days.

Just as Merkel praised the country for not succumbing to fear in the wake of the attack, she insisted that authorities would manage to track down the alleged assailant.

"I am certain we will meet this test we are facing," she said, voicing confidence for a "hopefully quick arrest". "In the past few days I have been very proud of how calmly most people reacted to the situation."

Prosecutors have issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri, offering a 100,000 (US$104,000) reward for information leading to his arrest and warning he could be armed and dangerous.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the case against Amri was hardening, with his fingerprints found in the cab of the 40-tonne truck, as well as his temporary residence permit.

The articulated lorry rammed through the crowd late Monday, killing 11. The twelfth victim, the hijacked truck's Polish driver, was found shot in the cab.

Berliners returned Thursday to the market at the central Breitscheid square, leaving a sea of flowers and candles for the victims and signs reading "Love Not Hate".

Organisers dimmed garish lights and turned down the party music but began serving cakes and mulled wine. Amid a low-key police presence, vendors embraced each other, some weeping as they opened their stands.

'THEY DID NOTHING'

The attack, Germany's deadliest in recent years, has been claimed by the Islamic State group.

Among the confirmed dead were six Germans, 60-year-old Israeli Dalia Elyakim, and a young Italian woman called Fabrizia Di Lorenzo. A total of 48 people were injured.

But as the manhunt intensified, questions surfaced about how the suspect had been able to slip through the net, avoiding arrest and deportation despite being on the radar of several security agencies.

"The authorities had him in their crosshairs and he still managed to vanish," said Der Spiegel's news website.

The top-selling daily Bild's frontpage headline screamed "Deportation Failure!" while local tabloid B.Z. charged "They knew him. They did nothing", next to a photo of the dark-haired Amri.

Conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a critic of Merkel's liberal stance on refugees, told public radio that the case "held up a magnifying glass" to the failings of her migration policy.

But Armin Laschet, a deputy leader of Merkel's Christian Democrats, placed the blame with regional security authorities, calling their inability to keep tabs on Amri "shocking".

Merkel herself said Germany had "known for a long time that we are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism. And yet, when it happens ... it is a totally different situation."

She hailed the "highly professional work" of federal and state police as well as the "smooth cooperation" with international partner organisations.

But in a revelation likely to stoke public anger, officials said they had already been investigating Amri, suspecting he was planning an attack.

The interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, Ralf Jaeger, said counter-terrorism officials had exchanged information about Amri, most recently in November, and a probe had been launched suspecting he was preparing "a serious act of violence against the state".

Berlin prosecutors said separately that Amri had been suspected of planning a burglary to raise cash to buy automatic weapons, "possibly to carry out an attack".

But after keeping watch on him from March until September this year they failed to find evidence of the plot, learning only that Amri was a small-time drug dealer, and the surveillance was stopped.

Since the attack, police have searched a refugee centre in Emmerich, western Germany, where Amri stayed a few months ago, as well as two apartments in the capital.

The New York Times reported, citing US officials, that Amri had done online research on how to make explosive devices and had communicated with IS at least once, via Telegram Messenger. He was also on a US no-fly list.

Der Spiegel reported that German government wiretapping against "hate preachers" had indicated that Amri had offered to carry out a suicide operation but that his statements were too vague for prosecutors to use.

'IN SHOCK'

Amri's family expressed disbelief on hearing he was wanted.

"If my brother is behind the attack, I say to him 'You dishonour us'," Abdelkader Amri told AFP in a poor village in central Tunisia.

Amri left his home country after the 2011 revolution and lived in Italy, where he served four years in prison for setting fire to a school, local media reported.

He arrived in Germany in July 2015 but his application for asylum was rejected this June. His deportation, however, got caught up in red tape with Tunisia, which long denied he was a citizen.

Germany had until now been spared the devastating jihadist carnage that has struck neighbouring France and Belgium.

But it has suffered a spate of smaller attacks, including two assaults in July that left 20 people injured. Both were committed by asylum seekers and claimed by IS.

The Berlin carnage evoked memories of the Jul 14 truck assault in the French Riviera city of Nice, where 86 people were killed by a Tunisian IS-sympathiser.
Fuhua Co Ltd of Taiwan on Wednesday commenced the construction of 17 workshops for rent in the Binh Xuyen 2 Industrial Park in northern Vinh Phuc Province. - Photo www.fuhua.com.vn

In 2015, the provincial management board of industrial parks licensed the firm to invest US$28.5 million in a 29-workshop project covering a total area of 18.8ha in the Binh Xuyen 2 Industrial Park.

As a wholly foreign-owned firm, Fuhua specialises in building industrial workshops for sale or for rent and repairing workshops and other architectural works. The first phase of building 12 workshops was completed in July 2015 and 11 of them have been sold and leased, contributing VND86.2 billion to the localitys budget.

Yao Zi Yan, Fuhua general director, said in this second phase, his firm will pour over $10 million into constructing 17 facilities, towards meeting the increasing demand of businesses.

These workshops are scheduled to be completed and put into use by the end of March next year.

According to the provincial management board, industrial parks in Vinh Phuc attracted 19 new foreign-invested projects in the last 11 months.

The local authorities have recently granted an investment certificate to Japans Sumitomo Corporation to develop infrastructure of the 213ha Thang Long Vinh Phuc industrial park, which is expected to attract 79 investment projects from Japan, with total registered capital of $1.5 billion.

In a bid to lure more investment, the province has paid heed to improving local business climate, attracting resources for development while building essential infrastructure and enhancing vocational training quality.

Mapping out the plan for urban development and facilitating administrative procedures for investors are also being given top priority.

Further, the province has held talks with FDI businesses to promptly tackle their difficulties.
Republican National Committee communications director Sean Spicer walks through the lobby at Trump Tower, Dec 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP)

Spicer is a familiar face in Washington, as the longtime chief spokesman of the Republican National Committee.

Also named to top White House press posts were: Jason Miller, who was named director of communications; Dan Scavino, director of social media, and Hope Hicks, director of strategic communications.

"Sean, Hope, Jason and Dan have been key members of my team during the campaign and transition," Trump said in a statement from his Mar-a-Lago estate in south Florida, where he is spending the Christmas holidays.

"I am excited they will be leading the team that will communicate my agenda that will Make America Great Again," the president-elect said.

The New York Times reported that Trump had hoped to persuade his former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway to at least share the press secretary podium - but that she declined.

Conway was rewarded Thursday for her key role Trump's successful campaign with a White House post as counselor to the president-elect.
Photo source:Zing

During Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sens official visit to Vietnam during December 20-21, both countries leaders agreed to assign theVietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and Cambodian Ministry of Commerce to finalise the Vietnam-Cambodia Border Trade Agreement, which will help facilitate investment and trade flows.

In late October 2016, the two ministries also signed an agreement on stepping up bilateral trade.

Previously, it was expected that the two-way trade turnover would reach $5 billion in 2015. Nevertheless, due to both countries difficulties, the figure turned out to be only $3.37 billionup merely 2 per cent year-on-year.

In the first 10 months of the year, the turnover hit almost $2.4 billion, down 14.3 per cent year-on-year. Of this, Vietnam raked in $1.8 billion from exports to Cambodia, down 11.4 per cent, and import turnover from Cambodia was $586 million, down 22.3 per cent year-on-year.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two-way trade turnover for this year is forecast to be even lower than last years $3.37 billion.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that the two countries further boost their transport and electricity connectivity, tourism, telecommunications, and banking within the framework of a master plan to connect the Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese economies.

Notably, the two ministries will negotiate a government-level agreement on transport co-operation and another to build a highway connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, which is expected to be inked next year.

The two ministries will also conduct a survey on the two countries One door-one stop model, which is expected to be launched at the Moc BaiBa Vet border gate.

Leaders on both sides also agreed to further facilitate high-level visits by leaders and officials from ministries, agencies, localities, and trade unions, while working closely together to effectively implement already-clinched deals.

Also during this visit, the two sides signed an agreement on judicial assistance in criminal matters between the two governments, an agreement on the transferring of sentenced persons between the two countries (extradition?), and another between the Vietnamese Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs and the Cambodian Ministry of Cults and Religion.

Currently, Vietnam is Cambodias fifth biggest foreign investor (after China, South Korea, the EU, and Malaysia), with 183 valid investment projects registered at $2.86 billion.

Vietnamese investors began speeding up investments in Cambodia in 2008. However, due to land-related impediments, many of them have found it difficult to expand investment capital. They mostly focused on the fields of rubber plantation, telecommunications, services, and banking.

Cambodia currently has 12 valid investment projects in Vietnam, registered at over $54 million.
illustration photo

This policy allows visa applicants to come to these enterprises, instead of the Japanese Embassy and Consulate General.



Vietnamese visitors, instead of applying for and obtaining visas at the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi or the Consulate General of Japan in HCM City, can perform their visa procedures at accredited travel agencies, starting from this month.



These firms can receive applications for various visa types, except for some special cases such as official or diplomatic passport holders. However, they are merely authorized to collect visa applications and whether visas are granted depends on Japanese visa officers.



The new policy is aimed to reduce the workload at the visa section, improve visa services, shorten processing time, and further enhance convenience for visa applicants in rural and remote areas.



There are nearly 30 travel agencies entrusted to receive visa applications from tourists. They have nationwide networks of offices, allowing visa seekers to send their documents to the nearest offices of the travel firms.



Some travel companies have recently introduced this positive policy as one of their advantages in operating tours to Japan.



Visa fees vary from one travel firm to another. In addition to the Japanese governments prescribed visa application fee, many enterprises may or may not collect extra fees from customers.



Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Travelink, said, Those customers buying our tours will have to pay no extra charge. For non-buyers, we will collect no more than VND200,000 (US$8.7) per application dossier, said.



Over two years ago, Japan listed 56 travel firms for outsourcing visa procedures. Vietnamese tourists purchasing their package tours to the Land of the Rising Sun enjoyed the relaxed visa requirements. The majority of the chosen companies this time are from the previous list.



Japan in January-October welcomed more than 20,000 Vietnamese tourists, showing that it has become more attractive to tourists from Vietnam. The Japanese tourism promotion agency established a representative office in Hanoi last month.
Civil society groups have voiced their concerns over an apparent lack of progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set in 2015.

The set of targets drafted last year to replace the Millennium Development Goals are due to be met by 2030 and include reducing poverty and inequality.

Srey Vanthon, country director of ADD International, said information provided about the SDGs was not adequate or widely disseminated.

According to the groups research, only about 8 percent of NGOs are aware of the SDGs, which could lead to some groups not participating.

Even officials at some ministries that ADD International has worked with showed their limited knowledge [about the SDGs]. They demanded more information and training to understand more, he said.

He added that there were serious gaps in the data being used to identify the size of vulnerable groups.

Choub Sok Chamroeun, executive director of Khana, an NGO, said getting information on drug users was difficult.

This group is trying to hide away, because they are facing new campaigns [against them] by the government, he said.

Nop Kannavuth, spokesman at the Ministry of Planning, which is responsible for implementing the SDGs, said the ministry held no reliable data on vulnerable groups subject to the SDGs.

We are preparing it. There are some issues in some points with localizing SDGs that are yet to be concluded and because in some other countries they are still not clear either. So the government ... is discussing about this, he said.
Cambodias parliament has dismissed calls from the opposition to call the interior minister for questioning over the official investigation into the death of a prominent government critic in July.

Political commentator and one-time political aspirant Kem Ley was gunned down in broad daylight in central Phnom Penh on July 10 in a killing widely believed to be politically motivated.

A suspect who gave his name as Choub Somlab was arrested shortly after the incident on suspicion of murder. But the official investigation into the circumstances surrounding Leys death, now into its sixth month, has yet to yield any results.

Opposition lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang, who heads parliaments human rights committee, on Wednesday wrote to Interior Minister Sar Kheng and National Assembly President Heng Samrin, calling on Kheng to appear for questioning about the apparently sluggish probe.

The letter prompted a swift response from the assembly, which responded on Thursday by saying that it was not in the jurisdiction of parliament to call the interior minister for questioning, despite several other ministers having appeared previously to answer lawmakers questions.

Parliamentary spokesman Leng Peng Long said a non-interference principle protected Kheng from questioning.

Both the parliament and the government cannot intervene in the internal affairs of the court, he said, despite Kheng not being a member of the judiciary.

Chhay Eang, the lawmaker who filed the request, said the government was attempting to avoid the hard questions on why its probe into the killing had made no announcements about its findings.

Meas Ny, a Phnom Penh-based analyst, said that the opposition could attempt to summon the minister of justice. If the minister of justice dares not to respond and parliament is still blocking the matter, it shows that Kem Leys murder is a big issue behind the scenes, he said.
Afghan investigators say Islamic State (IS) fighters destroyed more than 200 houses, mostly burning them down, after seizing the Pachir Agam district of Nangarhar province for almost 45 days.

According to a government fact-finding commission, more than 4,000 families fled during that period.

Nangarhar provincial spokesperson Attaullah Khogyani told Voice of America that investigations show IS militants stole supplies from medical clinics in the area.

During the fighting, IS armed men destroyed 230 residential houses, two mosques, one ten bedded hospital, and three schools, Said Khogyani. More than 200 acres of fertile land were destroyed and about 5,000 livestock were killed."

Residents in the district say militants stole all their belongings, including clothes.

Nothing is left, militants stripped off our beds, took our dishes, and livestock, said Jaan Mohammad.

He said IS fighters looted the local department stores in the area as well.

IS militants attacked the Pachir Agam district almost two months ago, taking more than 70 local men as captives, authorities said. Residents say IS fighters are thought to be still holding 63 captives.
Egypt says its president received a call from President-elect Donald Trump in which they both agreed to give the incoming U.S. administration a chance to try and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The call came hours after Egypt indefinitely postponed a U.N. vote on a Security Council resolution criticizing Israeli settlements following pressure from Israel and Trump, who had called on members to veto it.

A statement from the Egyptian presidency says the two men spoke by phone early Friday and agreed on the importance of giving a chance for the new American administration to deal in a comprehensive way with the different aspects of the Palestinian issue with the aim of achieving a comprehensive and a final resolution.
The arrest of a black man on a charge of burning a black Mississippi church that was spray-painted with the words Vote Trump has sparked bickering online and consternation in the community surrounding the church.

Andrew McClinton, 45, made an initial court appearance Thursday in Greenville, a day after he was arrested and charged with a felony: first-degree arson of a place of worship. He requested a public defender and remained in jail with bond set at $250,000.

McClinton, who lives in the Greenville suburb of Leland, spent several years in prison in Mississippi on convictions of armed robbery and other crimes. He is a member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Greenville, which burned November 1, a week before the presidential election.

Mayor's words, frustration

In the days after the church fire, Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons, an African-American who took office several months ago on a pledge of racial unity, urged officials to investigate it as a possible hate crime. The FBI said it would do so, but no hate crimes charges have been filed.

Chris Orr, a Greenville resident and former police officer for the city, expressed frustration over the mayors early words about the fire.

I have a lot of respect for the mayor, Orr, who is white, said Thursday. But, classifying this as a hate crime of a historically black church in a black community before the investigation even got going good was basically profiling the suspect as a white person, whether he directly said it or not.

Simmons did not return a call to The Associated Press on Thursday, but his twin brother, Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville, said the mayor had the right approach.

There is a dark past in America and in the Deep South regarding the burning of African-American churches, Derrick Simmons said. The way law enforcement authorities initially investigated this matter as a hate crime I believe was warranted, considering the past and the history.

Doubts about suspect

Many people on social media sites have voiced opinions similar to Orrs, while some African-Americans expressed skepticism about a black man being charged. Derrick Simmons said he has spoken to Greenville residents who were surprised an African-American is accused in the church burning.

I think people across racial lines just generally do not expect the person charged with such an act to have the racial makeup of Mr. McClinton, Derrick Simmons said.

Officials havent revealed what led to McClintons arrest. Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, who is also the state fire marshal, said investigators dont believe the fire and vandalism were politically motivated, despite happening a week before the contentious presidential election.

Since the fire, Hopewell members have been worshipping in the chapel at First Baptist Church of Greenville, a predominantly white congregation that says Hopewell can stay as long as it needs a home.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye awaits an uncertain political fate as her impeachment is adjudicated by the countrys Constitutional Court. While an overwhelming number of South Koreans want her removed from office, its unclear how these events will impact Parks programs, like the controversial comfort women agreement with Japan, the bilateral intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo, and deployment of Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), a United States high-altitude missile defense system.

THAAD opposition

The opposition Minjoo Party would like to see the THAAD system delayed until after a new president is selected, or perhaps indefinitely, but acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn says the advanced anti-ballistic missile system should be deployed as soon as possible.

Katharine Moon, a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution and professor at Wellesley College, says the proceedings have expedited the plans to install THAAD. Thats just the bottom line ... because people dont know what will happen in the coming months."

Moon says that may open an opportunity for opposition presidential candidate Moon Jae-in to change the agreement with the U.S. regarding THAAD implementation.

Daniel Pinkston, a lecturer on international relations at Troy University, notes theres a huge difference between criticizing those in charge and being in charge yourself.

When someone becomes president and is responsible for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Korea, the safety and security of the people, and all assets in the country  thats quite a serious responsibility; quite a solemn responsibility, said Pinkston who adds that theres been an unmet burden of proof by those opposing THAAD that its absence increases South Korean security.

Japan intelligence-sharing pact opposition

In November, South Korea and Japan signed an intelligence-sharing pact  something that was originally supposed to go into effect in 2012, but was scrapped due to domestic opposition. The new deal has also faced criticism; however, the bilateral agreement has already started.

I understand the resentment from the colonial period and so forth, said Pinkston, However, on the other hand, these agreements are pretty standard. It only provides for a channel or a mechanism to share sensitive information, to protect that information, and to protect the sources and methods.

Katherine Moon agreed, noting, Its in place, its working and, in truth, both countries benefits immensely. She highlighted how the deal allows for the superiority of [South] Koreas human intelligence gathering capabilities to marry with Japans satellite and other technological capabilities.

Moon also highlights that the pact excludes top secret information, something that South Koreans objecting to the deal may gloss over.

Pinkston says that South Korea has many such agreements in place, and this one doesnt require that Seoul do anything and that it only provides a channel of communication to Tokyo. Pinkston adds that if there was a threat from North Korea and Japan had valuable intelligence, I dont understand why any leader or government official whos responsible for the security of South Korea would refuse that information.

2015 'comfort women' deal

Perhaps one of the more controversial policy decisions made by the Park administration took place in 2015, when it agreed to finally and permanently resolve the diplomatic issues regarding South Koreas comfort women.

Opposition presidential candidate Moon Jae-in said December 15 that he believes further talks over Japans legal responsibility need to occur with Japan and that an official apology must be made.

The comfort women issue is a deep-seated one, says Katherine Moon, But theres also this reality, no matter what, in my opinion, Japan were to do, in order to make amends with South Korea, I dont think you would find 100 percent of South Koreans ever happy.

Pinkston also notes there exists a number of political actors in both South Korea and Japan who use this particular issue for personal political agendas, and in his view, he explains on Skype, the situation wasnt resolved satisfactorily.

I think the way it was handled was insufficient," he said. "I think from a humanitarian perspective, I think the most important thing is to address the feelings and concerns and human rights abuses of these survivors suffered so many decades ago.

While the South Korean Constitutional Court must arrive at its conclusion on Parks impeachment within 180 days, the fate of her public policy may remain unknown for an indiscriminate amount of time.
Anis Amri attended mosque hours after carrying out his deadly attack Monday on a Berlin Christmas market that left 12 dead and dozens injured, but there was nothing especially pious about the 24-year-old Tunisian before or even after he was radicalized.

On Friday morning, Islamic State (IS) propagandists posted a video of Amri calling for revenge attacks on Muslim-bombing crusaders and pledging allegiance to their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Prior to Monday's attack, Amri pursued an unruly, secular life of petty crime and vandalism.

Upon arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa as a boat refugee, he claimed to be a minor despite being 19 years old, landing him in a foster home in the Sicilian town of Catania, where he was registered at a high school. He caused mayhem, stealing, terrorizing his classmates and physically attacking his teachers.

Judicial authorities say he established a climate of terror in the classroom, according to Italys La Stampa newspaper.

After trying to set fire to the school and a migrant center, he was arrested in October 2011 and sentenced to four years in prison. He was categorized as a dangerous inmate by officials in the Catania and Palermo jails, where his violent behavior cost him his eligibility for parole, forcing him to serve his sentence in full.

His May 2015 release was followed by an Italian order for deportation, but Tunisia's failure to cooperate left him on European soil. Italian authorities lost track of him, although they did upload his details to the Schengen Information System, a database used by all European police and border agencies.

Italian officials say there were no signs that Amri had been radicalized by the time he left Italy for Germany with a group of other refugees to apply for political asylum, which was eventually denied.

Amris unruliness and background of petty crime and thuggery mirrors that of many others in the current generation of jihadist recruits and lone-wolf assailants who have set about terrorizing Europe.

The latest wave of European recruits, whether born on the continent or overseas, are radicalized more quickly than their predecessors and often appear even less interested in the theology of what they are doing, becoming jihadists almost as though it is a lifestyle choice, say analysts and deradicalization experts.

Last years Paris attackers and their jihadist cohort also pursued secular lives, often involving drugs and petty crime, even after becoming jihadists or during their radicalization. Some may have continued to do so on the orders of their recruiters, who may have hoped they would then remain undetected by authorities. But run-ins with police hardly amount to keeping low profiles.

Some analysts, like Rik Coolsaet, a university professor and senior fellow at the Egmont Institute, an independent think tank in Brussels, conclude that IS and other jihadist cells simply do not care now whether their new recruits are pious conservatives or just easy-to-enlist social misfits driven by narcissistic rage or mental illness to carry out violent acts.

Coolsaet has dubbed the current generation of Sunni militants pop-jihadists, noting their histories of deviancy and that their average age is much lower than that of previous generations of "holy warriors.

What I see in their social media messaging and tweets is a combination of troubled, rebellious teenage themes and narcissism, he told VOA recently.

Mohamed Abdeslam, the brother of Salah Abdeslam, the bomber who appeared to harbor last-minute qualms and failed to detonate his suicide vest during last years Paris attack, noted that his brother attended mosque infrequently and showed no signs of being a radical.

Amedy Coulibaly, the jihadist who gunned down four Jewish shoppers at a kosher supermarket in Paris in January 2015, also failed to observe the puritanical strictures of Salafi jihadis. His girlfriend, Hayat Boumeddiene, told French investigators during a 2010 interview that Coulibaly wasnt really religious and liked to have fun.

For "fun," read "trouble." And troubled is how family and friends often describe recent recruits, rather than pious or religious. It is certainly a word that sums up Amri, even before he set foot in Europe.

Born in December 1992 in the impoverished village of Oueslatia in Tunisias northeastern province of Kairouan, a Salafist hotbed, he was arrested in 2010 for stealing a truck. But his father, Mustapha, told reporters his son had had problems well before then, turning to drugs and alcohol before dropping out of school. He blamed poverty for his son's conduct.

He worked in farm fields and sometimes with street vendors, Mustapha Amri said. He drank with his friends, which led to his arrest several times. He had several run-ins with the police for using cannabis and for theft. He had lots of girlfriends, his father added.

One of his brothers, Abdelkader, told a Tunisian news channel that he suspected Anis must have been radicalized during his time in jail in Italy, but that appears so far not to have been the case. His radicalization seems to have occurred rapidly in Germany after he arrived there last year.

IS has embraced Amri publicly as a soldier who carried out the attack in response to calls for targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition. But German investigators have still not established whether the Tunisian had direct contact with the terror group. What they have established, according to German officials who spoke to VOA, is that he was acquainted with people connected to Abu Walaa, an Iraqi-born Salafist preacher, who is considered the main IS recruiter in Germany.

Abu Walaa, 32  his real name is Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah  was arrested along with four others in November on terrorism charges.

As investigators piece together Amris background and the method and timing of his recruitment, criticism is mounting about the performance of Germanys police and counterterrorism agencies. Deportation proceedings were started against Amri but apparently were held up because authorities failed to establish his identity sufficiently to meet legal requirements.

Germanys law enforcement agencies did have Amri on their radar but were confused by a fake passport, forged documents and the more than half dozen aliases he used. In August, he was arrested with a fake passport in the southern German town of Friedrichshafen while apparently traveling to Italy but was later ordered to be released by a judge.

And according to German officials, Amris name surfaced many times in their monitoring of Abu Walaas network. His determination to carry out an attack was reported by a police informant close to Boban Simeonovic, a jihadist supporter and friend. Members of the network openly discussed driving a truck bomb into a crowd.

German politicians are also demanding to know how Amri, after the attack, traveled unchallenged by train to Italy via France, despite an intense manhunt underway to find him.
Negotiators expressed optimism Friday that an agreement can be reached to end Congo's bloody political impasse, as the United Nations announced the death toll from this week's violence was at least 40.

According to a working document from the talks, elections would be held in 2017 instead of 2018, and President Joseph Kabila could not seek a third term. However, any deal must be officially endorsed by all parties. Mediators want a deal before Christmas.



"There has been a commitment made on both sides to find an agreement. The last adjustments are being made this morning," said Bruno Tshibala, the spokesman for the main opposition party led by Etienne Tshisekedi.



Anger has grown as Kabila, in power since 2001, remains in office after his constitutional mandate ended Monday. A court has ruled he can remain in power until new elections, which originally were set for November but have been postponed indefinitely.



A heavy military and police presence in the capital, Kinshasa, and elsewhere will last through the holidays, the government has said. Hundreds have been arrested.



According to opposition officials, the deal under discussion would include elections before December 2017. While Kabila would remain president until then, a transition council would be formed to monitor the deal's implementation and could be presided over by Tshisekedi.



Also under the proposed deal, Congo's electoral commission and constitutional court would be reformed, and political prisoners would be freed. Moise Katumbi, the popular former governor of Katanga and presidential hopeful, would be allowed to return to the county despite a jail sentence issued during a controversial trial.



A new government would replace the transitional one that was inaugurated Thursday, and a new prime minister from the opposition coalition would be nominated.



Whether the deal will actually be signed remains to be seen.



"As long as people are still negotiating, there is no agreement. It's only speculation," said Jean-Pierre Kambila, Kabila's cabinet director.
Almost three months after insurgents killed nine border guard police officers in Myanmars northern Rakhine state, the government loosened its grip on the area this week by inviting a group of journalists and photographers on a three-day tour of places affected by the violence.

Diplomats, rights groups and the press have been calling for media access to Maungdaw and surrounding townships in northern Rakhine since the October 9 attacks, which were claimed by a new insurgent group drawn from the ranks of the countrys oppressed Rohingya Muslim minority.



The military operation to retrieve weapons and arrest suspects has resulted in mass displacement, the deaths of dozens of people, and allegations of widespread human rights abuses, including rape and the systematic torching of villages. The government maintains the stories are fabricated despite mounting evidence to the contrary, including satellite imagery and numerous testimonies.



The trip this week was supposed to be a concession, a chance for members of the media to see for themselves and conduct interviews. But it was tainted from the start. Several international news organizations with bureaus in Myanmar, including the BBC and the Associated Press, were not invited, and the sense among journalists was that the junket was at best a guided tour and at worst an exercise in propaganda.



Such kind of things happen sometimes in Myanmar. Now that the team is in Maungdaw, they [the authorities] will tell their minister and other people that the journalists were there already, said Thitsa Hla Htway, secretary of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Myanmar, in an interview with VOA this week.



But it is just for show, he said. The governments intention is to exploit them only.



Thitsa Hla Htway added that he was not calling into question the independence of the reporters and photographers involved, but simply the way the trip was organized.



The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Myanmar took the unusual step of issuing a statement this week that said it had not been consulted about the selection of participants despite an article in local media saying it had. When Thitsa Hla Htway complained to the Ministry of Information, which organized the trip, he was told it was a mistake, he said.



The delegation consisted mainly of local news organizations, including the Myanmar Times, whose management had, until recently, blocked coverage of the crisis in Rakhine and fired a foreign journalist after she wrote an article reporting on allegations of rape there in October. The Japanese newswire Kyodo and the European Pressphoto Agency were represented by Myanmar contributors.

Along the way, the state-backed newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar has covered the comings and goings of the journalists.



Journalists impressed with extensive media access in Rakhine, a headline on Friday concluded at the end of the trip.



The article quoted most of the participants, many of whom expressed satisfaction with the proceedings.



We arrived at the area with no restriction on any individual. We were given the freedom to interview anyone we wanted, anywhere we went. The people answered freely without fear. In terms of media freedom, we were completely free to cover the news. Upon arrival, we had total freedom of expression, Sithu Aung Myint, a political columnist who works for a fledgling broadcasting outlet called Central News Bureau, was quoted as saying.



Despite the fact that people were saying it in different ways, we have now seen the true situations with our own eyes," freelance photographer Shwe Inn Thar Khin Maung Win was quoted as saying. "It was found that peoples sayings are totally different from the situations on the ground."



Soe Myint, the editor of Mizzima news, struck a more balanced tone in the report.



We heard diverse opinions during the trip. There are allegations and also denials. There are also controversial allegations especially over excessive use of force in hunting violent attackers. So, the government should probe into that issue, the paper quoted him as saying.

There was no specific mention of the arson or sexual assault claims.



Ye Naing, a Ministry of Information spokesperson who led the visits, defended the selection process and the arrangements in an interview with VOA on Friday, saying the trip was "successful" and that there would be more in the future.

As it is a region still under operation, we cant bring a lot of local and international media. We made a team with journalists from online, broadcast and print. Then we have to arrange the trip plan. And we have to select the places where it was happening and where it was not. So we have a time limit and it was under pressure and there was a limited amount of journalists. So it looks like a tour. Even though it looks like a tour, we let journalists cover news freely, he said.



We have selected those who are easier to call as we had to arrange the trip ASAP. A lot of media were left behind in this trip, he added.

He said the priority was to visit the three posts attacked on October 9 and go to villages where the military operated in search of suspects.

And we could show those places where members of three religions are staying peacefully together and there were no attacks there, he said, referring to communities of Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus.



Thiha Saw, the executive director of the Myanmar Journalism Institute and a member of Myanmars Press Council, which helps regulate the industry and pushes for journalistic freedom, said that while the trip was arranged, he saw some positives.



This is something like a testing of the waters for both sides, the veteran journalist said, adding that it may be easier to judge the result after reading the coverage in the coming days.

Hopefully you will start to see some independent stories coming out after the trip.
Donald Trump won't become president for another four weeks, though at times you'd hardly know it.

Since winning the election, President-elect Trump has repeatedly asserted himself on foreign and domestic issues, whether via his Twitter account, cable news interviews, or official transition team statements.

Trump's behavior strains a longstanding "one president at a time" tradition observed by presidents-elect. Many critics say that in doing so, Trump risks muddying U.S. policy and could set a precedent that complicates future presidential transitions.

"He's obviously trying to make himself a player, and I think that crosses a line that other presidents-elect have been reluctant to cross," said Bruce Buchanan, who specializes in presidential politics at the University of Texas.

In the past month and a half, Trump has offered a running commentary on the issues of the day, much like he did during his presidential campaign. But Trump has sometimes gone a step further, even challenging certain policies of President Barack Obama.

This week, Trump released a statement urging the U.S. to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution that condemns Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. Israeli officials have said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to Trump after learning the Obama administration planned to abstain from a vote.

Earlier, Trump broke decades of U.S. diplomatic protocol by speaking with Taiwan's leader, Tsai Ing-wen. He later called into question U.S. support for the "one China" policy. After China seized a U.S. underwater drone in the South China Sea, Trump called the act "unprecedented," before changing course and tweeting that the U.S. should refuse to take it back.

Trump has tweeted that he would like to "greatly strengthen and expand" the U.S. nuclear capability.

Last week, he held separate meetings with top U.S. military officials and the CEOs of Boeing and Lockheed Martin to negotiate defense spending costs. He has also negotiated with U.S. companies to keep jobs in the country in exchange for tax breaks and other benefits.

Obama has not criticized Trump's handling of the transition, other than to note on two separate occasions that there is only "one president at a time." But the president has moved decisively on his part, abstaining from the UN vote on Israel and banning offshore drilling in areas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans indefinitely. His administration has also taken steps to eliminate the program that was used to track mostly Arab and Muslim men after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The move makes it harder for Trump to initiate a similar program, something he has suggested he would like to do.

'Respectful'

Trump's behavior stands in contrast to that of his predecessors, many of whom have refused to even comment on matters of policy out of respect for the incumbent.

While no law forbids Trump from commenting or offering policy suggestions, some critics have said he could be in violation of the Logan Act, a federal law that prohibits private citizens from conducting foreign policy and that also applies in theory to incoming presidents.

Earlier this month, Congressman Jared Huffman, a Democrat, introduced legislation that would "clarify" that the Logan Act covers the activities of the president-elect during transition periods.

In a statement, Huffman said the so-called "One President at a Time Act" would require that the president-elect "cannot conduct foreign policy matters without the authorization of the United States government."

"Not only is it an unacceptable intrusion for a President-elect to start engaging in foreign policy matters before they are in office  let alone before they are fully briefed on complex and fragile geopolitical situations  it is dangerous and harms America's standing in the world," the statement said.

Speaking to MSNBC on Friday, Trump's incoming press secretary Sean Spicer denied Trump was overstepping his bounds, noting the cordial relationship that has developed between Trump and Obama.

"I would argue that he has been very respectful of the idea that we have one president at a time," Spicer said. "He has been in constant contact with President Obama, making it clear what his views are on certain things. And he has been very respectful of the president."
In 2009, Stacey Williams was laid off after a 10-year stint at Harvard University. Despite her best efforts, the former Air Force veteran was not having any luck finding a new position.

It was basically 40 hours a week looking for a job and just going in circles, attending every networking event, job fair, said Williams. She needed a creative outlet. It came in the form of a beginners painting class at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education.

We painted cucumbers and lemons, wine bottles and apples, said Williams, laughing at the memory. The class provided much needed stress relief for the artistically inclined Williams. When Im painting, Im totally in. I dont think about anything else - bills, what Im gonna have for dinner . . . Im just all in, said Williams. The class ultimately ignited her passion for painting portraits.

Her pieces are so bright and full of life, and really inspiring to not just me, but also customers, said Liz Powers, co-founder of Boston-based ArtLifting, an online startup that sells Williams works. Perhaps even more inspiring than the artwork is the artist herself, as Williams is currently homeless.

A housing dispute had saddled Williams with legal bills. When plans to stay with a friend fell through, she eventually found herself moving into a homeless shelter, even as she had found work at another university. Just a few months prior, Williams had been diagnosed with a hip condition that in the end became so painful it prevented her from working altogether. Mounting medical bills, along with college tuition payments for her daughter, ultimately proved to be too much.

One of my biggest frustrations is when someone says . . . Well, homeless equals lazy, and thats completely untrue, said Powers, The vast majority of the time, being homeless is something that someone experiences because of extremely bad luck.

Powers co-founded ArtLifting three years ago with her brother, after spending time with homeless individuals as a case worker. An artist herself, she started organizing art groups in local shelters to combat the loneliness many of her clients had expressed feeling. Powers soon realized there were many similar groups already in existence across the country, along with artwork that was not being seen. I thought, well, the big missing piece is a marketplace to share this amazing artwork thats already being produced, said Powers.

ArtLifting works exclusively with art groups in homeless shelters and social service agencies, curating the top artwork and selling it. Besides original artwork, ArtLifting sells prints and printed art products such as tote bags and smartphone cases. More than 100 artists are represented across 19 U.S. cities, each receiving 55 percent of profits from purchases.

In addition to selling directly to consumers, ArtLifting sells bulk art to corporations such as Google and Microsoft. The startup recently secured $1.3 million in investments, including investment from Toms Shoes, a similarly socially conscious company.

In empowering homeless and disabled individuals, the startups goals are twofold - to not only provide income, but a sense of worth and purpose.

Our clients are so used to people focusing on the negative in them, You dont have housing, youre in a wheelchair . . .  said Powers, Lets focus on the positive instead, and then see that domino effect of all of a sudden, Im being recognized as a human with talent, and now I have the energy to do lots of housing applications or get a side job at a nail salon or whatever it might be, she added.

Williams remembers recovering from her second hip replacement surgery when she received her very first commission from a sale. I had tears in the back of my eyes for a check for, like, $35, she recalled, laughing. Painting had been her therapy, but she never imagined it also could be her living.

Despite everything that has happened to her, Williams creative spirit is still intact, I read a quote that has stayed with me, and it said, A broken crayon can still color.
German police said Friday they have arrested two brothers who were suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in Oberhausen, in the West German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Police say the two men, ages 28 and 31, from Kosovo, were arrested on a tip from intelligence sources.

It was not immediately clear if the men were connected with the attack on a market hosting a holiday event earlier this week in the capital.

Christmas market reopens

The Christmas market in Berlin, where 12 people were killed Monday by a man driving a large truck, has reopened with a heavy police presence and concrete barriers installed around its edges.

The events organizers made the decision to reopen the market without party music or bright lights, which have been replaced by candles and flowers left at the site of the attack as a tribute for those who were killed.

Amri is prime suspect

Authorities are engaged in a manhunt across Europe in search of a 24-year-old Tunisian man whom German officials said should have been deported months ago.

Anis Amri, the top suspect in the attack, was a rejected asylum seeker who had been under police surveillance since police received a tip that he might try to buy weapons for a possible attack. But that investigation was dropped in September.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said during a Thursday news conference there is a high probability Amri is responsible for the attack.

We can report today that we have new information that the suspect is with high probability really the perpetrator, he said.

Police found Amris identification documents and fingerprints in the cab of the truck, German officials confirmed Thursday.

His asylum application was denied six months ago, but he was not sent back to Tunisia because of problems with his documents.

Why was Amri in Germany?

Those revelations have renewed questions in Germany about how the country vets the thousands of people who have entered the country looking for asylum. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said a day after the attack it would be hard to bear if an asylum seeker were responsible.

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, she said.

Amris family members said they were stunned to learn he was the main suspect in the attack, and his brother urged Amri to turn himself in.

I ask that he turn himself into the police, Abdelkader Amri told the Associated Press. If it is proved that he is involved, we disassociate ourselves from it.

Abdelkader Amri said Anis Amri left Tunisia in 2011 to go to Europe, and he may have been radicalized in an Italian prison, where he served three years for setting a refugee shelter on fire.

After leaving jail, Amri arrived in Germany in July 2015, where he requested asylum. His asylum request was denied, but he could not be deported because he had no passport and Tunisia declined to accept him.

Since he couldnt be deported, Amri was issued a stay of deportation paper, which is the document police found in the truck he used to kill 12 people.

Merkel proud of Germany

Merkel said Thursday she was proud of the public reaction to the attack and how calmly most people took it.

I am certain we will meet this test we are facing, she said.

A U.S. State Department official said two U.S. citizens were among the 48 people injured during the attack but provided no further details about those people.

The Islamic State group said it inspired the attack through its call for people to strike members of a coalition that is fighting the group in Syria and Iraq.

Before Amri emerged as the main suspect, police had detained a Pakistani man on suspicion of involvement in the Christmas-market attack, but he was later cleared and released.


An Islamic State-linked video released Friday purportedly shows the suspect in Monday's deadly truck attack on a German Christmas market calling for more attacks in Europe.

Investigators are trying to determine whether Anis Amri, 24, who was fatally shot earlier Friday by police at a Milan, Italy, train station during a routine patrol stop, received help from a network of supporters, Germany's top federal prosecutor said.

Chief Federal Prosecutor Peter Frank told reporters in Berlin that fingerprints confirmed Amri was the suspect in the attack that killed 12 people and injured 56 others. But he said the investigation was far from over.

"It's very important for us now to find out whether there was a network of supporters and accomplices, whether there were confidants who helped the sought person to prepare and conduct the attack and to escape," Frank said.

Focus on conspirators

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated the investigation would focus on possible conspirators.

"If there are others who are guilty or or accomplices, we will hold them accountable," Merkel said at the Berlin news conference.

Amri does not refer to Monday's attack in the video, which was released just hours after he was killed, but it does show him pledging allegience to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed leader of IS.

The video was released by Amaq, the news agency linked to IS, which has claimed responsibility for the attack. Speaking on a Berlin bridge just over two kilometers from the German chancellery, Amri issues an appeal to Muslims in Europe to crush "crusaders."

"God willing, we will slaughter you like pigs," Amri says in the video. He calls on fellow Muslims to "fight for the sake of Allah. Protect our religion. Everyone can do this in their own way. People who can fight should fight, even in Europe."

The video has not been independently authenticated, but material previously released by Amaq has been credible.

Stopped at rail station

Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti said at a news conference that Amri, a Tunisian national, was stopped early Friday by a regular patrol near the railway station of Sesto San Giovanni, a suburb of Milan.

Italian investigators said Amri pulled a gun when asked for his identification papers, then shot and wounded a police officer before he himself was killed.

Amri was a rejected asylum-seeker who had been under police surveillance following a tip he might try to buy weapons for a possible attack. But that investigation was dropped in September.

His asylum application was denied six months ago, but he could not be deported because he had no passport and Tunisia declined to accept him.

Those revelations have renewed questions in Germany about how the country vets the thousands of people who have entered the country looking for asylum. The attack has prompted talk of approving more stringent legislation on the deportation of migrants, especially those with criminal backgrounds.

Family shocked

Amri's family members said they were stunned to learn he was the main suspect in the attack. A brother, Abdelkader Amri, had urged Anis to turn himself in.

Abdelkader Amri said Anis left Tunisia in 2011 to go to Europe and might have been radicalized in an Italian prison, where he served three years for setting a refugee shelter on fire.

After leaving jail, Anis Amri arrived in Germany in July 2015. Because he couldn't be deported, he was issued a stay-of-deportation paper, which is the document police found in the truck he used in the attack.

A U.S. State Department official said two U.S. citizens were among the people injured during the attack, but no further details about those people were provided.

Before Amri emerged as the main suspect, police had detained a Pakistani man on suspicion of involvement in the Berlin market attack, but he was later cleared and released.

Earlier Friday, German police arrested two brothers who were suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in Oberhausen, in the West German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Police said the two men, aged 28 and 31, from Kosovo, were arrested on a tip from intelligence sources.

It was not immediately clear whether the men were connected with the Berlin attack.
A group of 21 Chibok schoolgirls freed by Boko Haram militants in October after two-and-a-half years in captivity in northeastern Nigeria were celebrating a "miracle" on Friday as the girls prepared to return to their families for Christmas.

The girls were released after Switzerland and the International Red Cross brokered a deal with the militant fighters and have been held in a secret location in the capital Abuja for assessment and debriefing by the Nigerian government.

But the freed girls are being taken back to Chibok in Borno state to spend Christmas and New Year with their families, going home for the first time since being seized from their school, several of their relatives told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014 sparked global outrage and prompted global figures, including U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and a list of celebrities, to support a campaign #BringBackOurGirls.

One of the girls, Asabe Goni, described her release as a "miracle" and, in the first interview by one of the 21 girls to international media, said she was happy to be going home.

"I had given up hope of ever going home," Goni, 22, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from the city of Yola where the 21 girls stayed overnight before setting off to Chibok with two other freed girls and state officials on Friday.

Dancing and singing in her home in Chibok, Goni's grandmother Ngobiko Mutar could not contain her joy as the family prepared for her arrival.

"I didn't think I would ever see her again," Mutar said, while Goni's young relatives baked a cake to welcome her home.

The girls were expected to return to Abuja in the New Year to continue a "restoration process", according to government sources.

They will be joined in Chibok by two other girls abducted from the school in April 2014 who were rescued earlier this year. This includes Amina Ali, the first of the missing girls to be found, who was located in a forest with a baby and a man claiming to be her husband in May.

Her discovery put the disappearance of the girls back into world headlines and President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to ensure the release of the remaining girls in captivity.

Nigerian authorities are involved in negotiations aimed at securing the release of more of the girls, the president's spokesman said on Thursday on comments posted on Twitter.

Goni said the Chibok girls who were not released wept when the group of 21 was freed, but they were consoled by Boko Haram militants and told that they would go home one day.

Boko Haram has killed more than 15,000 people, displaced over two million and kidnapped hundreds of men, women and children during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state.

Nigeria's army has driven the militants back to their base in Sambisa forest, Boko Haram's vast northeastern woodland stronghold, in recent months but they still stage suicide bombings, often using young girls to carry out the attacks.
The Philippines is showing new signs this month of strengthening an alliance with China and weakening ties with its old friend, the United States, giving Beijing a key partner in its controversial maritime expansion and Manila a source of long-term investment.



The Chinese and Philippine coast guards met for the first time Friday in Manila and agreed to pursue maritime cooperation. Their claims to the South China Sea overlap, causing friction that prompted the Philippines to take China to a world court tribunal - and win the case in July.



On Sunday the Philippine defense secretary said he didnt know the U.S. Navy was using an underwater drone less than 100 kilometers (just 50 nautical miles) from his country's shores. A Chinese naval lifeboat had seized the submersible device, setting off a spat with the United States that was resolved when the Chinese handed the device back to the U.S.



Commenting on the U.S.-Chinese contact in that area of the South China Sea, the Philippine defense secretary said his country would not object to Chinese naval activity in the area.



'Moderate approach' toward China



The Philippines has taken a rather moderate approach toward the Chinese position on the status of the claims in the South China Sea, said Carl Baker, director of programs at the think tank Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu. For one thing, it has said that it now agrees with China that bilateral negotiation is the best way to resolve the territorial dispute, and that in the meantime they need to accommodate rival claims.



Bilateral talks would be an alternative to the world court.



Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte led the shift toward China shortly after taking office June 30, to diversify foreign policy away from the United States.



The U.S. government frustrates China in the contested sea by insisting on its freedom of navigation and cruising through areas close to those claimed by China. Beijing's militarization of the sea, and its use of land reclamation to expand tiny islets, has alarmed much of Southeast Asia.





China to invest in Philippines



When Duterte visited Beijing in October, he and his hosts agreed to set aside the maritime sovereignty issue, and China pledged $24 billion in investments in the island nation.



Last week, Duterte threatened again to cut off U.S. military cooperation because the American poverty relief agency Millennium Challenge Corp. said it would defer a $433 million funding grant, due to concerns about rule of law and civil liberties. Duterte told the United States Saturday to prepare to leave the Philippines.



The grant deferral follows U.S. President Barack Obama's critical comments three months ago about extrajudicial killings in the Philippines' war against illegal drugs. At least 5,000 people have died during the antidrug campaign, according to the vice presidents office in Manila.



Duterte's latest anti-U.S. remarks followed a trip he made to Cambodia, a staunch ally of China. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he respected Duterte for standing up to Western powers, Philippine media reported.



As relations warm, both China and the Philippines will try to enlarge their artificial islands, build new structures on them and improve on existing infrastructure, the Pacific Forum's Baker said.



Averting maritime 'miscalculations'



Both sides as well as other Southeast Asian claimants to the disputed sea may also work toward a code of conduct designed to head off accidents due to miscalculations over which islets are whose, some experts believe.



Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim all or parts of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea, which is rich in fisheries as well as possible undersea fossil fuel reserves.



Manilas establishment of ties with China since Duterte took office in June initially worried many Filipinos who are used to relying on the United States, a former colonizer of some five decades. U.S. military support has helped the Philippines patrol its shorelines for Chinese boats and reduce the threat of terrorism from Muslim rebel groups in the south.



But some Filipinos are now warming to the pro-China stance, as part of a balanced foreign policy rather than one dependent largely on Washington since World War II. Valenice Balace, an internet entrepreneur in Manila, worries that continued resistance to Beijing could spark war over the Spratly Islands, a South China Sea archipelago where both sides hold land.



I was thinking of the options of the Philippines. We could go with the tribunal results, wherein Philippine Spratlys is really part of the Philippines, but Chinas reaction was no, its still theirs, and they still continue with whatever it is they were doing in the Spratlys, Balace said.





Delicate diplomacy by Manila



China is quite big, and the only chance we could ever win against China would be through the U.S., she said. So if there would be war over the Spratlys, China would bring in their guns. Where would the fight happen? It would be most probably in the Philippines. So it wouldnt hurt the U.S. It would hurt us because were already a poor country.



Chinas claim to about 95 percent of the sea, based on historical records, caused trouble with the Philippines in 2012 when vessels from both sides got locked in a two-month standoff at Scarborough Shoal, nearly 200 kilometers west of Luzon Island.



A South China Sea made safer by Sino-Philippine cooperation would offer more protection to fishing boats, said Song Seng Wun, an economist in the private banking unit of CIMB in Singapore. Fishing makes up 2 percent of the Philippine economy.



Some Chinese investment is seen helping Philippine infrastructure and manufacturing, areas that the government has identified as pivotal for sustaining fast economic growth in a still largely poor country.



Its easier if you have a large neighbor that youre friendly with, and then you can strengthen economic ties, [from] a pragmatic standpoint, Song said. The key thing for people on the ground really is food on the table, money in the pocket and opportunity for business expansion, and it looks like there will be.
Largely overlooked in the aftermath of the November elections was the fact that more than half of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Another eight also allow the use of recreational marijuana. But if pot is okay for people, does it follow that it's also good for our pets?

In Washington state, where pot is legal for medical and recreational use, a number of veterinarians are being asked about treating pets with cannabis.

But marijuana is still illegal under federal law, so expanding its use beyond states, and beyond humans is risky, both medicinally and legally.

However, Michelle Batten was worried less about the law and more about her dog Willy, a caramel-colored, 16-year-old Lhasa Shih Tzu. Willy has a variety of age-related problems, including arthritis and anxiety from vision loss, and conventional painkillers were making him sluggish.

Pot for pets, without the high

"So," she says, "we started on the cannabinoid capsules."

The active ingredient in these pills - cannabidiol - comes from hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant that's not mind-altering.

How did it work? "I was... pleased with what I saw," she says. "He's so much more content. He sleeps better. He's not in pain and he doesn't have the anxiety."

Another Portland dog owner, Diane Benjamin, uses an eyedropper to put small amounts of hemp oil on the food of her 11-year-old greyhound-Rhodesian ridgeback named Pronto. She said the formulation provides relief from back trouble and arthritis.

The dog doesnt appear to notice the culinary addition, but Benjamin said her friends take notice. When I meet other dog owners and we start talking -- especially if they have old dogs -- and I mention that hes on cannabinoid oil, they kind of raise their eyebrows like Really? and maybe laugh a little bit, Benjamin said.

She chose the product for the medicinal properties, explaining, If it works and doesnt have side effects, why not?

Batten takes Willy and his 14-year-old 'sister' to the Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic, which advertises holistic pet care. Clinic owner Dr. Cornelia Wagner says pet owners turn to hemp or medical marijuana for many of the same things humans take it for these days, including cancer symptoms, pain, inflammation, seizures, nausea, chronic skin allergies and loss of appetite.

And it's no surprise that with more and more people turning to pot for help, they'd ask after their pets as well. "Five years ago when I started here, hemp never came up, or cannabis hardly ever came up," Wagner says. "Now we talk about it a lot."

Dr. Wagner tells dog owners that their animals are much more sensitive than humans to the effects of marijuana. It doesn't take much to cause a bad trip. Her clinic only stocks a few over-the-counter, non-psychoactive hemp-based supplements, like the pills Willy the dog swallows twice a day.

Hazy legal territory, potential health danger

Because it doesn't have the mind-altering effects of pot, hemp for pets remains largely unrestricted. Marijuana, of course, is different.

"Legally, we have to be careful about it," Wagner says. "Even though recreational marijuana use is legal in Oregon now... as veterinarians we are not allowed to prescribe it. So we have to be careful about giving recommendations."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions against giving marijuana products to pets. The FDA says their safety and effectiveness have not been established and need further study.

The murky legal terrain got murkier in December, when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced it considers all extracts from the cannabis plant to be controlled substances, including everything from hemp.

The Oregon and Washington State Veterinary Medical Associations have posted their own cautionary fact sheets online. Olympia vet Dr. Lisa Parshley, who serves on the Oregon VMA board, says she is hesitant about cannabis products not just for legal reasons, but for the many scientific unknowns.

"I just feel like everybody is trying to jump the gun and get into the use of this," she warns, "without doing due process in the research labs, in the clinics, to try to get a really good product out there that is safe and actually works."

Parshley says researchers need to verify health claims, delineate risks and establish the proper dosing and delivery methods. And beyond questions about the purposeful dosing of dogs and cats with cannabis-infused medicines, dogs are being brought to vets after ingesting marijuana left in the open by humans. Curious, hungry dogs have wolfed down their owners' stashes, pot edibles or even joints dropped in parks.

Parshley said accidental exposure causes disorientation, incontinence, nausea and pets that are over-reactive to sound and lights. In serious cases, the animal may require hospitalization. The marijuana itself is rarely fatal, although in combination for example with a large amount of dark chocolate brownies, a dog may perish.

But entrepreneurs in pot-friendly western states aren't waiting for the smoke to clear to meet consumer demand. Startups are selling a range of cannabis products for pets -- from capsules, oils, butters and tinctures to infused chew toys and dog treats.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syria have agreed to hold peace discussions in the Kazakh capital of Astana to resolve the conflict in Syria.

Speaking at his annual, end-of-the-year news conference, Putin said the recent evacuation of Aleppo was "the largest international humanitarian operation in the modern world" and would not have been possible without the "active involvement" of Russia, Turkey, Iran and "the goodwill of and the work carried out by Syrian President Assad."

Putin said the next step for Syria should be a nationwide cease-fire.

The peace talks in Astana are expected to be held in January.

The war-torn city of Aleppo has been recaptured, the Syrian army says, marking its biggest victory in the nearly six-year civil war.

The restoration of security and stability to Aleppo is a victory which forms a strategic juncture and important turning point in the fight against terrorism, from one point, and a blow to the terrorist project and its supporters from another, the armys general command said in a statement posted on the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

President Bashar al-Assad's government has full control of the massive city of Aleppo for the first time since 2012.

The rebel forces agreed to withdraw from the city after a month-long army offensive drove them from 90 percent of their original territory.

The announcement came hours after the last convoy of residents was reported leaving the city, the last of a week-long evacuation effort.

The United States remains wary of the victory, citing reports of increased violence in other parts of the country as well as the future of those evacuated from Aleppo.

"Certainly seeing these reports that they are claiming to have all of Aleppo, I am in no position to dispute that," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said. "But they bear responsibility for what they did to Aleppo and Aleppos citizens.

The United Nations also echoed concerns over increased violence elsewhere in Syria. Speaking in Geneva Thursday, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura warned that Idlib, where many evacuees have gone, "could be in theory the next Aleppo."

The International Committee of the Red Cross said by Thursday about 34,000 people had left eastern Aleppo, which rebels held for four years in their effort to push Assad from office.
The Taliban has rejected latest United Nations calls for engaging in peace talks with the Afghan government, and instead demanded the world body pressure U.S.-led foreign troops to end their occupation of Afghanistan if the U.N. truly wants an end to the 15-year war.

Our fight is for independence, and as long as foreign occupation forces are present here (in Afghanistan) any talk about peace and reconciliation is meaningless, Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, told VOA Friday.

He was responding to a renewed call for Afghan peace talks earlier this week by Tadamichi Yamamoto, who heads the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA.

In his quarterly briefing to the Security Council in New York on Monday, Yamamoto urged the Taliban to enter into direct talks with the Kabul government, without preconditions, to prevent further bloodshed in the country.

We all know that the conflict in Afghanistan has no military solution. The Taliban leadership must reconsider the notion that their objectives can only be achieved on the battlefield, noted the UNAMA chief.

However, the Taliban spokesman insisted that all parties interested in resolving Afghanistan's problems should pressure on foreign forces to leave Afghanistan and let its people decide the kind of governing system they need for their country.

"Afghans neither like a foreign-imposed regime nor do they accept presence of foreign forces in their country," he said, citing presence of American and NATO in Afghanistan as the main cause of the conflict.

The Taliban maintains President Ashraf Ghanis national unity government is not a sovereign administration, alleging it works under U.S. direction. The Islamist insurgency has recently called for direct talks with the U.S. administration to find a solution to the Afghan war.

But Washington rejected the offer and reiterated its support for an Afghan-led reconciliation process.

We believe thats the right approach. Weve always believed that thats the right approach. President Ghani, more importantly, also believes in the criticality of that approach, and thats where our support will go to, said State Department spokesman Johan Kirby on Wednesday while responding to the Talibans offer.

The Afghan war has caused unprecedented bloodshed in 2016. UNAMA estimates more than 3,000 civilians have died while thousands more have been wounded so far this year.

The U.S. military reported in October that in the first eight months of 2016, Afghan forces suffered more than 15,000 casualties, including over 5,500 deaths. The casualties figures for the entire year are likely to be much higher because the conflict has expanded and intensified since August.

For their part, Afghan authorities earlier this week reported that in country-wide police operations alone more than 8,500 enemy fighters have been killed this year.

The Afghan Defense Ministry estimates suggest its troops have also killed thousands of anti-government fighters in counter-insurgency operations in 2016, but no official figures have been released as yet.

The U.N. says the conflict also forced more than 5,5100 Afghans to flee their homes this year, representing record level of internal displacements during the past 15 years.
U.S. State Department officials Thursday defended handing over information at the request of President-elect Donald Trumps transition team, outlining existing programs and activities to promote gender equality."

Obviously, we would have concerns if, for instance, there were issue-specific lists of names, said State Department spokesman John Kirby. That would not be the kind of thing we would want to engage in.

A flash transition tasker message was sent around the Truman Federal Building on Wednesday  with responses due by 5 p.m. that day  for materials on issue papers  including positions and funding  on such topics as ending gender-based violence, promoting womens participation in economic and political spheres, entrepreneurship, etc.

The ranking minority member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, New Yorks Eliot Engel, in a statement provided to VOA News, noted he and his Democratic Party colleagues have made it clear that the targeting of State Department employees by the Trump Transition team was unacceptable, so I'm troubled by reports that certain offices are being singled out.

Requests could set off alarm bells

A congressional aide, speaking to VOA on condition he not be named, said this kind of request could set off alarm bells on Capitol Hill.

There is nothing wrong with indicating which seats are filled by presidential appointees or career foreign service officers, Kirby told reporters. Thats typical. Thats normal, the former U.S. Navy

admiral said, comparing it to a new captain coming aboard ship and informing him of who is on board and what jobs they have.

But transition officials need to explain why they're collecting this information, added Engel.

Kirby said there is concern the Trump teams request may be an attempt to ascertain what programs at the State Department are focused on support for family planning (including abortion) or gay rights, issues that are an anathema to some very conservative politicians and groups in the United States.

Widespread upheaval

Career diplomats and civil servants in the building expressed to VOA heightened concern after the request from the transition team. They noted that even if Hillary Clinton had won the election there would have been some anxiety about higher-level personnel changes, but now there is fear of far more widespread upheaval under Trump.

Clinton, whom Trump defeated in last month's presidential election, early in her tenure as secretary of state created a position of ambassador at large for global womens issues and put strong emphasis on that arena, something that has continued under her successor, John Kerry.

Gender equality remains of paramount importance at the State Department, Kirby told reporters Thursday.

Concerns of retaliation

The State Department has informed some concerned members of Congress it will not accede to any request from the incoming administration that could lead to retaliation against public servants.

The assurance was made in an informal response to a letter sent by all of the Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sources told VOA on Thursday.

U.S. diplomats promised a formal response to the letter, which was sent to Secretary of State John Kerry. It came in the wake of a request the Trump transition team sent to the Energy Department requesting names of officials who worked on climate change.

We believe your Department should work to ensure a smooth transition of power. However, individual civil servants, Foreign Service officers, and other staff should not be singled out for their work in support of policy objectives that clash with the next administrations goals, leaving them vulnerable to retribution by the incoming administration, reads the letter to Kerry. In our view, gathering names in this manner bears striking resemblance to dark chapters in our history marked by enemies lists and political witch hunts.

The letter goes on to say Kerry and the State Department have the signatories' full support as you seek to protect the departments public servants.

Request refused

The Energy Department says it refused the Trump transition teams request to provide a list of employees or contractors who attended certain meetings on climate change.

Civil servants must be free from retaliation for simply following the lawful policy direction of their supervisors. A professional, apolitical career civil service that implements the law is a bulwark of Western democracy, said J. David Cox Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees. Everyone  regardless of party  should be outraged by any attempt to politicize an agency of the Executive Branch. We cannot allow a return to the political witch hunts of the 1950s.

VOA News sent a request to the Trump transition team for comment but no response has been received.
Turkish police Friday briefly detained a deputy speaker of parliament, forcibly taking her to a court to testify in an on-going case in which she is accused of making propaganda in support of outlawed Kurdish rebels.

Pervin Buldan, a senior legislator from the Turkeys pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), later told reporters waiting outside the courthouse that she was released after telling court officials that she would not testify in the politically motivated case.

Turkeys government accuses the HDP, the nations third-largest party, of links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is considered a terror organization by Turkey and its western allies. The HDP rejects the accusation.

In May, parliament voted to strip lawmakers of their legal immunity, paving the way for the arrests of HDP legislators. A total of 12 HDP legislators have been jailed on terrorism-related charges since then, including co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said Buldan was called to provide additional testimony over a case where she is accused of praising a crime and a criminal as well as engaging in propaganda in favor of a terror organization.
At least two Ukrainian troops have been killed and three injured in the past 24 hours in renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian official said Friday.

Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,600 people since the conflict began in April 2014. A 2015 cease-fire deal did not completely stop fighting but did lower its intensity.

Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian defense ministry, said in a statement that Ukrainian casualties continue to mount after what Kiev says was a rebel offensive southeast of the rebel stronghold Donetsk.

A total of eight troops have been killed outside the town of Svitlodarsk since fighting began there Sunday, Lysenko said. Rebels have accused the Ukrainian government of launching an attack on their positions there.

Rebels and Ukrainian government representatives at talks mediated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Wednesday agreed on a new cease-fire across eastern Ukraine that is set to begin Saturday.

State Department spokesman John Kirby on Thursday lauded the agreement and said the U.S. hopes it "will mark the beginning of sustained quiet at the line of contact to allow Ukrainians on both sides of the line to live in peace and security."
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move which would break with longstanding American policy. His proposal has touched off debate on one of the most emotional and contentious issues dividing Israelis and Palestinians: The status of the city they both regard as their capital.

In 1947, at the end of the British mandate in Palestine, the United Nations adopted a resolution calling for separate, independent Arab and Jewish states and establishing Jerusalem as an international city. But in the first Arab-Israeli war a year later, Israel captured western Jerusalem and Jordan took the eastern half of the city. The so-called green line was drawn, not as a border but a line of demarcation between Israeli and Arab forces. Jerusalem straddles that line, but in the 1967 war, Israel seized and annexed East Jerusalem, declaring Jerusalem the unified capital of the Israeli state.

The U.S. embassy has remained in Tel Aviv since it was established in 1948, with a separate consulate in Jerusalem.

"U.S. policy towards Jerusalem for decades, even predating the modern peace process, has been that Jerusalem is not a separate issue unto itself," said Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights. Its not just a question of where do you draw a border and what happens with settlements. Its a separate question that needs to be resolved between Israelis and Palestinians.

Many Americans who see themselves as strong supporters of Israel also support moving the embassy to Jerusalem, to demonstrate Washington's backing of the Jewish state. Others caution that even those who support Israel should reconsider moving the U.S. embassy, because it would be a setback in the broader effort to help forge a durable peace between Israelis and Palestinians. But Trump, like many Americans, sees the move as a necessary one.

"The U.S. should have all its embassies in capital cities, and Jerusalem is the capital of Israel," said Josef Olmert, adjunct professor of political science at the University of South Carolina.

"Arguing, as some do, that this is 'unilateral American action' is silly, especially when it comes from those who try to impose unilateral actions on Israel through the U.N. Security Council, he continued, referring to calls for President Barack Obama to recognize a Palestinian state before he leaves office.

Supporters of the move say the law is on their side: In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, acknowledging Jerusalem as Israels capital and calling for a new embassy to be built in that city by 1999. But theres a catch: Built into the law is a waiver clause which allows U.S. presidents to postpone the move, six months at a time, to protect U.S. security interests.

Like Trump, former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also made campaign promises to move the embassy, but later opted to exercise the waiver every six months, concerned that it could undermine peacemaking efforts. So too has President Obama, most recently on December 1.

"Mr.Trump needs to reassert crumbling American prestige in the Middle East, which was caused by the failures of Obamas policy, said Olmert. If the move will take place, President Trump will be in a better position than Obama was to try and receive meaningful concessions from [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, having won his trust."

Maybe so, but at what cost?

If the move does actually happen, Palestinians have to respond, and it becomes very difficult for them at that point to pretend that a Washington-mediated peace process can continue, Munayyer said.

More worrying, he explained, is the fact that the embassy move could fit into a narrative spun by Islamist extremists, which pit Islam as engaged in a crusade against the West.

Moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, he argues, could come across as a triumph of Judeo-Christian civilization over Islam.

This is about something that really can enrage some of the most dangerousalbeit still fringeelements in the Arab and Muslim world and become a rallying cry for extremists.

Trump aides say the move is a very big priority for the president-elect. He wont be able to transfer the U.S. mission until after June 1, when the current waiter to the Embassy Act expires.

But plans may already be underway: According to Israels Haaretz newspaper, Jerusalems mayor says U.S. officials have already begun looking for a suitable location for the new embassyand, he said, as the Jerusalem consulate was built with an eventual move in mind, the transfer could be as simple as changing a sign on the door.
Hidden Figures traces the true story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), three black women who made an invaluable contribution to NASAs space-race efforts in the 1960s, but never got their due until now. Dubbed computers, they were talented mathematicians who pored over calculations made by the Space Task Group as they labored to send astronaut John Glenn into space. Hidden Figures focuses mainly on Johnson as she takes on a new position working under NASA bigwig Al Harrison (Kevin Costner). Though he appreciates her formidable mind, Harrison himself is not mindful of the daily challenges Johnson must face as a black woman, and his slowly dawning awareness gives the film one of its most resonant story arcs. As Costner told Vulture recently in a very candid conversation, thats an arc he had to fight for.

I know you had a big hand in shaping this character. What happened?

When I was approached with the film, I basically said, Look, I can see why theyre making this movie, but anybody in the world could play this role. I wouldnt choose to play this role. Not because the movie wasnt significant, but because the part was a little schizophrenic  and I just want to say, I dont have anything against playing a schizophrenic! Or a serial killer, or anything. But the character was saying something on one page and then on another page saying something different, and you didnt understand him in the arc of the movie. There should be a reason why a person is the way they are, and it should manifest itself in something important to the film. And it didnt.



You told this to Ted Melfi, the director?

We didnt have a lot of time for niceties, to be honest. I love writers, but this was a moment where I had to come very clean with him, very quickly. I just said, simply, Congratulations on the screenplay. Its not my M.O. to come in and want to change things because of some weird pride of authorship, but this part is difficult. Its schizophrenic. And he was quiet, and I thought, Well, fuck. I just hurt his feelings and I didnt want to do that. And he said, You know, its the one part Ive had trouble with. I focused so much on the women and I was unsuccessful in obtaining the rights to any of these mens lives  there were three of them  so I had to make a character out of these three people. And I said, Well, it kind of reads like that. We can try to fix this, but it means were going to have to work on this. Youre about to go down to Atlanta and shoot, and the last thing youre going to want to do after a long day is call me back in California and work on the supporting part, but thats what its going to take for me to do it. I told him, Ill help if you want me to, but if youre just going to do pages on your own and they come back and I start drawing red lines through them, I know thats going to get frustrating. And perhaps youll get tired and we wont get there. Ive done what youre doing, and I know youre going to be tired.



So how did he respond?

He goes, Ill do it. And well do it together. I said, Really? And he said, Really. Listen, a lot of people will promise you a lot of things to get you in a movie, and then all of a sudden, reasons will come along as to why they cant do them anymore and that promise gets broken. That didnt happen with Ted. He was very true to me about his pledge to make this be a supporting part that supported these women and this movie.



When you started working on the character, how did you know you had cracked it?

Ill tell you, its when the scenes get easier to write. Youre starting to know what the character would say, and you can start writing with a level of economy. When you know a character really well, sometimes you know just by looking at them what theyre thinking. And we understood that my character needed to have what you might call a real or vague form of racism, which is that he wasnt paying attention. He wasnt paying enough attention in the workplace to know that this was even a problem. You know, I work around a lot of scientists and engineers because I invest in those kinds of companies  I actually own those companies, Im talking about as a founder  and they dont do well with politics. Right? That group of people who are trying to develop something from a technical standpoint, they just want to work, and politics can be the thing that screws them up the most. Theyre not equipped for it, theyre a different breed of cat. I was able to bring that sort of stuff to Ted.



Is there a moment in the movie thats informed by that knowledge?

Ill tell you when it came into relief for me. Theres a scene where Katherine reads through the redacted moments of the space program and figures them out, and originally, my character was square in the center of that scene. I said to Ted, He would not be in that scene. He would be ten or 15 feet away marveling at how shes able to figure out those redactions. That was more interesting to him, that she could come up with these numbers somehow, rather than interrogating her. His intellectual curiosity has trumped any desire to be hostile to her, and Ted understood that. Even though I was written into that scene, I said, Take me out of it. You dont even realize Im in that scene until you come over and find me. So we started to find moments like that. This guy wants the cream to get to the top, and thats it.



Hes formidable, but he has this achievement-based moral code. You get the feeling that if you could successfully appeal to that, he will listen, and Tarajis character comes to understand that and use it to plead her case.

I think thats right. Listen, this isnt a flashy role. Its a straightforward role. To me, its kind of like a Spencer Tracy role where you just stand there and deliver, and I think thats whats appropriate. In a lot of movies, to show you where the scene is, youd cut to a shot of the NASA building to show you the NASA sign and tell you youre at NASA. I said, Lets create a character where, when you cut to my face, thats what tells you youre at NASA.



The character is presented as a decent man, but hes spent much of his life not paying much attention to the racism going on around him.

I think those people can often make racist statements without being racist. They dont know. Those jokes that used to pass in the 50s and 60s, even into the 70s  they dont wash anymore. We talked about the scales coming off his eyes, that he suddenly starts to see things clearly. He wants to know, more than anything, why theyre second in a two-man race. The truth is that the best ideas arent getting to the top.



Was there a moment in your life where you went through the same journey as your character, when you became more aware of racial prejudice and privilege?

I was born in Compton, California. I was around people who used the N-word  not being mean, but they used it. They used it in jokes, they used it in everything. Youre a product of where you grew up, but there came a moment in my life where somehow, nothing was funny anymore where that word was concerned, and it was never spoken again. It was in my teens, and Im not exactly proud of that, but I never remember using that word in anger. I told you I grew up in Compton, and the first girl I thought was really, really pretty was Diana Ross, so it shouldnt come as a surprise that Whitney Houston was in The Bodyguard. A lot of people have talked a lot about that movie, because I kiss her. I really kiss her! I thought to myself, Who wouldnt want to kiss her? Youve got to be a blockhead to not want to kiss her.



Hidden Figures always felt necessary, but do you think it takes on added significance now that it arrives in a post-Trump world?

Ive never thought much about the timing of movies. The truth is, my wife and I spent our money making a movie called Black or White a year and a half ago, and that really deals with the notion of racism. I dont know if you ever saw it or not, but my bent is toward movies that surprise me. I certainly dont pick movies because I think theyre riding a wave or theyre in vogue  I pick them simply because they move me. This moved me, starting with [the prologue where] Katherine as a little girl goes up to the chalkboard and shes gifted. It doesnt matter that shes black or white but that shes gifted. I was very moved by the scene where the judge listens to the story that Mary presented to him. What we want in our lives is to see justice, and this man gave her justice. I was thrilled by that moment. I was really pleased to be a part of this, and its a great reminder to me that whenever things go best for me, its just about the movie. People will notice you, and thats enough.



Do you plan to direct again? Its been a long time since your last movie, Open Range.

I have another Western Ive co-written with some people, and I would like to play out the second half of my career directing more. Ive constantly given the movies Ive found to directors who I thought could do it better, but there are a lot of voices in my ear from my family saying, You need to direct the movies you fall in love with. So I think I will.

This interview has been edited and condensed.
A modern musical set in Southern California with all-new songs? We could be describing either Damien Chazelles Oscar front-runner La La Land or Rachel Blooms acclaimed CW series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend  so for this installment of The Awards Show Show, Vultures Kyle Buchanan and The Frames John Horn invited Rachel to weigh in on what the makers of La La Land were able to accomplish. (And to get a little envious about their budget.) Afterward, our hosts run down their year-end top-ten lists, which have some big surprises.

An edited excerpt from the conversation follows; listen to the episode above, and subscribe to The Awards Show Show on iTunes.

Kyle Buchanan: Rachel, you obviously, intimately, know the musical format. You knew it before you even started creating it yourself. And so, for you to watch something like La La Land, what were the things that struck you? I know you told me that you spent most of the time envious of their budget.

Rachel Bloom: Thats the first thing. I love the film; it is so beautiful. I think the score is marvelous and everything about it is wonderful. I spent half the time with a grin on my face, a big, sloppy grin, and then the other half being like, Ugh, my God, theyre in Griffith Observatory! Oh, look at that CGI! Oh, theyre in the sky? And especially the ending sequence, which is this dream-fantasy sequence. We just did a dream ballet number on the show and we did it in front of a stark background, and we ended up rotoscoping it, which itself costs a lot of money. But, you know, were in network television, so our budget is different. They really used their budget. To the fullest extent.

K.B.: The fascinating thing is, I talked to Damien Chazelle, who tried to get this mounted before he did Whiplash, for a $1 million budget with the exact same scenes.

R.B.: Interesting. I wonder  well, you couldnt do a freeway scene. Part of what was so marvelous about it was the camerawork. That scene where theyre tap-dancing, its the soft-shoe scene, the crane does a lot of choreography. Its almost like the choreographer choreographed the camera moves.  For a million dollars, I dont think you could afford a crane like that.

K.B.: Youd have to improvise somehow.



R.B.: You would. On our show, because I come from self-funding YouTube videos, when we dont have the money for something, Im always pitching to do it jankified. The perfect example is in the pilot, in the West Covina number, when Rebecca goes to a strip club. Everyone was like, We gotta rent out a strip club. I was like, Guys, just shoot me against a black wall, in a chair, with a stripper, and Marc Webb, who was our director  and who directed Emma Stone in the Spider-Man movie, and also directed (500) Days of Summer, which has a great musical number  was like, No, no. So we rented out a strip club. But we definitely cut corners. But this film, part of the reason it made me so happy was it did have this vintage and otherworldly feel to me. Similar to (500) Days of Summer, where it was reality, it was L.A., but it had this vintage gloss to it that just made it feel very warm and fuzzy, but excitingly familiar.
Phyllis Smith

Spoilers for The OA below.

One of the most delightful surprises in Netflixs The OA is actress Phyllis Smith. You may be familiar with Smith from her longtime role as Phyllis Vance in The Office, or her voice acting as Sadness in Disneys Inside Out, but none of that indicated that she was headed for a major role in a sprawling sci-fi epic about near-death experiences and interdimensional tunneling. And yet, here she is, playing a schoolteacher named Betty Broderick-Allen  better known as BBA  and getting tangled up in an effort to defy death and the laws of physics.

A veteran performer, Smith spent decades working as a dancer, and she got to show her chops thanks to the shows focus on supernatural physical incantations known as the Movements. As it turns out, Smiths meshing with The OAs operatic metaphysics is quite a natural fit, as she firmly believes in powerful forces beyond human understanding. We caught up with Smith to talk about angels, dance injuries, and her pet turtles, Speedy and Alvin.

Thanks for chatting with me!

No worries. Where are you? Are you in California?

No, scenic New York City. Im sitting in my apartment, surrounded by my cats.

The fact that you have a cat means youre a good guy.

Well, if having one cat makes you a good guy, youll be pleased to hear that I have two.

Well, youll be pleased to know I have four.

You dont.

Yes, uh huh.

What are their names?

Dont laugh, because Im not very inventive when it comes to cat names. Theyre grey cats, so I have Shy Boy, I have Little Grey  those are the two twins  then I have Sweet Face, who has a very sweet face, and Princess, who turned out to be a prince. Those are my four babies. They went to New York, too. They all went to New York when we filmed The OA.

What a caravan.

I had my four cats and two turtles.

You have two turtles? What are their names?

Speedy and Alvin are the turtles. Speedys about 65 and Alvins about 15, I guess. Im serious about my family.

Speaking of family, lets talk about the show. How did this part come about and how was the show first described to you?

Oddly enough, it came out of the blue for me, because I dont have an agent. I got an email from the New York casting director [for The OA] and she said that [series creators] Zal [Batmanglij] and Brit [Marling] were doing the show and they would like to meet with me. Even after I was hired, the only thing I ever saw about the show in print were the six pages of sides that Id received. That was the first scene that you see me in where Im talking to Brit. Thats the only information and written word that Id seen prior to actually going to New York. I thought it would be an interesting, good role for me, but I had nothing to go on but that six-page scene.

It worked out that I met with Zal and Sarah Esberg from [The OAs production company] Plan B. I thought I was going to read with someone. It turned out to be a sit-down, just talking to each other. When I left that day, I had such a positive, wonderful, unexplainable feeling. Then I had a second meeting with Brit. I got all eight scripts. I had to read all eight of them in that one weekend and I couldnt put them down. Im glad I didnt know ahead of time.

What did the story make you think about? What did it make you consider about life, the universe, and everything?

Even before The OA, I was a very spiritual person. I believe in angels. Ive had an experience that  I dont know the right label to put to it, if it was an angel or Jesus or what. Nobody knows anything for sure about that, but I know that I had an encounter and I know that things exist beyond this realm, most definitely. Im grounded in that. Who knows what the second season will be, if we have a second season, but my stance is that [Brit Marlings character] truly was an angel and well see how it goes from there. Near-death experiences, Ive not had one of those as of yet.

Im glad to hear it.

You always say yet because you dont want to tempt anybody. I know that [near-death experiences] do exist, that people have returned from other realms so its, you know  miracles do happen. Boy, do we need them in this everyday world that were living in now. The dangers that you encounter just walking out your front door are  you never know anymore. In some ways, [the show] reinforced what I already had believed and also, opened up the different realms of  what is the term when you go to different, like, two worlds are going on at the same time? What is that called?

Parallel universes?

Yeah, Im not too sure about that. I havent come to terms with that yet. Thats still a big question mark in my mind.

Speaking of the metaphysical, one of the things that really sets the show apart is the Movements, the supernatural quasi-dance sequences that you and other characters do. What was it like to learn and rehearse the Movements?

I was in St. Louis and it was just about this time last year. They brought a choreographer to St. Louis. The other actors who were involved in the Movements had been rehearsing, I believe, in the New York area. I rehearsed here about four, five times with two different gentlemen. I used to be a dancer. The use of your voice and your breath and the sound with the movement really made them  whats the word? Almost tribalistic or very organic. They were hard! Hard in the respect that everything needed to be exact, like the turn of the hand, like the bird that fluttered and you caught it. When you see everyone together doing it, and how it was edited, it was incredible.

When everyones synched up on the Movements, its something to see. Can you tell me about filming the climactic scene in the final episode, where the quintet do the Movements together to stop a school shooter?

I remember when we first did the Movements in front of the kids who were in the cafeteria at that time. You could hear them gasp. They were gasping like, wow. It was a really interesting reaction because no one, other than the five of us and the choreographer, had ever really seen the Movements, I dont think. Their reaction was so great, to hear them gasp. I think some applauded.

When youre doing the Movements, how do you feel? Or are you just thinking about doing the motions right?

First of all, as a dancer, I just wanted to do everything exactly the way they wanted it. It was a lot of different shapes. Then, when the sound was added, that gave you a completely different feel, when youre doing the gasping and the hissing. That, to me, the sound brought the emotion into the Movement. There was one Movement in particular that made me feel very protective and strong: When we stepped forward and both of our hands hit our chests and then opened out. That was the Movement for me that I was, like, daring the shooter. It wasnt about your body or about the possibility of being shot. It was about the Movement itself. It did take over.

How often have you danced in your career?

This had rekindled my fire in me to dance. I danced the majority of my life. I started when I was 7 and I stopped when I was close to 37 or 38. I danced the majority of my life, but then when I stopped, I stopped. It took me a while to get back into some sort of shape with these Movements. Ill tell you one thing: Prior to having doing these Movements, Id had a tear in my shoulder. These Movements and our warm ups and stuff, I didnt have to have surgery on it. It really seemed to help it.

Do you think the power of the Movements healed you or was it just good exercise?

It was just good exercise, and I think it was not the power of the Movement but the consistency of what we did to warm up. It helped to rebuild the muscles and things that were out of place. Im not saying that the Movement did it. Im saying the consistency of it. I feel like I might have some more movement in this old body. It gave me the impetus to work out more and get into better shape.

Have you started dancing again outside of the show?

No, not yet. Im just thinking about it. I havent gotten that far yet.

The first step is wanting to do it.

Exactly.

What do you think your character learns over the course of the show?

For BBA, I think it gave her a little confidence into herself. First of all, she found camaraderie with her boys and with the OA, and I think it gave her a little bit of confidence to explore other areas of her life. Shes got her car fixed and shes going to go visit a cousin on the West Coast. Its like she has a new lease on life. We shall see where that goes.

Lets talk about the scenes with Brit in the unfinished attic. When shes telling the OAs story, how do you make that work? Youre just sitting there for the whole thing, so you dont get to emote with lines.

Ill tell you: Brit is such a wonderful storyteller that it wasnt an effort to listen to her or to act like you were listening. Every word that comes out of her mouth, it draws you in. If the director would say, Okay, elaborate on this a little bit, she could make that story on the spot.

You mean she improvised some of the bits during shooting?

There were some. Only when the director asked her to do so. When he would suggest to her to embellish something, she could do it immediately. We were just mesmerized by her ability to keep us there. The most challenging part of the attic for me was to get up and down off the floor. [Laughs.] Those young kids could bounce up and down off that floor without a problem. It took, like, a derrick to get me off the ground.

Do you worry about getting pigeonholed in roles as a dour woman, like the ones youve played in The Office, Inside Out, and here in The OA?

I dont really think about being pigeonholed so much. This role allowed me to explore a different side. In that first scene, Im strong and angry. I usually dont get to play that, so that was a good, serious note for me. Im just happy and blessed to be working on good projects. I dont have an agent, like a theatrical agent, but I think the things that have come to me are from some other power bigger than me. Does that make sense?

Yes.

Zal and I routinely said, Oh, youve got the big agent. In our comical way, you know.

Has Sadness in Inside Out given you a whole new generation of fans?

It has, yeah. Ive got little kids coming up to me. Just the other day, this little kid was slightly confused because the mom said, Zoe, this is Sadness! The kid looked at me and was like, What are you talking about? Shes not blue! It depends on their age, but yes, Ive got a whole new age group of kids now. Its all good. Theres nothing bad. Its all good.

This interview has been condensed and edited.
the inside game

The Most Important Senate Race Is Also the Most Ignored

The Most Important Senate Race Is Also the Most Ignored
Connally High School students and staff spent November and December helping others by collecting and delivering food, and buying and wrapping gifts for children in need.

Students arrived in the theater room about 7 a.m. Dec. 14 to wrap presents for the Build-a-Box program. Earlier in the month, the students, along with Connally High staff members, bought items to fill shoeboxes with necessities such as shampoo, soap and toothpaste. They included age-appropriate small toys and other fun items in the boxes.

Altogether, 132 children were given the gifts.

For more than 25 years, Connally High School has held the Christmas Holiday Food Drive that helps needy families in the Connally community. The food drive was coordinated at the school level by the National Honor Society and the JROTC.

Beginning Nov. 30, students and staff members were asked to contribute food or monetary donations to the drive. Each food item and money was given a point value.

The school as a whole exceeded its goal of 32,000 points by collecting more than 37,000 points for the drive.

Each family was given two large boxes of non- perishable food items and paper goods.

-----

Connally ISD photo

Connally High School students (back row, from left) Cierra Stewart, Cheyenne Moss, Carla Barton and Amaya Abalos (front, with back turned) put wrapping on shoeboxes filled with items.
Given all the tainted water that flowed under the 2016 bridge, eroding the banks, sweeping vital nutrients of democracy out to a distant sea, its impossible to identify individual molecules, or moments, as decisive.

But some were emblematic. Speaking in January, back in Iowa, of his beloved poll numbers, Donald Trump waxed about the loyalty of his voters. He marveled not at their commitment to cause or country, but that, in his mind, at least, they appeared impervious to conscience or reason. I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters, he said in Sioux City.

It was a short sentence. But it offered a wide-angle view of Trumps psyche. His self-obsession. His amorality. His contempt for voters, democracy and democratic norms, speech and conduct. And, of course, it amplified his abiding preoccupation: How much can I get away with here?

Due to Trumps spectacular risk curve, hundreds of books will be written about the forces that enabled his presidency. Maybe thousands.

Yet some very useful analyses were rendered in advance. Two in particular provide insight into a key question about Trumps success: Why were tens of millions of Americans willing to risk their society, government and democracy itself on a man whom even prominent Republicans described as a con artist, a fraud and a pathological liar?

In The End of White Christian America, published earlier this year, Robert Jones, the chief executive officer of the Public Religion Research Institute, offered a kind of pre-diagnosis.

The slow death of white Christian America, which after more than 400 years of dominance is losing political influence and cultural relevance, has left many with a haunting sense of dislocation, Jones wrote. To cope, this formerly powerful majority recasts itself as a beleaguered minority in an attempt to preserve its social values.

In a series of focus groups in 2013 by Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg, tea-party adherents and evangelical conservatives  there is much overlap between them  spoke of living in a state of siege under President Barack Obama, whose America they portrayed as an unmitigated evil based on big government, regulations and dependency.

In a feat of psychological engineering one year later, almost three quarters of tea-party adherents agreed with the statement, in a PRRI survey cited by Jones, that discrimination against whites has become as big a problem as discrimination against blacks and other minorities.

In 2016, those desperate perceptions justified desperate measures. In a PRRI poll taken before this years election, 72 percent of likely voters who supported Trump said American society and way of life have changed for the worse since the 1950s. According to exit polls, 80 percent of white born-again or evangelical Christians ended up voting for Trump, who has promised to turn back the clock on multiculturalism (Merry Christmas), mass non-European immigration (the wall), feminism (Man of the Year), globalization (tariffs) and nearly every other force undermining white Christian hegemony.

Before any votes were cast, Jones, a self-described product of white Christian America, warned of the possibility that white evangelical Protestants will mortgage their future in a fight to resurrect the past.

The terms could be onerous. According to general-election exit polls, almost two-thirds of voters said Trump lacks the temperament for the job, yet 19 percent voted for him anyway.

In a 2013 book that, like The End of White Christian America, seemed to anticipate Trump, Cambridge University politics professor David Runciman suggested that such voters might be joining cultural resentment and economic despair to something potentially even more hazardous: a casually misplaced confidence.

In The Confidence Trap, Runciman cited a strong tendency in democratic societies toward confidence, even overconfidence. Why are they not more cautious? Because the historical record of democracy suggests that nothing is as bad as it seems. In effect, democracies are pretty good at muddling through.

Writing in the wake of the global financial crisis, the latest calamity that had failed to destroy democratic institutions, Runciman said: This is why we find it so hard to know how seriously to take the current crisis of democracy.

Now, the global crisis of finance has been supplanted by the global crisis of Trump; no one is certain how seriously to take this challenge either.

In an e-mail exchange with me earlier this year, Runciman wrote:

I think the rise of Trump reflects the two sides of contemporary democracy (and not just in the U.S.  theres a lot of this going on in Europe, too): Anger and complacency.

You might think these are opposite states of mind but they can go together: Angry people are often complacent about how much of their anger the system can stand. Many Trump supporters are furious with the political system and how it has let them down. But at the same time they believe that American democracy just needs a good kick from an outsider to be reinvigorated. If the system is as dysfunctional as they believe, then it would be more reasonable to suppose that a good kick would bring it crashing down.

Anger has gotten all the attention in recent years. Angry tea partyers. Angry Christian conservatives. Angry Republicans. More recently, angry Bernie Sanders voters. (In January, we will no doubt witness the emergence of new varieties: angry liberals and even angry moderates.)

However, Trumps election makes a strong argument for Runcimans complacency thesis. The United States is geographically removed from the wars that it wages. For 15 years it has been largely secure from terrorism. It is still prosperous and still retains the democratic means to recalibrate the uneven distribution of that prosperity, if it wants to. It is, or until November was, the top destination of the most talented immigrants and inventors the world over.

To take all those chips, amassed over more than two centuries of democratic struggle, governance and luck, and place the entire lot on the hope that Trump is somehow more than the sum of his pathologies, is an act of either breathtaking contempt of, or staggering overconfidence in, the American project.

It has been almost a year since Trump brandished his gun fantasy in Iowa. Every student of drama  and Trump certainly is one  knows what happens when a gun is displayed in the first act: Sooner or later, it goes off.

Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg View.
Dont forget us!

While Im in agreement about those local charities listed as worthy of our Christmas giving in Thursdays editorial, lets not forget the one quietly but faithfully conducted under the Tribs own auspices: Storybook Christmas, the 26-year-old literacy project that it sponsors. This project has put 434,077 new books into the hands of needy McLennan County students and distributed 22,290 books this year alone, our largest total ever.

Storybook Christmas is just like Toys for Tots except it provides new books for needy children. It began 26 years ago as a joint effort of the Waco Tribune-Herald and the Central Texas Literacy Coalition. Donations are welcome year-round, whether as gifts in honor of a friend, former teacher or family member or in memory of a deceased person who loved reading and realized its value.

Given that literacy is recognized as one of the key priorities of Waco Independent School District and Prosper Wacos crusade, we view Storybook Christmas as the first step that our county must take to begin to break the endless cycle of illiteracy and the poverty that accompanies illiteracy.

To help today, send your check payable to Storybook Christmas, P.O. Box 6088, Waco, TX 76706-6088.

Ann Roznovsky, Storybook Christmas co-founder

Nice ring to it!

Trib staffer Shelly Conlons Dec. 15 article, Rebuilding Waco ISDs night sky, was music to my ears. I think its an outstanding idea to bring back the planetarium at Waco High School. When I was a senior at Richfield High School, I took Astro Science, then taught in the planetarium. Reading the article brought back many memories of classmates, teachers and what a great time I had at Richfield. Unfortunately Richfield High School no longer exists ... the building is all that remains. The name of the school is now Waco High.

The scarlet and gray school colors are of the past, as is the Richfield mascot, the ram. Would it not be a tribute to Richfield High School and all of us who attended school there if the planetarium could be known as The Richfield Planetarium at Waco High School. I hope this is food for thought for all of the decision-makers involved with the resurrection of the planetarium.

Gary Merritt, Waco

EDITORS NOTE: To learn how to donate to the planetarium renovation, call Bruce Gietzen at 755-9454 or visit wacoisd.org.

Wait a little longer

The sum of $48 million  thats 48 million dollars  to save a couple of light changes?

I read with interest the Trib article on the bridge at Speegleville Road and U.S. Highway 84. Im sorry to hear Mr. Embry and friends might have to sit through two or three traffic-light cycles, but to spend $48,000,000 to save them several minutes is a stretch.

Any wonder why we are going broke in this country?

John Rogers, Waco
Photography & Words by Matt Savage

Shortly after 2.30pm on Friday December 16th, 2016 in Tyabb, Victoria, a crowd of over 100 people watched as Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang PR.22 A68-199 took to the skies on her maiden, post-restoration flight. Nick Caudwell was at the controls. Engineer Peter Robinson accompanied him in the rear seat, while Judy Pay flew chase in her North American T-28 Trojan. After the brief, 20-minute hop testing systems and controls, A68-199 returned to Earth without incident; the pilot stating she was a delight to fly.

A68-199 is the youngest survivor of 200 license-built Mustangs to roll off the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation production line at Fishermans Bend, Victoria. The Royal Australian Air Force formally accepted her on strength in July 1951, but she went straight into storage with No. 1 Aircraft Depot at Tocumwal, New South Wales. In January, 1953, she joined No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron, part of Australias Citizen Air Force (a RAAF reserve unit). However, she returned to No. 1 Aircraft Depot a mere ten months later, and remained there until struck off charge in 1958.

Aubrey Titus Oates purchased the surplus Mustang in 1958, along with several others. He sold her two years later to Fawcett Aviation in Bankstown, NSW, and they converted her for target towing duties. In this role, she became known as Miss Zulu (due to her registration VH-BOZ) and flew in support of the Australian Army until 1970. On June 6th, 1976, she suffered a crash on take-off at Bankstown, but her owners repaired the damage. In 1979, Doug Arnolds Warbirds of Great Britain bought the Mustang, along with Sid Marshalls Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Wk.Nr.163824. Although the Mustang had an export permit, the Messerschmitt did not, and Australian Customs impounded the joint shipment before it could set sail for the UK. After the ensuing legal battle, the courts returned A68-199 to the RAAF, who stored her for a number of years before placing her with the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victoria.

In 1998, the RAAF Museum traded the Mustang to Graham Hosking in exchange for a pair of WWI aircraft replicas he was having built in the UK (an Avro 504 and a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5A). The fighter then spent several years in Hoskings hangar at Tyabb. In 2014, Peter Gill acquired A68-199, and his team poured over 9,000 man-hours into restoring the aircraft to her former glory. She was ready to go by early December. At the time of her recent test flight, the Mustang had amassed only 1370 hours total time, an average of just 21 hours/year over her nearly seven decades of existence!

Tyabb now plays host to two airworthy Mustangs, the other being a CAC-built Mk.21, A68-105, belonging to Judy Pay and Richard Hourigan. This now takes the current population of airworthy, Australian-built Mustangs in Australia to five, with eleven worldwide.

WarbirdsNews wishes to congratulate everyone involved with the newly-airworthy Mustang many years of happy flying, and to express our thanks to Matt Savage for bringing us this article, along with his marvelous photography! To see more of Matts photography, please click HERE.
DESPITE the pressing need to do so, over half of all Irish people say they could not afford an average cost of 56,000 to...
IMAGINING Arts was about all we could do over the last 18 months or so, but now we need imagine no more. Celebrating its 20th...
People trust the ABC more than any other news source and would like to see it given more money and protected from political interference, research shows.

The poll, conducted by Research Now for think tank the Australia Institute, found voters trusted and were supportive of the national broadcaster regardless of their political leanings.

Seventy-six per cent of the 1443 people surveyed on behalf of the left-leaning think tank agreed that the ABC should be protected from political interference.

Support was strong among voters regardless of party allegiances with 76 per cent of Coalition voters in favour of the ABC being protected from political interference, 74 per cent of Labor voters and 87 per cent of Greens voters.
Sherlock co-stars Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington have separated, after a 16-year relationship.

The couple have ended things in a "very, very amicable" split, Freeman slipped into an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday.

Martin Freeman (L) and Amanda Abbington attend a champagne reception ahead of The London Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2015. Credit:Getty

"I'm not with Amanda any more," Freeman told the publication, adding that he will "always love" her.

The couple have two children together: Joe, 10, and Grace, eight.
It was finally hooked up this week  a Christmas miracle  but not before a string of set-backs. The Telstra installers went above and beyond the call of duty but the odds were stacked against them, a situation the NBN admittedly may have encountered regularly had it proceeded to run fibre to every home. Firstly we couldn't find the pit in the street because the Telstra maps marked it in the wrong place, then we couldn't run the cable to the house because the fools who built my home damaged the conduit when pouring the concrete driveway. We ended up running a new conduit under the driveway, after which the installer struggled to run the cable inside to the wall socket due to the way my house is built. In a final hurdle, we had trouble activating the cable modem which saw the installer on the phone to get it fixed. When we finally sorted it all out I was rewarded with speedtest.net results of 114 megabits per second  29 times faster than my shoddy DSL connection. What's the magic word? My sense of relief and jubilation was accompanied by bewilderment and frustration  why had Telstra denied me cable access so long? What hope was there for other people in my circumstances with the HFC cable tantalisingly just out of reach?

I put the question to Telstra and was told the key is to ring the call centre and ask them to "submit a request for a service qualification test", if the cable is in your street and you believe you should be able to access it. Even if Telstra runs copper to your home, the cable access maps aren't updated after it's laid in your street so they don't acknowledge the existence of new dwellings. This means if 10 Main Road becomes 10 and 10A, only 10 is recognised as having cable access even if they both face onto the street and each have a copper phone line. This workaround is no guarantee of success and I can't vouch for how long you'll need to argue with the person on the phone before they'll agree, if at all. From my experience no-one in the Telstra call centre will show any initiative and inform you that such a thing is possible, even when you explain your circumstances. It's up to you to know about it and to ask. Your mileage may vary As a test I wandered up my street to another neighbour's house, she's also stuck on crappy DSL and has previously been told by Telstra there's nothing to be done  even though the installer who hooked up my cable also looked at her house and said she should have no trouble accessing the cable. My friend called Telstra and then put me on the phone, determined to play dumb and see how it went. The Telstra rep initially offered a $10 per month speed boost, which didn't sound right for a DSL connection, but then said he'd check for cable availability before I could suggest it.
At 1.30am on January 27, 1996, 18-year-old Sarah Spiers told her friends she was leaving Club Bay View in Claremont to catch a taxi home.

Less than an hour later, she had vanished.

Police suspect she was the first victim of the Claremont serial killer, who went on to abduct and kill two other young women, Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27, in the year following Sarah's disappearance.

On the night she was last seen, the "bubbly and energetic" Sarah was recorded on CCTV stopping briefly and chatting to security guards at the club as she left - one of them she knew quite well.
Sara Connor watches a re-enactment in court. Credit:Amilia Rosa "I never sat on him," Ms Connor told the court. She said she fell while trying to separate the two, who were fighting on the sand, and Mr Sudarsa bit her on her leg and arm while she was struggling to get to her feet. Sara Connor at an earlier court appearance. Credit:AP Mr Taylor has admitted bashing Mr Sudarsa, which he claims was in self-defence, but not to killing him. Ms Connor denies any involvement in his death.

Mr Sulhadi said Mr Taylor had initially claimed Ms Connor told him she had hit Mr Sudarsa, although he later revoked this statement. David Taylor at a re-enactment on the beach in August. Credit:Yudi Karnaedi "David said when they were at Kubu Kauh Inn he asked Sara why she was injured and bleeding. David said Sara told him that she hit the victim once to get him off her. But David later revoked that statement." Shaking her head repeatedly, Ms Connor said: "I never said to David that I hit him, I said the victim bit me. I never had my arm around his neck like Sulhadi says." "When I left the scene I said to someone there's a guy on the beach that needs help. And they didn't help": David Taylor. Credit:AP

She said she had always told the truth and been constant in all her statements. Mr Sulhadi revealed he searched for Ms Connor on Facebook after her driver's licence and ATM card were found at the crime scene. He said the ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver who found her cards had earlier seen two foreigners arguing with the victim. Slain Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa. "The driver said the picture from Facebook looked similar to the woman he saw next to the two men who were arguing. The foreign man had dreadlocked hair," Mr Sulhadi said. He then browsed Ms Connor's Facebook account and found photos of men with dreadlocks.

But Ms Connor said: "You wouldn't have been able to find me on Facebook because there is a photo of my children on the front. Not of me." Police combed the area, assuming that since the couple had been on foot, they must have been staying near the crime scene. They found a homestay in Kuta, Kubu Kauh Inn, where a couple were staying who fitted the description. "We could see directly with our own eyes there was blood stains on a towel," Mr Sulhadi said. However Mr Taylor and Ms Connor had already checked out. "Because of the ID we found, it was strongly suggested the perpetrator was an Australian citizen," Mr Sulhadi said. "Also, from her Facebook status, it seemed they enjoyed beaches. We sent teams to comb beach areas and also assigned a team to stake out the Australian Consulate." Ms Connor and Mr Taylor were apprehended outside the Australian Consulate on August 19.

"Sara was arrested after she stepped out of the Consulate. She didn't surrender," Mr Sulhadi said. But Ms Connor said she thought going to the Consulate was the way to turn herself into police. "When I went to the Consulate I never tried to escape. I was never handcuffed outside the Consulate I went to the police station with their private car." Mr Sulhadi said Mr Taylor had injuries, which he first claimed were from a scooter accident, but then admitted were bite marks from Mr Sudarsa. He said during the second police interrogation Mr Taylor started to clearly describe the incident, saying the victim had lost consciousness after he hit him with a bottle.

Mr Sulhadi said Ms Connor had cut up the police officer's identity cards, which were taken from his body after the fight, and the couple had then thrown them away about 20 kilometres from their second homestay in Jimbaran. "Sara cut up the cards because she was in a panicked state," he said. "She was panicking because David said they would be in big trouble. David said it was his idea." However Ms Connor said the couple had not known at the time a crime had been committed. "David never said we cut them because we were confused, because we didn't know there was a crime," she said. She said she had only cut up the police officer's cards to protect his identity. "In Australia you can tap your cards to pay and people can clone your identity. I didn't know if the person was dead and I only wanted to protect his identity because I was going to throw the cards away in the rubbish."
Reagan Carter was only 12 years old when she took her own life. Now her best friend is making sure her story lives on and her classmates at Philip Barbour High School, even though Reagan wasn't a student there, know the consequences of bullying.

"I was just thinking about how tomorrow makes two years that she's been gone," said Savannah Quick. "She was normal like any of us and she was taken far too soon. When she was at school she was constantly made fun of, laughed at, and ridiculed. When she wasn't at school it continued on social media."

Quick says Reagan's bullies made an Instragram to bully her. One day Reagan told her mom she needed to go to the hospital.

"Reagan told her she had taken several prescription cough medicine pills," Quick continued. "When her mom asked her why, Reagan responded with the words, 'I'm tired of everyone hating me.'"

Quick wants her classmates to know that suicide is preventable and the bullying in Reagan's story doesn't have to be the same for others'.

"Stand up and say something to them," Quick told her classmates. "Help them."

Quick says she couldn't believe what was happening when she stood beside Reagan's hospital bed.

"Bullying is not okay and there's always another way other than suicide."

Quick's friend Cadie McNaboe has a 12-year old sister and was moved by Reagan's story. She helped Quick put together her presentation.

"We can use positive re-enforcement, we can use positive acts of kindness to change what's happening and this doesn't have to happen," McNaboe said. "It's just being kind to others and realizing you never know what's going on behind closed doors."

"Everything that was on her bucket list she didn't get to achieve, I'm trying to do it for her," said Quick. "I kind of live my life as if like, 'What would Reagan want me to do?' And I'm kind of just trying to be this good person that she would want me to be and try to just fulfill her legacy that she left behind."

On Friday students at the school will wear blue, Reagan's favorite color, to honor her and remember the consequences of bullying.

"Stand together and help change the world for the better," Quick told her classmates.

Hear some of Quick's favorite memories of her best friend in the video above.
Vermilion Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company owns 81% working interest in 636,714 net acres of developed land and 85% working interest in 301,026 net acres of undeveloped land in Canada; 130,715 net acres of land in the Powder River basin in the United States; 96% working interest in 248,873 net acres of developed land and 86% working interest in 134,160 net acres of undeveloped land in the Aquitaine and Paris Basins in France; 53% working interest in 901,791 net acres of land in the Netherlands; 54,625 net developed acres and 920,723 net undeveloped acres in Germany; 975,375 net acres land in Croatia; 946,666 net acres land in Hungary; and 48,954 net acres land in Slovakia. It also owns 20% interests in the offshore Corrib natural gas field located to the northwest coast of Ireland; and 100% working interest in the Wandoo offshore oil field and related production facilities that covers 59,553 acres located on Western Australia's northwest shelf. As of December 31, 2021, the company had 401 net producing conventional natural gas wells and 2,132 net producing light and medium crude oil wells in Canada; 167.6 net producing light and medium crude oil wells in the United States; 297.0 net producing light and medium crude oil wells and 3 net producing conventional natural gas wells in France; and 47 net producing natural gas wells in the Netherlands. Vermilion Energy Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited.
NASSAU, New Providence, (December 21, 2016)  While commending Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald for keeping his promise to table the much anticipated Freedom of Information Bill before the end of year, a coalition of 21 civil society organizations representing over 100,000 people have declared the most recent draft of the Bill a missed opportunity.

The Bill was tabled on Wednesday December 14th, the last convening of The House of Assembly for the year, after incorporating several of the suggestions collected during a public consultation earlier in 2016. The groups applauded improvements to the overall Bill when compared to the Freedom of Information Act 2012 but said they will continue to challenge the draft stating that major concerns of civil society were not addressed.

The groups, which had collectively presented a list of recommendations during the public consultation period, identified three main areas that the Bill was still lacking: the selection process of the Information Commissioner, the scope of public authorities subject to the Bill, and the overlong time limits for making information accessible.

The process of appointing an Information Commissioner  the person to be charged with overseeing disputes and ensuring there is no misconduct in the release of public information - was topmost on the groups list, with members stating that the method of selection identified in the Bill did not do enough to ensure the position was independent of political influence.

Currently, the Bill states that the Information Commissioner will be appointed by the Governor General upon the recommendation of The Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, said Lemarque Campbell, Chairman of Citizens for a Better Bahamas, who recommended another method on behalf of the coalition. To maintain impartiality, the Information Commissioner should be selected through measures independent of the Government, such as a Judicial Services Committee or a Parliament Select Committee with representation from the Opposition. Additionally, civil society should be included in the process either through membership on the Select Committee or the publication of a short-list of candidates and public feedback on the same."

As the person ultimately responsible for what public information we the people have access to and how, it is crucial that this position be immune to political bias of any kind, he continued.

The Coalition also unanimously agreed that time limits outlined in the Bill were too long. The Bill currently allows government bodies 30 days to respond to a request for information and to extend this period by a further period of 30 days, in the case where there is reasonable cause for such extension. Reasonable cause is not defined in the Bill. Furthermore, a public authority has 14 days to transfer an application in the event that in the event that the requested information is held by another public authority. Most notably, the Bill provides 30 years for information deemed classified or exempt to become available. A 15-year period for exempt information to become available is much more in line with global standards, said Mr. Campbell.

The group also declared that the definition of Public Authorities which are subject to the Bill should be expanded to include all bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government from public funds. As it stands the definition of a Public Authority omits many entities which are closely affiliated with the government and deal with issues of public interest, said Rashema Ingraham, Executive Director of Waterkeepers Bahamas. This Bill should err on the side of giving power to the people over protecting the government and its affiliates. For a strong, fair and true Freedom of Information Act we believe that bodies heavily dependent on public funding should be open to public knowledge and scrutiny.

Our neighbors in Jamaica, The Cayman Islands and Trinidad & Tobago have all enacted FOIAs. The Bahamas needs to catch up, said Executive Director of The Organization for Responsible Governance, Matt Aubry. A true FOIA will benefit and protect citizens, residents, private businesses, civil society organizations, and ultimately, our country. It will give us the right to important information about our country and give us the power to expose misconduct. We must all work together for a Bill that better reflects the accountability and transparency we want for The Bahamas.

The civil society organizations who have come together to press for a strong, fair Freedom of Information Act are Citizens for a Better Bahamas, Our Carmichael, The Organization for Responsible Governance, We The People, Save The Bays, The Abaco Chamber of Commerce, The Nassau Institute, reEarth, HeadKnowles Foundation, Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, Waterkeepers Bahamas, The Bahamas Press Club, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, Its Our Turn, Young Marine Explorers, Civil Society Bahamas, The Bahamas Retailers Federation, The Coalition to Save Clifton, Rise Bahamas, Citizens for Justice and BREEF.

The group is urging citizens residents to get informed and pressure their Members of Parliament to advocate for the recommended amendments as the bill is debated. For a copy of the latest draft of the Freedom of Information Bill and to sign the petition or send a letter to your Member of Parliament visit www.campaign242.org.
Astros throw group no-hitter at Phillies to tie Series at two games each
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Dec. 22, 2016 | MAYFIELD, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 22, 2016 | 04:11 PM | MAYFIELD, KY

A Ballard County man was arrested Wednesday in Mayfield after a foot pursuit.



The Kentucky State Police got a call about a suspected shoplifter at Walmart on Paris Road. Before they arrived, an off-duty Mayfield Police officer identified himself to the suspect and tried to detain him, but the man ran away.



The suspect ran across Paris Road and reportedly went inside Advance Auto Parts. Police say when the officer tried to keep the man from leaving, the suspect assaulted him and ran out. Meanwhile, a state trooper arrived and joined in the pursuit, which ended with the man's arrest behind Snappy Tomato Restaurant.



Twenty-three year-old Blake Reamer of Wickliffe was charged with robbery 2nd degree, theft by unlawful taking under $500, assault 3rd degree on a police officer, fleeing or evading police on foot and tampering with evidence. Police say more charges are pending.



Reamer was taken to Graves County Jail. The Graves County Sheriff's Department helped at the scene.
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STATE SENATOR CHUCK EDWARDS EXPLAINS WHY HE VOTED AGAINST THE REPEAL OF HB 2 THIS WEEK

Republican State Senator Chuck Edwards late this week explained his vote against the repeal of HB 2, North Carolinas controversial so-called bathroom bill.

While the General Assembly was in special session this week, called by Governor Pat McCrory for the specific purpose of repealing HB 2, Edwards, a local McDonalds franchise owner, explained to WHKP News in text messages that the issue of who may use which public restroom and under what circumstances and their security needs to be resolved once and for all.:

Edwards added, I voted against the repeal of HB 2 against the wishes of many members of my own caucus and against many big businesses lobbyistsbecause solutions might be found at a later date.

Casting one of his first votes as a state senator against repeal of the bill, Edwards summed it up by saying, The bill that was presented did not offer a permanent solution to the problem. Instead it sought to hide the problem with only the hope that a permanent solution might be found.

Charlotte City Council started the whole thing last year by passing an ordinance that opened all public bathroom to transgender individuals; the General Assembly came back and prohibited that with House Bill 2; a deal was supposedly struck that the legislature would repeal the state law if Charlotte would repeal their ordinance; that deal broke down in distrust and political rancoring and the state senate killed the deal on Wednesday.

Edwards replaced State Senator Tom Apodaca who retired after 12 years in the state senate last year.,

By WHKP News Director Larry Freeman 12/23/.16 4:24 am
The NSA whistleblower claims to have documents proving that Bin Laden is still on the CIA's bankroll and that he's living a life of luxury in the Bahamas. After Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, leaked classified documents about government surveillance programs in 2013, he was charged with a number of crimes  each which have a maximum sentence of 10 years.Because the computer expert believed he was right to reveal extensive phone surveillance by U.S. intelligence, he fled his home country. Now living in Russia, where he was offered asylum for one year, he revealed another controversial bit of information. According to the Moscow Tribune, Snowden believes that Osama Bin Laden  the famous terrorist and former leader of Al Qaeda  is alive and receiving benefits from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).claims Edward Snowden.According to Mr. Snowden, the government organization faked Bin Laden's death then transported the terrorist and his family to an undisclosed location in the Bahamas.claims the famous whistleblower. NaijaPicks (the original source) relays that the documents proving this controversial claim are included in his book, which was published in September 2015.Though Snowden claims he leaked the documents to help the American people, he remains a fugitive in the United States. Even though nearly 168,000 people signed a petition for him to be pardoned, the White House rejected the effort on July 28, 2015. When Snowden was in Hong Kong, several journalists were granted the opportunity to interview him in his secret hideout. After being asked why he left his home country, he told The Guardian:
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This article was published 22/12/2016 (2142 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police and social-service workers were told that an 18-year-old autistic woman in foster care was severely bruised when she died in July, Manitobas First Nations advocate for children in care says.

(Her family) didnt believe that she had died of natural causes, and that somebody had abused her, a frustrated Cora Morgan said after the RCMP suddenly announced Tuesday they are now investigating the death as a homicide.

Lydia Whitford, had autism and epilepsy and didnt speak, was living in Springfield in a single-parent foster home, where she died. At the time, RCMP said the death was not suspicious. The foster parent was not looking after any other children at the time.

Supplied photo Lydia Whitford

Lydia had been in the care of Sandy Bay Child and Family Services from the age of nine or 10.

An aunt approached Morgan in July, saying she didnt think her niece died of natural causes.

She had said to me at the time of her funeral, (family members) noticed that her body was severely bruised, Morgan said, adding the now-deceased aunt reported the concerns to both Sandy Bay Child and Family Services and the RCMP.

Sandy Bay CFS executive director Richard De La Ronde said the funeral home told him Lydias bruising resulted from the normal pooling of blood.

When the autopsy came back inconclusive, we filed our reports based on that, he said, adding the agency learned of the investigation Monday. Because of this new information where the RCMP changed their mind, weve now initiated an internal review.

Lydia was visited regularly by CFS support workers, he said, adding the last visit was two weeks before her death.

All of our workers are distraught, he said.

Jessica Whitford, Lydias sister, said the foster parent didnt attend the funeral.

They were supposed to be there, and they never showed, she said, becoming emotional.

Jessica said she met the foster parent once.

She seemed really nice, but people are really different, and theres some people out there that could hide their feelings, she said, adding she wants more information, but police are not releasing details of the investigation.

Jessica visited Sandy Bay CFSs Winnipeg office Thursday to retrieve some of her sisters belongings  photos, dolls, nail polish and clothes  which hadnt been made available to her previously.

She didnt have many things, actually, she said.

A photo of Lydia and her foster parent was among the items. Jessica said she plans to post it on Facebook, hoping someone will be able to identify the woman and possibly get her closer to finding out what happened.

Jessica said she didnt often visit her sister; CFS staff refused her requests on several occasions, citing Lydias behaviour issues.

She died not knowing where her family was and if they loved her, Jessica said. She wondered, and she died alone with people that werent her blood.

JOHN WOODS / CANADIAN PRESS FILES "(Her family) didn't believe that she had died of natural causes, and that somebody had abused her," Cora Morgan said.

Jessica said shes angry because she wasnt given the opportunity to play a larger role in Lydias life.

If she was sick and having seizures, then (CFS) should have notified the family, she said. I understand that she was under their care but my mom has the right to know whats going on with her daughter.

RCMP originally said Lydias death was most likely the result of an epileptic seizure. De La Ronde said the RCMP should have notified his office that they had changed their opinion on the cause of her death. He and his staff are frustrated with police for refusing to disclose more information, he said.

Theyve changed it to a homicide without providing any details to us, he said. This makes our job difficult.

Sandy Bay CFS has also requested an external review that the Office of the Childrens Advocate will conduct.

Ive asked them to do it because they might have access to more information than we might, De La Ronde said.

Its very frustrating, he said. Theres legislated things that we need to do when a child in care dies. And when were not privy to that information, it makes doing that very difficult.

RCMP spokeswoman Tara Seel had little to say.

We work closely with Sandy Bay CFS, but I cannot discuss communications regarding an investigation, she wrote in an email.

Morgan said a police investigation should automatically be triggered when a child or young adult dies while in the care of CFS.

courtney.bannatyne@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 22/12/2016 (2142 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canadas freshwater fish marketing agency is riddled with corruption, says the federal Crown corporations disgraced former president, who denies allegations of misconduct while he was on the job.

Donald Salkeld says he was fired after an independent probe by Deloitte revealed at least a dozen allegations of misconduct during his 17 months at Winnipeg-based Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. (FFMC).

He had been on leave since March, when he was told he was under investigation.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / FREE PRESS FILES The Freshwater Fish Marketing plant on Plessis Road.

I want the truth to be out there, I didnt do anything wrong and there is this little group in Freshwater, they got together and threw all these allegations out there, he said Thursday.

The announcement was made through a federal order in council Wednesday, which states that, after receiving Deloittes final report on the investigation, the Governor in Council concluded Salkelds actions were fundamentally incompatible with his position as president.

Salkeld says the Deloitte report contains accusations he used FFMC money to fly his wife to New York, stole a freezer that was supposed to go to the corporations head office in Transcona and misplaced receipts for more than $28,000 charged to his corporate expense account.

Not true, he said: the freezer is at the head office on Plessis Road, he paid for his wifes airfare on his trip to New York and sabotage is the reason for the missing receipts.

They can make up all the stories they want and if the ministers office buys into it, they can buy into it, he said.

Salkeld, who was with FFMC from December 2014 until March 8, when he was placed on leave by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, claims he was hired by Stephen Harpers Conservative government to clean up the corporation by weeding out corruption.

As he got closer to the truth, he said, elements within turned on him.

I was told to go in there and make life better for the fishers and clean up, and that was my job and that is what I was doing, he said.

I was opening it up and I was finding that corruption what do you think those people are going to do when I expose them?

They are going to do what they did.

He refused to provide details on the corruption.

That is for another day, he said.

The corporation acts as a single-desk marketer, buying most of the fish caught in Manitoba and processing it at its Winnipeg plant for sale around the country and beyond.

The Manitoba government announced in August it would be ending the monopoly market in Manitoba so fishers could sell to anyone, anywhere. The government set Aug. 17 as the deadline for pulling out.

John Wood, the corporations former president, has been serving as the interim president.

Salkeld said he plans to open a fish plant in Gimli by next fall.

Freshwater Fish directed the Free Press to speak with Fisheries and Oceans Canada about the decision. The department did not return a request for comment.

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @kristinannable
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This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg School Division is considering stocking its schools with the antidote naloxone in case any student suffers an opioid overdose.

We need to pay attention to it, trustee Lisa Naylor said Thursday. It may be something we deem as a good idea, as part of a first aid kit.

Naylor raised the possibility at a school board meeting earlier this month and was told the WSD administration was already looking into it. Naylor said a parent, who is also a doctor, had told her another unidentified school division is also considering putting naloxone kits in schools.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Winnipeg School Division is discussing the idea of having naloxone kits in case of an emergency involving an opioid overdose.

Naloxone is an antidote that is effective in some cases of opioid overdoses. Fatal overdoses related to the fentanyl and other opioids have become a health crisis this year across Canada.

Education Minister Ian Wishart said through an aide Thursday the province wont support naloxone in schools until there has been extensive due diligence.

Training is required to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and in order to administer naloxone safely. Based on available Manitoba data, the rise in opioid overdoses appears to be centred in the 20- to 34-year-old age range and, therefore, an accidental exposure in a school setting would likely be statistically rare, Wishart said in a statement.

He pointed out other large provincial employers such as the University of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority have not sanctioned the use of naloxone by non-regulated health-care providers, and the requirement of antidotes has to be part of a broader policy discussion.

Opioid overdose continues to be managed through existing emergency response procedures, including calling 911 and performing artificial respirations, he said.

Naylor was uncertain how much training would be involved for school staff in administering naloxone and recognizing a student had overdosed compared to suffering some other kind of medical emergency.

She was unaware of any WSD student having overdosed while at school. If we had a kid who had overdosed in a school, we would have been notified, she said.

The Manitoba Teachers Society was not familiar with the initiative and did not comment.

NDP health critic Matt Wiebe likes the idea.

One of the things weve called for is the wide availability of naloxone, Wiebe said. There has to be training, there has to be support.

These kids are using more prescription medicines, theyre using more pills  this is the message parents have been giving us.

Liberal interim Leader Judy Klassen said schools should be part of the public response to the overdose epidemic. Its proactive, right? Its making sure we dont have students dying in the classroom, she said.

Manitoba School Boards Association president Ken Cameron said school boards are taking a close look at the issue.

To date, we are fortunate in that there have been no critical opioid-related instances in Manitobas public schools, Cameron said from Minnedosa. We anticipate corresponding with school boards on this matter early in the new year. We are still compiling the necessary information. Our advice will reflect the expertise of health-care, risk-management and insurance professionals, as each has a role to play in keeping students, staff and schools safe.

The Louis Riel, River East Transcona, Pembina Trails and Seven Oaks school divisions all said theyre not currently looking at naloxone for their schools.

However, Seven Oaks superintendent Brian OLeary said that could potentially change if the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority recommended it as a practice for schools to follow.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police have arrested an employee at a St. Boniface seniors home following a series of break-ins into suites at the residence.

Police allege the maintenance worker broke into the rooms and stole personal items of several tenants between the beginning of October and the middle of November.

Cory Charles Hughes, 28, faces several charges, including five counts of theft. He was detained in custody.

Police did not release the name of the retirement complex in which the alleged thefts took place.
Opinion

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This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Finance Minister Cameron Friesen released a second-quarter financial report showing the 2016-17 deficit is inching above the $1-billion mark. It is concerning he casts blame for the unanticipated shortfall on a poverty-reduction program his government has, up until now, promoted. The growth of spending, he asserts, is a result of Rent Assist and other pressures inside Family Services.

Assigning responsibility for the deficit to poverty-reduction spending is inaccurate. Of the $93-million shortfall, increased spending in the Department of Families totalled only $2 million, or 0.2 per cent of the total departmental budget. Quarterly estimates can vary throughout the year, so the Families budget may well come into balance on its own by years end. Moreover, while the government is raising concerns about the cost of Rent Assist, it is still planning tax cuts, reducing the revenues that would help to balance the budget.

Friesen, in singling out Rent Assist, is also calling into question his governments long-standing claim as a champion of the program. In opposition, the Progressive Conservative Party supported Make Poverty History Manitobas call to raise shelter rates for Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) in 2012. This helped pressure the NDP government to eventually introduce Rent Assist in 2014. Brian Pallister publicly supported the full implementation of Rent Assist last year, calling it long overdue. In government, he maintained a scheduled increase to the program in July to keep the benefit at 75 per cent of median rent, and has not clawed back increased federal child benefits.

Rent Assist provides a basic benefit for Manitobans receiving EIA to cover the cost of a modest apartment  $533 per month for an individual or $758 for a family of up to four people. There is also a sliding-scale program to cover part of the rent for low-income workers, seniors and others who are not eligible for EIA.

Rent Assist rates are still low. Finding an apartment in Winnipeg for less than $800 for a family of four is next to impossible. The vacancy rate of affordable three-bedroom apartments suggests there were approximately four vacancies in that price range last year.

Those looking for housing can attest what is available is often not of a suitable quality for raising a family. Nonetheless, Rent Assist is a step towards providing all Manitobans with access to basic accommodations, something that has been recognized as a human right and a precondition for health and social inclusion.

At an event announcing the full implementation of Rent Assist last December, Anteneh Tefera, a refugee from Syria, spoke eloquently about how much the program means to him in providing the basic tools he and his family need to successfully settle and get their lives off to a fresh start in Manitoba. Since then, I have heard from many Manitobans for whom Rent Assist has softened the hard choices between food and rent, giving them a little more space in their still-insufficient budgets.

During the election campaign, the Progressive Conservatives made political hay out of their support for Rent Assist. Now, with the deficit climbing above $1 billion, Friesen says he is reviewing it. From the perspective of people living in poverty, Rent Assist has been a success. If more people are applying, this is a sign of how badly the benefits are needed. People who depend on the benefits are concerned cuts could reduce their housing stability or force them to curtail on their already-meagre food and basic needs budgets to afford rent.

Ultimately, there is no cost-saving in government to be found by cutting back the benefits on which the most vulnerable Manitobans depend. Investing in poverty reduction can save governments money in the long run as low-income people stabilize their lives.

Rent Assist is not to blame for our provinces budget shortfall. Poverty is the real deficit in Manitoba. It burns holes in our underfunded social programs. It costs the dreams of young people who lose hope in their future. Manitobans in poverty too often bear the ultimate deficit calculated in years of life lost.

Spending on poverty reduction is a preventive health investment with large returns. Research in British Columbia found that inaction on poverty costs that province $8 to $9 billion annually on health, justice and child welfare. It is much cheaper to provide housing than to rely on emergency care as a response to homelessness.

Friesen should look for ways to strengthen Rent Assist and other poverty-reduction programs in next years budget. There would be long-term savings in developing a comprehensive plan with targets and timelines to reduce poverty.

This should start with an increase in the basic needs benefit, building on the Rent Assist program to bring the poorest Manitobans closer to the poverty line.

Josh Brandon is chairman of Make Poverty History Manitoba.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/12/2016 (2141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The advent of the Internet was viewed by many as a democratizing event. Access to information via a keyboard was seen as an exciting new way individuals could access information first-hand without having to rely on the mediation of mainstream media. Access to government documents, policy options and officials was supposed to become easier with the World Wide Web.

However, that type of access has not been equally available to all Canadians, with high-speed access restricted to large urban areas. The expense of high-speed Internet has also meant there is a economic divide, with lower-income Canadians struggling to have the same access to information those in middle- and high-income households take for granted.

On Wednesday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ruled high-speed Internet access is a basic service and set in place funding that will work toward expanding broadband services to remote regions.

Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais

However, the economic divide still remains. The CRTC ruling did not address the affordability issue, stopping short of adopting proposals to subsidize costs for broadband for low-income households.

While the decision to consider high-speed access a basic service puts the Internet into the realm of a global public good, the failure to address access for everyone is worrisome. It was one of the key recommendations from the Affordable Access Coalition, a coalition of groups including the Consumers Association of Canada and the National Pensioners Federation that sought intervener status to appear before the CRTC hearings in Gatineau.

At the April hearings, the coalition recommended increased accessibility of broadband in rural areas. At the same time, it proposed subsidies that would provide low-income households a monthly subsidy of $10.50 to spend on any telecom service. It says the program would be available to about 1.4 million households and be capped at $70 million a year.

The CRTC has been arguing there has to be a clear distinction between a need and a want in terms of making policy decisions on the Internet. The coalition has suggested that for poor Canadians, access to information and services (including government services) is a need and thus steps should be made to ensure at least a minimum of bandwidth.

In June 2016, the United States determined high-speed Internet was a utility that is as essential as the phone and power. The Supreme Court decision determined it should be available to all Americans, rather than a luxury that does not need close government supervision. That follows a proclamation by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2014 that the Internet should be a public good, something U.S. Internet service suppliers have opposed.

Still, for Canada, ever late to the Internet-regulation game, Wednesdays decision to improve accessibility for approximately two million people, largely living in rural and/or northern communities is a positive step. It now puts this country on the same footing as other countries, such as Germany and ahead of the U.S. and Australia. As well, the CRTC recognized Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains is looking at the affordability issue as one that requires a multifaceted response.

Its been interesting to watch the evolution of the Internet from something to which only a few had access to something few could imagine living life without. High-speed access for everyone, regardless of where they live or what they can afford, should be considered a right for all and not for the privileged urbanites. This is a good first step.
Questions remain unanswered regarding a doctoral degree awarded to Winona Area Public Schools superintendent Stephen West.

According to a statement issued by Saint Marys University this week, Mr. West does not hold a doctoral degree from Saint Marys University of Minnesota.

The university does affirm that West holds a masters degree in education, granted in 1998.

When contacted Thursday, West said he was not at liberty to speak about the matter.

West announced in November that he would be resigning as the superintendent, effective June 30, 2017.

West has led the school district since the Winona Area Public Schools board approved his contract in spring 2014. This summer the board voted unanimously to extend his contract for another three years, following strong performance reviews.

He inherited an uncertain facilities future among rising maintenance costs in aging buildings, a widening achievement gap and slipping test scores, and a pair of upcoming referendums to for operating and technology funding, among other key initiatives.

He and consultants led the board through the difficult decision to close three elementary schools in December, saw the approval of both referendums in November, and has implemented innovative programming, like AVID, to address the achievement gap.

Dissertation text questioned

Until recently, Saint Marys affirmed that West had been awarded a doctor of education degree in 2009, and celebrated him as a successful alumnus in the Fall 2014 issue of Saint Marys Magazine, shortly after West was hired as WAPS superintendent.

Wests doctoral dissertation, African Americans Motivations for Becoming Principals, was listed in the Saint Marys University library catalog at both the Winona and Twin Cities campuses.

However, when a request to view a copy of the dissertation was presented, the university responded that the material is not available in our library catalog, either online or in written format.

Recently, allegations have surfaced claiming significant portions of Wests dissertation included material that was extremely similar to portions of a dissertation titled Career Development of African American Male High School Principals published in 2007 by Dennis Leroy Humphrey at the University of Georgia.

A side-by-side comparison of the abstract of Humphreys dissertation and the summary of Wests, as published in the MnPALS Union Catalog, reveals significant similarities between the two documents, including research questions and descriptions of methodologies and findings that differed only in details of word choice.

A university spokesperson said that legal constraints intended to protect the privacy of educational records prevented the university from disclosing details of the situation surrounding Wests dissertation and doctoral degree.

However, Robert Smith, Saint Marys University chief academic officer, agreed to discuss, in general terms, the universitys policy regarding academic integrity and dishonesty, and the possible penalties and procedures that result from violation or allegations of violation of those policies.

According to the code of conduct spelled out in the university student handbook, Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will subject the student to disciplinary sanctions up to and including dismissal.

The handbook goes on to cite plagiarism, fabrication, and abuse of internet sources as the most common forms of academic dishonesty  all characterized in large part by the presentation of the work of another as the students own work.

He explained that when a possible violation is brought to the attention of the university we are morally bound to explore and examine it in the interest of protecting the reputation of both the institution and of the individuals involved.

A thorough investigation of all evidence available would be conducted and the accused appraised of the result, accompanied by a request to help us understand what we dont understand, Smith said. They always have the opportunity to explain, defend and argue their case.

If the accusation is initially sustained, there is an appeals process in place to reevaluate the findings with the ultimate decision resting with the chief academic officer. Penalties are commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, and can include revocation of a degree if academic misconduct is determined after the degree was awarded.

Smith said that such a revocation would be noted on the students transcript.

A side-by-side comparison of the abstract of Dennis Leroy Humphreys dissertation at the University of Georgia and the summary of Stephen Wests as published in the MnPALS Union Catalog reveals exceptional similarities.
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Francis launched an investigation Thursday into the ouster of a top official at the Order of Malta. Cardinal Raymond Burke, who served as the bishop of the La Crosse Diocese from 1995 to 2003, is accused of engineering the mans removal without the popes blessing over a years-old condom scandal.

Albrecht von Boeselager, a high-ranking official in the ancient religious order for three decades, was removed as grand chancellor Dec. 8 after he refused to resign.

One charge against him concerned a program that the orders Malteser International aid group had worked on several years ago with other aid groups to help sex slaves in Myanmar. The trafficked women had been forced to work as prostitutes and were given condoms to protect themselves from AIDS, two people familiar with the case said.

An internal investigation was conducted and von Boeselager admitted he knew about the condoms, which were distributed by other aid programs, not his. The Vatican was informed, Malteser Internationals participation in the program ended and an ethics committee was launched to ensure that future projects adhered to Catholic Church teaching, the officials said.

Church teaching opposes artificial contraception. However, some Catholic priests and nuns in Africa and elsewhere have condoned the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS. Francis himself has said that avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil when, for example, women are at risk of the Zika virus.

In a statement, von Boeselager said he had been asked to resign during a Dec. 6 meeting attended by Burke. During the meeting, the orders grand master indicated that the request to resign was in accordance with the wishes of the Holy See.

However, no such request was ever made. Von Boeselager said since his ouster, the Holy See has written to the order confirming that such a wish was never raised.

By naming an independent commission to look into the case, Francis appears to be seeking an objective assessment of von Boeselager and his ouster without the input of Burke, who has been among Francis fiercest critics.

Burke is one of four cardinals who have publicly questioned Francis flexible approach to whether civilly remarried Catholics can receive Communion. Burke, a native of Richland Center, Wis., is a hard-liner on the issue, as well as on the absolute prohibition on the use of artificial contraception.

Francis removed him as the Vaticans supreme court justice in 2014 and named him to be the patron of the Order of Malta, an ancient Catholic order that runs hospitals and clinics around the world and has an army of volunteers who respond to natural disasters and war zones.

Burke had conveyed to the Order of Maltas governing council on Dec. 6 that Francis wanted von Boeselager to resign, the two people familiar with the case said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak about internal meetings.

Burke warned that if von Boeselager wasnt removed, the Vatican would take over the orders properties, they said.

On Dec. 15, a new grand chancellor was elected, John Edward Critien.

In his statement, von Boeselager said he still considers himself the duly elected grand chancellor, albeit one who has been impeded from doing his job because of an ouster that violated the orders legal norms on several fronts. He said he has always felt bound by the teachings of the church and rejected the liberal label that his opponents have given him.

To contrive an accusation that I do not acknowledge the churchs teaching on sexuality and the family, based on the sequence of events in the Malteser International Myanmar project, is absurd, the statement said.

The popes five-member commission of inquiry is made up of Order of Malta members who have close ties to the German-born von Boeselager. Francis also named a trusted Jesuit canon lawyer as a member.

The knights trace their history to the 11th century with the establishment of an infirmary in Jerusalem that cared for people of all faiths making pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
President-elect Donald Trump is being normalized before our eyes. On Monday, the Electoral College cast its votes in the customary way; despite pleas and demonstrations, only two Republican electors rebelled. Soon, Trump will have an entire Cabinet list ready for nomination, just like an ordinary president. And on Jan. 20, less than a month from now, hell take the oath of office and give an inaugural address, with President Obama and Mrs. Obama looking on in support (if not exactly approval).

Just like normal.

At every step, anguished opponents have appealed to the public, to the media and to Congress: Dont normalize Trump.

In a narrow sense, theyre right: When Trump violates norms of public conduct  by lying about nonexistent voter fraud, refusing to accept evidence of Russian hacking or dismissing concern over conflicts of interest  nobody should pretend thats normal.

But that kind of normalization isnt happening. Theres been plenty of tough media coverage of all those issues, and even a few Republicans have been critical of their president-elect.

Often though, the demand for no normalization goes further, including:

If youre a Democratic politician, dont negotiate over Trumps legislation. If youre a high-tech executive, dont meet with him. If youre a reporter, dont report his every utterance or chase his every tweet.

In short, dont recognize Trumps presidency as legitimate. Not My President, the signs and hashtags say.

Too late; the battle over legitimacy is over. However flawed the election, Trump is about to be your president, whether you like it or not.

Hell propose legislation, and some of it will pass. His aides will write (or revoke) regulations, and some of their actions will stick. Hell make decisions on war and peace, with life-or-death consequences.

Thats why we now need to return to the original, first meaning of normalize, which isnt about describing something odd as if it were OK; its about actually changing something abnormal into a more normal state.

What the rest of us, including Republicans, need to do is turn the tables and demand that Trump normalize himself  because hes the only one who can.

We should ask him to be normal.

We should demand that he do what he said he would do on election night: Try to unite the country. Speak out against racism and division (hypocritically, perhaps, because he used division to win the election, but better late than never).

We should hold him to his campaign promises: more jobs (including in the Rust Belt), a better (and cheaper) healthcare system, a better life for African-Americans.

Thats how a normal president gets judged.

Its probably too much to ask that Trump embrace his critics and listen in case they have something useful to say; few presidents reach that level of virtue. But we should expect him to at least listen to the pleas of his advisors that he stop tweeting every time hes angry about a parody on Saturday Night Live; a normal president wouldnt do that.

We should ignore the abnormal advice of his aide Anthony Scaramucci, who said this week: Dont take him literally, take him symbolically. No dice. We should hold him to the standards a normal president has to meet, including truthfulness  literally.

For the media, treating Trump as a normal president means we should cover Trump and his administration as aggressively as we can. The media accord most presidents a presumption of honesty when they come into office; Trump forfeited that during the campaign. Newspapers and broadcasters should continue to use words like false, bogus and even lie in reporting his tall tales.

Whats more, this is an opportunity for a renaissance of investigative reporting. An administration staffed partly with rookies and hotheads is going to have plenty of problems. A first family with global business holdings will run into conflicts of interest, even if they try to avoid them (which this one isnt, so far).

(Note to readers: This would be a good time to support your local newspaper with a subscription, or a journalism nonprofit with a contribution.)

That doesnt mean no off-the-record sessions at Mar-a-Lago. The media know when a politician is trying to co-opt them. Trump isnt the first president-elect to offer a reporter a drink. He knows hell need goodwill from the people he described as dishonest scum.

We should give Trump a chance  a chance to normalize himself, in the sense of complying with the norms every president should observe. Giving him a chance doesnt mean giving him a break; quite the contrary. It means subjecting him to tough scrutiny, holding him to high standards and judging him against his own promises. In short, treating him like a normal president  whether he likes it or not.
The Sauk County Board went on record Tuesday in support of fixing a state budget crisis that has left many Wisconsin roads in a state of disrepair.

In a 25-5 vote, the board approved a resolution encouraging state lawmakers to find a sustainable solution that includes a responsible level of bonding and adjusts our user fees to adequately and sustainably fund Wisconsins transportation system.

Some supporters said even if the resolution lacked teeth, or didnt go far enough in suggesting solutions, it was needed to get the attention of lawmakers just prior to state budget deliberations.

Opponents said they couldnt support the idea of raising taxes or user fees without first exploring other options.

That seems to me like that is limiting the solution to this problem to one that includes raising user fees and taxes, Supervisor David Moore of Wisconsin Dells said of the resolutions language. There are a lot of other possible solutions that could be looked at, such as toll roads and prioritization spending.

Several supervisors said the resolution ignored a consensus that was reached during a September meeting in Baraboo at which local government representatives discussed the transportation funding problem.

Supervisor Doug Ament of Baraboo said a clear majority of those who attended the Just Fix It meeting wanted to tell state government to raise taxes in some fashion.

The board voted 27-3 to approve an amendment to the resolution offered by Supervisor Tom Kriegl of Baraboo. His amendment inserted a paragraph about the importance of funding transportation programs that benefit the elderly and disabled. Kriegl said that paragraph was included in a version of the resolution he found online.

Sauk County Corporation Counsel Todd Liebman said he drafted the resolution based on similar ones passed by other counties, and the hard copy he received didnt include that language.

The Baraboo meeting to discuss the transportation crisis and occurred in September. At least 50 of Wisconsins 72 counties passed similar resolutions prior to the November election, which included many state legislative races.

In response to a question from Supervisor Scott Von Asten of Baraboo, Sauk County Board Chair Marty Krueger said the delay in bringing the resolution before the county board was intentional.

He said the Wisconsin Counties Association was comfortable with the timing on this and thought it was more appropriate now after the elections than before them. Krueger also said WCA lobbyists informed him that Sauk County was smarter than other counties to have waited until after the election.

The Sauk County resolution cites a report by the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin that says the surface condition of Wisconsins highways is among the bottom third in the nation.

The report quoted within the resolution doesnt make clear where, or how, that 2012 road condition statistic was generated. And a 2014 report on the performance of state highway systems by the Reason Foundation ranks Wisconsins overall highway performance  which takes into account multiple factors, including surface conditions  15th in the nation.

Supervisor Dennis Polivka said although he supported the resolution, it wasnt fair to characterize Wisconsin roads as a detriment to tourism.

There isnt another state that I would trade roads with, Polivka said. So while we have problems here, if you want to know why some people from other states are not going to come to Wisconsin, its because their roads were broke up first and they cant get here.

Walker opposes tolls

The Wisconsin State Journal reported Thursday that Republican Gov. Scott Walker ruled out toll roads as an option to address the transportation shortfall in the upcoming budget. However, he left tolls open as a possibility for future budgets, depending on Congressional action.

Walker also said transportation borrowing will not exceed the $500 million included in the state Department of Transportations budget request. The Governor has said he will not support increasing the gas tax and other fees without an equal-sized tax cut elsewhere.

Those who voted against the resolution included Moore, and supervisors David Riek of Spring Green, Brian Peper of Loganville, Eric Peterson of Prairie du Sac, and Andy Andrews of Baraboo.

Other action

Also during Tuesday nights meeting, the county board took the following action:

Voted 29-1 to approve $81,000 in data storage-related purchases from Capital Data, a Milwaukee firm, to support the creation of a second data center at the Sauk County Law Enforcement Center in Baraboo.

Voted 29-1 to authorize $1,260 in reimbursements to four members of the boards Highway Committee so they can attend a three-day winter road school sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association in Wisconsin Dells in January.

Voted unanimously to approve a liability, property and workers compensation carrier and premiums for next year.

Voted unanimously to approve quit claim deeds in the City of Baraboo and the Village of Loganville, and to accept bids on tax-delinquent real estate acquired by the county.
A rural Mauston mans alleged run of robbing banks across southern Wisconsin came to an end Monday night.

William R. Leroy, 41, was arrested by the Mauston Police Department for allegedly robbing the Check Advance store in Mauston at gunpoint on Nov. 23. On Wednesday, Leroy was charged with armed robbery, a Class C felony, and could face up to 40 years in prison or a $100,000 fine.

Police departments in Mauston and Madison believe Leroy is linked to five additional armed robberies of loan stores, from La Crosse to Watertown. After allegedly robbing Maustons Check Advance, Leroy hit stores in Madison, Watertown, La Crosse and Baraboo in a four-week span.

According to a criminal complaint, Leroy walked into the Check Advance in Mauston wearing a disguise and displaying a black handgun. After entering the store, Leroy yelled, Give me all the money. He reportedly dropped the gun and fumbled to pick it back up. After telling the stores staff not to move, Leroy was handed $1,841 from an employee.

An eyewitness reported Leroy was driving a dark grey PT Cruiser. Police also obtained video surveillance footage from Roman Castle restaurant that helped identify Leroy. The evidence matched the five other robberies Elroy was linked too. An anonymous tip provided to the Madison PD also assisted in Leroys arrest.

On Monday night, the Mauston PD arrested Leroy on an outstanding child support warrant at his residence in the town of Lemonweir. Along with working with the Madison PD, Mauston and Juneau County law enforcement agencies were assisted by police departments in Baraboo and Reedsburg.

Leroy will make an initial appearance at the Juneau County Justice Center on Jan. 11 at 9 a.m. He is current in custody in the Juneau County Jail.
State Street Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. The company offers investment servicing products and services, including custody; product accounting; daily pricing and administration; master trust and master custody; depotbank services; record-keeping; cash management; foreign exchange, brokerage and other trading services; securities finance and enhanced custody products; deposit and short-term investment facilities; loans and lease financing; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; performance, risk, and compliance analytics; and financial data management to support institutional investors. It also engages in the provision of portfolio management and risk analytics, as well as trading and post-trade settlement services with integrated compliance and managed data. In addition, the company offers investment management strategies and products, such as core and enhanced indexing, multi-asset strategies, active quantitative and fundamental active capabilities, and alternative investment strategies. Further, it provides services and solutions, including environmental, social, and governance investing; defined benefit and defined contribution; and global fiduciary solutions, as well as exchange-traded fund under the SPDR ETF brand. The company provides its products and services to mutual funds, collective investment funds and other investment pools, corporate and public retirement plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, and investment managers. State Street Corporation was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
Robert Half International Inc. provides staffing and risk consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Temporary and Consultant Staffing, Permanent Placement Staffing, and Risk Consulting and Internal Audit Services. It places temporary services for accounting, finance, and bookkeeping; temporary and full-time office and administrative personnel consisting of executive and administrative assistants, receptionists, and customer service representatives; full-time accounting, financial, tax, and accounting operations personnel; and information technology contract professionals and full-time employees in the areas of platform systems integration to end-user technical and desktop support, including specialists in application development, networking and cloud, systems integration and deployment, database design and administration, and security and business continuity. The company also offers temporary and full-time employees in attorney, paralegal, legal administrative, and legal secretarial positions; and senior-level project professionals in the accounting and finance fields for financial systems conversions, expansion into new markets, business process re-engineering, business systems performance improvement, and post-merger financial consolidation. It is involved in serving professionals in the areas of creative, design, marketing, advertising, and public relations; and placing various positions, such as creative directors, graphics designers, web designers, media buyers, front end developers, copywriters, digital marketing managers, marketing analytics specialists, brand managers, and public relations specialists. The company provides internal audit, technology consulting, risk and compliance consulting, and business performance services. It serves clients and employment candidates. Robert Half International Inc. was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers sterile products, hormones, high-potency drugs, and cytotoxic substances in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, injectables, inhalants, liquids, transdermal patches, ointments, and creams. It also develops, manufactures, and sells active pharmaceutical ingredients. In addition, it focuses on the central nervous system, pain, respiratory, and oncology areas. Its products in the central nervous system include Copaxone for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; AJOVY for the preventive treatment of migraine; and AUSTEDO for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and chorea associated with Huntington disease. The company's products in the respiratory market comprise ProAir, QVAR, ProAir Digihaler, AirDuo Digihaler, and ArmonAir Digihaler, BRALTUS, CINQAIR/CINQAERO, DuoResp Spiromax, and AirDuo RespiClick/ArmonAir RespiClick for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Its products in the oncology market include Bendeka, Treanda, Granix, Trisenox, Lonquex, and Tevagrastim/Ratiograstim. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has a collaboration MedinCell for the development and commercialization of multiple long-acting injectable products, a risperidone suspension for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.
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.
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Frost Bank that offers commercial and consumer banking services in Texas. It operates in two segments, Banking and Frost Wealth Advisors. The company offers commercial banking services to corporations and other business clients, including financing for industrial and commercial properties, interim construction related to industrial and commercial properties, equipment, inventories and accounts receivables, and acquisitions; commercial leasing; and treasury management services. It also provides consumer banking services, such as checking accounts, savings programs, automated-teller machines (ATMs), overdraft facilities, installment and real estate loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, drive-in and night deposit services, safe deposit facilities, and brokerage services. In addition, the company offers international banking services comprising deposits, loans, letters of credit, foreign collections, funds, and foreign exchange services. Further, it acts as a correspondent for approximately 171 financial institutions; offers trust, investment, agency, and custodial services for individual and corporate clients; provides capital market services that include sales and trading, new issue underwriting, money market trading, advisory, and securities safekeeping and clearance; and supports international business activities. Additionally, the company offers insurance and securities brokerage services; and holds securities for investment purposes, as well as investment management services to Frost-managed mutual funds, institutions, and individuals. It operates approximately 157 financial centers and 1,650 ATMs. The company serves energy, manufacturing, services, construction, retail, telecommunications, healthcare, military, and transportation industries. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. was founded in 1868 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.
Experian plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology company. The company operates through two segments, Business-to-Business and Consumer Services. It provides data services to identify and understand the customers, as well as to manage the risks related with lending. The company also offers analytical and decision tools that enhance businesses to manage their customers, minimize the risk of fraud, comply with legal requirements, and automate decisions and processes. In addition, it provides financial education, free access to Experian credit reports and scores, online educational tools, and applications to manage their financial position, access credit offers, and protect themselves from identity fraud. The company serves customers in financial service, direct-to-consumer, health, retail, automotive, software and professional services, telecommunications and utility, insurance, media and technology, government and public, and other sectors. It operates in North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as Experian Group Limited and changed its name to Experian plc in July 2008. Experian plc was founded in 1826 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. manufactures and sells motorcycles. The company operates in two segments, Motorcycles and Related Products and Financial Services. The Motorcycles and Related Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including cruiser, touring, standard, sportbike, and dual models, as well as motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and related services. This segment sells its products to retail customers through a network of independent dealers, as well as e-commerce channels in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The Financial Services segment provides wholesale financing services, such as floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and parts and accessories; and retail financing services, including installment lending for the purchase of new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as well as point-of-sale protection products comprising motorcycle insurance, extended service contracts, and motorcycle maintenance protection. This segment also licenses third-party financial institutions that issue credit cards bearing the Harley-Davidson brand. Harley-Davidson, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Sherwin-Williams Company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells paints, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. The Americas Group segment offers architectural paints and coatings, and protective and marine products, as well as OEM product finishes and related products for architectural and industrial paint contractors, and do-it-yourself homeowners. The Consumer Brands Group segment supplies a portfolio of branded and private-label architectural paints, stains, varnishes, industrial products, wood finishes products, wood preservatives, applicators, corrosion inhibitors, aerosols, caulks, and adhesives to retailers and distributors. The Performance Coatings Group segment develops and sells industrial coatings for wood finishing and general industrial applications, automotive refinish products, protective and marine coatings, coil coatings, packaging coatings, and performance-based resins and colorants. It serves retailers, dealers, jobbers, licensees, and other third-party distributors through its branches and direct sales staff, as well as through outside sales representatives. The company has operations primarily in the North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As of February 17, 2022, it operated approximately 5,000 company-operated stores and facilities. The Sherwin-Williams Company was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Boeing Company is the worlds largest manufacturer of airplanes and commands more than 50% of the market in some channels and categories. The company and its family of subsidiaries design, develops, manufacture, sell, service, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and related services worldwide. The company operates through four segments including Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital providing products and services to end-users in 150 countries.

Boeing got its start in 1910 when William E. Boeing developed a love for aircraft. Soon after he takes his first plane ride which leads him to build a hangar and begin construction of his first plane. The onset of WWI helped spur the companys growth but business was cut drastically in its wake. The start of WWII was another milestone for the company and one that led to its current position of dominance. The company was incorporated in 1916 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. Boeing employs over 140,000 people in 65 countries making it one of the most diverse employers on the planet.

The Commercial Airplanes segment is built around the iconic 7-series which includes the 737, 747, and 787. The segment provides commercial jet aircraft for passenger and cargo requirements, as well as fleet support services for regional, national, and international air carriers and logistics and freight companies. In terms of global volume, the company estimates about 90% of all air freight is carried aboard one of its jets. This segment also includes the Dreamliner family of planes. The Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane for many carriers as it opens up the potential for new one-stop destinations because of its capacity and range.

The Defense, Space & Security segment develops and manufactures a range of systems including manned and unmanned aircraft, missiles, missile defense systems, satellites, communications equipment, and intelligence systems for governments. Among the many iconic brands within this segment are the AH-64 Apache, Air Force One, B-52, C-17 Globemaster, Chinook, F/A-18, and the V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft used by the Marines.

The Global Services segment offers a range of products and services that include supply chain and logistics management, engineering, maintenance, upgrades, conversions, spare parts, pilot and maintenance training, technical and maintenance documents, and data analytics to its commercial and defense customers.

Boeing is also a leader in innovation, leveraging its many decades and avenues of experience to further aerospace and defense technology. Among the many innovations is the MQ-25 Stingray which will be the worlds first autonomous aircraft. The Stingray is only one of many areas of research that also include drones and undersea vehicles.




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Russian scientists claim breakthrough in nuclear fuel research

23 December 2016

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Physicists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and the Joint Institute for High Temperatures (JIHT) of the Russian Academy of Sciences have described the mobility of line defects, or dislocations, in uranium dioxide. This, they announced this week, will enable future predictions of nuclear fuel behaviour under operating conditions.

Their research findings have been published in the International Journal of Plasticity and they are looking for international collaboration to speed up the potential application of their work in the commercial and regulatory nuclear spheres.

In their paper, the scientists - Artem Lunev, Alexey Kuksin and Sergey Starikov - provide data of a simulation of dislocation behaviour in uranium dioxide, which is one of the most widespread compounds used as nuclear fuel in power plants. They say it is the first time that dislocation mobility in uranium dioxide at high temperatures and under stress has been studied in detail.

Dislocation dynamics work to determine fuel properties relevant to nuclear engineering, including plasticity and fission fragments diffusion. The scientists used computational methods to develop a model of an isolated dislocation in a perfect uranium dioxide crystal. They calculated the varying dislocation velocity as a function of temperature and the external forces affecting the crystal.

Specifically, they have produced a model that can be used to calculate dislocation velocity based on known temperature and stress parameters. This could be used to simulate more complex systems and study the macroscopic processes occurring in fuel pellets under operating conditions. They suggest this is a major advance toward being able to describe processes as complex as nuclear fuel swelling and embrittlement during operation by means of computer simulations alone.

Performance codes

There are several well-known predictive fuel performance codes used in different parts of the world - for example, Frapcon in the USA and Femaxi in Japan.

In an interview with World Nuclear News, Lunev said the "most consistent" Russian fuel performance and safety code is SFPR, which was developed the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in collaboration with France's Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, Germany's Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, the Institute for Energy at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The SFPR code - the sub-modules of which are MFPR and SVECHA - was designed for mechanistic modelling of single fuel rod behaviour under various regimes of light water reactor operation and is being extended to fast reactors. It also serves as a prototype for a new mechanistic fuel performance code BERKUT.

"We try to keep in touch with one of SFPR's key authors, Dr Mikhail Veshchunov, and he provides us with some interesting suggestions on the future development. There are also other codes, e.g. RTOP and START, but they have been used less extensively and have some serious issues," Lunev said.

Asked how the new development is linked to Russia's commercial fuel performance code improvement, Lunev said Starikov and Kuksin had contributed to the development of MFPR by calculating some atomic-scale properties, which are used in the constitutive equations, such as for predicting fission gas release. However, the research described in the new paper was not directly related to the maintenance and improvement of existing fuel performance codes, but rather was intended to be incorporated in an emerging multi-scale plasticity model in oxide nuclear fuel.

He added: "These activities follow the bottom-up modelling concept (as opposed to the top-down, mechanistic nature of the SFPR/MFPR codes) and are probably ideologically closer to the approach proposed by Michael Tonks in the BISON-MARMOT codes."

Tonks, assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering at Penn State, was one of two recipients of the 2015 American Nuclear Society Materials Science & Technology Division's Special Achievement Award. The other recipient was Richard Williamson, a researcher at Idaho National Laboratory who, along with Tonks, developed the BISON-MARMOT fuel performance codes.

Fuel performance codes are seen as critical for predicting how reactor fuel behaves throughout its time in the reactor, since they predict both how the heat is conducted through the reactor and how it mechanically deforms, which Tonks says is important for "knowing if there will be a breach in the fuel cladding". The goal for gathering this data is to prevent these adverse things from happening and, at the same time, ensure that the reactor is efficient, Tonks told ANS.

Asked how far the new predictive capability of the Russian study is from being incorporated into the code, Lunev told WNN: "Dislocation motion is not explicitly accounted for in any of the existing fuel performance codes, so the expression for the dislocation velocity presented in the paper cannot be plugged in there right now.

"However, most properties, which the performance codes try to describe, such as creep, swelling, crack formation, etc. do depend on how dislocations move and interact. Our next goal is to draw a bridge between these different levels of description, and we are currently working hard on developing a meso-scale dislocation dynamics model, which uses atomistic input for example, the mobilities of individual dislocations, dislocation-void interaction, etc.

"Perhaps, we will achieve some progress in the next couple of years. This work could be hastened if we had more international collaborators, and we are basically open to any discussion."

Immense potential

Nuclear fuel has immense potential as one of the most energy dense resources available - a single uranium dioxide fuel pellet weighing no more than a few grams releases the same amount of energy within a reactor core that is produced by burning several hundred kilograms of anthracite coal or oil.

The MIPT/JIHT study notes that when a nuclear reactor is in operation, the fuel in the pellets undergoes extremely complex transformations caused by both temperature and radiation.

"Because the underlying mechanisms of these transformations are not yet fully understood, we are still unable to realize the complete potential of nuclear fuel and reduce the risk of accidents to a minimum," they said.

To be used as nuclear fuel, uranium dioxide is formed into ceramic pellets that are sintered at a high temperature. This material has a very high melting point, is resistant to radiation-induced growth, and does not experience phase transitions within a broad temperature range. Theoretically, a solid body has a regular, ordered structure (crystalline structure), and there is a certain designated position for each atom to be at.

"In reality, perfect crystals do not exist, because some atoms or groups of atoms are always out of place, altering the ideal arrangement," they said. "In other words, there are defects (imperfections) in an actual crystal. They come in several types, viz. point defects, line defects (dislocations), planar defects, and bulk defects. Defects can move within the crystal, and the nature of their motion depends on external factors. Dislocation dynamics are known to determine fuel properties relevant to nuclear engineering (plasticity, fission fragments diffusion)."

Computer modelling enables scientists to trace individual fuel atoms and calculate their velocities and forces affecting them, along with other parameters. This allows systems of various complex configurations to be simulated and studied. Computer modelling is widely used in situations where performing an experiment is rather problematic. Research into nuclear fuel behaviour is one of those areas. Such large-scale calculations rely on modern supercomputers, as massive computing power is required to find the forces affecting individual atoms at each moment in time.

Starikov, who is an associate professor at MIPT and a senior researcher at JIHT, said the new model is a "major advance toward being able to describe processes as complex as nuclear fuel swelling and embrittlement during operation by means of computer simulations alone".

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
The World War I battles fought between major global superpowers opened up new frontiers in international warfare. Lasting from 1914 to 1918, many horrendous battles were experienced during World War I.

The 1918 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at the hands of 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip is seen as the catalyst for starting the war. Throughout the war, terrible battles were fought between the central powers of the world, battles that were made even worse by the relatively recent invention of the machine gun. In this list, we take a look at some of the battles of the war that had lasting profound impacts.

10. Battle of Tannenberg (August of 1914)

The August of 1914 Battle of Tannenberg was fought between Russian and German soldiers. It is notable for being the first battle fought in the war to be fought on the Eastern Front. The Russian army was under the command of Grand Duke Nicholas, who had come to the aid of French soldiers who were under attack from the Germans. Although it was predicted that the Russian army would have a sliding victory, on account of being larger and more powerful, the Germans actually reigned victoriously. By end of the month, the Germans had taken 92,000 prisoners and destroyed half of the Russian 2nd army. The Germans then turned on General Rennenkampf army in September and drove it out from East Prussia.

In total, the Russians lost about 250,000 men as well as military equipment. The only positive from the Battle of Tannenberg was diverting the Germans from attacking France. That allowed the French to counter-attack at the First Battle of Marne.

9. First Battle of Marne (September of 1914)

In September of 1914, the First Battle of Marne marked the end of German incursion into France and the beginning of the trench warfare so widely associated with World War One. German Field Marshal Alfried Von Schlieffen devised a plan to conquer France by his armies invading it from Lille. The army would then turn west near the English Channel before turning south to cut off the French retreat. If the plan worked, German armies would encircle the French Army from the north and capture Paris. But a French offensive in Lorraine caused the Germans to counter-attack, and threw the French to a fortified barrier. The French defense strengthened and they sent their troops to reinforce the left flank. The German northern wing troops got weak after the removal of 11 divisions to fight in Belgium and East Prussia.

When the German 1st Army under General Alex von Kluck targeted points to the north of Paris, they had to pass into the valley of the River Marne and thus across the French defenses, and were exposed in doing so. On the 3rd of September, French General Joseph Joffre ordered a halt to French retreat but three days later he reinforced the left flank and began an offensive. That compelled General Kluck to stop his advance to support his weak flank at Meaux. When on 9th September the German ambassador Bernhard Bullow learned the British force was advancing between his 2nd army and 1st army, he ordered Klucks men to retreat. A counterattack by the 5th and 6th French and British armies resulted in the First Battle of the Marne. That forced the battle-worn Germans shorn of supplies to full retreat by 11th September and withdrew northwards along Lower Aisne River. By saving Paris from German capture and pushing them 45 miles away, it was a great strategic victory for France and enabled them to continue the war.

Lasting eight months, the 1915-1916 Battle of Gallipoli was launched by the combined British, French, Indian, New Zealand, Australia, and Canadian forces to knock out those of the Turkish Ottoman Empire that sided with Germany. The British and her allies planned to sail a huge fleet at the 65-mile Dardanelles water strait that linked the Mediterranean and Istanbul, the Ottoman capital they planned to capture. The plan aimed to force the Ottoman Empire to surrender. The plan failed miserably in part due to the outdated allies fleet, and many ships that were sunk by Ottoman cannons and mines.

The Battle of Gallipoli saw 58,000 Allied soldiers casualties. These included 29,000 British and Irish soldiers, and 11,000 Australians and New Zealanders. There also were about Ottoman Turkish troops that died and about 300,000 wounded troops from either side. The battle of Gallipoli was immortalized in the 1981 Gallipoli film starring Mel Gibson. The Ottoman victory propelled lieutenant colonel of the 19th Turkish division Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to prominence. He later became the founding father of the modern-day Turkish Republic in 1923.

7. Battle of Jutland (Spring of 1916)

Believed to be the biggest naval battle of the First World War, on the 31st of May and the 1st of June in 1916 the Battle of Jutland pitted the British against the German fleet with their so-called "dreadnought" battleships. It was a bloody battle that involved 250 ships and about 100,000 troops. The battle occurred in the North Sea, and German Admiral Reinhard Scheer planned to draw in both Admiral Sir David Beatty Battlecruiser Force, and Admiral Sir John Jellicoes Grand Fleet. Scheers plan was to destroy Beattys force before Jellicoes arrived. That was thwarted when the British were alerted by their code-breakers and they placed their forces early to sea, according to the Imperial War Museums records. Those first encounters between Beattys force and German high seas fleet caused losses of several ships.

The Germans destroyed Beattys flagship, the HMS Lion, and also sank HMS Indefatigable and HMS Queen Mary. They blew up after German shells hit their ammunition magazines. Staring defeat Beatty withdrew until Jellicoe arrived with the main fleet. The outgunned Germans retreated to home. The British lost 14 ships and had 6000 in casualties, while the Germans lost 11 ships and over 2500 men. From then on, the Germans never seriously challenged the British control of the North Sea. It also secured for the British control of shipping lanes which ensured Britain put in place a blockade that caused Germany to be defeated in 1918. The Battle of Jutland was depicted in several documentaries, most notably by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2016.

Beginning on February 21st and ending on the 19th of December in 1916, the Battle of Verdun was one of the longest and most savage of all World War One battles. Nearly three-quarters of the French army fought in this battle. It began when the German army under General Erich Von Falkenhayn command, began attacking French forts and trenches with artillery fires from 1200 guns, according to Verdun Memorial Museum reports. The General intended to end the trench warfare that begun in 1914 to enable his troops to move. In the initial days, the Germans breached the French front lines and took over Fort Douaumont without a fight. Still, the French infantry in spite of heavy shelling was unmoved from their positions and repelled the Germans. French General Henri Petain was appointed to defend Verdun and command the troops. He raised the traffic volume on Bar-le-Duc to Verdun route which took men, basic supplies, and artillery to the battlefield. About 4000 trucks, 2000 cars, 800 ambulances, 200 buses, and vans used this route. This ensured when on 6th March 1916 when the Germans attacked on the left bank of River Meuse regardless of intense battles on Le Mort Homme that spread to April, they couldnt breach the French front line. But by June end the Germans had captured Fort Vaux.

On July 1st, the French and British launched an offensive on Somme, thereby relieving the German pressure on French troops at Verdun. The Germans tried to take over Verdun on July 11 and 12 and failed. In 1916 autumn the French counter-attacked and recaptured Fort Douaumont, and a few days later entered Fort Vaux which the Germans had deserted. From December 15th to 18th, the French attacked and nearly retook territory they had lost since February 21st. After the battle ended there were over 700,000 victims - 305,000 dead or missing and about 400,000 wounded on both warring sides.

5. Battle of Passchendaele (1917)

Also called the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Passchendaele gained notoriety not only for its many casualties but also for the widespread mud. This battle was fought in Ypres, a town along the British lines. Field Marshal Douglas Haig longed for a British offensive in Flanders after a warning that a German blockade would cripple the British war efforts. He wanted to get to the Belgian coast and destroy German submarines stationed there. The British were further spurred on by the success of an attack on the Messines Ridge on June 1917, and its capture. The British infantry began to attack on the 31st of July at Ypres. The constant shelling turned the clay into soil and destroyed drainage systems. The left wing of the attack was successful unlike the right wing. In the few following days the heaviest rains in 30 years turned the turned the loose soil into mud which clogged rifles, and halted tanks movements. Many men and horses drowned in this mud.

On the 16th of August, British attacks resumed with no results. There was a stalemate for a month but when weather improved attacks resumed on 20th September. The battles of Menin, Road Ridge and Polygon Wood on 26th September as well as the Battle of Broodseinde on October 4th had the British capture the ridge east of Ypres. On November 6 the little of what remained of Passchendaele village was captured by the British and Canadian forces. That gave Haig an excuse to halt the offensive and claim victory. That despite the fact that Passchendaele was less than five miles beyond where the Haig led offensive had begun. The three month battle of Passchendaele had 325,000 British and allied casualties and 260,000 German casualties.

4. Battle of Caporetto (Fall of 1917)

Also called the 12th battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Caporetta saw Austro-Hungarian and German forces break through the Italian defenses in northern Isonzo after catching the Italian soldiers by surprise. The Italian defeat, resulted in dismissal of Luigi Cadorna as Chief of Staff, and a change of government. When depleted Austria and Hungarian allies faced collapse at Gorizia after the 11th battle of Isonzo, led by Cadorna, their commander Arz Von Straussenberg sought help from the German Third Supreme Command led by Paul Von Hindenbrug, and Erich Ludendorff to have a combined operation. When Cadorna through deserters and aerial reconnaissance learned of German involvement, he called off his own attacks in mid September 1917, and assumed a defensive stance. Six German divisions under the command of Otto vob Below, supplemented the Third Supreme nine Austrian army divisions.

The Germans chose a 25-kilometer-long line in front of Caporetta, north of Gorizia along Isonzo, as the preferred point of attack where the Italians were weak for the combined offensive. The Italian commander Luigi Capello was ordered to prepare a defensive line but massed his troops to attack the southern flank of Von Belows army, to the east of Gorizia. At 2 am on the 24th of October, 1917 at Tolmino, the combined Austrian, Hungarian and German forces attacked and surprised the Italians. The assault broke through the Italian Second Army lines immediately. By close of day, the German, Austria, and Hungary forces had progressed 25 kilometers, and breached the Italian lines using of grenades and flamethrowers, and adopting infiltration tactics. Below attacks at River Tagliamento endangered a bulk of Italian forces which led to Capello recommending a withdrawal there, but was overruled by Cadorna. Cadorna made most of Italian forces to cross the river which took four days culminating on the 30th of October, 1917. Supplies to Austrian, Hungarian, and Germans had began to be depleted and they couldnt launch a fresh offensive. As a result, Cadorna ordered Italian forces to withdraw to the River Piave. The Italians incurred 300,000 casualties of which 90 percent were prisoners. As a result Cadorna was dismissed and Marshal Armando Diaz replaced him. A new Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando assumed office, and replaced incumbent Paolo Boselli.

Fought from the 20th of November until the 4th of December in 1917, the Battle of Cambrai in northern France between the British and Germans marked the first time battle tanks were used on a mass scale in battle. Use of tanks was combined with air power and heavy artillery. The nineteen British divisions assembled had about 476 tanks of which 324 were fighting tanks, the rest supply and service vehicles. The battle commenced on the dawn of 20th November 1917, when the British Third Army launched an attack aimed to the Germans towards Cambrai. Initially eight British divisions attacked three German divisions by surprise and took 7500 prisoners. The third army commanded by General Julian Byng, attacked the Germans Hindenburg defensive line, to relieve pressure on French forces. Though the British made gains at first, they were overrun by German counter attacks, in part due to bad weather.

The British forces had advanced 5 miles and taken a series of villages. But by the end of the first day over half of the British tanks were destroyed. That slowed the British progress even as fighting intensified. On October 28th the British reached on the crest of Bourlon Ridge. But two days later German forces launched a counter offensive using heavy artillery and utilizing infantry tactics. That made the British army to retreat having captured only the Havrincourt, Ribecourt and Flesquieres villages, according to the Imperial War Museum. The Battle of Cambrai opened the way for use of sophisticated arms tactics and armored warfare in years that followed. Both the German and British each had casualties of about 45,000.

2. German Spring Offensives on the Western Front (1918)

During the spring of 1918, German General Erich Ludendorff ordered his forces to attack the Western Front, an over 400-mile-long strip of land stretching through France and Belgium, and from the Swiss border to the North Sea. The Russians contributed to the 500,000 troops, the confident Ludendorff commanded. Knowing a German attack was imminent the British reinforced their coasts as did the French to the south of the British. But in Cambrai an incomplete British trench system left a weakness in the British line, manned by the fifth army commanded by General Hubert Gough. On March 21st 1918, the Germans attacked, and in five hours fired a million artillery shells at the fifth army. The Germans intensified their attacks with elite storm troopers armed with loud flame throwers that panicked the British. The first day of the attack resulted in 21,000 British soldiers taken prisoner as the Germans advanced through the Fifth Army lines. This German attack was the biggest breakthrough in three years of warfare on the Western Front, and Gough ordered the Fifth Army to withdraw. The British also surrendered the Somme region to the Germans. This put Paris within the Germans target as they moved their three Krupps cannons they used to shell Paris 120 kilometers away. About 183 shells landed in Paris and residents began to desert the city. Their push to Paris made German emperor Friedrich William II, declare March 24th a success with many Germans assuming the war was over. But their Paris advance by the Germans experienced hitches due to few supplies they had, bar weapons.

Ludendorff ordered the highly effective German 18th Army to advance on Amiens, an important railroad city, thinking it would hamper the British and their allies. But the 18th army ran out of supplies, and horses that were to be used in Amiens advance and transport were killed for food. Heading towards Amiens the Germans passed by Albert where hell broke loose among them as they looted the shops there due to hunger. With their discipline gone, the advance to Amiens stopped, which shocked the exhausted Ludendorff. The German Spring Offensive conquered much territory but in March and April, the Germans had 230,000 in casualties. Those numbers were too much for the German Army. By the end of March 1918, 250,000 Americans poured into the Western Front to join their British allies. Their effectiveness was however hindered by their General John Pershing, refusal to have his forces commanded by French or British officers. In spite of these allies conflicts, the German army by June 1918 had been weakened by many casualties it suffered. When disillusioned Ludendorff ordered a last World War I German offensive on July 15 1918, the Germans suffered huge losses at Marne after a French ambush and counter attack. From March to July 1918 the Germans had lost a million men.

From the 1st of July until the 18th of November in 1916, a massive joint operation between British and French forces against the Germans occurred in the Somme area in northern France. Dubbed the Battle of the Somme, it had been planned in December 1915 by allied commanders the French Joseph Joffre, and the British General Douglas Haig, to counter German offensive at Verdun. The British spearheaded the offensive and faced a German defense developed for many months, according to the Imperial War Museums records. Despite a seven day bombardment before the 1st July attack, the British did not achieve success the military leadership of General Haig anticipated, having sent 100,000 men to capture the German trenches. Somme resulted in being a battle of attrition, and for 141 days the British advance captured only three square mile of territory.

Collectively, the opposing sides saw over a million casualties wounded, captured, or killed. But what struck the psyche of the British were the 57,470 casualties suffered on first day of battle of the Somme, which 19,240 army men were killed. That made it the bloodiest day in British military history. On that first day, the German army also suffered 6000 casualties many at the hands of French forces stationed on the southern part of the Somme. According to experts, losses incurred by the British on the battle of the Somme were due to use of untrained volunteers as soldiers, and inadequate artillery used in the seven day bombardment as it didnt affect German soldiers who were lay safe, in deep trenches. The British also underestimated the well drilled and armed, battle hardened German forces tucked in those trenches. As a result the German forces were able to regroup, counter attack and retake much of lost territory. In five months, over a million soldiers from the French, British and German armies had been killed or wounded.
A pet sitter who was supposed to take care of two dogs, sold them to an unsuspecting family, according to police in North Carolina.

Charlotte police said that they have arrested 22-year-old Barry Sharpe of Rock Hill, South Carolina, after being accused of selling the two dogs belonging to Ekemini Udoh.

Sharpe has been charged with one count of larceny of a dog. He was booked into jail, and his bail has been set at $2,500.

According to the criminal complaint, Udoh hired Sharpe to care for her two dogs after she was hospitalized. Sharpe advertised his services on Craigslist, and Udoh hired him for $200.

After she got out of the hospital, Udoh asked for her dogs Bella and Rosie. Sharpe never responded and canceled his phone number.

She called the police who arrested Sharpe. Udoh is still looking for the whereabouts of Bella and Rosie. A man who claimed to have bought both puppies contacted Udoh and offered to work something out with her.

The man stopped communicating with Udoh after she insisted to get the dogs back.
Another housing unit has officially gone smoke-free, according to Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortiums local health promotion department.

This fall the new owners of the Stikine Native Organization building on Front Street  colloquially known as the SNO Building to locals  formally made the buildings apartments smoke free. SEARHC health educator Tammi Meissner pointed out the move makes it the first private residential complex in town to register its policy with the state.

In September, the Wrangell Senior Apartments formally went smoke-free as well, instituting an outdo...
Generous Nursing Students Spread Festive Cheer to Wrexham Maelor Patients

This article is old - Published: Friday, Dec 23rd, 2016

A group of kind-hearted student nurses have brought some additional Christmas cheer to patients at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Second year adult nursing students at Bangor University, Ceri Davies, Kate Topple and Fern Williams, along with their lecturer Angela Williams, have filled shoeboxes with festive treats and goodies for patients on Bedwen, Onnen and ENT wards.

The shoeboxes include a range of gifts approved by Ward managers, including toiletries, colouring books for adults and Christmas decorations.

They have been presented to patients at Wrexham Maelor Hospital after Ceri was moved by patients without family to visit them during her time on the ward last Christmas.

Ceri said: I was on placement at the Maelor last Christmas, and saw patients who didnt have any family who were missing out on company. It was awful seeing some people who didnt even get a Christmas card  so we set out to hand out cards to everyone on the ward

We decided to take it one step further this year and make them some small Christmas hampers, just with simple presents just so they know we are thinking of them.

Everyone has been so kind donating goods, especially Jessica Large who is a manager at Aldi Wrexham. Jessica donated two shopping trollies filled with goods. Wrexham town centre also provided us with lots of shoeboxes and students in our university were also very kind and helpful.

The nurses work really hard to make patients who dont have anyone else feel valued at this time of year, and hopefully this will just help reinforce that further.

Donations were collected from students at the Universitys School of Healthcare Sciences, with further gifts donated by management at the new Aldi store in Wrexham.

The group delivered the gifts to four wards at the Wrexham Maelor on December 16  with many students offering their spare time to help distribute the boxes. A total of 250 Christmas cards were also delivered to patients on several other wards.

In addition, Ceri has also distributed this week 22 filled childrens shoeboxes to a local homeless shelter.

Angela Williams, lecturer in adult nursing at Bangor University, said: We originally set out to fill 60 boxes, but we filled a lot more just through donations made by students, friends and other lecturers. Their generosity has been absolutely incredible, and we cant thank them enough.

Then we had the additional support from Aldi, which has pushed our numbers up from 60 boxes to 122 boxes.

The students just wanted to make a difference to patients, which is absolutely wonderful.

Gill Harris, Executive Director of Nursing for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, added: The effort the girls have made to spread some cheer to our patients this Christmas is absolutely fantastic, and I commend them for the outstanding care and compassion theyve demonstrated.

Going the extra mile like this is what nursing is all about. Im sure if they continue to care for patients like this, theyll have a long and successful career in nursing.

The School of Healthcare Sciences at Bangor University has campuses in both Bangor and Wrexham, and covers the entire Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board region. The department is ranked third in the UK overall according to Times Good University Guide 2017, and had a 100 per cent employability record from 2015 graduates.

As well as Nursing, Midwifery and Radiography courses the school has launched an innovative BSc Transforming Health degree for 2017 which will appeal to those interested in a variety of health related careers.
Several leading security operatives and intelligence experts have resigned from their posts at the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar (CIS), amid allegations of Russian influence.

The CIS is a prestigious academic forum on western espionage. Founded by official MI5 historian Professor Christopher Andrew, it holds seminars every Friday at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britains MI6, Stefan Halper, a former senior White House policy adviser, and leading historian Peter Martland, quit before the new term in September, the Financial Times reported. They stepped down over alleged links between the CIS and the newly-established digital publishing house Veruscript.

According to the FT, the three quit out of fear that Russia may be seeking to use the seminar as an impeccably-credentialed platform to covertly steer debate and opinion on high-level sensitive defence and security topics, two people familiar with their thinking said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Veruscript, which has sponsored some of the seminars costs, was established by Russian physicist Gleb Cheglakov and his wife, Nazik Ibraimova. In addition to the Journal of Intelligence and Terrorism Studies, the firm intends to launch a series of journals across multiple research disciplines, including those in Eurasian Studies and Functional Nanomaterials.

Cheglakov told the FT that the London-based company was set up using the couples own money and is intended to shake up the academic publishing business by paying for peer reviews of its articles by approved academics.

A statement by Veruscript rejected as a serious and wholly unfounded allegation claims of its connection with Russian intelligence services and is reserving our position in terms of legal or other remedy.

The Founders of Veruscript, Gleb Cheglakov and Nazik Ibraimova, neither have nor would accept state or related agency influence or sponsorship in their professional or personal lives, it continues.

Pointing out that it is only one of a number of sponsors of the CIS, and that its contribution has amounted to no more than 2,000 in the history of our partnership, it states that it is standard practice for academic publishers to support relevant research conferences and seminars. At no time has Veruscript sought or gained any influence or involvement in the organisation, content or speakers at the seminar.

The Veruscript statement notes, and the FT admits, that it has been unable to independently substantiate the trios claims and that no concrete evidence has been provided to back them. Cambridge University declined to comment, as have Dearlove and Martland.

The lack of evidence did not stop the leading British financial journal beginning its December 16 report by drawing a comparison with the heyday of Soviet espionage at the heart of the British establishment, while also stating how the affair revives uncomfortable memories of cold war fearmongering.

This is in reference to the Cambridge spy ring of the 1930s, in which a group of students at the university, including Kim Philby and Guy Burgess, were recruited by the KGB.

Professor Andrew, whose work on the Cambridge Five and the Russian KGB is considered among the most authoritative, described the latest allegations as absurd, noting that the seminar is entirely unclassified. Lectures include such topics as, Intelligence Chiefs in long-term perspective: from Queen Elizabeth I to Putin, Obama and Theresa May, Confusion and Opportunism? British Intelligence and the Battle of the Somme and Intelligence, policy and the move towards attritional counter-insurgency against the IRA in 1971.

Neil Kent, a linguist and expert in Russian culture, is chairman of the CIS and editor-in-chief of the new Journal of Intelligence. He said, The idea any of us would be involved in anything that smacks of Russian influence... its real Reds under the bed stuffthe whole thing is ludicrous.

Kent, a friend of Cheglakov from Cambridge, is reported to have made the connections between the seminar and the journal.

The FT said that some of the academics it had spoken to suggest the conflict may be the result of competition. Dearlove and his colleagues who quit the CIS, run the Cambridge Security Initiative (CSI). Professor Andrew was co-chair of CSI along with Dearlove, but resigned in the spring. He has said his resignation was unrelated to the conflict around Veruscript.

The CSI web site is far more obviously oriented to corporate and state agencies. It also involves numerous deep state actors. It is chaired by Dearlove and includes two former heads of Britains GCHQ spy centre as members of its advisory board. The site boasts that its recent clients have included UK and US government agencies, management consultants, international accountancy and finance firms and that Subjects likely to be high on the agenda include the fast-changing situations in the Middle East, Russia and China and their neighbours, cyber security and the rise of extremism in Europe and security threats to the UK, Europe and the US.

This suggests that the conflict is bound up with more fundamental geopolitical calculations. Dearlove is a signatory to the Henry Jackson Society principles, the British-American neo-con think tank that was closely associated with the Iraq war. As head of MI6 between 1999 and 2004, he was intimately involved in the British/US war on terror, including the US invasion of Iraq and the dodgy dossier alleging Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Halper is the only one to have reportedly stated that he quit due to unacceptable Russian influence on the group. An adviser to US presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, he is the author of numerous works on the problems of US foreign policy from the standpoint of the centre-right. He has expressed particular concern at the consequences of an undermining of US authority and influence, especially in facilitating stronger relations between Moscow and Beijing.

The split comes against the backdrop of US and British imperialisms debacle in Syria, as Russia helped Syrian government forces defeat western-backed Al Qaeda-allied proxy forces in eastern Aleppo.

US intelligence officials claim that Russia hacked Democratic Party emails in order to influence the US election and aid Donald Trumps presidential campaign. This has been buttressed by allegations that Moscow is planting fake news.

The hysterical anti-Russian propaganda is not confined to the US. In Germany, security chiefs are briefing that Moscow is intent on intervening in next years elections in France and Germany, while UK Labour MP Ben Bradshaw accused Putin of intervening in the UKs June referendum on membership of the European Union.

Bradshaws inflammatory claims were made during last weeks emergency parliamentary debate over Aleppo. An occasion for war-mongering against Russia, most of those participating blamed parliaments decision in August 2013 not to support US-led military action in Syria as responsible for strengthening Moscow. Labour MP John Woodcock said the UK faced the grave threat of a tyrannical regime in Russia that has effectively created a global system that has rules but no consequences.

According to reports, two months ago a Cabinet Office meeting involving intelligence officers focussed on the growing scale of the Russian threat. Although there is no confirmation that Cambridge was discussed, one anonymous security official stated to the FT that they were nevertheless aware that suspicions such as those flagged at Cambridge were the kind of thing that we are aware of being of concern.

The UK is playing a lead role in NATOs military buildup against Russia in central and Eastern Europe. It is sending tanks, drones and troops to Estonia next year.

With calls from security experts for the formation of a war cabinet, Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair a National Security Council session in the new year on Russia.

The Telegraph cited the Cambridge split against briefings by Whitehall officials that Russia is waging a campaign of propaganda and unconventional warfare against Britain, including fake espionage, misinformation, cyber-attacks and fake news.

Examples of the new Russian offensive are thought to include state-run news outlets, such as RT and Sputnik, it continued, which are accused of spreading propaganda to influence British audiences, in particular over key issues such as Brexit and the Scottish independence referendum.

The newspaper also reported the public demand by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, head of the armed forces, of the need to pay more attention to counterespionage and counterintelligence to protect our hard-won research, protect our industry and protect our competitive advantage.
To understand why right-wing parties have so far been able to benefit from growing social discontent, one has to look no further than the 5th Congress of the Party of the European Left (EL), held in Berlin December 16-18.

The 31 European pseudo-left parties assembled in the European Left alliance have refined the art of combining left-sounding phrases with right-wing politics to such an extent it provokes nausea. It is difficult to imagine anything more politically cynical and repulsive.

One of the key speakers at the recent congress was the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras. Along with the German and French Left Parties, the French Communist Party and the Italian Rifondazione Comunista, Tsipras Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza) is one of the leading members of the alliance.

Tsipras, who governs Greece in a coalition with the right-wing nationalist Independent Greek Party, told congress participants it was necessary to block the extreme right across Europe, raged against the threatening rise of populist nationalism and asserted, It is us, the European Left, who need to take the political initiative for a progressive alternative to nationalism and the extreme right.

The same Tsipras who swept aside the overwhelming opposition of Greek voters to the austerity diktats of the European Union (EU) in the 2015 referendum, declared in Berlin: We share the view that in difficult times, and particularly when the Left is entrusted with the mandate of the people, it has no other choiceno matter how difficult it might bebut to honour that mandate.

Despite the fact that since the summer of 2015 his government has gone even further in implementing austerity than demanded by the EU, pauperising Greece and its population in the process, Tsipras declared: We need popular awakening and action to put an end to the Europe of mass unemployment, explosion of poverty and inequalities, social dumping and low public investment.  Greece is fighting to end austerity and exit from the neoliberal memoranda of social injustice and deprivation.

Tsipras would not be Tsipras if he had not ended his remarks by reassuring his countrys creditors they could continue to count on him and his government: Greece will achieve its goals according to the program. He reminded his audience Greece was doing most of the dirty work when it came to deterring refugees. Greece is a partner at the front-line of Europe in managing the great migration pressures we all face, he argued.

The congress elected Gregor Gysi as the new chairman of the European Left, following a demagogic endorsement by Tsipras. Gysi began his career as an attorney in the former Stalinist East Germany (German Democratic Republic, GDR), where his father was Minister of Culture. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, he took over the leadership of the SED, the Stalinist state party, to help run down the GDRs economy and smoothly introduce capitalism.

Under Gysis leadership, the SED was transformed into the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), whose dedication to defending capitalism was ornamented with leftist phraseology. In 2007, together with former Social Democratic Party (SPD) chairman Oskar Lafontaine, he was the driving force behind the founding of the Left Party, which he chaired in the Bundestag [German parliament] until 2015.

That the 68-year-old, who has already suffered several strokes, has come out of retirement to take charge of the European Left is linked to the profound crisis of the European Union, which is hated by workers for its austerity policies. Gysi, like Tsipras, is determined to defend the EU at all costs.

He does so in the typical manner of the Left Party, with an abundance of critical phrases. The European Union is anti-social, anti-solidarity, undemocratic, ecologically unsustainable, non-transparent, bureaucratic and is now seeking to become a military force, he told the partys paper Neues Deutschland. But although I criticize it so much, there are reasons why I do not want it to go under.

Gysi declared that the most important reason for preserving the EU was that the old national states have no economic clout compared to China and Russia, and also no geo-political clout. He speaks here as a thorough-going representative of the German ruling elite, who regard the European Union as a vehicle for increasing the international influence of Germanyeconomically, politically and militarily.

Gysi has long advocated the Left Partys participation in the German national government. With the election of Donald Trump and the inevitable emergence of tensions between the US and Germany resulting from the latters America First policy, he sees a new opportunity to achieve this goal.

The European Left is being called on to assist in transforming the European Union into a political and military world power under German control and to suppress the resistance of the working class. To this end Gysi can fully rely on Tsipras, who met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for a lengthy discussion prior to his attending the EL congress.

The author also recommends:

The Political Lessons of Syrizas Betrayal in Greece, Statement of the International Committee of the Fourth International

[13 November 2015]
Earlier this month 12 Instacart workers filed a proposed US federal class-action lawsuit against the San Francisco based company, claiming it violated state and federal labor laws. The suit would allow the case to be expanded to cover all 14,000 of the companys workers nationwide.

This is the second lawsuit filed against Instacart since 2015. An earlier lawsuit was dismissed in November.

Instacart is a business that allows customers to place grocery orders online. The companys workers, or shoppers, will then deliver the order. Similar to ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft, Instacart classifies its employees as independent contractors so that it does not have to provide unemployment benefits, overtime pay, or workers compensation coverage, or permit workers to seek reimbursement for mileage and tips. Neither can workers seek collective bargaining rights.

In October, Instacart announced it would stop collecting tips from customers, instead collecting what it called a service fee. The move had the effect of further reducing employees already miserly compensation.

Sandra, an Instacart employee (all names have been changed to prevent possible retaliation), told the World Socialist Web Site: Since the deceptive tip change' I have seen my wages shrivel down to nothing and I rarely get tips from customers now. Due to the language that Instacart uses on the explanation page, many customers think they are giving us a tip with the service fee.' They are not. That service fee goes back to Instacart and, if applicable, the ISS [in store shopper] receives a percentage of that service fee since they are considered employees. FSS [full service shoppers] do not receive any portion of that service fee.

The lawsuit, Husting v. Maplebar dba Instacart, alleges that workers did not receive reimbursement for work-related expenses or overtime and were not paid at or above minimum wage regularly. The lawsuit contends that Instacart workers are owed far in excess of $5 million.

In a ruling with a bearing on this case, in August, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that employees cannot be forced into binding arbitration, a private legal process that heavily favors corporations and makes class action lawsuits difficult if not impossible.

Mary told the WSWS: Not receiving tips reduced my income by a third, overnight. I now have to work 65 hours to make what I used to make in 45 hours. What's crazy is that all these new shoppers coming on think the money is so great, but that is because they haven't taken into consideration the wear and tear on their cars!

But I guarantee they haven't looked into unemployment taxes, business taxes, licensing and all the other stuff that goes along with this. Halfway through the year I know that I had paid up to $5,000 in taxes. Believe me they're going to get a ticket or two along the way as well.

In June 2015, Instacart allowed its delivery drivers to become part-time workers, with a maximum of 30 hours a week. The move was to prevent Instacart drivers from qualifying for the Affordable Care Act which defined full-time employment as working, on average 30 hours a week.

According to a report by the Freelancers Union and temporary job platform, Upwork, as many as 55 million Americans are employed at least part-time in a non-traditional or on-demand job. Of these, 53 percent hold down at least one traditional job.

The total number of people who have spent some time working a temporary job jumped by two million over the last two years, an increase of four percent compared to the nearly three percent increase in the workforce nationwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines temporary workers as those in jobs that are structured to last only a limited period of time.

Annie, another Instacart worker, told the WSWS, I worked at Instacart for about a year and a half as a part-time individual.

The Instacart experience meant you would go to a store in your area and wait until you get your next order. There were times I would sit there for half of my shift and not get any order, or sometimes during my whole shift I wouldnt get any orders whatsoever. The tips helped offset some of that down time.

In September, Instacart announced they would be taking the tips away and I would be making $10 to $12 an hour, and that was a drastic pay cut. There are no benefits, you dont get the tip fee, and there are all these other factors. You go work at McDonalds or Starbucks for $10 to $12 an hour and they get benefits.

Every single government official I talked to shuffled me from one person to another. The last thing someone told me was there are no rules for independent contractors. There are no legal parameters so no one has protection. Ive been told the only option is to go through an attorney, but the company made it so you cant go through with a class action lawsuit.

So now youve got to take out hundreds, if not thousands, out of your own pocket to fight it in court. If you are only making $10 an hour, how can you afford an attorney?

The system is so skewed and screwed up. This is why these big companies are able to take advantage of us because they know we dont have any backing.

This country is turning into The Hunger Games.

Kelly said: I have been able to hustle extremely hard and maintain some tips. I have been on both sides of the coin since the recent changes. Both are tiring, overwhelming and stressful. Shoppers are hurting and customers are being deceived. Instacart is stealing, manipulating and creating stress and competition and fear where none existed before ... and they're getting away with it.

Sandra continued: The original plan by the CEO was to remove tips all together. However, due to the backlash, they left them in but hid them. Many of us believe it was retaliation.

Last month, Instacart shoppers created fliers explaining the new service fee to customers. Some shoppers also talked to the customers in person or used the app to explain the service fee. Most customers were outraged and began leaving comments on shoppers reviews. Some even went as far as to complain directly to Instacart, demanding a refund and asking that their service fee instead be given to shoppers. Instacart didn't seem to like that very much.

She added: Instacart updated the shopper contract and added an arbitration clause about three months ago, pre-flyering. Many of us believe that this was the result of the lawsuit they had brought against them last year. Many shoppers chose to sign it under duress, and they really did feel it was under duress. You couldn't start your shift or pick up hours until you signed it.
Monte Paschi di Siena (MPS), Italys third-largest bank, will seek a state bailout to meet an emergency cash crunch at the end of 2016, as tens of billions of bad debts pile up on its books.

MPS spokesmen admitted late Wednesday night that the bank could not find a so-called anchor investor, a private investor that would invest the key portion of the necessary funds in the bank, after the oil sheikdom of Qatar refused to invest 2 billion in MPS. On Thursday morning, MPS shares on the Milan stock exchange collapsed to a new record low of 14.71, having already lost 87 percent over the year.

On Wednesday, Italys parliament accepted preconditions for a 20 billion bailout being prepared by Italian Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan. The Chamber voted 389-134 and the Senate 221-60 to approve the plan. The ruling Democratic Party (PD), the New Center Right (NCD), and ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia backed the plan, while right-wing populist Beppe Grillos Five-Star Movement (M5S) voted against.

The Corriere della Sera wrote, Finding those 5 billion euros on the market before the years end would have given a respite to the bank led by [MPS CEO] Marco Morelli. Now instead it will have to seek fresh air from the financial lungs of the Treasury, although it is unclear what form this will take.

The bankruptcy of European capitalism is again starkly exposed. Tens of billions in public funds are to be handed over to the financial aristocracy, as Italy and Europe slide ever deeper into slump, in a bailout that only sets the stage for further disasters. MPS and Italys largest bank, UniCredit, are poised to announce branch closures and tens of thousands of job cuts, with other banks to follow.

The state bailout also threatens not only to ruin small businesses that have borrowed from MPS and at least 40,000 small savers that have invested in MPS bonds, but to unleash deep conflicts among the European powers over the bailouts terms.

Under European rules effective since the beginning of 2016, state bailouts are illegal unless the bailed-out banks creditors take a haircut on at least 8 percent of the banks liabilities. When these rules were applied to smaller Italian banks last year, ruining many of their depositors, it provoked a political uproar and protests after a ruined 68-year-old retiree committed suicide in Civitavecchia.

Amid speculation over whether the Italian Cabinet would meet late last night or today to discuss the MPS bailout, reports emerged that the bail-in provisions were included in the PDs plans. The scheme is ready, a senior Italian official declared. The burden-sharing principle will be respected, but we will try to limit the damage to savers as much as possible.

European parliamentarians (MEPs) have charged that planned MPS bailouts are illegal and are demanding harsh terms against the Italian banks. Earlier this month, MEP and Green parliamentary fraction leader Sven Giegold said the MPS bailout would be an unacceptable breach of the firewall between governments and banks and an assault on confidence in the banking union.

With his December 4 referendum on constitutional changes, former PD Prime Minister Matteo Renzi hoped to strengthen his powers and limit those of the Senate, so as to be able to impose whatever terms he worked out with European authorities and the financial markets.

After Renzis referendum failed in a landslide, however, the crisis rapidly intensified. The European Central Bank (ECB) rejected MPS request for more time to meet capital requirements, and Qatar refused to invest more funds without more details on what government would emerge from Renzis resignation.

Enormous tension over the Italian banking crisis pervades international financial markets and the European political system. With Italian banks facing 360 billion in bad debts, there are fears that attempts to bail out MPS could simply starve UniCredit, an even larger bank, of capital it needs to survive and avert a collapse of the entire European banking system. Other major European banks massively exposed to Italian banks include two of Frances big three banks, BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole, and Germanys fourth-largest bank, Hypovereinsbank.

Moreover, Grillos anti-European Union (EU) and anti-euro M5S is rising against the ever more unpopular PD, threatening the PD government of Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni hastily installed after Renzis defeat.

Wolfango Piccoli of Teneo Intelligence predicted that conflicts over the MPS bailout would only emerge after the Christmas holidays, but that they would become politically toxic later. In terms of the junior bondholders [i.e., small savers], lets see what happens. It will eventually be decided by Brussels, he told the Guardian, adding: This will drag on for some time. If we have elections in May or June, it will be used then [against the PD], and there is no way to deflect that.

The MPS bailout will only intensify the historic crisis of the EU and of European capitalism, most starkly demonstrated by the victory this summer of the British referendum, called by sections of the Conservative Party and of the far-right UK Independence Party, to leave the EU.

The principal danger currently is that rising social anger is benefiting right-wing forces. The MPS bailout threatens to ruin thousands of middle class Italians amid rising electoral support for right-wing populists not only of the M5S in Italy, but across Europe. The neo-fascist Front National could take power in next years French presidential elections, on a program of leaving the euro and holding a referendum on Frances EU membership.

There is growing discussion that, in the event of a major banking crisis in Italy, Rome might bail out its banks in overt violation of European rules, setting up an explosive confrontation with the EU. Italy would be willing to pump billions of euros into its banks to stem a systemic crisis in defiance of the EU, say people familiar with the governments thinking, the Financial Times wrote earlier this month.

At the same time, the MPS bailout will simply intensify the economic and social crisis in Italy and across Europe that is undermining the banking system.

The recession that followed the financial crash of 2008 has wiped out nearly a quarter of Italian industry. There is vast unemployment, far higher than the official rate of 11 percent, since many of the unemployed are no longer counted as part of the labor force. The official youth unemployment rate is around 40 percent, however. There is deep and rising poverty, particularly in the South, and more recently in earthquake-hit regions, where most people have not had the chance to move away and start their lives anew in other locations.
The population of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Indias only Muslim-majority state, confronts unrelenting repression by heavily-armed central and state government security forces, including indiscriminate pellet-gun barrages, arbitrary and repeated arrests, and deliberate blinding and killing of unarmed protestors. This is the central conclusion of a report issued by a 25-member fact-finding group drawn from left-liberal NGOs.

The volunteer group, which included Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan and Anuradha Bhasin of the Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy, visited Indias northern-most state for 10 days in November.

Their report extensively documents widespread and shocking human rights violations by the Indian state and blatantly criminal behavior by security personnel.

Indias Hindu Supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and its local partner, the J&K Peoples Democratic Party, responded with ferocious violence to the mass protests that convulsed the Kashmir Valley during much of the summer and fall. The protests erupted following the July 8 encounter killingi.e. summary executionof a 21 year-old leader of an Islamist, Kashmiri separatist insurgent group, the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Rattled by the size and tenacity of the protests, the BJP government blamed them on Pakistan-supported terrorists and ratcheted up pressure on Islamabad. Its aims were two-fold: to draw attention away from the popular protests in J&K and their brutal repression at the hands of the India state and to compel Islamabad to end all logistical support for the quarter-century long insurgency in Indian-held Kashmir.

In late September, the BJP government plunged South Asia into its gravest war crisis in at least 15 years. It ordered illegal and highly provocative cross-border raids inside Pakistan-held Kashmir in reputed retaliation for the September 18 Islamist attack on the Indian military base at Uri, then vowed it would continue to impose an unacceptable price on Pakistan until all attacks on India from Pakistan ceased.

When the 25-member fact-finding group visited Kashmir between November 11 and 20, the Indian and Pakistani armies were mounting massive military barrages across the Line of Control that separates Indian- and Pakistan-held Kashmir, effectively blowing apart the shaky truce that has prevailed between the rival nuclear-armed states since 2003.

The civil society fact-finding report notes that the concentration of security forces in J&K is among the heaviest in the world. An estimated 700,000 Indian Army, paramilitary and state police forces watch over a population of just 14 million. Moreover, because of the legal immunity granted the state police under the J&K Public Safety Act (1978) and the army and paramilitary forces in Kashmir under Indias notorious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), they can and do act with impunity.

The fact-finding volunteers traveled to the Kashmir Valley districts where the recent protests have been most widespread and gathered much evidence of the violence and humiliations that the Indian military and state police have imposed on the local populace.

The report states (unarmed) protests have been met with sustained attack by the Indian army, police and paramilitary, including with the use of pellet guns, (chili-based) PAVA shells and firearms. We learnt of several deaths caused by targeted killings of unarmed civilians by armed forces in the absence of protests or demonstrations. (Emphasis added)

The volunteers further found that most pellet-gun wounds have been above the waist, indicating that security forces have deliberately sought to blind and kill protesters.

Most deaths we came across, say the volunteers, have been caused by injuries waist-above, without any warning fire. Deaths and injuries caused by pellet guns too are all above the waist and preponderantly at eye level causing blinding or long-term ophthalmic damage.

Casualty counts vary, as the government is trying to cover up the scale of its repression and families often fear informing authorities that a member has been injured for fear of reprisals. But close to a hundred civilians have been killed since the protests erupted in early July. Many thousands morethe J&K daily Greater Kashmir claims 15,000have been injured.

The report notes that Indian security forces invariably justify their violence by dubbing its victims as anti-national. In fact, this is a catch-all phrase that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government routinely employ against persons or organizations expressing even sympathy with the victims of the state repression in Kashmir.

The report documents how families that pursue legal remedies against the security personnel responsible for the killing of their loved ones are subjected to raids, repeated arrests and even torture from the out-of-control security establishment.

Collective punishments, including destruction of property and animals and revenge attacks, akin to those Israels security forces mete out to the Palestinians, are the norm in Kashmir. The fact-finding report bears witness to this: In the towns and villages where there were killings by the Indian Army, police and paramilitary, we met with ordinary people who narrated a cycle of search and seizure raids following killings, and of indiscriminate firing, including at funerals and memorial gatherings. In several of these instances the Indian Army, police and paramilitary broke windows and destroyed household goods, livestock, and food rations in peoples homes.

In several of the villages and towns we visited, continues the report, the armed forces, during their search and seizure operations, routinely destroy the local electricity transformer or sub-station, denying the entire village or locality access to electricity. (Emphasis added)

The mass character of the protests in the Kashmir Valley have given the lie to the Modi governments claims that the opposition to Indian rule is simply or mainly the product of Pakistani intrigue and Pakistani-sponsored terrorism. The Kashmiri separatist groups supported by Islamabad were in fact taken by surprise by this summers eruption of mass protests.

The report describes the widespread popular disaffection with an Indian state that has repeatedly violated J&Ks special autonomous status within the Indian Union, imposed presidential or central government rule, rigged elections, and for decades resorted to mass repression, including disappearances, torture and summary executions. From common people, says the report, we heard articulate accounts of what they have faced from the Indian state and, in particular, of the sustained attack on their democratic rights from 1989 onwards. The failure of the Indian state and every government since independence to address the political sentiments of Kashmiri people is a source of both hurt and enormous resentment.

The Modi governments violent repression of the popular protests in J&K has been politically aided and abetted by the opposition parties, including the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its Left Front. All of them unequivocally defend the right of the Indian bourgeoisie to rule over Kashmir, have helped in the cover-up of the atrocities being carried out by Indian security forces in Kashmir, and have hailed the provocative military strikes that Indian Special Forces troops carried out inside Pakistan in late September.

The Kashmir tragedy and the reactionary military-strategic rivalry between India and Pakistan with which it is inextricably enmeshed are the outcome of the reactionary communal Partition of South Asia. In 1947, South Asias departing British imperial overlords and the rival factions of the national bourgeoisie divided the subcontinent into an expressly Muslim Pakistan and a predominantly Hindu India.

While the India ruling class and its state have repressed the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistani bourgeoisie has run roughshod over the basic rights of the people of Pakistan-held Kashmir and systematically sought to manipulate the Kashmir question for its own reactionary ends. Islamabad responded to the eruption of mass opposition to the Indian state, after New Delhi rigged the 1989 elections, by sponsoring Islamist insurgent groups, whom it used to impose a pronounced communalist and pro-Pakistani outlook. This included mounting violent attacks on J&Ks Hindu and Sikh minorities.

The reactionary character of the Indian-Pakistani dispute over Kashmir is exemplified by the legal basis of their respective claims to undivided Kashmir i.e., to all of the territories that had belonged, prior to Partition, to the British Indian Empire princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistans claim is based on the reactionary communalist ideology that underlies the Pakistani state: Kashmir is rightfully Pakistans because it is a majority-Muslim area contiguous to the Muslim homeland in the subcontinents northwest.

India, meanwhile, bases its claim not on the support of the Kashmiri people, but on the document of accession to the Indian Union signed by the last member of the British-backed Hindu princely dynasty that ruled Jammu and Kashmir.

The democratic rights of the Kashmiri people will be secured and the threat of a catastrophic nuclear war between India and Pakistan lifted only through a joint, working class-led struggle of the masses of the subcontinent to put an end to capitalist rule and establish the Socialist United States of South Asia.
The editorial reaction of the major US media to Mondays assassination of Russias ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, by a member of an elite Turkish police unit has been highly revealing.

Both the New York Times and the Washington Post, the American political establishments two newspapers of record, published editorials that essentially lamented that the murder had not furthered a rupture in the recently warming relations between the Turkish and Russian governments.

On the contrary, just a day after the killing the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers met in Moscow and drafted a joint declaration laying out a proposal to achieve a cease-fire and political settlement in Syria.

The meeting, from which Washington was excluded, was made possible by the stunning defeat suffered by US imperialisms proxy forces in Syriathe Al Qaeda-linked Islamist militiawith the Syrian governments retaking of eastern Aleppo. The loss by the Islamists of their last major urban stronghold signals the failure of the nearly six-year-old CIA-orchestrated war for regime change that has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands and turned millions more into refugees.

The New York Times, noting worriedly that the assassination had not ruptured relations between Moscow and Ankara, warned that losing Turkey as an ally would be another unacceptable casualty of the Syrian war.

The Washington Post, while asserting that the killing was a sign that Russia may pay a price in blowback for its intervention in Syria, concluded that it had done nothing to deter a Russian-Turkish alliance that could have the effect of excluding the United States from the endgame of Syrias civil war and critically weakening U.S. influence across the Middle East.

The implications of these editorials are clear. While formally opposing the assassination of Karlov, the Times and the Post are concerned that the killing appears to have had the opposite of the desired effect.

Given the rabidly anti-Russian campaign, including hysterical denunciations of the siege of east Aleppo as a massacre and even genocide, as well as suggestions by leading US officials such as ex-CIA chief Michael Morell that Washington must make Moscow pay a price, including by killing Russians, these reactions raise the inevitable question of to what extent Washington was involved in the assassination, either directly or indirectly. Officials and media sources in both Russia and Turkey have voiced strong suspicion that there were direct links.

From one quarter of the media, however, there is not even a pretense of opposition to the assassination.

The New York Daily News published a column Tuesday by Gersh Kuntzman whose headline argued that the assassination of the ambassador was not terrorism, but retribution for Vladimir Putins war crimes.

The gunning down of Karlov in an Ankara art gallery was a matter, the column argued, of justice being served. Such vile declarations make Kuntzman and the Daily News accomplices to Karlovs murder after the fact.

Kuntzman describes himself as a liberal and wrote before the election as a declared supporter of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. He enthusiastically joined in the neo-McCarthyite propaganda campaign mounted over the unsubstantiated allegations of Russian hacking and interference in the US election. In another column Kuntzman described Russias President Putin as a murderous, expansionistic autocrat who follows decades of murderous, expansionistic autocrats from the czars through the Bolsheviks through the Cold War to today...

Kuntzman provides the typical US propaganda narrative of the Russian-backed siege of eastern Aleppo, portraying it as an entirely one-sided slaughter of civilians in which the US-backed Islamist militias who terrorized the local population are entirely excluded from consideration.

Karlov, whose career goes back to the Soviet diplomatic corps in the mid-1970s, wasnt a diplomat, but a soldier, Kuntzman writes, and his death is the same whether it came on a battlefield outside Aleppo or in an art gallery in Ankara.

One somehow doubts that Kuntzman would employ the same logic in the event of the killing of a US ambassador by any one of the millions of Iraqis, Afghans, Libyans, Yemenis, Somalis, Pakistanis and Syrians who have seen their families and loved-ones killed by US military interventions.

What makes Kuntzmans dishonest and debased column even more noxious is his attempt to draw a historical analogy between the murder of Karlov in Ankara and the November 7, 1938 killing of a Nazi official in Paris by 17-year-old Herschel Grynszpan, the son of Polish-Jewish parents who grew up in Germany.

The young Grynszpan killed Ernst vom Rath, a Nazi representative in Paris and member of the SA, Hitlers Stormtroopers. In an apparent attempt to further his equation of Rath with Karlov, Kuntzman idiotically writes that Stormtrooper Raths crime was that he could have stood up to the Nazi leadership when it would have mattered most, but he did not.

Grynszpan carried out the killing immediately after the Nazi regime ordered the mass deportation of some 12,000 Polish Jews, his parents included, who were brutally rounded up and dumped on the Polish border. The assassination was invoked as the pretext for the Kristallnacht pogroms against the Jewish population of Germany. Grynszpan was jailed first by the French government and then by the Nazis, and was most likely murdered in Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1942.

At the time of the killing, Leon Trotsky, the leader of the Russian Revolution and founder of the Fourth International, defended Grynszpan against the slanders of both the Nazis and the Moscow Stalinists. While making clear the opposition of Marxists to the tactic of individual terror, Trotsky recognized that Grynszpan was not a political militant but an inexperienced youth, almost a boy, whose only counselor was a feeling of indignation.

The unprecedented crimes of fascism create a yearning for vengeance that is wholly justifiable, Trotsky wrote. But so monstrous is the scope of their crimes, that this yearning cannot be satisfied by the assassination of isolated fascist bureaucrats. For that it is necessary to set in motion millions, tens and hundreds of millions of the oppressed throughout the whole world and lead them in the assault upon the strongholds of the old society.

Kuntzman has no such concerns. Terrorism against Russia, US imperialisms designated enemy, is just fine with him. To justify it, he equates the acts of Putin with those of Hitler, thereby simultaneously making the case for war with Russia and diminishing and relativizing the historic crimes of Nazism.

By making these comparisons, Kuntzman not only attempts to bestow legitimacy on the assassination of Karlov, but also manages to smear the memory of Grynszpan by associating his action with that carried out by the most reactionary, fascistic and sectarian forces.

Mevlut Mert Altntas, who pumped nine bullets into Ambassador Karlovs back, was no innocent youth, but a trained killer, a member of the Ankara riot squad and someone who reportedly served on the security detail of Turkeys president.

Moreover, there is persuasive evidence that he carried out the killing in support of the Al Qaeda-linked militias in Syria. After gunning down the ambassador, Altntas began ranting first in Arabic and then in Turkish, shouting out that he was one of those who give Mohammed our allegiance for jihad, a slogan used by Al Qaeda. Moreover, Jaish al-Fatah (Army of Conquest), the joint command center of Islamist militias dominated by the Syrian Al Qaeda affiliate, issued a statement Wednesday claiming responsibility for the assassination.

None of this, of course, finds its way into Kunzmans despicable column. That a major American newspaper can publish such a piece, lionizing an Al Qaeda killer and justifying an act of terrorism, is a telling indication of the crisis and disorientation gripping the US ruling establishment. It is a warning that such forces will be employed again in far deadlier actions, and a measure of the advanced state of the preparations for war against Russia.
Amid a barrage of anti-Russian hysteria whipped up by the US government and media, a House committee report declassified on Thursday alleges that former NSA contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden stole information both for his own personal gain as well as for foreign governments, including Russian intelligence agencies with whom he had purportedly been in close contact. This report also comes amid popular demands to the Obama administration that Snowden be pardoned.

According to the highlights, which are themselves heavily redacted, Snowden removed a vast number of documents that were unrelated to electronic surveillance or to any privacy or civil liberties issues. The committee suggests that if the Russian or Chinese governments have access to this information, American troops will be at a greater risk in any future conflict. This of course suggests that government officials, including those serving on this committee, are preparing for such a conflict.

A section of the report attempts to lay out evidence that Snowden was not a whistleblower, at least not under current law. It states that no evidence was found that Snowden attempted to communicate concerns about the legality or morality of intelligence activities to any officials, senior or otherwise.

The report does not offer any legitimate proof of its accusations, and in fact the declassified document could best be described as character assassination of the lowest level. Much of what the committee did was counterpose verbal and written statements made by Snowden with its own records of his work for the NSA and CIA.

For example, the committee states that some of the network drives Snowden searched belonged to individuals involved in the hiring decision for a job for which Snowden had applied. It later suggests that Snowden stole both a test and its answers in order to gain a position within the Tailored Access Operations office (TAO). Of course, neither of these assertions are supported by any evidence that Snowden obtained his position through nefarious means, only that he had access to such information.

The committee further suggests that Snowden lied when he stated that his breaking point when he decided to become a whistleblower came in March 2013, after Director of National Intelligence James Clapper gave his congressional testimony. It points out that Snowden had already begun his unauthorized mass downloading of information eight months earlier, in July 2012.

The report also claims that Snowdens statements that he had ethical qualms about working for the CIA are spurious since he never mentioned these concerns during official counseling sessions. Neither the CIA IG, the report claims, nor any other CIA intelligence oversight official or manager has a record of Snowden expressing any concerns.

This last accusation is particularly outrageous, since the committee spends a considerable amount of space in the report painting Snowden as a disgruntled employee who became engaged in numerous spats with his supervisors. These spats include 2006 and 2008 incidents in which Snowden sought guidance through official channels when he thought he was being treated unfairly by his superiors. It is no wonder that Snowden did not feel comfortable addressing more monumental concerns within the agency itself.

Most egregious is the assertion that Snowden stole information for the purpose of sharing it with Russian intelligence services. One should be reminded that Snowdens purpose was not to be trapped in Russia for the last three years, or for the foreseeable future.

The Obama administration took extraordinary measures in 2013 to prevent Snowden from receiving asylum from many nations around the world. It cancelled his passport to prevent him from traveling and even went so far as to ground the airplane of Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, under suspicion that Snowden could be aboard. In the end, after being trapped for six weeks in the transit zone of Moscows Sheremetyevo International Airport, Snowden was granted a temporary one-year residency visa by the Russian government. This permit was renewed for three more years in 2014.

The current report was unanimously adopted by the House Personal Select Committee on Intelligence in September. It released a press report at that time making the same attempts to portray Snowden as an unprincipled thief and a problem employee who was only seeking revenge on US intelligence agencies. Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes stated at the time that Snowden is a traitor who willfully betrayed his colleagues and his country.

House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff stated on Thursday that most of the material that [Snowden] stole had nothing to do with Americans privacy. Its compromise has been of great value to Americas adversaries and those who mean to do America harm.

Schiff and his committee colleagues wrote a letter to President Obama in September urging him not to pardon Snowden. Obama, who has presided over the manhunt for and persecution of Snowden, has no intention of granting any such pardon. He has evaded this question by stating in November that he cant pardon Snowden because he hasnt gone before a court.

The principal aim of both major parties is to use the Snowden affair to further ratchet up Washingtons campaign against Russia and to intimidate anyone else with access to evidence of US imperialisms vast illegal surveillance apparatus and other crimes from releasing it to the public.
Europe

Anti-austerity march in Spain

Some 30,000 workers demonstrated in Spains capital Madrid Sunday to protest the right-wing governments labour reform. The protest was called by the UGT and CCOO labor federations under the slogan, People and their rights first.

Those on the march called for an increase in salaries and pensions and for an end to the austerity measures being imposed by the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The march was supported by the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the pseudo-left Podemos and United Left parties.

Dutch rail workers strike

Dutch train drivers and conductors are due to strike today at 11 a.m. They work for the NS rail service covering the Randstad area, which comprises Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Hoofddorp. The members of the WMC union are in dispute over new working conditions introduced in September.

Strike by German Amazon staff

Several hundred staff working for the German arm of the online retailer Amazon walked out Wednesday, beginning a three-day strike. The Verdi union members are employed at three of Amazons nine warehouses in Germany. Staff at the Koblenz warehouse came out on strike Monday.

The strike is part of a long-running dispute over the demand that Amazon staff be paid in line with other German retail staff, rather than their current wage which is in line with other lower-paid logistics staff.

Strike by London cinema staff over poverty pay

Some staff working for the Hackney Picturehouse cinema in London began a five-day strike December 15, returning to work Tuesday. The BECTU trade members are in a long-running dispute with the company to force it to pay the current London Living Wage of 9.75 an hour.

UK ferry employees balloted for strike

Staff employed by Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd, which runs the Woolwich Ferry service across Londons river Thames on behalf of Transport for London, are to be balloted. Balloting will begin on January 3 and last for 10 days. The Unite union, which represents 36 of the ferry staff, is organizing the ballot. It claims the company has failed to stand by agreements. The union also cites concerns over health and safety issues.

Planned strike by UK airport baggage handling staff called off

Over 1,500 staff working for the airport baggage handling company Swissport, which covers several UK airports, were due to strike on Friday and Christmas Eve. This week it was called off by the Unite trade union.

Staff had voted by a near two-thirds majority to strike after rejecting a 4.65 percent pay offer covering the period 2015 to 2017. The company has made a revised pay offer which is being recommended by the union.

On Thursday, Unite was involved in further talks over ending another planned strike, also over pay, by British Airways cabin crew scheduled for December 25 and 26.

Weetabix cereal workers in UK vote to strike

Over 240 Weetabix cereal manufacturing staff at factories in England have voted in favour of a series of strikes. They are opposed to the new 24/7 shift pattern brought in by the company. The action by the Usdaw union members at Weetabix sites in Corby and Kettering will comprise a 24-hour strike once a week beginning in the New Year.

Protest by Hungarian teachers

On Monday, teachers protested outside the Hungarian parliament to demand the resignation of the Human Resource Minister and for an independent educational ministry to be set up, along with a new law on public education. The protest followed a press conference organised by the Civic Public Education Platform.

The protests are against the public education law brought in five years ago. Speakers outlined how that law had led to continuous change and the resulting chaos. One speaker explained how it had led to teachers having to teach more lessons with larger class sizes and burdened them with more administrative duties.

Icelandic fishermen strike enters second week

The strike by Icelandic fishermen, which began on December 14, has entered its second week. The action is a resumption of last months strike over a collective bargaining agreement. Last week, members of the four unions representing fishermen, The Fishermens Union Iceland, the Westfjords Union, the Seamens Union of Iceland and Velstjorafelag Grindavikur, all rejected the collective bargaining agreement reached after last months strike.

The issues at stake include the pricing of catches and employers proposals for lower manning levels on trawler decks which the fishermen fear would compromise safety.

The strike is beginning to impact the fish processing plants, with four out of six plants in Vestmannaeyjar having to stop production and the other two likely to cease production this week.

Irish nurses vote to strike over staff shortages

Irish nurses belonging to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have voted by a 90 percent majority to strike over staff shortages. According to INMO, there are 3,500 fewer nurses today than in 2009, while demand for health services has increased.

The proposed action comprises one-day stoppages, a work-to-rule, only working rostered hours and a refusal to be redeployed to other wards to cover staff shortages. It is reported that the action is unlikely to begin until the end of next January.

Strike threat by staff at Irish youth detention centre

Residential care workers and night supervising officers, together with middle managers at the Oberstown youth detention facility in County Dublin are threatening to strike on January 3. The Impact union members are threatening to take action over fears arising from repeated violent incidents at the facility. The staff accuse Oberstown management of refusing to make protective clothing available. Reviews of safety concerns at the facility are under way.

Middle East

Israeli municipal workers stage general strike

On Wednesday, workers at all local, regional and municipal authorities, with the exception of Jerusalem, struck in opposition to austerity and cuts outlined by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu in its latest budget.

Among services hit were waste disposal and sanitation and social services. High schools, kindergartens and cultural institutions were closed. The Jerusalam Post reported that although primary school teachers did not strike, their schools were without secretarial, sanitation and caretaker staff.

The strike began following a breakdown in talks with government representatives. Jerusalem was not affected, as its public services are funded from a different budget.

On Sunday, the government approved total budget cuts of NIS 3.3 billion per year ($0.87 billion). All told, the cuts will affect 190 of Israels local authorities.

Israeli tax authority employees go-slow action

Israeli tax authority employees are taking part in a go-slow, which is leading to delays in real estate deals and the collection of taxes. They are seeking a pay increase in line with bank employees who have a similar career path and expertise to tax authority staff. The latter have been awarded a $400 pay increase.

Protest in Kuwait over pay arrears

Cleaning workers recently held a protest in Kuwait to highlight the fact that they have not received their wages for the last three months.

Africa

Kenyan doctors and nurses continue their strike

The strike by Kenyan doctors entered its third week on Wednesday. The Kenyan Medical Practitioners, Pharmacist and Dentist Union (KMPPDU) has been served a court ruling ordering the doctors to return to work.

KMPPDU claims it has not been issued a stay of the strike by the court. The union stated it will not have further meetings with the federal government until it implements the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of 2013. This includes increased wages, promotions, and increased medical staff and funding for improved hospital conditions.

Three hundred consultants who initially stayed at work have agreed to withdraw their services in support of the doctors until the CBA is implemented.

Kenyan nurses demands betrayed by union

Kenyan nurses on strike alongside doctors over the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are continuing their strike, in the face of the Kenyan National Union of Nurses (KNUN) signing an agreement calling for a return to work. A KNUN meeting on December 14 with the Nigerian Council of Governors broke up in disarray when a section of the nurses union, led by the union secretary general, walked out.

The union secretary general said the governors wanted a return to work before negotiations. A report in the December 19 Kenyan Star said an agreement had been made based on 47 county governments agreeing on union recognition. KNUN says the recognition agreement allows the union to strike a new collective bargaining agreement next year.

A new CBA will now be agreed and a monthly pay of between Sh15,000 ($146) and 20,000 ($195) depending on job gradepreviously rejected by the nursesis to be paid in stages in January and July next year. Many of the other issues in the 2013 agreement raised by nurses have not been resolved.

The striking nurses are insisting that the 2013 CBA is the only basis for a settlement.

Kenyan public workers strike to demand outstanding wages

Public-sector workers in Migori County, Kenya, called a strike December 13 to demand payment of outstanding wages. The Kenya County Government Workers Union is demanding payment in back wages and auxiliary payments of Sh134 million ($1.3 million), covering over 1,500 workers.

Nigerian airline workers strike over unpaid wages and conditions

Three unions at Arik Airlines in Nigeria struck Tuesday demanding payment of wages. Members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, National Union of Air Transport Employees and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria mounted picket lines at 6 a.m. at the air terminals, completely closing the airline down.

Riot police were sent to confront pickets at the airlines head office.

Negotiations were called by the National Aviation Authority, allowing flights to resume from Lagos and Abuja in the afternoon and normal flights to continue the next day. Apart from seven months unpaid wages and the non-remittance of statutory dues, other reasons for the strike are the victimisation of employees campaigning to form a union, and a labour quota law.

Other airlines took advantage of the lack of airline capacity by increasing airfares by 100 percent. Arik is Nigerias largest airline, with some 40 percent of the market and is billions of naira in debt to its dependents.

Nigerian oil workers union calls off strikes

Workers in the Nigerian oil industry went on strike over illegal sackings imposed by US conglomerate ExxonMobil. Oil unions have been demanding the federal government take action against international oil companies illegally sacking workers from their operations. ExxonMobil gave out sacking notices to 115 of its workforce while negotiations over jobs were taking place.

Protests have also taken place at other Exxon operations, including 1,000 youth in Akwa Ibom State blocking entrance to offices, over the arbitrary sacking of local workers. Members of the Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria trade union protested at Exxon offices in Lagos over the breaching of labour laws, forcing them to close down.

Union members also shut down operations of offshore rigs, threatening approximately 30 percent of Nigerias daily output of 2.2 million barrels per day.

The strike was then called off and a proposed strike on January 9 postponed, on the basis of forming a committee to look into the issues. All action has now been called off until the committee reports on January 10.

Zimbabwe mine employees sacked for entering mine premises

Zimbabwean gold miners, out on strike since November 24, are facing unlawful dismissal. They are demanding unpaid salaries and payment of remittances to relevant bodies. The mine, owned by the British company Clarity Capital, responded to the strike with sackings and suspensions.

The National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe is calling on the government to get the company to issue a show cause order for the sackings.

This is the latest example, as with many other cases across Africa, of workers going on strike for not being paid and being hit with a court injunction declaring their action illegal. The union said that workers attempting to return to work are being assaulted by management.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Gov. Rick Scott has assigned a complaint filed against Attorney General Pam Bondi to a prosecutor in southwest Florida.

The complaint stems from scrutiny this year over a $25,000 campaign contribution Bondi received from President-elect Donald Trump in 2013. Bondi asked for the donation around the same time her office was being asked about a New York investigation of alleged fraud at Trump University.

A Massachusetts attorney filed numerous complaints against Bondi, including one that asked State Attorney Mark Ober to investigate Trump's donation.

Ober asked Scott in September to appoint a different prosecutor because Bondi used to work for him.

Scott assigned the case Friday to State Attorney Stephen Russell, who has one year to decide whether the complaint has any merit.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee native and a Florida A&M University alum is once again packing up and heading to Washington D.C.

Tola Thompson is the long time director and assistant vice president of FAMU's Government Relations efforts.

According to university officials, Thompson will be taking up a post in Washington D.C. as the Chief of Staff to newly elected congressman, Al Lawson.

He says it has been a great pleasure to serve the community.

"It is and exciting opportunity. I'm very excited to be able to represent this community and work with such a fine public servant as Al Lawson," said Thompson. "He loves this county and this region of the state so I'm very excited to be able to assist him and help him meet the needs of this community."

Thompson says, he is not done helping his alma mater.

He'll be serving the district which the university falls in.
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB)  It was a typical day at the local McDonalds on Tamiami Trail as customers casually placed their breakfast orders. Until they heard the screams.

A man came out of the bathroom screaming, shes pregnant! Shes pregnant! says April Jones, a nurse who happened to be at the McDonalds eating breakfast at the time.

Jones was quick to respond and ran toward the distressed calls. Jones says by the time she got inside the bathroom stall, sometime around 10 a.m. on Dec. 17, the woman was already in labor. Quickly, Jones set down two jackets and placed the mother on top, preparing her to push.

It all happened very fast, says Jones. She pushed, then pushed again and the baby was out. At first, he was blue and not breathing. Thats when the paramedics came.

Jones assisted the paramedics by clamping the umbilical cord attached to the baby while emergency officials cut the cord. Once the umbilical cord was separated, thats when Jones said the baby started breathing.

By that time, the baby breathed like he was a fish out of water, says Jones. Emergency officials took over from there.

The woman, Cathy Jordan, and her newborn baby were rushed to a local hospital where they received treatment. Jones followed shortly behind, driving with the newborns father, Shawn Jordan.

Upon their arrival, it was announce that Cathy Jordan had given birth to a healthy baby boy weighing 5 pounds and 9 ounces, arriving one month earlier than expected. The couple named their newborn baby boy Parker.

Everything I needed to do just came to me, says Jones. I thought to myself, this has to be the strongest child Ive ever seen in my life.
Most babies born in 1900 didn't live to see 50, but most Americans born this year will reach the upper end of the 70s, and a record number of us will hit the century mark. The steady gains in human lifespans over the past century have caused some people to wonder if lifespans of 1,000 years  or even physical immortality  may one day be possible.

New government data, however, is raining on the longevity parade. Life expectancy in America declined by a fraction in 2015, worrying some health officials who fear the change may mark the beginning of an ominous trend.

"I think we should be very concerned. This is singular. This doesn't happen," Princeton University economist Anne Case said in The Washington Post.

In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent mortality report, released Dec. 8, life expectancy fell from 78.9 years in 2014 to 78.8 in 2015.

The last time life expectancy dropped in the U.S. was in 1993, when the HIV/AIDS epidemic and an outbreak of flu contributed to a decline from 75.7 to 75.4.

This year's drop is even smaller and could be a statistical blip. But some health professionals have been predicting a downward turn because of the obesity epidemic and wonder if this could be it.

Also at play could be the increasing number of Americans suffering from "diseases of despair"  suicide and addiction.

No single cause

Case, the Princeton economist, made headlines last year for research that found a startling increase in mortality among middle-aged whites.

The newest data confirm that trend. The only groups for whom life expectancy held steady were Hispanics, and African-American women. For everyone else, life expectancy fell.

The number of deaths from cancer declined, a drop which health experts attribute to earlier detection and more effective treatments. But that was the only good news. The mortality rate increased in eight out of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S., the CDC said. These include heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and suicide.

The biggest increase was in the number of people whose deaths were attributed to Alzheimer's disease, up 15.7 percent from 2014.

More than 2.7 million Americans died in 2015  86,212 more than the previous year.

The infant mortality rate  the ratio of infant deaths to births  ticked upward, too: from 582.1 infant deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014 to 589.5 in 2015.

The change was largely due to an increase in unintentional injuries and sudden infant death syndrome; however, the CDC deemed the change "statistically insignificant."

For all Americans, the mortality rate went from 724.6 per 100,000 people to 733.1 per 100,000. But physical health wasn't the only reason for the decline; mental health figures into it, too.

"Diseases of despair"  such as alcoholism and drug abuse  are on the rise, and helped contribute to a 2.6 percent increase in suicide in 2015. One in six Americans took a drug for mental health in 2013.

The CDC reported the data without speculating on the reasons for the change. "When you see increases in so many of the leading causes of death, it's difficult to pinpoint one particular cause as the culprit," Robert Anderson, chief of the mortality statistics branch at the National Center for Health Statistics, told Rob Stein of NPR.

One thing that didn't change: As in previous years, women can generally expect to live longer than men. A 65-year-old woman can expect to live 20.6 more years, compared to 18 years for a 65-year-old man. The difference is generally attributed to men being less likely to take care of themselves and more likely to engage in risky behavior, but a new study published Dec. 13 posits that viruses have evolved to be more dangerous to men than women.

The limits of longevity

The data challenge not just the assumption that Americans will continue to live longer as health care and technology improve, but also raise questions about whether the human lifespan has a ceiling  and if so, what it is.

If we eventually eradicate all forms of disease, or find ways to treat them, and if we can find ways to replace aging body parts, the human body could be immortal, some people say.

A more realistic view is taken by Jan Vijg of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, who has analyzed longevity records around the world and concluded that, Methuselah notwithstanding, humans seem to have an age ceiling of about 115 years.

In a study published in October in the journal Nature, Vijg and colleagues said that the ages of the oldest people dying around the world increased between the 1960s and 1970s, but the numbers have remained flat since then.

"The take-home message essentially is this whole ever-increasing life expectancy of humans cannot go on," Vijg told Stein, in another report for NPR.

That, however, was before the news broke Dec. 15 that researchers had found a way to rejuvenate the cells of aging mice, not only making them look younger and heal from injury faster, but extending their lives by 30 percent.

"Our study shows that aging may not have to proceed in one single direction. With careful modulation, aging might be reversed," co-author Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte told Hannah Devlin, science correspondent for The Guardian in the U.K.

The findings could lead to some forms of human trials within 10 years, the researchers said.

The toll of obesity

Even if anti-aging therapies are developed for humans, it's unclear if they could counter the damage that humans do to their own health with sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits. While some doctors believe it's possible to be both fit and fat, the obesity epidemic in America has likely contributed to this year's decline in longevity, as well as anemic gains in previous years, analysts said.

"Heart disease, stroke, diabetes  the impact of obesity is across the board. And people are living long enough to show the long-term effects," S. Jay Olshansky, a researcher at the University of Illinois School of Public Health, said in USA Today.

A study of obesity and mortality on four continents, published in the journal Lancet in July, showed that about one in five premature deaths in North America might have been prevented if the people had not been obese.

America is not the only nation with an obesity problem. In fact, when compared to other countries, it's not even in the top 10. (Samoa, Kuwait and Qatar all rank ahead of the U.S. in obesity.)

And being underweight is dangerous, too, which is one reason (along with unsanitary conditions and poor access to health care) that many undeveloped nations have life expectancies that resemble America's in 1900.

The most worrisome thing about the life expectancy decline isn't its size. It's that other comparable nations aren't seeing their longevity slip, and the U.S. already lags behind countries that include Germany, Spain, Greece, Ireland and Canada.

In The World Factbook published by the CIA, the U.S. ranks No. 42 in longevity. The top three  Monaco, Singapore and Japan  have lifespan average of 89.5, 85 and 85, respectively.

If the decline does continue, Olshansky, of the University of Illinois, will seem like a prophet. In 2005, he and other colleagues wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine that obese Americans portend "a threatening storm  that will, if unchecked, have a negative effect on life expectancy."
The controversy around "fake news" took on a new pall this month when a North Carolina man chose to investigate, gun in hand, a false online conspiracy theory that a Washington. D.C.-area pizza parlor was harboring a pedophilia ring with ties to the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Known now as "Pizzagate," the incident (in which no one was hurt and the gunman arrested) leads to a bigger question of what Americans perceive as fact and fiction in a media landscape where conspiracy theorists and trolls can have as much voice and public attention (if not more) as traditional news outlets.

While it's easy to condemn the accused  Edgar Maddison Welch  for jumping to an extreme conclusion over claims spread on sites like 4chan and Reddit, it's equally easy to forget that Welch is hardly alone.

It's impossible to know how many Americans read and believed the story, but researchers at Stanford University recently released startling numbers that offer insight into the fake news paradox.

Perhaps the most shocking finding of the report is that a whopping 93 percent of college students couldn't identify lobbyist websites as biased sources of information. The findings were equally dismal for high school students, less than 20 percent of whom knew that looking at one photograph online was not enough to tell if an event actually took place or not. Eighty percent of middle school students were unaware of what "sponsored content" meant or that it differed from other content on a website.

Students also struggled to convey what makes a source credible, as education nonprofit news outlet The Hechinger Report pointed out.

"When presented with a tweet made from a liberal advocacy group, half of the students judged the tweet without bothering to click the link to read the source of information," Nichole Dobo wrote. "Among the students who did click, few were able to articulate why a poll that was cited was credible or not."

Why do so many Americans have trouble telling truth from fiction online?

The answer may come down to human biology, as science writer and Skeptic Magazine publisher Michael Shermer illustrated in a 2010 TED talk. The human tendency to believe something is, in Shermer's view, a byproduct of perfectly honed survival instincts  it's better to err on the side of believing something is true and exercise caution rather than assume something is wrong.

"If you believe the rustle in the grass is just the wind and it turns out to be a dangerous predator, you're lunch," Shermer argued in his talk.

And, as Business Insider reported, humans are much more vulnerable to believing lies or misinformation when they feel somehow threatened. Believing that something is true is the first step to asserting control over that situation  a deeply human, psychological need, Northwestern University professor Adam Galisnky argued.

"The less control people have over their lives, the more likely they are to try and regain control through mental gymnastics," Galinsky told Business Insider.

This phenomenon goes far beyond fake news deceiving readers. Some experts have even tied the human need to assert control over situations to factual distortions surrounding major cataclysmic events, such as the 9/11 "truther" movement, which contends the terrorist attacks were orchestrated by the government, or the popular conspiracy that the Sandy Hook school massacre was staged.

"Their distortions offered a reprieve to people overwhelmed by a perceived loss of control," CNN Gregory Krieg wrote. "In targeting the victims (of Sandy Hook), they have created  at an unfathomable moral price  a place to direct their rage."

If the feeling of a lack of control can make people more susceptible to conspiracy theory and hyperbole, it makes sense why an estimated 70 percent of Americans believe the news media is intentionally biased.

As the election results showed, mainstream news outlets have serious work to do in better understanding the voices of those who are skeptical of  and feel ignored by  traditional news coverage. The fact that many outlets didn't take Trump's candidacy seriously until the election was nearly over helped sow doubt in many people's minds, and both candidates' use of social media raises the question of how much modern politics needs journalism to get messages out.

"This could be the last election where mainstream media play a dominant or leading role," Canadian and American media ethicist Stephen Ward said after the election. "Given what Trump has done on Twitter, I see more and more campaigns running this way in the future, without visiting editorial boards  saying, 'to hell with them, we don't need them.'"
Wine trellises are shown in the snow at Wilridge Winery & Vineyard in Yakima, Wash., Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. Wine grape growers were nervous about the arctic temperatures last week, but vineyards came away without damage. (SOFIA JARAMILLO/Yakima Herald-Republic)
Right-wing activist Haim Brosh was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of insulting religion after posting a Photoshopped picture on Facebook that shows a pig on the Temple Mount.

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The Photoshopped image of the pig was accompanied by the text "The Israeli government allows live pigs to control the closest place to the Jewish people, while everyone is outraged by a pig's head at the grave of a righteous rabbi in the anti-Semitic Europe."

Brosh was referring to the Tuesday night anti-Semitic attack at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Ukraine, which was defiled with a pigs head and drenched in fake blood.

Brosh's post

He was arrested at around 8pm, but claimed that police refused to tell him why he was being detained. "My wife started crying and asked them not to come into the house. It was a very unpleasant situation," Brosh said.

"They put me in an unmarked car that had people in civilian clothing. They questioned me about the post for a few hours. Every claim I presented, the interrogator told me 'This is another one of your mess ups.' They treated me very disrespectfully. I told them, 'Listen, there's nothing here except for the freedom of expression,'" he added.

"They tried to accuse me of trying to set the Middle East on fire, to cause provocation," Brosh went on to say.

He was released shortly after midnight on Thursday and barred from the holy site. Brosh claimed he was told by police to delete the post or risk being arrested again.

The 30-year-old man deleted the post but plans to appeal the order barring him from the Temple Mount.

Brosh explained the post was meant to convey that "the Israeli government allows a foreign body, the Waqf, to control the place and act aggressively and hurt basic democratic rights of Jews who simply want to go on the Temple Mount and pray without causing any provocation."

Jews are prohibited from praying on the Temple Mount, and are only permitted to visit. As such, they are not allowed to bring prayer shawls or religious books into the complex, which is managed by the Waqf as part of Israel's peace agreement with Jordan.

"I go on the Temple Mount and I'm being harassed, being sworn at and called a pig. At every mosque, Jews are being called monkeys and pigs and no one else was arrested for insulting religion," he protested.

Brosh's lawyer, Itamar Ben-Gvir, accused the police of "acting as if we were in Iran or Syria and not in a democratic country. In a country that has made the freedom of expression into its most precious value, citizens don't get arrested late at night over a post on Facebook, certainly over one that raises no legal problems."

"It's even graver that the police barred Brosh from entering the Temple Mount complex for 15 days," he added.

The Israel Police confirmed the arrest and the order barring Brosh from the Temple Mount for 15 days, stating that while the activist committed to deleting the post, he only removed it from his Facebook Timeline, while the post still appears on social media by the many shares it received.

Police officials clarified that posts online concerning the Temple Mount have an explosive potential. This has led to increased enforcement on the matter, including frequent questioning of Arab residents of eastern Jerusalem over their posts concerning the Temple Mount.
A judge agreed to extend the arrest of MK Basel Ghattas until Monday on Friday morning after he spent his first night under arrest on suspicion of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

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Appearing in Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court he refused to divulge to Judge Menachem Mizrachi who provided him with the phones that he is believed to have smuggled to the prisoners, on the grounds that "he does not want to be a grass."

"There are reasonable ground to believe that releasing the suspect could be harmful to public security, Judge Mizrachi concluded in his assessment. However, as an MK, Ghattas will still be able to show up to vote in the Knesset.

MK Ghattas sits in court (:  )

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Ghattass defense attorney, Namir Adelbi criticized the decision, saying that his client claimed that he has known Walid Daka for many years (one of the imprisoned terrorists responsible for the kidnapping and murder of IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984ed.) who asked him to bring books into the prison.

He went on to say, "This arrest comes at the heels of a period of inciting comments. He failed to maintain his right to remain silent, and agreed to relinquish his immunity."

The police listened in to telephone conversations between Ghattas and one of the prisoners shortly prior to the formers arrival for a visit in order to coordinate the meeting between the two.

Furthermore, Daka placed Ghattas in contact with a third party in order to receive the phones.

Fellow Joint List MKs Jamal Zahalka and MK Hanin Zoabi also showed up at the court to support the suspect, who is the first serving MK to spend night under arrest.

MK Basel Ghattas arrives in court

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The decision to arrest Ghattas also came out of fear that he may attempt to flee the country despite a prohibition against such a move.

Police also justified the move, stating that any other individual suspected of similar crimes would also face arrest.

MK Basel Ghattas sits in court (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Police summoned Ghattas for questioning under caution for the second time on Thursday afternoon after Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein removed the Arab MK's parliamentary immunity earlier in the day.

Edelsteins decision was made a day after the Knesset's House Committee unanimously approved a request by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to strip MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) of immunity afforded to all MKs.

He is facing charges of conspiring to commit a crime, fraud, breach of trust, and violations of Israel Prisons Service orders.

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Phone smuggling into prisons is a crime in Israel which carries with it a prison sentence of up to ten years. Committing fraud and breach of trust can also result in a three-year sentence, meaning Ghattas could be facing a total of 13 years behind bars, if indeed an indictment is submitted against him and he is sentenced.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan commented on the arrest. The police will act with determination to bring MK Ghattas to account for his actions, Erdan said. Anyone who smuggles cellphones to murderers in prison understands perfectly well that their use can lead to terrorist activities and more murders which is why he is a danger to the public and he belongs in prison.

Ghattass political party, Balad responded to the arrest and charges made against him. Israel is choosing to worsen the situation against Arabs. This is an unprecedented step which is entirely unjustified, the statement read. The arrest is an inseparable part of the pursuit against the political activities of Balad and other Arab political parties and movements.

"This is a vengeful and arbitrary arrest, because the police, (Prime Minister) Netanyahu and (Public Security) Minister Erdan want a photo of an Arab MK in handcuffs. The arrest is a political move and is not necessary to the investigation. Fairness obligates to treat an Arab public representative just like a Jewish one, and that is not the situation here."
The Obama administration intended to abstain from a UN Security Council vote on a draft resolution critical of Israel settlement-building, Western officials told Reuters on Thursday.

Egypt earlier postponed the vote and diplomats said Cairo had acted under pressure from Israel and to avoid alienating US President-elect Donald Trump.
Israel asked President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure to avert UN approval of a resolution demanding an end to settlement building after it learned the Obama administration intended to allow the measure to pass, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday.

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Israeli officials contacted Trump's transition team at a "high level" after failing to persuade US officials to veto the Security Council draft resolution and asked him to intervene, the official said. Two Western officials said that President Barack Obama had intended to abstain from the vote.

Netanyahu thanks US for support (: ")

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Trump then sent a tweet urging a US veto and spoke by phone to Egypt's president, who abruptly ordered his country's delegation to postpone the vote scheduled for Thursday on the resolution they had sponsored.

Egypt says its president received a call hours after the postponement from President-elect Donald Trump in which they both agreed to give the incoming US administration a chance to try and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A statement from the Egyptian presidency says the two men spoke by phone early Friday and agreed on "the importance of giving a chance for the new American administration to deal in a comprehensive way with the different aspects of the Palestinian issue with the aim of achieving a comprehensive and a final resolution."

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Obama, believes the United States had long planned the council vote in coordination with the Palestinians and intended to use it to "ambush" Israel on the thorny settlements issue, the official said.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and US President-elect Donald Trump (Photo: EPA, AFP)

"It was a violation of a core commitment to protect Israel at the UN," the official said.

Israel had warned the Obama administration they would reach out to Trump if Washington decided to go ahead with the abstention, and Netanyahu's aides did so when they realized the United States set on this course, the official said.

Barack Obama ready to abstain from settlement resolution (Photo: AP)

The Israeli government appreciated Trump's efforts, the official said. "Israelis deeply appreciate one of the great pillars of the US-Israel alliance: the willingness over many years of the US to stand up in the UN and veto anti-Israel resolutions," Netanyahu said in a video he released a few hours before the planned vote.

"I hope the US won't abandon this policy; I hope it will abide by the principles set by President Obama himself in his speech in the UN in 2011: That peace will come not through UN resolutions, but only through direct negotiations between the parties," he added.

"And that's why this proposed resolution is bad. It's bad for Israel; it's bad for the United States; and it's bad for peace."

UN Security Council (Photo: AP)

Netanyahu also took to Twitter in the dead of night in Israel to appeal to Obama, tweeting at 3:28am that the United States "should veto the anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council on Thursday."

Members of Netanyahu's right-wing government have increasingly warmed to Trump, who has made a controversial promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Relations between Obama and Netanyahu were severely strained over the US-backed Iran nuclear deal.

With the clock ticking down on Obama's tenure, Israel remains concerned that the resolution condemning Jewish settlements could still go ahead with another sponsoring countrywith continued US supportbefore the president leaves office on January 20, the official said.
An IDF soldier was lightly-to-moderately wounded overnight Thursday after being shot in the leg during operations in Balata refugee camp in Nablus.

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The incident took place when gunshots were suddenly fired at the security forces. The injured soldier was evacuated to hospital shortly after.

Arrests made (:  ")

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Two wanted individualssuspected of being involved in terror activities, disruption of public order, and violence against civilians and security forceswere arrested overnight while weapons accessories were also found in the mission.

Additionally, the IDF and Judea and Samaria District Police arrested another wanted individual.

IDF arrests Hamas terror suspects (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

In a separate operation, thousands of shekels were seized in Sair village in the Etzion region which were to be allocated, according to intelligence information, to terror organizations.

Yesterday, it was cleared for publication that the Shin Bet uncovered a terror cell of more than 20 Hamas members from across the West Bank who planned suicide bombings in large Israeli cities.

The cell operated in the Nablus area and recruited four suicide bombers who were supposed to carry out attacks in crowded locations in Haifa, Jerusalem and different bus stops.
The suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a shoot-out in a suburb of the northern Italian city of Milan on Friday, Italy's interior minister said.

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Marco Minniti told a news conference that "without any shadow of a doubt" the man was 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri, wanted for the attack in Berlin.

A police source said earlier Amri was identified by fingerprints.

Photo: La Republica

Minniti said a routine police patrol stopped Amri in a Milan suburb in the early hours of Friday morning. The man took out a pistol and opened fire, injuring one of the police officers.

The officer is now recovering.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, in which the truck mowed through a crowd of people and bulldozed wooden huts selling Christmas gifts and snacks beside a famous church in west Berlin.

Shootout in Milan (Photo: La Republica)

One of the 12 dead was the Polish driver from whom the truck had been hijacked. His body, stabbed and shot, was found in the cab.

Police across Europe have been searching for the assailant since the attack on Monday.

Berlin terrorist reported shot to death in Milan shootout

Amri was caught on camera by German police on a regular stake-out at a mosque in Berlin's Moabit district early on Tuesday, Germany's rbb public broadcaster reported.

Danish police had also said a man matching his description was seen in Aalborg in northern Denmark.

Authorities say Amri, 24, has used at least six different names and three nationalities in his travels around Europe.

He left Tunisia in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings and initially spent time in Italy.

He was repeatedly transferred among Sicilian prisons for bad conduct, with prison records saying he bullied inmates and tried to spark insurrections. He served 3-and-a-half years for setting a fire at a refugee center and making threats, among other thingsbut Italy apparently detected no signs that he was becoming radicalized.

Amri captured on camera

The Berlin attack has put Europe on high alert over the Christmas period.

In the early hours of Friday morning, German special forces arrested two men suspected of planning an attack on a shopping mall in the city of OberhausenIn in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The mentwo brothers from Kosovo, aged 28 and 31were arrested in the city of Duisburg on information from security sources, police said.

A police spokesman said there was no connection between the Duisburg arrests and the Amri case.

Among those killed in Berlin was an Israeli woman Daliya Elyakim, who went missing for days after the attack. Her husband, Rami was also seriously injured in the attack, and was forced to undergo two operations.
The US abstained from a contentious UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to settlement construction while simultaneously declaring them illegal.

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The resolution was put forth by Venezuela, New Zealand, Malaysia and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew under heavy pressure from Israel and President-elect Donald Trump.

UN Security Council (Photo: AP)

Israeli reactions

Earlier, an Israeli official on Friday accused President Barack Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a "shameful move against Israel at the UN" after learning the White House did not intend to veto a Security Council resolution condemning settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem the day before.

"President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN," the official said. "The US administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel's back which would be a tail wind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall occupied Palestinian territory," he said calling it "an abandonment of Israel which breaks decades of US policy of protecting Israel at the UN."

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon criticized the decision, saying, "Neither the Security Council nor UNESCO will rewrite history and to sever the link between the people of Israel and the land of Israel. Efforts to attack Israel through the United Nations will not help and will not further a solution. Palestinians will not achieve anything if they do not stop the incitement and terrorism and return to direct negotiations with Israel. "

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon

Danon addressed the American move saying, "Israel would expect her biggest friend to act in accordance with long-standing policy and veto the unilateral decision." Furthermore, Danon added that, "No doubt the change of US administration will bring a new era."

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Friday the United States had abandoned Israel by abstaining from the vote.

"This is not a resolution against settlements, it is an anti-Israel resolution, against the Jewish people and the state of the Jews. The United States tonight has simply abandoned its only friend in the Middle East," said Steinitz, who is close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Photo: Reuters

Voices of opposition in the US

US officials from across the board reacted to the decision, with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan calling the abstention "absolutely shameful" and a "blow to peace." Similarly, Republican Senator John McCain said the abstention makes the US "complicit in this outrageous attack" against Israel.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham who oversees the Senate subcommittee that controls United States' UN funding, threatened on Friday to pull financial support for the international body if it moves forward with a vote on a resolution over Israeli settlements, and for any nation that backs the measure.

"If the United Nations moves forward with this ill-conceived resolution, I will work to form a bipartisan coalition to suspend or significantly reduce United States assistance to the United Nations," said Graham. Furthermore, Graham said on Friday that US foreign policy under President Barack Obama "has gone from naive and foolish to flat-out reckless."

The senior Republican senator, in a note on Twitter after the vote, said: "With friends like these, #Israel doesn't need any enemies."

"Regardless of the terrorist attacks they suffer or the number of rockets fired their way, in the United Nations Israel is always the bad guy."

President-elect Trump responded to the vote saying, "Things will be different after Jan. 20th."

Photo: Amos Ben Gershom

Palestinian reactions

"This is a day of victory for international law, a victory for civilized language and negotiation and a total rejection of extremist forces in Israel," Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters. "The international community has told the people of Israel that the way to security and peace is not going to be done through occupation ... but rather through peace, ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state to live side by side with the state of Israel on the 1967 line," Erekat said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the resolution "a slap in the face to Israeli policy" and an "absolute international condemnation to settlements and unanimous support for a two-state solution."

The internationally-recognized Palestinian terrorist group Hamas responded positively to the resolution, saying, "Hamas welcomes the UN Security Council regarding the settlements. This decision confirms the world's resistance to the Israeli occupation policy."

Photo: Ofer Meir

Last minute drama

Prior to the vote on the adoption of the UN resolution, Egypt called off a planned vote in the Security Council hours before it was to take place. In the diplomatic activity ahead of the postponement, both Netanyahu and Trump issued nearly identical statements urging the US to veto the measure.

Palestinian FM Riyad Al-Malki called the Egyptian move "suicidal" and noted that, "Palestine still hopes that there will be a reexamination of the issue because we believe that this draft resolution reflects a great victory not only for Palestinians, but also for the Arab world," said Al-Maliki.

According to a senior Israeli official, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned to President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team to help head off a critical UN resolution after learning that the White House did not intend to veto the measure.

The Egyptian-sponsored resolution had demanded that Israel halt settlement activities in occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians and declared that existing settlements "have no legal validity."

Egyptian President El-Sisi (Photo: AFP)

"After becoming aware that the administration would not veto the anti-Israel resolution, Israeli officials reached out to Trump's transition team to ask for the president-elect's help to avert the resolution," the Israeli official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was discussing behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity.

Additionally, the official added that Israel sees the Obama administration's intent to avoid vetoing the resolution as a violation of "core commitment" of US security and a final attempt to tie the hands of the incoming administration.

On Friday, Egypt said its president had received a call from Trump in which they both agreed to give the incoming US administration a chance to try and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The call came hours after Egypt indefinitely postponed the UN vote.

Egyptian presidential spokesman Alaa Yousef said, "During the conversation, they discussed regional issues and developments in the Middle East. The Presidents agreed on the importance of providing adequate opportunity to the new US administration to deal with every aspect of the Palestinian issue, in order to achieve a full and final settlement".

Photo: AP

The proposed resolution is more symbolic than practical. While it did not call for imposing sanctions on Israel, its language can hinder Israel's negotiating position in future peace talks.

Given the widespread international opposition to the settlements, it would have been nearly impossible for the Trump administration to reverse it.

In a Christmas greeting on Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: "Despite the Israeli occupation, our presence in our homeland and the preservation of our cultural and national heritage are the most important form of resistance in the face of the darkness of a foreign colonialist occupying power."
VALLETTA -- All passengers were freed from a hijacked plane in Malta on Friday, but some crew remained on board with hijackers believed to be loyalists of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The aircraft was on an internal flight in Libya on Friday morning when it was diverted to Malta, 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast, after a man told crew he had a hand grenade.

Initial reports said a hijacker had told crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all passengers leave the Airbus A320 if his demands were met.
JERUSALEM -- US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry pushed a "shameful" draft anti-settlement resolution at the UN Security Council, a senior Israeli official said on Friday.

"The US administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel's back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts," the official said.

The vote on the resolution was scheduled for Thursday but then postponed.
Marion Pritchard, a Dutch social worker who managed to save dozens of Jews in Holland during World War II, passed away at 96. Her son, Arnold Pritchard, announced that Marion passed away on Dec. 11th in Washington after battling cerebral atherosclerosis.

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Pritchard was named a Righteous Among the Nations in 1981 by Yad Vashem.

Photo: Yad Vashem

Pritchard, formerly Marion van Binsbergen, assisted some 150 Jews, many of them children, and helped provide them food and clothing. Pritchard managed to hide many Jews, but always claimed she couldn't have done what she did without the help of many others. She was 19 when the Nazis invaded Holland in 1940.

Photo: Gettyimages

Pritchard previously stated that her father, a Dutch judge who detested Nazi ideology, and British mother, instilled in her a sense of moral determination and desire to pursue justice.

Following the war, she worked as a social worker in UN camps for displaced persons where she met her husbandAnton Pritchardan officer in the US army. She lived in New York and Vermont, where she managed a psychoanalytic institution for many years.
A 50-year-old man was lightly wounded in a stabbing attack outside his home in Efrat on Friday night.

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The wounded man told authorities a terrorist stabbed him and fled the scene shortly after. The man sustained stab wounds in the back and neck.

Photo: Avihu Shapira

MDA paramedics provided treatment to the man before transporting him to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

IDF forces were called to the scene and have begun searching the area for the suspect.

Initial investigations suggest that the terrorist entered Efrat via a vineyard located at the southeast of the community.
WASHINGTON -- Incoming US Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer called on the Obama administration on Friday to veto the UN Security Council resolution that calls for an end to Israeli settlements.

"I am strongly opposed to the UN putting pressure on Israel through one-sided resolutions. An abstention is not good enough. The Administration must veto this resolution," Schumer said in a statement, adding that he had spoken directly to administration officials earlier on Friday.
The Stern Synagogue, built largely with money donated by Americans, is a source of pride for hundreds of Ugandan Jews known locally as the Abayudaya, who have tenaciously maintained their belief despite the prejudice they have suffered over the years in this Christian-dominated country.

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Up on a hill the synagogue stood like a crown jewel, surrounded by schools and a guest house, all owned and operated by a small community of Jewish believers in this remote hamlet founded by a single convert a century ago.

Photo: AP

The community continues to pursue formal recognition from Israel, which would give it a further sense of inclusion. The Jewish Agency, a nonprofit that works closely with the Israeli government to serve Jewish communities worldwide, has recognized the Abayudaya since 2009, spokesman Avi Mayer said.

"People come here for conversion, many of them," said Yonadav, a 40-year-old teacher who serves as cantor at the synagogue. "I know 50 people right now who are ready to convert."

Yonadav recalled the day in 2013 when, crowded inside the old synagogue, the Abayudaya started to dream of a new sanctuary, complete with a Jewish ritual bath known as mikvah.

Photo: AP

The group's leader, Gershom Sizomu, a US-trained rabbi who in February won a seat in Uganda's parliament, started fundraising among friends abroad. The new synagogue is named for Sue and Ralph Stern, a Jewish couple in California who gave a sizeable chunk of the $300,000 spent on its construction, Sizomu said.

Sizomu, who believes he is the first Jew to win a parliamentary seat in Uganda, said he saw his victory as a sign that the Abayudaya are finally being accepted by an often-distrustful tribal community. In the 1970s, Ugandan dictator Idi Amin outlawed the group, which saw its numbers dwindle to a few hundred. In the 1980s, there were violent attempts to strip the Abayudaya of the land on which the new synagogue stands.

Photo: AP

Today the community of about 2,000 enjoys a more positive reputation. It runs a health center, two schools, a bakery project for women, a co-operative saving society and a guest house, as well as a tree-planting program.

With his electoral victory, Sizomu said, "the Abayudaya felt very accepted. This was a sign that they are accepted by our Christian and Muslim neighbors."

The Abayudaya community was founded by a Ugandan military officer, Semei Kakungulu, a convert from Christianity in the early 20th century who had many followers. When he died in 1928, he left a large piece of his land to be used by the Abayudaya in perpetuity. Sizomu, as the current spiritual leader, has legal control over the group's assets.

Photo: AP

Many of the Abayudaya, including Sizomu and Yonadav, were born into families practicing Judaism and consider it their duty to raise their children within the Jewish tradition.

Unlike fundamentalist Christian groups that seek out converts across Uganda, the Abayudaya practice Conservative Judaism with no proselytizing. Converts have to go through a rigorous process, and so far this year none has joined.

Jacob Mulabi, 18, a yarmulke-wearing student who defied his Christian family to convert, said he would have been out of school and hopeless if he had not decided "to be like the Jewish people nearby, my best friends." His bar mitzvah was in 2014, and he is a scholarship student at an Abayudaya school where Hebrew is taught. The burglar bars on the windows are wrought to resemble the Star of David.

Photo: AP

One recent morning, teacher Judith Horowitz of Philadelphia was among a dozen people who gathered inside the main sanctuary for prayers. Later, as the Abayudaya took off their prayer shawls and walked out, Horowitz said it was "the most amazing experience praying with Jews that I've ever had in my lifetime."

Horowitz, a Reform Jew, said she had read about the Abayudaya just as she and a friend from Boston were planning a safari to Uganda. "I had to be here. I had to come."

The sight of the new synagogue, she said, left her "amazed, thrilled" and "very happy to see that these people felt this faith in Judaism in the same way that I do."

In March, the Jewish Agency said the Abayudaya were a "recognized" Jewish community in a letter to the leader of Israel's Conservative movement.
JERUSALEM -- Israel will not abide by the terms of a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on Friday demanding an end to settlement activity, a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms," the statement said.
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism.

We hope you are equally as excited as us.

This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers.

Keep an eye. Big things are coming soon. We couldn't be more excited.

In the meanwhile, here are some of our most popular posts and categories to keep you busy.

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Latest News

Washington, DC - The Federal Trade Commission has charged the operators of a timeshare reselling scheme with bilking at least $15 million dollars from timeshare property owners by imposing hefty up-front fees based on false promises that they would sell or rent their properties.

At the FTCs request, a federal court temporarily halted the operation and froze the defendants assets pending litigation. The agency seeks to permanently stop the allegedly illegal practices and return money to consumers.

According to the FTCs complaint, the defendants telemarket to timeshare property owners and falsely claim that they have a buyer or renter ready and willing to buy or rent their properties for a specified price, or they promise to sell the timeshares quickly, sometimes within a specified time period.

The defendants charge property owners as much as $2,500 or more in advance but fail to deliver on their promises, the FTC alleged. The FTC noted in the complaint that the defendants string some owners along with additional false claims, such as that they will soon send them money from a sale or rental, and often get them to pay extra for purported closing costs or other fees. Consumers requests for refunds are typically denied or ignored, according to the complaint.

The defendants are Jess Kinmont, John P. Wenz, Jr., Pro Timeshare Resales of Flagler Beach LLC, Pro Timeshare Resales LLC, and J. William Enterprises LLC, doing business as Pro Timeshare Resales. They are charged with violating the FTC Act and the FTCs Telemarketing Sales Rule, including calling numbers listed on the Do Not Call Registry.

The Commission thanks the Florida Attorney Generals Office for its contributions to this case.

The Commission vote approving the complaint was 3-0. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, entered a temporary restraining order against the defendants on December 13, 2016.
Latest News

Washington, DC - The U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) advances U.S. foreign policy interests through engagement with the OIC, OIC Member States, and civil society, including religious leaders. In addition to regional and multilateral political priorities, key areas of engagement include countering violent extremism and promoting human rights, humanitarian affairs, womens issues, global health, and conflict resolution.

The position of the U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC was created in 2008 under President George W. Bush. Several other non-OIC member or observer countries have also appointed Special Envoys to the OIC, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Italy.

Areas of Engagement

The United States engages with the OIC on key regional and multilateral priority areas and seeks to build partnerships in areas of mutual interest, including in the areas detailed below.

Conflict Resolution

The United States coordinates with the OIC on conflict resolution activities in various regions, seeking to identify peaceful solutions to disputes. In the Central African Republic, for example, collaboration with the OIC helped facilitate a civil society-led intra-faith mediation effort that is supportive of national reconciliation efforts.

Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)

The United States works with the OIC to build international support for action on CVE, including multilateral support for initiatives such as the UN Secretary Generals Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, the UN Leaders Summit on CVE in 2015, and collaboration with the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF).

The U.S. worked to forge a partnership between the GCTF and the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), an OIC-affiliated organization, to examine the role of religious education in promoting peace and countering violence. High level meetings on the nexus of education and CVE produced a number of concrete recommendations and a new collaborative platform for education initiatives.

The U.S. is collaborating with the OIC and ISESCO on a project to build the capacity of grassroots religious and community leaders to develop and implement locally-relevant CVE initiatives. The U.S. also engages with the OIC on CVE messaging initiatives, including the OIC's newly launched Center for Dialogue, Peace, and Understanding.

Human Rights

The United States engages with the OIC on human rights issues both within OIC Member States and beyond, including on religious freedom, freedom of expression, protection of rights of religious minority groups, and human rights-related issues at the UN. This engagement includes advocacy against blasphemy laws and similarly restrictive laws, and raising awareness of positive efforts to protect the rights of members of religious minority groups, such as the Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities which was authored by Islamic scholars and endorsed by the OIC.

The U.S. governments relationship with the OIC helped bring an end to the Defamation of Religions resolution in the UN, which called for restrictions on speech critical of religions. That engagement contributed to a consensus resolution on combating religious intolerance, discrimination, and violence  also known as Resolution 16/18  that has become a model action plan for promoting tolerance and ending discrimination on the basis of religion or belief.

Humanitarian Assistance

The OIC and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a cooperation agreement in 2012 that facilitates cooperation on humanitarian aid delivery and capacity building initiatives for the OIC. This partnership enables information sharing and collaboration in addressing key humanitarian challenges. USAID and the OIC have held several joint capacity-building training sessions for the OIC and its affiliated network of NGOs.

Global Womens Issues

The United States works with the OIC to promote womens rights and combat gender-based violence, including the practice of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). The United States and the OIC co-convened a panel on the margins of the UNs annual Commission on the Status of Women focusing on the role of women storytelling in promoting social change. We also co-convened an event for UN Zero Tolerance Day to FGM/C, which highlighted the role of religious leaders in combating FGM/C.

Health

The U.S. coordinates with the OIC on global health challenges, for example through participation in OIC donor initiatives in response to the Ebola crisis. The OIC is a partner on global polio eradication efforts, helping to improve the reach and effectiveness of vaccination efforts in OIC states, particularly in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. Similarly, U.S.-OIC collaboration on maternal and child health programs has enhanced their effectiveness and led to the inclusion of additional key stakeholders, such as religious leaders.
From battling female genital mutilation to UN's ray of hope for LGBTI community, these are the 5 events you might have missed in 2016.

By India Today Web Desk: As the episode of 2016 finally comes to an end, the year of bloodshed, natural disasters and diseases also comes to an end. From Middle East to Africa, the entire year was full of dejected incidents which dominated the news in a not so positive way.

Even though the year was dominated by the continued violence in Syria and Yemen, Zika virus outbreak in Latin America and a severe drought in Africa, there have been some events that we might have ignored looking at the bigger picture. There were incidents worth celebrating which got overshadowed by other severe newsworthy issues.

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Here are 5 global news stories that you might have missed during 2016:

1. Peace comes to Colombia

John Vizcaino/Reuters

In November, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC rebel leader Rodrigo Londono signed a modified peace deal, to finally put an end to a 52 year long war. The first version was rejected in a public vote in October. For his efforts to end Latin America's longest-running conflict, Santos was awarded the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. The conflict killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions more in the Andean nation.

2. Climate Action

Reuters

A landmark global accord to combat climate change officially entered into force on November 4, putting pressure on nearly 200 countries to start executing plans and helped in slashing their greenhouse gas emissions.

The Paris Agreement, agreed in December 2015, attempted to wean the world economy off fossil fuels in the second half of the century which helped in a decreased level of rise in average world temperatures to a "well below" 2.0 degrees Celsius.

3. A successful conclusion of India's quest for Human Trafficking

Reuters

In May, India's minister for women and children unveiled a draft of the country's first comprehensive anti-human trafficking law, which would treat survivors as victims in need of assistance and protection rather than as criminals. South Asia, with India at its centre, is the fastest-growing region for human trafficking in the world, says the U.N. Office for Drugs and Crime.

4. West Africa battled female genital mutilation

Reuters

More than 300 communities across four West African countries with some of the world's highest rates of female genital mutilation (FGM) declared themselves free of the practice in public ceremonies this month.

FGM affected an estimated 140 million girls and women across a swathe of Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia, and is seen as a gateway to marriage and a way of preserving purity. The ritual involved the removal of the external genitalia which resulted in numerous fatal health problems and is inhumane.

5. United Nations appointed the first LGBT rights investigator

Nacho Doce/Reuters

In September, the UN Human Rights Council appointed its first independent investigator to help protect gay and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination.

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Vitit Muntarbhorn, an international law professor at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, has been appointed for the same and has been designated as an investigator on a three-year mandatory term against the LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) discrimination worldwide.

--- ENDS ---
Washington: US president-elect Donald Trump's tweet for strengthening and expansion of country's nuclear arsenal is indicating a major policy change as against the Obama Administration which had pushed for reduction and ultimately elimination of nuclear weapons.

"The US must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," Trump said in a tweet yesterday.

The Washington Post described this as a major national security policy shift, while the strong nuclear non-proliferation lobby in the US expressed their alarm over such a statement coming from the incoming president.

"It is dangerous for the President-elect to use just 140 characters and announce a major change in US. Nuclear weapons policy, which is nuanced, complex, and affects every single person on this planet," said John Tierney, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and a former 18-year Member of Congress.

Since the end of the Cold War, there has been a bipartisan consensus that there should be a reduction in the reliance on nuclear weapons in US defence policy and a decrease in the overall stockpile of nuclear warheads, he said.

"Calling for an expanded nuclear arsenal shatters that consensus, would likely place the US in violation of a key arms control treaty with Russia, and would almost surely lead to a new nuclear arms race," Tierney said.

With more than 7,000 warheads, currently the US has the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons, followed by Russia, United Kingdom, France and China.

"Building more nuclear weapons or increasing nuclear explosive power sends a message to the rest of the world that nonproliferation is no longer a key goal of the United States," the lawmaker said.

"It would also increase the chances of a catastrophic nuclear accident or exchange. The potential consequences of changing US nuclear weapons policy so drastically are simply unimaginable," Tierney said.

Trump's statement on nuclear weapons came a day after he met top generals from the Pentagon. Among them included Air Force Lt Gen Jack Weinstein, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration.

Current plans already call for spending USD 1 trillion over the next three decades to modernize and maintain the US nuclear arsenal.

The Pentagon has expressed concern about being able to afford.

Senator Al Franken from Minnesota said Trump's tweet is "a direct departure" from decades of bipartisan efforts to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security policy.

As Americans look to Trump to move the country forward, "I urge him to rethink his position on nukes for the safety of our nation," Franken said.

The Obama Administration reiterated its position of

trying to have a world without nuclear weapons.

"The approach that this administration has taken to trying to get us on a path to a world without nuclear weapons," State Department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference.

"We have achieved progress that we believe on a number of fronts: first, reducing our stockpile and our launchers through New START; number two, diminishing the role of nuclear weapons in our security strategy; and number three, securing the Iran deal, as I just spoke to a few minutes ago with Lauren about stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, particularly through that deal," he said.

The US, he observed, is always looking at additional ways to achieve progress on the President's path forward to maintaining a credible deterrent.

"Nobody's walked away from the fact that you need a credible deterrent for the US, including a credible nuclear deterrent. As a matter of fact, we have and continue to review plans for appropriate modernisation of that nuclear deterrent," Kirby said.

Nuclear weapons, he argued, is "absolutely a vital pillar in our national security strategy," but the Obama Administration has taken a view of focusing on other national security implements and tools, as well reducing the stockpile, and again, really trying to get after proliferation.

"Can a single tweet ramp up an arm's race?" asked Joseph Cirincione president of Plougshares Fund. If President (elect) Trump means what he says, this could be the end of the arms control process that reduced 80 per cent of our Cold War arsenal," he said.

In a statement, Trump spokesman Jason Miller clarified that the president-elect was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it ? particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes.

"He has also emphasised the need to improve and modernise our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength," he said.

However, Mother Jones said that this may be Trump's "most frightening and dangerous tweet yet.

"In just 118 characters, Trump seemed to be reversing decades of bipartisan policy aimed at stopping the spread of nuclear weapons around the world. For decades, the US has worked with Russia, the other major nuclear power, to reduce both nations' nuclear arsenals," it said.
New York: A passenger was kicked off a US flight after he allegedly became aggressive and refused to sit next to US President-elect Donald Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka Trump, who was onboard the flight with her husband.

JetBlue forced the man off a morning flight yesterday at John F Kennedy airport here after he allegedly told Ivanka, "You ruined our country. Now you're ruining our flight," according to a report in CNN.

Trump was onboard the flight with her husband Jared Kushner and they were travelling to Hawaii for a vacation.

The persons husband Matthew Lasner tweeted about the incident and said his husband was kicked off the flight after a flight attendant overheard a man "expressing displeasure" about Trump's eldest daughter and her husband.

"Ivanka and Jared at JFK TF, flying commercial. My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil," a tweet by Lasner read.

Marc Scheff, who was seated in front of Trump on the plane, confirmed the incident in an interview to CNN.

Scheff described the man as "shaking" and "visibly agitated."

Asked about Trump's response to the incident, Scheff said Ivanka told a JetBlue staff member, "I don't want to make this a thing."

The report added that a transition official said Trump and Kushner were headed to Hawaii for vacation.

JetBlue said in a statement to CNN that the "decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight. In this instance, our team worked to reaccommodate the party on the next available flight."

A Trump Organisation spokesman told CNN, "The story speaks for itself. It's an incredibly unfortunate situation."
Mirpur Khas: The girl called Jeevti was just 14 when she taken from her family in the night to be married off to a man who says her family owed him $1,000.

Her mother, Ameri Kashi Kohli, is sure that her daughter paid the price for a never-ending debt. Ameri says she and her husband borrowed roughly $500 when they first began to work on the land, but she throws up her hands and says the debt was repaid.

It's a familiar story here in southern Pakistan: Small loans balloon into impossible debts, bills multiply, payments are never deducted.

In this world, women like Ameri and her young daughter are treated as property: taken as payment for a debt, to settle disputes, or as revenge if a landowner wants to punish his worker. Sometimes parents, burdened by an unforgiving debt, even offer their daughters as payment.

The women are like trophies to the men. They choose the prettiest, the young and pliable.

Sometimes they take them as second wives to look after their homes. Sometimes they use them as prostitutes to earn money. Sometimes they take them simply because they can.

"I went to the police and to the court. But no one is listening to us," says Ameri, who is Hindu. She says the land manager made her daughter convert to Islam and took the girl as his second wife.

"They told us, 'Your daughter has committed to Islam and you can't get her back."'

More than 2 million Pakistanis live as "modern slaves," according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which ranks Pakistan in the top three offending countries that still enslave people, some as farm workers, others at brick kilns or as household staff. Sometimes the workers are beaten or chained to keep them from fleeing.

"They have no rights, and their women and girls are the most vulnerable," says Ghulam Hayder, whose Green Rural Development Organization works to free Pakistan's bonded labourers.

An estimated 1,000 young Christian and Hindu girls, most of them underage and impoverished, are taken from their homes each year, converted to Islam and married, said a report by the South Asia Partnership organization.

Hayder says, "They always take the pretty ones."

The night Jeevti disappeared, the family had slept outside, the only way to endure the brutal summer heat here in southern Sindh province. In the morning, she was gone. No one heard anything, her mother says.

The family turned to activist Veero Kohli to help free the girl.

Kohli, who isn't related to the family, was born a slave. Since fleeing bondage in 1999, she has devoted herself to challenging Pakistan's powerful landowners, liberating thousands of families from bonded labor.

Kohli's defiance incenses many men in a country dominated by a centuries-old patriarchal culture.

"I know that they would like to kill me, but I will never stop fighting to free these people,' she says.

Five months ago, she went with Ameri to the Piyaro Lundh police station to find her daughter. They said the girl went willingly, Kohli says. "I told them: 'Let me talk to her. Let her mother talk to her if she went freely."' They refused.

Instead, they called in the man who Ameri said had taken her daughter. Hamid Brohi, came alone, without the girl.

''He said, Anyway, she is payment for 100,000 rupees ($1,000) they owe me,"' Kohli recalls.

Now Kohli is returning to the same police station, where police officer Aqueel Ahmed thumbs through a dozen files, barely containing his anger at the activist.

Finally, he pulls out an affidavit. In it, the girl, who now goes by the name Fatima, said she had converted freely and married Brohi of her own free will. She also said she couldn't meet her mother because now she was Muslim and her family was Hindu.

Hindu activists say the girls are kept isolated until they have been forced to convert and are married - and then it's almost too late to do anything.

Under pressure, police in a machine-gun-mounted jeep finally take Kohli and a foreign reporter to visit the girl. Her mother doesn't come, too afraid, she says, to confront the police in person again.

Brohi, a sullen-looking man with a thin mustache, greets the police with an embrace. He angrily denies he took Jeevti as payment for the family's debt, despite his earlier boast to the activist that he had done just that.

Inside, Jeevti sits on a double mattress on the floor, her head wrapped in a black shawl. She wears heavy eyeshadow and exaggerated bright red lipstick, like a child who has put on her mother's makeup - or one who is attempting to look older.

Although she doesn't seem afraid, her eyes dart to the door where her husband hovers. When she speaks, her words seem rehearsed.

"I married him because I wanted to," she says. "I myself asked him that as we are lovers, we should get married. So he said, 'Let's get married,' and I said yes."

She denies that she hasn't seen her mother since leaving. But she can't say when she saw her mother last - or even where she lives, now that the family has fled its old home. She is quiet when asked why her court affidavit says she refused to talk to her mother because she had converted to Islam.

She says she doesn't know what is in the court documents, although each one the police showed said Jeevti had spoken the words herself.
Islamabad: The newly-appointed Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, on Friday called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reportedly to discuss policy guidelines and matters of internal security.

However, the meeting seemed more of an informal nature as Lt Gen Mukhtar was seen in civil dress rather than in uniform.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister appreciated the role the ISI has played in the anti-terrorism war, reports the Dawn.

Lt Gen Mukhtar replaced Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar as head of ISI earlier in December.

Earlier, Lt Gen Mukhtar had been serving as Corps Commander of Karachi.

Prior to his stint in Karachi, he served in the ISI as head of its counter-terrorism wing.
Chennai: DMK president M Karunanidhi was on Friday discharged from the Kauvery Hospitals here where he was undergoing treatment for nearly a fortnight for his throat and lung infection.

The 92-year-old leader was rushed to the hospital on the night of December 15. Doctors treating him said that a process was initiated to clear his infection.

This was the second time the veteran leader was admitted to the hospital this month.

On Dec 1, he was admitted to the hospital after suffering from hydration. He was discharged on December 7 and advised rest for a few days.

Karunanidhi has not been seen in public for over a month now ever since he developed a drug allergy.

His discharge comes just days after the hospital released a picture of the DMK chief watching TV, flanked by a medical team.
Mishra said, "There was a Mohammed Shah Rangeela who had made a horse his finance minister . Today, in Delhi, there is another Mohammed Shah Rangeela, who has made a donkey his finance minister."

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: While taking a hit at the Central Government on the issue of demonetisation, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, called the Finance minister, Arun Jaitley, a donkey. Taking a quip at Modi, Mishra called the Prime Minister, Mohammed Shah Rangeela.

Mishra said, "There was a Mohammed Shah Rangeela who had made a horse his finance minister. Today, in Delhi, there is another Mohammed Shah Rangeela, who has made a donkey his finance minister."

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AAP RALLY ON DEMONETISATION

Mishra made the comments in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal, alongwith Kapil Mishra, Alka Lamba, Amanatullah Khan and several other Aam Aadmi Party leaders was in Jaipur where he held a rally to target the PM on the issue of demonetisation.

Kejriwal said, "He made his mother stand in the line. For four thousand rupees, he made his mother stood in the line. He should be ashamed of himself that he made his mother made in line. Why do parents nurture their children? They do so that they will support them in the old age. Not because that they make them stand in the line in old age."

ALSO READ:

Forbes magazine slams Modi's demonetisation: Immoral, theft of people's property

Demonetisation is economic robbery: Rahul Gandhi in poll-bound Uttarakhand

--- ENDS ---
Berlin: The Tunisian man, believed to be the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack was killed in a shoot-out Italy's Milan on Friday, reports said.

According to the reports, the suspect, Anis Amri, was stopped in his car around 3 am for what was a routine identity check. He pulled out a pistol and shootout ensued in which he was shot.

Police in Germany were searching for a Tunisian man in relation to the Berlin Christmas market attack.

A residence permit was found in the truck that on Monday ploughed through a crowd, killing 12 and injuring 48. The man was identified by the magazine as Anis A., a 24-year-old Tunisian who could be using two different aliases.

Prosecutors had issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for 24-year-old Anis Amri, offering a 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward for information leading to his arrest and warning he "could be violent and armed".

Christmas markets have been a known potential target for Islamist militants since at least 2000, when authorities thwarted a plot to attack one in Strasbourg, France. And the modus operandi in Berlin was identical to that of a Bastille Day attack in the French city of Nice in July, when a Tunisian-born man rammed a lorry through a seaside crowd and killed 86 people.
Berlin: German authorities have arrested two brothers on suspicion of planning an attack on a shopping centre in the western city of Oberhausen, police said on Friday.

The two men were aged 28 and 31 and originally from Kosovo, police said, with the country on edge after a jihadist drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin killing 12 people.
New Delhi: Fliers may soon be able to use biometric details for security checks at airports as the government works on putting in place such systems after receiving 'good feedback' for a pilot project.

Giving strong indications, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that having biometric systems for passengers at airports appear to be a good idea.

The innovative idea, close on the heels of authorities doing away with tagging requirement of hand baggages at select airports, comes at a time when efforts are being made to ensure that aviation security procedures are more efficient and less intrusive.

"Biometric access was experimented at Hyderabad (airport). The feedback was good... Biometric system is appearing to be a good system security-wise," Raju told PTI in an interview.

Without much fanfare, authorities have carried out a short duration pilot project using biometric system at Hyderabad international airport recently. The exact details on how it is used could not be immediately ascertained.

When asked whether the project for biometric systems would be rolled out at various airports, Raju said a framework has been put up for the authorities concerned.

"Modernisation is a continuous process and they will keep at it. I am not at BCAS or DGCA... We have to give them the policy frame (work). That is what we have done and we are working," the Minister said.

Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is responsible for security of the sector while Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the sectoral regulator.

Asserting that "safety and security" of the aviation sector can never be compromised, the Minister said efforts on the cyber security front is a continuous process and keeps evolving.

"(With regard to) cyber security, what was acceptable a decade ago is not acceptable a decade later," he noted.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has awarded a contract worth over Rs 110 crore to public sector undertaking BECIL for providing biometric access control system at 43 aerodromes.

This contract basically pertains to access for employees through biometric systems.
Delhi: The addresses of some of the 255 registered but unrecognised political parties that the Election Commission has unlisted this year for not contesting polls in the last one decade will leave most people surprised.

As per an investigation by The Indian Express, some of them are as follows:

- The Great India Revolutioners, Roop Nagar, Delhi

- Life Peaceful Party, Tumkur, Karnataka.

- Ministerial System Abolition Party, Kolkata, West Bengal.

- Bharatiya Santaji Party, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

- All India Progressive Janata Dal, 17, Akbar Road, New Delhi, 110001 (incidentally this is now the official residence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh).

- All India Homeless People Congress, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

- Womanist Party of India, Mumbais Dombivli East.

- Pavitra Hindustan Kaazhagam, 11, Harish Chandra Mathur Lane, New Delhi, 110001 (turns out to be the office of the J&K CID.)

Fearing misuse of financial contributions, the EC has asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to look into the finances of the unrecognised political parties.

In a letter sent to Chairman, CBDT on December 21, the poll watchdog had said that it had unlisted 255 registered but unrecognised political parties between February and December 15 this year.

They were unlisted for not contesting elections between 2005 and 2015.

It had said upon verification, the election machinery had found that some parties are "no longer in existence or functioning."

The Commission has asked the CBDT to take "necessary action" if required in view of the provisions listed in section 29B and 29C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 against parties violating the law.

Section 29B states that every political party may accept any amount of contribution voluntarily offered to it by any person or company other than a Government company.

According to section 29C, the treasurer of a political party or any other person authorised by it shall, in each financial year, prepare a report on the contribution in excess of Rs 20,000 received by it from any person in that financial year and contribution in excess of Rs 20,000 received by it from companies other than Government companies in that financial year.

While the poll watchdog has the mandate to register a political party, it lacks power under electoral laws to deregister any party.

As its demand to get power to deregister a party is pending with the Law Ministry, the Commission used its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to delist parties for being dormant and not contesting elections for a long time.

There are over 1780 registered, but unrecognised political parties in the country. Besides, there are seven national parties - BJP, Congress, BSP, TMC, CPI, CPI-M and NCP - and 58 state parties.

(With PTI inputs)
Imphal: In a stern message, the Centre on Friday told Manipur government that it can't escape responsibility for the "humanitarian crisis" arising out of the 52-day economic blockade by a Naga group and must work to end it, while making it clear that nobody will be allowed to take political advantage.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who is on a day-long visit to Congress-ruled Manipur as a Central emissary, said it is completely unacceptable to have such kinds of blockades in which thousands are suffering and both central and Manipur governments will work together to end it.

"The state government has not been able to end the blockade. It must end as soon as possible as law and order is the responsibility of the state government. Nobody will be allowed to take political advantage out of a humanitarian crisis where common people are suffering," he said at a press conference here.

Rijiju earlier had a detailed meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and senior officials of central and state governments on the crisis and how to resolve it.

He dismissed suggestions that central government was late in taking action, saying that it has been asking the state government to clear the blockade since the beginning and offering assistance to it.

"From today onwards, the state government can't escape from its responsibility. Nobody will be allowed to add to the sufferings of the people. Central government is also not shying away from its responsibility," he said.

Opposing creation of seven new districts, the United Naga Council has been staging blockade on the National Highways 2 and 37 connecting the landlocked Manipur since November 1 crippling normal for last 52 days.

The BJP-led central government has been nudging the Congress government in Manipur to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the two highways. Rijiju said it is the "sovereign duty" of both central

and Manipur governments to ensure that law and order is maintained and people don't have to suffer due to economic blockade by anyone or a group.

"When there is an issue of common people or sovereign duty, there should be no political difference, there is no political colour. Central and state governments must work together," he said.

The Minister said since law and order is the responsibility of the state government, it has to act and clear the blockade and whatever help is required, the central government will provide.

Assembly elections in the state are due early next year.

Rijiju said 15,000 paramilitary personnel have already placed under the disposal of the Manipur government while 700 more are on their way.

"The state government must deploy these forces wherever required and clear the roads. The forces are under the command of the state government," he said.

Asked the possibility of UNC being backed by NSCN-IM, Rijiju said no group will be allowed to break ground rules and will be brought to task if anyone tries to do so.

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.
New Delhi: India on Friday expressed concern over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project being built in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and said that it violates the country's sovereignty.

Briefing the media on the issue, MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said New Delhi has raised its concerns to both Pakistan and China, as the CPEC passes through sovereign Indian territory.

Beijing has invested more than $60 billion in CPEC aimed at connecting the western China with the Pakistani port of Gwadar near Karachi.

This ambitious multi-billion dollar joint venture is a combination of road and rail links that connect with Gwadar.

The venture has evoked a lot of reactions in India with some security analysts accusing China of encircling India to flex its geopolitical muscle in the region.

The project also passes through the restive Baluchistan province in Pakistan.

The Baloch people have been fighting for a sovereign homeland and have been accusing Islamabad of occupying their territory.

Popular public rebellions against the Pakistani occupation in the recent past were brutally crushed by the government, forcing many of their leaders to live in exile, including India and other countries.

Baluchistan is the largest province of Pakistan.
Delhi: In a surprise move, Delhi's Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, whose nearly three-and-a-half-year tenure was marked by frequent run-ins with Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government, on Thursday sprang a surprise by resigning from his post.

The sudden announcement that the 65-year-old former bureaucrat had quit took political circles by surprise since only a few days earlier he had written to the Centre that he was going on leave to Goa during Christmas and had even scheduled a meeting with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

A brief statement released by the Lt Governor's Office did not say why the 66-year-old former IAS officer had called it quits but quoted him as saying that he would return to academics, "his first love".

In the statement, Jung thanked both Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Kejriwal for their association with him.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party said it was his personal decision and wished him all the best, the Congress questioned if a deal was struck between Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as per IANS.

Congress Delhi chief Ajay Maken termed Jung's resignation as an "unceremonious exit" and asked the Central government to explain the reason behind it.

"We feel there has been a deal between the BJP and AAP because of which he has been made to leave. The central government should come out clean," he added.

Jung became the Lt Governor on July 9, 2013 when a Congress-led coalition was in office.

Jung's tenure was marked by a sharp escalation in tensions between his office, which reported to the Union Home Ministry, and the AAP government of Kejriwal.

What began as a turf war turned into an often nasty confrontation between Jung and Kejriwal over who is the boss in Delhi, which, although a state, does not enjoy parity with other states.

The central government, through the Lt Governor, controls Delhi Police, law and order and issues related to land in the capital.

In AAP's second term, the first stand-off occurred within days of Jung appointing senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary of the city government in June 2015, notwithstanding strong reservations by Kejriwal who termed the decision as "unconstitutional".

Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) became another sticking point with the body being headed by two simultaneous heads at one point, LG-appointed MK Meena and the other, S S Yadav, authorised by the AAP government.

As matters came to a head over the appointment of Swati Maliwal as Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief in July 2015, Jung proclaimed, "In respect to the NCT (national capital territory) of Delhi the Government means the Lieutenant Governor of the NCT of Delhi."

The recurring Jung-Kejriwal battle was decided in favour of the former on August 4 by the Delhi High Court. The AAP government has moved the Supreme Court, where the matter is yet to be decided.

Jung had reportedly confident to friends that he would quit if the Supreme Court decided the turf war in favour of the Kejriwal government.

It led to speculation whether his decision had anything to do with the anticipated SC judgement next month, as per PTI.

The speculation ranged between the Centre asking him to quit and the possibility of some embarrassing disclosures that could have persuaded him to put in his papers but his top aide Ajay Choudhury maintained it was purely personal.

However, it remains to be seen whether Jung's exit will end the bitter power struggle between Centre and Delhi government.

Only time will tell.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday termed as "virtually infructuous" a petition filed by a group of lawyers opposing the elevation of Justice JS Khehar as next the Chief Justice of India, observing that the President of India has already issued a notification in this regard.

"Since the notification appointing Justice JS Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India has already been issued, the petition has virtually become infructuous," a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and L Nageswara Rao said.

"There is nothing left in this petition as the President of India has issued the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI. Nothing is left in this now. If you want, we can allow you to withdraw the petition," the bench said.

However, the brief hearing witnessed an altercation among the members of the lawyers' body as its vice president urged the apex court to list the matter for hearing on December 30, while the others urged the bench for liberty to file a plea afresh.

To this, the bench observed, "You are fighting among yourselves".

The vice president of the petitioner, National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, requested the bench that there was something which they wanted to argue and he would call for a general body meeting of the members to decide on these aspects.

"But nothing remains in this petition now," the bench said.

Some members of the lawyers' body told the bench that there was no denial that the petition has become infructuous, so they should be given a liberty to file a fresh plea.

The bench noted in its order that the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI has been issued on December 19.

On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI. The present CJI Justice T S Thakur demits office on January 3 next year.

In its plea, the lawyers' body has said that instead of Justice Khehar, Justice J Chelameshwar, who is now the fourth senior-most judge in the apex court, should be elevated as he had given a dissenting view when the National Judicial Appointments Commission was struck down by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Khehar.
Mumbai: The lawyer of Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, today argued before the special CBI court here that charges such as attempt to murder and cheating were not maintainable against her.

The court is hearing arguments on framing of charges.

Indrani's lawyer Sudeep Passbola contended that charges under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) were not applicable against his client.

"The charge of 307 is proposed in the first charge sheet which was filed on November 19 last year. However, statement of Mikhail (Indrani's son from an earlier relationship and Sheena's brother) was recorded in June this year," he said.

Passbola argued that for the charge under section 307, there must have been an actual attempt on Mikhail's life. CBI had not specified when and where this attempt took place.

According to CBI, when Indrani and others killed Sheena, they had also planned to eliminate Mikhail after drugging him.

"Nothing poisonous was given to Mikhail, he was offered a drink and he threw it away. It was only his apprehension that the drink was spiked," Passbola argued.

CBI had also pressed charges of cheating and forgery regarding two documents, he said. One was the resignation letter of Sheena sent to her employer after her death; the second was termination of her house rent agreement.

Indrani forged the two documents to make it appear that Sheena was alive, as per the CBI.

Passbola said no one was actually 'cheated', neither Sheena's employer Reliance Metro, nor her landlord, by these two documents.
Beijing: China told its companies on Friday they need to pay attention to the latest UN sanctions on North Korea, especially those related to coal, to avoid any unnecessary economic losses.

The U.N. Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea last month aimed at cutting its annual export revenue by a quarter, after Pyongyang carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test so far in September.

The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution to slash North Korea`s exports of coal, its biggest export item, by about 60 percent with an annual sales cap of $400.9 million, or 7.5 million metric tonnes, whichever is lower.

The U.S.-drafted resolution also bans North Korean copper, nickel, silver and zinc exports - and the sale of statues. Pyongyang is famous for building huge, socialist-style statues which it exports mainly to Africa.

Despite its recent anger at Pyongyang`s nuclear and missile tests, Beijing remains North Korea`s most important economic and diplomatic backer and it frequently comes under suspicion for not properly enforcing sanctions, something China denies.

China`s Commerce Ministry said in a statement on its website that "relevant companies" should pay close attention to the sanctions and restrictions, especially on coal.

"Understand the United Nations circular about North Korean coal exports, make preparations in advance and rationally arrange imports to avoid unnecessary losses," it said.

China is believed to be the only country buying North Korean coal, one of North Korea`s only sources of hard currency.

The ministry also reminded companies about the ban on imports of copper, silver, the other metals and statues, but imports which had already arrived in China would not be affected.
A quotation from the book to begin with: "[Emperor Asoka] tells the executive and judicial officers of Tosali that their responsibility is such that they cannot be 'slaves of envy, non-exertion, harshness, hurry, want of practice, sloth, and undue weariness.'" If Asoka had added greed and spinelessness to this list and offered the same advice to modern-day officials, he'd still have been relevant.

Mr Gandhi clearly has a substantial point here: the historical fallibility of the judicial process. The sentence that follows this list of things that officials must avoid, however, throws the reader into some confusion: "Without these, they are likely to let one who is culpable 'by some accident' see his well-deserved punishment end, and, equally, 'many others... still undergoing the suffering'." I have yet to understand quite what this passage means.

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There are more bits that are confusing. Mr Gandhi has this to say on the process by which the President evaluates appeals for clemency: "In the provisions of Article 72 lie [sic] a certain philosophy, inadequately explained, that requires the executive study of a mercy petition to be trans-judicial but not un-judicious, to be a large canvas but not a tabula rasa for presidential expressionism."

Pick any page at random and you have one chance in three of running into a clot of swollen prose. Mr Gandhi seems to be unable to decide whether he wants to be flatulent or wise, or perhaps doesn't know the difference. This is a pity. Large parts of the book make eminent, if poorly written, sense. When he speaks of the history of the death penalty in India, for instance, Mr Gandhi emphasises that the Indian National Congress was against the death penalty, and the resolution saying so was adopted by the AICC in 1931. B.R. Ambedkar, an architect of the Constitution, was against it, and said so in 1949. He speculates that the public mood following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi had something to do with the retention of the death penalty in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Very likely true. The judiciary itself has been moving towards abolition of the death penalty. The Supreme Court said that it must not be imposed "save in the rarest of rare cases...". But then the public mood sometimes dictates otherwise. The Nirbhaya rape-murder case, for instance, sparked off much public debate on both the death penalty and the treatment of juveniles involved in heinous crimes. The lynching, in Dimapur, of a man suspected of rape in March 2015, and the killing of Mohammed Akhlaq in UP in September 2015 on the rumour that he had beef in the house show that the public (or at least the mob) is often quite happy to resort to brutal public 'executions'. Death is an acceptable punishment, too, for terrorists: there was little public protest against the executions of, say, Afzal Guru, Ajmal Kasab or Yakub Memon. To quote another of Mr Gandhi's florid sentences, "Savagery's vehicle is the hissing dragon: civilisation's the slow snail."

Florid or not, this sentence encapsulates much of the debate on the death penalty. For Mr Gandhi, as indeed for many of us, death is unacceptable as a punishment because it can't be reversed. He acknowledges upfront that it's not possible to provide balm to the hurt of the families of murder or rape-murder victims and then goes on to destroy his own good work with a typically pretentious, opaque passage: "The answer to revenge cannot be ecumenical or evangelical. It has also to be, in a sense, emotional. That is, it has to deal with the truth of emotions through the emotions of truth."

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The death penalty is cruel. Its utility as a deterrent has been questioned for centuries, since the time pickpockets plied their trade amongst audiences at public hangings of petty criminals, including pickpockets. Besides, its application in India is visibly inequitable: almost all the people on death row are poor, ill-connected and perhaps ill-defended. A recent, glaring example of this inequity is the Nithari case, in which wealthy, well-connected businessman Moninder Singh Pandher and his servant Surinder Koli were accused of the serial rape and murder of several children whose decomposed bodies were found in the compound of Singh's Noida home. Both were sentenced to death by a CBI court. The Allahabad High Court overturned the sentence on Pandher and upheld that on Koli. Koli's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, but the difference in outcome is clear.

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The death penalty's application to terrorists and traitors is also questionable. On the principle that one man's traitor is another's patriot, that one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter, the death penalty creates martyrs and feeds the flames.

And so, we come to the central point. Mr Gandhi says the death penalty serves five purposes. The first is purely punitive: a crime has been committed and punishment as prescribed must be meted out. The second is preventive. The punishment should tell others the crime isn't worth committing. The third is retributive. Someone has been wronged, and the punishment must satisfy the wronged one that the wrongdoer has been punished. The fourth is normative. The state's penology follows norms that must be followed, as cause follows effect. The fifth is what Mr Gandhi calls 'experiential': "With the punishment... [the wrongdoer's] criminal ego is atomised, he is reduced to a ruin of self-chastisement, perhaps to self-loathing and hopefully to self-correction." I doubt if Mr Gandhi has checked this against available facts.

The difference between the punitive and the normative, the first and the fourth, isn't very clear: they seem to be the same. The third, satisfying the victim-or the bereaved-that the wrongdoer has been punished is confused: does it mean pandering to public bloodthirst? The fifth, which Mr Gandhi says is the subtlest, obviously cannot be served by the death penalty.

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But let me return to the second purpose, the most haunting of the lot. Prevention. Mr Gandhi restricts the notion of prevention to deterrence. He doesn't consider the possibility of a criminal repeating his crime after the completion of his sentence, after he is considered to have paid off his debt to society. Koli is probably mentally unwell and needs treatment during his incarceration. Is our system capable of delivering that effectively? Is there a way to ensure that, after serving his sentence, he doesn't revert to his grisly ways? Is there sufficient history of serial rapists and killers to offer us guidelines on dealing with the mentally ill?

Mr Gandhi takes us on a selective world tour of executions and murders (Hitler, Pol Pot, Henry VIII, yes. Hammurabi, Torquemada, Genghis Khan, no) but doesn't address this specific point. He even includes Charles Sobhraj, the notorious mass and serial killer, but offers no insights. His tour simply reinforces points that really need no reinforcement. Nowhere does he even attempt to answer this question: what will society tell the mother of a rape-murder victim whose child has been raped and murdered by a serial rapist-killer who has served his life sentence and been released?

That brings up another possibility: a real life sentence, to be served for the rest of the natural life of the person sentenced. This might serve in the case of the untreatable mentally ill who pose a threat to society. But then, what of terrorism? Remember IC-814? One of the consequences of the hijack was the release of Maulana Masood Azhar and two other Islamist militants. Masood Azhar is back in Pakistan, plotting more terror attacks, and implicated recently in at least one. Imprisoning a killer with ideological and logistical support outside is a dangerous, expensive business. Can we do it successfully? Didn't eight members of SIMI break out of a 'high-security' prison in Madhya Pradesh last month?

Nithari. IC-814. Bhopal Central Jail. Prevention. In a truly civilised state, the responsibility for the security of its citizens-all of them, not merely VVIPs-rests with the state. Would the death penalty be of any use here? I don't know, but the question needs to be asked until we get some glimmer of an answer. Until we do, shouldn't we keep the death penalty, perhaps unused, on the statute books? And here lies my greatest objection: Mr Gandhi's moral and intellectual arrogance, his refusal to acknowledge genuine questions. To quote, "The death penalty is utter folly, supremely capricious, supremely hollow.... Its continuance is not just unimaginably evil, but sovereignly stupid: its termination will be not just nobly clement but wholly and supremely and incontestably intelligent." To any troubled soul looking for a solution to a very difficult problem, it offers little support, few insights, and no answers.

Shashi Warrier is the author of Hangman's Journal, besides 10 other books

--- ENDS ---
District of Columbia: President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he had asked Boeing to provide a price estimate for a new F-18 fighter jet, after bemoaning the soaring costs of Lockheed Martin`s F-35 stealth fighter.

"Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Trump tweeted.

His message came the day after he met with some of the US military`s top brass to discuss ways of reducing costs, particularly for the F-35 program.

Trump also met with Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson and Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

With a current development and acquisition price tag already at $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most of them destined for the Air Force -- the F-35 is the most expensive plane in history, and costs are set to go higher still.

Once servicing, maintenance and other costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft`s lifespan through 2070, overall program costs have been projected to rise to as much as $1.5 trillion.

The next-generation F-35 fighter has been under development since 2001 and both the US Marine Corps and the Air Force have already taken delivery of some of their first planes.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet does not have stealth capabilities and has been in use since the late 1990s.

Proponents of the F-35 tout its speed, close air-support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. One version boasts short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.

Lockheed Martin describes the plane`s stealth capabilities as unprecedented, allowing it to evade the most sophisticated missile systems.

Trump last week tweeted that F-35 program costs were "out of control." He has also blasted Boeing over the costs for the replacement Air Force One presidential jet.

Lockheed was down 1.90 percent at $248.00 in after-hours trading at 22:45 GMT, while Boeing was up 0.82 percent at $158.75
Beirut: Fresh Turkish raids on an Islamic State group stronghold in northern Syria killed 16 civilians Friday, a monitor said, a day after dozens were killed in fierce bombardment of the town.

Friday`s strikes on Al-Bab killed 16 civilians, including three children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The raids brought the total civilian toll from 24 hours of Turkish raids on the town to at least 88 dead, including 24 children, the Observatory said.
Valletta (Malta): A Libhyan jetliner hijack drama ended peacefully at Malta International Airport on Friday and all 118 persons aboard were safely rescued, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed in a series of tweets.

A man believed to be from the pro-Gaddafi group Al Fatah Al Gadida hijacked the Airbus A320 aircraft from Tripoli with crew and passengers that included 28 women and a child.

"Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a series of tweets.

While the Prime Minister talked of "hijackers", local media referred to a lone man who commandeered the aircraft.

The hijacker earlier told the crew he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

It was not known what the demands of the hijacker or hijackers were and if it was an act of terrorism or the result of the bitter Libyan political feud.

One German report said they were demanding the release of Saif Gaddafi, the second son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The claim was confirmed when a hijacker was seen at the aircraft door waving the former green Libya flag.

Prime Minister Muscat earlier confirmed on Twitter that "The #Afriqiyah flight from #Sabha to #Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in #Malta. Security services coordinating operations."

He added: "It has been established that #Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant."

Libya's UN-backed government confirmed the hijacking and its forced diversion to Malta, Libya's state news agency LANA reported.

All passengers aboard the plane were in good health, an unnamed official at the Libyan Foreign Ministry told the agency.

"(Libyan) Foreign Minister Mohammed Sayala has immediately started intense contacts with his Maltese counterpart and the government there," the official added.

Security personnel took up positions a few hundred metres from the plane as it stood on the Malta tarmac.

All flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

The aircraft was flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours.

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is about 500 km north of the Libyan coast.

Passengers waiting in the departure lounge near the gates were being moved towards the open ground by the Schengen Passport area.

The last major hijack incident in Malta took place in November 23, 1985, when an EgyptAir Boeing 737 was diverted to the island nation.

A 24-hour ordeal then ended in a bloody massacre with 62 people dead when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane. Only one of the three hijackers survived and was brought to justice.

Forty-three years ago then Prime Minster Dom Mintoff managed to negotiate the release of 247 passengers and eight air hostesses on board a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, which was also hijacked over Iraq and flown to Malta.

The passengers and air hostesses were released in return for fuel. The plane had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The hijackers eventually surrendered and the plane later left Malta.
Washington: Israel's ambassador to the United Nations called on the United States on Friday to "stand by" Israel over a Security Council resolution that demands an end to Israeli settlements.

"We call on the United States to stand by us and we expect our greatest ally to continue with its long-standing policy and to veto this resolution," Danny Danon said in a statement.

Western officials told Reuters on Thursday that the United States had intended to abstain on the resolution.
Aleppo: Syrian troops strengthened their hold over Aleppo on Friday after retaking full control of the city, as residents anxious to return to their homes moved through its ruined streets.

The army announced on Thursday it had recaptured the former rebel stronghold of east Aleppo following a landmark evacuation deal that saw thousands of opposition fighters and residents bussed out.

It was the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assad`s forces in nearly six years of civil war and a major win for his foreign backers, with key ally Russia hailing the "very important" step.

Braving the cold, war-weary residents crossed districts that had become dangerous front lines, eager to return to neighbourhoods they had not seen in years.

An AFP correspondent saw civilians wrapped in coats trekking through the cold, some rolling their belongings on wheelbarrows.

"I came to check on my house, which I haven`t seen in five years," resident Khaled al-Masri said. "I really hope my home wasn`t badly damaged."

The evacuation operation ended more than four years of fierce fighting in Aleppo, which had been divided between government forces in the west and rebels in the east since 2012.

Opposition forces still control an area west of Aleppo and at least two civilians were killed Friday in the first rebel rocket fire on the city since it fell under government control, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Seven civilians were also wounded in the fire on the Al-Hamdaniyeh district, the Britain-based monitor said, while state news agency SANA reported three killed.The evacuation agreement was brokered by rebel backer Turkey and regime supporter Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Assad Friday to congratulate him on the "liberation" of Aleppo, the Kremlin said.

"This success was possible thanks to mutual efforts of all who came together in the fight with international terrorism in Syria," it said.

Earlier, Putin hailed Aleppo`s recapture, calling it a "very important part of the normalisation in Syria", saying the next step would be "conclusion of a ceasefire agreement on all of Syria`s territory".

The Kremlin also announced Putin had signed an order to expand Russia`s naval facility in the Syrian city of Tartus, while Russian military police had been despatched to recaptured parts of Aleppo.

"We sent in a battalion of military police yesterday evening to maintain order in the liberated territories," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

On Friday morning, government fighters moved into Ansari, Al-Mashhad, and other neighbourhoods they had not entered since mid-2012.

They searched for improvised explosive devices and mines, clearing buildings to prepare the way for civilians to return, the Observatory said.

As they finished sweeping through the main streets, soldiers moved into the smaller alleyways to check for bombs, an AFP correspondent in one district said.

In Bustan al-Qasr, a heavily damaged neighbourhood near Aleppo`s famed Old City, bulldozers removed rubble from the streets.

As the army moved through Al-Mayssar district, Umm Abdo, 42, said she had found her former home but it had been destroyed.

"There`s nothing left... but houses can be rebuilt," she said.

Syria`s war transformed Aleppo from the country`s industrial hub to a worldwide symbol of bloodshed and devastation.

The army on Thursday announced "the return of security to Aleppo after its release from terrorism and terrorists".The regime victory came after state television said the last convoy of four buses carrying rebels and civilians had left east Aleppo and arrived in the government-controlled Ramussa district south of the city.

The evacuation deal, overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent, put an end to a month-long offensive waged on Aleppo`s east by pro-government forces.

The assault was backed by pro-government militia, including powerful Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.

In a televised speech on Friday, Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah said the army`s win in Aleppo put an end to any hopes Assad`s regime would collapse.

"After Aleppo, one can comfortably say that the goal of regime downfall has failed," Nasrallah said.

He described the fight for Aleppo as "one of the toughest battles that the region has seen in years."

The ICRC said the evacuation operation had seen 35,000 people bussed out of Aleppo and another 1,200 evacuated from Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shiite-majority towns in northwest Syria besieged by rebels.

Nearly six years in, the conflict has killed more than 310,000 people and displaced half of Syria`s pre-war population.

As well as a major strategic gain for Assad, the army`s win in Aleppo has put the spotlight on the role of powerbrokers Russia, Iran and Turkey, which agreed this week to guarantee new peace talks and backed expanding a ceasefire.

Repeated attempts at peace for Syria have failed, but UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has said he hopes to convene fresh talks in Geneva in February.

In other violence, the Islamic State group killed 27 Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen in a series of attacks near the ancient city
United Nations: UN Security Council on Friday passed a resolution demanding Israel stop building settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.

However, in a reversal of United States practice to protect Israel (its closest Middle East ally) from United Nations action, it abstained from voting, allowing the measure to pass by a vote of 14 in favour in the 15-member council.

Adoption of Resolution 2334 (14 yes, 1 abstention - USA) results in sustained applause in the Security Council chamber. https://t.co/RgvzCQQhZB  United Nations (@UN) December 23, 2016

The resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem."

It states that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperiling the viability of the two-state solution."

It is the first resolution the Security Council has adopted on Israel and the Palestinians in nearly eight years.

The resolution was put forward at the 15-member council for a vote on Friday by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal a day after Egypt withdrew it under pressure from Israel and US President-elect Donald Trump, as per Reuters.

The Obama administration defied pressure from Trump as well as Israel and several US senators who urged Washington to use its veto.

Ambassador Samantha Power said the US abstention stemmed from concerns that the expansion of the Jewish outposts was threatening the two-state solution aimed at achieving peace by creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

"We do not believe that outside parties can impose a solution that has not been negotiated by the two parties, nor can we unilaterally recognize a future Palestinian state," said Power.

"But it is precisely our commitment to Israel's security that makes the United States believe that we cannot stand in the way of this resolution as we seek to preserve a chance of attaining our longstanding objective of two states living side by side in peace and security," she added.

"The settlement problem has gotten so much worse that it is now putting at risk the very viability of that two-state solution," Power said.

Interestingly on December 22, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had urged US to veto "the anti-Israel resolution".

PM Netanyahu: The US should veto the anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council on Thursday.  PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 22, 2016

Israelis deeply appreciate a great pillar of the US-Israel alliance: willingness of the US to stand up and veto anti-Israel UN resolutions  PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 22, 2016

I hope the US won't abandon this policy; I hope it will abide by the principles set by President Obama himself in his UN speech in 2011.  PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 22, 2016

That peace will come not through UN resolutions, but only through direct negotiations between the parties.  PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 22, 2016

And that's why this proposed resolution is bad. It's bad for Israel; it's bad for the United States; and it's bad for peace.  PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 22, 2016

Israel criticises Obama administration

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the administration of President Barack Obama for not vetoing "this disgraceful resolution."

"I have no doubt that the new US administration and the incoming UN Secretary General will usher in a new era in terms of the UN's relationship with Israel," said Danon.

UN settler vote `big blow` to Israel: Palestinian presidency

Meanwhile, reacting to the UNSC vote, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's office said that the vote was "a big blow" to Israeli policy.

Presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP that the historic resolution was also a show of "strong support for the two-state solution".

Donald Trump promises change at UN

On the other hand, Trump vowed that the country`s policies at the United Nations will change after he takes office.

"As to the UN, things will be different after January 20th," he said on Twitter, referring to the date of his inauguration.

As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2016

The tweet came after the US refrained from vetoing the adoption of a Security Council measure calling on Israel.

(With Agency inputs)
Washington: Federal authorities have warned local law enforcement authorities across the nation that Islamic State sympathisers are continuing to call for attacks on churches and other holiday gathering sites.

The warning was issued yesterday after a publicly available list of US churches was posted on a militants' social media site.

It also came just days after an attack at a Christmas market in Berlin. Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for Monday's attack in which a truck plowed into the holiday market, killing 12 people and injuring 56.

"As part of the continuous dialogue with our law enforcement partners, the FBI routinely shares information about potential threats to better enable law enforcement to protect the communities they serve," FBI spokesman Andrew Ames said, adding that citizens are advised to maintain awareness of their surroundings and report suspicious activity.

"The FBI is aware of the recent link published online that urges attacks against US churches. As with similar threats, the FBI is tracking this matter while we investigate its credibility," he said. "We continue to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners should there be any potential threat to public safety."
Washington: President-elect Donald Trump on today reportedly said he is fine with a nuclear arms race and exuded confidence that the US would outlast any another country in terms of atomic weapons.

Trump reportedly said this in an off-air conversation to Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the popular 'Morning-Joe' show on MSNBC, the news channel said.

"Let it be an arms race...We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," Trump told Brzezinski in an off-air conversation as reported by her during the Friday morning show.

Trump's comments comes a day after he tweeted that "The US must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes".

The tweet raised concerns among foreign policy watchers.

Trump's spokesperson Sean Spicer told the news channel that the tweet means that business as usual is over.

"There's a few countries around the globe, Russia being one of them, and China and others that have talked about increasing their nuclear capabilities. I think the president-elect's point is unless these guys come to their senses and recognise that this is not a smart move. Increasing the nuclear stockpile around the globe is not good for anybody but the US is not going to sit back," he said.

"It's not a reaction, it's a point that he's making which is domestically and internationally, business as usual is over. This guy is going to bring real change and that means that if our partners around the globe think the US is going to sit back they're sadly mistaken," Spicer said.

He said it is putting every nation on notice that the US is going to reassert its position in the globe.

"Make sure that if you act, the United States is going to act," he said adding that Trump during his campaign made it very clear that on every aspect of policy he's not going to sit back and wait.

In an interview to CNN, Spicer said expansion of nuclear weapons is unlikely to happen.

"It means that there are countries around the globe right now that are talking about increasing their nuclear capacity. And the US is not gonna sit back and allow that to happen without acting in kind. And I think the president-elect is very clear that he's gonna be very active in putting America's security first and foremost. And if another country wants to threaten our sovereignty or our safety, he will act," he said.

At the same time, he said he does not believe that expansion of nuclear weapons is going to happen.

"I will tell you this, but I do believe that it won't happen because I think what they have seen, domestically and internationally, is this is a man of action," he said.

"Yesterday, he put out a statement early in the morning talking about the resolution that was coming forward in the UN Security Council and the Egyptians and the Israelis called him afterwards, it got taken down. He's a man of action that is getting things done for this nation," Spicer said.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Drug firm Alkem Labs Ltd today said its Daman manufacturing plant has obtained the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from US health regulator USFDA.

"The USFDA has issued an Establishment Inspection Report for its Daman manufacturing facility which was inspected by the USFDA in September 2016," Alkem Labs said in a BSE filing.

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USFDA released a copy of the EIR to the establishment that was the subject of an FDA or FDA-contracted inspection when the agency determines the inspection to be closed.

The stock of Alkem Labs was trading at Rs 1633.60, up 1.56 per cent, from its previous close on BSE. PTI SVK JM

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Jung took everyone by surprise when he announced his resignation on Thursday.

By India Today Web Desk: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today morning met outgoing Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung at Raj Niwas. Jung took everyone by surprise when he announced his resignation on Thursday.

Kejriwal reached the L-G's official residence around 8 AM and the breakfast meeting lasted for nearly an hour.

Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons."

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Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia also met Najeeb Jung today.

The sudden announcement by the 65-year-old former bureaucrat took political circles by surprise since only a few days earlier he had written to the Centre that he was going on leave to Goa during Christmas and had even scheduled a meeting with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

Najeeb Jung resigns as Delhi Lt Governor; thanks PM Modi for help, Arvind Kejriwal for 'association'

HIGHLIGHTS L-G Najeeb Jung on Thursday submitted his resignation to the Centre. His office said he has submitted his resignation to the government and that he would be returning to academics, "his first love". Jung thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his help and cooperation and Chief Minister Kejriwal for his two-year "association". "His decision to quit was not at all related to his relationship with the AAP government. It was purely a personal decision which he was mulling over for quite some time," a source said. Reacting to Jung's resignation, Kejriwal said the decision surprised him and he was ready to work with the new Lt Governor.

The names of former Home Secretary Anil Baijal, Kiran Bedi and B S Bassi are doing the rounds for filling the vacancy caused by Jung's decision.

Najeeb Jung acting like Hitler, Modi won't make a Muslim India's Vice-President: Arvind Kejriwal

Jung appreciates Kejriwal, says they share good personal rapport

WATCH VIDEO

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Germany's biggest lender Deutsche Bank has reached a $7.2-billion deal to settle a case with the US Department of Justice over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis

European stocks and Wall Street traded nearly flat Friday in a quiet session before Christmas, with banks topping the agenda after huge US fines and a bailout in Italy.

London closed marginally higher in a half-day session, as upwardly revised data showed the British economy grew 0.6 percent in the third quarter despite Brexit jitters.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt and Paris hovered around either side of unchanged but Milan jumped, closing over one percent higher, on relief over a state rescue of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS) bank.

US stocks finished modestly higher, with most pharma stocks rising. Still, the Dow came up short of 20,000 points, its latest failed push towards the landmark.

Analysts suspect the post-election rally may have run its course after Republican Donald Trump's election to president boosted hopes of a pro-growth agenda from Washington.

"The market still believes Trump's agenda will have positive effects, but it needs something concrete to go even further," said Gregori Volokhine, president of Meeschaert Capital Markets.

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agreed to pay a total of almost $12.5 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities during the global financial crisis.

Germany's biggest lender reached a $7.2-billion deal to settle a case with the US Department of Justice over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis. Credit Suisse agreed to pay nearly $5.3 billion.

US-traded shares of Deutsche Bank rose 0.5 percent, while Credit Suisse dipped 0.5 percent.

Barclays lost 0.9 percent after the DoJ announced Thursday that it was suing Barclays, accusing the British bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities which contributed to the 2008 crisis.

Barclays rejected the claim and said it will "vigorously defend" itself.

- BMPS shares suspended -

Meanwhile in Italy, the government approved a state-funded rescue of the world's oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), in a bid to shore up the country's beleaguered financial system.

Story continues

The announcement by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni came after BMPS -- said it had failed to raise five billion euros ($5.2 billion) from the markets to shore up its capital.

The plan approved at a late-night cabinet meeting taps into a package of up to 20 billion euros approved by parliament on Wednesday.

Whether markets regard BMPS as on the road to recovery will not be clear for some time, with the resumption of trading in its shares after the Christmas break set to provide the first test.

But Friday's overall mood on the Milan stock exchange was upbeat, with the main index rising 1.2 percent.

- Key figures at around 2200 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 19,933.81 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.1 percent at 2,263.79 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.3 percent at 5,462.69 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,068.17 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.1 percent at 11,449.93 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 4,839.68 (close)

Milan - FTSE MIB: UP 1.2 percent at 19,345.02 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.1 percent at 3,273.82 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.3 percent at 21,574.76 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.9 percent at 3,110.15 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0454 from $1.0438

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 117.31 yen from 117.56 yen

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2291 from $1.2388

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 7 cents at $53.02 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 11 cents at $55.16
Germany's biggest lender Deutsche Bank has reached a $7.2-billion deal to settle a case with the US Department of Justice over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis

Europe's stock markets were broadly stable Friday on the last trading day before Christmas, with banks topping the agenda after huge US fines and a bailout in Italy.

London closed marginally higher in a half-day session, as upwardly-revised data showed the British economy grew 0.6 percent in the third quarter despite Brexit jitters.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt and Paris both drifted lower, but Milan jumped 1.0 percent on relief over a state rescue of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS) bank.

"It has been a mixed end to the year for European banks with Monte dei Paschi being forced to rely on state aid and Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse coming to an agreement with US authorities on rather sizeable fines," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told AFP.

"Still, banks are trading higher on the whole today boosted by the removal of considerable uncertainty in both cases, even if the outcome itself is a concern."

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse have agreed to pay a total of almost $12.5 billion to settle disputes over the sale of mortgage-backed securities during the global financial crisis.

Germany's biggest lender has reached a $7.2-billion deal to settle a case with the DoJ over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis. Credit Suisse meanwhile agreed to pay nearly $5.3 billion.

The DoJ said Thursday that it was suing Barclays, accusing the British bank of massive fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities which contributed to the 2008 crisis.

Barclays rejects the claims and says it will "vigorously defend" itself.

- BMPS shares suspended -

"It's a mixed day for banks, after ... fines from the US Department of Justice came in lower than feared, and Italy's Monte dei Paschi di Siena's shares suspended after the inevitable admission that is does indeed require state aid," said Russ Mould, investment director at stockbroker AJ Bell.

"The US DoJ had initially pressed for a $14 billion fine on Deutsche Bank for alleged mis-selling of mortgage backed-securities at the height of the housing bubble in the middle of the last decade, so the market is seeing the eventual $7.2 billion penalty as a bit of a result for the German lender," he said.

Story continues

"Shareholders in Credit Suisse are clearly similarly relieved, while it is possible that investors in Barclays are talking the view that any settlement may not be as punitive as feared."

In Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank shares gained 0.9 percent to 17.92 euros.

In Zurich, Credit Suisse initially bounced more than two percent higher before sliding into negative territory, down 1.11 percent at 15.16 Swiss francs.

Back in London, Barclays' share price sank 0.90 percent to 224.95 pence.

Barclays was one of several major banks implicated in the crisis that so far have not reached settlements with US authorities over their roles in the financial meltdown.

Meanwhile in Italy, the government approved a bailout plan in the early hours of Friday to rescue the country's struggling banks, with BMPS likely the first in line.

The announcement by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni comes after BMPS -- the world's oldest bank -- said it had failed to raise five billion euros ($5.2 billion) from the markets to shore up its capital.

The plan approved at a late-night cabinet meeting taps into the package of up to 20 billion euros approved by parliament on Wednesday.

- Key figures at around 1230 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,068.17 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.2 percent at 11,433

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 4,832.30

Milan - FTSE MIB: UP 1.0 percent at 19,313

EURO STOXX 50: FLAT at 3,269.50

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.28 percent at 21,574.76 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.94 percent at 3,110.15 (close)

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 19,918.88 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0455 from $1.0438

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 117.33 yen from 117.56 yen

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2259 from $1.2388

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 59 cents at $52.36 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: DOWN 66 cents at $54.39
Australian Associated Press

US stocks have ended sharply lower as comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell shattered initial optimism over a Fed policy statement that raised interest rates by 75 basis points but signalled that smaller rate hikes may be on the horizon.In a volatile trading session, equities initially moved higher after the hike by the Fed, the fourth straight increase from the central bank of that magnitude as it attempts to bring down stubbornly high inflation.
SAN FRANCISCOMexican Buttsluts, the latest release from Treasure Island Media and Mecos Films, is now available exclusively on DVD and "download to own" (DTO) at the studio's website.

Porn at its best isnt porn, said Paul Morris of the boundary-pushing Treasure Island Media and producer of Mexican Buttsluts. You hear guys say that and you know what they mean. When youre watching great porn, youre seeing men doing exactly what they love doing. And theyre doing it the way they love doing it. But when its bad porn, youre watching men pretending.

Morris promises that fans wont see a single moment of pretending in Mexican Buttsluts: "These guys are possessed by raw untamed sexual energy. They know what it means to be a man sporting a big jizz-oozing throbber: you give it what it wantsand you do it pronto," he stated.

"In Mexican Buttsluts we have a champion roster of studs and manwhores," he continued. "If you need something to take your mind off the madness of the world, something thatll show you what men at their best are all about, look no further. These amazing men will restore your faith in just about everything."

Mexican Buttsluts is available exclusively from Treasure Island Media.
A logo of Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank is seen on the ground in Siena, Italy, November 5, 2014. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito/File Photo

By Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares edged up on Friday, buoyed by the banking sector after Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse settled mortgage securities fraud suits with the United States, and as Italy's Monte dei Paschi agreed to a bailout.

The STOXX Europe 600 was up 0.1 percent at 0950 GMT, flat for the week but still set for its best month since October 2015.

Deutsche Bank rose 4 percent, the biggest gainer on the index, after it agreed to a $7.2 billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department (DoJ) over its sale and pooling of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis.

U.S. authorities had been seeking nearly twice as much.

The bank's shares are up nearly 90 percent since touching record lows in September.

Credit Suisse turned flat after early gains, while RBS, which is being investigated, rose 0.6 percent on hopes that its final settlement might be lower than expected.

However, Barclays underperformed after failing to reach a settlement. It was down 1.4 percent, as the DoJ launched a lawsuit against the bank over its sale of mortgage-backed securities. The bank said it rejected the complaint.

"(Gains for) Deutsche Bank shares suggests relief at a good result and the affair being closed. Credit Suisse shares flat implies an acceptable deal. Barclays' (fall) indicates some uncertainty about what it eventually ends up paying," Accendo Markets head of research Mike van Dulken said in a note.

Britain's FTSE 100 was last down 0.1 percent.

Italian lenders rose 1.1 percent after the Italian government agreed to bail out Monte dei Paschi, whose shares in the bank itself were suspended from trading.

Dutch insurer NN Group rose 3.7 percent after it reached an agreement to buy Delta Lloyd, after NN nudged up an unsolicited offer by 1.9 percent to 2.5 billion euros.

NN Group said the deal would cement its leading position in life insurance in the Netherlands, increase assets under management by 60 billion euros, and lead to "double-digit" dividend increases starting in 2018.

Advertising firm JCDecaux rose 2.9 percent on its merger of activities with Top Media, strengthening its presence in Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador.

(Editing by Louise Ireland)
By Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is seeking to win a contract to supply Thailand with an air defense radar system built by Mitsubishi Electric Corp <6503.T>, as it looks to counter growing Chinese influence in the Southeast Asian nation, according to four Japanese government officials and one industry source. The effort is part of a wider push by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration to bolster its position in the region along with its U.S. ally. The Chief of Staff of Japan's Air Self Defense Force, Yoshiyuki Sugiyama, traveled to Bangkok last month to discuss areas of possible cooperation. Japan expects the Thai military government to begin accepting competitive bids as early as next year as it upgrades and adds to its existing U.S. and European radar systems, the sources said. It is unclear who else may be bidding. The value of such a contract is unclear as the specifications for the system have not yet been released. Radar systems built by Mitsubishi and other companies for Japan can stretch to hundreds of millions of dollars depending on the complexity and coverage. The sources said Japan would look to offer a lower price system because of Thailand's limited defense budget. Japan's push for stronger ties with Thailand, will benefit the U.S. given the growing tensions over Chinas claims in the South China Sea, according to the sources. Japan, which until 2014 had a ban on arms exports, has not previously sold military equipment to Thailand. Since the 2014 coup brought the current Thai government to power, the U.S. has had strained relations with its old ally, which served as a staging ground for American forces during the Vietnam War, offering access to strategic airfields and ports. In July, Thailand agreed to buy three Chinese-built submarines worth around $1 billion in a deal that illustrated Beijing's willingness to fill the vacuum left by Washington. And last month, Thai and Chinese military planes performed acrobatic demonstrations together at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, around 260 km (161 miles) northeast of Bangkok, as a prelude to the first joint military drill between the nations' air forces. A company spokeswoman said Mitsubishi Electric does not discuss individual deals. "While we are aware that Thailand is moving ahead with the deployment of air defense radar, we can't comment on the activities of individual corporations," a spokesman for Japan's defense ministry said. A Thailand Defense Ministry spokesman, Kongcheep Tantravanich, said that "many countries want to sell it to us but we have to see if the system fits." Pongsak Semachai, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Air Force, said a Japanese company had approached the force about an air defense system. He declined to name the company. "The air force has not yet decided whether to buy the air defense system from a Japanese company but the company representatives presented the idea to us informally as they knew that our air defense radar system is about to expire," Pongsak told reporters, without giving further details. Washington has a statutory obligation to withhold aid to militaries involved in coups against democratically elected governments. That includes restricting its arms makers from selling military kit to the country. Japan does not face such restrictions in engaging with the Thai government. Tokyo is worried that China's wooing of Thailand could further split members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and blunt criticism of China's island building in the South China Sea. Beijing has claimed most of the resource-rich waterway as its own, sparking protests from other claimants, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. The radar Japan proposes for the deal is a variant on Mitsubishi Electric's fixed-position FSP-3 radar, an older generation system that has been used by Japan's Self Defense Forces to detect air threats, the sources said. (Reporting by Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo; additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK; Editing by Martin Howell in Singapore)
Jaipur police today recivered two suicide notes where the ATS officer apologises to his wife and explains why he killed his girlfriend and committed suicide.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Jaipur police said that the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad officer who committed suicide after shooting his girlfriend, did so to punish the girl for cheating him.

They recovered two suicide notes--one was addressed to his wife and the second one to the police in which he named a few people whom the girl was allegedly involved with.

WHAT HAPPENED According to the police, Ashish first killed the girl and then shot himself. The suicide note mentions that he wanted to punish the girl for duping several officials in the name of RAS coaching. Ashish Prabhakar, the Additional SP in ATS, and Poonam Sharma were found dead in the Scorpio car near an under construction building in Jaipur's Jagatpura area. Several beer cans and documents were also found inside the car. As per one of the suicide notes, the Additional SP maintained that the girl had been making a fool of him for the past four years. It also stated that she cheated him and his family. In the note, he apologises to his wife and expresses love for his children.

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Also Read: Jaipur: Top anti-terror officer, woman found dead inside SUV

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By Maria Kiselyova MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian mobile operator Megafon has agreed to pay $740 million to buy a controlling stake in internet group Mail.ru from billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who is an investor in both companies. Megafon said it hoped the deal would provide mobile phone users access to a wide range of content through Mail.ru platforms while returning Megafon "to sustainable growth". Megafon is Russia's second biggest mobile company. Megafon and Russian rivals have seen their sales growth fall close to zero in a saturated market and are looking at Internet-based partnerships as they seek to move away from a traditional telecoms business structure. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Megafon would buy a 63.8 percent voting stake in Mail.ru from Usmanov, paying $640 million on completion of the deal and a further $100 million a year later. The deal, which suggests a 24-percent premium to the Mail.ru share price as of Dec. 22, does not require Megafon to make a mandatory buyout offer to Mail.ru minority shareholders, Megafon said in a statement. Mail.ru, which owns the three largest Russian-language social networks and an online games business, also has South Africa's Naspers and China's Tencent Holdings Ltd among its shareholders. The deal is expected to be funded by cash and rouble-denominated debt and Megafon's ability to pay dividends will not be affected, it said. Shares in Megafon, in which Usmanov's holding company has a 56 percent stake, fell 2.4 percent after the news while Mail.ru stock was largely flat. Megafon said it expected to achieve "significant synergies for both companies" through the deal. Among other initiatives, it will see the companies launch a special VKmobile offering for users of VK social network, Russia's largest. Megafon will consolidate Mail.ru financials but the internet company will continue to operate as a standalone listed entity. If approved by shareholders and regulators, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year. Last month, Megafon said it was in talks with the shareholders of Mail.ru that could lead to it taking a stake in the Internet group. (Editing by Keith Weir)
THURSDAY, Dec. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A new drug slows the progress of multiple sclerosis, including an advanced form of the degenerative nerve disease for which there currently is no treatment, according to a pair of new clinical trials.

One MS specialist called the intravenous drug, ocrelizumab, a "breakthrough."

Ocrelizumab reduced the advance of MS-related disability by 24 percent in people with primary progressive MS compared to a placebo, results from one clinical trial show.

Researchers compared ocrelizumab against a placebo, or dummy drug, because there's no approved treatment available for primary progressive MS. This form affects about 15 percent of MS patients, said Dr. Stephen Hauser, chair of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco.

"It does represent new hope for people with progressive MS," said Hauser, who worked on both reports.

Ocrelizumab also proved superior in treating people with relapsing multiple sclerosis, the most common form of MS, compared with other available medicines, the other clinical trial found.

"The data are really quite dramatic," Hauser said. "They show by MRI that new areas of inflammation in the brain were reduced by 95 percent compared with the current treatment."

Ocrelizumab, under the brand name Ocrevus, is awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA had been set to approve the drug this month, but recently extended its review into March.

"We're very hopeful the drug will be available in the spring," said Dr. Aaron Miller, medical director of Mount Sinai's Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis in New York City. "I expect it will get widespread use."

Hauser explained that multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, which is composed of a fatty substance called myelin.

Ocrelizumab treats MS by depleting the immune cells that produce antibodies to attack the myelin, Hauser said.

Initially, multiple sclerosis features inflammation that crops up as the immune system actively attacks the myelin. In this phase, known as relapsing multiple sclerosis, patients alternate between active MS attacks followed by periods of remission, Hauser noted.

But, after the myelin sheath has been destroyed, some MS patients will settle into a lengthy degenerative phase known as primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Instead of having attacks of the disease, patients experience a slow and progressive worsening of their motor function, Hauser said.

MS affects an estimated 2.3 million people around the world, including about 400,000 people in the United States, the study authors said in background notes.

Although there's no cure for any form of MS, multiple treatments are available for relapsing MS to ease symptoms. The clinical trial involving this form of the disorder compared ocrelizumab against the drug interferon beta-1a, which is a current standard-of-care medication.

Ocrelizumab reduced new inflammation, and also produced up to a 47 percent reduction in relapses and a 43 percent reduction in disability compared to interferon, the clinical trial reported. Hauser served as scientific steering committee chair for this trial.

Miller said that the drug also showed itself to be the first real ray of hope for people with progressive MS, slowing the disorder's advance in a limited but meaningful way.

"We have never had any adequate treatments for primary progressive MS. In that respect, this is a breakthrough," Miller said. "Obviously one would like to see higher levels of greater reduction, but this is definitely a very significant finding for appropriate patients."

The drug also was very well-tolerated by patients, Hauser and Miller said.

About one-third of patients suffered a reaction to the infusion of the drug, but other medications helped treat these symptoms with no long-term effects, Hauser said. Only 1.3 percent of patients developed a serious infection, compared to 2.9 percent of those treated with interferon.

Both clinical trials were sponsored by the drug's manufacturer, F. Hoffmann-La Roche. The results were published Dec. 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

More information

For more on multiple sclerosis, visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
FRIDAY, Dec. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- It's not common, but some children have ultra-frizzy hair that can't be combed normally. Now researchers say they've found genes linked to what's known as "uncombable hair syndrome."

"From the [genetic] mutations found, a huge amount can be learned about the mechanisms involved in forming healthy hair, and why disorders sometimes occur," said study co-author Regina Betz. She is a professor with the Institute for Human Genetics at the University of Bonn in Germany.

"At the same time, we can now secure the clinical diagnosis of 'uncombable hair' with molecular genetic methods," she said in a university news release.

Uncombable hair syndrome is relatively rare. There have only been about 100 documented cases over the past several decades, the researchers said. Some families are especially affected.

"However, we assume that there are many more people affected," Betz said. "Those who suffer from uncombable hair do not necessarily seek help for this from a doctor or hospital."

Kids with the syndrome have dry, frizzy and often fair hair that can't be combed flat. The family link suggests the syndrome is inherited and connected to genes. So, the researchers found nine children with uncombable hair syndrome and analyzed their genetic makeup. The scientists found mutations in three genes that seem to be linked to the condition.

Is a cure needed? Perhaps not.

According to Betz, uncombable hair can be a stressful nuisance. "However, those affected have no need to otherwise worry," she said. And, the condition tends to ease as children grow into adulthood.

The study was published in the December issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

More information

For more about hair disorders, visit the University of Maryland Medical Center.
THURSDAY, Dec. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Women with prior kidney damage may have an increased risk for pregnancy complications, a new study suggests.

"We believe that this study highlights an important finding that will be useful for medical providers caring for reproductive-age women," said study author Dr. Jessica Sheehan Tangren, a nephrologist from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The researchers reviewed data from almost 25,000 women who gave birth at Massachusetts General Hospital between 1998 and 2007. Just over 100 of the women had previously experienced acute kidney injury. This is a sudden decrease in kidney function.

All of the women had recovered normal kidney function before they were pregnant.

Women in the kidney damage group had much higher rates of a condition called preeclampsia that causes high blood pressure and other problems during pregnancy -- 23 percent compared to 4 percent in the non-injury group.

Women who had kidney damage were also more likely to have small-for-gestational-age babies (15 percent versus 8 percent), and to give birth earlier (average 37.6 weeks compared to 39.2 weeks), the study showed.

Tangren and her colleagues adjusted the findings to account for other factors that could contribute to the risk.

Although the study wasn't designed to prove a cause-and-effect link, the researchers found prior kidney damage was tied to a nearly six times higher risk for preeclampsia.

Women with previous kidney damage also had more than twice the risk for poor infant outcomes.

The study was published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

"Our goal in future studies is to address why women with a history of acute kidney injury are at higher risk for pregnancy complications and to identify strategies to lower their risk," Tangren said in a journal news release.

She also said that the varying rates of preeclampsia seen worldwide may be partly explained by the findings.

More information

The American Kidney Fund has more about acute kidney injury.
THURSDAY, Dec. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of young women in Brazil are forgoing pregnancy due to the ongoing Zika epidemic, a new study finds.

Since the outbreak began in Brazil, there have been 1,845 confirmed cases of birth defects tied to the mosquito-borne virus. Many involve microcephaly, a malformation where babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.

The new study was led by Debora Diniz, a professor at the University of Brasilia. Her team surveyed more than 2,000 Brazilian women, aged 18 to 39, in June of this year.

The result: 56 percent of the women said they had either avoided or tried to prevent a pregnancy because of the epidemic.

Twenty-seven percent of the women said they had not tried to avoid pregnancy, while another 16 percent said they had not planned to get pregnant -- regardless of whether Zika was a threat or not.

"The results provide an important first glimpse into how the Zika epidemic has shaped pregnancy intentions among women in Brazil," Diniz's team wrote.

The study suggests that "the Brazilian government must place reproductive health concerns at the center of its response, including reviewing its continued criminalization of abortion," the researchers added.

In the United States, officials at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have so far tallied 32 cases of Zika-linked birth defects in babies in the United States.

Most of those cases resulted from infections picked up in Zika-prone countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the CDC noted.

As of Dec. 7, a total of 1,172 Zika infections in the United States have involved pregnant women, according to CDC estimates.

In research published Dec. 14, CDC scientists estimated that 6 percent of infected pregnant women will have babies who are born with Zika-linked birth defects, with the first and second trimesters being the most vulnerable period for infection. Their findings were reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The CDC urges people living in Zika-infested areas-- especially pregnant women -- to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. This includes using an insect repellent registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency containing one of the following ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.

People should also wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, use or repair screens on windows and doors, use air conditioning when available, and remove standing water inside and outside where mosquitoes can lay eggs.

The Brazilian study was published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.

More information

The World Health Organization has more on Zika.

This Q & A will tell you what you need to know about Zika.

To see the CDC list of sites where Zika virus is active and may pose a threat to pregnant women, click here.
FRIDAY, Dec. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Flu needn't spoil the start of the new year, say U.S. health officials who urge children and adults to get vaccinated.

"Most of the flu season is still ahead of us, so it's not too late to get vaccinated," said Dr. Joseph Bresee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But, get the shot soon because it can take several weeks to produce enough antibodies to give you maximum protection, the agency notes.

"We often see spikes in flu during and right after the holidays as people congregate and travel in planes that bring people close together," said Bresee, who is chief of epidemiology and prevention in the CDC's influenza division.

Flu activity will increase in most parts of the country over the next several weeks, before peaking in the next few months, he said.

The hardest-hit areas so far are New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the Southeast and the Northwest, Bresee said.

Besides rolling up your sleeve for the flu injection, Bresee recommends taking simple precautions to prevent spreading the virus.

"Wash your hands, cover your cough and stay away from other people when you're sick," he said.

If you do get the flu, antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu and Relenza, can help if taken early. That's particularly important for high-risk individuals, such as the elderly and people with chronic conditions, such as heart and lung disease, the CDC says.

These vulnerable people should "talk to their doctor about taking medicine that might prevent them from getting severely ill," Bresee said.

How effective a vaccine is depends on how good a match it is to the strains of flu virus circulating that year. Most years, the vaccine is between 40 percent and 60 percent effective, according to the CDC.

"The viruses we are seeing are very much like the strains in the vaccine, which is good news, because it means the vaccine should work better [than last year's vaccine]," Bresee said.

The vaccine supply is also good this year, with more than 131 million doses available, the agency said.

The predominant viral strain is influenza H3N2, Bresee said. But influenza H1N1 and influenza B viruses are also around, he said.

As of Dec. 9, only 40 percent of Americans had been vaccinated -- nearly 2 percent fewer than at the same time last year, the CDC reported.

The falloff in vaccinations is most evident among people 50 and older. That's unfortunate, Bresee said, because last year flu was particularly hard on older people.

Flu activity can be unpredictable. Last year, the H3N2 virus started out as the dominant strain, only to be displaced by H1N1 as flu season hit full swing, he said.

In a typical flu season, flu complications -- including pneumonia -- send more than 200,000 Americans to the hospital. Death rates linked to flu vary annually, but have gone as high as 49,000 in a year, the CDC says.

Although hospitalizations for flu are still low, the highest rate is among the elderly.

The CDC recommends that anyone 6 months of age and older get a flu shot.

Besides the elderly and the chronically ill, pregnant women also fall into the high-risk group in need of vaccination, Brammer said.

Also, mothers of newborns need a flu shot to help protect their infants, who can't be vaccinated until they're 6 months old.

One recent change in guidelines is that the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices does not recommend using the nasal spray vaccine, because it seems less effective than a shot.

More information

For more about flu, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.